Dubai Stopover

Goodbye Singapore, Hello Dubai.

The flight from Singapore to Abu Dhabi was memorable, as it was the first leg of the trip that we flew Business Class with Etihad Airlines.  Bliss.  It was an evening flight leaving Singapore at about 10pm and so we not only took advantage of the lounge in Singapore but then had a good meal and attentive service on the plane, before sleeping on a lay flat bed!  Luxury!!  The only way to fly from now on……

Then whisked from Abu Dhabi airport to our friends house in Dubai by limousine (part of the ticket deal; limos at every stopover) across the desert, being delivered to the door at 2am, with the air temperature at mid 30^oC's.

Although we only had a few days here it was a fascinating time.  Staying with friends who have lived here for a number of years and who now have a young baby to fill their life. Another opportunity to play at grandparenting, which was a delight.

We stayed in their villa not far from the Jumeirah Palm area of town, which was close to the hotel on the Palm where we ate one night, as well as the new beach area near the Marina and the Hilton Hotel resort.  Dubai is trying hard to diversify its economy and tourism has become a big element, along with construction and services which continue to recover post GFC.

Restaurant in hotel for Iftar feast.

We arrived during Ramadan, and on the first evening we went to the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

Hotel on the Palm’s outer frond for the Iftar feast, the meal held at sunset that breaks the days fast.  It was sumptuous!, And held in a dining room that looked like something out of the hall of mirrors in the Palace at Versailles.

A whole sheep!

The food was piled high and was delicious.  All sorts of middle eastern goodies including and entire sheep (photo here)  Favourite might have been the arabic “bread and butter pudding” (Oom Allah, we think).  All washed down with a huge range of fruit juices and refreshing cordials, whose names now escape me. This evening was probably the start of the downhill expansion of my waistline that has continued into the Hebredes! 

Other memorable moments of the stay in Dubai were the morning on the beach near the Marina when we went swimming in the sea.  

Panoramic shot of the Burj Kalifa, with shakes!

The temperature out of the water was probably around 45^oC, and in the water it was a cooling 38^oC! It was the hottest water I have ever swum in, and very salty too, but it was just a great way to see Dubai in mid-summer, watching skydivers take off from a pier in front of us and then land on the nearby beach.  

A visit to the Dubai Mall and the adjacent shopping malls, with views over the Burj Kalifa, was another  trip out to luxuriate in their air conditioning and do window shopping for beautiful gold jewellery.  

We finished the stay with a trip out into the desert for an evening of feasting and entertainments (belly dancing was “off” during Ramadan it said on the tickets).  The trip was in a big Land Cruiser and Jane was in fear of her head falling off during the first 1/2 hour in the off-road, dune bashing section of the evening.  To be honest, this was more exciting viewed as an observer, there being around 30 other Land Cruisers doing similar dune-bashing antics across this particular area of dunes with us.  It did look spectacular was they came over the lip of big dunes and sped down the face of the dune in a huge cloud of sand.  

The dune trip drivers

Reassuringly the cars all had roll bars fitted, and the driver insisted we all were the seat belts provided, although I noted he did not wear his.

 Our driver was a dashingly handsome Omar Sharif character who spoke perfect American English and was very good at his job, which was essentially to scare the passengers silly, then drive them home. 

Sunset over the desert

Jane getting hennaed.

The feast, again after sunset, was provided in an “encampment” set up in the desert with all sorts of entertainments for guests, dune buggy racing, camel rides, henna decoration, sand art.  

After the sunset the food started and then, suddenly, a man appeared on stage.  He proceeded to whirl like a dervish for a good 5 minutes, doing wonderful things with tambourines too numerous to count, and then tra la - he lit up his skirt with a wonderful arrangement of LED lighting.  But wait - there is more.  

The whirling LEDs of Dubai dance.

Further twiring and the skirt separated into two and, wonder to behold they all lit up as did his waistcoat! It was a major performance of twirling and whirling and skirt lifting one of which he has taken off entirely over his head!  Quite amazing!  Riotous applause!  The drive home along the 6 lane highways of Dubai was tame by comparison.

The mysteries of the desert............?

And so once more to pack our bags and head to Blighty.  Not one, but two, Audi 8 series limos came to pick us up the next morning and whisked us back across the desert to the new improved Abu Dhabi airport.

Another lounge, another flight, another lie-flat bed, another arrival, but this time into the usual UK horror of Heathrow terminal 4.  Why are British airports so terrible?  

The story continues…….