20/12/2010 Dubai has the largest Chinese trading market outside of China. Called Dragon Mart, the store is 1.2ks long. The best way to describe this experience is it's like walking through a huge ebay store. Everything on sale here all direct from the Chinese manufacturer. 1,400 stalls. This took us the best part of a few hours. We planned to visit the Old Souk again and catch a Abra across Dubai Creek. The Abra ride is 1 Durham (40 cents) The wooden boats ...

Our drive to Abu Dhabi was interesting to say the least. Its all started off with the 1.5 hour drive. On the highway there are enforced speed limits, but nobody seems to obey them. It seems the police do not enforce them. Anyway we arrived in Abu Dhabi. This is a lot smaller than Dubai, a lot cleaner and a lot less polution. Some of the buildings are amazing. The most impressive hotel we have ever visited is the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. It is truly palatial...

17/12/2010 Today is a big day. We are having a very expensive afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab. The only so called 7 star hotel in the world. The security is very tight and you cannot get onto the island unless you have a booking. Once inside the hotel we are amazed. Pictures cannot really capture the amount of detail throughout the building. Afternoon tea is served on the 27th floor in the Sky View bar. Thoroughly enjoyed the food, the view and a couple who wer...

Woke to a beautiful day. Temperature expected to be in the mid 20's and not a cloud in the sky. The wind has drop to nothing. Headed off to the Dubai Mall. This place is HUGE. Its main draw card is the largest aquarium, also an ice rink, plus the Burj Kalifa. Aftre wandering around the shops we headed up to the 120th floor of the Burj Kalifa. The cost was worth every cent, about $25 each. The view was amazing, except for the air pollution. There is also the Fo...

After our hiccup with India. we arrived in Dubai at 3.30am. Flight was a little bumpy, but we arrived safely. After arriving at the hotel we had a sleep before heading out. Leaving the hotel we headed to the Old Gold Souk in Deira. Due to parking problems we struggled to get a park. From what we saw from the car, time has stood still here. Everything is as it was 200 years ago. So is was crowded, noisy, and of course smelly. Nothing like the smell of sewage firs...