Reflections of Dubai .... Its big, shiny and new. Maybe the last of the "new" great cities. Ideally located as a gateway to the Middle East and beyond. Lot of money thrown at this place and it shows. It's a city of the future and baring any changes (which could happen) in terms of the rulers philosophy (benevolent monarch), this place will be around for many years to come. Along with Shanghai, Dubai could make London look like a quaint village in the next ten ...

So we went on the desert safari .... We got picked up on time and set off up Hatta Road to the desert, sharing a Toyota Land Cruiser with a couple of Romanian girls and Chinese lads. First up, dune bashing on the way to the camp. This involved climbing huge dunes, sliding down and skimming the top at pace. Pretty full on, but the driver knew how to handle the car. Was not scary as such, but nauseating! After half an hour you're glad to stop. Time for a photo ...

Had quite a chilled day yesterday relaxing by pool before heading off to the Dubai Mall for a spot of shopping. We met up with Kat and Med again for dinner at a Lebonese restaurant before they took us on a mini tour of Dubai including the Marina (which is a mini city on itself). Some of the architecture is amazing in terms of the buildings - there is a twisty one which was designed for each floor to rotate so you have a different view each day! They are built in...

Went on a bus tour of Dubai yesterday. Pretty Expensive. Dubai is bigger than we imagined - very long rather than wide. Saw the main beach and Burj al Arab and back over the Palm and through the city on Sheikh Zayed Road (which is the biggest road ive ever seen about 7 lanes either way), went through the old soak and gold soak were we got off to have a look. No rings bought (yet - Jean). Also saw spice soak, Dubai creek and Deira City Centre. Got off at Sheikh ...

Ok - so what did we do yesterday? Started by having a look at the Atlantis Hotel and visited the Aquarium there which was great. Some weird looking fish - remind us of a few people we know! Taxi to the Mall of the Emirates which was ridiculously big had every shop you can think of Harvey nicks.. American eagle... - couldn't find our way out so had a coffee and watched people on indoor ski slope instead. Finished the day off meeting Katja who picked us up from t...