Here we are in the city of shimmering heat and malls! Somehow, we who hate malls seem to always find ourselves wandering aimlessly around malls on our first day in a new city. That is of course when we are not traipsing the streets in the heat of the day!
Our first day in Dubai was surprisingly full given that we arrived at 7am after a 14 hour flight from Melbourne.
We bought tickets for the hop on hop off bus and away we went marvelling at the architecture and the cultural mix
so different from Golden Bay.
I am thinking of Aunt Evelyn as she travelled by ship from England 117 years ago and watched the "coolies" loading the ships. We arrived in Dubai and were fascinated by the customs men in their bright white traditional Arab dress.
Our bus ticket gave us entry to the aquarium in the Dubai Mall. What a sad environment for a huge variety of fish from all the oceans of the world. Even a huge crocodile from North Queensland.
We spent the early evening getting slightly lost in the alleyways of the old city wandering through the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk unable to imagine how some of the gold creations could even be worn.
The people we have encountered are all very kind and friendly and helpful. Even the very persistent market sales people. Pete, as always, attracts sales people and had a young man trying to sell him a " brand new" iPhone 7 start price €500 coming down to €60 before he finally gave up. The iPhone men are the only dodgy people we have encountered. This city feels really safe and well run. There is very little alcohol available or drunk but lots of smoking. I almost wish I was a tobacco smoker so I could sit in a restaurant smoking tobacco through a hookah.
We had a 60 minute cruise on the creek in a lovely wooden abras. Such a relief to be on the water.
Our second day in Dubai was much more relaxed. We spent most of the day on the red bus and cruising around Palm Island marvelling at what money can achieve right in the Arabian desert. The hotels are like something from a fairy tale. Aquariums seem popular within malls and hotel complexes. The architecture is out of this world. Lots of geometric shapes which is an Islam thing.
We passed an apartment building where we were told they throw in a US$400K Lamborghini if you purchase the right apartment.
We haven't met any native Dubai people. The drivers and guides and service people come from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Nepal , various African countries. They can come in and work without visas so seek a better lifestyle.
It is coming into winter here so 36 degrees rather than late 40's. Kind of shoulder season for tourists so a good time to be here.
We watched the magnificent fountain at the Dubai Mall last night after having dinner at a Lebanese Restaurant looking out at the man made ski field in the Emirates Mall. They have ski shops selling all the gear, ski lessons, penguins. -2 degrees inside and 35 outside.
We came home on the very efficient metro after being out for about 13 hours.
Today is a slower day. We headed for a museum in the old city only to find it closed this morning as Friday and Saturday are the holy days. We wandered around the alley ways getting mixed up in some major Hindu religious thing with thousands of mainly men washing their feet then heading in an endless line in and out of a temple.
Tonight we are treating ourselves to a trip up to the 124th floor of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, before coming back to pack for our 2.20am flight to Zanzibar.
Dubai has been well worth a visit. Such an amazing eye opener to oil wealth and all that it can create. We are not finding it expensive. Transport is cheap and efficient, customer service excellent and everyone we have interacted with has been incredibly polite and helpful. We do seem to be the only old people in Dubai. The younger people stand up for us in the train, watch to see we cross the street safely and seem honest and kind. The roads are well organised with hardly any sirens or horns and big fines for running a red light or causing a tram to slow.
The trains have women only carriages.
Enough of this long account. Pete has good photos on his camera but I will try to upload a taste at least