Gone Dubai-bye…

Question:  Which vacation spot is the obvious choice for a fair-skinned, be-freckled, overly dehydrated traveler?

Why, the desert, of course.

Obviously.

I couldn’t wait for my desert adventure to begin.  We have family friends (Tara and Michael) who are living in Dubai, UAE for the next few years.  When they visited Paris during the Christmas holidays, I was fortunate enough to spend Christmas Eve with them.  I was curious to know more about their experiences and asked for their thoughts about having visitors (read: I pretty much invited myself over…shameless, I know…a more gracious family you have never met!)  I made my travel arrangements in January and looked forward to April with great anticipation.  The day of my departure finally arrived!  The week that followed flew by, but I feel like I saw both the expected touristic sights, as well as aspects of everyday life in Dubai…

Day One – I woke up early to catch an 8am RER train to the airport.  I collected my boarding pass and easily made it through security with tons of time to spare.  I wandered through the terminal and had time to relax and look through some airport magazines before my boarding time was called!  The flight was very smooth and uneventful.  I had an amazing selection of movies/TV shows/music and the 6.5 hours passed quickly.  My new friend Tamara and her boyfriend, Torbin, were so lovely to pick me up from the airport and drive me to Tara and Michael’s home.  I visited with Tara for a bit before we both turned in at 11pm…

Day Two – Tara took the boys (Findley and Chase) to school first thing in the morning and came back to the house to collect me.  We went to a very nice shopping area called Souk Madinat with little stores and eateries and access to Jumeira Beach (if you were a guest staying nearby!)  We wandered around and then grabbed a bite to eat at The Noodle House, where we both ordered delicious pineapple drinks to go with our spring rolls, Pad Thai and Vegetable Curry dishes!  We picked up the boys from their respective schools and headed back to the house to relax, play games, throw paper airplanes and do puzzles before having a delicious falafel dinner…

Day Three – I woke up early with Tara and the boys and we all headed to school together.  After the drop-offs, Tara took me to one of the public beaches so I could put my feet in the Persian Gulf.  It was chilly at first, but felt as warm as bath water as my feet adjusted.  I collected some beautiful seashells (really bright reddish/pink colors!) and we walked in the sand for a bit towards then Burj Al Arab (world’s tallest luxury hotel…SEVEN stars!) and then back to the car.  Then we headed to Emirates Mall because I wanted to see the indoor ski slope that I’ve heard about for years.  It was a crazy sight to behold, especially knowing that the desert was just on the other side of the wall!  I purchased some things at a little souvenir shop and we had a little snack at one of the eateries before heading back to the house for lunch.  When it was time to pick up Findley from the American School of Dubai (ASD), I was able to go in as a ‘visitor.’  What a lovely school!  It is a K-12 school and is like a little oasis (with high walls!) in the middle of the desert.  We headed home after the boys played on the playground for a bit.  Findley had drum practice that evening, so I stayed with Chase at the house.  Tara made meatloaf for dinner…it’s been a long time since I’ve had a delicious, quintessential American meal!

Day Four – Prior to my visit, Tara had made reservations for the two of us at The Sheikh Mohammed Cultural Centre for Understanding.  Our time would be spent hearing about the Muslim culture and life in Dubai, having an opportunity to ask questions and enjoying a selection of breakfast foods to eat while we listened (the best part!)  Tara and I arrived a little early so we wandered around down by a canal and even saw a camel on the property of the Cultural Center!!  The time we spent at the center was very informative and our presenter, Nasif, was extremely entertaining.  After the presentation, we picked up the boys and headed to the Marina Walk for ice cream, a nice treat on a warm, windy day.  We eventually made our way back home to relax and have leftover meatloaf (even better the 2^nd day!)  I took a cab later that evening to visit with Tamara at her house.  (My first cab driver was from Bangladesh and we talked about what his experience has been like living in Dubai.  He said he was happy to be living there, but he works really hard and makes very little and still sends money home to support his family…what a story!)  After visiting in the kitchen for a bit, Tamara fired up the barbeque in the backyard and we all (Tamara, Tamara’s mom, family friend and I) talked (and sang!) for many hours!  It was so lovely to continue seeing more sides of daily life in Dubai during my short visit to such a fascinating city!  I took another cab home and that driver was from Pakistan.  He also described his life in Dubai and how he decided to forego his studies (in Pakistan) so that his younger brothers could pursue their careers.  He was also trying to support his own family (5 sons) and still send money back to his family members back home.  He works 365 days a year, even when he’s sick.  I knew this would be the case, but I definitely heard first-hand that the life of the workers in Dubai is not as glamorous as the city that surrounds them…

Day Five – Tara and I made our way to the Burj Khalifa after dropping the boys off at school.  The Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building at 828 meters (2,717 feet!)  Tara had booked tickets ahead of time because the time slots sell out quickly, so that was a huge time-saver and relief!  The elevator stopped at the 124^th floor (but the building extends way above that) and rose quickly – my ears popped twice!  You do have the opportunity to have a 360° view, but only a quarter of that is outdoors.  There are even openings in the glass as you move around the platform (for better photos, maybe??  Seemed highly dangerous to me!)  The buildings down below are all skyscrapers in their own right (I think), but it seemed as though I were looking at a miniature city from that height.  Extremely surreal!  After our visit up above, we took an equally fast elevator down and immediately entered Dubai Mall, known for many things including over 1,200 stores (all price levels) and restaurants, an indoor aquarium, a huge arcarde, and a kid-friendly amusement area.  (I’m sure I’ve left something out…the place was incredible!)  Tara and I enjoyed a snack from a Parisian bakery (!!) and we walked all over for a bit before heading out to pick up the boys from school.  Tara had asked their babysitter to come over that evening and she and I pulled together our best “beach glamorous” attire and headed to the foot of the Atlantis Hotel/Resort area where we would meet up with her husband, Michael, who had been attending a conference all week.  (Thursday night is technically like a Friday night in Dubai because the workweek is Sunday-Thursday there!)  We drove into the Palm Islands and headed straight to the “top” and Nasimi Beach.  We enjoyed a drink or two as the sun set, the lights came on at the glamorous beachfront and the entertainment rolled out for the evening.  It was quite a show!  We eventually headed into the restaurant and had a delicious meal before wandering over to the Atlantis property where we saw an amazing Chihuly glass sculpture in the lobby and (yet another!) indoor aquarium.  After seeing two in one day, I realize how much I enjoy the feeling of calm that washes over me when watching these graceful fish, rays, and sharks as they glide through the water!  What a night!

Day Six – It was a Friday, but it felt like a Saturday.  We all slept in and relaxed the whole day – TV-watching, music-listening, book-reading…and even some bike-riding for me!  Tara offered to let me ride her bike and I went out and explored the neighborhood.  It was fun to peek into backyards and see how different all of the landscaping and layouts could be.  I spied some pools and gazebos and lots of palm trees.  The sun zapped my energy though and I promptly took a nap when I returned!  Later in the evening, we all got dressed (with the help of some hair gel, the boys both had ‘handsome hair’…so cute!)  and headed to Souk Al Bahar for dinner at an Argentinian restaurant called Asado.  We had a really nice view of the Dancing Fountains display at the foot of the Burj Khalifa and we all wandered near the kitchen to see what I ended up ordering for part of my dinner…goat on a spit…It was delicious!  Another amazing night in Dubai :)

Day Seven – The second day of the weekend (technically Saturday, but felt like Sunday) was spent in much the same way as the day previous…lots of relaxing!  But later that afternoon, we all headed toward the Jumeira Beach Hotel where some classmates of Findley were having a triple, 5-year old birthday party!  It was amazing and quite lavish and just as entertaining for the adults as for the 30+ children that were there!  The kids were taken to a pretty fun pool area where attendants looked after them and the parents took pictures and then games and balloon animals and swords were doled out in heavy measure.  The food was bountiful and delicious and the individual cakes for each little girl were something to behold!!  I wandered for a bit to the other side of the hotel and stuck my feet back in the water again and took some up close photos of the Burj Al Arab.  The sun was sparkling on the water and I could feel how enchanted by Dubai I had become.  Such a special and beautiful place full of interesting people with interesting stories and so much to discover.  I wonder if I’ll ever have the opportunity to return…

Day Eight – My departure day…Before heading to the airport, Tara and I went to a Spinney’s, a fabulous grocery store because she told me I’d be able to find inexpensive peanut butter there (you can find it in Paris, but it’s just cost-prohibitive!)  I thought it would be great fun to bring it back with me!!  The grocery store was something else!  So many familiar brands and labels (and some new ones, too!)  I’m always somewhat captivated by how things are organized in supermarkets (weird, I know!)  Dubai is such an international city that it makes sense to see many American, English, Australian, and even African and Asian foodstuffs…I loved seeing the name written in both English and Arabic on the packaging!  There was even a separate room for pork products (and non-Muslims)…it was a little surprising to see what was in there (besides the obvious things, of course)…oh my!  Tara dropped me off at the airport with plenty of time to spend my last few Dirhams on souvenirs and lunch.  Before I knew it, I was in my seat getting ready for my return flight to Paris!

I can’t believe how quickly my visit to Dubai came and went.  I was so fortunate to have such gracious hosts in Tara and Michael and their family.  And I loved the time that I was able to spend with Tamara…a lovely Australian, from Dubai, living and working in Paris…of all things!

A "few" photos follow if you'd like to see...

The sign says it all...

Souk Madinat...

The Burj Al Arab from a distance...

With my lovely hostess, Tara...

Quite different from the benches in Paris!

Burj Al Arab peeking...

In the sandy distance, the Burj Khalifa on the left and 

the outside of the indoor ski slope at Emirates Mall on the right 

(ASD parking lot)

Villa 67...

The Persian Gulf!

Burj Al Arab...

Toes were really in the water!

And ankles...

Loved the color of the shells!

Inside Emirates Mall...very nice!

Couldn't get over American stores...with Arabic translation!

Carrefour (French company) is everywhere!

Indoor snow activities...

Chair lifts and ski slope to boot!

Objects in mirror...

Playground at ASD...

Findley, age 5

Kindergarten/First Grade hallway with lots of projects...adorable!

Courtyard at ASD...

Fun to run and jump...Chase, age 3.5

"Did you hear Wendy's ran out of fries??"

"No biggie."

Got to see a camel up close!

Down by the canal...

Barefoot at the Sheikh Mohammed Cultural Centre for Understanding...

Amazing breakfast spread for the presentation...

Sesame bread, a pancake, eggs with noodles, dates, 

donut holes and the best date syrup...ever!

Our presenter, Nasif, ask for a volunteer to model the traditional women's clothing...

Tara nudged me to jump up!

A burqua made out of leather...

A niqab with eyes unveiled (there is a piece of fabric that flips 

down to shield the eyes from sun and sand)...

Incense to let visitors know it's time to go!

Skyscrapers in the distance...

Downtown Dubai...

I love the architecture!

Sand storm!!

Lobby of the Burj Khalifa...

Fast elevator ride to 124th floor!

The building continues to rise above the observation deck...

View from the top!

Dancing fountains below...

Top of the world, Ma! 

Literally.

Highly reflective!

More views...

From ground level...

Bloomingdales...

Eric Kayser, a French bakery!!

Huge aquarium...inside Dubai Mall!

Really?!

And that's the sun.

Atlantis from a distance from the highway running through the Palm Islands...

At the foot of Atlantis...

Glammed-out beach chairs slash beds...

Fiery entertainment...whoa.

Hookah...

My hosts, Michael and Tara!

Chihuly glass sculpture in the lobby of Atlantis...

outfit-matching optional.

Another giant indoor aquarium...in the hotel!

Goat on a spit...

Dancing fountains...

The view from our dinner table...

5-year olds' birthday party at the foot of the Jumeira Beach Hotel...

Kids' table...

Pool time...

Burj Al Arab...

Jumeira Beach Hotel (shaped like a wave)...

All lit up!

Dubai groceries...

Love the colors and flavors...hilarious!

So familiar and, yet...

Tara said these cans of egg nog have been around since last summer...

M'm, m'm, m'm...

Never far from a croissant or pain au chocolat...

International fruits for an international community...

The Pork Room...

Should I be surprised to find Pop-Tarts inside???

Perhaps it’s not goodbye, Dubai…

Just, so long and farewell

For now ♥