What a BLAST we had a couple of weekends ago when we finally got to venture out and see the most amazing city in the immediate vicinity. Dubai is only a quick (though less than scenic) 90 minute jaunt from quiet and relaxed little Al Ain. Jeremy threw together a fantastic day trip for all of us to enjoy the best Dubai has to offer in about 8 hours time (plus...I didn't have to plan AT ALL - which is always fantastic)!
We started off at the local rugby club on the outskirts of the city, hoping to grab some appetizers and a pint or two while enjoying the U.S. vs. Australia game. Our first clue that this may not be exactly what we were hoping for should have been the insanely indirect route those coming to the club from the Al Ain direction are forced to follow just to arrive in the parking lot. It was SO confusing! Most people who live here in the UAE will tell you, "That's just how things are here..." But this was beyond absurd! The twists and turns and bypasses required in order to reach the club were appalling! How this place stays in business, I will never know!
When we finally got inside, the atmosphere was nothing like what we were hoping for. One of our favorite destinations at home in Al Ain is our local rugby club. Filled with friendly expats and the epitome of the laid-back social club, the Palm Sports Resort is always a happy place for our family to visit. Not so for the Dubai rugby club. We were sorely disappointed with the lack of kindness shown by the wait staff and patrons alike. We should have known when nobody commented on Dalila's cuteness immediately upon arrival that we weren't in a welcome place (sad way to judge a facility...but entirely accurate too! The quicker people notice our little blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty, the faster and better the service always is!). Needless to say, we cut the visit to Dubai rugby club short (and, oddly enough, exiting the facility was an absolute breeze! Shouldn't the opposite be true? Easy to get to but difficult to leave? One more for the many strikes against this club).
After we left, we decided to just move our plans forward a couple hours and head to our main destination, the Dubai Mall, early. One of the most amazing sights I have seen thus far on our over-seas voyage was the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, looming over the other sky-scrapers peppering the Dubai skyline on the approach into town. The building is truly incredible, standing literally twice as tall as the next tallest neighbor - which would be tall in any other city, but not next to Burj Khalifa. Watching the building "grow" to its full height as we slowly approached the city was amazing.
Conveniently located right next to the tallest building in the world is the largest mall in the world - and the sight of the next leg of our day trip. The Dubai Mall is beautiful!! It boasts a huge aquarium and zoo, dozens of beautiful fountains and atriums, and a gold souk with the most incredible (and wearable) works of art imaginable. The sharks at the aquarium were terrifying, but Dalila LOVED them! She growled each time one swam over her head in the massive underwater walkway. Show her a guy dressed up in a shark costume serving fish in the food court, though, and she screams in terror....go figure.
After a wonderful visit to the aquarium and zoo, we were ready to see another world's largest - this time, the fountain show outside the Burj Khalifa. The enormous dancing fountains set to a lively Arabian tune with the Burj Khalifa providing the most stunning backdrop is an indescribable show. We waited outside for thirty minutes in a prime location to watch the fountains....only to leave early when Dalila was terrified of the fountain show.....again.....go figure! To this day, she screams when she sees even a split second of the video Jeremy managed to shoot of the water show. Poor girl!
And to top off the night....Mexican food!! This may not seem too exciting to people who haven't been in the UAE for an extended period of time.....but good Mexican food is nearly impossible to find here! And it is one of our favorites. A perfect way to end a fantastic, though not completely according-to-plan, day! Thanks to my wonderful Jeremy for the amazing day-cation!!!
Burj Khalifa on the approach into Dubai.............
Fountain in Dubai Mall..............
The gold souk................
The Aquarium........
An indoor boutique street in Dubai Mall....featuring a CAT store (?!).......
A pretty tree in a sweet store...where photography is strictly prohibited ;) .......
Burj Khalifa and the fountain show............
Five minutes after loading up in the car to head home, snuggling her sparkly purple penguin from the aquarium.............
What time did the fountain show start on your video, that looked very cool... Will have to take my mother-in-law when she comes in December.
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We saw the first show - at 7:00 pm. It was beautiful!! At least....what we got to see of it before we had to leave.
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