Dubai: History, Souks and a Desert Adventure

We arrived at our hotel in Dubai this morning at 3am, much, much later than expected. Our flight from Venice was delayed an hour, and the organisers in Dubai took us to the wrong hotel after unpacking all our luggage. once back on the road we finally checked into the Ibis Al Barsha Hotel at 3 am. So because of this, no blog was entered for that day! Sorry! The longer wait at Venice airport gave everyone the last chance to eat Italian food and Jonathon made up for it with his giant pizza slice. Our transport from The Lido to the airport was by water taxi - quite an experience arriving at the terminal by boat - but that's Venice!

 

After getting to sleep sometime after 3 am this morning, we had to be up and ready for our morning walking tour at 9 am. While most made it to breakfast and the lobby by the set time, others were still in deep slumber in their beds! It was all a very big ask!

Our tour guide took us by bus to the cane of the city so we could see the Burj Al Khalifa, recently the worlds tallest building, up close. Most impressive! We then visited the old quarter of Dubai visiting a historical house and a museum on the camel before walking through a textile souk. We caught a traditional boat to the other side of Dubai Creek to visit the gold and spice souks. It was very warm, around 38 degrees but a dry heat.

 

We were dropped at the Mall of the Emirates at the conclusion of our tour to exchange money and have some lunch as well as see the second largest shopping centre in the world. A major attraction of the centre is its ski park with proper t-bar ski run, toboggan slides and plenty of snow! Unfortunately we only had an hour to spare, so could not fully explore the famed shopping centre.

 

In the afternoon, four 4 wheel drive cars and drivers came to pick us up and take us on our desert adventure. We drove 45 minutes into the desert outside of Dubai, with other tourists enjoying the same experience. Our first stop was watching a falcon and his owner and be informed of the history of the use of falcons as hunting birds in the desert. We then got back into the 4WDs and surfed the dunes with very capable drivers, spinning through the sand, climbing dunes and descending steep slopes much like riding a roller coaster, and wondering when the car would roll over! They never did! A very exhilarating experience!

Our last stop w at the Bedouin camp where. Camel rides, henna painting and a banquet meal awaited us. We sat like bedouins on large cushions around low tables in traditional tent canopies. It was a fabulous way to spend our last night in Dubai and our last major experience of the journey. Every place had is own special characteristics and left us all wanting for more!!!!!!

 

Up for any early start in the morning, leaving for Dubai Airport at 7.15am. Hopefully we will all get a well deserved sleep tonight before the long haul home. See you in Sydney!!!!!!