Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 1-4, 2015
Larry and I arrived in Dubai at 6:30am.We have been told that this airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. Why? Somehow they have gained a monopoly on all flights from Africa and surrounding countries. Our flight from Rome to Africa also had to stopover into this region, which is out of the way, to enter into Africa.
After the ten hour night time flight, we stood in line over an hour to get our passport stamped.....
We gathered our baggage and found a taxi. The driver was a kind Philipino lady with a pink scarf on her head. We asked her about it thinking that she was Islamic. She replied that it was her uniform and that she was required to wear it in Dubai.
Dubai is an incredibly modern city with unbelievable architecture!
Anyway, she gave us quite a little tour of Dubai before we arrived at our hotel. We made it to our hotel around 9:30am and got some shuteye. Whew!
In the evening we went out on the street looking for a restaurant....Skyscrapers everywhere. We were lucky to find a little French restaurant open. The Arab weekend is Friday and Saturday.... most everything was closed up tight!
In just one day, Larry and I have been amazed at how different this country is from anything that we have ever visited. The United Arab Emeritus, often referred to as the U.A.E, is a federation of seven different emirates, each with its own king (or Sheikh). Each emirate retains considerable autonomy, most notably over oil revenues. In theory, the President and Prime Minister are elected by the Supreme Council, which is composed of the kings of each of the seven emirates.
However, in practice, the king of Abu Dhabi is always elected President while the king of Dubai is always elected Prime Minister, making the posts
de facto hereditary. As a result the rulers--or Sheikhs--of each emirate are revered and can radically affect the way of life in his respective Emirate. For example, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum of Dubai is very modern minded, so Dubai is forward-thinking and cosmopolitan. The ruling sheikhs of Ajman and Sharjah are more conservative, thus the rules there are more strict concerning religion, alcohol, and general living conditions.
The countries focus on oil exports and commerce is reflected by the skyline’s modern towers and shopping mega-centers.
Construction is going on everywhere. From the top of our hotel I counted 25 construction cranes within a 180 degree view....the cranes are everywhere throughout the city.
Trip to Abu Dhabi
After leaving the skyscrapers of Dubai, we took the 10 lane highway on our tour with three other couples...two of which were honeymooners....for about an hour and half. Outside of the city vast lands of desert stretched for miles out about the horizon. Trees were planted uniformly all along the road with hoses following their paths for watering....nothing would survive this climate without a daily watering. It was amazing to see things so thought out.... who starts out with a 10 lane highway....manicured with trees? Really!
Abu Dhabi is the capitol of the UAE. It sits off the mainland on an island in the Persian Gulf.
After about an hour drive we started passing large elaborate compounded homes....all the same shape and size. The government provides 4 things for free to each of its citizens...a home, an education, health care, and a wedding, but everyone must work unless you are elderly or disabled.
This unusual cookie shaped building is the HQ or Headquarters of Development in Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate of the UAE (United Arab Emirates).
Abu Dhabi is the capital of UAE and is considered the key worship area in the country. We started our tour of Abu Dhabi at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque's design and construction "unites the world", using artisans and materials from many countries including Italy, Germany, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece and United Arab Emirates.
More than 3,000 workers and 38 renowned contracting companies took part in the construction of the mosque. Natural materials were chosen for much of its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics. It was built by the Italian company Impregilo.
All women must cover their heads before entering. Two of our co-visitors were of Islamic faith. They were already prepared to enter, so they gladly helped me and the other Maldavian lady to adjust a scarf properly.
What an interesting experience!
Stunning architecture..... The design of the mosque can be best described as a fusion of Arab, Persian, Mughal and Moorish architecture.
I won't mention a word about how hot it is outside!
Larry is wanting to take a dip!!!
As the UAR's grand mosque, it is the key place of worship for the Friday gathering and Eid prayers. During Eid, it is visited by more than 41,000 people.
Everyone had to take their shoes off before entering.
We were all under close watch during the visit....everything was monitored.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from the company Faustig in Munich Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier inside the mosque is the third largest in the world.
The carpet in the main prayer hall is considered to be the world's largest carpet made by Iran's Carpet Company and designed by Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi. It took approximately two years to complete.
The 96 columns in the main prayer hall are clad with marble and inlaid with mother of pearl, one of the few places in the world where you will see this kind of craftsmanship.
Islamic Clock shows the five times of daily prayer.
Quite a remarkable building!
We headed further into the city passing some very unique structures.
The architecture in UAE is incredible...an architect's dream.
Grand Palace Hotel....a seven star wonder....reminded us of Las Vegas...without the gambling.
I'm not sure that this painting is large enough of the king.
Everything was sparkling and shiny.
The ceiling
A carpet rendition of the palace hung on the two staircase walls...one for the day time version and this one... the night time.
Afternoon tea...served daily....something retained from the past British traditions.
A gorgeous cabana beach with yacht views
Everything here was first class...and my man brought me to it!!!!
UAE Heritage Village...this area did not seem to be a priority of the government.
Archeological digs...with modern city in the smoggy background.
Ferrari World is an amusement park all about speed....we watched the roller coaster cars whiz by.
What a car...........WHAT A MAN!!!!!
My kind of ride!!!!
An example of a home provided by the king to the local UAE citizens.
Trip to Sharjah....one of the seven sheikdoms of UAE.
We took a desert tour on our third day in Dubai. We arrived deep into the desert after about an hour drive.
AHHHH.....Just another day in the Arab world!
Larry enjoyed kicking up his heels (father like daughters) after some dune bashing...truly a male idea of entertainment.
The desert is really beautiful in the evening....I'm not sure how nice it would be with the hotter temperatures during the day.
Sheik Larry...just hanging out like one of the locals!
Four wheeling was popular.
Dune bashing was not one of my most memorable moment...you can tell by the hair do.
Entrance into the Arab Village
Amanda, from Boston, joined us for dinner with Damien, from Australia...cute couple
Tea, Coffee, Dates...first course...and the normal Arab starter for a meal.
A little sand surfing....
and a camel ride
before dinner. How thrilling....you must hold on tight because the camel gets up on its hind legs first throwing you forward and then it raises the front legs up throwing you back.
What an exciting experience!
Back to the village for some Arabian entertainment...
An Arab dancer swirled and twirled and led us to the buffet of grilled lamb, chicken, kabobs, curry, humus, yogart, salad and camel...yes...CAMEL....How can you eat that thinking about those big gorgeous eyes?
More entertainment...a belly dancer....with a full moon over the desert. The ride home was amazing with all the sky scrapers lit up.
We went to the top floor of our hotel to get some shots of the Dubai skyline! Fantastic! This is just a tiny piece of the incredible towering skyline.
WOW!
After a little stroll among the towering structures, we returned back to the Radison Blu for a good night's rest.
On our last day in Dubai we took a cab to the Dubai Mall, supposedly the largest mall in the world...and I believe it. We walked and walked and walked and still didn't get to see everything. Four floors with an ice skating rink, an aquarium, a waterfall, and about every store and restaurant that you can think of.
This was the second mall that we had visited in UAE...they are all extravagant and pristine....very popular place with the locals. People hang out here because it is cooler inside than it is outside.
The Mall Aquarium
What an exotic sight!
We arrived just in time to watch the diver feed the fish!
Our final destination today....to the top of the highest building in the world...Burj Khalifa....within the Dubai Mall. Where did the name come from? The sheik of Dubai started this project in 2004. He ran a little short of funds so the Sheik of Abu Dhabi (king) put up the remaining funds with the request that the building be named after himself...hence the name Burj Khalifa. It opened to the public in 2010.
We purchased a ticket for a 3:30pm entrance and rode in the super smooth elevator...you would never know that you were moving other than your ears popping....it only took a minute to reach the top...AMAZING!!
The views were tremendous....and the smog was oh so thick!
Looking straight down....the mall is to the left.
Views at the waterfall are typical of the normal shoppers.
Ice Skating Rink
Oh the sights you see!
Larry and I returned to the hotel for a little dinner and nice swim in the pool before catching a taxi to the Dubai Airport at 10:30 pm
So modern with flashing lights, we were able to pass through the customs much quicker than when we had arrived.
We waited in Terminal 3 until 2:00am for our 15 hour flight home... arriving in Dullas at 9:15am. My, my... is our internal clock going to be a little off for a few weeks? For sure, but every minute of this adventure was well worth it!
"As you get older, time is the most precious thing. You can’t
buy it , you can’t get it back, and how you spend it becomes the most important
thing." Angelina Jolie Pitt
Most Unusual Food Eaten – Camel
