Day 22 - Dubai

Day 22 – Dubai – Wednesday 6/6/12

Weather – Fine and Sunny 31C - 39C

Sunrise – 5.28am

Sunset – 7.07pm

Time difference - minus 6 hours ex Sydney.

We were about an hour and a half late into Dubai this morning, no reason given. The approach to the berth at the Dubai Cruise Terminal, gave a little glimpse of what was in store for us today. Luxury yachts, and launches, against a backdrop of the QE2 permanently moored at Port Rashid. The haze is very thick, which did not make for great photos.

Today we are booked on a private tour, organised by a CC colleague, Narelle, which was to take us for a tour of the city highlights, and boy is there plenty of them. I am sure I am not going to remember everything we saw and visited, but we will have a go. This is certainly a city on steroids, with everything being bigger than the norm. The tallest free standing building in the world, the largest aquarium in the world, the largest shopping mall in the worlds etc etc etc.

First stop was a photo op at Jumeirah Mosque. With its intricate detail adorning its domes and giant towers, the Jumeirah Mosque is one of Dubai's most prominent structures, and perhaps the most photographed landmark in the city. It only seemed appropriate for the SHB photo to be taken here.

We then took a drive along the “Hollywood Boulevard' of Dubai (very noice), on the way to a visit to what would be the first of many malls and souks throughout the day, the Souk Madinat Jumeirah. It was a lovely modern mall in what is the Arabian Resort of Dubai, resembling an ancient Arabian Citadel, combining opulence and tradition, the resort offers boutique hotels, restaurants and shopping with working waterways transporting guests throughout the complex. Mark that one down for a future visit he thinks.

Then it was off to 'The Palm”, phew what a place. They sure know how to fitout a mall with opulence here, simply stunning. Just after you walk in the entrance there is an ATM with a difference, it does not dispense cash, but gold nuggets..no joke, we have got the photo !!

Next stop was a quick lunch stop in the Food Court of the Emirates Mall, yet another big shopping mall. What an amazing sight to see ski slopes inside this building, and they are big (of course), one of the ski runs is over 100 meters long, inside a shopping mall mind you..amazing. We sought out a Pharmacy for some dressings (foot has yet another burst blister) , vitamin C (oh oh, Donna has the sniffles), then we were off to the Dubai Museum.

I am not a big museum fan, but Dubai Museum is really well put together (of course), and really interesting. Donna too the opportunity to get a tattoo on the right arm and hand. Before the family get too shocked, it is a Henna Tattoo, which I believe will dissipate over the next month. It only took 5 minutes, done freehand, and looks very nice, if it is possible for a tattoo to look nice.

Then it was a short walk to the creek to jump on a Abra, a type of water taxi. A little wooden boat, that putt putts across the creek between the 'new' Dubai and the 'old' Dubai. Once safely across, You really did recognise that you were now in 'old Dubai' the architecture of the buildings, the narrow streets seem like a world away from the morning's location.

We made a visit to the renowned Spice Souks. What a fascinating place, with the aromas just wafting the the rows of stalls and shops. Donna had heard about the date almonds, or almond dates, not sure what they are called, and when she saw some chocolate coated ones it was a sale :)

Close by is the renowned Dubai Gold Souk, a large concentration of jewellery stores and one of the worlds most significant gold markets where vendors sell tons of glittering pieces, from earrings to necklaces to bracelets and even solid gold bars. We resisted the urge :) However I did spot a stall selling the Sheiks headdress, and bought a full set, may just wear that to our next formal night tomorrow.

Back on the bus to Dubai Mall, the largest shopping mall in the world, with over 1200 shops. This is the location to where you go up the Burj Khalifa which is just impossible not to notice. It holds the record of the worlds tallest building, complete with an impressive observation deck and a unique design that spirals ever narrower as its more than 160 stories reach toward the sky. Whilst our travel companions went up, we sought out the worlds largest Aquarium which is also housed here, and looked in awe at some of the shops here. The lolly shop (biggest in the world) and the chocolate shop did not go unnoticed.

Then it was a outside to watch a really impressive water display. Water jets put on a fantastic show, choreographed in time with music that just brings the area alive. A fantastic way to finish our tour. It was back on the bus and return to ship as the sun set over the Burj Khalifa.

Although we could have stayed out and about for quite a few hours , as we were not leaving till 11pm, the heat, humidity and excitement took its toll, so it was back to the cabin for showers and room service...what a day.

At 11pm, we left our berth, not long after the pilot jumped off, and we passed 3 miles portside of 'The World Project' (an artificial archipelago of various small islands constructed in the rough shape of he world map, located 2.5 miles off the coast. We also passed starboard of Palm Deira (another artificial archipelago, part of the Palm Islands, and then retraced our inward courses of the morning through the Persian Gulf towards the Strait of Hormuz which we will transit early morning, on route to our next port of call, Salalah Oman.