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Dubai... by Fiona MacLeod  What a fascinating place! From the minute I stepped into the modern air-conditioned airport and saw women in the traditional black abeyyas and burquas, I knew this was going to be a unique city. With only a week to spend in Dubai, I wanted to see and do as much as possible, and we did! We saw more in 7 days than my friend has done in the five years she has lived there! From the bustling gold and spice souqs to the calming beauty of the beaches in Fujairah, from the thumping bass line of the hotel nightclubs to the lilting charm of the belly-dancer's flautist and from the frenetic energy of the dock workers to the dead silence of the desert at night, Dubai has something for everyone. After three days exploring the city and visiting the vast array of museums and historical sites that Dubai has to offer, we made our way to the neighbouring Emirate of Fujairah and spent a day relaxing on the empty beach, swimming in crystal clear water and spotting turtles. A dinner cruise up the Creek on a converted dhow was the perfect end to a beautiful day. Of course, no visit to Dubai is complete without a trip into the desert. We selected an overnight camping trip with dune bashing. Our 24-year-old guide was delighted to discover that we would be the only ones of the group staying overnight, and that he would have to stay with us! We joined approximately 15 other vehicles at the appointed location in nearby Sharjah, partially deflated the tyres and we were off! As the sand slips and slides beneath you, an experienced driver can make the difference between and exhilarating trip and a terrifying one! Our driver realized fairly quickly that we wanted a thrill, and so took the last spot in line and made his own route. While the other drivers carefully drove around the worst dunes, Fahed raced to the top and shouted "look down, look down!" before charging down at full speed, sand flying in all directions! As darkness fell and driving became too dangerous, we made our way to a traditional Bedouin camp. Here we were treated to a full Arabian barbecue, complete with belly dancer, camel rides, henna treatments and sheesha pipe. After all the noise and excitement, the absolute silence of the night is startling. There are no birds twittering, no cicadas chirping or even snakes rustling. Nothing; just an empty silence and then an incredible sunrise that creeps up over the horizon and the spills over the dunes in a blaze of colour. Thinking it was all over, we were sorry to leave. However, our guide had a treat for us! He drove us to the top of the dunes, pulled a snowboard out of the trunk and strapped us on! As the sand disappeared from under us we fairly flew down the 40 -foot drop! From there we went wadi bashing. Wadis are dried-up riverbeds, which can be driven through in 4WD vehicles. In winter they fill with water and it is possible to swim in them. The water is surprisingly warm and clear. After all this excitement we returned to Dubai and visited the 5 star Jumeirah Beach Hotel for drinks. This is a fabulous hotel best known for its stunning lobby which is open all the way to the top of the building- over 20floors and which has a 3D map of the United Arab Emirates all the way up one wall. A glass elevator takes you to the rooftop bar and restaurant, offering one of the best views of the city. The neighbouring Burj al-Arab is the world's only 7 star hotel. Standing over 320 meters tall, the hotel is set on its own island and is an all-suite property, complete with personal butler. The two restaurants are at opposite ends of the building: one is set in the basement, surrounded by a live aquarium, and the other sits on a concrete arm extending from the building 300 meters above the ground. With a helipad on the roof and security cameras alerting limo drivers to guests leaving their rooms, this property has everything the millionaire businessman could need. We decided not to pay the requested $50 simply to enter the lobby but admired this spectacular building from the outside only. This is a destination that has it all: culture, history, beaches and excitement. And what could be more romantic than watching the sun set over the golden dunes of the Arabian Desert? |
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