Our four days in Dubai started very slowly. Although it was my birthday, we had flown from Lisbon overnight. We didn't sleep very much so when we arrived in Dubai all we wanted to do was sleep. Unfortunately we didn’t have a room so we lazed around the pool and slept on the pool lounges.
For dinner we caught the metro to watch the water fountain show outside the Burj Khalifa. It was really spectacular, as was the Burj itself. Inside the mall there is a skating rink as well as an Aquarium - massive complex.
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| Ice Skating Rink |
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Aquarium
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The next day we had a late start - we didn’t get out of bed until lunch time ! We went to the beach for a swim - it is over 35oC in Dubai which is cool for them. For us it was a bit hot so the beach was a lovely refreshing dip. No waves but heaps of shells and coral for the kids to collect.A refreshing dip in the complex pool and then off on a bus tour to see Dubai at night.
It was lovely to sit at the top of the double decker bus and enjoy the breeze. The city looks so stunning with all the lights, and architectural creations.
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| Atlantis - The Palm |
On the way home we dropped into Mall of the Emirates to have a look around. They have the largest indoor snow skiing area in the world.
The next day we attempted to go to the Burj Khalifa - but it is booked out for days in advance. Unless you want to spend $120 each to go up - $600 was a bit expensive for the family to go! We have been in the tallest building in the world - just not 'up' the tallest building. We got to have a look around Dubai - so many changes since Peter & I were here in 2001.
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| Oryx |
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| The Mitchell kids ! Run..... |
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| The dunes |
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| Nick in the dunes |
We got to watch a great falcon show - such an impressive killing machine.
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| Nina & Addison |
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| Sunset over the desert |
We met some lovely people from French Guiana (South America) and Addison made a friend called Nina. She was 5 years old and speaks French - not English. As we know Addison is 6 and speaks English - not French. However they both managed to play together and had a wonderful time despite the language barrier. Nothing like hunting for bugs at night to bring together two kids !
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| Arabian lady dressed in hijab, abaya & niqab - henna painting |
We all had a turn getting a henna tattoo, except Peter who had a turn at the sheisha pipe instead. We had a great traditional arabian dinner of rice, roast meat and grilled kebabs, and in the morning a not so traditional breakfast of pancakes! It was all delicious.
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| Cooking the traditional |
In the morning we had a long talk with a local bedouin - finding out lots of interesting information about the old nomadic way of life.
This camp was permanent and had toilet facilities. We had a choice of sleeping in a traditional goat hair tent, or under the stars. We all chose to sleep out in the open so we could look for falling stars.
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| The Mitchell camp |
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| Sunrise |
Surprisingly the night temperature was a little cool and very damp - a nice change from 38oC in Dubai. Our covers were all wet in the morning - we had wet the bed (ha ha).
The kids favourite activity for the camp was camel riding - they had at least 10 rides during the night and then the next day.
We were glad to have done the overnight camp as in the morning the temperature quickly rose and became very uncomfortable.
When we got back to our motel it was the middle of our last day in Dubai. Peter & the kids went for a swim in the ocean while I packed our bags.
As a treat, and because we had saved money by not going up the Burj Khalifa and by not having afternoon tea in the Buj Al Arab, we went out for dinner at The Atlantis.
All you can eat buffet - but expensive and HUGE! It was so nice though. A great finish to a wonderful holiday.
This camp was permanent and had toilet facilities. We had a choice of sleeping in a traditional goat hair tent, or under the stars. We all chose to sleep out in the open so we could look for falling stars.
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