Dubai, Sahara Desert, UAE
Wow--today was such a busy day! It's 9:30 and we just got home. We're stuffed and covered in sand! This morning, our last day in Dubai, we walked to the Dubai Mall to access the Burj Khalifa. We went in and they had a small display that you walk by about the development of Dubai and the development of all of the tall buildings. In several places, it said that it wasn't about the size of the building, it was about the strength and the will of the people to build such a thing. (Yeah--it's still about the size of the building). The Burj Khalifa was built in five years, being finished in 2009. It will be eclipsed by the Jeddah Tower in 2020 (Saudi Arabia) which will then be topped by the Dubai Creek Tower a year later (in Dubai again). The Dubai Creek Tower will only contain an observation deck with a glass floor. The regular tour of the Burj Khalifa goes up to floors 124 and 125 where the observation decks are. They will soon be offering tickets to go up to floor 154--the top floor before the spire. The end of the tour was seeing a new development that will surround the Dubai Creek Tower. A few of the buildings are being built right now, the tower should be done in 2021 and the island nearby should be done in 2022, with the entire development hopefully to be done around 2040.
After that, we returned to our apartment to prepare for our Desert Safari. They were supposed to pick us up from the lobby of our building at 2:30. At 2:45, Randy called and they said, small mix-up, 3:30. So we went back upstairs for 45 more minutes. Then we came back down and 20 minutes later, Randy called again and the driver (Majir?) arrived a few minutes later. We didn't really know what to expect, something about desert, ATVs, dinner, and bellydancers. There were two young men with us from Haiti (living in Paris). They were speaking French and Joshua got to practice some of his French at dinner. First we drove a ways into the desert, then stopped at an outpost of sorts with a parking area filled with other SUVs and small buses. Our driver said that we had 25 minutes. We used the toilets and bought snacks, then waited in the air conditioned lounge. We didn't know that if we wanted to drive in the sand on motorbikes or ATVs, that was the time to buy tickets and do so. It turns out that it was only in a small enclosure, so nothing lost. Our driver bought each of us a bottle of water.
Then our driver went out onto the sand. He cranked up his music--rap--and told us to be sure to have our seat belts on. Then he took off! He calls it dune blasting! It was crazy and super fun--better than a roller coaster! We were driving crazy over the dunes, sometimes sideways, and hopping over spaces. We had so much fun. Until we heard a crunch on one of our landings. It turned out to be the platform that the spare tire sits on. He said that it will be fine. We went a little further where we could get out and take pictures. Walking in the sand was very hard! The sand is also very hot sliding into your sandals. There was a bit of breeze though, so the heat index of 118 was bearable. I talked to the driver about the dune blasting and the sand. He went and filled a water bottle for me full of sand which was very sweet.
Next we went back to the station for a five minute break to wash our hands and faces to get the sand off. We were covered. The station has a little store with snacks and souvenirs, a cafe, toilets, a prayer room, and 2 air-conditioned lounges. There are also camel rides, ATV riding, and motorbike riding available for a price. I was glad that the toilets were sit-down toilets. Many places have both, but some only have the squat toilets--a porcelain base with places for your feet and a hole in the floor. And usually no toilet paper. What a sad state of being to be happy to have a traditional toilet!
Then our driver bought us juice boxes and we left the station. We eventually pulled out in a space with a bunch of other vehicles and drove in. There was another walled enclosure here. Our driver pointed up the hill and said that there were camel rides that were included in our ticket. Randy and Joshua ran up to get a sunset picture over the dunes (I missed that), while I went with the young men to ride the camels. I know it's cruel, but I also really wanted to experience it. I told the two men to give me their phone when they went first and I took photos. Then I asked them to do the same for me. Not very good pics, but what can you do? Joshua also went on a camel ride, then we all headed indoors. A man gave us the low-down (but of course our French friends didn't understand so we chose for them). Self-service for the meal and drinks was included, you paid more for them to bring the food to you. Our driver showed back up and had saved us a table near the stage. He gave us the low-down again. Also included, was a small henna design for the "ladies". I did the Henna and Joshua got us some water. He asked the men if he could get a picture with them, so I did that with his camera. We were called up to line up for dinner and we received a small plate with basically french fries and a deep-fried ball shape with some slightly spicy filling and a small bottle of pop. We were wondering if that was dinner. The bellydancer came out and performed, then a pair of met with light up traditional outfits danced. Then we were called up again and there was a buffet with pita bread, 2 kinds of rice, several vegetable and pasta dishes, noodles, and other dishes that we weren't sure of. Then we received a kabob (I think it was lamb) and a fried vegetable--I think it was a sweet potato. Everything was very yummy and we all became full! A man and woman combo danced, then a fire breather, then the bellydancer returned with a sword. Then our driver returned and it was time to go. Wow, we were stuffed, covered in sand, hot and sweaty (everything was outdoors), and tired. It was 9:30 and we had to return to Dubai.
We leave tomorrow for Cairo. I will post pictures tomorrow of our apartment when it's clean!
Wow--today was such a busy day! It's 9:30 and we just got home. We're stuffed and covered in sand! This morning, our last day in Dubai, we walked to the Dubai Mall to access the Burj Khalifa. We went in and they had a small display that you walk by about the development of Dubai and the development of all of the tall buildings. In several places, it said that it wasn't about the size of the building, it was about the strength and the will of the people to build such a thing. (Yeah--it's still about the size of the building). The Burj Khalifa was built in five years, being finished in 2009. It will be eclipsed by the Jeddah Tower in 2020 (Saudi Arabia) which will then be topped by the Dubai Creek Tower a year later (in Dubai again). The Dubai Creek Tower will only contain an observation deck with a glass floor. The regular tour of the Burj Khalifa goes up to floors 124 and 125 where the observation decks are. They will soon be offering tickets to go up to floor 154--the top floor before the spire. The end of the tour was seeing a new development that will surround the Dubai Creek Tower. A few of the buildings are being built right now, the tower should be done in 2021 and the island nearby should be done in 2022, with the entire development hopefully to be done around 2040.
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| The park near the Bufj Khalifa and Dubai Mall |
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| Art in front of the Opera House |
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| You can see the spire in the circle |
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| Photos from the top |
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| This shows video footage as if the floor were glass, and it cracks as you walk on it |
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| Joshua in front of a project someone did about angels |
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| Randy |
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| Me, trying to find where my hands should go |
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| Me |
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| Model of the building of the Burj Khalifa |
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| The development with the Dubai Creek Tower |
After that, we returned to our apartment to prepare for our Desert Safari. They were supposed to pick us up from the lobby of our building at 2:30. At 2:45, Randy called and they said, small mix-up, 3:30. So we went back upstairs for 45 more minutes. Then we came back down and 20 minutes later, Randy called again and the driver (Majir?) arrived a few minutes later. We didn't really know what to expect, something about desert, ATVs, dinner, and bellydancers. There were two young men with us from Haiti (living in Paris). They were speaking French and Joshua got to practice some of his French at dinner. First we drove a ways into the desert, then stopped at an outpost of sorts with a parking area filled with other SUVs and small buses. Our driver said that we had 25 minutes. We used the toilets and bought snacks, then waited in the air conditioned lounge. We didn't know that if we wanted to drive in the sand on motorbikes or ATVs, that was the time to buy tickets and do so. It turns out that it was only in a small enclosure, so nothing lost. Our driver bought each of us a bottle of water.
 |
| Of course, a cat found Joshua |
Then our driver went out onto the sand. He cranked up his music--rap--and told us to be sure to have our seat belts on. Then he took off! He calls it dune blasting! It was crazy and super fun--better than a roller coaster! We were driving crazy over the dunes, sometimes sideways, and hopping over spaces. We had so much fun. Until we heard a crunch on one of our landings. It turned out to be the platform that the spare tire sits on. He said that it will be fine. We went a little further where we could get out and take pictures. Walking in the sand was very hard! The sand is also very hot sliding into your sandals. There was a bit of breeze though, so the heat index of 118 was bearable. I talked to the driver about the dune blasting and the sand. He went and filled a water bottle for me full of sand which was very sweet.
 |
| The Sahara Desert |
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| The sand |
Next we went back to the station for a five minute break to wash our hands and faces to get the sand off. We were covered. The station has a little store with snacks and souvenirs, a cafe, toilets, a prayer room, and 2 air-conditioned lounges. There are also camel rides, ATV riding, and motorbike riding available for a price. I was glad that the toilets were sit-down toilets. Many places have both, but some only have the squat toilets--a porcelain base with places for your feet and a hole in the floor. And usually no toilet paper. What a sad state of being to be happy to have a traditional toilet!
Then our driver bought us juice boxes and we left the station. We eventually pulled out in a space with a bunch of other vehicles and drove in. There was another walled enclosure here. Our driver pointed up the hill and said that there were camel rides that were included in our ticket. Randy and Joshua ran up to get a sunset picture over the dunes (I missed that), while I went with the young men to ride the camels. I know it's cruel, but I also really wanted to experience it. I told the two men to give me their phone when they went first and I took photos. Then I asked them to do the same for me. Not very good pics, but what can you do? Joshua also went on a camel ride, then we all headed indoors. A man gave us the low-down (but of course our French friends didn't understand so we chose for them). Self-service for the meal and drinks was included, you paid more for them to bring the food to you. Our driver showed back up and had saved us a table near the stage. He gave us the low-down again. Also included, was a small henna design for the "ladies". I did the Henna and Joshua got us some water. He asked the men if he could get a picture with them, so I did that with his camera. We were called up to line up for dinner and we received a small plate with basically french fries and a deep-fried ball shape with some slightly spicy filling and a small bottle of pop. We were wondering if that was dinner. The bellydancer came out and performed, then a pair of met with light up traditional outfits danced. Then we were called up again and there was a buffet with pita bread, 2 kinds of rice, several vegetable and pasta dishes, noodles, and other dishes that we weren't sure of. Then we received a kabob (I think it was lamb) and a fried vegetable--I think it was a sweet potato. Everything was very yummy and we all became full! A man and woman combo danced, then a fire breather, then the bellydancer returned with a sword. Then our driver returned and it was time to go. Wow, we were stuffed, covered in sand, hot and sweaty (everything was outdoors), and tired. It was 9:30 and we had to return to Dubai.
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| My henna |
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| The bellydancer |
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| The two male dancers |
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| dinner |
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| dancers |
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| The fire guy |
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| He is blowing fire |
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| The bellydancer returns |
We leave tomorrow for Cairo. I will post pictures tomorrow of our apartment when it's clean!
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| This is on our ceiling telling us which distance Mecca is (for prayers). It is west and slightly north. |
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