Ahhhh! Stepping into international travel blogging now!
It was the most excited trip I was dreading to go to. Habibi!!!!! Welcome to the Emirates!!
It was a travel group of closely knit people and was a weak long trip.
I started my journey from Chennai on a beautiful Saturday morning and after a flight of nearly 3 hours and 45 minutes, I reached Abu Dhabi. Upon landing, I felt a bit homesick, but the irony was that the restaurant I went to for a quick break called Century, played lively beats from Tamil Cinema which made me feel right at home. I enjoyed a delicious Indian breakfast there and it was a great way to start my trip!
I had dressed up in a chic outfit for the trip and felt good about myself. After landing in Abu Dhabi, we had to travel for about 1.5 hours to reach our hotel in Dubai. As an Indian, I was amazed to see vast areas of desert lands with no human settlements in sight. However, it was fascinating to learn that the government was transforming these barren lands into some of the most breathtaking cities in the world, such as Dubai.
On our first day, we stayed in Deira Dubai, also known as 'New Dubai,' and our main priority was to enjoy the Dhow Cruise. Before that, we managed to visit the Gold Souk, which was a quick ride away. I was amazed to see the luxury lifestyle of the people there. I even spotted some renowned celebrities there, which was quite exciting!
There were so many shopping options in Dubai that it was easy to get sidetracked from our original purpose. The glamour of the city was evident in the bodycon dresses made of gold that were on display. After shopping until near sunset, we took a luxurious ride back to our hotel, which was made possible by the abundance of Tesla taxis in Dubai. Although we didn't ride in a Tesla, we had the pleasure of riding in a Lexus.
While walking back to the hotel, we came across a Rolls Royce parked in the scorching sun with no one in sight. It was a testament to the city's safety, as many people explained that Dubai is completely controlled by a camera system that allows for minimal police presence and no concerns for theft or safety. It's truly one of the safest cities in the world
We were excited to board the Dhow Cruise, a wooden boat that played a crucial role in trading and supplying goods in Dubai during the olden days when pearls were the primary source of income. However, with the discovery of oil and its high demand, money started pouring into the country, and the wooden boats became a thing of the past.
Dressed up in our best outfits, we embarked on the cruise, which lasted about 2 hours. The cruise was adorned with traditional Arab dancers, and the food served was delicious. With the vibrant nightlife of Deira Dubai in the background, the ride was both cozy and calming, offering us breathtaking views of the city.
After a settled and subtle Day 1, we were ready to dive into the upcoming activities planned for the rest of our stay.
Day 2 began with a trip back to Abu Dhabi to visit one of the places on my bucket list - the Ferrari World! The pictures below do justice to how extravagant the place was. It was a thrilling experience that left me in awe
The Ferrari World was part of a mall cum theme park in Abu Dhabi, and it was an absolutely terrific and marvelous experience. It was impossible to enjoy every single theme park in Abu Dhabi within a day, given how many options there were. From Warner Bros Studios theme park to one of the largest waterparks in the world and the Ferrari World, they had everything!
Our next stop was a pitstop called Last Exit. As the name suggests, it was a destination where you could take a break, chill, and even play some arcade games. What's even more impressive is that the entire place was built entirely out of scrap materials.
Our next stop was the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which was simply spectacular and very similar to the Agra Taj Mahal. It was evident that the Emirates were inspired by and built based on the best things in the world.
However, there were strict dress code rules that women had to adhere to when visiting the mosque. Despite this, the experience was mesmerizing. The lighting, the coolness of the marble, the architecture, and the grandeur of the mosque itself were awe-inspiring and a must-visit when in Abu Dhabi.
As the sun set and the lights slowly turned on inside the mosque, the magic happened, leaving us in awe of the beauty and grandeur of the place
After a long drive back to Dubai, we felt content that the day had gone perfectly right.
Day 3 was my favorite day of all the days spent in the Emirates! We began by visiting the Dubai Frame, which was majestic and one of the coolest buildings in Dubai. EMAAR and their building corporation are creating spectacular marvels in Dubai.
Later that day, we went on an awesome desert safari, which was an experience to remember!
The Emir of Dubai, also known as the King of Dubai, has played a significant role in the rapid development of the city in just 50 years. His name is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and his leadership is truly remarkable. I was amazed by his quotes, which were inspiring and thought-provoking
After visiting the Dubai Frame, we rushed back to get ready for the most important part of our fantastic vacation - the desert safari! We didn't mind the scorching heat of the sun as we were eager to begin.
A arab man picked us up in a Land Cruiser, and after a 45-minute ride, we reached the desert. We started with the Buggy Bike ride and received both notable appreciation and scoldings for riding it faster than necessary. Why should boys have all the fun, right?
After the Buggy Bike ride, we took amazing pictures with an eagle on our hand and then slowly started the best event - the Dune Bashing. It was a thrilling and hot ride!
As the sun set, we proceeded to enjoy the events and food that were planned for us. We were welcomed with a delicious treat and watched several Dubai dances, including the Belly Dance and the Tanoura dance. There were also fire stunts that added to the excitement of the evening.
The fire stunts combined with the song 'One Night in Dubai' playing in the background were both chilling and sexy. The food served during the desert safari was very Arab-like, and as an Indian, I craved spicy food, but it was relatively bland and simple. However, it made sense that the locals consumed this food because they lived in the desert, and too much spice could be harmful. Their traditions were captivating and attractive.
After a long and tiring day, we went back to our hotel in Deira Dubai and called it a night.
On Day 4, we began with the Dubai city tour, which included a visit to Jumeirah Beach and a few pitstops to capture glimpses of some of the most expensive hotels and government palaces in Dubai. The sea was super clean and had a beautiful turquoise blue color. I wanted everyone in my circle to feel the touch of small, tiny fishes in the beach and experience the feel of water where jellyfishes prevail.
It was a calming moment where everything around me faded away, and all I could see was the sea and the Atlantis hotel in front of me.
Dubai's skyline is truly awe-inspiring, with most buildings being either malls, luxury hotels, or multinational companies. One notable feat of engineering and creativity is the Palm Island, a man-made island built out of the ocean bed.
Next up, we went on a two-hour yacht ride on the Gulf sea, which was a pleasant surprise. We rode near the 'Skydiving Dubai' arena, where we saw airplanes taking off and landing, and people free floating from the sky and landing right onto the runway.
It's amazing how precise and safe skydiving in Dubai is, with no incidents of accidents since its opening for tourists. As we enjoyed the yacht ride, we relaxed to the tunes of Bollywood songs playing in the background.
Next up, we visited the EMAAR Dubai Mall and headed to the top of the world - the one and only Burj Khalifa. The Dubai mall had everything one could imagine, and the aquarium was simply beautiful. The notable lightwork on the mall's ceiling was also impressive. We then headed towards the Burj Khalifa after enjoying the fountain show, which played "Helowa Al Emiarat" once every half hour.
While at the Dubai Mall, I also had fun playing with the guy who served me Turkish Ice Cream.
The elevator ride to the top was smooth, and we could feel the altitude effect with the buzz in our ears as the altitude increased. The elevator is known to be the fastest in the world, but it didn't feel like a shaky, fast ride like I had expected.
The view from the top was woahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! WORTH visitng.
Then we went on to bed after a long long long day!!! and it was worth it!
On Day 5 of our trip to Dubai, we decided to do some shopping and explore the city's markets. We visited the renowned spice markets and Meena Bazaar in Dubai, where we saw a wide variety of spices, textiles, and other souvenirs. The markets were bustling with activity, and the vibrant colors and aromas of the spices were truly captivating.
As we explored the city, we also stumbled upon the Dubai bus stand. It was amusing to see the contrast between the modern, luxurious buildings of Dubai and the humble bus stand. Tamil people will surely understand the joke when I say that it was not Vivekananda Street.
Later in the day, we headed to Sharjah to explore another Emirate before our departure. Sharjah was a complete contrast to Dubai, with a more laid-back atmosphere and less infrastructure. However, the city was still beautiful and had a charm of its own. We met some friendly locals who showed us around and shared some interesting stories about the city's history and culture.
Before leaving, we took some notable pictures at the duty-free zone. Our trip to Dubai was truly a memorable experience, and we cherished every moment of it. We hope to visit again soon and explore more of what this fascinating city has to offer.
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