So as a few of you may know, my dad emigrated to Dubai over the Christmas break. Whilst this has been ridiculously difficult for us all, it has given me an opportunity I thought I would never have. I visited Dubai in February, and have never been more excited in all my life to write a blog post. I have wanted to sit down and write this for a while... but have been so busy I never got round to it! Here it is! :D
Thursday 26th January 2017
Booked my flights...
Wednesday 1st February 2017
I boarded several trains and a plane on my way to Dubai International airport. I experienced my first Yo Sushi along the way, and a 16-hour journey (8-hour overnight plane). Lots of sleeping and reading was done on the flight...
Thursday 2nd February 2017
When I landed in the morning, I jumped straight on a metro (the metro system in Dubai is insane... it's essentially like the London Underground, except it is overground, and only has two lines. So easy to negotiate, and I was on and off it like a pro by the end of the weekend, travelling from one end of Dubai to the other!), and got off at the Dubai Mall. It is PHENOMENAL. It is absolutely huge, and full of amazing shops and fun things too. Spent some pennies, and I saw the waterfall, the aquarium... and so much more. But most excitingly, I SAW MY DAD!
We wandered around for a while trying to find each other, went for a spot of food in the immense Food Court, and then had an awesome coffee at a little coffee shop he likes (which I now love too) after wandering round the shops. After a big heart to heart and catch up, we wander to go and watch the fountain show outside the Burj Khalifa, and see the Burj lit up beautifully. Absolutely AMAZING experience, followed by food and negotiating a chaotic car park, and I finally got to see where he is living for the next few months.
In the evening, we went out to a bar and saw a band called Carpe Diem perform... they were the most amazing live band I have ever seen in an almost underground bar (although I can't say I have seen many... that does not diminish how awesome they were!). They are on YouTube if you fancied giving them a look-up... they were so good. Very very late night, after probably the longest day of my life... but so so worth it.
Friday 3rd February 2017
Late-ish start after a hectic night before, but we headed straight off to a place called Deira to see the "Souks" (markets). I saw the Spice Souks, the Fabric Souks, the Gold Souks, and went on the coolest little boat across the river. I bought some gorgeous little tops for next to nothing, and then we went for lunch. Lunch at a little, very breezy, Moroccan-type place on the river, and after a hilarious walk back to the car in rain and what felt like gale-force winds, we jumped back into the car for a trip to a place called IMG World of Adventure: AN INDOOR THEME PARK. It was so cool, we queued for AGES to get into an awesome haunted house, went on some fabulous 3-D simulation rides, and best of all... mastered the children's laser quest. Had some food at Samosa World, and headed home.
Saturday 4th February 2017
Beautiful sunny morning, so shades on we headed straight for Jumirah Beach. It was so beautiful and warm, and the views were phenomenal. I read my book for a bit, and dad had a bit of a nap, and then we walked back via Subway.
We then did the experience of a lifetime, which was the Desert Safari. Basically, we set off at 3pm from our hotel in a Landrover, and drove out to the Desert. The first stop was a Quad-Bike park in the middle of the desert, which me and dad JUMPED at the chance to try out. We jumped on a bike together, and rode off through the desert (it was a designated area, not just the whole desert), and had literally the best time. After that, we went "dune-bashing" in the Landrover, and stopped to see the most gorgeous sunset over the desert. It felt like a film, and after taking a MILLION photos, we drove off to see a dance show, had some dinner, and got some henna (well, I did), and I also got the chance to see a camel really up close, which was so cool. Enjoy the hundreds of photos I will now post of the desert... it was so gorgeous...
Sunday 5th February 2017
Early start as I went into work with dad (the weekend is Friday-Saturday in Dubai!), and saw his office. Weirdly, it's an open plan office with like treadmills and fake grass in it and stuff... straight out of "The Internship" film about Google. SO awesome.
I then jumped on the metro and met up with my brother and his colleague Joakim, and we wandered round Deira together and had some lunch at the same Moroccan place I went with dad.
After a well-deserved catch-up, I got the metro back to the hotel, and Carl and Joakim went back to theirs, and we freshened up ready to meet for dinner. Dinner, however, was in the best place ever, called Global Village. This was an attraction with miniature (but still huge) versions of famous landmarks from countries all around the globe, alongside markets, a river, food stalls GALORE, and beautiful lights everywhere. There were performances and dancers everywhere you turned, and booming music from the different cultures you visited. We had some dinner at an Indian, and then said our goodbyes.
Monday 6th February 2017
One of the crappiest days of my life... said goodbye to my dad in the morning, and got back on the metro to the airport...
Thank you so much dad for letting me see your little world right now, and for helping me arrange the trip. Thank you for the countless meals out, and the drinks, and the desert, and the quad bikes... and the shopping, and the hugs and the heart to hearts. It was one of the best weekends of my life, and I cannot WAIT to visit again. I hope you enjoyed this little summary!
If any of you managed to read all the way to the end here, either my writing was incredible, you are procrastinating from revision, or you were simply interested. I can't believe I managed to get halfway round the world all by myself... I was genuinely so proud of myself. Anyhow, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!
