Cairo - Dessert Bashing

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Day 1 19 April Dubai

Landed in Dubai airport very nice almost like Singapore airport, after a relatively quick trip through customs and collection of our bags we were outside waiting for a cab to take us to the hotel. Approximately 40 minutes later we arrived at the Arabian Courtyard and Spa Hotel, checked in and waited for the bags to arrive in our room. We went for a quick walk to find the nearest deli for supplies coke and nibbles. Went back to the hotel to relax after an 11 hour flight, I can tell you I was glad I was on terra firma. After a good rest we were off again to check out the sights around our local area. Lots of "come have a look" and a bit of window shopping we went to dinner at Barry's Bench (Mexican food, just made it time for 2 for 1 cocktails and back to the hotel to get some sleep.

Day 2 20 April The Big Bus Tour

A fantastic idea for a quick look around, the cost is 200dir each and lasts for 24 hours so you can cover missed places the next day. The bus has 2 routes a red tour covering the older section of Dubai and the blue tour that covers the big shopping malls and hotels including the big seven star hotel, though we were unable to get off there it was easily visible from just about all over the newer areas, Deira City mall was the start point of the places were hopped off at were Atlantis on the Palm Hotel that is situated n the outer crescent of the Palm. It has a huge aquarium in the centre (this is available to the public), the look is of course you guessed it Atlantis at the bottom of the sea. Score of fish, sting rays etc, it also has a water park with an entrance fee of 3000dir approximately $1000 AUD wow a bit rich for my blood LOL.

Next stop Wafi Shopping Mall looks like an Egyptian temple with 30ft colossal statutes of pharaohs but just like every other modern shopping mall lots of upmarket shops, designer clothes etc. The Mall of the Emerates to check out the ski park was next it looked really cold inside, there were skiers and kids tobogganing.

After visiting a couple of more malls (getting a bit tired of malls) we went on an Arabian Dhow Cruise in a big wooden traditional boat which sailed down the Dubai Creek and back very tranquil. Totally trashed went back to the hotel and had some dinner went to bed to get some well earned ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Day 3 21 April More Dubai and the Desert Safari

The next day we caught a taxi to the Souq Madinat Jumeriah Hotel which is like a small Arabian city with 75 shops, 23 waterfront cafes, also a theatre that shows plays and musical from the West end. We had breakfast at the Dome Café. Then hopped back on the bus to complete some of the other stops we really wanted to see. First stop Sheikh Saeed Al Moktoum's House, who is the grandfather to the present ruler. This was a little disappointing maybe because we might not of been in exactly the right place oh well you get that. Flagging down a taxi in the middle of a highway was fun after 10 minutes we got one hahaha, these poor people must have had a good laugh at the stupid tourists trying to get a taxi in the middle of a busy road.

Any way got dropped of at the Dubai Creek and got on a water taxi (Abra) a small wooden boat crammed with as many people and their goods , big TV's large boxes. Next stop was the Dubai Old Souk, it was just like Asia competing for your business. We visited the Gold Souk, rows and rows of jewelry shops. Looking forward to our wadi bashing tour tonight.

Desert Safari tour, we were picked up by a four wheel drive jeep at the 3:30pm and collected a few more people, then we were driven out to the desert a couple of hours out of the city limits (felt like a couple of hours) to join a large fleet of four wheel drives just like ours. Once all vehicles had arrived we were off to bash some sand dunes no small ones here. Driving along the top of dune was really something to behold especially when you were looking down the slope of a four storey drop,

The woman in the back squealing really was becoming un-nerving but it was enjoyable none the less. Lots of plunging down dune surfaces and driving right on top was pretty spectacular too, we stopped to take photos of the desert and then drove on to the Bedouin village for dinner and a belly dancing show. I got a henna drawing on my arm to bad I was away for so long cause it washed off in two weeks got some pics of it though.

Day 4 22 April Goodbye Dubai, Hello Egypt

This is our last morning in Dubai, we took advantage of the Dubai Museum which is just across the road from the hotel, which was very interesting it shows the history of Dubai, the fishing village, how the villages were set out and how the people lived in their community in the oasis's, the forming of the Emerates States. It was very interesting. Here in this environment I am constantly surprised with human survival. Even though Dubai is constantly building and getting bigger it is still harsh out there.