Dubai (Istanbul > Dubai

November 17, 2014

Dubai (Istanbul > Dubai > Kathmandu)

[Originally posted Nov 17, 2014]

(This post was mostly written before we arrived in Kathmandu. However, given our quick turnaround to get to trekking. I didn’t have time to post it, so I am posting in retrospect. My apologies.)

Katy here.

Bigger, better, faster, brighter, shinier. That is the image of Dubai. A colossal collision of superlatives. A magical city of anything is possible with money.

When we started planning this trip we knew there would be deliberate breaks from our bicycle given the overland options from Europe to Asia would not work, so enter Dubai.

We have heard Dubai described as the world’s Las Vegas—however, there is no gambling and alcohol is illegal. So how is it the world’s Las Vegas? Picture a vast air conditioned oasis set in the desert filled with high-end shopping, fast cars, glamorous restaurants and an “anything is possible attitude.” Sound like Las Vegas?

Before Dubai made its modern prominence, the region had been inhabited by a smaller population of Bedouins for a few thousand years. Establishing themselves as a trade and commerce center, Dubai positioned themselves for the world stage. We found out that despite being in the Middle East only 5% of Dubai’s economy is supported by oil. In fact oil was only found here in the 1960s. The economy is made up primarily tourism, aviation, real estate and financial services. We played right into their hands being tourists. :)

We only had a day to spend in Dubai which was definitely not enough to see this huge city nor was it enough to explore beyond the city. The vast desert and Oman are places we would love to explore someday. As is the only LDS church building in the Middle East in Abu Dabi (the land for the church was donated by the royal family. At first the church was going to refuse but soon learned you do not refuse a gift from the royal family.) But we did what we can and even then since we are on a budget, Dubai was a bit out of our price range.

A few scatter memories of brief trip to Dubai:

A skyline unique with one building dominating above all: Burja Kahlifa. The tallest building in the world by a long shot.

The heat—even in the middle of November AND at 10pm at night. The haze that accompanies the heat making the sky a bright white blanket from the sun during the day and exponentially increasing the moon’s light at night. Clayton said the heat only became bearable at 10:30 at night.

Traditional Emirate dress among Western garb. Finally the men have to wear unique clothing too. I like the men’s wardrobe much better than the woman’s.

Dancing fountains set to music at the foot the Burj Kahlifa. Belaggio anyone?

Completely veiled women. (I had been perplexed at how this dress works at airport security. So for those also curious—there is a separate area for these women who do have to unveil briefly to a female government official.)

$4,000 a night hotel. Burj Al-Arab. Sadly our budget couldn’t accommodate this luxury.

Out for a walk in the Dubai Marina.

The cleanest and newest metro line we have ever seen. 2000 dirham fine for chewing gum, eating or drinking. (3.67 dirham = $1 USD)

Call to prayer in a mall.

An Aquarium, Ice Skating Rink, Movie Theater, Nascar Track, and much more...because why not?

Four manmade archipelagos: the world and three Palm trees—just to add an additional 500 kilometers of beachfront real estate to the country. Who does this? Googling Dubai Palm Jumeriah results in the image below. If only we could have seen it from the sky in a private helicopter. Yes, those are buildings.

Alpine skiing and tubing down an indoor ski hill while Cheesecake Factory diners look on.

Fish market full of every scaled creature found in the nearby sea, including the best looking salmon fillets I have ever seen—if only I wasn’t about to board a plane in two hours.