Sitting by the pool on the rooftop of the Marmara Hotel in Al Barsha, Dubai on day 3, final day in Dubai. Mike is on the sunbed next to me writing away and I excitedly comment "Woo Hoo, Sam is now booked on a flight to Cyprus, we are going to see him in April (massive smiley face)" and he sort of grunts/acknowledges and carries on writing. Where are my girlie friends when I need them for a good old day long chat?
I have thought about women, relationships, mothers and my girlfriends over the last couple of days while in Dubai as the customs of this Arab Emirates have challenged me to do so. Dubai is a cosmopolitan place with women from all countries and backgrounds. I have watched European mothers with their babies and amazed at how far technology has come with regards to the gadgets of being out and about and feeding and caring for your baby in public. I have carefully marveled and admired women covered by their traditional Arabic dress who share laughter and take selfies with their girlfriends and female relatives while surfing and texting on the most modern Samsung Galaxies. I have been mildly disappointed by women who seem to disregard the request to respect the dress code and not cover their shoulders and knees.
We sat on JBR2 (Jumeirah Beach Resort 2) on the beautiful golden sands, lovely Persian Gulf sea in front of me and a stunning high rise backdrop and I considered how almost all of the women sunbathed in bikinis and yet only 50 metres away, a woman sat covered from head to toe in black with a white towel over her head (I assume to reflect the sun). Did she believe strongly in her tradition and wear her dress with pride or did she have no choice? I will never know, but what I have discovered about my own feelings is that I have a new found respect for her and her fellow women folk that I would never have thought I would discover. There is a real strength in their comradeship, stature and togetherness which made me remember the lovely and special bonds I have with my mum and girlfriends. It is so different because we would be sipping a cool beer in our bikinis by the pool together now (if alcohol was allowed, which it isn't) seeking the golden tan and chatting away. What a contrast, but I am certain the friendships are no different.
I love Dubai and it would now be the number one recommendation on my list for winter sun. A stunning climate in February, much to see and do and if you are a girlie girl... MEGA shopping opportunities like I have never experienced before. We passed through the The Dubai Mall last night to reach the fountain viewing point in front of the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world), and there were at least four floors culminating in what must have been literally thousands of shops. For me, the Burj Khalifa wins hands down every time, it is absolutely incredible and the fountain display to traditional Arabic music was fantastic.. a la Bellagio Las Vegas style but better. Hundreds of palm trees lit up with silver, white and gold fairy lights and gigantic screens and posters. It is well worth the Metro visit out to this business and shopping district and experience a different feel to that of the Dubai Marina area, the Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab. Talking of all that name dropping, that was all bloomin' amazing too. You wouldn't want to sightsee it all in the height of the summer though, I think the heat would spoil the enjoyment even with the air-con cafes, malls and restaurants not to mention air-con trams, metro and monorails.
The monorail journey over to the Palm Jumeirah ending at the famous Atlantis Hotel was beautiful. We arrived at the Atlantis as the sun was setting and got some great pics with our new selfie stick. I think Mike and I look really quite silly trying to master the perfect picture with this stick but it is giving us a laugh. There is a water park in the hotel which looked great if that is what you want to do, but it is one corner of Dubai that is definitely not cheap to eat, drink or partake in attractions unlike many other places in Dubai (20p for a bottle of water :)). It probably has something to do with the captured market right at the end of the archipelago and nowhere else to go! The wealth and decadence is eye opening.
The metro and tram system is fantastic in Dubai and for sure the best way to travel about the tourist sights. Cheap (22 dirhams for an all day pass hopping on and off as many times as you like - about £3.50) and we used it to the full on day two having walked for England on day one. Having bloody said that, we still managed to walk 30,000 steps (yes Mike's iPhone app) on day two! See picture of a traffic jam below on day two in Dubai... Ouch!
We have stayed in a super hotel, I want to travel with Fly Emirates wherever I go in the future and I would absolutely love to come back to Dubai with some of those girlie friends I mentioned. OK Mike, you can come too, love you really :). I have not felt threatened once and the local people are respectful, graceful and know how to provide excellent customer service... Thumbs up Dubai.
Abiding memory of Dubai is standing on the bridge that crosses to the Palm Jumeirah at sunset with Mike and thinking that New York could never be beaten for a skyline... I was wrong.
Reminder to self, pack 2 or 3 loose, summery dresses that go just below the knee and over the shoulders and all is good with the world....
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