Colombo to Dubai

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How hot - in case your wondering - it's very hot, I'm not sure I’m going to actually write about Dubai as I might let the pictures do the talking about our favourite parts...
Oh why not, when we arrived we didn't know where we were going to go so we jumped in a taxi and asked for a "cheap" hotel downtown, ha ha, as if there is such a thing as a cheap hotel in Dubai - so where do we end up - in a hotel/brothel, mmmmmmmmmm not exactly what I had in mind so the next morning we checked out and found some where without the assistance of a taxi driver... Our next hotel, which did not rent rooms out by the hour, did however have shuttle buses to the beach and to the shopping malls so we took full advantage of the free transportation and visited both. The beach was so hot it was untrue, especially as there was no shade so we didn't stay there too long as my lovely Scottish skin would of paid the price and changed from blue to red, although I have to say I’m actually going quite brown - for me. Anyway we leave the beach and chill out the next day before going shopping to one of the many malls - one of the malls even has a ski slope - I know what your thinking - why doesn’t it melt in the middle of the desert, in Dubai you can have anything you want, as long as you have the money for it.
Speaking of which, one of the items on my shopping list was a suit. A suit. Yes a suit. Yes, I’m backpacking and I’m buying suit, why I hear you ask. Well guessing by the amount of pictures on this Blog, you should already know. We’re not only going to see how the other half live, but we’re going to see how the other 1% live as I don’t think many people will have been to the only 7 star hotel in the world - welcome to the Burj Al Arab. I’d never have dreamed of actually walking up to this hotel and being welcomed as a guest but there you go - it just goes to show anything can happen. Although I should point out that we were only dining at the restaurant and not staying over night as the cheapest rooms are in excess of 2000 USD and that was a wee bit beyond my budget.
The highlight of the trip has to the Burj Al Arab, the only 7 star hotel in the world and oh my lord, what a place. We arrived at the hotel next door, which is part of the same complex called the Jumeirah Beach Hotel to see what they had to offer first of all. We had a quick stroll through the lobby, a few shops and the restaurant to get to the beach side, I think it was only because I had a suit on and Suzanne looked stunning that we were able to walk about as we pleased, we even saw one couple get asked for their room number to proceed to the pool area, and when they couldn’t produce one they were turned away - not us, we just strolled in like we owned the place. The beach there was stunning as if you’d expect anything else of course, at night they even raked the sand, how posh is that. There were also more lifeguards around the luxury pools than there were people, it was as if everyone had their own personal lifeguard.

So we cut through the exclusive villas and pool and headed towards the Burj Al Arab for dinner and I have to say I was quite excited. You must have reservations to cross the bridge and even get anywhere near the hotel but luckily for us I planned ahead and we were welcomed with open arms. The atrium is apparently the largest in the world and even if it isn’t, it’s still pretty darn big, not too mention the biggest fish tanks I’ve ever seen on either side of the lobby as well. Firstly we decide to enjoy the ambience in the lobby bar and after a quick drink and we are shown to the express elevator to the Sky View Restaurant and wow once again. I actually had the menu e-mailed me prior to going and I’d already chosen what I was having and here is the description of what awaits…

WAGYU BEEF is recognized as the best beef in the world, described as ‘the caviar of all beef’. The name originates from ‘WA’ meaning Japanese style and ‘GYU’ meaning cattle; produced from cattle of superior Japanese breed, born and reared in Australia. WAGYU has an unsurpassed marbling and a softer fat, which is the main contribution to the tenderness and juiciness but more importantly to intensify the flavour. Previously only available to Japanese Emperors, we are delighted to offer WAGYU beef at Burj Al Arab for your dining pleasure….

Forget the rest of the menu this is what I’ll be having and after reading the menu Suzanne selects the same - how can you not have it, seriously. For starters Suzanne had Oysters and judging by the look on her face - they were pretty darn nice as well. Enough of that, the beef was amazing, the knife but through it like a hot knife through butter - amazing, I’m drooling as I write about it months later, quite easily the best beef I have ever had. To accompany the steak we also had a lovely South African wine which was so nice, finally we skipped dessert which was just as well as the bill came with a selection of sweets - I could get used to this even if my wallet couldn’t. After quite possibly the best meal I’ve ever had we relax at the bar and it’s not long until we have own bar at our table with two expert mixologists ready to make our customised drinks from scratch with herbs and spices all crushed up by hand with a mortar and pestle to make a spiced rum for Suzanne and chocolate whisky for me - I really need to win the lottery - this place is amazing and I don’t want the night end. But alas it does, but what a night to remember.
It also turns out that one of the mixologists is from Bolton which just goes to show the worlds your oyster (unless Suzanne’s eaten it), so we end up chatting and he invites us back for high tea and scones on Sunday afternoon, how could we say no to making the most expensive hotel in Dubai our local. So a couple of days later we’re back but this time in Daylight and this time we can see the views. Which of course include the Palms resort where they have made artificial islands in the shape of a large palm tree and are in the process of making it into a tropical resort with hotels, apartments, shopping, swimming pools and who only knows what else. Can it get any better, well lets just say they have just completed more artificial islands but this time the complex is set off shore and is in the shape of the world - you honestly have to see it to believe it…
So after the luxuries of Dubai we say farewell and leave in style flying Emirates to Jordan and Indiana Jones territory...

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