Blogs from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Middle East - page 96

As we were driving into Dubai the other day we say the most amazing layer of dirt, dust, smog....whatever..... just hanging in the sky. ... read more

Quick stop before the real trip, we stayed with a friend Audrey, only have time to have a look around but only by taxi as Dubai don't know what a footpath is!!!, going to a desert safari (4x4 crazy trip, camel riding, chicha and belly dancers...very good). ... read more

Dubai 8.2.08 - 11.2.08 Landing in Dubai airport was great it looked as though we were landing in the middle of the city. I have never seen so many lights, even when we touched down we had lights all around us. After the 20 hour flight a few people clapped as the wheels hit the tarmac. Getting off the plane and out of the airport was a breeze as there are no customs in Dubai. So soon we were out of the airport smelling the fresh sweet air, the weather was crisp similar to a Christchurch morning, but it soon heated up. We got to the Golden Sands apartment surprisingly quickly and safely considering we had a Schumacher as our shuttle driver. (Later learning that everyone here drives fast and often use the horn). First destination ... read more

We finally managed to go and see the flamingos on the weekend. We have been trying to go and visit them for an awfully long time but have never managed to actually get there for a number of reasons. However on Saturday we actually managed to get out of the house and in the car and drive to the sanctuary. At which point we found that the gate the sanctuary is padlocked and that to get into it you have to get a permit from the environmental department of Dubai Muncipality. So we ended up just taking these photos through the fence. However we did get to watch the flamingos from a distance and saw them flying around a little bit and that was amazing. The really are quite a strange bird when they are in ... read more

Last Stop and last Blog come to that. We are now in Dubai and have had four good days exploring the city, we have been round the gold souks, had a boat trip on a dhow in Dubai Creek, been on a desert safari where we had a four wheel drive ride over the sand dunes - that was really hairy! Margaret had her eyes closed all during that experience - much easier jumping out of a plane than bumping over sand dunes. The high rise buildings are an amazing sight and the whole place seems so sparkly clean after the cities in India - it really is a complete contrast here. Buildings going up all the timne we have been told that 75% of all the cranes in the world are here in Dubai. We ... read more