Blogs from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Middle East - page 12

Overnight, Theresa has come down with the same as George has had for the last couple of days. As tomorrow is a long travelling day, we decided to cancel our planned visit to the Green Planet and concentrate on some relaxation and slow packing. At lunch time, we got the metro and bus and went to Ravi´s in Satwa. We visited a Ravi´s restaurant whilst in Malaysia last year and had hoped we would get to visit here during this holiday. We have really been looking forward to this as we know maximum quality is assured. The taste buds were destined to be left very much positively tingling. Ravi´s is a typical localised Indian restaurant and has a good reputation in Dubai with both visitors and locals alike. The food was all freshly cooked and very ... read more

Today is the start of another weekend, so we have another brunch booked. This time we are at the Glasshouse in the Hilton on the Creek. It’s an intense Mediterranean themed meal. The map shows the metro station is close by to the hotel, so we are getting off at Union Station where we will start our walk in the direction of the Hilton. Unfortunately, it looks like the map is not quite right, and we start off heading in the wrong direction. After stopping at the Radisson and the Sheraton for directions, we eventually make it to the Hilton. Being outside walking for a prolonged period of time at lunchtime was not on our agenda for today so we arrive at the hotel rather hot and bothered. At least they have air conditioning to help ... read more

Travel much more successful today. Caught the metro to Dubai Mall and then the Big Bus Tour to Dhow Wharfage for our boat ride on the creek. Came back to the hotel for a swim in the rooftop pool and now going to get ready for our Marina Dhow Cruise Dinner tonight. Hopefully have included yesterday's promised photo of the view from our window this time. Flying on to Johannesburg SA after lunch tomorrow.... read more

Up at 3:30, flight socks on and quick cup of tea. Picked up by taxi by Patrick at 4:30am. Quite busy on road especially around terminal 5. Dropped off at Heathrow terminal 3. Dropped off bags and through security. Saw A380 airbus outside waiting for us. Double decker. Boarded and took off 9:05. So big but rose effortlessly with seemingly little speed. Time passed quickly with lots of onboard entertainment and two meals. Landed early 6:45pm already dark. Made it through airport and onto metro. Came out at Dubai Marina and the 32degree heat covered us like a hot blanket. Hotel Marina Byblos thankfully near. Good room. Had quick shower and straight to bed, once we had mastered remote control light switches! Lokking forward to seeing our surroundings in the daylight.... read more

An amazing first day but not without its problems. Difficult to work out the bus stops for the Big Bus Tour which we had prepaid. There is a map for the 3 routes but you don't get that until you change your e-tickets for real tickets and we were misdirected by several people who should have known better. When you do find the bus stopping places there are no signs to tell you it is a bus stop. Not a service I would recommend to others although when we finally found the bus the journey was fine with a good commentary system. However, we had walked for an hour in the heat and then caught a taxi before we found the first bus stop! We went to the Dubai Mall (air conditioning ... YES!) where there ... read more