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Published: February 9th 2014
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Arrived 5
th Feb 7.50am, got to hotel in a taxi and was unable t check in, so dropped my bag and went out. Receptionist advised me which metro station to get to Burj Khalifa. Went to Dubai Mall and got lost in it! Walked around the food court twice without realising! I was looking how to get out to go and see the Burj, but literally couldn’t find an exit for about an hour! When I found one I walked out and couldn’t see the tallest building in the world! Walked around chuckling, thinking how have I lost the tallest building in the world? DON’T WORRY though I found it! Walked around the whole shopping centre at least twice, eventually found the ‘At the top’ Burj Khalifa entrance and it was fully booked until Sunday, gutted, however you can pay a lot more to go up straight away. But decided against it.
Hotel is lovely, marble floors and stairs everywhere, massive chandelier and even a water fountain in the restaurant. Room is great, big double bed, desk, tv, fridge, similar to a nice hotel in London. Had a sit down and got changed then went to sit on the roof
top pool for about an hour, that was nice. The weather is hot but cloudly, could be a lot hotter if it wasn’t cloudly.
Metro system; Cardboard tickets scan like the plastic ones (like Oyster cards) saves time, take note london underground! There is a separate carriage for just women and children. There are clear instructions on the floor where to stand to let the people out first. Lack of seating, which gives extra standing space. However not enough handles to warrant the lack of seating. Mobile phones work in the metro, granted only a section of it is underground.
6
th Feb – Got off the metro today at Dubai Internet City and tried to walk straight towards the Palm. But due to road works I got seriously lost and end up walking down a motorway for about an hour, not to mention the hour or so before that. Was not happy, all the workman looked me like I was crazy. I had only prided myself earlier that I am really very good at knowing where I am and how to get about, and remembering the way home. Weather was lovely though, and I could see the Burj
al arab. If I wasn’t lost it would’ve been a good morning. I can honestly say I have never been so happy to see public transport!! Got off the metro at the Mall of the Emirates to get some food! Found Ski Dubai in the Mall and checked prices. My feet were hurting so so much, but seeing the Ski area made me smile. However was feeling that my day was lacking somewhat and kept changing my mind as to what I wanted to do – something that would’ve been annoying if I wasn’t travelling alone. Eventually decided to go up the Burj Khalifa, regardless of the price, this is my ‘holiday’ before the real trip starts. Got up there about 5pm and made sure I stayed till sunset. Got some great pictures!
7
th Feb – So I had great day. Got a free transfer to the Beach Park, Al Mamzar. Was huge, had 4 beaches and a swimming pool, as well as 2-3 parks. Sat on a bench and baked. Got picked up at 12 got back to the hotel and changed then headed out again, however the metro was shut as the prayers were going on, they
played them over a city wide loudspeaker. I then noticed that all the shops were shut too. Luckily I wasn’t the only ignorant person so there was a group of us. Which meant the next train was rammed. I mean rammed, people were screaming, I decided to opt for the next one. Which was fine for one stop then it was rammed again. Made me laugh though to be fair, people stressed, gossiping, standing on my toe, playing games on their phones.
I spent the rest of the day in Ski Dubai. Frigging amazing. Went on tubes, mountain thriller, zorbing and a zip wire over the whole thing.
So in essence I went sun bathing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon. Just how I roll now.
Interesting points about Dubai;
Metro system is impressive and easy to use in general.
Cheaper than I expected.
Prayer time over loudspeaker
Feel quite safe, not much poverty, at least obvious poverty.
Continuously building more constructions. I genuinely wonder if there’ll ever be a photo without a crane in it.
However I would say it can be quite difficult to get around
walking. Not best signposts, even in Malls, and particularly outside.
All in all, I had a great time in Dubai, was a bit shaky at first due to travelling on my own for the first time, but got into it eventually.
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sam
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proud of u
hey jessica so so proud of you cant wait to see all your pics and here about all your travels when you get home, its hard going from having peeps all around you to doing a big adventure on your own but you will ajust and love it more and more as the days go by speak soon xxxx