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After a very tiring journey – with
non-direct flights via Milan – we arrived at the Hilton
Jumeirah Beach at 9 am. Although check-in wasn’t until 2 a
room was quickly found for us and we just climbed straight
into bed and slept until 2. The hotel and room were superb –
we had a giant bed which could have comfortably slept four
people!
When we finally explored the hotel we found that we were
directly on the beach. The hotel had wonderful landscaped
gardens that were full of luxurious sun beds and a private
beach – also full of sun beds. Towels were provided and even a
flag to wave when you wanted any food or drinks.
The Hilton is
situated where the Dubai Marina is being built – thankfully
most of the building works have been done and they are just
finishing off so it wasn’t too noisy. However the hotel is
dwarfed by many tower blocks – there are 40 due to be built,
in eight phases. Phase one is now complete and so it will be a
couple more years before the cranes and workmen disappear.
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Talking of
workmen, there are 20,000 – mainly from India/Pakistan – they
work 3 shifts, 24 hours a day! It was quite a sight to see
them all being bussed in and out after each shift. There is a
big labour camp near the airport where they all stay.
The next day, with much exploring to be done, we set off on
the Original Bus Tour which took us to Dubai City and the
famous Creek. You can cross the creek on an abra which costs
the princely sum of one dirham – just a few pence.
The bus tour ticket includes entry into
the Dubai Museum, a walking tour and a dhow cruise – really
good value.
There are mosques on practically every
street and as this was Friday the men were continually being
called to prayer. One of the sights that I will never forget
is the many, many pairs of shoes left abandoned outside the
mosques – how they ever found their own shoes afterwards I
don’t know. In fact we kept seeing odd pairs left in the
streets and wondered if a sneaky Arab had taken someone
else’s! |
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We also went on an organised trip into
the desert to do some Wadi bashing. We had six cars in our
convoy and basically the drivers just go full pelt at the sand
dunes – great fun. The day we went it was very windy and we
got covered in a film of sand.
Then we had a camel ride – next time
I’m taking the back seat … it was so uncomfortable sitting at
the front! Believe it or not the sand was too wet to do sand
ski-ing so we’ll have to try that next time.
The shopping
malls are something else - there are so many to choose from.
Our favourite was the Mall of the Emirates which even has a
ski dome! We weren’t going to try this – I don’t do cold – but
a couple on the Wadi bashing trip said it was the most fun
they’d had. So we booked in for the taster class. Everything
is provided except for gloves – which we had thoughtfully
taken with us. By the end of the one hour class we were snow
ploughing down a 20-30 ft slope. At least I now know what to
expect when I win one of the Candia trips! |
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The Wild Wadi
Water Park, which is right by the 7 star Burj hotel, is great
fun. They have inter-connecting water slides that shoot you
upwards. Once you’re on the first slide the ride seems to last
forever. This has to be one of the best water parks – it was
very clean, well organised and in a beautiful setting.
On the last
day we decided to actually have a rest and use the hotel
facilities. We wanted to swim in the sea but it was very windy
and they had the red flag flying … anyway the water was too
cold for me even though the outside temperatures was a very
pleasant 25/26. They say the temperature can hit 50 degrees in
the summer months and the water is more like a bath – think I
wouldn’t mind trying that.
So to sum up our holiday I’d say Dubai excites me … hope
someone else invites me!
Anything is possible. Happy Comping |
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