Reflecting on Dubai

Getting a great picture was almost impossible

I will be forever grateful to Kellee and Phil for the opportunity they have given me to see Dubai. I love the cross section of Expats and Emirates in Dubai. I think the cultures colliding make it so fascinating. Where else do you hear call to prayer and outside the largest building in the world. It was surely a culture shock from my experience in Africa but a fantastic one. I loved Dubai and would love to go back again soon! I would love to take my Dad there as I know he would love it! I know without Kellee and Phil seeing this city would not have been possible and I am so thankful. I also feel very privileged to have been able to spend a month with their two beautiful daughters Julia and Molly. Just writing this makes me almost teary. I got attached to them while I was there and I can’t wait to see them again when they are back in the US. Who knew when I met Kellee as “Sir” in 2002 that I would visit her in Dubai 10 years later. One of the best parts of my experience in Dubai is that I had lots of time to reflect on both my trip so far as well as my future plan. Don’t get your hopes up I don’t have a plan yet, but I do know that I have the ability to make a decision that will make me happy. I am not good at putting me first but this trip has helped me to see the importance of doing this sometimes. Look out North America you are not going to know what hit you when I get home! One wish I have is a way to bottle the happiness I have felt so far on this trip and use it on days when I feel like hopeless (you all know the kind of day I am talking about). Don’t get me wrong it has not been all roses but I have had some of the best days of my life on this trip!

Julia on her first bike, making day do all the work

Julia loves her accessories, now she is moving on to gold

Love this photo, priceless

 

I can't forget Charlie

Cuite!

 Thank you Dubai, for giving me the opportunity experience many wonders, spend time with great people and for the ability to look backward and forward.

The lights of Dubai and tons of fun!

My last night in Dubai was fantastic. What can be better than drink at a bar overlooking the city.  I am one lucky girl!!! We went to a bar near the top of the Jumeirah Beach club. This evening was all about have fun and trying new things!

Burj Al arab at night

View from the roof top bar

Kellee and I

Loving my fancy drink

So I did something totally out of character. Smoking Shisha is native to the Middle East, so yes I had to do it. A hookha also known as a waterpipe, narghile, Qalyan, or shisha is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for smoking flavored tobacco in which the smoke is passed through a water basin (often glass based) before inhalation. The tobacco smoked is referred to as "shisha." We smoked strawberry shisha. I was truly one of the most hilarious experiences ever. Thanks for doing it with me Phil. 

Shisha Craziness!!!!

Shisha Pipe

Cheers!

So lucky to have great friends like Kellee and Phil

What better way to end the night than a beer in the pool

Dubai at a Glance

Here is a quick virtual tour of some of the major sights in Dubai and some stuff I found interesting. One of the most distinct things in Dubai is all of the amazing building and other man made structures. There are architectural wonders in every direction you look.

Man Made Dubai Palm

View from the Palm

I was amazed by the number of high rises.
 Lots of people live in a small space.

The Atlantis is a hotel that is located at the end of the man made palm. Being on the Palm was a very interesting experience as some of it is very developed and other portion as deserted with no homes or construction. Kellee told me about many celebrities own property and homes on the Palm such as Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.

The Burj Al arab has been named the most luxurious hotel in the world.  It is a very short distance from Kellee and Phil’s villa. It is said to be a 6 star hotel. I did not see the inside but the outside is stunning and very distinct.  I have pictures of this building from almost every angle. I even have a photo from the roof of Kellee and Phils’ villa.

View from the Madinat

View from Jumeriah Beach Resort

View from the local beach

At sun set from Kellee and Phil's Villa roof

The Jermariah Beach Club is both beaitful and a great place to have fun a relax.I love the beach and my time at the beach in Dubai was made even better by playing with Julia. The beach is definatly more fun with kids. The Jemariah beach club is gorgious and I had the chance to spend time hanging out both at the beach and the beautiful pool. I was surprised that the beach was the coldest water I have felt so far in my travels (I am sure this will change when I get to Europe). The water is part of the Arabian Gulf. Kellee said that the water is almost unbearably hot in the summer so I should appreciate the refreshing feeling.

I took this picture from in the water. Shocking I did not drop the camera.
As you can see the building is in the shape of a wave.

Camels everywhere

You can never have too much ice cream,
even if you are wearing half of it

Kids pool

Adult pool hence the bar

Julia and I Chill'n out!

Could she be any cuter

Every sand castle Kellee made Julia destroyed in 2.5 seconds

Cool Parrot just Hanging out

The Madinate resort has just about anything you could ever want inside of it. Phil said he could live there and never have leave. It is a beautiful hotel as well as having many resturants and souks. We visited it multiple times. I got some of my favorite shots from Dubai while I was here.

View of waterway through resort

Super cool lamps throughout

Amazing architectural arches throughout

Traditional architecture with a modern twist

I love this photo

Our dinner location, it can't get much better

 

Julia loved my bag, it had to make the blog.
I think she carried it more than I did while I was there.

Another view from the Madinat

 The fruit and vegetable market was a stark difference from
commercial Dubai.

 Yes you can by a gold bar form a machine at the mall.... crazy

Full Ice Rink in Dubai Mall


You have to have a licence to buy alcohol and you have a monthly limit.
Muslims are not alllowed to drink alcohol.

 Liquor Store, it is very non descript as you can see.
A little different from the big advertisements we see in North America.

 Yes there are Tim Horton.
There were ads everywhere since they were just opened recently.

 Since Muslims do not eat pork there is  separate room in the
grocery store with all porducts that have pork.

 Everyday was a new expereince and I loved every minute of it!