I had just got back from getting some cash, stopped to pick up a croissant and was just boiling the kettle for a quick breakfast before my tour - pick up at 9:10 - it was 8:35 so I had plenty of time, when the phone rang. It was the tour guy. I said, "you're early." To which he replied, "come down now please." I nearly did but then the kettle boiled and I was hungry and he was over half an hour early so I finished my breakfast and then went down.
This is the view from my room, randomly...
He led me to the car, there were two guys inside. No introductions made. As we're driving off, I did think - this could not be above board...! But of course it was. We stopped for petrol (surely you do that before you pick people up) and I said hello to the boys in the back. They are from the Netherlands and are here for a long weekend. Nice guys. We chat about travel. They say I don't sound very Australian - which I take as a compliment.
Then for a bit of a drive to pick up the next two guys. One is at the first stop, the other is a bit of a way up the road. Driver is not too happy but what can he do? Then he misses the turnoff and he's really not happy! Has to go around a big block.
And we're off. Within 20-30 minutes of Dubai, we're seeing this!
And this - can't quite see him, but it's a camel...
About 45 minutes later, we get to their place. Driver gets out to deflate the tyres a bit - same as the off-roading in Iceland - and he disappears for a few minutes. We are all looking at each, wondering if we get out or stay or what. Driver comes back and I ask to go to the loo - thankfully he says yes. Two of the boys also get out. The ladies loos are a combination of stalls with seats and stalls with holes in the ground. And all only have the hose! Again, a reminder to Dubai visitors - always carry tissues!
Then we hop back in the van and we're off for the dune bashing and it is brilliant fun! This is where Driver comes into his own - he is an exceptional driver and what he lacks in social graces he makes up for in his bashing ability.
Hard to capture in photo but we zoom up and down hills, sideways and up and over. Just fantastic.
There's a photo stop in the middle of the desert...
When we get back, Driver asks the two other guys about the quad biking - they had apparently signed up for that. All four boys ask about the sandboarding, which they had all signed for (I was going to see when we got there - wasn't fussed either way). Driver started getting upset and saying we were already back from the dune and blaming them for not telling him. It's not their responsibility to tell him and how would they know they had to?!
So after a bit of an argument, Driver went and got one sandboard, ordered us back in, didn't wait for us to make sure the seatbelts were on - as he had the first time, and back we went. And an angry dune bash driver is not the nicest thing in the world!
Once we got there, Driver took out the sandboard, put it down and walked away - didn't help them fasten it or help, just stood on a hill watching. So the first guy struggled into the grips and sort of bounced down the hill. They thought they'd try a better hill and as they did, Driver came up and told him just to stand on it, don't worry about the foot grips, they take too much time. Seemed to work okay and the boys had fun. I chose not to do it - was guaranteed to fall over.
Back to the base and Driver disappeared. We weren't sure what to do so did have a wander, but not too far.
Driver came back with a cup of tea and biscuit (only for himself) and said, "let's go." Then we drove back the 45 minutes in silence. It was so weird. The Dutch guys and I kept catching eyes and smothering giggles, it was ridiculously hilarious!
We got to the other guys' hotel and Driver wouldn't take the other guy to his hotel - had another argument about that. He was saying he only had one pickup on his notes. The guys were saying they had two pickups and sandboarding on theirs. They ended up giving up - Driver wasn't going to take the second guy.
During the argument, the Dutch guys asked how much my ticket was - 200AED ($75). Theirs was 120AED. So when we got to my hotel and Driver asked me how much mine was (he didn't have that info), I said the boys were paying 120 and was about to say so I should too but he just said okay and that was that. I think that was fair coz I was never doing the sandboarding.
It was a great trip in spite of Driver - maybe even because of him! He was way too early - arrived at 8:00 at the Dutch boys' hotel for a 9:10. He didn't introduce himself or any of us - he still thinks my name is 701 (my room number - it's how he referred to me...) He didn't tell us anything that was happening - like, "We've got a 15 minute stop here if you want tea or coffee." No information. And he got mad and it radiated from him. The plus side - he was a really good driver. Just shouldn't be doing the public stuff.
Still, all I wanted was to see the desert, see a camel, go dune bashing. And I did all that.
Back at the hotel I rested for a while then went for some noodles - nice Arabian lunch! I got a fortune cookie there and my message was 'Look forward to great management skills in your future.' So that's something to be excited about! Then a dip in the pool, which was so refreshing!
I have an evening tour booked called Spice of Life in Dubai and we have to meet at the ticket office of Al Pas metro station. I'm allowing myself an hour to get there even though google maps says 11 minutes. Begin the walk, I do love that I'm staying in the old part of town - get the true flavour of the place.
Find the station - the metro stations are fairly obvious.
The metro is really easy to follow and the stations are amazingly clean and shiny.
And of course - early. So sit and wait for a bit then head over to the ticket office and wait. Another guy is waiting and we wait. And we wait. Les is from America and neither of us have phones that work so the nice train worker calls them. The guy is just running late. So we wait again and Mohammad arrives just after 5:30. Very apologetic, traffic got him.
We set off - first stop, the old town souks - bazaars or markets. And the first one is the gold souk...
Check out the necklaces - worn by brides usually.
We do get a little hassled by the vendors but not too bad. Next, through to the spice market - a,along smells through here.
Get hassled a bit here by the vendors but as soon as you say "Australian" they leave you alone - they know we can't take them into our country coz our rules are strict.
After here we head to the water taxis, the agras, to cross the Creek. There are no bridges here, it's all done this way. You pay a coin and across you go. We pass the big dhows that carry cargo up and down the river.
We do stop to sample some camel milk gelato...
Just a sample, they didn't have many good flavours left!
On to the taxi...
This is Les, the American.
It's a short but great ride. Once we get to the other side, Mohammad gets a call saying the two missing people from our tour were waiting and he had to go and get them. So Les and I had a bit of a wander around til he got back with Dave and Crystal - honeymooning Americans. We passed a food section with street food - one was chilies in batter...
Then we go through the textile souk... Very sparkly and colourful fabrics here. And pushier vendors.
Then down some windy back alleys to our dinner spot...
We sat on the floor on a carpet and they brought camel and rice and salad and chips. It was good and fun.
The next part was to show the modern side so we went to the metro to get the train in to the Dubai Mall. They have carriages just for women and children. I hadn't noticed this on the way to meet the tour but I had noticed that I was the only woman in my carriage for a couple of stops. Les said he accidentally got onto a carriage with a woman's section, he stepped over the line inadvertently and got waved back.
Into the mall and to the fountain display, based on the Bellagio on Vegas, but bigger! It was fantastic.
It was fabulous! And a great way to finish the tour. We all went our separate ways then. I decided to bite the bullet and go to the top of the Burj Khalifa - coz why not? How often are you able to do something like that? The others had all done it - they'd done the 124th floor, not the top one.
I try to book online on the iPad coz it's cheaper - 125 AED compared to 500 AED at the counter but it's too late. So I go to ask at the ticket box. What I can do is the 300 AED off peak ticket. That's $115. So I think why not - the package you get sounded great and it did go all the way up. So I get a ticket, get ushered past the hundreds queuing for the lift and into a private room, served coffee and dates. (I had really wanted to have some dates and here they were!)
When the lift was ready, our small group was taken through and express passed through security and onto the escalator that leads to the lift. The delightful Sana was our personal guide...
Then into the lift. They play a video in the 75 seconds it takes to get to the 125th floor. It shows the tall build.ings as you pass them in height - Eiffel Tower, Seers Tower, etc. we get to the 125th floor and into another lift to the 148th floor! And you get out and there's a luxury lounge, they serve you juice and chocolates.
It's really elegant and plush. And there is even a gift shop! I finally venture out to the edge and onto the balcony and it is amazing.
This is me - hard to tell...
Then the fountains start way below - here's a different angle of them!
Then down to the 124th floor - which is not as good as the top floor!
Then time to go down and even here we got good service...
Got on the lift in front of the others in the line...
It was amazing and a fabulous way to finish this trip!
