Slightly unwillingly but at the same time slightly excitedly we set off from home on Sunday evening after the usual mad rush to the finish line and eventual failure to complete the to-do list. Thank goodness for a super uneventful flight to Dubai. Emirates' leg room is a joy, the food was perfectly fine and a seamless transfer to our hotel was thanks to Emirates partner, Arabian Adventures.
When I was a child, Arabian adventures were all about bedouins on horseback, tents in the desert, camel trains, silk, harems and slaves. Nowhere were any of these things in sight, not even the desert though the passport officials in their traditional white robes were a clue to our whereabouts. From our hotel window we could see the traditional-shaped, mutedly colourful lighters that carry goods out to the ships at sea, many docked, some plying their loads down the waterways – just a reminder that we were in a place with a culture different from any I have experienced to date.
A prearranged early check-in and breakfast got us on to Dubai time pretty well immediately and a quick walk around the hotel to find the "supermarket" and alternative healthy eating deli as well as the outdoor pool, spa, gym etc assured us we would have all the choices we needed for our overnight stay.
An ice skating rink in the hotel was one of the items that got us on to thinking a lot of the rationale for things in Dubai is "because we can". Richard went straight out on foot to explore the local area. It was too hot for me. We were both struck by the absolute cleanliness and tidiness of the place. No litter. No graffiti... and no trees. There are however formal green planted gardens everywhere and motorways that would look right at home in Disneyland with their beautifully decorated friezes.
This is the ultimate theme park, the theme being universal modern big-city living. It has nothing whatever to do with Arab culture or the desert but it is impressive. The token nod towards Arab culture is that there are souks both within and outside the mall and the date palms and citrus trees give a further clue. We heard doves cooing in the trees but because there was not a bird in sight, we wondered if it was a recording – quite possibly in such an environment. Spotlessly clean wherever we walked.
Dubai seems to be out Singapore-ing Singapore in every way except for the tropical climate. We had sunset drinks in the revolving restaurant at the top of the hotel that was not open yet but they were so polite and hospitable that they served us anyway – two beers and a peppermint tea cost us about $44, but I guess perhaps if we went to the revolving restaurant in Sydney it might have been the same.
We hope to see a bit more of Dubai on our way home and at least we have a taste of what is to come. Not very different from what we expected thanks to the helpful advice of many friends.
Comments