Sandstorm

It’s so dusty when we first open the curtains this morning we can’t see the other side of the marina, not what we’d hoped for. The plans we had for today have to be changed, no point sightseeing in a sandstorm when you can only see 200meters away. To occupy the morning we walk to the marina mall, the air is thick with sand so we’re forced to cover our nose and mouths with tissues. By the time we get there our skin is carrying a film of dust. The meander around the mall is pleasant in such a spacious, marble clad and air-conditioned environment. By lunch time the sandstorm is just beginning to show signs of abating, we move on to the food court and purchase a kebab sandwich each. After this we can’t shop etc in the mall any longer, a dust walk back leaving us looking like something out of Lawrence of Arabia. By evening time the air has cleared, the rest of the marina has reappeared, a Lebanese restaurant has seduced us tonight and the food is certainly good, vine leaves and cheese to start followed by lamb koftas and chicken kebab with a salad. However, the service was more of the Basil Fawlty style so instead of lingering we leave quickly and head for the Yacht Club for a final drink.

Malls, Burj's and Fountains

After a much needed night’s sleep, it’s time to hit the beach, the hotel shuttle bus takes 15 minutes to get there not because of distance but due to road development works. The beach, like the rest of Dubai is broad and flat golden sand with a calm waveless sea, perfect for swimming. To one side of the beach there are some vast building works and on the other side the edge of the Jumeriah Palm can be seen with speed boats going in all directions out to sea and sea planes landing and taking off. The beach is busy, but not overcrowded and always with plenty to look at. We set off in plenty time to catch the shuttle bus back to The Pearl Marina Hotel as we haven’t really got our bearings yet and I really don’t want a long walk!

For the afternoon we’ve decided to go to The Dubai Mall so suitably cleaned up and dressed we set off to find the metro. The entrance to the metro – which runs high above the 7 lane motorway – is very futuristic and grand. It’s easy to buy tickets and find our way around, the ride to the Dubai Mall gives us a great view of the expanse of Dubai, it’s impressive. Now the walk to the Mall from the station is via air-conditioned walkways and goes on for miles with travellators covering much of the distance!!! Then there’s the Mall, shopping heaven for many vast, glitzy, impressive but that’s not really why we’ve come here. First stop the Aquarium and Under Water Zoo. The tank is visible from the shopping centre and at first we’re underwhelmed, yes the tunnel through the Aquarium is impressive with 18cm thick glass and Tiger Sand Sharks and Rays swimming round you but it can be seen from the outside. We’re directed up 2 escalators to the Zoo and this is amazing, lots of great displays (some a little small for big animals) and high level walkway. Now for the second and third stops, The Dubai Fountains and The Burj Khalifa, we’ve decided not to pay extortionate amounts to go up the Burj as it is not clear today and the amount we would see would be limited. There are huge crowds of people round the lake waiting for the lights and music display that happens each night every half hour, we are just in time. The display starts and is amazing all with the backdrop of the Burj complete with flashing lights. The Burj is so tall you almost have to lie down to take a full picture of it. The whole are is awe inspiring. A short meander through the Dubai Souk which in itself is amazing and then back to see another display of  lights and music, this time at night, wow!

The walk back to the metro takes 40minutes! And so to our evening meal at a local restaurant recommended by a local. The restaurant is a vegetarian Indian and the food is incredible,  salad & poppadum’s to start, garlic & vegetable rice with Kadai Paneer Punjabi, Channa Marsala and butter nan and to finish fresh fruit. We finish the day with a drink at the Nell Gwynne pub within the Marina Byblos Hotel, very bizarrely British except for the smoking inside. The attraction of course was a live band and true to form they do 3 numbers before taking a break, our timing has not improved during our travels!