4 Aug - Dubai

Big day ahead of me today. I have the 4x4 desert safari this arvo, so have to get as much in as possible before then. I got up and went looking for a taxi. Not as easy as I thought. There were plenty of taxis around, but most of them full. A couple were empty but just kept driving when I tried waving them down. Finally got a taxi, and headed towards the Burj Al Arab, the big hotel. On the way we passed through the CBD of Dubai. Saw the Burj Dubai from a bit of a distance...HUGE!

Got to the Burj Al Arab to find out you can only get right up to it is you have a reservation at the hotel. Took a couple of photos from the front gate, then headed to the Spice Souk (market). This was a bit of a let down, so I decided to wander along the foreshore of the canal sort of thing. My hotel was pretty close so I could walk back. It was great walking along, seeing them loading the old wooden boats with everything from toys to fruit to tyres.

Took a bunch of photos but started suffering in the heat when I ran out of water. Easily over 40 degrees and it was barely noon. Stopped at a little cafe place for lunch and a needed drink, then headed back to the hotel intent on going for a swim before the 4x4 trip. The pool was closed. How fun.

Hung around my room, had a bit of a nap, realised I had to call the tour company to confirm the time of the trip, then waited.

Finally the car came to pick me up. I was in a car with a couple from Brisbane (Lyle and...I'm going to say Margaret...possibly). They were heading around Europe after Dubai. The 4x4 trip started with us driving to the desert...about 15 minute. It was not to bad in the desert. Over 45 degrees, but dry so it felt better than the humid city. The dune bashing part was pretty tame, even for me who's never been before. There were about 6 cars of us in Landcruisers. I felt sorry for the "VIP" group in the Hummer. The thing is about twice the size (and probably weight) of the Lancruiser but had about the same ground clearance, would not have been a comfy ride.

After a bit of dune bashing we stopped at a pretty tall dune which we climbed and then at a camel farm (pretty dull, we have more camels back home anyway) and then onto the campsite for dinner. This was a pretty fake desert camp, with camels rides (walking in a 20 meter wide circle) and sand boarding (down a slope that barely qualified as a dune. There was also a falconer and some Sheesha and Hookers...I mean Hookahs. I was going to try the Sheesha...but I forgot.

Dinner was nice and I ate plenty, then there was a belly dancer...who looked like she'd spent the year in England...she was pretty pale.

After the belly dancer we headed back. I headed to my room and got ready to wake up at 6.30 the next day to get to the airport and out of Dubai for Venice.

Signing off...

3 Aug - Perth to Dubai

After fears of a sleepless flight and an afternoon running on reserves, things turned out slightly better. I slept for at least a couple of hours on and off over the flight. Woo! It does help when there's no one next to you or behind. I also watch a documentary called Zombie Alligators. Best...Name...Ever.

11.5 hours on a plane is long, made worse when you wear tight jeans...oh well, that's what buttons are for. The announcement that the temperature in Dubai on arrival was 44 degrees was good to hear too. I also got a little lost in the airport. I was following a girl who looked like she knew where she was going, but then saw a big group of people lining up...I panicked and went the wrong way.

A taxi to the hotel was only about $7...and since flag-fall was about 6 of that, not too bad. Had a shower as soon as I got to the hotel, then had a wander around the area near the hotel.

Didn't really find anything exciting, other than my camera fogging up in the humidity, so went back to the hotel and at 5 got on the free bus to Deira City Centre, a big shopping centre. Had a meal at TGI Fridays...every single casual restaurant was American (TGI's, Chilli's, etc.). Pretty big place, my feet were aching by 9 when the bus came. Didn't by much though, just a little wooden box and Arab style message canister. There was a Levi's store and store with a heap of Nike stuff, but nothing interesting. Oh except that there was some sort of Cirque de Sole style thing going on in the centre. Pretty crazy, and there was a TopShop right next to it...didn't buy anything, though almost got a John Lennon t-shirt.

Got back to the hotel and was absolutely knackered, so I went to bed early. I did also notice a sticker on the ceiling pointing to Mecca. Now I get why it's in the room, but why it's on the ceiling...who knows.

Highlight of the day: seeing a store called "Fag Middle East"...unfortunately it's the only funny shop name I've seen.

Also, there's lots of Hummers.

Signing off...