Although the wind was easing, it was still very cool (for Dubai) with moderate gusts when we woke up for our first full day. We had a 12:00 visit scheduled for the 124th floor of Burj Khalifa so we were not in a rush to get to Dubai Mall for our aerial view of the desert.
Breakfast overlooking the Persian Gulf
Panorama from the balcony
The view below
Marina District
We made our way downstairs and explored the Fairmont’s beach facilities along the southwest trunk of The Palm Jumeirah. Its waters are stagnant since the outer fonds reduce the flow of the Persian Gulf from crashing the shore. This also creates a risk for jellyfish, but more so in the summer.
One of many pools
Ping pong on the beach
One of three buildings that make up the Fairmont
Caution!
The Fairmont offers a shuttle between the palm and a few popular destinations along Sheikh Zayed Road so we boarded and headed off for Dubai Mall. Twenty minutes later we were in one of Dubai’s two mega malls. This particular one sits in the shadow (although a building across town can likely claim the same) of the World’s tallest building; Burj Khalifa. Its 1,200 shops make it the largest mall by area in the World. Fitting. Opened in 2008 it is recognized for its Aquarium and Ice Rink. The mall is also home to the Dubai Dinosaur, a full size diplodocid, found in Wyoming in 2008.
Fairmont shuttle
Burj Khalifa in the distance
Dubai Mall
Burj Khalifa with a semi-blue sky
Aquarium entrance
Shark Tank
Dubai Ice Rink
Dubai Dino
We browsed a handful of stores, including the World’s largest confectionary store, and experienced some authentic Middle Eastern restaurants. Not particularly hungry, but knowing we wouldn’t eat for a while I convinced my mom to try some Persian food from the food court. She really enjoyed the ghormeh sabzi, particularly the naan.
Fashion Avenue atrium…
…full of butterflies
What’s a mall without a waterfall?
Same merchandise as any souk, 5x the price!
Authentic Middle Eastern cuisine
Copyright infringement of Iran’s Kentucky House
I’m addicted
Ghormeh sabzi
With just 15 minutes until our Burj Khalifa entrance time we bolted across the mall to queue up for our one-minute ride to the top. I had booked this time slot about a month out and when we arrived there was only one more time slot the rest of the day with tickets available for the non-inflated price. We had to wait approximately 15 minutes before boarding.
The queue
The most anticipated elevator ride ever
So much for pushing all the buttons when I got out
Burj Khalifa, originally known as Burj Dubai, is the World’s tallest manmade structure at 829.8 meters (2,722 feet). Its nearly 6 years of construction concluded with an opening ceremony in January 2010. The building is home to the Armani Hotel, corporate offices and residences.
I selected a 12:00 arrival knowing it would take some time to reach the top and I wanted to enjoy the desert views before the 13:00 fountain show. There was also another fountain show at 13:30 I hoped to be down on the ground to enjoy as well. The 124th floor (of 160) is the primary observation deck, although for quite a bit more money you can visit the World’s highest observation deck on the 148th floor. We spent about 45 minutes taking photos and just looking out across Dubai. The clouds had cleared up considerably from the previous day’s dust storm and we could vaguely make out the Burj al Arab. The Palm Jumeirah was beyond our sightline. They did offer a pretty cool AR digital telescope. You pointed it in your desired direction and could select between live, day, night and historic views. Just before the fountain show was about to begin we found a nice vantage point and enjoyed the show. As much as you can from 124 floors above at least. Wanting to see the next show at 13:30 we waited about 5 minutes for the next elevator and scurried outside to see the show from below. Mostly underwhelming in my opinion.
Proof
At the top…
Well almost the top
Partially open observation deck
Looking north
Persian Gulf
Desert roads
Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountain
Burj al Arab
Free augmented reality telescope
Fountains in action
Fountains from down low
Burj Khalifa
Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa
After the water show, my mom filled her Timbits craving (second of the trip) and we began the lengthy walk through the mall across the highway to the Dubai Metro and across the creek to the old city. As expected, the metro is very modern and clean. It offers a private cabin for women and children along with an exclusive gold class cabin, which I suspect would allow a bit more personal space during rush hour. Plus it’s near the exits to minimize walking. We emerged on the other side of Dubai Creek at Ras station and walked along the water toward the Deira Souq. It seemed to be your typical souq and we breezed right through with no damage to the wallet nor bother from the store owners. I felt like I was right back in Iran with sights like Bank Melli, the Aseman Air Office and a variety of other Iranian establishments.
Tim Hortons
A marathon to the metro
Getting closer
Burj Khalifa from across Sheikh Zayed Road
Metro terminal
Metro car
Gold class
Onboard
Deira Souq
Inside; not very bustling
Siesta
Windcatchers
Feeling right at home
One of many Iranian business
Ready to see the west side of the creek we took the one AED boat ride across. I was seated next to two friendly Afghans and it actually began to drizzle so right away we took cover in the Textile Souq where my mom perfected her bartering skills for a scarf. I think both parties were pleased with the results. Along the walk back to the metro we poked our head in the Dubai Museum, but decided against going further. I had hoped to try camel meat while in UAE and a small restaurant offered camel burgers and camel-milk milk shakes. The shake was rather runny and tasteless and I don’t think I noticed all that much of a difference with the meat. Maybe it was a tad grittier? Back on the metro we rode until the Mall of the Emirates.
Ready to cross Dubai Creek
Boarding and paying 1 AED fare
Banks along the creek
Returning for more passengers
Arrival after 10 minutes
Textile souq
Happy buyer and sellers
Dubai Museum
Camel-milk milk shake
Camel-meat burger
The Mall of the Emirates is a few years older (2005) than Dubai Mall but is renowned for its most unique attraction, Ski Dubai. The 5 indoor slopes are the primary reason for our stop at yet another mega mall while on vacation. I had considered skiing and even brought a hat and gloves for that reason, but for the second time this trip, passed on an opportunity to ski in the Middle East. The other being a day trip to the Alborz mountains north of Tehran. We watched a penguin show from inside the mall and made our way to the taxi stand by way of a grocery store which was incredible in size and its offerings.
Mall of the Emirates
Penguin show at Ski Dubai
Kid’s zone of Ski Dubai
Move over Easter Bunny
Ski Dubai, temperature below freezing
Belt lift up, inflatable ball down
Chinese New Year celebration
Literally the tail end of the celebration
Massive Carrefour (HyperMarket)
A quick 10-minute taxi back to the Fairmont and we were all set for our eating extravaganza at Frevo, a Brazilian Steakhouse with 18 items on the grill. At 295 AED it certainly wasn’t cheap, but with a collection of dining certificates we left with not only a full belly, but also full wallet. The quantity of wasted food at the end of the night is slightly disturbing. Their printed menu didn’t exactly match the items on offer, but we had tried 17 different items before waving the white napkin. Appropriately, most popular in Brazil, my favorite was the Picanha. Sick to my stomach, we called it a night after a long day exploring Dubai.
Frevo salad bar
Salad bar selections
The beer chicken wings never seemed to make it around
Proof of the 17 sampled, you can see which ones were not enjoyable
Dessert
Not quite