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Father/Son Trip to Dubai & Oman
Part 1 - Dubai
This spring break I took my 18yo son to Dubai and Oman as his high school graduation gift. We took Emirates non-stop service from SFO to DXB. Not a whole lot to say about the economy class flight other than the nearly 16 hours passed quicker than we expected. On-board the catering was pretty good and we enjoyed the I.C.E. in-flight entertainment system. Our first three nights we stayed at the Raffles Dubai hotel. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1372-M.jpg Pool and swim up bar at Raffles http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1447-M.jpg Our executive 10th floor room at Raffles Dubai. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1361-M.jpg Congratulatory cake sent to my son by the hotel to recognize his high school graduation. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1363-M.jpg Breakfast buffet at Raffles; we ate our breakfasts here rather than in the 10th floor executive lounge. Really a fantastic selection of quality food for all tastes. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1366-M.jpg Not much of a view from our room. We were invited to move rooms for a nicer view if we wanted but demurred. The Raffles staff was absolutely fantastic from the butler to the lounge staff, front desk to restaurant. Service is really a hallmark at this property. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1499-M.jpg Walking the streets of Dubai you can run across some very expensive vehicles. But I’m guessing the license plate (2 digit) is worth more than the car itself. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...IMG_1345-M.jpg The famous Ski Dubai indoor ski facility at the Mall of the Emirates http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...SCN1375b-M.jpg Jumeirah Beach Resort from the parking lot of the Burj al Arab hotel. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1420-M.jpg Lobby fountain at the Burj al Arab. We were here for our four course Culinary Flight luncheon - each course served at a different Burj restaurant. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1387-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1427-M.jpg Lunch at Al Mahara seafood restaurant inside the Burj al Arab. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1391-M.jpg Lobby cocktails at the Burj. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1419-M.jpg Inside what is currently the world’s largest shopping mall, the Dubai Mall http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1429-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1430-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...scn1429c-M.jpg The McArabia sandwich was pretty good http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...scn1429a-M.jpg We had the Dubai Metro car to ourselves for a while! http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1457-M.jpg Highly recommend the Dubai historical Museum. Lots of informative and interesting exhibits. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1461-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1462-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1464-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1465-M.jpg Trying on some local clothes http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1467-M.jpg Abra ferry across Dubai Creek – fare is only one dirham http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1475-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1482-M.jpg Please take our picture! http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1483-M.jpg Negotiating the sale of saffron in the spice souk http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1484-M.jpg Anybody want to buy a plastic camel to take home? http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1489-M.jpg Street signs are bilingual making it easy enough to get around http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1491-M.jpg The gold souk http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1490-M.jpg Price of gold in UAE Dirham per gram http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1495-M.jpg Looking for a little souvenir... http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1494-M.jpg Dinner at the chef’s table at Hilton Dubai Creek’s Table 9 restaurant http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1503-M.jpg After dinner how about some room service fries at Raffles? http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1511-M.jpg Hubbly-bubbly, water pipe, hookah – my son wanted to try it. He ordered mint flavored tobacco. I passed on the opportunity. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...hoto%202-M.jpg Gave him a good headache before dinner! http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...hoto%201-M.jpg The tallest building in the world as of this writing, the Burj al Khalifa in Dubai http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...IMG_1077-M.jpg Changing UAE dirham into Omani rials at DXB airport http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1515-M.jpg Continued in Part 2 |
Part 3 - Back to Dubai before heading home
We stayed at the Hilton Dubai Creek for our last night of our trip before catching an early morning flight back to San Francisco. For our last afternoon and evening I booked us on the Platinum Heritage Desert Safari. I can highly recommend this firm and tour - yes it is pricey but you get what they advertise and more.
http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1747-M.jpg Ready for some dune bashing in the desert outside Dubai. http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1750-M.jpg First we need some protection from the fierce sun http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1753-M.jpg Us with an original 4WD desert vehicle… http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1755-M.jpg There is seriously nothing out here… http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1765-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1766-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1772-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1778-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1783-M.jpg Oryx skull we found http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1769-M.jpg Live oryx we saw http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1771-M.jpg We rode a camel for about 30 minutes across the desert to the camp where dinner was served http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1811-M.jpg http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1818-M.jpg Gotta get a tat before going home to show Mom! http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...DSCN1836-M.jpg In closing my son and I built some more wonderful memories which we will both carry with us for a long time. We're looking forward to wherever the next trip will take us. I personally am looking forward to when he can take ME on a nice trip someday! More photos and travel galleries here:http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Travel |
Good start, looking forward to the other two parts
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Originally Posted by El Cochinito
(Post 22864724)
The tallest building in the world as of this writing, the Burj al Khalifa in Dubai
http://elcochinito.smugmug.com/Trave...IMG_1077-M.jpg |
I don't even have a son, yet I hope to take my son on trips like this one day.
Glad you had a great time. |
thanks for posting!
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Great photo's, looks like you had an awesome adventure in Dubai & Oman:)!
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Awesome TR. I love the middle east TRs. They are so awesome to read. Thank you for the great pix as well :)
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Fantastic TR and awesome pictures! Thank you for sharing.^
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Fantastic TR, thank you so much for sharing it with us, and am sure you son thoroughly enjoyed the experience, it certainly looked awesome. Yes am sure one day he will repay the experience and take you somewhere nice:D
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Fantastic TR and awesome pictures! Thank you for sharing.^
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Great trip report! I loved the memories you made with your son! Truly awesome!
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Beautiful photos.
Oman is a gem of the Gulf. Omanis are great people too. Still share at times some sms with my Muscat taxi driver. |
Originally Posted by Forrest Bump
(Post 22869216)
Beautiful photos.
Oman is a gem of the Gulf. Omanis are great people too. One of the many things I like about Oman is the opportunity to interact with Omanis who are indeed some of the most friendly and gracious folks anywhere. In the UAE about the only Emiratis you'll meet are the immigration officers. |
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