Magical Dubai Dairies

Finally it was dream come true, waiting for Dubai visa, having got the tickets for 22nd to 27th November irrespective of anxiety creating health issue.  Thomas Cook guide was Mhmdminhaj Kt 8157024156 Mhmdminhaj.Kt@thomascook.in

 The queue for baggage claim was long on landing Dubai on 22nd November. The setup in Dubai is different. 

City welcomes you with Dubai Gate plated in gold.

As you offboard at Dubai, you do not get any specific vibe, it feels like any other city.

Stay was at Hotel Howard Johnson by Wyndham

Day 1  was the arrival and rest, with actual travel to start the next day the 24th was feeling lazy so did not go out. 

Also had to wait for the phone call from travel agent too. the places around were :

Though reached late noon did not have lunch, items all looked expensive India wise 😂 and it was odd timing  to eat, had biscuits and Britannia cake slice from home. The tour agency  did not suggest any restaurants as promised. 

Temperature outside was said to be 30° but travel in AC and room AC was pretty cool 👌🏻 and good.

Finally came the message:

"Tomorrow morning please have your breakfast between 7AM till 8:20 AM and be ready in the ground floor lobby for our sightseeing which will begin at 8:30 AM sharp and we have to depart with our guides .

Please be on time, Tomorrow we will get information about the city and do a part of our city tour with guides have a photostop at Zabeel Palace , and visit Burj Khalifa in the Dubai Mall, go to Gold Souk ( Carry copy of passport in phone if you have to buy some gold) and evening will be in Global Village . Lunch and dinner will be in an Indian restaurant.

Make a small bag of essentials that you may need for the day as we will get out after breakfast and come back post dinner to the hotel."

That was not an exciting message, vibe was missing. 

Dinner was yummy.

There were 54 ppl on trip. 🙆🏻‍♀️  clubbed with sotc. Thomas Cook initial group had only 20. 

Breakfast first day of actual trip, the 23rd was  Indian.

First look started giving vibes. 😂 

Burj Khalifa 

It was for just 1 hr ..just enough time to go up and down and get quick pics

So the priority list was ticked off.

Then visited Gold Souk was there for  2 hrs!

Some families were buying gold. After going around had to sit waiting on a bench as it was too hot outside. Felt like Gold souk was not required. 

Global village was 👌🏻 starting only around  5 pm. A larger version of the Kolkata park.  There was so much to explore and maybe shop and eat too. Tried that Turkey ice cream. Wo jo kalipichu kalipichu tharane. 😂 ice cream was like any other normal one  ..but experienced the turkey way. 😂

Had  dinner and reached back to the room.

In  Coach one aged lady sat with me. Her daughter and her friend sat behind. 

Was always stuck with the Bengali family,  but missed the important one. They had gone to see the night view of burj and fountain at night after dinner. Should have gone with them. What a view they had captured . 

24/11, plan was the frame, limo ride , monorail to palm Jumairah in limo batch of 20  so maybe 3 batches. Limousine is big  limo

There was  one big event around then, Dubai run, Early morning entire shake Zayed road will be full of crowed. It's a vibe one time experience. So expecting road blocks.

On 24th  started at 9;30 with limo.

 Limousine Ride though done before was interesting, it was a vehicle for 20. But yes got breakfast from hotel.

Local guide Ali gave the Souvenirs at the restaurant. 

 Then frame, palm and one yacht cruise in the evening .

Dubai frame's sykwalk was amazing. It's 48 floors up... so dont worry  😂 you can wear anything and walk.

Then yacht cruise 🛳

Night life 👌👌 We had two yacht with unlimited drinks - soft drinks and beer. 

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Skyline from harbour.

 First day covered, half day City tour of Dubai with Gold and Spice Souk, Burj Khalifa 124th floor (non-prime slot), Free time to explore Dubai Mall and Global Village.

Our group was

Skyscrapers are similar everywhere..  I too got the same Singapore feel. Yacht view is the same but if done at night...its a diff feel. 

Museum of the future day and night view

Day 2 visited Dubai Frame, Experience the Yacht Ride on Dubai Marina, View at the Palm, One way Monorail to the Plam

25th Miracle Garden

Soothe ur eyes for some time 😊

Jisha + Jose = Joshi , got a new name 

Desert safari... is a rough sand bashing . Want to experience this . For ppl with heart and spine issues they take slow trip.

Desert safari is batch of 6-7. He said ppl can either setup their own batch else he will allocate. Bengali Couple already counted me in in their batch 😂

Finally we could do the Desert Safari – dune bashing 

Followed by the BBQ dinner

On the way to desert safari . But typical Indians. One argument over for seats on vehicle. That Mumbai two friends and aunty... typical Mumbai smart!..jam ke behas with these bengali Couple 🤷🏻‍♀️

Behas went on escalation 😂😂 Result everyone waiting,  They both won 50-50.

As promised bag of gifts was given.

Next day was Abudabi, did not go. Stayed back in hotel to visit friends and relatives. 

Finally could get the night view of Burj too. 

My checklist was burj, palm view, desert safari and fountain bonus. Am done. Lesson learned was better to arrange for a local tour, than with a tour guide.  Got chocolates , dates and souvenirs. 

Final return was on 27th. Thanks to Susan, halted at her home and left to Alappuzha the next day with a heavy bag and lot of sweet memories. 

Package Highlights that were ticked off are  Limo Ride and 3 Lunch, One-way Monorail to The Palm, Visit Dubai Frame, Free flow of soft drinks and beer on yatch, 1 Gift Box - 8 Souvenirs of UAE 

Personal best and highlight was Night burj, and night yacht cruise and desert View...

All set for the next trip......