Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
23 July - 25 July 2022
We keep finding a way to return to Dubai and on each occasion there is something more enticing, more engaging and just more damn exhilarating about it. Previously I've likened Dubai visually to those dark, moody, almost foreboding visuals from the movie Bladerunner, which is not meant to be derisive, just that the impression that it gives is of a time and place that feel so far advanced from the rest of the world. With that said, there is an allure and lustre to Dubai, it's ostentatious certainly, dazzling and almost irreverent in that way that it approaches all things. At some point I use to think of it as being overtly pretentious but there's simply too much going on here and too much to enjoy that the tags that you feel you want to apply for reasons of false appropriateness just seem to be no longer pertinent. I love what Dubai has to offer, and I admit, its taken me a few goes to get to the place where I can readily admit that. Certainly knowing that Inga enjoys Dubai and understanding what she loves about it, slowly convinced me to find the things that I like about it also. These days we'll find any reason to break up our trip home from Europe just to spend a bit of time here.
We took the relatively short flight from Amsterdam with Etihad, arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport around 8pm in the evening. The distance between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is relatively short, only about 100kms, which you can comfortably drive in just over and hour. Knowing the types of roads that the U.A.E has and also the the common makes and models of cars out on the roads I stepped up our rental option and elected to take a Dodge Charger for the few days that we had planned. A great choice if I must say so myself.
For our few days stayed we'd booked ourselves into the Palm Atlantis. For those that are unaware, this building is as iconic as the Burj al Arab, the Burj Khalifa. Certainly an unparalleled destination in terms of hotels and it's nestled on the equally as iconic Palm Jumeirah archipelago. A fabulous location certainly but also one where you can very easily get entrapped by the bubble of the Atlantis world which makes escaping the recursive island of the Palm a test of your will power. This nested island of entertainment within the larger world of Dubai has more than you need to save you from venturing further afield. Indeed as we drove onto Palm island that evening I said to Inga 'I think it's going to be very unlikely that we drive off this island until we need to go back to the airport'...no truer words were spoken on that trip. We didn't leave the Atlantis complex until 7:00am on the 25th of July, the morning of our flight back to Melbourne from Abu Dhabu.
The breath-taking location of Atlantis sets it apart from all other locations, offering guests a surreal experience in the heart of this man-made marvel. This luxury resort boasts an unrivalled position, perched majestically at the apex of the Palm Jumeirah, offering panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai's impressive skyline. The place is a testament to architectural ingenuity, combining innovative design with opulent amenities that redefine luxury hospitality. There are attractions aplenty ranging from the magnificent Aquaventure Park, the internal (Lost Chambers )aquarium, the plethora of restaurants and bars, shopping options and the views of the Dubai skyline. It's spectacular, without question and even though the temperatures in Dubai soar into the high 40's during the month of July, the access that you have to a vast array of attractions and the manner in which Dubai understands that it needs to counter act the oppressive heat through a vast array of cooling mechanisms just means that the experience is exactly what you want it to be - a pleasure.
Iconic in every sense, the Palm Atlantis stands as a symbol of Dubai's ambition and grandeur. With its distinctive silhouette against the Dubai skyline it captures the imagination of all that see it or those that desire to see it. Whilst we certainly enjoyed our time here the only issue that we found was that we became so entrenched in the 'Atlantis World' that we didn't find the energy to head out into Dubai and do other things. Part of that was travelling with Aiden and having the comfort of not needing to move very far to do an array of activities, which in itself would speak to families as a location of convenience.
Dubai is a Las Vegas on steroids. It may take you a bit of time to just accept it for what it is but once you immerse yourself into its world then you'll quickly be amazed by their achievements and also what it can offer you.
