Please utilise this space to search this blog

Showing posts with label Dubai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dubai. Show all posts

Monday, July 25, 2022

Dubai (United Arab Emirates) - Atlantis, The Palm (Dubai) - 'they sank Atlantis out at sea'

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 Lost Chambers Aquarium - Atlantis, The Palm - Palm Island Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Atlantis, The Palm - Palm Island Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Atlantis, The Palm - Palm Island Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

The Lost Chambers Aquarium - Atlantis, The Palm - Palm Island Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

The Lost Chambers Aquarium - Atlantis, The Palm - Palm Island Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

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.

Atlantis, The Palm - Palm Island Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Atlantis, The Palm - Palm Island Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

The Lost Chambers Aquarium - Atlantis, The Palm - Palm Island Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

The Lost Chambers Aquarium - Atlantis, The Palm - Palm Island Jumeirah - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

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.

High over the Indian Ocean - The Maldives

High over the Indian Ocean - The Maldives

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.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Dubai (United Arab Emirates) - you still owe us

Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

11 September - 13 September 2019

This story commenced with what was to have been a wonderful NYE in Dubai as we ticked over from 2017 to 2018. The NYE that died painfully, as captured in that post, was meant to have met its inevitable crescendo with a typically extravagant Emirati fireworks display that would be set to ignite the cockles of our deepest hopes and dreams, inspiring in us a year of endeavour and achievement. That's what all the good marketing had us believe.

At the stroke of midnight however all that anticipation and excitement floundered like the flaccid phallus of a 70 year old man that left his blue pills in the overhead baggage compartment of his last flight. 

What we had been advised in the immediate aftermath of the greatest of letdowns was that for this year...just this year...Dubai had elected to for a light show, rather than its globally renowned fireworks display. What's more, that light show could not be seen from the Shangri-La Hotel, located on the opposite side of the Burj Khalifa, the focal point of NYE celebrations in Dubai.

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

I was livid of course. The Shangri-La had known of this for weeks. Long before I had purchased tickets for the event, and additionally, had sold the event as one of the best vantage points to witness the famous NYE fireworks and festivities of Dubai.

On returning to Belgrade I made the Shangri-La well aware of my grievances and we both settled on two free nights accommodation at the Shangri-La, at a time of my choosing, and, a dinner for two, inclusive of a bottle of wine at their iKandy outdoor restaurant/poolside bar. More than 18 months after the event we had decided to cash in our chips.

Dubai isn't a city for everyone. On my first trip to the burgeoning centre of wild ideas, grand inspiration and engineering marvel, I left feeling more bemused than anything. Admittedly that first time was in 2006, and now, 13 years later, the growth steroids consumed by the emirate has transformed it into a monolithic characterisation of what capitalism does when it runs rampant on the back of petrodollars, human exploitation...and...wild ideas. There's a lot about how the system operates that probably should have me questioning my ethics but if I did that to absolutely everything in my life then where would I be?

View from iKandy @ the Shangri-La - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Where else would Inga be at 9:00am?

This is Inga letting me know exactly where she is

So really, Dubai is like a wondrous Disneyland without sinful overtones that would have align  to a town such as Las Vegas. It's grand, in many ways brash, it drips with money and privilege, sucking you into its realm of both the possible and impossible. For those that love a hot dry climate, then this place has it in spade. For those that love sheesha, great cuisine, cocktails bars, shopping, exploring and about any other touristic venture you can think of, then my, this is a place for you also.

When evening descends in Dubai the night scape scene morphs into something resembling  the dystopian city of LA out of Blade Runner. Not that Dubai is at all sinister or a place where you wouldn't want to spend time but there's something imposing and imperial about the long line of buildings presiding along Al Maktoum Road that both excites and imparts an atmosphere of mystery. It's enigmatic, puzzling at times but full of possibility, and to me, that a great quality for a city to have. Why wouldn't you want to go out and discover what a place such as this has to offer? A city doesn't have to be aesthetically pleasing to be engaging. I personally would rate Dubai as an attractive city, but, it has so much to keep you occupied, and sometimes that's all you need.

Shangri-La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Shangri-La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Shangri-La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

With all that said, having a 6 month old on your books means that you're restricted into what, where, when and how you can enjoy a place like this. On this occasion we mostly spent our time in the Shangri-La with only the odd excursion outside of the front doors. This was to be expected. Still, it doesn't diminish how I feel about Dubai now, nor will it dissuade me from making my way to this part of the world again soon. In my books, its a cool place to be for a time.

Monday, January 1, 2018

Dubai (United Arab Emirates) - Dark side of the moon

DUBAI (United Arab Emirates)
30 December 2017 - 01 January 2018


We wanted to end this year on an epic high, we wanted it to be big, we wanted a show that was iconic, in the class of Sydney, Rio de Janeiro or New York.

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates


After bringing in 2017 with an absolute whimper we committed to lighting a bonfire under the start of 2018 and identified Dubai as being the centre of all things grandiose. This city is the Texas of the middle east, in fact, its extravagant and outlandish in all that it does that everything that's oversized about Texas could in fact be encapsulated within this 'city on steroids'.

I'd seen the NYE fireworks from Dubai in previous years. With their world class locations such as The Atlantis on Palm Island,  The Burj al Arab and the Burj Khalifa, to me it felt as though Dubai was blowing itself up every NYE...thus the need for massive reconstruction during the year.

NYE traffic - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


Even when you read the write-ups regarding how magnificent the displays are what you get consistently are descriptions such as this;

BURJ KHALIFA FIREWORKS



In Dubai, New Year’s Eve and fireworks are pretty much synonymous. The city is known for hosting a magnificent display of lights every year that attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators around the world. This year won’t be any different, with an extravagant pyrotechnic show at Burj Khalifa and water-music dance at the Dubai Fountain.


Burj Khalifa & The Dubai Fountain
You can’t imagine a better view of Dubai’s most awe-inspiring New Year’s Eve celebration than from the very footsteps of Burj Khalifa. Thousands gather along the waterfront of the Dubai Fountain to catch the spectacular light and water show at midnight, so make sure to get a head start. Arrive as early as 6pm to avoid traffic and grab a top spot. Or, book a table at one of the famous restaurants lining the waterfront by The Dubai Mall to guarantee yourself a good seat. Plan ahead as roads and access to the Downtown area will be restricted on the night for crowd control.
Doesn't that sound like its the place to be!?!
After researching a few locations for a great meal, entertaining and spectacular views, I located the iKandy Ultralounge at the Shangri La Hotel.
Now the Shangri La we knew well, we actually stayed there a few nights whilst on our honeymoon some 6 months earlier. We also knew the iKandy Ultralounge to be a funky, cool, outdoor lounge that had direct views to the Burj Khalifa. The idea in itself seemed perfect. A great setting, a fantastic dinner, bottomless champagne & shisha without the hassle of being amongst the masses that would inevitably inhabit the area around Dubai Mall and Dubai fountain.
Once I'd zeroed in on the location getting us there was easy. This was set to be a monster of a NYE, guaranteed.

iKandy Ultralounge - Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Arriving on the 30th we actually flew into Abu Dhabi before driving up to Dubai and making our way to a hotel only a block or so from the Shangri La. As you can imagine, it seems that everywhere around the world NYE prices for a standard room involve an immediate tripling of standard rates and a request for a three (3) night minimum stay.

iKandy Ultralounge - Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Needless to say, all was forgotten when the 31st rolled around, and this time, Inga and I were ready. We were set for what was inevitably going to be an amazing night.
We took the 5-7 min walk down to the Shangri La, all ready to enter the iKandy Ultralounge stratosphere. And hey, didn't the crew at iKandy deliver. It was just as they had advertised, funky, cool, exclusive and in many way quite private. Small tables had been set up around the lounge and pool area. Inga and I actually had a fairly secluded area on one side of the pool with a direct view to the stage and with the wonderfully regal Burj Khalifa behind us, it felt like we had one of the best views in Dubai for the evening.

iKandy Ultralounge - Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
How good did the place look!
How good did we look!!


iKandy Ultralounge - Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

With the party in full swing, the champagne was flowing, the food was abundant and the shisha was the guilty pleasure that just topped off a fantastic event. Everything seemed to be going perfectly, I mean what can be better than an NYE that you don't really need to think about. I'm sure all of us have experienced those nights where we'd built up these unrealistic expectations, only to be let down by the location, by friends, family, whatever it may have been. This on the other hand was going much better than either of us had planned.

Eyes on the Burj Khalifa!!! iKandy Ultralounge - Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


The food was superb - iKandy Ultralounge - Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


iKandy Ultralounge - Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


iKandy Ultralounge - Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
And just like that, the night melted away

As the remaining time on the year that was 2017 dwindled and we inched closer to 2018, the small gathering at iKandy assembled itself around the pool area and cast their eyes in anticipation towards the Burj Khalifa, waiting for the inevitable explosion of colour that would bring in the New Year of 2018.
Then in a somewhat impromptu countdown that someone around us initiated we got into the final 10 seconds, '10, 9, 8....3, 2, 1'
All eyes locked on the Burj Khalifa..........

All eyes locked on the Burj Khalifa

All eyes still locked on the FREAKIN' BURJ KHALIFA

Hey, BURJ KHALIFA, SHOW TIME!!!!

No reaction from the Burj Khalifa. There were a few floodlights crisscrossing each other but something had gone wrong here...and then the whispers commenced. From somewhere I heard 'something' about no fireworks this year.
What do you mean no fireworks? That's like Santa forgetting to deliver presents! That's like being single on Valentine's Day or running out of Malbec in Buenos Aires!
I needed clarification, I needed to find out what the hell was going on.
I pulled one of the staff aside and asked them what the deal was, his response, 'Oh yes, for safety reasons this year we have a light show, apparently its very good'.
Huh, 'apparently its very good',  well maybe that might be the case, the only issue is that we're on the wrong side of the 'pretty good' light show.  We couldn't see ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!
Inga was looking at me and all she could say was 'Henry, do something'
But this one was too big, I had nothing active in my ready bag of tricks.
DUBAI you MOFO! Seriously, of all THE years, this is the one to play up to your SAFETY CONCERNS!!!
...And so our night of magnificence, of monumental glory, fell the same way as our NYE in Belgrade, petering out to a whimper, nothing more than a forgotten puff in the night sky. 2018 had arrived and our mood had been halved and then halved again,
We felt cheated, we felt unfairly done by.
And so we walked back to our hotel, disgruntled, vanquished and trampled.

postscript
I did get in touch with the Shangri La for falsely advertising their event and the 'view of the fireworks' when they knew that for this year it would not be happening. The fact that their staff were completely aware of this meant that they were not caught unaware and thus advertised falsely.
For calling them out on the false advertising I received two nights complimentary accommodation, a meal at iKandy and a bottle of wine. It took more than 18 months to be able to take them up on the offer but it's going to be happening, 11th & 12th of September, 2019. Watch this space.


Thursday, August 3, 2017

Dubai (United Arab Emirates) - Petrodollars in the fast lane

DUBAI (United Arab Emirates)
03 August - 06 August 2017


First timers in Dubai are immediately struck by three things on arrival. First the heat, it has a real presence but isn't oppressive in the down trodden equatorial type of way, it's just damned hot without beating the will out of you. Then there's a city under-construction. A place that's being built up, built out, being built bigger, further, more outlandishly and with greater difficulty than any place on earth. Then there's the over display of wealth, the Ferrari parked behind a Maserati, in front of a Bugati. That's exactly the way Inga experienced her first trip to this part of the world.

Four decades ago this was a small fishing town located on the banks of Dubai creek. Isn't it amazing what a fist full of petrodollars, an enigmatic airline and an aristocracy with wild vision can do to completely transform what was simply a dot in the desert. Dubai has now become a glamorous, spectacular and futuristic location where the wild, unconventional and preposterous becomes common place on almost a daily basis. The will to do what anywhere else would be impossible simply shows that we are collectively capable, right now.


Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


The money that ignites the fire of development and futurism here also drives the commercial acumen and its absurd ambition. It honestly does feel like anything can happen on this barren playing field. I was first here in 2006, with my last occasion being in 2012. Six years in Dubai feels like 20 years anywhere else, but hell, 10 years is a lifetime and the changed I witnessed arriving this time comparative to the Dubai of my mind that I had left 5-6 years earlier was just staggering.

Money runs through the veins of society here, although it appears it is only the elite Emirati that know anything about what that looks and feels like. The theme-park like hotels, world renowned restaurants, creative bars and monstrous malls are all part of the enveloping strategy of driving a burgeoning economy of belief through its bonfire of excess. It's big and unapologetic for it. Why these guys haven't already sent their countrymen to Mars and set up shop there is still beyond my understanding.


View from our room at the Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

View from our room at the Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

View from our room at the Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Shangri La Hotel - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


Driving into Dubai was like visiting the comic cartoon world of the Jetsons. If flying Ubers become a thing then you can expect Dubai to visually be that city of your childhood fantasy.  Sheik Zayed road is just a line of what seems like monolithic structures built in honour of the almighty dollar, or dirham. But don't get me wrong, I'm not calling out the overt consumerism and overt everything for being ostentatious, I mean it does that on its own, but for fun and enjoyment, hell, why wouldn't you want to experience a place like this if you could?

We stayed at the magnificent Shangri La Hotel just across from the tallest structure on earth, the Burj Khalifa. For a view that specifically framed the urban Dubai landscape it was impressive. The architectural skyline here is wild and these days extends for kilometres down Sheik Zayed road. I mean there's room to move too and the new Al Maktoum airport, 40kms to the south in Jebel Ali, Dubai's 2nd major import, also kind of frames the boundary of the city. So there appears to be a hell of a lot more growing that Dubai is allowing itself.

Inga & I went to the Burj Khalifa in Down Town Dubai to check out the epitome of what it is to dream big and be the biggest in the World. With a height of 829.8 mtrs,  standing some 160 floors the face of the earth, this architectural artefact of will and engineering also has a hell of an impressive view from its At the top experience - the 148th floor Skydeck, it was something to behold. The lights of the city spread out into the distance and as the light mirrored off the glass exterior of the building typified the 'glitter on glitter' approach that Dubai is known for.


At the top experience - the Skydeck on the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

At the top experience - the Skydeck on the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


Dubai - United Arab Emirates


At the top experience - the Skydeck on the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa - Dubai - United Arab Emirates




Skyview Bar - Burj Al Arab - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


Skyview Bar - Burj Al Arab - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Burj Al Arab - Dubai - United Arab Emirates


Another well known and futuristic design recognised around the world is the Burj al Arab. Standing on its own artificial island built out into the Persian Gulf, this building which hosts the worlds only 7 star hotel, stands out like a sail against the blue of the Gulf. Inga & I went up one evening to watch the sunset and occupy a window position at the Skyview Bar & Restaurant. With an impressive cocktail set and matching canapes to boot, the service was outstanding. The thing that I thought caught the place out somewhat was its garish decor. It looks like the interior of an 80's airport, odd colour matches, shapes and schemes everywhere. I'm not quite sure how they got it so wrong but a place of such repute really needs to review the way it presents itself. It seems way out of touch for its offering and I have seen better at a second rate Las Vegas casino.

Two other typically Dubai things that we did were to take on Ski Dubai, a massive indoor Ski Resort that provides snowboarding  and skiing opportunities and lets families have a full European ski holiday experience in a day whist the Arabian sun beats down 50+ degree temperatures at their front door.  Located inside the massive Mall of the Emirates this attraction has also been significantly upgraded since the first time I was here in 2006, and mind you, it was pretty damn good then. 



Dunes outside of Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Inside the 'Dune bashing experience' - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates


I'd been telling Inga of my snowboarding prowess for sometime now, so finally I was going to be able to show off my snowboarding skills. And sure, I was a bit rusty straight out of the gate (I literally fell over the kids slopes), but I rebounded with aplomb and was carving into the hard pack snow in no time at all. In actual fact MVP of the day had to go to Inga. For a person whose snowboarding skills, for a beginner, were mighty, mighty impressive. What she accomplished in 1hr in Dubai is probably what  I was able to pick up after 3-4 days on my first time out in Perisher.



Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates


We did manage to get out of Dubai one afternoon and took to a 4WD safari that carved up the bright orange sand outside of the city. I had done one of these tours some years ago and totally forgot the enjoyment and at some points fear that flying over the dunes and sailing down improbable slopes felt like. I know that Inga absolutely loved it, especially when some of the turns looked so audacious and outlandish that we felt compelled to brace for a roll. 



Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Dubai - United Arab Emirates


Dubai is one of those cities that you can either love or hate. If you embrace the enormity and are willing to spend a few dollars, which the city nigh demands on you, then you'll have a good time. It'll also help to be into shisha. One of the coolest things to do in Dubai is to find yourself a shisha cafe and puff on some sweet hubbly bubbly that will make your head spin.