Hari Ng Larga: Discovering Dubai [Part 1]

Dubai is one of the most famous tourist destination in the Middle East. I've been staying in the Middle East for over 5 years now and it's time I visited Dubai. We know for a fact that middle eastern countries are quite strict and conservative in implementing Muslim laws. But since Dubai has turned out to be an international tourist hub, some of these laws have been more relaxed over the years. This is why more and more tourists are visiting Dubai. I'll be staying in Dubai for only 4 days so, I'm hoping I can cover as much places and adventures as possible. Here we go, just scroll and read on below for some of the places and tours I've engaged in within my limited time.

DAY 1:

DESERT EVENING SAFARI

This tour usually starts from 3:00 PM and ends in 9:00 PM. It can be booked online through tour operators or with the help of tour help desks in your hotel. I booked mine through KLOOK and it just cost me PHP1,702. I can say that this is one of the best value tours I've booked through tour operators. This tour includes the following:

Pick up & Drop off from your hotel
40-60 mins dune bashing in a 4x4 Safari
Sunset Photo Stop in the desert
Free flowing coffee, tea, and water in desert camp
Free snacks in desert camp
Free camel ride
Free photo shoot with falcons
Free BB-Q Dinner (Buffet Style)
Belly Dancing Show
Tanoura Dancing Show

Dune Bashing

Convoy Dune Bashing

Stop over for sunset picture taking

Desert Sunset

Me and the Pro 4x4 driver Ahmad

Watch this video clip for the dune bashing experience.

At The Desert Camp

The Desert Camp is another 20-minute ride from the dunes. Here you can relax, buy souvenirs, ride a camel, take pictures with falcons, have dinner, and watch belly dancing. You'll spend more or less 2 hours at the camp.

Free snacks and refreshments as you arrive at the Desert Camp

Your tour operator will assign you to one of these seats where you can settle while waiting for the Buffet Dinner

Free flowing tea, coffee, and water

One of the Falcons in the Camp

Free selfie with the Falcons

Free Camel Riding

Free use of Arabic clothing for picture taking

Free Buffet Dinner

After dinner, you will be entertained by a Tanoura and Belly Dancing show. Check out the video clip of the belly dancing below:

DAY 2:

JUMEIRAH PUBLIC BEACH

Jumeirah beach is a beach close to the Burj Al Arab. Tourists come here to enjoy the beach with the Burj Al Arab on the background. There is no entrance fee to this beach so expect a lot of tourist during peak seasons. This is also one of the stops for the Hop-on Hop-off Bus.

Jumeirah Public Beach

Short video clip below walking around Jumeirah Public Beach:

BURJ AL ARAB

This sail-shaped hotel is one of the iconic landmarks in Dubai. The Burj Al Arab is also considered as one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. An accommodation ranges from from 6,300.00 to 39,000.00 UAE Dirhams (Php85,000 - Php530,000 / USD1,700 - USD10,600) per night. Whoah! this means that I can only stay here in my dreams... I've learned that if you are a guest here, you will be chauffeured by a white Rolls Royce. Also, there are full sized Hermes amenities in every suite. This is just taking luxury to a whole new level.

To visit Burj Al Arab, I made a reservation on Bab Al Yam Restaurant located inside the hotel. Reservation is free, just register and book a table on their website - click here to book and reserve. You will be screened by security once you enter the premises so you should show your reservation either by print out or in your mobile phone before you can get inside. Once you are inside, you freely roam the public areas like the hotel lobby, the restaurants, and the boulevard on the backside of the hotel.

Facade of the Burj Al Arab

Lobby

Large aquarium beside the escalators

Colorful view of the multiple levels of the hotel

Elevator stations

Al Fresco dining area at Bab Al Yam Restaurant

Scape Restaurant

Scape Bar

One of the private pools (for guests only)

View of Jumeirah Beach

View of Jumeirah Beach Hotel

See video clip below showing the Bab Al Yam and Scape outdoor dining area:

SOUK MADINAT JUMEIRAH

This Souk or Market is part of the Madinat Jumeirah Resort which is a modern take on the traditional souk. Home to multiple retail shops, restaurants, and waterways for abras (small boat).

Entrance to the Souk

Waterways for Abras

Stalls in the Souk

DUBAI MARINA DHOW DINNER CRUISE

One of the popular tours in the Dubai Marina area is the Dhow Dinner Cruise. Aboard a Dhow, you will be cruising the Marina waterway while dinning buffet style and a Tanoura Dance show for entertainment. Enjoy the night views of the marina skyline on a 1.5-hour cruise.

Marina Dhow Dinner Cruise

Buffet Dinner

Watch the Tanoura Dance video clip below:

DAY 3:

BURJ KHALIFA

The tallest building to date (Feb 2018) standing at 828 meters, the Burj Khalifa is one of the main icons and pride of Dubai. It is located at Downtown Dubai just beside Dubai Mall. Best to experience it through its observation decks located at the 124th, 125th, and 148th floor (VIP observation deck). It is best that you book tickets online ahead of time because it becomes sold out during peak season.

Burj Khalifa

Admission Ticket to "At The Top - 148th floor"

Going to Burj Khalifa

Views from the 148th floor

Watch the video below for what to expect when you go to the observation decks:

DUBAI AQUARIUM & UNDERWATER ZOO

After Burj Khalifa, I went to the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo which is located inside Dubai Mall. It is actually a huge aquarium with a walkway underneath. You can also opt to experience diving inside for extra cost. I got a complimentary ticket which was included if you purchase the City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Bus.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Watch this YouTube video of Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo:

GLOBAL VILLAGE

Global Village is a place where a carnival, international pavilions, and concert grounds were clubbed together. With tickets for as low as 15 dirhams per person, you shouldn't miss the chance to visit this place when you're in Dubai. It opens from 4PM-12PM and is a 30-40 minute ride from the city proper. To get there you can either ride a taxi or get the scheduled bus on certain stations - click here for the detailed bus schedules going to Global Village. The highlight of this place are the pavilions. Each pavilion represents either a country or a region in world showcasing stalls and bazaars selling their respective specialties. Visit Global Village website here.

Global Village Entrance

Yes it's very touristy...

Abra Ride

Shops with themes of Famous Landmarks

Restaurants

The Carnival Area

Here are some of the International Pavilions:

Kuwait

Yemen

Sri Lanka

Iran

Morocco

Saudi Arabia

Egypt

India

Africa

China

Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, & Philippines

Thailand

Syria

Americas

Afganistan

Lebanon

Oman & Bahrain

Europe

United Arab Emirates

Pakistan

Iraq

Russia

Jordan

Turkey

DAY 4:

MIRACLE GARDEN

Miracle garden is a large park filled with very colorful flowers with interesting designs. The garden opens at 9AM and closes at 9PM. This place is perfect for photographers as the vibrant colors will surely enhance photos. Although I noticed that the types of flowers are limited, still the wonderful arrangements will compensate. For more information about Dubai Miracle Garden, visit their website here.

Dubai Miracle Garden Entrance

Inside the Gardens

An Emirates Airbus model filled with flowers

Guinness World Record for having the largest flower arrangement

Inside the Gardens

With my tour guides Mr. Jerah & Mrs. Irish Perez with young Travis

That sugar cane juice in a Burj Khalifa shaped tumbler

Inside the Gardens

DUBAI PARKS & RESORTS

My last stop before I leave Dubai, is the Dubai Parks & Resorts. The area is composed of 4 theme parks, River Land, Lego Land, Motion Gate, & Bollywood Parks. All these parks are all together in 1 compound. To enter the compound you need to pay 25 dirhams per vehicle. Once inside you will have access to River Land for free. But for the other theme parks, you will have to pay separate entrance fees per park. Because of my limited time, we just visited River Land and just passed through the major theme park's facade. For more information visit Dubai Parks & Resorts website here.

I had a great time in Dubai. There are so many places to visit and activities to experience. My 4 days are not enough to cover all the tourist destinations. This place is very appropriate for Family Travel as most of the destinations are good for all ages. I will definitely go back and bring more people with me the next time.

Here are some tips if you want to visit Dubai:

Dubai is part of the middle east and mostly, this is a Desert Area. At times it can be very hot in this place specially during summer time June - August. So, I suggest you visit during the colder months from November - March.
Although Dubai is a tourist hub, there are still places where in conservative clothing is required for females. For ladies, it is best that you always bring shawls and sarongs to cover your shoulders or knees if needed.
For some tours like the Desert Safari, Burj Khalifa Admission, and Dinner Cruises, make bookings online through tour operators like Klook, Cobone, Viator, etc. Just compare and get the ones with the best deals and inclusions.
Always check online for discounts and deals specially for GCC residents.
I always recommend to avail of the Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus as it mostly covers all tourist destinations and you can tour at your own pace. For Dubai, I availed the City Sightseeing 3-day pass which came with a lot of freebies such as: free Dhow Cruise in Dubai Creek; free ticket to Dubai Aquarium & Under Water Zoo; free ticket to Global Village; free boat tour in Palm Jumeirah; free Walking Tour in Creek Area; free entrance to Dubai Museum; and free bottled water inside the buses. For more information visit their website here.
To visit the Burj Al Arab, make a table reservation on one of their restaurants in the Burj Al Arab website. Registration and table reservations are free. Once you have reservations, just show the print out or mobile copy to the security so that they will let you in. When inside, you may roam around the public areas.
If you plan to maximize Dubai Parks and Resorts, there is a hotel near it called the Lapita by Marriott. Booking here give you complimentary access to all 4 parks within your stay.

For more travel and food blogs, please visit: http://haringlarga.blogspot.com/p/home.html

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Discovering Dubai [Part 1]

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