-Dubai
Photo Gallery with postcards-
Dazzling Dubai
After London I flew to Dubai with Emerites Airline again to have what was going to be a very restful time for 5 days after the hectic time we had travelling around. I arrived after 7 hours of flight from Heathrow at about 11:30pm. I was transferred by car to the Metropolitan Hotel and was upgraded to an executive suite, great start, I can tell you! The hotel has 12 restaurants and try as I did, I couldn't get to them all. I found they put on special promotions for all you could eat, and of course I did, much to my stomach's disgust! I had a wonderful Chinese massage by a little girl with fingers of steel!
The second day was a tour of two other Emerites Sharjah and Ajman. Sharjah used to be the largest alcohol outlet in the Emerites until the Ruler got into financial difficulties and received help from Saudi Arabia, the rules had to change and no alcohol is allowed there anymore. So now Dubai is the most open city. I was told it is only 33 years old and it is built on desert sand, quite an achievement. It is also voted the safest city in the world.
The following night I was invited to a cocktail party by the hotel but it clashed with the desert dinner I was going to, nice having a full diary!! Well I thought I was just going to a nice sedate dinner but found myself hurtling over sand dunes in a 4 wheel drive with 5 Indian business men and a Pakistani driver, they were absolutely wonderful company as they had the greatest sense of humour. We stopped to see the sunset which was glorious (the photo doesn't do it justice at all) and then went on to the dinner, an absolute feast, including all you could eat (once again) and drink. A belly dancer was swaying and jiggling and very entertaining and the hubble bubble was there to have a smoke. Camel rides were also included if you wished to be swayed around! It really was a night to remember.
Arabian
Adventures was the company who looked after me while in Dubai,
it is owned by the Ruler who also owns Emerites airline. I headed to
the Souks the next day across Dubai Creek (some creek!) by taxi, they
are very reasonable, and wandered around the area enjoying the atmosphere.
Sadly it was time to head home that night but I think I will be back
again! Find
the best deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to
say about hotels in United Arab Emirates
Just a footnote - I had a horrendous nose bleed when I arrived at Dubai
to change flights on my way over to England and the airport staff were
just wonderful, they took me to the airport hospital where the doctor
attended me and finally stopped the bleeding about an hour later. They
were on standby to let the flight know if I was going to miss it and
arrange for me to take a flight the next day. This didn't have to happen
but their service was wonderful and didn't cost me a cent.