So, on my way over here I had to fly through Dubai anyway so I convinced my parents (thanks Mom and Dad!) to let me stay two nights here. Technically I guess one since it's 1:30 AM. here in Dubai, and my flight to Mauritius is at 3 AM. First of all, Emirates is sooo awesome! They have free alcohol (besides champagne) and hundreds of movies and TV shows. It made the 15 hour flight go by fast! Also, they have their ceiling turn into stars when they are trying to get you to go to sleep during the flight. Would highly recommend it for long flights!
If you ever get the chance to go to Dubai, GO! The Emirates terminal here is crazy nice. Looks like an oasis. They try and flood you with duty free items, even on the flight over. There's basically an entire mall of duty free shops here. They also have a post office (perfect for sending postcards!), a spa, fitness club, and showers. When I arrived and had to go through passport control, there was a different line for ladies. Also, when I took a cab to the hotel there was a different line for ladies and children. I didn't take the metro while I was here, but I read that there are different cars for women and children. Stepping out of the airport...MAN is it hot out here! Feels like a steam room all day long. Luckily the AC is literally blasting in all the buildings. I was freezing in the malls and my hotel room!
My nice taxi driver told me that only about 15% of the people living here in Dubai are locals. It seems as though there are a lot of Middle Eastern people here, and they must come from other areas here in the Gulf. Where I stayed there were tons of Europeans, but not as many Americans. I even got asked a few times if I lived here in Dubai. I wish...although I'd have to get my husband's permission to drive so maybe not.
I am a fan of any country where it is encouraged to visit the malls and go shopping. Thanks UAE! There are signs outside of the malls about dressing and acting respectfully. They say not to wear anything above your knees or show your shoulders (which I respected), but I saw many people not doing so. The malls were the places where I saw the most women dressed in the full burqa. It's a striking image, especially when you see a woman in a full burqa while her husband is in a tanktop and board shorts! It's very interesting though that the traditional Arab clothing for women is all black and all white for men. I did see men in the traditional clothing (mainly workers at the airport) but not as much as the women in the burqa. I also saw a lot of women with the black full burqa but with some colored fabric or rhinestones to spice it up. I did a research paper on the banning of the burqa in France, and I read that most women adopt the full burqa after marriage out of a sign of respect for their husband. I mostly saw married women in the full burqa, although I did see some teenage and young girls. I even saw a family fully in the traditional Muslim clothing all riding in their Chevy Tahoe. Oh the irony...I have to commend the women for wearing the full burqa in the heat. I don't know how they do it! I never experienced any problems with being a woman here, although I would definitely advise not wearing revealing clothing as you will just draw more attention to yourself.
In the mega malls I saw the Ski Dubai indoor resort...a stark contrast from the outside weather. They even have ski clothes for sale outside. The Dubai Mall was ridiculously nice. Think of the highest high end fashion allllll in one place with huge stores! Heaven. And they have a La Duree! I obviously got myself a nice salted caramel macaron. Apparently you can't take pictures in there? But the nice man working said "you can go ahead, they are just cookies". Um, sir...they are definitely more than just cookies...Outside the Dubai Mall is the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. And boy is it tall! You have to crane your head all the way back to be able to see the entire thing up close. That area of Dubai is extremely nice. They have a nice lagoon with a huge fountain (think Bellagio) that goes off at night. When you cross the creek, you get into the old part of Dubai-no lambos and gold ATMs in this part. This is where the gold souk and the old souk are located. This part of Dubai definitely resembles the Middle East much more than the rest of the city.
Anyway...Dubai is awesome everyone should go!! In the words of the man at passport control "Please come visit us again soon"...yes, yes I will.
Now Mauritius here I come!
Dubai:
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