Dubai or not Dubai
Taking in all the hype we decided to stop over in Dubai en route to a tour of Sri Lanka. The thought of 35 deg centigrade in the middle of a cold November was more than enticing. As soon as we landed the heat hit us and very welcome it was too.
We were put up in a Sheraton Hotel near to the airport – so near in fact that planes coming in to land just about clipped the roof-top swimming pool. Not the restful relaxation I was seeking after a long flight. But we were eager to explore in the three short days we had to spare. Everyone says – even the guide books – to take a taxi everywhere as it is cheap. But what they do not tell you is that foreign Asian workers that swarm to the Emirates to make their wads are out to get you. And I would put a bet on it that they are in league with the bellhops at the hotels to make the most they can out of unsuspecting tourists who do not know where they are going and the best way to get there. After a swim and a rest we decided to hit the town to see what all the hype was about.
The bellhop said it would only be 10 dirham max, about £1, to get to the marina. We were heading for the Creek marina where the local guide said a festival of food and music at a second-hand boat show promised some local colour. But the taxi driver had other ideas. No, no, he said. The marina is too far away. Ok, we said, take us to the gold souk. Being a tax free area we had read this was as sight to behold. No, no, said the taxi driver, at this time of night it will be much too crowded, best to go in the morning, I’ll take you to the Emirates Mall, there you will see the in-house snow dome and the wonderful shops. Naively we agreed. But what we had not taken account of was the horrific traffic in Dubai. They drive on their horns, cut up each other, and drive with a death wish. And the roads are massive double-carriage freeways – and due to the Creek that divides the area, there are only a few crossings. And the taxi drivers take advantage of this. He kept up a running commentary in his broken English showing us the ‘sights’ that we could just about make out in the dark. As the money on the meter starting climbing I became alarmed. Not yet cognisant of the exchange rate I feared that our £1 fare was going to be much much more. As we neared the Mall he pointed out the Burg al Arab, the iconic sailboat shaped hotel, and suggested he take us nearer for a better look. No, no, I said, just take us to the Mall, the fare is getting far too high. So he did a smart manoeuvre and in two seconds deposited us at the entrance to a hotel that led into the Mall. The fare was £12. Hot and tired we trooped into the shops only to find we might as well be in the Trafford Centre. The snow dome was no better than one we had seen in Sheffield and we felt totally duped. Speaking to mall security guards they told us that this was a daily occurrence, taxi drivers taking advantage of tourists in a strange place.
Returning to our hotel we found the metro –a new innovation in Dubai and still expanding. Not only is it fast and clean it is also cheap. We then found a bus that would take us to our hotel. After a long wait in the heat we boarded the vehicle only to find that they did not take cash – we needed a pre-paid card! We could have got one at the metro instead of a one-trip ticket. Whilst everyone in Dubai is friendly and helpful, you do need to know which questions to ask. They do not offer information – strange! Even the hotel did not tell us that we could have got a free shuttle bus to the nearby shopping area. Instead we walked to the Creek Aras station (little boats that cross the water). The bell hop said it would take 10 minutes. It took us an hour in searing heat. The free shuttle bus would have taken us almost there!
Eventually we got our pre-paid card and hopped on and off the bus that stopped right outside our hotel, and linked with the metro. So without using rip-off taxis we managed to see the The Palm, the Burj Al Arab sailboat hotel, and its highest building the Burj Dubai, as well as all the interesting sights around Old Dubai in the Creek area. We even cheaply hired a small dhow for ourselves for a magical hour on the water, looking at all the twinkling lights that lit up the buildings on land. We also splurged out on a speedboat ride round the Palm, and then got caught up in a sandstorm that added to the adventure. Then we took a free ride to the top of the Marriott Hotel to its bar viewing platform for a bird's eye view of the Palm.
But let me tell you Dubai is not all it’s cracked up to be. Many buildings, including The Palm are not finished and construction work is going on everywhere. And because it is divided by The Creek getting to and from anywhere takes ages – and in the heat this is not funny.
I’m glad I went, but would I go back. No way!
I WAS AWAKE FOR MY OPERATION!
(Sun 04/03)
Me and Sir Jimmy Savile
(Thu 03/11)
What not to wear!!!
(Wed 15/06)
Rwandan adventure Our sponsored child
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Rwandan Adventure - Lunch Was Alive!
(Mon 23/05)
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