Sunday, January 17, 2010
Dubai Mosque
The spires of the mosques can be seen throughout the city. Non-Islaamics can enter only one mosque - where presentations are held to teach visitors the basic tennents of Islaam,
in order to promote understanding. The city also contains Christian churches.
in order to promote understanding. The city also contains Christian churches.Dubai Hyatt Hotel
When it was built several years ago, the Hyatt Hotel was the largest in the world. From the air, the shape of the hotel spells "Dubai" in Arabic.
The Ruler of Dubai
Pictures of Dubai's ruler can be found throughout the city. He is credited with making the decision to build the strong infrastructure in Dubai that is allowing for the hyper growth the city is experiencing and the increasing tourism.
Wafi Shopping Center in Dubai
Yes, it's a shopping center - just one of about 10 different mega shopping centers that carry every designer I've seen from various
countries, and then some. A free shuttle bus from the hotels gives easy access to spending your money in many creative ways.
countries, and then some. A free shuttle bus from the hotels gives easy access to spending your money in many creative ways.
Travelling Down Dubai Creek
This is my favorite skyscraper in Dubai. It looks like an electric razor. Its' surface panels reflect our boat travelling past. Also, the bronze panels reflect onto the water.
Dubai Creek
Once you get to Dubai Creek you realize that in the middle of all the tourist luxuries there are still working people. Boats are loaded with items that Dubai exports and the boats follow the Creek out to the Arabian Gulf for foreign ports.
Jumeirah Beach, Dubai
The beach has the most beautiful blue water, almost the same blue as the sky, and the sand is a powdery white. The Muslim women provide a contrast to the tourists sunning on the beach in their bikinis and speedos.
Atlantis on the Palm Hotel
At the tip of the largest man made island you will find the Atlantis on the Palm Hotel complete with an Aquaventure Waterpark (with the largest waterslide in the world - of course), the Lost Chambers of Atlantis (with over 65,000 fish
), and the Dolphin Experience (where you can swim with the dolphins).
), and the Dolphin Experience (where you can swim with the dolphins).Dubai's Man Made Islands
This borrowed picture depicts the 3 man made islands that house some very beautiful and pricey real estate. They are the only man made things that can be seen from outer space. The round one in the right of the photo is a map of the world made of artificially created islands. You can buy your own island there for $2-10 million dollars.
Ski Dubai - Really!
Ski Dubai actually has 5 different runs for different ability levels (including expert skiiers) as well as a ski school that teaches skiing and snowboarding. It has a quadruple chairlift and a ski hut restaurant halfway up the slopes (just like a real ski resort).
Realizing that not too many people bring their ski gear to Dubai, Ski Dubai provides everything except for gloves and hats, which you can buy next door. My prized possession is now a "Ski Dubai" T shirt.
Realizing that not too many people bring their ski gear to Dubai, Ski Dubai provides everything except for gloves and hats, which you can buy next door. My prized possession is now a "Ski Dubai" T shirt.Ski Dubai
When I first heard about a ski slope inside a shopping center in Dubai, I thought it was a novelty item with a small hill of snow for little kids in the desert to see snow for the first time.
Burj Dubai
As of Jan 2010, the tallest building in the world, Burj Dubai, opened for business. It is over a half mile tall. The new Burj Dubai is in the back of the photo, buildings built since the 1960s in the center and buildings from the 1880s in the foreground to represent 3 important shifts in Dubai history. Prior to the 1960s Dubai was a poor city that survived by diving for pearls. When oil was discovered in the mid 1960s the city changed dramatically to the prime tourist location that it is today.
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
On a recent tour, I heard that Dubai is building Dubailand which will top Disneyland in every way. My question is - how will you know where Dubailand ends and the rest of Dubai begins? It is all a giant playground for the rich - with anything that can be imagined available here in this desert landscape.
This photo is of the Burj Al Arab Hotel, the "world's first 7 star hotel." I found a deal on for weekend there for $1800 - a tad out of my price range. You may have seen this hotel on Youtube several years ago with Tiger Woods hitting a golfball off the helicopter pad at the top.
This photo is of the Burj Al Arab Hotel, the "world's first 7 star hotel." I found a deal on for weekend there for $1800 - a tad out of my price range. You may have seen this hotel on Youtube several years ago with Tiger Woods hitting a golfball off the helicopter pad at the top.
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