STOPOVER

3 night Stopover Dubai

Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers

Day 1 37 degrees
Had a reasonable flight to Dubai 13.5 hours overnight arrived 5.00am Dubai time. Good exit from airport and car to hotel. Had a little sleep, up around 9.15am.

We have a river view room on 8th floor. Although todays is a bit hazy.
Took some time to sort my mobile phone out, so hopefully working ok.

Midday, caught the hotel bus to Dubai mall.
Wow what a place. 55ha or size 50 football fields.
57 million visitors per year. There is an aquarium, souk market section which is really beautiful and all the brand shops. Had very nice lunch, Prawns wrapped in lovely crips stringy pastry and drinks -Cost 112 Durham about $38

From there we went up the 148 floor of the Burj Khalifa building. This sits above the mall. A hazy day but still got a good view of surrounding area. They certainly do everything in extreme.

1st night we did Rustar Dhow floating wooden restaurant cruise down the river. Meal included. Smorgasbord. Not to bad. Saw the river nightlife lights etc. There was also some cultural dancing, Sufi whirling.

Day 2 38 degrees

Full day trip to Abu Dhabi Capital of the UAE, due to having highest pertcentage of gas and oil. First stop Ferrari world. This is where they race the F100's and there is an amusement park and shopping mall, basically in no-mans land but heaps of resorts. Then into Capital, stopped for lunch. 2 rolls and coffee 135 Durham.- $44
On to Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque. This was a highlight. Had to totally cover up. Clothing and scafe provided. Had 1 and half hours to wander through. So beautiful. Very white with Gold. Large stained glass windows and 3 enormous chandeliers . Large marbled courtyard. Inside was the prayer room and chandeliers.

We were also meant to go to world heritage village to see the old ways of living , but this was unfortunately closed due to public holiday, even though the website said they were open.

Instead they stopped at the Dubai Mall and we were going to see the water show. Well could not see a thing! Took a whole hour just the walk to the area and back to our meeting place because the mall was so packed due to the holiday. Spoilt the end of the day. 9.30pm back at Hotel, no tea, Brian had a couple of beers at the British pub in the hotel, think he said 90 durham for 2.- $31

Day 3 41 degrees

Half day city tour. 7am pick up. Once everyone collected drove to Burj A Arab for photos, building where Aggassi and Ferrier played tennis on the helicopter pad. Then to a Mosque for photos. Visited the Heritage museum (which was a forte) now reenactment of the old village life.
Took a boat across the river to the spice and gold souks. Back for lunch in hotel lobby, 2 rolls, cool drink and coffee 140 Durham - $48