Lighting up Burj Khalifa on New Year's Eve

[Pushka]

This morning into the Mall to check the bargains.
Found another perfumery and asked about the beautiful bottles. They were excellent value and purchased a few of these as gifts:

I had them filled with patchouli magic oil which in Australia reminds me of men's urinals (don't ask) but here smells wonderful. Hopefully it doesn't switch back to urinals in Australia.

Explored the rest of the Mall, tried on a few things but bought nothing more. In the Chinese area there is a junk - it is huge!


And saw a guy demoing hoverboards

I'd be T over A in no time.

Just waiting now for MrP to return from the beach and get ready for our Desert safari this afternoon.

 

[Pushka]

I did buy these for my niece and nephew (actually, great n&n )

These are the only ones I've found so far that are not 'designed in UAE and made in China.'

 

[Pushka]

Yesterday was Desert Safari Day and great fun.
This

was not our transport.
This was:

A WWII British Range Rover
Photos were taken by a drone.
We were taken to a meeting place and traditional head scarfs installed. The men's were quite attractive, the women's? Black.
A drive across the dunes followed. This was fantastic. Not dune bashing but bumpy enough.

 

[love_the_life]

Do I spy you at the back of the jeep?

 

[Pushka]

More Safari pix

 

[Pushka]

An excellent Falconry show which I will post on youtube.

 

[love_the_life]

Was it late afternoon - it looks lovely. Can't wait for the food descriptions.
Those perfume bottles (up thread) are gorgeous.

 

[Pushka]

The Falcon story was interesting. Bedouins in ancient times depended on Falcons for food. The falcons migrate each year as it too hot and humid in summer. So each year during the migration, Bedouins would capture a bird, train it up and then use it to catch smaller creatures. Come summer they would release it. Out of sight and out of mind, the falcons do not remember their previous owner and so each year a new bird would be caught and trained.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkL552kg5fM

 

[Pushka]

Another video of the land rover trip. At the back it was very bumpy - dune bashing would be way too much
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsdxKk9aH9k

 

[Pushka]

Loading pictures very slowly today.
While I was hungry I was more keen to try Shisha. Which we did. The photo here shows the shisha lounge and camel area

 

[Pushka]

The food was Emirati. Soup was a thin dahl - lentil base which was tasty with salt and pepper. Three appetisers with flat bread, then lamb, camel and rice. The meats were very tender

 

[Pushka]

Then the performances. We were in the Shisha lounge by now. .

This is usually done with rifles

Then the female performance. Belly dancing not considered cultural here.

My head hurts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmu2K2TI5rA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4guFS2bfv0

 

[Pushka]

Weather in Dubai.




And even a flood in the shopping mall next door.


Thank goodness we weren't doing the safari trip today. It would be awful.

And tomorrow the dust will be cleared away for our brunch at Burj Al Arab.

 

[Pushka]

Local supermarket spice section. Smells wonderful but maybe health concerns from the great unwashed



But then, we eat fruit that isn't cooked but purchased like this so maybe not a problem.

 

[love_the_life]

Boy, that's certainly spectacular rain! You've experienced something that very few other tourists in Dubai have.

 

[zainman]

We also stayed the night of the 31st at the Four points Sheraton but watched the fireworks from across the road close to the Burj. Booked the hotel using SPG points on the 30th! Cash rate was $700+ USD.

 

[Pushka]

We also stayed the night of the 31st at the Four points Sheraton but watched the fireworks from across the road close to the Burj. Booked the hotel using SPG points on the 30th! Cash rate was $700+ USD.

We met up with someone who works at Sheraton Brand in Dubai on our Desert Safari. When the fire at The Address broke out she called four points and asked if the Fire was visible there. Staff said no. She was a little surprised when I showed her the pictures.

 

[Pushka]

Burj al Arab this afternoon for Brunch. Looking forward to that.

 

[Pushka]

Had a seriously WOW afternoon.
Took a taxi to the entrance to Burj al Arab bridge where you need to show a reservation to cross the bridge. That being done we were into the land of Rolls Royce and BMW hotel fleets.
The photos speak for themselves.

Into the lobby. Trouble is, there is just not enough gold here.

A beautiful foyer with wonderful Christmas decorations

 

[Pushka]

Of course there is an aquarium as you make your way up the escalator.
People attending afternoon tea have their own escalator - cant mix us plebs with the moneyed folk now.