Even walking into the airport in Dubai was a big change from our last three months spent in Africa, not surprising. Everything was shiny and had an unblemished feel. The airport was quiet, which was nice. No endless loud flight announcements, just the call to prayer. By the time we cleared our long wait in immigration and caught a cab to where we were staying, it was 5:30 in the morning. Again, we are so proud of the good little travelers the boys are- they complain so little in these sometimes trying situations.
The first day (after our nap) we went to a nearby mall, the one with the indoor ski and snow park area (yes- real snow in a mall in a desert). Even though I didn't like breathing all the burning garbage and dust in Africa, the recycled mall air was oppressive in a different way, with that artificial smell that malls have. What is it? Perfume, plastic, new clothes? It just felt fake or uncomfortable in some way. At one point we went to a toy store with the kids and truly 90 percent (or more) of it was just a straight waste of natural resources. Its the same things you can buy in the States, but it feels like it's all clean garbage. It made me feel awkward. In fact, most of the mall felt just full of useless and ridiculous things.
The second day, we went on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, which was good since it allowed us to see the sights of the city and gave us a bit of the history, all interesting. Dubai was a small pearl diving and fishing village just 200 years ago. Now it has a 7-star hotel, manmade islands and some theme attraction stays that offer things like GIANT aquariums where you can scuba dive and fake reefs with dolphins totally enclosed, just to name a few... I am glad we were there in the "cold" time of year, not when it is 110-115. I even saw one of the ultra swanky low police race cars. Sadly, I am so ignorant about cars that I can't tell you anything besides it was low-to-the-road, red color with two long doors that swing upwards like wings. I think it's a car in a video game for racing, too.
The food we ate was great. Shawarma- the slow spit roasted meats, shaved off, pickled vegetables (O was so happy, he has been craving pickles for months), a creamy garlic spread and bread. We also ate some great food from Pakistan. We weren't there long enough for me to talk my way back into the kitchen of anywhere for a cooking lesson. :)
We were only there for two days, so it was just a taste. I am now really interested in the Bedouin culture. They had a little bit of information at a museum we visited. We found out (a little too late) we could have done a tour that would include a 'dinner and dancing' among other things. I am feel mixed about those types of things. Interesting, but hard not to feel a bit voyeuristic or something- no doubt it would have still been fascinating.
I will miss being in cultures with the Arabic language and the Muslim religion.
