Not too good for the ladies, they put hairs on your chest!

So far, you'e said nothing to alter my view of Dubai. An overnight stopover at a luxe hotel, sure, but more time? Send me somewhere else.

Take-off at 11:15 PM and you actually stayed awake for the lousy meal? I would have been fast asleep before the aircraft was even on the runway and wouldn't have woken up 'til breakfast...

Me too, Craig!

Hey Pook, wher r u off too?

We are enjoying your live report. Enjoy your journey!

WHAT? NO CAMELS?

Nicky - we're off to see you and Muffin!

And no camel burgers at McD's?

So Friday which is the sabbath here. We took the morning easy after a delicious breakfast...btw, we find the eggs to be exceptional in taste, unlike in the USA.

K went to the pool for a couple of hours and I stayed in the room, sometimes gazing out of the window at the city scape in the distance with the Burg looming over the city.

Anoop came for us at 1PM. First we headed to the Dubai Mall to buy tickets for Saturday's trip to the Burj... YIKES, 400 D each (about $107. Each). This is an any time ticket good for the whole day. There is a timed ticket available for 125 D.

Next we took a drive out onto the Palm development, the man made "island" shaped like a palm tree... It is huge with hundreds of private condos, private villa homes, apartments and lux hotels. We drove all the way to the end. Of interest were the famous Atlantus hotel and complex, the new Waldolf Astoria hotel and the Thai Anantara hotel ($600+ per night). The Sofitel also looked lovely. Staying at these hotels is really isolated, so good for a verge vacation for sure.

we got a great view of the Burj hotel from a different angle to. It rained a bit on and off, unheard of in March.
Next we headed to a beach so K could put her feet into the sea.... She got a bit wet from a wave too.

From there we rode into the business area as of the IT and advertising world and stopped at a great little restaurant offering Indian and Asian food. Anoop ordered really good Indian fare for us: naan of course, dal, spicy chicken curry, a ground chicken stick (something well known that I forget the name of), yogurt and garlic dipping sauce and humas with olive oil sauce, palak paneer (k's fav--ground spinach and homemade pressed cheese cubes)' plus another curry chicken parts dish... All just fab. This ended up as a combo lunch and dinner. An amazing 103 D--- $27.
New Wide range Restaurant, al shofar tower-2, telecom area.

From there we rode into the Dubai Marina area. K and A walked out to view the waters edge... I stayed in the car. It then rained a bit more.

We headed for the Creek area. We passed thru the bus station area and there were mostly thousands of young men who had come into the city on their day off (reminded us of the Hong Kong Starr ferry area on the island side on Sundays when the maids and Nannies gather on their day off). This area is full of ordinary shops selling everything people might want.

we finally found a parking space after 15 min. Looking for one, right near to the creek's edge. After a short walk along the creek which was full of more of these workers milling around, we hired one of the many wooden Dhows boats for a ride along the Creek (140 D for about 1 hr+). BTW, the creek is a large man made water port area offering these dhows rides (free with big red bus tickets--group boat ride, not private and much shorter), an active cargo area and a promenade area. Fun place to visit... Dubai museum is in same area.

The boat ride was relaxing... The boats are big and seating is comfortable enough. Our captain pointed out a few things along the way including a series of mansions of the royal family. There was a nice breeze. On one side were perhaps 40 large wooden dinner cruise boats and on the opposite bank tons of giant dhows which ply the Arabian Sea area delivering various cargos, most of which are packed onto their decks. The dhows are very elaborate with blue and white painted turned dowel decorative features and a unique style. The hulls were all wood.

The cruising was very enjoyable as the breeze blew and day turned to night. Perfect timing anoop, thanks.

Exhausted we returned to the hotel, rushed up to the club for a quick drink and some nibbles and then fell into bed....

We awoke sat. Morn at 9:15, still willing to sleep more... Btw, notice how this IPad changes what you type as in the previous sentence... Annoying, but you learn to read through these things.

Saturday is a laid back day for us until 5 when anoop comes for us again. Another nice filling breakfast including a nice chat with some Canadian/German expats living in Abu Dabi. He is an emerites exec and they have moved here from Montreal with their 2 teenagers. Interesting perspectives.

I am relaxing in the room and K is at the pool. I may join her later.

No camel burgers... Too many humps.

But I love the dates and nuts.

Betsy, you are the only camel tender I know.

Btw, it is sunny and decently warm today... Good time to be here.

Speaking of being here, I thin D is suited more for a 2-3 day stopover than for a vacation in itself, although there are things to do here for a family-- water parks, zoos, indoor skiing, beaches, etc.

It also is a great place for lux veg relaxing with unique lux dining spots and fab hotels, ESP those located out on the Palm... It all comes at a big price however... Great place to use points. Every chain seems to be represented here. Things are very spread out however. Much of the road system is already over whelmed... Anoop says many families have 3-4 cars. Yesterday I saw bentleys, at least 20 ferraries, RR, big benzs, Audi's by the 10's.

I love the dress here: ladies in long black gowns, few with eye slits, men in sparkling white cotton gowns with headgear, western women in long dresses and mini skirts... Not so many boobs however... Teenagers in all kinds of dress, some shorts, many sandals.

Did I mention lux shopping: Tiffany, Harry Winston, choppard, bloomies, saks, Harvey nicks, all the American chain stores and also chain restaurants, etc, etc... It's all here.

Having said this it seems to lack something???? It's like any planned community... I'm at a 5 out of 10 at the moment.

Have you seen the fountain?

Enjoying the report. What does K wear as a western female tourist?

Great report. You aren't convincing us to go there though. Can't wait to hear about Bangkok :-).

<i>"Btw, it is sunny and decently warm today... "</i> You do know that you are in the desert!

K wears the same as in bkk..

This is a very cosmopolitan city and you see all manners of dressing, but no boobs...

Saw the fountain tonight twice--- once from the ground and later from the 124 floor of the Burj...

IMO, not worth the fee of $107 each.

Bob, totally agree I also think its a stop over place, when we went 11 years ago we went for 10 nights but I was looking to do NOTHING... Which is what we did. I would only go again for a few nights ( which is what we are planning to do in Nov.)
$107 omg really!!!!!!

but no boobs... Or as Maeng used to call them.. bLoobs!

$107! When we went it was free complementary of Emirates Airways. The hotel was free as well as the limo from and to the airport.

You will be in Bangkok soon and the tour to our tallest building is only a fraction of that :)