A Dubai Stopover

Burj Khalifa towering above the Dubai Mall

After 14 hours in the air, we finally landed in Dubai. We figured we’d break the trip up with a stopover so the next flight would only be about seven hours the following day.

The first thing that hit us was the hot, humid air — A bit like Northern Queensland on steroids . The airport was huge and buzzing with activity. After a short wander looking for the Hotels courtesy bus, which we then told  by many other bus operators that it was non existent, we decided to get a Taxi and see how much they would rip us off.

The Taxi queue is long with hundreds of Taxi’s parking for that split second, where the tourists throw their bags in and your whisked away.

We were ushered along in the queue and told to hurry as they point to the next available Taxi for you take, but don’t be fooled, there are Taxi’s and there are taxi’s. (I’ll post in Travel Tips) It was a welcome relief though to escape from the heat.

Dubai Mall Waterfall

We checked in at the Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City, a great spot with everything close by. Our room wasn’t quite ready, but that worked in our favour as it gave us time to wander through Festival City Mall, which is directly connected to the hotel. At around 7 a.m., the place was almost empty and felt incredibly calm. Everything was spotless — floors, windows, shop displays with their clothes evenly spaced between hangers— it all looked polished to perfection and anyone with OCD this was a spa retreat.

We found a small café that had just opened and grabbed a coffee to keep ourselves going. It wasn’t quite at Melbourne café standards, and it wasn’t cheap either at AU$12 for a small cappuccino which tasted horrible, but it did the job after our long flight. With the hotel so handy and everything within easy reach, it was the time to head back as I just received a text saying our room was ready.

It was late afternoon when we woke and we set out for Dubai Mall but found out we needed to catch the Dubai water Taxi, then a train to the mall. This sounded complicated but it was pretty easy and the view from the water Taxi was nice as well.

Dubai Mall is massive and never seen anything like it, I just don’t know where to begin. Once again it was so clean and families out enjoying the evening. You do get lost so be prepared for that, but also the amazing skyline from outside along with the hustle and bustle of local and tourists just sitting around enjoying the humid night air. With 46° Celsius during the day and around 36° at night it’s not that pleasant being outside so you can understand everything is in a mall and air-conditioned.

After a big day of just over 23,000 steps, we made our way back to Festival City to catch the light and water show that was supposed to be on according to Leanne. The walk from within the mall to the station is about a kilometer, all air-conditioned which makes getting around much more pleasant than you’d expect in a hot city. We waited for the light show, but it wasn't happening

Our water taxi awaits 

Once back at Festival City I said, “I’m hungry and need to eat,” so off we went. Leanne settled on chicken and chips that weren’t spicy, and I went next door to this Texas Chicken. I saw what I wanted and asked the girl for six tender strips of chicken and a Coke. The language barrier was an issue, so I pointed to the picture. Again, she looked at me. “Six chicken strips and a Coca-Cola.” She then repeated the order, and I paid, thinking that AU$36.00 was bloody expensive. I was tired, I wanted to eat and go to sleep.

As I stood there waiting for my order, this guy from behind the counter points at me. I showed him the ticket and he wanders off. He comes back with a tray and puts a one-litre Coke and three big plastic cups on the tray, plus a huge shoe box size that I was assuming was chicken in there too. I said, “This is not my order.” He looked at me and smiled, so I picked up the tray and started to leave. He then ushered me back. Then, he puts on another shoe box size chips and a large coleslaw. I looked at him, and he smiled again.

Leanne said, “What did you buy?”
I said, “I just wanted some chicken strips, and he gives me this.”

Leanne was in fits of laughter as she was waiting for her order, and I head to a table on my own with a meal that would feed a family of six. People were looking at me like I was a waddling pig. I found a table away from everyone which I think made it worse, as I got sideway glances as I opened all the boxes to inspect the contents, all while Leanne was still giggling away in the distance. The meal consisted of 24 chicken strips, three big sugary type buns, a huge box of chips, one massive coleslaw, four tomato sauces, a litre of Coke, and three large cups.

Balmy evening in Dubai

I was too scared to eat, Parents and children staring at a lonely tourist on his own and about to devour a meal fit for a family of six. I was hoping Leanne would be back at any moment to rescue me from this embarrassing moment.

After eating about a quarter of the meal I pushed it aside and said let’s head back. I left it there in case anybody wanted the rest, as there were still eyes watching me.

By the time we got back to the hotel, we were exhausted but already starting to feel the rhythm of Dubai. It had been a long day, but a great first taste of what the city has to offer.

Inside Dubai Mall

Dubai is a wonderful stop over and an amazing city. There is so much to do and the skyline is amazing at night. People say it’s not expensive but believe me it is. You can only eat in Malls because of the heat and most meals for a single person is around AU$40 -$50, our breakfast the following morning at the airport was AU$60 for a very basic meal of a croissant, juice and a horrible coffee.

Plenty of shopping can be done in Dubai Mall catering for all budgets, but for more of your everyday wear brands head out to Deira City Centre

We'll have another night here again on our way back to Melbourne, we have yet to book anything but the accommodation in Dubai is cheap and the Hotel we stayed in along with the staff was terrific.