Dubai
The city of the future
On our way to our great adventure of almost a month in India y Nepal, we made a twenty-four hour stop in the city of the future, in order to make the trip a little softer, more rested, to help us adapt to the time difference and not suffer so much from the famous jetlag.
I had already been to Dubai on two previous occasions. The first time, back in 2013, after visiting China, when I was able to get to know it in depth as well as the neighboring Abu Dhabi. Years later, in 2015, on another trip to Southeast Asia, we made a stop over -also for one day- which the airline provided coverage for.
On this occasion, Emirates was no longer in charge of accommodation or transfer, as had happened with the connecting flight to Bangkok, so we had to arrange our own hotel in front of the airport in order to simplify the short visit.
We arrived late at night, so once through the gigantic airport we went straight to rest. Those near the airport usually provide a complimentary shuttle. But, be warned, only to terminals 1 & 3, not to terminal 2 which is on the other side and operated by FlyDubai.
We had a couple of visits planned for the next day.
The wow factor was not as strong as the first time. I remember on that trip being stunned as I discovered its skyscrapers.
In addition to its impressive buildings, Dubai offers plenty of attractions.
The city is constantly improving itself, with new options to bring in tourists, such as The Frame, the city's new observation deck, where we passed by on our way to our first stop.
From the airport hotel we took an Uber that took us directly to The Palm, as we had a reservation at Aura Sky. It is a 360° pool that allows you to enjoy a bath with warm water while watching the entire skyline of the extraordinary Dubai.
From the height, you can see the palm tree formed over the Arabian Sea, also the iconic Noria and the monumental set of buildings of the Dubai Marina. On the opposite side there is a great view of the Burj Al Arab and the Burj Khalifa.
The Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel located on an artificial island, probably the best known for its peculiar design and for being set in the sea in the Persian Gulf.
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper in the world, at 828 meters, recognizable by its neo-futuristic style.
After those baths while enjoying the beauty of the architecture from the height, we took an Uber that took us straight to the Dubai Mall, another must-see in the city.
We entered the Palace Hotel and Burj Khalifa, to get the great photograph of the skyscraper. A strategic point where extraordinary images of the monumental complex are taken.
Then we stroll through the market, Souk Al Bahar, until we reach the Dubai Fountain, surrounding it to the door of the impressive shopping. We walked inside to discover its classic highlights, such as its amazing aquarium, which has a giant fish tank, probably the largest in the world, which allows -even without accessing it- to see sharks, manta rays and a huge variety of exotic fish while swimming in the water in the gigantic glass structure. We also passed by the Olympic ice skating rink and the iconic Waterfall, a gigantic waterfall that connects several floors of the Mall with its sculptures of divers plunging into its waters.
In addition, strolling through its enormous corridors is a journey through the world of fashion, haute couture, luxury watchmaking and countless stores of the world's most expensive brands.
Outside the Mall, at the Dubai Fountain, a dancing water show takes place at sunset, similar to the one that happens at night in Las Vegas, in front of the Bellagio hotel.
We took another Uber to our next stop, the Museum of the Future, with its characteristic architecture. We had read and had been told that its interior was not as remarkable as its exterior, so -as we had little time- we decided to take a walk just through the lobby and admire the beauty of the building. Right from the front, from the parking lot of Jumeirah Emirates Towers, you get a perfect spot for a good photo of the museum, without the crowds. It was when we confirmed that the outstanding is outside, in its magnificence.
We left for another trip, the visit to Dubai Garden Glow, Dubai Miracle Garden, Dubai Creek, the various viewpoints, the Atlantis water park, cooling off on its various beaches or make the fun desert safari, as I did on that first trip to Dubai, just to name a few of its many attractions.
We grabbed our bags and headed to Terminal 2, not at all as fantastic as its impressive Terminal 3, to catch our FlyDubai flight to Mumbai, our first stop on our India itinerary.