Dubai

Old Dubai, Arabian Desert and Cruise to Oman

Old Dubai, Arabian Desert and Cruise to Oman

I've heard people say that there's nothing to do in Dubai besides shopping and strolling the endless labyrinths in one of the biggest malls in the world. I just hate shopping and try to avoid it whenever possible. Just being in a shopping mall is a torture for me. However, I must admit that I was enchanted by Dubai Mall right next to the world's tallest building. Probably because, apart from the stores, it also houses a really gargantuan aquarium filled with many exotic fish like manta rays or even sharks. It was nice to sit down in a restaurant where one of its walls was the huge glass sheet through which I could admire the sea life.

But, there's much more to Dubai than those extremely modern ideas, architecture, luxurious hotels and resorts. There's the Arabian Desert, Dubai Creek and also the old part of the city (although not that very old - it dates back to the seventeenth century) but really worth a visit for the contrast between new and old.

The tallest building in the world - Burj Khalifa and modern Dubai

The tallest building in the world - Burj Khalifa and modern Dubai

Dubai - the oil-rich Emirate surrounded by golden dunes of the desert has become a symbol of everything that's largest, tallest and most luxurious. It's hard to believe that a few decades ago this place was just a small fishermen village. With a huge airport and famous Emirates Airlines it is easy to get there from basically any major European or Asian city. Many people seek shelter there from harsh continental winters, within just a few hour flight they can get back to the summer and sunbathe on the beaches. Dubai is a very cosmopolitan and relatively liberal city, although you have to obey some strange rules for westerners, like for example the ban on taking photos on the beach.