Seeing Dubai through the video lens

While cruising in the Big Bus in Dubai, I managed to shot some video clips here and there and has compiled them for memory sake.

Location : Dubai, UAE

Date of travel : May 2009

Seeing Dubai via blue route

OK seriously, by the time we managed to change to the blue route, it is way into 2pm or so. We also realised then that the blue route is really a very long route and even if we don’t get down the bus, apparently it took like 3 hours to complete one round. Crap! Well, we will just have to make the most of it from the top tier of the bus and pretend we’ve been there. So, here are some pictures I managed to capture.

Jumeirah Mosque is apparently the most attractive mosque in Dubai. Supposedly it is a photo taking place and there's entrance fee imposed to go inside the mosque.

Air-conditioned bus stop, ahhh ... we should have this is Malaysia.

Can you believe we get to see green lawn like this in the middle of the desert. Apparently it consumes 1 million gallon of water a day to have greens like this everywhere in Dubai.

Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world

Burj Al-Arab is the most luxurious hotel in the world

So you get to see The Palm all the time from picture taken from air. Now this is on the land, see the car is heading towards one of the branch of The Palm.

Want to stay at The Palm? Yeah, look at the houses you can buy here, well if you have millions of dollars

OK, while I was there, this building is called Burj Dubai but now it is renamed to Burj Khalifa in recognition of the support Khalifa has given to Dubai during the economic crisis. This building which stands at 828metre is now the tallest structure in the world. It is about twice the height of KLCC. Hmmm, think this is our modern version of 'Tower of Babel' ... built so high to reach the heaven?

After cruising for like maybe 2 hours, we finally hop down at the ‘Mall of the Emirates’ because it houses the world first indoor ski slope! Imagine skiing in a desert country … now that is really style.

Our last stop was at Deira City Centre so that we can do some budget toy shopping for my son and we then catch a cab from there to Dubai airport for our flight back to KL. Well, I must say that it is not what I have expected it to be. I didn't really have the jaw-dropping, gawking, stunning moments while there. Still, at least I’ve set my foot at The Palm and which some picture might have been taken from the satellite at the same time and I’m in there … ha!

Location : Dubai, UAE 

Next, Seeing Dubai through the video lens

Seeing Dubai through the Dhow Cruise

Dhow means a traditional wooden Arabian yacht or boat. I mean hearing the prospect to be able to cruise in a traditional Arabian yacht gives me the vision of the exotic Arabian music, with belly showing maiden with clinking sound of bells worn over her transparent face cover, serving Arabian tea while I smoke the bubble whatever while cruising on the river looking out at the mystical Arabic scenery ... STOP! OK, yeah, that's really day dreaming getting out of hand.

So OK, we have reached the Creek Walk which is like an esplanade in the middle of the town. Quite beautiful I must say. So my mood is getting a little better until I saw the 'Dhow'.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the dhow

OMG OMG OMG, I thought I’m going to die of boredom. This smelly crappy ‘Dhow’ is moving so slow I almost thought it has come to a stand still. It took like 60 mins to cruise along the Dubai creek (what, like 5km) and back. Well, you do the math. And get this, if you want refreshment, you gotta pay for it. Really not impressed. But since I'm at it, I might as well try to catch some photos via the gap of 20 other tourist in the small dhow.

This is the more modern building we can see from the Dubai Creek. Apparently this Dubai Creek is UAE's most famous waterway where sea merchant has been trading goods for centuries. How did I know? Instead of the Arabian Music which I have envision it to be, there's a voice booming from the speaker giving commentary about the creek. Yeah, I think you can picture that.

OK, so we also sort of get to see the more traditional building via this Dhow Cruise. Gotta say this part of the town is more interesting for me.

Although our dhow is crappy, we're still luckier than this bunch of people I supposed

OK, something good did come from the Dhow Cruise. We chat with a fellow Kiwi traveller and he told us not to waste time on the red route cause if we want to see all the mega projects and awe inspiring infrastructures, it is via the blue route. Damnnnn … let’s go!

Location : Dubai, UAE
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Seeing Dubai via red route

Technically, I only spent one precious day in Dubai. Although I flew in from Amman to Dubai the night before, it is way too late to explore anything except to have dinner and sleep. So, the wisest thing to do, which also probably is the most budget way to explore the city is by Big Bus City Tour.

For USD60 per person, you can hop in and out the entire daylight (cause night tour requires a different ticket). They have the red route and the blue route but seriously, have I known better, I would go for the blue route first and only if I have time will I go for the red one. Ah well, too late to feel sorry for myself now.

Anyway, first thing the next morning, we woke up early and excited ready to explore the most fascinating and fastest growing city in the world (well used to be). We board the Big Bus at the Deira City Centre.

This is the older part of Dubai far from the glitz and glamour of what Dubai is well known for

While on the red route we passed by the Al Fahidi Fort which is the oldest building in Dubai but didn’t get down. Where we did get down is at the famous ‘Gold Souk’ stop. Apparently this Gold Souk (Souk means market) is something so special we cannot miss. Let me tell you, after we got down, we didn’t see any thing remotely gold and start asking people, supposedly locals, where is the Gold Souk. They either point us to some back alley with no whatsoever gold or to just shrug their shoulders.

For awhile, this kind of make us excited

Anyway, after searching for 25 mins in the hot scorching desert weather of 40 degrees, we saw two foreigners and ask them. So, here we are!

Hmmm, how should I describe this. I read that there's like 200 goldsmiths in this Gold Souk, but really its like once you see one, you've seen all. I think you get what I mean. So unless you're really thinking of buying some gold, its really a bad choice to stop here.

Inside the gold souk

The design here doesn't suit my style, so no shopping

Maybe he's wondering if we should go to the bikini souk instead of this one

After the Gold Souk disappointment, I have more disappointments to follow. The ‘Murjan Discovery Walk’ and the ‘Arabian Treasure Walk’ which is supposed to be incorporated in my USD60 Big Bus ticket is not available that day ... WTF!!??

By now my mood wasn't very pleasant due to the extremely hot weather and my high spirit was crashing down. So instead of going to the spice souk or whatever other souk, we head to the creek to catch the Dhow Cruise.

Location : Dubai, UAE
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