dubai--day 2

0n the boat
city
sheiks towers

burq al arab



in the restaurant

in the desert











can't believe we've only been here 2 days..we've done alot...i'll have to break it into 3 parts because we've done 3 separate activities today.....
this morning we got up and called to reserve a boat.so we went on a tour for about an hour...i've realized i really love water...it's always so pretty and calming...anyway..we went out in front of our hotel and saw the palm islands...they are really cool...much bigger than i thought it would be..they are building huge apt/condos there plus mega hotels on the outer branches..i think we need to come back in 10 years to tt/condo buildings...i don't know who is going to live in all of them...i think the sheik must think 'build it and the will come'....he sure is building..the marina is beautiful...some gorgeous buildings.

this afternoon we went to the burq al arab hotel...that is the sailboat hotel...it's amazing...over the top...you can only go to it (that means even go on the grounds) if you are staying there. or at one of the sheiks other hotels or if you have a lunch/dinner reservation...so we got one of those...plus there is a dress code! good thing russ brought some pants...you drive up to the hotel and see 4 or 5 rolls royces, ferraris...whatever fancy car there is...once you enter, it's amazing to see..they have a huge big lobby with this amazing waterfountain that puts on this great water show...everything is gold, purple, red..you ride up the escalator to the 2 story and then we went to the elevators..the restaurant is on the 27th floor...the restaurant itself as you enter actually looks like a space ship or star wars..it's all windows looking out on the ocean...you can see the 'world islands' that are being built...i guess they are done, just no buildings on them yet...we had a delicious and probably the most expensive lunch i've ever had...it was fun to look out at everything...then we went down the glass elevator with a great view...it was a fun time.

later this afternoon, we went on a desert safari...out in the arabian desert...it was really fun...we drove for about an hour in a tahoe (most cars seem to be american), then turned off the road into the desert..our driver took out some of the air in the tires, for better traction...then off we went, up, down, back and forth, up and back on the dunes...it was really fun...a little nervous...hoping we wouldn't tip over or spin out in the sand...we got out at a few points to see the scenery and the sun set...the sand is soooo soft..felt really good on my feet...we ended up at a compound where we ate dinner...we also went on a very small camel ride..more of a photo op...it was fun though..we ate dinner seated at low tables sitting on pillows...we were also able to get henna tatoos, so russ and i got some ink...you could also smoke the flavored tobacco out of the huukas...we didn't...after dinner we had a belly dancer..she moved in alot of different ways...so the end of a fun day...tomorrow off to india...