I handed in my resignation at work during what felt like the blissful last month in the office—a period often likened to a honeymoon phase. It was during this time that my sister's call came in, inviting me to join her on a trip to Dubai. In that exhilarating moment, my response was a resounding 'yes!' However, corporate norms dictated that taking time off during the notice period wasn't allowed.
Faced with this dilemma, I found myself contemplating the idea of bending the truth in order to embark on my first overseas journey. The notion struck me to craft an excuse revolving around my cousin brother's impending wedding in Dubai, where my presence as the sole brother was supposedly imperative.
Day 1: Exploring Dubai
The day I had been eagerly waiting for had finally arrived - my first overseas trip to Dubai. The excitement was palpable as I embarked on my journey.
My day began with an early morning flight, and by 5:45 AM, I found myself enjoying my first meal of the day at Subway. The flight was smooth, and I landed safely at Dubai Airport. I had already pre-booked my hotel, so I headed straight there to freshen up and drop off my luggage.
Our first destination was The Dubai Mall, and we decided to take the Metro, which I soon realized is the most convenient way to travel in Dubai. The Dubai Mall turned out to be a sprawling wonderland filled with food courts, cinemas, KidZania, an ice rink, and so much more. If you're traveling with kids, be prepared to stay there for hours; it's a paradise for them.
One of the highlights for me, as a Harry Potter fan, was the "Wizards of Harry Potter" experience, where I got to see characters like Harry, Ron, Draco, Snape, and many others come to life.
We spent nearly 3-4 hours exploring, and to my surprise, we had covered only about 50% of the mall. It's truly massive! Eventually, we made our way to the Food Court, where we indulged in some delicious tacos at Doner Kebab. They were some of the tastiest tacos I've ever had.
Afterward, we decided to check out some of the shops. We lost track of time and ended up getting back to our hotel much later than planned. If you're conscious of your budget, it's worth noting that taxis can be expensive in Dubai. We found that the Metro, while not as cheap as in India, was a more budget-friendly option.
When I travel to new places, I always prefer trying out different restaurants instead of eating at the hotel. On this day, we dined at Karachi Darbar, and the food was delicious, although I knew even better culinary experiences awaited us in the days to come.
Day 2:
We started our day bright and early, having had only 6 hours of sleep. Our exciting destination? A city tour of Dubai. Our first stop was the breathtaking Jumeirah Mosque, a true architectural gem and an absolute must-see for tourists in Dubai. This magnificent mosque is built in the traditional Fatimid style, and we couldn't help but spend about 20 minutes marveling at its beauty.
Our next adventure took us to the Pure Gold Carpets, an experience that left us utterly spellbound. Sadly, photography was not allowed, but you have the option to purchase these exquisite pieces of art, with prices starting at around one lakh and above. 😉
Our journey continued as we found ourselves at Sunset Beach, nestled just off Jumeirah Beach Road behind Umm Suqeim Park. It was in this serene setting that I had the privilege of laying my eyes on my first Lamborghini in Dubai, a sleek dark grey beauty – truly one of the most astonishing sights of the day. I even managed to record a video of it revving and snapped a few pictures.
After capturing the beauty of Sunset Beach, our next stop was the Atlantis viewpoint, a ticketless attraction that offered breathtaking vistas.
Now, onto the less-than-stellar part of our trip – the Dhow Cruise. To be honest, we weren't sure if our experience was the worst or if this is the norm. The food left much to be desired, and the experience itself was somewhat lackluster. A pro tip: bring your own liquor if you plan to enjoy a drink, as it's not available on the cruise, and we were unaware of this fact. After our return from what we deemed the least enjoyable part of the trip, we decided to lift our spirits by heading to Karachi Darbar, where we savored some delicious food.
Day 3 and Beyond:
I'll be covering the events of Day 3 and beyond in my next blog post, as there are so many wonderful places and experiences to share. Our itinerary included a thrilling water park visit, an adventurous desert safari, some shopping, and exhilarating rides on some of the fastest roller coasters.
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