Hi there,
Dubai in the UAE. A planned journey thanks to two buddies from my hometown back in November of 2012. A good couple days in and around Dubai, Schardscha and a road trip to Oman. And just recently this update: a short-trip to Dubai again in 2024. A chance to compare what I saw and experienced. Back in 2012 I did not have this blog page yet, as I just started about a year later.
Everyone heard about Dubai or has been there. Everyone certainly has an opinion whether or not one could live there or has been OK or good to simply have experienced it for themselves already.
It is weird running from AC to AC-cooled zone and shielding from the soaring heat of the sun. Sometimes it gets to hot out here even for a summerish person like me. It definitely feels different to at least partly live in rather a fake world. Skiing in malls and the like and so many imports into the Arabian deserts to transform it all to what it has become. But it is surely authentic to experience the heat even late at night or go up and down the Dubai Creek. Or go Dune Bashing, full speed up and down the sand dunes in big jeeps. Dubai offers it all to an extent. To attract many tourists and expats to make them call Dubai their home. Which many do, but some know it might only work temporarily. I am sure, that I could do it max. up to a year, then I’d really start to miss mountains and seasons and different vibes. It is surely somewhat global out here, yet I do not feel like in other global cities. Yet, I would always list Dubai as part of the big ones around the planet. Currently way over four million people life here. Many coming from India and mostly men. Most of them working the lower class jobs and living far out Dubai in less fancy areas to say it politely. The souks (traditional markets for everything with an emphasis on spices, slightly comparable to souks in Morocco) nearby the creek or parts of the Marina are cool. Just, why would I buy a Ferrari on the spot in a pedestrian zone? Which had been offered to many – funny thing?
Back in 2012, the additional trip to neighboring Oman led us to the massive natural pools and across some Wadis and further across the border with Schardscha. In a remote lunch camp, we had the chance to test and check-out the Bugatti model from back then, the Veyron. Crossing the borders was unfriendly, but hey it worked. Now in 2024, I felt like the city had grown a bit with many projects on the horizon, some stopped since around Pandemic times. But my touristy needs were still fulfilled from that 2012 trip. So for example, I was up the Burj Khalifa of course back then and skipped it for now. Maybe one day again, but I was alright for now.
After a couple of days here, I feel like my intake has been sufficient of this town, kind of again. A nice note, though, is our day clubbing excursion at SOUL BEACH DUBAI (LINK) within the proximity of our JA The Resort Facilities. Jebel Ali is abbreviated with JA here, by the way. A combination of three massive hotels now saw the need for a cool day club including food, drinks, the pool and the ocean and a DJ with a fantastic live singer. Decent vibes all day long, surely an escape from the ordinary days.
It was cool to experience the sands and dunes in the Arabian Desert as well after the recent more important and nicer journey to Morocco. More to come from other corners of the world soon. Of course, I gave the recent hype of Dubai Chocolate a chance as well. Prices vary like hell, so a local supermarket might be the best part to buy it. Pistachio flavor is the key one, but it also is available in Mocha and Nutella flavors.
Best, Sirk
