Skyscrapers & Billionaires

Our main focus today (Monday) was to take the metro to Dubai Mall (which is different than Dubai City Centre Mall) to see this much-talked-about mall, and the Burj Khalifa Tower (highest tower in the world) which is adjacent to it. The metro ride took us through the Financial District and it's hard to describe the skyscrapers! We were saying how Don and Darren would enjoy seeing all the different forms of architecture of the buildings. This mall is touted as one of the most spectacular malls on earth, although we were not that impressed with it (due in part I suppose to its vastness, giving it a "cold, uninviting" feeling). It houses 1,200 retail outlets, none of which the average joe would be able to shop in. Mostly designer shops with luxury brands with exclusive entrances for VIPs. One of the attractions at this mall is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. It contains over 33,000 aquatic animals, including sharks and stingrays. For a price, you can take glass-bottom boat rides and shark dives. There is also an olympic-size ice rink with learn-to-skate programmes and it houses figure-skating events, hockey matches and ice shows as well as being a venue for concerts and events. There were a few dozen people skating there yesterday. We had lunch at the mall mid afternoon and stood in a line-up for 30 minutes plus to get tickets to tour the Tower on Wednesday, which was next available opening.

Last evening we again took the metro to the pick-up point for The Big Bus Company's 2-hour Night Tour (7:30 - 9:30). We were seated on the upper deck of the open-air bus which made it great for Ralph as he kept his video camera rolling. I simply cannot describe how awesome this was as we experienced the magnificence of this "sparkling" city at night. We had a very knowledgeable tour guide who provided the commentary. My eyes werre bugging out of my head for two hours. One of the places we went was Palm Jumeirah, which is the man-made, palm tree-shaped island - holy jumping catfish! Also on this island is the over-the-top Atlantis Hotel were, I am sure, only millionaires/billionaires can stay. She told us how much the rooms are but I forget because it was incomprehensible to me. Some of the names mentiioned who have apartments on Palm Jumeirah were David and Victoria Becham, Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, etc. Anyway, it was a most enjoyable tour and after taking the metro back to Deira, we went to Chili's for supper (it was time for American food!) Got back to the hotel about 11:00.

Another observation we have is how courteous/respectful folks are to older people like ourselves. For example, I can always be guaranteed a seat on the metro because always, someone gives up their seat for me. And other little examples like, we approached the escalator when a young lady was about to step on. She immediately stepped back and insisted that we get on first. And when joining a food kiosk line-up, young professional man in front of us insisted that we go first and he went behind us (and that wouldn't be because we looked like we were malnourished - ha).