Dubai Day 23 - Pics to follow internet being silly

Here is a place I would want to spend at least a week in if not 2 weeks 

 or more.......Katie and friends arrived back about 2.30am and then we 

 had to be up at 7.30am for our first Princess Tour of the day. 

We left  about 15 mins late and our first stop was at the Mall of the Emirates 

 with the indoor ski slope, very impressive. Skiing, snowboarding , 

 tobagganing and it was a very pleasant  -3 degrees. We didn't go inside 

but others from the ship did independantly and had a ball. We had about 

 40 mins to check out the mall but with over 300 shops didn't see much, 

 Katie did buy a new SD card for her camera for a very good price,

 so we  were happy with that. Our guide gave us commentary about Dubai and the 

other 6 emirates along the way, which is always nice to get history and 

 facts about where we are. We then had our trip up the Burj Kalifa to the 

126th floor, you couldn't even feel the lift move and it wasn't until 

 our ears popped at about the 80th floor did we realise how fast and high 

 we we going. And yes the view was worth it, I don't particularily like 

heights but it didn't worry me in the slightest (I must be getting  old!). 

 After taking some photos we went back down to the mall and  bought food, 

it was then out to the beach next to the Burj Al Arab (Sail shaped Hotel) 

for some pics. The beach was beautiful and the water looked very tempting but

 we were on a schedule and didn't even dip our  toes in. 

Photos were taken quickly and we jumped back into the cool of 

the bus. Next stop was a mosque for more photos and then we were dropped 

back at the ship where we had a nap before we were off on our 4wd desert 

safari. The 4wd trip was a Princess Tour and has been the highlight of our trip

 so far. We were in a convoy of 30 4wd's with 4 passengers and a driver 

in each car, I was in the middle in the back with a lap seatbelt and I

 had a great view from there. We were in car 10 and we generally kept in 

order, first off was the drive out to the desert along the highway with 

Sam our driver giving great commentary, first stop was to deflate the

 tyres once off the highway and we pulled up where we could take some 

photos of camels in pens. Once into the desert ( it was a conservation 

area so had to follow a general set path) the fun began. We travelled

 up, down and around the dunes for about 20 mins until we had a stop for 

drinks and a photo or 2, we then continued the bouncing around for

 another 15 mins when we had another photo stop for the sunset. Around 

another 15 mins of 4wd and we arrived at our desert camp. First up was a

 ride on a camel which was great fun, Katie and I shared ours. We then 

 ventured into the camp (which was just for our group, they have another

 camp for general tourists). Katie and I got henna tattoos and then got a

 drink and sat down at a long table. We were sitting on cushions on 

carpet over the sand, next was scrummy food and the night at the camp 

ended with the most gorgeous and talented belly dancer. She was 

incredible and beautiful and had everyone mesmerized by what she could 

do! We then sadly had to leave, but everyone who took this tour was as

 happy about it as Katie and I. I would recommend it to everyone as

 something not to be missed. In hindsight (wonderful thing that it is),

I wouldn't have done the  morning tour, but we weren't to know when I

 booked it that the ship  would be delayed and our time cut short in Dubai

(and none in Abu  Dhabi). Instead we would have just taken a taxi to

 one of the malls and  spent most of the day there before coming back 

and doing the 4wd safari.  I still would have gone to the top of the Burj Kalifa

 but would have  bought tickets online (they are much cheaper in advance)

  and done it  ourselves. In fact there is so much to see and do,

I would really love  to return here. Though I did say to Katie,

each new city seems to  entrall me.........(and her). The good thing about

Princess or other  tours is that you learn a lot from the guides,

which you wouldn't get by  just doing it all on your own. So despite

 the heat and humidity (but no flies at the desert barbeque,  so yay),

Dubai was great. Hope to get pics and video of belly dancer from the blokes 

who were closer and concentrating more..............