Spring in Dubai is warm but not hot, so after the movie we went outside and walked along the enormous fountain pool in the center of the Mall complex. Nothing quite says money like a decorative display of water in a desert, and this fountain is extravagant! Yet, it pales in the shadow of the tallest building in the world. The Burj Khalifa is a magnet for your eyes, dominating the skyline, and its curves and gradual slimming as it rises out of the desert provide something of a presence that we seemed to be aware of at all times.
The park-like grounds at its base are dotted with art installations and grassy areas where families played, and locals and tourists alike enjoyed the many restaurants and bistros overlooking the fountain. We stayed long enough to take in the dancing geysers of water, accompanied by a variety of music while sipping delicious mock-tails at one of the cafes by the water. One thing to know about Dubai: though it is extremely liberal for an Islamic country, alcohol is still served only in hotels and bars. Many restaurants don’t have a license to sell alcohol, so plan ahead if a glass of wine with dinner is an important part of your lifestyle. We definitely needed a restorative glass of wine after a day spent walking, so we returned to the Oberoi Dubai for dinner and a good night’s sleep.
The following morning we had another wonderful breakfast, after which we made our way over the cool marble floors to the lobby, to await being picked up for our sand dune safari. There are a variety of tour companies that will take you careening over the dunes in a Land Cruiser, and at the suggestion of the concierge we chose Planet Tours & Safaris. They arrived promptly, and with no fuss at all gathered us and two other guests into our comfortable ride. Our guide, Mohammed, kept us entertained with stories about the area during the 45-minute ride out of town. The urban city gives way fairly quickly to vast expanses of desert, dunes dotted with low bushes and the occasional date palm orchard. We arrived at a staging area for numerous tours, and they gave us some time to take pictures of the scenery
as they deflated the tires for driving on sand, which is fine and dry and soft- we recommend wearing sandals.
When they were ready, we climbed back into the Land Cruiser and took off in a caravan, careening up and down the dunes for two hours, bouncing, skidding and surging through the desert, stopping frequently for the chance to take pictures of the scenery (endless vistas of wind swept sand and indigenous plants, and eventually the setting sun – gorgeous!). Thrill seekers and adventurers will love this safari, but it might not be a good idea for people who are pregnant, have high blood pressure or heart conditions. Know that it’s a very physical experience, and know your limits before you go.
The tour company offered a number of add-ons that you can participate in during the excursion: short dune buggy tours, camel rides, sand boarding, and falconry demonstrations if you so opted, but we were a little exhausted after all the bouncing and jouncing in the Land Cruiser and opted to watch the sun set in the quiet of the desert. As the stars began to emerge, we joined other tour groups at a “camp,” basically a fortress/oasis modeled after old trading posts where traders and travelers would meet and restock on supplies. There we enjoyed a lavish barbeque of traditional Arabic food, enlivened by a two act dance – the first a whirling dervish dressed in light and breathing fire, and the second a belly dancer. We returned to the hotel pleasantly exhausted, ready for an evening of tranquility before departing for the next stop in our exploration of Dubai.
[We know we’re taking risks by traveling during the pandemic. We follow all recommended precautions and are tested regularly. Make your own decisions when it comes to your own personal safety, and be considerate of the safety of others.]
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