Dubai - boy

We'd been threatening to visit friends in Dubai for a couple of years now and so we thought five days here would be a good start to our trip. It turned out to be great timing since February is a good time of year for Dubai (cool weather); there were birthday celebrations (a party!) and (as it also turned out) extra friends from London bringing with them an extra birthday and yet more reasons to party (or engage in an animated gathering of friends with good food and drink).

A, D and others had already equipped us with knowledge of life in Dubai so we came loaded with expectations which all seemed to fit reality; from the bored Emirati customs guys flicking aimlessly through our passports (obviously safe in the knowledge that no one would use fake British passports to enter their country) to the mega malls and flashy hotels. We knew not to expect any quantity (or quality) of museums, shows or other types of unholy godless western entertainment commonly found in filthy infidel western Gomorrahs. The one museum we visited: The Museum of Dubai, was a bit crap but at least is was practically free so all we lost was time. I saw a sign for a Museum of Linen but decided that seeing the sign was probably more interesting than the place itself. The Lonely Planet says the "single greatest thrill in the city" is the five minute abra (ferry ride) across Dubai Creek. Nuff said. A bird did shit on me on Dubai Creek (sounds like a good title for a song) and I guess that must take a close second. I shouldn't forget though that Dubai does have the tallest man made structure in the world: Burj Al Khalifa or the Burj or el Burjerino (and formerly known as Burj Dubai in good times). This is a monster of a building that rises over 800m dwarfing an already impressive skyline of skyscrapers. Personally I think they should have gone for an extra 200m and made it a km high. Unfortunately it was closed for repairs, but when open I anticipate it knocking the 'abra across the Creek' from its number one spot.

Though the city itself may lack attractions our days were nevertheless relaxed and pleasantly filled. A and P's flat was spitting distance from the Burj which allowed for ample time staring at its dizzying hights. Clouds would sometimes drift by just below the top floors; bizarre, I imagine, for anyone on the top floor looking down. The buggying over the dunes was awesome; my boy racer ego experienced bliss whilst driving with reckless abandon over the highest dunes our robust little 4x4 could manage, though my passengers may not have shared this. We had cocktails with H in the coolest bar in town, which overlooks (from far away) the Palm Islands. We clubbed Dubai style for P's birthday at a local Salsa joint, which is pretty much like western clubbing with the threat of taxis taking you to the police if you imbibe too much of the unholy substance. D and K were over, both for work in one way or another. It was D's birthday so more celebrations; Champagne and mezzes at their suite followed by steak and some of the finest desserts I've eaten. All meals top notch from pie and beer on our first night to Shisha and hummus on our last.

Oh, and I have some vague recollections of C and me doing a desert safari but that particular escapade full of eastern promise seems like a dream to me now (a dull and forgettable dream).