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Day 6

So it’s taken me a bit of time to catch up on my Dubai trip, but I’m determined to finish detailing my trip for memory’s sake.

With Dave in Abu Dhabi, Geoff and I ventured out into Dubai proper for some exploring. After a taxi ride to the travel agent to book a tour, we walked towards the nearby metro station. In my opinion I think it’s rather odd to have a metro in Dubai. The city in general is not the most conducive to pedestrians, so I’m curious what locals do on their approach to and departure from the metro. As Geoff and i walked from the travel agency to the metro (probably about one city block away), I couldn’t figure out where to walk. Most of the sidewalk was missing and in its place rubble and untrodden dirt “paths”. I carefully traced Geoff’s step, considering in the back of my mind that I did not want to sprain an ankle on vacation. Along the way I stopped Geoff for the occasional touristy picture of the skyline, in a way trying to capture the contrast between luxury and bankruptcy in Dubai’s architecture, the over-the-top next to the abandoned.

Upon entering the station I found a good amount of commuters, which was also strange to me because I wondered where they came from since I didn’t see any other pedestrians or sidewalks or even any parking lots. By and by my experience of the metro was rather nice. The stations were beautiful and the train was efficient….. and air conditioned. I was a happy camper. :)


check in tomorrow for the rest!

Day 5

On this fifth in Dubai, Geoff, Dave and I headed to a water park, Wild Wadi, which was located by the coast.

On our way there, I spotted the Burj Al Arab (the picture below).  It was so beautiful and majestic.  I remembered learning about this building in my Environmental Controls class.  The lecturer spoke about how the design was manipulated to optimize its energy efficiency.  He called the concept “sailing”, coined because of how the building looked.  I was amazed to see it in person.  Wild Wadi was actually very close to it, so when we were walking around the park I saw some great views of it.

It was kind of strange to think I had applied to architecture jobs in Dubai back in 2008/2009 when I was still actively looking for architecture jobs.  I never thought I’d visit for any reason other than for architecture.  I love how life surprises you.  It’s better yet, because a ton of the construction projects in Dubai looked abandoned;  a lot of the projects stopped for lack of funds.  It made me sad to the all the unfinished construction projects.  But at least I saw my Burj Al Arab. :)

Admittedly, I was pretty scared to have a day’s activity surrounded around being in the water.  If I recall correctly, the first thing we did was go on a lazy river to get to the first “ride”.  Even that was scary for me.  (I’m such a wuss.)  All it is a slow moving “river” that you float along in on an inner-tube.  I’ve been on rivers before, but the unknown factor of this water park freaked me out a little.  I managed to make my way through it on my own.  But when we got to the more intense part of it, I opted to go with Geoff in a double. (You know, just in case I drowned, so someone would know where to find my body.)

The ride was actually rather interesting.  In the beginning of the sections jets of water propelled your raft up a “hill” then you’d slide through series of tubes on your way down.  It was fun.  Scary, but fun.  I think I nearly lost my bottoms each time we went through the jets.  We went through all the sections before heading to two more rides.  For the two we walked up a high tower where we’d start the ride and we’d also all be in the same raft.  The first one I was scared of, but it was fun.  The second one was terrifying.  Our raft slid up on the side one of the tubes nearly vertical before falling and doing the same on the other side of the tube.  Thrilling!  I enjoyed being in the water in that hot weather, but ironically, it seemed like that day had the coolest weather.  The last activity was a leisurely “pedicure”.  The park had a small section set aside for these tanks of fish that like to eat dry skin off of people.  I know it sounds gross, and it kind of is.  You keep your feet/legs in the water and the fish come at you and nibble at you.  With my ticklish feet, it took some getting used to, but my feet were soft afterwards.  Success!

All in all I enjoyed myself, and best of all, I survived!