Oh, Dubai
I am back from my internet hiatus. So now I finally post about my recent trip to Dubai, a commercially and industrially booming city-state in United Arab Emirates.
Everyone has heard of Dubai, though with varying opinions and views of it. When I didn't know so much about it, I thought it was just a land of labour class expatriates. Now that I'm living in proximity to it (a 30-minute flight or a 4-hour drive away), I hear so much things about it and in the articles I read, it's popular, too. Dubbed the 'land of excess' with its man-made island and ambitious buildings, Dubai has its cosmopolitan and urban intrigue. The world is taking notice. In the middle of this month, I got to see for myself what this full-blown (and still blooming) city is like. So I was rather excited to be visiting Dubai for the first time.
I got to stay only for a weekend, I was there mainly because of the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, but I got to go around and explore a little of intriguing Dubai, the non-secret of the gulf and the whole middle east.
My photo-blog on my 2-day trip to Dubai will be spread over 3 posts. The first one will be on the things I saw in Dubai, the second will be about the marathon and the third one will be on some scenes and random interesting things I saw while watching the marathon.
So below is the first of my 3-part Dubai trip series...
Dubai, Dubai. What a short yet memorable time I had there. I was instantly attached.
Some of the buildings you see at Dubai. Middle photo: Mall of the Emirates. + Far right photo: Burj Al Arab.
The far left photo was taken from inside the taxi shortly after arriving from the airport.
A Blissful Weekend at Dubai
MiNC Apartments, The Westin, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Int'l Airport
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Thursday, 15th January - Friday, 16th January 2009
Coming from the Airport
This was what I saw from the taxi window.
MiNC Apartments
Where my dad and I checked in for the duration of our stay.
left photo: the lobby. + right photo: elephants! right in the lobby.
Our Apartment Unit
far left photo: the living room. + middle photo: the dining table. with the artworks on the wall. + far right photo: the kitchen.
Some Apartment Appliances
left photo: there was, not only a TV, but also a DVD player!
right photo: then there was a washing machine along with an iron and ironing board.
The Vintage-looking Washing Machine!
Ha ha. I dunno. I just rarely come across washing machines like this.
Naturally, I was amused. And I find the washing machine so cute!
The Bedrooms
left photo: the master's bedroom with a balcony. + right photo: the other room.
And that other room became my room! Ha ha, see how I had already claimed ownership to it.
Note the sprawled hoodie.
The Fanciful Ceiling Light in My Room
Day and Night
This was how I looked in the two latter parts of the day.
left photo: upon arrival at the apartment unit. I was still so happy. Yay, Dubai!
right photo: and then I was tired. after coming from the dinner.
I was about to go to bed. Supposedly. Goodness, I didn't know I had quite a number of blue shirts!
Pictures taken from my bathroom, which had a...
Glass Sink!
The sink is so transparent and pretty much resembled the rest of the bathroom counter,
I at first didn't consider it a sink and you actually let water go through it. Ha ha.
.
And Back on the Dubai Streets
left photo: spotting the Burj Al Arab from the cab. I was very much excited.
I had always known Dubai for its beautiful Burj Al Arab. I wanted to see it for all its
stunning glory. Ha ha. + right photo: a hanging tarpaulin of Haile!
In front of the Burj Al Arab, of course. It was hanging outside the Westin,
the start and end point of the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.
Haile Gebrselassie was the previous year's first place winner.
The Westin
...Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina.
Yes, I memorise the full name. (Should I work for them now?)
Known as the Westin for short. It was all decked out and ready for the marathon!
.
Inside...
My dad went there soon after we arrived to get his race packet.
left photo: Geb right next to the door leading to the room where all the race packets
are being distributed. + right photo: the sign for the marathon race packet station.
Collecting the Race Packets
In the left photo is my dad. And in the right... are two lads who turned out to be rather amusing.
I saw them go up to the booth with pink Puma t-shirts. And here was how the dialogue went:
one of the two blokes: (looking all interested) How much for a t-shirt?
the lady booth attendant: Sorry, these are only for the female runners.
So much for getting a pink t-shirt, eh.
The Marathon Grandstand outside the Westin
Where people will watch the runners finish.
The Marathon Grandstand
And Trekking the Urban Roads of Dubai...
...Then Landing in the Mall of the Emirates
From the Westin, my dad and I walked then got a taxi. In the far left photo is a
picture I managed to get from the cab as it was passing by this interesting-looking brown
building saying 'souk' on the front. + middle and far right photos: overhead ceilings,
lights and beams inside the Mall of the Emirates.
Dinner That Night
I dined at La Piazza with the Muscat Road Runners.
far left photo: the pretty lights and beams. + middle photo: the La Piazza sign.
far right photo: The Toy Store! I love toy shops and that particular one had attractive looking things!
.
The State of My Dresser When I Got Back
Yes, I dump everything in. In there you see my hoodie, the one satchel I brought
and a bunch of various accessories.
I in That Room
In the right photo I am thinking, "No! I will not clean this mess up!"
Taking Pictures in front of the Dresser Mirror
Yes, another one of my lonely pastimes.
And Here We Go. Pictures before Going to Bed
Funny these were taken way before I actually went to sleep. I was all ready to go to bed.
In my sleeping clothes and having washed my face and brushed my teeth. But as usual, I stayed up
doing whatever. first two photos from left: I am saying, "Bye now. I'm going to bed."
far right photo: a picture I took of myself while on that bed. This is how my face looks when it's bare.
No makeup and everything. This would be my no-makeup shot if I worked as a model. Nyahaha.
Yes, I Partly Stayed up Looking at Magazines
Well, just one of them. These were in the apartment apart from some other periodicals.
And check this out, the UAE edition of the Insider (which mainly said that Victoria Beckham,
Lindsay Lohan and Geri Halliwell wanted Dubai homes) had the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai
Marathon in one of its features. It was listed as something to do for the week. :)
Back at the Mall of the Emirates
My dad and I were there for a grand total of three times. In the right photo is where we
dined for lunch after the marathon the next day.
St. Moritz Cafe
.
No, That Fireplace Is Not a Real
Ha ha, the place had a virtual fireplace. Nice bricks and framed pictures around it, too.
St. Moritz Cafe
It pretty much looked like a ski lodge. I guess that was the point. It was, after all,
just right at the entrance for Ski Dubai.
Ski Dubai
No, I did not go in there. I just saw it from the outside.
I was prolly one of those loser mall passers-by, getting their picture
only from in front of the large windows. Heh.
.
Are Those Christmas Trees?
Ha ha. Are those real pine trees or what? Might as well be fake. Who knows.
Dubai with all its 'man-made' stuff.
Mall of the Emirates
From the very dusty window of a very dusty taxi. What was it with Dubai and its dusty
taxis? Even Muscat's taxis aren't particularly dusty.
Spotting Some Pyramids
In Dubai? No way! Ha ha. Or yes way. See what I told you about Dubai coming up with
man-made stuff. LOL. Well, it's prolly just Dubai wanting to have an assortment of grand and
unique-looking buildings. They seem ambitious in that respect.
And Back at the Dubai International Airport
Aw, it's time to go! My dad and I hung out at the
Gulf Air Lounge before we proceeded to our departure gate.
The Gulf Air Lounge
Dubai International Airport.
My Alien Chain at the Lounge
I'd name it but I'm bad at giving my own things names. Basically because I think I'd
want to keep changing the name of an object. I can be very fickle-minded.
I bought it from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport in late December last year.
My Dad after the Marathon
He wanted me to take his picture while he was in that tent of a sitting area we had.
Congratulations on successfully finishing your marathon! And greatly improving your time
from last year.
.
I at That Lounge
Yes, I take my own pictures. Sick of me yet? LOL. In the right photo I was
thinking, "What the hell." Or was it, "Whatever."
More Libby Pictures
left photo: okay, I admit. I just wanted to have my dad take a picture of me with my tea.
But it did turn out a great photo, didn't it? And that right photo I took myself.
first two photos from left: more self-portraits. gah. I look angry in the first one. + far right photo: the tea.
Strawberry-flavoured Ceylon Tea
Yeah, that's what I had. After all the pasta I ate at St. Moritz Cafe.
I won't deny that it (the tea) was good. I got the vanilla version, which I took home
with me, and found it tasting weird.
Taking More Pictures at the Lounge
right photo: my running shoes and the only bag I brought with me to Dubai
apart from a miniature knapsack, which was in the I drinking tea picture.
.
And Finally Leaving
Leaving on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again?
Aw, it is really time to go. Duh! How else could it be when you're already on the plane!?
For the first time, I was taking pictures from the aeroplane window. Well, I took just these
two pictures. I took Oman Air to and from Dubai. It was an only 30-minute flight each time.
Goodbye, Dubai. Goodbye, Dubai International Airport. He he.
That wraps up the first of my Dubai trip series. 2 more Dubai posts to go!
I amused myself with some peculiar things I noticed while in Dubai. Such as what was it with the women and high, calf-hugging boots!? Too many women were wearing them. And that I particularly noticed while I was at the supermarket (Carrefour at Mall of the Emirates), of all places. Is that some sort of Dubai trend among the ladies? To wear tall boots? Ha ha, one of them was wearing brown ones, she even looked like she was going to go horseback riding.
Oh, oh, silly trends. I was about to think the women of Dubai were remarkable fashionistas. Until I saw too many of those boots.
Until my next entry!
Everyone has heard of Dubai, though with varying opinions and views of it. When I didn't know so much about it, I thought it was just a land of labour class expatriates. Now that I'm living in proximity to it (a 30-minute flight or a 4-hour drive away), I hear so much things about it and in the articles I read, it's popular, too. Dubbed the 'land of excess' with its man-made island and ambitious buildings, Dubai has its cosmopolitan and urban intrigue. The world is taking notice. In the middle of this month, I got to see for myself what this full-blown (and still blooming) city is like. So I was rather excited to be visiting Dubai for the first time.
I got to stay only for a weekend, I was there mainly because of the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, but I got to go around and explore a little of intriguing Dubai, the non-secret of the gulf and the whole middle east.
My photo-blog on my 2-day trip to Dubai will be spread over 3 posts. The first one will be on the things I saw in Dubai, the second will be about the marathon and the third one will be on some scenes and random interesting things I saw while watching the marathon.
So below is the first of my 3-part Dubai trip series...
Dubai, Dubai. What a short yet memorable time I had there. I was instantly attached.
Some of the buildings you see at Dubai. Middle photo: Mall of the Emirates. + Far right photo: Burj Al Arab.
The far left photo was taken from inside the taxi shortly after arriving from the airport.
A Blissful Weekend at Dubai
MiNC Apartments, The Westin, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Int'l Airport
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Thursday, 15th January - Friday, 16th January 2009
Coming from the Airport
This was what I saw from the taxi window.
MiNC Apartments
Where my dad and I checked in for the duration of our stay.
left photo: the lobby. + right photo: elephants! right in the lobby.
Our Apartment Unit
far left photo: the living room. + middle photo: the dining table. with the artworks on the wall. + far right photo: the kitchen.
Some Apartment Appliances
left photo: there was, not only a TV, but also a DVD player!
right photo: then there was a washing machine along with an iron and ironing board.
The Vintage-looking Washing Machine!
Ha ha. I dunno. I just rarely come across washing machines like this.
Naturally, I was amused. And I find the washing machine so cute!
The Bedrooms
left photo: the master's bedroom with a balcony. + right photo: the other room.
And that other room became my room! Ha ha, see how I had already claimed ownership to it.
Note the sprawled hoodie.
The Fanciful Ceiling Light in My Room
Day and Night
This was how I looked in the two latter parts of the day.
left photo: upon arrival at the apartment unit. I was still so happy. Yay, Dubai!
right photo: and then I was tired. after coming from the dinner.
I was about to go to bed. Supposedly. Goodness, I didn't know I had quite a number of blue shirts!
Pictures taken from my bathroom, which had a...
Glass Sink!
The sink is so transparent and pretty much resembled the rest of the bathroom counter,
I at first didn't consider it a sink and you actually let water go through it. Ha ha.
.
And Back on the Dubai Streets
left photo: spotting the Burj Al Arab from the cab. I was very much excited.
I had always known Dubai for its beautiful Burj Al Arab. I wanted to see it for all its
stunning glory. Ha ha. + right photo: a hanging tarpaulin of Haile!
In front of the Burj Al Arab, of course. It was hanging outside the Westin,
the start and end point of the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.
Haile Gebrselassie was the previous year's first place winner.
The Westin
...Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina.
Yes, I memorise the full name. (Should I work for them now?)
Known as the Westin for short. It was all decked out and ready for the marathon!
.
Inside...
My dad went there soon after we arrived to get his race packet.
left photo: Geb right next to the door leading to the room where all the race packets
are being distributed. + right photo: the sign for the marathon race packet station.
Collecting the Race Packets
In the left photo is my dad. And in the right... are two lads who turned out to be rather amusing.
I saw them go up to the booth with pink Puma t-shirts. And here was how the dialogue went:
one of the two blokes: (looking all interested) How much for a t-shirt?
the lady booth attendant: Sorry, these are only for the female runners.
So much for getting a pink t-shirt, eh.
The Marathon Grandstand outside the Westin
Where people will watch the runners finish.
The Marathon Grandstand
And Trekking the Urban Roads of Dubai...
...Then Landing in the Mall of the Emirates
From the Westin, my dad and I walked then got a taxi. In the far left photo is a
picture I managed to get from the cab as it was passing by this interesting-looking brown
building saying 'souk' on the front. + middle and far right photos: overhead ceilings,
lights and beams inside the Mall of the Emirates.
Dinner That Night
I dined at La Piazza with the Muscat Road Runners.
far left photo: the pretty lights and beams. + middle photo: the La Piazza sign.
far right photo: The Toy Store! I love toy shops and that particular one had attractive looking things!
.
The State of My Dresser When I Got Back
Yes, I dump everything in. In there you see my hoodie, the one satchel I brought
and a bunch of various accessories.
I in That Room
In the right photo I am thinking, "No! I will not clean this mess up!"
Taking Pictures in front of the Dresser Mirror
Yes, another one of my lonely pastimes.
And Here We Go. Pictures before Going to Bed
Funny these were taken way before I actually went to sleep. I was all ready to go to bed.
In my sleeping clothes and having washed my face and brushed my teeth. But as usual, I stayed up
doing whatever. first two photos from left: I am saying, "Bye now. I'm going to bed."
far right photo: a picture I took of myself while on that bed. This is how my face looks when it's bare.
No makeup and everything. This would be my no-makeup shot if I worked as a model. Nyahaha.
Yes, I Partly Stayed up Looking at Magazines
Well, just one of them. These were in the apartment apart from some other periodicals.
And check this out, the UAE edition of the Insider (which mainly said that Victoria Beckham,
Lindsay Lohan and Geri Halliwell wanted Dubai homes) had the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai
Marathon in one of its features. It was listed as something to do for the week. :)
Back at the Mall of the Emirates
My dad and I were there for a grand total of three times. In the right photo is where we
dined for lunch after the marathon the next day.
St. Moritz Cafe
.
No, That Fireplace Is Not a Real
Ha ha, the place had a virtual fireplace. Nice bricks and framed pictures around it, too.
St. Moritz Cafe
It pretty much looked like a ski lodge. I guess that was the point. It was, after all,
just right at the entrance for Ski Dubai.
Ski Dubai
No, I did not go in there. I just saw it from the outside.
I was prolly one of those loser mall passers-by, getting their picture
only from in front of the large windows. Heh.
.
Are Those Christmas Trees?
Ha ha. Are those real pine trees or what? Might as well be fake. Who knows.
Dubai with all its 'man-made' stuff.
Mall of the Emirates
From the very dusty window of a very dusty taxi. What was it with Dubai and its dusty
taxis? Even Muscat's taxis aren't particularly dusty.
Spotting Some Pyramids
In Dubai? No way! Ha ha. Or yes way. See what I told you about Dubai coming up with
man-made stuff. LOL. Well, it's prolly just Dubai wanting to have an assortment of grand and
unique-looking buildings. They seem ambitious in that respect.
And Back at the Dubai International Airport
Aw, it's time to go! My dad and I hung out at the
Gulf Air Lounge before we proceeded to our departure gate.
The Gulf Air Lounge
Dubai International Airport.
My Alien Chain at the Lounge
I'd name it but I'm bad at giving my own things names. Basically because I think I'd
want to keep changing the name of an object. I can be very fickle-minded.
I bought it from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport in late December last year.
My Dad after the Marathon
He wanted me to take his picture while he was in that tent of a sitting area we had.
Congratulations on successfully finishing your marathon! And greatly improving your time
from last year.
.
I at That Lounge
Yes, I take my own pictures. Sick of me yet? LOL. In the right photo I was
thinking, "What the hell." Or was it, "Whatever."
More Libby Pictures
left photo: okay, I admit. I just wanted to have my dad take a picture of me with my tea.
But it did turn out a great photo, didn't it? And that right photo I took myself.
first two photos from left: more self-portraits. gah. I look angry in the first one. + far right photo: the tea.
Strawberry-flavoured Ceylon Tea
Yeah, that's what I had. After all the pasta I ate at St. Moritz Cafe.
I won't deny that it (the tea) was good. I got the vanilla version, which I took home
with me, and found it tasting weird.
Taking More Pictures at the Lounge
right photo: my running shoes and the only bag I brought with me to Dubai
apart from a miniature knapsack, which was in the I drinking tea picture.
.
And Finally Leaving
Leaving on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again?
Aw, it is really time to go. Duh! How else could it be when you're already on the plane!?
For the first time, I was taking pictures from the aeroplane window. Well, I took just these
two pictures. I took Oman Air to and from Dubai. It was an only 30-minute flight each time.
Goodbye, Dubai. Goodbye, Dubai International Airport. He he.
That wraps up the first of my Dubai trip series. 2 more Dubai posts to go!
I amused myself with some peculiar things I noticed while in Dubai. Such as what was it with the women and high, calf-hugging boots!? Too many women were wearing them. And that I particularly noticed while I was at the supermarket (Carrefour at Mall of the Emirates), of all places. Is that some sort of Dubai trend among the ladies? To wear tall boots? Ha ha, one of them was wearing brown ones, she even looked like she was going to go horseback riding.
Oh, oh, silly trends. I was about to think the women of Dubai were remarkable fashionistas. Until I saw too many of those boots.
Until my next entry!