Ganga's Family Adventure: Discovering the Magic of Dubai with Thrillophilia
The idea for the trip to Dubai came from an unexpected place: a bedtime story. One evening, Ganga Krishna was narrating a tale to his daughter. She loved stories of magical kingdoms, sparkling castles, and heroes flying through the sky. That night, she asked, “Appa, can we go to a place like that? Where everything is shiny and big?” Ganga smiled and his mind went straight to Dubai. A place where fantasy seemed to meet reality in the most spectacular way.
It was not long before Ganga and his wife decided to turn their daughter’s dream into a reality. The timing felt perfect. Their little girl was at the age where her world revolved around wonder and discovery. But for the couple, it was also a chance to create memories that would forever anchor their growing family in joy.
As the trip approached, Ganga wondered: how would their daughter react to Dubai? Would she be mesmerised by the tall Burj Khalifa, attracted to the gardens of vibrant flowers, or laugh in delight at the playful dolphins? He did not have all the answers, but he knew one thing for sure - it would be a journey to see the world through her eyes. Every moment would hold a little more magic simply because she was experiencing it for the first time.
When they landed in Dubai, his daughter clutched her tiny backpack, wide-eyed and quiet. The bustling airport and the golden glow of the city lights outside the window - everything felt larger than life. “Is this the magical place?” she asked softly. Ganga exchanged a glance with his wife and said while lifting her into his arms, “Yes. This is it.”
And so, their adventure began.
Cruising Beneath the Glittering Sky
On their first evening in Dubai, the Krishna family boarded the traditional dhow cruise at the Marina. The daughter held her father’s hand tightly as they stepped onto the wooden boat and her small face lit up by the kaleidoscope of city lights reflecting off the water. Decorated with soft golden lights, the dhow glided gracefully along the canal.
As they settled at a table near the railing, the family was greeted with a refreshing welcome drink. The daughter reached for hers - a glass of apple juice - with the excitement of someone sipping magic. “Look, Amma! The buildings are sparkling!” she exclaimed, pointing at the tall skyline.
The cool evening breeze carried the sound of traditional Arabic music as they enjoyed a lavish dinner. Ganga admired the architectural wonders along the water’s edge. On the other hand, his wife could not help but notice how their daughter’s gaze kept dancing between the illuminated skyline and the gently rippling water below. When the cruise ended, the daughter was hesitant to leave and declared, “The boat was my castle!” Ganga laughed, knowing this was only the beginning of her fairytale adventure.
Adventures in the Desert
The following afternoon, they travelled into the golden sands for a desert safari. Their daughter’s excitement grew as they left the city behind and her eyes were glued to the vast stretches of sand. “Is this where camels live?” she asked innocently while holding her toy giraffe.
The adventure began with a thrilling dune-bashing ride. Ganga was thrilled to see his daughter's reaction as the car zoomed up and down the tall dunes. Instead of fear, there was laughter - pure and unfiltered joy. “Faster, Appa!” she shouted, her tiny hands gripping the seat tightly.
At the desert camp, they were greeted with a warm welcome of dates and tea. The daughter’s favourite moment came when she got to meet a real camel. With Ganga’s encouragement, she bravely sat on its back for a short ride, and her smile was wide enough to outshine the setting sun.
As the evening set in, they enjoyed a mesmerising cultural show featuring belly dancing and Tanoura performances. Under the star-studded desert sky, Ganga felt grateful for moments where their little family enjoyed being the centre of the universe.
The Gardens of a Million Dreams
The next day brought them to the Dubai Miracle Garden, which left even Ganga and his wife awestruck. Walking through pathways framed by floral arches, their daughter was spellbound by the large-than-life structures made entirely of flowers. “Appa, it looks like a rainbow grew here!” she said while her small fingers brushed against petals of every colour imaginable.
The family walked happily and stopped to admire a floral castle and a heart-shaped tunnel of blooms. Their daughter skipped ahead and tried to count the butterflies fluttering around her. Nearby, a section of the garden had a massive floral aeroplane, which Ganga explained was modelled after an Emirates A380.
From the Miracle Garden, they moved on to the Butterfly Garden, where hundreds of butterflies moved freely in a dome-like enclosure. One landed gently on their daughter’s hand, and she breathed heavily in wonder. Ganga captured the moment on his phone, knowing this would be one of those memories etched forever in their hearts.
An Outstanding Finale
On their last day, the Krishna family visited the crowning jewel of Dubai - the BURJ KHALIFA. As they stepped into the high-speed elevator, the daughter was unusually quiet and her eyes showed her anticipation. In a few seconds, they arrived at the observation deck on the 124th floor.
His daughter looked out at the vast city below, and asked, “Appa, the city looks so tiny.” Ganga knelt beside her and pointed out the landmarks they had visited over the past few days. The Marina, the desert, and even the Miracle Garden - all looked like a tiny patchwork of colours from this height.
The view was spectacular, but for Ganga, the true magic was watching his daughter take it all in. She pressed her small hands against the glass, fascinated by the tiny cars and buildings that seemed to stretch endlessly towards the horizon.
Their final stop of the day was the Dubai Aquarium. Ganga’s daughter clutched his hand tightly as they walked through the underwater tunnel surrounded by sharks, rays, and vibrant schools of fish. “Appa, look! Nemo!” she cried, pointing excitedly at a clownfish moving among the coral.
As the day wound down, they returned with tired feet but happy hearts.