Sneha’s Dubai Trip Thrillophilia Review That Encaptures the Best of the Arabian Gulf
Sneha and her husband were thrilled to board the flight to Sharjah. The UAE has been on their radar for a long time, and finally, after so many years of deliberations, they had accumulated the resources to go for this trip to the land of luxury.
Their happiness was visible on their faces, cheeks blushing and eyebrows arched, voice pitch high and steps bouncy. As they reached Sharjah, the sky-high buildings of glass and steel knocked a whisper out of their mouth, almost as if they were not even aware of it-
Woah, Amazing!
Sharjah- The Cultural Crown of the Arab World
Their car was waiting for them at the airport, and the guide welcomed them with a friendly smile and a humble bow. They made their way to the hotel, soaking in the views of the city popularly known as the cultural capital of the Arab world.
They had a nice activity planned for the evening- a Dhow Cruise Ride along the Khaleed Lake and Sharjah Beach, commonly called the Moonlit Creek. Since dinner was included, they thought of spending some time strolling around the corniche before boarding the dhow to spend a nice evening together.
They could see Flag Island with the Eye of the Emirates shimmering with lights, the Al Noor Mosque and the High Rise Fountain too. The entire stretch of the waterbody was well-lit with aesthetic lamps, and the skyline of the city looked mesmerising. Gulping down the fact that they were finally living one of their long-lost dreams, they started off to board the cruise.
To their surprise, it was not just a cruise- it had performances aligned and musicians seated on the makeshift stage, the staff carried starters, drinks and main courses to all the tables, never letting any plate go empty, and most importantly- the Sharjah skyline was impeccably brilliant to watch gliding by.
They realised that night why it had earned fame as the cultural capital of the Arab world- their contribution to preserving the cultural heritage, religion, and Arabian culture was massive. Not only the food and the performances vouched for the same, but the mosques, museums, and centres for art and culture also justified the tag.
Dubai- The Gulf Tiger So Well-Known
Their trip continued in Dubai, blasting off with a city tour. It is true that Dubai is about glamour, dazzles, and luxury. But not all of it. Sneha and her husband were more inclined to explore the souks and the old town with the museums. But this day’s city tour was about the modern part of the city.
So, they went around the Dubai Marina, the Dubai Fountain, the Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai Mall. All of them sang the songs of how far Dubai has come from being a village of fishermen and nomads. It impressed them, no doubt, but it also raised one question- how do these communities survive now?
They were to find the answer to this question the next day, as informed by their guide when they asked him. But to wrap up the day, they had another significant activity to complete.
The Burj Khalifa.
Zooming up the tallest building in the world in the fastest elevator of the world, they reached the 124th floor of the building which housed the At the Top Sky Observatory. Marvelling at the city’s skyline from there was a treat to the eyes, especially when the entire city was glowing under the bright rose-gold rays of the setting sun. Then they went up to the 125th floor to explore the second level of the observatory. Afterwards, they headed down and hurried to the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.
They had a lot to cover, and reaching on time was a priority. The driver ignited the engine and swooshed through the streets. They reached their next attraction in the blink of an eye (or so it seemed because Dubai roads are quite smooth). The Aquarium turned out to be an excellent inclusion in the package. They stared at the marine creatures, tapping on the glass to try to communicate with them at times. Some of the underwater animals scared Sneha, while she adored some of them.
But it was time to run off again to catch the Dubai Fountain show, and again, with the help of the driver, they reached just in time. It was undoubtedly the best way to wrap up the hectic day. They sat there on the bench, relaxing and gaping at the fountain show which was a big hit! The play of light, sound, and water, all in synchronisation, created a brilliant spectacle.
The other side of Dubai
It was finally time for the couple to get the answer to their question- how do the fishing and nomadic communities survive now?
For this, they were first taken to the Dubai Frame by the guide. Walking on the glass skywalk above the frame, they witnessed the two sides of Dubai- the old one and the new one that they explored the last day. Excited, they asked the driver to take them around the old city, so the driver took them to some of the souks, and also told them that the fishermen still continue in their profession, just that the manner of fishing has transformed from dhows to ships now. And as for the nomadic communities, some of them had settled in the old city, and some were still on the run.
As they reached the desert for their desert camp stay, they encountered one such group of bedouins. Unfortunately, Sneha and her husband did not have the opportunity to interact with them, but they were quite fascinated to see them.
In the desert, they simply went for the camel ride and the camp stay. Atv rides were not their thing (as they told the guide after he urged them to try the activity), instead, they sat down, talked to the staff, and had a lovely time there. In the evening, they were treated to a lavish BBQ dinner and a grand fire show accompanied by live music and Tanoura dance performances. The ambience was eclectic, and it perhaps made for the best day of their trip in Dubai.
The Outro of a Dream
The couple ended their trip in Abu Dhabi, with a tour of the Ferrari World. It was Sneha’s lifelong dream to visit this place, take part in some rides, and experience the legacy of this sports car brand for herself.
Almost as if they were waking up from a dream, they could feel the jitters and the shakes in their body as they boarded their flight home from Dubai. It was just a few hours of flight, and after that, they would be back in Mumbai, their reality, their home. But a part of their heart still seemed to linger on the sands of these Arabian cities, and perhaps, they forever would.