Paving One’s Own Way through Dubai: Sunil’s Thrillophilia Review
I am not a believer in showcasing luxury, but I sure do enjoy an exuberant lifestyle. That is why when I showed the pictures of my Dubai trip to my friends, everybody just had one reaction- “Why aren't you dressed up in the Dubai style?”
My answer was constant- “I did not want to. It was hot and I chose to dress the way I preferred.”
However, I always wanted to try out the traditional dress of Dubai. So, the first thing I did after visiting the Dubai Mall was buy a piece of Kandura for myself. Its soft material and white colour surely protect one from the extreme heat of Dubai. I have the perfect instance to justify it-
Thrillophilia arranged for a desert safari with a camp stay and a BBQ dinner in the middle of the Arabian desert. I was never more comfortable, even during the nighttime when the temperature dropped, but the Kandura kept me comfortable.
But this review is not about my dress, it is about the amazing experience that I had on this solo trip. Sounds strange that I went on a solo trip to Dubai all by myself? Trust me, it is an incredible experience and you should try it too!
First things first
I love cars, electronics, and sunsets.
That is why the Dubai Mall tour took me two hours to finish. I was going to all the electronic stores, checking out the newest arrivals and my jaw dropped at every point when I encountered some top-notch devices at such affordable prices.
Currency is a strange thing I must say, so without taking any risks, I bought a nice pair of headphones for myself.
The streets of Dubai are filled with sports cars and can snatch away your attention. No matter who you are with or what you are doing, just a glimpse of these cars can make your day. As for me, I loved the green Lamborghini that I saw while I was returning from a restaurant dinner. My belly was full and my heart content, and spotting this beautiful beast made me drool. I felt the sight of this car was even better than the falafel and cocktails I had for dinner.
But unfortunately, I just had one opportunity to click a picture with it and then bid goodbye to it. Trust me, I could not stop turning back to steal more glances at the same…Ah, damn you, desires!
Here goes the sun
As I mentioned earlier, I am a Sunset fan. So all the evenings I had some leisure time, I would head out to the pool at the hotel, and take a long dip overlooking the play of colours in the sky.
But the one incident that threw me off-guard was at the desert safari. I had just arrived at the camp when I realised the truth behind this saying,
“Dubai is HOT”
IT IS. and this trip made me believe it to my bones.
I was just scanning the sky for signs of clouds to shadow the sunrays when I suddenly saw something soaring above me. I ignored it at first, but then I saw that thing spiralling down towards me. The guide was standing behind me and he said to me, “Stay calm, the eagle is approaching you”. Then he handed me something and asked me to feed the eagle if it landed on my shoulder.
To my surprise, it did!
And I was too stunned to be smiling. Nervously, I gave the bird something to eat (I still don't know what the guide handed me), and it let me rub its beaks. And in a whiff, it flew away again.
It was a very short moment, but this is one experience that will forever be etched in my mind. Following that, I went on a camel safari that took me to a nearby oasis to witness the sunset from there. It was a very pleasant sight, at least better than the ones from my hotel…
The BBQ dinner after the ride, along with the Tanoura show was mesmerising. At the risk of sounding ignorant, I will admit that I never knew Dubai had its folk dance forms, but once I saw it with my own eyes, there was no going back!
The cityscape escape
You can call me a nerd, but I am proud to be a museum fan as well.
Unbelievable? Get over the term ‘nerd’, and replace it with ‘knowledgeable’.
I had taken audio guides for all the attraction tours- the Museum of the Future, the Dubai Frame, and lastly, the Burj Khalifa exhibits on the 124th and 125th floors along with the observation deck.
But on the go, I met so many people (local and foreign) that I got to know more from the people than from the studio guides. I have always been an extrovert, never backing away from talking to people. On this trip as well, talking to the guards, the other tourists, and the locals of Dubai did me good.
The visit to Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo was a bit different though, I explored alone, talking to the cute little marine creatures and even playing with an otter!
#instalifepromax
I just had one expectation from this whole trip- make countless memories and have unparalleled experiences. The Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina was the last nail to this coffin (just reverse the meaning of the phrase, and you will get that I mean it differently).
This was the experience that took me to the roots of Dubai- the fishing culture. These dhow boats are traditional ones used for fishing, and cruising in one of these while sipping on some delicious champagne and munching on savoury bites was an extravagant experience. The cruise toured us around the Dubai Marina, showcasing all the jewels of this city like the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Fountain, and the Dubai Eye.
Evenings in Dubai can be quite awe-inspiring, the spectacles of these attractions proved it to me that day. The glamorous light shows, clean and well-kept properties and sparkling cityscape were nothing less than magnificent.
And I knew, coming to Dubai solo was worth it.
It was my 4th time travelling internationally with Thrillophilia, and never for once have they disappointed me in their services, planning, or arrangements. And even this time, they went beyond my expectations, making it a huge success!