“I want to go to – what’s that hot country with a lot of money?”
Grandmaster Flash
We entered an entirely new world to kick off our honeymoon. A regular stop-over for most long-haul flights from Australia, this was actually the first time we had ever ventured beyond the airport. Everything here is larger than life – financial status is king and bigger is always better. Thank God air conditioning is so expensive!
Dubai is home to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. They are already planning construction of a taller tower so that they can retain this title as other countries try to keep up! There is a palace with life-sized golden stallions covering the front lawn. We are told it used to be home to the King, who decided its 294 rooms were not enough for him, so he built a new one and converted the old shack into a luxury hotel.
The architecture in the old town is charming and beautiful in its muted colour palette. There is a constant haze in the air, which – along with the contrast of the bright lights in the city – makes the skyline look like an artificial backdrop.
We visited Kite Beach – worlds away from any Australian beach. There are hundreds of shops, stalls, restaurants and food trucks set up along the beachfront, and people sit here and watch the water rather than venturing onto the sand. A promenade runs down the length of the beach where people run – yes, run – in 45 degree weather. Loved seeing the inclusion of a path down towards the water for people in wheelchairs – definitely something we should be seeing more of back home!
Overall, a very surreal destination. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, but we are more than ready to re-enter the real world!