Of Gold and Falcons: A memorable visit to the Emirates

August 28, 2020 Himanshu Negi

Anticipation soared high in the summer of 2018. It marked my first visit to the United Arab Emirates. I had heard so much about those head-turning skyscrapers and mind-bending architecture. And now it was time i experience it in person.

The flight from Delhi Airport to Dubai Airport was delayed by half an hour as excitement grew manifold. However, I must confess our carrier Emirates Airlines more than made up for it with an excellent in-flight service. I was at my destination in a couple of hours.

While in Dubai..

From standing atop the tallest structure in the world to experiencing exhilarating rides at the Ferrari World, you just can’t get enough of the Emirates.

Dubai Frame

I was fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time. And boy oh boy, I was in for some visual treat. Hailed widely as “The Biggest Picture Frame in the World” and opened to the public in early January 2018, the newest attraction in Dubai provides a panoramic view of the city and is certainly a great addition to its incredible skyline.

The mighty structure stands tall at over 828 metres. Standing at the sky-high glass walk (see below), one can get a 360* view of Dubai, including Bur Dubai (Old Dubai) and New Dubai.

Burj Khalifa

GRAND. OPULENT. One of the most revered and the tallest
structure in the world is every bit of it.

Exotic to the core, it has been built by the renowned real
estate developer, Emaar, in the year 2010. The skyscraper is the most visited
building In Dubai and very recently completed 10 glorious years of its
existence in January 2020.

I was taken to the lounge in what is one of the quickest elevators
in the world (velocity = 10m/s) and capable of reaching level 124 in just a
minute.

Level 152, 153 and 154 houses the highest lounge in the world located at an altitude of around 585 m. One literally feels like they are having a meal in the clouds. The images below are sure to leave you in awe.

One can also visit observation decks “At the Top” situated
at levels 124, 125 and 148. An
enthralling Virtual Reality experience awaits you at one of the levels as well.

Burj Al Arab

Literally meaning tower of the
Arabs and reminiscent of the sail of a ship, Burj Al Arab can most definitely
be included in the esteemed category of the most extravagant hotels in the
world. This iconic structure is managed diligently by the Jumeirah group and
stands overlooking the Jumeirah beach. The hotel reeks of opulence and has gold
embedded in every nook and corner of the hotel (even the elevators). I was
completely spellbound after witnessing this highly elaborate architecture.

Embellished with gold, those swanky elevators took me to my
destination that stood on the 27th floor of the hotel- known as “Gold
on 27“. And the moment elevators opened, i witnessed a sea of pure
gold everywhere- from top to bottom of the surface i was standing on. All that glittered
there, was indeed GOLD. The Emiratis surely know how to live the “good
life”. Eventually, i went inside it and my lord- it absolutely lives up to
the hype. One can easily view the mesmerising Dubai Skyline from there. (as you
can see from the image below).

Oh… did I mention even the washroom has more gold than most people would own in their freakin life!

Desert Safari Dubai

In the scorching summer of Dubai
and straight from my hotel located in Bur Dubai – I headed towards Desert
Safari. I had a tour operator (you can find hell of a lot depending upon your
budget) that provided dedicated services from hotel pick up to destination
(Dubai desert). A special mention here
to the supremely skilled drivers who majestically manoeuvre the jeep through
the dangerous sand dunes which they term as “dune bashing”.

One can visit the desert safari at any time of the day. There are different packages keeping in mind one’s budget and time frame. You can go to the desert in the morning, afternoon, evening, or night at your convenience.

After having reached the desert, one gets the opportunity to view it comprehensively and indulge in as many photoshoots as possible. We were fortunate enough to see the sunset from this point which was spectacular. As evening approached and the mercury dipped a little, we headed towards our final stop – A camp, where all the cars were parked. Outside the camp, the tourists were presented with adventure sports-related options at their disposal such as a camel ride, quad bike among others apart from witnessing the colorful culture of the Emirates. One could get insights into the Arabic lifestyle, their food, and philosophy and end his day at the desert by having a sumptuous dinner and simultaneously watching a ballet dancer showcase her incredible dancing and entertainment prowess.

I hired a tour operator who took me to the capital of UAE-
Abu Dhabi to show some landmark institutions such as:

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Ferrari World

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is, without the semblance of a doubt, one of the most beautiful mosques I have ever been to. The pristine white structure is certainly an architectural marvel and a sight to behold apart from being one of the largest mosques in the world in terms of its sheer size. The architectural design has been inspired by mosques across the globe particularly from Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan. It literally reeks of opulence. It has the capacity to hold more than 40,000 people. The mosque consists of a total of astonishing 82 domes with the prayer hall housing the largest one. It also has more than 100 m long four minarets with each consisting of different Islamic architecture styles blended into one minaret Once you enter the mosque you will see resplendent white onion-top domes and pools that surround the courtyard feel divine. And I will certainly be short of adjectives to describe the dazzling prayer hall. I need to make a special mention of the skilfully crafted gorgeous carpets and crystal chandeliers that embellish it and are one of the largest in the world. The sunlight falling on it makes it a visual delight

Ferrari World

After having a moment of solitude
and contemplation at the grand mosque, it was time to experience exhilaration
at the Ferrari World. Situated in Abu Dhabi at Yas Islands, this Ferrari themed
amusement park in the world. Ferrari World is indeed a superlative mix of fun,
adventure, visual entertainment, and lip-smacking Italian food and other
international cuisines.

This is a haven for thrill-seekers and includes superlative rollercoasters rides Formula Rossa (that goes from 0 to 240 km/hr in less than 5 seconds), go-karting races, and vertical climbs among other adventurous activities. I personally found Formula Rossa and Turbo Track breath-taking.

Apart from the above, there are cinematic shows on the
genesis of Brand Ferrari along with mind-bending optical illusions and acrobatic
shows.

But that is not it, food lovers can make merry. You can gorge on sumptuous Italian and
International cuisines at the restaurants.

You just can’t afford to miss this adrenaline joyride, if you happen to be In Abu Dhabi.