Motor City

Many of the newbies live in a place called Motor City.  One day, we decided to visit and enjoy their pool for a change of scenery.  Since both traveling families were waiting on their car deals to finalize ("Tomorrow, my friend, inshallah"), the taxi was the way to go.

But can 2 families find their way there, have a fun time and catch a ride home?  Let's find out.

Motor City Directions: Take the highway into the desert and make a right at the Space Shuttle and other out of place monuments.

 Dubailand? Huh?

Then arrive at Circus.

5th floor with Blur blaring: Dance.....

"I got my head checked..."


Dance.....


"Lives in a house, a very big house in [Dubai]"


Dance....

Now swim....

"I'm gonna knock you out......

 Momma said knock you out!"

"Yes, my friend, we need a taxi from the Motor City Circus.

Near the space shuttle."



"Make a left at the Hacker!"

In the end, three adults and four children crammed into one crazy taxi ride home from the madness that was Motor City.

Dinner

During the holy month of Ramadan, after fasting all day, it is customary for Muslims to break the fast at sunset with a special, and often community dinner called Iftar. We were fortunate enough to go out to special buffets twice during the holy month.

The Tallest Building in the World

The Burj Khalifa is a towering monument soaring high above Dubai.  It is a magnificent building that truly stands out in an already amazing skyline. Just attempting to fit into a photo is a chore.

It is located outside the Dubai Mall, which is a spectacle in its own right.  Bigger than the Mall of the Emirates (as if that is even possible), the Dubai Mall is an air conditioned wonder.  Whether you come for the Ice Rink or just to shop, there is something for everyone.  Kidszania is daycare with a twist.  The kids, while being watched by professional childcare workers, actually get to do the jobs of their choice in a little kid world created inside the mall.
As for the mall itself, it stretches on in a seemingly endless pattern and each section has a high ceilinged pedestrian square; a people roundabout with an amazing structure to highlight that part of the mall.  At one section, there is a multi-colored hot air balloon structure hanging from the ceiling that changes color.

The girls enjoyed the color shifts and lounging on the comfortable furniture that adorns the mall for those tired shoppers who need to sit and take a break from all the sales and window shopping.  Spending Mom and Dad's money really wore Bella out.

Further into the mall, not far from the Sega Republic which has video game thrill seeking for the whole family, there is an indoor water fall complete with statue divers.

If waterfalls don't do it for you, you can return to the first floor to the Dubai Aquarium, which not only has a dark glass tunnel you can walk through and be surrounded by thousands of fish including many types of sharks; you can also see penguins and scuba dive with sharks!  Right in the mall.

For no charge, you can sit for hours in front of what may be the world's largest fish tank.  The aquarium is something to behold and definitely on our list of things to do.  The underground zoo is renowned for its spectacular collection of fish from all over the globe.  Much like the people of Dubai itself, the fish are from all over and living in one big, artificial habitat.

Rosie and Bella really liked the hanging stars and moons rotunda.  Silver and gold dangling from the ceiling, twirling gently in the air conditioned breeze.  When you wish upon a rising star....

I am almost as tall as the world's tallest building!  The gift shop has every possible variety of replica.  Seriously.  From lego to 18 karat gold; you name it they have it.  So popular is going to the top, you have to buy your ticket in advance for a set time.  Near sunset was a popular time but we decided to wait until winter and the summer heat's haze has abated.  The visibility should be better then but it sure seems there can be no bad day to be up there.

We went back outside to enjoy the fountains and the camera lens fogged up due to the temperature change.  This is common as the air temps indoors are chilly and the outside is still the desert summer heat.  The fog effect added to Bella's Beastie Boy rap and dance in front of the Burj Khalifa.  The fountains were amazing to watch.  Each song is a choreographed dance of color and water. 

All in all, we enjoyed the mall.

The Fish Market

Jill and Bella brave the heat and enter the fish market.

Rosie waits in the air-conditioned bus!

Many stalls selling all kinds of fish.

 "Fish head, fish heads..."

 Some incredibly large shell fish

 Posing with the fish

 "Belt" fish

 Squid

Bella and her new job selling fish.

City Tour

Riding the bus with all the newbies through town and out to dinner gave us a new look at our new city.

 Burj Al-Arab

 The Creek

Palatial villas

 Future designs

 The buses

 The souks

A dhow on display

The veggie man

Hot August Nights

A new life in a new country comes with many new adventures.  To beat the hot holiday heat that is the UAE in August, families flock to the indoor amusement park at the Mall of the Emirates.  Our family smashed up some bumper cars.  Your swipe style debit card allows you access to any ride or game.

Bella played "Smash a Shark" which is the "Whack a Mole" knock off.  Depending on your score, you earn tickets which can earn you prizes.  Your standard town fair type of atmosphere, all on the second floor of the mall.  Shooting hoops can earn tickets too.

In the last ten seconds, your buckets count as threes.  I was raining, backpack and all.  Tickets would not stop flowing from the machine when I set the day's highest total.  I was of course the third shooter.

Rosie earned tickets filling and popping water balloons.  Her game face says all you need to know about how serious the girls take their prize tickets.

Hundreds of tickets earned us the glow when they bounce, ironically named Porq Balls.

They still get thrown about the villa and glow-blink for several seconds after they stop moving.

They squish and roll and can be twirled.

They smell of new plastic and feel like a bad hair day Barbie.

The fun never ends.

That is, until the free fall Jumpin' Star!

After a dinner overlooking the Ski Dubai hill, sledding trail and snowman making center, we cruised down to get a better look at the snow in the desert.  Workers in snow suits behind the glass helped little children make snow balls and snow men while the skiers went on run after run.  We stopped to pose for a photo in the giant plastic snow ball.  

Jay and I hold it steady as R and B climb in.  This is the one for photos but apparently the sledders can crawl into the real one and the workers roll you down the snowy hill, avalanche style fun.  We decided to come back and ski when our Norwegian winter gear arrives in our shipment.  Ski Dubai will supply all gear except for hats and gloves.  We'll be back!