CatmanDu: One Snowy Day in Dubai

After four years in Norway, our family knows the amazing beauty of driving along the fjords and looking out to the snow peaked mountains. There is something magical about ski mountains gradually growing closer as you drive until you are at their base and begin the climb.

The stark contrast between the five minute drive from our villa to Ski Dubai was less aesthetically pretty, but no less amazing. With the Chili Peppers encouraging us to "hey, Oh, listen what I say, Oh", our Pajero cruised along the flat, dusty desert road.

Our destination: a sloping human-made giant cement mountain; our party to celebrate Rosie's 10th birthday.

Located in the Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai has many distinctions. In addition to being the world's largest indoor ski mountain, Ski Dubai has workers from nineteen different countries (including Norway), lessons on snow boarding and skiing and authentic style alpine chalets with fake fires burning in fake fireplaces where you can buy very real, very expensive food. More facts about Ski Dubai.

It's also the world's most classic example of hubris. Ski Dubai boasts the highest carbon footprint of any building on earth, a fact not lost on Rosie, Bella and Rosie's new friend, Zina.

While the air outside hit 39 degrees celsius, we were quite chilly at -4 in our frozen ski slope. Ski Dubai provides boots, snowsuits and ski/sledding gear. For hygienic reasons, patrons are asked to bring their own hats and gloves. Of course Ski Dubai sells these for tourists who may not have packed such gear for their desert vacation. The former Norwegians had no trouble providing their own gear.

Bella enjoyed the small sled runs. Helmets are required for the children.

Bella and I enjoyed the two person tube run where you are spun by a worker and so you are hurtling down the hill and spinning at the same time producing a stomach wrenching, scream filled fun ride.

Rosie, Zina, Doug and Jill enjoy the bobsled runs.

Rosie is 10! Double digits! A decade!

Escalators and moving steps keep people riding up and down non-stop from
10AM to midnight EVERYDAY!

The surreal Hoth planet style frozen fort in the background is quite real.

This is the view out of the frozen cave that has a mini labyrinth, ice sculptures, ice windows, ice bridges and one big power generator blasting cold air 24/7.

Here is Jill posing near one of the fake evergreens spread throughout to give the real feel. Notice the glass windows in the background that show the rest of the mall. Many tourists took our photos while standing on the other side of the glass in their shorts. We threw snow at the glass to make them feel a part of the experience.

Bella halfway up the mountain at the hot chocolate chalet stop. The ski lift was a fun part of the experience and Rosie's friend Zina, from Syria, had never been in snow before. It was amazing to watch her discover snow as we marveled at it all.