Lost in Venice with a taste of Turkish Delight and Souvlaki

[Pushka]

Hello Pennie!

Yesterday we ventured to Dubai Mall which is the base for a trip up to Burj Khalifa. The Dubai Mall is an amazing array of top end Fashion Houses, an aquarium, skating rink (of course necessary when it's 43c outside) and food courts. Closed for Ramadan.

The time of our trip up Khalifa was 6pm for sunset. You need to buy tickets online 30 days prior as the tickets are sold out on arrival. It's an easy process to redeem for tickets. The queues are ok and there is a security check of carry on.

The lift is FAST with ears popping as you go up and down.

Some of the views:






The taxis are really cute with different coloured tops

Sunset at last. The food courts are open.

 

[Pushka]

The Aquarium at Dubai Mall is amazing. We decided not to take the paid tour but just the public viewing area. Many large sharks, Rays, and the usuals.

 

[Pushka]

We really liked the design of this building next to Dubai Mall. Modern but beautiful.



And from above.

 

[Pushka]

More random photos of Khalifa.





And a wonderful lolly shop in the Mall. All the well known brands. But no free samples because of Ramadan.

 

[love_the_life]

It looks comparatively clear. I was bit worried from your earlier pics that it was very dusty/smoggy but these pics are not too bad.
Managing the heat?
Done any shopping? or visited the Gold Souk?

 

[Pushka]

Just too hot Dame Older. Too hard to manage heat, walking and no access to drinks.

It ain't half hot mum!

 

[love_the_life]

Yep, that's hot!
When do you fly out to the relatively temperate climes of Venice?

Much cooler here - today was pretty good and got to 11 degrees. Certainly cool enough to be outside for NAIDOC week festivities in a t-shirt.
MrP bearing up?

Those buildings are something else!

It's funny looking at your temperature app. We are probably going to be in Helsinki in December - it will be a lot different!

 

[Pushka]

Off to Venice tomorrow. Weather seems a little damp. But warmish.

So pics of the Burj may have to wait until Venice.

MrP loves the heat. It's just me that wilts. I hit a brick wall.

I hadn't realised how much enjoyment we get on holidays from the ability just to go grab a nice drink and nibbles and just people watch. There's none of that here.

I know that come 7.30pm there are lots of dinners for end of fast. I just don't know how people endure the rigours of Ramadan. I know it's dedication and purification but it must make for very stressful environments come later in the day in this heat.

 

[Pushka]

I cannot believe that Game of Thrones is shown on TV here.

Is it edited? In which case the episodes would be pared down to 20 seconds!

 

[Magpie10]

Great report and photos when I was in a Dubai other than the malls I just sat in the pool in the shade and drank gallons of iced water, so know how you are feeling.

 

[Pushka]

Great report and photos when I was in a Dubai other than the malls I just sat in the pool in the shade and drank gallons of iced water, so know how you are feeling.

Yep. That's the problem here. As soon as you move away from the Hotel there is no opportunity to drink water during the daylight hours. Dehydration headache!

 

[Tooner]

Love the TR, Pushka. I always thought cruises were a low stress holiday, but obviously the stress is all before you board (unless your card gives up the ghost!)

 

[RooFlyer]

Off to Venice tomorrow. Weather seems a little damp. But warmish.

<snip>.

Live weather report. Venice mid-high 20s (was low 30s), humid with occasional thunderstorms.

 

[PennieTurrill]

The lolly shop looks like fun. Not a fan of the high rise buildings though! And the heat doesn't sound like your cup of tea! :shock:

 

[Pushka]

Live weather report. Venice mid-high 20s (was low 30s), humid with occasional thunderstorms.

I did a like. Not because of the thunderstorms but it's way cooler.

The lolly store was excellent. Lots of chocolate (Hershey, M&M's etc) but would have been a goey mess by the time we would have been allowed to eat it. Better prices than the central market too.

We did buy some salted caramel nut popcorn and ate it in the back of the taxi going back to the hotel. Hard to disguise the crunches though.

Card is going well Tooner. And used an NAB card to get some cash. Used most of it on medicines for the cold I've got after 12 months without one. But at least you can buy proper sudafed style medications here which is rather weird given the angst you get in Australia. And OTC antibiotics (didn't get those Pennie ). But coughing at the counter helps a lot. Sigh.

 

[RooFlyer]

I<snip>. Used most of it on medicines for the cold I've got after 12 months without one. But at least you can buy proper sudafed style medications here which is rather weird given the angst you get in Australia. And OTC antibiotics (didn't get those Pennie ). But coughing at the counter helps a lot. Sigh.

I thought codine (as in cold medicine) was banned in UAE? Maybe that's why its easy to get

 

[Pushka]

It's not the codeine that's the decongestant.

 

[Pushka]

Love the TR, Pushka. I always thought cruises were a low stress holiday, but obviously the stress is all before you board (unless your card gives up the ghost!)

You jinxed me. Last night it refused to pay for our dinner at Jumeirah. . They will be getting a phone call in Venice when our cheap phone plan kicks in.

 

[Pushka]

The Burj al Arab is stunning. It's hard to take a bad photo.





Nice view for dinner

 

[Pushka]

Light show



The Jumeirah Beach hotel next door is rather attractive too.



Off to Venice today.