The Birth Of Venus

Monday, October 27, 2014

Burj Al Arab

The first thing that most people think of when it comes to Dubai other than desert is the 7-star hotel, Burj Al Arab. It's situated on an artificial island (Jumeirah Beach) few meters offshore. I didn't get to go inside the hotel, it's not that I don't want to, it's because I just can't afford it. You see, the cheapest suite would go around $1,000 per night which is equivalent to Php 44,000, and the most expensive suite costs $28,000 = Php 1,254,297 per night! Talk about luxuriousness level 1000. Makakapagpaaral na ko ng kolehiyo sa isang gabi na 'yon. Maybe I'd consider checking in when I finally found myself say "Wala na kong mapaglagyan ng pera." Hahaha!

So we went to Wild Wadi and Jumeirah Beach instead. With that, we can still say that ooooh I'm just few meters away from Burj Al Arab. It was an open beach, anyone can come and go. There were a lot of half-naked people who have their faces burning red, kids with the cutest bathing suits, and tourists who take as much photos as they could (like me).

Burj Al Arab from Wild Wadi

First ones in Wild Wadi!

Aaah yeah

Auntie and Mommy (flaunting her armpit like yeaaah)

But of course, Mommy didn't take the whole shot of the building (classic Mom and her photography skills)

Okay, there we go

#chelfieeeee

The water's fine, Mom can testify that

If only I could punch the heat

Leaning tower of Al Arab

*smirk*

Friday, October 24, 2014

A Day in Abu Dhabi

From Dubai, it'll only take one and a half hour to get to another Emirate country, Abu Dhabi! We had to rent a cab for the whole day, it would be best for my Auntie to not go on a long drive. And good thing we did because we got the cab driver who has a kind heart to give us a huge discount, plus he's really good-looking. Take my word for it. Oooh, and he's not driving an ordinary cab, he's driving Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Medyo sosyal na cab driver.

We got to the Grand Mosque before 3pm, but since they were currently praying, we're not allowed to go inside yet. We took a detour to the Emirates Palace, but apparently, they're not letting tourists in that day. Bummer. I was just looking at it from afar and it's nothing like any other palaces in movies. They said that's where the Sheik (counterpart of president) lives. Anyhoooo, our gwapong chauffeur took us to Heritage Village instead. It was more like an open park that has Arabian houses, buildings near beach, souvenir stalls and ducks.

4pm. Mr. Chauffeur politely told us that his shift ends at 6pm and has to return the car by then. And since we don't him to get in trouble, we had to have a quick tour at the Grand Mosque. It was my first time to enter to a mosque and it was woah. It was like Princess Jasmine's castle. The interior as exquisite. The wall design and chandeliers was very kabog. There's nothing really much to see, just their Quran and the clock that tells their prayer time. And we had to wear Abaya and take off our shoes before entering.

Heritage Village

Duckies!

Arabian houses

Beach, boat, buildings

Beach at the city

Of course, I gotta take a #chelfie

Harbor

Where Princess Jasmin and the magic carpet lives

I still had to cover my swollen face

Mommy & Chelly photo by the mosque

I mean, look at that!

Okaaay. We will

Princess Jasmine awaits

It had to have that pool of water

Us wearing Abaya

Details

Ginormous chandelier

People looked really small

That's where they pray at

Hmmmm stinky feet

Smell that?

Last glance

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Wonderbus

Out of everything awesome in Dubai, this would probably the one that I want Philippines to have, WONDERBUS. I mean, really. A bus that could travel through land and water! Going back and forth to Mindoro wouldn't be that much of a pain from transferring to car then ship then car again.

You know you're having a great tour when your Sudanese tourist guide speaks fluently in Tagalog. He started his little intro speaking Arabic and I was like "Uggghhhh. Not again." And surprise surprise, he greeted us Filipinos (who are pabida in front) with legit straight Tagalog. As he showed us around, he spoke Arabic, English and Filipino. We later found out that he used to study college in UP Manila and he took Medicine. Aaah no wonder.

We sailed along Dubai Creek in Deira, had a little glimpse on the history of Dubai, got shocked with the price of a glass of juice in Burj Al Arab (Php 333, 839 lang naman) and covered half of my swollen face as we took photos.