The plan: watch as the sun rose in the tallest building in the world.
Except... I didn't really take into account just how much that experience will cost.
And so, here's the story of how I ended up flying over 4,000 miles, and not watching the sunrise from the Burj Khalifa.
Buckle up! Because this is going to be long.
I booked a flight where I can sit by the window--exactly to see this! How much desert is in UAE? What's in a desert?
Let's Play Human Bingo: Find Someone Who's Never Been on a Plane
My employer has a penchant for ice breakers during agency-wide meetings. One of the favorites was human bingo--full house. Imagine bingo, but instead of numbers, your grid is a collection of quirky human factoids you have to hunt down in the room. One description, one soul. This means you have to be brave as a lion and saunter over to people you probably haven't ever talked to before and get to know random facts about them. And people go to you, too! Mildly terrifying, if you ask me.
Here's a sample human bingo grid: never been on a plane.
A few years ago, that would be me. It changed when my fantastic friends dragged me to Bicol, Philippines, which also happened to be my first ever out of town with friends (clearly, my social life is a roaring success).
Then... opportunities to travel flocked to me because of my work. At some point, I found myself preparing to travel solo to Bogor, Indonesia to attend an ASEAN workshop. My first international flight, and I was alone! I was a ball of nerves--what do I tell immigration? What happens during security checks? (Turns out, as a Philippine government employee, I never really have to worry.)
Then just last November, I wound up packing up in under 2 days to travel to Bangkok, Thailand to attend an event.
Suddenly, my passport's been stamped. Plenty of my passports have gone by me and expired unstamped, and this was the first time I'd seen it with foreign marks. I'm in awe--but it also dangerously made me crave for more. I'd been traveling internationally for work. What if... I travel on personal time... for myself this time?
Let's Go to the UAE!
I wouldn't say it wasn't random, but it kind of really was. I had been playing with the idea of flying to the UAE for a day or two (I saw that my free travel voucher for a short-haul flight was expiring, and I had the option of traveling somewhere else or... you know, to Dubai and Abu Dhabi).
That's where my big sister and her family live! And my aunt, too. And cousins. Then one of my cousins, my aunt's son, ended up tagging along so we're set.
Here was the game plan: Stay in Dubai for a few days after arrival, then travel to Abu Dhabi for the rest of the stay. It was for two weeks (a duration that nearly sent my supervisor into a mild state of panic!).
This was my first ever sight of the United Arab Emirates. After this, there were beautiful mountains, with shadows emphasized by the sunset! It was so pretty. I later learned that this might have been in Fujairah.
The... uh, plan.
Honestly, there was no plan. I just really wanted to travel, and maybe get to witness the sunrise in the Burj Khalifa, if I was lucky. Clearly, I wasn't. If I didn't want to live off rice and salt in the next couple of weeks, I should I avoid spending too much.
My older sister and I... winged it until we made it. We consulted Gemini for touristy places to go that wouldn't really break the bank, and we somehow managed to come up with an itinerary.
March 29: Breakfast Buffets and Beach Bumming (Sort Of)
Our first full day in Dubai kicked off with the complimentary breakfast. Now, as I grew older, I've become one that does not shy away from trying new things, especially when it comes to food. So, I bravely dove into some local dishes. Some were instant hits. Others? Well, let's just say they were... an experience. The kind I suspect might just need more encounters to truly appreciate. Maybe it'll click someday.
📍 The Beach, JBR
Bellies very full and ready for adventure, we headed to 📍 JBR Beach. It just happened that the tram we were on passed the place by!
Residential buildings towered us on our way to the beach, but that's exactly why it's called JBR--Jumeirah Beach Residences!
The sea was calling, and the wind was just *chef's kiss*. 🙌 We strolled along the shore, playing the classic tourist game of people-watching. There were skydivers! Sky divers! (Clearly, I was in awe. My sister insisted they were paragliders, but a quick Google told me skydiving was highly likely!)
The wind was very cool, but the sun was a different story. It was scorching.
Seeking refuge, we strategically positioned ourselves under the shade of one of the jetski operators' tents. Our excuse? Casually inquiring about the weather and, you know, the intricacies of jetski operation (and the rather hefty price tag that came with it!). (He said the weather was very nice that day... to jetski.)
We sat for a while on the bench under the shade of this tree. During this time, my sister and I worked on our itinerary? Where to next?
📍 Palm Jumeirah
Next up was the iconic 📍 Palm Jumeirah. Now, the journey there is a bit of a blur. Did we take the tram and then the monorail? Or was it a mix of metro and tram? The details escape me, but what I do remember is the walk.
Oh, the glorious walk from the station to the Palm's monorail. At some point, we thought we got lost on our way to finding it. Thankfully, the view from the monorail ride was worth it! We got to see each frond of the Palm (and exponentially grew envious of the--rich rich residents).
Four stations later, we found ourselves at 📍 Atlantis, the Palm. We didn't really get in because we didn't have tickets (would burn a hole in our pockets!), but we definitely maximized our stay by roaming around and checking out the area.
It was already scorching noon, and we had this vision of casually strolling along the boardwalk outside the waterpark. Reality check: it was hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement, and the entrance to this boardwalk remained elusive. We snapped some obligatory photos, admired the surroundings, then just... left.
📍 Dubai Marina Mall
Our initial plan was to conquer the Burj Khalifa, but my sister, wise from past Ramadan experiences, predicted that there would be plenty more people at the Dubai Mall.
Tired and just generally hungry, we decided to hop off the tram to Dubai Marina Mall. We refueled with some satisfying doners from the food court (such huge servings--I didn't even get to finish it, hungry as I was), a quick stop before heading back to the hotel for our much needed sleep. But our day wasn't over yet! As the sun began to set, we headed out again, this time to my aunt's place for dinner. Talk about a jam-packed first day!
March 30: Souk-Hopping and Old Dubai Charm
Day two was all about immersing ourselves in the more traditional side of Dubai. We consulted Gemini once again, and this time, we also got to explore Dubai metro's other lines!
📍 Gold Souq
From the red line, we used the interchange at Burjuman station, and soon we were on the green line, on our way to the legendary 📍 Gold Souq. Let me tell you, the sheer amount of gold on display was out of this world. And the vendors? They had some sort of Filipino radar. "Kabayan!" echoed from every stall.
The Gold Souq seamlessly bled into a network of other fascinating souqs. There was the Spice Souq that messed with my senses, mounds of colorful spices piled high. There was a Textile Souq, and even a Utensils Souq! It was like stepping into a real-life marketplace from the One Thousand and One Nights book!
📍 Old Dubai
Just a stone's throw away, we found an Abra (their traditional ferry boat) station. For just 1 AED, we hopped onto one of these for a five-minute ride across the creek.
📍 Old Dubai was a revelation. The architecture told of the city's rich history, yet it had this surprisingly modern twist, feeling almost like an open-air mall. Restaurants, shops, and that one hole-in-the-wall 📍 Museum of Illusions. My sister and I spent a good chunk of time getting our minds delightfully twisted in there.
For the rest of our time in the Old Dubai, I got to try actual knafeh, and impulsively went plane watching with my sister while out resting. We were tired.
Somehow, my sister and I ended up mastering the routes of the Dubai metro. 💪 On our way back, the women's carriage was full, but I got the opportunity to watch the amazing architecture of Dubai's skyscrapers! Did you know that the Dubai metro red line is... driverless?
As evening approached, we found ourselves drawn back to JBR Beach. The trams were packed, and the highways were filled with red tail lights – clearly, everyone was out and about. We had hoped to catch some Eid fireworks, but if there were any, we sadly missed them. By 9 pm, our tired feet were dragging us back to the hotel.
But here! Here are some shots that night from JBR Beach.
March 31: Poolside Musings and Abu Dhabi Bound
Our last morning in Dubai was a more relaxed affair. We spent a good few hours lounging by our hotel's pool, soaking up the sun and casually brainstorming our next move. By afternoon, we decided it was time to drive to my sister's place in Abu Dhabi, ready for the next chapter of my UAE adventure.
But wait, there's more!
April 10: A Touch of the Future and a Familiar Icon
Fast forward to the day before my flight back to Manila. A bus ride took us back to Dubai. I had been battling a bit of a sickness for the past couple of days, and honestly, I wasn't sure how much energy I'd have. Thankfully, Panadol kept me going.
📍 Museum of the Future
My sister's friend had recommended a visit to the Museum of the Future, and it was conveniently located just a short walk from the Emirates Towers metro station. We took the train and then strolled across the futuristic covered bridge to this architectural marvel. The first two floors were open to the public. Some of the captivating exhibits we got a glimpse of included robots that make you coffee... and, well, a lot of people.
📍 Dubai Mall
(and, by extension 📍 Burj Khalifa)
Of course, no trip to Dubai (even a brief return visit as this one) would be complete without at least trying to get closer to the Burj Khalifa. I mean, I'd seen it countless times from afar during metro rides and car journeys, and I knew I wouldn't even watch the sunrise on top of the tallest building in the world, but up close was a different story.
So, after the Museum of the Future, we hopped back on the metro and headed to the Dubai Mall. Let me tell you, the walk from the metro station to the mall felt like a mini-marathon! I counted at least seven walkalators.
SEVEN!!!
We had a late lunch in the bustling food court, and I finally got to try Jollibee's intriguing Kunafa Ice Cream (verdict: surprisingly delicious!). Then, just before its temporary renovation closure, we caught the mesmerizing Dubai Fountain show.
I mean, sure, I didn't get to watch the sun rise from Burj Khalifa, but a least I got to watch the sun set... behind it!
April 11: Yachts and Airport Goodbyes
My flight wasn't until 10 pm, but my ever-generous aunt insisted there was still time for one last little adventure. We dropped off my very hyper baby cousin at school and then drove to the marina where my aunt's partner works on a yacht.
📍 Palm Jumeirah, again!
(but this time, in one of the fronds.)
To even get to the yacht, we had to ride a buggy! The sheer number of yachts docked there was astounding, and the water was this incredible shade of blue. The yacht itself? Well, it just screamed rich rich.
Bye-bye, Dubai. You were amazing!
After that little taste of the high life, it was time to bid farewell. I hopped on the metro with my sister, my mind still abuzz with all the incredible sights and experiences Dubai had offered, even without that sunrise view from the Burj Khalifa. Maybe next time...???
When I'm rich rich. 😜