Satiated and sleepy, we walked past the line of pink-roofed
taxis reserved for female passengers, and found a beige taxi
to take us home.
Snow and rock
The next morning, we woke bright and early and headed to
Mall of the Emirates, home to Ski Dubai, a 22,500-square-
metre indoor ski resort. Our daughters, nephew and niece
went wild skiing down the slopes, tobogganing and playing
in the snow under my brother and husband’s watchful eyes.
Meanwhile, my sister-in-law and I scoured the shops for
unique home decor and clothes. I have to say, despite being
a frugal shopper, Dubai provided the ultimate shopping
experience. I went crazy with my credit card, held back only
by the measly weight allowance offered by Cathay Pacific.
While my daughters played and dined with their
cousins, uncle and aunt at Magic Planet, the mall’s play
area, which boasts a plethora of rides, a bowling alley,
arcade games, pool tables, a 4D theatre and a huge food
court, my husband and I considered a trip to the famous
Gold Souk to exchange old jewellery for new. Instead,
my mum suggested we visit Meena Bazaar – a traditional
market with music blasting, horns beeping, crowds bustling
and panoply of divine textiles and jewellery on display
in quirky little shops. Aptly dodging men offering fake
designer handbags and Rolex watches, Mum led me to
her trusted jeweller and, following her expert bartering, I
traded in old-fashioned gold rings for an exquisite pair of
diamond earrings.
We ended the day on a perfect note at Sukh Sagar: our
all-time favourite Indian vegetarian restaurant, frequented
by locals who care less for fancy frills and instead want the
best dosas, dahls and deliciously fresh juices in the country.
The days that followed passed in a happy blur. We
spent our mornings enjoying the pool and beach at home,
and our afternoons in magnificent malls and simple
souks. Given the unbearable heat and humidity, our girls
preferred to stay indoors so, once again, we postponed our
desert safari to another year.
Our evenings were spent sipping on painfully
expensive glasses of wine at outrageously flamboyant hotels
such as the Burj Al Arab – which is frequently voted as
the world’s most luxurious hotel – and devouring hearty,
traditional, delicious meals at local restaurants, of which
there are plenty.
Dubai is undoubtedly a millionaire’s playground but,
for locals and tourists in the know, it is also a magical land
of little treasures. It’s a fun-filled playground for parents
and children alike – one that my family looks forward to
returning to time and time again.
Dubai is undoubtedly a
millionaire’s playground but,
for locals and tourists in the
know, it is also a magical land
of little treasures.
January 2013
45