Holla friends! I am presently working here in a GCC country. Because of its 5 day holiday in Kuwait, me and my colleagues decided to explore its nearest country, the Dubai. Wondering why Dubai is the popular destination to tourists and travelers? Here’s what I’ve found out…
(Before going to Dubai you have to apply for visa thru agency or thru online.The payment would roughly cost 20-30kd (5,120php) depending on the days or months you will stay. The visa will be released around 3-7 days or depending on the documents you gave.)
So to continue, we departed in Kuwait at 1:55am and arrived by 4:30am at Dubai International Airport. (Trivia:its an hour ahead in Dubai from Kuwait) We went straight to their immigration and I was amazed on how they scanned the visitors and its locals by using only an eye detector machine.
After passing to the immigration, we took our luggage and proceeded to RTA or the Dubai Metro Train.You have to buy the single NOL card,(silver one) for 25aed that you can use for a 7 day visit.
Silver NOL card with 25aed load good for 7 day-pass that can be used in metro train and buses.
As an excited first timer in Dubai, we rode off to Metro Rail going to our hotel. Another trivia: They only have 2 lines in Metro Rail, Green Line and the Red line with an interchange at Burjuman Station). For more info: http://www.dubairta.com.uae
The Metro Rail Map
After a couple of minutes we alight at Burjuman Station and hopped in Bus #22 going to our hotel. The weather is sunny and very humid that we can feel that we were sweating a lot. A few minutes of walking,we reached our hotel, Admiral Plaza. Check it out at http://www.tripadvisor.com or http://www.admiralplaza.com.uae
Admiral Plaza Hotel credits to the owner
We approached the reception regarding our booking but we came too early to our booking time so we decided to leave our luggage, freshen up and took our first Dubai breakfast in the hotel (which is not included in the payment) before we start our first itinerary which is exploring Downtown Dubai.
After our heavy breakfast, we immediately ask one of the reception to help us look for a big taxi going to our first destination, the Burj Khalifa. Our viewing time is 9am and we took our ticket via a legit travel and tours agency we found in TripAdvisor (DreamNight Travel and Tours Dubai),with a discounted price.
You can reach the Burj Khalifa at the lower ground floor of the famous Dubai Mall. The ticket/entrance fee is around 200aed and the entrance is besides the Subway Food stall.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa, was named to Sheikh Khalifa is known to be the Worlds tallest building with a height of 829.8m (2,722ft) and with 160th floors in which the Level 124th and 125th floors are open for public to have a perfect 360° view of Dubai SkyLine. They started building this in January 2004 and after six years they open it by January 2010.
Some fun facts in this building are:
>the weight concrete of Burj Khalifa is equivalent to 10,000 elephants.
>Burj Khalifa elevator time to reach the observation deck on the 124th floor is only 1 minute.
>the speed of the elevator is about 10meters/seconds.
Ticket at the Top
Photo op sesh at the mini structure of Burj Khalifa along the entrance
Selfie at the top (open area) on the 124th floor.
Level 124 and 125th floors are only open in the public in which on 124th floor was an open area while the 125th floor was designed for a more covered area viewing and offers a lot souvenir shops around it.
Tip: The best time to go here is around 5:30pm-6:30pm for a nice view of sunset plus an absolutely spectacular view of the Dubai Fountain Show. But please advised that as of these timings the ticket fee is more expensive unlike the other timings.For complet schedule and timings,please visit http://www.atthetop.ae
The Dubai Fountain as seen at the top
After filling our eyes with beautiful skyscrapers, we immediately stroll around the famous Dubai Mall. We checked the famous inverted hanging human fountain inside the mall.
After strolling around, we went to our next to-do list which is the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo that is said to be the largest suspended aquarium in the world.
Dubai Aquarium is said to be the home to one of the most diverse collections of marine animals in the world with 140 species and over 300 sharks and rays live in this tank, including the largest collection of tiger sharks in the world. It amazes me everytime I have a close encounter in the marine world.
On the other hand, Underwater Zoo which is located above the aquarium provides an interactive approach to educate visitors in the ecology of marine life. Some activities was offered here like a close encounter to sharks,feeding of the sting rays and the one we did was riding on Aquarium Glass Bottom Boat.
The Dubai Aquarium entrance fee is 120aed (1,440pesos). And some activities like Glass Bottom boat ride is around 35aed (420 pesos). To get a discount, booked it via Tripadvisor or via Klook.
After getting amazed by the world of marine life, we felt that we were hungry so we decided to go in the food hub of Dubai Mall. They have different variety of food kiosk to choose from Western to Arabian food and even Asian food (Jollibee fastfood is in the house!). We opt to take out our food and to ate it in the hotel to save time. We went back to the hotel and took some nap, freshen up and eat our lunch and after an hour we decided to explore our afternoon itinerary.
Once we freshen up ourselves, ate our lunch inside our hotel room, we started to stroll around the Jumeirah Area by starting to explore the famous Jumeirah Mosque in which at night, the white painted stone mosque lightens up making it to be the only mosque in Dubai with a purest creation they have.
Entrance fee:10 aed Open only from Saturday- Thursday at 10am only
After visiting the Jumeirah Mosque we headed immediately to our next stop which is La Mer park.Surrounded by different restaurants to dine in, shopping till you drop and this is where Laguna Waterpark is located. It is an open area where the beach is also located.
All in all, La Mer theme park will give you the best view of beachfront vibes, a wide array of F&B, shopping spree till you drop and an instagrammable place for you. Oh! And don’t forget to dropby on their newest waterpark which is the Laguna Waterpark.
Entrance fee: FREE but if you like to chill out and stay there you need to pay some AED for renting the beach chair. Also Laguna Waterpark entrance fee is different payment.
We continue to explore the area,passing by at Mercato Venetian inspired shopping mall.Too bad that we didn’t stop by on this place because as what I’ve heard, this shopping mall has a Mediterranean inspired look from the European Renaissance in Italy. It was also another instagrammable place in Jumeirah.
To continue, we decided to hop off in Umm Suqeim Beach. Known as Sunset Beach, this is a public beach where you can relax, swim and enjoy the white sandy beach shore with a perfect view of the popular Burj Al Arab and on the other side is the “wave ” shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel. You can do also some water sports activities like surf boarding, jet skiing and fly boarding. Let the waves reach your feet while playing and walking along the shore line and take the best picture with the background of Burj Al Arab.
Entrance fee : FREE
After strolling around the busy shoreline of Umm Sequim beach not minding the scorching heat of the sun, we stopped for a while along the entrance of the famous Burj Al Arab.
Burj Al Arab, dubbed as the 7 star hotel in Dubai was a luxury hotel with the height of 321m that is said to be the second tallest hotel in the world. Stands on an artificial island 280m out from Jumeirah beach and connected in the mainland by a private curving bridge. The iconic structure of this mimics the sail of the ship. It is reported that behind the development of the hotel was to give Dubai a unique symbol that puts it on the world map. And by then, there is no doubt that they achieved their goal.
To continue, we went to the famous man-made island The Palms to get a closer view of the famous majestic 5 star hotel, The Atlantis.
Atlantis has a lot to offer. From their famous hotel and resort to its best restaurants to different water activities and the famous Aquaventure Waterpark or simply enjoy sun bathing along the sandy shoreline along the beach what else will you look? Right!
We walked along the Marina Walk boulevard and checked the famous Cayan Tower, the worlds largest twisted tower.
To cap of the afternoon itinerary and the last stop for that day we headed immediately back to Dubai mall to watch the Dubai Fountain Show in front of the Burj Khalifa.
I think being early on the events place is the best to watch the Dubai Fountain Show same goes at the top of Burj Khalifa and on the second floor terrace of Dubai Mall. There’s a lot of people waiting to watch the fantastic fountain show so I suggest you have to be early on the place.The fountain show last for about 4 minutes and it is worth the time you spend watching it.
All in all we enjoyed roaming around the downtown Dubai. We experienced a lot of new wonders of Dubai from skyscrapers to its famous hotels and towers to its worlds known man made island. Truth to be told, Dubai achieved their goal to be famous and unique and to be written in world map for its attractions. This is where the East meets the West.
Tips: If you really want to explore the Jumeirah Area, it would be easy if you rent a taxi or a car beforehand. But if you want to explore it as a commuter here is a sample guide:
If from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station: ride Bus #8
If from City Centre Deira: Bus # 28
If from Burjuman Station: ride Bus C10
Walking along the Mercato Venetian Shopping Mall and continuing to Kite beach to Umm Sequim Beach to Jumeirah Beach Hotel till you reach the bus stop for Wild Wadi park besides the entrance if Burj Al Arab. Your last stop will be at Souk Madinat (Madinat Jumeirah).
To explore the Palms via Monorail the powerful SILVER NOL card is needed.
From Dubai Metro Red Line there’s a link to Palm Monorail. Tram Timings is from 6:30am- 1:30am. Single Journey will cost around 3 aed. Then drop off at Dubai Marina Mall, from there Ride the Palm Monorail for about 15 aed for single journey while 25aed for 2 way. You can see a good view of The Palms and a closer view of Atlantis.If you still have a lot of time drop off at Palm’s Crescent and take a short walk before heading back to the terminal.
Hope this itinerary could help you to decide whether you like to explore the Downtown Dubai.
For comments,questions and suggestions, feel free to leave it on the section below and I will try my best to answer all your questions.
thebackpackdiaries now signing off….
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