Big Brothers Time in Dubai

Your mission if you choose to accept it: Show your brother all Dubai has to offer in 36 hours.

Challenge on!!!

After a few hours of sleeping upright it was time to step into the role of 'Tour Guide'. First port of call Dubai Mall where we had a mid day viewing of the tallest building in the world. Good ole... well young Burj Khalifa. Aaron and I were able to enjoy the beautiful views with the sun high in the sky. Unfortuately we couldn't go onto the outside viewing platform since they were setting up the firework for that nights New Year Eve's Bonanza!

 

From there it was down the coast road to see the Palm. Guiding us was the Atlantis hotel where we had a 2pm luncheon. Aaron certainly indulged in the buffet and had 3... or was it 4 main courses. He nearly tasted each continent. I made up for it in the dessert section... what's new! :P Hours of glutenous behaviour called for an afternoon siesta.

By 6pm my right eye started feeling like it was going to explode. It wasn't until I looked in the mirror that I realised  funky stuff shouldn't be oozing out from it... or look like someone had injected pink dye into my eyeball. One way to end 2011 and bring in the new year...haha!

By 8pm we decided to venture downtown to Dubai Mall to see if we could get a good view of the fireworks. A quick stop off at the pharmacist helped relieve the exploding eyeball sensation. Upon arrival we noticed the crowds of people increasing, it wasn't until we got into the undercover car park that we realised maybe this wasn't such a good idea. There were no chances of finding a good viewing point without 100's of people breathing down your neck. So after a quick lap around the surrounding areas and the developing cool breeze blowing helped make our executive decision - Back home to warm up and watch it from the green patch of lawn outside the Metropolitan Hotel. It was nice to see they had upped the stakes from the previous year and made the fireworks last for 9 minutes instead of 3 and include three colours instead of 1! Good job, Dubai!:P

By 1am we were both unconscious after only have 2 - 3 hours of intermittent sleep over a 43 hour period. 

Round 2

Off by 10am to see Ski Dubai, along with some souvenir shopping. Next stop Jumeirah Beach Residence to see one of the local beaches, along with the many varieties of restaurants. Fat Burger was the choice, where we could munch our way through delicious NZ beef burgers and watch the many expensive sports cars and SUVs drive pass. 

Next stop on the metro to head to the old part of town. Upon arrival in Bur Dubai we stopped through the archaeological site, muesum place (Can't remember the name) From there we walked along the creek and jumped onto a water taxi to Deira. There we roamed through the spice and gold souk. We metroed it back to get the car, then to Barasti to give big bro some time to enjoy a refreshing, happy hour priced beer on the beach. 

Final destination - Dubai Mall. To stick with the fast food choice we tucked into some Taco Bell (I love those burritos!) With full bellies and a chance to rest the feet we made it outside to watch the beautiful display put on at the water fountains. Always an impressive sight! 

By this time it was 10 hour later and left enough time for Aaron to pack up his things and make our way out to the airport. Pity I couldn't get him out to a desert safari or on to the water slide at Atlantis. All the more reason for another visit. 

Thank bro for a fabulous 10 day filled with many unforgettable and precious memories xox

Mauritius, why are you sooooo beautiful??

Sleep in and lazing day. Aaron was recovering from his high sun intact from the island. I knew how he felt only days early. I was now out of the painful stretching skin phase and moved into the peeling process. I ventured out on the scooter to the local supermarket for a food run. Good thing I worked out how the brake works since I had a few too many zippy starts with a severe case of the wobbles. I'm sure entertaining to watch, but a tad concerning for anyone in my pathway. :P Thankfully I made it there and back in one piece. I can tick the riding the scooter box off now and be a passenger for the remainder of my time on the island. Until next time! ;)

In the evening we caught the local bus 3 kilometres to Grand Baie. We indulged in what could be one of the tastiest pizzas we've had in a while - thanks Luigi! From there back to the Banana Club where we met the Mauritian boys who gave us a lift home, along with the girls too. Nice to see some friendly faces. To join our entourage were a group of US Navy lads, 2 outta 12 were able to have a legible and intelligent conversation. I'm now all savvy on what the US are doing down the east coast of Africa... Hehe that's all I can say. ;)

Finally Day 

Rise and shine!! The most beautiful weather since arriving 8 days earlier made an appearance for our final full day.  By 8:30, we were off on the scooter heading east bound to a waterfall on the other side of the island at Ile six Cerfs. A couple of hours later and semi numb bott botts we arrived at our destination... well what we could guess with the umpteen mini vans and tourists filling the beach. The funny thing is we were under the impression we could ride to the waterfall but it actually involved a couple of speed boat rides and "with a bit of arm twisting" a delicious lunch. 

After our feast of fresh fish, amazingly marinated chicken, 3L of Sprite (2.5 L consumed by Aaron) and a whole pineapple later we made our way by speed boat to the waterfall. Unfortunately there is no photographic evidence since it was peeing down with rain. It was a gorgeous, but doesn't quite compare to Igazu Falls :P

From there is was time to dry off on the 2 hour scooter ride home and pray Aaron took it easy over what felt like the hundreds of speed bumps we would encounter. Just like driving in Dubai, eh!

Flying out

What better to do than spend the last morning snorkeling through pristine waters and lying around on the beach. It was intermittently interrupted with a snorkel mask that fogged up and the sight of a walking sunburnt skeleton. Yes!!! you read right. A poor, dear lady hadn't eaten for what looked like a year + and hand turned into the most intensely sun burnt brown. She actually looked mummified... eek!  Oh Skeletor! :(

After a quick pack and tidy up we farewelled the lovely Mauritian family that rented us their villa and road off into the sunset with our dear taxi driver, Ali. Well... it was more like driving into the storm, since the sky was as black as night and shooting down fountains of rain whilst heading on route to the airport.

By 4pm I farewelled Aaron at the terminal gate, whilst I had 7 hours to kill before my flight left. Lots of reading, iPodding and doodling. Come 8pm I could finally check in, which was the most eventful thing to happen in the last 4 hours. By 11:30pm I was jetsetting back to Dubai to give my brother a whirlwind tour of Dubai.