August 27, 2014

Dubai, the City of Gold: a photo tour

Enjoying the array of gold available for purchase at one of the many shops in Dubai’s Old Gold Souk

 Dubai is one amazing city! Skyscrapers abound, and the construction of new buildings shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. It is difficult to fathom, that just a short time ago, Dubai was more desert than buildings. It is thanks to this rapid explosion of growth, along with Dubai’s prominent position in today’s world of business, that it has gained the nickname the “City of Gold”. (Possibly a nod, also, to Dubai’s renowned Gold Souk?) It is in this land of bigger, better, taller, that Dubai currently holds over 140 Guinness Book of World Records, including everything from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, to the world’s most expensive cocktail (costing $9,000) served at the beautiful Burj al Arab’s, Skyview Bar. So it should not have been a surprise, upon checking into our hotel, when we were informed that this Marriott was the tallest hotel in the world. Not knowing this beforehand, the news came as a pleasant revelation, as we arrived for my hubby’s week of business meetings. Unbeknownst to us, we were about to spend a wonderful week at this lovely hotel, filled with restaurants of gastronomic proportions, and armed with a hotel staff whose splendid customer service rivaled that of the gold standard of all customer service, Walt Disney World. When venturing out of the hotel confines, we delighted in some of the sights and sounds that this vibrant city has to offer. Please, sit back, relax, and join me, as I share with you a pictorial recap of our recent Dubai adventure. To read more in detail on Dubai, click on the blue links scattered throughout this post.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_22318208/dubai-trying-live-up-its-nickname-city-gold
http://www.thenational.ae/multimedia/in-pictures-uae-holds-nearly-150-world-records – 6

The metamorphosis of Dubai’s landscape in just 23 years! Photo courtesy of The Business Insider
http://www.businessinsider.com/dubai-in-1990-is-totally-unrecognizable-2013-12

Construction is evident from the view out the window from the JW Marriott Marquis’s top/72^nd floor.
There is much construction in Dubai, and it never seems to stop, continuing 24 hours per day.
 Note the Burj al Arab, the sail shaped building next to the sea in the distance, in the very top, center, of the photo.
(You may need to click on the photo to enlarge it, to see it.)

 The Hotel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JW_Marriott_Marquis_Dubai

In the beautiful JW Marriott Marquis’s lobby, Dubai, a “Blessed Eid” holiday banner greeted us upon arrival. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_Mubarak
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Fitr

One of the views out our hotel room window on the 42^nd floor, with the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in the background

Looking up at the two wings of the JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai. The complex is shaped similar to the letter “U”.
This Marriott is currently the tallest hotel in the world.

A view of our hotel, the JW Marriott from our taxi window.

The hotel is filled with wonderful restaurants, including the Italian Positano with the best lasagna that I have ever tasted, and this one, La Farine, where they make the most delectable quiches.

La Farine’s delicious Quiche of the Day-Prawn/Shrimp Quiche

While enjoying the Kitchen 6’s huge breakfast buffet, daily at the hotel, I fell in love with the tea timer that is brought to each table whenever tea is ordered. When I inquired where I could purchase a tea timer, the manager presented me with one!

A top view of my fun souvenir from the JW Marriott, Dubai.

My new timer not only helps me make a better cup of tea, but it is reminiscent of the hourglass in The Wizard of Oz, which always makes me smile! :o)

I found a similar Perfect Tea Timer on Amazon.com, if you just have to have one, like I did.  :o)
http://www.amazon.com/Tea-Services-3-4-5-Minute-Perfect Timer/dp/B000QSVJP6

Dale and me strolling along the pool area of our hotel, with the Burj Khalifa in the background.

 

The Malls and the Aquarium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dubai_Mall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mall_of_the_Emirates
http://www.thedubaiaquarium.com/en/Default.aspx

First things first!
Dale enjoys a “for real” American hamburger, at The Cheesecake Factory at the Dubai Mall, just after our arrival in Dubai.
(Having been overseas for a while, it was our first hamburger in some time. YUM!)

A view of the impressive waterfall inside the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest mall.

An Arabian gift shop, one of the many stores at the huge Dubai Mall.

The Dubai Fountain, coordinated to music, is a sight to see, especially at sunset, just outside the Dubai Mall.
http://www.thedubaimall.com/en/entertain/thedubaifountain.aspx

The Burj Khalifa sits next to the Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa

Many of the palm trees along the main streets in Dubai are decorated with twinkling lights.
Here, we wait for the hotel van to take us back to the hotel from the Dubai Mall, at dusk.

In front of the aquarium at the Dubai Mall, which hold the Guinness Book of World’s Record for largest piece of Plexiglas, or something like that.

While Dale attended meetings one day, I enjoyed a trip to the aquarium at the Dubai Mall.

The Aquarium tunnel was fascinating.

I just had to take this selfie with Mr. Shark!

Dale and I went to the Mall of the Emirates one evening, another of the many malls to visit in Dubai,
I found the architecture and windowed ceiling beautiful.

Watching the skiers at Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates.

 

The Old Gold Souk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_Gold_Souk

Standing at the entrance to Dubai’s Old Gold Souk.

Walking through the numerous gold shops that sell 18k, 22k amd 24k gold, in the Old Gold Souk.

A Kodak moment for Dale and me in the Old Gold Souk.

The backside of the Gold Souk District

Standing next to the Guinness Book of World Record’s largest gold ring, in the Old Gold Souk.
I am guessing that this ring would even be too large to fit the Sci-Fi’s 50-foot woman!

Allison Hayes stars as the 50-foot woman in Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1958)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_of_the_50_Foot_Woman

 

A Quick Visit to the Atlantis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis,_The_Palm

Dale in front of the Atlantis Hotel on the hottest day that I have ever felt, with a heat index of 129 degrees!

The large water park area of the Atlantis

A photo of the imposing Atlantis, taken from the monorail as we left Palm Island.

Taking in the views of Palm Island while riding the monorail away from the Atlantis.

An aerial photo of Palm Island with the Atlantis Hotel at the top of the “tree”, on the ring around the palm tree.
Photo courtesy of http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/dubai/8697231/Trouble-in-paradise-as-plumbing-problems-hit-Dubais-Palm-island.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Islands

 Watch this episode of Megastructures to see the building of the manmade Palm Island.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BXGh0EYJtE

A picturesque monorail view of Dubai

 

Duty Free Walnuts and Banana Bread

Look what I found at the airport shop, going back! USA walnuts!
I bought a bag. Now I can make banana bread while overseas! :o)

 

Alice’s Banana Bread
http://www.summitspringsinn.com
This recipe is courtesy of The Summit Springs Inn, Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania

 Dale and I have stayed at this charming, quiet, single-family cabin, 15 minutes from Gettysburg, a couple of times, and each time, a loaf of this moist, tasty banana bread was waiting for us upon arrival.
The proprietor, Alice, kindly gave me the recipe.

Dale in front of The Summit Springs Inn
Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania
May 2009

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup white sugar

½ cup butter, softened

2 eggs

½ cup buttermilk

2½ cups of flour

sifted with

1teaspoon of baking soda

and

1 teaspoon of baking powder

salt

2-3 very ripe bananas, mashed

½ cup of chopped walnuts

Directions:

Cream together the first three ingredients of sugar, butter and eggs, until    light and fluffy

(About two minutes)

Add alternately the flour mixture and buttermilk

(The mixture will be thick.)

Add mashed bananas and chopped walnuts

Grease two loaf pans, and divide batter evenly into pans.

Bake at 350 (325 in glass) for about 50 -60 minutes.
Test at 50 minutes (Ovens may vary)
Place toothpick into middle, making sure that it comes out clean.

Makes two loaves

This sliced banana bread is good toasted, too!

 

To read more about Dubai, please click on the link below to one of my earlier blogs.
https://annettehoffman.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/delighting-in-dubai/

 

Thanks for reading!  :o)

Annette

I attempt to post my blog bi-monthly.

I will talk to you again around September 10.

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Nighttime in Dubai