Hey guys! I decided to set up a blog so I can share my travels with you!
Hey guys! I decided to set up a blog so I can share my travels with you!
This summer my mum and I took a girly holiday to Dubai. It was unbelievably extravagant and unique I just HAD to write about it.
We jetted off with Emirates on the 19th of August - and even on the flight we were treated like royalty. Welcoming Indian flight attendants showed us to our seats and we buckled up for the long ride. The next seven hours were only a taste of the paradise that was to come. Time passed away while watching the movies and music that was provided, with your own personal T.V and headphones, of course! The food was not just your average aero plane food; it was a creamy mild curry with rice and all the Indian trimmings! We even had a menu with three courses! Anyway that's enough of the journey!
When we stepped off into paradise, heat seized you; it wasn’t burning instead a warm sensation. The airport was a masterpiece in itself, high ceilings, all white walls and even a giant waterfall inside. We were greeted by a pleasant local chaffer who took us to our hotel in a Lincoln! We treated ourselves and stayed in a 5 star hotel on the coast, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi.
Through the grand doors you entered into the cool breeze of a golden palace. High grand ceilings, immaculate floors and carved pillars surrounded me. Beckoned to the reception, we were offered complimentary Arabic tea and warm prunes. Luxury would be an understatement, it was perfect.
Our luggage was taken upstairs as we made our way to sixth floor to our designated room - spacious and comforting heaven.
The grounds were groomed to perfection; not a piece of litter in sight. It had endless padded loungers around the pools and we could use the facilities of the 'Westin' hotel next door, this gave us a total of seven pools to choose from! The staff were at your beckoned call immediately, bringing you anything you wanted, fruity cocktails, clean towels, they even brought round iced tea, slices of cucumber and watermelon every hour, talk about being pampered!
At the start of each day we lazed in bed until 9 am and then pondered down to breakfast. It was a feast of anything you could ever desire to eat in the morning. Chefs behind counters would cook up you fresh omelet’s, pancakes and waffles. You could indulge in a cooked breakfast or a continental selection. My mum often chose freshly scrambled egg and lightly smoked salmon. Delicious!
The sights too see in Dubai were breathtaking. One day in particular we took a trip up the Burj Khalifa; the tallest building in the world. We wandered round the exhibition before being shown into a rather crowded but slick elevator! You might not believe me, but this elevator was something; we stood in near darkness, only crystallized lights lit the space. Silence and an arising anxiousness flooded through us.
VROOM! We had take off! It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe; maybe a standing rollercoaster would be the best description, without the screaming. It was an experience like no other (being shot upwards at 700 meters per minute); you could feel the floor pressing up, hence making you feel unstable but giving you an instant thrill. The calming lights soon turned into mini projections all around us; it gave the illusion the ceiling wasn’t there quite clever really. A hidden voice debriefed us about how long it took to build; blah blah and all the ‘interesting’ details. It seemed to take forever…
We had arrived at the top, I say the top but it wasn’t actually the top. Technically it’s the highest standing point. Anyways, our crammed herd was finally let out.
This summer my mum and I took a girly holiday to Dubai. It was unbelievably extravagant and unique I just HAD to write about it.
We jetted off with Emirates on the 19th of August - and even on the flight we were treated like royalty. Welcoming Indian flight attendants showed us to our seats and we buckled up for the long ride. The next seven hours were only a taste of the paradise that was to come. Time passed away while watching the movies and music that was provided, with your own personal T.V and headphones, of course! The food was not just your average aero plane food; it was a creamy mild curry with rice and all the Indian trimmings! We even had a menu with three courses! Anyway that's enough of the journey!
When we stepped off into paradise, heat seized you; it wasn’t burning instead a warm sensation. The airport was a masterpiece in itself, high ceilings, all white walls and even a giant waterfall inside. We were greeted by a pleasant local chaffer who took us to our hotel in a Lincoln! We treated ourselves and stayed in a 5 star hotel on the coast, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi.
Through the grand doors you entered into the cool breeze of a golden palace. High grand ceilings, immaculate floors and carved pillars surrounded me. Beckoned to the reception, we were offered complimentary Arabic tea and warm prunes. Luxury would be an understatement, it was perfect.
Our luggage was taken upstairs as we made our way to sixth floor to our designated room - spacious and comforting heaven.
The grounds were groomed to perfection; not a piece of litter in sight. It had endless padded loungers around the pools and we could use the facilities of the 'Westin' hotel next door, this gave us a total of seven pools to choose from! The staff were at your beckoned call immediately, bringing you anything you wanted, fruity cocktails, clean towels, they even brought round iced tea, slices of cucumber and watermelon every hour, talk about being pampered!
At the start of each day we lazed in bed until 9 am and then pondered down to breakfast. It was a feast of anything you could ever desire to eat in the morning. Chefs behind counters would cook up you fresh omelet’s, pancakes and waffles. You could indulge in a cooked breakfast or a continental selection. My mum often chose freshly scrambled egg and lightly smoked salmon. Delicious!
The sights too see in Dubai were breathtaking. One day in particular we took a trip up the Burj Khalifa; the tallest building in the world. We wandered round the exhibition before being shown into a rather crowded but slick elevator! You might not believe me, but this elevator was something; we stood in near darkness, only crystallized lights lit the space. Silence and an arising anxiousness flooded through us.
VROOM! We had take off! It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe; maybe a standing rollercoaster would be the best description, without the screaming. It was an experience like no other (being shot upwards at 700 meters per minute); you could feel the floor pressing up, hence making you feel unstable but giving you an instant thrill. The calming lights soon turned into mini projections all around us; it gave the illusion the ceiling wasn’t there quite clever really. A hidden voice debriefed us about how long it took to build; blah blah and all the ‘interesting’ details. It seemed to take forever…
We had arrived at the top, I say the top but it wasn’t actually the top. Technically it’s the highest standing point. Anyways, our crammed herd was finally let out.
While I was busy snapping up photos, I noticed a local Indian girl start to do the same thing. At a first glance you would assume she’s head to toe covered in complete black. You feel instantly intimidated because you feel they are hiding themselves. “Beautiful view isn’t it” she said and smiled with her eyes. She could obviously tell I was English from my non tanned, red skin. I mumbled something and returned the smile. That’s when I noticed, her perfectly manicured hands filled with gorgeous sapphires and gold. Her silky burka encrusted with diamonds around the cuffs. She must not have been much older than me; probably nineteen. We started introductory conversation; she told me how she lived with a big family near the Atlantis hotel. How her father and brothers worked in the oil business, while her and her mother stayed at home. I suddenly realized that the Gucci handbag on her shoulder was in fact very real. I was no longer intimidated, merely intrigued by her. The conversation flurried and we carried on talking back down in the ‘Mall of the Emirates’. I had complimented her on her red velvety heels so she showed me to her favorite shoe shop. Only in my dreams would I own a pair so dear it had no price tag on it. She was not snobby in the slightest, so friendly and kind as she offered me a tour around the glamorous mall. I explained I’d be leaving soon so we decided to meet the next day, I was glad I had made a friend.
I saw her walking in the distance towards me, again head to toe in black. It had never even occurred to me before that Muslim woman would accessorize and made their religious clothing fashionable, fascinating. I imaged she wore Vivienne Westwood clothing underneath, that she wasn’t even bothered that people didn’t know but happy that she knew she was wearing it. I found I was correct when I later asked her what clothes she bought. She owned 14 different silk Burkas all patterned differently. Jealously was not the word; breathtaking fascination it was.
We took a stroll along a street by the beachside; passing Landover’s, Mercedes, Bentleys, not a Ford Fiesta in sight. This was a city of richness, well the parts us tourists were allowed to see. The gold frilling on her head scarf floated gently in the warm breeze.
I was shell-shocked when she admitted to me that she envied me, although she said she felt ashamed to say it because of her religion. She explained that as lovely as the Burka’s she owns are; her wardrobe longed for her to put on a colorful, summery dress in the morning. How she wished she could buy a sparkling necklace and jewelry set and wear them so they would twinkle in the sun. I felt privileged that she was sharing this with me; it was obvious it was deep. I reassured her that it wasn’t as great as it seemed and that she looks more glamorous than I ever could, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. It was as if her religion limited her. That she couldn’t express who she wanted to be. She obviously had a passion for fashion and I hoped she would peruse a career in that in the future, although I then remembered only Muslim men work.
We parted with a smile, as a hug would be considered inappropriate and we would probably be arrested. Before we both walked off our separate ways, she reached into her perfect Gucci bag and passed me a small glittery bag and said “I put it on every day, but no one would ever know, I want you to have it, you would make use of it and you can then remember me by it” I thanked her, and also for the time she’d spent with me, letting me know her life and culture. Then she left.
I started the hunt in the heat to find mum, it was likely she was sat in a coffee shop. I couldn’t help but wonder what the bag could contain. I couldn’t find mum and the humid air was starting to burn me up; my Primark sandals couldn’t cope with the burning ground so my feet were on fire. So I opened it. Wow. This isn’t real, I thought. Inside was a literally unused Dior makeup set containing: a ‘Cherry Dust’ lipstick, ‘Perfect Bronzing Pearls’, Mascara, lip-gloss and eyeliner. What a thoughtful gift; a shame that she felt she couldn’t wear it though. Maybe it seems glamorous from the outside; but some Muslim woman hide their wants and aspirations behind their religion. Is that fair?
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