Dubai

Follow this link for the full Dubai photo album:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103620108216329120374/albums/5945586755823346433

We decided to stop by Dubai as it was a convenient way to link Turkey and Nepal. The Middle East, in general, is a great for transit, and I was able to find reasonably priced flights from Istanbul and a direct flight to Kathmandu, Nepal. Plus, we wanted to see the extravagances of Dubai for ourselves (tallest building in the world, largest indoor ski slope, mega resorts and malls, etc.). 

It is a unique city. Dubai is located in the middle of the dessert, spread out over two miles along the coast of the Persian Gulf. We stayed in the most luxurious hotel, had the most over-priced meal, and experienced the hottest weather of our trip there. We spent an entire day being blown away by the Dubai Mall, including its spectacular fountain display, the Dubai Aquarium, and 1200 shops. 

Inside the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium has the world's largest acrylic panel

The Burj Khalifa, world's tallest man-made structure

Dubai has two distinct parts - the old and the new. The small old town mainly developed as a result of international trade and the pearl industry, and nowadays is a lively hub for many immigrant communities. Construction for the new city started in the 1990's, which now houses dozens of luxury hotels, shopping and entertainment complexes, and high-end residences. It was a bit shocking to see the contrast between the two parts of the city. The Dubai Museum, located in a historical Arab style building, provided great documentation of the city’s growth.

The Madinat Jumeirah, which has shops, restaurants, and hotels around it's large canal system

A typical street in Old Dubai

View from our room on the 60th floor of the JW Marriott Dubai. This was as clear as the view got while we were in Dubai. 

On our last morning, we went to the Jumeirah Beach Park. The park had a long sandy beachfront lined with palm trees, and super warm water for swimming. It was nice to see something natural after spending the previous days inside man-made wonders. Unfortunately, pictures were not allowed on the beach.