This post is split into 2 because we did so much it would get confusing all in one! In the afternoon we went to Mercato mall, it was all done in italian style. Everywhere you go in Dubai is fashioned after something or in the shape of something, it's never just a building. The last photo is Josh standing in the mall - notice the architecutre. The photo of me is outside Starbuks - look at all the locals, the mix is very interesting. Dubai is made up of only 20% emiratie people and mostly indians then some ex-patriots. I think it's 20%, it might even be 10%. The indians are often muslim too, but they won't wear the white arabic outfits, they may where coloured ones and the women will wear coloured saris or even just ordinary clothes with scarfs. Very few people in shorts or skirts above their knees, except tourists.
The first photo is the view from the hotel room, every 500m you can see a mosque. Some houses are done in traditional style then alongide them you have these massive skyscrapers.
The second photo is at the restaurant where we had dinner, we sat next to the road, with all these cars going by. The food was good we had kebab and mixed grill - traditional food - it was really nice, they always serve that flat bread (which i can't eat and josh only manages to fit in a mouthful or two) and heaps of food. They also do these pickled vegetables with everything - carrot, cucumber and this red/white thing - heaps of salt and raw but pickled - really strong! But great to try all the different food. Most of it meat! Infact all of it really - chicken and lamb. You can't drink without a licence so only the hotels sell alcohol - at about $5-7 NZD a beer, hence we have had a dry leg of our holdiay. Because of the no alcohol in the restaurants they have all these interesting drinks! all different types of fruit juice and not concentrate but real! And josh had this drink with banana pieces, almonds, strawberry juice and milk! Eating and drinking is quite fun.
We didn't buy anything at the mall - it was all fancy stuff - armani, gucci, channel etc but really fun to look around and only a little cheaper than NZ - i think - i wouldn't really have a good idea - as i dont buy that stuff. We crashed in bed early and enjoyed a good sleep!
