Today was Friday, which is their Sabath day, so most things are closed until after 2pm. There other weekend day is Saturday, although all the tourist things and shops are open. We met some ex-pats and they said these are their weekend days now to!
Today we went on a city tour on a double decker bus and went around the beach part of dubai and then the city part of dubai. I have split today into different parts, to group the photos and information as there is so much. Today there was also a sandstorm - you have not experienced weather until you have been in a sandstorm, in the photos, it looks like a haze or smog, but it's actually sand, it accumulates in your ears, your hair and all over your body. You have to wear sunglasses otherwise it gets in your eyes. We sat on the top of the open bus so we could see everything and take photos, but by the end of the day - we were more than ready for a shower. The sandstorm lasted all day, so the potos of the building aren't that good - but it was worth it to experience the weather.
This first set of photos is of Jumeriah beach park. Bearing in mind this is a dessert, they have planted all the grass and created this picturesque beach out of sand! The water is actually the water, it's not man made like the creek! it's a private beach so you have to pay to get in, only 2nzd pp but it has bbq areas and restaurants etc. There is a wall that sections off the private beach from the public beach. There was hardly anyone on the public beach. The ex-pats said that it feels more acceptable lying in your bikini at the private beach - otherwise people just go there because it's nicer! The picture of Josh with the horse is because the shake at the moment really likes horses - these are made from fiberglass and are scattered throughout Dubai (second picture).
The first picutre really gives you an idea of the sandstorm.
