Solitary chicken - need advice

[Janepie33]

A friend at work just spent a week in Dubai and had a fantastic time. She went to stay with relatives. One place she thought was fantastic was http://www.thedubaimall.com/en/Entertain/TheDubaiFountain.aspx this place.

[mollyripkim]

It's brilliant, I'm sure you will have a lovely time. I love the gold souk from where you can wander through the spice markets although they sell all sorts. The fish and fruit market is also in that area. From there you can walk out to the river with all the old junks and take a trip across just for the sightseeing. One mall has a huge aquarium and the other a snow slope.

Apart from covering up, you are not allowed to eat and drink in public and no displays so affection, there are signs about this in the entrance to the malls. It is such a multi cultural society, we loved people watching.

Oh and take any prescription medicines in original packaging and no drugs with codeine are allowed.

Have a wonderful time.

[mollyripkim]

Yes holding hands is ok, their men do it all the time with each other. Not sure why the codeine rule, I think it's because it's addictive. I use cocodamol as well but didn't take any just in case, been three times and everyone is so friendly so don't be nervous, it's an amazing place, we love the mixture of old and new.

[Willow]

Dubai is not as strict as the news reports would have you believe. Normal behaviour and dress is perfectly acceptable, those that get into trouble have generally been stupid and dressed or behaved in a way that shouldn't be accepted here. I was surprised to see that the girls on reception at the office had sleeveless tops on, that's not generally normal attire for reception in offices in the UK

 

Do Dubai Mall & fountains (there is a very nice Lebanese restaurant with a balcony that overlooks the fountains, wander through the Gold souk and spice souk but if you want to buy jewellery go to the Gold and Diamond Park. It's a shopping mall full of jewellery shops. Bargaining is normal, I can't get the hang of it but my SIL is brilliant

 

For souvenirs go to the antique museum http://www.dubai-shopping-secrets.com/antique-museum.html it is the most marvellously tacky, kitsch, bizarre place There are nice souvenirs in there as well you just have to search. They also sell good quality shawls at good prices with one of the campest shop assistants I've come across demonstrating how to wear the shawls.

 

The aquarium is worth a visit.

 

Go to the harbour and hire one of the old flat boat taxis for an hour to take you around the harbour. They have the most amazing old boats moored up alongside ultra modern tower blocks.

 

Burj Kalifa is a must, preorder tickets.

 

The Lime tree cafe is very popular with ex-pats, good food, I particularly enjoyed their take on a arabic breakfast and ate the best carrot cake I've ever had (if you go and can prise a recipe out of them I will be eternally grateful). There's a few but they tend not to be in the malls google them.

 

Taxi's are reasonably priced, the metro is easy and clean. I go out with my SIL for every errand as I just loved driving around the city and looking at the buildings.

 

Eat arabic food while you are there, the fresh arabic bread is delicious.

 

My SIL is moving to Singapore and I'm really sad I was surprised how much Dubai charmed me.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Guest

[Daphne]

Thanks for that really useful post Willow - my Mum is off there shortly, so I'll pass on your top tips.

 

Years ago I did some work in Singapore and we've been a few times now en route to see my bro in Australia. Its all a bit weird but we quite like it, although the humidity and heat are something else Its possible to walk in real virgin rainforest, the Botanic Garden and its orchids are amazing, there is a fabulous night zoo (which wouldn't be my sort of thing normally, but the animals are kept behind what look like ditches, even the lions and have a lot of natural looking space to move about in), and we really like Little India - shabby and fascinating, with real neighbourhood places to have a proper curry. There is plenty of shopping as well

[Willow]

I forgot to mention Dune bashing (4x4 trekking over the dunes)! We've been twice (on separate trips) my boys loved it so much, I can't remember which company is run by the same company as Emirate airlines but my SIL was adamant they are best company to go with. You get picked up and dropped back to wherever you're staying. Full day trip includes dinner at tourist version of a bedouin camp. The small emirates camp was the nicest, food was good at both. Very good belly dancer at the emirates camp, more varied dancing at the larger one. The 2nd time was a larger camp and more obviously touristy but great entertainment both times and lovely drivers both times.

[Leicester_H]

I wonder why just codeine? Not even in a suitcase? I always carry some co-codamol with me !

 

Isn't co-codamol a mix of paracetamol and codeine ?

 

H

[Tweety]

I am in Dubai on holiday at the moment ( how sad am I reading the Omlet forum ?!) and we were not questioned at all at the airport about bringing any medication into the country. I had read this post before we came, and didn't bring my codeine linctus with me, but could easily have done so. Maybe we were just lucky, but I didn't see anyone being questioned or stopped at customs/immigration.