Shark Tank

Dubai is known for more Firsts, Tallests, Most Luxurious-es, and Biggests than any other tourist destination on the planet. And so with our first visitors, we decided to try out some of the outragious touristy offerings we've been promising the kids (and dying to see ourselves).

Taking it Easy - Day 1
Janell and Scooby arrived at 1am on a Sunday. While the kids and I were at school, Billy, our jetlag enforcer, tapped on our visitors' door at noon and took them out to a Sharjah favorite, the Dhow restaurant - for Arabic lunch in an historic trading boat. They ate grilled meats, vine leaves and eggplant salad, while Billy gave them the lowdown on what we had in store for the rest of their visit.

Gulf-side Dining & Tallest Building - Day 2
After a quick kitchen-table orientation, we sent them off with a car, a map and directions to the Dubai Museum, which both visitors said is a worthwhile stop, with exhibits on pearl diving, architecture and local heritage. That night, we grownups ate on the water in Dubai, at a restaurant called Shimmers. Janell and I were given loaner pashminas to keep our shoulders warm and aside from the fact that the bar simply couldn't get the martini's right, first no vodka, then no olives.. the food was delicious, again with grilled meats and fish, and crusty walnut bread.

On our commute to and from the restaurant, we took in views of Dubai's newest trademark, the Burj Dubai. The Burj Dubai, to be completed in two years, is the tallest structure in the world. Designed by the same architecture firm as the Sears Tower (3 cheers for my Chicago readers !!), it features some of the same multi-level design features of the famous Chicago skyscraper. This building can be seen from any approach to Dubai, and you can't help but be amazed at how it dwarfs the surrounding high-rises.

Shark Tank - Day 3
Theme parks in the UAE are a big draw for tourists from other gulf countries where venues with bathing suits are problematic. We'd already been to a pretty d-luxe water park called Dreamland, but we'd been waiting to go to Aquaventure for a special occasion - alas, visitors from home gave us an excuse. For a mere $85 per person, we were let in to Aquaventure, which not only boasts the only rides in the world where you are thrust through shark tanks, but you also get to spend the day on the famous Palm Jumeira - the man-made palm shaped island which has made Dubai so famous.

Dune Bashing - Day 4
We chilled out for most of the next day (sliding through shark tanks and careening through wavy rivers is exhausting), while Janell and Scooby went on a shopping excursion. When they returned at 3:30, we were picked up by Ishaq the tour guide for a Desert Safari Tour. It started with Dune Bashing - where we followed a dozen other land cruisers into the desert, to sail up and over stories-tall yellow dunes and then down again, only to cruise up and down the sides of dozens more. Imagine pulsating Arabic music booming through subwoofers, roller-coaster style driving, with Brady and Liam howling and laughing in the back row, me holding on tight with my eyes-half closed trying not to acknowledge the lunch not entirely digested in my stomach, and Scooby taking it all in with a video camera in the front seat - and Janell and Billy nervously laughing their heads off at every crest of dune. Thank goodness we left Rosie home with a sitter.

Once we'd had enough bashing, we were dropped at a desert camp, where we ate (again) grilled meats, lamb kebobs, lamb chops and chicken, watched belly dancing, got henna tatoos, rode camels, dressed in local costumes and learned about the local past time (and bad habit) sheesha smoking. Needless to say, when we were dropped at home by 10pm, we were pooped, and thoroughly satisfied and impressed with ourselves and our adventure.

7 Star Hotel - Day 5
The Burj Al Arab is perhaps Dubai's most widely known building and hotel, as it is shaped like a sailboat. In addition to its unusual architecture, the hotel boasts a 7 star rating, with rooms starting at $2500, and entry to the lobby restricted to paying hotel guests and local 'members'. Though we are indeed NOT members, we happen to have a friend who is one. At 12:30, we arrived at the hotel gate with a reservation number in hand and we took pleasure in leaving our sandy down-market rental cars with the fancy dressed valets. Our friend met us in the lobby and took us to the poolside restaurant for their luscious buffet brunch. Everything on it was gorgeous, from the sushi and sashimi, fresh oysters and shrimp, to stewed beef in truffle sauce, (again) grilled lamb, roast beef, squid salads, loads of traditional arabic salads and vine leaves, lobster claws (a favorite with Liam), crab legs (for Brady) and of course fresh fruit (for Rose). I couldn't even begin to describe the dessert buffet, as the tarts, multi-layer cakes and ice-cream service were all quite original, with locally-found fruits, nuts and sauces. After the brunch (please do not ask about the ridiculous feed-a-whole-3rd-world-family-for-a-year price tag) our friend took us on a tour of the premises were we oooh and ahhed at the views of the Palm Jumeira Island, overflowing (real) gold flower vases and beautifully coifed multi-lingual attendants at every turn. But the truth is, once we made it back to our dusty cavernous home and got back into jeans, we were grateful we didn't have to indulge ourselves in such a stuffy fashion on a regular basis. Normal life felt pretty darn good.

Global Village - Day 6
While our visitors took in yet another local mall, we rested up for an evening cultural outing: Global Village. A 3 month festival-market, Global Village sits on what we might call a fair grounds, and features acres and acres of neatly arranged tents and stalls, organized by country and region of the world. Inside each tent and stall, you can buy handicrafts, artworks, packaged and ready-to-eat foods from the particular country housed in that space. Some countries, such as India and Saudi Arabia, take up entire networks of tents and stalls, and others, like Sri Lanka had a mere handful of vendors. The USA happens not to be represented at all, and all of Europe was housed in a less-than-impressive, rather dumpily decorated tent. I bought African art made with cut palms on banana paper, soapstone bowls, woven vases, a lambskin handbag from Pakistan, Janell bought African art and Indian shoes, and her husband bought Saudi dates. Billy ate his way through the evening, with foods from Egypt, Arabic coffee, and Sri Lankan dumplings.

Largest Pane of Glass - Day 7
On Janell & Scooby's last day in Dubai, we went to a local gem, the Mamzar beach park, where we hoped to enjoy a sandy afternoon, but the weather did not cooperate, and we were forced to visit the newly opened Dubai Mall instead. This mall boasts the World's Largest Pane of Glass, which encloses the the Dubai Mall Aquarium. You'll also find an ice rink, two food courts, several ridiculous fountains, and best of all for me: Dubai's first Gap store, and for the kids: the country's only Taco Bell.

Late that night I brought Janell & Scooby back to Dubai airport, and though I truly felt sad to see them go, I was content to reach the end of a busy visit, and satisfied to tick another 4 or 5 BEST and BIGGEST Dubai attractions off my to do list - and most importanty, to start saving the necessary Dirhams for the next round of visitors.