Dubai (at Night)

Dubai, while not for everyone - given its man-made nature and unabashed extravagance - has paved its own magnificent road.

I've got nothing but love for it and am ending my Dubai posts with a few nighttime highlights:

Ringing in 2016 by sailing past the Burj Al Arab.

Watching the most spectacular fireworks show while singing Auld Lang Syne at the top of my lungs.

Toasting with various champagnes.

Looking at city lights after spontaneously jumping into the Arabian sea.

Sitting at the Palm admiring the Marina.

Cocktails at the top of the Burj Khalifa.

Watching the the Dubai water fountain show while dining at Thiptara.

Highlights not photographed: Indego at Grosvenor House, the One & Only Hotel, Atlantis, yacht parties, mansion parties,  some of the best champagnes devoured too quickly, the five 28" pizzas ordered on New Year's Day, the multiple-course meals, unbeatable company and the hostess with the mostest.

Desert Safari

Despite being shamelessly touristy, the desert safari was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. From the...

Beautiful desert sands (where dune driving and sand boarding are musts)

To the camels...

To the local food and entertainment at the campsite...

To the sheesha...

I highly recommend it all!

Old Dubai

Although I was weary of visiting Dubai in light of the Vegas comparisons, it turned out to be so much more than Vegas.  One particularly charming day (which happened to be on one of the only 3 rainy days of the year) included:

Dining at the cutest Arabian tea house...

While ill-equipped for rain, its clay oven for baking fresh bread...

And fantastic Arabic breakfasts, teas and coffee (albeit a little too light of a roast for my taste) more than made up for it.

Walking through the Old Fahidi District and visiting the Dubai Museum (interesting summary of growth in Dubai and highly worth of the admission price of 3 Durhams):

Hopping on water taxis to...

Wander the spice, textile and gold souks.

Followed by an informative and delicious lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. 

Dubai (During the Day)

Dubai. Opulence. Man-made spectacular-ness.  Land of extravagance and excess.  Hotels galore, each bigger and badder than the one before.  Unbelievably photogenic.

Things I liked best about daytime Dubai: Consistently gorgeous sky. Breathtaking sunsets. Palm Jumeirah. The uninhabited desert.

View from one side of my friend (and hostess with the mostest's) balcony at Palm Jumeirah.

View from other side of the balcony (yes, seriously).

View while laying out at private pool (infinity pool above the beach on the Arabian sea looking at the Marina skyline).

View from New Year's Day yacht as attendees were jumping in to the sea. 

View during our desert safari (more to come on that).

Abu Dhabi

This holiday, I decided to finally head to Dubai to visit a friend who has been raving about it.  

Before Dubai though...Abu Dhabi.  The Capital.  Dubai's quieter, richer big brother.

Home of Emirates Palace (bottom: view from our hotel across the way, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers)...

Beautiful sunrises.

And my personal favorite, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (with all its exquisite details).