Day 1: Perth to Dubai

The Gemini part of me was in true form as mayhem ensued 2 days prior to leaving. ALOT may have been left to very last minute... Working long days and diving half of Sunday didn't help. But such is the beginning of any trip! Anyhow somehow I didn't get to bed at all the night before the flight but that gave me a nice gloss of weariness for the 11 hour flight.

6am take off from Perth (many thanks to Georgia for the 3am lift), leaving behind a chilly 2 degrees. Gentle sweet talk to the emirates lady and three seats (on the window) to myself. Wonderful! The flight passed with surprising ease. (Seasoned AirAsia customer flying Emirates... It's like winning the golden ticket).

Dubai. Bang! 49 degrees. And a Ladies taxi service! Amazing....  Here is Alem. She's from Doha and has been here for a few years, despite her 7 year old son still living at home. In Dubai women can travel in any cab, but female taxi drivers can only take women and families. (All my other taxi drivers were men from Pakistan in similar scenarios with fiancées and new wives living in different countries.)

Anyhow after a brief sort out with the Sofitel staff, check in to my the 17th floor room. Kinda nice!
Dubai is trady heaven. Don't know if I've ever seen a place with so much construction going on. Like between my room and the beach. Haha doh.

Off to the Dubai mall and aquarium. Wouldn't really recommend, nothing special, but had some food and a look at some giant rays and sharks!

Next door is the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building (830m). it is really quite beautiful. imagine working up there!!

                                             

Home in time for sunset. Then a night swim in the infinity pool (initially by myself) so so amazing. Holiday mode sunk in here. What a stunning thing to do, have a beautiful pool to yourself on a hot night. I felt $1 million. (At least like I fitted in to the hotel for once anyway). View from my hotel room:

Movie and chocolate in bed. Good night!