Out and About

 

It's our day to be out and about...I started  with a quick trip to Dragon Mart.  Some of you might remember this place - I've been there all 3 times we have come to Dubai.

 

The mall has to be 2 blocks long - and just about everything comes from China.

 

This overview of the mall shows you why it's call a Dragon.  The roof line also gives you a clue as it has all the humps a real Dragon might have.

 

The first year I came, the inside was dark, messy, unorganized and difficult to navigate.  Over the past 2 years they have made lots of upgrades.  They have changed the lighting, organized and painted the stores/stalls, and I think they changed the flooring.  Looks much nicer.  But I think prices have gone up...

They have also added a 2nd mall of stores called Dragon Mart 2 and 2 hotels.  It's much nicer and more upscale....long pure white outdoor mall.  I couldn't take a picture as I drove by...

 

I stopped by the house to pick up Andy and we headed to the Dubai Miracle Garden.  We hadn't been before because they are only open during the winter (December thru April).  It's just too hot for the plants and the people in the summer!

 

The Gardens opened in 2013 and sit on 72,000 square meters of land in Dubailand.  There are 45 million plants!  They have an extensive drip irrigation system reusing waste water.

 

Here is just a small sample of what they offer!

 

Emirates Airlines donated this A380 to the gardens this year!   500,000 plants with 5 million flowers cover the plane.

 

This is one of 18-20 houses....

 

At this point I really needed an ice cream cone!  It was pretty warm with very little shade on the property.  They did have 3-4 mini food courts and lots of places to sit.

 

The most used plant (like 70%)  was petunias of all colors and varieties.  Next came marigolds.  We also saw snapdragons, geraniums, and it looked like they were trying out ivy geraniums.

 

This was one of about 10 houses in a little city positioned in a circle.  There was a huge courtyard down below and as you can see, the houses were up a level.  I wonder if they have weddings and parties in the courtyard...

They add to the displays and mix it up some each year to keep people coming back each year.

 

 

I'm guessing it's all lit up at night...

 

That's a traditional dhow boat up on the hill.

 

There were three butterfly windmills but I couldn't get them all in one picture.

 

I did get my ice cream!  Andy had pistachio and I had snickers.  One scoop wasn't enough tho!  As we sat there we saw a couple of different groups riding around in an oversized golf cart - guess if you pay you get driven around.

 

The entrance/exit to the gardens - a million visitors a year.  Look it up on the internet 'Dubai Miracle Garden' Images - it's pretty amazing.

For dinner we navigated across town (without incident or snapping) to the Creek.  No small feat - the traffic is horrendous in Dubai!   I have gone to the Creek several times but the Heritage Village and outdoor living museum was never open because it was too hot.

I dreamed of going down there all summer since we were going to Dubai in the winter.  Dinner on the water, walking along the corniche, boats lit up in the water, the place alive with people, food, music, lights. You get the picture...  Well, guess what...it's all gone and they are in the midst of redeveloping the entire area! Restaurants included.  I. Could. Not. Believe. It.

There were stray everywhere - in one small area we saw 15.  One sat next to me at supper.

 

At the very begging of the corniche, a few of the old historic buildings were still there, but all of the nice museums I went to last year are not in the buildings any more...many were empty.

The two homes and the mosque belonging to the early sheikh of Dubai was still standing.  

 

There was an art display in one of this Sheikh's home so we went in.  (Sheikh is pronounced SHAKE not SHEEK like we would normally say.

 

One of the paintings I especially liked.

 

The view looking back to the part of the Creek we showed the Marx family - where the spice and gold souks are...

 

One museum that survived...

 

Along the water near the Metro Station was a very nice guest house and restaurant - The Barjeel Al Arab

That's where we ended up eating.  Andy had a nice salad and camel kebabs.  

 

Me?  I had a camel burger, nicely seasoned on a very fresh roll.

 

 

A couple of the buildings still standing...

 

A nice day out and about...now I'd better get to bed.  Worship in the morning and a busy week ahead.