Our last two days in Dubai were as engaging and exhilarating as the first two days. Read on…
travelogue-II
What’s so special about Dubai is that it is home to the world’s tallest tower, one of the world’s largest shopping malls and one of the world’s largest human-made marinas. Whether you are drawn to its impressive architecture or vibrant entertainment scene, Dubai has something new to offer every time you go there. Our last two days in Dubai were as engaging and exhilarating as the first two days. Read on…
It was a beautiful morning with lots of sunshine and fresh air. After having a healthy breakfast at Open Sesame at Hotel Indigo (where we were staying), we were looking forward to visiting Dubai Frame, the largest frame in the world. Resembling a picture frame, Dubai Frame is an awe-inspiring structure that stands at 150 meters tall, offering visitors an amazing view of the city’s skyline. With a state-of-the-art elevator, visitors can reach the top of the frame and walk on the glass walkway that connects the two towers. Crafted from liquid crystal with an underlying film triggered by sensors, the floor becomes clear only when a visitor walks over it. It was an interesting sight to see overjoyed tourists taking pictures on the glass walkway. Opened in 2018, Dubai Frame also features an immersive exhibition that showcases the city’s evolution from a small fishing village to a global hub of culture and commerce. On our way back I did a little shopping from the souvenir shop, located on the ground floor, carrying a range of mementos of Dubai.
Our next stop was at Souk Madinat Jumeirah. A modern take on a traditional souk, the souk offers a number of alleys to stroll through - from perfumed scents, glowing lanterns to fragrant spices and artisanal souvenirs.
After a leisure walk in the air-conditioned alleys of Souk, we headed to ‘Sushiyaki’, a Japanese restaurant, situated at Madinat Jumeirah. The place is known for its exquisite sushi and mouth-watering yakitori. Blending tradition and modernity, Sushiyaki offers detectable Japanese cuisine in a warm ambiance. The staff at Sushiyaki was very courteous and efficient. Our polite attended was very friendly who helped us in selecting our choice of meal from an extensive menu. Though I am not a big fan of sushi, I savoured this Japanese delicacy along with their signature maki rolls and freshly prepared sashimi. All in all, it was an enjoyable afternoon.
It’s show time. Our third evening in metropolitan proved to be the most amazing one. We were all thrilled to watch ‘La Perle’ - Dubai’s first permanent show, located at Al Habtoor City. Created by world-renowned artistic director Franco Dragone, La Perle is a fusion of acrobatics, technology, and action.
Opened in August 2017, the show has been a regular feature of the city’s entertainment with two shows daily in evenings. The 90-minute show is performed in a state-of-the-art aqua theatre that features a 5-meter-deep pool and innovative equipment such as 3D projection mapping and a 360-degree sound system. The show’s story revolves around a little girl’s fanciful journey across UAE in search of a lost pearl, which serves as a symbol for discovery, unity, and transformation. This imaginative tale adds a modern twist to classic storytelling, inviting viewers to interpret the layers of meaning as they see fit.
La Perle can be called a larger-than-life show. The 1300-seat theatre is arranged at a 270-degree seating angle, allowing spectators to immerse in the awe-inspiring stunts. The show features 65 world-class artists from over 23 countries who perform everything from acrobatics to aquatic and aerial stunts. The ‘Globe of Death’ is one of the most heart-stopping sequences, where motorcyclists perform gravity-defying stunts inside a suspended metal sphere, creating a dizzying display of speed and precision. We were simply mesmerised by the mind-blowing performances throughout the show. For anyone visiting Dubai, La Perle is a must-see experience, offering a rare fusion of visual artistry, technical prowess, and breath-taking performances.
Whereas ‘La Perle’ is feast for the eyes, ‘Ribs & Brews’ is truly a gourmet’s delight. Located at Al Habtoor City, Ribs & Brews is a famous sports and grill bar.
This American gastro lounge-inspired restaurant offers delectable hot bites including Mac n Cheese Bites, Tex-Mex Tacos, Chicken Wings and R&B Shrimp Cocktail. Their extensive menu also consists of an array of succulent burgers and sarnies (all served with French fries), smoked salmon and pulled beef rib sliders. However, their specialty is their tender and juicy ribs (served on the bone with corn on the cob and French fries, with your choice of sauce). I tried their ribs with Texas BBQ sauce and its taste was scrumptious. The generous serving of ribs and fries really hit the spot. What I really liked about Ribs & Brews is their vibrant ambiance. With live music and sports on TV, Ribs & Brews is a sure place to check out in Dubai.
Our fourth and last day in Dubai was another exciting day. Our busy agenda included a trip to the enormous Dubai Mall, a visit to the Arte Museum, a quick lunch at SALT, a famous burger joint, followed by some shopping at Dubai Mall and then a flight back to Karachi in the evening.
Situated in Dubai Mall, Arte Museum Dubai is a global immersive media art exhibition. This recently opened gallery is different from the typical museums. Designed by the world-class Korean digital design company, d’strict, it showcases immersive and interactive exhibits that explore the beauty and wonder of nature.
The spacious venue houses work across 14 zones under the theme of ‘Eternal Nature’. Arte Museum uses production-mapping, multi-image control and sensor-based interaction systems to help visitors appreciate exhibits as closely as possible with the help of technology. Blending the lines between reality, fantasy, and hyper-reality by using digital technology, viewers find themselves at the base of towering waterfalls and strolling beaches as they admire the aurora borealis.
As their journey through the galleries progresses, audiences are surrounded by blooming camellia flowers, undulating waves, and bioluminescent animals in the jungle, as well as thundering pink clouds. From awakening soundscapes to custom-scented aromas, every element is curated to harmonise with the artworks, creating a fully immersive experience. For two hours, we were totally engrossed in this unforgettable experience of technology-created magic. Highly recommended for those who want to see something unique in Dubai.
Dubai Mall houses lots of famous food joints including SALT - known for its lip-smacking burgers. We tried their burgers for the first time and true to its reputation, their crispy beef burgers and chicken sliders, complemented with loaded fries, were simply delicious. We relished every bite to our heart’s content. After strolling in Dubai Mall for about two hours, we headed back to our hotel, took our luggage, checked out and left for the airport.
A sharp contrast
On our way back to Karachi, I was in deep thoughts. The marvellous progress of Dubai is attributed to its ruler, his vision and his administration. People from different nationalities and religions live in harmony and enjoy good quality life. The place is especially safe for women. A number of women professionals from all over the world live in Dubai happily, without any fear. On the other hand, we, Karachiites, perpetually live under the shadows of uncertainty. Women, generally, are scared of going out in the night alone because of law-and-order situation. Though Karachi, with an alluring history and natural beaches, has all the potential of becoming a popular tourist’s destination like Dubai but unfortunately the city lacks infrastructure and a safe environment that attracts foreigners to go anywhere in the world. One can only wish to see Karachi as progressing and flourishing as Dubai but the way our rulers are ignoring Karachi, in terms of developing, it only seems a distant dream.
- Concluded.
Erum Noor Muzaffar is the editor of You! magazine. She can be reached at iram29@hotmail.com
