Dubai: Kite Beach
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Consteau
Although we left the States on Sunday night, we did not arrive until Monday night. Tuesday was our first day to explore. We decided to check out one of Dubai’s beaches.
First up, a quick walk to the bank to obtain some AED. Then, a quick chat with concierge to figure out how to navigate the city and fill in our gaps. We had researched a plethora of things to do in Dubai. Some inside the city, and some on the outskirts. We needed to know what was doable.
Initially, we thought about spending our beach day at Atlantis. As we were not staying there, this had way too many complications. And, then, we stumbled upon Dubai’s Best Beaches. We chose Kite Beach, which appeared to have the most activity. We figured we could rent paddle boards and explore.
I wanted to hike the mountains on Wednesday, either Wadi Shawka or the Al Hajar Mountains. I found these off-the-beaten-path spots through other bloggers. On my flight, Emirates talked about Hatta, which is nestled in the Al Hajar Mountains. This place also intrigued me. Usually, the hotel has tours going there, but the area was closed due to construction. We were also told we would see mountains on our day trip to Al Ain. We decided the mountains were out.
We asked how to get to Kite Beach. The concierge lady explained public transportation versus taking a cab. If we took the subway, we would still need to take a cab. The cabs were quite inexpensive, about $10-$12, and more time-efficient. We decided to skip the subway and hop in a taxi. When we got to our hotel lobby, the man downstairs convinced us their car service was about the same cost and easier. We took his advice, and off we went. Our ride cost approximately 62,000 AED or $17.
When we arrived at Kite Beach, we were greeted by lots of activity and colors. We strolled the boardwalk for a bit, where we viewed the city skyline and mosque in the distance. A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims/a place for Islam prayer. We also checked out the cute, clean food trucks.
The water was stunning. The color was aquamarine blue and rivaled the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean. Even though the water was rough, the air was windy, and the sun was weak, the ocean still sparkled, inviting me to play in its saltiness.
I had never been to the Arabian Gulf, so of course I wanted to touch the water. I stuck my feet and hands into the chilly ocean. Elaine and I walked the beach and collected sea shells. There were several gorgeous shells just laying there. This is a great, little spot for those who enjoy shelling.
I became lost in the moment, collecting sea shells. I looked up to find Elaine, but I did not see her. I was not sure if she was in front or behind me. I wandered around the bend to the next beach, but she was not there. I snapped a few pictures, then headed back to the sea shells.
When I returned, I still could not find her. I scanned the beach chairs, then started walking to the boardwalk. I stopped breathing and bit my lip. I had been in Dubai for less than 24 hours, and I lost my friend in what I perceived to be the most dangerous part of the world I had ever visited. I wondered, at what point do I look for a cop or head to the hotel? I scanned the beach for cops, just in case I needed to have that discussion. I did not see any. I had yet to learn cops are undercover, not in uniform, which actually creates a super safe environment. I hoped she was okay. With my dark skin and dark features, I blended in. With her light hair and fair skin, she stuck out in this part of the world.
Finally, we found each other. We decided to pick a meeting spot for the remainder of our trip, just in case we got separated again. In my 20s, I used to wander. Back in those days, disappearing made for some colorful stories. In your 40s in the Middle East, wandering off is not so cute or funny. I had stepped back in time to my youth, where I was so entrenched in the moment that reality disappeared and a childlike curiosity propelled me forward. A smile played upon my lips.
We decided to grab a bite to eat from the eclectic food trucks we had spied earlier. Elaine got Mexican, and I ordered lamb on a stick. My skewer took about 15 minutes to cook, which you would never expect from a food truck. It was inexpensive, delicious, and lacked the fast-food feel.
After lunch, we found some chairs to lay on and soak up the waves crashing on shore. Since we had our stuff, we took turns going to the water. Elaine wanted to dip her feet in the ocean; I wanted to immerse myself in the water.
The weather was cooler, and not many folks were in their bathing suits. When my turn to dip in the water came, I felt naked in my pretty conservative bathing suit. I just wanted to get down to the water, go under, and then put my clothes back on. I felt eyes on me.
The creepy factor was all in my head. In Dubai, the men do not ogle at women like they do in the States or other parts of the world. I had not learned this yet. The stares are more out of curiosity and are respectful. I had a lot to learn about Dubai’s culture and my outlook on the world. These lessons would come soon, just not yet. I was still getting acclimated. I was in the tourist state-of-mind, not the traveler mindset.
Getting into the water was a challenge. The aquamarine waters beckoned for me to play in their waves, but the water was crisp and rough. I could not see the bottom, and who knows what sea creature was waiting beneath the surface. I finally mustered up the courage to plunge full force into the Arabian Gulf.
Sea water is the best medicine for the soul and skin. I love going fully under, then letting the sun dry the water droplets from my skin leaving white, salty marks on my body. Vitamin D and Vitamin C give my skin a healthy, youthful glow.
The clock ticked, and we had to catch a cab back to our hotel. We had dinner reservations at Pierchic at sunset. Our cab fare was about the same as our hotel ride to the beach only because we went to the wrong hotel, which made our ride longer. We quickly learned the cabs were pretty inexpensive, and we stuck to that form of transportation.
Travel tip: Ask informed questions, ask them again, and do your own homework. Had we not paid attention to the cab fares and listened to our hotel guy, we would have spent a lot of extra money on transportation.
What a wonderful way to kick off our UAE vacation! With its beautiful beach, funky vibe, and restroom facilities, Kite Beach was pure perfection.
More blogs from this trip:
- Three Firemen and a Girl in Leopard Pajamas
- Touchdown: Dubai
- Dubai: Pierchic, Where the Sun Kisses the Ocean
- The Dubai Fountain, The Dubai Mall
- Jumeirah Grand Mosque, Dubai: Open Doors. Open Minds.
- Alexandra Dhow Cruise in the Dubai Marina
- Dubai City Tour
- Red Dune Safari with Sand Boarding, UAE
- Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- The Dubai Frame, UAE
- Observatory Bar & Grill, Dubai Marina
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