The Dubai Fountain, The Dubai Mall

By ginapacelli on April 21, 2019 in Dubai Travel with 11 Comments

“Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport.”

After an amazing dinner at Pierchic, we grabbed a cab and headed to the Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Mall. We wanted to experience the delightful immersion of dancing water, lights, and music at night.

The Dubai Fountain performances are free, and the the crowds are plentiful. The shows run every 30 minutes, with a flavor all their own. The shooting water was reminiscent of the Bellagio Fountain in Vegas, but with a unique flair.

The Burj Khalifa lit up the night, while the water was playful, yet precise. The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, until Dubai builds The Tower. I was looking forward to seeing Dubai from the top of the world, later during the week.

The people-watching was spectacular. When I wandered through Dubai’s airport, I was careful not to stare at the long, white clothing and flowing hats the men wore. Here, I was free to soak in the cultural garb of the country. My eyes were wide with wonder, and I could not contain my excitement as I snapped a picture or two. My fascination was too powerful to keep bottled up, and the beast within was unleashed. I felt naughty, trying not to get caught, as I captured my unsuspecting subjects on film. To respect their privacy, I avoided faces. To avoid jail, I tried to be discreet. The sparkle in my eyes and the bounce in my step whispered my secret into the darkness of the night.

After catching a few water and light shows, we wandered into the world’s largest mall. I wanted to see the aquarium and whatever delightful surprises the mall had to offer.

I was captivated by the people. What was hiding beneath those black abayas? Happiness or despair? Pajamas or designer clothing? The girl next door or exotic eyes? Perhaps a friendly smile? Were the women suppressed, or did they choose their black attire? Was the abaya a religious outfit or a cultural one? I had to be careful not to gawk. I was curious, and I wanted to know more.

I noticed just as many men wore white kanduras, as women wore abayas, if not more. There were swarms of men in white and women in black. Couples complimented each other in their white and black gowns, and they appeared to walk as equals.

Despite the long, flowing, black clothing, the women’s faces were dressed with make-up, accenting their eyes and lips. Chanel purses dangled from their shoulders, and they floated along in designer shoes. There was an element of wealth thick in Dubai’s air.

At 5.9 million square feet, we only glimpsed a fraction of the mall. There are several attractions throughout. In addition to the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain, I wanted to see the aquarium. Luckily, all of these attractions were close together. A kind man picked us up in a golf cart and brought us to the aquarium. That was fun!

We also stopped into the Laderach chocolate store. I went to buy a piece of chocolate, and the store attendant gave it to me for free. That never happens in the States, and the chocolate was not cheap. It melted in my mouth and was absolutely divine. Elaine was also given a piece of free chocolate, of her choice. I thought that was kind of cool.

We had a busy day, and our eyes grew heavy. Although there was still so much to explore, we decided to head back. We went outside, and there were a bunch of Ubers waiting. The vehicles were of higher caliber and more expensive than the cabs. We decided to find a taxi.

The first cab we found did not have the blue top, and it was expensive. We waited for one with blue. They start their meters at 5,000 AED instead of 12,000 AED.

Travel tip: Take the cabs with the blue on top. If not, check their meters and make sure their starting rate is 5,000 AED and not 12,000 AED.

Our first day in Dubai was spectacular, starting with Kite Beach and ending at the Dubai Mall. Watching the Dubai Fountain show is a must in Dubai. We were definitely geared up for the rest of our vacation.