Burjuman Mall, Dubai

At around 12.30, our guide took us from Burj Al Arab Hotel to Burjuman Mall, from where the Wonder Bus tour starts. It starts at 2pm and we reached the Mall at around 1pm. We had lunch at one of the restaurants of the Mall then moved around in the Mall, window shopping for some time. The interior decoration of the Mall is noteworthy. What attracted us the most was some portraits which were on sale. One of the portrait was of our own Aishwarya Rai.

Dubai Dolphinarium- An Unforgettable Experience

It was Eid and all shops, establishments and government offices were close. Our travel agent had already booked our tickets for the Dolphinarium, so we had no problem though it was heavy rush for Eid. It is one of the most memorable, extraordinary and exciting show I have ever seen. If you are in Dubai you MUST NOT MISS it. The Dolphins and Seals Live Show is one of the main attractions at Dubai Dolphinarium. Here you can witness dolphins and seals perform their tricks and entertain you.

As 4seals and 4dolphins show their skills, you will remain spell bound. While the seal, Fila uses microphone and sing; the dolphins Felka, Masha, Seniya and Teutra are no less. The seals balance a ball with their nose and tail and if my chance, the ball falls into the water, the dolphins pick and give the ball to the trainer. Fila and her friends also dance and roll in the floor. MEHR was shouting with joy as they were performing their antics. In fact the audiences were so thrilled that they were shouting with joy and clapping and encouraging them. After the seals finish their tricks, they exit and the dolphins start their antics. They play with rings, basketball, and jump and touch a ball which is held high, jumps through rings,sings and dance to music, and throw ball into the water. Seniya is the highest jumper; jumping 3-4times at one go. Felka is a painter and her painting is also sold among the audience. While the trainer goes high up the ladder, two dolphins jump high to his level. It’s really unbelievable that they can jump so high. And as they jump, they splash water with so much force that people sitting in the first two rows get all wet. But there were no complains; they all just enjoyed. After the jump, the trainer holds the tail of one of them and moves around the pool. The best part was their play with the audience. While we throw balls to them, they throw it back to us.
There was lucky draw for the audiences. You have to buy balls and all would throw it together at the pool. The first three balls which the dolphins pick it up are the winners. The show ended with the famous belly dance of the desert people as the three dolphins danced together.

You can also have your personal photographs will be taken with the dolphins and seals by our their professional photographers, as a wonderful memory for your experience by paying some extra money.

The following you need to remember about the Dubai Dolphinarium:
• Dubai Dolphinarium established May 2008 as part of Dubai Marine World at Dubai Creek Park (originally planned to opened December 2007)
• No shows on Sundays.
• Facilities include a gift shop, photo studio, Happy Valley Restaurant (but you can't eat with the dolphins, only swim with them).
• There is another dolphin display at the Atlantis Dubai hotel on Jumeirah Palm, where swimming with the dolphins is also possible.
• Dolphin and seal show tickets cost AED 100 for Adults and AED 50 for children. Ticket bookings can be made online at the Dubai Dolphinarium website.
• Swim-with-the-dolphin enquiries also through the website.
• Location is Gate 1 of Dubai Creek Park.

 It was an ungorettable experience and I srongly suggest , if you are in Dubai do not miss this show.

Visiting Dubai’s Past – Bastakiya District

Then we walked down to the Bastakiya district. The old Bastakiya district with its narrow lanes and tall wind-towers gives a tantalizing glimpse of old Dubai. Immediately to the east of Al Fahidi Fort is the largest concentration of traditional courtyard houses with wind towers. This unique part of town is worth checking out, as it offers travelers glimpses of what life has been like in Dubai since the 19th century, when Persian merchants first moved here and "set up shop," so to speak. Since many of these expatriates hailed from Iran's Bastak region, this quarter of town became known as the Bastakiya District. Noteworthy features in the district include its quaint, narrow lanes and ornate wind towers, which channeled wind in order to cool nearby homes. In the days before electricity and air conditioning, Dubai Creek was lined by a mass of wind towers that kept the local houses cool through an ingenious employment of air currents.

The Bastakiya district is a step back in time, laden as it is with traditional courtyard houses, bedecked with these uniquely Arabian wind towers. It has two restaurants….. Bastakiah Nights Restaurant and Local House Restaurant. In the restaurants, the ambience is such that you will feel, as if you were dinning in Old Dubai. We visited the Coins Museum in the Bastakiya area, which houses historic coins from the Arabic and Islamic era; the Stamp Museum; Architectural Heritage Department and the art galleries. We felt as if we were transferred to ancient times with Bedouin tents and camels, art and handicrafts galleries and wind tower surrounding us. We wanted to stay for few more hours but it was getting late and MEHR was hungry and crying.