Tasmania & New Zealand

Dubai is a unique place I think. It’s so full of expats (from around the world) it’s hard sometimes to understand its authentic identity (what on earth do I mean by that, not sure even I really know?!)

There’s constant building here, the receptionist on our arrival said the place changes vastly from year to year, made possible by huge investment and cheap ‘international’ labour.

On the surface there’s a western mentality. Arabic is the main language, but English is spoken everywhere too. In the tourist ‘haven’ of the Dubai Mall, for example, the shops are internationally known mega brands. You could be in a mall anywhere in the world and recognise everything from shops to eateries.

I think the UAE/Dubai-ness comes out in the opulence, traditional clothing worn by many men and women, the huge framed pictures of their ruling Sheikh etc. Certain online apps (WhatsApp, Skype etc) had been disabled for video calls. You have to use one of their approved apps, so there is state control.

In the posh tourist areas (such as our hotel), the service culture is second to none, nothing is too much trouble. Obviously there’s a flip side which is hidden from the holidaying visitor. I imagine the contrast to be unimaginable, the day to day service industry workers having a totally different life experience.

I’m not much of a social commentator, but it is a curious bubble-like place which you quite literally, have to ‘buy’ into if you live there.

Anyway, enough of that…. After a busy and tiring Saturday, we had a leisurely brekkie and were glad to be able to stay in our room until check out at midday.

In all other hotels we would take our bags downstairs ourselves, even if a portering service was available. At this hotel it would be seen as lack of their service and desire to please - and could reflect badly on the concierges etc. So rather sheepishly, we called down to ask for our bags to be collected. Within moments the doorbell to our room rang (yes we had a doorbell!) and the porter loaded our scrappy luggage onto one of those traditional mega portering trollies. I thought we’d glide down the 39 floors in the same lift. Silly me, he used the service lift or course. We also had the cringy tip scenario, which I let Col manage!

As we checked out, the receptionist said our bags had been loaded in the taxi already, which was ready for us outside!
We’re so not used to this level of service, it’s nice for a treat, but I think I’d struggle having to constantly smile and say thank you every few seconds (or perhaps I’m just a crotchety old bird?!)

Even though this final travel leg sadly signalled the end of our amazing travels, I just needed it to be over now and to be home…….

The 7+ hour flight was fine and in comparison to the 14 hour one from Sydney, a breeze! Plus the food was so much better which was a bonus (on the Sydney leg, I’d opted for a ‘bland meal’ which I’d taken to be plain and simple food. Nope, it was a disgusting wet mush of something indistinguishable 🤢, even the hostesses struggled to name it!)

On this trip we’ve taken 8 flights (I think). Relieved to say our luggage has obediently followed us without question, even when we’ve done the self service baggage drop ourselves and grappled uselessly with the airline sticky tags!

We eventually emerged into a hectic arrivals area, indicating that was it, our travels were over. So massively grateful to Mike, who picked us up, and sped us down an empty M25, M3, M27 etc etc.

And phew we’re finally home. What a fantastic trip ♥️Read more