New Country, New Adventures - Part 2

Assalamu'alaikum everyone!

I stopped posting for awhile because of this final thesis I needed to do for my master's.  Alhamdulillah, it's over and now I'm just waiting for the results (make du'a for me!).  I'm falling behind with all the amazing things we're doing and my posting.  Here are pictures from a few weeks ago.  Enjoy!

Dubai Metro




Dubai Metro Station


I had to post on the Dubai Metro because the way they've built the stations reminds me of the Jetsons.  As a New Yorker, public transportation is something we tend to talk a lot of trash about, but definitely do not appreciate enough.  I first learned that when we traveled through the rest of America and realized there's nothing like NY's subway, railroads, etc.  Alhamdulillah, Dubai has a metro that runs along the one major highway, Shaikh Zayed Road.  Most of the major development is along this road and it pretty much is Dubai.  The metro is incredibly cheap, one ride to the furthest end is a dollar and change.  They have a max that the metro can charge you per day.  So if you reach this max (which is cheap), you can ride limitlessly all day without paying.  I love it.  Of course there are drawbacks such as speed, not always very convenient, etc., but Alhamdulillah you appreciate what you can get.  It's better than nothing!

Dubai Malls

Dubai has tons of malls and they are the place to go around here.  I'm not a big mall person and I really don't understand the point of walking around a mall for fun if you aren't going to shop.  I don't like window shopping because it makes me want things that either I can't afford or I don't need.  I will only go to the mall whhen I need something.  Here...it's very common to go to the mall on a weekly basis just to hang out and walk around.  The malls are beautiful and they have many high-end designer stores...but still not my cup of tea.  When I first got here, I was so impressed with the architecture and beautiful details that I was taking snapshots...until I realized I'm going to be living here and seeing this everyday.  So...here's a few of my quick shots.

Section of the Dubai Mall.



Aquarium in the Dubai Mall.

Mercato (an Italian-themed mall).

Ceiling of Khan Murjan Souk (traditional arts/crafts souk underground in the Wafi Mall)



Close up of the ceiling.



Light show at the Wafi Mall (an Egyptian themed mall).



China Section of Ibn Battuta Mall (sections of the mall represent different regions of the world).

Dubai Beaches

I have only been to two of the beaches in Dubai.  Unfortunately, the set up of the beaches is the same back in the states...absolutely inappropriate for Muslims.  It really sucks because back home we could only enjoy going to the beach either incredibly early in the morning (before anyone got there) or around maghrib time (when everyone is leaving).  We were hoping it would be a little different here (not really sure what we were expecting)...but def. not absolute nakedness.  In fact, we were just in a cab driving by one of the beaches and saw an absolutely naked guy standing on the side of the street next to the beach.  I'm pretty sure he could get locked up for that...but wth!  Anyways, one of the days we went was really for the restaurant located on the beach...and it was way too cold for anyone to be in the water.  The other time we went was at night and I don't have any pictures of that.  We live right across the street from a marina/beach...but it's for the hotels only.  The public beach is about a 30 minute beautiful walk along the marina from us. 

Beach by the restaurant.

Beautiful water of the gulf!