This was a quick trip to see my sis before visiting my parents in Romania. Incidentally, it was 4 years after seeing her previously, and 10 years after seeing her again. My impression of Dubai, in spite of its scorching hot climate, was that of a distant and cold destination. Hospitality was welcoming wherever we went, but it was always interacting with workers and people born anywhere but there. The real locals were always doing their own things and, living, playing and praying in areas away from where tourists had seemingly no access to.
The highlights of the trip (other than spending great quality time with sis) was visiting the local bazaars called souks, eating delicious Egyptian food and doing the desert safari. And yes, I did thoroughly enjoy venturing on a ATM between sand dunes on a cold desert evening, but NO, I did not go for the camel ride, which was popular with almost everybody else. 🙂
