Can I visit the Burj Al Arab?

The Burj Al Arab is an iconic building in Dubai. It's a dream honeymoon location and if you can afford it, it is a place to visit when you're in Dubai.

Although if you do want to visit, don't expect just to walk up and have a peep inside. With the number of visitors in Dubai every year, it's just not doable and at between £1,200 and £5,200 per night, if you can afford to stay there, you really don't want to be tripping over hoards of tourists.

But fear not you can visit, you just need to have a reservation in one of the many restaurants, can book for sundowners and of course experience one of their afternoon teas. If you're resident in the UAE you can get a discount of £400 at certain times of the year on the smaller suites.

We visited in 2016 for my 45th birthday and Peter treated me to afternoon tea in the Sky View Bar. It costs £125 per person and an additional £20 for a window seat.

Visiting the Sky Bar means you can see the whole of the hotel (minus the Suites). It is beautifully decorated with giant fish tanks alongside the escalators in the entrance lobby, the food and service was wonderful.

It was a bit strange being in the Sky View Bar with people who had travelled from all around the world, celebrating engagements, wedding anniversaries and big birthdays, while we had a clear view of our house, along the beach only 5km away.

It was difficult to choose just 5 photos, but here you go.....enjoy.

Burj Al Arab at night.

Looking back to the entrance foyer.

 1st foor, lift straight ahead.

Looking up.

Sky View Bar.

I have a million and one other photo's of various rooms, decoration, the food and the views. I took advantage of taking as many photos as I could because at these prices it was probably the first and last time I visited.

Week 158 Bluewater Islands and Dubai Eye. Man made island a 210m high Big Wheel
Week 159 Dubai Marina - Reflections
Week 160 Dubai Frame. A window between the Old and New Dubai and a 150m high glass floor.

Week 161 Dubai Marina 3 years apart.

Week 162 Dubai Water Canal Bridge Construction and reconfiguration of roads

Week 163 New Metro Line for Expo 2020
Week 164 Hoover Dam 2002 - 2010
Week 165 Dubai Opera House What a difference a year makes
Week 166 Unfinished buildings. The Pentominium
Week 167 Mixing the old and the new. Coventry Catherdral
Week 168 New Dubai Metro Station 
Week 169 Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa 
Week 170 After the Address fire 
Week 171 The Opus Building
Week 172 District Cooling. Keeping the desert cool.

One Daily Positive 2017 Week 2 After the visitors

There's a bit of a change on the blog, I'm still Chickenruby and in my 8th year of blogging, I've just decided to drop the words 'Expat' 'solo travel' and 'family life'

I'm not really sure what an expat is anymore, Dubai is just where I live now, like South Africa before that and various places in the UK before that. My youngest child finished school this June, although he left home over 3 years ago now. The solo travel isn't really solo, I stay with friends and family in places where I've lived. The world of the internet is full of blog posts on 'how to pack a suit case' 'best places to visit with kids' I don't need to keep reinventing the wheel.

This month is also the 6th anniversary of us leaving the UK. As well as writing my weekly #Project 365, HDYGG? Animal Tales and My Sunday Photo Photo posts, I will be reflecting quite a bit, as I celebrate 25 years of parenting in May this year.

The visitors have gone, they left on Tuesday. I must admit I am enjoying the peace and quiet, but I know it won't last long. It's hard being an expat, family come and it's an intense few weeks, then nothing till the next trip, which will be me visiting the UK in March/April.

The last few days were busy with a desert safari on Sunday and I managed to get the christmas decorations down on Monday when the kids popped to the beach, followed by a visit to the Aquarium, some last minute shopping and a new suitcase for me with industrial wheels followed by afternoon tea at The Palace Hotel. Peter and the teen spent the evening installing a new TV and sound bar.

It was an early start, 4am on Tuesday to the airport for the goodbyes, it doesn't get any easier. I then spent the day cleaning and blitzing the house. 

Wednesday involved a lie in, food shop and coffee. The decorations were put away, although there is still a set of lights to come down but it's a two person job. I did the ironing, a bit more tidying and then headed off to a friends house where Peter joined me for a pub quiz and dinner.

Thursday morning was spent gardening, then off to work to collect my final salary pay cheque, I opted not to let anyone know I was coming and left some stuff in reception. I called in at the garden centre on my way home, followed by dinner and an early night.

Friday and another lie in, took Bob for a play date, followed by my first proper night out out in Dubai with some of the girls from work, which saw me dancing on the beach, drinking cocktails and getting home at 3.30am. 

Saturday and another lie in, took Bob to soft play for an hour and spent the evening on the sofa with the duvet.

I'm determined to find something new to do with our next lot of visitors.
8/365 Goals.

Afternoon tea at The Palace Hotel with my niece my first visit here and 1st time I've been defeated. 
9/365 New.

Could only find gluten free bread so I'm toasting it in the hope it's tastes better. I really need to start eating more healthily, but it's been difficult with all the visitors.
10/365 Make up

The first time since I left work that I've had a chance to tidy up properly and find a place for everything 11/365 Smells Good.

First meal I've cooked from scratch in ages.
12/365 I'm cooking.

Duvet day in preparation for going out.
13/365 Inspire.

Taking Bob to soft play

14/365 Car.

This week on the blog.

My Sunday Photo 'S is for Selfie'
HDYGG with a visit to Zaabeel, Dubai Garden Glow
And a post about 'why I'm done with being a tour guide' with #PoCoLo

Week 48 - One Daily Positive and Project 366

A few days without visitors, for as from Wednesday we are full up till January 10th 2017.

Been waiting for my Mother to arrive to start Christmas and for the UAE National Day Celebrations to end to show her what Dubai offers over the Christmas period.

Having arrived on Wednesday morning and me being granted early leave from work, we visited the Creek and took an Abra over to the Gold Souk and took a walk along the Dubai Water Canal, before Mother admitted defeat and said 'STOP' I need to teach her a few Arabic words starting with 'Khalas' which means 'enough'

Thursday we went into the desert with Bob, popped into the Garden Centre and the Oasis Mall.

Friday to Mall of the Emirates and then Dubai Marina and The Beach at JBR for dinner and to watch the firework display.

Saturday was a trip to Dubai Mall for a quick run round to see the Burj Khalifa, the aquarium, some shopping and of course coffee and cake.

My mother says Dubai is noisy, looks like Gothom City and is bling on steroids. She is however loving every minute of her visit and is looking forward to both Peter and I being in work tomorrow so she can just rest and take time to gather her thoughts before her head explodes, we've only shown her a small fraction of what is yet to come.

Sunday Day 332 Abandoned places.

My sewing room where I've been attempting to make beds for rescued dogs, feel slightly better for dropping off a box of towels, 2 beds, a carrier and several blankets to Doggies Palace on behalf of DAWS. Mother will be sewing for me during the week while I'm working.

Monday Day 333 Outdoors

Afternoon tea on the way home from work with a friend, fantastic view of the Burj Khalifa from Fortnum and Mason, stayed until sunset to watch the fountains and LED display. Will be taking the mother here of course.

Tuesday Day 334 Mythical Creatures.

My troll collection from when I was a teenager.

Wednesday Day 335 Dark.

They don't do dark in Dubai. Waterfall off Sheik Zayed Road lit up in the colours of the UAE flag for National Day on the newly opened Dubai Water Canal.

Thursday Day 336 Art.

More lights, more colours from the UAE flag.

Friday Day 337 Lunchtime. 

A show to explain the 45th National Day for the UAE.

Saturday Day 338 Happy.

So enjoyed this morning and the cooler weather that the fog brought us, although it is slightly scary when you can't see the Burj Khalifa from anywhere, slight feeling of doom and Armageddon kicks in.

Week 78 - My Sunday Photo. Inside the Burj Al Arab

It's my birthday today, I'm 45, I'm in work  and my husband is out this evening at a function. So on Friday he booked afternoon tea for two in the SkyView Bar at the Burj Al Arab. 

                       

After valet parking we entered the foyer and were directed towards the escalators to a reception area, the lift was called and we ascended to the 27th floor. I of course stopped along the route to take photos, before tucking into sandwiches and cakes until we were both stuffed and talking about our grandparents, from Newport and Stockport, 'if only they could see us now'

Week 25 - One Daily Positive, project 366 and SnapHappyBritMums

I started the week exhausted, after a busy weekend with Bonnie the foster dog, she's 8 months old. I had no idea how much time and energy a puppy took. Sadly I still haven't found a forever home for her, but she does have another foster mum to go to on Thursday while I'm travelling.
The week included a Ladies night to watch the football in a bar, my birthday tea at The Burj Al Arab, the air con packed in Friday and wasn't fixed till Saturday night and with temps reaching 44c and a low of 36c, it wasn't nice and Wales won the football........'get in there'

On the blog this week:

#MySundayPhoto Keeping cool in Dubai
#PoCoLo #AnimalTales Meet Bonnie the foster dog
#HDYGG Peonies
#PhotalifeWATER Water feature in the Burj Al Arab

Sunday Day 171 #onedailypositive #project366 #dad #june2016 #snaphappybritmums

Monday Day 172 #onedailypositive #project366 #card #june2016 #snaphappybritmums for my husband on Father's Day in the absence of a card from any of the 5 kids. Let's hope for a better turn out for my birthday on Sunday.

Tuesday Day 173 #onedailypositive #project366 #OnTop #june2016 #snaphappybritmums it's 7.25pm here in Dubai. I started cleaning at 4pm. Curtains and cushion seats have been washed and are outside drying. Conservatory cleaned within an inch of its life and finally the smell of dog has gone. I now have to sort this out, walk the dogs and go to bed. Should be On Top of all this by 9pm.

Wednesday Day 174 #onedailypositive #project366 #salad #june2016 #snaphappybritmums does the fancy dressing count as a salad? Pork bangers and mash washed down with a rum and Coke or 7 watching#euro2016 in a bar.

Thursday Day 175 #onedailypositive #project366 #travel #june2016 #snaphappybritmums getting excited about the first flight of my summer holiday travel

Friday Day 175 #onedailypositive #project366 #business #june2016 #snaphappybritmums serious business being this being spoilt @burjalarab#afternoontea #birthday #treat #spoilt #dubai #mydubai #myview #expat#dubailifestyle #dubailife

Saturday Day 177 #onedailypositive #project366 #bml16 #june2016 #snaphappybritmums I'm having a crap day, arguments in a group on Facebook, cowards hiding behind a screen, the air con is broken in the villa and we've spent the day in the bedroom where the air con does work, tag teaming the cat and dogs to give them access to a cool room but not all at the same time. The pump has gone on the water tank and it's taken bloody ages to do the washing needed. The air con repair man was due this am and now isn't coming till 8pm so we've not been able to go out and now I'm wondering why I'm bothering with these photo prompts when @britmums don't interact with me and I'm on my 2nd year, I'd expected a bit more than once a month several 'likes' it's BML16 today and that is the photo prompt, living 3000 miles away and school time I can't join in with it. I've only been once which was in 2012 so I'll share with you my bag that was in my goodie pack that has travelled 1000's of miles in my handbag as a shopping bag. It's been to South Africa, the U.K., the UAE, Canada, Oman and this year is off to Germany for its holiday. I've hinted before I'd like another please as this one is getting a bit tatty. It's been photographed in Kruger, Niagara Falls as well as loads of other interesting places, it's sparked conversations with random strangers on trains and planes.

My Sunday Photo Week 10 Meeting other expats and making friends

An early Mother's Day lunch at The Raffles Hotel in Dubai, with my new friends.

My expat journey started in January 2011, 2 years on and I was still struggling to make friends, find my place in a new country and reinvent myself. Finally life started to settle down and then at the end of year 3, the kids having left home, just hubby and I with a cat and a dog, life started to be normal again. I still couldn't work but I'd established a network, I had friends, a social life, my volunteering was now a full time occupation. I felt I finally had something to contribute in life, I belonged.

Then in our 4th year, a visit to Dubai in January 2014, we were asked to consider another move. My first thought was 'No, I don't want to go, I'm not ready to up sticks and leave again, start over we knew South Africa wasn't going to be our forever home, but after fighting so hard to make things work I really didn't want it to come to an end just yet.

My biggest fear with relocating again was how I was going to meet people. I'm more established now on facebook and twitter and have connected with expats far and wide. This time with the move I made connections prior to moving, joined expat groups online, did more research on the country and unlike the first move had 2 visits prior to moving where I could explore, search for housing and generally get a feel of what would be my new home for how many years we are here for.

I met up with a group of expat ladies last week from all over the UK, I met one of them on social media though a project I'm taking part in called #Project365. I link up everyday with @theboyandme on twitter who runs the link. I take photo prompts from @Britmums #Snaphappybritmums and #fmsphotoaday. I've also added in my own hashtag #onedailypositive.

It has been my life saver. It motivates me. I plan the week in advance of where I'm going and what I'm doing to be able to take a photo that meets the challenges. I look for the positives in the day. It gives me a focus. It is also helping with fighting the depression as it makes life easier when you have friends and something to look forward to each week.

Of course in Dubai, unlike South Africa, I can travel and move around freely, I bump into people who say hello and smile and I don't think that they're looking at me as potential victim anymore.

I've met other expats before of course and I've joined many other groups, both online and face to face, but it hasn't been my thing. It's been too competitive, too unreal, too cliquey. This lot made me laugh, made me feel welcome, shared their expat experiences and then invited me to meet them again for coffee, shopping and lunches.

I wrote this post a while ago after a string of disastrous expat meet ups. Do you identify with they type of expat you are?