My first ever solo trip — Dubai
Hello everyone,
I hope you and your family are safe during this pandemic.
This is my first attempt at writing a blog, so I’m feeling a bit nervous but also excited to share my experience of my first solo trip. I can assure you that you will enjoy reading my blog and learn how to overcome your barriers rather than avoiding them.
You will also get to see Dubai and Abu Dhabi through my eyes and lens as I talk about all the places to check out.
Why am I travelling solo?
Yes, there is a reason behind that which is — Anxiety.
I used to suffer from anxiety which made it hard for me to travel alone, especially by plane due to the fear of turbulence.
However, I decided to take a solo trip to Dubai after a schoolmate, Vaibhav, invited me to visit during the Shopping Festival in January. He offered his apartment for me to stay, helping me save on accommodation. He also guided me in getting around Dubai.
I started my journey from Pune airport on 24th January 2020 and landed in Dubai at around 3:15 AM. I booked a taxi to reach my friend’s apartment and rested the entire day before starting my sightseeing in the evening.
Day 1 — Atlantis: The Palm Jumeirah
In the morning, I arrived in the beautiful Arabic land and my friend told me that we were going to Palm Jumeirah in the evening. I must admit, I was a bit nervous for a moment because I had only seen Palm Jumeirah in movies and on NatGeo so far.
We decided to book a cab to get there, although we also had the option of taking a bus or the metro. It was my first time touring such a beautiful and spectacular city, and I was amazed by the sight of the huge skyscrapers.
When we reached Palm Island, the seaside view was stunning, with a walking track on the side. I also got to see my dream cars driving on the road, which I had only seen in Hollywood films until then.
It was a dream scenario for a middle-class boy like me!
When we returned to Vaibhav’s apartment, I was initially stopped by the guard because it was his company’s accommodation flat and I didn’t have permission to stay there. However, we managed to convince the guard that I actually lived in Dubai and would only be there at his place for a few hours until our work was done. And that’s how I ended up entering his apartment.
Day 2 — City tour and malls around
I recently visited Dubai during the shopping festival, which usually takes place between November-December and February-March. My friend guided me through the city’s transportation options such as routes, metro lines, and buses.
Initially, I didn’t expect much of a difference from Indian malls and brands, but visiting Dubai’s shopping scene was an eye-opening experience. The variety of brands and products was unprecedented, and I spent hours browsing through the shops. We also explored the city area, including the financial centre, Business Bay, and nearby areas, which I highly recommend visiting.
Day 3 — Miracle Garden and Mall of Emirates
Miracle Garden was highly recommended by everyone. It’s a seasonal garden that is only open for 3 to 5 months (depending on the weather) each year. The garden is beautifully maintained and filled with flowers and leaves of various colours. I heard that they decorate a different theme for a certain part of the garden each year, and the most popular theme was a Disney one.
After visiting the garden, I went to the Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest malls in the city. The mall has two buildings, one older and one built a few years ago.
I was quite hungry but didn’t want to have meat for lunch, so I spent an hour searching for a McDonald’s in the entire mall. Luckily, I found one. The staff member at the store was Indian, from Maharashtra, and advised me to use a coupon, which allowed me to get a 70% discount on my meal [Lucky day].
Day 4 — Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall
Complete jungle of buildings with one of the greatest and most stunning architectures the world has ever seen. Dubai Mall is currently the world’s biggest mall. I was only on one floor for like 4.5 hours! Now you can imagine, right? [haha]
There is a huge Aquarium and Underwater Zoo inside it. So you can get a combo ticket which includes the Aquarium + Burj Khalifa (124th & 125th floor).
The Aquarium and Zoo were very large and must-visit places if you are a sea creature lover. Dubai Mall contains almost all the things, and brands in the world in terms of clothing, technology, etc.
Now I can’t express my experience of Burj Khalifa. When I saw it for the first time, I lost myself in some other fantasy. Seriously, it was nothing like one fantasy place; it was extraordinary, massive, and humongous.
There’s a lake just outside the mall & Burj Khalifa where they organize an eye-catching water dance and laser show every day.
Inside the building of Burj Khalifa, there is a huge elevator in the lobby to go up to the 124th and 125th floors to capture and experience the mesmerizing view from the roof of the world’s largest and tallest building. When I was on the roof, my anxiety struck, and my legs started to shiver literally. So for that instance, I took one corner and told myself, “If not now, then it will never!” and I took a long breath to walk into the transparent roof of the building. It was like a winning moment for me at that time.
The elevator itself was one ultimate journey, as it has a virtual reality concept added to it. So overall, it was an unforgettable and life-changing experience for me. I can’t explain it in words literally!!
Day 5 — La Mer beach
My friend Vaibhav taught me how and where to take the bus and metro, so I started my solo journey from that day.
I’ve always enjoyed spending evenings by the beach, as it gives me a chance to reflect on life. It was quite a relaxing day overall. I spent the whole day resting, and in the evening, I headed to La Mer beach. It’s a nice place to hang out in the evening and experience the beauty and romance of Dubai.
The weather was lovely, and the beach was large and clean. I found a spot on the beach to unwind and de-stress. It was the first time that I wished someone had been there with me, wink.
It was a very relaxed evening!
When I got back home, the guard spotted me as I entered the building. It was quite funny because I was alone at that moment. I hurried to the hotel where we used to have our meals. After some time, I returned there and fortunately, he wasn’t there, so I managed to enter the building again.
Day 6 — Bur Dubai and Gold Souq
Dubai’s old city is just as beautiful as the new one, as it has preserved and maintained its original charm. The old city, known as “Bur Dubai,” offers the opportunity to stroll around and sample dried fruits and chocolates, as well as shop for items at very affordable prices. I reached Bur Dubai by taking a boat across the river.
A friend of mine from Pune, who lives in Dubai, invited me to his office in Bur Dubai. He took me to explore various places in the area and we visited a shop in the market to purchase some local specialties.
On the other hand, the new city, Bur Dubai, is filled with shopping options such as spices, dried fruits, electronics, watches, purses, date chocolates, and saffron. I employed the Indian bargaining technique to negotiate prices, something I learned from my mom, to get good deals on the items I bought from the market.
Following this, I wandered down the street and arrived at the Gold Souq (Gold Market), where I was amazed to find a wide variety of gold, diamonds, and other products available at prices lower than in India (approximately 2k-4k). It truly made me feel like I was in an Arab country.
The experience of seeing gold, diamonds, dates, and saffron was incredibly enriching and reminiscent of the items that were once possessed by Indian Maharajas.
Day 7 — Global Village
When we were teenagers, we always wanted to travel the world, experience different cultures, and try new foods. This place was perfect for that because it showcased almost all countries and their unique cultures. I reached there by bus and metro after an hour’s journey from the city.
At the entrance, I saw replicas of all the wonders of the world standing tall on the floor. Seeing all these wonders in one place was an amazing experience. They also held fireworks shows every night at 9, which was worth watching.
As a huge fan of coffee, I tried Iranian Coffee, which was made hot by heated sand, and it was awesome! You can try special dishes from each city or country there.
Day 8 — Abu Dhabi (Part 1: Ferrari World and Heritage Village, Date market)
Abu Dhabi is one of the most sensational cities to visit in the UAE. I went on a trip with a traveller who had a fantastic monster car and drove at a speed of 160 km/h.
During the tour, I met a couple from Venezuela and had a great conversation with them about their country, culture, and similarities with our own. Our first stop was the Ferrari World, where I saw real Ferrari car models for the first time in my life. They were truly stunning cars! You can also enjoy rides like roller coasters, but you need to buy a ticket to enter.
After that, we visited the Date Markets, where you can buy a variety of dates and chocolates. Then we headed to the Heritage Village, where you can learn about how ancient Arabians lived see their hut structures, and more.
In addition, there is a beautiful beach where you can sit and enjoy the view of the city and its surroundings.
Day 8 — Abu Dhabi (Part 2: Emirates palace and The Grand Mosque)
After having lunch, we headed to the Emirates Palace where you need a pass to visit. However, because of our driver, they allowed us inside the area. The palace was amazing both from the inside and outside. It is one of the most expensive luxury hotels in the world, and it’s easy to see why.
At the end of the day, I visited the world’s largest mosque, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, also known as The Grand Mosque. It is one of the most beautiful architectural wonders with outstanding interior and peaceful spaces I have ever visited. Your mind and body just relax when you see that white-marbled architecture with golden outlines.
The walls have well hand-carved designs, and there is a huge chandelier, the biggest I have ever seen in my life. The widely spread carpet on the floor is also quite eye-catching. This is one of my favourite places in the UAE after Burj Khalifa.
Day 9 — JBR and Burj-Al-Arab
Early in the morning, I visited JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residency), one of the most luxurious areas in Dubai. It was an amazing experience to stroll through the area and admire the stunning buildings. The beachside area offers a beautiful, clean, and scenic view. There are plenty of water sports and other activities to enjoy. I had a great time exploring the beach, residency, and the nearby area on foot.
Later, I visited the iconic Burj-Al-Arab, one of the most spectacular and finest architectural wonders in the world. Although I couldn’t afford to go inside, I was thrilled to see it because my favourite tennis players, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, often play tennis on the hotel’s roof.
As I was leaving the apartment to head to the airport, the guard saw me again. Finally, I opened up to him, and he said, “If you had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have said anything. I’m also Indian.” My friend and I burst into laughter, and it reminded me of a famous dialogue from Shahrukh Khan, “In big cities…”
During my trip to Dubai, I had a great and exciting experience exploring the streets and lanes of Dubai and Abu Dhabi on a low budget, travelling solo.
My self-belief and confidence helped me plan and travel around, which allowed me to enjoy my time and overcome my fears and anxieties. This trip has left me with many wonderful memories and has taught me a lot about travelling solo.
I feel more confident and fearless now.
