November 14, 2014 (Dubai, UAE)

It was our last day on our trip but we still packed it in. We first went to Ski Dubai! Ski Dubai is a very small ski resort with one small chair, and a rope tow. It was so much fun! After we were done skiing we got some snow boots and headed up to the rides. The first ride we did was this bob sled track. While we were waiting in line we saw a little kid get shoved into the sled and pushed down the track and hit all the walls while he was screeching!  Next I went in a big Zorb ball and was  rolled down the hill. Then we did the tubes and at last another bob sled track, which was included with all the other rides. Right after we then headed to church but when we got there they told us it wasn't for another hour. So we headed to the hotel to get lunch.

It was great to go back to church and + I will also we able to go on Sunday back in Park City. Robinson our new friend joined us at church. The church met in a large home in a neighborhood and there were many people from all over the world that are working in Dubai attending church. 

We took the metro over to the old town of Dubai where they had local shops, spices, and souvenirs. To get over to some of the shops we had to take a boat over, which was only 1 Dirham, which is around 30 cents. We first went to the Dubai Museum. At the museum they showed some of the history and culture. While we were there it showed how the people would farm for Pearls. Since they didn't have scuba gear they would free dive with a net to pick up the oysters. After we took a water taxi over to the shops on the other side of the river. The markets were filled with spices and gold. When we were done we caught a taxi and went back to the hotel. 

For dinner we ordered room service, we were just too tired to go out. After dinner we left the hotel and headed to the airport. It was sad to leave our trip. Our flight was almost 16 hours. This trip was so amazing! My top 3 most favorite places were: 3. Ant’s Nest, South Africa 2. Seychelles 1. Dubai Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

November 13, 2014 (Dubai, UAE)

Today was a very busy day. It was our second to last day on the trip! We first traveled to the Burj al Arab. It was vey cool. It is one of the older hotels, at 15 years old. It was the leader of technology in the hotel business. Even at it’s age it still has a camera and other functions at the front door, and computer systems throughout the house. At the lobby and entrance of the Burj al Arab there are 2 fish tanks on either wall, and 2 fountains which would shoot crystal clear water. Almost all things you see that look gold are gold plated, gold leafed, or solid gold! While we were in one of the shops I was  able to hold a PLATINUM iPhone 6! 

Next we departed Burj Al Arab, and journeyed to the Atlantis where we  had a dolphin show and scuba dived in one of the largest aquariums in the world with thousands of fish! But we first played with the dolphins. It was so amazing to play with them, see them flip, and do tricks! They are such smart animals. Next we ate lunch then got ready for our dive. It was very cold but deffinnently worth it. We dived with all sorts of marine life including Rays, exotic fish, and sharks. While we were in the tank we were also able to see the people outside the tank and wave.

When we were driving back we fared at some exotic car dealerships. One of which had some very rare cars like the McLaren P1 (375 in the world), the Lykan hyper sport  (7 in the world), and the Koinenzegg CCXR (1 in the world of that color). When we got back to the hotel we strolled over to the Thai restaurant inside the hotel. It was good.

November 12, 2014 (Dubai, UAE)

It was a short stay at Qasar al Sarab, but we made it last. I had an early wake up call at 5:30. The reason I was getting up so early was because I was going dune bashing. It was lots of fun! The activity included riding in a 4x4 and going up and down steep dunes. We stopped a couple times first to watch the sun rise, second for Tea and snacks, third to go to the camel farm, and fourth to see the horses. After an hour and a half time we went to our second activity. Our second activity was archery where we would drive out to the archery range. To be honest it went better than expected. Our teacher was Ajab. It was so much fun to have competitions and to play with them. After our activity we relaxed at our room then had lunch and chilled at the big pool. Later we checked out and headed to DUBAI!

We were staying at the JW Marriott Dubai, the tallest hotel in the world! The JW is a twin tower building, we are staying in the A building on the 59th floor.  Later that night we went to the Dubai Mall, the worlds largest mall. The Dubai mall has 1,200 stores! Next we went to dinner at the tallest building in the world at a magnificent 163 floors, the Burj Kalifa! The food was some of the best I had ever had + our chef was hilarious. We watched the dancing fountains during dinner, which was amazing and three times the size of the ones in Las Vegas. Next we went to the top of the Burj Kalifa. It was crazy how high we were! It was built 4 years ago. We got back at around 11. After we then settled in, then went to bed.

November 11, 2014 (Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Sarab, UAE)

It was our last day in Abu Dhabi. We were going to Qasr Al Sarab. But first we went to the third largest mosque in the world and Emirates Palace, which is a hotel. The mosque was magnificent. We had a tour of it. Inside it it had the world’s largest carpet and the 2nd world’s largest chandelier. It has a Taj Mahal vide to it but much newer. It had lots of marble and lots of carpet! Muslims pray 5 times each day. Once at sunrise until after sunset. The Islamic calendar is different than the International Calendar. In the Islamic Calendar we are in the 1461 year, I think. Before each time they pray or before they touch the holy book of the Koran they have to wash themselves. They have large rooms where men and women separately wash themselves. 

Next we went to Emirates Palace. When the Kings and Queens of other Middle Eastern Countries come to Abu Dhabi they stay in the Royal Suites at the Emirates Palace. At the Palace you can ride bikes around the campus and you can even get gold at the vending machines or ride a camel on their beach with Algerian sand. The rooms were huge! 

We had a 3 hour drive to Qasr Al Sarab. This hotel was amazing! It was in the middle of no where with sand dunes surrounding it. As soon as we got there we checked in, had lunch and then went to our activity. Our first activity was driving out into the desert where we had a perigean falcon show and a Salughi dog show. They first showed the Salughi dogs. They can run up to 50 miles per hour. They are known for being in the middle east. We were able to see two of the dogs race for a toy in the desert. Next we watched the Perigean falcons. They were so amazing. They took the falcons a distant away from a fake bird hooked on a string. As soon as they released the falcon the falcon went flying straight towards the fake bird and as soon as he got to it the man holding the fake bird slung it around and dodged the falcon. This happened several times. A couple times the falcon came a foot or two away from my face! Later that evening we got ready for dinner and headed down. Dinner was on the sand covered by rugs. It was  traditional arabic BBQ. Later this evening we wrote our blogs and then went to bed.

November 10, 2014 (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

Today was a VERY BIG day! It was a late start but still a big day. We first went to the Viceroy Hotel that the Formula One Race Track goes right through. It was very modern! Next we went to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi! It is the largest indoor theme park. When we got there we went straight to the Ferrari showroom where they had the LaFerrari and Michael Schumacher’s F1 car! The LaFerrari that we saw was one of 499 in the whole entire world! Next we went to the Formula Rossa. It is the world’s fastest roller coaster. After watching other people do it it made me nervous. We decided to go in the very front. It was extremely fast. It went 150 mph+. Next we went to the go karts which had just opened that day. We had to get a ticket and then wait 45 mins. During that time we went to a 4D movie and simulator ride. Mom felt really sick after it. The go karts were very cool. They were electric go karts. The floor was really slippery but still fun. I got second place out of about 16 people. Right after we did the Formula Rossa again. It was just as much fun as the first time. 

Lunch was great at the theme park. We went to a restaurant that only is found in Ferrari World and across the street from the Ferrari home in Italy. The drive simulator I did after lunch was kind of fun. For the drive simulator I was sitting in a Formula 1 car basically lying down in it while the car was raised and moving by hydraulics, side to side and up and down. That made me kind of sick. Overall Ferrari World was so much fun. It was great to be there and see all the cars including LaFerrari, Michael Schumachers F1 and the Ferrari 458 Speciale. 

If that wasn’t enough we went to the partner company YAS Water World right across the street. It was so much fun! We only had two hours there but we made the best of it. At the water park they even had a surf simulator. For the experienced surfers they went on the big surf simulator that even was barreling. I rode 13 rides in 1 hour 45 minutes. My favorite ride was probably Camel Humps which was steep slide that had several steep drops. 

Later that night we went to a mall that was supposed to be Arabic themed but it felt more Japanese. There we bought a pack of gold Dubai cards. I love them. Dinner back near the Ritz Carlton was amazing. We went to a Japanese restaurant right next door to the Ritz.  I personally had sushi but my mom had Japanese BBQ which the restaurant was famous for. The chefs and cook were really friendly. All the people we met were surprisingly from the Philippines. Later that night we settled in and went to bed.