“Would I go back to Dubai? No. Not without a man or security detail.”
Trip Report Card
- Accommodations: C
- People & Culture: D+
- Experiences & Excursions: A+
- Cost & Affordability: C
Trip Highlights
- The Dinner in the Sky Experience
- I held a dolphin
- Experiencing the longest urban zip line
- I had a travel buddy!
Trip Breakdown
Going through security in the Dubai airport was straightforward. Very easy, especially to someone who always gets lost (me). They did search my bag and my pulled my underwear all out, the young woman tasked with searching my bag was bashful, she apologized a lot as she fumbled though my things. I told her it’s okay she is just doing her job. However, I will take a moment to comment her impressively flawless makeup. I was looking more at her countour skills than my exposed thongs. After I left the airport and settled into my hotel, I decided to venture out for some sightseeing. The architecture of the city were awesome! I took Uber everywhere including to dinner.
I had an exhilarating Dinner in the Sky experience! I’m not afraid of heights so it’s only right I eat 300 meters in the air. My server was very accommodating and dinner was alright honestly, but to do something like this it’s the views you’re after not a 5 star meal so I leveled my expectations. After dinner, my jet lag hadn’t caught up to me yet (yay) so I decided to go to the Dubai mall, drop some bands, well Dirams. I hadn’t converted USD to their currency yet so I’m just spending away like I got money like that. Had my bank account screaming, “Niecey please stop!”
I came to my senses when I finally found a store to buy a traditional kaftan. The store rep did his job, he got his sale after being so kind and letting me try on as many clothes as I could, he told me I look like @rihanna too. I know I don’t but I wanted a reason to tag her (shameless plug – I know) and giving me a good price on my hand made clothing after that I was done shopping and ran away from every salesperson. Shielding my wallet like Sméagol did in Lord of the Rings, “my preciousss”. Any who, Dubai day 1 was a blast!
Since Dubai is 9 hours ahead of East Coast time in the United States, I went to bed at like 10pm Dubai time to keep myself on a good sleep schedule. It didn’t work because, why did I wake up at 4am?
“Why lord” I asked. He didn’t answer, so I scrolled on Instragram and texted my friends until it was time to get up. I got dressed, high waisted jeans and a shirt I happened to catch on sale from Forever 21 though at the time I was 28, because a sale is a SALE, darling. Though I didn’t get much sleep, I was happy because I had the day PLANNED. A dolphin Trek at the Aqua Marina which included free entry to the aquarium and the water park. I packed my bathing suit in a bag and headed out. I wanted breakfast so I took the free tram from my hotel to the Mall of Emirates, to get food I looked up this place with great reviews. Food and smoothie were delicious and instagram worthy tough I didn’t take pics – was too concerned about eating. Don’t judge me.
Why Dubai wasn’t for me
I know women were regarded differently here, however I never thought the ego of some of the men I encountered was so fragile. LORDT. I went to L’eto for a second time the next day to get food since my experience was so great the first time. However, my server the next day was pompous. I will refrain from cursing, but he told me his name meant “sun”, his accent made it sound like he said “Sad”…a sad individual indeed. I will call him that. I asked Sad what was good on the menu and he insinuated that I can go healthy, I told him I didn’t care about the healthy or non-healthy options as long as the food was good. He took offense. Mind you, this was the same server that came up to me and told me I shouldn’t be looking at sweets the day before. I brushed off the comment originally thinking he may have been trying to be engaging. I shouldn’t have. I could say there may be a language barrier, but given his mannerisms towards me I think it was more about me being a woman. That was evident when he told me, specifically, that I shouldn’t order desert so I can stay “small” followed by comments about other statements that made me uncomfortable, but didn’t read into, until this same man now had to be my waiter.
I decided to be the bigger person and explained what I meant when I was wanted something tasty. He calmed down and was all smiles then, but the damage was already done. I was over my experience and his misogyny, especially once he tried to awkwardly flirt with me. The flirting continued as I gave him my card to pay. Y’all he went so far as to try to blame me for my card not working! When he initially ran it and then after trying again said, “It’s because I’m looking at you! I didn’t do it right.” Yeah ok…ok. Needless to say, I didn’t go back. I did not pot my pictures, I did not want anymore to do with the place. Let me get of that situation. Continuing on, the shuttle guy also held me in awkward convo to tell my I’m really pretty. I also noticed another waiter on a separate occasion stood frightfully close to me when he spoke…I was about to pull a Dave Chappell a few times, “You’re too close man, you’re too close!” But, once again, it was not worth it, no matter how funny I find that sketch. Real life won’t allow it.
Thank God I wasn’t harmed
The situation that solidified my less than stellar view of Dubai was the night I went to see the Burj Khalifia with a fellow solo female travel buddy who met up with in Dubai. we had a an amazing time in the tallest building in the world, my bit of advice to the ladies…do not wear heels. You will walk! And if you do make sure they are comfortable because babyyyy when I say my feet couldn’t take it. Both my friend and I had on some cute outfits, only to ultimately be barefoot. I was in too much pain to care much about the onlookers wondering why in the heck we didn’t have shoes on. It was hilarious! What wasn’t hilarious was when immediately after we parted ways to get into our separate respective taxis back to our hotels.
It was around 1am in the morning, and I usually don’t stay out late, but I made an exception. I shouldn’t have (it’s my first rule of traveling alone, don’t go out at night). Not only did the taxi driver take me to the wrong place after I tried to ask where we were going, he threatened to call the police on me if I tried to leave the cab. He initially stopped in front of the wrong hotel, then started driving slowly into the darkness while repeatedly saying I wouldn’t be able to leave. I was mortified. I leaned forward, looking directly into his eyes, ready to defend myself with my friend’s lime green high heels if necessary. Eventually, he gave in and took me to the correct place. I was visibly shaking in the back seat from the rush of adrenaline.
I give all these situations to say, Dubai is nice enough to visit and not every guy I came across gave me creeper vibes, but the instances I did have were enough to leave a bad taste in my mouth. Especially when I am put in a situation where I may have to literally fight for my safety. I was unsure of my rights in a Muslim country (go to my how to get locked up abroad post for some interesting laws). Hypothetically, if I did end up having to fight my way out of a taxi and wound up in jail, I know my mom would board that flight QUICK for her baby. Once I called my parents to tell them what happened and calmed down, I vowed only to take Uber for the remainder of the trip.
Highlights
I can’t possibly wrap up this blog without ending things on a lighter note, some other highlights of my trip were the longest urban zipline, my dolphin trek, and my day trip to Abu Dhabi to see the mosques.
On the Dubai X Line, I zipped 170 meters above the ground at 80 km an hour. I had lash extensions, y’all, the wind slapped at my cheeks like I stole something. It was sooo fun! I’d do it again if I could, mainly because it went by so fast. Secondly, the Dolphin trek in the Aquarium was the animal interaction I looked forward to in my trip. After I got into my wet suit and adorned a big fishbowl looking helmet to be submerged underwater, I met my dolphin Spike. He was so adorable. Lastly my Abu Dhabi day trip was a big highlight, want Intragram-worthy shots, architectural beauty, and history? Go the the Sheik Zayed Mosque, you will not be disappointed. However, women keep your head covered. I brought a scarf, but it fell of 3 times. Security got me every time too, they were nice about it each time they brought it to my attention.
Quite frankly, I am happy I was able to come back home after this particular trip. Based on the short amount of time I was there. Dubai has much to offer by way of experiences, it’s just some of those experiences I can live without.
Leave a reply