Back to Dubai - Part II Continued

So we decided to take the train in Dubai cause it follows the basic outline of the city and puts you within reasonable walking distance of most sights.  So here are some tips:

1.  The first two train stations are not finished.  We found that out quickly.  Go on to the Ibn Battuta station.  There is only parking in the sand currently, but not a problem.

2.  Buy a card pass (AED 20).  This will get you through four exits.  You can recharge the card, so hang onto it.

3.  Into the city isn't as crowded, so grab a seat as quickly as possible.  Outbound from the city center is a nightmare comparable to Calcutta (complete with those particular people).  Be prepared to get rousted toward the back cars to make way for families and women who are allowed to travel separately in this country.

4.  Forget personal space.  This is from a guy that's been around the world a few times.  If you think Korea and Japan are bad...nope.  You are dealing primarily with South Asians (Indian, Bengali, etc) and Filipinos.  They live in crowded spaces even here stacked on top of one another and they will push, and pull, and whatever else will get them on the train (or anywhere).  Be prepared.

5.  Trains seem to arrive every five minutes, so don't worry if you miss one.  Another will be along shortly.

6.  The advantages.  You don't have to drive in a confusing city with few turnarounds.  It's safe.  It lets you out within yards/meters of shopping malls which are like subterranean, air-conditioned tunnels to get to your true destination.

Forest?  Outside of Abu Dhabi

The "parking lot" at the Dubai Metro Station

So, let's back up...You can really tell when you're leaving Abu Dhabi and transitioning to Dubai.  Abu Dhabi isn't just the capital, it's also the richest city in the Emirates.  There is a "forest" the entire way leaving Abu Dhabi.  The minute you hit the outskirts of Dubai; desert.  Period.  Abu Dhabi has an irrigation system that uses all of the waste water instead of recycling all of it.  The water from the tap seems to be perfectly safe since it's all desalinated water and has to go through a reverse osmosis system which purifies it.

Part of the Central Souk, Dubai

We went to the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building).  Yes, you can go to the top, which we thought would be easy.  We walked the .5 km to the edifice and as we approached a very nice African gentleman in a security guard uniform asked us where we were going.  We told him we wanted to see the top and he let us know we needed to go into the Dubai Mall (next to the Burj) to purchase tickets.  He then told us to "enjoy the experience".  What a pleasant thing to say.

So we head into yet another mall and walk for what seemed like an hour (huge, huge mall) and find the ticket counter with throngs of the people described earlier with sprinklings of Euro-trash everywhere.  Bad news.  The tower viewing is booked solid for 1-2 days.  Forget it.  On to the Central Gold Souk which meant boarding the train again and going another ten stops into the city by the "creek".

This place was totally like any other bazaar you've ever been in.  Shops, shops and shops.  Lots of walking.  Lots of people.  Lots of humidity being next to an estuary.  We walk around there for a while and then back to the crowded train. 

That's about it for now.  Nothing really exciting happened.