My Family in Dubai for the first time around.

Family.  A big word.  It is what matters in this world and everything else follows.  I've been in Dubai for over 8 years and it is never easy to be away especially from my son.  Whenever I visit the best spots in Dubai, I always remember my family and imagine how it would be if they are able to see what I am seeing.  Dubai is amazingly beautiful.  

Here it goes, It has been a long time plan to bring my family here but it never happened due to uncontrollable reasons.  We had waited this far and I came to realize God was planning all this time.  I just didn't realize HIS plans and timings until 25 November 2015 when my much awaited prayer was answered.  It is indeed a Merry Merry Christmas for me and my family.

I am an obsessive compulsive type of a person and everything has to be in order from tickets, itinerary, hotel bookings (I had to visit those hotels to see if it is clean), visas, DSWD documents, restaurants to eat and all other lists in my planner.  When everything was ready, I was still not satisfied until the day they arrived.  I prayed hard that everything will be fine and perfect.

It was their first time with Emirates Airline and it is my number 1 wish for them to try the airline where I am working.  I was chatting with my Mama and brother way before their departure and told them everything that they need to know about flying with Emireates (yes, I did).  I was teary eyed when I saw their first photo inside Emirates Airline.  I thanked God that day.

Mama, my brother Marwin and Sabriel was thrilled about the plane and the service.

Emirates Airline headquarters

the view form Emirates Airline headquarters

I brought them directly to Emirates Airline headquarters on their arrival and I remembered Mama keeps on saying that our main office looks like a hotel or a mall.

breakfast at Ikea

Ikea for their first breakfast.  There was no rest for them yet as the hotel will be available only after lunch.

Ikea showroom with Sabriel

Mother and son

Then to Dubai Festival City....

Their first day went by so fast from Ikea to Dubai Festival City then to Mall of the Emirates and lastly we visited my office.  I am glad that they were able to see where I am working and who I am working with.

Background: Ski Dubai 

The second day will be hectic, their first itinerary was the Dubai Museum.  I want them to see how and where Dubai was before all the megastructures.  It will be fun and educational for my son.  They will learn a lot of Dubai's background.  It was Riggi's first time too so he was also eager and excited.  Dubai Museum clearly showed the history and how this fast growing country became Dubai now.

The entrance of Dubai musem

My family with the Arab Locals inside Dubai Museum

Arab women @ the Dubai Museum

my Family (except my father)

I brought my Mama to Dubai Gold Souq where they showcased everything about gold and she was totally mesmerized while my son was bored.  lols

Souq - means an Arab market or marketplace

A sample of pure gold in Gold Souq (not my picture)

We had our sumptuous lunch at Dampa and they can't stop talking about the delicious seafood over a boodlefight.

Dubai will never be complete without experiencing the Desert Safari.  We enjoyed dune bashing, a camel ride, my family's first tme to see the belly dancing and they had their first local Arabic dishes.

Mama with Dubai sunset

Marwin

On the other hand, Sabriel did not enjoy the dune bashing.  He was nauseated the whole time even until dinner at the desert camp.  I was nursing him althroughout.  Felt sorry for my Sabe, it should have been another first for him to enjoy the camel ride.

my brother and I

Mama and bro enjoying the camel ride

he was an amazing dancer

the belly dancer

It was a fun night despite my son's vomiting and headache.  We were totally drained when we reached the hotel.

On the third day we were at Dubai mall full day.  I surprised them with a Cheesecake factory for lunch and as what I expected, they love the ambiance (we were seated right infront of the Dubai mall aquarium), the taste of the food and the best service that the restaurant offered.

We went straight to Dubai Aquarium and the underwater zoo.  I got a discount from Emirates Platinum card.  It was my first time to visit the underwater zoo as well as Riggi.  We had encountered animals and species that we haven't seen before.  There was the King crocodile weighing 750kgs and over 5 meters in length.  Well, I did not like the crocodile but all of them was amazed of the huge creature.

The 10 million litre Dubai Aquarium tank is the largest suspended aquaiums in the world.

Dubai mall aquarium

inside the Dubai Mall Aquarium

one of those underwater species

The Burj Khalifa

And then there was the ice skating and watching the famous Dubai mall fountain.  I remembered that I used to day dream that my son will soon watch this amazing fountain and seeing him there made me smile.  I thank you God once again.

The Dubai mall fountain (not my picture)

Junerey, one of my closest friend invited my whole family for dinner at their place and I was glad my Family met them (with Junerey's father) and had a simple dinner before the mass.

We went for the Christmas high mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church.  This was one of the merriest Christmas gift God has given me.  It would have been more merrier if only Papa was with us.  

The following day was Christmas day.  We had a simple lunch at Ibn Battuta Mall and head straight to The Dubai Miracle Garden in which I know my Mama will be so happy.

Riggi and I

As I was thinking, Mama was really thrilled in Dubai Miracle Garden.  It is insanely beautiful as they had managed to unfold a garden in the middle of the desert.

Our next stop was the Juice world and the Abra experience.  Abra is a wooden boat that will transfer you from Deira to Bur Dubai.  We had a wonderful time for a dirham.  

@ Juice World

Abra ride

the birds were following us on our Abra journey

We were so hungry and we had a lovely dinner once again in Dampa.  It became their favourite while in Dubai.  They felt like they are in Cebu having seafoods in a boodle fight.

Burj Al Arab with Sabe and I

Since it was still early.  Riggi had brought us to Burj Al Arab (open beach area) out of the blue.  It was not on our itinerary but it was a nice idea.

with my family

26 December was a little weird, I had this feeling that time was indeed moving so fast.  Two days more and they'll fly back to Cebu.  The weather was with me it was gloomy and raining.  Our itinerary was Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residences and The Walk.  We had our lunch at Chowking (JBR area).

Jumeirah Beach Residences - The Walk

Dubai Marina view with the Twisted building on the far left side

The Beach @ JBR

We head to Mall of the Emirates since the rain was not allowing us to stroll more outdoors.  Then went back to the hotel to prepare for the post Christmas Party with my friends at Intramuros.  I never expected that my family will be able to meet the friends that I considered my family too.  

with my friends and Family 

The Dimatabang friends

The day before their departure was a little bit a lazy day, I guess everyone was feeling what I was feeling.  I even caught Sabriel crying a lot of times and when I asked him why.  He was shy and made so many excuses like: he was having eye pain and headache.  Hayst!  I know Sabe, you will miss Mommy.  I spoke to Him on one of those Mommy and Son time.

We rode the train (Dubai metro) from Al Barsha to Dubai Mall.

Mama, brother and Sabe had the earliest schedule to "AT the Top" at Burj Khalifa, the highest building in the world  at 8:30 in the morning because all the other schedule was fully booked.

At the Top, Burj Khalifa

We had our stroll in Dubai mall and the fountain.  It was even better in the morning when no one is around.

Marwin in front of Souq Al Bahar

with the Burj khalifa

Mama 

We were so tired of all the walking so we had decided to go back to the hotel and have a little sleep before Riggi will pick us up for The Global Village in the evening.

Global Village time.

Global Village is an entertainment complex wherein you can travel the whole world in one night, there are live shows, fairground rides, shoppings and restaurants.  I said travel the world in one night because there are different stores in different countries like Philippines, America, Italy, Russia etc etc...  They are showcasing different talents all over the world and my favourite is Africa.  I enjoyed their dance and their kind of entertainment.

The Global Village

Their last day was too unbearable for me.  I did not show my family how sad I was but I was just trying to make the most out of the remaining hours.  It was a super tic tac kind of a day wherein I don't want that day to end.

We had our joy ride to The Burj Al Arab (the only 7 star hotel in the world), The Atlantis, The Palm Island and Souq Madinat.

The Burj Al Arab - the only 7 star hotel in the world

@ the Souq Madinat

at the Palm Island

Souq Madinat

with my one and only brother

this view from the Palm Island

with our one and only Mama

We spent most of our afternoon in a coffee shop in Souq Madinat, we had our talk and last moment bonding BUT time went by so fast.  It was the time when we have to go back to the hotel to take our stuffs and have our dinner first before their departure.  It was their 3rd time in Dampa because they love the food a lot.  Here is our short clip of our boodle fight (but definitely NOT the last) in Dampa.

Dampa from Riggi Neis on Vimeo.

Then my itinerary was over....  they have to leave at 11:30 in the evening and I was restless.  I was crying secretly for almost a week.  I feel and remember them most of the time whenever I see places that we've been to.  I simply hear them laughing in my ears.  I realized it is never easy to be left behind.  This is exactly how they must be feeling when everytime I have to go back to Dubai after a vacation.

Family is the greatest love of all time.  I may be far away from them but I have to show my love in my own ways.  My Family's Dubai vacation might be over but I know that that will not be the last.

Love love love,

M xo


TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

Disclaimer:

This is a personal blog.  The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer.

In addition, my opinions may change from time to time.  I consider this an open-minded consequence of my thoughts and personal views.  This blog is intended to provide a semi-permanent point at the time being and as such any thoughts and opinions expressed may vary in the near future.