Ammon:
We went to the Museum Of The Future but mom didn’t plan ahead and the next tickets would be during our desert safari. Instead we killed time getting lost inside the worlds largest mall. Took a taxi back to our hotel and got picked up for our desert safari. We did a fourwheeler ride and I was thinking “Hot Rod Mama!” 🙂 (the story about G-Gma Leavitt peeling out in the Wiley army jeep in front of the high schoolers.) Our driver had a Land Rover and we did some fun sand drifting. Took us to the desert camp where we rode camels, and I rode a horse. I ride horses all of the time, so I tried to get the horse to run instead of walking, but the horse would not go to a trot! (jog) We went inside the theater and there were stage shows and a buffet, and I made friends with 5 cats!
LaReita:
Yeah, I didn’t plan well for the Museum of the Future. That’s ok, we’ll be living it soon.
Dubai Mall was indeed very large. All shops were occupied with businesses, but not many customers. We asked our taxi driver about that. He gave a good perspective that a world-chain needs to keep up appearances and have a shop in “the world’s largest mall” even if it isn’t profitable. Additionally, the Emirati are not giving discounts for the tenants of Dubai Mall because they know businesses will pay for the marketing and recognition in their mall.
Four wheeling in the Dubai sand with Ammon was fun. I didn’t get the fancy scarf thingy, but I probably should have. My face was HOT and SANDY. Dave volunteered to stay behind for that activity. He took the shift for the desert camel ride with Ammon. Ammon was more excited to be able to ride the horse (extra cost of course).
The funniest part of the day for me was when we entered the tent compound for the shows, a skinny cat immediately came up to Dave and started meowing and rubbing on his leg. It wasn’t me or Ammon the cat initially approached. It was Dave – the feeder of the cats back home. He brought the vibe with him.
Our tour was mid-week, so there weren’t many people in the audience for the stage shows and there was a lack of enthusiastic applause for the performers. Felt kind bad for them: belly dancers, traditional men’s dancing, fire throwing, etc. Food was meh.
I took great delight in watching Dave and Ammon interact with the animals! 🙂