00:00I recently visited Dubai, here is a breakdown of what I got up to.
00:03Our first stop was a traditional Emirati brunch at the SMCCU located in the old part of the city.
00:09It was an opportunity to actually explore and practice Emirati culture.
00:13We had an amazing guide who gave us a very casual presentation and then openly answered
00:18all of our questions ranging from gender politics to dress to the meaning behind certain customs.
00:23The experience was topped off with a very hearty and fragrant meal.
00:26We then went up to the Dubai frame which at 150 meters is the tallest of its kind in the world.
00:32It gave a panoramic view of the city, it was incredible, a really good way to find your
00:36beddings especially if you've just arrived. We then set off on a heritage desert safari
00:41organized by Platinum Heritage. So this is the most awarded and sustainable safari that's offered
00:46in Dubai. We were collected from our accommodation by our conservation guide and then once we got
00:51there we got to choose head scarves and were given metal water bottles to keep and then we
00:56were transferred into a stunningly retro open-top 60s Land Rover. Then we embarked on a 60 minute
01:01drive through the desert stopping at various points to learn about wildlife, ask questions,
01:06take photos. Our guide was amazing, he knew the area extremely well and offered information that
01:11seemed to come from his own experience. He wasn't reading out of a textbook or anything and it made
01:16it much more engaging. We watched a live falconry show. These are the fastest animals in the world
01:21so it's quite insane to see. All the while the sun was setting in the background and we
01:25had cinnamon tea and vimto. We then ate a delicious four course meal at a traditional Arabic camp.
01:31There were camel rides, drum performances and even an astrology lesson. It is one of the most
01:35amazing things I've ever done in my entire life. The next morning we headed down to Drift Beach
01:40to spend a few hours by the pool and have some lunch. This club is the definition of laid-back
01:45luxury. Beautifully designed, inspired by the French Riviera, definitely has a Mediterranean
01:50feel to it. There is a pool, plenty of sun loungers, private cabanas you can rent, private
01:55beach access, a bar, restaurant, digi deck and fantastic service. We lay by the pool and sip
02:01cocktails for a while. Then had a two course meal. I went for seafood based options, a king prawn
02:06starter and mixed seafood orzo pasta. Both were very flavourful. They use fresh and organic
02:12ingredients here and you can really tell from the quality. It's also just a lovely restaurant
02:17and nice and bright with a view of the pool. They have lots of weekly events on, ladies day,
02:22breakfast clubs, fitness classes. If you're looking to visit Dubai, I recommend you check
02:26out their website for what's coming up. So that's driftbeachtubai.com. I loved it here. I didn't
02:32want to leave. The vibes are great. When it gets too hot, you can just jump in the pool.
02:36Views right across the skyline as well. It has everything. Next up then was our frying pan
02:40adventure food walk. Fans of the Netflix show Someone Feed Phil may be familiar with this.
02:45So we met up in the souks, a collection of markets at Dubai Creek, a very important place in the
02:49city's history. And then we visited a range of vendors and tried some snacks intrinsic to the
02:54area. This included an egg rolls, some crisps and bread and tea and ice cream with rice topping.
03:00We also played a very fun game of spice bingo. The walk is focused on the food, but it's also
03:04a really good opportunity to explore the culture and heritage. It's a place for locals visits.
03:09You're getting a very authentic experience. We traveled over the creek in a traditional wooden
03:14boat and the tour was concluded with a meal at the Al Qaimah Heritage Restaurant, which is
03:19actually noted in the Michelin Guide. We tried traditional Emirati food, which included lamb
03:23biryani and a kind of vegetable stew with rice. It was a tasting journey where we learned a lot
03:28about the UAE. Food is held in ceremonial regard here, so it was a rich and fulfilling experience.
03:34Finally then was possibly the most extravagant part of the itinerary, a private yacht ride around
03:38the city with exclusive yachts. We sailed by skyscrapers lining the water against a sunset.
03:44We had a full crew of enthusiastic people. We had snacks on board, a free bar, we got to choose the
03:49music. It was just gorgeous. The company offers a range of different packages at different price
03:53points. It's definitely worth having a look. What I took from this trip is that they do things very
03:58well in Dubai. You can get the enormous luxury experiences, but you can also get something more
04:03modest, but really rich in culture and heritage. There's something for everyone depending on what
04:08you're looking for and what you're looking to pay.
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