Amazing Dubai with SP Setia 2011

It is already July, and I haven't got any holiday plans for this year! All I could do is to look back into the old holiday photos. It have been such good memories, and I hope the memory will always stay fresh in my mind if I blog about it.

So here it comes.. This is a very backdated post about my holiday in May 2011.

At that time, I was working with SP Setia for merely 8-months and it was indeed a shocking news that I will be joining 27 others for a study trip to Dubai, Cyprus and Athens.

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Dubai, UAE

Dubai is one of the seven emirates (province) and the most popular city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and one of the reason is their architectural innovation. It was an eye opening trip for me as I get to see all the remarkable buildings which have made their name in the world record.

Fun Facts:-

In 1979, Dubai World Trade Centre stands as the tallest building and the only skyscraper in Dubai. Now, Dubai has 527 completed highrises, 314 highrises currently under construction and 461 planned highrises.

I was surprised when our tour guide told us that less than 20% of the population are actually locals! There are alot of immigrants from Philipines, India, Pakistan etc who is filling up the country.

Dubai people are very proud of their national costumes, and working immigrants are expected to wear the costumes as well. All of them really confuses me as I can't distinguish between local people and immigrant. 

Look at some fun facts about Dubai http://www.venere.com/blog/dubai-fun-facts/



Dubai Airport

Burj Al Arab Hotel @ Dubai

Fun facts :

• Burj al Arab was one of the most expensive buildings ever built.
• It is one of the world's only two "7 star" hotels.
• Burj Al Arab is the world's fourth tallest hotel (not including buildings with mixed use).
• The hotel rest on an artificial island. To secure the foundation, the builders drove 230 forty-meter (130 ft) long concrete piles into the sand.
• Hotel room rates vary from $1,000 to $27,000 per night (RM 3,150 - RM 85,000)

Burj Al Arab - which is designed to look like a boat (as per wiki)

Kai Lee, Joyce and Sharon 



Aside from experiencing the beauty of this hotel inside out, we also have once in a lifetime opportunity to dine in Al Junsui for our Afternoon Tea. We had a seven-course  afternoon tea menu respresented by culinary delights from Japan, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Korea.

This afternoon tea cost AED 275 per person (equivalent to MYR 235). I will not have the chance to experience such a luxury afternoon tea if not because of SP Setia generousity to its staff.

Dubai Gold Souk

We were then brought to a market selling gold-made products and jewelry.

This gold ring has gotten the Guinness World Record for being the heaviest gold ring in the world, weighing 63.856kg

Palm Jumeirah (the world largest artificial island)

Palm Jumeirah is an artificial island created using land reclamation by Nakheel, and yes, the island is in a shape of a palm tree.

Nakheel office

Palm Jumeirah Monorail

On our way from the mainland to Atlantis, The Palm! Weeeeee~~

Atlantis @ The Palm

Fun facts:-

• A 5-star resort hotel in an artifical island
• Has a Dolphin Bay in which guests can swim and interact with dolphins at Atlantis.
• The Lost Chambers in Atlantis has more than 65,000 marine animals in its 11-million litre aquarium!
• Everything in Atlantis is underwater themed, from the toilet deco, plaster ceiling, pillars, to the lightings!
• The Bridge Suite costs $35,000 per night (MYR 110k per night!!! Are you kidding me!)
• Voted The Most Hygienic Hotel of the World Award 2012
• More fun facts on Atlantis can be found here  http://www.sirencommunications.com/flash_content/dynamic/press-kits/Atlantis%20by%20the%20Numbers.pdf

Entrance to The Lost Chambers

Clownfish - Nemo and his papa

Dubai Desert Safari

If you've been to Dubai, and have not tried the desert safari / dune bashing, then you've not been to Dubai!!!

A 4x4 wheel drive picked us up from our hotel (The Seaview Hotel - with no seaview), and the adventure starts!

The common vehicles used for dune bashing are larger sport utility vehicle such as Toyota Land cruiser. Other mini SUVs are not used cause they have higher risk of getting stucked. The vehicles are usually equipped with a roll cage to prevent the roof from caving in on passengers in the case of an overturn.

Dune bashing is not just driving on a desert, but experience and skill is required to maneuver the car and  to prevent accidents. 

And it is not all fun, as some may experience dizziness, and vomiting. I did knock my head against the side glass when our car dives down from the desert cliff. But it was really a thrilling experience! 

There are various packages to suit your interest, more info here http://www.desertsafaridubai.com/index.html

Our pro driver - Thank you for sending us back in ONE piece!

Dune bashing photo taken online

Photo of dune bashing taken online

The package we signed up for includes camel ride - which I don't encourage cause it's just plan cruel to use animals for our fun, same as elephant ride, or kereta lembu.

Me & Razali

The camp, belly dancing, henna painting, traditional dances, and buffet BBQ dinner

Lam and I

DUBAI AQUARIUM & UNDERWATER ZOO

Fun facts :-

- One of the largest tanks in the world at 51m x 20m x 11m

- The world's largest viewing panel at 32.8m wide and 8.3m high.

- Has more than 33,000 living animals, representing more than 85 species including over 400 sharks and rays

Alex, Sharon, Ivy, me & Kai Lee

Red-bellied piranha

Otter's feeding time

Seahorse

Burj Khalifa

 These are amazing facts about Burj Khalifa (source from wikipedia)

• Tallest existing structure: 829.84 m (2,723 ft) (previously KVLY-TV mast – 628.8 m/2,063 ft)
• Tallest structure ever built: 829.84 m (2,723 ft) (previously Warsaw radio mast – 646.38 m/2,121 ft)
• Tallest freestanding structure: 829.84 m (2,723 ft) (previously CN Tower – 553.3 m/1,815 ft)
• Tallest skyscraper (to top of spire): 829.84 m (2,723 ft) (previously Taipei 101 – 509.2 m/1,671 ft)
• Tallest skyscraper to top of antenna: 829.84 m (2,723 ft) (previously the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower – 527 m/1,729 ft)
• Building with most floors: 163 (previously Willis (formerly Sears) Tower – 108)^[20]
• Building with world's highest occupied floor
• World's highest elevator installation (situated inside a rod at the very top of the building)
• World's fastest elevators: 64 km/h (40 mph) or 18 m/s (59 ft/s)(previously Taipei 101 – 16.83 m/s)
• Highest vertical concrete pumping (for a building): 606 m (1,988 ft)(previously Taipei 101 – 449.2 m/1,474 ft)
• First world's tallest structure in history to include residential space
• World's highest outdoor observation deck: 124th floor at 452 m (1,483 ft)
• World's highest installation of an aluminium and glass façade: 512 m (1,680 ft)
• World's highest nightclub: 144th floor
• World's highest restaurant (At.mosphere): 122nd floor at 442 m (1,450 ft) (previously 360, at a height of 350 m/1,148 ft in CN Tower)
• World's highest New Year display of fireworks.
• World's second highest swimming pool: 76th floor (world's highest swimming pool is located on 118th floor of Ritz-Carlton Hotel at International Commerce Centre, Hong-Kong).

...this is also the building where Mission Impossible 4 took place!

  

   

SP Setia group photo on the higgest observation desk in the world - 124th floor

The Dubai Mall

While others busy exploring The Dubai Mall the world largest shopping mall (based on total area), I walked on my own to enjoy some time alone in cafes. 

Never failed to hunt for food even though I am in a foreign country. 

yummylicious cheesecake at a pastry house in Dubai Outlet Mall

Brunetti in The Dubai Mall is recommended by Dato C.J Khor and indeed, it was aweeesomeee!!!!

Visiting Dubai to witness with my own eyes,

• the tallest building in the world,
• the most expensive building in the world,
• the largest aquarium in the world,
• the largest shopping mall in the world
• the largest man-made island in the world,
• the heaviest gold ring in the world,
• the most hygienic hotel in the world,
• one of the 7-star hotel in the world,

....and having the trip fully sponsored by my company... I FEEL LIKE I AM THE LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD!!!

Memories of Dubai from 14th May - 16th May 2011