WHEN I told my friends that I am having my vacation in Dubai (again!), they all gave me curious stares.
“Aren’t you bored visiting the same country over and over again? What else are you going to do in Dubai?” they asked.
Well, you’ll be surprised by the fast-growing development at this land build on sand.
Every year, there’s somewhere new to go, or something fresh to explore. There’s shopping, there are beaches, there’s desert, there are theme parks... there’s something for everyone. You’ll never get bored!
I love Dubai during the cooler season when it’s not unrelentingly hot. The best time to visit is from November to March, but I enjoy visiting Dubai in January just because it is the coldest month with temperatures averaging 19- 20 Celsius (which is more or less like in Europe during summer).
In fact, the temperature in Dubai has plummeted to as low as -5 Celsius in the mountainous part of Ras Al Khaimah early this year, resulting in 10cm of snow.
I didn’t get the chance to witness the unbelievable occurrence, but I’m still happy to be able to fully enjoy my Sahara experience, minus the blazing climate.
SUNSET DUNES
Of course, my “must” activity when in Dubai is to hit the dunes.
Most tourists opt for the Desert Safari tour, which includes a driver who will take you on a thrilling dune bashing ride, bacbecue dinner, belly dancing show and more.
Instead, I prefer a simple personalised experience that allows us to camp and enjoy the desert like the locals.
Lucky for me, I have a few relatives working and living here, so they will bring me to Al Qudra Lake, a famous outing located at Saih Al Salam desert, about an hour away from the city centre.
Spread over 10 hectares of desert reserves, the park features the world’s largest designated cycling tracks with 84km trail that loops through desert. You can rent a bike at the Trek Bicycle Store located at the main facility.
Also available at the facility are restrooms, a mosque, as well as the Last Exit which is a unique Food Truck Park selling delicious gourmet street food.
But we are not heading there. We are going to the campsite which features clusters of man-made lakes which is now home to hundreds of exotic birds and also where visitors come to camp and picnic.
Going towards the lake site, drivers must traverse a sandy route but, not to worry, as it is accessible to vehicles which are not four-wheel-drives.
There is still risk of getting your wheels stuck in sand so drivers should be extra careful. To be on the safe side, it is best to go in groups and have at least one powerful vehicle that can come to one’s rescue when in need.
The place swarms with visitors over the weekend, especially after Friday prayers.
To get a good camp spot, it is advisable to head down there before 3pm so you have plenty of choices.
After making our rounds, we finally find a great camp site. It’s a bit secluded and it has a good view of the lakes and Sahara.
Also joining our trip today are three other Malaysian expat families and we are doing potluck!
To start our evening, we have all the homemade Malaysian favourites like nasi lemak, fried vermicelli and yellow glutinous rice with chicken rendang. There’s also a choice of hot coffee and teh tarik.
The group has also planned a barbecue dinner and, to my surprise, one of the family members has prepared satay, complete with peanut sauce!
While the kids enjoy playing in the sand, the adults like myself are busy socialising and enjoying the orange sunset view overlooking the lake and desert.
The weather is a bit windy and it gives me the chills. In fact, it gets cooler and cooler. By 8pm, I am already shivering but I have come prepared with warm jackets and a pair of gloves. Sipping a cup of teh tarik and sitting near to the campfire help too!
CARNIVAL NIGHT
Next on my list during the cool season in Dubai is Global Village on Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road.
It is one of Dubai’s leading family entertainment and cultural attractions with a unique shopping experience.
Global Village does not open all year round but it is available exclusively during the winter. This year, Global Village opens its door to visitors from Nov 1 to April 8.
It is also a nightly carnival from 4pm until midnight. My advice: come before 5pm to catch the stunning sunset and to avoid a queue at the entrance gate, especially on Thursday and Friday. Entrance fee is AED 15 (RM18) and tickets can by booked online on the Global Village website.
Upon our arrival just slightly before 5pm, the car park is already a quarter full. Don’t worry if you have to park a bit further as there is a shuttle service from the car park to the carnival ground.
As we have already bought our tickets online, we skip the ticketing counter and go directly to the entrance. We are not allowed to bring in food and drinks.
Inside, the first section comprises all the iconic landmarks around the world including the United State’s Statue of Liberty. London’s Big Ben and Italy’s Tower of Pisa. It is such a unique venue and Instagram-worthy!!
Further in, you will witness the highlight of the carnival, that features 30 pavilions each representing a different country. Under every roof of the pavilion, you can find souvenirs and a dining experience from all over the world.
I absolutely love the Thailand pavilion as there are many shops that sell products like dried jackfruit and all sorts of Asian cosmetics. It also has a massage parlour just like in Thailand and offers Thai massage for as low as AED100!
Another pavillion that I enjoy is the Middle East pavilion that sells dates, honey and products like shawl and abaya. During my first visit a few years back, there is a Malaysia pavilion. Unfortunately, it is not available this year. Perhaps, Malaysia can participate again and sell our unique handicraft and food.
Also available at the Global Village is a huge theme fun-fair that features many rides and game booths, quite a number of dining selections, as well as special attractions like a haunted house and 7D Cinema.
BEACH TIME
Dubai weather is not only terrific during the night, but it is also wonderful to have a picnic in the morning or a day out on the beach during this season. I also do not miss my chance to get my tan by the beach!
There are a lot of nice beaches in Dubai and the water is clean and blue. Our first beach destination is Al Mamzar Beach for a picnic breakfast!
Al Mamzar is a long stretch of beach where you can enjoy the seashore, take a dip in the cool clear water and picnic under the sun.
Today, we do not prepare our food from home. Instead we buy our breakfast at a mamak restaurant.
Dubai also has a restaurant called Mamak and owned by a Malaysian family. They have three branches in Dubai and they are hip spots to Malaysians living in Dubai.
We stop by at one of the branches for our breakfast. Of course we order a few sets of roti canai with delicious dhal, sambal and fish curry as well as teh tarik. Yum!
While Mamzar Beach is a good choice, another great beach is The Beach at Jumeirah.
I love going there just to sit and enjoy the view. The Beach at Jumeirah is more upbeat and has urban experiences including a mall and restaurants by the sea.
Instead of driving to The Beach, we park our car at Dubai Marina Walk and hop on a river water bus for a scenic spin across the marina and stop at the next station at Marina Promenade.
We then walk for about 15 minutes to reach The Beach, and since the weather in January is exceptional, I can’t complain!