Camel rides at Dubai Mall? World’s tallest building Burj Khalifa, largest fountain & aquarium.
I tried hard to ride a camel in Dubai... Due to a series of fiascos (I won’t go into detail, but it involved getting lost in the desert), this is the closest I got to one!
In this post, I’ll share my visit to the world’s tallest tower, largest aquarium, and glitziest mall.
Dubai Mall, at over 12 million sq ft, ranks among the largest shopping centers in the world. (The New South China mall is number one, but with 99% of stores vacant, I say it doesn’t really count.)
In contrast, Dubai Mall holds every imaginable international clothing and fast food chain, even Sweden’s Max Burger and the retro Rainforest Cafe.
The “souk” part of the mall has more traditional garments and Majlis, a cafe for camel milk confectioneries. The real souk, or Arabian marketplace, is in a different part of Dubai and covered in this post.
You could buy camel milk chocolates, shaped like the animal and wrapped in gold foil. To celebrate “hump day,” my film crew and I tried a saffron camel milk milkshake (not so good) and ice cream (tasted like regular fro-yo).
The mall has a skating rink, and a waterfall fountain with diving men statues.
Plus the world’s largest indoor aquarium and underwater zoo. Doesn’t my hat look like a flounder? Ten seconds after Melissa took this photo, the security guard shooed me away.
Luxury brands are in this area of Dubai Mall.
Outside is the world’s largest choreographed fountain and highest building, Burj Khalifa. Sensing a theme here?
The best and cheapest way to get to the top: reserve tickets in advance. We asked our Fairmont The Palm concierge to make the arrangements; tickets are around $35 US, and worth it for this circuit-city view.
Isn’t Dubai an extraordinary city? The twisty-building is my favorite. Here are more photos of the crazy architecture, souk, and high fashion.
I leave you with my camel and outfit details. What do you think of this coordinate?
Extra large sun hat: San Diego Hat Company
Purple cardigan: Muji
Goth tank top: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child Harajuku
Striped lavender skirt: Peace Now, from Closet Child Ikebukuro
Summer sandals: Camper
PS: my travel team and I are putting the finishing touches on our United Arab Emirates travel video… keep your eyes peeled, as it’ll be published shortly. (Photography by Melissa Rundle & Eric Bergemann.)
PPS: I invite you to add me on Google Plus, as I’ll be posting bonus material here.
SHARE & COMMENT
LA CARMINA
34 Comments
Really nice place, huh?
you bet
;-)
AHHHHH!!
Yeah!!! Fabulous hat!
hehe
dreamy!
so cute!
can’t wait to watch this video
almost there!
I want to travel with you take me
xoxo
love ya!
Amazing goods
Camels ❤
I love love love the skirt ;) and your hat
^__^
Sandy Sugar Sprinkles!
GASP <3
That hat is best thing I see all week.
I always wanted to write a camel or elephant :-)
I was waiting for this one!Thank you!
yay!
OMG I have that same picture only with me it lol!
Beautiful outfit, dear. *-*
thank you darling
I checked out your page and it’s awesome!
I tried camel milk once mixed with whiskey.
yumm
the hat is like kentucky derby fabulousness
hahah
I love love love the skirt ;) and your hat,……………..
thank you darling! I’m glad I bought a bunch of Peace Now items before they closed down….
Very nice pictures;) http://www.placesbeautiful.com