We arrived in Dubai and headed to Mutaz’s apartment to drop off our stuff and then went walking to the new Marina Mall and then to the JBR, (basically a walk next to Jumeriah Beach) to find some food. After we walked around a bit, we went back to Mutaz’s and took a nap and get ready to go out. We ordered pizza and then went out for Mutaz’s friend, Deep’s, birthday to a club called Boudoir – it was so much fun! The music was great and everyone is so friendly and welcoming.
On Friday, we woke up and Panos, Chris and I went to eat at Fuddrucker’s (just couldn’t get enough back in the States haha) and then back to Mutaz’s and hung out. Later that night, another friend Saman came to hang out with us. Mutaz, Saman, Chris and I went to the Palm Islands, to eat at a sushi place called Nobu at the Atlantis Hotel (there’s apparently a similar hotel in the Bahamas?), it was absolutely amazing.A really awful picture of the Atlantis
The aquarium next to Nobu
Then we went to Boudoir for someone else’s (Yaser’s) birthdays. Can I just say these people know how to throw a party? Another night of fun times! 
On Saturday, we didn’t have to leave until 10pm, so when we finally woke up, all of us went to the Mall of Dubai, it’s right next to the Burj Dubai (the tallest building in the world that is currently being built). The Mall is not such a mall but more of an experience, yes there are stores that you only see in movies and didn’t really think existed, but there is also a food court with more choices of food you could only imagine from Subway to Indian to Lebanese to Sushi, you want it, it’s there. We decided after lunch to go to the aquarium which was so neat! 
Then we walked around until the guys wanted to go to see the 2010 FIFA world trophy or something for soccer, so Saman and I slowly followed as we went through the gold souk which was more like the diamond souk, I’ve never seen so many sparkling things in my life! We finally reached the trophy (yay.) 
Chris and I did some shopping and then we met up with everyone again and went and had some coffee and then Mutaz took us to the airport and now we’re back in Saudi.
All in all, it was an awesome experience and there is SO much to see in Dubai, I can see why Chris came all the time last year. I already have a list of things I want to do next time we go.
On Saturday, we didn’t have to leave until 10pm, so when we finally woke up, all of us went to the Mall of Dubai, it’s right next to the Burj Dubai (the tallest building in the world that is currently being built). The Mall is not such a mall but more of an experience, yes there are stores that you only see in movies and didn’t really think existed, but there is also a food court with more choices of food you could only imagine from Subway to Indian to Lebanese to Sushi, you want it, it’s there. We decided after lunch to go to the aquarium which was so neat! Then we walked around until the guys wanted to go to see the 2010 FIFA world trophy or something for soccer, so Saman and I slowly followed as we went through the gold souk which was more like the diamond souk, I’ve never seen so many sparkling things in my life! We finally reached the trophy (yay.) Chris and I did some shopping and then we met up with everyone again and went and had some coffee and then Mutaz took us to the airport and now we’re back in Saudi.All in all, it was an awesome experience and there is SO much to see in Dubai, I can see why Chris came all the time last year. I already have a list of things I want to do next time we go.
Some minor which turned into major delays caused us to miss our connecting flight in Atlanta to Dubai, and led us to spend 2 hours in line in Atlanta to figure out what our next plan of action was and then 2 hours at the counter with a very helpful (no honestly) agent. At first they wanted us to go on separate flights – me from Atlanta -> Milan -> Istanbul -> Bahrain and Chris from Atlanta -> Milan -> Dubai… um, no. Or we could wait until January 6th to take the same flight we had originally been scheduled on. 
We were bumped up to business class for our first leg of our flight, which.was.awesome. 
Spent 6 hours in the Milan airport (worst.airport.ever.) and then slept the next 6 hours from Milan to Dubai. Once in Dubai, we had another 6 hours there, so Mutaz and Panos came to pick us up and we hung out at Mutaz’s apartment for awhile and then went back to the airport. And then Dubai to Bahrain only to find out that our 10 pieces of luggage did not arrive with us (did you really expect them to?) and then drove across to Saudi Arabia from Bahrain.
