Day 9 - 3 January - Dubai UAE

- January 04, 2024

This was the most interesting day so far... very informative. my first selfie - leaving on the tour bus!

First we visited Jumeirah Mosque by the port. It a key part of the 'Open doors. Open minds' program of the Sheikh Mohammed Center. It is open to tours for all Muslim or not. We did not go in but I learned that the significance of the minarets... is that they face the where the population lives so they can be called to prayer. This mosque has 2 since the other sides don't face towards the people. Also the Muslim calendar is a lunar calendar which is why you will see full moons and crescent moons on the tops of the domes and minarets.

Then we did a tour of the new Dubai... where all the big buildings are... All of this was created in the last 20 years... its nuts...

The Burj Al Arab hotel...which looks like a sail... and of course the Burj Khalifa... my photos don't do either justice... but here they are anyway!!

Then we traveled to the 'old Dubai' (and that means pre 1971) the Al Shindagha Historic District. This was fascinating... The picture below is of wind towers that provide cooling to the homes. They are called barajeels.

We then visited the Al Shindagha Museum to see an overview of the development of Dubai and the Perfume house also part of the museum. It was great. I've provided 2 links for you to look at

Al Shindagha Museum: Perfume House

and an overview of the historic district

Al Shindagha Historical District

Here is one photo I took that is from the museums looking back at the Burj Khalifa (way off in the background)