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Dubai, UAE – Day 2 – Tour of the city

November 22, 2011

Today was our last day in Dubai and our last day on the ship. We disembarked from the ship and checked into our hotel Raffles Dubai which we booked for half the day. We only needed the room to freshen up before flying home for 12 hours. Unfortunately, it was hazy out so some of my pictures aren’t clear.

We jumped into a cab and decided to see as much of the city as we possibly could. The first place we visited was the fabulous Burj Khalifa. It is the tallest building in the world with the fastest elevator. We went up to the 122nd floor which was the lounge called Atmosphere. We had breathtaking views of the city. We saw the construction of the Palm Islands and The World. This lounge was expensive for lunch, but everything in Dubai is pricey. We then decided to go to the Dubai Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest shopping malls in the world

In the mall, they have an indoor ski resort called Ski Dubai where John and I did a few runs. It wasn’t big, but it was the only indoor ski resort we’ve ever seen. After doing a little bit of shopping, we went back to our hotel so that we can get ready for dinner in the Burj Al Arab (Sail Hotel). The only way you can get into that hotel is if you are staying there or if you have reservations for the restaurant.

The Burj Al Arab is a beautiful hotel with vibrant colors. We knew these two women who were staying there, so we got a sneak peek into their suite and boy was it gorgeous. Each suite has two floors with a beautiful staircase. After getting a tour of the room, we went to dinner at Al Mahara. The restaurant is basically a giant fish tank it, and anywhere you sit you have a great view of it.

From the menu to the stemware and the silverware everything was top notch. The food was delicious as well. After a very expensive dinner, we got a ride back to our hotel so that we can finish packing and get ready to go home. After a great 18 day cruise, it will be tough to go back home to reality.

Burj Khalifa – Picture credit Trip advisor

Maria & John at Atmosphere Lounge on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa

A hazy picture of the Burj Al Arab from the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa

A couple of the local in their traditional clothing

The pretty balconies in the Burj Al Arab

The staircase in one of the suites in the Burj Al Arab

Maria & John at Al Mahara Restaurant entrance

Maria & John – Burj Al Arab house car is a beautiful Roll Royce

Dubai, UAE – Day 1 – Desert Dune Drive Safari

November 21, 2011

Today we are doing a desert safari tour in a 4 X 4 vehicle. We drove deep into the desert where the driver took us on a wild rollercoaster desert drive. This type of ride is known as dune bashing traveling up and down the towering dunes. I thought the truck was going to tip over which added to the excitement.

After our crazy ride we drove to the camel and Bedoiun settlements where we had a chance to see how they live Arabian style. We had a good time sand surfing and taking in the breathtaking sunset views.

Muscat, Oman

November 20, 2011

Driving from the pier in Muscat we drove by the giant incense burner in the world. We then drove along the Batinah Coast which is very pretty. We arrived at our first stop Nakhal Fort, perched on a 200-foot high hilltop with spectacular views. We saw the ladies’ sitting room, the prison, the split level terraces, and courtyards. We then visited the Nakhal Springs, a tranquil and picturesque area framed by majestic mountains. On the way to our lunch at the Grand Hyatt, we drove through Nakhal Village. After lunch we drove by the Al Zawawi Mosque, unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to go inside, but the outside looks amazing.

We then headed to the exquisite Al Alam Palace which overlooks Muscat Bay. We didn’t see the inside of the Palace but the grounds were awesome.

One interesting thing our tour guide told us about was that you get a fine if your car isn’t clean.

The second to last stop on today’s tour was Bait Al Zubair, a private museum that has collections of Omani items such as weaponry, jewelry, clothing, books, photographs, paintings and old maps. We spent some time speaking to the owner of the museum who was very nice.

The last stop on our tour was a shopping stop at the colorful Muttrah Souq. We purchased frankincense, incense, and an Omani dagger.

Giant incense burner structure in Muscat Oman

Closer picture of the giant incense burner structure in Muscat Oman

Mosque of the Great Prophet blue minaret with Quranic scriptures

Salalah, Oman – Mughsail Beach & Job’s Tomb

November 18, 2011

Today we had a short tour of Salalah. We drove to the Garden City, Mughsail Beach, Job’s Tomb and Al Husn Souq. Mughsail Beach was very pretty the water looked amazing it’s two miles of unspoiled white sand beaches, high cliffs which are picturesque. We were lucky enough to be there at high tide and saw the spectacular “Blow Hole.”

After being there for about a half hour, we then proceeded to Job’s Tomb where according to legend, the remains of the Muslim and Old Testament Prophet Job can be found. Job’s Tomb is a sacred place of pilgrimage for Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Due to the fact that we were entering mosques on this tour, I had to have my shoulders and my head covered to enter.

The last stop on the itinerary for the day was Al Husn Souq where we had a chance to walk around and shop which is one of my favorite things to do. The colorful stalls are filled with frankincense, incense, bottles of fragrant perfume oils, pashminas and many other things.

Aqaba, Jordan – Petra & Wadi Rum

November 13, 2011

Growing up watching Indiana Jones movies made this next stop exciting. The ancient city of Petra, Nabataean caravan city, situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, and Wadi Rum. This scenic drive is where Camel caravans passed through, loaded with spices, textiles, and incense from distant regions, and through that commerce, the city of Petra flourished, until a massive earthquake in 363AD left the structures of Petra in ruins. Upon arrival, we started our walk down the narrow gorge called the Siq (the shaft) to see The Treasury. The Siq is a natural geological passage formed from a deep split in the sandstone rocks. After a 15 minute walk, we finally see El Khazneh, The Treasury, carved directly out of the red sandstone cliff. This structure is impressive I have never seen anything like it before.

After spending an hour at The Treasury, we boarded our tour bus to drive to Wadi Rum. When boarded our 4 X 4 transfer stop, we were engulfed in the desert. Before arriving, I read so many things about Wadi Rum being acclaimed by many as one of the most stunning desert landscapes in the world.

The scenery was magnificent, towering cliffs, mauve colored stretches of sand were amazing. The rock towers reminded us of the Red Rocks in Utah. We drove passed a Bedouin camp where other tourists were going to have a buffet dinner served under the Bedouin tents. After having a nice desert drive, we drove back to our bus to drive back to Aqaba.

John in the narrow passage that leads to Petra

The first sighting of the breathtaking Treasury

The “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” rock formation through a window

The “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” rock formation

Maria & John – with our good friends Adrian & Irene Williams from London

Our good friends Fernando & Martin Alvarez from Miami, Florida

Beautiful water cruising the Red Sea to our next port Salalah, Oman

Luxor (Safaga) Day 2 – Desert Jeep Safari

November 12, 2011

Today we had an adventurous tour we began with a scenic drive in a 4 X 4 jeep from the port of Safaga to the Red Sea resort town of Hurghada. We drove onto the Eastern Arabia Desert. We had great photo opportunities of the deserts that we’ve seen in movies. We drove to a Bedouin camp (settlement), where we were welcomed by the locals (nomads). We had a chance to taste their sweet tea and ate some of their flat unleavened bread. After seeing how the locals lived and what they ate, we rode camels through the desert. My luck I get the angry Camel who was spitting at the handler.

Local woman making flat unleavened bread

Luxor (Safaga), Egypt – Day 1 – Ancient Luxor

November 11, 2011

Arriving at the port was interesting, we saw piles of duffle bags from Egyptians who were traveling to the Mecca. It seemed unorganized I don’t know how they would find their luggage when they arrive at their destination. Today we were going to have the longest day of driving 3.5 hours to get to Luxor to see ancient Egyptian architecture and see fascinating mysteries of centuries old culture and hieroglyphics. Once again it was nerve-wracking to know that we had a security guard on our bus who had an Uzi.

We arrived in Luxor we had a nice lunch at the Sheraton Hotel. After lunch, we continued our drive and crossed the Nile River proceeding to the West Bank area for a visit to the Valley of the Kings. We had a chance to see the tombs of Egypt’s ancient kings, their families, and other Egyptian nobility. It was amazing to see the hieroglyphics and how old they are, the colors were so vibrant. The only thing that was upsetting was that they didn’t allow any photography but luckily I was able to take two pictures before they told me I couldn’t.

Maria & John by the Steigenberger Hotel in Luxor

Valley of the Kings Entrance (I was lucky enough to take two pictures)

Valley of the Kings (I was lucky enough to take two pictures)

Next stop was the Hatshepsut Temple. This mortuary temple was buried under sand for centuries and was built by Hatshepsut, the only woman to rule and become a Pharaoh. Built into the mountainside, it stands as an incredible monument to the powers held by pharaohs.

Following that tour, we had a second photo stop to see Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues that originally flanked the entrance to Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple. Unfortunately, the temple itself was destroyed in an earthquake; the magnificent statues still stand guard today.

The final stop was the most impressive Luxor Temple complex. The complex was a collection of breathtaking ruins, obelisks, and temples that date back to the 14th century BC.

Suez Canal Transit

November 10, 2011

Today we sailed through the Suez Canal which is also known as The Highway to India. The canal is an artificial sea level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It took ten years to construct, and it opened in November 1869.

Locals fishing in the Suez Canal and waving at the passengers

Military bridges in case of conflict on the side of the Suez Canal

Outlet pipes pumping water into Suez canal from desert construction of new section of Suez canal

Military soldiers on the side of the Suez Canal

Largest wind farm in Africa at the exit of the Suez Canal

El Ferdan Railway swing Bridge is the longest in the world and it is on the Suez Canal

Sarapeum (Serapeion) – Mosque on bank of Suez Canal

Haifa, Israel – Day 3 – Historical Bethlehem

November 9, 2011

Today we were getting a tour of Bethlehem. We were excited to see the ancient streets and the Church of the Nativity which is the oldest church in the Holy Land which is still being used today. Driving through the Judean Hills and seeing the Valley of Elah, which gets its name from the Elah tree, a type of oak tree that produces turpentine. I’ve read that biblically the valley is known as the area where David fatally wounded the fearsome Philistine warrior Goliath with a stone plucked from the nearby Elah Brook.

We finally arrived in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David and Jesus. We took a tour of the Church of Nativity. We looked through the trap doors on the wooden floor and saw the original mosaic tiled floor below. We also saw the low Door of Humility that prevented anyone from entering the room without bowing, and the grotto, which is supposedly the birth place of Jesus.

The interior of the Church of the Nativity

The mosaic floor in the Church of Nativity

Haifa, Israel – Day 2 – A Day in Jerusalem

November 8, 2011

We drove from Haifa into the Judean Hills to get to our first stop which is Mt. Zion. We arrived at Mt. Zion and visited the Room of the Last Supper, where according to tradition Jesus’ last meal with his disciples and the descent of the Holy Spirit took place. On the ground floor is the Tomb of King David, which is one of the places most visited by the people of Jewish faith. Next up we saw the Dormition Abbey, a beautiful structure with a high domed bell tower.

After getting a bite to eat, we began our walking tour of the old city. Entering Jaffa Gate, we walked past some of the most sacred sites in religious history. We passed by a cool bazaar which was very colorful. We saw the Christian Quarter which is right next to a part of the famous Via Dolorosa, believed to be the route Jesus took as he carried his cross to Calvary. We also saw this golden topped Dome of the Rock. This breathtaking shrine is considered the third holiest site in Islam. One of the wildest things that we saw while walking were these big round metal bins that are used for suspicious packages found.

The next stop on the walking tour was the Western (Wailing) Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish world. We wrote a prayer on the piece of paper and John stuck it in the wall. The wall is believed to have been the closest to where the Holy Ark once stood. We also had the chance to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. High on top of the hill known as Golgotha, the church marks the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

John putting our prayer into the Western (Wailing) Wall

The doors into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Immovable ladder on ledge over entrance to Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Stone of Anointing where they washed Jesus’ body in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Greek Orthodox Chapel of the Crucifixion

Disc marking traditional place, under the altar, where Jesus’ cross stood.

After boarding our tour bus, we drove to our next stop going through the Kidron Valley. We saw the Church of All Nations at the Gardens of Gethsemane, as well as the sacred churches on the Mount of Olives – the Church of Ascension, Dominos Flevit, and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. Our tour guide took us to a local store where John and I purchased a gold Jerusalem cross, and a beautiful hand carved Nativity set made from olive wood.

One of the things that I love that Oceania Cruises does in certain ports that we are in they decide to entertain us while boarding the ship, they had a lot of the crew members lined up and were clapping along with music being played by the band that is onboard.