Dubai: At the Top of the Burj Khalifa
Last year, I wrote about my trip to Abu Dhabi but failed to share my experiences in Dubai. Why you might ask? I made the rookie mistake of taking a camera that wasn't charged. Charged just enough for one night in Abu Dhabi, but that's about it.
And because of that, I just never wrote about it. Because if there's no pictures, it didn't happen, right?
Luckily, I was able to make the trip back again to Dubai this week. While I did enjoy last years short flight from Istanbul much better than the loooong trek from London, I was definitely not complaining about the weather. When we visited last year in May, it was already a balmy 40 degrees celsius with lots and lots of humidity (my hair hated it). This time, it was more like 23 degrees and felt like heaven compared to both last time and our cold London winter.
While this wasn't my first trip, it was one of my co-workers. So, there were some repeats from last time and some new things. More to come on my favorite things in Dubai, but today, I will share my fear-facing trip to the top of Burj Khalifa.
Despite partaking in activities such as hot air balloon rides and paragliding, I am scared of heights. I hate glass elevators, never enjoyed those really tall escalators at the Rangers Ball Park in Arlington and usually super tall buildings fall into this same category of tall things that make me anxious.
BUT, it's the tallest building in the world and I have now been talked into going twice. I still can't figure out how they did it, but despite the shaky and ear popping elevator ride, the scary wooden floors you can just about imagine falling through and the fact that you are on the 124th floor (and still not to the top), its worth it.
I've now gotten to go both in the daytime and at night, and for me, the night was by far the best. Sure, you can see tall buildings in the daytime, but its just a vast dusty desert. I enjoyed seeing everything lit up a night, you completely forget you're in the middle of the desert.
If you time it just right, you can also catch the Dancing Fountain at the Dubai mall from your spot above - in the evenings, its usually every 30 minutes, so just stake out a good spot on the glass and wait.
And above all, please don't be the person to lose your camera/iphone/video camera through the slits in the glass. That may have been the scariest idea of all!
Quick Facts:
- The Burj is the tallest structure in the world at over 2,700 ft and 160 stories.
- It took just 6 years to complete the building from start to finish
- If you laid out all the rebar used in construction, it would go 1/4 of the way around the world
The Logistics:
- Make a reservation to go to the top. It usually books up in advance and its also much much cheaper if you buy in advance.
- Be prepared to wait in line, even if you've bought advance tickets. Oh and then you have to wait in line again to go back down (that is what happens with just 2 elevators!)
And because of that, I just never wrote about it. Because if there's no pictures, it didn't happen, right?
Luckily, I was able to make the trip back again to Dubai this week. While I did enjoy last years short flight from Istanbul much better than the loooong trek from London, I was definitely not complaining about the weather. When we visited last year in May, it was already a balmy 40 degrees celsius with lots and lots of humidity (my hair hated it). This time, it was more like 23 degrees and felt like heaven compared to both last time and our cold London winter.
While this wasn't my first trip, it was one of my co-workers. So, there were some repeats from last time and some new things. More to come on my favorite things in Dubai, but today, I will share my fear-facing trip to the top of Burj Khalifa.
Despite partaking in activities such as hot air balloon rides and paragliding, I am scared of heights. I hate glass elevators, never enjoyed those really tall escalators at the Rangers Ball Park in Arlington and usually super tall buildings fall into this same category of tall things that make me anxious.
BUT, it's the tallest building in the world and I have now been talked into going twice. I still can't figure out how they did it, but despite the shaky and ear popping elevator ride, the scary wooden floors you can just about imagine falling through and the fact that you are on the 124th floor (and still not to the top), its worth it.
 |
| Burj by day via Instagram |
I've now gotten to go both in the daytime and at night, and for me, the night was by far the best. Sure, you can see tall buildings in the daytime, but its just a vast dusty desert. I enjoyed seeing everything lit up a night, you completely forget you're in the middle of the desert.
 |
| View of Dubai by night - 5 years ago, none of that was there |
 |
| Burj by night |
If you time it just right, you can also catch the Dancing Fountain at the Dubai mall from your spot above - in the evenings, its usually every 30 minutes, so just stake out a good spot on the glass and wait.
 |
| At the Top of the Burj - oooh, sparkly Dancing Fountain |
And above all, please don't be the person to lose your camera/iphone/video camera through the slits in the glass. That may have been the scariest idea of all!
Quick Facts:
- The Burj is the tallest structure in the world at over 2,700 ft and 160 stories.
- It took just 6 years to complete the building from start to finish
- If you laid out all the rebar used in construction, it would go 1/4 of the way around the world
The Logistics:
- Make a reservation to go to the top. It usually books up in advance and its also much much cheaper if you buy in advance.
- Be prepared to wait in line, even if you've bought advance tickets. Oh and then you have to wait in line again to go back down (that is what happens with just 2 elevators!)
It’s so awesome that you got to trip to a lot of awesome places! Burj Al Arab which is world’s only seven star hotel soars to a height of 321 meters dominating the skyline of city is fourth tallest hotel in the world which is an iconic symbols of city.
ReplyDeleteAnd because of that, I just never wrote about it. Because if there's no pictures, it didn't happen, right?
ReplyDeleteKhalifa City Abu Dhabi