It's snowing in Dubai

We might think we know what shopping malls are in Melbourne, but you haven't seen anything until you have seen some of the malls in Dubai. Yesterday we visited Mall of the Emirates which contained Ski Dubai. It was a huge ski slope like any European or Australian ski centre and believe it or not had snow lightly falling. Features included a long moderately sloped ski run, a lift, a luge course through a mini mountain, tobogganing, ski lessons, a huge clear plastic ball a person could get inside and then be rolled down a slope and for littlies there was the fun of making a snowman and throwing snowballs. It was very busy and all children were wearing navy and red ski suits, and adults had long black ski jackets to their knees which they wore over their dish-dashes or abijahs. We had waffles and coffee in one of the lounges facing onto the ski run and watched the activities through the enormous windows. Groups who were enjoying the snow would often come to the window laughing and chattering and pose for photographs for their family who were watching from the coffee shops.

The Dubai Mall, a different one, is the largest shopping centre in the world -as big as 50 football fields and includes, aquarium, underwater zoo, ice skating rink, Kidzania( mini world where kids play at being grown ups and have to earn money doing jobs) 22 cinemas, 1200 shops, luxury hotel, car parking for 14,000 cars and so the list goes on. I tire pretty quickly of shops but the quality of the merchandise is something extra special and the window displays are magnificent.

Anyway outside the mall is this fountain. It is not based around a central point, but is spread out like a snake along the length of the lake, making loops. It is nearly 1000 ft in length and is choreographed to a range of classical and Arabic music. The water shoots up and sways as if dancing to the music, with the finale being water shooting 490 ft into the air. Each show lasts about 5 minutes and then it rests for 25 minutes. It was still daylight when we saw it but it must be even better at night when it is illuminated by the 6,600 lights and 25 colored projectors. What a spectacle. I believe it cost US$218 million to build. Dubai never ceases to astound. I wonder what Dubai residents think when they visit other places!