Experience the Difference of Dubai

 

Where else on earth can you tour an entertainment park, watch camel races, shop in the finest boutiques, take an aerial tour, and play in some of the world’s finest golf courses all in the same trip but Dubai? Dubai is a truly unique experience and because it has so much appeal to so many different people and tastes, it is becoming a more popular travel destination every day! In Dubai, you can live old-world style one minute and then be whisked off to enjoy contemporary indulgences the next. It’s truly a unique experience and one that has countless opportunities!

One of the many unique experiences that Dubai has to offer revolves around camels. Whether you want to hop on one’s back and take a safari tour or simply watch these great beasts in racing action, Dubai has it! Travel to the desert to watch different types of camels along with the local spectators, who are right at home in their traditional clothing. The tracks along the desert are made specifically for racing purposes and while many are official, there are also some less official racing tracks where you can watch this spectacular sport! If you want to get up close and personal with a camel, take one on a safari as you travel through the great sand dunes and watch some of Dubai’s wildlife such as the desert fox, sand cats, and falcons. If you like being in the desert but aren’t that fond of camels, ride through the sand dunes in a four-wheel drive vehicle and feel the ground move beneath you. The only word to describe it is thrilling!

Bring out the child in yourself by visiting any of the three different Dubai entertainment parks. Wild Wadi Water Park is actually set in the middle of the desert but you need not worry about going thirsty as the park holds an astounding thirty million liters of water. Slide down the grand waterslides or be pushed and pulled in the wave park – this park is truly a place to get soaked! Wonderland is another water park the city boasts and has speed slides, surf hills, wave runners, and much more. If you’re out and about shopping and need to unwind for a few minutes, you may want to visit Magic Palace. This park is centered right inside the Deira City Shopping Center and features bowling, a crawling bungie, video games, electronic pitch, and more!

If golfing is your game, you’ve come to the right place in Dubai. The Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club as well as the Emirates Golf Club are the two most famous being that they have both hosted the European PGA tour but there are many fine courses including the five-star course Montgomerie Golf Club, Al Badia Golf Resort which holds over eleven different bodies of water, Arabian Ranches Golf Club and many more. The number of tee holes in Dubai is endless and the city is known for having some of the most prestigious and fun courses in the world!

Want to stand on a palm tree in the water? Sounds crazy but you can do this on three different palm trees in Dubai. Yes, welcome to Palm Island, the three largest man-made islands in the world! The first island, Jumeirah Palm Island is mainly for living purposes and also has fine hotels and restaurants located on it. The second, Jebel Ali Palm Island, is for entertainment and has water parks, golf courses and more! The third, Deira Palm Island is a combination of the two. These islands aren’t the only structures however that prove how innovative Dubai is. In 2010, The Dynamic Tower will be built. Dynamic indeed! This will be the first skyscraper, which will actually consist of four separate buildings that will move every time the wind does! Who’s seen a building that looks different every time you look at it?

Jerusalem - Emotion and Sprituality

Nestled among the Judean hills, the eternal city of Jerusalem beckons travelers from far with its ancient walls, magnificent domes and white stone architecture. No other city in the world manages to evoke such emotion and spirituality as this ancient capital of Israel does. Jerusalem is a startling combination of old and new, secular and religious. It inspires poetry and song, conflict and love, and is one of the most exciting destinations in the world to visit.

Jerusalem brings together the sanctity of three of the most important religions in world – Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Ancient synagogues burrow together in the same labyrinth of winding alleys with tiny baptism rooms. Magnificent golden domes share the Jerusalem skyline with towering church steeples. The spirituality in this city involves all five senses – the smell of incense, the sound of clanging bells, mumbling prayer and the call of the muezzin, the sight of colorful garb, the taste of traditional food and the touch of century-old stones.

Established by the great Hebrew King David over three thousand years ago, Jerusalem has been inhabited by generations of Jews, Christians and Arabs for centuries. The ancient walled Old City is home to some of the holiest sites in the world – the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Temple Mount and Western Wall and the al-Aqsa Mosque. Visitors flock to the Old City to experience its alleyways, markets and culture and nobody comes away from a visit untouched by the absolute beauty of this quarter.

Yet, in direct contrast, many areas in Jerusalem represent the dynamic and modern vibe of the young country of Israel that gained its independence in 1948. Jerusalem is home to the country’s parliament – the Knesset, as well as government offices, the President’s residence and other important buildings.

Culture in this city abounds, with art and history museums, theaters and parks. The Israel Museum houses some of the most fascinating exhibitions in the world, including the Shrine of the Book and a model of the Second Temple. The world’s most heart-wrenching dedication to the Holocaust, the Yad Vashem Museum is also situated in this city. Music, art and film festivals are held in Jerusalem on a regular basis, attracting culture vultures from around the globe who love the experience of enjoying the best that this city has to offer.

Strategically located near the center of the country, Jerusalem is the perfect springboard for excursions to the rest of Israel. The lowest spot on earth, the Dead Sea is a couple of hours bus ride out of the city, and the modern, cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv is less than an hour away. Nature walks, forests and wild animals abound on the outskirts of the city, allowing visitors to experience some of the most breathtaking and time-frozen views ever. Many claim that the sunsets in Jerusalem are among the most beautiful in the world, and when the sinking rays touch the white limestone of the city, it is then that the words “Jerusalem of Gold” are truly understood.