Finally had a day off yesterday. Everyone got to sleep in for the first time in weeks. After lunch all of the Syracuse students went to Atlantis Resort to the Aquaventure water park. Atlantis is out on the end of the Palm islands so there are spectacular views in all directions. From one side you can look off into the Arabian Gulf and see the World Islands. The water is so blue here but the air is so warm it heats the water up so it is never refreshing. All of the pools are chilled instead of heated. On the other side you can see the entire skyline of Dubai. You can see the Burj Khalifa towering over every other building, the Burj al Arab, and all of the hotels along the beach stretching for miles.
At the park we spent most of the day floating down the lazy river on tubes. There are also seven slides coming out of a ziggurat in the center of the park. Most of them you go down on tubes but there is one 100 foot slide you go down on your back. It is basically straight down. When you're standing in line you can see people lay down and push themselves forward and then they just disappear. The slide runs through a sting ray tank but you're going so fast and there is so much water spraying your face that you can't see it.
At the park we spent most of the day floating down the lazy river on tubes. There are also seven slides coming out of a ziggurat in the center of the park. Most of them you go down on tubes but there is one 100 foot slide you go down on your back. It is basically straight down. When you're standing in line you can see people lay down and push themselves forward and then they just disappear. The slide runs through a sting ray tank but you're going so fast and there is so much water spraying your face that you can't see it.
Wednesday we immersed ourselves in the culture of Dubai. We took a trip to the Gold Souk or open-air market for some bartering. As soon as we walked into the area we were approached by all sorts of guys trying to sell us fake Rolex's. Of course we couldn't pass up the opportunity so we followed these guys down back alleys, not one of the brightest ideas, into sketchy apartments where they have rooms full of stolen and knock-off watches, purses, and clothes. They are all really nervous and have cameras set up in the rooms to watch for cops. It's a lot of fun to bargain with these guys. They start off at ridiculous prices and then hand you a calculator to name your price. They usually laugh in your face until you start leaving. I talked one guy down to 150 Dirhams for a Tag Heuer from 400.
It's back to work for me but I will post some more later to make up for all of the days I missed.
Tom
It's back to work for me but I will post some more later to make up for all of the days I missed.
Tom
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