Kicking Back in Style

Since it slowly starts to look more and more evident that we are closing the Infamous Chapter Dubai I start to think about the things that I still haven't done. It is sort of ironic if you think that for 3 years I have been moaning about how few things there are to do here and once the moment comes to take off, I'm running around stressed and crossing things off my [bucket?] list.

One of the things on my list was always one of the luxurious desert resorts Al Maha or Bab Al Shams - only living in the middle of desert does not really entice you to go and spend your weekend ... in the middle of the same bloody desert! Call me cheap but if I have to pay at least four hundred euros I'd rather go somewhere else than 30 kilometers away from my home address.

Anyhow, few days back, rushed by the growing realization that soon it might be too late, I pushed my soon-to-be-poor-hubby to get used to an idea of a whole Saturday full of R&R at Bab Al Shams. Obviously as the stingy Finnish that I am, I had planned to get up way before dawn, rub myself full of SPF10 and be there as the first eager day tourist, with my many books and gadgets. Truth to be told, we did eventually get to the desert around noon and parked ourselves in a scorching heat on a patch of grass, only to wonder "why on earth would anyone pay money to be lying in this sort excruciating heat?".

Nevertheless, the place is quite impressive. It is much more smaller than I imagined and a nice contrast to the Dubai's "the biggest and best in the world". The pool area is just amazing for chilling, lying in the water and watching the hundreds of birds and butterflies flying around. The service is [again, against the usual Dubai style] superb and the resort does really make an extra effort. I loved the way they served few times a day an ice cool facial towel and even a frozen lollipop ... I mean, let's face it ... +37 is no joke!

The day at the pool costs you approximately 70EUR per person and includes a buffet lunch at one of their restaurants. Do not let the word buffet lead you off [OK, for anyone who is not Finnish this is irrelevant information but that word creates only one connection in my mind: the horrible buffets at the ferries cruising between Finland and Sweden plus people who eat until they drop]. The cuisine served at Bab Al Shams was indeed excellent and still very modest in quantity.

Better yet, your day can be filled with all sorts of useless activities as archery, ping pong [!!!] or mini golf. You can enjoy an impressive list of massages and spa treatments, naturally against a premium price. In the end of the day you can step outside of the pool area to the Real Desert [on your own risk, as the resort kindly reminds you ... so in case you step on a viper or a scorpion, no need to come knocking on their door] and try riding a camel and holding a falcon.

Honestly - I've had my share of visitors in Dubai and been to the desert safari, which I think is the ONLY authentic experience in this land ... and yet I am having second thoughts. Forget the dune bashing, I think you are much better off by paying a few euros more and spending your day at Bab Al Shams ... sipping the cocktails YOU want, having an excellent lunch and doing the rest of the Arabic treat.

Or maybe it is just me becoming a lazy b***ch ...