First look, the Dubai Mall

Walked into the place and was basically stuck by the fact that it was not ready to open. It is too bad, but only 600 of the 1200 shops are open, and it makes the place look like a giant warehouse. But with that said, this is no warehouse. The place is big enough to get me all turned around and I was disorientated rather quickly. I looked at a map once and started to walk, I did not know where I was rather quick. There is a huge number of skylights and sunroofs so you can see the Burj and the Address and the Dubai Mall Hotel do give you a sense of direction. That is what I needed to get my barring.

The food court was so packed I could not hold hands. I mean there were so many people, not enough chairs and just not nearly enough room. I was shocked about how it did not flow at all. But the first Taco Bell that I know of in this city is in there for whatever that is worth.

In the Mall of the Emirates there are vertical bars that prevent people from bringing strollers onto the escalators. They are needed in this place. I was there only a few hours and I saw two episodes that have me convinces it is a really bad idea to put strapped in defenseless baby in a situation that can just go all wrong for the kid. (Not to mention an 80 pound Indonesian live in maid trying to manage a totally out of control over sugared spoiled little local male spazz. These women come over and do the hard work of day to day child raising by just letting the kids get away with murder and literally laughing about it as it happens because it’s not their kid. I have seen this more than once in the malls.)

There is no question I did not see the whole thing. We were hungry and Viviane had to go to work, so we left to get some food at the Souk Al Bahar. (next door over the bridge over the lake that is under construction with a giant fountain like a the Bellagio which is under cosntruction in front if the Burj Dubai which is under construction. I walked under another crane on the way across the bridge.)

Notice in the photos below that it is just not ready. Shops not open, working cranes overhead, and the artistic details like the UAE flag just not hung correctly, it was rushed.

BrotherBill