Abu Dhabi + Katie = :)
I hit the road to Abu Dhabi today… But before I get started:
I’m 100% certain everyone reading this is super educated about the states and countries in the Middle East, BUT in the rare case that you need help mapping Katie in the world I felt it was time… to include a map. There are 6 states in the United Arab Emeriates (UAE). Abu Dhabi is one, Dubai is another one… Notice Bahrain over in the corner, I was there too awhile ago.
And in case you need serious help…
Now that that’s settled. Lets get back to what I was saying. Abu Dhabi.. I have been wanting to go for two reasons.
1. The show Amazing Race went to Abu Dhabi this last season
2. Rihanna went to Abu Dhabi recently (I saw on her Instagram)
So it was time I made an appearance. Abu Dhabi… Here we come!
We came in starving!! So on the way I looked up “good places to eat in Abu Dhabi”, and my homeboy Google recommended a few which were located in a shopping center called The Galleria.
Perfect. This will be like America. Houston perhaps? We get to the shopping center.. and lets just say… I don’t think Abu Dhabi has such a thing as a middle class. From the looks of it, probably not even a middle-upper class. This shopping center had the most elite stores ramped up on a couple rounds of steriods. OMG. Every single person was dressed in a suite and tie nicer than I’ve ever seen in my life. Imagine this: The nicest/fanciest store in The Domain, or even the Mall Of America from the States. Now x that image in your head by 12 and you have = The cheapest store in The Galleria, Abu Dhabi. Wow.
But fake it till you make it right? Luckily we found a super delicious, natural food restaurant with a fantastic view that had normal prices…
After the delicious food and some store watching, we drove through Abu Dhabi. It’s a pretty neat place, not nearly growing as TALL as Dubai, but then again which other place in the world really is growing as tall is Dubai.
On the way back to Dubai we stopped at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. I can’t get over it. AMAZING. I’m sure there’s other really gorgeous and breathtaking architectural places in the world, but this was probably the most magnificent thing I’ve seen with my own eyes.
Like everything here.. It’s BIG. But also so beautiful and special feeling. The soft white colors with the golds and super sparkly chandeliers are just breathtaking. Really.
I mean there’s no words, or at least I can’t think of the right ones to use in describing it. It’s SO fancy and posh, yet so inviting and comforting. It’s largeness is intimidating but the quietness makes it calming. If that makes any sense. You must see it for yourself. Now if you want to see it… there’s a few rules 😉 😉
They can borrow you the proper clothes for women to wear before you enter so I was able to go in (Abaya and/or Burka I think they’re called, don’t kill me if I’m wrong with that)… If we’re being honest here, after getting used to the outfit change I must admit I was feeling pretty cool.
I don’t think I was the only one feeling cool…
Now I’m the worst person ever to talk about this Grand Mosque because I didn’t do a tour or anything to actually learn all about it.. We got there too late for one. But I’ll most definitely be back to learn more and be more confident and smart in explaining everything. I want to learn about it. For example, I think this wall is symbolic in the sense that it has all the different names for God..
Ok. I never claimed to be an educational blog. But I promise I’ll work in educating myself and get back to you.
This time I was so speechless and amazed at what I was looking at, that was enough to soak in one time around.
After all, I live so close now, there’s no excuse not to come back and take another look at this masterpiece. And if you ever visit the area, I highly recommend it 🙂
And really?? This is me taking a million + 1 photos with my i-phone. This gem of a place deserves so much more than photo’s with an i-phone. It’s places like this that reminds you camera phones just aren’t enough… For 2014, I’ll invest in a real deal camera 🙂
Ummmm, I could go on forever with pictures…
I’ll leave you with this one… as we drove away
the details….WOW.
omg. the details. i don’t know what else to say. It’s sooooo pretty.
Thank you, and really i mean it, the 2nd map is just what i needed to get “the picture”. I get it now. I might have even google mapped it had you not put it there so yes thank you.
ok, don’t be mad but first glimpse at your covered head and I thought you had dyed your hair dark brown…and I gasped…..and then I looked closer. 😀 and you look goooooooooood gurl in that abaya. 😉
P.s. I think I’m you’re favorite, creeper, stalker living with you through this :)))