This year we spend Christmas in Dubai. Needless to say, it was a different Christmas for us filled with unique experiences that we’re grateful we could have. The highlights of our trip were playing in the sand dunes, riding camels and four-wheelers, seeing the Burj Khalifa tower and fountains, ice skating, an Arabic style dinner, exploring Global Village, visiting Abu Dabi, and collecting a few seveners.

We had redeye flights and arrived in Dubai at 4:30am local time. It was a long night, and we were feeling pretty exhausted. After arriving at our hotel just after sunrise, we all went straight to bed then set out of buy groceries and food to eat. Claire discovered a few tabby cats hanging around the property and made sure she gave them notice every time we came and left.

Jetlagged, we still made it to our first excursion of playing in the sand dunes, riding camels, sand boarding, and fourwheeling.

Next we let the kids pick a local place to eat and Gavin without knowing, selected a Pakistani Restaurant. The food was good, but the experience was very differing. When we walked in, they asked another smaller family to move off their table to another table so they could seat us there. Then they gave us menus and didn’t return. Confused, Phil looked up proper etiquette and learned that we need to signal for the host to place our order. When they came over, they looked directly at Phil so he gave the man his order and the man walked away again. So we ushered him over again so everyone else could also place their orders. The man insisted that Phil’s order would be plenty of food, but what Phil wanted wasn’t what the kids would be willing to eat. With misunderstanding on both ends, the man hesitantly let each child place their order. And repeated to say they don’t like to waste food. Still unsure of the portion sizes, despite the hosts best efforts, he placed our orders. Sure enough, when Phil received his order, it was in a large pan that took up most of the table and continued to add the rice place and naan plate as well. His order was large enough for our family. But the food kept coming. Even my order of friend rice was more than I needed for myself, and the kids chicken sandwiches turned out to be a pulled chicken with spices the kids weren’t accustomed to. We managed to only leave with two chicken sandwiches in hand that the kids didn’t touch.

Pictured below is Phil and my orders as the kid’s food hadn’t arrived yet.

The next day, we headed into town to see the Burj Kalifah tower. I guess we didn’t realize how busy or popular Dubai this time of year would be, but it was overwhelmingly crowded. This was one of those, “glad we could see it but we’re good to never return again” experiences. There were people everywhere! Some that were nice and polite and fun to get to meet, like some new friends we came in contact with while standing in line to go to the 124th floor of the Burj. And some less than nice people we’ll choose to believe they were just as tired and overwhelmed as we were with the crowds and weren’t handling it well. If you do visit Dubai, we recommend not going to the top for the view….it wasn’t managed well for the amount of people, only two working elevators made a 45min ordeal turn into a 4hour event. 3.5 of those hours were standing in line, and the elevator ride only took a minute each way.

When we made it back down, we were able to grab some Subway then head outside to enjoy the fountain show.

The next day was Sunday and we attended a local Ward inside a conference room of a hotel, 20min away from where we were staying. It was a great Christmas program, very diverse ward with great talent. The people were very welcoming and friendly and gave us some great insight of what to see and do while we are here.

On Monday, we went to a place called Global Village. This is where they have shops and decor, food, vendors, clothing, decor, and dancing from many different countries. It was one of our favorite places to go as we went on two separate evenings, despite the crowds. Our kids also enjoyed getting to spend some of the Christmas money sent from Grandparents as they picked out some seveners.

For Christmas Eve we enjoyed an authentic and educational Arabic feast. They had us sit on cushions instead of the floor and share with us some of the customs and traditions in how they invite others into their home, how they serve and eat their meals, as well as how and why they wear their robes and headdress. The food was great, even the kids enjoyed it which wasn’t what we expected. It was an experience worth trying.

Christmas was the simplest we’ve ever had, and it we were worried how our kids would react with how simple it was, but they were thrilled with what they got. Plus, they had a feast of donuts, fruits, yogurt, and juice which they enjoyed! Phil surprised us with a little Christmas tree he ordered from a local floral shop, which was a pleasant surprise. He’s very thoughtful like that. It was also a rather rough Christmas, not going to lie. Missing the connection and closeness with family and just some other challenges that came up for us as well one of our neighbors. It’s not worth repeating but we’ve learned some things and feel great compassion for those involved.

One of the days that week, I had some scheduled coaching calls with my clients so while I did that, Phil took the kids to a local park to play. There was also a waterfront where they found lots of baby crabs. Claire ended up bringing one in the car to show me, but before they got back, she had lost it somewhere in-between the seatbelts. We never found it, here’s to hoping it doesn’t create a fishy smell for the next car renters!

We made it out to Abu Dabi to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center. This was pretty cool. Everyone was required to wear long pants, and all the girls had to wear long sleeves. And the women were required to wear a head scarf to cover their hair. It seemed odd to be wearing my winter scarf around my head and neck in the middle of 85-degree weather.

The last couple days of our trip, Phil and I did a little shopping together, the kids enjoyed some ice skating, I got to enjoy a massage and get my hair done, and we took the kids to see Muana 2 right before our flight to Cambodia. Overall, it was a pretty great Christmas break and we’re excited for more adventures!

Redeye flights are brutally exhausting. These kids are troopers!