Took off for my First Foreign Trip, Landed with Chicken Pox
Stuffing my bag with trendy outfits for every day, counting the perfect amount of extras I would need and oh, let’s not forget the swimwear! After all, it was time for my first international voyage.
While sipping on complimentary airline cocktails that seemed too sour for the amateur tongue and completing an inspirational movie on the inbuilt flight TV, I reached Dubai in January 2017.
A city in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is known for its ultramodern architecture, dazzling nightlife and luxury shopping. Its economy is centred around tourism, which it highly specialises in.
I was all set to explore the city; walk for hours, visit all the cliche tourist locations and maybe get lucky enough to find some hidden gem.
But the fever and troubling head pain was not part of my plan. From the third day, I became more used to the soft futon bed of my hotel room, the weak WIFI and the TV which never showed decipherable shows in a language known to me. I dipped into the bed’s temporary comfort with my ears ringing with bodily discomfort. On my left was the balcony where I could overlook the tall buildings which beheld the glory of the city of Dubai. From the balcony, a soft breeze infiltrated the room at all hours, freshening the aura of the enclosed area.
On the second day of the trip, I got a mild fever, and so I was left to rest in the hotel. After a few hours, hunger gripped me, forcing me to step out on the roads. Here is the first thing I learned, the people of Dubai are strict about traffic rules! I had to cross the road as several multi-cuisine eateries were lining up at the opposite end. Getting ready to jaywalk through that intersection, I saw a group of people waiting for the signal and so, I doubtfully conformed. Like Simon Says, I followed in their footsteps (No, literally!). They pressed some button down the side of the road, the cars stopped after a few seconds, the light turned green for crossovers and I could reach the opposite end. The entire experience was significantly new and interesting, which I abided by until the end of the trip.
The second thing I learned was that the pizza in Dubai is to die for! I bought a pizza at a joint called ‘Yellow Cab’. The crust was luscious, admittedly greasy, but no other pizza can match up to the absolute gratification I got from that Yellow Cab pizza in 2017. Originally, Yellow Cab has its headquarters in the Philippines.
Even though my health wasn’t always supportive, I set out to visit the Ferrari World, fighting off the light-headedness. The one thing I remember distinctly from that amusement world is ‘Red’.
Red was the dominant colour in the Ferrari World, with their interiors completely crafted in the same matching hue. The numerous daunting rides and shows by wonderful performers really made me forgo everything else.
Especially, the fastest roller coaster of the world, operational in the Ferrari World was a force to be reckoned with. The ride got over in a few seconds with the passengers attempting to find their breath and more than thrilled from the amazing experience.
Show at Ferrari World
I found out I got the Chicken Pox, the day after the Ferrari World. The spots were there when I went for a bath, they just popped up overnight it seemed. Panicking, I shared the news with my family who helped take care of the situation. We left the hotel and found sanctuary at a relative’s place. While I rested there, the rest of the entourage took pleasure in frolicking across town to have their amusement at Atlantis, the Palm.
Established in 2008, Atlantis The Palm is a distinguished hotel, one of the few with underwater accommodations for guests. It is located on the iconic Jumeirah beach and appears in a palm-like shape when viewed from above.
While my family surged through the waterpark extravaganzas at the Atlantis Hotel, I watched Keeping Up With The Kardashians the entire day (there’s only so much one can understand on UAE TV).
It was a few days after the symptoms dimmed when I could pay a visit to the world-famed Burj Khalifa. Wearing protective clothing to prevent any damage, the lift buzzed me up to the visitor’s floor of the building. My ears popped due to the sudden change in altitude. Honestly, the view was magical, though the exhilaration came more from being at the Burj Khalifa than the view beyond.
Finally, the chickenpox was treated with lots of coconut water served in the Indian colony we harboured in, neem leaves and sleep. Returning to India after this long tedious experience became my much-needed vacation in the end!