So what do you do after you have conquered all the stores in the malls of Dubai? You can cool off on snow slopes or in the wave pool or just traipse off for walks in an air-conditioned amusement park.
Dubai Aquarium and Un derwater Zoo
The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at the Dubai Mall has the cutest pair of otters which were a clear tourist favourite. There were also rays and sharks swimming over our heads, as we walked around in the tunnel that afforded us a fabulous view of the aquarium.
The highlight of the zoo? A giant crocodile which many of us first thought was a dummy till the voice of a zoo guide announced: “The King Croc here weighs 750 kgs and we feed him every day at 4.” We all took a hasty step back and moved towards smaller tanks with pretty jellyfish. There were also turtles, glass catfish and a huge enclosure with penguins. But it was difficult to shake off the image of a giant crocodile lying there in the corner of the mall!
IMG Worlds of Adventure
The indoor, air-conditioned amusement park, IMG Worlds, is the perfect getaway for the summers in Dubai. If you’re riding high on the release of Avengers:Infinity War, the Marvel zone is a fan’s delight. Familiar sights such as the Stark tower and the Daily Bugle is a hark back to the movies. There is more for kids at the Cartoon Network Zone, with its rides and a string of stores selling Johnny Bravo and Dexter’s Laboratory merchandise.
Located a few kilometres away from the city, the IMG roller coaster is visible as you approach the giant entertainment destination. And you can hear the screams of the people on the ride too. I chickened out and chose to walk around the Dinosaur adventure zone instead.
Ski Dubai
i Dubai is an indoor resort located in the Mall of the Emirates. “It is -2 degree celsius”, announces a sign, as I shiver and pull my gloves further up my arms. After rather clumsily going down a slope on a body slide and tumbling into the snow, a group of us chose to pick a more dignified option next — a cable car that took us to the highest slope for a view of the ski resort. One can see ski instructors busy coaching children and adults. When we get back, we see a gaggle of kids and adults around a group of penguins that have just waddled out. “Meet Hug. He loves hugs,” smiles a Penguin trainer, as he introduces us to a cuddly, fluffy penguin.
Wild Wadi Water Park
The Wild Wadi Water Park at Jumeirah is close to the beach, and has around 30 rides on offer. While most of the rides are amusement park staples, the best bet to beat the heat is to take a long, lazy float at ‘Juha’s Journey’ on an inflatable tube, or just laze around in the Wave pool. If you’re inclined towards a more thrilling experience, the ‘Jumeirah Sceirah’, a high-speed water slide, and the wipeout flowrider await you. The park also has small decks with chaise lounges to flop into when you are tired after the rides. From here, you can enjoy the azure sea and the seven-star Burj Al Arab, that is shaped like a sail.
Dubai Parks and Resorts
The Dubai Parks and Resorts offers everything from Legos and Hollywood to Bollywood and food. Legoland has the replicas of famous landmarks and skyscrapers of Dubai, made entirely of Lego pieces. Motiongate Park has replicas of the sets of Kung Fu Panda and provides the movie’s fans great photo-ops. At Bollywood Park, there were 3D and 4D rides based on Bollywood movies, Ra.Oneand Krrish.
