MY FIRST DAY IN DUBAI.

I originally intended to do these posts week by week, but realized they'd just be way too long (and probably boring) so I'm going to have to theme them on particularly eventful days or occurrences. 

I woke up after my weird middle-of-the-day nap feeling sort of buzzy and excited but intimidated all at the same time. My company had recommended that I get a local Sim card as soon as I could, as you need a Dubai number in order to apply for things like your Emirates Id and bank accounts etc, so I decided to brave the metro and Dubai mall and get one so I could go into work on my first day feeling productive and sassy and adjusted and impress everyone with how with-it I was (ha).

And now I don't know how I could ever get back on the tube in London. The metro here is an absolute dream. Literally the easiest thing in the world, even I couldn't get lost. 

There's just two lines, only one of which you really use, and it's a straight line. So all you have to figure out is which direction you're going in, and how many zones you're going through. The station names are idiot-proof, like Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa.

The whole thing is shiny and clean and efficient and so empty compared to the tube.

There are designated women-only carriages, which seemed a bit outdated to me so I assumed no-one would really use them. Turns out I was incorrect. After being stared at by about 1000 men as the only woman in my carriage, I have learnt my lesson, and haven't stood in the unisex bit again! And it is actually so refreshing to not have that creepy lurker that seems to be on every train hovering over your shoulder making awkward eye contact.

I'd read that Dubai Mall is nowhere near the Metro station and was having horrible visions of getting lost in the desert and being attacked by a rogue camel or something, but turns out that panic was for nothing (as it usually is) as there's a huge tunnel that connects the two. 

Also, none of the metro stations here are anywhere near their destinations, as they're generally in the middle of the road, and you have to walk through long tunnels to get to whichever side of the road you want.

To be honest, I'm lucky I made it out of Dubai Mall alive and on the same day as I entered it. It is bloody HUGE. And there doesn't seem to be any sort of logic to the layout; just as you think you're at a new bit you find yourself back at the aquarium again.

It took me a good three or four hours to find the phone shop, (I may have fallen into some clothes shops on the way) and I only saw it on my way out, when I'd admitted defeat and was trying to find the exit.

There are only two phone networks in Dubai, Du and Etisalat. I'm unsure which is better, but I'm with Etisalat at the moment as it's the only shop I could find.

I couldn't understand the man in the shop, so just bought the temporary sim card that he waved in front of my face (you can't get a real one until you have your residence visa, which was delayed, so I'd entered on a tourist visa). 

It had 666 in the phone number so I picked it because I felt like it matched my soul.

There were two sim options, and I chose the option with more data but no texts or calls, which actually turned out to be a pretty stupid thing to do (more on that later). 

But still, I HAD A SIM. Look at me all independent and Beyonce.

So I went home feeling really accomplished and proud and like I could well do this. 

Unpacked my suitcase, treated myself to room service (gross actually, prawns that were way too huge and prawny for my liking) and decided to go to bed so I was fresh for work. 

Easier said then done, it was about 6.30 my time and I was trying to force myself to be tired.

But I had done my first day! I hadn't got lost, hadn't cried, and wasn't feeling overwhelmed. 

Maybe I am an adult after all?

ROLLERCOASTER RIDE TO THE AIRPORT.

HIYA.Oh my goshhh where to start? I meant to blog much earlier than this, but was waiting for Storm to do her next post (HEH-HEMMM) as she was supposed to cover our rather emotionally fraught journey to the Departures gate. But she hasn't pulled her finger out and written it so I'm doing it for her. I was going to summarise it and move on but its just too long so I'll have to do another one soon about actually being here.

I thought my comfy traveling outfit was so on point..except there was a hole in the crotch of the leggings which I put a safety pin in, before realising you can't go through security with a safety pin there and had to remove it. In public.

What can I say about the journey..it was a bloody emotional rollercoaster (hence the post title).I was rushing round all day doing last minute bits, of which I got about half done.

Storm had agreed to store anything I couldn't fit in my suitcase, but I realised I had too much to get a taxi to hers alone as I couldn't carry it all, and I couldn't leave anything lying around where I lived as it was super dodgy. So I made her come to mine to help me first. 

We left mine late, still couldn't carry all the bags, the taxi driver couldn't find my address, and then I broke my suitcase handle. 

Storm did serious calming damage control in the taxi while I panicked about traffic.

We dumped my stuff with her poor flatmates to lug up the stairs and legged it.

We got upgraded on the Heathrow express so felt super zen and glam for about five minutes, but then judgy Sally at the check-in desk luggage shamed me and I had to rid myself of 9kg or so, which meant Storm had to buy a suitcase at the airport to take home all my excess clothes. Clothes which I MISS..as half my outfits don't work now. My clever shrink-wrapping idea actually just meant that I couldn't deselect specific items so had to just lose whole bags, so had no idea what I was ditching. But on the plus side I was using the scales to weigh individual pairs of shoes so I could sneak them back in. Up yours check-in bitch.

That is my lovely new suitcase and the poor little one that had to go home..no exciting trip to Dubai for YOU leoparder.

We had a coffee and felt a bit calm again, I was planning a nice little browse through duty free..then we realised I had no time and they were calling my flight.

Then I had a little panic cry when I found out Storm couldn't come any further and I actually had to go.

But, you know, started as I meant to go on by making friends with a girl on the plane who taught me all about fancy flights and the fact that you don't pay for anything on Emirates so we had a cheeky little glass of wine to calm my nerves. The film selection was glorious. 

I had been planning to sleep but selfish Stan in front of me decided to put his seat back while I was asleep on the back of it so that was the end of that.

There was a man sitting two seats down who kept burping and even his wife was giving him serious side eye about how revolting he was.

My passport got passed around about five people the other side with no explanation about what their issue was until they decided the original stamp they'd given me was fine.

The luggage carousels made literally no sense as there was no board telling you where to go, you just had to walk around looking at every single one until you found yours.

There was a little man with my name on a sign which was sort of glamorous but it was hand written and he hadn't actually left enough space to write it properly so it was all squished up at the end.

The airport has a freaking waterfall in it.

Aaaaand then I arrived at my hotel on the 38th floor and it was just a full on one bedroom apartment and I felt like a princess (although two weeks later looking back on it it looks distinctly average..not sure if Dubai has ruined me already) so I immediately Whatsapped pictures to everyone before deciding I needed a nap.

So that's where I'll stop for now, as there's so much to tell that it all needs to be done in bits! It's been 3 weeks and I feel like I've been here forever (in a good way).

Hope you're all enjoying the rain in England HAHAHAHAHAHA(I am such a cow).

x