Next stop - Dubai

For us, the mode of travel to Dubai, in the United Arab Emerates, was coach bus - for 10 rials (about $26) each we were safely driven to the center of Dubai. After 5.5 hours, two stops at border crossings - 4 checks by border patrol for passports, we arrived in Dubai - the only two of 40 people on the bus who were westerners.

The sites were amazing on the way, but even more amazing as we approached Dubai. We chose to take a double decker bus tour, http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/dubai/default.aspxthebigbus.com, to see the sights of the city.

Upon arrival, we took the beach tour, taking us past the World Islands, the "sail hotel" Burj Al Arab, out on the Jumeirah Palm Island, and many other sites. For people like us, out of our element, from the little midwest city, taking the bus tour certainly was a comforting way to go.

No matter where you were, it appeared you could see the Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world. We were in total awe at the amount of construction and money that is going on in that city. It is mind boggling. Dubai is home to some of the largest shopping malls in the world.

Part of our tour was a traditional dhow boat ride on Dubai Creek, a large water inlet from the Arabian Gulf. At one time the water was low enough to walk across at low tide. In the 1950's it was dredged to make it more usable for the city. We watched as crew members of dhows we loading their boats to travel to India, Africa, and other gulf countries. There are ferries shuttling people back and forth across the creek to work, shop or do whatever they do.

Everywhere you looked, the landscape was made up of petunias, millions of them, bouganvillias, and palm trees. The city of Dubai uses 250 million gallons of water PER DAY to keep the city green. Over 98% of the water is desalinated ocean water.

After a night in Dubai, another bus tour, a taxi ride to the bus stop to head back to Muscat, we were safely back on the coach for the return trip. We were a little (quite a bit actually) anxious that our Pakistani taxi driver could not find our bus stop. What should have taken 15 minutes to get to by taxi, took over an hour as our driver took us to two different bus stations, asked directions 3 different times and happened upon the place by accident. It was a bit (a lot) frightening. Fortunately, we left early enough for the bus, and were still there 30 minutes before departure. Once on the bus, we sat tight to make sure we had our seats. The bus continued to fill and it ended up being a very full bus. Again, we were the only Americans in the bus.

The border crossings back were a bit more involved. We had to get off the bus will all of our luggage. It was gone through by customs border patrol officers, then sniffed through by a drug dog out in the middle of the highway. Had to quickly put the camera away before it was taken and assure the patrol no pictures were taken of the border crossing. Quite an experience. After getting through entry and all, we were all safely back on the bus, on our way back to Muscat.

The highway we traveled on north out of Muscat includes a series of roundabouts like we have never seen. All were very landscaped, often having monuments in the center. Roundabouts are actually very prevalent all through the cities of Dubai and Muscat also.