What can I say about Dubai? Singapore on steroids? Well not quite but you get the picture. Perth could learn a lot from both cities actually. Dream big and then do it! So many skyscrapers – both complete and incomplete- with large cleared lots hinting of more to come.

We stayed in a spacious apartment near the Dubai Marina and spent many days and nights in the cafes surrounding it or simply walking around it, soaking up the sun and the culture (as well as the rain on one occasion).  The smell of apple tea from the hookah pipes permeates the air, especially during the evenings, giving you a real sense that you are in a country with customs different to your own yet you also feel comfortable and welcomed. A big warm hug from Dubai every time you step out from your lodgings, and not just due to the weather.

Speaking of customs, I remember travelling with a friend around Egypt in 1997, another country rather partial to smoking shisha, and her boyfriend actually took an Egyptian hookah pipe home in his hand luggage. What was interesting was that he had wrapped it up so that it looked exactly like a rifle. No one even questioned him about it in customs – and he went through quite a few airports on the way home. I don’t think that would happen post 9/11.

But back to Dubai: Ryker loved skipping around the marina. Actually, the skipping petered out a bit in Dubai, being replaced by an impersonation of a train.  Actually not sure you can impersonate  a train but you know what I mean. Anyway, he became an old-fashioned train with a funnel and a whistle, which, of course, drew attention to us wherever we went. Luckily, Dubai is full of children (well, at least where we were) so he didn’t stand out too much, even with his blonde hair – it’s a very multicultural place.

We also took Ryker by train to see the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. It stands at 828 metres high and is a true architectural wonder. The Rykersaurus spotted it from the train and was highly excited. He described it as “pointy shaped, like a mountain that is pointy”. Definitely worth checking out.