Last night, we forgot ourselves. We forgot that we were a couple with two young children (and a third on the way), who live a quiet and sleepy life in Abu Dhabi. Last night, we chose to live the 'lifestyle' that everyone here keeps talking about.
After tucking away both of our children to sleep (the third one sleeps wherever, whenever), we were driven to Dubai in a huge white Tahoe truck. We sat back and relaxed as someone else played frogger on the drive to Dubai. We were dropped off at entrance 3 of the Burj Khalifa, with the driver promising to be ready and waiting whenever we wanted to leave. We were escorted onto the elevator (which needed a card key to be activated), where we took about 45 seconds to ascend to floor 123. When the doors opened, we were directed down one flight, and entered "At.mosphere", the lounge, at the Burj Khalifa.
Walking down to floor 122
First thing I noticed was that all the hostesses had black pashmina shawls on. It took only seconds for the chill to hit me--and I wished that I hadn't left my own pashmina at home. When one of the hostesses showed me to the 'toilet' (essential knowledge for one in my 'condition'), she asked me how I was. I told her that I was cold, and now understood why they all had shawls. Upon leaving the restroom (and might I add how phenomenal that was: a mirrored sink and bergamot scented lotion), I was amazed that the same hostess was walking to my table with a pashmina in hand--a loaner for me for the evening.
Loaner Pashmina
Warm, cozy and comfortable, I now took the opportunity to take in the 'Atmosphere'. Very impressive. It was a nightclub fit for Bond (and if the Sheikh of Dubai has the right amount of money, he will very likely be there filming one day). Though it was very dark outside, the lights of Dubai twinkled, and if you looked very closely at the windows, you could see the footprints left by Tom Cruise as he had bounced off their sides. We could make out the Burj Al Arab, the Atlantis hotel, and the snaking lights that slithered down Sheikh Zayed Road. I can honestly say that I have never been anywhere so 'posh' in my life. I didn't even have to worry about second-hand smoke (as smoking by-laws are slow to come into effect here, and even slower to be enforced, I had Peter call ahead to check on the smoking status of the lounge--it was a 'make-it or break-it' piece of information as to whether or not we would attend). True to their word, there was not even a hint of smoke in the air, owing to the vaccuum-sealed 'smoking room' hidden away somewhere!
Our hosts arrived a few minutes later. I met Waseem and Paula, a Lebanese-American couple, who have been living in Dubai for the last four years. Peter and Waseem have met through 'the business'--and though they have a professional relationship, they have also met socially a few times. We were also joined by Max, Waseem's (former) boss, on a quick trip into Dubai before returning home to prepare for a relocation to Hong Kong. It was quite clear that we were amongst people who were pretty accustomed to a certain level of luxury (I can only hope to be them one day), but even they were amazed by the spectacular views and the set-up of our surroundings.
The menu was very light on vegetarian fare (only one item, a cheese fondue), but they kindly offered me the restaurant menu to peruse. What the waitress had described to me as a 'Grilled Cheese Salad' actually turned out to be a 'Goat Cheese Salad', with baked apple and pecans, and that is what I ordered, with a side of steak fries (classy...I know).
Have you ever wondered why there is an inverse relationship between how upscale and expensive a restaurant is, and portion size?
My 'salad' came: one piece of cheese, melted on an a baked apple, with two (maybe three) pieces of butter lettuce, and one pecan (I swear) broken into bits. There were about 8 steak fries--according to the price, they were billed out at roughly $2 US a piece.
Sigh!
It was all very delicious though, and somehow I found myself to be VERY full. After having a latte (to warm up when we first arrived) and some bottled water (still...not sparkling), there was no room left for dessert.
Say whaaaaaaaAAAAATTTTT??
Sigh (again)! It's true. We left without me having a chance to try the dessert. Seriously, I was way too full!
I hope someone offers to take us there again (although this time NOT on a weeknight, and with a much earlier start time, so that I don't find myself rolling myself into the back-seat of a Tahoe at 11:45 p.m., counting the minutes of sleep I will get before it's time to get up and start another day).
Suffice it to say--we remembered ourselves very early (5:40 a.m.) the next morning, when baby N starting his morning 'call-outs'. We were home at 1:15 a.m. and despite how exhausted I was, I must say I really enjoyed myself. What an experience--definitely not something I could do regularly (neither my body nor my bank account would allow it)--but a great memory of our time in the UAE.
Looking up from down below
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