My mind was sparked with curiosity and excitement when I awoke the next morning. The reason, you ask? We were going to visit the world-famous Burj Khalifa; and the awe-inspiring, adjoining Dubai Museum!
I had become quite accustomed to the metro service by now and had begun to feel like a frequent traveler myself. My train of thought was brought to quite an abrupt halt and change of track when I first caught sight of the magnificent tower of glass, steel, and luminescence that was the Burj. We stepped out onto the metro platform and as we walked along the seemingly endless conveyor belts that would transport us directly into the midst of the supreme Mall, we looked out of the glass panes that lined the station. We couldn’t see the spire’s very top despite craning our necks almost an 180 degrees! So tall was it, that it was quite a Herculean task to capture it even through a camera lens!
*
The tower simply stood there in the sunshine, nonchalantly looming over the world, catching fractures of sunlight in its paned blue ripples of glass, while the world stood a thousand feet beneath, bowing to it, and admiring its glory. In that moment, this man-made masterpiece seemed to have an aura of silvery blue surrounding itself. Anybody going about their mundane routines, be it citizens of Dubai themselves, who managed to get a glimpse of it almost every day from virtually about anywhere in the city; never hesitated to peer up at this beauty of a tower, revering it and looking at it with admiring eyes. Its enormous volume was wide at the base, thinning out to fewer and fewer columns of shining metal with each level, ultimately culminating in a slender dazzling spire.
*
My jaws dropped open, almost in the literal sense when I saw that the rumours and claims were indeed true. The Dubai Mall was actually mammoth-sized. Hundreds and hundreds of stores threw spangles of colourful nets of light outside their windows which in turn reflected off the polished floors.Enormous escalators connected the clients to each place in the Mall and we rode on them innumerable times, marveling at all the stunning displays at the same time.
Impressive chandeliers dropped down and the style of tiling was unique to each floor. Open cafes, restaurants and food courts had laid tables on beautiful carpets and rugs right in the middle of the pavilions. The intoxicating perfume and trace of coffee freshened the air, energizing me. The lights overhead sparkled, often creating a dome or sending a hanging curtain of shimmering stars. Each shop looked more appealing than the next and there was a place to find every single attire, piece of clothing or item you have ever desired in your dreams before. The sheer colossal size had everybody consulting maps and location displays at every curve and bend. Just when we thought we had finally reached a corner of the mall, another storefront’s light came into view or another escalator winded its way to a higher floor. Seeing all this royalty and luxury gave me a heady feeling.
The time had arisen. We were about to embark on a journey never to be forgotten, but always cherished and held close to heart. My heart began a fearsome rollercoaster ride as we stepped into the elevator that would take us to the 124th floor of the tallest man-made structure in the world there is today. The lights were dimmed and a display lit up behind us in the lift. It showed an almost whimsical and fantastical element of the joy of riding up to the top of the world. It began at the bottom of the Khalifa and whizzed upwards, simultaneous to the motion of the lift, until we had crossed all boundaries of space and were riding alongside the stars. It took us only 60 seconds, a fleeting minute to speed our way to the 124th floor where the observatory deck was situated.
We passed through a set of doors and I gulped in a shot of crisp air as we stepped out onto the deck. The view was SPECTACULAR. I had only witnessed such a view after a tough mountain climb and am not sure how many times my eyes will feast upon such a sight from a man-made edifice in the future. The full- sized protective glass overlooked the famed fountains on one side and a beautiful and fascinating network of roads on the other.
Everybody was busy clicking candids, pictures and selfies but the experience itself was so mind-boggling; making me wonder of the fathomless limitations of man that I couldn’t be less bothered. I could sit there all day long, peering into the infinite skies, from the burning orange of sunrise to the drowsy yellow of the afternoon; to the crimson red of the evening and sliding into the indigo starry splash of night. But alas; Man cannot acquire all that he desires.
The 125th floor also provided a 360 degree view of the city’s expanses as well as boasted of several sovereigns and collectibles to treasure as part of the experience forever. Several telescopes were also placed at regular intervals that could be maneuvered manually, giving us an eagle’s eye view over wherever the glass pointed; it also gave special insight into many of the city’s landmarks and foundation stones, helping us to understand this wonderful destination better. The glorious staircase that provided a medium of connection between these two levels was bathed in yellow light, grand and curving, reminding me of the exquisite ballroom staircase aboard the Titanic.
*
Now filled with satisfaction, we headed towards an aquarium considered to be a unique one. And it indeed was, as we discovered when we stepped inside a tunnel that formed an arch in the interior of the aquarium. Glass shielded the curvature and we could gaze into the water, examining the mystical sea creatures and they swam over us. Sea anemones, stingrays, hammer-headed sharks, manta rays and small colourful fish of diverse kinds waded through the waters as tourists looked at them curiously. I had never looked at sea creatures from such an interesting angle before and it showered me with new perspective.
While we were there, we were also fortunate enough to visit The Underwater Zoo, one which I was particularly curious about since I’d never heard of one before. The atmosphere resembled that of a calm forest with the lighting dimmed and soft music playing. We soon discovered that this zoo was home not only to sea creatures but also insects, birds, and reptiles!
A section displayed a scene of the desert and tranquil night where nocturnal creatures were dozing peacefully and different creepy-crawlies slunk around the edges of the cases. We had to peer into the darkness to catch a glimpse and so as to not disturb their sleep. The sight of a stunning barn owl napping took me back to when Hagrid gifted Harry what would come to be his most prized possession, Hedwig on his birthday. Alligators seemed to be basking far below us but everybody knew better than to trust those sly deceits. Once, a prey came into its line of sight, it would seize the most opportune moment and pounce, snapping out of its deceptive slumber; very like a tiger hiding behind the long yellow stalks of grass, cold and calculating; eyeing a herd of naïve deer, waiting for the right moment to clutch its well-earned and fought-for dinner.
After grasping their delicious orange carrots, the otters playfully chased and ran around their clearing, splashing into the waters, curling and flipping beneath. They would then come up to the very end of the enclosure and fixated their looks upon us with dark, molten-clay eyes.
Turtles moved about as slow as they could be, extending their necks and stretching. I never knew that their necks were so incredibly long as they always shrunk inside their rigid patterned shells. An unbelievable feat had been achieved towards the exit of the Zoo. Penguins waddled about in snow, padding their way to their companions, leaving behind prints embedded in the pearl white of the icy snow. God knows that they’ll house pandas next.
*
I was awestruck when I looked at the paradise right in front of me, a haven of sorts that was a gigantic bookstore, the Dubai branch of Kinokuniya. I cannot describe the colossal size of it. Rows and rows and more rows stretched out in front of me caressing each wall, curving around the edges, coming to a halt in the aisles, standing as stiff as sentinels. All my desires were conquered and vanquished when I realized that I could literally spend a week in there and still not get to all the books I loved. Portions had been separated out neatly and not just fiction and non-fiction but headers like art, architecture, history, business, and style had also been sectioned. Stacks of classics and bestsellers were piled, in both vintage and modern editions.
The scent of books hovered in the air, the aroma that nothing else (except perhaps a whiff of the sea and dampened soil after a shower of silver drops) can emanate and brighten my mood. The newest versions of different books, both text and illustrated were also stocked in racks. I was on cloud nine, in seventh heaven and all other phrases used to describe the most supreme happiness and joy.
As if my eyes hadn’t been treated enough for the day, there was still a breathtaking show in store for me. At 10:30 p.m., we were standing alongside the railing of the outer pavilion of the Dubai Mall, waiting patiently for the celebrated fountains to start, gazing outwards towards the water. As the clock struck, water shot up in the air. Arabic beats and music echoed and rung throughout the silence, the water dancing in rhythm, its pace matching that of the music. Fading downwards, it rocketed skywards once more, forming a magnificent mosaic of silver and gold.
The
water lit up with a mellow hue of sunlight catching in water, and formed a
gargantuan tide sweeping across the entire length of the fountain pool. It
soared and plummeted in time with the melody, forming an enchanting scene. As
the streaks of gold loomed upwards, the Burj Khalifa lit up, providing a fabulous
backdrop to the fantasy unfolding in front of us. The ultimate beat of drums
and song saw the flashes of pastel yellow shoot upwards one final time, reaching
a height not attained before plunging downwards with a resonating and decisive
splash, fainting away to deafening rounds of applause.
It had been quite an eventful day and my spirits soared whenever I thought of the astounding At The Top experience, the hours spent roaming the Dubai Mall, the euphoria on seeing the various beautiful creatures and the amazing fountains to draw the curtains to that day. I went to sleep dreaming of the many adventures I would partake in the coming days, that would be forever cherished as priceless souvenirs, memories that would be far more valued than any possession.
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