"The Biggest Mall in the Entire World: The Dubai Mall..."

"There is no weather in malls"

* Charles Baxter

My first week here (not even five days yet), I needed to get a phone and was advised to head out to Mirdif City Center,  which I thought was the biggest mall here because it was so big that I got lost, which resulted in a anxiety attack and a cry for help. Although this mall was indeed grand, it in fact is not the grandest of them all.

THIS is the grandest of them all. The king of all malls. The great, great, GREAT, grandfather of glamor and glitz. The Dubai Mall. This mall is so huge that it would probably take you an entire full weekend from sun up to sundown to experience all that it has to offer. From hotels, to restaurants, to shopping, to ice skating AND skiing to name a few, this mall has under its one roof everything you could possibly think to do at one location.

During my afternoon visit last week, my friend and colleague were able to give me a brief tour and I must say, I didn't think an afternoon at the mall without actually buying clothes, shoes, and make up could be so relaxing yet eventful.

It started with a ride breezing through the city enjoying the view of the skyline. One of my favorite things to do no matter where I am is driving or riding in a car, listening to good music, and being in awe as I watch a great view of the skyscrapers.

As we approached the mall, the valet entrance was lined up with all sorts of foreign automobiles and people stopping to admire them.

When we finally found a parking spot in one of the nearby garages (parking was free but it is indeed a hustle trying to find a spot; if you can, your best bet will probably be carpooling or catching a cab and being dropped off), we walked in and flowed into the busy momentum of people chattering, sight seeing, taking selfies, shopping, and eating.

At the bottom floor

My friend decided to take me to her favorite gourmet popcorn spot. This was some of the best flavored popcorn I've ever tasted. Apparently, they have one in the states, but I've been living under a rock this entire time because I have never heard of them. Not only did they have popcorn, but they also had popcorn covered energy bars and other sweet treats. I got a mix of brownie and paprika flavored popcorn.  

I took  my popcorn and walked around the mall with it in my hand as if I was comfortable on my couch at home watching the next best ratchet reality program; in other words, I was relaxed! We walked around ab it more to figure out all the spots they wanted to show me and areas they didn't get to see the last time they were there. Before lunch, we ended up at cereal café that allowed for youto relive your childhood eating classic cereals from growing up while relaxing in beds covered in 80s and 90s teenage memorabilia. Our background was the "Jump Man's Fountain" waterfall.  It was a beautiful sight  to see watching the water fall from so high with grace and serenity.      

                                             

        

When your friend wants to relive her childhood lol

For lunch, we went to the "Shake Shack". I had a melted cheese stuffed mushroom burger with a strawberry cheesecake flavored milkshake. It honestly was one of if not the best "burger" I've ever tasted. It made me feel complete with total bliss as I devoured it into a non existent sight. The feeling was equivalent to....let's just say it was really good and I am glad that |I had a chance to enjoy it. Lol!

The "Umbrella Walk" had to be one of my favorite sight seeing moments of the afternoon. The beautiful colors reflected together in a rainbow of still movement. I completely fell into a trance of admiration and thoughts of how this well known exhibit was even thought of and put together.

Underneath the Umbrellas

The top of the umbrellas

One area I cant wait to bring my daughter to when she gets here is the indoor aquarium. They have a view of the tank that you can enjoy for free, but it does cost money to walk through the actually aquarium which has you surrounded by fish as if you were in a tunnel.

Inside View

Bottom view

 

Top View

The setting of the sun as we headed outside was indication that our afternoon was turning into night. It was time to catch the next presentation of the Dubai Water Fountain show. As we waited for the show to start, we walked around noticing all the pictures that were being taken as we captured a view selfies of our own. I was introduced to the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world). It was then that it hit me; here I was accomplishing everything I set my heart and mind out to do. I was in Dubai in the world's largest mall, and in front of the Burj Khalifha, the world's tallest building. The only thing that was missing from this experience was my daughter. But I wasn't complaining about it or even sad. I knew our time would come when we could experience this together. For now, it was up to me to live in this blessed moment so that I could share with the world how truly awesome God really is.

It was time to head to part 2 of our night. I decided to take one last view of the different levels of the mall from the very top.

My experience at The Dubai Mall was truly a memorable one. I definitely plan on returning a couple of more times before leaving this country for good. It is one area of Dubai that you have to witness in person when you come to the UAE. Never a dull moment in this city period.