HIGH, in a good, all natural way, it's that state I get into when traveling, most especially in a place I haven't been before. So when Pinky Pineda of Philippine Airlines extended an invitation to join a team of Davao travel agents to a familiarization trip to the United Arab Emirates, I nodded to it. It would be good to get high in Dubai.

One of the most important factors I consider when traveling is the connectivity, if there is a need for it at all, to reach my destination. With Philippine Airlines, getting to anywhere in the globe, at least where PAL flies, from my point of origin, which is Davao, connectivity is not a problem. With a good number of flights flying out of Davao daily, I can get a check-thru, hop on the plane to Manila, catch the connecting flight to any international and regional destination the airline flies to on the same day, without leaving Terminal 2, PAL's designated terminal. PAL offers the same service is applicable via Cebu.

No connecting flight hassle with Philippine Airlines. Passengers can connect to other destinations without leaving Terminal 2.

Final approach to Dubai aboard the PAL Express servicing the Manila-Dubai-Manila route daily.

From Davao to Dubai. Arriving safe & sound on the same day.

The connecting flight service totally eliminates the hassle of changing terminals and the apprehensions brought about by it. Tell me, do you really want to wait to claim and lug your heavy luggage across terminals, catch the airport bus praying traffic will be light so you can make it on time to check in for the next leg of your journey? Why not spend that time relaxing at the Mabuhay Lounge while waiting to connect?

The Mabuhay Lounge of PAL is a nest of comfort. An ideal place to rest while waiting for the next flight.

At the Mabuhay Lounge (international pre-departure area), a brief stop-over from Davao to recharge body (& mobile phone) & enjoy the lounge's offering while waiting for the connecting flight to Dubai. IN the meantime, sharing photos one the social media sites with #FlyPAL.

Coffee, tea, soda or your choice of cocktails & spirits at your disposal at the international pre-departure area of the Mabuhay Lounge.

That was what the Davao team did on the way to Dubai via PAL Express, spent time at the Mabuhay Lounge in between flights. By noon on the same day, we were off to the UAE.

Team Davao ready to board PAL Express PR2658 to Dubai

Dubai has emerged as a popular tourist destination in the Persian Gulf region. Tourism, along with aviation, real estate and financial services, is what drives this emirate's economy today, after oil accelerated its development in the earlier years. The place makes sure they lure in more tourists by the year with its daring feats of creating everything in a grand scale-the biggest mall, the tallest building, the most expensive hotel rooms, creating islands of shaped as desired, etc.-enough to make any visitor gape in wonder what man can create on a barren desert.

Dubai's architectural landscape is impressive & growing by the year. But there's more to the city than the world's tallest building or the most expensive hotel room.

As more skyscrapers pop out like mushrooms across the Dubai skyline luring our gazes towards the heavens or inviting us up to look down below its man-made wonder, there are still enough sites and activities on the ground that can give us the "high" we need. Here's a few of what Dubai can offer.


Go for a Desert Safari. This tops my list. I am not a big fan of theme park rides but this rollercoaster ride over sand dunes across the desert is a winner. The drive to the starting point takes close to an hour, the crazy ride takes about the same time but the highlight is at the end of the journey-when you are asked to go up hard-to-scale dune for a most dramatic sunset. Goosebumps! It's going to be one breathtaking moment for you. It was for me.

The roller coaster ride over dessert dunes ends with a magnificent view of the setting sun.

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To cap the ride, how about having dinner in the middle of the desert? It's an all-Arabic experience at a make-shift Bedouin camp-a camel ride, dates and Arabic coffee, sheesha, henna tattoos, roasted and baked fare, dining on low tables and belly dancing and the very impressive Tanora (aka whirling Dirvish) for entertainment. Temperature drops in the evening, better bring something to keep you warm.

Dinner in a Bedouin camp in the middle of the dessert

Get entertained by a Tanora (a whirling dervish) while dining in a Bedouin camp in the middle of the dessert.

Visit the Dubai Museum. This will give you a glimpse of what Dubai was before the advent of oil leading to what it is today. This museum resides in the AL Fahidi Fort built in 1787 making it the oldest existing building in Dubai. The artifacts and life-sized dioramas are impressive and the descriptions very comprehensive. It's a short tour but your newfound knowledge will help you appreciate more what's on the Dubai landscape today.

History inside history. The Dubai Museum is built inside the Dubai’s oldest existing building, the AL Fahidi Fort, built in 1787.

Entrance to the old fort and the museum.

The courtyard of the museum.

Dubai's hsitory in a short video presentation.

The falcon, the UAE's national bird is their most revered feathered creature.

A representation of Dubai's souk of yore.

Take a city tour and go for that photo-op, especially when you have limited time on your hands. It's the best way to see much of the city even if it's just gazing at the exterior. Include these on your list-the Jumeirah Mosque, the most photographed structure in Dubai; the Madinat Jumeirah, a replica of the old Arabic city; the historic district of Al Bastakiya, the locality's construction dates back to the 1890s. In its prime, the locality was capable of supporting 60 housing units, most of which were separated by narrow, winding lanes; the open beach with amazingly crystal blue waters, this is where a perfect shot with the Burj Al Arab can be taken; the Burj Khalifa, currently the world's tallest structure; and drive around the amazing artificial archipelago of Palm Jumeirah and check out the Atlantis hotel; and take a stroll around fields and structures made of flowers at the Miracle Garden, which is closed during summer because of high heat. Every angle in this garden may appear like a pre-nuptial shoot.

Limited time? A photo-op with Dubai’s iconic buildings will do.

Or take a selfie with your travel mates!

If can't climb it, shoot it!  The Burj Khalifa, currently the world's tallest structure.

A new monorail system now services the commuters to the Atlantis Hotel of Palm Jumeirah.

Nice to have a meal in here. If no time, put it on the wish list & take a photo for reference.

Sorry, it’s not Burj Al Arab, but the most photographed structure in Dubai, the Jumeirah Mosque.

Gateway to the garden of miracles.

Flowers sculptures all over the Miracle Garden.

A river of flowers

Pre-nuptial shoot (shown: parter to follow), this is a good venue for that, or your photos can easily be mistaken as one.

Or better yet, take a goofy shot para di naman pre-nup ang dating.

A photo-op will be good, for bragging rights maybe, or something to remember the visit by. Of course, if you can get the chance to go further and tour the place, scale the tall buildings and have a hearty meal in the famed hotels, go for it. If not, the time saved can be allotted to what you really want to do-shop!


Head for the souks and the biggest mall. The textile souk is at the historic district of Bur Dubai, and take a short ride on the traditional water taxi known as the abra to cross the creek to get to the spice and gold souks at Deira on the opposite bank. The spices are so aromatic but the gold? Dubai won't be dubbed as the City of Gold for nothing. Haggling in the souks is acceptable and credit cards are accepted.

The spice souk's scent is bursting with aroma. Assorted spices are sold by the kilo.

One of the many stall selling spices.

The gold souk is a short walk from the spice souk.

Glimmer, glimmer in the gold souk. Dubai is not a pegged as the City of Gold for nothing.

With so much gold, just about any design is possible to make….

Another perfect example: the world's largest ring is found in this souk of Dubai.

Use this port to cross over to the textile souk on the other side of the Dubai creek.

And ride the Abra, the local water taxi.

Crossing over to the other side…. of the creek. :)

For a new world feel, head to the Dubai Mall, it is feted as the biggest mall in the world housing 1,200 shops that includes luxury brands plus an indoor aquarium and a dancing fountain. It's a one-stop Dubai shopping free of taxes. Shop away!

The Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world holding 1,200 shops & this huge indoor aquarium.

Iconic Dubai Mall feature, the fountain with its swan diving men.

Just one section in the big mall exclusively for shoes. Love!

Dining al fresco with a good friend from college in one of the many restaurants by the other famous spot of the mall-- the outdoor dancing fountain.

Fountain show set to music every 30 minutes at night.

Take a side trip to the UAE capital city. While you're in the touring mood, head to the Dubai's twin city, Abu Dhabi. The road trip will take an hour and a half and the day's tour will take you to the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the largest mosque in the UAE and the 8th in the globe, and the resting place of the Sheik Zayed bin Sultan AL Nahyan, the driving force of the emirates' union. It took artisans of different nationalities to create this structure that used marble, semi-precious stones, crystals, ceramics and gold. The interior holds the world's biggest carpet made by 1,300 knotters, three crystal chandeliers with the biggest the third largest in the world, 96 columns in the main prayer hall clad with marble and inlaid with mother of pearl, a many more interesting features; drive by the Emirates Hotel and the Presidential Palace; take a short tour of the Heritage Village; and if you have the time, take more than a photo-op at the Ferrari World on Yas Island. This first Ferrari theme park claims to be the largest indoor theme park in the world. You may want to ride the fastest roller coaster in the globe.

The grandest mosque in the land—the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is not to be missed.

Majestic. Inside the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

The impressive architecture of the biggest indoor theme park in the world—the Ferrari World.

The entrance & exit of the theme park

The Emirates Hotel, Abu Dhabi's "7-star hotel," & the entrance only the sheik can use. The "others" can use the  "others'" entrance,

An interesting stop in Abu Dhabi but you can skip this if you've been to the Dubai Museum.

Take a Dhow night cruise at Deira Creek. It's the perfect way to slow down after a fast paced touring of the cities. The evening cruise aboard the Dhow, an Arabic sailing vessel, across the Deira Creek, which played a vital role in the economic development of the city, is a relaxing way to see the city from a different point of view. Enjoy a sumptuous Arabic cuisine and the local sights as it fires up the dark skyline with its lights.

Th dhow is a traditional cargo ship. A few were converted to host a dinner cruise. Hop aboard one, it's a good way to slow down at the end of the tour.

Team Davao aboard the dhow cruising the historic Deira Creek.

The dhow pier.

Navigating the Deira Creek at night is another way to see the city from another point of view.

Here are a few tips: