Sapphire86:


Hi,
Honestly, there is no story there. Sometimes, it can be easy for some; sometimes it can be stressful for some. I just applied and paid, and that was it.

Hi again, I apologise if my question was way out of line. I like to read people's travel stories, starting from the very beginning of visa application. You don't know who you might be saving the stress with your own visa procurement procedures.

Anyways, like I said earlier my apologies.

sapphire86, I love this thread

Nice thread.

ferhyntorlah:


Hi again, I apologise if my question was way out of line. I like to read people's travel stories, starting from the very beginning of visa application. You don't know who you might be saving the stress with your own visa procurement procedures.

Anyways, like I said earlier my apologies.

I'm not in anyway offended; but honestly there isn't isn't story there. I applied and got it within 2 - 3 days.

cutieme:
madam sapphire try and get the price of a Samsung galaxy S4 for me pls.

Broda gat jokes!!

cutieme:
madam sapphire try and get the price of a Samsung galaxy S4 for me pls.

welcome onboard

ferhyntorlah:


Hi again, I apologise if my question was way out of line. I like to read people's travel stories, starting from the very beginning of visa application. You don't know who you might be saving the stress with your own visa procurement procedures.

Anyways, like I said earlier my apologies.

Madam, getting Dubai visitor visa is easy. Just find an hotel online, they will process the visa for you if you plan to lodge in their hotel.

iamgenius:

Madam, getting Dubai visitor visa is easy. Just find an hotel online, they will process the visa for you if you plan to lodge in their hotel.

Thank you very much.

ferhyntorlah:


Thank you very much.

You welcome

.....

As if the food stores in the food courts were not enough, there were more food stores outside the street – all you can eat and those you would raise eyebrows at were there. There and then I made up my mind to try all of them before returning, no sticking to one particular restaurant. I wasn’t really hungry so rather than waste money on dinner, I decided to buy cake so I headed to Mc Donald’s for their triple chocolate muffin (that cake was heavenly). Then as I was walking back to my hotel, I decided to enter the fruit juice store I saw yesterday as part of my trying everything new and ordered a fruit salad ice-cream to go. It was heavenly – banana, kiwi, strawberry, red grape, green grape, pineapple, mango and even pomegranates in the ice-cream (need I explain more?)


I’m back in my room, going at the cake and ice-cream with passion while watching Fast & Furious 7 on my ipad controlled TV and relaxing after today’s work. Though, I’m on a vacation (sort of), I’m observing Dubai which I shall explain to y’all about it. It might be fun when you say ‘a trip to Dubai’ but the hustle that goes on here is real and I’m talking about legit hustle (but that’s another chapter so wait for it). I will be very detailed because I know some people are really trying to escape Nigeria by any means necessary so except you have everything figured out from Nigeria and I mean a job and accommodation waiting for you in Dubai, wake up from your pipe dream and slumber. The hustle is REAL out here, you just don’t see it; forget the pictures of Burj Khalifa and Safari Desert you see and hear all the time. It’s time for me to sleep out to Fast & Furious, tomorrow holds another adventure (hopefully).


The noise of my alarm woke me and there and then I made a conscious decision to go for breakfast 5 minutes before it ends rather than very early. I was so tired and sleepy; trying to balance between Dubai time and Lagos time was exhausting. Folks from home sometimes forget about the 3-hour difference and when my friend asked me to go back to the mall so buy gifts for her at 7pm Nigerian time, I asked her to do the math in Dubai time which was 10pm. But then let me be clear, I wouldn’t have gone back even if the time was 6pm Dubai time. I can’t hit the same mall twice in one evening for anybody. I went back to sleep and woke up much later at 9am Dubai time (I can’t kill myself). I knew today was going to be more of an indoor day for me; I intend to connect with the livestream of Sunday’s service of my local church. Usually, when I am outside Nigeria, I’m also on vacation from my local church but ever since I started attending this new parish, I couldn’t afford to miss any service. Whether I’m there or not, Lagos or Abuja, Nigeria or Dubai, I must connect and be part of the service. Today was going to be a special service because there was a guest minister; I have listened to his ministration before and I knew I couldn’t afford to miss it. I connect via YouTube and first service is already in session; it was beautiful but now I must wait for second service. After church service, the plan would be either take a metro to Jumeriah or take a walk to Al Ghurair Centre for lunch and sightseeing. I’m still deliberating.


Yes, service is over in Nigeria and I decide to continue observing my environment, so I chose to go to Al Ghurair instead of Jumeirah. The reason I postponed the Jumeriah trip was because time had gone; I didn’t want to walk all by myself in a place I wasn’t familiar with and I was also trying to avoid rush hour at the train station but tomorrow, I have a date with Jumeirah by God’s grace. Immediately I stepped out my hotel, hot air was just blowing. I remembered what people said about Dubai in the summer – it was hot. Now, there was no sun but it was like the air was coming from the desert (UAE is anyway a desert) – hot! If it was in Las Vegas, those skinny girls would have been wearing bikini up and down saying they cannot kill themselves because of the heat. I was a bit uncomfortable but what could I do? Nothing! Foreigner like myself?

Sapphire86:
.....

As if the food stores in the food courts were not enough, there were more food stores outside the street – all you can eat and those you would raise eyebrows at were there. There and then I made up my mind to try all of them before returning, no sticking to one particular restaurant. I wasn’t really hungry so rather than waste money on dinner, I decided to buy cake so I headed to Mc Donald’s for their triple chocolate muffin (that cake was heavenly). Then as I was walking back to my hotel, I decided to enter the fruit juice store I saw yesterday as part of my trying everything new and ordered a fruit salad ice-cream to go. It was heavenly – banana, kiwi, strawberry, red grape, green grape, pineapple, mango and even pomegranates in the ice-cream (need I explain more?)


I’m back in my room, going at the cake and ice-cream with passion while watching Fast & Furious 7 on my ipad controlled TV and relaxing after today’s work. Though, I’m on a vacation (sort of), I’m observing Dubai which I shall explain to y’all about it. It might be fun when you say ‘a trip to Dubai’ but the hustle that goes on here is real and I’m talking about legit hustle (but that’s another chapter so wait for it). I will be very detailed because I know some people are really trying to escape Nigeria by any means necessary so except you have everything figured out from Nigeria and I mean a job and accommodation waiting for you in Dubai, wake up from your pipe dream and slumber. The hustle is REAL out here, you just don’t see it; forget the pictures of Burj Khalifa and Safari Desert you see and hear all the time. It’s time for me to sleep out to Fast & Furious, tomorrow holds another adventure (hopefully).


The noise of my alarm woke me and there and then I made a conscious decision to go for breakfast 5 minutes before it ends rather than very early. I was so tired and sleepy; trying to balance between Dubai time and Lagos time was exhausting. Folks from home sometimes forget about the 3-hour difference and when my friend asked me to go back to the mall so buy gifts for her at 7pm Nigerian time, I asked her to do the math in Dubai time which was 10pm. But then let me be clear, I wouldn’t have gone back even if the time was 6pm Dubai time. I can’t hit the same mall twice in one evening for anybody. I went back to sleep and woke up much later at 9am Dubai time (I can’t kill myself). I knew today was going to be more of an indoor day for me; I intend to connect with the livestream of Sunday’s service of my local church. Usually, when I am outside Nigeria, I’m also on vacation from my local church but ever since I started attending this new parish, I couldn’t afford to miss any service. Whether I’m there or not, Lagos or Abuja, Nigeria or Dubai, I must connect and be part of the service. Today was going to be a special service because there was a guest minister; I have listened to his ministration before and I knew I couldn’t afford to miss it. I connect via YouTube and first service is already in session; it was beautiful but now I must wait for second service. After church service, the plan would be either take a metro to Jumeriah or take a walk to Al Ghurair Centre for lunch and sightseeing. I’m still deliberating.


Yes, service is over in Nigeria and I decide to continue observing my environment, so I chose to go to Al Ghurair instead of Jumeirah. The reason I postponed the Jumeriah trip was because time had gone; I didn’t want to walk all by myself in a place I wasn’t familiar with and I was also trying to avoid rush hour at the train station but tomorrow, I have a date with Jumeirah by God’s grace. Immediately I stepped out my hotel, hot air was just blowing. I remembered what people said about Dubai in the summer – it was hot. Now, there was no sun but it was like the air was coming from the desert (UAE is anyway a desert) – hot! If it was in Las Vegas, those skinny girls would have been wearing bikini up and down saying they cannot kill themselves because of the heat. I was a bit uncomfortable but what could I do? Nothing! Foreigner like myself?

Pictures o.. Is that the beautiful places in Dubai are just her shopping malls, hotels and food stores?
Abeg add pictures to this tori, make e sweet well well

chicoMX:


Pictures o.. Is that the beautiful places in Dubai are just her shopping malls, hotels and food stores?
Abeg add pictures to this tori, make e sweet well well

Calm down.... pictures will be according to the story. Wait for it. I 'll become ambassador to Dubai after this

@OP, if you need someone to hang out with or you wanna meet a nairalander, holla @ me

....

I was just observing shops not within the mall first and I realize how organized and obedient people were. For example, I wanted to cross to the other side to have a look at the shops but because I didn’t see anybody cross the street, I had to respect myself. I just kept following the people in front of me till I saw a zebra crossing at the end of the street. We waited when the zebra light was red and when it was green, we all crossed (God bless the car that doesn’t wait). It was like a rule here Dubai; motorists gave priority to people crossing the road – zebra crossing or not. It wasn’t like Nigeria where you would be begging sef at zebra crossing; you thank motorists who stop for you to cross because they have done you a HUGE favor.

After sightseeing at the other side, I crossed back and took entrance 5 into Al Ghurair mall. My reason for coming back here was to see if stores were still doing crazy sales and the answer was YES however, it was just a few of them. Every evidence of 3 days sale flyers in most stores were GONE. Stores were reverting to status quo. But surprisingly I found stores I hadn’t been before and some were still doing sales. My new favorite store is ‘R & B’ (yea, that’s the name); makes me remember The Bachelorette Rachel and her fiancée Bryan (R&B). Anyway, prices were wonderful, and I did a little spending nothing elaborate because I was cautioning myself. I kept seeing stores I hadn’t seen before and it got to a stage I was lost but in wandering about, I finally located exit 1 and I was out of there. I knew I would be back because I had seen an affordable hand luggage for 79 AED & another for 99 AED so I was alert because my luggage was spilling out of control (supermarket shopping really put me overboard).


Outside the mall, I was thinking of where I would order dinner from. I remember saying I would try something in every restaurant, so I had to keep to my word. The name of the store I went to was called ‘Jollibee’; they serve fries, burger, rice and spaghetti so I said I would try it (move out of my comfort zone) even though I just wanted to turn and leave the restaurant. As I said before, food is very affordable here or maybe because they don’t have to call thousands of Naira as your bill. My simple meal was 15 AED without a drink (which I didn’t want because I had had a drink with my Mc Donald’s this afternoon; too much sugar ain’t good) which I paid for and left. I noticed that many of the food stores that had chairs outside had those chairs empty – people were at work! People are hustling ooo; by Thursday, they will be out to dining out again. These food stores either operated 24 hours like Burger King or till late in the morning (2 or 3am) – now that’s security at its peak! People felt safe to still come and eat at 1 am – interesting.

Having exited the restaurant with my food, I was given a flyer by some Asian women and when I looked at the contents, it was all these mani, pedi waxing and massaging flyers. They were 3 of them from 3 different salons and their approach was like those Yaba boys harassing your peace with ‘sister, check here for your jeans and tops’ when you are just minding your business looking for bus. It was aggressive marketing for them; I guess if they don’t kill, they don’t eat (at least it was better than laying on their backs for money) and I made a mental note to take them up on their offer before my stay is over.

The journey back to my room was quick for me; I was already familiar with the route, all I wanted to do was devour my meal and relax. The spaghetti was well cooked – not too soft but the sauce tasted like they added sugar to it. It was sweet. The verdict was in – I was never going back to Jollibee, once was enough for me. The rest of the night for me was playing music via my ipad controlled tv, and dancing away. Tomorrow was going to be exciting (at least I hope) so let me gather momentum.

NONNYG:
@OP, if you need someone to hang out with or you wanna meet a nairalander, holla @ me

Where are you situated?

Just a lil sumthing from the Cinnamon room

Sapphire86:



Where are you situated?

business bay

NONNYG:
welcome onboard

Guy why

Damn.. This OP is killing me.. I must go holiday too even if na for Ghana sef.. Lol

Please I want to know the cost of lady wears in Dubai. I learnt is expensive like boluses, skirt, gowns and tops.

Please could you clarify my perception on this since your shopping spree is sounding cheap.

Thanks

Rupect:
Please I want to know the cost of lady wears in Dubai. I learnt is expensive like boluses, skirt, gowns and tops.

Please could you clarify my perception on this since your shopping spree is sounding cheap.

Thanks

Things are quite expensive here but when they do sales, they REALLY DO sales. I was lucky that when i arrived, they did a 3 day city wide sales so everything was quite reasonable.

....


I stayed up late into the night so I could wake up late this morning. Every week, I take out a day to ‘wait upon the Lord’ (lol) and Monday was it. I knew there wasn’t gonna be breakfast for me, so I didn’t have to rush to go to the Cinnamon Room. After my morning prayers, I just checked mails and sent mails before heading to the shower. Now, let the day begin – metro, here I come!

I got dressed and left the hotel, quickly made my way to Al Rigga Metro station (by now I was becoming familiar with). I purchased my round-trip fare ticket for 19 AED (oh metro, how I love thee) and made my way to the train. The train as usual was on time and quickly grabbed a seat because I knew that along the journey it was going to get filled. The train was cold as in the AC was too much and I was wishing I had brought a scarf. The ride was about 30 minutes or more and I thought to myself ‘imagine if you took a cab, you for hear am’; I couldn’t even be bored with the ride because it gave me an opportunity to really see Dubai. I realize that people come to Dubai and their activities include – shopping, desert safari, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall tours. You really don’t see Dubai by just that; agreed it is a part of Dubai but it is not all Dubai. I have been researching Dubai for a while now because I really want to relocate there but timing and opportunity are key ingredients into such move. You don’t just pack your bags and move to another country because the visa is fairly easy to obtain or else you will SUFFER. You won’t be working, you will be hustling. Anyway, don’t let me digress.


The train made stops along the way – union station, Bur Juman, Abu Dhabi Bank, Emirates Tower, Financial Centre, Mall of Emirates, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Noor Bank etc before finally getting to my stop (which apparently was the final stop) Jumeriah Lake Towers. I was really able to connect the places because of my little research beforehand. It was as if the Jumeriah Lake Towers was the hub of Towers. There were many buildings and almost all were Towers; my fear of heights was almost creeping in and I said to myself ‘how do you expect to live in Burj Khalifa someday (by God’s grace) if you are afraid of heights?’. Anyway, when I left the train station, the real confusion started – how do I get to Jumeriah Beach? I started asking questions like a confused tourist (that I really was) and I almost turned back because I was out of my comfort zone but I remember that my brother will actually send me out of the house if I failed to get there and I had to do it for my fans (just kidding) and so the journey began.


Getting out of the train station was Dubai Marina; I had read about it – rich but a bit formal and quiet (I guess everyone had gone to work). It was the place for expatriates and it smelt of money! Many high-rise buildings or let me say towers. I immediately decided Dubai Marina wasn’t really me; it was quiet and not a lot of commercial activities going on – very residential. I needed no prophet to tell me that stores there will be pricey but then everyone there is expected to be a bit comfortable. I started asking for directions for the beach and shortly I was on my way; it was like a 10 – 15-minute walk from the train station but shortly after I arrived the famous Jumeriah Beach.


Jumeriah Beach was like a town on its own. It has 5-star hotels surrounding it, shops close by (but be ready to pay beach price for items). I made my way to the beach under the scotching heat; yes, Dubai weather was doing its thing today. Words cannot describe the beach enough but hands down it was beautiful; free to enter but enjoying the facilities like sun bed to chill by the beach was not free. I saw my hotels – Hilton Palm Jumeriah, Sofitel, Movenpick etc. all very lovely 5-star hotels but be ready to pay 5-star price + easy beach access price as well (because it would be charged in your room rate). I was in awe; I won’t lie, I felt at home there (not just at the beach but the whole of Dubai). My goodness, Dubai is beautiful; my goodness, Dubai is beautiful; my goodness, Dubai is beautiful (yes, I had to say it 3 times).

More pictures from jumeriah beach


Last picture is someone selling bootleg YSL

More pictures

Sapphire86:
....

I was just observing shops not within the mall first and I realize how organized and obedient people were. For example, I wanted to cross to the other side to have a look at the shops but because I didn’t see anybody cross the street, I had to respect myself. I just kept following the people in front of me till I saw a zebra crossing at the end of the street. We waited when the zebra light was red and when it was green, we all crossed (God bless the car that doesn’t wait). It was like a rule here Dubai; motorists gave priority to people crossing the road – zebra crossing or not. It wasn’t like Nigeria where you would be begging sef at zebra crossing; you thank motorists who stop for you to cross because they have done you a HUGE favor.

After sightseeing at the other side, I crossed back and took entrance 5 into Al Ghurair mall. My reason for coming back here was to see if stores were still doing crazy sales and the answer was YES however, it was just a few of them. Every evidence of 3 days sale flyers in most stores were GONE. Stores were reverting to status quo. But surprisingly I found stores I hadn’t been before and some were still doing sales. My new favorite store is ‘R & B’ (yea, that’s the name); makes me remember The Bachelorette Rachel and her fiancée Bryan (R&B). Anyway, prices were wonderful, and I did a little spending nothing elaborate because I was cautioning myself. I kept seeing stores I hadn’t seen before and it got to a stage I was lost but in wandering about, I finally located exit 1 and I was out of there. I knew I would be back because I had seen an affordable hand luggage for 79 AED & another for 99 AED so I was alert because my luggage was spilling out of control (supermarket shopping really put me overboard).


Outside the mall, I was thinking of where I would order dinner from. I remember saying I would try something in every restaurant, so I had to keep to my word. The name of the store I went to was called ‘Jollibee’; they serve fries, burger, rice and spaghetti so I said I would try it (move out of my comfort zone) even though I just wanted to turn and leave the restaurant. As I said before, food is very affordable here or maybe because they don’t have to call thousands of Naira as your bill. My simple meal was 15 AED without a drink (which I didn’t want because I had had a drink with my Mc Donald’s this afternoon; too much sugar ain’t good) which I paid for and left. I noticed that many of the food stores that had chairs outside had those chairs empty – people were at work! People are hustling ooo; by Thursday, they will be out to dining out again. These food stores either operated 24 hours like Burger King or till late in the morning (2 or 3am) – now that’s security at its peak! People felt safe to still come and eat at 1 am – interesting.

Having exited the restaurant with my food, I was given a flyer by some Asian women and when I looked at the contents, it was all these mani, pedi waxing and massaging flyers. They were 3 of them from 3 different salons and their approach was like those Yaba boys harassing your peace with ‘sister, check here for your jeans and tops’ when you are just minding your business looking for bus. It was aggressive marketing for them; I guess if they don’t kill, they don’t eat (at least it was better than laying on their backs for money) and I made a mental note to take them up on their offer before my stay is over.

The journey back to my room was quick for me; I was already familiar with the route, all I wanted to do was devour my meal and relax. The spaghetti was well cooked – not too soft but the sauce tasted like they added sugar to it. It was sweet. The verdict was in – I was never going back to Jollibee, once was enough for me. The rest of the night for me was playing music via my ipad controlled tv, and dancing away. Tomorrow was going to be exciting (at least I hope) so let me gather momentum.

The food looks like iyama...

obonujoker:


The food looks like iyama...

Other than the taste of the sauce which was sugary, it actually wasn't bad oooo

Tonight's dinner is pizza - pastarito

Other pics are pictures of in Al Ghurair mall


#VisitDubai

But this ur camera get as e be shaa...
Anwyays cool story.

im so enjoying this thread.

Dubai is heaven on earth I wish to visit there again

It's not only back home. (Let me not mention my country too. LOL).
I left my bag in an Old Navy store in Los Angeles say for about 15 mins before i remembered and by the time i remembered and located my bags, my DOLLARS(hard earned for that matter) was gone. I still cry when i remember the incident.
So just so you know, you were lucky to have your bags intact. It has nothing to do with your country alone.

Sapphire86:
..... (cont'd)

I got carried with the deals that I forgot my bag at the shoe section (yes, careless me ). It took a while for me to even remember (don’t abuse me please ) and when I located the bag, EVERYTHING, I mean EVERYTHING – my dollars, dirhams, passport and even phone were still intact! Now, I don’t want to think of what would have happened had it been it had happened back home (I don’t feel like mentioning my country; let me still be loyal) but these residents in Dubai are real legit mehn! I really couldn’t believe my carelessness or even foolishness but in all I thank God that HE got me! It really was time to leave the mall after that incidence.

Nice, nice, magnificient