Some leftover photos from our last trip to Dubai a few weeks ago — most of the travelogue of this trip is posted on my other blog at Hopscotchbaby. Prior to the trip I’ve been looking up for places to visit and have prepared a full list of them. The two top of the list is Dubai Mall which spreads across a 440,000 sqm land with 1200 shops inside it — which is also perfectly located across Burj Tower, the tallest man-made structure in the world. Second on the list is visiting Burj Al Arab the iconic seven star hotel in Dubai which is known to have visitors restrictions. One has to have a valid hotel reservation or booking in any of their restaurants to gain entry. There are three check-points you have to pass through (a bit too much, isn’t it?)

With all these restrictions I was sort of expecting they will screen the guest type carefully. To our surprise, the main entrance were packed with tourist buses and the lobby was full with tour groups – minus the leader carrying the flag, of course. Apparently, anyone can buy a special day pass to enter the lobby area only. Photos are allowed in certain area only, with one too many signs of  “No photo or video is allowed” sign everywhere.  Makes me feel like we’re in a museum.

After getting clearance from the check point, we proceeded to the lobby for an afternoon high tea. It wasn’t easyenjoying a meal in a fancy place like this, again, they have restriction that no children is allowed in any of the restaurants after 5pm.  The high tea was started with a welcome drink of sparkling date juice – instead of champagne because it was the big Eid celebration. A wide selection of tea and coffee was offered along with a tray of bite size sandwiches. I quite liked the seamless flow of service — the waitress did a good job replenishing the empty cups, keeping tray after tray of canapes coming….  assorted cupcakes, mini muffins, scones, succulent steak, truffles, strawberry-rose sorbet, mini pastries, sweets, blackberry macarons, more sweets, more pastries…   my gosh, I thought they wouldn’t stop sending us food, until finally the waitress came back to replenish my coffee and asked if we’d like something else. That’s the end of the looooong high tea. Nice experience and I did enjoy that