We had supper at the Burj Al Arab today. Amazing architecture. Opulent, iconic and very memorable. Thank-you Prue, my wonderful friend and guide. The service, architecture, food and views are very special and a must for any traveller to Dubai.

Dubai is Vegas without the glitz - infact there are no neon lights anywhere. Rather sobering. Its a vast city with the majority of people being x-pats. Sheikh Mohammed is a man of vision. He instructs his planners that he wants a an airport and like a phoenix rising within 5 years there it is, and all the infrastructure as well. The metro is fast, unmanned and clean. Every where is air conditioned. the walk ways the stations, the malls, the houses every where. Its hot outside.

Today we went to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre of Cultural Understanding, located in the old quarter. It provides a venue for people from different backgrounds to experience Emirati food, culture and religion. (this is an important component) as many foreigners want answers as to women's roles; Islam; the modernisation of Dubai and tolerance. The centre has traditional food, delicious. Fresh dates are like large grapes thicker texture with sweet fleshy taste. The centre has traditional and modern Art displayed in traditional UAE homes, which there are very few of. We visited the local mosque and had the opportunity to learn about Emirati culture and religion in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Very different from Greenacre/Bankstown image. The Sheikh will not tolerate any Eman advocating intolerance to others, they are packed up given a ticket and told to leave never to return. Then they come to Australia.

We looked around the river where Dubai started where the locals fished and dove for pearls.