J: Did a 4 hour chauffered trip around Dubai this afternoon. So many different shaped high-rise hotels and appartments being built although the economy crisis in the last 6 months has halted nearly all of them for the time being and the work force has had to go home to their various countries.

The image is the Atlantis hotel's aquarium on Palm island. Enormous fish/sharks in it!Scarey through the magnifying glass. Taken to the Dubai museum, Islaamic arts centre, gold quarter with its roads of jewellery shops...all over the place so now we've had a taste of what Dubai was like in the old days too around 1970!!

Our driver was from Pakistan but has lived here for 30 years so has seen a few changes. The road system is amazing and on several levels. Loads of traffic as it's the start of their weekend as well as the muslim new year tomorrow which meant they would be fasting from this evening so no-one can buy alcoholic drinks for 24 hours.We were asking questions and he missed a turn and it took 20 mins to drive fast around the system to get back!

Another interesting thing is that our driver said he can't get nationality here but that the people who buy the very expensive properties get citizenship and visa thrown in. Whereas when he's 65 he will have to leave the country - his dad has just gone back to Pakistan and the 6 children will send money back for their parents even though he's well enough off. It's expected. The government here only supports th elderly with no children.

We sunbathed on the 2km private beach earlier where hotel staff are waiting to bring you drinks or a wet face towel or take away apple cores/banana skins!With everyone being given beach towels it all looks very pleasing to the eye - even the straw in my fresh pineapple drink was gold coloured to match the red/green/gold theme.

There are boats taxiing us around the complex so we hailed one for a guided tour after an amazing breakfast. SO much choice.

We watched three helicopters arrive on the Burj al Arab helipad at the top of the building and we both swam in the warm Arabian ocean. All made to be perfect so feels rather contrived the longer we're here. It must be like being in Disneyland. Actually as Wedg said it's a giant Centerparcs.

Tomorrow we've got tea at the Burj al Arab booked for 3pm so hoping for a small atour which just might be possiblepparently as we're staying in the same hotel group. Let's hope.