I must confess ur story was captivating... Ur writing skills are top notch....pray for more blessings for you dear....Dubai like I have been told has a lot of attractions but the restrictions there are just not it for me

Did you see our HushPuppi?

Justizer:
Did you see our HushPuppi?

i wanted to ask the same thing lol

Nigeria is a joke but some people will not understand. When we start to develop we will know.

This is exciting I really loved it. Your writing skill thou made me feel like I was with u in dubia it's amazing how u made dubia come alive through words.

OP, your writing skill is impeccable. Well life begins here after service.

PLEASE do we have anyone going to dubai second week in July for summer?
I would appreciate a companion Male or Female
Thank you
@Sapphire86
@OP please how did you make your research on dubai?

Do i have to change to dollars in Nigeria

Can i use my Naira debit card there?

Please help me with several pieces of advice needed to have quality while in dubai

is there a tourist map or tourist app you used?

thank you

omo naija politicians dey fuckup from muritala mohammed to awolowo to akintola to zik ti ubu gowon ibb abacha all of them deserve no credit

they reckd this country even cou tries that started on a low like us have gone far in terms of dev

Sapphire86:



Al rigga in the building!!! AMEN, i believe we actually would get there one day

still In Dubai?

Hi Sapphire,
Thanks for bringing us along on your trip.

Im impressed with your style of writing and penmanship, you captivate.

Are you aware you can earn a living doing just this, your travel expenses and all inclusive promotional items paid for?

I noticed where you talked about lindt, toblerone, galaxy and kitkat....that's marketing. I had a stopever in Charles de Gaule some years back and purchased a toblerone during wait for my flight to Nigeria. I wasn't too thrilled with the flavor but the taste was unforgettable. Seeing it in your narrative gave me craving for a toblerone.

So add your charming beauty with smooth dark complexion and magnetic pull to captivate your audience, with travels through different countries and terrains to bring glimpse of culture and traditions to global aaudience....on CNN Se you get my gist?

Much love!

Beautiful write up. Great writing skills. I felt like I went on the whole adventure. Was in Dubai ten years ago. Sounds like things have improved a whole lot

Sapphire86:
..........


As all activities on this trip are gradually winding down, I can say it’s being wonderful. I really can’t wait to come back or even be a permanent resident here. Dubai has been amazing. God bless Dubai, the UAE and even Nigeria. God bless us all!

I must say I admire ur writing skills, u must write a novel one of these days, u ll make a very good writer like chimamanda. kudos to u and welcome back home.

U DIDN'T TAKE A SINGLE PHOTO OF URSELF IN DUBAI

Lucasbalo:
You are absolutely right but i am very used to Nigeria because my parents retired to Nigeria many years ago and i make it my point of duty to see them as many times as I can I visit Nigeria at least twice or thrice for my parents and business. There's no utopian country in the world because I can give you many reasons not to be optimistic about America even though I grew up in US. The bottom line is we have to keep the pressure on our political leaderships to right the wrongs.

the best reply I've read from a nairalander in ages. Good talk. I share ur views

Decypher:
You Sir is a big fool.. can you even listen to yourself.. things will change one day and it must start from one person. Why should she give the man a bribe. You people are the problem with this country

I don't like it when people (like u) insults other people just to make a point, if u don't agree with what he said u can make ur own opinion to counter his in a subtle way, not with insults. He might be a family man, somebody's father. My 2 cents

mikron:
the best reply I've read from a nairalander in ages. Good talk. I share ur views

Thanks my Brother. There's no perfect country in the world. We just have to make the best of the situations we find ourselves and put maximum pressure on our leaderships because critiqueing our leaders is the highest form of patriotism.

Lucasbalo:
Thanks my Brother. There's no perfect country in the world. We just have to make the best of the situations we find ourselves and put maximum pressure on our leaderships because critiqueing our leaders is the highest form of patriotism.

my views exactly

Pictures please.

This is the best piece I've ever read ... so lovely

chukxie:


Why should he or any traveler for that matter tip immigration, custom officers or officers of any other agencies at the airport? Nigeria is terribly messed up because acts that would land people in other countries in jail are seen as normal here.

it happens everywhere

BLAQUEWELSH:
PLEASE do we have anyone going to dubai second week in July for summer?
I would appreciate a companion Male or Female
Thank you
@Sapphire86
@OP please how did you make your research on dubai?

Do i have to change to dollars in Nigeria

Can i use my Naira debit card there?


Please help me with several pieces of advice needed to have quality while in dubai

is there a tourist map or tourist app you used?

thank you

I plan going first week in July

ok. bon voyage

nurexfutmx:



I plan going first week in July

Nice write-up. I actually stayed up to read 'em all. Next time u go check out Gold Souk in Deirah. It's wonderful.

The headline and body of this message looks in conflict

ab11baddo:
I must confess ur story was captivating... Ur writing skills are top notch....pray for more blessings for you dear....Dubai like I have been told has a lot of attractions but the restrictions there are just not it for me

You have arrived with your assumptions, which restrictions are you talking about?

o boy see chiking

MetaPhysical:
Hi Sapphire,
Thanks for bringing us along on your trip.

Im impressed with your style of writing and penmanship, you captivate.

Are you aware you can earn a living doing just this, your travel expenses and all inclusive promotional items paid for?

I noticed where you talked about lindt, toblerone, galaxy and kitkat....that's marketing. I had a stopever in Charles de Gaule some years back and purchased a toblerone during wait for my flight to Nigeria. I wasn't too thrilled with the flavor but the taste was unforgettable. Seeing it in your narrative gave me craving for a toblerone.

So add your charming beauty with smooth dark complexion and magnetic pull to captivate your audience, with travels through different countries and terrains to bring glimpse of culture and traditions to global aaudience....on CNN Se you get my gist?

Much love!

Beautiful writeup. In love with Dubai already

Weldone OP. Nice write up

Sapphire86:
I woke up that certain Wednesday feeling ‘oh, the day has finally come’. I was still running up and down doing last minute packing, attending to a dozen issues while trying to remember a dozen more still undone. I am not one for last minute rush, but this time was different – delays here and there with the visa and ticket both finally coming through less than 48 hours before departure.

I called for an Uber (while silently praying for safe arrival to the airport because I have been hearing stories about Uber & Taxify drivers lately) and 30 minutes later (even though the app said 11 mins) I was on my way to the airport. Traffic was terrible; this was the first journey-to-the-airport traffic I have ever experienced, and it got to a point that I was like ‘ah, ah, have my village people followed me to the airport?’ Finally, we reach the airport though I was a bit pissed with the Uber driver because 1., he deliberately took a longer route with traffic when we started the journey (maybe he wanted my trip fare to be deliberately high) and 2., he didn’t know any shortcuts! We were just stuck in traffic; one thing about commercial bus drivers is that they would always find another way when they sight traffic ahead except if there is truly no way out. But this Uber driver just sat there because even if we got to the airport 3 hours later, it really wasn’t his concern!

Got to the airport an hour plus later and then it hit me that I was back at the Nigerian Airport! First, it was the policemen unnecessarily hailing me before I realized that they wanted me to part with money; then it was unknown personality who came, held my bag & ‘offered’ to help me carry it. I’m like ‘emm, no, thank you’ and in my mind, I’m like ‘my hands don’t look broken; I ain’t parting with no naira, dollar or even cent’. I thought ‘oh, the harassment has ended’ forgetting that I was STILL at the Nigerian airport.


I did my check-in and made my way to immigration and it was there I was reminded that I was still in Nigeria. First immigration officer was nice but wanted a tip and in my mind I’m like ‘why should I give you money because I am travelling; don’t you know how much dollar is?’ The second immigration officer was where the issue was. He checks my passport because it’s a new passport and sees no stamp, immediately starts harassing me (it was a new passport but not my first time travelling). Then he goes ‘let me just stamp for you because if I send you down there, they will harass you, but you MUST give me something’. Now, the difference between the first & second immigration officer was that the first asked nicely for a tip, this one flat out demanded a BRIBE. Is there a law that says new passport holders cannot travel? How will the passport stop being new if it is not used in travelling out? Well, since I didn’t ‘tip’ the first officer though he asked nicely, I refused to BRIBE him. True to his word, he sent me and my passport down to the association-of-immigration-officers corner thinking he has dealt with me. The lady he sent my passport to asked me for my visa, checked with my passport, asked for my travel allowance and when she saw I was legit, she gave me my passport and asked me to go and get stamped. As I left, my eyes and that of the second immigration officer met and he could see my victory stare and smile.

.... to be continued

We are once on same boat. The immigration people r shits. Once they discover your passport is a virgin they will hook u down unless u roja.. Which is bad

Sapphire86:



Awwwww smiling sheepishly in my hotel room

Please how much budget did u have for your whole trip in dubai? Travel expense, hotel expense, food, etc. This is a place I would like spending my honeymoon.

chicoMX:
Following

Although I have never left the shores of this country, but I think giving #200 to the second officer could have saved you a lot of stress. Judging from the fact that you were stuck in traffic and angry with uber driver.

U r joking. I gave 5k. Thinking is much. But when I saw someone that gave up to 15k, my liver calm down

Sapphire86:
....


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).

Google map GPS location app works like charm to get directions via our phone. Though phone battery need b gud capacity to use for extended period.Will reduce ur asking