Here are a few views from the side of the viewing deck with a slit in the glass to allow photographers to shove a lens through. This gives lovely clear pictures indeed which you can’t achieve all round, but I’ll come to that.

I love this one for the dominating shadow of the Burj giving a sense of its towering presence. The covered building is the one that burned in the dramatic new year fire this year.

Now, the other side of the Burj has thick glass all round to enclose the inevitable gift shop. This is a photographic nightmare, and since the view is toward the unbelievable man-made “palm” and the Burj al Arab, I consider this a photographic crime. I love clear high quality lenses as much as the next person, but “needs must when the devil vomits in your kettle”; I got the lens against the glass to minimise the wild reflections and distortions and tried to make moody if unclear pictures. I kind of like them anyway.

You can actually see me holding the camera in this one, the glass was cms thick and this was unavoidable.

On that same evening we had dinner in the public area beneath the Burj al Khalifa. They have a vast pond fitted with water jets, computer controlled to “dance” to the stunning and loud music that fills the square every half hour. If I’m honest I would say it sounds potentially tacky, but OMG it isn’t; you could actually “fill up” as the emotional, often operatic musical crescendos are punctuated by what can only be described as water jet fireworks. It is amazing. When looking at these pictures you really have to be listening to Aa Bali Habibi by Elissa as that was my favourite from the evening. I think the foreground square towers house the hi fi, and it totally is hi fi!

This is the classic spot I believe for Burj pictures overlooking the waters from a bridge. You really need a wide lens to fit it in though.

Another day, another setting. This is the beach near my brother and sister in law’s apartment where we had a great afternoon of bathing and eating pizza. It overlooks the “Marina” area of Dubai which is spectacularly dense with skyscrapers. I went for a run on the beach and nearly sweated to death! Just as well I was able to go for a sluice-down in the water afterward.

HB loved the beach, so did Minnie and little yellow-haired mermaid in case you care?

Dubai is all about the building work, so this deliberately underexposed image really captures the endless industry that goes on.

This is the view from the balcony where we were staying. I include this to let you know how much I’m prepared to rough-it in the interests of getting photos for you! (No need to thank me, all in a days work ma’am). This is overlooking the amazing Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis Hotel.

Next we saw some Arabian Gazelle, these are just beautiful and fairly small animals.

I have no idea what this animal is, its clearly a baby of some kind, but nope, I’m drawing a blank!

For the authentic desert experience our guide put these head-dresses on us, and although we felt a bit silly, they were very comfortable in the heat. Aren’t they both so cute!

And now one with Sheik Mahbouti in attendance. (Love you bruv)!

Next was an impressive bird-of-prey display. These birds are very much part of the Arabian culture and what they do is impressive. I am no great fan of captive animal displays, however the knowledgeable young antipodean woman who gave us the extensive display was sensitive to this and impressed us all with her skills and her care for the birds. I have included some pictures of the tourists and my brother enjoying interaction with the birds.

While this was going on, HB was more interested in playing in the vast sandpit that she had found.

But back to the hunting birds with this amazing owl

Born to it!

The strong light helps to achieve fast shutter speeds!

love this very cool man’s T-shirt!

I am really pleased to have caught one exposure without background distractions

And so on we went to the camels, a bit of telephoto compression here certainly shows the colours to advantage.

Then we went for a drive to enjoy the desert a bit, resulting in this! Stuck! British car fans will be disgusted to know that a Toyota Landcruiser towed us out!

Around the “Creek” area, traders were friendly and even sometimes willing if asked to allow photos

This one uses telephoto compression again to emphasise the busy market area walkways. HB aunt and uncle all visible in this one.

HB is also fond of an interesting motorcycle!

The markets major in colourful goods:

A tourist “must do” is the crossing of the “creek” in the traditional Abra boats. Needless to say we held on tightly to HB, but she declared the Abras to be her favourite thing and sat fascinated by the river traffic.

I love this one!

HB excited by the markets, and frankly high on gallons of mango juice.

These ones from the Indian neighbourhood:

I’m not really into street photography as a genre, but this one speaks to me for some reason. Check the space-station surface of air con units on the wall.

HB eating crisps while a tailor adjusts her newly bought outfit.

Another day, another beach. You can’t keep this young lady off of sand! The Iconic Burj al Arab hotel behind.

Sunsets in Dubai work well for fill flash portraits. My beloved sis in law here looking lovely.

More mango juice, it was her thing!

Just aww!

From the other side, this high class shopping centre provides a great vantage point for the Burj al Arab

Back at the apartment, this is the view over the marina in the Palm. Just wow. I may have had a glass of excellent red as I took this one.

We also had a day trip to Abu Dhabi, My brother and sis in law lived here for a long while so it is nice to get some pictures for them too. Note HB in the background trying to become a sand lizard as usual!