Abu Dhabi(U.A.E.)

March 2017

P_20170311_014415_1_p — The Grand Mosque

We took the 2-hour bus($5.50) to Abu Dhabi(population: 1.5 million) from Dubai’s Al Ghubaiba Bus Station and stayed overnight. We explored the city quite a bit while we were there, and we liked it better than Dubai because this city seemed more organic in a sense that the old and the new were better integrated and the contrast between the rich and the poor was not as pronounced. But the first and the last image we have about the place is the Grand Mosque. Yes, it was GRAND but more than that.

All the grandeur and the biggest carpet in the world aside, I felt serenity. The words Islam or Muslim may not signify peace and harmony in current world affairs, but I sensed genuine welcome and inclusion at this mosque. It cost tons of money to build it, of course. However, it was oddly comforting to know that people were all paid to participate unlike most other big religious projects around the globe that relied on forced labor. it was a $10 cab ride from the city center.

P1030235 — The Grand Mosque even had a Carrefour store in the complex

We walked around to visit markets and took a cab to see the super luxury Emirates Palace Hotel and the reconstructed traditional desert village, Heritage Village. Cabs were relatively cheap and the drivers understood English. We ended up eating at a Lebanese restaurant in the nearby Marina Mall.

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[Update: 2020] by Pat

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, a 2 hour bus and, soon supposedly, a 12 minute hyperloop ride from Dubai.

The first thing we did on entering the cruise terminal was use the terminal wifi to book an alternative flight to LA. It was clear we could not fly to India as originally planned and we were having second thoughts about a plane change in China. Rather than continue flying east, we decided to fly west and booked a flight to LA on Turkish Air.

We had been in Abu Dhabi once before and visited the Grand Mosque, truly stunning and highly recommended. Free English language tours are available.

This time, however, YK decided we would visit the Louvre AbuDhabi.

I did not even know there was a Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi. Unlike its affiliate in Paris,, it can easily be seen in half a day and is well worth the visit.

Outside the museum was a grove of palm trees equipped with camouflaged speakers.

These “singing trees” were part of a temporary installation.

The museum was laid out chronologically, showing works from different geographical areas. The narrative traced the development of art, government, and trade routes throughout history. I was very impressed. Now there are two destinations in Abu Dhabi I would highly recommend.

A few of the pieces that caught my eye:

After the museum, we took a cab to the fish market where we had a wonderful seafood lunch. This was the first of only two meals we had off the ship. The cruise terminal was a stone’s throw from this market.