Excited for my next adventure today.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Today was the day I took a trip to Abu Dhabi to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. I took a charter bus to get to Abu Dhabi from Dubai and it took about an hour and a half to get there.
I thought the charter bus would take me all the way to the mosque, but it dropped off at the bus station and I had to take a city bus the rest of the way to the mosque which was another 20-30 minute ride.
The bus station in Abu Dhabi was segregated with a “ladies waiting area” and a men’s waiting area. I had no idea until I saw a sign. Interesting that the ladies had such a small waiting area while the men had massive room for seating. What’s that about? But I just went straight outside to wait for the bus.
There’s also a prayer room inside the bus station and people were taking off their shoes going inside to pray.
When I got onto the city bus, I didn’t realize the men and women had their own separate sitting areas. I almost sat with all the men but turned around and saw an empty seat next to a lady—so I sat down. That’s when I looked up and saw a sign that said “ladies only.” Whew!
You also have to open the door on the city bus yourself by pressing a button. You have to do this whether you’re getting on or off the bus. Of course, I stood there waiting for the driver to open the door for me until he told me. (I mean—how lazy can a bus driver be?!)
When the bus pulled up to the Grand Mosque, I got off and followed other people who were walking across a bridge to get there. The first place the ladies had to go was to get an abaya (garment) to cover themselves before entering the Grand Mosque. They kept my driver’s license until I returned the abaya later.
I cannot even put into words the beauty of this place. It was so massively huge and gorgeous, I was speechless. There’s beauty and gold everywhere!!
[wpvideo 46AAbS6B]
At one point I passed an area with books on a shelf. There was one book that was crooked for some reason and I wanted so badly to straighten it out but I couldn’t get to it because it was roped off.
Why have the staff not straightened it out? Did a deity of some sort move that book out-of-place? Is that why no one will touch it? Oh, it was driving me mad!
When I was ready to go back “home” to my hotel, I stood at a bus stop waiting for the #54 city bus to take me back to the bus station so I could catch a charter bus back to Dubai.
I got onto the city bus and after a 30-minute ride of seeing sights that I clearly did NOT remember seeing when I was on the bus coming out to the mosque, I got up and asked the bus driver where the bus station was. He told me I needed to be on the other side of the street headed the opposite direction. REALLY?!! After a 30-minute ride?! O-m-g.
But because the charter bus leaves every hour from the bus station, I was in a hurry to catch the next one back to Dubai—so I couldn’t afford to wait around on the next city bus to come by. I hailed a cab instead and got to the bus station in no time.
With 10 minutes to spare, I bought a ticket, hopped on the bus, and was headed back to Dubai. Relieved!
But, of course, I get off the charter bus in Dubai at the wrong location and couldn’t find a cab anywhere in sight. I texted one of the guys I met in Dubai and told him I was lost in Dubai “somewhere” and then—as luck would have it—my cell phone battery completely dies in mid-conversation with him at that very moment. Nice! So I decided to walk a little ways down the street and, after a few long minutes, I finally saw a cab to take me back to my hotel. YAY!
Oh the joys of getting lost in the Middle East by yourself. Now on to my next adventure!
So, if you have nothing else to do today, enjoy the beauty of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in all its crystal and gold.
Take-Away Life Lesson: When you’re used to your home country’s “ways”, it can be a shock to your system if you’re not prepared for a foreign country’s “ways” of doing things—especially when you clearly didn’t give yourself time to do the research. You just kind of learn as you go along.
RELATED ARTICLES:
My Trip To Dubai (Part 1)
My Trip To Dubai (Part 2)
My Trip To Dubai (Part 4)
My Trip To Dubai (Part 5)
My Trip To Dubai (Part 6)
The opulence of the interior is unbelievable!! And it always strikes me that we must not offend others while in a foreign country. Odd, isn’t it? But I am glad you enjoyed your day!
It’s a beauty!
That was a close call with the segregation issue. 😉
I know. Lol.
Goodness that mosque is beautiful. Dubai has skyrocketed to the top 5 places I must go in the next 10 years. Loving your series on this.
Thank you, Renae. 🙂
Wow very very grand indeed and elegant and most incredible. Thanks for sharing the photos! I’ve enjoyed browsing through!
You’re welcome any time. 🙂
Not sure what would have been worse the book or getting lost. Hmmmm? You’re a great storyteller making me crack up.
I think the crooked book was “worse.” It was hard to get lost inside there since it was roped off with certain areas for visitors. Glad you got a laugh. Thank you, Stephanae!
Thank you for the enjoyable read 🙂
Anytime. 🙂
Haha oh my goodness what an adventure!! Great stories, and such a fun read! Now I want to visit Abu Dhabi as soon as possible! Great post, thanks for sharing your adventure!
xo Kiki
https://colormekiki.wordpress.com/
An adventure indeed! 🙂
I burst out laughing at your comment about the book! I would have felt exactly the same. Sounds like you have had a fantastic trip – thanks for sharing.
Lol! I’m a Type A personality and my OCD kicked in even on the other side of the world. I would have straightened it myself if only I could have reached it. 🙂
what a trip! Thanks for sharing here 🙂
You’re welcome, Liz!
I think it’s the subtle little differences in everyday stuff that makes the most interesting bits about travel. Driving on a different side of the road is one thing, obvious and easy to understand. That there’s two racks of tray-return racks, one for trays used for halal and one for trays used for non-halal food, that’s intriguing.
You’re right, Mr. Nebus! It’s those little subtle differences that caught my attention—and I loved all of it because I’ve always lived a certain way my entire life living in the same country forever. So I got to experience a lot of new things which I thoroughly loved.
Lovely post, pics again! Thanks for sharing all your stories! Must say, you look so damned good (read: hot, lol) – diggin’ all the selfies! Is it me? Was I oblivious … why hadn’t I noticed before, lol?!
Lol. Aww thanks for saying so, Dan! 🙂 I have a lot more selfies coming where those came from. I think everything in life should be captured in a picture or on video for the sake of having memories to look back on. You only live once so you might as well! Glad you enjoy my life stories, too. 😉
Oh, the opulence. I am quite sure one of those light fixtures cost more than my entire house. I love seeing all your pictures!
Oh, thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoy them. And I’m sure those light fixtures cost much much MORE than any house. A girlfriend and I were wondering if we could get one of those light fixtures at a local Home Depot store for our homes. Lol.
The joys of losing yourself on holiday !
What ? No food Loving ? 😉 <3
Oh, Ralph. You know there’s always food around me somewhere. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to eat anything in Abu Dhabi. I had already eaten before I traveled there and then again after I got back to Dubai.
Whew ! I was getting worried about you my friend 😉
😉
That journey back sounds like a bit of a challenge!
Oh it was, Abbi. But it was ok though. I made it through.
Wow that mosque is incredible! So grand!
Tell me about it!
Thats one place I missed and still angry with myself for being lazy enough and not joining my hubby for the mosque trip. You have captured it beautifully though. You look quite cool in the abaya. And that book looks more displaced than crooked lol. It is the Holy Quran and I am sure some visitor to the mosque read it and didn’t place it properly because mosques don’t have deities . Hope this feels better now 🙂 Looking forward to seeing more of your posts.
Lol. I know! It was driving me nuts though.