Middle East – soloflighted.com

Desert Sunrise on a Hot Air Balloon in Dubai

For a thrill-seeker, one of the things that you must do in Dubai is ride a hot air balloon. This experience takes you to the desert where you can experience a beautiful sunrise overlooking the Arabian sand. We were able to try this during winter season in Dubai and it was a great experience altogether. … Read more

View from our Hotel Window in Petra, Jordan

We just arrived in Petra on a 4-hour road trip from Amman and we needed to get some shut-eye before our Petra by Night Tour to see The Treasury. The room in our hotel (Petra Moon Hotel – Book Here) was good. What made it even better was the view outside. Petra, Jordan November 2015 … Read more

Petra By Night Experience in Jordan

It was a cold night in Petra. We just arrived from a 4-hour road trip from Amman and we needed to get some shut-eye before our Petra by Night Tour in less than 2 hours. My wife took a nap but I was still awake. I was staring at the view of lighted houses on … Read more

Security Tips for Traveling to Jordan

Jordan is an absolutely amazing place to visit, from Amman to the Dead Sea to Petra and points in between. Yet too often, it’s overlooked as a destination because of its location in the volatile Middle East. And while those safety concerns are definitely valid, I’m here today to tell you that you absolutely do … Read more

A Few Photos of Burj Al Arab from Afar

The Burj Al Arab is one of the iconic structures of Dubai, if not the most recognizable one. Before the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the Burj Al Arab has been a staple building in photos and it is known to be “The world’s only 7 star Hotel”. zoomed in In reality, … Read more

Dubai Skyline Shots from the Rooftop

We transferred to a different location here in Dubai. I can’t recall how many times I’ve changed addresses, but we’re going to stay longer here since it’s on a contract. One of the things I like to do in this new building apartment is go to the rooftop and take photos of the Dubai skyline. … Read more

Dinner at the Terrace of Madeleine Cafe and Boulangerie

We were invited for dinner at Madeleine Cafe and Boulangerie to try out their Weekly Specials and we were surprised that they reserved us a seat at the corner of their terrace to watch the Dubai Fountain Show. This was a special treat considering we had a clear view of the Burj Khalifa Lake below. … Read more

soloflightEd Dubai Blog Update

My, my. It’s been a very long while since I updated this blog. Not sure if it has reached a year already or more. I haven’t kept track. Please pardon the absence as my life outside my day job has been swamped with a lot of projects. To the point that I haven’t done anything … Read more

Dubai Dining Spots for Special Occasions

Home to some of the best hotels in the world, it’s no surprise that Dubai is famous for its world-leading restaurants, so let’s take a look at just five that you have to visit. Whether you’re a resident or visitor to the city, you should try at least one of these choices if you want … Read more

Dhow Cruise in the Waters of Musandam in Oman

We went to Musandam for a day trip during my vacation leave. We wanted to take a break and head out of town, preferably somewhere we could swim. Instead of going to Abu Dhabi and check out Yas Island Theme Park, we decided to head to Oman and be with nature instead. Musandam Oman March … Read more

My Dubai Desert Safari Adventure

The desert safari adventure is a common tourist experience in Dubai. The city is built on the desert that’s why this is one of the major things you can experience while exploring this part of the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai Desert Safari Adventure
March 17, 2013

Desert Safari in Dubai

We had an Entertainer Book (which is book with coupons and discounts) and we used one of the pages for this adventure. We got two tickets for the price of one (AED 200) which was already a great deal.

Basically, the desert safari experience in Dubai includes sand dune bashing, camel riding, and a barbecue dinner where you can watch a belly dancing show.

sunset in Dubai

We got into the car after swimming in a natural pool in Wadi Al Qahfi (Wadi Khaffi). We were on our way to the Hatta Mountains which is what the tour is named after.

According to Shahzad (our guide), Hatta is still part of Dubai; but we still have to pass through Oman borders as it’s much faster using that route.

Dubai, UAE: Quick Stop at the Hatta Mountains
April 30, 2013

Dubai-Oman Hatta Tour

back to the vehicle

One of the surprising adventures I’ve experienced in Dubai is the Hatta Mountain Safari tour. We kept postponing this trip due to the (un)availability of our schedules. I was still new at the office and given that I only have one day off, it’s a challenge to find a perfect day to pursue this trip. Still I’m glad that it pushed through.

Hatta Tour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
April 30, 2013

Dubai Hatta Tour

Passing through Oman borders to reach Hatta where you will see the rocky mountains

I had the opportunity to try out one of the treatments offered by The Spa at The Address Dubai Mall called “Arabian Gold Ritual”. This is one of the full body treatment offerings that they launched and consists of a body scrub, body and face mask, and body and face massage. I seldom go to … Read more