Ferrari World

Another part of our Abu Dhabi vacation package to Yas Island included theme park tickets to Ferrari World. For Collin and Kevin -- who both love and enjoy all things related to fast and powerful cars -- it seemed like the perfect way to spend a day together. Driving up to the park was impressive, but it was nothing compared to the aerial view. Wow!

As with most entertainment venues here in UAE, Ferrari World is an indoor theme park. Some of the roller coasters have portions that are outdoors, but all of the rides, shops, and restaurants are indoors in the air conditioning. We showed up to begin our day at Ferrari World right when the doors opened.

Our family can be split into 2 groups -- those that LOVE roller coasters (Collin, Kevin, and me!) and those that want nothing to do with them (Connor, Kaitlynn, and Jeff). Ha! For the first group, we couldn't wait to try out the famous roller coaster called Formula Rossa, which is the fastest roller coaster in the world! It reaches speeds of over 240 kilometers per hour, which is about 150 miles per hour. In fact, it's so fast that riders are required to wear safety goggles to protect their eyes. I was so nervous to ride this coaster but we headed there first to check it out.

To our major disappointment, the Formula Rossa ride was closed for maintenance. Man, we were bummed! So we headed off to the next big roller coaster, called the Flying Aces. We didn't know anything about it, but as it turned out, it was the scariest roller coaster I've ever experienced in my life! (That's saying a lot!) The Ferrari World website describes the Flying Aces as the world's steepest and fastest lift as well as the world's tallest inverted loop. What freaked me out is that we were suspended by a bar, not even seatbelts, so our legs were dangling the entire way. It was so fast that tears were streaming out of my eyes the entire time, and I was so frightened that I couldn't even scream. When the ride ended, the boys and I were just laughing and stunned with surprise over how crazy it was!

Meanwhile, Jeff and the little kids had discovered another ride in the park. It was called the Fiorano GT Challenge, and it was another roller coaster. Apparently, they didn't realize it was a roller coaster until it was too late. Luckily, it turned out to be a mild one and they all loved it. Jeff texted me a photo of the kids waiting in line for their 5th or 6th time to ride. The older boys and I joined them a while later to ride it a couple more times.

One of the attractions for kids allowed them to do all sorts of stunts like wall climbing and rappelling. This was a bit out of their comfort zone but turned out to be a cool experience for them.

Our favorite story from Ferrari World involved the roller coaster called Turbo Track. It's a quick 20-second ride but takes riders on a super fast track straight up out and over the top of the domed park and then right back down. The older boys and I thought it was really fun, but Jeff and the kids were completely opposed to trying it out. After a full day of heavy persuasion (peer pressure?) and a bribe worth lots of candy, all 6 of us boarded the Turbo Track. It was over quickly, but not before Jeff and Connor had visions of death while screaming off their heads. Ha! It was quite the family bonding experience!

We enjoyed all of the attractions at Ferrari World, but the older boys and I were disappointed to not be able to ride the Formula Rossa roller coaster which was closed all day. When we left the park for the day, the customer service representatives understood our disappointment and actually gave us tickets to come again so we could try the coaster. We returned the following evening and were so happy that the ride was open and there weren't even any lines. I rode one time -- it was SO FAST and definitely worth the experience! Collin and Kevin rode again and again, and they even returned to the Flying Aces a few times. Ferrari World turned out to be a super fun day (and an extra night) for all of us.

Yas Island in Abu Dhabi

For our weekend in Abu Dhabi, we stayed in a hotel in the Yas Island area. The hotels here are quite different from what we are used to in the States. Most hotel rooms in this area only offer either 1 queen bed or 2 twin beds, which makes it difficult for traveling families. We rented two rooms but still had to bring in 2 additional portable beds for the kids. On the plus side, however, hotel rates here often include an elaborate and generous breakfast buffet (nothing like the "continental breakfast" you get in the US). Yum!

Part of our Yas Island vacation package included tickets to the local beach club. In addition to the beach access, there was a nice bar, swimming pool, and café that we could enjoy during our visit. It was a lovely way to spend our first evening in Abu Dhabi.

Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Our first big adventure as a family was to spend the weekend in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE. None of us had visited before, so we planned several days to hit some of the hotspots.

Our first stop was a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. It was indeed a sight to behold, truly magnificent and beautiful. Everyone in the car was exclaiming, "Wow!" as we drove up to the entrance.

It's a shame that I only have my iPhone photos, which do nothing to display the grandeur and beauty of the Grand Mosque. I have never had much patience for museums or historical sightseeing, but the Grand Mosque is one of the most beautiful and memorable sites I have ever experienced.

The Grand Mosque is open for all visitors as long as they are respectfully dressed, which includes covered shoulders/knees/ankles and head coverings for the women. At the entrance, women are given abayas with head coverings and men are given pants to cover their knees.

Walking up to the mosque entrance was quite the sight. Photos (especially from my phone) just don't do any justice to the magnificence and beauty of the Grand Mosque.

We removed our shoes to enter the mosque. Inside, the views were even more stunning. The architecture and design elements were breathtaking at every turn.

Visitors are offered an interactive audio tour of the Grand Mosque that describes in detail all of the features and design elements from room to room. Jeff and the kids really enjoyed the interesting facts they learned.

The Grand Mosque was one of my favorite experiences here in the UAE, which really surprised me. It was such a neat opportunity to enjoy as a family, and the perfect way to kick off our weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Dubai Miracle Garden

After we walked around the Dubai Marina and JBR, we stumbled upon another attraction that I had heard about and thought the kids might enjoy. We visited Dubai Miracle Garden, which is known as the world's largest natural flower garden with over 100 million flowers. Wow! I had heard that it was a great spot to experience some greenery in the midst of the Dubai desert sand, and we decided to check it out on a whim.

Walking into the main gates, we saw flowers and plants galore. It was a beautiful sight with flowering patterns and sculptures everywhere. We visited in the heat of the afternoon so we didn't visit each area, but I could see how Dubai Miracle Garden would provide great respite from the monotony of the brown sand covering the rest of the city.

The coolest sight at Dubai Miracle Garden was the Emirates A380 airplane completely covered and decorated in flowers. It was huge!

The other favorite spot is the newly installed Mickey Mouse sculpture. It was hard to believe that the entire thing was made of flowers!

I later learned that Dubai Miracle Garden is closed from May through September due to the hot temperatures outdoors, so I'm glad we were able to see the gardens before they closed for the season. It was a unique experience and fun for the kids to share together.

Together Again

Our entire family was beyond excited for the second week of Spring Break, when Collin and Kevin would finally be able to join us here in Dubai for a visit. After their long flight here, we all stayed the night in a hotel in Dubai Marina. It was so nice to finally all be together again!

For their first morning here, I assumed the boys would be tired and wanting to rest. But they were excited to get out and do some sight-seeing around the city. While Jeff went to the office, the kids and I walked around the Marina and then later stopped to show them our favorite spots in JBR.

It was a bit surreal to have them here but we all quickly settled back in as a family. Collin and Kevin don't see much of each other these days, either, so it was just really nice to see all four kids together and bonding again.

We had a lot of fun adventures planned for the two weeks that the boys were visiting. So much fun ahead!

Easter on the Beach

Easter Sunday was the start of our second week of Spring Break. Our church here, Fellowship of the Emirates, hosts a sunrise service on the beach each year and we were so happy to attend. We got up early and to the beach by 6:30 a.m. It was a beautiful morning to celebrate our risen Savior!

The worship team had shovels and built up a hill of sand for the leaders and pastor to stand on during the service. The weather was so nice and there was a huge crowd for the service. It was such a blessing to be surrounded with fellow believers worshipping and celebrating Easter Sunday in such a beautiful setting.