Sea, Sand, Smile!

Heeeyyy.. Glad to write on this blog again!   Sorry for not updating my activities in United Arab Emirates. Ok, I just wanna say…LET’S START IT!

On February 1st, I and 5 of my friends (Darang, Hanifah, Diku, Kiki, and Tama) went to UAE via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We arrived on Abu Dhabi International Airport on February 2nd and it was freezing!

Abu Dhabi International Airport

I didn’t expect that the temperature would reach 18 Celcius degree. So I wrapped myself with the jacket that I borrowed from Darang (God bless you for lending me that jacket, Darang). We arrived there on 01.30 am, got two taxis and went to Abu Dhabi Main Bus Terminal to take the bus to Dubai.  On Dubai, we stopped at Al Ghubaibah Bus Station and take a bus one more time to Knowledge Village where the hotel and the venue located in.  Actually it was hard to find the hotel because none of us who ever been there before. We asked many people, dragged those big trolley bags everywhere, and finally..we found Knowledge Village! Yippie!

After checked in to the room, we met another delegates from Indonesia which are our seniors in campus, Ari and Fachru. So, there were eight delegates from Indonesia who joined Emirates MUN.

I visited many places like Jumeirah Beach, The Walk, The Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates, Madinat Jumeirah Resort,Trade Vic’s Bar and of course Burj al Arab and Burj Khalifa. In Jumeirah Beach, several friends from western countries were sunbathing, and I met two camels that were walking around the beach. Jumeirah Beach was extremely beautiful with white sand that spread all over the beach.

From Jumeirah Beach, I went to The Walk which was located close to the beach.

camels on Jumeirah Beach

The Walk was sorrounded by many shops and it was definitely a nice place to take a walk. The Walk was also a good place to take pictures.

The Walk

Dubai Mall was extremely beautiful.

I love Zakumi

It was big and filled with many famous brands such as Swarovski, Zara, etc. I was amazed by a huge aquarium inside the mall which was filled with many fish, even shark and rayfish. And the best part was..the fountain show. The fountain show was started every 20 minutes, from 6 pm until 10 pm. I also found a big Zakumi, the mascot of  World Cup 2010.

You can find Burj Khalifa at the back side of The Dubai Mall. Burj Khalifa was totally high and beautiful.

miniature of Burj Khalifa, inside the Dubai Mall

It costs around 400 dirhams to reach the top of the Burj Khalifa. Well, it was too expensive for me so I didn’t go to the top of it.

Mall of Emirates was a really good place too. I was lucky that I found a denim shirt for my brother for only 20 dirhams (not more than 6 US dollars). From Mall of Emirates, I visited Medinat Jumeirah Resort to find a bar where all of delegates of Emirates MUN gathered in. The bar’s name was Trader Vic’s.

with another delegates, outside the Trader Vic's Bar

It was a bar which filled with latino music. Medinat Jumeirah was beautiful, but it was definitely not a right place for me to buy souvenirs because I found a pashmina that cost 100 dirhams (around 30 US dollars). Burj Al Arab was huge and beautiful. On the night, you can see it changed into many colors.

Now it’s time for me to tell you about what happened in Emirates MUN.

welcome dinner, at Napoletana Restaurant

On February 3rd, thedelegates gathered in a welcome dinner at Napoletana Restaurant, an Italian restaurant which is located on the Rimal Walk, not too far from Jumeirah Beach.

Unfortunately, because of one and another reasons, Human Rights Council and International Energy Forum were merged into Economics and Social Council.

delegates in ECOSOC

The new topic was presented, it was “The Freedom of Information over the Media”, and I was the delegate of India in this council.

All I can say about the whole activities in Emirates MUN is.. amazing.

with the chairperson of ECOSOC

I really glad that I could meet many people from different countries. They were friendly, cute, and of course smart. Thanks for the Secretariat of Emirates MUN 2010 who arranged everything.

On February 7th, right after the closing ceremony, I dragged my trolley bag out of the hotel. It was hard to say that everything’s over. I had to go to Indonesian Embassy at Abu Dhabi and stay there for one night before I caught the flight to Jakarta (via Kuala Lumpur) on February 9th.

I thought that the surprises had gone, but I was definitely wrong! Abu Dhabi was also a great city. I visited The Emirates Palace Hotel, Port Zayed, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, and Heritage Village.

fountain at Emirates Palace Hotel

Emirates Palace Hotel is the most beautiful hotel that I’ve ever seen in my life. It was really like a huge palace. The fountain on the front side was just the beginning of another big surprises inside the hotel.

in front of the Emirates Palace Hotel

inside the Emirates Palace Hotel

With the domination of gold everywhere inside the hotel, it made the hotel looked so glamour, even the toilet was also definitely glamour.

Heritage Village is the place where you can find the old market, and another old things of the UAE’s past time, even the camel.

with Tuva The Camel, at Heritage Village

There was a path that connected Heritage Village with the beach. I and my friends were really glad that we found that beautiful place.

port Zayed

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the third biggest mosque in the world. With the domes like Taj Mahal in India and the pillars like Masjidil Haram in Saudi Arabia, the Sheikh Zayed Mosquewas definitely amazing. Unfortunately, I and my friend were too late to get inside the mosque, and we had to get to the airport as soon as possible to catch the flight. On February 9th, 3 am,we departed from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Jakarta via Kuala Lumpur. Finally, I arrived at Seokarno-Hatta International Airport on February 9th, at 6 pm.

I really hope that I can get another chance to join another MUN. I love the atmosphere when many people from different cultures meet and make friends. For everyone who reads this post, I encourage you to join international summits as many as you can. Go and see the world, because many experiences are waiting for you!

Advertisement