By DAISY LOU C. TALAMPAS

The pandemic has put on hold our bucket list trips and escapades.  But thank heavens after two years of lockdowns, the world has opened up and it’s time to travel again!

I arrived in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after a comfortable eight-hour flight aboard its national carrier Etihad Airways.
My primary goal was to hear mass at the Saint Joseph Church, where my husband, an overseas Filipino worker, goes to regularly.  My husband won his battle against Covid-19.  Imagine our anxiety over our loved ones miles away suffering from the dreaded global illness.

I found it spiritually uplifting to be able to hear mass on a distant shore at a church devoted to one of my favorite saints. When I went, people of various races and culture were praying inside. I couldn’t hold back my tears as I sat with our kababayans, listening to and singing with them, feeling their longing for home.

Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates, is a cosmopolitan center of business and tourist attractions. Magnificent buildings scrape the skies, each an architectural gem—the Grand Mosque, more than grand, is captivating. Date palm trees line the radar-controlled roads. Waiting sheds are air-conditioned, keeping passengers cool and relaxed as they wait for their rides. It’s a beautiful city, spic and span, and its underpasses are artistically designed. Birds, hovering over the city’s charming parks and fountains, mingle with the promenaders. Youngsters enjoy its amusing playgrounds. Facilities for sports and recreation are also on offer. It is also a shopper’s paradise—gold, electronics, fashion accessories, whatever suits your taste. Malls are extra sensorial, what with elevators equipped with aquariums.  Filipinos are all over. Philippine food is served, a balm to homesick senses. A Filipino like me found comfort talking to a Pinay salesgirl or paying to a Pinoy cashier.

Love speed? Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the ultimate destination for hyper adrenaline adventures. Scared of riding the humble camel, I contented myself watching them at the Wathba man-made lake and resort.  It has a camp site that provides UAE residents with camping and picknicking activities.
The desert city has been underrated when it comes to beaches and water sports. Not anymore as more holidaymakers are now discovering Hudayriyat Island, an exciting new destination at the heart of Abu Dhabi. 

Next stop was Dubai. The first time I set foot in this mega city 16 years ago, Burj Khalifa was still under construction. Now it stands proud as the tallest building in the world. I celebrated my birthday this year on the 125th floor.
My husband and I enjoyed our exceptional stay at Dubai’s landmark luxury Sofitel Hotel and the Jumeirah Emirates Towers that is directly connected to the Museum of the Future, considered the most beautiful building on earth. In it, we journeyed through possible futures, exploring near-future technologies, taking on the challenges of what’s ahead, and even experiencing “life in space in the year 2071.”

Dubai Frame is an observatory museum, which holds the title of being the largest  photo frame in the world. A glittering gigantic frame, it has amazing scary glass floor that’s sure to send shivers down your spine as you gingerly step on it.

Be mesmerized by daisies and other flora at the Miracle Garden, the world’s biggest flower paradise, so named in tribute to the power of flowers to bloom under the most inhospitable conditions, such as on desert land. 
 

I also went to Ski Dubai to experience the unfamiliar and what could be more exciting than being a child again as I tested my skills at the first indoor ski playground? It's just as thrilling riding the Dubai Metro, the world’s longest driverless rail system.

Sixteen years after my first visit, I find that there’s so much in UAE worth exploring, in which to find delight.