I’ve had wanderlust ever since I was a teenager, some 40+ years ago. Not just the usual ‘see your own country’ wanderlust, I wanted to explore the WORLD – and still do. Back in the late 80s and early 90s though, I had no clue how to go about traveling the world except to join the military!
Fast forward to today and there are literally hundreds of websites and apps that promise you the lowest airfare rates, best hotel accommodations, sights to see, things to do. It is really overwhelming when you start to plan out a trip. I decided I’m going to start “The World is Wide” series which will showcase the places that I want to travel to and the things I want to see while there and do. First up are UAE and Bangladesh.
Where I Want to Travel
There are so many places that I have on my bucket list that it seems improbable that I will ever be able to see them all. My top 10 countries out of the 234 countries in the world that I want to visit, in no particular order:
- UAE
- France
- Japan
- Bangladesh
- Greece
- Iceland
- Costa Rica
- Sri Lanka
- Netherlands
- Jamaica
There are probably about 30 more that I want to visit, but I’m starting with these top 10 and we’re going to explore some of the sights I want to see in UAE and Bangladesh.
My UAE/Bangladesh Dream Itinerary
I cannot even begin to list all of the places that I want to visit in UAE and Bangladesh. Two must-see cities on my list though are Dubai and Dhaka for, what else, shopping! With travel restrictions in place for many areas around the world due to COVID, I’ve already checked the travel requirements for Dubai and Dhaka.
Things to See and Do in Dubai
One of the wonders of the world in my book, the Burj Khalifa cost about $1.5 billion to construct with a total of 1.85 million square feet of residential space, and 300,000 square feet of office space – in addition to the Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. The tower also features lounges, health and wellness facilities, four pools, and two observation decks. You can learn more about this amazing building here. Did you know that there are a total of 2,909 steps leading up to the 160th floor? Ladders are used to climb any higher. That’s just insane cool right there!
Giorgio Armani designed the entrance to Armani Hotel Dubai to give visitors the sense that they were stepping into his home. As a result, the reception has no check-in desk. It is also the first Armani Hotel, which opened on April 27, 2010. All aspects of the luxury hotel bear the signature markings of Giorgio Armani – from the room designs to the fabrics and furnishings.
Nestled in the world’s tallest tower, occupying concourse level through to level 8 and levels 38 and 39, Armani Hotel Dubai offers sweeping views across the city and Arabian Gulf. With its own dedicated entrance, it is situated within walking distance of The Dubai Mall.
Unlike any mall you’ve ever seen before, the Dubai Mall is the world’s largest retail destination set within the vibrant Downtown Dubai business and leisure district. The mall holds 1,200+ shops, 150 restaurants, and also includes the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. You could literally spend a week in this mall and not see or experience everything. It even includes a virtual reality park and ice rink inside the mall.
The Dubai Fountain is the world’s tallest performing fountain. At over 900 feet in length, it is situated on the 30-acre Burj Lake and performs to a selection of different melodies. The fountain has a unique design comprising five circles of varying sizes and two arcs and features powerful water nozzles that shoot water up to impressive heights. When operational, the fountain has over 22,000 gallons of water in the air at any given moment. You can also view the shows by boat directly on the lake.
Things to See and Do in Dhaka
Another city I definitely want to visit in Bangladesh would be Dhaka. A flight is the best way to get there, and many travel portals offer a Dubai to Dhaka air ticket price that is extremely affordable. Naturally, we want top luxury accommodations for our stay, so I’ve chosen the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden hotel for our stay.
With all the excitement and walking while in Dubai, I want to be able to take a guided tour of Dhaka to see the many sites. I found one that sounds affordable and hits all the major sites in both old and new Dhaka. First, we’ll start with the Baitul Mukarram Mosque and the Nawab Palace (also known as Ahsan Manzi or Pink Palace). Then I can sit back and enjoy a 1-hour boat ride on the Buriganga River Sadarghat. We’ll visit the Lalbagh Fort as well as the Star Mosque and the Armenian Church. Before our tour ends for the evening, we’ll also see the Dhakeshwari Temple, Curzon Hall, Shahid Minar, and the National Parliament Building. Definitely a full day touring and sightseeing!
Some may wonder as to why I would want a guided tour when I could explore the city on my own. My reason for that is having a friendly local who can tell you the history of the city in which they live. They know the city’s best-kept secrets and make the tour more about knowing the friendly people than just visiting buildings.
A must-see place to stop is New Market Dhaka, a shopping mall with an absolutely beautiful selection of wares you won’t find anywhere else and constant movement according to Lost in the Midlands. I fell in love with the market just from reading their post. I’ve seen a Jhumka collection (bell-shaped earrings) that they have there that I am absolutely in love with and I would DEFINITELY fight my way through the crowd to get to it! So many to choose from and only two ears!
Once I’ve had my fill of shopping, it is time to take in the beauty of this wonderful land which I can do at Balda Garden, a botanical garden located in the old part of the city of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. I also plan to visit the National Botanical Garden which is adjacent to the Bangladesh National Zoo.
That will be an exciting trip and one I am greatly looking forward to!
Have you been to Dubai or Dhaka? If so, leave a comment below and tell us your experience while there!
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