But in the meantime I was determined not to waste anymore time exploring my vast new home city before work takes over. Eager to purchase a few more things for my flat, I decided to head to Dubai mall, the largest of its kind in the world. Which sadly meant calling a taxi. The reason this is such a frustrating and petrifying experience is twofold. Firstly the taxi drivers know the roads about as well as I do. Which is zero. Secondly, once on the roads, there's a driving-with-your-eyes-closed-hope-for-the-best mentality in Dubai. Sheikh Zayed Road, the main Dubai highway is six lanes deep each way, and each lane is rammed with drivers competing to be the greatest tailgater. It's also fast becoming my biggest expense.
Though once at the mall, I was in fashion blogger heaven. Each store is more decadent than the last, and there's an entire district of the first floor dedicated just to shoes. Where I found myself contently distracted for several hours.
But it's not just about the shopping experience. The mall comes complete with an ice rink, cinema complex and even a central aquarium which can be admired from the outside.
It's well worth a visit for the gastronomical size and variety it provides from America's cheesecake factory to a traditional Arabian Souk. You'll never get round it all. All shopped out and feeling surprisingly cold (I think the people of Dubai have become immune to AC) I headed outside for a wander around a bit more of Downtown Dubai. In the day it has a real serenity to it, strange for being so close to the business and financial districts. The fountains are still, and the crystal water of the fountain lake reflects the sunlight to the surrounding glass buildings in a way that is hypnotising and blinding in equal measure.
But the pinacle of Downtown Dubai is it's centre point, the Burj Khalifa. At 829m tall it is the worlds tallest building by a long way. And close up, it's even more intimidating than you can imagine, dwarfing its surrounding skyscrapers in a borrowers effect. You can buy access tickets to go to a viewing platform on the 124th floor, or for an extra fee you can go right to the 148th floor. Alternatively there's a bar on the 124th floor called At.Mosphere and it's definitely on my to do list. Everyone knows I'm a real advocate of sky high dining.
