Sun Rays and Sea Waves

Just got back from Dubai, where the sun doesn’t just shine, it performs. Think 35°C, UV 11, sea-salty hair, and enough Vitamin D to qualify as solar-powered. I spent most of the days hopping between sea swims and sun loungers, while staying on the beach til’ the sun went down.

Tried wake surfing for the first time which, let’s just say, humbled me deeply. Turns out, carving behind a boat while trying to look cool is a full-body workout disguised as fun. Wipeout count: undisclosed for ego reasons.

In a bid to stay active, I squeezed in some tennis and decided to run around a track at 8pm, naively thinking the desert cools down at night. Spoiler: it doesn’t. 5 minutes in I was already drenched and it was like jogging through a giant hair dryer.

Thankfully, Dubai’s restaurant scene knows how to reward the heat-stricken. I ate very well, but the true highlight was visiting the iconic Atlantis The Royal hotel. Imagine opulence, innovation, and architecture all turned up to 11.

All in all: sun-drenched, slightly cooked, thoroughly indulged, and already checking flight prices. Dubai, you’ve officially kept the no.1 spot on my “must-return” list (and maybe next time I’ll last on a wake board for more than 10 seconds).