Fly with me: Yacht trip in and around Dubai

Lying at the front of a yacht gazing at the expanse of clear blue mid-afternoon sky, soaking in the pure October sun was the perfect way to spend a Saturday. Every now and again a gentle sprinkle landed on my face and I would remember to listen to the sound of the water as it rushed against the yacht. I had initially gone to the bow and lay down because I felt sick from the bumpiness inside. But once I was lying there for a few minutes and the sickness swiftly subsided, the blissfulness of just being there and doing nothing other than stare at the sky probably made me nod off.

Just a few years ago, a trip to Dubai wouldn’t feel right without swimming in the sea and sitting on the beach, and as often as I came, I would always go to the beach every couple of days. It almost became an obsession, even if it was a bit of a trek. Now that I live in Dubai, not by the beach but in the frenetic city life that is Downtown, I almost forget about its existence. Going to the beach and reading a book is a faraway thought I now associate with being on holiday, with going to the Maldives perhaps.

And so, a yacht trip around the Marina, the Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, Atlantis and the skyline along the way, and moreover just being in the water, was the perfect reminder of the fact that we live in such a versatile city. Where else can I pass one of the largest malls sitting on one of these Xclusive yachts, or stop for a quick pizza somewhere (though I didn’t) or even stop somewhere in the middle and go for a swim. The previous night, I didn’t even feel like going because I wanted to use Saturday to get things done and run some errands, but it ended up being one of the most idyllic afternoons in a long time. Usually, it takes a visiting guest to actually make us do it. However, I realised rather than mull around at home, go to the mall or the gym — all things that I otherwise do — can really be done in any other city.

And as is always the case with such fun days, someone always says “We have to do this more often ... at least every couple of months” but we all know that we probably won’t end up organising a yacht trip until the next guest arrives and we again think about all the “different” things to do.

Well, I certainly couldn’t cope with such bumpiness on the ocean too often, so every month or couple of months might be too frequent for my liking. But for the next touristic “let’s do something different with our guests” trip, I’ll remember to take a cushion and blanket for sleeping outside. Neither would a masseuse and back massage chair go astray.

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