Located in the City Centre Midriff, the kids were ready for some mid-air karaoke, passionately singing “We believe we can fly; we believe we can touch the sky!” [much to bystanders’ dismay] our lucid dreams materialized in ‘iFly’ Dubai. Gentle on the kids, this was a great way to introduce them to the sensation of flying within a well-controlled space and without the shakes and phobias of full-on sky diving. I had to giggle here – little do they know about my hubby and I’s extreme past of sky-diving during our 20’s. I’m just a boring mum to them - they just wait until they see all the tricks, I’ve got up my sleeve. This place is a great bonding place for the whole family. Full of laughs! After Flying, we went Skiing, in the Desert! Overwhelmed by the heat; Christmas came early with this rare gem: Ski Dubai! in the Mall of the Emirates. It was a clear yes. We were ready for snow, glorious snow! We did receive the fake kind, but boy was it worth it. Full of gratitude and merry children, 'tis the season for our favourite winter pursuits! Skiing, snowboarding, bobsledding and tobogganing! Shakily trudging down a picturesque mountain-themed setting on skis, as we squeezed onto one another in uncontrollable laughter. What were we doing? Who cares! Five slopes were ours, available to conquer once we let go of clutching onto the nearest solid divider. The kids especially loved seeing the pretty penguins on site and smooth-rolling in giant ‘Zorb balls!’ After taking many hilarious pictures, suited and booted in all the necessary winter garb the park provided: jackets, helmet and gloves to socks & boots, mementoes to home were a plenty; including our gloves and socks we were given as gifts! What a day!

Citizens of the lost world of Atlantis and the Atlantis AquaVenture Ahh, the fun we had here! Our family can’t get enough of waterparks. Thankfully, Dubai loves them too! They’re a much-needed escape from the heat. Squealing with joy En route the Middle East’s largest water kingdom on the palm: Dubai’s Atlantis AquaVenture Waterpark The world was our oyster, and the ‘Master Blast’ was our first gulp. This beast propelled the bravest of us in rapid motion on streams of water and long tunnels to finally jut us into the river - ultimate euphoria. Taking the leap of faith’ – quite literally – on the master ride at AquaVenture: an empowering plunge into a veiled water-world of sharks! Fast forward to a slightly dizzy yet dazzling accomplishment, our bucket list of all 18 thrilling rides was complete. 10 out of the 20… one day we’ll return for the rest! The splash play area was great for the little ones. We finally sat back to watch them go wild and make loads of new friends. We were champions, Aqua Venture warriors, as we posed for pictures against the stunning sunset view of the water kingdom and its divine golden backdrop of Dubai from the royal heights of the temple on site. I needed a breather. Unlocking the Lost Chambers As huge aquatic life lovers, this was the perfect place to wind down and end the unforgettable Atlantis AquaVenture chapter well; better yet, we were incredibly excited to discover that with our essentials package, admission to the Lost Chambers Aquarium was free! We’re savvy thrifters, proudly so. Wandering aimlessly and cooling down from our intense pursuits under the scorching summer heat, we were entranced by this aquatic wonderland in perfect vision. Its quirky theme was fun for the kids and contributed to how unique this aquarium truly was. Also, fun little fact - it’s the largest aquarium in the Middle East and Africa, pretty cool. This trip truly mirrored the easy-going ethos of the ocean. It's one the family and I remember fondly, whenever we may bicker, or life gets a bit busy and we need to remind ourselves to go with the flow.