Wonderful Wild Wadi

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Hello all, Meg here. Today we planned on visiting Wild Wadi Water Park.  After the fun I had at being a jellyfish in the water yesterday, I wasn't sure that the cost of the tickets was really going to be worth it.  I'm thrilled to say it was a bargain for the amount of fun we had!  As Kylie had mentioned in her post, the sea water of the Persian Gulf was not only very salty (excellent buoyancy for the likes of me), but incredibly warm.  It was a very bizarre experience to be in water that didn't refresh you. That being said, you really could stay in it all day, which we did.  I -- doing my best jellyfish impersonation -- was totally relaxed, enjoying the swells.  But I digress....

Burj Khalifa towering above Dubai

Soon to be abandoned foot wear

We took advantage of our apartment-like amenities in our room, had cereal and milk for breakfast, and then made our way to the park.  We'd tried to purchase tickets on line the day before, but could never get to the "Payment" option, so I was a little concerned that the park was going to be closed. Adding to my fears, it was apparently the Islamic New Year, so, with some trepidation, we headed to Wild Wadi.  When we arrived, (30 minutes prior to opening), it was clear all was good.  There were people cleaning up the ticket booths and prepping the entry area.  Without trouble, we got our tickets and then proceeded to the nearest water fall offering a cooling mist as it fell.  Even though it was not yet 10 a.m., it was already 90+ degrees.  I truly cannot fathom what it must be like in the summer.

"Wild Wadi, Fun begins at 10 AM"

As we enjoyed the misting waterfall, we had the opportunity of meeting a young park attendant from Bangladesh.  We were asking him questions about where he was from, if he had a family, and how he liked Dubai.  He was a gift to us.  He said that, while he was from Bangladesh and his wife and 2-1/2 year old daughter were there, he knew he had to be here to help support them.  He also said that even when it was hot and he had to be working -- so far from his family and the things he was familiar with -- he chose to be happy.  It was such a gem of truth.  We could all sit with that thought for a while.  It doesn't matter where you are, or what you're doing, or how you're feeling -- we can choose to be happy.  It's all in your perspective, and we were grateful for his.

At 10 a.m. sharp, the park opened up and we were off!  We had planned on making our way to the back of the park as that is where the "exhilarating" rides were listed.  We found the Burj Surg and ran up the steps to the "toilet bowl" like ride.  All four of us were in a circular raft that would shoot down a big tube and then circle around a larger tube, only to shoot down another, all along sloshing up and down the enormous pipes, slalom style.  We got to the bottom and were ready for more.  Luckily, there was also Tantrum Ally right next to it, so back up the steps and on a different type of raft and down faster, bigger tubes that dropped us off into a pool of just-right water temp.  We were hooked!

Burj Surj and Tantrum Alley

So, we started to run off to the next big slide, Jumeirah Sceirah -- where the floor falls out from underneath you -- only to be shown, by one of the attendants, that we needn't run.  We could just take the winding waterway that snakes around the entire park and get out once we were at the base of the ride we wanted.  What's that?  We only needed to walk once we floated to the proper exit?  So, of course, we had to check it out.  It was AWESOME!  It wasn't just a water way, it was a roller-coaster of a slide.  Once on your floating device, (single tubes for Dean and I, double tube for Kylie and Dex), there were jets of water that would push you UP the inclines and then you got to slide down them, all with the proper twists and turns to make it fun and, for Dean and I at least, spinning around so you couldn't see what was coming.  It was a blast.  From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., we were all over that park and never once did we feel hot or cold -- it was just right.  (Dad's note: only a few pictures at the end of the day as we spent the entire time running, splashing, and floating completely unencumbered by electronics, and were also unwilling to pay the $35 each for one of the dozens of excellent staff taken photos.)

Waver pool, sans waves

On one particular waterway, the kids could be on their own tubes and not doubled up, which they liked.  So, as we had done before, we jumped in, Kylie first, then me, then Dex and Dean.  We hadn't been on the waterway for more than 10 seconds when all of a sudden, it totally shut down -- no water flowing.  I heard Kylie up ahead holler, "Mom!" but just thought she was wondering too what had happened to the water.  As I was sitting on my tube, imagining a power outage and calling to Kylie that this was weird, the man who helped run the ride came walking past saying, "Your daughter fell off her tube, but she is fine."  So we both made our way up the waterless trough, and I got to my Kylie-Girl who was perfectly fine, just a bit scared, telling me that when you are not on the raft, those water jets "are not very comfortable!"  Poor thing was knocked off her floatie and pushed along for a few seconds before the master button was pushed.  The ride attendants were really sweet and gave Kylie lots of thumbs up and hugs.  From there on out, Kylie and I were a great team and rode together on the double raft.

Kids play area with smaller slides and huge water bucket

As for the super slide, Jumeirah Sceirah, it was intimidating, but a complete thrill.  You have to stand on a small platform that is then closed with a coffin-line, clear lid (imagine the money tubes they use at drive-thru banks or the inter-office canisters used at big office buildings).  The ride operator instructs you to cross your legs and cross your hands over your heart, and then you hear a women's voice, "3 - 2 - 1."  You are immediately in a free fall that literally takes your breath away, flying down the enclosed tube, unable to see where you are going, except down.  It was over in less than 10 seconds, but it was intense and exhilarating and just a little wedgie-inducing.  Loved it!  

And so the day went -- riding, floating, swimming, screaming.  Dean, Kylie and Dex attempted to surf on a sheet of water that inevitably got the better of them.  On Dean's third attempt, he had a little better control of the board... and his ride was longer than 30 seconds.  Kylie and Dexter did well too and I was glad they gave it a try.

Surf ride

Around the midpoint of the day, we opted for the wave pool, which was nice, but there too the water felt warmer than anywhere else in the park.  It must have something to do with not being circulated as much and the sun just heats it up.  Before we knew it, we were being told that the park was closing. Wild Wadi was a hit!  Dubai was an indulgent layover before the start of the next big adventure, India.

View of the iconic, Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Hazy sunset over Dubai