Our Little European Odyssey: Good riddance 2016 ...

The start to the day was fabulous. The fig that rolls in from the Arabian Gulf is simply astonishing and doesn't bode well for a night of new years festivities when you can't see across the street.

The view from my hotel room

I spent the day at the Dubai Mall. Nothing like the mall in Bendigo. This centre is everything they say. It's big. Flashy. Gordy. Massive. Expensive and truly phenomenal. Pictures don't do it justice but here's a couple.

My first glimpse of the Burj Khalifa

This is an aerial view of just one of the internal walkways

This walk of water and life size figures dwarfs the shoppers

World's largest Donner Kebab.

I'm now sitting here in The Town Square of Dubai, in the shadow of The Burj Khalifa having an iced mocha. Mind you anywhere within a kilometre or so could be in the shadow of this modern wonder of the world.

It's hot but the breeze is cooling and the vibe is festive and celebratory being the last day of 2016. The people (and their lots of them even at 3:45pm) are friendly and generous, welcoming and hospitable. This end of year event has been organised like a military operation there are literally 1000s of volunteers, security, officials and cleaners. Roads are cordoned off, even the Dubai Mall had sections channelling people through certain areas to avoid congestion and disruption to the set up. The massive water park was closed today to enable the spectacular that we all await with anticipation. It's, like most of Dubai, a vision in motion. This is more than a festival, it's more than the changing of a calendar, it's bigger than an event, it's a spectacle of a magnitude greater than any other I've witnessed.

I have to wonder, and I guess I will find out, where will all these people go when they need to use the toilet In the next 8 hours. I can't believe I'm actually about to face this ordeal. It's longer than the flight from Munich. I've got plenty of water, some snacks and I'm wearing my comfy shoes so here goes. Back to the throng and march on to the viewing area with the other 999,999 others. Who knows how I get back to the hotel after all this. It's a bit of a walk but I guess I can sleep on the plane.

Scene Two. After deciding to walk further down the street to see if another vantage point is available I decide that just hanging around these restaurants would be a good idea. Forget that. I took a seat on a street bench and was quickly told to move on. I stood at the edge of the street and again, told to move on. "crowd control" they said. There are designated viewing areas and you must use them. So, off I went to follow the crowd to the family area. Nope. I couldn't even manage seeking in with others pretending to be part of another family. Skin tone. Apparently.

You can see why I was keen to stay sitting in the restaurant for the evening. Even at $200 Australian I was keen.

Off to the bachelor's viewing area down by the creek. Dubai creek. Sounded dubious. Anyhow, in for a penny! Off I trotted with all the other singles. Single men and lots of them. Further and further it seemed to be taking us away from where the action seemed to be.

It reminds of this morning taking my first train. I, thinking I'm so clever working out tickets and money, get on the train wondering why all these women are looking at me. It's not as if I'm the only white person on the train. Then a very pleasant lady tapped me on the shoulder, figuratively (I don't think they would touch a male) and politely explained that the section was for women and children only. She pointed to the other end, the end that was cheek by jowl men. Sheepishly apologising, I sauntered off to the mens section. I guess it's nice to know that women can travel safely in what appears to be an overly represented male population. My assumption, as I don't know the stats, but judging by tonight's "singles" viewing area there seems to be stacks more men.

Any how, me and a lot of other men are sitting by the Creekside waiting for the show of a life time. And lots of mossies. Oh I found out about the toilets. There are those mobile toilets blocks oddly situated on the sidewalk at some traffic lights.

Eventually six or so hours later the show begins. Crikey, this is totally amazing stuff. Where they can't put fireworks clearly has no impact. That Burj Khalifa has a totally different personality at night time and obviously bipolar on this night. I can't help but wonder if the residents get as good a view of this from the inside. Technicolor dreams up and and down the tower all over the city along the creek everywhere there are fireworks. Too many to take in. Looking at one display at the risk of missing some behind you. You can see the flows from other areas if the city. Truly amazing.