Well, I made the move I needed to do…to end up here, Dubai. Its been on my NYE Fireworks destinations for a while. The main goal was to find my way to the Burj Khalifa.
But it seems that was a journey on its own.
What was expected:
I RSVP’d on the Emaar app that got me my QR code for section 3…which is nearly dead center by the fountains at the Burj. The gates opened at 5 and I was supposed to have an awesome view…but…
What actually happened
Despite the influx of volunteers for the NYE celebration, it was very disorganized. There weren’t any signs to give good directions on where and how to get to destinations. Leaving the mall, I asked like 3 staff members on how to find gate 5 and I was directed to “follow the crowd”. So…like a zombie herd just aimlessly wandering in the direction told, I walked. But that’s when things got weird. It seems like I was being led AWAY from where I need to be. Still asking, how do I get to gate 5…all I get is go that way…follow the people. And this came from one of the event volunteers.
Upon, taking hundreds of steps more it seemed like the crowd was thinning out and there weren’t any staff around? Like wtf…I double back to find event staff and ask about the gate and he points me in the direction I just came from. Obviously, he didn’t know. So I walk in the general direction I’m supposed to go and find another staff member, but when asked how do I get here, I get “I don’t know” and that’s it. Those dreaded words in the XP industry.
So I walk further and find a mass of people…I think I’m headed in the right direction. But a lot are turning back. I come to find out that, they closed all the gates. They were only allowing families or women in.
So, there goes my night. I nearly gave up. But I was determined to have a view of the Burj. So doubling back…all the way back to the Dubai mall…I find a spot that has the Burj directly in front of me…however I’m behind all the action.
As you can see from the Vid…I didn’t get to see the countdown or anything. But did get to see the fireworks. As stated on insta…I may not have gotten my front row tickets, but watching the show from backstage isn’t bad at all.
Happy new year.
End result
