The Mosque, Atlantis

Yesterday, I got up really early and set out to go to the Jumiera Mosque. I left the hostel at approximately 7:15 am. (i wanted to catch the hop-on hop-off bus that leaves at 10:00 am). I arrived at the Dubai Mall, where I would catch the hop-on hop-off bus at approximately 8:15-(the bus didn't leave until 9:00, but as I mentioned yesterday, the one and only tour of the Mosque was at 10:00 am and I wanted to catch it). i walked around the mall, although all of the stores in the mall we're closed. At 9:00 am, i caught the bus to the Mosque.

At the mosque, visitors we're served a breakfast of some light type of pancake with cheese, and dates. Also some very light type of coffee was served. (This is traditional). Then, we we're taken from a very plush lounge type area to the outside of the mosque, near a fountain, and we we're taught the traditional Islamic way of ablution. We then entered the mosque, which wasn't particularly fancy-and our tour leader-a white British woman who I am guessing was an Islamic convert-told us about the the five times of daily prayer, how giving to charity was important, and how being fully covered was favorable. She also mentioned how contrary to popular belief, Islam doesn't discriminate against women, but actually places them in high esteem (which I was saw was evident-there is a lot of seating for woman in metro cars and trams in Dubai).

After about 2 hours-I was tired-so I found a public bus which took me to the metro, and went back to the hostel to take a nap-only to find they removed the sheets and we're making my bed at that point (nothing small-they don't make your bed often in hostels).-so I left. In the elevator on the way down, I met some Chinese folks staying at the hostel.
Chinese Tourist: Where you from?
Me: US
Chinese: Which pat?
Me: Florida
Chinese: What pat?
Me: Fort Lauderdale
Chinese: I know Florida. Which pat
Me: Near Miami
Chinese: They have gun shoot recently-people killed
Me. Yeah-I live near there

I then took the tram to other stops outside, and went to Atlantis, which is on the Palm-the largest man-made island in the world. Atlantis here is similar to Atlantis in the Bahamas. It looks the same, has an Aquadventure theme park-just no casino.

After that, I got on the hop-on hop-off. One stop was for a free cruise around the Jumeirah palm area. A whole bunch of us got off the bus and went to the boat-We almost weren't let on the boat (because the boat was sold to some other group for a function). A bunch of German tourists from the bus we're angry-and they showed it, so they finally let us on.

The boat took us all around the harbor, and we got great views of the futuristic skyline.

After an hour and a half of cruising around on the boat-i got back on the hop on hop off bus, which seems to be stuck in traffic. i then went for dinner to a mall, and tried to walk back-but got lost, and ended up taking the tram back to the hostel.