Extended layovers are a blessing in disguise. Sure, layovers can be an inconvenience in some cases, but they can also be a bridge to explore a new city, country, and culture.
When Edwin and I arrived in Abu Dhabi, we had slept around 3 hours in the past 32 hours. Our layover was scheduled for 19 hours till our departure to Chicago, so we made the wise decision to pay for a room at the airport hotel. We dropped off our backpacks in the room, and set out to shop at the Souks, visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, and eat some hummus.
This short excursion in the United Arab Emirates was my first experience in the Middle East. I had anticipated the heat, but never fully understood the term "dry heat" until that day. However, the sunshine was a welcomed change, and I relished the warmth on my skin (which is precisely the reason I woke up with sunburnt cheeks the next morning).
My "must-see" on a layover or extended visit in Abu Dhabi is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Before entering the Mosque, I had to borrow a traditional robe, called an abaya, to wear as a sign of respect and tradition. My head also had to be covered while inside the Grand Mosque; which is when my new scarf from the market came in handy. It had taken me over an hour to look at all of the patterns and colors available at one of the scarf shops before I decided on a gorgeous multi-colored cool toned scarf. At the souk, my friend, Maktub taught me how to wrap the piece into a traditional head scarf.
When Edwin and I entered the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, we were in awe of the stature of the pillars, the intricate designs, and the humbling presence of it all. My head was spinning from the beautiful architecture and culture around me (and honestly, part of it may have been from the intense heat as well). After slipping off our shoes and wondering inside, Edwin and I couldn't even talk about how mesmerizing it all was. We walked around in silence, appreciating the beauty and cultural significance. Our eyes and minds were working overtime to program every inch of the structure into our memories forever. And since memory alone just wouldn't do it justice, we took endless amounts of photos and videos to document our latest excursion.
You can experience our day in Abu Dhabi in the latest VidBee video here.