All language subtitles for Travel.Quest.With.Bill.Ball.S02E13.CONVERT.1080p.HDTV.H264-CBFM

BILL BALL: I've been to some
very interesting

but strange places in my life.

I have seen things that I never
thought I would see.

After all that, could anything
surprise and shock me?

(CHUCKLES) Well, I found a country
that does, many times over.

I have found a place that amazes me

in more ways than I could imagine.

It is a place where the modern
meets the ultra-modern,

where some of the rarest animals
on earth can be found

in the middle of a desert.

You can buy more varieties
of spices or dates

than I knew existed,

and it's where hotels lean
to the point where they look

like they're going to fall over,

and that's how they're supposed
to be.

What is this place of wonder?

The United Arab Emirates,

or you may know it better as Dubai

and Abu Dhabi.

I have three quests
for my visit here.

First is to see the landscape

from the top of the world's
tallest building,

the Burj Khalifa.

Second, to track and see
the rare Arabian oryx

that is virtually extinct
in the wild.

And finally,
to visit what may be the most

unusual market in the world -

the camel market.

Since I was young,
I had an intense desire to discover

the world around me.

That hasn't changed,

just the level of adventure.

Now, every journey has a purpose.

And each time I venture out
to explore new destinations

around the globe,

I am following my travel quest.

The United Arab Emirates
is in the Middle East,

mainly along the Persian Gulf.

It is actually a federation
of seven emirates.

This collection of seven
former independent countries

was established in 1971.

The total population
is just over nine million.

But here is the first wild fact
about this country.

Only about one and a half million
of them are actually citizens.

The other nearly eight million

are expatriates working
in the UAE.

In fact, the whole time
I was in the UAE,

I only saw one
actual citizen working,

and he owned the tour company
that I had contracted with

for transportation.

And he came only out
as a meet-and-greet.

Even the local tour guides
were expats,

something I'd never seen
in another country,

even in the wealthiest of nations.

This tiny country has
the seventh-largest oil reserves

in the world, and has directed that
into education, healthcare

and entertainment facilities

for its citizens, workers,
and guests.

But not all is a modern world
of bliss here.

Sharia law still governs
the citizens and, to a lesser extent,

the workers, which means 60
to 100 lashes can be given

for crimes like premarital sex,

adultery and kissing in public.

Stoning to death is still legal

and occasionally given as a sentence.

Though, since the early 2000's,

all have been commuted or overturned.

Despite the strict Islamic law
for the locals,

tourists have little to fear.

There is no dress code,
except when entering mosques,

where women are required
to cover their heads,

and most types of food and drink
are available to tourists.

In fact, the UAE
is so tourist-friendly

that the largest city, Dubai,

has been in the top 10 visited cities
in the world

for many years running.

Well, that's enough background.

Time to hit the streets and learn
what makes this collective

of countries so fascinating.

I thought that I should start out
with a visit to their largest

and possibly the world's
most beautiful mosque,

the Sheikh Zayed Mosque,
in the lead country of Abu Dhabi.

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is like
no other mosque I have ever seen.

It takes its core look
from Mughal architecture

that is prevalent in India,

but it goes way beyond that.

Built over a 10-year period,
it was finished in 2007.

The complex covers some 30 acres,

and during the high holiday of Eid,

it is visited by over 40,000 people.

It has the world's largest carpet
in the main proper hall,

created by over 1,000
carpet knitters.

This giant rug weighs over 35 tonnes

and was made from New Zealand
and Iranian wool.

But that's only half of it.

The mosque has seven German-made
chandeliers, using millions

of Swarovski crystals.

The largest of these massive lights
is the world's

third-largest chandelier.

There are nearly 100 columns
in the main prayer hall,

clad in marble
with inlaid mother of pearl.

This is one of the most exquisite
buildings in the world

and an amazing modern
religious edifice.

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi
is not only about religion,

though that plays
a major role here.

It is, surprising to me, also
about wildlife conservation.

We're heading out
to Sir Bani Yas Island,

which is about three hours
due west of Abu Dhabi City.

There, we are going to get on a boat
and go about 20 minutes

to a magical island.

It has all kinds
of sports activities.

You can watch Arabian falconry,

something that is historical
in this area.

But probably most important of all,
you've got the wildlife preserve,

where the rare Arabian oryx is found.

The island of Sir Bani Yas
is a giant wildlife refuge

and recreation in one.

It was created
by the late UAE president

Sheikh Zayed, of the mosque fame,
in 1971, as a way to preserve

endangered species.

The wildlife is a mix of native
and exotic animals.

Cheetah are the chief predators.

These big cats, once native here,

roam from Africa to India.

Sometimes, the only sign
of these apex predators

is their kill.

Sand antelope are the most
common prey and species here.

They are a small antelope,
well adapted

for these dry conditions.

But the special species,
and my first quest,

is the Arabian oryx.

Once found widely in this region,

it is nearly extinct in the wild
and only saved by reintroductions

from zoos from around the world.

Here, a herd of over 400
roam free and, best of all,

have been increasing in numbers.

I love to see rare and endangered
animals in general,

but the Arabian oryx has a mythical
significance that makes seeing it

extra special.

What makes it so?

It might be the origin story
for the unicorn.

Oryx horns line up perfectly
from the side,

so they appear to have
only one horn.

Couple that with their horse-like
profile and tail...

..and voila!

A unicorn.

This isn't a perfect wildlife refuge,

as the sheikh introduced
African animals, like the giraffe

and several antelope species,

and from Asia,
the Indian spotted deer, or chital.

But the refuge provides needed
habitat for many smaller

native animals and birds
that might otherwise be lost.

The island is not only
a wildlife haven

but an exclusive retreat
for the human type, as well.

The island's hotel is an upscale
respite from the hustle and bustle

of the busy cities.

It has all the amenities
that one could dream of

for a getaway vacation.

And like a good getaway destination,

there are several activities
to partake of.

One, of course, is the game drives
in the wildlife preserve.

But it doesn't end there.

Another of the island's
activities is watching

a demonstration of falconry.

Falconry is a sport
and method of hunting

that has had long and deep roots
in the Middle East.

The falconer showed the awed audience
how well trained these powerful

birds of prey are.

The art of hunting
with these talented flyers

is severely restricted in the UAE.

Falconers must travel to other
Middle Eastern nations to do that.

So, even when not hunting,

the birds must still be flown
and trained virtually every day.

These are high-energy,
bright birds,

and they are incredibly fast.

All training is free flight.

So, it is the treats and the care
they get that make them stay.

Our camera-shy producer, Jodie,
gave up her bashfulness to get

a chance to hold one
of these beautiful birds.

No way was she letting her camera
fears get in the way of holding

this avian super flyer.

The falcons used here are,
for the most part, saker falcons,

a large member of the swiftest
flying family of the birds of prey.

These birds can reach 90mph
before they swoop

down on their prey,
mostly rodents and birds.

This bird has a mixed
relationship with man.

It is endangered due to habitat loss
and capture for hunting,

mostly here in the UAE.

It is the national bird of Mongolia,

and in Disney's Mulan,
it is the bad guy's companion.

Unfortunately, all good things
have to come to an end,

and our island adventure
was no exception.

We headed back to terra firma
for one last night in Abu Dhabi

before moving on to Dubai.

I had heard of a new theme park,

one of a kind
that I had to check out.

It was Ferrari world.

As the name implies,
it is based on the iconic

Italian car and all
that it represents.

And what it represents
more than anything is speed.

Ferrari world has one of,
if not the fastest roller-coaster

in the world.

It is an accelerator coaster
that goes from zero to 144mph

in 4.9 seconds.

Since it is outdoors and hits
that face-altering acceleration,

riders are required
to wear protective goggles.

Think of hitting a bug
at that speed.

The park has a number of other
car-themed rides, and of course

a Ferrari-themed gift shop.

You can pretty much buy anything here
but a Ferrari.

Talking about buying,

Abu Dhabi has a rather unique market

that almost seems out of place
in this modern country.

The date market.

I've been to a lot
of markets in my life.

I've been to fruit and vegetable
markets. I've been to meat markets.

I've been to craft markets.
I've even been to livestock markets.

But I've never before
been to a date market.

When I'm talking about dates,
I'm talking about the fruit kind.

I know what you're thinking.

How could there be enough differences
to need a whole date market?

Well, there are over 42 types
of dates,

and each has its own distinctive
flavour, texture and use.

Some are for eating straight up,

others in recipes, and still others
are used to sweeten sauces

and salad dressings,

or they can be part of a healthy
snack in bars or smoothies.

These little guys had way more uses
than I ever imagined.

The great part of this market
is you can try all the varieties

so you can buy the best ones
to share with your friends.

There was one last photo I wanted -

the outside of my hotel.

And that's because
the Hyatt Gateway Hotel

leans 18 degrees,
the most in the world...

..on purpose.

Now, the floors are obviously
adjusted, so you walk upright.

But this very modern building makes
the Leaning Tower of Pisa look

like it was an ordinary church
bell tower.

I was pretty much blown away

by all the unique and fun options
in Abu Dhabi.

But I was told by my local guide

that I hadn't even been to the real

vacation-orientated part
of the Emirates,

Dubai.

The vast amount of tourism
is centred there,

making it one of the most
visited places on Earth.

Everything about Dubai
is over the top.

Their skyline is one of the most
impressive you will ever see.

That is especially true
of the Burj Khalifa Tower,

one of the most fascinating
buildings in the world.

The tower is 2,722 feet tall,

or over a half a mile,

making it the tallest
building in the world.

No visit to Dubai is complete
without an elevator ride

to the observation deck.

From there, you can see for miles.

The architectural style
is Neo-Futurism,

which just means
that it's part Art Deco

with a little bit of avant-garde,

a movement in building design
begun in the 20th century.

Construction began in 2004
and was completed

just five years later.

It is named for the then-president
of Abu Dhabi

and the head of the UAE,

who bailed the project out
when economic problems

threatened its existence.

It was designed by the same
architectural firm that built

the Sears, now Willis Tower
in Chicago.

The view from the top is unsurpassed.

It is well worth
the not inexpensive ticket

to see as far away as 60 miles.

Now that's what I call a view.

And one of the sites you can see
is even more impressive.

And that would be the Palm Islands.

Dubai, to increase
its relatively small landmass,

has been reclaiming acres
from the sea,

but they do it with a Dubai flair.

One project was Palm Island,

where the landmass from the air
resembles a giant palm tree.

This is an upscale area,
complete with residential section,

shops and hotels.

An even more recent project

is The World, where the reclaimed
islands are an atlas of the world.

The rich and famous can buy
their own country

and rule it as they please.

Well, within Dubai laws, of course.

With all this ultra-modern
development,

we could not forget the past.

I was ready to step back in time

and see how the United Arab Emirates
evolved into this modern,

regional, super powerhouse.

With its fast track to modernity,

the UAE has not lost its sense
of the past.

A bit of that early life is preserved
just a daytrip out of town.

A preserved sort of
living-history museum,

without the living part -

there are no humans here -
demonstrates what life was like

before the oil boom.

The UAE was a consortium
of small hereditary monarchies

that lived a nomadic
subsistence life inland

and along the coast, where
they fished and dove for pearls.

Life was hard.

And then, as the song goes,

"up from the ground
came the bubbling crude."

"Black gold."

Life would never be the same.

With a small population,
untrained in construction

and all the modern conveniences,

the kingdom's united and opened
their borders to foreigners

with the expertise
to make their lives better.

Much better.

Now, foreigners outnumber citizens
by more than five to one.

There is no fear of foreigners here,
though.

The largest number of expat workers
comes from poor Muslim countries,

like Pakistan and Bangladesh.

But many Indians work here, as well.

Major corporate positions
are primarily Europeans or Americans.

Just seeing the sights,

even in a place
as interesting as Dubai,

is often not enough.

Or should it be?

There is no denying the fact
that people like to shop,

especially for souvenirs
that can't be gotten anywhere else

or are much cheaper or of a higher
quality than you could get at home.

The big market in Dubai
is on the opposite side

of the artificial canal.

Yeah...

(CHUCKLES)

..in the middle of what was once
the bleakest desert,

when it comes to water,
Dubai built a river.

It is a pleasant
water-taxi ride across,

and we are hit with the pungent odour
of spices, some that seem familiar

and others that don't.

One of the biggest sellers here

is frankincense.

It's a real thing.

The only reference to it
that I had before today

was the Three Wise Men story
when they brought the baby Jesus

gold, frankincense and myrrh.

I never gave it a thought
what it would be.

Figured, like gold,
it was a precious metal

or maybe a gem.

But frankincense is a resin

from the trees
of the genus Boswellia.

It was highly prized for incense
and perfumes in ancient times.

The name literally means
'the highest-quality incense'.

Found in north-western Africa
and southern Arabia,

it has been traded
for over 5,000 years.

It is often burned in incense holders

to spread the sweet aroma.

Of course, the market sells
just about every exotic spice

you can think of,
often in its raw form.

Prices are very reasonable.

So, would-be chefs can load up
on their favourite flavourings.

The market is not just spices,

though that is the focus
of a large part of it.

It also sells crafts,
clothing, jewellery,

and just about anything a tourist
might be interested in.

Even I'm not immune to doing
a little shopping,

as much as I've travelled.

There is always something
that catches my eye.

On my quest to really experience
all that the Emirates offered.

I had to visit
the Burj Al Arab Hotel.

This is the iconic image
of what they called

the first seven-star hotel.

You can't just walk in.

You need an excuse.

The rooms were way out of my budget,

so I had a brilliant idea.

Or so I thought.

I would make a reservation
for my friends and I,

and have a meal
and see this ultra-modern,

ultra-fancy marvel for myself.

I told everyone I would treat.

I didn't want them to have to pay
for an expensive mid-day meal

when they would have been happy
with a sandwich.

I mean, it was my idea
to have lunch

as a way into the Burj Al Arab.

And anyway,

how much could a luncheon
buffet cost anyway?

Over $100 per person!

And with 10 people, wow,

this was getting expensive.

Just to see the inside
of this hotel.

The hotel was magnificent.

$1,000 magnificent? I'm not sure.

But magnificent nonetheless.

The buffet was, likewise,
a great experience,

though it might be more hype
than value.

Truthfully, if you're looking
for a value vacation,

UAE might not be your cup of tea
or even your glass of water.

The hotel was grand and alluring,

maybe just not alluring enough
for me to invite

my friends next time.

All of the activities
are not diurnal in the UAE.

The evening dune rides
are a great way

to feel the landscape unfold
all around you.

I was assured that these
were expert drivers,

and it would be a safe,
enjoyable ride.

And it was a nice, calm ride...

..until it wasn't.

Suddenly, the jeeps accelerated,
and I wasn't sure

where we would end up,

but we ended up in a special
desert camp, set up to expose

foreigners to the early
nomadic lifestyle of the desert.

There was traditional
entertainment and food.

They also had camel rides
and henna tattoos.

Henna is a natural dye
from the henna tree that is used

to make temporary tattoos
in the Middle East and South Asia.

This is the kind of cultural
experiences you never forget.

At this point,
I think I had seen pretty much

everything possible in the UAE -

a luxurious, giant mosque,

a leaning hotel,

the world's fastest roller-coaster,

a wildlife park with unicorns

and a crazy collection of buildings

that seem like they came
out of a sci-fi movie.

But there was yet one more
unique attraction that caught me

completely off-guard -

the camel market,

a huge market dedicated to selling
the ships of the desert.

I have never seen so many camels

in one place before.

In fact, I don't think
I'd seen this many camels

up to this point in my life.

It was truly amazing.

People buy and sell camels here,

bred for a variety of reasons -

to ride, to carry goods, to race...

..and to eat.

Yes, camels are considered
livestock here,

and serve all the functions
livestock do.

Sorry.

It's hard to get camels out
of their holding pens

and onto the purchaser's truck.

So, a novel approach is used here.

I was assured that camels
being sold today were all going

into the transportation business
and not the dinner table.

That is just what I wanted to hear...

(CAMEL GROANS)

..so I'm not sure
that's why I heard it.

Well, this was an exciting way
to end my visit to the UAE

and the completion of my third
and final quest.

The United Arab Emirates
is an exciting destination

where you can experience some
of the greatest thrills,

learn about another culture,

and go on a safari and see some
of the rarest animals in the world.

Here, the past meets the future,

and the East intersects the West,

and all find it a little odd
in a great way.

Captions by Red Bee Media
(c) SBS Australia 2023