Day 16 Abu Dhabi (2023): Wakeboarding and the sickest Virtual Reality game temple PIXOUL

20.4.2023

Day 16

Visited highlights: Yas Marina, Al Qana Mall / PIXOUL, Yas Bay

The morning is sporty - at least for the men and the daughter. At Yas Marina we go on a boat for wakeboarding, but I'm just there as a photographer. The husband is in his element - he last went wakeboarding 2 years ago. My cousin's husband also gets on the board - we women prefer to watch. We drive with the boat in the channels between Yas Marina and the open sea. The water here is calm and ideal for wakeboarding. After the men (more or less successfully 😄😄) were allowed to whizz behind the boat on the board, it's the daughter's turn. She dares to get on the board for the first time and turns out to be a natural talent! She immediately comes out of the water and stands on the board for several minutes. She has 4 tries - all successful! Wow!! And the men are visibly jealous ;-)

After an hour we drive back to Yas Marina, to the port. We pick up the kids at home, who have been playing together at home in the morning, and drive to Abu Dhabi Downtown, where we have lunch in the food court of Al Wahda Mall.

Actually, we want to go to the Children's Library in the Cultural Center afterwards. We've been there before. It was very nicely done and the little ones love flipping through books.

Unfortunately, the library is closed because of Ramadan. Too bad. We sit down on the large square in the middle of Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation Park, where there is a small open-air cafe, on super comfortable bean bags and actually want to chill with a coffee, but: because of Ramadan, there is no coffee until after sunset. Okay, too bad. I don't need coffee that late anyway...

We walk across the square to Qasr al Hosn, which we visited on our last trip to Abu Dhabi. Qasr Al Hosn is a former fort in Abu Dhabi and the watchtower is the oldest building on the island. It was the seat of the ruling family Al Nahyan bin Sultan and the government seat of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi until 1966, and is now a museum. There are also restrictions because of Ramadan, which is why we decide not to visit again, as we don't think the entrance fee is worth it without the performances, such as "Tea & Coffee Preparation" - at least that's our opinion.

We continue to a brand new mall, the Al Qana Mall. It is an "outdoor" mall, located to the left and right of a canal. Here you can find numerous restaurants and bars, of course, as well as various shops and many vacant stores that will probably be "filled" soon. In addition, we find the allegedly largest cinema in the UAE here! Also a huge "Virtual Reality" game park called "PIXOUL", which the boys absolutely have to visit. We're curious and take a look inside. My first impression varies between fascination and "OMG". I don't know where to look first....

On a whole floor on the ground floor there are various "Virtual Reality" rides, with which you can play a computer simulation. From the race car simulator to helicopters, cable car, car, "shooting hall", etc.

I'm totally overwhelmed, the three boys are excited. Okay, the 3 boys start in the helicopter simulator. They sit in the simulator with their big 3D glasses and we can see on a huge screen above the simulator what "they" are playing. Exciting!

Afterwards, we go up one floor, where the treadmills (Virtual Reality treadmills... I don't want to know what you have to run away from... 😄😄) and the hanging swings are located. Skill is required here. You have to fly through rings with the two cables that you operate with your hands. Pretty difficult - at least that's what it looks like.

On the upper level, there is also a bar and about 50 arcade game machines. In a side room, there is the 'E-Sports Academy' with several private gaming booths with 6-8 gaming seats and screens, then a gallery with gaming "playgrounds" for professionals - gaming tournaments etc. and directly opposite a grandstand for spectators. There is also a live broadcast of current E-Sports tournaments.

I'm totally overwhelmed....

After we have "recovered" on the upper level on the sofas with oversized screen and PS5, we go down one floor again, where the car simulators and race car simulators are located. While the two little ones go into the Alien shooting room with a virtual reality headset, our son decides to redeem his last game in the race car simulator. From what we can see on the screen, I would say:

Mario Kart - Rainbow Road 😄😄

After an hour, the boys are happy and we leave the game temple to go directly across the street to the "biggest" indoor adrenaline" Adrenark Adventure Park. The park is specially designed for children up to a maximum of 1.50 m. Of course, adults and older kids can also climb here, but many things are actually only suitable up to 1.50 m (e.g., the three-story go-kart track). Still a crazy indoor hall - summer can come (because you can't stand it outside anymore).

On the way back to the car, we take a look at the rooftop terrace of a "lifestyle" restaurant at "The Bridge". Very nicely done and cool view. Unfortunately, it's not open yet (probably because of Ramadan - only after sunset).

In the evening, we go to the "Ladies Night" at Yas Bay. I read that tonight at LSB (Lock, Stock & Barrell), where we went for cocktails the other day, drinks are free for ladies. We can't really believe it - so we go there and ask. We snag the last free seat outside - the same one as last time - and inquire. As expected, there are no cocktails, but the nice waiter says that beer, wine AND spirits (!) are free.

Oh - really???

So we go to the bar, because the "ladies drinks" are only available inside and have to be fetched by the ladies themselves, and ask what's available. Actually, ALL spirits are free. Wow!!!!

However, I don't feel like drinking pure vodka or whiskey - I don't like beer...

The waiter then says that Whisky Sour, Whisky Cola, Rum Cola, etc. are also possible. Hihi, great, so my evening drink is Whisky-Cola - and it's going to be a very fun evening 😉

We girls would stay until after 1 a.m., but the men apparently don't feel like wasting away outside with their self-paid beer. Hihi. The party is inside, with music, dancing, and lots of "fun" ladies!🍾🥂🥳