Grand mosque and mall - Abu Dhabi

So today is my last day in the United Arab Emerites which I learned today is made up of seven states including Dubai and Abu Dhabi (you've never heard of the others)

The founders wanted to make it nine , but Qatar and Bahrain declined.

The trip to Abu Dhabi took just over an hour and while there are other sites such as the presidential palace, the Louve and the Ferrari museum, I stick with the mosque - which is among the largest in the world. And hosts on average 25,000 visitors a day.

It was hot today and there seems like a thick layer of fog and haze which everyone referred to as a sand storm. Which makes sense as it is not humid and it has been quite breezy.

The mosque is enormous and reminds me of what the Taj Mahal must look like. But the best part is you enter and exit not through the gift shop but a full on mall.

Don't tell the sheik but the extensive hand carved detail is lacking. But seven world record chandeliers and the largest hand knitted rug make up for it.

Packed today but closed to the public on Fridays for prayers.

(Met an Afghani guy living in Sydney, doing a stopover here on his way to Istanbul to have three dental implants done?!?)

So that's it. I'm still trying to process everything. Three years on the sofa sneaks up on you. But feel so fortunate to be back out again.