Burj Khalifa

At 2717 feet (828 meters) high -- more than half a mile up and containing more than 160 stories -- the Burj Khalifa is truly an edifice of superlatives. The building holds the following records: tallest building in the world, tallest free-standing structure in the world, highest number of stories in the world, highest occupied floor in the world, highest outdoor observation deck in the world, and elevator with the longest travel distance in the world. I had visited Dubai before it had been even thought of, and then again just after construction had begun. I couldn't wait to go back to see it with my own eyes once it was finally finished.

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A few shots from my first glimpses of this eye-popping structure.

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My ticket to the top. Planning ahead is essential. It is difficult to buy tickets the same day you want to go up as they sell out early. Besides, you can save 75% by booking online ahead of time. At the time of this writing, the price for walkup tickets (if any are even available) was $109. I booked online the week before I arrived in Dubai and paid only $27.

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Scale model in the interior lobby of the holding/waiting area.

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Getting to the base of the building takes a while as there are several long corridors and escalators to navigate.

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Observation deck. The outdoor part of the view only wraps around 25% of the building. The rest of the panorama view is from the inside through long glass windows.

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As advertised, the view didn't disappoint.

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Looking straight up to the top of the building from the outside observation deck.

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Shadow of the Burj Khalifa bisects the Dubai Mall below.

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Various attempts to get portions of the reflective glass tower together with the view way down below.

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Locals find a creative way of getting themselves in the shot without blocking the view of the buildings below.

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I have always been intrigued by Arab housing style, with the yard and gardens inside the walls and the outside of the property left bare. The only way to see the wonders inside is to be let through the front door or, as in this case, from the bird's eye vantage point that the Burj Khalifa provides.

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What do you do after you have your fill of the view? How about buy some gold? Before the trip, I had read that Dubai now had vending machines that dispensed gold bars. That seemed like a preposterous flagrant display of wealth, so I wasn't sure whether to believe it or not. Well, here's the proof: Gold to Go kiosks can be found in shopping malls and, yes, even at the top of the Burj Khalifa. Only a place like Dubai would think of such a thing!

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A dazzling fountain show draws people to the grounds of the Burj Khalifa at night.