Adam & Ingrid's Round the World Honeymoon: UAE-Dubai

So, Dubai should have a giant "Under Construction" sign attached to it. Or I know, how about they make a giant island in the gulf that spells out under construction. I've learned that Dubai and Shanghi regularly trade places as having the most cranes in the world. Dubai currently claims 1/3 of global capacity. They are constructing 4 islands in the Gulf that are visible from space and increasing their beachfront property by 12x. Construction is underway for the largest building in the world, Burj Dubai - shown here at 92 stories, with some claiming 1,000m height (actual height is a closely guarded secret).

I believe the Burj Dubai is a testament to the people here in the UAE and when I think of the culture, one word jumps to mind. Humility. Let's not jump to conclusions about how tall the building is, that would be bragging - and the Emirate people are a humble people.

Like the way they construct a modest 400m ski resort in the desert, nothing like the enormous ski resorts in the States or Europe.

And the way young Emirate park their Lamborghini's at the mall, a good 30' walk from the door.

They don't use Valet parking, though it is available. And if you ever feel like you're getting carried away in Dubai, you can always stop by the Burj Al Arab (shown here with the Sheikh and Prince's oceanfront palaces) for a $50 cup of tea to bring you back to earth.

All that aside, the old areas of the city are quite interesting, very Indiana Jones. There are 3 primary Souks (Bazaars), the Gold souk, Spice souk, and textile souk. Here we got to see all those spices from Zanzibar in action.

Outside the city, we took a desert safari tour that combined Dune Bashing (in Toyota Land cruisers - it's not like we just stood there hurling insults at the dunes), camel riding, belly dancing, henna, sisha smoking (Adam's personal favorite) and dinner.

On a separate trip, we teamed up with David (a co-worker of my Aunt's) and took his Nissan Patrol out to the Hatta pools in central UAE. What a dramatic change in landscape. The pools are a constant water source that used to serve as an oasis for the Bedouin and today serve as recreation for Germans.

So that sumizes* our time in Dubai. Our major efforts went into recharging and resting up for India. Perhaps we'll have more to say about the UAE in the future, perhaps not. In either case, I would strongly suggest people journey to the Middle-East before creating opinions about it's population. I have been pleasantly surprised by the hospitality of the people here.

*See earlier Zanzibar posting about oranger and my authority to create words.

Parast pikaajalist jooksmist, jamamist ja ootamist, onnestus mul siiski lopuks jouda kollase joone taha, kus mind ootas viisa ja sellega luba siseneda UAD/Dubaisse.

Raha yhikuks on neil DIRHAM $1.-= 3,6.-dirhami. Hinnad on suhteliselt sarnased USA-le.

Dubai on fantast linn, kuhu on kokku toodud 1/3 maailma kraanadest ja kus kaib hirmus hoonete ja saarte (palmi ja maailma kaardi kujuga.
http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork.com/developments/dubai/palm_islands.php
http://news.mongabay.com/2006/1024-dubai.html)ehitamine.
Kuigi praegult ei ole siin veel kasiinod lubatud, usuvad paljud, et Dubaist saab maailma Las Vegas. Jaba praegult on naha kuidas koik asjad tehakse siin voimalikult uhked. Yhes ostukeskuses on ehitatud suusamagi ja kelgutamine, kuigi oues on 30 c. sooja.
Teine pood on koostatud 7st erinevast tiivast, mille iga tiib on iseparane teatud riigile(India, Maroco jne)

Linnapeal on leida toredaid erinevaid souk-e nagu riiete, kulla ja maitseainete souke.

Mosque(islami usu kirik),
kus pidi enne sisenemist jatma jalanoud ukse taha. Mehed pidid 3 korda pesema teatud keha osi ja naised tegid sama, kuid mosques sees.