Dubai

I feel as though I’ve been fairly tight lipped blog-wise during my trip up until now and while it’s not been for a lack of internet access or even inspiration, there are always a number of factors that can take priority, at the end of a day, over sitting down and logging an entry here and there. That said, as I am about to begin the second and most probably the more culturally interesting half of my journey through India (26 days) and China (31 days), I believe the real adventure has only just begun…
Upon arrival in Dubai, I was not at all sure what I should expect to find. With all the buzz about the insane levels of growth and development (the tax-free port being the fulcrum for the enormous expansion) I was really looking forward to seeing it for myself. An illustration of Dubai’s more ostentatious building plans can be seen in an email forward that has been circling around lately (www.sensiblyeclectic.com/news/index.php?/archives/6007-And-now-we-know-where-the-3gallon-goes....html). And amid the crazy accounts the BBC has broadcasted over the last year detailing the hard line, zero-tolerance policy of U.A.E. customs officials, I was a bit on edge about the over–the-counter meds I was carrying. Probably the most outlandish example being the case of a British national having a poppy seed muffin at London Heathrow just before his flight to Dubai and being detained for the possession of 3 poppy seeds that were found on his jacket. The man was convicted and sentenced to 4 years in prison. Moral of the story, be very aware of the laws and regulations of a country to which you’re traveling and how strictly they’re enforcing those laws.
After passing through airport security “undetected”, I went to my 3 star hotel as there are no budget accommodation options in Dubai other than the youth hostel and it was fully booked. It was a nice excuse to stay in a room with a TV and AC and not have to pop in the ‘ole earplugs when someone stumbles into the dorm room from the bar at 3 am. After walking around and getting my bearings I realized that I felt very relaxed, but very lucid at the same time. It was a good feeling.
Businesses in Dubai really cater to their clientele and by treating every visitor like a VIP, it seems people are much more likely to spend like a VIP. The shopping scene in Dubai, with its many modern malls and more traditional souks, is immense. Surprisingly, it is not oil that is fueling the economy so voraciously. Knowing that their reserves will not last forever, the oil in the country only accounts for 6% of GDP and by 2010, with the billions in foreign investment and massive economic boom, is proposed to be only 1%.
While I was there all I really did was walk around for a couple of days and soak in the atmosphere of the city. The massive creek makes for great place to kick back and enjoy the views. Walking down the beach to the west you’ll find the 7-star Burj al-Arab hotel. It is designed to resemble the sail of a traditional boat and is built on its own manmade island that juts into the surf. The Burj Dubai building is the really tall and slender skyscraper in the photos. It may already be the tallest building in the world, but as they are still constructing upward, no one really knows yet. They don’t want to challenge competitors with measurement numbers.
Without a fat bank account and a car, it’s difficult to experience everything in Dubai. With all the shopping, horse and camel races and the indoor ski mountain, you kind of feel like you’ve left without doing much when you’re on a tight budget. But being able to see the city first hand and get to know the culture of the UAE a little bit was definitely an awesome experience.