Friday, March 16, 2007

Dubai


I just returned from a 30 hour trip to Dubai on official business - no, I did not go for shopping, though I did pick up some souvenirs!

Dubai is an interesting city. It's wierd, really. It has the look of a typical American city - glass and steel buildings, lots of cars, few people, good roads. But it's like all the Americans on the road and in the offices were banished and replaced by desis! Hindi is universally spoken, and you rarely meet anyone who is not from Kerela or Goa.


It's also spooky - women in black robes, and men in white, glide around softly speaking in wierd Arabic language where numbers are written left to right, but words are written right to left. Lots of pretty women, really - but all you can see are their eyes, and yes, an occasional face.

Lots of shopping - great, big malls everywhere and tourists shopping to their hearts delight. Lots of entertainment parks too, including a huge indoor ski slope, including the cable cars to take you to the top. And lots of new ones coming up. There is just so much construction happening - entire cities being built in the desert, and in the sea. Dubai Marina could probably hold a couple of small cities inside it! The bridges are interesting - the texture is almost like ceramic/marble - very beautiful structures, with lovely curves. Some exciting buildings too, including the 100+ storey Burj Dubai and the beautiful, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab Hotel. Jumeirah Beach is lovely, with sparkling white sand and clear blue-green sea.


At the end of the day, though - Dubai is sad. It's almost like every effort is made to make you comfortable and rich, but not happy. You do not see too many smiles. You see a lot of fear. A lot of "discipline". A lot of hard work. Pursuit of money, not the pursuit of happiness.

3 comments:

Urvee said...

Nice Blog i visited it for the first time read some previous posts too.... About this blog i liked the last line very much...

Harsha Kumar said...

I've known a lot of Indians settled in the Middle East.. Some who visited Dubai very often, others who lived there - Shared views similar to yours! Lot of glitter, no Real Shine!!

Manasee said...

Comfortable and rich, not happy...so true Siddhesh! Felt the same during my visit too.