Dubai in the pictures

Below are some aerial photos taken of Dubai that I got from the Gulf News website (www.gulfnews.com)


The buildings on the front left are the complex we stay in. The middle one being built is the Burj Dubai.

Sailing off the coast with the Emirates Towers in the background:

Crossing the creek from BurDubai to Deira:



















The Dubai Marina - great for lunches or coffees with a view




















The Grand Hyatt Hotel with the creek behind it





















Villas in Jebel Ali area



















The National Bank of Dubai in Deira (the building is nicknamed "the Preganant Lady")





















The Palm, Jumeirah





















Sheikh Zayed Road with the two Emirates Towers on the back right.

If we build it, they will come

We have fast come to realise that the motto in Dubai is: Can this be built - ok lets build it. Now see this is a subtle difference from "SHOULD this be built."

Case in point we have:

1) DubaiLand - as massive touristy themepark city - covering 3 billion square feet and including 6 themed "worlds". Said worlds include: Attractions and Experience World; Sports and Outdoor World; Eco-Tourism World; Leisure and Vacation World and Retail & Entertainment World

2) AbuDhabi has launched plans to build a revolving city. Apparently residents have expressed a desire to live in villas that will rotate.

3) AbuDhabi has bought the Louvre and and the Guggenheim (I'm still trying to understand how this is going to work)

4) a man-made jumble of private, residential islands (yes, the biggest development of its kind) that will resemble a map of the world when seen from above. (predictable it's called - The World)

5) The Hydropolis, the world's first luxury underwater hotel developed and designed by Germany's Joachim Hauser, scheduled to open at the end of 2007. (So you can order fish at a restaurant while watching other fish)

6) The Burj Dubai. Reputed to be the tallest building in the world at 800m it will flank the largest mall in the world and be completed in late 2008. BUT WAIT! A new tower will be started later this year at the Dubai Waterfront (which incidentally hasn't been built yet either) reaching 1200m! Originally it was going to be built as the focal point of Palm Jumeirah (that's the other man-made island that looks like a palm tree) but no they decided a harbour view would be more salubrious. (Can you imagine? "Nanana - I'm building the tallest tower in the... oh. no wait. the 2nd tallest tower....)

Back to basics

So as you know I've just settled down from a glorious two weeks of my dad visiting us, sightseeing in Cairo and sailing up the Nile. All 419 photos are available from either my dad or myself on request :D

Anyway it's back to reality (and work now).

We haven't been tardy though - last night we went to see the South African Laughter Factory at a club called Zinc in the Crowne Plaza. They had 3 SA comedians up - Joey Rasdien, Loyiso Gola and Malcolm Ferreira - and it was really great to hear some Afrikaans and SA colloquialisms again.

Tonight it's off to the golf club for drinks and dinner with friends from work and next week I have some CFA & GARP chapter stuff to attend. :)

Who's whom of what not

Alright, settle down. I know it's been a while, but Helen is activity based and we've been couch slouches lately. Me? I'm just lazy.

But I will tell you this:

• My new pet grammar hate in Dubai: 'revert' used instead of 'respond'. It's everywhere! 'Please revert back with any comments.' Aaaaaargh!
• The tiny island kingdom of Nauru has the highest incidence of diabetes in the world, around 30%. A spokesperson for the White House (la Casa Blanca) has stated that America is sparing no effort in its attempt to be number 1.
• I am slowly mastering the principals of driving in Dubai. Slow down fast and speed up fast, drive fast, hold fast and we'll be fast friends, except during fast.
• Helen is going to Egypt with her dad. I'm leetle jealous.
• What ever happened to the youngest son in the Growing Pains season? You know, the blond boring one? While trying to ask Google, I discovered that growing pains often strike in the late afternoon or early evening and disappear by morning. I guess those are the perils of syndication. Apparently once young Jeremy Miller is playing someone's uncle in the upcoming Chinese made movie Milk and Fashion. He never seemed avuncular to me, but hey, people change.
• It's late where I am. Night-night rabbitses.