We've been having this discussion at several different occasions throughout the day today. It seems that even though we are in the Middle East, we aren't REALLY in the Middle East. I mean lets be honest: there are Starbucks on every corner! Our hotel even has a TRADER VICS. Most everyone that I've run into speaks English, and if the don't speak fluent English then they can at least understand and respond to what you're saying. And everything is written in both English and Arabic.
I haven't met any Americans on the trip yet, however, there are plenty of Britons and other Europeans. It really is interesting mix of people and cultures. I'm sure that when we go into the city tomorrow we will get more of a feel for what Dubai is actually like outside the compound of the Madinat Jumeirah.
Some interesting things:
-All the construction causes the air to be very dirty - think smog like LA but instead of Carbon Dioxide killing your lung cells, its sand/dust imbedding into your lungs.
-The exit signs are cool, and could almost instill a sense of urgency if you took the little figure guy to be sprinting for the door.
-The fruit plates have little funky looking things as a garnish. They're yum, but what are they??? (This was after I ate like half the plate, btw...)
-Service here, while great and very customer-oriented, takes FOREVER. Like seriously. I was parched earlier today and asked for a bottle of water and received it 10 minutes later. They just don't have the sense of urgency that Americans have I guess (which could be both a good thing and a bad thing).
-The Burj al Arab randomly pops out of nowhere. Its freakish.
-The have a "drive in" movie theater. Its interesting because yesterday they were playing Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, so imagine a movie originally filmed in Mandarin, with English voiceover, topped with Arabic Subtitles. Its on the beach and is apparently a BIG deal... right next to the waterpark.
-I like arabian architecture - the arabian dome is a common theme throughout the resort, and the wind pipes on the top of some of the villas serve both to ventilate the villas. Basically, in old arabic architecture, these wind pipes allowed for the cool breeze to blow into the villa/house via the wind pipe and also allowed for the hot air to escape.
-Everything is bigger in Tex....err - Dubai.
Tomorrow (Friday) we are going to do some sightseeing. So check back for pictures of the INDOOR SNOWSKIING FACILITY as well as pics of the Palm Jumeirah. :-)
2 comments:
um have I told you how much I hate you lately! ugh. live it up. my goodness this is just to die for. I wish I was with you, I can totally hear you saying these things about crazy exit signs and fruit thingies out loud, it makes me laugh. Can't wait to hear all about it.
i want those exit signs in my house. nice blog. come back to calif.
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