Dubai Diaries
This self imposed sabbatical from the phone continues. I am cleaning more drawers and making more meals at home. Talking less is also helping. Wanted to share about our Dubai vacation but I feel all that I write would be like a travelogue. Don't know how to articulate and also what I enjoyed so much, people may not experience the same joy from those things. In other words, I want to make an impression on you and if I am not guaranteed of that, then I shall not write. All this wheeling and dealing still exists within me.
First thoughts when we were 'At the Top' at Burj Khalifa, 125th floor public viewing gallery, Why can't our country be built so well? All the work there is being done by Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalis, Bangladeshis and Philippinos. Why can't same work, same kind of progress be in our country? The same people execute all the planning and construction in Dubai and not even one hundredth of it in India? We really need to look at what is it we are doing wrong? How can we just miss out so badly?Ten years back I had been to Dubai and was not impressed at all. This time, the city just blows you over by its sheer magnitude, greenery, cleanliness,progress, calm, uber cool chic, character and more. The mosques are so dignified and the call of Azaan is so pleasant unlike in Mumbai. A friend had sent me some pics on Dubai Tragedies and all of it was true. The city works so well for its people and the tourists. I have heard of the underbelly but did not see or experience it in my one week there.
A day before we reached, the King of Dubai had driven taxi the whole day in a taxi driver's clothes to know about their lives. Dubai is the most tourist friendly place I have ever been to and a haven for vegetarians. Food for all tastes and all budgets is available everywhere. Friends took me to Chai ki tapri at Satwa which is open from 5.30am-3am and they will give kadak chai in your car in the cold desert nights. Al Malha at Satwa has the most amazing Lebanese and Arabic food and lots of vegetarian fare. The Cocktail juice was to die for. It is not to be shaken or stirred, just move your straw in the glass to the fruit you want to flavour your tongue with. They do not grow any fruits and vegetables there, yet the salads were so fresh and crunchy. India has all the natural wealth, fertile soil and good weather, why was the food tastier there? The best curd rice and lemon rice to be found in Dubai. May be it is the holiday syndrome, Everything looks and tastes awesome. The food does not smell like in South East Asia. This is for many Indians who travel and can't bear the aromas of other countries' cuisine.
While we were there lots of Bollwood celebrities were in Dubai to celebrate the New Year. All newspapers and magazines were covered with Bollywood gossip. Kalyan Jewellers opened 5 new shops in a day all inaugurated by Amitabh Bachhan, Aishwarya and some other Tollywood actors. The city was splashed with Indians on hoardings everywhere and the locals love to watch Hindi films. In the public toilets, the people cleaning speak Hindi and listen to Hindi songs. It was like heaven. Nice warm water in the public washrooms to beat the winter chill.
The Gold Souk and Meena Bazaar 's gold shops were beautiful. Nothing garish and again designs and gold to suit all budgets. The gold shop sales assistants advised us Indians not to buy gold as the customs are strict in Mumbai. This was at the cost of a sale they were about to make. By law, no Indian citizen can bring any gold into India unless he has worked abroad for a year. Then the man can get gold worth 50000 INR only and the woman can get worth INR 1 lac. The rules keep changing so best is to check the customs website for the new details. Even if the customer is not buying, they show the stuff so politely and patiently. It does not work so in India. Here even in a mall, forget a gold shop, the sales girl checks your worth by the way you dress and then decides if you are worth her attention. That is the fault with the brand owners and shop keepers who live in another world, totally disconnected from reality.
Needless to say I am besotted with Dubai.
First thoughts when we were 'At the Top' at Burj Khalifa, 125th floor public viewing gallery, Why can't our country be built so well? All the work there is being done by Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalis, Bangladeshis and Philippinos. Why can't same work, same kind of progress be in our country? The same people execute all the planning and construction in Dubai and not even one hundredth of it in India? We really need to look at what is it we are doing wrong? How can we just miss out so badly?Ten years back I had been to Dubai and was not impressed at all. This time, the city just blows you over by its sheer magnitude, greenery, cleanliness,progress, calm, uber cool chic, character and more. The mosques are so dignified and the call of Azaan is so pleasant unlike in Mumbai. A friend had sent me some pics on Dubai Tragedies and all of it was true. The city works so well for its people and the tourists. I have heard of the underbelly but did not see or experience it in my one week there.
A day before we reached, the King of Dubai had driven taxi the whole day in a taxi driver's clothes to know about their lives. Dubai is the most tourist friendly place I have ever been to and a haven for vegetarians. Food for all tastes and all budgets is available everywhere. Friends took me to Chai ki tapri at Satwa which is open from 5.30am-3am and they will give kadak chai in your car in the cold desert nights. Al Malha at Satwa has the most amazing Lebanese and Arabic food and lots of vegetarian fare. The Cocktail juice was to die for. It is not to be shaken or stirred, just move your straw in the glass to the fruit you want to flavour your tongue with. They do not grow any fruits and vegetables there, yet the salads were so fresh and crunchy. India has all the natural wealth, fertile soil and good weather, why was the food tastier there? The best curd rice and lemon rice to be found in Dubai. May be it is the holiday syndrome, Everything looks and tastes awesome. The food does not smell like in South East Asia. This is for many Indians who travel and can't bear the aromas of other countries' cuisine.
While we were there lots of Bollwood celebrities were in Dubai to celebrate the New Year. All newspapers and magazines were covered with Bollywood gossip. Kalyan Jewellers opened 5 new shops in a day all inaugurated by Amitabh Bachhan, Aishwarya and some other Tollywood actors. The city was splashed with Indians on hoardings everywhere and the locals love to watch Hindi films. In the public toilets, the people cleaning speak Hindi and listen to Hindi songs. It was like heaven. Nice warm water in the public washrooms to beat the winter chill.
The Gold Souk and Meena Bazaar 's gold shops were beautiful. Nothing garish and again designs and gold to suit all budgets. The gold shop sales assistants advised us Indians not to buy gold as the customs are strict in Mumbai. This was at the cost of a sale they were about to make. By law, no Indian citizen can bring any gold into India unless he has worked abroad for a year. Then the man can get gold worth 50000 INR only and the woman can get worth INR 1 lac. The rules keep changing so best is to check the customs website for the new details. Even if the customer is not buying, they show the stuff so politely and patiently. It does not work so in India. Here even in a mall, forget a gold shop, the sales girl checks your worth by the way you dress and then decides if you are worth her attention. That is the fault with the brand owners and shop keepers who live in another world, totally disconnected from reality.
Needless to say I am besotted with Dubai.
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