UAE

June 27, 2009

Dubai

Alright, I hardly experienced Dubai - only the airport really, but wow. What an airport. Huge, like all airports, but somehow  - maybe the height of the ceilings? - made it feel tremendous. It was gorgoeous really - in a night club kind of way. But incredibly clean and efficient. Lots of people around to provide direction, more than happy to help. In fact, one guy gave me a ride on one of those carts because I had passed my exit area. In my sleepy haze I'd followed the signs for transfers, even though I was actually mean to depart - go to a hotel, sleep and then come back for the transfer. The ride to the hotel, which of course, was pretty much on the hotel grounds still provded a very, very miniscule glimpse of Dubai in the dark. All I can say is that it felt like a movie set, a bizarre high-end, high-rise oasis that sprung right out of a very very hot, very humid desert.  


The hotel sucked, not surpringly. A Middle-Eastern man started yelling at them from the line about how inefficient they were - emotional, loud. Sounded like New York, with different accents. As he started, figured I'd join in his chorus. In the end, taking into account the delayed flight arrival, I got about an hours sleep in the hotel. I think. (How many days can someone go with only sleeping a few hours of sleep? I might just find out..)  The hotel had suggested wake up call time & time to the airport - which seemed early to me. And it was - almost 2 hours to kill there. I think they just want you there early so you can shop. The stores at 5:30am - jewlery, luxury goods, perfume - all packed. Bizarre. I guess it was still better than sleeping on an airport chair though.   Although, in Dubai, they have airport lounges - like lounge chairs at the beach. Sitting there drinking my coffee (which happened to be the best airport coffee I've ever had - seriously), I read about Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Weird. In general, everything seemed incredibly efficient and new, unlike our ailing and failing airports. And the best - power stations for mobile and laptops everywhere, and of course, free internet. Kept me busy at least til the flight departed, right on time.

Posted at 10:26 PM in Travel, UAE | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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About Random Musings

  • Susan Solomon is a media, entertainment and political news junkie who some days feels like writing about what she reads, hears and sees. Here lives that randomness.

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Just Listened


Just Watched


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