Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Revisiting Dubai...
Well, boys and girls..it is time again to write something about a city that I visited last week, although I am pretty sure no one really cares about my two cents here. but I will pester you anyways and invade a little bit more of that internet space..!
So, I took a flight with Turkish Airlines again on my way to Dubai, where I arrived at three in the morning. Dubai airport is big. So I had to walk miles to get to the passport controls where I had to wait another hour along with other hundreds of poor souls looking as shitty as I did.
As soon as you leave the exit door with your luggage in your hand you will be approached by a pirate-taxi who will ask you whether you need a ride. DO NOT FALL for them as they are more expensive than regular taxis. When you take a normal taxi you probably end up paying something between 10-15 USD to the city center, The other guys will rip you off and charge you 40-50 USD. I stayed at the World Trade Center Appartments, which are rental flats. As accomodations are quite pricey here this is a rather a good alternative.
Yes sir, Dubai is darn expensive. I am not a big Mall fan but I was told that I had to see the fountain show and the Burj Khalifa there so I went to Dubai Mall, which is huge. This place was built to attract consumers. All Dubai is just about consumption. Do I like it? No, but was it worth to see? definitely. It is astonishing to see what money can buy or build. Even the regular bus stops are equipped with air-conditioning, which makes sense due to the hot climate but unthinkable in most European countries.
You don't get to see to many Arabs while you're there. The city is populated with expats from all over the world and then there is a huge indian/asian immigration. While walking the streets I even had the sensation I was walking the street in Mumbai. Of course, you did not really think that the Arabs would build all those big buildings without their cheap labor force from the Far East, right?
But if you're into luxury, hedonism and mindless-consumption then Dubai is your place to be. I really felt like hitting the barman when he charged me 15 USD for a glass of Heineken.
I did not like it that much. Would I go see it a second time? Probably not. I had the impression the city was artificial without any soul. But hey, each to his/her own.
So, I took a flight with Turkish Airlines again on my way to Dubai, where I arrived at three in the morning. Dubai airport is big. So I had to walk miles to get to the passport controls where I had to wait another hour along with other hundreds of poor souls looking as shitty as I did.
As soon as you leave the exit door with your luggage in your hand you will be approached by a pirate-taxi who will ask you whether you need a ride. DO NOT FALL for them as they are more expensive than regular taxis. When you take a normal taxi you probably end up paying something between 10-15 USD to the city center, The other guys will rip you off and charge you 40-50 USD. I stayed at the World Trade Center Appartments, which are rental flats. As accomodations are quite pricey here this is a rather a good alternative.
Yes sir, Dubai is darn expensive. I am not a big Mall fan but I was told that I had to see the fountain show and the Burj Khalifa there so I went to Dubai Mall, which is huge. This place was built to attract consumers. All Dubai is just about consumption. Do I like it? No, but was it worth to see? definitely. It is astonishing to see what money can buy or build. Even the regular bus stops are equipped with air-conditioning, which makes sense due to the hot climate but unthinkable in most European countries.
You don't get to see to many Arabs while you're there. The city is populated with expats from all over the world and then there is a huge indian/asian immigration. While walking the streets I even had the sensation I was walking the street in Mumbai. Of course, you did not really think that the Arabs would build all those big buildings without their cheap labor force from the Far East, right?
But if you're into luxury, hedonism and mindless-consumption then Dubai is your place to be. I really felt like hitting the barman when he charged me 15 USD for a glass of Heineken.
I did not like it that much. Would I go see it a second time? Probably not. I had the impression the city was artificial without any soul. But hey, each to his/her own.
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