The New Center of the World?

What do you get when you mix New York and Las Vegas, take out all the gambling and add oil? Dubai, which according to this map is the new center of the world.




I've never actually been to Dubai - at least not outside the airport, but I think it's safe to say that I've been to that airport more in the last 5 years than any other airport aside from Bangkok and JAX. It's my regular stopover when I go to the UK on Emirates Airlines.






The airport terminal is like a giant shopping mall, which I guess is a trend for new international airports. Seems they've designed them, so you're funneled into the shopping area while making your connection. Then, they don't tell you your gate number until 15 minutes before you're supposed to board, and you're forced mingle around shops filled with stuff you can't afford or don't really need. It also happens to be the place where I always end up buying Nuch's souvenirs/ gifts from my trip to the UK.




But the Dubai Airport has the added element of the most eccentric mix of people I've ever seen - British tourists on their way to Asia, Asian laborers on their way to construction sites throughout the middle east, Africans with the "Coming to America" full-on techno-colored peacock pajamas, and Muslim women covered head to toe except for their glaring eyes. Imagine the bar scene on Tatooine taking place at Macy's.

Here's a picture of a group of Pakistani men who, I assume, are on their way to a construction site somewhere in the region. It looked as if they had been there for days, piled up on top of each other, dressed in old sweaters, with holes in their shoes and plastic bags to carry their clothes.



Here are some pictures out the window of the plane.



Made me think of Lawrence of Arabia.



Is there a king of Dubai? I'm not sure, but I'm guessing this is his house.

I don't know if I'll ever get to Dubai, but the name keeps popping up - whether it's in the news, people going their for work or just going there for holiday. Perhaps, I'll plan a one day lay-over next time, just so I can I've stepped foot in the place.

Once again, to supplement my sub-standard photos, I found some other pics of Dubai on the web.

1990 - just before the first Gulf War. Hmmm.... coincidence?

Dubai is determined to have the most extreme architecture in the world, battling Shanghai, Taiwan, and Malaysia.





This project wins the prize for me.

The world's largest indoor ski slope is a close second.