Fly To Dubai

February 2010

Funny how the smallest, seemingly unrelated thing will catapault us into our reality. There I am on an emirates flight to Dubai, excitement running through me, as it is my first time to this part of the world. For me visiting a new place I have never seen, as I have had the fortune of being quite well traveled is a feeling akin to the cracking open of a new best selling book, the feeling you got when you were six and your mom tells you she saw the carnival setting up in town...its Friday afternoon and since u were good this week, she has decided to treat you with a visit!

So while watching the entertainment on board and reflecting on the good fortune I manifested in the last few days in Mumbai, I flick through the channels and end up watching an episode of Dragons Den, the UK edition (my favorite reality show involving venture capitalists who sometimes choose to invest in new start up business ideas). The episode was focusing on one dragon in particular, a Pakistani James Khan who disappointed his father but pushed forward in his own vision, a passion he could feel and understand and is now one of the five richest men in Britain. Right after that show, I end watching a show I normally would not even stop for. It is the ending of a segment on a young guy who rock climbs “solo". For those like me who did not fully understand, let's sum it up. Rock climbing solo encapsulates this guy climbing alone and with no equipment 1800 ft to the top of his chosen peak. WOW, I had asked universe to show me trust again and here is a prime example. Solo... So does this guy feel alone as I do in the quest for my truth? Does he feel the same isolation I feel in once again disappointing my dad and yet having to stay true to myself? You see in the past I always succumbed to my insecurity in my own choices, my doubt and lack of trust in self... And it is this reason I feel I was doomed to repeat this very same lesson. 

Climbing the ragged cliff face, intimidating in it's very existence and that with no equipment! I cant help but in vein, to notice the similarity in this climber braving his task with no equipment but himself, to my plight of achieving my goals with the only obstacle and only piece of equipment really being myself. In my ever investigative and analytical style, I notice the metaphor between the climbers world and mine... "It's because I find it difficult is why I am doing it, I need a challenge", these are the words he spoke. Like bringing an old rusty engine back to life with the magnetic charge of some high voltage booster cables, I too am looking for a challenge, one that invigorates me, one that excites me, an opportunity that fills me with the drive, the purpose and the passion that is experienced when all great things are achieved. Like a man who scales up a cliff 1800ft "solo" or a master illusionist like Chris Angel, who can bring you to tears with the perfection of his trickery, I too want to dare, I too wish to make a difference and I too wish for passion in my purpose.

Upon arrival in Dubai I am reminded of all things great, of the spirit of grandeur, of cleanliness and of course of money. You see the city is perfection, all the stores you could imagine and more, expensive cars at every turn, buildings that would rival any metropolitan epicenter. And the weather... Just short of perfect! I could get used to this place. With only two days and three nights, I had no time to waste. Arriving at a wonderful hotel in the centre of this oasis called a city, I was of course greeted by the wonderful aunts.

All smiles and of course shopping mad they greeted me with a familiar warmth, the kind you get when you come home for Christmas, it felt good to be home I thought. Of course before I could settle into any hotel sofa, my aunt Salu had me ready and revved for a brisk walk along the harbor. One of my favorite walks during our trip, my aunt showed me the shipyards in Dubai. It wasn't like any other I had ever seen. You see there were no guard dogs and padlocks or large locked warehouses were nowhere in site all that could be seen were the orderly stacks of open cargo on pallets all along the road... A public road I might add. So imagine you are walking down the street and you see an orderly cue of boats (both large and small) just waiting for their chance to fill their hungry cargo bays in the morning. What I most intriguing is the similar cue of open cargo, by open I mean stacks of DVD players and auto parts, some food products and even some toys...none of it shrink wrapped, none of it guarded and none of it behind lock and chain.

Try that in New York City! There is of course one main and defining difference between the two tales... In New York if you steal, perhaps you go to court maybe even a sentence, in Dubai caught three times and it's off to the king to decide of you hands should be chopped off! A quick and shrill reminder of where we were.

A city where looks are beyond amazing, but order and regime will be kept at whatever cost. An oasis where if you are caught in an accident with a local Arab (yes the ones who adorn their head dress and white robes...usually citizens of Dubai), it will be deemed your fault...in every case… that is law. Not really fair? Ask them if they care, I think NOT. One of my high notes on this leg of my trip was once again the amazing appearance of my buddy Imo.

It's funny, we have never had opportunity to spend much time together and now I got to revel in the enjoyment of having him all to myself as his wife was enjoying some alone time with her folks. We decided to do a desert safari... a must for every visitor to this sandy paradise. We were whisked off to the middle of the desert in a Chevy Tahoe. A few minutes in and we found ourselves amongst dozens of other sport utilities. The trucks meet up in an area and then in a cobra like fashion they begin a high speed weave, four by fouring up and down the sand dunes at great speeds. 

At one point I was actually sweating from fear as our driver although good was relatively new at the game. For twenty minutes we all tail gated each other only to arrive at a tented and staged area where food, some not so pretty belly dancers and thank god for beer...(ahhh cold beer in a desert)... awaited us. All in all it was a fantastic voyage and being with my buddy Imo added to the fun.

Some of the other amazing highlights of this wonderland are the re-creation of the city of Atlantis, a mega water play and fun centre including all you could imagine. An entire development of homes built on reclaimed land, which is visible from space I might add...all in the shape of a palm tree. Fancy skiing? The worlds first indoor ski centre available all year round, is right here. Worlds tallest building, yep its here. The worlds only seven star hotel...in Dubai. 

As if this wasn't enough, they are continuing their expansion of a new commercial centre that when completed will be four times the size of Hong Kong! So if you can handle the silent ego that runs through the Arab population and the scarcity of alcohol outside the hotel or registered clubs, oh yes and if you like sand, lots and lots of sand then...Dubai could be just your ticket!