Dubai Trivia

I should have realised I would plan to do far too much in one day.

Nevertheless I saw lots but not enough - will just have to come back. Next time will be with Bill - There's even a Billabong shop opposite a Reebok shop.

The UAE is only 39 years old on 2 Dec - so lots of celebrations about to take place. There's no crime - no police cars to be seen and no taxes or duties... and if you are a local you'll get a free house too - Most men were fishermen, now there are beach front fishing villages where the government has built identical homes for each member of the tribe which has their own leader.

Gas/petrol in Dubai is the most expensive out of the 7 states at less than $0.33cents per litre.. Population 1.9 million of which only 27% are Arabs...mostly Indian ..
Bus stops are air conditioned! - and Abu Dhabi is creating air conditioned beaches.

The building boom from 2000 - 2008 was so huge that 13% of the worlds cranes were in Dubai. Just 35 years ago 75% of the population lived in grass shacks which they refer to as tents.

Abu Dhabi gave Dubai 20.2 Billion US dollars to help it survive the financial crisis.

The oldest shopping mall is just 13years old

Dubai Day 1.

Dubai

Made it - ZUrich was covered in a blanket of snow - A truly spectacular landing and good reason to choose a window seat with a camera that hasn't run out of battery power and Dubai simply humming with activity - restaurants at this hotel are open 24 hours. Al Bustan Rotana. A plate of fresh dates awaited me.
Swiss has internet connection in the back of each seat throughout the aircraft and collect small change from any country in the plastic bags used for earphone distribution towards supporting 250 global villages.

As for Visas - the misinformation continued - Before leaving Swiss advised no visa necessary - The website of this hotel warned all US citizens needed a visa - I double checked with ZVS visa services - No - no visa needed. I check in with Swiss and they ask for my visa - 'Never mind you can pay for it there' - Upon arrival in Dubai I ask about paying for a visa - No visa needed if you are a US citizen and staying less than 30days.

This place is humming - Nearly half of the population of the 7 states that comprise the United Emirates are under 14 years old. Noble sports of falconry, camel racing and horsemanship still practised and over half a million camels... Atlantis on Palm Island shines in all her glory looking as though I should be in the Bahamas.

Turkey Day

Heavy fog going down the Mountain today with the only other cars being 5 stopped for speeding. Parking at CHarlotte a cinch . there must have been 8 'directors' showing me to the only free space. Departures at the airprot is empty . My boarding pass that I printed at home works fine - bag gets checked - get to the gate and am told my seat is cancelled - "These things happen sometimes" says the agetn..
Get to Swiss at the international deparures in Kennedy and am told I am an Infant.
The new super strict restrictions requiring middle initials dont work on my name -
TAMSIN F get automatically translated into TAMS INF ..
That took a while to sort out as I then wasnt who I said I was.!
Thank good ness it was Swiss.

I've forgotten how cold it gets in NYC - Brrrrr.

Blackberry Farm

This is a backward post... I have to share the beauty of this simple creation . It's featured in the main dining room of Blackberry Farm where the plates are designed my their own Master Gardener and made in France.

The Count down has started - 3 days left

Dubai, Tigers and Indian Palaces here I come.

32 hours of travel time and I'll be visiting the most luxurious hotel in the world - Burj Al Arab - am I nuts?
2 hour drive to Charlotte, planning on a three hour checkin to avoid security body searching demonstrations, two hour flight to Kennedy, 6 hour layover - 9 hours to Zurich, 3 hour layover , 7 hours to Dubai - yes I must be nuts.