Dubai part 2

Currently in Madrid Spain, but thought I would upload a few more photos from Dubai. I didn´t take enough pictures while there, but I will share the few I have that I feel are worth sharing.

This is a gentleman´s salon. The sign reads "touches gents saloon" not sure what they were going for here.

The river and boat moorings near the Spice Souk (a souk is a market)

Spices. The Sìce Souk smells amazing to say the least, clove, coriander and nutmeg fill the air. It almost makes your nostrils ache from the sensory overload in dry desert heat of the Arabian Peninsula.

A simple salad starter with lemon and fresh figs.

At a Somolian restaraunt, I got rice fried with clove, chicken with red curry spices, potato and carrot with curry. It smelled amazing and the photo doesn´t do justice to how massive these plates were. Everyone was eating with thier hands, so I did the same, untill it came time to eat the rice.

This sign reads "carrying fish is not allowed on metro." From a western point of view, Dubai is a little strict with laws, I´m sure the penalty is not worth it, so I didnt bring any fish on the metro.

The Grand Mosque of Jumeirah reaching up to the moon.

A view of the Burj Al Arab Hotel from the beach. This hotel is the only 7 star hotel in the world and offers rooms for up to $40,000 per night. I would have stayed here, but decided the $27 a night hotel was more my style.

 Here´s another view. Notice the Farrari and the classic Cadillac arriving.

Dubai has very wide streets, and some very wide sidewalks as well. (yes that is a sidewalk)

 

I really cant say enough about Dubai. It is the most over the top city I have ever seen. As I said before, its kind of like Las Vegas except without the booze and gambling. The government has money, and spends it on the infrastructure and the people. Native born people are given plots of land for free and build amazing multi-million dollar villas on loans which are sometimes forgiven before they are paid in full. There are luxury cars everywhere, and the oldest car you will see on the road is not more than a few years old. I felt like the rich kid in Thailand, but in Dubai, I felta bit poor.

The locals that are actually born in Dubai are outnumbered by immigrants something like 7 to 1 (not sure how accurate that number is). This means it is a very multicultural city, and offers quite a bit of everything. Most of the biggest brands in the world have a presence here, even dunkin donuts.

Hopefully I can make it back there someday, I feel like my week in Dubai only scratched the surface.

My next post will be from Madrid, Spain.