When I
say exotic, the first thing that comes to my mind is the Middle East. Something
about this place excites me. It could be the fact that it is the cradle of civilization;
it could be the imminence of tall, taller and tallest buildings which adorn the
sand dune-y landscape; it could be the flavor-rich food which comes from there.
Let me list some here:
Falafel – A falafel roll is something I can have for lunch every
day, really! The flavor which comes from the chickpeas and beans, ground and
fried is out of the world. (Thanks to Masterchef Australia for teaching me the
gastronomic mumbo jumbos) Did you know that the Halwa which is a celebrated
sweet dessert in India originated from the Middle East?
The Glitterati – Who doesn’t like glamour? Parties and celebrations add
glamour to the Middle East. With supersonic economic growth, we shouldn’t be
surprised at the glitterati we see here. It is one of the most ambitious places
in the world which always thrives for bigger and more extravagant in everything
Landscape – The teal blue waters and the creamy white sand, pitch-dark
seas, the way the city hugs the water, captivating night views where series of
lights form a glowing necklace, the canyons, the sandy-windy aura (All of which
I have seen in the movies and in pictures).
Fancy Food - I was flabbergasted when I heard about the fact that you
get some of the most expensive food here and I am craving to get at least a
glimpse of it. They say in Burj al Arab, a dish made with white truffle
decorated with gold foils costs more than 500 American dollars. Actually, it
would be cruel on my part to call it a dish because the portions are
unbelievably scarce
Feeling High - The insatiable
appetite for building tall buildings is something to watch out for. I have
often wondered how it would be to feel on top of the world. Dubai has an
answer. Feeling high at Burj Khalifa is on my to-do list for quite some time
now after I heard one could actually see the earth’s arc! Can that get any
cooler? Or should I say eerier?
Ambitious cities - This place is
known for its Innovation and technology. Be it roads or attractive
infrastructure, the Middle East is for sure, a forerunner. The palm-shaped
artificial island in Palm Jumeirah is one to quote. Did you know that the
fireworks here were filmed by a passing satellite?
Do hips lie? Lovely women dancing to the tunes of a trance-like Arabic number,
the infamous belly dance, which is spellbinding, originated from the Middle
East. I would love to watch a dance sometime and I know for certain, hips don’t
lie.
Natural Resources - The fact that oil is cheaper than water makes me wonder
how scarcity of natural resources affects geographies across the world.
Considering the fact that I have enough water to drink makes me content but I
really want to go to this place where oil is abundant.
Gold mine, gold souk,
gold paradise – that’s Middle East
for you. Did you know that Burj Al Arab’s latest offering for children is 24
carat gold iPads? This is where luxury meets lunacy.
A beautiful language
called Arabic – Although the
language is predominantly used in a religious context, I would love to learn to
read and write in Arabic someday. I absolutely love the sound of the Arabic words;
they are trance-like and so reflective, it immediately shifts the listener to
meditative mood.
*All the pictures are sourced from Google Images and Wiki
:)
ReplyDeletemy place
V
Wanna go there sometime? ;)
ReplyDeleteI so want to visit the place!!! Maybe just maybe at the end of this year! FALAFEL!!!
ReplyDeleteDon't miss a chance buddy! :)
DeleteThanks for dropping by :)
It is 10:20 PM here in California. I come back to read your post because, me think, you write like me. That is similar to having a conversation one to one in our family room.
ReplyDeleteI just read your post. I have a few doubts.
By Middle East, did you mean the whole Middle East which consists of 18 different countries OR just Dubai only? I like what you wrote. But it is all applicable to UAE only. Not for the many of the other countries.
Just FYI. I was a Country Manager for my Company in Saudi Arabia for 3 years. We can talk about The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly about this country privately, if you want. Otherwise, it is ok.
Delete//It is 10:20 PM here in California. I come back to read your post because, me think, you write like me. // That is a huge compliment, and honestly, I admire your writing a lot.
I wish I could write as good as you (showcases heights of modesty here) ;) :D
//By Middle East, did you mean the whole Middle East which consists of 18 different countries OR just Dubai only? I like what you wrote. But it is all applicable to UAE only. Not for the many of the other countries.// Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt were some of the countries I had in mind when I wrote this, so I just stuck to the 'Middle-east' tag, although most of the points seem utterly appropriate for UAE/ Dubai alone :)
//Just FYI. I was a Country Manager for my Company in Saudi Arabia for 3 years. We can talk about The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly about this country privately, if you want. Otherwise, it is ok.// Wow, 3 years?! That sounds interesting, feel free to email me.
Sure will write about this place. Very interesting. We had a great time because we have American Passports and an important American Company sent me (us). Will write email.
ReplyDeleteJust one more FYI. I am glad you had Lebanon in your mind. Before all the troubles there, Beirut was considered as the Paris of Middle East. That shows I am a little bit older. HaHaHa.
ReplyDelete