Michelle May

My experience of Dubai is very different from when i was here 4 years ago.   In a nutshell, I now see what all the fuss is about, whereas last time i really did not enjoy.  Dubai has all sorts of exotic touches- of India, of Africa, or Arabia, all in one place, but with all the creature comforts of home.  Strangely enough it reminds me of a hyper-diverse strip-mally Arizona with Arabic flavor.  I think it would be very liveable here but also it would be difficult not to get spoiled & wrapped up in all the luxuries that can be had.  It has potential neo-colonialist written all over it- that’s part’s not nice. 

Today I had to go and pick up my visa at the Iran embassy.  The process of getting the visa here was about 50x easier than it was in Germany last summer.  Everyone at the embassy appeared happy, helpful and uber efficient.  It seems that many Iranians can be over here in Dubai, and like me , still have many of the creature comforts of home, plus having all sorts of liberties that they don’t have at home such as dressing how they want in public, shopping like mad (there is more variety here) & even kicking backa few beers and going to nite clubs!  Now i understand more why friends back in Tehran talk at length about Dubai and try to make it here a few times a year.  Makes sense…

I was told that of the 4 million Dubai-ians (what are they called?) only 1million hail from the UAE.  From what i have seen i would say it is even less than that.  With all the different nationalities here it is a dream for me, and an ideal example of many different cultures coexisting very peacefully.  Today at the gold souk I spoke with Eritreans, Somalians, Afghanis, Iraqis, Pakistanis, Indians, Filipinos, and finally even met my 1st native Emirati (UAE-er).  All the while an occasional gaggle scantily clad tourists walked by without an eyelash being bat or much gawking.  It made a place like NYC seem homogenous in comparison.

I am still jet-lagging, but it sure is nice to stay at the fabulous hotel I am at and in a “family suite” which is much bigger than my apartment back home-  Am online here now & regret to say that i still cannot figure video out on this website, so i am having to default again to Blogger.  THat said, i am not even sure if blogger is blocked or not in Iran, so i will rely more on the podcast & photos– Still, this flip is so fun and handy that all day i cold not resist filming glimpses of assortment of Dubai-ians.  

I am off to Oman tomorrow and leaving the bike here in storage along with my gear. That means i only have one small bag to take.  it is about 42 Celcius- HOT and air quality is verrry bad- visability is a about arms length.. if is foggier (smoggier) than i have ever had seen in SF, LA, Tehran, or Mexico City for that matter.  My eyes sting.  I did see a biker-biker here and was wondering how he was coping and if he has a grey lung or two as a result. 

PS:  I can hear Obama speaking on a telly in the background- Obamarama is ***hot*** even here! ; )

Tags: Arizona, Dubai, India, Iran, Kerala.