After the fairy-tale like atmosphere in Oman, arriving in buzzing Dubai was quite a shock. Especially for me – I had been to Dubai for my work a couple of times in the late 80ies, but never since. I guess that someone travelling to New York around 1905 and coming back at the end of the roaring twenties must have felt more or less the same…
The traditional spice and gold souk is still there, but by now the city’s older part is surrounded by gigantic towers and enormous shopping centers. To exit one of the latter, you have to patiently wait in the middle of a monstrous traffic jam involving nothing but luxury limousines. This does not seem to surprise anyone, no more then the aquarium with sharks right in the middle of the said shopping center or the amphibious bus you happen to cross twice within the same day – once on the road and once on the river…
Unfortunately, we did not stay long enough for me to check out the local art scene, but if you wish to do so, let me recommend the interesting magazine Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Art. If you are planning a trip to the Arab Emirates, it might be an option to wait until next year, when the Louvre Abu Dhabi will open its doors to the public, supposedly in December 2015.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
