Dubai – Paradise On A Desert

Dubai – Paradise On A Desert

Dubai, to my mind, is not just about the power of money. It is more about the power of thought.
It was incredible to know that this `artificial` city was built upon the ruthless natural expanse
of a desert.

There have been few moments more exciting in my life than boarding an international flight after over 30 years. It was a moment I had waited for for decades and in the last few years the urge to get my passport stamped was irresistible. For the last couple of years, Dubai as a destination was playing hide-and-seek with me. But finally, early morning on May 27, 2013, when the Air Arabia flight taxied itself on to the runway and took off to Dubai, I was well and truly on my way to fulfilling my desire to visit a foreign country after over three decades.

Dubai is just a three hour flight from Mumbai and probably takes lesser time than getting to Kolkata. So, I wondered how different would the country be from India. After all, Indians' presence in Dubai is all pervasive. But a close friend assured me Dubai would give a truly international feel as compared to even some of the developed countries. He was ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! The five days I spent in Dubai will remain one of the most momentous in my life.

The lush green pastures, clean roads, tall buildings -- which seem like they have simply been planted after being manufactured in a factory -- and the all encompassing discipline are not just fascinating, but awe inspiring. It was incredible to know that this `artificial` city was built upon the ruthless natural expanse of a desert. The only signs you get that underneath your feet is a desert is when you notice some sand being strewn on the sides as your traverse the length and breadth of Dubai.

While it was not surprising to notice clean roads and disciplined traffic, as after all we have been fed on these images on television and in foreign films, the creative architecture and the automated functioning of the city were mind blowing. Even the much hyped Dubai Mall did not catch my fancy, as we are now used to some outstanding malls in India too, till I noticed the aquarium. It is a must-watch in Dubai.

But what will surely blow your mind off is the visit to Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, whose entrance is from the Dubai Mall. Incredibly in under 60 seconds, the elevator took us to the 124^th floor and the view from the top cannot be expressed in words. The tower, due to its sheer height, makes itself visible from various corners of Dubai. Burj Khalifa is a place you must visit before you die, not only for absorbing its beauty and complex architecture, but also for elevating your understanding about what thinking BIG is all about. I always prided myself on being a person who thinks big, till I visited Burj Khalifa that is and realised just how small human thinking actually is.

Dubai, to my mind, is not just about the power of money. It is more about the power of thought. The creators of Dubai simply seem to be gifted with the ability to think beyond the collective elevated thinking of the human race. First they constructed a modern city on a desert, and then erected signature towers which serenade the Dubai skyline like a symphony of rhythmic notes.

The journey of constructing and reconstructing Dubai is not over for sure. The country has more surprises to offer, and I for one look forward to visiting it again.