Dubai: Beauty behind a Fence

Thursday, April 14: From Beirut to Dubai.

Brother picked us up. While in car, Baba talks about how much Dubai has expanded. This is to occur a few more times

Received by Ammo Nasser and the family in Emirates Hills. Lovely to see the whole Al Salah (or El-Salah, depending on preference) family together.

Everyone seems interested about this meditation retreat I went to. I explain the procedure, technique, and results. People are impressed, but seem reluctant to go through it themselves. “A path towards eternal happiness? WHERE?! Oh, 10 days of keeping my mouth shut? Ah, not for me”. Oh well.

Went back to Bro’s, where I will spend most nights.

Friday, April 15: Gym with the Bro. First workout in a long time. Then relaxed in rooftop pool. Dubai is like a mistress of comfort. Siren of Luxury.

Wedding Time! I made a music CD with caricature drawings of bride and groom, and gave it to the bride (my cousin Rasha). Wish I took a picture of it before dispatching!

The Jawhara Hall is grand. The wedding, extravagant. The food, opulent. The Palestinian Dabkeh dancers, loveable. The people, beautiful.

Saturday, April 16: Lunch in Dubai Mall. Then another humongous dinner with the family. It was in this beautiful newly opened Turkish-run palace called Zaabeel Sarai.

Said goodbye to bride and groom, as they’re going to Vietnam for honeymoon!

Sunday, April 17: At beach with Mum. Public beaches rock.

Monday, April 18: Spent the whole day at bro’s building. Gym, rooftop pool, shower, snack, internet, meditate, nap, TV, dinner, sleep.

Tuesday, April 19: I love metros. Dubai in April may be walked.

Spent the night at my uncle’s, with Teta. Over 90 and still funny, still witty, still in the game.

(My photo with Teta taken by Auntie Wafaa. Waiting for that photo!)

Wednesday, April 20: Walked around the Corniche at Emirates Hills. Nature, artificially placed. Still, it’s nature. Placed there for our entertainment. Still, it’s nature. Inaccessible to most – beauty behind a fence. Still, it’s nature.

Big hug to all the laborers of Dubai. They build the scrapers. They cook the food. They drive the taxis. They clean the streets. They make it all happen with a smile.

Humongous family dinner at Auntie Huda’s. Best mansaf ever. Ever. Also took pictures of my cousin Nadine’s artwork for future reference on a project I’m working on.

Thursday, April 21: Went to Mall of the Emirates, where they have Shake Shack (best burgers ever. Ever.) and an indoor ski slope. Malls suck. But one can still find beauty there.

Night out at People, a very posh club at the top of a pyramid in Dubai. Danced with a drunk British girl – how totally unexpected! (sarcasm)

Friday, April 22: Lunch in Rawi Pakistani restaurant. Best butter chicken ever. Ever.

Saw Dubai fountain. Those water streams were really dancing to the music. Beautiful.

Saturday, April 23: Night out with Suz and Ali (my cousin and her fiance) before my plane leaves at 6 AM. Good talk on meditation and life and religion.

Had to take a pee at front lawn of Suz’s building while we wait for my taxi to arrive. My special way of saying goodbye to Dubai.

Lighting at hotel elevator was scary. Took a photo. Zombified in Dubai – almost.