December 2010

A ride in the golden paradise Ridhima Chugh

Dubai is the exemplary home of sand, sun and shopping, all together. The future oriented world of large mirrored skyscrapers describes DDubai with its best perspective. The glittering vision of these tall buildings made me revolve around the stature of these beautiful creations so many times. One of the best locations that took my heart was the artificial islands that were created in the vicinity. The elite cool malls constructed with great design and architecture will make you believe the rich culture of this country. The country is rich, classy, warm in its climate, warm with its cultural etiquettes. Though it is not compulsory like there in Saudi Arabia, but you would see many males and females attired in their traditional clothes. Most Emirati males prefer to wear a kandura, an ankle-length white shirt woven from wool or cotton, and most Emirati women wear an abaya, a black over-garment covering most parts of the body. Dubai is on the migration path between Europe, Asia and Africa and I learnt from a local here that more than 320 migratory birds can be noticed passing through the region in autumn and spring. It drew a beautiful picture in my mind, the bright sunny sky of this country crossed by these colorful birds. The run rays brightening the city culture lightened my face too with an excitement to discover this palace of rich creation. The country is contemporary in its every aspect. The smooth and glistening lifestyle of its cities has a lot much to be discovered; the ultimate epitome of modern Middle Eastern culture; it's vibrant, it's cultural, it's lively! Dubai has a rich collection of buildings and structures of various architectural styles. Modern Islamic architecture has recently been taken to a new level with such buildings being erected such as the Burj Khalifa, currently the world's tallest building. The Burj Khalifa's design is derived from the patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture, with the triple-lobed footprint of the building. This bright tower heads proudly towards the sky, surpassing all the limits and expectations you might think of before seeing it in real. The Burj Khalifa skyscraper is a world class destination, the magnificent centerpiece of downtown Dubai, a masterpiece. You would find many hotels, must visit shopping with a world of entertainment options. When I saw these heights in Dubai, I could yet not compare them with the beautiful floors created here. My next switch over the beautiful parks and gardens were as sparkling and amazing as were its tall towers. Dubai has a number of large parks, amusement parks with beautiful heritage villages. The highlight among them was the Jumeirah Open Beach Park. It is a marvelous painting of landscaping and environment landscaping. This is visible bright even from the airplane, the scene was so stunning; I Could contemplate on its architectural harmony mixed with the beautiful contrast of colors, where the blue gulf water floats on a golden shore followed by artistically designed green spaces. The park is constructed with different earth levels; that constitutes of a group of green hills encompassing recreational and games area. The Jumeirah beaches have soft white sand that slip into the shallow warm turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf, there is also a beautiful hotel named Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai. The year round sunshine and excellent soft sandy beaches along the coast are ideal for relaxing, lazing or sun bathing. Apart from the relaxation and lazing options at the beach, there are many water sports that are full of zeal and passion. The waters that once attracted the pearl divers of the past to look for the pearls now draw crowds in large numbers for various water sports like swimming, sailing and scuba diving. The high temperature in Dubai all round the year with its naturally crystalline water makes the leisure of water sports more exciting and tempting. The facilities for water sports in Dubai are par excellence. Swimming and scuba is very popular and can be done all round the year in the clear water of this country, totally untouched by pollution. I also noticed many sailors amidst the sparkling waters, looked amazing in the bright sunlight. I f yo u a re p l a n n i n g fo r a n entertainment dose, Dubai serves more than what you expect. Its every aspect is amazing. Even while I was walking on the road, I could not tame my greed for my eyes to capture Dubai's every corner. The country is bleached by the natural as well as the simulated lights brightening this golden place. D u b a i h a s a r i c h traditional cultural, that include their folk music, dance with their exotic range of cuisines. The dance refers to v i c t o r y a n d i s u s u a l l y performed after a victory in a war or after coming home from successful pearl diving. Yo u n g g i r l s at t i re d i n beautiful gaudy dresses with complete essence of the gulf dance by swinging their long black hair with swaying their body with tremendous moves on the strong beats of the music. Whereas men would re-enact battles fought or successful hunting expeditions, often symbolically using sticks, swords or rifles. The Dubai Rock Metal festival is another star that Dubai festivals are cherished with. The Dubai Desert Rock Festival is all about bringing artists, audiences and supporters together in a dynamic, unique and highly interactive environment, and which centers on and helps cultivate an appreciation for live rock music and having fun. This is the time when you can plan your visit to this city busy in celebration of advancement and luxury. The Arab food was my next jaunt that I was really excited about. Savoring the exotic local dishes of Dubai is one thing which was high on my wish-list. With the high range of food, I discovered that Dubai serves the world on a plate. Dubai is home to every type of cuisine imaginable, from European to American and Indian to Asian, which is great for anyone wishing to visit Dubai. The Arabic dishes are mainly prepared from fish, meat and rice. Arabic bread which is freshly baked in clay ovens and served with curries is also very popular part of Dubai's rich cuisine. The Arabic food in Dubai is based on the Lebanese cuisine where shawarmas, falafat, hummus and tabbouleh are the most heard ones. If you are in love with the non vegetarian dishes, these dishes would surely win your lust for taste. Dubai is powerful enough to win your heart with its sheen of luxury and an elaborate kit of entertainment. Even the nightlife in this country spells the magic of the UAE dance and music. The glittering attire of the females with their unique dance moves look magical. It trapped my brain; my eyes were perfectly glued to performances by the artists. A great time spent in this wealthy country, rich in living, rich in style.