Is Dubai the new Jerusalem, this millennia’s Babylon, or a middle-eastern Las Vegas? The Emirate city is certainly a new kind of something, that’s for sure. But with the light glinting off the gold cylinders of the Al-Attar tower like it does, it’s hard to think of what exactly. Let’s just say that most of what’s happening here is currently unprecedented, both in terms of scale and – if you consider the devastating combination of sunshine and … [Read more...]
Dubai – A Piece of The Pie
The following is taken from Dave's Journal regarding a long weekend spent in Dubai I took a quick trip up to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates 3 weeks ago in the midst of the annual Shopping Festival. Thirty years ago this was a local regional city. Today its an international nightmare, depending on your perspective. Perhaps it is a city that will cause you to have a strong visceral reaction. Lots of craziness with the terrible traffic, … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Downtown
For the nation's second largest city LA's downtown is actually very small and is eerily quiet on the weekends. On a number of occasions we have been standing in the middle of a major 6 lane boulevard in downtown just laughing to ourselves about the total lack of people and cars present! Certain streets are surprisingly empty. Depending on where you are (compared to the congestion of the freeways), even on weekdays parts of downtown can feel … [Read more...]
Where can you find Islands the Shape of Palm Trees?
All my preconceived notions about the rigid cultural conservativism of countries in the Arab peninsula were thrown out the minute I entered Dubai, a sprawling and mushrooming megalopolis rising up between the fringes of the Arab deserts and the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia may still be the country of chokingly strict laws, but Dubai seems to be the total opposite. Actually it is one of two major cities in the United Arab Emirates, a country roughly … [Read more...]
Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai – July 2005
Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai - The Burj Al Arab is one of the most modernistic looking hotels that you will ever see. As a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, this also happens to be one of the most expensive hotels you will ever stay at. Its futuristic design resembles the billowing sail of a sailboat. Play golf or tennis hundreds of feet above the ground on the specially designed "sports platform". This unique sports platform has … [Read more...]
World’s Tallest Buildings – March 2004
World's Tallest Buildings. Currently the tallest building in the world is the Burj Dubai topping out at 818 meters or 2,684 ft. We are still waiting for the first building to top out at 1,000 meters or over, or 3,000 feet or higher! 2. The Shanghai Tower (632 meters) 3. Makkah Clock Royal Tower in Makkah, Saudi Arabia (601 meters) 4. Ping in Shenzhen China (599 meters) 5. Lotte World Tower in Seoul (555 meters) 6. One World Trade Center in … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Shopping
Major shopping districts in Bangkok include parts of the Suhumvit and Silom areas of Bangkok. Shopping here can be a serious affair for some people - with a number of patrons getting decked out in their finest. And of course there are always a number of dressed down phone toting tourists (looking for the ideal selfie spot), expats and those people watching. It is not hard to shop till you drop in this town - although you won't be dropping from … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Neighborhoods
Bennett Valley (named after a resident in the area James Bennett - who lived here in the 1860's) is a mostly residential part of Santa Rosa spread out southeast of downtown with prominent roads in this neighborhood being Bennett Valley Road, Bethards Drive, Tachevah Drive and Yulupa. Located only about a 10 minute drive from downtown Santa Rosa. If there was a 'heart' to this neighborhood it would be where two shopping centers are located across … [Read more...]
San Luis Obispo, CA – Restaurants
The following is a partial list of restaurants in San Luis Obispo and the immediate vicinity. Downtown San Luis Obispo has numerous restaurants with many lined up along Higuera Street. San Luis Obispo also seems to have an inordinate amount of small family owned high quality chain restaurants - usually chains under 10 restaurants with one branch located here. Also plenty of gastropubs, Italian restaurants, burgers and BBQ. In short, this is a … [Read more...]