a day in the desert

thanks to the baggage handling problems at dubai my return to japan was extended by a day in the emirates. a delay in getting home it was but it was also a chance to visit somewhere I might never. when you stay at an airport hotel though it can seem like you are waking up in any city, but the sun being no where near the horizon meant I had definitely said goodbye to the scandinavian winter gloom.

the empty, sandy plots of land breaking up the hotels were foriegn and on closer inspection there was much more to tell me I wasn't in damp scotland any more: arabic signposts, burkas, skin colour, wind towers, cranes, construction sites, stretch hummers, 7 star hotels. the short space of time in which most of dubai has happened makes what japan has been through look like an eon. these things always happen though. you would wager iraq is next on the list.

the prime minister popping his clogs in australia meant that the national time of 'mourning' had kind of developed into an impromtu holiday for most people. "everyone is happy" shan, my taxi driver told me. market was shut though, which was a pity. very inconsiderate. it was holy day as well so the place seemed doubly relaxed, especially on the beach - no one appeared too emotional, as my man had suggested.

I declined an offer to go for "massage" with one of shans chinese friends and despite being very apologetic after my answer, he still managed to check again at the end of the journey. he could very probably see past the facade. with so many people flying through and working temporarily or being away from home, I suspect the sex industry is huge and I also suspect he would get a slice of that pie, for want of a better metaphor.

we drove around the town in it's 8 lane boulevards and saw what was, what is and more obviously what will be. the amount of hotels is incredible but what is more incredible is the residential development. whether these are for holiday homes or for people moving there I was unclear but the place is dripping in money. the indoor ski slope says it, the malls with breitling say it, the imported peacocks say it, the oil says it. dubai is horrifyingly about money. if you like money that much go there and get some - it's where it's at in those terms.

the folk are friendly though. and there's nothing as unusual and exotic to a whitey as the islamic call to prayer.