Now I am a perfect Mallu Son-in-Law, I am a dubai return Indian now. Well I am sure that there will be more criteria for that category but this one is certain one of the most important one.
Well the journey was planned at a very short notice a week. I wasn't even sure if I was to travel till one day before the journey as the Visa was not done. Well I had my nervous moments even after getting the Visa as instead of 30 Day business visa I got only a 96 hrs visa. My calculations indicated that I had to return on the 5th day.
Fortunately all straighten out and then began my journey into the Arab World. My first Arab country. I should say it sure was the best place to start an Arabian journey. It was an early start to a Tuesday for me. I was to be at the airport at 8 AM for a 11 AM flight which meant I leave early. At the airport was a very kind and jovial Mrs. Vijaya unusually at the customs department. I hope that there are more people like her at the Customs or airports.
Well time seemed to run out pretty fast as I soon boarded the flight ready to take off for Dubai. My mallu interactions started the moment I took seat. Guess who i sat next to; a very kind Mrs. Sreesha (a mallu ofcourse) flying through dubai to Frankfurt. That was how the journey to mallu land which was earlier perceived to be an Arab world. You heard it right it was thought to be an Arab journey but apart from the fact that we dont have the citizenship to that country we definitely own the length and breadth of the Arab Country. From managing stores to Constructing Bruj-Al-Khalifa Mallus have for years dominated the way. You can easily go around the place if you know Malayalam. Literally everyone speaks or knows the language. I heard stories of Paki or Pathans who have lived in Dubai for years can speak fluent Malayalam. This is definitely not new and certainly well known but it was a revelation none the less. The reality was pretty awesome I am in total awe.
My first view of Dubai started from 35,000 feet above the sea level. The View down below was like big chunks of chocolate cakes dug with hands. The turquoise blue sea below was a stark contrast to the warm air blowing across. Suddenly out of nowhere you come across a grid of roads and road networks that looked like butterflies to me at every intersection. As we drew closer to the airport the fast cars seemed more and more prominent it was such a site.
We finally landed to a very beautiful airport shapped like a centipede with glass all around. The airport was brimming with life. The waterfalls, the Maybach, the ferrai, the lamborgini, etc were all waiting to be won in a lottery of life for spending on endless list of shopping options on the airport.
I checked in to a hotel called the Arabian courtyard, situated in Bur dubai, right opposite Joyallukyas...oops Dubai Museum. The hotel presented a good arabic themed room which to me seemed very similar to Rajasthani structures and palaces. The Swiming pools and spa presented very similarly as we do in India. The roads were broad, the yachts lined at the creek and the shops looking amagingly beautiful and inviting. The options are endless. I resisted my need to venture out and explore the dubai world and headed straight to GITEX. The conference I was attending for the next three days. I have already submitted a detailed report on that to the management so the less I mention it here the better I reckon.
The air outside the conference hall is hot and humid. Everytime you walk out of the hall into the open you face the intense heat and just run for the freezing Cab. As I traveled across I understood why the cabs were maintained to almost freezing temperatures. It almost made sense what to me was unbearably hot was actually start of the Arabian winters. The first day after the conference I explored the neighborhood and explored the grocery stores, the local eat outs. I feel that these are places you actually get to see the truth of the place. I live in Bangalore which is like may be a few hours from kerela and have never come across a Malayalam paper in grocery stores but here I find it in literally all grocery stores. The food seemed very familiar and smelled almost irresistible. The dubai coffee, the Milk dry fruit Shakes are must haves. I was surprised at the number of Vegeterian options available just like in India in almost all stores. I could go to a Burger King and find a Veg burger but yes it does serve Camel burger as well for those of you who want to try that fantastic meat.
Dubai, a mall City and did get sometime to visit the Dubai mall, a fantasy land for Shoppers with numerous options.
This was a maddening world with more than 500k of shopping area from GUCCI to New yorker, Samsung to LG, it had literally everything that one could imagine. I loved the Dubai Fountain, very similar to the Bellagio, Vegas but set in a background of Bruj Al Khalifa. This fountain has to face a giant and in that respect the fountain is second to none. An awesome show of light, fountains and music. The Khalifa was an humbling experience. Very very imposing and what a building. It looks fantastic.
After the conference the day would usually end at a mall or a garden looking at Burj Al Arab. And finally winded up late in the night after a few drinks at the bar listening to karoke. The Dubai dark side includes its pubs, disc spralling with pros to entice you in a sin. In glam and glitz of Dubai there are these lebanese, philipines, Irani, pakistani, Indian women..they are definitely worth the glance. It can be a great treat to the eye.
Well before I returned there was just one thing to do and that thanks to my wonderful friends Jeev and Christie was more than a memorable one. Jeev and I went around shopping and visiting various locals in Dubai before returning to his house in Abu Dhabhi. What a ride across the desert 135 KMs in less than an hour (thankfully no traffic).
Fantastic roads, I got to see some very beautiful beaches and palaces that were awesome. I did manage to see the world's biggest Mosque and it was a sight. Awesome...........I can not thank him and his family enough who made me feel like the most important member who have ever visited their house. Its amaging the kind of heart both of them had. Inspite of the distance and trouble and the shopping till 2 AM we still made it back to the airport in time to leave back home. This trip was a remarkable experience giving me a great opportunity to see a part of the world I had only heard and seen on TV. I can also say that this is certainly not the last of that place for me. I sure would be traveling to that place soon enough. Hopefully this time with my wife and kid (waiting).
Jeev & Christie..thanks for everything you guys rock. Jason,buddy if I have a daughter I will certainly consider you as a son-in-law but you better be handsome and smart.
