Vegas of the Middle East

Of course how can you go to india without going to an indian movie. Leaving the dusty and sometimes chilly Amritsar led me to the most cosmopolitan city of India. If there was a city in India that I can live in, it would be Mumbai. Before i continue i would like to give a big shout out to Fazillah - my yar who is a fan of these blogs. .. After arriving at the airport in mumbai of course you got to get a cab. My friend Capri (whose house i stayed at, thanks for all the hospitality you and Rashmi gave me) told me that a cab to his house should cost 100 rupees. I arrive and the price is 385. I tried to negotiate to no avail. I managed to get a rickshaw for 150 and started towards his house. Problem is the Rrickshaw doesn't go all the way to his house. Lucky for my mobile (celly for you canadianas). Anyways so the moral of this story is that crossing the highway in mumbai is not fun and lucky i made it ok. All the practice and training paid off. In mumbai i stayed near sion east near bandra. Bandra is where sharuk khan lives (check out the archives). Three days in mumbai allowed me to check out some indian art exhibits (my friends wife is an artist). Also of course my favourite the indian movie. we went to two movies. One was a multiplex where they happened to do a big movie premier of the movie traffic signal. We watched that the day after. Salam eh isk is a typical indian movie great story. Traffic signal is a more artsy movie and although a bit slow i liked it. It showed the life of people on the streats. Go watch it. As i drove by any traffic signal in mumbai i think of the movie of the people who's whole life is dependent on weather they can sell a newspaper or shine a shoe or sell some clothes or beg. Weather they starve or stay alive is dependent on chance, peoples attitude, rain and of course attitudes. In the end this time in india i tried to have more loose change to give away. Its just so sad to see. Anyways three days in bombay and i am done with india. Off to the next city....Vegas.... Vegas of the East.. Ok not really vegas. Dubai is like vegas but without the gambling. Having many cuzins my days were action packed. Although i did catch a bit of the cold which let me bed rest for a couple days. The malls have ski lifts. The water is imported in from the sea. No island is natural. First of all Dubai is a desert. The whole city has emerged from the desert sand. Remind of a city... oh ya vegas. And the crazy thing is that the construction is just getting started. In 5years this city will be a masterpiece. An engineers dream. It will house the largest building in the world. Its recreating the taj mahal. Cornishes everywhere (like an inlet). As a place to live it has it all. It has cheap labour so you can live as a king for cheap. A cook a maid a driver. Also the malls are enormous the beach is there the weather is nice. The only problem is the traffic. Oh ya don't forget the gold souks where all the gold traders sell their jewelry at good prices. Forget india come to dubai if you are getting married. Get the gold the clothes all here. As for culture its not here. You do get some arab culture but its very material. But its close to lots of places so nice location. The rest of the week ...shopping at Meena bazzar.. gold sukh... and of course the desert safari Desert Safari emptying the air out of the land cruiser. Less air allows the car to slide better across the dunes. Its a roller coaster ride. After a half hour we get to the tent. Ride a camal. Hold a bald eagle. Have some sheeha. Mixed grill buffet excellent food. And of course dressing in Arab gear. My cuzin had on the burkha. Thats a black and white culture men in white, women in black. Dune buggy which bailed on me. For some reason i stalled up a hill and i tried to go backwards only to have it come crashing on me. Lucky it wasn't heavy. Anyways the rest of the night was spent watching belly dancing. Overnight a great day. Friday was spent with my cuzins and uncle touring the city. Good to have family in Dubai I will definitely be back. Oh ya also went to a club out there , incredible. Dubai should only be experienced so I will leave it at that. What happens in Dubai ..... well happens again.... hehe. So i write this to you from Morocco. After Dubai I have been to London and then Morocco. I will head to Portugal, Spain, London again, Boston and New York. I am on my 44th of 60 days. Will keep you posted. Salam malekum......