With the month of May came the scorching heat and the idea to travel someplace cool. While brainstorming destinations, my cousin suggested Dubai. Dubai was almost fifty degrees while we were having this conversation and far fetched from my idea of a cool holiday. Though I dreaded it, I gave into popular demand and decided to explore it.
I had seen pictures of Dubai which were very different from what the city actually looked like. The first thing I noticed was the stillness and silence. Having been living in Mumbai, silence wasn't something I was used to.
Since it was very warm when I landed in Dubai, there was no one on the streets, which made me wonder if there was a curfew. The hotel, though located right next to a highway, was very quiet. Things are not usually the way they appear.
The hotel receptionist suggested visiting Mall of the Emirates. To beat the heat, going to the mall seemed like a great idea and a rendevouz with Haagen-Daaz made me even happier. One glance at the huge ice-cream topped with whipped cream took away my health consciousness. The mall was massive and over-crowded.
Initially it was quite a task maneuvering through the crowd. The local women and children would not move and give way to anyone. The concept of stepping aside and letting someone pass did not exist there. It was an etiquette shock. Soon I realized that I would just have to step aside or get attacked by the women walking with a purpose (best known to them). The stores compensated for everything since brands from all around the world were under one roof. Indeed, a shoppers' paradise!
After a drive around the city, I realized that Dubai was spread out. I was searching for a downtown which did not exist. The creek was beautiful and walking beside it at night was refreshing.
Marina Bay was breathtakingly beautiful. The best was the Atlantis. My friend Sanju took me there for partying and I was in seventh heaven.
The sand dunes and the camel ride was worth every Dhiram spent. Nature has a way of seducing.
I went crazy shopping. Kinokunoiya, one of the largest bookstores, took my breadth and credit card away. I picked up all the books I was craving to have, yet my appetite did not satisfy.
Then there was Starbucks and it speaks for itself, so I needn't say anything.
As cliched as it may sound, every place teaches a new lesson. The best part is that it takes you into a different realm... onto a different stage... suddenly enabling you to enact a different drama. Change of place is so powerful that you tend to forgo what you've been holding onto from your past.
Travel is one of the best teachers and the finest diversion from the day to day intricacies of life.
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