I
just went malling in Dubai. I know, right? It’s not that there isn’t anything
to see, but it’s just that... Well, if you have been following my travel
related blog posts for the last few years, you must have already noticed this
pattern where the cities towards the end of my itinerary always suffer from
indifference and exhaustion. It’s just the way it is, which is why I am trying
to limit all my travels to a maximum of two weeks. Fortunately, Dubai is a
really good place for chilaxin’, and chillax I did.
The
place somehow reminds me of Singapore, where it’s good to stay for a day or two
to splurge and play around. It seems like a really comfortable city to live in,
but will make you think twice before relocating because it’s so effing expensive. I guess the difference is that while there are
many Filipinos living and working in SG, there are even more of them in the
UAE. Almost every person you meet here is either Filipino or Indian. Where all
the Arabs went, I really don’t have a clue.
Ah,
yes. That phenomenon. I remember when I landed in the US for the first time
last year, Los Angeles, of all places. I was, like, where are all the white
people? Everyone you see is either Mexican or Chinese, although you would still see,
like, two or three Caucasians a day, usually driving their cars or jogging. They
were a minority, though. It seems to be the same case in Dubai, except that you
substitute the Caucasian with an Arab, and the Mexicans and Chinese with
Filipinos and Indians.
Dubai’s
malls are legit. They even have this one called Mall of the Emirates that has a
fake winter wonderland inside, where locals and tourists alike pretend that
they are not in the Middle East’s arid desert. But what I found
really interesting is that they have Jollibee here, and the lines are never-ending.
Imagine the curiosity on a foreigner’s face wondering who or what the heck Jollibee is
and why all these people are waiting patiently for their turn to order
food they can also get at McDonalds.
But
instead of talking about malls, why don’t we talk about the few touristy sites
I managed to squeeze in between my unavoidable bouts of acute indolence? I can
only think of one, and that was Palm Jumeirah. You see, there is this fancy
looking manmade residential area on the sea, shaped like a palm. Looking at a
tourist map makes it look like a mere decoration for the bay, like a reef or
something. You’ll find out when you go there that it’s actually way, way bigger
than that, like a giant village for the ultra-rich.
Dubai’s
metro and tram systems are easy to follow, and I’m pretty sure you will figure
it out. You should, because it is really helpful and cheaper than taking a cab,
obviously. You’ll be taking a combo of those two to get to Palm Jumeirah, where
the main attraction is this huge resort complex that goes by the name of Atlantis.
I think it is the brainchild of the same people behind that one in the Bahamas.
The style looks pretty much the same, as well as the prohibitive prices if you
decide to stay at their hotel.
The
water park is really nice and tempting, but I didn’t think it was worth it if I
wasn’t swimming anyway. The plan was to pay for the admission fee so I could
take photos and videos inside. I decided against it because, as I said, I think
it wasn’t worth it. I’d rather come back some other time with family and
friends so I could enjoy more and not feel guilty splurging for nothing. Those
who were swimming inside seemed really satisfied, though, so I am defo including
this on my bucket list.
The
malls were malls, good venues to kill time. The one where I saw Batman v
Superman is called Dubai Mall, a stone’s throw away from the Burj Khalifa,
which is the tallest structure in the world according to Wiki. It does look
impressive from afar regardless if you see it day or night. My issue with it is
that a decent selfie didn’t seem to be possible close-up, unless you don’t
include your head or something to that effect. In the end, I snubbed it
altogether. Like, fuck you, tall building. I’ll go watch a movie now.
I
think what I brought home with me from this Dubai trip was not the sightseeing itself
this time around, but rather the experience of living there like a local for
two or three days, and observing firsthand what life is like for OFWs, those
who have chosen to live far away from their families in the Philippines so they
can give them a better future. While there seems to be enough distractions for
the single and the obligation-free, I can only imagine how depressing it is for
the family man or woman missing his/her family.
[DUBAI] Where Did All the Arabs Go
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