The Wonder that is Dubai....

A good friend of mine was trying to improve his english speaking and writing skills, and so he asked me if I could write an article for him that he can read and practice on. I wasn't sure that I was the right person to do this for him but... what the heck... I gave it my best shot.... He is my friend after all.....

And so the article goes like this....

Dubai has grown so much in the span of 3 decades of it being a nation. Undoubtedly, one, if not, the youngest and fastest growing country in the world.

From barren desert lands rose towering sky scrapers and monumental buildings. From dry sandy hills sprung forth rivers, oasis and water theme parks. Who would have thought that all of these would have been possible.... but it is.... and now Dubai has earned it's place to become one of the world's most expensive and lavish tourist destination in the world.

One of Dubai's pride and Joy would be the colossal tower known as "Bhurj Khalifa" - The tallest building in the world.... At over 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) and with more than 160 stories, it stands right smack in the middle of Dubai like a monarch ruling over its dominion. It boasts a breathtaking view of the city from it's observation deck at a dizzying height well above the ground.

Another architectural wonder that could only be found in Dubai is the first and only 7-star hotel named "Burj-Al Arab". Sitting snugly on its own man-made-island out on the coast of Dubai, It never ceases to amaze travellers both on land and out at sea, with it's ever changing array of colours and hue. Burj-Al Arab is also the epitome of splendour and extravagance with its interior and decor decked in Gold. One cannot help but stare in awe at it's magnificence and opulence.

Even the malls in Dubai are exceptional.... such as the Dubai Mall with its massive area of over 440,000 square feet, hosting more than 1,200 stores and other world class attractions. The Mall of Emirates where you can find the only man-made ski resort within a mall (Ski-Dubai), the Wafi Mall which is built to look like a grand pyramid right in the middle of a modern city..... If you are a certified mall rat, then Dubai definitely is the place for you.

If you think that Dubai is nothing but a dry and desolate wasteland.... think again.... Amazing as it is, you will find the world’s most elaborate water theme parks within it’s bosom. The Wild Wadi water theme park is where you will find the tallest free-fall water slide in the world, surf-pools for all you surfing addicts, and a myriad of other water attractions. You can also check out the Atlantis water park, where you can go on a day-long adventure with your family and friends. You can choose whether you want to do the aquaventure...or discover the lost chambers.... or even swim with the dolphins..... Now who can ask for more?

Now if you are more of the outdoors –type-of guy/gal, Dubai will not disappoint you. No trip to the UAE is complete without one having to try the desert safari adventure. This adventure takes the phrase “roughing it out” to a whole new level.  Not for the queasy-stomach, the adventure starts with a drive out to the middle of the dessert, camel rides and a light snack. Then gear up cause you are about to have the ride of your life....Dune bashing is one of the most thrilling and adrenalin pumping activities you can do out in the desert. One wrong turn and your whole world will turn topsy-turvy.... LITERALLY.  Then the adventure mellows down to a night of relaxation and fun, where one can enjoy a sumptuous feast right in the heart of the desert. Your senses will be stirred with the smell of shisha, the taste of good food and the sound of hypnotic music while belly dancers enchant you with their smooth languid movements.

No matter who you are or where you are from, Dubai has something to offer you.... From it's colourful streets, such as "Sheikh Zayed Road, lined with it's multitude of hotels, Shops and Restaurants, to it's multi-cultured bars and night spots to its magnificent beaches and leisure parks.... One will never find himself lacking for entertainment and activity. Dubai will reel you in and will make you fall in love with it's exuberance and uniqueness....

The TRUTH.......

Tonight.... I have come to realize something.....
And it was not those.... wham.... eureka-kinda-moment that you see on TV
it was this gradual realization of something..... like a cloud clearing up after a rainstorm..... it was.....
SUREAL....

I have always been a repressed wild child.... I know in my heart that there has always been this drive.... this need to be different.... to do things that are not done by normal people..... I wanted to be daring.... to be crazy.... to be LOUD. When i was younger, i didnt had the guts to do it.... i was too dependent on people. I wanted people to like me too. I wanted people to say what a nice kid i was.... I followed the rules, i smiled till my face hurt, and i did what was expected of me. I was not exceptional..... I was..... NORMAL.... and i was miserable.

Then, i grew up a little... learned a little more about life and how it works.... or how i percieved it to work. I learned about falling in love, getting your heart broken for the first time.... i learned about dissapointment..... mistrust.... betrayal..... i learned that life will not always let you have your way. That as you grow older, things will get more complicated, people will change... YOU will change. Friends will become enemies, enemies will become lovers and lovers.... well lovers will become fleeting memories..... well... those that have not engraved their footprint in your heart.... You learn to let people in and out of your life like the never ending cycle of night and day.... here one day.... gone one night..... such is the truth about life.....

I have felt every possible emotion there is.... all except one....I felt excitement, i felt pride, i felt remorse, i felt shame, i felt gladness, i felt sorrow, i felt dissapointment...... all, except one.... I never truly felt how it was, to be truly happy.

and then there was LOVE....

I thought i knew what being in love was all about. I have read about it countless times... seen it on the big screen and heard people talk about it endlessly. I have fantasized about it from songs that people play on the radio. I have craved for this thing that everyone wants to be part of..... I wanted sooooo bad to fall in love. I guess that was my mistake..... I wanted it so bad that i always mistake it for something else...... I am not ashemed to admit that i have rushed into relationships head-on.... only to come crashing back to earth after a while. I jumped from one lover to another, forcing love to come my way, only to have the door to love closed on my face. I led myself to believe that love is no different from lust..... and that the physical act of being with someone would bring forth this elusive gift..... what a fool I have been.... because in the end..... my quest to finding love, only led me to hate myself more and more. I began to doubt my ability to love.... I began to think that i am lacking.... that there is something wrong with me, or there is something that i am doing wrong.... because the harder i try to grasp for love.... the more the relationships end in bitterness and remorse..... I began to remodify myself into someone my lover would want in a partner.... they wanted skinny? I starved myself to death..... they wanted succesful? I pushed and shoved till i got to the top of what i do.... they wanted pretty? I bought so much damn make up i could put up my own cosmetic store. BUT in the end.... none of these mattered.....

I am not saying that i have given up on my crusade.... I still believe that LOVE is out there... and somewhere out there is a LOVE that is meant for ME. Perhaps, the road to finding it will be difficult... and i may have to face more heartbreak than i would care to experience.... BUT.... if this love is truly out there.... and if it really is meant for me... and me alone....then i know in my heart.... that it will all be WORTH IT.......

To Bank... Or... Not to Bank....

I have always hated banks..... I feel that they are an institution made by the corporate world to suck the life and blood out of every individual, fool enough to acquire their services. They are the devil’s advocate.... and I am sure that you are all familiar with the quote “Money is the root of all evil”.... Well, these banks roll in lots of it..... need I say more?

Now I know, and I am not so naive to believe, that you would all believe and agree with what I have just said. Some of you may even say that I am so harsh to have said such a thing.... well maybe.... BUT let me just share why I feel this way about banks.....

I have never been a big fan of banks. Ever since I was a kid, I was not so keen on the “save your penny for a rainy day” ideology. Although believe me, my mom has been pounding us (her children) to do so.... Spend wisely, only get what you need, and use your piggy banks for what they are for.... no.... not as decoration but for actual saving.... Yeah? Well.... if my piggy bank were a real piggy, it would be the most malnourished piggy you would ever see in your life :P that’s how bad I was.

It’s not that I don’t like banks per se.... but more of... well, more of a trust issue. I don’t trust anyone else would handle my HARD-EARNED money, better than I can.... (well in my case, my mom can LOL).  Come to think about it, what do banks really do anyway? They always say that they have your best interest at heart and that they are here to make your money grow through investments and interests and what nots. If this were really the case, then how come so many people are buried in DEBT and are on financial redlines? Properties that you’ve invested blood sweat and tears on are taken away as collateral or guarantee that you will pay them back..... wait wait wait...... since when did the tables get turned???? Now you OWE the bank???? ....  didn’t you just give them money for safekeeping so you would not be in this very situation?

And one more thing.... banking transactions are a major PAIN IN THE ASS nowadays. Okay, tell me how you would feel if you went to a bank, handed all your documents which you painstakingly filled up to make sure nothing goes wrong, only to be informed later on (think 3 days after) that the transaction did not go through because the bank thought that your D was an O!!!!! WTF!!!!! Are you F””%$£%£ kidding me???!!!! SERIOUSLY..... they couldn’t have asked you this question... I don’t know... 3 DAYS AGO!!!! When your ass was right there at their bank and you could have made the changes right there and then???? DAMMIT!!!!....... ( okay.... breathe..... breathe....)

I do not mean to flare up like this but my experiences with banks have been so ridiculously frustrating that I don’t know whether to laugh, cry or throw a fit....  To be honest, I would gladly live the rest of my life without having to do anything with banks.... BUT.... Alas! It’s the golden era of banking. You would not get anywhere or do anything without a bank statement backing you up. So.... To the rest of human kind who shares the same sentiments.... GOOD LUCK TO US!!!