If You Build It, They Will Come

Airplane Conversation:
Sean: "I can't believe it is 100 degrees out in Dubai. This is going to be relatively uncomfortable"
Drew: "Dont't worry dude...it's dry heat...you won't feel a thing"

In reality, it was not dry heat...in fact it was wet heat...very wet heat. Drew and I were immediately covered in sweat upon leaving the airport...denim and the UAE just don't mix. We were scheduled to stay with good family friend Dan Grimm and his wife Emily (some of you will remember that Dan accompanied my older brother on his trip).

Dan had sent his Pakistani driver to pick us up so we really didn't have to spend the usual 2 hours trying to navigate the city. Mohammed (that is actually his name...im not just stereotyping) pulled up in the first SUV we had seen in months (if Euro cars were sold at a clothing store...it would most likely be baby Gap). Instead of a hybrid smart moped, Mo rolled around the corner in a Chevy Tahoe, accelerating too fast just to make sure he was burning enough gas.

I climbed in the front seat to find a folder-sized envelope with the blog name on it and instructions from Dan. At that instant, Mohammed handed me his cell phone and our host was on the other line. I kinda felt like Mission Impossible Tom Cruise (not to be confused with Oprah Winfrey Tom Cruise) as Dan told me the plan for the upcoming evening.

What he left out was what we would actually be doing...he just told us where and when to meet our guide for the upcoming festivities. Arabian Adventures? Turns out that we were booked to go on an SUV safari through the desert dunes outside Dubai. As approximately 30 Tahoes sped to our rendezvous point, somewhere an alternative energy activist shed a single tear. It was during the 45 minute ride out to the desert that we got our first real look at Dubai. Drew describes it perfectly as a real life version of Sim City. A third of the world's cranes are strewn about endless skyscrapers including the world's only seven star hotel (self-appointed) and the tallest tower ever built (over 800 meters). This is all possible because the Sheikh goes to bed at night on a water-bed full of crude oil...I digress.

After entering the desert and removing some air from our tires we took off. I have decided that our driver actually has the undisputed most fun job in the world. Weaving back and forth over dunes, Drew and I took every turn with anticipation as the Japanese tourists in the back sighed with a mixture of nerves and fear. Most other cars had one or several of their passengers getting sick but apparently our driver was not on his game. After about 30 minutes of up and down entertainment, the rollercoaster suddenly stopped. Amir (driver) decided it was amateur hour and got stuck...wedged in the sand...wheels not even touching. First time I ever had to get out and push in my life. Eventually another SUV came and tugged us out so we could catch up with the other vehicles.

Upon arriving at the desert camp we were greeted with dinner and a dance show...also a free camel ride which we passed on without much thought. We then skipped the dunes on the ride back to avoid any further complications and were dropped off at the hotel across from Dan's apartment. Drew and I met with Dan and Emily afterwards and stayed up rehashing the first half of our trip and the evening's events.

The next day we decided to get down to the base level of Dubai society...you know...mingle with the locals. Fortunately this involved going to the Mall of the Emirates and taking a few runs on the indoor ski-mountain. Ski Dubai is nothing more than a store in a shopping mall...except it is an entire ski-slope complete with chairlift, board park, black diamond, and T-bar. For 30 USD you get a quasi 80's ski suit and the skis or board of your choice.

Given the outside temperature, we figured it would be a comfortable temperature in the actual complex. In reality, it was freezing...really freezing...but it was worth it. How many times have you seen men charging the hill wearing turbans? My count is at one which is more than most people can say. We eventually got tired of skiing however as the runs literally lasted for 10 seconds (5 if you can really shred). After turning in our gear we conquered the rest of the mall and took a cab back to Jumeirah beach to find Emily waiting to take us to dinner. We met Dan at a Moroccan/Hookah restaurant and recounted the day's cultural immersion.

The next day would be a bit different as we headed to the Jumeirah mosque to participate in the "Open Understanding" discussion on Islam.Like everything else in Dubai, the mosque was newer than the iPod touch...but the dispelling of rumors about Muslims was extremely educational. Just so everyone knows, the women choose to and enjoy covering from head to toe...its a style preference apparently...hmmmmm.

The last night, Dan decided to show us how to party, Emiratee style. Since bars are only allowed in hotels in Dubai, I guess you could say we went hotel hopping. Our boy Mo drove us around as we mingled with the cream of the UAE crop. At the end of the night, we left all the pomp and 15 dollar drinks to experience the 24 hour Burger King on the way back. A taste of home was exactly what we needed.

We left extremely early the next morning...so early that our sleep tally was only at one hour when we caught the airport cab. Drew and I are fairly certain, however, that Dan slept well beyond his usual wakeup time. Dubai had been good to us...a nice sendoff before we enterred the third world...India would prove to be much different than anything else we had experienced.