So here I am, in this frenetic boomtown, in the heart of the Middle East — and I haven’t been so connected before. I’m literally a few hours from Istanbul and London to the west, all of India within two or three, five to parts of Africa. Seven to Casablanca. Even if I currently harbour no plans to hit up Casablanca as yet, “seven hours to Casablanca” sounds incredible, like it could be a hit song.
I’m trying to make sense of why I’m here and what I am doing, not doing a good job at all but you’d have to pardon me: the traffic here is mind-numbing. I spend so much of my time dealing with it, trying to avoid it, trying to get out of a jam, trying to get somewhere on time, trying to find a taxi. Finding it difficult to grapple with such a car-centric society, especially one that loves its cars but drives this badly.
I’m not sure I like it. I’m not sure I hate it either. That’s mostly because it’s hard to put a finger on what Dubai is about — if it is about anything at all. Mostly, it comes across as a schizophrenic mish-mash that isn’t so much about the sum of its parts adding up to make something coherent, as it is about individual parts just appearing together at different times. I have five months to make up my mind about it, which is fine: I don’t think I can stay any longer. All the wrong things are so easy, and all the things that should be, aren’t. It’s easy to buy a hulking car, but not easy to cross a road. It’s easy to build a neighbourhood so pruned, so perfect, it reminds you of the Truman Show, but it’s not easy to live in one. I wear a ring everyday so I can say I’m married, when the wrong people enquire. For now, the incredible air connections and the opportunities still tilt this heavily towards the positive side.
P.S. If you know DXB at the back of your hand — please tell me your food secrets. There’s no shortage of restaurants and cafes of every stripe and cuisine and budget, but I’ve yet to find one I’ve been truly impressed by.
P.P.S. Istanbul and London tips needed, too!
possibly related
Outside the Egyptian Spice Bazaar /
fortylove.tv – coming soon /
In Transit /
Neither Here Nor There /
And All The Roads That Lead You There Were Winding /
DXB So Far
So here I am, in this frenetic boomtown, in the heart of the Middle East — and I haven’t been so connected before. I’m literally a few hours from Istanbul and London to the west, all of India within two or three, five to parts of Africa. Seven to Casablanca. Even if I currently harbour no plans to hit up Casablanca as yet, “seven hours to Casablanca” sounds incredible, like it could be a hit song.
I’m trying to make sense of why I’m here and what I am doing, not doing a good job at all but you’d have to pardon me: the traffic here is mind-numbing. I spend so much of my time dealing with it, trying to avoid it, trying to get out of a jam, trying to get somewhere on time, trying to find a taxi. Finding it difficult to grapple with such a car-centric society, especially one that loves its cars but drives this badly.
I’m not sure I like it. I’m not sure I hate it either. That’s mostly because it’s hard to put a finger on what Dubai is about — if it is about anything at all. Mostly, it comes across as a schizophrenic mish-mash that isn’t so much about the sum of its parts adding up to make something coherent, as it is about individual parts just appearing together at different times. I have five months to make up my mind about it, which is fine: I don’t think I can stay any longer. All the wrong things are so easy, and all the things that should be, aren’t. It’s easy to buy a hulking car, but not easy to cross a road. It’s easy to build a neighbourhood so pruned, so perfect, it reminds you of the Truman Show, but it’s not easy to live in one. I wear a ring everyday so I can say I’m married, when the wrong people enquire. For now, the incredible air connections and the opportunities still tilt this heavily towards the positive side.
P.S. If you know DXB at the back of your hand — please tell me your food secrets. There’s no shortage of restaurants and cafes of every stripe and cuisine and budget, but I’ve yet to find one I’ve been truly impressed by.
P.P.S. Istanbul and London tips needed, too!
possibly related
Outside the Egyptian Spice Bazaar / fortylove.tv – coming soon / In Transit / Neither Here Nor There / And All The Roads That Lead You There Were Winding /