Holiday Diaries #5: DUBAI! - Getting Familiar With The City Of Gold

The city that many people across the globe would like to vacation in; and that had been jokingly but repeatedly requested for as a holiday destination in our family, became a dream-like reality when we flew to Dubai on 29^th March 2017.

The two and a half hour flight from Mumbai to Dubai was miraculously smooth. We did not have to endure even an ounce of turbulence, the aircraft being manned with the grace and elegance of none other than a woman aviation crew. It was as if I was in a reverie when I saw the coastline of the Emirates appear, which was previously obscured by the white curling wisps of cloud and mist. The birds’ eye view that I had been offered appeared to trick and deceive me at first, when the tall spires and towers that spiraled away into the sky, and which Dubai and Sharjah; another highly-developed city, as close as 20 km from Dubai were very famous for, still did not come into vision. 

All that the eyes could see was endless expanses of sand of varying colours. Hillocks of copperish sand, brown dunes and ochre granules creasing the surface of the land, as far as the eye could see. I was reminded of the beauty of the desert described by Paulo Coelho in his book, ‘The Alchemist’, where it is rumoured that the desert’s changing colours and sand patterns are as enchanting and soothing as a waft of breeze or the shade and splendor of a forest. At the time, I thought Coelho had exaggerated the power of its beauty a bit, but all puzzle pieces clicked into place when I saw it for myself. Small houses and cottages dotted the sand, no more than tiny specks in the massive desert. Roads winded through the sand here and there, but unlike the actual city itself, vehicles could rarely be seen.

A date palm offered shade on occasion and often homes were clustered around the region where the trees clumped. Slowly but surely, the looming structures that I had imagined began to acquire domination over their humble counterparts. The sand started fading away as green patches flourished, as did other amenities, like malls, courts, gardens, apartments, bungalows and an intricate network of curving roads.

The airport was spread over a vast campus, so much so that we had to board a train interlinking the terminal to the main airport area. Joy sprung up in me as I saw the first stamp in my passport, marking and also permanently stamping my love for travel. It was a blur to the hotel, in the literal sense, as we boarded a train the second time that day, the metro. The station was lavish and provided as many facilities as was possible, ranging from restaurants to ATMs and small exchanges. The trains were spotlessly clean, and arrived periodically; the maximum interval we waited for during the entire course of our journey was 5 minutes. Although the station itself was underground, the tracks were suspended in mid-air, over bridges and hubs. The answer to how they achieved this still evades me! The atmosphere within the train was calm and serene, quite in contrast to the situation in a Bombay local, for instance. Everybody went about their own business, barely sparing each other a glance or a smile. Being used to the friendly and inquisitive nature of we Indians, it took me quite a while to get used to this sudden change of perspective and attitude. Seated inside the comfortable metro cabin, I was treated to an aerial view of the beautiful city of Dubai.

Small houses as well as trade centers, and looming structures rose endlessly, whizzing past the windows as the train sped along at an astonishing speed.

Precautionary measures to ensure the imminent safety of passengers as well as steps that guaranteed cleanliness and hygiene had been taken; and passengers who dared to break these rules were subject to heavy fine, thus making these steps highly effective. Landmarks at which the train would stop were announced in Arabic too, which fascinated me deeply and I tried to pick up on certain phrases.

So tired were we due to the long and tiring journey, that we decided a little walk in the streets and along the beach; and some fresh air would rejuvenate our minds. It took us quite a bit to realize that our planned “little” walk was going to prove to be no less that a 7-mile stroll!

Our first sightseeing adventure included a trip to the Jumeirah Lake Towers, a series of gigantic buildings that simply soared upwards. The thing which was most enthralling was the fact that although almost all such buildings were paned in steel-like blue glass, not one of their designs was similar. Each structure’s architectural style was different: balconies jutting out at different angles, rooms aligned and designed to create an optical illusion, unique domes, and varied structures that topped each building. I had to constantly crane my neck to view the entirety of the buildings, so gigantic and enormous was their size.

The iconic landmark present on Dubai’s coast The Cayan tower, an imposing monument which seemed to twist and wind upon itself, glowed a shimmering silver. My eyes goggled and I marveled in awe, never had my eyes feasted on such a masterpiece of an edifice.

The walkways lining the Lake Towers were glorious in their own way. Restaurants lined up, forming an avenue, trees swayed in the breeze, benches and sitting areas were parked at regular intervals, and a perfect place to stretch out and exercise, alongside a spectacular view, which was quite pleasing to the mind, was complimentary.

Everybody was determined to use this opportunity to the optimum level; as well as take advantage of the beautiful day, and many were out and about, walking by the water, chattering and bicycling.

The ferry ride to the Atlantis Hotel at the very tip of the famed Palm Islands was also an experience on its own. Pulling up anchor at the JLT dock, the boat gently swooshed into the water, moving into the more turbulent sea.

The coastline with all the towers rowed up, moved farther and farther away until all we could see was a streak of silver and blue amidst cerulean waters and golden sand.

The boat left a trail of white foam in the water, while we sped deeper into the sea, the wind whipping through our hair and the smell of salt and wet sand suspended in the air. It was raw freedom from the confinement of the buildings in the heart of Dubai, wild, untamed and free...

The walk to the beach was once again, refreshing. The roads too wished to break the monotony of cement and tar now and then, turning into cobblestoned streets, which have a strange way of charming me. Pedestrians were treated with as much respect as if they were family; allowed to pass willingly by cars even if the signal flashed green. I was pleasantly surprised by the high-self esteem of this city’s residents and wished that Indian citizens would also look up to and take it upon themselves to bring about a positive change in the country. How socially and economically developed our nation would stand to be if it took inspiration from such places!

The beach was covered in sand; tens of deck chairs put up for the benefit of its visitors. I imagined myself sprawled on one of them, underneath the shade of the umbrella placed beside it, a book and pen in hand, looking towards the fathomless sea for inspiration. Low waves approached the sand, caressing its edge as they receded once more, leaving a patch of wet sand in its wake. I have always drawn comfort from the serenity of the sea. There is something peculiarly calming about walking barefoot along the coast, thinking about nothing else, gazing into the beautiful sea-green of the ocean. Almost, my kind of meditation.

Buildings which comprised the eminent Jumeirah Beach Residency lined the beach overlooking the glorious waters, surging upwards into the heavens. When lit up, an aura formed around them, as did the entire city of Dubai during nights. 

Slowly and gradually, lights start twinkling in the windows and before you know it, day has faded into night, the moon has emerged from where it was hiding during the day, and Dubai emits blazing radiance. Although the walk back to the metro station from the shore was as long as before, the glow of the city mesmerized me in such a way that I hardly realized the large magnitude of the distance we were covering. Pavements protruded from the sides of the wide streets, and various shops and cafes had set up shop on them. Comfortable looking chairs were spread out, providing the best view of the roads while people could eat equally as delicious food. Plants and trees were swinging in the gentle breeze and there was nothing quite as fun as peering into the windows of the shops that displayed exquisite items. A mouth-watering aroma drifted from bakeries that promised scrumptious goodies.

There was something different and unique about each shop and it didn’t feel as if we were walking along the main road. Landmark circles and city squares exhibited statues and one even showcased a beautiful golden horse, lit up with light.

The roads were a scene of hustle and bustle, vehicles moving at top speed, pedestrians walking towards their destination, customers, and friends laughing and gorging on food at the tables, but it was not a cacophony of noise or rush. Instead, the activity also had a layer of calm and quiet draped over it. We passed on a bridge over the Jumeirah Lake. The towers looked even more striking than they did by daylight; the boats and ferries strung with curtains of lights.

At the end of the day, back at the hotel, I pondered over how tranquility hovered over each road, each building in Dubai, although it was a city surging and ever-moving with life. The sense of experiencing such quiet even after an eventful and exciting day amazed me, also enlivening and making me look forward eagerly to the days to come in the city of Dubai.