Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
Dec 29th 2007, 4:56 pm
#16
Bored liberal
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Location: Over there ----->
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Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
Well said!
And there are quite a few galleries in Dubai that run regular exhibitions, as well as the annual art fair. There are also theatres and that scene is getting bigger too. It would help if those who moaned about the 'lack of culture' actually supported what there is, as without that it won't improve.
Dec 29th 2007, 4:59 pm
#17
Bored liberal
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Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
Hi all! 
............
First and probably most important question to all those who like/love Dubai: Was it love on the first sight?? Or does it take a while until you will like it?
I've been down there for 1 day and two nights last year for an interview (didn't work out in the end for the money) and I was a bit disappointed - my impression was like it is just an artificial and sterile cluster of shopping malls and hotels in the dessert and didn't get the exciting feelings you get when you come to great cities like Paris, HK, Moscow, etc for the first time.
Do you think that there is still any hope for me that I will enjoy the city one day? (Of course you can enjoy any place with right people
)
Considering the trip was for free it wasn't that bad though
Thanks for all useful answers that will hopefully come!
............
First and probably most important question to all those who like/love Dubai: Was it love on the first sight?? Or does it take a while until you will like it?
I've been down there for 1 day and two nights last year for an interview (didn't work out in the end for the money) and I was a bit disappointed - my impression was like it is just an artificial and sterile cluster of shopping malls and hotels in the dessert and didn't get the exciting feelings you get when you come to great cities like Paris, HK, Moscow, etc for the first time.
Do you think that there is still any hope for me that I will enjoy the city one day? (Of course you can enjoy any place with right people
)Considering the trip was for free it wasn't that bad though
Thanks for all useful answers that will hopefully come!
Not all of Dubai is just shopping malls - it depends where you are, although sadly much of the more newly built areas are like that. If you go to the older parts (e.g. Satwa, Deira) you will see a real town. Unfortunately too many expats never leave the giant malls/AR/Springs/Marina etc and really have no idea about the rest of the city.
Good luck!
-
Dec 29th 2007, 7:25 pm
#18
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,028
Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
Not all of Dubai is just shopping malls - it depends where you are, although sadly much of the more newly built areas are like that. If you go to the older parts (e.g. Satwa, Deira) you will see a real town. Unfortunately too many expats never leave the giant malls/AR/Springs/Marina etc and really have no idea about the rest of the city.
Good luck!
-
Good luck!
-
Dec 29th 2007, 9:02 pm
#19
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Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai
Posts: 888
Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
Maybe we need a "rent cap" on car park charges?
Dec 29th 2007, 9:10 pm
#20
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Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,553
Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
I've begun to love Dubai even more after my recent holiday in India
Dec 29th 2007, 9:15 pm
#21
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Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
As for corruption, it now looks like the incumbent President of Kenya will win the election there despite trailing the Opposition by nearly 10% in the polls. It probably helped that there was a voter turnout of 115% in some of the President's favoured constituencies! At least the corruption over there is fairly transparent, unlike that in other places I could mention.
Dec 29th 2007, 9:15 pm
#22
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Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 47
Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
Not all of Dubai is just shopping malls - it depends where you are, although sadly much of the more newly built areas are like that. If you go to the older parts (e.g. Satwa, Deira) you will see a real town. Unfortunately too many expats never leave the giant malls/AR/Springs/Marina etc and really have no idea about the rest of the city.
Good luck!
-
Good luck!
-
I'm not that much into museums and operas, a decent lifely nightlife district with dozens of bars, restaurants and clubs would be a good start. As I understood such establishments are mostly located in hotels, so lurching from one pub to another will require taxi.
Dec 29th 2007, 9:17 pm
#23
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,187
Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
I actually tried to get to see these areas the day I have been there. My problem was that I tried to get there by walking from the hotel near the airport without a map. On a HOT day in August. When I reached the port area, having lost about 20 pounds of sweat and being totally pissed off, I gave up and took a cab back to the hotel. The lesson learnt was that there is a very good reason that there are no pedestrains out in the streets in August.
I'm not that much into museums and operas, a decent lifely nightlife district with dozens of bars, restaurants and clubs would be a good start. As I understood such establishments are mostly located in hotels, so lurching from one pub to another will require taxi.
I'm not that much into museums and operas, a decent lifely nightlife district with dozens of bars, restaurants and clubs would be a good start. As I understood such establishments are mostly located in hotels, so lurching from one pub to another will require taxi.
there is the Madinat which has various bars, clubs and restaurants...but yeah, a pub crawl isn't exactly easy here in general...
MM, xx
Dec 29th 2007, 9:21 pm
#24
Bored liberal
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Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
But cabs are cheap, so it is entirely possible
Dec 29th 2007, 9:26 pm
#26
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Location: Salamat Datang from KL!!
Posts: 829
Re: Dubai: another one asking the same old questions
Culture may not be huge in Dubai but there are lots of places not so very far away that you get to by car which are very worth a visit. When I come down to Dubai we give the car to the valet, jump in taxis and pick the car up again from the valet when we go home again. Everyone's happy
