How do you put up with it.
Jun 25th 2008, 9:15 am
#1
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Joined: May 2008
Location: Lagrange 2
Posts: 1,507
How do you put up with it.
I had a flight from Hyderabad to UK which arrived in Dubai at 7 and I had the day. I went for breakfast at some smart hotel along by the Burj and then tried to go shopping by taxi near the creek. OK so I don't know what I'm doing but was impressed by the spectacle of the place but could not get anywhere. I'm not up for the big shop with the ski slope sticking out of the side as I can't help thinking it is madness. But I had a good wander, food , museum and a million photos.
I asked the driver how to get back to the airport and he said go to the bus station where you can get bus and taxi - and I did - and was lied to by the official and could not get a taxi for love nor money ad ended up getting a boat and then hiking down the street to a smart hotel and catching a car there as you do in Africa.
Jeez what a hassle. I enjoyed my stressed out day but could not handle living there - congrats to you..And then there is DXB Duty Free which is nearly on the same planet but not quite. I saw a book there about the Irish influence on duty free shops and decided that I must be so far out of it that I should shoot myself. Or get pissed in the Irish Village - which I did.
I asked the driver how to get back to the airport and he said go to the bus station where you can get bus and taxi - and I did - and was lied to by the official and could not get a taxi for love nor money ad ended up getting a boat and then hiking down the street to a smart hotel and catching a car there as you do in Africa.
Jeez what a hassle. I enjoyed my stressed out day but could not handle living there - congrats to you..And then there is DXB Duty Free which is nearly on the same planet but not quite. I saw a book there about the Irish influence on duty free shops and decided that I must be so far out of it that I should shoot myself. Or get pissed in the Irish Village - which I did.
Jun 25th 2008, 9:27 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: v high up
Posts: 116
Re: How do you put up with it.
heres my take on dubai :
+
cheap food
low crime
great family life
fab weather
pools/beaches/outdoor activites good
tax free salaries
-
traffic/infrastructure nightmare
excessive heat
crap tv
high rents
+
cheap food
low crime
great family life
fab weather
pools/beaches/outdoor activites good
tax free salaries
-
traffic/infrastructure nightmare
excessive heat
crap tv
high rents
Jun 25th 2008, 10:15 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Khaladiya Abu Dhabi
Posts: 4,181
Re: How do you put up with it.
thats another thing to thank the Irish for (the dean) Duty Free , ha ha ha
Jun 25th 2008, 11:38 am
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,028
Re: How do you put up with it.
Food can be cheap but many restaurants are extortionately expensive and the service is invariably poor.
Low reported crime, but alot sneaks under the radar.
Great for young kids but dull for teenagers, unless glue sniffers.
Crap weather except Sept-April and horrible pollution
very few indoor pools available to the general public
many hidden taxes, like fees to recruit housemaids, salik tolls etc.
On the minus side, not enough greenery springs to mind...its a concrete jungle out there,
Poor standards of workmanship and even worse standards of driving
Crappy taxi and public transport service
An overcrowded airport...
Jun 25th 2008, 12:31 pm
#5
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Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai
Posts: 888
Re: How do you put up with it.
Not sure that I agree with you on the plus side...
Food can be cheap but many restaurants are extortionately expensive and the service is invariably poor.
Low reported crime, but alot sneaks under the radar.
Great for young kids but dull for teenagers, unless glue sniffers.
Crap weather except Sept-April and horrible pollution
very few indoor pools available to the general public
many hidden taxes, like fees to recruit housemaids, salik tolls etc.
On the minus side, not enough greenery springs to mind...its a concrete jungle out there,
Poor standards of workmanship and even worse standards of driving
Crappy taxi and public transport service
An overcrowded airport...
Food can be cheap but many restaurants are extortionately expensive and the service is invariably poor.
Low reported crime, but alot sneaks under the radar.
Great for young kids but dull for teenagers, unless glue sniffers.
Crap weather except Sept-April and horrible pollution
very few indoor pools available to the general public
many hidden taxes, like fees to recruit housemaids, salik tolls etc.
On the minus side, not enough greenery springs to mind...its a concrete jungle out there,
Poor standards of workmanship and even worse standards of driving
Crappy taxi and public transport service
An overcrowded airport...
Jun 25th 2008, 12:46 pm
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Oops
Posts: 91
Re: How do you put up with it.
airport overcrowded? have you never been to heathrow T2? ha ha!
agree with all of the other sentiments though. I think the tax free salaries bit is very overrated now. I think the companies are benefitting more from that aspect, but I may have said that before!
agree with all of the other sentiments though. I think the tax free salaries bit is very overrated now. I think the companies are benefitting more from that aspect, but I may have said that before!
Jun 25th 2008, 1:00 pm
#8
Not an evil hypnotist
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,975
Re: How do you put up with it.
When's the new terminal opening again?
I'm starting to think for company s/h travel, Etihad in J (with limo service) out of AUH is far nicer than anyone out of DXB. Although the lounge in AUH is tiny.
I'm starting to think for company s/h travel, Etihad in J (with limo service) out of AUH is far nicer than anyone out of DXB. Although the lounge in AUH is tiny.
Jun 25th 2008, 1:56 pm
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,187
Re: How do you put up with it.
well i don't "put up with it"...i love it here, have done since i arrived...it's the uk i would have to "put up with", if, god forbid, i have to return...
MM, xx
MM, xx
Jun 25th 2008, 2:11 pm
#10
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Location: Lagrange 2
Posts: 1,507
Re: How do you put up with it.
Thanks - but I had an interesting trip and much better than hanging round the airport - or spending more time in Hyderabad for that matter.
Jun 25th 2008, 3:09 pm
#12
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Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,553
Re: How do you put up with it.
+ves - Compared to Australia (which is where we might eventually head)
Safety. I feel safer (random crime/mugging/car theft is DEFINITELY lower than say compared to NY/Melbourne/Sydney - places where I've lived/visited) in Dubai.
Money - zero income taxes (the hidden/stealth fees/taxes apply to all other countries in addition to income tax). We do manage to save most of our income.
Better working hours (8-4.30/5 max) ; longer leave (6 weeks - compared to 3 weeks in Australia/US).
Comfort - Domestic help (maid, cook...).
Primary school and secondary school - am happy with both schools my kids attend.
Closer to my parents/in-laws living in India - so able to visit 2-3 times a year, which is great. Flights are cheap from Dubai too.
Safety. I feel safer (random crime/mugging/car theft is DEFINITELY lower than say compared to NY/Melbourne/Sydney - places where I've lived/visited) in Dubai.
Money - zero income taxes (the hidden/stealth fees/taxes apply to all other countries in addition to income tax). We do manage to save most of our income.
Better working hours (8-4.30/5 max) ; longer leave (6 weeks - compared to 3 weeks in Australia/US).
Comfort - Domestic help (maid, cook...).
Primary school and secondary school - am happy with both schools my kids attend.
Closer to my parents/in-laws living in India - so able to visit 2-3 times a year, which is great. Flights are cheap from Dubai too.
