During my travels to Afghanistan working with and supporting the troops on the War on Terror, I had the unique opportunity to stop in Dubai. Forty years ago this was an area with a few mud huts sitting next to some of the most pristine beach shores in all of the Persian Gulf. Over time that started to change, and in the early 1990's the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates received news that no Middle Eastern Country wants to hear. That news: By 2017 your oil wells will be dry. No oil, no money. The Royal family took a radical step that made their fellow neighbors in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, and others very pissed off. The family opened their doors to the west and using talent from their culture, they built a city that would become a mecca of business and industry. They became Capitalists. After the business came the tourism. They designed the city to cater to the rich of the world and built extravagant hotels, houses, office buildings, and Islands shaped like palm tree's, and countries of the world. Though thanks to the recession they have started to slow down, yet still the things they have to offer may want any person to change their European vacation plans to this dessert local. They have the largest indoor mall in the world, (pictures below), the largest inland lagoon, connected to a theme park that has its own space camp. A 7 Diamond Hotel, the Burj Al Arab, that sits on the Persian Gulf and looks like a sail boat. The cheapest room is 1600.00 Euros per night.
As of December 2009, their are currently 11,850 buildings in Dubai under construction. Dubai is known as Crane City, since it has more cranes per capita than any other place in the world. The Burj itself is a masterpiece. Here are some facts:
Burj Dubai:
Over 2,684 Feet Tall
800 Metres
160 Floors
57 Elevators
The high point is the view from the Burj Dubai's observation deck located on level 124 of the tower, slated to open on the fourth Anniversary of the ascension of Sheikh Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on January 4, 2010.
The Burj...Still under construction. Picture takenfrom the base outside the Dubai Mall in August 2009.
Me standing in front of the Burj.
The Burj needle top.
Outside the Dubai Mall, near the base of the Burj. A large man-made lake with a night water show.
Residents that sit next to the lake with a front view of the Burj Tower.
Dusk at the Burj...
The Burj Dubai Mall...Largest indoor mall in the world.This is a picture of the skating ring next to the largest indoor
aquarium in the world.
The Divers...Leaping from the indoor waterfall in theDubai mall, on the opposite side of the aquarium.
Crane City
Sand Storm in Dubai.
Another Sand Storm at dusk...
Picture From Afghanistan. Bagram Air Field. View of the Surrounding Mountains.
Another view of the Mountains. These Mountains are at the base of the Himalayas.
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Woodstock, Georgia arrived from 
3 comments:
cool pics. thanks for sharing.
Kona in Tampa
I'm glad you enjoyed them. Pass them on to friends if you would like.
Thank you for the news (previous), staying in touch and the pics. Stay safe.
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