Second Weekend in Dubai

It is Friday morning and naturally, I am sitting by the pool. In Dubai, Friday = a mix of Sunday and Saturday. The government prohibits working on Friday and this has to do with Islamic tradition. The population used to have Thursday off, basically coinciding with the whole Saturday off prior to Sunday religious holiday in mos tof the western world, however a few years ago they reversed this tradition because it made it difficult to communicate and trade with other parts of the world when the work week weeks overlapped for 3 days.

That brings me to sitting by pool, enjoing the benefits of someone keeping his or her wireless network open. It is sunny, a really pleasant 81 degrees right now. There is the slight odor of burning diesel / rubber in the air. I think I have mentioned his before. Anyhow, Dubai Marina is a development southwest of Bur Dubai (old Dubai), meaning that you follow the coast for maybe 20 or 30 km towards Abu Dhabi and Qatar. When construction is complete here, there will be over 200 highrise and ultra highrise towers. I am using ultra to refer to to towers over 100 stories. I think there will only be a couple of those, but stack the cumulative building on top of each other and I wouldnt be surprised if I could take an elevator to the moon.

Dubai marina is across Sheikh Zayed highway from Jumeirah Lakes Towers. This will add in nearly 90 more towers. From my current vantage point, I can see JLT across the highway, but there is dust in the air the obscures much long distance viewing beyond the first few rows of towers. Of particular note is the fact that there is a metro line going in. They are almost finished contruction of the elevated rail lines that stretch all the way to the airport. Pretty amazing how fast stuff goes up here.

Last night we went out to "the only "Supper Club in Dubai." This means that there was a house band from NY playing a wide mix of the favorites of the typical instruments. Good vocals, and a lot of fun dancing to covers of stuff like Stevie Wonder. However, between the Justin Timberlake Sexy Back, Shakira, and most stragely, the steel drum courtesy an electric keyboard, the place had a Carribbean / tourist resort vibe to it. Overall a fun time thanks to good friends, meeting some cool new people, and watching my boss break it down on the dancefloor with reckless abandon.