goggly

In Singapore, as the East Coast Highway approaches the city, match boxes of tall buildings appear well placed in a manner that structures blend with each other and create a harmonious spectrum that is pleasing to an eye. Hong kong , Yokohama too follow the pattern and so are the most US cities. I do not know if a building architect needs to get an approval from city council to ensure that his structure doesn't disturb the overall panoramic sky view of the city. It seems Dubai in hurry to build sky piercing structures overlooked this aspect or they deliberately let each building architect to create the structure that is different from its neighbour. As glass fasaade structures vie with each other on Shiekh Zayed road, an absence of structural harmony is evident. Glass Pyramid of Raffles( ex wafi ) juxtaposed with Arabian style building followed by Circular Arc of Grand Hyatt is not all that pleasing sight through the car window while driving past Gharoud Bridge. Overlo...

There is one thing that Indian resident carry with them when they leave Dubai. It is Dubai Hindi FM service. After a long time, I am listening to 89.1 and was glad to hear to Charu being there. She was all of giggle and paired with crack jokes with Gaurav. I also admired Gagan Mudal - a consummate performer with mellodious voice

My Grandfather rode a camel. My father rode a camel. I am riding Ferrari, Benz and BMW but I am also riding on the bonds that people in the west fear of becoming a junk. Would my son also ride a camel ? One such comment by a reader on the news of Dubai Government seeking a six month standstill for Dubai World on it's payment due this month, sums up the feelings of those who have lost their money on speculative investment in Dubai. Dubai world is the economic might of Dubai and includes DP World, that operates global ports, Nakheel the property developer behind iconic projects such as The Palm Islands and The World. Dubai has the worst debt per capita in the world and is always portrayed as one end of the credit crunch spectrum. A year ago, economic commentators and analysts were harsh on Dubai's economic revival hopes. But all along, Dubai Govt defied those postures and managed to stay afloat. Big brother Abu Dhabi came to her rescue including the last week’s subscriptio...

It started with little murmurs, leading towards a topic of discussion , finding its way to medium of bloggers whose expressions were based more out of frustration and exasperation than any meaningful substance of figures. The media largely controlled by Govt. published brave signs when it was neither necessary nor called for. I watched, listened and participated in all this with great curiosity. I started taking active interest when stories started occupying the columns of New York Times and International Herald Tribune. It was about Dubai Economy with predictions, analysis, theories and speculations. Articles galored . How Dubai's fantasy skyline tumbled to earth , Dubai Bubble burst and Video on You Tube I knew all along it was coming. However, I did not know when?. Everything seemed unreal yet it shaped in front of the eyes. The rational part of the brain doubted the variables that existed on the economic equation of the Dubai. Yet, it stayed on. In fact it not just stayed o...

‘What can we do together?’ An initial remark by Sheikh Mohammed – ruler of Dubai during his meeting with senior minister of Singapore summed up the extent to which Dubai’s aspiration of emulating Singapore have come true. Dubai in a short span of time is galloping fast to catch up with Singapore or may even surpass it. In recent issue, TIME magazine compared New York, London and Hong Kong on various benchmarks and found all three cities have remarkable character resemblance. Being an expatriate in Dubai and Singapore I would love to compare both cities that have a lot in common and yet are strikingly different. However my involvement with Dubai is much longer to Singapore and hence ‘initial impressions’ would be more appropriate while comparing these two vibrant cities. Singapore is efficient. There is no doubt about it. It is also remarkable that Singapore has made its development uniform and made it accessible to every precinct. No matter where one resides, one has uniform com...

I first visited Dubai in 1992. That was via Abu Dhabi. In the very first visit itself, on way from Abu Dhabi airport to the city, I saw Sheikh Zayed driving past me amidst helter- skelter of traffic policeman who were taken by surprise. This was indeed a rare sight as for many people who have stayed lifetime in UAE perhaps never have had a glimpse of Sheikh Zayed except on TV. There is no other city that has changed as dramatically as Dubai in such a short span of time. During early 90’s when I visited from Muscat, I would drive my car in the direction of World Trade Center building. That was the easiest way to reach Dubai without any hassle. Now, this building is dwarfed by all those imposing skyscrapers including world’s tallest structure ‘Burj Al Arab’ that have lined up on Sheikh Zayed Road. Those were the days when visiting Sharjah via Dubai-Sharjah road, one could see a barren stretch of desert with an exception of motley of fast food joints like KFC, Pizza Hut that stood like ...

Gulf news introduced me to Hanumantha and reading his story, I immediately developed liking and respect towards him. Today, Hanumantha is sick, in fact very sick. He is 75 and feels he has only few months left to live. He is keen to go back to his country and die. Since 1997, he has been in UAE and been to his home town in Andhra Pradesh just once – that too when UAE Govt. offered amnesty for illegal residents. He came back as domestic helper but since last few years found himself on street after the death of his master. With loss of job, he had to vacate his shared accommodation and soon take solace in public garden. Deteriorating health, lack of food made him go from place to place till he slumped back on a pavement in Sharjah. Seeing him weeping, a passerby stopped. A good Samaritan he must be. He brought Hanumantha to Indian association who with the help of volunteers arranged for necessary money for his journey back. Luckily for Hanumantha, another amnesty scheme is already on and...

I read this article written by Ms Tia O’neill on www.reddit.com . I think this site is a compiler of articles from elsewhere. Being a resident of Dubai over five years, I read her points very carefully and I must admit that they are relevant and objective - only if they are view from myopic view of western viewpoint and lifestyle with utter disregard to culture, ethnicity . This article received more than 400 comments within space of 8 hours, that shows that article did evoke reactions - both in consonance and otherwise. I feel, the views expressed by the author may not hold much priority for ordinary job seekers from Indian Subcontinent and other asian countries who flock to Dubai to sustain their family back home. But none the less, it contain some hard facts and realities. Ask anyone from Indian subcontinent or Africa, they will say Dubai is a paradise. And it is indeed a paradise if you consider living in a country where you don’t get enough electricity, water , transport and in s...

Wait and Queue are the two words that I have been fed and nurtured all my growing years. Those of us who have grown in a state controlled economy too must have been familiar with these words. Be it a milk booth, a rationed grain shop, a barber, a bank, a post office – Q is every where. Wait - is the hallmark of expressing one’s domination. Be it as miniscule as a peon sitting on wooden stool or a clerk busy cleaning his beetle nut residue from his teeth or a manager dozing behind the closed door cabin. Wait is distinct pronouncement as soon as you utter to solicit something. In recent years, with the spread of privatisation and internet, Wait has lost its steam but Q would be hard to banish, as long as India’s population is ballooning. After many years, I have had my dose of wait and Q at India consulate in Dubai. “For dead body, please go to counter number 8, If no body then go to counter number 7” This notice on the glass showcase on the right side of the foyer was a fair indication...