For those of you interested in celebrities, Matt Damon and George Clooney were apparently out last night in the pub across the road from where I am staying. I think they are out here filming something or other. Sure holy jaysus!
Category: Middle East
Iran 'increases missile range'
Iran says it has missiles with a range of some 2000km, bringing Israel into striking distance. The Israelis are clearly worried:
The Israelis say they are concerned, not simply about signs of Iran’s growing military potential, but about Iran’s belligerent manner.
The chief of Israeli military intelligence says Iran could be six months from being able to produce a nuclear weapon.
Six months, that means something serious is likely to happen before those 6 months are up.
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
I went to the Madinat hotel the other night, after my few hours inside the Burj al Arab. The Madinat is actually 3 hotels, interlinked by a network of canals. Boats take guests to restaurants, bars and shops in the hotel. It is unique as far as I can tell.
Here is the Burj at night, taken from inside the Madinat hotel.
Here is a view of the massive Madinat complex, taken from the SkyView Bar inside the Burj.
Here is the Jumeirah complex view from the SkyView Bar.
Burj al Arab – inside the sail hotel
Well it is not often one gets the oppurtunity to go inside such an opulent hotel as this. But the interior of the Burj al Arab is quite simply unlike any building interior I have ever seen. I went for afternoon tea in the Sky View Bar, located on the very top of the hotel. As you can imagine I took quite alot of photos, some with spectacular views over the currently under construction Palm Island, some over the recently completed Madinat Jumeirah, and more over the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. It is also much taller than I expected, at over 321 metres tall. Here are some more facts about the Burj:
Construction of this architectural and engineering marvel commenced in 1994. Piling goes 40 meters deep into the seabed.
At 321 meters high, Burj Al Arab is taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 60 meters shorter than the Empire State Building.
Burj Al Arab is the worldâs tallest hotel building. With its helipad on the 28th floor and a restaurant seemingly suspended in mid air, this hotel has already become a landmark and icon on the Dubai skyline.
The sail façade represented an astonishing technical challenge, featuring a double-skinned Teflon-coated woven glass fiber screen. It is the first time such technology has been used vertically in such form and extent in any building worldwide.
It is dazzling white by day and used as a canvas for a rainbow of spectacular light displays at night, providing a brilliant entrance to the marvels that await the guest inside.
Combining the latest technology with a long-standing reputation of Arabian hospitality, Burj Al Arab symbolizes the very essence of Dubai, embracing the best of the new alongside traditions of the past.
SUITES
An all-suite hotel standing 28 double-height storeys high, Burj Al Arab comprises 202 duplex suites. Convenience, luxury and a highly personalized service are available for every traveler, enhanced by private reception desks on every floor. In-suite check-in, a brigade of exclusive butlers that provides around the clock assistance to each and every guest, and unrivalled attention will charm the visitor.
Reaching new heights of luxury and service levels, the hotel offers a choice of:
142 Deluxe Suites (One Bedroom)
18 Panoramic Suites (One Bedroom)
4 Club Suites (One Bedroom)
28 2-Bedroom Suites
6 3-Bedroom Suites
2 Presidential Suites
2 Royal Suites
They all feature floor to ceiling windows, offering a breathtaking view of the sea, and range from 170 sq. m to 780 sq. m in floor area. All are equipped with the latest technology, laptop computers and Internet access.
The TV and its remote control manage numerous services and functions. The ability to view any visitor to the suite and give access without leaving the comfort of your armchair is only one of them!
Topping all other suites are the two Royal Suites spread over the 25th floor. Palatial surroundings reach unsurpassed peaks of luxury, including a private elevator, private cinema, rotating beds, majlis (Arabic meeting room) and even dressing rooms larger than the average hotel bedroom.
The finest materials have been sourced from around the globe, coming together in exquisitely designed and crafted interiors.
AL MUNTAHA â SKYVIEW RESTAURANT
In Arabic, the âultimateâ?, or âhighestâ?, Al Muntaha instantly matches expectations with its location suspended 200 meters above the Arabian Gulf, offering unrivalled views of Dubai and the coastline shimmering in the distance.
Reached by an express panoramic lift traveling six meters per second, the restaurant features seating for about 140 guests who can enjoy delicious Mediterranean cuisine in a sophisticated setting with scenic windows to the world. The incorporated cocktail area is a stylish and exclusive venue for pre- and post-dinner drinks.
Jumeirah Mosque
Of course being an Arab country, there are mosques everywhere, this is the rather nice one on Jumeirah Road. And in case you are curious about the wealth of this country, just outside the picture was parked two Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV’s, one black and one white, and an Escalade had just driven by two minutes before. Oh and a nice red Ferrari, what looked like a 360 Modena, sped by just before as well.
Beach in Dubai
This is one of the many beaches in Dubai, but one of the public ones. Many of the hotels own private beaches where you pay for entry etc.
You can get a lovely view of the skyscrapers on Sheikh Zayed Road from the beach.
Sheikh Zayed Road view from beach
Here are the lovely clear, and very warm waters of the Persian Gulf:
More drinking and cavorting
I went to the Madinat Jumeirah/Mina A’ Salam in Dubai tonight. The inaugural concert, in the brand new Madinat Theater was on, with a group of Rat Pack cover singers. It was a great night out, and I am extremely impressed with the Madinat Hotel. I will post photos soon, but needless to say it is the last word in luxury.
I also had a very interesting chat with a Californian just back from Baghdad, who was working for a radio station out there. What crazy stories you here in this place.
Emirates Towers at night
I tried some longer exposure night photos (without tripod), its hit and miss really. This one turned out reasonably well.
Burj al Arab at sunset yesterday
I spent the day at the Wild Wadi waterpark beside the Burj Al Arab yesterday. I managed to take a rather nice sunset picture from the top of the “Jumeriah Sceriah” waterslide. It’s a 4 storey high waterslide. And its pretty scary too.
Oh and I will be going for afternoon tea at the Burj later in the week. Hehe.
Dubai aiport terminal 3 collapse
News today of a collapse at the construction site at the new Terminal 3, with a confirmed 5 people killed. Buildings here are usually built at break neck speed, indeed since my first visit in late 2001, I would guess some 30 skyscrapers are built or are under construction, where before there was desert.
The Dubai authorities have closed down many of the roads around Terminal 3, so it would be an issue to get out there for a look.
Dozens of migrant workers die every year out here, thanks to lack of labour laws, working in extremely hot conditions, and general exhaustion. The men killed were most probably very low-paid Indian or Pakistani workers.