Beach Party Galore!

Every year, when it comes to winters in Dubai, its like hell broke loose and all the creatures hibernating somewhere in the fridges in Dubai, suddenly appear. Then again it might just be because of all the beach parties. Before winter, you see people camping in the gyms, working their ass out, so that they can flaunt it in the beach parties.

Everyone starts sun worshipping just because it is more pleasant to be out in the sun. Last week at Nasimi, it was a crazy party, the line up of Deejays were wonderful. Not like I remembered who was there, but I think I had a great time. Thats all that matters right? RIGHT?

Sandstorms, Brown clothes and all those in-between

Sandstorms isn't something I've seen in my part of the world. Its a pretty awesome sight to experience. The WHOLE city covered in sand. Then suddenly, i remembered about my laundry. Not good at all!!! 

But as I've learnt being here for almost 2 years, a major sandstorm in Dubai, signifies a major change in weather. And true to that, the weather became way cooler as compared to the past few days! 

However, there are some things you should do in a sandstorm. You shouldn't...

1. laugh with your mouth open. Before you know it, you will be coughing with all the sand in your mouth
2. wear white. Your clothes will turn brown. Just like my laundry
3. open your eyes. Shades come in really handy in times like that, to look good, AND to protect your eyes. But that's secondary, really!

A Walking City

I've always dreamt about living in a walking city, like one of those you see in "the sound of music" where u walk around and the shop keepers will greet you and ask you how is your day as you prance away with a flower in you hand feeling all chirpy. Ok! that is a little too much but you get the gist.

Well this comes to what I wanted to share about Dubai, it has NONE of this at all. Dubai is a city made for cars. Not for bicycles, motorcycles, scooter, foot, none of the above. It is made for HUGE cars that look like tanks.

Everyone here drives one of those huge hummers, the size of a mini school bus. When I was contemplating to buy my dream BMW Z4, i realized it looked so minuscule beside one of these giants. And yes, I have yet to mention about one of those monster trucks they drive here!

The huge toys they have here!

Before I arrived in this city, there were images in my head, I would walk to the nearest markets, get to know the place and the people. But then again, it was all in my head. During Ramadan, almost all the restaurants are closed and people would usually gather for meals at friends places. The night before it was my turn to cook dinner, the Metro had to breakdown. The cabs had to disappear from the roads. The weather had to be 45 degrees. The mall had to be horribly far away. 

I had to go to the supermarket to get my groceries by hook or by crook if not the dinner party would not materialize! I was thinking, since I could see the mall, it should take too long. Somehow, I conveniently forgot about the 8 lanes highway between my apartment and the mall. Although it was in plain sight, I had to walk to the nearest overhead bridge, which was about 1 km away from my house and the mall and 1km back towards the mall. 

It wasn't the distance that killed me, it was the temperature that did. When I arrived at the supermarket, I was drenched in my own sweat. Then a cab appeared.

I almost pulled my hair out i swear. Well, then again, this is Dubai. There are days you would kill to be here. There are others, you would die being here.

Dubai's Winter

As a kid, I learnt that deserts were burning hot in the day and freezing cold at night. This, i discovered wasn't true when I first came to Dubai. The 45 degrees heat lasted through the night. I felt like I was in a sauna. Even when there was a gentle breeze, it felt like the hair dryer was on full blast in my face.

Like many Singaporeans, I thought that coming from the tropics, I would be able to handle the heat. Not so smart at all.  I dreaded the first six months I was here, choosing to hide indoors, with the best invention on earth, the air conditioner.

But when I almost gave up on wearing clothes in Dubai, winter came. Dubai became like the most beautiful, comfortable place on earth. From 45 degrees, and not seeing a person in sight on the streets of Dubai, the city became a gorgeous cooling 23 degrees with every critter hiding in the caves in Dubai crawling out to beach parties, watering holes and gathering at the outdoor cafes. If you have a good imagination, it almost felt like you were in Europe.

People become nicer, and more tolerant, the parties start to get crazy and the concerts go on full swing. This is Dubai in winter.

This is where I hide during Summer... My cave, the shopping mall.

And this is where I will be, during winter...BY THE WATER!!!

I can't wait =)