dubai summary

I'm baaaaaack from Dubai!

Hmm.. I'll start first with the work part of my kuwento. Our show went very well. Almost perfect, actually, except for the weak performance of Zsa Zsa. Other than that, it was definitely a huge improvement from the Doha leg. The place was packed and the audience seemed to have enjoyed themselves.

One thing I have to say about Dubai is that it's so f*cking HOT! Yes, even hotter than in Manila. I didn't think it was possible, but I guess if there's one place hotter than Manila, it would be the desert. Stepping out of the hotel feels like you've gone into the inside of a microwave. You can feel the sun painfully on your skin, even if you haven't stepped out under the sunlight just yet. It's sooooo hot, I kept thanking God for airconditioning.

As hot as it gets during the day, it gets just as chilly at night. That's where Dubai differs from Manila. Evenings are actually windy and get quite cold especially when you stay out til the wee hours.

What else.. We went to the famed 7-star hotel, Burj al Arab and took some breathtaking pictures. My favorite, though, was Madinat Jumeirah, which is this beautiful hotel and souk complex with its own little beach that just makes you relax simply by looking at it.

Dubai is also the shopping mecca of the Middle East. Brands from all over the world flock onto this little city-state and you can find everything and anything you desire! Spent half of my precious per diem on H&M, but who cares, I found cheap, good loot! Oh, and jewelry is also relatively cheaper, especially yellow gold.

Lastly, if you're in the market for high-end luxury items, you'd be glad to know that these things come pretty cheap in Dubai, primarily because the government does NOT charge taxes-- at all. So they don't need to pay those customs fees and transport charges, not to mention the goods sales tariffs. Hehehe.. Proof of this is that my boss Jane purchased 3 LV bags and an IWC watch for her hubby. All in one afternoon. Hahaha!

So far, Dubai is definitely the place to go if you need to visit the Middle East. You just have to be careful of the leering eyes of Arabian men, their tendency of taking advantage of tourists (by jacking up the prices like you wouldn't believe) and the sweltering heat. Aside from that, go ahead and visit Dubai! You'll like it :)