First impressions of Dubai

The sky is blue, the sun is beating down on the ground, but there is a gentle breeze to keep the body cool. Sat on a wooden recliner in the shade, I recall the activities of the last 24 hours — my first in Dubai — and try to put in perspective the complete change in environment I have encountered in such a short period. From the cold, wet climate of our quiet, homely University, I have come to a warm, rich, foreign, new-age city.

The first thing that strikes you about Dubai is just how modern it is. Even after Taiwan last year where many of the buildings were towering skyscrapers, Dubai is something special and completely unique. There appear to be very few old buildings in Dubai, there are only the very new, standing bold and brash, spread far and wide across a desert landscape. They are building some of the world's tallest structures, despite there being no shortage of land to build more 'economical' buildings. As you move around the city there are skyscrapers popping up as naturally as ice-cream sellers. It looks slightly odd though that there is nothing in between except desert.

With the rate of development in Dubai over the last 10 years, it is quite difficult to understand the history of the city prior to this period. Not just the buildings, but the people too. The population is so international with many westerners coming to work and travel, and large numbers of asians, many of which are working as labourers on development of the city. You get the impression that everyone is coming and going, nobody has particularly come here to settle down. The large Indian population are very friendly — perhaps they think that the cricket will go their way this week! Last night I went to an Indian restaurant called "Govindas" that is 100% vegetarian. Best Indian food I have ever tasted, and the fact that I found veggie food on my first night was a pleasant surprise.

We also went to the old town with its amazing spice market, gold market, and what can only be described as 'junk' market. I that this is as close to the 'real' Dubai as it gets — the place where there must be some history. It was weird walking around the market whilst two competing mosques were relaying their prayers across the city and hundreds of muslims headed for evening prayers. I am intrigued by Islam, and I hope to learn something about it while I am here — whether I would be allowed anywhere near a mosque is another matter. I am not ready to risk it just yet!

Apart from the old town, the rest of the city has a similar atmosphere to any international city. It is quite like London: everybody speaks English, but very few as a first language, and the people come from all over the world. Not much in London is particularly British, and from what I have seen, not much in Dubai is particularly characteristic of an Arab country — not that I know what the characteristics are! This isn't a criticism of the place, but just the nature of large cities. Being a countryboy, I long for something different!