DUBAI...or Should I Say Shangri-La

I guess my first real desire to go to Dubai was about 2 years ago...I was watching some Discovery channel show where they showed, in painstaking detail by the way, the Burj Al-Arab hotel. I guess something about seeing the world’s first 7-STAR hotel piqued my curiosity...:-)

So...when LBS presented me with the opportunity to go to Dubai on a really cool job trek, how could I turn it down? You are right...I couldn’t! Also...my thinking was this...If I am to become a high profile super consultant...there are so many projects in Dubai right now...I had to really know that if I volunteered for one...could I really live in the city for 3-6 months? As you will see...the answer is 100% YES...with ease...

Dubai is a mix of South Beach, Las Vegas and Hong Kong---the beaches are beautiful, crystal clear and filled with tons of gorgeous women. The clubs and restaurants are world class---yet---somehow I was in the Middle East...The entire time I was in Dubai I felt like I was in some kind of hazy dream...like...this couldn’t be actually possible right? The city is filled with superlatives (Now you understand why I like it so much) The world’s best hotel---biggest skyscraper---biggest mall---indoor skiing---Everything in Dubai not only has to be perfect...it has to be BIG and the best in the world. I found myself right at home :-)



(No more gratuitous beach pictures, I promise)

Luckily, I had a good buddy who came on the trek who had worked in Dubai for the past five years---He did not let us down...so for anyone who is planning a Dubai trip in the upcoming future...here is my personal list of cannot miss activities:

BURJ AL-ARAB – Why not start with the best right? This hotel dominates Dubai skyline...and no matter how long you stare at it...you want to stare at it some more...Whether it is the underwater restaurant or the sky bar or the completely mesmerizing lobby...this hotel is not be missed under any circumstances
BUDDHA BAR – For anyone who has been in Paris or NYC---Dubai does not disappoint here---I was blown away
MODINAT JUMERIAH – Like a small Bedouin Village---this hotel is beyond words---you get moved around on little gondola like boats---the Burj is in the background...and about 50 restaurants are at your beck and all---oh yeah---the best club in Dubal is here as well...TRILOGY...and even TRADER VIC’S...all the way from LA!
JUMERIAH BEACH HOTEL – Go immediately to Bar 360---located so far into the ocean that you have to ride a golf cart to get there---just beyond words---get a mojito and just try not to fall in the water
ABSOLUT SHO CHO – This is the first time I have been to a lounge sponsored by Absolut---and they did not disappoint---The sushi was awesome...the crowd was hot...from there we went next door to Boudoir---another ridiculous club
MALL OF THE EMIRATES – This is the mall with the world’s largest indoor ski resort---and by itself is the world’s 3rd biggest mall. From Harvey Nichols to a LITERAL COPY of Rodeo Drive, to the first Armani Restaurant...you will not leave disappointed



Hopefully, you have a little understanding of what the city has to now offer you...and don’t forget---spend every possible minute on the golden sand beaches...and soon you will realize that there is not enough time in the day. I was BLOWN away by Dubai...now the only question is when to go back...New Year’s anyone??

PS...Here is a picture of the group before meeting with SHELL...just so people believe me when I say that I actually went for business... :-)

ISRAEL - A Trip a Long Time in the Making...

First off...Let me apologize for a longer delay than I would like since my last blog entry. I have had the good fortune of some amazing travel excursions lately...and I am quickly realizing how easy it is to ball behind on things when you are running around all over the world. Perhaps I should really think long and hard about that consulting life style I have been dreaming about...

Anyway...where we last left off...I was describing Egypt in all of its...well...non-glory...In the end, I am happy I saw Egypt...but as I said before...I will not be going back anytime soon.

Israel on the other hand...has me still speechless...and it is almost 2 weeks since I have returned. Taking one step back...I have wanted to go Israel for many, many years--All of my friends that have been have described their trips as unforgettable, so, I was eager to experience the same...sadly...stupid wars had to get in the way...

Nonetheless, I finally made it...with two of my best friends...and was gong to spend 2 weeks with my closest cousin...I was on cloud 9...

Israel is a country the size of New Jersey...but with so many different cities, ethnicities, natural wonders and things to do---that I left the planning to my cousin...I knew that being the in the country of Easter and Passover was going to be amazing...and I was not let down...

We started of our journey by going to Nazareth...nothing like seeing some of history's most treasured artifacts up close and personal...We had a rental car and literally spent the next week detoxing from Egypt---It was so great to see nature so up close and personal...

Highlights included:

The Arbell Cliffs & the Sea of Galilee
The Golan Heights and the Golan Heights Winery
The AMAZING Bed & Breakfast we stayed at...Villa Tehilla
Waterfalls, apple groves, hummus, and desserts that are just incredible
The Lebanese Border and not getting into any trouble...:-)
The Bahai Gardens in Haifa
Caesaria
Making fun of Milan and Joe for falling asleep in the back seat



The country just has a way of making you feel at home---we would go from city to city...see where the Kaballah was created, see ancient Roman ruins, see mosques and churches...I think it safe to say we really felt that we were seeing and learning more than ever. The nights were also filled with fun---I learned to really enjoy Israeli beer...we met great people from all over the world, everyone eager to share their stories with us...it was all so memorable...hopefully some of the pictures will do what we saw justice...you guys let me know...



All of this led to the highlights of the trip...the OLD CITY...we walked, mouths agape, inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during Palm Sunday. I stood and kissed the Wailing Wall during Passover...the Old City just has to be seen to be believed. Sometimes, I had to pinch myself just to really understand just how much history I was dealing with...At the same time...it was not just about artifacts...my cousin prepared an incredible Passover Seder...I met all of her friends who are all amazing...we ate and drank well into the night---just laughing and thinking about everything we had seen...





Luckily we still had a few days left...so...what better way to spend them than to go South...I arrived at the Dead Sea thinking it would be cool...but what can I tell you...NUTS...maybe the best way to describe the feeling of not being able to sink! The water is SO salty that you literally can stand vertically...I laid on my back and just tried to soak it all in..:-) 3 hours and lots of moisturizer later (As an aside---I decided to myself that I am getting OLD...yep...OLD...so...I made an investment and purchased some high quality lotions...I figure I can take a page out of the vanity book and concentrate on looking as good as possible---:-) We arrived in Eilat on the southern tip of the country...



From Eilat we went to Jordan---and saw PETRA---now any Indiana Jones fans will remember that Indy went here in the Last Crusade---Petra is beyond words and in my opinion cooler and more impressive than the pyramids. Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel---HOW GREAT PEACE CAN BE RIGHT?---so going border to border was no problem at all...the city is carved into an ancient rock façade...I don’t really know how to describe the wonders that are inside...Hopefully a few of the pictures will inspire you all to make your way to Petra as soon as possible...I promise you will not be disappointed.



Lastly...due to our grueling schedule to date, the group decided that some quality beach time was in order. So, in one day, and 9 PASSPORT STAMPS LATER...I found myself back in Egypt...heading to the Red Sea. We went to Sinai and stayed at a really cool little beach resort about 45km south of the border between Egypt and Israel. The Red Sea is SOOOO CALM...it was great to just wake up and hear NOTHING...peace and tranquility were everywhere...as were a BOATLOAD of mosquito's---I put some of the Dead Sea mud on me...again sticking with the skin rejuvenation theme :-) Ate a ton of fresh fish, played a lot of chess, got a nice tan, and realized that my trip as at an end.

When faced with disparity...what other options exist other than alcohol? So...since our flight was leaving Tel Aviv at 6:30 AM...we decided that we must say goodbye to the country that was so good to us by staying out all night...come on...would you have it any other way?? So we hit Tel Aviv by storm...the city ROCKS...a great mix between LA and Miami---we sampled swanky open air bars...got thoroughly drunk...hugged and kissed everyone goodbye many times...and just like that...another vacation came to a close.



My final thoughts are pretty much the same as my initial ones---Israel is amazing. From top to bottom I was impressed with every facet that the country offered. I am already planning my big return trip...

Egypt...Otherwise Known as Bangkok Part 2

Hey everyone...happy Passover, Easter, (Any Religious Holiday I Missed)...

Coming back from a really long trip always puts things into perspective...especially seeing parts of the world that are quite different than good old London...so...in my nascent attempts at being a burgeoning travel writer, and inspired by recent Bill Bryson addiction, I will attempt to sum up my two week middle east jaunt to the best of my abilities...so...get ready to laugh and read on...

EGYPT

First things first...Travel in the Middle East is NOT EASY...coming from a Euro-Star mind set and trans-European trains, the shocking lack of travel options in the Middle East is amazing...You would think getting from Israel to Egypt to see the Pyramids would be a piece of cake...well...not quite...

Borders, lack of infrastructure, and basically nutty people all around make travel next to impossible. Options include crazy long bus rides (After my Thai experience, no more long bus rides), no trains what so ever between countries because they all hate each other and can't cooperate across borders, or planes. Now...I know what you are thinking...Planes right? Easy...well that is what I thought. Well...an buying a ticket on Ari Egypt is A LOT easier thought than done...NO INTERNET...right? Only way is through an Egyptian travel agent...prices are NUTS...and the plane was from 1967...I was praying the whole way...This nice little introduction leads me to Egypt...

What a country...luckily I had been to Bangkok earlier this year which nicely prepared me for Cairo...Cairo has 17 Million People...YEP...17 MILLION!!! They live on top of each other, in every nook and cranny...no open space exists...and the air is SO polluted that I am sure I lost at least 1 year of life in 3 days just breathing...



Upon arrival...I knew things would be funny...I just had to adjust...VERY QUICKLY...

Here is a quick primer on Egypt...

1. You will be ripped off at every corner, opportunity, and exchange...get used to it
2. Bargain for EVERYTHING...start of at the lowest number possible and go up from there...Example - Cab to the pyramids...

"How Much"- Ed
"100 pounds" - Taxi Driver
"5 pounds" - Ed
"75 pounds" - Taxi Driver
REPEAT for 5 Minutes
FINAL FAIR - 20 pounds

It's crazy---but becomes kind of endearing at some point...the people are nice in their own weird way...and you leave the country glad that you saw it...but in no rush to return...



Highlights - Well...the pyramids rocked my world...I have been a mummy fan since I was a kid...seeing them up close...just crazy. They are so big and so impressive to behold...I barley noticed the 500 people asking if I wanted to buy a tour, post card, souvenir, camel ride, horse ride, or any other imaginable thing that could be sold...



Climbing inside the great pyramid all the way to the tomb is really something to witness...they whole time I thought it was going to collapse on me...shockingly it did not...but for the first time in my life, I met a friendly group of pagan idol worshipers that were inside the pyramid for 8 hours and refused to leave...yep...the world is one nutty place...



The rest of Cairo left something to be desired as said before...we explored, got lost, and rode around in cabs from 1950...no joke...ate a lot of hummus...had Egyptian coffee...smoked some sheesha...Basically became Egyptians for a while...even had a real Egyptian breakfast from an small, authentic little street shop...noodles, lentils, hot sauce, and a few other things I could not quite name...It was delicious...




A couple things I have to share though...Me and my buddies bought Kafiyas...those are the Arab headdresses that people wear...we wore them for the whole day and it was crazy...Also...they LOVE belly dancers in Egypt...I saw one in person and it was a blast...this woman shook in ways that I did not think were possible, all in front a 50 people eating and drinking...




It was fun...the city is nuts...the camels were great...and I won't be back any time soon...