طيران الامارات ودبي - From dhows to the monorail

It seemed as if someone had applied the blur feature in Photoshop as we descended towards Dubai International Airport. The sea and sky merged beautifully as the haze seamlessly married the two harmoniously. The closer we got to the coastline, it reminded me of the time I left New York . Back then, it was sunset as the Manhattan silhouette shrunk while we rose above the Atlantic. This time, it was sunrise during our descent over the Persian Gulf, and despite the resemblance of their Western ally in more than one way, one thing amongst many that diffrentiates Dubai is the Burj al Arab, which stood with a hint of pride. It also stood menacingly amidst the other towering blocks of concrete and glass. Perhaps even gleeful.

It was precisely why I chose to sit on the right side of the aircraft - a landing with a sight that never fails. And with that, we touched down. With an average of 714 aircraft movements a day, Dubai Airport has grown tremendously from what it was 20 years ago. I shudder to think my memory is able to go back almost a quarter of a century. Knowing what Dubai was back then, you can easily see why you would miss the charm - wooden dhows strewn along the banks of old markets boasting with spices and silk materials, gold ornaments and metal coffee pots. They may still be there but your focus now shifts from the charm of a previous century to the awe of the future.

As for the flight itself, once again, we weren't let down this time either. Although the flight was full, it was another experience for the books, and another journey that was as pleasant as all the previous ones.

Dubai though, is a different story - it seems to change every time you visit. What seperates this city from many others, is the abundance of desert land that can be altered to the specifications to both magnify and beautify the emerging metropolis. As if thats not enough, the western coastline is taunted with raised sea beds to accomodate what the imagination of man can only dream of. In Dubai, dreams can come true. Unlike New York however, the tall buildings are adorned with beautiful landscapes on all sides, while a thread of the new monorail network unravels its welcoming sight for the traffic commuters stuck in their cars. The southern areas of Dubai have really emerged from the desert sands, with one area now being called the 'New Dubai'. Highways and major arteries are as quick to rise as a cake batter in an oven - after all, Dubai is just as hot as an oven itself.

Speaking of hot, as the day intensified in volume, it also gave in to the mercury as it climbed a little above 45C (113F), while the RealFeel dangerously flirted with the 50C (120F) mark. For this city, intense is the right word in almost all aspects - not only for the temperature, but the structures, the beauty, the airport, the airline. All of them seem to crank up the heat just as the new roads sit baking under the hot desert sun. Desert? I'm just not sure anymore.

Emirates Maiden A380 Flight

I believe I had mentioned I would want to experience the very first Emirates A380 Airbus flight on their brand new double decker. Unfortunately, that doesn't come into play as my travel plans have constantly been unexpected over the past year. That said, the maiden EK flight will be out of New York on August 1st, followed by their next one on August 6th 2008. Without hesitation, I know it will be an amazing experience for Emirates fans worldwide, for those who will book their seats from now on.

If you happen to be one of them and intending to fly out of the US to Dubai on EK - don't miss it. Usually, the first flight on a new aircraft/fleet for many carriers always has surprises in store.

Let me know, will you?

The Virgin Experience

I cannot recall when I last flew Virgin Atlantic, if at all. My most recent trip with them however, was fantastic, to say the least.

I was a tad bit weary as searching for reviews online did not give a positive image about the airline. The more I searched, the more disappointed I became. However, I still gave the airline the benefit of my doubt since much of the bickering from other passengers (no offense) seemed to be focused on one main issue expounded to create an entire episode of dramatic contexts. Considering that I have travelled extensively over the years, it would not befit my judgement to drown out the possibility of flying with Virgin, especially since verbal assurances from previous travellers proved better than the written ones.

And so I flew with VS on May 24th between JFK and LHR, a massive Boeing 747-400.

The boarding was a hassle free and pleasant experience - considering the ground staff were extremely helpful and courteous. As we settled into the aircraft ready for departure, the cabin crew were even more pleasant and friendly, ensuring all passengers were taken care of in every way possible. Shortly after 1940 hrs, we took off for the 6 hour journey across the Atlantic. I watched out the window as the beautiful sunset threw out majestic colors of red, orange and yellow, all as a backdrop behind the silhouetted buildings of the Manhattan skyline. In its most dramatic and metaphorical analogy, the sun also set on a part of my life that is now over.

Service
A few minutes after take off, a choice of soft drinks or fresh juice and a small snack was served - which is pretty much expected on every airline (even Royal Jordanian). Dinner followed and I must say that the food was quite good. Grilled chicken, vegetable fried rice with steamed broccoli and green beans was the main course, with a side of salad and fresh fruits. Not bad at all.

Inflight Entertainment
The inflight system was much better than most airlines, except Emirates of course.

Here is the best part of it all: The interactive map display (which admittedly is not provided by even Emirates), was quite interesting to say the least, but considering that at any given moment you could select from the drop down menu, the qiblah (direction) of Makkah (Mecca) was astounding on a Western Carrier no less. Usually I would rely on the standard flight maps and figure out the direction of Makkah based on the flight path, but hats off to Virgin for incorporating this on their screen menu none the less!

The system had the most recent movies. Some passengers either started selecting their choice of entertainment, or stretched out on some seats for a short nap (the flight was not full) for the remainder of the flight. I had the three seats to myself, which turned out to be even more pleasant. The only disappointing aspect (ah, yes; here we go) on this flight was the breakfast.

Prior to arrival, they offered either coffee, tea, or fresh juice, and a muffin. They were not even served on trays, mind you! Again, if I did compare this to say, British Airways or Emirates, Virgin certainly fell short on it. Despite this short fall, I would recommend Virgin to anyone choosing to fly internationally.

Next
My next trip: Emirates Airlines. Considering my spontaneous lifestyle (my unce who picked me up was even confused what city I was coming from!), it could be another airline before the anticipated trip in July. I hope the summer goes well for everyone - I know mine should be great in London.

12 cents a day!

The most talked about commodity consistent with the rate of hike seems to be gas. Or petrol - depending on where you are.

Yesterday (5/13) I was driving down Boulevard Taschareau in Longueuil, Montreal. This road, a busy one at that, has several gas stations strewn along its path. Surprisingly, Ultramar gas stations showed a dramatic difference in prices compared to Shell or even PetroCanada. For 1.28 a litre, as opposed to 1.39 at the latter ones, it was a drastic difference in price, and so cars lined up at a particular Ultramar that had just dropped by a penny to 1.27.

Today, 5/14, was a different story. While the Shells and PetroCanadas remained at 1.39, I was shocked to see that the Ultramars had followed suit bumping their prices in one day from a eye catching 1.27 to a ridiculous price of 1.39! That's 12 cents in less than 24 hours!

I remain concerned at the trend over the past year, with prices almost a dollar higher than what it was last year (as reported in Hicksville, Long Island). No wonder it has become extremely excruciating to drive! And those stops at the local grocery? Not anymore! Just one trip a week would be ideal, but that is only if you don't forget the eggs that you so badly need.

Virgin Atlantic

My anticipated trip to the United Kingdom (yes, again) in just a few days will be on Virgin Atlantic. The last Atlantic crossing wasn't very pleasant, so I chose an airline known for quality.

I'd rather be on one that would help my Emirates Skywards mileage accrual, however, my FFP status on Singapore is rather low; and so it fits in perfectly as Virgin shares mileage accrual with the former.

This trip highlights a significant milestone in my life; for I would be leaving the America's for a considerably long period of time. A tremendous amount of experience has followed the years I spent in the U.S., but more importantly, the arrogance and reality check of the political atmosphere over the past few years has played a role in the decision. Don't get me wrong - there are benefits living a life in the West (the blessing of winter isn't one of them), but the sheer pride and lack of knowledge of certainty is a mind spinning occurrence in itself.

The travels will undoubtedly come to an end in September as I settle down towards educating myself further, and so with that, while the summer will highlight the experiences of both land and air travel, it will include various topics that would set the tone for what the future holds.

It's no longer 'just for keeps'.

Stay tuned. :)

The Little Daughter

A 30 minute average drive to the city center brings us to one of the most heart breaking shrines in the world - the place where the young daughter of Imam al-Husayn(as) lies as she died in the grips of the most horrible oppression in human history.

The haram is located amongst the narrow streets of Damascus. As you enter the main gates, you come to a small courtyard welcoming the pilgrims prior to the main entrance. A few steps later, and you walk into a beautiful shrine decorated with a stunning gold color, surrounded with iron bars that secure the small grave.

It doesn't take much for your mind to jump about 1380 years back, when you hear of the atrocities committed to the blessed family of the Prophet (s). Here, in front of me, lay the grave of this little girl, who with her own strength and dignity, spread the message of Kerbala through the terrible conditions they faced in the cold dungeons of the illiterate regime at that time. I could only look through the iron pocjets at the holy grave and wonder what the beloved Lady of Mourners, Lady Zainab (as), and her brother, 'Ali ibne Husayn (as) felt as she left this world while resting her head on the grandson of the Prophet, her father, the Lord of Martyrs, Husayn ibne 'Ali (as).

Our salaams to Lady Rukayyah (as), for the message she gave remains alive with a passion in the hearts of those who truly grieve and strive to follow their lives the way it was meant to be.

Splendor of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)

Friday 22nd January 2008 As our bus rolled into the city center, the first sight of the Haram of Bibi Zainab (as) was as majestic and glorified as her endeavor and strength we hear of in history. You could feel the strength of a powerful woman emanate through the walls of her beautified haram in all the dignity that was snatched from the Ahlul Bayt back in 61 AH. Perhaps even more. But at first glance, we could only watch as it was closed for the night – and so we continued to our apartments. Our bus stopped one street across from the apartment building. They needed some work to accommodate the very basic lifestyle we are used to, however, considering the place, reason, and the poverty that was evident all around us, I would think it did not matter much, though hygiene was primarily an important issue. Many of us did not sleep that night.

At about 4 am, I decided to walk to the main gate of the haram, finding it populated with many zawar’s anxiously awaiting the gates to be opened. Finally, at 430 hrs, the bolts opened as blessings were recited on the Family of the Prophet (s). As the main gate opened, the entrance began flooding as everyone rushed to the main building in the center. Next, the main door to the shrine opened, and the first sight of Lady Zainab’s (as) mausoleum was magnificent. Until today, the image of the doors opening as it revealed the glorious shrine remains etched in memory, and one that is drawn again and again whenever salutations are sent to her.