Dubai "City Centre"

I’m writing this from what feels to be the belly of the whale - an internet cafe inside a bowling alley inside a food court inside a mall in Dubai. Lara is trying to do some last minute work emails accompanied by a cacophony of video machine game noises. The bowling alley is totally empty, but across the way are a couple of men - wearing white, flowing clothes and headcloths - playing pool. We have an 8 hour stopover here so after chilling out in the hotel room they gave us we jumped on a bus that promised to take us to the “city centre” - which turns out to bear a remarkable resemblance to Westfield Bondi Junction. Or Parramatta. Or Burwood. Globalization is scary. If we ever find our way out of here we fly to Istanbul tonight.

Posted by Julieanne on Saturday, August 19, 2006 at 4.35 pm AEST