Dubai

We went to Dubai for long Easter weekend. Overall, it was nice to get away from Doha. Dubai is much bigger, there are real roads, drivers don't seem to be out to kill everyone on the road, there is less paternalism and the food is better.

However, it is still the Middle East - no doubt. The idea of "good" being the "biggest, grandest, tallest" is prominent in Dubai just as it is in Doha. Dubai also is very consumer oriented. That is, everything involves shopping and spending. There still appears to be a lack of culture, history and art. Then again, not every city is intended for my type of travelers!

Highlights of the trip:

• Spanish tapas in a nice (man-made) garden
  
• Creek art show - they were having an exhibit of regional artists' works
• Souq Madinat - placed by the water, the souq is interesting in its architecture, and has a combination of local crafts and imported products; nice part was having coffee outside by the water.
• Old architecture with wind towers in Bastakiya district - walking around that area was probably my favorite part of the trip.
  
• Good south Indian food!
• Dubai museum tries to show the lifestyle during the old fisherman and pearl diving days - the exhibit is a good effort, but not the greatest; exhibits of similar nature in Belgium and Hungary are much more interesting.

Overall, it was a nice getaway - see more pictures here.