Dubai - in competition with itself to be the world's most "Over-The-Top" city
Take a look:
http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-GAL1.htm
- Ed C.
I think it's kinda pretty....
I liked Dubai when I was there. Nice place to enjoy liberty call.
Dubai is one of the two major hubs (along with Tel Aviv) of prostitution in the Middle East. The City of the Future is a hotbed for the world's oldest profession.
!i!
Awesome.
Its like they had all that flat desert land, lots of money available, never had tinkertoys or erector sets as kids and said:
"Hey lets go crazy fun/wild and build lots of shit thats really tall!!!"
- Ed C.
This is what happens when oil hits $125 a barrel. Crasy, tasteless, insane spending by people who, societally, are still living in tents.
To be fair, this sort of crazy shit was going on well before oil hit even $100 a barrel. And the "still living in tents" bit is a little imperialistic, don't you think? I mean, aside from being crass and inaccurate.
!i!
..Okay.....before we get political with this silliness....
I just think its kind of fun but also a little "What the FucK??!!?" that they are building like that. The fact that they are trying to attract westerners there means that at least Dubai is "OKay!" with westerners in general.
Its still weird to see that kind of exaggerrated sci-fi looking city being built during my lifetime. I always kind of thought I'd be in my 70s by the time I'd see that for real in the world. Of course, when I was a kid (5-10 yrs old) I thought I might see these kinds of cities happen just as I was entering college age.
If they want to spend their money on that stuff - then thats cool.
- Ed C.
And let's not forget there is a ton of western money in Dubai.
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaTo be fair, this sort of crazy shit was going on well before oil hit even $100 a barrel. And the "still living in tents" bit is a little imperialistic, don't you think? I mean, aside from being crass and inaccurate.
!i!
Societally, the middle eastern nations are still living in tents, especially the oil-rich Gulf nations. They are two generations removed from being camel-herds, not matter what your more enlightened Western sensibilities think or feel. They still stone people to death, for fuck's sake, and won't even allow women to drive, much less show some ankle in many of these "nations" - don't give me that imperialist bullshit.
That said, yes, its interesting lookin stuff. I especially like the indoor ski-slopes (not sure that is in this particular slideshow of wretched excess or not, but I'm sure we've seen it before).
The money in Dubai is not primarily oil money. That was their foundation, but they used that to build up an entire trade/manufacturing/tourist economy that now is far larger then the oil money.
-clash
...Oh and it is totally a coincidence that the same website has caused some sort of problem on the tbp.
I do things like plug in "Future cities" or "tall buildings" in my search engines. (I got more than three)
Kind of how I stumbled across this stuff.
How did it get so controversial over on the tbp??
My love of really tall buildings is probably a leftover residue from reading Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead when I was a teenager.
- Ed C.
Quote from: WerekoalaSocietally, the middle eastern nations are still living in tents, especially the oil-rich Gulf nations.
The people with the money who are having all these wonders built are far more sophisticated and urbane than you give them credit for being, regardless of where their cousins live.
QuoteThey are two generations removed from being camel-herds...
And you're, what, two, maybe three generations removed from being a dirt-farmer?
Quote...not matter what your more enlightened Western sensibilities think or feel.
Aw, now you're getting personal. Please, fuck yourself. And I mean that in the most polite and helpful manner possible.
!i!
Quote from: flyingmiceThe money in Dubai is not primarily oil money. That was their foundation, but they used that to build up an entire trade/manufacturing/tourist economy that now is far larger then the oil money.
The nation of Dubai has had the foresight to realise two things:
- The flow of oil will eventually slow and end some day;
- Their oil fields aren't that great to begin with.
So, yeah, they invested in the infrastructure to insure that they would be a fabulous luxury destination to the world's richest for decades to come. The only kink in the plan might be if it becomes too expensive to travel there (though the very, very rich seem to figure out ways to work around that sort of thing).
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaAnd you're, what, two, maybe three generations removed from being a dirt-farmer?
I'm not toppling walls on homosexuals or executing rape victims. More importantly, neither is my country.
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaAw, now you're getting personal. Please, fuck yourself. And I mean that in the most polite and helpful manner possible.
Well, crass and imperialistic are hardly compliments. Not usually, at least.
Quote from: WerekoalaI'm not toppling walls on homosexuals or executing rape victims. More importantly, neither is my country.
We've had our turn at the wheel, too, and we still have a ways to go. That's another discussion.
QuoteWell, crass and imperialistic are hardly compliments. Not usually, at least.
You're right -- I did fire off the first round of personal invective. Consider myself self-fucked as well.
Really, though, I'd have thought that the more readily managable criticism of this wild-ass development of Dubai would be their treatment of the foreign workers who are building and running this national fantasy amusement park. I mentioned the prostitution up-thread, and you can bet that those aren't locals selling their wares (and very likely doing so against their will). And even Dubai's treatment of well-educated, highly-paid western contract workers is open to criticism. And the menial laborers imported from developing nations? Sheesh. Hey, but money talks, and they have lots to say, apparently.
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaDubai is one of the two major hubs (along with Tel Aviv) of prostitution in the Middle East. The City of the Future is a hotbed for the world's oldest profession.
!i!
That and the food was why it made for a good liberty call.
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaReally, though, I'd have thought that the more readily managable criticism of this wild-ass development of Dubai would be their treatment of the foreign workers who are building and running this national fantasy amusement park. I mentioned the prostitution up-thread, and you can bet that those aren't locals selling their wares (and very likely doing so against their will). And even Dubai's treatment of well-educated, highly-paid western contract workers is open to criticism. And the menial laborers imported from developing nations? Sheesh. Hey, but money talks, and they have lots to say, apparently.
Do they treat people that way because of their sudden wealth, or their culture and social structure? Which came first?
Money is just a huge magnifying glass - if you're an asshole when you're poor, you'll become a huge asshole when rich. Same goes for countries, I imagine.
Thank god I'm barely middle-class, eh? :)
Hey, Koltar -- thanks for the Traveller handouts, my man!
Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Hey, Koltar -- thanks for the Traveller handouts, my man!
Um...okay ... You're welcome.
(Was that in this thread? Or did I miss a PM?)
- Ed C.
Quote from: KoltarHow did it get so controversial over on the tbp??
I think it was something about an asian guy getting busted for dirt in his sneaker treads. Plus Balbinus posted about a lack of culture and some clueless guy went on and on trying to get his head around it (or not trying maybe?) while pretty much everyone else got what Balbinus within a post or three.
I worked on a class project with a woman from Saudi Arabia. She had very different cultural values than me, but she was very intelligent, quite worldly and had a lot of reasonable interesting perspectives and arguments about things like the veil and arranged marriages.
One thing about the wealthy arab states, they are educating their people.
Quote from: flyingmiceThe money in Dubai is not primarily oil money. That was their foundation, but they used that to build up an entire trade/manufacturing/tourist economy that now is far larger then the oil money.
And that's a smart move so long as the Wahhabists don't move in.
Don't forget what Lebanon was once like (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nT1YmP0CO_w&feature=related) before the PLO started operating out of it.
That thread over on rpg.net was hilarious! Especially when that guy got into talking about how people should have clean shoes when they fly. Awesome randomness.
I still just enjoy the "What the Fuck?" of it all.
Even if it is taking place in Dubai - its a nice reminder that the world can be wonderfuly weird and over the top at times.
- Ed C.
Quote from: KoltarI still just enjoy the "What the Fuck?" of it all.
Even if it is taking place in Dubai - its a nice reminder that the world can be wonderfuly weird and over the top at times.
- Ed C.
It almost sounds like you don't like Dubai, if so then why?
Quote from: jeff37923It almost sounds like you don't like Dubai, if so then why?
I don't like or dislike the country.
I've never been there....yet.
Its just people started putting these comments in about Dubai - like it should be called dubious or something.
You sound like you had a good time there - so there some positive points in their favor.
Quote from: KoltarI don't like or dislike the country.
I've never been there....yet.
Its just people started putting these comments in about Dubai - like it should be called dubious or something.
You sound like you had a good time there - so there some positive points in their favor.
Oh.
I don't think people realize just how westernized Dubai is.
Quote from: jeff37923I don't think people realize just how westernized Dubai is.
Which would be my primary concern. With those tall buildings and its geographical location, it seems like it's optimally positioned for a 9/11 style attack.
The pics look really cool.
Quote from: pspahnWhich would be my primary concern. With those tall buildings and its geographical location, it seems like it's optimally positioned for a 9/11 style attack.
The pics look really cool.
You have a point there. If the Dubai folks are somewhat westernized, they are also still muslim and arab - such an attack would look bad because it would be a Muslim attack on other muslims.
This also means "middle of the road" or moderates do exist in that part of the world.
I'd love to visit and see that whacky architecture stuff in-person.
- Ed C.
Quote from: KoltarThis also means "middle of the road" or moderates do exist in that part of the world.
How do you arrive at the conclusion of "middle of the road" and "moderate" from western-styled buildings and their willingness to open their doors to luxury-tourism?
!i!
Quote from: Koltarsuch an attack would look bad because it would be a Muslim attack on other muslims.
You mean like what is happening every day in Iraq?
QuoteThis also means "middle of the road" or moderates do exist in that part of the world.
Well, of course. Just because they're Muslim and living in the Middle East doesn't mean they're all burning flags and shouting Death to America, Death to Israel.
But just because someone is willing to cash in on tourist dollars doesn't necessarily make them moderate. :)
Pete
Quote from: jeff37923I liked Dubai when I was there. Nice place to enjoy liberty call.
I agree with this. It beat the hell out of Djibouti or Fujaira, at any rate, which were our other two stops.
I'd still prefer to be in Crete or Spain, though. :)
And the Dubai city planners definitely saw Blade Runner a few too many times, and decided that's what they wanted their city to look like. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wandererchronicles/1422631787/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wandererchronicles/1354744605/
Quote from: jeff37923That and the food was why it made for a good liberty call.
Eh, I'm not a patron of prostitutes - especially when, as another poster mentioned, the lady in question probably isn't in the trade of her own free will.
I'll agree with you on the food, though. Spice Island for the win, and even the Seaman's Center had some good eats. And Strongbow on tap.
As a follow up :
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080610094436.jmv7az8n&show_article=1
Quote'Finishing touches' delay world's tallest building
Jun 10 05:44 AM US/Eastern
Construction of the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai, has been delayed and will be completed only in September next year, the developer was quoted on Tuesday as saying.
The tower, which is expected to reach a final height of 900 metres (2,953 feet), was due for completion in the bustling city state at the end of 2008.
"The luxury finishes that were decided on in 2004, when the tower was initially conceptualised, are now being replaced by upgraded finishes," developer Emaar said, according to the Gulf News.
The Burj Dubai had already become the tallest man-made structure on the planet, when Emaar announced in April that it has surpassed the 629-metre (2,063-foot) KVLY-TV mast in the United States.
Many building projects in Dubai, which is going through a construction frenzy, have been facing delays caused by shortage of building materials and skilled labour.
Stil,....kind of cool - if you look at the picture of that buildiing. Almost straight out of Sci-Fi stories from 30 or 40 years ago.
- Ed C.
It's like a giant, up-thrust finger in the heart of the city.
Quote from: Last KnightIt's like a giant, up-thrust finger in the heart of the city.
Finger wasn't the body part I thought of when I saw it...
-clash