Before I get into this, though, just to wrap up on the Malls…for they are certainly one of the highlights of the Country. The Dubai Mall, which has as its trademark the Ice Rink and the Fountains, and has the entrance to the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) in the lower level….is remarkable in design, compared to our Malls. Dubai Mall is like a “laid out town, with streets, alleys, etc”…it seems. You go into one area, which is like a street….and then you come to a square, or intersection…and the next area looks a lot different. Translated, you can get lost easily if you do not get this down and kind of keep track where you are. This layout is complicated, further, by the fact it is 4 stories high, with escalators and traditional stairs going from 1 level to another, with some of the escalators going 2 levels. Then, they have the traditional escalators….then they have the moving sidewalks that go from one floor to another, which wheelchairs, of which I have seen 1, can use…then they have the motion activated escalators that do not move until you step on them. Then, at every level, all kinds of video screens, advertising upcoming events, sales, special activities, etc….At times I felt as if I did not know what to watch or pay attention to….there is so much happening.
Tuesday night at the Mall of the Emirates I was so taken by the men in white and the women in black. It is the most striking of all in the Mall….and as I tried to take pictures of the women, which you are not supposed to do …it was tricky, and I did get some good shots of the women by themselves and with their husbands. But, both, as singles, and with their husbands, the appearance is one of elegance, grace, and beauty as they move about the Malls. This is the trademark of the Emirate, or one that is a citizen of the UAE…separating them from the Expats. They move with slow and very proud elegance….almost as if to show you “I am wealthy and I want to show it”….but I am sure this is not the case…for they are all moving in a similar pace. I guess you could say “I got hooked” on watching these folks, and they are certainly not in the majority but their presence is very much shown and known…very proud and very confident looking in every respect. And, the women, some of which are completely covered with the exception of their eye slit….and in some cases the veil is even over the eyes….most of them shorter than I am….and the men my size or taller…most of them taller. With their thin builds and their height, they are so striking. Well, I could go on…but the man and woman walking together are a very attractive site to behold…..and part of the religious practice, which is so impressive here with the Mosques in great number in all areas.
Continue reading ‘Last Half of Day #2..Dubai’
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