Arrived in Dubai

All great here…arrived on schedule a very good and quiet flight…got about 7 hours sleep, so feel good and it is time to go to bed now…

First impressions….Dubai is ultra modern. The airport is the most modern I have ever seen, including Hong Kong with a Euroean flair….very open and lots of palms, etc…

Marriott had arranged a limo to the hotel, wcich is a Courtyard….and we drove from the airport in a 2010 Lexus and it took about 30 minutes.

This is a huge area very much spread out…but when you have just the desert, plenty of space, no limits. Even at night , the skyscrapers are very impressive. Reminds me of the Hong Kong skyline with space.

Much more detail to come in my blog….but the hotel reminds me of the Marriott Desert one where Christy worked….built around the water….I don’t know of a 5 star Courtyard in the states…and this is 5 star.

Frist impression of the area is upscale Scottdale, but here money is no obstacle in building freeways, and the place is loaded with freeways and big wide multi-lane highways…. and modern buildings…and also of Palm Desert…where you take water and all comes to life….and maintain the elegance again where money is not an issue.

To think this was a mud flat area in 1960…and then to see it today, even at night, is absolutely amazing. When the Sheikh says “do it”, it is done…and he is a very modern and forward thinking Sheikh.

Washington DC enroute to Dubai

Saturday night I got the “red eye” to Washington DC  Dulles Airport….leaving on schedule and arriving into Dulles at 6 AM. I checked into the USO in the Airport and it is a very nice facility and I proceeded to have breakfast….took a brief nap…and left via the Washington Flyer bus to the West Falls Church Metro station…changed trains and arrived at the East station at 10:30 AM and started walking the mile to the Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, VA.  We were members here at the church for 6 years when we lived in the Wash DC area, and the colonial style church is just as beautiful now as it was then. The service was a traditional service with 40 member choir and orchestra…ad this is the 3rd service that they have each weekend. A very impressive service….and then had a nice visit with the music pastor and others….and had a chance to talk with Gerhard, who played trumpet in our group back in the ’80’s, and is still playing. Had a nice visit with him and his wife and 3 kids…he was one of our favorites as the “eligible bachelor” back then. Fun time and brought back some wonderful memories….
I caught the train and bus back to Dulles…had lunch at the USO…then caught the Shuttle to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum here at Dulles. This was my first visit to this new museum…..and it has a huge indoor display of both old and new airplanes, along with a very impressive display of space exploration and travel. This is definitely worth a visit for all if you like airplanes, air travel, the Air Force….for this is all about planes and air and space travel. Very impressive.
I got the shuttle to Dulles and am taking a little break now as the flight is at 10:30 PM…15-16 hours into Dubai….so should be a long night and day…
A summary of the Washington day….a lot of traffic and a lot of people, and lots of building and construction…giving the impression of a boom economy. The Air and Space is spectacular, and a must for all. Weather today was hot and humid in the morning, and then right after church major thunderstorms for the past 4 hours….raining one moment and sunny the next…very typical of summer in our Capitol.
Ready to head out tonight on a Boeing 777…my first trip on this big plane, which is replacing the 747 on many of the long flights.

Going to Dubai in 2011

I left Redding about 30 minutes behind schedule flying to San Francisco (SFO), and came over to the USO to wait for the Washington DC flight, which is a “red-eye”….leaving late Saturday and arriving early Sunday morning. Plans now call for taking the Washington Flyer Bus down to the West Falls Church Metro station…then changing to the East station…and walking over to the morning service at the Columbia Baptist Church, which we attended for 6 years when we lived in the Wash DC area. The rest of the day will be sightseeing in the Wash DC area…and then back to Dulles for the overnight flight to Dubai…scheduled to arrive Monday evening about 7:30 PM. The plan is for the Marriott to have a shuttle at the airport which will take me to the Courtyard Green Community Hotel…
A number of folks have asked  “why Dubai?”.  First, curiosity, for I have read so much about the development over the past 10 years that, starting a couple of years ago, I decided I wanted to see what is thought be many to be the “most modern city in the World”. Secondly, about 2 years ago I sold a house to a couple that had just visited Dubai while on a Mid East Cruise…and they “raved about it”. From the ultra modern lifestyle to the obvious and very apparent wealth, they were overwhelmed with the size of developments, the rapidity with which huge buildings were built, and the overall lifestyle for this modern Arab country.
My questions at this time about Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the two largest cities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) range from water in the most desert of all deserts….to the religious toleration in a deeply Islamic country….to the real estate, where a few years ago it was some of the most expensive in the world….to the general business community where there are more US corporations located than any other middle eastern location…to the typical tourist locations, like the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building to the Dubai Mall, considered one of the largest with an indoor ski mountain…to the man-made island with the ultra everything Princess Hotel and homes built on Palm Island.
Over the past few weeks I have been reading as much as time allowed about the UAE and both Dubai and Abu Dhabi…and there is a great deal on the internet. A book from the Redding Library was probably the most helpful, in that it was published just 2 years ago by a writer that approached the book from a historic view, a contemporary view, and a realistic view……not as a tourist. His observations on everything from the “mad house” traffic to the percent of foreign nationals and the number and styles of luxury cars sold, to the social and economic conditions…was most enlightening. Then, on the internet I have been reading the local on-line Dubai newspaper….and it has been giving various topics some interesting coverage, such as the large Indian presence…and the impact the Indians have on UAE life and business. This will be of special interest to me, for my time as an exchange student from UCLA to India with Project India in 1960 has always kept both India and Indians in a very special place in my life, and heart. It will be interesting to see their role in this Arab community.
So, this is kind of the “why am I going to Dubai?”….answer.  For those that have known me, and our family, over the years….know that Audy and I met in 1961 on the Experiment in International Living when Audy and I were living with German families in Berlin…Audy with Ursula and I with the Giese family…then after our marriage, we spent 3 years in the Air Force living in England…then with the children young, we traveled in Europe and then once back in the states…took frequent family vacations both in the US and overseas. In 1984 I joined World Vision, which allowed me to travel in various locations of the Third World…and then with Audy to China and eastern Europe…and 2 years ago I had the opportunity to go to the Queen’s Birthday Celebration in London…..so traveling is kind of “in my blood”. I just enjoy foreign and unfamiliar cultures and people….and this means travel…so here I am.
Tomorrow should be a good day….a day in Wash DC before I head out with Dubai my destination. Stay tuned.
 

Old Posts Will Be Here

At the urging of folks that have followed my travels, I am going to move my posts from my previous blog to this travel blog.

The dates will go back a few years, but the detail of the various cities is still there, and applicable.

And, these were blogs from my daily logs of trips.....and are varied...so enjoy these places and the events that I encountered.

Videos for Cruise Ships

We had a fun day both yesterday and today doing the videos for the DVD.  Jennifer was great...Christy was great....Rick was great...and then George added a funny ending.  Meet with Mike tomorrow...then we do the video on Friday...

Oslo, Norway

Boarded the train at 8 and even though an old non-speed train, very neat and very clean and updated and we traveled at about 70 mph over some of the most beautiful areas in the world. The weather had cleared to a Great degree as we went east for the 7 hour journey and  it got even brighter.

The photos are the one way to describe  this incredible trip but think in terms of crossing the Rockies then coming along Whiskeytown Lake then boating on Shasta then going back up over and through the Alps. The area is so unique and goes back to the Ice Age when the glaciers carved these massive fjords that are so deep and long that trade has been a big factor in their survival over the years. We went along these fjords then up and over the 4000 feet where it was slightly snowing and foods were in snow gear. Just one dramatic scenes after another....and it just kept coming for over 3 hours. Even though it was  a short night due to a hotel issue which I will tell you about separately, Donna......you could not rest in fear of missing something. Even Audy was awake the entire journey.

As we came over the mountains and down into the valley heading to Oslo....we started to see these large farm areas....and the beauty of eastern Norway...and we saw these areas for about 2 hours...with small towns starting to pop up as we got closer to Oslo.

We arrived in Oslo about 2:30 and then did the included Oslo City tour. We ended at the hotel at 6...and that was it.....ate in the room and packed for the early departure.

Oslo....and this is a recorded talk, it seems...is a beautiful city built around a massive harbor. Very clean and modern still showing the rich history and heritage....and a 3 hour tour is just note night. We both agreed and additional day would be much better. We had  a good young tour guide that knew his stuff....but jut too much to fully appreciate in this short of a time. Most people probably fine but not us.....a great city and we must go back.

Transfers to Oslo were perfect...the Oslo Airport is very modern and convenient....processing was quick and efficient and could not have been better and we were off to Amsterdam.  Arrival there was fine, with folks to help....airport is huge but very modern and clean and user friendly. Flight back on Delta A330 was perfect....but then the international arrival experience at Atlanta is a disaster and probably the worst experience in the entire trip. Obviously leadership at this airport just does not "get it".....with 500 to 600 people waiting to get through passport control and 3 agents....this airport management is pathetic. And, after talking with some of the other travelers in line....is now considered one of the worst international arrival airports in the world of the big airports. But, we made it...a great trip.....ready to go again...tomorrow.

Bergen

The day in Bergen started out cold and windy and continued though the day.....we got on the mid day included excursion....guide was ok but not up to the par of the others....too young and inexperienced. But this was the Panoramic Bergen excursion...so we did get to see this gorgeous city built around the fjords, with the wharf area being the world showplace. The wooden houses in various colors are on the postcards in the Bryggen area right along the harbor, Marina, etc....and it was busy, in spite of the wind and rain.  Bergen has over 250 days of rain a year...so thus was a normal day for the locals...in fact they said it was pretty mild. Oil and gas and the related industries are driving this area, and even with the high taxation, is frequently voted the happiest city in the world. After the tour we told a short walk from the hotel, which was the Radisson Blu right downtown..and this was a perfect location so we walked a few doors and had a great snack in a locally owned place.....very nice.  We walked for a few minutes more then decided too nasty so returned to the ship ....Audy had a good rest and I decided to explore more....and went back out to see what we had not seen in the downtown area such as the fish markets and other shopping areas. Rain and wind off and on but got to see their main shopping and tourist areas....very impressive. The plan was to stay on the ship this night and then disembark the next morning....and go on another city tour...which we did and this one covers additional parts of the city..well done...and then to the hotel, as we were then on the Bergen to Oslo extension. After lunch locally we walked through the fish market areas and saw the sights as today the weather turned sunny and the area is so beautiful. Got to the food area and, along with the other thousand tourists got to have our Local pancake and ate it standing along the stores and  shops....just enjoying the locals, Etc...

After a rest went down the street to a Brew and Bar...and clearly one of the most delicious hamburgers we have ever had, Norwegian style. Back to the hotel and prepared for the early departure from the hotel to the train to Oslo. 68 folks on the extension so we got on the train early for a good seat..so the start of a good day.

In Summary, Bergen is a must, and is a must for many of the Cruise lines...due to the history connections with the Vikings and with the historic trade of the area. Due to its critical location, it was a key player in the Hanseatic League....which established traders the primary reason for being . Bergen was the capital of Norway with the King living here...and being the center of the fishing trade...started out being a wealthy city..and then with the oil discovery in 1969....one very wealthy and affluent place. Well worth the time.  Off to Oslo...