On Being In A Postmodern City

Greetings from sunny Dubai!

We flew in on Saturday and settled into our accomodation with little fuss. We enjoyed a lesurely lunch, a walk along the beach, then watched the cresent moon (with acompanying early star) set over the Arabian Sea. Our hotel is directly opposite the famed Burj Al-Arab, which I have to say is far larger and more impressive than I had expected. Our hotel is packed with the usual quality entertainments and C in enjoying the adventure park, pools, beach and range of food.

Monday morning saw me back out on the golf course, playing the Desert Course at Arabian Ranches. This was the location for the most recent Desert Classic tournament (won by Ernie Els). It is a wonderfully laid out course that utilises the slope of the terrain and extensive sandscapes on either side of each hole. In fact, playing a long approach to the heart of a well-bunkered green from amongst desert grasses and bleached bones is a memory that will linger for a long time. However, the round was a struggle beyond the normal demands of Golf, as I appear to have come done with some sort of gastric bug. I am feeling better now, but sadly I missed the chance to play the Majlis course this morning.

Arabian Ranches (an enourmous housing and leisure development on the outskirts of Dubai) itself was fascinating experience, as was the afternoon trip into one of the downtown malls. It releaved the deeply postmodern nature of Dubai, something I will reflect on more over the coming days.

[tags] Dubai [/tags]