Dubai Anyone???

SO VERY SORRY!!! That we have been so out of touch. Jim and I have just returned from the states from a month long visit. As soon as I returned to Moscow I was hit with the WORST jetlag I have ever had. I couldn't stay awake for almost a week!! It was horrible. Then last week I took a week long trip to Dubai on a girls trip.

For those of you who aren't quite sure where Dubai is located....it's located right smack in the middle of the Middle East....Just south of Iraq and right across the Persian Gulf from Iran. So with that being said, you'd think Dubai would have Arabs all over the city? Nope - Arabic is the national language but every sign, store sign, street sign, etc... are in both Arabic and Engligh. 70% of the population of Dubai is made up of expats or foreigners. Mostly from India and Pakistan - but I would have to say if I didn't know I was in Dubai I'd think I was in Miami.....

Here I am standing at an outdoor mall called Madinat Al Jumeirah
with the Burj Al Arab in the background.

The Burj Al Arab is a site not too be missed. The Burj is a hotel and rooms go for around $3000 a night.....pretty pricey. The helicopter pad off to the left is where Matt Lauer hosted "Where in the world is Matt Lauer" for those of you Today Show fans - or where Tiger Woods hit a golf ball. Directly on the opposite side sticking out is a restaurant which over looks the "world." For those of you who don't know - they are building a series of islands in the ocean to replicate the continents of the world - apparently Brad Pitt just bought Ethiopia. Thats a shocker?!?!

Here I am laying out on the beach of our hotel and
someone decided to take a camel ride on the beach.....

Off in the distance you can see the Burj Tower -
which when completed will be the worlds largest building.
Rising up 2,460 feet.

This is a shot of the marina being built. Everything in Dubai is literally under constrution - if you are an architect, contractor, or an interior designer this is your place. We were told that 70% of the worlds cranes are located in Dubai. It was amazing to see - it's like they just don't know where to stop.