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redeyes · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 254

Germaine Greer on Dubai --

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/feb/09/dubai-architecture-greer

Iamherebecause · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:56 pm Post subject:

How arrogant do you have to be to write a travel article based on a stop-over where all you do is take the Big Bus?

I found this in the comments on the Greer article. A bit gushy, it's Piears Morgan, but I think more balanced if only because he actually stayed for a while and spoke to people:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1127187/Over-Dripping-money-Adored-celebs-Big-brash-loaded-ambition-No-Piers-Morgan--incredible-city-Dubai.html

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

But I like that Nevada libertarian sort of spirit. In Dubai, floozie houses are populated by Chinese slaves and strictly illegal but of course corrupt powers protect it. In Vegas it's legal, end of story. Want a divorce? Want to marry? Bada bing, bada boom, no problem--you're adults.

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

I think the last line about Dubai having neither charm nor character is a fair summation of Greer herself.

If she had bothered to get off her tourist bus and actually walk along Dubai Creek on the Deira side, or if she had taken an abrah, she would have seen working dhows aplenty.
For years she has existed on her reputation, producing nothing new but transfiguring herself into an eccentric lady gardener who expects the world to sit up and take notice because it is SHE, the antipodean wonder, who has spoken.
It is amazing that the Guardian will fork out money for such superficial tosh.

007 · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:37 pm Post subject:

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject:

I would assume, then, that the members of the Saudi Royal Family, mentioned in the story below, were engaged in missionary work in Vegas.

"The F.B.I. records show, for instance, that prominent Saudi citizens left the United States on several flights that had not been previously disclosed in public accounts, including a chartered flight from Providence, R.I., on Sept. 14, 2001, that included at least one member of the Saudi royal family, and three flights from Las Vegas between Sept. 19 and Sept. 24, also carrying members of the Saudi royal family. The government began reopening airspace on Sept. 13, but many flights remained grounded for days afterward.
The three Las Vegas flights, with a total of more than 100 passengers, ferried members of the Saudi royal family and staff members who had been staying at Caesar's Palace and the Four Seasons hotels. The group had tried unsuccessfully to charter flights back to Saudi Arabia between Sept. 13 and Sept. 17 because they said they feared for their safety as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks, the F.B.I. documents say."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/27/politics/27exodus.html