2nd Week in Dubai

My trip to Ibn Battuta mall is probably the only highlight of my 2nd week in Dubai.  Aside from the fact that the mall is split into different sections representing different cultures and that it’s named after a famous Islamic traveller, there’s really not much special about it. 

Much like the UAE, it doesn’t seem like any cost was spared in building the mall to produce a theme park like atmosphere.

This could be Ibn Battuta

I spent some time looking at furniture for my soon-to-be apartment.  A couple of thing caught my attention.  The dining set together with all the chairs is about 2500AED, which is approximale 28000PHP.  The corner sofa set is also about the same price.  This is a bargain considering the quality but I also need to go through Ikea to look at some semi-disposable furniture.  I certainly don’t want to be investing too much into items that I won’t really be carrying along with me if I ever move apartments, which is sort of a common occurrence in Dubai.  Real Estate has a life of its own in Dubai, prices are one of the highest if not already the highest in the world and inflation is astronimical. People tend to move in and out of apartments trying to find more affordable living.  Recently, residential areas have been built farther and farther out from the city center.  Expats in Dubai are semi-transient or, more appropriately, semi-permanent.  More precisely, on a professional level, people come here for work, either for the salary or the international experience and then move on to greener pastures.

Many Filipinos are employed in the retail and service industry.  It’s not unusual to get some small bargains and freebies if you find a fellow Kabayan behind the counter of a store or restaurant.

Just one of the little idiosyncracies you find in and around Dubai.

On a separate note, I found this ad in the newspaper for Gulf News.  If you look at it carefully, it say "Gnads for You!" Hahahahaha.