Snapshots From Dubai...

And now's the time for a few snapshots from the bus ride around Dubai, earlier today...

The Persian Gulf in front of the Atlantis. The water is so blue...

Villas in the Palm Jumeirah - the playground of the rich and famous. Besides Bollywood and Hollywood stars, cricketers and politicians from around the world have abodes here...

Condo complexes in the Palm Jumeirah...

The skyline of the Dubai Marina in the distance...

Indeed a concrete jungle...

Passing by the Dubai Internet City...

I quite liked the expressways here...

Hello Hanoi! - an Emirates billboard announcing the commencement of flights between Dubai and Hanoi...

A view of Burj al-Arab...

This road would take you straight to Sharjah...

A Lamborghini showroom. The Emiratis have a penchant for the fast and flashy cars. In fact the police has Lamborghinis and Ferraris in their fleet... 

Times Square mall...

Traffic is orderly here and even a hint of alcohol could result in harsh penalties and cancellation of the driving license...

And the Burj Khalifa reappears...

Headed towards the Financial Center...

The flyovers are such a treat with Arabian geometric murals on them...

I can only wonder how expensive it would be keep this place so green...

The Financial Center...

A building under construction. Construction workers come in from Asia and Africa and live here in a shabby state, uncared for and exploited by employers...

And the sweat, tears and blood that would have gone into developing this "utopia" is unimaginable...