And whats new with you?

I have started using this new Dopplr applications which helps you share travel dates with your friend online. Its also linked to my facebook page, so as a result it send out updates to all on facebook of my travels. To some it may seem a bit like a bit of PR campaign to let all know what a road warrior I am (I would certainly think so) but it would be nice to get some company on the road i.e. meet other friends travelling so I thought who give a *#$% and decided I am going to continue updating it! The discovery of the year for me has been Facebook, its really cool. It has been on my todo list but never got around to it till February, as a technology fiend I always try to dedicate some time to new trends and innovations that are popular. I was never skeptical about social networks however thought it would be hard for people to stay interested in them longterm. It can be a bit addictive as I found out but its really cool way of keeping up with friends that you care about but don't have enough time to get in touch with. With some of those on, its a bit of a soap with all the hourly updates about their mood and what they had for lunch. Though I must admit, its also a trend that will eventually taper off into regular use with no novelty. It all started many years ago with email, crazy valuations and all folks its the biggest money spinner ever blah blah and trying to build a money spinner and not a utilitarian application. It continues to dominate our lives but its still free. Then came instant messaging with a similair tagline but also failed to convert usage into big bucks. Blogging was the next trend (which I think is quite dead now albeit persistent few like my cousin- Roshin) and now its social networking which if I may be so bold to say will also not convert into the next Fortune 100 company. KL was very wet this time and a lot of my regular food joints were disappointing. However there was a new discovery, Fatty Crab in Taman Megah. Recommend the Chilli crabs and spicy prawns. I had forgotten how stressful it is to work in Asia, I had barely landed and blood pressure started going up just listening to crap from the customer and my colleagues hammering away. I remember now why last year professionally was so miserable. May have to go a few more times and hopefully be be able to transition over to someone else. We are off to Sunny Tuscany next week. I hope to use that long weekend as a good way to bring closure to my unending love for Tuscan wine. I can already feel the pounds just coming on, all the food and great wine makes one like a swine. Classic Cherickel style, we have no booking yet. Family reunion in the NJ this June, the Africans and Europeans are going to plant themselves with the Americans. Family reunion for both the Cherickels and Mathews.

Life in the desert

The introduction of my lonely planet guide summarizes Dubai - 'multicultural, materialistic and moving forward at a pace that no other city'. It a very impressive place or atleast it will be once they finish building the city which I am told has been going on for several years now,i.e. there is no end in sight. My first impression driving from the airport cruising on a 6 lane highway connecting Old Dubai to the New part of town, was 'Is this Dallas'? Some subtle difference like the car showrooms lacing the highway were for Lamborghinis and other exotic cars, raised highways, cheesy neon signs and large 'For Sale' signs but the landscape and vibe is very Dallasesque. They also had Toyotas but yet to see a Prius. Petrol runs at 6.25 DH (1.13 Euro) per gallon - this is still SUV country. I have not seen a place so entombed in constructions cranes and protection walls as Dubai and mercilessly this is not restricted to one area but to the entire city. This permanent state of building has been on for the last 5 years or so. Its also a source of financial growth for the folks snapping up these modern monstrosities, prices seem to be doubling every 18 months. Everyone seems convinced that it will continue for the better part of the next few decades. The main disconnect is perhaps is that most of the properties being are targetted at the Multi-Millionaires. How many are there? A special note of caution is the traffic, its LA style gridlock. If you are caught on the wrong side of town from 5pm - 10pm, then you are guaranteed to be doodling for several hours in bumper to bumper traffic. Culturally its seems to be simmering pot of the jet-setting rich and 'middle class' folks from the subcontinent (self baptised as middle class) coexisting to fulfill one objective - make more money. The Millionaire burbs is like any other rich boy's playground, however the immigrant towns are very interesting. Lots of cheesy neon lights, grubby food joints and lots of communal living areas. It makes for an interesting walking experience in the evening. I made many friends with the Taxi drivers who seem to like the place and the fact that Dubai was exploding so it really makes their efforts worth it. I found the Pakistani drivers especially friendly and courteous. I gorged on a diet of Pakistani goat peshawari and some mallu delicacies while I was there. A few places that stood out were Pak Ghazi, Karachi Durbar and Delhi Durbar. Went to this fantastic Mallu joint called Paragon Calicut which atleast 50 people waiting outside to have dinner at 11:00pm. The appam and fish mollee are to die for. Buddha Bar (offshoot of the Paris concern) is a very impressive joint, worth a few drinks. There is a lot more to the place but will save it for the next post...