17th of a series
Dreamscapes and Skyscrapers: Unveiling Dubai’s Magical Charm
Our last visit to Dubai together was in December of 2014 to celebrate Romy’s 75th birthday. There were a lot of surprises for him from his children ranging from wearing apparels, branded shoes, customized bull caps, perfumes among others, but the best was the dinner reservation at Burj Al Arab – the only 7-star hotel in the world. I was speechless by the concerted efforts of the kids to give their father the best of everything they can afford.
From the Villa of Lengleng (Raquel) and her hubby Al Villarias, we were picked up by a rented Limousine on our way to our destination. All the grandkids were left behind to watch a movie and play at the park. We were mesmerized by the majestic beauty and grandeur of Burj Al Arab. The gigantic pillars, the elevator, the ceiling, the door frames, the staircase handle and practically everything inside are either made of or wrapped in gold, no wonder it is considered the only 7-star hotel in the world! For posterity, we took photographs of almost every corner from the stairs to the dining room.
We had our dinner, buffet style, at the hanging restaurant of the hotel with foreigners from different nationalities. Honestly, it was my first time to see and taste three types of caviar – red, green and black. For me, it all tastes the same. While we partook of the food, Romy was serenaded by a middle-aged man in white raiment and maroon turban whom I presumed to be an Indian national. There was so much fun especially when Romy and Rona stood up and danced to the tempo of an Indian music. After dinner, we roamed around the hotel and went home past midnight with so much joy in our hearts.Another unique experience we had was our visit to the Gold Souk in Sharjah where all kinds of ornaments made of gold are on display. I can’t believe my eyes seeing such an immense collection of jewelry in a building as large as the City Hall of Manila. There were necklaces as big as a lady’s top and bangles so heavy to wear on a daily basis. What was more surprising to a neophyte visitor like me is the fact that the persons in charge of selling speak Tagalog. When I said to Romy, “Tatay, tingnan mo ang gaganda”, the man at the counter replied “Talaga! Mura lang, may tawad pa.” After a few minutes, Romy signaled to Roreen that he already wanted to leave the place because he can’t stand the sight of those gold anymore. “Nahihilo na ako”, he confessed. So, we left the place unable to buy anything. The following day, we went to Fujairah, the boundary of UAE and Oman. These two countries are separated only by a bridge like Canada and USA which are separated by the Niagara. On top of the hill in Fujairah overlooking Snoopy Island is the shining palace of Rosanna Ortiz, a Filipina actress who fortunately married a Sheik. According to rumors we gathered, almost all helpers in the palace are Filipinos.
To be continued
Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
I was born to write and I believe that’s my calling. I love writing because it brings me to the realm exclusively of mine. It is also my opinion that “immortality” can be achieved not by searching for the Holy Grail and drinking from it but by living your life worth-writing or writing something worth-reading. Since I cannot promise you a life worth-writing, I keep myself busy writing something worth-reading. I am thankful to God for giving me the talent and skill to see life in different perspectives not seen by many and the courage to share it to my readers. This first ever Tutubi Digital News Magazine is a perfect avenue to bring you the many facets of life that you can ponder upon in this time of the pandemic. Enjoy reading all the articles.
