Middle East
Abu Dhabi
Jun 23rd
A couple weeks ago, I saw Sex and the City 2. (It wasn’t my choice, but my date had been a good sport about watching the Hawks playoffs). Don’t worry, I am not going to spoil anything major in the movie, but there is a large part related to travel.
An Arab sheikh hires Samantha to produce a PR campaign for his business. This translates to an all-expenses-paid trip for the four women to Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi is shown in the best possible light from the minute the women board the super-luxurious plane. The next 15 minutes or so seem like an ad. We see Abu Dhabi in all of its beauty.
The odd thing is that later, as the plot progresses, we are shown a different side of Abu Dhabi. The women experience a culture clash. I didn’t see it was a point-counterpoint either. It seemed more against the ways of the Middle East.
The whole thing struck me as an odd juxtaposition. Just as I was starting to be annoyed at how much the movie seemed to be showcasing Abu Dhabi (sort of like product placement), I was hit with how different it is from America.
This left me confused as to what message they were trying to deliver to the audience. Then it left me confused as to why they needed to leave any message in this manner at all. The trip to Abu Dhabi seemed like a forced plot contrivance. Couldn’t the writers have been creative enough to write this movie without taking this side trip?
On the other hand, bad (or at least mixed) publicity is better than no publicity. I guess Abu Dhabi should be happy about that.
– John Wroblewski, distribution specialist
Pursuing Travel Dreams
Apr 3rd
Just yesterday, Kim Krol blogged about her adventure zip lining in Hawaii, and last week Fran Gallagher wrote about his plans to visit the D-Day beaches at Normandy when he travels to France this week. It got me to thinking about some of the places I still want to visit — some of them as much for certain ubiquitous activities which are associated with those locations as for the places themselves. Both Kim’s and Fran’s experiences are ones I’d like to duplicate, but there are lots more.
For instance, I’d love to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, but somehow just floating over it in a glass-bottomed boat wouldn’t suffice. I’d want to dive into those blue waters and be surrounded by all the beautiful coral and sealife. That would require me to first learn to snorkel or scuba, of course, but if I got as far as Australia, you can bet I’d acquire the skills to enjoy the full experience under the water.
Closer to home, I must admit that I have yet to visit the Grand Canyon (but it’s on my list!). While I look forward to someday standing on the rim and drinking in the views of that great natural wonder, I’d really love the chance to take part in a rafting trip on the Colorado River through it. My sister Robbe actually took such a trip several years ago and had a fantastic time. And really quite close to home is the Pacific Crest Trail, running along the crest of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountains continuously from Mexico to Canada. Although I doubt I’ll ever hike the entire length of it, I nevertheless would like to get out on some stretch of it for a week or two and enjoy the beauty and peace. I wouldn’t mind a similar trek on the Appalacian Trail, either.
Some others? Sailing through the Panama Canal (or the Suez). Riding a camel across the deserts of Egypt. Going on safari (photography) in Africa. Hiking across a glacier in Alaska. Riding the bullet train in Japan. Attending a fashion show in Paris. The list goes on and on. Adding to it makes for pleasant daydreams, and pursuing crossing items off gives me travel goals I can look forward to.
How about you? What are some things you’d like to do in this wide world, near or far from home? And what have you already done that you heartily recommend others do?
– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader
The News
Feb 2nd
When I’m on the road, I typically get my news from the local newspaper hanging on my hotel room doorknob in the morning. Whether it is USA Today, The South China Morning Post or The Gulf Times, I enjoy reading different points of view on the same stories from around the world. I also like to watch hotel cable, mostly because I don’t have cable at home, but also because it allows me to watch different news sources from around the world. I prefer CNN in Europe to the CNN that is broadcast in the U.S. I also enjoy the BBC and Al Jazeera International.
It seems that more and more people are getting their news from TV and the Internet, rather than from print sources. I still believe the newspaper is the best source for world news, followed by the Internet. The TV remains most popular, but, in my opinion, offers the least amount of meat when it comes to real issues. I have always been disappointed by the local news at home, but then again, I have always had more of an international curiosity so maybe my disappointment is natural.
On the road, do you find yourself more tuned into different news sources? Or do you ensure you get your local daily news source?
– Â Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher
Brunching
Jan 19th
In New York City, we think we know how to do brunch. Thousands of restaurants around the city break out special menus for the weekend feast. Some brunch hot spots have lines around the block just so hungry patrons can get a taste of their eggs, pancakes, whatever the specialty may be. This New Yorker, however, is humble enough to admit when she finds another city that does brunch in a superior manner. The city would be Dubai. Specifically, The Fairmont Dubai.
This past weekend, before returning to New York, I had the opportunity to experience my first Dubai brunch. I had heard all about it before, but I had never had time to experience it myself. I was told I couldn’t leave town without trying the brunch, and I am glad I listened this time around. Several city venues do brunch. The Fairmont does their brunch in partnership with Moet et Chandon. The champagne flows freely, and the selection of delicious food is beyond comprehension.
The most difficult part was deciding where to start! The restaurant showcases several open kitchen stations from around the world, including Japan, China, Thailand, the Middle East, India and Europe. My brunch started at 12:45 with some fresh sushi from the Japanese kitchen. I followed with some Indian dahl, chicken curry and fresh nan bread. I couldn’t make up my mind on my next course, and I couldn’t turn my attention away from the dessert station. The station must have occupied 500 square feet and was filled with delicious delicacies, including a sticky toffee pudding that would satisfy the most difficult critics.
Located on the first floor of the hotel, at Spectrum on One, The Fairmont Champagne brunch is an ideal place to celebrate an occasion, catch up with friends or family or just enjoy the start of the weekend. I highly recommend not having any other plans for the day except for sitting on the beach with another glass of Champagne!
– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher
