So it's been a few days since I've posted, but it wasn't intentional. I'll try to keep up the postings more frequently. (btw, it's 2am here and my writing skills are definately on the low)
This week I started my first day of working the project on my own. I have things pretty much under control, there is alot to due but nothing difficult. I've also been taking more pictures, mainly going out at night to different locations. Daytime is a little more difficult since it's way too hot. Even at night it can get hot and very humid, but I've been able to get used to it a little, and plus it's tolerable if you don't move too much.
Well, here is my first photo video. I have the full resolution video and the original photos if anyone wants them, although I'm looking for a place to host the images and video for easy access. (Kevin?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1p-r1hQFr4
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
What's in that drink? Gold?
So last night I went to the Burj Al Arab for some drinks, and the oportunity to take some pictures. The place is amazing....luxury everywhere, from the lobby to the staircase to even the bathrooms. I got a seat at the Junsui Bar and sat down and had some drinks. I made friends with the two bartenders, who used to tend bar on cruise liners going to Alaska, August and Jet. I also made friends with the Sommelier, who of course is from Chile, Andres. Not to many girls at that bar, everyone was either old or with someone. (More on the girl situation here in Dubai later.....interesting observations.) They said to go the Sky Bar, but seeing that my bill came out to 150 bucks for the night, I didn't want to take out a loan to check it out. I ended up staying for a while and hanging out before I went home. I managed to take some pics, but there were alot of places restricted to guests only or where pictures were prohibited. Here are some good ones I took.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Race Track of Babel
Yesterday I went to the job site for the first time. Now, interesting news, the job site is where I'll be for at least until November, due to the fact that the offices are still under construction. The tenent contrctor is still on site. The good thing is that I'll be able to pick out my own office.
I got to the site and the first thing I saw was the sheer size of the project. It's one kilometer long and has about 2,000 people working on it.
There's a big two level building that serves as the offices, which is where I'll be working. I got to meet some of the people, and my assistent, Rommy. He's a young guy from the Phillapeans who'll be helping my with aquireing documents from the contractor and owner. Then, while I was there, there was an impromptu meeting on the steel structure/wing that will be on top of the building. If you guys go to my first post you will see a link of the youtube video where you can see what I'm talking about. The original plan was to build and assemble it on the roof. But, it will now be assembled in 5 pieces on the ground simultaneously and then lifted up in place. Now, this requires 5 lifts of about 90 meters of pieces of more than 100 tons. Needless to say this is a huge part of the job. The interesting thing is that the steel people are from China, and at the meeting there was a translator relaying the discussion to the 3 Chinese managers. Apart from that, the technical director is Egyptian. The planners are from Egypt. The laborers and labor manager are from India. The drafters are from Japan, and then the admin people are Philipino. It's crazy!!
After going over some stuff I went to the airport and got a car. A Peugot 206. It's a small 4 door hatchback 2008. I then proceeded to get lost. I ended up on the other side of Dubai. This is a big place...and there's construction everywhere.
Today will be interesting. I took the car around again and went to Jumeirah, which is the beach part of Dubai. I ended up at another mall, a sort of Italian style mall.
It was nice! Jumeirah is supposed to be the big expat area, and I did see some gringos, but not too many. But then again, it was 1pm, so there wasn't much people there.
Afterwards I went to the Burj Al Arab, the 6 star hotel, but I only got as far as the front gate. Apparently you need a reservation to get in........so, I got a reservation for tonight! Relax, mom, it's just for the bar. The Junsui Bar at 7pm. There's a minimum of about 70bucks, but, that will give me access to the hotel and be able to take pictures and walk around. There is a dress code tho, smart casual. Does that mean a suit? or just slacks and dress shirt? Thank God I brought an exsessive amount of clothes!!
I'll let you guys know how tonight goes. PEACE!!!!!!
I got to the site and the first thing I saw was the sheer size of the project. It's one kilometer long and has about 2,000 people working on it.
There's a big two level building that serves as the offices, which is where I'll be working. I got to meet some of the people, and my assistent, Rommy. He's a young guy from the Phillapeans who'll be helping my with aquireing documents from the contractor and owner. Then, while I was there, there was an impromptu meeting on the steel structure/wing that will be on top of the building. If you guys go to my first post you will see a link of the youtube video where you can see what I'm talking about. The original plan was to build and assemble it on the roof. But, it will now be assembled in 5 pieces on the ground simultaneously and then lifted up in place. Now, this requires 5 lifts of about 90 meters of pieces of more than 100 tons. Needless to say this is a huge part of the job. The interesting thing is that the steel people are from China, and at the meeting there was a translator relaying the discussion to the 3 Chinese managers. Apart from that, the technical director is Egyptian. The planners are from Egypt. The laborers and labor manager are from India. The drafters are from Japan, and then the admin people are Philipino. It's crazy!!
After going over some stuff I went to the airport and got a car. A Peugot 206. It's a small 4 door hatchback 2008. I then proceeded to get lost. I ended up on the other side of Dubai. This is a big place...and there's construction everywhere.
Today will be interesting. I took the car around again and went to Jumeirah, which is the beach part of Dubai. I ended up at another mall, a sort of Italian style mall.
It was nice! Jumeirah is supposed to be the big expat area, and I did see some gringos, but not too many. But then again, it was 1pm, so there wasn't much people there.
Afterwards I went to the Burj Al Arab, the 6 star hotel, but I only got as far as the front gate. Apparently you need a reservation to get in........so, I got a reservation for tonight! Relax, mom, it's just for the bar. The Junsui Bar at 7pm. There's a minimum of about 70bucks, but, that will give me access to the hotel and be able to take pictures and walk around. There is a dress code tho, smart casual. Does that mean a suit? or just slacks and dress shirt? Thank God I brought an exsessive amount of clothes!!
I'll let you guys know how tonight goes. PEACE!!!!!!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Do You Have Anything To Declare?
Dubai is under my feet, and the airport pretty much looks like any other airport....then I start to read the signs. It's funny how everything has 2 titles, one in Arabic and the other in English. It's funny to see Dunkin Donuts in Arabic at the mall.
But, that is to be expected from a city that is so young.But, as for now, I'm definately anzious to get out and take more pics. But for now, I'm gonna go grab a nap, this jetlag thing is taking effect. But before that, I need to get a SIM card, and hopefully get my phone to work here. It's good that the Mall is half a block away from my building. It's the mall that has the indoor ski slope!
The road to the hotel/apartment was something else. The buildings were huge, but not only that, there are alot of them, all bunched up, right next to eachother. Now, I know NY or any other city has big buildings all bunched up together, but not like this. Each one has this crazy architectural style, completely different than the building next to it, like it's the iconic building of the city, but then the one next to it looks like the unique one. It's hard to explain. It's sort of like an all-star line-up of buldings, all trying to be the best.
I caught a glimpse of the Burj Dubai....huge. I want to see it in the day to take some pics.
So I get into my room, and it turns out that they mixed up my reservation, so I'll have a two-bedroom for the price of one. The place is big, 3 bathrooms, living room and den, 2 bedrooms. I don't have a view, since there is construction all over the place.
But, that is to be expected from a city that is so young.But, as for now, I'm definately anzious to get out and take more pics. But for now, I'm gonna go grab a nap, this jetlag thing is taking effect. But before that, I need to get a SIM card, and hopefully get my phone to work here. It's good that the Mall is half a block away from my building. It's the mall that has the indoor ski slope!
I had lunch in a restaurant that had this view. Tomorrow night is the start of the weekend, and there's this bar/night club called Apres. It's in the mall, so we'll see how it goes. But, it does have a view of the slopes, so it could be nice.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Almost There.....
Free WiFi!! Score one for Qatar! I don't think I have much time to write anything, just wanted to let you guys know I'm in Doha. After calling my folks thru Skype, I decided to log in to post something small, when all of a sudden I run into the arabic Blogger.com site.........great.
After some trial and error, I find a login page.....why is my login name hidden? Oh yeah.....right to left writing.
The flight was fine...Qatar really has their stuff together. No empty seats to lay out in, but the recline in the seats was more than adequate. Although, that meant that when the guy in front of me wanted to lean back, I was eating my personal video screen!! 13 hours later we landed and now I'm in the gate for the 1 hour trip tip Dubai. People are starting to file in to the gate, so I better get going. It's 7pm here and I feel like I just woke up!! Hello jetlag!!
After some trial and error, I find a login page.....why is my login name hidden? Oh yeah.....right to left writing.
The flight was fine...Qatar really has their stuff together. No empty seats to lay out in, but the recline in the seats was more than adequate. Although, that meant that when the guy in front of me wanted to lean back, I was eating my personal video screen!! 13 hours later we landed and now I'm in the gate for the 1 hour trip tip Dubai. People are starting to file in to the gate, so I better get going. It's 7pm here and I feel like I just woke up!! Hello jetlag!!
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