#dubai air taxi stations

[3nn-express]

Air Taxi Arrival in Dubai: Anywhere in the City within ten minutes.

Air Taxi Arrival in Dubai: With a 350 dirham minimum fare, Dubai’s RTA introduces an air taxi service that promises shorter travel times and a combination of aircraft and helicopter technologies for cutting-edge urban mobility.

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[tourist-destinations]

A Guide to Public Transport in Dubai

Dubai is a city with luxury written all over it. The opulence and grandeur of the town are something you will get to experience as soon as you land. Right from the airports to the buildings and skyscrapers, everything about Dubai screams glamor. The luxury and opulence are what makes Dubai a unique tourist destination. Along with this, the city is filled with attractions and activities that will keep you hooked on it. But a major concern for tourists is the internal commute in the city. Most people think that as Dubai is a luxury destination, traveling within the city needs to be luxurious too. After all, the city is home to some of the most luxurious cars in the world. While hiring a private car or limousine service in Dubai is possible, it will be expensive if you do this for your entire trip. But many do not know that Dubai has a good and reliable public transport system. Here is everything you need to know about public transport in Dubai.

Dubai Public Transport System

The public transport system in Dubai is not limited to just one method. You can travel around the city in multiple ways, namely roadways, railways, and waterways. The one you choose would depend on where you want to go and how much time you want to spend traveling within the city.

By Road

Dubai is an ultra-modern city with the best roads, including highways, freeways, flyovers, and bridges. Almost all of the city is well-connected by roads. There are different ways of traveling, such as by road or public transport, in Dubai.

Buses: Dubai's public bus system is extensive. It is run by the RTA, or Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai. The city has 1500 bus stations and almost 1518 buses. These buses are luxurious, air-conditioned vehicles that ensure a comfortable ride around the city. You will find bus routes connecting popular metro stations to almost all the city's important landmarks and tourist spots.

While all major bus stations have display screens that provide information about bus routes and their timings, you can also use Google Maps or the RTA Dubai App. These apps will also give you information on bus routes, schedules, and stops. One of the reasons buses are a favorite means of transportation in Dubai for tourists and locals is because they are quite inexpensive. The average bus ride cost can be anywhere between AED 4-5. You cannot pay by cash, but you must get an NOL card and top it up whenever you want to travel.

Taxis: Taxis are another reliable public transport system available in Dubai. It is quite easy to flag down a taxi in the city. Moreover, you will find a taxi stand at almost all the important places in the city. Taxis are the best option if you need to travel to a tourist attraction or destination where you will not find a direct bus or metro connection. Taxis also give you privacy, which is missing on buses or metros.

While taxis are more expensive than buses and metros, they are still cheaper than taxi services in many other countries. Moreover, if you are a group of four people, taking a taxi in Dubai would seem to be the best option expense-wise. The basic taxi charge is AED 8 for one kilometer and AED 1.82 for every kilometer afterward. Carry cash if you are riding a taxi, as most taxi drivers do not accept payment by credit card.

For a cashless experience, you can pre-book your cab through two apps, Careem and Hala. Both these apps tell you the exact amount you will have to pay right when you book your ride. You can pay for these rides through your credit card.

By Railway

Dubai’s railway network is also efficient and reliable as the road network. In fact, it is more popular among tourists and residents alike than the road network.

Metro: The Dubai Metro network began in 2009 and has been a hit from the get-go. It is the fastest and cheapest way to travel in the city. The Dubai Metro network has two lines: the red line and the green line. By choosing either of these lines, you can travel to almost all the major landmarks and attractions in the city.

By choosing the red line of the Dubai metro, you can directly reach places like the World Trade Center, Burj Khalifa, Emirates Towers, Deira City Centre, Mall of the Emirates, The Gardens, Expo 2020, etc. On the other hand, the green line will take you to places like Etisalat, Baniyas Square, Gold Souk, Stadium, Burjuman, Creek, Dubai Healthcare City, etc. The metro also runs up to the Dubai airport. Payment from the Dubai metro is also made through the NOL card in Dubai. The metro is the best because it saves you from being stuck in the Dubai traffic.

Tram: The tram is linked to the metro as well as the monorail. It passes through the coastal area. It is perfect for those who want to travel through the Dubai Marina area. The tram begins at the Jumeirah Beach Residence 1 and ends at Al Sufouh. Some of the stations between these stops are Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Marina Mall, Marina Towers, Palm Jumeirah, Knowledge Village, etc. The NOL card works for the Dubai tram as well.

Monorail: The monorail connects Dubai’s mainland to Palm Jumeirah, the palm-shaped manmade island of the city. The monorail is 5.5 km long and one of the best ways to travel to and fro Palm Jumeirah. The monorail has four stations, including Golden Mile Galleria, Al Ittihad Park, and Nakheel Mall. The monorail ends at the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark. An advantage of choosing the monorail is that you enjoy the island's amazing architecture and beauty this way.

By Waterway

Before roads were built, the citizens of Dubai relied on boats and abras for their commute. This system is still available for those interested.

Ferry: Dubai ferry is available in the form of water taxis, abras, and water buses. Water taxis are comfortable boats that run along Dubai Creek. The frequency is good, and you can travel from the Deira side of the Dubai Creek to the Bur Dubai side with absolute ease. If you want to take the traditional route, you can also opt for an abra. An abra is a traditional boat that Emriatis used to travel across the Creek. The abra is the cheapest way of traveling in Dubai, as one ride costs only AED 1. The water transport available in Dubai Marina is the water bus. The Dubai Marina water bus has four stops: the Marina Mall, the Marina Promenade, the Marina Walk, and the Marina Terrace. The ferry is not just a means of transportation but also one of the best ways to go enjoy the views of the golden city. Dubai's public transportation has been designed to make getting around the city easy, fast, and economical. Download the RTA app to get all the information and updates on Dubai's public transport before you reach the city.

[kanebridgenewsmiddleeast]

DUBAI ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF THE REVOLUTIONARY AERIAL TAXI SERVICE BY 2026

The UAE has finalized the agreement to launch a city-wide electric aerial taxi service in Dubai by 2026, setting a worldwide model for commercial aerial mobility with an extensive network of vertiports.

As per the agreement, the UAE’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will oversee services associated with advanced air mobility, while Joby is set to provide an aerial ridesharing service, and Skyports will exclusively handle the design, construction, and operation of a network of vertiports.

The vertiports will feature a three-story parking structure, with the top level dedicated to the vertiport terminal and airfield for the air taxis, linked directly to the Emirates Metro Station to promote seamless multimodal transport.

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[talesfromtheorient]

At 10am, I took my seat at the legendary Giraffe Cafe in Heathrow Airports Terminal 5. After an obligatory Full English, I made my way to departures. After boarding the plane, we didn’t take off for another 45 minutes, due to a shortage of air traffic control staff in Europe. I read for the duration of the 3 hour 20 minute flight, only occasionally being disturbed by turbulence.

We landed in Istanbul and I walked through the corridors of the new airport to passport control. After swiftly being stamping into Türkiye, I made my way to the new Metro link into the city. I really struggled to work out how the ticket machine worked, and there was no one around to help. I hit a few random buttons a dozens times and was eventually presented with a topped up travel card.

The new line was clean, but it took a long time to reach the city. Then I had to change lines twice, which should have been easy but the lines don’t properly connect, so I had to drag my suitcase across highways to get to the next station. Eventually I arrived at Istanbul University, but struggled to find the connecting station. I rendered the same station again to ask for help only to arrive in the same place. Somewhere along the way I became friends with a gentleman from Dubai who wanted to know the ins and outs of London…of course I helped.

It was getting late and I just couldn’t find the station entrance to my connection. I paced the street with my suitcase trailing behind. Up hills, down hills, around bends and past hustlers trying to get me to come into their restaurants. In time I realised that I was too retired to find the station and it was too late. I found a taxi, we agreed on a price and he drove me to my accommodation. We had good chat on the way and he gave me a few tips here and there..needless to say, I gave him a tip. It was during the ride that I first saw The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia for the first time. They were beautiful! It was dark and they lit up the night sky. It reminded me of travelling the Holy Land and seeing the Dome of the Rock at night.

The taxi pulled up outside my accommodation and I was greeted by the door attendant. He showed me my room and gave me the Wi-Fi password. Most important. Wasting no time I headed out to find some food. Halfway down the street I was greeted by my accommodation host. “No thanks mate” I politely said, thinking that he was trying to sell me something. He had already done that, and wanted to greet me. He was a nice bloke and answered all of my queries. It turns out that the Metro line that I was looking for, is actually a tram.

He then took me to his friends shop who offered me a Turkish Delight and a warm drink. We spoke about Istanbul and London, he tried to sell me a boat trip organised by “his uncles company” and we had a laugh. After about 15 minutes, I went on the hunt for food. Of course my host had recommendations…but I wanted to do things my way.

The first few restaurants I approached were not too welcoming. Then I found The Blue Hotel. They took me up to the rooftop restaurant which overlooked the Blue Mosque. As I sat down the call to prayer started and echoed around the city. Seagulls circled above the Blue Mosque and I thought to myself…I have arrived.

When the call to prayer ended, the restaurant staff pulled away all of the tables and created a dance floor, whilst a DJ started dropping bangers at a high volume. I was expecting a quiet meal…After witnessing Irish dancing, or should I say, Irish people dance, I made my way back to my accommodation ready to explore Istanbul in the morning.

[more-savi]

Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Srinagar: An Unforgettable Journey

Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Srinagar: An Unforgettable Journey Through Heaven on Earth

  Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, located in the Himalayas. It's a beautiful city with a mix of nature, culture, and history. Tourists can enjoy serene lakes and vibrant gardens. In this article, we will highlight the top 7 places to visit in Srinagar that you shouldn't miss on your trip. Dal Lake – The Jewel of Srinagar Dal Lake is a famous attraction in Srinagar and is often called the "Jewel of Srinagar." It is a large lake surrounded by green mountains and has colorful houseboats called shikaras. Taking a shikara ride on the lake is a must-do activity to see Srinagar's beauty and visit the floating markets. Shalimar Bagh – A Royal Mughal Garden Shalimar Bagh is a beautiful garden built by Emperor Jahangir for his wife, Nur Jahan. It has terraces, fountains, pavilions, and colorful flowers. Visiting this garden is like going back in time, and its beauty is timeless and takes you to a different era. Nishat Bagh – The Garden of Delight Nishat Bagh is a beautiful Mughal garden situated by the Dal Lake, and it's also known as the "Garden of Delight." The garden has lawns, colorful flowers, and tall chinar trees. It's an excellent place to enjoy the view of the lake and the Pir Panjal mountain range, making it a must-visit spot for nature lovers. Chashme Shahi – The Royal Spring Chashme Shahi, also known as the Royal Spring, is a lovely garden famous for its natural spring. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and has a beautiful pavilion, lawns, and fountains. Visitors should try drinking the spring water, which is believed to have medicinal properties. Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden – A Riot of Colors The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is the biggest tulip garden in Asia, and visitors can see over 70 different types of tulips there. It's located at the bottom of the Zabarwan range and is a stunning display of colors. The best time to visit is during the annual Tulip Festival, which takes place between March and April. Hazratbal Shrine – A Sacred Pilgrimage Site Hazratbal Shrine is a Muslim pilgrimage site located on the western banks of Dal Lake. It's a white marble mosque that holds a holy relic, believed to be a strand of Prophet Muhammad's hair. The mosque has beautiful architecture and a peaceful atmosphere, making it a must-visit for those seeking spirituality or interested in architecture. Shankaracharya Temple – A Spiritual Sojourn The Shankaracharya Temple is an old Hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva, located on the Shankaracharya Hill. From there, visitors can enjoy a great view of Srinagar and find a peaceful place for meditation and reflection. How To Reach Srinagar Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, can be reached by air, road, or train. By Air: The nearest airport to Srinagar is the Srinagar International Airport, which is well-connected to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai. There are also international flights to Srinagar from destinations such as Dubai, Doha, and Jeddah. By Road: Srinagar is well-connected by road to major cities like Jammu, Delhi, and Chandigarh. Regular bus services and taxis are available from these cities. By Train: The nearest railway station to Srinagar is the Jammu Tawi Railway Station, which is located about 290 km away. From the railway station, you can take a taxi or a bus to reach Srinagar. What Is The Famous Food Of Srinagar Srinagar is known for its rich and flavorful cuisine that reflects the region's cultural influences. Some of the popular dishes in Srinagar include: Rogan Josh,Dum Aloo,Wazwan,Gushtaba,Kahwa,Sheer Chai. Srinagar travel-related Quiz . What is the name of the famous lake in Srinagar? Dal lake Which Mughal emperor built the Shalimar Bagh garden for his wife Nur Jahan? Jahangir What is the best time to visit the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar? March-April What is the popular Kashmiri tea that is infused with aromatic spices such as saffron, cinnamon, and cardamom? Kahwa Which famous temple in Srinagar offers panoramic views of the city? Shankaracharya What is the famous dish of Srinagar that is made of baby potatoes cooked in a flavorful gravy of spices and yogurt? Dum Aloo What is the name of the revered Muslim pilgrimage site in Srinagar that houses a holy relic believed to be the Prophet Muhammad's hair strand? Hazratbal What is the name of the traditional Kashmiri feast that includes several meat dishes served with rice and flatbread? Wazwan. Read the full article

[pinlodge]

Cheapest airlines flights from London to Dubai

When is the cheapest time to book flights? The cheapest flights are between Apr 16-Apr and 23 From US$85   - Ryanair From US$118 - Ryanair UK From US$148 - easyJet From US$175 - Wizz Air UK From US$224 - Pegasus Airlines From US$235 - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines From US$238 - Austrian Airlines From US$243 - Corendon Airlines From US$263 - Jet2.com From US$270 - Aegean Airlines From US$271

Photo by David Rodrigo

Cheapest airlines flights from London to Dubai

What you need to know about frequently asked questions How can I find the cheapest flight tickets from London to Dubai at the moment? As a result of the date and time of your booking, airlines adjust the price for flights from London to Dubai based on what you have booked. There is no doubt that Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are the days of the week when you will find the most affordable flight prices, as Trip.com analyzes data from all airlines. Flights from London to Dubai are very expensive, how much are they? There is the lowest price on Trip.com which is around $798, based on data pulled from the website. When it comes to flight times between London and Dubai, how long does it take? In order to get from London to Dubai, you will need to fly for about 7 hours and 2 minutes. The main airport of Dubai is located about 15 kilometers from the center of the city. What is the best way to get there? There is a distance of about 10 kilometers from the Dubai International Airport to downtown Dubai, which takes about 30 minutes by taxi. Approximately 36km is the distance from the Al Maktoum International Airport to the downtown area; if you take a taxi, it will take you about 50 minutes. In order for a flight to depart from London to Dubai as soon as possible, what time should one arrive? The earliest flight departs from London at 09:05 and arrives in Dubai at 19:10, whereas the latest flight departs at 11:00. How long does it take to fly from London to Dubai? What is the latest flight time from London to Dubai? There is a flight departing from London at 21:45 and arriving in Dubai at 07:35 at the latest. In what ways does London (LON) differ from Dubai (DXB) in terms of the airlines with the most popular flights? There are a number of airlines offering flights from London to Dubai, including IBERIA, Aer Lingus, Garuda Indonesia, Qantas Airways, American Airlines, and Emirates. The most popular airline for direct flights between London (LON) and Dubai (DXB) is the Emirates. What are the other airlines? London (LON) and Dubai (DXB) are two of the destinations served by British Airways on its 64 direct flights every day. Can you tell me how many airports there are in Dubai (DXB)? The following airports are located in Dubai (DXB): Dubai Creek Spb, Jebel Ali Spb, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai International Airport, Dubai Minhad Ab, Dubai NP Bus Station, Dubai Marina Mall EY Bus Stn, and Dubai Etihad Bus Stn. Information on flight connections between London and Dubai - Return ticket prices for the cheapest return flight are as low as $261 dollars - Flights from US$79 are the cheapest direct flights available - During the month of March, it is the cheapest - The peak travel season is October, which is the busiest month for travel

  Read the full article

[mubashirnews]

Dubai's flying taxis could be launched as early as 2026 | World News

Flying taxis could be with us sooner than you think as Dubai hopes to launch its “aerial ridesharing” service by 2026. United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has announced the approval of the designs for new air taxi stations across the city. Renewing Dubai’s commitment to the flying taxi programme, he said the services will start operating within three years’ time –…

[yhwhrulz]

Are flying taxis going to be the new way of getting around town? Dubai is hoping that it most certainly will be in just three years' time - as the designs for new air taxi stations across the city are approved.

[starofmhera]

Freedom Ride

Character main: Tod Hope

---- Short #1 -------------

((Parallel universe - Fantasy universe where all manners of supernatural exist hidden in plain sight))

Fresh off a plane from JFK, the number twenty-two glimmered on a specialized passport that acted as his ID. Belonging to no one state, he had a unique American flag symbol in wingdings stamped next to his "state of origin" on the passport lines. A little black paw mark is next to that flag, designating a special rank within the army.

The young man that day lightened the load of his black duffel bag by paying his way from the airport to the train station. Bartering a Tibetan singing bowl with a California reject. His driver, a shaggy blond dream, told him without prompting after the trade that such an eye for opportunity allowed him to get his taxi for cheap. Never mind how it reeked of sex and payments of another kind, with suggestive fluids staining the dark belts of the back seat. The musk mixed with moist cigarettes, old smokes celebrating happy customer after happy customer with a golden stain. Still.. it was the freedom ride the young man hoped for. If the driver kept talking, the new york Drizzle wouldn't require the tired soul's story to make it rain harder. Only at the end of the ride did the driver ask his name.

"Call me Tango." The visitor who managed to avoid a conversation so far begged another question on the driver's lips- what kind of name was that?

"That's what people recognize if you ask for me." He waved off the curiosity, getting out of the taxi with a breath of bustling car exhaust, the puttering roar of an ice box truck, and the clicking of a gaggle of heels as businesswomen rushed to catch their trains amid the odd street performer busking their chance.

Yet, all of these faces were stony to the young man who hardly glanced up at the grand pillars of the rail station, struggling to recall its name after many years abroad. Pigeons flew about the elegant statues carved into its great heights, their wings reflected off of dark glassy sky rises that held hundreds of thousands of lives at work. Making money that he protected under contract and secret deals… It was beginning to pull his attention away, the bitterness rising in his throat until the scent of the rain on the pavement, the stink of rotten ketchup from the old hot dog stands, and the purified office air that followed an executive who barked into a cellphone walking by him. The puddles below the man's leather combat boots reflected a raised lip before he could reclaim his temper- shooting a stare at the wake of the man who sounded like he might be about to lose it… Yet, he had his own mission to do.

On his duffel bag, grey-green badges read off three names:

Tango Hotel - Tod H. "Spooky"

Back to his own body, as a chilly wind ruffled the short hair at the nape of his neck, the five-foot-five young soldier rolled his shoulders and neck with a crack. He ran a hand through his choppy blonde hair that previously was shorn; he didn't really want to think about his own appearance as his civilian clothes were all picked out by a handler back in Dubai. . . the "sendoff" point.

From waiting, Tod's fatigues reeked of his musking sweat from a time in combat in his bag, the afternoon rain soaking him. . . . It all blurred together into a blackout as he piloted himself through the necessary steps of purchasing a rail ticket. The staff was short-tempered, his voice keeping their snobbish tones in check as he drummed short black painted nails against the fine cream-colored marble.

It was a relief to bolt through the stony archways, down past people dressed in autumn-time costumes belonging to various anime. Their faces spoke easier to him than the typical stranger- colorful clothes and secret body language translated a bit easier to the man who once spent all his free time studying people through the art medium before… things required Courage.

Making it through advertisement-plastered doors that hissed with the pressurization of their mechanics, a bell rang while a gentleman spoke over the comms. The lad made it to the train with no time to spare.

Upon initial glance and a furrowed stare, Tod could tell the subway was on its best behavior today. Many men and women bustled together in costume- coming and going to the nearby Jacob Javits center as if it were Halloween. It finally occurred to Tod what day it was and why his appearance didn't attract every cop's attention.

On a day like today, everyone had bags and places to be… lucky him. Maybe… Nah, he dismissed the idea of approaching anyone; Americans didn't like making friends that way. Only dogs at the park did that kind of thing. He should get a dog.

Sighing through his pink-tinged nose, he grabbed a free spot by the doors- holding onto the railway standing pole that made up the beginning of a smooth bench that ran the length of the cabby. Various posters for broadway musicals, local bars, warnings against thieves, and other designs captivated the attention of pictures that ran just below accessible shelving for suitcases.

Modestly, Tod Hope kept to his own- calloused fingers full of white scars and deep grooves looping around the cool metal, letting it take the heat of his stress off as the scents of the many passengers began to tell him much about their lives.. .some things he would rather not know just yet coming fresh off the plane.

With being released into society to learn to blend in as his next mission, things were new every moment for the young lad who served. Every poster reminded him of what he endured bitter memories for, and he kidded himself the transition to blend in would be easy. Transitioning would be as easy as knowing when the government was listening to him. The sound of the tracker had a consistent beeping pace in the chip behind his left ear. His location and progress would be continuously tracked as he built a backstory to give overseas… something organic to help him blend in no matter who he was surrounded by.

Such a task would send him exploring all over the country, doing basic jobs… but for now, he started humble and as far as his old backyard: New York City.

The lack of two towers left an empty pit in his stomach; his father's face echoed in his own despite adoption being their relationship in the first place… not that fatherhood wasn't beautiful; it was just that… Tod was raised by the Silent Generation, and thus he learned to be quite a Good Soldier.

As he looked at the New York City Skyline that was drizzly and grey, feeling the train car move with a gliding push that creaked his knees… he couldn't tune out the constant feed of thoughts as a nearby music junkie blared his younger ears out at 19. The jeans he wore gained a chill within as he sweated, gripping the rail pole tighter in his left hand while his knuckles turned white- jaw setting at an angle as blood rushed to his eyes. Someone nearby smelled stressed, and it set off the soldier's attention as his nose lifted - music swelling in his ears while scents further bombarded his other avenues of "beast" tongue.

Cramped… it was all cramped as they moved onward, and he had many stops to go.

Massive headphones did nothing to hide the tune of the soon-deaf 19-year-old nearby. Accusational yet sweet lullaby tone comforting the listener while conveying a frustration that came from compassion, empathy, and a sense of injustice. . .

He wished bitterly; he could have known the paradise he protected. The song drew that desire out, but he swallowed it- repeating aloud as he forgot himself, to filter while his rough voice worked by desert air barked, "Bide, damn you."

Lost on the train, it was restrained as a mutter despite feeling like a shout from how his throat tensed, eyes bloodshot for a moment as he resisted the urge to feel- then slowly soothed the feelings with the mantra.

Bide… Restrain… Resolve.

His first goal remained simple: Acquire housing. Which required couch surfing and making connections… he knew no better way than to touch on the party scenes- so he planned as best he could, knowing little of the world outside those desert missions.

So long as he kept his head, he would succumb to no mad hatter.

"Papaoutai" - Stromae

The song passed, and finally, Tod could breathe again as he let go of the metal that now was misted with his sweat, his hand leaving behind a print as he instead leaned his hip against the pole, hoping to appear more relaxed to other commuters as riders came and went. Little did he know, he seemed an easy target with a big bag- perfect for pickpocketers or who knew who else that Saturday Afternoon of Comic-Con weekend.

[rotzaprachim]

the closest to heaven that i'll ever be (Kanej Guardian Angel AU)

From @elorcaning‘s prompt of Kaz just being an idiotic human getting in trouble all the time and inej is his guardian angel just trying to keep him from dying while doing stupid shit, which I thought was a BRILLIANT idea and kinda ran with. At 1 AM while on jetlag so I Apologise. 

Props to @kettvrdams for not killing me when i sent an incomprehensible WIP for her to beta. All accidentally unfinished sentences and spelling errors are entirely My Own Fault 

On AO3 - 1816 words, Teen

In her illustrious career as a guardian angel, Inej has learned several things. The first is to believe in the fundamental good of all people- well, almost all people. Almost. But really, she likes to think the best.

The second thing is that no matter how hard she tries- and damn, she really tries hard- humans will still find ways to screw their own lives over, and even if her role is supposed to be more hypothetical or spiritual than anything, she always finds herself getting involved in more practical ways.

But still she thinks, as the poor Dutch farm kid tries to eat fertiliser from the container for the third time, only to be shooed away by his older brother, that this is going to be a challenge.

--o0o--

“Organised crime? Really?” sneers a figure in the corner of the precinct station with their dark hood pulled down low. Kaz glances around. There isn’t anyone else around aside from the beat cop who’s just let him out of the holding shell with a glare and a kick to his good shin.

The figure pulls their hood down. It’s a girl about his own age. Looks like a university student, with a purple jacket and a rain slicker.

She holds out a plastic Albert Hejn bag. Ah. So this is what it’s about. Per Haskell, Pekka Rollins, whoever the fuck it is this time, want him to move something. Cash, drugs, fucking tulip bulbs for all he knows. He doesn’t really care, as long as he’s alive on the other side of it.

But it isn’t really heavy enough to be either of those things.

“You haven’t eaten anything in over twenty four hours.”

He doesn’t know how she could possibly know that, but when he looks inside, what he finds is a cheese sandwich and a bottle of orange juice. Sealed, so it would have been goddamn hard to hide a USB or whatever it is Pekka wants out of the country inside.

“Who sent you? Pekka? Ferry Bouman? Sonny Castillo?”

“Are those the only things your mind goes to?” Now the girl just sounds annoyed.

“I’m not in the habit of beautiful girls meeting me in police precincts without having some other angle they’re working. So what is it? Who do you work for?”

Beautiful girl. He didn’t mean to say that. He’s a lot of things, but a flirt isn’t one of them. Yet even in the yellowy light of the precinct, he can tell that's what she is, with her heart-shaped face and the fan of her oil-dark hair.

“Eat your damn sandwich” she says, and is gone before he can say anything else.

--o0o--

“Don’t get too involved,” says Zoya.

“The job description is guardian angel, ergo, I guard.”

--o0o--

Organised crime. Really. Perhaps not in the highest echelons, and it’s fucking Amerstedam, but still, organised crime.

Sometimes she really doesn’t think he’s organised enough to get mixed up in organised crime.

--o0o--

“Genuine Givenchy. Also got Rolex watches, Hugo Boss shirts-” he offers the middle-class housewives out on a girl’s trip to Amsterdam. The back of the florist’s he’s operating out of is packed with genuinely decent-looking fakes. It’s also on Sonny Castillo’s territory.

“Best space brownies in Amsterdam,” he promises a group of tipsy Erasmus students from Manchester with a smile that’s the image of sincerity. The coffee shop is on Ferry Bouman’s territory.

“Now this is a real Vermeer,” he tells the new-money-oil-don looking for a bit of old-school, Cultured, flash for his new penthouses in Dubai and London. The art gallery is on Pekka Rollins’ territory.

--o0o--

“He’s going to get himself killed,” Inej tells her boss.

--o0o--

“You think I can’t smell a rat, Brekker? You don’t fucking think I can’t tell when some bastard ratfuck tries to fuck me over?”

There have been many points during which Kaz thought his ass to be well and truly cooked. Almost drowning in the harbour in Rotterdam when he was twelve was certainly one of them, but it was also far from the last.

But now he’s got a gun to his temple and there’s no more talking he can do, not one more trick more trick up his sleeve or one more secret he can leverage into five more minutes, ten more minutes, another day to make things right.

There’s just him and a dark alley at the edge of the city and the freezing rain, pelting down and soaking him to the bone. And the angry hands slamming his face into the alley wall, over and over again, until blood runs down his face and chest and the rainwater tastes salty.

“Please. A week. No, a day, I’ll make it up-”

“Like last time you promise me, huh? Promise me twenty thousand? And then I find out you shelling out ten thousand Euros to Ferry Bouman to keep selling on Pekka Rollin’s turf. He ain’t gonna forget this, boy-”

“Ten thousand. I can get you ten thousand, you know I can-”

He sees the flash of a gun being raised, can almost feel the air change as the man pulls back the trigger, and then-

Like a flash of lightning, the moment after the fireworks go off. Light everywhere, the snap of sound of thunder, condensed, and then-

In the moment after the light, Kaz can’t see a thing. And then he can: the three grunts Pekka sent after him, lying in an alley, and the remains of several guns, incinerated to crisps. And the flash of something, a person maybe, going around the corner.

“THE FUCK ARE YOU?” He screams into the pouring rain, but no response comes back.

--o0o--

Sometimes, Inej wants to scream at him so loud he can hear it.

“And what were you expecting, exactly? Why can’t you just. . . .” she thinks of the words she hears people using, these days, “stay in your darn lane? You waste your mathematics scores dealing. You waste your German scores on conning tourists. You just . .. you waste your life.”

He’s had the pinched face of a businessman, and an older man, since his parents died. Since his brother died, and he spent his youth pinballing between foster homes and getting increasingly involved in things that the Korps Nationale Politie tend to take a rather dim view of. In all that time, though, she’s rarely seen fear on his face like this. She almost wants to reach out, across the train, tuck the edges of his carefully slicked-back hair back behind his ear, but she doesn’t.

“Why couldn’t you have just . . . stuck to selling overpriced marijuana to tourists or designer knockoffs from behind a tulip stand? Forging Vermeers? Stealing actual Vermeers?”

--o0o--

It’s only when he gets off at Utrecht Centraal that he notices an unfamiliar weight to his jacket pocket.

A neatly folded wad of cash. He flips through it gingerly. Twelve thousand euros.

--o0o--

“You can’t save his ass every time. Otherwise, he’ll never learn, and he’ll go beyond the point where you can save him.”

“But if I don’t save his ass now, he’ll die before he can learn.”

“Ah. That’s the eternal conundrum, isn’t it? Of the teacher and of the guardian angel.”

--o0o--

It’s not a particularly big country, but every time the train ride seems to last all day, and stretch into the night. Inej, at least, doesn’t need to buy a ticket. He buys flowers at Amsterdam Centraal. Changes trains at Maastricht and then again to a rural line, until he gets off at a station that’s nothing more than a strip of concrete alongside the track in a rain-soaked wheat field. There’s no taxis, no buses, only a long road through the countryside and the remainders of a life he’s tried to forget about at the end of it. He unfolds his walking cane and gets a move on.

On a hill, on a farm where the apple orchards have gone to seed and the roof of the house fallen in:

Annemarie and Jawad Rietveld. And a scratched out stone for Jordaan Rietveld.

He leaves the flowers, not particularly giving a fuck about the fact that he could be shot, right here and now, by Pekka Rollins, because this is Pekka Rollins’ land, even if it was Jawad Rietveld’s land first, and then Albert Rietveld’s land before that, even if, on a day so far removed from Kaz’s present life that it feels like someone else’s life entirely, Kaz thought that it would be Jordaan Rietveld’s land in the future.

He feels, in a way, her presence before he can see her.

“I know you’re there.”

She sighs and makes herself visible.

“It’s you. The girl on the train.”

“I don’t think so-” she says, taking on a heavy Flemish accent just in case he remembers her from the police precinct in Groningen. “I’m from Ant-”

“You. Your face.” I could never forget you face, he thinks. The police precinct, and then the train to Utrecht Centraal. A rare sunny day in this pit of gloom and rain, and the way that the sunlight hit her lashes, the curve of her cheeks, the splash of her dark hair, made him think that it was impossible there wasn’t something divine and benevolent in this life, and this world. “Police precinct up North. Gronigen. Train. Amsterdam. Everywhere i go you’re always-” He thinks about pulling the shiv from his pocket. Anyone so interested in following him certainly has ulterior motives, and yet-

“What are you? Why are you always- there?”

“I don’t think, Mr. Brekker, that your . . . theological opinions would permit you to believe me when I tell you what, exactly, I am.”

He shrugs. “Grandson of lapsed NHK’ers and Javanese Sunnis. No god helped them a whit. I don’t think God, if they ever existed, ever looked at this drowning spit of dirt.”

“I think there are many who wouldn’t disagree with you. Some of them, like myself, being of a divine persuasion.”

“Why are you here?”

She doesn’t answer, just turns towards the graves. A light rain has started to fall.

“Do you think you’re following the path they’d be proud of?”

--o0o--

“You know I count as a fucking mature student? Mature.”

Even she has to laugh.

“I’m fucking twenty three. Twenty three. I got carded trying to buy a beer yesterday.”

“But now a student.”

He flashes his new, shiny plastic student card at her. The photo on it still looks like a mugshot.

“What are you studying?”

“Politics. International Relations. How different can the European Council be from the mob, really? Common Agricultural Policy, pay off Europol, work some backroom deals to get shit done.”

Inej resists the urge to burrow her forehead in her jacket sleeves. There are, it turns out, many, many ways for a human to get themselves killed, on this world.

[amexcarrentalsblog]

Visit Global Village Dubai Nov – March

Dubai is full of beautiful and extraordinary places to visit and enjoy, Global Village is one of them. It is one of the most magical places in Dubai that you can enjoy at night. It is a seasonal attraction and shopping festival that is held in the cooler winter months from November to March. It is a wonderful festival of colors, smells, sounds, and tastes. At this festival, people come from all over the world and showcase their handicrafts, foods, culture, and dance in a huge venue. 

Global Village is the first family destination in Dubai that offers culture, entertainment, and shopping in a single giant festival. This festival is a unique and integrated way to enjoy the world’s finest shopping, dining, and traditions. It offers you a wide variety of events, activities, and shows that are most common in the region. 

Dubai also offers many fun surprises in the open air to millions of its guests including locals and foreigners. Countries going to represent this festival in 2020/21 may include Egypt, China, Japan, India, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Turkey, Lebanon, Thailand, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. 

Some of the important things that you should know about Global Village before your visit are mentioned in this blog. Also, contact any professional rent a car for aed 500 per month company to get your personal conveyance to travel with freedom.

Where is Global Village and How to travel through it?

Global Village Dubai is situated on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in Dubailand, which is just east of the Arabian Ranches. You can find it just off the E311 Freeway in Dubai, the 37 Exit from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.

You can use your car for getting to Global Village as there are plenty of free car parking spaces available. However, there is no Metro Station near Global village. But the RTA (Road and Transport Authority of Dubai) is running 4 different bus services for passengers. 

102 Bus Service: Exit from Rashidiya Bus Station

103 Bus Service: Exit from Union Square Bus Station

104 Bus Service: Departs from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station of Bur Dubai

106 Bus Service: Starts from the Mall of Emirates Bus Station.

 These bus services rush from mid-afternoon until late at night. Their timings are scheduled according to the opening and closing times of the Global Village. 

Global Village Dubai Timings

Dates of Global Village starting are October 25, 2020, to April 18, 2021. It is the 25 season of the Global village. Its timings are different on different days of the week. From Sunday to Wednesday it is open from 4 pm to 12 am. On Thursday and Friday, its opening timing is 4 pm to 1 am. And on Saturday it is open from 2 pm to 11 pm for you. Make it clear that Mondays’ are family nights where only women, children, and male relatives may attend it. 

Global Village Dubai Entry and Ticket Price

A small admission or entry fee is charged that is 15 AED. Meanwhile, entrance is free for children under 3, seniors, and special needs visitors. People of determination and one caregiver are also free to enter. Global village tickets can be purchased online at their official website. Note that Carnaval fairground rides and Ripley’s come at an additional cost, you should pre-purchase a Wonder pass and top it up with credit for these rides. 

Global Village VIP Packages

Global Village generally offers you VIP packages for the Silver Jubilee Year. Accessories in these packages may include restaurant reservations, VIP parking, and skipping of line priveledges on different attractions. However, these VIP packages for Global Village cost are:

Silver 1200 AED

Gold 1800 AED

Platinum 5000 AED

Aside from Global village, VIP ticket holders will also benefit from Dubai Parks and Resorts, The Green Planet, and Laguna park, etc.

Additional Attractions

Global Village offers you numerous attractions within the park, for which you have to pay extra. These additional attractions can be paid for in advance through an online system so that you can prevent needing to queue for tickets and payments.

Some of the additional attractions and their cost are:

Stunt Show 10 AED

Ripley's 40 AED

Ripley's Mirror Maze 25 AED

Ripley's Combo 50 AED.

Moreover, Global village offers you amazing events and other entertainment programs. The stage shows of 2020/21 include Absolute Bollywood, Bollywood Flash Mob, and Green Planet Animal Adventures. Carnaval offers both adults and kids, fairground rides along with arcade games and games of skills.

Global Village Hotels and Restaurants 

It is surprising but there are no hotels or restaurants still located in the Global Village Dubai. You will have to go to some hotels near Global village for your convenience. The Premier Inn Dubai Silicon Oasis, S Hotel Al Barsha, and Arabian Ranches Golf Club are some of the hotels that will still be a taxi ride away. 

What to visit in Global Village Dubai?

In Global village, you can visit various shopping centers of different countries. Like you can visit Yemen and buy their rhodium-based jewelry at a very reasonable price. You can also buy jars of honey on sale here, freshly ground cinnamon, and spices for biryani rice. Try an Irani shopping center for delicious dry fruits including apricots and miniature figs. You can also get some types of seeds on sale from here like melon to a sunflower that are perfectly roasted and salted. Also, walk through the Indian Pavilion to get a variety of products at a discount. 

If you are on a limited budget, then you can use local transport or get an economical car from any cheap rental car Dubai agency. Book your wheels and hotel in advance to avoid trouble after landing in Dubai. 

Conclusion

A short guide for your visit to Global Village is given above. This blog will help you during your visit to Global Village Dubai. You can easily get your tickets and VIP packages by spending a little amount. 

[myroyalridecom]

Dubai Best Car rental service

Ford Car Rental Services

myroyalride.com

In the event that shopping is your pleasure, Dubai is your fantasies worked out as expected. In addition to the fact that you have the absolute greatest shopping centers on the planet with every one of the significant brands, however Dubai, being initially an exchanging center between the east and west offers you quite possibly the most intriguing shopping encounters on the globe. From conventional souks (where you can discover adornments and material, among numerous others things), to the Indian business sectors in Deira, discovering everything from flavors to gadgets. Make a few inquiries in the back-rear entryway stores and you can even track down that satellite decoder that opens every one of the paid stations. Remember to wrangle, they never dismiss a client, and you'll realize when you've hit the most minimal cost.

The Eirates are situated toward the East of the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. Dubai is lined by Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Emirate. The Hatta area lined by Oman. The city of Dubai lies totally in the Persian Gulf close to the mouth of the Khor Dubai, a surge of salt water that runs corner to corner through the city. Dubai has an augmentation of more than 4000 km².

Dubai is an interesting sea shore occasion objective and shimmering city that will stun you and change your fantasy occasion thoughts for eternity. Despite the fact that Dubai is essentially a desert, it truly has numerous appealing sea shore occasion areas to browse, and it's the No 1 Financial center of the Middle East. Dubai is likewise home to a Grand Prix Circuit, the world's tallest structure - Burj Kalifa, in addition to the renowned 7-Star Burj Al Arab inn. Dubai has made what is regularly known as the eighth miracle of the world - Palm Jumeirah. This enormous yet dazzling creation is presently home to a variety of staggering occasion estates in Dubai, with perfect white sandy sea shores for each property that decorate the Palm Island Fronds. Vacationer visiting can look over extravagance estates or condos in Dubai, set in elegant squares which adjust the Palm trunk street, known as shoreline lofts. Every shoreline loft has magnificent sea shore access and offices, in addition to some great perspectives across the Arabian Gulf and to the most astute inns in Dubai and are one of the lone private improvements to give authorized bars and eateries.

Dubai is the biggest city and a significant objective for sightseers be it business or for relaxation. With the city playing host to various occasions and celebrations, there is an increment in the quantity of guest's to the city. The vacationer deluge has brought about number of inns mushrooming in all pieces of the city however Dubai Airport has number of inns in Dubai Airport coming up. The present voyagers loom for the best be it the area, offices and costs. Inns close to the air terminal are exceptionally famous as it's anything but a great deal of movement time, inns close to Dubai air terminal simply fills the need. Additionally, the vast majority of the lodgings take into account the requirements of business and relaxation voyagers the same.

Dubai International Airport serves Dubai, the biggest city of the UAE. Casted a ballot as the best worldwide air terminal on the planet, this Dubai air terminal is the center for all significant global aircrafts other than Emirates. The Dubai International Airport began activities in 1960 and is the most active air terminal in the Middle East. Taking a gander at the flood of explorers this air terminal is being supplemented by Dubai Central International air terminal, which will take into account the future voyagers. Found helpfully from the downtown area, it's anything but a little drive in a taxi. Richly planned air terminal brags of its huge obligation free retail plaza, simple accessibility of taxicabs, ATMs, vehicle rentals and inn reservations. Voyagers can discover number of inns close to Dubai air terminal situated at a brief distance. Tracking down an agreeable and an appropriate convenience in the air terminal region isn't troublesome. As Airport lodgings Dubai, give convenience to a wide range of voyagers, including business explorers and spending voyagers. Travelers going on close timetables, rest and unwinding are an extravagance that would now be able to be managed at one of the lodgings in Dubai Airport.

Subsequent to showing up at the Dubai Airport, is an involvement in a ton of administrations accessible available to the explorer. With the quantity of travel travelers and explorers to Dubai has expanded so is the accessible offices and administrations. The Airport's Duty Free is world renowned, which is a customer's heaven, giving shopping freedoms to gems, gadgets, architect wear, beautifiers kids items and so on among the different administrations the food court is a significant where one can appreciate global food, with all forte cooking styles accessible. Situated between the entryways 12 and 14 is an amusement zone for child's and ladies. Youngsters can have a great time in the play zone where as the mother's parlor is perfect for ladies with kids. Dubai air terminal's feature is the different parlors it offers to explorers to loosen up themselves or take care of their business during their movement time. From First Class relax, business Lounge, Airline lounges, to Quiet Lounges, one will discover a parlor fitting your necessity and taste.

Dubai is the biggest city and a significant objective for sightseers be it business or for recreation. With the city playing host to various occasions and celebrations, there is an expansion in the quantity of guest's to the city. The vacationer convergence has brought about number of lodgings mushrooming in all pieces of the city however Dubai Airport has number of inns in Dubai Airport coming up. The present voyagers loom for the best be it the area, offices and costs. Lodgings close to the air terminal are extremely famous as it's anything but a great deal of movement time, inns close to Dubai air terminal simply fills the need. In addition, a large portion of the inns take into account the necessities of business and relaxation explorers the same.

Dubai International Airport serves Dubai, the biggest city of the UAE. Casted a ballot as the best global air terminal on the planet, this Dubai air terminal is the center for all significant worldwide carriers other than Emirates. The Dubai International Airport began tasks in 1960 and is the most active air terminal in the Middle East. Taking a gander at the deluge of explorers this air terminal is being supplemented by Dubai Central International air terminal, which will oblige the future voyagers. Found advantageously from the downtown area, it's anything but a little drive in a taxi. Richly planned air terminal brags of its huge obligation free mall, simple accessibility of taxicabs, ATMs, vehicle rentals and inn reservations. Voyagers can discover number of lodgings close to Dubai air terminal situated at a brief distance. Tracking down an agreeable and an appropriate convenience in the air terminal region isn't troublesome. As Airport lodgings Dubai, give convenience to a wide range of explorers, including business voyagers and spending voyagers. Travelers going on close timetables, rest and unwinding are an extravagance that would now be able to be managed at one of the lodgings in Dubai Airport.

Subsequent to showing up at the Dubai Airport, is an involvement in a ton of administrations accessible available to the explorer. With the quantity of travel travelers and explorers to Dubai has expanded so is the accessible offices and administrations. The Airport's Duty Free is world popular, which is a customer's heaven, giving shopping freedoms to gems, hardware, creator wear, makeup youngsters items and so on among the different administrations the food court is a significant where one can appreciate global food, with all forte cooking styles accessible. Situated between the doors 12 and 14 is an amusement zone for child's and ladies. Kids can have some good times in the play zone where as the mother's parlor is perfect for ladies with kids. Dubai air terminal's feature is the different parlors it offers to voyagers to loosen up themselves or take care of their business during their movement time. From First Class relax, business Lounge, Airline lounges, to Quiet Lounges, one will discover a parlor fitting your necessity and taste.

The UAE is represented by a Supreme Council of Rulers, the gathering is comprised of the seven emirs and they designate the leader and the bureau for the country. In spite of being eventually controlled by the Supreme Council, likewise with the other six states, Dubai keeps an enormous level of self-sufficiency from the UAE with regards to general dynamic for the city's turn of events.

Oil was first found in the United Arab Emirates during the 1950s, before that the country's economy was based on fishing and pearling, since 1962, when Abu Dhabi turned into the first of the emirates to start sending out the oil, the country's economy has been totally changed.

Sheik Zayed, who has been the leader of the UAE since its commencement, immediately comprehended the financial potential for the country from the oil business. He has kept on guaranteeing that every one of the emirates profits by the oil produced riches, he has demanded the reinvestment of oil incomes into the medical services framework, the schooling framework and the overall public foundation.

The advancement of the oil business has prompted an enormous flood of unfamiliar specialists to the UAE, truth be told Dubai's populace is the quickest developing on the planet and the unfamiliar populace makes up around 3/4 of the whole UAE populace! As an immediate consequence of this reality the UAE is perhaps the most liberal nations in the Gulf, with different societies and convictions endured. Dubai has likewise rushed to comprehend the requirement for broadening. Oil in the area is simply projected to keep going for around 30 years thus Dubai has effectively set out upon a significant broadening program intended to at creating businesses and business undertakings to replace oil as the prevail product of the state's economy.

Because of open in November 2012, the Fairmont The Palm is named after the notable Dubai Palm Jumeirah, the world's biggest man made island which is formed like a palm tree. With stunning perspectives on the Arabian Gulf, the Fairmont The Palm will give simple admittance to the Dubai Marina and business focuses including Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City.

Visit to More information:- https://myroyalride.com/

[pinlodge]

Cheapest airlines flights from Dubai to Riyadh

Do you know when is the cheapest time of the year to book your flight? Flying between April 2 and April 9 is the cheapest time to fly, with prices starting at USD 90   Questions and Answers on Common Topics In what period of the year are the cheapest flights from Dubai to Riyadh available? It is important to note that airlines adjust the prices for flights from Dubai to Riyadh based on the date and time when the tickets are booked. Using data from all airlines, on Trip.com, you can find the best flight prices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays based on an analysis of data from all airlines. Does Dubai to Riyadh flight cost the same as Dubai to Istanbul flight? A trip to the Caribbean is estimated to cost around US$359 per person according to data provided by Trip.com. Does a flight from Dubai to Riyadh take the same amount of time? In order to get from Dubai to Riyadh, you will need to travel for about 1 hour and 57 minutes. How does one get from Riyadh's main airport to the center of the city? Can you tell me what the transportation method is? There is a distance of about 27km from King Khalid International Airport to the downtown area, which takes about 40 minutes to travel by taxi. I was wondering what time the earliest flight departs from Dubai to Riyadh. Among the earliest flights, the earliest one leaves from Dubai at about 6:00 a.m. and arrives in Riyadh at about 7:00 a.m. Do you know what time the last flight from Dubai to Riyadh leaves? Flights departing from Dubai at 21:35 and arriving in Riyadh at 22:35 are the latest ones departing from Dubai. Are any airlines flying Dubai (DXB) to Riyadh (RUH) most popular with travelers? There are a number of airlines offering flights from Dubai to Riyadh, including Emirates, Saudi Gulf Airlines, Saudia, Flydubai, Flynas, ProPilot, and Hahn Air. Can you tell me what airline has the most popular when it comes to direct flights from Dubai (DXB) to Riyadh (RUH)? In addition to connecting Dubai (DXB) with Riyadh (RUH), Flynas operates nine direct flights throughout the day. Is the airport in Riyadh (RUH) the largest airport in the country? As far as airports go, Riyadh (RUH) has two: King Khalid International Airport and Riyadh SAPTCO Olaya Bus Station, both of which offer international flights. The flight information for Dubai to Riyadh can be found here The cheapest return ticket price we were able to find was US$167 A direct flight from the cheapest airport to the cheapest city costs only US$90. December, the most affordable month for travel is. Travel is at its peak during the months of November and December

Photo by ekrem osmanoglu

Cheapest airlines flights from Dubai to Riyadh

- Hahn Air From US$141 - Saudia From US$188 - Qatar Airways From US$333 - Pegasus Airlines From US$340 - Turkish Airlines From US$344 - Middle East Airlines From US$370 - Oman Air From US$373 - EgyptAir From US$445 - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines From US$874   Read the full article

[bestsafedriverdubai]

How Chauffeur Service Makes you Feel Elegant on Your Party Pickups?

People contract chauffeur service for their ceremonies as they are elegant and comfortable. Our Safe Driver Dubai is best to arrive at the sleek venue or go straight to make your honeymoon, tension-free. Because of a safe driver, Dubai has introduced Chauffeur services to provide a comfortable journey to such people.

The selection of a personalized chauffeur service has always been famous for professional reasons amongst entrepreneurs and business people. Transportation to business functions, airport transfers, birthday celebration festivities, prom evenings, and bachelor parties are other everyday events to hire chauffeur service to make you feel elegant on your party pickups.

Assistances of Chauffeur Services

It offers a lot of advantages to having Chauffeur services. Using chauffeured service by the Best Safe Driver company will make the journey more relaxed and tension-free, and it will save you time. So, hiring chauffeur services is like giving your relatives and friends or colleagues and customers a specific message. You generally have to consider the many factors while planning to travel. You have to choose a place to travel to, book the easiest and the most convenient transport, the right hotel to live in, and so forth.

Besides, you need to choose where to go sightseeing, where to live, and the events to participate in once you arrive there. It isn’t easy to make these choices, particularly if you travel with a group of friends or a family and choose whether to rent a car to ride around.

Hiring a vehicle is all about choosing whether you want to drive or to be driven. If a cab and a car rental are your choices, our recommendation is to get a chauffeured service as well, as it has more advantages.

Why is Hiring a Chauffeur the Best Choice?

Renting a car provides you with independence, but it’s not always easy. For instance, you would need an International Driver License and a Green Card to complement your other driving and traveling documentation if traveling through various countries. Car rental firms will cost you more to pick you up at the airport, drive the car to certain places, and drop the vehicle off at another site. If you urgently need a ride, a taxi is an outstanding choice. Even then, a private parking service is more efficient for those who favor looking ahead. By hiring chauffeur services, you are assured to be picked at any location and to return on schedule. And in a situation where the flight is delayed or leaves early, the chauffeur services by our safe driver Dubai track flights and schedule their time accordingly. Although taxis are focused on having as many trips as possible, only chauffeur services are dedicated to delivering the best private services. They can help you with your bags and even wait for you to bring you back if needed. Their chauffeurs are very well trained and skilled in safe driving.

Top-Notch Features

The best safe driver’s chauffeur services guarantee quality and luxury experiences. And the Top-notch features are as follows:

Windows that are tinted

Interior architecture with any pattern or materials or some matching template

Interchangeable cabin lighting, With several levels of intensity, it can be concealed, illuminated in any color

A well-established computer

Updated system for heating, ventilation, and air purification, which is ideal for a mixed community of smokers and non-smokers

Perfect sound system

Free access to Wi-Fi

Access to Bluetooth

Large panel televisions

Game consoles

A bar and a full drinks station

Things to Consider While Hiring a Chauffeur Service

Not all agencies are alike because they provide various services. .It is not the same for all travels and the number of people who require transportation also varies. We have some pointers that will help you determine what’s right for you and your trip. And the chauffeur services by Best Safe Driver company keep all of your requirements into consideration.

Concentrate on the Reason Why You Need It

For varying reasons, we all travel. Some do this for jobs, some for fun. There are numerous times when we need to go. All this determines the kind of vehicle we’re going to use. On all occasions, not all vehicles are appropriate. The vehicle of your preference should be a luxurious sedan if you are going on a company tour, conference, or other business-related occasions. They depict strength, power, and position. If you are hiring the chauffeured services for a party, a chauffeured bus must be. So safe driver Dubai lets you have the best facilities and the safe driver

The Number of Individuals Who Need A Ride

When seeking a personal chauffeur service, the group’s size that needs transport is very substantial. This dictates which cars will be in your hands. Some other things to keep in mind while hiring chauffeur services are as follows: ● Evaluate the state of the chosen vehicle ● Check the chauffeur service company’s credibility and reputation. ● Review the insurance and licenses of the company

Conclusion

Best Safe Driver Dubai is a credible and well-reputed company that provides a ride to its customers. Whether you want to go on a business tour or a party, you can hire chauffeur services. They have trained and qualified drivers so that you can ride comfortably.

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[dailytechnologynews]

Top Ten Predictions FOR 2050

Autonomous vehicles become widespread – this should happen well before 2050 in developed countries (perhaps by 2030). The global road toll, currently over one million deaths a year, will eventually decline by 90% or more. Car ownership will continue for rise for a time (especially in poorer countries) then eventually start to decline. More efficient, autonomous, Uber-like taxis come to dominate road systems. Owning a personal car will eventually be much more expensive (especially as human drivers become increasingly hard to insure). ‘Flying’ versions (of the sort recently trialled in places like Dubai, like small electric helicopters) slowly emerge as well, albeit reserved for the very wealthy.

Other wealthy people and car enthusiasts will continue to own (regular) cars a long way into the future (like horses today). However in many countries, humans may eventually be banned/severely restricted from driving on public roads due to safety concerns (despite how unimaginable this may seem today). In the developed world at least, one of the last holdouts will be the US, as conservative politicians trumpet the rights of law-abiding car owners.

The space program takes off, but slowly – given current plans (especially by private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin) I would give at least 50% odds we will have a man on Mars by 2030 (only 12 years away). In just the last few years SpaceX in particular has proven the feasibility of reusable rockets. Pretty much all the requisite technologies are now here and the pace will slowly pick up as costs come down.

By 2050 several countries/major companies are likely to have space stations in Earth orbit, bases on the Moon and even Mars. Like bases in Antarctica today, these will mainly serve research and tourism purposes (plus a purely geopolitical one in staking out future territory i.e. the US and China build separate bases on the moon and then each claim a hemisphere). More probes will continue to be sent to the outer solar system. The earliest human missions to Jupiter or Saturn space may be in their early stages by 2050. Early efforts to mine the resources of the asteroid belt may be under way. Space-based solar power might have become a reality around Earth (though I suspect that, like nuclear power before it, the public will be sufficiently terrified by the thought of giant space lasers that plans will be stymied even if the experts say the safety concerns are greatly exaggerated). Space elevators remain impractical.

The world successfully finds new sources of energy and copes with climatic changes – for decades many people (some of them highly educated) have predicted that something akin to ‘peak oil’ was imminent and that shortly afterward the world might plunge into a Mad Max-style dystopia. This is unlikely. Not only have the world’s oil, coal and natural gas reserves proven to be vast enough to likely last us generations, but even if all fossil fuels vanished tomorrow, the world has enough uranium to supply our energy needs for thousands of years. CO2 levels will continue to rise and with it global temperatures will continue to tick upwards. However, the industrial capacity and ingenuity of the human race rises much faster. In 2018 your odds of dying from a natural disaster are an order of magnitude less than in 1900. This trend will continue.

The world’s urban population doubles between 2010 and 2050 (from 3.5 to 7 billion). Major coastal cities eventually construct elaborate flood levees as sea levels rise maybe two or three feet by the end of the century. Even in poorer countries, better infrastructure majorly cuts down on deaths due to disease, famine, floods, storms and other disasters (in the long run earthquakes remain the most unpredictable and thus the most dangerous). The predicted ‘climate refugees’ largely fail to eventuate, though millions are always seeking to enter the first world to find higher paying work, especially as automation ramps up and ‘cheap labour’ is no longer the powerful driver of growth it once was.

Fossil fuels remain the primary source of energy in 2050. However, solar, wind, nuclear and now fusion power plants are rapidly coming on line. By 2050 several record breaking tunnels, including from Sicily-Tunisia and Korea-Japan, have been constructed. A number of buildings over 1km tall have been built, with the highest (likely built in a prestige-hungry African country) surpassing 1.5km.

Major confrontations between the US and China over Taiwan and the South China Sea – there will almost certainly be at least one more (and possibly several) sequels to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd ‘Taiwan Strait Crises’. This could take many forms. It might start with a Chinese blockade of the island, or an attempt to seize another, more minor Taiwanese asset (Taiping Island in the Spratlys stands out for instance, or possibly Kinmen and Matsu closer to the mainland). One such scenario is depicted here

Hard to be specific but I would predict better than 50% odds you will see Chinese and US warships shooting at each other at some point. However, I also think the odds are very low it will escalate into WW3. As both sides have nuclear-tipped ICBMs and the American and Chinese homelands are sufficiently far apart battles are likely to be confined to sea, air and fairly remote islands (though space and cyberspace are also likely). Other countries like Japan and Australia could easily get involved.

Hostilities may last for years but the eventual death toll will probably be in the thousands rather than the millions. More dire scenarios see a physical Chinese land invasion of Taiwan (though it is hard to see this succeeding) or a major escalation whereby one side tries to shoot down the other’s satellites, causing a chain reaction that destroys more or less everything in LEO. This, or a China-US trade embargo (10X worse than the current ‘trade war’) plus a prolonged shutdown of seagoing trade in the S. China Sea would cause severe economic disruption. However, again, probably no nukes and no WW3. My ultimate guess is that the US Navy prevails and in 2050 Taipei is still independent of Beijing (indeed – probably openly so).

Global politics will realign as demographic change and economic growth sees the rise of certain countries – in broad strokes this is fairly obvious, but we can take a stab at a few specifics. Despite earlier fears of runaway growth the global population is expected to increase from today’s 7.5 billion to maybe 10 billion in 2050 and thereafter stabilize. Also, despite much misinformation and fear-mongering the world today is much richer and healthier today than ever before.

The existing western world will maintain its dominance for some time yet. The United States in particular is projected to have healthy population growth well into the future. The US population should be around 400 million by 2050 (albeit increasingly diverse) and still third in the world (though Nigeria might overtake them towards the end of this century).

China since 1980 is the obvious model for other poor countries (though worth noting their streak of ‘10% annual GDP growth’ burned out in 2010, they have averaged 6-7% since). India’s economy is now growing faster than China’s and its population will overtake theirs by 2025 but it is starting from a much lower base. Despite many predictions, I suspect the US will remain no.1 in GDP at least until 2030 and will still be 1st or 2nd in 2050 (with China the only real competitor).

A complete implosion of China is possible. This could be caused by an economic crisis or a failed military venture abroad which destroys the legitimacy of the communist party and sparks a revolution calling for democratic and other reforms. Perhaps in tandem with this, North Korea implodes and is reunified with South Korea (this is unlikely to occur without a major change in China first, given their status as essentially a buffer state with the US-backed south).

One possible state that stands out as a future superpower is the ‘East African Federation’, an intended evolution of the existing ‘East African Community’ that now includes Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan. At present these states are very poor, with a combined GDP smaller than New Zealand. However, they are now growing at 6% a year. Linked by Swahili as a common lingua franca they are expected to have a population of 410 million by 2050 and 800 million by 2100 – not far behind India and China. If their political integration succeeds and their economic growth continues, the EAF could emerge as a major world power by mid-century.

Population declines and changing resource markets will cause the decline of other countries - on the flip side to the above, countries like Japan and Russia have a bleak demographic outlook. Russia in particular with anaemic economic growth and a growing Muslim minority may face substantial internal instability. The decline of oil (either due to the spread of new technologies or simply a global shortage) will also contribute. The country could even collapse entirely as depicted here

Individual European states face demographic and (relative) economic decline. However if the European Union survives as an institution (I would give better than 50% odds) its combined population of 450 million (even without the UK) and historical economic strength should help it remain a major world power well into the century. The anglosphere countries will continue to benefit from the rise of English to the global lingua franca.

In 2050 I suspect the Middle East, as in 2018 or indeed 1950, will continue to be something of a war-torn shithole. The brewing cold war between Sunni-Saudi Arabia and Shia-Iran is just beginning. Both could eventually get nukes (and then things get real interesting). The decline of oil, increasing calls for democracy/secularism/modernisation and ongoing ethnic tensions will all ensure continued chaos. An independent Kurdistan is likely to become a reality eventually. Turkey, now resurgent and by far the strongest country in the region, could take advantage of the weaknesses of the Arab states to advance south into its historical realm of influence (the entire region having been controlled by them until 1918).

On the whole Africa’s economic outlook is now improving and its demographics indicate that 40% of the world will be African by 2100. However, they still have a long way to go. Major wars, revolutions, epidemics and other disasters are likely to strike numerous times before then as they have in the previous 60 years since the withdrawal of the European colonial powers. I suspect in the next decade or two racial tensions in South Africa will also come to a head and the white minority will be forced to flee the country, i.e. Rhodesia in the 1980s.

Neural implants evolve from today’s smartphones – As we went from room-sized computers to PCs to laptops to smartphones (and maybe smartwatches and smartglasses as well) the ultimate result will be unobtrusive brain-computer interfaces that will quickly become universal (if not exactly mandatory – but trying staying employed without one). As with past computer technologies, the earliest adopters (from maybe the late 2020s) will be tech enthusiasts, time-pressed businessmen, and the young. Over another decade or so they will spread to the rest of the population in developed countries (with some inevitable holdouts, generally the elderly with little appetite to embrace more technologies and those with religious or other objections). Poorer countries (though now catching up) will be another decade or two behind. However, even in darkest Africa neural implants will probably be arriving by 2050 or so, as electricity and the internet already are today.

So what is a neural implant? Think of a smartphone but one that bypasses your ‘traditional’ senses. Rather than looking at a screen or listening via speakers, information will be beamed directly into your neocortex. Images/text/sounds and possibly other sensations will simply appear in your vision/hearing. This would apply to everything. When you walk down a shopping strip advertisements will flash up in your vision. When you want to communicate with someone, text/audio/video messages can be wordlessly exchanged via a little box popping up in the corner of your field of view. You can browse the global internet, check the weather, etc simply via thought commands. You can set a morning alarm that will wake up nobody but you! It’s at least as big a revolution in our lives as everything internet-related since 1990.

Of course, all this would come with staggering privacy concerns (i.e. the government or someone else being able to hack into your very nervous system and observe what you sense/observe – or perhaps even being able to ‘take control’ themselves depending on the nature of the implant). However, society finds ways to deal with these concerns, as we already have carrying smartphones around in our pockets. Expect to see a few neural-implant-Edward-Snowdens.

Major enhancements to the human body, either through gene therapy or surgery, start to become possible – neural implants are one thing, but just one element of our shift into what are essentially cyborgs. Artificial organs are already on the horizon. Designer babies are well on the way. Genetic doping in sports is probably already around. Genetically modified crops are already decades old.

Want to guarantee your kids will grow to be at least six foot? Have perfect vision and teeth? Such gene therapy will eventually not only be permitted, but calls will abound to make it free and universal (like education or healthcare today). On the plus side, our children and grandchildren will increasingly be free of the heavy burdens of genetic disease. On the other hand, if everyone’s kid has a perfect smile and can learn to play the violin with ease – how else does one stand out? Major social problems typical of a ‘modern’ society, such as obesity and drug abuse, will finally start to reverse after decades.

Of course, inequality will be a problem. Just as it is the world’s wealthy offspring who have access to braces or laser eye surgery today, the poor will have to do with their ‘natural’ bodies until such breakthroughs spread. A heart attack will prove fatal to an old man in Africa. In Europe it may mean the installation of a new heart and another decade of life. However, this is just the beginning.

Anti-aging efforts start to bear fruit – this one has many question marks attached, but I would expect that substantial progress will eventually be made. Global life expectancy is now 72 years, up from 67 in the year 2000 or 48 in 1950. Most of this has been as the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of vaccines, improved sanitation and nutrition and other changes have finally spread to the third world.

Modern medicine tells us the human body is an immensely complicated machine. Slicing and dicing our DNA is still proving immensely hard. Nonetheless, aging doesn’t seem to be an immutable law (like breaking the light barrier or time travel or anything). Once our understanding of the human body is sufficiently advanced, reversing every aspect of the aging process seems very possible. Maybe I’m falling into the usual trap of hoping for such developments before I get old (I will be nearing 60 in 2050) but I suspect we might finally be getting close. However, for a task of this magnitude, we might have to wait for the next step – the breakthrough to end all breakthroughs.

The singularity – this is the biggest question mark of all. While I feel the world until 2050 is relatively foreseeable (barring a nuclear war, solar flare, etc) the rise of superintelligent AIs is an event so overwhelming as to put all other predictions in doubt. Even if Moore’s law slows it is unlikely to stop, and current trends put the capabilities of silicon computers well ahead of anything our puny human brains can do by mid-century.

Suffice it to say I think the worst predictions about the singularity are unlikely to come to pass. Most apocalyptic scenarios about an AI taking over the world see a massive divide between that AI and the puny humans of 2018 (or earlier). By 2050 many humans will already be well on their way to becoming cyborgs. AIs of all shades will have been developed, doing everything from playing chess matches to playing the stock market. The gap between a ‘superintelligent’ AI and the rest of the world won’t be nearly as great, decreasing the odds that a single rogue entity will be able to hold the rest of the world hostage to its pre-programmed whims.

Nonetheless, the proliferation of superintelligence will strain every institution of our modern world. Major, apparently unassailable concepts like democracy and capitalism and the superiority of human life will come under question. Why bother with the cumbersome nature of a democratic legislature or the chaos of a free market, if a perfect AI can make better decisions? Why respect the world’s existing governments, if all their armies and weapons have suddenly been made obsolete by some godlike alliance of AIs? Why even bother with the ‘real’ world at all, if you can transfer your brain patterns to a hard drive smaller than your thumb and inhabit whatever virtual reality you please? In a world where humans as we’ve known them for the past 100,000 years have suddenly become obsolete, whatever will our silicon offspring do next?

[shirleylawson]

Four Days in Dubai

After I unpacked my bag last Wednesday from my London/Brighton trip to see my girl I was told by my darling husband to re pack, as we were off to Dubai the next day. Just got back from 4 days in Dubai, first time in the Middle East and not a social visit so absolutely exhausted. We had to go for us to basically make the final decision on whether or not to sign on the dotted line to transfer there or not (and I had a few wee contacts of my own to see, but keeping quiet about them at the moment, due to my superstition) and of course this time wifey had to come along as she is the one who has the final yay or nay at the end of the day!. Firstly, 4 days is not enough to get a real feel for a place but, depending on your pace, and ours was approx. 4 hours sleep per night, you can get a fair idea. If I had to choose whether or not to live there according to the flight, then the deal is done! We travelled Economy Class, of course, but with United Emirates Airlines, it doesn't feel like economy. Three tunnels take you onto the aircraft, one for First class, one Business and us cattle classes in Economy. We had to pass through the last two aisles of Business to get to our seats without even a whiff of the champagne and caviar being served in First, but the sight of the business class was enough to make me wonder if they all sat through there in First Class in a Living Room setting with shag pile carpet, full four poster beds and a log fire! Our flight was wonderful. Five hours and 40 minutes of sheer relaxation. A warm fluffy blanket and big soft pillow on every seat, which reclined backward and outward for your legs. Huge TV/Computer/Games Station/CD Radio in front with 700 channels to choose from. All the latest movies, I watched, My Sisters Keeper, Julie& Julia a bit of Malcolm in the Middle and listened to some of the new Red Hot Chilly CD and we had arrived, being served three times in between with wines, and a wonderful three course meal. There was an under aircraft camera to watch the assent from Rome and descent into Dubai. As we approached Dubai airport the first thing that stuck me was the proximity of the airport to the actual city. The runway seemed to be in the very centre of all these magnificent buildings and I felt I could reach out and touch the tips of them. From the air Dubai has a skyline similar to Manhattan but on a grander scale and with the lights and glitz of Las Vegas thrown in. I could see the Burg Dubai (tallest building in the world) rising above them all and it was spectacular. We disembarked and the airport was not a disappointment after the flight. It was huge and as I stood at passport control I looked up and couldn’t see the where the building ended, all I could see where lights and water falls and sky trains whizzing past, I felt like I’d stepped into another century. All airport staff are fluent in English and are only too willing to assist you with any enquiries you may have with a smile. It took a fair hike to eventually arrive outside but of course we were standing on Travelators the whole time and trying to take in the sights of the airport. I never thought an airport would make me want to get the old camera out (unfortunately it was packed away). The floors were white glistening marble with the gleam of silver everywhere (had to keep on the Prada sunglasses, also to show these Arabs I’m a classy Italian broad), sparkly little fairy lights and fabulous water features accompanied by music. Never mind a bloody hotel, I thought, lets just go get some sleeping bags and park here for the 4 days! We wouldn’t have needed the sleeping bags as it turned out, with an abundance of leather reclining seats in front of TV’s and computers. The services offered inside the airport were also very impressive, a line of pristine baby buggies in wonderful Disney Technicolor lined one wall for complimentary use and looked like a baby had never had it’s nappy soaked bum near one. Outside the warm night air hit us. It was 11.30pm but still warm and me in my boots and padded jacket. Our dear friend from Rome Paolo was coming to pick us up. He’s been living and working there for just over a year now and we’ve known him for 13 years, so we trusted his judgment of life in Dubai. Outside there was a queue of limousines and hummer limos…………..does no one have a normal car in this city?? Apparently not, Paolo drove up in his huge 4 by 4 Merc! The drive to his apartment took all of 20 minutes and then I saw some of the real Dubai City!!!! I craned my neck out the window the entire journey as Stefano and Paolo chatted away and caught up after not seeing each other for some time. Row after row after row of the most spectacular examples of 21st century architecture lined the streets to my left. Each building making me gasp until the two second gap of the next. Apartments blocks, office blocks, hotels and restaurants each one more impressive than the other. To the right was the sea. A pier stretching as far as the eye could see in the shape of a palm tree full of hotels, swimming pools and talcum powder beaches. Paolo’s apartment was on the 22nd floor of a dark blue building, the glass looked dark blue from the outside but normal from the inside. His balcony had a sea view to the right with the Marina and all the amenities it had to offer, a pool directly below and the skyline of glittering, sky scrapping buildings to the left. We sat out there drinking and talking and laughing (Paolo’s girlfriend lives with him) till 4 am which was silly, since Stefano had to be up early in the morning and had a hectic few days ahead, but he managed! He went off to “Internet City”, the main office area of the city by 08.30hrs and I set off to check out the local area. Taxis are in abundance (just like Rome I hear you say…………….not), in fact, there is even no need to raise your arm or call for one, they seem to instinctively know you are coming to the road for a taxi and up they pull. Out gets the driver and opens the back door for you, with polite, thank you Madams and welcomes. All the locals speak perfect English I soon learnt, even though I insisted on speaking to everyone in Italian!!! Please don’t ask me why I did this, as I have no logical explanation why my seriously defective brain seems to work slightly different to the norm. After 4 days of doing this and seriously analysing why I would speak in Italian to these polite English speaking people, I can only assume it’s because in my brain they are foreign, and with all foreigners I speak Italian (I did it in Greece last year also) as that’s MY foreign language that I know! Does it make any sense to anyone? Please tell me it does! Shopping malls are pretty standard (by Dubai standards of course, think airport, sky trains and water features) but they had Marks and Spencer’s, Debenhams (dedicated to British readers) New Look, Top Shop………every single High Street British shop including, of course, Italian designer shops and the American chains, although I have to say it was a mainly British city from the signs (lift not elevator) and the electric plugs in the houses (heaven, adaptor stayed in the bag for 4 days). To give you an idea of the size of the mall it is equivalent to 73 football fields with over 700 shops (I read this outside;) and has an indoor ski resort in which you can ski or snow board or sledge the day away and swear as far as the eye can see that you were in the Alpine Mountains. Lisa, Paolo’s girlfriend and I headed down to check out the beach which was a 5 minutes walk from the apartment. The beach had long white sandy beaches running into the crystal clear sea, the Persian Gulf, (surely they can’t have cleaned that up manually as well?) which gave me time to digest my lunch and listen to some tunes on my ipod whilst catching some much missed sun rays. Since it is after all November, it started to get a wee bit chilly around 6pm, so we headed up to the apartment and joined our men folk in the pool for a swim. Whilst swimming my laps of the pool I see three women chatting away at the side of the pool and detect Scottish accents. Swimming a little closer, not only are they Scottish but from Glasgow so I casually, accidentally swim up to them and say, “Hi, are those Scottish accents I hear?” “Yes, one of them replies “I’m from Newlands” We get into a wee bit of chit chat and discuss how long they’ve been living there (one 9 years, one 5 years and one a sister who’s just visiting) and why we are there and I’m trying to decide if it’s for me. I ask if they like living there and the two that live there say it’s like living in paradise. “So?”, one says, “What do you think, do you like it”. “Well I can’t really tell at this point as it’s only been a day and at the moment I kind of know how Scarlett Johansson felt in Lost in Translation, it all feels a bit like a golden cage and surreal to me. “Where have you come from?” she asks, to which I answer Rome, I’ve been living in Rome for the last 6 years. “AAAAhhh” she says with a look of disgust on her face, “well if you can cope with living in Rome you can cope with living anywhere!!!!!” well (directed to my Italian friends and other international friends living in Rome) it was like someone had insulted my kid! You know that feeling? Like, you can moan and complain about your own kids all you want but,……………. if someone else does!!! I thought, you cheeky cow, I never thought I would feel so defensive about Rome. I told her I think I would miss the history and the piazza’s and the general integration and embracement of the Italian culture, but was still feeling a little shell shocked by her comment when Stefano, who was eaves dropping said, “So you’re from Glasgow?”, Yes she said, we moved from Glasgow to here. “Well”, says Stefano, “I suppose anywhere would feel like Paradise straight from Glasgow!” Shabam!!!! and he swam away leaving me smiling and wondering how I never manage to think of smart comments at the right time. First night dinner was had at the Royal Hotel Meridian, the hotels seem to be the place where all the local expats hang out for drinks and eating as alcohol is not served in pavement open air cafes. No idea what the star rating is of this hotel as it seems to be the same rating as every hotel I have seen but if I worked for the AA hotel rating system, I would give this a big 10 star rating. I felt like a super star. When I went to the bathroom the door was opened for me and I reluctantly stepped into the cubicle, checking my back that she wasn’t following me in to wipe my ass. She very discreetly left the restroom and returned when she heard me open my door with a clean hot towel and even put on the bloomin tap, (hey, this kind of service was giving to me in Starbucks that morning, not quite on that level but not too far off). I returned to find the waiter rush tomy chair for my return. I really wanted to say, like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, “Look darlin, I’m a sure thing, I’ve been living in Rome for 6 years and I’m impressed if you say sorry after bumping into me, it’s really easy, no need for this, honest!”. The guys went inside to choose the fish and lobsters that were still swimming around happily, so I declined. The most amazing fish and crab was served and eaten by all (we were joined by another couple who are friends of Paolo’s) and we then walked down to the hotel swimming pool and drank some drinks under the gazebo and looked out over at the spectacular grounds. Stefano and I went for a walk in the gardens and he put his arm around me and said, this is the life I have always wanted to give you, would you rather be here or in Rome right now. I looked around and said, without a doubt it is spectacular and breathtaking but honestly………….I’d rather be snuggled up with my huge log fire crackling away under our blanket watching TV in Rome! Over in the bar we could hear some English football being watched by some Brits on a big screen TV and some Scottish accents in the balmy night air. We left to go onto another bar called Budda Bar which was in an Indian style,(I suppose the clue is in the name) and had a cocktail before deciding at around 2am that since we had to get up at 08.30am we had better head for home. Another step out into the night with a taxi stopping before you even know if you need one yourself and another fare of 10 dirham’s which is less than 2 euro’s (10 dirham’s is 1.80 euro) and when we gave him a 20 he was most grateful. By the way, we took a taxi back to the airport which is around 25-30 minutes and it cost 12 euro, with luggage and helping in and out of the car. We both walked down to the seafront at lunchtime the next day relaxed and knowing that the work part was over and lets really see this place. We stopped into Starbucks and had a coffee and decided to drive up the desert and go sand dune quad biking. The drive wasn’t long, around 45 mins before we reached a landscape untouched by human hand of approx. 2,500 miles of desert. It was still bright and sunny when we paid for our buggies and all four of us headed over to the “practice area” to get the hang of the buggies before excitedly driving through the gate and heading straight for the desert. The first mile or so you can see that people have been coming here at night and having bonfires or whatever and leaving their rubbish behind (bastards!) but after that it’s miles and miles and miles of swooping dunes and wind brushed sand with no sign of human touch. In the distance a few wild camels and apart from that just…………..nothing! It was such fun! Stefano took a dune a bit too cockily and toppled his buggy over but apart from his pride, nothing was hurt! The sun started to set and we all four stopped at the top of a huge dune around 60 ft high and watched this wonderful sight. You feel the silence and no one said anything for a few minutes (which believe me is a wonderment in itself from Paolo). Then once again we were off all racing along and over taking one another and we all reached the top of a dune at the same time and braked hard to look down at a straight vertical drop of around 60 feet. We all parked and looked down and decided that we wouldn’t take the chance and put the buggies into reverse, we lacked the needed adrenaline rush of an 18 year old at this point and with a combined age of around 150 years, we all headed back to the flag in the distance, which was our marker flag for returning the buggies. What a fabulous experience. That night we went out for a Persian meal in a restaurant set on a channel not unlike sitting in Venice, only a few years younger. Again, first class service, first class meal and wonderful wine. We thought about going to the cinema one night but decided it was really silly to go to the cinema when we had such little time and you can go to the cinema anywhere, although looking at the website of the nearest cinema was enough entertainment in itself. Huge individual leather reclining lazy boys in pairs or fours. All with waitress service of meals, wines or snacks accomplished by the push of a button on your chair. Basically, to summarise the rest of the trip was very short indeed and I would have loved to have had another week or two there. We slipped away early one morning, insisting that Paolo stay in bed as taxi’s are so cheap, and there we were back in the wonderful airport where I felt I had been in only yesterday. Whilst waiting for my flight I popped into the toilet to be greeted by another towel/open door woman and thought, how will I survive without you in Rome? We landed at Fiumicino airport in the morning and before going outside to call the Park&Go guy to get our car I ran into the tobacco shop to buy cigarettes. As the woman threw my change down on the counter ignoring my outstretched hand and saying nothing but nodding to the next customer to tell her what he wanted I thought, yip, back in Italy, a vero?. In conclusion…………….we spent a very stressful next few hours back at home discussing back and forth the pro’s and con’s of staying in Rome or leaving and working and living in Dubai. I would miss my house terribly, and the friends I have made. Stefano would miss the outdoor life and his horses. I would miss my dogs. He looked like a 12 year old boy at one point and I felt so bad for him that he couldn’t make the decision. If we don’t like it we can stay a minimum of one year perhaps 18 months. If we do……….. indefinitely. The house here in Rome will always be ours, we will rent it out and in fact already have an interested family without even having advertised. Chris will come live with us when he finishes school and there are an abundance of British Colleges and Universities although I think he has his heart set on sailing school. I would spend July and August in Rome to escape the 50 degree temperatures over there and to have Jen over for the summer as that’s where all her friends will be returning from University for the summer are and where she feels is home. She will of course come to Dubai to visit us and I will go there, but we already agreed that if this job was taken, that summers would be spent in a rented apartment in the city centre of Rome. Without talking about finances, although it’s hard not to as they are incomparable, I would be able to go to Brighton and see Jen whenever I wanted to without worrying about how much the flight was and staying as long as I wanted.  I could go up to Glasgow to see Chris for the next year or so till he is with us also or have him come down for weekends in Brighton. Money would be no issue. We have made the decision. It’s a yes!