The Rain Near Spain

Don't be afraid of a little rain - it won't kill you.... or will it?

 

Leaving the office last week I was greeted by this infamous aquatic spectacle at the front gate. Yes the heavens had indeed parted and as is always the case, for time immemorial, a tremendous amount of the wet stuff is being poured onto this lovely city. It's a delicious deluge to some and a dripping disaster for others.

Just pissed !!!

The Long rain and Short rain  (March/October) are both highly anticipated and feared as the days of the year pass. What makes this simultaneously lush green and "temperature perfect" city such an environmental paradise -- are these twice annual events. It's a city of vibrantly rich natural color. The flowering trees, bougainvillea, hibiscus, roses ... my goodness what an amazing place nature has provided.


The trouble is that the city planners (a term used with generosity) have not been able to build the infrastructure necessary to  handle what mother nature has provided. Fair enough in some ways - the skies darken in late March and then it rains HARD. I often must stop my work to gaze out on the spectacle outside my office window. It's amazing.




 

And for sure traffic will be snarled and you risk getting a bit wet as you scurry about avoiding he small rivers and lakes that emerge. But it goes well beyond this. School children are swept away, buildings collapse, homes are flooded and people drown trying to save others. Of course it's a pyramid of disaster and incompetence in-so-much as the building inspectors (a term used with generosit)  content themselves mostly with finding additional sources of personal income rather than inspecting and planning. When the rains come, shaky foundations let go of the towers they were commissioned to hold steady  -- and building collapse killing the people inside. Isn't this man 2?

I nodded casually as one of my colleagues shared that all the telephone poles had fallen into the street electrifying our neighborhood.  Shocking I said 😉 ..... and as a result we may have to stay in the office a bit longer than planned. As it turned out, the "tide" turned and we were able to leave on time. But the question remains -- the newly installed cement telephone poles fell over ???? WTF.

The local paper notes;

It's likely that the number dead is far greater than this -- counting if something that you do with money.... too cynical ??

My hope is that the City Fathers give their kids a swift kick in the bottom and ensure that standards are met and infrastructure designed and built for the most likely -- rather than least likely scenarios. When it comes to fraud and corruption - the impact in terms of money is measurable though the misery created is often not.

A note on my friend and Baby Jake. Both are doing very well in a place called Kakumega. It's out in the country - maybe 400 kms from Nairobi where I am. I'm looking forward to a visit from mother and baby in mid-April this year..... so in a couple weeks 😁 I'll be sure to send some pictures.

Thanks for reading .....Layno!!!

Saying Goodbye to Dubai

Deliberately Dubai

The Mclaren 720s pictured above, as a base model -- starts at a whopping wallet emptying $285,000.00 USD. This is the cost of a house -- or more money than the slum community where I volunteer has ever earned. The irony is not lost on me and while I may now - a - days be observing with a somewhat jaundiced eye -- the less-than-equal distribution of wealth is deeply concerning and ubiquitous as I traipse about the city.  As I watched the 720s pull away in what admittedly is  -- one of the most beautiful sounds in the world, I marveled as it joined a veritable cornucopia of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and other "super cars" already parading about Dubai. This is where the rich come to play and live. There is wealth here on a level that I have never experienced before. While being fortunate to have visited a number of  "rich" cities in my life,  like New York, Geneva, Paris and so on -- Dubai takes it up to another level entirely.  It's a moment of contradictions for me. Both wanting what they have and at the same time feeling guilty for doing so.

Above - is an air conditioned bus stop, and as you continue down the beachfront King Salman Bin Abdulazizi Al Saud street you marvel at the rich palaces and beautiful green grass gracing the thoroughfare. They are astonishingly beautiful in their starkness as white competes for attention against the impenetrable blue of the sky above.  Within this United Arab Emirates city, only 15% of the 3 million who reside here are local -- all the rest have come to seek or enjoy their fortunes.

A city in the sand  -- growing up quickly and beautifully from humble beginnings. All this in 40 years...

It's a city built mostly from oil revenues -- but those revenues have now become a fractional part of this economy and in fact expected to be depleted in the near future. No -- the real economy here is wealth derived from building one of the world's most exciting playgrounds for the rich and beautiful people. It's about tourism ...and more specifically attracting those who are prepared to spend.



Incidentally and obviously I am neither rich nor beautiful and am here quite simply for work .😉 Dubai is part of the base of supply operations for the work we do in the middle east. Afghanistan Syria and Yemen are all supported by supply operations here. Dubai -- in addition to it's shiny super-model exterior -- has developed state - of - the - art logistics infrastructure that is attractive to many seeking access to nearby markets.


It's a city that has come to fruition recently. The world's tallest structure, Burj Khalifa, at almost 2800 feet and 160 floors lords over the lesser structures. The city boasts the latest and perhaps most interesting architecture in the world and as I sit here typing away -- outside my window in all directions I can see more, more and more skyscrapers competing to reach some imaginary point. "A mans reach must exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for?" said Robert Browning" some years ago. That indeed -- could be the nation's slogan.

The world famous 7 -star Burj Arab Jumeirah  - the most luxurious hotel in the world.

After braving the cold temperatures  (minus 8 ....eeeeekkkk) and snow in Brussels last week, a trip to the beach was definitely in order. Being a Muslim country, I thought about whether I could take off my shirt and the rules and conventions around such things. I certainly expected woman to be covered from finger tips to ruby lips but alas that is not the case. The beach wear is no different here than anywhere else around the world. Less is more 😆

Even more interesting for me than level of dress or undress of the beach-goers, was the number of different home countries represented on the beautiful beach. I understand that Indians are the largest community followed by Filipinos and then a couple here and a couple there - from almost all other parts of the world.

It was here on the beach that I met Miriam and Luka. We talked easily together for an hour or so about the city the country and what brought them here. Both are from other parts of the world but found their way to Dubai separately. What was particularly interesting for me is that they are both very healthy, spiritual and natural people who continue to be a part of this interesting and somewhat contradictory community. They are not - I don't believe - seeking riches so much as they are intent on bringing an infusion of health and wellness to the environment. I left them appreciating their beauty, the conversation and the future of Dubai. Miriam has a great website on healthy eating if interested Healthy Eating.

As the sun sets over Dubai I get ready to say Goodbye to Dubai and in doing so realize that my path in life has taken me away from my once loved Gucci loafers and Polo horse and rider emblazoned Ralph Lauren shirts. While not exactly "the monk who sold his Ferrari" - I doubt I'll have a Ferrari in my garage any time soon but I'll keep the Ducati ... heck I already have it...why go to the trouble of selling ... the paperwork...and so on.

Thanks for reading ......Layno!!!