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Manoj and I took a trip to the Middle East in December of 2001 to visit his family. We flew into Dubai and stayed there for about week, and flew from there to Muscat, Oman where his family lives. It was one of my first trips abroad and was absolutely fascinating! I didn't write travelogues per se, but emailed friends and family about my impressions while I was on the trip.

First impressions of Dubai

Jennifer Radcliffe
2005-11-11 11:09:28

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((this is part of an email that i sent to a friend while i was visiting dubai.))

we're going to oman tomorrow, and we'll be back here in dubai on the 15th. i'll write about oman after my trip there. i'm really really loving it here. had a few small bumps in the road (for instance, some men insist on giving me hard stares, but i just stare back... i'm not sure if it's rudeness or just curiosity yet, verdict's still out), but overall it's been extremely pleasant. people are very honest and i feel that i can trust people here. very nice folks. and i love bargaining! i bargain for everything now! but the prices are really already pretty fair- not too inflated to begin with. i feel that life here is very relaxed. i think i would actually enjoy living here. it gets too hot in the summer tho. it's the desert, but this is an oasis, so it's got some greenery. it's actually pretty humid for a desert, not like the california desert at all. more muggy. not hilly at all. very flat. very lovely. sends thrills thru my spine!

we've been meeting very nice people, especially the iranians who seem to have a monopoly on the spice souk. (him: where you from? germany? swizterland? me: the US. him: amrika? (with mild surprise) oh!) made two good friends, one of which took us on an abra ride across the creek tonight, and we sat and drank chai and smoked sheesha.. so nice, then we ate iranian food and walked to the sheikh's palace on the water. since it's ramadan everyone is celebrating. heard wonderful arabian music.. and walked along the water with that arabian moon in the sky. it really is something else! and to think i was reluctant about coming here! i feel much more at ease and much safer than i would in the US! truly. it has never ever occurred to me once while walking down the street at any hour of the night or day that i was in danger. not once. in atlanta, ...