Dubai, UAE

I finally got to spend more than a layover in Dubai! For a while, I have been intrigued by this city, which believes that bigger is always better. It doesn't have any history to speak of, but Dubai has become a tourist destination with incredible mystique.

Driving through Dubai, you see a city center lined with modern skyscrapers and mega-malls, but beneath the glimmering facade is a conservative Arab country. Women here are not equals, homosexuality is illegal, and apostasy is a capital offense. It is unfortunate that social values are not progressing at the same rate as infrastructure growth. 

I will admit that Dubai has accomplished some pretty amazing engineering milestones. Where else can you find man-made islands in the shape of a palm tree, a self-proclaimed 7-star hotel in the middle of the water, an indoor ski slope in the desert, and the world’s tallest building? It is no surprise that Dubai is so famous.

My hotel was located in Healthcare City, which is quickly developing but still somewhat far from all the action. Fortunately, fuel here is cheaper than water and taxis are quite inexpensive, so it's not a problem to get anywhere. 

Downtown Dubai in the haze

Everyone told me to visit Dubai marina, the world's largest man-made marina. When I arrived, it looked more like an upscale residential area than a tourist destination. There were lots of highrise apartments clustered around a man-made "river", and a boardwalk lined with restaurants. Even to my untrained eye, I was impressed by the architectural design elements in many of the buildings. Each one has its own unique feature to set it apart from the rest. My favorite was Cayan Tower, which looks like it had been twisted in a 90' angle.

Some of the buildings in Dubai Marina

Looking up at my favorite building in Dubai Marina

I spent some time walking around the boardwalk, gushing over the endless line-up of expensive yachts, and having lunch by the water. As I sat in the restaurant, I thought about just how different the living environment is from where I grew up. For whatever reason, Americans still retain the dream of a free-standing house. This is such a contrast to the rest of the world, where apartment living is so much more common. This small area of Dubai has more highrise buildings clustered together than most American city centers.

Peaceful afternoon at Dubai Marina

Super yachts parked in the marina, with easy access to the gulf

I was fascinated when I noticed a mosque under construction in the middle of the marina area. Dubai is well known as a city full of expats, but religion still retains a dominant component of society. Just like church spires in Europe, the minarets were eclipsed by the height of the modern skyscrapers that surround them.

Mosque under construction in Dubai marina

After my relaxing afternoon at Dubai Marina, I took public transportation to Burj Khalifa and the adjacent Mall of the Emirates. I really like how Dubai has the foresight to think about public transportation - even in an environment of inexpensive fuel. Most people have cars, but it is nice that the metro system is available. 

The metro stations look more like UFO's ready to take off

Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building - is perhaps the most popular attraction in Dubai. Just like many other skyscrapers, it has an overpriced observation center at the top. People can have a view of the surrounding desert to remind themselves that they are truly in a desert oasis that sprung out of nothing in the past few decades. I was half tempted to go up just to say I have done it, but then I remembered I am not a bucket lister. 

Looking up at Burj Khalifa - mesmerized by its sheer size

Surrounding the Burj is the massive Dubai Mall, with over 1200 stores. No joke. How can there seriously be enough business to sustain this many stores? I don't know, but the mall was absolutely packed with people. At first, I planned to just breeze though. But that "breeze" turned into three hours of non-stop walking...past an indoor ice skating rink, a two-story massive fish tank, and even a faux souk. 

A tiny peek at the massive Dubai Mall

Between the mall and the Burj Khalifa is a huge pool with a fountain show designed by the same company that created the Bellagio display in Las Vegas. I happened to be walking outside during one of the shows, so I stopped to enjoy yet another example of Dubai out-doing everywhere else. The fountains project up as high as a 50-story building and span across a huge area. It was impressive. 

Watching a sunset show at Dubai Fountains

On the last night of my trip, I relaxed in my hotel and thought about the mystique of Dubai. In a world where budget constraints seem omnipresent, this city shows no signs of cutting back. The hotels are huge and opulent, shopping is a lifestyle, and almost all apartment complexes seem geared towards the rich. It begs the question: Are there any poor people in Dubai? Aside from the foreign workers, I have never seen any.

Beautiful gym inside my hotel, which was never busy

Just one of many extravagant meals during my trip

I could never live in Dubai, but I enjoy taking short trips there. It is like an escape from reality, where everyone can feel like royalty for a little while in this desert oasis. People complain that it's a shell of a city with no history, and I completely agree. However, no one goes to Dubai for a history lesson. I think it's best to just appreciate the modern wonders that exist throughout the city. 

Enjoy good food, good service, and architectural marvels. Then, look out at big patches of sand that surround the urban center and remind yourself that you're in the middle of a desert. I can only imagine what it will look like in another decade.

Looking down at the massive Grand Hyatt from my hotel

Singapore Conference

For the second time this year, I traveled to Singapore. This time, the experience was quite a bit different than my trip in March. Why? 

Two words: Business Trip.

Upon arrival in Singapore, my hotel transfer was in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes; a far cry from the trains that I navigated back in March! As much as I enjoy trying public transportation systems around the world, there's nothing like sitting alone in the back of a car and peering out the window at the peaceful, tree-lined streets. Compared to the overcrowded streets of Hong Kong, Singapore put me at ease before I even reached the hotel. 

When I arrived, I was greeted at the front entrance and escorted directly to my suite for in-room check-in. This is yet another example of VIP treatment that was missing during my last trip. My suite also included club lounge access and some nice snacks pre-set for my arrival. 

Hotel Suite in Singapore

The next morning, I met my boss in the club lounge to finish preparing for our presentation and was pleasantly surprised when the staff greeted me by name. I still don't know how they knew me, but it is always nice to be treated like more than just an anonymous "sir". 

Dinner was held at the poolside restaurant for a low-key networking event, complete with free-flowing wine and extra amounts of humidity. At first, I felt under-dressed by not wearing a jacket but I was very happy with my decision as the people in suits were sweating like crazy. (Why would anyone think it's necessary to wear a full suit to a poolside cocktail party in Singapore?)

The next two days were filled with meetings, networking, and more wonderful food. I love almost all Asian cuisine, but Singapore really has a unique fusion of flavors. For breakfast, I got to indulge in my favorites: chicken rendang and some steamed dim sum. The next night, a group of people went to a local seafood restaurant, which offered an incredible array of seafood that even I had never seen before.  Some people were commenting that the restaurant was too casual, but I much prefer trying somewhere more authentic.  Plus, the atmosphere made me feel like I was on vacation for the first time all weekend.

One of the many seafood dishes from dinner in Singapore

Without a doubt, my favorite memory from the trip was the gala dinner on the final evening. As the meal was about to begin, an accordion wall at one end of the room started rising, with energetic music playing in the background. All the chefs were lined up behind the wall and illuminated by red up-lights. The stage was even more dramatic with the use of a smoke machine. I had never before seen a show kitchen as part of banquet space, but the environment made me feel as though I was on the set of "Iron Chef". 

Chefs emerge from behind an accordion wall in the ballroom

We were all amazed when the chefs then began banging on their equipment in a well-orchestrated percussion performance. All the guests had their phones out to capture the memory and I sat in awe and amazement. I have been to many banquet events in my life and I have never seen anything even remotely as memorable as the show that was unfolding in front of me. Talk about a "wow" moment. 

The meal was just as impressive as the performance, and the mood was so much more relaxed than the opening night cocktail party by the pool. By this point, many of us had chatted with each other and we were appreciating the rare opportunity for an entire region of finance leaders to come together in one place.  

After the meal, I was introduced to another Asian tradition: peer pressure to drink. A group of people would assemble together and ambush the person of honor with an almost-full glass of wine. There was no choice but to toast each other and drink the entire glass in a gesture of humble appreciation. As the newcomer to ASPAC, I was fortunately (or unfortunately) the target of many such toasts. I literally had no option but to chug the wine that was handed to me. Over and over again. 

I captured one of the ambush toasts!

People gradually retired to their rooms as the night wore on, but I resisted the urge. Eventually, there was just one small group of rugged party animals by the time the event was coming to a close. At the suggestion of the new VP of Hotel Finance, we made our way down to the night club in the basement of the hotel for a final night cap. 

This nightclub is extremely popular among locals and I was happy to finally experience it. (During my last trip to Singapore, I didn't drink much because alcohol is ridiculously expensive...but on the corporate card, price is not much of a concern). Our group assembled a bunch of chairs together to order one final drink, while the rest of the club buzzed with activity and a live band entertained everyone with some good cover music. 

Live band at the nightclub

I stuck around for a little while, but I "ghosted" back up to my room when the mood started to fizzle. Walking back into the hotel, I noticed a host of luxury cars in the driveway. Maybe it was the alcohol, but I stopped for a moment at the sight and thought to myself: "Wow, I am so fortunate to be part of this elite group".  

Parking lot of luxury cars in front of the hotel

Singapore is a city where people can experience a very wide range of lifestyles. My most recent trip earlier this year was more of a budget version, where I rode public transportation, drank very little alcohol, and ate mostly at casual restaurants. However this trip exposed me to the opposite end of the spectrum: Gourmet meals, chauffeured-driven cars, a beautiful hotel suite, banquets that spared no expense, and personalized service at one of the best hotels in the city. 

On my final morning in Singapore, I had the entire club lounge to myself for breakfast. I love these rare solitary moments because they give me a chance to fully appreciate my environment without any distractions. I am so happy that I got the opportunity to see both sides of Singapore because I now have a much more balanced view of the city. I rarely spend lavishly on myself, but I do appreciate the opportunities to enjoy the finest things that a city has to offer. Perhaps I should take more opportunities to indulge but I think the moderation helps to make trips like this so much more memorable.

My final morning in Singapore. Such a wonderful trip!