4/10/08 - A new month. Six weeks of school left and then the sweetness of summer will shine
upon us all and merriness will fill our hearts and minds.
And pretty much everywhere, it's gonna be hot.
upon us all and merriness will fill our hearts and minds.
And pretty much everywhere, it's gonna be hot.
Seriously though. Right above here you can see a newly released picture from the cartoon
I am working on. Progress is slow.
Really
slow.
It probably won't be done until the summer but hey! Who cares. There might also be
another secret project in the works but I'm not allowed to tell you guys.
A while ago I said I was going to do an article on Dubai, so here it is.
I am working on. Progress is slow.
Really
slow.
It probably won't be done until the summer but hey! Who cares. There might also be
another secret project in the works but I'm not allowed to tell you guys.
A while ago I said I was going to do an article on Dubai, so here it is.
A while ago I was talking to some people, and I can't really remember what we were talking about...but I ended up saying something about Dubai's Palm Islands. And the
people went "What?" And I went "The Palm Islands, you know." And they went "What?" though this time it was louder. Then it occurred to me that some people don't
even know what the hell the Palm Islands or Dubai are.
people went "What?" And I went "The Palm Islands, you know." And they went "What?" though this time it was louder. Then it occurred to me that some people don't
even know what the hell the Palm Islands or Dubai are.
Dubai is the main city in the United Arab Emirates. It has the
largest population in all of the emirates and is ruled by the Al
Maktoum dynasty.
The emirates' current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the
UAE.
To the left is a picture of Dubai sometime before the year
1990. A lonely street with a group of lonely buildings. Just
like the rest of the Middle East, right? Wrong.
Now let's scroll down to see....
largest population in all of the emirates and is ruled by the Al
Maktoum dynasty.
The emirates' current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the
UAE.
To the left is a picture of Dubai sometime before the year
1990. A lonely street with a group of lonely buildings. Just
like the rest of the Middle East, right? Wrong.
Now let's scroll down to see....
WHAT WHAT WHAT?
This is the same street in 2003. Look at that difference. The four
buildings turned into forty BILLION buildings. And there is
pollution!
Dubai has a yearly GDP of nearly 40 billion US dollars, and mostly
all of it is spent on building new, unnecessary things. Dubai sits on a
heck of a lot of oil, you see. But the oil money will not last much
longer, so they are building up everything to turn the city into a world
tourist attraction.
We will now see what happens when you have too much money.
This is the same street in 2003. Look at that difference. The four
buildings turned into forty BILLION buildings. And there is
pollution!
Dubai has a yearly GDP of nearly 40 billion US dollars, and mostly
all of it is spent on building new, unnecessary things. Dubai sits on a
heck of a lot of oil, you see. But the oil money will not last much
longer, so they are building up everything to turn the city into a world
tourist attraction.
We will now see what happens when you have too much money.
This is the same street as of late 2006.
| This is what the construction looks like right now. This is just the outside of the city. Think about all the things that are going on that are concealed by the buildings. It's estimated Dubai currently keeping 20% of all the world's cranes busy with its construction projects.. |
This is what the Dubai waterfront will look like when it is completed. It will be the largest waterfront in the world, as well as the largest man-man
development ever. The vision of the project is "to create a world-class destination for residents, visitors and businesses in the world's fastest growing city."
development ever. The vision of the project is "to create a world-class destination for residents, visitors and businesses in the world's fastest growing city."
This is a bird's eye view of the Waterfront when it will be completed.
Notice the green part that looks like a palm tree? Those are the
Palm Islands I was talking about earlier. You may have seen them on
the Discovery channel like I did a few years back.
Let's just say it's ridiculous.
Notice the green part that looks like a palm tree? Those are the
Palm Islands I was talking about earlier. You may have seen them on
the Discovery channel like I did a few years back.
Let's just say it's ridiculous.
This is one of the Palm Islands as seen from the International Space
Station. Basically Dubai hired a Dutch company to come and BUILD
ISLANDS to attract tourism. The islands are the largest land
reclamation projects in the world and will result in the world's largest
artificial islands.
When finished there will be three of these suckers. There will be enough
housing to support over 500,000 people.
Station. Basically Dubai hired a Dutch company to come and BUILD
ISLANDS to attract tourism. The islands are the largest land
reclamation projects in the world and will result in the world's largest
artificial islands.
When finished there will be three of these suckers. There will be enough
housing to support over 500,000 people.
| That's not all though. |
The World Islands. This will be made by the same Dutch company. 300 islands and 386 million tons of rock. The overall development cost of The World was estimated
as 14 billion dollars. Each individual island cost between 15 and 50 million dollars. 60% of all the islands have already been sold. It's website is pretty cool.
as 14 billion dollars. Each individual island cost between 15 and 50 million dollars. 60% of all the islands have already been sold. It's website is pretty cool.
A lot of you have probably seen this one already.
This is the Burj al-Arab, the world's only
seven-star hotel. It is the world's tallest hotel as
well.
It is one of the most expensive hotels ever. The
cost of staying in a suite begins at $1,000 per
night and increases to over $15,000 per night;
the Royal Suite is the most expensive, at
$50,000 per night.
Also I distinctly remember hearing that there is a
bathroom made entirely out of gold. I cannot
confirm or deny this.
But the hotel business gets better. I give you...
This is the Burj al-Arab, the world's only
seven-star hotel. It is the world's tallest hotel as
well.
It is one of the most expensive hotels ever. The
cost of staying in a suite begins at $1,000 per
night and increases to over $15,000 per night;
the Royal Suite is the most expensive, at
$50,000 per night.
Also I distinctly remember hearing that there is a
bathroom made entirely out of gold. I cannot
confirm or deny this.
But the hotel business gets better. I give you...
Hydropolis! The Hydropolis Underwater Hotel will be the world's first underwater luxury resort. It's situated 66 feet below the surface of the Persian Gulf, just off Jumeira
Beach in Dubai. It's walls and ceiling are made of Plexiglas and will enable guests to see fish and other sea creatures. It is basically divided into three sections: the land station,
where guests will be welcomed; the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel; and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure
complex. The whole thing was built in Germany and transported to Dubai...it will be finished in 2009.
How scary is that hotel? What if the glass breaks?
Also under construction are....
Beach in Dubai. It's walls and ceiling are made of Plexiglas and will enable guests to see fish and other sea creatures. It is basically divided into three sections: the land station,
where guests will be welcomed; the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel; and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure
complex. The whole thing was built in Germany and transported to Dubai...it will be finished in 2009.
How scary is that hotel? What if the glass breaks?
Also under construction are....
The Burj Dubai.
This building will be completed next year and it
will be 2,684 feet tall. It will be the biggest thing
built ever and cost 4.1 billion US dollars. With
only 140 of its 160 floors completed it is already
standing over 2,000 feet high.
This building will be completed next year and it
will be 2,684 feet tall. It will be the biggest thing
built ever and cost 4.1 billion US dollars. With
only 140 of its 160 floors completed it is already
standing over 2,000 feet high.
The Al Burj.
This skyscraper will be the centerpiece of the Dubai
Waterfront and when it is completed it will steal the
"Tallest Building in the World" title from the Burj Dubai.
That's right. The Al Burj is estimated to be 3,445 feet
tall when completed. The Empire State Building is only
1,742 feet tall.
This skyscraper will be the centerpiece of the Dubai
Waterfront and when it is completed it will steal the
"Tallest Building in the World" title from the Burj Dubai.
That's right. The Al Burj is estimated to be 3,445 feet
tall when completed. The Empire State Building is only
1,742 feet tall.
The World Tower.
Upon completion it will rank as the world's highest
hotel. It is expected to be finished by 2009. At 480
meters it will only be 28 meters shorter than the Taipei
101.
It is designed to resemble a crystal flower.
Upon completion it will rank as the world's highest
hotel. It is expected to be finished by 2009. At 480
meters it will only be 28 meters shorter than the Taipei
101.
It is designed to resemble a crystal flower.
Trump International Hotel & Tower.
This hotel and residential building will be the
centerpiece of one of the Palm Islands. It's expected
to be a five star hotel and will cost 600 million US
dollars.
This hotel and residential building will be the
centerpiece of one of the Palm Islands. It's expected
to be a five star hotel and will cost 600 million US
dollars.
Dubailand.
The world's largest amusement park is the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Dubailand
will be twice the size. It will take up a three billion square foot area and is expected to attract
200,000 visitors a day. The price tag is 40 billion.
It is expected to open in 2010.
The world's largest amusement park is the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Dubailand
will be twice the size. It will take up a three billion square foot area and is expected to attract
200,000 visitors a day. The price tag is 40 billion.
It is expected to open in 2010.
Dubai Sports City.
This is a huge collection of sports arenas located inside
Dubailand. Many people believed it was going to be
used in Dubai's possible bid to host the 2016 Summer
Olympics, but Dubai never submitted a bid. That
means they just built this stuff FOR THE HELL OF IT.
This is a huge collection of sports arenas located inside
Dubailand. Many people believed it was going to be
used in Dubai's possible bid to host the 2016 Summer
Olympics, but Dubai never submitted a bid. That
means they just built this stuff FOR THE HELL OF IT.
Dubai Mall.
This will be the largest shopping mall in the world
with over 9 million square feet of shopping and
around 1000 stores. It will open this year on August
31st.
It has 10-15 smaller malls inside of it.
This will be the largest shopping mall in the world
with over 9 million square feet of shopping and
around 1000 stores. It will open this year on August
31st.
It has 10-15 smaller malls inside of it.
Ski Dubai.
Dubai already has the largest indoor skiing resort in
the world. They are starting construction on another
one which is pictured below.
Dubai already has the largest indoor skiing resort in
the world. They are starting construction on another
one which is pictured below.
And finally....
Dubai has started construction on the world's largest
arch bridge.
A recent environmental study shows the bridge is
totally unnecessary to improve the infrastructure. It is
simple another prestige symbol for Dubai.
It will have 12 lanes for male-only traffic.
So in conclusion, in ten years, would you want to go
to Dubai? Is all this tourism stuff working for you?
Dubai has started construction on the world's largest
arch bridge.
A recent environmental study shows the bridge is
totally unnecessary to improve the infrastructure. It is
simple another prestige symbol for Dubai.
It will have 12 lanes for male-only traffic.
So in conclusion, in ten years, would you want to go
to Dubai? Is all this tourism stuff working for you?
"...a little bit of everything"
