note: also it is like the 2017 and also a month since i have been back and tbh like my sleeping habits are astonishing because i sleep at 4am and wake up at 12noon (pig i am) but here is my dubai if you would like to view

(for lack of a better title, i present to you things i learnt  observed in dubai when i was in dubai )

1. wifi is not free and mall wifi is very troublesome to connect to and UAE wifi by etisalat (similar to wireless@sg) was nice but it kept disconnecting for me so
2. you can't use whatsapp call/facetime so it became a bit more difficult for me to talk to my sister who was 4 hours ahead in Singapore
3. water is so easily available like it didn't even feel like a desert - case in point: public toilets had bum guns (you don't even see that in singapore) and like they were periodically cleaned (legit had someone stationed there with a mop) and also ablution areas (which i know are necessary because muslim country but ok) 
4. also like it was nice to have ablution/prayer areas that made praying easier when you're out and its also very heart warming to see the many different people who looked so different but is bounded by the same fate (i obviously have not been going to the mosque a lot)
5. when you ask for water at a restaurant, it comes in a bottle unopened i mean when you ask for water from a restaurant in singapore, most would give you tap water
6. there's this extensive irrigation system in Abu Dhabi which keeps the trees green (and tbh i actually preferred Abu to Dub because the vibe it gave was more chill)
7. food wastage by Arabs i just can't deal
8. went to dubai mall food court to get lunch, and they serve you food in disposable plates/cutlery and they had loads of huge bins in the food court just for that waste
9. it reminded me a lot like singapore because of the large immigrant population, but like more from nearby countries like India and Pakistan
10. you could be living in Dubai for many many years or you could even be born in Dubai, but you might not even be considered a citizen
11. people actually paid others to help you carry stuff for them (idk mostly the arabs i guess and i also know the idea of 'porters' exist but it just felt very weird and strange like guys i am not weak i can carry myy own shit)
12. women only carriages were nice but the need for a gold class cabin on the train really made me questioned like would people pay for a gold class ticket, would it assure you a seat evwn during peak periods? idk but yah
13. foldaway chairs on tram!!!!! this is what i feel the mrt standing only carriage in singapore needs - like you can choose to sit if you wanna but if you don't you stand
14. also not going to complain about the super long distance when you change from EWL to DTL at Bugis, because the linkways from the train station to Dubai Mall was so god damn far i just couldn't
15. it was nice having halal food around and i miss hummus and freshly baked pita bread!!!!!!!!!! sigh 

Labels: personal, travel