UK 2.0: Flight: Dubai - London - Pt1

The is the final entry of 2009 and the last of UK 2.0 series. It is fitting therefore to remember the beginning and the end of this trip.

In the first hour of 11 Nov, we were waiting for the boarding gate to open. I saw a man and his machine moving through the empty gates. Tiny lights glimmered on the high ceilings of KLIA. In those dark wee hours of the morning, the lights looked like an ocean of indoor stars. Within the lines of glowing specks, here and there some would be missing. The man parked his wheeled vehicle after maneuvering most expertly between a maze of chairs. With the push of a button, the platform on which he stood rose. He was lifted up slowly like in scenes of alien abduction from cult sci-fi movies. The platform brough him to half the height between the highest point of the cylindrical ceiling and the floor. Like Moses with his staff, he lifted up a pole into those dark holes. It was too far for me to see what was on the pole. But with some subtle twist of his arms, the missing star was restored. Over a large area, this man looked one someone painting stars with a pole. What a sight it was to behold!

The ride between KL and Dubai was bumpy and very dark. By the time we reach the gulf, the sun has risen over the desert nation. A380 carried us for our subsequent journey. This would be the 2nd time I fly with this Jumbo in the sky.

When all was made ready, we took flight.

This was the first time I see Dubai in the daylight.

The skyline of Dubai, including the tallest super skyscraper, Burj Dubai. (The blurriness of the picture in the middle was likely due to the jet engine's propulsion.)

Moving along into the coast of Dubai revealed other interesting sights, such as the currently suspended The World (archipelago) project. Although it seemed like the sea has been busy reclaiming the artificial islands, you can still see the shapes of Africa and Australasia clearly there.

Further along the Persian Guff, it was just an endless plane of azure with occasional dust of ships and oil rigs.

After at least an hour above the sea, we saw land again. I could not tell if this was in Iran or Iraq. What struck me most was the sheer scale of man's impact on the land. The straight marks and geometrical designs we carved into the land was crystal clear from above. Even the great Tigris was dwarfed by man's ruthlessness in shaping the land to its purposes.

The true wonder of wonders are yet to come.