DESIGNER | LIFE LONG LEARNER | STORYTELLER
DUBAI
As someone with an interest in great design and new places, there is a long list of where I wish to go someday. I had never imagined that I would go to Dubai in my lifetime. Despite its quick growth into an architectural mecca, The Unite Arab Emirates was never a location that I had anticipated traveling to. When the opportunity came along to make the trip I began to consider it, and then after some convincing from some friends who had traveled there in the spring of 2013, I applied for a passport and signed up for the trip of a lifetime.
Like many people I was hesitant about traveling to the Middle East and what it would be like. These concerns were quickly replaced after only a short time in this beautiful country. I was blown away by the beauty, hospitality and detail displayed at every place we visited. Around every corner I was mesmerized by the attention paid to even the smallest details. One of the biggest things I took away from this experience were the small moments of peace that I experienced while there. Coming off a hectic semester and knowing that another even more chaotic semester (my final one at North Dakota State University) was awaiting me upon my return, I was so thankful for the experiences on this trip that allowed me to enjoy the small moments and embrace this new country that I had stumbled into. From the historic traditions to the modern marvels, the fast paced movement of the souq to the stillness of the desert dunes, the Grand Mosques to humble camp sites, every person and place held a rich and unique story that I was blessed to uncover.
One of the most memorable parts of this trip was the approach to the Bedouin camp site where we had dinner on our fifth night. We made our way through the dessert, sliding and bashing our way through the dunes. We would pause occasionally to take in the breathtaking views of the horizon. Looking out in every direction, all you could see were miles of sand elegantly shaped by the wind. The haze that settled near the horizon added an element of mystery to the captivating scene. When we paused for sunset, we sat and watched as the sun slowly dipped beneath the horizon. The view over the golden dunes was a beauty that I had never seen, and an indescribable sense of peace washed over me.
When we arrived at our camp site for dinner, darkness had begun to ascend on the desert and the stars began to shine. It was lovely to see the stars out there in the desert. The heart of Dubai is plagued by immense light pollution, not that it doesn’t have a beauty of its own. The twinkle of Burj Kahlifa outside my window and the rush of cars across sixteen lanes into the heart of the city, have a beauty entirely their own, but there is no sight of the stars. Upon arriving at the camp site we discovered that there were camels there for us to ride, as well as sleds and snowboards to ride down the dunes adjacent to the site. Everyone took off in different directions, smiles across every face we embraced these new experiences, for some the sheer relief of escaping the bouncing of the jeeps after an hour on the dunes, was enough to put a smile on their face.
Having come from the snow covered Midwest it was remarkable to partake in such a normal activity from back home in this foreign place where sand drifts replaced the snowdrifts we are all so familiar with. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to ride a camel, before I left that was one thing that I knew I wanted to do. They are this very awkward animal but surprisingly graceful at the same time. Even though the experience was short, it was exhilarating to be upon this awkwardly graceful creature in the middle of the desert beneath the stars. As the time for dinner approached we proceeded into the campsite and were welcomed in the traditional Arabic manner with water to cleanse our hands, and fresh dates and coffee. This customary greeting dates back the early days of the region when Bedouin lifestyle was the way of life, a mere forty two years ago. Within the inner circle of the camp were several tents set up for us to enjoy, one with shisha, one with henna, one with a traditional barbequed meal and several with places to sit and relax, as well as a bonfire at the center. After several days of fast paced touring and soaking in the business of Al Ain and Dubai it was incredibly peaceful to be gathered with my new friends in this place.
It is hard to describe this night as anything other than peaceful joy. Everyone was smiling and taking in each moment. Throughout the trip we were most likely to be found behind our cameras, and while I value each photograph or video taken, that lens has a tendency to separate you from your experience. But on this night, many of us set aside our cameras and just basked in the joy and the beauty of our experience. I am thankful that I did, for it became one of my favorite nights of our trip. We saw very beautiful and marvelously modern things on our trip, but the moments in the middle of the desert, underneath a blanket of stars are the ones that have attached themselves to me and that I remember the most clearly.
It is moments like the one described above, it’s that first breath of cool night air at 3am in Al Ain overlooking the city for the first time. It’s the moment of watching the sun set from the highest mountain or looking out over the land from the tallest building in the world. Those moments of taking in the lights and sounds of Sheik Zayed road and marveling at the pristine details of the Grand Mosque. It’s the impromptu dance parties overlooking the Burj, and the moments in getting to know new people, that have engrained themselves in my memory and that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
-becker | december 2013