Went to what is supposed to be the best coffee place in Dubai. A bit soul-deadening, like the rest of the city, and everything is breathtakingly expensive. The taxis feel especially pricy after Central Asia – my journey to the airport in Almaty was the same length as the taxi from the airport to where I was staying in Dubai. The first cost less than £4, the scond £25. Admittedly, fuel subsidies are outrageous there.
I was at the cafe working for about two hours, and unsurprisingly, there was any amount of networking going on around me – at least three tables I eavesdropped on. The music was quite astonishingly consistent in the edgy comfort music genre – every single song was one I recognised and liked (Joy Division, Stooges, Talking Heads Michael Jackson etc) and all together they make me feel a bit sick and manipulated.
I think I understand something of the appeal of Dubai for many. It feels like in some ways the social contract is completely clear (same for Singapore, perhaps). You get the safety and feeling of complete security, the high-paying jobs, the lifestyle, and in return you follow quite clearly defined rules. You know what the lines are, and you respect them and in return you get to live a certain way.