No one does Christmas quite like the Germans

Being in Germany over the winter time has both its advantageous and disadvantages, right up there with really cold (and Im talking snow, sub-zero temperatures cold), is the best thing about winter here, a white Christmas. So as in the usual spirit, stores all around Germany start decorating a month before, with some of the most eloborate displays I have seen, and each little town hosts a weihnachtsmarkt, translated into Christmas Market. Each town, being in competition for the same christmas shopper, tries to be more unique than the next. Frankly, all the markets are the same, all selling the usual assortment of decorations, gluhwein(heated wine) , Bratwurst (it just wouldnt be German without it) and candles. But I think that the little town of Esslingen succeeds at being most unique.

The Middle Ages market is a must see, where else in the world would you find people dressed up like the middle adges, swords included. You can find anything from from traditional blacksmiths to basket weavers. Esslingen goes all out to make the market as authentic as possible and looking around I wonder, why would you want to be transported back to time where there was no running water, flushing tiolets, and savages about in the forest...not to mention central heating? Its a cute market none the less, and a good way to spend a saturday afternoon.

Dubai proves that money can buy everything

Dubai can be classified as one of the seven wonders of the engineering world, probably by the Amir of Dubai (who gave his hotel 7 stars) so when the opportunity presented itself to trek to that little desert island I was all in...then came the catch...being a South African, you need a visa, this will cost you 300 euros, which on a student budget is a bit much, almost as much as my flight....but seeing as how I already forked out the 400 Euros for the flight, I thought I might as well.

On arrival, I was in awe, completely impressed and disgusted at the chaos before me. Firstly, I hired a car, and well, everything is left-hand drive, completely opposite to us in South Africa. The drivers are impatient and well lets just say that I spent a lot of time apologizing for not taking off the split second after the traffic signal changed...I can just imagine the impatient Arab driver thinking "Bloody female driver!" With the major construction happening, roads are closed, there are detours everywhere and the traffic police are too busy to help, even though they are just standing around in the sweltering 35 degree winter heat. This resulted in me driving around for 3 hours searching for my hotel, only to find that I had passed it at least 100 times. All I can say is after that experience, I am now qualified to give guided driving tours of Dubai.

So why am I impressed? 40 years ago, Dubai was nothing more than a couple of Bedouin goat herders and today, they are building the highest building in the world, creating islands in all sorts of shapes, ski slopes in sweltering heat, and well, the list goes on. I think the Amir goes to bed at night and thinks...what is impossible to create, and then decides to create it...the latest idea is to recreate great European cities like Rome, Milan, Paris, Venice, right there in Dubai. I don't know about you, but I think I want to see the actual Rome, not some cheap Chinese (or in this case Arab) knock-off...although the latest on the flooding in Venice, that might me an alternative. So as an engineer, I thank the Amir for all the employment opportunities and I am impressed by his vision and determination.

I found Dubai to be a crazy place, that never sleeps. There are such extremes, tons of Indian labourers, leaving in almost squalor and then there are the Emiraties in their Ferrari's and over priced malls. But mostly, Dubai has no soul, its this hot as hell place, with beautiful buildings but no character. The thing that I enjoyed the most was watching the sunset on the beach, while the warm Arabian sea tickled my toes. So here surrounded by the most perverted capitalism I have ever seen, I found solace in mother nature and a perfect sunset to end a crazy week in Dubai.

The Unexpected Blogger

I never figured myself as the blogging type...im more of a talker than a writer, but since both my good friend and my mother said I should keep a diary, I thought I would give this whole thing a try...although I am sure my mum didnt think I would be blogging. So here I am in Germany, a South African very far from home and very cold. Why Germany you ask, why would someone have three consequtive winters? The answer is simple actaully, I had a choice of where I would like to spend a semeser on exchange and since I could not speak German, it was the obvious choice. And so, three months later I am in Germany, totally out of my comfort zone and having the time of my life.