Gloom over Dubai

Gloom over Dubai Realty, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

Dubai's real estate industry has enjoyed tremendous success in the recent past.
But it looks like the bubble has finally burst, which means the only industry, realty, that has helped this emirate onto its feet may be the very reason for its downfall.
We know very well what happens when you create excess in the hope that there will be excess to cater for, i.e. excess demand in the form of tourism. The excess for Dubai is a very expensive one as it is in the form of heavily leveraged urban property developments like the Palms, the World and Universe Islands, the Waterfront, the Marinas, the Tallest Towers, the Biggest Malls among other superlative projects.
And then when a financial crisis hits the world, what does Dubai do?
Wait hopelessly for the rain clouds to pass...

Once Oasis Beach Hotel, Dubai Marina.

Oasis Beach Hotel, Dubai Marina, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

This hotel in Dubai Marina is being demolished only after a few years of its existence. Rumours have it that the new structure will be the tallest hotel tower in the world. Another superlative for Dubai!

Freej - Um Khammas

Freej - Um Khammas, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

Um Khammas is an extremely funny character from the animation series, Freej.
Freej is aired during the month of Ramadan, so the next season will be on soon. Nothing to get excited about for me since it'll in Arabic and the copies with English subtitles won't be out on DVD for a while after.
I would be wonderful though if the makers of Freej give non-Arabic speakers a wonderful Eid gift by releasing the DVD collection. ;)
I reommend you watch the first season in the meantime.

Contextual Dilemma

Power of Education, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

Who do you think may have written the above? Please stop a moment to think before reading on...

When I first read this piece in "The Art of Looking Sideways", I naturally assumed that a little girl had written it. Did you too?

While uploading it now, I am questioning the reasons for the assumptions and I don't seem to have any concrete ones. All my reasons are based on the language used, the handwriting and the concept I was working on at the time of spotting it.

Ofcourse, there is no real evidence to believe that this was written by a girl child, but I did. So, is my assumption purely contextual or are there some inherent signs in the text to suggest it?

Sunset Silhouette of Dubai

Sunset Silhouette of Dubai, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

A view of the sunset during my drive back last evening.

And yes, the extraordinarily tall building is Burj Dubai!

Happy Food

Good Food, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

I feel happy when I eat good food.

Meal prepared by Chef Julius Mooney.

System Administrator Appreciation Day

System Administrator Appreciation Day, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

Thanks to all the system administrators who attempt keep our world of bits and bytes running without disruption! ;)

Madeleine McCann at Nairobi Airport

Madeleine McCann in Nairobi Airport, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

Now that the official investigation of Madeleine case has been suspended, will the search for her stop too?

I found this poster in the Nairobi International Airport.

Baked Fish - Cooking

Baked Fish, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

You know the fish is cooked when its eyes turn white. Interesting to know!

Desktop Pac-Man

Pac-Man Dolls, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

More Pac-Man art forms seen near me. What's with Pac-Man and me today?

Pac-Man

Pac-Man t-shirt, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

What a coincidence!? Johny walks in with this t-shirt and it's time for me to begin the design a new digital game/ idea.

Dubai Skyline - Morning Glory

Dubai Skyline - Morning Glory, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

This is the view I wake up to every summer morning in Dubai. Isn't it glorious? Yaaawn...

Buckets

Buckets, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

...used for the construction of consultation wards for children at Mbagathi District Hospital, Nairobi.

Inspired - Cover

Inspired - Cover, originally uploaded by Kedar Iyer.

This book inspired me to start camera.nt, a picture rant of interestingness from my camera phone.