World Portraits: The Dolphin Whisperer

Dubai, UAE - Relaxing at the Palm Atlantis, I noticed something rather uplifting moment: a woman with toothy, radiant smile talking to a dolphin. The conversation lasted for minutes and the dolphin seemed to be genuinely interacting with her. Apparently the lady, aka The Dolphin Whisperer, is kind of a big deal where she's from. Chinese film star Jingchu Zhang is staying at the Atlantis while filming the action movie Dwelling In The Fuchun Mountains. I hope it has subtitles.

Media Portraits: Arriving in Style

Luxury at the Burj Al Arab helipad, 1000 plus feet above a man-made island.

As we flew over the cranes and heat of the burgeoning lands of Dubai, my wingwoman looked over at me and said, "sometimes life serves you champagne in diamond encrusted flutes."

Flying above modern marvels of architecture and the embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit, with the warmth of the sun on our side and a cool breeze of copter air conditioning, I realized that I was in nirvana. For that fifteen minute flight, it was the life of Trump or Gates. It allowed us to enjoy everything about our trip – the sights, the smells, the sounds and even the pilot – in a way that no other ground transfer could have. The Burj Al Arab Marhaba Welcomeat is the epitome of true Arabian hospitality: arriving guests arriving are greeted with rose water, refreshing cold towels, dates, Bakhoor and authentic Arabic coffee.

I've happened upon this phenomenon just a few times before, when a particular transportation method unites with a unique situation to create something incredibly memorable. It is an experience that I wish every travel enthusiast would enjoy in their lifetime. What an incredible start to a whirlwind media excursion.

Media Events: Atlantis Dubai

Dubai’s At It Again!

November 20, 2008. Circle the date because you won't see another night like this; at least until the next mega-million-dollar party. The folks behind the groundbreaking Palm Jumeirah island unveiled one of the biggest nights of the year to launch the flagship resort: Atlantis. The 1,559 room ocean-themed resort was home to three days of celebrations culminating with an amazing extravaganza. In case you missed it (and you probably did, as you had to be one of the 2,000 invited guests wearing custom-designed blue and gold handmade Taj Taj bracelets), here are some of my favorite moments.

The Scene

Picture 113 live actors and dancers, 200 dinner tables lit by 3,000 candles and 208 lanterns. Now picture 7,200 square meters of carpet covering the resort’s beach. At least. 5,000 burgundy carnations, 700 Monstera leaves and 100 cans of glitter completed the resort’s sparkling transformation.

8:00 p.m.

Red Carpet Arrivals

Like at so many Hollywood premieres, they arrived one-by-one in their Armani suits and haute couture gowns: Charlize Theron, Lindsay Lohan, Mary-Kate Olsen, Petra Nemcova, Agyness Deyn, Dame Shirley Bassey, Rani Mukherjee, John Abraham, Mischa Barton, Robert DeNiro, Janet Jackson, Preity Zinta, Gosha Kutsenko, the Duchess of York, Michael Jordan, Boris Becker, Bipasha Basu, the Dubai royal family and Lily Allen.

Charlize Theron

Ghada Adel and Robert DeNiro

Janet Jackson (with some dude)

Lindsay Lohan

Ahmad Helmi and Phaedra

Mary-Kate Olsen

11:25 p.m.

The Concert

Kylie Minogue opened her 60-minute performance with “On a Night Like This,” wearing a black and gold Jean-Paul Gaultier creation, while best selling Middle Eastern pop sensation, Nawal Al Zoghbi’s performance lead a crescendo into the climax of the evening.

Kylie Minogue

Nawal Al Zoghbi

1:10 a.m.

The Fireworks

Bollywood star, Priyanka Chopra rose from the stage as the Goddess of Atlantis released the world’s largest ever fireworks display, completely lighting up 43 km of palm-shaped shoreline and illuminating the entire island with more than 100,000 specially designed pyrotechnic devices.

WORLD TRAVELS: Arches of the Middle East

Dubai

When medieval powers ventured across the Middle East and into India in the East and all the way to Spain and Morocco in the West, this vast empire began to assimilate architectural styles from many traditions.

The archway architecture was to become the most obvious symbol of the region, serving as a gateway to rooms, cities, souks, and restaurants. Yet the archways throughout the world do not look alike. They have used local materials and have built upon previous cultural styles, but they do have similarities.

Likewise, palaces, forts, and castles reflect the personality of the architect. They are symbols of power and the dangers their leaders faced. While the empire became a vast trading network, the buildings that housed the caravan traders reflected their importance to the empire as well. The wealth and power of the empire was often directed into archways that are recognized for their beauty and innovation.

Across the globe there is evidence of the beauty created in the Middle Ages.

Architect Inoru Yamasaki, designer of the World Trade Center towers, was deeply influenced by Middle Eastern architecture. During his many visits to Saudi Arabia,Yamasaki studied structures in and around Mecca.

His resulting work at the towers was a visible pattern at the buildings' bases consisting of pointed arches similar to those inside buildings and on prayer rugs. Yamasaki went further, fronting the towers' plaza in homage to Mecca, replicating the city's courtyard.

It wasn't until 1979—nearly 20 years after the design of the towers was put into place—that Yamasaki revealed his admiration for Middle Eastern arches and included photos of all his important projects detailing a pattern of designs inspired by the region.

He wasn't the only fan of Middle Eastern architecture and archways. Another was Frank Lloyd Wright, America's most notable architect. After traveling to Baghdad for a project commissioned by Iraq's ruler, King Faisal II, he designed San Francisco's civic center in the late 1950s. Wright had a lifelong interest in this discipline of architecture and a deep admiration for Persian visuals, and he made no secret of this, incorporating it into many designs.

Pointed arches and elaborate domes can be seen in major buildings around the world, including the Taj Mahal in India, Palazzo Ducale in Venice, Italy, and New York's 2 Columbus Circle, which features a series of curved arches.

The popularity of worldwide arches furthers the notion of a multicultural world where thoughts, designs, and cuisines constantly mix and blend together, blurring the lines of cultural development. Our mutual influence is continuous, creating a never ceasing mixture that ebbs and flows.

Qatar

Israel

Tunisia

Iraq

Cyprus

Lebanon

Kuwait