Big in Dubai: 5 awesome things you can do in Dubai right now

by Matthew Firestone on

This week, Big in Japan is on vacation in the Middle East, and will be bringing you travel news and happenings from this often misunderstood region.

Read the news on any given day, and you’ll mostly likely hear about the biggest, tallest, and most expensive something or other in Dubai, that crazy oil-rich Emirate that makes Las Vegas look about as glamorous as a county fair in Nebraska. Then again, you have to give credit where credit is due. Although the oil tap is predicted to run dry sometime in the next several decades, the rulers of Dubai are on a campaign to make their tiny Persian Gulf state into one of the world’s leading tourist attractions.

Of course, these days Dubai is something of a glorified construction site, especially since the city is rumored to contain something crazy like 15% of all the cranes in the world! And, while it’s still going to be another five to ten years before Dubai can rest on its laurels as the top destination in the Middle East, there are still plenty of mind-blowing attractions that are currently open and eagerly waiting for your tourist dollar.

On that note, I present to you ‘5 awesome things you can do in Dubai right now.’

1) Mall of the Emirates – I hail originally from the great state of New Jersey, so it’s kinda hard to shake my innate desire to be a mallrat regardless of where I am in the world. Then again, this isn’t such a terrible curse to have when you can kick it in the Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest malls in the world, which is home to no less than 6.5 million square feet of commercial space.

2) Ski Dubai – While you’re at the Mall of the Emirates, take a break from your retail therapy for a little powder action. Although skiing and Middle East climes are an incongruous match (to say the least!), the Mall of the Emirates is home to Ski Dubai, one of the world’s largest indoor ski slopes. The key to this absurdity is an extremely efficient insulation system, which helps maintain a daytime temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

3) Burj al-Arab – Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep, especially when it’s at the world’s only 7-star hotel. Situated on an artificial island floating in the Persian Gulf, the Burj-al Arab is the new pinnacle of luxury in Dubai, especially since the cheapest rooms here cost thousands and thousands of dollars a night. But, can you really put a price on having a gold-rimmed toilet bowl?

4) Bab al Shams Desert Resort – If you can’t afford to bed down at the Burj al-Arab, consider peeling a few Benjamins out of your wallet for a night at Bab al Shams in the middle of the Arabian Desert. Of course, we’re not talking about some dusty old canvas tents and stinky camel hair carpets, but rather a boutique resort hotel that blends 5-star amenities with a stunningly beautiful natural setting.

5) Burj Dubai – Although it’s technically still a work in progress, the Burj Dubai makes the list simply because it’s already the world’s tallest building even though it’s not yet completed! At this point in time, all you can really do here is crane your neck up to the heavens at stare at a super skyscraper reminiscent of the Eye of Sauron, but it’s still bad-ass experience nevertheless.

** Special thanks to my super suave and sophisticated hosts, Alan and Olga, for showing me what it’s like to party with Dubai’s rich and beautiful **

Big in Japan: 5 mistakes made by first-timers in Japan

by Matthew Firestone on

One of the main questions that ex-pats in Japan are often asked is simply this: “Why Japan?”

And, truth be told, most of us just shrug our shoulders and give some sort of trite answer like: “The food here sure is delicious!” Or, depending on the temperament of the audience: “The women here sure are beautiful!”

You get the picture….

As for me, I’ve always argued that the real appeal of Japan is simply that it’s an incredibly interesting country to explore. Even after living here for more than five years, and spending literally thousands of hours jumping over the linguistic hurdles of Japanese grammar, I still suffer from a fair bit of culture shock on a day-to-day basis.

You see, I guess that’s really the gist of why Japan is so appealing to foreigners like myself. No matter how hard you try to assimilate, there will always be more challenges to overcome, especially if you want to penetrate the heart of one the world’s most closed societies. Simply put, life in Japan is anything but boring.

Of course, there are dozens of cultural landmines that must be dodged on a daily basis here. And on that note, I present to you today five mistakes made by first-timers in Japan.

1) There is no word for no.

Japanese has something of a steep learning curve (to say the least!). Of course, one thing you’d better learn if you want to survive here is that there is no word for no. Yes can mean no, maybe most likely means no, but saying no directly pretty much informs those around you that you have about as much social grace as a bovine.

2) Be mindful of your footwear.

The Japanese don’t take kindly to foreigners who forget to take off their shoes when entering private spaces. Use the slippers – that’s why they’re there – though be mindful that no two pairs of slippers are created equal. After all, the Japanese especially don’t take kindly to foreigners who walk through the kitchen in toilet slippers.

3) Go easy on the ramen.

I love ramen. You probably love ramen. And yes, the ramen in Japan is damned near the food of the gods. But seriously, after eating the stuff three times a day for a week on end, your gastrointestinal system will start to hate you. Assuming you haven’t figured out what toilet slippers look like, this can quickly become a serious problem.

4) Learn how to use chopsticks.

At your local cheap Chinese restaurant in North America, there’s a good chance that a fork and knife are always on hand. However, this doesn’t mean that this convenient culinary option is readily available in Japan. Although you might not be the most dexterous diner in the restaurant, you’ll look like an overgrown child until you indulge in the fine art of Zen chopstick mastery.

5) Don’t date club girls.

If there is one bit of advice that I can impart to you now, it’s to never date club girls. Yes, women in Japan are beautiful, and yes, they do tend to be attracted to foreigners. However, keep in mind that just because they have a cute and smiling face, doesn’t mean that they’re all-together innocent. If a girl you meet in a club speaks fluent English, is decked out in designer labels, and keeps reaching for your wallet, steer clear! Chances are that she’s been around the block a few dozen times, which means you’re just moments from getting fleeced. Trust me – she’s not the one you want to bring home to meet mom!

As this list can go on and on and on, feel free to chime in with your own words of wisdom for new arrivals in Japan!

Big in Japan: Cherry blossoms in outer space?!?!

by Matthew Firestone on

The cherry blossoms (sakura; ??????, ??) have come and gone here in Tokyo, which means that spring fever is now in full effect. Of course, if you missed your chance to pen haikus about Japan’s most famous flower, fear not as cherry trees may soon be blooming in the final frontier, namely outer space!

While modern Japan is seemingly unconnected to the whims and nuances of the natural world, the Japanese still retain a tremendous amount of love and respect for the humble cherry blossom. So, what better way to inject a boost of patriotism into the country’s declining space program then by sending Japan’s most enduring symbol to the farthest reaches of mankind!

According to a recent announcement by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the organization is sending seeds to its laboratory at the International Space Station, which is currently in orbit above the Earth.

The official aim of this experiment is to observe how the seeds are affected by microgravity, though a few papers in Japan have already hinted at the future possibility of space tourism. Indeed, who could think of a better hanami (?????) or cherry blossom-viewing party than one that takes place in zero gravity!

According to officials at JAXA, this summer school children will pick about 200 fallen cherry tree seeds, including ones from three so-called “ancient trees,” which have been designated by the Japanese government as national treasures, and are regarded as producing some of the country’s most beautiful blooms.

One of the ancient trees is a Takizakura (滝桜) or “cascade cherry blossom”, which blooms annually for three weeks in the tiny rural town of Miharu, and attracts heaving crowds that number several hundreds of thousands.

If all goes according to the plan, the cherry tree seeds will be sent into orbit at a highly-publicized launch later this year. According to Ms.Yuko Otake, a spokeswoman for JAXA, “Scientific observation is one reason [for the launch]. But we also want the seeds to travel in space on our behalf as few ordinary people can go now.”

In Miharu, a small town that rarely sees much fuss and commotion outside of the cherry blossom season, there is already an incredible amount of anticipation regarding the event. According to town official Sadafumi Hirata: “We are very proud that our tree was selected among many cherry blossoms that represent Japan.” Even more excitement came from the lucky kids who will get to pick the seeds this summer for lift off in October.

Again, if all goes according to plan, the seeds will remain in outer space for six months, and then will be brought back to earth for planting. So, with a little luck, Japan may soon have its first extraterrestrial cherry tree in the years to come!

** All photos were taken by yours truly at Tokyo’s famous Shinjuku-gyoen **

Big in Japan: Japan fights global warming with shorter baseball games

by Matthew Firestone on

Today is April 22, which means that if you have any sort of eco-conscious, you have already picked up on the Earth Day theme here at Gadling.

Truth be told, Japan isn’t always the first country that comes to mind when you think of the modern conservation movement. Sadly, the Japanese have something of a reputation for environmental insensitivity, particularly when it comes to their increasing whaling efforts despite mainstream international protest.

However, you don’t need to spend much time in Japan to realize that the people here are in fact becoming more and more eco-sensitive. Since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, the country has taken an admirable self-assessment of its role in the global warming crisis.

In fact, Japan has since launched one of the world’s most extensive recycling programs, mandated a decreased dependence on air-conditioning during the hot and sticky summer months, and branded the word ‘eco’ as something trendy and fashionable.

So, in honor of this year’s Earth Day celebration, Big in Japan is happy to bring you the latest environmentally friendly news from the Land of the Rising Sun, namely that Japan has started shortening its baseball games in an effort to fight global warming.

How cool is that?

Although few Americans are aware of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), it has produced a number of major Major League Baseball (MLB) players including Hideki Matsui, Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka among others. Known as the Puro Yakyū (プロ野球) in Japanese, the NPB has a long history dating back to 1934 when it was originally founded as the Greater Japan Tokyo Baseball Club (大日本東京野球倶楽部, Dai-nippon Tōkyō Yakyū Kurabu).

In an effort to make their baseball games more green, the NPB has implemented a plan to shorten its games, thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions at stadiums (as well as fighting boredom by speeding up the pace!). According to an official task force appointed by the NPB, staging baseball games results in huge amount of discharged carbon dioxide due to the movements of players and spectators, as well as the tremendous amount of energy needed to light up stadiums.

On average, game time will be cut by six percent, or about 12 minutes. Teams will be required to spend no more than two minutes and 15 seconds when they change from fielding to batting, and pitchers will be asked to throw within 15 seconds of receiving the ball from the catcher when no runners are on base.

This proposal to cut playing time was set in accordance with Japan’s pledge to cut its emissions of greenhouse gases by six per cent from 1990 levels. Sadly however, Japan is struggling to meet its obligations under the Kyoto protocol, though there is hope that this will change in the years to come, especially since the Japanese public has taken on a greater interest in fighting global warming.

From all of us here at Gadling, think big this Earth Day, and remember to respect Mother Earth!

** All images were courtesy of the WikiCommons Media Project **


Big in Japan: Tibet unrest changes Everest climbing routes

by Matthew Firestone on

From San Francisco to London and Paris to India, protestors are taking to the streets to demonstrate against China’s hosting of the Olympic Games. Angered by the Chinese government’s refusal to meet with the Dalai Lama, as well as the continued suppression of human rights in potential breakaway regions, the world is seeking to punish China on the eve of its long-anticipated coming out party.

For travelers on the ground in China, independent tourism has never been more difficult, especially since parts of the country have now been entirely closed off to the outside world. Following wave of violence that commenced on March 14th, the Chinese government has entirely barred tourists from entering Tibet. As a so-called ‘autonomous region,’ non-Chinese nationals must obtain special entry permits for Tibet.

Sadly, it’s looking like the ‘Roof of the World’ may remain in relative isolation until the Olympic Games have passed, which is a huge blow at a time when tourism in the region was beginning to flourishing. Here in Japan, this was highlighted recently in the news when Mr. Yuichiro Miura, the 75 year-old thrill seeker who once skied down Everest using a parachute as a brake, announced that he was changing his Everest climbing route.

At the young and spry age of 75, Mr. Miura (alongside his son) was planning on climbing Everest from the Chinese side in a bid to regain his title as the oldest man to climb Everest. However, despite all of the preparations that he has made, his climbing permits were canceled following the unrest in Tibet.

Mr Miura first held the record as the oldest person to climb Everest when he reached the top in 2003 at the age of 70. Although his record was broken just three years later, he is determined to regain it despite having to change his proposed route at the final hour. According to Mr. Miura, who is presently in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, “We are here to climb and so we will.”

Of course, would-climbers on Everest are also saddened by the current political climate in Nepal, which is threatening to topple the nation’s troubled monarchy. And, China is also exerting pressure to not allow climbers to scale Everest until after the Olympic torch has been carried up and down the summit. Needless to say, a protest at the summit of Everest would not be a great PR moment for the Chinese government!

Despite all of these hurdles however, Mr. Miura is confident that he will shatter the Everest climbing record by the end of May. Mr. Miura is best known for having skied down Everest in 1970, using a parachute as a brake, footage of which later appeared in an Oscar-winning documentary. However, his latest bid for worldwide fame is perhaps even more challenging, given that Mr. Miura is a septuagenarian.

Then again, in a country where living beyond the age of 100 is a pretty common feat, perhaps Mr. Miura shouldn’t be too upset if his travel plans are canceled this year…

** Mr. Miura’s photo was taken by the Agence French-Press (AFP). Other images were courtesy of the WikiCommons Media Project. **