Sandier Pastures

First, they made man-made islands, marina, port and harbor, artificial snow (ski resort), and now, would you believe, they are bent on creating artificial rain?

Yesterday’s rain was induced, man-made, artificial, fake! I knew something wasn’t right! The articles can be found in Gulf News titled, Cloud seeding experiment has thundering success (with photos) and Cloud seeding tests continue.

By the word island I do not mean a solitary piece of land where shipwreck survivors get washed up ashore. Dubai is known for the ‘islands’ they created.

In The News: First residents move into the Palm Jumeirah

A few years ago, there was nothing but the unbroken sea. Now a new land which is made from sand dredged up from the bottom of the Arabian gulf and rocks from nearby mountains rised from the sea in a lovely form of a palm tree. 

After a very massive delay in construction work, first residents of Palm Jumeirah moved into their houses according to the news here today. The AP profiles Andrew Dukes who was the first to move into his island mansion paid around $1.36 for his house over a year ago. It is now worth nearly, stunningly, double!

One of Palm Jumeirah’s first residents Duke Andrews and his kayak. He is planning to windsurf after kayaking.

Palm Jumeirah is just the first of the palm islands. Take note the plural form. ISLAND-S. Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira will humble the size of Palm Jumeirah, the smallest of the palm islands. Click the images to enlarge.

This is something people said couldn’t be done. Well, now it’s been done.

British soccer stars, including David Beckham, have bought properties on the Palm Jumeirah, according to Palm developer Nakheel’s website. So if you want to see David and his bare chest everyday, go buy a property there now.

Others are said to have taken a look. Nakheel’s website claims popstar Michael Jackson, supermodel Naomi Campbell and actor Denzel Washington have shown interest.

The developers say the first 4,000 condos and homes sold on Palm Jumeirah went to citizens of the UAE and other Arabian Gulf countries.

Britons accounted for about 25 per cent of the buyers with the rest from 75 different nationalities, including several Americans.

These facts I just read in the papers. We plan to go there sometime in the weekend to walk on the man-made shores. I’ll be back to let you know how it feels.