2008-08-24, Dubai International Airport

Dubai airport is a case study of architectural excess. It does what it is meant to - conveys the users of the airport a feeling of richness and magnificence. Well, all this is lost on me. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the feeling of awe that I am supposed to feel, and I also do not think that function is sacrificed for form in this airport, it just feels like, well - too much.

There is no need for the opulence in the decoration of this passenger hub, but somehow it feels well in place. My felling about this airport then is mixed - its a great airport, but shifts priorities away from the travel and onto the airport. Somehow, I cannot appreciate that. In addition to that, this airport is huge. I typically am awed by big airports and their logistics, but don't usually enjoy using them except if my journey itself is a long one.

Being at the tail end of an intercontinental flight then, I felt strangely acclimatised to the existence of this airport.

Though I was flying on a connecting flight, I chose to go through immigration in order to get my 6 moth residence visa stamp. When outside, I met my cousin and had some tea and talk before I submitted myself to the underbelly of the behemoth airport. I spent some time shopping at the duty free shops for alcohol and chocolates, and after that, quietly made my way to the next flight to Delhi.