2016 Travel to Dubai/India

Time for a family trip to India. After stopping over in Europe for the last 9 years or so, we decided to middle east this time. Emirates made it easier as they offer the best prices to India these days. At the time of booking we did not realize that it was the time of Ramadan. But as we realize that our travel will coincide with Ramadan, we kind of freaked out a little based on the reading. No food or even water in public, restaurants not going to be open until sunset are some of the things concerned us. The one good thing that happened was our hotel was just opposite to Dubai Mall, a major destination for tourists. The mall had a food court opened with a ton of choices that saved us during the stay. We stayed in Al Murooj Rotana hotel/apartments, which was beautiful. Great stay in a 2 bedroom apartment. Burj and the dubai mall was walkable, we watched the fountains a few times. We went to desert safari, gold souk, Palm Jumeira. There was nothing spectacular about the palm, as we took the train. The aerial view would have been the best. We went to the Burj Al Arab beach next to the Burj Al arab hotel. It was hot, but luckily not unbearable. The temps were at 38-40 degrees, but it was humid.  After 4 days in Dubai, we were done and ready to go to India. 

Spent a couple of days in Chennai and went to Erode. Parents were deteriotating slowly and steadily.  

Travelled to Bangalore for a couple of days as my wife had to work. Bangalore traffic was a nightmare, don't know how people live there. They don't seem to have time for anything else except commute and work. But the young crowd seem to take all of that in stride. Makes me wonder how would their lifestyle be when they grow old and the effect on the society. The government don't seem to care, the growth continues at a breakneck pace, with no consideration to infrastructure or ecosystem.