So what do we gain??

How can we reduce this traffic jam? I think about it daily in length and breadth when I travel...I should say crawl on the Dubai - Sharjah roads. I am also an unfortunate expat who lives in Sharjah and work in Dubai. Every day, coming to a decision whether to take the metro and then a bus till the Dubai - Sharjah border, then cross the line of control ( That's what we term for that fragile metal strips which separates Dubai & Sharjah emirates....)and then take a cab to my home...or  to get dropped by my driver itself take 2 hours. Even though I am a valid UAE driving license holder, I cannot even in my dream drive a car and especially take Dubai - Sharjah road in the evening hours.

When I am in the car, on my way to Sharjah....I dread my decision of not going by metro....But when I get into Metro and take a line bus which gets me dropped near Line of Control, I would have already 100 times regretted about my decision...of using public transport....It makes you bone weary and when you close your eyes, you will only visualize about your inviting comfy bed to just place your weary body and mind...

So where is the solution? Who is gaining? I don't have an answer, but yes who is loosing and what we are loosing I have answers...

People , we are loosing...and what we are loosing? That time we should have spent with our spouses..that time , we could have laughed and played with our children..the time that can heal some broken heart..the time we can build relationships, the time we can visit the sick and the needy....
At the end of the day, for whom are we working for? Why are we taking this stress for? Its for us to have a life of our choice and liking...But if we are in stress, how can we enjoy life?? If life cannot be enjoyed, what is life for?

SALIK MANIA!!!

I hail from India and in our country tolls are imposed on new bridges and roads. But in Dubai, new toll system was introduced and that too on Gud Old Garhoud Bridge. This itself was a big surprise for me. Till date I didnt buy the Salik Tag, I never thought I will be using it. I stay in Al Nahda and my office is in Al Karama. So obviously should avail the facilities of tunnels or bridges more than twice a day. However, till yesterday I survived with Business Bay Crossing, Floating Bridge, Airport Tunnel etc. But looks like RTA has decided to make this year 2007 as the diversion year of the century. Roads you see today, wont be there tomorrow. Buildings and barriers are springing forth within no time.

Yesterday, because I was using a rented car, and since the car had a salik tag, I took the risk of going through Garhoud Bridge. Dead tired, while entering the bridge from Karama, thought within 5 minutes I can reach Al Nahda. But to my dismay, from the middle of the Garhoud bridge, it was bumper to bumper traffic. By the time, I reached home, I was totally worn out and frustrated.

As a day begins in Dubai I can understand people being discriminated and distinguished by so many factors.

If you have salik, you are lucky, you will reach office within 5 minutes. Atleast till the time you reach office you will be fresh. If you dont have salik ....Ok...Join the hundreds of frustrated people, who is taking hours to reach Dubai.

And now you reach office, if a meeting is scheduled with a free hold property owner, then damn it..these kinda clients doesn't believe that there is a world after Shikh Zayed Road. Their Dubai is between Shikh Zayed Road and Jebel Ali. They dont mind us going to their free hold apartment reception. You should.. they are privileged ones right? In this burning heat, I am ready to meet my client anywhere he calls me..coz I just cant miss my valuable client. And there... in their reception I am, and this free hold property owner, in his underwear and T- Shirt, looking cool, come after a long wait..And my body will be boiling inside my blazer and finally stinking...

I am scared about the future, when the Palm opens, how I will be meeting my clients. I dont have the fainest idea as to how to go to the middle of the sea..to meet these clients..Thank God..since I hail from a village where in every monsoon season, water always came inside our house, I am know inside the Island if water comes in , I can swim to somewhere safe.

I am only pondering on the one more new mask that I may have to wear, as Dubai is becoming very commercialized, as the days pass by. It is not me who lives here..but different manifestations of this modern world..

I forgot to live so that I may live.....