Ijeoma Uba. |
By
IJEOMA UBA.
She
laughed with infectious excitement. "Eehn, let's go to Dubai so you can
clear your head. When you return, you can continue with your TrendFM
trouble."
I
thought she was joking. I knew we weren't in the best financial state
then. For someone who had just finished handling some big projects, extra
expense was like a pipe dream, so I rolled my eyes in disbelief.
Then
she shot at me with finality, "Ijeoma, you can stay back, but me, I'm
going to Dubai". That was when it dawned on me that she meant
business.
On
January 8, 2019, my Managing Director; Agatha Amata, a colleague at
RaveTV; Amina Attahiru and I were airborne to Dubai United Arab
Emirates, UAE.
We
flew on the wings of Emirates Airline. It was my first time using the airline.
Nestled in Boeing 777-300ER, the first thing I noticed was so impressionable:
the courteous airs of the flight crew from the time I stepped into the
aircraft. They all wore what has formed their identity over the years. The
interior of the plane was impeccable.
I
guess these are expected of an international brand.
Some
are afraid of flying. Here is the lady who holds the world title for flight
phobia. I often announce my fright as soon as I step into any plane while I woo
any neighbor close by, so they don’t freak out if I grab someone at
takeoff and landing.
I
get so quiet before boarding as if I am about to face judgment. Nothing has
been able to assuage my anxieties.
This
fear, however, has the good side –I tend to know so much about planes and
flying. I take time to study and compare aircraft. I also try to study the
movements of these big controlled birds. My fear drives me to know the
accident rates of major airlines and aircraft. Most times, I follow the
map/information chart instead of seeing movies.
On
Emirates, I noticed that the takeoff was very smooth. The pilot was not in a
haste to get the plane into the skies within minutes like I had experienced with
one Airbus flown by a Nigerian airline on London flight.
While
the 777 was rolling on the tarmac for departure in Lagos, I did not get the
usual dizziness. I watched as the transworld airliner glided from a thousand
feet plus to two thousand, then three thousand and so on until it perched on 15
thousand feet for some few minutes before it continued its seamless climb.
The
landing of the Boeing was even more soothing. It almost lured me to sleep as
the tyres serenaded the tarmac in soft kisses. It neither nosedived nor landed
like it fell off a hangar. Apart from the pressure on my ears and the fact that
I followed the flight, I would not have known when it made its final descent at
Dubai Airport.
Minutes
after my feet touched Dubai soil –first time in my life –I could not believe my
ears. "Oyah shake body, shake body" the music of Nigerian crooner,
Skales greeted us at Dubai airport. I thought I was on Nnebisi road Asaba! Just
that the strange beautiful land that regaled my wide eyes made it look like a
confusing dream. I was so excited. Nigerian music is on a global arena, a
tribute to the indomitable spirit of Nigerian youths. Even at Dubai Miracle
Garden, it was Nigerian music that played. By the way there were more white
tourists at the garden than blacks.
In
Dubai, the immigration officer, the currency exchange handler, the cab driver,
the Hotel staff members were all very courteous attending to us at night.
I
imagined how groggy my brothers and sisters here in Nigeria would have been at
that late time no matter where they worked. You can even get to the reception
of a hotel without meeting anyone. The ones on duty at the hospitals are also
in this league of champions.
Later
that morning, we started our tour of Dubai: Museum, Mosque, Desert Safari Ride,
Boat Cruise/Dinner, Miracle Garden, City Tour, Dubai Mall, Mall of the
Emirates, Lake Ride and Water Fountain, BurjKhalifa, Underwater Zoo/Aquarium,
Village Market and more.
In
all these tours, the drivers were all polite and friendly. None was
exploitative or grovelling. We were entitled to buffet breakfast at our hotel
and the staff lived up to expectation. They were amazingly efficient.
Our
guide gave us the necessary information for the village market so we would know
how to bargain. It was at this market that I met one Pakistani I named John.
Haughty yet lively, John believed his shop had the best quality goods while he
tried to impress us with a few Yoruba words.
Dubai
thrives on trade and tourism and stops at nothing to protect these. According
to our guide and what I observed too, the government recognises and makes
painstaking efforts to preserve its major economic driver; Tourism. Tourists
must be handled with utmost care. I call that setting its priorities
right.
I
also noticed that there are no manufacturing companies. Maybe that explains why
I didn't feel Chinese and Igbo presence. There was no Chung Xing or Uba &
Sons.
Dubai
is a very neat city! The sign in buses: "No Eating. No Drinking. No
Smoking" says it boldly –everything is so organized.
For
a country without water, the city is next to heaven. By the way, petrol is
cheaper than water in Dubai. There is steady power supply in the city so I did
not rush to charge my devices like I was subconsciously doing when I went first
travelled overseas seven years ago. This time I knew I was not in Nigeria. I
also did not need to check if Sunny, my gateman, had switched on the water
pumping machine.
Although
an Islamic state, the government is liberal to tourists. You dress freely
within the confines of decency. This is not readily available in some other Arab/Islam
dominated regions.
Arabs
of Dubai love life. The best things in life are in Dubai. Mansions
everywhere; breathtaking skycrapers kissing the clouds; exotic eye
popping cars pimped with golden name plates; malls filled with the most
beautiful vanities of life; and gleaming rosy roads akin to the shining
streets of heaven as described in the Bible. Arab males called Emiratis are
handsome and rich – very rich, most of them. They do not work. Their luxuriant
hairy hands do not touch most jobs; odd jobs like cab driving, hotel service,
trading among others. Such menial jobs are for Indians and Pakistanis. The
Emiratis are royals, Kings and princes. Born to be served .Their wealth is
exclusively for them. They share with only their women. Not foreigners.
Emiratis are discouraged from marrying non aborigine, even if you are Agbani
Derego or Miss Universe. Not even Naomi Campbell can easily win an Emirati's
hand in marriage. It is their belief. They love and marry their girls.
That is their way of life, their fancy, their culture. Sorry Nigerian
girls!
Dubai
has its challenges, however.
Dubai
did not make provisions for almost simple eventualities like rain. While in
Dubai it rained. No, not rain; one of Angel Michael's children rinsed a spoon
and this small water messed up most parts of the city. Schools were closed,
places shut down, roads became useless. Ordinary rinsing of spoon. You can
imagine what would happen when small Uriel takes a shower on top of
Dubai.
The
government is apparently oblivious of climate change. There are no drainages.
Our tour to the Global Village had to be cancelled because the roads were
blocked and many parts waterlogged. The areas housing tourists were cleared
through concerted efforts.
I
guess it was the lack of preparation that made the government embark on cloud
seeding when the forecast said it would rain. They had a shopping festival and
did not want it ruined. Unfortunately, the clouds refused to budge.
As
I made videos of the roads, I wondered what our seven day rain would turn the
almighty modern city to. Would it still be the same? Could their
wonderful roads stand our topography? The rains from April to October? When the
rains form alliance with our kind of filled drainages and other
garbages would there be a city left for us to call tourism
destination?
This
got me thinking. How can these skyscrapers function without power supply? Can
Dubai survive a collapse of the national grid? What if light goes off while
people are in the elevator at the BurjKhalifa, perhaps at the 100th floor? How
do people at the 163rd floor come down or go up at such times? Well, it's not
my business.
Duty
calls and home is where Munachimso is. We had to come home. At Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, I was welcomed by a strong smell of urine mixed sweat
from underarms that abhor deodorants. The heat from the failed air-conditioning
sets helped the porridge to thicken as we meandered our way through
immigration. I took a deep breath, inhaled and exhaled my people's achievements
with a smile.
I
kept smiling even when I was missing a suitcase and Customs officials were at
their annoying worst. I liked it that I was back home. What is life without
people shouting like you have been quarrelling since 1926? How do I know I'm
back home when I don't get that identity urine or Izal smell at our
international airport? How do I remember that I'm a Nigerian if my countrymen
don't harass me a little for not buying something for them? I need to be
reminded what the rule says.
I
saw Dubai; neat by nature. I see Nigeria; naughty by nature
Let
them have their Dubai. I stick to my Nigeria where we are used to God and His
Angels taking baths without us running away. It is their Dubai and this is my Nigeria.
Ijeoma
Felicity Uba.
General
Manager TREND 100.9 FM
writes
from Asaba
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