If I had unlimited money and time,
Scalini Fedeli: If you're in New York searching for some extraordinary Italian food restaurants, Scalini Fedeli is where you should go; not just for its tasty food, but also for its romantic atmosphere and friendly staff. This restaurant is located on 165 Duane Street, in Manhattan. One dish that I would have here is the Sauteed Ricotta Gnocchi in an arugula and sun dried tomato sauce finished This is a rather simple form of pasta, but I would still have it because its an original and traditional Italian dish which has not been modified in any way and also, just because its delicious. The Ricotta Gnocchi is slightly firm on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside. The sun dried tomato cream sauce has a rich toma-to flavor and the arugula adds a slightly crunchy texture.
Le Bernardin: This seafood restaurant is located on 155 West 51st Street, NY. Its a really famous restaurant and has been running for years. One dish that I would have at Le Bernardin is the White Tuna Poached in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Even though this sounds like a really common dish, its actually an improved version. The tune is set at a nice and warm temperature; not too hot not too cold. The overall quality of the tuna is excellent and was one of the best tuna's I've ever tasted. This is just one of Le Bernardin's many mouthwatering dishes. It is also knows for its soothing atmosphere and friendly staff.
ChicaLicious: When I'm in Manhattan, craving for some dessert, I'd deifinately go to ChicaLicious. This is a small but famous place focusing only on dessert and nothing else, is located on 203 E. 10th St., between 1st and 2nd street. Unlike other places, in its 3 course-meal, all the 3 courses are desserts! The dessert I would have at Chicalicious is one of its' speciallities; the Formage Blanc Cheesecake. Fromage blanc is a thick, yogurt-like cheese (similar to quark) with a unique and somewhat mild flavor. It is relatively low in fat compared to many cheeses with similar textures and can be used as a dessert topping, as well as an ingredient in other recipes. This cheesecake is something to die for; since its nearly fluffy and delicious. The atomsphere here is really nice, and one special aspect here is that the open kitchen is located right in the middle with tables surrounding it and you could see your delecious desserts being made right in front of your eyes.
Nirvana: This restaurant serves Indian cuisine, and is located on 346 Lexington Ave, in Manhattan. This is one of the most expensive and high-rated restaurants in Manhattan and combines great Indian food with a traditional Indian atmosphere. One dish that I would have here is the Paneer Makhanwala. This basically contains grilled Indian cheese cubes finished in a creamy tomato butter gravy. This is a delicious and sweet dish that is eaten with either naan or roti (oven baked flatbread which is crisp and fluffy). Overall I highly recommend this restaurant if you want to have some authentic Indian food and want an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're actually dining in India.
Sahn
Eddar: This restaurant is located in Burj Al Arab, a 7 star hotel, located off the coast of Dubai on a man-made island. It is on the ground floor; under the world's tallest atrium. The speciality of this restaurant is its chocolate fountain. I had heard about this but never tried it before so I thought I'd give it a shot. When I ordered it, a waiter walked to my table with a huge golden structure from which melted chocolate was flowing from the top. On the side of the fountain were many trays on which there were strawberries, almonds, marsh mellows, etc. which you can dip in the fountain. The melted chocolate was warm and thick. While I was enjoying the chocolate fountain, I was also amazed by the view outside the hotel. From almost all the seats in this restaurant, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Persian Gulf and Dubai's beautiful coastline.
Review of California Pizza Kitchen (CPK)
California Pizza Kitchen is a national chain restaurant specializing in pizzas, pastas, and salads. I think its a great restaurant since it doesn't only have a wide variety of food, but also has a very friendly and warm atmosphere. I have been to CPK numerous times, at different locations and I noticed that one bad aspect of CPK's service is a long wait no matter when or where you go. The first time I ever visited this restaurant was in Long Island on Old Country Road with my parents and cousins, and there was a long wait. My cousins had been there before and loved CPK so they were ready to wait, but I personally thought this would be a mere waste of time. But after my experience there, considering the service and the food quality, I must say that it was worth the wait.
CPK has a wide variety of food items to choose from and appeals to all types of people. I can say this because I'm a vegetarian and I found a lot of options at CPK, unlike most other restaurants where I find very few truly-vegetarian dishes. The menu is divided into appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and desserts. The appetizers are mainly Italian and Asian dishes; anything from Singapore shrimp rolls to Garlic cheese Focaccia to Mediterranean or Thai spring rolls. One of the salads that I've tasted and liked is the Caesar which is basically Crisp Romaine leaves, shaved Parmesan cheese and garlic-herb with Caesar dressing. In the pasta section, for people that love spicy food, is the Kung Pao Spaghetti which is classic Kung Pao sauce with garlic, green onions, peanuts and HOT red chilies.
The pizzas are obviously speciality of this restaurant, and CPK offers around 20 different types of pizzas. One speciality about the CPK pizzas is that no matter what kind of pizza you choose, you can select the special honey-wheat with whole grain crust for it. Their most famous pizza is the Original BBQ Chicken made with BBQ sauce, cheese, grilled chicken, cilantro, and red onions. Other types of pizzas include the Cheeseburger, Jamaican Jerk and Greek pizza. One pizza that I have tasted is the Italian Tomato and Basil pizza. Even though this is one of the more basic types of pizzas since it is topped with fresh tomatoes and basil, Mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce, it is a great choice for vegetarians.
After eating all that food, you might not have room left for anything else. But for those who have a sweet-tooth, CPK offers some really nice deserts, such as the White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Red Velvet Cake. One desert that I have tried is the Chocolate Banana Royale Cake. This is basically moist cake, layered with banana cream, topped with chocolate mousse, and served with banana cream sauce and CPK's hot fudge.
Overall if I had to rate CPK out of 5 stars I would give it 4 stars. Even though the food is unique, with a wide variety, and the service is fairly good, CPK can still improve its restaurant atmosphere in some locations and minimize the long wait. I think CPK is a great restaurant and is worthy of at least one visit if not more. It has a great variety of food and appeals to all kinds of people.
CPK has a wide variety of food items to choose from and appeals to all types of people. I can say this because I'm a vegetarian and I found a lot of options at CPK, unlike most other restaurants where I find very few truly-vegetarian dishes. The menu is divided into appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and desserts. The appetizers are mainly Italian and Asian dishes; anything from Singapore shrimp rolls to Garlic cheese Focaccia to Mediterranean or Thai spring rolls. One of the salads that I've tasted and liked is the Caesar which is basically Crisp Romaine leaves, shaved Parmesan cheese and garlic-herb with Caesar dressing. In the pasta section, for people that love spicy food, is the Kung Pao Spaghetti which is classic Kung Pao sauce with garlic, green onions, peanuts and HOT red chilies.
The pizzas are obviously speciality of this restaurant, and CPK offers around 20 different types of pizzas. One speciality about the CPK pizzas is that no matter what kind of pizza you choose, you can select the special honey-wheat with whole grain crust for it. Their most famous pizza is the Original BBQ Chicken made with BBQ sauce, cheese, grilled chicken, cilantro, and red onions. Other types of pizzas include the Cheeseburger, Jamaican Jerk and Greek pizza. One pizza that I have tasted is the Italian Tomato and Basil pizza. Even though this is one of the more basic types of pizzas since it is topped with fresh tomatoes and basil, Mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce, it is a great choice for vegetarians.
After eating all that food, you might not have room left for anything else. But for those who have a sweet-tooth, CPK offers some really nice deserts, such as the White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Red Velvet Cake. One desert that I have tried is the Chocolate Banana Royale Cake. This is basically moist cake, layered with banana cream, topped with chocolate mousse, and served with banana cream sauce and CPK's hot fudge.
Overall if I had to rate CPK out of 5 stars I would give it 4 stars. Even though the food is unique, with a wide variety, and the service is fairly good, CPK can still improve its restaurant atmosphere in some locations and minimize the long wait. I think CPK is a great restaurant and is worthy of at least one visit if not more. It has a great variety of food and appeals to all kinds of people.
Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih, scandal
Like most Miss America pagents, this year's contest followed with controversy too. Whats different this time is that it also revolves around the fact that the winner is a Muslim. Soon after winning the Miss America title, and becoming the first Muslim woman to ever win the contest, scandals surrounded her. Her pictures were found in which she was strip dancing for a Detroit area radio station during a small radio show competition. Now the question is whether she should get to keep her tittle or not.
But whats funny about this is that Rima is actually wearing more clothes in the striping competition than in her pictures for the beauty contest. Also, this contest had taken place three years ago, and no stripping had actually taken place. A reason for the exaggeration of this issue is that many people think Morgan Woolard, Miss Oklahoma USA 2010, should have been crowned the champion. There might also be a racist reason since people might not want a Muslim girl to win an American competition. Others, like commentator and one time Bush appointee Daniel Pipes, are suspicious about women like Rima. Pipes lists five Muslim women who have all won beauty contests in the last five years, starting with Rima Fakih and ending with 2006’s Miss England, and 2005’s Miss Nottingham. He thinks that its suspicious how Muslim women have been winning some of the biggest beauty pagents in America and Europe. What people like Pipes need to understand though, is that women like Rima win only because of their beauty and their smartness; nothing else.
But whats funny about this is that Rima is actually wearing more clothes in the striping competition than in her pictures for the beauty contest. Also, this contest had taken place three years ago, and no stripping had actually taken place. A reason for the exaggeration of this issue is that many people think Morgan Woolard, Miss Oklahoma USA 2010, should have been crowned the champion. There might also be a racist reason since people might not want a Muslim girl to win an American competition. Others, like commentator and one time Bush appointee Daniel Pipes, are suspicious about women like Rima. Pipes lists five Muslim women who have all won beauty contests in the last five years, starting with Rima Fakih and ending with 2006’s Miss England, and 2005’s Miss Nottingham. He thinks that its suspicious how Muslim women have been winning some of the biggest beauty pagents in America and Europe. What people like Pipes need to understand though, is that women like Rima win only because of their beauty and their smartness; nothing else.
New York Post editorial.
Dear New York Post editor,
In your editorial "A firing Squad for Faisal" you are suggesting execution of Faisal Shahzad, the man who dropped off a car bomb in Times Square, through a firing squad. But would this really solve the problem of terrorism in the United States? Like you said, executing Faisal would only show the rest of the world our anger towards terrorism; but this is an emotion that the terrorists would love to see. The terrorists are only attacking us to cause chaos amongst us. We need to instead stand our ground and remain confident. If we trust our government and our security, we have nothing/nobody to fear.
Mayor Bloomberg said that he wouldn't abide any "backlash against Pakistani or Muslim New Yorkers." And I support him since taking action against all Muslims would be wrong and would worsen the situation. If we punish innocent Muslims for what a radical Muslim has done, we would end up making many more enemies. Also, if we murder innocent Muslims and/or ruin their lives, how are we any different from the terrorists?
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/firing_squad_for_faisal_cDppiA9UbYxmsgo4eWXknI
In your editorial "A firing Squad for Faisal" you are suggesting execution of Faisal Shahzad, the man who dropped off a car bomb in Times Square, through a firing squad. But would this really solve the problem of terrorism in the United States? Like you said, executing Faisal would only show the rest of the world our anger towards terrorism; but this is an emotion that the terrorists would love to see. The terrorists are only attacking us to cause chaos amongst us. We need to instead stand our ground and remain confident. If we trust our government and our security, we have nothing/nobody to fear.
Mayor Bloomberg said that he wouldn't abide any "backlash against Pakistani or Muslim New Yorkers." And I support him since taking action against all Muslims would be wrong and would worsen the situation. If we punish innocent Muslims for what a radical Muslim has done, we would end up making many more enemies. Also, if we murder innocent Muslims and/or ruin their lives, how are we any different from the terrorists?
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/firing_squad_for_faisal_cDppiA9UbYxmsgo4eWXknI
Fox News Editorial
Dear Fox News Editor,
In your editorial named "5 Places You'll (Probably) Never Find a Supreme Court Justice" you cleverly emphasise what America will loose with the retirement of Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. With the admission of nominee Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, a lot of things will change in the US Supreme Court. For example, like you said, if Kenan is confirmed, single member of the Supreme Court will have attended Harvard or Yale. I agree with you that these 9 Justices will be making decisions involving healthcare, enviornment, terrorism, etc. even though they don't have much practical knowledge about these issues. Also, with the retirement of Stevens, the Supreme Court will loose its only US army veteran and a Protestant Justice. In United States, being a Protestant has a lot of significance as the earliest settlers and colonies were mainly Protestant.
You also mentioned the different ways to interpret the constitution by a Justice. One way could be by simply following what the constitution says and by believing that it cannot be "distorted" or open to any interpration. But if this was the case, the Court wouldn't really have much significance since its not doing anything special. The other way would be to interpret the Constitution in our own way and allow it to be ammended as scenarios change. To further strengthen your argument I would say that this is the real role of the Supreme Court and this is what the Founding Fathers themselves wanted. It can be seen in the Necessary and Proper Clause which allowed a broader interpration of the Constitution and allowed ammendments to be made as times change.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/12/peter-roff-horace-cooper-elena-kagan-supreme-court-harvard-yale-nascar-church/
In your editorial named "5 Places You'll (Probably) Never Find a Supreme Court Justice" you cleverly emphasise what America will loose with the retirement of Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. With the admission of nominee Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, a lot of things will change in the US Supreme Court. For example, like you said, if Kenan is confirmed, single member of the Supreme Court will have attended Harvard or Yale. I agree with you that these 9 Justices will be making decisions involving healthcare, enviornment, terrorism, etc. even though they don't have much practical knowledge about these issues. Also, with the retirement of Stevens, the Supreme Court will loose its only US army veteran and a Protestant Justice. In United States, being a Protestant has a lot of significance as the earliest settlers and colonies were mainly Protestant.
You also mentioned the different ways to interpret the constitution by a Justice. One way could be by simply following what the constitution says and by believing that it cannot be "distorted" or open to any interpration. But if this was the case, the Court wouldn't really have much significance since its not doing anything special. The other way would be to interpret the Constitution in our own way and allow it to be ammended as scenarios change. To further strengthen your argument I would say that this is the real role of the Supreme Court and this is what the Founding Fathers themselves wanted. It can be seen in the Necessary and Proper Clause which allowed a broader interpration of the Constitution and allowed ammendments to be made as times change.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/12/peter-roff-horace-cooper-elena-kagan-supreme-court-harvard-yale-nascar-church/
The New York times editorial
Dear New York times editor,
I am referring to your editorial, "What Haiti Needs Right Now". I agree with you that Haiti doesn't need to worry about money or any kind of aid for its reconstruction plan. After Haiti's disastrous earthquake on January 12th, it has been trying to reconstruct as fast as possible. This would usually be extremely hard for one of the poorest countries in America, but not for Haiti since it has supporters and donors all over the world. About $800 million has already been committed to relief efforts by more than 150 countries and organizations.
You said that Haiti needs a lot more money and it shouldn't be a problem. Well I agree with you but I think that most of the money that it receives in aid isn't being put to good use. Like you said, "Of the more than a million people displaced by the quake and living in fragile encampments, only a few thousand have been moved from the most flood-prone areas to new, sturdier shelter". I think the $800 million and the aid and materials that Haiti received, if put to good use, could have been more than sufficient for it reconstruction. But it careless government didn't move swiftly and decisively. After about 4 months, Haiti is still in a mess and this isn't because it doesn't have enough money or materials. But instead its because of corruption within the government itself.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/opinion/17sat1.html
I am referring to your editorial, "What Haiti Needs Right Now". I agree with you that Haiti doesn't need to worry about money or any kind of aid for its reconstruction plan. After Haiti's disastrous earthquake on January 12th, it has been trying to reconstruct as fast as possible. This would usually be extremely hard for one of the poorest countries in America, but not for Haiti since it has supporters and donors all over the world. About $800 million has already been committed to relief efforts by more than 150 countries and organizations.
You said that Haiti needs a lot more money and it shouldn't be a problem. Well I agree with you but I think that most of the money that it receives in aid isn't being put to good use. Like you said, "Of the more than a million people displaced by the quake and living in fragile encampments, only a few thousand have been moved from the most flood-prone areas to new, sturdier shelter". I think the $800 million and the aid and materials that Haiti received, if put to good use, could have been more than sufficient for it reconstruction. But it careless government didn't move swiftly and decisively. After about 4 months, Haiti is still in a mess and this isn't because it doesn't have enough money or materials. But instead its because of corruption within the government itself.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/opinion/17sat1.html
daily news editorial
Dear Daily News editor,
I agree with you that the "Curse of Our Times" is terrorism and that the United States is and always has been a major target for terrorists attacks. The 9-11 attacks, fort hood shooting, and attempted bombing at Times Square on Saturday are all examples of this. I also agree that the attempted bombing on May 1st, in one of the busiest streets in Manhattan, failed only because of a badly assembled bomb and the work of alert New Yorkers. It seems like you don't trust the government, whether state or federal, at all. But you said that "No police, not even the NYPD, can prevent acts of terror". I don't agree with this since I believe that our police is doing its best to stop terrorism, which is shown by their quick action on Saturday.
You blame all these attacks only on Islamists and Muslims, and that's not correct. Yes, radical Muslims are a part of many terrorist attacks. But its necessary to understand that not all Muslims are terrorists and that not all terrorists are Muslims. For example the attempted bombing in Manhattan on Saturday was done by an American Muslim and not just any crazy Muslim suicide bomber. Another example is the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma in 1995, done by Timothy McVeigh, an (white) American. My point is that terrorist are not just Muslims or Islamists. They could simply be people that dislike the government or want some kind of revenge.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/05/03/2010-05-03_the_curse_of_our_times.html
I agree with you that the "Curse of Our Times" is terrorism and that the United States is and always has been a major target for terrorists attacks. The 9-11 attacks, fort hood shooting, and attempted bombing at Times Square on Saturday are all examples of this. I also agree that the attempted bombing on May 1st, in one of the busiest streets in Manhattan, failed only because of a badly assembled bomb and the work of alert New Yorkers. It seems like you don't trust the government, whether state or federal, at all. But you said that "No police, not even the NYPD, can prevent acts of terror". I don't agree with this since I believe that our police is doing its best to stop terrorism, which is shown by their quick action on Saturday.
You blame all these attacks only on Islamists and Muslims, and that's not correct. Yes, radical Muslims are a part of many terrorist attacks. But its necessary to understand that not all Muslims are terrorists and that not all terrorists are Muslims. For example the attempted bombing in Manhattan on Saturday was done by an American Muslim and not just any crazy Muslim suicide bomber. Another example is the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma in 1995, done by Timothy McVeigh, an (white) American. My point is that terrorist are not just Muslims or Islamists. They could simply be people that dislike the government or want some kind of revenge.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/05/03/2010-05-03_the_curse_of_our_times.html
Indian man claims to have had no food or drink for 70 years!
An 82 year old Indian man named Prahlad Jani (Mataji) claims that he hasn't had food or drink for seven decades. He is being held in isolation in a hospital in Ahmedabad, Gurjarat, where he is being closely monitored by India's defence research organization, who believe he may have a genuine quality which could help save lives.
Mr. Jani claims that he left home when he was seven and lived as a wandering sadhu or holy man in Rajasthan. He is regarded as a 'breatharian' who can live on a 'spiritual life-force' alone. He believes he is sustained by a goddess who pours an 'elixir' through a hole in his palate.
India's Defence Research Development Organisation believe that if they learn Mr. Jani's "technique", soldiers and disaster victims could survive longer without food and water.
So far, he has spent six days without food or water under strict observation and doctors say his body has not yet shown any adverse effects from hunger or dehydration. He has not eaten or drunk anything for six days and therefore has not passed urine or stool. The urine appears to be reabsorbed by his body after it accumulates in his body. Doctors will continue observing him for 15 days in which time they would expect to see some muscle wastage, serious dehydration, weight loss,and fatigue followed by organ failure.
Many Hindus in India fast as a part of their religious worship. There are many different types of fasts, depending on how religious the person is (for example, some people fast for a day without food or water, some fast for several days without food only). But fasting for 70 years without food or water, sounds really unbelievable, since the longest a human can survive without food is 50 days. In fact Jani has already been dismissed as a "village fraud". Leading Australian nutritionist, Dr Joanna McMillan Price, said the study was a dangerous and pointless exercise and that Jani will eventually have a heart attack and die.
But, Dr G Ilavazhagan, director of the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, says that if these claims are verified, it will be a major breakthrough in medical sciences
Mr. Jani claims that he left home when he was seven and lived as a wandering sadhu or holy man in Rajasthan. He is regarded as a 'breatharian' who can live on a 'spiritual life-force' alone. He believes he is sustained by a goddess who pours an 'elixir' through a hole in his palate.
India's Defence Research Development Organisation believe that if they learn Mr. Jani's "technique", soldiers and disaster victims could survive longer without food and water.
So far, he has spent six days without food or water under strict observation and doctors say his body has not yet shown any adverse effects from hunger or dehydration. He has not eaten or drunk anything for six days and therefore has not passed urine or stool. The urine appears to be reabsorbed by his body after it accumulates in his body. Doctors will continue observing him for 15 days in which time they would expect to see some muscle wastage, serious dehydration, weight loss,and fatigue followed by organ failure.
Many Hindus in India fast as a part of their religious worship. There are many different types of fasts, depending on how religious the person is (for example, some people fast for a day without food or water, some fast for several days without food only). But fasting for 70 years without food or water, sounds really unbelievable, since the longest a human can survive without food is 50 days. In fact Jani has already been dismissed as a "village fraud". Leading Australian nutritionist, Dr Joanna McMillan Price, said the study was a dangerous and pointless exercise and that Jani will eventually have a heart attack and die.
But, Dr G Ilavazhagan, director of the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, says that if these claims are verified, it will be a major breakthrough in medical sciences
Dubai: The Land of Deams
There is something more amazing about Dubai than the worlds tallest building, first seven star hotel, man made islands or indoor ski slope; it is the vision of the Emaritis who had an ambition to transform Dubai form a barren land to an something extraordinary and unique.
It might be hard to believe but almost a decade ago, Dubai was nothing more than a desert in the middle of nowhere, completely unknown to the rest of the world. And Dubai's growth from that barren land, to a unique place with a luxurious lifestyle has been unbelievable; I have witnessed this growth myself during the 7 amazing years that I spent there. Dubai is famous for its luxurious lifestyle, expensive cars on newly constructed roads, gold and spice souk, excellent preservation of Arabian culture, and many more.
Burj Al Arab: Standing at 321 meters high on its own artificial island out form Jumeirah Beach, the Burj Al Arab is the worlds tallest hotel in the world. Its structure resembles the sail of a ship and is the tallest tower with the outer portion made of a membrane which changes color every 30 minutes. It is also one of the most expensive hotels in the world to stay in with the least expensive suites ranging from $1,000 to over $6,000 a night while the most expensive suites can cost over $15,000 a night.
It might be hard to believe but almost a decade ago, Dubai was nothing more than a desert in the middle of nowhere, completely unknown to the rest of the world. And Dubai's growth from that barren land, to a unique place with a luxurious lifestyle has been unbelievable; I have witnessed this growth myself during the 7 amazing years that I spent there. Dubai is famous for its luxurious lifestyle, expensive cars on newly constructed roads, gold and spice souk, excellent preservation of Arabian culture, and many more.
Burj Al Arab: Standing at 321 meters high on its own artificial island out form Jumeirah Beach, the Burj Al Arab is the worlds tallest hotel in the world. Its structure resembles the sail of a ship and is the tallest tower with the outer portion made of a membrane which changes color every 30 minutes. It is also one of the most expensive hotels in the world to stay in with the least expensive suites ranging from $1,000 to over $6,000 a night while the most expensive suites can cost over $15,000 a night. 
Ski Dubai: Ski Dubai brings a chilly and snowy environment to a dry and arid Dubai. You have the option of skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing or just playing around in the snow. The slope is a 400 meter run, about 85 meters high and has a chair lift for getting to the top. Adjacent to it is a snow park, complete with toboggan rides, a snow tower, a snowman-building place, ice sculptures, and a coffee shop with ice chairs and tables.
Desert Safari: Even though it might not be as well known as the other attractions, the Desert Safari is truly an amazing experience where you get a glimpse of Arabian culture. This all day experience starts off with 2 hours of thrilling dune bashing, where you ride up and down the sand dunes in a 4x4 wheel drive in a desert on the outskirts of Dubai. Then, you will stop for a while to watch the sunset; a breathtaking view. Next, you will be taken to a camp where you can go for a camel ride, have henna put on by a local lady or simply relax with a drink on traditional Arab style seating. Then, you will be entertained by dances by male dancers as well as belly dancers while you enjoy you buffet style BBQ. The desert safari is a must-do if you visit Dubai and gives you a unique taste of Arabian culture.
Burj Khalifa (aka Burj Dubai): At 2,717ft (828 metres), the tapering, silvery tower ranks as not only the world's highest skyscraper, but also the tallest freestanding structure in the world, bypassing the Taipei 101 by about 1000 feet! It has 162 floors and houses 1,044 apartments, 160 hotel rooms, and 49 floors of office space, and an observation deck at the 124th floor. Its amazing and unique structure makes it look like a silver needle poking out of the Arabian desert. The Burj Khalifa is an emblem of Dubai's hard work and dedication, and proves its belief that the sky is the limit.Why is France banning the Burqa?
France's government on Thursday said that it would apply a proposed ban on the face-covering Islamic veils on tourists as well as residents. Next month, the cabinet will examine a bill that bans wearing a burqa in public; this could even become a law by as early as July.With a population of about 64 million and with about 5 million Muslims, France has the highest Islamic population in Western Europe. Out of these 5 million Muslims, only about 2,000 women wear the burqa. The French government says that this ban is not aimed at the Muslims but at the gender inequality that the burqa signifies.
The French believe that many Muslim women are forced to wear the burqa by their husbands. This is true in many cases, where Muslim men consider women their property and think that no part of a woman's body should be seen by anyone besides her husband (in many cases Muslim men refused to let their pregnant wives and daughters be treated by male doctors, even during an emergency when no one else was available). But since I have lived in a Muslim country I know that this isn't true for all Muslims and that not all Muslim women are forced to wear the burqa. Some women simply choose to wear it because they want to preserve their culture.
I personally don't support France's proposal about baning the burqa. In a democratic country like France, everybody has basic freedoms and rights; like the freedom of religion. And the burqa, being a strong part of the Muslim religion and culture, shouldn't and cannot be banned, as this violates basic rights of French citizens.
This situation is different when you look at it as a means of preventing crime. In numerous instances, people (men and women) have worn the burqa to hide their identity and commit crimes that they, otherwise, could not have committed. Terrorists have dodge arrests for days, even months, by disguising themselves with a burqa.
But no matter what reason is used, this proposal definately violates freedom of religion, and could be challenged in the European Court of Human Rights. If the European Court or domestic courts strike it down, French President Nicolas Sarkozy would suffer his second constitutional defeat in the space of a few months - last year, his plan for a carbon tax was rejected because its many loopholes violated the principle of equality.
The actual decision, about whether this will become a law or not, will only be known after a month. I believe that the French should let the Muslims have the liberty of wearing the burqa and treat them with equality; afterall their moto is "liberte egalite fraternite".
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