On Top of the world

Where do you think this pic is taken from? An aeroplane? No..it’s from the (current) world’s tallest building under construction, Burj Dubai.(I see it everyday on the way to and return from work,and call this marvel 'history in the making') I wonder whether anyone from that level would be tempted to see whether they can walk on the clouds?

The above pic, again from the top of the Burj. I felt dizzy just looking at it . Wonder how those workers are sitting so peacefully?

Speaking of the Burj, I read yesterday that a British man has leapt from the Burj, to successfully complete the world’s highest BASE jump from a building- and, promptly landed himself a date in court next week. The 36-year old clambered up 150 floors of stairs without being spotted by security guards before leaping with a parachute just before 5 AM.
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Once again- I engaged in some pleasant conversation, with someone from a group of what I consider Dubai’s most interesting conversationalist people- the taxi driver.

The talk started when I saw him looking woefully at his mobile, which he’d put in front of him, just below the windshield.
By way of explanation, he said- "it fell into the water today. "
Me: Oh? Water?
Him: Yes…in the bathroom.
Me(Didn’t want him to elucidate further, so I asked): I hope the mobile’s never been opened up yet? Otherwise, the water will enter inside the circuits.
Him: No, no sir. I just bought it 2 months back.(It was one of the new Nokia models).
Me: Oh, then it’s ok.
Him: The previous passenger suggested that I keep it in the sun, so that whatever water is inside will also dry up.
Me: Oh, ok.
Him(suddenly): Pointing to the radio, which was running in the background. What do you think of this Du connection (Du and Etisalat are the two telephone companies here) which they’re saying is for just AED 55/-, and you get AED 54/- talk time with it?
Me: Oh, yes..but, the reception at present is not as good as Etisalat.

………And, so, the conversation went on. By the time I reached my destination, I learned that he was using calling cards(I think they’re not official here) which you use to dial a number and then they connect you to anywhere round the world, that he talks to his Ammi, Bibi, Beta, Beti, ….with the 30 minutes card, and, there’s still time, so he chats with friends, that he’s from Pakistan, that he took to taxi driving just three months ago, but, he’s been here since five years, that he used to drive a large pickup and private taxis earlier, but, the business folded up due to stricter rules, that he earns 2700-3000/- Dirhams a month, and, it’s too meager, and he feels that he should take up a job as a driver in a company, rather than do taxi-driving, since there are too many obstacles, right from complaining people to the police, to ranting goras who treat the road as their own, that he saw a gora flagging him down, but, he saw me and, decided to pick me up, because the goras need to suffer a bit.

So, what do you say? Am I a patient listener ?
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Extract of the day: Lewis Carroll’s From Alice In Wonderland:
'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?''

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

'I don't much care where --' said Alice.

'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.

'--so long as I get somewhere,' Alice added as an explanation.

Highly erudite, some of these fairy tales, I’d say. Heh heh. I know Amrita, nee, Red will love this quote.
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Joke of the day:

Till next time,adieu!Have a great weekend!!