Dubai, UAE

This weekend is Memorial Day, in which we honor those that died in service to the U.S.A. You may wonder why I've chosen this particular card to represent that theme... read on...



I received this card last August from a friend in the Navy who was stationed in Dubai at the time. The picture shows the Burj Khalifa in downtown Dubai - the tallest building in the world at 2,723 feet. Over 40 wind tunnel tests were conducted before the tower's completion in 2009. It takes 36 workers three to four months to clean all the exterior windows... most of the lower ones have machinery which carries the window-washer around safely; however, at the top, s/he must dangle from a rope to do it. I hope they get paid a lot. The architecture of the tower is supposed to be inspired by a Hymenocallis (spider lily) flower.

Here's the flower. I'm not sure I see the resemblance.

The most special thing about this postcard is the postmark. Although I think he could have sent the card via free mail (U.S. military mail from deployed service members back to the U.S.), instead he sent it from the post office aboard the U.S.S. Emory S Land, a "submarine tender" Navy ship. The ship is equipped to service submarines with everything from food supplies to mechanical repair to mail - hence the on-board post office. I just wish the postmark was less blurry!

Thanks Kirsten for this postcard.





This is a (slightly late) post for Postcard Friendship Friday, hosted by Beth. Click on the image to visit her blog and participate.

Dubai, UAE

This card showing the Madinat Al Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab is a private swap from Lea. Madinat Al Jumeirah is a complex containing a hotel, shopping area, and cafes and restaurants, and Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel. Lea wrote that Madinat Jumeirah is her favorite place in Dubai, great in the winter when it is cold enough to sit outside. Apparently right now in Dubai at 10:36pm it is 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Wow. Here it is still around 55 degrees... still waiting for summer to show up... or even spring...

Two definitive stamps from 2009 showing birds of prey. Plus an Arabic air mail sticker.