Burj al-Arab

The Burj is my Everest. I’m drawn to it. When it’s anywhere near me, I can’t look away. This is the world’s only seven-star hotel, a sail-shaped colossus parked on an island just off Dubai’s Gulf coast. It’s so glorious. Only the Lord and a handful of very, very rich people know the delights that are hidden within.

Here are some more pictures:





It's so beautiful that even the locals want to take pictures of it:



The Burj with a boat:



The Burj at night:





The Burj is needy, as I said, but not too needy. Don’t ever think the Burj isn’t aware of its own awesome power. In other words, though the Burj calls out for attention by changing its color once in a while, it doesn’t do it that often. The Burj plays it cool.

But as 2005 approached, with only seconds left in the old year, the Burj suddenly bestirred itself into a frenzy of glittery activity. The entire face of the hotel, from toe to crown, changed colors furiously while blinking lights rocketed up and down its edges. Four sharp spotlights flared into existence and zipped back and forth across the sky with the grace and confidence of the guy at the club who knows he’s the best dancer in the place.

Someday I will dare to enter the Burj. Look for more Burj photos on this page. In the meantime, here’s the Burj wishing you a Happy New Year: