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| Sunday, 6 February 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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In the lap of luxury
The Dubai Shopping Festival is currently underway in this Middle Eastern country. Millions of visitors from all over the world will right now be thronging the streets of Dubai, looking for great bargains. The hotels in the country would be at their best, trying to outdo each other in providing accommodation to these visitors. Among the many super luxury hotels in the country, one of the best and most easily identifiable is the Burj Al Arab. The hotel, built in the shape of a sail, is a popular landmark in the modern world. Opened in December 1999, it is owned by a company known as Jumeirah International. It is known as the only seven-star hotel in the world. Another unique feature is that the hotel is constructed in the middle of the ocean, on a man-made island. It took two years to reclaim the land from the sea and close to three years to construct the building. It is connected to the mainland, which is 280 metres away, by a curving causeway. Said to be the tallest all-suite hotel in the world, the Burj Al Arab, at 321 metres, is taller than the Eiffel Tower in France, and only 60 metres shorter than the Empire State Building in the USA. An architectural masterpiece, the hotel is the keyword in luxury, offering the highest levels of personalised services in the most luxurious surroundings. Even the furnishings and fittings have been done using original 24 carat gold. The giant atrium of the hotel seems to go right up to the top of the hotel while the water fountain is spellbinding. The 202 suites of the hotel are each arranged over two floors. Ranging from 169 to 780 square metres in size, each suite has floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offering breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf. Each suite features an extravagant living and dining area, modern entertainment systems and office facilities. A private butler is available to every suite. The stately and opulent Royal Suite on the 25th floor is the last word in luxury, with its lavishly appointed interiors, majestic colour schemes and sumptuous furnishings. It has six restaurants and bars, and guests can dine either on 'top of the world' or 'under the sea'. The Al Muntaha, which means highest in Arabic, is a Mediterranean-themed restaurant suspended 200 metres above the Arabian Gulf. The Al Mahara Restaurant, located on the ground floor, is an underwater-themed restaurant and has a huge aquarium surrounding the dining areas. Visitors to the restaurant would get an experience similar to being onboard a submarine, at the entrance. Some actually believe that the Al Mahara is located under water due to the authentic under-water experience it provides. The hotel also has an Arabian restaurant named Al Iwan. ######## The lake in the middle of Colombo
The Beira Lake remains one of the most unique landmarks of Colombo and a historic relic from its colonial past. Over the centuries, Sri Lanka's colonial masters used the lake to defend their territory and transport goods, including the much-admired cinnamon. Even concerts and theatrical events have been staged on its shores. According to historians, the Beira Lake probably took its name from De Beer, who is believed to have been an engineer in charge of the Dutch water defences. Some say it was a Portuguese engineer by the name of Beira who first discovered it nearly 480 years ago. The lake was once a marshland, flooded during the British rule to provide greater security for their garrison. The Beira had been an overflow of the Kelani River passing through a swampy area known as Dam Street today. In 1904, the extent of the Beira Lake had been around 165 hectares. Today it has been reduced to 65 hectares by the invasion of squatters. The Portuguese considered this lake as a means of protection for their ramparts and moats which were on the other side. The Dutch introduced crocodiles to the lake to make an enemy attack more difficult. The stench of the Beira Lake would become severe during the dry seasons, as algae growth on the lake's surface level increased during this period, resulting in gasses such as Methane, Hydrogen Sulphite and Ammonia forming in the bottom. These gasses and dead algae, together with garbage and sewage, produced the smell. The black colour of the water was also said to be due to the above fact. Chemical wastes rich in nitrates, together with sewage rich in phosperous, led to the production of blue- green algae.A survey carried out in 1985 by the NARA revealed that over 2000 waste outlets were open to the Beira Lake. Besides the garbage and sewer tanks, squatters' latrines also directly open to the lake. Soap and wastes rich in nitrates, discarded material from motor repair garages, as well as waste water from hospitals, contributed to the pollution of the lake. The restoration work of the Beira Lake commenced some years ago. It doesn't smell bad anymore and is a very pleasant sight to look at. A new cable bridge and art gallery were also opened recently. Pleasure boat rides, parks, fishing decks and restaurants are part of the plans for the lake. Aunty Indira |
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