{"id":9158,"date":"2015-03-05T14:42:39","date_gmt":"2015-03-05T13:42:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/?p=8007"},"modified":"2016-04-30T10:34:41","modified_gmt":"2016-04-30T09:34:41","slug":"challenge-dubai-or-the-colors-of-a-vibrant-metropolis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/05\/challenge-dubai-or-the-colors-of-a-vibrant-metropolis\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenge Dubai or the colors of a vibrant metropolis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Challenge Dubai, 2015<\/strong><br \/>A\u00a0competition that took place in a politically controversially discussed\u00a0area organized by Europeans paid for by the kingdom of\u00a0Bahrain. A situation that is made for standpoints to clash. We Westerners\u00a0have little knowledge of the oriental culture, but are quick in uttering judgments.<br \/>Maybe shifting the focus and opening our eyes can help to remove our preconception. We shouldn\u2019t only see the money located there, and on the one side greedily grabbing for the penny and on the other hand condemn the people, their behavior and attitude\u00a0collectively.<\/p>\n<div><!--more--><\/div>\n<div><strong>The People of Middle East<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8019\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8019\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/souq2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8019\" alt=\"The busy Souq of Al Ras Dubai\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/souq2.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8019\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The busy Souq of Al Ras Dubai<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8018\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8018\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/souq.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8018\" alt=\"Dubai is a city with many ethnic groups\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/souq.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8018\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dubai is a city with many ethnic groups<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8016\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8016\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/multicutural.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8016\" alt=\"The industrious life along the Creek\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/multicutural.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8016\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The industrious life along the Creek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8017\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8017\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/nightlife.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8017\" alt=\"Scenes of Dubai's night life\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/nightlife.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8017\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Scenes of Dubai&#8217;s night life<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>With Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa from Bahrain entering the endurance sports arena with all his passion for the sport the Middle East may experience the beginning of a new era. We are currently witnesses of an imminent change in the mindset of the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_8026\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8026\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Nasserhugs.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8026\" alt=\"Shaikh Nasser behind the finishline in Dubai\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Nasserhugs.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8026\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shaikh Nasser behind the finishline in Dubai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>Over decades sport has not been part of the oriental lifestyle. One drove the car to everywhere, even though the destination happened to be just around the corner, an attitude Shaikh Nasser wants to change for the sake of the people. This idle lifestyle caused huge health problems in the countries at the Arabian golf.<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8025\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8025\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/close-up.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8025\" alt=\"Nasser and the handicapped boy he was was taking with him on the bike course \" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/close-up.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8025\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nasser and the handicapped boy he was was taking with him on the bike course<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>Honestly I think, the difference between our countries are not that conspicuous. All over world wealth is associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and many more illnesses. They are wide-spread phenomena among people of all ages.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8027\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8027\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/shaikhnasser1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8027\" alt=\"Shaikh Nasser surrounded by fans. \" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/shaikhnasser1.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8027\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shaikh Nasser surrounded by fans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>I dare to assume that these small autocratic countries may be more successful in implementing a new lifestyle as they are small and ruled by one authority, a top-down system that may have its advantages. <br \/>\u00a0<br \/>Here is not the place to discuss politics, but maybe we once in while should look back into our history and the current status concerning human rights. Propaganda and censorship is not only an attribute of the Middle East.<br \/>\u00a0<br \/>After Challenge Bahrain in December 14 Challenge Dubai followed within a time gap of one breath of air only.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8023\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8023\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/race-intro.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8023\" alt=\"The atmosphere around the finishline\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/race-intro.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8023\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The atmosphere around the finishline<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>The venue and the weather have been wonderful, the wind, the desert, the light breath-taking. And even though no Biest athlete was racing I enjoyed the race. The photos may give you an idea of the differences of races in Europe or the US and in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8024\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8024\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/challenge-dubai_race.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8024\" alt=\"A glance from a distance\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/challenge-dubai_race.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8024\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A glance from a distance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8022\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8022\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/girlsinblack.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8022\" alt=\"Beauties along the run course\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/girlsinblack.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8022\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beauties along the run course<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8021\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8021\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/enthusiasm.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8021\" alt=\"Enthusiams along the run course\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/enthusiasm.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8021\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Enthusiasm along the run course<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8020\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8020\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/aid.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8020\" alt=\"Ready to help at any time\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/aid.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8020\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ready to help at any time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In case you have reservation concerning this race especially because of the shortcut issue on bike course, please read <a title=\"Terenzo, winner of Challenge Dubai\" href=\"http:\/\/www.terenzo.com\/blog\/challenge-dubai-1st-place\/\">Terenzo Bozzone blog post<\/a>.<br \/>\u00a0<br \/>Since I have lived there in the mid 80ties Dubai turned into metropolis with all its advantages and disadvantages. Some impressions of the contradictions that are colliding in Dubai you may retrieve from the photos underneath.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8014\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8014\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/tradecenter.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8014\" alt=\"The old trade center among all the new skyscrapers looking small\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/tradecenter.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8014\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The old trade center among all the new skyscrapers looking small<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8013\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8013\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/hyatt.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8013\" alt=\"The old Hyatt Regency where we have been living\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/hyatt.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8013\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The old Hyatt Regency where we have been living<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8010\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8010\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/abovethecity.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8010\" alt=\"The view on Dubai from the roof top of the Hyatt\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/abovethecity.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8010\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The view on Dubai from the roof top of the Hyatt<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8011\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8011\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/farclose.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8011\" alt=\"Al Ras Dubai, the old part of the city\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/farclose.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8011\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Al Ras Dubai, the old part of the city<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8012\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8012\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/garments.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8012\" alt=\"garments\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/garments.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8012\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dubai styles<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Challenge Dubai, 2015A\u00a0competition that took place in a politically controversially discussed\u00a0area organized by Europeans paid for by the kingdom of\u00a0Bahrain. A situation that is made for standpoints to clash. We Westerners\u00a0have little knowledge of the oriental culture, but are quick in uttering judgments.Maybe shifting the focus and opening our eyes can help to remove our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2292],"tags":[1594,27,1665,1668,1672,1691,29,1305,1737,426,499,1848,543,1983,1987,1304,2064,2122,86,2237],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9158"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9158"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9761,"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9158\/revisions\/9761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biestmilch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}