I spent five academic years teaching at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai. I participated in life there during the early nineties. In 1996, I left for good and haven't even been back for a visit. From that time until quite recently, Dubai continued to grow at unfathomable rates. It placed itself on the world stage and is now mentioned regularly in media. A reference to Dubai even showed up in this week's Ugly Betty TV program.
With such growth comes phenomenal change. I liked Dubai for what it was going on 20 years ago, before it came sort of a spoilt rich man's playground. I didn't have to witness much of the Emirate's 'Disney-ification' in my time there. Going in the opposite direction, this picture is from 1978. That would've been the year I was a freshman in college. I might have enjoyed the non-glossy version of that era even more. I didn't get to see the creek or take an arbra for thirteen years after this photo.