Dubai: Guinness World Records, Pavilions, World Culture – All at Global Village
Report and pics by Alex Lewis
Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai (GA)
Dubai, Dec 1: Global Village, the ever-popular leading culture and entertainment destination for families raised its curtains for its new spectacular seasonal event from November 12, 2008 till February 21, 2009.
In its opening day the much celebrated tourism destination of Dubai achieved a large scale entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. A new record of having 3032 children being read to by 87 adults in one location. The previous registered world record being 1632 children read to by 47 adults.
The historic event gained a wide international media attention as it coincided with the fourth world records international day organized by Guinness world record and was covered at length amid a global media coverage that witnessed several world records being broken all over the major cities in the world.
George Bell, the tallest man in USA as per the Guinness officials, attended the event as a guest. According to him “It’s truly amazing what I saw here, I really didn’t know what to expect when I accepted the invitation to come to Dubai, but am truly fascinated."
Moreover, the event marked the opening of the unique and exciting Guinness World Records Pavilion wherein guests are encouraged to participate in breaking one record per week.
A series of world firsts are going to take place in the coming days in this Pavilion
The loudest shout, loudest clap, fastest text message sender and the fastest in shoe lacing are some of the 14 categories which UAE residents can try to set records in the Guinness World records.
Another world First! No one has ever done this before, but it will be done in Dubai until February 21 this year. At least one world record will be set at Global Village every week.
The International children’s characters arriving in Dubai are Barney, Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder and Pingu the Penguin at the friends from Little Big Club.
New attractions for this year are Italian gondolas and the traditional Venetian rowing boats.
Pavilions at Global Village
The pavilions are where the craftsmen and tradesmen of the world come together to display and sell. This is the most unique element of Global Village where you can buy products of favorite countries around the world without actually traveling there. May be the only place in the world you can do so like buy an Indian pashmina shawl, or a Japanese bonsai or a Canadian Maple Syrup all from the same place.
Following country Pavilions are in this year’s event:
From Far East: China, Vietnam, Philippines.
From Asia and Sub continent: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Iran
From Arabia: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordon, Egypt, Palestine, Syria. Qatar and Morocco.
From Africa: East and West Africa, Rwanda and Senegal.
Entry tickets are priced at Dhs.10. A family can buy 5 tickets and pay for 4; the 5th one is free. Valet parking is available for Dhs. 40 situated right in front of the entrance gates 1 and 2. Those who don’t want to travel by their vehicles, RTA is providing special buses from different locations. From Bur Dubai bus station via Karama bus no. 103, From Satwa bus no. 105 and mini buses from other locations. Call the RTA toll free no. 8009090 to check the timings and the routes of these buses to Global Village. The one way bus fare is priced at Dhs. 4.
Some good news to those who exhausted after spending so much inside the Global village and cannot able to walk, Bicycle rickshaws are available for Dhs 5 per person who will drop you from the gate next to your parked vehicles. Dubai Taxi services are also available for emergency departures.
Plan your day out to spend as much time as possible or else you may regret like me as I could not finish enjoying all the pavilions.
How far the Global Financial meltdown or the economic crisis will help the organizers to get the expected crowd of 5 million comparing its 4.5 million visitors in 2007/08 will be a question.
The organizers and pavilion managers are expecting a huge crowd during the Eid and National Day holidays which begins on Tuesday December 2 here in UAE.
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