Howard's Blog of Fame: Big Piles of Cash

Since the United Arab Emirates has been in the news lately, I thought it appropriate to mention the Burj al-Arab ("The Tower of the Arabs"), a somewhat new hotel (new in the sense that I'll bet you never knew it existed before now) located on its own island off the coast of Dubai. First off, at 1,053 feet tall, it's the tallest hotel in the world and only 200 feet shorter than the Empire State Building. Think about that for a moment while gazing at the rendering and the photo above -- I'll wait........

Second, the Burj al-Arab is the most expensive hotel in the world as an overnight stay will cost you between $1,000 and $15,000 a night -- tips, meals, limousine, and helicopter not included. Start saving now. Located on one side of the top of the hotel is a circular cantilevered helipad where tennis pros Roger Federer and Andre Agassi played an exhibition match last year. Wonder how many tennis balls they lost? Wonder how many ball boys they lost!

While the hotel opened for big business in 1999, the cost of construction has never been publicly announced. But if one lived in the land of Cost-Is-No-Object, I suppose it's considered rude to publicly wonder about such earthbound matters. Still, it's nice to hope that perhaps some UAE prince may chance upon this blog, be swayed by the Charms and Talents of Howard, and fly him (me) to Dubai to talk about a Cost-Is-No-Object Dreamhome.

A boy can dream, can't he?

While you continue to be amazed and impressed by the sail-like qualities of this lovely sculptural hotel, please be aware that -- in the words of Yoda -- "there is another...Sky...walk....urk."

More to come soon enough.