Unit 10 Speaking of the past
Video script If you want a shopping experience like never
If you want culture and history, 21 -century
st before, then Dubai is the place to come. Dubai
entertainment or the great outdoors, Hong is sometimes called the shopping capital of the
Kong is the place to visit. Some people call Middle East since it has more than 70 shopping
Hong Kong the place where the East meets the malls, including one of the world’s largest, the
West. ‘The East’, because of its links to ancient Dubai Mall.
Chinese civilisation; and ‘the West’ to when it But Dubai wasn’t always like this. At the
was a British colony. beginning of the 20th century, Dubai was a small
There are a lot of temples and monuments you trading town famous for its pearl trade. In 1966,
can visit, as well as the ancient buildings on a few people discovered oil in the town and this
Lantau Island. Many years ago these buildings started the growth of Dubai that we know today.
were covered in jungle, but now they attract New Orleans is famous for many things,
tourists from all over Asia. including its annual Jazz Festival. The Jazz
Alternatively, you can ride the tram up to The Festival started over 40 years ago.
Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island. In the past, there were a lot of slaves who lived
The views from the observation deck over in New Orleans and they often played their
the city are amazing. If you have children with native music together. This started a new type of
you, then they will love an exciting day out music: jazz.
at a huge theme park, such as Hong Kong The New Orleans Jazz Festival now takes place
Disneyland® or Ocean Park. every year and it lasts for one week. There are
But if you need to take a break from busy city life, 12 different stages and hundreds of different
then you can hike along a mountain trail, relax on acts. Many famous musicians have played
a sandy beach or visit a traditional village. there, such as Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Ella
This is Dubai, home to amazing buildings like Fitzgerald and Van Morrison.
the Burj Al Arab – a hotel that looks like a boat The festival is also famous for its crafts. When
– and the Burj Khalifa. It was the world’s tallest the festival started in the early 1970s, there were
building when it opened to the public on 4th of only a few stalls, but now there are hundreds
January 2010. selling all sorts of beautiful handmade items
Dubai is a great place to visit if you want to relax like leather bags, jewellery, pottery, beads
and enjoy some sun. There are miles and miles and clothing.
of sandy beaches and sun nearly every day of There’s also an amazing variety of food
the year. at the festival – thanks to New Orleans’
You can eat out in many different restaurants multicultural heritage.
or try a different activity such as sand boarding Hong Kong, Dubai, New Orleans. Three very
or scuba diving. You can even hire a four-wheel different cities; three very different locations.
drive jeep and take a trip into the desert.