Ever since I was little, I've wanted to see everything in this world. There are so many incredible things and places that lie far outside of my small state in the northeast of the United States.
For starters, recently, I discovered where the tallest building in the world is, and that it lies in a place that has recently made huge strides as a modern-looking city: Dubai. Dubai has one of the world's fastest growing economies and is one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Even simply images of Dubai are intimidating. The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, doesn't look real in images. It surpasses the height of the Empire State Building in New York by 400 meters.
The Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai is the third tallest hotel in the world. It stands on an artificial island and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. The shape of it is designed to mimic the sail of a ship.
Dubai has surpassed modern architecture and has emerged as a global city and business hub of the Middle East. It has recently attracted global attention through large construction projects and sports events. This is a working, thriving, rich city with a proud culture and work ethic.
Iceland is another rare beauty. Home to hot springs, waterfalls, glaciers, and black-sand beaches, Iceland is a country of sharp contrasts. The capital, Reykjavik, runs on geothermal power and was listed as the richest city in the world in 2007. It is also known for its geothermal spa, Blue Lagoon, located near Rekjavik.
I look forward to traveling after college. I dream every night of hopping on a plane and flying to a country far away, where life is so different from the life I know at home. The world today talks so much about the fear and focuses on the negatives, and we're taught that we need to always be cautious. Hatred for other races and religions and other countries runs rapid in ours. But I believe there are more magnificent things than atrocious in our world. I believe beauty still lies everywhere we look. We just have to be willing to see it.
