Top Of the World Ma

Despite the state of the world-wide economy, the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is still going strong with its building craze. This despite the fact that reports are coming in that nearly 3,000 luxury cars have been abandoned over the last year at the International Airport by people who have lived and worked in Dubai and are so deep in debt that they are fleeing the country to avoid being arrested and thrown in prison (the penalty for not paying back debts). But at least one man has managed to literally and figuratively rise above the hustle and bustle and maintain his status in the country that has continued to push the limits in terms of largest, fastest or most-expensive. No. This latest hero isn't a sheik or emir from a rich Arab nation. He's an Indian citizen working in the tiny crane cab shown in the included picture. He's Babu Sassi, crane-operator extraordinaire.

Now many people are unaware that Dubai is actually full of foreigners who live and work there but cannot own property unless they are a naturally born citizen of the UAE. As such many people come in for quick work and looking to make a quick buck but apparently none are making as much in the construction industry as Babu. Reports indicate that the average construction worker in Dubai earns about 800 dihraams a month while Babu reportedly earns around 80,000 dihraams (or about $8,168 per month) due to the fact that his posting so high above the world is so dangerous and lonely. But also because he supposedly lives up in his crane cab due to the fact that because there's no practical way for him to come down and go back up each day. It would take too long.

The first impression that I had was that it seems like it would be a stretch to imagine Babu living up there all by himself but it's not really. The crane he operates isn't exactly like the kind that you see on the side of the road or in typical cities which is barely big enough to hold the beefy guys who run them but rather they are much larger affairs. Now I haven't been able to find much more on how Babu's particular cab is but I'm sure it's not exactly a studio apartment. Still, what we will put ourselves through for money and a bit of fame knows no bounds. It's not surprising that he's become a local celebrity. When I had been to Dubai I was amazed to see that in some portions it was just like being in India. In fact there were areas where there were more Indian people than Arab citizens.

And like it or not, we always look for the 'local' boy to be the hero when we're in search of one and Babu is no exception. It does speak volumes of his ability and perseverence though since I don't think a company would just stick any average crane operator in the highest crane in the world. Just think; his only regular human contact would be via radio since people probably wouldn't be making the trip up to see him all that often. He's almost like an astronaut yet more like someone caught in limbo. He's neither on earth nor in orbit and his view stays the same. I can only imagine how it must be to live and work in the same place for so long.