With a population approaching 1.3 million it's a sprawling, diesel-laced city buzzing with tuk-tuks (three-wheeler taxis), street stalls, vibrant markets and dragon-topped temples.
He built the hotel with a sprawling casino, coffee shops upscale restaurants, well-turned gardens and parks, swimming pool and a large parking lot which could accommodate 500 cars.
Even with 25 teaching assistants, the 32-year-old lecturer struggled to keep track of her sprawling class, which included students from four different campuses and distance learners in other countries.