Exploring the Old Area of Dubai
Trip Start
Feb 07, 2009
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2
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Trip End
Mar 19, 2009
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Monday, February 9, 2009
After that we walked to the Creek and wandered along looking at all the boats. We walked through the Bastakiya area, even going into one building and climbing up stairs to the roof (no view though). By now we were all hot, tired and a little cranky so it was a relief to find the little Basta Arts Cafe which I had seen on Getaway. Ordered their famous Lime and Mint juice, and the kids had Detox juice, which were delicious, cool and refreshing. Adrian had an omelette and Alanna a "spicy" Chicken wrap which had way too much chilli for her liking. We sat and rested and enjoyed it before headng out and finding Dubai museum (Adrian saved me from gettng run over cause I was looking the wrong way when crossing). The museum didn't appear much, a few rooms leading off the main courtyard, but then we headed towardds the exit and realised that most of the museum was underground. It was interesting to see some of the history of Dubai with pearling and fishing.
The Creek
Alanna tried to scare Adrian by hiding behind a pillar but it backfired because she slipped as she was jumping out.We then kept walking and found the Textile souk, selling material, clothing, pashminas, cushion covers.Adrian bought himself a traditional Arab white caftan with cap and head scarf, Ange got some pashminas, Alanna a t-shirt, and we bought t-shirts for Damian and Kelsea. The kids had their first taste of bartering and haggling, and after being a little nervous and embarassed at first, they soon got into the swing of things and were chatting and negotiating with the shopkeepers and walking out if they couldn't get the price they wanted. We found what we thought were the abra (water taxi) to take us across the creek but a guy at the ticket office told us the ones which were further up the creek would drop us closer to the souks. So off we walked again and hopped on an abra (1dhs each) for the ride across the creek. There was lots to see, all the other little boats, larger dhows and city buildings. There were public toilets just as we got off and the girls and I headed in but they were horrified to realise they were the "squat" ones and refused to use them.
Found the spice souk, then the gold souk. And the shops were just amazing, so much gold, diamonds and other jewellery all crammed into each little (and sometimes big) shop. We were approached several times by guys asking if we wanted fake designer handbags and watches. Did we ever! The first one took us up and down alleyways and then up stairs into a tiny little room and locked us in! We looked at so many bags and watches and picked out the ones we liked but we just couldn't get him to come dowen to the price we wanted, so we walked out with him following and trying to negotiate still.
Boats on the Creek
A 2nd guy approached then and we went with him and did the same (4 of us crammed into the tiny elevator). We had a total of 6 bags between us and sunnies for Adrian and we got them for 600dhs. The final negotiation was done on the stairs. We were really happy with these. More jewellery shops and we were all getting so exhausted. Finally spotted a McDonalds and thought we'd have something to eat (by this stage it was about 4pm). We found a lovely cafe and sat outside. We had tamiya, pizza, foul. Fresh juice again - mango for Mike and I, watermelon combo for Adrian and Ange, and a crazy combo with about 6 different things for Alanna. Even though the guy didn't write down our order, he managed to remember it all and get us the food we wanted. It was delicious, we couldn't finish it all so he packed us a doggy bag. We walked a few blocks back to the creek and caught an abra again across the creek, then decided to find a taxi cause Adrian was getting too tired and starting to sook. No luck so we kept walking, until a guy in a little Echo pulled up (not an offical taxi) and after a bit of hesitation, the 5 of us piled in and set off. Luckily it wasn't far! Pretty tired again so we all turned in around 8-9pm. 
