Dubai Souqs

This is Deira Spice Souq.

All kinds of spices to choose from.

Most all of them are in bulk and right out in the open air.

The area smelled soooooo good.

It was like a buffet line for your nose.

This is what i was after, i have always heard of Frankincense and Myrrh.  Along with Saffron.  

Upper right is frankincense, you can burn it for an aroma and chew it like gum.  I tried to chew a little,  worse gum i have ever tasted.  I will burn it!

Lower left is myrrh, you burn this for an aroma.

Lower right is saffron, you add just a little bit to tea.  I need to Google this and find out what it is sapost to help with.  Doesn't add much flavor.

And upper left is Chai Tea, the guy dipped in about 5 different bins to make this.  This is a very popular tea around here.  GREAT taste. 

Street conversation.

This is the Deira Gold Souq area.

There were around 25 to 30, maybe more gold shops here about 3 blocks from the spices.

They love their gold here.

There were signs up showing current prices for gold.

All that gold and just a block away people drying their clothing out side.

Yes it is prayer time again and the shops close and the people all leave.

A prayer tower that echoes the call to worship.

While every one was gone to prayer i found my way up to a higher elevation to look around.

View of the roof tops.

Found a view of the Burj Khalifa.

This is the worlds tallest tower.

carts, carts, and more carts

Small grocery store

I then took a Taxi about 4 miles to the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa.

This is a very popular area. 

I had to take a taxi in the morning, it is Friday, the Metro Rail doen't start until 1:00pm. their part day off.

This is where they have the water show.

The Mall is to the left and the Burj Khalifa is behind me.

All kinds of interesting buildings.

And here it is the Burj Khalifa.

Standing at 2,600 feet or maybe 2,722 feet, i need to find out which is right.  WOW

Constructed by more than 7,500 workers and completed in 2009.  And opened in Jan. 2010

In the dark of the night.

Interesting buildings.

And the popular attraction is the water show with Arabian music.

So my day was over and time to catch the Metro rail to my hotel.

All of the stops look very similar, a really neat design.  The Metro Rail runs parallel with the main interstate that goes from one end of Dubai (the airport east) to the industrial and port area at the west end of town.  At every stop there is a covered pedestrian cross walk elevated above the interstate so you can cross safely.

Inside the rail area.

It is so clean in here you could have a picnic on the floor and use the 5 sec rule if you drop your cookie.

End of a great day.

SNOW in Dubai ?

So my hotel is about 4 blocks from the Emeriats Mall.

I walk here for most of my evening meals.  There are 2 or 3 other street side resturants i go to at times.  The mall has all the fast food chains, and better restaurants.  There is one called "Tribes" i like to eat at, it has the South African food and they dress African and most of them are from there.  I really want to go back to Africa! 

This is my view as i walk to the mall.  Parking garage below with the ski slop above.

And this is how you get to the ski area from inside the mall.

They wanted $20 US just to go in and take a picture of the ski area.  

NO i have seen enough snow, not gana pay that.

You can see the ski lift.

 This is where you get your boots & ski's after you pay.

Of course if you want to there is a large ski shop next door so you can buy a ski coat and all the garb that goes with skiing if you feel the need, i mean we are in the desert, remember?

They had these large balls people would get in.

This picture was taken from inside the Cheese Cake Factory looking onto the slop.

Yes i had some cheese cake.

Dune Bashing and BBQ

Late one afternoon i went on an Arabian Team Safari.

They pick you up at your Hotel and drive out into the desert.  They call it "Dune Bashing"

Well for some they liked it.   For me, after going to the dunes with the kids in Idaho on 4 wheelers and a sand rail, this was like going to the grocery store.

We were in air conditioned Land Cruisers.

 Fallow the leader

 Enjoyed being out there and walking around, the little time we had.

Good thing now is i know where to go on my own!

 Some of the drivers.

We stopped here to watch the sun set.

Not very good today.

 This is the "Oasis"

We had a BBQ chicken dinner here.  It was really good.

 And there has to be a Belly Dancer!

 First 1 i have seen, other than TV, so i guess she was really good.

 This was our driver.

 Ya, i had to try it.  I think it is called "Shisha"

Really smooth and enjoyable.

Over all it was a nice outing, nice entertainment and a good meal.

Same place, late afternoon

These pictures are from the same area, just later afternoon into evening.

This guy is prepping food for sale right out side by the sidewalk.

Shops below and living above.

Time for refreshments, coconut milk.

7 Dirham, that is $1.91 US

cheaper than my Starbucks and more entertaining 

The good thing about the Dirham is it has about the same exchange rate as the Chinese RMB that i was just getting use to.

Drink it and take the thing back to the guy he will chop it in half and you can eat the inside coconut meat.

GOOD

Busy with Taxi's

Young couple,,,,, notice her gold ear ring!

Like i said they are big into gold here.

There were about 10 to 12 of these evening dinner boats, looks like fun.

No bikini's on this boardwalk.

And i looked for um!

And the modern boats.

BIG modern boats

I got as far as i could walk on this section of boardwalk, a little tired so i sat down and waited for the sun to get just right and the reflection of the water on this building.

The Sheik and his wife.

well maybe

Dinner boat all lit up.

A dinner boat out for the night.

Back to the car and head home after a great day.