If you were given the chance to add six extra hours to each day, would you take it? I'm not sure I would. Everytime we looked at our watches today we thought "that just can't be right!" We amused ourselves until 10am when the malls were open and wondered across to the nearest one to our hotel.
It was a hot walk and made me understand at least one of the reasons why men and women choose to wear a head covering like a hijab. I fashioned one out of my own scarf and it worked wonders. My scalp wasn't burning anymore and I felt that I blended in.
Tomorrow I will pack a hat.
Part of the mystique of staying in the old part of Dubai is the souks. The markets selling spices and carpets and materials and gold..... lots of gold!
Being a Friday (sigh) not all the stalls were open, but we got a good idea of what it was like. Identical shops, set up identically, selling identical wears.
There was a real sense of desperation from the sellers in these shops. After a couple of conversations about buying their goods and trying to explain that we a) can't take things like spices back into our own country and b) we didn't want to buy anything anyway, we realised that the best course of action was to walk down the centre of the lane way only briefly glancing at things without breaking stride.
Any haltering in your walk or any look that lingers a second too long is cause for more attention than you were probably after. A simple "No, thank you" will not suffice and if you dare to reach out and touch anything, like a pashmina, an array of colours are flailed out in front of you and the haggling will begin even before you have realised what your limb has done.
Here are some tips for Souk Survival.....
1. Eyes straight forward and only use your peripheral vision.
2. Keep hands and arms by your side at all times unless you intend to purchase.
3. If you are in the market to purchase, then haggle. It's encouraged.
4. Take a man with you if possible as this apparently wards off more attention. (I wouldn't know about the 4th one?)
To add a bit more culture to our day, we wondered along the Dubai Creek watching the men load up their boats with all the cargo that is just sitting next to the footpath. They were very trustworthy, all you'd need was a trolley and a bit of gumption and you could have yourselves a new fridge or couch!
Once past the loading area we were able to watch the little Abras ferry people from one side to the other.
We were on our way to visit the Heritage House Museum which is house set up how the peeps used to live in the olden days. Dubai is quite well sign posted, but sometimes the signs aren't in the perfect position to be crystal clear as to where they want you to go. However, there were a few possible lane ways like this passed and a couple of very helpful chaps who happily directed us.
And then, there it was.
This house was originally built in 1890, but in 1910, the ownership transferred to Sheikh Ahmed bin Dalmouk who was the most famous pearl merchant in Dubai at that time.... perhaps you've heard of him? Anyway, he extended the house and then in 1920, Mr bin Dalmouk gave the house to Saeed bin Hamdan as a gift, as you do. He kept the house until 1935, then the house was purchased by Ibrahim Al Said Abdullah, who made modifications to the house resulting in it becoming one of the best examples of a traditional Emirati family home. In 1994, Dubai Municipality carried out restoration and repair work and in March of 2000 the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing took over the responsibility of the Heritage House and made it a museum.
The inner courtyard.
The Ladies Majlis
This is a hall for receiving women guests. It is also used as a sitting room and sleeping quarter.
Windows and terraces of the Ladies Majlis overlook the inner courtyard and it is completely separated from the outer pathways; men are not permitted in, even if they were members of the family, except children. This would be deemed a luxury in western culture nowadays - except children!
Women would chat about their daily affairs and the lady of the house would offer food and drinks to her guests as well as the Oriental scents and nice perfumes - a little bit like an Emirati Tupperware party! Arabic Coffee is also offered, being the symbol of Arabic generosity in welcoming guests. The women would spend their time practicing activities such as Henna, stitching and embroidery.
Children play games in the inner courtyard. Peace out dudes.
As we were wondering around, we came across these three men. The chap on the left asked us where we were from. "From you?" He asked. "Australia", we replied. "Here, photo", he stated. Not sure whether he wanted us to take his photo or he wanted to take ours, he assembled his friends and said, "Ok." So I took his photo - with my camera. I'm still unsure why. And then, he said, "Now, photo." And ushered us into position and took our photo - on his phone. Then we said, "Thank you." Still unsure why.
This couple was signed as the Bride and Groom. He looks bored and she looks like she's been crying. ⬇
Perhaps because she had just found out that this was her bathroom?
The Gold Souk was just around the corner - we were trying to cram as much as we possibly could into the longest day ever. This is where Corey Hart would have been in his element as sunglasses were indeed necessary at any time of the day or night.
There were people everywhere. I'm not sure if anyone was buying gold, but it was certainly the place to be. After our experience in the Spice Souk, we didn't spend much time at each window and we didn't have our sunnies, so it possibly wasn't too good for our corneas.
Part of the mystique of staying in the old part of Dubai is the souks. The markets selling spices and carpets and materials and gold..... lots of gold!
Being a Friday (sigh) not all the stalls were open, but we got a good idea of what it was like. Identical shops, set up identically, selling identical wears.
There was a real sense of desperation from the sellers in these shops. After a couple of conversations about buying their goods and trying to explain that we a) can't take things like spices back into our own country and b) we didn't want to buy anything anyway, we realised that the best course of action was to walk down the centre of the lane way only briefly glancing at things without breaking stride.
Any haltering in your walk or any look that lingers a second too long is cause for more attention than you were probably after. A simple "No, thank you" will not suffice and if you dare to reach out and touch anything, like a pashmina, an array of colours are flailed out in front of you and the haggling will begin even before you have realised what your limb has done.
Here are some tips for Souk Survival.....
1. Eyes straight forward and only use your peripheral vision.
2. Keep hands and arms by your side at all times unless you intend to purchase.
3. If you are in the market to purchase, then haggle. It's encouraged.
4. Take a man with you if possible as this apparently wards off more attention. (I wouldn't know about the 4th one?)
To add a bit more culture to our day, we wondered along the Dubai Creek watching the men load up their boats with all the cargo that is just sitting next to the footpath. They were very trustworthy, all you'd need was a trolley and a bit of gumption and you could have yourselves a new fridge or couch!
We were on our way to visit the Heritage House Museum which is house set up how the peeps used to live in the olden days. Dubai is quite well sign posted, but sometimes the signs aren't in the perfect position to be crystal clear as to where they want you to go. However, there were a few possible lane ways like this passed and a couple of very helpful chaps who happily directed us.
And then, there it was.
This house was originally built in 1890, but in 1910, the ownership transferred to Sheikh Ahmed bin Dalmouk who was the most famous pearl merchant in Dubai at that time.... perhaps you've heard of him? Anyway, he extended the house and then in 1920, Mr bin Dalmouk gave the house to Saeed bin Hamdan as a gift, as you do. He kept the house until 1935, then the house was purchased by Ibrahim Al Said Abdullah, who made modifications to the house resulting in it becoming one of the best examples of a traditional Emirati family home. In 1994, Dubai Municipality carried out restoration and repair work and in March of 2000 the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing took over the responsibility of the Heritage House and made it a museum.
The inner courtyard.
The Ladies Majlis
This is a hall for receiving women guests. It is also used as a sitting room and sleeping quarter.
Windows and terraces of the Ladies Majlis overlook the inner courtyard and it is completely separated from the outer pathways; men are not permitted in, even if they were members of the family, except children. This would be deemed a luxury in western culture nowadays - except children!
Women would chat about their daily affairs and the lady of the house would offer food and drinks to her guests as well as the Oriental scents and nice perfumes - a little bit like an Emirati Tupperware party! Arabic Coffee is also offered, being the symbol of Arabic generosity in welcoming guests. The women would spend their time practicing activities such as Henna, stitching and embroidery.
This couple was signed as the Bride and Groom. He looks bored and she looks like she's been crying. ⬇
Perhaps because she had just found out that this was her bathroom?
The Gold Souk was just around the corner - we were trying to cram as much as we possibly could into the longest day ever. This is where Corey Hart would have been in his element as sunglasses were indeed necessary at any time of the day or night.
There were people everywhere. I'm not sure if anyone was buying gold, but it was certainly the place to be. After our experience in the Spice Souk, we didn't spend much time at each window and we didn't have our sunnies, so it possibly wasn't too good for our corneas.
Then.... just when you think the day was over, we had dinner reservations at a well critiqued Persian restaurant in our hotel. The booking was at 8.30pm - which was really 2.30am Melbourne time. Kick on!
I didn't take any photos at the restaurant, except this one.
The food was absolutely divine and the service was impeccable. We even tried Iranian ice-cream which is not ice-cream at all, but frozen starch noodles soaked in rose water. After you get past the noodley texture, it was really nice. That's 70 more days each for us for trying something new.
Then..... finally at about 3.30am Melbourne time we went to bed.
Ragers!
I've purposely made this post long so you get a real sense of how we felt by the end of our day.
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