G&L in Dubai 2015 - Day 4

Sorry for the long hiatus! I just got back from UK after visiting my brother with my family. Europe was mean to us by giving us horrid rainy weather during the first week. Fortunately, it was better when we flew back to London. 

Anyway, the last post for Dubai before I prepare for the upcoming posts for Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, London, Newcastle and Sunderland, UK. 

Day 4 Itinerary
Abra to Textile Souk
Hard Rock Cafe Dubai
Lunch opposite Traders Hotel by Shangri-La
Home

It was free and easy day and we have like less than 6 hours before our flight home. We decided to get our souvenirs and some pashimina shawls/scarfs for our friends and family. So, where else to go for them other than at the souk (market). Across old Dubai city, there are plenty of markets to visit - notably Gold Souk, Textile Souk and even Spice Souk. We only went to the first two.

 The flowers were glorious and vibrant looking every day. Did the local council change them every day? My friend in Doha then informed me that they received plenty of water each day, at least twice. 

You can only find air-conditioned bus stops here.  

 Making use of the underground pedestrian walk way to get to the other side of the road and hiding away from the sun. It was a nice day. 

 Deira Old Souq Station to catch the abra. It costed only 1 dirham for the boat ride, one way. So, don't get fooled with 10 dirham for one way because 10 dirham is for the river cruise. 

 To get to textile souk or Meena Bazaar, you get out from Abra's first stop at Bur Dubai Station. 

 Just less than 2 minutes walk from the abra station, on the right is the Meena Bazaar's entrance. I could spend the whole day there. So many things to see and buy. 

I could not described the photos in detail because the photos did the talking already. But what I can point out are: -

1) Always haggle. If you are lucky, you only need to pay just a few dirhams more than the cost price instead of its retail price. So, you are talking about for a 100% cashmere/pashimina shawl you can negotiate or haggle the price from 20 dirhams to only 13 dirhams. Of course, the more you buy, the cheaper it gets. We should have bought 50 shawls that day.
2) If you are not interested, detour and go further away from the shop and not let the shopkeeper or shop assistant pull you into the shop.
3) Don't waste the shop assistant time by checking their prices and haggling with them if at the end of the day, you are not buying anything.
4) Dress decently, with shoulders and knees covered. The market is manned by men and not women. You don't get to see female sales assistant anywhere in any markets in Dubai.

Next stop, on a tight schedule, Keavie and I took a taxi from Bur Dubai Station to Hard Rock Cafe Dubai at Festival Mall.

By far, the Rock Shop's shirt is the cheapest and has the most friendliest staffs ever! Safe to say, after visiting the shops in Vienna, Budapest, Prague and London, I still rate Dubai's Rock Shop staffs to be friendliest. Is it because they are Filipinas? :) 

We got back to the hotel and freshened up quickly before checking out from the hotel. We still had time and we decided to have lunch before departing for the airport. We had Chinese food and in Dubai. Haha.. 

 21 dirhams for this plate of fried tilapia fish and it came with complimentary rice and drink

Goodbye Traders and see you, Dubai! 

G&L in Dubai 2015 - Day 3

Day 3 - itinerary
City Tour
- Dubai Museum
- Bur Dubai & Meena Bazaar
- Jumeira Mosque (watch n go)
- Jumeira Beach
- Burl Al Arab (at a distance)
- Souk Madinat Jumeirah
- Gold Souk
- Dubai Mall
- Dubai Fountain Show
- Marina View

I'll let the photos do the talking. Overal, the whole city is painted in just one shade - gold. Hence, the city is a really good place for photographs. Wear bright and striking colours and it would be great.

The city of gold. Living the dream. 

The whole city is clean, neat and posh. 

Yet to see the poor side of the city. 

First stop, the Dubai Museum to learn about the history of the city. 

With Mei

The kitchen used to be like this last time

This was where the locals use to sleep 

Air-conditioner looks like this in the past

The almighty abra, a very important mode of transport until today

Their mosque have really tall arches

Bur Dubai Meena Bazaar, very near to the Bur Dubai abra station. 

Jumeira mosque. 

It's a shame that we missed the guided tour time slot at 9am. 

Oh well, the beach was not bad with this view from far. 

Lots of people, foreignors mainly. 

How can you forget about ice cream at the beach? 

AED 10 for vanilla and other soft serve ice cream flavours. 

Yet another short time at another popular place - Souk Madinat Jumeirah

Souk means market and this is one posh market unlike other markets such as gold, spice and textiles. 

The lamps were lovely. Made of tainted and colourful glass. 

An idea of what to get as souvenirs. Camels are cute. 

Man made creek at the souk 

An upclose view of the Burj Al Arab

 At the Gold Souk

 Be inspired! 

 Chilling on our way back to the meeting point

 Saudi Cool - a mix of apple juice, 7-up and soda with apples and oranges and some mint

AED30 per jar. 

 Chicken Shawarma - AED 5 (some sort of chicken wrap)

 At the Sheikh's palace where peacocks roamed freely. 

 A massive courtyard outside of the palace

 The entrance to the palace

 Our company - Pg, Bw and KL branches combined. 

 Dubai Mall Aquarium and Underground Zoo

Sunset view again at 6pm. All waiting for the fountain show.  

 Souk Al Bahar behind me. 

 It is only one song per half an hour. So, the opening song is Arabic followed by English, Indian and Chinese. 

 The majestic Dubai Mall, biggest in the world. 

All lit up, La Fayette gallery at the end of the road. 

 Going for dinner at the Marina, new Dubai City where skyscrapers are its main residents.  

 Can you see the 90 degrees twisted shaped building?? 

End of our day, heading back to the hotel for a good rest.