It’s the first Monday of the month again, and as promised, here’s my dear friend Pauline to take us to one of her exciting explorations! This time it’s Dubai! I love how she presents two sides of this very intriguing city – the old and the new. But I must admit, the old holds more charm to me than the new. Well, let’s get on with it, shall we? :)
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Dubai – The New, The Old, and The Crazy
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| by Pauline Warneck |
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The first thing that goes through your mind when you see Dubai is “What the…?” Indeed, this place takes the prize for being the most over-the-top city on earth — surpassing even Vegas. Yep, Dubai is a whole lot of crazy. Especially the new Dubai. They have crazy sales – off-season designer duds are at 90% off and you don’t even have to wait for an event, just go to the Dubai Outlet Mall. They also have crazily expensive hotels like the Burj Al Arab (US$1500 a night).
the Burj Al Arab (US$1500 a night)
And, let’s not forget the tallest building in the world, the Bhurj Khalifa. It also houses the expensive (of course) Armani Hotel. Plus, to get to the observation deck, you have to pay almost US$100 (which I wasn’t willing to shell out just for a view). Underneath this behemoth is (of course, again) the largest mall in the world by total area, the Dubai Mall.
Dubai is also famous for it’s skyscrapers like the ones in the new Dubai Marina.
And also the iconic buildings along Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s main drag.
But, behind Dubai’s modern and shiny new image, there are a lot of cultural treasures that can be enjoyed if you are willing to explore beyond the bling. They all come at a cheap price. Or sometimes, you don’t even have to pay at all.
One example is the Bastakiya Quarter in Old Dubai, a small district near the Dubai Creek composed of small streets and really old traditional Arabian courtyard houses that were cooled by wind towers. It’s like taking a step back in time when air-conditioning and electricity where non-existent in the UAE. Now it is home to numerous museums and art shops. Entrance is free.
There’s also the Dubai Museum where you can take a glimpse of the city’s past and Bedouin Arab culture. Entrance is only Dirhams 3 (less than a US dollar).
The entrance of Dubai Museum houses a dhow, a traditional Arabian fishing boat.
The Dubai Museum is also home to a lot of artifacts and exhibits that feature Dubai’s past and traditions.
The Dubai Museum also has Dubai’s oldest building, The Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1787. This is probably considered a skyscraper at that time.
If you want a really local experience, take a 1 Dirham (around 25 cents) abra (passenger boat) ride on the Dubai creek. Notice that the boats do not have any railings so better sit down.
Walk the streets of Deira and check out the numerous souks. Just be careful if you are a lady, these streets are full of men and they tend to ogle.
Finally, check out the famous Gold Souk, which is crowded almost everyday. These people have a lot of money.
Since staring and drooling are free, that’s what I did.
So if someone says that Dubai does not have any culture, don’t believe it. They probably did not explore enough.
Pauline Warneck is a full-time housewife, part-time writer, avid traveler, and yogini for life. She and her husband are currently residing in the U.A.E.
