More Local Fare

I love going to the older part of Dubai, somehow it feels more real to me than the newly developed areas around the marina. Of course by any other standards, old Dubai is not particularly old at all, but it certainly has a more unique and earthy flavour than new Dubai. 

The gold souk area is always great for a visit and comes alive and sparkly after dusk. Plenty of bling on display and hustlers trying to sell "good copy" bags, watches and sunglasses. They try to catch your eye and follow you down the street crying "handbags madam? Luis Vuitton, Fendi, Prada, Gucci......." the other labels fade into silence as you wander away. 

There are plenty of cats in this area, a trifle on the thin side, and some of them so sleepy from the heat that you almost tread on them before they acknowledge you. Still, they look healthier than their counterparts in Asia. One gorgeous specimen we saw loitering by the garbage cans was jet black with enormous amber eyes, just like our neighbour's cat back home in Bondi.  

We had dinner with friends last night at one of the local "eating shops" in the souk area. It doesn't look very stylish, and I'm pretty sure they don't get many westerners in there, but the people are friendly, and the Indian food served is sooo authentic. Yum. It is just like home cooking! For 12 dirhams you get all you can eat and more. I was full for the rest of the evening.

I should have taken a picture of the tray of food that we had, but being hungry I ate before I remembered my camera. But this is the condiment tray after dinner: 

We also wandered around Nasser Square, which is a bunch of low priced shops selling shoes, clothing, souvenirs and the obligatory handbags. It has a market feel to it, although they are proper shops. This is the spot to have a relaxing juice, or a fresh coconut. Sitting outside in the humid evening air watching people from all walks of life stroll by, listening to cars toot and motorbikes roar, I could almost imagine I was back in Thailand. 

A trip to the souks is not complete without a 1 dirham trip across the creek in an abra and back. It is especially wonderful at night time, when the water sparkles with reflections from the surrounding lights, and the dhow cruise boats sail by like floating christmas trees. The stampede to get on and off the abra always makes me wonder why no-one falls in - hope that it wont be me one day!