Dubai #2

Coffee and Arabian sweets and dates in a beautiful cool, treed courtyard with local amatuer paintings on the walls and white wicker chairs- very relaxing for jetlagged travellers.

This is the entrance to a souk, where surprisingly there are many Indian made textiles, embroideries etc for sale. We have noticed this area is populated by Pakistani and Indian foreign workers, so the local shops are catering to their clothing preferences- rich and colourful gold work embroidered saries and tops.

Dubai

Fascinating to wander around the Bastakiya area that has buildings of coral, sandstone and render, restored to their former glory. The wind towers cooled the houses and are seen on the corners of most of the walled-in courtyarded homes. Most buildings were closed, but we came across a shop selling Iranian handicrafts. The owner was very happy to explain the crafts and insisted I try on the beaded headdress and also equiped me with a beaded bag.

The palm fronds are used for roofing and walls. 'No smoking' around them please!

India via Dubai

We are on our way via Dubai. This was the sight that greeted us at first light, from the eighth floor of our hotel in the Bur Dubai area near Dubai Creek, which you can see behind the Mosque. A light dust haze hangs over everything. The call to prayer is loud and reverberates around the old walls and modern shops.

The Dubai Museum also sits in front of the hotel. This is my first time on the ground of an Arabian country in Africa and it is a heady mix of cultures, sights and sounds.

Have never had minaret topped toiletry bottles before!

This is the 'abra' water taxi on the creek.