Dubai 2
On my way back to Bengaluru from London, I spent two days in Dubai (as I had done on my way to London from Bengaluru) and my verdict: “I love the city.”
So much so that I plan on coming back for a year to study the Arabic language and to learn about Middle Eastern food and cultures. I also plan on exploring the Middle East (and hopefully coming out alive) with Dubai as my base. This should happen sometime in early 2011, so if you want to join me you have lots of time to plan for it.
Here are some pictures from my recent layover (for a previous trip, check ‘Dubai 1′):
(Note: Please don’t use them without my permission.)
Sign identifying Basta Art Cafe, a gallery-cum-cafe in the Al Bastakiya area in Bur Dubai.
A painting displayed at Basta Art Cafe.
Al Fahidi Fort as seen from outside. Dubai Museum is located within this fort.
Entrance to Dubai Museum. Fee per adult was AED 3.00.
Walkway to exhibits in the basement of Dubai Museum.
Information panel on Dubai Creek.
Exhibit of a spice shop in Dubai from times gone by.
Beautiful giant boat outside Dubai Museum.
Menu at a sandwich shop in the textile souk close to Al Bastakiya. Try item number 2 if you have two left feet.
Fellow commuters on an abra (traditional boat used as a water taxi) crossing the creek.
Abra station on the Deira side of the creek.
View of the approaching abra station (Bur Dubai side) from the creek waters.
The Al Bastakiya area after sundown.
What’s truly amazing about Dubai is how well it serves as a confluence of eastern traditions and western values. Men in white robes and red, white and black headgear are as common here as the overrated Starbucks’ coffee. Maybe that’s why you could be interacting with a Scandinavian one minute and a South African the next. I would go as far as calling it the world’s ‘melting pot’ capital.
Sorry London, but what you have is an amalgamation of regional ghettos forming one large city without true inter-cultural understanding.
Love the feel in every photo. Also, the falling for the Al Bastakiya, after sun down. Ah, beauty!
Thanks Waseem. Have you been to Dubai yourself?
That’s wht i call “Paras at his best”….truely exceptional!
Shukran Ankit. We need to do a photo expedition together soon.
What’s ‘Disco Tea’?
@Hiten: I don’t know. I didn’t ask, but it seems like something I want to try in the future.
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
Hello Polprav. Which post and how much of it do you intend on quoting?
hey paras cool photographs
Thank you, Hitesh. It’s time you stepped out of India yourself.