måndag 22 mars 2010

U.A.E. Episode 3

Time for next update, the Episode 3 of my U.A.E. visit.
This includes the photos between 200-300:), so there are yet many chapters to come.
Enjoy!

In Madinat Jumeirah at the very nice restaurant Meat Co.


A little rest in Madinat Jumeirah, just lovely!


Madinat Jumeirah again:)



"The walk" at Dubai Marina, seen from the beachside.
This huge complex, which is planned to be filled with exclusive shops and restaurants is still a bit deserted, and was not as glam as it wants to be advertised as. Actually it was still so closed and empty, that we spent less than an hour here, though there is a quite a long taxiride to get here from the center of Dubai.


Me at the open beach close to "The Walk" and Dubai Marina.


The open beach at Dubai Marina again with the huge Atlantis at the Palm seen in the background.


At "The Walk".


Mercato mall, a lovely italian inspired mall, which is really worth a visit though there are not too many shops (at least compared to the rest of the malls in Dubai).


Mercato mall has 2 floors, and a lot of lovely design. Upstairs you´ll find some restaurants and coffee-shops together with some smaller shops, where as downstairs you´ll find the more exclusive botiques.


Posing in Mercato mall...


Burj Khalifa or Burj Dubai as it is also called, worlds tallest building, seen from our taxi at Sheikh Sayeed Road.


Minaret and traditional building in Bur Dubai.


Two emiratis taking their evening stroll in the Old Souk area of Bur Dubai.


Abrastation in Bur Dubai with nightview of the creek.


Posing in Bur Dubai in front of the water that is busy with abras crossing the creek 24/7.


And here she is again.


This was it for now, have a nice evening!

söndag 21 mars 2010

Some more United Arab Emirates!

Good evening!

Time for a little update again.
Continuing the U.A.E.-chapter, since there is so much left to show, and since I have finally managed to go through all the 1200 pictures that was in the newly invested camera.

Going through the pictures meant a lot of memories, a lot of stories I would like to tell, and last but not least a huge envy to go back to this country soon again!
The stories as well as the pictures are too many to tell and to show here,
but I´ll give you some snapshots of my lovely U.A.E.-stay.

The most easy way was to put it into chapters, this chapter includes the best from picture 1-200 in the camera, well maybe not the best pictures, coming to photography, but the best (from my point of view) to give you an insight of what I have been up to.

Evening in the Bur Dubai souk. Full of people, small shops, vendors trying to sell you things from fabrics, to plastic toys to reproduced arabian artisanat and bellydance-gowns.
This is said to be one of the typical arabic and most original parts of the city, but still this bustling area does not let you watch a lot of arabic people in traditional clothes, neither feel that old arabic vibe from 1001 nights, unless you really try to focus just on the architechture.
Indians and Pakistans seem to have the most shops in this area, and there are plenty of small restaurants that serve further eastern food on plasic plates and without even a napkin.


A dishdasha with black and white-checked gutra and the agal to hold it in place for sale.
And yes... I still find this so attractive!


Al Fahidi Street, downtown Bur Dubai with it´s plenty shops with cheap imports from India, China, Pakistan and Iran, not to mention the many shops selling electronics in the so called "Electronics souk", though I prefer, after having a second look, to do that kind of shopping in the malls.


At Fahidi street, content after making a bargain, or what do you say about a darkblue, very comfy (and still sooo hot) nightgown inclusive of a robe to wear over it for 32 Dirhams? To help you people out it is about 6 Euros...


A ladies salon, of course with the curtains well closed and "no men allowed-sign" where you can have your hair done for a price not possible to even dream about back home, or why not some beautiful henna-patterns?

Rebecca at one of the favourite malls, Deira City Center.
This mall is not part of the bigger scene, although it is bigger than all the malls you´ll find in Sweden, but indeed very popular among the locals as well as the expats.


Fashion sale during the end of the big Dubai Shopping Festival that takes place in the city every year. The festival equals a lot of opportunities to make some true bargains as well as nice ordinary shopping at discounted prices.


Aren´t these abayas beautiful? So classy!


And a shop for men... Here you´ll be able to find any dishdasha or gutra that you desire, and if you don´t they´ll make it for you after your instructions.


Me in Souk Al Arsa in Sharjah. Very quiet and small, and since we visited during the day, most shops were closed. A bit charming, sure, but not something you will not make it without.


The blue souk in Sharjah, the neighbouring emirate to Dubai where we went for a day-trip.
I was really looking forward to seeing this emirate that is stated to be the cultural capital of U.A.E. but to my disappointment it was not at all what I had been expecting.
Neither did we find the bustling shops in "real souks", nor the charm of a city described as a small pearl. In fact, Sharjah was quite boring, and I think I´ll not go back unless I have something that needs to be done there... The people that we got in touch with was not to friendly, I even ended up in quite a bad fight with a taxidriver, where as the next taxidriver we found kept driving and driving without knowing where to go eventhough he had directions from a collegue in the mobilephone (and the talking almost made him crash the car several times)... Not to mention, we did not find any people who spoke arabic, and their english was not more than in the best cases very basic. If you still have an envy to go there, you should bear in mind that Sharjah is very conservative, as a woman you should definately consider what you are wearing, men and women who are not related or married are not allowed to be seen together in the streets, smoking is strictly prohibited in the emirate and alcohol does not exist (not even if you have the certificate that it takes to buy alcohol outside bars in Dubai).


Me, posing in front of a pair of beautiful doors in the charming Madinat Jumeirah.


Madinat Jumairah again.


Picture taken from a taxiseat during a ride along the huge Sheikh Sayeed Road that runs all the way from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.


Mall of the Emirates and it´s famous skislope. And no, I did not try it...


Yet another shop with beautiful arabic gowns...
I know where I would be shopping if living here...


Al Jaber Gallery in Mall of The Emirates, a great place to head out for gifts and souvernirs, especially if you are to tired to bargain the prices in the souks or the streets.


Such beautiful dresses... The lovely white one makes me dream away...


A regular day in Mall of The Emirates. Which by the way is huge, especially when you experience it for the first time.


Beautiful decors and lovely shops in Madinat Jumeirah - one od my favourite destinations in the city, especially when it comes to just wandering around and then sit down for a nice meal at one of the waterfront restaurants.


Madinat Jumeirah environments with Burj Al Arab in the background.


Care for a shisha? Why not buy it here?


One of the squares in Madinat Jumeirah - this place is definately worth one or more visits!

A delicious lunch that we had at Meat Co. in Madinat Jumeirah, the food was excellent, and the outdoor views were just amazing!


Posing in front of "the Burj" in the gardens of Madinat Jumeirah.

Feels like being in an old wealthy arabian town...


Picture taken from our table at the restaurant Meat Co. in Madinat Jumeirah.

Why not enjoying the sun while resting your legs aboard an Abra in the canals of Madinat Jumeirah? If you are a resident in one of the hotels in the area, it is free, otherwise it will cost you 50 dhs.

A little view of the waterside restaurant walk.


Do you understand why I want to go back?


Some tourists waiting for their abra to take them on a ride.

A lot of walking... Miss Al Flilaoulila is resting her legs in Madinat Jumeirah while admiring the stunning view.


... And the sun is shining...


Some more architechture from Madinat Jumeirah and it´s shops.


Ready to head out for some more adventures after a short break at the hotel!

So this was it for now! Hope you enjoyed!
Take care! XX.