Marhaba/Tjaba tjena!
We just wanted to write a little about a place we miss in Dubai. That is, the Deira spice souk (souk = an open-air market) in Dubai. Walking there is lovely, smelling all the different aromas from the spices. It has your nostrils going crazy, haha! Some spices are so colorful that it feels like your walking through a rainbow. When walking, you get called on at least a million times, them telling you to come insisde there shop. Sometimes you even get a little something for free + just a little tip; being blonde helps, haha! So many different spices are sold there including yellow saffron, cinnamon and aniseed. Shops in the Deira spice souk also include various herbs and special perfumed oils which local healers and pharmacists have been using to make their own traditional medicine for a very long time, maybe even centuries. Another thing that is great to experience and see is their (the people that work their) relaxed lifestyle. They have no time to fit, and don't have to do anything in a rush. They drink tea and then get people into their shops. After that, they drink some more tea. They live such a stress-free life, which sounds pretty good to us! 

Next to the spice souk there is the Dubai creek. After you've been adoring the beautiful spices and enjoying their lovely aromas, you could go take a ride on an abra (a traditional Arab boat). You can either rent one for yourself, or hop on one, riding with the Indians and locals. Riding with the Indians and locals is more of an experience, in our opinion. Its more... Dubai! Riding past huge yachts is not too unusual. If you choose to just go by boat to the other side of the creek, and not take a boat ride around the whole creek, there are many shops there. You can find beautiful clothes (especially dresses), pashmina shawls, and shoes. More shopping for the girls! Oh, and an "abra ride" back and forth costs you 2 dhs, which is equivalent to 4 Swedish kronor!! So, if any of you happen to be visiting Dubai, make sure to go to Deira and check out the spice market and take an abra ride on the Dubai creek!


The Spice Souk





"Shops" near the creek

 

The Dubai creek and abras


++And please keep telling us what you want to read about on our blog! More entries similiar to this one? More comparison about Dubai and Sweden? Tell us!!

Shukran wa maesalama XXXX