Autonomy

your folks visit for the first time!

I know a lot of stuff to do with them, but 2 things we've not done yet and would be good to get advice / views on are:

Falcon and Heritage Center - any good and where is it exactly? Nad Al Sheba?

Jumeriah Mosque - the tours on Sun and Thurs mornings - these look good - anyone done this? Need to book in advance?

Thanks guys - any suggestions on unusual or not obvious things to do would be most welcome too...

MataHari

Done both...not once, not twice not etc....

Falcon and Heritage Centre, a disappointment really....big building, clean toilets, lots of empty stores....there are a couple open, the have falcons and falcon related items. People are nice, so they'll tell you about the birds which is good, but otherwise it's just a big empty building. Nicer to go nextdoor, to the "Camel Souk" and see the old Pakistani guys behind their sawing (?) machines making the blankets. Some of those are really nice by the way, so might be worth buying some stuff there, some nice photo opportunities as well.

The Grand Mosque, nice to do, does depend a bit on who is doing the tour on how entertaining it is, people can ask questions afterwards, that's the most amusing part of the tour, some of the questions LOL!!!! No need to book in advance, but be a bit early to register and pay. It can be quite busy.

Let me find some pics...

W10

Take them to Double Decker and watch drunken Brits making complete arses of themselves.

Oh that's not unusual is it

Seriously though - The falcon heritage centre is cool for about 10 minutes because they let you hold a falcon (not literally) and will answer any questions you have. But there is nothing there. Rumour has it that during the training season they will let you watch them putting a falcon through it's paces.

Deira Fish Market is quite interesting, the Miraj Gallery is good and the mosque tours are cool, as is the calligraphy museum in Bestakyia.

Take them to Al Ain or Sharjah for cultural visits (plenty of forts, Jebel Hafeet, museums, art galleries). The Arabian Wildlife Centre in Sharjah is nice too.

MataHari

all my pics are too big

W10

I tried to go to a camel race last year, but was told I couldn't go in. Presumably because I had a camera on me??

Also om the camel theme, if you hit the dirt track/private road at the roundabout before the camel market then there is a camel farm there with some Emirati guy who is really friendly and sits and chats all day long before offering a ride (fnarr, fnarr)

MataHari

yes, fish market is great, also a fruit and vegetable section and a nice smelling butcher section!

MataHari

Also nice, take an Abra from the Textile souk side, cross the Creek and walk along the Creek to see the boats being loaded. There is a little terras at the Abra station on that side that does fresh juices, you can sit and watch the world go by....

trailingspouse

The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (who do the Jumeirah Mosque tours) also do a walking tour of Bastakiya, conducted by a local lady. Nice way to spend a morning and then stop at one of the little cafes now open in Bastakiya for lunch.

http://www.cultures.ae/activities.htm

Autonomy

Ok - thats's interesting - someone else recommended Sharjah for heritage... really?

Disappointed that the falcons are no good... flamingos at Nad Al Sheba?

I know the fish market, deira, abra, camel pens, marina, taking them through wadi bih, BBQ on Jebel Ali beach, bastikya, bur dubai fabrics, Sheikh M house etc...

Desert Safari? I am talking them out to Big Red. What about quad bike (yes I know they are dangerous etc but he wants to do it) have done the ones at Big Red and they are ok, but are there better ones?

Thanks to all for your replies!

MataHari

Quadbikes at big red, very nice...we always went to the one straight behind the big red, before we bought our own. Al Mansoor or something.
Across the street there are a couple of cafetaria's, nice juices and stuff.

Autonomy

I know the fish market... I love it... here is a piccy I took:

Autonomy

I'm getting to be a little photo obsessive - are you allowed to take photos inside the mosque?

God, I used to spend my life asking "can I smoke here" and now I have given up for months I now spend my life asking "can I take a photo?"

MataHari

yes you can....no problem
I am the same, I always take my camera everywhere...lol