Meow

Arf! They'll give her a chocolate mousse cake and if you don't want it there and then they'll box it so you can take it home.

Autonomy

Yeah but whatever you do, don't try to go back to Bar Zar with a cake. Of all the things they don't allow in there - is a cake. FFS... (right Meow!)

Meow

Nasty weapons, those cakes!!

scrubbedexpat141

I thought all of Dubai was shiny and shallow?

To be honest, the mrs want's to see the fountains, I want meat, my friends lives next to the Khalifa - more convenience I think...

Is Deira worth a visit on Friday morning for the souks to show her a bit of old Dubai??

scrubbedexpat141

Not quite cake, but a bloke tried to walk past/through the seating area of Bar Zar with his son, daughter and wife to get to the other side...was stopped by the staff because kids were underage.

Bit narrow minded but give a man a branded polo shirt and a cap and he's the boss...haha

Meow

No, which is what we told you. The Marina, Madinat and Burj Khalifa are not representative of the whole place. Much of Deira will be shut on Friday until 4.00pm. Take a walk along the creek though, or have a proper drive around as traffic is light on a Friday morning.

Although it seems many people never bother to find out, there is more to Dubai than shiny buildings and shopping malls.

scrubbedexpat141

A lot to still explore - only been here two weeks!

Will eventually get around to most places I should think...

co durham boy

Go to Bur Dubai side of the creek very early and get yourself a Cardamom chai and potato dosa for breakfast , take the Abra across to Deira and wander along the moorings and watch the Dhows unload.

One of the best and cheapest things you'll ever do in Dubai , you'll get more out of that than being in the Barasti Bar with a load tw**s.....

The sad thing is not many people get to see the real Dubai . The creek is where Dubai evolved and where it's trade began. Real people , real life....and also real smells...!

Autonomy

Mr Scamp - you are in perilous danger of falling into the 90% you quoted...

Already there are signs...

To really get a flavour of where really are (New Dubai is not real), try to check out some of these places at some point. Take a camera. Walk around. Have some fresh manakesh. Haggle. Have a laugh with some guys from Bangladesh / Iran / Aghanistan....

Deira Souqs
Take an abra across the creek
Creekside dhow wharf
Satwa
Fish Market in Deira (get there early - 6am)
Fruit And Veg Market in Ras Al Khor
Rolla Sqaure in Sharjah

I really love the feel of these places - reminds me of where I *really* live...

Meow

Exactly!

I'd add in Karama and Bastikiya too. Much more interesting than the new shiny stuff.

Ethos83

Just wondering - how many of you actually live in "old Dubai?"

If it's all that wonderful then why aren't you living side by side with the good folks down there?

Old Dubai is great - in theory. In reality it's merely ok and only when compared to the glitz and glamour of New dubai. Lots of fantastic and cheap as chips curry houses in Karama. The abra ride/Gold Souk is worthwhile about once or twice a year. You will rarely venture to the bars in the creekside hotels because the cost of a roundtrip taxi fare works out to 2-3 beers compared to staying in the Marina or close by.

Twats are everywhere in Dubai. Get used to it. Just ignore them. If you want a laid back and nearly twat-free place, Belgian Beer in Tecom is handy for you. There's a rooftop terrace with an outdoor bar that I tended to head for except in the high summer months.

Ethos83

Bastikiya? Don't be daft. There's practically nothing there other than one (admittedly good) art gallery.

Millhouse

spot on. I'm off to Karama this evening for a curry and a bit of shopping.

I'd live around there if we didn't have Mini.

Ethos83

No you wouldn't.

Good luck with the traffic. I saved Karama for Friday and Saturday nights. Thursday was the worst day to be facing SHZ.

Millhouse

Actually, I would. I lived in the equivalent area in Abu Dhabi and loved it. Apartment living was OK until mini could run - now we need more space hence the AR. We'd like to move to Jumeriah 1/ Satwa although the issue now is that Mini is settled in the Springs and it's just too much of a pain in the ass to find a new school.

Anyway, who said I was driving there? I'll drive to the DIFC, park here and get the train.