Sipping a cup of hot masala chai I gazed at the other side of the creek. On the Baniyas Road vehicles were cruising alongside the azure serpentine creek. That westernmost area of Deira is called Al Ras which in Arabic means 'The Cape'. Not far away from the creek, the world famous Gold Souk is located in Deira which has given the 'City of Gold' title to this vibrant and rich city. Souk means market in Arabic. More than three hundred shops sell gold and jewellery in this unique market. It's believed that at any given point of time ten tons of gold can be found in this market! The Spice Souk is also within a walkable distance from the creek.
It was a beautiful summer evening and the cool breeze from the sea made me forget the scorching hot afternoon. I was sitting alone on the steps to the water, behind the buildings of HSBC Bank and Ministry of Finance situated near Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai. Behind me, on the left, few yards away under the canopy a young lady was sitting on a wooden bench and reading a book. Two kids were playing nearby - one kid was blowing soap bubbles and the smaller giggly one, in a Spider-Man t-shirt, was jumping up and down and trying to catch them.
I took another sip of the masala chai and stood up for a walk towards the Heritage Village. I crossed the canopy - the kids were tirelessly busy with their bubbles and the young lady was engrossed in her book. After few steps along the creek I paused for a while near the end of the Ghubaiba Road. On this road, near the Ghubaiba Bus Station, I have watched many Hindi movies with my friend in the Plaza Cinema. Unlike the rest of the world the weekend starts on Friday in U.A.E.. So in Dubai the Hindi movies are released on Thursday evening; one day before the people in other countries can enjoy the show! It's a privilege for a movie buff like me.
Sipping the chai I walked again. Near the entrance to the Heritage Village I saw a family in traditional attire. Emirati men wear kandura, a loose-fitting robe, which covers the body from shoulders to ankles. Similar garment for women is called abaya. Men prefer white kanduras and women are usually in black abayat. Men place the agal, a black band, tightly around the headscarf called ghutrah. Ghafiyah, a Muslim prayer cap, is worn below the ghutrah. Women cover their heads with hijab. Arabs in Dubai are proud of their tradition, but this doesn't discourage them from embracing modern technologies. This lifestyle makes them unique and very special in the Middle East.
On my way back I saw the historical House of Sheikh Saeed Al Makhtoum. Around two hundred years ago the settlement of eight hundred tribals had laid the foundation of this rapidly growing city. Till the first half of 1960s it was primarily a fishing and pearling town. Then oil was discovered in 1966 and the landscape of Dubai changed drastically. Economy grew exponentially. It became a major trade hub for Asia, Europe, North Africa and Middle East. This creek has a significant contribution to the meteoric growth. Greeks used to call it River Zara!
When I reached the canopy those two kids had left. I found the young lady still sitting on the wooden bench. She was glued to the pages of 'The Arabian Nights'. I walked past the canopy and the steps. After taking the last sip I looked at the distant scenery - On the canvas of Mother Earth the ripples of this blue watercourse were ruling over the magnificent vista! The area was abuzz with the sound of the abras ferrying passengers across the creek. Abra is the Arabic word for the wooden boat.
Above the Deira skyline a flight was leaving the Dubai International Airport with its wings spread gallantly and its shadow cast somewhere in the Arabian Desert. I recalled the last time I had visited my hometown. Feeling nostalgic in this beautiful evening I walked slowly along River Zara towards Textile Souk.
Having some crispy pakodas near the abra station I spent some time watching this enigmatic city welcoming the Arabian night with the glittering urbanscape.
As it grew darker the souk became more crowded. I walked further - Near the Ruler's Court I saw a dhow cruise moving delightfully and serving Arabian delicacies to the guests. In the evening Dubai appears magical - both the past and the modern days can be seen together!
It was a beautiful summer evening and the cool breeze from the sea made me forget the scorching hot afternoon. I was sitting alone on the steps to the water, behind the buildings of HSBC Bank and Ministry of Finance situated near Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai. Behind me, on the left, few yards away under the canopy a young lady was sitting on a wooden bench and reading a book. Two kids were playing nearby - one kid was blowing soap bubbles and the smaller giggly one, in a Spider-Man t-shirt, was jumping up and down and trying to catch them.
I took another sip of the masala chai and stood up for a walk towards the Heritage Village. I crossed the canopy - the kids were tirelessly busy with their bubbles and the young lady was engrossed in her book. After few steps along the creek I paused for a while near the end of the Ghubaiba Road. On this road, near the Ghubaiba Bus Station, I have watched many Hindi movies with my friend in the Plaza Cinema. Unlike the rest of the world the weekend starts on Friday in U.A.E.. So in Dubai the Hindi movies are released on Thursday evening; one day before the people in other countries can enjoy the show! It's a privilege for a movie buff like me.
Sipping the chai I walked again. Near the entrance to the Heritage Village I saw a family in traditional attire. Emirati men wear kandura, a loose-fitting robe, which covers the body from shoulders to ankles. Similar garment for women is called abaya. Men prefer white kanduras and women are usually in black abayat. Men place the agal, a black band, tightly around the headscarf called ghutrah. Ghafiyah, a Muslim prayer cap, is worn below the ghutrah. Women cover their heads with hijab. Arabs in Dubai are proud of their tradition, but this doesn't discourage them from embracing modern technologies. This lifestyle makes them unique and very special in the Middle East.
On my way back I saw the historical House of Sheikh Saeed Al Makhtoum. Around two hundred years ago the settlement of eight hundred tribals had laid the foundation of this rapidly growing city. Till the first half of 1960s it was primarily a fishing and pearling town. Then oil was discovered in 1966 and the landscape of Dubai changed drastically. Economy grew exponentially. It became a major trade hub for Asia, Europe, North Africa and Middle East. This creek has a significant contribution to the meteoric growth. Greeks used to call it River Zara!
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| Abras in River Zara (Dubai Creek) |
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| River Zara (Dubai Creek) |
Having some crispy pakodas near the abra station I spent some time watching this enigmatic city welcoming the Arabian night with the glittering urbanscape.
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| Dhow Cruise in River Zara (Dubai Creek) |
