Day 2: Big Bus Dubai Tour - Dubai Creek

Took taxi to Wafi Mall to begin the Red Route. We drove to stop 6 to get off at the Gold Souk. We didn't find the Souk, It is to the right of the stop, down the block at the building with the large gold arrow like structure. We just went into the block and found the small shops that sold clothing and decorative braid. I bought 5 or 10 metres of braid for my mother who sews. I wanted to buy less, but they only sold it in large lots. It is beautiful stuff, made in India.

I also bought two cloisonee bracelets in a costume jewelery shop. We did stop into one real jewelery store to look, but the pieces were so elaborate that even if you could afford them, you would be hard pressed to find an occasion to wear them.

On the Big Bus we met an American couple who live in Saudi. He heads up King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and she works in the university administration. King Abdullah has recently established this univerysity. It has students and professors from all over the world and the tuition is free.

We got back on the bus and went around to the stop where the dhow tour on Dubai Creek departed. "Creek" is a misnomer - this is a 14 km salt-water river about 300 meters wide, with 8 wharfs, each catering for 31 ships. Ships from all over the Middle East and India depend of Dubai Creek for trade. We had a very nice 90 minute ride on a dhow - one of the free side activities to the Big Bus Tour. Initially we were going to just get the 24 hours of the tour, but for just a little more you get 48 hours and it was a pleasant and easy way to see Dubai.

Our last stop on the Red Bus Tour was City Center which is a famiy mall, had lots of people in it, from many nations. Most islamic women in Dubai wear head covering, which is why I could not find another hat. They don't wear them! What many of them do wear is lots of make up and visible jewelery. So no need to assume that wearing head covering means that beauty and femininity are abandoned, they are just more or less hidden depending on the local culture. In Dubai, there is decoration on robes, and jewelery, mostly elaborate necklaces. This is probably the customer base for the jewelery markets, except for the tourist, of course. Dubai is a hub for Middle Eastern tourism as well as people traveling from other countries. So Dubai has a vibrant mix of cultures, with people from all places.

The FourCarre supermarket and variety stores in these malls have about everything, and there seems to be one at each mall. We bought the waist packs at one of these stores at another mall.
Also most of the malls have big food courts and are great places for people on the Big Bus Tours to stop off and eat.

All in all, the Big Bus Tour is really the perfect way to see the architectural splendor that Dubai displays. Every building is different and very interesting. There are no square boxes of glass in Dubai. It is an architects dream. You can tell everyone has enjoyed pushing the design envelope here, and the top of the Big Bus is the perfect place to see it all.

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