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.All Trips / Asia / Dubai
A visit to the Top of the World — Dubai’s Burj Khalif
It seems fitting that the last major post in my series on visiting Dubai should highlight what I thought was its most spectacular attraction, namely the lovely Burj Khalif. It is the world’s tallest building, with the world’s highest observation decks. How could any traveler resist adding checkmarks to those bullet points on their bucketlist?
The Burj Khalifi has 1.85 million sq ft of residential space and 300,000 sq ft of office space, in addition to the Armani designed hotel and residences. Here are some additional interesting facts about the building and its construction:
– It contains 11.6 million sq ft of concrete
– It took 22 million man hours to build over 6 years. There were 12,000 people working on the building …
Tagged Burj Khalif, Dubai, Dubai Mall, Top of the World
.All Trips / Asia / Dubai
Exploring Dubai’s Al Fahidi Historical District
Dubai is known for its beautiful modern architecture. Yet permanent structures are relatively new to the region. Historically most of the Arabs who lived here were nomadic and did not leave behind physical monuments or buildings. As such, older regions of Dubai are hard to find.
There’s a neighborhood in Bur Dubai which was built in the mid -19th century, at a time when the city was beginning to take root. This is the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, adjacent to Dubai Creek. The neighborhood is characterized by buildings with tall wind towers (Barajeel) that capture evening breezes to cool the interior of a home (not unlike a fan in a window). Built with traditional materials like stone and gypsum, the Al-Fahidi neighborhood was home to businessmen and …
Tagged Al Fahidi, Dubai, Historical, neighborhood
“Pic of the Week”, February 15, 2019: Arabian Tea House Cafe, Dubai
Just outside one of the more interesting neighborhoods in Dubai, the Al Fahidi Historic District, sits a small picturesque cafe — the Arabian Tea House Cafe. I’d been on my feet for more than three hours and the heat of the day was ramping up, so I thought I’d take a break to rest and get a snack.
The cafe was situated in a shaded courtyard (shade provided by both trees and canopies) with comfortable tables. Some sofas for waiting were placed outside and inside the restaurant, so it must get busy at times, although that late morning it was not. Fans moved air around and it was quite pleasant, despite the ambient heat. The clientele was a mixture of locals …
Feb 14, 2019
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.All Trips / Asia / Dubai
A Day in the Dubai Mall
On my last day in Dubai I thought I’d connect with a few world records. I visited the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building and with the world’s highest observation deck, and the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping mall (by total area). These two structures adjoin each other, so it’s quite easy to see both in one day. I’ll soon publish a separate post on the Burj Khalifi, but today I’d like to focus on some of the sights and activities of the Dubai Mall.
Generally speaking, I’m not much of shopper and definitely not a Mall guy, but the Dubai Mall was an interesting and pleasant place to visit, especially as the outside temperature soared to 40oC (105oF), and …
Tagged Dubai, Mall, shopping, world's largest
“Pic of the Week”, December 28, 2018: The Coffee Museum, Dubai
The Al Fahidi Historic District is one of the few surviving older neighborhoods within Dubai. It’s quite a charming area which has been refurbished and modernized, and contains a variety of shops, cafes and some small museums.
One of the museums is dedicated to coffee. It’s a small privately owned museum that displays the owner’s private collection, including historic items related to coffee making and drinking, such as old coffee grinders, pots, roasters and other coffee-related memorabilia. Some of the items reflect the history of coffee consumption around the world. There’s a small library with books based on coffee dating back as far as the 18th century. And there are some Emirati-style majlis (sitting rooms) also on display.
Coffee is an integral …
Dec 27, 2018
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“Pic of the Week”, November 9, 2018: Street Art in Dubai
As one might expect in a Kingdom with fairly tight control of its society, Dubai does not have much in the way of street art. The one exception to this, at least that I encountered during my visit, was in the Al Fahidi Historical District.
The district is one of the older surviving neighborhoods in Dubai and was home to merchants and traders, many from Iran. Their homes have been restored and have converted into offices, cafés, art galleries and small shops. Interspersed was some art, mostly murals quite nicely done. But there were other interesting sights like some sculpture, a small garden growing in recycled soda bottles — even some antiques outside a café.
A pleasant and safe neighborhood in which to …
Nov 8, 2018
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.All Trips / Asia / Dubai
Across Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek is the main geographic landmark of Dubai. The Creek, 14 km long, divides Dubai into its two original neighborhoods – Deira Dubai and Bur Dubai. The Creek has played a major role in the history and economic development achieved by Dubai beginning in the days when desert nomads first settled on its banks in the 19th century. Dubai Creek has been a center for the traditional pearl trade and now for international shipping and trade. The Creek was dredged and widened decades to ago to allow larger ships ease of entry.
Abras on Dubai Creek…
Tagged Dubai, Dubai Creek
“Pic of the Week”, September 28, 2018: Dubai’s Textile Souk
Situated in the Bur Dubai, adjoining Dubai Creek, is the Textile Souk. This is a pretty market district located within a restored traditional bazaar, its buildings and walkways shaded by a wooden roof (the shade providing welcome relief from the almost unbearable desert heat). There is a main central lane to the market, with side alleys leading to smaller shops.
Most of the shops are now operated by Indian (rather than Arab) traders and the merchandise sold varies from the colorful bolts of cloth (cotton, silk, some embroidered), dresses, blankets, slippers, and assorted Dubai souvenir items. Bartering is expected and often lively. Many of the shops have tailors who can sew you a dress or shirt and have it ready before you depart …
Sep 26, 2018
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