Sharjah

This morning I went on an optional tour to Sharjah, an Emirate bordering Dubai and just over a bridge from Dubai City and quite built up. Many of the workers in Dubai live in Sharjah as the rents are less expensive––about $1200 a month. The seven Emirates have a federal structure with a president and vice president, then each Emirate has its own laws and each city in an Emirate also has its own laws. Sharjah is much more conservative than is Dubai––no alcohol even in hotels, a law that dictates a decency dress code (in Dubai, the Muslim dress code is “enforced” through families and/or culturally, not by law), a law that states that unmarried women and men cannot be seen in public together, and men–only and women–only beaches. Mounir told us that marriages are still arranged in the Emirataes and that there is now dating.

Sharjah

We had a photo stop at the very attractive “civic center.”

Sharjah Museum for Islamic Civilization

We next visited the Sharjah Museum for Islamic Civilization, housed in a beautiful building which used to be a souq (marketplace). Sharjah has over 20 museums. This one showcases 1,400 years of Islamic art and artefacts, textiles, pottery, etc. from all over the Islamic world.

Souq Al-Arsa

Sharjah has held on to a small slice of its past with this complex which includes the Souq Al–Arsa. You can bargain here and I did.

Central Market

Next stop was the huge Central Market where the are many stores selling gold jewelry on its bottom floor and Persian rugs and souvenirs on its upper floor.

I put my photos of Sharjah on a slide show: Go directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/day–3a–sharjah/

or to Slide Show, Dubai/Abu Dhabi, “Museum and Souqs.”

My Lunch

We drove back to our hotel in Dubai via some congested traffic. Even though so many workers in Dubai live in Sharjah, there is no metro between the two Emirates, which leads to congested roads. This is a photo of the Arab plate that I ordered in my hotel’s dining room for my lunch. They really do know how to make shish kebob here––delicious. So was the rest of the meal.

Dubai at Night

Before we went on a dhow dinner cruise this night, we made a stop at the Dubai Mall to see its water fountain show. Photo: the Burj Khalifa lit up and seen from the front of the Dubai Mall.

Garrett Chicago Popcorn

We walked past a Garrett popcorn store at the mall. Garrett’s is a big name in Chicago. I was not surprised to see it as there are many of these in Singapore. Unbelievable how many American brands have made it to Middle East and elsewhere around the world.

Dubai Mall Fountain Show

There was a very large crowd at the fountain show. The spots with few people are not good to see the show. You have to walk farther into a crowded area.

The Burj Khalifa

A full view of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, seen from the fountain area.

Dubai Mall Fountain Show

The fountain show has begun. It is similar to the fountain show at the Bellagio in Las Vegas but it covers a larger area here. I’ve been told that the designer of the show in Las Vegas also designed the Dubai show.

Dubai Mall Fountain Show: Movie

The fountain show.

Leaving the Fountain Show

There was a second, different fountain show 1/2 hour later, but I didn’t stay for it as I wanted to do some shopping at the mall’s supermarket. I think a number of my tour group did not stay for the second show because of being fountain show snobs. We liked the Bellagio show better mainly because of its relaxed uncrowded setting and the music played during the show. At least, that was the consensus of people I asked about it, but we were glad to have seen the one here. The photo is of the crowd I had to get through to leave the area. The mall itself was packed––a big thing in Dubai: Saturday Night at the Mall!

The Supermarket

I found the Supermarket––I saw only signs calling it the “Supermarket,” no specific name on it. I went to buy cookies and candy to bring back as gifts. There was a display of them right at the front of the market, but a long walk to pay for them as this market is huge. I didn’t have time to walk around it but I did see some American brands in the freezer department. Most of the market’s customers were Westerners. The Mall of the Emirates has a Carrefour supermarket.

Back on the Bus

We passed this lit–up mosque on our way to the Dubai Creek to take a dhow dinner cruise.

Dhow Dinner Cruise

A dinner cruise aboard a dhow on the Dubai Creek was part of our tour. Photo: our dhow.

A movie of the dhows is the next item. I put the photos of the dhow dinner cruise on a slide show. Go directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/dubai–day–3b–dhow–dinner–cruise/

or to Slide Shows, Dubai/Abu Dhabi, “Dubai, Day 3B, Dhow Dinner Cruise.”

Dhows on the Dubai Creek: Movie

I took a movie of some of the lit–up dhows on the Dubai Creek.

Dubai Night Skyline

A last look at the Dubai skyline on our way back to the hotel. We would leave Dubai tomorrow morning to travel to Abu Dhabi.