In today’s travel world, ever-multiplying numbers are intent on climbing off the tourist track and onto hidden paths in the heart of nowhere. I am very much about exploring the unknown and am constantly plotting out journeys to offbeat spots. The first time I headed from Sharjah into the very much on-the-beaten path city of Dubai, I managed immediately to stumble off entirely without effort. Here’s what I found during a couple of hours wandering around off-the-beaten-path Dubai.
I arrived late one Saturday morning on a typical oppressively hot and humid autumn day, the kind that turns your clothes wet, warm and misshapen soon after you step out the front door. Dripping, I visited first the famous yet wholly unimpressive gold souk, which I would have missed if I’d been blinking rapidly.
Immediately thereafter, I accidentally wandered into an area crammed with cars, driven by people who had looked into car hire Dubai, and pedestrians, neighborhoods gritty and chaotic and somehow, even in Dubai, real.
As I moved deeper and deeper into these streets, I left the Arab population behind and found myself surrounded solely by Indians. I became excessively lost, in tangles of nearly identical dusty streets packed with small shops and men sitting on top of carts on sidewalks, apparently hoping to be summoned to load something and haul it off.
Finally I had progressed so deep into this Indian expat enclave that almost no men were wearing pants but instead their native dhoti, or colorful cloth, around their waist. I see many men in dhotis here in Sharjah, but scores on every block gave me the impression I had crossed an invisible line dividing the UAE from India.
From the moment I realized I was lost, I began trying to guide my way back on track, as I was already desperate with a hunger now intensified by the sun and time. I wished for someplace decent to sit and eat a hearty meal. I didn’t think I was delerious from the heat, yet repetitively purposefully passed dozens of small restaurants and little stores, feeling stupidly choosy at a time when I should have paused and eaten something, anything just to avoid passing out.
After at least an hour of sweating and searching, I found a tiny restaurant that I realized was perfectly good enough. I grabbed a table immediately inside the door and began gobbling down a meal of fish and rice. I was so happy about the food and the pitcher of water on the table that I didn’t mind being smacked repeatedly by the plastic curtain which served as a front door, as people entered and exited. One fish was not enough for my sapped self, so I ordered another, bringing the entire cost of this delectable meal to ten Dirhams – approximately $2.75 U.S.
Now able to think more clearly, I found a series of someones who eventually guided me back to the souk from which I’d wandered. Only after I stepped back into the mainstream glitz of Dubai did I realize what a gem of an area I’d left behind.
How about you? Have you ever gotten lost, only to find yourself in an off-the-beaten path spot far more interesting than the area from which you ventured? Do tell.
it is great you are going to places where other people arent and you are blogging about it.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 07:15
Thanks, Zablon. I like it.
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Wow, how cool! The old area of DUbai is on my list to see. I’d love to look around ‘real’ neighbourhoods. Did you feel safe? I just ask because my Dubai-dwelling expat colleagues tell me it’s not a good idea to go alone… hrmmm…. Though I’ve never had any hassle so far, and generally Dubai seems quite safe.
Greta recently posted..Read At Your Own Risk
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 07:17
Hi, Greta! This was definitely “real.” I did feel perfectly safe. But then, I always feel safe. Not one untoward thing happened, so I think I can say this area actually is safe.
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Sounds like fun Sabina. The streets are amazing in Dubai when you move off the beaten path. I loved my time in Dubai and like you I think the gold Souk was quite something. My wife, Helen, still wears the pearl earing we bought. Two bits of advice was that Helen had to cover up her skin so not to offend locals, when we ventured off the beaten path, but I could not believe the haggling on price for everything in the Souk. The price changes dramaticaly when you ask and persist. Did you find the boats to cross the river? I found these amazing, we justs piled ontop of this little wooden boat, no safety rails and away we went. Thank you for sharing and in answer to the “safe” question yes we felt completely safe.
Benji – passionate about Margaret River recently posted..Paige Trantham Sunday Session at Caves House
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 00:26
Hi, Benji! Thanks a lot. I did take a boat across the creek. It was pretty cool – especially for 1 Dirham.
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Cool! From the pictures it looks fine but always nice to get opinions from people who have been there. Will definitely be going for a little wander on my next set of days off…
Greta recently posted..Read At Your Own Risk…
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 00:27
Good! I think you’ll like it. It’s a different world.
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Sabina,
Getting lost and finding new things is what travel’s all about, to me anyway. I envy you. Be safe.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 00:28
That’s true. That is pretty much what it’s all about.
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Getting lost can be a great adventure.
This is a bit of topic, but I was wondering how easy it is to find a reasonable place to stay if you want to hang out in Dubai a few weeks or longer?
Nancie (Ladyexpat) recently posted..Through the Sandbox Lens 17 8212 Hwaseong Fortress Wall
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 00:29
Hi, Nancie. I don’t know about right in Dubai. I’m living in Sharjah, about 25K outside Dubai, and there’s tons of reasonably priced accommodations here. I’ll ask around about Dubai and let you know.
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Wowww, what a meal! Especially with the price tag. Dang.
Candice recently posted..Zombies Would Love Lunenburg
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 00:30
I know! It was just the perfect find.
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Good on ya for just wandering and getting a bit lost. Looks like you were in Bur Dubai, just like being in India – crowded, lively, noisy, colourful…
You going to the other Emirates as well?
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 00:30
Of course you would know, Sohpie
Not yet but very soon.
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In this case, I’d have to say getting lost was totally worth it. All that food for $2.75? Score! But hey, next time, bring a bottle of water and some snacks with you so you don’t pass out in a strange place.
Gray recently posted..Restaurant Review- Miguels on Main
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
October 31st, 2010 at 00:31
I did actually have water with me. They just had more water than I did
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Great storytelling, I felt like I was right there and discovering that new place too. And two bucks for that entire meal is a really amazing deal.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
November 5th, 2010 at 23:46
That meal was incredible. I’ve since had another just like it for about the same price not nearly so deep off the beaten path. These little Indian restaurants are a great place to eat if you’re ever in Dubai.
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It’s great to read your off beaten path experience in Dubai. We were there (were in UAE) for a very very short time, we pretty much only had the time to do the most obvious things there. Went to biggest/most glorious malls in the world, some souks, sand dunes, and city tour. We saw a lot during small amount of time, but quite on beaten path.
Dina recently posted..Termite Mounds of Queensland’s Savannah
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
November 6th, 2010 at 00:57
You’ve done more than I have. All but one of my trips into Dubai have been for business. I’ll get around to the tourist stuff soon, I hope.
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I visited Dubai as a kid and I still remember bits of it, particularly the cats, the gold shops and the food. It’s on my list of places I want to visit, particularly the old parts of the city, the ones not taken over by glass.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 00:25
Hi, Neha. So much of Dubai has been overtaken so quickly. Very bizarre. I would have liked to have seen it when I was a kid so I could personally know how much it’s changed.
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Dubai:) I always like to work there
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