Published Photographs: Dubai Edition

Each destination has its icons new and old. In Dubai both new and old include a fair amount of bling like the Burj Al Arab Hotel and gold souk pictured below.

Also pictured are the Bastakia Quarter, Spice Souk and Souk Madinat. These photographs have appeared in newspapers, books and advertising.

What are some of you favorite travel icons old and new?

Mannequins From Around The World

It seems that wherever you travel most mannequins appear to have European features. Perhaps there is some worldwide monopoly on the often freakish figures, much like Monsanto has on soybeans?

This bobble headed mannequin outside a uniform shop in Dongdaemun Market in Seoul, South Korea would no doubt make some small children cry. Perhaps she is overcompensating for her headless comrades?

These androgynous mannequins in an Issey Miyake showroom in Tokyo are minimal and more chic. The fit right in Aoyama, an upscale fashion shopping district.

This feminine looking mannequin in Bur Dubai Souk in Dubai looks displeased to be wearing a gutra (head cloth) and dishdasha shirt dress traditionally worn by men in the UAE. Perhaps her male counterpart was on holiday the week I was there.

I’m contemplating starting a mannequin business that represents the cultures of the world. Naturally proper research would involve extensive travel.

Boats From Around The World

Boats are not only a convenient way to get around when traveling but can also provide a great way to take in the surrounding scenery.

Sometimes the vessels are floating art like these Moroccan blue fishing boats in Essaouira’s Harbor.

In Dubai abras or water taxis are used by commuters to cross Dubai Creek and are an inexpensive and scenic way for travelers to get around as well.

Nothing punctuates Hong Kong’s skyline like a Chinese junk floating in Victoria Harbour.

In New York City the free of charge Staten Island Ferry provides some of the best views of lower Manhattan.

Where do you prefer to take a boat ride?

Strange Souvenirs: Mosque Alarm Clock

Waking up to the Call to Prayer echoing throughout a metropolis is peaceful, powerful and beautiful. But there are some experiences you can’t transport home.

Enter the mosque alarm clock. You’ll find them in Dubai, other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Made of plastic it comes in a variety of sizes and colors and lights up when the alarm goes off. The voice of the tone-deaf muezzin makes him sound as though he is falling off a building. Perhaps one day the recording will be updated with one more appealing to the ear. Inshallah. In the meantime for your listening pleasure here is a link to a video of said alarm clock on youtube. It’s the extended remix version. No snoozing allowed.

The clock does have an upside. If you live in an apartment building with thin walls and noisy neighbors it’s a perfect way to get even. Do try this at home.

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Beaches From Around The World

If you had to choose between escaping to the mountains or the ocean which would you choose? I’m more of an ocean person but in a perfect world I’d be happy perched along the Pacific Coast on a mountain overlooking the ocean. The best of both worlds is always a good thing.

Believe it or not the Pacific Ocean in Southern California is too cold to take a dip in many months out of the year. But this doesn’t faze surfers who come prepared wearing wet suits.

Further down the coast in Mexico, the waters of Zihuatanejo were the perfect temperature last November.

In order to get this beach view of the Burj al Arab in Dubai you’ll need to pony up to stay at an exclusive beach resort or pay for a day pass. Or if you are like me you somehow manage to walk past the receptionist and cabana boys handing out towels as you enter the beach despite the fact that you are carrying heavy camera equipment and in no way are dressed for the beach.

Known as the Windy City Essaouira in Morocco is a wind surfer’s paradise. It’s the perfect place to sit under an umbrella and take in the ocean breeze.

IBN Battuta Dubai’s Traveler Mall

Even if you are not a mall person you can’t travel to Dubai without visiting at least one. They are the man made oases that offer respite from the heat and a place to socialize and people watch.

In some ways Dubai’s IBN Batutta Mall is the consummate traveler’s mall. It was designed to reflect the travels of 14th century Moroccan explorer and Islamic scholar Ibn Battuta. He hit the road for 30 years.

The mall is divided into six courts: China, India, Persia, Tunisia, Egypt and Andalusia. Each is decadent. The China Court features a full size Chinese Junk.

IBN Battuta is Dubai’s largest themed mall. In theory it would be possible to wander its courts for days without leaving if you could find a place to rest your head. The mall is so large it has a shuttle that will take you from point to another. It even accommodates worshippers by piping in the call to prayer and providing prayer rooms.

IBN Battuta Mall is located adjacent to Sheikh Zayed Road between interchanges 5 and 6. It is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday-Tuesday and until midnight Wednesday-Friday.

The UAE’s Oldest House of Worship

The United Arab Emirates’ oldest house of worship may also be its smallest.

The Bidiya Mosque is believed to have been built in AD 640, but may have been built as far back as 1449 BC. Also known as the Ottoman Mosque the adobe-like structure is still active. Visitors often climb the hill under which the mosque sits to get a good view of the surrounding countryside from the remains of watchtowers.

Located near an ancient fishing village of the same name, a visit to the Bidiya Mosque is easily incorporated into a day trip to Fujairah. Bidiya is about a 90 minute drive from Dubai. Only worshippers are permitted to enter the mosque.

Dubai’s Spice Souk

The fragrances and spices at the Spice Souk in Dubai include the biblical variety. Crystal-like chunks of frankincense and myrrh fill large overflowing stacks, which compete for room in a long narrow covered alley.

One of the star attractions is saffron. Expensive and coveted around the world it’s priced well here. If you manage to bring it home and through customs without incident it makes a nice gift for the chef in the family.

Shopkeepers are happy to chat and explain what’s on display. You’ll see plenty of turmeric, cinnamon bark, cardamom, pepper, chillies, cloves and nuts in addition to dried rosebuds and fruit.

The Spice Souk is strategically located along Dubai Creek in Deira next to the Old Souk Abra Station. It’s a small non-touristy market, which remains true to its Arabian heritage.

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Markets From Around The World

Wandering the world’s markets can give you insight into local culture past and present. Some of the markets below have been in existence for centuries.

Maya traders travel from all around the Guatemalan highlands to sell their goods at the market in Chichicastenango twice a week.

You have to bargain hard in the labyrinth of Marrakesh’s souks.

There are probably more fakes than originals at the Dongtai Road market in Shanghai, China but you can still find an abundance of communist kitsch.

Shopping like a Roman is not expensive at Rome’s Camp De Fiori market.

I’ll just cut to the chase and zero in on the bling in Dubai’s Gold Market.

Souk Madinat Jumeirah Dubai

One of the perks of shopping at Souk Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai is the view from its outdoor terraces of the Burj Al Arab hotel.

Built in the style of an Arabian market the souk is part of the sprawling Madinat Jumeirah resort. It’s the only market in Dubai where prices are fixed and bargaining is not the norm.

Its corridors with arched high ceilings and open front shops lend a bazaar like (and air conditioned) atmosphere. The exterior of the complex recreates traditional Arab architecture and features wind towers.

Housing more than 70 shops you’ll find anything from beachwear to high quality arts and crafts and home décor items from the region.

There are also a wide variety of restaurants and bars to gain a second wind in the midst of a shopping spree. Many overlook the canals where passengers are ferried on water taxis throughout the resort.

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Spices From Around The World

Spices can appeal to the eye as much as the taste.

Dubai has a market dedicated to spices. Located in Deira by the creek large sacks overflow with many varieties.

These deep red chiles in India were found in the narrow lanes of Old Delhi.

Like India, Mexico is also a land where chiles are a common spice in cuisine.

Included in these sacks is golden turmeric, photographed in Marrakesh’s souk.

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Bling Bling Dubai Style

Dubai’s Bling Bling reputation isn’t all about its uber modern architecture. Even if you have no intention of buying anything its Gold Souk is a window-shopping and people watching paradise.

Hundreds of vendors line the covered market. Shop windows are packed with a wide variety of gold jewelery ranging from simple bangles to elaborate, Bedouin-style necklaces. Contemporary designs are also available. If time allows you can have pieces custom made.

Prices are based on weight and the rate of gold, which fluctuates daily, but there is still a little room to haggle. Jewellery can be bought in 18, 22 and 24 carats. Keep in mind that the higher the carat the deeper the yellow of the gold.

The Gold Souk is located on Sikkat al-Khail Street in Deira. Open between 10 am and 10 pm some shops may close for a few hours during the afternoon. The best time to visit is in the evening when the market is most active.

Jumeirah Beach Park Dubai

One of Dubai’s main attractions is its gorgeous beaches and the clear waters of the Arabian Gulf. If you aren’t staying at one the many upscale beachfront resorts Jumeirah Beach Park is an excellent choice to soak in the rays and dip your toes in the sea.

It’s popular with locals, ex-pats and tourists for good reason. A perfectly manicured park lines the long white sandy beach. Beach loungers and umbrellas are available for hire or you can park with a towel under the shade of a palm tree. Lifeguards man the beach year round.

Jumeirah Beach Park is open seven days a week between 7 am and 10:30 pm. It can get crowded on the weekend. Monday is Ladies Day, which means women and children only.

A municipal park, the entry fee is 5 dirhams (about $1.36) per person or 20 dirhams per car. Amenities include food kiosks, showers, volleyball courts, children’s play areas, picnic tables and barbeque grills.

Strange Souvenirs: Emirati Family Dubai

The mastermind of these borrowed the concept from painted wooden Russian nesting dolls.

This Emirati family includes a Dad, Mom, Son and Daughter in traditional dress. For a local touch the family circle is completed with a tiny baby camel in the center. Easy to transport this could be considered a classic nomadic keepsake.

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The Souks Of Dubai

Dubai could very well be the upscale shopping mall capital of the world but its consumer roots are souks, the Arabic word for market. You can find some of the more traditional covered souks near the creek.

Lined with hundreds of vendors you’ll find plenty of bling in the Gold Souk on the Deira side of the creek.

Not far from the Gold Souk is the Spice Souk. Used for millennium you will find an abundance of Frankincense and saffron here.

The Bur Dubai Souk on the other side of the creek has many textiles and every day items. The glittery Arabian slippers caught my eye on more than one occasion. In fact a pair is housed in a closet not far from where I sit.

City Icons-Dubai

The Burj al Arab is the ultimate example of contemporary Arabian decadence and luxury. But the concept of its shape is true to Dubai’s roots, the sail of a dhow.

The hotel sits on a tailor made island in the Arabian Sea. At 1,060 feet tall it’s just a few hundred feet less than the Empire State Building.

While official hotel ratings go as high as 5 stars, the Burj al Arab bills itself as the only 7 star hotel in the world. You can arrive in style from the airport, either by helicopter (the hotel has its own heliport) or in one of the Rolls Royce’s in its fleet of the luxury wheels.

Unfortunately I do not have photographs of the inside. A search of rates for the low season in August, when temperatures soar, showed the least expensive room at $1,089.20 per night not including tax.

Ancient Air Conditioning Dubai

Air conditioning without electricity? Now there is a concept that would sit well with today’s green movement.

Long before Dubai’s state of the art skyscrapers started sprouting traditional architecture featured built in air conditioning. Architects incorporated wind towers to help cool the blazing heat.

The necessity of dealing with the harsh climate led to functional architectural detail. Ingenious and attractive the structure of the wind towers catches the breeze and funnels it down into the room below cooling it. If only the rooftop air conditioning systems of today looked so good.

A large concentration and perhaps some of the best example of wind towers in Dubai cab be found in the Bastakia section of Dubai near the creek. I’ll be writing more on the charms of Bastakia, where I stayed. Funny how a section of a city with some of Dubai’s lowest buildings makes you want to look up.

Mosques From Around The World

Some of the world’s grandest mosques are not ancient. The landmarks below have all been built within the last 30 years. Let’s take a tour of these houses of worship featuring stunning modern Islamic architecture:

The Mohammad Al Amin Mosque in Beirut, Lebanon was built at the beginning of the new millennium.

The Jumeirah Mosque must be the most photographed house of worship in Dubai. It opened its doors in the late 1970s.

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco was completed in the 1990s and can hold up to 25,000 worshippers.

Burj Dubai World’s Tallest Building

The design of Burj Dubai is so modern it makes Tokyo’s Shinjuku look retro. It was the first thing I saw out of the airplane window after landing. Like a mountain on the horizon it always appears closer than it is.

The torch for the world’s tallest skyscraper race has been passed from Asia to the Middle East. Burj Dubai, also known as the Dubai Tower, surpassed Taiwan’s Taipei 101 as the world’s tallest building last summer. Still under construction its final height is being kept top secret. According to reports it will be higher than 2,275 feet with about 160+ stories.

Dubai Tower is the centerpiece of the still under construction Downtown Burj Dubai. The skyscraper will include residences and commercial and retail space. It was originally expected to be completed the end of this year but that date has been pushed back to early 2009.

Who knows how long it will keep its world’s tallest status. Plans have already been drawn up to build the Mile High Tower in Saudi Arabia. If completed as currently planned it will be more than twice as high as the Burj Dubai scraping the sky at 5,250 feet.

Blogger Censorship Dubai

Dubai’s government doesn’t like blogger. It appears the government has been intermittently blocking blogger altogether, which explains why my posts were a bit sporadic last week.

The censorship is somewhat random. One of the agencies I recently started submitting photography to is blocked while the others are not.

I’m writing and posting this from Heathrow Airport where I have a layover before flying home to New York.

Plenty to follow on decadent Dubai, where I spent a fabulous week. It’s a place of diversity-80% of the people who live there are expats. I wore my feet out exploring it and some of the surrounding emirates but dipping them in the clear waters of the temperature-perfect Arabian Sea perked them right up.