Get lost in the covered souq (don?t panic, everyone does!) and mix up your own fragrance at one of the plentiful perfume houses. Size yourself up for a sparkly kitsch belly-dancing outfit (for her) or a dapper wooden cane (for him) or weigh up some simple or ornate jewelery at the legendary gold souq, where you can bargain for some of the cheapest gold in the world. One of our favourite breaks is to grab a cheap, filling shawarma (fragrant lamb or chicken rolled up in a pita bread) and a super-fresh mango juice at Ashwaq Cafeteria, a block from the gold souq
Day 2
starts with another must-do Dubai
experience ? an abra (water taxi)
ride across the Creek to the other
side of the city (Deira). Everyone
from Southeast Asian expat traders,
locals in their elegant flowing
dishdashas (the blindingly-white
local dress), and tourists use this
form of transport, as much to soak
up the Creek atmosphere as to beat
the bridge and tunnel traffic ? all
for a measly 33 cents. Once safely
on terra firma, take a wander along
the fascinating dhow wharves where
everything from four-wheel-drives to
the kitchen sink are loaded on these
boats bound for Gulf and Asian
destinations.
