Awesome African Adventure. Day 4-April 12, 2025

Dubai

Today’s activity is an Old City Walking tour with ‘Walks of Dubai.’

On the way we passed the Dubai Frame again. Been hard to get a decent shot.

Our guide Hamza met the group (of 16) at The Heritage hotel in the old city at 9:30. We arrived early and had a bit of a wander around what turned out to be Fake Old City – actually a Hotel owned and built by Hilton group 8 years ago. It’s built in the Persian Indian style. The real original Dubai people were desert people who lived in tents.

Hamza is a young man (30’s maybe) He explained a lot throughout the tour. His English was good but very fast speaker and clipped so a little hard to catch everything. He has been married 3 times and divorced 3 times. In his culture the men can have 4 wives.

He explained that in the 7 Emirates Abu Dhabi is boss and the Sheik is the President of UAE. Dubai is VP always. The other 5 Emirates – Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain have no power. 

All buildings are mandated to display a picture of both the Kings/Sheiks of both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The role of Sheik/King does not always go to the eldest son. The current king picks his successor- always a King not Queen. 

In 1833 the first Bedouin came from Abu Dhabi and settled in old town – close to creek and Persian gulf. 

In Dubai 90% of everything is imported, including people. 

The old village has had many name changes over the years. 

The old houses are made of coral and shells and mud – with wood for stability. The houses have Wind towers and courtyards and 2 doors, one big one for owner and a smaller door for others. 

We walked around the old village where the houses have been acquired by the government and are being restored.

We tried Arabian coffee and Hamza regaled us with stories and information about history and life in Dubai.

It was hot this morning, damn hot and in places with no breeze it was hard going at times.

We walked through some market spaces – a fabric area. Lots of the same stuff and the materials were pretty over the top.

We walked along to the river where we got to try a chicken schwarma and some vegetarian foods – curry samosa, a cheesey samosa and some falafel/vegie type fritters. All quite nice.

Then we boarded an Abra across the river to the spice and gold souks.

Hamza explained the properties and uses of a range of interesting spices, teas, and other stuff. Interesting but not retained by me. Real saffron will float in water, fake saffron is a deep yellow and sinks in water. There is a crystal menthol for colds/sinus etc, basically Vicks on steroids.

We also were given a white chocolate, almond filled date to try – very nice. Then we had about 20 minutes to wander around the spice and crap touristy stuff. The poor market sellers were out for a sale, we just walked on by and tried to take the odd photo. Off to the gold souk (market) next. They only sell 18, 22 and 24 carot gold. It’s so yellow and gaudy that it looks fake to me. Not my cuppa tea but the extravagance is overwhelming.

Once done with the Gold souk the walking tour was done about 3 and half hours later.

We were all hot and stuffed and decided the hotel pool was the place to be. We had a lovely long dip and a mocktail.

Some time to write up the morning/day and just relax a bit.

Packing was required as we leave for the airport at 7:00 to fly to Entebbe at 9:55 in the morning.

We had no plans for the evening. I was keen to walk along the canal on which our Hotel is located. Everyone was happy to give it a go. I’m pretty sure we can get past the construction zones. 

There were barriers blocking our way but we found a gap and headed off to see the sights and hopefully find something to eat. 

The buildings are interesting and it seems all the architects are vying for a point of difference. Some lean back, some look crooked, curved with shapes, u shaped, O shaped. So many new hotels/residencies being built. 

The view from our window looks down on a marina, we admired the boats from huge and expensive to a BBQ boat like barge. 

It was a weird feeling walking along what should have been a pumping waterside walk, there were very few people. We saw a few out walking little dogs, saw some cats along the foreshore and some shops/businesses along under the buildings. 

There were a few eating places but most had little to no people. 

We came to where we wanted to turn back and happened into a restaurant called The Banc. They were very keen for us to join them. 

We did. The service was incredibly attentive – it felt like every waiter and bar staff in the place came to welcome and assist us. We had a drink and decided to lash out and eat. 

The food was amazing- really, really good. I had tempura mussels followed by corn fed baby chicken – it tasted sensational. We shared some charred garden greens and mashed potatoes- awesome. 

Suzie had a selection of skewers – octopus, chicken yakitori and a lamb chop. Mary had the gnocchi – with pesto, pistachio and something? Phil had wagyu beef. 

All of us were very happy with our selections. Finished off with coffee and tea and shared a chocolate lava cake and apple pie.

A chilled way to end the day. 

We walked back again, with nightfall the buildings take on another life. Lots of engineered lighting over here.