The pulsing heart of old Dubai - a photo on Flickriver

            The Bastakia Quarter was built in the late 19th Century as the home of wealthy Persian merchants. The merchants dealt mainly in pearls and textiles, and were lured to Dubai because of the tax-free trading and access to Dubai Creek. Bastakia occupies the eastern portion of Bur Dubai along the Creek. Most of the sophisticated houses were built with coral and limestone. The Bastakia Quarter in Bur Dubai is one of the city’s most picturesque heritage sites. It was built in the late 19th century by Persian merchants attracted to the city by its relaxed trade tariffs and takes it name from the town of Bastak in southern Iran. The area has been declared a conservation area and its narrow alleys pedestrianised. Many of the restored buildings here feature wind towers, an early but effective form of air-conditioning. Some are private homes, but many are open to the public Even after all these years, I love walking through the narrow passages, sampling with my nose & eyes, vibrant colours, hectic merchants, running delivery men... yes, this truly is one of the few places where time seems to have stood still.

From the airport by taxi at 06:00 to Dubai's Creek. We crossed the Creek by Abra - water taxi to the Bastakia Quarter, the old centre of Dubai. A big change in culture coming from Thailand and Laos. But Samantha, Kanitha and BieJee are enjoying themselves at the bazaar of Dubai although is getting warmer and warmer the more the sun rises. But Kanitha wants to buy shoes. Why women always have to buy shoes? 

Ontspannen sfeer en informeel. Lekker struinen door de straatjes en bazaars van Bastakiya. Hier zijn traditionele huizen met binnenplaats herbouwd rondom een aantal straatjes die de sfeer van het oude Dubai moeten oproepen. Fijne ontspannen sfeer en één van de weinige plekken in Dubai waar je je in een Arabisch land waant. Hier zijn traditionele huizen met binnenplaats herbouwd rondom een aantal straatjes die de sfeer van het oude Dubai moeten oproepen. Op de kade kun je een watertaxi Abra nemen naar het aan de overkant gelegen stadsdeel Deira. Hier bevinden zich de oude specerijen en goud Souks. Dubai staat bekend om de goudhandel en -winkels en de goud souk is begrip. Afdingen mag. Omdat er in Dubai geen belasting wordt geheven zijn de producten net allemaal iets goedkoper dan bij ons. Afdingen is iets wat in Dubai heel normaal is, zeker op de markten. Kanitha heeft weer een paar mooie schoenen gevonden. Waarom moeten vrouwen altijd schoenen kopen?

Taken in: الامارات / دبي / دبي / Bastakia (show map)

Taken on: August 8, 2008

Tags:

Dubai

Bazaar

Bastakia Quarter

Bur Dubai

Old Dubai

Persian merchants

open-air fairs

spices

food

carpets

shoes

hookahs

gold

Souks

Middle-Eastern bazar

hectic merchants

flower stalls

narrow alleys

vibrant colours

Time stood still

United Arab Emirates

UAE

Indian Temple

Pashmina Shawls

Postcards from Dubai

Anischtkaarten van Dubai

Afdingen

Bargain

Tax-free « less

Sets appears in: • Middle East

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Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ8, f/3.6, 1/100 sec, 6mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-FZ8
Aperture:	f/3.6
Exposure Time:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Focal Length:	6mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	-0.66 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Paint Shop Pro Photo 12,01
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