UAE Dubai. Buying a fur coat 2015, shopping, excursions. Practical advice. Continuation.
The beginning of the story is at the link
http://www.turpravda.ua/ae/dubay/blog-108140.html
As for branded and simple clothes, there is also an ambush. And so, in recent years, the difference with Moscow prices in well-known Dubai shopping centers, such as the Emirates Mall, Dubai Mall, Burjuman Center, Deira City Center, etc. , has tended to zero. And now the purchase there has become absurd. Why spend more and even drag it home on yourself across half the world. We honestly tried to buy something from the planned things. But when it came to converting to rubles, disappointment set in. Small example. We were looking for boots, shin guards, a tracksuit, a backpack, etc. for the child. Didn't buy anything. Everything was ordered online the next day after arrival. The price came out a third cheaper. An attempt to buy a few good toys for the child also failed. We tried to force ourselves to buy at least something to give him at the time of the meeting. Failed. Meaning? On the very first Saturday, they took him to Detsky Mir and bought everything almost twice as cheap, although this store cannot be called the cheapest. For the first time I saw a lot of Russian tourists dejectedly wandering empty-handed to the taxi rank or the subway in centers such as Dubai Mall and Emirates Mall.
You can get to the Dubai Mall and the Emirates Mall by metro by getting off at the metro stations of the same name. It's worth visiting to broaden your horizons. Rich, expensive and meaningless. But in Dubai Mall there is a wonderful oceanarium and a skating rink. And in the Emirates Mall there is a ski slope and children's ice slides.
And in the evenings, against the background of the tallest building in the world, you can admire the show of singing fountains.
Well, to whom the money burns the thigh, I can recommend the Burjuman Center shopping center. A gallery of boutiques has recently opened there. It's called 5th Avenue. highly recommend.
Now I will tell you a little about copies of world brands of clothing, accessories, perfumes and electronics.
Poor quality fakes can be found in the back streets of Deira, even on the shelves. And you don't have to buy them. Everything interesting is hidden from public view. Barkers-kamaks will pester you at all corners of the tourist trails, offering you to look at copies of world brands: watches, glasses, bags, belts, etc. You will not be able to bypass them. They will figure you out. You can go with them and even safely. Nothing will happen even if you are taken to some cellar or hotel room nearby. This is common practice. Even in some stores there are secret rooms behind screens and economy panels. I think the police know about all this. Simply - this is also a kind of attraction for sacred cows-tourists. Or maybe they do, I don't know. Well, if you really need such items, it is better to immediately go to their source. About him later. In the tourist Deira itself, things of inferior quality are sold underground, for the mass buyer at inexpensive prices and the title of a replica, that is, an exact copy, is usually not pulled. A replica is a thing made from the same materials, using the same equipment, using the same technologies and the same qualified personnel as in the factories of the brand owners. Often even experts cannot distinguish such fakes from the originals.
If you need exactly replicas, then your path lies on the Karama market, which is located in the area of the same name. You can get to the ADBC metro station (formerly Al Karama) and walk 500 meters perpendicular to the metro line towards the East.
Yes, you can ask anyone where the Karama Souk is. You can take a taxi. From Deira, the cost is approximately 20 dirhams. If the driver does not understand, tell Karama fish market for a guide. His taxi drivers know well. And this fish market is just at the beginning of the market square.
Karama's market is not an oriental bazaar in our understanding. There you will see a square with many shops around the perimeter.
It's quite long. Nothing remarkable. There are several thousand such shops in Deira. In these stores, on the shelves, it is completely open and in sight that the camaks in Deira will offer you clandestinely, letting in mysteries. And the prices are cheaper here. You can even find something to buy to taste.
In many pavilions, they will try to sell you base crafts, and only realizing that you are not being led, they may be offered to proceed underground. And here, if you are lucky or if you know the appearances, you can be offered top quality replicas in well-furnished trading floors, no worse than in the Dubai Mall with all the hospitality services. The most reputable institutions do not advertise themselves. They work mainly in wholesale and with verified buyers. They do not rush at everyone they meet with proposals to go to the left. They bring people by preliminary calls, acquaintances, etc. This may be a room in an underground parking lot, several rooms in a hotel, a basement of a store. Things here in different offices also differ in quality. You need to be careful. Do not immediately rush to the first offer, but say that you will still take a walk and return if you decide to buy something. You have to trade until you lose momentum. It is quite possible to knock down half the price, or even more. Bags, clothes, glasses, watches, belts, shoes, dishes, perfumes, etc. Full range. As for replica prices, they are high. For example, the price of top quality replicas. Watches $300 to $700, bags $250 to $1.000, glasses $30 to $150 depending on models and demand. The price of just good fakes can be divided by two. Well, the cost of such things in official stores is 8-10 times more expensive. Checked many times, out of curiosity. There are many clients from Western Europe in reputable underground shops, and many wives of rich Arabs do not hesitate to come here. It is unlikely that husbands check the checks where exactly the handbag was bought. Yes, and any check will be drawn for you there. They sweep goods right on the shelves.
Many may ask me where it is better to apply there on Karame. Of course, I know, but I'm not sure that these people will want to advertise themselves, I was not allowed to shoot videos and photos anywhere. For many years we have climbed all the nooks and crannies there and have chosen a couple of stores for ourselves, and all attempts to find something better and cheaper have failed.
I'll just write, try to find a shop with a red Martino sign in the center of the square and ask Jafar.
Say that you were recommended by a COUNTRYMAN)))). So he calls me))) Show with your hand a man of great stature. He will understand what it is. Ask to show the secret showroom and in general, where is there and what is on Karam. Where is the best place to find what you need? Well, in the auction you can refer to me, if you put pressure on the fact that you went specifically to him, otherwise you will now turn around to competitors))). To summarize in a nutshell, then a visit to the Karama market is a must. This is not only shopping, but also an adventure.
There is also a nondescript but very tasty Filipino restaurant on the square. a rather funny story happened here. Ordered seafood soup. They brought us large plates with huge spoons. well, let's eat. We see everyone laughing at us. And then two minutes later they bring bowls and small spoons. It was necessary to pour the soup into bowls with the help of ladles from which we ate and eat with spoons))).
It just so happened that we ended up in Dubai during the shopping festival, where every buyer in the stores participating in it could win a kilogram of gold every day and in the final, a luxurious Rolls-Royce or 20 kg. gold. Echoes of it were visible throughout the city in outdoor advertising and various performances by artists. There were also bands from Russia.
Now for the tours that are offered in Dubai. I will describe only those that we ourselves visited.
In Dubai, you will have a choice between three companies that offer excursions around the country. The first two Aladdin and Arabian Knight gather customers mainly on Mamzar Beach and in hotels. Near the entrance to the park adjacent to the beach, you can always meet several agents of these companies. We have used the services of both. And we cannot give preference to any of them. We were thrown by both. There were overlays and poor service here and there. I wrote about the last egregious cases with Arabian Knight in my last story about the UAE. Here, as luck would have it. The third company is Voyage tour. This is your host, which works with all major operators and is responsible for serving their customers in the UAE and in particular in Dubai. Here, the chances of trouble are much less, but the price of excursions is 10-20 dollars higher. Decide for yourself. In order for you to have an idea of what amounts we are talking about, I am attaching a scan with Voyage Tour prices.
Sightseeing tours of Dubai, including evening tours, are not my choice. There is not a single place on the list of visited places where I would not have had time to visit myself. Race on the bus, where everyone is kicked out, then driven back is not for me. Competitively, the companies stuffed as many objects into these excursions as they could. One period was even called a figure close to forty. Run everywhere, you can’t really take pictures anywhere because of the crowds in the background. Half of this tour can be done by simply visiting the Dubai Mall by metro or taxi. Oceanarium, singing fountains (after 19-00), Burj Khalifa, Burj al Arab. All this you will see in a calm and relaxed atmosphere.
Abu Dhabi is worth a trip if you have time. Only if you are without children, then make sure that this is not a tour combined with a zoo. The snow-white Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the photo against its background are worth the whole excursion. If you are with children, then look for a combined tour with Ferrari and zoos.
Indian Ocean. Ambiguous excursion. On the way, you will stop in Sharjah, where all the main attractions can be seen live and from the bus window. Further on to the carpet market, where you can choose a good rug for yourself, but you need to triple the price from the initial one. Moreover, the closer the departure of the bus, the more accommodating sellers become. Respect other people's work, do not bargain if you are not going to buy carpets, give people the opportunity to work with other buyers. Then check-in at a four-star hotel, swimming in the sea, lunch, very good and home.
If you're lucky, you'll see interesting fish and even small sharks. If you come across a good guide like Volodya from Arabian Knight, the way there and back will seem short and interesting.
Desert jeep safari. I highly recommend it, especially to those who have never been to a real desert. And interesting rides and dinner and oriental dances. You can change into Arabic clothes, and for women and men, make a henna drawing on your hands. Ride the dunes on camels and quad bikes, slide down the mountains of sand on a surfboard. A bunch of beautiful photos and impressions are guaranteed.
I didn't really like Al Ain. It is interesting only from the point of view that You can spend time on something more interesting.
Excursions with dinners on Arabian dhow boats are just a waste of money. Come to the embankment yourself in the evening, at seven or eight, choose a boat for yourself, and you will order food for the same money for yourself much more interesting. Cool.
If it is cool and windy, then do not sit on the open upper platforms. And the food is immediately icy and sitting in the wind is uncomfortable. The ships all glow beautifully, sometimes you wonder how they do not collide with each other, I even filmed one such millimeter on video.
You can just ride across the bay on a boat for 2 dirhams.
The same can be said about excursions to water parks. Come there yourself. It's not a problem. There are subways and taxis. And you will not be tied to other tourists and the bus.
I have not tried all kinds of fishing and flying on seaplanes, balloons and helicopters, so I will not write anything about it. Only in the hotel tourists from the next room told about the helicopter. Money took 400 dollars per person, but in fact - took off and landed. The entire flight took 15 minutes. Palm Island looked and the coast.
Many tourists are interested in visiting the observation deck of the tallest building in the world - Burj Khalifa. You can and should do this on your own. It is better to book tickets and pay in advance via the Internet on the website. It is described in more detail in my previous story about the UAE. the link is in the first part.
Choose the day, time and amount and pay by credit card. The ticket can be obtained at the entrance, which is located on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall. The signs say Over the top. By purchasing tickets in advance, you will save a decent amount, as well as relieve yourself of the need to come there again. There will be no tickets to visit on the day of purchase. Everything sold out a few days in advance. Try to pick a sunset time. It gets dark in Dubai instantly and it will be possible to see the city both in sunlight and at night. Don't waste your money on binoculars. You won't see anything special there. Climbing the tower is a must. The views are excellent, and there will be something to tell your friends about the trip.
Before you reach the elevator, take a tour of the past and get acquainted with all the stages of the construction of this tower. It is not necessary to spend a special day just to visit the Burj Khalifa. You can combine everything with a trip to the Dubai Mall, with a visit to its aquarium and admiring the chic singing fountains.
Fountains start working at 18-00. One song and then a break of 25 minutes. That is, you need to approach, for example, at 18-25 or 19-55, so as not to wait half an hour. It seems to me that it is not worth paying for the passage through the glass pipe running along the bottom of the oceanarium. You won't see anything special. The most interesting view, just from the side.
Now about where and for how much you can eat in Dubai. The easiest option is of course a variety of small eateries with a couple of three tables where you can have a bite to eat shawarma, chicken and another grill. Garnish with rice or French fries. You can eat decently for about 20-25 dirhams per person. For the same 20-25 dirhams, you can go to the usual McDonald's and KFC for us. A large sandwich, a large potato and a medium cola are about the same price.
You can go to fish restaurants of the Golden Fork chain. In the last two trips, I have visited three times in two different ones and once, I was extremely unhappy with the fact that they brought us food. Some warm food. Just awful. The other two times are pretty good. So I will not recommend, at your own peril and risk. The average price tag is 50-70 dirhams per person.
But the most delicious and clean options are, of course, to eat in large, respectable five-star hotels. There are plenty of them everywhere in Dubai. Three times on this trip we did just that. In the same Deira, I can recommend the restaurant of the Radison Hotel. From Beniyas Skvea Square you can walk 5 minutes. Ask any local where it is, they will tell you. The restaurant is located on the first floor. It is a smorgasbord buffet. A chic selection of ready meals, salads, fruits, pastries. Any fish from salmon to local curiosities. Moreover, you collect a dish of raw fish from the trays and give it to the chefs, and they immediately prepare it and serve it to your table. King prawns, lobsters, carefully cut into two halves.
At least in buckets. Put it on and let it cook. Everything is delicious and exquisite. There is beer. There is only one minus. The price is 170 dirhams per person. It's about $47. If not for the new exchange rate, then generally a freebie for such a feast.
The same at the Sheraton Deira hotel. The price is the same and so is the food. You will most likely have to take a taxi there. From almost any district of Deira, you will not pay more than 15 dirhams.
Here in the lower class hotel Emirates Concord 4 * you can choose dishes from the menu.
The average price of a large dish is 30-35 dirhams. I've seen larger portions in Dubai for that kind of money. But to admit everything was very, very tasty.
All salads and sauces are cheaper.
Delicious and clean. Opposite across the road you can clearly see the restaurant of Iranian cuisine. That's what he's called. They say it's very good, but we never got there, we'll try next time.
Also, as the most democratic option, you can use local supermarkets. Refrigerators, though small, are in the rooms of all hotels, starting from 3 stars. Please note that products containing pork familiar to Europeans are sold in separate departments.
The food in Dubai is quite high quality everywhere, from a street eatery to a respectable restaurant. During my travels, I have never encountered poisoning or anything like that in hotels or food facilities, and I have never even heard of it. Maybe somewhere you don’t like the taste or they serve something burnt. It's easy, but poison.... Eat calmly.
Now, as for the elementary norms of behavior. Clothing has already been written about. And still, every day I saw our compatriots in miniskirts or shorts, from which the floor of the butt sticks out, for everyone to see. What are the bare shoulders and short sleeves. Top with a million rhinestones and navel out. And they do not go to the beach, but go out into the city. If God did not give brains, then there is nothing to help. Do not disgrace yourself and your country. And in the same Sharjah, shame may not end. A huge fine and deportation with a permanent ban on entering the UAE. Do not give anything to anyone with your left hand. Arabs are really offended, and Arab women simply look with contempt. Sometimes you have to deal with them at the Airport, at the beach ticket offices or shops. Do not hand over your passport, do not give money with your left hand. Do not stretch it out for food and to take something from your hands. This tradition has historical roots in the countries of the East. Wiping with the left hand is still practiced there. That is why it is considered unclean. Do not quarrel or shout in public places. You'd be surprised how conflict-free Dubai's multinational cauldron is. You will not hear a conversation in raised tones, swearing and swearing. It is not surprising where even a simple threat, expressed aloud, can get a real term. With crime, pickpocketing and other charms of the same Asia and Europe, complete order. In the Burjuman shopping center, they left a video camera in a bag on a bench. We weren't even sure what we left there. Sinned on a taxi yet. Returning the next day, without much hope, turned to the security and got the camera back. Do not sit cross-legged with your feet pointing in the direction of the seated person. It is an insult. Under no circumstances should you touch Arab women. No need to kiss in the streets, eat food on the go. Respect the cultural customs of the country where you are visiting. A crime against a person is a state of emergency for the UAE. There is practically no crime. There is no theft. This does not mean that if you leave something somewhere, it will definitely remain there. But no one will climb into your pocket.
The UAE is a very interesting country. A must visit at least once in a lifetime. I always enjoy going there. You can relax both body and soul. Here, even our regulars of Egyptian and Turkish three-ruble bills with free booze are quieter than water below the grass. The atmosphere is conducive to it. It is very pleasant to wander around the shops and markets. Barkers give an oriental flavor. No one will grab your hands, drag you somewhere, swear after you if you passed by. No one will let go of greasy jokes to your wife. Culture in this regard is much higher than in our overseas all-Union health resorts: Turkey and Egypt. Polite refusal of services and all. As many wonders as there are in the UAE per square meter are hard to find anywhere else. Dubai itself is built in the desert and there is one of them.
I hope at least some information from it will help you in your journey to this eastern country. As usual, I will try to answer your questions in the comments or by mail sacho1@mail. ru
Sincerely, Alexander.
