It has been a mixture of relief and shock as I grappled with the idea of Dubai inundated with unprecedented rains. To think that I was right there on Sheikh Zayed Road walking with my friend and being driven all over the beautiful sites of the city just a couple of weeks ago seems unbelievable when I see the pictures of a multitude of cars caught up in endless traffic jams. The whole city’s landscape seemed to have changed in a matter of a few hours.
So, here I am with my experiences of a city which has been one of the most favourite of all places I have ever been to, partly because I went there to be with my longstanding friend Nidhi Keswani, a proud advertising professional who is between work assignments and had plenty of time to spare and show me around the city she moved to back in 2021.
The first place I visited was in the old part of Dubai popularly known as Bur Dubai. The place was called Al Seef which houses a magnificent recreation of old Dubai in the form of beautiful mud houses, antique shops selling old utensils, jewellery, lamps and so many knick knacks. I was enraptured by the waves of water flowing close by and the abras (small boats) floating in it with the backdrop of colourful lights recreating magic in the cool breeze. This wasn’t the Dubai I had heard about; it was culture, food (we feasted on roasted water chestnuts) and beauty in the form of antiquity.
The next evening, we visited the fabulous Global village fair on the outskirts of Dubai which is a huge extravaganza displaying the beautiful pavilions of various countries to showcase their handicrafts, fabrics, artifacts, food and other lifestyle products and cultural displays. Thanks to the enthusiasm of my friend, I experienced a whole bunch of pavilions like Japan, Egypt, Africa, Pakistan, India, Turkey and Iran. We enjoyed fresh fruits, saw some live singing and even managed to relax on the beautifully manicured lawns. There was a huge crowd but the venue was spacious enough to accommodate the local and the tourist population.
My next stop in Dubai was the iconic Burj Khalifa which is built in a way that the visitors enjoy shopping in Dubai Mall and then go up the elevators to see the view from ‘At the top’. Shopping at the beautiful and mesmerising Dubai mall was an exhilarating experience—the shiny stores, the legendary brands, the gorgeously dressed women. Trying out dresses and outfits in the fitting rooms was amazingly satisfying! I ended up using my forex much more than I thought I would. The evening ended with the beautiful Burj Khalifa and although the queue was never ending, the final view from the top more than made up for it! The cherry on the top was the lovely lunch at the Cheesecake Factory where Nidhi made me relish every bit of the roasted and grilled cheesy corn sticks and the lovely pink sauce pasta. It was delicious with generous portions and the dessert melted in my mouth and my heart both literally and metaphorically. I guess the child in me is still alive.
The next day we went to the Miracle Garden which couldn’t have been named more aptly. It is huge housing an infinite variety of flowers, trees, shrubs and greenery that is extraordinary and amazingly aesthetic. Animals, birds and Hobbits, complete with their houses, dancing damsels all made with flowers. I was mesmerised by the sheer beauty of the canopies made with upside-down umbrellas and the castle made right in the centre of it. The lovely breeze, great company and my friend happily clicking pictures…all of this coming together took my breath away that evening and it was with heavy steps that we bid adieu to the inimitable Miracle Garden.
It was another exciting day when we started for another adventure in the heart of Dubai. Our first destination was the Deira city mall where we shopped for ethnic wear, had saffron tea at a cute café, left from there to go to Meena Bazar which houses a spice souk and of course a Gold Souk (market). I haven’t seen so much gold jewellery ever in one place and it was only my sane self that kept my shopping instincts in check. We had the best ever falafel sandwich from a street vendor and satiated our hunger pangs. The most amusing were these shady looking young men who kept whispering ‘Gucci’ and ‘Prada’ when we were within earshot. My friend explained that Dubai is widely known for its grey market of imitations of branded bags and clothes. I was surprised to know that the copies of branded bags were probably a more thriving business than the original!
My next stop was the Bluewater’s Island which is man-made and boasts of Ain Dubai, a huge giant wheel with pods from where one can enjoy an aerial view of Dubai. The entire area is built around the seaside, a beautiful bridge taking you right up to the other side called Dubai Merina, an outdoor mall with beautiful shops and cafes and lush green lawns with a heavenly breeze blowing right through. We went to this cute little shop called Mumuso where I bought a few random knick knacks and a pair of shades recommended by Nidhi. The most beautiful moments were watching the sun set right in front of our eyes while enjoying the view and sitting in one of those cute little benches meant for young people like me…oh, what I would give to relive that precious moment!
My penultimate day in Dubai was a surprise organised by my hosts Nidhi and her husband. We went to a place called the Chinese Bistro for an early dinner, the food was fantastic and then came the cab ride to the ‘Surprise’ which turned out to be a beautiful theatrical extravaganza called ‘La Perle’ located next to the busiest business and entertainment district of Dubai. For the next two and a half hours, we were transported to the world of lights, drama, acrobats, stunt artists, gymnasts, bike riders accompanied by the best of songs and music. It was awesome and literally an out of the world experience. I loved every minute of it. Then we visited the famous Habtoor palace, a five-star hotel, took a lazy stroll along the canal, watching the still waters and the skyline reflecting its lights in its waves. The evening ended with a lovely dessert at the very popular Home Bakery.
The last stop in my Dubai trip was the famous Atlantis hotel as viewed from the Pointe mall located in the posh Palm Jumeirah area. It was a beautiful drive to the outdoor mall, palm trees lit up through the entire road, an evening which was unforgettable. We had started from home after an early dinner and so all we did was walk along the beach and enjoy the panoramic view.
These beautiful ten days that I spent in Dubai were imprinted in my mind and after getting back when I read about the devastating rains and the flooding of this beautiful city, my heart kept going back to this city which is not only modern and beautiful but also has a culture of its own. The people are courteous and follow rules, the cabs are easily available and the cab drivers polite. My friend told me that the security is so strict that if you forget your wallet or belongings in a cab or a restaurant, you will certainly get it back or hear from the owner soon enough. The infrastructure and the civic sense of the people, traffic rules being followed religiously and the polite culture of the place all make Dubai one of the best places to live in. Reading about how hard people are trying to get the city back on track made me grateful for the indomitable spirit of the people of this city.
Gauri Mishra is a professor in Department of English, College of Vocational Studies, University of Delhi.
