The big red bus goes round and round... Dubai Day 2

Here it is - the big red bus - and indeed it does go round and round. Your ticket is valid for 48 hours and you can get on and off whenever you like as the "red line" bus makes 12 stops around Deira and some of Dubai's many malls and souks (including the gold souk), and the "blue line" bus does a tour of Jamireh - the new Dubai that's home to "the Palm" and the Burj Al Arab - the world's most luxurious hotel.

We hopped on and off a few times today, including a stop at the Dubai Museum which is quite fascinating (and air-conditioned) and decided that we would go back to the gold souk tonight. Siesta time (when the souk closes) is 2.30 to 4.30 pm, but the shops then remain open until 10.00 pm. We figure it will take us at least that long to see even a tiny fraction of what's on offer. There must be thousands of shops, not hundreds, and each stuffed full of gorgeous golden items. We'll take a hotel car back this evening and maybe get them to collect us - the hour's wait at City Centre for a taxi yesterday almost did it for us with taxis. 18K gold is around 75 dirhams a gram (a shade over $20) and that's before you bargain! Guess the credit card is in for a little work tonight.

Driving round Dubai is a hot and congested experience (the bus guide says that the evening peak hour is from 2.00 - 10.00 pm, and the morning peak hour from 7.00 am to 2.00 pm), but not quite as hot as walking it. We got off at the stop nearest our hotel (Lonni says a klick away but I reckon a bit more than that) and I wouldn't recommend that anyone walk that in 43 degree heat in the middle of the day when they are as unfit as I am! I thought I would expire but Lonni told me she would be traumatised for life if she had to give me mouth-to-mouth so I struggled on until the hotel, but I tell you it was touch and go! Lon reckons it feels like 33 degrees, I reckon it feels like 53 degrees!!

Dubai is building a rail system for the city - 25.5 billion dirhams - which will be the longest continuous driverless system in the world. They are setting a few records in this fast-growing city, where rumour has it that the oil will run out in 2010 (according to the bus driver). Here's a few fast facts:

• just over 4000 sq km
  
  



• 1.4 million people





• 20% only are Emeratis, the rest are ex-pats from over 200 countries





• 75% of the population are men and 25% women





• the crime rate is less than 2% (it feels really safe although we do get male stares a bit) - all the dhows are unloaded onto the walway beside the road and there are no security guards or anything to stop anyone walking away with the goods - they can be left there for days, quite safe
  
  
  

We heard the muezzin call for the first time today - the midday call happened while we were at the museum. There are a lot of mosques as you might expect but not all are as obvious as you might think either. This one is a hidden mosque, set in a courtyard - a Shi'ih mosque beautifully decorated with blue tiles.

More later - after the Gold Souk...

And here she is - gold and diamond girl!

You can't possibly come to Dubai go to the gold souk and then NOT BUY GOLD, diamonds was my little optional extra. Don't fret Micheal I can explain...

The longer I stay and the more I see makes me realise everything in Dubai is like a competition with everything being the (insert adjective here eg. biggest longest fastest) in the world, which is ok except I'm in the wrong career I need to be an engineer or even a brickie! (I think there professions where its ok not to care and over here make bucket loads).

The gold souk was good, the spice souk was overwhelming with smells - not all of them good and some combinations were just plain gross - and the people, I've finally seen a good looking native -I can totally understand why there are only 25% women here!

Suffice to say experience experience experience not all good -mum threatening to die when I was simply having a pleasent stroll in the afternoon sunshine - but not all bad - all service with a smile.

Hope all is well in everyday Australia, missing everyone heaps, say hi to the dog for me xox

Time for bed folks - we've done lots of walking - the souk was BIG and so much to see - really too much for you ever to think you've had a good look at even a fraction of it. We made a few small purchases at bargain prices and had some interesting conversations with shopkeepers. Couldn't wait for a shower however, 8.30 pm and the perspiration is still poring when you're outside. Don't think I'll have time to upload the photos tonight - it's a slow process -but have added one of my favourites from the day.

TOMORROW - more on the buses and a desert safari experience....