Dubai - Camel burgers, waterways, and souqs

As Kristin touched down on before in Boo's corner, we were treated to a feast during our Dubai press trip at Local House restaurant.  One huge detail involved in this feast not lost on its participants was the menu offerings - everything, except the hummus, included camel meat.  There were camel burgers, camel milkshakes, camel steak melt sandwiches, camel meatballs, and camel milk.  If an award were given out for camel consumption and the contest included Kristin and I, then Kristin bested me on all counts.  She ate her burger like a champion, washing it down with a strawberry camel milkshake, after which, in a brazen display of camel madness, she also pounded a small glass of salty camel milk.  Yea, her stomach didn't fare so well.  While I was given a disinterested tour of Dubai's souqs (markets), museums, and waterways by a Pakistani businessman, Kristin sped away with our expert driver and friend, Mr. Mujeev.

She would find solace in our new hotel - Zabeel Saray.  

 The facade of Local House, truth be told, camel burgers are very delicious and the owner told me that they can maybe cure cancer.

 The menu, even the Caesar salad has camel meat

 Hummus and pitas 

- always a good idea 

 There he is...the camel burger.  I really liked mine and had no difficulties digesting it 

 Our window to the world from our camel consumption den 

 It was a really cool spot to eat, very traditional 

 I said no, they brought me one anyways, I sniffed it 

 Kristin sucked hers back like it was nectar of the gods

 Then we napped

 I forgot about this. Kristin also ate a date cake.  

 Camel milk - probably not going to be a trend anytime soon.  It is salty, which is not something you generally look for in milk.

 By Local House 

 Typical Dubai roundabout.

 A boat at the Dubai museum, Dubai inhabitants were originally fishermen and pearl divers - along cry from western capital of the Arab world.

 

 The original Dubai fort which is now a museum.  I would like to take this opportunity to mention the heat.  It was about 105 with full humidity.  So humid and hot, that my camera fogs up for the first 30 minutes of every day.  During the summer months, it can reach 130.

 A fortress door 

 Something about ventilation 

 This is a typical old school UAE bedroom 

 The tower

 SO lifelike 

 Outside the museum 

 A mosque 

 Stores 

 The textile Souq - its was too hot so most everything was closed.

 A shop 

 Pigeons 

 Dubai creek which is used by many to get around 

 It is a peaceful ride across to the other side 

 These crummy boats go all the way to India and back, much as they did hundreds of years ago 

 Old school cargo boats 

 The quiet afternoon souq 

 Shoes 

 SO cool 

Pipes

 A busier souq - I was heckled only mildly

 Strange long haul ships 

 Water taxis are very cheap here about 30 cents to get across

 Spice souq 

 Fresh spices.

 The gold souq

 Largest gold ring in the world - it is much worse in person 

 gold and gems, the prices were just okay 

 Lots of gold 

 Lots of nuts