Discovering Sharjah in the UAE
Whilst in Dubai I hope to use the opportuniy to see as much as possible and really experience Dubai and it's surrounding Emirates.
Dubai for most Australian travellers is a convenient stopover en-route to Europe of other destinations. I hope to change that view and give my clients more options outside of the traditional day tours on offer.
Don't get me wrong they are fantastic if you are short of time and want to fit in a lot but there are alternatives and these I will explore!
Half an hour from downtown Dubai and you are in another Emirate, Sharjah. So yesterday we set off with the ojective of getting to the Central Market or Blue Souk as it is known and what a delight was in store.
Driving out of Dubai the landscape quickly changed to desert notes and sparce greenery and then Sharjah appeared with beautiful modern buildings and attractive mosques.
The Blue souk is an immaculate series of buildings adhorned with blue and white tiles and built in an intricate Islamic style. It is magnificent.
When you envisage markets or a souk it certainly is nothing like the lovely Blue Souk...this is upmarket bargin shopping in comfort...if that makes sense!
A myriad of shops selling silver and gold jewelry, semi-precious gems, antiques and curios, cosmetices, clothing and of course beautiful pashminas and scarves.
Bargaining is acceptable and it is gentle and polite. There is an air of calm in these markets that you don't experience in the bustling markets of many cities.
We are early risers and this is definatly the time to enjoy this wonderful souk. By midday it was getting busier and it was time to set off again.