Long before Dubai started to conquer the desert and the ocean, life centred around the creek which runs 10 km inland. Deira and Bur Dubai are the two parts of "Old" Dubai which grew up on either side of the creek. These city sections are connected by two bridges and one tunnel but the "real" mode of transportation is to cross the creek in an abra for 1 dirham ( 33 cents)
This picture gives a sense of the old and the new.
Still a very viable port, Dubai Creek is a hub of "dhow" activity.....and has been since 1830. The dhows now trade with Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Oman, India, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan. Airconditioners, matresses, kitchen sinks, clothes, canned goods, cars, gum - you name it and it's on the boat! There are gangs of thieves off the shores of Yemen which make life for these poorly paid sailors even more disasterous.
a typical dhow loaded and heading out to sea
you can find the odd yacht docked alongside the dhows
Long before Dubai started to conquer the desert and the ocean, life centred around the creek which runs 10 km inland. Deira and Bur Dubai are the two parts of "Old" Dubai which grew up on either side of the creek. These city sections are connected by two bridges and one tunnel but the "real" mode of transportation is to cross the creek in an abra for 1 dirham ( 33 cents)
This picture gives a sense of the old and the new.
Still a very viable port, Dubai Creek is a hub of "dhow" activity.....and has been since 1830. The dhows now trade with Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Oman, India, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan. Airconditioners, matresses, kitchen sinks, clothes, canned goods, cars, gum - you name it and it's on the boat! There are gangs of thieves off the shores of Yemen which make life for these poorly paid sailors even more disasterous.
a typical dhow loaded and heading out to sea
you can find the odd yacht docked alongside the dhows
No comments:
Post a Comment