Dubai Guide: Top 10 Off-the-Beaten-Path Experiences - Greensense.biz - eco fashion, eco gadgets, green product review, swap clothes, green blogs, go green social network

Home

GreenSenses

Home

Community Login

Advertise on this site

Packages

Recent Visitors

Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection
Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection
Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection
Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection
Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection
Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection
Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection
Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection	Visit Profile Make Connection

Archive
March, 2008 February, 2008 January, 2008

Featured Bloggers
FunEditor Janelle V. EcoMuse ecochic

Shop

* Meet like-minded people

* Blog what you know to help others

* Eco clutter solutions - swap clean clothes

* Free sign-up and free services

Dubai Guide: Top 10 Off-the-Beaten-Path Experiences

Written by FunEditor

Friday, 09 May 2008

Editor?s Note: Terry Carter and his wife and writing partner, Lara Dunston, have written half a dozen travel guides to Dubai and the UAE and have made it their home base since 1998. We asked Terry to write about top local / off-the-beaten-path travel tips for Dubai. You can also check out their recent post about “Top Things to Do in Dubai“.

Dubai Tip #1: Dip your toes into the Arabian Sea

Dubai Tip #8 — Expat Volleyball

We?d like to say that it?s invigorating, but we?d be so wrong. The truth is that most of the year the water is as warm as a baby?s bath, but remember, it?s the Arabian Sea! You can surf, kite surf or just take advantage of the photo op with the Burj Al Arab as a backdrop. While it?s calm most of the time, there are strong currents ? and you don?t want to be drifting off towards Iran with the US warships and pesky pirates around. If you do float to Iran, remember to call it the Persian Gulf not the Arabian Gulf. Just so you know.

Dubai Tip #2: Catch a local bus

Most visitors to Dubai never catch the local buses, probably due to the fact that you can actually melt into a sizzling puddle on the sidewalk waiting for one. But it?s a great way to mix it with Dubai?s expat workers ? not the ones on the executive packages. You?ll see the neighbourhoods where they live and get a feel for the different expat communities. It?s also a great way to find those authentic workers cafés. Just look for the crowds around a hole-in-the-wall and get off. There is a double-decker hop-on-hop-off bus that does the main routes, but that’s cheating.

Dubai Tip #3: Let’s do brunch

When a Dubai resident says ?let?s do lunch?, it?s not an empty threat. If you?re in Dubai on a Friday or a Saturday, brunch with the expats is a must. Take excellent people-watching opportunities, add good value food, mix liberally with free drinks, and presto, you?re living the Dubai equivalent of ?the good life?. Week time lunch specials are also brilliant value. Check the Time Out magazine or website for the current dining bargains.

Dubai Tip #4: Shop yourself silly at a mall

Contrary to what you might read elsewhere, Dubai?s cultural activities don?t exclusively consist of shopping, shopping and more shopping (see our previous blog on Dubai), but the mall certainly is a focal point of local activity. Dubai doesn?t have a ?town square? or the ritual of the afternoon stroll around its manicured paths ? this activity takes place at Dubai?s malls. Why? It?s too ****** hot to do it elsewhere! Whether it?s to meet friends for coffee, to check out the latest designer fashions (local and international), catch a movie, or just escape the heat, you have to hit the mall at least once. Just don?t call it ‘mall culture’?

Dubai Tip #5: Check out the local supermarkets

Dubai Tip #5 — Eat local

Sure they?re not as exotic as the souqs, but local branches of supermarkets (such as Carrefour) reveal a lot about how people live in Dubai. You?ll see old local women, often sporting the traditional burka (face mask), doing a monthly shop with a trolley laden with huge bags of flour, rice, cooking oil, and dozens of tissue boxes!

There are fresh nuts, olives, pickled vegetables, and other goodies (caviar anyone?) in barrels at the deli counter, but you can also pick up fascinating souvenirs here as well ? chocolate covered-dates, orange water, rose syrup ? all with endearing packaging that hasn?t changed since that old local woman was pulling water from a well.

Dubai Tip #6: Succumb to the spa

Dubai is fast becoming a world-class spa destination. Just about every five-star hotel has at least one spa and the treatment lists are just as extensive as any in Thailand. Given Dubai?s reputation as a luxury travel destination and emphasis on relaxing, it?s no wonder that the spa scene has become so competitive. Cleopatra?s Spa started the ball rolling many years ago and in many ways is still the queen (sorry!) of Dubai?s spas. And one of the most reasonably priced.

Dubai Tip #7: Picnic at Creekside Park

As soon as the weather cools off a little, Dubai?s residents hit the beach or a park. Creekside Park is a favourite because it has great children?s facilities as well as abundant shade and afternoon Creek breezes. The smell of BBQ (everything from Thai chicken satay to Middle Eastern lamb kebabs) and sheesha (aromatic water pipe) fills the air as does the playful sounds of children speaking a dozen or so different languages. Before you head to the park, drop in to the nearby Wafi Mall to Wafi Gourmet for your picnic supplies ? juicy olives from the barrel, white cheeses, dips of hummus and muttabal, kebbe, and fabulous fresh bread.

Dubai Tip #8: Be a good sport

Dubai?s winter sporting calendar attracts everyone from Tiger Woods to Roger Federer (a part-time Dubai resident), and while this provides a great opportunity to see your favourite sporting superstars up close there are plenty of other sports to watch ? or join in. Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan expats play cricket at any time of the day, anytime of the year, and anywhere where there?s room to swing a bat. Emiratis flock to see their favourite football (soccer) teams play at the stadiums and the sport of rifle throwing (yes, that?s what we said) attracts supportive extended families. Even if you?re here at the height of summer that?s no excuse: Monday night is Freestyle Night at Ski Dubai, complete with DJ spinning tunes.

Dubai Tip #9: Drink in the views

A Dubai ritual for residents entertaining friends, the ‘drinks with a view’ generally means selecting one of three options. There are the awe-inspiring city views: busy Bar 44 at Grosvenor House with its awesome champagne menu, or Vu?s Bar at the Emirates Towers Hotel where window-side tables are coveted. There is the Burj Al Arab view from either hip 360? at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel or safari-style Bahri Bar at Mina A?Salam. And finally, there?s the simple Arabian Gulf Sea view from funky Sho Cho (where you can also hear the waves crashing on the sand below) or lofty Skyview Bar at the Burj Al Arab. Cheers!

Dubai Tip #10: The midnight snack

The post-shopping, post-work shift, or post-imbibing ritual is to head to the neon-lit Satwa neighbourhood for a late-night nibble or a full-blown meal. There are several choices around Al Dhiyafa Rd, but the two main attractions are the basic Pakistani curries and sweet lassi (yoghurt-based) drinks at Ravi?s, or shwarma (juicy, fragrant lamb or chicken rolled up in a pita bread) washed down with fresh juice at Al Mallah. Enjoy!

?Terry Carter

Planning a trip? Browse Via Tour for complete list of Dubai tours & things to do, from desert sandboarding safaris to Dubai city sightseeing tours.

Views: 104 | E-mail

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Last Updated ( Friday, 09 May 2008 )

[ Back ]

Awash in orange plastic prescription bottles

I am a friend of Big Pharma. For me, it's a friendship based on necessity, akin to how some Sicilians feel about the mafia. This friendship means every month I throw away at least two plastic bottles that can't be recycled.

I hear a few of you saying, "Wait, Sea! You can use these bottles for beds, buttons, toothpicks and maracas!" But I already have a home for my beads. My earrings are in a recycled tea tin; my spices are in recycled spice jars. And I don't want to make maracas!

So what the devil am I to do with these little orange bottles? Make a pyramid?!

Be a P.R.O.
I'm not sure if Jacob Willard is still doing his P.R.O. program, but it's worth looking into if you live in West Virginia. In 2005 Willard started a community service project called P.R.O. or the prescription bottle recycling operation. Apparently, a local clinic cleans and reuses the bottles that Willard collects. Anyone can send him bottles. I pray you don't send him anything else. Thank you.

Call Pharm-Ecological Services
If you happen to live in British Columbia, you might have a better chance for recycling your prescription bottles. Pharm-Ecological is a company that takes all kinds of pharmacological plastic packaging and recycles it. Will they take your personal stuff? Send them an email and ask.

Ask your pharmacist pretty please with sugar on top
You could be more adult about the question, but it adds up to the same: Find out if your pharmacist will let you reuse your bottles after you've cleaned them and removed the labels. Chain pharmacies I called weren't hip to the idea, but locally owned pharmacies sometimes are. Each pharmacy typically has one lead pharmacist. Talk to that person.

Bark and meow it
On other blogs I've seen posts that stated veterinarians and animal shelters sometimes accept used but clean prescription bottles. I can't verify this, and my own vet certainly would not do such a thing, no ma'am. But I laud the suggestion.

Make a Christmas Tree ornament
This idea scares me. Perhaps you'll love it.

Call your legislator
This is my favorite suggestion. It may result in absolutely nothing, but if you don't call you can't complain and if you don't complain who else besides your office mate will hear your whining? You'll go to your grave being known as the man who never stopped nattering on about the lack of recycling for prescription bottles.

Sk8er Boi goes green with Brazil's eco skateboard

Skateboarding is already quite a green way to get about the place, but what about the board itself?

All-Electric 700 HP Lightning GT

Here's a sweet little new electric number from the UK for you automotive fans. It's the Lightning GT -- which has motors in the wheels and makes use of regenerative braking -- and you'll need to be over in the United Kingdom for now if you'd like to get yourself one.

The Lightning GT reportedly does 0-60 in four seconds and has 700+ rated bhp. This car, to get where it needs to go, uses "electronically controlled traction control which negates wheel spin and unbalance in the power being applied." The vehicle has no engine, instead offering drivers a "maintenance-free" engine with a few parts, control electronics, and special batteries.

The batteries are obviously the heart of the Lightning GT. The company says these batteries use "nano titanate materials instead of graphite which makes them far more thermally stable" and have a life expectancy of over 12 years. Charging time is said to be 10 minutes and the power delivered per unit weight and unit volume is "several times that of conventional Lithium-Ion batteries."

Also a factor in the design of these vehicle is "Hi-Pa Drive." It is described as "compact, energy-efficient, electric wheel motors" that "produce unrivalled levels of torque with internal heavy-duty tapered roller bearings that can withstand heavy radial loads for robust use."

[via Tuvie]

Solar Water Heaters Could Save $35 B / Year

Solar water heaters are low tech. Basically, they're black pipes on panels. There's no nanotechnology, no monosilicon crystals, and no DC to AC conversion. Just run a pipe to your roof, through the panel, and then back into your house. In many parts of the US, solar water heaters can provide more than 90% of a household's water. And in all but the cloudiest climates, they can provide more than 30%.

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/environment/Solar_Water_Heaters_Could_Save_35_B_Year'; A recent study compiled in the UK (notably, not the sunniest place on earth) has determined that the average household could save around $450 per year. Now, the numbers would certainly be slightly different for Americans, and city dwellers with less roof space might not have the same options. But even with a big chunk shaved off the top, $450 for, let's say, the 80 million American households that are ready for hot water panels, is more than $30 billion per year.

And all of that power would be coming from a renewable and ongoing resource. No natural gas bills every month. Just one installation and then years of cheap water heating.

So why haven't we done it? A few reasons. First, installation can cost more than $5,000 dollars, especially in older houses. Second, new home buyers apparently don't like to see solar water heaters disrupting their "roof lines." But there's good news on both these fronts.

First, banks are looking for new kinds of loans in America. A loan that would, in effect, pay for itself and be more or less default-free could be very enticing. A ten-year loan on a solar water heater would, in effect, be free for the home owner and risk-free for the bank.

Second, people are looking for low-carbon homes now. Installing hot water heaters are a less expensive move (per pound of carbon negated) than photovoltaics. People are now able to be proud of their panels, and their neighbors will maybe even be a little bit jealous.

Via The Telegraph