Dubai 14 Mar 2017

Well, I discovered something tonight, China World is in Bangkok not Dubai! It might be in other places too, but it certainly isn't anywhere near here. I spent some time hunting for it on Google Maps and in the Dubai Street Atlas this morning. I was a bit surprised that I just couldn't locate it. Now, all has been revealed! 

We did go out to buy dress making material today. Not normally a male pastime I know, but my navigational skills were required to find the stores as researched on the internet. As noted earlier, even my skills were overstretched with China World! We did, however find Ratti, a very nice air-conditioned store in the old pasty of Dubai, Deidra. 

We took to the Dubai Metro again, and travelled from Internet City to Burjuman where we changed trains and ended up at Al Fahidi station. The area around here is full of clothes, textiles and jewellery stores predominantly owned by Indians.  After a short walk interrupted by touts intent on selling (fake) watches, handbags and other fashion accessories, we arrived at Ratti. The staff were very helpful, even providing water whilst Lynn browsed. Many bolts of material were unwrapped and draped over the tables before suitable material was selected. Everything got beautifully wrapped and the prices very reasonable.

We stopped after this for a drink and found a cafe that served us Lime and Soda. The lime juice was fresher prepared for us. It was delicious and extremely cheap.

Just across the road we went in another shop. They had exactly what Lynn was looking  for, but insisted on displaying a huge range of similar fabrics of differing quality. We even ventured upstairs to buy jersey material to make t-shirts. We had excellent customer service and our salesman insisted on making a 'very good price'! For us, it was a good price which is the important thing, but we could have haggled him down some more I guess.

Loaded with fabric, we headed for the Mall of the Emirates as we needed lunch and groceries. Lunch was taken in the food court, my Lebanese chicken kebab salad was very good and just right for a lunch snack. Lynn's Indian curry was on an entirely different scale. It would have fed a family of four for the entire day!

Carrefour feels odd in that we could be in France, but the fresh fish counter is a sight to behold. Some vegetables and fruits would never make it into the supermarket in France too.

This evening, Lynn and I (well mainly Lynn to be fair) attempted to replicate food we had cooked at the school in Bangkok. I think it worked pretty well really, there wasn't anything left at end. I guess that's the best endorsement of all.