After having spent my first day in Dubai mostly in the area around Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, on the second day now, I was after something somewhat calmer and more natural. A beach would do just fine. Jumeirah hotel was also another of Dubai’s most renown landmarks I’d like to see. Beside the hotel complex, there stretches a beach known as Sunset Beach, or Public Beach, or Open Beach.
Having already found out that access to many areas in this city tends to be restricted to people with shallow pockets, the name of that beach suggested that it was a befitting place for me to hang out.
I caught the train and got off at Noor Station. I had to walk for about 3 km down the wide, empty streets, through the occupied by palatial residences neighborhoods, until I confronted the Persian Gulf.
It was early afternoon. The sun was hammering the wide sandy beach from near its zenith, but a soft sea breeze was cooling down the place to ideal temperature levels.
Few people were present. Some Westerners and young Arab men were jogging or training at the open-air gyms. Women covered in burqas were ambling down the promenade pushing their buggies. Indian workers were having their lunch break sitting aground under some tree or another. Various folks were having a refreshment at the snack bars.
I eventually reached a point where several beach cafes were concentrated. I sat at one of them and ordered myself a coffee, which I enjoyed drinking slowly, peering at the sea and the sail-shaped luxurious hotel at the distance. There was a very pleasant traditional Arabic atmosphere in that place. And I also was quite surprised to note that almost all the staff were Arabs, instead of Indian and Filipinos which is usually the case in this city.
I continued my stroll towards the Jumeirah Resort. That whole area was exaggeratedly sumptuous. Luxuriant apartment buildings of unimaginable value and more hotels were clustered along the beach near the renown resort. And the area further inland was occupied by monumental villas.
I wouldn’t mind having a look inside the premises of Jumeirah Complex. But after I figured out that a fee way higher than I’d ever be willing to pay even for a night’s accommodation applies just to have a stroll around… I did mind. I did a few tries to sneak in via various approaches, but they all ended with some security staff running to stop me and me acting disoriented and absentminded.
I got tired of that place quickly enough. I headed back to the beach. There were those kiosks along the beach’s length which I had observed empty earlier. They were a fine piece of woodworking and their floors were complemented with delicate carpeting. Now they were occupied by companies of dispassionate local men, sitting in phlegmatic poses, drinking tea, and staring at the beach and the European girls on it.
I got my shoes off and stepped onto one of them, introducing myself. My reception from the local company was warm beyond expectations. They immediately welcomed me politely, offered me a seat, and treated me to a cup of tea and a piece of delicious halwa. During the time I remained there, I got to have a very interesting conversation with an elder man, a member of the royal family.
The night was about to take hold. I thanked and farewelled my company, and headed for a stroll on the beach, took some pictures, and sat by the waterside, reminiscing past charming sunsets over exotic seas while marveling at yet another one.
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