SHOPPING ON: Dubai Souk

Pecinta film Sex and The City pasti ingat dengan adegan berbelanja di salah satu pasar tradisional di Dubai, Uni Emirat Arab. Sepatu-sepatu Alladin, kain motif khas Timur Tengah, rempah-rempah dan masih banyak lagi ada di area pasar menarik di Dubai.

I bet all fans of Sex and The City the movie still remember the shopping scene in one of traditional market at Dubai, Uni Emirat Arab. Those markets had lots of interesting stuff like Alladin shoes, Middle-East designed fabric, herbs and spices, and many more.

Salah satu pasar yang wajib dikunjungi saat ke Dubai adalah Souq Al-Arsa, pasar tertua di Uni Emirat Arab yang dahulu menjadi lokasi pertukaran dan geliat ekonomi Dubai masa lampau saat pedagang Persia dan India datang dan bertransaksi dengan warga lokal.

One of the must-visit markets at Dubai is Souq Al-Arsa, the oldest market in Uni Emirat Arab which formerly became the exchange site and economy center of Dubai when merchants from Persian and Indian came to have business with local people.

Crossing the river to Souq Al-Arsa

Sulit untuk berjalan lurus di pasar ini dan bahkan sejak sebelum sampai di Souq Al-Arsa, saya dan teman saya, Sylvia sudah beberapa kali berbelok ke beberapa toko yang sangat menarik sebelum menyeberang di Abra dan kemudian berjalan masuk ke Souq Al-Arsa.

It’s hard to just pass along the market. Even before coming to Souq Al-Arsa, me and my friend, Sylvia, already stopped by some interesting shops for several times before crossing in Abra then continue walking to the entrance of Souq Al-Arsa.

Meski sudah beberapa kali diperbaharui dan sebagian toko sudah cukup modern dengan air conditioner di dalamnya, sejumlah elemen masa lalu masih dipertahankan seperti bentuk dan motif kayu serta atap yang menjadi kanopi di jalanan tengah Souq Al-Arsa.

Even though the souk has been renovated several times and some part of it already modern with air conditioner inside but the element of the past is still maintained until now, all the pattern and wooden ceiling which gave you the old Arabic feeling is the main attention of Souq Al-Arsa.

Spices & Herbs

Jangan hanya berjalan menyusuri toko-toko di jalanan utama karena bagian menyenangkan adalah memasuki gang-gang kecil dengan berbagai toko kecil di kiri dan kanan. Pedagang akan terus memanggil-manggil namun cukup tetap lewat dan tersenyum jika tidak berminat membeli :)

Do not only walk down the main street because small shops inside the alleys are also tempting. The sellers would keep calling and asking you to buy their goods, if you didn’t wanna buy just keep smiling and go ahead

Bagian yang juga tidak boleh dilewatkan di Souq Al-Arsa adalah Gold Souq atau pasar emas. Di Dubai harga emas cenderung lebih murah karena tidak dikenakan pajak. Selain itu juga terdapat banyak perhiasan emas dengan bentuk dan ukuran yang fantastis, bahkan hingga memecahkan rekor dunia.

One thing that you couldn’t be missed in Souq Al-Arsa was Gold Souq or golden market. In Dubai, gold is duty-free so the price tends to be cheaper. Another information, they made gold into an impressive jewelry with fantastic shape and size, even broke the world record.

So, are you ready to shop here?

@marischkaprue - the journeys are gold, the memories are diamonds