Life at Dubai Creek

A few weeks (maybe months) ago, I spent an afternoon strolling around the Old Creek in Dubai. It is one of my favourite areas in the city to capture, as there is always lots to see, and most people don't mind to be a model for a minute. Here a some snapshots from that day.

A man takes a break from working on the dhow. Behind him, a truck had just arrived, and soon he will have to get back to loading more cargo onto the ship. The dhows travel between the UAE, Iran, India, Pakistan, and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

Someone started feeding the seagulls some bread and it turned into a chaotic scavenging of diving, flying and swimming birds, with the appropriate noise, of course.

A kitty cat made himself at home in the perfect bird hide.

The colours were the reason I took this photo, from the light blue of the man's shalwar kameez to the beige of the sheets in the background, and the different shades of blue and sea green paint of the dhow. Most of the traditional dhows in Dubai Creek are painted in the same shade of blue, and while it is a lovely colour, seeing one in with different added shades keeps things interesting.

Good models, these men, and after I took this photo they even pulled a third man that was just passing by into the scene. On of my favourite things about the Creek, is how all the cargo is just piled up on the docks, right next to the public road, waiting to be loaded onto the dhows or into trucks.

Looking for bread.

The turtle and the notebook. I found this scene on the remains of a sunken dhow, that has been there for as long as I can remember, but every time I see the shipwreck, I don't seem to remember that (are you still following?). Anyway, maybe this time I won't forget it's there. I liked the idea of the turtle finding shelter under the notebook, or in a Narnia world, take some notes or have a good read.

Another great thing at the Creek: abras! For a few dirhams you can cross the Creek to the other side, and enjoy the breeze and the sunlight reflecting on the water (while ignoring the noisy engines and lingering exhaust fumes). It's a nice experience nonetheless. A busy world, though this image gives me a sense of quiet.

I really like birds, so here's one more.