Day 4- Old Dubai and the Souks

Much of what we had seen until Day 4 was the new Dubai: the modern conveniences and lavish extravagance that billions of dollars in oil money can buy. After a late (and wonderful) evening greeting the new year from a 1500 dollar-per-night hotel built on top of a man-made island in the Arabian Gulf, it was time to take a step back and experience the historical region that made Dubai a bustling center for trade with India, Iran, and China: the souks of Deira.

We ventured first to the Gold Souk, famous for its hundreds of jewelry stores and loved even more because it is possibly the cheapest place in the world to buy gold.

No matter where we ventured, we were quietly approached by "businessmen" seeking to sell us "real" Rolexes and Prada purses. In Manhattan, you will see counterfeit merchandise set up on outdoor tables without shame or fear of the law. Here they are more likely to hide their trade, and will offer to take you to secret rooms in off-alley buildings to show you what they have to sell.

One group experienced this first-hand, as they were led into a non-descript building, then to the elevator, then to the third floor, then were buzzed in to a secret room in order to see what they had. (Thanks to Jason for playing the role of bodyguard!) Inside: thousands of counterfeit handbags, watches, ties, Mont Blanc pens, and Ray Ban sunglasses; screens displaying the output from several security cameras; and an entrance secured with 5 separate sets of locks. When they say that counterfeiting costs businesses $600 billion each year, it is easy to see why. This was an MBA lesson in and of itself.

Storefront in the Spice Souk

Stepping off the bus on Al Khor Street, the first thing that hit me was the overwhelming scents from the Spice Souk. Walk into any one of the stores and you will see just about any spice you'd find in Mom's kitchen, teas from China and Arabia. In front, the storekeepers stand by giant bags of spices, breaking open dried lemon and saffron threads, offering them up those who pass by.

Finally, the textile souks showcased bolts of fabric from around the world in combinations of colors you can't find at the local Jo-Ann Fabrics. There are stacks and stacks of pashmina shawls, cashmere wool scarves made in Italy or India, with flowing patterns and eye-catching colors. These are hand woven and some have beaded stitching, created by the most talented textile artists in the world. Insider tip: If you're looking for great gifts to bring back as souvenirs for the women you know, these are undoubtedly the items to buy -- unless of course you've got the budget for gold!

Later that evening we returned to the location of the souks, Dubai Creek, for a cruise on a dhow, a replica of the boats traditionally used to transport the types of goods we'd seen throughout the day... Then it was back to campus for a good night's sleep, in preparation for classes tomorrow.