Souk - Dubai 3, Sweet Summer

Last and Final part of our Dubai vacation!! A trip to Dubai cannot be complete without a visit to the Market aka Souk, as it's called. The spice and gold souks are located in old Dubai alongside the creek

When you are here, we feel as though we are at home. The are gives out a very Indian feeling, unlike the city, which is only high rise buildings and fancy cars. We get to see the original city here in old Dubai here

We took the metro to reach here. The metro station where we have to get off is also decorated in such a way as to reflect the traditional look of Dubai.. what were the original professions, trade etc are all reflected in the metro station here. Unfortunately I missed to take a picture of the station

We then walked to the gold souk first. I had no intention of buying any jewelry, yet wanted to see what it is like. As we were there during the DSF (Dubai Shopping Festival), the whole place was decorated and there were heavy discounts everywhere. A bright flash of yellow hit us as we entered the street

We got to see the world's largest ring here, as awarded by the Guinness records

I cannot dream of wearing any of these!!

From here we walked on to the spice souk, which is my calling!!

Nobody could miss the street, the smell itself would lead us there!! It was so divine for those who love spices

We got to see so many spices, many that we have not even heard of!!

Also there were these amazing cut glass work lanterns and other gift articles. I could only stare, take a picture and sigh over these as I was too scared of accumulating baggage and also because I was scared of breaking it in transit

From here we took a short boat ride on an old fashioned open boat

This model boat was outside the Dubai museum to indicate their traditional trade

That brings us to the end of our Dubai vacation dear friends.

On the stitchy front, I started on my next project - Sweet Summer by Lizzie Kate

That's about it from me today friends. Till next time.. Take care.. Be happy.. Craft about.. Au Revoir

Back to routine!!

End of summer vacation always evokes mixed feelings in me. On the one hand I am relieved that life is going to get back to routine after 2 months of absolutely no system or discipline, nothing but fun and relaxation. On the other hand I will terribly miss my little elf V - she literally being my tail and following me around, having to tell her 'V can you please be quiet for atleast 5 minutes'!! Sighhhh anyway, school has begun and life is back to machine like routine.

V baked one more absolutely yummy cake from scratch and all on her own - a spiced oatmeal raisin quick bread

The recipe is from my Williams Sonoma Baking book. We halved the recipe and replaced egg with flaxseed powder

Each year I attempt to bake a mango cake, but never succeeded. I found a recipe and finally succeeded this year

The recipe is from TicklingPalates.com.

And guess what, after about 2 months of no stitching, I have picked up seashells again. Here's where I am now.

I have completed exactly 50% of the chart. The stitching in the second half is not as dense as in the first half, so hope to finish the project soon

This is it from me today friends. You are going to hear more frequently from me from now. Till next time.. Take care.. Be happy.. Keep stitching.. Au Revoir