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10 Reasons to Shop Dubai: The Ultimate Dubai Shopping Guide

Posted August 21, 2009 , add a comment

Editor’s Note: Terry Carter and his wife and writing partner, Lara Dunston, have written half a dozen travel guides to Dubai and the UAE and have made it their home base since 1998. This time ’round Lara writes about Dubai’s top shopping experiences. You can also check out their recent post about “Top Things to Do in Dubai.”

dubai shopping guide gold bracelets

Dubai Shopping Tip: Bracelets are a good buy at Dubai’s Gold Souq

When we arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), just over 10 years ago, the Indian guy from my company who collected us from the airport chatted the whole way to the hotel, giving us a detailed introduction to the country, culture, and society, while extolling the virtues of living in Dubai compared to Abu Dhabi, where we’d just moved.

“… and Dubai has a shopping festival!” he proclaimed rather proudly. In those days, Abu Dhabi didn’t even have a mall so we had to drive to Dubai to do any real shopping, like buy an espresso machine for the apartment. But a shopping festival was something else! Admittedly, we thought this a little weird… what kind of country has a festival dedicated to shopping?

Although Abu Dhabi now boasts a few big swanky shopping centres, Dubai, with its scores of malls and atmospheric bazaars is still the region’s King of Shopping. And according to Terry, I’m the Queen of Shopping. So, here’s my Ultimate Dubai Shopping Guide, or, 10 Reasons Why You Should Shop Dubai.

#1 - Dubai Shopping Festival

The Dubai Shopping Festival, or DSS as we call it locally, has become much more than a festival of shopping. Sure, it’s the huge discounts, crazy promotions, citywide sales, and raffles with Porsches as the prize, that get us excited. But there’s also entertainment for the kids, street fairs with food stalls, nightly fireworks, and at the Heritage and Diving Village, traditional performances and cultural activities. Held in January and February, the UAE winter, the weather is lovely. It’s still warm enough to swim and tan by day, but in the evenings you need to pop a pashmina around your shoulders. The big disadvantage is that this it’s high season (and conference season) so hotels are expensive and you need to book well ahead. Like, now.

#2 - Dubai Summer Surprises

Dubai Shopping Festival became so popular that they started a summer equivalent called Summer Surprises. Even more family-oriented, as the kids are on school holidays, there’s a festival mascot called Modhesh which looks like a yellow bicycle pump. A summer version of DSS, held annually from the end of June to the end of August, there are sales all over the city, but the major advantage of the summer festival – if you can drag yourself away from the Olympics – is that hotel rooms sell at rock-bottom prices. Keep in mind, though, it’s a sweltering 45C (113F) degrees outside, your glasses fog up each time you step out of the hotel or taxi, and the whole time you’re there you’ll feel like you’re in a giant sauna or God has placed a big blow heater above Dubai. It’s an experience.

#3 - Dubai’s Shopping Malls

dubai shopping guide malls in dubai

Dubai’s Ibn Battuta Mall: Seven malls with a mall, each themed on a country the Arab traveller Ibn Battuta visited

I’m not a fan of malls generally but in Dubai, the mall makes sense. Remember, this is a place where it’s too hot to stroll the city streets for half the year. In Dubai, the shopping mall is a relief. And here, malls are about so much more than shopping.

They’re a place for socializing, for meeting up with friends for coffee, a movie or bowling, for hanging out with the family at a fun fair or eatery, for slipping on the skies to swoosh down the slopes in preparation for winter, or heading to the gym, spa or beauty salon to get into shape for the summer.

Dubai’s malls also boast theatres, art galleries, child minding centres, and even mosques. Think of them as the equivalent of an old town square, piazza or plaza in Europe.

#4 - Mall of the Emirates

If I had to choose one mall out of the city’s scores of shopping centres, it would be the opulent Mall of the Emirates. This sumptuous shopping centre is one of the city’s largest, but also one of its most beautiful, with polished marble floors, spacious avenues, and a stunning skylight. It boasts the best selection of shops, with several swellegant department stores, including swish Harvey Nichols, dozens of chic boutiques, exclusive designer stores, fantastic shoe and accessory stores, cosmetics supermarkets, a massive Virgin Megastore and Borders bookshop, cinemas and theatre, art galleries, a theatre, Ski Dubai (yes, that huge indoor ski slope you’ve read so much about), and superb restaurants, including Emporio Armani Caffe and Almaz by Momo (by Mourad Mazouz of Momo London fame), bars (Apres), and a hotel, the swanky Kempinski Mall of the Emirates.

#5 - Dubai’s Souqs

dubai shopping guide souqs in dubai

Souq Madinat Jumeirah’s wooden arcades

While Dubai boasts an abundance of sleek shopping malls, the bustling souqs (Middle Eastern-style bazaars) are actually what Dubai has historically been famous for. The Deira covered market was once the Arabian Gulf’s largest – remember, Dubai has been a trading port for several centuries.

The city’s souqs may not be the region’s most attractive – get images of Marrakesh or Istanbul out of your head – but they’re just as atmospheric and easily as fun.

The difference is Dubai’s souqs are real. Gritty and ramshackle, they’re not just for tourists, they’re where the real people shop for everyday things. In Deira and Bur Dubai’s souqs, Emirati girls shop for fake Yves Saint Laurent shaylahs (headscarfs), their mother’s haggle for stainless steel pot sets, their grandmothers buy oud (aromatic wood that’s lit like incense), while their brothers, husbands and dads bargain for the latest digital gadgets.

English expats take visiting guests to gawk at the glittering gold souq, Indian expats buy saris and textiles from home, while expat workers from Afghanistan and Bangladesh stock up on basic goods to take home, from woollen blankets to cheap kids clothes.

#6 - Because in Dubai Bargaining is a Fine Art

Part of the fun of shopping Dubai’s souqs is bargaining, or haggling. It’s not a requirement, as in Cairo, Istanbul or Marrakesh – if you don’t want to play simply ask the price, you’ll be told a price, and you can pay that price. And believe me, I’m an old hand at it, and it can be exhausting and it’s not always fun. But if you pay the first price you’re given, understand you’re probably paying double the value. It’s probably still a bargain compared to what you’d pay back home, but you can get it for a whole lot less, and have fun in the process if you bargain.

So, where do you start? Ask how much then when offered a price, suggest 50% less. The salesman will probably laugh or feign horror and offer a higher price. Stick to your guns. He’ll then drop the price and once he does, you should raise yours a little. And so it goes…

Use your instinct to respond to his reactions and adjust your price accordingly. As the process draws to an end, ask for the final and best price. If the offer seems reasonable, pay up. Don’t go back to your initial offer – or worse, leave! – this is extremely rude. The sales guy won’t welcome you back when you later realise his offer was a good deal and he’ll probably spread the word around the market so you get ripped off elsewhere. While bargaining in the souqs is acceptable, it’s not in a mall, unless it’s at a carpet shop. At small independently owned electronics, computer or camera shops, you can ask for discounts, but offer 50% less and you’ll be laughed out of the store.

#7 - Dubai’s Best Buys

Dubai’s best boys are the things we associate with shopping the Middle East – carpets, textiles, perfume, spices, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Seriously. Dubai’s Spice Souq may be small and a lot more touristy now than it once was, but a stroll here is an aromatic assault on the senses – great buys include tiny boxes of saffron, frankincense (the sticky golden rocks of resin in the big sacks), incense burners, and do-it-yourself henna kits. Deira’s Covered Souqs are the place to shop for bellydancing outfits, traditional costumes, sheesha pipes, and at the Gold Souq, anything that glitters. Bur Dubai’s Textile Souq sells Indian saris, vibrant fabrics, spangly Aladdin slippers, Dubai t-shirts, and Arabian ‘antiques’. Karama Souq is not so much a souq but a rather shabby shopping centre, but it’s the best place for discounted souvenirs from the region: Arabian bronze and copper coffee pots, engraved trays and Aladdin lamps, Yemeni khanjars (daggers), Bedouin silver jewellery from Oman, colourful Moroccan lamps, sequinned and beaded cushion covers and bedspreads from India, and mother-of-pearl inlaid boxes and furniture from Syria.

#8 - Souq Madinat Jumeirah

This stunning, air-conditioned, contemporary incarnation of a souq is the place to head when you can’t face the chaos of the real souqs, the heat has got too much for you, you’re not in the mood for bargaining, or, when you decide to refuel, you want to have a cold beer or glass of wine with your lunch. At this beautiful “Old Arabian” styled shopping centre with wooden arcades, wind-towers, and lovely courtyards, you can shop in comfort for fine quality carpets, handicrafts, souvenirs and gifts, and the best stores for those are Lata’s, National Iranian Carpets, the Pride of Kashmir, and Al-Jaber Gallery. Prices are obviously higher than at the souqs, but the quality is better. You’ll also find fashion, jewellery, leather and accessories, and dozens of restaurants, caf?s and bars where you relax and ponder your purchases, make new shopping lists, or assess the damage to the credit card.

#9 - Dubai’s Homegrown Fashion

Dubai may have made its fortunes on the import-export trade, but there’s actually some wonderful stuff produced in Dubai by Emiratis, and one of the standouts of interest to shoppers is its homegrown fashion. The biggest local name is quirky young Dubai-born designer Raghda Bukhash, who creates fabulous fashion under her Pink Sushi label, by playfully appropriating traditional Emirati culture and symbols. The black and white Palestinian keffayah or red and white gutra (Arab men’s headdresses) are all the rage in Europe right now, but Raghda was the first to use them to produce cute skirts, handbags and clutch purses. You can buy her hip fashion from chic fashion boutique, Amzaan, owned by local princess Sheikha Maisa al-Qassimi. Other independently owned boutiques stocking local Dubai fashion as well as interesting international labels include Five Green, Ginger&Lace, and S*uce.

#10 - Dubai’s Shopping Hours

Shopping malls in Dubai open from around 10am to 10pm daily (although a few don’t open until 2pm on Friday, the Muslim day of worship, like Sundays in the West), which is bliss for shopaholics on a stopover! Stores outside of malls, especially those in the souqs, close around noon for an afternoon meal and rest, opening around 5pm, which makes sense in this kind of heat. Shopping in Dubai is most fun at night when the locals go out to shop, so even if you don’t like shopping you can enjoy some people watching instead. This means you’ll end up eating late and hitting the pillow late, but what are days for if not dozing in the sun by the hotel swimming pool?

–Lara Dunston

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s complete list of Dubai tours & things to do, from Dubai desert safaris to Dubai city sightseeing tours.

London: Tower Crusin’, Thames Boozin’

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Editor’s note: Young love in summertime, is there anything more wonderful to behold? Being the romantics that we are here at Viator, we sent Jack and Tina on a Thames River cruise & Tower of London tour. Little could we guess, it was the start of a beautiful relationship. The Brits wore gray, Jack wore Brown, the rest is steeped in London history.

Thames River cruise... Jack & Tina are river-crossed lovers

Jack & Tina are Thames-crossed lovers

Jack: Steeped in history? London? Stories of empires lost and won? Over 2,000 years of comings and goings in a place of constant traffic and with an ever-changing face? Well, truth be told, the national nude mud wrestling championships ain’t really my thing, even if it is the sport of kings and queens. But then if it’s a chance to have a few beers and hang-out with your mates, then strewth, you’d be mad not to give it a go… little did I know, that’s not what Viator was asking…

Tina: The streets of this dirty ol’ town, as The Pogues would tell it – but that was Dublin, not London, but anyways… The streets had a strange effect on me as I wandered through admiring ye olde and ye newe. I needed to find a place where it was neither here nor there, in nor out, and I needed to find it fast. I had seen too many of the regular touristy faces plonking throughout the usual touristy spaces. I wanted something more raw, or maybe something more natured, and I said to myself, “Tines, you are a Pisces, a womanly fish- how have you not been by the watery depths, lady friend??” And so I set forth, to find my liquid salvation – and yes, that may include a beer or two.

Jack: Now it’s not that I’ve got anything against boats, or torture, or a quick beheading for that matter, but the word “cruise” makes me think of either weeks at sea playing shuffleboard with the same five people, or some seedy underground club with fellas having all kinds of coloured hankies in all kindsa pockets and a bunch of secret signals that I just can’t fathom. But how about a nice boat, just an hour or two, no outdoor sports and no indoor hanky panky? Sounds alright I hear you say, and if it’s a stylish way to get from A to B then I reckon I’m in. Little did I know there was more to it than that.

Tina: Poor moi, water is a must have in any city of significance. My heart does not beat quite as fast for those that are landlocked, without even so much as a creek or stream to call my very own for some moments when necessary. Thus, I am always mightily impressed when there is a large and forceful body standing before me. And I like rivers too. So I was happy to take up the offer of a ride on one of the best known maidens of the world, as she straddles the city from top to bottom and a bit sideways on the way through. A boat ride, of any kind, suits me well – the salt and the spray, the to and fro. Ah, there is nothing like it, and the bonus is you get to be a voyeur into some fancy pants houses by the water, and sometimes throw eggs, if you have a boat that is fast enough.

Jack: By the time I’d dragged meself round to Westminster Pier it was getting a bit warm, and was feeling the need for a refreshing midday ale, but then a little something happened that stopped that thought in its skinny little tracks. “Brown,” I said to the fella in the cruise booth. “Jack Brown,” I added, to make it crystal clear. Fella checked the list and his perky reply came, “Tickets for two?”

When Tina met Jack...

When Tina met Jack…

Huh? Gentle reader, you can imagine my surprise, and so this went back and forth for a few moments, nearly started to explain the whole Outback Adventurer thing, y’know, traveling where no man, or Sheila for that matter, dares go, but this fella didn’t seem to listen, like half of London I was starting to reckon, and had it fixed in his ‘ead that it was for two? What, Jack and Brown? This was gettin a bit odd and I hadn’t a clue…

Tina: So I was waiting as the ‘plus one’ for a certain streak of Brown at the ticket counter. I knew him straight away, as if I knew me own name. Of course, it had to be him. Walkin’ up with an almost rickets like stride, burly voice and too much facial hair for the 1pm meeting. He seemed a bit confused, which is never a surprise to me. As he was almost going to challenge the ticket man to an arm wrestle; I decided my fun had been had, and the boat would leave before it was settled between those two. So I sidled up, put my arm around his waist, and tickled the bloke til he near wet his pants. It would appear my fun had not yet been completely had. I introduced myself, and the ticket man had a decidedly relieved look on his face, and Jack…well, I couldn’t really tell what his expression meant at all…

I bought him a beer, and he was speechless, not because it hadn’t been done before, but I think because he had never seen a Sheila with two in her hand. And so we began the journey down Thames lane, past the London Eye, and the Match Em, Hatch Em and Dispatch Em building – the old marriages, births deaths registrar .

Jack: Not since “Apolyclaps Now” had I more intimidation of going down the river – this Tina lady had me matched beers one f’r one, and hardly seemed to pause to draw breath. Shakespeare’s Theatre rolled by the banks, the Anchor Inn, too, which they used as a change-room back in the day – and here Tina had a sparkle in her eye like that wasn’t the only place t’was a shame to be without a change-room. Before I knew it, we’d made our debut on London Weekend television, as we rolled by as the studio’s riverside backdrop, we’d seen the ladies bridge, and I was beginning to think that wasn’t the only long moment that was stretched across these waters…

I pulled meself together, long enough to notice the history of this place – seemed that from listening to the Mate’s commentary (not blue-badge guides but the boat’s own staff that tell you what’s what) – that the Thames was steeped in old things on all sides, hist’ry veritably flowed through its watery veins, I heard that some of the jokes in that hour had surely been passed back n forth for centuries without seeming to age a moment, a quirky laugh hid behind every old bridge and vantage by the boat’s proud prow.

Tina: But deciding the hour was coming late, and I was up for a bit of inhumanity, following the tour on to jump off at Tower Pier for a spot of looking about the old Tower of London seemed like more than a good idea. As the leaftletty things tell you it was a prison, a royal palace and a mint, all rolled into one. All I have to say, is it was pretty big, but as usual, not as big as you would expect. So there we were, cruising the battlements with slightly shaky legs following the boat outing, seeing all the Ravens that now run the place holding court on all the lawns. There’s the legend that if these birds ever leave, the monarchy and Tower would fall apart. Well, as a good Aussie Republican, I was thinking of setting up a shooting gallery as I watched those dark blobs flutter about the grassy knolls… on the boids, a’ course, nothing more sinister. Ol’ Mr Brown was starting to loosen up too, getting the impression that not only the fellas play rough, that daring twinkle returning to his slightly shocked brow.

You kinda stroll through various ages heading round the Tower, seeing the bedroom of Edward II, Longshanks they called him, and then the armour of Henry, which apparently accommodated a somewhat frightening fighting member in the forward section. I am sure if I were to come up against that, I would scream in terror too. There is a very modern memorial, for all those who were strung up at the Tower, and oh yes, those bright shiny baubles that are placed on the heads of the coronated heirs to the throne of ol’ Enlgand- where for once all that shimmied was all gold.

Tower of London from the Thames

Tower of London from the Thames

Jack: Seemed to me this place put the ‘evil’ back into ‘Medieval’ – awkward ways to go, quick ways to lose your head, and if you’re against a Poll Tax, say round the 1300s, could be a good place to invade should you be the wanting to put the large back into the Public-at-Large. Spotted some fine graffiti etched into a wall, prisoners artwork – maybe the cover for one of the first black metal albums, all pentangles upon ye olde cross. Didn’t seem like a good place to spend your allotted eternity, but if it’s bright spangly bits your fancy – then there was one bit left to see.

Tina: If it were treason you fancied, the monarchy would happily have you sliced by high quality shiny knives or pulled apart by a couple of horses before it was beer o’clock. The goriness continued at the Blood Tower where the nastiest prisoners were kept, but as I am a vegetarian pacifist, I decided it was too much for a first date, and I didn’t want Jack to go into a primitive state, as I was starting to get other ideas about where to take this one next…

-Jack Brown & Tina Grace

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s London tours & things to do in London, from the Tower of London to the London Eye to London cruises & Thames river cruises.

East Africa Tourism Report

Posted August 7, 2009 , add a comment

By Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN AfricaHILLARY CLINTON ARRIVES IN NAIROBI
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi on Wednesday amid a media flurry of speculations on her “added” reason for the visit. Officially, she is heading a large delegation from the US, the US business community, and government representatives to attend the AGOA summit in Kenya, which will bring together public and private-sector participants from many African nations benefitting from the AGOA legislation. Some 2,000 participants are expected to gather in Nairobi for the meetings. At the same time, dire warnings from Washington and London reminded the Kenyan government and others in attendance that accountability and transparency, good governance, and best international practice are a MUST to assure continued economic and political cooperation. This may well be aimed at the Kenyan government, first and foremost, which has been dragging its feet over decisive action against the inciters and participants in the post-election violence a year ago.

There is also speculation that US Secretary Clinton may attend talks over the security situation at the Horn of Africa, where fighting on the ground between AU peace keepers, government troops, and Islamic militants has intensified in the recent past and where acts of piracy have greatly interfered with trade to and from eastern Africa.

CAA OWED OVER US$33 MILLION
Information has emerged that government agencies owe the Uganda Civil Aviation some 68.7 billion Uganda Shillings, while the CAA was compelled to borrow nearly 80 billion Uganda Shillings to carry out improvements and infrastructural developments at the country’s main airport and other aerodromes across the nation. Sources within the CAA, preferring anonymity, also talked about the UN’s operation at the international airport in Entebbe. The UN apparently pays no landing, navigational, or parking fees, in spite of such requests being made to the government, which apparently granted the UN the “freedom of the airport,” i.e., gratis use for setting up their main east-African supply base at the old airport in Entebbe. This information was likely made public in light of recent reports about having the international airport concessioned out to private management, a move which raised strong emotions in the public debate over the issue.

“THE EYE” AVAILABLE IN AUGUST & SEPTEMBER ON THE WEB
Uganda’s premier visitor guide for the next two months is now available on the web again, an alternative at least for those unable to get a hard copy. Those are distributed for free through hotels, lodges, travel agencies, restaurants, airline offices, and a range of other places, giving the latest updates of where to go, what to do, plus a whole range of other useful information like contact lists for all and sundry. Check out www.theeye.co.ug for more details - must read material for intending visitors to Uganda.

SHELL DROPS KISUMU AVIATION FUEL DELIVERY
Notice has been belatedly received in Uganda that Shell Kenya apparently has stopped the supply of aviation fuel across the lake in Kisumu. The airport there has been a convenient fuel-tech stop for general aviation flights dropping in to load on AVGAS for the next leg homebound to Entebbe across Lake Victoria or while flying further into Kenya or Tanzania.

SAFARI COMPANY GOES CARBON NEUTRAL
In a Ugandan first, the Entebbe-based Classic Africa Safaris has recently gone carbon neutral after purchasing carbon credits through the globally accredited Carbon Trading Bureau Uganda. This initiative covers not only the safari cars that are regularly on the road with clients from around the world, but also the carbon footprint of the company’s offices, workshops, and private residences. Congrats on this achievement go to Mel Gormley, CEO and principal owner of Classic Africa Safaris – the well-remembered and much-respected former chairperson of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Congrats also to their entire staff and board of directors. Well done indeed! Who is next?

2011 ELECTION DATES NOW AVAILABLE
March 13, 2011 will see Uganda go to the polls again to elect representatives on the local and national level, from local council representatives to parliament to presidential elections. The process, however, will start off much earlier with voter-registration updates, determining where the polling stations will be located, and training of staff of the Electoral Commission before launching the respective campaigns proper. Traditionally, an election period and campaign brings about more excitement in the country but has, in the past, been generally peaceful and orderly, as witnessed by this correspondent since the early 1990s. Intending visitors can be assured that their holiday enjoyment is most unlikely to be impacted in any way by the event.

PORINI SAFARI CAMPS RELEASE GAME NUMBER UPDATES
Gamewatcher Safaris and Porini Safari Camps have recently provided data on the lion population near their camps close to Amboseli National Park and the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The companies attributed the success to closer cooperation with the resident Masai herdsmen, which reduced wildlife-livestock conflicts substantially in areas where Porini operates camps. Several lion cubs were born recently and can now be seen by safari guest of the respective camps.

The company also launched a new product – lion research safaris – which mainly focuses on areas in northern Kenya’s Samburu National Park, the Buffalo Springs, and Shaba Game Reserves, which are split by the main road leading from Isiolo, further north to Marsabit and the Ethiopian border. Guests on such safaris, this column was told, have the opportunity to participate, to an extent, in research and educational activities, like radio tracking those lions fitted with collars, patrolling with and recording data gathered by scouts and rangers, investigating lion-livestock incidents, and helping in carnivore education presentations in local schools and community centers.

Porini Safari Camps are renowned for their efforts to preserve bio diversity and improve community relations through the establishment of wildlife conservancies, revenue sharing schemes, employment, and other related incentives. Visit www.porini.com for more information.

EAST AFRICAN CLASSIC SAFARI RALLY FOR NOVEMBER
Kenya Airways has once again stepped in and became the major sponsor of this motor sport event, which takes place every few years and traverses a different route every time across Kenya and other parts of east Africa. The rally brings together the big names of rally driving of yesteryear and, of course, features the “classic” rally cars going back to the 60s and 70s, when the main Safari Rally was still on the annual world championship calendar. Check this column in the coming weeks for more information about the event.

RIFT VALLEY LAKES UNDER THREAT
The Kenyan rift valley lakes, most notably Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru, reportedly keep losing size as a result of massive deforestation in the main water catchment area of Mau Forest, over which a major political row and controversy has erupted. Several of Lake Nakuru’s tributaries have started to dry up, partly as a result of the drought, which makes communities living along the river banks take out more and more water for domestic and agricultural use, while at the same time the water discharged from the springs and smaller streamlets has also greatly shrunk. Lake Baringo is also said to be affected, all three of the lakes being major tourism attractions, besides the other well-known lakes of Elementaita and Bogoria. Rising average temperatures are also blamed for increased evaporation of water from the lakes, and in the absence of heavy rainfall, which might fill up the lakes, no relief is in sight any time soon until the next long rains later in the year.

Kenya has, in the recent past, also shut down at least one of their hydro-electric plants owing to low water levels in the dam. Famine is also said to be threatening portions of the country – of eastern Africa – as a result of severe drought conditions in marginal areas.

POWER RATIONING HITS KENYAN HOUSEHOLDS AGAIN
In light of the ongoing drought condition in many parts of eastern Africa, the Kenyan power company has announced that power rationing, in local lingo called “load shedding,” has resumed. Priority will be given initially to hospitals, public institutions, industry, and manufacturing at the expense of “ordinary” consumers, to at least minimize the economic impact of the drastic measure. Residential areas can now expect to have at least two days a week without power, undoubtedly leading to a fresh run on inverter systems and back-up generators to keep fridges and lights working at least for some hours during such days.

Like done in Uganda two years ago, the Kenyan government is also considering the introduction and distribution of energy-saving tube bulbs, replacing the conventional light bulbs, a measure expected to save up to 50 MW across the country. Until then, however – which is when the rains come and restore water levels in the dams – expensive thermal energy will have to supplement production in Kenya, causing the cost of electricity undoubtedly to rise once again. Water levels in some of the dams are reportedly at a half century low, and unless the next rainy season produces above average rainfalls, the situation may go from bad to worse.

Meanwhile it was learned in Uganda that the Bujagali hydro-electric dam is not expected to begin generating electricity by late 2010. The projected start date has now been pushed into the second half of 2011, causing much speculation, as the company has hyped for a long time now how very much they are within their building time frame. Watch this space for updates.

WEBCAM WEATHER REPORTING SYSTEM GOES “LIVE”
One of the greatest problems with aviation in Kenya is the lack of accurate meteorological data and weather forecasting. A new system being actively pursued by the Aero Club and a number of cooperative aviation enthusiasts and sponsors is a network of “webcams” placed strategically throughout Kenya.

The photographs taken by the webcams are updated every few minutes and online users can look at the latest weather picture in the general area to which they are flying. The following webcam photos are now operating and publicly available on the Internet or 3G Mobile Phone: Kijabe-Rift Valley, Wilson Airport-Aero Club of East Africa, Ngong Hills from Langata, Lamu, and Kilimanjaro-Kampi ya Kanzi.

A webcam at Nyeri should be up and running later this week and more are coming. Bookmark www.kenyawebcam.com as the main page for all Kenyan webcams. You can also use the link on the Aero Club website www.aeroclubea.net. Check it out and tell all pilots. Your suggestions for positioning additional webcams in strategic places are welcome.

Some further information became available from the venerable Harro about the forthcoming Kenya Navex Air Rally to be held in October of this year. The event is open for entries from all corners of the world, as long as participants register in time and visit Kenya with their own planes in good time for the air rally.

AERO CLUB PLANS NAVEX AIR RALLY IN OCTOBER
Plans are well underway for the 2009 edition of the Annual Navex – the air rally in which the skills of pilots and navigators are tested to the utmost. Participating aircraft are starting the rally at Orly Airpark on Friday, October 9, 2009. They are expected to fly on a given track, on time, and within 250 meters of center line. Secret marshals are distributed throughout the route to verify times when the aircraft flew over and the accuracy. Penalty points are given for any errors, 360 degree turns are forbidden, and GPS is not allowed. The day’s route of about 200 miles will lead north, into the Laikipia area, ending in the afternoon at Ol Malo Lodge where the Francombe family will host the competitors and marshals. Ol Malo is one of the top lodges in Kenya.

Saturday, October 11, is a fun day during which competitors will amuse themselves with parachute jumps, aerobatics displays, spot-landing competitions, and other aerial activities. Then, on Sunday October 12, the air rally will continue back to Nairobi. It is hoped that all private aircraft operators, flying schools, and charter companies will provide at least one or two entries. Please circle your calendars for this aviation delicacy of 2009. Entry fees will be announced shortly, while the team of Dean Hardisty, Ashif Lalani, and Alex Galley will all use their combined powers of connivance to design a route that will put even the most seasoned air rally aficionados off track.

LIGHT AIRCRAFT CRASHES INTO NAIROBI HOUSING ESTATE
Hot on the heels of complaints by aviation experts about the increasing build up in the approach and take-off path of Wilson Airport, came news that a small light aircraft crashed into the “High Rise” estate in Nairobi, killing the pilot on impact and leaving reportedly three passengers injured. No information was immediately available if any persons on the ground were injured when the plane crashed, although a fire apparently broke out at the crash site, later put out by the fire brigade.

Sources from Nairobi speak of a flight out of Wilson Airport for the purpose of taking aerial photographs or taking film footage of parts of Nairobi. The plane apparently came down when attempting to return to Wilson Airport as it came down too low.

This is the second such light aircraft incident within a few weeks, after most recently a two-seater plane crashed when landing in Kiwayu along the Indian Ocean beaches.

INVESTORS FIRE BACK AT TRUSTEES
Hotel owners on Tanzania’s Mafia Island vowed not to stop their campaign against an increase in fees, imposed earlier in the year for visits to the marine reserves. The trustees had doubled the entrance fees charged to visitors, which the investors opposed in view of the present global economic and financial crisis. When faced with the constructive criticism, the trustees in turn tried to smear the credibility of the resort owners through a blanket accusation that “some hotel owners evade payment of user fees.” This raised the temperature of the debate instantly, and as one resort owner told this column, “Let the trustees produce evidence to this unfounded allegation and take whomever to court and prosecute,” then added, “but otherwise stop smearing our names – is this the partnership they talk about? Doubling fees right now is the wrong way; everyone has started lowering prices, Visa fees have been slashed, and those guys think this is the time to double fees – let them learn about timing. When tourism [has] picked up again, let’s talk about it then, but not now.”

Such public spats, while not unprecedented, are, of course, not helpful to promote tourism to the island, or the country as a whole, and a meeting between the two parties appears the best way forward right now, rather than engaging in public finger pointing and making accusations of profiteering towards one party and incompetence towards the other.

NEW HOPE FOR AIR TANZANIA
The ailing national airline of Tanzania, long overtaken by their private sector competitors like Precision Air and of late Fly540 (T), may have a ray of hope coming across the distant horizon. News broke that the government was still committed to signing a deal with a Chinese company. Initially that was to have taken place over a year ago, but the emerging global economic and financial crisis scuttled that opportunity at the time. With recovery now emerging for the global economy, the deal seems back on the table to restructure the airline, rebrand it, and kick-start operations with as many as 9 aircraft to counter the advance of other airlines on both domestic and regional routes. Accumulated losses and capital requirements to achieve a full turnaround are estimated to be in the half billion US dollar region – not a mean price for any potential suitor. Up to 49 percent shares are available to foreign investors, while the rest must, under Tanzanian law and aviation regulations, remain in Tanzanian hands to qualify as a Tanzanian airline.

NO BAIL FOR IVORY SMUGGLING SUSPECTS
Six accused were denied bail earlier in the week when a magistrate of a Dar es Salaam court told them it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the application and told the suspects to make an application in the High Court, as the crime they were charged with was both substantial and fell under the Economics Crime Act. The six were also charged with illegal dealings in game trophies without a license. Good news for the conservation fraternity!

RWANDA MOVES TO HARMONIZE AVIATION LEGISLATION
In a move to further align relevant legislation with the rest of the east African member states, the Rwandan cabinet, during the week, agreed on new civil aviation legislation, which is now in line with the respective protocols agreed by the East African Community. The new legislation is expected to be tabled before parliament for approval, which is currently in recess until early October.

RDB/ORTPN RELEASES DATA
Figures availed by the Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks, which is part of the Rwanda Development Board, show that nearly 440,000 visitors came to Rwanda in the first quarter of 2009, a 7 percent increase over 2008. This is all the more remarkable as the global economic and financial crisis has thrown a spanner into the world-wide tourism industry and speaks volumes about Rwanda’s efforts to attract more visitors to the country. Hence, in terms of improving the tourism arrivals, Rwanda has taken the lead across eastern Africa. Business visitors appear to be the biggest segment, closely followed by visiting friends and relatives, dedicated holiday visitors, and others. Well done indeed.

RWANDAIR OFFERS SPECIAL EXHIBITION FARES
Information received from the Rwandan national airline indicates that they will offer special fares throughout the year whenever exhibiting at trade shows in order to attract more visitors to Rwanda. The fares need to be booked on site and paid for right away, but besides this, only a few other terms and conditions apply. Look up www.rwandair.com for more information.

RWANDA PARTNERS WITH STARBUCKS
The US-based global coffeehouse company, already using Rwandan quality coffee in their outlets, has signed a further partnership agreement with textile manufacturers. Soon to be found in the coffee shops across the United States will be cotton bags and other fabrics such as t-shirts for sale, again under a fair trade agreement, which gives cotton farmers and workers in the textile industry added benefits. Rwanda is presently the home of the only Starbucks office on the African continent and is aimed at furthering trade links, influencing branding and marketing, and most importantly, ascertaining consistently good-quality products reaching the global markets. Now, if every Starbucks customer could see, while in the shop, some DVD presentations about the natural wonders of Rwanda and the whole of Eastern Africa, might that then entice a couple of ten thousand more visitors? While waiting for this development, well done in the meantime!

RWANDA TRAINS TRAINERS FOR ECOTOURISM
Information was received earlier in the week from Kigali that 17 future trainers have started a course about ecotourism planning and wetland management at the Kitabi College for Conservation and Environmental Management. During the month-long course, participants will hear from a variety of experts in environmental management on how best to counter a deteriorating environment and restore it to best serve its intended purpose. Some 10 percent of the country is considered to be wetlands and needs extra protection in view of the growing population pressures. Once graduated, the course participants are expected to be deployed to sensitive areas to begin their work in earnest.

CLEAN UP COMING FOR NYABARONGO RIVER
The Nyabarongo River, a major tributary to the Kagera River, which empties into Lake Victoria, is due for a major cleanup operation, according to information given by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority. Funding is provided by the United Nations Development Program, and several hundred young people are expected to assist in the operation. Over 40 kilometers of river banks will be re-cultivated with bamboo and reeds to improve soil retention, while stricter measures against uncontrolled discharge of waste water into the river will also be enforced. The overall cost is expected to reach US$6 million.

New Survey Reveals the Highs, Lows and Illicit Loves of Britain’s Motorway Service Stations

Posted July 30, 2009 , add a comment

) With this summer set to be a bumper one for UK tourism and millions of travellers hitting the roads, a new survey reveals that 1 in 6 would like to have an illicit romantic liaison at a motorway service station ? compared to 1 in 20 who already have.

The survey, by leading car hire comparison site Carrentals.co.uk, questioned over 2,300 people on their experiences at garages and service stations across the UK, and found that while there were a range of complaints about prices and cleanliness there was still an interest in them for a romantic tryst.

The top service stations for these romantic get togethers are located in the Midlands and North West, followed by London and South East ? according to respondents who have tried them - with the 36 ? 45 age group the most likely to opt for these motorway illicit liaisons.

Gareth Robinson, managing director of Carrentals.co.uk, says: “This survey was designed to look at just what people think of motorway service stations, particularly the prices charged, and also the experiences they have had in them. The level of illicit romantic liaisons came as a complete surprise to us, but when you look at the most popular locations they all tend to be around the main travel routes through the country so service stations must make convenient, and secret, meeting places.”

The high costs charged by service stations was one of the key issues found by the survey, with nearly 60% of respondents saying service stations should lower their prices, with medical items, sweets, souvenirs and CDs all highlighted as being over priced.

Another area of complaint was the toilet facilities, with 1 in 5 saying they thought they should be cleaner and men being more critical of toilet cleanliness than women, while the choice of food on offer was also highlighted as needing major improvement.

Gareth adds: “With many people being more cautious with money and opting against an overseas holiday, this summer is set to see more travellers hitting Britain’s motorways than ever before, but the main complaint that came from the survey was the prices charged in service stations. In the current climate and with the school holidays just around the corner, just driving from a to b can be expensive for parents, so the best option is to stock up on snacks and magazines before you set off.”

Carrentals.co.uk compares car hire deals from up to 35 car rental companies, including Alamo, Holiday Autos, Sixt and Thrifty in over 9,000 locations worldwide.

For more information visit www.carrentals.co.uk

Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK’s leading online car hire companies by 2006.

In 2007 the company re-launched its site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry. The Carrentals.co.uk site now searches up to 35 different car hire websites comparing the best prices in over 9,000 locations.

Websites searched include Alamo, Budget, EasyCar, Ebookers, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Sixt and Thrifty.
The Carrentals.co.uk site also features over 5,000 pages of travel information in a mini-guide format.
In 2008 Carrentals.co.uk was voted Best Car Hire Website in the Travolution Awards.

Viva la Summer: London

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Editor’s Note:This is the third installment of Viator’s Viva la Summer, a special series encouraging everybody to hit the road this summer and unleash their inner traveler. Each week we’re selecting a “Traveler of the Week” from a featured destination, which earns you bragging rights and a $50 Viator Gift Certificate. Happy summer travels! Previous destinations? Las Vegas and Rome. Next week’s destination? New York!

Haven’t heard of Viva la Summer? Here’s the deal - as part of Viator’s celebration of summer 2009, we’re pointing a spotlight at top summer destinations around the world. This week’s featured destination is London (see below for some of our favorite things to do in London).

The first order of business: we’re pleased to honor our Viva la Summer traveler of the week. This week it’s David C. from the USA. He just submitted this photo taken on a Private Viewing of Stonehenge on a Stonehenge day trip from London. Do we love the photo? Yes! Do we love the fact that David is standing alone amongst the stones at Stonehenge? Yes! For being selected as Viator’s Viva la Summer traveler of the week, we’re sending David a $50 Viator Gift Certificate.

Among the stones, on a Private Stonehenge tour from London.

David among the stones, on a Private Stonehenge tour from London.

Viva la Summer, Viva London!

London is just about perfect in summer - not too cold, not too wet, not too crowded (at least compared to mainland Europe). Plus the dollar has strengthened against the pound, making London more affordable for Americans (and Canadians, and Australians, and Kiwis…) to enjoy the sights of London without completely breaking the bank. Viator has more than 100 tours and things to do in London to help you make the most of a trip to England’s political and cultural capital. Here are some of our favorites:

-Viator Travel Team

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