Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Thursday, 23 Mar 2017 – After breakfast, we made our way to the Stardust Theater just before the 8:45 AM meet-up time for our “East Coast Highlights” 4.5 hour shore excursion.  Our bus left the pier at 9:00 AM and headed first to the Fujairah Museum.  Here, we noted that traffic was traveling on the right-hand side of the road, not the left as in India.

Inside the museum, we viewed displays of old weapons, traditional costumes, and artifacts, plus a remake of the interior of a house, probably before 1900.  There were Interesting displays and photos, but usually without dates.  However, before about 1950, life in this area was primitive.

300-Year-Old Fujairah Fort

 Next, we stopped at the 300-year-old Fujairah Fort; we climbed a lot of stairs to go inside, though some visitors stayed below!

Our bus drove along the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, a region known for its excellent beaches, the rugged Hajjar Mountain range, and some lush green areas.  On the west coast, the water is too hot to swim.  Although this area can very hot, it had rained here the day before our visit so that the weather felt like “late summer,” our guide told us.  One photo stop was the Oasis in Bithna, whose impressive fort guards the mountain pass.

The guide pointed out some small houses with thatched roofs which, though they appeared primitive to us, had been lived in by “wealthy” people; apparently others survived as best they could.  In the 1960’s some modernization started; however, television and phones didn’t come until the 1980’s.  Many traders would follow the monsoon winds to India (some went even to China); they would wait for two months or so before heading back to Fujairah, meanwhile learning local languages.  Many Indians came to Fujairah; even today, 40 percent of the population is Indian, our guide said.  Almost anyone can receive visas for Fujairah, but not “Jews” (we assume citizens of Israel).  Work permits are very strict.  This country is very safe, as are all of the UAE countries, with virtually no crime.  (No one dares to commit a crime!)  Being found with an empty bottle of alcohol can earn a person up to 3 months in jail.  Ship passengers were advised that “due to local culture, conservative attire is required for men and women.  Please dress appropriately – no bare shoulders, shorts, or skirts about the knee.”

Our bus stopped at a market, where we walked along the fronts of many small shops, mostly selling produce, but some also selling beautiful rugs and some furniture.  Although this is called the Friday Market, it is open seven days a week from morning to night, with bargaining being a requirement.

Al Bidiyah Mosque

Last, the bus drove through rugged mountains of white (limestone), red (iron oxide), and green (copper).  This country has no oil.  Wells dug into deep river bottoms fill up during the monsoons.  We made a photo stop at the Al Bidiyah Mosque to see the exterior; built in 1746, this is the oldest mosque in the Emirates.

We were back in our cabin by 1:40 PM.  Although we swam in the ship’s pool, it was the coldest yet; we didn’t stay in the water for very long!