Yeah, Dubai, the Sunshine City, has flea markets as well – and they are absolutely delightful and satisfying to visit. Let’s say, it also fulfills a bargain hunter’s deepest urge to “shop” to “possess”, to “own a designer brand”, a piece of art, antiques or plain odds and ends including cups and saucers and burnt-out candles. I make it a point to visit flea markets in any country I happen to be in – and have seen markets that have more “fleas” in the literal sense to some amazing “designer” kinds – some are fun and some are an ordeal – but I will visit one if I can. I am often hopeful that in some miraculous stroke of good fortune, I will find myself a chest salvaged from Mariana Trench. I myself wonder why I ever visit the flea markets – and I have come to these conclusions.
1. I rather like the idea of buying a AED 5 IKEA cup at the flea market under the open skies with the large crowd of people vying for that exact same cup – rather than pick it off the shelf at IKEA.
2. I also like the idea of walking through the tables overflowing with goods that may have lain hidden in attics or trunks for years but on suddenly finding light, they shine with a brilliant luminosity that is dazzling to say the least and makes the onlooker lose their mind and fall prey to its “antique-ness.”
3. I like the idea of scouring through piles of clothes and musty smelling books that need air – and letting my imagination fly into a world only books and old clothes can create.
4. I also like to imagine what people were thinking of in the first place when they bought themselves heart shaped candles, microwave lids, reflector -lamps (never figured that one out) and Lonely Planet guide books that have never been put to use. It always makes me wonder – why. Why. Why?
5. No, I will never have the use for a pink cup and saucer with a heart engraved into the bottom of the cup – but I like to imagine myself drinking coffee from such a cup on a cold winter evening in Antarctica – and at AED 3, I suppose, its okay to dream such thoughts and I can be forgiven for making the purchase.
6. I have never seen so many fashion brands, some original and some not very, all in one place, unmindful of where they lie – on the floor or dusty hangers. I like to watch the happy faces of the shoppers when they find a “treasure” in the pile of clothes – treasure here refers to “clothes”, bags, shoes, kettles , baby clothes and bed-sheets as most female shoppers will agree. Men obviously find a use for DVDs, books, over-sized leather jackets, boots, headphones and speakers. I add belts as an afterthought.
7. Watching people inspect their purchase from the cool comforts of Starbucks in the far corner is even more fun. The expression of sheer joy in finding something (that probably may never be used) is so much that you can feel it over the steam rising from the coffee. The giggles cut right through the glass walls.
8. I like bargaining too – often for things I don’t have a use for – like pots and pans. I don’t understand why there must be so many, yet the woman in me encourages me to touch and feel the pans and plates and even spoons, imagining that someday I might stumble upon a use for it all. That someday the colourful and shiny pots and pans would encourage me to take the first and important step – cooking. Luckily I never give in – the trick is to start really low – no one is going to give it you at that price! (And hence I continue to remain a kitchen novice.)
9. I like to call people’s bluff. I don’t know why, but I like it. It amuses me when a buyer looking for “Davidoff” or Chanel perfume cheers at finding it for AED 30 and is convinced by the seller (there are dubious ones too) that there is nothing like it. I cannot stop myself from stepping in and explaining why it was not possible to sell an original Chanel or Gucci for AED 30 – often I don’t mind donning a “specialist” garb here and ruining it for everyone. Of course the deal goes through eventually, and I move away before I get beaten up, but then it is plain amusement for me.
10. Same with Lonely Planet books. I love them. I collect them. I write them. BUT I DON’T READ THEM.
I buy them.
In the pic you will see 7 brand new LP guides to places hard core travelers would go – if they were 1) lucky 2) very rich 3) very poor with no intentions of returning 4) no where to go 5) lucky enough to be members of “lifetime free trips society of the insane”.
This is how the conversation went.
Seller: 35AED for all
Me: 25. Seeing no one is likely to buy them all in one go.
Seller: Sure. By the way, I have been to all those places. Long ago. I referred to those books. They are great.
There were, however great many flaws in that statement. I held the books, felt them and smelt them and pronounced – No, I don’t believe you have. (Yes, I am direct like that)
Stunned silence.
Why? Says he. I worked with Emirates Airlines for 10 years, so I have been to all those places.
Ek doesn’t fly to all these places, say I.
EK flies to Amsterdam and there are connecting flights to all these places, says he.
Yeah. Except that if EK flew to Amsterdam and passengers bound for Baja & Los Cabos flew on a connecting flight from Amsterdam, buddy, you wouldn’t be on that connecting flight.
How do you know?
Because, as a traveler and as someone who writes LP books, I know a traveler when I see one. I know when a book has been read – forget being read, I can tell if the said book has ever been opened – there is a way to tell you know. Plus, a traveler to, say Puglia, will carry that name as a symbol of pride.
Guilty smile. No offense – all friends – happy parting. I am happy because my LP collection is growing. He is happy because he is rid of the burden of owning a book he has never opened.
[This happened: Woman finds a toy car.
Woman: How much is this?
Man (seller): Two dirhams
Woman: Two dirhams? But there is no battery. One dirham okay?
Man (trifle irritated): For who is that car? Your son? Okay, take it – for him- free.
Man turns to me – Walla – two dirham and she make bargain? What bargain? Always bargain. I give free – you take free, don’t make discount.”
I slipped away before he exploded or convinced me to take his cars. I have no use for plastic cars.
Yeah, people are like that. Bargaining is half the fun, I agree, but I am not sure if the seller actually thinks its funny because he is investing his time, paid for the table and is forced to smile when annoying people ask for a discount when none is possible. Sorry, I digress.
***
The market at Uptown Mirdiff (for those of you in DXB who have been there), is a far better place to be at in comparison to Safa Park (no, I am not judging or comparing!) for many reasons – the one at Uptown Mirdiff is smaller, is inside a mall, plenty of coffee shops and water stations and chairs to rest on, less crowded, less muddy (seeing that it is inside the mall) and less number of people grabbing the exact same thing you are holding on to.
Good read and hilarious too