Dear Sarah, we went to Masafi market again!!!! but we did not buy any carpet this time (Munes said:He had to control me not to buy!! and I said: I had to control him not to buy!! let you to figure it out!!) , we were just guide and negotiator for our Serbian friends- Marijana and Yasna who wanted to buy some carpets for her new house...
14 April 2007 @ Saturday
Masafi is a village located on the edge of the Hajar Mountains near Fujairah. It was a trading post and refueling stop before the modern highways were built in the 1970s. The village is actually divided in to two parts with the larger section belonging to the emirate of Fujairah and the smaller belonging to the emirate of Ras al Khaimah.
The name "Masafi" is Arabic for "pure water"; the village is well known for its natural springs. In fact Masafi is also the name of the Gulf's leading natural mineral water producer, which is located near the village.A market, called the Friday Market even thought it is open seven days a week, is located on the Dubai-Fujairah Road as you approach Masafi. The main items to bargain for are carpets, rugs, earthenware, fruits, vegetables and souvenirs.
Ok, the main event is Buying Carpet (Needless to say)...as the market consists of a group of tourist oriented carpet salesman. So you really need to bargain it well, as they would think that we are just another tourist..For instant, when you ask the price of the carpet, they will always ask you: you want the price in US dollar or Dirhams???
So we always have to tell them: Habibi! We live here.. we are not tourist....
But then, they will still give a price which is triple or more.. so the Negotiation session starts here... at the end.. she spent Dhs.1650 for 6 carpets!!!
Highlight of the day was, we spent less than 5mins only to buy one carpet which was worth Dhs1,200 and we got it for only Dhs.400.... hi!! hi!!! guess what?! Marijana saw a similar size and design of a carpet in Mall of Emirates which cost Dhs.10,000. so we were so Happy and Excited..
By the time we finish shopping, it was getting hot and is lunch time..So after the Friday Market, we head to Fujairah Rotana for lunch, it is a new resort which just opened two months ago. Lunch was not good at all, but can't ask for more because we are in Fujairah. And we came here just to have a look at the very China-made resort . Most of the construction workers are Chinese and all the hardware is from China too..
