May Day Immigration Rally

Protesters stand in San Jose City Hall plaza holding a banner scrawled with statements from May Day protesters Sunday afternoon. Photo by Jack Barnwell.

San Jose -- Chants erupted from San Jose City Hall's plaza Sunday afternoon as protesters gathered as part of a May Day rally to voice their opinions on everything from immigrant reform to union wages. 

Luis Pena waves the Mexican and U.S

Speakers highlighted on a variety of subjects, including labor reform, education and immigration rights. The rally was coordinated by the May Day Coalition of San Jose.

The event started with a march from Story and King Roads and wound itself to the foot of city hall. 

Dancers in traditional dress performed native Mexican rituals as civil leaders and organizers aired their grievances about unfulfilled campaign promises by elected officials and unfair labor wages and working conditions.

The throng began to trickle away towards 6 p.m. as officers San Jose police department's mounted and bicycle patrols left the event.

Dubai Dispatches -- Souks and Markets

The past few days in the UAE were spent exploring the various markets and souks that Dubai has to offer.

A shop clerk at one of Dubai's souks assists a customer Jan 10.

Part of discovering those spice markets was taking a water taxi from across a canal in order to reach the first spice markets.

The water taxis are little more than barges which can easily accommodate fifteen people, but not much more.

For anyone from the Bay Area, imagine the ferries to and from San Francisco only on a smaller scale and much cheaper.

My first impression of the spice markets and souks in Dubai was the sheer bustling of those places. There was as much commerce going on there as in a mid-sized Target during a sale.

The only difference is that is the setting. There's a sense of a quaint open-air market filled with shops and shop owners hustling people into the buildings.

Alleyways crisscrossed and connected most souks. Every corner and bend turned up something new and completely random.

Spices in a spice market in Dubai. Photo by Jack Barnwell.

It was reminiscent of a San Francisco neighborhood.

Several shops exist that offer some of the finest spices from Iran and other surrounding areas at prices that would make chefs and home cooks drool.

The place offers more than just spices. Trinkets, hooka shops and places that sell the latest techno gadgets call that place home.

Most of the shoppers appeared to be a mixture of camera-wielding tourists on holiday and local expats doing some shopping.

The best thing about this place is haggling over a bargain. People can find a great deal on trinkets and souvenirs or on spices to take home.

One tip though: Be sharp and watch for any sudden discrepancies in prices during the negotiating process. Even better, take a guide or a local along to help hammer out the best deal.

Overall the souks offer a more authentic feel for people who want to explore Dubai rather than spend all day at one of emirate's malls.

Of course, many of the souks don't have Louis Vuitton stores where one can buy trendy fashion at a less expensive price. Tax free.

Dubai Dispatches-Day One

The entrance to the Mall of the Emirates, one of Dubai's largest malls. Photos by Jack Barnwell.

 

After recovering from a long flight from SFO to Dubai International by way of Paris, day one of the Dubai trip was spent getting an overall sense of the emirate.

A sharp contrast exists between both Emirati and expats in the United Arabic Emirates, especially those who work as laborers.

The workers live in close quarters with one another, sometimes sharing with 5 or 6 other people in a 12 foot by 12 foot room. Each floor of the living compounds has a communal shower and restroom.

Workers visiting the beach Friday.

Laborers on average earn a monthly salary of $200 U.S. in addition to the housing and bus transportation to and from work. Friday is often the only day off for most, as it is the Islamic holy day.

Most of the workforce comes from Southeast Asia, India and Pakistan.

Emirates by comparison are much more set in life, with free health care and many benefits of their status as citizens of the UAE.

Dubai itself is unlike what any might expect from an Arabic country. Some traditions are still set in stone, but a thriving night scene exists for those willing to embrace it.

People can tell that Dubai is a playground for the wealthy, with more high-end cars in five feet than one might find in a city such as Hayward. Benz, Land Rover and Ferrari are as common as a Honda might be on an American road.

Commercialism drives Dubai, with more malls than one can shake a stick at. One mall has as many as 1200 outlets and a large indoor aquarium.

Prices vary, but shoppers usually find a better rate in Dubai than they might in the States.