Next to the mall, where fishmongers sell grouper, kingfish, crabs and other seafood inside an immaculate, air-conditioned market. From an observation deck in the landmark Kuwait Towers, a panorama of the expansive city unfolds. Haze camouflages the distant U.S. military base. It strikes me how surprisingly safe I have felt on this trip. The people in each country have been friendly.
Crime is practically non-existent.
On the ride back to the ship, our guide asks if we'd like to hear local Kuwaiti music. Disembarkation in Dubai runs smoothly. Aboard wooden, open-air water taxis, we speed down Dubai Creek to the commercial area to explore the gold souk. Jewelry gleams in scores of shops. Throngs of people, mostly Indian, stroll the roof-covered street.