Dubai tea stall operator speaks his own 'Mandarin' to keep tourists happy

Dubai - However, his ability to speak Arabic is much better than his 'Mandarin' skills.

When it comes to drawing tourists toward a fresh display of tender coconuts and sugarcane juice at his street-side tea shop at the abra station in Dubai Creek, storekeeper Muqthar TP never skips a beat.
Sometimes he shouts phrases in what he assumes is 'Chinese' to a group of Asian tourists passing by.
Once they hear him, they walk up to him, point to the ripe coconuts, and ask him in broken English "How much?" - to which he would reply "Dh 5", stretching his right hand's four fingers and thumb into the air.
If the tourists would like to have some juice, they point to the tall shoots of sugarcane and ask Muqthar a few questions in what is presumably Mandarin. The 30-something storekeeper replies in his native tongue Malayalam and, shockingly, the two have understood each other. A business transaction takes place.
The Asian tourist walks away with a fresh sugarcane juice, and Muqthar is glad he could keep a customer happy. However, his ability to speak Arabic is much better than his 'Mandarin' skills.
"The abra station is never dry, always busy. From 4pm to 9pm every day, it is very busy. It is safe to do business as well, since the police are always patrolling," he said.
The food supply store Tea Shore has been operating for about eight to 10 years now, serving tea, snacks, fresh juices and packages goodies to tourists, regular visitors and residents who pass by the abra station in Bur Dubai, said Muqthar.
"The store may have been here longer, but I got the lease to do business a year ago," the Kerala native said.
Muqthar knows his area like the back of his hand. Abra operations begin at 6am and continue till 12am. At the crack of dawn, operators start ferrying passengers from Deira to Bur Dubai.
"Early in the morning, the usual abra users are office staff. Early morning joggers are also a common sight," he said.
"In the evening, it is beautiful. People come to this area to relax after work. Arabs usually order karak tea and croissant packets. There are so many residents who come here just to feed birds in the evening."
During the winter months, more than 60 buses of Chinese tourists pass by the abra station. "The bus stops at the road right in front of the station. Tourists are dropped off here and they visit the old Bur Dubai souqs, mosques, the museum and textile stores. After which, they queue up to take the abra to Deira," Muqthar said.
"The only problem with this area is that there are no public toilets," he said. "It is challenging especially for women tourists as they need to find their way to the nearest restaurant just to use the washroom." The shopkeeper recommended that a public toilet be set up in the area to serve tourists and visitors.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai