Al Jahli Park

Good day my blogging friends and visitors. How’s your day? I hope that everything is well. Once again, welcome to the Oasis Capital of UAE.

Today, I am taking you to Jahli Park. This park is just a stone throw away from my place. My kids used to play here when they were still here in UAE. A perfect place to play any ball games and badminton. It has a playground for the kids and lots of benches for adults who just want to sit and relax while chit chatting with friends and family. I think this is a  perfect place for couples too.

Last week, I had an early morning walk and I just enjoyed the nice weather.

You’ll see lots of dates palm trees, *flowers, and different kinds of plants. You will enjoy looking at the birds and with the greeneries

At the corner of the playground area, you'll see some areas of Al Jahli Fort.

I had a relaxing walk and early clicking stint  :) Will share more photos next week.

Entry post for Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday. Click the links and visit the other participants. Enjoy and keep smiling.

Word of the day: warid is the arabic word of flower. Salaam to all!

Monochrome Weekend-Beauty

I've been to Lulu Saloon *yesterday . I saw this wall painting in the middle of the Threading Room.

Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the glimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time.

~ Albert Camus

Go and visit The Monochrome Weekend hosted by Aileni to check out the monochrome maniacs.

Word of the day: *ems is the arabic word of yesterday. Salaam to all!

Skywatch Friday- Good Morning!

Good morning my blogging friends and visitors. Let me show you the skies after my 3rd night shift.  I managed to endorse my patient to the day shift staff earlier compared to my previous night shifts.

As I leave the hospital thru the main entrance, I looked up in the sky and this what I have noticed...

 the moon at 07:15 A.M.

 I continued walking and when I reached the taxi stand, I turned my head to the east and noticed the majestic sun spread his rays across the horizon...........

I decided to walk further until I reached the first small roundabout. Again, I looked up in the sky and I noticed the huge balloon of SEHA as it swayed in the air....

I decided to ride the bus and  I continued walking. When I reached the bus stop area, I noticed a happy camper inside the hospital's vicinity ( Lol!).....

After 30 minutes of waiting, I rode the bus and continued looking and watching at the sky. Unfortunately, I have to keep the windows closed.

Few minutes had passed by but I continued watching  as the other passengers were looking at me and maybe they were thinking why I always uttered the word " wow" while looking at the sky.

After 15 minutes, I reached home and as I stepped out of the bus, I saw this wonderful clouds. Again....click! click!

There you go. That's my morning sky. Let me take this opportunity to greet you a blessed and wonderful holidays!  Happy Skywatching too!

Go and visit the Skywatch Friday and be delighted with the different skies all over the world.

Word of the day: daqiqa ( pl. daqa’q ) is the arabic word of (a) minute. Example: 5 minutes ( khamsa daqiqa). Salaam to all!

Weeds and my observations

Let me share something different today. These are plain observations about the weeds. You might wonder why all of the subjects, I have chosen the weeds. I think it is simply because I find it interesting. Aside from its different colors and shapes, I find them beautiful in their own way.

It was May 3, 2005, my second day here in Al Ain, when I first noticed the weeds here in UAE as I walked  around Al Ain street and Khalifa Street. That time,I was wondering why they keep the weeds growing all over Al Ain City. I find it amazing how they keep it well trimmed and use them as an ornamental plant. Most the weeds growing here is the fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum and Pennisertum alopecuroides), which is a  perennial bunch grass that is native to North Africa.

green

maroon and white

brown

weeds at Al Jahli Park

weeds at Al Ain  Street

Here in UAE, it is really difficult to plant flowers and trees because of the hot weather especially during the *summer months and August being the hottest, temperature can be 50 degree celsius. Good thing that fountain grass is drought tolerant and it thrives in warmer and  drier areas like here in the middle east.

Coming from a tropical country (Philippines) with rich soil that is very convenient to plant trees and flowers, I seldom find weeds along the busy streets.I always remember my mother asking me to deracinate the weeds in our little garden when I was young and back home, I have never seen them as an ornament and most the gardeners will uproot them. Unlike here in UAE, you'll find them everywhere, be it in the busy streets, parks, roundabouts and gardens. They take good care of the weeds and I admire them for it. Gardeners water the plants including the weeds almost five times a day.

After reading some articles about the weeds, I came to know that fountain grass is an ornamental plant and it has been introduced to South Africa, Hawaii, Australia, a Spanish Island Tenerife and in western United States.

Sometimes, it is nice to look at those little things around us. We will learn something from it and we will appreciate the difference between places.

Word of the day: *fasl al saif  is the arabic term for summer. Salaam to all!

Bawadi Mall (part 2)

Here is the continuation of my post about the Bawadi Mall. For today, I would like to share the Christmas decorations of the mall considering that United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country. This is what I like living here in UAE, they are liberal with Christian holidays and celebrations compared to other Muslim countries and we are allowed to practice our religion.

wide curved vaulted skylight that soars above the main 10m wide concourse with artificial palm tress decorated with Christmas lights and flowers

tall* and big Christmas tree at the ground floor

shot from the elevator

Happy Outdoor Wednesday to everyone. Click the link and check out the other participants.

Word of the day:  *taweel is the arabic term for tall. Salaam to all!

Mellow Yellow Monday-Lights in Ponderosa Steak House

I've mentioned in my previous post that we had our dinner at Ponderosa Steak House and Caravan Restaurant  of Al Ain Mall last Friday  and  we enjoyed our night out because of the The Saxophonist. During the dinner and before that 'mesmerizing' experience, I saw these  lamps/lights in the said restaurant. I kept on looking on these lamps. Simple yet so pretty. I played with the settings of my camera  and please have a look at the result.

Would you believe that those lamps are glass in gray color? I myself was fascinated with the result.

For more yellow posts, click the badge below and check out the other paticipants.

Word of the day: asfar is the arabic word of yellow. Salaam to all!

The Saxophonist

Let me share something lighter today :-)

Off from hospital's work and not to mention that Friday is the weekend here in UAE, I asked my hubby if we could eat out and  gladly he said yes. We had our dinner at Ponderosa Steak House and Caravan Restaurant of Al Ain Mall. After the dinner, we decided to walk around while doing some window shopping. All of the sudden, I heard a heavenly sound coming from the ground floor. We just followed the sound and we saw this handsome and talented saxophonist. We were mesmerized by the heavenly sound especially when he played a Bryan Adams' song, it was so romantic.

I can play a guitar but never had an opportunity to try other musical instruments and if given a chance, I would really love to try the saxophone.While watching and clicking, I met his son and I promised that I'll give him a copy of this photo. Sure that I'll be back to watch him again.

Photo taken with permission

We enjoyed our night out and went home with a smile.It was indeed a lovely night. Thanks to the saxophonist.

                                               

Entry post for The Monochrome Weekend hosted by Aileni (thanks to you). Click here to check out the monochrome maniacs.

Word of the day: jameel is the arabic word of handsome and  jameela for beautiful. Take note of the letter A after the word jameel. I have chosen the word handsome instead of saxophone because I don't know the arabic word of it. I'll ask my neighbour later :)

Salaam to all!

Skywatch Friday-Al Ain Palace Museum (part 1)

Al Ain Palace Museum is the former residence in Al Ain of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan between 1937 to 1966. Built in 1937 and had undergone renovations when it was converted into a museum and it was opened to the public in 2001.

Photos shown below were taken last Monday after the torrential rain last Saturday and Sunday. More photos to come next week to show what's inside the palace with its brief description.For the meantime,  I need to do my homework...research.

Entry post for Skywatch Friday hosted by Klaus with team members Wren,Sandy,Slyvia,Louise and Fishing Guy. Thank you guys for this great meme.

Click the link provided above to see the other skies all over the world and here for more Al Ain skies.

Word of the day: mat’haf is the arabic word of museum. Salaam to all!

Happy skywatching everyone!

Bawadi Mall (part 1)

Let me take you to the largest shopping mall here in Al Ain, UAE and have a look at the structures and decorations that fascinates me. It may look ordinary to others especially for those living in the areas with big shopping malls but I did look at it in a different way. Say, in my ‘artistic eyes’ way. Its interior and exterior wall is mainly inspired from the traditional Islamic architecture yet the aura of vibrant modern architecture is there.

Bawadi Mall is a super regional type of mall. Developed by Nael & Bin Harmal Inv. Co. and its main contractor was Nael & Bin Harmal Hydro Export. It has a gross leasable area of 110,000m2, with 400+ stores and 3,500 parking spaces [Source].Strategically located 6 kms to the southeast of Al Ain town center on Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan road. It is about 5 to 10 minutes drive but if you will take the bus, it will take you about 20-30 minutes.

Last week, we've been there to buy some stuff. At the entrance of the mall, these small fountains will make you stop by. It may look ordinary but it gave me a feeling of calmness by merely looking at the water.

A closer shot awed me even with the simple movement of water and its soft pastel and earth colors made me smile.Reminded me that water is truly a unique form of liquid that occupies shape and space.

Right after the moment of calmness, here's the elevator that truly fascinates me.

 I love the water dripping from the string-like structures attached to the elevator from top to bottom. Its soft sound is like a magical rhythm.

And that is the 'watery' part of the mall.I'll post the continuation next week.

That's my Watery Wednesday and my great Outdoor Wednesday experience.

Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for hosting the watery meme and to Susan of A Southern Daydreamer  for the great outdoor meme. Before you leave, please take a small piece of cake, sure it will melt in your mouth.

Word of the day: youm al arbaa is the arabic term for wednesday.Salaam to all!