Birds House (Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort)

These are some of the bird species of Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort's Birds House. They may not be living in a natural habitat but they are certainly well taken care of. As I have mentioned in one of my posts, I really liked the artificial habitat that they have created for these critters.

If you are currently residing or visiting Al Ain City, discover and have fun at Al Ain Wild Life Park and Resort's Wild Nights.

Posted for Misty Dawn's Camera Critters. Thanks Dawn. Click the badge below to view all the participants.

Word of the day: al tayr is the arabic word for a bird. Salaam!

Have a nice day!

Yours truly is tired and sleepy. My bed is inviting me to plunge inside the comforter. Time to rest and to recharge my weary and deranged mind. I am still on tonight for my second to the last PM shift for this month. 

Wishing you an incredibly perfect weekend. If you're currently residing or visiting Al Ain City, consider spending few hours of your Friday night at Al Jahli Park for a relaxing and flower-filled environment. 

Word of the day:  warda or warid is the arabic word for a flower. Salaam!

Restaurant & Cafeteria atop of Hafeet Mountain

I have posted several photos of Jebel Hafeet but I've never mentioned that there's a restaurant and cafeteria at the top of hafeet mountain. Probably the reason why I forgot to mention about it is because;  my interest to take photos is greater than my interest to see what's inside the restaurant and what are the dishes that they can offer.

Ideally, when you are planning to go to Jebel Hafeet, you must consider bringing your own food or your picnic basket. I have noticed that tourists from other emirates are usually the one dining inside the restaurant and cafeteria. Next time, I'll see to it that I will dine in the restaurant.

Click the link given above if you'd like to see more photos of Jebel Hafeet and click here if you'd like to see more fantastic and friendly skies.

Word of the day: mat'am is the arabic word for restaurant. Salaam!

Oud oils and Perfumes

Oud oil is extremely rare and precious natural oil obtained from agarwood tree. Here in the United Arab Emirates, oud oils and perfumes are very popular. Like bakhoor, it is commonly used as household fragrant but there are body oils and perfumes too.

Photos shown above were taken a month ago at Abdul Samad Al Qurashi in Khalifa Street.

Word of the day: attar is the arabic word for perfume.Salaam!

Downtown Benches

One of the things that I've noticed in downtown Al Ain is the presence of park benches. Recently, most of the trees in Khalifa Street were deracinated (excluding palm trees that devides the street according to the direction of travel) because of the ongoing road construction and repair. Few trees were left to provide shade against the blazing heat of the sun.

Word of the day: kursee is the arabic word for chair or bench. Salaam!

"Tree of Life"

I'm a bit tired today and am still on tonight that's why I was in a hurry to go home after endorsing my patients to the day shift staff.

On my way to the taxi stand, I saw this bird looking up...so engrossed that he didn't mind me at all. I kept my sight to this bird and after few seconds I concluded that he's actually looking at the palm tree. I asked myself; "Is there anything special with the palm tree today?"

 I moved closer and  clicked my camera....I saw the dates fruit.

I stepped closer to the palm tree and I've noticed how dazzling and irresistible it may appeal to the bird...green and unripe. Sorry birdie, wait for some time...wait for the 'Feast of Dates'...Inshallah, in few months time.

Date palm tree is known to many in Arabia as the 'tree of life'. Dates fruit can be used for baking as a sweetener but it should not be used as a replacement for sugar. It can be eaten fresh or dried once it is ripe.  During the holy month of Ramadan, dates fruit should be eaten first after the salah al maghrib (sunset prayer). If you'd like to read more about the dates, click here.

Word of the day: a'kil is the arabic word for food. Salaam!

Scenic view of Al Ain

A scenic view taken from the peak of hafeet mountains.

If you'd like to see more photos of Jebel Hafeet, click here. To check out the participants of this week's Scenic Sunday, click here.

Word of the day: inti (for female)/inta (for male) is the arabic word for YOU as a subjective personal pronoun. Salaam!

Shisha

Shisha smoking is very popular here in the UAE. Most of the cafés, restaurants and hotels cater it. Few months ago, I've mentioned in one of my posts that I will try the arabic shisha though I really hate smoking. I did! Argghhhh!...I didn't like it! Aside from the fact that hookah smoking is the same as cigarette smoking   or even worst, I cannot stand the scent of it albeit of the different flavors. 

While surfing the net, I found these information from the website of Mayo Clinic. As a health care provider, I know the effects of smoking in general, but for the purpose of experiencing what is it like smoking using the arabic shisha, I tried it and I am discouraging you to try it as well. 

By the way, I bought the shisha from a store in Khalifa Street (I'd rather not mention the name of the store).Photos shown above were taken from the said store. Thanks to the salesman for allowing me to photograph some of the shishas currently on display.

If you'd like to read more about the shisha, click here.

Word of the day: dukhan is the arabic word for smoke (am not sure whether dukhan is appropriate for the act of smoking). Have a great weekend. Salaam!

PALS Instructors

Left to right , 1st row : Dr. Nidal, Dr. Razzaq, Dr. Shibli, and Dr. Hashim

Left to right , 2nd row: Debbie Beukes (PICU-CRN) and Dr. Leon

Meet the instructors of the recently concluded Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) for Health Care Providers certification and recertification for the month of May at the Life Support Training Center of Tawam Hospital located at Al Ain City, UAE. Together with the Life Support Officers, these are the hardworking and intelligent people behind this month's PALS training program.

I took the course and received my certificate with the PALS card yesterday. It was a two-day course composed of written and practical exams. I must say that I was terribly exhausted after the course. The core case simulations helped me a lot. It was fun and an exciting experience though it gave me a lot of stress considering that I had such limited time to study. 

Tawam Hospital's Life Support Training Center is one of the AHA's International Life Support Training Centers in the region. It caters and provides life support training courses such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). For more inquiries about these courses, click here.

Word of the day: tabib is the arabic word for a male doctor . Salaam!

"Silver and Crystals"

I have to confess that I have a thing for silver and crystals (aside from the fences hahaha!). Last Friday, after taking few snaps in Al Ain Bus Station, I told my brother (my hubby is not around, good thing that my brother is available on weekends) that it would be nice to walk around downtown Al Ain going to Choithram Supermarket (Al Mada Complex Branch) instead of taking a taxi.

We were at the Al Ain Town Center when I saw a store full of silver and crystal products. I asked my brother if we can just pass by and have a look at their crystal dellah. I asked the salesman cum cashier if I can take a picture of their products. Unfortunately, he answered me with a BIG no. I guess it was one of my unlucky days. I did not insist, we turned our back and left the store.

We crossed the street towards Choithram Supermarket and I took this photo from afar :) My brother laughed out loud and gave me a high five hahahaha! 

Word of the day: dellah is the arabic coffee pot. Salaam!

Artificial Habitat

There's nothing special with these photos, I just love the different shades of brown. Taken a month ago in Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort. I like the artificial habitat they have created for the birds. Well, nothing can ever replace the natural habitat for any animal but I must say that its a job well done.

Word of the day: buwny is the arabic word for brown. Salaam!

Al Ain's Public Transportation

(Post is edited as of December 2012 due to changes in fares)

Al Ain's public transportation system is well maintained and organized. Taxis, buses and coasters are available if you don't own a car. Al Ain Bus station is located at the town center near the vegetable and meat market  known as souq alsamak (to most of the local Emaratis and Arab residents) and downtown Al Ain Coop.

For taxis, women are advised always to sit in the back seat, make sure that the meter is switched on and not to make any unnecessary conversation with the driver, as they may misinterpret friendliness. Drivers are mostly Pakitanis, Afghans, Indians and other arab nationalities. Nowadays, I have noticed that there are lady taxi drivers too; mostly Filipinos, Ethiopians and other arab nationalities. Old taxis are cheaper and new taxis are quite expensive but have better aircon and usually English speaking drivers.

old Abu Dhabi Taxi and Al Ain Bus going to Al Khair

Photos shown above are the main transportation within the city. Old taxi flag down rate is AED2 and AED3  for new taxis. Some gray and silver taxis' night flag down rate is AED3.60, depending on the taxi company. Buses are also available for AED1 (AED2 as of Nov 2012) to any destination within Al Ain City. The government has provided bus stop points in the main roads and routes can be identified depending on the bus number. 

If you want to travel to other emirates like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah; buses, taxis and coasters are available too. Say you want to travel to other northern emirates (Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah), you have to take the bus going to Dubai or Sharjah and from there, you will ride the bus going to the other northern emirates.

old and new taxis going to central Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or Dubai 

For those travelling to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah but doesn't want to take the bus or the coaster,shared taxi services are available. 

Bus going to central Abu Dhabi

There are reasonable bus services going to central Abu Dhabi for AED10/pax (AED25 as of Dec 2012). These are air-conditioned and women are advised to sit at the front. It will take 2 hours of travel time from Al Ain City to central Abu Dhabi. Bus stops in half way for about 10 minutes and during the Ramadan , bus will stop when it's time for salah al maghrib.

coaster going to Dubai

Al Ghazal coasters, owned and managed by a private company, travel to Dubai for AED20/pax and Sharjah for AED25/pax. Coasters are air-conditioned and women sit at the front. From Al Ain to Dubai, journey is approximately 1.5 hours and 2 hours from Al Ain to Sharjah.

Posted for My World Tuesday. Salaam!

Word of the day: salah al maghrib is the arabic term for sunset prayer. During Ramadan, our Muslim brothers and sisters fast immediately after the early morning prayer until the sunset prayer. They will break their fast right after the salah al maghrib. They can eat until the early morning prayer.

Orange trash bins

Aside from the big trash bins from MBM Dallah and Lavajet, Al Ain districts have orange metal trash bins in a pole. I've noticed that orange trash bins are usually placed in the main roads/highways and the big trash bins are usually placed in every block of each street.

Photo shown above was taken in Hazzaa Mosque Community of Al Mutaredh District, few meters away from the Deer Roundabout.

Word of the day: tariq is the arabic word for street. Salaam!

Artificial Palm Tree

Day before yesterday, while walking around the vicinity of Hazzaa Mosque community, I saw this artificial palm tree from afar. I was thinking of a possible answer why there is a need for artificial palm trees considering that palm trees are very common here. Out of curiosity, I took some snaps and realized that it is a communication tower camouflaged as palm tree.

(click to enlarge)

Word of the day: ashjar is the arabic word for tree . 

A blessed Sunday to all. Salaam!

Graffiti

Al Ain is almost a graffiti free-city. I have been a resident for more than five years now and I always pass by the underpass at Abu Dhabi Road along Al Mutaredh District. I was so surprised when I saw this graffiti yesterday evening when I asked my brother to walk around the Muwaiji Area. All I can see are those mushroom-like images. The last letter looks like a letter F. And how about the mushrooms? What is the significance of those mushroom-like images? Or is it a plain form of vandalism? What do you think?

Word of the day:  shara' is the arabic word for road. Salaam!

Weekend scenes in monochrome

UAE's weekend is different from the usual weekend in other parts of the world. Our weekend is Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday. Sunday is considered as the first working day of the week. I set my foot to this oil rich land in May 2005 and if my memory serves me right, UAE's weekend was Thursday and Friday. It was in March 2006 when the Federal Government of UAE officially announced the changes following the direction of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The change was implemented in September 2006. The decision of changing the weekend aimed to improve business contacts with western states.

Pictures shown below depict the usual street scenes during Fridays. I took those photos at Al Ain Bus Station, Al Ain Souq, and Abu Dhabi Road. Labourers, mostly Indians, Pakistanis and other nationalities from Asia dominate the streets during Fridays.

For more monochrome photos, visit Aileni's page, meet the monochrome maniacs and enjoy their masterpieces.

Word of the day: youm al juma'ah is arabic term for Friday. 

Have a nice weekend. God bless. Salaam!

Roundabout Series: Deer Roundabout

This is the Deer Roundabout located at Al Mutaredh District of Hazzaa Mosque Community along  Zayed Ibn Sultan Street and Khalifa Ibn Zayed Al Awwal Street. It has four water fountains, cacti, and succulent aloe plants. A distinctive feature of this roundabout is the absence of palm trees, which is very uncommon. Palm trees and water fountains are very common feature of the roundabouts here at Al Ain City. 

I wonder why it is called Deer Roundabout even though it is obvious that the animals at the top are replicas of Arabian Oryxes. I cannot think of any probable reason behind its name. I mean, why is it called deer roundabout.

Word of the day: gazal or ghazal is the arabic word for deer. Salaam!

International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. Today, nurses are being honored for their invaluable role in delivering quality health care and to bring recognition of the act that nursing is a respected profession.

Chronic disease is the focus of this year's International Nurses Day. The International Council of Nurses highlighted the six key areas (diabetes, cancer, depression, hypertension, respiratory and heart diseases) in this year's campaign with a theme of "Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses leading Chronic Care." Of the six chronic diseases mentioned above, Diabetes Meliitus is one of  the most prevalent diseases in the UAE.

Here in the United Arab Emirates, the Emirates Nursing Association (ENA) has selected a theme for this year's celebration as "Nurses: Together for Healthier Lives". In the Eastern region of Abu Dhabi, nurses from Tawam Hospital will celebrate the said event with poster presentation and a grand ball at Rotana Hotel on March 13, 2010. 

By the way, let me share the information that I have read in Khaleej Times Online. According to the report, Emarati nurses constitute only seven percent (7%) of the total nursing workforce in the UAE. And as per the study conducted by Emirates Nursing Association in December 2009, of the total 23,433 nurses from different nationalities working here in the UAE, only 759 nurses were Emaratis. Filipinos and Indians dominate the workforce.

I would like to extend my warmest greetings to my colleagues and to the nurses all over the world. Allow me to bow in silence as a sign of my respect to all the nurses out there. Happy Nurses Day! Cheers!

Word of the day:  Mummarida is the arabic word for a female nurse (mummarid for male nurse). Salaam!

"Let's Keep Al Ain Clean"

"Let's Keep Al Ain Clean". That is the clean up campaign launched a year ago in the 60 districts of Al Ain and its surrounding areas by the Abu Dhabi-based Center of Waste Management and so far it is doing well.

Lavajet and MBM Dallah are the contractors responsible for the waste collection, transportation and cleaning services in the north and south zone of Al Ain City. There are 26 districts in the north zone and  34 districts in the south zone. Lavajet is responsible for the north zone and MBM-Dallah is responsible for the south zone. 

Photos shown above are the trash bins/cans provided by the cleaning companies. Residents are requested to abide by the waste collection timing set by the government. Waste are collected on a daily basis between 06:00 AM and  08:00 PM and fines are imposed against the people who dump trash on the roads. At present it is AED250 and there is a proposal to increase it to AED500. In our community alone, as per my observation, trash bins/cans are available in every block and each street has more than 10 trash bins.

Word of the day: Kashara or katshara is the arabic term for rubbish. Salaam!

Serendipity

I never thought of seeing a flautist at Bawadi Mall. Last Saturday, about few hours before I decided to go to Bawadi Mall, I was looking for an instrumental MP3 online. Nothing in particular. I just wanted to listen while doing my household chores.

I have been to Bawadi Mall for several occasions but I have never seen any musician playing any musical instrument just right after the main entrance. If there are shows, they usually conduct it inside the wide concourse. I can play a guitar and I know that it sounds good but so is saxophone and flute. Sax and flute are simply beautiful and appealing to my eyes and soothes my acoustic senses. 

I was about to go home when I heard the flautist playing a romantic ballad. I stood in front of her, about 5 feet away and enjoyed the mesmerizing music. Before she played her next piece, I asked her if I can take a picture of her. Oh! she's so kind and allowed me to take few snaps.

Word of the day: hiya is the arabic word for she (huwa for he). Salaam!