Sunset at Dubai-Al Ain Road (drive-by shots)

We headed to Dubai yesterday afternoon to watch the fireworks at the Dubai Creek, a part of the Dubai Shopping Festival events. Unfortunately, something happened along the way and all our plans were messed up.

I snapped these photos at Dubai-Al Ain Road while the sun was setting in the horizon. I asked hubby to pull over  but it was not possible, thus, those power lines on the foreground. *Sigh*

By the way, I would like to welcome the new followers. Thank you for visiting my site and for following. I hope you enjoy your visits. To all my friends and followers, pardon me if I don't get to visit your blogs often. As soon as I find time to blog hop, I will definitely pop in your pages to say hello.

Word of the day: aasif is the Arabic word for sorry. Salaam!

Weekend Reflections- The Dubai Fountain

I snapped these photos last New Year's eve while I was waiting for the fireworks display at Burj Khalifa. Click here if you'd like to see my photos of the New Year's Eve fountain show with fire, lights and laser effects.

Am linking this post to Weekend Reflections hosted by James at Newton Area Photo. Pardon me if I will not return your visits today because I came from a night shift and I am still on tonight. I will definitely visit your blogs tomorrow. Have a nice weekend fellow photo bloggers!

Word of the day: Burj is the Arabic word for tower. Salaam!

Painted desert 3

Hello everyone! This is just another sunset photo taken at Al Maqam desert. Happy SWF!!

Word of the day: marhaba is the Arabic word for hello. Salaam!

A brief respite

I have lived for more than 5 years now here in the sandpit and I have experienced rain for 4 to 5 times a year.  Most of the time it will drop the mercury down, like what happened last week. It rained for 3 successive days. The downpour made the temperature colder; it was approximately 10 to 14 degrees Celsius. Birds and trees did "enjoy" the rain and I was so thankful that there wasn't a power outage in our area.

I snapped this photo at Al Mutaredh District, about 50 meters away from Jabal Roundabout. I saw this bird resting on the branch of a tree and it looked like the rain provided a healthy respite from the warm weather that they have experienced months ago.

Word of the day: Matar is the arabic word for rain. Salaam!

Incense burner

Incense burners are very important in Emirati culture. They usually burn their bakhoor soaked in fragrant oils and oud in mabkhara and pass it on among their guests as a gesture of hospitality. Bakhoor is also used as home fragrance and some women are using it as clothes fragrance especially with their abaya.

I snapped this photo with permission at my favorite perfume store in Khalifa street. This is my second photo that undergone processing with color splash using an Adobe Photoshop CS3. Whew! It took me an hour to finished this one. Thanks to Youtube tutorials. :)) By the way, incense burners in this photo are not the mabkhara. I'll try post something about it sometime next month.

Word of the day: mabkhara is the Arabic word for a traditional incense burner. Salaam!

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" You'll be happy today"

I had a quiet night shift and went home early this morning. I didn't expect to see the sunrise while I was heading to the bus stop. According to the weather forecast that I have read yesterday, Sunday morning will be cloudy and there's a chance of downpour. It rained for almost 3 days (from Thursday 'till Saturday) and I terribly missed the sunsets, so thankful that the sun finally said hello and beamed its magical rays.

at 05:30 PM there's a thick layer of clouds covering the sun

and when it came out, it looked like a "bleeding" sky

I woke up at around four o'clock in the afternoon and before I headed to the bathroom, I opened the window and stared at the clouds. Cotton-like clouds really amused me and it looked like telling me "I'll make you happy today." At 05:30 PM, I was waiting at the taxi stand when I saw the reddish pink hues which prompted me to take nonstop shots. I was watching the sky while the taxi was moving until I finally reached Al Ain Mall at 05:45 P.M. to meet the Recreation and Events Manager for another opportunity (will definitely share something about it real soon). Thank you Lord for all the blessings!!

at 05:45 PM, infront of Al Ain Mall

Word of the day: inta (masculine) /inti (feminine) is the Arabic word for you. Salaam!

Painted desert 2

I snapped these photos at Al Maqam desert last weekend. I enjoyed watching the sun setting deep into the horizon; and the people who took the challenging journey of dune bashing through the massive sand dunes riding a quad bike.

This post is linked to Skywatch Friday. Join us and enjoy the virtual tour of beautiful skies around the world.

Word of the day: barr is the Arabic word for desert or land. Salaam!

Al Ain Souq series: herbs and spices

Spices and herbs are common ingredients to Middle Eastern cuisine, not just to add flavor in the food, but also to add color. In fact, the spices and herbs make the Arabic food so scrumptious and unique. From the very common chicken biryani and shawarma to complicated saloona (well, for me it is), they are abundantly used.

I snapped this photo with permission from the local vendor. Pardon me if I cannot translate those Arabic texts in English since I am not so familiar with their alphabet (aside from the first 7 alphabet). You can ask me to read and write the Arabic numbers but not the Arabic texts (well, for now...I am still trying to learn). As you can see in this photo, there are incense burners, oils and oud aside from the herbs and spices.

If you are planning to buy some at Al Ain Souq, be ready with your basic Arabic since most of the vendors are Arabic speakers.

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

A big thanks to Oasis Living Magazine!!

Thank you to Oasis Living Magazine for publishing my photos (with labels 1, 2 and 3 only) and for featuring me in Have a Cuppa Section (January 2011 issue). I will always be grateful to the Oasis Living Magazine Team.

Photos shown below are the screen shots of the 3D version (posted with permission from the Publisher). If you wish to read the online 3D version of the magazine, you can click the link provided above to be taken to the magazine's homepage. Once you're in the homepage, find the magazine icon with the text "Read Online", turn to page 64 and 65 to check out the City Snapshot section.

Read on if you'd like to know something about the photos.

1. One of the two Hili Towers- I snapped that photo at Al Hili District when I was covering the Hili Archeological Park series. According to Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, "the towers are one of the features of the local military traditional architecture  in the City of Al Ain. They used to be built in the high ground to allow better observation and defense for the village of Hili and its oasis." 

(I will post the square tower sometime this month.)

2. Breaking Dawn: I snapped that photo at Al Mutaredh District, along 7th street, a block away from Hazaa Mosque while I was waiting for the sunrise.

3.Mini Eiffel Tower at Al Ain Paradise where in you can find the largest display of hanging baskets in the world.

And now its time to reveal a bit part of me  . If you wish to read the Have a Cuppa Section, please turn to page 69. If you're a resident of UAE and if you wish to get a free copy of the magazine, simply visit Al Ain Mall, Bawadi Mall, Al Jimi Mall, Grand Mercure Hotel, or Hilton Al Ain.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Publishing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Ms. Percy Chang, to Ms. Maura Madigan and to Mr. Emran Yousof.

Word of the day: Shukran katir is the Arabic term for thank you very much. Salaam!

Al Ain Souq series: newspapers, tabloids and magazines

Let me tell you a secret. It was in May 2005 when I came to the United Arab Emirates, particularly here in Al Ain City, but it took me ages to discover the Al Ain Souq, which is also known as the Central market to most of the expat residents and Souq alsamak to most of the local Emiratis and Arab residents. If my memory serves me right, June 2007 was my first time to set foot in Al Ain souq. Not that I didn't want to buy anything from the souq but I was just too lazy to walk around or maybe because there wasn't a need.  I stayed at Emirates Commercial Complex (ECC), which is geographically located at the back of Al Falah Plaza (combined supermarket and shops) for 4 months and at Al Jahli which is a stone thrown away from Al Ain Megamart, when hubby came and joined me. Okay, okay...that will be enough. I don't want to bore you to death with my long introduction ;)).

Magazines, broadsheets and tabloids are available at the local supermarkets, hypermarkets, malls, and bookstores. You can find it also at Al Ain Souq, just before the entrance going to the vegetable and fruit stalls. Newspapers are written in Arabic and English text. Gulf News and Khaleej Times are the two most popular English newspapers in the country. There's a wide array of magazines where you can choose from. Magazines from India and the Philippines are always available. I was so delighted to see our very own Liwayway magazine and the Star Studio magazine.

There are two Indian newspaper vendors at Al Ain souq and I have no idea if they are renting the space or they pay taxes to Al Ain Municipality. 

By the way, you can find some coloring books too :)....that is why I don't want to tag along my 7-year old son when its market day, usually on a Friday morning. Am pretty sure that he would make faces and bawl his eyes out if I won't buy him even a single piece.

Word of the day: jareeda is the Arabic word for newspaper. Salaam!

Al Ain Souq series: Woven palm fronds

There are numerous date palms growing around the oases of Al Ain and some of the local Emiratis are still weaving the dried palm fronds. They can make items such as baskets, mats and fans. I have been to Al Ain Souq last week and found these items on sale. I've met an old woman from Al Wagan and asked her about these items. 

The woven cone is called makabbah, an essential item in Emarati household used to cover food and it is available in different sizes while the woven round mat is called soroud on which dishes are placed (I have seen big and square ones sometime  in October 2009). A basket is called jafeer where fruits and vegetables are placed. 

It is very common to see jafeer in supermarkets, grocery stores or even in the fruit and vegetable markets because they are using it in some of the Emarati sweets. It is also common to see fruits arranged in a jafeer as a gift.

Word of the day: Khoos is the Arabic term used to describe the weaving of palm fronds. Salaam!

Pink beauties

I snapped this photo at Al Ain Mall sometime in December 2010 during the International Circus on Ice. These performers were from Russia. Aside from their superb, jaw-dropping performance, their costume were also outstanding. You can check out the other photos here and here.

Word of the day: wardi is the Arabic word for pink. Salaam!

"Sanaiya statue"

I snapped this photo at Sanaiya junction, about 15-minute drive from Al Ain town center. The industrial zone of Al Ain City is located at Sanaiya District. I did consult Mr. Google for some information about the "statue" but found nothing.

Word of the day: hadeed is the Arabic word for wrought iron or steel. Salaam!

Lonely beauties

I saw these artiodactly ungulates at old Al Ain livestock market when I was wandering around the city at around 07:30AM of New Year's day. These dromedary camels were resting in a truck while the owner was asking for the directions going to the new Al in livestock market. They looked so sad, maybe because they were "thinking" that they will be slaughtered on that day. I snapped this photo from afar with 300mm SIGMA lens.

Posted for Camera Critters hosted by Misty Dawn.

Word of the day: jamal is the Arabic word for camel. Salaam!

New year's eve fountain show

A colorful 5-minute choreographed fountain show with lights, fire and laser effects just before the new year fireworks display at the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. The Dubai Fountain is designed by the famous California-based company,WET design, the one responsible for the fabulous fountain at Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States of America.

The fountain swayed to the rhythm of music while the fire flames and water jets in a harmonious manner making the ambiance so surreal. It was really awesome.......so undeniably beautiful!! No regrets that I stood right infront of the lake for almost 5 hours while waiting for this spectacular fountain show. 

it started with the smoke all over the artificial lake...

then with colorful lights

followed by luminous fire flames

and the fountain swayed to the rhythm of  world music

After which was the highest fireworks display.

Am linking this post to Watery Wednesday hosted by 2sweetnsaxy. Join us and get those eyes cyber wet!

(Photos posted herein are in low resolution format. In case you are interested in these photos, just send me an e-mail to request for the high resolution copies.)

Road Trip

Yesterday's temperature was very nice. I had nothing to do and no plans of going out but when I noticed the overcast sky while my children were leaving for school, I decided to hit the road and wander around the city. I grabbed my camera out of the bag and prepared my tripod. Clad in jeans, polo shirt and cardigan while hubby was wearing his all time favorite shorts, shirt and jacket, off we went with no specific place to headed to in our mind. Just before hubby was about to start driving, I asked him to turn on the car's heater to make me warm. 

We were almost a kilometer away from our house when I noticed the pink shades of clouds while the sun was playing hide and seek. I asked hubby to drive along Al Jahli district with Al Ain Palace Museum in my mind. Few minutes later, we were at Al Ain Palace Museum. Just perfect! Just exactly what I have in mind!!.....the palace looked so magical. I took several shots and enjoyed watching the sky. Amusingly enough, hubby didn't ask me to stop taking pictures. Misael was patiently waiting inside the car.

I guess my amazement lasted for 20 minutes. I have been to Al Ain Palace Museum for several times but it never cease to amaze me. We headed to Sanaiya District right after the 20-minute fun and sky watching at Al Ain Palace Museum. I decided to cover a lot of ground, so we didn't stop very much. I was clicking while hubby was driving. The sun continued to play hide and seek while the clouds were covering the magical rays.

We reached the foothills of Jebel Hafeet at exactly 07:45 AM. It was quite foggy making it a bit difficult to capture a decent shot.

As we ascend up to the rugged mountain, I continued clicking with my feet stepping on the car's seat and made the seat belt quite loose so that I could move and turn whenever possible. I heard my husband telling me..."ahhh things that you do for the sake of photography". I smiled and never uttered a word and continued clicking.

2nd stop for some photo op hahahaha...

A colleague of mine told me that this part of Jebel resembles a place in one of the mountains of South Africa.

3rd stop for another photo op :).....I was just too glad that the sun was out and....

to be on the top (even if I was shaking because it was really cold)

The temperature at the top of the mountain was almost unbearable. We decided to go home since the cafeteria at the top was still closed. I was laughing when I heard the borborygmic sound of my stomach, reminding me that  we actually skipped our breakfast just for the road trip hahahaha!

I never stopped clicking as we descend back to Sanaiya district. This part looks like an African desert. Though I have seen and been to this place for the nth time, it never cease to amaze me. The beautiful rock formations are really awesome....the wonders of God's creation.

We finally got home at around 10:30 AM, exhausted but really happy. It was a great road trip and this is My World Tuesday.