Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Darmaki Fort (part 1 of 2)

Yesterday's temperature was quite fine compared with the previous days because it rained last Sunday. I took that opportunity to wander around the city since we had some blue sky with few and thin layers of clouds...just perfect for the background. We headed to Al Qattara District without any definite plans in our mind. We were around a km. north of Al Mutaredh when I asked hubby if we could visit the old Al Darmaki House and check out the progress of its restoration. As we approached the Al Jimi District, I've changed my mind and told hubby to drive me around the Al Anja community because I did remember that there are lots of fortified structures around the area.

This is our first stop at Al Anja Community, at Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Darmaki Fort. I couldn't exactly remember where from Al Anja this fort is located. At first we thought that it was closed for renovation but when I checked the main door, it was open. It was very surprising to find out that there was nobody inside the fort, not even a security guard.

As we entered the main door, we were looking for information that we could read regarding the fort's construction. We found this board. It is written that the fort was built in the early 1840's by Sheikh Sultan's ancestors and was renovated by then Department of Culture and Heritage in Al Ain in 1990 (now the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage). I wasn't satisfied with what we have read and I ended up browsing the net but I couldn't find any information even from the ADACH website.

Looking at these photos, I am guessing that this fort was built and used to defend the village of Al Qattara and its surrounding oasis because it has machicolations and gun openings that punctuate the walls at regular intervals, a typical feature of forts that I've seen from Mezyad Fort and Sultan Fort. It has a spacious courtyard and a well which I believed was the source of water during the time of Sheikh Sultan's ancestors' stay in the fort. I could be wrong. In case you happen to know the history behind this fort, I would appreciate you dropping a comment below. Thanks.

the spacious courtyard 

weeds, flowers and palm trees thriving even in a hot  and dry weather

a well and date fruits are beginning to grow and heavy

...to be continued.

Please come back tomorrow if you'd like to see the doors, windows and the watch tower.

This post is linked to My World Tuesday. Have a nice day fellow bloggers!

Middle eastern baklava

We've been to Al Sarooj last week to check out the latest summer promo at Bawadi Mall. On our way to the said mall, I saw the Al Noor Bakery which is located just few meters away from the main entrance. Since we haven't taken anything, I decided to buy 4 pieces of cheese manakish to satisfy our gustatory needs. While waiting for our turn to order, I saw this freshly baked baklava. Since I brought my camera with me, I snapped these photos and decided to share it here.

Baklava is one of the very common Arabic sweets. It is a rich, multi layered sweet pastry, made of phyllo dough filled with different kinds of chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. It is usually served in a small portions.

Word of the day: halwa is the Arabic word for sweet. Salaam!

A hearty breakfast

A slice of ripe and sweet mango, a small bowl of chocolate cereals, and a glass of low fat fresh Al Ain milk....this is JM's usual weekend breakfast. JM and Joel love Al Ain fresh milk from Al Ain Dairy. They don't mind whether it is flavoured or plain fresh milk, they can even drink two glasses per day. 

 If you wish to see more of Ain Ain Dairy products, please click here.

Word of the day: iftar is the Arabic word for breakfast. It is also called as the evening meal of our Muslim brothers when they break the day’s fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

Have a nice day fellow bloggers! Apologies for not returning your visits. I'm doing 4 night shifts in a row. Salaam!

Past, present, future

A bridge at Al Sarooj district with portraits of the past (His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan), present (His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan) and future (the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan) rulers of Abu Dhabi. 

Apologies for the quality of the photo. Yesterday's sky was gray and this is a drive-by shot through the car's windshield .   

Word (s) of the day:

al haadhr is the Arabic term for the present 

al madhi is the Arabic term for the past 

al mustaqbil is the Arabic term for the future

Have a nice day fellow photobloggers!! Salaam!!

Desertscape series #2

It's Wednesday once again and it's time for my weekly dose of desertscape series. These photos were taken 9 days ago at Al Maqam. 

Al Ain sand can be soft, fine or rough depending on the area. At Al Maqam, it is a combination of rocks, fine and rough sand. About 100 meters from the main road, there's a path way leading to the desert and we've seen the ongoing piping construction for an oil and gas company. As we ascend up to the sand dunes, I truly enjoyed looking at the weeds thriving in the hot and dry desert. 

While waiting for the sunset, we sat down on the sand and enjoyed its warmth. Guess it's perfect for photo op too. :)) I can't help but smile while looking at these photos because I managed to climb up to the sand dunes even in flip flops. I wasn't ready anyway. It was a spur of the moment decision of mine when I saw that the sun was so big. You can read the related post here.

It was quite mesmerizing to see the moon was out even before the sunset. I'll be seeing more of nice sunsets and dusk because it's summer time here in the sandpit. Can't wait to visit Al Yahar desert by next week.

See you next week for another desertscape series.

This post is linked to Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan.

Word(s) of the day: baad oshboo'o is the Arabic term for next week. Salaam!

 You might like to read the Desertscape series #1. Thank you.

UAE coins

I'm running out of pictures to share because I haven't been out lately due to shift/schedule issues. I have had 3 successive night duties and outdoor shooting is the last thing I have in my mind for now. As soon as I find time to wander around the city, I'll start posting landscapes and street scenes again.

When I woke up this afternoon, I saw my piggy bank and realized that it is already full. I need to go to the shop to exchange my coins to some banknotes. As I started counting the coins, JM, my youngest son told me that I haven't posted any photo of UAE coins.  I grabbed my camera and macro lens, and snapped these photos. Thus, this quick post.

These are the UAE coins. The 25 fils, 50 fils and 1 dirham coins are widely circulated while the 10 fils and 5 fils are not. Those bronze coins are seldom available at the grocery stores and even in the shopping malls.

1) 1 dirham- showing a dellah, the Arabic coffee pot  

2)50 fils- showing oil derricks, as oil is the main source of UAE's wealth

3) 25 fils- showing a gazelle,  an antelope indigenous to the region

4) 10 fils- showing a dhow, a traditional Arabic sailing vessel with lateen sail

5) 5 fils- showing a grouper fish, commonly known as hammour

I suggest that you read this Wikipedia page for more information about the UAE dirham. 

...and these are my coins, would you like to count them for me? Hmmmnn....I'm thinking of buying a perfume. 

Word of the day: fulus is the Arabic word for money. Salaam!

While waiting for the sunset

It's summer time once again here in the sandpit. Since there are no beaches here in Al Ain, residents tend to go to Dubai or Abu Dhabi to beat the heat of the sun. Well of course, aside from malling and staying indoors with A/C on almost 24/7. 

For me, summer is just perfect to snap sunsets at Jumeirah Open Beach, one of the popular destinations during the weekends just to have a brief respite from the hot and dry weather. It is almost 130 km from Al Ain Town Center. While waiting for the sunset, I tend to watch the people around me.

How about a Chinese reporter covering a story about the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach..

and Korean kids enjoying the warmth of the sand

while these handsome guys and pretty ladies are paddling at the warm sea water

and tourists busy taking pictures of the Burj Al Arab

this one is for Scenic Sunday

And finally, when the sun is setting deep into the horizon, I will focus the shutter with interesting subjects just like this couple holding holds while walking. Oh! I can't help but smile and suddenly I am on a romantic mood.

Word of the day: nafarat is the Arabic word for people. Salaam!

Ornamental dhow?

We've been to Al Ain Mall last Monday to celebrate my hubby's birthday. We were heading to the side entrance of the said mall to take the escalator when we saw this dirty wooden dhow-like structure. It wasn't there before. I wonder what are those holes are for.

Painted desert 5

Here are the rest of the photos taken last Monday at Al Maqam desert. Click here to read the related posts. Have a nice weekend!

This post is linked to Skywatch Friday. Join us and meet the sky watchers and sky lovers in other parts of the world.

Street Scene: Waiting for the bus

This is a common street scenario on a weekend night at Al Mutaredh District while the passengers are waiting for the bus going to Al Khair District via Al Ain Bus station (for Bus #960) or straight to Al Khair with bus #980.  If you are planning to go to Bawadi Mall, you better take the bus, you can save as much as AED 19.

Women are advised to take the front seats and look for this yellow sign. Anyway, front seats are designated only for the female passengers.

For taxis, women are always advised to take the back seat and avoid unnecessary conversation with the driver, as they may misinterpret friendliness.

Oh! Have a look at these boys. They told me that they're too tired to stand while waiting for the bus to come. Poor boys, mama and daddy wanted to take the bus.

distorted...taken while I was walking toward the stop point

Word of the day: hurma is the Arabic word for women/ladies. Salaam!