Have a blessed weekend!

Wishing everyone a relaxing and blessed weekend.

Salaam!

Jahili Park

We've been to Jahili Park yesterday. My fingers were itching to press the shutter while JM wanted to play. These are some of the photos that I have captured. Enjoy!

Jahili Fort and a fountain

the playground

JM (in orange shirt) with his friends

I played with the white balance on these photos

 tungsten                                                                                                    flash

Happy weekend everyone! Salaam!

A date with Dates

*A common sight at Al Ain Oasis. 

We've been to Al Ain Oasis a couple of weeks ago for a photo walk. We were exploring the intricate routes when we saw these men harvesting some date fruits. Out of curiosity and armed with my basic Arabic, I spoke to one of the farmers. We've learned that some of the high-quality dates are picked individually by hands, but most of the time, date fruits are harvested by cutting off the entire cluster or in a bunch and thrown on the ground covered with a mesh or laminated sack. They will hand picked the date fruits on the ground and  put it inside the open plastic container after they sorted out the ripe ones. They also mentioned that low quality dates are packed and given to the camels and goats, a nutritious food for the animals. :))  

These photos were taken with permission. 

*photo credit: Misael (hubby dear)

Sunset catchers

If you're a regular visitor of this blogsite, I guess you are aware that I am crazy about sunsets. I do spend a couple of hours waiting for the sun's disk disappear below the horizon. I can even bear the humid temperature in Dubai whenever I am visiting the Jumeriah Open Beach at Umm Suqueim.

These photos were taken a month ago. We've been to Dubai to check out the prizes of Canon cameras but we opted to watch the sunset at Jumeirah before we headed to Dubai Mall. We we're unlucky though because of the weather. While the sun was setting below the horizon, there was a thick layer of dust hovering above us and prompted us to stay inside the car. Alas! I ended up taking photos inside the car. Sigh*

I have a habit of watching the people around me whenever I am clicking especially the sunset catchers like me

and pose before the camera while waiting for the sunset

the Burj Al Arab and the sunset

 Better luck next time Misalyn!

"Cool-leagues"

Meet some of my colleagues in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Unit. All of them were invited and graced Emily's birthday party at Green Mubazzarah last Friday evening. We had fun, enjoyed the food and photo shoot. :))

birthday girl Emily with Marinela

lovely Joy and alluring Monica

model and the photographer-Patty and Anne

1st row: Anne and Patty
2nd row, fr. left to right: Emily, Marinela, Thelma, Monica and Gay
3rd row: Joy and Ana

group photos

I'll be doing 3 graveyard duties starting tonight. See you then my colleagues.
Have a nice day everyone!

Lovely couple

Meet Ana and Paulo. Both of them are registered nurses and working in SEHA facilities here in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi. Ana is a Pediatric Critical Care Nurse while Paulo is an OR nurse. Aren't they a love couple?

These photos were taken yesterday at Green Mubazzarah. Both of them graced the birthday party of Emily, one of our Charge Nurses in PICU.

Al Ain Souq series: Common sights in the market

Traffic Poles and Bollards

Huge Cacti

Body Language

shy

sweet

attentive

These photos were all taken at the Birds' House in Al Ain Zoo. Birds' House has 3 areas namely the Penguin house, Walk thru Aviary and the place for Jewels of the Emirates Exhibit. We enjoyed looking at these aquatic and flightless flippers. It's kinda fascinating to see them move and interpret their body language. Some of you may ask how they can survive in this region. Well, they simply made their "sanctuary" enclosed and well ventilated with A/C in a high cool settings and huge body of water with man-made rock formations.

I find them cute, do you think so?

Kiosk

More on Al Ain Zoo stories. On our way to the cage of the white tiger, JM noticed that there's a small kiosk painted with black and white that resemble the stripes of the white tiger. They are selling inexpensive souvenir items like umbrellas, caps, stuffed toys, coloring books and puzzles. JM asked for a piece of jigsaw puzzle. I was hesitant to take it but I knew my son will start to bawl his eyes out if I won't buy it. I had no choice but to take it.

By the way, I guess you have already noticed the lady in abaya. I wanted to take a picture of the kiosk with her while she's holding the point of sale machine when JM handed down the money to pay but I simply couldn't. I was told that it's impolite to take a picture of woman in abaya without her permission. When she turned her back, I snapped it away. Thus, these photos that I am sharing with you. Yeah, call me hardheaded but gee, I made sure that her face was covered.

Have a blessed Sunday dear readers and visitors. Salaam! 

Al Ain Zoo

One of the most visited tourist destinations here in Al Ain City is the Al Ain Zoo. It houses several kinds of mammals, aves and reptiles (and huge cacti too). We've been there today to watch the birds' show but we ended up taking photos of the animals. Here are some of my snapshots, should you wish to see some more, you can click here and you will be taken to the facebook album. Don't forget to click the "like" button.

This post is linked to Camera Critters. Click the badge and you will be taken to the page. Join us and have fun. Wishing you a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Salaam!

Full Moon

Full moon is a beauty that we get to enjoy looking at in a specific date of the month. For some reasons, I considered myself lucky when I was taking a photograph of this month's gorgeous and radiant sphere up in the sky. I couldn't explain my feelings while I was looking at the moon, marveling and appreciating every detail of it. The same way that I couldn't contain my happiness as the moon started to rose over the horizon and lit the grounds. Yeah, call me silly but I must admit that I am crazy about full moons.

This post is linked to SkyWatch Friday. Join the weekly gathering and meet the sky lovers and sky watchers in other parts of the world. Have a great day everyone! Salaam!

Rain and my Observations

It seldom rain here in Al Ain and when it does, it is certainly a cause for celebration and an opportunity for photo enthusiasts to capture the amazing movements of rain drops, wind, sand and dust. Just like today, it rained for a couple of minutes but it wasn't heavy in our area. According to the news, it was a heavy downpour in districts of Al Hili and Al Jimi. Because of the wind that almost kicked up the sand and dust, I've decided to stay indoors. I don't want to deal with camera censor problems in the later time and I am broke to buy a new clicking gear. Lol! 

Anyway, let me share my observations following a heavy rain in Al Ain.

• Some roundabouts are impassable for small vehicles.
• Streets, major roads and some residential areas are waterlogged for several hours, some even for days. 
• Toppled trees and broken branches are all over the place causing minor traffic problems.
•  Motorists have to adjust their "driving habits" to deal with flooded and slick roads.
•  Rain can lure some of the residents to come out into the open and some couldn't help but sing and dance in the rain. :))
•  Some dish antennas, signboards and even junk stored on rooftops of houses and buildings are out of order.
• Power outage in some areas but definitely the problem will be fixed in a matter of few hours.
• You must wait in a long queue if you want your car to be washed at ADNOC car wash stations.
• Last but not the least, natuwr receive hundreds of calls because the tenants are asking for the repair of ceilings.

If you're currently residing in Al Ain, I guess you have your own observations too. By the way, photos shown above were taken last month after the torrential rain in Al Mutaredh District and most of the areas in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi. Click here for more photos.

Al Ain Palace Museum by night

straight out of camera shot

I have written a couple of blog posts and posted several photos of Al Ain Palace Museum but none of them were taken by night. Perhaps my growing interest in long exposure shots is the mere reason why I've decided to take a photo of the museum at night. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago before we headed to Jebel Hafeet (see previous post).

For more photos and  info about Al Ain Palace Museum, you can click here.

It's time for blog hopping. I hope I can visit my favorite blogsites today. Let me see what I can do for  tonight.  Hmmm...I need a cup of coffee. Bye for now. Salaam!

Scenic view of Al Ain

Just another scenic view of Al Ain City snapped at the top of Jebel Hafeet, the UAE's second highest mountain. I've been there a couple of weeks ago to practice shooting with long exposure values. These images may not suit your taste but just the same, allow me to share it with you. Actually, I was so reluctant to post these photos but I'm running out of pictures to share. I think I should go out and start taking new set of photos. I guess I would probably do it tomorrow. Click HERE if you'd like to see my fave shot.

@ TV 30 sec, f/14, picture style: landscape, O step Exposure bias, ISO 100

@TV 30 sec, f/11, picture style: landscape, O step Exposure bias, ISO 100

Apologies for not returning your visit. I'm still on tonight, my last of 3 night shifts. Have a great day! Salaam!