Prologue: Our adventure in Al Dhafra Festival

at the camel race track in Madinat Zayed

It was one foggy and freezing cold Monday morning when I and the kids headed to the western region of Abu Dhabi to visit the Al Dhafra Festival. It took us about 5 hours to finally see the festival villages and some camels. We travelled around 140 kms. from Al Ain to central Abu Dhabi and another 140 kms. from central Abu Dhabi to Madinat Zayed.

~~To be continued~~          

(P.S. Thank you so much for dropping by my blog and for leaving your comment(s). I will return your visit as soon as I can. I'm still on tonight and I'm hoping for a quiet graveyard shift.)                                         

Run birdie run!

A panning technique that I have tried with this bird while I and my kids were waiting for bus number 700 at Al Ain Bus Station. This photo was taken yesterday morning. I was bored to death after 30 minutes of sitting inside the waiting area and decided to look for an interesting subject to shoot. Luckily, I saw this bird running after for his food. :))

Shoot like a Pro

Pentax film SLR camera with 50mm f/1.8 lens and Canon Speedlite 580 EX of Sir Sameer

Al Qattara Arts Center will be offering a new advanced photography course starting on January 5, 2012. It will be conducted in the photography studio every Tuesday and Thursday from 06:00 PM to 08:00 PM. The upcoming photography classes are 8 sessions for a fee of AED 300 and it will be instructed in Arabic by no less than Mr. Nasser Haji. For registrations, please call 03-7618080. 

By the way, photo shown above was taken sometime in June 2011 in one of our sessions with sir Sameer, our basic photography class teacher. The difference between film and digital SLR cameras including the difference between master and slave flashes were among the topics discussed in Basic Photography class.  

Thank you Dr. Itani!

I believe that most of us value our colleagues and the people that we are working with, although we may not express our appreciation of them publicly. Others may have the annoying qualms every time they start talking in the public. Just like me, I am no exception on that matter. I hardly express how grateful I am working with the people in our unit despite of busyness and stress. Maybe because I am thinking that a silent thank you is already given. That we understand each other whenever we are busy and each and everyone of us appreciate our roles in caring for our patients.

A perfect example of what I am trying to say is the gathering that I have attended last night. It was Dr. Itani's last working day as one of the PICU doctors in our unit. Most of my colleagues were present. Some even cancelled their prior engagement or schedule to attend his Maasalama. Since I am not good in saying thank yous and goodbyes, I let my camera do the talking. Here are some of the photos that I have taken, except the one where I am included---thanks to Emily, one of our CN's for taking the photo. These are low resolution copies. I promise that I'll have the high resolution copies available in our unit's desktop as soon as possible.

Dr. Itani with the PICU nurses

left: Dr. Itani saying thank you to us

center: with Emily after she handed the gifts

right: while slicing the cake

When it's our turn to say our piece, everybody kept quiet as Emily started to talk in behalf of the nurses. We were all sad  about Dr. Itani leaving our unit but at the same time, we were happy for him because we all know that there's a better opportunity awaiting for him.

left: with Sheila and Cecille (Pediatric Extended Care Unit representatives)

right: with Marinella, Ana, Thelma and Emily

left: Biji and Jainy at the Nurse's Station

right: Ana and Emily posed with the food as the foreground

cake, pizza, donuts, fried chicken and more food:))

left: Ana and Afaf

right: Dr. Itani having a conversation with the girls and with the mother of 

one of our patients who couldn't believe that he's leaving and it was his last duty

left: Ana, Emily and Ancy     

right: me and Dr. Itani (photo credit: Emily)

We will surely miss you Dr. Itani. It was a pleasure working with you. May the good Lord continue to shower His blessings upon you and your family. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours. 

On a personal note, allow me to say thank you for this photo(now, I am talking ). This one will always remind me of my journey as a photo aficionado.

Dr. Jamil and his daughter
this photo was taken a month after I bought my DSLR camera
and I have included this  in my first photo exhibit 

Malnourished?

About few meters away from the best majlis that I have ever seen at the Falconry Festival held in Jahili Fort, I have spotted a dog in one of the corners of a simple tent. It was so surprising to find a dog included in the festival since it was all about falconry. I was about to click my camera to take some snaps when I heard Joel asking me "Mama, do you think that this dog is some kind of malnourished?" Before I replied to my son's question, I pressed the shutter twice. "Hmmm, maybe", I replied and we headed to the other tents and booths.

As soon as we arrived home, I check out the FB wall of ADACH (Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage).I've found out that there were salukis included in the festival but most of them were present at the Falconers Camp. Right, I missed that part. My curiosity about the salukis led me to consult Mr. Google and here is the entry in Wikipedia. I came into conclusion that this dog is, in fact, well nourished :). I and my boys were happy about what we have learned on that day.

On another note, as much as I would like continue posting about the Falconry Festival, I am afraid that this is the last one because something happened yesterday. My 300+ photos were inadvertently deleted by my son. *Sigh* If you wish to see more of what had happened in the said event, kindly click the ADACH link provided above.

Alone in the Majlis

Of all the tents and booths that I've visited in the recently concluded Falconry Festival held at Al Jahili Fort, this is the one that I liked most. I was on my way to the arena when I spotted this Emirati man in kandura and guthra tied in hamdaniya. He's alone in the majlis with some dried date palm fronds beside him while weaving few pieces of it. My mind was busy making a guess whether he's making a makabbah, jafeer or soroud, when all of the sudden I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was JM, my youngest son. He reminded me to take some snaps.

I was about to press the shutter for the 2nd shot when I saw him looking at me. Suddenly, I became hesitant to press the shutter again. I was surprised to see him smiling. I heard him shouting "Yalah, sawi shuwra!" That was what I've been waiting for, thus, the second shot.

"Mr. Hoodies"

These are some of the falcons wearing a hood spotted in the recently concluded 3rd Falconry Festival held at Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain. It was quite interesting to see various styles and types of hood. A hood, by the way, is a basic and one of the most important equipment in falconry. It is used to help the falcons in the physiological adaptation to changes in their usual environment, to help them acclimatized to humans and to keep them calm, otherwise they will be alarmed and flustered in the presence of humans. 

I've seen several falcons being held by the falconers during the festival and I loved seeing them--the unexplainable relationship between the falcons and falconers. I must say that they have really mastered the art of falconry. I liked the idea of touching and holding the falcons too but I won't dare to touch a raptor without a hood. Guess I was just too afraid even if I find them great subjects for portraiture. With the hood, I think they looked "handsome" and harmless ('',).

"Hope this one won't hurt me....."

...said Joel, my eldest son. We were looking at the falcons in one of the booths at the recently concluded Falconry Festival held in Jahili Fort, when I asked him to touch one of the falcons as I click the camera. He's so adamant to touch the falcon and feared that it will hurt him. 'Mommy charms' was the best thing that I've learned so far whenever I want to convince my boys. This time, it worked so well with Joel ;).

Dellah

Another traditional Arabic coffee pots spotted at the recently concluded 3rd Falconry Festival organized by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage held at Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, UAE. I must admit, I have a thing for dellah. Hahaha!

On another note, if you do have a twitter account, you can add me to your list of friends. You can click here to see my twitter profile. See you there tweeps! 

Dellah

Traditional Arabic coffee pots I've seen at one of the tents in the recently concluded 3rd Falconry Festival at Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, UAE.

Pegasus

At the center of the Stars Court of Al Ain Mall lies a water fountain with a winged horse statue. It resembles the fantastical and mythological creature named pegasus, though this statue looks more of a bronze. Pegasus, by the way, is a winged divine horse usually in white color in the Greek Mythology.

Most of you have probably seen a similar picture of this statue when I posted the photos of Al Ain Mall Expansion's grand opening. It was taken with the people in the background, while this one was taken in a moderate elevation technique and with few people in the backdrop to emphasize some reflections and the elegance of the said court.

Charm of a Skylight

I must admit that I have a thing for skylights. I find them fascinating and charming that I couldn't help but smile and take a photo whenever I see one. Aside from its attractive colors, I always enjoy looking at the designs.

Last Thursday, I've been to Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi after visiting the event at the Philippine Embassy. Upon entering the mall through the main entrance, I noticed that there's a beautiful skylight--small yet so attractive. As always, my ever reliable camera didn't fail me.

Sour and Salty

I was craving for shawarma and decided to visit Al Arish Restaurant located at Khalifa Street, a few meters away from Al Falah Plaza. I had 2 pcs. of chicken shawarma and an avocado juice. Shawarma in Al Arish Restaurant is usually served with pickled chili, green olives, turnips, and cucumber. Pickles is called mekhallel in Arabic.

Al Ain Mall's International Circus on Ice (Part 2 of 2)

As promised, here are the rest of the photos that I snapped at Al Ain Mall's International Circus on Ice. It will run through until the 13th of December 2011. Bring your kids and friends and be amazed of the graceful movement and fantastic performance of these artists from Russia. You can watch and enjoy the show for FREE. So, what are you waiting for? Go and visit Al Ain Mall!

My apologies to the City Daily Photo Community for posting an album. These photos were shot in a manual mode, handheld, and with speedlite 430 EXII @ETTL. Some of the photos are clickable if you want to enlarge them. Please be informed that these are low resolution copies only.

Wishing everyone a relaxing weekend. Enjoy! Salaam!