One Year - 365 Days - #365

Year 1 Stats:

60,000 visitors
6,000 pictures taken
500 hours spent on this producing and maintaining blog in year 1
365 processed shots posted
50 weekends taking photos
27 new inspirations and connections that I hope to keep (in a random order) - eric, lisi, halfmanhalfbeer, ham, crankyputz, alexander, Secret Dubai, edwin, natalie, miguel @ sfdailyphoto, littlejimmy, dubai sunshine, m&j, Jing, Jazzy, Zsolt, Keropokman, kiwi boy, luggi, 'roon, michel, samuri sam, elaine, gail's man, macky, basil, jez's dad, and many, many more...
9th on google for dubai photo search
3rd on yahoo for dubai photo search
3 National newspaper quotes and 1 national feature
1 'roon there's only 1 chuckeroon
1 shot exactly per day every day for 365 days

1 happy but very tired Bluey...

Dubai Daily Photo has to take a break.

We plan to return... sometime...

Short, Back and Sides a/k/a Al Sakeena - #364

The Barber Of Bur Dubai...

Parking For Praying - #363

... where as I'm quite often praying for parking... ok, that was a cheap line... although I will admit that I'm somewhere near being athiest. The one thing about that club is nobody is out to protect your rights. I think that's a bit of a relief, I don't like people speaking on my behalf all the time... having said that, this mosque is slapbang centre Bur Dubai and in traffic mayhem - so fair play to the parking protection for those seeking to pray.

Respectful Is A Good Word - #362

I know, another water fountain shot. I really am a big fan of them and they really are all over the place if you look.

Notice that the really nice metallic cup here is not attached in any way to the fountain - i.e. very easy to steal. And for who knows how long, it has remained here. I really like what this says about the society here... respectful is a good word.

Spokes. Flip Flops. Crank a/k/a Pedi-couture- #361

Spokes. Flip Flops. Crank.

I liked the colours, the mechanism and the aerated pedi-couture from my gutter position...

The Pretentious Antidote - #360

I think I can be reasonably be accused of being pretentious on occasion... however sometimes there are things that are too genuine, too human and too individual to worry about photographic technique... and this is one of them (I think).

I just saw this and snapped it. On a street. On a Dashboard. In Bur Dubai. On A Friday.

Bur Dubai Bus Station - #359

Mid afternoon scene in Bur Dubai bus station. It looks pleasingly shaded, however it must have been about 43 to 45 degrees C.

Can't wait for the temperature to drop a little...

It's Getting Close.... - #358

Reading The Palm - #357

This is the main "trunk" of the Jumeriah Palm. This is the reclaimed land that has become pretty infamous and some what synonymous with Dubai.

It seems like an interesting novelty now, I just wonder what it'll be like once all the fronds have been occupied...

An Art Deco Vista - #356

I liked the symmetry of this foyer...

The Fountainhead - #355

It's a neccesary addition to the city, the water fountains. However I do also think it's one of the best civic amenieties in this city.

Perhaps Ayn Rand would be fascinated with Dubai, although I wonder what the (fictional) Mr Howard Roark would have thought...

The Hyatt Of Luxury - #354

The is the entrance of the Grand Hyatt Dubai.

In a city of hotels, this one stands out as a peaceful and impressive location. I love the restaurants, the grand foyer and the best value brunch in Dubai at Andiamos.

Caught Between A Hard Rock and a Place - #353

Hard Rock Cafe Dubai - once upon a time this was at the end of the Earth. The tallest and most isolated building, before the Marina madness took hold.

Now it's surrounded by 50+ towers and looks a little quaint and it looks like Spiderman or King Kong should be scaling its diminutive, yet splendid visage.

Saladicious - #352

This is a nice newish cafe called Saladicious located behind The One store in Jumeriah.

I recomend it, funky place and good for some lunch.

Signage - #351

Effervescent Waves - #350

A little salty froth for the end of the working week.

Bluey Kool Aid Acid Test - #349

Bluey Kool Aid Acid Test.

Number Of Hours Worked 23,315,160 - #348

Some pretty interesting / impressive / illustrative stats for the construction of the world's tallest structure.

I'm kind of geeky about the Burj - it maybe the Deathspire, but I kinda love it already...

Gaps And All a/k/a Self-portrait Viewed Via A Third Party - #347

Self portrait. Bluey. The One. Jumeriah. Dubai. 2007

It would be very strange to see the gaps in ourselves that others see. Big, huge, glaring chunks of yourself just not there... We all feel we are the rounded, complete person that our within experience is our all. Yet when we see anyone else we only experience what is there to be seen, found or granted...

So here is my self portrait viewed via a third party. I hope you like me. Gaps and all.

Freedom To Create - #346

The butterfly symbol at the entrance of Dubai Media City freezone. The message here is Freedom To Create.

Certain freedoms should be automatic, not by granted by decree. Although freedoms should be celebrated where ever they can flourish.

Volvo a/k/a I Love Pakistan - #345

A truck hood...

A Blister In The Sun - #344

An Al Quoz Mural.

I think this picture in particular speaks a thousand words.

Coffee Reflections - #342

I'm all for getting healthy and doing good stuff... however nothing better than a cup of damn fine coffee in the morning. However, always check to see if there was a fish in the percolator...

Half Baked - #341

Dubailand a/k/a Coming Clean - #340

As promised, a space rocket... however I have to make an admission (and even feel a little guilty) - this shuttle, the skier, the giraffes and the fine elephants are all fakes, props or indeed adverts for the stupidly huge mega project that is simply called Dubailand.

It is too big to comprehend - it will actually be bigger than the current size of Dubai city. It will also be twice the size of all of the Disneyland/DisneyWorld resorts put together, currently the largest collection of amusement parks in the world.

Dubai - The Logical Conclusion To Sim City...

and here is the area around the as yet developed Dubailand... all a little Truman Show and how closely will Dubailand resemble Westworld where's Yul when you need him?

Taking The Piste - #339

From savanna to the piste in only a few strides? In the desert? What can this land be? Next you'll be telling me there could be a space rocket...

Is That A Camelopard? a/k/a Hidden Ziraafa - #338

My journey into another land continued with more strange beasts, you don't expect to stumble upon the tallest animal in existence that is normally indigenous to Africa.

However - there is a link to Arabia - The species name camelopardalis (camelopard) is derived from its early Roman name, where it was described as having characteristics of both a camel and a leopard. The English word camelopard first appeared in the 14th century and survived in common usage well into the 19th century. A number of European languages retain it.

The Arabic word الزرافة ziraafa or zurapha, meaning "assemblage" (of animals), or just "tall", was used in English from the sixteenth century on, often in the Italianate form giraffa...

What, and indeed where, can this strange land be?

An Arabian Savanna a/k/a Duck And Run - #337

Now this I'd heard of, but didn't expect - seriously, there are no fences to keep me out, or keep them in... more strangeness to follow.

Dubai is already strange and the powers that be are working hard to make it even more so...

Can't See The Woods For The Trees - #336

Palm trees are not actually tress. There are approx 130 species of Palms covering a wide range of climates. These Palms here in Dubai are usually Date Palms - The date palm belongs to the family Palmae, genus Phoenix, species dactylifera.

DAtes are seen as very healthy - however, go easy on them - they pack in 3,000 cals per KG and are a natural laxative...

Reassuringly Expensive - #335

Thursdays are Fridays here. Our weekends are Friday and Saturday. So I'm off for some Thursday evening relaxation and I'll toast you, dear visitors, with a cold one this evening!

PS Unfortunately not at this featured bar though - a little too hot...

Postcard From The Future - #334

Dear Daily Photo,

I suspect that this message will be greeted with a dose of scepticism, however I assure you this photo record has been sent from me, Bluey - here today, August 2nd 2028. I'm now 55 years old and I still live in the city I used to call Dubai.

You'll be shocked to learn that Space City has been abandoned as a loss now, the desert blasted in 5 mad minutes and turned to glass. The dunes now look like ornamental crap the Gods would buy one another on a cheap holiday. The last remnants of the new Bedouins of Urb_Arabia are leaving.

Anyway - I need to be brief, I need you to remember these simple truths, axioms for life if you like...

1) Listen to the dolphins, they will thank you for all the fish, however a desert is not the place for them.

2) De La Soul were right. 3 is the magic number.

TTFN,

Space Cpt DX. Bluey

Mabrook Iraq! - #333

The actual Asian Cup Trophy.

A surprise tonight - I managed to gate crash the Iraqi national football team and the actual Asian Gulf trophy before they headed off to a party.

Why in Dubai? Well, Sheikh Maktoum invited them to Dubai so they can safely and properly have the opportunity celebrate their amazing victory in the Asian Cup!

BBC match report
BBC pictures

... and a bonus shot of one of the winning team's players.

Guest Relations - #332

All hotels and many businesses will have portraits of the rulers of the UAE prominently displayed as sign of respect.

The Telephone At The End Of The World - #331

Another phone box... a nice use of solar power too. The UAE needs to embrace solar energy, yet it is still not allowed for buildings that are connected to the national grid to have solar energy.

That's mad in a country with THIS much sun.

Lost Souls Swimming In A Fish Bowl - #330

Sometimes it feels like our experience fills the universe and sometimes it feels like you are a vibrating superstring blinking in and out of this universe whilst drifting in space. The descent from the dense to the gaseous, even if temporary and even somewhat expected, may cause emotional bends if you're not careful.

An Auspicious Awning - #329

A Farewell To Rolla - #328

I really enjoyed my brief visit to Rolla, hope you did too...

All It Takes Is A Good Hard Slap - #327

to make the bread work out fine.

Taken just off Rolla Square at the famous eatery Pak Ghazi...

War And Peace - #326

Rolla has some famous cannons, purpose unknown... save for some respite from the summer's heat bombs.

As a small bonus, perhaps this is Harsha's Fountain?

A Rolla Vista - #325

A vista of Rolla Square.

Note the rather interesting tree monument in the middle.

Nobel Prize For... - #324

One infamous location in Sharjah is Rolla Square. It's a pretty full on place and I loved it...

So there may be a couple more shots to come from Rolla Sq...

Again - an unusual thing for me to do, however I believe I have one regular Sharjah resident that visits my blog. An illustrious member the UAE's media and a rather erudite blogger. Please drop by his blog sometime Fake Plastic Souks

Sharjah Mosque - #323

You immediately notice how many mosques there are in Sharjah. Way more than in Dubai it feels and they are very grand affairs too.

Sharjah is a more strict Emirate than Dubai, with generally a more conservative athmosphere and no alcohol allowed at all, more modest clothing etc.

Let's Visit The Neighbours - #322

Dubai Daily Photo has gone on small fact finding mission... the next few days are from Sharjah.

Like Dubai, Sharjah is one of the seven Emirates of the UAE. Dubai and Sharjah cities virtually merge together yet have different laws and acceptable norms. Sharjah has more extremes than Dubai, yet also has a nice feel to the city.

So what better to start us off than a boat and some oil barrels...

Over the next few days I hope to show some of the people and buildings of Sharjah...

I See You Baby (Shakin' That Overpass) - #321

Royal Spain - #320

My Kind Of Thermofluid Dynamics a/k/a A Quick Refresher... - #319

Air temp 42 deg. Pool temp 25 deg.

My kind of thermofluid dynamics.