July 31, 2007

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.

July 30, 2007

Guest Relations - #332


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

July 29, 2007

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.

July 28, 2007

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.

July 27, 2007

July 26, 2007

A Farewell To Rolla - #328


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

July 25, 2007

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...

July 24, 2007

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?

July 23, 2007

A Rolla Vista - #325


A vista of Rolla Square.

Note the rather interesting tree monument in the middle.

July 22, 2007

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

July 21, 2007

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.

July 20, 2007

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...

July 18, 2007

July 17, 2007

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.

July 16, 2007

Prayer Times - #318


I am not a religious person at all. I did find this to be an interesting image. I also wanted to explain it a little...

One of the five pillars of Islam is Salah, or ritual prayer, which must be performed five times a day. (However, the Shi'a are permitted to run together the noon with the afternoon prayers, and the evening with the night prayers). Each salah is done facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca. Salah is intended to focus the mind on God, and is seen as a personal communication with him that expresses gratitude and worship. Salah is compulsory but flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on circumstances. In many Muslim countries, reminders called Adhan (call to prayer) are broadcast publicly from local mosques at the appropriate times. (source = wikipedia)

July 15, 2007

Golf Sail - #317


This is the Dubai Creek Golf Club - a pretty recognisable landmark in Dubai. A little reminiscent of the Sydney Opera in a way. They sail effect is quite common in Dubai - is it elsewhere too?

July 14, 2007

Park Hyatt Marina - #316


The marina at the Park Hyatt and Dubai Creek Golf Club. A very nice hotel and, I'm told, one of the best golf clubs in Dubai.

Oh to have a little money... :)

July 13, 2007

Pandora's Box - #315


You don't want to open this box...

July 12, 2007

July 11, 2007

July 10, 2007

The Starting Gate - #312


This race track / practice track is prime real estate slap bang central Dubai.

July 09, 2007

The Telecom Towers - #311


I wonder when there will be a World Wide Fund for outmoded amenities.

In the age of wi-fi, wap, 3G, iphone, pigeon, youtube, web 2.0, facebook, flikr, orkut and google... who cares for the precious phonebooth? Would you risk your life to throw yourself in front of a harpoon to save one of these fine beasts? I, for one, think we should...

July 08, 2007

A Culture Clash a/k/a What is THAT? - #310


The historic dubayy and the thrusting avant garde DXB in a face off.

Place your bets. (Offshore)

July 07, 2007

Modhesh - #309


Modhesh is the mascot for Dubai Summer Surprises. Some people love the impish little wormy character, where as the majority, it seems, hate him...

For the facebook savvy amongst you the facebook group Death To Modhesh has almost 500 members.

July 06, 2007

Bilal's Grocery - #308


Some things "need" to move to allow the bigger things more space. I hope Bilal got enough cash to start up somewhere else...

July 05, 2007

Deira Sauna Suit - #307


As if you don't sweat enough in Dubai... what is this madness?

July 04, 2007

Arch Redux - #306


I know I featured a similar effect recently... but I still kind of liked it.

Especially as this one is in something as ordinarily mundane as a carpark....

July 03, 2007

Only On A Friday - #305


Why the huge gathering of guys on a Friday in Bur Dubai next to the abra station?

July 02, 2007

PTR 250 - #304


I needed a primary colour blast. And PTR was my man for this job.

July 01, 2007

Sitting On The Dock Of The Creek - #303


I wonder what Otis would have thought of Dubai?