SZR Skyline At Dusk - #236

Taken on the way home from work the other night... the hue of the sky and the lights of the buildings really appealed to me...

Bus Stop - #207

It looks reasonably pleasant and peaceful on this Friday morning...

... however when there are lots of people all jostling in 45 degree C heat then this form of public transport is not the best option - but it may be the only option available for many for a while. Especially with a metro a few years away and road tolls starting this year... hey ho...

Dot Matrix Zayed Road - #195

A screen mesh covering a section of bridge on the SZR. I liked the dot matrix effect...

Dot Matrix Zayed Road.

This Is Normal - a/k/a SZR Road Kill - #186

Following on from my comment a couple of days ago about photographers looking in certain ways and their unusual behaviour - here is an example of getting in certain positions / situations.

Yes, I did think that in the middle of the day it was acceptable and normal to get underneath a parked car to take a picture of some people that I don't know and never will know with one result being that it is posted on the internet for people to see.

This is normal.

Forever 21 - #184

A view of SRZ - the 2 gentlemen on the building are the founders of the nation. The lady in the advert, as far as I know, played no role in the foundation of the nation.

The Infamous DXB Series - Pt 1 of 3 - The SZR - #171

Shot 1 - Sheikh Zayed Road

I know I featured some ariel shots before, however these are fresh and of DXB Centrale... these were taken from my flight to Bahrain on Friday morning.

These shots are for info more than photo prowess! Taken from a plane so not the best photo conditions... please forgive!

This is a shot of Sheikh Zayed Road, the highest towers in Dubai and also the main thoroughfare.

A different view of the skyline of 2 days ago... again, Burj Dubai far right and the Emirates Towers on the left.

Parade Panning - #157

A series of panning shots taken from the parade. Inspired by Lisi, author of the most fine hongkongdailyphoto. And Lisi, the camel was way too fast... next time maybe....

Kid A And His Amazing Technicolour Kundura - #156

I'm sure this kid will remember not only this day and the parade, but also his team's biggest victory for many years.

All The Glitters Is Not Gold - #134

Oil, gold, import, export, hotel, tourist, tradition, modernism.... money.

A scene on SZR. View towards Business Bay area. These apartments are called Executive Towers and are going for a lot of money. A 2 bed costs approx US$450,000 or so.

Remember the classic song "D.I.S.C.O." - the theme tune for Dubai right now could be "C.R.A.S.H."

The Most Dangerous Place In Dubai - #113

The roads and construction saftey in Dubai is well documented and is found to be of a shocking standard.

With this in mind I dread to think what could possibly warrant so many warning signs... maybe beyond here it is the end of the world.

Once Forbidden. Now Daily. - #105

This ad says too much for my small Bluey brain.

I post a daily photo of Dubai on the internet.
My daily photo twin is Jing, who also posts a photo a day.
Jing is from Shanghai, China.
China and Dubai (UAE) have both tried to make some sites forbidden.
Even simple sites like photo sites.

Once forbidden. Now daily?

This ad reminds me to post once a day, to remind me that all freedoms are a great luxury to be celebrated.

And in this spirit I celebrate all of you and hope you are free to do as you wish and, I hope, be happy as you do it. Simple really.

SZ on the SZR a/k/a/ a political autocratic enigma - #45

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - known most usually as Sheikh Zayed the "father" of the UAE.

The UAE's only ruler from its inception in the early 1970's to 2004 when he died.

I believe Sheikh Zayed to be a very unusual man and leader. Consider these facts:

A true autocratic leader with no desire for democracy, with an estimated "personal" fortune of over US$20 billion (the UAE accounts for 10% of the world's known oil reserves).

However this man built a nation. A nation that loved him. A leader that was known for his compassion, ideals, simple and traditional pleasures and his statesmanship abilities. The leader of 7 emirates that were previously fractured and troubled especially when the UK exited the area.

I find it quite incredible that power and money of this magnitude did not corrupt. I had only been in Dubai a short time before he was announced dead and there was a real sense of mourning in this country.

I can't think of any other unelected leader that has ruled for over 20 years that was so loved by the 20% of the population that are local Emiratis, by the 80% expats in the country and also by many ordinary and influential people around the world. A charitable and compassionate man.

Truly unique I think, much missed I am sure, long may he be remembered.

Sheikh Zayed on Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai. UAE. 2006.

God sized 3D version of Pictionary - #33

Like any facade there is a flipside.

This is a stretch of construction land directly behind the Sheikh Zayed Road strip.

Some days it is like a God sized 3d version of Pictionary with a Zeus styled Rolf Harris at the canvas... "Can you see what it is yet?"

We're On A Road To Nowhere - #5

This is a shot of Dubai's main thoroughfare - the Sheikh Zayed Road.

The SZR has been claimed to be the worlds most dangerous road (however in reality the most dangerous road appears to be in Bolivia) although the UAE has been officially named as having the world's third highest traffic fatality statistics, behind only Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Please excuse the dodgy photo composition and framing as this was taken this morning by myself as I was driving by myself on allegedly the worlds most dangerous road...

Having said that - it is usually a parking lot in rush hours so to be able drive at more than 20 km/h is a pleasure...!