Reaching For The Sky - #75

An Umm Sequim Mosque.

Brand shiny and new.

Umm Sequim is a rather nice area of town out near the Burj Al Arab etc.

Bluey Don't Ski - #74

It's ok - your eyes don't deceive you. This is in Dubai and this is snow in the desert... whatever next?

The biggest indoor ski slope in the world is in Dubai. Have a look at Ski Dubai

Charlie Don't Surf & Bluey Don't Ski.

If You Can't Stand The Heat - #73

5 hungry people.
2 quizical looks.
1 chef of iron.
1 slightly toasted Bluey.

All in a hard day's blogging... :)

The infamous X11 Brunch at the JW Marriott, Deira, Dubai.

Through the square window - #72

A view of Dubai Creek from a window in Sheikh Maktoum's house.

This is a preserved building dating back to the turn of the last century and houses the most amazing collection of Dubai photographs.

The photos from the 1940s through to the late 1960s are stunning and give a great insight into the just mind boggling pace of development...

If you visit, I recommend a trip here.

Stickin' it to the man - #71

Well, not quite... however, sometimes telling me what to do ain't gonna work...

Searching - #70

A true thousand yard stare.

Dubai Creek. Nov 2006.

Bloke and the Bloop - #69

I couldn't help it - after BLOOOP x 1,000 seemed to go down well, here is another shot of the BLOOOP.

The guy in the background is oblivious to just how near he is to a blooop.

Camel Boy - Nad Al Sheba - #68

Another nice part of Dubai is the camel pens out at Nad Al Sheba.

There has been certain bad practices employed over the years to do with camel jockeys, however now they have been replaced with robots.

I do hope to get a robot camel jockey for you all soon.

P.S. If anyone knows the company that manufactures robot jockeys - can I suggest that they make them small for household pets? I would love to race my three cats...

This is the real thing - #67

No chunks, no brine, just the real tuna.

Taken at the frantic yet pleasant sensory overload at the Shindagha fish market.

DXB Ground Zero.

What Did You Do Today? - #66

This man and his friends built this city (contrary to the 80's hit single, it was them, not Starship).

I think that should be applauded. And to be blunt - they deserve so much better.

Come on in... - #65

... it's lovely in here.

Mr Jez and his Fanoos - #64

A fanoos is a lantern.

A Jez is a bloke I know.

These are both a very welcome addition to the expedition accoutrements.

Spinneys Man - #63

A favourite of mine. Perhaps the first portrait I really tried...

Taken this year at Spinneys (a supermarket like Sainsburys in the UK) in Umm Sequim district of Dubai.

I love his kind face. A man of Pakistani origin that had been in Dubai for over 40 years. The changes he would have seen are amazing...

Something That Is About To Disappear Soon - #62

What is about to disappear?

The whole beach... there are massive developments along this fragile coastline called Dubai Waterfront. It is a huge project plus the building of Jebel Ali airport city (yes, an airport city!?!) near by will ensure this beach will not look like this in possibly 1 more year and it will certainly be gone in 5 years.

A very sad state of affairs. Gone for good.

This post is my entry for in the 1st November theme day, please use the links to below to visit all 47 Daily Photo sites that are participating.

(Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.)

1 (Porto ) -2 (Seattle WA USA (Kim) ) -3 (London, UK ) -4 (Greenville, SC ) -5 (Albuquerque, NM (USA) ) -6 (St Paul Kate ) -7 (ShangHai, China ) -8 (Phoenix, Az ) -9 (Twin Cities, MN ) -10 (Sequim, WA ) -11 (Stayton, OR, USA ) -12 (Bandung (Indonesia) ) -13 (Dallas, USA ) -14 (Stavanger (Norway) ) -15 (Singapore (zannnie) ) -16 (Budapest (Hungary) ) -17 (Paris (France) ) -18 (Tuzla (BiH) ) -19 (Melbourne, (Aust.) ) -20 (Auckland, New Zealand ) -21 (Singapore (Raymond) ) -22 (Dubai UAE (DXBluey) ) -23 (Vantaa, Finland ) -24 (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada ) -25 (St. Paul MN Carol ) -26 (Singapore (Keropok) ) -27 (Delta Colorado, USA ) -28 (Rotterdam (Netherlands ) -29 (Queens, NY (USA) ) -30 (Tenerife (Spain) ) -31 (Santiago (Chile) ) -32 (Nelson, New Zealand ) -33 (( Japan ) ) -34 (Hyde (UK) ) -35 (Sydney (Sally) ) -36 (Manila, Philippines ) -37 (Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) ) -38 (Nottingham UK ) -39 (Brussels, Belgium ) -40 (Sharon, CT (USA) ) -41 (Sydney Australia (Nathalie) ) -42 (Edinburgh, Scotland ) -43 (Evry, France ) -44 (San Diego, CA (USA) ) -45 (Santa Clara, CA (USA) ) -46 (Saarbrücken, Germany ) -47 (Joplin, MO (USA))

Roundabout Flower - #61

After my faux pax with frangipani, hear is another Dubai flower.

This one has been classified as Autocarious Rotundae...

I still don't do flowers, this one just got in the way...

Wadi Trees - #60

A wadi is a, usually, dry river bed.

I like the dust that has been kicked up in the background and the hues of the sky / mountains.

And ok, I admit it... this is not exactly downtown Dubai... but not far away I promise...

Safe & Sound Series - Cheeky Lady - #59

Another view of the charity walk.

I liked this cheeky tattoo...

And the below chap stands out too...

Safe & Sound Series - The Kid Rides Again - #58

The Kid was just too cool. Shades, a stetson and a trusty stead.

The annual Burjuman Pinkathon Walk in aid of Breast Cancer awareness.

A great event held every year which raises money and awareness for Breast Cancer. The theme, quite clearly, is pink.

So, we did the walk and raised a little donation etc - so now I want use my little blog to try raise a little awareness...

(these girls had a very nice idea, shame about the "a"...!)

Three steps to happiness - #57

OK... some cash (50 dirhams is about US$12.50 / GBP 7 pounds) plus a telephonic device plus a user manual will enable any Dubai household to feed a minimum of two people for one evening meal and sometimes a breakfast.

The Great Kandura Conspiracy - #56

I have to say, I do like the hyper pristine look of the kandura (or dishdash) as worn by men in the GCC / UAE. It seems to give a real air of importance, more so than a mere suit can ever do.

Please check out this great site to learn more about men and women's clothing (as well as much more!) in the UAE Grape Shisha.

What do you think they are talking about?

I like to think they are discussing tactics for the next game of hide and seek...

Whole of the Hole? - #55

You can run, but you can't hide...

Beware the ceiling holes. They are programed for maximum disclosure.

Knowledge Is Power - #54

Taken this morning on Oud Metha Road Dubai.

Some of the schools in Dubai have a geographical reference.

Hospitals and dentists are even worse and use a geographical reference most of the time.

The biggest culprit appears to be vets. Are the animals more afraid of vets that don't speak their language?

Eid Mubarak To All - #53

The blackboard says it all.

I love this shot. The wind in the hair, the relaxed expression, the precise suncream army and of course the blackboard.

Eid Al Fitr

Eid Mubarak to all!

Welcome To The Sand Pit - #52

For a sun pounded desert marooned outpost, Dubai can look pretty lush when it tries...

Oh to just lie underneath this...

Can you smell the grass? I hope so, it's the best smell on Earth sometimes...

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait - #51

Fresh off the camera, sea salt and sand still in my hair...

Here is my first long exposure shot. Last night camping on the beach - 13 second exposure.

In realty this was very, very dark - you can see the motion blur on the people.

I like the line in the sky - is this a plane, a satellite, a UFO?

Prevent Drowning - #50

A very wise message...

Although... where is everyone? HELLO?

Let This Be A Warning - #49

There are a lot of full bloodied steroid packed machines in Dubai.

Sand is everywhere - you may as well go bash some in a big beast.

Dune Bashing

I like to do so...

Do Camels Prefer The Front Crawl Or The Backstroke? - #48

Too hot?

I wish I knew....

The 2 Deira Ronnies

I am happy with the questions in this piece.

What are you doing?
Why us?
What do you find so interesting about us?

These all come to my mind.

It also comes to my mind that the some of the population may think these questions of me always, not just when I take their picture.

Stolen ducks, from a beach resort a/k/a/ Luggi's Duck - #46

Lesson to myself - write less.

Stolen ducks, from a beach resort. Photo taken in my bathroom. Yesterday. In Dubai.

Photo already taken, however this posting is inspired by my current favourite daily poster:

Luggi-mania

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.