Abu Dhabi Photo Story

The UAE turns 40 #1: Car Party on 30th..

2011-12-06T20:23:00.001+04:00

Walking down 30th to the corniche..

Flatscreen on top of your SUV anyone?

The whole walk down was one big crazystring party - then we saw the tiger..

Random Street Shots #2..

2011-05-11T21:57:00.001+04:00

Central AD, street stylee..

The tin can pyramid in the centre of the desert..

2011-05-09T17:48:00.001+04:00

About an hours drive outside of AD city lies the Emirates National Auto Museum. It kind of snuck up on us in the form of a big old dusty jet plane and a corrugated iron pyramid, stuck out in the middle of nowhere and looking quite odd. Needless to say that this bizarre set of seemingly random structures, stuck halfway between the Grand Mosque and Liwa, inspired us to stop and have a look around!

The first thing we unavoidably noticed as we got closer was the massively over-sized four wheel drive restaurant poking out over the fence.

Upon entering the car park we were greeted by the massive tin shed-pyramid and very possibly the strangest looking caravan we'd ever seen.

Unfortunately the museum was closed for renovations, but I managed to slip around the corner and take a walk around the heritage village thingy.

Would you tap this?

2011-05-04T14:28:00.000+04:00

Random tap action, central AD, time irrelevant..

(Not the) Capitol Records building..

2011-04-21T17:06:00.000+04:00

Kinda reminds me of it though..

Jebel Hafeet - AD city stylee..

2011-04-14T07:00:00.000+04:00

The Corniche and its various parks and beaches is easily my favorite thing about Abu Dhabi, it's like an island of serentity on the edge of a dustbowl of hell. A little harsh, maybe.. In any case there are many things that you encounter along the sprawl that are designed to get your mind-motor running, and I guess one of them is the Jebel Hafeet walk. To be honest, I would have had no clue that this odd little concrete maze of fake rock was a mini-me to the landmark that is JH had I not taken the drive in the month or so prior to happening upon it, but it doesn't really matter because it's just as purposeless and bizarre anyway..

Jebel HaFeeT..

2011-04-11T20:13:00.000+04:00

It was time to take a trip outta town. Drove up to check out Al Ain with my mate, the GaNgster of GeEz, and while we were there we pointed our little Mondeo rental towards the mountainous lump of rockiness that is Jebel Hafeet. A nice little drive on the way up, stopped here and there to take a few snaps, but unfortunately that was about all there was to it. By the time we'd had a little look around at the top we were ready to return, to the relative comforts (and bar) of the Intercontinental Hotel..

Random Street Shot #1..

2011-04-10T21:13:00.000+04:00

Picture is unrelated..

Breathe easy..

2011-04-08T06:27:00.000+04:00

Well that's comforting, I guess..

The Mysterious Victoria..

2011-04-06T07:10:00.001+04:00

Is this thing some kind of dredge? I have no idea of what this hulking ship does as it lumbers along the Corniche, but I do know that it looks pretty cool, if not completely out of place..

The Amazing Melting Bin of Trash..

2011-04-05T06:50:00.001+04:00

When I first noticed this molten blob of blackened mush smouldering away on the pavement I had no idea of what it was, that was until I smelled it. There is no mistaking the poisonous stench of burning plastic, and this thing stunk of it. That established, the mystery remained: who would set fire to a plastic garbage bin in the middle of a sunny Friday morning?

Here's what it looked like before..

Desertttttttttttttttt....

2011-03-20T22:03:00.004+04:00

A trip into the desert on a 'Desert Safari' is kind of like going to see a bad movie for all the wrong reasons, it's a little interesting at first but by the time you reach the second act, you know exactly how it will end and start covertly looking at your watch.

Firstly there's the random dude riding a camel.

Then there's the obligatory visit to the camel farm..

Where you may make some interestingly shaped friends..

Not all of them being camels..

And you realize that after a while you're probably shooting way too much camel pRon..

And that even the most gorgeous Brazillian models can make asses of themselves..

You realize that not having used the DSLR for a while has seriously compromised your ability to shoot in unfamiliar (and ever changing) light..

And that happiness can be captured in little more than a smile..

Dusted..

2010-10-22T11:00:00.002+04:00

Damn dust is everywhere around here. I can't help but think that scratching someones paint job up like this would be fair grounds for assault in other countries..

Streetscapes 01..

2010-10-03T18:13:00.000+04:00

Central Abu Dhabi, street stylee..

Daiso.. Yup!

2010-09-09T21:07:00.008+04:00

I don't even remember what I was looking for but I ended up at Al Wahda Mall (again) the other day and in my never ending search for whatever I was (am?) looking for, tucked into corner on the ground floor I came across a Daiso. At first I was like 'Okay.. Another faux representation of something from somewhere else..', but as soon as I entered I was blown away at just how authentically "Daiso" this store is.

Everything is imported from Japan, and with most items being priced at 7 AED (about 150 yen), I was well impressed.

なつかしいなー！　>_<

Somewhere Somebodies Father..

2010-09-08T19:03:00.004+04:00

Dumb reference I know, the old series (of Somewhere Somebodies Daughter) was valid, and did get me some attention, most notably from the digital media baron that is Danny Choo, even if it did only amount to a couple of event invitations and being introduced to someone as 'a guy that takes photos of high school girls'..

Indulgent self-referencing aside, Abu Dhabi Mall has big cars all through it and apparently, somehow they are giving them away. These ladies must have gotten lucky and the dude must be famous, which I realize does little more than inform you that I know very little about the subject of this post.

It never stopped me before..

Bikes..

2010-09-04T19:32:00.011+04:00

There's a definite correlation these days in 'the west' between your bike and your style, and I just can't seem to find that here. Granted, I'm probably way too green to make that call but that said, the pedal-powered machines that are scattered around the city do have a certain a charm about them, an authenticity if you like, that could only of the 'here and now'.

p.s. The Durcus One is on its way..

I don't know what's up what's with all the bubble wrap and cardboard, but I do know that I could do with some 'Hero Jet Gold'. Another observation was that the owner of this classic Abdab machine definitely needed some tips on how to use a bike lock..

The 'Snow Bike' actually got me a little excited, especially when I noticed that it was the 'Supereme' model..

I'm not sure what's actually going on here..

And back to the basics..

And the broken..

Colours..

2010-09-03T22:00:00.013+04:00

Twas a long, drawn out sweat-drenched walk that led me inadverntently becoming aware of this little gem of consumer electrickery. I was out looking for the better of the two musical instrument stores here in central AbDab, and out of part disorientated frustration and part need for a few air conditioned moments, I ventured into (the abstractly named) Colours. I asked a few questions about the TV receivers that they were selling and no sooner had turned to resume my quest only to be stopped in my tracks by a pile of electronic parts that could actually be the visual definition the word 'random'.

You know what my next thought was, and out came the camera..

Most of the receivers were second hand and could be yours for the measly sum of 90 DHS (about $30)..

These were the busted ones..

I was actually encouraged to take this one, the clerks were trying to get the customer to join the frivolity but no amount of giggling was going to get this chap to turn..

Ruggerama..

2010-09-02T18:32:00.001+04:00

Whilst wandering through the inescapable entity that is Abu Dhabi Mall, I came across the most amazingly picturesque Persian Rug store. The clerk was happy for me to take pictures, and I was taken by the beauty of the stuff that I was able to shoot. Never thought I'd say it, but if only I could have a rug like that..

Reflective..

2010-08-30T23:41:00.004+04:00

Mosques everywhere here in central AbDab, this is one of the many I pass on the way to the supermarket, in reverse..

Salam Street Construction: Night and Day..

2010-08-29T08:02:00.001+04:00

Salam Street is one of the main roads that makes up the grid that is Abu Dhabi, and they're completely reconstructing it. As yet, I'm exactly sure as to what's going on but it makes for an interesting (read: frustrating) journey if you're in certain parts of the city, especially when the temperature starts creeping above 45C.

By day..

A walkway that connects one of the few places that you can cross, on foot anyways..

And by night..

This site is blocked..

2010-08-28T18:47:00.000+04:00

I like how they use the word 'currently', implying some possibility that in the future (the site) may become accessible. Right..

Skype is blocked, as is anything (streamed on) Megavideo, but South Park Studios and a bunch of other stuff hasn't been caught up with yet. But as the immortal Colonel Klink said, "We have our ways..".

No Kissing on the Beach..

2010-08-25T08:08:00.002+04:00

These balmy Ramadan afternoons completely lend themselves to the relative solitude of the Corniche Public Beach. Yesterday I met Redmond, a lifeguard that told me a story about some people that pushed their luck at the beach, via affection and cheekiness. While on holiday from Dubai, they had come to the beach and were kissing in the water. They were kindly reminded that this was inappropriate public behavior and asked to stop, to which the man's response was to take off the woman's bikini bottoms and wave them above his head like a flag. Needless to say this didn't go down well, and to cut a long story short their boisterous behavior led to them soon becoming ex-residents of the UAE.

This post has more to do with my affection for the Hipstamatic iPhone app than kissing, but I do love this beach..

To all my friends..

2010-08-23T07:43:00.001+04:00

Hank would have been pleased with GMP, as am I, and is any other Non-Muslim resident of the UAE that enjoys the freedom of being able to legally indulge while living within a society that does not condone alcohol.

Alcohol (or intoxicants of any kind) were forbidden in the Qur'an through several separate verses revealed at different times over a period of years. At first, it was forbidden for Muslims to attend to prayers while intoxicated. Then a later verse said that alcohol contains some good and some evil, but the evil was considered greater than the good. Finally, "intoxicants and games of chance" were called "abominations of Satan's handiwork, intended to turn people away from God and forget about prayer", and Muslims were ordered to abstain. Muslims interpret these verses to forbid any intoxicating substance. Whether it be wine, beer, gin, whiskey, or whatever, the result is the same, and the Qur'an outlines that it is intoxication which makes one forgetful of God and prayer, which is harmful.

I must admit that (some of) my own personal experiences with the 'demon drink' would very possibly serve as a solid testament to this ideal of abstinence, but that said, I'd have to also add that I'm pretty happy to I have a GMP right across the street from my building.

Firstly, there is no front door to the building, or any obvious indication that this is an establishment where alcohol can be purchased. To enter you have to go out the back..

Once inside, it's like a little Disneyland, only there's beer, and it's cheap. A lot of the cases are around 100 AED, which is about $30 AUD..

For anyone that 'got' the title reference, I'll finish this one up by with the original script for Barfly, which just happens to read as amazingly well without Mickey and Faye, as it does with..

Green Mosque

2010-08-22T18:10:00.000+04:00

A short night-walk through the neighborhood in a new city can uncover unimaginable beauty..

Postscript: I've noticed a couple more of these in the last few evenings while out and about, and I know there's the famous 'Blue Mosque' in Istanbul. It's made me wonder, is there a relevance to the way that the place of worship is lit?

Corniche Beach

2010-08-21T10:48:00.000+04:00

I finally made it, to the beach that is..

The Corniche is a long road that extends almost 6 km along the waterfront of Abu Dhabi city. There are many gardens and parks that separate the two lanes, and it (in itself) almost serves as a physical buffer between the mass of urban skyscrapers that make up the city, and the gulf.

One thing any avid beachgoer needs to know before packing the sunscreen and towels is that, while the UAE has over 400 km of coastline, only 10 km are designated as being 'public', and the Corniche Public Beach certainly served to illustrate that fact, all 600 metres of it.

The Corniche walkway and entrance to the beach, note that the few shops that surround the small Plaza are closed due to Ramadan..

The water is clean and warm, a gorgeous light turquoise colour, and as salty as a Turkish dinner in a Tokyo studio apartment..

This was me. It was kinda strange being able to pull up a spot so close to the water and not have to worry about moving my stuff as the tide came in, because.. there is no tide..

Perhaps another thing worth noting as that running on the beach is considered inappropriate, as it may 'disturb the people'. These guys were kicked off the beach for doing it..

Oh sweet and (ever so) perpetual sunshine, I shall be back..

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

2010-08-18T19:17:00.000+04:00

I done did a touristy thing!

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the largest mosque in the UAE and the eighth largest mosque in the world. It is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004), the founder and the first President of the United Arab Emirates, who is also buried there.

The first thing that I was taken by was the amazingly brilliant "whiteness" of the structure, it practically glowed against the developing haze of the morning. That and the amazing symmetry of the design, and the obvious care to detail and maintenance that was put into every inch of the place. Apparently The main dome is the largest in the world and is 87 metres high with a diameter of 32.8 metres. There are a total of 82 domes in the mosque, and are of traditional Moroccan design..

Next we met our guide that took us on a short tour and explained some of the amazing facts about the construction and purpose of the building..

She told us so much that I can't remember, about numbers of columns and materials used, but by this time I was distracted by the (insides) of the incredible domes that sat above us, each one of them uniquely designed and containing a part of the Qur'an (written around the bottom)..

The Mosque can accommodate up to 40,000 worshippers, with both inside and outside areas. This, dare I say courtyard style area during Ramadan, especially on the main day of worship (Friday), may hold up to 28,000 people..

It's no secret that countries in the Gulf are notoriously hot, and the Muslim prayer (the Salaat) involves the worshipper touching his nose and forhead to the ground. Taking into account these facts, a special kind of marble that absorbs the heat was chosen to construct the white tiles in this area, therefore making it bearable for the worshipper to perform the prayer ritual without burning their face. That said, the coloured parts of the area were not made from the same heat absorbing material, and the difference in temperature (to touch) between the two was quite extreme..

Next we journeyed inside, and again were amazed at the the beautifully constructed room that separated the main Prayer rooms..

We then visited the main prayer room, which contained the 'World's Largest Carpet'. Needless to say, the entire room was breathtaking..

The centerpieces of the main room however were the incredible Chandeliers, one of which again, is also the worlds largest..

Our final stop was to one of the two Women's Prayer rooms, off to the side of the main hall. A question was asked as to why there were rooms specifically for women only, and I was a little surprised to hear the reason being so as simple as that if there was no opportunity for segregation, that worshippers may become distracted by the 'beautiful' people next to them (our guides actual words)..

(Yet another) amazing thing about this room was the way that the design of the roof was mirrored in the design of the carpet..

This room also contained a shelf for the Qur'an, which was only to be touched at special times of worship..

There were several Islamic Prayer Clocks (Azan) around the building, which showed the times of prayer throughout the day. The clocks follow the patterns of the sunrise and sunset, and so change each day..

By this time we were just about done, but I managed to shoot a few more things on the way out.

Very possibly my favorite pic of the morning..

The Incredible Mr Glow!

2010-08-17T18:54:00.000+04:00

Okay, so construction workers don't really glow, not in the literal sense of the word anyway. However, stepping from the relatively comfortable temperature of a taxi into excessive humidity added to an (overworked) camera lens really does make people glow! With a little help from LR2 anyways..

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances..

2010-08-16T07:53:00.000+04:00

As the sun goes down behind the numerous towers near my apartment after another 47C+ day, Emirati Nationals are able to 'break their fast'. Apparently the Prophet Mohammad did this with milk and dates, though I doubt there are many people munching down on those right now.

According to Time Out Abu Dhabi, through fasting, Muslim people hope to hope to understand their faith more. During the month the aim is to facilitate a change from a focus on the body, to a focus on the soul, which (apparently) wants to worship God. This is why they deny the physical body from sunrise to sunset, and that includes no food, drinks, or indulgences of any kind. There is a sense of the whole community doing it together, and in that there is support and encouragement.

All in all it's an interesting time to be transitioning into a new city, many stores and businesses are closed from 2-7pm, and there's an aura of relaxedness (yes I made that word up) about the place. Even as a non-Muslim, it's totally out of order to be seen eating or drinking in public, and given that every day this week has been in the high 40s, it's safe to say that there are challenges for us NMs too.

Props to the one and only Daniel Johnston for the post-title, have loved that song ever since I was introduced to it through my Teh Shirts compadres, and I must admit that it's really spoken to me over the last few months.

Happy sunset everyone..

Perera Mall

2010-08-14T11:12:00.000+04:00

A local Mall, for local people..

It's not really called Perera, that was the name of the Pakistani bloke that latched onto me outside the shop I was intending to go to, which was closed, at 4pm. In any case, about half of the stores in this place were open, and I was taken by the traditional/authentic style of the jewellery and clothing on offer, and just had to shoot it..

Disclaimer: no children were harmed during the shooting of this photo..

This post was brought to you by Perera..

Poster Run..

2010-08-14T06:55:00.000+04:00

Waaay back when, my good mate Chappy and I often used to plaster unsuspecting electrical boxes around Bendigo with band posters advertising upcoming shows. Armed with our piles of amazingly creative (often) tri-colour art and home-made tubs of glue, we were quite the rebellious little narcissistic self-promoters that our long hair did us well to hide. But that was then..

In the 'here and now', it seems that if you are Philippino, rooms are available..

Not in Kansas anymore..

2010-08-13T18:53:00.000+04:00

From 'Wow' to 'Holy Cow' in a matter of hours: that's how I'd describe my transition into the Middle East, despite the obvious geographical (and religion-related) inappropriateness of (the latter) reaction.

Setting up in a new city isn't easy by any means, but throw the start of Ramadan into the mix, then crank the heat up to 47C, and you've pretty much set the scene for (at least) an interesting couple of days. There was a moment though, a moment of realization, when I looked around at this stark and alien city scape that I'd found myself in, and for the first time in many months, I became inspired to take out my camera and shoot the shit out of this new and strange place that I've decided to invest a couple of years of my life in.

So here is the first bunch, random images taken whilst walking around my neighborhood, and slightly beyond..

A grainy way to start, but the first dawn on a new city is always interesting..

A room with a view..

Jumeira Tower..

A quick walk around the hood..

The cutest, most scrawny little meow muppet I've ever had the pleasure of being chased up the street by. A 'yet to be named' neighbor..

Bicycles: is it me or do they seem unloved?

People..

(He did smile after I took the shot, scout's honor..)

The cityscape: this road in particular reminds me of 246, though that may have more to do with the complete mission that it is to cross rather than anything else. That and cars I suppose..