Drawing Drue

Riyadh: Street Art

2010-09-03T12:47:00.002+04:00

I don't know what the images mean, and I don't know if the red paint was addeded after in an attempt to hide the images, but here are some examples of street art in Riyadh.

Everyone seems to be happy in the images.

Smiles all-round.

Riyadh: Architcture

2010-09-03T12:40:00.002+04:00

Krak des Chevaliers

2010-08-25T18:46:00.003+04:00

Krak des Chevaliers, the most impressive crusader castle remaining is about a three hour drive from Damascus, but is well worth the trip.

Back in the day there was less concern about falling from windows.

This is one of the two stables... they must have had a lot of horses.

Damascus

2010-07-24T17:34:00.004+04:00

Perhaps the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.

Damascus is not a museum like most historical European cities.

Things also don't appear to have changed in the last 500 years. Global Capitalism is pretty much non-existent making this one of the most interesting cities in the world.

Aleppo: Apamea Heat

2010-07-24T17:19:00.005+04:00

Did I mention that it was hot at Apamea? That 1.5km roman street isn't covered by canvas like it was 2000 years ago.

Aleppo: Surounding Sites

2010-07-24T17:00:00.005+04:00

On a day trip (well actually half a day) we visited some nearby sites.

Qal'at Samaan, actually know to everyone as St Simeon's Cathedral. This was once the largest church in the world and was built around a pillar that a monk perched on top of to live and give sermons.

Serjilla, one of the 'Dead Cities', a town that was abandoned around the 5th Century and remains remarkably preserved.

Apamea: an old roman city with the world's longest surviving Roman colonnade.

Aleppo

2010-07-16T16:42:00.004+04:00

Alexandria

2010-07-16T15:46:00.002+04:00

Hardtimes have fallen on this once major centre.

Cairo: Yes we visited the Pyramids

2010-07-16T15:25:00.002+04:00

Cairo: Cool Bars and Cafes

2010-07-16T15:15:00.003+04:00

Cairo

2010-07-15T22:28:00.003+04:00

Aswan

2010-07-15T22:06:00.003+04:00

The River

The Village

The City

Aswan Temples

2010-07-14T20:11:00.003+04:00

Between Luxor and Aswan there are more temples, yes even more. To condense this experience I've seleted just a couple of images.

Dendara: Dendara Temple

2010-07-14T19:17:00.002+04:00

Dendara Temple is big, very big..

... and not to mention impressive. If you have to see one thing in Eygpt, this is the one to see.

Eygpt Houses and Cars

2010-07-14T19:08:00.004+04:00

The Houses in the rural areas had a modern rustic charm.

While some of the cars didn't look like they had the safety features of some of thier modern counter-parts.

Nile Felucca Trips

2010-07-14T18:51:00.003+04:00

We liked the Felucca's so mush we went on them three separate times.

Luxor: Other Antiquities of Note

2010-07-14T18:22:00.002+04:00

Streets of Luxor

2010-05-26T20:22:00.005+04:00

Luxor isn't all temples and tombs.

Although the quality if construction may have declined since antiquity...

.. there's still no replacing to old horse and cart.

Karnak Temple

2010-05-21T11:08:00.003+04:00

The show stopper of Temples in Luxor is Karnak Temple.

Connected to Luxor Temple by an avenue of sphinxes (currently being uncovered), it has an amazing hypostyle hall (hall of columns) that once was flooded by the Nile once a year.

Karnak Temple is big, the biggest religious building in the world.

Luxor Temple

2010-05-08T22:01:00.006+04:00

Down in the southern part of the Egypt Nile area lies Luxor, home of the last Pharaoh Dynasties.

They liked their temples big... very big.

The Romans weren't big fans of the wall decorations so they did a little refurbishment.

On a Foggy Night (in Dubai)

2010-03-12T14:13:00.001+04:00

Beirut: Street Art Capital of the World

2010-03-08T20:32:00.004+04:00

New Home in Dubai

2010-02-17T22:02:00.003+04:00

We've moved.. our views have improved considerably from the car parking lots and air conditioning exhaust fans.

Goa: Celebrating our last day in India

2010-02-17T21:27:00.005+04:00

Goa

2010-02-15T21:14:00.004+04:00

Bombay: The Hardway

2010-02-15T20:46:00.002+04:00

First Class Train Travel in Bombay... yes it truly is first class.

Cricket in the park, in full whites.

Colonial Architecture

Scented air-conditioning

On one side of the street, the wealthy live

...and on the other, the less fortunate, but they all pay rent.

Bombay: Wedding Day

2010-02-14T23:02:00.005+04:00

A Bombay Christmas

2010-02-14T22:56:00.003+04:00

Not our normal Christmas Eve.. Bombay Bucks Party!

Jaipur by Night

2010-02-14T22:41:00.003+04:00

The photos do not do the sounds of drums across the city and the smell of wood fires.

Ramburgh Palace

2010-02-14T22:28:00.003+04:00

No, not the red place in the background, but the place from where we had high tea, viewing the red palace.

Amber and Green

2010-02-14T21:54:00.003+04:00

Near Jaipur us a little town called Amber.. with a huge palace.

...and a couple of pigs

Jaipur

2010-01-10T22:32:00.007+04:00

A small town, by Indian standards (only three million), Jaipur maintains the ye olde street delineation of trades.

It also features plenty of free roaming cows.. that tend to cause most of the traffic problems...

and a plethora of historical sites

New Delhi

2010-01-10T22:06:00.002+04:00

Caugnaught Place, the high end shopping area of New Delhi

Agra

2010-01-08T14:24:00.012+04:00

Agra has the Taj Mahal..

but it also has the stunnung Agra fort,

abundant water,

tree lined streets,

and lots of animals.

Old Delhi

2010-01-08T13:44:00.006+04:00

Old Delhi is a city where a picture is definatley a thousand words...

Cyprus: The Western Side

2009-11-07T17:50:00.005+04:00

Cyrus has it all...

Monks building Monasteries

The last divided city (since the fall of the Berlin wall)..

Mountainous forests with endangered species (there was almost only 9,999 left after one wild sheep raced in front of our car)..

Byzantium Chapels hidden on the edges of cliffs..

Crystal blue Mediterranean waters..

... and orderly traffic ques.

Dubai Metro Development Pictures

2009-09-05T16:57:00.002+04:00

With only four days left until the UAE gets it's first rail system it's amazing how quickly it rose from nothing.

One Week in Brisbane

2009-09-05T16:49:00.003+04:00

I was fortunate enough to be able to visit my family for a week in winter and meet my niece.

Although it my look like we're lost

and are stumbling aimlessly in the jungle

We eventually found our way out of the rain-forest of Mt Glorious.

Riyadh: Architecture and Food.

2009-08-13T22:15:00.004+04:00

My recent visit to Riyadh involved the famed local hospitality of the locals.

This included a visit to a traditional house that serves regional food. All was delicious, including the camel.

The visit was short, so I was unable to spend much time site seeing. I did manage to fit in the airport...

and the famous Norman Foster designed Al Faisaliah Tower. Riyadh is a surprising green city with crocked streets suited more for pedestrians than cars. This gives the city a beautiful and lively atmosphere, even if there isn't a woman to be seen.

Oman

2009-06-15T21:06:00.004+04:00

Jordan: Jerash by Day

2009-04-08T21:08:00.007+04:00

Not far from the modern city of Jerash, lies the Roman civic cnetre of Jerash. The modern town is sited above the Roman residential quarter and all that remains of the old Roman city are some ruins.

However, because the city was smaller than the Western Roman Empire city of Rome, the runis left behind are far more readable than the expansive Roman Forum.

Some of he buildings demonstrate the inginuity of Roman construction techniques, combining excavtion into hillsides with post and beam construction.

The main streets were colanaded and the sense of grandure they created is still evocative.

The spring time is an excellent season to visit Jerash due to the wildflowers growing amongst the ruins.

Jordan: Dead Sea, Bethany, Mt Nebo and Amman

2009-04-08T20:39:00.004+04:00

Swimming in the Dead Sea is weird. It's the most other-worldly experience that you could possibly have while remaining on earth.

Bethany is possibly one of eh least spectacular major sites in Jordan, but it is the baptism site of Jesus, and you can see Jericho on the West Bank surrounded by Israeli flags. Make you realise it's only land, and not particularly mineral rich or fertile land. The war is so steeped in the past with no real financial gain by either side. Only a 2m wide river separates Jordan from the troubles on the west bank, possibly not enough distance to prevent this little country from being forced into the conflict in the future.

Above the Dead Sea is Mt Nebo. After forty long years wondering the deserts of Jordan, Moses was shown by God, the Israilites promised land, from the top of Mt Nebo. God then told Moses he wasn't allowed to enter. To stop his entry, God killed Moses. The Israilites still don't have control of the promised lands. God does work in mysterious ways, or so they say.

North of Mt Nebo is Amman, seen here at dusk.

Jordan: King's Highway, Dana and Karak

2009-04-08T20:04:00.004+04:00

Up the King's Highway (the old trade caravan route)...
via Ash Shubak Crusader Castle..

Dana National Reserve...

Karak Crusader Castle (bigger and better than Ash Shubak... as good as the best Welsh Castles) and along the Dead Sea Highway (past Lot's Wife)... A 200m drive contains an enormous amount of biblical, social, and political history with a greater density than Europe.

Jordan:Wadi Rum

2009-04-08T19:53:00.004+04:00

The local Bedouins offer tours of Wadi Rum in their ancient vehicles (no, not camels, but almost as old).

The landscape is exactly like stepping into David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (if watching the 70mm print on a large cinema screen). The sand and rock colours combined with the rock formations are inspirational and humbling.

Jordan: Petra by Day

2009-04-08T19:29:00.004+04:00

Petra has to be seen in person to understand the sense of scale, the enormity of the architectural works, and the kaleidoscopic colour of the rocks. Photos, paintings and drawings can not do it justice.

The unvailing of the Treasury building after winding down the Siq is an exciting experience.

The old city covers a large mountainous area, if you haven't exercised in a while, it's recommended that you take one of the many donkey's to the monastery building

Jordan: Petra by Night

2009-04-08T19:13:00.004+04:00

The Journey from Amman International Airport to Petra is about two and a half hours along a highway that has frequent potholes and cars that drive consistantly between lanes.

Arriving in Petra we were able to just make the candel lit journey into the Petra Siq to the Treasury Building. We were very fortunate as it was they only occurance during our stay in Petra.

The journey down the Siq was amazing in the candel light. This was followed by a musical performance in the Treasury square. The acoustics were such that no microphones were required.

The Ambassador

2008-09-05T00:48:00.003+04:00

A expat hightlight in Dubai for Sarah and I occurred in Abu Dhabi. Late for arrival to the ambassador's house for dinner, we were lost. On finding a police car to ask for directions, they kindly offered an escort, with sirons.

The Fruit of Turkey: Istanbul and the Fruit of London: Friends

2008-09-05T00:28:00.005+04:00

Earlier this year I spent some time in Istanbul with Michael (yes the photos are heading your way). After three days of drinks with good friends in the UK, another three days of drinking in Istanbul was nearing the limit.

Truley the exact combination of east and west, Christian and Islam, Istanbul is as dynamic as it has been described through the centuries.

Melbourne Bar Memories

2008-03-01T08:10:00.005+04:00

Reliving the memories of Melbourne laneway bars with friends.

The Secret Tradition Exposed

2008-03-01T08:04:00.002+04:00

Pictures can speak louder than words, but I like to call this one 'Iain's first meal in Melbourne'

Flies in the Park

2008-03-01T07:49:00.004+04:00

There were more flies then blades of grass in Elwood on the afternoon where Andrew and Angela cooked us lunch. It was a day for keeping your moth closed as they were very thirsty and not too bright.

Melbourne Car Fashion

2008-03-01T07:42:00.002+04:00

Sure Dubai has may flashy cars, that doesn't stop Melbourne folk from prettying up their vehicles as evidenced by this additional hood ornament. Sure Dubai may have Bentley's, Jaguar's and Austin Martin's, but I ask you, who has class?

Talaise Spa: Sarah's Birthday

2008-02-02T18:31:00.000+04:00

The perfect birthday present for someone who is a fan of beauty products is a visit to a day spa. Dubai has many due to it's high-end vacation resorts. As a special suprise I took Sarah to Talaise Spa at Al Qsar.

I sat in the reception drinking ginger tea for a couple of hours.

Cityscape Dubai 2007: After Party

2008-02-02T18:22:00.000+04:00

Cityscape Dubai offers a glimpse into what may be along with pipe dreams and sometimes, the plain outright ridiculas. Unfortunatley I was unable to attend in 20, however, I did manage to make it to the after party... after all I had a reputation to maintain (click on the work functions label if you're not familiar). Located at Jumeriah Beach Resort, and on the beach opposite the Burj Al Arab, the location was spectacular.

Ski Dubai: The fridge in the desert.

2008-02-02T18:17:00.000+04:00

Taking advantage of the opertunities that a desert city offers, Sarah and I spent some time on the ski slopes of Dubai to master our ability on the slopes. Although not the swiss alps, it does offer a chance to cool down from the furnace outside.

Healthcare City: The Alternative Crane Party to the Marina

2008-02-02T18:05:00.000+04:00

With Oud Metha (otherwise known as 'Lamcy' after theshopping center, Lamcy Plaza), firmly in our rearview mirror, the company I work for moved to Healthcare City. As can be seen in the photo, it's still largely under construction.. pretty much like everywhere else in Dubai.

Dubai Visitors: Second Half of 2007 Round-Up Vol.3

2008-02-02T17:57:00.001+04:00

A little out of sync. John visited just before Claire and Ed. Arriving with the flu from his non-sobriety tour of Europe. This flu is quiet possible the one that went to my eye. Perhaps the most suprising par of the journey is that he anaged to achieve the high score on Singstar and remains undefeated to this day. He has the voice of an angle drenched in a glass of vemouth.

Dubai Visitors: Second Half of 2007 Round-Up Vol.2

2008-02-02T16:50:00.000+04:00

Claire and Ed visited on thier return to Australia. I had originally taken holidays off for thier visit. Unfortuatley I caught the flu which then proceeded to turn into folicular conjunctivitis. None too pleasent. So rather than having holidays I had sick days and didn't get t spend as much healthy time with Claire and Ed as I had hoped.

Dubai Visitors Second Half of 2007 Round-Up 1

2008-02-02T16:38:00.000+04:00

Rhys and Tash visited Dubai on thier way home from thier European our. Unfortunaley it was during the middle of summer and during Ramadam so there wasn't a great deal to do unless during the day. Still they did manage to see a bit of what Dubai has to offer.. even it it was from the inside looking out.

Goodbye Frankfurt, I'm sure I will be back

2007-09-30T14:35:00.000+04:00

Of course being in Frankfurt on an architecture conference, we could not help but be taken for a trip around the modern buildings, particularly those with sustainable ethoses.. what is the plural of ethos?

So once again I say goodbye to Frankfurt for a third time. Judging on the frequency of my visits I'm sure I'll be back.

On a side note, my chair in business class was not working so I was upgraded to first class. I regret not taking photos and acting like it was an every day event to travel up the front of the plane. Needless to say I drank Don Peringon and ate strawberries for the seven hour flight, arriving home to Sarah a little intoxicated.

On another side note, is First Class up the front because it's full of nerds like on the school bus?

Soaking up the Atmosbeer

2007-09-30T14:17:00.000+04:00

Having had my fill at the car show, Richard (an American architect working in Kuwait-pictured below) decided it was time to investigate a bit of the local culture.In other words find the best German beer we could. So by passing the markets we headed towards what Richard had been promised was the finest micro-brewery pub in Frankfurt (from one of the guides we had). So off we went so sneak in larger and stout before we returned to the conference.

Having been to Frankfurt I extolled the joys of the local delicacy, cheese with raw onion soaked in oil with rhy bread. Needless to say, it was on the menu and didn't disappoint. Hence Richard looking very happy.. or maybe because he lives in Kuwait, a country that does not allow alcohol.

Performance

2007-09-24T14:30:00.000+04:00

While at the conference we were given some time off to visit the frankfurt car show. Not many of the participants were interested in the hybrid concept cars.. but at least our buildings will perform well.

Apple and Beer, Together at Last

2007-09-24T14:10:00.000+04:00

I managed to walk around the hotel region on the first morning. it was great to see some greenery, walk in a fresh breeze of 12degC, and soak up some of the street life of a city that is not bound by cars and air-conditioning.

A power plants with a colourfull address to the public...

...cigarette vending machines located on suburban streets for the 12 year old human chimneys...

...private gardens are still very popular (for those who's families were wealthy enough to afford them at the end of WWII)...

....and just as popular is standing while eating. I'm sure it's not good for you...

...but aside from the colourful polluting buildings, cancer available to all, private communal parks that keep out the masses, and the obvious health risks of upright dining, it was the discovery of Bit Copa, a curious blend of larger and apple juice that continued my love affair with Germany (and Europe in general). Beer for the kids that need something to ween them off the bottle and onto the bottle. After being in the Middle East for over a year, I felt at home.

Frankly I Perfer Frankfurt

2007-09-24T13:52:00.000+04:00

I was fortunate enough to be invited to an environmental design conference in Frankfurt by Somfy, an automated facade company. The conference lasted over three days (I stayed four because of the flight arrangements) and was attended by architects from all over the world. The keynote speaker, Ken Yeang, unfortunately he was detained and could not attend... Still all the other speakers were very informative and at times entertaining. My environmental aspirations have been reawakened so I have considered turning up to work in green tights and mask, and asked to be called Eco Man. Unfortunately my chair does not allow for a cape and it would get crumpled so I've abandoned the idea.

This is an image of the hotel foyer at the hotel that we all stayed at. It was very functional, clean, efficient and allowed for gratuitous displays of nudity. It was a very German hotel (don't take offence Annette as it's just a generalisation and I know it's Aaron that likes to run around naked).

Note the glazed shower in front of the floor to ceiling external window.

JBR: Chicargo Modernism Rivival or a Cost Cutting Exercise?

2007-07-23T17:54:00.000+04:00

Jumeriah Beach Residence, JBR for short and not in Jumeriah, has attracted a lot of criticism since it's soft opening early this year. Still, for the most part under construction, people have started to move in. Criticism that has been leveled at the development, which is the largest single stage construction project in the world (add that to your Dubai firsts list), for looking like a high-rise, government housing estate. When people orignially purchased off the plan, the interior and exterior finishes were depicted as being more ornate. However, due to the escalating cost of labour, materials, and the length of construction for such a large project something had to give. As a result the buildings have a minimum amount of ornimentation, something I believe is to the projects benifit, rather than detriment.

An almost art decco volumne framework has been left behind, this combined with the lack of ornimentation, gives the appearance of 1920's Chicargo when modernist architects and developers began thier unbridaled love afair. People have often remarked that the plainness of the facade is akin to a city backdrop in comic books. Being from a pesudo-chicargo from the 1920's, perhaps Superman would feel at home here.

Sunset over Dubia

2007-07-23T17:47:00.000+04:00

The beach at Jumeriah during the summer is the perfect time to enjoy a sunset and a paddel in the Gulf... well before the water gets too warm. Rumour has it that the water temperature during August gets up to the mid thirties because the Gulf is shallow. I'm not sure if this is true, ask me in a couple of months time.

Modhesh Update: The seasonal worm is no longer afraid of the cold

2007-07-23T17:29:00.000+04:00

News hot from the radio is that Modhesh (see earlier post) is no longer the seasonal mascot of the DSS, but don't fear. Modhesh will now be with us all year round and will be accompanied by his family to develop a 'more fully rounded charactor with greater depth'. Could Dubai now have a permenant mascot like.. well unlike any other city? I know that many cities have natural flora and fauna embolams, but an unidetifiable happy yellow spring would have to add to another of Dubai's world firsts! Perhaps there are some 'world firsts' that are not worth achieving.

The radio program that provided the exciting announcment was also kind enough to shed light on what he is supposed to be.. a 'Jack-in-the-Box'. Obviuosly chosen because of the last S in Dubai Summer Supprises Festival. So it looks like Modhesh has escaped his box and will be a perminent fixture, perhaps a little less suprising than his annual visit.

Surprise again and again and again... Dubai Summer Surprises

2007-07-15T12:05:00.000+04:00

Dubai has an annual 'festival' to entice tourists and residents to remain in Dubai during the eight long hot months of summer. This festival, curiously named 'Dubai Summer Surprises', DSS for short. The main feature is this little fella pictured - Modhesh. On each street corner and in every shopping mall Modhesh pops up like the little yellow spring that he is. A possible cousin of the Atlanta Olympic Games mascot 'What Is It?' (possibly the most derided mascot of all time), he apparently brings delight to children as they travel through the city trying to spotting him. Not having any children, I really can't comment, but since I have seen more than a healthy number of adolescence children poking their head up through an SUV's sunroof, I don't think that this would hold much of a thrill.

As for the events of DSS, I have stumbled across the occasional Russian clown and water diving 'stunts' in shopping centres. I was as surprised by these festival events as much as I was at seeing Modhesh standing at the street corners plying his trade.

Cat on a Hot Bin Roof

2007-07-15T11:08:00.000+04:00

A noticable disapreance of felines in Dubai has been rumoured to be a result of Labourers supplimenting thier diets with the other white meat. Since being in Dubai I have noticed the reduction in cat numbers in Bur Dubai. Previously they were almost as common a pidgeons in non-arid cities. Now an almost rare site, this picture of a cat was taken as it kept watch on it's claimed rufuse bin. Note the althetic leg muscles that separates it from the more domesticated varietey which also makes it a prime target for the pot.

What's in a name?

2007-07-05T13:51:00.000+04:00

Dubai recently had an International Art Fair. Unfortunately I wasn't in the country when this occurred, but that's not to say that Art can't be a daily event in the capital of the emirate.. Dubai*

Al Bastakiya, which is just down the road from our place, provides a historical rabit warren of art galleries and cafes. Some which show free Italian films during the winter months. This provides a welcome relif to the construction sites that are almost on every street courner.

*An imaginatively named Emirate/Capital. Imagine if London was called 'England' or 'United Kingdon'. When the area develops futher, and sister cities form, the confusion between Dubai Emirate, and Dubai Capital, may increase. I would opt for changing the name of the capital before it becomes too late. Apparently the name originated from Iran, which isn't hard to believe since it's just a short paddle across the gulf. However, the Iranians (then called Persians) called named Dubai after the older, meaner, biblical plauge cousin of Jimmy Cricket, the Locust. Not too pleasent as the name far from conjures up images of a dream tourist destination. If the Muncipality were to change the name to something less insectile it would solve both the conflict between the Emirate/Capital and it's reference to the nasty grasshopper. It worked for Istanbul, so why not Dubai. Please feel free to let me know what you should think it should be renamed.. and please no lengthy names as the news readers on Emirates News allready have a workout giving the rulers thier full titles, making a half hour news broadcast an hour.

Stop Over in Dubai

2007-05-03T14:54:00.000+04:00

Another friend made their stop over in Dubai. This time it was Amy's turn. Unfortunately it was only for 24 hours on a business trip. Given the limited time we whisked her from one place to another so that she could get a feel for the city.

For my second competition, if you can name all of the places where Sarah and Amy are pictured you will win my admiration. Please note that all places have been previously feature in this blog.

From one of the establishments this token shot of the Burj Al Arab was taken although...

.. it is actually part of this hotel. Like going visiting Sonny Bono's house while Micheal Jackson's Neverland can be seen over the fence.

The Quality is not in the Q

2007-05-03T14:40:00.000+04:00

Here is one of the better places to eat at Lamcy Plaza. Sarah and I eat at this shopping centre almost every work day. The sign doesn't exactly speak of what it's trying to sell.

The Paperclip and the Glasses

2007-05-03T14:29:00.000+04:00

Sarah sat on her sunglasses. Her solution was to fix them using a paper clip. My solution was to buy her a new pair.

Cast your votes: Should Sarah:
1.Keep the home mended glasses
2.Buy a new pair
3. Not wear Sunglasses

Competition closes end of the week, so hurry to make your voice heard. There are no prizes except for your feeling of connection.

When does it become fraud?

2007-04-22T17:20:00.000+04:00

On the weekend we visited a shopping mall that we had yet to visit. This one is Venice themed both inside and out. I was impressed by the consistency of the theme, although it did lack a canal and gondola.

To my amazement, apparently it was built in the 1600's. With such modern building techniques and functional layout, I was surprised it hasn't made it into every architectural history book.. yes I'm being facetious. Let's hope this isn't dug up by some historians 1000 years from now and incorrectly dated.

Al Casa, Su Casa

2007-04-22T17:14:00.000+04:00

On Saturday Sarah and I went to a local lunch, put on by one of local emiratees. The lunch is on everyday for anyone to attend. You just have to know where it is and have some connection to the home owner. The idea behind the lunch stems from the traditional Bedouin tradition of the Majulis, whereby, if you meet a family in the desert, they are obliged to look after you and make their home your home.. within reason. The room called the majulus was created as the guests area of the house, thus affording both the guests and the owners a degree of privacy. Prior to Dubai's urbanisation, there were no hotels in the city. International visitors were accommodated in locals houses based on this principle.

After have a fantastic meal of fish, salad, rice and dates we retired to the lounge area before heading off to Al Casa to visit, with our friend, her favourite hotel. Al Casa is one of the two hotels of the Madinat development. The theme remains consistently Arabic.

While standing on the balcony over looking the gulf, our Friend pointed out where she used to live. Of course it's now a hotel.

Festival City and the Date Farm

2007-04-22T17:06:00.000+04:00

After a delicious breakfast at More, Sarah and I picked up our curtains from Ikea, now with a white plastic backing to block out the sun. The shopping centre where Ikea is located had has a recent extension to rival the Mall of the Emirates. Unfortunately most of the shopping still have hoarding around them and it looks like it's going to be a good few months before it is completely open. However we where still able to enjoy the malls features of the numerous water fountains and a 'outdoor street shopping' environment.

On returning home we made a mess of putting up the curtains as the extra weight pulled out one of the curtain rail supports. Although remedied, I'm not hopeful that it will last until the end of the lease.

After wondering around we visited a local date plantation on the invitation of friends who is good friends with the owners. Every evening, in traditional Bedouin style, the owner has an outdoor feast where all are invited. Sarah and I were very happy to be able to mingle with the local Emiratie people socially. We were also shown around the property on a 4WD golf buggy and quad bike.. followed by racing along the dunes. The owner was then kind enough to ask us over to his house the following day for lunch.

More means more at More

2007-04-22T17:02:00.000+04:00

Sarah and I are getting into the habit of visiting More Cafe near the Health Care hospital on Diera side for our Friday morning breakfast. We missed Melbourne's cafe breakfast lifestyle that we had become accustomed to, so in a why it's helping us retain a little bit of home.

The breakfast at more is up to the standards of most Melbourne Cafe's with large servings, so it lives up to it's namesake.

In Dubai Art Hangs From a Clothes Line Like a Pair of Dirty Old Socks in a European Courtyard

2007-04-19T15:25:00.000+04:00

Dubai has what many call a burgeoning art scene. Rather than being mainly based in state run institutions, the art scene can be found in the corporate sector with numerous small commercial galleries opening. A cluster of these can be found in the Al Quoz Industrial Area, near Spinney's Warehouse. We visited all three on Saturday. The Third Line once again provided the most interesting exhibition, with the work of a Middle Eastern artists accounts of the atrocities of the crusades, with a reflection to the US occupation of Iraq.

One of the galleries can be found at the faux-European courtyard where I took the photos.

The installation piece in the centre of the covered atrium looked a little like wire mesh socks. Perhaps it doesn;t have the same effect as the slides at the Tafe, but the space is also a little different...

.. well OK, it was pretty average.

Curtains, Eggs and the Jumeirah Islamic Learning Centre

2007-04-19T14:50:00.000+04:00

Friday was a productive day. It started with a visit to Ikea to get backing put on our bedroom curtains so that Sarah's sensitive eyes would not be punished by the evil sun as it rises in the morning (I actually like waking up to the sun - but you have to make compromises sometimes).
Next we visited More for breakfast. It's almost like being back in Melbourne with communal bench seating and the daily paper available. The bread is great, so are the eggs. The only down side is that they serve beef bacon.
After breakfast we visited Diera City Centre so that Sarah could but a dress she had her eye one.

This photo is of the ceiling canopy in one of the courts at Diera City Centre.

Finally in the afternoon we went to the Jumeirah Islamic Learning Centre for their open day for Heritage and Architecture. Everyone there was very friendly and we were given great traditional food, cooked by a group of woman in traditional dress, in the traditional way. The high light was an architectural talk within the building. Here, Sarah and I were separated. Men in the front, women in the back. The talk was given by the head of Heritage at Dubai Municipality. Afterwards we gathered outside and chatted to everyone.

On our way home, we cruised around Jumeirah and appreciated the villas and their gardens.

ANZA at Blue Bar

2007-04-19T11:32:00.000+04:00

ANZA had a drinks event on at the Blue Bar, Novotel Hotel. Here we had a couple of happy hour drinks with Victor, Chi Ju, meet some new people and get acquainted with other we had met before.. all accompanied by some canapes. It was almost like one of the functions back in Melbourne apart from having to buy drinks. Hopefully we will be back beofre the next function on a Thursday Night when a live jazz aband performs.

The Gill Family Dine the traditional Arabian Way at Bastakiya Nights

2007-04-15T15:02:00.000+04:00

I bet you're thinking 'yet another wind tower photograph on this blogg'. Well, yes it is, but they're one of the few architectural heritage features that are easily photographed. This one is located near Bastakiya Nights, a restaurant near the creek in, you guessed it, Bastakiya.

The restaurant offers a regional cuisine buffet that is a little more expensive then other establishments, but we were more than happy to pay for the setting. Although the service was too speedy (at one point I was still holding my cutlery and chewing as my half full plate was whisked away), it's still far better than the 'plate throwing' of the cheaper places further up the creek.

The Gill Family: Bob Verses the Camel

2007-04-08T16:32:00.000+04:00

While Sarah and Shirley went off shopping, I took Bob out on a trip to the desert. Our aim was to visit the forest that is surrounded by a desert. Unfortunately we never made it to our destination, but we did stubble across some camels roaming the desert. These ones are possibly racing camels are the region we were driving (east of Sharja) has a couple of camel racing tracks.

After our camel encounter we visited the Sharjah Natural History Museum and Wildlife Park. I didn't have high hopes, but the wildlife Park has some great displays, especially the surreal aviary (a bird enclosure with fake rivers all under a 3m high suspended panel ceiling).

The Gill Family Visit Bastakiya Afternoons

2007-04-08T16:17:00.000+04:00

After Wafi, we then all visited Bastakiya, the historical heart of Dubai.

... which is right next to some more modern additions.

The Gill Family: Memories

2007-04-08T15:35:00.000+04:00

Sarah and I decided that we should show Bob and Shirley one of the unique Dubai shopping experiences, Memories at Wafi City. What could be more unique then a 18th Century Themed antique and fake antique shop complete with secret doorways through he back of cupboards, staff dressed in period costumes and the entire store laid out as a manor house complete with garden.

Themeing gone crazy, very effective in drawing the customers in but when was the last time you thought you needed a skull with a knife in a clear glass cake box?... not to mention the stores obsession with bird taxidermy.

Dubai Skyline: Two out of Three

2007-04-08T15:21:00.000+04:00

From our vantage point at the Dubai Yacht Club we could see two of the three views that make up the Dubai city high-rise skyline. Dubai is currently divided into three cities. Diera on the north bank of the creek, Bur Dubai/Sheikh Zayed Road on teh south bank, and Dubai Marina further along Sheikh Zayed Road. I say 'currently' because there is so much construction underway there will be a few more city skylines in the near future.

This view is of Sheikh Zayed Road with Creek Side Park in the foreground.

This view is part of the Deira skyline.

The Gill Family at the Duabi Yacht Club

2007-04-08T14:57:00.000+04:00

After our walk along the marina we made it to the Dubai Yacht Club for a coffee and a bit of bird watching, one of Bob's favourite pastimes.

Jelly Fish in Dubai Creek

2007-04-08T14:49:00.000+04:00

The waterway of the Dubai Creek is heavily used by boats for both passange and goods transport. Abras are constantly moving people from one side to the other as bridges are limited. Dows sail up and down the UAE coast line delivering goods to the various cities and towns, One of Dubai's ports is located halfway along the creek. With all these boats you would expect the waterways to be very polluted. It seams, however, that because the creek is tidal, it is flushed out frequently allowing envirnomentaly sensitive sealife, like this jelly fish, to survive. This little guy was all the way up at the Park Hyatt.

The Gill Family at the Park Hyatt

2007-04-08T14:16:00.000+04:00

After bruch we walked around the marina area of the Park Hyatt and admired the Iranian/Arabic style architecture with it's wind tower features. Wind Towers were originally desinged as a passive cooling system. The ones at the Hyatt are purely for decoration.

The Gill Family Visit Thai Kitchen Again

2007-04-08T12:56:00.000+04:00

After a quick, but very pleasant trip to Oman, Bob and Shirley returned to Dubai for a couple more days. Because they liked the Thai Kitchen so much, we went back for another Friday brunch. This time I had my camera.

The Inside Scoop on The Interiors of The Burj Al Arab

2007-04-08T12:42:00.000+04:00

I attended my first press conference at the Burj Al Arab for a project I'm working on. It was all very exciting to have my photo taken for magazines and news papers. CNN were there as well with their cameras. However, the most exciting part was I got to see the inside of the Burj Al Arab. Although interiors deserve most of the criticism that has been directed towards it, and they do give you the sense of being in an expensive RSL club, at least it feels like an expensive RSL club rather than Greenbank RSL (which I worked on years ago).

Honest Movie Reviews

2007-04-04T09:51:00.000+04:00

The movie reviews, on the video packaging are a little more honest in Dubai. Here are a couple of my favourites.

From Bable 'Well-Meaning Twaddel' .. perhaps an English reviewer.

The Black Delilah 'By Stripping Away Most of the Historical Context and Character Development'.... not quite a full sentence but I get the point.

United 93 '..may well be the best blokes film of the years', 'Deliciously Entertaining' and 'Savagely Funny'... possibly reviews from Pakistan version of FHM?

Siamese Mushroom

2007-04-04T09:47:00.000+04:00

It's nice to see there are still some genetic anomalies that even in mass farming techniques can't remove. This little guy turned up in a pallet of mushrooms I bought to make a pasta sauce.

The Gill Family Tour of the Western Expat Theme Park

2007-04-04T09:31:00.000+04:00

On Saturday Sarah and I took Bob and Shirley to the white end of town: Madinat, Emirates Mall and Dubai Marina. We ate lunch at Left Bank (possible Palastinian Connections?), had coffee at the Emporio Armani Café, and had a drink at Bar 44.

The Gill Family: Vu is almost a View

2007-04-04T08:53:00.000+04:00

At the top of the Emirates Towers is Vu. The bar suffers a little from poor quality workmanship while trying to look sophisticated. A recent sandstorm, followed by rain casued the angled glazed facade to be caked in sand resulting in poor visibility to the aparently stunning view to the gulf. Aside from these two points it's a nice relaxing place for a couple of quiet drinks.

The Gill Family Visit Emirates Towers

2007-04-03T16:29:00.000+04:00

The narative becomes a little skewed here as I posted the pictures in the wrong order for the next couple of posts..
We met Bob and Shirley at the Emirates Towers on thier second full day in Dubai after we finished work. Bob and Shirley are fans of all things Japanese, and Sarah and I had always wanted to eat at this particular resteraunt, so we decided to try it out. The venue is fantastic, with a karaokee and tepenyaki bar. It made me miss the great cheap japanese food that you can get in Melbourne along Lt Bourke Street (my favourate being the one with the christmas decorations in the window all year round).

The Gill Family Arive

2007-04-03T14:36:00.000+04:00

Sarah's parents arrived in Dubai, via Hong Kong. We were both very grateful for the amount of drinks they purchased at duty free on their way through. I was particularly happy as they brought some butterscotch schnapps with them from Australia as i can't seem to find it here.
After a day of visiting Bastakita, we showed them the roof top garden on our apartment block (as pictured) and then took them to a great little Indian restaurant up the road, Gazebo. Unfortunately they sat us near the toilets, so we had to change seats almost immediately.

New Living

2007-04-03T14:16:00.000+04:00

In preparation for Sarah's parents arriving, we thought we should make the flat look like we had been living there, rather than squatting. We visited Ikea on the weekend to purchase frames for photographs we had taken in Oman and England and hung them on the walls. Thankfully our couch also arrived, after a three month wait. The photo doesn't do it justice as you can't see the groovy retro detail of the legs and back.. but we're happy with it.

Snow Storm Inside, Sand Storm Outside

2007-03-27T08:44:00.000+04:00

We visited Sezzam, at the Mall of the Emirates, on the premise that it received a Time Out award to have a Friday Brunch with Claudio, Joni, Victor and Chi Ju. This time however, Time Out let us down. The food looked like it had been sitting in the buffet trays for the last two months, the service was slow (so we had to order drinks three at a time) and the number of children made the venue extremely noisy.

The best part about the restaurant was we had a great view of the ski slopes as a sand storm blew outside.

It was great to catch up with everyone though after our trip to England.

A Walk in the Park

2007-03-22T10:49:00.000+04:00

On our last day in London we all headed out to Pimlico to arrange Sarah's purchase of her wedding dress. On the way out Claire and Ed noticed Aphids.

I realy wanted to show Sarah the best side of London, it's magnificant parks. After the dress was purchased the dress we walked to St James Park, Ed favourate park in London.

The cherry blossoms, daffadils, squirels, swans and ducks were all out for the begining of spring.

After our vist to St James Park, we walked up into SoHo and ate at a great little vegitarian resteraunt that was beside this butcher shop.

It was great to be back in London again. The city seems so much more alive then the last time I was there, the weather was fantastic, the people happy.. it's amazing what a little sun can do for Londoners.
It was also fantastic so see Claire and Ed again. It will only be a few months before we see them in Australia for our own wedding celebration.

Slides, Wheels, and Eggs

2007-03-22T09:25:00.000+04:00

Claire, Ed and I went on a walking tour of some of London's highlights while Sarah continued her hunt. We crossed the bridge to the south bank of the Themes.. not by the Millennium Bridge because it was closed (surprise surprise). Then we went to the Tate Modern to check out the new Turbine Hall exhibition.

This exhibition, The Unilever Series by Carsten Höller has received a lot of criticism, but has also been extremely successful. Although it's artistic merits are limited, as essentially it's a group of nicely designed slides. As far as slides go they were good, but not the best I've been on, As far as their form, they lacked dominance over the very large volume of the turbine hall, and as far as artistic expression went.. well that's up to the individual artist and viewer/participant.
Ed and I managed to go on the slides twice because we were fortunate and there we no ques.

We met up with Sarah afterwards and went to a great little french wine bar in Covent Garden. Ed and Sarah were famished so ordered the, apparently typically French, boiled egg with celery salt.

Claire and I decided not join them and save ourselves for the Eastern European restaurant. There we also met with Andy from Bates Smart and Micheal. It was great seeing them both again. Micheal has grown a beard. As a man of great style, it's good to know I'm not alone in the facial hair stakes. It was a shame we only got to catch up for the dinner. Hopefully next time I'm in London there will be more time.