Interesting sticker I saw at Al Jimi Mall this week.
This blog began as a description of our life in Al Ain, UAE (United Arab Emirates). Brn worked at the UAE University Libraries Deanship for three years and Bss homeschooled our four children, D, B, P, and O. After returning to the the USA for five years, we are living in Abu Dhabi now.
Showing posts with label photoblogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photoblogging. Show all posts
2020/10/30
2018/10/04
2018/09/30
2018/09/27
2016/12/26
2008/06/12
Birds
The first thing that I noticed my first morning in Al Ain (exactly three years ago this week) was the song birds. This was immensely comforting. I knew then that I wasn't living in a completely alien place. I actually was surprised by how many and how loud the birds were. I tried and tried to get decent pictures of birds while I was in Al Ain, but they always managed to fly off before I could get close enough. I especially regret never getting a shot of the parrots that stayed in our neighborhood for a while. (Of course, sometimes things like parrots flying free while pet stores sold squirrels did make me feel like I was living in a completely alien place.) These were the best bird photos that I ever got in Al Ain:
For comparison, here is a bird from South Carolina:
And here is where squirrels belong:
Not pet stores. Or here:
For comparison, here is a bird from South Carolina:
And here is where squirrels belong:
Not pet stores. Or here:
2008/06/11
More Fence Images
This one was on the fence that separated the Sheikha Salama Mosque from the sidewalk:
That fence, along with the mosque, have been torn down now (here, here, and here for more about the demolition/reconstruction).
This one is at what used to the be Clock Tower Roundabout. That is Al Ain's main Emirates Post branch in the background. I took this while waiting at the stop light.
This one is, of course, an incense burner (and I have a mental block about what these are called in Arabic - I have been told numerous times but for some reason I can never remember it). I think that this photo is from the street that Carrefour is on.
That fence, along with the mosque, have been torn down now (here, here, and here for more about the demolition/reconstruction).
This one is at what used to the be Clock Tower Roundabout. That is Al Ain's main Emirates Post branch in the background. I took this while waiting at the stop light.
This one is, of course, an incense burner (and I have a mental block about what these are called in Arabic - I have been told numerous times but for some reason I can never remember it). I think that this photo is from the street that Carrefour is on.
2008/06/08
Downtown Fence
Most of the major streets of downtown Al Ain are divided (by direction of travel) by fences like this. The artwork on the fence varies, sometimes a della like here, or incense burner or mosque.
2008/02/20
Zayed bin Khalifa
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Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
Al Ain Palace Museum
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This painting of him hangs in the Al Ain Palace Museum along with many other portraits from Sheikh Zayed's family. (It helps to be able to read Arabic for these, since all the names are only written in Arabic.)
2008/02/19
East of Al Ain
If you head out of Al Ain to the east, past the Intercon, past the go cart track, there is this flat, rocky land just before the Omani border. The landscape is very different than the area to the north and west of Al Ain. Out here there is almost no sand, and the beginnings of the Hajar mountains on two sides.
2007/12/26
Sunrise on Jebel Hafeet
My boss is one of the nicest men that you will ever meet. So it wasn't surprising that he insisted that as a Christian I take yesterday (Christmas) off. With the family in the US, I actually wouldn't have minded working and being around people, but I also didn't want to insult him, so that settled it. So I did something that I've been thinking about doing for a while but haven't gotten around to: watching the sunrise from atop Jebel Hafeet. So I set the alarm for 5:00 am and dashed up to the top.
As I expected, I had the place to myself, both because of the time of day and the time of year. Last winter when I mentioned that we had all gone up Hafeet the day before, my co-workers were horrified because of how "cold" it is this time of year. Of course, cold is relative, but still, it was far from freezing, especially when out of the wind:
So I got to enjoy the spectacular views in complete peace
and watch as dawn broke
and night gradually brightened into day.
A first for me was the very thick fog that was near the top of the mountain. At one point visibility was down to just a few feet. It made the drive up and down, already selected as the "greatest driving road in the world" even more exciting. (Of course being in a mini-van takes away a large amount of the excitement.) All in all, it was the greatest Christmas morning spent without my family.
As I expected, I had the place to myself, both because of the time of day and the time of year. Last winter when I mentioned that we had all gone up Hafeet the day before, my co-workers were horrified because of how "cold" it is this time of year. Of course, cold is relative, but still, it was far from freezing, especially when out of the wind:
So I got to enjoy the spectacular views in complete peace
and watch as dawn broke
2007/10/24
2007/10/16
Rebuilding Sheikha Salama Mosque
I admit, I don't read the paper every day, but this story seems to be the first mention of the rebuilding of the Sheikha Salama Mosque that I have seen.
Incidentally, this is the way that the location of the mosque looked a couple of weeks ago:
Previously posted, but here are some pics of what the new mosque is apparently going to look like:
The design and supervision contract of the project has been given to Aldar Properties, said a company spokesman, adding that the mosque would have the capacity to accommodate 3,860 people. The project is expected to be completed in 2009...
The mosque's ceiling will gradually ascend in the direction of Makkah. The natural stone cladding, granite flooring and abundant light in the structure will produce an inner space that communicates the mosque's exquisite symbolism, whilst the incorporation of lifts will give the new structure a modern aspect.
Incidentally, this is the way that the location of the mosque looked a couple of weeks ago:
Previously posted, but here are some pics of what the new mosque is apparently going to look like:
2007/10/02
From the North
Al Ain, viewed from the Airport Road, north of town. This is about 20 km from Jebel Hafeet.
2007/07/04
Farm Truck
Farm Truck at Twam Hospital
Its a little unclear from this photo, but this is hay animal fodder in four huge rolls on the back of this pickup. Sights like this make me feel at home here in Al Ain, since they are so similar to the sights of Eastern North Carolina.
2007/02/13
2007/02/11
Logo
University Logo @ Zayed Central Library, Al Ain
This is the logo of UAE University, mounted on the wall outside the library where I work. The Arabic writing that the falcon is holding in his talons says "Jami'a Al Emaraat Al 'Arabeea Al Mutahayda" ("United Arab Emirates University" in Arabic).
2007/02/03
Big Clock
Big Clock, Al Ain
This huge clock (you really can't tell from the photo, but the face is about 10-15 meters across) is across the street from the downtown post office in Al Ain.
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