Burj Al Arab

Happy New Year

Burj Al Arab from the Madinat Souk.

Burj Khalifa & Moon

Taken at the Observatory Deck at Burj Khalifa. If you would like to visit Burj Khalifa and look around from the 127th floor of Observatory Deck, it is better to purchase ticket in advance from online.

The fare has big difference if you buy immediately or in advance.

Camel burger?

 Who wants to have Camel Burger??

I took this picture at the entrance of Bastakiya in Bur Dubai. This area is the oldest residential area of Dubai. In these days, you can see so many textile, electronic shops as well as art galleries.

Smile : )

I took this last year. I do not know who draw that smiley over there but it was good enough to make me smile everyday while I was going to work.

Afterwards our office has moved and I started to take another way to reach the office. Recently I passed at the same place. Unfortunately I saw that smiley face is not there anymore. The construction is more active and wide. 

I wanted to share this old picture. May be it will put a smile on your face as well. 

Divers at Dubai Mall

Dubai Mall is really big and each and every corner has something interesting. Here you can see only 2 of these statues, in fact they are more than 15. they are located on the wall.

The Address Downtown Dubai Hotel

The Address hotel from the top of the Burj Khalifa

Here another iconic building of Dubai with little bit cliche picture.

Everyone who went to the Observatory deck at the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building of the world) took this shot.
the building on the left side is The Adress Downton Dubai. it is opened in 2008 and the height is 302 m.
I wanted to share quite classic view from Dubai. Lets say, touristic shot for today.

Merry Christmas

Of course we do not have snow but creative people put foam in the fountain so it looks like white and remind snow with the Christmas tree.
If you want to see the original view of this fountain you can check from here. At the beginning of December, this fountain was decorated for UAE National Day.

cloudy building

This morning there was heavy rain. when I was leaving the house the sky was still grey and hazy.

within half an hour, the sky get clearer and sun start to shine again. this morning when the traffic stopped because of road work, I noticed this building with reflection. I took a quick snap shot.

Gift Season

Today I went to MOE (Mall of Emirates) after work to collect some things and buy some gifts.
The mall was quite crowded. There were huge wrapped boxes under huge Christmas tree.

Christmas - 2013

I took this picture this morning. Christmas decorations are everywhere. 

Hello there...

Today, I attended a photo walk with Gulf Photo Plus. We suppose to take all pictures with mobile phones and before kick out to Fujariah for Bull Fight, there was a small seminar at GPP's office. This funny post is from the refrigerator. it put a smile on my face while i was preparing my coffee.

a walk at Marina Walk

Today after work, we decided to go Marina Walk to have dinner and have a cafe afterwards with one of my colleagues. After we finished our foods, I catched this shot.

There are several highrise buildings along man-made Marina and lagoon. There are also many restaurants and cafes. The area is closed for traffic. It is good for jogging or walking around just to enjoy stay outdoor during nice winter time in Dubai.

camels

taken at nearby Dubai. Not far from the city center. I just pulled over my car. 

Yes ! they are not that much far.

The Creek Park

From outside people think Dubai is just sand and there is nothing else. But there are several parks. Even though they are manmade, these parks hosts many different birds. According to this web site; in the Creek Park 145 species (including escapes) have been recorded during December 2009.

fountain show at dubai mall

Taken from Dubai Mall . World largest choreographed fountain system.
One of the "Must seen" in Dubai. Plus it is free : )

Abra Ride at Creek

This is the easiest and also the cheapest way to pass the Creek. There are two districts near the Creek; Bur Dubai and Deira. Both of them are oldest residential and business district of Old Dubai. Actually they are keeping their importance till Today. Many people use these Abra`s for transport purposes but they are also nice attraction point for tourists. You can hire one Abra and have your own private the Creek tour.

Kite at Jumeirah Beach

When the season is winter, there is enough wind for kites.

Burj Al Arab from Madinat Souq

I took this picture from the most popular shooting point at Madinat Souq after Gala showing of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom..

There was an after party and all those bright lights coming from the party area.

I have several pictures of Burj Al Arab from the exactly same point. Even though the bright overexposed part in this picture, i like the light beams over Burj Al Arab, that's why i wanted to post this one.
cheers

Love & Shop

I took this picture beginning of this week at Mall of Emirates, one of most visited mall in the city.
At fashion dome, they had special decoration with high brands full of hearth shaped shiny decoration.

the Sweetest Display

Dubai Film Festival is still going on and I had 2 movies for tonight.

I just run to the cinema from the office, and had only 15 min to eat between two movies at food court. After quick check around, the winner was "sour crep" even the sweet one looks more tempting. :)

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. 
Definetly this movie was the one of sold out movies when tickets were available for the 10th of Dubai Film Festival. 
the schedule was already set earlier. The Gala planned for the 10th of December. It just crossed by coincidence with the official memorial ceremony for Nelson Mandela held in South Africa.

Normally all spot lights are on at the red carpet, but today, it was only lighted up with candles along with the red carpet to show the respect. I noticed also many people were dressed up respectfully for Nelson Mandela. Even i saw local man in black kandura (normally it is white)
after moment of silence movie was on the screen.
RIP Mandale..

Madinat Theater

Q&A section after Lebanese Movie "Stable Unstable"

Today is the 4th day of the Dubai International Film Festival . A Lebanese Movie Stable Unstable was on the screen. I took this picture during Q&A section with director and leading actors.

It was interesting movie. I stayed for a while for Q&A but i had to catch another movie in different location so i had to leave little bit early.

Madinat Theatre is the first purpose build theatre in Dubai, opened in 2004. Madinat Theater hosts several local and international shows, theater, opera, bale, and concerts.

Souk Madinat Jumeirah

Madinat Jumeirah is a complex of  luxurious resort. There are 2 boutique hotels, shopping mall, 29 summer houses, many gardens and lagoons. I took this picture yesterday.

Madinat Arena is hosting Gala screening for 10th Dubai International Film Festival also. After the movie I was going to parking area of the mall and these glass lanterns  took my attention. It was late evening and there were few tourists in the mall so the stand was not crowded and i didn't disturb anyone.

This area newly built in 2003 and the aim was to built traditional Arabian village and they kept the design in that way. Nice place to spent time, dine out, walk around, not just for tourists, also for residents.

X-Mas Decoration at MOE

Just few days back, this area was decorated for National Day and now everywhere decorated for Christmas. You can see my previous post from here. 

Where are you from?

Harvey Nichols - Mall of Emirates

Harvey Nichols's window always has unique style. I took this picture couple of days ago at Mall of Emirates. Actually this decoration is there for a while. When I saw first, my camera was not with me, this time i had my camera and i tried to get nice shot without reflection from front shop.
Harvey Nichols founded in 1831. This luxury department store originated from London.

Sunset at Palm Jumeirah

Sunset at Palm Jumeirah

The Palm Jumeirah is an artificial palm shape island. According to plan, there are villas, apartments and several 5 stars Hotels (Atlantis Hotel, Zabeel Hotel, Rixos Hotel. Fairmont Hotel.....)
I took this picture from the Jumeirah beach. The sun was just amazing.

10th DIFF - Dubai International Film Festival

This year Dubai International Film Festival reach 10th year.
The Motto is "A film for everyone"

it will start on 6th of December on Friday with the gala of OMAR and will continue to till 14th of December.
Tickets are available online and also from the DIFF kiosks at Mall of Emirates and Medinat Souq.

You can reach official web site from here. The variety of films are really good and i observed the festival is getting better and stronger with every year.

Tecom Metro Station

Tecon metro station

The first section of the Dubai Metro (Red line) was ceremonially opened at 9:09:09 PM on 9 September 2009.
Yes! Very special and memorable date and time. 

The Dubai Metro also the first urban train network in Arabian region. After metro started to operation, the number of public bus are increased. New bus route for each station from nearby area are implemented. 
I took this picture last weekend while I was waiting a friend of mine from Metro station. 

The style of the metro station is so Dubai :) but i can't imagine this style in any city which is not newly build. 
cheers

JLT - Jumeirah Lake Towers

Sunset at JLT

Today, after work while i was walking to the parking area, i noticed the colour of the sky and i stopped immediately. Mostly the name shorten like JLT. There are several towers some of them for business purpose some are residential. there were two big man made lake. But this summer, they decided to convert one of them to the park. when all construction work (including road etc) this area will be nice to live or work.

42nd National Day

2nd of December is National Day of United Arab Emirates. This year UAE reached 42. anniversary.
After EXPO 2020 announcement, celebrations are more happier. I took this picture on Sunday at Mall of Emirates. It was all decorated with UAE flags and there was band walking around in the mall with special costumes. Unfortunately I couldn't catch them. For more about UAE history, you can read from this link.

Burj Al Arab

When I moved from Istanbul to Dubai because of my work, I was so excited to start a daily photo blog here. 

I was following Eric Tenin's blog about Paris and i wanted to share my first impression about Dubai with daily photo blog. But I was not aware the biggest challenge at that time. I was newbie in the town and no idea about the city plus i had to figure out many things and posting daily was not the easy thing with all. 

After 5 years i am more into Photography, i know the city little bit better and i hope this time i can manage to continue this blog with posting regularly. 

as a starter i want to share Burj Al Arab's picture which was taken from the Jumeirah Beach. 

Today when people hear Dubai's name, there are plenty of iconic images already in the mind. But 5 years back, the world tallest building was still under construction and Burj Al Arab was the icon of Dubai. 

with other way to say "The first hotel in the world with 7 stars" Don't ask how it could be possible when the standard is max 5 stars. Honestly I do not know but this hotel known with this way. 

Burj Al Arab literally means "Tower of Arabs" in English. The height is 321 m and it is the 4th tallest hotel in the world. It stands on artificial island 280 m from Jumeirah Beach and it is connected to the mainland by private bridge. Maybe because of this, it offers quite privacy to their guests. No one allowed to enter the bride if you do not have any reservation.