sunset at Dubai Marina

While I was quite, I had to arrange many things.
I moved out from my apartment, sold some furnitures and now I am settle in hotel apartment for couple of weeks. This is the view from the hotel. Again it is Marina but more slightly different from my regular angle from home :)

After 6.5 years in Dubai, it will be hard to leave from this city and friends but I decided to stop working for a while and travel. :)
I am going back to my home country, Turkey and start to travel from nearby cities first.

Slowly I hope to extend my travel to other countries. Cuba in November is already planned, I hope others will follow after Cuba visit.

I am leaving the country at the end of the June. I hope I could have more posts about Dubai. While I was struggle to post regularly, I admire Erik once again. How he handled blogging and moving was impressive.

There are many stuff out here in Dubai waiting to be photographed. I am glad that I photographed some of them and shared a bit of this city with you. Even it is not enough, some is always better than nothing. :)

Gurkan Genc

The guy with 60 kg loaded bicycle is +Gurkan Genc I have been following his journey last couple of months. When I heard his World Tour with bicycle, he had already completed almost 3 years. I started to follow him when he was in Jordan.  Afterwards he passed Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and finally UAE. I was wondering if he could able to come Dubai before my leave at the end of the June.

Finally yesterday, 993 day after the tour started, he arrived here.  I am so happy to meet with him and listen his experience on the way. 

The weather was too warm. warmer then recent days. He said he saw over 54 deg C yesterday. 

He is planning to complete the whole tour in 7 years. He intentionally planned to pass each country at the most difficult climate conditions. Northern countries in winter time, deserts are in summer time. It is challenging, isn't it?

In every country he is also giving inspirational presentations at high schools, and universities. He was so kind to give a presentation just after he finished 135 km from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. He will stay nearly 1 month in Dubai. There will be other organizations with local bicycle federation and organisations. This was just a simple welcoming among Turkish society. 
Please check the website for his amazing journey.

wind tower

yeah.. another wind tower from Bastakiya and small bird over there..

These wind towers were used to catch the wind and divert it into the house when there was no electricity and modern AC. the other name is "wind catcher"

street from Bastakiya

I want to share street view from Bastakiya. It is like a maze. We have two wind towers here as well.

XVA Art Hotel & Cafe

When I visit Bastakiya area, always i stopped at XVA Hotel & Cafe for refreshments and their delicious vegetarian foods.
Each time, you see different exhibition at gallery area, have different decoration at cafe area and unique small artistic items at their gift shop. I haven't checked their hotel area but for sure, that part also should be great. If I would be a tourist in Dubai, I would prefer to stay here instead of 5 stars Hotels in high rise buildings.

Monday Mural - Bastakiya

I was not able to post regularly last two weeks. at first I had visitors, then I was busy again. Finally I am back with another mural by Ruben Sanchez. It is located in Al Bastakiya.  Al Bastakiya is one of oldest area in Dubai dates back to 1890s. You can see the short history from the wikipedia page.
From the first year i arrive in dubai, I always enjoy spending time at bastakiya. Each year its getting better and better. right now there are many local shops who are selling local art pieces, paints, jewellery, some small gifts. There are also some galleries.
I saw this mural on several post at Instagram and since then I was planning to go there and spent some time. It is not so close to where i live and work. when I have visitors, it was a good reason to go there and show them around. They also enjoyed If you are planning to visit Dubai, Al Bastakiya should be in your to do list. I may post more pictures from this area later. First here we have graffiti for Monday Mural please check other murals all around the world.

Metro station

Still busy with friends and being tourist in the city.

So we have one photo from last month.  I took this one at the way out metro via my mobile. 

Fountain show

This week,I have visitors from my home.  We started to tour Dubai like a newbie tourist in town.
Our first stop is Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall. Of course dancing fountain one of my favorites.  Every half an hour the song and the choreography is changing.  Tonight we saw 4 different show.  the first one was Thriller by Michael Jackson, second one was Arabic song, third one was Indian, the fourth one, Ooo ı do not remember the last one.  I was trying to catch this post. Not the best but really good one from my mobile.
This week, I think I will post only pictures from my mobile pictures. 

Monday Mural by Binty Bint

taken at JBR, at the entrance of View Ocean Hotel .
The artist is Binty Bint
Posted for Monday Mural

Rain in Dubai

Last two days, I was fighting with cold,  and sneezing a lot. I recover with spending whole weekend while sleeping.
Today, while driving to the office,  I was thinking what can I post for today.
The sky was dull,  the humid was high. I would say its gonna rain If wouldn't be in Dubai.
After all those years, there is still a chance to get surprised by the weather in Dubai. 
At lunch break I was looking table to sit outside thinking it will be warm but still I want to sit outside as much as I can. And here the surprise,  there was rain. 😀not rain like a rain but still table and chairs were get raindrops.
I had to take my lunch to the office. Here we have the view from our office pantry with clouds. The windows can not be opened because of the security reasons , only it give 10 cm gap. While I was holding my mobile in that gap the picture comes out tilted. I didn't want to correct it. 😀

Burj Khalifa from the inside

Photo from archive.. This is the escalator at the exit from Observatory deck at the top of the Burj Khalifa..

flower time

in this season there are still flowers in Dubai, even temperatures reach up to 40 Deg.C.

ps: photo from archive

Maze Building

Taken near the DIFC. The building's name is "Maze Tower" the exterior looks like maze :)

Monday Mural

The previous weekend there was Robbie Williams concert at Abu Dhabi, Du Arena concert hall. It is just 100 km away from Dubai. At the concert area I saw this wall just finished.
In these days it happens more in Dubai, they arrange space for Graffiti artist at different evets so they can show their arts.  These artists also contribute art festivals as well.

Posted for Monday Mural.
Taken by mobile
Sorry for the late post.

reflection on the ground

Posted for the weekend reflection.
Taken at DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)

Shadows

I took this photo this morning, Very early and when the sun has not rise completely.

CDP Theme Day: Revolution

This month's theme is Revolution. I fount it bit difficult to find proper subject.

In Dubai we have the biggest, longest, highest ...est many things but I couldn't call for the first time ever or invention or having a big step can be considered as revolution.

I google it "Dubai revolution" I found this website called themselves "Revolution Cycles"
Sorry but this is all I got this month from Dubai for the theme.

If you want to see other's contributions to the CDP theme please click here.

Dancing

I took this photo last month at Full Moon Dubai Drums Night. The belly dancer was performing her dance with sword on her head and this little girl was amazed with the dance and try to imitate the dancer. :)

Children's City

Last week, also there was another celebration for 23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Children's City in Dubai.
A picture from the inside decoration of main building. Earlier I heart Dolphin Show in this complex but never visited the place. As far as I learnt from my friends this is nice place for kids, there is small science museum and educational halls as well.
If you are planning to visit Dubai with your kids, you may check this out with Kidzania in Dubai Mall for your kids.

Medals for fun run

Last 6 years we celebrate 23 April national Sovereignty and Children's day among Turkish society in Dubai. Last couple of years we added fun run for kids also these celebrations.

This year, more than 100 kids from different ages (babies, toddlers and teenagers) participate for the fun run. I was volunteer both organization and photographing the event.

Here we have medals for each kid. Since I do not like to post kids picture on internet, I share their medals which are waiting for kids.
It was great fun, Some kids came to us and ask "can we play it again?" :)