Mix Pix

The Burj Dubai Inauguration

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:32:00 +0000

The Burj - currently the world's tallest building (over 800 meters/160 floors high) and serves as an iconic symbol of Dubai's economic growth and stature, was finally inaugurated last night in conjunction with the fourth anniversary of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s accession as Ruler of Dubai. A grand spectacle of choreographed sound, light, water and fireworks display was the highlight of the event.

Together with some friends, I went to see the show and squeezed our way through the huge crowd that gathered. We secured a spot in close range, but sadly, that may not have been a good idea, it was a struggle to take good photos and videos while in the midst of a restless crowd who couldn't keep still because of anticipation and excitement. Good thing my hubby managed to take good photos from a strategic place near his office. The fireworks display was very good, but a lot of people felt that it was too short, we were clamoring for more and even waited a bit longer, hoping there would be a part 2 or something... lol ...

Anyways, enough with the ranting and on with the photo posting, here goes...(click to enlarge)

If you want to see my captured video, head over to my personal blog - Reflections.

This is our entry to My World Tuesday. Take a peek at other people's world, check out their cool site HERE.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque, Abu Dhabi

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:01:00 +0000

Happy New Year to everyone! We do hope that you all had a blast celebrating Christmas & New Year, ours were just simple celebrations at home with good friends, but they were full of laughter and good memories.

It felt like ages since we last posted something here, and quite honestly, since we've neglected this photoblog for far too long, it felt quite uncomfortable even just to log in to Blogger.. lol... (we won't bore you with lengthy excuses because the reason for our absence is quite plain: the demands of the offline world simply overtook us). A lot has happened these past few months while we were away from the blogworld and with these activities which kept us busy, photos-- really good ones were piling up, and it would be such a waste not to be able to share them, and a lot of our friends also have missed this photoblog. So here we are... staging a major comeback and making our presence felt again, so to speak.

For (2010) starters, allow us to share with you a series of photos we took during a recent visit to our neighbor city - Abu Dhabi. We're showcasing Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque which is absolutely breath-taking. Take a read on some of the facts HERE about this grand architecture and you'll be blown away. (Click on photos to enlarge).

the marble panels even have semi-precious stones

the columns have very intricate design, took a shot while art was walking in front of me

stunning craftsmanship on the marble wall, all women are required to wear the abaya (black national dress) before entering the mosque, so mariz had no choice...lol...

get ready for this shocker -- the mosque features seven 24-carat gold-plated chandeliers which were imported from Germany, all designed with thousands of Swarovski crystals. the largest of these chandeliers, which hangs from the main dome of the Mosque is considered the biggest in the world

the prayer halls and the mosque’s interior walls have decorative 24 carat gold-glass mosaic features

ablution area with beautiful skylight

Hope you enjoyed our first post for the year. We wish you all more blessings and abounding favor for 2010. Keep that camera clicking! Cheers!

Native Quarters

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:32:00 +0000

Native Quarters at Bastakiya, Bur Dubai

Check out other interesting monochrome shots at Monochrome Maniacs.

Fiery Water

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:07:00 +0000

I just love it when the sky makes beautiful reflections on the water, just like this one... it looks like the water was burning (hmm.. how crazy does that sound?).

Get wet at Watery Wednesday today...

Yellow Boat

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:58:00 +0000

Brighten up your day with other yellow entries at Mellow Yellow Monday.

Samal

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Samal Island, Davao
July 2007

Get wet today by checking other entries at Watery Wednesday. Get mesmerized by photos with a sepia twist, check out Sepia Scenes.

Autumn Leaves

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:09:00 +0000

Visit other entries at Ruby Tuesday and feast you eyes on all things made beautiful with a touch of red.

Golden Dawn

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:59:00 +0000

Deira Creek, Dubai

Check out other fascinating skies and sceneries at Skywatch Friday and Scenic Sunday.

Romancing the Creek

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:05:00 +0000

View along Bur Dubai Creekside which sets the romantic mood for those enjoying a Dhow Cruise dinner along the creek.

See other interesting parts of the world at My World Tuesday. If you love red like I do, get your red dose from Ruby Tuesday, then head over to Watery Wednesday for a splash. Go and see the entries also at Wordless Wednesday which may leave you speechless. (Hmm, looks like I b-b-qued a lot of memes with this one shot).

Light Drapes

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:01:00 +0000

A shopping souk in Dubai Mall complex used (Christmas) lights together with soft Georgette-like tulle fabric to decorate its entrance area and hallways. This decor gave a very elegant and relaxing ambiance to the place. For some reason, I liked the photo even better in B&W than its original color, the mono gave the lights a better "starry" effect in the photo.

"Ribbon Flower"

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Sun, 24 May 2009 10:17:00 +0000

I saw this tiny flower bud at Dubai Marina a couple of weeks back, so sorry I don't know it's proper name, but since it has ribbon-like buds at the center, I took the liberty of calling it "ribbon flower" (I wish there's a Google or Wiki image search specific to flowers and other species so I don't have to guess or invent a name next time).

Feast your eyes on other lovely flowers, visit Today's Flowers.

Gloom

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:23:00 +0000

Something about the tone of this photo makes me feel somewhat gloomy, I guess that's just the effect of an overcast sky, but I'm still loving the drama in this sepia shot.

Check out other moods and interesting captures at Sepia Scenes.

Burjuman

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:40:00 +0000

Burjuman Mall, Bur Dubai District

This very classy mall - just a 5 minute walk from our house, is quite famous among locals and tourists, having Saks Fifth Avenue as its mall flagship (the quintessential icon of New York taste and style, synonymous with high end fashion).

Most shops in Burjuman sell signature brand items that are comparatively cheaper compared to same brand Western located shops, but my particular favorite in this mall are the interiors! The interior details within the mall and its conjunct office tower are superb. The restaurant spot in the above photo is my favorite place here...I love the lighting, the aesthetic water effects, the palm trees and the ceiling and restaurant interior finish they used for this particular area - all very impressive details.

See other people's world, visit My World Tuesday.

Puffy Clouds

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Al Rolla area, Bur Dubai District

Altocumulus clouds like these are my favorite, their puffy appearance are so reminiscent of cotton candy (makes me crave for one now...I couldn't seem to remember the last time I had one, it has been so long). Anyways, back to the clouds... I really enjoyed capturing this beautiful sight on one hot afternoon. While walking along the street, I saw this lovely building which I thought would add character when framed with the sky, I believe it did add a nice touch.

See other fascinating skies from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Blue Green

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:31:00 +0000

Beautiful Boracay waters (Philippines)... this is the perfect spot for snorkeling.

Ghaf Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:13:00 +0000

Ghaf Tree along Karama Street, Bur Dubai District

Sometimes referred to as the umbrella tree, Ghaf trees are ancient native trees of the Arabian peninsula, now designated as the national tree of the UAE. Numerous campaigns have been launched in the past years to spread awareness about Ghaf, but more importantly, the objective of these campaigns is to support the effort of preserving this endangered tree.

The indigenous ghaf (Prosopis cineraria) has been an integral part of the UAE's distinctive desert environment and the civilization that developed here. Ghaf is historically and culturally as valuable as it is ecologically. This wild tree can survive for hundreds of years with little water.

Sadly, a huge number of trees has dropped due to land clearance for development projects, over grazing, and excessive water extraction (isn't it disheartening how nature always takes a back seat to give way to urban development?). Thanks to the diligent efforts of concerned environmentalists, strict measures are now being implemented by the local government to protect surviving natural ghaf groves. Unauthorized removal of this endangered tree is now prohibited by law and hefty penalties are imposed on violators.

See other interesting stuff in different parts of the world, visit My World Tuesday.

Shadows

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:40:00 +0000

This is just one of the rustic Arabic-style interior elements that make Souk Madinat in Jumeirah a very nice place to visit, there are so many unique stuff here that makes for a good photography subject.

Be sure to check out other interesting monochrome entries at Monochrome Maniacs.

Getting The Groove Back

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:15:00 +0000

Hi! We're back. We've settled and adjusted pretty well in our new place, but had to wait quite a while for the internet line to get up and running. We really missed blog hopping and visiting friends, now it's time for us to do a lot of catching up.

Thanks to everyone who still came by our site though we were on a break, special thanks to those who left comments and wished us well on our move.

Ok, time to pick up the momentum and get some nice photos posted...

BLOG BREAK

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:34:00 +0000

Hi everyone! So sorry we have not posted in a while, we have been so busy lately with our recent move to a new house and we're still waiting for our new internet line to be installed, so we'll be on a short blog break until our internet connection gets sorted out.

Thanks for the visit and do check back after a week's time. See you then!

Box Jellyfish

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:26:00 +0000

Photo taken at Dubai Aquarium, Dubai Mall

Box Jellyfish is best known for its extremely powerful venom -- being the most deadly in the animal kingdom. Stings from such species are excruciatingly painful, either initially or as an after-effect, and are often fatal to their prey and sometimes even for humans. However, not all species of Box Jellyfish are this dangerous to humans.

I've had my own awful experience of being stung with a jellyfish many years back, it's a good thing that the people I was with at that time knew exactly how to apply first aid, they quickly applied vinegar and removed the tentacles immediately. That vinegar proved to be a savior. That is why it is important to know at least some basics about first aid, you'll never know when something like this could happen.

By the way, that experience never did once scare me off from swimming or snorkeling again because I really love to swim. Nevertheless, I could never stress enough the importance of being more careful, and to never go swimming alone especially in beaches, and of course to know first aid... it can save your life.

Visit other Watery Wednesday entries HERE.

Fire Truck

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:01:00 +0000

I was digging for a photo I could submit as my first entry to Ruby Tuesday, and I found just the right one to jump start my participation to this very fun "all things red" meme.

There is just something fascinating about old vehicles that draws people's attention and curiosity. This sturdy looking fire truck (around early 1900's Ford model) was among one of the handsome displays in a car show at Dubai Festival City a few months back. Really cool fire truck, huh!

Make sure to stop by at Ruby Tuesday to check out other hot entries.

Flower Beds

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:52:00 +0000

Flowers beds like these are a common sight along the roads and roundabouts here in Dubai, as part of the local municipality's efforts to make the city green with palm trees, shrubs and flowers. With all the towering buildings and the construction works all around (which never seems to end by the way), it is nice to see how these attractive flowers add a soft and natural touch to a bustling city like Dubai.

Check out other interesting purple entries at PhotoHunt, see beautiful flower blossoms at Today's Flowers and get a glimpse of other people's world at My World Tuesday.

Skycrapers

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:02:00 +0000

Dubai Marina is branded as a city-within-a-city. This man-made marina boasts of luxury apartments and villas set against a background of shimmering water. Upon completion, Dubai Marina will be one of the world's largest marina with approximately 4.5 square km in size, 3.5 km long with an 11 km boardwalk, covering a total of more that 50 million square feet housing luxury residential and leisure facilities.

We were here a couple of weeks back and really enjoyed our stroll along the boardwalk. Mind you, this place is busy...busy...busy! especially during Fridays (weekend in Dubai is Fri-Sat). With its very posh and cosmopolitan feel, it's not surprising why a lot of tourists and expats hang out here and crowd the place.

Check out other skies in other parts of the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Winter All Year Round

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:02:00 +0000

The heat is on! After the much longed for winter months sadly slipped by, the usual hot and dry climate is now back in Dubai. In this part of the world, the sun can be unforgiving. During summer's peak, temperature can rise up to 50 degrees Celsius and you'll dread going out.

To battle the heat, this ever innovative city provides solutions (though temporary) to those wanting to experience and enjoy snow or a sub-zero environment all year round. Check these out...

SKI DUBAI - A snow theme park located within Mall of the Emirates, it has a size of 22,500m² covered with real snow all year round – (equivalent to 3 football fields). You can ski, snowboard or just goof around at the snow park.

CHILL OUT CAFE - located at Times Square Mall, Dubai's first ever Ice Bar/Lounge. It's minus 6 degrees inside.

Diffused lighting, from low-heat LED bulbs, constantly changes colors as it filters through the ice blocks. It's really very beautiful when the color changes, they set different moods.

If you'd like to know more about just how "cool" this place is, check out the article I wrote in my other blog about mine and hubby's experience at Chill Out, click - Coolest Date Ever!

See other people's world by visiting My World Tuesday.

Pathway

noreply@blogger.com (Mariz) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:01:00 +0000

Taken at Souk Madinat Jumeirah

This type of rustic lamps and arches are just a few examples of common elements often used in Arabic inspired interior/exterior design.

Visit Monochrome Mondays to see other interesting entries.