It has been over two months yet when I sorted the photos it felt like it was just yesterday of that mid of the three-day exhilarating after-race (F1) concerts last year. Sorting the photos reminded me of the ever delighted crowd, the new acquaintances I gained over twitter and other means through those queries directed to me asking how to get up-close to the stage, how to possibly get VIP passes out of my same kind of luck in the past (*facepalm* heeheee), me advising people as if I am a serial concert goer, and other random thoughts. Hahaha. Well, with no shame I admit that I am one of those who did the marathon for the after-race concerts for the past two years of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

It was a back to back concert for British band The Cult and Californian band Incubus that carefree night of 12th November, 2011. While The Cult was impressive for their part, without impartiality, Incubus deserved to do the second (i.e. last) half. As they say, save the better for last (at least for that night).

While I am more of a Coldplay and Linkin Park person, I must say that Incubus has its own charm and much can be attributed to its vocalist and lead guitarist Brandon Boyd. Their appearance in Abu Dhabi was part of their tour to promote their latest album “If Not Now, When?”

When they performed Anna Molly, Drive, and Wish You Were Here (finale song) the crowd went crazy. Then the biggest smile did shine when Brandon took off his shirt. Unfortunately, we did not have any photo because we were on a toilet break. What a coincidence eh. When I heard the loudest scream I knew that there was probably an emergency or someone was missing a portion of her life. I am glad I was not that of a fanatic or else I can spell regrets. Haha.

Up next is Beatles’ Sir Paul McCartney.

[Incubus 2011 after-race concert photoset]

I lost count of all the important personalities (the most recent was Queen Elizabeth) and intent whirlwind visitors who made Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque a must-see and experience in their UAE trip. Hence, when I finally saw it in person I cannot believe that it took me four years (yay! I’m soon celebrating another Abu-versary) to experience the charm and validate on my own the record-breaking details of THE mosque.

Thanks to my aunt who visited us in the overlapping momentous months of September and October last year. She made me list down the stuff which might interest her which paved way for discovery and re-discovery of UAE gems.

(The grand mosque features 80 domes,  1,096 columns in exterior and 96 columns in the main prayer hall which are embedded with more than 20,000 handmade marble panels with semi-precious stones.)

The third largest mosque in the world. We visited the grand mosque in October of last year.  There were plenty of visitors that weekend, however, we didn’t feel the need to queue or be negated by the thought of influx. Well, the grand mosque is hugeeeeee! Imagine that its size (more than 20,000 square metres) is equal to five (5) football fields. To sum up the capacity in terms of total number of worshippers, it can accommodate 40,960 people. Let me clarify though that the sum is based on the capacity of the entire mosque. The nerd in me wanted to create a pie chart to better illustrate how many worshippers it can house in the different prayer halls and court yard.

(L) My aunt covered by the traditional UAE dress* (abaya); We were teasing her that she’s got a teen spirit look here even if she’s already a senior citizen. I think that the grandeur of the open prayer hall and the wind contributed to the look.  (R) Visitors are required to remove the footwear before entering the main hall.

*Dress and behaviour code. We were required to wear the sheila (headscarf) and abaya (black robe) to cover the hair and body, respectively. On certain occasions, I had chances to try the UAE traditional dress but I always deferred it under the assumption that there’s always a next time. I’m more content being the one photographing the wearers. Finally, I tried it for the first time. It was an interesting experience especially that at times I visualized that one’s on me when I’m with my UAE Nationals-colleagues.

Putting the sheila on my top and denim was easy but I didn’t realize that covering the hair was tricky. Mine slipped several times and I had to do it over and again because the guards are keen on picking the violators, e.g. ladies with ‘hair sightings’ and not to mention the unacceptable behaviors like holding hands, eating, drinking. Anyway, I seemed pleased to a certain extent when I saw myself with the abaya on because it hid my bulges heehee. On the other hand, men are not required to wear the khoundura (white robe) unless they came in shorts and without sleeves. The kids may enter the mosque as they are but in some cases, little girls might be required to wear the sheila to cover the hair. All these elements — unused and neatly folded will be provided as you approach the open prayer hall but you must return it afterwards.

As a sign of respect, the footwear must be removed before entering the main prayer hall. It is the same protocol we followed when we visited the Sri Marriaman (Hindu) temple in Singapore.

The mosque’s name.  Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was named after the father/founder and first president of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (“bin Sultan” means “son of Sultan”). He was buried in the mausoleum (a private building inside the mosque compound) which cannot be photographed.  Amongst the many good things he did, it was his idea that the mosque be opened to all nationalities and religions in order to educate people about Islam and its art and history, and the Muslim culture.

(The exterior walls are said to be of traditional Turkish design. The nature-inspired design throughout the mosque reflects late Sheikh Zayed’s love for the environment. Personally, I appreciated the overall cheerful yet solemn effect of  the combination of materials. Of course, the precious-looking chandelier in the main prayer hall entrance is impossible to miss.)

A decade of conceptualization. After ensuring that we were decent enough to enter the main prayer hall, we requested a wheelchair for my aunt to make it more convenient for her. I must warn you that the feeling of being regaled is comparable to a “Pringle moment” (once you popped, you can’t stop), we hardly stopped being wooooowed by every detail; no wonder that it took a decade (started in late 1980s) to conceptualize its architectural design. The construction phase itself and the end result are regarded as an effort to unify the best concepts globally. It has been reported that the artisans and materials came from Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China, Greece and the UAE. The mosque was inaugurated in Ramadan of 2007.

The crystals and other record-breaking blings. We thought that the bluish and whitish chandelier we saw earlier was more than a breath-taker but the seven (7) gold-coloured chandeliers inside the main prayer hall were more stunning. As reported, those were imported from Germany, have thousands of Swarovski crystals from Austria and some glass work from Italy. Reported cost? US$8.2 million.

World’s largest chandelier. In above photo you can see that under the main dome, the 10 metres in diameter, 15 metres in height and over 9 tonnes in weight chandelier hangs. That’s a mammoth weight! I hope that the mosque is ultra-earthquake proof. Rumor has it that its “sparkle ability” is powered by 40 million pieces of Swarovski crystals.

While I’m not a big fan of crystals, golds and jewelries (except for watches), my eyes sparkled in appreciation. Heehee. Do you also wonder how they do the maintenance of this? Based on unofficial local conversations, there is a built-in staircase within the chandelier itself for maintenance purposes!

The Qibla wall. Being a non-Muslim, I was most curious about the counterpart of the altar and pulpit of the priest’s (Imam in Islam) stand. I absolutely liked the idea that while its components cost a fortune, it was made to look unassuming and simple so as not to distract worshippers from prayers. The niche in the middle is called “Mehrab” which is made of gold-class mosaic. Please take note of the embossed portions as they provide details of the 99 names (qualities) of Allah in traditional Kufi calligraphy. Just a polite note to the visitors not to touch the Holy Quran (Holy Book) and other architectural elements in the main prayer hall.

(Closer look at the Qibla wall. It faces the direction of the Holy City of Mecca in Saudi Arabia — wherein the first two largest mosques can be found.)

The prayer clock (Adhan). This clock is interesting because it shows the schedule of call to prayer as of a certain day. Muslims are prescribed to pray five (5) times a day.

The world’s largest hand-knotted carpet. My aunt did not fully utilize the wheelchair inside the main prayer hall as the carpet is more inviting. Before researching on this subject, it was best to assume that the best carpets are Iranian produced. It didn’t surprise me that an Iranian artist designed the carpet.  The best part of the  trivia is that the carpet was handcrafted by 1,200 artisans in small villages near Mashhadin, a region in Iran popular for its carpet making expertise. To add,  they were flown to Abu Dhabi to stitch the carpet pieces together for the final fitting. Consisting of 2,268,000 knots, the mosque’s carpet is estimated at US$8.2 million.

The inflaid floral designs reminded me of the movie Tangled. There are 96 columns in the main prayer hall which are round in shape. Aside from the floral designs, the Italian white marble adorn the prayer halls. Take note of the ceiling also.

The ceiling at a closer look.

There are reflective pools as well, however I missed a snapshot (that’s why I’m looking forward to my next visit, probably to coincide it with sunset and stay until night). I have seen photos online that the pool itself captures the spectacular image of the mosque.

Taking photos and videos, sketching/drawing inside the mosque. Whether you’re a photo enthusiast or not, you will absolutely enjoy capturing the grand mosque because it is really beautiful, each corner can probably tell a story, capture an indescribable moment and for other reasons. Photo and video taking are allowed for personal consumption. However, I would like to reiterate that the mausoleum is off-limits as a sign of respect to late Sheikh Zayed as his remains are there. For professional film makers and media establishments, prior permission can be requested by contacting tour@szgmc.ae.  On the other hand, feel free to draw or sketch inside the mosque but avoid using chalks and charcoals.

While I wrote about the don’ts of taking photos in the UAE, I would like to remind everyone, especially the tourists, not to take photos of the UAE Nationals without permission whether you’re inside or outside the grand mosque. In case you would like to take photos of the worshippers praying at the time of your visit, I suggest that you first consult the security officers inside the mosque to avoid complications.

Good news! Entry is free of charge.

Another good news: there are free guided tours in Arabic and English. Click here for the schedule.

I realized that I need to learn from the errors of my ways of deferring my visits and/or chances of trying different things which I should have done a long time, especially if it’s for free.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre
Operating hours: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Daily, except on Friday mornings, first day of Eid-Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha
Website: http://szgmc.ae/en/
How to Get There

[Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque photoset]

It is my second time to celebrate new year away from home. The eve and today were spent with dear ones, cooking for them and well, it has been spiced up differently because I had a new year countdown with Coldplay. They have been here in 2009 but I was not able to catch them. I guess this is one of the blessings in disguise (no, I am not sourgraping heehee) of not being granted a leave this time due to work commitments.

Unlike the Formula 1 after-race concerts which were consistently staged at Yas Arena, last night’s concert was held at the Corniche Breakwater. I think it is due to the event being highlighted, the Volvo Ocean Race, which is happening in Abu Dhabi Corniche. While I am more at home in Yas Arena, the presence of the group in any venue may probably outweigh other preferences and considerations. It was reported that this British band was paid US$ 1.5 million for this performance and was a personal choice of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The concert kicked off with mini-fireworks display and confetti complemented some of the next numbers. They played Yellow, Viva La Vida, Violet Hill, Fix You, Paradise, In My Place, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall, and more that comprised the epic night.

While I prefer Yas Arena as a venue, I found the stage structure better last night (well, it was particularly built for the event) since it allowed the performers to be visually (and actually) more interactive with the audience. The lights’ vibe was noteworthy, too.

The band’s energy, especially of Chris Martin is unbelievable and crazy, just like the audience’s! Hearts out!

At 11:59 PM, Chris led the countdown to year 2012.

And the fireworks display followed.

What a nice way to bid adieu and welcome the new year. Catch Coldplay if you can, every minute is worth it and that still left me with the playlist/set list on repeat. Happy new year to all!

[More photos of Coldplay in my Flickr photoset]

Following Britney Spears’ after-race concert was a back to back oozing performances from The Cult and Incubus. We didn’t know who is going to perform first, but the spotlight buzzed at 8:00 PM, an hour earlier than the usual gigs in Yas Arena. There the British rock band, The Cult came in full enthusiasm.

I had a little adjustment to the ‘gothic rock’, but they were pleasant in the ears. Add to that the contagious looks of people around me who were obvious die-hards. For a moment I felt a little out of place. Hahaha. But not too long I was regaled by the head banging of the lead vocalist, but I liked more the depth of the guitarists.

The band existed even before I went to gradeschool and it was interesting to see them still standing as group although it went through ‘break-up’, reunion, hiatus, and other challenges. (In my dreams, I hope that can happen with the Philippines’/ our very own ‘Eraserheads’.)

I can say that The Cult’s appearance in the back to back concert with Incubus seemed like a ‘swing by‘ in Abu Dhabi as they are preparing for their 9th studio album.

Ended their performance via the classic She Sells Sanctuary

And as they concluded, we paused for a break as the stage was being switched on to a different kind of energy. We were at the same (front) row with them — few minutes before Incubus appeared to the crowd (*inserts teenage-like screams here*).

[The Cult in Abu Dhabi photoset]

Amongst many celebrations, November spells F1 in Abu Dhabi or locally known as Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. But more than the roaring engines, I am one of those who are more interested in after-race concerts. So we did a concert marathon again like last year (it was Kanye West, Linkin Park and Prince) the past week.

We strategically selected the North Grandstand tickets again since it’s nearest to Yas Arena (concert venue). That we can just do ober da bakod (over the fence) after the race. Well, it’s still steps/corner away but the best location if you intend to fly from the race circuit to the concert gate. We got the buy one, take one tickets by the way and for that I thank over and again a good friend for sourcing for us. I also can not thank the Universe enough because even if we got the regular F1 race tickets (which entitled the holder to after-race concert), we were given (on the day itself) VIP wristbands in the three consecutive nights musical affair. Yehey!

Britney Spears‘ Femme Fatale Tour (Abu Dhabi)

Months before the Abu Dhabi F1 organizers announced the line up of performers, there were speculations that Lady Gaga will do the opening night. But surmised that she is too liberated for the Emirate. Then it was finally hinted that Britney Spears will kick-off the after-race concerts when Abu Dhabi was announced to  be part of her Femme Fatale Tour. Due to stretchable demand, the concert organizers floated tons of tickets raffled through online contests in order to give way to interested non-F1 ticket holders.

The organizers were more strict this year in terms of allowed cameras and video recorders. It pays to have an unassuming (should not look pro or semi-pro) yet good in low-light condition compact camera and my Flip video easily disguised as a camfone inside a sanitary pad (*inserts evil grin*).

Britney looked like a doll. Really charming that night especially if you were watching her up close. While I am not really a fan although we are of the same generation, the excitement of people personally known to me and the unknown was contagious. Just the reasonable extent of prepping up, I downloaded the setlist of Britney’s Femme Fatale Tour a week before the concert and was on my playlists till then.

Her wardrobe/outfit line up surprised me though. You would not expect she’d show much skin while in the UAE territory.

Gals and guy (that’s a singular, really, i.e. a bewildered teenager) were picked up from the crowd to dance with her. As you will see in below photo, the shocked-whuuuut-him-like-me forgot to click the shutter when Britney wrapped her legs around ‘that kid’, heehee, I feel so old and conservative. Heehee.

This part of the show reminded me of the ‘face dance’ featured in a Filipino talent search show.

I barely noticed that Britney was not that graceful because the ‘hairography’ worked for me especially that her back-up dancers were pleasing to the eyes. (Regardless, as the fanatics would say, “come on, she’s Britney!”) I think that for a moment or so, some of the concertgoers went all eyes to at least a couple of male and female back-ups. I’m sure you will notice in the photos.

I loved the old school cameras below! On the other hand, Britney’s skirt was epic because I thought she decided to get covered only to realize soon that it’s one of those ‘windy skirts’. Fun times. Enjoy the rest of the photos!

There goes the first of the three parts of the concern marathon which ended with a bang. Stay tuned for the entries re: Incubus and The Cultand Sir Paul McCartney (amazing Paul!).

[Britney Spears concert photoset]

We decided to have a quick getaway last weekend to get a much deserved breather. We thought that Yas Rotana would be so quiet since the grand prix (Formula 1) is still months away. But it was reasonably jovial, just the way we needed.

Oriental mix grill is highly recommended.

And guess what? Our package included free tickets to Ferrari World, currently the world’s largest indoor themed park and houses Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster (as if I can manage the scare heeheee, dream on). We are looking forward to our visit, anyway.

(Thanks to those who participated in my blog anniversary and birthday giveaway. It is still open until 17th of July.)

Visiting a souk (bazaar or market) is probably less appealing during the first phase of summer in Abu Dhabi. But it’s definitely a come-on when you think of this new age souk! Few minutes drive from where I live, the historic Central Market is now sporting a new look as it’s transforming into a hub of local food, crafts, boutiques, and traditional and bustling pieces rolled into one. Stories say that the old souk was greatly affected by fire in 2004. As for the idea of resurrecting it, I liked the part that they conceptualized the modern souk not by simply putting up a shiny establishment, and instead they retained the Arabic feel through its architecture.

Although The Souk is still eyeing its completion by the end of this year, it’s worth the visit because of the interesting finds inside it, a peek to its architecture, and the appreciation through your own senses that it’s a stand out in the UAE.

During our visit last weekend, we noticed that the available stalls offer arts and crafts products, antiques, cameras, jewelries, designer glasses (uhum, must be the season – an eye toy, err, cover is a must), chocolates, and a variety of dining choices ranging from Middle Eastern to Western dishes, not to mention the presence of gorgeous coffee, frozen yogurt and ice cream shoppes.

If you’re looking for edible gold-like cake toppers/figurines, you might want to check Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. I enjoyed the free taste of chocolates which were kookily shaped as pharaohs and other trivial figures. I willingly accepted the discount card because I might become a suki (frequent customer), who knows? To start, we got a pack of spoon-shaped chocolates.

How I wish I were that articulate in reading Arabic, or even if I am (wishful!) I wish I knew how to use this sort of globe or compass.

The displays near the escalators, as well as the sculptures of deers (I thought we would find camels instead; but there were plenty of camel inspired souvenirs) and other antique cabinets are really attention grabbing. In a way, it felt like being in a modern-non-eerie museum.

While there are mahogany-like structured benches, the sofa and other booths with this traditional design and color were reminiscent of our Desert Safari experience… and of Baguio in the Philippines.

I absolutely liked how they put together the sliding roofs and walls to pave way for a better ventilation. As the architect accounted it, while the towers relate to distance and skyline, the souk and the lower levels are scaled to the pedestrian. An intimate sequence of streets, alleys, courtyards, balconies and colonnades dissolve barriers between inside and outside, with flexible sliding roofs and walls to enable control of internal environments, and to maximise potential for natural ventilation. Like a patchwork quilt of gridded modules of varying height, the scheme is a highly articulated composition that bridges and unifies two city blocks.

Here’s the current look of the food court. It can only get more impressive in few months.

We tried the strawberry waffle and nutella crepe from The Crepe Cafe. Surprisingly, they were light and not too sweet. We found another favorite! But if you really want to know, we’re now earmarking our visits to The Souk to try the tea house and themed coffee shoppes. The ambiance is really magnetic.

This is how it looks from the outside. I’m not sure if it’s the Asian in me, but it felt and it looked like that there was a touch of Japanese and/or Korean architecture in it.

But whatever it is, I liked the practicality and appeal of the combination of old Abu Dhabi with the modern age in this structure. Let’s see once this mall (yes, it is!) is in full bloom.

The Souk, Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Website: http://www.centralmarket.ae/souk/

I remember that day when a colleague was scouting for sources of stuffed turtle toy, I did not expect that it would be used for the launching of one of the projects of the Firm. Imagine the excitement and curiosity combined when we saw the toy turtles lined up on each table at the ballroom during the presscon-launch. Aside from the toy, all of us took home turtle cakes. There was a sort of question and answer as well and I am glad I was not called because I did not know the answers to most of the questions asked. Otherwise, I have been embarrassed infront of my boss and colleagues. And yes, you got to answer with the microphone. But when I look back, all of them got it correctly. Maybe I need a refresher course on marine turtle’s life.

Little J was regaled by the cake. Well, themed cakes are really appealing. But in the end, she ate the chiffon only citing that “I don’t want to kill the turtle with my own teeth” while reminiscing about those cute, while some were “snobbish” tortoises and turtles we met in Malaysia.  (The truth is no one at home ate that choco turtle on top.) And you know the psychology of slimy colors in general. I remember when we had our finals in Home Economics class in highschool that we were asked to bake a cake, each of us, from scratch. One of my closest friends used an apple green icing, matched with (I thought were) bizarre toppers and she got a really nice mark. Well, I was one of those who stuck with the safe pink and baby colors. If I can go back to that finals, I would probably be sporting a lego-type topping (read as sourgraping heehee). Sometimes, it pays to be unique.

Speaking of being unique, our Firm adopted a turtle to support the marine turtle conservation project in the UAE. While the project’s objectives are really striking, I was more curious about how they track the endangered hawksbill turtles which are migrating from UAE to Iran, Oman, Qatar and other shores in the Gulf. According to Gulfturtles.com, when turtles come onshore to nest, a transmitter is fitted to their shells in a painless process using fibreglass cloth and resin. The transmitter has a smart switch that is sensitive to sea water. When the turtle comes up to the surface to breathe, the transmitter switches on and, using a global system of satellites, it sends a signal up to an orbiting satellite which keeps constant track of it. The information is relayed to a receiving station in France, then passed on to scientists and conservationists throughout the world via email or a dedicated website. (More information here.)

While it probably takes a lot of resources to sustain this project, I am glad that there are groups who support this kind of endeavor. We have to find the balance in the ecosystem in our own (even small) ways. While I gather my thoughts, I am at the same time enjoying tracking the turtles online.  That is a must try.

I was, of course, beaming when I was sent to a (getting popular) structured cultural awareness workshop. I’m now a little over three years living (and working) in Abu Dhabi and you might ask  isn’t it too late? When an expatriate or any non-national goes to another country, it’s a given that one must orient himself in many possible ways before landing in a foreign land. Especially when one crosses borders to augment and/or explore the workforce. It’s specially tricky in the UAE because it’s not simply dealing with the UAE Nationals; it actually means dealing with different Arabs and Muslims + the other nationalities. Configure the equation that not all Arabs are Muslims, not all Muslims are Arabs, and all the other nationalities could either be Muslims or not. Hence, when I was picked to attend the “proper” cultural awareness workshop, there was so much wooooow painted in my heart and face. I just really find it interesting to learn about new culture, everyday there’s always a new discovery.

Oftentimes the situation is catching me by surprise that I’d tell, “I didn’t expect that it could get any better”. Apparently, Ali AlSaloom, the top cultural consultant of the Gulf, facilitated the workshop. Another starstruck moment. The workshop started with a cultural quiz which got me one incorrect answer  (it really helps when you are mingling with the locals (appropriately called UAE Nationals or Emiratis) and when you are keeping an open mind about the things around you) — I got it wrong when I responded yes to the question that to eat pork is always haram (legally forbidden by Islamic law) for the Muslims. As Ali explained, they may eat pork if that is the last resort. But as I gathered from most of my Muslim colleagues, they would rather die than eat it. The workshop was so stimulating that we didn’t want it to end. So far, the biggest (among the new) information to me is that the UAE government supports lesbians and gays, to a certain extent. That Emiratis who have strong inclination that they have gender issues, if they willingly approach the concerned government agency, will be subjected to medical tests. And if indeed warranted, the government will pay for the sex change surgery and the necessary changing of identifications like passport. Thought-provoking.

When he gave us the newly updated version of his book “Ask Ali: A Guide to Abu Dhabi” at the end of the workshop, I was already cooking a plan to ask him to sign my copy. And he did and even wrote (the salutation) my name in Arabic and English and gave me an extra (a bookmark). Only then the other participants queued to ask him to sign theirs. If the author was right infront of you, seize the day! But I chickened out to have a photo with him, nobody dared. Anyway, there might be a next time. I still recall how I fared when we were asked to introduced ourselves at the start, “…. that I was born and raised in Manila” though technically I was born in Quezon City. As to go with the flow, it was a given that I came from the Philippines and instead of being asked from which city, better yet to mention Manila although I technically grew in Laguna and spent much of life in Manila and Makati and our connotations about Manila may vary. On the other picture, Abu Dhabi is often confused as part of Dubai. No, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are two of the seven emirates of the UAE . Hence, the “United” in United Arab Emirates.

You might be wondering, why the brand “Ask Ali”, he loves to explain anything which is Arab-related. And it shows that even beyond that arena. He is a credible source that he has been appointed as a cultural ambassador. What’s especially interesting is when you get information or clarification from an Emirati himself and not from a foreign author; he who has been exposed to different cultures and traveled a lot. I was not too surprised of his seemingly multi-accents to non-accent pattern. For long time or new residents and tourists in Abu Dhabi or the UAE as a whole, I am encouraging you to visit his site ask-ali.com and Embrace Arabia.

The other references, aside from the online information and Ask Ali: A Guide to Abu Dhabi, that I found to be giving healthy awareness about Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the Gulf, are From Rags to Riches: A Story of Abu Dhabi and Don’t They Know It’s Friday? (The men on the covers both walking to the same direction is a fascinating coincidence.)  These were instrumental to my easy-going adjustment in the UAE. These made me ponder what are the top books, preferably authored by Filipinos, that I should recommend in case a non-Filipino (and even Filipinos) will ask about the best references for someone who would want an enriching read about cultural awareness in the Philippines.

Suddenly, I’m reminded of my random list of what makes Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi. That is I’m writing about stuff that is so Abu Dhabi on a per encounter basis. As I recollect it, it would be informative, trivial and classic. I guess I should write about that.

I attended the Cityscape last month and minus the coincidental glance to Sheikh Mohammed like last year, the exhibit was indeed interesting. For an expat like me, I mumbled at some point that I should treasure these shots in reference to the exciting future of this emirate. That means that I should strive to have a healthy life in order to live longer and witness the results of the urban planning in two decades coming into full swing. Oh well, everyone aims that. Anyway, we visited first the booth of the agency which is responsible for the development of master plans for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (also referred as Abu Dhabi Plan 2030). They have updated the lifesize 3D model:

Ferrari World, the biggest indoor theme park in the world.

The furthest leaning mandmade tower to date. Otherwise known as the Capital Gate.

Capital District, the future seat of royal and government offices, embassies and the like. The planning for security must really be challenging.

With my old favorites:

I hope to get inside this spiral building (head office) of Aldar, the developer of Ferrari World

Performing Arts Center in Saadiyat Island. Inside it will be a music and concert hall, drama theatre and an opera house.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, aimed to be the largest of the Guggenheims. The most interesting aspect to me is the idea that it is being built on the water at all sides.

As we went out of the booth, the last thing that struck me was the image of this young UAE national shown on the video. How lucky he is that the government is genuinely taking care of him. The concept of starting it right by urban planning is more than commendable. As for someone like me who hails from a beautiful yet developing country, which I regard highly despite of its limitations, I had other things running in my mind like the what ifs and how my very own survived and how we can better manage the risk of not having an urban planning, that if one had the resources — how much will be spent on the plan’s model and the execution of the plan itself.

We checked the other booths and here are other eyecatching  images amongst the many which were all outstanding, especially if you saw them face to face.

One of the interesting mosques

A bigger replica of Capital Gate

Stadium

A beautiful piece from Hispano Decor

Sheikh Zayed bridge, named after the first president of the UAE.

Another mosque sample in a community

Model houses for UAE Nationals. Note the combination of traditional Arabic and modern architecture. Amongst the moving projects which are really noticeable are the housing programs for the locals. I appreciate the government’s approach of taking care of the homes first.

And hey… there was a campaign related to Cambodia in Cityscape. No other booths for the Philippines and the rest of those in Southeast Asia.

The government of Abu Dhabi has so many projects and with the things which are controllable and beyond their control, I would really be happy if a) Plan 2030 will materialize as intended, b) I’m still alive that time to see the developments via the internet or some more advance medium and c) if I’m still groovy and can re-visit Abu Dhabi before 2030 with my grandchildren so I can witness my photos coming into life.