Cyber-exhibition "Million’s Street"

 

Cyber-exhibition "Boat beneath the sunny sky"

 

In thrust I trust

 

It's better to be down here wishing you were up there, than up there wishing you were down here.
An Etihad airplane soars over the city skyline to dramatic effect.

Silver Lady

 

A Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé as seen at 'The Walk' Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) in Dubai.  Cost new $443,000.

Fast and Furious

 

Driver's view of the Corniche Road heading towards Meena/Mina port.

Life in the Outback

Couple of shepherds tending their flock of camels

National Treasure

Another example of the lengths Emiratis go to in decorating their cars for National Day. This one depicts the late Sheikh Zayed (as do most) and covers the entire rear window of the 4x4

Spirit of the Union

Emiratis celebrated 40th UAE National Day in style by decorating their cars in an array of elaborate designs. The striking 'Spirit of the Union' logo highlights the historic meeting on 2nd December 1971 of the late Sheikh Zayed with the rulers of the 6 other emirates, proudly marking the establishment of the United Arab Emirates.

Magic Mountain

Now that's what I call a hairpin! According to Wikipedia, the Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road extends for 7.3 mi (11.7 km) up the mountain, rising 4,000 ft (1,219 m). With 21 corners and three lanes (two climbing and one descending), the immaculate road was called the greatest driving road in the world by Edmunds.com. The road scales the mountain and ends at a parking lot with only a hotel and a palace belonging to the country's rulers.

Dream Machine

With the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix over for another year, the Yas Island circuit has to find innovative ways to occupy itself for next 364 days. This includes hiring out this SuperSport SST track car with open-top, 1340cc, 4-cylinders, 420 bhp, and a top speed 233 kph - Phew!

Strange Sines

 

This 'Rood Works' sign was quickly removed and replaced once people (like me) were spotted taking photos of it.

Bodacious Tatas

 

Abu Dhabi has just made it into the Guinness World Records for having the biggest speedhumps on the planet.

Ship on the horizon

 

I am standing on the sea shore,
A ship sails in the morning breeze and starts for the ocean.
She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her
Till at last she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says:
"She is gone."


Gone! Where?
Gone from my sight - that is all.
She is just as large in the masts, hull and spars as she was when I saw her
And just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination.
The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me,
not in her.


And just at the moment when someone at my side says,
"She is gone",
There are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout:
"There she comes"

Bishop Brent
1862 - 1926 .

Khasab Harbor

 

After 7 hours onboard the dhow, we finally docked in the picturesque fishing village of Khasab, the local capital of the Musandam peninsula. A quaint place with a couple of small hotels and restaurants on offer. The typical Omani houses seen on the left of the picture are very different to that of the style of the UAE's.

Dolphin Seekers

 

Another major attraction here are the dolphins with Bottlenose and Spinner's being the most common
(although too quick for me to capture on camera).

Silhouette

 

This against the light silhouette makes for a dramatic shot.

Sailing

 

It's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

It's not far to never never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing
Takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

Fantasy
It gets the best of me
When I'm sailing
All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
Won't you believe me

It's not far back to sanity
At least it's not for me
And when the wind is right you can sail away
And find serenity
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Going around the bend

 

In the centre of the picture is Telegraph Island AKA Jazirat al Maqlab, where according to legend the expression 'going around the bend' comes from. Apparently the British soldiers who worked on the island during the mid-1800s used to lose their sanity at a much higher rate than normal due to the extreme heat, isolation and hardship of being posted here. Read more about the history of Telegraph Island here.

River Deep - Mountain High

 

Rising nearly 10,000 feet high and extending 500 km, this photo gives you an idea of the scale of the imposing Al Hajar Mountains.

Ahoy, Matey!

 

With my stomach satisfied it was time to board the "Princess of Muscat", a traditionally decorated Omani dhow for a 7-hour leisurely cruise along the fjords of Musandam.