Monday, April 8, 2013

"Other" Emirates (history, nature, motor racing)

Many of us who have been in the United Arab Emirates, knows this country as a paradise for shopping, a variety technological skyscrapers, beautiful cars and a sunny beach. 

But the Emirates - it's not just shops, skyscrapers and beaches.



Arabs are known for relate to pretty cool history. No, not without respect, and simply cool. They are worth nothing to demolish old houses and build up in their place new district.


Nevertheless, they are not vandals. One example - the coast of Dubai Creek. That is where you can see a real Arab market.


That there stands Al Fahidi Fort - the oldest building in Dubai, which now houses the Dubai Museum. And there is not far from the Fort quarter Bastakya - preserved ancient Arab quarter, now converted into a museum in the open air.


Beige color and elegance of the Arabic engulfs you at once, but in Dubai, many modern houses are built in a beige color and come with a variety of Arabic elements, so that these species have already become more or less familiar.


In the middle of the block stands a pretty snow-white mosque. Every day, as with all the other numerous mosques, with her ​​melodious call of the muezzin sounds.



That's one of the walls of the terrace of the mosque. Pay attention to her. A simple solution that was easy to see from the inside out, as any breeze ventilates the terrace, the reflected sunlight illuminates the entire room, but the direct scorching sun rays penetrate it easy.


Homes built by squares inside almost each of them - courtyard.
On the inside you can climb the stairs to the balcony, who is also the roof of the first floor.


On the balconies, roofs would have these thatched arbor for leisure.


These are the courtyards.



In the Emirates, not a lot of museums, as in European countries. But if the Arabs are taken for something - they do it seriously.
On the shore of Dubai Creek stands the oldest building of the city - Al Fahidi Fort. And in it, or rather its huge cellars arranged an excellent and informative museum about the life of Dubai in the past century.


Before the fort has a real ship-dau (dhow dhau), more precisely one of the existing types of diverse Arab vessel.





But there is in Dubai and another story - the story of nature, so to speak. This swamp Ras Al Khor. Yes, yes, it is a swamp. And right next to Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall.


In fact, it is part of the Dubai Creek, cut the town in two.
Once upon a time in all the banks in the Gulf Emirates lived millions of birds, a variety of flamingos and herons.
But the discovery of oil and the mass transport of maritime transport, urban growth and development of ports devastated coast these shores.
And that's just on the swamp was a piece of unspoiled nature.
Swamp carefully protected by the state and available for those interested in a totally free.
Also, there are telescopes and binoculars, so you can watch the birds.

History - that's good. But Emirates is also a sport country.
Highly developed different outdoor activities.
Known only in the Middle East, ski runs, and in the shopping center "Mall of Emirates"

Despite the small waves in the Gulf, one can often see the surfers.

Conquer there and the blue sky


Arabs, Italians and many others play football.
They generally highly developed amateur sports.


United Arab Emirates - it is also a car-to-country. Excellent roads, low gas prices and vehicle make Emirates a paradise for car lovers.
Here you can find all car brands. Sport, sport utility vehicles and prestigious ...


In addition to the desert and mountain terrain, Emirates interesting and motorsport fans.
In Jebel Ali, next to kartodroma spread impromptu motocross track.



Also in Dubai, there are a few go-cart track.



Here at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi competitions in drag racing

There are also other championships, for example, GP2, Porsche Mobil-1, as well as Porsche GT3 Middle East



But most importantly, in Abu Dhabi, held one of the stages of "the queen of motorsport '- Formula 1








Monday, September 3, 2012

Jerusalem. Rockefeller Museum.

In 1930, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., gave the money to build the Archaeological Museum in Jerusalem. Since then, the museum and named after him.

Austin Harrison - the architect commissioned to design the museum. Located across from the Old City walls and built of massive limestone blocks museum building more and more resembles a fortress.


The view from the porch of the museum


Museum driven by a Board of Trustees. In 1948, the division of Jerusalem, he was on  occupied  Jordanian territory. But continued to work as usual. Until 1966 - when King Hussein nationalized it. In 1967, the outbreak of the Arab-Israeli war. Israelis knocked Jordanians from Jerusalem and the West Bank. During the fighting in the tower housed the Israeli observation post. Since then the building is decorated with many marks of bullets. Now the museum is run by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Israel Museum.


It is a native design turnstile the 30s. In working order.


In a large  introductory hall exposition dedicated to the creation of the museum and its history. Here, the layout of the complex made ​​by the architect and his death mask.



Rooms are on the perimeter and are called the cardinal. At the corners are octagonal domed tower - they also placed artifacts. Within the perimeter of the pool and courtyard with fountains. Round - arched gallery, under the arches of which are also available any antiquity.





Opposite the main tower - vaulted hall, lined on the inside with ceramic tiles. Also with a fountain.





Roman sarcophagus


Fountain with drinking water in the hallway.


Halls of the museum.



In the halls there is no air conditioning. But the thick walls keep cool even in the strongest heat give a feeling of comfort. You can go to the patio and listening to the murmur of the fountain, sit in the shade by the pool.


Monday, June 18, 2012

Al-Ain Zoo...

Near the city of Al-Ain, in 160 kilometers from Abu Dhabi situated the largest zoo in the Middle East. He is unusual in that they contain the animals in natural enclosures, and their living conditions close to natural.






Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Millennium of Luxor.


The way from Hurghada to Luxor passes through the desert to the Nile.


The donkey and the goat - friends forever. 


Сheckpoint. In Egypt, forbidden to photograph the police.


The fertile Nile Valley. A small stream, which occupies less than 5% of the feeding area of ​​the country and all.



Such beauty is adjacent to ...


...these slums

Karnak Temple



In the temple walkway leading sheep - a symbol of the supreme God - Amon Ra