Friday, October 5, 2012
28 Sept - 2 Oct - Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
From Paris we arrived at the Abu Dhabi airport very early in the morning. Took a taxi to our hotel. Fortunately, the Front Desk Manager, recognizing that we were tired from the long journey, was kind enough to find an available room, let us check-in early without charging anything extra.
With Aminah, our guide at the mosque
The Flower Hall
The mosque can accommodate 8000 worshippers at any 0ne time. The Main Hall is for special occasions only, such as the Friday Prayers, the Eid Prayers, and the Ramadhan Tarawikh prayers. There are two smaller halls for the daily prayers, one for men, and the other for women.
The men's wudhud (abulution) area.
After the mosque visit, we were taken to the Mina markets where, dates, fruits, vegetables and fish were sold. There was also an Iranian Marketplace. Most fruits and vegetables are imported from neighboring countries in cold trucks.
On our way to the Islamic art Gallery.
Etihad towers and the Palace Hotel are seen in the background.
The newly opened Palace Hotel.
At the Islamic Art Gallery.
Items displayed in the gallery were mostly beautiful and expensive carpets, and other interesting Arabic and Islamic handicrafts. Did not take pictures inside the gallery.
From the top floor of the Islamic Art Gallery
In front of the Islamic Art Gallery.
We then visited the Heritage Village and museum, displaying the desert life as it was and some other Museum artifacts. One can take a bus from town to this museum as well.
Some pictures taken at the Heritage Village.
and back to our hotel room.
(Did a search the night before for the location of this bus station)
We arrived at Al Ain at about 1.00 PM. The town seemed deserted. It is the practice in most Arab countries to close their banks, shops etc between 1.00 PM to 4.30 PM so that they can take the afternoon off to sleep or to rest and avoid the heat. The cities become alive again after 5.00 PM until late in the night.
A Museum and an Oasis were made a National Heritage site in Al Ain. We made the trip to Al Ain on a Monday, and unfortunately the museum and the National Heritage area are closed on Mondays. However the guard allowed us into the Oasis site.
External view of the Museum
The Gate to the Oasis and private farms
Inside the Date Farm Oasis
Although it was hot, we braved ourselves to see a little bit more of the town.
We were left with the impression that we were in Pakistan rather than in Abu Dhabi or UAE - The shops, restaurants, vegetable, fruit and fish markets were mostly manned by Pakistanis. So were the carpet, shoes and sandles and clothing stores were all run by Pakistanis. We had our lunch at a Pakistani fast joint.
View from hotel room
After enough rest, we took a walk to the beach, daring the heat at 40 C.
The Marina (shopping) Mall is in the background in the middle. On the right hand side is the Marina, and the Heritage Village.
The Marina (shopping) Mall is in the background in the middle. On the right hand side is the Marina, and the Heritage Village.
Corniche Road
From Corniche Road, one can take a bus to Marina Mall, the newest and biggest shopping mall in Abu Dhabi.
A familiar sign is awaiting in front of the mall.
The cooler temperature inside the mall encourages us to do more posings :)
The Marina Mall has an ice-skating rink.
On the following day we took a city tour
"The Leaning Tower" of Abu Dhabi
The magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque of Abu Dhabi.
With Aminah, our guide at the mosque
The Flower Hall
The mosque can accommodate 8000 worshippers at any 0ne time. The Main Hall is for special occasions only, such as the Friday Prayers, the Eid Prayers, and the Ramadhan Tarawikh prayers. There are two smaller halls for the daily prayers, one for men, and the other for women.
The men's wudhud (abulution) area.
After the mosque visit, we were taken to the Mina markets where, dates, fruits, vegetables and fish were sold. There was also an Iranian Marketplace. Most fruits and vegetables are imported from neighboring countries in cold trucks.
On our way to the Islamic art Gallery.
Etihad towers and the Palace Hotel are seen in the background.
The newly opened Palace Hotel.
At the Islamic Art Gallery.
Items displayed in the gallery were mostly beautiful and expensive carpets, and other interesting Arabic and Islamic handicrafts. Did not take pictures inside the gallery.
From the top floor of the Islamic Art Gallery
In front of the Islamic Art Gallery.
We then visited the Heritage Village and museum, displaying the desert life as it was and some other Museum artifacts. One can take a bus from town to this museum as well.
Some pictures taken at the Heritage Village.
and back to our hotel room.
It was quite difficult to find paper maps of bus routes. However maps are displayed on the walls of bus-stops. I took the opportunity to snap some pics of the bus route maps.
Seeking help from local residents is another way of finding directions. Mohamed was originally from Egypt but has been residing in Abu Dhabi for 15 years.
A Day Trip to the Town of Al Ain, two hours away by bus from Abu Dhabi.
The Main Bus Station of Abu Dhabi
Al Ain town
We arrived at Al Ain at about 1.00 PM. The town seemed deserted. It is the practice in most Arab countries to close their banks, shops etc between 1.00 PM to 4.30 PM so that they can take the afternoon off to sleep or to rest and avoid the heat. The cities become alive again after 5.00 PM until late in the night.
A Museum and an Oasis were made a National Heritage site in Al Ain. We made the trip to Al Ain on a Monday, and unfortunately the museum and the National Heritage area are closed on Mondays. However the guard allowed us into the Oasis site.
External view of the Museum
The Gate to the Oasis and private farms
Inside the Date Farm Oasis
Although it was hot, we braved ourselves to see a little bit more of the town.
We were left with the impression that we were in Pakistan rather than in Abu Dhabi or UAE - The shops, restaurants, vegetable, fruit and fish markets were mostly manned by Pakistanis. So were the carpet, shoes and sandles and clothing stores were all run by Pakistanis. We had our lunch at a Pakistani fast joint.
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