Snapshots of Dubai

Nikon D300

2007-12-24T13:48:00.001+04:00

Wheee! Finally I've gotten myself a new camera. A D300 with a 18-200 VR. Still waiting for the real glass, the 70-200 f/2.8 VR and the 14-24 f/2.8 to arrive...

Tunnel

2007-12-18T14:38:00.001+04:00

The pedestrian tunnel under the Deira side exit of Maktoum Bridge.

Birdies

2007-12-15T17:59:00.001+04:00

A lot of seagulls in front of the twin towers of Marriot Apartments.

Midday nap

2007-12-11T16:07:00.001+04:00

It sure is nice to take a quick nap in the afternoon.

ESPN X Games

2007-12-10T13:04:00.001+04:00

The ESPN X games held at Festival City last weekend was some kind of showjumping with motorbikes. At least it looked like that to me, but I'm no sports fan so I might be totally wrong. :-P

Car park indicators

2007-12-08T18:19:00.001+04:00

In this parking garage at Festival City there's a light in the ceiling above each parking space that turns red or green depending on if it's occupied or not. This allows you to see the free spaces from a long distance. Really neat function!

U-disp

2007-12-06T12:30:00.001+04:00

As a hobby I design and develop electronic stuff. This is my latest project, an electronic information display that you connect to the USB port on your computer and send information like page hits, number of unread mails or cpu load to. For more information go to www.u-disp.com

Flowers

2007-12-03T16:39:00.001+04:00

There are a lot of flowers in Dubai.

Song & dance

2007-12-02T21:02:00.001+04:00

Traditional Arabic singing performed at the UAE National Day in the Creek Park.

Stormy weather

2007-12-01T13:32:00.001+04:00

Windy, dark clouds and sunset. It would be a nice backdrop for a scary movie.

Christmas decorations

2007-11-28T18:56:00.001+04:00

Clock tower R/A

2007-11-27T13:12:00.001+04:00

Just a snapshot of the Clock Tower in Deira.

Redbull Flugtag

2007-11-25T14:00:00.001+04:00

The Redbull Flugtag was held in the Creek Park this friday. We got am amazingly good view of the event even if the park had 30000 visitors.

Santa Claus

2007-11-24T17:28:00.001+04:00

Santa Claus or Jultomten as he is called in Sweden at the Norwegian Seamens Center in Dubai.

Water leak

2007-11-21T13:24:00.001+04:00

It seems that they dug a bit too deep at this construction site between Al Maktoum Bridge and the Star Boutique building.

The Swedish Embassy

2007-11-20T16:19:00.001+04:00

The embassy is locate on the 12th floor Al Otaiba Tower in Abu Dhabi. That's the middle building it this picture.

Driving simulator

2007-11-19T13:12:00.001+04:00

This is a driving simulator at the Dubai Motor Show. A standard car on a testbed with ventilation for the exhaust, three large projection screens. Man, it was really noisy when someone was using it!

Bugatti Veyron

2007-11-18T10:55:00.001+04:00

The Bugatti Veyron with a price tag of $1.3 was not the most eyecatching car at the DubaiMotor Show.

Dirty car

2007-11-17T16:02:00.001+04:00

I found this note from the municipality on the windshield of a dirty car.

Under the authority of Legal Order No 11 of 2003 you are hereby requested to remove the vehicle machinery as it is disfiguring the public view and beauty of the city. Kindly ensure that necessary action is taken within 2 weeks from the date of this notice.

In clear text: You car is too dirty. Clean it now or we will impound it.

:-)

My office

2007-11-15T14:24:00.001+04:00

This is the Dubai Concorde building at Al Maktoum Street. My office is at the narrow edge on the 9'th floor.

Al Maktoum Street

2007-11-13T12:40:00.001+04:00

View from the pedestrian overpass outside Dubai Concorde and the Pic 'n' Save store.

Shuttle bus

2007-11-10T20:22:00.001+04:00

This is the shuttle bus, or maybe train, that gets handicapped, tired, aged or just plain lazy people from one end to the other in Ibn Battuta mall.

Did we do something wrong?

2007-11-08T13:00:00.001+04:00

A heated discussion among the site managers and the worker. But maybe they were only discussing the latest cricket game. :-D

Al Ittihad at night

2007-11-07T13:57:00.001+04:00

Pic of a piece of art between the lanes on Al Ittihad road just outside the airport. It might not be visible in the picture, but there's a big flame in the middle of it.

Port Saeed

2007-11-06T16:24:00.001+04:00

View of Port Saeed across Al Ittihad road.

Poi

2007-11-05T19:27:00.001+04:00

Today I was feeling a bit "crafty" and decided to make myself a pair of practice pois of an old sheet and a pair of shoelaces. I think they are a bit on the heavy side so I'll probably end up with some bruises during the next few days. :-P

The Burg

2007-11-04T12:55:00.001+04:00

The "7-star" hotel Burg Al Arab as seen from Madinat Jumeriah.

Ski Dubai

2007-11-03T14:43:00.001+04:00

This is the "tube" of the indoor ski slope in Mall of the Emirates.

The boat

2007-11-01T10:59:00.001+04:00

This boat is outside Dubai Museum in Bur Dubai. Some day I'll actually go into the museum and not just pass by it. ;-)

Pre mix

2007-10-31T13:04:00.001+04:00

A common right on the streets of Dubai - a line of trucks with concrete waiting in line at a construction site.

Dig-Dug

2007-10-30T12:04:00.001+04:00

There are workers all over Deira digging up all sidewalks and putting down plastic pipes. I don't know if it's for water, wastewater or maybe even optical fibers for internet. The layered structure of the sand and dirt in the ground is nice though.

The whirly @ MOE

2007-10-29T12:37:00.000+04:00

This is the big whirly ride indoors at magic planet in Mall of the Emirates.

Madinat Jumeirah

2007-10-28T13:39:00.001+04:00

This is a traditional windtower used for ventillation back in the old days when airconditioning wasn't invented yet.

Ramadan decorations

2007-10-27T13:27:00.001+04:00

Just an old pic of some ramadan decorations at Deira City Center.

Baggers

2007-10-25T14:08:00.000+04:00

As a Swede I'm used to put my groceries in bags myself, but here in Dubai I always get pushed away by the store baggers when I try to do that. It's rather annoying because I get bored while waiting for the cashier to ring up all my stuff.

Make way for the Ruler

2007-10-22T18:33:00.001+04:00

Today the police stopped the traffic for about 30 minutes to clear the way for the rulers convoy.

Warning text 1

2007-10-22T10:43:00.001+04:00

I hope that this pic will be readable in the blog. If not - it says "Keep away from children! WARNING. Do not your hands or other things into the gap to avoid danger happening!"

Ok, that's nice, I really wouldn't want any "danger to happen" :-)

Curved escalator

2007-10-20T18:33:00.001+04:00

I can't remember that I've seen an escalator like this before. This is located in a shopping mall in Abu Dhabi.

The police

2007-10-19T14:55:00.001+04:00

This policeman is standing at the Clock Tower R/A and makes a note of the cars that are going straight in the left turn-only lane. They probably get a fine of DHS 200 to be payed at the next re-registration of the car.

Writing on the wall

2007-10-18T11:05:00.001+04:00

This defaced wall is in Abu Dhabi. I have no idea of what it says but I don't think a reverse swastica is a normal arabic letter. In Dubai you have to search long and hard to find any tags or paintings on the walls.

The ginormous flag pole

2007-10-17T12:21:00.001+04:00

My wife is trying to take a picture of the flag in Abu Dhabi marina.

A pier in Abu Dhabi

2007-10-16T11:29:00.001+04:00

This photo is taken in the marina area close to the gigantic flag.

Is it or or and?

2007-10-11T14:33:00.001+04:00

I saw this on a box of underwear in a shop window in Abu Dhabi. I'm a bit confused - is it 100 % cotton or is it 100 % nylon or is it 50/50?

Land-hockey?

2007-10-10T18:43:00.001+04:00

This is the rink at the Norwegian Seamen's Centre.

Vertical bucket-brigade

2007-10-09T23:51:00.001+04:00

A group of workers move some stuff to the roof at the parking garage at Deira City Centre.

The Red Square

2007-09-18T18:54:00.001+04:00

The Red Square is a bar/restaurant at Moscow hotel on Al Maktoum road. It's rumored to have an unusually high number of prostitutes.

Lars & Pin

2007-09-08T21:53:00.001+04:00

The boss and his GF.

The big ugly fish we had for dinner

2007-09-08T21:33:00.001+04:00

The teeth looks really strange...

Me and prof. Hogland.

2007-09-08T21:28:00.001+04:00

The big boss

2007-09-05T19:43:00.001+04:00

My boss is usually trying to do eight things at the same time, often while having two telephone conversations going.

The booze truck

2007-09-05T14:28:00.001+04:00

African & Eastern is one of the two liquor importers in UAE.

Palm pruning

2007-09-03T10:25:00.000+04:00

Workers are pruning the dead branches from the palms between Maktoum Bridge and the Clock tower R/A

Ladies only

2007-09-02T18:28:00.001+04:00

A restaurant for ladies only seems a bit overkill to me...

Mall indoor sports

2007-09-02T17:30:00.001+04:00

Football and cricket for kids at the Festival City mall on the last day of Dubai Summer Surprises.

Brain food

2007-08-18T18:20:00.001+04:00

A turkish coffee, a diet pepsi and a notebook can keep me occupied for 30 minutes...

The Rulers

2007-07-29T16:31:00.001+04:00

We got a new painting for the 9'th floor office picturing all rulers of the seven emirates. The Ruler of Dubai is the one in the lower left corner.

Starting from the top left they are:

Sheikh Dr. Sultan III ibn Muhammad al-Qasimi -Ruler of Sharjah
Sheikh Humaid IV ibn Rashid Al Nuaimi -Ruler of Ajman
Sheikh Rashid III ibn Ahmad Al Mu`alla - Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain
Sheikh Saqr ibn Muhammad al-Qasimi - Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah
Sheikh Hamad ibn Mohammad ash-Sharqi- Ruler of Fujairah
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - Ruler of Dubai, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates.
Sheikh Khalifa II bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan - Emir of Abu Dhabi, President of the United Arab Emirates

Small car for small packages

2007-07-10T17:06:00.001+04:00

I saw this tiny car at Dubai airport freezone. I'd be scared shitless if I was driving that car among all huge SUVs like Hummers, Escalades and Rangerovers that the roads here are filled with here.

Colorful parking

2007-07-05T18:04:00.001+04:00

It looks like I have photoshopped this picture to get all these crazy colors. But I haven't, this is a real photo taken on the roof of the parking garage at Deira City Center.

Clean me u lazy ass

2007-07-05T11:55:00.001+04:00

In Dubai a dirty car usually receives a 'fingered' message like this very quickly.

Office view

2007-06-25T14:13:00.001+04:00

This is part of the view from my corner office at the 9th floor in the Concorde building. To the left you see the twin towers of the Marriot hotel, straight ahead the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. With this camera it looks really far away but in the real world I can see it very well.

Mall of the Emirates

2007-06-24T14:39:00.001+04:00

This is the dome roof in MOE. It reminds me of an old railroad station.

Here

2007-06-22T19:35:00.001+04:00

Ok, my wife is here but where am I then? There?

Beirut?

2007-06-20T15:06:00.001+04:00

No, I'm still in Dubai. This is a building on my way to the office that's being demolished.

Insect cluster

2007-06-20T12:53:00.001+04:00

While walking to the office yesterday morning I noticed this cluster of wasp-like insects on a loose electrical wire. They were still there this morning. I wonder why they are doing this here, in colder climates they cluster for keeping the heat but here with it being hotter than 42C (107F) it seems strange.

12'th floor view

2007-06-17T16:43:00.001+04:00

This is the view from the 12'th floor in the building where I live. You can see the creek and the Al Maktoum Bridge in the upper left corner of the picture.

Bomb checking guard

2007-06-15T16:31:00.000+04:00

This guard was checking the trunks and beneath all cars that entered the hotel area in Hyderabad for bombs. I don't know if this is a good thing or not. Ok, it's feels safe that they are checking, but at the same time it feels unsafe that that have to do it.

Sweatshop in Hyderabad

2007-06-14T15:50:00.000+04:00

I've spent a few days in Hyderabad, India looking at an outsourcing company. This company have about 500 guys sitting at cubicle-desks like this churning out code all day long. In a years time there will be another 2000 guys (and girls) working there.

This particular company had put up a lot of posters and small framed plaques oth the walls with wise sayings and stuff. I particularly liked the one above

The gas truck

2007-06-06T14:39:00.001+04:00

Whenever the gas for your stove is running low you just call for gas delivery and you'll get a new tube in 30 minutes. I have central gas in my apartment so i don't have to do that, but it's a nice and fast service.

Free health check

2007-06-04T11:19:00.001+04:00

Lena is queueing for the free health check at Deira City Centre. They were checking the waist size, blood glucose and blood pressure.

Long time no exit :-(

2007-06-02T00:50:00.000+04:00

It seems like friday evenings is not a good time to go shopping at Deira City Centre. It took us almost one hour to just get out of the parking garage! Ok, I had parked at the 4'th floor. But one hour is insane!

Not for muslims

2007-06-01T16:29:00.001+04:00

This is the pork section in Pick & Save on Maktoum Street.

De-watering

2007-05-31T11:18:00.001+04:00

Dewatering is not the first thing that comes to my mind when thinking of services needed in a city built on a dessert....

Birdie num-num

2007-05-24T15:11:00.001+04:00

This morning I found a bird sitting on the roof of my car. The bird must have been either somewhat retarded or very tired because he just sat there staring at me while I took the picture, unlocked the car, opened the door and reached in and got a bag with two six-packs of diet cola.

A major fender-bender

2007-05-23T17:09:00.001+04:00

(Or a minor road accident) In the city Ras Al Khaimah (pop. 102000) there was more than 340 car accidents during the last weekend. It sucks to be a traffic cop in that town...

Traffic queues

2007-05-22T13:54:00.001+04:00

Dubai wouldn't really be Dubai without the usual traffic jams and the insistent honking of the horns.

Norwegian Seamen's Centre

2007-05-18T22:56:00.001+04:00

Tonight we went to the Norwegian Seamen's Centre to attend a seminar by Nordea on investment banking. Their building (in the middle of Dubai) is a Swedish style wooden villa!

MOE fountain

2007-05-17T10:16:00.001+04:00

The fountain at the Mall of the Emirates with synchronized music, smoke, fire and jets of water. It's just the thing that I need on my terrace at home. ;-)

Veiled cyclists

2007-05-15T20:03:00.001+04:00

'Nuff said...

Swedish meatballs - Bork-bork

2007-05-13T23:32:00.001+04:00

Today I cooked us a big batch of meatballs. We ate them as they were - we simply where too lazy to make any gravy or mash...

Spiderman3 @ Gold class cinema

2007-05-11T23:00:00.001+04:00

While spending an afternoon shopping at Mall of the Emirates Lena and I decided to see Spiderman3 in the Gold Class cinema. They have fully reclining leather seats and food / snacks service to your seat. It's a bit expensive but worth every Dirham because there are no darn kids with cell phones and laserpointers there.

Rainy night?

2007-05-09T19:09:00.001+04:00

No. Rain at this time of the year is quite uncommon. The picture is just the result of the lens getting all fogged up by the damp air outside.

Flowers begone!

2007-05-09T14:56:00.001+04:00

Yep, the flowers are now ripped out of the ground. I suppose that there will be a small army of Indians and Pakistanis planting new flowerars within a few days.

Autumn in Dubai???

2007-05-08T15:34:00.001+04:00

No, it's actually springtime here. The trees got their leaves a month ago and they are blossoming right now. But it really looks like the autumn back in Sweden with those gorgeous red and orange colors.

A nap in the heat

2007-05-07T13:00:00.000+04:00

Some labores are napping in the shadow of a palm tree to escape from the heat of the afternoon sun.

Shawarma

2007-05-02T18:13:00.001+04:00

A shawarma (or maybe two :-) ) is really yummy when you are hungry between meals. unfortunately my weight is taking a hit in the wrong direction by this...

Ittihad creek bridge

2007-04-27T21:53:00.000+04:00

This picture is taken from the roof of Deira City Center and shows the construction site of the new bridge across the creek connecting Al Ittihad road with Dubai Courts on the other side.

Gardening

2007-04-24T14:21:00.000+04:00

Looks like that there is time for some serious gardening here since the irrigation for the flowerbed has been turned off for a week now.

Compaq WTF

2007-04-21T17:53:00.000+04:00

Why cant you do a factory restore on a Compaq with a completly empty harddrive?

Sand castle

2007-04-20T18:56:00.000+04:00

Sand castles under construction in Dubai Festival City.

Clocktower

2007-04-17T11:57:00.000+04:00

This is the clocktower in Deira, Dubai. Many years ago slaves was traded here.

Map