UAE 2010: From the desert sands of Abu Dhabi to the corniche

Date: 12th April 2010

After the madness of Dubai, it was back to calm ‘ol Abu Dhabi and more time with family. My mom wanted to show me the sands of Al Ain. So on a Sunday evening, we hired our usual taxi guy and headed outside Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi to Al Ain highway

Abu Dhabi to Al Ain highway distance sign
We were on the highway to Al Ain
Abu Dhabi desert towards Al Ain from car
To my right
Abu Dhabi desert towards Al Ain panorama
Stopped to take this panorama (comprised of 10 shots)

Abu Dhabi desert towards Al Ain oasisAfter driving for nearly 45 minutes, we got off the main highway and I got out of the car.

Abu Dhabi desert towards Al Ain road tyre tracksAbu Dhabi desert towards Al Ain road truckAbu Dhabi desert towards Al Ain sand dunesThe sands, once I got into them, were extremely fine and smooth.

Abu Dhabi Al Ain desert sand linesThey were so smooth that you could slowly slip in to the ground by just standing still for a few seconds.

Abu Dhabi Al Ain desert lizard salamander
The only life out there besides us

Abu Dhabi Al Ain desert lizard salamander tracksAbu Dhabi Al Ain desert lizard salamander tracks hidingEven though I’ve had enough sand in my face growing up in the Middle East, being here really was quite a splendid feeling. There were plans to go dune bashing in 4x4s but due to my friends being available only on Fridays made it a little tough to cram it in my already packed itinerary. I didn’t want to opt for a tourist package either ‘cos it was too corny for me.

Abu Dhabi Al Ain desert father collecting sand
My father in the back, collecting UAE sand. He's being doing that for every country he's been to.

After listening to hearsay tales from our taxi driver about desert snakes and other ‘dangerous’ reptiles, my father insisted that I don’t tread any further into the sand dune and asked me to get back in the car. Plus it was nearing sunset.

Abu Dhabi Al Ain desert roundabout
We weren't far from Al Ain
Al Ain to Abu Dhabi highway trees
All the trees you're going to see out here
Abu Dhabi desert electricity power line panorama
Panorama comprised of 8 shots

Al Ain to Abu Dhabi highway

Al Ain to Abu Dhabi highway streetlight
Heading back to Abu Dhabi

The next day…

Since I wasn’t going to sit idle at home, after lunch I took a taxi and headed to Abu Dhabi corniche.

Abu Dhabi buildings near corniche
The skies were all grey that day

After taking two Nepalis-driven taxis back-to-back, I got down near Corniche Road.

Abu Dhabi office building construction near corniche
Abu Dhabi's construction scene is... still happening

Abu Dhabi buildings landmark near cornicheAbu Dhabi landmark sculpture near cornicheAbu Dhabi landmark sculptures near cornicheAbu Dhabi mosque near cornicheAbu Dhabi Markaziyah road signal

Abu Dhabi corniche underpass
You'd take this underpass if you wanted to get to the corniche

But I decided to take a stroll through the park on the other side of Corniche Road. Abu Dhabi corniche park signpostAbu Dhabi buildings corniche park lakeAbu Dhabi corniche park lake fountain

Abu Dhabi buildings corniche park rules
This park is only meant for boring purposes

Abu Dhabi buildings corniche park bridgeI crossed the road to get to the corniche.

Abu Dhabi buildings corniche bus standAbu Dhabi corniche watersAbu Dhabi corniche park treesAbu Dhabi corniche tilesAbu Dhabi corniche cycling

Abu Dhabi corniche cycle rentals
Don't have a cycle? You can rent one at the corniche

Abu Dhabi corniche underpass toiletsAbu Dhabi corniche pedestrian underpass

Abu Dhabi corniche excercise fitness
Really appreciated the emphasis on fitness at this corniche

Abu Dhabi corniche water fountainAbu Dhabi corniche beach domesAbu Dhabi corniche boxingAbu Dhabi corniche palm trees

Abu Dhabi corniche board signs
Abu Dhabi corniche plays host to many cultural festivals

Abu Dhabi corniche road Emirates officeAbu Dhabi corniche beach sand volleyballAbu Dhabi corniche food court Cold Stone CreameryAfter a coffee break from Cinnabon, I decided to head to Marina Mall for some shopping.

Abu Dhabi corniche walking at nightAbu Dhabi corniche road night

Abu Dhabi Marina Mall tower restaurant
That's a restaurant on top

After seeing Dubai’s mall offerings, there nothing special to point out about Marina Mall. It has all the usual stores — that’s it. And a Carrefour.

Abu Dhabi Marina Mall Vertu store
First time I've seen a dedicated Vertu store

After spending an hour shopping at Centerpoint, I took a taxi back home.

Abu Dhabi Adnoc tower

Found this post boring?

Don’t worry, the next and final sightseeing post from UAE will make up for it, trust me!

Next post in this series:

UAE 2010: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – Ferrari World and Yas Marina Circuit

Previous posts in this series:

UAE 2010: Heading back to the Gulf after 7 years

UAE 2010: Driving from Abu Dhabi to Dubai (& back)

UAE 2010: Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi

UAE 2010: Heading to Dubai by bus; checking out Bur Dubai

UAE 2010: Dubai Mall (Aquarium, Underwater Zoo & Gold Souk) – Part 1

UAE 2010: Burj Khalifa, At the Top (and Wafi Mall) – Part 2

UAE 2010: Driving around Dubai (Souk Madinat Jumeirah, The Atlantis & The Palm Islands) – Part 1

UAE 2010: Dubai Marina, Jumeirah, The Walk and David Guetta concert – Part 2

UAE 2010: Showing my parents the sights of Dubai; inside Ibn Battuta Mall

Rainbow – ‘A’: Great K-pop song ruined by a terrible video

Last week, while reading allkpop.com, I was introduced to another K-pop girl group hitting the scene called Rainbow.

Korean pop girl group Rainbow A single cover promo white

The girls were making their comeback with a single called ‘A’. Their first release was a track released in 2009 called “Gossip Girl“…. which was “meh”. But ‘A’…

… I LOVE IT!

Very Girls Aloud and Sugarbabes-like. And after hearing it like a hundred times in the past few days, I was waiting to see what the video was going to be like, the dance choreography, the visuals etc. I expected it to be retro, swank and mature, especially after the teaser images of the girls were published online.

Rainbow A single cover promo red

But when the full video was eventually unveiled…

… I HATE IT!

The dance choreography is unnecessarily sexy, the outfits suck and the camera cuts are irritating. Funny how such a good song can be ruined by such a poor video. I’m sure the track will do well on it’s own, just that I was expecting a classier video from the group’s record company.

Korean pop or not, some people just need to learn, sex isn’t always necessary to sell something — especially when that something is good enough.

Photos from the 2010 Lal Bagh Botanical Garden Flower Show, Bangalore

Date: August 08, 2010

In the 7 1/2 years I have been in Bangalore, I’ve never seen the annual flower show held at Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens leading up to August 15th (India’s Independence Day). So this time, I told myself I wasn’t going to miss it.

Also, I haven’t clicked in a while.

So on a bright Sunday morning, I actually forced myself to get up at 7:30am and made my way to Lal Bagh with my Canon 7D and Tamron 28-75 f2.8 lens in tow.

Lal Bagh entrance tunnel joggersLal Bagh had it’s usual early morning joggers but I wanted to make it here early before it got too crowded.

Lal Bagh Botanical gardens entrance
Lal Bagh on a rather calm Sunday morning

I paid the entrance fee of Rs. 40 (it’s Rs. 30 on weekdays and I didn’t qualify for the Rs. 10 ticket for children either). As I made my way in, first up was a vegetables.

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show vegetablesBoring. Then I realized the main flower show was inside the glasshouse.

Lal Bagh glasshouse from steps
The Lal Bagh glasshouse

Every year, the organizers put up one big show piece all done up using flowers. Last year’s big attraction was a dinosaur but this year, the organizers paid tribute to our soldiers.

Lal Bagh flower show India Gate vertical
India Gate

And with that, I began clicking…

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show purple chrysanthemumLal Bagh flower show bee pollen closeupLal Bagh flower show red white macroLal Bagh flower show red flower dew dropsLal Bagh flower show light orange BangaloreLal Bagh flower show flower potsBangalore Lal Bagh flower show white chrysanthemumBangalore Lal Bagh flower show petals antBangalore Lal Bagh flower show rasberry budBangalore Lal Bagh flower show purple yellowBangalore Lal Bagh flower show red strandsBangalore Lal Bagh flower show marigoldBangalore Lal Bagh flower show paper petalsBangalore Lal Bagh flower show paper buds

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show HAL first prize
There were a lot of 1st prize signs, so I'm not sure who the clear winner was

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show GerberaLal Bagh flower show India Gate rosesBangalore Lal Bagh flower show Petunia pots

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show Petunias
From a distance, these looked like sushi rolls to me
Lal Bagh flower show India Gate water sprinkling
India Gate was sprinkled with water internally from time to time

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show carnationBangalore Lal Bagh flower show annual chrysanthemumBangalore Lal Bagh flower show rud beckiaBangalore Lal Bagh flower show ferns

Lal Bagh flower show India Gate panorama
This is a panorama comprised of 7 shots

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show flower pots

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show salvia
With the dripping paint, more like 'Saliva'

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show salvia red violet

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show plastic
I don't think this was real

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show perwinkleBangalore Lal Bagh flower show ant leaves

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower china astor
If only sharpening pencils produced such beauty

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show corner plantsBangalore Lal Bagh flower show purple leavesBangalore Lal Bagh flower small petalsBangalore Lal Bagh glasshouse center row

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show BDA linaria
Not to be confused with Bangalore Muncipality's 'malaria'

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show gladiolusBangalore Lal Bagh flower show tube roseBangalore Lal Bagh flower show sniffing dogBangalore Lal Bagh glasshouse corner

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show cockscomb red
This was the most interesting looking flower they had at the show -- called the Cockscomb
Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show cockscomb pink
Everybody wanted to touch it

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show cockscomb

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show cockscomb flower
From a distance, this looked like cauliflower flower(?)*

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show celosia wool flowerBangalore Lal Bagh flower show celosia wool flower brightBangalore Lal Bagh flower show zinniaBangalore Lal Bagh flower show cockscomb yellowBangalore Lal Bagh flower show back focusBangalore Lal Bagh flower show depth of fieldBangalore Lal Bagh flower show red rose blur

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show pink rose dew
The good old fashioned rose

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show rose beetleBangalore Lal Bagh flower show pink roseLal Bagh flower show honeybee nectarLal bagh flower show honeybee flying

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower honeybee flying away
Spent a long time shooting this bee

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show pink petuniaBangalore Lal Bagh flower show pink petunia violet

Lal Bagh flower show India Gate side
There were a LOT of photographers...
Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show macro photographer
... and I wasn't the only one enjoying macro photography 🙂
Lal Bagh glasshouse panorama
If I had my Canon 10-22, I could have got this photo in just one frame -- but this is comprised of 8 shots

All in all, I was very happy with the photos I took. I don’t usually shoot macro, simply because before I bought the Tamron 28-75mm, I couldn’t have been bothered. But now, I’m hooked!

Bangalore Lal Bagh flower show sleeping dog
Man's best friend couldn't be bothered. Sunday after all...

*if you are wondering whether I often have food on my mind, the answer is ‘yes’

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