Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

 The grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is a truly stunning building. The bright white minarets and domes are both striking and imposing especially in contrast with the bright blue of the sky. This building begs to be photographed; I wanted to post more photos here but had to stop myself somewhere! and it seems every picture captures an impressive angle of the building. Is it possible to take a bad photo of it?

Inside, as a tourist, you shuffle along, take your photos and go. Perhaps, if you're like us, you turn up for the English language tour, only to find out this is not really a tour at all, and just means you arrive at the same time as tens of other people! 

As I wandered along, chatting with Samantha about Islam, Christianity and religion in general, I wondered what it's like to actually worship in this building. Of course the main, and most impressive room, is only for men. Presumably the women have a smaller, less impressively adorned room somewhere well hidden. But still this must be a fabulous place to pray, praise and surrender to god. Or maybe this place is almost too impressive? - it felt like a show home, not for regular people. It was difficult to visualise those worshipers arriving and concentrating on anything other than the architecture, plush carpets and remarkable chandeliers. But of course they do, particularly for Friday prayer and during Eid, and this is when the building is put to the use it was intended. When the gawping tourists are gone, and people are alone, in a house of worship with god.

One of the things I took away from Abu Dhabi, and more so Dubai, is the sense that a lot of things are built for the sake of being the biggest or most impressive in the world; the two line subway that's the longest in the world; far inferior to the Seoul subway, but in possiession of that all important 'world's longest' (actually Seoul is the world's most extensive, but they don't make a big thing about that!). The Grand Mosque didn't leave me feeling this way however. It's the biggest Mosque in the UAE, but visiting here, the size and the splendor felt less important than the beauty and the architecture. Emphasis on this as a place of worship rather than a structure to evoke the envy of the world. That's just my take, of course, but this was one of my favourite places in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Why when you ask other people to take your photo is it always rubbish?

This is definitely my favourite photo.

This is just after we were told off by the security guard.

Watching the sunrise, at last!

Whilst I was away, one of the best things I experienced was an over night trip into the desert. Luckily, as I was staying with Samantha, I was able to go along as a chaperone with the NYU Abu Dhabi trip (another perk from my role at NYU!)

We left friday evening and came back Saturday morning; so it wasn't an extended trip. But it was well worth it. I had a go at sand boarding (I'm completely rubbish and gave up after one attempt), went dune bashing in a 4x4 (sooo much fun!) and had my second ever time making smores (still prefer a regular toasted mashmallow).

The greatest thing about this trip? the sunrise! I've been chasing the elusive sunrise for a while now. I once attempted this in Switzerland, then again in Bali and have been considering trying to catch one on Primrose Hill in London. The only problem is that from past experience, I've never actually managed to see a really good, clear, beautiful sunrise. And who wants to chance waking up at such a god-awful time, only to be disappointed?!

But in the desert? It was Amazing! I woke up as early as I could - just after the morning call to prayer - and made my way to the top of the nearby sand dune (a few of the others had slept up here but I was glad I didn't as it was uncomfortable and windy! Once at the top, I had to wait quite a while. But eventually the sun began to appear on the horizon.

Something I did learn from watching this sunrise, is that the sky gets bright a little while before the sun actually rises. Initially I thought I had again missed my chance at watching a clear, spectacular sunrise. But I just needed to wait. Below are a few of the photos and a video I took whilst up at the top of the dune.

The other pictures here are from the second best thing about this trip. As we were away with the students, the astronomy club had accompanied us, and in the evening we got a very clear and crisp view of the moon - and who knew you could take a photo through a telescope! I also got to see Jupiter and 4 of her moons! This was actually very small, even with the telescope, so I didn't take a photo. But believe me it was pretty incredible to see.

That long line was an aeroplane, and the cluster in the middle was something significant that I don't remember the name of! :-/

The glow just before the sun rises

Those dots were birds

For some reason, blogger has messed with the quality of this photo, but looking past the grainy image this was my first glimpse of the sun.

My next adventure

Living in Korea, I often felt I was living in the future; such a technologically advanced nation where electronic devices were incredibly hi-tech and widely available. My brother and sister-in-law recently bought an i-robot cleaning gadget. It seemed so out of place to see that in the UK, I'd only ever seen them in Korean electronics stores whizzing around the display showrooms. To me they seemed so futuristic! The kind of thing I'd have seen on the Jetsons when I was young.

Tomorrow I'm heading off to Amsterdam to visit Chelsea, a fellow teacher I met in Korea. From there, on Monday I'm off to Abu Dhabi. 

Looking through photos of my next new destination I'm struck by how much more ultra modern it looks. Whilst Korea was so technologically advanced, Abu Dhabi's modernistic architecture really makes it stand out as a hub of modern design. It really looks like a city of the future. How we mortals might view the world in 100 years from now. Except, it's 2013 and I'm going to be walking amid these modern giants in a few days.

I'm really excited to be heading to a new area of the world, the middle east. A place that's fascinating and incredibly far removed, architecturally, socially and culturally than anywhere I've visited previously. Travelling is such an education, and I can't wait for everything I'm sure to learn from this next trip!

Photos from visitabudhabi.ae

Capture the Colour 2013

I saw lots of blog posts entering this competition last year, but never got around to entering. Not only was this due to time contratints (as I was travelling across land last august/september), but I was also quite intimidated by the other entrants, and didn't think I would have any pictures that would be good enough to win. I actually still don't feel my pictures are professional quality enough to win, but as I've got more time this year to look though my pictures, it gives me an excuse to reminisce and look back over my last few years of travels I'm adding my own collection of photos to 'Capture the Colour' in travelsupermarket.com's competition.

So from around my travels here are my photos. I have to say, it was much easier for me to find photos showcasing beautifully rich shades of green and blue, whilst red and yellow were the hardest to find. I find this ironic since I've lived in communist China and travelled recently through Vietnam and Russia!

Blue: Jeju-do, South Korea.

How could I not include a picture from South Korea? I lived here for 2 years and Jeju was hands down the most beautiful place I visited. This picture finally won as my entry over one from Arundel, as I had to include something from Korea! I love how the blue of the sky and sea are so luminous and that fluffy cloud left floating in such an expanse of pure blue.

Red: Taipei, Taiwan.

At the alter in a temple whilst visiting Taipei during Mid-Autumn festival.

Yellow: Tokyo, Japan.

A gleaming yellow beacon in the centre of Tokyo.

 White: Hainan, China.

A statue of Guan Yin, at the Nan Shan Temple. The fourth tallest statue in the world. A three sided statue, one face is turned inland, and the other two look out over the South China sea.

Green: Ekaterinburg, Russia.

At the Ganina Yama Monastery, where the royal family were buried after being murdered, in a disused mine shaft. Now the site of nine churches (one for each victim of the brutal murders.)

 I wish there was a category for 'other' as I love the purple colour of this picture of Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.

My nominations go to five of my favourite bloggers;

Brenna of This Battered Suitcase
Naomi of Anywhere but Home
Ellie of One Day I'll Fly Away
Lauren of Lateral Movements
Kate of Adventurous Kate

Restaurant recommendation

 I don't really do much recommending of places to eat, usually just posting pictures of all the gorgeous (and not so gorgeous - here and here) food I'm eating whilst travelling. And whilst I was in Barcelona, and staying with my brother, we cooked for ourselves in his kitchen most days. Such is the convenience of not staying in a hotel. 

But on our last night, we headed off to eat at Ziryab, an Arabian/Cataluynian fusion restaurant, one which my brother often recommended to tourists having never actually eaten there himself (!) So in the name of research we decided to make it our splurge before I headed back to Southend the next morning.

We were certainly not disappointed.

The restaurant is quite small, which adds to the atmosphere. The menu is modest and the lighting very red (hence the red hue of all my photos). A tapas-mezze affair with wines from Palestine, Lebanon and Catalunya, here you are offered a blend of two cultures. A very delicious blend indeed! We ordered the set menu, which basically gave us everything except the Fig & Pumpkin soup (which we ordered separately) - all in the name of research of course! Small plates arrived gradually so our table was never overloaded, and the portions were generous, especially when we got to the pita bread & dips course near the end! 

Ziryab is really a wine bar, and the food meant to accompany as snacks. But we ate heartily as a dinner and were most satisfied. My particular highlight was the Serrano halloumi sticks.

We managed space for dessert also, which I was slightly less impressed with - I ordered the Traditional Catalan almond dessert which was basically balls of marzipan. Whilst I do like marzipan, it wasn't something I was expecting for pudding!

Overall I would definitely recommend eating here. The prices are reasonable, the service excellent (English meuns are available and our waitress spoke English - to me as I can't speak Spanish or Catalan). Their website is here, and google maps directions here.

If you're in Barcelona any time soon go! It's what your stomach deserves after all the walking and cycling tours! :-)

Free nuts for snacking

Greedy pig soup (pumpkin, fig & ginger)

Bacon wrapped dates (back) fig & smoked salmon crustinis (foreground)

Serrano halloumi sticks... yum

The very generous dips (and a complete wally in the background)

The only thing I wouldn't order again

Tiramisu dessert (from the specials board)

This is a completely unsponsored post. I just really really enjoyed the food here!

Arc De Triomf & Gaudi's Fountain

 Sometimes all you need for a lovely relaxing time, is a beautiful sunny afternoon, gorgeous architecture and some grass to sit and read a book. I spent a successful day in Barcelona photographing the Arc De Triomf and Gaudi's fountain in the Parc de la Ciutadella. Bliss.

I'm not sure what these little black things are, or the nature of the building. But it was something that caught my eye on the way to the Arc De Triomf.

Palau de la Música Catalana

Quite Majestic, more so than in Paris I think...

Gaudi's Fountain

The Zoology Museum