Dubai

Hello, everyone. I apologise for not updating my blog as often as I like - the blog is meant to show my slow progression (towards the better, I hope!) on photography/architecture; when I was back in Kuala Lumpur for my childhood friend's wedding, having heaps of fun! and not really being sober on most nights and all.... ;) I really haven't had time to actually pick up my camera.

But here I am again, back in Abu Dhabi. Sometimes I feel happy that I'm back here - it's not very often lately that the whole family is together at the same time - but of course, the parents would then unleash 10 months worth of nagging unto me. And as soon as I pick anything up - the mother yells at me for some thing or another.... so you start missing the independence, the silence.... perhaps thats why I stay awake on the laptop when everyone else has gone to bed; it is really the only time when it's just me, and the two oldies doggies and all I hear is iTunes going on in the background; then there're the two dogs lying on my feet, subconsciously competing against one another who can snore the loudest.

So we took a drive down to Dubai, took forever to find parking (as with most cities) and walked towards the old Gold Souk, and walked past heritage village on the way.

Traditional arabic homes are gorgeous - unfortunately not many recent designs look to the old arabic design themes for inspiration anymore - unless of course, they are themed hotels. Here you can see minimal fenestration, thick mass like clay walls, the traditional downpipe (as roofs are flat here in the desert). Also, most of the residential buildings in Abu Dhabi/Dubai are painted within the pink-brown-clay colored scheme - because sandstorms come pretty often and well, you wouldn't really notice sandy walls on a wall that's sandy colored hey?

Because I secretly want to be an archinerd, here is a close-up of the wall texture + downpipe.

My mother then got very excited about buying an 80dirham (similar to RM80) metal bucket to place in the kitchen. Dad said it's a waste of money and refused to get it for her, which resulted in the parents arguing in the car, mum sulking for a couple of hours, and then Dad trying to cheer her up by getting her a bloody pearl necklace that cost.... let's just say they cost close to how much I have to pay Melbourne Uni in tuition fees for a year. -_- I hope they didn't forget that they have yet to pay for my tuition fees for my last year at uni... if you don't see me back next year, you'll know that my education has been exchanged for jewellery.

Me trying to cheer the mother up by getting her to pose for a couple of pictures.

Cherie, I know I promised you not to venture into B&W yet - but I just couldn't help it! My sister's so photogenic that it's easy to capture her picture when she's not paying attention...

And off to the Gold Souk.

And the mother was scratching on the glass of this particularly shiny store. Silly woman.

And then there's Cassie's typical emo look when we drag her out shopping.

And then it's off to Burjuman, one of the many shopping centres in Dubai... they have some pretty awesome ceiling, but I'll save those pictures for another day (too lazy to do the slight editing for them now ;)). So just more pictures of the very photogenic sister while Cassie was trying on some Heelys.

The final picture - certainly not the best in the bunch - but it'll do for now. Till then, you lovely lot.

... OK, fine, maybe one more since I'm feeling pretty narcissistic today. Note to self: once sunnies are on head, do not put them back on face as this would result in some funkay alien looking hair.