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| ANOTHER ACCOLADE FOR ABU DHABI: The gravity-defying Capital Gate is now officially the ‘World’s Furthest Leaning Man made Tower’. - The tower is really close to our villa. It is really cool to see it being built everyday. Seems like here they went to be the first of everything, which is really cool. Here are some facts about Capital Gate: Capital Gate, owned and developed by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company), has been certified as the ‘World’s Furthest Leaning Manmade Tower,’ by Guinness World Records. The 160-metre, 35-storey Capital Gate tower has been built to lean 18 degrees westwards. When fully complete by end of this year, the tower will house the 5 Star ‘Hyatt Capital Gate’, as well as 20,000sqm of the most exclusive office space in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. I told Paul that I thought it would have a hotel in it and I was right the Hyatt. Information on the Hyatt: Hyatt Capital Gate
Conveniently linked to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the 189-room Hyatt Capital Gate will have a sleek contemporary design, offering guests a refined experience of contemporary luxury when it opens in late-2010. The hotel’s ‘sky lobby’ is suspended 80 metres above the ground on the 18th floor, offering panoramic views of the city. The spa and fitness centre on the 19th floor will include a swimming pool which cantilevers from the side of the building with 270- degree views of the surrounding horizon. Due to unique shape of the tower, each room in the hotel will have a different shape and orientation. A host of dining and entertainment outlets will be on offer at the hotel with a selection of international cuisines. Hyatt’s culinary expertise and creativity will be evident in every outlet, providing guests with an unforgettable dining experience. Hyatt Capital Gate benefits from direct access to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, making it ideal for incentives, product launches or corporate events. The hotel will also feature two select meeting rooms and two exclusive boardrooms available for private meetings. Could you imagine having your office in the leaning tower? I think it would be really cool. The No.1 Business Address in Abu Dhabi Imagine your office being located within a truly iconic building unlike any other on Earth. Imagine a waterfront property with stunning views over the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi Island, the Mangroves, Yas and Saadiyat Island.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Capital Gate
Gentoo Penguins
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| | Five of the three pairs of Gentoo Penguins, added to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at the Dubai Mall on Wednesday, seem in no discomfort as they glide in water. - KT photo by Kiran Prasad
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Cloned camel
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| | Dr. Nisar Ahmad Wani, the scientist behind the creation of the world’s first cloned camel, with cloned camel Injaz at the Camel Reproduction Centre; right, Dr Wani in the laboratory. - KT Photos by Rahul Gajjar |
Sun set
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| The sun sets on Tuesday, the longest day of the year, at the Sharjah Corniche. - KT photo by M. Sajjad |
Friday, June 25, 2010
Dust storm
25 June 2010,
Visibility was reduced as dust swirled in the air catching many motorists and other road users by surprise.
A dip in temperature was no consolation for residents and travel plans for the weekend were put on hold.
The National Center of Meteorology and Seismology predicted hazy weather in general, with another fall in temperature. Moderate to fresh winds would turn strong by the afternoon, according to the forecast
Winds were expected to gather speed over sea and open land areas, according to the NCMS. This would cause sand to rise and suspended dust would reduce horizontal visibility, it said.
“The sea is rough and is expected to become very rough by the evening,” the bulletin said.
The dusty conditions will persist till tomorrow and a further fall in temperature is likely. “Hazy weather in general, with another fall in temperature. The sea will turn rough to very rough,” the weather report said.
The mercury is expected to range from 35 to 42 degree Celsius along the coast, while the internal regions will be hotter at 42 to 47 degree Celsius.
35 C is 95 F
42 C is 107.6 F
47 C is 116.6 F
I have to say that is hot!!!!!!!!
Sand Sculpture
I thought this was really cool. It is hard to believe he died 1 year ago today June 25, 2009 at the age of 50.  | |
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People walk past a sand sculpture of US performer Michael Jackson created to mark the first anniversary of his death, at the Bay of Bengal coast, in Puri, Orissa state, India, Thursday, June 24, 2010. (AP Photo) |
Movies
So far I have seen:
Micheal Jackson this is it
Princess and the Frog
Shrek Forever after
Despicable Me
Tangled
Summer in Abu Dhabi
Caracals
Caracals donated to AWPR
31/05/2010
| Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, 31 May 2010: Two caracals recently joined the Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort’s (AWPR) growing family of arid land carnivores. Perhaps the last of the medium-sized cat species surviving in the UAE, the caracal is a special conservation concern of AWPR’s arid land carnivore conservation program. Caracals, widespread in Africa and parts of Asia, are also indigenous to the mountain areas of the UAE, where they are severely threatened by human persecution and habitat destruction. In February 2010, reports surfaced of caracals trapped and killed by farmers in the northern Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). Caracal sightings, let alone killings, are very rare because of their shy nature and near extinction in the UAE. Caracals mainly inhabit dry mountain areas with small shrub-like vegetation and larger acacia trees similar to the habitats of RAK and the Hajar mountains. Caracals have a short reddish-brown coat with a white chin, throat and belly. Their ears, tipped with black fur, are pointed. Males grow to 18 kilograms and 90 centimetres in length. When gazelle, francolin and hares were plentiful and people more scarce in the mountainous areas of the UAE, caracals flourished. The pair was donated to the park by a family living in Yemen who was unable to provide proper care for the animals. “These are feisty cats. The family wanted to ensure the animals were provided with the best possible shelter and care,” said Farshid Merhdadfar, AWPR’s animal collection manager. To learn more about the caracals, visit the Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort “Wild Nights’ from 4pm to 12 midnight and on Fridays from 10am to 12 midnight. |
Baby Nubian Giraffe
Nubian Giraffe born at AWPR
26/05/2010
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| Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, 26 May 2010: Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort (AWPR) has announced the birth of a male Giraffe and is launching a naming competition to celebrate his birth. This giraffe, also known as a Nubian Giraffe, is a threatened subspecies inhabiting Eastern Sudan and Northeast Congo. Farshid Mehrdadfar, Manager of Animal Collections at AWPR said, “Nubian giraffes have suffered a major collapse in recent years due to habitat destruction, poaching and armed conflict in their native habitat. The Nubian giraffe is an uncommon subspecies of giraffe and AWPR’s collection is among the few represented in captivity. The calf is a very welcome and important addition to our family of giraffe’s and we look forward to finding him an equally special name.” AWPR is home to more than 25 of this rare and endangered subspecies of giraffe. This birth reinforces AWPR’s continued efforts to ensure the conservation of the subspecies. AWPR is actively involved in several internationally co-ordinated conservation projects to conserve and reintroduce threatened arid land species. These include the Arabian oryx, Addax, Dama gazelle and the Scimitar-horned oryx. The juvenile Nubian giraffe is currently on display at the mixed African exhibit, and AWPR has launched a competition to name the new giraffe calf. The winning entry, chosen by 30 June, will receive an exclusive giraffe feeding experience for themselves and five guests, as well as free entrance to the park, a picnic lunch, and a souvenir plush toy from the park’s gift shop. To enter the competition, visitors should collect a form from the ticketing counter at the park entrance or visit www.awpr.ae The competition will close on 17 June. The best time to view the giraffe calf is during the evening feeding beginning at 6:15pm, when the animals are fed at the front of the exhibit near park guests. As the giraffes and other animals adjust to their summer routines, the park is open for Wild Nights from 4pm to 12 midnight and from 10am to 12midnight on Fridays. |
Father's Day 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Athens, Greece
Finally, I learned where we were going to Athens, Greece.
We stayed 5 days, 6 nights at the Ledra Marriott. The hotel was really cool.
We toured these ruins:
Temple of Zeus
New Acropolis Museum
Parthenon
The Old Olympic Stadium
Delphi
Used local transportation including a taxi and a speed ferry.
We ate wonderful food at the Marriott for breakfast, then had Domino's Pizza, the Hard Rock Cafe' for my birthday lunch. Had some pasta and sandwiches at some local restaurants close to the hotel. I have to say we didn't go hungry.
We had a wonderful chocolate cake for my birthday, Paul ordered it from the hotel and I have to say it was really rich, but I loved it. They even included a birthday candle. Wow, my husband really knows how to throw a party.
I have to say this was the best birthday gift ever.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
FIFA World Cup
- Nickname: The Yanks
- Roster: United States 23-Man World Cup Roster
- Head Coach: Bob Bradley
- Captain: Carlos Bocanegra
Quick Facts About United States
- Group: C
- FIFA Ranking: 14
- Area: 3.7 million sq. miles
- Population: 307.2 million