R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 15

Dubai — Dubai Fountain Show at Burj Khalifa Lake (Video)

This week and next I will present images and videos of Dubai. Today will feature a short version of the daily magical, music-synchronized Dubai Fountain show on the manmade Burj Khalifa Lake, which is situated beneath the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa has the distinction of being the tallest structure in the world, but more on that Wednesday.

Some fun stats on the Dubai Fountain situated in the 30-acre/12-hectare artificial Burj Khalifa Lake:

Length: 902 feet/275 metersHeight: Shoots...

This Week’s Mystery Destination Revealed

The Fountain where Rover debuted

Congratuations to those who solved this week’s Mystery Destination. Unless you’re a fan of 1960s classic cult television, you probably had some difficulty with it. There were also a lot of red herrings in this week’s Mystery Destination Quiz, especially on the automotive front, but there were many subtle clues there as well. For instance, there were multiple references to James Bond, which most of you probably think were designed to confuse you. But the star o...

Random Photo Week — Clouds, Cactii, Cars, and Clues… to the Mystery Destination

Triumph TR6

Back for another try at this week’s Mystery Destination Quiz? I’ll be revealing the answer tomorrow, but if you’ve figured it out beforehand just leave a comment. Before we get to today’s clues and destination photos (there will be four for you today), let’s continue with this week’s other random subjects: Dramatic Skies, Automobiles, and Desert Color. We’ll start with some cactus color:

El Paso Desert Flora

And transition an El Paso desert sunset:

I Love My Backyard View...

Random Photo Week — Desert Flowers, Sunsets, and the Mystery Destination

A Recent El Paso Sunset as Seen from my Backyard

Figured out this week’s Mystery Destination yet? I’ll present some more hints and photos at the end of today’s article in case you haven’t. In the meantime, here are more random photos of this week’s other subjects: Dramatic Skies, Desert Flowers, and Automobiles. If you think you’ve guessed this week’s Mystery Destination, leave me a comment. Otherwise, look for the answer on Saturday. Let’s begin with a car which may or may not be a clue to t...

Random Photo Week with a QUIZ at the End

The Subject of This Week’s Mystery

I‘m going to interrupt my Middle East photo tour for something a bit different this week. Next week I’ll resume our visit earlier this year to two destinations within the United Arab Emirates. So, if you’re looking forward to some views of Dubai and a video starring the world’s tallest building, do not despair. As for this week, the theme is Dramatic Skies, Automobiles, Desert Flowers, and a Mystery Destination. See if you can figure out that destination fro...

Fun Photo Friday —Qasr Al Watan Palace Favorites 3

Abalone and Mother-of-Pearl

Today concludes this series on Abu Dhabi. Next week will show so recent random photos, and the week after that I begin my series on Dubia. I hope to see you then!

Qasr Al Watan Interior Qasr Al Watan Stained Glass Arches and a Dome — Qasr Al Watan Wandering the West Wing — Qasr Al Watan

For additional information on the Qasr Al Watan Palace see:
● Qasr Al Watan Palace
● Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi site
● Qasr Al Watan official website
● Islamic architecture
● Ab...

Abu Dhabi — Qasr Al Watan Palace Part 6

Qasr Al Watan Palace

Today we’ll finish our tour of Qasr Al Watan Palace, and this week’s Fun Photo Friday will present the third and final of favorite images taken here. After that it’s time to move on to our next United Arab Emirates destination — Dubai. But in this article, we’re going to concentrate on the Presidential Gifts room and a hint of the treasures contained within. To orient you, we’re talking about Item 3 in the diagram below:

Qasr Al Watan Palace interior map

The image be...

Abu Dhabi — Qasr Al Watan Palace Part 5

Qasr Al Watan Palace

Today and Wednesday I’m going to show you the west “working” wing of Qasr Al Watan Palace. Wednesday will be devoted mostly to the room housing presidential gifts, but today we’ll complete our tour of the hallway north of the Great Hall, then head into the west wing to view the Presidential Banquet Hall (informational link below). Let us begin with that hallway just north of the Great Hall:

Qasr Al Watan Palace

As we made our way around to the west wing, we were cont...

Fun Photo Friday —Qasr Al Watan Palace Favorites 2

Courtyard — Qasr Al Watan

Today is the second of three Fun Photo Fridays featuring Qasr Al Watan Palace favorites.

For additional information on the Qasr Al Watan Palace see:
● Qasr Al Watan Palace
● Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi site
● Qasr Al Watan official website
● Islamic architecture
● Abu Dhabi
● United Arab Emerates
● Arabian Peninsula
● Middle East

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Abu Dhabi — Qasr Al Watan Palace Part 4

R. Doug Wicker in Qasr Al Watan Palace

Time for us to head deep into the east wing at Qasr Al Watan Palace. Here we’ll explore the cultural side of the house, for the east wing contains the House of Knowledge: Age of Enlightenment (information link below), the 50,000-book Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Public Library (information link below), and the Presidential Meeting Room. Just to give you a sense of direction, here again is the palace interior diagram:

Qasr Al Watan Palace interior diagram...