Dubai Creek

Dubai is often associated with tall skyscrapers, modern architecture, crazy surreal projects and of course.. the Real Estate Crisis and bankruptcy.
But a lot of people who have never visited the UAE have never heard of the "old Dubai", the area around the creek, with low old buildings, a population of Asians (Pakistanis and Indians mostly), old taxi boats and huge souks (markets).
It's a part of Dubai I like, a part that reminds me of what the UAE used to be before the leaders went crazy with the petro-dollars.
I love walking in the old markets and actually being able to bargain with a merchant while he offers you a tchai (tea with milk) all in good humor, creating a connection that is missing in the gigantic modern malls scattered around the newest part of the city.
And once shopping is done, take a ride on a taxi boat while watching the sunset away from the abandoned half-started projects and all the superficial crazy hype of Dubai's "New Vision".

Moroccan Tea

I came in mid-April to the UAE to spend around 10 days with my family and head back to Thailand. My stay was unexpectedly extended due to the tense situation in Bangkok and I have now been here for about 2 months (I am heading back to Thailand in 3 days though).

One of my favorite pass-times while in Abu Dhabi was hanging around in an Arabic cafe called Zyara, which means "Visit" in arabic. And what's better than enjoying some Hummus with a Saj Halloum (an arabic cheese wrapped in thin flat bread) while drinking the refreshing Moroccan Tea in a comfortable bright colored sofas with friends and free wifi?

Probably one of the rare places I'll miss in the UAE (I said place.. not people!)

Stairway to Hell

Classic but always good to have in your collection!
This was taken in a friend's building in the UAE. The ramp around the stairway is kind of low so I had to be extra careful not to lean over to much and reach Hell faster than I should... Tone mapped and changed the color to give it a spooky atmosphere!

Golden Lifestyle

Furniture found in the Emirates Palace, an extravagant 5-star palace in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Everything inside is golden, light is dim.. You actually think you are in a pharaonic burial chamber instead of a hotel. It was supposed to be a "Conferance Palace" but it ended up being unused and became a hotel.
I personally find it a huge waste of money.

Find Reality

"To the desert go prophets and hermits, through the desert go pilgrims and exiles.
Here, the leaders of the great religions have sought the therapeutic and spiritual values of retreat, not to escape but to find reality"

~ Paul Shepard ~

I have always found the desert to be a mystical place. It is serene, quiet and relaxing. Silence reigns like a void enabling us to hear those important voices inside ourselves.

Almost every weekend during "winter" time when I still lived in the UAE, I escaped the chaos of big cities with a few friends to find peace and refuge in the surrounding deserts.
Either camping or just desert crossing, it's always relaxing for the soul... and Fun!

I also love photographing the desert. There is something about all those forms, dunes and harsh shadows that make it very pleasing to the eye. Call me crazy but I also find all the curves kind of.. sensual and feminine.

Shooting in the desert is quite tricky. The sand here is made of very fine grains. With a slight wind blowing all the time, it's not an easy task to keep your camera clean, not to mention your eyes, ears and mouth... And the best moments to take pictures are at dawn or evening because of the light, sun angle and temperature!

Since I started traveling, it is probably one of the rare things I miss from the UAE. From desert to jungle... what a change!