Worktrip to Abu Dhabi [2of4]
Apr. 23rd, 2025 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beelikejDay two of my worktrip to Abu Dhabi started with a citytour with a small group of international colleagues. First stop was the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, where we spend some time walking around outside and inside. After that, we were driven to and through the citycentre and visited the Heritage Village (where I had briefly been yesterday, see my day 1 picspam in DW / LJ). We also went to see the fancy Emirate Palace Hotel and the trip ended in a dateshop, where everyone bought a bunch of treats before we returned to our own hotel and spent the rest of the day in the pool and at the beach. What is my life?
Below are 46 photos day 2, if you want to see a 10-image summary of my whole week, see my Instagram post :-)
Abu Dhabi, Sunday 13 April 2025
I asked one of the chefs for a cheese omelet, it was delicious. There is so much food to choose from, this is a quick breakfast due to limited time (the rest of the week I gave myself more time in the mornings just to be able to have a big breakfast *grins*)
We entered the mosque complex through the mall(!!!) underneath(!!).
There's a walkway with inclined autowalks to take you to the garden en mosque. I loved the shadowshapes of the skylights.
The Grand Mosque was constructed between 1994 and 2007 and was inaugurated in December 2007.
There are lots of lovely views and everything is decorated with flowers.
So pretty.
The women in our group had to cover up and wear a headscarf, which I knew beforehand, so I had bought myself a graphic geodata design scarf and I had practiced at home to make it a less awkward experience. That didn't work, it made me feel uncomfortable and I will not ever understand the randomness of religious rules, specifically for women. I was in nice company though, so I could at least enjoy the tour.
The minarets are 106 meters high with a gold glass mosaci crescent moon on top. Marveling at the big flowers in marble.
All the windows were amazing too.
The floral patterns were inspired by flowers that grow in the Emirates' desert climate. The flowers on the walls are 3D relief.
The main prayer hall houses the world's largest hand-knotted carpet (Guinnes World Record!) made by 1200 artisans, it took two years to create. Its design reflects an intricate islamic medallion. The carpet is 5400 m2, weighs 35 tons, and is made of a mix of wool and cotton.
Gorgeous details everywhere.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the country's largest mosque; it has 82 domes and I found the one corner where I could fit the whole building in one photo (0.6 wide lens;)
So. many. rules. for. women.
Driving from the mosque to the city there is still a lot of dessert nearby.
See the big flagpole from yesterday? We're at Heritage Village, an outdoor museum about the history of Abu Dhabi. We get a full tour of all the old nomad homes.
A big contrast with the big new city in the background!
Yay, a manholecover with Abu Dhabi written on it and one colleague was willing to stand on top of it with me; see, I have friends (I do, I do!)
Heritage Village is lovely, I was glad I had bought my souvenirs the day before, so I could now focus on all the sights.
There are also tiny musea; I liked the section with the old books.
From here you have a great view of the city skyline.
The sign made me giggle: Abu Dhabe Do's :-D
There were also tiny shops where people showed different arts and crafts.
And another museum, this one had all sorts of archeological finds.
We continued our tour and made a quick stop at the viewpoint of Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace across the water.
Then we visited the Emirate Palace Hotel, yes a hotel, but a ridiculously luxiourious hotel. It used to have an ATM that dispensed solid gold bars and they still serve a cappuccino with 24-carat gold. We did not have a chance to try it though (don't know if I could afford it;-) we only walked through.
We also got to enjoy the marvelous views and the fancy toilets :-D
After enjoying the big stairs and fountains for a final photomoment, we were driven back to our own hotel (also pretty fancy).
I got dates covered with pistachio and chocolate as souvenirs for the office.
Everyone met up at the pool for lunch (a shawarma wrap and a smoothie for me) and more and more international colleagues arrived.
There was also a sandy beach next to our hotel, I did dip into the water there for a bit, but it was very salty and I couldn't see my feet, which made me nervous. The sand was very hot and I was relieved when I reached the outdoor shower to cool my feet. After that I spend the rest of the afternoon at the pool until it closed at sunset around 19:00 (7 p.m.)
Then I got dressed for dinner and met up with the gang again at the restaurant.
I asked one of the chefs to prepare my meat of choice, which was perfect (it's gonna be hard to get used to making my own food again)
Tried a big selection of desserts (yes, this is merely a selection, there was TOO MUCH too choose from! I will share a view of the buffet later. *drools*
To be continued!
J.
X-posted to https://beelikej.livejournal.com/586514.html
Lurk or comment wherever you like:)
Below are 46 photos day 2, if you want to see a 10-image summary of my whole week, see my Instagram post :-)
Abu Dhabi, Sunday 13 April 2025
I asked one of the chefs for a cheese omelet, it was delicious. There is so much food to choose from, this is a quick breakfast due to limited time (the rest of the week I gave myself more time in the mornings just to be able to have a big breakfast *grins*)
We entered the mosque complex through the mall(!!!) underneath(!!).
There's a walkway with inclined autowalks to take you to the garden en mosque. I loved the shadowshapes of the skylights.
The Grand Mosque was constructed between 1994 and 2007 and was inaugurated in December 2007.
There are lots of lovely views and everything is decorated with flowers.
So pretty.
The women in our group had to cover up and wear a headscarf, which I knew beforehand, so I had bought myself a graphic geodata design scarf and I had practiced at home to make it a less awkward experience. That didn't work, it made me feel uncomfortable and I will not ever understand the randomness of religious rules, specifically for women. I was in nice company though, so I could at least enjoy the tour.
The minarets are 106 meters high with a gold glass mosaci crescent moon on top. Marveling at the big flowers in marble.
All the windows were amazing too.
The floral patterns were inspired by flowers that grow in the Emirates' desert climate. The flowers on the walls are 3D relief.
The main prayer hall houses the world's largest hand-knotted carpet (Guinnes World Record!) made by 1200 artisans, it took two years to create. Its design reflects an intricate islamic medallion. The carpet is 5400 m2, weighs 35 tons, and is made of a mix of wool and cotton.
Gorgeous details everywhere.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the country's largest mosque; it has 82 domes and I found the one corner where I could fit the whole building in one photo (0.6 wide lens;)
So. many. rules. for. women.
Driving from the mosque to the city there is still a lot of dessert nearby.
See the big flagpole from yesterday? We're at Heritage Village, an outdoor museum about the history of Abu Dhabi. We get a full tour of all the old nomad homes.
A big contrast with the big new city in the background!
Yay, a manholecover with Abu Dhabi written on it and one colleague was willing to stand on top of it with me; see, I have friends (I do, I do!)
Heritage Village is lovely, I was glad I had bought my souvenirs the day before, so I could now focus on all the sights.
There are also tiny musea; I liked the section with the old books.
From here you have a great view of the city skyline.
The sign made me giggle: Abu Dhabe Do's :-D
There were also tiny shops where people showed different arts and crafts.
And another museum, this one had all sorts of archeological finds.
We continued our tour and made a quick stop at the viewpoint of Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace across the water.
Then we visited the Emirate Palace Hotel, yes a hotel, but a ridiculously luxiourious hotel. It used to have an ATM that dispensed solid gold bars and they still serve a cappuccino with 24-carat gold. We did not have a chance to try it though (don't know if I could afford it;-) we only walked through.
We also got to enjoy the marvelous views and the fancy toilets :-D
After enjoying the big stairs and fountains for a final photomoment, we were driven back to our own hotel (also pretty fancy).
I got dates covered with pistachio and chocolate as souvenirs for the office.
Everyone met up at the pool for lunch (a shawarma wrap and a smoothie for me) and more and more international colleagues arrived.
There was also a sandy beach next to our hotel, I did dip into the water there for a bit, but it was very salty and I couldn't see my feet, which made me nervous. The sand was very hot and I was relieved when I reached the outdoor shower to cool my feet. After that I spend the rest of the afternoon at the pool until it closed at sunset around 19:00 (7 p.m.)
Then I got dressed for dinner and met up with the gang again at the restaurant.
I asked one of the chefs to prepare my meat of choice, which was perfect (it's gonna be hard to get used to making my own food again)
Tried a big selection of desserts (yes, this is merely a selection, there was TOO MUCH too choose from! I will share a view of the buffet later. *drools*
To be continued!
J.
X-posted to https://beelikej.livejournal.com/586514.html
Lurk or comment wherever you like:)