USA2UAE.COM

The Winter Rainy Season is Here

The Mosque at the American University of Sharjah on a Rainy Day

The Picture Pretty Much Says It All About Investing in Dubai

When the Ticker Stops

Burj Dubai, Tallest Building in the World at Night

Burj Dubai at Night

Art For Gaza

Ten Dubai-based artists – designers, illustrators, painters, photographers and a videographer – have combined their talents and put together an art show to benefit the children of Gaza. The artists are from Mexico, India, Canada, England and the Philippines. The show will formally open on March 3 through March 10 at the Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre located on the second level (orange car park) at the Mall of the Emirates…Source

Image of the 5000 Year Old Seal Found in Abu Dhabi

Kim Burke, logistics manager of GRM International, found the bronze age scroll on the ground surface near Madinat Zayed. Lauren Lancaster / The National

Pics of Dr. Who in Dubai

Sphere: Related Content

Indian Grocer Has the World’s Longest Ear Hair

Not UAE, but a very bizarre thing nevertheless…

Don’t Let the Door Hit You Mr. Bush

A Trip to the Al Ain Zoo

The Al Ain Zoo was a very pleasant surprise.  First of all, it is quite large!  While not quite the San Diego zoo, it is a nice, modern zoo with a good variety of animals.  Our favorite animals this time were the African Painted Dogs and the Meer Cats.  They were absolutely beautiful.  Unfortunately, I forgot my good camera so I had to take pics with my phone.  Oh well, here you go.  It was also a great bargain: 15AED for adults and 5AED for children.  There are few entertainments bargains quite this good in the UAE.

Missed Pictures: Awesome Sunset With the Burj Dubai!

This is one of those photography frustration moments.  We had one of the most memorable UAE sunsets in some time because of the recent rain.  Just as the sun hit the horizon it illuminated the Burj Dubai (world’s tallest building) from Sharjah. I only got a mediocre shot because it was nearly impossible to get into a good position!  Argh!

It just happens sometimes.

Umm Al Quwain and Flamingo Beach Resort (Best Shrimp in UAE)

On the third day of this year’s National Day, we took a little trip to visit that UAE landmark, Barracuda.  Barracuda, the home of…  Oh well, that’s not so important.

Anyway, we stopped off for a little walk and drive (4×4) in the muddy wetland (Khor al Beideh) area near Umm Al Quwain.  This is where they just happen to be building the Umm al Quwain Marina project.  It made me horribly sad that this beautiful wetland is going to be wiped off the map for just another development.  This should never take place in an area so environmentally sensitive.  If anything, the mangroves should be restored that were deforested hundreds of years back and the area turned into a reserve.

I have to admit to having a soft spot for Umm Al Quwain.  The old part of the emirate gives just a little flavor of what life was like in the emirates before the oil boom.  This day, we just happened to drop by in search of a little bite of food.  Our search took us to Flamingo Beach Resort.  Flamingo Beach Resort is a tiny little tourist haven near the port of Umm Al Quwain.  There is a hotel, a small beach, and fishing (including charter/Deep Sea).  However, what shocked me the most was the food.  While everyone in my party had a different dish (some better than others), my meal brought me jumbo deep-fried tiger prawns that were out of this world for 55AED (yes only 55).  It may have been a one-off fluke, but these were the best prawns I have eaten in the UAE.  This includes the cream of Dubai restaurants!

So, the next time you are cruising the Barracuda coast take a little side-trip to Umm Al Quwain.  You will be glad you did.

Until then, enjoy the gallery from the trip.

Sphere: Related Content

Unborn Flyer: Here is the First in a Series of Funny Signs and Products that Can Be Found in the UAE

Here is the perfect gift of the fetus in your life!  On sale now at Carrefour, Ajman.

Fun With the Ants at the DIFC Gateway Building

Sometimes architecture hits the right mark.  The DIFC gateway is architecture on a human scale.  The lines and design of the building could easily be confused with Bauhaus and wouldn’t seem out of place in early 20th century Berlin.  The open vistas, glass, and coordination with the surrounding architecture make this project, by Gensler one of the most outstanding buildings in Dubai.

Red Tide is Still Wreaking Havoc on UAE’s East Coast

On the UAE’s east coast (near Dibba), red tide has completely devastated the marine environment.  While red tide is a naturally occuring process, you have to wonder if the insane island projects near Dibba are taking a toll on the environment.

Wikipedia defines red tide as follows:

“Red tide” is a common name for a phenomenon known as an algal bloom, an event in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column, or “bloom”. These algae, more specifically phytoplankton, are microscopic, single-celled protists, plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water’s surface. Certain species of phytoplankton contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in colour from green to brown to red, and when the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be discoloured or murky, varying in colour from purple to almost pink, normally being red or green. Not all algal blooms are dense enough to cause water discolouration, and not all discoloured waters associated with algal blooms are red. Additionally, red tides are not typically associated with tidal movement of water, hence the preference among scientists to use the term algal bloom.

Just a week or so ago, the Gulf News reported that the red tide would be dying down.

Fujairah: Officials in the emirate are confident that the ‘red tide’ phenomenon, which they have described as “the worst in years”, could finally be coming to an end.

Despite the closure of a water desalination plant in Khor Fakkan, officials say the natural, seasonal occurrence has already subsided drastically and could be completely dispersed by the change in weather.

However, as a precautionary measure, swimmers with allergic conditions towards pollen or plants were advised to take care and inspect the situation in the sea before taking a dip.

Tonnes of fish which died of asphyxiation were cleaned off the beaches by Dibba municipality workers and fishermen have been banned from fishing within eight nautical miles of the shore.

The marine phenomenon, which scientists refer to as ‘Algal bloom’, has hit Dibba area hard, but remnants have also managed to reach large sways of the east coast including Khor Fakkan.

The event happens when algae accumulates rapidly in the water and can often result in depleting oxygen or producing natural toxins.

Engineer Saif Mohammad Al Shara, Director of the East Region Office for the Ministry of Environment and Water, told Gulf News the recent change in weather could help end this year’s occurrence.

He said: “The ‘red tide’ happens every year but, for a number of reasons, this year it has been the worst for years. The size and spread of the occurrence has adversely affected fishing and tourism industries.”

However, I can report that no such thing has happened.  Fish, sea urchins, crabs, and all other types of marine life are all suffering.  I also managed to snap some pictures to show exactly what is going on.

More Wadi Wurrayah Photos

Here are a few more pics from today’s trip to the Wadi.  It was going to be a beach trip, but the red tide put a damper on beach fun.