After the cruisin' automotive p0rn (still ongoing mind you, about a dozen mazzies, ferraris, the loudest ever lambo tonight....), I thought I'd try and capture something different.

In my last visit to Dubai, back in 2003, I was amazed by the place... The way things were expanding, etc. In fact, I even had the chance to visit the Burj Al Arab, and the view from the bar at the top was breathtaking (particularly at sunset!). You could also see Jumeirah Palm being built, but that was about it, it represented the "edge" of what had been done.

Fast foward 5 years and the place has just completely changed. I'm staying in Jumeirah Beach Residence which is a set of skyscrapers (30 floors +) built along the coast, after Jumeirah Palm - you can see it on google maps if you want.

Anyhow, the architecture and "city design" is very bizarre. I'm sure it looks nice from Space, but it's certainly not the most logical and easy to follow design.

In the week I've been here, I've managed to get lost about 4-5 times, only a few hundred metres away from the front door!

Anyhow, here are a few shots of the place.

From the beach

In the heart of it at night. Any halflife 2 players out there - this really reminds me of a spooky City 17 at night :eek:

I think my next toy might be a PC lens (jealous of Graham's photos!). I've always liked the idea of taking buildings, particularly at night when they look more spectacular, but really would be nice to avoid the "tapered" look of perspective.....

A fountain

I liked the couple enjoying the sunset on the beach. A moment of peace and harmony in a city of madness and excess!

Other point I could get my head around: the demolition and repurposing of land. The building below is located on the beach front so I guess the land value is astronomical. And, as time is money and they want to demolish it, I thought the easiest, safest and by far the quickest was would be to use explosives. But no, let's just spend 6 months with a bashing ball. I guess it's cheaper to employ a simple worker for that time and absorb the time lost than to get in a team of demo experts :confused:

And yes, that is dust. I just hope there isn't any asbestos in all that

Final point re the knocking down of that old hotel, it's bizarre to think that right next to it (like less than 100 metres away) are other top luxury hotels including the Ritz Carlton. Now if I were staying there and spending $$$$$$$ per night, I wouldn't be impressed to hear a pneumatic drill, and bashing ball all day long, and the accompanying dust that goes with it :confused:

The good ol' Burj Al Arab

The top of the building was seriously dark, a lot darker than what the photo makes it to be. The bright spots are in fact stars burning through the Dubai night haze. I find the buildings feel like miniature models and remind me of the opening scenes of the Superman movie

I then decided to stroll along the beach a bit, escaping from the frantics of Lamborghinis and Ferraris terrorising the neighbourhood. Still must get a tripod this was taken resting against a sea buoy with a flashing yellow beacon that went off every few seconds. Had fun trying to time a long exposure between the flashes

Oh and that hotel being bashed to the ground, it's centre-left. Kind of gives a surreal feeling at night, as the light penetrates through the holes. Summarises Dubai quite nicely

And this one was taken with the camera resting on the sand (:eek:) as I couldn't balance it on the bouy. Again, destroyed building on the right, Ritz Carlton hotel on the left (just the roof of it)

Will add more as I filter through the better ones.

Amazing pics

Wow! Nice pics.

Really need to get myself back out there and plan a stop this time!

I imagine the whole experience of Dubai is pretty surreal.

Phil

Fantastic photographs, what a place:)

A few more from last night

Some craking photos there Xav.

The most exotic place my work takes me is Newport.

I can take photos if you want.

Some craking photos there Xav.

The most exotic place my work takes me is Newport.

I can take photos if you want.

Thanks.

I'm off to another exotic location next week - Basingstoke, Hampshire

then back to boring Dubai the week after

edit: I see you missed out on the Dubai cruisin thread. Have a look for more here: http://briskoda.net/off-topic-chit-chat/photographic-evidence-dubai-jbr-cruisin-slightly-different-blighty/140618/

amazing pictures Xav

And a couple from last night, taken from the balcony on the 32nd floor :eek:

Some cracking shots there Xav! Looks just like Friar Street of an evening...

Hehe. Well, it's a bit nauseating looking down over the balcony. It's quite a height

Tonight though, I should have some mug shots of someone on here

Wow! Love those ones.

Hehe. Well, it's a bit nauseating looking down over the balcony. It's quite a height

Tonight though, I should have some mug shots of someone on here

Please tell me its the artist formerly known as Mil !!!!!!

Please tell me its the artist formerly known as Mil !!!!!!

I did meet up with our mystery Briskodian tonight but I didn't take any pictures. So sorry, it will have to wait :P

Bit of an update.

Some more automotive p0rn and a couple of random ones.

A monster-trucked Hummer

Mr Mission360plus was obviously jealous and wanted some attention too

Monster-truck fancy suspension blingness

P.S HTF does he keep it clean :confused:

A chromed porker

A WTF-is-one-of-those :confused:

A CL63 IIRC

And now for something a bit different.

In all it's blinginess and poshness and tidiness and cleanliness, I wonder if the Starbucks sign was tank-shelled into the wall :eek:

Little uplighting lights light up people's faces nicely...

Fantastic Pics!!!!

Nice - had to look twice at the last one (little lad) -thought he was helping/adding to the flow:)

Wow. Thats all I can say. Great pictures of a great looking city. I live on the 24th floor with balcony, and your 32nd floor view looks twice as high. Crazy. Takes your legs away I imagine.

Nice - had to look twice at the last one (little lad) -thought he was helping/adding to the flow:)

LOL :rofl:

Wow. Thats all I can say. Great pictures of a great looking city. I live on the 24th floor with balcony, and your 32nd floor view looks twice as high. Crazy. Takes your legs away I imagine.

Yup, it's dizzy high. Although a real 17mm wide angle emphasises the feeling. One that although I quite like, will not be getting printed out poster size and hung on the wall.

The following however...... taken at Dubai Media City just tonight......

Nice pics