The Dubai Metro gathers speed as it leaves the Deira City Centre Station heading for Union. Holding my camera still even for the short exposure of 2seconds was pretty hard considering I had no monopod and the jerk it gives you when accelerating can send you tumbling. Nevertheless, with the little shaking, I somehow managed to get straight lines in the foreground. I think I’m going to get a print of this just to see how it would do as a cover for a kinetic motion series, I’m working on.

munky wishes the metro was faster!

L’attrattività e il panorama sono certamente migliorati rispetto a qualche anno fa, quando i grattacieli erano ancora relativamente pochi e i 40 minuti di tragitto minimo dall’isediamento storico di Dubai, sul Creek, alla spiaggia di Jumeirah, dove sorgono i resort e il Burj Al Arab, erano uno iato noiosissimo e un pò straniante per via di tutta quella distesa di sabbia su cui le superfici a specchio dei palazzi si riflettevano in un inquietante effetto Star Wars.

Souk dei tappeti

Ora le costruzioni, fitte quel tanto che basta a dare l’impressione di una città vera, sono sapientemente intervallate da giardini e viali curatissimi, innaffiati 18 ore su 24 da tonnellate d’acqua dissalata, che al visitatore occidentale lasciano sempre un vago e inopinato senso di colpa. Ma questo non toglie che nel nuovo paradiso dello shopping esibito e perseguito (al punto di avervi costruito attorno un festival) sia necessario organizzarsi per poterne apprezzare al meglio tutti i vantaggi.

Dubai-phone

Tempi e mete vanno infatti valutati con attenzione, delimitando il territorio di caccia entro le quattro aree principali: il Creek, che comprende Deira, la zona dei suq, e Bur Dubai, quindi Sheikh Zayed Road, New Dubai e Jumeirah. Un medio shopper dedica una giornata all’area del Creek, e una mezza giornata a ciascuna delle altre tre, ma i tempi variano naturalmente a seconda degli interessi e degli obiettivi.

Continua…

Humbria is a hypothetical proto-over-kingdom in the extreme. The area discussed under the term Humbria seems to be the region around the Humber River, not surprisingly. This region includes the kingdoms of Deira, Elmet, Lindsey, and proto-Mercia. In effect, references to Humbria suggest that it was the core of Deira’s hegemony. While Edwin had extended his power far beyond this core of principalities, this may have been the core of hegemony under previous Deiran kings, particularly Edwin’s father Ælle who is reputed to have reigned for 30 years. Deiran hegemony over ‘Humbria’ also explains why Northumbrian kings tried to exert rights over land south of the Humber until 679. Think of Humbria being something like the Thames river hegemony group early on being usually dominated by Kent. Around the Thames the kingdoms seem to have more parity preventing one from controlling all, and the kings of Kent don’t seem to have the same military skills as any of the Humbrian (or East Anglian) kings. Mercia developed as an offshoot of the Humbrian group, perhaps largely as Wessex developed as an upriver offshoot of the Thames group. I believe this is what the Historia Brittonum means when its says that Penda first separated Mercia from the northern king. Compared to the kingdoms of the two main hegemony groups (Humbrian and Thames), both Mercia and Wessexare frontier kingdoms in that the both expand away from the two main river systems. Bernicia begins so far out on the fringe that they are almost an island thathas tobe reconnected to the other English by conquest.

Drainage zone of the Humber Estuary. York is on the River Ouse and the kingdom of Elmet was between the River Warfe and River Don.

Defining Humbria

Æthelfrith’s movement southward was not only a conquest of the Anglican kingdom of Deira but also the realm of Humbria. When Æthelfrith had taken Deira, Ælle’s grandson Hereric fled only to neighboring Elmet, part of the hegemony group where he might expect assistance to expel an invader, even if Elmet was British. Around the same time, Ælle’s younger son Edwin (about the same age as Hereric) fled to king Ceorl of Mercia where the exiled prince married Ceorl’s daughter, probably part of a formal agreement between exile and host. That both Ceredig of Elmet and Ceorl of Mercia cooperated by initially giving refuge to the exiled Deirans probably suggests that Humbria was a well established regional hegemony group and though Deira had recently been dominant, it may not have always been so. It is possible that the British were major players in this hegemony group in the recent past. Also the rival I know, who is now beholding to me, is better than an invader any day. Soon Æthelfrith had contrived to have Hereric assassinated by poison in Elmet, no doubt securing Elmet’s alligiance, and had driven Edwin’s family out of Mercia, where Ceorl is heard from no more. Whether Edwin fled to the British first before finally arriving in East Anglia is uncertain, but suggested by British lore.

Either way, we could interpret Æthelfrith’s next two battles as defending or defining his hegemony over Humbria. In 613 Æthelfrith destroys Powysian forces at the battle of Chester, breaking coordinated Powysian power for a generation and in effect probably enlarging Humbria’s western flank. Æthelfrith’s last battle on the River Idle is exactly at the crossroads on the Roman road system between Lindsey, Mercia and East Anglia. He is traveling without all his forces, according to Bede, expecting to be on a diplomatic mission to collect a troublesome exile from the East Anglian king who is expected to take payment for him and probably acknowledge Æthelfrith’s power. Of course, boldness was rewarded when Rædwald of East Anglia ambushed Æthelfrith and slew him and his bodyguard. The point here is not so much Æthelfrith’s career as to look at the territory he is defending or defining.

So after Æthelfrith falls, Edwin of Deira seems to immediately take control of all of Humbria. His first action is to depose Ceredig of Elmet, presumably for killing his nephew Hereric, and he seems to have direct control over Elmet during his reign. Paulinus of York takes part in the consecration of a new Archbishop of Canterbury at Lincoln where the highest ranking official is a reeve.

Low lands of the Humber estuary. Around the Lincoln edge was the Isle of Axholme in early medieval times. Lindsey was a virtual island surrounded by marshes and rivers.

Humbrian names

Then there is the importance of Humbria in all names for the northern Anglian kingdom. Before Bede’s time there were a number of names for what we now consider Northumbria, but they all involved “Humbria” — Ultra humbria (above the Humber), Transhumbria (across the humber, Northumbria (north of the humber). While the Humber is surely an important estuary (and much more important then when there were more wetlands), once they were restricted north of the Humber there is much less of a reason for it to be retained in their name. It seems clear that for much of the long seventh century, northern Anglian kings insisted on being called kings of a version of Humbria. If we compare to Mercia, the name of the original core kingdom of the ruling dynasty was extended for the new swollen kingdom. Yet, the ruling dynasty of Northumbria was with a 17 year exception for Edwin’s reign, a Bernician dynasty but the whole kingdom never incorporated the name of Bernicia.

One State, Multiple Nations

Northumbria was essentially a state composed of several nations that each kept their identity too much to adopt the Bernician name. They sought a new name, Northumbria, that is different than any other Anglo-Saxon kingdom — geographic, north, and regional, Humbria. In taking the name Humbria they adopted a regional name that clearly enclosed two (or more) nations, two ethnicities. Elmet and Craven clearly retained some of their British characteristics through Bede’s lifetime. Lindsey and Deira both were both Anglo-Saxon kingdoms but they also were capitals of Roman provinces and likely had significant Romano-British influence. Recall that the British kings Gwrgi and Peredur of York were the sons of Eliffer Great Retinue and that ‘great retinue’ at York may have had English mercenaries or immigrants. Its interesting that Edwin only seems to have brought his court to York after Bishop Paulinus arrived. The English may have preferred to stay where they had been settled in toward the peninusla by the British and let the former Roman captial remain ruins. Moving into the ruins of York no doubt fueled by Bishop Paulinus also gave Edwin dreams of grandure and empire. Britons continued to be a reality as long as Northumbria existed as they expanded into Cumbria and west of the Humbria, as Britons melded into a Northumbrian English existence in the oldest areas around Humbria.

Kingdom of Mercia showing its constituant parts.

Mercia is clearly the late developing entitiy in Humbria. North Merica, cradled in the River Trent, is typically believed to be the original Mercia. Its royal genealogy is not as well developed and Penda is really the first king to be more than a name. Based on name evidence, it seems likely that South Mercia was an area added by Penda and his immediate predecessors. Outer Mercia may have been only added at the height of Penda’s career along with Middle Anglia where he placed his son Peada. Its interesting that Penda is also open to working with British allies, and that they are open to working with him, pagan and all.

In the end the peoples of the Humbrian hegemony group dominated Britain until the Norse invasions. Ultimately Humbria was split nearly in two: Deira and most of Elmet to Northumbria, while Mercia,Humbria’s fringe territory, breaks free taking part of Elmet and Lindsey with it. Eventually, Mercia will in turn take control of the Thames group as well. In the end, both Northmbria and Mercia crumbled in the face of the new Norse invader faster than the Romano-British had gave way before their invasions/immigration 400 years earlier. Unlike the Romano-British, the Engish never learned to defend themselves from sea-bourne threats and it seemes didn’t learn to defend against land based threats that were not states who behaved by the rules of war they established among themselves.

Last Friday saw a huge crowd lining up in Deira City Centre. Nope! They’re not after the movie premiere of Angels & Demons at CineStar Cinema. They were all waiting to get a unit of HTC Touch 3G Gold mobile phone at Sharaf DG outlet. Yes, you heard it right – a 3G touch phone of HTC and not the much-sought-after iPhone 3G from Apple. All Sharaf DG outlets are getting out of stocks and people are actually having their names listed in notepad so that they could be contacted immediately by the store upon availability of the item.

Click Here To Read More…

Check more relevant posts and hot topics at Proud To Be Pinoy andOnline Travel 360

Dubai again and a strange affection for a city that I guess is my home, little as it does want me here. Jobs here seem impossible at first hunt, perhaps I should look to skip and dip on standby tickets for the next two months? I will definitely be in Cairo (and not Berlin) for a fortnight sandwiched in June, and Kashmir/Mumbai for the first 2-3 weeks of July. Hopefully finding an affordable (!) sublet in NYC for August and couchsurfing for the last dredges of July til I can inshallah move in. My life is currently packed into six boxes in the radio station – I fascinatingly had five last year and four the year before. I suspect the number could go down though as I have scores of books to disperse (like theory, like cats) into the atmosphere, and several boxes lined with wake-up-an-hour-before-kickout-time dump and run panic.

And these pictures are really lovely aren’t they? They must be fairly recent but remind me of a breezier Dubai I don’t really see anymore without legging it quite a ways. Perhaps by bike now despite the weather, as I’ve left my license in New York (I think?). They’re by Dubai based photographer/skater Evan Collisson , who has some sick stuff from around the region, as well as skate shots. And also seems to have taken the photos for some of the Brownbook articles I’ve done including an agonising writeup of a house I’ve only seen through (limited) photos – it’s nice to see what the rest of it looks like. I’m also wondering what the skate scene looks like nowadays? (And flashbacks to the days of astroturf and Antifrat, band practices in Sharjah and the Blue Souq and Russians – and much much later, Sparkplugs and playing at the shells of Marina/ other Emaar skateparks). All the parks I remember seem to have closed save for Mamzar, not sure if that’d still be around either. Good places for gigs maybe – which seem to have corporated up and moved to clubs?

… Yeah, coming back (? that’s still a strange thought) to Dubai is pretty strange, especially when I’m here for a good chunk of summer and don’t know anyone left in the city anymore. Perhaps that’s some small (dis)comfort, that it’ll always be ultratransient? Also interesting that it feels weird to wander around Dubai alone in the way that I would do with other places. I’d like to think it’s because they resonate/echo with remembered people and times, but truth be told so many places seem flipped out and retouched and repainted that they’re probably defamilliarised anyway. And I’m thinking there must be more of an -I hate the wordbut, – underground artish scene of sorts here? Somewhere? Perhaps I’ll spend the next month skulking JamJar/ Al Quoz and doing a mini-ethnography of expat ID absence/transcience/creative translation? Assuming I don’t need to retake my driving test that is, this could be dire.

URGENT!

As salamu alaikum, a Sister is looking for English Qur’an classes for Kids (5y) in after school hours in DUBAI DEIRA (near Maktoom Street).

Can someone advise her? Barakallahufeek for your help. Please write to: eSisters.ae@gmail.com

Anyone reading this blog over the last couple of years knows I am huge fan of South Africa – its people, the land, the wine and of course the food. So when I was invited to go and try the newest South African restaurant in Dubai. How could I say no?

There are a couple of places in Dubai who do a reasonable hand at South African food – you have the great fun Sports Bar Nezesaussi in the Al Manzil hotel, the and the posher Hunters in the Westin or the Grand Grill at the Habtoor Grand as well as the old favourites such as the Butcher Shop and Grill and the Meat Company, however they all are a tried and tested formula providing good quality tourist style food.

To my mind there is always room for a restaurant bringing something authentic to the table. So without hesitation me and some friends heads to the Downtown Grill & Bar in the Metropolitan Palace Hotel in Deira. This is under the same management as the Grand Grill so expectations were high.

The staff were very welcoming with a well stocked bar but as soon as I saw the menu I made a beeline for the “Bunny Chow” starter. This is the first time I have actually seen it appear on a menu outside of South Africa and there was no way I was missing out on this. Hailing from Durban, a Bunny Chow is a hollowed out piece of bread filled with delicious curry. I was not disappointed:

Then for main possible the largest Chicken Bobotie I have ever seen was served. We had to include the iPhone for scale:

The food really was excellent. I also got to try some friends Boerwors and the “Greg Norman” fillet steak. All items were well cooked and importantly they tasted like I was back in Joburg.

We were also treated to face painter for some traditional African patterns. I liked the flower Leila got:

Then a further treat with some great Bongo drummers called “Dubai Drums” made a special appearance. got up handed out some extra bongo drums to the diners then a mad amount of dancing kicked off:

I have to admit that I don’t have the South African dance thing down. My mate Lawrence does is rather well. It seems to involve crouching like a crab, sticking ones backside out and stomping the floor with ones foot. I think I will need to work on this for future use. I enjoyed a few Windhoeks while the post dinner mayhem ensued.

Overall – 9/10 A great restaurant with super friendly service which finally serves the great food you get when you visit South Africa. I wish it was closer to where I live in the Marina.

The rosary woman and other head-shaking tales – Movie star Jackie Chan said Singaporeans have no self-respect, that

Dubai Palms is not a single entity rather it is a trilogy of Dubai Palm islands which is one of the most remarkable developments on earth. Soon, these Dubai palms will become the eighth wonder of the world.  They have become the major landmark because of their amazing architecture. This is moreover, the flagship development that is done in Dubai to extend the coastline. Palm Jumeirah is one of the original palms and is a part in the trilogy of Dubai Palm. The names of the other two palms are Palm Jebel Ali and the Palm Deira. We will talk about this trilogy one by one in detail. Dubai palm which is one of the hottest developments in this emirate covers an area of 5 Km which consists of a trunk and there is a crescent shaped island that surrounds 17 fronds thus, act as a breakwater. As far as Dubai coastline is concerned, Dubai palm has majorly contributed in it by adding an extra of 78 Km to it. This massive and luxury development is being added in the list of Dubai property buyers.

The value of the real estate sector here has tremendously increased and this shoot up is also related to the construction of the Palm trilogy. Those who are planning to buy a luxury property in this emirate will surely consider the option at Dubai Palm as the opportunity to own a property part here has increased the demand level. Apart from residential apartments, the property in Dubai Palm features all essential and modern facilities including cafes, restaurants and shops. Number of luxury hotels has been designed across the breakwater. The hotels are expected to link to the mainland with the help of an underwater tunnel and many of them are now approaching completion. It comprises of apartments developed by a renowned developer Nakheel.

Now let’s talk about the Dubai palm trilogy one by one in detail.

The Palm Jumeirah: This has been reclaimed by Nakheel and is one part of the trilogy of Dubai Palm. It is the most recognizable projects in the UAE and it took years of construction. This project has changed the property market trend here and has contributed a lot in the appreciating value of the real estate market. It shows the engineering capabilities of that great developer and has helped the real estate market in many ways. This property includes luxury 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom shoreline apartments providing the highest and modern standards of living. This property cannot be questioned when it comes to luxury and comfort. There are town houses with views of man-made beaches. The Palm Jumeirah of Dubai Palm also includes garden and signature villas with the privilege of an in-house swimming pool.

This has now become one of the most popular addresses in Dubai and the fascinating stories about this luxurious property have reached many celebrities and VIP’s from across the globe. Signature and garden villas make use of most of the branches of this palm tree shaped island featuring private beaches and all luxury facilities which one could think of. Marina residences are constructed on the northern edge of the trunk including 6 freehold residential buildings with 12 penthouses and 858 apartments.  Few other developments that are being done in Palm Jumeirah are: The palm residence consisting of two residenbtial buildings on the eastern shore of the trunk. Then there is Lighthouse hotel and residence and Logo Islands etc. Moreover, this island is expected to cater 4,000 residences. This is one of the islands of Dubai Palm.

The Palm Jebel Ali: Out of the three palm islands in Dubai Palm trilogy, this palm island, Jebel Ali is an island completely dedicated to entertainment. Although this island is an expansion of the original palm Jumeirah but it is about 50% larger as compared to the original island again featuring freehold properties for Dubai property buyers. The complete structure of the island is the same with that of its predecessor however; there are few added attractions to it for property investors planning to invest here. As far as the location of this island is concerned it is located out from the city. Just like Palm Jumeirah it also consists of garden and signature villas which appeal to most of the property investors. This project is started after visualizing the success of the same type of properties in the original property.

Moreover, the concept of this property construction is the same however; it’s more of a tourist destination.  This project will create large number of leisure, residential and entertainment facilities with a unique and attractive setting. Palm Jebel Ali consists of 2000 signature villas, townhouses and garden homes. The project was expected to get completed in 2006 however, it got delayed by several months but despite of this fact the residents have already moved in to enjoy the luxurious living there. As far as the entertainment facilities are concerned, kit schedules shopping complexes and water parks. Rest assures every comfort as it is there in the original island.

The Palm Deira: This island is the largest of the three located in the Deira coastal area of the emirate. It covers 14 Kilometers in length and is 8.5 meters wide. It again consists of all kinds of residential properties, shopping malls, sports facilities and marinas. The residential area of Palm Deira will contain two storey townhouses in three distinct styles. It includes Grand Villas, Vista Town Homes and Premier Villas. This palm shaped island consists of a trunk crowned with 41 fronds and there is a surrounding crescent island forming a water-break.

This island has been carved into 9 districts such as Palm Crown, Central Island, Palm Fronds, Deira Island, Palm Trunk, Pal, Crescent, South Island, Al Mamzar Island and North Island. There are various zones in this island including the Theater and the concept square, The Marina, The Boulevard, West Business District, Meadows Park and The Promenade. These are three islands forming the complete structure of Dubai Palm.

Dubai

Coffee Republic Dubai, Diera City Centre Mall, First Floor, Dubai, UAE, United Arab Emirates

Tel: 9714 2943144

Attractive modern shopping plazas are conveniently located throughout the city, housing a wide range of shops, boutiques, supermarkets, restaurants and fast-food outlets.

Deira malls: Leading malls in Deira district include Deira City Center, Al Mulla Plaza, the Inter-Continental Plaza, Abu Hail Shopping Center, The Galleria, Al Ghurair Center, Al Warba Center, Al Manal Center, Al Bustan Center, Al Futtaim Center, The Dana Center, The Center and Hamarain Center.

Dubai malls: On the Dubai side of the Creek the Wafi, BurJuman Center, Lamcy Plaza, Al Dhiyafa Centre, Karama Center, Al Rais Shopping Mall, Dune Center, Al Hana Center, Al Khaleej Center and Holiday Center are among the largest complexes.

Jumeirah malls: The Jumeirah district has Magrudy’s Shopping Mall, Markaz Al Jumeirah, Mercato Town Center, Jumaira Plaza, The Beach Center, The Town Center and Palm Strip.

Okei. Diibitsemishoiatus. Nagu seriously, people. Ahjaa. Peaks pärast seda minema ja blogrolli natuke inimesi lisama, et seal nagu poleks nii vähe inimesi. Noh, kui tel on blog ja ma suhtlen teiega ja te olete mu blogrollis, siis olete te nähtavasti toredad inimesed minu jaoks. Aga kui teid pole, siis teil pole vist blogi või ei viitsi ma seda lihtsalt sinna panna. Eks. Sorri. Kui ei meeldi, minge orkutisse ja lugege, mis Deira minu kohta kirjutas. See ütleb piisavalt.

Noh. Ma mingi istusin ja mõtlesin et peaks rolle kirjutama, aga ma tegelesin hoopiski “A Shout In The Desertiga” ja siis ma mingi kuulasin Sentenced’it natuke (Tiit saatis, ta on halb inimene ) ja siis ma mõtlesin et kurat, mis mu loo teema on ja siis ma mõtlesin nende tegelaste peale ja siis see teema lõi mind pähe. “Põgenemine – igaüks erineva asja eest”. Ma kavatsen Shouti valmis saada see aasta. Nagu siiralt. Sest mina ja Deira leppisime kokku et mõlemad kirjutame ühe romaani mustandi valmis. Ja Shout kõlab kenasti praegu. Eks ta tuleb suht eksistentsialistlik ka, sest ta teine teema on “kõik on kaduv”, eks. Nii et jah – andke mulle laule ja siis tulevad teemad pähe.

ASITD on sihuke ulmeline asi. Vot.

Vittu türa küll. Ma nagu tahan diipida, aga siis tuleb sihuke teema välja.

Noh. Plaa.

Tagasi rolle kirjutama. Kui Erlessa oma valmis saan ja saadetud, siis saan minna teed tegema. Jee.

Eniveis. General public service announcement: Hoar ei ole peast segi. Teda pole ei pähe löödud ega ähvardatud. So yeah.

Noh. Muidu igatahes oli nii et klassijuhatajatund ja aktus oli nunnu. Natuke naljakas, eriti kui meie omadel laul natuke sassi läks, aga nohjah. Õpikuid pole überpalju, aga mul pole paberit. Peaks minema ja ostma homme/ülehomme/siis kui ema raha annab. Blah bla bla bla. Interesting, not.

Thanaria, codenamed väike väljasõit loodusesse, on valmimas.

Vot. Üleüldiselt, täitsa hästi läheb. Nvm, et kooli algus on.

Photograph with Saji Nair, a friend from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Since 1998, the number of residences that I have stayed in are more than a dozen!  My stay upon arrival was with my cousin at Bur Dubai, close to the Bus Station.  Within a week, I managed to share a rented apartment with another Keralite, that too close to Bur Dubai bus station.  However, upon getting a job in Deira, I moved my residence to Deira, on Muraqabat Road sharing with two friends – Sunil and Murali.  Then, I moved to an apartment near Al Ghurair City, sharing with friends including Viswanathan.  The next move was closer to my office, behind Dnata, where I met my close friends Iyengar and Rajagopal.  The sixth move was with them to a small apartment in Muraqabat area.  Then I left for Bur Dubai to share an apartment with my cousin near Bank of Baroda where I stayed for almost an year.  The next move was to Karama with my friend Rajagopal.  Then we joined Iyengar sharing a flat in Bur Dubai, near Rolla Street.  Then came the tenth move, again to Deira, in Muraqabat with Iyengar and Kesavamoorthy.  With this, bachelor life in Dubai came to an end.

In 2007, I moved to my present residence at Sharjah before the arrival of my wife from India.