Ghost Protocol Set Location Visited

Remembering Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Movie

Two men were chasing, first on foot and then on cars. Then suddenly, sandstorm came and hit the city. The chase became even more intense until their cars made a head to head collision. The other man stood up, walked as if nothing happened.

For those who have watched the super intense action hit movie Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, which stars Tom Cruise, that was one of the scenes. As a Dubai resident for almost 5 years now, I thought that time when we were watching the movie on a big screen that the location was just a computer generated one. Which was for me, a never-before-seen bridge wonderfully designed with curved bar railings. But I found myself wrong when we were actually standing on the very place yesterday on an unexpected event.

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Why We Got There

The bridge was actually in front of the world famous Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. It is actually the access for VIPs that will come to the racecourse on any major events.

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Meydan is just one of the multi million dollar projects of Dubai, UAE that surely helped improve its status as one of the best tourist destinations.

So why did we get there? It was a long story that is not worth telling for. LOL!

Did you know: that the Dubai World Cup is the world's richest race day with over US$26.25 million in prize money? Source: wikipedia.org

Photo: BlackBerry 9780 Bold

Photo Editing Tool: picnik.com

The Waving Flag Of The Unwavering Country

(Union House, 2nd of December St., Jumeirah, Dubai)

In this very place, an initiative started by the emirs of two Sheikhdoms Abu Dhabi and Dubai, formed a union, together with other four Sheikhdoms; Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and year later joined by the seventh Sheikdom Ras Al Khaimah. That was in December 2, 1971 after the British-Trucial Sheikhdoms treaty expired.

With the discovery of oil reserves back in the 60's, United Arab Emirates (UAE) started its development until today.

This giant flag simply illustrates the solid foundation which is the basis of its country's success.

Though a bit shaken by the recent economic crisis, leaders of the country were able to lead its people in surpassing the trial.

Then came the so called Arab Spring, that brings simultaneous mass protests and unrest to most countries in the Middle East.

Unfazed and resilient, UAE continues to grow mainly on the economy.

With oil reserves ranked as world's sixth largest, UAE is one of the most developed economies in West Asia, among the world's wealthiest nations per capita GDP and classified as the high-income developing economy by the IMF.
This BB pic was taken one Saturday afternoon, I was with my family after having a walk in Jumeirah Open Beach. I have been trying to capture a good angle with this flag but this one is my considered best so far. Thanks to the moderately strong cold wind which stretched the flag and gave me this perfect view.

Did you know: that the individual colours have the following meanings? Green: fertility, white: neutrality, black: petroleum, red: strength and bravery. Source: wikipedia.org

It's a Jeep Thing

Al Futtaim Motors are showcasing their different car models in the newly opened Festival Walk at Dubai Festival City, in line with the annual Dubai Shopping Festival.

Toyota, Dodge, Chrysler, Honda makes were on display. And there's another one, Jeep. It was displayed  on top of a concrete creek wall or something, with high beamed spotlight on it. See the pic and click for a better view. Pic was taken again with BlackBerry Bold 9780.

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I and my wife were like, what the *&^, what have they done with that precious Jeep. Back at home, while browsing my pix, I found something that made me understand. "It's a Jeep thing..."

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This one was taken in a parking area in Jumeirah Beach Residence Walk, Dubai Marina, 'twas Thursday.
So if you'll see something unusual about a Jeep, just don't bother, it's a Jeep thing.... :)

Did you know: that many, including Ermey, suggest that soldiers at the time were so impressed with the new vehicles that they informally named it after Eugene the Jeep, a character in the Popeye cartoons created by E. C. Segar? Source: wikipedia.org

See related stories: Toyota Miniature Jeep

Bench for Him and Her

Bench for him and her. Lol! Nope, I was just playing with the famous tag line of a leading Filipino clothing company called Bench/.

This was taken by my wife one fine morning while waiting for the bus to work at the 2nd of December Street (formerly Al Diyafah Street, in Al Satwa Dubai). Using her BlackBerry Bold 9700, she was able to find a good angle in capturing this supposedly boring subject. :) Nice click langga.

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Did you know: that recreational sitting, as reflected by television/screen viewing time, is related to raised mortality and CVD risk regardless of physical activity participation? And that in public areas, benches are often donated by persons or associations, which may then be indicated on it, e.g. by a plaque like the below pic? Source: wikipedia.org

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Dubai Festival City's Newly Opened Walk - Visited

I read in the newspaper that an extension walk and promenade was being added in Dubai Festival City's complex. It was situated along the Dubai Creek.

By the way, Dubai Festival City or DFC is a big complex constructed by Al Futtaim Carillion, a big Dubai Co., in an area near to Dubai International Airport. It has big shopping mall, commercial buildings, hotels, residential area, school, golf course, marina and other recreational facilities.

Yesterday, Friday the 13th January 2012, me and my wife visited the place. It was a long stretch walk with not much establishments yet, but it's a nice place to really unwind especially during this cold season. Very ideal for families. Very refreshing if I will compare it to the overcrowded Jumeirah Beach Residences Walk in Dubai Marina.

Using my BlackBerry Bold 9780 I've made this clip with videos and images. And eeiy, were so fortunate also that evening because we've met some big stars. :) Check the video.

Toyota iQ in Dubai

I am in the process of acquiring a driver's license here in Dubai. Though I have been driving already back in my home country, The Philippines. After landing and securing a job, having a D/L is such an ideal thing to achieve for an expat. You know why? 

When I came here back in 2007, the price of petrol is way way low since oil is abundant here in the Middle East. To give you an idea, like for 50 Dirhams that is equivalent to 13.6 US dollars in today's conversion; you can have an almost full tank of your vehicle. And aside from that, you can loan a car in a very easy way and again, cheap because there's no tax in here.

Today, after the economic turmoil, little changes surfaced. You could still see that drive among expats of having a car etcetera etcetera but more in a practical way now. Same goes to the locals here.

Locals are known of owning expensive, big and muscled cars, but Saturday morning on the 24th of December 2011, I saw this small white car parked near to our apartment building. It made me stop and stare, because it was my first time seeing a small car like this from this famous Asian brand Toyota, in Dubai. So I grabbed my ever dependable BlackBerry Bold and click. Then came the local owner, so I asked: can I take a photo boss, he said, "no problem baba". (Baba means mister in Arabic). So I took another one.

I know Toyota iQ is not really that cheap on its level but obviously a way way cheaper than a Nissan Patrol Super Safari or a Toyota Sequoia. The big PLUS also is, the mobility, easy to maneuver and especially the parking part. You can just easily squeeze in to any vacant parking areas. Very ideal if you're staying somewhere where parking is a problem. Downside of course, if you have your family here, but that's another story. :)

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Did you know: that the i stands for "individuality" "innovation" and "intelligence", while the Q stands for "quality" and points to the iQ's "cubic" shape? That it was Japanese Car of the Year for 2008? The iQ was designed at the Toyota European Design and Development (Toyota ED²) studio in Nice, France. Source: wikipedia.org

My Absolut Sheikh Zayed Road

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First Pic (Absolut): Don't know what made me took a BB pic of these three vodka bottles. One thing sure was, we had fun the night after this was taken.

Did you know: that Absolut Vodka was established in 1879 by Lars Olsson Smith and is produced in Åhus, Sweden? And Since July 2008 the company has been owned by the South African entrepreneur and multi billionaire business man Sir David Jones after he bought out the company from the Swedish crown? Source: wikipedia.org

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Second Pic: Taken on a one fine morning at Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE, heading to my workplace.

Did you know: that Sheikh Zayed Road is the longest road in the UAE, E 11 streches from Al Silah in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and ends in Ras Al Khaimah emirate at the Oman border, running roughly parallel to UAE's coastline along the Persian Gulf? Source: wikipedia.org