Understanding the culture
UAE
Photography Opportunity – "Our Story of the Date Palms"
Photography Opportunity – “Our Story of the Date Palms”
Have you ever watched the Palm trees flowering process. If not, watch them from now on. The trees have started flowering.
Normally, the process happen after the 2nd quarter of every year. But the last year, weather and nature was not kind enough and as a result, the palm trees did not flower during that time and now only they are flowering. These two important factors, Weather and Nature, always influence photography.
Now, they are in favour blessing the UAE weather and it’s natural vegetation.
It is time for you to take out your camera, identify a palm tree of your choice, photograph it every week, as it flowers, and the flower grow and become a full fledged date fruit and then it ripes and then it is harvested. You may get almost 12 – 16 weeks to see the process. Enjoy clicking as much as you can, post them here.
Do not finish it there, do write your experiences, as you click the process, the life that happens, during the time, interesting period, as winter give way to summer and all the related events happens. Best wishes, Each one of you can submit as many photos as you can, but per week only one best click of you will be selected and then end of the project, 16 best clicks as a collage.
It will be a good observation cum photography experience if you track it and great team activity with your friends and family.
You may click them from wherever you are in the UAE. Opt to choose the growth sequence in one or two selected trees.
A display of this wonderful natural event and the result of your efforts submitted to Passionate Photographers group on Facebook is planned in mid 2014 when this seasonal cycle gets completed with the dates ripe, mature and fall down announcing the arrival of Christmas and another year end.
For parents with children and schools interested or not interested in Photography, this will be a very good exercise to have them observe the nature, the seasonal changes and to observe and realise how nature announces the arrival of the seasons in its own way. Since it is spread out during a period of four months, it will be also a test to find out how patient you are towards your short term and long term objectives.
Thus, to create an interactive interest among parents/children/teachers, photos of participating children below age 16 will be separately displayed and appreciated.
At the end of the project, those children who are participating in this event are welcome to write a short story – not less than 300 words – on their experience of capturing the season that passed by while photographing for this event.
A maximum of 16 photos, i.e. 1 photo per week for the next 4 months on the subject. 16 photos selected by each member / each month, ie March, April, May, Jun, clicks could be submitted. All photos will be exhibited digitally and best ones will find its way into an exhibition scheduled during a special occasion.
Photos taken using Mobile Phones also can also be submitted.
Time Frame for clicking : 4th March 2014 – 4th July 2014.
Please post your clicks marked for this event on to the special event created at Passionate Photographers group and also email the soft copy of it to team1dubai@gmail.com with the subject line:
Photo Competition – “Our Story of the Date Palms”
Please note to observe the time and date you click along with the GPS location of your object, for jury to identify it before the exhibition.
Original high resolution files will be required to be submitted at a later stage with full information of the photo and photographer.
Files should not be modified or altered with.
Please share it with your friends and family who may be interested.
Please do not hesitate to contact me in case you have any further clarifications.
To view the event page on Facebook, please visit Passionate Photographers group on Facebook.
For any further queries, please contact – Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi on Phone 050 8122319
Welcome to participate and Best wishes in advance.
Youth power – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt. 22 February 2014
Youth power
I had an opportunity to attend a forum “Big Achievements. Early Starts” conducted by the Salama Bint Al Nahyan Foundation. The five youth achievers, Abdul Muqeet Abdul Mannan, Adeeb Al Blooshi, Cameron Oliver, Dubai Abulhoul and Hamda Al Bana were honoured.
They made individual presentations to the audience and followed it up with a one-to-one conversation. They talked about the rationale behind their ideas, how they accomplished them and the difficulties they faced.
All of them were crystal clear about their chosen path and had definite vision for their life ahead.
It also highlighted that these children are definitely an asset to the society and inspire many others as they progressed ahead.
No wonder, the forum opened up the hidden wealth of the nation – that is the “youth.” All those who attended left with confidence that the leaders of the country are rightly investing in local talents with a vision far ahead to make the UAE stand tall and proud among the nations of the world.
Ramesh Menon
Gulf Today, Short Take Dt. 22nd February 2014
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online.
Volcano Fountain – a humble call to bring it back
Any expat or Emirati family who was here before it was demolished in 2004 remembers the 80 foot fountain right by the Gulf. It was common to see families relaxing while the kids ran around the fountain or friends met to catch up. For many years, the Volcano Fountain which got the name from its cone – like shape and the electric lights that looked like lava at night was the place for National Day festivities and other traditional events, a part of the heritage and culture and a prime spot for visitors to the UAE. However, it was removed during the expansion of the Corniche and so far has not found a place in the new scheme of developments in the capital.
Many in Abu Dhabi especially those who grew up seeing the fountain miss it. But one man has decided to take the initiative to bring this beautiful fountain back. Ramesh Menon, an Indian who works in the capital, has sent a petition to the authorities in Abu Dhabi asking them to find the right place to restore this grand monument to the city. “This will make a differenced in Abu Dhabi; it will keep a lot of memories alive and attract various people. There are many who have taken interest and joined in this petition. As lovers of this country, tradition, and historical growth, we all want the Volcano Fountain to be restored, rebuilt anywhere in the new Corniche or any other befitting place in Abu Dhabi, says Menon. “How can we forget that Abu Dhabi was synonymous with this fountain until 2004, and now it’s gone,” Menon reminds us who has been in the city for decades.
A committee is currently looking into the situation, and Menon is working to spread the message and gain more support to ensure that his mission succeeds.
Emiratis and Expats : Bridging the gap – Gulf News Dt. 11.09.2013
A thought provoking article of contemporary relevance, as UAE is looking to progress in all fields. An individual of any nationality undergoes the same dilemma expressed by the writer. It is true that a certain cultural inhibition is there in most of us. However, I believe that each individual needs to put in effort to learn and understand the local language and tradition of the country, to feel a part of it. As a member of the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISC), Abu Dhabi, I would like to appreciate the effort of ISC to conduct Arabic language courses for its members and their families. This has made a significant impact in the community. Involvement of police and other local humanitarian associations in club events has also given expatriates an opportunity to understand the local culture.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit Gulf News online.
എണ്ണയുടെ നാട്ടില് ഒരു സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം
എണ്ണയുടെ നാട്ടില് ഒരു സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം
Posted on: 04 May 2013
ചിത്രങ്ങളും എഴുത്തും: രമേഷ് മോനോന്
എണ്ണയുടെ നാട്ടില് സൗരോര്ജ നിലയമോ! അതെ, യുണൈറ്റഡ് അറബ് എമിരൈറ്റിലെ ഷാംസ് സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം, ലോകത്തിലെ തന്നെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ സൗരോര്ജ നിലയങ്ങളിലൊന്നാണ്. അബുദാബിയില് നിന്ന് 120 കിലോമീറ്റര് അകലെ സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്ന ഷാംസ് നിലയം കഴിഞ്ഞ മാര്ച്ച് 17 നാണ് പ്രവര്ത്തനമാരംഭിച്ചത്.
പാരബോളിക് ട്രഫ് ടെക്നോളജി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന ഷാംസ് 1 ( Shams 1 ) ആണ് ഇപ്പോള് പ്രവര്ത്തനമാരംഭിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള ആദ്യഘട്ടം. സൗരോര്ജത്തെ താപോര്ജമായി പരിവര്ത്തനം ചെയ്ത് അതുപയോഗിച്ച് 100 മെഗാവാട്ട് വൈദ്യുതി ഉത്പാദിപ്പിക്കാന് ഷാംസ് 1 ന് സാധിക്കും. ഷാംസ് 2, ഷാംസ് 3 സ്റ്റേഷനുകള് താമസിയാതെ കമ്മീഷന് ചെയ്യും.
ഷാംസ് 1 നിലയത്തില് 100 മെഗാവാട്ട് വൈദ്യുതി ഉത്പാദിപ്പിക്കുക വഴി, പ്രതിവര്ഷം 175,000 ടണ് കാര്ബണ്ഡയോക്സയ്ഡ് അന്തരീക്ഷത്തില് വ്യാപിക്കുന്നത് ചെറുക്കാനാകുമെന്നാണ് കണക്ക്. 20,000 ഭവനങ്ങളില് വെളിച്ചമെത്തിക്കാന് ഇത്രയും വൈദ്യുതികൊണ്ട് കഴിയും.
സൗരോര്ജം ആഗിരണം ചെയ്യാന് 258,048 പരാബോളിക് ട്രഫ് ദര്പ്പണങ്ങള് ഷാംസ് 1 നിലയത്തിലുണ്ട്. ഈ ദര്പ്പണങ്ങളും അനുബന്ധ ഉപകരണങ്ങളുമെല്ലാംകൂടി രണ്ടര ചതുരശ്ര കിലോമീറ്റര് പ്രദേശത്ത് വ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.
അബുദാബി ഫ്യൂച്ചര് എനര്ജി കമ്പനിക്ക് കീഴിലുള്ള ഷാംസ് പവര് കമ്പനിയാണ് ഈ സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം നിര്മിച്ചത്. സ്പാനിഷ്, ഫ്രഞ്ച് കമ്പനികള് നിര്മാണത്തില് സഹകരിച്ചു.
പാരബോളിക് ട്രഫ് ടെക്നോളജി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന ഷാംസ് 1 ( Shams 1 ) ആണ് ഇപ്പോള് പ്രവര്ത്തനമാരംഭിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള ആദ്യഘട്ടം. സൗരോര്ജത്തെ താപോര്ജമായി പരിവര്ത്തനം ചെയ്ത് അതുപയോഗിച്ച് 100 മെഗാവാട്ട് വൈദ്യുതി ഉത്പാദിപ്പിക്കാന് ഷാംസ് 1 ന് സാധിക്കും. ഷാംസ് 2, ഷാംസ് 3 സ്റ്റേഷനുകള് താമസിയാതെ കമ്മീഷന് ചെയ്യും.
ഷാംസ് 1 നിലയത്തില് 100 മെഗാവാട്ട് വൈദ്യുതി ഉത്പാദിപ്പിക്കുക വഴി, പ്രതിവര്ഷം 175,000 ടണ് കാര്ബണ്ഡയോക്സയ്ഡ് അന്തരീക്ഷത്തില് വ്യാപിക്കുന്നത് ചെറുക്കാനാകുമെന്നാണ് കണക്ക്. 20,000 ഭവനങ്ങളില് വെളിച്ചമെത്തിക്കാന് ഇത്രയും വൈദ്യുതികൊണ്ട് കഴിയും.
സൗരോര്ജം ആഗിരണം ചെയ്യാന് 258,048 പരാബോളിക് ട്രഫ് ദര്പ്പണങ്ങള് ഷാംസ് 1 നിലയത്തിലുണ്ട്. ഈ ദര്പ്പണങ്ങളും അനുബന്ധ ഉപകരണങ്ങളുമെല്ലാംകൂടി രണ്ടര ചതുരശ്ര കിലോമീറ്റര് പ്രദേശത്ത് വ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.
അബുദാബി ഫ്യൂച്ചര് എനര്ജി കമ്പനിക്ക് കീഴിലുള്ള ഷാംസ് പവര് കമ്പനിയാണ് ഈ സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം നിര്മിച്ചത്. സ്പാനിഷ്, ഫ്രഞ്ച് കമ്പനികള് നിര്മാണത്തില് സഹകരിച്ചു.
To read it in original, please visit Mathrubhumi online
Gold in short supply in Dubai
XPRESS reports:
Gold in short supply in DubaiBuyers come in droves to buy coins and biscuits
My comments as follows:
I believe the unexpected drop in gold price in UK market have forced the wholesale dealers in Dubai to hold their stock as reserves and wait for the market to move up again. If not, they will be incurring huge loss on stock they bought for high price which they have to release to the market to meet the demand created due to the current global scenario. I am sure it is the case in all the major gold markets, including India and in particular Kerala, where there is always a huge demand for gold. Those who have invested in gold, it is a time to hold on to it as prices will move up again. Those who have not invested in it, take advantage of the situation and buy some yellow metal for keep, only and only if you have reserve cash. However, caution to NOT USE YOUR CREDIT CARD for buying gold. You will regret heavily later.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
To read it in original, please visit XPRESS online.
Well done!
Well done!
(Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi) / 14 April 2013
Best wishes to Khaleej Times on its 35th birthday.
As a regular reader, I wish to congratulate the entire team for the excellent change brought in to the newspaper in print and online during the recent times.
The online edition is attractive and easy to read and save. Local and regional contents of importance are well covered in print. Sports coverage is one of the best with excellent tabulations and graphics whenever there is any prominent event happening.
To read it in original, please visit, Khaleej Times online.
‘Abandoned’ Cars gather dust at Abu Dhabi airport
ABU DHABI // Scores of luxury cars and sports utility vehicles are gathering dust in the short-term car park at Abu Dhabi airport.
According to the airport’s website, vehicles should be left there for no more than three days. And few would choose to with parking costing Dh240 a day.
But many of the cars have clearly been there for months – long enough for tyres to go flat and windows to become caked with sand and salt.
Beneath the grime, the marques are a checklist of luxury – BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, a Chevrolet Camaro S5 and a Jaguar XK8.
Also accumulating dust are sport utility vehicles such as a Nissan Prado, a Ford Escape, a Ford Edge and a Chevrolet Avalanche.
Others include a Kia Optima, Kia Rio, Honda Civic, Honda City, Nissan Altima and Nissan Tiida, Mazda 3, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris, and a Peugeot 207.
“I’ve seen a few cars here that are covered with dust,” said MT Hassan, a Sudanese public relations officer.
“Maybe some of the owners will return, while others may have already left the country. We really don’t know.”
Ramesh Menon, 45, a technical officer at an Abu Dhabi government company, suspects the latter.
He visited the airport in mid-July. When he returned this week, the same cars remained parked.
“If there is a genuine owner who has parked there by mistake, he or she will claim it,” Mr Menon said. “If it is deliberate, the car should be auctioned off to the public.”
The flat tyres are a giveaway, he added. “Abu Dhabi airport has tight security measures. I don’t think someone will go to the car park and puncture the tyres.”
As on dirty cars everywhere, passers-by have inscribed messages in the dust. Some, including a black Ford Edge Sport and a white Honda Civic, bear the time-honoured “clean me”, while the rear windscreen of a blue-green Hyundai Tucson claims its owner has “gone fishing”.
A check on some of the number plates through the police website reveals the cars have a number of traffic and Salik fines.
One, a black Jaguar XK8 with Abu Dhabi plates, has accumulated Dh1,350 in fines – two for speeding in Abu Dhabi in June and July, and another for speeding in Dubai in May.
A grey Nissan Altima with Abu Dhabi plates had five Dubai police fines totalling Dh3,100 between December 2010 and April 2011.
A green BMW saloon, also with Abu Dhabi plates, had two Dubai fines from October 2009, and another from April 2010, totalling Dh1,900. A Kia Optima had a Dh100 fine from Oman, while a Kia Rio racked up nine Salik fines, totalling Dh450, between November 2009 and February 2010. Both cars have Dubai plates.
“The authorities should now consider removing them to allow other cars to park in this area meant for short-term parking,” Mr Menon said. “These cars are eating up a lot of space and it gives a bad image to the city.”
A spokesperson for the Abu Dhabi Airports Company yesterday declined to comment.
Several cars sit covered in dust, seemingly abandoned at the Abu Dhabi Airport short-term parking lot as seen on Wednesday afternoon, August 1, 2012. Silvia Razgova / The National
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online
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