Exploring Abu Dhabi – through Clicks and Writes – Yas Marina and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Exploring Abu Dhabi – through Clicks and Writes – Yas Marina and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The focus now change to Yas Marina circuit and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2010.
The photos are from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2009.
Yas Marina Circuit is owned by the Executive Affairs Authority of the government of Abu Dhabi and operated by Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management. It employs about 180 full-time staff, supported by up to 200 part-time workers and volunteers at peak times.
Right next door is the iconic Yas Hotel, a luxury marina, yacht club, six other hotels, the Yas Island golf links and the Ferrari World indoor theme park, set to open in late 2010. The international airport is close by and only 25 minutes away is the thriving city of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, largest of the seven Emirates and one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world.
How to Get There
Yas Marina Circuit is easily accessible by road or air from the UAE and internationally. Situated on a natural island, visitors traveling by road from Abu Dhabi city can reach Yas Marina Circuit in around half an hour, while Dubai is just over an hour away. Access to the circuit is via a 12-lane highway which can be accessed from the Sheikh Maktoum (E10) highway from Abu Dhabi, or the Sheikh Zayed (E11) highway from Dubai. For overseas visitors, Abu Dhabi International Airport is just 15 minutes away by road.
Key facts and figures
The Formula 1™ track is 5.55 km long and can be split into two smaller tracks of 3.1 km and 2.4 km, which can operate simultaneously where desired.
Approximately 50,000 spectators can view the action on the circuit from the comfort of permanent, covered grandstands and air-conditioned VIP facilities. Yas Marina Circuit is the only motorsports venue in the world where all the grandstands are covered.
To know more about it, please visit Yas Marina circuit. online.
Team1 Daily LAWS – Air India cancel more GULF flights
Team1 Daily LAWS – Air India cancel more GULF flights
My Letters – Khaleej Times – dT. 01.11.2010 – Pakistan SA Cricket
My Letters – Khaleej Times – dT. 01.11.2010 – Pakistan SA Cricket
Pakistan, SA cricket
1 November 2010
The T-20 series between Pakistan and South Africa finished with South African winning on a 2-0 margin. The series moved on to one-day matches and as cricket lovers we all expected a come back attitude from Pakistan. It looks like the Pakistan team has taken this South African team and its members very lightly.
The Pakistan cricket team with its fondness, familiarity for the UAE grounds and local support were expected to give a tough fight. However, against all expectations, and with some unimaginative batting and bowling display, they proved otherwise.
The Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi is one of the most beautiful green grounds currently available for international matches. Although the grass is thick, the outfield is short and fast. During this time of the year, there is a certain element of humidity making batting second difficult. There is also a fair amount of air movement making accurate bowling and hitting highly difficult. It is here that the batsman and bowlers have to show patience and skill.
With the 1st one-day match also going against them, cricket lovers hope the Pakistan team learn fast from the mistakes.
-Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read this in original, please visit Khaleej Times online.
Exploring Abu Dhabi – through Clicks and Writes – Al Wathba Camel Race Track
Exploring Abu Dhabi – through Clicks and Writes – Al Wathba Camel Race Track
Al Wathba is one of the most prominent racetracks in UAE and hosts a camel festival along with camel racing.
Camel Racing is an integral part of Sports in UAE and it also reflects the unique culture of it’s citizen.
The sport attracts everyone from members of the royal family to local and foreign visitors.
Prominent races are held during the winter season on Thursdays and Friday mornings, at specially designed racetracks. The winner of the race is given huge amount of money therefore camel racing in Abu Dhabi is incredibly competitive and exciting.
Al Wathba is one of the most prominent racetracks in UAE and hosts a camel festival along with camel racing.
It is situated on the Abu Dhabi Al-Ain highway.
Location : Al Wathba Camel Racetrack – 24.237020N , 54.653290E
Thikkarthika Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple – 21st November 2010
Thikkarthika Maholsavam at Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple – 21st November 2010
To know more about the temple, please visit Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple
My letters – GULF NEWS – Dt. 26.10.2010 – Give them attention
My letters – GULF NEWS – Dt. 26.10.2010 – Give them attention
Give them attention
I refer to the news of Indian football team’s visit to train in Dubai (“India team to train in Dubai for a month”, Gulf News, October 20). It is an opportunity to promote the game by regional associations and interested corporate bodies, who could think outside cricket as the only commercially viable marketing option. This visit should therefore be utilised to give necessary support and encouragement to the Indian football team during the time they are in the UAE. This will be inspiring for them, for the game and for all non-cricket playing athletes. Let us hope that it will gain bigger momentum in India and benefit all track and field sports personnel who deserve more attention and pampering.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online.
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 30.10.2010 – At the hospital
At the hospital
As a regular visitor to the Oncology Department at a prominent hospital, I get to see several patients and interact with them. Some of them old, but they are striving their best to hold on to the pain and agony of this dreadful disease.
While waiting for my turn today, there was an old man, unlike others, and he was curious to see me fiddling with my phone and answering messages promptly as they come in without disturbing the others.
After some time, we sat close to each other, and I started casually conversing with him. He was a retired agricultural engineer from Iraq and now living with his son who is employed here.
Talking to me about his disease, he said it is nothing compared to the days he had seen and lived during the last couple of years. I, too, had memories of the country passed on to me by a friend who was working there in the 80s. He rekindled it with the fertile soil and the life around before it all turned bloody and continued thereafter. Even after several years and several hands at the regime, the lost glory has not been restored yet, nor is there any sign of serious effort towards it in sight.
While talking, we found an infant on his father’s lap, crying continuously. Hardly more than 2 or 3 months old, he was also there for treatment. Looking at the eyes of his father, we knew the state of affairs, and we all looked at each other in silence and our conversation discontinued as the baby’s cry overtook our emotional quest to share personal experiences.
Driving down, I was stuck on the road – again another accident – a death, due to the crazy driving of a driver. His car also was in a wreck and was struggling to come out of it in pain and blood while the other vehicle was a total loss.
As we drove ahead, I was thinking of the guy who caused the accident and his life ahead and comparing with those at the oncology ward. It is a difficult world especially when we create our own cancerous environment due to arrogance and attitude.
Ramesh Menon
Exploring Abu Dhabi – through Clicks and Writes – Pedestrian Overbridges
Exploring Abu Dhabi – through Clicks and Writes – Pedestrian Overbridges
Abu Dhabi has now several pedestrian bridges, make life easier for road users to cross across the busy streets. Wish more people use them and make the road safer for drivers and pedestrians.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Post 8 29.10.2010
Mind Speaks – South Africa sweep Pakistan 2-0 in the Cool-Cool T20 series at Abu Dhabi
Mind Speaks – South Africa sweep Pakistan 2-0 in the Cool-Cool T20 series
The two match Cool-Cool T-20 series between Pakistan and South Africa finished yesterday with South African side winning on a 2-0 margin.
Before the match, cricket lovers from all over had the expectation that Pakistan, with it’s fondness for the UAE grounds will give a tough fight. However, against all expectations, and with some un-imaginative batting and bowling display they proved otherwise. In the first match it was the captain Shahid Afridi with the bat whereas in the second it was Misbah-ul-Haq. Both the batsman, played shots which should be termed as turning point towards defeats. The remaining batsman in the team did not raise their individual game to the expectation. South African’s on the other hand displayed a disciplined effort with bat and ball. J Theron, R Theron and LL Tsotsobe were excellent with their bowling and JP Duminy and CA Ingram played well on both the occasions. Bosman was not upto the mark but overall the team fielding was excellent that at times it was like Pakistan was playing against 18 players on field.
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi is one of the most beautiful green ground currently available for international matches. Although the grass is thick, the outfield is short and fast. During this time of the year, there is a certain element of humidity and due factor making batting second difficult with the extra excellent lightings. There is also fair amount of air movement making accurate bowling and hitting high difficult. It is here that the batsman and bowlers have to show patience and skill and on both occasion South African players showed there superiority in adjusting better than the Pakistan team players who are more used to this condition than any others.
We hope they learn fast from the mistakes and adapt fast in the long version starting tomorrow or otherwise, the series will be of no interest by the time it moves to Dubai for the remaining matches. It looks like Afridi and company have to really aim for the stars to stay alive in the series in UAE.
Ramesh Menon
28.10.2010
photo courtesy: www.cricinfo.com
Campaign – "Madinati" – matters to me
Campaign – “Madinati” – matters to me
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