Thursday, February 16, 2017

A Visit to the Ghost Town (Al Jazirah Al Hamra) of Ras Alkhaimah, UAE


Ghost Town, Al Jazirat Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaima, UAE
Ras Al Khaimah is one of the seven (7) emirates that sum up the country, United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is located in the north part of the country and is referred as the rebel emirate for it does not mind its burgeoning neighbors and seems like no plan of competing in terms of economic, infrastructure and etc development at all.


There are luxury hotels and resorts around the area with beautiful architecture but apart from those, you can never find high rise buildings. It is said that Ras Al Khaimah chose to preserve its history but developed enough to cater its people's needs.

Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE

Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE







Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE
Ras Alkhaimah is just a 2-hour bus ride away from Dubai (minus the traffic) where I decided to spend my 2-day chill time. What actually made me choose Ras Al Khaimah was the fascinating, intriguing and history-rich Al Jazirah Al Hamra or as they call it nowadays, the Ghost Town, and is located 5-10 minutes walk from the main road.

Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE


It is called the Ghost Town for its eerie ambiance but only for people with third eye or sixth sense maybe. I went there feeling nothing but amazement. I liked the solemnity of the place. I was amazed by the fact that these structures have stood and still standing against the test of time and I could sit there for hours just looking at the ruins. Upon wandering around, aside from my sighs, wows and ayes, my thoughts also wondered on how this community was, the life it held prior to the nothingness it is now.

Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE
Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE
Al Jazirah Al Hamra is Arabic phrase which means 'the red island'. According to a lot of sources, its first inhabitants were the Hadhr or also know as 'Coastal Bedouins' as it is located in coastal area of Ras Alkhaimah where their primary means of living was pearl farming/diving.

Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE

Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE
Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE
What fascinated me the most was how the houses were structured. Whole and giant corals were piled up along with stones and sands with sea shells and mud to hold them up to make their walls. Their roofs were made of dates/palms trees' trunks and bundles of leaves held together.

Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE


Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE


Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE

The last settlers were the Zaab Tribe; whom have dispute with the government hence abandoned the area and moved to Abu Dhabi; another UAE's emirate, carrying with them a promise of a better living. 

Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE
























Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE
























Ghost Town, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Ras Alkhaimah, UAE
























Buses bound to Ras Alkhaimah can be found in the Union Bus Station, Exit 1 from the Union metro Station. To board, you must purchase a ticket (AED 20) from the same ticketing booth where NOL cards are topped up. NOL cards cannot be used. And when you reached Ras Alkhaimah, you may get down in the Al Hamra Mall Bus Stop; for the Bus Station is still a bit far, and from there you may ride a taxi going to the Ghost Town.

Monday, February 13, 2017

The Marina Eye and the Sunset at Corniche, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's Marina Eye!
Settled outside Marina Mall and just across Corniche Breakwater 

Outside Marina Mall

at Marina Yacht side

yey! a kiss of summer in winter

Abu Dhabi Marina!

while waiting for the Sunset
the wind was super chilly and glad i chose to sit on this hammock
for it blocked the cold sea breeze (?)

almost! oh dear..with my Americano :P

and there.
LOVE. JOY. LIFE.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

My second time in - The Eye of The Emirates, Al Qasba

Eye of the Emirates
It has been a while since my last visit to Al Qasba where the Eye of the Emirates can be found, so I decided one Saturday to go back and enjoy the sunset.


If you're gonna commute going over there coming from Dubai, you have to catch the bus bound for Sharjah in Union Bus Station or the one in Deira City Center.

Eye of the Emirates
(click photo for a bus guide)
Intercity Routes
Upon reaching Sharjah Al Jubail Bus Station, we took a taxi to Al Qasba
which cost us around I think AED 15-20.

Roamed around looking for food!  

and found our fix!

Chicken Butterfly with spicy rice

enjoying our food fix with the Sunset at Al Qasba

and just that, my day was complete!
Reach for the sky
Keep your eye on the prize
Forever in my mind
Be my golden sunshine
It's raining in your mind
So push them clouds aside
Forever by my side
You're my golden sunshine
~ Sunshine, Matishayu