Posted by Kanga. Please do not reblog.
I think the Al Ain Mall may have won the holiday decorating competition.
Archive for the ‘malls’ Category
Christmas Balls
January 3, 2014Posted by Kanga. Please do not reblog.
We didn’t check out every mall this season, but there seemed to be a theme of huge Christmas balls.
Below is my favorite tree. The carousel horses were moving around the tree.
Each year Christmas is more prevalent in public. It is gaining acceptance, because it is a shopping holiday.
Christmas Eve
December 25, 2013Posted by Kanga. Please do not reblog.
The day began with the idea of going to the beach to watch the sun rise over the ocean, but this was not the appropriate day for that plan.
But the rain could not keep us from having breakfast at Al Khan restaurant – qeema (ground beef and potato), chana (chickpeas/garbanzo beans) and paratha (flat bread).
Then, a quick drive into Dubai to get to the Burj Khalifa in time for our admission to the observation deck. The tickets were nearly all sold out this week, so timing was inflexible.
It was a particularly clear day, so the view was excellent.
These are the World Islands.
BabyBird and DaddyBird.
Then it was time for a chocolate binge.
Then there was a fair amount of shopping and roaming around the mall.
The day ended with our traditional meal with friends at Bu Qtair restaurant. Fish, prawns, paratha and good friends.
Photo by DaddyBird
We love meeting with such a mix of people from different countries and cultures. It was so much fun. The world would be a more peaceful place if everyone did this.
Photo by Labiba Laith
Random Dubai Sights
November 1, 2013Posted by Kanga. Please don’t reblog.
What is magnetic water? It looks like fun.
It’s amazing to see the amount of Halloween decoration this year.
Ah, Halloween. The holiday when tacky is perfectly acceptable.
The Marks and Spencer fitting room had this helpful sign.
Make sure to put your arms in the traps and adjust accordingly.
When you build a massive building – shopping mall with floors of apartments above it – you end up with huge view obscuring support columns in your food court.
Extreme Shawarma – Is this where the Avengers eat?
Those are SOME blue suede shoes.
Squirrel!
There was a whole rack of cartoon themed underwear all sporting tags claiming to be official Warner Bro products.
That’s the feature you want in children’s underwear – potential for bursting into flame.
The name Cartoon Fashion doesn’t exactly inspire visions of large women’s clothing. I didn’t see any cartoons in there.
Etihad Mall
June 16, 2013Posted by Kanga.
We stopped by Etihad Mall to check out Kan Ya Ma Kan (Once Upon a Time) bookstore. It is a lovely little store with Arabic picture books.
I can hardly wait for the English translation of Maitha Al Khayat’s new book, The Runaway Louse. That’s one energetic looking bug.
There are a few malls that are not targeted at tourists. Etihad Mall is one of them. The signs of this are the traditional clothing stores and tailors, perfume shops, and dish shops, like this one.
I don’t know what that big green thing is for. Boggles the mind. (May be used to infuse clothing with incense.)
This rather impressive tea cup rack shaped like an Arab boat caught our eyes.
And, in the food court, you will find choices like Umm Saqeem Traditional Kitchen. I would tell you what was available, except that the menu pictures were labeled only in Arabic. It appears it is likely to be Ma’louba, Margooga, Harees, Machbous, etc.
Another Water Feature Bites the Dust
May 3, 2013Posted by Kanga.
Another one of our favorite water features –
Is now wrapped in a death shroud.
The reasoning is
“The future is clearer. We’re clearing away obstacles to make way for better shopping. Project: Opening sight lines. It’s all happy-ning.”
I have no idea what will replace this distinctive fountain, but it sounds like it will be more kiosks selling stuff. Very sad.
Sad to see the Kitch Go
March 22, 2013Posted by Kanga.
We stopped by Lamcy Plaza last night. Lamcy is a unique mall, or was. It had truly eclectic decor. When you first walked in, you saw a waterfall that stretched over all three floors.
(2009)
To the right there was a robotic clown climbing up and down a rope. And, behind you, over the entrance was the Tower Bridge, a medieval castle also stretching up three floors.
I didn’t check for the clown last night, but I don’t remember seeing him and I think he may already be gone. The waterfall looked like this:
The signs said “coming soon” a new passager elevator. OH NO!
Light Garden
January 11, 2013Posted by Kanga.
Winter decorations at the Mirdiff City Center Mall include a light garden complete with light camel,
Light horse, whose tail was on a break,
Light bushes in the water feature,
And light birds in the trees.
Christmas is in the Air
December 11, 2012Posted by Kanga.
December is here and the weather is beautiful. Here’s what the weather stats are like.
It is Christmas at the malls. Every year the decorations are new. I wonder where the old ones go.
Nice, subtle decorations.
With the “cold” weather comes the winter wear. These are not just meant for wearing in Ski Dubai. People wear them outdoors.
I took the picture below just for the little, understated number in the middle.
Once again it seems that the manikins have been partying too hard.
No Lingerie For You
October 25, 2012Posted by Kanga.
I am puzzled. There are many, many lingerie shops, especially in Dubai (not so much in Fujairah) and, yet, the only thing sold at Victoria’s Secret is perfume.
One of the things that we found surprising in our first week in the country was the contrast in the malls where there will be abaya and gown stores right next to lingerie stores (displaying some pretty naughty stuff in the windows). These stores display things that I have never seen at a Victoria’s Secret (U.S.) store. More along the lines of Frederick’s of Hollywood.
Living the Travel Channel 