This week and next I will present images and videos of Dubai. Today will feature a short version of the daily magical, music-synchronized Dubai Fountain show on the manmade Burj Khalifa Lake, which is situated beneath the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa has the distinction of being the tallest structure in the world, but more on that Wednesday.
Some fun stats on the Dubai Fountain situated in the 30-acre/12-hectare artificial Burj Khalifa Lake:
Length: 902 feet/275 meters
Height: Shoots water up to 500 feet/152 meters
Capacity: Can spew up to 22,000 gallons/83,000 litres simultaneously
Nighttime shows are illuminated by 6,600 individual lights and 25 projectors
Fountain shows are synchronized to music ranging from classical to contemporary
Today concludes this series on Abu Dhabi. Next week will show so recent random photos, and the week after that I begin my series on Dubia. I hope to see you then!
Today we’ll finish our tour of Qasr Al Watan Palace, and this week’s Fun Photo Friday will present the third and final of favorite images taken here. After that it’s time to move on to our next United Arab Emirates destination — Dubai. But in this article, we’re going to concentrate on the Presidential Gifts room and a hint of the treasures contained within. To orient you, we’re talking about Item 3 in the diagram below:
Qasr Al Watan Palace interior map
The image below is a view that awaits you as you inside the Presidential Gifts room. This particular view was taken after we had completed our rounds and were preparing to exit. The entrance to the room is near the far wall on the righthand side:
Presidential Gifts Room — Qasr Al Watan Palace
If you look carefully near the entrance in the image above, you’ll see a white robe. As you enter the room, that display is to your left. This is how it appears up close:
Presidential Gifts Room — Qasr Al Watan Palace
Included in the Presidential Gifts Room are several handcrafted boat models. Here’s an example:
Presidential Gifts Room — Qasr Al Watan Palace
The gifts contained here come from many different countries, and many are quite ornate:
Presidential Gifts Room — Qasr Al Watan Palace
In the collection are examples ranging from large pieces of amber to exquisite timepieces, such as this Brittanica 1885 Gold:
Presidential Gifts Room — Qasr Al Watan Palace
I’ve no idea the significance of this piece, but it appears to be a quartz crystal:
Presidential Gifts Room — Qasr Al Watan Palace
After this week’sFun Photo Friday concludes this series on Abu Dhabi, I’m going to take a short break next week with three random photos I find interesting.
Decisions — Murder in Paradise
The Globe — Murder in Luxury
R. Doug Wicker — Author 