Manar Abu Dhabi - Samaliyah Island

Throughout the months of December and January, Manar Abu Dhabi has been going on across the capital. It is a Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative showcasing over 35 different artworks such as light sculptures, commissions, performances and projections, in different locations across the city.

The drone show at the Louvre Abu Dhabi is part of this, and so is the pyramid installation along the Saadiyat highway.
This week I took Erika to go explore another location I had read about, on Samaliyah Island, and Kathleen tagged along as well. We had to take a boat from Yas Bay, which took us out to this island, not normally open for public.

Once we reached the island, it was a short walk to get to the first installation. This tall pillar is by the local Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem, and the installation is called 'Directions' (2023).

This cylinder is covered in the coordinates of the seven Emirates. The work is meant to mirror the symbolism of a lighthouse (manar in Arabic means lighthouse), while the circular arrangement is signifying the enduring spirit of unity among the Emirates.

After our first stop, and dinner by the food truck area, there was a complimentary bus that took us around to see the rest of the installations.
The art collective teamLab presented three immersive light installations here. The first one we came across was the 'Spatial Calligraphy in the Forest - One Stroke' (2022). Equally beautiful and spooky!

The next installation 'Autonomous Resonating Life and Resonating Trees' consisted of life-size glowing eggs that were standing all over the forest, changing their colour to a rhythmic pace. We were invited to tip them over (gently), and each time they were touched, the sound specific to each colour rung out softly across the whole forest and all the eggs changed colour.

We got to walk across the Mangrove Forest, where another installation was situated, 'Life is Continous Light' (2023). As we passed by the forest, the forest responded by glowing brighter and producing a tone. The light would then spread across the forest, until it reached the last tree in the dark, and they would all end up humming the same tune. It was quite spectacular!

As we came out of the Mangrove Forest, we discovered 'Resonating Microcosms - Solidified Light Colour'. A pathway lined with softly translucent orbs, who also were responsive to touch. They radiated different bright-coloured lights and emitted a sound as well; and the whole sea of ovoids would respond to one another, emitting the same light and sound. Very cool!

But my favourite was this installation, at the end of our walk - 'Pillars that Dance with the Wind' (2023). The photo is not really doing them justice, these light pillars were huge, but graceful. Their movements were absolutely mesmerising, I could've stayed and watched them all night! Like big, soft spaghetti sprawling across the sky.

Such a great night full of amazing experiences for all senses!

Another countdown

We are on the home stretch when it comes to school life in this family.

Linnea started this term head on going straight into two weeks of Mock Exams, and now that they are done, there are really not many normal school weeks left. Only five more weeks until Midterm Break; then another 4,5 weeks until Spring Break, which this year is extended to be three weeks long because of Eid.

On returning to school after Spring Break, she only has one normal week of school left, before it is time for her DP Exams..! It's insane, her last real day of school is already 19th of April and then the exams take place the three first weeks of May with Graduation on the 25th.

So the countdown is on, on school days, on lunch boxes, on school runs... a bit like last time I counted, but this time even more definite!

Abrahamic Family House - Take 2

One week before the 'B-day', my first visitor came, Erika. She has been here so many times by now that we have both lost count, but she is always keen on exploring and discovering; so this time I took her to the Abrahamic Family House, which wasn't open yet last time she came.

I have wanted to go back for a while, as last time I visited, the Synagogue wasn't open because of service. We opted for the free guided tour this time as well, although our guide this time wasn't as informative as last time.

 

The Synagogue is named after the 12th century Jewish philosopher Moses Ben Maimon, and it symbolises the traditional shelter for prayer.

The skylight references a chuppah, a temporary structure used during Jewish marriages for the couple to stand under fabric beneath a sea of stars.

The crisscross diagrid facade is inspired by the palm trees used to build a Sukkah, a type of temporary shelter built during the festival of Sukkot. At the same time as this pattern provides protection from the sun, it allows the stars to be seen at night.

The beautiful hannukiah (or Hannukah menorah), the candelabra with nine candlesticks, one for each night of Hannukah and one for the helper candle used to light the others, the shamash.

This is the first purpose-built synagogue in the UAE.

Here we are, in the elevated shared garden connecting the three structures. It is such a beautiful place.

I also just have to post this photo, from inside the Mosque. The light was absolutely stunning when we were there, filtering through the mashrabiya windows. Magical.

10 years later

Today the 14th of January is a special day as it marks the 10 year anniversary in Etihad Airways for Nathan. He got a heartfelt congratulation message this morning from - the company chatbot! Ha ha!

Ten years! That's such a long time... I can't believe how time flies!

Seems suitable that at the end of the month, Nathan is going to be changing things up a bit. He is leaving both the Training Department and the A320-fleet, and moving across to the big bird, the A380, as a line-pilot. New adventures awaits - long haul flights! Really exciting!

Favourite visitors

Lucas also really wanted to show Tove the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which of course warmed my heart, and came up to the museum during one of my working days. My late afternoon looked clear, but then I got a last-minute tour, so they started by exploring the galleries by themselves.

I was so pleased to discover that they took their time, and had only made it half way by the time I was finished with my day and could join them. I could show them some of my favourite pieces and explain to Tove what the museum is all about.

Found some nice photo spots here too, but honestly, it is hard not to take great photos under this amazing dome.

We decided to go up to the Art Lounge to have a small snack, and to enjoy the drone show. We were really in the best seats for that - what a view!

Last time I saw the drone show it was already dark outside, so I enjoyed seeing it like this, during the sunset. It was really pretty, all the upcoming institutions on Saadiyat Island. 

 

Kathleen joined us as well. Here with a projection of the mosque at the Abrahamic Family House behind us.

Such a beautiful evening! I so enjoyed!
Since Kathleen and I had worked all day, we left the young ones in the Art Lounge and went home before them. They had come in their own car, so they could drive themselves home later, but it made me really happy they wanted to stay and enjoy a bit further.

Special sightseeing

The last week Lucas was here he had company from his girlfriend Tove, who had been to New Zealand for Christmas with her family (on holiday) and decided to stop over here in Abu Dhabi on her way back home to Sweden. She only came to stay a few days, so there wasn't a lot of time to go explore but one thing she had said she really wanted to do though, was to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

So off we went! Twice in a month for me!

Tove got to borrow an abaya, and I took them around to have a look at all the beautiful details of the mosque. We came in the late afternoon, so right in the 'Golden Hour'.

We hit all the good photo spots.

Happy New Year to me!

I'm not quite sure what is going on, with a new computer for Christmas and a really good start to 2024 picking this beauty up last week! Happy New Year to me!

We have been talking for a while about whether or not to keep my Sequoia, as I certainly don't need a big 8-seater car anymore. But we've been going back and forth with the arguments around spending money on a new car, when it was still nice to drive, and about how long we were going to stay, and if a new car would be worth it etc etc.

During the Christmas holiday we went to have a look anyway at a few different cars (Lucas was lobbying hard for a Porsche...) but before I knew it - we had ordered a BMW X5 xDrive0i.

We were working in tandem a bit, so to be able to go and get it together it had to be in the evening, but I was so glad I did come along, as I really enjoyed the nice red bow!

I have been driving it around for a bit the past week, and I think I've got all the settings sorted and figured out what (most of) the buttons do. It is a really nice car to drive, and even though it has all the latest technology, super fancy features and amazing gadgets like gesture control and a personal BMW virtual assistant; I mostly enjoy the simple upgrades from the Sequoia. I finally have a three-blink turn signal, automatic distancing while on cruise control and my seat and mirror settings connected to my key!

Top 9 in 2023

Traditionally I look back at my Instagram year each December with the help of the Top 9-app.
Having a look through the most liked posts this year I see some lovely memories - a really happy girl on her first day of school many moons ago, our wedding anniversary post, a freshly turned 18-year old, some family photos, a nice visit to Lund and bringing guests to the desert.

Brings big smiles to my face. ♥︎

Happy New Year!

Ten years ago, we celebrated our last New Years Eve in Brunei, all excited for the year that was coming with our big move to Abu Dhabi.
We invited the Turners, for their first fondue experience, and shared a really lovely evening together.

This year, we were able to invite the Turners again, and they happily came to celebrate with us; although a bit decimated, as Tash had caught a bad bug and was tucked up in bed.
Will and Hannah were ready for another round of fondue and fun!

I love fondue! It is yummy, it is social, it doesn't make you full to fast, it's easy to prepare - and it gives you nice left-overs for the next day!
 

No fingers got burned this time, luckily!

We sat and enjoyed our food for a very long time, before it was time to play some board games in anticipation of midnight.

Fireworks at our beach, aren't we lucky!

New Years Day I decided it was time to pack up the Christmas decorations. The tree can stay for another week, but all the Christmas Santas and all the red things got packed up. I tried to be a bit more organised this year, but somehow the Christmas decor must be multiplying, because it still took up all the space in the boxes. Hmm, need more boxes...