Arabian Daze - 19 - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

This post is part of a series regarding a Middle Eastern cruise in the U.A.E and Oman. Previous installments can be found HERE. 

The lengthy title of this blog post explains it all -- I visited what TripAdvisor calls, the must see attraction in the Middle East -- the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Unofficially known as "The White Mosque" due to its gleaming white marble, this mosque has free entry to visitors from all over the world, regardless of one's religion.

My friend and I picked up the self-guided audio tour headsets (also free -- just present some I.D) and followed the recording to see and hear all the highlights of this mosque. Photos along the tour's route are below. Please enjoy!

Dome & details.
    Far right: a lagoon reflects the many pillars at the white mosque.

Left: Archway highlights a dome in the background.
    Middle: a spire.
          Far right: Dome with lotus flower inspired chandelier.

This mosque is said to be the largest in the world. It can hold 40,000 worshippers, features 82 domes, over 1,000 columns, and chandeliers made of 24 carat gold! The best time to visit the mosque is around 4:30pm, local time. From 5 or so, you can catch the sun setting over this beautiful mosque, changing the white marble color to a vibrant orange.

I took a video to catch the panorama from the outside area. Please enjoy:

Inside was like entering an English garden. There were floral motifs in all directions. The audio guide said the flowers represented the four seasons, from all continents. The doors were incredibly thick, perhaps 50 cm wide(?). As they opened automatically, I felt as if I passed into heaven...

Automatic door with floral details, closed.
    Upper right: Main entrance door, open.
          Lower right: floral inlay on the flooring.

This mosque has the largest chandelier in the world, measuring 10 meters in diameter, 15 meters high and weighs 12 tonnes. It's located in the main prayer hall; I took many photos to give you a sense of the both the size and beauty.

Photo collage highlighting the large chandelier. 
       Cutenekko is at the far right. ^_^

I also took a video showing both the ceiling with this chandelier, and carpet (the world's largest hand-knotted carpet) in the main prayer hall. Please enjoy below:

Stained glass windows and floral inlays stretched across every surface of the white mosque. The most featured flower seemed to be the lotus.

The corridors and pillars (as mentioned earlier, there are over 1,000 pillars!) made great photo spots. The hallway below seemed to stretch into infinity....

I wrapped up the self-guided audio tour in the main outside area after about an hour. My friend took a photo of me in my mosque outfit; women need to cover almost everything, leaving only the face, hands and feet exposed.

Being the largest and most opulent mosque in the world, a dress code is in effect. Visitors can see by this sign at the entrance, many clothing styles are deemed inappropriate. Security guards are everywhere and will stop you if you don't have appropriate head coverings (for ladies) or long pants (men). If you didn't bring a long skirt or headscarf, ladies can borrow traditional mosque dress from the staff. 

Mosque manners & dress code: 

Notice no shorts for men!

My travel tips for women visiting any mosque in the Middle East: 
-- Bring a long sleeve, zip up hoodie which you can easily pull over your clothes.
-- I used a shawl ($2.50 from Thailand) as my head scarf. It's wide, and can easily be wrapped around your head and hair in minutes. Long hair must be hidden under the scarf, so using a shawl is easier.
-- A long, elastic waistband, floor length skirt (picked up at UniQlo for $9) is both mosque appropriate and keeps you feeling cool.
-- Shoes must be removed before entering any mosque. If bare feet bothers you, bring tiny, slip on socks like THESE.
-- Short skirts and tight jeans/pants are a no-no in the U.A.E and Oman, especially.
-- After the mosque visit, you can easily unzip your hoodie and pop it in your travel bag.

I visited a few more places in Abu Dhabi before heading back to the cruise ship. I hope to post those photos and share stories soon. I hope you enjoyed your visit today to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Will you try to visit it? ^_^


~ Information ~ 

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is open daily, 09.00 ~ 22.00 except on Fridays. Friday schedule is: 16.30 ~ 22.00. On Friday mornings, the mosque is closed to visitors as it's the prayer time for worshippers. 

Main website is HERE. Abu Dhabi tourist information about the mosque is HERE. 

Access: 
Best way is via taxi. There is also a bus service. Many visitors come via a tour company. Google map & travel info is HERE. My friend and I came by taxi, which we hired for 4 hours to take us around to various sites in Abu Dhabi. 

Awa Odori Festival in Higashi Rinkan

Summer is the time for festivals all across Japan; the most popular ones are the bon odori, or dance festivals. Festival attendees can either watch the dancers, or join in -- depending on the festival.

In early August, I enjoyed one of the most popular dance festivals -- the Awa Odori -- a dance which originated in the Shikoku region of Japan. Fortunately for me, there was an Awa Odori being presented in Kanagawa. Hurray!! ^_^

Please enjoy the photos and videos below:

A group of musicians waiting to move forward along the parade route: 

Dancers strike a pose: 

Below, is a video of a group of (mostly) male dancers showing their frenzied Awa Odori style: 

The Awa Odori dance has 3 unique points:

1. Women wear kimono and a special "half-moon" shaped straw hat, called an amigasa (literally, "a rain umbrella")

2. Male dancers usually carry lanterns or fans while dancing.

3. Musicians follow the dancers and consist of: drummers, cymbalists, flutists, and sometimes, shamisen players (a shamisen is a kind of guitar).

Female dancers in action: 

Check out the video below to see the female dancers. Dancing in Japan is nothing like "So You Think You Can Dance" in Canada... ^_^ I loved it. 

A sample of the tradtional Awa Odori costume women must wear: 

Lanterns carried by group members:
Some groups came from Tokyo, Saitama and Ibaraki to participate in this Kanagawa festival!

I met two foreign women who were dancing; their group represented one of the American military bases in Kanagawa.  Next year, I asked if I could join them -- even though I'm Canadian. I think it might be possible. ^_^ YAY!!

~ Information ~

Awa Odori is a must see in Japan. They are so much fun and every Japanese person I have met here has a special place in their heart for this type of dance. 

The wiki page about Awa Odori is HERE. 

The festival featured in this post is held every summer around Higashi-Rinkan station on the Odakyu-Enoshima line, in Kanagawa. Map HERE. Dates: August 2 ~ 3 (usually -- or the first weekend in August). 

Candlelight Service

Every June 21, in my small town, there is a special festival to celebrate the arrival of Equinox. Several hundred candles are lit to increase awareness of eco-friendly energy saving methods before the hot summer months arrive.

I took lots of photos from this year's event; please enjoy!

Children from schools in the area created these wonderful, handmade paper lanterns. Each boxed lantern contained a picture(s), with some kind of message or poem on it.

Impressive artwork.

Smaller children decorated recycled glass using permanent markers. As the sun set, several children lit candles inside each glass to create a tower of light. 

Glass art -- great at home project! 

A large park played host to this event. Visitors followed a walking path; each side of the walk was decorated with the paper lanterns. As I strolled in the cool summer air, I snapped photos of the lanterns which impressed me most. 

Festival dancers, sunflowers and lobsters.

Mascots are quite popular in Japan now; the kids all flocked to this one (below, left). I wasn't exactly sure what this mascot represented; to me, he looked like moss??

The main stage area had rows upon rows of plastic cups filled with candles. Once lit, it resembled a flickering carpet.

Japan is romantic, no? ^_^


~ Information ~ 

For privacy reasons, I cannot say where this festival is located. 

Candlelight services are often held in the summer/winter months in Japan. Check your local city office for details. 

One famous candle event is held in Yokohama; it's called "Yokohama Candle Cafe". Taking place near the X-mas season, visitors can enjoy candles laid out in patterns of hearts, swirls, etc. Very popular with young couples on a date. Details HERE. 

Arabian Daze - 18

An 8-day cruise in the Middle East continues. 

To review previous installments of "Arabian Daze", please visit  THIS PAGE. 

In the last post, the author visited the falcon hospital in Abu Dhabi. 

During the tour of the falcon hospital, we had a great guide, but it turned out she was extremely afraid of the falcons. As I was traveling alone in the tour, the guide and I agreed to swap cameras and take each other's photos. I got a hilarious reaction from her:

Right: a falcon is fed meat

The doctor escorted our group outside to view more of the hospital grounds. We learned falcons are kept here by their owners in something like a 'pet hotel' service provided by the hospital. Falcons are welcome to board for months at a time. They are monitored, fed, and exercised often. Inside the visitor's center, I could get a souvenir photo of myself wearing traditional Arabian dress, holding a falcon. Yay! 

Top: hospital grounds / falcons rest inside a covered exercise area: 

Bottom: "Practical Handbook of Falcon Husbandry and Medicine" &
cutenekko with a very photogenic falcon ^_^

Our tour group piled into the van and returned to Abu Dhabi. Along the way, we got caught in a traffic jam. The cause? Two severe traffic accidents. Our guide explained, people in the U.A.E love fast cars, thus a plethora of accidents. 

Right: street sign & license plate

As mentioned in Arabian Daze #17 post, buildings and bridges here are architecturally interesting. As our tour van passed through the city, I tried to get photos of several unique ones:

The final stop for the afternoon was the infamous 'white mosque'. Our tour did not include entry into this famous spot; I would return after 3pm with my friend (who was still nursing some seasickness) in a hired taxi. 

This white mosque, officially called the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, is an award winning 2014 attraction on Trip Advisor. The opulence inside is unimaginable. I will post photos from the inside soon. Be sure to visit again to see. 

Sign showing 'mosque manners' -- appropriate dress versus inappropriate wear.

~ Information ~ 

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is open to visitors. All tours must be booked in advance. The hospital's website is HERE. 

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque will be featured in a later blog post. Information can be found HERE. Trip Advisor photos and reviews are HERE. This mosque is a 'must see' when in Abu Dhabi. 

!! Mosque visits in the Middle East require appropriate clothing. Women, you MUST wear a head scarf. Men, long shorts, pants and shirts are best. Shoes must be taken off before entering the main prayer halls. 

Arabian Daze - 17

Back in late February of this year, a friend and I traveled to the U.A.E and Oman for an 8 day adventure aboard the cruise ship, Costa Fortuna. It's been a while since I updated the 'Arabian Daze' series on this trip; today, we'll play catch up. You can review the series (1~16) below:

Arabian Daze 1   2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14    15    16

In the Middle East, many rich Arabs keep falcons as pets, training them to hunt small desert critters. The local airline, Ethiad, even allows these beautiful birds inside the cabin with their owners, when they must travel to Saudia Arabia or other countries (source).  So loved are these birds in Arabia, there is a hospital which treats falcons -- the only one of its kind in the world -- in Abu Dhabi. At this port, I joined a tour organized by the cruise line to visit this special hospital and see the birds up close.

Our tiny tour group of nine traveled via van through the city. I could snap a few photos of the honeycombed buildings and the Arabic nation's other love -- horses:

Bottom left: a falcon passport 

Once arriving at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, we were treated to a lecture by one doctor. He explained the history of falconry, the birds, how they are trained, etc. The most unique piece of information we learned, was that each falcon has its own passport!! The passport is not only used for identification, but also to show legal ownership and vaccinations. Wow!


We passed quickly through the hospital's waiting area, which was quite surreal: inside, I saw several Arabs, in full white dress, sitting playing with their cell phones, while, at their feet sat several beautiful falcons. 0_0

Beyond the waiting area, we got to see even more of these stellar birds up close; below are some examples. The white falcon was from Canada, I was told. ^_^

Bottom right: the hospital's waiting room,
with 3 falcons awaiting their appointments.

The hospital was extremely professional, and I noticed many doctors were busy taking care of various falcons. The doctor explained the most common appointments are for:  replacing missing feathers, filing down beaks and talons, as well as general check ups. 

Top left: benches of falcons awaiting their checkups / 
Top right: wrist guard, feathers and tools

Bottom left: table with gas mask, designed specifically for the falcon/
Bottom right: leather glove for holding the falcon

Our guide/ doctor demonstrated how all falcons must be put to sleep before any procedure can be undertaken. Sliding the bird into the fitted mask, the gas took about 3~4 minutes to put the falcon out. The doctor then explained and demonstrated how to trim the falcon's talons. 

Top right: Tiny, leather eye masks, which are placed over the falcons' heads to keep the birds calm and relaxed. 

Bottom photos: cutenekko gets to hold one falcon, even touching it!!!

This concludes the tour of the inside of the hospital. The doctor took our group outside to view the immense grounds of the hospital. I will post photos soon. I hope you'll come back for more! ^_^


~ Information ~

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital offers tours of the facility. Advanced reservations are required. See their website HERE for information. 

Interested in taking a cruise of the Middle East? Explore Costa Cruise line's website HERE. Our 8-day cruise cost $515 USD per person. 

Canadian Embassy Visit

At the end of May, I received an invitation to attend a special luncheon in Tokyo hosted by the Canadian Ambassador's wife. As a member of the Canadian social group, Canadian Women in Japan, I was able to enjoy this event with about twenty other ladies.

When I arrived at the embassy, I had to give my name to the security guards at the main gate. They actually had "a list" and checked for my name.  My first VIP experience = priceless. ^_^

I had never been to this yearly event before, so when I asked a groundskeeper for directions to "Marler House" I was expecting a small cottage. This was the actual place: 

Whoa! @_@

Marler House is the official residence to the Canadian Ambassador to Japan

Marler House was designed by Kenneth G.Rea and Antonin Raymond. According to an information pamphlet, the building is in a neo-classical style. The main dining hall, in which we held our luncheon, can seat up to 34 guests.

My seat placing looked like this; I was surprised at the opulence:

So this is where my tax dollars go, eh? (laugh)

Here is a close up of the menu for the luncheon. I was really excited about the main dish -- Atlantic salmon! Cats love fish, especially salmon. ^_^

The table had a lot of uniquely Canadian accents, for example, 

this paperweight in the shape of a maple leaf:

... silverware with the crest of Canada:

... even the wine glass had an etched maple leaf: 

I met a number of very interesting women at this function. A Japanese woman next to me immigrated to Canada and even played violin in the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. Another woman was a military officer, heading back home; yet another Japanese woman had lived in Nova Scotia. It *almost* brought a tear to my eye hearing all the stories of life back home.

The ladies:

The chef, from Ontario, Canada, whipped up a feast for both the eyes and palate. Enjoy the mouthwatering photos!

The first course, caramelized carrot bisque:

Roasted cauliflower salad:

Atlantic salmon!! Yum!! 

Strawberry peach tart: 

This event was very fun; however, after exiting through the gate, I reflected on one point:
I should try and get a job working for the Canadian government. (laugh)

~ Information ~ 

The Embassy of Canada is located in Aoyama, Tokyo. It's open to the public. There are numerous art exhibits and a library full of Canadian books. 

Access: 

Tokyo Metro, Aoyama 1 Chome station. Walk to the Embassy in under 5 minutes. A map is HERE. 

For Canadian women in Japan, especially in Tokyo, you can become a member of the club mentioned in this blog post. (website HERE). During the summer months, the club members are on hiatus. 

Events start again from September. 

Meguro Gajoen 目黒雅叙園

Back in May, a hiking friend invited me to a special exhibition featuring Japanese flower arrangements, called ikebana. Photography was prohibited in the exhibition space;  however, I was able to snap shots of the host building, Meguro Gajoen. Tucked in one of Tokyo's best districts, Meguro Gajoen houses a hotel, conference rooms, restaurants and the most beautiful toilet I have ever seen.

Please enjoy the photos!

Outside garden area with seating for tea:

Inside, you can find a large torii (gate) flanked by a mikoshi (a portable shrine):

Meguro Gajoen is immense; a huge glass atrium holds two restaurants -- one for light lunches and teas, the other, a traditional Japanese house which serves course meals called kaiseki riyori. (see photo above)


My friend, who is a former ikebana teacher, encouraged me to explore the outside gardens. We encountered a delicate waterfall and hiking trail -- all in the center of Tokyo!

As mentioned earlier, Meguro Gajoen's best feature is the ladies toilet, on the first floor, opposite one restaurant. My friend said "you must go to the loo here..and take your camera!!" (laugh) So I did. ^_^

Inside, the ceilings are decorated in gold leaf, showing Japanese senso (folding paper fans).

Bottom: small bridge to the toilets and a private powder room.

A month later, I invited another friend for afternoon tea at Meguro Gajoen. The tea set consisted of numerous sweets; after eating, my friend and I felt a little sick due to the sugar rush...

Left: chocolate cake, fruit, macaroons and tart. Right: chestnut mousse

Meguro Gajoen is a beautiful spot in the heart of Tokyo. If you visit this big city in Japan, I recommend popping in to enjoy the gardens and waterfalls. You may spot some wedding couples having their photographs taken here as well. Enjoy Tokyo!


~ Information ~ 

Meguro Gajoen is a short, 5 minute walk from Meguro Station (Toyoko Line). If you walk, you can pass by the Japanese headquarters of Amazon! There is also a free shuttle bus opposite the station that will whisk you to the entrance of Meguro Gajoen -- a good option if it's raining. 

The website is HERE. 

The afternoon tea is held at Pandora; get a seat near the waterfalls for the best view. Afternoon tea is ¥2,400 (approximately $24) each. It includes: a selection of teas and coffees, sandwiches, and many sweets on 3-tier plates. Reservations are not necessary. 

Tripping through Shizuoka

A friend of mine from Nagoya moved to Shizuoka prefecture (Japan) a few months ago. I waited until she had gotten settled in before heading over for a visit. I took several local trains, changing here and there to Shimizu city; the total travel time was about 3 hours.

The university in which my friend works, is very close to a recently declared World Heritage site -- Miho no Matsubara -- famous for its pine trees and view of Mount Fuji.

Sloping stairs leading down from the pine forest and beach: 

Inside the pine forest. 

According to the tourist office, there are over 54,000 pine trees here:

Miho no Matsubara attracts all the tourists, but it was this shore-hugging road, along Miho beach, which should be explored. To find it, at the Miho no Matsubara pine tree, go out onto the beach and turn right. Walk along the beach until you see the road emerge on your right.

The Miho beach road, completely uninhabited...even on a Saturday! 

Near the end of the trail, I spotted this tall, white lighthouse:

There were lots of bilingual signs and something which surprised me: 15.6k Pacific Coast Bicycle Route map! Apparently, you can rent bicycles and enjoy cycling all along the coastline. We saw several people peddling around with rental bikes; I am not sure if they were free or not...

Maps showing the route and current location:

Between Miho no Matsubara and the Pacific Coast Bike Route, we came across a hotel, which had an 足湯 [ashi - yu = hot spring for your feet]. It was free, so we joined some locals and dipped our feet in the warm water. 

Cats can get their feet wet! 

We hopped on a local bus back to town and while walking near the station, I spotted the cutest post box ever -- a London bus! I want this:

Unfortunately, our time in Miho no Matsubara did not produce the famous view of Mount Fuji depicted in Hiroshige's famous woodblock print (HERE). However, travelers are still highly encouraged to visit this remote area of Japan. If you are in the Hakone/Mt. Fuji area, it's not far by train. I hope you'll visit Shizuoka prefecture! ^_^

~ Information ~ 

Miho no Matsubara is located close to Shimuzu city, in Shizuoka prefecture. 

Access from Shinjuku: 
Odakyu line to Odawara. Change to JR going to Atami. Change again going to Numazu. Get off at Shizuoka city or Shimizu. Total travel time: 4 hours by local train. You can get there faster via the Romance Car from Shinjuku, or shinkansen from Tokyo station, but it's over $60 one way. By taking local trains, you can get there for about $20 one way. 

There is a bus from Shimizu station to Miho no Mastubara (Maps and information in English can be found at the station). You can walk along the beach trail or through the pine forest for free. 
The Wiki page is HERE. Tourist information is HERE.

Interested in cycling around Japan? THIS website and THIS ONE should help. Enjoy! ^_^

Hinata Yakushi Hiking Course - 日向薬師

In mid April, a friend, who had been watching my hikes on the blog, asked if we could go for a hike together. The area we chose was near Isehara city, in Kanagawa -- Hinata Yakushi hiking area. We began the trail near Ooyama, hiking in a reverse loop. Please enjoy the photos!

The area is accessible by bus from Hon Atsugi station, on the Odakyu line, so it's convenient for those living in the Kanto area. Trails are very well marked and maps were seen at trail heads. If you bring your car, there is free parking, vending machines and clean toilets available before starting your hike.

Trail head, map with approximate hiking times, 

the trail follows a large stream: 

At the top of the above trail is an old temple, which is currently being rebuilt. I didn't take any photos, but if you are interested in seeing temple re-constructions, this trail will allow you to see construction work taking place. After the temple, you can follow the trail to Ooyama, or turn left, following the road down. We took the latter, leading us past some camping areas and a pagoda.

Map showing our current location, 

a river crossing, 

follow the kanji in the circle to hike the hinata yakushi trail:

 Once off the road and on the proper trail, we hiked through a large forest. On a hot day, this is the perfect hike, as the trees offer great protection from the strong sunshine. Near the end of the trail, you'll come across numerous cabins, which can be rented from Isehara city. This is a long, full day hike, so come prepared with cooking materials to make lunch, lots of water and an emergency kit in case of injury.

Cutenekko loves hiking! A forest deity,

 a sign post & cutenekko near the camping area:

The hike was all downhill from this point. Following the stream, I was surprised to find a fisherman fly fishing on the banks. The end of the trail has a large center for hikers with information, clean toilets and vending machines. We chatted with two volunteers there who were very friendly and helpful. This is a moderately difficult trail, as it's long and very isolated. Most hikers prefer the more popular Ooyama route.

Fly fishing, Isehara city hiking center information, 

cutenekko at the end of the trail:

I loved this hike so much, I plan to go again. There are numerous trails in the area, so it's worthwhile to give them all a try. Enjoy hiking in Japan!


~ Information ~ 

Hinata Yakushi Hiking area is located near Isehara city, in Kanagawa. 

Access: 
Odakyu line to Isehara station. Tranfer to the Kanchu bus #20, near the north exit. A timetable is HERE. A hiking guide from Isehara city is HERE. 

OR 

Travel on the Odakyu train to Hon Atsugi station. Transfer to the Kanchu bus #9. City information on the hiking trails in this area is HERE.  

A professional hiking map is HERE (PDF)