Office and the Zabeel park…Echoes of my neighbourhood # 20

May 26, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha29 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every Thursday, share a photo of bits and pieces of wherever you are at any point in time. It could be a house, backgrounds of your neighbourhood, activities and so forth and you can tag it Echos of my Neighbourhood, add my link to your post so that I will get the ping from your post.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes since we cannot all be at those places, we could, at least, see them through you.

Some part of the office where I spend most of my working week.

These days the eye of the Sun rises sharply around 5.am over here and by mid-day, it’s steaming hot. Alas, my days of weekend park forays will be cut a little short

We managed to sneak in a park visit last week, spent some time at the lovely library, played football, ate our sandwiches and ice-cream and generally lounged till it got too hot and we left for home.

We also met a kind lady who came to feed the kittens. Felt like adding a little piece of where I spend some good part of my working week.

We sat in our homes and travelled to many exotics locations. Hop on let’s go and see

Saying thanks: Lady Lee shows us great pieces, delicious platters and shares snippets of a wedding in London. I hope she’ll give us a peek to her trip when she returns 🙂

A lady of many talents Compelling pieces of artwork from Kat Myrman herself. She’s one bundle of a talented lady 🙂

Giggles and Tales: Absolutely gorgeous bits of Denmark. If I can climb into a picture, I would.

The village: When I say this village is enchanting, I mean total enchantment. I felt like I was reading my childhood books by Enid Blyton and those sweet romance of Barbara Cartland 😉

Thoughts and entanglements My children would totally love this place. Skateboards, calmness and crickets…

Now, don’t horde the beauty of life around you, just for yourself. Do share with us 😉

P.S. You are invited to our monthly blog party this weekend. It’s fun and you get to meet fantastic folks

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Travel

Sharjah Contemporary Art Exhibition…Echoes Of My Neighbourhood # 19

May 19, 2016May 19, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every Thursday, share a photo of bits and pieces of wherever you are at any point in time. It could be a house, backgrounds of your neighbourhood, activities and so forth and you can tag it Echos of my Neighbourhood, add my link to your post so that I will get the ping from your post.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes since we cannot all be at those places, we could, at least, see them through you.

If you wish, there’s a tour Bus that takes people around the city for a fee.

another interesting artistic contraption that writes a different letter with each light bulb.

Better made out of cups filled with milk

Each weekend, I try to fit in some outing/entertainment activity in our lives to balance work, school and other things.

Last week Friday found me dragging my troop on a day trip to Sharjah for an exhibition. It was an hours drive from home *counting in traffic*, though the traffic inside the city is quite tight.

The Emirate of Sharjah is one of the states of UAE. It’s not as glitzy as it’s sister state Dubai but leans towards history and culture. There are several museums in this place and they all beg for exploring.

Sharjah was declared by UNESCO as the capital of Islamic Culture in 2014 and it’s rich heritage museums show it.

However, on this trip, we focused on the Calligraphy Biennial exhibition which took the better part of the day. Other museums will be explored at later dates.

Whenever I say museum, my children mumble under their breaths, but they get to enjoy it and learn from it. As usual I took lots of photos but will only share some with you for now.

We sat in our homes and travelled to many exotics locations. Hop on let’s go and see 😉

Cycling, breakfast and teriyaki Lady Lee’s pictures are what I call soul satisfying.

English Civil War re-enactment: Maybe because history was one of my fave subjects in school, I totally enjoyed these enchanting scenes captured by Louise. Thank you Louise, for joining us this week 🙂

The red-hot kettle, Seagulls, and the pretty tops Great pieces for your eyes.

Lush, beautiful Denmark as enchanting as ever. Europe is calling me in the winds.

Echoes from Adelaide, South Australia, a tale of the storm, the beautiful big red and the golden shovel from Raili. Zoom to Adelaide 😉

We love armchair travelling, do share a bit of your World with us.

Thank you and have a great day today 🙂

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Dubai · Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Personal · Photographs · Travel

The Waldorf Astoria and a birthday dinner…Echoes of my neighbourhood 18

May 12, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes since we cannot all be at those places, we could, at least, see them through you.

Complimentary dessert – oh my waist line 😉

A birthday in the family is a good excuse for a little treat, so my little man’s birthday gave us a good excuse for some good grill at Waldorf Astoria Dubai which is located on one of the fronds of the artificial Archipelago of The Palm Jumeirah.

The Waldorf Astoria is an exquisitely finished luxury hotel with lots of restaurants. We chose the Island grill where each seating canopy is positioned in water The ambiance is fabulous and it was a good treat. The food is great, but my opinion is that the service was a bit too fussy for hungry people.

I am not one to have the waiter hovering over my shoulder all evening, but all in all, it was worth it.

Last Week Echoes took us to different neighbourhoods, hop on let’s go see and we will be glad to see some of yours.

Such a lovely day: A beautiful day in Bavaria like the title says. Now I want a Tortoise in my garden 🙂

Gorgeous Gardenias and more Have you ever watched a minute-by-minute unfurling of beautiful gardenia’s?

Blooming cherry blossoms these would inspire a poet out of you 🙂

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Never leave me lonely

With words left unsaid

You walk away into the dark

Like a mist that melts away

Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Photographs · Travel

Ajman and Kempinski…Echoes Of My Neighbourhood # 17

May 5, 2016May 5, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Today’s echoes experienced an unexpected delay because I’ve been on a road trip and for some reason, my photos couldn’t load up on my pad. My apologies.

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes since we cannot all be at those places, we could, at least, see them through you.

Watching them off-load made me think of smugglers and pirates 😉

Last weekend found us visiting Ajman which is one of the Emirates (the smallest member State) that makes up UAE which comprises of 7 Emirates.

It’s a leisurely one-hour straight drive from Dubai if there’s no traffic, so it’s easily a day trip of 2-3 hours to and fro, but to enjoy the benefits of the pristine Gulf as well as getting a feel of the Emirate, an overnight stay wouldn’t be a bad idea.

A direct opposite of Dubai’s energetic pulse, it’s calm and much slower. Good for a quiet family weekend away.

There are several beautiful hotels to choose from, though we got a deal at Kempinski by making an early booking.

Last Week Echoes took us to different neighbourhoods, hop on let’s go see and we will be glad to see some of yours.

Giggles and Tales You’ve got to love Europe’s architecture and it’s passion for cycling. I remember my awe years ago, the first time I visited Amsterdam and saw all the bikes at a bike station.

Spring is in the air The only words to describe this is ‘gorgeous and fabulous’ 🙂

Boys come out to play Boy’s will be boys no matter how small they are 😉

Mercury Colliding Kat has a nice fairy that works very hard. I wouldn’t mind one myself.

Earnestly Debra joins us with a sea ferry, whale watching adventure that I wouldn’t mind experiencing.

Munich Lady Lee shows us spots of Munich through her lens and a sumptuous meal to go with it.

Do show us just a peek of your neighbourhood, please 🙂

Until Thursday, next week, have a good weekend.

For ease during our road trips, we use:Garmin nüvi 2597LMT 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth Vehicle GPS with Lifetime Maps and Traffic

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha’s poems portray images that stare us right in the face. Images of love, joy, death, pain, challenges, violation, and freedom. She writes in a language that’s rich in imagery, earthy, honest, vulnerable, yet full of the promise of hope, of loving and of Grace. A collection of light and dark soulful prose.

Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Travel

Milling around Souk Al Bahar…Echoes of my neighbourhood

April 28, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha34 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes since we cannot all be at those places, we could, at least, see them through you.

Sitting on the staircase and enjoying the warmth of others

We had some guests over the weekend and visiting Dubai Mall was top on the list for them since it’s their first time in Dubai.

Close to the Dubai mall and the Burj Khalifa is the Souk Al Bahar. One of Dubai’s destinations for Al Fresco dining at its finest with it’s Cafe’s, Pubs and exclusive restaurants.

When you have August visitors in April, you play nice and give them a little treat if possible. So we mixed up the entertainment of showing the landmarks that time would allow, people watching, and enjoying a noisy meal and karaoke in the Cuban restaurant Cafe Habana.

They did the daring zip lining but I didn’t. Maybe on another day when the thought does not send my tummy plummeting 😉

Last Week Echoes took us to different neighbourhoods, hop on let’s go see and we will be glad to see some of yours.

A walk in the village A totally refreshing amble, good food and beautiful things to see. My kind of good time 🙂

Temptation gallery When you visit Jericho and Temptation Mount, prepare your mind to see just anything, even a smart local speaking your native language. It’s a small world.

Jazzy tower I think I can be naughty and if I had the film crew hanging around my backyard, I would probably use the opportunity to do my own filming 😉

Kat of Mercury Colliding takes us on a wander through the museum. I love visiting such places. You get to see an eclectic mix of interesting stuff.

Boy o boy He’s such a big boy that you have to see him for yourself.

Please do share a peek of your neighbourhood/ World with us. Regards

My regards,

Jacqueline

Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Travel

Za’abeel Palace’s outer grounds…Echoes of my neighbourhood 15

April 21, 2016April 21, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes since we cannot all be at those places, we could, at least, see them through you.

At night with children running up and down

Part of the grounds that’s beautifully lit at night

This week found me visiting the palace grounds again to go and see the peacocks.

Za’abeel Palace is one of the palaces for the ruling house of Dubai. It’s situated on very expansive ground space, with beautiful ostentatious surroundings. It has some of Dubai’s well-known landmarks like the Burj Khalifa at it’s back and the Emirates twin towers.

The palace grounds is home to so many beautiful peacocks that love to eat peanuts and if you are lucky, they can eat out of your hands.

The ambience is lovely both in the daylight and at night. One day, who knows, I might get a sneak peek into the inner courts of the Palace 😉

Last Week Echoes took us to different neighbourhoods, hop on let’s go see and we will be glad to see some of yours.

Jazzytower shows us beautiful, majestic cherry blossoms and lots of robust looking Geese. There’s so much to like about this cheery photos. Take a peek.

Subic bay skywatch I am literally jealous of Lady Lee. Beautiful photos, frolic in the water, picnic… 😉

Kat will have you hypnotised in two minutes flat. I want one of this 🙂

Giggles and tales shows us beautiful elevated landscape views of Copenhagen. You can fly to Denmark through her link.

Please do share a peek of your neighbourhood with us. Regards

Jacqueline

Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Lifestyle · Personal · Photographs

More Miracles, Picnic and Bowling…Echoes of my neighbourhood # 14

April 14, 2016April 14, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha21 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes since we cannot all be at those places, we could, at least, see them through you.

Bringing you more photos of the Miracle garden. You can check last week’s link here just in case you missed it.

I managed to fit in a picnic/barbeque before the forbidding hot weather of the Middle East rears up its head in full force as well as a bowling outing (though I am not much of a bowler) to round up our Spring break.

Now that school is back in full swing, life is no longer running on a slow lane.

Last Week Echoes took us to different neighbourhoods, hop on let’s go see and we will be glad to see some of yours

Bangkok flower market: Lady Lee Manila gives us a peek of Bangkok market’s fresh flower power side.

Lower Manhattan Delightful photos from Manhattan. There’s something about that city that calls my name 😉

Mercury Colliding Who knew that Kat had such green thumbs *tongue in cheek* 😉

GM’s echoes Thank you, GM for joining in and sharing bits of your abode with us 🙂

Giggles and tales I love the skies and Stella shows us the gorgeous blues and vibrant sunsets as she journeys along 🙂

Thank you to all Echoes’ contributors. I am learning a whole lot from this challenge as well as having fun with it.

It would lovely to have you join us.

My regards.

Dubai · Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Travel

Miracle Garden and Fun…Echoes Of My Neighbourhood #13

April 7, 2016April 14, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha62 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes since we cannot all be at those places, we could, at least, see them through you.

We found time during the weekend to go to the Miracle Garden where I took tons of photos. Just sharing a bit of some of them with you and will share a bit more another time.

It’s a lovely place to spend a day. Always teeming with tourists and families especially during the weekend.

There are blooming petals everywhere and the mingled floral essence of these flowers hangs delicately in the air as you have an ice-lolly and traipse around leisurely or enjoy relaxing in one of the sit-outs or swings to be found around the perimeters.

Last Week Echoes gave us some peeks of different neighbourhoods, hop on let’s go see and we will be glad to see some of yours

Cycling to Ostpark beautiful, serene piece of Munich, Germany. A good place for a day’s outing.

Thoughts and entanglements Nature’s bursts in spades of beauty. The circle of birth and death.

Like Mercury Colliding Nature has so much in store for us and teaches us through its cycle. A Spring miracle to behold.

Mammoth Norwich Castle museum and art gallery certainly holds some ginormous treasure in them.

Doggerland I didn’t know about this until I looked at Kim’s photo and read her short presentation.

Mile of daffs beautiful miles of springing daffodils.

Thank you to all Echoes’ contributors. I am learning a whole lot from this challenge as well as having fun with it.

It would lovely to have you join us. Regards

Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Travel

Noise and A Peek In The Men’s Beauty World…Echoes of my neighbourhood.

March 31, 2016March 31, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha30 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every Thursday, share a photo of bits and pieces of wherever you are at any point in time. It could be houses, backgrounds of your neighbourhood, activities and so forth and you can tag it Echos of my Neighbourhood, add my link to your post so that I will get the ping from your post.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes since we cannot all be at those places, we could at least, see them through you.

The beauty of Burj at night as we drive by.

This week’s echoes is a mix of several faces and places. From shopping for groceries to going with my bloke and the boys to get a haircut where yours truly spent some time being more observant than usual to the business of manly grooming.

I saw men threading their eyebrows to make it look less bushy. Lot’s of scalp shaving with a scary blade, massaging, barbing, shampooing and rubbing of scalps. Interesting outing I must say 😉

With the children on Spring break, a bit more leisure time so taking them to the cinema and some skating play time was involved.

Thanks to Kat, I got the idea to include a video of real echoes of my neighbourhood, which I will do from time to time. This was fun to do. We drove and I stuck the camera up to catch a one minute video.

Please watch and let me know what you think.

Thank you 🙂

Last Week Echoes gave us some peeks of different neighbourhoods, hop on let’s go see and we will be glad to see some of yours

Dr Meg Sorick’s A warm welcome to Meg. Meg shows us beautiful photos of her world and her good looking bloke. Please go over and say hello. She also offers visitors a tall glass of something good to drink 😉

Mind and life matters A warm welcome to Rashmi. I am loving our neighbours in echoes and Rashmi shows us beautiful snippets of so much love in her photos and the cutest tortoise ever.

Spring Lady Lee’s photos bursts in colours and interesting garden friends to keep artful.

Peregrine – Falcons of Norwich Kim shows us a poetic glimpse of the fastest flying raptor bird in the World.

Crossing the Brooklyn bridge I am not sure you’ve seen this detailed shots of the Brooklyn bridge. Well, I haven’t. Thank you Jazzy Tower.

A flowering evening pretty pictures that goes with sweet meats too 🙂

Cubicles of Individuality I totally enjoyed looking at this and I bet you would. Maybe you can tell which category you belong in.

How sweet life is Ralph When you go to Bus Terminal located at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue, keep your eyes open, there’s a lot to see.

Thank you to all Echoes’ contributors. I am learning a whole lot from this challenge as well as having fun with it.

It would lovely to have you join us. Regards

Blog · Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Photographs · Travel

Souk Madinat, the Mosque and Others..Echoes Of My Neighbourhood.

February 25, 2016June 7, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes, since we cannot all be at those places, we can at least see them through you.