The drive was smooth until we got pulled over by UAE police. We apparently were driving in the wrong lane on the highway. In stead of staying in the car our driver immediately got out of the car to talk to the officials. In the US I believe you can be arrested for an act like that…I guess that’s not the case here. Haha. Once our driver got back into the car he simply said “no problem, no problem, cash money, no problem.” We al thought this was hilarious and it has continued as a running joke between the interns.
ADNEC Building - currently 68 days ahead of schedule and pooring concret on the 19th floor
Once we arrived to the ADNEC building site we were greeted by the Project Manager. He briefed us on the building and its progress. Once we are briefed on the building we go and walk the job site, stopping along the way to view different aspects of the buildings or any specific issues that have come up. Job site visits are always hectic because in the extreme heat with we are taking notes like mad men. Ever word that comes out of the managers mouth seems to be worthy of noting. We have the challenge of trying to hear over the construction and through language accents. After working up a heavy sweat during our full morning on the job site, it was lunch time.
We enjoy the buffet supplied at the Holiday Inn, a neighboring hotel. Another good lunch! Great salad bar and delicious grilled veggie sandwiched. I never can turn down hummus so I put some of that on my sandwiches, was a nice add. Then it came time for dessert. I always have room for dessert, as lways say dessert act like masonry in the stomach, it fills all the cracks. I helped myself to some vanilla ice cream with pistachio vanilla cookies. Yummmm!
Back to the job site after lunch. We did some manual labor and laid some brick block work for the apartment walls. It was a lot tougher than the workers make it look. Apparently, some of our work was not good enough… when we visited our wall later in the day parts were taken down due to poor construction. Haha.
Sweet batherooms in the Holiday Inn (check out thr floating sinks
We got back home late, time for workout, make dinner and write my notes on the site visit.
We are keeping busy here but learning lots. Thank you all for following, Sean
Due to computer problems uploading pictures is proving to be difficult. Will do my best.
Hey Sean,
ReplyDeleteNow that you’ve been in Dubai for over two weeks and are fully acclimated to all things UAE, who is the President of the UAE? Have you taken a ride on the Dubai Metro yet?
Looks like a straight shot south on E11 to Abu Dhabi. I’m sensing that it was a little different than the Pacific Coast Highway – vineyards, harbor seals, avocado farms, oyster farms, whales, golf courses, and an occasional piton (Morro Bay)?
Hey Dog – I was reading about the ADNEC company and building site. Very impressive. They have a facility outside of Washington D.C. I am sure you were busy taking notes on the construction site, but did you see any of the Shams Festival while you were in town? They host the Robot Olympiad later this year. Cool – can’t miss that. Sounds like a touch of the Makers Faire, but more robo-centric.
We had talked a little about the elements of designing space as it was related to some of your class assignments and some of the models you built at SU. If you make it back to Abu Dhabi you should visit the Zaha Hadid Performing Arts Centre. Zaha Hadid describes the design of the Performing Arts Centre as a sculptural form that emerges from a linear intersection of pedestrian paths within the cultural district, gradually developing into a growing organism that sprouts a network of successive branches. All-righty-then, yada, yada, yada, or blah di blah (as you would say), that should explain it. Better yet – Check out these photos; unbelievable: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/295/abu-dhabi-performing-arts-centre-by-zaha-hadid. Might be the place to see the Nutcracker in 2011. Haha.
During your next visit to Adu Dhabi, don’t miss Ferrari World Amusement Park. It looks awesome – the largest indoor theme park – built around the Ferrari. The Scuderia Challenge is a flight simulator for various Ferraris. Formula Rossa F430 is the fastest roller coaster on the planet – 240km/hr and 5.0 Gs (gotta do that). Check it out and send a few pictures – http://www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/en-gb/ferrari-world-abu-dhabi-tv-commercial.aspx.
Not too much else for now. I hope the midterm went well. Any calculus? Haha.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
All my love,
Dad