Saturday, March 28, 2009
More details from the courtyard of Amir Taz
Still looking around, wellworked details could be seen everywhere.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Water and sewage
Also other traces of a quite advanced water and sewage system could be seen, inside the palace and in the courtyard. Water was used for hygiene and cooling.
Semlor!
I treated my colleagues to homebaked Swedish semlor a couple of weeks ago - unfortunately I didn't take a photo of the full tray I made, just of a single one.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Details from around the courtyard
When the palace was used, it will not have been so clean and empty - imagine people, horses, carpets, utensils, and bustling life...
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Reading regional developments
First touching on the ongoing book fair, National interviews Rajaa Alsanea, the author of Girls in Riyadh.
Göran Rosenberg writes for Dagens Nyheter on the Holocaust remembrance and the war in Gaza. Ernst Klein understands calls for boycott of Israel's designated foreign minister Liebermann. Svenska Dagbladet discusses implications of the new Israeli government for Sweden's upcoming EU presidency. Hanne Kjöller for Dagens Nyheter ponders on the appeal of the Palestine conflict for foreign correspondents.
BBC reports on information on an Emirati turn against "masculine women". On the other hand, new attention to some human rights is launched, as reported by the National. The UAE FNC is looking at quotas for women. Amnesty reports a generally gloomy rights trend. Human Rights Watch looks at the situation of domestic workers in Saudi-arabia.
Crisis Group has given attention to jihadic militancy in Pakistan and new US policy on neighbouring Afghanistan.
BBC has visited Cairo and looked at parking solutions in one of the wrld's most congested cities.
BBC also visits Israel 2 months after the Gaza war...
The Abu Dhabi National looks at Emirati charity donations and the Khalifa Foundation.
Human Rights Wtach calls attention to a jailed Iranian-American journalist. The National also visits Iran's frustrated youth generation and reports on Pakistan's rock scene! MERIP looks at popular culture and music in Iran.
Svenska Dagbladet claims the party is over in Dubai and on Al-Jazeera Riz Khan and guests have discussed the current situation (part 1, part 2). Jazeera reports on unemployment consequences stemming from Dubai.
INEGMA's Ted Karasik writes on Sunni-Shia relations in the Gulf and their wider regional implications, maybe from a new angle.
Olle Svenning for Aftonbladet writes on women in Iraq after 6 devastating war years. Newsweek has visited the family-governed and -divided Iraqi Kurdistan. The National visits Turkey and the situation for Kurds there.
The National discusses Iraqi emigrants, now also in the US (this topic has been discussed here before, due to Sweden's heavy involvement).
Christian Science Monitor analyses intra-Arab policy shifts.
Al-Jazeera has been to the Istanbul World Water Forum.
BBC reports from Baghdad where children play in the park.
Svenska Dagbladet ran a knowledgeable and analytical story on the Vatican and recent events.
Al-Jazeera reports on women and unemployment in the current economic crisis.
A new documentary explores Cleopatra and her family - I always wonder if producing such films would not make an ideal alternative career? swedish TV ran a documentary on Queen Victoria's early years.
Göran Rosenberg writes for Dagens Nyheter on the Holocaust remembrance and the war in Gaza. Ernst Klein understands calls for boycott of Israel's designated foreign minister Liebermann. Svenska Dagbladet discusses implications of the new Israeli government for Sweden's upcoming EU presidency. Hanne Kjöller for Dagens Nyheter ponders on the appeal of the Palestine conflict for foreign correspondents.
BBC reports on information on an Emirati turn against "masculine women". On the other hand, new attention to some human rights is launched, as reported by the National. The UAE FNC is looking at quotas for women. Amnesty reports a generally gloomy rights trend. Human Rights Watch looks at the situation of domestic workers in Saudi-arabia.
Crisis Group has given attention to jihadic militancy in Pakistan and new US policy on neighbouring Afghanistan.
BBC has visited Cairo and looked at parking solutions in one of the wrld's most congested cities.
BBC also visits Israel 2 months after the Gaza war...
The Abu Dhabi National looks at Emirati charity donations and the Khalifa Foundation.
Human Rights Wtach calls attention to a jailed Iranian-American journalist. The National also visits Iran's frustrated youth generation and reports on Pakistan's rock scene! MERIP looks at popular culture and music in Iran.
Svenska Dagbladet claims the party is over in Dubai and on Al-Jazeera Riz Khan and guests have discussed the current situation (part 1, part 2). Jazeera reports on unemployment consequences stemming from Dubai.
INEGMA's Ted Karasik writes on Sunni-Shia relations in the Gulf and their wider regional implications, maybe from a new angle.
Olle Svenning for Aftonbladet writes on women in Iraq after 6 devastating war years. Newsweek has visited the family-governed and -divided Iraqi Kurdistan. The National visits Turkey and the situation for Kurds there.
The National discusses Iraqi emigrants, now also in the US (this topic has been discussed here before, due to Sweden's heavy involvement).
Christian Science Monitor analyses intra-Arab policy shifts.
Al-Jazeera has been to the Istanbul World Water Forum.
BBC reports from Baghdad where children play in the park.
Svenska Dagbladet ran a knowledgeable and analytical story on the Vatican and recent events.
Al-Jazeera reports on women and unemployment in the current economic crisis.
A new documentary explores Cleopatra and her family - I always wonder if producing such films would not make an ideal alternative career? swedish TV ran a documentary on Queen Victoria's early years.
Reading
I've been reading this amazing novel!
An well-written American generation novel about a middle-class girl and her upper-class rowdy political husband, eventually reforming into a born-again Christian and ideologically driven president... Do we recognize that? ;-) I don't know how correct with "reality" the portrait of the wife is but as a story it is human, fetching and nuanced. Well told and well written, I can only recommend it!
Later addition: The novel centres around themes of class, race, morals, marriage and compromise. About being human, choices in life and being yourself.
An well-written American generation novel about a middle-class girl and her upper-class rowdy political husband, eventually reforming into a born-again Christian and ideologically driven president... Do we recognize that? ;-) I don't know how correct with "reality" the portrait of the wife is but as a story it is human, fetching and nuanced. Well told and well written, I can only recommend it!
Later addition: The novel centres around themes of class, race, morals, marriage and compromise. About being human, choices in life and being yourself.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Back to Amir Taz...
Back inside the Mamluke palace, details of the courtyard are outstanding.
Unfortunately, I can't add more photos right now for technical reasons - but more is to come!
Unfortunately, I can't add more photos right now for technical reasons - but more is to come!
Arabic Booker
An "Arabic Booker" has been handed out for the second time, this year to an Egyptian author, Yusuf Zeydan with the novel Beelzebub.
Swedish radio tonight broadcast a programme on the Cairo book fair and interviewing Alaa Al-Aswany and Baha Taher (last year's award winner of the first Arabic Booker).
Right now the Abu Dhabi book fair has begun and I am hoping to attend tomorrow.
Swedish radio tonight broadcast a programme on the Cairo book fair and interviewing Alaa Al-Aswany and Baha Taher (last year's award winner of the first Arabic Booker).
Right now the Abu Dhabi book fair has begun and I am hoping to attend tomorrow.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Orchid!
For the first time ever, I have not immediately killed an orchid but 4 months later 1 is still in bloom and the other is getting new sprouts...!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Outside the mosques
So farewell for now to the double mosques of Sultan Hassan and Rifaiyye. More adventures close by are to be expected and a revisit is certainly not impossible!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Shah of Iran
In a mosque (even if modern) the heart of old Cairo, and within view of the citadel lies the last shah of Iran buried.
Culture in the Gulf
Time to take a small look at some culture here in the Gulf. Even if it is not traditionally known for that, Dubai and now also Abu Dhabi does have quite an events scene - music, and museums, at least in the making. Several international actors on the art and literature scene and coming in over the years to come too, so I think we will see much more.
But first, more traditional sporting: polo!
The new Museum of Islamic Art in Doha is supposed to be something really extra! It has a website too, here.
On the music scene, Marcel Khalife played in the UAE in the autumn. I missed him, unfortunately but have had the privilege before.
Especially with the book fair coming up, I do hear quite a bit of discussion on translation to Arabic.
Qantara ponders the meaning and symbolism of Dubai's urban landscape.
Photography in the UAE is also emerging.
But first, more traditional sporting: polo!
The new Museum of Islamic Art in Doha is supposed to be something really extra! It has a website too, here.
On the music scene, Marcel Khalife played in the UAE in the autumn. I missed him, unfortunately but have had the privilege before.
Especially with the book fair coming up, I do hear quite a bit of discussion on translation to Arabic.
Qantara ponders the meaning and symbolism of Dubai's urban landscape.
Photography in the UAE is also emerging.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 09, 2009
Springtime reading links
The Middle East Journal has started a new blog - which I hope to follow of course.
Aftonbladet reads and praises Jan Hjärpe's latest book, on islam and politics seen over 25 years.
A new publication on economy and US-Arab relations has been published, by among other Eckhard Woertz of GRC in Dubai. same writed, now for FT on food security in the Gulf! (the latest issue of The Middle East had a similar themed discussion, but I don't think they're online...)
BBC has a special report on "homeless in Gaza".
The National publishes a letter for president Obama on Gulf security.
Lamloun's book on Al-Jazeera is translated to Swedish and reviewed here.
Expressen writes about renewed talibanisation.
an interesting view into identity and modernity is given with these insights from Kirkuk on how phone ringtones identify you by ethnic identity... Modernity in Iran takes on more personally and socially (as opposed to ethnically/sectarian-based...?) destructive overtones.
BBC writes about purchasing women's lingerie in Saudiarabia. Svenska Dagbladet writes on the Saudi government reshuffle and women. BBC has collected blog links on the same topic as well as visits a women's world in Riyadh. But restrictions also remain...
Chechenyan president Kadyrov is carving out an empire for himself, free both of Moscow involvement and of equal rights for women...
Eurasient writes about Iran and Afghanistan in Russia-US-relations. Also Iran in Iraq is treated, as well as recent gender identity debate in Azerbaijan, reaching across ethnic lines too. Turkey, Kurds and education also raises feelings.
I would really like to the Menotti's opera The Consul in it's staging st Stockholm's Folkoperan, highlighting current migration policies.
Dagens Nyheters Maciej Zaremba has looked closely at Swedish immigration and integration policies... The same paper runs another story on differences within Stockholm, and how unwelcome a shelter is in a residential area. A third article visits the Obama family in the White House. The engagement of the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria to a "commoner" is commented upon.
New York Review of Books also visits the Obama presidency, discussing leadership and style.
Svenska Dagbladet discusses gender roles and domestic sharing.
Aftonbladet reads and praises Jan Hjärpe's latest book, on islam and politics seen over 25 years.
A new publication on economy and US-Arab relations has been published, by among other Eckhard Woertz of GRC in Dubai. same writed, now for FT on food security in the Gulf! (the latest issue of The Middle East had a similar themed discussion, but I don't think they're online...)
BBC has a special report on "homeless in Gaza".
The National publishes a letter for president Obama on Gulf security.
Lamloun's book on Al-Jazeera is translated to Swedish and reviewed here.
Expressen writes about renewed talibanisation.
an interesting view into identity and modernity is given with these insights from Kirkuk on how phone ringtones identify you by ethnic identity... Modernity in Iran takes on more personally and socially (as opposed to ethnically/sectarian-based...?) destructive overtones.
BBC writes about purchasing women's lingerie in Saudiarabia. Svenska Dagbladet writes on the Saudi government reshuffle and women. BBC has collected blog links on the same topic as well as visits a women's world in Riyadh. But restrictions also remain...
Chechenyan president Kadyrov is carving out an empire for himself, free both of Moscow involvement and of equal rights for women...
Eurasient writes about Iran and Afghanistan in Russia-US-relations. Also Iran in Iraq is treated, as well as recent gender identity debate in Azerbaijan, reaching across ethnic lines too. Turkey, Kurds and education also raises feelings.
I would really like to the Menotti's opera The Consul in it's staging st Stockholm's Folkoperan, highlighting current migration policies.
Dagens Nyheters Maciej Zaremba has looked closely at Swedish immigration and integration policies... The same paper runs another story on differences within Stockholm, and how unwelcome a shelter is in a residential area. A third article visits the Obama family in the White House. The engagement of the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria to a "commoner" is commented upon.
New York Review of Books also visits the Obama presidency, discussing leadership and style.
Svenska Dagbladet discusses gender roles and domestic sharing.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
8 March
Today on International women's day, I scanned the media for highlights and campaigns focussing on this - and found very little! Perhaps more will see it as the day goes on?
Anyway, Amnesty International looks at women in the Nairobi slum of Kibera, and Al-Jazeera wrote on women at risk, quoting UN envoy Yakin Erturk (see an older interview here).
BBC and Oxfam highlight the lack of services for women in Iraq.
So far, only Aftonbladet seems to have an editorial theme...
Last but not least - HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY, sister!
Update: oh yes, at least Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet have themes today, at least one article each found here and here and much more reading can be found on their webpages.
By the way, this is really cool!
Anyway, Amnesty International looks at women in the Nairobi slum of Kibera, and Al-Jazeera wrote on women at risk, quoting UN envoy Yakin Erturk (see an older interview here).
BBC and Oxfam highlight the lack of services for women in Iraq.
So far, only Aftonbladet seems to have an editorial theme...
Last but not least - HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY, sister!
Update: oh yes, at least Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet have themes today, at least one article each found here and here and much more reading can be found on their webpages.
By the way, this is really cool!
Rifaiyye
Next door, the more modern (and less harmonious) Rifaiyye can be found.
Inside are the resting places of Egypt's 19th and 20th century kings as well as the last shah of Iran.
Inside are the resting places of Egypt's 19th and 20th century kings as well as the last shah of Iran.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Abu Dhabi book fair
The Abu Dhabi book fair is soon coming up, in about 10 days.
The National here writes about it, including the Swedish participation.
Sunday update: Henning Mankell is interviewed here.
The National here writes about it, including the Swedish participation.
Sunday update: Henning Mankell is interviewed here.
Lamps!
Hmm, maybe not all clearly illuminating, but I hope you get the picture!
All from the Sultan Hassan madrassa, of course. Next we step across to the Rifaiyye.
All from the Sultan Hassan madrassa, of course. Next we step across to the Rifaiyye.
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