David Gabis Photography Blog

The golden sphere on top of the Bayterek Tower (also observation desk) BAYTEREK is a monument located in Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is an observation tower and a popular attraction for all tourists (locals and foreigners). The Kazakh word "bayterek" translates literally to mean "toll poplar" as in the tree. The construction started in October 1996 and was completed in August 2002, 14 years later.  The building is 105 meters tall with a gold -mirrored of 22 meters diameter sphere. The design meant to embody a folktale a mythical tree of life and a magic bird of happiness. The bird (called Samruk) had laid its egg in the sacred tree of life. An observation deck is located a the top of the tower where you can also place your hand in a print of President NAZARBAEV's palm, the first president following the independence from the Soviet Union in December 1991. The Hand print of President NAZABAEV's palm ...

The Clock Tower of Cape town in Yellow The three-storeyed Clock Tower (originally red) with its pointed Gothic windows is a landmark in Cape tow. It was the first port Captain's office, o nce completed in 1882. The clock was imported from Edinburgh. It was painted in yellow for the Cape Town Design Capital in 2014. A tidal gauge mechanism was located in the ground floor and was indicating the exact height of the tide at any given time for the benefit of the ships entering or leaving the docks. The Port Captain had an overview of harbor activities at the top floor as it was lined with mirrors. The restoration took two years (from 1997 to 98) and was a focal point in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront's urban renewal. Over the years the building has begun to lean slightly about 50mm. A set of brass pins has been inserted in the brickwork to ensure that any movement can be spotted.

Downtown Dubai at sunset with the water canal and the iconic Burj Khalifa Downtown Dubai - "The center of Now" - is mixed-used mega-development in the city with the famous and the iconic skyscraper Burj Khalifa, The Address Hotel, Dubai Mall, Dubai Opera and Dubai Fountain. You can also found Souq Al Bahar, Emaar Boulevard etc... You will find there commercial, residential, hotels, entertainment, leisure and shopping  It covers an area of 2 square kilometers (0.77 sq miles) at an estimated cost of US$20 billion.

Men swimming in the clear water Wadi As Shab - meaning gorge between the cliffs - is in the Ash Shrqiyah region in Oman, famous for his pools and for trekking. It is less than 2 hours drive from Muscat. It is a very popular outdoor attraction for both locals and expats (it gets very busy during week-ends and public holidays). You will walk along palm groves, rocky cliffs before reaching the main pool and a fter a leisurely 45 minutes you get to a point where you can swim up the wadi to enter a cave... Note that it is forbidden to swim in the lower pools as they are source of drinking water. Hajar mountains receive the majority of Oman’s sparse rainfall and over time the flow of water down them has carved out numerous gorges. A pool in Wadi As Shab

Seascape at Bandar Khairat Bandar Khairan is located 1 hour by road after Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman and 20 minutes by boat. It is a small system of coves and creeks with plenty of fantastic dive sites! Early morning in Bandar Khairan It is a pristine set of fjord-like with turquoise water and with spectacular seascapes, bays and wild beaches, perfect for a picnic. Woman snorkeling in Bandar Khairan You can admire the mangroves area on the way to the coast; Bandar Khairan is an area of outstanding beauty! Fishermen village and the mangrove forest

Traditional Dhow mooring at Telegraph Island The Musandam peninsula which juts into the Strait of Hormuz, includes is part of the Sultanate of Oman, and exclave separated from the rest of the country by th e United Arab Emirates. There are four provinces with the main well-known one is Khasab where all tourists go to take the traditional wooden boats called Dhows. The tour takes them to the fjord-like between desolated mountainscapes. On the way, they can see dolphins and time to time baby sharks. Dhows stop several times for the tourists to enjoy swimming and snorkeling in a clear sea water. see the video here Arabic Dhows mooring in Musandam with tourist snorkeling