A VERY HAZY MADINAT ZAYED - polaroids by @nourareads

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this was one of my favorite mini-adventures with noura. my soul needs more of these outings. 

SNIPPETS OF THE CULTURAL FOUNDATION

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Abu Dhabi, UAE - 2016

If I knew the cultural foundation would shut down, I would have taken all the pictures when I was younger. The past couple of weeks I participated in a festival that took place in this beautiful building. When kids weren't around, I found myself trying to remember everything that happened in this place and relate it to who I am (the person I choose to be). 

I realized that everything that I currently am, started here. My passion for art, cinema, photography, and books; all originated here. 

I watched Lion King, A Bug's life, Toy Story, Star Wars, Ants, Matilda etc here. My mother and grandma used to take us out on Thursdays as a treat. We'd make our own popcorn sometimes, and other times, we'd buy it from the mini-canteen. After a film,  we cross the road for shawarmas & Baskin Robins. My mother remembers the first time I watched something in the cinema, she says I'd always ask about the time. She never got why I did that, till one day, I told her that it was to make sure we can stay longer. 

I attended every single International book fair here. I had my monthly allowance, then I had 'buy books from the book fair' allowance.  

I took drawing, calligraphy and film photography classes here. It was a walking distance away from our apartment and the first time my mother let me walk to alone (this is huge when your mother is paranoid of every single thing around you). I shot & developed my first film roll here. 

I watched plays here. I don't remember many of the plays, but I remember it being a little scary when actors would pop-out of no where and ~interact~ with the audience. 

Pretty sure I attended my first gallery exhibitions here. My mother and I would take our time, looking at the art while my sister ran through the hall. 

These photographs don't do the place any justice, but I tried. Thank you mama and jaddah for every single day you took us to the cultural foundation and for every single fils you spent to make sure we were learning & growing and having a good time.

BASTAKIYA-NESS-ERIES

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Dubai, UAE - 2016

In our last road trip, Amna and i walked around bastakiya searching for good food, a mosque, & 35mm film rolls. We found 2/3. The place we had lunch in was called 'Arabian Tea House' and it not only had a lovely vibe to it, but the food was incredible & the waiters were super sweet.

سندريلات زماننا

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Dubai, UAE - 2016
The other day we attended Reem Falaknaz's exhibition in GPP, Dubai (which was incredible & is still going on). The title is inspired by the fact that we were all ridiculously late when we came back home, we definitely need to plan these road trips a little better than usual. 

I took two of the point and shoots, gave one to Amna and the result was incredible. Some of these were taken in Dubai, and others were taken during an impromptu Hotpot date. 

PS: Thank you super beautiful www people we got to meet IRL. You're all v. cool.