Rewind: 21st. century Coliseum...

A great engineering for the 21st. century...a new millennium coliseum...

...managed to visit this great monument before i flew back to UK...

what a sight!

Dubai Terminal 3

The new Emirates Terminal Three at Dubai International Airport is dedicated to Emirates Airline's operations, opened on October 14, 2008. I was lucky to have my transfer flight at Gate 212 of the new terminal, which from my point of view is a spacious and luxury feeling terminal with total built-up area of 515,000 square metres. 

...you will greet by this white forest to the new terminal...

...a gigantic structure of terminal 3, luxurious ambience...

...you must pass through all duty-free shops along the terminal...

...some of the duty-free shopping...

..just take a break before you catch up you next flight...

...lighting and luxury clock...

...the unique design of the roof...

...the new terminal three on the left and the old section on the right...

Around the City: Grainger Market

Markets have always played an important part in the life of the people of Newcastle. The Grainger Market is in the heart of the City and is an integral part of Newcastle's Grainger Town. The Market is a Grade I listed building (a protected building as historical structure) and has a lettable area of 38,000 square feet making it one of the largest market halls in the country.

Richard Grainger (where the market got its name), builder and developer, planned and constructed some of Newcastle's finest buildings and streets during the 1830's including Grainger Market, Theatre Royal, Grey Street, Grainger and Clayton Street. Together with John Dobson, an architect and engineer, their development transformed the town. Richard Grainger was said to 'have found Newcastle of bricks and timber and left it in stone, stone that still stands today' , which refers to the market.

The Grainger Market was the Town's first indoor market, situated between the New Gate of the old Town Walls and the newly laid out Grainger Street. At the time of its opening in 1835 it was considered the most spacious and magnificent market in Europe and the Evening Chronicle described it as 'the most beautiful in the world'. To mark its opening, a grand dinner gala was held, complete with an orchestra and attended by 2,000 guests. A painting of this event by Henry Perlee Parker (1795-1873), can be seen in the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle.

The market still housed the world's smallest Marks and Spencer's store, opened in 1895, "the last surviving example of the [Penny Bazaar] shops that gave birth to a legend in retailing" the Mark & Spencer (M&S). The Weigh House is the original facility used by retailers and customers to check the weight of their goods, which was a must for the people to check the weight after they bought the goods, but it now seems to be used mainly for checking body weight! The notice above the 10p. charge sign says, "Please do not bring food or drink into the Weigh House."

...updated: went to the market this morning and the charge has increased to 20p...

The Market is largely in its original condition except for the latticed-steel arches in the roof, which replaced the timber roof destroyed by fire in 1901.

Around the City: Earl Grey Monument

The weather today was mistakenly summer...warm winter afternoon. It was sunny for the past few days. Just passed by this famous meeting point in town, the Earl Grey Monument or just known as Monument. Situated between Grey Street and Blackett Street, it was erected to acclaim Earl Grey for the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832. The statue of Lord Grey standing atop a 41 m high column of the monument. Designed by Benjamin Green and sculptured by Edwards Hodges Baily. The monument is a popular spot for people as a meeting point or people-watching, often acts as venue for busker, most notably APU with their Andean music. 

Interesting fact that the Earl Grey Tea was named after Lord Grey! I thought that the tea was named after a citrus variety, Earl Grey orange because the tea has been flavoured with the earl grey essential oil after all...

Inscription

"This column was erected in 1838 to commemorate the services rendered to his country by Charles Earl Grey K.G., who, during an active political career of nearly half a century was the constant advocate of peace and the fearless and consistent champion of civil and religious liberty. He first directed his efforts to the amendment of the representation of the people in 1792 and was the minister by whose advice, and under whose guidance, the great measure of parliamentary reform was, after an arduous and protracted struggle, safely and triumphantly achieved in the year 1832."

And on the opposite face:

 "After a century of civil peace, the people renew their gratitude to the author of the great reform bill. 1932."

Around the City: NewcastleGateshead

Castle Keep, where the Newcastle got its name.

The Tyne Bridge, originally built from stones in 1781.

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge, to commemorate the new millennium.

The Sage Gateshead

Angel of the North, welcomes you to Newcastle, the biggest city in the NorthEast England.