Let's get some good news for a change, eh? Check out the Top Ten Green Skyscrapers.
Nice to see that three of the top 10 are in the Muslim world.
I just wish the eco-awareness would trickle down to the Muslim street. You listening Cairo ("the average resident of Cairo ingests more than 20 times the acceptable level of air pollution a day, the same as a pack of cigarettes"), Karachi ("the most air polluted city in the world"), and Jakarta (just see the pictures)?!
BTW, I wonder how eco-friendly the new tower currently under construction in Lahore (right across the street from my parent's home) will be?
On second thought, who cares - its doing wonders to the real estate value of the neighborhood!!
And since we're on the subject of skyscrapers, here are the pics of the two towers in Riyadh that I've been promising for quite some time:
I know, I know, after all these years these are some pretty crappy pics. In my defense, its not easy being a bearded brown-skinner walking around with a camera trying to take pictures of famous landmarks! We actually got serious police attention one time when I was simply showing a friend how to use my digital camera while parked in front of the Marriott where he was staying. They basically detained us for over an hour, asking all sorts of questions...
So appreciate these pics and the sacrifices I go through for you, my loyal reader. :-)
6 comments:
AA -
This is Neat! I'd never heard of "Green" Skyscrapers before but that's pretty cool.
About your pics, though... is it a crime to take photographs or did they confuse tourist for terrorist?
AA- Amy,
Technically its not a crime, but for all intents and purposes, it may as well be.
First, there is the religious stigma in taking pictures, especially with people in the pics.
Next, is the cultural paranoia that you may be trying to take a picture of someone's wife or sister.
In fact, many marriage halls prevent ladies from taking camera-enabled cell phones for fear that ladies without their scarves will be photographed.
I've heard/read stories about fights breaking out in marriage halls over that issue.
Finally, there is the heightened security alert ever since the spate of bombings and terror attacks in 2003.
So when you eventually make it out here, leave your camera at home. :-)
AA -
My camera phone is my neatest of little gadgets but even I am particular to not take pictures of women without hijab without their permission, and when I do I keep them private.
I was at a party this weekend and I had to keep announcing (as per the request of the organizers) to remind the sisters not to take pictures.
I guess I didn't think people would be worried about uncovered ladies getting their pictures taken... outside... where there are no uncovered ladies.
So I think what I'll have to do is just hide it with in me in my abaya!
InshaAllah.
Naeem, the problem isn't the pics, it's the buildings! Fire the designers! I find it offensive that they build these near masjids and draw all attention away from the House of Allah. Okay, it's knit-picky but I can't help myself!
Jazak-allah for going thru these troubles to get these picturs, i'd been hounding you for years and you produced! I had no idea the trouble you had to encounter though so I now I feel bad. I get you detained for an hour and my bro gets your car towed. :)
AA- Arif,
"I get you detained for an hour and my bro gets your car towed."
Befriend a gujurati, get screwed for life.
Yeah, that sounds about right...
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