https://www.flickr.com/photos/witsandnuts/15929355852/player/
Have you seen today’s Google doodle?
There is a significant element of today’s doodle. Aside from the UAE flag’s colors in it, they have included Qasr Al Hosn to celebrate the UAE National Day. For any viewer, it is safe to assume that the structure in the doodle is a museum or one of the old establishments in the UAE.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/witsandnuts/15928973371/player/
I was few days old in the UAE in 2008 (time flies!) when I first passed by the Qasr Al Hosn. I have always been intrigued what is beyond those walls. Few years later, I started to learn some Arabic words and realized that ‘qasr’ means ‘palace/ fort’. Then I started calling it in my mind as the ‘white palace.’ Until we finally had the chance to properly visit it in early 2014 during the festival as the mighty Cavalia show (here is the link one of the videos I took) was showcased then.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/witsandnuts/15307765684/player/
History covered by modern symbolisms
Qasr Al Hosn is the symbolic birthplace of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Hence, it is aptly picked by Google for the UAE’s National day. It is said to have started out as a round watch tower defending the only freshwater well in Abu Dhabi in 1761. (Well, freshwater is relatively more expensive than oil in this region.) It also became the permanent residence of the ruling Al Nahyan sheikdom and remained the royal palace and seat of the government until 1966.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/witsandnuts/15929312932/player/
(In 1963, the first post office was opened, the number of battery-operated radios increased and the telephone system has been installed.)
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