Media Gets An Up-close View Of Light Fest

Regional, International Journalists Cruise Along Khalid Lagoon To Catch The Action At 12 SLF Locations Across Sharjah

It was fun and games all the way as prominent UAE and international media went on a dhow cruise along the picturesque Khalid Lagoon Saturday night to watch the Sharjah Light Festival 2012 action up close and personal.

More than 40 representatives of the local and international media met at Al Qasba, the main venue of the SLF 2012 to watch the one of its kind lights and arts show on the exterior and interior walls of the popular picnic spot, before going on the cruise from Al Qasba canal up to Al Majarrah waterfront on the Sharjah Creek.

Along the way, they discovered the majesty of Sharjah’s popular landmark, Central Souk, which is once again one of the chief attractions of the SLF shows this year with its unique candle light flames all around fascinating the young and old.

Al Majaz Waterfront that opened recently with its popular eateries is another major SLF attraction this year, not to mention Al Majaz mosque near it which has been totally transformed by the artistry and technical wizardry of international artists and craftsmen.

Dar Al Qazaa or House of Justice is another new location along the Creek which has undergone a magical transformation with the European artists and experts paying rich tributes to the magnificent building which constantly changes its colours and reinvents itself even as you watch.

The media team then got down at Al Majarrah waterfront to board a bus that first took them to Al Hisn fort in the heart of Sharjah. The fort used to be the residence of Sharjah’s rulers until the last century when it was turned into an historical monument that tells the story of the emirate and its eventful journey over the past several decades.

The media delegation was bowled over by the SLF presentation at Al Hisn, which has been attracting thousands of fascinated spectators. Sharjah’s oldest landmark is in the spotlight once again with Limelight, a Budapest-based group of artists, turning the fort wall into a giant screen recapturing the dramatic transition of the emirate into the cultural capital of the Arab and Islamic world.

Limelight is known for producing monumental, colourful, and precisely mapped artworks. This is what they have done at Al Hisn capturing everyone’s attention with their creative approach to lighting and rare technical wizardry.

The Sharjah Consultative Council and Kuwait Roundabout were the next stop on the itinerary and the visitors were totally fascinated by the enchanting interplay of lights and colours, giving a totally different new look to the popular landmarks.

The Cultural Roundabout or Quran Roundabout as it is popularly known was the last stop on the tour. It was an awe-inspiring and majestic sight with lights and colours playing on the glorious Quran at the centre of the square and the magnificent monuments all around, creating a surreal experience. The visit ended with a dinner at Shababek, the popular restaurant by Al Qasba canal.

The SLF 2012, being celebrated from February 9 to 17 by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, attracted more than 100,000 visitors in the first three days of the festival.

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