A Taste of Sonamu, A Bit of Korea in Dubai

Last Sunday, I had experienced Sonamu, a Korean resto inside Asiana Hotel, Dubai.

I booked a reservation 3 days in advance for 5 people in a private dining room and was actually expecting they will put us in a Korean room/table inspired like in the 2 images below (images grabbed online) since I requested a private room .



So when the resto staff sent us to the private room, I was really very disappointed. It was nothing like the above photos. A very ordinary, a very plain room with a table with a divider/partition. Nothing special at all. I didn't even feel that we were inside a Korean resto. Partly my fault, didn't tell them it was a birthday celebration, sort of and that we wanted it in Korean style.

So anyway, we ordered Jeongol (a noodle dish), seafood Japchae (hotpot) and one "whole" cow set and a bottle of soju. We liked the Korean pickled dishes (kimchi, etc) and the Jeongol. The Japchae is fine though. I enjoyed grilling our own slabs of beef and eating it. We didn't finish the soju, it tasted like gin (or gin-tonic according to my friend.) The food and the complimentaries we had is more than enough for 5 persons, I think I should have had brought 2 or more friends.

Japchae

Soju and the pickled dishes

I think this is a beef soup or the vinegar, I forgot. LOL

gyeran jjim (Korean steamed egg)

seafood jeongol (hotpo)

jeon (Korean pancake)

raw beef

grilling the beef

I'm happy with the bill/price because it is affordable. I was actually expecting it was a tad pricey. :)

The Camouflaging Rabu

All characters and incidents appearing in this work of fiction are products of my boredom. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Also, this is unedited so please bear with me for the grammatical errors and this does not encourage any publisher. LOL

Rabu

This is all about Rabu and his identity crisis. Actually, I don't know what to say about this character except that he is a man.

Risshu

Rabu met Risshu while she is travelling. She interests him. She likes to read. She carries and accumulates luggage of books wherever she travels. Rabu starts to like everything she likes and her roots, read politics and slavery books, he becomes addicted to her and her adventures.  Rabu is all eyes to Risshu only. They go to clubs every night then walk around till morning. They travel and hike together. When Risshu is leaving, he helps her to pack her stuff all night long and accommodates all of her books and unnecessary stuff to his place thinking she will be back to visit him. But Risshu leaves for good. She never return. She marries her guy back home.

Koku
Life goes on for Rabu, she met Koku online. He literally flirted with her day and night because of her hot profile photo on Facebook. He impresses her of his knowledge about stuff she likes and invites her to come to his place and promises her all the fun and adventures she wants. But after a couple of months he finds out that she is almost as old as his mom. That the hot profile photo was the younger Koku. Rabu went lie low on flirting with her. She disgusts him and he calls her cougar without her knowledge.

Zenchin

Then Rabu met Zenchin online, he instantly diverted his attention to her because of her looks but still flirting with Koku on the side. Rabu starts to behave just the same way when he was with Risshu. He again starts to like whatever Zenchin likes. He learns her native language, read literary books, watch documentary and classic movies, and studies all the authors, writers, novelist, musicians, physicists and everything she adores. He even goes to gym and on a crash diet for her. He seriously prepares himself for her. He feels lucky and very proud for having her, the woman of his dreams. He is so into her that he almost promises heaven and earth. Then they met, the woman he fantasized doesn't look the same as her photos, she isn't as sexy as he thought she would be. But he didn't tell her that he is very disappointed and again he is disgusted big time. They still carry on to whatever they plan, they travel and spend two weeks together. When she leaves, she carries the promises and the plans they made together. She leaves most of her things to his place as she is planning to come back. She never thought it was the end for them.  When she is about to come back, he stops answering her calls. Things go slowly with them. She decided to move on with another man she used to flirt with long before she met Rabu. When he finds it out, he couldn't accept that this "fat" woman, as he calls her behind her back, dumped him first. It hurts his ego but continues communicating with her and flirting. His plan is to flirt with her and steals from her guy she is with then dump her. But later she finds it out and things go ugly between him and her.

Nia

Rabu acts as if nothing really matters to him. He hooks up with more and more women online. Nia  is one of them. She's big like Zenchin but he likes her face. He chats and exchanges flirtatious words a lot with her day and night, same way he did with Koku. He sends her stuff and tries to meet up with her. He always flatters her. He did everything to persuade her but she just enjoys flirting with guys online to feel good about herself because later she reveals she has someone in her life. She only made a fool out of him and that ends there.

Shia

While still flirting with Nia, Rabu met Shia. He knows she is as big as Nia and Zenchin but hooking up with her makes him feel good because she is way way younger than him. As usual, he starts to camouflage again, liking whatever she likes to please her, watches all the shows and listens to all the music she likes. She calls him the most awesome guy online because he makes her feel hyper. In fact, he almost made her come to meet him but she found out about Rabu's other women and got very disappointed. Everything between them is ruined. They started to spit venom at one another. Her for spreading lies about Rabu's reputation and him for admitting to everyone that Shia is a crazy obese.

Ripin
She is Rabu's female version, she likes everything he likes. Rabu used to like and call her every single day long before he met Risshu, Koku, Zenchin, Nia and Shia. He finds her cute. But that's all, he's not really into her. He never liked what she likes. She is not that smart, interesting nor challenging to him but he keeps her because she is his rebound woman. He chats with her religiously but denies her existence in his life to other women. In short, he never takes her seriously. She is the silliest of them all.

Eh, time's up for me and I don't know how to end this, LOL. I don't even know if you can call this a story. Haha. Need to get off Blogspot and have my lunch. Ja mata!

Etisalat vs Du: No One is Better Than Another

Du and Etisalat networks both disappointed me greatly.

Du experience

I WAS happy with Du unlimited national Blackberry service for a while.. Imagine AED 130dhs and max of 10GB monthly plus the fact that you can use the BB services on other smart phones (Android/iPhone) except the BBM of course. It was really a WOW!!!

But then the worst thing happened after returning to Istanbul and my failure to renew it on time, they stopped the service telling me I have to subscribe again. So I reloaded a 140 dhs balance and resubscribed feeling confident that Du will automatically renewed my unlimited national BB service till I received SMS asking me to choose from the following packages: 100MB (50 dhs) or 1GB (100 dhs) or 4GB (200 dhs) or 25GB (500 dhs) per month. I got confused and Googled what was that all about and I read this from their site

"Unlimited National BlackBerry® service will cease to exist. If you’d like to continue with Unlimited National BlackBerry® service, you can do so, but once you’ve migrated to a new BlackBerry bundle, you’ll be unable to return to your original package."

Not wanting to migrate I didn't do anything because doing so I'll be ineligible to return to unlimited national BB service but then after few minutes I noticed my 140dhs balance went down to 70+ dhs, Du was charging me per use!!! Feeling robbed in broad daylight by Du and all, I reloaded another 30dhs. Du left me no option but to avail the 1GB, better than them emptying my credit balance within a matter of minutes. From 10GB for 130dhs to 1GB for 100 dhs monthly. Hah! Du managed to OUTWIT me. Well done Du, well done!

According to their site the Unlimited National Blackberry service has been terminated because...

The standard internet usage on BlackBerry® is very low. This means that usually, you use less data on a BlackBerry device, than with other Smartphones. We advise our customers to subscribe to a 1 GB BlackBerry Bundle, as this bundle provides enough data for browsing.

Yeah right! How dare you say "1 GB blackberry bundle provides enough data for browsing"? Apparently, after 15 days of 1 GB bundle subscription, Du started deducting from my credits because I have reached the 1 GB limit. Way to go Du, way to go!

Etisalat experience

After the aggravating experience with Du, I gave Etisalat a shot. Bought Sim card for 40 dhs and loaded it with 200dhs to subscribe to their Blackberry Unlimited package that costs me 185 dhs which I believe there's no maximum GB. So what's the catch? Well, you simply CANNOT use it on other smart phones. (Another failure on my part though, I didn't research it first.) Blackberry service is applicable for use only in the Blackberry device. Sigh...

So again, I have no choice but to use my blackberry that I'm not very fond of! I have to use it for a month so the 185dhs won't totally go to waste. Then give the 4GB from Du a shot. Long sigh...

---------------------------------------------------

Leaving you this post/comment of some random customer on Du official Facebook page...

Libro. Book. Livre. Kitab.

I cannot think of a clever title for this one. 

Last year, I signed up on Goodreads and forced encouraged myself to read a few books, rated them and gave my thoughts on them.. I read them randomly, I picked them because they interest me in one way or another..

My 2012 book-that-I-read list, latest to oldest

   

The Paris Wife (Paula McLain)

Me said: 
2/5 stars
Just another "relationshit" story.. The author once again proves that men are jerk since 1920s, and earlier... Don't read if you don't wanna be upset, that's all.
Note: I didn't actually read the book but I listened to the audio of the BBC version/dramatization

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir author (Jenny Lawson)

Me said:
3/5 stars
Hilarious! Some families are dysfunctional, others seem fine. If you think your family is fucked-up, well you should read this book and see Jenny's...

Insurgent (Divergent #2) (Veronica Roth)

Me said:
4/5 stars
**spoiler alert** While reading the first few pages of this book, I was kinda having a feeling that this is a story within a story like Sophie's World or something like The Truman Show movie which is about finding out later that his whole life is a TV show. Well, I can say, in some ways, I'm right.
The whole book Tris character keeps disappointing me for doing something stupid over and over, like fighting for a reason she doesn't even know. LOL, yeah I got carried away with Veronica Roth's very nicely written story.

Divergent (Divergent #1) (Veronica Roth)

Me said:
5/5 stars
Wow! I never thought I could finish the book this fast. It's too good to be left unfinished. At first I thought it's like Hunger Games (didn't read the book, I just watched the movie), but it's not. It's too divergent ;-)

The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution (Richard Dawkins)

Me said:
3/5 stars

"This is a book about a the positive evidence that evolution is a fact. It is not intended as an anti-religious book."

My first Dawkins' book and I can say being a science ignoramus, I wish it was explained in simplified terms, though I feel it is already simplified it's just that science is not my cup of tea. I think it's not suitable for "beginners"... I should have read The Magic of Reality first.

Lying (Sam Harris)

Me said:
5/5 stars
"I came away convinced that LYING, even about the smallest matters, needlessly DAMAGES personal relationships and public trust."
"I now knew that endless forms of suffering and embarassment could be easily avoided by SIMPLY TELLING THE TRUTH."
Very well said and nicely written.
This essay opened my eyes that by lying (whether small or big, white lies or not) you are not only depriving people of their right to the truth but also you are depriving them to live the reality of life. And if you just simply tell the truth (even if it will hurt their feelings), a lot of time and effort would be saved and you won't feel guilty/sick when you're with them.

The Yacoubian Building (Alaa Al Aswany)

Me said:
2/5 stars
Depressing, sad and heartbreaking.. I thought the tragedy won't end till the last page of the book.. I'm glad it didn't leave me with a heavy heart.

The Complete Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi)

Me said:
5/5 stars
I've seen the French film before I read the English book. All I can say is the film is good but the book is better.

Sophie's World (Jostein Gaarder)

Me said:
5/5 stars
It is not a bagatelle. I'll say no more. cover

Atonement (Ian McEwan)

Me said:
5/5 stars
Well written.. sad.. tragic..

Both Right and Left Handed: Arab Women Talk about Their Lives (Bouthaina Shaaban)

Me said: 
3/5 stars 

The George Carlin Letters: The Permanent Courtship of Sally Wade (Sally Wade)

Me said:
5/5 stars

Chicago (Alaa Al Aswany) 

Me said:
4/5 stars

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Four Book Set (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #1-4) (Jeff Kinney)

Me said:
4/5 stars

The Tiger's Wife (Téa Obreht)

Me said:
1/5 stars

That's all folks! :p

I'm officially a Visaphobic

Thanks to the Swiss Consulate.

Visaphobia: the fear of being denied/refused/rejected visa from any Embassy or Consulate. It's a psychological damage to someone who had a 'traumatic' experience on visa application.  A serious nightmare.

So my sister had planned an amazing Istanbul trip few months back. And I was kinda "uh-huh... okay.." She asked me if I wanna come and I was like NO. I don't wanna go because of the fact that I would need to apply a visa and my passport has this Swiss-consulate-rejection-stamp like I have a "record", a bad record, you know what I mean.

Anyway, last Thursday I found out she and her husband got visa to Turkey just like that and are travelling next month. And I was kinda I wanna try my luck because I wanna go too.

After being refused from Swiss consulate and some not-so-nice-experience at the airport when leaving from Dubai to Doha last Eid.. well, my desire to travel is equal to my paranoia of not getting a visa. For me, getting a visa is like a chance of a lifetime like winning a lottery and being lucky really plays a major role.

So here's the thing, my visa application papers are all ready now but I'm dreading to go to the Consulate tomorrow.

Wish me luck.


PS/First update: Monday. I didn't get to sleep, I've been waking every effing hour or minute IDK. When I was about to leave for Consulate, I started not to feel well. I took a taxi instead of Metro. It was foggy. I  came early, Consulate was still closed but Security "assessed" my documents then gave me Token for queueing.  I was the 2nd earliest bird. While waiting for the Consulate to open, I felt like I was gonna throw up, my stomach was turning upside down. I tried to read the humor book I was reading, "Let's Pretend This Never Happened", to distract myself. But didn't work.. it didn't help at all. I was freaking out. Then the security told me I can go in  but he needs to confiscate my mobile phones. Inside, it took another 5 minutes or less before my number was called, I was still uneasy. The Turkish lady asked my documents then asked for 225 dhs for visa processing fee and told me I can get my passport on Wed. When I was about to leave, while taking my mobile phones from the security. He said, "Very easy, right?". I think he sensed that I was nervous or I was that transparent or I was looking pale, LOL. I smiled and said, "yeah." He wished me goodluck, I thanked him.

PPS/Second Update: Wed afternoon, took a taxi to Consulate. I started to feel unwell. AGAIN. Seriously, I wanna throw up. AGAIN. I was thinking what will I tell if I didn't get the visa and why do I need to explain? I didn't get the visa. Period. World Trade Center, elevator opened at the 8th floor. Got off. Greeted the security, told him passport collection. He asked me the "token". Gave him. He gave me my passport with a white paper slip (my eyes were on that paper asking my brain if that was the explanation why they refused me a visa). Despite the fact that visa denied is already expected, still, in my mind I'm saying.. OH NO, NOT AGAIN! There's a little hope that I would get the visa, I know. I sat down calmly, opened my passport and this is what I saw...

Yaaayyyy!!!! ^_^

It's bad to be nice sometimes..

Yesterday, while I was going back to work after lunchbreak, I've noticed someone left her iPad in a leather case on the bench in Metro Station waiting area.

I looked around to see whether the owner is still there, I saw her when she left because she was sitting near me. I was actually having second thought whether to pick it up or just leave it there, let someone else find and take it but decided to pick it up. I again looked around trying to remember which direction the owner went to but can't recall if she headed out the station or down the subway. I walked slowly to the escalator, was going down to give it to Metro personnel.

When I was already on the escalator, I looked back and saw the owner going back to the bench. Then she looked at my way, saw me and waved to me. I waved back showing her her iPad and started climbing up then stopped when I realized I was on the down escalator LOL.

She followed me to the escalator and when she reached me I immeadiately handed her the iPad back, telling her I was actually going to give it to Metro personnel. She just said "thanks" and never smiled. She doesn't look too pleased. When we reached the floor, she took the up escalator without looking back.

Seriously, my jaw dropped. I felt bad. What was she thinking, I would keep it? Hadn't it occur to her that if I had the intention, I would have had put it inside my bag as fast as I can? But matter of fact, I didn't even bother to take it out from its case.

I am steadily losing my faith in humanity...

Pinoys

One of the funny traits of  Filipinos is being unable to give precise answers.

Examples:


► have you eaten?
◄ I'M STILL FULL

► is your mother there?
◄ WHY?

► what time are you going to work/school?
◄ LATER.

► where have you been?
◄ THERE ONLY

► how did you do that?
◄ SO EASY.

► what time is it?
◄ STILL EARLY.


but the FAVORITE reply
► where are you now?
◄ ALMOST THERE. YOU WAIT.

I've Been Scammed - Almost!

{This post is about internet/email scam and has NOTHING to do with Arabs or anything of the sort!} 


Don't trust anyone online, suspect everyone. Be paranoid. Hahaha.

You see, I've been sending my CV here and there, signing up on every jobs site I know for the past few months because obviously I want to change job or at least get a high paying job so I can go to places.

So when I received an email from "Grove Technology Inc." last 27 of May, I immediately replied back because of the "attractive Euro salary" - blame it on my European dream, LOL.

Anyway, here's what the email says:

From: Grove Technology Inc

To: *******@yahoo.com

Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 9:57 AM

Subject: Submit application and Cv

Dear Applicant

regarding your CV, we are again opening the new Data Typing job for year 2012,

at Grove E-Books Conversion and Data Technology,

our post offer are open as "Customer Data Typing part time",

To know more about us visit: http://www.grovedata.com/

This offer will be Valid after review of your application form and CV,

(all package details included with application form)

Last date is 27 May 2012 to submit application form and CV,

If interested please submit application form with CV by Email,

(Click to download application form by visit our website and download

directly to Employment Page) All job details are included in Application form,

Or Click here to Download:

http://www.grovedata.com/application_details.doc

(Copy paste above link If click does not work)

Submit CV and Application only to Email: info@grovedata.com

(Note: To avoid Disappointments submit form and CV as soon as possible)

(Add info@grovedata.com in your Address book to get our email safely in your Inbox)

with best regards

Edsel G. Carl

HR Manager

Grove E-Books and Data Conversion Technology

Am Stadtrand 441G, 32417

Hamburg, Germany

http://www.grovedata.com/

info@grovedata.com

Grove Technology Inc Am Stadtrand 441G Hamburg DE Germany 32417

This email was sent to ******@yahoo.com from info@grovedata.com. Read our Privacy Policy

Unsubscribe

----

Of course I DID reply with all the requirements, I know! Haha.

So here's the 2nd email...

From: Grove Data Tech Inc

To: ****** ****** <*******@yahoo.com>

Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2012 3:31 PM

Subject: Re: Home based Data Entry job

Hello applicant,

your application with Grove Data Technology Inc was approved and

we are sending you Employment Contract of Online Part Time data entry work

ome Based with this email,

kindly read and fill up the "Employment Contract" (attached with this email on Word file)

and after signing this contract send us back by Scan email in maximum 2 working days,

After receiving this contract we will take start to send you the work on Weekly basis,

you will be Grove Inc's Part Time Permanent Employee for 6 months and after this period

you can extend agreement for more 6months,

all you have to type our data and Clients data on sheets,

(Note: complete work tutorial you will get with your first paid project after submission

of contract)

also you will get your salary every after 6days,

hope to hear from you soon,

regards

Edsel G. Carl

Grove Data Conversion Inc

Am Stadtrand 441G, 32417,

Hamburg, Germany

info@grovedata.com

http://www.grovedata.com/

-----

Honestly I googled the company name (I think I was having a hunch that time but kept on ignoring it) but can't find it except for the url he povided but then again for the 3rd time, I replied with the duly filled in and signed "employment contract". Seriously!

So here's his 3rd mail.

From: Grove Data Tech Inc

To: ******* ****** 

Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 1:52 PM

Subject: Re: Home based Data Entry job (Employment Contract)

Hello,

we have received your contract, now you can start work with us,

we have send you One Day of work But its your first project so you can submit

in 3days and after that you have to submit in 24 hours,

attached are the image files of Data Sheets,

Guideline of work is attached with this Email on MS word format, kindly read carefully,

Also Guideline Tutorial is included as a Picture format

after entering the Data in Lisda Inventory Software Save the files and Saved

files you have to send us back by Email and we will immediately transfer you

your first week salary in advance, (get software to http://www.lisdasoft.com/)

with this email following files are attached in .ZIP folder,

1: Data Sheets to Complete (Project Pack)

2: Step by Step Guideline and Tutorial (Guideline)

3: Your Salary invoice (Salary)

kindly Click link below to Download Project zip folder and Extract after download:

(copy n paste link in your browser if click does not work)

http://www.grovedata.com/project.zip

Note: its One day of work but you can complete this project in 3 days

and contact us back,

regards

Edsel Carl

Grove E-Books and Data Technology Inc

-----

Because I have to buy the "lisdasoft" which costs 58 euros and there's no trial version whatsoever and need to pay through Western Union (what the!)... my brain started to function properly.. LOL. I was like.. hmmm so that's the catch, it's a scam. Although I got tempted to pay (glad I've no credit card or not a fan of purchasing stuff online), my fingers start typing "Edsel Carl" and there he is... his name with different different company name, he's nothing but a FRAUDSTER!

------

So anyway, I replied him with:

"That's actually very scheming.

Why not transfer my first week salary in advance first so I can buy that software :) "

------

I don't consider myself as a gullible person, I'm more a paranoid. I always doubt people. So what happened here because I want to earn big time (being greedy and stuff) because I'm not getting any younger and I have dreams to fulfill.. so I almost got scammed.

Lesson learned:  Greediness is next to foolishness.

I'm still glad that though I'm not contented, apparently, with what I already have, I didn't lose anything in the process.

Spot the Nationality/Race by Clothes

Can a zebra change its stripes or the leopard its spots?

In my previous entry, I wrote about figuring out where someone is from (particularly our own kind like they stick out like a sore thumb LOL) at a distance by their facial features, skin hues, accent and the way they behave. 

But sometimes it is none of the above but rather the way they dress and carry themselves. They have their own special fashion style. Generally, it is so easy to tell if you live in a melting pot and all that for years...

If you're a regular Dubai Metro commuter, you will notice that this image from RTA is 80-90% true. LOL.

And the last two images from Brownbook illustrate the difference between the Middle Eastern women's clothing, and also the difference between the Gulf men's clothing.

  



Obviously, we've got a heap load of every race/nationality here and still it is easier to spot anyone even if they dress like the locals or whoever.

I also do know that sometimes it's difficult to single someone out especially if they're of a blend of this and that race.

But do you think the above clothings are accurate? Like do Emiratis' khandoura looks like that, same goes with Saudis' thobe and Omanis' dishdasha? I mean I'm an Asian (more Oriental at that) but I don't think I wear something like the one in the above. Or well... Maybe.. Yeah I'm having second thought. LOL.

Random Facts about UAE

I was bored the other day and wasted 135 dirhams ($37) answering Du SMS Mega Win (they should pay me for this free advertising LOL) questions via texto to collect points (I have had 2035 points) which give me chances (and BILLIONS of hopes) to win 5,000 dhs, Audi Aq and Audi Q7.. what the hell! LOL.

So the following facts are taken from the said 'competition': 

• Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE.
• Oman & KSA countries border the UAE.
• The official currency of the UAE is Dirham.
• Before 1971, UAE was known as Trucial States.
• Sharjah is one of the seven Emirates.
• Sharjah is the third largest emirate of the UAE.
• Peregrine Falcon (bird) is the official symbol of the UAE.
• The very popular Falconry season, runs during the Winter.
• The tallest building in the world is Burj Khalifa.
• Adrian Smith designed Burj Khalifa.
• Shasha is a palm reed fishing boat.
• The city of Ras Al Khaimah was historically known as Julfar.
• You can discover UAE heritage in Heritage Village.
• The King is the nickname of the Sharjah Sports Club.
• E11 highway starts in Abu Dhabi and ends in Ras Al Khaimah.
• Dubai Tennis Championship is held at Tennis Stadium.
• Djokovic won the 2011 Dubai Tennis Tournament.
• The Al Quoz Industrial District is divided into 4 areas.
• Louvre Museum is to open a branch on Saadiyat Island.
• Ghaus is how pearl-fishing referred to in the local dialect.
• Ibn Majid was a great poet and seaman.
• The navigator which Ibn Majd associated to was Vasco da Gama.
• Liwa is a traditional music & dance.
• UAE national footbal team played the 1990 World Cup.
• Afghanistan national team plays in Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
• Camel racing is a very popular sports activity in the UAE.
• Harees is a traditional dish consisting of wheat.
• Majboos is a popular dish in the Emirates.
• Coffee served in the UAE is often flavoured with Cardamon.
• Al yoleh is a traditional Emirati folk form of art.
• Ras Al Khaimah is one of the northern Emirates.
• Palm Islands are located in Dubai.
• Palm Islands are man-made islands.
• Al Ittihand was first published UAE newspaper.
• The United Arab Emirates University based is in Al Ain.
• Dubai Shopping Festival takes place every January.
• Al Fahidi Fort was erected 1799.
• Dubai Mall has the largest number of shops.
• There are 22 cinema screens in Dubai Mall.
• Burj Al Arab is the fourth tallest hotel in the world.
• Al Ghurair is the oldest shopping centre in Dubai.
• Dubai Zoo was built by Ottto Bulart.
• Giorgio Armani Hotel is located  in Burj Khalifa.
• Al Mamzar is famous for a public park.

---

P.S.  I just want to let everyone know that this blog is not associated with the Du telecom and I am not connected nor have affiliation whatsoever with them. I endorse no products/promotions etc. I do not speak for anyone else. I am a consumer/subscriber too and just shared my experience.

A Twinkle in the "Eye of the Emirates"

I've been to Al Qasba, a small tourist spot in Sharjah, last Saturday for a couple of hours. Travelled for an hour going there and another one hour going back to Dubai via the intercity bus. Reached my destination around 6pm and left around 10pm

 

It was my first time in that place so I took a LOT of photos.

  

I roam around the area and here's what I've seen ..

There's a kid zone where they can play and have some rides..

A canal and abra (wooden boat) ride..

A foot bridge to cross the canal and go to the other side..

Some nice restaurants and cafes are spread in the area.

Had my dinner at Sumo Sushi & Bento before heading back home

And the Eye of the Emirates which, according to some people, is the largest Ferris wheel in the Middle East. They also say that the fountain in front of the giant wheel is a musical/dancing fountain. I said say because I didn't hear any music nor see it dancing but I saw some kids "showering" over the fountain, I know right?!

 and this is the twinkle mentioned in the title.. :p





Free Unused Books (For Real)

Yo, booklovers and freebielovers in the UAE!

I know there are many of you out there who still prefer to read conventional books than e-books and I also know that we all like free stuff, right? Right?

Lucky us, we have the Book Shelter here in the UAE where we can adopt books as much as we want..

The Book Shelter  is an initiative to promote a culture of reading in the country. What they do is encourage the UAE community to donate their unused books and then they -the Book Shelter- will provide those books to the community -anyone regardless of age and nationality- for free. They are trying to establish free library station across the Emirates, the same thing they have done with Maraya Art Centre in Al Qasba, Sharjah. They have free library centre there with over 400 books that are for free. You could just basically walk in there take a book of your choice and just go home with it. They also have a complete list of books on their website wherein you can just order and they will deliver it for free. They also participate in exhibitions, events and they create a reading nook.

Seriously guys, this organization is superb. They are genuine. I can guarantee there is no catch, no hidden anything, no fees something, no need to like/follow nothing. In fact, last January, I have ordered 3 books and received them right away. They even included a beautiful bookmark. Here's the proof..

 

The best things in life are, indeed, free! And there's no excuses for you all not to visit their site and adopt books.

 

The Samantha Brick Within Me

I am going through some rough times lately but I think I'm handling it gracefully. It's Samantha Brick talking. Hahaha.

Last Saturday was my birthday so me and my roomies went to dine to the much heard place in the Pinoyhood --the La Mesa resto at Asiana Hotel. 

inside La Mesa resto

We stuffed ourselves with the buffet dinner and had a bottle of red wine. We paid the red wine a bit cheaper than the usual prize. The waiter gave us a discount maybe because of my dazzling beauty and pretty smile. LMAO. It is, again, Samantha Brick talking.  


It was holiday in my office last Sunday because of Easter so I got my sleepless Friday night compensated. Sunday afternoon I went to salon and got my hair done and went straight to my spoken Arabic (Emarati accent) class. I was 30 minutes late so I made a grand entrance in the class. The Emarati teacher was discussing something when I entered the room but said "Wow!" when she saw me and the whole class looked at me. I wasn't sure if the 'wow' was said because I was very late (she was informed beforehand of me running late) or just because I looked so stunning. It's Samantha once more. LOL.

I am SERIOUSLY trying desperately to keep my composure and not let my Samantha Brick within embarass me. LOL. I kid. I kid. I kid.

I hope you enjoy this post :D

Something Arabic

I was BBM-ing my Thai friend few days/weeks back, when suddenly she sent me a pic asking me to guess where she was at that time. It was a pic of a cafe with some Arab magazine, the Maktoums on cover. So I was like, "you in Dubai?" She laughed. She said, "No I'm at my favorite Arabic coffee shop, drinking my favorite Arabic coffee." (!!!!) So I was like huh?! Arabic coffee - what was that? 

Honestly, it made me ponder big time and realized something... been in Dubai for 6 yrs or so but I've never been in Arabic coffee shop nor drink Arabic coffee while her in Thailand and never had set her foot in any Arab countries telling me she's drinking her favorite Arabic coffee is so embarrassing!!!

Oh and I've never been to any Arabic resto (unless Al Safeer is counted) neither in any Arab house.. How uncool is that?! 

Again I've realized that I have never had any Arab friends to hang out with in the Emirates.. the only people I'm hanging out with -all the time- are my fellow countrymen and other Orientals/Asians.

Is there anyone out there who shares the same feelings with me? Or have you been "Emiratified" or "Arabified" already? Tell me about it.. I wanna know.



P.S. Emiratified or Arabified is not about going to Burj Khalifa or belly dancing or sand-boarding in Dubai... because it is so touristy. It's about eating shawarma, drinking chai karak from hole-in-the-wall places and stuff like that.. something natives really do.

The Noise-makers of the Year goes to ...

There were sets of noise-makers in my neighborhood last NYE.

I love celebrations and parties even silly ones, LOL, but the noise-makers in my hood really ticked me off that night. Some people started doing those silly noises 11 pm flat!! Excited-much?! That gave me and the rest of the hood more than an hour ear-pain and headache.

I was home only, since I had to work next morning, watching the live coverage of NYE countdown, fireworks at Burj Khalifa but couldn't hear the TV so I was kinda hoping police will come and take them. LOL. That's the evil within me talking.

When I peeped out of the window to check what they were doing, I was surprised, the noisy people in the hood aren't Pinoys but Masris!

You can't blame me, being Filipino myself, I know how LOUD my countrymen can get. Ask the church people, the watchmen, the real estate agents, building owners, etc on how much noise complaints they are receiving against us, say every weekend, to have an idea what I meant by us being loud. LOL

Anyway, I never knew that Egyptians are way noisier have better sets of silly noisemakers and littering throwing confetti in the ground than us. LOL.

So how was your holidays and NYE everyone? Hope everyone had fun and is happier this year.

Thoughts on "Desperate in Dubai"

So finally, got my own copy of Desperate in Dubai novel after waiting for a long time. It's a good read though I felt like I already read half or a third of the book. It's a little different from the blog, I mean, the flow of the story.

It's amusing to read. Interesting. I can't stop laughing at Rowdha when she pretended to be Jennifer. My favorite characters are Lady Luxe/Jennifer and Leila. It's funny how Leila reminds me of some random woman (an American or Canadian??).. she's kinda like Leila, eager to make friends with Emirati girls just because she wants to get a hold of an Emirati guy.. it is called networking. LOL. As for Nadia and Sugar, I think they arent as much as important as Lady Luxe and Leila, the story can go on without them. I also think that there's some biased description about the character Sugar compared to the others because I believe the author is an Indian (?).

I won't say anything about the story as I dont wanna spoil it for you. So as for whatever happened to whom it's for you to read :p

I just hope that the book has some footnotes to explain the meaning of the Arabic and Hindi words/phrases mentioned because not all readers understand the language(s).

Overall, I recommend you to read the book esp if you're into some cultural stuff.



P.S.  I've picked up (I took notes mentally) some interesting Arab men thingy there, will write about it soon.