Dubai World Cup - part trois

Life is not a fairy-tale. If you lose a shoe at midnight: you're drunk at the racing event.

It has been 23 years since Dubai World Cup was first introduced... this year is my 3rd to witness the closing ceremony of the world's richest day of horse racing. A total of 30 million USD prize for the 9 races that day. Do I need to say more?

Glitz, glam and beauty was in full attendance at the racing event

During break between the 8th and 9th races, went to the powder room and back. Two tipsy guys in their mid 20s to early 30s passed me by, both looked at me - one of them stopped and said "Xie, xie. Ni hao!" . Ugh, random ni hao-ers of the world who think they know my mother tongue (?)...

Guys, guys, guys... throwing "xie xie or ni hao" at a random East Asian looking person is a terrible pick up lines. I do not have a problem with Chinese people but it's weird to be greeted in Mandarin because I do not speak it and that's not the official language in this place. So, next...

The closing ceremony had ended at 9:30-ish. And this year, as everyone knew, no post-race concert at the racecourse track but there was an official after-party with Flo Rida and some DJ at one of the Meydan clubs. 

After the closing ceremony I managed to meet some of my colleagues so we could all go together to the after-party. The problem was - most of the security and the people at the entrance/exit gate did not know about this official after-party and could not give proper info to us. About 10pm, we finally found out which club's gonna host Flo Rida but would only open/start at 11pm. I decided to go home and leave my colleagues there. Sorry - too gorgeous to wait for Flo, LOL.

The next day, I found out that when some of my colleagues went for some grub and such while waiting for  the 11 PM White Club gate opening; when they returned to the Club, the gate had closed and they could no longer be accommodated. They were turned away. Tss!!!

Anyway, beware of luxury hotel taxi, it will cost you an arm and a leg. I paid 200 dhs for that Lexus private taxi going home - if it was Dubai taxi, it would only cost me 50-60 dhs.

The end.

Click here and swipe to scroll through all my DWC pictures (excuse me for loving myself, LOL), you can watch the video at the end of the gallery.

◄ 2017 DWC

Sia and World's Richest Race Day

Well, this has been lying on my drafts for months...

Come on, come on, Dubai World Cup is on
It is again the last Saturday of March phenomenon
Gotta do my hair, put my make up on..
Coz it is the yearly Meydan horserace thon

Gotta paint my nails, put my high heels on..
Coz it is the yearly Meydan horserace thon
Gotta wear my cocktail dress and fascinator on
It is the annual richest horserace phenomenon

You sang my post to the tune of Sia's song didn't you?

😆😆😆

I came later this time.. I didn't get to see the race but I was in time for the fireworks.

It was so windy and raining but didn't stop the racegoers to have fun and get drunk to oblivion that night (everybody loved cheap thrills!)

◄ 2016 DWC          |          2018 DWC ►

Horse Racing, Not My Thing

Last year, I posted this on my Facebook..

Regret of the day: Giving away my #DubaiWorldCup2015 Apron views ticket... I think it would be fun to dress up, wear hat & fascinator... And pretend I have enough money to rub elbows with the rich and famous. LOL. FTW!

This year I had a chance to experience "the world's richest horse race" for "a day of ultimate excitement". Dubai World Cup day is held at Meydan Racecourse on the last Saturday in March every year.

I dressed up but didn't wear the fascinator headband (my ultimate dream, LOL) that I bought because we left home late and reached Meydan Racecourse around 8pm. As I didn't know the Do's and Don'ts of wearing this fetching British headpiece, instinct told me not to. It would be unnecessary as it was already dark. Besides I didn't think it would be okay to have something in my head while watching Janet Jackson's concert.

Anyway, I was really there for the after-race concert as horse racing is not my cup of shai.

I have heard a lot of stories about the spectators yearly - what were their behaviour like. That night I have had first hand experienced of what they are really like. As early as 8pm a lot of them are already drunk as a skunk. The so-called "dress code" are also out of the window, my, what a risqué! And at the end of the event, most of the women are totally pulling a Cinderella. 

Would I go attend this event again next year? Of course! To watch the concert, dress up, wear a fascinator and Instagram it. LOL.

Watch Dubai World Cup 2016 video clips by clicking the links:

The moment where California Chrome wins world's richest horse race

DWC 2016 Fireworks Display 1

DWC 2016 Fireworks Display 2

DWC 2016 Fireworks Display 3

2017 DWC ►

page 190 of 365: Iftar Party

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek

My 2nd time back in this nice and cozy place for our company's Iftar party. I'm so glad it's free. I love dressing up, meeting most of my colleagues and eating good food though last year's food was waaay better and greater. Check my IG for more photos.

-the end-

page 71 of 365: Annual Party

And we danced all night to the best party ever.. I think it went oh, oh, oh... 

My first time to attend a colorful and lively staff party. I was so excited to dress up and all. The event was really huge and it was held on a football pitch with massive crowds of more than 2,500. I believe everyone had fun watching the band / dancers / entertainers that night and enjoyed the grand buffet and unlimited beverages. 

Here's how it did look that night (photos taken from company website and colleagues):

page 2 of 365: Atlantis The Palm, Dubai

The day after new year, my sister told me to get ready as we are going to have some tastes of Sweden in Dubai aka super-late brunch at IKEA... which is approx an hour drive from my sis' place. So I just put a simple skater dress, slipped in a pair of flip flops and brought my corduroy jacket, just in case it's gonna get cold.

Don't worry this blog is not about the famous Swedish meat balls nor the grilled salmon we ate but after eating like a Swedish, they (sister and bil) decided to go to Atlantis,The Palm.. which was more than half an hour drive from IKEA. 

This trip, was unplanned and I wasn't dressed up for the "occasion". So imagine my shock, LOL. 

Atlantis The Palm, Dubai

So anyway, Atlantis that day was so jam-packed with holiday-makers so we opted for The Lost Chambers' Ambassador Lagoon experience for my nephew to enjoy...

originally posted on my Instagram: desireest

One of the ceiling murals / fantastic roof designs in Atlantis hotel

The Ambassador Lagoon, a remarkable exhibit contains ruins and artifacts from ancient Atlantis along with hundreds of species of marine life indigenous to the waters of the Arabian Gulf.

Imagine, 65 thousand aquatic animals glide together providing a glimpse of life beneath the waves.

You'll have fun watching graceful rays, reef sharks and schools of fish gliding between the mystical relics.

the most endangered specie, Ariel, the little mermaid under the sea no more. LOL.

And I Climbed the Highest Building in the World

‘Cause I was on top of the world, hey! ♪♫
 I was on top of the world, hey! ♪♫

Two months ago, I was at the 3rd highest observation deck and the s 2nd highest outdoor observation deck in the world named At The Top located on the 124th floor of the world's tallest man-made structure - Burj Khalifa. 

Burj Khalifa (photo not mine)

 

• Tallest building in the world
• Tallest free-standing structure in the world
• Highest number of stories in the world
• Highest occupied floor in the world
• Highest outdoor observation deck in the world
• Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world
• Tallest service elevator in the world

The Journey Begins...

This travelator transported me from the earth to the sky, looks so futuristic, innit? Felt like Mission Impossible...

Experiencing 1st hand modern architectural and engineering wonder.

The view from the observation deck:

The shadow of the world's giant building touches the Dubai Mall, stretches over kilometres

 

Looking straight up Burj Khalifa from 124th floor

Overlooking Downtown Dubai. The roller-coaster-loop-like is the famous Dubai Fountain, world’s largest performing fountain.

 Sheikh Zayed Road in broad daylight and at night time..

@ the highest OUTDOOR observation deck in the world

Descending from the observation deck in a high-speed elevator, travelling at 10 metres per second. Woohoo!

Hope you enjoy the ride! ;-)

The Iconic Burj Al Arab

(not my photo)

If we say Dubai, what comes to your mind? It's either world's something-something building or the ship sail-like hotel, right?

And that's my friend is the iconic Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arab), one of Dubai's world famous landmarks. The symbol of modern Dubai.

And do you see that girl thumbing a ride to get in there? That's me, LOL.

Do you see where this post is going? You didn't, did you?

Well, guess what, early this year (sometime in Feb), I've been inside that stunning hotel. Oh I just had my morning coffee there, LOL, or should I say luxurious brekky in Sahn Eddar - one of the restos inside.

I considered it as an achievement because Burj Al Arab is the world's most luxurious hotel and once dubbed "the only 7-star hotel in the world" (1999-2008)..

The Food, Luxurious Food

 

The Interior of the World's Luxurious Hotel - Burj Al Arab

 

 

See that petite woman over there? On the first floor entrance of Burj Al Arab and next to hotel's Rolls Royce limo? 

Again, that's me. LOL