page 16 of 365: Emirates Park Zoo, Abu Dhabi

My 2nd time in Abu Dhabi, we went to Emirates Park Zoo to visit the relatives and go wild with them, LOL. 

The Relatives

Meet The Other Relatives
You can interact with most of them, they are all very charming. No need to do anything to get their attention as they, themselves, will stick their head out as soon as they see you coming.

Other photos in my phone:

I almost dance when this group started singing Waka Waka at the entrance of the resort

Some of the covered walkways between the resort and the zoo

Outside the zoo, you'll find Al Dar resto which serves Arabic dishes

And finally, the most dangerous in the kingdom... who let her out?

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 UAE Roads Less Traveled

My sister and her family (her in laws and their friends) decided to have a road trip last Eid holidays (16^th of October). We headed to the eastern part of the UAE where the roads (less travelled) and stone mountains never end. So I was just sitting my flat butt for almost ten hours, probably the longest road trip of my life, while our vehicle following the other vehicle driving aimlessly. The only time I got out of it was when we need to go inside a resto and eat lunch. Oh and the one I had my picture taken at god-knows-where.

Well, I had a chance at the “Friday market” but I was completely stuck assisting my sister changing the diaper his infant son (oh yea he was with us), that’s the downside of having an infant/baby/toddler/kid when you are travelling, you don’t get to enjoy on your own and no one wants or is available to take your photo, LOL, because they are too busy with the baby!

Besides, I didn’t know that we were heading nowhere, really. I was like waiting for them to stop at a certain spot and had some photos taken. Until I realized we weren’t going to that certain spot whatever. Was too late. I regret that I didn’t take photo of that awesome tunnel that we went through in Fujairah(?), it was built there under those endless stone mountains. It’s narrow (2 lanes) and kinda long. I was really amazed, I wasn’t expecting that tunnel there. We took the other roads going back home, so I just took pictures as much as I could..

Around the Globe in ONE night

How is that possible?

Remember, Dubai is known for making impossible things possible... so, voilà !

Since I didn’t get to travel on Eid holidays (wasted 5 days, I know..), I revisited the Global Village after 7 years. Went there at night of October 15. Changes are not so much but I got to experience riding an Indian rickshaw. I know my rickshaw driver was happy having me us his passenger, he didn’t need to put so much effort pedaling as my weight won’t add much to whatever he was “carrying”. I feel sorry for those with 4 or more heavy passengers... *sighs* C’est la vie.

Anyway, China and India pavilions still look fab and grand as they were before.. 

Le Me in rickshaw. Then the India and China pavilions.

And Egypt pavilion? The pyramids are stunning. While Afghanistan pavilion is beyond expectation (sorry no "decent" photo of it). Turkey pavilion made me miss Istanbul. I ended up buying and eating grilled kestane (chestnut) and süt mısır (milk corn)... it was actually the food stand outside the pavilion that made me miss Istanbul, LOL.

The façade of the Global Village. Then the Turkey & Egypt pavilions.

I got to see the display of fireworks at the Global Village. Oh and Italy, France, etc pavilions are nice too but I didn’t get to take photos that much. My phone wasn’t working that time and the one I was using for taking photos wasn't reliable at all plus the fact that I was with my sister fambam and her in-laws, in short, I was with an infant and some oldies so you know it was really quick visit..  

That's all for now... Later ;)

Dubai and Beyond...

Just wanna share photos I have snapped using my Samsung phone during the past 4 months (June-September) in Dubai and beyond...

DUBAI

Dubai, apparently, cannot stop constructing new skyscrapers

Dubai skyscrapers

Dubai looks London-y here

the future is already here... 

Holy mother of all skyscrapers, Burj Khalifa (world's tallest tower)

Dubai after sunset (that's the magnificent Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel)

Meanwhile, in other Emirates... 

SHARJAH

the grass is greener in Sharjah 

a beautiful mosque somewhere in Sharjah

AJMAN

Ajman before sunset

a roundabout before Ajman corniche/beach

 ABU DHABI

Al Ain before sunset

If you wanna see more, check out my Instagram but be warned, I did A LOT of "selfie" there (sorry I had to.. LOL)...

A+ 

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. :)