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

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.

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

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 ;)

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. :)

An Hour in the Miracle Garden

Dubai Miracle Garden, is world's largest natural flower garden and houses 45 million flowers.

I've seen a lot of garden already but I've never seen as colorful as Miracle Garden. The creative arrangements that include the long flower wall, arches and gorgeous flowerbeds in different shapes and patterns (hearts, igloos, pyramids, cars, stars, and flowers like a bucket of water spilled over) is definitely worth a visit.

The only disappointment here is it's too crowded during weekend (esp Friday). Check out my photos ;)