Dubai Memories

Sorry for my long absence, have just woke up from a long hibernation...Been almost 9 months since my last post... After my stint in Dubai, UAE (stayed for 4 months and a half), I went back to the Philippines to try out new contracts but unfortunately have been halted since I left my previous local agency. And still I don't know how I've spent my past idle days, and still wandering...
Hopefully I'd be back on another contract work abroad, and guess where I'd be heading to? Back in the arms of Indonesia! :) I wish to watch first the movie Eat.Pray.Love prior leaving next week, as I've heard the author consider Bali as one of the most beautiful places she'd been.

For now, I'd be posting some pictures on where I'd been during my absence.


Location: Dubai, UAE
Date: February - April 7, 2010


Emirates of Dubai through my lens....

Inside Gold Souk in Dubai Mall




While waiting for the next Metro Train.....

Musing interiors of the Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha....

Had a blast of past in Heritage Village....

Tried sandboarding during our Dessert Safari adventure, on to unfortunately landed me right on my face, I literally ate dusts!

Of most, I'd be missing people I left behind, till next time Dubai, I promised to be back! :)

Sailing in Ras al-Khaimah

Another post before the year ends, but this one took place last November (just that too lazy to dig in my files for the pics hehe). This time we went northern part of UAE - Ras al-Khaimah (meaning The Top of the Tent).

Call time was at 730am, met with 3 friends at Rashidiya metro station for an hour ride to RAK. We reached the place 830am, too early for the trip thoug, we stayed awhile enjoying the morning at poolside of Hilton's hotel with the nice view of Arabian sea.

Come 9am, we boarded for the sail, and guess what our ride looks like:

We're served with a sumptous breakfast of eggs, fish bernard fillet and fruits, plus overflowing Arabian coffee. But too bad they haven't stayed much time on my stomach as an hour after consuming them, i got sea motion sickness :-(

Hours passed and as I got used on the motion of the boat, we've anchored 22 meter-deep part of the sea and swim. Much glad to enjoy the sea altogether but a friend did'n't joined us as she hadn't got over the motion sickness and slept all throughout the whole sailing trip instead :-(

Sailing the whole day then was not too bad, as i enjoyed the view of nearby islands and other sailers passing by. It got me at pace with the calm view, the good sun on my skin that makes me warm despite the gushy wind, I rekindle childhood memories of the beaches I've been too back home with my family, I wish they're with me that time.

I was supposed to join friends to try scuba diving but my anxiety attack of deep waters didn't subsided then, just then contented on watching them over the boat.

Nearby islands of Rotana:

Went back to coast at 530pm, tired of the day's event but happy. We grabbed a bite at the town's mall and have coffee as well. Driving back, gazing around the Emirates road, friends are yet planning again for a trip come January, a desert-camping perhaps? Naah.

Arz Lebanon in Jumeirah

Been a week since I arrived here in Dubai, but still everything seems new. Thanks to newfound and old friends, I'm coping up. Haven't got much difficulty moving around, the place I'm staying in right now (Al Barsha) is peaceful and safe, taxis and buses are very accessible to our flat. And to start up, what could be better getting through into new place than trying out their cuisine? Dubai is the melting pot of Middle Eastern cuisines, as within the metro, restaurants keep popping out to cater the ever growing population of expats and locals. For the first restaurant review, Middle Eastern section, we went Lebanese: Arz Lebanon.

Arz Lebanon is a chain of restaurants within Dubai. While scouting for a flat along Jumeirah, we got a chance to dine there since I'm requesting them to have a local cuisine for lunch. The Jumeirah branch is a two-storey restaurant, with family rooms on the second floor where arabic music was played live. We opted to have seats outside the restaurant, enjoying the Jumeirah view and since its November, cool wind breeze even at midday can be felt in Dubai.

For a start, we're served with a complimentary appetizer of pickled olives and peppers. However, I'm not a fan of pickles eaten raw, I rather have them mixed with sauces or other dishes, so I left my piece untouched. Then came our order of mixed Arabian dips (45Aed), served with Arabian bread, on which I can only tag Hummus as one of them. I forgot to ask the waiter the names of each of the dips, but I like them, not as spicy as what I expect.

the pickled ones...

an Arab bread, looks filled up, but deceivingly airy inside.

the mixed platter of dips, goes well with the bread.

For the main course, as what you expect us to order, we had mixed Kebab (36AED), chicken biryani (32AED), and grilled fish fillet (48AED).

mixed platter of Kebabs

Chicken Biryani, my new rice favorite.

Grilled fish fillet with tartar sauce.

All in, our orders could feed a group of 4-5, but us 3 managed to finished them all since we haven't got breakfast that time. Service is good as they are attentive on to every customers. I rate them a 9 for an overall dining experience. Definitely worth of a second visit. :-)