Spice Island, Crowne Plaza Deira

Its been a while since my last post but I never really forget to find time to keep my blog up and running. My entry is now getting fewer every month hopefully once I am done with what I am doing, I will be back with my every Friday Post. I already with fulfilling my long time dream, my birthday gift to myself and my "learn a new skill" this year 2013. Learn how to drive.

 

I started the driving by attending 8 hours of theory lessons. I have asked around how long they took the lessons and learned that some schools do it in 1 whole day, tackled everything for 8 hours. The driving school where I am currently enrolled had it on an everyday basis for 2 hours each. I don't know which one is better though. Nevertheless, I am more aware of the road rules and regulations and I tried to learn more whenever we are travelling or I am riding in a public transport.

 

There were 2 things that really stuck with me. The difference of speeding and overspeeding. You will think that they have the same meaning, I thought so too. However, overspeeding is when you go beyong the speed limit, speeding is when you are at the speed limit on a bad weather condition - fog, rain, flood, etc. I hope you learn something from me.

 

Also, I vowed to myself that I will apply another thing that I learned from the lessons - "if others drivers make mistakes, help them instead of making it harder for them, in the same way you would like them to help you when you are in difficulty". I know some of you will disagree with me because there would always be irresponsible drivers on the road but driving with responsibilty, care, consideration and courtesy will help to reduce the risks on the road. There is also a theory test that you need to pass to proceed with the driving classes after you completed the lessons.

 

Anyway, enough of the heavy. I actually started with the basic. Checking the external of the vehicle, entering the vehicle, familiarication with the instrument panel, driving posture, passenger safety and load security, familiarization with controls (I will elaborate further), starting the engine and the likes. Now I am in the process of learning how to park with garage parking, angle parkng and parallel parking.

 

Its not easy to get a license in UAE - you need to complete 40 classess (for new students) or 20 classes (if you have already have a valid license from your home country) and then you be scheduled for a road test.

 

There still long way to go. Hope to learn a lot from this new skill I am working on.

 

On another note, I would like to share with you the place where we dine in last Valentine's day. The Spice Island Crowne Plaza in Deira.

 

This is the best place for me so far for the ultimate buffet dining experience. They have international cuisine to offer.

 

Cold Smoked Salmon and Shrimps

 

Cheese and biscuits

Different type of bread.

That's it for now - blogspot is having sa uploading issues. Till next time.

All the best,

From New Month to Love Month

Goodbye New Month. Hello Love Month. I have no idea why I had this big smile on my face at the time of this writing. I am never the person who gets excited that much. Maybe because I just had a big gulp of red wine right at this very moment. January was a, let say, exciting month. Of course, I turned 33 years old this year, I got my wish - Instagram account, which is really awesome. I had my second Dubai Marathon 3K run. I didn't do good compared to last year, almost 30 minutes - no training at all but at least I was still able to finish without stopping. Its slowly but surely. 

 

 

 

 

We had a unexpected visitors in the office and made quite a commotion but nothing serious until the last few days of the last month. Last 31 January, I read my Chinese horoscope and I didn't like it. I know, it absurd but I was affected by the negativity of how my 2013 would be. I intend to be positive about this year and just focus on my motivation. Haha! That word. Speaking of that, we had our yearly TMS as well where our performance get to be reviewed, unfortunately my favorite boss chose me to be his first victim (kidding!) and I just got the jaw dropping question of all time - What motivates you?

I didn't realized I have none. That made a big impact in my life. Although I know I help with our family finances, still, is that it? Now, I plan to have a motivation. I'm getting there but not today.

 

So OK that Chinese Horoscope was the bad news of the day. But I wasn't aware I will receive 2 more. We didn't get the extra bonus. The other one was confidential but its the most shocking news of my whole working career. Sorry, I can't go into details. I tried not to connect these news to my horoscope but I shouldn't have read that. really.

Before I end January, let me share Lamesa in Asiana Hotel - where we had our dinner on the night of my birthday.

Our table

We had our buffet food only (AED 89) but you may choose unlimited soft drinks (AED 109) and the bomb would be unlimited soft drinks and unlimited alcoholic beverage (AED159)

 

 

Most of what they can offer is Filipino dishes especially what we all love to eat.

 

 

 

Here are some of there menu

 

 

 

Desserts

The food was good but I wasn't really impressed at all. If I will be ask for recommendation, I won't mention Lamesa. Sorry.

I love CoCos more

Going forward, its February but nothing is happening yet for me except that I got a new running shoes! Yey! I feel motivated to run again.

Its Adidas climacool. Ridiculously light and ideal for running.

Hopefully, I will be doing my next big thing. I will tell you more about it at the right time.

All the best.

Kaleidoscope, Atlantis, The Palm

How everybody's past few weeks? I hope you had a great time. Mine was the usual stuff - office, home, my mini-ME, a few errands here and there. A new fuschia pink and black flats from Brands for less. Of course, I am still going over gaga with my Iphone 5, well not the phone per se, but Instagram. I love the editing part of it. I don't want it to be one of the food porn in instagram so I don't post  until I find something really nice. Its almost end of the first month of the year and nothing exciting with my life as yet. But I intend to make this year as fruitful as possible.

 

Anyway, my mini-ME, my friend and I had the time of our lives in Atlantis when we enjoyed a sumptuous meal cum sight seeing of the main attraction of the place, none other than the huge aquarium.

 

Here you can also find branded stores.

The best part of it all is the buffet dinner we are about to experience in Kaleidoscope.

Our table setting,

Not full enough yet - but we saw some people waiting at the entrance.

 

 

This is definitely gonna be another gastronomic binge

 

 

 

Sushi!

 



 

 

Love! Love! Love

 

 

She's my starter

 

 

 

my second favoriteplace: Desserts area

 

 

More sweets

 

 

 

 

 

Something fruity?

 

 

 

 

I'm only so so on Breads though

 

 

Its all about food.

Buffet is Love.

I need to walk a little outside and saw the giant seashell

The aquarium is everywhere,

Just like a palace?

 

 

Beauty everywhere. One of the places a must-see.

 

All the best,

Applebee's Galore

Further to my previous post, I am back with my follow-up entry about Al Ain. I want to share with you where we took our dinner after we went down from the top of Jebel Hafeet. I actually just saw the sign when we were still on the road and it was one of the common sight in Sheikh Zayed Road (SZR) that I get to see but never had the opportunity to visit and try.

 

So we had an impromptu dinner in Applebee's.

The name doesn't really sounds like a restaurant, right? The servers were very accommodating. I don't know if its just me, but I feel that the people here were all nice and we really get to meet a lot of friendly people in Al Ain - most of them were Filipinos of course, but there were still some other nationalities. My mini-ME may won an award for being Miss Congeniality for being so friendly and adorable. She get to talk to different people in all places that we've been. She calls every one of them her friend. So it is essential for the sometimes anti-social me to smile every once in a while when people treat her so kindly.

Anyways, the first area that caught my attention while waiting for our foods are the design on the walls. The lightings added a little drama to it.

and this old school lantern

 

I remember the movie "Tangled" when I saw this - arrgh! that film that we always watch at home

 

I also like the bar area

 

 

Oh, without further ado - I would like to introduce to you our latest food trip.

 

Brocolli Soup - They added cheese on top.

 

 

Far-ouT ordered for me, Strawberry Mojito (AED 23) - Fresh strawberries and mint with mojito flavored syrup, fresh squeeze lime juice, sugar and soda minus the alcohol

Unfortunately, Alcohol is prohibited in UAE. We don't have the luxury of drinking anywhere which is sometimes good but you may miss it from time to time though. There are only few places where they allowed alcohol drinking.

They've got big servings of food and we were almost full when we ordered the appetizer sampler (AED 61.00) - Mozzarella sticks, spinach and antichoke dip, cheese quesadilla grande (these contains beef bacon) and boneless wings.

This is Sizzling Asian Shrimp Stirfry (AED 65.00). Sizzling blackened shrimp top this skillet full of rice, broccoli, red pepper, sugar snap peas, water of chestnuts, mushrooms, carrots,  and bok choy. Drizzled with sweet, and spicy sauce, and topped with crispy wanton strips and cilantro.

Imagine my reaction when I saw my meal, this can be good for two. I was already full from the appetizer so I wasn't able to finish it. We brought it at home to finish - the wanton was not crispy anymore but I still finished all of it.

 Far-ouT had their Southwest Chicken Pita (AED 39.00). Its grilled marinated chicken breast stuffed and rolled in a pita with chipotle mayo, lettuce, bacon slices, and topped with Pico de gallo. Served with a refreshing avocado ranch on the side.

 

He also wished he didn't ordered anymore, he only finished the fries and took home the pita.

 

The leftovers were a treat at home. Before wrapping up our meal, we saw a bunch of entertainers roaming around the mall with music that my mini-ME enjoyed watching

 

 

Haha! Was not fast enough to capture the front and ended up with their backs already.

 

We still have a pending Al Ain Zoo to visit. Until next time

 

All the best,

Side trip in Abu Dhabi: Al Ain Rotana, Hotel

Two days before my 33rd birthday, we were already on our way to Al Ain as part of our weekend getaway. Actually, Al Ain is not part of my Top A-List since its not one of the Emirates but rather a second largest city of Abu Dhabi but I always wanted to visit Jebel Hafeet - I heard so much about it as one of the tourist spots.

I was choosing between Mercure Grand Hotel and Al Ain Rotana, although the latter was a little bit more expensive than the former, I made reservation few weeks back from Al Ain Rotana because it is closer from most of the establishments in the City whilst Mercure was already closer to the top of Jebel Hafeet.

We arrived around 2:30 in the afternoon - the hotel was pretty busy at that time, we waited for a few more minutes to get accommodated but we weren't able to have our rooms till almost 5:00 PM. It was so far the longest waiting time ever to get check-in in a hotel. Some of the receiving staff were apologetic but we were really getting frustrated, all tired and hungry so we decided to go to the nearest mall and eat lunch. Good thing, the hotel was located in the heart of the city, it was easy for us to find food.

We got a few missed calls and was able to  receive a call saying that our room is ready to be occupied so we head back to the hotel. Finally, after few hours wasted. I got the view from afar.

I like the balcony that we have, if only we have more time to just relax and enjoy the scenery. Read a book perhaps.

This was the first place I checked when we got in, I didn't notice the welcome note from the hotel. How thoughtful. Although, this didn't appease the feeling I had earlier. Not to mentioned that I even witnessed a Customer Service Officer mutter something to the Filipina receptionist which is really annoying. Doing that to someone especially in front of a customer is not acceptable.

Anyway, on another note: like the bed?

What about the this area? Neat but nothing special.

The usual hotel. Oh by the way, Al Ain Rotana is a five star hotel.

Something tells me that being in a lower star hotel gives you more service than a five star one. Just an opinion.

I like this one - where you can put your luggage

But of course, my favorite area in a nice place is the bathroom.

I haven't showed you yet the outside right?

There is still Christmas spirit all around the area even if it is already January. The front of the hotel

A giant Christmas tree in the middle of the reception area,

and Christmas lights everywhere

A coffee shop cum bread house style? Haha

Wow the glass roof!

Grand piano.

I like the piano touch, minus the pianist. We took some photos as well and my MINI me started to play with it - someone came near us and told us not to use it, in a not so nice way. This made me annoyed all over again. I mean, come on! Hello, Customer satisfaction, if you don't want guests to use it, you should know how to say it without offending someone, I'm sure you have done this a thousand times before or is it just me?

Again - Let's just enjoy the weekend and avoid anymore annoyance from this hotel. At the pool area.

Gosh, I just forgot take photos to share with you a Jacuzzi on the side bummer, but they have one, some swing and slides for the kids too.

That is the bar which is a common sight in most hotels

Oh, I'd like to share with you a nice idea that I only saw from Al Ain Rotana hotel. The pool bar menu shaped in a diving fin.

Neat, right. After our swimming, we head back to the hotel, refreshed ourselves and rest for a while. Then we drive our way to Jebel Hafeet during the night - the best time to visit the place. We weren't lost on the way, but we just don't know where we were headed, we had a few twists and turns, even pass by a park where a lot of people spend a starless night.

Then just go with the flow and finally find our way to the top

A sight to behold from Jebel Hafeet.

You can know more about the place from this information. Just click on the photo for a better view.

We only spent a few minutes on top, it was really freezing already and our tummy is giving us the mumbling. We had our dinner in Applebee's - a restaurant that I always wanted to try but never had the opportunity to do so until now. But I will give another entry for the same on another post.

The breaksfast buffet is what I am always looking forward to, as I mentioned a lot of time already.

The main buffet area

Tea pots! I like tea pots, nice touch.

Our table setting

The floors are the coolest. Tables and feet...on the rocks!

My experience with Rotana Hotel was not the one I was expecting from a five start hotel but then again, you can never go wrong with the facilities and amenities they offer. I would still recommend you to consider them on your visit to Al Ain. Maybe, ours, and the other guests arrived at the same time as we did, was a not-so-very-often incident. I can still forget that glitch. Besides, our fellow Filipinos will always top my most accommodating and friendly people in the world.

Al Ain has a lot to offer and I still have some pending posts to blog. See you again soon.

All the best,