Home Is Where The…

… Santa Hat Is!

Merry Christmas from Dubai!!

xoxoxoxo

 

 

Surf’s Up, Dude

On our second day we woke up completely dazed and confused. That being said we felt that the beach was appropriate. Maybe it was our vitamin D lacking bodies that forced each of us (Dee and I) out of our beds at 2pm <—- jet lag people!!

We slipped on the flippy floppies and headed over for a walk on a Dubai beach – Jumeirah Beach to be exact.

We could feel the softness of the white sand as we just stared (zombie style) at the sparkling blue water which looked like a blanket of jewels from afar. The Arabian Sea entices you with its shallow, warm and turquoise water. The beachside is not very crowded, however, during this time of year (mild and pleasant winter months), many people, local and foreign, enjoy this awesome beach.

We were shocked (I think that classifies as ignorant) that this was a surfing hotspot. I’ve come to realize that’s probably because a large part of the population here in Dubai is made up of Australians and Californian’s. It was apparent that if you’re a beginner to surfing, you should try it at Jumeirah Beach. Surfing at a Dubai beach is actually one of the main attractions. There are tons of small waves, which is great news for the newbies – waves can rise up to eight feet high.

CRAZINESS FACT: the weekends fall on a Friday and Saturday here not Saturday and Sunday! So in other words I’m learning to hate Sundays and can’t wait until Thursday gets here. Ha!

We’re gonna try to get to the beach as much as possible during the winter months – sound strange? We’ve been told that planning a beach day in the months of June and August will result in our bodies becoming a grilled delicacy – dinner for two s‘il te plaît? Those two months are the hottest times you can be in Dubai. Water temperatures can reach above 40°C during then. Holy cow man! <— where’s bart Simpson when you need him?.

Dee….

… and me!

So when make your way to Dubai, pack up your swimsuit and sunscreen and go take a dip into the crystal clear water of Jumeirah Beach dudes and dudettes! The stretch of beach occupies the heart of New Dubai’s growth corridor in an area called Marsa. It’s a prime location that’s just minutes from tres illustrious neighbours such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Emirates Golf Club and string of luxury hotels, all along the beach. If you like the city life atmosphere (hustle and bustle metropolis), downtown Dubai is located just 15-20 minutes away. A perfect combination between the serenity of a beach resort lifestyle and a cosmopolitan city life. JBR is kinda considered the future address of Dubai – my pics probably explain the reason for that statement.

Thoughts on dubai so far –  truly a successful melting pot. It is a wonderfully modern yet ethnic city that values innovation and modernity. It is not all about malls or skyscrapers, when you come to Dubai, there is always something to do for everyone. Ranging from the gloriously tempting beaches to desert safari, old bazaars and spice souks to gold courses. Amusement parks and zoos for not only children but also for adult thrill seekers and wildlife lovers. Some people are unaware of Dubai’s hidden potential; it is home to many major multinationals. It has one of the world’s most intimidating hotel and retail developments, which make it a hot-tamale commodity in terms of job market.

I’m not really toooo used to walking past things like the tallest skyscraper in the world, BurjKhalifa. It is 828 meters tall along with the Burj al-Arab hotel, which is the only seven-star hotel in the world – Burj al- Arab.

After the beach we didn’t exactly leave the area but just moved further down to check out the relaxed side of the nightlife. We headed to Brasti Bar – recommended by the random surfer we probably scared when we ran up to him and asked where we should go for a drink.

It’s located in the heart of Dubai Marina (which is kinda part of the beach we were on. Barasti ended up being a really cool beach-front location. Laid-back, welcoming and sun-soaked, the reasons for this bar’s popularity is not exactly rocket science. The crowd was pretty cool and casual. Some people were at the bar some at the beach and all were enjoying the multiple pleasures of drinks, shisha pipes and sea views. Chilled-out tunes add to the ambience.

So tired – must sleep. Miss all of you!

Love,

Tags: Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Dubai, Dubai Internet City, Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Middle East, United Arab Emirates

Toto, I’ve Got A Feeling We’re Not In Kansas Anymore

Exactly what I was thinking as I landed in Dubai, UAE.  I found myself in a foreign world – my new world to be exact.

The Airbus 380 wheels touched down on the Terminal 3 runway as my tired eyes got a jolt of wide-eyed excitment. I was actually able to witness the touch down from the pilot’s perspective. Why? Well the 380 displays three outside views that come from live camera’s positioned on the tail, underneath and on the front of the aircraft (probably the coolest thing I’ve seen).

Straight off the plane and headed to customs where I was greeted by the ‘Marhaba’ who are the meeters and greeters that took me through customes and guided me through the airport process (the crazy awesome airport).

 

The man who greeted me was also busy with two other Canadians who had arrived via my flight (one being a great friend of mine who is also experienceing this journey). They took us past all the lines and straight to the customs where they take your passport and your print out visa to review. It was off to baggage . We were taken to a woman who gave us each an envelope with our addresses on it – here we go!

Dee with her luggage after a loooong flight.

After you get your envelope you’re taken to your new home by a driver. The drive gave me some time for the shock to set in… “OMG I live in Dubai now.” I walked into my condo building and entered the new place to see that my two housemates weren’t home. The place was really clean and cozy with a beautiful Christmas tree set-up in the living room. There are 38 different Emirates crew apartment buildings all over the city and its really debateable which ones are better. Some are luxury and out of the way some are older and in the middle of the core of Dubai – there are perks and downsides to each. This is my building along with the view from my apartment – pretty cool huh!

When the roomies arrived home it was comforting to see that they were both so friendly and helpful. One has been flying for ages so she had lots of good advice for me. One is from Malibu, California anad the other Melbourn, Australia.

As crazy as this sounds, my friend and I (the one on the flight) decided to force our tired eyes open and head down to a hotel for some hummus and Shisha before bed. Random – yes. We figured we were so tired and meessed up with time zones that we may as well see SOMETHING. We ended up at The Palace Hotel. Take a look – we literally felt like we were dreaming. Some photos of the entrance, the food and the table we sat down to eat at near the pool. Not sure if it was the beautiful surroundings or the lack of oxygen 30,000 feet in the air for 15 hours that made it all feel like a crazy dream.

It wasn’t long before we started to get a little delusional. We headed back to our unfamiliar apartments for some rest to face our first day in Dubai – which has passed already but I am going to take some time to get caught-up with the updates since I literally just got the internet installed and training is getting pretty hectic!

I have so much more to share!!!! I can’t wait to fill you in on the past week. It HAS dawned on me – I left behind an enitre life but the experience so so so worth it.

I miss all of you so much!

Bye from Dubai!

You clearly don’t have to be a good photographer here. The scenery does all the work for me – I’ve got some great ones to share.

“TisbaH ala-kheir”

Smile if Your Name Is Annie

 

Just dating a woman must be hard work – after all, we are a species with *certain expectations. *Certain: includes unannounced flower delivery, chocolates and all things shiny or sparkly.

But a guy in Toronto’s downtown core has used the snowy weather to get it right  - by carving his girlfriend’s name – Annie – in huge letters behind the snow-covered field behind the City Place condo.

I was helping a very good friend move yesterday morning when we decided to take a break and get some fresh air on the balcony. I looked over and behold – I was one of hundred’s of girls in Condoville who saw THIS and secretly wished my name was Annie.

NOTE: I AM aware that my point of view is all based on the assumption that Annie’s boyfriend did this. Maybe Annie’s neighbour who is deeply in love with her worked all night to have the secret love of his life wake-up to this cute gesture. <—- Days later Annie’s boyfriend p-r-o-b-a-b-l-y woke-up in the slammer for kicking a*! that morning. Who knows.

I betcha Annie is looking forward to the next snowfall!

Snowman hugs!

Tags: Annie, City Place, Humor

I’m Dreaming Of…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

xoxoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: dreaming

‘C’ Is For Cooooookie

and Cupcake too!

I’ve been intrigued with the guy since the days of full neon outfits, not just because of his messy blue locks, but also because of his love for all things cOoOoOokie. Twelve cookies before dinner? In one minute flat? Let’s just say my interest was piqued from the beginning.

He knows how to say all the right things – “me want cookie!”, “me eat cookie!”, and the ever classic “om nom nom nom”.

The man in blue and my favorite googley-eyed Muppet - COOKIE MONSTER! <–*Insert CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada announcer voice.

** Awww, isn’t he a gem?

In true Cookie Monster form I started to get hungry. What else to do but make some Cookie Monster cupcakes! I thought it would be fun, but making them proved more time-consuming than I imagined.

SO, I ended up with ONE Cookie Monster cupcake and some surprisingly presentable vanilla frosted coconut cupcakes!

*NOTE: If you want to ix-nay on the coo-kay (monster) cupcake then you won’t need to include the blue icing and cookies in your shopping list.

THE CUPCAKE

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 large eggs

THE REST

• 1 bag sweetened coconut
• cupcake holders
• Blue food colouring (for Cookie Monster only)
• A few chocolate chip cookies ( for Cookie Monster only)

Ready…set…BAKE!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners (easy peezy).

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Add shortening, milk, and vanilla.  Beat for 1 minute on medium speed (I didn’t have an electric mixer so manual labour was in order). Scrape side of bowl with a spatula..

Add eggs to the mixture.  Beat (or whisk really hard) for 1 minute on medium speed.  Scrape bowl again.  Beat on high-speed for 1 minute 30 seconds until well mixed.

Proceed to clean baking tools appropriately – shhhhhhh.

Spoon cupcake batter into paper liners until a little more than 1/2 full. FOR COOKIE MONSTER CUPCAKE: fill to the top

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the pile of drool on the floor is so big that you have to look away from the stove.

Cool 5 minutes in pans then remove and place on wire racks to cool completely.

Once cupcakes are completely cooled, start frosting!

Sprinkle coconut on the center and Voilà!

Call the ice cream man and enjoy!

Now for your ONE Cookie Monster cupcake – so random!

Put 1 cup of sweetened coconut into a bowl and begin to get generous with the blue food colouring until you reach your desired level of blue intensity.

Cut a slit on the cupcake (this is where the cookie will go).

Cover the cupcake with a thick layer of frosting.

Place the half cookie into the slit while using the icing as support.

Cover the entire cupcake with the blue coconut.

Roll the icing into two balls – refrigerate for a few minutes and place on top. Then place a chocolate chip on each.

A Monster is created (muah-ha-ha)…

Happy yum, yum!

Tags: Chocolate chip cookie, Cookie Monster, Cupcake, Flour, Food coloring, Muppet

At Least I Got A Lolli

But I’m still not confident it was all worth it.

I sat on the white crunchy paper that lined the examination table in the     back room of the travel clinic, arm sleeved rolled up, fist clenched.

 

“Do you want a lollipop?,” the nurse said to me in an Irish accent as  she removed the syringe from its white box.

“YES.” I said, without hesitation.

I felt the needle break the skin.

“Please have your lollipop,” she said, in an instructional tone.

“Okaaay,” I responded.

I felt the needle break the skin AGAIN.

“Ouch,” I said, clenching my jaw with squinty eyes.

“Please continue eating your lollipop,” she said, in a matter of fact tone.

I had never been so sternly directed to eat a LOLLIPOP – this lady was doing Willy Wonka proud.

Aside from her stern demeanor, she began to rub off as one of the sweetest ladies I had met– only because she seemed so adamant about eating a lollipop (clearly trying to ease the pain of numerous needles) – but why? OH. The sugar – it all came down to the sugar levels. I had mistaken her ‘sweet’ for the sweet content of the lollipop.

Another needle.

And another.

“AW-OUUUUU-CH,” I screamed quietly (how you ‘scream quietly’, I don’t know… but I managed.)

“Well, that’s exactly how I feel during take-off and landing,” she said, smiling beside me.

I gathered my belongings and headed outside into the chilly Toronto air.

That was four shots which included Polio, Diphtheria and Tetanus (all in one injection). Followed by Typhoid and Hepatitis A. Finished off with a good ol’ jab of Yellow Fever. Earlier in the consultation, we discussed that my MMR (mumps, Measles, Rubella), Meningococcal and Varicella would have to be done at a later date – PHEW!

The vaccine buffet my body had just devoured still beat the idea of drawing more blood at the Vampire’s Office clinic <– that’s another story for another time.

The next morning when I awoke from my vaccination hangover, I noticed that lifting my left arm felt similar to picking up an overweight elephant (close enough, anyway) . The nurse had warned me that the Yellow Fever shot would feel as though someone punched me in the arm, but that was an understatement.

Now, planning a trip abroad and having to get vaccinations is not the easiest thing. There are much easier things – like laying on beach – beach is easier.

Most of you will have a much more simple travel vaccination experience. When travelling to one specific destination you can plan on a lot less Band-Aids. I’m basically booked for a one-way ticket to… everywhere – roll up those sleeves!

After I found out I was going to move to Dubai for the flight attendant position, the next thing I HAD to do was figure out all of the vaccines. For guidance, I referenced the long list of vaccinations, mandatory by the airline.

You have got to be kidding me.

I made some calls and days later I was standing in the travel clinic paying for diamond laced vaccines (I certainly hope there were traces of the sparkly stuff because they were similarly priced to my favourite bling ).

Note: this free health service thing didn’t do much good when it came to these shots.

World, I am ready – and all I had to do was suck on a lolli.

Bandaged and bruised,

Today Is A Great Excuse For Cake

It’s Hello Kitty’s birthday (control your excitement and eye rolls).

Why am I blogging about a cartoon character and her ‘birthday’ – I am O-B-S-S-E-S-E-D with that cat, that’s why! Anyone who says HK is only for children needs to check the price tag on some Sanrio merchandise (those are some big kid prices).

I don’t know how it started. I’ve always adored the sight of her. That cat is fierce and her iconic face makes a statement without saying anything at all – that’s also because she has no mouth (details, details). She speaks with her heart, okay people.

Most who know me – witnesses to the insanity – find it hard to believe that I’m not alone in my adoration of Miss. HK. Oh, I’m definitely not alone – we’ve all heard of Hello Kitty toasters, houses and even Ferrari’s (don’t lose faith in the world just yet). What you may not have heard about is the first Hello Kitty-themed maternity hospital which opened in Taiwan (feel free to start losing faith now). This not only reassures me that I’m in fact not alone in this obsession but makes me wonder why I don’t live in Taiwan.

NOTE: I realize most of you are thinking… “should I ever get knocked up, this would be the last place on earth I would like to deliver - I’m already in agonizing pain, remember? This delivery room takes hell to a whole other level!” <— do not agree.

Since I’m not having a baby in Taiwan any time soon the next best thing for a Sanrio fix is my New York favourite –  Sanrio Luxe – an exclusive boutique located in the heart of New York City. This store is my one-stop shop for a good drool session.

Example A. PEZ dispenser extraordinaire – delightfully impractical!

The concept store opened in 2008 and targets the more mature Sanrio customer (we like to pretend we are anyways). Kitty’s parent company is peddling everything from luxury clothing to luggage. It’s a super-fun mélange of high/low goods from the Sanrio portfolio. Move over HK change purse – hello glam princess pendant necklaces ($25K!).

If you’re a Hello Kitty fan and plan to visit the glorious boutique just make sure you haven’t been drinking with dinner – the more champagne you drink, the more you’re going to want to shoplift.

Disclaimer: I won’t judge you if the thought crosses your mind – look at this stuff!

Did You Know?

Hello Kitty graced the cover of Japanese Vogue — remind me why I don’t live in Japan?

Happy Birthday Hello Kitty – thanks for mesmerizing me with your sparkleosity, not that that’s a word.

Meow, meow and love,

Tags: HelloKitty, Japan, List of Sanrio characters, New York, New York City, Sanrio, Taiwan

Is It Too Early To Post An Entry?

I guess I couldn’t wait – I AM an extremist!

I H-E-A-R-T this time of year, when the air is crisp and the words “let’s grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte” spew from my mouth with joy.

Know what else this time of year brings?

HALLOWEEN – a time to celebrate our ghoulish side: ** [insert witch cackle here].

It’s not really the costumes (contrary to the photo above). It’s not even the candy (alright, maybe the candy has something to do with it). The main reason I love Halloween is the excuse to drink my face off to sip on the devilishly delicious punch while I watch my friends get hit on by a Rubix Cube, a pregnant nun and a Antoine Dobson (don’t forget to hide ya’ husbands too).

I know. I know. Friends are always the best recipe for a good night. I agree.

BUT. I realized something today. This will be my last major ‘holiday’ celebration with those adorable friends I referenced in my ‘About Me’. I’m going to spend this Christmas in 30 degree Arabian Desert heat, while I try to memorize my evacuation commands and take in my new surroundings. It’s also my first ever Christmas away from my family (sad face). So needless to say, this Halloween is going to be a memorable one.

BACK-UP PLAN (if all else fails)

I drown any lingering sorrows of being lonely this Christmas in the entire Halloween candy sale bin that I raid at Shoppers Drug Mart. Sounds like a plan.

Have a spooktacular eve my ghouls and goblins!

Off to find my groom….dead or alive. ** [remove witch cackle and insert some type of non-coherent dead bride moan here].

Muah-ha-ha,

Tags: Christmas, Games, Halloween, holiday, Opinions, Religious, Shopping, trick-or-treat

Hello World!

Am I A Blogger?

Think I’m supposed to check the ‘yes’ box for this one. To be honest I’ve never really had anything to talk about until now, or maybe just haven’t had the time (you make time, I know).

Plus: who would read the thing anyways? <—— that’s the optimist in me.

I’m now banking on readership care of my family and friends… now that I’m moving away.

Which brings me to my next point.

This blog is about me, my experiences, challenges, loves and losses living and traveling overseas.

I’m an Canadian girl, a Torontonian to be exact, who was born in Havana, Cuba (Cuban father and Ukrainian mother – a cocktail if you will) and raised in St.John’s Newfoundland – so, maybe I’m technically a Torontonian by adult years.

I have a great life in Canada, a great job, a wonderful mother, and adorable friends (I will still have those things – they’re just going to be further away). The thing was, in one of those annoying ‘glass is half whatever’ things, it was all never really ‘enough’ for me. So if not merely because of a desire for freedom, exploration, experience, I decided to follow my heart and take a job as cabin crew with one of the most prestige airlines in the world and move to Dubai.

When it came to traveling abroad for ‘a great adventure in places unknown’ I’d already been there done that and ate a bag of chips (don’t think that’s exactly how the saying goes). I needed to check one off my bucket list – live abroad -  here I go.

DUBAI – yup – I am going to be living in the Vegas of the Arabian Desert (this could get interesting). Dubai really hadn’t been on my dream list of places to live. I’d always pictured a Meatpacking District pad in New York, an old apartment down the road from a little cafe in Roma, or a Venice beach house in California.

But, as life often proves there are often opportunities that arise which all contribute to the story book we write (sometimes without realizing) with every move we make.

I hope you enjoy MY story.

Leaving on a jet plane,

Tags: cabin crew, Dubai, home away from home, moving abroad, travel