Ford has launched the new model of Explorer and recently I got a chance to test drive it.

It was just great. The feature I liked the most is called Active Park Assist, through which the vehicle can automatically park itself. Yes, the new explorer can parallel park itself. With the help of cameras and sensors the vehicle can detect when there is sufficient space for parallel parking and then automates the steering to park with perfection. You just have to control the transmission and the brake, and that also the car will tell you when to switch gear and apply brake. I think it’s a great feature because even though I believe I have mastered the art of parallel parking, doing it in a big vehicle such as Ford explorer can be a daunting task. So whatever assistance you get from the car is always welcomed, which in this case the car just takes over and does it for you.

Below is a video demonstrating this feature.

And that’s not all. The new exterior of Ford Explorer is stunning and is like a fresh breeze of air as the old look was kinda outdated.

The new Ford Explorer also features terrain management system which adjusts the torque and stability control according to the terrain you are driving on. This takes the pressure away from the driver to manage the vehicle in rough terrains and allows the car to handle it.

Curve Control keeps you from losing control of the vehicle when driving through the curve. So now you can be rest assured that your car will not slip off the curve during high speed maneuvers (not recommended to do that though).

Experienced drivers know how stressful it is to control the vehicle in a hilly terrain, specially when going downhill. The new Ford Explorer offers Hill Descent Control which makes it easy to tackle downhill movement, adding to the peace of mind of the driver.

Add this to other smart features such as Lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, Inflatable rear safety belts, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert, Adaptive Cruise Control with collision warning and auto-braking, and you a vehicle which is safe, smart, and fun to drive.

I was totally impressed with the new Ford Explorer when I test drove it. This is now on top of my list as I am planning to upgrade my current car.

Originally posted at 2012 Ford Explorer Test Drive Review

Have you ever tried following a diet plan?

I tried it recently and before starting the diet I always thought it would be an easy task but after following it for few weeks I realized how challenging it can be.

The thing is, when you are not following a diet you don’t really care what you are eating. Since you are allowed to eat everything you just gulp down whatever comes your way. Things are pretty easy and carefree.

But when you decide to follow a diet plan (mainly because of the added pounds and inches as a result of that carefree behavior), things become suddenly difficult. You now have a list of food items that you cannot eat, and a list of items that you have to eat over and over again.

So now every time you decide to grab a bite, it’s not as simple as picking up anything and putting it in your mouth. Now you have to make sure you are eating only what is allowed in your diet plan. That’s a bit of a challenge because what’s allowed is not always freely available and you have to make that extra effort to follow the rules. Trust me its not easy to do when you are having a busy day and eating whatever you come across is not an option. That’s when it gets very tempting to deviate. And that’s when your discipline and self control are really tested.

When you are dieting it’s you against the whole world because the whole world doesn’t know that you are dieting and neither do they care about it, rather they would make every effort for you to deviate from your plan. Oh come on one slice of cake won’t hurt, or Dude, you have been off sugar for a month, you can have this dessert now. You will get these comments every day but it is you and only you who have to be strong enough to stay focused and motivated and not get distracted by all the yummy cakes and candies and pizzas that you see other people eating.

So if you really want to see how disciplined you are try following a diet plan. Other than health benefits you will get to know a lot about yourself. You will learn how to control your temptations and stay motivated despite social pressure and mockery. Even if you are physically fit I suggest you try it just to see if you can do it.

Good luck with your diet. Let me know how it went.

Originally posted at Following a Diet Plan

If you haven’t already noticed it yet, my blog is wearing a new skin for last few days.

I have redesigned my blog interface to make it more visually appealing. And I hope it looks good to the readers. I am still fine tuning it so you might notice some minor changes here and there in coming weeks.

Secondly my blog is no longer called “Umar in Dubai”. Instead it’s now simply called “Umar Siddiqi dot com”.

I will continue writing about Dubai and related topics on this blog, as a matter of fact, there won’t be any major changes in the contents of this blog, other than the new theme and name.

In fact I am planning to make it better. Expect to see more posts, more topics, and opportunities for my readers to interact more with this blog.

So thanks for reading my blog for all these years and I hope will continue to be my loyal readers.

Any suggestions on making this blog better are most welcomed. The comments section is all yours.

Originally posted at Welcome to the new Umar Siddiqi dot com

This video has gone viral in the last few days and I came across this just yesterday.

I was blown away when I first watched it and since then I have watched it several times and continue to be amazed and excited about the possibilities.

There have been many discussions and negative opinions about this technology (as it happens with every new concept), mainly revolving around points like invasion of privacy or technology overload or too much distraction and so on.

so here is my take on this.

First of all, as it is evident from my reaction, I love it. I love technology and the ways it integrates with our every day life.

Secondly, Internet is becoming ubiquitous with every passing day and if there is a product or technology to make sense of the plethora of information available on the internet or somehow process the information and presents to us what is relevant, then I am all for it.

Project Glass by Google seems to be aimed at doing exactly that. What you see in the video can already by done using existing Google products available on your mobile device. This is just a new interface to those products are services with some added intelligence and data processing magic. With this technology you no longer have to reach out for your phone and access the information or perform any action. It’s all just right there in front of your eyes. So basically this is an evolution of technology from handheld devices to wearable hands-free devices. It’s nothing revolutionary.

And finally, there can be countless uses for this around collaboration, remote assistance, and gaming. The possibilities, as they say, are limitless.

So I can’t wait for this to be available to general public and see how it is adapted. Count me in to be the first one to use it.

And to answer the naysayers, anyone who opts to use this technology will do it willingly so if you are that worried about privacy just don’t use it. Moreover, no one expects you to wear it when you need privacy so you can just remove it or turn it off when you need some unobtrusive moments. It’s that simple.

So are you in or are you out?

Originally posted at Project Glass by Google – Are you in or are you out?

BlackBerry doesn’t need any introduction. It’s a delicious fruit and the devices are playing a major role in keeping people connected. Today however I will mostly be talking about the device, and fruit maybe in a later post.

I am a BlackBerry user for over two years and use it for work and personal use both. Since I travel frequently, my BlackBerry helps me stay updated with my emails whenever I am on the road which increases my overall productivity, and it also gives me the peace of mind that I am easily reachable by my colleagues, customers, and friends.

Not only that, my BlackBerry also helps me with my blog. Since my blog is powered by wordpress, I have wordpress app installed on my BlackBerry which I use whenever I need to quickly scribble something worth blogging. In short I have become pretty much addicted to my BlackBerry and can’t imagine life without it.

So I was absolutely delighted when I was contacted by BlackBerry Middle East to be a part of their BlackBerry Super Fan Club. Needless to say, I didn’t give it a second thought.

I was already a BlackBerry fan and user and now I am BlackBerry Super Fan!

To kick-start the partnership I was invited to a video shoot where I was interviewed and then I was given a new BlackBerry Bold 9790 to use and share the experience with my readers.

So far I am loving my new BlackBerry and I will blog more about it soon.

Not only this, I will also announce a contest on my blog soon through which the readers of this blog could win a new BlackBerry device.

So stay tuned, subscribe if you haven’t already done so, and wait for the next announcement!

Originally posted at BlackBerry Super Fan!

Dubai is a city of biggest everything. It hosts the world’s tallest building, biggest shopping mall, biggest man made islands, longest driverless rail network and many other greatest objects of fascination.

But it doesn’t stop here. Dubai is so obsessed with being the biggest that it doesn’t want any other city to come even close. That’s why it is currently expanding some of the already biggest and greatest places in Dubai.

Dubai Mall

Dubai Mall, comprising over 12 million square feet, is accepted as the biggest mall in the world. It has highest number of shops than any other mall and last year it received more visitors than any other mall in the world. The reason for such popularity are attractions like Dubai Aquarium, which is one of the largest aquarium in the world, Dubai fountain, which is the largest music fountain in the world, candilicious, which is biggest candy shop in the world, and off course access to At The Top, the observatory on 124′s floor of Burj Khaleefa, the tallest building in the world. To see any of these things you have to go to Dubai Mall. Not to mention all the shopping, dining, and entertainment options provided by Dubai Mall.

Image Source: Flickr

But all of these world records don’t seem to satisfy the mall’s developer Emaar Properties because recently they announced that they will add another one million square feet to Dubai Mall.

Imagine Dubai Mall, a place that takes hours just to visit, getting even bigger. Would they be offering camping sites for people to just camp and live there for few days to cover everything that the mall has to offer?

Dubai Metro

Dubai Metro holds the world record of being the longest driverless train network in the world. It is already setting new records of growth and popularity which is increasing with every passing day. I am a big fan of Dubai metro and use it whenever I get a chance.

And recently it was announced that Green Line of Dubai Metro is expanding till Dubai Academic City. This will allow access to the metro to thousands of people specially the students who go to Dubai Academic City. Not to mention the long terms plans of adding more lines in the network to connect Dubai International Airport and Al Makhtoom Airport (which will start commercial operation in 2014).

Well I’m all for extension of the metro. As much as people are using it I still think it doesn’t cover the entire city and any plans or ideas of extension are welcomed.

Ibn Battuta Mall

Ibn Battuta Mall is the biggest theme based mall in the world. Although it’s a single level mall, it takes half an hour to walk from one end to another end of the mall (if you are walking at a normal pace, like you walk in a mall). When I first visited Ibn Battuta Mall in September 2005 (while I was visiting Dubai), it was newly opened and there were hardly any visitors (since at that time it was pretty much out of town), and we were thinking who would come to shop here so far out of town. But now after almost seven years the mall is always crowded.

Image Source: Flickr

And guess what, Ibn Battuta Mall is also undergoing expansion. Nakheel is planning to increase the size of the mall by 100%. That means double. I will not speculate on this decision as only Dubai crazy ideas like this are made successful.

Dragon Mart

Dragon Mart is the biggest market of Chinese goods outside of mainland China. From a bird’s eye view, it actually looks like a dragon. If you love Chinese goods then Dragon Mart is a must visit place for you. I have been there many times and love the place. Needless to say, its huge. It’s very easy to get lost in Dragon Mart even though like IBN Battuta Mall it’s all on single level. That’s because of the symmetrical architecture of the place.

Image Source: Flickr

But that’s not enough as Nakheel is doubling the size of Dragon Mart as well. This means the dragon’s tail will get even longer and I would not dare to walk from the head of the dragon to all the way down to the tail.

Originally posted at Biggest Gets Bigger

We get it all the time, boasting the tallest of this, the biggest of that, the greatest of blings, and the most expensive of things. But unfortunately along with all of that, comes one of the largest carbon footprints in the world. So in true Dubai style, we have a response for the record books. On March 31st, people across the globe will turn off their lights for 1 hour in honor of Earth Day. Dubai will do it bigger for the betterment of the world we love by turning off the lights for TWO hours. With all of Dubai joining in on this cause, maybe we can become the number one fan of Earth Day, but in any case, we will have fun in trying to do our part. We know when the lights go out, anything can happen.

So we are asking Dubai: What would you do in two hours of darkness?

Damn straight only in Dubai would this happen. We hope you’re a part of it.
On 31 March at 8:30pm, turn off the lights not one but TWO HOURS!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EarthHourDubaiStyle

Originally posted at Earth Hour – Dubai Style

Are you the fastest skier in the desert or just the one who likes to have the most fun in the ski slope?

This Friday (March 23rd) there will, once again, be an amateur ski competition at Ski Dubai when Peak Performance presents Desert Ski Competition. It is open for all and free (except for the normal admission).

We are competing in the following classes:

- Men skiing
- Women skiing
- Snowboard (mixed)

with prizes given to the top-3 and some other awards. We have a limited amount of places and they are running out quickly so sign up now by sending an email to annualskichamp@gmail.com. You can read more about the contest at http://www.dubaiguide.nu/desert-ski-dubai-en.

Important details:

- Date: March 23rd (this Friday)
- Time: Competition is between 3.00 – 5.00 pm but be there at 1.30 pm in order to be in the slope at 3.00 pm.
- Venue: Ski Dubai
- RSVP: Thursday at 3pm through annualskichamp@gmail.com

May the fastest skier/snowboarder in the desert win!

Originally posted at Free Amateur Ski Competition at Ski Dubai

Here’s another world record by Dubai.

The Dubai Metro has made its place in Guinness Book as the longest driverless train network in the world. This record was attained after the Green Line opened to public in September last year.

I am not a daily user of the metro as it doesn’t pass near to my home, but I use it whenever I get a chance. And whenever I use it I am impressed. Dubai Metro is not just a joyride. It actually serves its purpose of a mass transit system. If you live near a metro station and work near a metro station then you don’t need a car for your daily commuting. Dubai Metro also connects to major malls of Dubai and has stops at Dubai Airport and other important government organizations. The pricing is also reasonable so it won’t break the bank to use it. So there is no reason not to use metro whenever you have to other than being too lazy to walk a little or loving your car too much. And the big adoption rate by residents and tourists proves that Dubai Metro is a practical option for commuting within Dubai.

So hats off to Dubai government for delivering a quality public transport network in a place where no one thought it would be possible to get people out of their luxury cars and into the carriages of a rail.

Originally posted at Dubai Metro in Guinness Book

Disclaimer: This is a guide post only and accuracy is not guaranteed. Please check with your local authorities to get exact requirements for UAE visa based on your qualification criteria.

It is no secret that Dubai is one of the must-visit cities in the region. Every year millions of tourists from around the world come here to marvel at its wonders. If you are planning to come to Dubai for tourism then this post will guide you how to get the required visa to enter Dubai.

Do you Qualify for Dubai Visa

Dubai is part of UAE so in order to visit Dubai you need UAE visa. There are multiple ways to obtain UAE visa but first and foremost is to check whether or not you need a visa to travel to UAE.

If you are a citizen of one of the exempted countries then you don’t need to get a visa before traveling to UAE (most western hemisphere countries are included in this). You can get 30-day visa on arrival at one of the entry points (airports and border crossings). Moreover, residents of GCC countries (usually having the word “manager” in their designation) can also get on-arrival visa when they enter UAE by air or by road.

Applying for UAE Visa

For the rest of the world, you need to get a UAE visa prior to your arrival here. Again there are multiple ways to do that.

There are various types of visas being given out for the UAE. It all depends upon the purpose behind your visit. The purpose of your visit is the most important thing which is taken into account before you are issued your visa. You can apply for 30-days tourist visa or 90-days visit visa, or even as short as 96-hour transit visa.

Apply Through a Local Sponsor

If you have a relative or friend in UAE then they can sponsor your tourist or visit visa. All they need to do is take your passport, photograph and other required documents to a DNRD center, pay the visa fees (which varies depending upon type of visa) and security deposit (refundable after you leave the country), and get a UAE visa. It normally takes 1-2 days. After your friend obtains the visa for you, they can send you a copy through email or fax and submit the original at the airport where you are scheduled to arrive. When you arrive at the airport you can collect your original visa document at the visa collection center and proceed to the immigration for entry stamp. Welcome to Dubai. Let’s start the shopping spree.

Apply Through a Travel Agent

If you are making your travel arrangements through a travel agent, then talk to them about UAE visa as well. Most travel agents can apply for your UAE visa on your behalf. In this case also you need to give your passport copy, photograph, (any other required documents) and visa fees to the travel agent. After 2-3 days he will give you a copy of visa document which you need to travel to UAE and collect the original at the airport when you arrive in UAE.

Apply through the Airline

Many UAE based airlines also help their passengers get UAE visa. Emirates Airlines, for example, offers visa services to their passengers. If you are buying tickets through Emirates then talk to them or check their website about UAE visa. You can also apply for a transit visa through your airline if you are transiting in Dubai for a few hours (or passing through Dubai and want to check out the city). Just check with your airline when making travel arrangements.

Moreover, your relative or friend in UAE can also apply for your visa through the airline if you are traveling through one of the airlines that offer visa services.

As they say, a friend in need is a friend indeed. This holds true specifically for getting UAE visa.

Enjoy your stay in Dubai. Please leave a comment if you have any questions.

Links:
UAE Visa page on Emirates website
UAE Visa page on FlyDubai website
Visa assistance page on Air Arabia website

Originally posted at How to get Dubai Visa