Living in Dubai

Mission Impossible 4, The Ghost Protocol

2011-12-16T01:35:00.001+04:00

If you live in Dubai and you have a credit or debit card, I suggest that you go online now and purchase yourself a ticket for the Mission Impossible 4: The Ghost Protocol movie.

Today is the first day of showing and there was no seat left unoccupied. I heard that all seats have also been sold for the Friday and Saturday showings in the evening. Inhabitants of Dubai have been waiting for this film for quite sometime now. This is because a big and very exciting part of the film was shot
here, featuring the tallest building in the world --- Burj Khalifa.

The movie kept me at the edge of my seat from beginning to the end. I am very satisfied and feel like watching MI4 is 30 Dirhams well spent.

Mango Handbags and Shoes Sale

2011-12-15T08:47:00.000+04:00

If you are a regular woman, then you should love handbags.

Good news! Mango Touch in Deira City Centre is on sale and all of their products are marked with a discounted price.

I don't know until when the sale will go on. Ladies have gone gaga when they saw the sale and the store was jam-packed so I didn't get the chance to ask the sales ladies.

For those who are not familiar with Deira City Centre, Mango Touch is close to one of the entrances of Carrefour.

Show You Care, Donate Some Hair

2011-11-27T11:31:00.001+04:00

Photo from Read Magazine - October 30 - November 5 issue

I was reading some back issues of Read. magazine, the weekly magazine circulated for free at Dubai Metro stations, and an article entitled Hair for Hope caught my eye. Well, it was actually the picture on the front page that intrigued me at first, but the article was so inspiring, I thought I'd help spread the word.

To summarize, the piece is about sharing your hair to be made into wigs for cancer patients. It is a project started by Lola Lopez and is supported by a group called "Volunteer in Dubai"

The hair you donate should be at least 20 cm long and you can contact these numbers to get your hair cut for free just mention that it is for the Hair for Hope project.

Ladies - Jet Set Altitude Salon (04 330 0886)

Men - 1847 in Emirates Towers (04 330 1847)

We have often heard of the hardships of people undergoing cancer treatment and chemotherapy but have we actually done anything about it? I'm sure cancer patients will appreciate our sympathy and words of encouragement however to empathize and do something to help would be more valued and might even give you that nice, tingly feeling of self satisfaction, knowing that you have helped somebody.

To read the Hair for Hope article from the Read. website, click here

To know more about the project, click here

Tips to Enjoy the Dubai Desert Safri

2011-11-23T15:18:00.004+04:00

Going for a Desert Safari Tour is one best things that you can do in Dubai. Whether you are here for work, business or pleasure, the desert safari is a 'must experience' adventure.

See how much fun we had when we went last Friday (Nov 18, 2011)

other 4WD's behind us --- it's dune bashing time!!!

Sand, sand, and more sand!!!

colorful sand packed in bottles --- sold as souvenirs

Persian rugs for sale!

Not satisfied with dune bashing inside a car? Rent a quad bike for an hour

Chillax! Enjoy! Share a Hubble bubble with friends -- more commonly known as Shisha

Free sweets! Quite confused why it's served before dinner though...

The buffet consisted of veg and non veg food. Good for me I eat both :)

there is also free henna for women

The night's main attraction --- a half naked, belly dancing woman and...

an incredibly balanced man who twirled for hundreds of times without losing his footing, dancing the Tanoura

Here are some tips for you guys who are planning to book a desert safari tour:

- Do not eat for an hour or 2 before the dune bashing. If you do, then don't forget to bring a plastic bag in case you lose your lunch. Remember... dune bashing is quite similar to a roller coaster ride.

- Wear comfortable clothes. The most recommended outfit are t-shirts, capris, and slippers. You might also need to bring jackets if you go during the months of Dec to Feb.

- Once you arrive at the camp, grab a table and leave some unimportant stuff on it so others won't think it's unoccupied.

- If you arrive early, don't stay inside the camp. Bask is the sun and play with the sand. This way, you wont miss the camels when they come out for picture taking

- Bring some chips or snacks. Food is usually part of the tour packages but they serve food really late.

- If you want to try the shisha, sit in the shisha area before it gets too crowded. You wouldn't want to share spit with everyone else, do you?

- The belly dancer might pull you up to the stage. Be a good sport and dance your heart out. Believe me, you will only get a 'boo' if you don't dance.

- Last tip. No trip will be fun if you don't set your mood to enjoy. Just relax, eat, and laugh. Leave your criticisms at home and treat your desert safari tour as a new experience. If you do that then it is guaranteed that you'll have fun.

10 Days Sale at Carrefour

2011-11-14T14:39:00.001+04:00

Carrefour --- It's the first word that comes in mind when I think about buying groceries. If you have been in Dubai or other UAE emirates then you would also be familiar with the brand.

One of their ads caught my eye last night, and even though I was scolded by my friend for pointing, I insisted that she should also take a look at what I was staring at.

As expected, she was also captivated. You want to know why?

Because it said 5...10...20Dhs buys! Alas! The stinginess in us resurfaced and got excited with the prospect of buying Dubai t-shirts and China-made Ben Ten shoes for only 10 Dhs!

So for those of you who are trying to fill your balik-bayan jumbo boxes. This is it! Instead of sending home tons and tons of sugar (which I have done in my last package), with this sale, you can send milk and coffee for a change :)

The sale will only last for 10 days, so see you in Carrefour later!

Read. at the Metro

2011-11-13T13:18:00.002+04:00

Everyday, you will find thousand of commuters in Dubai, scampering to get on board the Metro, especially during the hours of 6 to 9 in the morning.

Don't be surprised if a colleague who took the train comes to the office in a foul mood and with eyebrows that meet in the middle. This is because the morning commute by Metro is really challenging and if you are not an expert dodger, you might get a body slam or two.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not complaining. The Dubai Metro has made commuting a lot more comfortable. You can ride the train for 75 km without any traffic, enjoy the air-conditioning and be relieved of Dubai's sometimes unbearable heat, plus save a lot of money in contrast to riding a taxi. I think we can all agree that morning rush is normal and it happens to almost all cities in the world. But sometimes it is easy to forget how great the metro is when your face is only a few centimeters away from somebody else's armpit.

Thankfully, a company called Continental Media FZ LLC, came up with a FREE weekly magazine for all Metro commuters called Read. It contains very informative and interesting articles that entertain bored and agitated passengers and it alleviates the heavy atmosphere at train stations during rush hour.

So, the next time that you are inside a Metro station, move your head from left to right, not only for neck exercises but also to look for a Read. magazine. I personally recommend it and just for emphasis...my friends, It's FREE!

Celebrating Eid Al Adha

2011-11-10T09:48:00.001+04:00

4 days of no-work last week! This is for the celebration of Eid al Adha or "Big Eid" as we, non-Muslims call it. (Small Eid is the earlier one - Eid al Fitr)

Government employees are more lucky they get 5 days -- the week end plus 3 days holiday, but the real fortunate ones are those who work in schools. They got 9 days straight of no work! Kind of makes one think twice before choosing a career :)

Since the weather isn't too hot anymore, the parks and open beaches were jam packed. Almost everyone is in celebratory mood except for those who work in sales and customer service. Sadly, no Eid holiday for them.

It's my second Eid al Adha celebration but I don't really know why Muslims celebrate it so I made a visit to my friend 'Wikipedia' and found out that this occasion is to commemorate the end of Hajj or the Pilgrimage to Mecca.

And why do Muslims go to Mecca?

According to Arabic history, Mecca is a dry, uninhabited place which is now known as Saudi Arabia. This is where Abraham left his concubine Hagar and his son Ishmael, according to the command of Allah... when their food ran out, she desperately ran up and down between 2 hills seven times to search for water but was unsuccessful so she cried to Allah for deliverance and miraculously a well of water appeared.

Mecca then became a center for trade because of its reliable source of water.

When Ishmael turned 13, Allah instructed Abraham to offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed even though he didn't want to but asked for Ishmael's consent before he went through with the sacrifice. Knowing that it was Allah's will, Ishmael agreed without hesitation and offered himself for the sacrifice. Thus, Muslims celebrate Eid al Adha to commemorate the ultimate act of sacrifice.

I do not wish to offend anyone, but I do not believe in this story. In the Bible, it is Isaac who was almost sacrifice and not Ishmael. So, I guess for me, there is nothing to celebrate during Eid al Adha except for the fact that we get additional days of no work and a lot more time for sleeping. :)

RTA Anniversary - Free Metro and Bus Ride for Today!

2011-11-01T15:16:00.002+04:00

Clean sheets, phone in silent mode, and silicone ear plugs are the secrets to my recipe for a long and satisfying good night sleep. You see, mosques are scattered all around Dubai and if your apartment happens to be situated right across one, you would often find your self waking up to a male singing voice radiating over a loudspeaker, which can be quite unpleasant if you don't understand why they are doing that. This is why peeps in Dubai find an effective sleeping routine to maintain a regular and normal life.

My methods are effective and this morning it was too effective that I slept through the alarm and missed our company bus.

According to Google maps, the distance from my place to the office is 6.8 km and it takes around 15 min of travel. This is probably true if you run 120 mph all the way from Muraqabat to Al Quoz but for normal cars and buses it takes at least 30 min to an hour depending on the heaviness of traffic.

Without my own means of transportation, I had to take a train and a bus ride plus a few minutes of walking so I went to the train station and loaded my NOL card with 10 Dirhams, just enough for a one way trip.

As expected, there was a huge crowd waiting on queue to board the train but what I didn't expect was to get a free ride on both the Metro and the bus. As it turns out, today is the anniversary of RTA, the Road Transportation Authority of Dubai and to celebrate another year of their existence, they are giving all NOL card holders free rides on the Metro, RTA buses and RTA boats for today only, Nov 1, 2011.

What a great coincidence to compensate for my tardiness!!! :)

Victoria Secret Sale

2011-10-26T11:03:00.003+04:00

Victoria's Secret is changing their packaging so they are having a massive sale for the month of October! Well, that was the explanation of the sales person I spoke to. Nothing official ok? Pls don't sue me :)

The news of the 1st VS shop that went on sale was at the Mall of the Emirates. Perfumes and lotions went on sale for only AED28 each! Yesterday, the liquid soaps & smaller perfumes are just AED 5 a piece and regular sized lotions are 15 but here's that catch... You have to be there before noon, otherwise you will have to elbow your way into the entrance of the store.

Last night, we had to endure an hour of queue so that the VS store in Burjuman could restock. When they finally allowed people to go in, it was such a frenzy. By the time I reached the shelves the good items were already gone.

Good thing they had these sets of perfume, lotion, and body wash that was a bit pricey so plenty were left for me. I bought a big box set and 3 smaller ones and paid only half of the original price. So in conclusion, it was still a fruitful night :)

Paslubong to my bestfriends and Sister-in-law .... CHECK!

Cheap Chocolates from Baqer Mohebi in Bur Dubai

2011-09-07T10:51:00.004+04:00

Chocolates! No decent OFW will go home without them.

Chocolates are the most common coming home presents for friends and relatives so it is wise to stock up because buying in bulk can be very costly. How much is a toblerone’s price range nowadays? My goodness! Even tootsie rolls are expensive! But don’t fret just yet, we found a nice solution for your chocolate expense problem --- Baqer Mohebi Supermarket!

In Baqer Mohebi you can buy chocolates for half or sometimes even just a quarter of their regular price in other supermarkets. At first glance it looks like your average grocery store but walk in a few more steps and you will find their section of super sale!

Wait! Before you rush to get your car keys, there’s a catch. The items with incredibly low prices are those that are nearing expiration, so if you don’t plan to eat or give them out right away, better choose those that are on 25% discount and still has 6 months before the spoil date.

I compared the prices yesterday with the regular grocery and felt satisfied that my trip to Bur Dubai was not in vain. In Baqer Mohebi, I bought a cereal box for 3 AED while its regular price is 17 AED. Good buy right?

Some tips

- If you will go by taxi share it with some friends. The discount won’t matter much if you just spend it for taxi fare.

- Bring at least AED500. This will be enough for a cartfull of chocolates.

- If you don’t know the location, pick a cab driver who does. We got lost and walked around for 10 minutes before finding a couple who knew the place. 2 other people gave us confusing and wrong directions.

I would very much like to tell you where it is but I only know that it is on Rolla St. in Bur Dubai, close to a Spinneys and Choitram. Sorry, I’m really bad with directions. Ask my brother, he had to teach me where Ortigas and Edsa are for like 10 times before it stuck to my brain.

For more information visit the Baqer Mohebi Supermarket website: http://www.mohebi.com/bme.htm

Baqer Mohebi Supermarket

Ground Floor, Al Rais Building, Al Rolla Street, Al Raffa

Bur Dubai, Dubai

Landmark: Near Imperial Suites Hotel

P.O.Box: 267, Dubai

Tel: +971 4 3512700

Fax: +971 4 3511562

Places in Dubai That You Can Enjoy for AED 10 or less

2011-08-10T13:04:00.003+04:00

Yey! I am so excited! Another Friday is approaching!

Wondering why?

FYI for those who live in non-Middle eastern countries, Friday and Saturday are the weekends for people who live in Dubai. During Fridays people go to church, do their laundry, or stay in bed until lunch time. Just like the regular stuff that other people do during their weekends. Other employees only have Friday as their ‘off’ so we try to squeeze in all activities on this day.

Dubai is a very commercialized place and there are so many places that you can visit to enjoy and kill your free time but instead of going out, some people opt to stay home to chill and waste their week ends on TV or the internet. I can give 3 reasons why people do this: One, they are terribly tired and really need rest. Two, it is super hot outside and they don’t want to get scorched outside and the 3^rd reason, which I think is the most common one (though no one admits it ) is that they are low on budget.

There is no contention for reasons 1 and 2. If they don’t want to go out then I can’t come out of the computer screen to drag their butts out of bed. But for the ‘low budget reason’ I know some ways for you to enjoy Dubai for 10 Dirhams or less. This figure does not include fare and food but public transportation in Dubai is cheap and you can buy a 6 AED twister from KFC If you get hungry. So all you need to do is top up your Nol card and recharge the batteries of your camera and you are off for a fun, picture-tastic day!

Here is a lift of places you can go to and enjoy where you do not have to spend a lot of your hard-earned AED’s:

1. Jumeirah Beach

A beach person will definitely enjoy this place. You can soak up all the sun that you want for free and enjoy the view of the famous Burj Al Arab at the same time.

2. Dubai Parks

Car entrance in the parks is AED 10 and individual entrance is only for AED 5. You can bring food for family or group gatherings like birthday parties, team buildings or simple get-togethers. You can grill food here too but pork is not allowed. You can get arrested if the authorities catch a whiff of that barbeque.

Here is a list of the parks in Dubai

Creekside Park, Bur Dubai
Safa Park, Sheikh Zayed Road
Jumeirah Beach Park, Jumeirah Beach Road
Zabeel Park, Sheikh Zayed road
Al Mamzar Beach Park, Deira
Mushrif Park, Al Khawanij.

3. Visit the Dubai Mall

Why this particular mall? Because not only can you enjoy window shopping (the favorite past time of people with no money), you can also stare at the humongous aquarium that they have inside the mall. It's one of the biggest aquariums in the world and they have received the Guinness World Record for the world's "Largest Acrylic Panel"

When you get bored staring at sharks and stingrays, you can go outside of the mall and you will be meters away from the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world and if you wait for these timings, you will be wowed by the amazing routines of the dancing fountain. I would recommend that you visit this place at night because the lights make a big contribution to the spectacular performance.

4. The Dubai Museum

It's a museum so of course there would be tons of old and fascinating things to see. Here, you get to know more about the history of Dubai and the Middle East. The best part is they let you enter for only 3 AED.

So that's it! My list of places that are easy on the pockets but great for Facebook wall pictures. Enjoy your week end!

Bath and Body Works Sale in Dubai Mall and the Emirates Mall

2011-07-26T16:31:00.001+04:00

My office mate told me that there's a big Bath & Body works that's going on in the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates. Lotions and body butters can be bought for 18 AED and fragrances for only 25 AED.

The sale will only last until the 28th of this month and I heard that stocks are almost gone so hurry! There's no time to waste!

Modesh and the Dubai Summer Surprises

2011-07-21T11:51:00.004+04:00

Me and Modesh

People living in Dubai know that when this guy turns up it only means one thing... the Dubai Summer Surprises is here!

For those of you who don't know who he is, this cheery guy's name is Modesh and he is the official mascot/ambassador of the Dubai Summer Surprises. His name comes from the Arabic word "Modhesh" which means amazing.

My 'kababayan's' might be happy to know that a Filipino, Mr. Romulo Miclat, designed Modesh. A lot of people are wondering what kind of creature Modesh is supposed to be... an alien, an accordion, or a big yellow caterpillar???

Initially, when Modesh first appeared in1997 he was just a jack-in-the-box. In 2001, Mr Miclat added his feet and improved his over-all appearance, thus, he was able to jump out of his box and gain popularity throughout Dubai.

The Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is an annual festival event that was launched in 1998 by the government to promote Dubai as a family holiday destination. This event lasts for 10 weeks and normally starts when the school year ends and concludes with a back-to-school promotion. DSS is packed with the best shopping deals, world-class family entertainment, giveaways worth millions of Dirhams.

There are lots of events in Dubai that are linked to DSS like concerts and kiddie shows but I since I have no kids to entertain, the only perk I get from DSS are the reduced prices in malls that go up to 70%. DSS is the summer counterpart of the Dubai Shopping Festival which means that a lot mall stores have their SALE banners up so if you are planning to do some major shopping, it is better to wait for events like these to save your AED's.

10 Tips For Dubai Tourists And Newcomers

2011-07-04T14:48:00.003+04:00

As an expat living in Dubai for almost 2 years, I have gained some information that I think would be useful for Dubai newbies and tourists. I have helpful friends who taught me the do's and dont's in Dubai and now, I am passing the information over to you. You'll find them useful if ever you decide to visit.

1. Do not forget to pack your sunglasses, especially if you are coming during the months of April to September. In Dubai, your shades is your numero-uno friend and sunblock is a very close second.

2. Since you are new in Dubai, you’ll probably have someone waiting to pick you up from the airport but if you don’t, you will find money exchange stores inside the airport to get some Dirhams (AED). If possible, just exchange for a hundred AED. The rate you'll get from money changers outside the airport is a lot better.

3. Get a photocopy of your passport and visa and do not leave the house without it. If you want to buy a sim card for your phone, bring two copies. One for you and the other, you will have to submit to the shop you are buying the sim from. This is one of the reasons why Dubai is such a secure place. Phone numbers are connected to passports so people can’t keep a secret identity.

4. Buy a Nol card --- To use public transportation, like buses, trains, and boats, you will have to swipe a preloaded Nol card. For the modes of transportation mentioned, money is not accepted. Nol cards can be purchased from train stations and some grocery stores like Spinneys or you can visit the Road Transportation Authority website for more information.

5. No jaywalking! I know all countries have this rule but I still see a lot of people getting caught for not crossing the street properly here in Dubai. The fine for not using the crosswalk or footbridge is 200 AED (almost 10 times of the penalty for the same offense in my country)

6. Know your emergency numbers:
•    Ambulance/Police: 999
•    Fire Department: 997
•    Water/Electricity: 991

7. Always wear decent clothing. Dubai is a Muslim country which means that people are very conservative when it comes to clothing. While locals or Emiratis mostly wear kondura (white male clothing) and abaya (black robe-like dress for women), we expats are allowed to wear whatever we want as long as we keep our privates fully hidden.

8. Limit the public display of affection. This is serious. No French kissing in public or else, you may end up in jail.

9. You can only buy alcohol from bars and hotels that have liquor licences. If you want some alcoholic beverages at home, I suggest you get some from Duty Free before you go out of the airtport.
There are plenty of beautiful beaches in Dubai but don't even think of bringing a bottle there. Drinking outside will automatically buy you some jail time.

10. 50% of the UAE's population are Indians. When they shake their head sideways that means 'yes' (When I first came here, I thought it was a 'no.' Just imagine how confused I was)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY FROM DUBAI!

2011-06-19T16:02:00.000+04:00

Living in Dubai is a fun adventure!

Most of the 'kabayans' who come here only hold visit visas then pass around CV's to look for work. Some find their dream job and some settle for what's available but some don't find anything, so back to our homeland they go.

Once you get settled, and flight expenses have been paid (most of the time, money for flight tickets are just borrowed), living in Dubai can be considered a sweet paradise, especially during the months of October to March.

The combination superb friends, cool places to go, and a variety of good food can add a great deal to someone's overall body mass. In fact, I know some people who doubled their waistline after living in Dubai for just a few months.

Life in Dubai is enjoyable but I can also enumerate reasons why I don’t like living here. To make it more appealing I will even make a poem about it...

It is hard to find isaw and balot is so expensive.

There is halo-halo for sale, but I don't buy 'coz it's not attractive.

Sisig is available but it's just always beef or chicken.

If I ever get to eat lechon, it is not roasted but baked in the oven.

But food not really my problem, there are lots of dishes to compensate.

Missing special family occasions is actually what I truly hate.

My parents' anniversary, I just missed last Thurday,

And today my heart yearns to give my Dad a hug for Father's Day.

I love you so much Pa! I hope you read this.

To all the Dads all over the world, Happy Father's Day and God bless!

Cobone.com Coupons and Savings in Dubai

2011-06-08T15:07:00.030+04:00

"A penny saved is better than a penny earned."

I read this somewhere and I have no clue who said it. Whoever he is, he must be a financial genius because this sentence makes so much sense to me.

If all your earnings go to bills and payments, life becomes very depressing. We should be able to splurge, travel, have fun, and enjoy!

Question: How do we do that without spending too much?
Answer: Take advantage of coupons that are sold for half of the actual price.

I came across this site by clicking on a Facebook ad and I went WOW because of the loads of discounts and freebies that are available.

The site site I am talking about is Cobone.com.

They have super great deals and here are just some of the examples...

Fantastic right?!!!

Now, what if you still don't have the money to spare even if the prices are already discounted?

EASY!
Ask or even beg your friends to join & register.

Recommend Cobone to your friends (the easiest way to do this is through Facebook or Twitter) and on their first deal purchase, Cobone will give you AED 30 credit that you can use to buy the deal that you want.

So join Cobone now and recommend away!!

My Week-End Pig-Out in Dubai

2011-06-05T12:16:00.063+04:00

It is summer time in Dubai!

In the Philippines, summer time is beach time! However, in Dubai, if it is summer, we hide in our rooms, turn on our laptops, and switch the air-condition to full blast. Since it is too hot to go to the beach or even to just go around the streets, what option do we have left but to EAT! EAT! EAT!

First stop - Thursday evening - Golden Fork (A Chinese/Filipino restaurant near Al Ghurair Mall)

(photos taken by my roommie, Joyce)

After this humongous dinner, we should have been full, right? But no! There was something missing... we didn't order dessert. So what do we do? We stop by a grocery store and buy some ice-cream! woopeeh!!!

Friday:
We had no chance to eat breakfast the next day since we woke up at 10:30, just enough time for a coffee and a few episodes of I Am Legend (a Korean telenovela that we are watching) before preparing for church.

We had a beautiful, blessed service followed by a meal of chicken and fries with coleslaw. Then off to the grocery again to buy some snacks, in preparation for the continuation of our telenovela marathon.

Friday Evening:
After a short snooze while watching the Korean program, we decided to go out so we could walk for a while and stretch our muscles --- then get some pizza from Domino's.

I was actually still feeling kind of full because of the late heavy lunch and snacks afterwards, or so, I thought...

When we got home with the pizza, my mouth only stopped chewing when my tummy couldn't take it anymore. Why o why is food so tasty?

Now, you don't have to tell me... I know what you're thinking...and NO! We are not gluttons, we just have healthy appetites

Saturday:
Enough of the heavy meals! I was home-alone and it wasn't fun to pig-out by myself so I only had coffee and a slice of pizza for breakfast and lunch, topped with beef sinigang and rice for dinner.

And that, for me, is a very satisfying week-end. BURP!