Al Mubazzarah Historical Dam in Al Ain

I have previously written about the Al Mubazzarah Historical Dam in Al Ain although it was a small excerpt in Historical Al Ain. Recently we return with proper footwear and a picnic to explore a bit more.

There still appears to be some work going on as we saw wheelbarrows in neat rows.

I would love to know more about the specific rocks found here as they are quite fascinating, possibly smoothed down by an ancient river?

This would be a great place to take children along for a bit of exploring.

Top of Jebel Hafeet

Picnic stations along the way up Jebel Hafeet

At the base of Jebel Hafeet there is a picnic/camping area with washrooms and, of all things, a Hardees, Krispee Kreme and another fast food restaurant. We packed a picnic though and made our way up the mountain. At the top it is cooler so bring along a jacket.

Now that the winter temperatures are upon us take sometime during the weekend and explore a bit of the UAE. Many people live here but do they actually see the outside places? The UAE is much more then Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it has nooks and crannies that are waiting to explore. Make like the National Geographic slogan and "live curious".

An Al Wasl Stroll and Book Munch

I delight in finding new little places in Dubai to lose myself in and one of them is Al Wasl. Located close to Safa Park and with plenty of walking routes Al Wasl is a peaceful little weekend retreat. Happening upon Book Munch was a pleasant surprise indeed. 

I truly love a good book and when that is paired with a good cup of tea and some breakfast treats I am in a blissful state. 

Take a seat and enjoy a cuppa.

Deciding on the Ricotta Pancakes was no easy feat as the menu is thoughtfully designed with diverse choices.  But I am quite glad I did as the pancakes were fluffy and clearly home made; the ricotta cheese in the centre toned down the sweetness of the dish. And the accompanying honey comb butter was truly a nectar of the goods. There was also banana and berries served with the Ricotta Pancakes (possibly to tone down the naughtiness of the dish?)

Ricotta Pancakes

There is plenty of diverse seating in Book Munch but if you will be eating something more substantial then I recommend taking a proper table and chairs as you will hunch over less.

The team at Book Munch is also very lovely and friendly. I felt quite at home here.

You can grab a book off the shelf here and read while you enjoy your meal without being obligated to buy it, though if you dirty it you buy it.

To finish this post I will leave you with a lovely quote I found in a book once:

"There is no friend as faithful as a good book. There is no worse robber than a bad book"

*as per the norm this is not a sponsored post

What to wear when riding

The UAE is, thank goodness, an equestrian hot spot. From endurance and show jumping to desert hacks and polo clubs we have an abundance of equine pursuits to indulge in.  But what to wear? Each discipline has its own official and unofficial dress code and unless you wish to go into showing the below will suffice for desert hacks or if you are just starting.

Clothes for riding

Most important of all is a properly fitted horse riding helmet. Notice how clear I am on the type. A helmet is the most important item in terms of safety, take it from someone who has fallen twice from a cantering horse.

What you wear on top is dependent on the riding conditions just make sure it is breathable, Your jodhpurs should be comfortable and allow sufficient movement make sure there is nothing to make you chafe. Your riding boots are a personal choice. Some people prefer a full boot others, like myself, wear jodhpur boots with a pair of half chaps (bottom right).

For those who are beginning to ride Decathlon is an excellent place to start with your purchase and they have a good selection at different price points. Dubai being Dubai you can get literally anything at whatever price point you want; I suggest you start at a lower price point, but still a good quality, and if you decide that equestrianism is something you want to stick with then moving onto better items.

Being an equestrian means being disciplined and trusting not only yourself but your horse. This is not an easy sport to be in but it is beautiful and freeing. To leave you the below is a video titled: Equestrianism: It's Quite a Unique Sport. Enjoy!

How the E-Gate Card saved my sanity

I have this wonderful talent for picking the longest queue in the airport. Leaving was never an issue but coming back I would usually wait an hour in the immigration queue. Definitely not a talent you would want. One day though I learned just how easy it was to get an E-Gate Card. Fifteen minutes and AED320 later I was the proud, and very much relieved, owner of an E-Gate Card.

What is an E-Gate Card you ask? It allows UAE visitors and residents to  enter Dubai and Abu Dhabi at the airport without having to wait in long passport queues by presenting the card and your fingerprint at the E-Gate reader or scanning machines at immigration and passport control departing from and arriving in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Basically this card is a little miracle worker.

Where can you get one? I got mine in Terminal 1, take the escalator up to the first floor by the Emirates NDB money exchange, the E-Gate Card will be on the left. The woman there was super friendly (and it was 01h00 in the morning). She took my passport, and one passport sized picture though apparently they can also take your picture, you will then be sent down to the Emirates NBD to pay for the E-Gate Card and when  you get back up with your receipt your E-Gate card is ready to go. Easy like that and valid for two years.

Get yourself one of these! image from:uaegate.ae

Dubai Fruit & Vegetable Market

Whether you shop daily, weekly or monthly for your groceries visit the Dubai Fruit & Vegetable Market if you have not already done so. The selection is massive to the say least but you will notice that many stalls sell similar items. My suggestion is to find someone you like and stick with them. Loyalty or the illusion of loyalty is, in my case, rewarded.

The gentlemen at the fruit stall that I visit are always smiling and will make sure I receive nice produce and will slip in some extra bananas or mandarins for me.

Fruits galore!

The lovely gentleman at the fruit stand I frequent

And of course, vegetables.

The Dubai Fruit and Vegetable market is located in Ras al Khor Industrial area and easily accessable from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (when going south bound it is just passed Mirdiff City Centre). The market is also conveniently located next to Union Coop so it is great for one stop shopping. Be aware though that Union Coop will not have the same selection as Carrefour but it has some great deals.If you are purchasing a large amount of fruit and vegetables a trolley guy will only set you back AED10 so give them a tip.

I recommend going earlier in the morning especially in the summer months as there is no air conditioning.

Happy shopping and load up on some healthy fruit and veg!

A taste of Autumn

There comes that time of year when #PSL is used again and people await the aromas of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg. In Dubai we are missing the scent of dried leaves and the crunch of dried leaves under our feet. We don't get to experience the biting winds which precede winter nor do we get to take out the racks for one final attack on the remaining maples leaves that blanket our lawns. We we do have though is Starbucks; ready and willing to indulge our craving for the taste of autumn. I take mine tall, one pump of syrup, no whipped cream and a dash (or three) of cinnamon. Maybe next season we will even be graced with the Pumpkin Scone, one can only hope. For a more humourous approach to the Pumpkin Spice Latte craze check out this article from the Canadian weekly, Maclean's.

Cinnamon Roll and a tall Pumpkin Spice Latte

So where are you enjoying your #PSL? And do you miss about Autumn?

A Dubai Escape and Ramadan Reflection

Now that we are in the first week of Ramadan Dubai slows down a bit, less tourist, expats and just people in general. Work hours shorten and invitations to an Iftar are inevitable. It is a time to reflect and think back on the good times and the not so good times that we have had. I feel that Ramadan puts me into a introspective mood. One of these things I think back on and smile about was a trip to Oman a couple weeks back. It was an ideal little weekend escape and it brought us high into Jebel Ackdar outside of Nizwa. I am going to let the pictures do the talking. Have a wonderful Ramadan and if you are wondering where to head in Eid try making a camping trip to Oman, it is worth it.

At the abandon village at the base of Jebel Ackdar

At the abandon village at the base of Jebel Ackdar

Tom and Serg: an Al Quoz hotspot

Al Quoz continues to suprise. Maybe it was that having three rather fantastic bistro/breakfast style restaurants in what is usually considered an industrially area threw me off but I did not expect this. Near the Times Square Centre in Al Quoz is not only a Lime Tree Café but also Tom and Serg and The One Café (which I have yet to try). Tom and Serg was suggested to me by a friend and I am so very glad she did.

A large and light flooded place, Tom and Serg seems to be quite the meeting place. On a Saturday we were quite glad to have met at 09h30 because later it got quite busy. And I was always under the impression that nothing happened before 12h00 in Dubai.

Coffee artistry

Our Gado Salad

Pumpkin Squash Croquette

The Our Gado salad was a big hit with both sets of friends that I have gone here with. And the menu, though small, is still quite diverse. What I found that stood out in particular was how fresh the food, and ingredients in general, tasted. Serve is wonderful and friendly; the general vibe really does take influence from the Aussie coffee culture.

Tom and Serg draws a diverse crowd from young families to students studying and professionals having a lunch during work hours. Parking, both paid and unpaid, is in abundance and Tom and Serg can be the prefect respite from shopping at Ace Hardware which is just around the corner. 

At.mosphere

At.mosphere in Burj Khalifa is a must visit if you are looking for a more indulgent way of enjoying the Burj Khalifa and its magnificent view of Dubai. Having been there twice now I can safely say that both times the service has been lovely. And the view cannot be beat. Getting there at the start of high tea (during the weekday we were able to get in at 14h30) will generally guarantee you a window table. And really, where else would you want to sit?

Unlike some of other high teas in Dubai, At.mosphere allows you to have different hot drinks, you can go from a latté to a tea and back again if you so wish. You will also be served a small hot appetizer and fresh fruit drink before the high tea display with its small desserts and sandwiches comes out. You will also be served scones as needed. Throughout your time there will also be live music. The first time I went there was a harpist and the second time we were serenaded by a live singer. 

With regards to dress code:

-Men: must wear shirt with collar and sleeves and closed shoes. Wearing shorts, bermudas, baggy or torn jeans, shirts with large/colourful prints and sports shoes are not allowed when visiting At.mosphere. Sandals are only allowed when worn with national dress.

-Women: are not allowed flip flops, baggy or torn jeans, shirts with large/colourful prints or sports shoes

View from the WC

Looking over Downtown Dubai

At.mosphere can be reached at +971 4 8883444 for reservations.

DubFest 2014

If you have nary a clue of what your upcoming weekend entails then head over to the Al Ghurair Centre in Deira. Running until the 29th of March, DubFest is a free event which brings together 30 different acts from break dancers to comedy and acrobatics and every child's favorite: the balloon sculptor. What's On did a small article on DubFest and the breakdancers in the video were preforming at Al Ghuraur Centre while my friend and I were there on the weekend.

We had gotten ourselves a table at Cafe Gerard and sat back to watch an acrobat from Australia.

The Aussie acrobat

The fearlessness, determination and training that must go into her routine is truly awe inspiring and our table at Cafe Gerard was the perfect place to view it from. We decided on a late lunch as well and went for mushroom soup, a turkey and cheese panini. The food was not bad, I feel that the panini could have had more fresh vegetables in it and taste wise it wise quite neutral. My friend also ordered a iced cappuccino which was delicious.

The panini with frites

Dancers inside Al Ghurair Centre

Al Ghurair Centre is easy to access from Union Metro Station especially for those who have no patience for driving in Deira; I am guilty of that. The event is free and runs until the 29th of March. The shows, of which there will be about 300, run from 16h to 23h on weekdays and 14h to 23h on weekends. Take your kidlets and have some fun enjoying the different shows at Al Ghurai Centre.

Dubai International Horse Fair 2014

Today starts the 10th Dubai International Horse Fair in the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event goes from the 20 to 22 of March. Unfortunately you cannot register online any more but there is still at the door registration available. Entry is free. Definitely go if you are a horse enthusiast or just to want to gather more information on equestrian activities in the UAE.

Show timings:

Day        Timings

Thursday (20th)          11 am - 8 pm

Friday (21st)               2 pm - 8 pm

Saturday (22nd)         11 am - 8 pm

Performance Arena Schedule:

Thursday 20th March

11:30 am: Dubai Police K9 Demonstration

1:00 pm: Polo Chukkas / Polo Cross Class

2:00 pm: Farrier Demonstration

2:30 pm: Spanish Horse Performance

3:30 pm: Spanish Horse Performance

4:30 pm:  Spanish Horse Performance

5:00 pm: Farrier Demonstration

5:30 pm: Polo Chukkas  / Polo Cross Class

Friday 21st March

2:15 pm: Farrier Demonstration

2:30 pm: Polo Chukkas / Polo Cross Class

3:00 pm: Farrier Demonstration

3:30 pm: Spanish Horse Performance

4:30 pm: Spanish Horse Performance

5:30 pm:  Spanish Horse Performance

6:30 pm: Polo Chukkas  / Polo Cross Class

Saturday 22nd March

11:15 am: Auctions Presentation

11:30 am – 7.00 pm: Horse Auction

Let me know what you think of it. Have a great weekend.

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Historical Al Ain

Unlike the rest of the emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates, the emirate of Abu Dhabi has two major cities: Abu Dhabi (our nations capital) and Al Ain. Far away from the coastal waters of the gulf, Al Ain is a border town straddling Oman. Popular for its designation as a "visa run" destination, Al Ain also boasts the impressive Jebel Hafeet and the lesser known Al Mubazzarah Historical Dam. Al Ain is popular as a summer destination for locals because of its cooler climate in the summer and in keeping with the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed it is wonderfully lush with greenery. On top of Jebel Hafeet is the Mercure Hotel where one can enjoy a meal out on the terrace restaurant overlooking the valley and desert below. Be sure to dress warmly, depending on when you go, as the temperature can be quite cool. The road which snakes up Jebel Hafeet is well maintained and has look out points along the way. Al Ain also has some old forts and museums which one can visit but be aware that on Friday they are only open from 15h00 to 17h00. The forts themselves are quite sparse as the below fort map will illustrate.

A rather sparse fort inside the city

Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain

looking into Al Jahili Fort

wall of the fort

Outside of the city on the way to Jebel Hafeet is the Al Mubazzarah Historical Dam which is located by a vacation village of small houses at the foot of Jebel Hafeet. There is a small sign explaining the historical significance of the site and is a good place to stretch your legs and let the kids explore around a bit it you have been in the car too long.

cliff face by the dam

on top of the dam

The Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Al Ain Hotel  is a great, albeit only, option for the top of Jebel Hafeet destination. Having lunch at the terrace restaurant over looking the valley and desert below was a lovely end to the trip. The service as well as the food was excellent.

driving up Jebel Hafeet

driving up Jebel Hafeet

at the Mercure restaurant

Al Ain is easy to visit from Dubai as you only need to follow the E66 (Dubai - Al Ain Road). From Abu Dhabi simply follow the E22 (the aptly named Abu Dhabi - Al Ain Road). Once in Al Ain there are plenty of signs directing you to different historic sites and the like.

* as per the norm this post is not sponsored

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The UAE is home to many fine examples of architecture: Burj Khalifa, Burj al Arab, Emirates Palace and, the most stunning jewel in its architectural crown, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi and can easily be reached from Dubai. The website offers maps for easy navigation. There is also plenty of covered parking at the mosque if you arrive by car.

Gulf News did a tour of the mosque which gives a nice overview of what you will see and expect when visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

As the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a fully functioning mosque it is important to observe the opening times of the mosque if you are not a Muslim. The mosque is available for all religions to tour and there is no entry fee to visit.

General visiting hours are from Saturday to Thursday 09h00 to 22h00 and you may walk through on your own. The last entry is at 21h30.

NOTE: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is closed for tourism activities (and open for worship) on Friday morning and opens again after 17h00.

When visiting the mosque you mus also follow the Islamic rules for dressing. There are abaya available for women who do not have the proper dress.

The below are photos from the last time I was at the mosque.

outside the mosque

Looking towards the prayer hall

Inside the prayer hall

Reflection pools

As the sun slowly sets

Gorgeous symmetry

Ladies/Goddess Night at Oeno

Ladies night: almost as big a Dubai institution as Friday brunch. The past Tuesday saw me down at The Westin Mina Seyahi after we had completed what was to be completed (apologies for being cryptic) we saw that we still had a moment to drop by Oeno for its ladies night. Though there it is called Goddess Night and rightfully so. We are all a goddess in our own right.

Goddess Night is every Tuesday from 19h-23h00 and includes unlimited bubbles for the goddesses. The Oeno site will give you a break down of the different offers they currently have and a good one to also try would be the Wind Down Nights which is on Wednesday from 20h-23h00 and for AED195 there are 50 wines to try as well as various cheeses and nibbles to enjoy while listening to a live band.

I quite liked the atmosphere and interior design of Oeno. It was definitely edging towards more of an industrial look compared to the rest of The Westin. It is layed out over two stories and also has a terrace outside. When you enter there is a giant wall of wine along the right side of the room and the inside contains various seating options. Definitely come here if you want to  try out some of the wine offerings that Dubai has. Cheers!

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