Desert Safari Dubai Experience

ABBEY: After a tour at Al Fahidi fort we went back to the hotel to refresh and prepare for our Desert Safari tour. We booked it via the hotel for 230AED per person with the inclusion of hotel pickup and drop-off, ATV tour (separate charge if you will ride the ATV), desert cruise, dinner with dance entertainment, camel ride, and sand boarding.

Even though I got dizzy cruising in the sea of sand on a 4x4, I really enjoyed the view after our stop in the middle of the desert. We took snaps of the sunset. It’s just like I was in Aladdin scene. Haha. The sand seems to be alive as it being blown by the wind. This helps contour the sand hills. 

The dinner was superb and full of flavor. I got grilled mutton, fish, pasta, and veggie patties. While having dinner, belly and tanoura dancers show us their graceful moves.

WILL: I never expected to experience the desert..the camel..the sand in real life. This is really a grace from above; thanking NEM Family for this opportunity. 

So what’s with the desert? The feeling of I am in different world. It totally reminds me of Aladdin, one of my favourite Disney cartoon. OMG! Yeah, dreams really do come true. Ok! Enough of my gratefulness words haha. 

I think, this is really a must-do for every tourist of Dubai. Not everyday you will be having a buffet dinner at the middle of nowhere in the desert right? Alluring belly dancing, dizzying tanoura dance and dangerous fire dance - that’s the entertainment part. Camel ride, sand boarding and henna tattoo is up to you to experience. But nothing beats the dune bashing. Haha! 

Splendid happiness! 

Spectacle Hut: Designer Glasses & Sunglasses

ABBEY: It was this time of the year that our eyes needs to be checked and replace our specs. We went to Spectacle Hut and found our aviator sunglasses.

I thought the pair wouldn’t suit my eyes but they feel and looks nice. I have them as transition lenses and I look like Maverick (Top Gun) whenever I’m out in the sun. Additional pogi points.

Spectacle Hut: Designer Glasses & Sunglasses

WILL: It is time to change spectacles. Abbey and I, being adventurous, we chose to have the fad, a huge rimmed glasses that is  a fashion around 1970s. Spectacle Hut is a home for a variety of those and they are having a promotion. Lucky us! 

The service at Plaza Singapura and Waterway Point just differs a little. Punggol branch is more helpful in finding the right design for me. Hahah. For this year, no increase or decrease of the lenses. Carrots, sleep and sunlight helped us on taking extra care for our eyes. 

We are blessed because it is reimbursable through Abbey’s company. We are lucky that Spectacle Hut is on promotion, no need to top-up some bucks! 

***

Spectacle Hut: Designer Glasses & Sunglasses

(W) https://www.spectaclehut.com

(B) WaterWay Point | Plaze Singapura 

Grain Traders @ CapitaGreen - Build Your Own Healthy Bowl

ABBEY: What a way to start your day is to have a breakfast. Haha. The place? Grain Traders. They’re spot in Singapore’s central business district gives the diners a homey feel in the bustling city. 

I got pita bread with cream cheese spread, topped with fresh spinach, a couple of pickled cucumbers and pulled pork.

The bread is soft and goes well with the cheese. It’s what pita bread and cream cheese do. The pulled pork is sweet and not dry and the cucumber gave a sour twist on each bite. All were wash down with a cup of cappuccino.

Grain Traders @ CapitaGreen
Make Your Own Breakfast

Grain Traders @ CapitaGreen
Hero Bowls

Grain Traders @ CapitaGreen
Bagel with Pulled Pork

Grain Traders @ CapitaGreen
Pita Bread and Pulled Pork

WILL: Business District is packed with diners that offers an array of choices. And of course, a bandwagon of healtier food is there..one of those is Grain Traders. 

I went for my favourites! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Bagel for my base, cream cheese my spread, pulled pork for my protein, sautéed mushroom and alfafa for my veggies! Bite after bite is an indulgence for my tastebuds! It is a feast! 

I can eat those for days! Ahm, even month! The good thing is, it is only a block away from BitTemple! Bagel! Bagel! Bagel! 

***

Grain Traders

(W)http://www.grain-traders.com

(H)Monday to Friday - 8AM to 8PM

(A)#01-01/02/03, 138 Market Street CapitaGreen 048946

Haakon Superfoods & Juice

ABBEY: It is Nadine’s birthday and she invited us over dinner at Haakon Superfoods (One Raffles Place). 

I ordered vegetarian bibimbap. It is the usual bibimbap mix except for brown rice and mushroom; replacing the meat. The food was full of flavor and light. You won’t even notice that you’re eating without meat. 

It is also a good catch up with our friend after a recent event organized overseas.

Haakon Superfoods & Juice
Umami Tofu with Brown Rice 

Haakon Superfoods & Juice
Vegetarian Bibimbap

WILL: To celebrate Nadine’s birthday and success on  MARMOMAC Verona Italy she treated us at Haakon Superfoods and Juice. 

I ordered Umami Tofu and Brown Rice ($10.90). It is indeed have this umami flavour. The taste will keep you munching for more. The charred broccoli and sautéed baby corn have this crunchy texture. Healthy and yummy option! 

Superhuman eats Superfoods — Haakon! Wootwoot! 

***

Haakon Superfoods & Juice

(W)

https://www.haakon.com.sg/

(H) Mon-Fri: 7.30am to 8.30pm / Saturday: 10.30am to 4pm / Sundays/PH: Closed

(A) 1 Raffles Place, #01-11/12

Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort

ABBEY: After Gitex, we got some time to roam around Dubai. Dubai Museum was our first destination. It was located in one of their major forts in earlier years; Al Fahidi Fort. 

The first occupations were pearl diving and fishing. The forts were built as protection to invaders as their location is susceptible to it. Replica of houses and boats were exhibited as well as souks (shops). Features like windtowers help to cool down the house and the inhabitants. There were also write-ups for dresses, accessories, religion, culture and lifestyle to help visitors understand Dubai more. 

Their leaders have vision to improve the emirate and the result can be seen nowadays.

Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort
Al Sambuk

Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort
Wall of Old Dubai

WILL: Before we want to explore each place, we would love to go first to it’s museum and gladly Dubai has one. It is for us to know of course the history and beginnings of each place before they reached the latest state of its land. 

As expected, we found wisdom. I learned that not long time ago, Dubai is a fishing and pearl divers village. Exceptionally and unexpectedly they are sitting on a huge amount of oil beneath them. And the rest, as they have said is history. 

The museum was built on the fort and that explains we need to spiral down to reach the displays. The musuem was dark but lit enough to see your way and to read on the diagrams. This is how dark it is living on those times at a desert. 

Dubai Museum costs only AED3 and for history buffs, this is a must see place.  

***

Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort 

(H) 830AM - 830PM | Friday 230PM - 830PM

(A) Al Fahidi Area - Bur Dubai

Pretzel World at La Mer, Dubai

ABBEY: We dined in Pretzels World at La Mer. They boast that their pretzels are baked not fried. They can guarantee it. Why? They will roll it, garnish it, and bake it in front of you. 

I was so happy when the pastry chef is putting cheese on the pretzel. It was soft, delicious and best partnered with coffee.

Pretzel World at La Mer, Dubai 

Pretzel World at La Mer, Dubai
Swiss Cheese

WILL: NEM Middle East Team is so generous to lend us their valuable time to roam us around at Dubai. They picked us up at Dubai Mall after our breakfast at The Cafe - Burj Khalifa and straight away went to La Mer. 

Now, it became a reality. The photos I am seeing only in Social Media is now just before my eyes. It feels that I am not in a UAE, it feels that I am in USA! Haha! 

There’s a huge array of food selection and because we are too early, few stores are open and one of those is Pretzel World. Team had the breakfast. 

I ordered of course, cheese— pretzel and a hot water. The dough and cheese is not a bad thing. Gosh! Cheese is bubbling and melting in front of us. You order, they bake. It is chewy and not an airy dough. This is a real hit to children and child-at-heart.

***

Pretzel World

(F)https://www.facebook.com/pg/LaMerDubai 

(H)9AM - 12MN

(A)La Mer Dubai

(T)+971 800 637227

  

At The Top | Burj Khalifa - The World's Tallest Building

ABBEY: Like visiting Merlion Park in Singapore, you didn’t visit Dubai if you haven’t gone to Burj Khalifa. 

We booked a pair of tickets for AED280 to watch the sunrise at 124th storey of the skyscraper and we reached it in less than a minute. It was fast. No sea of clouds during our visit and we enjoyed the view from the top. The building was completed after 6 years and it houses Armani Hotel. 

Breakfast of croissant and coffee were also included in the ticket.

Burj Khalifa - The World's Tallest Building

WILL: Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world. Full stop! But well, for now. Hahaha!

We went to Chicago’s the ever first tallest building and we are amazed how tall it is! And oh my gosh! When we saw the Burj Khalifa, it seems we spend hours to see check it out from top to bottom. It is really standing tall and proud that on every other infrastructures that surround it. 

I am thinking that we might spend few minutes inside the elevetor but hey we don’t. We were shot from base to level 145 under 1 minute. A blink of an eye. Super! 

When we are at the top, all I want to do stare at magic of sunrise. For a short period of time, I contemplated how small the people were, the cars and houses from above. Murmured my gratefulness to the ALMIGHTY, when you are there, almost touching the clouds, you will remember HIS greatness. 

One tip. Take the breakfast package. It is cheaper and have a free coffee and croissant after your trip up! 

***

At The Top | Burj Khalifa - The World's Tallest Building 

Book Your Ticket Here: https://bit.ly/2Dw85bR

(A)1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Swissotel Al Ghurair - Luxury Hotel In Dubai

ABBEY: Swissotel Al-Ghurair became our home during our 7-day stay in Dubai. The staffs warmly welcomed us and really attended to our needs; like supplying us with bottles of water, vanity kits, and shower gel upon request. The bed is soft and comfortable as well as the pillows. What I liked the most is the shower. It feels like rain giving me a nice soft massage. It refreshed me after each working day at Gitex. We also have Nespresso machine.

Our buffet breakfast is at Liwan (3rd floor). I indulged in their omelettes and sunny side up, pineapple fried rice, stir fry noodles, cheese za’atar, cold cuts, turkey bacon, sausage, juice and coffee.

We visited the gym only once due to time constraints. But it has lots of equipments like cable and smith machines, free weights, barbell, kettle ball, treadmills, and resistant bands.

We also made our Desert Safari tour at Swissotel for 230AED per person.

There’s only one incident that I was asked if they can scan Wilma’s ID. I told the security that she was my wife. Then they apologized. I don’t know what is that for but it left us puzzled.

Swissotel Al Ghurair - Luxury Hotel In Dubai

Swissotel Al Ghurair - Luxury Hotel In Dubai

Video from 0:33 to 1:16

WILL: First of all, again thanks to NEM for this wonderful trip. Hehe. And to Ms Lourdes Bermudo of Gulf Rain Travel and Tourism who applied for our visas, arranged our plane and the Swissotel Hotel booking. Lourdes extraordinarily phoned the reception and requested to give us a good view. Naks! Service to the max! 

So what about the Swissotel? The room is fine. There’s a bathroom/bathtub and still the questionable for me and Abbey is the the two different toilet bowls. This is the second time we saw this kind. 

The white sheets smell and feel clean, but the color gold cover at the bottom of the bed have a numerous stains. The towels as instructed was changed regularly and the room service is excellent.

Breakfast buffet is simple. For our stay of 7-days, I do not see something that is worthy for a second plate. 

All in all, we felt home at Swissotel. Thanks Swissotel for accommodating the NEM team during GITEX event. 

***

Swissotel Al-Ghurair

(W) https://www.swissotel.com/hotels/dubai/

(A) PO Box 185060, Omar Bin Al Khattab Road, Near Fish Roundabout, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

(T) 97142933000

Gulf Rain Travel and Tourism

(W) gulfrain.com

(A) PO Box 39884 Dubai UAE |Abu Hail Centre 

(T) 04 268 0052

Emirates (Singapore - Dubai - Singapore)

ABBEY: We flew with Emirates Airlines for our trip to Dubai for Gitex Technology Week. The aircraft was Boeing 777-300 and it was huge. It was an 8-hour flight but I didn’t get bored with inflight entertainment of new movies, TV shows and documentaries. The food was also nice. I got salad, chili chicken, omellete and fish curry.

I was asked to stop filming upon I entered the plane.

There is a funny thing that happened when we checked in for our flight back to Singapore. We asked for aisle seats. Silly me, I made it plural so me and Wilma got two different seats. So we told that we only want one aisle seat. Turned out that Kathleen (Emirate staff at the counter in DBX for 7:45AM flight) gave us a window seat. Haha.

The landing is superb as I didn’t feel that the wheels already touched the ground.

Emirates' Menu for Singapore to Dubai

Will's On-Plane Request for Vegetarian Food =) 

A&W's Dubai Detour - Part 1 

Emirates' Menu for Dubai to Colombo

Emirates' Menu for Colombo to Singapore

WILL: Emirates! Wow! One of the prestigious airline in the world. Again, thank you NEM for giving this opportunity to be onboard in this plane. 

Emirates entertainment gave us a wide variety of choices. From Bollywood to Hollywood, to Filipino and European movies, cartoons, games and even live news! Oh darn! There are documentaries! Good job ICE! 

Service is excellent! Why? I didn’t send them a request, I am assuming that they will have a fish meal. Voila! They only offered beef and chicken on the flight from Singapore. So, I requested a vegetarian meal. The flight attendant went back with bowl of salad. Haha! I have this positive feeling, that came from first class cabin. Haha! Thanks Emirates! 

The seat is comfortably nice. Do not hesitate to recline the seat, it won’t bother the passenger behind you. There is enough legroom for my husband too! 

Thanks Emirates. Hope to be your passenger again! 

***

Emirates

https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/

NEM at GITEX Future Stars Dubai 2018

ABBEY: We were invited to help in introducing and promoting NEM blockchain technology in Gitex Tech Week in Dubai. A booth of NEM was setup under blockchain category and 10 of its projects were also there. It is a great experience to interact with people from various industries, government and education (students included). We also approached other exhibitors for collaboration.

Keynote speeches, futuristic technologies (humanoid robots, flying cars), and arcade games like basketball shootout and air hockey gave the attendees and exhibitors a break from normal routine. Popcorn, hot drinks and cookies flowed at the event. There are also stores for quick snack and lunch.

The highlight for NEM is the MOU signing with Ministry of Community Development (Government of Dubai). This gave the foundation recognition for being a great blockchain platform.

WILL: "Wilma, I need you in Dubai!" Huwaaat?! Well, a man from HQ gave me a heads-up two weeks before. (Still, nothing beats my Ma’am Weng. Haha. She will tell you on the afternoon, and your flight will be tomorrow morning. Haha). 

As a volunteer, it is a moment that you will feel appreciated. Even though we will be there to help the NEM Middle East Team in day time, Abbey and I can make sometime to catch up with our friends and relatives in Dubai. Thank you to NEM FAMILY! 

So what we have in GITEX? We are surrounded by startup from different countries. Wondering why there is no Singapore presence there. Big booths was occupied by startup hubs. There is a room for investors lounge and there too much fun in the area. There’s free basketball, air hockey, free coffee and popcorn! Yum! 

The other hall consists of big boys! Huge boots of Huawei, Oracle and many more! 

Next booth was all white and you know why! That’s the hall of government agencies for all of the emirates. New projects, robotics and NEM MoU with Ministry of Community Development (MOCD) Government of Dubai was signed here. 

NEM will power MOCD’s notarizarion, voting and registry. Wooohooo! Well done NEM Middle East Team! 

We met people from different projects and government who we are seeing to have future collaboration with NEM. 

Thanks GITEX and NEM team! We learned many things just from observing! 

Till next event guys! :) 

***

NEM.io Foundation 

(W)https://nem.io

(F) https://www.facebook.com/ourNEM/

(T) https://t.me/nemhelpdesk

Siam Square Mookata: Cheap Mookata in Punggol

ABBEY: After a 14-km bike ride from home and roaming around Coney Island we had our mookata at Siam Square. 

We picked 10 items on the menu like a couple of pork belly slices, mushroom, pork liver, shrimp, balls, cheese, and a heap of veggies. They made the soup tasty. I liked their chilli dips. It gave kick as I munch on those pork slices. The cheese is combination of mozzarella and cheddar and yes we got cheese strings as we pull. 

WILL: We want to cycle around Punggol and glad that our friends joined us to Coney Island. And for your information, the shortest way to that Island is under construction. So, we circle to another path. :) 

It is tiring! OMG! Really tiring and we got an excuse to splurge on our dinner. We got Siam Square Mookata! Be early as it is get full by 630pm. 

So what we got? Cheeesseeeee! The thin slice grilled pork deep into the melted cheese is epic! Yumm! We ordered pork liver too for our friend Shane and more plates of pork. Darn! It is affordable. Our stomach is full and yet we we payed for only $11each! 

Recommendable! Good food with a good view! 

***

Siam Square Mookata

(W) https://siamsquaremookata.com.sg

(H) 3PM - 3AM

(A) Building 3 Punggol Point #02-01 The Punggol Settlement

(T) 8119 6664

Venom (2018)

ABBEY: We haven’t watched in cinema for a while. So I requested if we can watch Venom. Wilma booked a pair of IMAX 3D tickets.

Now I’m confused. Is Venom a hero or a villain? The movie is having a “Deadpool vibes” as the characters keep on throwing punchlines and jokes. Tom Hardy acted good though. I do hope that in sequel, they will show more the adventures of Eddie Brock-Venom tandem and how he went to the dark side.

Venom (2018)

WILL: Abbey keep on bugging me for us to have a movie date. I am really sorry, that I do not have time to go and I am thinking that there’s no worthy and good movie to watch and spend money. Haha. 

At last, Venom came. I am not a comic reader so I am expecting that this Venom movie will be dark. Hellloooo! Villain movie! But I am wrong. Venom is the hero on this! I laughed few times. Not really what I expect. Haha. 

Good movie? Hmmm 7/10. 

***

Shaw Theatre Waterway Point IMAX 3D

(W) www.shaw.sg

(A) B2-11, Waterway Point, 83 Punggol Central, 828761

(T) 6738 0555

Suki-ya | Japanese Hot Pot @ Marina Square

ABBEY: Chan and Ice dropped by here in Singapore when they had vacation in Philippines. We had dinner at Suki-Ya (eat-all-you-can sukiyaki and shabu-shabu) at Marina Square. We got two soup bases: shabu-shabu and sukiyaki). 

Along with it is an endless serving of thin slices of beef and pork. We really enjoyed cooking them as well as other items like noodles, mushrooms, vegetables, pork and chicken balls with cheese. The soups are not overpowering; not too sweet nor salty. 

Nice time to catch up.

Suki-ya | Japanese Hot Pot @ Marina Square
Vegetable Selection

Suki-ya | Japanese Hot Pot @ Marina Square
with ChanChan and Aiz

Suki-ya | Japanese Hot Pot @ Marina Square
Dessert and Meat Balls Selection

WILL: We have visitors from down under and I am sorry to say that I decided where to eat haha! Because I am missing hotpot, we’ve done a reservation on suki-ya (Marina Square) through eatigo. 

Suki-ya will only give 80-minutes to indulge with their offerings. Starving that time and I want to do is put someting in my tummy haha. After few minutes, I started to hook on conversation with Aiz, TianTian and Mama. Donya Buding is not in the mood to talk to us. Hahaha! 

So what’s great with the choices of food? You will definitely fall in love with the fish balls with oozing cheese. Finely sliced pork is great too! Yes! The balls is surely a hit for me. :) 

***

Suki-Ya | Japanese Hot Pot @ Marina Square

(W)https://suki-ya.com.sg

(H)Monday to Thursday:  11:30am – 3:00pm, 6:00pm – 10:00pm 

/ Friday - Sunday:  11:30am – 10:00pm

(A)6 Raffles Boulevard #02-183B/C Marina Square 039594 

(T)6337 9969

Spicy Ginataang Pechay

Ingredients:

3-4 bundles of pechay (cut into strips)

1 tetra pack of coconut milk

1/2 kilo pork (cut into thin slices)

3 chilli (minced)

1 medium onion (sliced)

4 cloves garlic (minced)

Sauté onion then garlic. Add in the pork and fry until brown. Put a cup of water and bring to a boil. Cook it until it’s tender. Put water as necessary. Have most of the water evaporate and then add the chilli and pechay.

Mix in the coconut milk and simmer for a few minutes.

Add salt to taste and serve.

VERDICT
WILL: This spicy ginataang pechay is somewhat a healthier choice if you are missing Bicol Express. 

You will indulge in the greens, spiciness and creaminess of this viand. Oh, please do not cheat yourself in cooking this. The main ingredient is Pechay not the pork ok? Haha. 

Happy eating! 

Spicy Cereal Fish Recipe

This is a variation of Cereal Prawn Recipe.

Ingredients:

4 fish fillets (cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 stalk of curry leaves
Potato starch
2-3 tablespoon butter
1 pack of ready mix cereal
1-2 minced chili padi

Season the fish with pepper only as the ready mix cereal is already salty.

Cover them with potato starch and then fry (double fry). Set aside.

Melt the butter in a pan.
Put in the curry leaves follow by the cereal mix and chili.
Once the cereal absorbed the butter, throw in the fish. Mix well until the fish are covered with cereal.

Enjoy.

Spicy Cereal Fish 

VERDICT
WILL: Missing the cereal prawn but Abbey have allergies with shrimps, to stop the craving, Abbey cooked cereal fish! 

The fish is crunchy and the cereal’s spiciness and aroma of curry leaves... mmm.. yummy! 

This is the great way to re-create your leftover fish. Happy dining!