Dubai Desert Safari and Happy Birthday Bryan

I'm going to start my Dubai travel diaries with one of the best experiences the hubs and I have ever had on a holiday - the desert safari.

We'd heard a lot about it and I had been stressing out about how to get on one because I had done lots of research, and emailed tons of tour agencies prior to getting to Dubai, and didn't get a single response. In the end, we booked our tour when we arrived, and based on the recommendation of our friend in Dubai, decided to go for the package that was sold at the counters of the Big Bus Tours, which are located at almost every major shopping centre in Dubai.

 

The package costs 275 uae dirhams (60 euros) per person, and included hotel pick-up and drop-off, desert sand bashing on a 4x4, camel riding, followed by dinner at a desert campsite, as well as traditional and belly dancing shows at dinner.

Our driver was an Indian national, Rashid, who's lived in Dubai for 17 years, and I must say we were very very very lucky to have gotten him. He was calm, sweet, and egged-on by our screams of thrills and exhilaration, proceeded to give us a whole lot of extra treatment during the sand bashing session. We saw so many other cars cutting corners, but our guy went the extra mile (literally) to give us the ride of our life. I personally love roller coasters and thrilling joy rides, so this was super duper (x10000000) cool for me. For the queasy ones, urmmm... you might prefer a calmer driver.

And being in the desert at sunset is something else. I felt like the boy in the Alchemist. Awe-inspired. Blessed. Filled with wonderment. Bliss. Bliss. Bliss.

And as always, some tips:
1. Wear boots or sneakers or flip flops. Or like me, you'll end up barefooted because the sand just jumps into your pretty little flats. And you'll spend the next few days dealing with sandy shoes.
2. It is COLDDDD in the desert. Depends on how you look at, we were lucky/unlucky with the weather in Dubai this time. Average night temperatures in the city were around 19 degrees celcius (66° fahrenheit). Temperatures in the desert go down many, many, many more celcius at nights. Imagine that, coupled with the wind! Felt like 10°. Now imagine me in my light summer clothing. FREEZING! I looked at some very prepared Japanese tourists in their down feather jackets and really wanted to cuddle up to them.
3. Wear white. It photographs beautifully in the dessert. I wish I wore white pants too.

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Today, I also wanna wish my darling Bryan, a very happy birthday. I love you so much littlest brother! You're so handsome and adorable and wonderful and caring and loving and understanding!!!! I think of you all the time, and love the moments when I get to hug you, dance with you, drink with you, and just hang with you. Here's a quote that I loved best from the Alchemist, which I've bought for you as one of your birthday presents to get you to read and inspire you to find your bliss :)) 

 

“What you still need to know is this: before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one “dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.”

Onboard the Russian Destroyer - Admiral Panteleyev

So, when I was visiting Phnom Penh recently, three Russian Navy ships bound for a mission in Somalia made a stop at the docks of Sihanoukville. My friend, who is, like, super duper important, was invited by the Russian Military to visit the monster Destroyer. Lucky me got to tag along. and behold are some very cool pictures of me on this nuclear powered machine.

I can't really give you a good commentary as our guide had a very thick Russian accent, and I was more concerned about not tripping and falling and getting good photos than listening to military talk. I can tell you though that the four round things (numbered 1,2,3,4) are one of the many nuclear weapons onboard. And the chair I was sitting in was the Captain's chair, and the men aboard the boat were not going to see land for the next 6 months as they parole the straits of Somalia for pirate activities. Oh, and that pic of me squished between two men whilst grinning awkwardly? On the left's the Russian Military General or Colonel to Cambodia, and on the right's the Captain of the ship.

The rest, je ne sais pas. I so would not be a good spy.

 

Silence of the lamb

I keep a very low profile when huge changes are going on in my life.
So, as you can see from the lack of posts in the past two months, MANY life changing things are happening at this point. I can't share much here now, but thought I should at least document the bits and pieces of the past two months in my recent very colourful life as I turn 32 today.
Yes, I've turned 32. It's a little scary when I look at that number, but I can honestly say I still feel 21. Young, gawky and oh-so optimistic.
Anyway, come what may, here's to blue skies, rainbows and happily ever afters for me, Beyonce, and everyone else born today. :p
And to all of you reading, thanks so much for being a part of my journey - literally or virtually, you're all so very appreciated :)

Circa Aug 2011. The Malaysian Buddy Bear in Berlin. The Buddy Bears were 'born' and founded in Berlin. Countries from all over the world paint and decorate their respective bears, and then the bears go on tour all over the world promoting unity and solidarity. They've been in all five continents and are now back in Berlin. I was so excited when I managed to catch the bears on a recent trip to Berlin again, and went in alphabetical order to look at each and every single bear. I saw all bears from America to Zimbabwe, but could not find the Malaysian Bear. To say I was disappointed is really a gross understatement. Then one fine day as we were driving past the Malaysian Embassy in Berlin, I see this boy standing in front of it all alone, far far away from all his friends. I was thrilled and took this picture, but to this day still wonder why in the world does our Buddy Bear stand in solitude whilst all the other Buddy Bears are all together so happily, promoting world unity?

Circa Aug 2011. Friends in Phnom Penh. It's a small, mixed up world. In a table of 4 people, blood, cultures and ties of Cambodian, French, Moroccan, Malaysian, Filipino, Chinese, Lebanese, Scottish, Luxembourgish and Portugese are represented.

Circa Aug 2011.

I love love. 'Nuff said :)

Circa Aug 2011. Included in this post just cos (I think) I look pensive and reflective.

 Circa Aug 2011. Berlin Streets. And I love my tee.

Circa July 2011. Super daddy at one of our lovely dimsum jaunts at home/

Circa July 2011. I heart tom yum mee hoon. Despite the terrifying MSG aftermath, I still salivate looking at this pic. I've said this before but I'll say it again. Yum yum tom yum :)

Circa July 2011. At our fave sui-jiow and wo-tie shop.

Circa July 2011. I love this pic. Shiny shiny star bright.

Circa July 2011. Coconut water on a hot afternoon after a massive MSG attack = life saver.

 Circa July 2011. Pan Mien at my current fave kopitiam in KK.  Love good food and leisurely breakfasts with Super Mi and my Sario clan.

Circa July 2011. Le final Harry Potter in 3D. So sad it's over and they're all grown up now.

Circa July 2011. When I played model and caught up with all my beloved old friends.

Circa July 2011. Camhoring, and caught red handed by the reflection of our sunglasses.

 Circa July 2011. Reminiscent of a breezy and perfectly lovely sunset experience @ Sunset Bar.

 Circa Aug 2011. Cousins reunited in Luxembourg.

 Circa July 2011. Woai my sisters. So dearly. 

 Circa July 2011. An almost perfect long haul flight (when unable to fly on Business or First) = emergency exit seats, funny socks, flight blankie, thrashy magazine and hubby's shoulder to sleep on.

Circa Aug 2011. Another one of the one I love most ardently, my most exemplary vegetable (inside joke).

 Circa August 2011. Trees in a Luxembourg Park. Birds chirping, kids laughing, slight breeze, blue skies. Pure bliss.

 Circa Aug 2011. Corn on cob at a friend's BBQ session on a cool Luxembourgish summer evening. Days like these make me feel so so blessed.

Circa Aug 2011. How I ended up in the Museum of Video Games in Berlin. A story for another time.

 Circa Aug 2011. Card games with Luxembourgish besties. Stress. Fun. All rolled in one.

Nom. Nom. Nom. Nom.

Everyday of my life.

And this pic is here just cos I love my dress so much. :) :) :)