Merry Christmas from Dubai!

Mum and dad were visiting us from Malaysia ... so we took them to Dubai for the weekend :-)

We had a nice brunch at Dubai Mall's Social House - It was decorated very nicely in a yuletide fashion, and there was even a christmas menu :-)

We then took some free snappies outside Dubai Aquarium which is the flagship of Dubai Mall :-) Wonder if the Eagle Ray (Or mini Manta?) and sharks knew it was Christmas week!

We then went to Mall of Emirates - An interesting chair exhibition, contributed by local artists :-)

Tiffany and Co occupied the centre atrium with what I thought was a bit un-Tiffany like, with a "stall" ... Heh heh! Anyway, the tree was pretty and best of all was the Tiffany wreath!

 Tiffany blue :-)

 

More christmas festivities at MOE - Mall of Emirates ;-) Not the Ministry of Education!

Ski Dubai ... where it snows all year round :-)

Anyway .... Merry Christmas and lots of love and blessings from Abu Dhabi to those near and far. See you all in 2013!

Ember, The Address - Dubai Mall Christmas brunch

Located: Fashion Avenue in The Dubai Mall
Tel: +971 4 888 3444
Opening hours: 6.30 pm to 11.30pm (Dinner), Lunch (Friday and Saturdays) - 12:00pm - 4:00pm


Thanks to S and IC for the lovely treat at The Address Dubai Mall, in Ember ... Christmas brunch. About 250 AED per person for the non-alcoholic package. Timsum for starters ...


Good sashimi and sushi ... and delicious ceviche (Wikipedia describes this as a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of the Americas, especially Central and South America. The dish is typically made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime and spiced with chilli peppers).


Excellent seafood bisque and average foie gras on toast ...


Merry Christmas - Turkey and roast beef :-)

ps - Here's the view from the Dubai Mall as you walk on the outside :-)

Blessed Christmas to one and all, from Abu Dhabi!

MERRY CHRISTMAS :-)

I had the privilege of being invited to a friend's family Christmas party here in Abu Dhabi last night, on Christmas eve ...

Home cooked with love, roast chicken, sausages with pork bacon and all the trimmings ... It was wonderful!

Christmas cake sugi-style :-) and a Watermelon-inspired jelly too!

There was even home-made cookies :-) BLISS!

This was a wonderful treat, and I gave thanks and thought of all those of us who are away from our families this Christmas ... it reminded me of, Luke 2. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Merry Christmas - Corniche by night

Merry Christmas from Abu Dhabi!!

SLR: Nikon D7000

Accessories: MC-DC2 Nikon remote-release

Glass 1: Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 DX

Glass 2: Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

Tripod: Manfrotto 190DB

Ballhead: Manfrotto 496RC2

ADCO building ...

Etihad Towers in the distance ... Just opened! On the right, Emirates Palace.

One of many underpasses :-)

And ... my favourite building in Abu Dhabi, surpassing Aldar HQ and ADNEC ... Its the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).


Good night ... Merry Christmas to everyone, near and a-far :-)

Merry Christmas - Bangsar Shopping Centre

Christmas at BSC, Bangsar Shopping Centre, this year ...


We like BSC :-)

Hallaca party - Venezuelan style Christmas

We were invited for a Venezuelan style christmas party some weeks ago by J and L ... Here's my favourite dish from that party!

In Venezuelan cuisine, an hallaca (sometimes spelt, and always pronounced "hayaca") typically involves a mixture of beef, pork, chicken, capers, raisins, and olives wrapped in maize (cornmeal dough), bound with string within plantain leaves, and boiled or steamed afterwards. It is typically served during the Christmas holiday.


Did you know ... Popular myth has it that, in colonial times, it was common practice for plantation owners to donate leftover Christmas food scraps, such as bits of pork and beef, to their slaves, who would wrap them in cornmeal and plantain leaves for subsequent preparation and cooking, which could take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours.

Other food ... and drinks :-)