Dhow Cruise

This week I went on my first Dhow Cruise.

It was aboard the flashy Rikks Floating Restaurant.

The ride around the Creek was actually really nice at night and was so relaxing. The buffet food was good with a very small selection of mostly Asian/Arabic food. We were served one soft drink and water and there was no dessert. Disappointing!
There was a party of 15 of us but we could not all sit on the same table as it would cause the boat to sink to one side. They did not inform us of that when we booked.

I actually did have a great time because I was with my friends, however I won't be using the same company again as they were a bit of a let down. There was entertainment for about 3 minutes. It was a weird tanura spinning man...at the end he made his skirt into a baby. The music stopped and all you could hear was a baby crying...disturbing!

So this is my actual first negative review of a place! Shocking! The only thing I enjoyed was the scenery of the Creek and my friends company. I will be visiting the Creek this weekend just for a nice stroll, and will be avoiding Rikks!

Ramadan's coming!!!

Can you smell it?

Can you feel it?

Can you taste it?

Ramadan is coming!

I was speaking to my sister the other day and I said, 
'Do you know what it feels like?' 
And she instantly said 'Ramadan!' 
I don't know what it is but it feels like that time of year again and I am so excited!

I have enjoyed Ramadan in Dubai for the past 3 years, much more than I did in the U.K. I love the atmosphere and the energy.
I know Ramadan is not about the food, but I absolutely love cooking meals for my family to enjoy after sunset. I usually make a photo folder with all my Ramadan recipes...might make a Ramadan blog this year too.

This is really bad but...I adore the Arabic programmes during Ramadan. Astagfirullah but why do they play amazing programmes during Ramadan?!?!
Khawater, Shaabeyat al Cartoon, Freej, all of the dramatic maselselat.
I plan on going to all Taraweeh prayers Inshallah and reading the whole Qur'an. My advice to anyone is don't waste this upcoming month. Don't waste the 30 days on sleeping and eating then having that horrible feeling of guilt when it is all over.

Ramadan is the month of blessings and forgiveness. How will you spend it?

~Gym Diaries~

I joined the gym! I have been going to the gym for a month now and I am actually enjoying it!
A couple of friends joined after me and I have found it useful to have them to support me to go after work.
I have to say I am not the type of girl to go on the machines, but I love the classes! In a class you can't actually stop for fear of being labelled 'weak' by everyone else. Plus they are actually really fun. For example you can prance around in a Zumba class and look like a fool and nobody will bat an eyelid!

I have been really good at going to the gym for 2 hours every night so I decided to treat myself with some new gym clothes at the weekend.

I have never been so determined to get fit before and I hope it continues. I actually have more energy than when I was hardly doing any exercise.

Going to the gym has it's quirks. For instance the lady in the bellydance class wearing heels!?? Also in a room full of sweaty ladies there is bound to be a few arguments...one woman got annoyed at another for making too many 'grunting' noises when she was working out.
Another time I was in a fit of giggles whilst doing sit ups...an old lady came into the fitness room wearing studded denim hot pants, shook her booty in my face and started doing sit ups too...surreal!

Work it out!

So maybe tomorrow

Kaleidoscope buffet at Atlantis

Yesterday I visited the Kaleidoscope buffet at the Atlantis hotel. There was a group of four of us and we had two entertainer vouchers so it cost just under 400aed.
The theme for Thursday night was 'Arabic' - perfect!

When we arrived we had a look around the aquarium and then a waitress told us about the buffet. Kaleidoscope have a range of foods- Indian, Italian, Thai, European etc etc but they had extra Arabic dishes that night.
When I got my first plate I did not actually know where to start so ended up with prawn crackers, tabouleh, houmous, cheese pizza and sushi! I went back to the buffet several times trying different types of food- falafel on sticks, chinese chicken and rice, more pizza! I actually can't remember everything I ate!

Then came time for the desserts! WOW! I had my favourite tiramisu, jelly, fruit in the chocolate fountain, a variety of cakes and pastries, cola bottles and a lollypop! They also had a delicious hazelnut More cafe ice cream.

It was a truly delicious experience however I believe the price was too much especially since I eat very little portions. We were lucky that we did have the entertainer vouchers! Anyway I quite enjoyed the wide variety of foods available at the buffet and am thinking about trying some other buffets in Dubai. Suggestions welcome!

The Entertainer Body Book

So I have had a bit of a hard time recently which is why I have not been posting lately.
Alhamdullilah everything is slowly getting better.
Sooooo I decided that I deserved a treat! Hmmmmm what would Lulla like best...to be pampered of course!!!

I bought The Entertainer Body book which is valid from April 2013 till March 2014. I have vowed to use it at least once a month to keep me serene and happy! HOWEVER I have already used it 3 or 4 times this week and plan on using a voucher this weekend too. Eeeek!

If you are not familiar with the Entertainer books then basically it is a book that costs just under 400aed and is filled with 2 for 1 vouchers.

So this is what I have used so far:

As you all know I suffered from acne for years and after taking Roaccutane I have a few acne scars. I went to Biolite clinic and they recommended having Ematrix treatments which cost 4800aed each!!! So I used a voucher and got one treatment free! SAVED 4800AED!

I had a lovely massage at one of my favourite spas a couple of days ago. I tried the Rollersage massage at the Heavenly spa at The Westin hotel. They used a hot stone that they rolled in a...rollersage?!? It was fantastic anyway! They signed my voucher and I can go back for my free treatment whenever I want. SAVED 595AED!

Today myself and a friend went to Hairworks in JBR. We had a conditioning treatment, hair cut and blow dry which were all brilliant! The hairdressers were the best I have experienced in Dubai and extremely professional and friendly. That cost 450AED  instead of 900AED. I didn't save anything really because I was treating my friend.

At the weekend I plan on going somewhere to get a mani pedi.

I don't really know if I am saving money or spending more because I have the vouchers! Nevertheless it's keeping me smiling!

Tea Chest

I bought a beautiful Alokozay tea chest.

It was only 60 dirhams and has sooooo many different flavoured tea bags inside.

I have now discovered Raspberry tea and am obsessed with it!

I just had to share this, as everyone who comes to visit me has commented on how great it is. It is currently the center piece on my large coffee table. It's so useful as now my guests can choose what flavour tea they want easily. It has Mint tea, Moroccan mint tea, Peach tea, Lemon tea, Raspberry tea, Blackcurrant tea, Earl Grey, Green tea, Black tea, Cinnamon tea and Orange tea. Unfortunately it does not have my favourite Cardamom tea, but I will add it to the chest when it begins to have space.

I love tea!