iPilot: Flying a Boeing 737 at The Dubai Mall

I love to travel and I love airplane rides! So, when I received an invitation from iPilot Flight Simulator Center to experience what is it like to be in the Pilot's seat and not in our usual Economy Class, I eagerly replied "yes" without any reservations. :) 

My excitement caught Ed by surprise. He never thought I'd like it as the activity is not fit for a girly girl like me and I can easily get confused with all the techie buttons and switches. But, I'm pretty sure he was happy that I decided to go for it. It's something new for both us. And just like me, he's curious on what's going on in the cockpit.

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Jollibee: Langhap-Sarap Goodness in Dubai

"Jollibee is open!"  "Let's go to Jollibee!"  "I miss Jollibee."

My husband sounded like a broken record on the day Jollibee opened at The Dubai Mall. And there I was, pretending not to hear a thing or saying "Ok, I'll try to wake up early this weekend." when I sense that he is about to say something about Jollibee again.

Don't get me wrong. I was excited to go to Jollibee too, but I had no plans of getting my Chicken Joy on its opening day, not even on its first month of operations! Why? Well, you all know why! I hate queues, and queuing at the first and currently the only Jollibee in the UAE is no joke! A friend told me she waited for 4 hours. Another said she went home with nothing! So, my plan was to wait until the hype dies down. 

Jollibee at The Dubai Mall 

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Burj Khalifa: Sunrise At The Top

"It's going to be magical. You'd love it!" I reminded myself over and over as I sleepwalked to the bathroom. It was four in the morning and I just had three hours of sleep. With my half awake half asleep blurry vision, I saw my family almost ready to witness the sunrise at the 124th floor of the tallest building in the world. Sunrise! Yes, out of all the possible viewing times, this sleepyhead decided to purchase sunrise tickets... all for the love of family and the golden hour. 

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Nutella Bar in Eataly: Dubai's Newest Dessert Haven

Are you a big fan of Nutella? I got some awesome news that calls for a celebration, so hang on to your seat. :)

Eataly, the Italian marketplace at The Dubai Mall, recently opened a bar dedicated to our all-time favorite chocolate hazelnut spread! Yay! If you are jumping on your seat, I can totally understand. I, myself, was so happy that I wanted to somersault in the air. Well, if only I could! As a true-blue fan, the best thing that I did other than somersaulting in my thoughts was to check out the Nutella Bar a couple of days after its grand opening. 

I immediately looked for the Nutella Bar as soon as we arrived in Eataly. I was surprised that I need not look any further. It has replaced the counter of flat breads and paninis near the entrance. It was such a welcoming sight, definitely an eye magnet that can make everyone stop and stare... and drool! 

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Mexican Fiesta at Rosa Mexicano

Hola! Midweek, Ed and I were in Rosa Mexicano at The Dubai Mall celebrating Cinco de Mayo for the very first time! Actually, we were one day late! I wasn't able to join the media lunch during the Mexican holiday because of schedule conflict, hence my visit was moved the next day. Rosa Mexicano has been on my foodie list, so I delightfully accepted the dinner invitation though it means I had to rush to Downtown right after a busy work shift.  

Rosa Mexicano is an international fine-dining Mexican restaurant with two branches in Dubai; one at The Dubai Mall and the other at Mirdif City Centre. The restaurant's name actually means Mexican Pink; no wonder it fascinates me a lot. The color is a mix of red, blue and white; truly different from other shades of pink. Based on its name alone, I guess Rosa Mexicano was created to stand out from the rest of its kind.

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Bennigan's: Great American Meal and Warm Irish Hospitality

Ed and I spent most of our weekends in Asian restaurants lately. We absolutely love Asian food, but then we miss trying out different dishes and new dine outs spots. So when we decided to have our lunch at The Dubai Mall last weekend, it was the right time to browse our blue books. We rely on our Entertainer Dubai whenever we want to have something new. With the Entertainer coupons, it's always a guilt-free indulgence because we get two dishes for the price of one! One of the new additions to the 2014 book is Bennigan's; an Irish-themed restaurant offering American food. American fare combined with Emerald Isle's legendary hospitality sounds very interesting, right? 

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Dubai Festival of Lights at The Centre of Now

Dubai has always been shiny, shimmery and splendid! Just when I thought I'm used to its extravagant surprises, the city of glitz and glamour made my jaw drop once again! Ed and I just witnessed the much-talked about Dubai Festival of Lights at The Centre of Now, Downtown Dubai. 

Dubai Festival of Lights is the newest vibrant celebration in the city that never fails to amaze the world. The spectacular event is organized by Emaar Properties, in partnership with the City of Lyon where one of the world's biggest festivals 'Fete des Lumieres' is being held. They have created a 10-day celebration of light, art and culture which made the bustling modern part of Dubai beaming in a whole new light.

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Romano's Macaroni Grill: A Hidden Gem at The Dubai Mall

I love to discover hidden restaurants in a crowded shopping mall! It's always nice to have a quiet dining spot to run to whenever I don't feel like joining the clamor at popular food chains. You know, I get so impatient when I'm hungry. It's hard to wait for the reservation beeper to buzz when all I hear is the buzz in my stomach! 

Romano's Macaroni Grill at The Dubai Mall is one of my favorite hidden gems! It is an Italian restaurant located at the first floor behind Dubai Aquarium, holder of the the Guinness World Record's largest acrylic panel. I bet a lot of people never noticed Romano's because they have kept their eyes on the marine animals at the aquarium or probably at the famous southwestern restaurant with a catchy 'spicy' name beside it. 

photo source: Zomato

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Weekend on Ice at Dubai Ice Rink

Every time I hear the word 'winter', I often think of snow! Since there is a zero chance of snowfall and it doesn't get as cold as the weather up North, I usually get my dose of "winter fun" at the indoor snow park and in the ice rink. Skating, skiing and making snow angels are actually available in Dubai all year round; even at the peak of summer! I just get to appreciate these activities even more during the cold season, when I'm finally on my knitwear and boots.

I went skating at the Dubai Ice Rink last weekend! It was my first time to be in an Olympic-size rink. I learned how to skate on my own at a smaller venue with lesser spectators at the now defunct Stargate. So being at the prime ice rink in the city, armed with only the basics of skating, was really nerve-wrecking. 

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Crackin' at Claw BBQ, Crabshack and Grill

I've been wanting to dine at Claw BBQ, Crabshack and Grill ever since I heard about it last month. The thoughts of crab-cracking and juicy crab meat made me drool. However, upon seeing the steep price tags on the online menu, I just hoped I could win the dinner for two contest at Claw's Facebook page or magically find a voucher somewhere. Then last week, I found a 2 for 1 voucher in a magazine! Yay! I frantically cut off the voucher and scheduled a weekend date night with my husband.

Claw BBQ, Crabshack and Grill is the newest, hottest and hippest bar/restaurant in Souk Al Bahar. It was jam-packed on weekend night. The staff at the entrance sadly told us that we need to sign up on the waiting list and probably wait an hour for a table for two. We were also given the option to dine at the bar in case we couldn't wait. Since it was past eight in the evening, I was already hungry, impatient and excited, we immediately took the latter option!

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The Mermaid Show at The Dubai Mall

When I was little, I was so fond of Disney movies and Disney Princesses. If you ask me what my favorite Disney movie is, I'd immediately answer 'The Little Mermaid'. I grew up wanting to be Ariel. I knew every line of the song 'Part Of Your World'. I used to act like I have a mermaid tail every time I was in a pool, whether it's a big resort pool or a small inflatable one, though I wasn't really a good swimmer! :)    

I was and will always be fascinated with mermaids! That's why, I was excited when I learned that there's a free mermaid show at The Dubai Mall. The show is held at Dubai Aquarium, the holder of Guinness World Record's largest acrylic panel! 

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Breakfast Date at Social House

Ed and I were at The Dubai Mall for breakfast and a little sale shopping two weekends ago. We normally spend lazy Friday mornings at home, but that weekend was an exception due to my craziness over Victoria's Secret Semi Annual Sale! Well, it was more of a need than a want as I only have few more sprays left on my VS Bombshell. I badly need to purchase a new scent before the mall gets crowded and while there's still enough stocks on sale. :) 

So, it went out as planned. I had my VS goodies before I had breakfast! Crazy eh! I know, I know! I'm just lucky to have a very supportive husband who endured the pangs of hunger while I was at Victoria's Secret for almost an hour, just for a perfume, a lotion, and a lippie! :)  Okay, enough of the girly stuff. Let's talk about breakfast! 

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Valentine's Night at Madeleine Cafe and Boulangerie

Ed and I had our so-called Valentine rule this year due to an upcoming holiday trip. We decided to have a frugal Valentine's Day celebration; no fancy gifts and no grand dinner in a hotel. Since it was a weekday and I wasn't sure if I could leave the workplace on time, we didn't had a definite dinner date plan. I was able to finish my work tasks, not really on schedule, but earlier than expected. So after a quick discussion, Ed and I agreed to have our Valentine dinner at Madeleine. 

Madeleine is a French Cafe and Boulangerie at The Dubai Mall. The restaurant has a romantic Parisian setting, a perfect place to be on the night of February 14. 

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The Dubai Fountain

There are a lot of musical fountains in the UAE, yet the Dubai Fountain at Burj Lake in Downtown Dubai remains to be the most astonishing of them all. California-based WET, the creators of the Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas, designed the Dubai Fountain. It is the world's largest dancing fountain with a length of 900 ft and has nozzles capable to shoot water sprays up to 500 ft high

When my husband and I were newbies in Dubai, we wanted to go to Dubai Mall every weekend just to watch the fountain show. It somehow eased the homesickness and helped us chase the blues away. Worries were forgotten as the water started to dance in graceful and whimsical ways. We have watched the show in every angle; from Dubai Mall, from Souk Al Bahar, from Burj Park, from Burj Khalifa and we even had an aerial view from a restaurant's terrace. 

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Vapiano: A Taste of Italia in Dubai

"Buonissimo!" I heard that word from my husband, as he munched a slice of pizza at Vapiano, while my full attention was still on taking food pictures for Instagram. Yes, I'm one of those IG addicts who snap first and eat later. :)  I grabbed a slice after I uploaded a photo online. My eyes widened the moment I had my first bite, I ecstatically said "Namit"! Though we said  two different languages, Ed in Italian and I in Ilonggo (a dialect of my province), we both had the same satisfied expressions. 

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