Ready... Set... Go!

I had a feeling October was going to be significant in regards to change... There is something in the air, I can see it around me & feel it everywhere. Change is here!

For me personally, last week was a big one... I received a job offer & accepted ! I am joining the Dubai based executive recruitment firm Derwent Yeomans as their Researcher & Networker. Derwent Executive is well established in Australia & Asia, but they are now branching out to the Middle East. This is such an exciting opportunity to join a start up company, learn about a new industry & develop my career. They even have a Monday night golf networking events - how wonderfully perfect!

So this week Im leaving Ottawa, which will give me a few days to adjust to the 8 hour time difference, the weather & allow me to settle in before my October 28th start date. It's a long journey back with 2 large suitcases and my golf clubs, but everything is ready to go :) Nonetheless, I have a little twinge of nervousness in my stomach as the uncertainty of the unknown is a bit unsettling, but it only adds fuel to my fire.

Of course change isnt easy... For me, these past few months have been an evolution of self ! I think people change & grow at different rates, some evolve faster & others slower, and really there is no right and wrong. Hopefully along the way we learn from our mistakes, move forward with no regrets, and always take a positive approach to life. In this process, we must be respectful to one's self & to others, mean what we say & say what we mean.

Moving onto this new chapter of my life, I am closing certain doors behind me. I don't think they will be shut forever, but for now I need to concentrate on myself & my goals. It hurts & quite simply it's painful, but I believe I have new valuable life lessons to learn from other people...you never know who you are going to meet next, who is going to inspire you & who is going to challenge you to be a better you.

Thank you to all those people who have been supportive - it means the world to me & I appreciate your friendship and love :)

xox <3 xox

Peppermint Experience: Paul van Dyk

As I have a bit of spare time on my hands these days, I have been entering contests to win various prizes. Low and behold, I won four tickets to see Paul van Dyk spin at the Dubai World Trade Centre for the Peppermint Experience's 8th anniversary party on Friday June 2nd, 2012 ! 

* Back in December, Peppermint had one of their events with DJ Luciano and I had also entered to win tickets, and I had won ! Crazy to think it would happen two times in a row, but it did :)

On Friday night we invited our friends Christine, Sas and Joe - as well as Sylvia, Dave and Paul, to our place for some pre-drinks. It was rather random as I wasn't too acquainted with anyone, but it was a great group with awesome energy and a fun vibe. I couldn't believe how fast the night was going by! 

We arrived to the venue around midnight, and it was really packed - about two times the amount of people as in December. The set-up for these parties is quite neat with a full out stage, special lighting, and easy access to all areas. I think what I liked most about the entertainment were the dancers with glowing suits - well done, unique & a great added value.

Just as we arrived Paul van Dyk was getting acquainted with the decks, and the party was in full swing. While I understand and knew that PVD was famous for his trance, I was not expecting it to be such hard trance. It was a bit much at times with the beats per minute raging rather fast for my likings, but he often coupled it with the slower vocal tracks. There were plenty of drinks, dancing and socializing, and we were all having fun.

Me, Sas, Sylvia & Christine

As we had enjoyed the group back at the apartment, we invited the gang back for some pizza, music and drinks. Nothing like a bit of living room dancing! Again, I couldnt believe how fast the night had gone by, and before I knew it I had dozed off sitting upright in a chair in the living room. HAHA. classic Goodfellow right there. While we had no idea what to expect for the night, it was really refreshing - especially in Dubai - and Im looking forward to enjoying more of those in Dubai and back in Ottawa this summer.

xox <3 xox



Dubai Update: Dolphins!

Back in December for my birthday, I got a unique experience to 'Play with the Dolphins' in Dolphin Bay at the Atlantis hotel. I was beyond excited ! This was definitely something I had on my life "to-do" list :)

On Tuesday May 29th, 2012 we made our way to the Atlantis for our orientation session. A marine mammal trainer gave us a briefing about dolphins and their behaviours before we entered their waters. It was quite educational !
* Dolphins have approx 80 to110 teeth - if they lose a tooth, it is gone for life
* But with all those teeth, they don't chew their food - they swallow the fishies whole
* The best way to tell a dolphin's age is by dissecting a tooth, but only if one has fallen naturally
* Dolphins shed their skin every 2 hours
* They communicate through three sounds: frequency modulated whistles, burst-pulsed sounds & clicks

We then got into wetsuits, and waded into the waters to meet our bottlenose dolphin. Our group got to play with Alice ! She was a beautiful dainty dolphin with kind eyes. While we were 8 people in a group, we got to have individual play time. We each got to pet, kiss, hug & dance with Alice !
* It was pretty funny because when it was Aaron's turn to kiss Alice, she looked back at me and started talking - poor little Alice didnt want to step on my turf ! haha
* I myself was rather nervous when it was time to kiss her - she is afterall quite large with many teeth. But it worked out and a bit on the salty side haha
* The entire time I could not stop giggling, smiling and laughing. It is such an incredible feeling to be so close and get to play with a dolphin :)

Time flew by so fast ! Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the shore and say goodbye to Alice. I was nearly in tears - so happy to have played with a dolphin but so sad to have to leave. Had I been good in sciences, I would have loved to become a marine mammal trainer !

* Ever since I was little I have loved dolphins. My parents used to take me to Marine Land in Niagara Falls, and I remember vividly watching the whales and the dolphins in the various shows. I had always wanted to be picked to interact with them - but not once was I chosen. Although one time, when my Dad and I were there during a quiet day, we were the only ones there and got to throw a ball back and forth to the dolphins in the tank. It was one of those precious moments that Ill never forget - along with this magical day of playing with Alice.

If you're interested in the dolphin experience for yourself, check out the Atlantis' website for the different packages they offer (http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/marineandwaterpark/dolphinbay.aspx) Yes, it's a tad bit on the pricey side, but it's a once in a lifetime opportunity that I would definitely recommend :)

After our dolphin experience, we played in the Aquaventure waterpark. They have quite a few great slides to try! My favorite was the "Shark Bite" - I think it's called - and after going down the slide on a tube, you end up going through an aqaurium tunnel with tons of fish swimming around you. I was really impressed with the park for a few reasons:
* there was a lot of shaded areas so we werent overexposed in the sun, very clever.
* there were conveyor belts to take people up the hill to the top of the slides so you didnt have to drag a tube up or walk on hot asphalt/stairs
* really friendly staff everywhere to help and guide you

Overall, it was an amazing day !

xox <3 xox

Obi, The Cat

Growing up, I always had pets around - from birds, hamsters, cats, dogs, and horses. But when one lives abroad the logistics of owning a pet gets to be a trickier when traveling and relocation come into play. While I had a hamster Safron, it's just not as interactive as a cat or a dog. So, my solution was to join a great cat adoption program called Feline Friends (http://www.felinefriendsdubai.com/), and we would become kitty foster parents. Stray cats and animal abuse are quite rampid here in Dubai so we figured it would be nice to help the little kitties in need :) And, we both love cats so much!

Obi came to us last Wednesday February 29th in the afternoon as a shy 7 month old black & white kitten with big green eyes... but it didnt take long before he was exploring our apartment, and getting to know us. And within 24 hours, he had us wrapped around his little paws and we considered him part of the family.

Obi was found at the young age of 2 months, along with his mother and 2 brothers by Feline Friends as they had been abandoned. Since then, his family members have all been adopted, and unfortunately, Obi has had three other foster parents in 5 months :( This is baffling as he is such a great kitty!!! As for his name, Im not sure why he is called "Obi", but it comes from Nigerian origins meaning "heart". The movie buffs and Star Wars fans are probably thinking about Obie Wan Kenobi; and the rappers out may be reminded of Obie Trice. Nonetheless, it's a peculiar name that suits him. 

Favorite Toys: stuffed lion & mouse toys, but his favorite is tossing our potpourri arrangements all over the place while we work, and then chasing after the leaves on the ground! the rustling drives him nuts :)
Favorite Food: fish & seafood wet food, stinky! He also loves drinking water straight from the tap, and then playing in it and splashing everywhere
Favorite Treat: biltong (dried beef jerky)
Favorite Activity: hamster watching... Obi & Safron have become good friends :) Obi enjoys keeping Safron company next to her cage, and making sure she doesnt get stuck in tight spaces in her hamster ball.

Obi has claws and as a kitten he accidentally scratched us a few times. It wasnt enough to really hurt, but we were slightly worried about the furniture when he was left alone. But, we found this GREAT solution called SoftPaws - they are little coverings that are glued onto each front claw with non-toxic glue, available in various colours. They last about 4-6 weeks, and the cat doesnt really notice them. Obi is sporting the white SoftPaws as his beginner trial pair :)

Simply fallen in love with this cat, and cant imagine daily life without him. While there are still adoption formalities to finalize, we are pleased to announce that we will be keeping him!!!
Welcome to our family Obi :)

xox <3 xox



Dubai Update 10/12: My 27th Birthday !

Birthday Surprise ~
 
     On December 7th, I started celebrating my upcoming 27th birthday week at the Seafire steakhouse in the Atlantis. We both enjoyed a wonderful meal, and indulged in their magnificent food. We of course both had our usuals - me a tenderloin. As a side note, Sergio Garcia was at the table next to ours since the Race to Dubai golf tournament was just starting.

       On December 8th, I was sleeping and thought nothing of it when he came to tell me he was home. As I stirred in bed and opened my eyes, I couldnt believe what I was seeing... My Mom and aunty Michelle were standing there in my bedroom - they had come from Ottawa to surprise me for my birthday & to bring Christmas spirit over to Dubai !!!

For the next 10 days, my Mom, Michelle & I were constantly on the move, enjoying our wonderful time together:
* We ended up going to the Race to Dubai to watch the pros of the European Tour on Sunday, the final day. Tickets were free! We watched from the tee-off boxes, fairway shots, and putting - and followed the #1 player on tour Luke Donald. It's always impressive seeing these guys live, just to see and appreciate their sheer talent. We then got home, and quickly got ready for my birthday dinner with friends at the Thai Bistro in the Dubai Marine. It was an all you can eat & drink thai buffet, but it wasn't that impressive. The food was ok, and it didnt live up to our Thai Wok experiences, but we had a great night with friends & family. Thanks to everyone who came and made it a great night :)

* I was absolutely spoiled for my birthday!!! Considering Mom and Michelle had come from Ottawa, I hadnt expected additional gifts. But, low and behold, my Mom showered me with presents - sandals, jean capris, two tops, a skirt, and a Hello Kitty bathrob. WOW! I can't wait to meet the dolphins and ride a horse :) THANK YOU !

* One day, the ladies and I rented a car and made our way to Abu Dhabi. I was worried that the ladies would have a hard time driving in the aggressive UAE manner, but they did really well and managed perfectly, without even getting lost once.
- We stopped at Yas Island's Ferrari World - the largest indoor theme park in the world, to experience their rollercoaster, which is of course the fastest rollercoaster in the world. We arrived at 11 am, and there was hardly anyone there, and so there was a very little wait for the coaster. We were all a bit tense waiting to ride it... to give you an idea, it goes from 0-240 km/hour is 4.9 seconds, with a G-force of 1.7 gs. This coaster is pretty impressive - riders must wear safety goggles, there is no overhead harness, there is a lapbar and seatbelt to keep you in, it is designed to replicate an F1 racetrack, and needless to say, it is FAST. I yelled my little heart out for the first half of the ride, then relaxed a bit... It is such a rush - so much so, that we got off and did it again immediately! For the rollercoaster fans, this is definitely a ride you must try at least once :)
- While the main attraction at Ferrari World is the Formula Rossa coaster, we also toured around the rest of the facilities and did their other coaster, where 2 tracks race side by side. It was also a great experience, and lots of fun.

- Next we headed over to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is one of the largest mosque's in the world, and the largest in the UAE - it cost over $1 billion to build and it can accomodate 40,000 people for prayer. This mosque is absolutely beautiful, and a must-see if in the region. For those considering a visit, be warned - ladies you will be given an abaya and a headscarf to wear & men must wear long pants or they too are given a cover-up. It is free to tour the mosque, and there are several guided tours - we joined a tour for a bit, and the guides are quite informative. Unlike most tourist attractions, there are no souvernirs or gitchy things being sold. Nice. The artwork and sheer beauty was breathtaking - and while we were in a mosque, we didnt feel it was overly religious or awkward to tour.
- We finished off our Abu Dhabi day with a light Arabic dinner at the Fairmont. It's a beautiful hotel with great views of the mosque. Aaron was working at the Fairmont that night so we stayed and hung out with him before his event.

* The ladies wanted to go to the Gold & Spice souk so we spent an entire afternoon there one day. Again, this is a definite must-experience when in Dubai. We stocked up on spices, beautiful pashmina's and jewelry. The ladies did very well for themselves, and got amazing deals - when in the Souks, dont forget to negotiate the prices!

* Another day, we ventured to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and had lunch at the Atmosphere. This restaurant and lounge is on the 135th floor (I believe) just a few floors away from the observation deck, so why not enjoy your time at the top of the world with a delicious lunch. They have different lunch specials at decent prices, and I would also recommend this place... Great views of the city on a clear day, and nice food (call ahead for reservations though!).

* Friday afternoon brunches are famous in Dubai, and the ladies absolutely wanted to try one before leaving. We chose the Saffron brunch at the Atlantis so that they could see the hotel, the aquariums, and enjoy one of the best brunches in Dubai. It was my second time returning, and I must say I did quite well for myself the first time - great food & drinks, painting a picture. This time I didnt find the food as good, maybe the selection is too fast so it's hard to make a choice, but the drinks were just as delicious, and the ladies and I filled our boots. I was actually impressed with the shots Mom and Michelle were taking back haha - they were getting right into it. By the end, we were sitting at a drink filled table, paintings in hand, stuffed full of food, and thoroughly content :) Aaron joined us during his break...

All in all, I had one of the best birthday weeks ever...incredibly memorable and fun! It was so easy and such a pleasure to host these ladies; they are welcome back anytime :) Thank you Mom and Michelle for coming to Dubai and surprising me :) I think it's safe to say that 2011 has been the year of surprises. My 26th year was a good one, and Im looking forward to my 27th year on this planet - I dont feel older, only wiser ;)

Happy New Year !!! Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012 !!! Let's remember to be positive, caring and kind ... be the change!

xox <3 xox

Dubai Update: November v1

These past few weeks have been really exciting over here in Dubai, never a dull moment, that’s for sure. Events, holidays, concerts, work… No rest for the wicked!

~ Halloween ~
Halloween – one of my favorite holidays! So we went all out, and made the most of it… Friday October 28^th, we went to Chi The Lodge with Heather, her husband Matt, their friend Andy for their annual Halloween party. I was extremely impressed by the costumes, and the effort people had made – wow! Some costumes actually truly scared me to the point I had to look away, and some were majorly impressive – like the Predator, or BumbleBee Transformer, who both won for best individual costumes. We were dressed as 80’s punk rockers for this party.

On Saturday night, our friend Sumit was hosting a Halloween party at his house. Not too many people were dressed up, but it was nice to gather with friends and meet new people. I dressed up as a cat.

Finally, on Monday October 31^st – Halloween night – we went to the Cavalli Club for their dinner package with Sumit, Rasha, Heather & Matt. While there weren’t many people for the actual dinner, the club quickly filled with dressed up partiers having a spooktacular time. The club did an impressive job at theming the party. For instance, upon arrival we were given blood injections to be drank from a syringe – it was really blood mary, the decorations were quite well done, the food was Halloween themed, and they had acrobatics from the ceiling…We danced the night away, enjoyed the costumes & had a great time.

 

We also found a few stores that sold pumpkins… The nicer bigger pumpkins were rather expensive & I certainly wasn’t going to enjoy carving a $30 pumpkin! We ended up getting one each at Carrefour for only $5, and while they were small, they were still fun to carve. I did mine as a cat to match my outfit.

xox <3 xox