How to live on coffee and cigarettes.

If you don't live in New York City or Paris - living on coffee and cigarettes is kind of lame. Especially in Dubai, where desert-like conditions make drinking hot beverages and standing outside for over 2 minutes unbearable. So, why is it that Arab culture calls for this lifestyle?

It's all in the packaging! Atleast in Dubai - where your cigarettes come without the disgusting warning labels and sheesha/hookah is all over the marina or on gorgeous rooftops around the city. I don't smoke cigarettes and I don't smoke sheesha often, but I have to admit - they make it look GOOD!

However, I do give into caffeine more often than not. I usually have my regular cup of Americano everyday. But being a sucker for cute packaging, I just had to try this amazing/authentic turkish coffee! Tiniest serving size, but SO strong and SO yum!

Turkish coffee is coffee prepared by boiling finely powdered roast coffee beans in a pot (cezve), possibly with sugar, and serving it into a cup, where the dregs settle. The name describes the method of preparation, not the raw material; there is no special Turkish variety of the coffee bean. It is common throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Caucasus, and the Balkans, and in their expatriate communities and restaurants in the rest of the world.

How to celebrate the full moon.

I don't think I'm hippy enough to completely embrace yogi culture- c'mon, let's just admit that it's a huge commitment to make. And what's the point in doing a half-assed job of it? I mean, chanting "om shanti shanti shanti om" just makes me feel like I'm calling out to my mom..(Her name is Shanthi).

But, that being said, I never fail to feel the positive effects of practicing yoga on my body. So, I indulge once in a while. And if your going to indulge in yoga, this has to be the BEST way to do it.

on the beach

with warm ocean breeze
at sunset

as the full moon rises.

(Actually, anything "on the beach" tingles my Canadian senses)

Al Qasr hotel's spa (Talise Spa) offers an amazing deal to practice your "downward dog" and "full cobra" on every full moon. For 200aed (96aed with cobone.com), you get valet parking, a bottle of cold water, a cold towel and a yoga mat on the beach. The amazing view of the Burj is just a bonus.

After sunset, we did moon salutations, various warrior poses and breathing exercises for 90 minutes. My favourite is and always will be the bridge!  After working up a good sweat, we turn to the dark ocean, focus our minds and listen to the waves breaking at shore. I left my mat feeling so energized and blissful under the bright full moon.

 

 My view for most of the class (before we turned to the sea). The three guys on stage led us through the practice.

 

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Pretty, eh?

How to know your roots.

With the amount of migrating my nomadic family has done over the years, it's really hard to know our true roots. The closest connection we have is through our food. The food our families make and the stuff that reminds us of "grandma's house" is what keeps us Indian, Chinese, Jamaican, Scottish, American, etc.... think about it!!

I'm not going to get into detail about my "roots", that stuff is worth an entire blog in itself... But you can educate yourself on wikipedia as always. (See: Madras, Nadar, Nazareth, South Indian, Jaggery, Toddy)

This post is completely inspired by the arrival of some sweet treats from India. My Dad brought back the coolest and rarest South Indian candy (which was actually brought to him by an uncle from the dirty dirty south). It's made with Jaggery & ginger and moulded into bite size weird-tasting things, it's really not something everyone enjoys. But i LOVE it.

The best part about it? The case that's woven with palm leaves!!

Two lessons from this:
1) packaging is everything
2) the best things in life come without nutritional information

 

How to Friday.

Ok step 1: Equate my Friday to your Saturday (if your not from the UAE)
Now imagine having to listen to an accounting lecture from 8.30am-6pm .. all I ever want to do is SLEEP.

But this Friday was awesome, we had a half day and it felt so amazing. My mom, bro and I went out to lunch at Nando's on the dubai marina and then dessert at haagen dazs after (SANS the father - because he's in India for the week).

I want to say "while the cat is away, the mice will play" ... but honestly, my dad's probably the one "playing" in India. So we took the opportunity to have a little fun ourselves. I love hanging out with these two. I'm gonna miss Nishanth when he goes away to University this fall  =( . But I'm SO happy he's going to McMaster!!

 

Our view of the marina from inside Nandos.




"family photo" aka. waiting for our bill. Bad customer service as usual.




Oh hey it's my favourite people! Waddup?!






 


BEFORE





Just like Vancouver! apparently.

Check out this cool twisty building they are building on the marina.
Apparently it rotates?? I'm nervous already.

How much green tea do I have to drink to wash away Nandos and Haagen Dazs hangover? Somebody help!

How to Easter in Dubai!

Easter went by really fast. What I missed the most were Cadbury chocolate eggs!! - in all forms - mini-eggs, creme eggs, caramel eggs, minimini eggs.. etc. You get the point!

Well, I also missed having an Easter Sunday! My butt had to be at work for 9am (Dubai has a friday/saturday weekend remember?). So our day went something like 5am church service, work, MASSIVE lunch, dont go back to work. sleep.

HAPPY EASTER from our fam to yours. Better late than never! Right?

We be stylin. Dress from Koton.

Happy Easter!! - That's a little Lindt chocolate bunny. We tried to get in the spirit.. know what I mean?