Dubai - the Las Vegas of the desert

Or at least, that is how they promote themselves! With daddy dearest living there, it was our first stop in almost three months of travel. It was also our lucky sector - the one where we got to travel business class for free both ways - yeah, that's the husband's dream come true! We spent 10 days in Dubai and quite frankly, its not enough. Accepted its a small place and a lot of it is still undergoing crazy construction, but there is something to the place that you need to discover. Malls are plenty, you turn the corner and voila! mall ahoy! But they're pretty much all the same in terms of stores, expensive designer wear that only the sheikhs can afford. What is neat though is that each mall has its own USP - some form of architecture or attraction that has the crowds going there in throngs. For instance, the Dragon Mart is full of Chinese products and the structure itself is shapped like a dragon whereas Ibn Batuta mall is an ode to the explorer, with each section of the mall featuring the architectural design and patterns of the lands he visited on his journeys around the world. Each mall has a huge food court (After shopping, the locals' next hobby is eating) that is well located, well lit, well served, well stocked and well, most surely a place you'd wanna stop by and grab a bite. Of course, you cant miss the desert safari and the cruise dinner - typical Dubai touristy stuff thats fun and worth the money. There's the gold souq for people after some yellow metal, the Meena Bazaar area for cheap buys be it clothes or electronics, and then the dozens of places that cater to the nightlife in the city. Food is never a problem here - you can have your fill of any cuisine but the local eats are fabulous. Hot shawarmas and arayes, sweet honey dumplings, desserts like umm ali that are local faves any time of the year, the falafel and hummous and grape leaves and the absolutely mouth watering kebabs - ooohhhhh makes me wanna head back just for the food. The husband's fave was the Laban up drink - yogurt based seasoned thrist quencher that you could gulp down just like that. The weather is dry and hot, if you are not used to it you could almost feel suffocated. Transport is mostly by taxi and the traffic is crazy thanks not only to the rising population in the little space but also the construction going on to improve the roadways as well as accomodate the new metro system that the government hopes will take on in a big way. Above all, Dubai is the place to be to check out architectural wonders such as the Burj al Arab and the Burj Dubai. Anything you make in the world, Dubai will do one step better! There's also the Golden Palm, the Atlantis Dubai and several other projects aimed for future unveiling. The race tracks and golf course are also supposed to be worth a visit, though we never had the time for that. Between eating out, spending time with the family and mall hopping, ten days was too short a while to discover Dubai. Highlights included the camel ride, partying with the bro and shopping for souvenirs at the mall in Jumeirah. It was also a fun family reunion after a long, long time. Ahhhh how I miss me folks, good times cherished and hoping for more soon...

Back home from home :)

Close to three months have passed me by in a jiffy! I was looking forward to a real long holiday and now its passed me by...a bit too fast I think but the time has passed none the less. It was crazy, fun , interesting, joyful, frustrating, hot, sweaty, dirty and many more such adjectives I could use to describe my time out from routine life. Whatever it was, it definitely was worth it! I have not really spent as much time with family in a while so it was nice to be able to do that. It was fun revisiting places I knew and people I missed...going back down memory lane is usually a fond process...Now its time up and back to reality. I have never been to so many wonderful places before so this was an experience of a lifetime. I am not sure when I will do it again, much as I'd like to. I hope, in the next few days, to be able to give an account of my travels...what I remember of it the most, as now everything seems such a blur! I always say this - its amazing how when you want the time to go real slow, it just rushes by, and then the moments you want to zip through your life, linger on for a lifetime! Keep reading further for some fun experiences and travels, people and places, all in the last two and half months or so...

Crazy busy few months - past and ahead

Wow! Its been a real long time since I put down any thoughts here! Amazing how time flies by when you are really busy. Every single minute seems soooo worth it :)

Let's see, the past few months have been amazingly good for my business. I started the year off with a show of my own and next thing I know I have four more shows lined up - many that I was invited to and did not hunt down for myself, and that is a good sign I believe. Five shows for the first half of the year - not bad at all! Things are good and I am only too happy to share that. Filed business taxes for the first time and was that an eye opener! I know what to do for next year now - much as I hate numbers, you gotta to what you gotta do!

And now for the months ahead - I am gonna be traveling from mid May through early August - across I believe 3 maybe 4 countries and possibly 7 cities - woohoo! Sounds fun. Part pleasure, part business - this trip is gonna have a lot for me to look forward to and share so keep reading when you can. I'll try to stay in touch and blog as much as technology allows me wherever I go. I already have a list of places I want to go and things I want to do...the excitement levels are soaring as the days get closer to board that plane. It will be fun to meet my family and friends again, visit places old and new and some of the beaten path maybe ;)

For now I have two shows to participate in this week, and then we begin packing since we have just ten days before we travel ! We are giving up the apartment we now have so when we come back the uncertainty of not knowing exactly where we will stay makes it very exhilarating. We (read husband and I) also both dont have full time jobs at this point so when we come back, how we pay our bills will be fun.

Exciting times ahead!! The uncertainty of it all is in a way liberating. I dont know why, but it is.

New Year Resolutions for 2009

As always, my list is long, (read updates as of end of April)

1. I will exercise everyday (I begin the year with a detox hike) - yeah that never happened considering we returned from the New Year's do only about early that morning
2. I will give up on coffe and cholocates, atleast in my house - the thought of it upsets me so much I cant even spell right - this one I stuck to, I dont do coffee or tea anymore, unless its a huge bunch of pals then my choice is tea. I have reduced on the chocolate as well, its no more part of my weekly grocery list! Pat on the back :)
3. I will give up on red meats, its too fatty anyways - Again, successfully contolled any urges, and am at a point of no urge right now
4. I will try to be more tolerant towards the husband since I am usually the one to fly into a fit - word to note is 'try' - well considering the husband wasnt around very much I never got to 'try' that!
5. I will get the word out on my business much much much more - it turns one in August and I gotta have something to show for it - 5 shows in the first half of the year and some amount of advertising to boot, things are going fairly well, thank you very much!
6. I will donate to one cause a month - which ones I dont know but ask me and I'll tell ya - Never happened, blame it on the recession, with me on a part-time job and him on nothing and both trying to take off our fledgling businesses, we got no money for nobody else, nada, zilch, sorry
7. I will do atleast one walk/run/hike a month, atleast... - Been sitting on me pretty fat ass :)
8. I will try out atleast one new eatout a month - my treat to the boy - When it comes to food, I never go back on me word, stuck to this one like glue ;)
9. I will travel more, for sure, life's too short - we are traveling tons this summer, woohoo!!!
10. I will volunteer more time to non-profits like I used to. Probably the same place I used to. - didnt budge on this one even though I sincerely meant to, maybe after I return from the holiday
11. Hopefully, I will learn to swim and skate (land and ice) and maybe even improve on my French - time and finances permitting - no time permitted this, and we dont want to go near the finances, believe me!
12. I will stop using plastic shopping bags and use only the cloth ones I have - Religiously do so, I take my colorful cloth bags with me to the store - they are black, purple, green and white, double pat on the pack! Yes I am saving the planet single handedly!

And this will be a working list until 31st of 2009, December of course...yes of course!

Doubt and Seven Pounds

Doubt - This was my choice in the double feature we did recently. I saw some really good trailors, read good reviews and had very high expectations. They remained high and then just dropped at the end. The movie builds you up to expect something more and then decides to stop just like that. The story telling is awesome, acting amazing but just this feeling of an incomplete story as you leave the movie hall. The end pretty much leaves you in doubt - as to what really happened that is! Considering there were some really serious issues being addressed here, I was expecting a lot more than a 'you decide for yourself' ending. I say watch it on DVD later.

Seven Pounds - This one the husband wanted to watch. I really believe Hollywood makes Will Smith to be too much more than what he is. I mean they just think if he's there thats enough and they can write any kind of story and get him to act and the folks will flock to the movie halls. I got nothing against Will Smith - he fit the role to a T but the story itself was a bit too idealistic. I dont believe in the real world stuff like this happens. I guess, in a sense, thats why you have the movies, but this takes it a bit too far out. Also something I suggest you watch on DVD unless Will is your heart throb or something.

Sorry Bhai and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye

Neither is an awesome watch but they arent bad either. Sorry Bhai has an interesting storyline, some fun moments, addresses a topic not often handled that way in Indian cinema. The cast are perfect for their roles - Shabana Azmi makes an awesome mother in law and Boman Irani her very accepting husband. They are complementing personalities as a couple. The sons characters are well portrayed though I believe this is Sharman Joshi's first experience in a serious role and he does justice. Chitrangadha is simply gorgeous. The fact that she is just not suited for this kinda role can be overlooked just because of how refreshingly beautiful she is. She could be dressed in rags and still look attractive. I liked her better in Hazaaron Khwahishen. Boman Irani I think takes the kudos on this one with his funny one liners.

Oye Lucky is a movie I hadnt even heard about. I actually laugh every time I say that name just because its the funniest title I've heard for a movie. Stars Abhay Deol and Paresh Rawal, Archana Puran Singh in a small role but no other name actors to boot. Considering that, the movie is quite different. I was certainly entertained for the entire length of the film without ever getting bored. In fact, I was always wondering what would happen next. I am always pleasantly surprised by the movies Abhay Deol makes. He is not a commercial chocolate hero kinda guy. He does some out of the ordinary movies, not much fanfare but delivers a good act and a great product. Some of his other movies I would recommend are Ek Chaalis ki Last Local and Manorama 6 feet Under. His movies are equally interesting in name as they are in storyline. I would suggest you watch Oye Lucky for some light hearted simple fun Indian style.

Brownies for the Holiday season

This is not an original by any means but I have tried it out and it turned up pretty nice so give it a shot for a quick sugar rush on a cold yet festive evening.

Melt half a cup of butter, stir in one cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, half teaspoon salt, one cup all purpose flour, and 4 eggs. Once all stirred up, line an 8x8 inch baking pan with foil and pour in half the batter. Add some nuts on top - I would go with pecans but really, anything works. And then pour the rest of the batter on top.

Preheat the oven to 325F and bake this for about half hour or a little more, depending on when it comes to a point where you can poke a fork in and it comes out sans any batter holding on to it.

Remember : The butter should melt completely or it will be difficult to mix in the rest of the ingredients. Also, dont use nuts right on top because once the baking begins the nuts will get pulled into the center and so the pieces on the edges will not have any nuts on them. Besides, having the nuts in the center would be a bit of a surprise for folks who think this is just another plain brownie!

Serve by itself or with strawberries or some icing sugar on top. Remember to let it cool long enough before cutting to pieces as it might be too hot and break into crumbs easily.

Happy Holidays!