P.F.Changs China Bistro

One of the newest addition in UAE's huge gastronomic venue is P.F. Chang's China Bistro- Americas No. 1 Chinese Bistro opened last May 2010 at Mirdif City Center and the second branch at Mall of the Emirates. It is noticeably crowded every time we passes by this restaurant so I thought that the food must be good in there.

It was a perfect time to try P.F. Chang last Friday since it was my birthday. We went to Mall of the Emirates as planned after attending Tagalog mass at St. Mary's Church. Eating at China Bistro is one of our dining options that day and we gave it a try after my brother suggested the place too.

As we enter, we can feel the hustle and bustle, it was a big restaurant but was full and hardly no tables available. As I observed while we are waiting for our table to be ready, the diners are comfortably seated, well assisted and look happy with their food.

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Things to do in Fujairah

If you are looking for a place to stay in Fujairah during the summer months,  there are a number of hotels that line the beaches like Royal Beach Hotel and Resorts, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach, 

Fujairah Rotana Hotels and Resorts, Fujairah JAL Hotel Resort and Spa, Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort and Hilton Fujairah Resort to name a few, room rates ranges from a backpackers budget to the most expensive ones and you should eye on the summer rates and promotions of different hotels to get a good deal for your money. These hotels are packed with activities that are customizable according to your request and liking, prices vary depending on the event organizers having their offices in the hotel and some are organized by the hotel itself. Activities include beach volleyball, tennis, table tennis, beach soccer/football, billiards, darts tournament, desert safari, giant garden chess, squash, table football, shows at the amphitheatre, archery, badminton, bicycling, bird watching, golf, historical tour/sightseeing tours, minigolf, mountain safari, wadi bashing trips and island hopping.

Another attractions in Fujairah is Wadi Wurayah-a protected mountain area in the UAE and is believed to be the home to the country's last Arabian leopard. It is advisable to visit the place when there is no rain predicted over the area, it is not advisable to go there during winter season when the country experience rain showers as it can get very dangerous as rain water rises quickly up to alert level. The road to the wadi is rocky and small cars cannot go deep into the rock mountains, some leave their cars at the mouth of the wadi and trek all the way inside and those who have 4x4 cars can enjoy a bumpy fun ride. There is a small waterfall and a place to swim. Ideally, you can go there early in the morning before it gets crowded.

Al Bidya Mosque or also known as Al Badiyah or Al Badiya is the oldest mosque in the UAE, as old as 1446 AD and it is located in Fujairah, it is also one of the popular tourist stop over in Khor Fakkan.

Related readings if you want to know more about this Emirate: Fujairah in Focus

In the article Developing tourism in Fujairah  I would suggest for mountain activity to have  a zip line, now becoming very popular in my country

For more things to do in Fujairah: Bull Butting: Gremlines

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Luha ng Sawing Mangagawa

For those who have loved and lost at sa pakontest ni Iya_Khin

Para lang akong Aegis na umuawit

ng Luha dahil sa aking pagkabuwisit

Makita ko ba naman ang aking misis

pangalan ng iba ang sinasambit

habang tulog at nananaginip

Umuwi akong masaya

ngunit lilisan akong malungkot na

sapagkat ika'y wala na

panaginip mo'y totoo pala

Di ko pinakinggan ang mga sabi-sabi

nitong aking mga kumpadre

ang sabi nila ako daw ay pobre

pagkat ginto't dyamante'y di ko na pagaari

Masakit ang katotohanang

pag-ibig nati'y di naalagaan

mula ng ako'y mangibang bayan

Ito ba ang kapalit ng kaunting salapi

kaya ngayon ako'y sawing sawi?

Paunawa: Ang tulang ito ay kathang isip lamang at hindi ayon sa tunay na buhay ng may akda. Ang tema ay sumasalamin sa mga pangyayari sa ating lupunan

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Photobook from Witsandnuts, an early birthday present

I would like to thank witsandnuts (Ms. Jo) for choosing me as one of the recipients of her blog and birthday anniversary giveaway. Also greeting her a happy happy birthday and happy anniversary to her baby Witsandnuts which was featured in Abu Dhabi Week magazine (woot woot)

Me and Lauren are indeed lucky winners. She was giving away two photobooks and to participate, she asks her followers to comment about their birthdays and if given the chance to get hold of the photobook, which photos will they print on it and here is what I have said 

I am celebrating my 30th birthday tomorrow and this is an advance gift. It is also the first giveaway I got from a co-blogger. Thanks again to witsandnuts, I am sure my mom will be very glad and surprised with this gift.

I have received Ms. Jo's e-mail lastTuesday but opened only today, printed the voucher and downloaded the software immediately as I write this post (I am not very excited you know - with big smiles :D). I chose debossed hard cover large landscape 15" x 11" with 40 pages, I might incorporate my sisters and my wedding photos as well to fill all the pages, mom and dads pictures I guess is only about 10-12 snaps.

I called mom yesterday and ask her to send me their wedding album with a friend who's travelling back to Dubai by end of this month. I laughed when she said that I am going to post the photos on Facebook that's why I want it and she was worried that the photos don't look good anymore because it was almost destroyed by the 1979 flood. Oh dear, I laughed more. I assured her that I will take good care of their wedding photos and I will have it restored. Those photos are very precious for me, captured moments of my mom and dad, I cant keep the emotions pouring in as I look into those pictures long ago back in the Philippines. It was a happy time.

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Friendster - No Longer a Social Networking Site

I must be in total oblivion when Friendster announced that they are deleting all photos, blogs, and profiles of its members and was due to happen last May 30, 2011 to make way to revamping their website after being hit by the Facebook wave. Where was I on that day? hmmm o_O

I was shocked when I went online yesterday to check my Friendster account. I was going to download a photo to use for the article I was writing when I entered to a site completely alien to me although it says Friendster in it. I log in as usual but it prompt me a window with games and not my usual profile with friends testimonials and photo albums.

I ask my colleague if she's aware of it.. According to her it's been long time announced. Curious as I was, I searched for it and found out the shocking reality and as I slowly digest the truth in my head, I realized that all those precious photos are gone forever. Well it is not the end of the world for me since many of those photos have a back up but those that I have uploaded directly without keeping a copy somewhere are all gone now.

It seems that I am not the only person who do not know about it. I've posted a status on my FB account and I received comments asking me about it. Later on I realize that I was one of those millions of people who jump into Facebook from Friendster (:( guilty as charged). hehehe.

Now Friendster has a new face not as a social networking site but a site for entertaining and fun loaded with games. They say it is not competing with the giant Facebook anymore but complimenting it and earning through it.

It is true how the old saying goes "If you can't beat them, join them" what's up, Duck?

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The Date Fruit

Have you ever tasted a fresh date fruit? Normally we see processed date fruit at local supermarkets dipped in chocolates or stuffed with almonds and other nuts, they are all tasty but having to taste the fresh ones that does not contain anything on it but just pure riped date is the best. It is naturally sweet and soft and the almost riped ones are crunchy and a bit bitter sweet on the taste buds just the way I liked it. To some it is an aquired taste.

They look like our lanzones isn't it?  Date trees lined every road and high way in Dubai and it's an eye pleaser to locals, residents and tourist alike.

Ramadan is just right around the corner, it is said to start on August 1 and the date fruits on the date palm trees have ripened and tonnes have been harvested, in the supermarkets there is a designated area only for dates as it is a must to have it in every ones household during the holy month. Locals and Arabs eat dates to break the fast-just like their Prophet Muhammad used to do, followed by a prayer called Maghrib (the fifth prayer of the day) it's the same time Iftar meals are served.

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Falafel & Hummus are made from garbanzos?

I only knew chickpea or garbanzo as sweets served along with sumang malagkit (rice cake), leche flan (custard) and ube (purple yum) during fiestas in the Philippines. I didn't know that half way around the globe here in the middle east and in other parts of Asia, chickpea is used to prepare several dishes. One of them is the tasty falafel and another is my favorite meze the hummus. Chickpeas are high in protein and considered as one of the earliest cultivated vegetable.

Falafel is a good substitute to rice and sometimes when I don't want to eat rice I order some falafel from the nearby Safadi restaurant. It is very filling.

Hummus is a meze that I love the most, I can finish a whole plate of it. It is very nutritious, it is a good source of protein and dietary fiber, it is mixed with tahini that is made of sesame seeds making it rich in amino acids and olive oil and lemon. It is mostly eaten with Arabic bread or you can also dip you falafel in it.

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Dubai Dolphinarium - Dolphin and Seal Show

Another attraction and a must see in Dubai is the Dubai Dolphinarium located at the Creek Park. It is our first time to watch live seal and dolphin show which is amazingly entertaining and it is also our first time to see real dolphins and seals, they are so adorable and very intelligent creatures.

We opt for a Friday morning show but even so the amphitheater is full and all seats are occupied even the VIPs. It is the best time to go because traffic is less and the city seems to sleep until before prayer but I was completely wrong, like us a lot of people also chose to see the dolphins at the most convenient time of Friday - mornings - when public places aren't full and packed yet.

The seals show off their skills first. Love it when they flap their flippers

And then the main event, five well trained dolphins

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Kabayan Restaurant-Satwa Dubai

If you are looking for cheap but pinoy na pinoy dishes then Kabayan Restaurant in Satwa is the place for you. It is a blessing for people working and living nearby the restaurant because the food price is budget friendly. You can have lunch or dinner even breakfast for only ten dirhams and you get to be served with two viands and a cup of rice and drinks included, it really won't break your wallet. We had lunch here once

and we are looking forward to dining in again when we visit Satwa nest time.

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Shiekh Zayed Road

Sheikh Zayed Road-the longest road in UAE (E 11 road)

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Sisig

Me and my husband loves sisig or sizzling sisig, it's a Filipino dish made from pork's head and liver usually seasoned with calamansi/lemon and chili peppers topped with egg which get cooked slowly from the heat of the meat. Pork sisig is not serve in any restaurants in Dubai except those inside the hotel or clubs. I do not know how to make my own sisig that's why we always buy a pack or two of Monterey's sisig whenever we go shopping for pork meat at authorized supermarkets. This one is a bit pricey compared to the ready to eat sisig in can but much more delicious when reheated and prepared. The best sisig we have tasted was Aling Lucing sisig in Pampanga.

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That precious mane

Hair brings one's self-image into focus; it is vanity's proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices. ~Shana Alexander

Warning: When it comes to hairdressing, better leave it to the professionals.

Our scheduled visit to the hairdresser has long been overdue. My daughters long brunette locks and my mane is looking dull and badly needed some TLC. Mica is wishing for a shoulder length that must have been encouraged by the hairstyle of a loved one. She keeps on telling me about it every time she sees a salon.

Last weekend, instead of a trip to the hairdresser, I played Ms. Hair stylist and cut her hair shoulder length. It wasn't so bad at first cutting it straight but giving shape to it wasn't so easy after all. In short super-mom-pretend decided to take her little girl to the salon for the much needed haircut rescue before her dad sees what happened to his daughter's precious locks. TGIF and it's four thirty in the afternoon and the salon and all other shops in the area where we live are already open (it's Friday so customarily shops opens in the afternoon or after prayer) The Indian lady hairdresser sits Mica in front of the vanity mirror and start cutting her hair. It all looks so easy with some trimming here and there - me thinking. After blow drying and styling it a bit she's done. Mica looked at me and gave me a sweet smile.It only shows that she's happy with her new hair style.

After Mica, I told her to cut my hair too, V shape but same length only an inch or two to trim from the ends. She then ask me if my hair is naturally straight, it was wavy but I had twice re-bonding from the Chinese salon in Dubai. She said she will style it suited for straight hair, putting away my skepticism I gave her a go and the end result is not so bad, I actually liked it.

Mica and I went out of the salon happy with our new hairdo.

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Slick Yogo - Frozen Yogurt

We were in Dubai Mall a couple of weeks ago and was suppose to watch Cars 2 but the tickets are sold out so we went on window shopping, keep ourselves contented watching people stride on their skates at the ice rink  (Mica can't go because of her injured ankle) and watch as the fishes, sting rays and sharks gracefully swim inside the mamoth aquarium.

On our way to the parking lot after window shopping at Dubai Mall, Mica demanded for an ice cream treat. We are far from the food court but on our way was Slick yogo stall crowded by customers. Mica pointed on the same direction of the stall and ask for ice cream. Slick yogo is not actually ice cream but frozen yogurt and since we both eat yogurt, the idea of frozen yogurt treat is very much welcome. There are a lot of toppings to chose from but it all depends on Mica's taste. She ordered coppa tropicale which is originally topped with mango, pineapple, banana, coconut shaving topped with exotic mango and passion fruit coulis but we omit the coconut shavings and pineapple and instead we ask for some red currants.

Mica enjoying her sweet sour treat. Beat the heat with some frozen yogurt, its yummy, deliciously nutritious.

Slick Yogo
2nd floor Dubai Mall

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Agemono - Dubai's JaPinoy Resto

Whenever I think of Japanese food there is just one place I have in mind, it's Agemono, It is a restaurant that serves authentic Japanese and Filipino food (southeast Asian dishes are also available), situated in Karama-one of Dubai's densely populated district and popular hang-out among our kababayans (countrymen). With a perfect place to start with, Agemono benefited in its locale backed up by its delightful, well presented and delicious but affordable dishes on the menu, the relentless and hard working owners opened two more branches later on, one at International City and Al Quoz which only proves that business is up and the food is good promising customers would come back. Filipinos love good food and its just the perfect place for lunch or dinner weekdays or weekends with family or friends.

The last time we dine there was two Fridays ago, we had a typical Pinoy lunch at home and dinner was at Agemono. Its Friday and it was seafood buffet, Ferald, Mica and Ate Bebe opted for ala carte and I alone enjoy the spread on the buffet table. The wait staff was keen to inform us that there is no sharing for buffet orders. Ferald and Ate Bebe ordered Indonesia's Nasi Goreng, as per my husband, the quantity was bigger compared to the last time he ordered this dish and it is more tasty than ever.

Nasi Goreng 

Mica had her favorite chicken teryaki,  I love this one too, one of my favorites, if I had not ordered buffet I would have had ordered the same.



Chicken Teryaki

I am on buffet but I am afraid that I will come out of the restaurant with a potbelly, I also kept in mind the reminder of the wait staff that no sharing is allowed on buffet, some dishes like mussels with butter lemon sauce prepared before me at the live cooking stations of the restaurant was my share but I did not eat them instead gave it to my family to consume because I don't eat tahong. (paragraph rephrased)

 Mussels in butter-lemon sauce

Two of Agemono's signature dishes - I had different kinds of maki and some crispy tempura and later on I had grilled tilapia, sweet and sour hammour and seafood kare-kare with steamed rice.

We washed down our dinner with some Japanese bottomless iced tea. For the sweet endings, some fruit in season and banana cake slice for me and Mica had buko-pandan. The total bill was AED 205.This is not the first and definitely not the last with Agemono.

Burped! :)

Agemono Restaurant

Al Attar Shopping Center

Karama, Dubai

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Cars 2 Movie Review

Cars 2 is yet another fantastic movie from Pixar. My daughter was only two when she saw Cars and as she watched the film over and over again (you know kids), we along with her fell in love with it (young at heart-cartoon lovers :)). The much awaited sequel is now showing in cinemas around the city although it is comfortable for us to get a copy of the film and watch it at the comfort of our own home with homemade popcorn and cola which we did last night. Remembering Cars, it was Lightning McQueen who is the center of the story, this time around, tow truck Mater - McQueen's BFF is put to the spotlight.

As McQueen accepts confident Italian race driver Francesco Bernoulli's challenge to eat his dust at the World Grand Prix, he invited his BFF tow Mater to see the world. The first stop was Tokyo where cars were sumo wrestling and car parts are available at vending machines, so early McQueen was embarrassed with Maters actions and so the later chew out his BFF who with  lack of finesse create scenes that McQueen thought would tarnish his image making Mater decided to go home.

Mater having been mistaken as an American spy, was flown around the globe by his new friends Fin and Hollie both a spy on a mission. As the scenes unfold in front of his eyes, Mater realizes that he is in heck of trouble and not just him but the fate of the World Grand Prix and of many people at the event. Digging deeper, he realize his own potential and to prove he is not anybody's fool, he brave himself to save the day.

It was indeed a good movie for kids but the liberal display of violence like use of guns, drinking, gambling and kidnapping is something unexpected and very far from its first movie Cars that is wholesome. Parents must take note of this if you planning to watch the film with the kids.

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