It's the Season To be Jolly...tararararararra....

Winter is coming. The heat of torturing summer is now over. I came to Dubai at the start of winter last year. Pleasant weather not too cold yet and not hot anymore. Maghrib masuk pukul 5.30. So i have ample time to savor the city at nite and mind you, this city is really beautiful on winter nite.


- Its time to lepak. heritage village

My favourite lepak place is Madinat Jumeirah, Marina/JBR walk and Uptown Mirdiff. This places remind me of home, but of course more posh la. Yelah Malaysian kan suka outdoor dining and lepakking. Majority of eatery or lepakking place in Malaysia ada outdoor space. Doesn’t matter the weather we just love to sit outdoor sambil people watching sambil komplen pasal kerja or bosses. This must be true judging at mamak stall yang macam cendawan tumbuh.

Of course lepakking in Dubai is not as cheap as in Malaysia lah. In Malaysia, we can just spend like 2 ringgit for a glass of teh tarik and roti canai and sit there for hours whereas in Dubai for 1 time lepakking average cost is 18dirham(just a mug of starbuck coffee) and add lagi makan or shisha or another glass of coffee, one time lepak can cost us $100. Just imagine..where got money to lepak everyday like this..

- Desert Safari, dune bashing memang scary and i don't enjoy that at all

Think i’ve been almost to all ceruk in Dubai and maybe the best cheap place to lepak during winter is at Satwa, the whole stretch yang ada Pizza Hut, Thai rest (don’t eat there, the cook is Indian and tak best lansung lansung), Beirut rest and my all time favourite Al Mallah a Lebanese rest. The staffs are friendly, foods are OK and price is decent. Shawarma only cost 5dirham and chai is only 2.5 i think. Paling penting, kedai tu bersih. Also, the street is famous for pak-pak Arab dok menunjuk kehebatan kereta masing-masing. Masa aku mula-mula sampai dulu, almost every night pegi lepak kat Al Mallah tu. Semua jenis keta dapat tengok. Masa tu baru datang, so macam jakun jer tengok keta-keta yang pelik2 hahahaha.

- Global Village, macam-macam ado...

I just lurrrrrve winter in Dubai. There are so many activities held during this time such as Global Village, Flea market, lots of concerts, Jazz festival, shopping carnival, sports events and lists are endless and the fact that i can just strolled around the city without sweating and can lepak outdoor while people watching, that’s great rite.

- Dubai is winter training place for some famous European football clubs. Kalu adik-adik aku ada sini, mesti dia orang suker giler

Yup, i’m really looking forward for this season to chill out and celebrate...

Last few days tetiba jadi busy la pulak. Not only busy kerja but busy with aktiviti menghabihkan duit.

But before cerita about shopping, nak eksen, that for the first time in my life, aku berjaya membuat kueh melayu..hahahaha.. and the lucky kueh is of course one of my favourite - cik mek molek. Masa kecik sampai anak dara tak pernah berminat nak balajar buat kueh. masa dok dengan mak, mak ada so buat apa nak belajar..hehehe and masa dok bujang2 dulu, kueh melayu merata, rasa nak makan apa pegi je la cari mana2, pasar malam ke tepi jalan ke mesti ada. Lepas kawin pun sama. Mana ada masa nak buat kueh, balik kerja pun dah malam. weekend selalunya we had late lunch so tak pernah rasa nak buat kueh. Aku cuma pandai buat bubur je sebab senang and cucur udang sebab tu favourite husband..so untuk menjadi isteri yg disayangikan mestila kena pandai buat fav foods dia...hehehe

Now dok kat Dubai ni mana la nak cari kueh-mueh tradisional melayu, so last week sebab rasa nak makan kan so aku pun merajinkan diri untuk buat kueh cik mek tu.. tak tau la sebab kueh tu senang ke or aku ni memang ada bakat memasak semulajadi, it turns out OK, semua cukup so sedap la bagi aku..buat 2 biji sweet potato dapat la 5 keping.. tapi kan aku tensen gak sebab rasanya dah banyak gula aku letak nak suruh air gula jadi kow2 tapi bila dah masak, air gulanya kureng..and i've conclude that it's not my fault tapi gula kat sini halus so x sedap not like our gula kasar kat malaysia yg membuatkan air gula dia meleleh..slurrrpp

Thursday nite, went to Sharja Blue Souq dengan Che'na and Putri. dah lama plan nak pergi and finally berjaya juga kami menjejak kan kaki ke sana. First time for Che'na and I but Putri had been there few times.

Che'na nak beli souvenirs and myself nak cari jubah yg colleagues kirim and tudung Turkey for mom.. Itula mak aku, masa aku pegi Turkey dulu tak cakap nak, tetiba lepas tengok cerita apa ntah dalam tv, suruh aku carikan dia tudung Turkey..


Ini kedai tudung yg first kami masuk. Putri kenal towke kedai, Abdullah nama dia. Aku beli 4 je tudung dia sebab not really my taste tapi terbeli 2 pashmina that i dont really need since aku dah ada like 5 but oklah sebab aku ni memang jenis tak tahan sejuk so all my pashmina memang di fully utilized kan.


Lepas kedai tudung, kami pi kedai souvenir sebab Che'na nak beli souvenirs for her family. kedai ni a bit scary for me sebab penuh dengan ala-ala antiques things, macam kepala monyet la, ular la, some scary look patung and kawasan yg sewaktu dengannya. Che'na tensen sebab towke kedai tak paham.. but memang kelakar tengok depa dok communicate macam itik dengan ayam..but i do understand the frustration..hehehe

Ini depan kedai jubah yang aku beli jubah for my collagues and tudung Turkey for my mom. murah dan cantik. Aku beli banyaks sebab nak bagi for adiks and in-laws


Lepas tu masuk satu lagi kedai souvenir. Ini towke kedai(yg pakai kandura) yg pandai. Dia ada indian assistant yg boleh cakap omputeh. so no comunication breakdown..


Ini highlite of the nite for me. Masa dalam keta dah cakap that aku nak beli emas. Dah lama plan tapi tak beli2 lagipun i'm not really a gold person. Aku cuma ada 2 set jewellery saja tu pun jarang2 pakai cuma wedding ring and bangle saja aku suka pakai. Tapi since Che'na mentioned that her colleagues cakap that ths week harga emas jatuh and depa suruh beli masa ni, so i thought nak survey2 la. masuk first kedai, SA tak layan. Maybe tengok aku macam Kabayan kot ingat aku saja2 tengok2. pastu masa nak kluar gi parking dah, kita tengok rantai yg display cantik2, so masuk le tengok. Towke kedai dia Leena tu service baik punya really friendly eventhough kedai dia dah nak tutup. Sabar je dok melayan kitaorg belek sana belek sini tanya harga.

So lepas fikir like 20 mins, i decided to beli saja. Yay!!..cakap kat Putri and Che'na ni my first jewellery purchase (before this sumer gift from husband) and Putri terus suruh aku bergambar ngan Leena to commemorate ths purchase..lalalala

Balik tu terus call husband sebab tak sabar nak criter pengembaraan menghabihkan duit aku. First kena lecture sebab balik pagi2 buta tapi amazingly dia tak marah aku beli jewellery sebab dia cakap itu investment... dia cakap dari aku menghabihkan duit beli handbag and nonsense2 yg sewaktu dengannya baik la aku habihkan duit beli emas..hahahaha Tapikan Yang, kalu tak pakai kena bayar zakat, sapa yg nak bayar tu ???? and i need a bracelet to match my new chain... *hint hint*

Ohhh yang tak boleh lupa is masa tengah dok pikir2 tu masuk la sorang mak Arab. Dia keluarkan satu box bagi Leena tu. Leena tu pandai cakap Arab so kitaorg tak paham la apa diaorg dok borak, tengok2 masa Leena bukak box tu penuh dengan rantai la gelang la aku rasa senang2 ada like 10-20 urat..wow, terernya mak arab tu bawak dalam box lepas tu letak dalam paper bag macam bawak barang 20ringgit jer.. kita org pon dok pikir, banyak2 macam tu bila dia pakai sumer tu ?? aku ayg ada satu dua ni pun tak terpakai..hmmm

Shopping Ala Minah Arab

Wahh..sejak dok kat Arab ni, taste shopping pun ala-ala minah Arab jugak. Walaupun aku ni telah ditakdirkan untuk menjadi kaki shopping sejak azali lagi, tapi sejak dok sini, makin menjadi-jadi la pulak.

Huh apa ? Shopping ala-ala minah Arab tu macam mana ?? Ohhh shopping ala-ala minah Arab tu macam gambar kat bawah ni..hehehehe


Don't look at me, tengok minah Arab kat belakang tu. Sekali shopping 3 paperbag Gucci dia angkut. Handbag - Dhs 7000, Wallet - Dhs 2300, Kasut - Dhs 1750. Perasaan bahagia dapat perabih duit - PRICELESS..
Minah Arab made in Malaysia - besar sungguh hasil tangkapan mu di Coach itu.. Senyum lebar sebab bahagia berjaya perabih duit..



Emirates Tower Boulevard. Tempat ni berhantu tau. Keluar dari tempat ni, tengok2 duit dah hilang ribu2 punya..

There's about 30-50 high end designers boutique, 1 Starbuck and 3 restaurants. Brand-brand cap Ah Chong tak payah la cari kat sini, memang tak ada. Errr.. Minah Arab made in Malaysia...tak cukup lagi ke hasil tangkapan mu di Coach tu ??? Tengok Gucci macam nak ajer.. nanti kang balik rumah kena lecture dengan MB la pulak kang..

Hasil pendapat sepanjang 3 jam di Emirates Tower Boulevard. 2 Coach, 1 Gucci. Kan aku dah kata tempat tu berhantu..

Tapi..alhamdulillah berkat bacaan jampi2 dari my Darling hubby, aku tidak diganggu oleh hantu2 itu...semoga jampi2 tu, tahan sampai balik raya ni..hehehehe

BBQ at Al Mamzar Park

Seperti yg telah dijanjikan, we had BBQ at Mamzar park last Friday. I cooked mihun goreng and bought some ready made caramel puddings from Spinneys. Arrived there almost 6pm. Shila and family had arrived earlier to book the BBQ place. Entry into Al Mamzar Beach Park costs DHS 5 per person and 30 per car. The park gives you access to a beautiful beach with surrounding green park areas for you to relax in.

There's great open space for children to play and there were an abundance of families out for a picnic, there is a children’s play area too, as well as shaded areas for BBQ. Overall memang cantik dan spacious. I like it better than the crowded Jumeirah Beach.

This is last makan-makan activities before Ramadhan. During Ramadhan, will still have makan2 but no more lepakking thereafter (yelah nak terawih kan)

Road Sign

Today memang bad day for me. Here's the series of unfortunate events:

Unfortunate event 1:

Early-early morning dah argue with the GM, our partner rep. Disagree on tender bid format. At last, since degil jugak and deadline by 12.30, i surrender. lantaklah.. if not successful, it's your problem. I have fulfil my budget for this financial year.

Unfortunate event 2:

Meeting in Jebel Ali with IFRC. Knowing how crazy road sign in UAE ni, i've been very careful. The direction given is to enter through Gate 5. OK, manage to find this.. Then, once arrive roundabout 12 turn left. Where the hell is roundabout 12, there's so many roundabouts inside Jebel ALi Freezone..how will i know where's roundabout 12??? Passing thru few roundabout blur2, finally come across a roundabout with huge number 7 in the middle.. OK, should i go straight or should i turn back for r/a 12 ...arghhh pening2. After lost for 45min inside the freezone, finally find IFRC office..

ehh hello, u all kat ofis jangan dok gelak, Jebel Ali freezone bukan macam Westport kita tau.. ini yg macam 1 bandar sendiri, besar gilerrr.

Unfortunate event 3:

After meeting, want to have lunch in Mall of Emirare(MOE) . Again drive very carefully as i know i have to exit in Barsha to enter MOE. But the usual exit was close..macam mana ni.. turn here and there, 15 mins journey became 40 mins. Sebab dah janji lunch dengan kamarul terpaksa pegi jugak, otherwise i'll head straight back to office..

That's UAE road signage. I'm complaining about Dubai, tapi Sharja is worst. Masuk Sharja dont know how to go back to Dubai. There's no signage at all. It was a rat run of dead ends, U-shaped roads, bizarre loops and circuits, and streets going nowhere.

Memang nak muntahh..

Construction all around the emirate had caused heavy traffic, congestion and road closure.

Get together

Friday is the day. By 10am everybody gathered at Putri place..who says Malaysian cannot be punctual.


5 cars from Putri place and joined by another 2 cars at Jebel Ali


Before(ladies come first while waiting for guys perform Friday prayer) and after (so pack, total 57 Malaysian adult, some have to eat outside at the table as bersila place is too full)


1 talam of Mandi and 1 talam of big fishes. There's freshly cooked prawn, squid and another type of fish but i forgot to take some photos(too busy eating)


See... this is leftover put at 1 place so the waiter can pack for whoever want to tapau.


Organizes -Hila and Putri.. really feel like kenduri kat kampung.


After lunch, we go jalan2 at Marina Mall and some went to Picasso exhibition in Emirates palace which is just next to Marina Mall. We meet-up for coffee later in the evening at Havana Cafe


View from Havana Cafe..

On the bakc to Dubai, i told Putri.."aku nyesal la tak tapau"..hehehe in the afternoon eksi since so kenyang by nite regret didnt tapau.. the foods are really delicious. I've been to the restaurant few times but always forgot how good the foods are.

Next Malaysian gathering would be held at Jumeirah Beach, but that would be after Raya. Weather would be nice by then.

Global Village in Dubai

The Global Village is a unique place where it's housing diverse customs and cultures covering a broad spectrum of activities including music, dances, arts and handicrafts, theatre, costumes and cuisine of different countries around the world.

I've went there with Kamarul and Janelle, and i've told them " aku nak makan banyak2 today kalu ada Malaysia foods" Unfortunately there's no Malaysian stall at all :-( except for Ali cafe. Ohh FYI, ALi cafe is no 1 brand of instant coffee in it's category in UAE. Surprise ?? Don't be.. Malaysia boleh..

Anyway, Global Village only operates during winter from December till mid/end Feb every year. It's like 1 KM radius spread and not too bad place to find things from countries all over the world.

Behind is China House. It's one of the largest house in Global Village. There's like 100+ shops selling all the China's product. Handphone are cheap.


India and the spices stall




Yemen House is one of my favourite. You can find cheap woman's accessories there.



Ali Cafe is a leading instant coffee in it's category in UAE. Malaysia Boleh!!!

Khan Murjan

Apa itu Khan Murjan ?? Actually I also don’t know..hehehehe. Anyway from what i read, it used to be very popular and one of the oldest Arab Souk (pasar) located in Baghdad. So if you want to know more, kena la buat research sendiri. Chek busy sangat la ni tak sempat nak buat research la, nak update blog pun kena paksa2. This afternoon, after ambik baju in Naif, i force Lina and Kamarul to teman me to the almost exact replica of Khan Murjan in Wafi.

Verdict: Sapa-sapa yg visit Dubai memang kena datang melawat Khan Murjan ni.. It's worth it, tapi barang2nya emmmm.. kalu dah terlebih kayo tu boleh la beli here otherwise you can find better bargain kat Naif Souk.