Been There | Jebel Hafeet Mountain, Al Ain City Adventure

As the night falls, the lights emerging to form from darkness to a beautiful jewel, overlooking and awesome scenery of Al Ain in Jebel Hafeet Mountain. With intrigue hilltop niche allows you to capture the exhibiting flourishing views to its fullest. Therefore whenever you pass Al Ain never missed to stop the romantic scenery of Jebel Hafeet.

Today I am starting my new blog with a pledge of posting at least 2-blog entries per month. Being today “Friday” (weekend) after the most hyped dooms full week of bustling at work seems to be a good day for me to write a new post from what I had gone through the year 2015.

It was a milestone, roller coaster ride and superb year where I achieved one of my bucket lists, though this seems to be a small thing but I’d still consider it already an achievement of its own. 

Hiking to the Jebel Hafeet Mountain, Al Ain UAE from its foothills and the highest Peak  - a long steep, creepy stretch road from The Green Mubazzara is indeed fun and amazing journey!

I love being on the road, but the funny thing is: I can't drive. :(

Two weeks before Christmas early last year, one of my friend in town invited to join and go on a hike in Jebel Hafeet Mountains in celebration of her birthday. We recall it a long drive so we opted to leave Dubai early after the evening mass or “simbang-gabi” as we call it. Simbang gabi is a traditional filipino beliefs that every year we must complete the 9 morning mass so our wishes / dreams will come true or at least somehow you're part of the holy mass across UAE. 

It was a two-hour and a half drive from Dubai and we weren't sure about the exact location but with ample road signs, we easily found our way to the mountain. We arrived there at 2 o’clock in the morning and it was insanely cold. Our road trip doesn’t end there. Of course we cannot just leave Jebel Hafeet without taking selfies. ;)

At the bottom of Jebel Hafeet lies the beautiful park called Green Mubazzarah. This park is special because this was one of the last projects of Sheikh Zayed, the country’s founding president. I’m told that Sheikh Zayed was often referred as “the man who turned the deserts green”.  This is the camping area, and we camped here till dawn.

I feel so fulfilled having done this trip.

I must say that I have been to Al Ain, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai

And yes, I haven’t been to all 7 Emirates but I'm almost there.

Till' next time..

xx

The Global Experience: Global Village in Dubai

Are you saving up to travel around the world? Would you like to savour exotic cuisines from all corners of the globe? Unpack your bag, put your passport down, and throw away that plane ticket – Global Village Dubai is the only destination this weekend!

Experience a journey through cultural shows, sample some of the finest delicacies from across the globe, or simply shop till you drop for a variety of items from the different countries.

The Annual Global Village in Dubai features 38 different nations showcasing their homegrown talents and pride – this year UK, France, USA, Burj Khalifa, DXB UAE and Germany are also joining-in on the fun!

With so many places to see in Dubai, this has to be one of my favorites! With a fusion of different cultures, Global Village is truly a place you need to visit. 

Here are the highlights and some photographs of my fun-filled weekend at The Global Village:

"The Global Village"
"Main Entrance"

"Russia"

"Hollywood , USA"

"Hollywood, USA"

"Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy"

"Eiffel Tower, Paris" 

"Statue of Liberty, USA"

"Big Ben in London, UK"

"Malaysia"

"China"

"Syria"

"India"

"Africa"

"Egypt"

"United Arab Emirates"

H e l l o ,

Global Village...

See you next time!

Location: Arabian Ranches on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road

Timings:

Saturday to Wednesday: 4pm to 12am 

Thursday’s, Friday’s and Public Holidays: 4pm until 1am

Monday is a family day (except public holidays)

Entrance fee: AED 15.00

These are just a few of the exciting pavilions you can visit at Global Village Dubai, too bad I haven't seen my country PH! Which will be your favorite? Share your experience on my comment box below. Thanks for dropping by!

#globalvillage #mydubai #happydubai  

HONG KONG INVADER: The Hiking Experience.

Hi there, remember me??? 

I used to blog here! I’m working very hard to make blogging a priority again. I really miss sharing my outdoor adventures and documenting the current happenings in my life. Lots of good stuff going on lately. I’ll play catch up soon. But if you really want to follow along on a daily basis, please come visit me on Instagram @diaznett. 

Since this day, I have wondered just how many important daily moments have I missed?

Mind full.

Schedule packed.

Running late for work.

During my vacation in Hong Kong earlier last month, we hiked out to Mui Woo Tung Chung Island - my first hiking experience and I liked it.  

But how to make the most of your mountain hiking experience?

“I’m cold, I’m tired and I’m hungry!” are the most common complaints heard out on the hiking trails. It’s called whining. What is the hurry? The whole idea behind hiking is to get to your destination no matter how slow or fast you walk. 

Of course, this can change just as fast as the unpredictable weather in the mountains, when it comes time to book it to safety. Don’t believe what they tell you about lightning, because it can strike anywhere, randomly. So, slow down and enjoy the view. Don’t get cocky out where the rubber meets the rock; rather, enjoy discovering the powerful gift of nature that is hard for mere mortals to comprehend. Always remember that you are in a wild place where wild things can happen. 

"FIRST STOP"

Hiking never gets boring because there is always something new to see and experience. Thumbs down to people who talk about taxes and business out on the trail. Leave that trash at the trailhead along with the cell phone. It probably won’t work out there anyway. If you really want to get primitive, leave your watch and just enjoy the beauty of nature...  

After losing 590 calories,
a healthy breakfast being served - Thai cuisine.

Though traveling is not a big deal for me today, before my trip to the mountains, I used to be a homebody. I had friends to hang out with, several hobbies, and I felt completely comfortable spending weekends at home — without going anywhere. All my demands of novelty were satisfied by the Discovery and National Geographic channels, and I seriously thought there was no difference between seeing something on the TV or with one’s own eyes.

While you are out hiking, 
take a moment to give thanks 
that you are able to enjoy nature in all its glory.
Till next time..

xxx

Hong Kong Island

March 2015

One Sunny Afternoon At The Creek Park

I’ve been incredibly busy each day, I feel like I get to work, and the next thing I know, it is time to get home and go to bed and the next morning you have to get up for work again, it’s a never-ending cycle. But lately, days feel like a blur. I haven't even had time to put up any blog entries anymore. It has been a few weeks since the last one. It feels like it has been a very long time since the last time I wrote. I missed blogging!

Welcome 2015!!!

I haven’t got much story to tell yet but last weekend we had a small picnic party at the park. The weather is simply awesome and the best place to enjoy the cool spell is the enormous park in the UAE, The Dubai Creek Park. One such day when the weather was just perfect, a special moment and a whole fleet of beautiful white seagulls made it all more memorable. It was a beautiful sight to watch these white winged creatures fly with the wind and then dip down gracefully to pick up the morsels from the blue waters.

Cutting through the heart of Dubai, the seawater Dubai Creek winds its way from the trading port on the Gulf to the Ras al Khor bird sanctuary on the desert edge of Dubai. Old-fashioned boats called dhows criss-cross the water from Bur Dubai on the left bank to Deira. Catch a water taxi dhow, called an Abra, to get from A to B, or sign up for a romantic sunset Dhow Cruise traveling further upstream. A cruise reveals the glittering high-rise buildings lining the Creek, passing under several bridges to reach the Creek side gardens. Or take a stroll along the paved promenade lining the Creek on the side of the waterway. An ordinary day with an awesome and relaxing scenery made my weekend even more special and complete.

So I guess I just need to sit-back and relax,
Enjoy the rest of the weekend folks.

Carpe Deim! 

DUBAI CREEK PARK

Address:

Dubai Creek, Al Maktoum & Al Garhoud Bridge, Bur Dubai - Al Riyadh St - Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Tel No: +971-4-800900 / +971 4 336 7633

Entrance Fee: 5dhs. 

Opening Hours: 8am-11pm