Tag: dubai

Travel

Enough pearls to take a bath in in Dubai!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 19, 2015
No Comments on Enough pearls to take a bath in in Dubai!

I’ve left one of the best things until last and I’m bringing you a real treat today. Dubai’s Pearl Museum knocked my socks off and I still feel very lucky to have had the chance to look around. Not having done my research, I imagined something quite cute and touristy and that I might get the chance to make a few holiday purchases for myself! I’m English and have always loved the classic look of pearl jewellery. Birthday presents from my dad and sister over the years have allowed me to build quite a collection. But when we got to this museum, housed in the National Bank of Dubai no less, I soon realised there was no gift shop and, if there had been, it would be seriously out of my price range!

While the museum is technically open to anyone, you have to be in a group and to make an appointment some time in advance, so we have our wonderful host Xavier from 1001 Events to thank for that. It was also his first visit to the place and I’m quite sure we won’t be the last group he takes there! The museum houses the private collection of the late Sultan Ali Al Owais and is worth some serious cash. A bank is a fitting home for it! If you put all the pearls together, they’d weigh more than 50 kilos. Wow.

Before oil, many people forget, or are unaware, that the Emirates were all about pearls. This passionate collector wanted his collection to be available to all to serve as a reminder of this history. Our tour of the museum started by watching a fascinating documentary about pearl diving in a mini theatre. The diving techniques were so primitive it is a wonder more people didn’t die. The collection is also a great look at natural marine pearls which are very rare and expensive, compared to the more often seen cultured pearls, introduced by the Japanese in the 1920s. They form, of course, when an irritant, like a grain of sand, becomes trapped inside the shell of an oyster, whose lining is filled with nacre (mother of pearl). To try and get rid of this pesky irritant, the mollusc secretes nacre to coat it. Layer upon layer build up over years to form the pearl. Isn’t nature wonderful?

We were lucky enough to see handfuls upon handfuls of beautiful pearls of all shapes and sizes and some stunning jewellery, all housed behind glass. Our guide was extremely well informed and taught us a lot about the history of the pearl trade, and pearl diving, in Dubai. Also on display are some of the tools the divers used and others the merchants used for weighing and measuring.

If you’re visiting, I highly recommend you try and pre-arrange a tour of this very special collection.

I hope you’ve enjoyed all my posts about Dubai. This is the last one but if you missed any, simply search ‘Dubai’ on the site. It was a real honour to be involved in Australia’s largest ever social tourism campaign!

All photos in this post by me.

Travel

The future of blogging and the power of collaboration

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 8, 2015
8 Comments on The future of blogging and the power of collaboration

dubai getaway

This Bloggerati getaway was proudly sponsored by Dubai Tourism.

One of the best things about taking part in Australia’s biggest ever social tourism campaign last month, when I went to Dubai with more than 20 other bloggers, was meeting and learning about other people who blog passionately like I do, whether about interiors or something else. It was a great opportunity to swap notes and find out how other people do things, from earning money to planning their content, managing their time and juggling their other commitments like family and, in some cases, jobs (I remember well the 18 months of juggling this blog alongside a full-time job, just for the love of it. It was BUSY!).

Being pregnant, it was great to meet so many ‘mummy bloggers’ and hear their tips, especially Samantha Jockel from School Mum who brought her adorable five-month-old baby Ellis with her. She is lucky I didn’t try and steal him…

Samantha Jockel, blogger at School Mum, and son Ellis

There were fellow interiors bloggers too: Anne-Maree Russell from The House That A-M Built and Dani Wales (ex of The Block) from Basic Habitat. We are all part of Nuffnang’s talent group of Australian bloggers called Bloggerati.

Before heading into tje mosque with fellow interiors blogger Anne-Maree Russell from The House that A-M Built — Before heading into the mosque with fellow interiors blogger Anne-Maree Russell from The House that A-M Built

In my opinion, there is almost always something to learn from other bloggers, whether you’re in the same niche or different, whether you’re bigger or smaller than they are. And that was part of the beauty of the trip; picking each other’s brains on things each other were weaker or stronger at. While blogging as a career is still a relatively new concept, and not everyone in Bloggerati falls into that category or aspires to, as someone who has been doing that for two years, it was a rare and useful chance to swap notes with so many other bloggers at one time. We all have large audiences and, although the synergies aren’t always immediately obvious, scratch below the surface and you’ll often find we have readers with interests in common and things we can help each other with.

It is fantastic that an organisation like Dubai Tourism saw the value in investing a significant amount of money and resources into taking more than 20 Australian bloggers to the UAE and saw the value of our influence in sharing all the variety Dubai has to offer with our readers (estimated to be in the millions between us). It’s a fine example of one of my favourite things: a win-win situation.

This year, I’ve resolved to hang out more with other bloggers and form mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships. And hey, even friendships!

Who are your favourite bloggers (apart from Interiors Addict, of course!)?

If you’re a blogger, do you network, share with and learn from other bloggers?

Tags blog, blogger, bloggerati, bloggers, blogging, blogging as a job, career blogger, dubai, dubai tourism, nuffnang, the block, the home journal, the house that a-m built, the life creative, tourism, travel, uae

Travel

The many faces of Dubai

Forget every date you've ever tasted before: these were something else!

This Bloggerati Getaway was proudly sponsored by Dubai Tourism

Wow, jet lag. No fun, and especially hard to beat when you’re pregnant! However, totally worth it for the amazing experience I was just lucky to take part in in Dubai. I hope you enjoyed following my travels on Instagram. I often worry you’ll get annoyed with me ‘spamming’ you and feel like a bit of a show-off, but it seems you all loved coming along for the virtual ride, which is great! I hope I’ve inspired some of you to visit the place by sharing the sheer variety of things it has to offer.

While I couldn’t do everything I wanted to (including hot a air balloon ride!) due to being pregnant (and probably particularly risk-averse) I still had a wonderful time. I left with a more positive and rounded opinion of Dubai than before we left. Sure, I expected flashiness and luxury and the odd token camel, but I had no idea how much there was to do and see there.

Image by Sonia Stackhouse, Life, Love & Hiccups blog

It felt like we had a different lunch at a different fancy hotel each day. Oh yeah, that’s because we pretty much did! The hotels were, without exception, just amazing. Some of the best interiors, food and service I’ve ever experienced. No cookie cutter approach here. There must be serious opportunities for interior designers here because there so many wonderful hotels and they’ve all made the effort to be something different. Stunning!

A suite at the Kempinski Hotel Dubai Mall of the Emirates which looks out onto the slopes of Ski Dubai. So surreal!

If you’re a thrill seeker (I am certainly not, pregnant or otherwise), well, you’re in for a treat. Hot air balloons, sea planes, indoor ski slopes, mega water parks, go-karting… these are all things our group experienced. My favourite part of travel though, is always learning more about the local culture and of course, sampling the food (hello, eating for two!). Dubai is an extremely interesting place as far as culture goes, being that around 90 percent of the population are immigrants, from a huge variety of places. True Emiratis are few and far between.

Covering our hair before we went inside the mosque, with Ann-Maree Russell from The House that AM Built — Covering our hair before we went inside the mosque, with Anne-Maree Russell from The House that AM Built

It remains though, a Muslim country, but a very progressive and relaxed one for the most part. Tolerance of radical or extremist views is pretty much zero. There is a real effort to help visitors understand Islam in a religious and cultural context, which, in the current terrorist climate, is probably more important then ever. We had the opportunity to ask any questions we wanted while enjoying a traditional meal at The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding and I really enjoyed our tour of the Jumeirah Mosque, where we were talked through what Muslims believe in, how they pray and more. Super interesting. The interior of the mosque, although nothing ornate, was beautiful in its geometric patterns. Depictions of people and animals are not allowed in Islamic buildings; instead you will find wonderful geometric patterns and beautiful calligraphy of verses from the Quran. The decoration is so distinctive and and I loved its symmetry and colours.

Another favourite for me was the Frying Pan Adventures food tour, which took in the bustling fish market, the spice souk, a coffee museum and a wonderful breakfast by the water of rosewater iced tea and yoghurt with granola. Delicious! And then there was of course the desert safari, which I’ve already written about.

For the majority of our stay, we were ferried around in comfort and taught more about Dubai by the fabulous 1001 Events and, in particular, tour guide Xavier, whose smiling face and enthusiasm I now miss seeing every day!

Fresh prawns at the bustling fish market

frying pan food adventures — Our group on the food tour

Don't mind if I do, sir! — Don’t mind if I do, sir!

Me sitting up front. Photo thanks to Melbourne Girl. Click for details

You may well have heard that the legal system is harsh, and it is, but it is this respect for the law that means Dubai is stupidly safe. Leave your bags wherever you like, things do not get stolen. It’s not worth someone’s while. You’ve probably also heard that as a woman, you need to cover yourself head to toe in order not to attract unwanted attention. It’s not strictly true and Dubai is much more relaxed than I’d anticipated. That said, I still advise dressing appropriately and respectfully. And I still managed to get offered the opportunity to model saris within minutes of arriving, despite having just stepped off a 14-hour flight, looking worse for wear and being completely covered up! It’s that blonde hair and lipstick, isn’t it?!

I have so much more to tell you about but I’ll save it for next week!

Tags 1001 events, dubai, fish markets, frying pan food adventures, hotels, islam, jumeirah mosque, kempinski hotel dubai mall of the emirates, luxury, safari, ski dubai, tourism, travel

Kitchens Travel

The world’s tallest hotel in Dubai: The JW Marriott Marquis

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date December 13, 2014
2 Comments on The world’s tallest hotel in Dubai: The JW Marriott Marquis

Loved these booths at Prime68, not your average steakhouse!

This Bloggerati Getaway is proudly sponsored by Dubai Tourism

Of course, in Dubai, of all places, you get used to hearing things are the biggest, best or most expensive, but I can’t deny I was excited to stay at the world’s tallest hotel accommodation (marketer’s dream that I am). From the outside, once you get far enough back to appreciate it, the two towers sparkling in the sunshine are seriously impressive. But inside is where it really gets my interiors vote.

The JW Marriott Marquis impresses on so many levels, including level 43 (indulge the pun), where I stayed, and had a water view. On arrival, after 14 hours on a plane with little sleep, my heart leapt when I saw the amazing tub. I’m a hardcore bath lover, so often disappointed with new hotels who don’t see the need for baths anymore, so I always approach the bathroom with a little trepidation! But no, this bath was one of the best and just what my aching back needed!

The room and its adjoining bathroom with separate WC (and shower perhaps big enough for three!) were all huge with plenty of floorspace and not a hint of being cramped. I had two twin beds all to myself and enjoyed the generously long desk and bathroom vanity. Room for everything! Built in plug sockets (to suit all countries’ plugs) were super useful to keep me working and everything could be controlled at the touch of a button from the tablet by my bed, from lights to ‘do not disturb’ to air con temperature. There was a great selection of TV channels and the wi-fi (20 dirhams a day) was extremely reliable.

The décor was understated and not too themed, as is the downfall of many hotels which are then quick to date. It was all about comfort, high-end finishes and plenty of space. It had everything you’d expect from a five-star hotel room including luxury Aromatherapy Associates toiletries, twice-daily housekeeping, tea and coffee-making facilities, a min bar, safe, wardrobe and fluffy bath robes. Bliss! The hotel is two years old but feels brand new.

The staff really make a difference at this place. Nothing is too much bother, everything is done with a smile, tips do not seem to be expected but are always very gratefully received, and everyone seems to know what they’re doing. It’s a slick operation leaving no room for complaint or frustration.

Tthe pool is a relaxing place for a drink or a spot of work on your laptop

The buffet breakfast is a sight to behold. I was always seated quickly and with a smile, with no irritating wait for coffee, as can be the case in other equally busy establishments. There’s so much choice it floored me. In fact, it took me until day three to realise there was a whole separate room dedicated to bread and pastries. Amazing!

And, on the subject of food, the choices are endless so, if you don’t want to, you have no need to leave the building. There are 14 restaurants in total. As well as Kitchen 6 for breakfast each day, I sampled the food at Positano (Italian), Rang Mahal by Atul Kochhar (Indian) and Prime68 (steakhouse). All were exceptional and each a stunning and unique interior design achievement.

The view at Vault bar on levels 71 and 72 is not to be missed! More casual drinks can be taken poolside at Aqua. Without being too cliché about it, the options are endless, with Japanese, Thai and French among the other dining choices. I tried the club sandwich from the room service menu (a benchmark by which I like to judge hotels around the globe!) and it defeated me, with its generous french fries and chips, condiments and garnish. Phew! Top marks!

Before I stop raving about the food, I have one more delight to share. While we were there last week, the La Farine cafe and bakery in the hotel lobby was transformed into a walk-in gingerbread house for the festive season, where we enjoyed the latest high tea menu, featuring mince pies, stollen and mulled wine, among the usual sandwiches, scones and tiny pastries. It was delicious, exceedingly generous and such a cosy Christmas atmosphere, smelling of spices and baking! And just in case I didn’t make it obvious, the walls are covered in real gingerbread; 11,000 slabs of it to be precise! I know, I know!

It's a whole new world inside the moody Indian restaurant where I tried prawns bigger than any I've seen in Australia! — It’s a whole new world inside the moody Indian restaurant where I tried prawns bigger than any I’ve seen in Australia!

Not surprisingly, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this hotel. Having been lucky enough to stay in many 4 and 5-star hotels in Europe and America earlier this year, I can confidently say this is one of the best. In a place jam packed with luxury hotels (several of which our group visited), there’s no place for complacency in Dubai, and the JW Marriott Marquis is definitely a standout.

Disclaimer: I stayed as a guest of the hotel and did not pay for my acommodation or breakfast.

PS. You can see that bath in this bump selfie I took in the bathroom mirror…

Tags addict abroad, dubai, high tea, hotel, jw marriott marquis, kitchen, la farine, mahal by atul kochhar, marriott, positano, prime68, room service, travel, uae

Travel

An unforgettable safari in the Dubai desert

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date December 8, 2014
3 Comments on An unforgettable safari in the Dubai desert

This Bloggerati Getaway is proudly sponsored by Dubai Tourism

You can’t go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower, New York without seeing The Empire State, London without seeing Buckingham Palace or Dubai without going on a desert safari, as I was lucky enough to this week. A luxury desert safari, no less. Without a doubt, this was one special experience and the highlight of our trip so far.

Photo thanks to Be A Fun Mum. Click for details.

I must admit I was a little anxious, understandably, at the idea of dune bashing while pregnant, but the lovely people at Platinum Heritage agreed to take me in a slow car which would take it very easy over any bumpy bits, and they did. I was so grateful for this as I would have hated to have missed out on such a great afternoon and evening. It started with donning headscarves, then into our vintage Land Rovers (they really look the part!) for a drive around the dunes. It truly was spectacular to be out in the middle of nowhere and what seemed like nothing but sand, sky and setting sun as far as the eye could see. It was so surreal and peaceful. We even saw a gazelle! I had to keep pinching myself.

We stopped for a falconry display where we sat on floor cushions, drank sparking apple juice and watched the sun go down and the moon rise. Again, you have to keep asking yourself is this for real?!

Photo thanks to Learn with Play at Home. Click for details.

But it wasn’t over there. We continued, after dark, to a traditional Bedouin style camp lit with torches, for dinner and camel rides. We were welcomed with a sprinkling of rose water on our hands to wash them, and aromatic Arabic coffee. I avoided the camels. They have always freaked me out. Shudder. But the others sure had fun and the photo opportunities were great!

We dined on all kinds of traditional food on cushions inside tents, starting with lentil soup and bread, which we had watched being made, followed by an array of entrees which would have been sufficient on their own, then all sorts of meat, curries, rice and vegetables, including a traditional camel meat dish (no, I don’t want to eat camels either, so declined!). Later, I managed to squeeze in one deep fried doughnut dipped in date syrup. Delicious!

Trying to look the part, lippie and all... — Trying to look the part, lippie and all…

There was plenty of entertainment too: henna tattoos, shisha pipes to smoke (off limits for pregnant ladies too!) and traditional dancing. It was just lovely and all we could keep saying was “how amazing is this?” And then it was back in our Land Rovers in the pitch black, then onto our coach. It’s only about 45 minutes drive from Dubai city to the desert.

This was definitely a very Dubai experience and one I will remember for many years to come. Feeling very grateful indeed!

–Being pregnant overseas makes me more aware than ever of the need to take out proper travel insurance. I also brought with me a letter from my obstetrician saying I was safe to fly as this can often be an issue with airlines. Thanks to Bupa for providing my travel insurance for this trip (make sure you are covered for obstetrics care if you’re pregnant and traveling and ask as many questions as you feel you need to) and check your airline’s rules on how many weeks pregnant you can be to fly. It is usually different if you are carrying more than one baby. Get a free worldwide adaptor kit when you get your travel insurance through Bupa before December 31 2014 using this link or by calling 1300 555 240. Conditions apply.

Travel

When 21 bloggers go to Dubai…

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date December 6, 2014
3 Comments on When 21 bloggers go to Dubai…

This Bloggerati Getaway is proudly sponsored by Dubai Tourism

We’ve been in Dubai for 48 hours and already we have seen so much. I knew this was a place of many contrasts but you really do have to see it for yourself. The weather is perfect mid-20s and not horridly humid and stormy like the Sydney I left behind! And it has been nice to put right some slightly skewed preconceptions I may have had.

Our first day started, appropriately, with a delicious lunch at the not-for-profit Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding where their motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. We sat round on floor cushions and shared a traditional meal, complete with deep-fried dough balls and date syrup, and Arabic coffee with cardamom. So far, Dubai food is not disappointing my love for spice! It was a chance to openly ask questions about Emirati and Muslim culture. Our host Sheik Nasif welcomed us to ask questions without fear of causing offence and was keen to highlight that Arabic men are not misogynists and a little about why women (not their husbands!) choose to wear abayas. Although I think it is a small minority of uneducated or ignorant Australians who might believe all Muslims are terrorists, I do feel for this religion and culture which sometimes suffers such misunderstanding, especially in the light of recent world events. If you’re visiting Dubai, I thoroughly recommend this informative and entertaining experience. It certainly made me feel Dubai is more forward-thinking than I had thought.

The top of the Burj Khalifa. It is pretty much impossible to fit it all in one shot!

After our lunch, we discovered the Old Town, not that there’s a huge amount of it, but it was charming nonetheless. Of course I got lost in the maze of side streets in the historic district of Bastakiya, which all looked alarmingly similar (that’s my excuse anyway!). We crowded around the windows at the gold souk and checked out colourful beaded textiles and silks and sacks upon sacks of aromatic spices (if only Australian Customs would let us bring those home!). To get home, we had to take an abra (water taxi) to cross the water. This is a normal form of public transport, not just something for tourists like us. In the evening, we had dinner at the super swish new China Grill restaurant at the impressive Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi. I’ve eaten at my fair share of fabulous Sydney restaurants and this gave them a run for their money in décor, food and service. Delicious!

Day two was all about the flash, new and modern! We started with a trip to the top of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. It’s kinda tall. As in so tall you can’t really get your head around it and it’s best not to over think it as you take the 60-second elevator ride to the 142nd floor, ears popping! Great view from the top, but I personally prefer this impressive piece of architecture from the outside. It really is quite something and you can see it from everywhere it seems! Wowsers.

At the top of the Burj Khalifa with Sonia from Life Love and Hiccups blog

We spent hours (and really you could spend days) checking out The Dubai Mall (world’s largest, of course, this is Dubai!). There’s not just shops but the aquarium, indoor zoo (complete with Aussie croc), KidZania and SegaRepublic.

My experience of Dubai so far has been great, the people friendly and my hotel (more on that in a future post) amazing. I’m having a ball!

Anyway, plenty more great experiences coming up which I’ll be sharing with you soon, including a food tour, desert safari, afternoon tea, the Jumeirah Mosque and the pearl museum. What an adventure I’m having with the baby bump!

Tags arabic, bloggerati, bloggers, blogging, burj khalifa, dubai, dubai mall, dubai tourism, emirati, life love hiccups, nuffnang, travel, uae

Interiors Addict

Prepare for more nursery posts: I’m pregnant!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date December 3, 2014
12 Comments on Prepare for more nursery posts: I’m pregnant!

I’m not going to be able to keep it a secret for much longer and, safely on the other side of our 19-week scan yesterday, I have some exciting news to share: I’m pregnant! Interiors Addict is no longer my only baby!

I tried to keep it quiet but my rapidly expanding belly is starting to give it away. And then I got busted a few times on Instagram when well-meaning friends made comments on totally non-baby photos! I took the first one down but then I gave up!

Although I admit to being a chronic over-sharer (that’s why me and social media get along so well) I have felt very private and protective of this little person growing inside me (still totally surreal, by the way!). I didn’t want the world and his wife to know, or to tempt fate. This is pretty much the biggest thing that has ever happened to me so I’m nervous, like all first-time-mums-to-be, I’m sure. I’m also really, really happy and excited!

Yesterday, we had our 19-week morphology scan and bub was looking healthy and perfect (we also found out the gender but as some relatives don’t want to know, I’m not revealing it here!).

As you know, Damian and I have not long returned home from a six-month overseas trip. That was the “before we settle down and have babies” trip. Ha!

I have never taken falling pregnant for granted. Sadly, so many of my friends have struggled to conceive. Why should I be any different? Having a child is a blessing, not a given. That being said, we of course fell pregnant right away, not realising we were flying home to Sydney with an extra passenger on board! And there was I thinking I had THE worst case of jetlag of all time and a weird craving for pretzels…

Less than a week after landing, we found out the good news and then started the longest couple of months of our lives while we kept a big secret from everyone but our nearest and dearest and counted down to the all-important 12 weeks. At this point, we told all our friends but I still wasn’t ready to share it with you guys. There’s tens of thousands of you, that’s huge!

But now I’m finally content to share our happy news and thankfully, I’m also safe to fly to Dubai tonight for what will probably be my last overseas trip for a long time! You’ve lucked out really, because you missed all my whingeing about nausea and extreme tiredness!

What a year I am having! Feeling very blessed indeed.

And yes, of course I’ll share my nursery progress with you! Nothing like a Christmas holiday project…

Tags baby, dubai, interiors addict, jen bishop, nursery, pregnancy, pregnant, ultrasound

Appliances Travel

The $50 life-changing appliance: the Kambrook handheld garment steamer

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date November 30, 2014
12 Comments on The $50 life-changing appliance: the Kambrook handheld garment steamer

I’m heading to Dubai next week and it reminded me I lost my trusty garment steamer on our big Europe trip. I have just ordered another because I simply cannot travel without it and it’s worth every dollar!

It’s a big statement, I know, but the Kambrook Swift Steam Garment Steamer is a bit of a life changer. OMG I am in love with it. And the good news is, it’s less than $50!

I’ve ALWAYS wanted one of those garment steamers but they tend to be bulky and pricey. I really hate ironing. And anything laundry-related in fact. In the division of labour at our house, laundry is Damian’s domain (he may not thank me for revealing that) but that doesn’t (sadly) include ironing. Where possible, I’ll avoid it. This includes ignoring plenty of lovely clean clothes in favour of others, made more appealing by the fact they either don’t need ironing (or I can get away with it). It makes for a limited wardrobe but luckily I work from home and wear a lot of jeans.

Tags addict abroad, clothes, dubai, fashion, garment steamer, home appliances, iron, ironing, kambrook, laundry, steam, travel

Travel

The countdown is on to Dubai!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date November 26, 2014
9 Comments on The countdown is on to Dubai!

This Bloggerati Getaway is proudly sponsored by Dubai Tourism

With a week to go until I head to Dubai with 20 other bloggers, I’m getting pretty damn excited but I’m also as woefully unprepared as ever. You’d think, after spending six months traveling earlier in the year, I’d be a whizz at packing but no, I have something approaching a phobia when it comes to deciding what to take and fitting it all in the suitcase. I think it stems from the fear of making the wrong choices and arriving only to find I am under/over/impractically dressed for every occasion. This is, of course, a little easier in Dubai, where I believe it is important to be sensitive to the ways and customs of a largely Muslim country and dress respectfully and accordingly. No, not everyone does, but I really think you should. So for me, this means many a maxi dress to keep cool with a light shawl to cover my shoulders. And of course, plenty of statement jewels. Done! And while I know flat sandals would be sensible, I prefer a wedge heel…

Enough of my wardrobe choices! Here’s what I’m looking forward to most. While Dubai is known, more recently, for its amazing, super modern, super tall, super expensive architecture, I’m much more intrigued by The Old Town, the gold souks and the traditional food and crafts. I love spicy food so bring on the Emirati cuisine! I’m dreaming of dishes packed with saffron, turmeric and cardamon and sweets drizzled with date syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds! On our itinerary is a meal at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.

Of course, my first love being interiors, checking out local examples of these will be top of my list, from the impressive accommodation at the five-star JW Marriott Marquis where I’m very excited to be staying, to the more traditional Arabian and Persian-inspired homes. There’s nothing like getting a little off the tourist track and seeing how locals really live. This fascinates me most about travel so it is always nice to meet and talk with residents, not just fellow tourists. I’ll be meeting up with an old school friend from England who has now lived in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for many years.

Much of this year’s travels with my husband were spent in Europe and the USA and although I loved every minute, I’m ready for a culture shock in Dubai! It’s a place where you really can experience so many different things. We just got our itinerary and it is so varied and exciting, including a Sundown Desert Safari (squeal!), shopping at The Dubai Mall, penguin encounters at Ski Dubai and the Underwater Zoo & Aquarium!

I’m really looking forward to spending so much time with some of Australia’s finest bloggers too. What a unique opportunity to swap ideas, learn from each other and even just discuss the weird and wonderful world (for many of us) of blogging as an actual job! I’m sure to come home full of inspiration from Dubai and my new travel buddies!

If you’ve been to Dubai, I’d love to hear your tips and recommendations. Please share them in the comments below. Thanks!

Tags &tradition, abu dhabi, addict abroad, arab, arabian, architecture, blog, bloggerati by nuffnang, bloggers, blogging, culture, dubai, dubai tourism, emirates, emirati, food, holiday, hotel, interiors, jw marriott marquis, nuffnang, persian, souks, spices, tourism, travel

Competitions Travel

I’m off to Dubai and one of you could come too!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date October 30, 2014
10 Comments on I’m off to Dubai and one of you could come too!

This Bloggerati Getaway is proudly sponsored by Dubai Tourism

Yes, you heard it right, I’m going to Dubai in early December and one of my readers, and a plus-one, could win the chance to come along for the ride. Amazing, huh?!

In Australia’s largest international social tourism campaign, myself and 20 other bloggers are partnering with Dubai Tourism to capture the excitement and diversity of Dubai. We’re all members of Bloggerati, the talent group of Australia’s largest blogging community, Nuffnang, with a combined reach of some 8 million people between us.

I’ve always been intrigued by Dubai so I’m really excited to have the opportunity to visit for the first time and share all it has to offer with my readers. I’m thinking souqs (I cut my teeth in Marrakesh earlier in the year!), Bedouin tents, camel rides in the desert, impressive shopping malls (there are almost 100 including the 12 million plus square foot Dubai Mall!), some of the world’s best hotels and exciting food (I love a bit of spice!). Despite all the glitz and glam on offer, I’m particularly looking forward to exploring Old Dubai and hoping we’ll get to go on a desert safari!

Home to over 200 nationalities, I’m sure Dubai will provide a glimpse into so many cultures and this really fascinates me. And as for architecture and interiors, there will be plenty to explore and I hope to share a variety of inspiration with you. Camera at the ready!

“Dubai Tourism is delighted to partner with Nuffnang on their annual Bloggerati Getaway, to showcase Dubai’s diverse attractions and experiences to the various audiences that their top bloggers attract. The bloggers will be visiting Dubai’s iconic attractions as well as uncovering some of the unexpected experiences Dubai offers to our region,” said Julie King, director of Dubai Tourism Australia and New Zealand. “The Dubai Blogger Getaway will be supported by our partners The Address Hotels & Resorts – Palace Downtown Dubai, The Address Downtown Dubai, The Address Dubai Mall, and Vida Downtown Dubai, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai and Shangri-La Hotel Dubai.”

We will be leveraging the #MyDubai initiative, created by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, who encourages residents and visitors to join him in sharing photos, videos and stories on social media and show their experiences of Dubai. The intention is to celebrate the everyday lives of the people and communities of the Emirate and show the city that is beneath the landmarks, headlines and superlatives. The Australia #MyDubai initiative will provide the opportunity to showcase and uncover some of Dubai’s hidden gems and lesser-known highlights to the Australian market.

“This is the first time Australia has seen an international tourism board commit to an impressive blogger getaway of this size. Nuffnang is proud to be part of this industry first and our bloggers are ecstatic to be working with Dubai,” said Nuffnang managing director, Felicity Grey.

WIN

One blog reader (hopefully an Interiors Addict reader!) and their plus-one, will receive return flights from their nearest capital city, accommodation and activities in Dubai. You’ll be traveling in part with the Bloggerati group but not included in all our activities. In other words, you will have time to yourselves.

TO ENTER

Simply answer the question “What do you dream of in Dubai?” on social media with the hashtags #NNDubaiDreams and #mydubai

In order for your entry to be valid:

You must use both hashtags above
You are allowed to upload an image, text or video
You must share to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
Your post must be publicly visible
In short, entries can be any format so long as they’re publicly visible on social media and contain the two hashtags.

Closes 5pm AEDST on Wednesday 12 November 2014.

More info about the competition. For full terms and conditions.

Have you been to Dubai? What MUST I see/do?

Tags bloggerati, competition, dubai, dubai tourism, emirates, emirati, nuffnang, tourism, travel competition, win