14 Popular Destinations for Saudis during Summer Holidays

Dear Readers,

Most students in Saudi Arabia are finishing off there exams or waiting for results, and getting ready for the annual summer vacation.


As soon as the results are out expats and Saudis alike jet off to cooler climes to escape the blistering heat. This year people who like to spend Ramadan in Saudi (I think its the best place in the world to spend Ramadan,) have quite a narrow window of opportunity from June 6th till July 15th I think.


In the past the US of A has been a favourite, but due to visa issues, and other reasons, U.K has replaced it along with France, Switzerland and Spain, especially Marabella. This year with the Olympics to be held in London in July it may attract sports enthusiasts from Saudi to the much hyped event.

Those who prefer to head to the Far East: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand  (officially only for non-Saudis), for their beach vacation on picturesque island resorts, where it is less expensive and the Saudi riyal when converted still has quite a bit of purchasing power.

Berjaya Resort Langkawi, Malaysia

Still others like to vacation in the Middle East, popular destinations are U.A.E, which despite temperatures of up to 50 C, and very humid weather manages to attract a huge chunk of tourists from Saudi, with its Dubai Summer Surprises Festival favoured by families.

Egypt has been popular in the past, but recently due to the political climate andthe Saudi Embassy in Cairo  being shut down it is no longer a destination of choice.

Lebanon is also a local favourite due to great weather, a hospitable people, and it offers beaches, picturesque cottages on hillsides, shopping, plastic surgery, and wide variety of entertainment venues. Unfortunately this year the political climate has forced many to cancel their vacation plans.

Tunisia was another destination which has suffered due to political unrest.

Ever since Noor aired on MBC channels followe by a barrage of Turkish soaps, Turkey has attracted a huge number of Saudi tourists, despite language problems and in the beginning a rather frosty welcome to Arabs from the Middle East due to the historically hostile relationship between the two countries ( the Turkish Ottoman Empire was overthrown by the help of Lawrence of Arabia and the Bedouin tribes, which later gave rise to an independant Saudi Arabia or something like that I'm not a historian).

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As the wedding season will now be in full swing newlyweds will be off to their honeymoons, and Maldives secluded romantic resorts are the perfect fit.

I wonder what will be the most popular destination this year among Saudis, we'll know in a week or so when the stats start to come in.. Where are you flyng off to this summer, or if you are staying Saudi what will you be doing? Comment below, its free!

Best Restaurant in Dubai: Shakespeare and Co

Dear Readers,

I usually do reviews of restaurants etc in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but after my recent trip to Dubai, I feel compelled to review one of the most gorgeous cafe I've been to: Shakespeare and Co Cafe!
The decor is a shabby chic enthusiast's dream with floral prints, velvet curtains and laces accents, lots of cushions and array of complementing colours.

The restaurant also has a pattisseries section with cupcakes, cheescakes and more; they are so pretty that you just want to drool over them and it almost seems a shame to eat them.

The unique bouquets which bring a touch of spring are also avaiable for sale.
Shakespeare and Co has many branches all over UAE, I tried out the one in Dubai Marina Mall. If you are lucky enough to get a seat outside on the terrace overlooking the marina, it has excellent panoramic views. The seating is picturesque garden type seating with canopies to shade you from the sun, and colourful cushions to make you comfortable.

They have an eclectic array of furniture and cute chandeliers, chest of drawers and other oranments that leave you feeling like you have entered another world. It is dificult to absorb all the little artistic touches in one visit, you feel enchanted by it all.

I know I've been raving about the surroundings, but what about the food, you say. Well, the menu is expansive, there is something for everyone, at any time of day, be it tea-time cakes that you are craving or an english breakfast, or traditional foul muddamas,  a light manaeesh, or maybe cold sandwhiches, soups, salads, pasta, pizzas , and much more.

We went for brunch and my parents had the Eggs any style breakfast with mushrooms and beef bacon, and fried toast, with english breakfast tea. They were very happy with their food, although the tea became cold soit was refilled it and made it extra strong as requested-free of charge too.

I had the most divine drink-I will remember it forever! It was called pink lemonade but compared to other pink lemonadesI've had it was in a league of its own. It had grenadine syrup with a bit of rose syrup along with lemonade! Sigh, It was like heaven in my mouth. I also had a crepe slathered with chocolate and covered with sliced strawberries, then folded with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! The combination of flavours was perfect, did I already use the phrase heavenly?

My brother ordered blueberry pancakes with syrup and a cold coffee. I felt his breakfast was the lightest, but he was happy, while he thought mine was bit too rich. I was famished so I needed all that sugar to energise myself for the day ahead- or soI kept justifying to everyone ;-).

If you are going to Dubai, I suggest that you have a put it on your itinerary to visit one of Shakespeare and Co's many branches- you won't regret it.


Photo credit: Missbobochic and the company website.
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Wordless Wednesday

Kim Kardashian: Love Her or Hate Her?

Dear Readers, my blog has become the target of some sort of spamming mafia, which is attacking my previous post for some reason, and whoever they are they are located in the US. I'm trying to come up with another post to sort of remedy the situation, I know stupid remedy, but I've already reported it to Blogger I don't know what else to do. So here's an unlikely post from me anyway: Kim Kardashian.

I've also decided to let this be mainly a picture- heavy post. Maybe becuase I don't think there's much to say aboutther, I'm not aware of any great talents she may have,( No keeping up with the Kardashians doesn't count) or some great good she has done to world but she does look pretty, and is a fashionista, if nothing else...and there is a whole industry devoted to people like her- and they exist for a reason they fulfill a demand, or desires by the masses to be look like them, if not live like them. So without further ado lets have the pictures, which obviously, are more interesting to look at than a 1000 word post by me. 

Daydreaming in Dubai: Best Vacation Ever on the Dubai Marina

Burj Al-Arab

I recently went on a vacation to Dubai, and although this is not my first trip, I went after ages and I fell in love with the place. I was staying at the Dubai Marina., which is slightly far from the City Center. It is a lovely man-made canal city, filled with skyscrapers, residential towers, five stars hotels, the picturesque marina walk is spotted with cafes and restuarants while luxury yachts cruise alongside a few traditonal decorated dinner cruise dhows. the area oozes luxury, modernity, and you can almost smell the newness of the place.

Dubai Marina Walk

Many times in Dubai, I felt a sort of disoriented, I really could n't tell where I was... was I sitting in a cafe in Paris, sking on the slopes of the Alps..ok not quite, was I in a cleaner better smelling and newer Venice, where was I? On the plus side, you can enjoy so many different things all in one trip.

I also loved the multi-cultural aspect of Dubai, you see people from so many different places, here so many differnt languages it truly feels like a cosmoplitan city. The locals speak so many languages fluently, its astounding. I also saw people dressing up in so many differnt ways, those coming from warmer climes, were bundling up in boots and  cardigans, others were basking in the sun in summer dresses and flats.

Ok enough eulogizing of Dubai, let me try and include more information-along side my praise.

How you choose to spend your vacation in Dubai will depend on a number factors, such as the age of your group, whether you are travelling  with family, friends, or as a couple; your preferences; how long your vacation is and of course your budget. This list is from the point of view of a family holiday.

Things To Do/Places To See
1. Dubai Marina! If you are not staying there do check it out, plan to have dinner there, but try to catch it in daylight hours as well maybe book 'yellow boat cruise' and then a dinner at the traditonal italian style restuarant 800Pizza (be sure to try/buy their Balsmic Vinegar), or smoke shisha and enjoy some lebanese/morrocan/iranian food the choices are endless.


2. Mall of Emirates- Shop till you drop! Possible drop ofthe kids and hubby at the movies or the amusement park located within. Plan to spend a day here :-)

Mall of the Emirates

3. Ski World- Again located at the Mall of Emirates, you can spend an entire day with the Super Pass which cost 250-300 AED. If you can't ski you can go luging, enjoy a cable car drop, drag each other on sled, slide down a slope in tire, roll around in a gaint ball and then chill out in the mid slope chalet cafe with hot chocolate with marshmallows and whip cream!
If you don't now how to ski you can learn from an instructor at an additional cost.

Ski World at the Mall of the Emirates

4. Dubai Mall- Check out the larget aquariam in the world, or go ice skating, take pictures in front of the giant water fall. But best of all don't miss the musical dancing fountains, there's a show every 30 minutes from 7-11pm. Each timethe music and the 'dance' is different, my personal favourite is the one that sounds like a ballet! Most people take photos of the tallest building in the world the Burj Khalifa from here as well.

Dancing Fountains at Burj Khalifa Lake outside Dubai Mall

Make sure to the check out the Spice Bazaar it can be accesed from the fountain area outside Dubai Mall. There are coziest restaurants with intoxicating ambience, beautiful decor and healthy food located on the terrace. Bakers and Spice offers healthy tasty simple food as well as The Shakespeare Company.

From Bakers and Spice terrace watching the dancing fountains

5.Take a desert safari in a safety cage protected 4x4 Landcruiser. The driver will take you dune bashing near the Omani border, this beats any roller coaster ride I've been on, it lasted a good 40 minutes, I'm sure; and the driver steered with only one hand with a smile on his face, as we screamed, groaned and sheepishly laughed, by turns.

Dune bashing during the desert safari

Next you can go quad-bike rding or for the more traditonal experience ride a camel- to be honest the 'ride' is more of a photo shoot, but you get quintessential experience as the camel gets up and reluctantly sits down both times your hanging on for dear life, as you fear being thrown off like a rag doll by a child throwing tantrum andthen stamped on. I heard a few young men groaning with fear lol-their camel was in a mood!

Bedouin style camps part of the desert safari

This is followed by dinner, and entertainment in the form of belly dancing. Be sure to check with tour operator how many people are coming too few and it becomes creepy and and too many it becomes crowded-( Con I'd prefer the desert to the bathrooms though.)

Upsy- daisy..camel version of take off

6. Take a traditional Dhow Dinner Cruise, on colourfully lit dhow along the Dubai Creek, pass the financial district, city center, the old city with their traditonal houses and market.

Dubai Creek Cruise in a tradional Dhow

The food is okay, don't go with high expectations of fine dining-if that's what you are looking for book The Bateaux. The entertainment is hilarious with a comical and kitschy folk dance of what looks like two men boxing performed by one man in a funny suit...you'll understand when you see it.
Next is the 'Tannura Dance' this is  another folk dance, perfomed strangely by a skinny man with a pony tail, with slightly feminine moves in dress with a full skirt, and trousers underneath...(I began to wonder..) ...he spins around likea dervish, all the while  performing juggling tricks with da'fs or flat local drums, then spins faster, the lights go out and.....wait for it..his skirt lights up! He contiues to spin and removes his skirt juggles it, while another skirt appears underneath and also lights up. Quite colourful and amusing with the music, especially if there are children on board. Some cruises may also have belly dancing.

Tannoura dance

7. Oh how could I forget  Jumerah Resort and Madinat Jumerah Souq, the place to buy antiques, souveniers and handicrafts.

Antique/handicraft market at Madinat Jumerah Souk

Be sure to take an Abra/gondola tour, and pass the great villas and decadent splendour that is Qasr Al Arab Hotel, Mina'a Salaam Hotel, Maalakiya Villas and more. Have a delicious Iranian kubide kebab, pomengrate juice, persian tea with saffron at Anar. I'm afraid my description does not do it justice. I was there when the Dubai Film Festival was taking place, and the Abra tour guide showed where Tom Cruise had been staying and where Shahrukh Khan had had eaten a few hours before! I didn't catch a sight of the stars, it would've taken too long to queue to catch a glimpse of them-I'm not that much of a fan, I'll look at pictures on my laptop from the comfort of my home :-)


8. Other places I didn't personally visit but might be high on your list if you have kids love sun,sea and sand is the Jumeira Beach, Wild Wadi Park and Atlantis. The Jumerah Mosque is also a beautiful and serene structure which deserves a visit. There are many themed malls, and you don't have to cover them all, there is even a shopping tour, soem of the otehr popular ones are Ibn Batuta, Wafi Center, Outlet Mall which located on the Al-Ain highway...if you really love a bargain I guess the trek would be worth it.