Kali Travels: (2015) Year-End Family Vacation @ UAE

It doesn't matter how many times you visit the place... 

what matters are the people you are with. 

From Sharjah, Buhairah Corniche, Al Khan Beach, to Dubai, At The Top - Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai Miracle Garden and Global Village....

Visit to UAE will never be complete without experiencing the desert life...
Here's our Desert Safari adventure and ATV ride at Hatta, Oman!

A WEEK IN UAE: Desert Safari Experience

Kali Travels: A WEEK IN UAE 04

A visit to UAE won't be complete without experiencing the desert safari. 

Dune bashing, Camel encounter and local performers are just ordinary in the desert life... 

Day 6: The Desert Safari Experience

A WEEK IN UAE: Fjords of Musandam

KALI travels: A WEEK IN UAE 01

Mid of October, cousins went to visit us... it was an extra challenge for us to compress the activities in a week, given that they are 2 adventurous guys... this will be a series of A WEEK IN UAE...

Here's our Day 1: Musandam Dhow Cruise in Oman

Sharjah Light and Sound Show - Al Qasba 2015

Desert Safari Adventure

Desert Safari is an experience that you shouldn't missed when visiting Dubai. Dune bashing, short camel riding, ATV bikes, belly dancing, tanoura dance plus the traditional Arabic food are just some of the highlight of this activity.

This is not my first time; I've done the dune bashing for countless times already with family and friends who visited us here in UAE. But the feeling is never the same; the excitement and fun differs, with the people you are with...

Sharing you the happy-best-day-ever-video of our desert safari adventure. Enjoy!

Sailing Along Dubai Marina

Few weeks back, we celebrated a friends birthday sailing along Dubai Marina waters. For 4 hours, we enjoyed the perfect view of Dubai Marina's skyscrapers and the water activities prepared for everybody...

With me is our new baby, "Chabi" who took this lovely photos so we can share it with you... enjoy!



Dubai Marina is an artificial canal city, built along a two mile (3 km) stretch of Persian Gulf shoreline.

This New Year, Let Us Focus on Jesus

Has anyone written their New Years’ resolution? Any do’s and don’ts for 2014?

I have my to-do, and that is to diet and exercise again. I am hoping and determined to lose weight again and I planned to start it this New Year. Yes, I preferred to wait until tomorrow :) 

I think this goes to everyone. Each of us has their own plans as the year starts.

Yes. I also have my don’t-do-it-this-time list on my mind; things that I should stop doing. One of those is to sleep late or not having slept at all… (let me try!)

As Christians, I know we should not practice this New Year’s resolution list anymore, we should be living a life pleasing the Lord and not according to this list (the above were just examples).

We look at New Year as start of something new and something great. This is the best time for new endeavors; to step in a new opportunity or challenge.And this is also the perfect time to leave the past behind. Those things that we want to forget; experiences and difficulties that causes us pain. We can all move forward to start anew.

Kutitap

While watching this dancing fountain at Al Majaz Waterfront, my heart keeps singing Kumukutikutitap by Ryan Cayabyab...

I realized, that this is my 7th Christmas away from home.

Wow! How did I survive?

One Sunny Day

We seldom see the beauty of our own backyard...
In the busy life that we have, we neglect to see what's instore for us in the surrounding environment.
And often, we plan to go far from our own place to relax and unwind.
But have we ever tried to look around you?
In your neighborhood? On the street next to yours?

On my previous post, you joined me on My Route  and you've seen the Sharjah-Dubai road on my way to work. The high rise buildings, vast dessert and the on-going constructions which symbolizes the continuous development and evolution of Dubai.

Now, let me show you one of Sharjah's beautiful spots.. the newly constructed buildings with ancient Arabic look... their old dhows and the new yachts...

I've seen the past and the future during this one sunny day - and a bright and shinny realization of what life was... is...  and would become.

 

My Route

This is my daily route.

From my place to office.

1 hour and 30 mins travel - one way.

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This is my pick up point.

It's along Al Khan.

This is where my journey begins, every morning...

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates -- Eight largest in the world.

Happiness Overload!!!

It's 1AM.

I am so awake.

And sooo happy.

It's been 9 days since my parents arrived for vacation here in the UAE...

Cloud 9 for me and my brother. Every minute was so precious, so memorable...

I just can't shout loud enough to tell you how happy I am now.

This is their first travel out of the country.

A dream come true...

The happiness was really overloaded.
Our hearts were shouting for joy.
Giving thanks and praise to our Lord God who made this possible.

Indeed, He is an awesome God.
He fulfilled His promises to those who believe...

JAL Hotel, Fujairah

Located just 90 minutes from the dynamic city of Dubai and 40 minutes from Fujairah City, the hotel is situated between the Hajjar Mountains and the ocean and is set on more than 500 meters of private beach.

JAL offers not only the best facilities and but the best customer service you can get.

(hotel lobby) 

Fun and relaxation are all over JAL.

With its long private beach and separated buildings, guests have their privacy.

Have it your way...

Warm water @ Infinity pool

Or Cold Fresh water pool

and of course, your kids' covered pool...

I know swimming pools are just great, but we all want mooore!!!

JAL's beach is too hard to resist!

From sunrise

To sunset

As the sun bids goodbye...

Prepare yourself for an ideal evening...

@ Marco Polo

Restaurant features the traditional culinary fare from Asia and Japan.  

Traditional food preparation from the Wok for the Thai selection, Tandoori for the Indian, Sushi for the Japanese.

They also have other restaurants:

Breeze (Location: First Floor – Sea View) which offers a wide selection of Mediterranean a”-la-carte dishes including Pizza for lunch and dinner. Dishes are prepared in the open show kitchen giving the opportunity to interact with our Chefs.

Icho (Location: Top of dive center) is the only traditional teppanyaki restaurant available on the East Coast. Japanese style restaurant serving traditional teppanyaki cuisine.

Al Nokhada (Location: Second Floor) is the Arabic restaurant serving hot & cold mezzeh with mix grills in a Traditional Arabic Atmosphere. Perfect place to relax in the evening in a traditional Arabic environment.

Grand Bleu (Location: Beach Side / Ground Floor) overlooking the ocean, it offers mouth watering salads, sanwiches, steaks, seafood, light snacks and refreshing cocktails.

Moon Beach Lounge (Location: Second Floor) Let yourself pamper at our Roof Top Bar, while enjoying shisha, tisbits and cocktails in the romantic evening settings.

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Our stay was not enough to show you all enjoyment that JAL can offer...

There are a lot mooooore!

Hopefully, I'll be back there, verrrrrrrrry soooooon :) 

Source: JAL Hotel

Other side of Fujairah

Aside from being the only mountainous emirate among the seven Emirates,  it is also the only one on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east.

Behind the mountains of Fujairah is another bliss...

20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. - Genesis 1:20-23

Mountains of Fujairah

Enjoy the beautiful nature!!!

the wonderful work of our Creator...

at the back of the mountain is the other side of the story...

9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good." - Genesis 1:9-10