when the Choc Nut and Christmas islander blogs within the breeze of the Gulf

I am in UAE for quite a time now but it was only this year I checked the (Annual) Dubai Shopping Festival. With tired feet and hungry monster tummies, there was no better way to culminate last Friday night than visiting the Rainforest Cafe. We have passed by here when we checked the Dubai Aquarium last time but I never thought that this cafe offers more than the usual.

I think that this cafe is well-conceptualized in the sense that this is currently one of a kind in the UAE. For the naturally greenery scarce Gulf, an artificial rainforest environment will be appreciated by many. There is a reptile at the entrance, and as you take more steps to the dining hall, you will be greeted by a serpent. Then the rest of the tigers, gorillas and butterflies are strategically situated. Although these creatures are available in their artificial form, it is hugely entertaining because approximately at every 10 minutes , they would air some sounds of animals and synched with their movements. The banging of the thunderstorm signals that these creatures will become alive.

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I had a fresh from the fridge chocolate rice porridge (champorado) with milk in it and dried anchovies sent from home (dilis) for today’s dinner. I set the AC to the max, enough for me to chill. It’s best to eat this perfect sugary and salty combo when it’s cold/rainy. Yes, mind over matter. As they say, dilis is Pinoy’s french fries so you should eat it with a hand.

PS. Excuse the vase (a coconut milk bottle). I actually don’t have a decent vase because I don’t maintain fresh flowers on a regular basis. Those are Valentine’s left overs. It’s good that I realized to replace the vase before taking a photo, otherwise I’m at the risk of being found out that I made my previous company’s mug as temporary vase.

Have you tried the champorado and dilis combo? If not, you’re missing a lot.

Here’s my version of chocolates and flowers. When you detach the flower, there’s actually an edible chocolate inside.

When I was still a student, I remember drawing a group of people with connected sticks pattern when I’m too bored during a class. I even put speech bubble for each person.

And because I am, at times, too stressed with work, I do take a breather and do almost the same as before. This time, by playing with the chocolates. Don’t tell my boss. It’s just a minute, anyway.

Why play with chocolates (aside from eating it)? Because it’s a ready reminder to me that life is too sweet and beautiful to complain about small stuff.

Breakfast is my favorite meal. Especially if it is so Pinoy.

And yes, a scented candle is part of it. (Just now I noticed I haven’t detached the Ikea tag.)

I don’t like coffee though. A pure water will do.  What else is missing?

Since I moved to a new organization, I am now into becoming accustomed to yummy treats being distributed here and there when someone becomes a daddy (first photo: chocolates shared with us with a very nice baby boy-themed packaging), healed from an illness (second photo: someone showered us Patchi chocolates when she returned from a sick leave), and many other reasons (third photo:  I forgot for which reason the rose petals ala-candies were shared with us. But I did not forget that it was oddly delicious. My first time to consume rose in a petal form. I remember I had a rose lassi in 2007 from an Indian restaurant in the Philippines. The extract of course tasted like rose.)

So far, the kookiest packaging I saw was for the pieces of bread stuffed inside a huge shelly shaped bread. Now I am thinking if I should also share things like these and when? And when the situation comes, I think I want to make a difference. Maybe I should distribute something with durian, balut, penoy, etc. It is either they would be amused or dislike me. Suggestions are welcome.