I think this camel stuffed toy is absolutely unique. Not your typical bear around the corner. I took photos before sending this to a blogger pal as a housewarming/birthday present, together with another UAE memorabilia.
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.
This is one of the mosques that I see everyday. This accommodates one of the many male Muslims that regularly pray. Normally, the females pray in a private (prayer) room. Although there is plenty of mosques in the UAE, it is still not enough and/or not strategically located to accommodate the population. Hence, those praying near and by the beach is also a daily sight for non-Muslims like me.
The mosques may come in different colors and structure, but the crescent moon over there stays quite the same. And yes, today is the (Muslims’) Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
This is my entry for this week’s photo hunt (theme: daily).
What are you giving up for Lent?
I don’t mean to sound preachy. I just thought of sharing the jist of the few articles about fasting that I read recently. After all, I’m one of those who are guilty of finding a perfect opportunity to trim weight during the Lent through fasting. Some of us give up meat, sweets, and other stuff that seem to be a hard habit to break, in order to fast. But why do we really fast?
Fasting is about abstaining from food for spiritual reasons. A hunger strike done by some groups even for a good cause and diet programs are not a fast because they are for vanity and/or other reasons. We should fast:
Isn’t it wonderful when we really know and appreciate why we’re doing something?
Related readings:
*Why we put ashes on our forehead
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.
you gave me an idea! i’m imagining laughing fish...
