My tryst with the Infiniti QX56

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The Infiniti QX56 I had so much fun with all of last week 🙂

I’m having withdrawal symptoms….normally when I get a car to be seen around in, it’s usually a sporty little number worth half a million or something that is top of the range for Millionaires but still at sedan level. And if I do get lucky and get a SUV sent to me, it never fits my shoe rack properly and if it does, there is no space left to organise my gym bag, evening bag, beach bag, magazines etc in such a way that I don’t have to do a major clean up after a dune bashing session.

So naturally when Infiniti sent me the nice big Infiniti QX56 on a truck last week, I kinda expected yet another SUV experience but once inside, even I was overwhelmed by the size….its HUGE! It’s fantastic  for buyers who need seats for eight although I would have preferred a seat for 5 and then use the rest of the space for the many things a diva can’t do without in her car….i was able to fit in about 45 pairs of shoes on the rack once I rolled the seat over plus all my bags which has never happened before….normally I have to ration what I put into the cars I get to check out.

The QX56 is Infiniti’s super big SUV and I like the posh interior, the gracefully styled dashboard and the small touches on the exterior that makes it stand out as an Infiniti. It looked like it has very rugged capabilities but as usual I am never comfortable taking cars off-road that does not belong to me…I like the comfort of knowing that if something happens, its my car and I am solely responsible for it.

As a petrol head, I love the Infiniti’s 5.6-liter V8, 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft or torque funnelled through a seven-speed automatic that gets the throttle to the max. The Infiniti promises a 0-60 mph time of about seven seconds, gas mileage and although people tell me that QX’s independent suspension does a fine job of controlling its ride quality, I had to put in some power into my arms/hands to control it in tight corners….maybe it’s just my delicate built but it was fun none the less.

Needless to say, the car is very spacious, with big front chairs and little Diva (NJD) had lots of fun playing at the back and for once she reckons, she didn’t have to bump into the ‘junk’ I normally throw in the back or shoes to fall over. She even reclined the back seat for a nap and showed me some cool features I was not aware of.

The car had all the usual power features; navigation option, DVD audio, a moon roof, a power tailgate, Bluetooth with audio streaming, pushbutton start, USB connectivity for audio players and so much more…if you have a big family or like big SUV’s, this is definitely a car for you.

Little diva NJD enjoys the space and reclining seats at the back

NJD reckons she is ready to drive … 5 more years to go!

Celebrating cuisine that’s just as spicy as moi

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My favourite Thai dish in KL was nasi Pattaya….which is fried rice wrapped in thin omelette. In Dubai its everything on the Sukothai menu 🙂

Last Saturday, I made a supreme effort to get out of my pyjamas end of day to catch up with my cool friends from The Tourism Authority of Thailand at Dusit Dubai as they launched the “Amazing Taste of Thailand Festival 2012”. I don’t normally sacrifice my weekend for ordinary people or events but I love everything about Thailand and the people from Thailand have become some of my closest friends here so I was there in all my glory…. I love the country, got married there after a crazy weekend trip from KL (in Hatyai with a few weeks in Krabi), love the food, love the spas, love Muay Thai, love shopping in Bangkok, love the people of Pattaya and the list goes on.

Basically I was invited since everyone from the Thai Embassy, the Thai spas know how dedicated I am to my food and massage sessions and they are very right. In a nutshell, the month-long festival is until 7th July 2012,during which time diners at 13- participating restaurants will have the opportunity to win gift vouchers and a number of exciting prizes including a trip to Bangkok with Thai Airways.

“The Amazing Taste of Thailand” launch event was co-hosted by the Dusit Thani, Dubai and Thai Airways and began with a welcome speech from H.E. Mr. Somchai Charanasomboon, Ambassador of Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the ever so dynamic Wisoot Buachoom, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand.

There were also two performances of traditional Thai dancing, fruit carving demonstrations and live cooking stalls where the 13 participating restaurants show cased their individual specialist Thai cuisine. The restaurants participating in the “Amazing Taste of Thailand Food Fest 2012” include Benjarong, Blue Elephant, Pai Thai, Sukhothai, Spice Emporium, Ban Khun Mae, The Kitchen of Thai, Shang Thai, Thai Chi, The Royal Buddha, Chimes, The Thai Kitchen in Dubai and the Taste Restaurant in Fujairah.

The ‘Thainess’, which is at the heart of Thai hospitality permeates across all of Thailand, from amazing beaches and natural environment to culinary expertise. Thai cuisine is a key element of ‘Amazing Thailand’ and the ingredients used, the various herbs and spices together with cooking methods is all part of the essence of Thailand.

Looks like the next few weeks are going to be a culinary adventure for me and anyone who wants to be in my company for meals….can you stomach the spiciness levels of this diva?

Walk of Beauty 2012 wows crowds at Beautyworld Middle East

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A bit of eye candy at last years show

2012 Walk of Beauty – A MADI show is always infused with entertainment

The awesome guys at Madi International and Wella Professionals wowed crowds at the Middle East Beautyworld making it a runaway success. The Beautyworld Show looks amazing and I’m sulking about it closing so early at 7pm….I only finish work at 5.30pm so getting to DWTC takes half an hour leaving not much time to see most of the show which this year is so brilliant.

But I’m glad Madi International, one of the Region’s leading distributors of internationally reputed professional beauty brands made Walk of Beauty 2012 a grand success by showcasing the latest trends in hair-styling from across the globe.

Organised in conjunction with Beautyworld Middle East and powered by Wella Professionals and P&G Salon Professionals, people have one more day to enjoy the show…I will be on a plane to Bahrain and wish I was actually in Dubai to check out the whole show but fate has other plans for me. I would be splitting a gut to get back to Dubai the same day to see my daughter perform on stage and making it to her show is looking pretty slim right now.

I saw a video clip of last year’s Walk of Beauty at Hard Rock CafĂ© (my new hangout) and was amazed…this years is even better. The iconic event demonstrates the 2012 hair-styling trends, presented live as part of an audio-visual show on a purpose-built catwalk stage by Wella and Kadus Regional Education Team and ambassadors. Besides this, talented and professional hair dressers from leading salons in the UAE and region also showcase their skills live.

Walk of Beauty 2012 is supported by Hard Rock CafĂ©, Dubai, the partner-sponsors along with In Dubai We Trust [IDWT] Foundation, a non-profit organization that started on December 2, 2009 and striving to unify the multi-cultural population of Dubai by celebrating the Emirate’s achievements. Hard Rock CafĂ©, which opened in London in June 1971, reopened its Dubai cafĂ© at Festival City and is the largest in Middle East.

With a strong international profile, Beautyworld Middle East, organized by Messe Frankfurt, has played a major role in the last 15 years in contributing to the growth and development of the beauty and wellness industry in this region….I had fun at Hard Rock CafĂ© with a few old pals and got to meet IDWT (awesome team) and caught up again with Madi Team….it has been a couple of months since we last met when they opened their biggest showroom and I enjoy the company of Madi staff who have a vision to be on top of the game in their industry by cultivating a culture of success and warmth amongst their teams.

Unlike me, if you lucky lot are still in Dubai tomorrow, check out the Beautyworld Middle East as well as The Walk of Beauty. You won’t regret it.

Check the video out below sent to me by gorgeous Sarah at MADI:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pChnqy-JOGM

In Dubai We Trust

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Ever since I got the Hard Rock CafĂ© worldwide loyalty card, I’ve become a huge fan of their merchandise and its now tradition for me and my babe to get some retail therapy everywhere we visit that has a Hard Rock cafe….the food and drinks are great but the retail is even better.

It is at Hard Rock Dubai where I met Salma and Khalid from ‘In Dubai We Trust’….a coincidence as I was there for something else and after a quick chat with them, I made up my mind that I will talk about their cool initiative….In Dubai We Trust.

As anyone will tell you, I am the biggest fan of the UAE and all the Emirates…. I constantly end up telling people who try to say anything bad about the country that they are welcome to go back home if they have issues with the UAE as there are plenty other people who appreciate the place and love to live and work here.

Although UAE and Dubai has nothing to prove to anyone as the place speaks for itself, it still is great for people who live here to talk about the best things that Dubai has to offer and show the many positive sides that people don’t usually pick up on because they are so involved in their own little worlds, they would rather stay on their sofas and complain instead of actually venturing out and enjoying the many amazing things one can do here.

‘In Dubai we trust’ is a non-profit organization striving to unify the multi-cultural population of Dubai by celebrating the emirate’s achievements. Their tag says…..’In Dubai we trust, with Dubai we bloom, in Dubai we see our future grow. Moving forth with strong will and determination, an economy with power & inspiration. With achievements across the borders untold, Dubai our land, where peace and love unfolds.’

The group since their inception has organised many events that show the different facets of the Emirates….they were also part of the Burj Khalifa opening, have organised events for mother’s day, brought women from different nationalities together in a spa environment and now they will also be part of the Walk of Beauty 2012 event. This is part of the amazingly popular exhibition Beautyworld Middle East 2012 starting on the 29th of May.

UAE and Dubai has become a second home to many….its about time we celebrated the many great opportunities the country has given us and make people aware of the many things they can do here that they would not be able to do elsewhere.

If you are a big fan of Dubai, you can join In Dubai We Trust’ on the following:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/188737619862/

Follow them on Twitter- http://twitter.com/indubaiwetrust

Youtube Videos:
(UAE 3-D Show @ Dubai Mall -Jan 2010 )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23lnTiH3sHE

( IDWT Interview)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we88TCCSqRU

Lovin my Bags now at Palm Strip

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After dreading about having to trot all over town to Lancel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and mending a zip at Burberry, I was hoping for an easy way out to tackle my annual chores with bags when I opened my email and found out I can take all my bags to one place and get it sorted…how deja vu is that!

The news I received was that Lovin My Bags, the world’s first system of handbag and leather restoration has entered the Middle East region with its first boutique launch in Dubai. The new boutique was inaugurated by ‘Aiisha Ramadan’, a leading Arab fashion designer and hosted by ‘Shereen Mitwalli’; TV presenter, & international events moderator.

Most high-end bag owners already know that Lovin My Bags specializes in the very first system of handbag cleaning, restoration and leather care products developed to prolong the life and beauty of luxury designer handbags with professional care….except that they didn’t exist here before and they always ended up having to lug stuff back to the brands themselves.

Naturally, finding a professional service to refurbish bags in this part of the world has been challenging. With the launch of Lovin My Bags, luxury buyers have the safest and quickest option to restore their belongings. Due to such extreme climates, there is a big issue of dye transfer from Abayas, Jeans & other materials and Lovin My Bags has engineered products & services specifically to address such issues.

Dhiraj Munjwani, Partner & Director of Lovin My Bags Middle East showed  me some of the products they will be using as a way of assuring me that my bags were in good hands.  He explains how leather needs protection, cleansing, moisturizing, conditioning and miracle products to keep it looking its best and his team treat handbags as ‘Souls’ that require constant rejuvenation, pampering and love.

I recall last year on my way to London, we got diverted to Vienna because of a threat and all our suitcases got checked…my Lancel got damaged in the process and it took the Airline 5 weeks to find someone who could sort it out. In the end they gave up and paid me the original cost of a Lancel suitcase. With Lovin my Bags, the running around is not necessary anymore.

These guys specialize in cleaning and restorations services for all designer brands including Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Balenciaga, Dior, Cartier, Chloe, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, amongst all others….check them out!

Cupping – my latest alternative therapy adventure

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In true diva style I decided to venture out and try yet another alternative therapy for my stiff neck – I blame it on all the people in my life whose game plan is to make my life as difficult and stressful and possible to test my limits :).

Anyway….after a fantastic Turkish hammam experience, I went into the therapist’s room adorned with images of cupping as she explained that I would have circle marks on my back for a week. I joked that if she placed the cups strategically, perhaps the circles could appear sexily symmetrically on my back so I could do henna tattoos around it – she looked at me as though I was the biggest sceptic in the world so I shut my humourous side out for the next hour and left my back in her expert hands.

Cupping therapy is an ancient medical treatment that relies on creating a local suction which mobilises the blood flow to promote healing. Ancient Chinese medicine doctors prescribe this when blood and lymph stagnation needs treatment.

You can do cupping in Dubai and I have also done it in Bahrain….both cities have good spas for this. Cupping can affect the body up to 4 inches of the tissues, causing them to release toxins, activate the lymph system, clear colon blockages, activate veins, artilleries and capillaries. I’m also told it can help improve stretch marks and varicose veins.

My therapist (Maryanne) at Joz salon in Bahrain is awesome and she also mentioned that one can benefit from cupping for a broad range of ailments to help with physical and psychological well-being. I did it and loved it as my neck is less stiff than before and had sexy circles on my back to boot. It looked like I had sunned it with a top with holes in them.

If you want to give it a try, get recommendations of spas and salons… It may not be the best alternative therapy for everyone but it certainly made me feel chilled out without my neck pain.

Its time for Dim Sum

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Little Diva NJD is ready for dim sum in Seoul Korea

Taking mandarin lessons is tough….the language is tough as it is but for some reason, most syllabus use food a lot in the lessons – I guess because everyone knows Chinese food so our dear teachers think it’s the easiest way to teach us the language.

Tonight my lesson was on Shaomai (shāo mài) which  is a traditional Chinese dumpling served in dianxin/dim sum. The first time I had this was on a roadside stall in Malaysia on my way from KL to Penang. My companion spoke mainly Cantonese and was a huge fan of dim sum. All I knew was that I loved the little bamboo steamers it came in and enjoyed each delicate piece with a dollop of spicy chilli sauce.

In my lesson today, I learnt that I should be able to recognise a Shaomai as it has a fluffy and flowery shape on the top. Although shaomai originates from steamed stuffed bun (I’ve seen a lot of these a lot on the streets of Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore), these two similar kinds of food have two main differences. First, the outer covering of shaomai is made of a thin sheet of lye water dough; Secondly, shaomai differ from steamed buns in that their outer covering is not sealed but instead has a pomegranate shape….i prefer the shaomai any day.

Once well steamed in the pot, shaomai are prized for the thin skin and abundant fillings. Shaomai is in the shape of a cup, not only delicious but also beautiful. There are two regional varieties of shaomai: a Cantonese version and a version from the Jiangnan region…frankly I couldn’t tell the difference but I certainly love a good shaomai in my Friday brunch.

In KL, I loved the dim sum varieties at the Pan Pacific Sunday brunch, In Singapore its best to try it at Paradise Point and in Dubai, Shangri-La does it best! I didn’t have much time in Korea and Macau to try good recommended Dim Sum but the best has to be in Hong Kong – I wanted to go to Maxim’s on the way to Fiji but the stopover was too short so I tried random restaurants and they were all awesome for dim sum.

Once again, I have diverted to food… I blame my Mandarin instructor. Each lesson this week was related to food and brought back heaps of memories from Asia.

Diva is in love….again… with â€˜V’

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Talking perfumery with Victoria Christian

After a 12 year tryst with YSL’s Champagne and then Dior’s Poison and recently Midnight Rose by Lancome, it looks like my heart has turned to another…my olfactory nerves crave a new smell in form of ‘V’ Perfumes, the second release from Clive Christian’s Private Collection.

As Victoria (daughter of Clive Christian) tells me, the new release bears the same concentration and complexity for which the House has become synonymous. Clive named ‘V’ Perfumes after her… Victoria is his eldest daughter.

‘V’ for women is a White Floral Chypre where Orange Blossom, traditionally associated with joy and betrothal and is embraced by Rose and Jasmine. Entwined with soothing Chamomile and sensual Lavender, the spirit of this romantic Perfume brims with utter femininity.

Belonging to the Private Collection, ‘V’ for Women is presented in the customary deep amber bottle which pays tribute to the original apothecary bottles from the perfumery uniquely crowned by Queen Victoria in 1872.

Check out the specs on this baby – loving the base notes heaps:

Top Notes: Peach, Neroli, Bergamot
Heart Notes: Jasmine, Carnation, Ylang, Rose, Gardenia, Orange Blossom, Pink Pepper, Black Pepper, Chamomile, Lavender, Liatris, Helitrope, Coriander Seed, Cistus
Base Notes: Honey, Sandalwood, Ambrette Seed, Bensoin, Amber, Cistus, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Leather, Frankincense, Labdanum, Musk

I can’t wait for August when this will be sold to the general public through Paris Gallery…I’m just so glad I was the privileged few to get the private preview of this before it hits the Arabian shores. Highly recommended because the woman’s version is WOW! I could still smell the base notes more than 12 hours later.

Excellence Awards at Burj Al Arab

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My first event in Dubai was in this ballroom at Burj Al Arab when we launched e-vision….fond memories whenever I go there for the excellence awards

I wanted to drive around Dubai the last 2 days to get the full experience of the Inifiniti QX56 so it was natural to take it to somewhere like the Burj Al Arab to see if the car got as much attention as it’s enormous size….it did and I was surprised to see it parked right at the entrance amongst the Ferrari’s and a pretty cool Aston Martin. 

My visit there was mainly to once again check out excellence awards as always by my friends at Datamatix…..this time it was the 17th Middle East eGovernment and eServices Excellence awards. I am a regular at the Al Falak ballroom for these awards ceremonies in different fields and love it to bits as I get to listen to inspirational talks by the movers and shakers of the region in an intimate setting and learn so much about leadership, the winners’ journies towards excellence and what they will do to maintain on top of the game.

The high-profile awards ceremony honored some of the most outstanding achievements of innovators, developers and experts who are revolutionizing the eGovernment systems in the region. The ceremony and gala dinner was graced by the presence of chief guest H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, United Arab Emirates and prominent figures, VIPs, CIOs and decision makers from government, business and international institutions.

As usual, the ceremony began with the welcome message by a forever dynamic  Ali Al Kamali, Managing Director, Middle East Excellence Awards Institute. He  expressed how eGovernments have become the focus of public sector reforms – an instrument to increase efficiency, strengthen competitiveness and enhance modernization transforming regional governance and ushering in innovation in the back office.

The winners of the 2012, 17th Middle East eGovernment and eServices Excellence Awards are:

Best Project Award – e-ambassador system, Ministry of Higher Education – KSA, Award received by H.E Dr.Abdulkader Al-Fantoukh, Deputy Minister of Higher Education

Women’s IT Skills Development Excellence Award – Princess Noura Bint Abdul Rahman University, award received by H.E Dr. Nasser Bin Abdulkarim Al Moajel, General Manager information Technology Department

Information and Knowledge Portal Excellence Award – Al Jazeera.net, award received by Dr. Mustapha Souag, GM AL Jazeera Channel

eCitizen and eParticipation Excellence Awards – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – UAE, award received by Dr.Saeed K. Al Dhaheri Advisor to the Minister, Information Systems UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs

e-Initiative Excellence Award – Human Right’s Commission – KSA, award received by Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, President of the Human Rights Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

eBusiness Portal Excellence Award – Saudi Post, Award Received by H.E Eng. Mudayan Bin Abdulrahman Al Mudayan, Vice President for Information Technology and Technical Affairs

e-Portal Excellence Award – Public Pension Agency – KSA, award received by Mr. Sami Abdullah Al Jammaz  Information Centre Director, Public Pension Agency KSA

Best Use of ICT Excellence Award – Dubai Courts, award received by H.E Dr. Ahmed Bin Hazeem, GM Dubai Courts

Mobile Application Development Excellence Award – Al Ain City Municipality – Municipal Services Sector, award received by H.E Dr. Matar Mohammed Saif Al Nuaimi the General Manager Al Ain Municipality

eSolutions Provider Excellence Award – Sejel Technology Company – KSA, award received by H.E. Eng. Ahmed Bin Alawi Ghamri, CEO, Sejel Technology Company Ltd. – Jeddah – K.S.A.

mGovernment Excellence Award – Department of e-Transactions and Communications – King Saudi University, award received by Dr. Esam A. Alwagait,  Dean, e-Transactions and Communications King Saud University

e-Health strategy Excellence Award – Ministry of Health – KSA, Award received by Dr. Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Yemeni, Deputy Minister for Planning and Health Economics Ministry of Health – KSA

Special thanks were offered to Al Riyadh Newspaper which was received by Mr. Ali Al Kowhais, Director of Al Riyadh Newspaper, South African Parliamentary delegation and Libyan delegation.

The Middle East Excellence Awards Institute, for the past several years, has persevered to recognize, honor and promote the achievements of the region’s leaders and organizations and to commend their outstanding performance and commitment to excellence…. I love the fact that I get to meet so many interesting people at these awards ceremonies who are leaders in their respective fields and one can’t help but be inspired by their energy and dedication.

Mudo City sure looks good

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With Jean Renaud-Durbin of The Content Factory at Mudo City

One evening this week, I ventured to Dubai Mall in a bid to save my favourite Michael Kors shoe and one not so lovable Jimmy Choo which was a total waste of space but it is a Choo and fashion dictated it was worth saving :(. Anyway, the visit was coupled with checking out the debut of Mudo City one of the most famous Turkish brands to come to the UAE.

The store focuses on various retail sectors such as fashion, furniture and home dĂ©cor, food and beverage, and entertainment at Dubai Mall. Established in 1964 by Mustafa Taviloğlu and Doğan GĂŒrĂŒn, Mudo City began by selling gifts, records and hand-painted t-shirts. The small shop was the foundation of today’s Turkish retail giant.

I loved the Mudo Collection which features high-end fashion, Mudo Concept which includes home dĂ©cor and furniture and Mudo Accessories. Asadel partnered with Mudo because of the rising demand for stylish, trendy and affordable products according to Ayman Jamil of Asadel. A pioneer in the Turkish fashion industry, Mudo Collection entered the ready to wear market offering quality and the latest fashion in both men’s and women’s wear.

The Mudo Concept works with solution partners around the world and also includes Turkish designed and produced items…..diva likes!