Images

Architecture, Dubai

Aiyaiyai Dubai!

Image

Look up! Look back! Look again! it’s…

  • The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. Picture the CN Tower, now picture its observatory deck reaching only half-way up the Burj Khalifa.
  • The largest water fountain show, the fountains at the Mall of Dubai. Imagine Bellagio, but bigger, and better.
  • Sharks, stingrays, and all that cool aquatic life in a HUGE indoor aquarium, across from an enormous candy store, in a giant mall.
  • A ski hill, in the mall. At the Mall of Emirates.
  • A man-made palm-shaped island with tunnels, trains, bridges and huge luxury hotels.
  • A dozen Maseratis, a couple Rolls-Royces, hundreds of Porches, a bunch of Bentleys, Lamborghinis and Ferraris, and thousands of Audis, Mercedes, and BMWs.  Every day.
  • Tim Hortons! I couldn’t believe my eyes. Tim Hortons is in Dubai!

I quickly noticed a trend in Dubai… there wasn’t just Canada’s favourite coffee shop in the mall, there were the world’s favourite restaurants and stores from all around the world. There’s no need to go anywhere else in the world if you want the best food and clothing, cause they all party together in Dubai! On my last day I indulged in a New York Shake Shack Burger, and shopped at my favourite European retailers, Zara and BCBG.

So that’s Dubai! Like a modern art museum, it’s a skillfully curated and carefully laid-out collection of modern architecture, fast cars, and fresh & famous food.

I also had the privilege of staying with Sachin, an incredibly nice local who showed me around town and treated me like family.  Thank you!

This adventure’s pics are on Flickr:
Amyleajacobs’ Dubai photos on Flickr.

 

 

Culture, Thoughts

Huh, That Was Unexpected.

Image 6 Comments

 

“Can I marry you?” he shouted as he drove by on a scooter…

A bank machine just ate my card. I was so excited to find an HBSC Bank – my home bank! I entered my pin, typed an amount, hit enter, and the machine spit out a receipt, “Card Retained.” The ATM gave no reason, and the bank is closed. I have 27RM ($9) in my pocket to last me 14 hours til the bank reopens.

Yesterday the police stopped me as I was walking down the street. I must have looked suspicious with my green skirt, pink shirt and frizzy hair. An officer asked me to “stand over there” as two others approached me…Then he held up a cell phone and told me to “smile!”

“CAN I MARRY YOU? WHERE YOU FROM…” a man shouted to me as he drove by on his scooter. Half a minute later he drove back the other direction, “WHERE ARE YOU FROM?” I said “NO”. He sadly shook his head and sped off.

I went to the camera museum and the owner gave me a personal guided tour! How kind! As he was explaining the famous photographs on the wall, a single spotlight went out above our heads. He said “huh, that happens every time I show this photo. It’s the first ever known photo of a ghost. It usually turns on again if we walk away.” It did.

Let the random adventures continue!

Coffee, Design, Thailand

Bye Chiang Mai. Hello Nan.

Image Leave a comment
Link to photo of Vespresso Cafe on Flickr.
Vespresso cafe in Nan, Thailand. Photo on Flickr.

I’ve moved on. I spent over three lovely weeks in Chiang Mai, cycling daily from cafe to restaurant to crossfit to live music, and doing almost every excursion imaginable: a thai farm cooking class, an elephant park, elephant Mahout training, ziplining, Tiger Kingdom, the night safari, and of course, Poopoopaperpark. Oh yeah, I also visited a hilltribe and a coffee plantation, and did a bit of barrista training. After three weeks the only thing left to do was ride a motorbike like a local, so I did that too.

I was sad about leaving the cafe-crawling capital, but this tiny town called Nan has a certified hipster cafe. I personally certified it when the barrista complimented my Herschel laptop bag.  As if the name didn’t give it away, Vespresso. Half Vespa gallery, half cafe.

Asia, Coffee, Culture

Better latte than never.

Image Leave a comment

The Canadian embassy in Bangkok gave me an update: at least 10 more days until my new my passport will be ready. Even though I lost my passport, drivers license and a handful of cash, and I’m waiting 3 weeks for a new passport, I actually feel like I’m winning! Yesterday I tried my 13th cafe in Chiang Mai and arrived just as a coffee cupping class was beginning. I asked,

“Can I learn how to do that too?”
“Yes, ok.”
“Great. When?”
“Right now. Come come.”
“Ok!”

So I learned coffee cupping, the art of smelling and tasting coffee. During this I met Pauline from France who invited me to visit her in France this summer. Deal! Then Pauline introduced me to a latte art afficionado who offered to train me in latte art later this week. Double whammy. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, I think I found the pot of gold.

Asia, Culture, Food, Thoughts

I’m going coco nuts.

Image 1 Comment

Link to Flickr page for photo of coconut cream pie.

Coconut Heaven Pie from Cake Baan Piemsuk, “Happiness you can eat” in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Photo by Amy Jacobs, Flickr.

I just devoured a massive slice of coconut cream pie and a coffee with coconut milk. When I ordered this the barrista looked at me like I’m nuts. “Coconut milk in your coffee? Not milk?”  I nodded and the look on his face said “Ok crazy lady.” How can Thailand not use coconut milk in coffee?… It’s the great land of premium coconut milk and mediocre coffee, yet they don’t put them together?! Who’s crazy?

Asia, Food, Laos

I like mangosteen.

Image 1 Comment
Link to purple mangosteen photo on flickr.
The purple mangosteen is a delicious fruit in Asia. Photo by Amy Jacobs, Flickr.

A mangosteen is a dark purple fruit from the mangosteen tree. By squeezing it on the top and bottom it splits open to reveal an edible white part in the middle that looks like garlic and tastes like a cross between lychee and heaven.

I also tried a sapodilla fruit. If I really had to describe it, I’d say it has the texture of a ripe pear and flavour of a concentrated apple, grape, mango smoothie, or something like that.

And then I tried tamarind. It grows in a giant brown pod. It’s sort of like a date. The fruit. It’s good too. They’re all good, but I like mangosteen the most.

Asia, Culture, Laos

Life’s a little different in Laos.

Image 1 Comment

 

“Sunset boat for you, cheap cheap. 80,000 kip!” Sure, why not hire a Mekong river taxi boat for a private sunset cruise? Paired with a cold bottle of Beerlao from the corner store, we couldn’t ask for a better way to spend the evening. Our driver (er, captain?) is a local from Luang Prabang. Like many locals, he was a monk for 8 years before leaving the temple, finding a wife and having 7 kids.  Cheers to that!

Asia, Culture, Design, Laos

Asia + France = Laos.

Image Leave a comment

I’m looking out my hotel window at the most amazing crafts & clothing market. Hundreds of red-topped stalls along the boardwalk of the Mekong river. I’m the type of person who only goes to the mall when I desperately need to, but this is totally different – I’m actually resisting the urge to shop! This market is adorned with beautiful French clothing, bags, shoes and more at SE Asia prices. And for those who like labels, the Chanel & Louis lookalikes look real to me…not that I’m a good judge. Step aside Chatuchak Market (Bangkok), I’ve got a new favourite!

Asia, Thailand

Day 1.

Image 5 Comments

Calgary to (Seattle to Tokyo to) Bangkok took 30 hours and the final leg coincided with the opening ceremonies of Sochi’s Winter Olympics. Thanks for kicking off my trip, Russia! Getting to Bangkok was pretty seamless. Even though my plane tickets were mysteriously cancelled, my cell phone provider mysteriously lost my account, and I forgot my passport on the last flight, we made it on time, alive, and well-rested. I’d like to thank Alaskan Airlines for the beer at 7am.

Here we go! Go Olympics, go Chinese new year, and go aimaroundtheworld. If all else fails, ”You could prosper in a few years in the field entertainment”, said my fortune cookie.

Now for a little brain exercise… How many hours is it from 6:30am MST to 12am GMT+8, west over the date line?