Eid Mubarak - UAE Revisited

Happy Eid everyone and Selamat Hari Raya Haji.

We're lucky this year to have cave,an parents and my in laws for hari raya, although we didn't have any ketupat, rendang or kuih muih but we had each other and were together and of course that made me miss my family too...sob..sob..sob.

The arrived from KL and we met up with them in Dubai to spent a few days visiting Dubai and Abu Dhabi before heading back to Dtown.

The 1st time i was in Dubai was back in 2003 and the last time was sometime in May for a very quick trip...we drove all the way from Dtown to Dubai ( took us 9hr with immigration etc.. ) just to grab a few things from IKEA and to test the car....and we sure did test the car though....we ran out of fuel between UAE and Saudi border....another loooonnng story....

On this trip, we did all the touristic activities and we enjoyed it and my favourite has always been the Old Dubai, its amazing. It was unfortunate that most shops was close the day we were there due to eid but the was still buzzing as always but the highlight for me was the trip Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

It was truly majestic and magnificient. Never had I visited a mosque so emmaculate in my live. I knew this mosque was a mega structure but having to be there myself, it was breath-taking. Everything was well built, well designed and flawless.

The only thing that i wish i had that day was some sunlight! it had been raining in the UAE during the eid  and as we were driving to Abu Dhabi it was pouring! :). With some sunlight, it would had been glimmering from the white white marbles.

If your are every there, its worth to take the free tour the mosque conduct daily. We took the 1st tour, wise choice not too many tourist at the time but the later tour is jam packed! 

White domes of the mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi

Hand weaven carpet from Iran ( its one piece carpet covering the main hall)

Egyptian inspired minarets

North Entrance Arcade - where the tour starts

The passage leading to the tomb

Doha Tea Party :)

Love bday's...esp when its not mine and I haven't thrown any since the April babies bday so when it was two of my good frens in Doha birthday was coming up...i saw an oppurtunity!!! a few days a part...i managed to convinced their hubbies and our friends to a suprise 'Tea party'.

( Birthday girls with girl pals :))

I have never been to a tea party before but read and watched it too many time and I always like the idea of a tea party although I'm coffee lover. One of the bday girl did mentioned that she always wanted to have a tea party but never had an occasion or a reason to. Everyone was onboard and got together for this party. Since it was a 'suprise' party, I was being very notty...telling lots of tales all week to the bday gals.Babes...please forgive me, it was all for the party :D.

Ms.N grinning at my not soo sconey scones,these must be the good batches coz these actually do look good :).

Birthday Girl 1 - Ms.S and hubs Mr. N

Birthday 2- Ms. N with hubs Mr.Z

Although there were sticks and bumps along the way plus it happened to be a very busy week at school and it was also the last weekend before the Eid hols, and I was on a verge of getting sick but thanks to advil and strepsil I managed to keep it at bay. Everybody contributed...from the food, the deco, the cake and the hosting. The husbands given a task on what to get and do and they were super!!! .They came well ahead of time with all the things they were asked to bring and help to decorate for the party while me and Ms.S was busy getting everything ready in the kitchen with our own little disaster!. Originally I wanted to have traditional english tea party but it was way too much to do in a week plus I don't have enuff tea set for everyone ( reminder - must get a tea set for keeps ) so I had to tweak a little and rebrand it to an 'Oriental Tea Party'. I got this floral tissue paper and got totally inspired and everything else was coordinated to this piece of tissue paper ( i also went crazy making tissue peonies til 2am !!! ).

So we had mini chicken shawerma ( which i must say was pretty damn good, probably beginner's luck !) , chicken wings , blueberry cheesecake, tea sandwiches , of course we had to have scones and clotted cream ( unfortunately some of them was a bit burnt and turn out to be like rock cakes instead but nonetheless was still yummy, but Ms.N was heading to London for the hols, so i told her to get the real deal in over there :D ) , chocolate cuppies with chocolate and raspberry frosting, chips & dips , grapes, sparkling ruby orange drink and hot earl grey tea. Cake was made my Ms.E and Ms.Z lent us this beautiful white table cover which was exactly what i wanted!. We missed you at the party.

We had planned a game too 'Charades" but that never happened, we just sat and stuff ourself again and again :). My camera decided to go dead 1/2 way thru so didn't take much pictures Mr.N had all of the photos on his camera, these photos here are probably the best i got on mine. The girls was pleasantly suprised and they seemed happy :) soo mission accomplished and a pat on the back for everyone that made this party happened.

Thanks guys....me love u lots ....xoxo

Til next birthday....Happy Eid Everyone!!!