Unexpected Abu Dhabi

With a happy heart I return home to Seattle.  I didn't clinch the title as Jauntaroo's "Chief World Explorer", but I would bargain I gained just as much as if I had.  My journey to the top 5 candidates of this worldwide search opened my mind to possibilities that I once only dreamed about...which I now see as realities that are within reach.  There's so much to say about this whirlwind experience, but for now please enjoy the "article" about Abu Dhabi which I wrote after our 2nd day...

Beep, beep, beep, beep…click...ksssschhhhhhh.  I felt like I was standing in a scene from The Italian Job as I watched the sales person in the perfumery at Emirates Palace crack open the large vault, exposing exquisite bottles of perfume draped in gold casings.  He extracted the bottles and removed the glass stoppers so I could smell the indulgent essences.  I was floored when he quizzed me on the price of one bottle of perfume – a shocking 500,000 UAE dirham or approximately 60,000 USD!  I could understand the lofty price after he tipped the bottle upside down and a shower of tiny sparkling diamonds trickled down like a snow globe.  This was just the tip of the “opulence iceberg” in Abu Dhabi, a spectacular city mixing modern luxury with ancient cultural traditions.





The Emirates Palace Hotel





The lavish hospitality in Abu Dhabi has far exceeded my expectations.  Beyond the spectacular food, first-class amenities, and gold encrusted ceilings lies the true spirit of this city…its people.  Every person whose path I have crossed has been genuinely warm, welcoming and hospitable.  It’s hard not to fall in love with a city where people are eager to show you their culture and make you feel like a part of their world.

Our first adventure into the hearts of the Emirati people was a trip to the Falcon Hospital.  As we walked into the facility there were 3 domineering, fabulous looking creatures perched on their owners’ arms, waiting to be admitted.  And when I say admitted…I truly mean admitted.  This facility is a veterinarian’s dream – outfitted with every possible amenity to make sure that these fabulous birds of prey are healthy, beautiful, and well maintained.  The hospital had an ICU, surgery room, a malting cage, a stock of feathers for feather transplants, and the equivalent to a falcon nail salon – complete with special lotion and laughing gas.  Errrr…perhaps there isn’t normally laughing gas in a nail salon.

It’s no surprise that falcons are treated with such great care; they are the pet of choice in Abu Dhabi and there are over 33,000 domesticated falcons in the United Arab Emirates.  I was intrigued by the falcons, to which I had admittedly never given much thought.  Once I had a falcon resting on my own hand, I was captivated by its brilliance and I instantly understood why Emiratis are fascinated with these grand creatures.

Outside the “Palace walls”, so to speak, awaited the Arabian Desert with rolling hills of the finest sand and activities like dune bashing that had me on the edge of my seat.  We hopped in a 4WD SUV and were egging on our driver as he took us on the ride of a lifetime - up to the peaks of dunes and then slip-sliding down the other side as we narrowly escaped a few barrel rolls that had my heart racing and my throat sore from screaming. 

As the perfect contrast to the wild desert drive, we were dropped off at the peaceful Arabian Nights Village where even Bedouin tents have been outfitted to exude luxury.  The red carpeted walls and softly lit lanterns were so inviting I was ready to crash but the belly dancers and buffet dinner beckoned. Since when have I been known to pass up a buffet?

Abu Dhabi has been an adventure beyond my wildest dreams and my only wish was that I had more time to explore this city decked out in superlatives – the fastest roller coaster, the largest carpet (with 2 billion knots), the first gold ATM, and the list goes on.  But to me, Abu Dhabi will always be the most wonderful, most unexpected journey.

And for those of you who aren't yet tired of voting for my application videos time and time again, you can find them here and here.

For the Love of Money

Ironically, as I was on the subject of "money can't buy happiness" last week, I happened to read the next chapter of my book "The Happiness Project" whose topic was Buy Some Happiness.  The author, Gretchen Rubin, is on a yearlong quest to find what makes her happier and she says, "Money satisfies basic material needs.  It's a means and an end.  It's a way to keep score, win security, exercise generosity, and earn recognition...It buys time - which can be spent on aimless drifting or purposeful action. It often stands for the things that we feel are lacking: if only we had the money, we’d be adventurous or thin or cultured or respected or generous.”

I agree with her that money alone can’t buy happiness, but it can help buy happiness.  The author says “Money, spent wisely, can support happiness goals of strengthening relationships, promoting health…having fun.”  To me, money does indeed buy things that make me happier – a gift that I can send to a friend for their birthday, a plane ticket home to spend time with my family, covering transportation costs of extensive travel, buying food that gives me so much joy and pleasure.

The author also mentions that, “When money or health is a problem, you think of little else; when it’s not a problem, you don’t think much about it.  Both money and health contribute to happiness mostly in the negative; the lack of them brings much more unhappiness than possessing them brings happiness.”  Preach!  Whenever I feel like I have a sufficient amount of Benjamins stashed away I feel free, more giving, more open to opportunities or adventures that arise, and generally less worried.  When my bank account starts depleting and I see more withdrawals than deposits, I feel anxiety, uncertainty, risk-averse, and quite frankly more like a hermit.

I’m thankful that I was raised in a family where I was taught the value of a dollar, and taught about hard work and dedication.  But as I’ve aged (just a bit), it’s been harder for me to manage the balance between working and playing.  Yesterday, as I lied on the beach soaking up a “play now” break, I was reminded of the beauty of working hard to achieve your goals.  And the satisfaction and happiness that comes from knowing how much effort you’ve put in to receive something you truly cherish.

Enjoying the Tel Aviv beaches

A young boy (maybe 9 years old), approached us on the beach with a backpack slung over his arms, resting on his stomach.  Beads of sweat trickled down from under his bucket hat as he asked my boyfriend if we’d like to buy some lemonade from him.  As I dug around for the equivalent of 75 cents for a small cup of lemonade, the boy shared with my boyfriend that he’s saving up money to go to Brazil for his Bar Mitzvah.  My heart melted and I wanted to buy the whole thermos.  He trotted off looking for his next prospective customers, targeting the women in the area – smart kid. 

As he walked away, marching in the heavy sand under the hot Israeli summer sun, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of happiness.  If this was my son, I would be so proud of his efforts, dedication, and hard work.  I’m sure by the time he’s 13 he’ll have enough money for that trip to Brazil – and can you imagine how proud and happy he will be? 



Cutest kid ever.

This young boy was a needed inspiration for me to remember that creativity and hard work can launch you towards achieving your goals a lot quicker than sitting around and thinking about them.  It’s very few and far between that somebody stumbles upon the luck to become wealthy, successful or accomplished without shedding some blood, sweat and tears.

Today is a reminder for you that not all things come easily, and not all things should come easily.  Buckle down, go to work, and focus on accomplishing your goals.  Don’t let the fear of hard work stand in the way of your achievements.

On a totally unrelated note (although I could stretch it by saying I used money to buy the ingredients), I made Pita Pizzas again the other night.  I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of using pitas (abundantly accessible here) for pizzas instead of trying to labor over my own dough, but now that a friend suggested it – I can’t stop making them!!

 

Pita Pizzas

A Middle Eastern twist on a fan favorite!  This recipe is once again an estimate - from the quantities to the temperatures (I don't think the dials on our mini oven actually work because it's either cold, or hot).  But this is extremely simple to make, and since it's pizza you can be creative with your toppings!

To start, I sliced a few pitas in half and opened them like sandwiches.  I love thin crust pizza so this is perfect for me - without the work of making dough.  I spread a thin layer of red sauce (recipe below) on each side and then drizzled a bit of olive oil on top.  Then I added a thin layer of shredded cheese - I think it was Monterey Jack cheese but I couldn't exactly tell.  I added the toppings, and threw them in the oven.  My best guess is to put it on a 'broil' setting - I just did it long enough to heat the toppings and make the pita crispy. 

Toppings

Pizza #1 - chopped spicy salami, sliced mushrooms, and tomatoes.

Pizza #2 - sliced tomatoes, feta cheese, and right before the pizza was done cooking I pulled it out and added fresh basil before letting it cook for a minute longer

Red Sauce
1 part tomato paste
1 part finely chopped tomatoes (and all the juice and seeds)
fresh, finely chopped basil
a dash of garlic powder
oregano
-- Mix all ingredients together.  If it looks too thick, add more fresh chopped tomatoes. --

I love pizza, and now that I have an easy way of making it, this is going to be a dinner regular!  Plus since they're small, you can have make a few with different toppings.  Enjoy!

Boodle Boxes

I know that money isn’t supposed to buy happiness….but I can’t contend the fact that I was OVERJOYED when I received a pile of goodies that my mom sent me with a friend of mine who travelled to Seattle recently.  I’ve spent the last week noshing on honey roasted cashews, Mentos, sour Jelly Bellys and cinnamon gum, while savoring my Sour Patch Kids and Mint LifeSavers till the bitter end.  However, I keep reminding myself of my childhood Halloween habit where I’d save my best candies for last…and then they’d go bad after a full year of looking forward to the sweet chocolate outside and that smooth peanut butter filling of my beloved Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

My new goodies from home!

Along with my munchies, Mama Bird packed a new t-shirt (thank goodness – I think I’ve sweat through all of mine here), a Platypus water bottle, deodorant (see aforementioned sweating), tea tree oil, my beloved Target chapstick balls, and other fun things.  The original intention for this “boodle box”, as we refer to it in our household (a term adopted when my brother started at West Point – families are encouraged to send new cadets little goodies and treats to keep their spirits up), was to exchange my broken Kindle.  However, when I found out there was going to be a “transport of goods”, I figured I would throw in a few other requests of things I’m hard pressed to find in Israel.

My new t-shirt and my goodies!  So excited!

After spending a week enjoying my new goodies and playing with my new toys, I’ve realized that although this is an indulgence for my materialistic side, I believe boodle boxes also bring joy for another reason.  It’s the same kind of joy you get when you give or receive a gift.  For me, it’s not JUST the fact that I have a fancy new water bottle which fits so nicely in my purse, but it’s that my mom spent the time and energy to find something that she knew I’d like.

A while ago I read the book “The Five Love Languages”, which came highly recommended to me by multiple people.  The author talks about the different ways that people intend and perceive love.  Giving gifts is one of the five ways people express love, as a sign of their thoughtfulness and care for somebody else.  It doesn’t have to be a big, fancy gift like a car or a TV, it can be something small and meaningful like a hand written card, a person’s favorite candy (mine is Sour Patch Kids!), or flowers.  It’s not the size or the cost of the gift that matters, it’s about the thought and care you put into it.

Today I challenge you to find a small, inexpensive, yet meaningful gift to give to someone you love and care for.  After all, it’s the little moments in life and the small gestures that bring great joys and memories. 

My Best Friend's Wedding

I was elated to hear that on a late Saturday night, way past my dad’s bed time, both of my parents were making the 40-minute jaunt down to the airport to pick me up.  And I was even more excited the next morning when my mom realized that she’d accidently bought 2 more packages of bacon when we had 1 already stashed in the fridge. 

Once it hits your lips....

That was the beginning of what seemed like a very quick trip to the U.S.  I started my three weeks in Seattle, surrounded by friends and family.  The weather gods blessed the beautiful city and gave us gorgeous, sunny weather almost every day.  It was the perfect time to catch an M’s game with my lovely ladies, where I got my first ever foul ball!  Notice….it says ‘got’, not ‘caught’…if I had stuck my hand out for that ball it would have drilled a hole right through my palm (or my head – I’m not great with hand eye coordination).

The weather maintained for a fabulous Mother’s Day BBQ with my family.  And even though Dad stands strongly by his belief that Mother’s Day is a ‘Hallmark holiday’, he still slaved away on the grill, perfectly cooking my brats and chicken…uhhhhh I mean “Mom’s brats and chicken.”  I put myself to work in the kitchen, and played head chef as I bossed around all my cousin ‘sous’.  We ended up with quite the feast, including this delicious corn salad with chili-lime dressing.

Corn salad with Chili-Lime dressing

Dad grilling - don't worry about the creeper in the window...it's just my cousin

L to R: Me, Momma, and Auntie Janet on a beautiful Mother's day

Dig in!!

From Seattle I jumped down to San Francisco to visit my brother and his girlfriend.  I had forgotten how lovely the smell of fresh brewed coffee was until the aroma lifted me off the air mattress in the morning.  We spent one day scouring the city for goodies and snacks as we walked to the park.  We ducked in to an empanada shop, and gathered delicious banh mi sandwiches for “lunch round 2”.  After I removed the peppers from my sandwich, the remaining juices still sufficiently seared my insides. Those little suckers packed a punch, but the sandwich was delish!

Empanadas!

The following day, we really did look like “hunters and gatherers” as we decked out in costumes for the Bay to Breakers race as “the three blind mice.” (Although I guess mice aren’t really ‘hunters’…just ‘gatherers’).  Anyway, any day that I get to wear a costume is fun for me, but it’s not the average day that my brother allows me to draw a pink nose on him with lipstick. 

Mice refueling with Korean BBQ

After a fun filled weekend, it was on to Arizona for “the main event” – an honorable walk down the aisle at my best friend’s wedding.  I had been looking forward to this wedding for over a year, and was so excited to be reunited with my two best friends, Jess and Katie, and a new little addition to our crew – Jess’s adorable 8 month old son, Carson (the cutest baby ever). 

The three of us met in middle school – where you kept your friends close, and your best friends closer.  :)  It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come since the days of overalls and braces, and yet it’s refreshing to know we still have the same friendship that has endured the years and the distance. 

We laughed as we shared old memories – class projects we worked on together, crushes on boys whose names we hadn’t thought of in years, embarrassing stories, and nerdy rituals like our beloved “friendship notebooks” which we circulated between the three of us in high school instead of passing notes.  We even called out each other’s home phone numbers in unison – a testament that we were raised in the years before cell phones and text messaging (and perhaps also a testament that we talked on the phone too much).

High school...wow SOMEBODY went to Mexico for break!

Nerdy but sweet - friendship notebooks

On the day that I watched Jess walk down the aisle, I witnessed a new chapter of our lives unfold.  I felt truly blessed to be standing next to a beautiful woman, who’s stood by me ever since we were little girls.  It brings me great joy to be sharing my life journey with wonderful friends – both the milestones, and the little moments.  (Photos courtesy of Jason + Anna Photography)

Today I ask you to take some time to appreciate your friendships that have stood the test of time.  Life is a beautiful adventure, but it’s even more wonderful when you share the journey.