I was undeniably in awe when I first got to see the Dubai Aquarium when I first set foot on The Dubai Mall on my first weekend in Dubai. A lot of firsts eh? But I don't think that will top Dubai when it comes to firsts and world records. :p


Another one of Dubai's world record title-holders, the 10-million-liter Dubai Aquarium tank is one of the largest indoor aquariums and is the largest suspended aquarium in the world. I was very excited when Mark brought me here again for a close encounter with the aquatic life.

Date of visit: September 19, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

Well hello, March! A day delayed, I know. Just can't believe it's March already and I've been away from home for more than 6 months now. Oh how time flies. And just as how fast the day goes by, it's as if the piling up of my backlogs are twice as fast, well I guess even more! Such an inefficient blogger, I know. So let me make it up to you and cross out my backlogs one by one. :p

In my first few months here in Dubai I had to spend most of the time all on my own, as Mark is currently staying in Abu Dhabi and I still don't have friends here. There were times when I'd even stay inside my room the whole day and would just go out to go to the bathroom or to the kitchen. Haha!

So imagine how delighted I was when my high school girl friend got to Dubai just a couple of months after I came here and got a place in the same neighborhood where I live! :D

Yay! So happy that you're finally here! Welcome to Dubai, @catcarino! 😊😘 #girlfriends #happy #happytummy #happyweekend #dubai

A photo posted by kriska marie (@kriskamarie) on Nov 13, 2014 at 6:33pm PST

I immediately met with her over a scrumptious dinner a couple of days after she arrived. We would also usually meet with each other especially when we've got nothing to do. :p

Cat's older sister is here in Dubai too, and has been here for a couple of years already, so although I'm still a new-comer, Cat is relatively newer but she's wandered around Dubai more than I did. She was actually the one who introduced me to where the best-tasting shawarma is.

Chikahan over shawarma after hearing the Sunday mass. 😊 #girlfriends #happyweekend #blessedsunday

A photo posted by kriska marie (@kriskamarie) on Nov 16, 2014 at 8:33am PST

I was first introduced to Pumpy's when we decided to catch up over some shawarma and avocado juice right after we heard the Sunday mass together.


Pumpy's offers confectioneries from pastries to cakes to desserts, and a variety of food from pizzas, burgers, and sandwiches to shawarmas, fresh juices, and shakes.

Parents, globally, believe bath time to be some of the most quality time they get with their children, yet many underestimate the cognitive benefits bath time offers. This is according to the Johnson's® Global Bath Time Report, released on Thursday 5th February.

In celebration of the launch, Johnson's® held an exclusive event at the Sofitel Downtown, Dubai, and I was lucky enough to be one of the press and media participants that were invited to the launch.


The launch started out with a mini exhibit of some statistics and benefits of bath time for babies.

While waiting for the speakers, there was a getting-to-know among the guests while cocktails were served.

PRESS RELEASE

Launch of new JOHNSON’S® campaign highlights scientific importance of bath time in child development

The JOHNSON’S® Global Bath Time Report, found that while 84% of parents say bath time is some of the best quality time they get with their child, many underestimate its power and benefits.

The report, an online survey of more than 3,500 parents of young children around the world, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the JOHNSON’S® Brand, found less than half of parents (42%) believe bath time to be an extremely important routine in their child’s brain development. Furthermore, the report showed that 93% of Saudi mothers and 97% of UAE mothers see bath time as so much more than just a bath, a significantly higher statistic compared to the global average.

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, infants who experienced routine touch and massage (compared to those who did not) were 50% more likely to make eye contact, and three times more likely to have an overall positive expression (smiling, eye contact..etc.).

The research findings suggest that Arab mothers are ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding the significance regular massage has on baby, with 34% of Saudi mothers, and 34 UAE mothers recognising the practice as being extremely important for their child’s brain development, compared to 23% globally and only 13% in the UK.

Arab mothers appear on trend with the facts, with academic research revealing that routine touch and massage by a parent or loving caregiver is critical to baby’s growth and development, communication and learning .

To assist parents in understanding the important role bath time can play, JOHNSON’S® has launched their first ever global campaign, SO MUCH MORE™, highlighting bath time as being so much more than cleansing. It is a ritual allowing parents an opportunity to nurture baby’s ability to learn, think, love and grow by unlocking the full power of baby’s senses. Through the campaign, JOHNSON’S® is advancing research which reveals the importance of multi-sensorial experiences, potentially leading to happy, healthy baby development.

Dr. Zainab A. Malik, a consultant pediatrician said: “Arab mothers enjoy the quality time they spend with their children during bath time. With research identifying 85% of a baby’s brain to be developed by age three, it is important for parents to recognize opportunities, such as bath time, to engage in touch, sight, smell and sound. Moments like these are crucial in helping to shape their baby’s brain[i].”

Georgios Stamatas, J&J Research Associate Director and Fellow, Global Baby Platforms Research & Development, added, “Our legacy is that every JOHNSON’S® product is specially designed with baby in mind and meets our BEST FOR BABY™ standards, which is backed by science. Now we are taking our commitment one step further by showing the power of multi-sensorial experiences in daily rituals such as bath time. Our hope is that through our campaign, parents will see first-hand that there is more to bath time than just cleaning your baby. It’s a time between parent and baby during which every bubble, splash, touch and smell can contribute to baby’s growth and well-being and help create happy memories.”

Studies have also shown that babies bathed with a fragranced bath product displayed 30% more engagement cues with their parent after bath and spent nearly 25% less time crying before sleep compared to those who were not. A study of 58 mother-infant pairs found that infants who followed a bedtime routine, including a warm bath with a fragranced bath product, took 37% less time to fall asleep and had a significant improvement in mood in the morning . 95% of Saudi mothers and 94% of UAE mothers believe fragranced baby products to be an important part of bath time, compared to only 66% globally.

JOHNSON’S® has been pioneering the science and setting global standards in baby skin care for more than 120 years, providing products formulated and designed with baby in mind. As a global healthcare company focused on skin health, JOHNSON’S® has strived to fill critical research gaps by helping to advance 90% of publications and peer-reviewed scientific literature on the understanding of baby skin. Now, JOHNSON’S® is paving the way by advancing research that reveals the importance of multi-sensorial experiences that can lead to happy, healthy baby development.

For more information visit JOHNSON’S® Baby at: www.johnsonsbaby.com/somuchmore

Watch them on Youtube: www.youtube.com/baby

Or follow them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnsonsbabyme

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When it finally dawned on me that I will have to live in the UAE, I told myself that aside from Dubai where I'm currently living, I should also be able to explore the rest of the 7 emirates. Of course I know there are still a lot of things that I have yet to explore here in Dubai, so my goal of visiting the other emirates will have to be achieved over time, if not sooner, especially considering Mark's busy schedule.

So when Mark told me about a body building competition that he plans to join in is being held in Ras Al Khaimah, I was more than excited! :D

Ras al-Khaimah is a Persian Gulf Arab emirate and a member of the United Arab Emirates. Its name means "Top of the Tent". The emirate is in the northern part of the UAE, bordering Oman's exclave of Musandam. It covers an area of 1,684 square km. ~Wikipedia


The competition had events on 2 consecutive days so Mark took charge in booking a hotel for us to stay in Ras Al Khaimah and chose City Hotel.