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Winter in Dubai

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MONICA’S WEEKEND new radio show with ideas for eating out, family outings and cool events in Dubai

Listen to Monica’s Weekend a BRAND NEW radio show for 2022. Monica Kapila and Mark Lloyd will broadcast every FRIDAY on DUBAI EYE 103.8 at 1.45pm repeated on the Night Shift show with Mark Lloyd at 9.15pm.

MONCA’S WEEKEND RADIO SHOW DUBAI EYE103.8FM

Plan a better weekend or week ahead with your family, friends and visitors!

Welcome to my new show each FRIDAY 1.45pm with Mark Lloyd on Dubai Eye 103.8 FM.

Here are this week’s ideas for a place to EAT OUT, an interesting OUTING and an EVENT you could experience this weekend.

We’ll upload the podcast of this broadcast when Dubai Eye upload it to their channel.

Don’t miss an episode – SUBSCRIBE

PODCAST from 11th February below listen from minute 1

OUTING

FLOWER FARM NEAR WADI ASIMAH
A LITTLE BITE AT FOLIA VEGAN RESTAURANT FOUR SEASONSJUMEIRAH

Call Mr Mohammed on 055 992 3601 for details of the flower farm. Open every day all day entry AED 15 in Fujeirah, wadi Asimah. Tell him you heard from Monica at DoinDubai.

EVENT

Check out our reel experience at FOLIA at the Four Seasons here on our instagram

MONICAS-WEEKEND-EMIRATES-LIT-FEST-2022
VISIT THE EMIRATES LIST FEST THIS WEEKEND

We suggest doing the short story workshop with Sara Hamdan and or the talk by David Rundell on the future of Saudi Arabia.

EATING IN – Recipe Gallery

Air Fried Pakodas DoinDubai Monica Kapila Spices box
RECIPES GALLERY
Monica’s Weekend – Posts

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GLOBAL VILLAGE DUBAI NOV – MARCH

Global Village a real winter activity in Dubai

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2021

So the pavilions for shopping and food are all OPEN, only the entertainment pavilions and live shows have stopped for now. STILL ONLY AED 15 TO ENTER, but a brand new feel to Global Village if you haven’t been for a while!  It’s in it’s 25th season already so Happy Silver Jubilee! 

What did we buy this time round? 

We loved the Turkish stall for melamine ceramics, dishes and bowls all very reasonably priced and so easy to carry too! 
Global Village DoinDubai Turkish Pavilion
The Indian pavilion is still good for shawl, but do keep bargaining and we like the food from Bundoo Khan’s Pakistani pavilion in Global Village. Try the lamb seekh kebab and naan! 
 
We went to the Moroccan stall also in search of pottery but didn’t find too much that we liked. I did buy this.. very reasonably priced and of course the tea glasses and pots are very pretty too. Good for serving little portions of dessert as well as tea!
Global Village DoinDubai Morocan pot

FROM BACK IN NOVEMBER 2015

Now it’s Dhs 15 to enter 32 pavilions and in it’s in 20th Season!  It’s opening to coincide with Flag Day too so that’s from TODAY 3rd of November till April 9th 2016. This post is based on a previous visit. No festival sales on in Global Village but go along for a different evening out while the weather is perfect for walking.

Experience a real Middle Eastern atmosphere with families enjoying a browse, shopping and eating at the various international stalls. It’s a big place so find out DoinDubai’s Top Tips for visiting Global Village before you go!

Global Village Walk

Top Tips when you visit Global Village Dubai  

Visit Yemen and pick up very reasonably priced rhodium based jewellery for yourself or as gifts. Sample all the various honeys on sale here, different ones for men and women’s health ! We also bought freshly ground cinnamon and a packet of spices for making biriyani rice.

Try Iran for perfect dry fruits such as apricots and miniature figs, also stock up on your favourite nuts from here, apparently the tiny bitter almonds and dried apple are brilliant for keeping cholesterol down. Sample some of the many types of seeds on sale here from melon to sunflower, all perfectly roasted and delicately salted. Do eat some of the shelled pomegranate famous in Iran as you walk around.

Pick up some pretty painted pottery at Tunisia and very reasonably priced coloured tea glasses from Morocco (use for tiny sprigs of Bougainvillea  for easy table arrangements if you prefer your tea in a builder’s mug) The funky teapots and tea glass sets here are identical but much cheaper than in a well-known department store in Dubai Mall.

Global Village Yemen Jewellery

We bought freshly made spicy soft cheese specially concocted and sealed in jars from Palestine, a great hit on savoury biscuits for evening drinks with visitors. You can sample an almost endless variety with flat bread twisted into tiny rolls before you buy.

Take a close look at the costume jewellery in Lebanon, this was the most fashionable and trendy jewellery on offer and at fairly good prices. Very handy if the little ladies are begging for multiple ear piercings, get earrings from here that reflect that look minus the extra holes.

Global Village Cheese balls

Walk through the India pavilion to get a feel for the variety of products on offer, it’s like a mini Meena Bazaar. I picked out some unusual black and beige semi pashmina shawls that are versatile enough to match a number of outfits.

Do not expect fresh apple strudel or anything like this in Austria despite the very authentic façade of the stall.  Do go to Global Village hungry, you can sample heaps of  extremely authentic food either in stalls, at the food court area (we opted for Indian here) or in more formal stand alone pop up restaurants dotted about the grounds. The Thai food is particularly good with stalls from restaurants owned and managed by Thais based in International City.

Global Village Shawls

Bargaining and Prices at Global Village

Apart from food do bargain hard for anything you purchase, especially if you’re buying more than one of something. We’re spoilt for spectacular fireworks in Dubai but the ones here are still special and happen on Friday and Saturdays at around 9pm.

Entry to Global Village is 15 dirhams for adults. They do have concessions for elderly and disabled people. Please note that it doesn’t open before 4pm in the afternoon but then it does stay open very late till around midnight or so.

Give the Malls a miss and tell me what bargains you picked up at Global Village, just off Mohammed bin Zayed road (previously Emirates road) past the entrance to Arabian Ranches. There is plenty of parking but it gets particularly busy at week ends. Dress sensibly for the cooler weather and the more local atmosphere.

There is also a funfair but DoinDubai doesn’t do funfairs any more ! As usual do Like and Share on Facebook and subscribe to DoinDubai to get prizes and discounts. 

Thanks Monica

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GARDENING IN DUBAI USEFUL PHRASES

Gardening in Dubai – updated May 2020 

Gardening in Dubai has been challenging for many people recently especially as gardeners may have stayed away.

Maybe now your gardener has returned on a semi regular basis.  So have a look at the phrases and  the SECOND video below that may help you communicate a bit better exactly what you want them to do.

Gardening in Dubai DoinDubai hibiscus side view
Hibiscus flower blooms daily

It’s obviously hotter now so do move your plants into whatever shade you can and cut back vigorously. See how our mint and basil has fared over the last few weeks here..very useful herbs to grow for as long as you can, especially with all our home cooking going on since we’ve been staying home in Dubai 

Try this really easy pea and mint hummus recipe that doesn’t require any tahini.

Gardening in dubai DoinDubai pea and mint hummus
Green peas and fresh mint hummus no tahini

Many gardeners I’ve come across in Dubai are from Pakistan or India.  Whilst the boss’s English is generally ok, chances are some of his staff won’t be that fluent!

You may find these Hindi/Urdu phrases improve your gardening in Dubai.

Gardening-In-Dubai-Curry-Leave
Curry leaves love the heat and great for cooking

Remember some of your gardeners may be from the South of India in which case their mother tongue will be Malyali, but they should be ok with the phrases below.

Find a list of plants and their prices in this earlier post. There is a video below of the phrases written here.

Gardening in Dubai – Cutting Things

Isko cut karo = Cut this.
Isko sirruf trim karo = Only trim this.
Aaj grass ko cut karo = Today cut the grass.
Bot tora caato = Only cut this a little bit.

Gardening in Dubai – Here and There

Idr Lao = Bring it here.
Udhar rako = Put it there.
Isko pot may dalo = Put this is a pot.
Usko zameen mein lagaao = Plant this in the ground.
Aage = Infront.
Peeche = Behind.

Gardening in Dubai DoinDubai frangipani side view
Frangipani is Champa in Hindi

Gardening in Dubai  – The Water

Aaj bot zyada baarish = Today too much rain
Paani bund karo = Turn the water off
Paani = water
Baarish = rain
Tora paani dalo = Put a little water

Gardening-In-Dubai-Wet-Day-.jpg
Turn off the sprinklers on wet days

Gardening in Dubai  – Trees and plants

Frangipani = Champa.
Date Palm tree = Kajoor.
Curry Patta = Curry leaf (grows really easily here)
Tree = Pear (but the ending is like a rough d sound, like Pedr)
Flower = Phool
Vegetable = Sabzi.
Which? = Konsa ?

Gardening-In-Dubai-Frangipani-Champa
Frangipani plants love the heat but watch the sticky sap from cutting

Gardening in Dubai – Miscellaneous

Rimmal = Red sand, often used as top soil.
Baldia = the very smelly manure, dark in colour.
Booti = Buds or shoots can also mean weeds
Mazboot = Strong.
Kamzor = Weak.
Teekh Hai = It’s OK.
Dawa = medicine = pest control or fertilizer.
Isko saaf karo = Clean this.
Abhi = Now.
Baad mein = later.

Gardening in Dubai DoinDubai desert rose side view
Classic Dubai Desert Rose playing with settings on my camera

Need help with the pronunciation? Then just watch the video here!

Just a few that I use a lot, let me know what else you’d like to say in a comment at the end of this post and I’ll add a simple translation to end of this post! Do please SHARE this one out.

A pdf you can print and laminate if pronunciation is difficult for you. Gardening in Dubai

Miracle Garden is also open if you need some inspiration! As at 2016 when this post was first written.

Combine your photography interests with your garden! A great place for inspiring photo projects! All these pictures were taken with my Samsung Note 10+ phone. Which one do you like best? You can also use your gardening photos for your painting projects or print out professionally on canvas and use as original artwork for your walls. More interesting and innovative than IKEA prints!

Try and bring the outside inside by simply moving your colourful or flowering plants in front of any glass windows or doors you have so you can take full advantage of them while you’re sitting inside. We moved our Desert Roses, currently nicely blooming to do just that!

Gardening in Dubai Doindubai Bring the Outside in
Bring the outside inside

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AL SERKAI AVENUE DUBAI

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai is a cool hub for arts, media and and cultural activity. It’s an all pedestrian zone that encompasses an art house cinema, cafes, art galleries, a theatre and even an artisanal chocolate factory! Read on to find out exactly where Al Serkal Avenue Dubai is located and what to expect when you get there..

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai cinema goers

What is Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

There are no high rise buildings or shiny shopping malls anywhere in Al Serkal Avenue Dubai. Think of a largely pedestrian zone with smaller independent units that you can pop in and out of very easily. There are some art galleries and a comprehensive rug and furniture showroom that are housed in mini warehouse type shops.

There is also an art house cinema called Cinema Akil that has the quirky Chaiwalla Cafe attached to it with some outdoor seating available in cooler weather.  So for Dubai that’s roughly November to April.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Project Chaiwala

Try some of their varieties of masala tea and samosas! There is a focus on international films at Cinema Akil that you wouldn’t find in main stream Dubai cinemas.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Cinema Akil

If you prefer live theatre then almost right next door is a small theatre that was showing an adaptation of Macbeth in November 2108. The Junction is at the moment the only independent performing arts venue in the UAE.

Don’t leave Al Serkal without checking out the Mirzam chocolate factory with it’s glass fronted workshop. Beautifully packaged, locally produced chocolate bars that often incorporate local flavours. Sample before you buy though!

And note around AED 46 per bar.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Mirzoram Chocolate

If you have a bit longer to spend here then paint your feelings or anything else at The Jamjar an art space where you can chill, drink coffee and paint all at once, and eat cookies!

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai Jamjar painting

Where exactly is Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai is located in the Al Quoz area which is generally known for it’s industry focus with large warehouses and factory units.

You can park right outside Al Serkal avenue and then it’s very easy to walk around, especially in the cooler months.

Here’s a Google Map telling you exactly where Al Serkal avenue is located.

Food and Drink at Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

Food and drink is abundant everywhere you go in Dubai but often there are chain fast food restaurants that really don’t appeal to  many of us.

So luckily Al Serkal has a good range of independent cafes you can explore. Organic, fresh ingredients and cool vibes are on offer at most of the places.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Wild and Moon Cabbage Rolls

There is a branch of Wild & the Moon cafe if you want to be super healthy. Great for turmeric shots and cabbage rolls.

Al Serkal Avenue DoinDubai WIld and Moon

You could get down to earth on a floor seat at the newly opened Nadi Al Quoz that also has a swing bed and hammocks. Very relaxing, but stick to the tables to balance your coffees on!

al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Balance Cafe

Or go to our favourite place at the moment in Al Serkal avenue Dubai, the Nightjar Cafe and Coffee roastery. Try something from the brunch menu.. we loved our beetroot salmon and 63 degree egg.

But you must also leave room for the lemon polenta cake with a cup of fresh coffee.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Nightjar Coffee Roastery

Top Café pick at Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

At the moment it’s definitely the Nightjar Cafe and Coffee Roastery

Other cool facts about Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

There are some very contemporary art galleries that are always showcasing new and up coming designers and artists.

Do also check out the Rug Company for it’s beautiful collection of rugs and homewares.

We were invited to a Netflix event at a very modern and innovative venue called Ink, also in Al Serkal avenue Dubai.

There is a handful of arts and media companies that have opened in the area including a new film consultancy firm called Near East.

Is Al Serkal Avenue Dubai worth going to

Yes for sure, especially in cooler weather…here’s why

  • Pedestrianized
  • No malls
  • No high rise buildings
  • Independent cafes
  • Art house cinema & theatre
  • Cool, hipster type vibe
  • Easy Parking
  • Community Events 

Do you know any similar places worth going to in Dubai?

Thank you

Monica.

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