I won this via Channel 4 FM early last year. Fun times then, Vicky White and Rob were still hosting the morning show.

What a treat! Looking at this photo collage still makes me smile.... big, like Joker BIG mouth smile. It was something I did not expect at all. This is the kind of treat that under promised but definitely without a doubt, over delivered. A year after and my heart still swells of joy.

Up there, looking at how beautiful this place is, through a different perspective, really just incredible. This tour holds a special place in my heart, it was that memorable.

I know nothing about taking nice pictures then. I even took lots of shots of just tips of my hair, the button of my nose, some even just seat's headrest. It was basically a hit and miss. 

I just took as many as possible and hope some are clear enough. I did know how to work with the camera. Didn't know anything about adjusting lens. Clueless about lighting too... so bear with the photos.

Everyone in the plane was too busy taking pictures of the view and themselves. It was an odd yet funny visual. Imagine a plane-ful of people holding camera with the lens facing themselves because they were too shy to ask other passengers to take a picture of each them when the view outside will disappear at any moment. It was a frenzy of trigger happy tourists.

One spectacular view gets replaced by an equally mesmerizing one and for at least 30 to 45 minutes, we were all in awe. A trance that we really did not want to get out of.

Dubai up there is an ABSOLUTE beauty. 

If you have a chance to grab a trip through Seawings. Do so. I know Cobone sometimes offers Seawings Tour with Afternoon Tea and other great deals, take it. 

I promise you, you will not be disappointed. Even if you buy a tour on its regular price, it is sooooo worth it.

Of course if you are scared of heights, might not be the best deal for you, stay on the ground then. :)

SEAWINGS: DUBAI +971 4 807 0708

http://www.seawings.ae/

Telephone: +9714 3080000
Radisson Royal Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE

Last year I joined so many competitions and won quite a handful of freebies. Yeah, whatever! I'm a sucker for competitions.

One of the many generous gifts I got was an overnight stay at Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai (formerly JAL Hotel Dubai) and a lunch for two at Indo Thai Restaurant.

The overnight stay experience was of course fanta-bulous. We had breakfast in bed, went for a little tour of the hotel, didn't really go swimming because of the weather, plus, pool wasn't appealing as it's next to an unfinished building, construction workers going woot woot? no thank you very much. Swimming pool aside, we had a great time.

The dining experience was equally memorable. It's a shame that when we went for lunch, it was just us and another couple who were there. The server said, they're pretty pack in the evening, hmmm. It's a real shame that the hotel location is along the strip of hotels and of equally amazing restaurants. Diners have gazillions to choose from if you ask me.

Let's just say, it's human nature to choose convenience next to the quality and taste of food. The hotel is not located in a straighforward area of the hotel strip. You have to weave your way around to access it, so yeah, when we went there, even with the promotions happening, it's a bit desserted, however exquisite the food was.

The worst thing is... these diners don't know what they're missing!

The restaurant setting is modern asian which I love. We can see orchid's, bamboos and just warmth Asian hospitality in its décor.

For appetizers we ordered Vietnamese Beef Salad and Chicken Pandan Leaves. Delectable is the word. The salad has fresh mint, vermicelli noodles and julienne veggies cooked to perfection. It also came with skewered beef which has a good flavour of dark soya sauce and lemon grass. Chicken was marinated and wrapped in pandan leaves, maybe steamed, maybe baked, I didn't care much for the method of cooking because however it was cooked, it was moorish. We loved every bit of it!

For the main course, J went for the obvious, Red Curry Beef Cheek while I went for the chef-y sounding dish, Cod Fish & Pak Choy Cambodian Pot-Au-Feu. Sometimes being adventurous pays for a fantastic discovery, sometimes, it's better to be safe. This time around, J won. His Beef was to-die for! The meat was so tender, it practically pulls away and it melts in your mouth while the curry sauce gives it a bit of kick. It was served with steamed rice which for us is just a cherry on top. I wouldn't mind eating all of it by myself. J is obviously more generous than I am, so he shared his dish with me.

As for my chef-y sounding dish? it was,,, non-committed eeeeh. It says in the menu that it's pan-fried cod fish served in beef consommé scented with lemongrass and garnished with pak-choy. It didn't impress me. I didn't feel any character from the dish. The consommé smells better than it taste. It was salty and I can't really taste much of the beef essense there... more like buillon-y type. The fish lost it's flavour because the consommé overpowered it. In short, I won't be ordering you again my fishy friend.

Dessert? It once again redeemed itself. J ordered Banana Passion Caramel Custard, banana and passion fruit in a caramel custard with fresh pomelo... once again, safe. It was yum. As for me and my food quest, I ordered something I have eaten separately but never together in Coconut, Sago and Lychee Cake. Let's just say, thank goodness I took the risk. Even J was a little envious.

It was a steamed cake, made of sago pearl, lychee and coconut flavour sort of cream custard served with pandan leaf ice cream. Every spoonful was exciting and I wish it never ended. That's how yummy-licious it was.

This meal happened almost a year ago and I can still taste the dishes in my mouth. Believe me, that's a good thing. Hope to dine back with our kids in tow!