Hi Dubai!

If you have seen my previous blog post, you will know that I went to Dubai over Easter and had an amazing time (the video shows it all). I have been back over a week now and I already feel the need to take a trip down memory lane and look at all my photos. Sometimes it's good to put your blog into good use and use it as an online scrapbook for everything you love. This is me doing just that...

If you are wanting to visit Dubai, these photos and my video are probably the perfect resources in persuading you to go (or in my case making me a bit depressed that I'm not there- sorry!). It may give you some ideas on what kind of stuff to see or do if you ever want to visit. Who knows?! Have a peek. 

(WARNING: excessive photo-taking and posing)

Our first night there we went on a little wooden boat in old Dubai to the souks at sunset. From what I know it was pretty cheap so it's a nice thing to do to venture out of the skyscraper jungle. Go at sunset for the best photo opportunities. Just look at that! 

The second day we went on a desert safari with Emirates Arabian Adventures. It was so fun and really good value for money (about £50-60 per person). It includes all transport, dune-bashing, drinks, camel-riding, 3-course meal in the desert, entertainment, henna tattoos, shisha, and more which I have probably forgotten. We got picked up from the Jumeirah Beach Hotel that had the best view of the Burj Al Arab so I, of course, had to take a very Instagram-able photo. 

For good measure, I thought I would throw in a picture of the Palace hotel where we picked some people up from for the desert safari. We later went for drinks there in the evening as we sat under the Burj Khalifa drinking Sangria. 

Sunset in the desert! (*tick it off the bucket list*)

Now skiing in Dubai was a pretty surreal moment. Ski Dubai is the largest indoor snow centre in the world so I had to go. The place was so big it had a chair lift in it, and penguins, a snow park AND a zipwire. I decided to stick to the skiing and it was incredible. I was so happy that I took a selfie by myself on the chair lift because I had no cares. 

These are the views from the Palace hotel which I mentioned earlier. Dubai is so pretty at night. 

Below is a picture of my crew before we went for brunch. Too. Many. Gins. 

The Atlantis waterpark, Aquaventure, was on the next day's agenda. I emphasise that the price on the website is wrong! We turned up and had to pay a bit extra and pay for a towel but we were too excited to care that much. The lazy river at Aquaventure is the king of lazy rivers, with rapids, slides, and a wave pool. I think we went round about 3 times and it is long. The staff even recognised us on our last circuit...

A really fun (scary) ride. And below: the queuing system in this waterpark was the best- a sit-down conveyer belt.

On our last evening we went to Dubai Mall to have dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, to see the fountains, and to go up the Burj Khalifa- the tallest building in the world. Due to Dubai laws not permitting the sale of alcohol in restaurants, the Cheesecake Factory had an amazing 'mocktail' menu that we all chose a drink from. They were huge and sooo good, I just wish were outside drinking them in the sun!

The portions at the Cheesecake Factory are absolutely massive. I will award anyone who finishes one of their portions a medal because my word, I struggled. It looked like I hadn't touched the plate when I finished. It was such good value for money considering the portion size and in hindsight, we should've shared! I decided on a Chinese Chicken Salad with orange, rice noodles and plum sauce. I mean, look at it, its the size of a small child!

(I am loving culottes at the moment- these are from Topshop). 

Up the Burj! SO TALL.

And there you go! As you can tell I had an awful time ;)

Take me back!

x

The Dubai Music Video

Give 4 girls a GoPro, a selfie stick and a catchy pop song in a hot, picturesque country then the result is this...

A couple of weeks back, my housemates and I ventured to Dubai on a much-needed holiday before all the hard work begins. My housemate lives out there so for the other 3, it was our first time to Dubai and we had such a good time. Dubai is something we have heard more about in the last two years than we have ever in our lives. Tell me two years ago that I would be going to Dubai on holiday, I would've asked you if I had won the lottery or had found a new obsession with entering TV competitions. With only a flight to pay for, the holiday was unquestionable: we are going to go to Dubai. 

Now, this video is just a fun insight to our week frolicking in the desert sunshine and I aim to do a few 'picture' blog posts on here over the next week or so. If you know me well by now, you know that these music videos are hobby of mine. So much so, that they are now expected if I go away anywhere. Suppose I have to live up to it!

Enjoy! 

Where Else Can You Find Me?

What a weird blog post you're thinking (I know I know I didn't know what else to call it). Now hear me out, I do have reasons.

I am currently a busy writing bee, writing for 3 blogs in total. This blog is my own where I freely write about anything I fancy, full of random posts of absolutely anything and everything. VeryBecca developed when I finished my first year of university in an attempt to help my writing progress over the summer and fortunately have carried it on almost a year later *pat on the back*. 

However, I have recently been required to write a blog for my university course that must be related to the upcoming General Election in May. Now, this is not my main topic of interest, nor is it in the interest of many young people like myself, but the aim of this blog is to direct people into understanding their government and their policies. Mainly looking at tuition fees as a foundation for the blog, I aim to deliver a jargon-free account of the student life in 2015 and how it could potentially change depending on who we vote for. If you wish to find out more click here to direct you to my other blog. 

Also, out of interest rather than my degree, I write fortnightly for TheDailyTouch- an online publication for students. You can find my posts under my name on the site for all my ski season and student-related posts. It lets my sarcasm and wit thrive in all it's glory! (Not entirely sure why my photo isn't showing in the below picture but imagine a beautiful, gorgeous Victoria Secret model). 

Thanks!

The Liebster Award

Now this is a post I would describe as very 'bloggy'. I made this blog as a kind of therapeutic mechanism (as you can probably tell by my rather argumentative opinion posts!) that would also help with my writing skills alongside my degree. It's also a rather fancy thing to put on your CV, I mean blogging can pretty much be a part-time job. So it is always pretty strange to me that there are hundreds of you reading my blog and associating me in the actual blogging world. I just think it's just me, myself and I. Instead of talking about something or someone else, this post is all about me! My friend Ellie from amourellie.blogspot.co.uk  nominated me for something called the Liebster Award (thanks!)- a blogging award that acknowledges new bloggers in the blogosphere. I have to answer the 11 questions Ellie has kindly given me and then nominate my favourite blogs that have less than 200 followers with my own questions. Suppose it's a good opportunity to know me a little better...

1) What inspired you to start blogging?

My obsession with other peoples blogs. I believe there is nothing better than reading the honest opinion of like-minded people before you buy something. 

2) What is the best meal you have ever had?

I can't say I have had one particular meal that has stood out to me as being the BEST. I did have a pretty good roast dinner last year in halls that was cooked by my housemate who is a culinary student. I think it was the blessing of a proper dinner cooked by a semi-professional chef that made it amazing. 

3) Where is your favourite place in the world?

New York. It is just amazing. It is my life ambition to live there one day. That or Disneyworld in Florida, I fit in there pretty well...

4) Which celebrity would you most like to have for dinner?

I can't pick one! If I was to have a dinner party then the guestlist would include Ellen DeGeneres, Alan Carr, Julie Andrews, Walt Disney, and David Beckham. David Beckham for obvious reasons...

5) What is your favourite thing about blogging?

The chance to just freely write about things I love. There are no rules, only your own. I just love writing about anything that takes my fancy and then reading other peoples reviews for similar products. 

6) Go out partying or cosy night in?

I do love both but if I had to pick it would be a cosy night in. Sometimes wearing no make up, eating loads of food, and watching trashy TV is just bliss. 

7) What are your goals for 2015?

To get a good grade for second year, to get the placement which I love, and to just have a good time with it all. Stressing out about things is just so not worth it!

8) What is your favourite type of post to write? Why?

Recently I am loving the foodie ones. Recipes are pretty fun to write and to do as well. It is also a good excuse to eat and procrastibake. 

9) What job did you want when you were little?

Every job under the sun. I remember the main ones being a teacher, a ballerina, and a paramedic. I also wanted to be a nutritionist which I suppose I would still love to be but science is just not my strong point. 

10) What is your worst habit?

Cleaning as a form of procrastination. I tell myself that I am being productive which realistically, I'm not. 

11) What has been your biggest achievement?

I'll say my ski season. It was the most tiring, testing, and challenging thing I have ever had to endure but I survived with no broken bones or any other extreme disasters. It was the best time of my life. I look back on it now and wonder how on earth I managed to cook 4-course meals, 6 days a week on 4 hours sleep and still manage to have so much fun. 

My questions for my nominees:

1) What made you pick your blog's name?

2) If you had to use one brand of make up for the rest of your life, which one would you pick?

3) Are there any new topics you want to do blog about soon that you may not have tried before?

4) What 3 items would you take if you were stranded on an island?

5) If you had to shop at one shop for the rest of your life, which one would you pick?

6) What is your most played song on your iTunes?

7) Heels or flats?

8) What is your earliest memory?

9) Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

10) Post your favourite photo. 

11) If you could go back in time, where would you go?

My nominees are my friends- and some of them haven't blogged in a while so hey, here's an excuse ;) haha. 

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