Kuya V is officially on winter break, yey. I have to keep both of them busy and spend as much less time watching cartoons. I got the idea from a table centerpiece we saw at the Gingerbread house decorating event.
Things you need:
We have spent 5 Christmases as an expat family here in Dubai. It is during this season that we get homesick with all the festivities happening in the city and back home. The last time my mom, siblings and I celebrated Christmas together was 2006.
Today, December 16 marks the first day of Simbang Gabi (Misa de Gallo)  which marks the official countdown for the grand Christmas feast. Although simbang gabi literally means night mass, Filipino Catholics wake up early morning (5 am) for nine consecutive days to join the celebration of dawn mass. It is also believed that when you complete nine dawn mass, your wish will come true.
We are definitely in a Christmas mood after attending our first tree lighting ceremony and first Santa encounter this season at The H Dubai.
I posted a video of the tree lighting in my instagram, you can view it here. Walk pass by the Christmas tree and you will see an edible gingerbread house, almost as tall as Kuya V. Read More
UAE residents are lucky to experience eternal winter just like Kristoff, Princess Ana and Queen Elsa of Frozen.
Yes, an eternal winter in the desert is possible because of Ski Dubai and to make your experience more exciting, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment and Disney collaborate to create a Frozen experience in the coldest destination here in UAE.
“Are there any activities for the kids to do?”
No bouncy castles. No face painting. No balloon twisting.
I prefer it that way, less distractions and more appreciation on what the Farmer’s Market has to offer. Take it as an opportunity to teach your kids where the food came from.
Here’s how you can make it fun:
Noodles in any edible form is one family favorite. We celebrate birthday’s with pansit or pasta dish that symbolizes long life and we (Daddy C to be exact) need some comforting we crave for some noodle soup and chocolate cake.
Our close friend’s, the Cruz family, invited us to Wagamama for some pre- Christmas celebration last year but it didn’t push through, Daddy C and I thought that it was just another Japanese restaurant in Dubai, we are loyal to our favorites – Tomo and Bentoya.
We finally got a chance to dine at Wagamama at Al Fattan Tower, Jumeirah Beach Road. All of us were very hungry, stuck for almost 45 minutes and just a block away from the building. Browsing their online menu kept us busy (and hungry!), probably not the wisest decision but I want all of us to decide what to order so we don’t have to wait a long time for our food.
The restaurant had a very relaxed atmosphere with long wooden tables that reminded me of school cafeteria only nicer. They already had several guests dining, among them were two family with young kids, and they looked happy with their meal.
As soon as we were seated, the staff gave us the menu and handed the LittleOnes a Hoshi coloring sheets and crayons. LittleMiss comfortably sat beside me on the bench, they didn’t ask or offer a high chair for her but I saw one of the young guest seated in one.
For appetizer we ordered duck gyoza, lollipop prawn kushiyaki, edemame with chili garlic salt, miso soup and Japanese style pickles.
Our LittleMan has a list of favorite restaurants, most of them Asian simply because they serve good cooked white rice. As V would say “Food would just not taste good without white rice.”
V declared Panda Express as one of his favorite restaurant to date, he went straight to the counter and ordered his favorites, Orange Chicken & Honey Walnut Shrimp paired with Fried Rice. He enjoyed every bite and we were even surprised that he ordered fried rice.
We have spent 4 Christmas’ here in Dubai, and I can say that we are getting better at making our own traditions each year.
I initially thought that we won’t feel Christmas’ festivity here, since we are living in a Muslim country – I was wrong. Almost all establishments have decorations that would definitely put one in a holiday cheer.
2009
This year was supposed to be our first Christmas as an expat family but we decided to go home for the holidays.
Cuddles and Crumbs 