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| Photo from 365 Things To Do In Dubai |
Iceberg on summer: Coca-cola’s creatively cool and non-traditional ad afloat Dubai Creek near Dubai Festival City.
Cool Coca-cola Ad at Dubai Creek
Which restaurant serves pork in Dubai?
If you’re craving for your favorite Filipino pork dishes, worry no more! Crispy Pata, Lechon Kawali, Inihaw na Liempo, Pork Spareribs, all these and more are available at Four Seasons Restaurant in Rydges Hotel. Rydges Hotel is located in front of the busy Satwa Roundabout (Al Dhiyafa corner Mankhool Road). Four Seasons is more of like a Karaoke Restaurant Lounge – perfect for the traditional Manila pub restaurant.
Unlike some Filipino foods in Dubai, Four Season’s dishes taste very Pinoy (Pag lechon, lechon!). Not only that, this restaurant also serves San Miguel Beer (Pale Pilsen) for AED 15 per bottle – or AED 135 for a bucket of 10 – really low price for a beer in Dubai.
The restaurant has a Chinese ambience at the door – but really very Pinoy inside. Other than pork, they also serve a range of Asian cuisines. And oh, they also got a bar 🙂
Fathers Day: Dim Sum for Dads at Ping Pong
Don’t leave your dad at home this Fathers’ Day – take him for a treat at Ping Pong, our all-inclusive dim sum offer will go light on his wallet and his waistline
Take off his slippers, drag him out of his favourite armchair and get him down to Ping Pong, the uber cool dim sum emporium at The Dubai Mall, to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday 19 June 2011.
Although he might moan and groan a bit (its hormonal apparently) he will thank you for it, once he’s tasted Ping Pong’s famous steamed, fried, griddled or baked dim sum treats.
And he’ll be ecstatic when he realises he can eat all he wants (and so can you) for a very paternal Dhs80 for adults and wait for it dads, it’s F-R-E-E for kids under 12 years old (but that’s just your own children; nieces, nephews and pets don’t count).
“We would like for families to come down on the special day and do it the Yum Cha way. ‘Yum Cha’ meaning ‘drink tea’ is a Chinese tradition where on special occasions people visit tea houses to chat, socialise, drink tea and eat dim sum. We want Fathers to enjoy this experience while still being able to go light on their wallets and their waistlines!” said Angelo Domenico Rosato, General Manager of Ping Pong at Dubai Mall.
“We have many dads that come regularly to Ping Pong and enjoy our ‘Lazy Friday Brunch’. So on Fathers’ Day it’ll be dads that get spoilt with something familiar on a special day. Added Rosato
Families can choose from more than 40 varieties of dim sum, soups and salads, and dads deserve a day off, at least once-a-year when they can laze around, sipping delicious mocktails (well somebody has to drive home – right?).
All of Ping Pong’s dim sum is hand crafted by specialist chefs and the menu features a large selection of Chinese teas ranging from healthy traditional green tea through to flowering teas and fruit-based mocktails,
Ping Pong Dubai is located on the lower ground floor of Dubai Mall, overlooking The Dubai Fountains. For more details, please visit www.pingpongdimsum.ae or join their Facebook Page
Google hosts Not for Profits Day in Dubai
Google will be holding 2 events in Dubai – one for Not for Profits on the 22nd of June, and one for Women in Technology on the 23rd of June at Dubai Knowledge Village Building 1.
Google is very excited to meet with web-masters marketeers, and owners of Not for Profits on the 22nd, and with female engineers, students, marketeers, entrepreneurs and business owners on the 23rd. They will be demonstrating and assisting with Google’s suite of products that are driving innovation in technology, business across the globe and here in the Middle East, and inviting inspiring external speakers for you to hear.
You will also get the chance to speak individually with Googlers about your online strategy, the tools that we can offer you, and about the opportunities offered by the web.
Visit the events website (here) for future details on the agenda.
The events are free.
Register for Day 1: Google Serve for Not for Profits here.
Register for Day 2: Google Serve for Women in Technology here.
Day 1 will focus on Increasing exposure, supporters and presence online and is suitable for professionals working for Not for Profits in UAE.
Day 2 will focus on building a successful online business and entering the field of technology and is suitable for women working in Digital Marketing, female entrepreneurs, female Small Businesses and students.
Filipino expat to launch first 3D Magazine in the UAE, Middle East
A young entrepreneur from the Philippines is set to launch what’s dubbed as the first 3D print magazine in the Middle East. Jonah Cruz, 27, 3D creator and editor of Mint Magazine, hopes “to capture the readers’ attention and, in the process, connects with them through stories that will uplift and change their lives.“
According to Khaleej Times, all photos, artworks, and advertisements in the special edition will be enhanced using a technique for creating optical illusion of depth called stereoscopic or 3D. 3D glasses comes with each magazine.
“There is an abundance of creativity in the media industry. Technology creates out-of-the-box thinking to deliver stories to the readers. Mint Magazine is about old-fashioned commitment to maintaining high standards of journalism fused with fast-paced changes in the media to develop high-value content,” Cruz said.
Will 3D Magazine be a hit?
3D has become a hit in films and other video content. For advertisers, introducing your brands in a new media always boosts better memory retention. Consumers always go for 3D. But will a 3D Magazine be able to replicate that recall effect? The challenge is how advertisers will present the ideas in 3D. How they’ll convert that retention into actual sales is another.
Content is king
This adage has been used and abused a lot these days. But yeah, no matter how vibrant the package is, if it doesn’t have the right content your market is looking for – the idea will quickly vanish. Stunning looks and feel undoubtly creates really good impressions. Reasonably interesting contents make those good impressions last.
“The special issue of Mint Magazine will tell stories of Filipino people’s struggle for freedom at a personal level such as overcoming fears commonly experienced or dealt with by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Topics will delve into the social costs of migration — most common of which are having estranged family relationships brought about by years of parents working abroad.”
“Other issues will talk about emancipating oneself from bad habits such as nicotine addiction, gambling or alcoholism. Tips on how to become debt-free during economic hard times will also be provided. A review of pop culture in conjunction with Pinoy migration can also be read in the special 3D issue.”
I’m optimistic that Mint Magazine will make it big. Though I’m afraid, since their market is targeted mostly at the Filipino community – they could miss the opportunity to let the entire region discover this innovation – that is if they don’t have a plan to tap the greater market.
The 3D magazine will have 5,000 copies initially and distributed free of charge from June to September 2011. By October, it will be sold at Dh7
A freaky image for a Facebook ad
Uhmm, not really sure if this Facebook ad will work. Why put a freaky image in it? Makhsoom Dubai is yet again a daily deal site which is just about to launch. I didn’t get the relation of the image with deals.
2011 PBA Games Live in Dubai
UPDATE: Meet and greet your favorite PBA teams and players for autograph signing and picture taking at Pinoy Grill in Al Rigga, Deira:
- June 29 Wednesday, 12:30PM (BMEG Llamados *)
- June 30 Thursday, 12:30PM (Talk and Text Tropang Texters *)
- July 1 Friday, 12:30PM (Barangay Ginebra Kings *)
– source Pinoy Grill Facebook Page (* subject to change, please call Pinoy Grill at 04 222 2225 for confirmation)
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Philippine Basketball Association will again play official games in Dubai. In cooperation with UAE Basketball Association and FBC Sharjah, the PBA are bringing 3 high-profile teams for 2 matches. Grandslam-seeking Talk & Text Tropang Texters will play Derby Ace Llamados and crowd-favorite Ginebra in a rare 2 consecutive days matches.
It will be the 2nd time for Ginebra and BMEG (formerly Purefoods) to play an official game in Dubai. In 2007 Fiesta Cup, Ginebra defeated Purefoods 92-82. Ginebra was without its superstars Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk then. Purefoods was less Kerby Raymundo. Mark, Jayjay and Kerby were loaned in the National Team while Eric was nursing an injury. This time, these superstars are present.
Ginebra will also be sporting a promising back court courtesy of the surprising Rob Labagala and John Wilson along with Mike Cortez, Willie Miller, Ronald Tubid and Jimbo Aquino. Willie Wilson, Enrico Villanueva and high-flying JC Intal will add more flavor to the game for our kababayans.
Derby Ace will also have Rico Maierhofer, PJ Simon, Jonas Villanueva, Rafi Reavies, Roger Yap, Rommel Adducul, Don Allado, Marc Pingris and the newly-acquired MVP-contender Joe Devance.
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| 2007 Dubai game between Ginebra and Purefoods. |
Talk and Text will definitely add excitement as they’re not only bringing their superstar lineup lead by Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag, Ali Peek, Ranidel De Ocampo, Jason Castro, Harvey Carey, Larry Fonacier and Jared Dillinger; Their latest 2 championship crowns are enough to say that they’re bringing a heavy competition in the games. Not to mention, they’re coached by Chot Reyes.
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| In 2007 Dubai game, Ginebra still has Andy Siegle, Mike Holper, Mark Macapagal , Gec Chia and Sunday Salvacion. Purefoods still has Rey Evangelista, Noy Castillo, Paul Artadi and Jun Limpot |
The games will be held at Al Shabab Sports Club, beside Century Mall in Al Mamzar.
Derby Ace will first play the Tropang Texters on June 30 at 7:30PM. On Friday, July 1 at 6:30PM Ginebra will test the mettle of the Tropang Texters – it will also be their first game since the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Ticket prices are AED 150 for ringside and AED 60 for upperbox; available at the following outlets:
- Orlando Sports (Dubai, Sharjah, RAK, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi)
- Pinoy Grill (Dubai)
- Pizzeria Uno (Dubai)
- Mr. Inasal (Dubai)
- Tipanan Restaurant (Dubai)
- Tagpuan Restaurant (Dubai, Sharjah)
- Royal Palace Bakery (Sharjah)
- Mabrook – Mabuhay Restaurant (Fujeirah)
- Filipino Club (RAK)
- Golden Pinoy Restaurant (Abu Dhabi)
- Dana Travel (Dubai
- Agemono (Dubai)
- Naysee Trading (Dubai)
- Al Barjeel Restaurant (Al Ain)
- Boracay Club / Asiana Hotel (Dubai)
For more info call Ramon Pizzaras (050 6901779), Jimmy Santos (050 1874481), Rico Cardoniga (050 5854836), Ryan Palad (056 7240677), Karlo Calleja (050 4656378), Sherwynne Pizzaras (050 9091257), Kitt Sanque (050 8057189)
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| In 2007, Ginebra was with import Rod Nealy and Purefoods was with Marquin Chandler. |
Kodak Bloggers MeetUp / TweetUp and the Special Ostadi
Tweets and bloggers in Dubai gathered for a dialog with the Social Media Manager of Kodak Europe, Middle East and Africa, Madlen (@madleeeen). Madlen is in town to attend to some conferences and to meet and greet different blogger groups and tweets. She was with Rashid, Marketing Manager of Kodak Middle East & Africa. and Sarah, Account Executive of RAEE PR.
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| The homey Special Ostadi – Photo from TimeOutDubai.com |
The place is called Special Ostadi, located in the old streets of Bur Dubai. It is a homey restaurant – Iranian cuisine they say. I was surprised about the food. I seldom go to Arabic/Persian restaurants lately. But indeed, Special Ostadi serves one of the best, if not the best, kebabs in town. Thanks to Paul (@Daddybird) for choosing the place.
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| The witty restaurant owner plays with us |
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| Rashid presenting Kodak products |
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| @cnystedt @mnystedt @hshippey @daddybird @madleeeen |
We spent some fun time sharing about what Madlen has to see or experience or learn about Dubai on her short stay. We also briefed her about various activities of bloggers and tweets.
After the chitchats, Madlen and Rashid presented us with the new range of Kodak products. Easyshare point-and-shoots, Wifi-enabled digital frames, Playsport and the most interesting Easyshare Max.
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| The Kodak Playsport |
Playsport is a waterproof, shockproof 5MP camera. We had it thrown on the floor and it is still working. Had it dunked in a glass of water and yes it is still fine. The LCD display just looks smaller though than my Olympus. But I wanted to test its mettle on the underwater of course. I’ll have a beach holiday this June and would want to try it out. Definitely a shoo-in my camping backpack.
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| Easyshare Max |
My personal favorite is the Easyshare Max. This DSLR camera has an impressive 30x optical zoom with optical image stabilization, a 12 megapixel backside illuminated sensor, a 3-inch HVGA LCD and EVF ’round back, and full 1080p video recording. At first impression looks like I could trade my old Nikon D60 for this. And it only costs around AED1700 in Dubai. Not bad at all.
The rest of the Easyshare group of cameras are as impressive as well. The touchscreen Easyshare PnS could probably one of the reasons why Flip folded up. The digital frames comes in 7 and 10-inches. Currently, only the 7-inch frame is wifi enabled, and social media ready.
Surely there’s a whole lot more to say about these products. Once I’ve tried them, I will definitely share what’s the best recommended for your lifestyle.
It’s not everyday we hear about Kodak. Most often, it’s Canon, Nikon, Olympus even Samsung. Yes, Kodak is really one of the frontrunners in camera. I thought they’re being left out. Thanks to this meetup, I was reintroduced, in fact I’m reminded about Kodak.
Thank you for Kellie (@DubaiWriter) for the invitation.
