Bye bye iPad

FInally i got rid of my iPad! Sorry to say so but after i bought it 3 months ago I regret buying every single day. Perhaps you remember my unsuccessful shopping trip to Apple Store on October when I was supposed to buy the MacBook Air. Well that didn't really worked out so I went and bought the iPad instead. Only soon to discover that it needed the laptop to even start the bloody gizmo! Or to get the iCloud.. and how difficult it was to backup my pictures from iPhone to iPad without it. And how iPad doesn't support flash or other Adobe software. So that most of the webpages doesn't open. Or that most of our crew hotels offer free internet but only with cable and I had the wi-fi version!

So yesterday I went and sold that crap! And bought a proper laptop. So here it is: MacBook Pro - my new darling :) And now everything works, finally.

But before getting too excited let's take a step back. Because I still have this iPhone 4 which was jail braked after I moved to this country. And it was done twice. So stupid as I was and too excited about all my new gadgets I plugged my iPhone with MacBook and it offered me to get the new version for iPhone. Without thinking it so much I told iTunes to override my iPhone and install the latest version. But that was a terrible mistake! Because now it has erased the jailbreak and it doesn't recognize this SIM card. So the phone is locked and unable to use it. And the worst part is that I'm leaving to Kathmandu early tomorrow morning for the New Year. And I was planning to see the sunrise behind the Mount Everest... and take some pictures. Well, I think that will be impossible right now if the guys in these dark shops can't fix my phone.

So what is the lesson? Never buy a phone which is not unlocked. Or never ever install anything in it if you do. Or don't buy this shit at all :) Well the last is not an option, i still love my apple products, can't help it..

How to offer services to tourists: by Melbourne

I have to admit that one thing Australia is way ahead is the way they have organized information, services and guidance to tourists nd back packers. I haven't seen anywhere else it done as well as all over Australia.

I had my first flight to Melbourne just a while ago and that city can now be my example of these services. First of all: you can find big tourist information centers everywhere in the city. And it's always located in the middlenof everything sobthat you can't really miss that. And they have everything you need, the brochures, maps, timetables, people answering to your weardest questions...

But that is not so special, many cities have that same. But have you seen a free hop on hop off buss service for tourists anywhere? Inhaven't and when I heard about it i couldn't believe my ears! The bus leaves every 30 minutes and makes quite a trip around the city and it's most important sightseens. It takes all together 1,5 hours but you will stop at least two or three times. It took us propably 4 to 5 hours and could have easily taken longer.

Another special service they have is a free tram that also serves tourists and goes around the city center and it's shopping streets. So you'll have many options to rest your feet and see the city very easily.

Everything doesn't have to cost a fortune and companies/cities can actually give something for free somethimes. I believe because of that the country is so well known among especially backpackers who come to Australia every year and spend months (and a lot of money as well) and gives their share to Australia. I believe the special atmosphere Australia has, that you feel welcomed makes people to come back and tell their frends how great the country is. At least me and my friends have all done the same, shared our great experiences to each other. And i can easily promote this country to everybody :)


More info about the Melbourne Free Tourist Bus found here

Ski Dubai

I spent my Christmas (well actually 23rd December bec I was flying on Christmas) sking with my friends at Dubai.

In Finland we have amazing ski slopes in Lapland but the last time I was skiing was propably more than 4 years ago.

It sounds absolutely absurd to have slopes in the middle of the desert and in fact that's exactly how it is. The place is absurd but believe me - after not having snow in a year and having Christmas I was ready to have a try.

The ski slopes are inside the Mall of the Emirates, a beautiful mall close to Dubai Marina. At the price of 180 AED you get a ski pass for 2 hours, skis, boots, even socks and clothes. The only thing ypu should bring with you are warm cloves. And that we didn't had so we were freezing our hands ;)

At the slopes it is minus 4 degrease so it feels like winter. And at least on that day the slopes were quite empty so it was nice to ski there with no rush. Most of the people went to other snow activities.. most of the locals don't know how to ski so it's better for them (and for us) not to have them there.

I have to admit that even I had my reservations about the place it managed to surprise me very positively. Slopes are not long of course and there's not much variation but it doesn't matter at all. I wanted to see and touch snow, have a hot chocolate and ski for few hours. That made my Christmas :)

More info: www.skidxb.com

Merry Christmas!

Photo taken @ Christmas Market in Souk Madinat, Dubai

One of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my whole life <3

Dubai Old Souk

This is my favourite area in the city! It's next to the Dubai Creek at the end of the city center area. Surrounded by the ocean it has a history of trading goods. Even today it's harbours are full with old wooden ships carrying goods from Asia, especially from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

There is a Souk specialized with gold, another with herbs, third with mattresses, another with househild goods such as pots and cattles. There is litterarly something for every need you might have. And you are expected to bargain the prices as the local habit is.

There are shopping areas in oth sides of the creek but no worries - you can take a taxi boat to take you across with only 1 dirham! And it is an experience as well, the boats are old and wooden and sometimes quite full of people.

And don't forget to visit the Heritage Village which is just around the corner!

Dubai Heritage Village

Even though the city offers some amazing modern architecture I prefer the older style and more traditional. You can taste the history of the nation and the bedu lifestyle in the Heritage Village which is located in the city center and can easily reach by metro.

The day I visited it it was very quiet so it's propably one of the places where you can have some time of yourselve and enjoy the outdoor area and some quiet moments.

Next to the Heritage Village is also the Old Souks and Old Gold Souk so there is so much to see and experience. I highly recommend this area for anybody who want's to see something original and get the touch of the real arabian culture.

What: Heritage Village
Where: Downtown Dubai near Dubai Creek. About 15 km from Burj H
Khalifa.
When: Sat - Thu 08:00-22:00, Fri 08:00-11:00 & 16:00-22:00
How: take a subway, get off from Al Khubaiba Metro station ( 8 dir per person). Or you can also take a taxi ( appr. 20 dir from Burj Khalifa)

Burj Khalifa

I just came back from Dubai after spending some time there with my friends and family. I've only been there few times but not really had the time to investigate city's soul. This time I managed to see most of the main tourist attractions as well as the local lifestyle in the western people populated areas of the city.

Here is the number one destination which everybody coming to Dubai should see, The Burj Khalifa - tallest building in the world.

It took 5 years to build it and at one point they even run out of money. So they lended some money from the ruler of Abu Dhabi and after that they had to change the name of the tower to Burj Khalifa. Something that as an Abu Dhabi citizen I'm very pleased of ;)

The building is next to the world fmous shopping mall Dubai Mall and the entrance goes through the mall. But in order to get to the observation deck which is situated at the 124th floor you need to buy the tickets online few days before visiting becuse those are always sold out. The ticket costs 100 dirhams which is approximately 20€. The tour gives you much more thn just the deck and the views and I think it was well worth the money spent. I visited the deck during daylight when I was able to see the city properly. But I will go there again after the sunset because the city looks totally different with all the lights, I think it will be even better.

Here is the official web page for more information:

Www.burjkhalifa.ae

40th National Day of UAE

GeoTagged, [N24.46338, W54.37615]

Today the country celebrated it's independence and they really did it properly!

Here the main attraction is to gather next to the ocean bulevard to watch the cars driving by with some creative national decorations, flags, bears - you name it in, on top or next to the cars! And lso people were hanging outside windows, sitting on the roof or even standing on it while the car was moving!

Locals really love their cars, that's their way to celebrate. Back in the history they used to have camels and horses and they did exactly the same thing.. Speeding, dancing, singing, firing guns. Nowdays they have only moved to more horsepower but you can still see the tradition behind. I really love it!