Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi

We have been very lucky to have the Volvo Ocean Race leg here in Abu Dhabi. The boats are here right in the middle of the city and the event area is totally free for public to enter and enjoy.

Volvo Ocean Race is the toughest sailing competition in the world. The teams are sailing around the world during 9 months and visiting 10 ports. I have seen the competitions from the tv before and I feel very lucky to be able to see the boats live this year :) These people have to be crazy and totally made out of iron to be able to stay alive those massive storms they face in the seas. True giants of adventurers.

Yesterday the leading boat Team Telefonica was the first boat to set sails. The boat looks beautiful!

Our team is 5th at the moment and it's going to be interesting to see how the future looks like.

This Suunto compass is from the Team Abu Dhabi training boat but I hope even Azzam has this finnish quality on board :)

The Destination Village is beautiful with many restaurants, games, promotions, free outdoor movies etc. I've been in the area three times already and I'm going there again in few days. Because on 13th they will have a small race just outside Abu Dhabi so the public can see the boats sailing and competing. And on 14th the competition is going to continue to the next destination China so it's going to be a big event to send the teams on their way.

Just few days ago we had a world famous dj Louie Vega performing live in the Puma club. It's a small trendy place with a club downstairs and an open air bar upstairs. So beautiful and comfortable. We stayed there the whole evening yesterday as well just laying in soft Fatboys and listening acoustic band. Not bad in early January :)

More information:

Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi

Volvo Ocean Race official page

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

Desert island outside Abu Dhabi | 22/07/2011

Locals spend their weekends outside the hot & humid city by driving a speadboat to one of the desert islands or Maya island which is famous for it's beach parties.

View to the city from Heritage Village