ABU DHABI – EMINEM Return Concert

Yup! Eminem performed in Abu Dhabi AGAIN!!!!! This was my first Eminem concert and we had an awesome time. The show was phenomenal and we really had a great time.

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However, the organisers did a horrible job. First, they locked the main gate to get to the concert which delayed the event. It was a 40 minute walk from the car to the concert. Afterwards, there was a long long long long……line which apparently did not lead to the entry gate. This situation delayed the concert and honestly, I do not want to talk much about it but like the say, the picture is worth a thousand words.

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Other than that, EMINEM was AMAZING and we had a blast and we still can’t recover from the concert. It really was GREAT.

 

ABU DHABI – The Greatest Show Man on Yas Island

Yas Movies usually takes place on the month of October for 3 days and the event falls on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

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Tim and I decided to attend Friday’s event. We got there at around 6PM, bought few snacks and got free stuff.  We also brought our camping chairs with us to be able to enjoy the show comfortably.

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The event included two movies one at 18:00 that was Moana and a 3D Live Show held along with a movie screening of The Greatest Showman. The event was well organised and had crazy amount of food stands and food trucks. Although the event targets families and children, we actually had a good time.

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Subscribe to Yas Movies in the Park and you will be notified on the events and guess what? It is FREE.

*Not a sponsored post 

DUBAI – Girls Weekend Activity at Jam Jar

Tim was out of  town and I decided to meet my girlfriends in Dubai for a cup of coffee to catch up but we ended up at Jam Jar and spent the day talking and painting. Jam Jar is like an art space and was founded in 2005. All you have to do is choose your canvas and pay for it and all the supplies will be provided.

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You can keep your painting with them for it to dry and collect it any day as long as you do not exceed, I think 3 months. Also, if you did not finish your painting, you can always go back and complete it.

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I did not manage to finish mine but I still took it back home since I live in Abu Dhabi.

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Reference: https://www.thejamjardubai.com/diy

 

 

 

Interview with Renee

Hi,

Welcome to Bellion Travels

As some of you may know, I like to discuss various topics on my blog and today’s topic will be about MAKEUP.

Meet one of my very good friends, Renee Elna Marie Jolingan. She is a Filipina from the beautiful island of Bacolod known for Fiestas and delicious Food. Renee currently resides in Dubai and she works full-time for an IT company. In her spare time, she indulges herself in activities that she truly enjoys such as attending makeup courses and makeup events and so I asked her few questions about it and here is what Renee and I discussed.

Check out her page and Follow her on Instagram ReneeJols

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Thank you for taking time to answer few questions.

What is makeup to you? How would you define it? 

Makeup is a tool used to hide our skin’s  imperfections.

What are the makeup brands do you like to use?

There are several makeup brands that I use, I like Maybelline, Rimmel, Kat Von D, MAC, Morphe, Urban Decay, Estee Lauder, Elf, MakeupForever, Jouer, Sephora, Colourpop.

I love most of them. What are the three makeup products you cannot leave the house without? Eyebrow Pen/Powder, Lip Balm/Gloss, Blush

Which makeup brands do you prefer to use?

Eyebrow Pen/Powder (Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, Too Faced Brow Envy)

Lip Balm/Gloss (Kiehl’s)

Blush (no preference)

Name your top three favourite make-up artist.

Patrick Starrr

Charlotte Tilbury

 Mario Dedivanovic

Ah yes, they are indeed very talented. Tell us, what is your favourite makeup look?

Smokey-eyes look and no makeup natural look.

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Smokey Look
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Natural Look

What is your daily skin care routine?

  • Daytime Skin Routine: BB or CC Cream with SPF.
  • Night Skin Routine: Toner, Moisturizer, Eye Cream

Can you tell us the difference between BB or CC cream?

The difference between BB and CC creams is subtle–CC generally stands for “color correcting” and the products are meant to address issues like redness or sallowness (usually with light-diffusing particles), whereas BB creams are like lighter foundation with a few skin care benefits thrown in. “CC cream is a color corrector and will be lighter on the skin [than a BB cream],” celeb makeup artist Nico Guilis told us. “They have more of a whipped, light, fluffy feel and finish–kind of the new and improved BB.” (source: www.fashionista.com)

Since I run a travel blog, I have a couple questions about make up packing. 

What makeup and skin care products do you recommend to pack when travelling long distance?

A good moisturizer is always a must! Unless you are attending a formal event to a place where you are travelling, don’t bring a lot of makeups only the most essential ones!  It could save you some space in your bag too 🙂

Travelling makes your skin go dry, what do you recommend to make the skin glow?

Applying serum/moisturizer during the flight.

What brand do you recommend? 

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Last question, what is your beauty advice?

Drinking lots of water to hydrate the skin always and never skip on cleaning your face of any makeup before sleeping.

 

Thank you taking time off to answer my questions and keep continuing what you do. I admire that you are focusing on your passion.  Buena Suerte 🙂 🙂 

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*Note: This post is not sponsored. 

Interview with ZeeInWonderland

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to Bellion Travels

I would like to introduce my childhood best friend, Zeinab El Husseini. She is born to a Lebanese Father and a Filipina Mother and is currently residing in Doha, Qatar. Zeinab’s interest consists of being a foodie especially indulging in desserts, she loves travelling, reading and of course FASHION. We’ve known each other since we were babies and I’m so proud to introduce her in my blog and would love you guys to get to know her. So I conducted an online interview with her so CHECK IT OUT 🙂

Follow her on Instagram WonderlandofZee.

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Tell us more about ZeeInWonderland?

It is about myself and my journey with Fashion, Style and Positivity. Sometimes, I talk about food and coffee because they’re part of my wonderland.

What is your favourite part of being a Fashionista?

Definitely dressing up and coming up with unique ideas to mix and match my clothing. I take an item that people do not usually pick at stores and dress it up to look fashionable.

When did you realise your love for Fashion?

I used to be insecure with my fashion style. I would pick an outfit and feel embarrassed to wear it in public. Then one day, I realized that whatever I choose to wear is who i am. Then I started dressing up whatever way I wanted and that made me more confident and turned me into a mini fashion icon to the people I see everyday. This is when I realized fashion was my first love.

Who is your fashion icon and why? 

The late princess Diana. Her style was timeless. Classy yet casual. She made any outfit standout and look elegant yet simple.

Lovely choice. Since I kind of got the feel of your fashion sense, can you name your top favourite fashion brands? 

I love shopping at Riva, Stradivarius, Zara, and Mango. I also have the guilty pleasure of shopping at SheIn.

Nicee!!! Do you have any favourite Fashion Influencers?

Ascia. She showed me that dressing up the way I LOVE is one of they keys to self love and self acceptance.

I also love Alaa Balkhy, so effortlessly chic

The sisters Israa and Ghada Othman. Their styles absolutely match my esthetic.

Since I have a Travel Blog, I noticed a lot of travellers managed to do the same mistake which is over packing. So in order to avoid that, how can they mix and match to create several looks/outfits using the same clothes to be able to pack less.

Capsule your outfits with similar color tones.
That way you don’t have to worry about mixing and matching.
Bring two pair of pants(one denim and one comfortable fabric), one skirt or shorts, 3 shirts, 3 dresses, one sandal/shoe. A light blazer. You can mix and match the shirts with skirts and pants. Add a blazer to pants/skirt/shorts. Even wear that blazer with the dresses. Wear a shirt under one of those dresses. Always wear your heaviest clothing and for shoes always wear the sneakers to the airport. That way you pack and weigh less.

How can someone make themselves feel confident?

By training ourselves not to listen to opinions of other people. The most destructive thing we can do to our confidence is worrying about what other people feel about us or the way they criticize us. Let them be.
Another self help should be wearing something that we love. It boosts our happy hormones thus reflecting our confidence to the outside.
Another confidence booster is self love. Admiring yourself everyday by complimenting yourself and avoiding addressing your body negatively. Taking care of your skin and body whether by purchasing products that boost your glow or attending the gym or a even a hobby. Spend quality time loving your own body through words or activities or products such as that famous Korean ten step routine or becoming addicted to makeup.

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How did your fashion develop in time?

Oh it started horribly I must say. Especially because I was trying so hard to copy my friends and or follow the norm and i also lacked self love. My fashion developed with my personality I guess. The happier I became, the more creative I also became with my outfits. The more I learned to love my body, the more daring I became with wearing those outfits that flaunt my figure.

Define Fashion Modesty.

Modesty is an extremely case sensitive subject. It has become a title to use against women

Fashion modesty on a general level depends on each woman. Some might define it as not wearing a two piece bikini but only one piece or just shorts and top. Others define it by not wearing revealing clothing or even bright colors. Some might think it’s the abaya. Others niqab. Or maybe a complete headscarf or a turban. It is endless how a woman chooses to define her fashion modesty

On a personal level, fashion modesty is not showing my hair or wearing tight clothes that define my curves because i do not feel comfortable or happy with myself when I do so.

How can I match my makeup with my outfit?

The louder the clothing, the lighter the make up. That’s my motto.
The darker the outfit the brighter the lipstick the lighter the outfit the darker the lipstick

Which fashion era is your favourite?

Our current era. I love how it is a crazy blend of all eras.

Last questions, what is your number one fashion advice?

Love what you wear.
Hate that piece? Don’t ever wear it again.

 

Thank you ZeeInWonderland for your time.

People, don’t forget to check out her social media accounts.

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*Note: This post is not sponsored. 

 

Tim’s 31st Birthday

Tim’s 31st Birthday was on 23rd Sept and I now managed to find time to blog about it. His birthday was on a weekday so I decided to invite him for a meal at Zuma. 

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Zuma is a sophisticated twist to the Japanese cuisine and was founded in 2002. It has 11 venues globally and is one of the best restaurant in the world. Zuma is located near Rosewood Hotel and Galleria Mall in Abu Dhabi.

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So here is what we ordered from their menu
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Spicy Beef Tenderloin 
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Black Cod
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Unagi
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Green Tea
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Salad: Spicy Fried Tofu
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Cold Dishes: Slice Seared Tuna
On the weekend, we drove to Fujairah and stayed the night at the Intercontinental Resort. We took Scuba Diving class, well I did because Tim already has the license. We went swimming and had dinner by the beach. On our last day, we decided to go for a massage and use the spa facilities and on our way back to Abu Dhabi, we made a stop at the local market to buy fruits and vegetables. We really enjoyed our stay at the hotel and the service was over the top. We highly recommend you visit the hotel.
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Seeking a New Challenge, New Opportunity and a New Blog Concept

*Warning: LONG BLOG POST

When I was a child, my parents wanted me to either be a doctor or an ambassador but when my mum passed away; my life took a completely different turn and those plans had to change.

The university fees in the UAE defer depending on the degree you select and the status of the university. I initially wanted to study graphic design but unfortunately, we couldn’t afford it and so I studied marketing instead. I thought the marketing degree would offer creative job opportunities like advertisement, events, PR, etc. but I landed a job in the real estate industry.

When I was in university, I had an internship with a real estate developer and did a study on Ethics and Social Responsibilities which made me realise that real estate is the industry for me. Keep in mind that real estate in UAE was booming at that time and was doing great and offered crazy opportunities so I thought it was the right choice.

After earning a bachelor degree, the company I was working for promoted me from Customer Service Coordinator to a Commercial Property Consultant and I managed to gain over 10 years’ experience in Real Estate. I took a career break for 9 months when we moved to Abu Dhabi and now here I am with a new job opportunity in the Commercial Real Estate Industry AGAIN. The challenge is that the work culture in Abu Dhabi is so different compared to Dubai. During my career break, I studied Digital Marketing just to advance my marketing knowledge and background but did not find the degree exciting but I did learn a lot. Instead, I felt lost and here I am typing about it because I still feel lost.

When I was in my early 20’s, career was my goal. I wanted to become a Manager then a CEO and blah blah blah but as I entered the corporate world, I hated it. I realised this whole “career goal” isn’t for me and I do not want extreme stress that affects my health just for a job title and so I decided career growth in the corporate world is not for me. Another factor that led to this decision of not wanting to work in the corporate world is my self-esteem. Many people destroyed my self-esteem and I no longer feel confident and just hate myself. Do not worry; I am working on it. But, I am still figuring out what I want to do with my life. Honestly, I have never thought like this before. I always go with the flow and take whatever opportunities the universe offers but here I am in my 30’s wondering WTH am I going to do? Society pressures you into thinking by 30 you will figure things out but no at 30, you will start realising things.

I discovered my career is a second job opportunity or a side thing. Let me tell you what I mean; most of the people I know specialise in something like for instance, they are either doctors, engineers, architects, videographers, pharmacists, artists, IT consultants and so many other professions and when they need a second job to have extra income, they end up working in real estate. OK! Not Commercial but still its real estate. Also I accepted a lower position in this current company just to land a job in Abu Dhabi. I was thinking maybe I should specialize in my industry and earn a RICS degree but honestly, it is expensive and I just finished paying off loans and I am currently paying a mortgage. Therefore, the plan of getting a degree will be on hold and I am not sure if RICS the right degree for me. That is something I am thinking about. Should I earn a RICS degree or earn another bachelor degree related to a subject that I feel passionately about?

I know I sound down and depressed but it is okay. All I need is to rethink my life and start planning on something exciting and challenging. When I told people I wanted to start a blog, I had friends who said I am not a good writer and my English is not that great. Well I told them that I’d write for fun and figure things out but they continued by saying that my blog is boring and is not fun to read and it is useless. I took their criticism and so I enrolled in a writing course and I’m currently studying English all over again. I did not mind their criticism because it lead me to work on myself. Honestly, this blog is for fun and I am not planning to be the next J.K Rowling or like the amazing ALadyInLondon (blogger). Bellion Travels blog is just for FUN.

Back to career, I did try to apply for several different jobs and industries and I tried to apply as an intern or entry level employee just to try out new challenges but they needed fresh graduates in their early 20s because apparently the 20s have more “energy” than the 30’s. I did not let that statement put me down because I know about my capabilities so I will keep studying and keep trying until eventually I will find my passion. I know that I enjoy Travel, Studying Culture, Art, Cooking, Reading, Music, Languages and Photography so I will focus on those things and will discuss those topics on my blog.

For that reason, I will use my blog as a platform to express my interests, share my activities to the world, and use this blog as a challenge. I will write about several topics.

  • Travel: I will write Guides and Personal Experience.
  • Art: Artworks I like and Artworks I am working on.
  • Cooking: I will take pictures of international dishes I cooked and will share the recipe.
  • Reading: Although I have Good Reads, I will share the books I have read on my blog.
  • Music: I love listening to music from all around the world so I will share songs that I like.
  • Languages: I always love to learn new languages so I will keep you updated
  • Culture: I will share our household Culture and Culture and Traditions I have learned from others. I will write about what I studied, observed and  read.
  • Entertainment: I will share movies and series that I have watched.
  • Photography: I love taking photos but I will need to study the art of taking photos and Adobe Photoshop.
  • Interviews: I will interview people who I find interesting and is open to share their stories.
  • Personal: sometimes I need to vent and will share posts like this one.

Sorry if I bored you with a long useless post but I really needed to vent. I hope you will continue reading my blog and if you have any feedback, please do let me know.

 

September 2019 Recap

God! I can’t believe we are already in October and it’s just 2 more months till end of the year. Honestly, I haven’t been blogging or writing due to work.

I took up a new job and I have been working late nights on the budget and I have a lot more to do. It isn’t my dream job and I don’t love it but it pays off the bills. Also, during my free times which means tea breaks, I brainstorm ideas for this blog in order for it to be entertaining for all the readers so that is something that I’m currently working on.

Anyway here is a quick recap of what happened in September.

Destinations I’ve visited

UAE: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah

Highlights of the month

  • It was my brothers 25th Birthday on 14th Sept so we booked a stay in Sharjah for the weekend and celebrated his birthday eating sushi and we also visited a new coffee shop.
  • On 23rd Sept, Tim and I celebrated his 31st birthday at Zuma. On the weekend of his “birthday week”, I booked a hotel stay at the Intercontinental Fujairah.

What I watched?

Netflix Specials and Series:

La Casa de Papel (Season 3): one of my ultimate favourite series.

The Spy: I haven’t finished it yet but this is what I started watching in the month of September.

What music did I listen to?

 

What I read this month?

Global Tales: Stories from Many Cultures by by Michael Marland

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What did I blog about?

So here was the quick recap and I will be posting a separate post about what I’m planning on writing and doing with this blog. Take care 🙂