witsandnuts

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    • An expat’s advice to herself and other expats out there

      Posted at 5:16 pm by witsandnuts, on November 13, 2016

      DubaiProbably one of the most unique and stunning Starbucks outlets that you will find in the whole planet is in Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai, UAE.

      Keep track of your long and short-term goals. The UAE is an excellent country to learn and grow professionally, and on a personal level. At some point it tends to be a fairy tale due to indescribable blessings, temptations, and challenges. Whether you like fairy tales or not, it is up to you to write your own happy ending.

      Being an expat requires a certain amount of humility and assertiveness. Each day, look for opportunities that will make your home country proud of you by bringing integrity and cheer in your own ways. Do not forget where you came from. You are an expat on a mission, and you should have an exit plan – a graceful and respectful one.

      I have been interviewed regarding expat living in the UAE, integrating into a multi-cultural environment, pieces of advice for soon-to-be expats in the UAE and more. Thanks for the feature, Expat.com. Here is the link to the full details of the interview.

      Posted in Blog-o-sphere, UAE, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged Abu Dhabi, Expat Living, Feature
    • How to renew your car registration in Abu Dhabi?

      Posted at 5:45 pm by witsandnuts, on October 20, 2016

      Car registration receipt
      Car registration card good for another year and sticker to be attached to the car plate.

      Ho-ho! It is that time of the year when you get the SMS from Abu Dhabi Traffic Police reminding you that your car registration is expiring soon. Usually, you will get this reminder a week before the expiry date. ‘My month’ is every October. I like that every year the renewal process gets more efficient. How is it done exactly?

      1. Pay your fines. I did not have any this year. Yay! That meant I saved on insurance cost. I remember how much I suffered for my stupidity of beating the red light two years ago. Payment of fines can be made online or through the Abu Dhabi Traffic Police Office in Muroor Road. (By the way, ‘muroor’ is the Arabic terminology for ‘traffic’.)

      I suggest that you periodically check online if you have fines. Supposedly, the registered car owner receives an SMS from Abu Dhabi Traffic Police for a traffic violation committed. But what if you did not get the message, by any chance, particularly for those violations which were captured through the camera? Checking your fines online gives you the benefit of reporting to the Abu Dhabi Traffic Police the erroneous fines, if any, and/or availing of the discount if you pay the fine early or within a certain duration. (This depends on the nature of violation.) Some drivers do not bother to check theirs and just do this in time with the registration renewal. What a way to surprise one’s self.

      2. Get a car insurance. I suggest that you ‘window shop’ first to get the most reasonable deal (note: maybe not the best deal, but you know best what you really need). You can get quotes online, e.g. through MoveSouq (not a sponsored post). Of course, the existence of and nature of fines (see step 1) will significantly affect the cost.

      Vehicle inspection receipt

      Good news! As you queue for the car inspection, you may pay at the kiosk at the same area. Apparently, this added efficiency was introduced in August 2016. Quite convenient. After paying, keep the receipt as you will need it when collecting the result of the vehicle test later.

      3. Have your car inspected by a designated testing center. You may skip this step if your car has not celebrated its 2nd birthday yet. Continue reading →

      Posted in UAE, Uncategorized | 3 Comments | Tagged Abu Dhabi, Expat Living
    • Hidden Gem: Cafe Arabia

      Posted at 6:00 pm by witsandnuts, on September 17, 2016

      Cafe Arabia, Abu Dhabi, UAE

      Cafe Arabia, one of Abu Dhabi’s gems. You may borrow those books for free.

      I had a well spent weeklong Eid break. The first few days were devoured on getting lazy at home, catching up on Netflix, reading, sleeping, and more. The rest were spent on exploring new places in UAE, targeted on discovering the so called hidden gems. We randomly went to one of these gems yesterday after we had an early swim at Al Bateen Beach. I recall being a bit intimidated by this cafe that I never visited it although I drove by near this area several times; maybe because it seems to be a private villa and the name ‘Cafe Arabia’ insinuates specific target consumers.

      Cafe Arabia, Abu Dhabi, UAE

      Apparently, Cafe Arabia was established in 2010 with an intention of bridging Arabia and the world by bringing communities to collaborate with each other and address misconceptions through cultural exchange. The moment we went in, we realized that the artworks, interior and overall architecture were a feast for the eyes and soul. They effectively made use of each detail to stay true to enabling ‘cultural dialogue’ through basic tools, e.g. photos and books. For example, the collage on the first floor includes separate images of group of youth gathered for their first Holy Communion and the Palm Sunday.

      Cafe Arabia, Abu Dhabi, UAE

      The weather is getting much better, it will be pre-winter soon. Sitting by the veranda will probably be more appealing to many. This provides a view of 15th Street (otherwise known as Mohamed bin Khalifa Street).

      Cafe Arabia, Abu Dhabi, UAE

      We opted to sit at this corner. A slice of it reminded me of the Elephant House Cafe in Edinburgh, Scotland.  I liked how the books, treasure chest-like table, teapots and charms worked well together. As we waited for our brunch, we started checking the books which surprisingly had notation on them that they can be borrowed for free. Overjoyed yet? Here is a bonus: you may borrow as many as you wish and you may return it after a week or even after months, if the situation calls for it. I went ecstatic at that moment because the cafe houses several books of different genres. I wanted to borrow at least three books, however, I ended up borrowing one only, a signed copy of Born on the Continent – Ubuntu by Gertrude Matshe. I will definitely be back again, anyway.

      Cafe Arabia, Abu Dhabi, UAE

      We had shish taouk (I have a sort of habit to try shish taouks wherever I go), carbonara, and American breakfast for brunch. What a shame that we did not order the traditional Arabian breakfast (cravings, you know). The menu boasts different kinds of must try – artisan beverages, burgers and panini (camel burger says hi!), grills, salads, tangines, couscous, pasta, saj, desserts which are homemade from scratch on a daily basis and more. We were more than happy with everything that we ordered. Pricing seems reasonable, too. Continue reading →

      Posted in Arts and Crafts, Books, Food, UAE, Uncategorized | 6 Comments | Tagged Abu Dhabi, Cafe Arabia
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    • About witsandnuts

      Snapchat-5703935704258315256 Marhaba! That's "hello" in Arabic. I am an expatriate based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). I started writing about my adventures and misadventures few months before arriving here at winter of 2008. I have 2 cats and a dog who live harmoniously together. I am also surrounded by kindhearted, crazy, funny and indescribable humans! I was a dormant blogger for almost 3 years because of countless reasonable justifications like watching football, postgraduate studies, sleeping, traveling, caring for the world, and more! :) I am just so happy that I am back! It is never too late to catch up with the people and things we really care about. Feel free to look around.
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    • Recent Posts

      • 2017 Reflections and being back to basics in 2018
      • Obtaining a license for your dog in the UAE
      • 2017 Spring break in the US
      • Citywalk, Dubai
      • Not in This Lifetime Tour: Guns N’ Roses in Dubai
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  • Recent Posts

    • 2017 Reflections and being back to basics in 2018
    • Obtaining a license for your dog in the UAE
    • 2017 Spring break in the US
    • Citywalk, Dubai
    • Not in This Lifetime Tour: Guns N’ Roses in Dubai
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