Lavish Dubai & Abu Dhabi travel video! Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Arabian architecture.
Are you ready for my travel team’s newest video? You’re in luck: our Dubai and Abu Dhabi episode is published on Business Insider, one of the world’s most-visited news sites!
In this 4-minute webisode, I visit the world’s tallest tower (Burj Khalifa), largest shopping center (Dubai Mall), highest-rated hotel (Burl al Arab), and more. There’s even a dressing room montage scene, featuring glittery dresses… you don’t want to miss this!
Watch our video above and here on Business Insider.
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Super happy with the cinematography in this episode. Major props to my LA-based filmmakers, Melissa Rundle and Eric Bergemann.
I’m glad to have them with me on my journeys to far-off places.
I hope our blog posts and videos give you a taste of wanderlust, and that you’ll witness these Arabian marvels someday.
In the second half of the video, we visit the famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The white minarets reminded me of hard-boiled eggs or scoops of ice cream!
Opened in 2007, the mosque is considered one of the most beautiful on the planet. Look at how the water reflects the graceful columns.
Let me warn you, there’s a dress code… Clothing should be loose and fully cover the arms and legs. Women must wear a veil.
I thought I dressed according to the rules — until filmmaker Eric pointed out that my long lace skirt was see-through! No need to fret: women and men go into separate lines at the entrance, and receive a long, flowing garment (abaya) to put over their clothes.
The men wear white, and the women wear black robes with hoods.
Gold and flowers everywhere. The mosaic courtyard is the biggest in the world.
Indescribable, the way the light reflects the curves of the arches and minarets.
Inside, the hall of worship glitters with stained glass and crystals.
There are seven chandeliers, and the main one is one of the largest ever made. The prayer hall is air conditioned, so the space feels as airy as it looks.
The 99 names of Allah are written on the wall in Kufic calligraphy.
Everyone takes off their shoes outside before stepping on the world’s largest carpet.
Thank you to my filmmakers, Melissa and Eric, for their hard work in bringing these travel videos to life!
We hope you enjoy the latest episode about the United Arab Emirates. Please take a minute to watch and share.
Are you awed by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Mosque? What were your favorite moments in the video?
PS: the gorgeous hotels featured in the video are Fairmont Abu Dhabi and Fairmont Palm Jumeirah. We loved staying with them. Here are more photos of the interiors and me wearing a veil.
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Eastern Europe Goth scene: Bratislava, Slovakia! Leopard print skirt, Halloween murals & Gothic bars.
I had a brush with Death in Bratislava, Slovakia… but I must say, I rather enjoyed his company!
Where is this Eastern European city, and what makes it worth visiting? Read on and I’ll share my Slovakian secrets.
My film team and I rode the rails from Vienna to Bratislava; it only took one hour, and trains depart regularly. We had passes from Eurail.com that let us take 15 rides within 2 months. It was easy: hop on, get your pass stamped, hop off.
Wood sunglasses: a present from Moat House Eyewear. These ‘Gothard’ Retro frames are ultra-distinctive and beautifully made; no splinters or rough edges!
Black bat-wing top: TwoPercent Hong Kong. The cut is flattering and you can get a similar one here.
Leopard print skirt: Banana Fish, from Closet Child (sad that the brand is gone, but Lanvin’s skirt is close to this.)
Black white platform sandals: Puzzle, from Izzue HK
As you can see, riding with Eurail is a clean, modern experience. The train interiors have padded seats and air conditioning.
There weren’t too many of us in first class. This girl’s face is a hilarious, common reaction to fashion bloggers’ outfit posing…
During the ride, my filmmakers and I like to read, play cards, listen to music, work on the laptop, or best of all… write in “The Miffy Book.” It’s impossible to remember all the names, places and funny moments during our travels — so we jot them down, whenever we have a spare moment, in this cute notebook.
First impression: Bratislava’s charming. We wandered the cobblestone paths, peering into kitschy craft stores and admiring the Medieval architecture.
Slovakia borders both Austria and Hungary, and has been entwined in their history over the centuries. It became part of the Communist Eastern Bloc, until the late 1980s fall of the USSR.
Today, Bratislava is an intriguing mix of modern and Medieval. The Old Town is a popular tourist destination. One of the top attractions is Roland Fountain, the oldest in the city — established in 1572!
These classic monuments contract starkly with the ever-present DIY graffiti and ruins. (Photography by Melissa Rundle.)
The historic center contains a mix of architectural styles. My favorite: Baroque.
On the futuristic end, a UFO hovers over the Danube River. It’s actually the human-built Nový Most (New Bridge), or “Most SNP” Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising.
I was impressed by the walls of colorful street art underneath the highway. I felt at home in this haunted forest ruled by a cute owl.
Very cool, the 3D effect and placement of these characters. I suppose they are pudgy death-minions putting up posters.
The posters reveal a young, alternative nightlife that most tourists don’t get to experience. There is the occasional Goth party; Subclub is an underground music venue for spooky kids to get together.
We trekked up to Bratislava Castle (Hrad), 85 meters above ground. This hill site has been inhabited since the Bronze age. The castle burned down and was rebuilt in the 1950s, so it has a bit of a Disney restoration feel…
Everyone we spoke to in Bratislava was extremely nice. When we couldn’t find the tram, a Slovakian couple went out of their way to walk us to our destination.
We met our friends for a drink at Midnight Cafe (Radlinskeho 24/B, 811), located outside the Old Town. This area has more of a lived-in local feel. Midnight Cafe caters to a Goth crowd, with shelves of absinthe and red Rococo wallpaper.
After a few drinks, Devon and Adam took us for dinner at a traditional restaurant. Think potatoes, heavy cream, cheese, sausages. By the end, we felt as stuffed as those Death-Janitors on the stairway!
I encourage you to come to Bratislava, especially if you’re spending time in Vienna. It’s a quick and easy day-trip if you take the train with Eurail.com.
Do you dig my outfit of the day? Did you know much about Slovakia before reading this article? If you’ve been here, what else would you recommend?
LA CARMINA
