MenuBack

Category Archive for Fims + Videos

Lavish Dubai & Abu Dhabi travel video! Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Arabian architecture.

travel tv show, travel journalist

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.

abu dhabi fairmont hotel, bab al bahr

We feel our story-telling is getting stronger each time, and want to thank you for supporting us over the years. Any share or comments on the article would be much appreciated.

black robes abu dhabi, abaya

Super happy with the cinematography in this episode. Major props to my LA-based filmmakers, Melissa Rundle and Eric Bergemann.

arabian mosque, sheikh zayed mosaic courtyard

I’m glad to have them with me on my journeys to far-off places.

girl in black hood

I hope our blog posts and videos give you a taste of wanderlust, and that you’ll witness these Arabian marvels someday.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

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!

abu dhabi mosque, minarets, water pool

Opened in 2007, the mosque is considered one of the most beautiful on the planet. Look at how the water reflects the graceful columns.

grand mosque dress code, robes

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.

black abaya, middle eastern women's hooded robe

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.

interior Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, art

The men wear white, and the women wear black robes with hoods.

travel photography, filmmaking

Gold and flowers everywhere. The mosaic courtyard is the biggest in the world.

mosque at sunset, prayer, muslim architecture

Indescribable, the way the light reflects the curves of the arches and minarets.

stained glass, abu dhabi mosque

Inside, the hall of worship glitters with stained glass and crystals.

chandelier inside Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

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.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

The 99 names of Allah are written on the wall in Kufic calligraphy.

travel tv shoot, filming, production crew

Everyone takes off their shoes outside before stepping on the world’s largest carpet.

world's largest carpet, abu dhabi

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.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque main prayer hall, columns, windows

Are you awed by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Mosque? What were your favorite moments in the video?

travel video host, female tv presenter

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.

Montreal’s best bagel, St Viateur or Fairmount? Festival Kinetik 2013 video: Daniel Graves, Aesthetic Perfection.

daniel graves, aesthetic perfection singer

It’s the return of the bagelhead! Enjoy my spanking new travel video about the edgy, kooky attractions in Montreal, Quebec.

The episode features magic shops, pop art, and Daniel Graves — vocalist of Aesthetic Perfection, who performed at Kinetik Festival 2013!

For the full story, read my Huffington Post article. It gives an overview of Montreal’s best alternative fashion, clubs and more.

Please press play above, and thumb’s up below if you found my coverage useful. Merci beaucoup mes amis!

fairmount bagels montreal, best bagel shop

Montreal is famous for its bagels, and locals have strong opinions over which bakery does it best: Fairmount or St Viateur. Since the top two contenders were a short walk from Le Belmont (the venue for Kinetik Music Festival), Daniel and I put them to the test.

Fairmount (74 Avenue Fairmount Ouest) has a variety of flavors, and offers bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese.

st viateur bagel, logo

St Viateur (263 Rue Saint Viateur Ouest) has a frightful logo.

daniel graves, aesthetic perfection, kinetik festival

But the wall of accolades must mean something.

maison du bagel montreal, boulangerie

Which bagel did we like the most? You’ll have to view our fun video to find out!

bagelhead, japanese bagelheads

PS: if you don’t get the “bagel head” joke, this Japanese forehead inflation article will fill you in.

best montreal bagels, st viateur, fairmount

Thanks to my friend Lauren for joining me on my French-Canadian journey, and to Tourism Montreal for making it possible.

What was your favorite moment in the travel episode? For more coverage of Montreal and Vancouver, browse the Alt Canada category of my blog.