There are a number of places in Dubai that you can rent paddle boarding equipment, but our first attempt we decided to combine fun and fitness by signing up for a female-only SUP fitness paddle boarding class run by Ignite Surface at Riva Beach Club on Palm Jumeirah.

Despite the early start (8am on a Friday morning, yikes!) it was a lot of fun, but exhausting. I don’t think my friends were fully aware of what I’d signed them up for but we all gave it our best shot.

The SUP fitness class on Friday was run by Krissy (the Instructor) who advised that in a typical class there could be anywhere between 5-16 participants. On the day we joined the class there only 9 of us, a mixture of regulars and newbies like ourselves. After registration all of us new to paddle boarding were taken to the beach by Fernando for a brief demonstration of techniques and manoeuvres i.e. proper stance on the board, how to stand upright, how to hold and use the paddle etc.

Once we were confident that we had basics mastered it was time to hit the water and join the rest of the class. After a slightly slow start, taking extra care with our movements to ensure we remained on the board, we finally reached the rest of the group.  Despite the early start (8am on a Friday morning, yikes!) the temperature already rising and it wasn’t long before a member of our group succumbed to the heat.  So that she could escort our fallen class member safely back to shore, Krissy left us in the capable hands of a couple of her class regulars to take us through the warm up in preparation for the exercises to follow. It became clear early on that a great deal of strength and flexibility was required for the SUP fitness class, something which I can seriously lacking but we tried our best to keep up.

Once Krissy re-joined the group she took us through a series of exercises including squats, push ups, triceps dips and abdominal work followed by some interval cardio (paddling). I found it very challenging trying to do the stationary exercises whilst keeping myself on the board and out of the water.  At one point one of my friends lost concentration and fell in but thankfully she was able get herself right back up on the board with minimum effort.

We found the exercise portion of the class quite challenging but I loved the experience. And whilst I can’t wait to try paddle boarding again, would I recommend that actually fitness class? Yes, but I would really need to build up my strength and flexibility beforehand. This has absolutely no reflection of our instructor Krissy, who was really good and very patient with all the paddle boarding newbies.  

After working up an appetite we finished off our morning by having breakfast at Sophie’s Café as they were offering a 20% discount to all class participants.

Location: Riva Beach Club, Palm Jumeirah
Price: 125 AED for 60 minutes including paddle board, paddle and life vest rental
Website: www.ignitesurface.com/

Like many other expats one the main factors in my decision to move Dubai was the opportunity to save money, something that I found difficult to do back home in Scotland. But trying to find the right balance between saving and enjoying the Dubai lifestyle is an ongoing challenge.

With many expats and locals leaving Dubai to escape the summer heat the UAE hospitality industry has been offering amazing discounts on Dubai spa deals, luxury pool access, fitness classes and many other leisure activities in a bid to boost visitor numbers. My mailbox is inundated daily with emails from popular deal sites like Cobone and Groupon advertising the latest Dubai deals that are often too good to pass up.

Take my latest purchase, for example, a one hour treatment with pool access at The Burj Club for the bargain price of 325 AED (normal price 650 AED). Thanks to this Groupon deal, my friends and I had the amazing opportunity to experience, what is being billed as Dubai's most exclusive fitness, spa and wellness destination.
 
From the moment we arrived we were given the VIP treatment. We were welcomed by the Club’s friendly and attentive reception staff who checked us in before giving us a quick, but thorough tour of all the facilities including the outdoor and indoor pool areas, mixed and female-only gyms, and the pièce de résistance, the Spa.

Gym Facilities
The Burj Club has two gyms, one mixed and one  for female members only.  Both feature a wide selection of state-of-the-art equipment including treadmills, bikes, cross trainers, weights and some machines I've never seen before.  At the time of our tour the gym was completely empty. I immediately regretted my decision to hit the gym earlier as I would have had the place to myself - there is always next time.

The Pool & Juice Bar
Visitors have a choice of 2 spacious pools; indoors or outdoors. Feeling brave we decided to tolerate the Dubai heat to relax and unwind at the outdoor pool. On the day we visited we found the venue relatively quiet so we had no problems finding beds. After storing aware our belongings we decided to have a quick look around to take some photos before wandering over to the poolside bar to grab some refreshments. Underestimating the temperatures we ended up spending most of the in the pool – it was roasting. 

The Spa
After a couple of hours relaxing by the pool it was time to hit the Spa in preparation for our treatments. Given the timings (2pm, 3:15pm & 4:30) I was the lucky one who had the opportunity to experience all the Spa has to offer including their sauna, steam room and experience showers. 

I’ll be honest, I've never really been a huge fan of sauna's or steam rooms as I find them quick stuffy but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I really enjoyed the sauna experience at The Burj Club as I had to entire space to myself so was able to lie back, fully relax and let the menthol vapors cleanse my body.

The Spa's experience showers (choice of 2) were unusual and I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  As I stepped inside each cubicle I could see that I had a choice of sprays including tropical rain, cold rain, cold mist, Caribbean storm and Niagara rain complete with sound effects that are designed to relax your mind and refresh your body. Natural curiosity left me with no choice but to try them all. My favourite option was the tropical rain - when I closed my eyes I could almost imagine being in the midst of a tropical rain forest.

With time to kill before my treatment I took advantage of the Spa's fully serviced shower facilities before spending the rest of the time relaxing on one of the Spa's lounge chairs which offered stunning views over the Burj Lake, Dubal Mall and Souq Al Bahar.

Around 10mins before my treatment was due to begin Ruth, my beauty therapist for the day, came to welcome me to the Spa and asked me to fill in a treatment questionnaire which included some basic medical questions so she could tailor the experience to my individual needs.  I was also given a complimentary glass of cranberry juice, fruit skewer and cold towel to freshen up.

A short time later Ruth came back to collect me and lead to the treatment room where she provided me with a detailed explanation of the type of facial treatment she was recommending based on the information I provided earlier.  Jumping up onto the treatment bed I was snugly engulfed in warm, heavy blankets with my legs elevated ready for my facial to begin.

I'm not overly experienced in having facials, I think I've only had 2-3 in my lifetime, including the one I had at the Senso Wellness Centre late last year, but I found the whole experience extremely enjoyable and very relaxing. Note to self for any future beauty treatments I might sign up for - go easy on the fluid intake prior to treatments as I spent the last 10-15mins of my facial uncomfortably squirming with an overwhelming need to relieve my bladder.

Our spa day at The Burj Club was phenomenal. As one of the most  luxurious and extravagant experiences I've had in the whole 2 years I've lived in Dubai, hand over heart the best spa day in Dubai (so far). I can't wait for my next visit.

Pros

• Breath-taking views
• Superb customer service
• State-of-the-art facilities
• Complimentary use towels, hair dryers, hair straighteners and basic toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant)
• Reasonably priced food and drink i.e. glass of fruit juice averages at 25 AED

Cons

• Unfortunately nothing lasts forever, the experience had to end
• Treatment rooms were not soundproof

Location: Burj Khalifa, 1 Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai Dubai
Website: www.theburjclub.com

It's been a while since my last post, but I'm happy to say that it's not been because I decided to move back to Scotland, I've just been busying living life in Dubai which has involved working and studying in my spare time over the past 10months. With only one more module to go I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Since arriving in Dubai I have been desperate to visit Bab Al Shams having heard stories of how amazing it is from friends and colleagues.  My wish was granted at the beginning of June when I finally got to experience this incredible resort for myself for a little pre-Ramadan, pre-birthday treat - one more thing struck off my Dubai Bucket List!

For anyone who doesn't know, Bab Al Shams is one of Dubai's hidden gems. It is a stunning hotel and spa resort situated in the Dubai desert about 1 hours drive outside the main city.  It is well worth the visit, perfect for girly weekends, romantic retreats and family getaways. 

Booked through Cobone, my friends and I managed to book this amazing staycation for the bargain price of only 999AED! This included one night accommodation for two people, buffet breakfast at Al Forsan and dinner at the Al Hadheera Restaurant. And if that was not impressive enough, we also received 20% off all other food and drink consumed at the hotel during our stay.

Check out the photo's from my experience below.

First impressions stick which is why I've been in no hurry to return to Abu Dhabi following my mediocre weekend experience earlier in the year. Despite my reluctance, my friends managed to persuade me to join them on a last minute road trip to Abu Dhabi last weekend for a bit of Middle Eastern culture and my first-time visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is definitely one of Abu Dhabi's top tourist attractions. It really is an impressive sight.  From the minute it became visible against the Abu Dhabi skyline I was in awe at its beauty. It is simply breathtaking and not surprising it has been ranked 4th in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice™ Landmarks for 2015.

I love taking photos of the places I visit and couldn't wait to start capturing the grand mosque's essence, so with excited anticipation, we quickly made our way to the mosque's main entrance.  To gain entry into the Grand Mosque there is a separate entry into the mosque for men and women. There are also security scanners set up to check all baggage being taken inside. At busier times this could be a lengthy process, but thankfully due to the time of year the queue was non-existent so the whole process was quick and effortless.

Mosque guidelines state that all visitors must be modestly dressed. And while male visitors have a choice of whether to wear a traditional thrawb, women must be completely covered at all times, so our next stop was to collect an abaya to wear for the duration of our visit.

Dressed and ready to explore, we made our way past a series of reflective pools towards the mosque's main courtyard which is surrounded by white marble pillars and stunning archways and boasts one of the world's largest marble mosaics.  I would have loved to have spent more time taking in all of the intricate detail of the courtyard but the midday heat was too intense. Perhaps visiting the Grand Mosque in the height of summer wasn't one of our better ideas.

Entering the main prayer hall  I was overcome with a sense of calm and peace. You could almost hear a pin drop – at least until a couple of unruly kids decided to run riot with no regards for the rules and regulations which clearly asks visitors to remain respectful and quiet. My friend's 2 year old daughter had joined us on our trip and completely did us proud. Not only was she very quiet as her mum instructed she proceeded to 'shoo' us all to make sure we remained quiet also. She was such a cutie.

As we made our way through the main prayer hall the Grand Mosque continued to blow us away.  Home to one of the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet and what is considered to be one of the world's largest chandeliers, there was no denying that that this mosque's interiors are as equally impressive as it's incredible exteriors.

I am so glad I was persuaded to give Abu Dhabi a second chance as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a total 'must-see' for anyone visiting Abu Dhabi and the surrounding regions.

On this visit our tour was completely self guided but there are free guided tours available daily through the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre. These tours last around 45 minutes and are led by one of the Centre's official  SZGMC Tourist Guides ( English and Arabic languages tours available). To find out tour times visit the SZGMC website.

No visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is complete without lunch at the Emirates Palace (or so I've been told). So to round off our road trip we headed there for a bite to eat. This was equally as impressive as the Grand Mosque. I don't think I have ever been inside such a luxurious or glamorous hotel. Read my separate blog post to find out more about my visit to the Emirates Palace.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Key Facts

• constructed using 100,000+ tons of pure white Greek and Macedonian marble
  
• home to one of the world’s largest marble mosaic
  
• roof features 80+ marble domes
  
• main dome is the largest mosque dome in the world sitting at 85 metres high with a diameter of 32.8 metres
  
• houses the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet
  
• burial place of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, first President of the UAE, is located beside the mosque

Cost:  Free
Location: Abu Dhabi
Website: www.szgmc.ae
Opening Times (for tourists):
Sat – Thurs: 9am to 10pm & Friday's: 4:30 pm till 10pm (Last entry is 9.30pm

Dubai is a popular destination for the rich and famous, you only have to visit the Daily Mail Online to see the latest reported celebrity sightings which regularly includes the cast from TOWIE and occasional A-lister.  

With so many celebrities visiting Dubai, after a year living here, I'd yet to spot one myself so when my friend texted me on Friday morning to let me know that fellow country-man, Gerard Butler was in Dubai I jumped at the chance to try to see him in the flesh.  

After spending the afternoon visiting the Emirates Classic Old Car Festival we made our way to the Paris Gallery at the Dubai Mall where Gerard Butler was scheduled to appear as part of the Hugo Boss' promotional tour for its new fragrance. 

Given his A-lister status I'd expected the area surrounding the Paris Gallery to be filled with people but when we arrived at 5:30pm (half an hour before the event was due to start) there was only about 20-30 people queuing up to meet him and minimal security. We quickly discovered that you had to buy a large bottle of the latest Hugo Boss fragrance to meet him face-to-face which was no surprise really considering the nature of the event. Unfortunately as both my friends and I are all single we couldn't really justify buying the aftershave so instead we decided to hang around the shop with the hope of at least catching a glimpse of him.

With time to kill we wandered around the Paris Gallery trying to find and a prime location to grab some photos.  Promotional girls circulated the small crowd that had started to gather trying to encourage us to buy the fragrance and take advantage of the opportunity to meet him in person - we politely declined. We were then advised that we were allowed to enter the section directly in front of the stage - you didn't have to tell us twice.

With the perfect spot selected we waited with anticipation for Gerard Butler to arrive. Unfortunately 6pm came and went with still no sign of Hugo Boss' #manoftoday. Following a brief performance by a solo violinist,  a ompère finally came on stage to try and keep us all entertained and build the excitement but she failed miserably. She tried her best but she really struggled to build up a rapport with the audience and people started to become restless (myself included). 

At 7pm, almost an later than scheduled, Gerard Butler finally made his way down the store's escalator to greet his waiting fans. After a short introduction the compère asked him a series of questions surrounding the Hugo Boss brand and his charm and charisma quickly shone through. During the Q&A session he made reference to the Scottish culture - joking that his typical attire included a kilt and then went on to mention and mimic bag pipes. Then at some point he must have spotted a Scottish flag in the audience and seem genuinely shocked and humbled to discover a high number of fellow Scots present in the audience. 

Chasing celebrities around Dubai is not something I would normally do (I made an exception for Gerard) and although we didn't actually get to meet him in person, he was well worth the wait.  I think it is safe to say that my Gerard Butler crush has been officially reignited!

This weekend saw the start of the 2015 Emirates Classic Old Car Festival at Downtown Dubai’s Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard. While I'm not a huge fan of old classic cars, or cars in general, one of my friends fancied checking it out so I decided to join her - if anything it would be something different.

The Emirates Classic Old Car Festival  is annual event that is organised by Emaar Properties*.  Considered the Middle East’s premier showcase of classic cars, it attracts car enthusiasts from all across the UAE.

Check out some of the cars that were on display below:

Brunch in Dubai has become somewhat of an institution in spite of it's reputation for encouraging drunk and debaucherous behaviour.  In fact, in recent years the Dubai brunch culture has continued to grow exponentially.

No longer confined to Friday afternoons, tourists and residents can now choose from a range of all-inclusive brunches being held on Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons as Dubai-based hotels and restaurants fall over themselves to capitalise on this popular event.

In the 9 months I've lived in Dubai I've been fortunate enough to have sampled a some of Dubai's best brunches including Saffron at the Atlantis, Yalumba at Le Méridien, Al Qasr at Madinat Jumeirah, Imperium at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Beachcombers at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Flavours on 2 at Towers Rotana and Deck on 8 at Media One.

Bubbalicous Brunch at the Westin, another of Dubai's most popular brunches, seemed doomed to forever remain on my Dubai Bucket List after all previous attempts to book this brunch failed due to it's popularity. So when I found out that my sister and her boyfriend were planning a visit I made sure I booked us a table well in advance so I could finally check this experience off my list.

One of Dubai's largest brunches, the Bubbalcious brunch span's the Westin's 3 main restaurants; Blue Orange, Hunters Room & Grill and Spice Emporium. It offers a choice of brunch packages and seating options that include full access to the Hotel's superior facilities and spectacular sea views.

On this occasion we chose to go with Sparkling Wine option (550 AED) and to sit indoors. We were seated in the in Hotel's Blue Orange restaurant but we were able to wander freely around the other restaurants and outside to sample all of the food and drinks on offer and maximise our brunch experience.

This brunch offers up an impressive choice of food and drinks from traditional British, Arabic, Chinese and Italian cuisine to copious amounts of house wines, spirits and beers, fruit cocktails and tasty shots readily available throughout.  And as if all this wasn't enough their new and imaginative Alice and Wonderland dessert hideaway and Chocolate Station serve up a large selection of desserts and sweets that are guaranteed to satisfy even the strongest sweet-tooth cravings. 

As is typical of most afternoon brunches, the Bubbalicious brunch finished at 4pm sharp but that didn't mean the fun had to end there.  We continued the party upstairs at the Hotel's Oeno Wine Bar - the host of the Bubbalicious Brunch After Party.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Bubbalicious brunch but be warned the price is not for the faint-hearted.  With prices starting at 450 AED for the non-alcoholic option, which personally I think is a little steep, ranging to 650 AED for the full free-flowing champagne experience, the Bubbalicious is undeniably one of Dubai's more expensive brunches.

Duration: 1pm-4pm
Location: The Westin, Jumeirah Beach
Bubbalicious Brunch Packages:

• Free-flowing Champagne -AED 650
• Free-flowing Sparkling Wine - AED 550
• Non-alcoholic - AED 450
• Kids 6-12 at - AED 225
• Kids under 6 years - FREE