Having lived in Japan for 2 years back in 2000, I would like to be able to tell you that from day one, I was eating sashimi and sushi like a pro, elegeantly waving my chopsticks around and conversing in fluent Japanese with the chef. Unfortunately, the reality was somewhat different.
Somewhere in the back streets of down town Tokyo, I sat gingerly on the edge of my stool peering over at the plates of raw fish which slowly trundled past me on the conveyor belt. There was no way this stuff was passing over my lips. How did people eat this? It's RAW for god's sake! I tried to think of anything raw I had eaten in the past....strangely enough nothing came to mind unless you counted the raw jelly we used to scoff as kids. I eventually plucked up the courage to sample my first piece of Japanese cuisine (albeit with my fingers) and while not an immediate fan, I did develop a taste and possibly a habit over the next couple of years .
Which is why I'm so happy to have found a new Japanese restaurant right on my door step in Dubai Marina. You could easily pass 'Umi Sushi' if you didn’t know it was there. You have to walk past The Fish and Chip Room (resisting the "sod it, I'm getting a bag of chips with curry sauce" urge) and it's right next door. This quiet restaurant is not much to speak of at first glance with its uninspiring decor and simple layout. Once you get past the picture menu (tacky but it does actually do its job in this case) with just under 100 dishes, you can then get down to business. The 'edadame' (green beans) is served hot and salty and goes well with a plate of 'gyoza' (dumplings) for starters. The portion sizes are relatively large and the chicken with vegetable stirfy and noodles is a meal in itself. For those with smaller stomachs, stick to the sushi which is fresh and delicious. Keep it simple with 'ebi maki' (prawns in rice and seaweed) or order a 'matsu' - 13 pieces of sushi allowing you to try 7 different kinds for 93 dirhams. For those who like the full deal, a bento box is a must and will keep you going for quite some time.
A lively, buzzing, eaterie this place is not, however, if you're a die-hard Japanese food lover, add this one to your list to try. I will certainly be going back and if you decide to skip it, then so be it - more for me!
Thriving at 30.........
"Wait until you are 30, and then you will know about it", a friend once huffed at me as we were preparing to get ready for a night out.
At the time, I was a sprightly 25 year old who could barely even imagine being 30, never mind what it felt like. Her words came back to haunt me however as I struggled to get myself out of bed after a huge celebration of my own big 3-0. Not being able to cope with a hangover is just one of the downsides to 'supposed maturity'. Constant questioning of oneself and where one should be in the world in terms of status can also be rather annoying. I try to ignore it by lying on the sofa and filling my head with box sets. As you turn 30, all of a sudden life seems more "important". Bucket lists that you made with friends as a joke get routed out as you struggle to reassure yourself that yes, you are accomplished person who is leading an interesting life! Big ticket items, such as marriage and children come to the forefront and if I hear the word 'biological clock' one more time, I will not be responsible for my actions. Time and how you spend it (and in some cases, who you spend it with) becomes crucial. When you are 30, it's a huge thrill to be asked for ID. When you are 30, the anti-wrinkle cream section becomes incredibly interesting. When you are 30, the concept of a weekend night in is not so remote.
They say 30 is the new 20, and 40 is the new 30. I say, damn right. And to my friend, you were absolutely spot on. I certainly did know about it - but you know what? It's not so bad after all........
Malaysian Salsa Festival, July 09
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
I literally can't feel my legs. It's not surprising after 4 nights and 5 days of continous dancing. The Malaysian Dance Festival is the first holiday where I have actually lost weight. The festival is made up of different dance workshops, performances by professional artists and parties that go on into the early hours of the morning in a beautiful resort on the East coast of Malaysia. Sleep not included.
Our group, Mambo Clasico (http://www.facebook.com/MamboClasicoDubai?ref=ts) debuted with it's first international perfromance with 'Pepe's Mimes'. 10 people dancing complicated choreography "together" is no easy feat ('scuse the pun). After 11 months of practising, I think we pretty much nailed it. It was a huge moment both individually and as a group to walk off that stage knowing that we had completed one of our goals: to dance on an international stage. The hours of practice, the sore muscles, and the lack of social life all were forgotton in that moment.
Once we had performed, I could forget all the nerves and just enjoy the event. Mornings were spent by the pool, sleeping, sunbathing and playing pool volleyball and afternoons were spent in different workshops. One of my favourites was run by a Portugese couple - Vanda and Nuno. Incredibly talented and great teachers, their workshops were fun and easy to follow. Their performances were simply inspiring and amazing to watch.
As well as salsa workshops, you could also learn more about dancing on 2, shines, spins, tango, body movement and something I hadn't come across before 'Zouk'. Zouk is a dance similar to bachata. The steps are reasonably simple to follow. Watching the professionals do it, you will see a lot of head movement and a nod towards contemporary style. While I'm still a salsa lover at heart, it's a beautiful dance to watch and very intimate.
This was my second festival that I had attended and probably my favourite of the two. The beautiful setting created a relaxed atmosphere and with approximately 250 people, you were able to meet and get to know different dancers without feeling 'lost'. There was also lots of variety within the shows and workshops which has inspired me to try and convince my man to learn tango with me. Combining salsa and travelling is the ultimate; my only regret is that I didn't extend my stay in Malaysia to see more of the country.
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