Gulf News deputy web editor Florence Pia G. Yu plunges headlong into the blogosphere to find out what bloggers from the Middle East and beyond have on their minds.
Atlantis rises
Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai opens its doors on time… but on budget?
At least 700 guests checked into the "hotel of the moment" on Wednesday, September 24, eager to experience the latest five star glam hotel and its new attraction - Aquaventure the Middle East's tallest and fastest free-fall waterslide, and the Leap of Faith with its scary 27.5 metre drop.
Guests were approached on their verdict - some almost too overwhelmed at what they had just experienced but still very eager to have another go.
It's truly commendable that the Atlantis managed to pull off the opening as planned despite a fire mishap earlier this month. The catastrophe was resolved with the aid of thousands of labourers working night and day to rectify the damage, with just a slight hiccup of a few cranes parked outside the main entrance on opening day.
http://grapeshisha.blogspot.com
Iftar at the Atlantis
Mood: Rushed!!! Craving: Seeing Jewelz's lil angle. Yesterday: Had Iftar at the Atlantis Dubai with the girls, not realising it was the first day of its soft opening! It was breathtaking!!! We felt like the little mermaids walking around.
We had reservations at Saffron, which was the only available restaurant at such short notice and hey, we weren't complaining! It reminded me of the Shangri-La's buffet: Live cooking stations of Asian food and a chocolate fountain dessert station. Slurp!
http://www.uaekitten.com
Block then delete
Having the ability to forgive is a blessing. Sometimes I can't and I know it's one of my worst traits.
Yesterday I received a Ramadan SMS greeting from an old friend I haven't spoken to in more than a year. A hot discussion ended our five-year friendship. That day, I dropped her off, kissed her goodbye and asked for her forgiveness. Then I never spoke to her again.
Every Ramadan and Eid she sends me a message but I never reply until last Eid when I decided to at least reply with a message. Forgiveness is truly a blessing.
http://arablady.blogspot.com
Baby therapy
I mentioned previously that Puddin really hates his therapy sessions. Puddin isn't in pain and the things which he does in therapy, we do at home and he doesn't cry one bit. He will give the therapist all of two to five minutes of calm smiles and then turns into the child who refuses to cooperate.
One would hope that at 6 months, Puddin isn't being a sinister little baby who knowingly behaves in a certain way so that things will stop. But I swear that this boy knows exactly what he is doing.
His therapist constantly laughs because of how smart he is. If she stops doing exercises with him and just sits behind him, he'll peek to see if she is still around. If she is, he screams again.
http://nzinghas.blogspot.com
Beautiful Nablus
The weather this week has been really amazing. The past few days have brought rain that made the sky so blue, the sun so bright, and the clouds so billowy and beautiful. The light, especially in the evening, is magnificent as it hits the mountains of Nablus and its white houses along with the various shadows that the clouds cast over the hillside.
This was reflected in the mood of the people as I ventured downtown this afternoon to buy some famous Nablusi sweets. All the streets are blocked off to traffic downtown now and there are tons of carts selling everything from toys to candy to fruit to clothes for the coming Eid celebration this week.
http://bodyontheline.wordpress.com
