Our Georgian Adventure

One of the perks of being a GCC resident is being able to travel to Georgia without a VISA. All you need is to present your passport and original residence permit (Iqama). Since I know that Georgia only speaks English, Georgian and Russian I took the initiative to have an English translation of our Iqama.

Geographically, Georgia is part Europe and part Asia that is why it is called as Eurasian country.

So Why Georgia? 

1. It saves me the trouble of applying for a VISA in advance.

2. Reviews over the internet about Georgia are all positive.

3. We want to please our eyes with nature and have a break from the dessert views we had all year long. 

4. Georgia is not just an open country when one can express themselves and break the rules. It makes you taste Europe at a lot cheaper price. 

Travel to Georgia can be booked through Flydubai. Gassim to Dubai is a 2-hour flight and Dubai to Georgia is a 3-hour flight. Prices ranges from 789 SAR to 1,200SAR (one way) depending on the time you booked the ticket. 

Two months ago,during the Eid of Ramadan while I was checking where to go (Dubai, Qatar or Georgia) the ticket to Georgia was only 789SAR per person but I did not book it because the dates of the vacation is not yet sure. Everyday the prices increases that I have no choice but to reserve the tickets even if the vacation dates were not yet confirmed. Our tickets cost 7,000 SAR (return for 3 persons)

I also booked our hotel at The Courtyard Marriott- Tbilisi in Freedom Square. In all our travels I choose a hotel that is accessible to almost all the major destination. The Courtyard Marriott is along Rustavelli avenue, it is walking distance from the Friendship Bridge, Narikala Fortress, Marionette Theatre and Dry Bridge. There is also a metro station nearby and the City sightseeing hop on hop off Bus tour ticketing office. I booked it through Booking.com as usual, because most bookings through this site can be cancelled up to 1 day before check in. 

The Courtyard Marriott @ Freedom Square

Me and Denisse @ Marriott Desk waiting for check in

So How is Georgia?

On landing we felt we are still in KSA, not so much views to ponder upon. Tbilisi Airport is not a busy airport although tourist flock in Georgia almost at anytime of the year. 

  

I don't know if it is only my perception but Georgians are not very friendly. Let us start with the immigration officer who checked our documents. I know all immigration officers are serious with flat affects. She asked for our VISA and I told her we are GCC residents so she asked for our Iqama, I was being so nice offering her the English translation of our Iqamas and she said she don't need English translation, maybe she felt offended by my voluntary action. Then she asked when is the expiry of our Iqama saying she cannot read it because it was in Arabic. I wanted to tell her "that is why I am offering the English translation" but my next action would either make or break me so I kept my cool and asked her " Would you like the english translation?" and she said "OK give me"

English Translation of my Iqama

I arranged for an airport pick up with Marriott Hotel Shuttle but it was not confirmed by the hotel so we just took a cab from the airport. We went to the information section to get a map and ask where to get a taxi and the man at the information section is also not smiling. Taxi drivers take advantage when they know you are a tourist. One told me 25 gel per person so that would be 75 gel but I know that the Marriott shuttle charges 75 gel so ordinary taxi should be cheaper than that. Although it was posted all over the Taxi pick up area that the price is 25 gel per trip to a certain point, drivers don't agree so we settled for 50 gel.

After some needed rest we walked around freedom square. 

Freedom Square

we came along this store that sells "Churchkhela"- Georgian traditional delicacy

typical street in Tbilisi

Georgia is also know for wine making. The oldest vineyards are located here. Of course we will not leave Georgia without tasting their famous Georgian wine called "Chacha"

souvenir shot inside a wine store called Vino Bar

bottoms up : 3 shots of Georgian Semi Sweet Red Wine and 3 shots of Chacha

with Nikka our wine server.

After becoming dizzy from the wine tasting we got hungry so we decided to try the Authentic Georgian Cuisine and Nikka our wine server recommended Chashnagiri which is not so far from the Vino Bar.

They have 4 branches in Tbilisi 

while waiting for our food

I forgot the name but this is delicious- made of mushroom, tomato and cheese

SOUP: Kharcho ( Beef in Tomato soup) 

Smoked Georgian Sausage

Georgian Bread- soft and chewy in the inside, crunchy on the outside

Barbecue but taste more like a fried Liempo 

The famous Khinkhali- Beef Dumpling with delicious soup inside

Georgian Lemonade - not actually a lemonade but a sparkling juice 

I have to cut this post and make a part 2 of our Georgian Adventure... Happy Reading!

How to be Fashionable in a Land Where Fashion Seems Impossible

Qassim Province is the most strict region in the kingdom, here women are completely covered and the only thing you see are the eyes, hands and feet, the bag they carry and the shoes they wear.

THE EYES:

Given this situation, how can one be fashionable when you are completely covered? This is the reason why most women spend some time in doing their eyes making it impressive. They say eyes are the windows of the soul, friend of mine knows if I am happy or sad or if something is troubling me by just looking into my eyes. My eyes do not lie.

Since eyeglasses makes me look like a geek, I started using contact lenses but I use it not just for fashion but for vision.  Some like the hazel brown on me, some like the sterling grey, others like my eyes as simply black.

I also learned how to put on false eyelashes just like most typical Arab women do. Some of my patients even told me I don't look like a Filipina but a Latina.

THE BAGS AND SHOES:

Women will always be women, and women love bags and shoes. There will never be enough. My husband told me that with the number of bags and shoes that I have I can change them everyday.

Every Friday, I sort of prepare what would me my outfit for the week. If I choose brown, then I will carry a brown bag, set aside all the brown shoes that I have and wear a nude, beige or brown nail polish.

Nine West Brown Hobo Bag and Hush Puppies leather Slip Ons

Nine West Beige Satchel, MK Wedge Sandals, Brown Skirt and White top from Mango

Beige Stiletto from Nine West

If I choose Blue then my outfit for the week is pretty much predictable. Sometimes I get fickle minded and change my theme at mid week.

Hush Puppies Blue Knitted Bag and Keds Blue Wedges

 When I am sad or depressed I put color on my outfit to make my mood more lively.

If I cannot think of anything, I choose to be neutral and wear white.

White Coach Satchel and Nine West Pumps

 THE NAILS:

I devote time in doing my nails every Friday and as I mentioned it goes with my outfit for the week.
My patients love my nails and I can see how they adore my nails whenever I strike the keyboard during consultation. They admire my nail arts.

Strawberry Nails

Watermelon Nails

Kiwi Nails

My Daughter call this Victoria's Secret 

Floral Nails

 THE PERFUME:

My daily outfit will not be complete without wearing a nice perfume. When I was a teenager I usually go with the flow. I remember saving my allowance just to buy Eternity by Calvin Klein and Pleasures by Estee Lauder. What the majority wears, and what is in, I buy it. I never had an identity or individuality when it comes to the perfume I wear or the smell I emit.

Later on, I discovered that I love the sweet scent, I don't like floral scents. Tresor by Lancome was one of the very first perfumes that I loved and it was first given to me as a gift by a Neurosurgeon Consultant who courted me when I was still a Medical Intern. Escada Rockin' Rio and Cherry in the Air are one of my favorites. Actually, I love the Escada line. Then lately I discovered and fell in love with Burberry Body and everytime I wear this scent people ask me what perfume I am wearing, some even took a picture of it. Even the male population in our clinic asked me what my perfume is. It always get noticed by men and women alike. One friend told me he can smell my perfume in the waiting area near my clinic and that is the signal that I arrived. Finally, I have my own identity. Whenever they smell the Burberry Body they know that it is me and that I am somewhere near. Currently, I am on my 5th Burberry Body Bottle.

Burberry body my favorite Perfume to date.

I also start to love the smell of Saudi Perfumes, usually they are unisex and light on the budget.

One patient came to my clinic wearing the perfume Wisal by Ajmal and I asked her where she bought it, she told me it was a gift from her husband. Then the next time she visited me she gave me a set consisting of a powder, a shower gel, a perfume and a lotion. I finished the set and I asked a friend to search perfume stores for it. Then one time when I was shopping at Al Nakheel Plaza I saw Ajmal Store and finally found my second love. Currently, I am about to finish my 4th bottle with just a few more sprays. I use to alternate Wisal with Burberry and in fairness Wisal also gets noticed by my patients but not as much as Burberry.

Wisal by Ajmal

So thats it. One can still be stylish even when completely covered. Many girls often say that a man will love you for what you are please don't believe that crap, that is one heck of a lie. Men like women who are attractive, stylish, and knows how to project beauty and carry herself well. 

If you want to get noticed then get noticed. You can still be attractive and sexy even when you are completely covered, with the way you talk, the way you walk and the way you smell. Be fashionable on the areas where you can show fashion. Heels are always sexy even with jeans, and bags always compliments your shoes. 

Remember, your special someone will like you more on what you have in the inside than what you show on the outside but never forget that what you show on the outside will attract men to get to know you more on the inside. Men respond to women based on how they feel around you.

Happy Reading Everyone!