The Metro in Dubai is modern, efficient and clean
The Metro in Dubai is modern, efficient and clean. There are platforms doors on every platform and the trains are fully automated without drivers. The commuters use a NOL card which you top up with money or load with tickets valid for certain periods. If you pay extra first class is available.
Often crowded
We used the Metro whenever it was possible. However it was often crowded so don't expect to find seatings specially in the rush hour. But we never experienced any delays or disruptions. In the video I went by the Metro from Abu Baker Al Siddique Metro Station to Dubai Mall / Burj Khalifa.
Facts:
Number of stations: 53 (31 on red line, 20 on green line and 5 on branch line)
Operator: Keolis Began operation: September 9, 2009 System length: 89.6 km (55.7 mi) Owner: Roads & Transport Authority Number of lines: 3
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It's possible to find budget eating in Dubai, although this particular place wasn't that cheap...
Find the budget eats in Dubai
Aside from what Dubai is mostly known for, luxury and expensive restaurants, it's not hard to find places which suites both the budget and your taste buds. Down below are six restaurants with affordable and delicious food with a variety from Filipino, Pakistani, Indian and Swedish dishes.
Cheap Eats Dubai part 1 | Jabal Al Noor Cafeteria Satwa | Al Hudaiba | Dubai
This evening we ate Mixed Noodles, Chicken Shawarma and Spring Rolls.
Cheap Eats Dubai part 2 | Filipino Night Market | 32 37th St - Deira | Dubai
Here we tried Isaw, grilled chicken intestines at the Filipino Night Market in Deira.
Cheap Eats Dubai part 3 | Red Pepper Indian Restaurant | Abu Baker Al Siddique Rd | Dubai
At this place we had Manchurian- and Garlic chicken at Red Pepper Restaurant in Muteena / Hor Al Anz.
Cheap Eats Dubai part 4 | Pak Darbar Pakistani Restaurant, Dubai 29 st Al Muteena | Dubai
This night we had Chatpati Handi Chicken for me and Chicken Tikka Biryani for Miss Zane. We ate it at our favourite restaurant in Al Muteena, The Pak Darbar Pakistani Restaurant.
Cheap Eats Dubai part 5 | Boracay Island Filipino Restaurant | 48 19 B St - Deira | Dubai
At the Boracay Island Restaurant we got vibes from the Philippines. We ordered Kangkong with bagoong, Sizzling Squid Gambas and Lumpiang Shanghai. All true Filipino classics. Did we like it? Well watch and see!
She tries Swedish Meatballs for the first time | At IKEA | Dubai
Swedish Meatballs is a typically classic Swedish specialty. Wherever there is an IKEA store nearby you eat it there. Here we were in Dubai at Expo2020 where the Swedish pavilion had Café by IKEA. Will she like it?
Roben Tira
What could possibly go wrong?
I met him at our camp in Masai Mara National Park, Kenya. He was surprisingly fluent in English so of course we started talking. When the sun was about to set he asked me if I wanted to join him to his village. I asked him how far it was but he assured me it wasn’t far... so why not? What can possibly go wrong alone in the darkness in the middle of Masai Mara??
Walking to his village
We sat off. After 30 min walking I asked him how much left it was to walk. It had become dark and we heard the lions in the distance. Not far now he said, so no worries Mr Patrik. After additional 15 min we finally reached the village. He gave me a tour around it and I was invited to his hut. Sorry to say it was now too dark to take any photos.
Pitch black when going back
When the time came to go back it had become pitch black. It was amazing to cross the plain, just me, him and the stars in the sky. We heard the unmistakable sounds of the lions, they were much closer now. I asked him what he actually could do if a lion would show up. He stopped and looked at me and smiled. No worries Mr Patrik I have my “rungu”. He showed it to me. No more explanations needed, obviously it was self explanatory. He had his “rungu”...
Three lions, then problem Mr Patrik!
I insisted, what if there are two lions...? He just looked at me with pity and said “hakuna matata” Mr Patrik and he shook his “rungu” and started walking again. But then he added, three or more lions Mr Patrik then we have problem! He gave me a big assuring smile and the only thing I saw in the darkness was his white teeth.
The rungo
A “rungu” is a wooden throwing club or baton. It‘s especially associated with Masai morans (male warriors) who have traditionally used it in warfare and for hunting. And “hakuna matata” means “no problem” in Swahili.
Camping Legjenda have everything
We stayed several days at Camping Legjenda. They have camping, hotel, restaurant, bar and a pool. They also offer day trips to different attractions around Shkodër. What else can you wish for? Camping Legjenda is a family business and the owners are a couple, the husband is an artist and the wife was an English teacher.
Fruits and art works
Camping Legjenda is very nice with with plenty of lush vegetation all around the area. Apples, kiwis, grapes, olives and blackberries are growing everywhere. The area is also decorated with works of art all made by the husband.
Locally produced food
They offered a small but very nice breakfast buffet with mostly locally produced food. Fruits, herbs and vegetables fresh from the garden. In the evenings we often ate in the restaurant where the food was excellent. They offered a wide variety of dishes from Albanian specialities to delicious pasta and pizza.
The review on video
Camping Legjenda fully recommended!
We had plenty of time to evaluate the hotel, bar and the restaurant. Without any exaggerating we really can recommend Camping Legjenda if you are in Shkodër. Not to mention the owners and the other staff who always were very friendly and helpful. I wish to come back there soon.
MapOther posts about Albania >>>The Puri Restaurant, traditional Albanian food
We went for a short walk down to the city centre in Shkodër. It took only 30 minutes from the Legjenda Camping where we stayed. The walk was nice and we passed lot of restaurants and cafes on our way. In a street corner we saw two (!) fish for sale! However we were heading for the Puri Restaurant which we had been told they serve excellent Albanian food.
The menu
The food... huge portions!
We were hungry so we ordered Caprese salad as a starter. Father's rice was the bestseller so that one was a must. And with the Father's rice it felt natural to take the Mother's meatball! Father and mother they kind of stick together right? And just to be safe that we wouldn't leave the place hungry we took the Pljeskavica with potatoes. But we didn't have to worry because the portions were huge!
The review on videoThe Puri Restaurant is fully recommendable
The food was excellent. The Puri Restaurant was nice and lively with many hungry customers. We didn't have to wait and the waiter was nice and informative. The total bill was 5.5€ for all our food which felt very reasonable. Conclusion: The Puri Restaurant should be on your bucket list if you are in Shkodër!
MapOther post about Albania >>>A nice afternoon in Tirana and dinner at restaurant Oda
A nice afternoon in the Albanian capital Tirana. We visited the local market and had a nice dinner at the traditional Albanian restaurant Oda. We took the dessert in a coffee shop just nearby, Italian gelato together with a cappuccino.
The menus
If you are looking for the traditional Albanian cuisine then Restaurant Oda is the right place. Lamb in different ways is the main attraction. For the no meat eater there are a variety of vegetarian dishes. Different salads and of course the traditional burek which is baked, filled pastry, made of a thin flaky dough such as filo with a variety of fillings, such as meat, cheese, spinach or potatoes.
The food
We ordered eggplant stuffed with vegetables and the lamb cooked in a wooden stove together with rice. You need to order rice separately. The portions were big and generous. The lamb was very tender with a nice taste and the rice was probably cooked in broth which made it very tasty. The stuffed eggplant was nice too.
Video clip
Video clip: The visit to the local market and the review of the traditional restaurant Oda. Eating ice cream and of corse not to mention to see Miss Zane negotiating at the local market. Enjoy!
Conclusion
The food was for sure very traditional and came in tasty and generous portions. The downside was the waiting time. Waiting to order, waiting for the food and waiting for the bill. There were many guests and only one waitress so that was the explanation. The dishes also came one at a time, not served at the same time as would normally be expected. With that in mind I can still recommend Restaurant Oda if you are looking for the traditional Albanian cuisine.
MapOther posts about Albania >>>A perfect day tour if you are in Shkodër
If you are in Shkodër you can easily do this day tour up to Komani Lake and Shala River. First you go by car to Komani Lake and from there you take the boat up to Shala River. Expect 3 hours travel back and forth and 3-4 hours at the destination where you eat lunch. After lunch you can sunbath, swim in ice cold water or just chill under a sun umbrella with a cup of coffee or a beer.
Watch the video
Watch Miss C dancing in the boat and Miss Zane giving her verdict of the tour!
Other posts about Albania >>>A visit to Dajti Mountain Peak
We visited the Dajti Mountain Peak (in Tirana Albania). We took the local bus to Dajti Ekspres Lower station and from there we went with the cable car up to the peak. Up there you can do lots of activities like horse riding, hiking or just chill at the beautiful restaurant. So join us in the cable car!
The technical
The gondolas travel with a speed up to 6 m/s and maintain a distance of 300 metres between each other running approximately every 80 seconds. When all the gondolas are in use, the maximum capacity of passengers is 248 persons. The ride with the cable car takes approximately 15 minutes to arrive at the upper station.
Going there | Ticket price for the cable car
We took the Porcelan bus which is blue and departs from the tower clock (Sahati) in the centre of Tirana near Skenderbeg square. This bus is probably your best option as it goes direct and stops near the Bunk'art museum. From there it's only a short uphill walk to the cable car station.
The cable car costs 8 Euro up and down for one person. Rozafa Castle
Rozafa Castle, also known as the Shkodër Castle is located near the city of Shkodër, in northwestern Albania. It rises imposingly on a rocky hill, 130 metres (430 ft) above sea level, surrounded by the Buna and Drin rivers.
30 minutes walking
Since we stayed at the Camping Legjenda just 30 minutes walking distance from the castle we took a nice walk up the hill to the Rozafa Castle. We passed nice houses with lush gardens full of different kinds of fruits. There were also a couple of souvenir shops on our way where we could buy snacks, drinks and souvenirs.
The legend of the Rozafa Castle
Once upon a time, there were three brothers married to three beautiful wives who lived in what now is northern Albania. The three brothers worked very hard, to build a castle to protect their town, but every time they finished the work, the castle’s walls would fall down.
The legend...
One day, they met an old man who told them that there was only one way to keep the castle walls from tumbling down: a sacrifice. The sacrifice consisted of burying one of the wives in the wall of the castle, particularly, the first wife to bring lunch to her husband the next day.
The legend...
The two older brothers, once at home, explained the situation to their wives, while the youngest brother said nothing to his wife. The day after, the three brothers waited anxiously for lunchtime. The wives of the older brothers didn’t come with lunch, but Rozafa, the wife of the youngest brother, came with her box full of delicacies.
Try to visit the castle in the late afternoon so you get the golden light
The legend...
Rozafa’s husband explained to her that she had to be sacrificed and buried in the walls of the castle in order for the castle to be finished. She accepted her fate, but under one condition: the brothers would leave a hole for her right breast so her newborn son could feed, another hole for her right hand to caress him and a third hole for her right foot to move his cradle. The castle never collapsed.
How to get there
The castle is 3.5km south of the city centre. Grab a bicycle (many of the hotels rent them out) and enjoy the ride down here. If cycling is too energetic, take one of the municipal buses that stop near the turn-off to the castle. Or a taxi to the entrance costs 2-3 Euros from the city centre. If you are staying at Camping Legjenda like we did it's just 30 minutes walking distance from there.
This is the Swedes favourite
Hard boiled egg on a slice of bread and kaviar on top is a Swedish favourite for breakfast. For me, as long as I remember I grew up with this combo. And yes, I love this type of sandwich together with a cup of coffee for breakfast. But the question is, for someone who never tasted kaviar before, will they like it?
Many Swedes all time favourite
Miss Zane is kind of hesitating here...?
Will they like it? See their reaction!
I decided to put my friends for the ultimate test. Of course they had eaten toast with egg before but never together with Swedish kaviar. Here I let them try it with "Rågrut", which is crisp bread, another Swedish delicacy. Well, lets see their reaction!
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