Once In A Lifetime Journey
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    • Inspiration

      Simple steps to controling pre-flight anxiety

      January 23, 2021

      Inspiration

      How to combat the fear of flying (Aerophobia)

      January 23, 2021

      Inspiration

      Top tips for family travel stress

      January 21, 2021

      Inspiration

      How to mentally prepare for a solo trip

      January 21, 2021

      Inspiration

      Is El Salvador safe to visit for tourists…

      December 9, 2020

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Once In A Lifetime Journey

Once In A Lifetime Journey
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Djibouti
      • Kenya
      • Madagascar
      • Malawi
      • Namibia
      • Rwanda
      • Somaliland
      • South Africa
      • Sudan
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
    • Europe
      • Albania
      • Andorra
      • Azerbaijan
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Kosovo
      • Macedonia
      • Malta
      • Monaco
      • Montenegro
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • United Kingdom
    • North & Central America
      • American Samoa
      • El Salvador
      • Guam
      • Guatemala
      • Hawaii
      • Honduras
      • Mexico
      • United States
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Peru
    • Middle East
      • Oman
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Sudan
      • United Arab Emirates
    • Pacific
      • American Samoa
      • Australia
      • Cook Islands
      • Fiji
      • French Polynesia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Kiribati
      • Micronesia
      • Nauru
      • New Zealand
      • Palau
      • Samoa
      • Solomon Islands
      • Tonga
      • Tuvalu
      • Vanuatu
    • Southeast Asia
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
      • Indonesia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Myanmar
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Central & North Asia
      • Bhutan
      • Bangladesh
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Japan
      • Macau
      • Maldives
      • Mongolia
      • Nepal
      • North Korea
      • Pakistan
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Tibet
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      Simple steps to controling pre-flight anxiety

      January 23, 2021

      Inspiration

      How to combat the fear of flying (Aerophobia)

      January 23, 2021

      Inspiration

      Top tips for family travel stress

      January 21, 2021

      Inspiration

      How to mentally prepare for a solo trip

      January 21, 2021

      Inspiration

      Is El Salvador safe to visit for tourists…

      December 9, 2020

  • Reviews
    • Hotels & Resorts
    • Train, Planes & helicopters
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  • Resources
  • Wine Tourism
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  • Solo female travel

Destination United Arab Emirates

by Mar May 5, 2017
Destination United Arab Emirates
Destination United Arab Emirates

A country that is made of seven Emirates one of which stands out: Dubai. I lived there for 5 years and enjoyed the explosion the country went through from 2006 on, including the massive real estate crash and the turn from a traffic jammed impossible-to-get-a-booking-in city into a ghost town. Dubai is a success story, a camel racing, pearl fishing village that became a 21st century metropolis overnight. Glitzy towers, expansive beach resorts and the world’s largest shopping malls complete this oasis in the desert made of artificial islands, lakes and lagoons. A fascinating if shocking place.

Pick an article about United Arab Emirates

Places to visit in Dubai feature
July 2, 2020

75+ things to do & places to visit in Dubai by a local

places you must visit in 2020 feature
December 11, 2019

12 places you must visit in 2020

Most gorgeous overwater villas in Asia feature
October 15, 2019

60+ Gorgeous Overwater Bungalows in Asia

Dubai Day Trips feature
February 20, 2019

Dubai day trips – Places near Dubai for a day excursion

Review Etihad A380 Business Class feature
April 9, 2017

Review of Etihad A380 Business Class Abu Dhabi to New York

Guide To Abu Dhabi
March 1, 2017

Ultimate Guide to Abu Dhabi

Restaurants in Dubai
March 9, 2016

Guide to the Luxury Restaurants of Dubai

Emirates ICE
April 23, 2015

The award for the best Economy Class goes to…

Emirates A380 Business Class Review
April 6, 2015

Emirates A380 Business Class Review

Dubai skyline
April 4, 2015

Dubai Travel Guide: Where to go for luxury and what to do for extreme fun

Dubai travel tips
March 24, 2015

12 things to know before you go – helpful Dubai travel tips

expat culture shock
February 16, 2015

Experiencing expat culture shock with the expat sub-culture

Other exhilarating articles

  • Ultimate to Abu Dhabi
  • 8 tips for Airbnb hosts
  • 5 magical honeymoons in Southeast Asia
  • Best places to spend New Year’s Eve

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@shintamani_wild knows me wel: Wine + wilderness + @shintamani_wild knows me wel: Wine + wilderness + jungle + a pile of @natgeotravel magazines = Happy Mar
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#ShintaManiFoundation #NatGeo #NatGeoTravel #ShintamaniSiemReap #bensleycollection #Cambodia #BensleyCollectionSiemReap #luxuryvillas #underthestars #catalanspelmon #ViatgersDC #damestravel #dametravel #sheisnotlost #girlswhotravelgirlswhotravel
A bathtub with a view and with its own waterfall s A bathtub with a view and with its own waterfall soundtrack - Result!
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#ShintaManiFoundation #NatGeo #NatGeoTravel #ShintaManiWild #BensleyCollection #Cambodia #luxuryvillas  #catalanspelmon #ViatgersDC #damestravel #dametravel #sheisnotlost #girlswhotravel
DREAMING OF TRAVEL AGAIN - I have finally booked a DREAMING OF TRAVEL AGAIN - I have finally booked a flight again, not to an exciting place but to one that I'm very excited about: home.
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And talking about travel dreaming...
This photo was taken at Bill Bensley @shintamani_wild at the @natgeo tent hence the many magazines, the tent was full of them some of the issues were 50+ years old, it was fascinating to read the first issues that covered Dian Fossey or some of really remote tribes. It was hard to peel my eyes off the stunning photos and enjoy the remote and beautiful destination, the piece of wild forest where the camp is.
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I don't think I'll be doing much travel before the end of the year but I hope to travel to west Africa in November/ December / January, for a real adventure and maybe a safari too.
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#ShintaManiFoundation #NatGeo #NatGeoTravel #ShintamaniSiemReap #bensleycollection #Cambodia #BensleyCollectionSiemReap #luxuryvillas #underthestars #catalanspelmon #ViatgersDC #damestravel #dametravel #sheisnotlost #girlswhotravel
A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS - have you ever slept unde A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS - have you ever slept under the stars? Where?
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I did in Tanzania and in the Maldives at @gili.lankanfushi but I am sometimes worried about the mosquitoes 😂 thankfully, @shintamani.angkor.bensley sorted this with nets!
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#ShintaManiFoundation #ShintamaniSiemReap #bensleycollection #BensleyCollectionSiemReap #luxuryvillas #underthestars #catalanspelmon #ViatgersDC #damestravel #dametravel #sheisnotlost #girlswhotravel
CELEBRATING - Today we're out of official lockdown CELEBRATING - Today we're out of official lockdown in Singapore though actually not much has changed. We still work from home, shops are still closed. How is it where you are?
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So I'm reminiscing of my last trip, 4 months ago, to Cambodia and the weekend at our beautiful pool villa at @shintamani.angkor.bensley - bliss ❤
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This is one of two Bill Bensley Collection luxury properties, only 10 pool villas that are uber private and luxurious. @billbensley interior design details are fabulous.
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#ShintaMani #ShintamaniSiemReap #bensleycollection #BillBensley #BensleyCollectionSiemReap #luxuryHotel #TravelwithPurpose #SiemReap #ZngkorWat #Cambodia #catalanspelmon #ViatgersDC #LuxuryTravel
3 MONTHS WITHOUT TRAVELING - One last view at the 3 MONTHS WITHOUT TRAVELING - One last view at the dreamy Private Reserve overwater villa at @gili.lankanfushi - wish I was there!
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This is the longest I've been without traveling in 15 years. And I must say time has passed really fast because of how busy I've been. When was the last time you stayed put for this long?
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#GiliMoments #GiliStory #GiliLankanfushi #Maldives #Maldivien #Maldivas #maldivesvacation #MaldivesInsider #maldivesmania #VisitMaldives #maldivesig #beautifulMaldives #overwatervilla #Fromwhereidrone #girlswhodrone #LadyinRed #catalanspelmon #viatgersDC #luxuryresort #maldivesislands #maldivesresorts #SimplyMaldives
HAVING A MARILYN MONROE MOMENT at the beautiful ne HAVING A MARILYN MONROE MOMENT at the beautiful new pool villas at @gili.lankanfushi.
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I feel like I've certainly become many things in this pandemic times, from best friend to chef, videographer, interviewer, podcast host, presenter, mentor, coach...I'm definitely not letting this crisis go to waste!
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What are you up to these days? Have you taken up a new hobby? Got in touch with long lost friends? Started to meditate or do yoga?
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Inspire me!
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#GiliMoments #GiliStory #GiliLankanfushi #Maldives #Maldivien #Maldivas #maldivesvacation #MaldivesInsider #maldivesmania #VisitMaldives #maldivesig #beautifulMaldives #overwatervilla #LadyinRed #catalanspelmon #viatgersDC #luxuryresort #maldivesislands #maldivesresorts #SimplyMaldives
DREAMS - Where is the first place you will go to w DREAMS - Where is the first place you will go to when travel resumes?
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#GiliMoments #GiliStory #GiliLankanfushi #Maldives #Maldivien #Maldivas #maldivesvacation #MaldivesInsider #maldivesmania #VisitMaldives #maldivesig #beautifulMaldives #overwatervilla #Fromwhereidrone #girlswhodrone #LadyinRed #catalanspelmon #viatgersDC #luxuryresort #maldivesislands #maldivesresorts #SimplyMaldives
"NEVER LET A GOOD CRISIS GO TO WASTE" Winston Chur "NEVER LET A GOOD CRISIS GO TO WASTE" Winston Churchill once said at the end of WWII.
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What are you doing now to make the most of this?
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I'm a firm believer that one needs to always stay positive and productive, always looking ahead no matter what, now more than ever.
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Working in the travel industry, I have lost pretty much all of my income since this started, 6y of work all wiped out practically overnight.
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I won't lie, it's tough to stay optimistic, to see the light at the end of the tunnel and to keep going ahead despite everything, knowing it's at least 6 more months before things really improve. If that wasn't enough, after 2.5 months of suffering the effects of the virus in Asia, Singapore declared a lockdown, so now we're home isolated and the numbers don't look good.
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But I'm trying to stay true to myself, to be the eternal optimist that I am, so here is what I'm doing:
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- Looking at images of my best trips to relive the experience. Like this absolutely beautiful shot from @Gililankanfushi my favorite place in the #Maldives
- I started a new blog about breakfast bowls and I'm loving it! I can implement all the things I learned in 6y and avoid all the mistakes. I eat super healthy home made food every day and I find caring about myself and my significant other through food, and cooking itself, highly meditative and therapeutic. So win-win-win, and hopefully I'll add a new income stream that is anti cyclical and not travel related.
- Accelerating the work to create a new portal for Solo Female Travelers with @mappingmegan for the FB group that has more than 55,00 members (and growing fast!) And which we manage.
- Taking a variety of online courses, on SEO, blogging, happiness, etc.
- Trying to exercise everyday at home even if it's just 10min. Since I also eat healthily, by the end of this I'll be super hot 😜 Haha #WishfulThinking
- Staying connected with friends and family, more than I ever have in 15y as an expat.
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And YOU? What are you doing to "take advantage" of this crisis?
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#GiliStory  #gililankanfushi #GiliMoments #StayAtHome #Covid-19 #StayPositive #SpreadPositivity #DigitalNomad #WorkOnline
DREAMING - I stopped planning trips or thinking ab DREAMING - I stopped planning trips or thinking about when or where my next trip will be.
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But I have not stopped thinking of the great trips I've taken this year. Even in two months, I already made amazing memories.
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This picture is so perfect it looks like a painting.
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#GiliMoments #GiliStory #GiliLankanfushi #Maldives #Maldivien #Maldivas #maldivesvacation #MaldivesInsider #maldivesmania #VisitMaldives #maldivesig #beautifulMaldives #overwatervilla #Fromwhereidrone #girlswhodrone #LadyinRed #catalanspelmon #viatgersDC #luxuryresort #maldivesislands #maldivesresorts #SimplyMaldives
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