Before we bid good riddance to 2012, I wanted to find out what truly rocked our boats this year. From films to music, not forgetting gadgets and tech stuff, I got a couple of my friends to give me their 2 cents on what doesn’t deserve a roundhouse kick. (If only there was a category for people, hah!)
p/s: Isn’t that cat cute?
Jit S’ng Kok – 24 – University student
Music Tracks:
Robert Glasper Experiment – Gonna Be Alright
“An underrated jazz album in general. I really dig this track because it’s got a lot of influences of styles. Very complex layering of texture, and smooth transitions between highlighted styles. Especially R&B vocals into piano fillers, scales pick up from where one left off. Clever stuff!”
Kishi Bashi – I Am The Antichrist To You
“I feel simple effects like delays have been applied very effectively. It doesn’t try to be too complicated, and lets the notes ring through. Also, the vocals and instruments give each other space. In this particular track, “no notes” is just as important as the notes. Because the little silences act as a “wrap” for the sound. There is a very distinct audible illusion when the different instruments of different frequencies come into play. I like to think of it as the music being very respectful to one another. Unlike a lot of math rock, where everything just obliterates your eardrums.”
Portico Quartet – Ruins
“Portico Quartet has made it’s name by playing very delicate sounds, to the point you could call it “cute”. Lots of playful tones and melodies. But this is off their latest eponymous album, and it truly is a deeper darker side of them, I think. It’s very much like the story of Pagliacci in Watchmen, where the clown goes to the psychiatrist. I think many people underestimate the darkness that’s behind a lot of comedy, and this track really reminds me of that.”
The Coup – Magic Clap
“Blatant energy. A lot of channeled sexuality in the beats and repetition. If you analyse it, it really is a very simple tune, which is actually very difficult to write in any genre, because you need to keep the energy up. If you listen to the vocals, its the same most of the time, but it’s written in such a prose that indicates a different stanza each time. Another form of song writing compared to the typical structure of a pop song. Not to mention the little guitar solo in the end. That sounded more like an after thought than anything.”
Michael Kiwanuka – Tell Me A Tale
“If you didn’t know that this was released in 2012, you could almost fool anyone that it came from the 60s. It’s got this great Motown feel to it. In a decade where almost all popular music is digital (essentially, you can get everything to be perfect), the producer opted for a lo-fi sound. Those random flutes are absolutely a brilliant flourish to the track. Lastly, the turn arounds in the chorus’ are pretty brilliant. I think (although I’m no authority) it heavily relies on the competency of the drummer. Excellent timing and execution!”
Films:
The Dark Knight Rises
“Oh jesus. It’s goddamn fucking Batman. It drew upon MANY of the famous Batman novels, including “No Man’s Land” and “The Dark Knight Returns”, and had many themes that make Batman the literary figure he is. He’s not a superhero, he’s an anti-hero. All that glamorous bullshit? throw it out the window. He’s the motherfuckin’ dark knight. What’s most important, is that the conclusive piece highlights the fact that Batman is still only human, and he has to deal with bullshit as well. Nolan is an amazing director. This film is a strong stand alone, but if you take all three Nolan Batmans, you’ll see how the trilogy mashes into a single amazing saga. Everything from the themes, cinematography, colour palattes, and the music flow so well. Just fucking everything.”
Brave
“Scottish accents are hot. The heroine was hot. Ok, seriously, the animation in this was staggeringly beautiful. Shading was superb. It’s Pixar, what else can I say? Two things that stood out: 1) Merida’s hair animation. From a tech point of view, that is an AMAZING job at rendering hair and natural movement. Not to mention the individual hairs. 2) The stream scene. When Merida falls into the water, the naturalism of the light is unbelievable.”
Wreck-it-Ralph
“Every once in a while, you get a film like this that presents you every element you need to piece the storyline, AND the twist at the end, but still surprises you. This was such a film. Many animated films do a good job at voice acting, but the casting for the characters in this one was just a cut above the rest. The references in the film to games were really enjoyable, mainly because inside jokes are hardly accessible. This film makes it so that everyone can enjoy it regardless of whether you know games or not. It also brings to light many highly intellectual questions, like the division of labour, utilitarianism, individualism, etc.”
50/50
“How many films are there that play on cancer? How many of them make it real? The trouble with cancer films is that the directors assume that the moment they mention the word “cancer”, the audience should start crying. Not 50/50. It lets you into the world of a cancer patient, it makes you see it from his point of view. Not only that, in 50/50 it also deals with the whole denial phase very well. Also, it touches upon the misunderstood world of masculinity quite well. The scene when JGL is finally going in for surgery and it all crumbles? That’s what MANY issues for men are like in the real world.”
John Carter
HIGHLY underrated movie. What a great sci-fi/adventure flick! Many things in this film are scientifically sound, and many concepts are reflective of scientific theories. Also, I liked the whole reverse alien theme, in contrast to the typical “invaders from another planet” thing. The human is the alien, brilliant. Character development is done at a very comfortable pace for me. You’re not expected to take anything at face value. I appreciate that attention to detail. Helps with the realism.
TV Shows/Box Set:
“I don’t watch TV.”
Gadgets/Apps/Tech:
15″ Macbook Pro Retina
“Simply an engineering feat. But the display is the golden ticket on this piece of tech. The pixel density and the IPS technology both combine to make an unparalleled viewing pleasure. Everything from photos and movies are a complete different experience. And it’s an amazing powerhouse of a laptop as well. Finally, just look at how they’ve managed to pack everything into this chassis. Must be black magic.”
G-Shock GW-A1000RAF
“This baby is limited to 2000 units worldwide. Running on solar battery with atomic time keeping (hijacks time signals from the stratosphere to keep accurate time). It also can resist G forces up to 8 Gs, 20bar pressure resistance, functional between below freezing point and above boiling point, shock resistant, and multiple functions in an analogue face. That means its got 6 independent motors JUST for the face of the watch. All this in a watch. This is the poster boy for over engineering! Most of the appeal of Gshocks is the over engineering. And that’s what most collectors love about gshocks.”
Google Maps for iPhone
“This is a very recent addition to the app store. But play around with it, and you’ll see that it’s a beautiful looking application. Combine that with the Olympian amount of data Google has, it literally is the world at your fingertips presented so cleanly and organized.”
Astell & Kern AK100 Audio Player
“The Astell and Kern is a true audiophiles wet dream. Everything on it is catered to maximize your auditory enjoyment, but the thing that sells it to me is the EQ function where you can tailor the EQ to your needs on every frequency level. Not to mention it’s absolutely beautifully designed.”
Makerbot Replicator 2
“I just want a 3D printer to make lots of tools and stuff for my hobbies. I can’t stand having to go out and buy a single overpriced tool for one job, and never use it again. Or look for a teeny tiny shop that sells spare parts for something I want to tinker with. All that driving about is a waste of time. But if I can just print the thing out, brilliant. Also, there a lot of things that I still have that need spares, but are no longer in production. So the entire device just sits at home and collects dust. Very very sad.”
Places to hang out:
“I really can’t answer this question.”
Stephanie Jo Fernandez – 20 – Student
Music Tracks:
Ingrid Michaelson – Ghost
fun. — Some Nights
Brandi Carlile — That Wasn’t Me
Emeli Sande — Next to Me
A Fine Frenzy — It’s Alive
“Honestly, I don’t really listen to the radio. In fact, having one in my car is pointless, because I’m always plugging my iPod in. I guess these were my favorites from this year.”
Films:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
“Ever since I read Perks, I’d wanted to see a film based on it. And yep, the film was everything I expected, and more. Perfect cast, perfect soundtrack.”
Brave
“I watched Brave on a date. The graphics were amazing.”
The Life of Pi
“The Life of Pi had some of the best cinematography I’ve seen in a film this year.”
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
“I’m a huge Lorene Scafaria fan (the writer/director of Seeking a Friend), and the film was quirky and fun to watch.”
The Woman in Black
“DANIEL RADCLIFFE WHEN HE IS NOT HARRY POTTER. THAT IS ALL.”
TV Shows/Box Set:
American Horror Story: Asylum
“I waited for the second season of AHS, and I didn’t think it could be as good or suspenseful as the first, but I was wrong.”
Two Broke Girls
“As for Two Broke Girls… everyone needs a laugh on Tuesdays.”
Criminal Minds
“Criminal Minds is addictive! I’ve been following it forever and I can’t quit.”
Grey’s Anatomy
“The same goes for Grey’s Anatomy. It keeps getting better and better and sadder and sadder, and everyone needs an excuse to cry.”
Legend of Korra
“I was an Avatar fan. And Korra is so well written.”
Gadgets/Apps/Tech:
Pair (app)
“Pair is great for couples. It’s fun, too. You can draw together and stuff.”
Instagram
“It is just a fun way of sharing pictures.”
Hotspot Shield (for PC)
“Hotspot Shield is awesome, especially if you’re paranoid about someone finding out your IP address.”
Shazam
“I love Shazam because I think it’s the most useful app ever created.”
Google Maps
“Maps helps me find places I need to be at, but haven’t been to before.”
Places to hang out:
Temple Bar, Dublin
“Temple Bar lives up to the hype. There’s always something going on, till the wee hours of the morning, and yet, it’s incredibly safe.”
The Book Centre, Waterford
“The Book Centre in Waterford is apparently one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. It’s nice to just sit there and chill.”
Sapi island, Sabah
“Sapi island is ridiculously beautiful. ‘Nuff said.”
G3, Bangsar
“G3 has the best chocolate nemesis I’ve ever had in my life. No lie.”
With Aoife
“Because I don’t get to see her very often, and when I do, I never take it for granted. Even if we’re doing something normal, I get to do it maybe twice a year, so whatever we do is special.”
Bunga – 36 – A quarter of Twilight Actiongirl
Music Tracks:
Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built
“Because the lyrics summed up my year perfectly. Great tune too.”
Major Lazer feat. Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors - Get Free
“Who says Diplo only knows to make bangers? Get Free is surprisingly poignant. The Andy C remix is also primed to be a festival favourite.”
Julia Stone – Let’s Forget All The Things That We Say
“With a voice like Julia Stone, you can spew rubbish and it’ll still sound sexy.”
Jessie Ware – Wildest Moments
“Did Phil Spector came back to produce this bona-fide leftfield pop hit of the year?”
Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks
“Technically from last year, it took some Icelanders to out-Arcade Fire the real thing. Already a monster (pun intended) sing-along at TAG.”
Films:
Moonrise Kingdom
“Typical Wes Anderson, kooky and dead funny but not in a laugh-out-loud way.”
Life of Pi
“Some parts sagged but Ang Li’s depiction of Pi and Richard Parker’s adventure together is the best use of CGI that I have seen in awhile. (No, Avatar sucked)”
LCD Soundsystem – Shut Up And Play The Hits
“Calculated career move it may be but the music is real, and so are the fans.”
Batman: The Dark Knight Rises
“Despite plot holes, still epic. And Bane was badass.”
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
“Just a movie about some old Japanese dude who has been making sushi for the past 60 years or so in his 10-seater sushi bar. And getting 3 Michelin stars for it.”
TV Shows/Box Set:
The Walking Dead
“Wins by default because I don’t really watch TV series.”
Game of Thrones
“Dragon mommy, ’nuff said.”
Series I want to watch:
Breaking Bad
“Because it’s about drugs and shit.”
Broadwalk Empire
“Crime, guns and lots of dressed up dandy gangsters. Reasons enough.”
Gadgets/Apps/Tech:
Dropbox
“This has been a lifesaver as well as an invaluable tool for work and to share stuff with friends etc.”
Google Drive
“Now you can sleep well knowing your stuff is backed up.”
OpenRice app
“The perennial question that Malaysians always like to ask: What to eat ah? Short of asking me personally, OpenRice is invaluable.”
Nike+ Fuelband
“An ingenious way to get people to keep fit, you reward them by giving them points – just like in a game.”
Wii U
“The future of home gaming consoles? Can’t wait to find out.”
Places to hang out:
Twilight Actiongirl @Barsonic
Still home to one of the best nights out in KL.
Tokyo
My favourite city in terms of culture, food, shopping or just plain sensory overload. And yet, Tokyo still managed to preserve the old with the new and showed me that what make Tokyo truly special: the people living in it.
Bangsar
Horrible gridlock and parking issues aside, Bangsar is still the best neighborhood that has an interesting mix of the old (Lucky Garden – cheap and affordable hawker, traditional mom & pop shops) and the new (hip coffee places, cafes, malls).
Yut Kee
Still the best old school kopitiam in town for cheap tasty food. High on value and atmosphere.
Home
Because there’s where the heart is.
Sheikh Aiman – 24 – University Student
Music Tracks:
Fiona Apple – Every Single Night
“Delivery is key, Fiona did not fail in that department and the beat almost has a certain texture to it.”
Girls Aloud – On The Metro
“Super catchy beat, it’s almost impossible not the repeat the song a couple of times.”
Grimes – Oblivion
“Grimes childlike vocal and it’s almost impossible to miss the influence of 80s synth used in the song.”
Christina Aguilera – Lotus Intro
“A soothing song on rebirth, flawless.”
Kylie Minogue – Timebomb
“The buildup of the song and the break before the final chorus gives the song a certain kind of urgency feel to which makes it a perfect pop confection.”
Films:
Batman: The Dark Knight Rises
“Anne Hathaway shows that not only Michelle Pfeifer can flawlessly don the Catwoman suit.”
Perks of being a Wallflower
“With a focus on mental illness, definitely a film I could relate to.”
Brave
“A feminist Disney princess, what could be better?”
Cloud Atlas
“A film that explores the theme of how an individual action could impact another, even through time and space. Fantastically well done.”
Les Misérables
“Anne Hathaway’s scene as she performs I Dreamed a Dream, that is all.”
TV Shows/Box Set:
Shameless (US)
“A show which focuses on a dysfunctional family narrated with equal amount of drama and humour.”
RuPaul’s All-Stars Drag Race
“Most inspiring reality television show ever, be gender queer, fuck the system!”
Girls
“A raw take on friendships with excruciatingly amazing sense of humour.”
Game of Thrones
“DRAGONS!”
Downtown Abbey
“I always have a thing for shows with costumes.”
Gadgets/Apps/Tech:
Sony Xperia S
“The phone I’m using now, not without its faults but I still love it.”
Sony Playstation Vita
“Amazing graphic and capability on handheld, definitely great for gaming on the go.”
Pulse (app)
“Best app to browse through all your news sites.”
Microsoft Windows 8
“Clean and beautiful user interface.”
Nokia Lumia range
“Sleek and colourful design.”
Places to hang out:
Bangsar area
“Favourite spot to hang around with my gays”
Monash University Sunway Campus
“Met some of the best people here, gossiping between classes is always the best way to spend my free time.”
MidValley
“Nearest good mall to where I live.”
Bukit Bintang
“I really like people watching around here, abundance of hot mess.”
Publika
“The cool new place to stuff yourself.”
Arman Attarzadeh – 21 – University graduate
Music tracks:
Muse – Panic Station
“With a funky introduction on the bass guitar reminiscent of the old Prince songs of yesteryear, Muse’s Panic Station is one song off of their 2012 studio album “The 2nd Law” that surprised even the hardcore fans among their demographic. Set to the tone of 90′s retro groove pop that your mom and pop used to listen to, I choose this track as one of my picks of 2012 purely for its catchy lyrics and old-school vibe. Furthermore, who can go wrong with some nice brass to accompany a track?”
Soundgarden – Been Away Too Long
“After a 13-year hiatus, it was nice to hear that Soundgarden were getting back to do another studio album. The first single off of the album “King Animals” was Been Away Too Long and I think the track title really says it all about the band and their new take on music. They have been away too long and missed dearly by fans but thankfully delivered with an epic song that shows Chris Cornell still has what it takes to be a rock legend.”
Stone Sour – Gone Sovereign
“Stone Sour’s Gone Sovereign is their first track off of their album “House of Gold and Bones pt.1” and it is a bombastic track to start the album with. Showing off all that is Stone Sour, it definitely is filled with angst and balls-to-the-walls riffage. I loved this track the moment it was released as a single and definitely recommend it to all fans and non-fans alike to check out this album as it definitely has something for everyone.”
The Offspring – Future is Now
“I was quite anxious to see if The Offspring still had it in them to make another punk album or were they doomed to a life of mediocrity. Thankfully, this track off of their latest album “Days Go By” has that old school punk feel with a modern twist. Of course it won’t please the hardcore fans but I personally loved it and thought they were bringing something new to the table.”
Mumford & Sons – I Will Wait
“Mumford & Sons have been the oddball artist on my playlist but I always enjoy listening to their bluegrass/folky-type songs and their new single off of their 2012 album “Babel” is a great listen. Starting really fast-paced, the song always makes me dance in my chair or bob my head a lot while I am walking. I think it is a brilliant follow-up to Little Lion Man and it is one of those songs that is always on repeat for me.”
Films:
Wreck-it-Ralph
“This movie was something that as a gamer I immediately connected with. Seeing all of my favorite game characters in 3D or being referenced to (my favorite part was the Metal Gear Solid exclamation mark that no one in the cinema got the reference for) was pretty awesome. The story was well thought out and the concept of video game characters and their respective games actually living beyond the players’ control was imaginative to say the least. I definitely recommend this movie (even though it gets a TAD mushy towards the end) to anyone; gamer or not!”
James Bond: Skyfall
“I was waiting for the sequel to the abysmal disaster that was 2008′s James Bond: Quantum of Solace to see if Hollywood could redeem themselves. Immediately after I saw the trailer for Skyfall, I knew I had to watch it as it seemed to be epic. Let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint. They truly told a good story and made Bond more human than he had ever been in this iteration of the series. Thankfully, I was satisfied while leaving the movie theatre, thinking to myself, “That didn’t suck at all!””
Batman: The Dark Knight Rises
“Now everyone seems to agree on one point about the recent reboot to the Batman series, Nolan has acknowledged that most fans of the Batman franchise have grown up and have forgone the old Caped-Crusader’s campy appearance and attitude. Our expectations were fulfilled when The Dark Knight was released and we saw the gritty, matured, and dark persona of what a Batman film could be like. The sequel to The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, was definitely an amazing movie to end the trilogy with and really upped the ante when it came to how much darker can Batman get. “
Ted
“From the creator of Family Guy (Seth MacFarlane), comes a hilarious tale of a boy and his fully-sentient teddy bear, who embark on a journey to… OK, enough with the Disney-esque trailer speech. Ted was fantastic and that is saying a lot considering the fact that I don’t find Family Guy to be hilarious. I didn’t know whether I was going to like it or hate it and was prepared for the latter mostly but Seth MacFarlane didn’t disappoint. He didn’t bring over a Family Guy attitude to the film, which was great and appreciated. I laughed quite a bit in the cinema while watching it and I don’t usually laugh watching a movie.”
The Avengers
“The Avengers was a love-it-or-hate-it type of movie. If you were a fan of the comics, you’d have to be pretty open-minded enough not to hate it. If you were an average Joe, then you definitely came out of the theatre with a lot of satisfaction. The movie wasn’t too over-the-top (although there are scenes where you might go “…Really?”) and it had some great moments that made you spill your gut in laughter.”
TV Shows/Box Set:
Boardwalk Empire
“Set in the start of the Prohibition Era, Boardwalk Empire follows Atlantic City Treasurer, Enoch “Nucky” Thomson and his rise as a political figure and the struggles he encounters along the way. Immediately after learning that the show is based off of the Prohibition era and is a mobster-type show, I knew I had to watch. I just love that setting; the music, the atmosphere, men being men, mob families, the costumes. Not to mention, the pilot was filmed by Martin Scorcese which adds more awesome into the mix.”
Sherlock
“The premise of Sherlock is similar to every other Sherlock Holmes adaptation but with a twist, everything is set in modern-day England and Sherlock Holmes is changed from a man in his 40s to a man in his early 30s. The show is quite cinematic, and I wouldn’t expect any less from the BBC, and adapts Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories beautifully to fit in with modern-day life. The season finale of Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger that got me craving for more, a lot more. 500 gagillion thumbs-up from me on this one!”
Suits
“I hate crime dramas, they bore me to death. And I especially hate lawyer-crime dramas, but Suits took me by surprise in a way I didn’t expect it. The show didn’t shove a lot of lawyer-ing down my throat in the beginning and gradually eased me into it (while even then not taking it too far). You grow to love the characters (even the ones you might hate) and you begin to appreciate the way the show develops them.”
The Newsroom
“The Newsroom is a drama based on the lives of employees at a news channel, ’nuff said. But it is much more than that. It shows the ins-and-outs of what it takes to be a journalist/news channel in the States, and shows how sensationalist some news stories can get because of ratings and bias. The characters are definitely believable and the show has a story that mirrors current events of the year. I loved it because of its depiction of media (heavily influenced by the fact that I did Mass Comm in university), and how it isn’t always news that is informative but entertaining to watch as well.”
TRON: Uprising
“If you are a fan of the TRON series and have watched both movies extensively like I have, TRON: Uprising should definitely be on your must-watch list of TV shows. It takes place between TRON and TRON: Legacy, and shows how The Grid became what it is in the sequel. The animation is superbly done and the voice-acting is top-notch due to the A-Listers they commissioned to do the voices of the characters.”
Gadgets/Apps/Tech:
Google Nexus 4
“Google’s 4th iteration of its Nexus series of phones has been a major success, selling out almost instantaneously the day it was launched and becoming difficult to acquire ever since. The reasons for its success is definitely its price point starting at $299 for the 8GB and $349 for the 16GB. With that price however, don’t expect to be getting cheap hardware. In fact, this thing packs so much of power, it rivals smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X+. It also comes with pure Android without the manufacture bloatware thus being directly supported by Google. All these reasons are why I choose Google’s Nexus 4 to be my top pick for a smartphone of 2012.”
Google Nexus 7
“The Nexus 7 is Google’s first direct foray into tablets. A cheap price ($199 for the 16GB and $249 for the 32GB) and amazing hardware make this the perfect mini-tablet for people who don’t want to carry a bulky iPad or don’t have the cash to spend on an iPad mini. I personally have one and love it because of the things it has allowed me to do. I connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to it and bam, Laptop. I connect a PS3 controller to it and wow, portable game console.”
Pebble Smartwatch
“The Pebble Smartwatch was the first Kickstarter initiative to gain more than $1m and for good reason: It is a watch that connects to your iPhone or Android device and allows you to get notifications, change music tracks, track your fitness, and so much more on your watch. I used to have Sony Ericsson’s take on a similar accessory but it was horrible and poorly built. This thing boasts up to 7 days of battery life thanks to its E-Ink display and is water-resistant compared to the Sony Ericsson LiveWatch which I head. I personally think accessories like this are the future of tech and fashion.”
Nintendo Wii-U
“Nintendo’s latest gaming console takes my pick for best idea since pixelated sliced-bread. The Wii-U takes the best parts of the Wii and combines it with better graphics and a gamepad (optional) that expands and enhances the gaming experience. The gamepad is the biggest feature for the Wii-U as it is effectively a PS Vita-esque thing that allows you to take your game on the go with you when travelling, or to get different camera views in some games, or various other imaginative features game may utilize the gamepad for. I think the more immersive the game becomes, the more enjoyable it is and that is why I pick the Wii-U as the game console of 2012.”
Macbook Pro Retina Display
“I have always been a fan of the Macbook series of laptops and this latest addition to the family definitely makes me fawn over a piece of tech I wish I could get my grubby paws on. Being slimmer than previous Macbook Pro’s, this laptop has something else that no laptop on the market has. You know that retina display you have on your iPad and iPhone? Well this thing has it too and let me tell you, it is awesome and works much better on a bigger screen like the Macbook Pro’s 15inch. I think as phones and tablets begin to push the limits of screen technology, I don’t understand why laptop manufacturers can’t do the same. Well, hopefully someone “rips off” Apple and does this or I’ll get really angry.”
Places to hang out:
The Bee Publika
The Bee at Publika has a very cozy atmosphere with live band performances in the evening that showcases local talent. The first time I went there, I liked the way the décor had been set up and they everything looked so simplistic. The food is OK but their main product is their coffee and tea. Definitely good stuff!
Rock Cafe Sunway
Since Rock Cafe was quite close to my university, Monash, my friends and I used to hang out there after classes quite regularly. The place is very atmospheric if you decide to sit outdoors due to the lush greenery. They also have a big-screen TV which is pretty good to watch sports games on. There is a wide variety of food that should satisfy any palette.
Changkat Bukit Bintang
Changkat has quite a few upmarket bars and restaurants that come to life especially in the evenings. The area reminds me of a place back in my hometown of Dubai and so it is nice to hang out there when I feel nostalgic. If you are there, check out The Magnificent Fish and Chips Bar. They got the best fish and chips I have tasted this side of the pond.
Irish Village, Dubai UAE
Irish village in Dubai has loads of pubs and bars located in it. It is named Irish Village because of the amount of drinking events that happen there. If you are a fan of picking up a cold one or going for a wine-tasting, definitely check out Irish Village if you are ever in Dubai. It is my favorite place in Dubai due to the atmosphere as it is modeled after old Irish streets. Really cool!
Dubai Mall, Dubai UAE
If you are looking for a place to do everything, and I mean everything, then Dubai Mall is your one-stop mall for just that. It is the largest mall in the world (much like everything in Dubai) and has over 60 cinemas and 3600 shops as well as an indoor ice-skating rink and 250 restaurants. This place is so huge, there are actually taxis that go around within the mall picking people up and taking them to different wings of the mall.
That pretty much wraps up 2012 for me, see you folks on the flipside!
