SeaWorld Abu Dhabi to Open this Week

The first Sea World outside of North America will open on Yas Island on May 23, 2023. Sea World Abu Dhabi is a five-floor wonderland whose eight realms boast 100,00 animals, 15 rides and experiences, 18 dining options, and 13 shopping areas.

Sea World Abu Dhabi aims to offer an unparalleled entertainment experience while simultaneously educating visitors about conservation and ecology.

The eight realms of Sea World Abu Dhabi are: One Ocean, MicroOcean, Rocky Point, Artic, Antarctica, Endless Ocean, Abu Dhabi Ocean, and Tropical Ocean. Each realm contains its own themed restaurants and cafes. The theme park uses advanced technology to recreate the natural habitats of the wildlife, controlling water currents, light conditions, and wave movement.

Other attractions on Yas Island include Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Brothers World, and the Emirates Park Zoo.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, the development company which built Sea World Abu Dhabi, said: “SeaWorld Abu Dhabi represents the next generation of theme parks, joining the world-class experiences on Yas Island, further positioning it as a top global destination, contributing to the growth of Abu Dhabi’s tourism vision.

“The Park will also play a key role in promoting environmental awareness and protecting marine life in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the wider region, undoubtedly inspiring guests to care for and protect our precious marine life for years to come.”

Buddy Holly Wins Best of Show

The 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was held on May 8th at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. This year, the grand prize was won by a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, a breed of dog that that has never before been crowned the winner. Buddy Holly, a six-year-old male from California, beat 3,000 dogs from 210 breeds to take first place in this prestigious contest.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens, or PBGV’s were bred to track hares in the region of Vendee in western France.

At the dog show, contestants are first separated into breeds. The winners of each breed are further divided into groups, such as hound, toy, non-sporting, herding, sporting, working, and terrier. Buddy Holly is considered a hound. The dogs are examined by a group of judges who touch the animals and watch them as their handlers lead them around the arena. Dogs are graded on appearance, temperament, size, coat, and other characteristics.

Buddy Holly’s handler, Janice Hayes, was very excited about the win, even though it does not come with a cash prize. “I never thought PBGV would do this. Buddy Holly is the epitome of the dog show.”

Despite “Engagement Gap,” Signet Jewelers President is Hopeful for Rebound

Top U.S. retailers report that engagement ring and wedding dress sales have not rebounded since the pandemic. The beginning of the lockdowns in the early spring of 2020 led to an “engagement gap,” according to Signet Jewelers, the largest jewelry company in the United States. Signet reports that engagement ring sales were down in 2023 and are projected to remain low in 2024. As another indication of lower engagement and marriage rates, David’s Bridal, the largest wedding dress retailer, recently declared bankruptcy.

According to president and chief consumer officer of Signet, Jamie Singleton, the average couple in the United States dates for 3.25 years before getting engaged. Thus, the company needs the number of engagements to grow by 25% by the year 2026 in order to return to pre-Covid sales.

Singleton, though, is hopeful that numbers will trend upward in the coming years, quoting the statistic that dating is back up 8% to pre-Covid levels.

An Opera a Day Keeps the Blues Away

In case you ever needed an excuse to go to that concert, play or art installation – you’ve now got it! Dr. Dacher Keltner, the co-founder and director of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center explains that the power of awe has long-lasting and far-reaching consequences. Whether music, drama, nature, religion or art gives you that feeling of awe – the awe itself can be transformative.

How does awe help us? Research has shown that having a sense of awe can improve positive social behavior because it makes people feel that they are part of something larger than themselves. Awe can help us to reduce stress and anxiety. It can also be associated with creativity and curiosity.

The good news, for those who can’t afford to go to expensive venues to pursue wonder and awe, is that Keltner explains that awe can be cultivated in many ways. As he explains, “I think one of the promises of our digital lives is (having access to) more aesthetic awe, and getting you to artists that you wouldn’t ordinarily find in a museum.” Slowing down, taking a walk outside, putting your phone down and relaxing are all ways to try to bring more awe into your life.

What’s Your Bread of Choice?

The general consensus in diet culture is that bread is bad. There are programs which are premised around completely eliminating bread and carbohydrates. According to many dieticians, though, there are certain breads which provide significant nutritional value.

Not only can bread serve as a good source of whole grains, but carbs are essential to a balanced diet. According to dietician Natalie Mokari, “We need carbohydrates to function. Carbs are brain food. If you notice, whenever you don’t have carbohydrates, you feel really sluggish, you might have brain fog, you just don’t have as much energy.”

So, which breads should we be eating?

Wheat breads contain whole grains, vitamins, and fiber. But many people prefer the taste of white bread. Mokari explains that if you compare the labels of each, the truth is that they are not so different so you may as well choose the one you enjoy more.

If you crave the taste of white bread but want something a little less refined, consider sourdough. Sourdough is fermented and can be beneficial to gut health. The slower the fermentation, the easier the digestion process of the gluten.

Some other general tips offered by Moraki include:

  1. Checking the ingredient list rather than the label – for real whole grain bread, be sure the first word is “whole.”
  2. For extra fiber, choose a loaf with seeded crust.
  3. Buy from bakeries rather than packaged
  4. Avoid diet or low-card breads, which often have unhealthy ingredients to improve the taste

Most importantly, bon appétit!

New Option: Skip Those Airplane Meals

Here’s an interesting idea that a number of airlines are proposing. You can now opt to skip receiving your meal while on your next flight. Airlines such as Delta and Japan Airline are using an option to allow passengers to opt out before they even fly. Why would people choose to do so?

At the moment, the idea is serving as a test case for what airlines can do to reduce fuel, costs and waste on board flights. Of course, critics argue that the airlines are trying to make themselves look green – but that they are actually just trying to cut corners.

Of course, passengers who have chosen this option far before their flights are often worried about what will happen if they change their mind. They won’t be able to get a full meal, but there are always snacks on flights that passengers can find. And they can try to remember to bring their own goodies with them as well.

One other added benefit of forgoing the food is the chance to set your body onto the correct time zone. Eating at unusual times during a flight can definitely make it difficult for your body to adjust to the time change.

It will be interesting to see if this is something that takes off – or just a passing phase.