It's a cold day in Dubai. Sort of.

Let me preface this by saying that I love, love, love Dubai's total lack of simplicity. They've got the world's tallest hotel, the futuristic Burj al-Arab, looming 1,053 feet over an artifical island. They've got the Palm Islands and The World. But most importantly, it's 93 degrees in the shade and they've got skiing. Hey, why not? Ski Dubai is located inside the Mall of the Emirates, which (naturally) is one of the biggest malls in the world. A full-day lift ticket costs $73 and gives you access to five runs and a snowpark (the biggest in the world, if you hadn't guessed). It'll also get you rental skis, a jacket, snowpants, socks and a helmet -- all the things you don't pack when heading for the Arabian Peninsula.

400 days and counting!

I am in love with the Olympics. Every two years, my world stops turning for a few weeks and I watch every event and cry at every medal ceremony. I also usually go through a brief phase of vowing to become an Olympian myself; I've considered gymnastics, cycling, archery, and most recently speed skating as possible avenues to Olympic glory. But given my questionable athletic prowess, a west-bound plane seems slightly more realistic.

Three reasons to catch the summer games when they come to Beijing in exactly 400 days:
1) It's a good excuse to go to China. Expedia only books ten months out, but this website helpfully marks the hotels that are currently taking reservations for August 2008.
2) Ticket prices are crazy low -- $13 for some events, and only $39 for the Women's All-Around Final in artistic gymnastics -- pretty much the holy grail of events.
3) The stadium looks like a crazy Picasso donut. Mmm!

I could get used to this.

I feel a bond with Penang, for two reasons: One, it's the name of my favorite restaurant in Philly's Chinatown, and two, someone told me once that I seemed "like someone who'd been to Malaysia." I'm not exactly sure what she meant; I'd like to believe she meant that I seemed worldly and exotic, but let's face it, she was probably just calling me a bargain whore. But you can do worldly and cheap at the beachfront cabanas at Mutiara Burau Bay, which start at $63/night USD. (I'm hoping that when the website promises "almost comfort," they actually mean "utmost comfort.") Bonus: I think the Sampan Bar, in a converted boat, is one of the coolest beach bars ever.