This month we recieved a gorgeous postcard from Rachel Pether, an nzgirl living it up in Abu Dhabi!
Plus, we've also got 5 copies of Jandal Prints on the Globe (released October 29) up for grabs, a book filled with exciting travel stories from young kiwis, including Rachel! Read on to find out how you could win your very own copy...
Dear nzgirl,
I'm sending you this postcard from...Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates and the richest city in the world.
My first thought when I stepped off the plane... I hope it doesn’t get much hotter than this! I arrived from London wearing jeans, a cashmere jumper and winter boots. I was sweating the second I stepped out of the air con.
The coolest thing I saw was... Hmmm, do I have to choose just one? It’s a toss up between star gazing in the desert (with no city lights to detract from the brightness, the stars look incredible), a sand bank full of flamingos or Coldplay at the Emirates Palace. There was a huge electric storm and everyone was in a state of shock because they had never seen rain in Abu Dhabi before. To their credit, Coldplay kept on going even though their equipment must have posed a significant hazard!
The hottest bargain I found was… Ladies nights… every night. The lack of single females here means that whatever night of the week you go out, you can always find a bar that serves free champagne to ladies. Great if you like champagne, bad if you value your liver.
It's so different from home because... There is so much sand, a mosque on every corner, the Islamic call to prayer five times a day, traffic and people everywhere, the bluest water imaginable and a feeling of safety unmatched in any city I’ve ever been to. I left my shopping bag at the mall one evening and the following day my friend found it sitting on a chair in the middle of the mall, untouched.
I'd like to come back next time and… Stay on a traditional dhow.You can do weekend dive trips where you live aboard which are apparently amazing. It’s next on my list of things to do, after I’ve become a fully trained kite surfer!
I'd recommend this place to you... If you love water sports, desert trips, shopping malls, sunshine and fast food.
Love,
Rachel x
Been bitten by the travel bug? Rachel is just one of many young kiwis who took part in Jandal Prints on the Globe - a book dedicated to the great overseas experience. Filled with short stories and photography by young New Zealanders travelling the world, Jandal Prints on the Globe will captivate those who wish to travel, those who have travelled, or anyone who is enthralled by great story telling.
We've got five copies of the book to giveaway to some lucky nzgirls - to get yourself in the draw simply tell us which country in the world you're most dying to visit! Jandal Prints on the globe is available from October 29. Visit www.jandalprints.com for more info
Click here to check out what other hot competitions are on nzgirl right now!
This month we recieved a gorgeous postcard from Rachel Pether, an nzgirl living it up in Abu Dhabi! 
