Trinny in Dubai

T: How many countries have you been to?
KE: I don´t know. I stopped counting after 30.
T: I´ve only been to 13.
KE: Well, that´s not bad. It´s probably all you´re allowed to go to.

Sadly, she´s not that far wrong. That said, the scarcity of options and the prevalence of visa requirements did influence my decision to visit Nepal, and I am very happy I went.

And travel plans for the future? Looks like South America is probably the best option!

How many countries have you visited? Comments in the box below, please.

1. I decided to go on holiday next week.
2. Not a baldy was blessed with its first comment by someone who is not personally known to me.
3. Going for a freebie dinner with the 618 massive tonight.

So, ja, I didn´t win big, or small, at the South African Blog Awards. In fact, if the results were announced in order of number of votes, I came last in my category. But thanks to those of you who voted for me anyway!

And now, I have a little reward. All nominees receive two free pizzas from Butler´s. Now, if it were two free pizzas from Diva, I might be tempted to hop on a plane, but as it is, I´m gonna share the cheese… Capetonians have until Thursday April 16 to submit their comments as to why I should give my prize to them. Most pizzalicious comment wins

1. I am a finalist in the SA Blog Awards Best Overseas Blog category. Don´t foget: voting closes on March 31. 

2. I am going on a press junket to Cyprus next month. Cross fingers my schengen visa comes through in time. 

3. I am going to see Coldplay in Abu Dhabi tomorrow with NH (thanks!). Given Kim´s comment on my chakra,
I´m anticipating that listening to ´Yellow´ will boost my will power re. not smoking.

Didn´t have any exercise scheduled for today, but went for a brief swim when I got home from work. Actually, I was *almost* tempted to put in a surprise appearance at yoga after a hectic day, but decided I´d rather have some time to myself in the evening for a change. Not doing too well on the healthy eating at the moment (chicken tikka masala for lunch), but hey, it ´s crunch time at the office and I have to keep going somehow on my first non-smoking deadline!

Encouragement of the day: Kim´s comments re. my yellow chakra. 
Exercise of the day: Swimming.  
Temptation of the day:  Saying no to that deadline cigarette.

A few of my friends and family had some suggestions regarding which form of exercise I should choose for the healthy challenge. Aqua aerobics (promising) and kick boxing (be honest, can you really see me kick boxing?!) both featured. That said, I don´t imaging many people could see me doing bikram yoga either… 

I was really nervous about going to class today. I mean, I know the point of yoga is like to focus and relax into yourself, but  still, I was worried about not doing it right. What if I was exhaling when everyone else was inhaling?!

It was good to have Heidi with me for encouragement. And even though she´s a natural athlete and was totally better than me, I know that´s not the point, so I´m not at all jealous (okay, well only a little bit).

So, first impressions? Well, for starters, it was fucking hot. By the end of the 90 minutes I looked like a tomato. A very sweaty tomato. But, and here´s the thing, I felt fantastic. It´s a long time since I let those exercise endorphins run riot in my body: they had fun, and so did I. I felt like I imagine Pim does when he´s had too many painkillers at the dentist. Except my buzz was what I believe is known as a “natural high”. 

I´ll write more about the actual class and different postures next time I go – for my first lesson I was too busy wiping the sweat from my brow while trying to balance on one leg to make any detailed observations…

Temptation of the day: Guy behind the counter at my friendly corner shop asking if I wanted to buy a packet of smokes. I uttered a very sore, “No, thank you.”
Yoga phrase of the day:  ”Looking, but not seeing.”
Request of the day: Just because I was making fun of the gym bunnies who commented on my first healthy challenge post, it doesn´t mean I don´t want anyone to comment. I was only teasing, honest. I´m gonna need your comments and further encouragement throughout the month, please!

Not sure if anyone´s noticed my reading list, which is located on the sidebar on the right of this page. Am too bloody lazy to write reviews of the books I´ve read, but will entertain discussions in the comment box.

Otherwise, I´m really disappointed that only four people have voted in my poll so far… Um, make that three, since I voted once at work, and once at home. C´mon guys, get voting – it´s no fun to be nameless until you make up your minds! Actually, “Trinny” is gaining popularity in Dubai – if you prefer a different nickname for me, you know how to make your voice heard.