Happy 5th Birthday Instagram!!!

Instagram is currently my favorite social media app. I love how this community has grown on me.

[caption id="attachment_3497" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The Instagram magic![/caption]

Instagram helped and still helping me to create a world wide network of people with the same passion. Whether if it is for my blog, business or simply to be inspired.

[caption id="attachment_3494" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Follow me @kennethsurat[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3489" align="aligncenter" width="800"] ......and @suratjournals , @thetravelingjournalproject[/caption]

Check my Instagram feeds here: 

@kennethsurat

@suratjournals

@thetravelingjournalproject

What I love about Instagram is how it connects users locally and globally. Every now and then local Igers communities (around the world) create meet-ups called Instameet.

I have joined several meet-ups like this and met people who fuels my creative passion in photography, travel and blogging.

[caption id="attachment_3500" align="aligncenter" width="800"] World Wide Instameet 10 with MyDubai[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3499" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Another MyDubai sponsored World Wide Instameet (WWIM 12)[/caption]

If you are in Dubai, you can check out this @igersdubai to know when will be the next #instameet.

Here are some crazy photos I took during the recent #WWIM (World Wide Instameet). You can also check the hash #WWIM12_MyDubai to see other creative shots during that awesome day!

[caption id="attachment_3490" align="aligncenter" width="800"] #WWIM12. Our box is full of amazing people[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3491" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Met this amazing Aussie photographer @robmulally[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3492" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Posing for that awesomeness @marjanne.ph and @jarradseng[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3493" align="aligncenter" width="800"] One of the most graceful igers I've ever met @conelvanzyl[/caption]

To end this post, I would like to greet again Instagram an awesome birthday! Thank you for fueling our passion and connecting us to the world for the past 5 years.

[caption id="attachment_3495" align="aligncenter" width="800"] instagram happy 5th birthday[/caption]

Foodie Vlog: Margherita Pizzeria Dubai Launching

Last Monday (5th October 2015) I was invited to the grand launching of the new franchise of Margherita Pizzeria here in Dubai.

Their first restaurant in Dubai is located in JBR while this one is along Sheikh Zayed (near the DIFC Metro Station --yey).

[blockquote source="Margherita Pizzeria"]Margherita offers traditional Neopolitan cuisine amidst a cozy neighborhood pizzeria setting. Its pioneering branch was established in 2008 at the heart of Beirut, Lebanon. Since opening its doors the restaurant has carved a distinctive reputation for its quality taste and top-notch service, rapidly expanding as a popular Italian franchise across the region. It currently holds several branches throughout Lebanon in Gemmayzeh, Sin El Fil, Jounieh, Achrafieh, and Saifi. Margherita has also crossed borders to bring its classic menu to the people of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Nigeria, and the UAE. Committed to maintaining superior culinary standards and impeccable service, Margherita remains steadfast in its mission to provide food aficionados across the world with authentic Italian fare.[/blockquote]

The event started with a ribbon cutting led by His Excellency Mr. Giovanni Favilli – Italian Consul General in Dubai. Once the ribbon was cut, I got very excited because it means we can start eating (hahaha).

[caption id="attachment_3481" align="aligncenter" width="800"] A full table full of FOOOOOOOOOOOOD[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3462" align="aligncenter" width="800"] I can see some burrata![/caption]

There was a big long table full of tasty and simple (very true Italian) food.To be honest, I am not familiar of the names of most of the food. Thank God that we were doing a Vlog to know more about the name of the food we had. (Hit play on the youtube video below).

My favorite was the burrata. Since I arrived, my eyes were just fixed on that.  Their signature pizza (of course one of it is a Margherita  transported me back in Italy. All their pizzas are brick-baked and they are claiming that all ingredients are imported from Italy which is why they tasted very authentic.

[caption id="attachment_3472" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Luvin this (yheap I dont know what it is called).[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3470" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Parmigiana ( Didnt taste it cause I dont eat eggplant, but one guest told me it was amazing!)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3474" align="aligncenter" width="800"] PIZZAAAh![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3464" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The work station. Getting those pizzas out![/caption]

It was a great night full of exquisite Italian cuisine. I was so happy seeing my favorite comfort food ---Burrata!--and it didn't dissapoint!

The restaurant has an outdoor seating, and with the weather getting cooler and cooler now, it can be a good place for a weekend lunch out or dinner with family and friends.

If you are following me in Facebook or Instagram you might already know that I started a youtube channel and been planning to start vlogging. So when I received the invitation for this event, me and my friend Charles (the man behind the video cam) thought that we could use this opportunity to test out our vlogging skills.

[caption id="attachment_3476" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Charles busy shooting my awkward face![/caption]

Check out our full vlog on this event below.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FENmL4Rx8ok[/embed]

Of course we still have a lot to improve, and I feel really awkward in front of the camera (which made me question if this is a good idea haha).

We are excited with this project and we have a lot of plans for future video series which we can't wait to share with you.

Any vlogging tips and suggestions? Send me a message in the comments box below!

 Check out Margharita Pizzeria, Sheikh Zayed, Dubai

Location: Building, Block D, Near Axiom Care, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre Area, Dubai

Phone: 04 3517173

Email: info@pizzeriamargherita.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MargheritaUAE/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/margheritadubai