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Category:Dubai

Dubai

Asateer Scarves: An Online Boutique for Premium Scarves

“Don’t start a company unless it’s an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it’s not an obsession.” –Mark Cuban, serial entrepreneur and investor. Masood and I always knew and talked about how someday we would save up…

  • October 22, 2017
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Dubai

Carnival by Tresind, Dubai

How often do you get welcomed in a restaurant by getting bubbles blown at you? Having had a good impression with Trèsind, I looked forward to trying out Carnival by Trèsind. Both Tresind and Carnival by Trèsind come under the umbrella of…

  • April 15, 2017
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Dubai

Bollywood Park: The First Theme Park in the World Dedicated to All Things Bollywood

Several leisure and theme parks opened in Dubai late last year, one of which is Bollywood Park. It is the smallest property within Dubai Parks and Resorts, a massive park containing two other theme parks: Motiongate Dubai and Legoland Water Park. The term Bollywood…

  • February 11, 2017
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Dubai

Jodhpur – A Royal Dining Experience

The historic city of Jodhpur—whose origin dates back to 1459 AD—is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is called the Gateway to Thar, as it is literally on the edge of the That desert. Not too long ago I’ve…

  • October 24, 2016
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Dubai

Farzi Cafe: Bringing Indian Cuisine back “in-Vogue”

Infusing a generous dose of Indian flavours, Farzi Café presents Indian cuisine where culinary art meets the alchemy of modern presentations and cooking techniques like molecular gastronomy to absorb the guest into the ultimate gastronomic illusion. With a vision of bringing…

  • August 14, 2016
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Dubai

Al Dawaar – Dubai’s Only Revolving Restaurant

The restaurant is located on the roof top of Hyatt Regency Dubai with spectacular views of the blue sea, the creek and the city. Al Dawaar offers an international buffet featuring dishes from European, Middle Eastern, Asian and Japanese cuisines. Hyatt Regency is one of the oldest hotels in the country…

  • December 21, 2015
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IMG_5456
Dubai

Tresind: A Modernist Indian Fine Dining Restaurant

Tresind is a restaurant that sells itself as a modernist Indian fine dining establishment. The very young and talented Executive Chef Himanshu Saini brings a unique concept in molecular gastronomy to Dubai for the very first time. When my colleagues and I were searching online for…

  • December 9, 2015
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DSC_4357
Dubai

A Hundred Days

This picture portrays the current state of my blog: the clouds of despondency and dilly-dallying have finally parted, giving way to rays of fresh ardency and vigor which, I truly hope, would last for a long, long time. A Hundred Days…

  • December 3, 2015
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burj al arab by the sea
Dubai

Food, Chopping Boards, Coasters & Other Random Stuff

This post is strewn with random photographs that I’d taken over the last few months, in no particular order whatsoever. It’s an update post of sorts; a peek of what’s been going on in this blogger’s life. You may have found…

  • August 3, 2015
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madinat jumairah
Dubai

The 4 Most Luxurious Honeymoon Resorts in Dubai

From almost nothing but acres and acres of untouched land, in more recent years the United Arab Emirates has now established itself as one of the most powerful and developed countries in the world. Home to Burj Khalifa, the tallest…

  • April 1, 2015
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Minced Beef Pancake (32 AED) Home minced beef, rice, spices and coriander rolled in a crunchy slightly fried pancake.
Dubai

Fukurou House, DIFC

Fukurou means owl in Nihongo. In Japan owls symbolize good fortune, protection from hardships and suffering, and wisdom. I was, therefore, under the impression that I’d be dining in a restaurant that specializes in Japanese cuisine. My Japanese friend, Grace, would be…

  • March 9, 2015
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IMG_2621
Dubai

Bait Misk: Lebanese Restaurant at the Fisherman’s Harbour in Jumeirah

  This quaint Lebanese restaurant is located in the Fisherman’s Harbour in Jumeira 1, a place that is a pain to locate for those who are unfamiliar with the area, such us ourselves. But the food is totally worth the…

  • February 18, 2015
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moroccan lamps
Dubai

Global Village: A Must-Visit Each Year!

From hosting 18 country pavilions in 1997, Global Village has expanded over the years to now include 31 pavilions representing more than 70 countries, with over 12,000 cultural and entertainment shows, culinary attractions from across the world and fun fair…

  • December 28, 2014
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Dubai

Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik

In about fourteen hours, we are about to embark on a journey that is the most important one for every Muslim, insha’Allah. We received our e-tickets only six hours ago and our passports three hours ago. I was so stressed out…

  • September 27, 2014
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papad
Dubai

iZ: An Indian Restaurant in Grand Hyatt

IZ (pronounced as ee-zee) is an award-winning high-end Indian restaurant within the Grand Hyatt hotel that serves tandoori cuisine prepared and served at live cooking stations. They have a good selection of seafood, meat and vegetarian Indian food options. Their signature dishes include salmon…

  • September 25, 2014
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red tag home
Dubai

Bring Summer Into Your Home

I recently had the chance to work with Reg Tag, a chain of value fashion and home stores spread across the Middle East and Asia. They have a very good collection of homeware and accessories. I have decorated my apartment with…

  • August 12, 2014
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live cooking station
Dubai

Iftar at Radisson Blu

One of the several things to enjoy here in the U.A.E. during Ramadan is having Iftar −either at someone’s home (if you are visiting and have Muslims friends living in the UAE, get yourself invited!) or at restaurants throughout the…

  • July 12, 2014
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baklava
Dubai

An Unexpected Ramadan Gift

This isn’t a small masjid, yet it is quite obvious how it could no longer contain the growing number of people who come for the afternoon prayers. Just a few days ago, the huge chandeliers were dusted and rubbed until…

  • July 1, 2014
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DSC_2737
Dubai

House of Curry: Indian Dining Where Mona Lisa Wears a Sari

The House of Curry is an elaborately-decorated restaurant located at The Beach – JBR. Its interiors depict an old Indian haveli. Havelis are traditional mansions deriving inspiration from Islamic architecture. They usually have a huge courtyards and a fountain in the centre. The…

  • May 21, 2014
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dubai fireworks 2014
Dubai

Welcome, 2014!

The prospect of being stuck in traffic or waiting by the open beach in the cold did not deter most of the residents and visitors of Dubai. We were all excited to see the fireworks that would break the Guinness…

  • January 2, 2014
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ihop pancakes
Dubai

Breakfast at IHOP, Mall of the Emirates

“Some of the best memories are made at the breakfast table. And for more than 50 years, millions of people have made those memories at IHOP.” And so I visited this 50-year-old restaurant’s 1-year-old branch at Mall of the Emirates…

  • November 19, 2013
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gorgeous teaset at abshar dubai
Dubai

Iranian Dinner and Tea at Abshar

Crystal and gold chandeliers hung from a ceiling (mostly painted blue, complete with clouds) and small flat-screen TVs on the walls showed Persian pop videos. Loud, multi-coloured vases, wall art, and other themed memorabilia littered various shelves and tabletops. And waitresses…

  • August 18, 2013
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H Hotel Dubai
Dubai

Iftar at the Arcadia Lounge, H Hotel

I have another beautiful iftar experience to share with you today. Based on the last couple of posts on this blog, one might assume I’ve spent the entire Ramadan eating out at different restaurants. Rest assured that is not the…

  • August 5, 2013
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DSC_1107
Dubai

Iftar at Ramada’s Orchid Restaurant

This is the view from the Orchid Restaurant’s terrace, located on the second floor of Ramada in Downtown Dubai. It’s a very humid 42ºC tonight so Masood and I choose to sit indoors. The table with Burj Khalifa view can…

  • July 17, 2013
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Arabian Courtyard and Spa Dubai
Dubai

Iftar at the Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa

This Ramadan, Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa, invites you to break your fast with a wide selection of Arabic and International delicacies at Al Khaimah Hall located on 1st floor where an iftar buffet is prepared by the property’s culinary…

  • July 10, 2013
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page10
Dubai

Yamanote Atelier: A Boutique Japanese Bakery

Located in Al Wasl Square Complex, this tiny yet very adorable bakery is love at first sight with its sweet and bright decor. This is Yamanote Atelier, Dubai’s first boutique Japanese bakery that opened its door about two months ago. I…

  • June 4, 2013
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auto-rikshaw
Dubai

Barbecue Delights

Barbecue Delights is a casual dining restaurant that offers a variety of Pakistani, Afghani, and North Indian inspired cuisine. It’s one of my favorites! So when Masood and I were invited to try out their new branch at Downtown Dubai,…

  • May 27, 2013
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birds of the gulf
Dubai

Birds of the U.A.E.

Having borrowed Sophia’s 70-300 mm lens recently, I venture out to the great outdoors (read: the open area behind my office building) for some bird watching and photography. Taking picture of birds is quite challenging. They sit prettily, looking all…

  • January 29, 2013
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coffee
Dubai

Breakfast at Carluccio’s

Getting out of the house at 9:30 in the morning and driving more than 10 kilometers to the mall in order to have breakfast isn’t my normal routine. In fact, this is a first. Normal for me means getting out…

  • January 23, 2013
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184592_10151275268558725_1463400050_n
Dubai

Flavours on Two

Minimalist décor, simple yet comfortable chairs, just the right amount of cheerful sunlight peering in through the blinds, bright and fresh colors, and attentive staff—these are my first impressions on Flavours on Two, an all-day dining venue presenting a choice of…

  • January 18, 2013
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nadiamasood

An expat in India. Exploring the country’s history, sights & food since Feb 2019. Based in Hyderabad.

Instagram post 2161075966848675341_14766826 The ride home.
Instagram post 2188605298256935343_14766826 Local tourists at Bogatha Waterfalls.

They say it’s best to visit during the monsoon season. But due to unavoidable circumstances, our plans kept getting canceled. And now this trickle of water is what welcomes us.
Instagram post 2156538932821967993_14766826 Traffic
Instagram post 2184899258957047800_14766826 So many things going on in this photo.

The photographer is kind enough to hold the little girl so that her parents could do the Titanic pose. Plus points to the guy taking the picture.

Why are there gas cylinders out in the open near the lake?

The building in the background is for visitors to sit and look out at the lake. They’ve provided plastic chairs as well as sofas. However, the cleaning staff also thinks that’s the best spot to hang the floor mop.

What did you notice first?
Instagram post 2171140894762696158_14766826 Unfortunately, safety isn’t something most people take very seriously in this country.
Instagram post 2183434976813817023_14766826 Build bridges, not walls.

This is one of the two suspension bridges over Laknavaram Lake that connects an island to the mainland.
Instagram post 2166051360295345641_14766826 Pigeonholes. Or pigeon “loft”, to make it sound posh.

These are the resident pigeons of Adoni’s 3 centuries old mosque.

Thanks, @nwfp.b 😉😀
Instagram post 2182024172700789967_14766826 As closest to the autumn colours as possible that I could get here in South India.
Instagram post 2157166269301229179_14766826 Road trip. #NH44
Instagram post 2186404489629001460_14766826 Capturing the moment.

Can I still travel without documenting it? I probably can, but I’d rather not. Most travel experiences feel like a dream, and the pictures I take assure me that they’re real. How about you?

Thanks @abdulmateenmaniyar for holding objects for me to photograph 😀
Instagram post 2180559065781281593_14766826 Somewhere along our way, we spotted this guy. Turned out he was there with his entire family, and they came closer to our parked car. He seemed like the alpha male and constantly stared at us with this warning look.

REMEMBER: These monkeys bite! Do not make eye contact with them (unless you’re in the car with your windows up), do not hit or throw things at them. Drive carefully so you don’t hurt them (we notice so many over-speeding vehicles), and do not feed them.
Instagram post 2169758751385837134_14766826 Something strange happened at this spot twenty years ago. @masoodxb witnessed it firsthand and I’ve shared it on the blog today.

Do you have a scary story to share?

Blog link in bio.
Instagram post 2166847137791696314_14766826 One of my favourite pastimes on road trips in India is looking at the number plates of trucks on the highway.

I like to learn where they’re from, and have been fascinated to discover trucks from Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Nagaland (this place borders Myanmar!).
Instagram post 2177808696349166263_14766826 132 years old. Islamiah High School in Secundarabad. @masoodxb studied here when he was a kid. Unfortunately, because of lack of funds, this historical institution may just close down.
Instagram post 2164628625526459081_14766826 357 years old.

That’s also how long it has taken me to create and publish a blog post again.

Link in bio.
Instagram post 2165375777844282042_14766826 The ablution area of Adoni’s historical Shahi Jamia masjid.

Do you see that section of wall on the top left? The wall has holes in it for the pigeons to rest in. Do you know what it’s called?
Instagram post 2179186348146532363_14766826 Back on the road!
Instagram post 2182753736431247742_14766826 From Hyderabad to Laknavaram (about 230 km), this is probably my favourite stretch of road.

The otherwise 5-hour journey took 7-8 hours because of road maintenance, diversions, potholes that looked like meteors have rained on earth, and the lack of street lights (which made driving in the evening a nightmare).
Instagram post 2185660213043239786_14766826 The boat that became the centre of attraction because almost every visiting couple did the Titanic pose on it.
Instagram post 2159626757314353739_14766826 Andhra Pradesh is dubbed as "the bejeweled rice of India". Agriculture is the chief source of income to the State's economy, with more than 3/4th of its workforce engaged directly in agricultural sector.
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