“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…

“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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
“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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
Having recently borrowed my sister, Sophia’s, 70-300 mm lens, I venture out to the great outdoors (read: the open area behind my office building) for some bird watching and photography. These birds of the U.A.E. are more often seen during…
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…