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Desert-hotel

Abu Dhabi

A guest post by Zoe Ray Tuckey
photo credit Sean Tuckey

A few years ago my husband and I moved back to India, and due to a lot of different factors we had to stay put; for two years. It was the longest we’d been in a country without traveling, ever. It was also one of the most difficult periods of our lives in more ways than I can name in one post. So when we got a call from our friends in Abu Dhabi saying they’d fly us over to be with them, we were like small children being told we could go to Disney Land. We were picked up by our friends at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Already we were wide eyed at the pristine cleanliness of our surroundings and the ease at which we went through customs. After adjusting to driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road we were able to take in our surroundings.

Abu Dhabi

When I travel I observe the feeling a place gives me rather than facts and history. As interesting as that is, I was more intrigued by the veiled faces of women whose immaculate eyes made me want to stop and stare, or the constant construction happening around us, or the surreal call to prayer as the sun set over a sand-stone colour palette. I find the UAE intriguing with all it’s luxury and man-made extravagance. It felt to me like I was on a film set and someone out there had the cameras rolling.

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is a thriving and advanced metropolis and places of interest you might see in its neighbour Dubai are popping up everywhere. While there are too many food joints to count here are a few we visited and loved:

Where to eat:

Wafi Gourmet, a Lebanese restaurant that overlooks the city, we took a table by the window and marvelled at the view. Our Lebanese friend who speaks perfect Arabic proceeded to order some of the most delicious Lebanese food I have ever eaten. We had an assorted platter with hummus, tabbouleh, fattoush, tzatziki and Baba Ghanoush and that was just the beginning. They ordered char grilled lamb chops and chicken kebab, some baklava for dessert and to wash it down a Turkish coffee for the boys and Moroccan tea for the girls. My hubby and I looked at each other and fought back happy tears.

Desert-hotel

Jones the Grocer – This gourmet food emporium is dedicated to providing a wide variety of natural ingredients within a gorgeous surrounding to food lovers all over. And food lovers we are! Each member of staff is a food enthusiast and you can tell by the joyful atmosphere. My hubby ordered a full english breakfast while I ordered a fruit salad with yogurt. I watched as a skilled barista made one syphon coffee after another and took a walk around the shop to check out their wide selection of cheeses and jams for sale. We were sad we couldn’t linger a little longer.

Nolu’s Cafe
We ate here on two occasions, having the opportunity to experience breakfast and lunch. Both times we were not disappointed. Nolu’s serves a blend of traditional Afghan and American foods. I ordered the most unusual caramelised banana french toast I have eaten with bananas stuffed into a thick slice of bread, it was a little too heavy for me but I enjoyed the novelty of it and gave the rest to my husband. For lunch I had a Turkey and Cranberry gourmet sandwich and to this day I still crave the Borani Banjon that we shared; which is an eggplant, tomato, garlic yogurt and dried mint concoction that you’ll never forget.

What to see:

I had been to the UAE before and spent a few hours in Abu Dhabi in transit but we were looking forward to really getting to know the city. I already liked how it was a great balance between the business of Dubai and the quaintness of Qatar. Our friend was an amazing tour guide, pointing out different buildings, and explaining the history of the city.

Desert-Hotel2

The Observation Deck at 300 in the Etihad Towers (74 floor, 300 meters up) is an amazing place to see a 360 degree view of the city and have a high tea while you’re at it. We went right when the sun was setting and the soft, golden light filtering in was unbelievable. We were tired from our busy day and ready to head home but the view was certainly worth our while.

If you’re going to go all the way to Abu Dhabi you just have to take a drive out to Rub’Al Khali, the largest uninterrupted sand desert on earth and have a bite to eat, or better yet a night or two at the luxurious Qasr Al Sarab hotel. This desert just so happens to be where the latest Star Wars movie was filmed but even if you’re not a fan, it is a truly sublime experience. Our host was kind enough to do a desert photo shoot for us and insisted on walking through the desert while scorching sand filled my heels.

zo-sean-desert

Our trip to Abu Dhabi was memorable not just because it is a stunning city, but because of the timeliness of it, and the need that it filled inside of us. Just like the Bedouins of old, Abu Dhabi became like an Oasis for our travel-thirsty souls. I think now I will always try to face travel with a grateful attitude, so that every bite of food is more intense, and every sunrise is more spectacular and every moment more unforgettable.

Jia Singh

ABOUT ME

I am a Delhi-based nutritionist, food & wellness consultant and freelance features writer. I write for a variety of different magazines and websites in India and overseas on restaurants, travel, wellness and food.

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2 thoughts on “Abu Dhabi

  1. UAE Top 10 says:

    The UAE is one of the safest and exotic holiday destinations in the world. However, UAE laws and customs are very different to those of the western world. The following tips are designed to help you understand and adhere to UAE laws and customs while visiting the desert paradise.

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