(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Paris isnt the only place on earth that deserves loving tributes.
Life on a high
Ever driven up Jebel Hafeet with the sun slowly making its way down and the streetlights just flickering to life Surrounded by the rugged mountain on one side and the green oasis down below it’s a surreal sight that can take your breath away. The view from the top is of course the icing on the cake. For many UAE residents an annual trudge up the mountain is a family tradition – a marked change from the usual visit to the nearby mall. Breathing in the fresh mountain air with the uninterrupted view of the valley down below one is instantly reminded of the how small humans are in comparison with mighty nature.
Movie magic
In any other part of the world you’d have to pay for the privilege of seeing your favourite stars on the big screen. Not that it’s any different out here. But in the UAE you get something even better - a chance to get within gazing distance of your celebrity crush. The upcoming Dubai International Film Festival will no doubt unload a host of celebrities on our shores. Anyone who had stepped into the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi this September or visited the Miracle Garden in Dubai last month would have been rubbing shoulders with some of the Hindi film industry’s top actors including Anil Kapoor John Abraham and Vidya Balan.
Not to forget the Happy New Year cast living it up at Atlantis or the Bang Bang duo Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif racing along Abu Dhabi streets a couple of months after The Fast and the Furious team were shooting their latest car fest there. And what about the woman everyone loves to hate – Kim Kardashian - who made sure every move of hers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were caught on camera As far as stargazing is concerned it doesn’t get better than the UAE.
Change for the better
For old-timers used to the slow pace of life from the early days it can be a bit jarring. But as Winston Churchill so aptly said: To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.
And nobody does perfection better than Dubai you have to admit.
Every time one comes back from a holiday back home you can bet you will have something new to amaze you – whether it’s new roadway or a glitzy building that has come up to change the Dubai skyline.
However much you might want to hold on to the past Dubai shows you that it is only when you embrace change that you can move forward.
Who doesn’t like to live in a city that changes shape ever so often We for one cannot wait to see what our city will look like in 10 years’ time.
On the road to Fujairah
Ask someone with limited knowledge of the UAE what they know about the country and they’re likely to immediately conjure up two images: mad metropolitan opulence and empty desert.
But Fujairah is a revelation both to residents and tourists alike offering stunning mountain views and an array of peaceful beachside hotels for a perfect weekend away.
Since discovering the emirate on a daylong road trip back in 2009 we’ve been regular visitors - returning for writing weekends friends’ parties and quiet retreats.
We still find it ever so slightly bizarre that such a scenic and relaxing place can be found just a couple of hours’ drive away from Dubai. And you don’t even need to spend a fortune for a hotel. We almost always stay in basic accommodation yet nonetheless feel as though we’ve paid a fortune in air fares to holiday in some far-flung corner of the world.
Yas we love
In less than a decade since its initiation Yas Island has become a magnet for superstar musicians and sportsmen.
The man-made island offers a great blend of entertainment. Of course the jewel in its crown is the annual Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - combining pulsating Formula One action with lashings of glamour.
Next door to the race track is the glittering du Arena which regularly hosts the world’s biggest musical acts from Beyonce to Guns N’ Roses to Madonna. Plus the fact that it’s all purpose-built helps to alleviate the traffic and crowd problems which would accompany a similar arena built within an urban area. On a day when there aren’t any world-famous names visiting Yas Island still hosts a jaw-dropping wealth of options for those seeking some fun. There’s Yas Waterworld Ferrari World theme park and all manner of hotel and restaurant options.
Plus it’s not too far from Dubai or Abu Dhabi so you’ll be there before the motorway tedium kicks in.
Old world charm
One place where we can get as nostalgic as we want to is Old Dubai (Karama Deira Bur Dubai) which despite an ongoing onslaught of demolition and construction still retains its timeless appeal.
Strolling down Karama market we pretend not to see a multitude of overpriced fake bags and other items aimed at foreign tourists and instead focus on the things that haven’t changed – like a group of elderly men chatting over a board game or the smell of shawarmas wafting through the air or even the old school architecture of the buildings themselves – low rise comfortable balconies no fuss and frills. Take a mental snapshot (or a real one) because you never know when it will all be just a memory.
With the Bur Dubai creekside under a transformation of sorts you could always head to Bastakiya or the Dubai museum or even Meena Bazar for a glimpse of history. Keep the camera handy.
Serene beauty
There’s a lot to be said for escaping the city. While there are many airports to facilitate this a quick drive up the motorway is all you need to have a lovely relaxing break. We in Dubai Abu Dhabi and Sharjah could sometimes be accused of sounding a little patronising when it comes to the other emirates. “Oh it’s so naturally stunning.” This is however not meant in any other way apart from sheer admiration. With the rampant construction going on in our towns it’s really lovely to see a more laidback attitude to development and bask in the desert and beaches of these areas.
Ras al Khaimah may not be into building sky-scraping wonders but prefers its luxury a little more understated. The emirate blends serene beauty with world-class luxury particularly when it comes to resorts and outdoor activities. There is of course a lot more to RAK but we’d just like to send a love letter to the great escape it is.
Off to the beach
Okay we love to extol the virtues of natural scenery and THE BEACH down at JBR may have taken away half the er beach but we have to admit it was worth it. Not only providing some of the city’s best restaurants but enforcing a sense of community with all the events that take place down there THE BEACH is a real success story. It has been many many years in the making but with the tram finally completed and the vast majority of construction over and done with JBR is a fun accessible place to go.
DIFF is just round the corner and every night a free film will be screened at THE BEACH. Why not go check it out
Trendy Al Quoz
This is a weird one but bear with us. We don’t only like the industrial heartland of Dubai because our office is situated there. In fact that may be a reason typical employees of companies wouldn’t like it! No we admire the way Al Quoz has evolved over the years. Once solely a warehouse district home to auto mechanics and metalwork (there are still a lot of those here) Al Quoz now boasts art galleries performance spaces parks and even good restaurants. There aren’t many areas in such a new city in need of gentrification but in its own way Al Quoz has become trendy. We can’t count the number of events going on let alone the boutique and exhibition openings. Don’t worry it hasn’t gone completely ‘Docklands’ – an area of London that has become unaffordable achingly nouveau. It is still a thriving blue-collar borough but one with highlights that compliment the good work being done.
Park life
With the weather so ideally moderate (neither hot nor freezing) what could be better than experiencing the great outdoors Why not try an overnight camping trip in the desert If you’re strapped for time you could always drop in at a nearby park to enjoy a bit of barbecuing.
We’ve always found Zabeel Park to be a perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon just lying back in the grass and catching up on some reading or even strolling around with no particular destination in sight (yes it’s big enough to accommodate random walkers).
Like a lot of other areas Dubai’s beaches have come under the landscaping radar and there’s no point in reminiscing about the good old days. Change in these times is inevitable.
Having said that the beach is always a great place to park yourself for a couple of hours though with construction going on in a lot of places it would be wise to investigate before heading out.