-
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital Tour: In close quarters with birds of prey
Wearing a long white robe and a head-cover, a young Emirati man with a stubble is introducing the bygone nomadic life of his ancestors. He, the guide, and we, the tourists, stand forming a circle. At the centre of the human ring is a glass showcase with several sculpted falcons. I am in Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital—a government hospital dedicated to the treatment and upkeep of falcons. Established in 1999 as a government subsidized falcon veterinary centre, eventually it delved deeper into research and development of medicines. In 2006 the falcon hospital was capable of providing care to all species of birds. In 2007 it opened a facility to provide…
-
Royal Meal: Dinner at the Ramadan tent in Emirates Palace
The focus of my camera readjusts a million times. Under the shining golden dome adorned with geometrical patterns, I stand pointing my camera towards it. White and gold are the two colours that reign in the interiors, manifesting a certain warmth in the design of this place—The Emirates Palace. All the shopping at WTC Souk has wearied me out and I yearn to sit down, but, I am not prepared for what awaits me. There has been too many firsts today. My first touchdown outside the Indian subcontinent, my first time in the Middle-East, my first time donning an abaya at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and now I am in…
-
At World Trade Center Abu Dhabi, shopping comes first
Souq is an Arabian word that usually refers to open-air markets of the Middle-eastern countries. It bears the same meaning as bedestens in Turkey or bazaars in India. In fact, the word ‘souq’ has an ancient Akkadian origin! One such rustic souq once existed at the place where I am standing now—the modern souq at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi. In the World Trade Center(WTC) complex, Burj Mohammad bin Rashid is the tallest building in Abu Dhabi with 92 floors. It is an entirely residential building, and standing alongside it is the WTC Souk. Georgette, my guide, informs me that the new sophisticated state-of-the-art marketplace WTC Souk came into being…
-
The Abu Dhabi Skyline: From the skyscrapers to the Corniche
While my car darts through the Capital Centre neighbourhood in Abu Dhabi city, I come by an architectural marvel that challenges physics. The Capital Gate Building is a 35-storey record-breaking structure that leans 18 degree to the west. It is more than four times the current incline of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. Apart from the Hyatt Hotel, the building houses several offices. I also wheel past Al Bateen, an upscale neighbourhood where the current residential palace of the ruler of Abu Dhabi is located. Like the citizens, the royals, though extremely active on social fronts, are exceptionally private people. My guide informs me that one out of…
-
Qasr Al Hosn: Through a tourist’s perspective
Abu Dhabi takes its high rises quite seriously. I am waiting for my guide Georgette who has gone to arrange my tickets and secure my entry to Qasr Al Hosn — the oldest stone building in the city of Abu Dhabi. I stand on one of the broad pavements adjacent to this national monument. A huddle of skyscrapers surrounds me. I crane my neck up trying to count the number of floors, a seemingly impossible task. An unfamiliar booming noise sends me limping a few feet away for cover. My ears ring and in a few seconds I conjure up horrible thoughts of never seeing my loved ones again. A…
-
Wahat Al Karama: The Oasis of Dignity in Abu Dhabi
In a shallow patch of water, barely ankle-deep, an inverted reflection of the pristine white Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque wavers under the late afternoon Sun. Georgette, my guide, informs me that the artificial freshwater pool is drained and refilled every day at 5 PM except during this time of the year—Ramadan. I am at Wahat Al Karama, which means ‘Oasis of Dignity’, a monument dedicated to United Arab Emirates’s heroes who lost their lives on duty— the country’s first war memorial. The site is across the street from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, deliberately constructed close to the mosque so that the departed souls of young men and women to…
-
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Facts and Trivia: Inside the house of God in Arabia
I am still in the haze of my thoughts, trying to contain my amazement at being in a futuristic city on the fringes of a desert, when the car window reveals the pristine white minarets and domes of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque crowned with crescent moons. Located at the entrance point of the Abu Dhabi Island, the mosque is visible from all three bridges that connect the island city with the mainland. Hope these Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque facts would help you to understand the place better. There are over 2000 mosques in Abu Dhabi but this is the only one that allows entry to non-Muslims. Soon after the driver…
-
Abu Dhabi city: A short introduction
Swanky skyscrapers blur past me. I have not been able to take my eyes off them since arriving in the city of Abu Dhabi. Be it the highrises, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque or the Emirates Palace, the modern desert city’s architectural marvels just keep on getting better. Date palm trees, growing from the aesthetically pleasing dividers at recurring intervals, shade the broad roads—who would guess that a few decades back most of the locals were sand dwellers. The city of Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a young island city by the Persian Gulf connected with the mainland by three bridges. The Emirate of Abu…
-
Turkey off the beaten track: An itinerary for Southeast Turkey and Istanbul
In this article ‘Turkey off the beaten track’, I write an itinerary focused on Istanbul and the Fertile Crescent part of southeastern Turkey. Straddling the continents of Asia and Europe, Turkey is a country which has nurtured civilizations from millennia. Humans first settled in the Fertile Crescent region that covers parts of modern day Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. P.S – For Youtube videos please click here . Is this itinerary for offbeat Turkey right for you? This itinerary is meant for history and food enthusiasts who are interested in exploring the underrated places in Turkey. If you are interested in history, culture, archeology, ruins…
-
Things to do in Istanbul: History Hunting in Turkey
I cannot believe I am finally here, in the Historic Areas of Istanbul — a UNESCO protected site. On the cobblestoned Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, I am out with a list scribbled “Things to do in Istanbul”. Vehicles are not allowed here. Thankfully, the warm June day is cloudy and breezy. The road is moderately crowded with tourists. My plan is to explore the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Misir Bazar and the Galata Tower. Istanbul, a transcontinental city in Eurasia, is the cultural capital of Turkey. Established by people of Greek ethnicity in 660 BCE as Byzantium, it aligned with the Roman Empire…
