Bob Travel

If you go to Dubai, there are 3 restaurants I recommend which I personally found to be the best. I was staying in a 5 Star Hotel in Dubai when I stumbled upon The Pizza Corner, Cafe’ Havana and BICE. All three were simply delicious in their own way and had their own unique style.

My first choice, and one restaurant I will never forget is Pizza Corner. The huge pizzas are so tantalizing, mouth watering and delicious. The menu had a really good variety to pick from, like not only pizza, but seafood, salads, sandwiches, steaks, desserts, burgers, chicken and they even have cocktails. I sat down to eat, but they also have take away or delivery. I especially liked the prices, very reasonable.  While I was in Dubai, I managed to go there quite often and got to try the Chicken Burger, the Turkey Meat pizza and a milk shake which was the best I’ve ever had.

My second most favorite place to eat, I found when I was shopping at Deira City Centre Mall and needed refreshment and a rest. Cafe’ Havana, a wonderful place for a snack, a refreshment and a very good place to people watch. Cafe’ Havan is a large cafe’ restaurant and it’s on the 2nd level of the mall on the way to the cinemas. I was greeted by the host and got to pick the table I wanted which was, of course, on the edge of the cafe’ so I could have a great people watching vantage point. The menu is varied, and I was surprised that it really wasn’t Cuban. But, I ordered the Turkey Club sandwich which came with a huge mound of fries. Very scrumptious. Very reasonably priced and very pleasant. The staff is superb, I felt like royalty stopping by after tons of shopping. I didn’t try the decadent looking cakes on display, was too full from my ’snack’.

Then I got to experience BICE. Very welcoming and pleasantly calm. I was kind of worried that it might have an atmosphere of being stuffy, but it wasn’t, it was casual dining at it’s best. The food was superb, really very good. I ordered the lamp chops and when my dish arrived, it was presented beautifully with cooked greens and the lamb portion was just right. The service was friendly and non-intrusive, just the way I like it. My mouth still waters when I remember that Lamb dish, so good, so juicy, mmmmmm.

I wanted to know what it was like to live as the Bedouins did back in the day, because today, in Dubai, the Bedouins truly are a vanished people. But, luckily I found a desert tour that will let me experience what it was like. After arriving to Dubai and spending a few days a my 4 Star Hotel Dubai and do some shopping, off I went.

The Bedouins of today are loosely referred to as the ‘indigenous’ tribes who traverse the desert dunes in the Middle East. Their heritage and more so their legacy however, go so much deeper. They are one of the oldest tribes to occupy the sand dunes. Initially, they were nomads wandering from spot to spot. The Bedouin that now will take me and interact with me are more sedentary then their ancestors.

I found the Bedouin camps are located deeper into the desert in and around the wadis and the hilly desert region. The camp was not easily accessible and even few or even open for tourist. So, I was pretty lucky to be on mine. The Bedouin camp was a splendid way to get to know the original Arab’s way of life. I got to eat food cooked the traditional Bedouin way and have a look at the goods and produce they create for a living. They were so super friendly and I really enjoyed hanging around their camping settlement. They even provided that I spend the night so that I could enjoy a night of evening entertainment the Arab way. The accommodations so that I could sleep in the camp itself.  It was so thrilling to sleep with the Bedouins and imagine myself traversing the great desert on a camel with white robes and turbines, looking up at the evening sky and the quiet of the desert whispering her song of solitude and gratitude.

Four-star Dubai hotels are stunning experiences in old-world hospitality in the heart of an utterly contemporary city.  Dubai is one of the global hotspots, attracting movie stars and entrepreneurs from all over the world.  The energy here is fascinating and contagious, with old markets and new shopping malls, and everything seems to be a recent invention.  There are many recent inventions, in this, one of the most populated cities in the Arab world.  Artists and intellectuals come here to re-invent themselves, and celebrities here come to hide from the definitions the world is creating for them.  The food and the culture are gorgeous, and the architecture is simply dazzling.

Locals and international visitors alike are caught by the range and imagination of architectural styles in Dubai.  First caught up by the visually delightful and seemingly impossible Dancing Towers, Zaha Hadid’s multi-use towers are extremely useful eye candy.  Now known as the Signature Towers, they serve as home to some of Dubai’s financial most influential financial organizations.  Likewise a stunning monument, the Burj Al Arab, or Tower of the Arabs, is meant to resemble a sail billowing in the wind.

These unique architectural experiments are not unique to Dubai.  What was a city less than one-tenth its present size just thirty years ago, Dubai has built itself up into something that is fascinating to behold.  As some journalists and cultural critics note, Dubai, the city, is able to construct itself and simultaneously define itself.  There are no controls over the growth here, because the city is literally in the middle of the desert.  There are no historical associations here, either, because human history has left very few footprints.  As a result, the architects and builders are free to move in whatever directions the culture might dictate.  So there are tremendously exciting works in progress, and interesting projects such as the Rek Jebel Al Jais Mountain Resort, which promise a unique opportunity for architects, and visually stunning new edifices for a new world.

Dubai is one of seven of the United Arab Emirates UAE and is the most populated city of the states or more commonly called emirates. It is located on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf of the Arabian Peninsula and borders Oman and Saudi Arabia. Islam is the major religious basis of the culture of Dubai. Mosques are found in every neighborhood throughout the city where locals attend prayer as often as five times a day. The Jumeirah Mosque is one of Dubai’s largest mosques and considered to be the most beautiful. It is modern Islamic architecture, the style being medieval Fatimid and is built of stone. Dim lighting in the Mosque casts an intriguing glow at night, playing up the artistic facets of this structure.

Native clothing of Dubai is well suited for the high temperatures in this area. The kandoura or dishdasha is a white, ankle length, loose fitting robe-like garment worn by the men. Their heads are covered for protection from the elements. Women wear long sleeved, full length dresses which are also called kandouras. Their dresses will usually have colorful embroidery and are worn with a black abayah which covers the entire dress. A shayla, which is a thin black veil that is worn over the hair, is worn by many women the majority of the time. Jewelry is also very popular with the women and a common accessory that is fitting for most occasions.

There are numerous, beautiful hotels where one can enjoy the hospitality of this area. One of the most famous Dubai UAE luxury hotels is the Burj Al Arab. The standard of excellence was established with the 1999 opening of this truly incredible hotel with its futuristic exterior design. With the many historic sites and cultural events as well as the future projects planned, Dubai is an interesting city to visit.

Are you looking for perfect luxury hotel?  Dubai has an answer for you.  The luxury hotels here are renowned for their unique and delightful combination of old-world hospitality and charm mixed with new-world design and technology.  You will be pampered here, and you will also be well-connected to the outside world.  Dubai city is also extremely hip and savvy, and the recent years have seen amazing changes in the cultural scenes here.  True, there are plenty of magnificent beaches, and there are fantastic festivals all year round, and there are also opportunities for shopping in luxurious malls and old-world markets, but the cultural scene is really worth checking out.  In terms of visual art, music, and dance, Dubai city is coming into its own, and establishing itself as a center for art and artists.  There are lots of artists establishing themselves here, and some who have lived here for awhile and are recently emerging.

Wael Hamadeh is one of these emerging artists.  He was born in Lebanon, and studied art in Edinbugh, Scottland.  For the past 13 years, Dubai has been his home.  He works in many mediums, among them are graphic design, mixed media paintings, and photography.  He draws inspiration from his homeland in Lebanon, and he depends on a close relationship with the earth.  Ancestral urges guide him to continually develop his art practice and to make meaning in the chaos of modernity.

He has had many recent shows, and always something new on the horizon.  The bulk of his showings have been in Dubai, and the work is also transferring well to other places, such as San Francisco in the U.S.  His work also shows up in the funkier Dubai haunts, such as Global Funk dance shows, and all show that this young artist is finding connections to make an identity in the local and international art scene.

When it comes to deciding the best city for a luxury hotel, Dubai always comes out on top.  With its world-class tradition of hospitality and service, beautiful accommodations with old-world charm and state of the art design, and amazing location, it is in a class all by itself.  Dubai city is also surrounded by beauty and culture, and great shopping!  The festivals and fairs that are held all year round are generally very family friendly, and even the shopping malls have live entertainments.

Dubai Mall has a solid place in the hearts of consumers all over the globe, with all the comforts of hometown malls, along with exceptional finds, interesting global treasures, and a taste for splendor and spectacle.  One addition to Dubai Mall that is a favorite of locals and international visitors is the stunning Kinokuniya Books.  This monument to literary arts is a staggering 68,000 square feet, and regularly stocks a half million titles, along with thousands of magazines.  It looks like it will go on forever, and it sort of does…!

Having been in business for less than a year, it has already earned the loyalty of a large readership.  Part of a chain begun in Japan, there is a fantastic selection of Japanese manga at Kinokuniya, perhaps the largest in the UAE, and it also stocks a huge number of other titles in Japanese, Chinese, French, German, English, and of course Arabic.  The staff is knowledgeable and helpful, and they also have a good deal of knowledge of Filipino literature and culture, adding to the multicultural mix that is unique and fascinating about Dubai city.  Kinokuniya is a healthy blend of cultural expressions and ideas, and the mix is there on all levels of the company’s structure.  The result is splendid chain, and the Dubai incarnation is a treasure.

Promoting world-class excellence in five-star hotels, Dubai has a reputation that lives on in the hearts of travelers who make the UAE their destination.  With exceptional taste in international standards of luxury, Dubai city attracts business professionals and entertainment greats from all around the globe.  Real estate investors rub elbows with Bollywood superstars in an eclectic mix that makes for a unique and highly-regarded experience.  Whether your stay here is business or pleasure, there are wonderful exotic treats to fill the hours with fascination and stimulation.

The gallery scene here has taken an immense turn for the better in recent years, and artists and art-lovers are coming to see Dubai as a fantastic place to begin an entrance into a global art world.  There are traditional painters as well as artists pushing their form into the cutting edges, making a gallery visit a necessary part of any itinerary.  One example of a gallery with their fingers on the pulse of this shifting cultural landscape is the XVA Gallery.  Set in the historic district of Bastikiya, where the sea meets the city, the stunning natural landscape makes for a particularly attractive setting to view works by upcoming local and international artists.

The XVA Gallery organized the first Creek Art Fair (CAF), and is involved in the highly-acclaimed Dubai Art Fair.  It is certainly connected to the more visible art events that take place in this part of the city.  The Creek Art Fair is seen as a fringe event that brings together galleries and artists in the area to connect with the region and the art world at large.  The last incarnation of the CAF took place in 16 houses in Bastikiya, which gave artists a place to connect to each other, something extremely vital in a profession that is characterized by solitude and solo contemplation.  It also gave visitors a wonderful opportunity to explore the enormous variety of art in this part of the city, suggesting that there is an enormous wealth of cultural activity at work, just beneath the surface.

If five star Dubai hotels sound appealing, then a visit here with extremely high expectations will certainly deliver.  There is no shortage of beach, culture, business, and luxury.  Set in the heart of a city in the middle of a cultural and economic boom, there is much to see and do.  A rich and vibrant urban scene is growing, and this is due in large part to the influx of artists in the region.

Filipino artists maintain a strong presence here, along with a sizable and visible Filipino community, and although they are rather un-represented in the gallery scene, this is changing.  Darwin Guevarra is the first Filipino to have his own solo show in Dubai, and it is a very auspicious beginning.  It also bodes well for contemporary art in the world at large.  With his opening in May 2009 at Tashkeel, Darwin Guevarra solidified his already growing presence and is almost reaching toward the level of the iconic.  At a group show earlier this year, he was seen in red converse, urban warrior fashion, and his face painted white with bright red lips.  This already striking presence was even further enhanced by the wagon he was pulling, filled with wood, watches, computer parts, as if suggesting a mechanical world where the old and the new were clashing and on the verge of a metamorphosis.

Darwin Guevarra’s presence is already very strong in virtual reality.  With extremely complex and sophisticated postings of his visual art, he seems to be well-connected, and well-received in the pop underground, both in Dubai, in the Phillipines, and around the globe.  Articles about the work of Darwin Guevarra have been written by observers who are pleasantly baffled, or extremely erudite.  It is worth noting that his work is as complex as it is visually appealing, and is a kind of surreal annunciation of an artistic voice that is attempting to describe a world that is both overwhelming and dissolving.  The haunting work by this iconoclastic artist, who works in several mediums to create playful assemblages that ask extreme questions about extreme cultures, has found its way to light in Dubai, and is well worth mapping.

While Dubai has many fascinating cultural and entertainment elements that are attractive to tourists, it also has some incredibly beautiful and elaborately designed accommodations. Vacationers can spend their days exploring the many scenic wonders of the city while returning to the captivating beauty of their five star hotel Dubai. Atlantis, The Palm is one of the newest and most amazing examples of this. It serves as more than a fabulous hotel experience, it has become one the major landmarks of the city.

It was developed as a joint project between Kerzner International Limited and Istithmar PSJC. This beautiful complex was opened in 2008, and was modeled after the Bahamas resort Atlantis, Paradise Island. It has approximately 2000 rooms and consists primarily of two towers that are linked by a bridge. In addition, the resort is connected to the Palm Jumeirah islands by two monorail stations, adding a sense of excitement to accessing the place. The official opening ceremony for the hotel was also a grand event and included many celebrity guests, including Denzel Washington, Robert De Niro, Michael Jordan , the Duchess of York, Mischa Barton and Linsay Lohan among many others. There was a spectacular fireworks display included in the launching consisting of 100,000 lightings, which was approximately 7 times the amount used for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In addition to the fabulous guest accommodations and beauty of the architectural design, there are additional attractions to the resort. There is a 160,000 square meter Aquaventure theme park, 1,900 square meters of retail space and a large convention center. The Aquaventure theme park includes the marine life conservation project Dolphin Bay. In this preservation program, guests can view the dolphins up close. Dolphin Bay is focused on preserving the natural habit of these incredible mammals and is the first marine rescue and rehabilitation center in Dubai.

There’s room for relaxation and for business in the amazing city of Dubai, UAE.  Hotel accommodation here is a glorious tribute to comfort and luxury.  Your stay will be a pleasure, thanks to the extremely knowledgeable and well-trained staff, who are keen on anticipating and tending to your every need.  This will certainly help to place a splendid center to your travels in the city.  Dubai city has many things to offer every guest.  There are shopping centers and festivals, and there are also some cutting-edge galleries that are worth exploring.

If you are looking for the newest of the new in visual arts, then be sure to allow time to see the Dubai Digital Arts Center.  Some of the more interesting new developments in digital culture are presented here, along with performances.  It is important to see digital arts grow as a force in the art world, because its ties to technology and cultural expression are very strong.  Dubai, a city that is growing and changing in constant and fascinating directions, is often on the forefront of global culture, and is a remarkable place to witness the shifts in creative thought that are currently at work, and will no doubt affect how the world expresses itself to itself in the years to come.

There are some interesting alliances too, that could only be forged in an artistic marketplace.  Digital artists working in their respective fields often have an advantage over other artists, because international access is always already available.  Works can be discussed, and even disseminated, across the world wide web.  There are more forms of digital art that web design, there is photography and graphic art, there is also electronically created painting, digital manipulations of existing art works, and endless possibilities for using digital manipulations, like sound and video, in live performance, among many other possibilities for the form.  Artists in these disciplines can also find linkages to other artists, because of the already existing access to global digital culture.  So it is not surprising, but always welcome, to see links between digital institutions and practitioners.  N3krozoft’s performance of Kasparov9000 was one of these welcome linkages, when artists from Russia and the U.S. joined artistic sensibilities to present a performance here about Kasparov and the computer Deep Blue, using electronic media to make a performance that was a fascinating blend of the digital and the live.  This is a precedent that speaks well of the global community and the next generation of artists and scientists.

World travelers looking for the perfect place to explore a vibrant city in stunning splendor and beauty will find it all at a Dubai beach resort.  The journey begins here in luxurious accommodations, with all the amenities even the most well-seasoned tourist has come to expect, plus a few more gracious touches of elegance.  Centered in the heart of a perfect hideaway, travelers are free to explore the city at their leisure.

There is so much to see, in this cultural landscape that is constantly shifting and surprising as old world charm meets new world developments.  The artistic life of Dubai is growing by leaps and bounds, with exciting new festivals in film and music.  One festival not to overlook is the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre.  Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, H.H. Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the patron of this 10-day festival, which highlights some of the most innovative and traditional theatre for young audiences in the region.  Performed in Arabic, these plays highlight the talents of local performers and playwrights, and is a way of entering into the world’s artistic and cultural heritage, set right in the heart of Dubai.  It is also an opportunity for new performers to test out their acting capabilities, with the aim of investigating the possibilities of theatre as a career choice, so the festival offers something for audiences as well as for the young participants.

Not merely a wonderful event for the whole family, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre is a way of opening the rich cultural heritage of performing arts in the UAE to the next generation of theatre artists.  The plays draw on social issues and folkloric narratives to speak to local audiences along with those across the entire region.  The intensive selection process insures that the best talents find their way to the limelight, to introduce the local work to the international community based on high standards of work.  At the end of the festival each year, there is an awards ceremony to pay honor to the best actors, writers, and stage artists, and give the festival a healthy competition.  This stimulates interest in the arts locally, and helps to inspire young artists to participate in the long and continuing cultural narratives.

There is no doubt that for the best restaurants, Dubai has a world reputation for serving beautiful and delicious cuisine.  With the best ingredients and the top chefs in the Arab world, there is reason for every gourmet to celebrate here, and so many places to visit.  On a culinary tour of the city, the visitor will notice that there is an international flavor to the city that reaches beyond the level of food.  There are attractions and shopping centers galore, and a magnificent selection of fascinating neighborhoods to explore.  There is also a tremendous cultural and intellectual presence here, which would come as no surprise, perhaps, given that this is becoming one of the shining international centers in the Arab world.

The Arab Media Forum is one example of the international scope of the city.  Begun in 1999 through the Arab Press Club, the Arab Media Forum was founded to help promote a better cultural understanding between the Arab and the Western Media.    It is always well-attended, drawing interest from journalists, academics, columnists, the broadcast media, and analysts and government officials.  This Forum is a remarkable event in its scope and aims.

The most recent Forum, held in May of 2009, was the 8th annual Arab Media Forum, and by all accounts, the event was spectacular.  The keynote address was by U.S. journalist and icon Seymour Hersh.  He spoke about the vast and enormous changes in the media very recently, in large part due to two factors, Al Jazeera, which reports on events that other newspapers will not report, and the internet, which is changing global news very rapidly.  He noted how we are living in an age where information can be reported and spread around the globe very quickly, through established news sources, or through blogs, which in large part are unchecked.  There was also an excellent presentation by Eman Ayyad, from Al Jazeera.  She spoke about the increasing links that the Western world was making with stories centered in the Arab world, and this has lead to increase in both interest and travel on the part of international journalists to the region.  This heady presentation was part of a panel which also included journalists Robert Worth, Alain Gresh, and Jihad Al Khazen.

Folk dance is an essential element in most areas of the United Arab Emirates, and this is true for Dubai. These dances are not limited to gender, age or social status and play an integral part in most celebrations, such as weddings, birthdays and national holidays. Drums and percussion are a primary factor of the dances, and once the tambourine begins, everyone is expected to join in the circle or line. People on work related trips and staying in any business hotels Dubai often hear of a holiday or festival involving a dance and have the opportunity to join in. Weddings are by far the most popular event where folk dancing takes place, and one would not be complete without it.

Men and women both take part in the dance, however they may express themselves in it differently. While women will usually sway to the strong beat, men will usually incorporate the act of war or hunting into their dances. One of the most popular dances in the region is the Ayyalah, which will often entail up to 200 men dancing together. The dance itself will represent defeat or victory over an enemy in war. The men will often brandish swords as they form lines facing each other and they will take turns reciting poetry. Another popular war themed dances is the Harbiya and also involves men in lines facing each other. Individual poetry recitation is not part of the Harbiya, though there are unaccompanied melodic phrasings at moments.

Another popular dance in Dubai is the Mated. This is different than the two others mentioned in that it is specifically related to religious expression. The dance is based on Sufi traditions and celebrates the birth of Mohammed. The Haban is yet another form of folk dancing. Its name refers to the stringed instrument which dominants the theme and accompaniment.

The 2009 Taste of Dubai wrapped up today (March 14th) at Dubai Media City. The event, which began on Wednesday, March 11th, featured 68 signature dishes by 23 of the finest Dubai restaurants and celebrity chefs from around the globe.

This year’s celebrity chefs included James Martin, Giorgio Locatelli, and a battle between Gordon Ramsey and Gary Rhodes. Visitors staying in a five star hotel in Dubai are likely to have sampled the food of some of the participating chefs. Most of the top hotels sent their best chefs to the event.

The festival included food stalls from local restaurants and a variety of cooking demonstrations as well as entertainment.  The MMI Beverage Theatre and the Taste Marketplace were the main attractions. The event even had its own currency: the della, which had to be purchased at an exchange stall or from roving della boys.

Cooking demonstrations and classes were very popular this year.  The Mark Wilkinson Chefs Theatre offered demonstrations by celebrity chefs. Professional chefs also manned the Spinneys Cookery School to provide lessons to foodies of all stripes.  There was even a Kiddies Kitchen to educate and entertain children.

Several lounges were available for relaxing. The Momotaro Sashimi Lounge served sushi and other Japanese foods and beverages in a quiet setting near the Media City Lake. The Blu Water Lounge was a more contemporary beverage lounge.  In addition there was a variety of live performances on the entertainment stage.