The Middle East city of United Arab of Emirates has been an interesting connection.
On my 18th Birthday, I had visited the newly opened Ferrari Theme Park and Experienced the fastest rollercoaster in the world Formula Rosso.
That visit to the city was all about Yas Island – The popular F1 Track.
After Thirteen Years. I visited Abu Dhabi yet again for a family friend wedding, this also happened to be my 31st Birthday weekend.
The city has transformed so much, The city felt so big. Each of the landmarks we wanted to visit would take us between fifteen-to Thirty Minutes. And the distances were about Twenty Kilometre maximum
The Roads were so smooth, you hardly realised the time flew by driving
The Corniche, an upcoming beach front space was too calm for a middle east city that buzzes during the night.
The Al-Qana a space that was like the Marina Dubai had Cafes, Restaurants with water front view and bridges to connect the either sides of the space.
Visited The Sheikh Zayed Mosque after a thirteen Years wait, A Beautiful white mosque with detailing kept in mind of the florals inside were nicely em-bedded.
The Walk in & out of the sheikh Zayed Mosque is a long one.
But, Golf Cart as an option for senior citizen available and and travelator to walk without any movement.
We visited Al- Watan a fairly newly promoted sight of Abu Dhabi.
It had the structure of the palace hotel from the outside.
But, inside the dome and the walls stole the show.
The seating outside during the exit, highlights soothing sit-down space with a view overlooking Palm trees.
You must definitely visit the site on your next visit to Abu Dhabi.
The visit to Emirates Palace, was a visit with mixed emotions.
Since we initially planned to visit the palace for lunch, but only ended with touring the property around the whole palace, a grandeur hotel with large spaces spread across for restaurants and shopping.
We ended up at an Art House Cafe, for a meal that had the Arabic flavours and good coffee
With Art Pieces from artist and a vibe that had creativity flowing around the space.
Abu Dhabi, has become one of the top tourist destinations with Global popstars and bands too making it a destination for their tours. The Recent opening of Warner Brother Theme park has Abu Dhabi becoming more of a family destination.
The new BAPS Temple too is a beautiful sight a Hindu Radha swami temple on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi that has become a landmark for all tourists and locals alike.
A book on food, that has a few pieces of history and a lot more about how certain foods through globalization, and better economic and weather conditions have made the plants and food thrive in countries that otherwise we had no idea were so resourceful. But the question remains – How much food changes in taste and Quality and how with hybridization, food has been growing across the World?
Some of the insightful details from the book.
Did you know?
Certain food items like barley are used to the fullest of the 100% –
2% of barely is eaten by humans.
60% of barely is used as Animal
Feed.
While 38% is used for brewing and Distilling beer.
0.50% barely is used for Soy Sauce and Miso.
So many things are made of just one food item.
The world’s largest collection of banana diversity is in Belgium
There are about 8 varieties of citrus fruit and lemon, oranges, Grapefruit and lime have been produced through hybridization
Lemons is actually A hybridization of citron and Sour Oranges.
Oranges come from a hybridisation of Mandarin and Pomelo
Lime is hybridization a Citron and Mandarin cross
Grapefruit Is a Hybrid between a Sweet Orange and a Pomelo.
It’s interesting to know how the fruit changes and how through hybridization we have produced so much in the world.
These are some of the details, but there is a lot more in the book.
Firstly, think about why are you looking to buy a watch? Is it a milestone you are celebrating?
Or you have liked it, because it looks cool, and you spotted your role Model/ Favourite celebrity wearing it and would like to own that watch.
These are some of the reasons.
But, you could also like the Watch, Because You simply like it for its design, And it’s distinctive from anything you have seen before!
Or You have aspired to own a particular make or brand since your childhood.
But, at the same time, You might have liked the simplicity of the complications it has to offer, The perpetual calendar, The Moon phase, The GMT dial or a simple analog watch whose needles fascinate you.
Or it would be the Mechanism movement you have also been in awe of a Automatic, Mechancial winding.
The Size of the Watch, Small, Medium size or Large sizes.
Watches have an history and often an association that we look into when owning that timepiece.
Oh! It could also be a limited edition timepiece or an investment you would like to make.
But, it’s the only Jewellery piece that a Man has on his wrist always. It’s not something you buy to keep a watch on the time.
But, something that you would like to keep for the rest of your life.
Something we don’t often think about is the Age at which we own the watch, sometime we might be too young to own that or too old to have it.
Some of the most prominent watch makers to consider.
Swatch, Tissot, Timex, Casio, G-Shock, Seiko in the entry level segment
For premium level you could look into :
Oris, Beaume & Mercier, Breitling
Luxury would be: Omega, Panerai, Cartier, Tag Heuer, Tudor
Ultra Luxury: Audermars, Rolex, Patekh Philips
Some Indian watchmakers you might like to look into are Jaipur Watch Company and Horpa.
Jaipur Watch company has some interesting designs of watches like the Stamp watch.
Horpa a fairly new brand has the look of Blancpain and Swatch watches.
But, watches are always a personal choice.
Design, Make and functions are always something you must consider personally.
The 25+ Hours journey through the UK to Sao Paulo was slightly tiring.
The first impression, Sao Paulo is a huge city!
The architecture and construction are lovely.
Water! No Water in the rooms! This was going to become a common observation as we would travel around the country!
The restaurants too don’t serve you water.
This was quite alarming, Maybe the water isn’t quite hygienic here! Or maybe they aren’t hospitable or maybe they are going through a Water Crisis.
Sao Paulo had the appeal of New York, Wall Street and Fifth Avenue. The Liberade, Japanese Neibhourhood did remind me of being lost in Japan!
The Food whether it was the local Brazilian Meat, Mexican Gucaomole, American Burgers, Italian Pizza, Thai or Japanese was the best in Sao Paulo. In the places we visited, we realised they were either part of the best Restaurants in the World and Latin America or were part of the Michelin restaurant guide.
The Cafes and coffee were also some of the finest we had here in the city!
Rosewood in Sao Paulo. Ranked #25 in the Worlds best was truly an experience. Walking into the lush green arches and being welcomed by books at the entrance/Waiting area. As you make yourself comfortable through the hotel you pass through a couple of more coffee table bookshelves before you reach the restaurant, which you feel is in the middle of the forest.
The Acai Berry Smoothie, Pastrami Sandwich and Burger were the juiciest, healthiest and most satisfying meals of our trip.
Rosewood was a nice experience.
The city, Was so clean with ample of dustbins, unlike Japan. Where you struggle to find even one.
The shopping malls, Each one competing with the size and the interiors.
The weather, Yes, we did feel the heat waves.
The roads were so broad and well-maintained. It was a challenge to find even one pothole in the country.
Rio was a tourist hub, and so was our instruction. Be extra careful while walking on the streets of Rio, After 5 pm avoid strolling on the street with Mobile Phones, Jewellery or Watches/Smart Watches.
The Sugarloaf Mountain & Christ The Redeemer have to be our typical tourist highlight. One for the sunset view and the other for getting the structure to the top.
Copacabana Beach was going through a post-event pack-up! Madonna had performed a free concert two days before we planned to reach Rio de Janeiro.
Language is a huge barrier! The locals don’t understand English and as Tourist, we had no understanding of Portuguese.
Brazil has their measurement too!
P being M , The universal Medium size, G being large, GG being Extra large in clothing. For Footwear too, they are normally a size or two smaller than the Typical US sizes one Wears.
Salvador was a small quaint colourful city that would remind you a lot about Europe’s small towns.
While travelling across the city we flew through GOl or Latam. The local airlines of Brazil were always on time and internally we travelled through the Uber App with minimum communication!
Oh! One thing that was a huge disappointment was Google Maps! Often they did not take us at the right location, either 100 meters away from our location or would be pinned at another entrance/Exit of the same location.
The Google Maps, were always not updated with locations that had been permanently closed or had being relocated to another location.
In both of these times, We were faced with challenges on how to communicate to the exact location.
While planning Brazil I had also noted a few bookstores I wanted to visit in Brazil!
To my disappointment both of the bookstores that were listed for the longest time as the most beautiful bookstores in the world had been closed now! One in Sao PauloAnd the other in Rio. While I visited other bookstores across the cities. There weren’t any books available in English at all.
Brazil with two of the most prominent global events like FIFA and the Olympics in the past decade is still not considered a Tourist Destination. With Food options, the Weather being pleasant, Globally recognised homegrown Fashion brands and Warm and friendly people you wonder if the Country’s not being Safe Image is playing a key role in tourism.
Eat: #saopaulo @ranchoportuguessp @nbsteak @michelinguide @aizomerestaurante – Part of @theworlds50best #latinamerica @pingyangsp – #11 Best Place to eat in #Brazil
Taro Sushi – Michelinguide
@rosewoodsaopaulo -#25 Worlds Best Hotel @theworlds50best @sisenorbrasil @brazpizzaria – #4 best pizzeria brand in the World @pecorinoteresina @apizzadamooca – #77 in the Worlds Best Pizza
Chocolates: #brazil @dengochocolates @kopenhagen_
Personal favourite for Shopping : @farmrio @osklen
Today if you look around more than sixty percent people wear a smart watch! About 30 % don’t wear a watch at all. The Rest 10% wear a traditional watch. What makes smart watch so popular is it being health conscious , A fashion statement or affordability? How has the Smartwatch replaced traditional watches? Are Smartwatches, worn to track Health & fitness levels or are they just a cultural movement replacing traditional watches? Do we wear a watch to keep an eye on the time or do we look at a watch being the only legitimate piece of jewellery a man can wear? More recently Timex took A dig at smartwatches – “Read the time, not your emails, Watches like they used to be” Are watches a necessity? Or are they considered a luxury? So many brands like Titan, Sonata, HMT are heavily investing in the market with newer collection and stores. But what sets the traditional watches apart from the smart watches? A statement or A piece of accessory or a watch makers history? Are collaborations the only way for traditional watch makers to Woo the market and Buyers? Timex X Peanuts & Swatch X Omega to name a couple that have gained popularity recently. Or is it bringing back classic designs from the watchmakers?
A K H I L N A N D A 