Tuesday, 19 August 2014

Tokyo @ The Tower - Emirates Towers, Dubai

On the second floor in Emirates Towers sits this low key Teppanyaki and Sushi restaurant - not as glitzy and glamorous as similar joints like Sake No Hana but a great place to venture for a fun yet casual night out. Our visit to Tokyo @ The Tower was once again thanks to Whats On - another part of the great prize that was gave with the nights stay at Emirates Towers Hotel so i was particularly excited to discover a little bit of Toyko. On first appearances it looked small and narrow laiden with small basic wooden tables and chairs - it wasnt until we hit the back of the room that we saw the Teppanyaki stations displayed out in front of us.




After we were seated it was time to decide the 'food' direction of the evening and luckily my companion and I came to a suitable decision from the set menu - one meat & one seafood and then obviously share :) There is also a al carte options comprising of different cuts of meat, alternative seafood and duck but, as advised by the waitress, the set menu was the real deal. With miso soup in hand and a small salad on the side it was time to watch the chef work his magic, starting with the veggies. Sliced and diced into tiny pieces in what felt like one second, the veg was ready and left to one side with the occasional toss from the chef. The rice came next - the selection being sticky or egg fried (egg fried obviously being the more entertaining and tasty option). After it was vigorous flipped and pulled from side to side a few times, the veg was added and the egg cracked and voila - egg fried rice - it was amazing how quickly they could accomplish so much! Next came the proper grub - my prawns, lobster tail, scallops and salmon were sliced, scooped up and juggled around on the hot plate with oils, salt and pepper tossed in to enhance the flavor and fire. The meat followed in the same fashion and to be honest, both dishes were fantastic - light and full of flavor - the whole show was immensely impressive.




The food at Tokyo @ The Tower really was the main highlight of the evening, the chefs were simply spectacular however there were some aspects which didn't impress as much. The entrance of the restaurant didn't do any justice to the rest of the place and could maybe be more intriguing to entice customers at first glance. It is also situated right next to a karaoke bar which got very loud - its great if you want to join in, not so great if you have having dinner. Finally, i thought the staff weren't overly friendly or helpful and service with a smile didn't seem to apply. Apart from that, the food was fab - all credit goes to the amazing Teppanyaki chefs.





i-escape

This website has quickly become by new obsession and also a handy go-to when planning hotels for holidays. The site shows a selection of hand-picked beautiful boutique and hip hotel, B&Bs plus houses to rent all set among gorgeous back drops. Well worth a look - there are some real gems to be uncovered and explored!







  



Monday, 18 August 2014

Music Mondayz

Ed Sheeren two ways - have a listen to the official track and if you haven't already heard it, give the Glastonbury live version a listen featuring the ever so awesome Rudimental. 



Hilton Al Hamra Beach and Golf Resort - Al Hamra, RAK

Previously the Al Hamra Fort Hotel, Hilton has now taken over this hot spot in Al Hamra, sandwiched between The Waldolf Astoria and The Banyan Tree. Situated conveniently 50 minutes away from Dubai, 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah, and an hour from the Omani border (which leads up to the beautiful Musandam Peninsula), Al Hamra is a great place to be to experience the best of both worlds (the city and the mountains) as well as being a great place for a weekend stay cay. It is also very close to other local attractions including Ice Land and Dream Land.



We went to Al Hamra for a night to stay at The Hilton and even though it was definitely not a 5 star resort it was comfortable and had all the amenities which make stay-cays enjoyable. The complex was huge, and all the rooms were separated into Arabic style building with winding pathways laid down between  gardens joining up the resort. From the outside, the buildings looked authentic and painted a lovely picture of the resort, however the inside could of done with a bit of work. The corridors and stairwells resembled my old boarding school - stone and cold - and the rooms looked dated. Even though they were clean, the beds were comfy and there was a large balcony attached, the paint work looked chipped, there were water stains on the wall and the AC didnt seem to be working well (it was also very noisy!) which obviously made things slightly uncomfortable in the middle of summer. However, on the plus side, we ordered room service for breakfast which made up for what was lacking in the room. They offered a proper full English breakie with PORK bacon and they also served gluten free bread. Not only was it probably one of the best breakfasts we have had from room service in a hotel, it was also the cheapest and after our first nights stay, gave us a little more hope in terms of what else The Hilton had in store for us.



The Hilton offers up a range of sporting activities, on the water and the land. They have an 18 hole golf course (and a mini golf course too - more my style), tennis courts, two swimming pools, plus a gym and water sports center. There are also eight onsite dining venues, including a gastro pub, a pool side lunch spot and the infamous Mai Tai Lounge (AKA Trader Vics). The pools are nice however quite small in size and were far too warm for the summer months, however the main delight was the beach. RAK is known for its white sandy beaches and this one did not disappoint. It was an enjoyable stay for one night, however its a better place for a family holiday rather than a relaxing weekend away.



Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel - Dubai

Thanks to Whats On, myself and a pal of mine were lucky enough to win a nights stay in Emirates Towers plus four dinners at a handful of their amazing restaurants. Booked in for the weekend before I was heading back to the UK on holiday, the stay came at a perfect time and gave me a chance to chill out and catch some rays before heading home. I have always admired Emirates Towers from a far  - as well as being one of the most stunning architectural buildings among the Dubai skyline, the two towers combined also offer a luxury shopping destination suitably named the Boulevard as well as a roster of  great restaurants, night clubs and cafes as well as hotel rooms and offices. To sum up, you could live there (and only there) for 6 months and probably not get bored. 



Emirates Towers is also part of the infamous Jumeirah Group, so as an added benefit of staying at Emirates Towers guests can use the beach at Jumeirah Beach Hotel as well as Wild Wadi giving you the best of both worlds - a day by the sea and a day surrounded by the buildings, hustle and bustle and of course the shopping of Down Town Dubai. 


The hotel itself is consistently voted one of the world's finest business hotels, and I can see why this would be the case. Location wise, it is right next to DIFC - the biggest financial district in Dubai, and in terms of the benefits of the hotel, the majority of the restaurants are tailored towards business dinners/lunches and all offer exquisite fine dining menus, fancy interiors and incredibly attentive staff. The 400 rooms on offer come decked out desks, high speed internet, an essential coffee machine and huge floor to ceiling windows allowing tonnes of light into the room. 


Our room was completely different to the hotel rooms we normally stay in.. On entry, the curtains automatically opened to show off amazing views of the Burj Khalifa, the bed, perfectly placed in-front of the window (I could of sat for hours with a coffee in the morning just gazing out). Everything electric was automatic from the lights to the curtains with a handy panel by the side of the bed to control it all - no actual switches present or necessary. Even though the rooms weren't huge they had everything you would of wanted from a large swanky bathroom with a large bath and shower, a plasma TV, a sofa and desk area and a huge, mega comfy bed with massive squishy pillows - they need to start selling these online! 


Even though the rooms do not have balconies, there are smoking rooms available and other designated areas throughout the hotel. There is also a hotel spa (which I sadly didn't get a chance to try) as well as a handy shuttle bus system ferrying people to and fro from Jumierah Beach Hotel, Wild Wadi, Souk Madinat and Dubai Mall. All in all it was pretty faultless in terms of a business hotel and I would recommend anyone to stay there if they were stopping over for a night in Dubai (its conveniently close to the airport). The staff are accommodating, and will always go the extra mile to help and the choice of restaurants on offer is outstanding with every type of cuisine under the sun on offer.   




Thursday, 14 August 2014

The final goodbye

In his final chapter, Robin Williams linked up with Apple to do the voice over on 'The Verse' for Ipad Air. 

Poetic, beautiful, passionate - inspiring you to grow

#RIPRobinWilliams






Wednesday, 13 August 2014

5 Day Trip around Oman


DAY 1: Drive/Fly to Muscat. Have a day lounging by the pool at The Chedi and spend a night in luxury. 




DAY 2: Have a morning relaxing and a delicious lunch by the sea at The Chedi. Drive 1 1/2 hours to Wadi Shab. Visit the Sink Hole and spend a night at the Wadi Shab Hotel.




DAY 3: Wake up early and head to Wadi Shab and begin the hike. Once completed, drive down to Ras Al Jinz, stopping in Sur on route for a spot of lunch and a visit around the oldest town in Oman. Stay a night at The Turtle Reserve and prepare to wake up early!




DAY 4: Wake up at the crack of dawn to see the Turtles (Turtle season is at its best either in July/August or October/November). Fill you belly with breakfast before heading up the mountains. Stop at Nizwa for some lunch and a spot of site seeing before heading further into the mountains (note you will need a 4X4 car from Nizwa onwards) to Jebal Shams and stay here - http://www.booking.com/hotel/om/jebel-shams-resort.en-gb.html?sid=8453da0430e51cd82711ca03e59d5107;dcid=4


DAY 5: Watch the sun rise over the mountains before either driving back to home or back to Muscat to catch a flight.