Monday, February 28, 2011

Dubai's Exponential Luxury Is Unhindered

Dubai's Exponential Luxury Is Unhindered
Dubai has spared no extravagances in its pursuit to compete with the rest of the world for a cosmopolitan status. By western standards, nearly everything is available to suit any traveler's tastes.  International trade, business, and especially tourism also are economically important, and modern high-rise buildings comprise the city center of Dubai. The city is mixture of many cultures as there are many foreigners involved in the jewelry trade that live and work here. There is an international airport, and the sheikhdom is a regional center for hi-tech multi-national corporate headquarters, as well as computer and media companies.
There's no shortage of things to do in Dubai. For sports fans, the calendar of events is packed in all but the hottest summer months with the Dubai Marathon, the Tennis Open, the Desert Classic, the World Cup, the Duty Free Grand Prix and so on. For golfers, the city has six championship courses. Dusit Thani Dubai hotel is one of the newer exquisite luxury resorts to grace the city's cosmopolitan flair. This is a 5 star hotel that offers only the best in the center of Dubai's Business District. The convenient location allows easy access to the World Trade Center, Dubai International Financial Center, and Burj Dubai. There are five meeting rooms and an executive boardroom for the many business travelers that frequent this establishment. The hotel's three top floors are exclusively for Executive rooms and suites. There is also a Club Lounge for business travelers.
Outside of the city area, there are mountain excursions and other more natural and traditional setting to experience. Many popular activities include falconry, camel-riding, and hiking through the Hajar Mountains. Hatta Heritage Village is striking recreation of what traditional life used to be like in Dubai. It includes Hatta Fort and a hotel. Popular archeological sites to visit include Al Ghusais, Al Sufooh and Jumeirah, where visitors can look for artifacts.
Back in the city, the Bastakiya district is a memorable experience as one strolls through the old narrow lanes. Around here, there are traditional courtyards with wind towers, which were a necessity for centuries before electricity was available. Other things to see include the Burj Nahar Watchtower, which guarded the city in ancient times. The Dubai Museum is fantastic place to see various exhibits of the culture of Dubai, including pearl-diving.
Everything is new and sleek in this neo-oasis of the Middle East. There are massive architectural masterpieces of modern splendor that sightseers should not miss seeing. The first place to see is The Mall of the Emirates, which is the largest mall outside of North America. Famous landmarks include the world's tallest building, The Burj Khalifa, the largest man-made islands in the world, The Palm Islands, and the unbelievable Hydropolis Underwater Hotel. There is also the Dubai Autodrome for car-racing enthusiasts. Saving the best for last is The Wonderland Waterpark, which is a great place to take the kids to beat the heat

from - http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/dubais-exponential-luxury-is-unhindered-4150686.html

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Healthy food 'a luxury item' in Aboriginal communities

Healthy food 'a luxury item' in Aboriginal communities
An expert in Aboriginal health says people living in remote communities are forced to eat a lot of flour and sugar because they can't afford to buy healthy food.
Dr Julie Brimblecombe from the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin has been studying the food supply at Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory for the past five years.
Her research has found food in the bush is 50 per cent more expensive than it is in Darwin.
Dr Brimblecombe says fresh produce isn't always available in the communities.
"A diet that is high in refined carbohydrates and low in fruit and vegetables and those other nutrient rich foods certainly places a person at risk of overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer and nutrition contributes to three of the four top killers for Indigenous Australians."
She says more government help is needed to make fresh food affordable.
"As a really long-term solution, I think we should be putting investment into local food production in remote communities and also looking at economic development of the local food resources, which are the traditional foods which are very nutrient dense."

from - http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/25/2345920.htm

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Luxury Food - A Pinch of Exclusivity

Luxury Food - A Pinch of Exclusivity
Not many of us get to relish the exotic tastes of a luxuriously prepared meal. The very reason why such food is tagged as luxurious is because it is not as easily available or affordable by majority of the people. However, for those of us who may never have the funds or the appetite to enjoy a plate of bird's nest or a platter of frogs' legs, there is always room for some "window shopping" on the internet.
It is true that most times we eat with our eyes rather than our stomach. A brilliantly decorated meal will visually appeal to our senses, although we may not have the mind to actually eat it when we get to know what it contains. The interesting and delightful presentation of luxury food items more or less satisfies our visual appetite before we go ahead and fill ourselves with our regular meals. It could also happen that while looking through some of the luxury food items in magazines or websites, we come across something that we really like and would love to taste. In that case, all we need to do is get out and hunt down that particular luxury dish in one of the plush restaurants in the city.
Every city will have a selection of elite restaurants that specialize in luxury cuisine. Just the way you would go shopping for the trendiest clothes, you could go looking for the choicest of meals in one of the many exotic restaurants. Indeed it will be an adventure for your taste buds, and although some of the luxury food items do take their own sweet time to grow on you, it is truly worth your time and money.
It is amazing how bizarre or odd luxury food items could get. If you are brave enough and up for some real culinary adventure, treat your senses with the very delicious and exclusive Fugu fish. This Japanese delicacy is renowned for its sumptuous taste, however if it is prepared the wrong way, it could even lead to death, and that is really not something for the faint hearted. Treading on safer ground, luxury food items such as oysters, matsutake, lobster, Foie gras, kobe beef, white truffles, saffron, and Beluga caviar are some of the most expensive luxury food items available in most parts of the world.
If it's too much of a bother or a strain on your budget to dine out in restaurants that serve luxury food, you can very well prepare your own gourmet cuisine in your kitchen. Apart from books and magazines that give you handy tips on how to prepare a luxury meal, you can browse through several websites that give you an idea on how to cook up an exclusive meal.
Each luxury food item has its own distinct smell and flavor. You may not like the smell of raw oysters or the taste of vanilla beans, but there are many of these gourmet culinary delights that are sure to capture your attention and make you come back for more

Monday, February 21, 2011

Luxury Restaurants in Dubai

Dubai may be best known for its fabulous shopping, luxury hotels, outdoor attractions and buzzy nightlife, but equally appealing is its diverse range of fine restaurants.
Dubai's thriving culinary scene offers more than 450 restaurants, with pretty much every flavour from around the world represented in this melting pot of cultures. An increasing number of chefs with stellar international reputations have now set up restaurants in Dubai's top hotels - Gordon Ramsay at the Hilton Dubai Creek, Viktor Stampfer at the Ritz-Carlton and John Wood at the Burj al Arab amongst them.

Leading Arabian and Persian restaurants include Automatic, Shabestan, Shahrzad, The Persian Garden, The Al Khayam Lounge and Layali Lubnan. The Marrakech at the Shangri-La Hotel and Shoo Fee Ma Fee in the Madinat Souk are well-regarded Moroccan venues. The Blue Elephant Thai restaurant boasts opulent interiors and fine food; top choices for Indian cuisine include the Ashiana and Khazana, tastefully adorned with lantern lights and bamboo screens, the Thattukada at the Palm Beach Rotana Inn and the Antique Bazaar at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, whilst Sho-Cho is the hottest Japanese venue in town right now.

Top seafood choices include the Aquarium at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and the Fish Market at the Hotel Inter-Continental; and Dubai boasts an abundance of European restaurants, particularly Italian: the Bice Ristorante in Umm Suqueim offers first-class Italian delicacies, fine service and alfresco dining; the elegant Cubo Pasta restaurant at the Ibis Hotel receives rave reviews; Venezia, the largest restaurant in the Middle East, is beautifully designed like an Italian village square, complete with gondola rides, musical entertainment and an extensive selection of fine wines. La Moda's plush setting and delicious Italian dishes makes it the place to be and to be seen in. Other top choices include Da Vinci's in Garhoud and the all-day Fontana diner.



If you're not staying there, it's still worth taking a trip to the Rydges Plaza Hotel for its excellent choice of restaurants, including Billy Blues steakhouse and Texan fare at Cactus Cantina.

Dubai is also famous for its Friday brunches, where sumptuous buffets cover the whole spectrum of international cuisines, some lasting all day. Competition is intense and great promotions often apply: some venues offer free use of facilities, such as swimming pools, as part of the Friday brunch package

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Cost of Living in Dubai Not so Expensive

Cost of Living in Dubai Not so Expensive
Dubai’s 1.3-million person population is set to explode, with an anticipated doubling by the year 2010.  As thousands of retirees, expatriates and holidaymakers pour into the country, many Brits are eyeing the property market and its boom, wondering how anyone can actually afford to live in Dubai.
Whilst it is very true that buying property in Dubai is more expensive than in other expat destinations, it is not as costly as some think.  The overall cost of living in Dubai is not so expensive and tends to compare quite favourably with western European living.  It might not be quite as affordable as other relocation hotspots like Bulgaria, Belize or France, but it isn’t that far out of line either.  Considering the allure of the Persian Gulf and the recreational opportunities Dubai has to offer, it is little wonder that so many are packing up and planting new roots in the emirate – especially when they find they can actually afford to have a decent lifestyle when living in Dubai.
In this article, we’ll explore the cost of living in Dubai. Families are often a little surprised at how well this paradise stacks up with living elsewhere. Some of the finer points include: -
Housing.  This is going to set you back the most.  Buying property in Dubai will start from about GBP 70,000 and up for off-plan, one-bedroom apartments.  The more elaborate the property, the higher the prices.  Rentals here are generally comparable with the West, but do expect higher rates on the beaches and in the most upscale of developments.
Food.  Purchasing food in Dubai is not very expensive, especially when local or regional products are chosen.  International favourites will set you back a bit more.  Some expats report that a family of four can get by really well on about GBP 1000 a month for food expenses.
Clothing.  Imports, of course, are more expensive - but local alternatives are not that expensive.  Considering the lack of need for winter attire, an overall clothing budget here can be much smaller than in most European locations.
Electronics and entertainment items.  Everything from television sets to DVD players tend to be a bit less expensive in Dubai.  The lower import duties work to keep prices fairly low.
Utilities.  These tend to run lower than in many European countries.  The only exception is in the summer months when air conditioning bills can rise.
Transportation.  The cost of getting around is generally quite low.  Some expats suggest a budget of about GBP 50 a month should more than take care of a single person.
Whilst buying or renting property in Dubai doesn’t necessarily present a big cost savings, the overall prices attached with living in Dubai stack up with Western living.  Considering the draws the country has to offer and the completely different pace of life, it makes sense that so many are flocking to make a new start in this desert paradise

from - http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/cost-of-living-in-dubai-not-so-expensive

What is the cost of food in hotel of Dubai

What is the cost of food in hotel of  Dubai
15 euro for menu del dia? Times have changed, I guess. I lived in Spain 9 years ago, and a 3 course meal ran about 5 USD. 85 dirhams/15 euro will not get you a 3 course meal, though. There are lots of cheap and cheerful ways to eat in the UAE, and there are some very high-end establishments, too. You could spend around 20 dirhams for lunch if you went w/ fast food.

As for accommodation, you might be placed in a hotel apt. Ask your employer about this. At least you could do some cooking.