travel

Staycation at Centro Capital Centre (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

We went on a mini road trip to the capital last weekend, and decided to spend the last few days of Ramadan in Centro Capital Centre. Conveniently located in the hub of Abu Dhabi’s business district, this 3-star property has proven to be a very popular hotel among business executives. The pricing is very reasonable without compromising on the quality of the experience itself.

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Infact we had a dejavous experience! Walking into the lobby, I mistook this property to be Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana And even told the receptionist I’ve been here before! When we stayed at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, we were upgraded to a suite but they don’t have suites in Centro Capital Centre. The bedding, the sofa and even the accessories look identical to our last stay, with everything being compressed into a smaller, cozier space.

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Staycation at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana

Last weekend saw our little family packing up our overnight bags and heading off to the capital. Located in the heart of the financial hub of Abu Dhabi, Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana seems to be an unlikely choice for a family getaway. With offices and convention centres a stone’s throw away, the hotel has a regular influx of business guests. However, much to our delight, the property also proved to be a nest of comfort as a home away from home.

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Sakura: An Authentic Japanese Experience

A week ago, my sister posted this absolutely stunning image of the cherry blossom trees, in full bloom at the International Pacific University in my hometown of Palmerston North, New Zealand.

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The annual Sakura Festival is one of the most anticipated events on the calendars of the Japanese migrant community of New Zealand. Being Down Under, the cherry blossoms come to bloom there in early September, but in Japan it takes place between March and May.

Sakura is Japanese for ‘cherry blossom’, and it is quite a coincidence that a week later, I find myself in a Japanese restaurant by the same name.

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Located in the very central Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, Sakura takes the Japanese culinary experience to another level with its dedicated Chashitsu room, an interactive sushi-making counter and a very fired-up lineup of authentic Teppanyaki barbecues, cooked and served right at the table with a great deal of pomp and pizzazz. 

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London Calling: 6 Heritage Sites You Have to Visit

London has always been synonymous for its cultural heritage. The city’s deep-rooted history spreads well beyond the prim, manicured lawns of Buckingham Palace, and who better to ask than someone who has spent a reasonably long time working for the well-reputed travel website Cleartrip.ae?

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In today’s guest post, Steven Nazareth takes us on a virtual tour around London. From familiar sites to well-reputed museums, if London is on your travel list, these sites are a must-visit. Read on for more.

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Global Eats: Street Foods of Shillong (Meghalaya, India)

It’s been over a month since I got back from my whirlwind trip around North East India this summer. We spent most of the holidays in my husband’s hometown of Shillong (Meghalaya), and I am really missing the cooler weather, the lazy midday siestas and the food… oh the glorious street food!

Street foods of shillong The Tezzy Files Dubai Food Travel Lifestyle Blogger UAE India (2)

I believe the food offerings of a city are a direct reflection of the cultural norms of the region, and what better way to explore Shillong than to take to the streets and eat like the locals? Being a Shillong boy himself, my husband was my most trusty food-exploring guide.

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India Travel Diaries: A Virtual Tour of Shillong

My whirlwind trip to India now feels like a distant dream. Where did a whole month go? We spent the major chunk of our holiday in the beautifully picturesque town of Shillong.

Shillong virtual tour by The Tezzy Files Dubai Travel lifestyle blog blogger Mghalaya Scotland of the East Rock Capital of India Photography Panasonic Lumix (10)

My Hubby calls Shillong home, and spent his entire childhood here. Every nook of the city seems to hold a fond memory for him, and despite being away for countless years, he proves to be an expert tour guide, leading me through miles of endlessly narrow streets and cobbled stairs.

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India Travel Diaries: Eating Around Guwahati

When exploring a city, I like to take to the streets like a local. Sure, a fancy hotel stay is a much-needed rejuvenating treat but I had under 24 hours to backpack around Guwahati, the capital city of Assam (North East India) and ofcourse it involved a major eatathon!

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India Travel Diaries: The Streets of Guwahati (Assam)

Guwahati is a maddening chaos. The streets are jam-packed with traffic, hawkers and bystanders.

Guwahati Assam India Monsoons July 2016 by The Tezzy Files Dubai Travel Blogger (2)

We walked through its streets this monsoon-laden Monday. The air is hot and muggy, and the humidity shrouds the body with a permanent layer of perspiration, making my flimsy cotton t-shirt stick on like a second skin.

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India Travel Diaries: The Legend of Garbo Raja (A Garo Folktale)

 

My father in-law has a very endearing caretaker who originates from the Garo Hills. Swing is a short, middle-aged man with a rather muscular stature and a deep, dark chocolate-brown complexion, and has been a part of this family ever since I married into it. Yes, his name is Swing! Given his fondness for the bottle and a very jovial disposition, this name seems pretty apt for him. Sparse teethed yet ever-smiling, Swing has formed a special friendship with my daughter who he last saw as a 2 year-old. My daughter does not speak any Indian regional languages, and Swing has very limited use of the English tongue. Yet the other afternoon, I saw him sitting there trying to tell her a story in colloquial Hindi.

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Always keen on hearing some regional-style storytelling myself, I sat down to listen and offered to be the translator between the two. Swing narrated the story of Gangbo Raja, a folktale that has been passed down generations in the Garo Hills.

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India Travel Diaries: Chicken Pulao for Iftar (a hearty recipe to feed a crowd of 40)

I am spending the last few precious days of Ramadan in India with the extended family. Iftars here are rather different from the UAE. When fasting in Dubai, we tend to focus on the socializing aspect of Ramadan, and are spoilt for choice with the plethora of Iftars and Suhoor buffets on offer.

In my husband’s hometown of Shillong (Meghalaya), Iftars are far more solemn and people prefer to enjoy them within the privacy of their own homes with close family. Neighbours exchange dishes, but mainly meet up in the mosque for the extended prayers.

Chicken Pulao Recipe Iftar Ramadan India Muslim Indian Recipe Shillong India Bengal Assam The Tezzy Files Dubai Food Lifestyle Travel Blog Blogger (1)

I spent the last couple of days at my maternal aunt Zuleikha Hazarika’s place, and had the pleasure of watching her very talented cook, Ali, whip up a giant pot full of traditional Chicken Pulao (an aromatic chicken pilaf fragranced with the spicy notes of cardamom, cloves and cinnamon). In the true spirit of Ramadan, the pulao was divided up into boxes, and distributed across the neighbourhood to close friends, as well as the less fortunate.

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