Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/40418
important is this: "When you're hungry, thirsty and tired, you can more easily relate to people who feel that way all the time." Fasting is, however, not in the vocabu- lary as we quit the mosque for the optional lunch ($18) hosted by the SMCCU at their nearby headquarters. While our group of 16 enjoys cardamom-spiked Arabic coffee and almond-stuffed dates, the staff places a veri- table feast at our feet: a chicken and vegeta- ble mash called madruba, two kinds of grilled whole sea bream, paella-like biryani and sugar-infused rice topped with caramelized onions. While we eat, host Nasif Kayed takes more of our questions. Between the meal and the education, it's well worth the price of admission. The cultural lunch was our second buffet of the day and good things come in threes. Tonight we'll dine under the stars in a Bedouin- style camp in the desert, but only after we've dune-bashed our way there in a powerful 4X4 SUV. Driver Wahid Bakhsh picks us up at the hotel and we're introduced to our driving companions, an older couple from India and a father and son from the Netherlands. The city behind us, we reach the rendez- vous point, where 30 other vehicles wait to take us, caravan-style, on our desert safari ($76 per person). Bakhsh plunges up and over the dunes, crashing down on the other side. We laugh raucously at every jump – but no one harder than the Indian woman and me when she realizes she's been gripping my arm. The sun dips behind the horizon as we arrive at camp. A large open-air space between FATIMA LAEEQ AMA Travel Specialist United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi is one of the Middle East's poshest and most modern cities, populated by lush gardens, luxurious hotels, spas and designer golf courses. I stayed at the Abu Dhabi Sheraton, which is surrounded by private beaches with amazing turquoise waters. We were in Abu Dhabi during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, at the end of which there were celebration feasts all over the city. My favorite dish was laham mandi, a whole lamb baked in a clay oven and served with rice. Everyone dug right in with their hands! It was scrumptious. Abu Dhabi is a desert destination with spectacular sand dunes. The desert safaris were great fun – go for a camel ride! And any- one wanting a breath of fresh air and a good game of golf should head out to the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, a 15-minute drive from the city centre and just 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The palace-like Marina Mall and Abu Dhabi Shopping Mall offer luxury goods, such as Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci and Burb- erry, often at the best prices in town. You can easily get to each by taxi or air-conditioned bus. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a cultural marvel – one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. For delicious local food, walk down Sheikh Zayed Street or Cor- niche Road or go to the Tourist Club area. In the evening, reservations are a must. Need help planning or booking a trip to the Emirates? Contact Fatima at 1-888-989-8426 or email: WWTraveSpecialist@ama.ab.ca. 36 WESTWORLD >> SEPTEMBER 2011