16 ASCOTT LIVING
to whom relaxation means adrenalinefilled experiences, driving dune buggies
across the rolling sands is a surefire way
to forget a bad day at the office — and
have some fun. For sports enthusiasts,
other important dates include the Gold
Cup Polo in late January, the Dubai
World Cup horseracing at the end of
March and the Dubai Rugby Sevens
in December.
Manama
Manama, the capital of Bahrain, is a city
of contrasts — from skyscrapers and
shiny shopping malls to bustling souqs
and markets, and a pearl industry that
dates back hundreds of years. Retreat
into the calming annals of history or
relax in sophisticated spas, the choice of
wellness is all yours.
This enticing blend of old and
new makes Manama an intriguing
destination. Visitors can get a feel for
the city (and “old Arabia”) by heading
to the renovated Bab el-Bahrain Souq —
a wonderful hubbub of activity, where
local merchants hawk colourful cuts of
cloth and curios. A more modern retail
experience awaits just 15 minutes walk
along Government Avenue. Here lies
the massive 16,500 square-metre Moda
Mall at Bahrain World Trade Centre,
which is packed with boutiques, and
Photos: Getty Images; Corbis
snow rooms to thalassotherapy pools. If
you only try one treatment, make sure
it’s the 45-minute traditional Turkish
body cleansing ceremony.
If you can summon the energy to
leave the spa, learning something new
is a surefire way to increase a sense
of wellbeing. For the more culturally
minded, HR manager Chris Mottram,
who has lived in Dubai for five years
recommends Alserkal Avenue. “I’ve
been a couple of times to the area,”
he says. “It’s like going to a different
city — lots to see, lots to do.” He also
advises dropping into the Salsali Private
Museum, which features exhibitions by
prominent regional artists.
The droves of tourists compliment
the hordes of expats already living in
Dubai, many of whom are enjoying
their tax-free status, working hard and
partying even harder. “It’s a good life,
out here,” admits Mottram.
When he’s not working hard,
Mottram likes to hit the city’s beach
clubs at weekends. “Zero Gravity is
a nice way to spend a day, as is Riva
on the Palm, but my favourite is Blue
Marlin, which is a little way out of
town, but worth the cab fare.”
Dubai is a melting pot of wonderful
culinary traditions and for those who
love to eat, there is no greater pleasure
than relaxing into a long lunch. The
city has countless excellent Indian
and Pakistani restaurants, wonderful
seafood, and is a magnet for some of
the best-known chefs in the business.
Dining aside, one of Dubai’s main
attractions is the shopping it offers.
Its malls are world famous: from the
Mall of Emirates — complete with
indoor ski slope and penguins (yes,
really) — to The Dubai Mall. The latter
is also conveniently attached to what
is currently the world’s tallest building,
the Burj Khalifa. In fact, retail is so
important to the
Dubai economy
Opposite: The Manama
that the city holds
souq is a very modern
interpretation of the
the Dubai Shopping
traditional market place
Right: Traversing the hot Festival (DSF) every
sands in a dune buggy
year in January,
is a popular pursuit for
where discounts
visitors looking for an
adrenaline rush in Dubai abound. For those
Dubai
High Speed Cops
To keep up with crime in the
emirate, Dubai Police have
invested a range of sports cars —
sorry, police cars — including a
Lamborghini Aventador (valued
at US$400,000), a McLaren MP412C (valued at US$240,000), and
an Ast on Martin One-77, priced
at US$1.4 million. Cool cops.
a slew of cafes and restaurants. The
people of Bahrain are proud of their
history and heritage — a sentiment
that is captured by the sites of cultural
interest dotted around Manama. The
most obvious destination is the Bahrain
National Museum, an austere structure
built by King Faisal in 1988. Within the
museum are nine halls stocked with
4,000 years worth of Bahraini history.
While Manama offers visitors plenty
of food for the soul, food of the more
literal variety is another compelling
reason to explore the city. Gourmands
will doubtless be drawn to celebrity chef
Wolfgang Puck’s two eateries: Cut by
Wolfgang Puck and re Asian Cuisine.
For a true taste of Bahrain, there's
no better place to dive into than Basta
23 in Riyadat Mall. This newcomer
to Manama’s vibrant restaurant scene
serves contemporary interpretations
of traditional Bahraini dishes, such
as balaleet fine noodles (a type of
spiced noodle cake), curried eggs with
tomatoes and black beans. The décor
is edgy and fun, and the staff members
are warm and welcoming. This is a
favourite among those in the know.
Manama might be a fast city, but
there’s no reason for visitors to feel
obliged to keep up. Anyone who is
partial to a bit of pampering should
check into Pure Spa at the City
Centre Bahrain mall.
Pure is perfectly located
for a post-shopping
wind-down. The top-ofthe range facility features
11 treatment rooms
and a wide array of
holistic treatments.
Regulars to the spa
recommend the 90-minute
complete-body treatment
Manama
(head massage, oil mask,
Height of Luxury
face and body scrub,
Not to be outdone by its neighwrapping, an antibours, Bahrain is planning the
next world’s tallest building.
aging facial massage
When completed, the Murjan
and detoxifying body
Tower in Manama will be 1,022
massage). If Pure is a great
metres tall, and claims to be the
most luxurious building ever built.
way to combine retail
However, a planned completion
therapy with therapeutic
date has not yet been set and
treatments, La Fontaine is
construction is yet to begin.
a perfect stop for culture
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