Healthy and Delicious

Eat Well Restaurant at Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre By Shereen Shabnam Years ago, while searching for ayurvedic massages in Dubai, I came across Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre and became a regular visitor – even more so when they opened the Eat Well Restaurant that literally heals your relationship with food because each dish is tasty, healthy and the chef uses ingredients that nourish the body. The menu offers a wide range of dishes that are nutrient dense, high in antioxidants and filled with ingredients that gives you a natural health boost. I love the fact the dishes include … Continue reading Healthy and Delicious

Fusion of Delightful Flavours: Mamak

By Shereen Shabnam After over a decade of living in Kuala Lumpur, we moved to the UAE and missed eating freshly made Roti Canai with delicious frothy Teh Tarik in the mornings finding out that the local parathas just did not give the same satisfaction. Until we found Mamak based in the Al Wasl Square next to Safa Park and it continues to bring immense pleasure to us and anyone who is a fan of Malaysian food. Malaysian food has a combination of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences and is usually spicy and aromatic with rich tastes of herbs and spices commonly … Continue reading Fusion of Delightful Flavours: Mamak

An Aura of Elegance: Hotel Du Palais

Shereen Shabnam I fell in love with Biarritz the minute I got off the train. Facing the Ocean Atlantic and on the beach “La Grande Plage de Biarritz” near the city center of Biarritz, the prestigious sea side deluxe Hotel du Palais of Biarritz was breathtaking at first sight. Walking into the reception area, I had images of the past filled with memories of Gala evenings and stately affairs of the past era. During one of my visits to France over the last few years, I go back in time when I experienced the best of all that a luxury … Continue reading An Aura of Elegance: Hotel Du Palais

Return to Budapest

Shereen Shabnam After a few delightful days in Prague, we took a train to Budapest to experience the city’s rich history, natural sites and their thermal springs.  I expected my second visit to Budapest to be an adventure going into areas not discovered in my first trip but I was drawn once again into doing everything I did before and more.  The Danube cruise is magical and the view of the city from Gellert Hill is a breathtaking experience as always but Budapest has so much more to offer. My first task was to find a hotel conveniently located in … Continue reading Return to Budapest

Incredible India: A sanctuary for wellness retreats

Shereen Shabnam India has always been an interesting destination with fascinating diversity but now it is on the top of the list for tour operators and others in the industry for short breaks and wellness retreats. Regional residents always look at India for medical tourism and wellness sector. It is a multi-faceted tourist destination for Luxury, Wildlife and Wellness. India is also poised to become the hub for medical tourism because of several factors. World class hospitals with latest technology, highly skilled Indian physicians and surgeons, low cost of treatment, excellent quality of care, nursing and Indian hospitality, comparatively less … Continue reading Incredible India: A sanctuary for wellness retreats

Top five places to visit in the UAE

Shereen Shabnam As a Lifestyle, Travel and Motoring journalist, I spend a substantial amount of time on the road and recently, I decided to do my test drives with a purpose and with the aim of getting to a new or attraction around the different Emirates. Below are some of my favourite places in the different Emirates. Al Khor Kayak – Al Rafisah Dam During a recent test drive with the Nissan Xterra, I stopped at the Al Rafisah Dam in Khor Fakkan with my daughter and enjoyed kayaking amidst stunning hilly landscapes complete with a mini waterfall followed by … Continue reading Top five places to visit in the UAE

Tranquility with Sun, Sea and Sand: Grand Park Kodhipparu

By Shereen Shabnam As one of the few countries currently open to tourists, Maldives has become the best place to be for GCC travellers with no quarantine, well-coordinated safety measures and in-resort PCR testing. We travelled to two different Islands to and find that Maldives as a travel destination is doing all it can keep the tourism industry alive safely during this pandemic. After a four-hour flight with Emirates taking all precautions, we arrived at the Grand Park Kodhipparu taking a 20-minute speedboat ride from the airport. The first view of the island left us breathless with pristine beaches and … Continue reading Tranquility with Sun, Sea and Sand: Grand Park Kodhipparu