ABU DHABI- city of superlatives
Abu Dhabi was just a sleepy
fishing town, but all that changed with the discovery of oil. The city is now
full of wide tree-lined boulevards, packed with Manhattan-style skyscrapers.
Right beside the center there are stunning beaches, dotted with palm
trees.
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As one of the richest cities on earth, Abu Dhabi is the king of bling and an expert at showcasing the sublime. Picture white
domed mosques, candy cane minarets and sweeping romantic deserts; it is the
essence of Arabia, from camel racing at dawn to burning-red sand dunes at
sunset.
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Abu Dhabi is home to some of the world’s most exciting
new adventures. So what if your budget may not stretch as far as a local
Sheikh’s? Here are some of the city’s perfect spots to live out the millionaire
lifestyle for a day.
The world’s most expensive mosque
The venerable Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has become the world’s most expensive mosque. Inspired
by both Mughal and Moorish mosque architecture, and paved with floral marble ,the
mosque has a trifecta of superlatives.
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| The most beautiful mosque I have seen |
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| The flooring is just awesome |
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| Beautiful floral marbles lining the walls |
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| Inside the mosque |
Beneath your feet spreads out the
world’s largest carpet, made by a 1200 strong army of the finest Persian carpet
weavers.
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World's largest carpet. ( I have stepped on it) |
Above your head, hang the mosque’s seven gold and Swarovski-crystal
chandeliers: usurped, as the world’s largest by neighbouring Qatar, they remain
incomparably the most expensive disco glitter balls ever made.
Then the piece
de resistance: towering above the 1000 columns outside is the glistening main
white marble dome. At 85 metres in height, it is the largest of its kind.
Italian white marble and inlaid floral
designs adorn the prayer halls while the interior walls have decorative
gold-glass mosaic features
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| Non Muslims in Emirati dresses
The mosque is
so huge that you can spend hours admiring its beauty
The Qibla wall (facing the direction of the Holy City
of Mecca) is 23 meters high and 50 meters wide in which the 99 names
(qualities) of Allah is written in traditional Kufi calligraphy.
  
The world’s fastest roller coaster
Ferrari World is an amusement park located on Yas island in Abu Dhabi. It claims to be
the largest indoor theme park in the world.It is also home to the world’s fastest roller coaster It
is in a desert and looks deserted. But once inside the theme park, you can see
many people. I spent about 2 hours here before driving into Abu Dhabi town.
   
The world’s most expensive hotel
Big, brash and bold: even the cakes served at the Emirates Palace are made from gold. Like a cross between a fairy tale castle from Sleeping
Beauty and Aladdin’s Cave of Wonders, the capital’s self-proclaimed seven-star
Emirates Palace was the world’s most expensive hotel when it was built.
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I didn’t stay at the hotel– I couldn’t
afford it, most likely! Rather, I went for a fancy lunch, which was fairly
expensive but a fun treat.
Abu Dhabi is home to some more dubious wonders. It has
the world’s most expensive license plate. A
businessman named Saeed Abdul Ghafour Khouri paid 52.2 dirham ($14.3 million)
for the local license plate labeled "1" at an auction at the 7-star
Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, setting the world record for the most
expensive license plate.
Abu Dhabi Flagpole stands at the end of the scenic
Corniche Breakwater facing the heart of the city. Standing at a cool 400’ tall
(123.XX meters) and flying a 20 x 40 meter UAE flag, it smashed what was the
former 100 meter world record flagpole located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The most impressive shopping area for
westerners is the Abu Dhabi Mall, with three floors lined with department
stores and luxury boutiques. However, the city also has plenty of traditional
souks, offering jewelry, clothing, spices and crafts to both locals and
tourists. The best known are Grand Souk, on Sheikh Hamdan Street, and the
Iranian Market in Al Meena, offering more than 50 varieties of dates.
I had lunch at a park and after lunch ,
I rested on the branch of a tree.
Later I visited the beach before
departing Abu Dhabi
Visitors to Abu Dhabi can enjoy all the
pleasures of a modern cosmopolitan metropolis, yet still experience reminders
of centuries of ancient tradition.
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| Another mosque in Abu Dhabi |
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| BYE BYE ABU DHABI!! |
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