Thursday, 9 February 2022

Weekend Getaway to JA Lake View Hotel

Hello Chicos & Chicas,

Hope you guys had a smashing New Year, I'm here to work on one of my resolution for 2022 which is staying more active on social media and writing more blogs. 2021 ended on a very relaxing note with a staycation at Dubai's largest experience hotel, JA The Resort. Now why it is called an experience resort is because there are so many things to do on the property and not just laze around behind closed doors. Their extensive range of outdoor activities include, golfing, table-tennis, water sports, shooting and many more options to get you going and have an active stay. Situated in Jebel Ali across the shoreline of Dubai and far from the hustle and bustle of city life, JA The Resort offers distinctive experiences to go with your mood like there is a beach resort by the name JA Beach hotel and then a very unique Mediterranean style villa suites at JA Palm Tree court.

We stayed at JA Lakeview Hotel for 2 nights, their newly opened property, which is described as a design driven sustainable hotel.  The suite room we were staying at was almost the size of a 1 BHK, I mean you can literally live here and even have your friends around every weekend. :D Apart from a private bedroom, the suite had a huge living area with comfy sitting area with a reading place and dining area which opens up to a huge terrace. Decked with sun beds and couches, the terrace is a perfect place to relax and rewind. The best part about the suite room was our very own personal virtual assistant Alexa, which made our stay smooth with instant assistance.

On our arrival we were welcomed by wine and cheese board. After taking a tour around the property and our first round of shoot we quickly got ready for Sun downer at Bibe, their rooftop lounge. Watching the Sun go down at the rooftop bar was an experience in itself. The weather was so cold and windy, we felt as if were sitting on a hill top, however the staff at the lounge were generous enough to offer us shawls. We tried some interesting cocktails from the bar, however their eating options were quite limited consisting of couple of sandwiches only. They offer an extensive range of gins from all around the world, we loved 2NITE WE-TANGO, gin based cocktail infused with berry flavors. After a couple of drinks we were too hungry and headed for dinner at White Orchid which is in the Palm Court hotel. After a few minutes of golf car ride later we arrived at Palm Court. I absolutely loved the way the hotel is done, it had this really cozy mountain cabin vibe and was all lit up for Christmas. They serve authentic Chinese & Thai cuisine, we had Pad Thai and Kung Pao Chicken with a couple of drinks which was pretty decent. I have always enjoyed Chinese with an Indian touch so I personally didn't like it that much however seeing the crowd and it's a must visit if you love Chinese.

The next day we woke up late and opted for breakfast on bed as we were too lazy to move out of bed. After running few marathons on Netflix we headed for lunch to Republik, a gastropub offering European Bistro food. I absolutely loved the ambience of this place, it has a massive outdoor sitting area overlooking the pool and golf course. After binge eating comfort food the first day, I wanted to try something light, on chef's recommendation we ordered Avo Omelette and it turned out to be delicious. We also tried some desserts and went gaga over the decadent Profiteroles, it was so tasty and melted in my mouth in a few seconds. After taking a stroll around the golf course and lake, we headed for Spa at Palm Tree Court hotel. The couple spa experience was so soothing and calm, I couldn't have asked for anything more to relax and rejuvenate after a tiring week at work.

Our last dining experience was a spectacular affair at Kinara, an Indian gastronomy with a modern twist, by celebrity chef Vikas Khanna. I was completely blown away by the outdoor sitting arrangement alongside rows of flames. Now that I am away from home, I miss desi food all the time and keep looking for Indian food options in Dubai. I have to stay Kinara has been by far one of the best experiences in Dubai. I mean, not just the food but also the overall ambiance, attention to detail and service was impeccable. Some of my favorite dishes were Dahi Kebab, Tandoori Prawns, Dal Makhani and there special Roti. 

You can book your stay at any of the properties of JA The Resort on their website or through Booking.com. The Junior Suite room we stayed at is priced around AED 1000, however if you can get an early bird discount of upto AED 500 on Booking.com.


Cheese Board on arrival

Sunday, 22 September 2019

A Summer in Paradise

Hello Chicos & Chicas,

I won't deny I had fallen in a rut all this while procrastinating, going through everyone else's social media posts and not working on my own content. All these days I just couldn't find the motivation to get myself out of bed and do something productive during whatever time I would get during weekends. Today I finally took control and thought of sharing with you, all about my mini vacation I took a few months back in May to Ajman. Now this staycation has to be one of the most unique experiences I have had as it involved staying in a caravan. Situated 8km away from the Ajman China Mall, Caravana Al Zohra features caravan accommodation alongside the Ajman Beach. 

Getting there

The easiest and cheapest way to get to Caravana from Dubai is taking a bus to Ajman from Al Ghurair bus station which would cost you around 20 AED. You can get down on the way to Ajman China Mall or any other nearest landmark and take a cab to reach the destination. We made a blunder by getting down at the last stop, getting back to Caravana took us around 25 minutes from there. Also, the resort location is not correctly mapped on Goggle and there is another hotel by the same name which might create a lot of confusion as it did in our case. 

My Experience at Caravana Al Zohra

The moment I arrived I was completely awestruck by the spectacular view of caravans lined up alongside the beach. The reception was a small compound, a little farther away from the camping site. I had a little problem communicating to the receptionist earlier while trying to locate the hotel as he was Arabic and couldn't understand English. After registering my Emirates id, they took a security deposit of 500 AED which is redeemable during check out. 

The Caravan I was staying at had a small room for couple & another cozy room with 4 bunker beds & could accommodate 6 people easily. Other than the tiny bedrooms, it had a fully equipped kitchen, a living area with television, a dining table and a washroom. The aforesaid list of amenities are more than one can ask for living in a van. Outside the van you get your own front yard which leads you to the private beach. There was a cute siting arrangement just adjacent to our caravan with a bamboo sunroof where you can chill with your friends over bonfire & sheesha. For an additional charge you can also get some additional services like Jacuzzi and barbecue. 

I spent the early morning hours at the beach soaking up some sun and the rest of the day lazying inside the caravan. I have to admit, staying in Caravana wouldn't be the best idea during summers as it was too hot to go outside after 10am in the morning. I would rather visit Caravana during cooler months, to make the most of private beach. We cooked our own meals for lunch, the front desk was generous enough in helping us with groceries from a nearby shop. At night we did manage to order from Zomato, there were quite a few restaurants delivering to caravan. However, getting to the hotel was an issue with the delivery person, even they couldn't track down the caravan successfully through Google Maps.

Evenings were rather cool, watching the sunset was my favorite part of the day. At night, fairy lights lit the entire area, making it look like a live image from Pinterest. Also, there are various  adventurous activities to do like, horse riding, paragliding, cycling, fishing etc at close proximity from the caravans.

Living in Caravan is the ultimate way to bond with your family and friends and I would highly recommend you all to experience the same but during cooler months of course. You can book your stay online here, the room rate ranges between 700 to 1200 AED depending upon availability and the size of caravan you are opting for.


Surreal!!

Tuesday, 18 September 2018

The Scarf Print Edit

Hello Chicas,

If you have been following me on Instagram, you must know that I recently moved to Dubai. I had been so occupied the last couple of months, initially deciding whether to move to Dubai or not and later settling down here, that I couldn't bring myself up to write any blogs. Moving to Dubai was one of the toughest decision I have taken till now and I am still trying to figure things out here. I want to share every detail with you'll but I guess I'll need some more time to jot it down here. 

Today, I'll be talking about one of my recent obsession with the scarf print trend. I have always been a print shy person and stuck to the basic stripes and polka dots. But the retro appeal of this jewelry inspired print made me try out this trend. The key to embracing this trend if you're not a print lover like me is taking one baby step at a time. For instance, I started with a chain print scarf and now I own half a dozen of silk shirts and dresses in this print. Even flaunting an accessory in this  bold print will make all the difference. This versatile print can be seen everywhere in almost all the fast fashion stores from Zara to Forever 21 in every possible silhouette. If you're all set to go overboard with this trend, don a head to toe chain print look with statement accessories.

I received this Zara chain print dress from Fashsouq, a Dubai based online store delivering authentic, luxury and high street brands across GCC, Pakistan and India. With sharp geometric pattern combined with chain print, this gorgeous dress is a statement in itself. The warm shades of maroon and brown makes it a perfect fit for fall. I have accessorized the dress with a pair of vintage cross earrings and polygon sunglasses. The idea behind the styling was to create a retro maximalist look. I have completed the look with beige mini purse and a pair of block heels.

Monday, 21 May 2018

Make The Switch With Vivel Body Wash

Hello Chicas,

We take utmost care of our face by ensuring we get our hands on the best products available in the market. But are we making the right choice when it comes to body care?  Although bar soap is a common choice among people due to simplicity and low cost but it has its own set of disadvantages. Soaps are extremely drying on skin because of the presence of harsh chemicals. With new formulations in the skin care world, it’s about time to make the switch from bar soap to body wash. Here are a few reasons why I would recommend you to make the switch from soap to body wash:
  • Body washes are gentler and more moisturizing than most other soaps because they contain large amounts of petrolatum, an ingredient that moisturizes and lubricates the skin.
  • The gentle nature of liquid cleansers makes them ideal for dry or sensitive skin.
  • Body washes usually comes in sturdy packaging which makes it travel-friendly unlike bar soaps which become extremely fussy to carry around one you have started using it..
  • It’s easy to squirt out the required amount of body wash without any wastage as oppose to bar soaps which usually diminishes in size due to splashing of water.
  • Lastly, you can utilize even the last drop of body wash by flipping the bottle upside down. Bar soap, on the other hand, eventually becomes small and impossible to use effectively.

Vivel Body Wash


I always keep switching among different body washes available in the market and recently I tried my hands on the newly launched Vivel body washes in two different variants, Lavender Almond Oil and Mint Cucumber. They have come up with an introductory offer of 100 ml bottles at a price of only Rs.40 along with a free loofah.
Lavender Almond Oil has a pleasant lavender fragrance with nourishing almond oil while the Mint Cucumber with cooling mint and hydrating cucumber, gives more freshness, fragrance and hydration to the skin. The fragrance is mild and long lasting. The 100ml bottle comes in a tiny plastic tube packaging which is easy to use and carry. The texture of the body wash is creamy, and leaves the skin feeling squeaky clean, but does not dry it out like soap. When used with a loofah, it removes dead skin cells, making skin bright and smooth. Moreover the body wash is formulated with a quick wash formula that rinses off easily. So, no more water wastage. Since I have super dry skin, I usually follow it up with a moisturizer to keep my skin soft and hydrated throughout the day.

Vivel Body Wash

Monday, 7 May 2018

Summer Getaway at The Roseate

Hello Chicas,

If you have been following me on Instagram you must be knowing about my trip to Delhi last month. While on my stay there, I got the opportunity to visit the Roseate hotel for a staycation. I visited both the Roseate House and The Roseate Hotel and had the most wonderful stay.

Day 1 at The Roseate House

I was putting up in Gurgaon and the car arrived right on time for pick up. As we arrived at the hotel, there a small welcome ceremony where we were greeted with flowers and fresh juice. The Roseate House is conceived as a book, with each floor being a chapter and the rooms representing stories. The entire hotel has a very modern and chic appeal. The hotel has been done in warm tones of brown and beige. You'll find several coffee table books and fantastic artworks in every corner. Being a business hotel, the rooms weren't very spacious. In fact, the bathroom occupied a major portion of the room. One side of the room was covered in glass from ceiling to the floor which offered a splendid view. The staffs were extremely courteous and prompt in their service.

The best part about my stay at The Roseate House would be the food. We had our meals at Del, the multi-cuisine bistro and dropped by Chidiya Ghar for drinks. The beetroot and burrata salad, duck confit and the sushi platter were some of my favorite picks at Del. A meal for 2 at Del would cost you over INR 3000+ taxes. For evening snacks we stopped by the in-house patisserie Roasted, which offered delicious cupcakes and macaroons. They also serve a wide selection of TWG Tea, I personally loved their Vanilla Bourbon tea. The hotel also has a mini theater where the guests can enjoy movie screenings and not to forget the luxurious Aheli Spa where you can unwind with their signature massages.

Day 2 at The Roseate

The next afternoon we headed to The Roseate hotel after having our breakfast at Del. While The Roseate House is more of a formal business hotel, The Roseate hotel is more on the lines of a luxurious resort and is a perfect destination to unwind with your friends and family. I was completely in awe of the minimal yet elegant architecture at The Roseate. The property is spread across eight acres of land, surrounded by lush greenery and clear water bodies. The architecture is inspired from the 5 elements of Hindu philosophy- air, water, fire, earth and the sky which is reflected throughout the property in the form of dome ceilings, floral walls and extended water bodies.

The pool facing rooms were huge and spacious with state-of-the-art bathroom. The hotel has the longest pool, over 100m long however it was quite shallow. We had our breakfast and lunch at Kiyan. The breakfast spread was huge however the lunch menu was quite limited. The food served was decent but the dessert platter stole the show. I absolutely loved the raspberry sorbet, it's the best I have ever had. We had our dinner at Chi Ni which served delicious Chinese food. Although the service was a tad slow but the food was very impressive. The hotel staffs who were extremely warm and helpful, made my stay a pleasant one.

If given a choice to pick one between the two properties, I would choose The Roseate hotel any day. It's a perfect place to escape from the tedious city life for a rejuvenating weekend. The rates for an executive room at both the hotel ranges from INR 12,000-19,000 depending on the availability.

But first, Coffee!!

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

The Forever Kolkata Collection by Titan

Hello Chicas,

Your timepiece can say a lot about your style. Although now we live in the generation of cell phones which can tell the time easily, but there's something about owning a classic watch which can elevate your look to another level. Walking down the memory lane, I remember my first Titan watch which was gifted to me by my mother on my 14th birthday. So when I heard that Titan has come up with a limited-edition collection of watches as a tribute to Kolkata, I was elated with joy. The collection was presented in an artistic exhibition at the Birla Academy of Arts and Culture and they were king enough to invite me to have a look at the exclusive timepieces.

The limited-edition watches are launched under the name The Forever Kolkata Collection which is inspired by The City of Joy. These wrist pieces take inspiration from some of the most iconic elements that make Kolkata truly special – The Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, Dakshineswar Temple and the beautiful Bengali script. The collection has 8 distinctive timepieces for both men and women and is priced between Rs. 4610 and Rs. 6920. The watches are adorned with artistic dials crafted with different techniques like photo-printing, etching and embossing. The watches feature in rose-gold and steel finishes strapped with genuine leathers in 4 different colors. The best part about the collection is that you can customize the watch to your own liking. However the customization is offered exclusively at the World of Titan, Park Street store only.

Coming to my favorite pick from the collection, it has to be the one with the exquisite blue mother-of-pearl dial with the Howrah Bridge embossed on it. This minimalist retro watch went well with my vintage outfit and is an ideal contemporary reflection of the city.

I feel that the Forever Kolkata Collection is an artistic tribute to everything that this beautiful city has to offer. The limited edition collection is available exclusively at select World of Titan stores in Kolkata. Go, grab these amazing timepieces now and elevate your style game up a notch.

Picture Courtesy: Jyotika Baijal