Amazing Taste Of Thailand- At Dusit Thani, Dubai

Buzzingtales was invited by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Thai Consulate Dubai "The Amazing Tastes Of Thailand Festival” and for the cooking event launched on 5 Aug 2015 at Dusit Thani Dubai. We were completely enchanted by Thailand’s gastronomic delights, music, culture and warm hospitality. Buzzingtales loved the colorful Thai costumes, enjoyed playing fun games, and absolutely relished the divine Thai massage.

This  Gastronomic Extravaganza Invited Foodies to Enjoy Thai Cuisines in UAE as well as Win Prizes.

 The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in partnership with Royal Thai Embassy to the United Arab Emirates, Royal Thai Consulate-General Dubai and Thai Airways International Dubai, has announced ‘The Amazing Tastes of Thailand Festival 2015’ to be held on 5 August, 2015 at 13-participating restaurants across the UAE. Throughout the Thai Food Festival, UAE residents and visitors will have the opportunity to avail several discounts and promotions from all participating Thai restaurants nationwide. 

Speaking about the Thailand Food Festival, Tourism Authority of Thailand Director for the Middle East, Mr Chalermsak Suranant said: “For its fifth year, The Amazing Taste of Thailand Food Festival 2015 will continue to delight UAE residents and visitors with world-renowned Thai cuisine. The event aims to promote the on-going campaign ‘Discover Thainess”, with a core focus on Thai way of life through people and culture, which are all reflected in every Thai dishes”

The launching ceremony of the festival will take place on 5th August 2015 at Al Wasl Ballroom-A, Dusit Thani hotel. The venue will be decorated with carnival theme with dishes served in food trucks and stalls to actualize Thai fun fair, street party and music. Guests will be serenaded by live musical performances from Sound of Siam Bandand Koh Mr. Saxman. Additionally, there will be a segment ‘Celebrity Cooking Showdown” wherein two sets of Dubai-based known personalities will battle for a live cooking face-off. There will also be a massage and fun fair corner for a truly unique Thai festive experience.

“While Thailand is amazing for so many reasons, such as pristine beaches and mountain landscapes, elephants, great shopping and nightlife, rejuvenating spas, ancient culture and delicious cuisine, at the root of all our offerings is the unique Thainess that comes from the people. With this event, we would like to show the world the natural hospitality, genuine warmness and friendly faces of Thais that are ready to welcome guests from around the world.”

All 13 participated restaurants will showcase their appetizing special dishes at the launching event on Wednesday, 5 August 2015, at Dusit Thani, Dubai. These include Benjarong Dubai, Benjarong Abu Dhabi, Little Bangkok, Thai Chi, The Royal Buddha, The Thai Kitchen, Lemongrass, Royal Orchid in Dubai, The Chimes, Spice Emporium, Tong Thai, ZAAP and Sawasdee Ka.

The event will also be attended by partners from UAE travel industry including airline representatives, travel agents and media. Mr Chalermsak Suranat added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners and friends for the continued support in making Thailand the leading outbound destination in the region.”

For more information on The Amazing Tastes of Thailand Festival 2015, please contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand at:

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai & Middle East Office

133 Sheikh Zayed Road, Apartment # 1804,

DusitThaniDubai,P.O. Box 450019, Dubai, U.A.E

Tel: +971 4 324 0184      Fax: +971 4 325 0187

Email: tatdubai@tat.or.th ; URL: www.TourismThailand-Middleeast.org           www.TourismThailand.org

[About Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was established on the 18th March 1960. TAT was the first organization in Thailand to be specifically responsible for the promotion of tourism. TAT supplies information and data on tourist areas to the public, publicizes Thailand with the intention of encouraging both Thai and international tourists to travel in and around Thailand, conducts studies to set development plans for tourist destinations, and co-operates with and supports the production and development of personnel in the field of tourism. Since the inception of the first local office of TAT in Chiang Mai in 1968, there are now 35 regional offices throughout Thailand. TAT has also established many overseas offices the first being in New York, which was opened in 1965. During the past 30 years, TAT has since established 26 more offices in different parts of the world, including the Dubai & Middle East Office, which is responsible for the promotion of Thailand within the GCC, the Levant, Iraq and Iran. 

IN THE BED OF MAN MADE NATURE

Have you heard of Emirates park resort? Well this is an unassuming (at least from the outside) retreat for animal lovers and kids.This zoo cum resort serves as a great exposure and learning experience for children. Situated on Abu Dhabi - Dubai highway, the resort is attached to a private zoo. What made the experience most amazing for us was not just the high quality accommodation but also the opportunity to soak in nature literally. It felt like living with Tarzan in his jungle retreated- Only supplied with all the modern amenities.

 

 

 

 

 The kids went gaga feeding the docile animals and interacting with them. Seeing the lambs suck on bottles of milk was awwww sooo cute. There is a little bit of downside too that comes with such fervent interaction. I had to maintain a constant supply of sanitizers. I was also very miffed to see some enthusiastic visitors who fed playful monkey burgers…but boy it was having the time of his life. All in all the animals- even the big cats and elephants- were healthy, happy, playful and well attended to. 

This is definitely not for those who feel food is the ultimate entertainment. Though we found no flaws in variety, taste or quality of food, food connoisseurs can venture out of the resort to the surrounding malls in the quest for variety.We are looking forward to going back again when the lion cubs are big enough to be petted and patted.:)Some animal lovers may not like the fact that the animals are in cages, removed from the wild and  bereft of their wild instincts, but the resort clearly states that it is a private zoo and not an animal sanctuary. If not anything at least the kids come to take delight and love animals. For those who get too tired of the animal interaction, shows and feeding an entertainment area loaded with video games and even a play area for kids serves the purpose. Well we never got tired so we never got to see what was inside :)

SANCTUARY FOR ALL- POSH N” PAWS

SANCTUARY FOR ALL- POSH N” PAWS

  
What would you expect a 13 year old stepping on the helm of her teens to wish for her birthday? Well perhaps a big birthday bash or a pool party full of screeching teenagers, dressed in ways that incite nightmares for every parent. Well I was pleasantly surprised (that’s an understatement) when my teenager disclosed her wish for her birthday bash. It was a humble visit to an animal sanctuary. We  (along with a group of  teenagers) visited Posh and Paws- an animal sanctuary and petting farm- in Sharjah  near Dubai on a bright sunny morning equipped with cut pieces of carrots, lettuce, cabbage, grains, and other food stuff which the animals housed in the farm eat.

 

 

 What a wonderful experience it was to pet and play with the animals who have boarded in the farm- abandoned or donated by their previous owners. We were all thrilled for the opportunity to appreciate nature and its joys. It was fun interactive way to learn from animals and fall in love with them. At Posh and Paws there are no restriction on interaction, except when in concerns the safety of animals and the visiting individuals. I was particularly happy to see the partying dogs. Didn't get it?

 Well the Dogs visit parties and schools to entertain and enthrall children and can be adopted too. All the animals in the sanctuary are up for adoption. There is a kennel and cattery for boarding the  pet cats and dogs when the owners are traveling, very close to the sanctuary.

 

I literally fell in love with this macaw and the admiration was mutual. The bird perched on my hand and kept dancing and whistling. I was reminded of my pet parrot, a real sweet heart, during my childhood days in India. We would all love to go back to this beautiful place again and again. Three cheers to the staff for working so hard to keep the animals healthy and happy.

My Article at Expastblog

    My article at expatsblog   ----http://www.expatsblog.com/contests/311/top-ten-must-visit-places-in-dubai

--TAKE A PEEK

Though Dubai is in the Arabian Peninsular and one of the 7 emirates of the UAE, it is a global hub, with a cosmopolitan culture. It is a miniature urban globe, housing only the best of the world, all shrunk into the desert retreat called Dubai.  Opulence and extravagance are the second name of this Oil rich emirate. Being the largest Gold traders of the Gulf region, Dubai is rightly called as the City of Gold. With the myriad choices, Dubai offers on every individual’s platter, one is spoilt for choices . The Dubai experience  conjures up these magical treats- opulent theme malls with duty free shopping,a true shoppers paradise; modern architectural splendors with iconic designs; premium events;  art hub ; buzzing ports; tranquil beaches and creek; expansive green zones and parks;multi-cuisine restaurants; sport and adventure activities; conspicuous skyline reflecting the pulse of the city- the list is endless. It is a city that truly entices and enthralls.Here is a glimpse of the best 10 hot spots in Dubai. The list has been compiled to include something for everyone’s taste. 

A Glittery Trip Down Memory Lane

A glittery trip down memory lane

I often wonder what in our human existence is the most precious. Family, loved ones, friends, without a doubt but is it possible to hold on to these always. The demand of living conjures situations that make geographical and spatial separation inevitable, even if temporarily. It is in these times one feels, thoughts and memories are the most faithful companions. A friend of mine went on an Europe tour with her family last year. Like most of us, she too sought to en-cage moments of bliss, revisit the memorable memories, by capturing them in her camera and video. Unfortunately, she misplaced her video camera. She recounted her anguish at having lost all the beautiful moments she had captured, without a thought for the piece of equipment lost. She further relates how her faith was reaffirmed when her prayers were answered, and she got the equipment back, accompanied by a note. Here perhaps is one rare individual with utter disregard for anything material. In the same situation I would have been petrified-first that I lost an expensive equipment, second I would have tried hard to figure out who(me or my husband) misplaced it and third I would have somehow managed to put up the contentious case that it was indeed my husband who misplaced it. However, I could relate to one thing and that is I would have lamented the loss of all the captured moments/memories in a more somber time.

Here is a wonderfully created film by her from her visit to the Swarovski Kristallewelten in Wattens, Austria. This scintillating crystal land is truly a paradise on earth, an edifice created by man.

Daniel Swarovski founded this crystal world in 1895 with the financial assistance of Franz Weis and Armand Kossmann. This is a story neither of rags to riches nor of a privileged bunch who have it all. It is a story of sheer grit, the stuff out of which most success stories are made. Daniel worked as a crystal cutter at his father’s glass factory for many years before getting a patent for equipment for fine crystal and precision cutting. Enjoy the visual trip to the crystal world.

Stranger in Helsinki

My article in Times of India---http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/contributors/contributions/minakhee-mishra/Stranger-in-Helsinki/articleshow/10386845.cms

Stranger in Helsinki

A cathedral in Helsinki

A friend of mine was uprooted from India and had to travel to Helsinki, for a couple of years, along with her husband, way back in 2004. She would write long delicious emails of her experiences there as she tussled and tackled her alien yet fascinating world. The interesting facets of her journey would be more enticing as they unfold in the first person narrative. Hence, I am putting across her narrative in the first person. It's difficult to express what we feel now, especially after the passage of the initial dazed, confusing phase and a slight euphoria. Our flight from India to Zurich was mostly uneventful, except the slight anxiety of being allotted different seats in a full flight. We managed to stick together by exchanging seats with an extremely kind gentle man. (As Indians we are not exposedto these small yet delightful acts of kindness. In one of our flights within India, we were travelling for our honeymoon. The elderly gentle man refused to part from his allotted seat. Throughout the journey, he took sadistic pleasure in planting himself right in the middle of both of us). We slept through the journey, mostly. We had to take a connecting flight at Zurich for Helsinki. Zurich in Switzerland is a small place with an extremely well maintained airport. From information booths, helpers, clean and polished bathrooms, etc, transporter vehicles, to an underground metro connecting our disembarkation station airport to our departure station airport- they all dwarfed out our international airport in infinite ways. (My friend had written this at a time when betel stained seats adored our airports and Terminal 3 was an alien concept for India). We lamented these differences and pondered about what sorry signals our stained carpets, unclean rest rooms, slag personnel' sent out to visiting foreigners. We could not see much of the famous Swiss landscape from inside of the airport but we did catch a glimpse of the Alps. 

Snow carpet in front of the house

A lamp post on the street 

The Smith brothers

As the plane approached Helsinki, my 5-year-old daughter and I saw long stretches and patches of white and grey. I pointed out the miles and miles of what I presumed to be snow to an elated Savy (My friend's daughter). My husband laughed at me saying my enthusiasm is playing tricks with my eyes. It can't be snow, just water looking hazy from such heights. It was only when the airhostess asked us about our air view of the sea of snow in Finland, that he conceded, wide-eyed and happily. In fact, all three of us were wide-eyed. It was hard to contain my daughter from running right out and touching the pearly snow all around once we had landed. Outside it felt like being inside a fridge. Our noses resembled a clowns red stub after being outdoors. Now, we are getting used to the cold and the first signal of this was when I saw the thermometer (hung right outside our little kitchen window) and Savy remarked that the weather is good today, just -5 degrees. In the mornings, the temperature is mostly -10 now. Towards the afternoon, it gets better. The worst phases of winter is said to be over. Those are the times when the mornings are dark and the sun is seen for a few hours only. We didn't get to see that part and hope we'll be back before the next winter. We are yet to concede to the fact that Helsinki summer has arrived. Huh! 

From our living room window (over-looking a park), the amazing sights of parents and children rolling happily in the snow even during the evening hours often confront us. Unlike Delhi's pet dogs in winter, the pet dogs here are more weathered. We based these assumptions on our observation that the owners here do not attire their dogs in clothing. There will be a summer vacation of about 2 months from 15 June. People try to spend their time enjoying the short summer. I'm very happy about one thing; Avi will be home every day from office around 5-6pm. They literally push people out of office after 6pm. Poor Avi, his work alcoholic days are numbered. Over here, children go to playschool until the age of six. Savy is very happy with her playschool environment, with no homework and negligible studies. Really, do we Indians put too much of pressure on our kids academically? I do not know what the pro and con of this is. Old habits die hard and being an Indian parent I make sure I keep myself up dated with the Indian syllabus according to Savy's class, and try to teach her at home according to that. Savy feels exotic with her new name at school (given by the children): black-haired girl. She loves the school pet zoo, which has eclectic and peculiar mix of animals like lizard, beetle, starfish, chameleon etc. We have to get used to one more peculiarity- wishing each other a goodnight's sleep while the sun still smiles down at us. The land of the Mid-night sun did not fail to astound us. 

Our living quarter here is located in a posh locality (going by the local people's version). Both of us were a little uncomfortable about the small size in the beginning. Now we are well settled and quite comfortable in this house. The house is very well furnished with every single article one can conceive of in just the right place. The living room is very spacious. The wardrobes are more than enough for us. The kitchen, bathroom and bedroom almost resemble a dollhouse. Having graduated from the initial cramped feeling, we now classify them as cute, convenient and cozy. At least I do not have to waste time cleaning up. There is a dishwasher and microwave oven and everything is well provided for in the kitchen. We are learning a few lessons in space management and how people save time here. There is a four-plated hot plate, an adorable small fridge (my initiation to mini fridge, less than half my size), there is an enclosed bath area and Savy thinks it is for Barbie girls. Of late, we discovered after the initial ranting and raving that the washing machine can actually house much more two clothes. We had been feeding the outer rims of the machine, until we stumbled on the right way to open it. More ever our clothes came out as if they have just been at a battle. Thank God, I discovered it within 2 days of our arrival. Machines and machineries can be crafty at times. However, the cloths cannot be dried on the cloth liner outside in the balcony of course, unless if we want them crispy and cold as ice in the morning. Ahh! Then I found out where the dryer of the washing machine was. Apart from these small inconveniences if it can be called so, everything else is hale and hearty in the house. I especially like the small cot and study table that Savy has for herself here. Quite a few good books have kept me thoroughly occupied as of now. I do not miss not seeing Indian TV programs. I keep rummaging around the shelves and drawers discovering new things useful like needle and thread box and some whose use I am yet to discover. Sometimes Savy watches the Finnish cartoons that come at 5 PM and now Avi has started getting the laptop home, where she can watch her DVDs. With no distractions like TV, she is developing the habit of eating on her own just by watching outside the window. She is quite happy and very occasionally misses her cartoons. We are charmed by the grand architecture, and sculptures of this place. Savy however is quiet intrigued by most of the sculptures. She does not understand why in a cold country like Helsinki, the statues are not at all dressed. Helsinki is a quiet and quintessential European town lined by a lovely bay line. While living here I realize what space management actually is all about and how little is actually required to live. 

There is a tram, bus and taxi stand just in front of our house. Commuting is not going to be a problem. Avi's office is hardly 10 min by tram from home. We have worked out that he will leave Savy at school in the morning at 8 AM and I'll collect her at 12 Noon. There is an option of opting for full day until 5 PM, which we might take up after Savy gets used to this place. We will be getting a car soon and then we can start going on little adventures in this place. One thing people have warned us about is going for a walk or skiing along a long snow stretch. With lakes and sea frozen from above it's difficult to know where the ice is not thick. Many people lost their lives when they were not careful about fragile ice points. Wearing heels and walking on the street's (though cobbled) is a trick affair. I have skidded and fallen twice. Uff! We feel like over burdened mules with all the clothing we have to wear while venturing out on the street. People are very courteous and smile a lot. I have been taking to Savy to school for a week now but haven't seen any Asian faces in the tram. Meeting friends, seeing familiar faces is one thing I miss. I am sure with time, we will like this place better we have developed a circle of friends.