Not Just Desserts - Dining in Dubai

Dubai is the original sin city. for portly sindhis in pink shirts, mallus in multicolor shorts and middle aged russians in nothing much really.

This heaven of hedonism has got whacked by the recession. You can actually catch a cab on the streets even for the bur dubai - deira route which a year back was rarer than sighting the halley's comet twice in a life time.

this post reviews the new airport, opened in november and a few dining options.

the new airport is built is the same space where there could have been four, a small country and an intergalactic bus stand, and still some room to squeeze.

it is vast and unmarked. ram gopal verma is working on a remake of karan arjun, currently called ram gopal verma ke karan arjun, about, you guessed it, twins who get lost while trying to catch air india flight to trivandrum and end up meeting thirty years later. As reincarnations of themselves.

the place is colored in pastel green, white and orange and has pillars studded with crystals. the man who built it also did the airports of paris, manila and jakarta. i'm not sure, if he wore his brief, but he was clearly not trying to prove a point. more likely the creative team was done in by the the client guys who kept asking for something brighter and bigger.

so if you can appreciate a monument to wastefulness and bling, do fly emirates.

Dining in Dubai is always something I look forward to. Not because it is fantastic, but because it has the potential. Rarely does it live up to the possibilities.

Think of a confluence of spices, regions with great culinary traditions, chefs employed with little regard to expenses and it is but natural that my taste buds get all erect. But jeevan ka yahi reet hai.

Asha's @ Wafi city: After Ms Bhosle of Piya tu ab to aajaa... Once it was fantastic. When I went there for the first time in 2007, I'd lamb kebab and their signature haryale baigan. I cried. The food was beyond fantastic. I could've taken a bullet and died there. The second time, six months later, i could've personally killed the cook, his crew and remaining patron for being so ruthless with the dishes. I've not seen a restaurant muck up so badly ever. And I will not live if I see another one go down in such a rush. So if you go there, tread with caution.

Gazebo: Near Dhow palace, Bur Dubai. Good. Not Great.

Beirut @ Sheikh Zayed Rd: Not Good. Definitely not great

Leary @ Al Ras: whoever thought restaurants need good location, should've stuck to being a real estate agent. This place is frequented by taxi drivers, expat labor and some banker type public in the know. it has amazing briyani. the best outside one small restaurant a friend took me to in Hyderabad (i know that's a cliche, but you can ask Ajit for the name of the place, it is near the charminar and I was there in 1997 - while arranging for a sales conference)

Chicken Tikka @ various places: Likable food, specially their haleem, which has great taste and texture. And very easy on the wallet

Lunch Buffet @ Radisson Creek Side. Good Looks, No Soul.

Lunch Buffet @ Atlantis: Nice. Specially their Med selection. But sushi gets over fast, so have that first. And avoid the Indian food. The left overs are deep frozen and then served after a week.

Traveller Tip: Avoid Buffets: they always contain portions of leftovers, which are mixed with some (more likley not) fresh preparation. Leads to flatulence.

Antique Bazaar @ four point sheraton, bank Street: Can go. They make amazingly lovely chicken, which is a good way to go, if the only other alternate is landing between two halves of a bun.

So these are the places, I've been to apart from a few unmentionables.

The hunt is on for ...the truth is out there.

Next up: travel in Yemen, Egypt and Myanmar

movie review - rab ne bana di jodi

KYUN? WHY? KENAPA? WIE ( or the german equivalent of why)? Y?

There was a time when people my age would've loved this movie. That was around 1993-96, usually for the late night show, after a couple of joints, a lassie (the drink and not the dog) and bread omelette. The colourful palette of the movie is tailor made for magic mushrooms and a bit of mary jane.
So this time around, sitting in a multiplex, a tepid pepsi to take me on a wild trip to the loo, there are few things worse that i can come up with to compare this movie.

and why is everyone dressing up in multicolor clothes? is rainbow the new black?

movie review - ghajini

Remember Dec 25th. I will. I watched Ghajini. And how I regret it

Few will stand up against Aamir Khan's snarling countenance and I'm sure fewer could survive his BO., but frankly, I went in with a lot of hope and came back with much pain.

So what's with the movie? Nothing much except Aamir's body worship. If Dostana had John Abrahim and his gluets and pecs, Ghajini has Aamirs torso.

The story line has been inspired by Memento but lacks any credibility.

This is a Tamil movie, with action scenes which can be digested by a gentry nursed on Rajni and brought up on Ajith. Breaking bones, cracking skulls never made a good sound track. But then we have given up Mallikarjun Mansoor for Mallika Sherawat, so does it matter

Again its a wonder that the censor board, allowed for this movie to go without a rating which would've kept the kids at bay. Instead scores of kids have watched this breakbonedance and in not very distant future we shall hear of kids getting into fights and inflicting injuries ala Mr Sanjay Singhania. From the actor who gave us Taare Zameen Par, a bit of moral rectitude would've been expected, but clearly commercial priorities must have ruled over the humanitarian

The ladies in the movie have little to do. Asin does the life and times of a never crowned Miss India, rescuing handicapped kids with nuns, an old and blind man and some teenage girls. She looked pretty just around the time she was walking with a dagger in her back. Jiah Khan looked pretty - glamorous for a medical student. She must have paid her way in the entrance exam.

Everyone I talked to on this movie, numbering 2, said the movie was awesome. This could be due to limited vocabulary of the 19-25 age group, from SEC B class towns. There wasn't much scope for sampling error due to small size of the sample.

So watch it, if you like to play Doom or CS as it now called. I threw up the last time I played Doom in 1996 which was the only time I've played it. I threw up after watching Ghajini. And I've no good news to share.