Dubai

Come back Post

Why is Dubai an amazing place for Indians to relocate? 

It has been really long since I have written anything for my blog, the reasons are many. Although it won’t be wrong to say that the excuses are many. I wanted to think of some fantastic topic that I could pen down lyrically or just write about traveling, but oops I haven’t travelled anywhere in recent times, thanks to covid. It is not like I have not made plans to travel but some remained in my head and some could not be materialized because of my own fear of covid. In the end, I had too many thoughts and too many interests in too many different areas that uniting them was too broad, or focussing on one was too narrow.

But anyway as the saying goes its better late than never. And even though I haven’t travelled in ages I have changed my residency country and I can write about it. Yes, It has been one full year today since I shifted to Dubai and haven’t written anything about it. So this is the best topic to do a come back blog. Why I shifted to Dubai is a long story, but one thing is sure that if I was given an option I would have definitely opted for Dubai or any place like it. Not because I know a lot about the place or I am fond of skyscrapers or anything like that. It's just that it fascinates me. Now since I have been staying here for more than one and a half year I can list down the reasons of why one can plan to shift top Dubai. 

Dubai is not the capital of UAE but definitely the most popular city of UAE. Living in Dubai is a lot of fun, and it is definitely worth the move. There are number of reasons that can fascinate one to shift here. In my opinion here are some of the reasons-

1. Feels like home- First and most important thing in Dubai or rather say UAE is that there are lots of Indian expats which makes it feel like home to those who relocate there. So, people like me who has changed many houses since childhood, adjusting here was not an issue at all. There are so many Indians here that I hardly realize that I am staying outside the country.  So, there are seldom chances of being homesick here. 

2. Safety- There is no doubt that UAE is one of safest places in the world. Till the time I have not shifted here I could not understand this phrase. But now since I am here I realize what it feels to be safe. Back home whenever my brothers and male friends planned for anything in night either it be a simple eating out or traveling late, we girls/ ladies could not be a part of it. And I felt quite offended and irritated by this fact. But here I can actually go out in night and enjoy the night outs. And that too not just with friends but with kids and family too. UAE specifically Dubai is beautiful during night, it seems that the city is decorated with vibrant and varied lights. Anyways coming back to safety, this is definitely a safe city. My daughter once forget her bag in the park and we went back there after two hours to find it exactly at the same place where she left it. So here one can safely forget their belongings. Even the cab driver returns the belongings pretty much as soon it’s noticed by him or her. Here, in our experience a very safe city.

3. Transport System- Dubai has a very well established public transport system. The metro line is one of the most convenient ways to get around the city, it travels in a straight line, so it's easy for people like me also who has bad direction sense. Naturally, buses are the cheapest option, followed by the metro and then taxis. And once you get the driving license here you can rent or buy a car to get around very easily. There are many options of second hand cars which is really convenient for pocket as well as for new drivers. Dubai boasts of the best road infrastructure in the MENA region. Only catch is to understand the ways and once you get that right it feels like you are in the world of video games. The roads are smooth, extremely planned and amazingly lit. 

4. No Tax- Dubai is mostly tax free, all the salary you earn is your take home salary. So, there is no direct tax, only VAT is being levied on products. 

5. Food- Frankly we never felt away from home, food wise. All food cravings are fulfilled via home delivery or via a short drive away. Bur Dubai, Deira, are not just rich in varied Indian food and flavours but whole area literally looks and feels like India. From gol gappas, vara pav to biryanis and shawarma, the area has all the options. And not just this, there are many grocery stores which houses Indian spices and products. 

 

6. Hose in washroom- Unlike many countries the washrooms here are clean and has hose. All those who are from India can understand the importance of hose. 

There are many more reasons to feel like home in Dubai and I am sure Indians who have been staying here since ages will come up with more points to love Dubai. I am just one year old in this city and I am still exploring and loving it.

New Life

Moving to a new city can be stressful as well as confusing. And obviously moving to a whole new  country is like moving worlds. I felt like leaving my cocoon-that comprised of  familiar faces and comfortable routine. From this to a completely unknown landscape, new culture and different climate was quite a big challenge for. But since I also wanted to explore, I mentally prepared myself to move ahead.

After the sorting out our basic paperwork, I started reading about Qatar and its culture. I had to search for several, for example-
Which schools will be good for my daughters?
Which areas are best to live with a family?
Where are the main supermarkets?
Are there good parks for families?
Will I still be able to work?
Will I find new friends?
I trawled the internet looking for all the possible information I could. Every crumb of insight was essential to show me what real life would be while living in Doha.

Initial Days
So we shifted here 6 months ago! I had a lot on my plate. And first three months were quite hectic as I had a lot on my plate. Though we took a fully furnished flat setting up the kitchen, settling the kids in and other random stuff engulfed a lot of time and effort. We applied for our kids admission in the   Indian schools. The presence of such schools and Indian neighbors kind of made me comfortable and I started feeling home like. but nonetheless, there are days when I miss my family and friends back in Delhi.

Culture in Qatar
Living in Qatar is quite an ethnic experience. I got to explore the ways of a new country that is in many ways  different from India. But there are common denominators, like life in Qatar is a mix of peaks-lows and ups and downs. Thankfully I am staying in heart of of Doha, I have no concerns of accessibility and convinience.

Here are some points that you must be mentally prepared for in order to shift here-

Expense

For a long time I kept calculating everything in terms of Indian currency and thought "how expensive this place is". But gradually I realized that I have to buy things here calculating the currency of this country only. I am still in process of learning this and still find this country quite expensive.  I think, the cost of living in Qatar in general is quite high. As Qatar imports most of its food, the basic items are expensive. Staples like rice, bread, certain meats and fish are moderately priced, but altogether food is expensive in Qatar.  Household goods are also comparatively expensive here.

Accommodation

House-hunting can be frustrating because most popular locations have high rent while others, despite having similar facilities, often lack good neighborhood and surroundings. There are no regulations in terms of rent and facilities but the most difficult thing here is finding a good accommodation that suits your preference type. Either you find the state of accommodation in Qatar wonderful or not, the rent is quite high, choices can be limited and many places look the same.

Less People

I see a stark difference in the population of Qatar and India. Here one can witness families and little crowd of people only on weekends. We Indians are usually surrounded by people everywhere, so we hardly feel isolated, but here its not the same. Here, I am still looking for friends and  relatives so that we can have a social network as in India we had many friends and relatives to mingle with. Although 25% of population living in Qatar are Indians, I am still lagging behind in befriending some.

Hangouts

The best part of this country is the sea and its beaches. Most people praise the mall or mention the deserts as integral part of Qatar but my personal favorite places are- Corniche and Katara. I have spent my life as a North Indian, without any sea view, hence I am quite fond of it. The beauty and calmness of sea is something I really love. Because of the extreme hot climate these days I am unable to visit these places frequently. I will write a separate blog on both Katara and Corniche, later on.

Events andActivities

Numerous events keep happening around the year. I am just 6 months old here but I have been fortunate enough to attend some really amazing musical concerts, Kite Festival and Spring Festival. Most of these events and festivals are lively and worth the visit. I am lucky that I have shifted here in Qatar-India Year of Culture, and hence able to enjoy many events and programs.

Malls and Supermarkets

Available in abundance and build in almost every corner of the city. They are lively and attarct good crowd, specially during weekends. 

Safety and Cleanliness

The best part of Qatar is that it is safe. I am not saying this just for the sake of it but I have actually experienced it. I have traveled alone many times late in night and never felt insecure or concerned. Taxis are available all around and are easily accessible. Being a mother I feel really safe going anywhere with my kids. Most of the parks here have families chilling till late in the night hence I can easily take my kids out during late evenings. And I find this extremely appreciable that citizens maintain cleanliness everywhere. 

Hence, like any other country this place also has its cons and pros. In fact, it has more pros than cons making it a wonderful place to stay with family. I just completed my 6 months in this country hence I thought of sharing my experience through this blog. To sum up I can definitely say that so far my journey in this country has been quite wonderful and I am hoping for everything positive and good in the future as well.

Vishal Shekhar Concert

The Power-Packed Performance

The Indian singer-songwriter duo Vishal-Shekhar performed some of their greatest hits on 1st of March, Friday at Doha' state of the art Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, presented by FAB Entertainment. The event had the fans super excited about the concert, and why not? After all, it’s the Vishal-Shekhar duo that we are talking about here. This was Vishal-Shekhar's first-ever live in concert in Qatar and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they mesmerized the  audience with their power packed performances.  

Recognized and garnered with many awards for their musical contribution Vishal Dadlani and Shehkar Ravjiani have been a role model and source of inspiration for many. With more than 500 shows /concerts the duo has carved out a niche for themselves in entertaining audience.

Vishal Dadlani is also the lead vocalist of the popular Electronica and Rock band from Mumbai, Pentagram. Shekhar Ravjiani,  is a trained classical singer who has been under the tutelage of Ustad Niaz Ahmed Khan.

From "Om Shanti Om" to "Ishq Wala Love" the duo performed on all the chartbusters and swayed away the audience. Both of them started the performance together and set the mood of the show then Shekhar gave a solo performance with what he is best at- creating a musical magic. He not only sang "zehnaseeb" which is simply a soulful song but also took the audience to the yesteryears by singing "Tere Bina zindagi se koi" which  is one of the most poignant songs of 1970s. This evergreen song with amazing stage lighting and musicians just made the show beautiful. The solo performance of Shekhar ended with him playing amazing piano.

Then Vishal reentered the stage to enthrall the audience with his solo performance. The power-packed super energetic  performance  made the audience get up from their seat and dance. From "Dhoom Machaley" to "Nashe Se Charh Gai"  he performed on all the dance numbers and made the audience dance too. Then Shekhar joined him and both of them sang some of the most  amazing songs of recent times. From "Baby Ko Base Pasanad Hai" to "Radha on the Dance Floor" for which they invited ladies on the stage to move their legs with them, the audience simply loved it all. 

Their stage presence and interaction with the audience is simply exhilarating. The energy transfer between the duo & the crowd was simply worth enjoying. The outstanding musical duo enthralled the audience with their captivating performance. And to add up to the energy Qatar’s Grammy-nominee Fahad Al Kubaisi also joined the duo and performed on "Swag se karenge sab ka swagat"

Presented by FAB Entertainment, this debut performance epitomizes the India-Qatar Year of Culture as these three vocalists come together for the first time ever. 

The magic-filled musical night was definitely a delight for the audience all thanks to the organizers and the rocking duo Vihsla-Shekhar.

Jaipur

The Pink City

Like my first trip to Jaipur the second and third trip was also unplanned. Popularly known as the pink city, it is just 250 kilometers from Delhi and therefore one of the most favored weekend destinations for Delhites. I have been there twice recently and once two years back so this blog post has been pending since a long time. Rajasthan being my favorite place to visit I definitely don’t mind visiting its capital city number of times. 

I am biased towards Rajasthan as a state. One reason is definitely their welcoming attitude and humbleness. The other reason for me being in love with this colorful state is its forts and palaces that are quite well-maintained. I have already been to Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner but after visiting Jaipur I realized that the capital city is different from the other cities. Obviously being a capital, Jaipur is much more developed than the other cities. And moreover you can find lots of Delhites if you are there on weekend. My trip to this city was completed in three visits and hence this post will have photos of two qualities- one of a simple digital camera and one of a DSLR.

This city is a gem in the crown of royal Rajasthan. It is the best showcase of the magnificent grandeur that Rajasthan is famed for all over India and the world.

It is nearby to Delhi (NCR). The highways are pretty decent (other than in rainy season) and hence it is easy to drive. But you can also take a deluxe bus or a Volvo from Delhi which is easily available even if you plan a last time trip like me. Trains are also available but for that you need to plan in advance otherwise it is quite a busy route.

From the feedback the received from my last posts, I decided to divide my post into three parts-

•         Places to visit in Jaipur
•         Places to shop in Jaipur
•       Must try food

Coming to the places to visit, I would say there are lots of places to visit here if you are fond of forts and palaces. And I being a lover of forts and palaces just love this place. You can easily divide your days here for a planned visit otherwise you are bond to miss out one or the other places of visiting here. But before starting your journey you must carry loads of water, a comfortable pair of walking shoes, hat, sunscreen lotion and sunglasses.

Day 1- You can start your visit with the most famous Amber Fort. Located on a hill which is 11 Km away from Jaipur, this fort is known for its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Muslim architecture. The Fort imposes rugged structure from outside ornate and lavish interior. The fort houses lots of sub-halls and palaces.

This royal fort houses- Diwan-e-Aam meaning the "Hall of Public Audience", the Diwan-e-Khas means the "Hall of Private Audience", the Sheesh Mahal (a beautiful mirror palace)/ Jai Mandir, and the Sukh Niwas where a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over the water cascading within the palace. The fort is very well maintained.

There is a small area inside the fort where you can shop the traditional jhumkis, dupattas, key rings and paintings. And if you are fond of puppetry show like me then you can enjoy a small string puppetry show also there. Snake charmers are also here. I took whole half day to visit this fort.  

After visiting this huge fort, head back to city have a lunch and then move ahead to the second visit of the day. The City Palace- It is an amalgamation of several palaces, pavilions, gardens and museum. The most visited structures in the complex are the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani’s Palace and the City Palace Museum. By the time you will finish visiting this palace, it will be evening so head back to Amber Fort for a relaxing sound and light program.

On the way back to the fort, you can stop briefly to watch the golden rays of evening sun fall on Jal Mahal, a small palace built in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. Though you cannot visit the Jal Mahal, as it is closed by government still you can just stop by and enjoy the cool breeze.

The light and sound show that has Amber as the backdrop and is a must attend to know more about the heritage and history. So, if you get time come back here again in the evening and enjoy this show. This musical extravaganza has highlighted the local legends, folklore and a connoisseur of folk music that continues to give Rajasthan its unique identity. My personal  favourite is the Sarangi music played there. The show has been set in a very exotic location with the panoramic view of the Amber Fort & Palace Complex in the front, the rising Jaigarh on the left, the hills at the back and the gallery itself in the Kesar Kiyari Complex of Maota Lake. The Show runs on daily basis at 6:30 pm (Hindi Language) and in English at 07:30 pm.  This show is for 50 minutes. And approx Tariff for the Indian National is Rs.100 and Foreign nationals- Rs.200.

Have dinner and drive back to your hotel and have a good night’s sleep, because next day is going to be a busy day.

Day-2- Start afresh with Jaigarh Fort is 15 kms from Jaipur, standing on a hilltop, overlooking the palaces and city of Amer. The world’s biggest cannon on wheels- the Jai Ban is positioned here. The only disappointing thing of this fort is that it is not maintained like Amber Fort.

Then head to Nahargarh Fort. Personally it is my favorite place in Jaipur. It is adorned by small rooms, beautiful paintings and marvelous architecture. The yellow colored walls with beautiful home like structure make this place my favorite monument of Jaipur. Since I have been there number of times now and every time with new set of people, I introduce this place as my home. Besides its architecture, one thing that makes this fort even spectacular is the view of the Jaipur city from its roof top.  

After visiting these two you can come back to the main city have lunch relax and do some local shopping.

Day-3- The third day you can visit the Hawa Mahal. Though there is nothing much inside only a structure, you can definitely do some shopping near by the Mahal. If you have left with time then you can also visit Jantar Mantar.

You can complete you visit there with an evening visit to Chokhi Dhani. The place showcases the authentic culture of rural Rajasthan. I was awe stuck and completely impressed with its offering when I visited it for the first.

Wherever I took my eyes I was amazed by the happenings around. The Kalbelia dance, the puppetry show, the magic show, camel cart, horse riding, boating, bullock cart, a tree decorated with lamp, haveli like small houses, paintings on the wall etc. There are earthen lamps and paintings to beautify the whole place. And what amazed me the most is the humbleness of the people there. So, every time I visit Jaipur, I make it a point to visit Chokhi Dhani also.

Places to shop in Jaipur-

The Jaipur bazaars are a treat for those who love to shop, especially for those who loves handicrafts. There is Johari Bazaar, Kishanpole Bazaar and Chaura Rasta run north to south while Tripolia Bazaar and Chandpole Bazaar run east to west. Chameliwala Market situated in MI Road is the real hidden gem for gems and jewelry buying. Here you can get authentic gems and silver jewelry at wholesale prices.

Must try food in Jaipur-

If you are vegetarian then Pyaaz kachori is a must try. And if you are a non-vegetarian like me then Pyaaz kachori and Keema Bati both are worth eating. There is a wonderful variety on offer and one can try everything from the most awesome sweets like Ghewar which is a especiality of this pink city to piping hot pyaaz kachoris which are favorite of the locals with a cup of tea. I loved the gol gappe from the local revri also.

So, as a whole Jaipur is a very rich city. In terms of places to visit, things to shop and food to eat, it offers it visitors an amazing array of experience.