Nicole Shillington Photography

Anyone looking for an Instagramable moment and/or a slice of South America’s famous milk cake look no further than EL&N at Yas Bay.

With the end of summer fast approaching the business lunches will be changing soon. So get to Zuma for some fantastic views and try their summer Business Lunch Menu featuring Australian Teriyaki Wagyu before it’s too late.

Back in the old days this venue was known as Boa and was an exceptional steakhouse. It is now an exceptional Japanese fusion restaurant.

I can truly say this was one of the best brunches I’ve ever been to. Having a seafood allergy is always somewhat of a problem and never more so at an Asian restaurant, but Ba:TE was extremely accommodating. Even without eating any of the seafood dishes there were so many other dishes, that I really felt like I rolled out of the restaurant at the end of the day. If you haven’t been - do yourself a favour and make a reservation today 🍣🥢

Who knew that Etihad Towers would end up being a beautiful view from Emirates Palace. I still remember when the gold building - Bab Al Qasr - was being built in 2012 and thinking it was a monstrosity. Now when it catches the afternoon light it make all its surrounding reflect the sunset 🌅

I have been to Emirates Palace High Tea many many times 🫖The Palace, one of only two 7⭐️ hotels in the world, has always been a special treat.

The hotel has changed management since I last visited and is now managed by Mandarin Orientiel.

Tea was severed in the newly named Episodes and I might have an episode just doing this review. The High Tea consisted of savoury sandwiches, chef’s special, scones and sweets.

Overall barely a 3 out of 5 and only because they had unlimited tea and coffee including iced teas and the signature gold coffee, otherwise it would have been a 2 🫣

View - 3
Service - 3
SvS Ratio - 3
Sandwiches - 2
Scones - 0

Service was very very slow but through no fault of the staff but purely as the area for high tea has been moved quite far from the kitchen and courses are served individually rather than all at once on a tiered stand.

Sandwiches didn’t exist, a vol-au-vent and polenta do make a sandwich. The chef’s special was unappetising and along with the savoury items lacked any salt. In fact, they could do away with this altogether and add an egg and cucumber sandwich and it would make me much happier.

The scones… I just don’t know where to start. They are about 3cm in diameter which means they did not rise and were dense. They were chocolate 🤢, plain and raisin flavoured. Served with over-whipped cream aka butter (hard as a rock), raspberry and a date preserve. The date preserve was actually a nice addition to an Arabic high tea. The sweets were average at best.

Since the change in management I can’t say that I see any positive changes, in fact, I wouldn’t even recommend people go for a look as that special feeling of grandeur no longer exists. The closure of the main entrance, the dirty entry carpet and the general lack of maintenance has really tarnished its reputation 🥺

Taking in one of the 'Astrocat' installations by CoolRainLabo at Yas Bay. 👨‍🚀

Did you know: the first UAE astronaut in space was Hazza Al Mansoori, who lived on the space station for eight days back in 2019. This mission was followed by SpaceX Crew-6 in April 2023 where Dr Sultan Al Neyadi became the first Arab to perform a spacewalk. He also obtained his masters and PhD from Griffith University in Australia.

The Emerging Man in Yas Bay was created by Fathima Mohiuddin aka Fatspatrol, an Indian Canadian artist who grew up in UAE. The giant sculpture is of a diver emerging from the bay, the head alone is 8m in diameter. Yas Bay Waterfront is hoping to become the new food and art destination in Abu Dhabi.

Soul Beach 🏖️ arguably the most beautiful beach in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately it’s not a public beach but for AED50 AUD$20 you get a sun lounger and umbrella with table side food service and of course access to swim in the pristine gulf waters.

Don’t be fooled though summer temperatures can be 45°+ and water temperatures 34°+ More like a warm bath 🛁

The Pineapple Buildings aka Al Bahr Towers feature an iconic sustainable design by Aedas (AHR).

The twin buildings are covered by 2,000 “umbrellas” that open and close based on the direction of the sun, thereby decreasing the heat inside the buildings. When they are all closed they resemble the outside of a pineapple.

Added to the Abu Dhabi’s Eastern Corniche skyline in 2012, I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t love them 🍍🍍

One of the great things about summer vacation in the Middle East is the great summer deals. While all the families on school holidays go away for the summer, those left behind get to take advantage of staycation deals and business lunches etc. I can recommend Raclette in Mamsha for their deals this summer, I’ve already been there twice so far….

If you’re looking for one of the best Lebanese meals in Abu Dhabi with a beautiful beach view, then look no further…

The healing powers of thermal water…. Well I’m not sure if it heals the body but it certainly heals the spirit. I remember years ago going to a thermal spa in Sirmione on Lake Garda and I just didn’t get it! But it’s safe to say I get it now, maybe I just didn’t know how to relax? I will forever now seek out QC spas across Europe. Could the Sunshine Coast be a candidate???

The Duomo is iconic Milan. I have seen it many times, both inside and out but never from above. This was my first Rooftop Terrace visit and it did not disappoint. In fact I would recommend this as a visit above all else, especially in the evening where you can watch the sunset while listening to a classic piano and violin concert 🎶 It was magic ✨

Lecco is the southern most town on right leg of Lake Como also know as Lago di Lecco. It’s a smaller and more modern town but equally as popular especially during the summer festival which includes the Jazz Festival which was on while I was there.

In my honest opinion if it’s pretty and quaint you’re going for, Lecco is nicer than Como but if it’s more shops, old town and throngs of people you’re after, than Como is for you 😃

Almost the half way point between Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, Varese is a quaint little Italian town that doesn’t see a lot of tourists. It’s a bit unfair that I didn’t get to see the best of this little town as the unprecedented heatwave which led to illness cut short any quality time here but as you can see every Italian village has something to offer.

Laveno-Mombello is another small town on the banks of Lake Maggiore. Probably most famous for it’s car ferry from Intra which makes navigating the lake much quicker for travellers, it is also home to the Funvia del Lago Maggiore which I was lucky/unlucky to use to view Lake Maggiore in all its glory from 1,100m above sea level.

Just a few minutes up the lake from Stresa is Baveno, while surrounded by a number of hotels it is more of a village and certainly a lot less touristy. While I was there the region was hit with a major heatwave and due to its position on the lake at this time of year, Baveno gets full sun all day so it was very hot 🥵 so not a great time to be without air conditioning.

With the sun setting well after 9pm the town really comes alive after 8pm as the air temperature cools and locals busk on the esplanade while others sip aperitifs watching the sunset.

It was also a fantastic place to watch the electrical storms each evening light up the pink skies ⚡️

Isola Madre or Mother Island is the largest of Lake Maggiore’s Borromean islands. It has been home to a cemetery, monastery, olive grove and citrus orchard before the construction of a noble residence.

The noble residence was turned into a hotel and is now hired for events and the orchard has been converted into an English garden which is considered the best in Italy.

While I didn’t visit this time (I did in 2014) I did stop by on my to the other side of the lake and it immediately made me regret not visiting again. Until next time!

Isola dei Pescatori also known as Isola Superiore or Fisherman’s Island is the only one of Lake Maggiore’s Borromean Islands that has been permanently inhabited for over 700 years and not owned by royalty or nobility.

The remaining 19 inhabitants still make their living by fishing or tourism. If you want to join them there is a partially renovated 8 bedroom villa attached to the bell tower for sale for a cool €4,000,000…..if only 🥹

Isola Bella or Beautiful Island is part of Lake Maggiore’s Borromean Islands and is only 400m from the lakeside town of Stresa. Famous for its palace and gardens commissioned by Carlos III for his wife Isabella, they are both masterpieces in the Baroque style.

I would say most people visit for the gardens but the palace, it’s artwork and most importantly it’s grottos are also impressive. I know the first time I visited in 2014 I didn’t find the grottos very ‘pretty’ but I can say I have a newfound appreciation for the work.

I don’t think it matters how many times you visit you will always find something new to discover.

2023 was full of adventure, here’s to more in 2024🥂