OLD LADORI AND THE NEW

During 1930s and 40s, 'Hattian', in My Village Ladori was an important hub of imports & exports of various daily utility goods which were a 'must' and required for the human survival in remote hilly areas situated far and near of Ladori Village. In those days, 'Hattian' used to be a shoppers paradise and very few but select items of daily human, as well as cattle use, were sold here in abundance

       Though a tiny hilly village in isolation, which at present does not have a proper market except for very few small shop like huts, it is said that old Ladori was once a busy trading center during early pre-independence era and had a bazaar in the middle of the village as its commercial center which is now called 'Hattian' where mainly Tambaku, Raab, Gur, Rock Salt, Mustered Oil and khall-Binaula, Militia and Markeen Khaddar cloth were traded in bulk.

       Ever since District Kangra was annexed to Himachal Pradesh in mid seventies, it had always been a place of Government neglect and apathy for quite sometime. Now, a Senior Secondary School, Government Primary School, Civil Dispensary with MBBS Doctor, Fair Price Shop, Bank of Patiala Extension Counter, Gram Panchayat with village Pradhan, Sub Post Office  and Government run Sewing Centre for women are some of the public institutions in the village. Smalltime agriculture, collection of wild fodder and firewood from the nearby woods of Choti Dhar direct behind the village and rearing of milch animals had  been the main preoccupation of the old timers.

       Now things have undergone great change due to revolutionary enlightenment spread out by the television, mobile phone, internet and social media wiping out hurdles of long distances of rugged mountainous terrains between the masses and  helped  bring them  close, on the touch of fingertips.  Pucca roads connecting with the rest of Himachal Pradesh.

         Intellectual openness, enlightenment and  lightening awareness of the new generation and the generation next, resulting in taking keen interest in modernity, advancement and heading towards cities  and other countries, in search of higher education, better avenues and opportunities, despite the fact that getting admission in academic and business schools and colleges of repute, is no more an easy task any longer,  anywhere in the country and beyond, without the sharp competition and continuous self updating.

       So far as the question of country's defense is concerned, Ladori has till now produced over 30 armed forces officers who have had served and are serving the country in both peace and war and the tradition still continues. In the field of technology and know-how, the children of Ladori are not behind as the village has produced number of engineers and business administrators serving in the corporate world within the country and abroad.

        Write's daughter, son and daughter-in-law, three of them are MCA and MBAs and are presently working as senior professionals in multinationals. My Village Ladori is also proud to have Shri Rakesh Pathania S/O Col Kahan Singh Pathania, who is presently serving the State being Sports, Youth Affairs and Forest Minister in the Himachal Pradesh Government.

 
       Influence of western culture trickling down to village levels,  has further kindled the quest for better living standards with all  required amenities such as mobile phone, LCD, LED television, computers, lap tops, cooking gas, washing machines, costly and standard kitchen gadgets, uninterrupted super water and electricity connections and fixtures  in the house, hygienic and beautiful washrooms, interconnected paved pathways up to door steps, well-knit drainage  system and overhead street lights, and well built beautiful designer cozy homes,  furnished  with luxury furniture and drapes, with more than three  bed rooms or in some cases four to six rooms in a double story pucca houses!

      

 

                                           LADORI AND THE JABBAR KHAD.

         Ladori, a small Himachali Village in Tehsil Nurpur, Distt. Kangra, is situated at approximately tweleve kilometers north of historic town of Nurpur  in the foot hills of magestic dhauladhar mountain ranges, which are popularly known as Hathi Dhar and Choti Dhar. While these mountain ranges are scantly but densely covered with khair, scented pine and fragrant cedar forests in the north, a skyline of Himalayan  snow capped peaks overlooks the village from far northeastern horizon.

        The all weather sweet water Jabbar Khad flows in a zig zag manner on a rocky bed through down deep narrow gorge created by its seasonal gushing currents over the centuries gone by. This khad can be considered as the lifeline of the villages and hamlets situated on its banks.

       At Village Ladori, the Khad flows at a stone's throw distance deep downwards from the human habitat. One has to trek up and down carefully on the stony track to and from the rivulet. While passing through the village, one can see that the khad has fondly been nicknamed as Upli Jabbar and the Chikly Jabbar. Upli Jabbar is generally frequented by Pathanias (Mians) as it falls within their easy reach on their side of the village.

        During rainy season, Jabbar is swollen to its fullest capacity and bring along with it whatever came its way, be it logs, uprooted trees or for that matter hapless cattle caught unaware in the current. Even being a hilly rivulet, Jabbar Khad has not ever caused much damage to the villages and clusters falling within its reach.

      'Atte-da-Bagh',  with rare varieties  of regional desi mango trees, ponds of crystal clear and refreshing cool water, cascading waterfalls, green foliage all around, playing and chirping of various species of birds, biggest and the smallest being the Mor (Peacock) and Pidu, smallest of the birds found in Ladori, affectionally called in pahari dialect as  Piddu, Pida or Pidi, respectively, colorful smartian butterflies playing on wild flowers, a solitary peacock crying at the far end of the Khadyater Meadow, goats and sheep along with their siblings enjoying grazing on ever green thorny 'garna' and 'maliyar' bush leaves.

    'Shiv Doala' under an old huge Arjuna Tree, hanuman mandirs and number of huge and centuries old Barr, Plakh and Peepal trees grace the clean and ever fresh environment here.

      Chikly Jabbar is mainly visited by both men and women folks of brahmins and others. The eye catching scenery, water falls, springs of warm water, built up bath rooms, sprawling ancient mango groves, lush green hillocks all around, village cattle herds resting under the cool shade of mango trees while village shepherd trying to tune up his improvised flute (Gangojoo), groups of monkeys fly jumping from one tree to another, intermittent barking noise of Kakkar{wild dear}, far away, up in Charoa, a popular place where few local families live from time immemorial, amidst huge mango groves.

        In Chikly Jabbar, clean, cool and fresh breeze attract people of all ages to this panoramic spot. Women and children from the other side of Chikly Jabbar, a cluster of hamlets situated straight up on a high ground from the Jabbar Khad at Charoa stretching towards Meharka, another small hamlet of locals, also used to come down here for taking drinking water for themselves and their cattle.

  

      

                                       PICNIC AT JEBEL HAFEET, Al Ain,UAE

        Prior to our arrival in Dubai, Vishal and Vandana had already planned a picnic trip to 'The Summit' of Jebel Hafeet Mountain in the backdrop of Al Ain, a beautiful green city of Abu Dhabi Emirate, at a distance of an hour and a half drive from Dubai.  Evening of 16 December 2016 remained little hectic for both   the hosts readying every thing that was needed to be taken along, along with eatables cold drinks, plain water, apart from paper plates, glasses, assorted spoons, camp chairs and spread mats.

        At least five heavy large size  paper bags were kept aside ready, duly filled, to be carried to picnic spot before sleeping.  It was also finally decided that the journey will start at 8 O'clock sharp in the morning.

       On 17 December 2016, exactly at the time of moving, one such bag was to be carried by me up to the basement car parking.  Vishal holding two such bags and taking Saisha along, myself holding  one bag came out  and had stepped further for the lift opposite the main entrance of the apartment.

        I abruptly stopped and told Vishal that I had forgotten my mobile inside; and also said that while I collect the mobile, you may carry on. Rama, Vandana and the maid were still inside the apartment. I came back,  picked up the bag, which I had left outside the lift, and entered in to the lift all alone. There was no one else in the lift. And that was my second mistake, first being leaving my mobile behind!

     It was then, that the problem began.  Since I had no spectacles with me,  I started looking from all the angles searching for letter 'G" for ground floor but I  was unable to find  it'.  You know what? When I was trying  searching letter 'G', I was- sitting  on my knees! Sometimes the letter looked like 'G', sometimes like '0'. So, wasting no more time, I pressed  the' look- alike' digit, and ultimately landed at a wrong level that looked quite similar to the level I had  accompanied with others  number of times while coming or going out. I stopped there a while, looked around and, then moved to the left side  glass door being unsure of the correct way, which was easily opened and then came the next glass door opening in the parking.

        I was not sure here either, but I touched the side button on the electronic panel on the right side of the door, and it opened when I slightly pushed it. In the car parking, every thing was similar but Vishal  and Saisha were no where to be seen nor our car. Something was wrong I guessed!  Immediately, I returned back, almost running, perplexed, to the door from which I had just came out, in order to go upstairs again and then come back with someone who might be there in the apartment.

        But to my utter surprise, the door would not 'open', perhaps, unless and until an electronic card is shown to it. Now the big question.... what to do?  I was really stuck up outside the door  helplessly, perspiring, feeling numb and cursing myself, on the act of my foolishness. While circling there around like a lost cow, all frustrated, I saw a panel on the left side of the door and pressed the black button hesitatingly. The panel gave a flash of red light with a beep. I thought, may be I have done another mistake!

        But I heard a voice which was not clear to me but that meant to me that voice is inquiring about the problem. I did not lose time and said, nearing my mouth towards the panel, that  "Please listen, I am a new person here and I am lost. I am unable to open the door. Can you help me?" The voice said, " Do not worry Sir, I shall see to it". While doing all this, a young couple appeared there from no where.  They even did not care to  look at me, as to why I was standing there with the baggage. They showed the plastic card to the panel and just opened the door, and entered. I too ,losing no more time,  rushed behind them,  and also followed them into the lift. 

        They pressed their button. I started searching  digit '12' looking downwards while voicing 12..12..The gentleman came a step forward and pressed '12' for me with a smile. When I came out from the lift, I found the apartment locked. Again....now what? I had already wasted enough time and put everybody else in the dilemma. Then I thought that I must stay here only as one would definitely come here trying searching for me.

       While I was wasting time at the wrong level downstairs, Vandana had come back looking for me every where in the house and  had gone back worried and tensed.  What a fuss that I had created for all, venturing all alone in the lift and taking wrong step.

         At the same time Vishal came out of the lift looking worried and annoyed and perhaps he was right.  He said something to me which was not important for me at that moment. What was important, that I was found!  At the end of chaos, we headed for the picnic spot, late by half an hour though! What was later discussed in the car, for quite sometime, that indeed with the laughter, is anybody's guess

        I came to know later from our little Saisha who told me, while throwing a lovely laugh at me, "Nanu, to go down to Base Parking lot, 'B' is pressed, not 'G'.

       After having out from the huge underground parking of super posh residential area, soon we were into the beautifully laid out, seemingly complex and intimidating but very smooth road network of downtown Dubai, and by being the side of the base of Burj Khalifa, and through the big cluster of overlooking glassy shining super structures of high rise sky scrappers! After having a little zig-zag, taking turns here and there with Vandana trying to play as Navigator, we were on the straight main six lane super highway leading to beautiful city of Al Ain of Abu Dhabi Emirate.   

         After having taken a short drive for few minutes, Vishal took a right turn for the Petrol Pump in order to draw petrol. As the car was stopped firstly at the wrong side of the pump and the fuel tank being on the passenger's side, a little maneuvering had to be done to park the car at the right place. While the oil was being filled, a helper had the windscreen of the car washed and cleaned it for an eye soothing vision. I was little amazed to hear from Vishal that the petrol is so cheap in the UAE. To be precise Dhs. 1.60 per liter i.e. Rs. 28 per liter. as compared to India's petrol price as on date @ Rs. 68 per liter. in New Delhi!

       Gossiping, laughing and talking we were on the road again with the car speeding at 120kmph on the beautiful, very well maintained, marked, electrified highway with dense green bushes on the either side of the road.  Apart from the beautification of the highway, these bushes also protect from flying sand easily coming over to the road from the desert and also pose a barricade for the wild animals coming running on to the highway. 

       The poles erected on the middle of bush and flower pavement, with top two overhead arms fitted with LED lights, illuminate either side of the highway during night.  These poles are erected all through the road from Dubai to Al Ain.  I was very much impressed with the road sign postings that are painted green, blue and brown. Blue or green sign indicate the roads, exists or location out of the city, and brown signs show heritage sites, places of interest and hospitals. Dubai's new signage system relies more heavily on street names.  

       The indication names written on them, both in Arabic and English, with white paint and placed so prominently  which leave no confusion of any sort, whatsoever. The markings on the road are even more better. If by chance, you do not have the  GPS support, you can easily reach the destination.

        The highway goes straight through the desert to the infinity, joining with the skyline far beyond.  Sand dunes, big and small, on either side of the highway forcefully attracts one towards them. No sand dune is similar to another. These dunes take size and shape depending on the speed and force of the desert winds. At the short intervals, there were small cluster or hamlets of local Emirati people were seen, who rear goat and camel apart from managing Dates Palm Groves. I had seen many such Dates Palm Groves, some small, some large and some being the largest  of them all having, tall, sturdy and healthy palm trees on  either side of the Dubai-Al Ain highway. It was our life time experience!

        At around 10.30 AM, we approached Al Ain city, a city so beautiful that one cannot resist admiring the beautifully maintained roundabouts, complex but smooth well marked road network with prominent sign posting all along the roads. The Jebel Hafeet Mountain, standing tall, is visible even before the entry in to the city of Al Ain. Al Ain is Abu Dhabi Emirate's second city of historic significance in the UAE. Since the city has tree-lined streets and lovely patches of greenery and beautifully maintained urban parks, it is also called as 'The Garden City'.

        Just outside the city, one of the largest mountains in the UAE, Jebel Hafeet is known as the first tourist attraction.  Due to Al Ain's archaeological and historical background, the city has recently been placed on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

        Jebel Hafeet Mountain, is the only mountainous terrain in Abu Dhabi Emirate. The mountain range is approximately 17 KM long and 4 KM wide at places, and made of sedimentary rock - limestone. It offers an impressive view over Al Ain City from the mountain top called The Summit. The Jebel Hafeet mountain road extends for 11.7 KM up to the mountain top and is voted one among the ten great mountain roads of the World. This winding road to the top is considered to be one of the best driving roads. This road is also a challenging cycle route. Few scenes of Hindi Movie RACE's were also shot at this beautiful winding road. Bollywood's superstar, Saif Ali Khan, being played the leading role in this movie.

       A little stop over at the Hotel Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet, for a cup of coffee, was more enjoying. The Hotel's impressive location affords spectacular view of Al Ain. The hotel is just at stone's throw downwards from The Summit.

       By 11 AM, we were on The Summit and enjoyed sightseeing of city of Al Ain down below. Had a picnic over there, enjoyed the lunch, drinks and assorted ice cremes. All the mobiles were busy taking photographs and group selfies.  After having some rest, we descended down and reached at the Al Ain Zoo.

         At the Zoo, we enjoyed watching rare wild animals.  The zoo is much more like a safari park with spacious enclosures spread over an area of 365 hectares. watching Hippos, Giraffes, white lions, reptiles and other many endangered ones, was a great fun and knowledge worthy moments, specially to our little sparrow Saisha, who kept running around trying calling all of us to gather at a particular enclosure to see, what she wanted us to show!

     After having felt tired in the evening, we headed for  Dubai and reached home at around six. Both myself and Rama are must be lucky enough to be enjoying smooth drives all these days, sometimes longer ones, in Vandana-Vishal's brand new car, a big one. Bole toh.......Audi Q7!!

     

     

        

                                       A DATE WITH BURJ KHALIFA, DUBAI

       Ever since I came to know about Burj Khalifa coming up in  Dubai, I had a desire, though a faint one, to visit Dubai, if God willing, in order to have a date with the world's tallest residential building. But it was like a dream with eyes open, which was, perhaps, never taken seriously by me, as they say, to desire for something, is one thing, but to convert it into reality, is another. Time kept on flying swiftly, so the dream was also put to rest at the back the mind.

        A few years later, a news came calling us to wake-up. Vandana, our daughter was posted to her Dubai office. Our dreams and desires surfaced once again. Wasting no more time, all arrangements for our visit to Dubai were made and both of us reached here on 9th December 2016, for a stay of one month!

       On 23rd of December 2016 at eleven, I along with my family, had a special date with Burj Khalifa when I virtually saw it, touched it, felt it and embraced it. A genuine experience, full of joyous feelings, with butterflies in the stomach, eternal satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment of a long cherished 'dream come true' today!

       The Burj Khalifa, known as Burj Dubai before its inauguration, is a mega tall  sky scraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  It is the tallest super structure in the world standing at the height of 829 meters and 830 meters to its needle's pricking tip upwards in the sky.  It is situated at 1, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, Boulevard, Dubai  The Burj has 163 floors.  Its construction was commenced in September 2004 and completed in 2010 at the cost of 1.5 billion USD.  Its soaring height of 830 meters at the tip above, Burj Khalifa is fittingly Dubai's most iconic destination

       H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Prime Minister and the Vice President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.  He has overseen numerous landmark projects in Dubai including Palm Jumeirah, the Seven Star Burj Al Arab Hotel and the Burj Khalifa. The Burj is named after Sheikh Khalifa.

       It was our life time experience to be on the 123rd floor, a permissible height,  a little short from the top and look down below, The Mother Earth's charisma that we have still to 'unfold'!

       To be on the 123rd floor, though little short of being on the top of the only man-made super structure, an engineering marvel and an architectural masterpiece of 21st century, Burj Khalifa is incredible, magnificent, amazing, unforgettable,  standing tall and erect and a miracle ever created on earth before! Though, it was foggy in the morning of 23rd December 2016, by eleven, the fog had  withered away, yet the visibility was slightly restricted. But still the view of the city of Dubai was enchanting and it was a breath taking nazara down below and far beyond!

                                                    DESERT SAFARI IN DUBAI

        On the 20th December, six of us Rama Vandana, Vishal , Saisha along with their maid Champa, a Lankan, and myself set out for what is considered a highlight in UAE, Dune bashing and Desert Safari, We drove along the six lane Highway first towards Al-Ain and then to Sharjah where the Sand Dunes are in abundance and one can experience the true thrills of what the desert has to offer.

        At the appointed time of  3:15 pm all of us went down where our designated car a 4X4 Landcruiser was waiting for us. Hurriedly, we all occupied our pre-allotted seats in the car. Mr. Ashrraf, the driver, helped all of us taking our seats with all smiles, who also spoke very good Hindi.  He finally closed the doors and said 'okay' started the engine and finally set out for the journey at the permissible speed of 60-80 kmph in the city and then increasing/decreasing speed limits on the motorway.

      As everyone of us was very well aware of the Humpty -Dumpty style of run around, Over, Below and Sideways of the slopes, sometimes suddenly deep down, and then, in an another moment, steep on top of them, not giving any moment of sitting quiet in the car. Being tightly fastened with the seat belts and then holding, in a tight grips, with both hands, on whatever you may lay your hands, around and overhead, shouting, crying with mouth open, tongues rolling out intermittently, apparently, with eyes widest open.

       Breathing at high speed with thumping of the heart, reminded me of 'Anulom-Belom and Kapal bhati' of Yog Guru Baba Ramdevji!, You may enjoy the ride with all the dare you might gather, but with an unknown fear psyche inside the car, everyone's face was worth seeing during the whole safari drive, The  moments when the safari rolled fast blindly at the slanting slopes of the massive sand throwing clouds of sand up in the air and with a fear that car ab palti-ke-ab palti.

        Everyone looked praying, at heart and requesting at the back of their mind, Hey Bhagwaaaan! buss karo, vapis chalo, aur nahi karna!  My daughter Vandana, though being brave, also asked Vish many times to stop the ride. And yes,  it was not that, I was not scared, being the elder among all, I had to maintain restraint but at moments, it was all fearful fun for me too. 

       There were only two persons who were  little  calm and unaffected of the zig-zag drive, Vishal and little Saisha. Saisha was sitting along with Champa, her Nanny, all behind the car. While she kept all of us amused with her American accent at all times, Vishal remained busy making videos, He , perhaps,  had an earlier experience of desert safari, and  being sitting on the passenger's seat. But when the safari stopped at the top of a very fine dune, seemingly untouched a virgin, that looked to me like a 'No man's land', I also took a sigh of relief with the hope that, thank God, now we shall not be going back on the same route from which we had just come!

       After having enjoyed walk over and on the top of dunes, taking photographs and selfies, we drove down taking another route, facing not  much sand dunes, and joined with a highway leading to Sharjah, after ten minutes or so. From here we were to go to one of the traditional Arabian campsites, to enjoy the delicious dinner in the calm of a starlit desert night  where our table was already booked. However, I did not know about this arrangement.

        In another ten minutes, we reached at the so called camp site. It was a semi-circular type of an area, duly installed with makeshift stalls, some of them pucca rooms like living rooms for the staff and proper washrooms duly fitted with fine sanitary ware and electricity. The Camp was very well illuminated, well maintained, clean and tidy with proper sign postings installed at prominent places for the ease of visitors. A red carpet was laid from the entrance gate to the dining area. Walking on the sand bare feet was of course a fun for all!  There were kitchens, bar, Shisha (Hooka) Bar and in the middle, a stage was erected for various types of dances and performances by well trained Arabian showmen and women.

       The number of dining rows each separately for each family or a group were laid out on the sand, however, covered with fine carpets, three big fat pillow type cushions were kept on either side of two and a half feet high rectangle dining platforms, again covered with fine Arabic type printed designer cloth with ash trays and sufficient tissue papers kept in the middle.

      After having quick drinks with freshly baked non-veg (Bara like) tasty and delicious Arabian snacks, we had a moment with Sheesha (Hooka) Bar, just for a try but it did not work for us being non smokers. Immediately after that, a Belly Dance performance was carried out which was very mesmerizing, 

      After the dance and music program, all enjoyed hot Arabic Food on self service basis, as in our functions and parties, but the food had to be taken sitting at the improvised dining platforms already allotted.

       After Dinner, a Tanura dance performance was worth shaking our senses which was played by a very well versed and trained Tanura performer. All the dance performances were done on stage on beautiful Arabic songs and music tunes.  All the 'on lookers' took photographs and made videos.

       The end of Tanura dance was also the end of the evening after which we returned home in the same safari car with Ashraff, but with no impending fear at all!

     

       

                                       VISIT TO FERRARI WORLD : ABU DHABI

       Yes......19 December 2016 was another fun day for all of us specially Saisha and me because she is the youngest and I am the oldest in the group . So if we both do some child-like activities or act funny at times, it is obvious that we would not be taken seriously! Fun day is also 'Masti' day!!

       Prior to leaving home for the  famed Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi, lot of talking had already been gone in to at the dining table, the previous night. We left home for Abu Dhabi at twelve - ten at noon.

      The drive was quite smooth and comfortable as the six lane Sheikh Zayed Road, which is Dubai's busiest motorway goes straight to Abu Dhabi with lively presence of habitation, markets, malls, restaurants, hospitals, schools, trucker's stop, construction activities and so on on its either side.  So the driving was all pleasure, pleasant, and refreshing throughout the journey.

       Dubai may be the UAE's member but Abu Dhabi is the capital of the nation and the richest of all the six emirates.  The city  consisting  series of islands is connected with the mainland by bridges.  Abu Dhabi is home to numerous internationally renowned hotels like Crowne Plaza Yas Island, Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa, Emirates Palace, Fairmount Bab Al Bahr and so on. Shopping Malls, Heritage Sites and golden beaches of Abu Dhabi attracts people from around the world.

      Both kids and adults are sure to enjoy a trip to Emirate Park Zoo where 2000 species of animals, including white tigers, blue monkeys and brown bears could be seen where emphasis is on

allowing you to get close to your  favorite animals through touch and interaction and feeding giraffes and zebras.

       Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is F1 amusement park dedicated to the Italian super car which draws crowds from around the world.  There is plenty to keep kids as well as adults entertained.  One of the highlights is undoubtedly Formula Ross- billed as the world's fastest roller coaster.  It reaches such an high speed up to 240 kph that anyone adventurous enough must be mentally prepared to face the challenge.  All of us tried this adventure with a sense of great enthusiasm but when on wheels, it was all fear psychosis and nothing else.  On finishing the ride, we all felt as if we were just taken out of a running washing machine and then thrown over a wall for drying!!  May be if you like the joke!

       Yas Water world makes for a great family day out with kids focused on interactive games and the excellent Marah Fortress Splash Park.  But big kids can have fun too.  Lounging by the pool, relaxing in a private cabana or enjoying one of the Pool's pumping slides.  Highlights include the heart thumping Liwa Loop, Wet and Wiled fun at its best!

       Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Rashid Bin Saeed Maktoum Road, Abu Dhabi is a truly remarkable architectural  feat.  Unlike most mosques in the UAE,  it is open to Non-Muslims.  It has astonishing capacity of 40,000 worshipers and world's largest Hand Woven Persian Carpet.    

    From quarter to two till seven thirty in the evening, we all enjoyed at the Ferrari World..........a world   of dreams of so many more people, whose dream to see the' Ferrari  World', is yet to be fulfilled. Due to paucity of time, we still left many items to attend. My daughter Vandana proved herself to be brave enough, to have indulged all alone, in the biggest and the fastest roller coaster in the world, to which
rest of us had given her our NO...NO...!!

       Last but not the least, I very much appreciate the marvelous looking overhead roofing system covering a vast area giving an impression of an another enchanting world within, too!
   
       Night drive from Abu Dhabi, while returning to Dubai home in the all illuminated highway and beyond, was quite an hilarious and thrilling, being our life's first ever such experience!

        

                                                 VISIT TO GLOBAL VILLAGE, DUBAI

        21 December 2016 was an another fun day for our family.  Both the hosts, Vandana and Vishal, took their time out from their busy schedules, decided to make a trip to the world renowned Global Village situated in the outskirts of city of Dubai at a distance of about 25 kilometers.

        Global Village, Dubai is claimed to be the world's largest tourism, leisure and entertainment center. It is the region's first cultural entertainment and shopping destination.  It is the leading seasonal cultural extravaganza in the region and one of the best things to do each time you visit Dubai.

        Entry fees being AED 15 per head, the entry of senior citizens of over 65 years is free. The Village opens at 4 PM everyday till midnight. The Village is spread in a vast expanse of an area where big and attractive pavilions of various countries have been constructed.  It is evident from the main entrance of the pavilion of a particular country that all out efforts, preference, priority and  patriotism has been shown by the country in order to depict the real picture, conveying the message relating to their past history and culture by putting up replicas of their world famous monuments, national heroes, and their national outfits.

        Behind the main entrance, a sprawling huge trading center consisting of number of shops dealing with different kinds of native products like  household items, clothes, crockery & cutlery, scents, dry fruits, condiments, gem and ,jewelry, house furnishing and furniture, toys and other such local novelties and wares. Since there was too much walking was involved, a rental trolley was drawn from inside the main gate in order to carry Saisha sitting in it while we all would be walking around from pavilion to pavilion sightseeing, shopping and taking selfies at our own will and pleasure. 

        We had foreign Popcorn, a lovely dish, fresh cut fruit, sweet and cold drinks apart from shopping some foreign novelties.  We also enjoyed live Bhangra performance in the open air theater at India Pavilion for about half an hour.  The Bhangra Performance was so good that reminded all of us of our lovely Punjab.

        To me, however, The Village looked more like Trade Fair in Pragti  Maidan, New Delhi which is held in the month of November whereas The Global Village is a six months affair in a year.

       On return, we had a lovely delicious dinner at 'Kulcha King', an Indian Restaurant and the only one in the whole of the UAE. Satisfied, we reached at home, little overworked though!!