Natura Bisse

Natura Bisse is Uma's favorite skincare product.. when she tried their product 4 years back, her reaction was: "it feels good when applying on skin, has a good texture, fragrance and for sure has a feel good factor". And when Natura Bisse had approached Uma to endorse the brand, it sure was easy for her to do.. as she already loved the brand and believed in it. To give you a little background, Natura Bisse is a skin care brand from Barcelona Spain and it offers most efficient skin care. Its recently launched its new "Diamond Collection" after a success of "Inhibit Collection", "The Cure Collection" and "NB.Ceutical Collection". Their treatments are also used by Hollywood stars. Uma definitely suggests everyone to try out Natura Bisse's products, it is available at Areej, Paris Gallery, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and many more high end stores. Natura Bisse strongly believes in "My skin. My secret" and Uma too follows this believe..

High Life Dubai's Luxury Global Travel Segment in Thailand

Swadicah everyone!!!!! I am back from another fun filled exotic destination- THAILAND. Like always High Life Dubai keeps its promises and every 2 months bring you the best.. not only of Dubai but also of destinations around the world. I love Thailand and I really wanted to bring the best of Thailand for all of you. Day One: I started my very first day of High Life Dubai’s Luxury Global Travel Segment with Koh Samui. I have been there more than 3 times now and simply love the island…so I really wanted to show this to all of you. The property I stayed in was the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui.  The Spacious Thai villas are wrapped in tropical gardens, conserved coconut groves and the amphitheatre of sky, sea and islands. Enjoying the forest spa. Dining at hillcrest or beachside. Splash in the private bay. And explore a pristine world of beaches, reefs, rainforest and sunshine. Revel in the many faces of Thailand. So many facilities in a completely different environment. Totally High Life! That day I went for rejuvenating aroma special Siam Fusion spa treatment. My tired muscles relaxed completely due to the 6 hour flight from Dubai to Bangkok to Koh Samui. The spa made me hungry and I relished my dinner with some delicious Thai curries at Lan Tania, my meal:  Larb Tuna - fresh tuna marinated with thai herbs, cracked rice and chili powder , Paneang Goong- red curry of prawns with coconut and lime leaves , Gaeng Kiew Warn - prawns green curry, eggplant with sweet basil and lime leaves. Yummy!!! I reckon each one of you should go and enjoy these Thai curries. Day Two: This day was filled with activities such as coconut patanque, kayaking, ping- pong and so much more!! Played coconut patanque for the first time and the rules are simple: The goal of pétanque, a variation of boule, is to throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball, except at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, they use coconuts! How interesting and a lot of fun too!! I suggest everyone to play these activities everyday… they are such great stress busters! Can you believe it, having all these activities at the resort itself and enjoying them with full swing by the beach? J That day I had a scrumptious lunch at the Pla Pla-  and being a true Bengali I had the Grilled Mackerel …honestly it was the world’s most delicious mackerel. Given a choice, I can have fish everyday… After lunch I met the General Manager of the Resort- Mr. Brent J. Martin and it was lovely speaking to him and having him on the show. The resort also offered a very luxurious activity, having a manicure by the beach at the beach bar  with your choice of drink. Absolutely high life. Then I headed towards a boat ride which took me away from the hustle bustle and it was a ride filled with tranquility. Cool wind blowing on me with cold sprinkles of water. Unfortunately, it was my last day at Koh Samui so I thought of going to the Chaweng street for some shopping with my team. Day Three: Had an amazing time at Koh Samui and will never forget my stay at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. Now was time for the most buzzing city of Thailand- Bangkok. We reached the Bangkok airport and headed to the Four Seasons Hotel in Bangkok. I just loved the interior of this hotel, it was so royal and rich, with the perfect colours around. And if you are in Bangkok, one must experience the spa, so I went to the MSpa at the Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok.The Spa by MSpa delivers memorable spa experiences in state-of-the-art facilities. The treatment rooms and suites and full-service beauty salon are all designed for comfort and the ultimate in sensory experience. The spa’s traditional Thai architecture evokes spiritual tranquility and a feeling of harmony with nature. It was indeed a memorable experience.. I was famished after that so I went to have a hot and crispy cheesy pizza at the Biscotti Restaurant.. and it was delicious!!!! After a while I went for my high tea at the lobby and enjoyed my English Breakfast tea with some cookies and pastries. Why not shop at the Hotel after eating and relaxing? I went to the most exclusive shops at the hotel, such as “Jim Thompson”, “Private Collection”, “Lamont” “Lotus Arts De Vivre” and so many more shops. That day I enjoyed my Thai Curries at the Spice Market-Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok. It is definitely one of the best Thai restaurants in the world. It was our cameraman, Abid’s birthday so we surprised him with a delicious cake. Our first day at Bangkok went on very well… and I just kept looking forward to the days coming up. Day Four: Guess who I met today…a very good friend, super talented and a very down to earth VJ-MTV Asia/Actress/Model Sonia Couling on the sets of a Hollywood film. She was such a sweetheart, and I got to chat with her and have her on High Life Dubai.  Its always good to meet local talent so on that same day I also met up with a Thai local designer Roj from Issue. He had the most innovative designs, and like always I love to explore local designers around the world and show their designs to you.  Along with meeting the local talent, I also met the Hotel Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, Mr. Avi Haksar. It was a pleasure meeting him and knowing so much more about the property. Day Five: I strongly believe in Buddhism and on this day we took a tour to the beautiful Buddha temples in Bangkok. We first went to the Wat Poh Temple where there is a HUGE sleeping Buddha. His body is covered in gold plating and he is decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay on his eyes and the soles of his feet. The bottoms of the Buddha's feet are intricately decorated with 108 auspicious scenes in Chinese and Indian styles. It was impressive! After that we went to the Arun Temple from a small boat… what a ride it was. I can never forget my visit to the Arun temple as it had so many steps to climb up..one can easily climb up to the maximum height but while coming down, it’s a real challenge! The famous Wat Arun, perhaps better known as the Temple of the Dawn, is one of the best known landmarks and one of the most published images of Bangkok. It consists of a massive elongated prang (Khmer-style tower), and is surrounded by four smaller prangs. The prang is described by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as 104m high, while most other sources quote figures around 80-85m. The temple visits were energizing, which made me want to shop more..and to the most popular malls of Bangkok- Siam Paragon & Gayrson Shopping Centre. Gayrson had the most stylish shopping in Bangkok, it is known for its luxurious and high end stores. I just entered the mall and just could not stop shopping, from shoes to bags to clothes to sunglasses, I grabbed them all. One of my favourite purchase was the Kwanpen Handmade bag. Straight after that, I went for some more shopping to the Siam Paragon. I really liked the collection of Fly Now so I thought of going to the store and meeting the designer too… well I got to chat with him and have him on the show, isn’t that cool? It always feels good to have local designers sharing their views and ideas on fashion. Then we all went back to the hotel and caught up with another local jewellery designer- Mr. Rolf von Buren from Lotus Arts De Vivre. He has incredible and mind blowing jewellery designs and home furnishings. I simply fell in love with them all. Lotus Arts de Vivre creates lifestyle and exquisite objects d'art using tradition of artistry and craftsmanship tools, techniques and skills. He creates designs for the royals and celebrities like far to the UK Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Queen of Spain, near to Thailand and Malaysia, Bhutan’s royal dignitaries, and loved jewelry star, Michelle Yeoh, Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone,  are fans of Lotus Arts de Vivre. Michael Jackson too wore Lotus Arts De Vivre along with many Hollywood celebrities. That was truly amazing to know and feels great to have so much local talent on High Life Dubai J Just kept getting inquisitive for many more days to come. Day Six: We moved out from Four Season Hotel in Bangkok with pleasant memories which I can never forget. Headed to check in at lebua at State Tower, which is an all-suite luxury hotel in Bangkok with 358 lavish suites, which are the most spacious in their category. Located at the riverside in the second tallest tower in Bangkok, each suite offers majestic views of the Chao Phraya River and the City. The suites feature amenities, 330 thread count linen, Bvlgari products and in-suite cooking option by its Conde Nast accredited Chefs which make lebua a truly unique luxury hotel. My executive suite at Lebua had a spa room inside, and everything one needs in a suite… it really felt like my own house and I could stay in the relaxing 63rd floor forever! I was enjoying the view of the entire city too from my very own suite…what more does one want?? . Immediately I called up the spa to send someone to my private spa room and I got a nice hot oil massage done to relax my tired muscles before shooting. Soon after that we shot Lebua and took a round at the State Tower.  After that we all went to Hyde & Seek Gastro Bar to meet the people behind the buzzing and popular bar in town… The trios of Swedes behind Flow have combined their mixing skills with innovative eats to create a playful new venue. the three Swedes have teamed up with celebrity chef and kitchen consultant Ian Kittichai and executive chef Peter Pitakwong to create a playful new addition to Bangkok's dining scene -- Hyde & Seek. It was great meeting Dannie Sorum (Executive Director), Ben David Sorun (Managing Director), Thomas Anostam (Executive Director) and the celebrity chef Peter Pitakwong- (Executive Chef at Hyde & Seek). Enjoyed their delicious food and refreshing mocktails. We finally went for fine dining at Lebua, Breeze Restaurant. It was a 5 course special meal arranged by the chef of the restaurant for the entire High Life Dubai team… had a great time there. Day Seven: The next person on the list for an interview was this young promising girl, who is in Thailand's top 40 richest peoples list provided by Forbes and the magazine lists heras one of the next generation billionaires. She is charming, sweet, extremely talented which shows in her 2 fashion labels Nsha & Burn Baby and most amazingly she also has her own private pilots license. . I met and interviewed…Nishita Shah! Brilliant!! Simply brilliant and totally high life to have her on the show. It was our last day at Bangkok and we thoroughly enjoyed it by meeting such great people. There after we all headed to the LAST shoot of the day at the Sky Bar, Lebua At State Tower. The stunning, multi-hued Sky bar at Sirocco has several reasons to turn minutes into timeless moments. Suspended in the sky on the 63rd floor of The Dome at State Tower, the Skybar is one of the world's highest open-air bars, overlooking a panoramic view of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya river. With such an enthralling ambience coupled with a seductive selection of the finest vintages, beverages and appetizers in Bangkok, the Skybar soars as one of the prized destinations in the city. No wonder, the rooftop bar is unanimously accepted as the coolest bar in Bangkok. Filming at the sky bar is prohibited except Hollywood films, (Hangover 2 was shot there) but High Life Dubai was welcomed by the entire team of Lebua with a lot of enthusiasm. J Wow…. I don’t know how these seven days flew by. It felt like seven hours… well I want each one of you to go and experience Thailand High Life Dubai style. I promise all of you to come back with more and more travel segments with lots more fun, excitement and adventure. Sawasdee everyone and keep living the high life with me. Love, Uma To catch more pictures, videos and all the behind the scene masala, visit our facebook fan page www.facebook.com/highlifedubai.ae

Thailand, Koh Samui Day 2 - Saturday, January 15, 2011

 Koh Samui Koh Samui Koh Samui... the most peaceful place to live in. Extremely quite, lots of tranquility and a view to die for! the water here is literally BLUE and there is so much greenery around that one can't imagine! Out of words to explain the beauty of Koh Samui.. in fact the only way you all can know it is by visiting this place yourself! but much before that Uma will show you everything high life at Koh Samui only on High Life Dubai.  

We here are Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui enjoyed a lot of activities today such as, Kayaking, Coconut Patanque, and Ping Pong. All These games are absolute stress busters and one should definitely play them regularly. After which, Uma had lunch by the beach, got a nice manicure by the beach at the Beach Bar and later we all headed for a fun-filled boat ride all around. As soon as we finished shooting, we went for SHOPPING at one of the best streets in Koh Samui. 

To view all the pictures, like our Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/highlifedubai.ae 

Sa Wat Dee,  

Aanya

Luxury Travel Segment- Thailand, Koh Samui Day 1 - Friday, January 14, 2011

Hello all Bling & High Life lovers,

Like always High Life Dubai keeps its promises and every 2 months bring you the best.. not only of Dubai but also of destinations around the world. Uma loves Thailand and she really wanted to bring you the best of Thailand for the viewers of High Life Dubai.

Today we started our first shoot at Koh Samui Thailand where Uma lived the High Life at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. Starting the day with a nice warm welcome from the Four Season's  super sweet and friendly staff. Thai's are always smiling and ready to go out of their way to bring you the best.

At Four Seasons Koh Samui, Uma got some nice Aroma treatments at the Four Seasons spa which relaxed all her tiring muscles due to the 6 hours flight and shooting all day. She finished her day with some delectable Thai dishes at the resort itself.

The entire Team HLD had a lovely time at this beautiful island. Day one was superb! we all look forward to many more days at Thailand and everlasting memories.

Keep living the high life with Uma. Like our Facebook fan page to watch behind the scene madness and some pictures behind the scene. www.facebook.com/highlifedubai.ae


Take Care,
Aanya

Tees Maar Khan- Uma chats with Katrina - Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Tees Maar Khan is immensely popular for its item song "Sheila Ki Jawani" and High Life Dubai brings Sheila right here for all of you. She is the sexiest woman in the world, and you can all see that. Uma and Katrina chat while she sips her tea. It is indeed a pleasure to watch them...and sure you all don't want to miss this exclusive interview with the one and only Katrina Kaif!!

High Life Dubai is giving 2 lucky winners a chance to win an autograph of Katrina Kaif...all you need to do is keep living the high life with Uma every Saturday 8:30PM, 1st Repeat: Sunday 7:30 PM, 2nd Repeat Friday 12:00 PM.


Uma & Katrina happy to meet each other once again and they sure had a lovely time chatting.

There is a lot more coming up with your favourite show High Life Dubai, so keep visiting our website and our Facebook page for updates.

Love,
Aanya

The 7th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) Red Carpet-Day 1 - Sunday, December 12, 2010

High Life Dubai covered the seventh Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). Tonight was the first red carpet event. It was a very glamorous event where breathtaking dignitaries and celebrities walked in style. To name a few: Colin Firth, Pride & Prejudice actress Carey Mulligan, Prison Break actress  Sarah Wayne Callies, Souleymane Cisse, Bushra, actor from City of Life Habib Gholoum, Sarah Belhasa, the producer of King's Speech Gareth Unwin and many many more. 

High Life Dubai has something for each one of you, and this ones a special one for all you film lovers! so keep watching your favourite show High Life Dubai and live the High Life with Uma every Saturday 8:30 PM, 1st Repeat- Sunday 7:30 PM, 2nd Repeat- Friday 12:00 PM. Only on Sony TV.

Hugs,
Aanya

The Magic Of Kenya - Saturday, November 06, 2010

Wow!! After 1 and a half months break I have already started working on High Life Dubai SEASON 6. Time flies like the Peregrine falcon!! I started my shoot with The Luxury Global Travel segment. In the past, I have covered destinations like Hong Kong, Macau, Maldives and Turkey- Istanbul, Bodrum. This time, I went for an unparalleled African Safari…to the world’s best wildlife game parks where you can spot the Big 5- KENYA!!

DAY ONE

After waiting at Dubai Airport for 6 hours due to delayed flight, I was extremely exhausted. But thanks to Kenyan Airways for making my 5 hours journey so comfortable. As I landed Nairobi, the HTT Tours team welcomed me and the entire team of HLD, from there we headed towards Fairmont the Norfolk Hotel, which is one of the leading hotel companies in Nairobi. It has culture and history that goes beyond 100 years and it continues to be Nairobi’s finest and best-known luxury hotel. This beautiful hotel offers accommodations in 165 guest rooms and suites, all of which are luxuriously furnished, with plush carpeting and deep velour soft furnishings. That night I enjoyed a delectable grilled lobster which was cooked specially for me by Chef Davidson at Tattu Restaurant-the chef’s table. Tattu in Swahili means 'three', and the restaurant believes in offering three most important elements- good service, good ambience and most importantly good food! And definitely they satisfy all three categories very well J

DAY TWO

Next day I had a quick lavish breakfast and left the hotel to meet the giraffe’s at the Giraffe Centre in Langata.

The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya (A.F.E.W Kenya Ltd) also known as the Giraffe Centre is a non profit making organisation, which was founded by the late Betty and Jock Lesilie Melville in 1979. The late Betty, Jock's American born wife, had earlier discovered the sad plight of the Rothschild giraffe and there were only 120 left on an 18,000 acre ranch in Western Kenya that was scheduled for sub-division and settlement. The first effort to save this sub-species was to bring two young giraffes to their property in Langata and later Betty founded AFEW USA. 

Funds were raised to move five groups to different safe areas in Kenya namely; Lake Nakuru National Park, Mwea National Game Reserve, Ruma National Park and Nasalot Game Reserve. Funds raised via AFEW USA. also built the Giraffe Centre and have bouhgt 60 acres, and is in the process of buying 40 more acres for the Sanctuary.

I learnt so much about the giraffe’s that day….its truly prodigious! Did you know that giraffe’s sleep standing up, they are deaf and dumb, they have highly antiseptic saliva and they are the tallest animals of the world. Now, isn’t that fascinating to know ! I fed Laura the sexy giraffe who looked extremely elegant and yet was a grand mother of many giraffe’s ;)

Later we proceeded to  the Daphne Sheldrick’s Orphanage, where I met a huge number of cute baby elephants. They were all extremely naughty and one of the baby elephants (6 months old) was so playful that it came running towards me.

After all that, I was definitely famished. So I headed towards Carnivore Restaurant , which is amongst the top 50 restaurants of the world. The Carnivore is a unique experience. This open-air meat specialty restaurant has become a standard stop on the safari trail. Every type of meat imaginable, including four choices of wild game, is roasted on traditional Maasai swords (skewers) over a huge, visually spectacular charcoal pit that dominates the entrance of the restaurant.

The waiters then carry these swords around the restaurant, carving unlimited amounts of the prime meats onto sizzling, cast iron plates in front of you. A wide selection of salads, vegetable side dishes, and a variety of exotic sauces accompany the meat feast. Dessert and coffee follow this. The full meal including a soup course, is a flat price.

I started my food with a very unique drink called the “Dawa” which means medicine in Swahili. This drink hydrates, refreshes and sharpens your taste buds…..and it surely was a dawa for me after a hectic shoot.

Legs of lamb and pork, haunches of venison, rumps of beef, spare ribs, sausages, chicken wings, skewered kidneys, crocodile, ostrich and so much more This was my scrumptious lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant. I recommend each one of you, if you are adventurous with food just like I am…then you MUST visit the Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi and eat till your contended.

After that I headed towards ‘Libra House-African Heritage’ to explore the African ornaments and to meet a talented local designer to know what her take is on fashion. As you all know, I love to promote local talents…so I thought we are in Africa, lets do like the Africans do ;). I was flabbergasted by the amount of colours used in their local jewellery, which can compliment any plain white or black dress.

DAY THREE

I woke up early morning and got ready to depart from my private jet to Masaai Mara- where you get to see the Big 5. As soon as I landed, the Masaai’s gave me a warm welcome with hot hand towels and a Masaai dance followed by a very rejuvenating Masaai drink…now that was truly high life in their style! ;)

Situated on a wonderful rocky promontory, I stayed in Ol Seki Mara Camp, a luxury safari camp. The beautifully designed luxury tents offer you that rustic experience in the midst of nature, with a generous dose of luxury. Truly a delight for all senses!  And what an exciting experience to live in a luxury tent in the middle of nowhere, having a view of the entire jungle from my room and I got to see the elephants, deer’s, rhinos, gazelles and so many more animals in front of my luxury room in Ol Seki Mara Camp.

Today, I had the world’s best experience, which I can never forget. I went for a wildlife safari where I spotted numerous animals walking along with us. The whole family of elephants, giraffe’s, rhino’s, hippos, zebra’s, gazelles, lions, hyena’s and so much more!!! That night I enjoyed a delicious smoked scail fish which derives from the Indian Ocean and being a Bengali…I enjoy fish up to my hearts contentment.

DAY FOUR

This was the most hectic and tiring day, I woke up at 3:00 AM, got ready and headed towards the balloon ride around the Mara plains which was a BEAUTIFUL experience… from a height, where I could spot all the animals of the jungle. After the ride I had champagne breakfast, which was around the Mara plains, in the middle of nowhere. Now I understand the term “adrenaline junkie”… someone who enjoys living the “HIGH” life

Soon after that I had to depart to Mombasa in my private jet, I was heading towards South of Mombasa- Diani Beach, Al Manara Luxury Resort, which is located between the crystal waters of the Indian Ocean and the open plains of the Shimba Hills National Reserve! I stayed at the Presidential Villa at Al Manara Luxury Resort, had two personal chef’s, who cooked for me whenever I wanted to eat my meal. My dinner that night was a seafood platter…yummmm!!!!! The fresh and soft fish, mouth watering squid, juicy prawns and so much more!

This exclusive villa offers guests the chance to enjoy total privacy in one of the most exclusive villas on the East African coast. A magnificent glass walkway crosses your private Koi pond providing a dramatic entrance to the grand reception hall. Fully air-conditioned throughout, the Presidential Villa boasts 5 ocean view double bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. A fully equipped study overlooks the private infinity edge swimming pool and Jacuzzi, with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean.

DAY FIVE

I had a nice breakfast and headed towards the Wasi Wasi Wenu (a small island, which is 20 mins away from Diani Beach) in my Ukunda (a small traditional Kenyan sail boat). Truly a great experience, the water was so pure and serene.

The Cloud Nine Health Spa was the next place I was heading to. And guess what!!?? I had the world’s most rejuvenating massage just by the beach… their special aroma therapy massage. What more can one ask for??......

At 18:00 PM I had a nice mocktail on the rooftop while watching the sun set……complimenting some nice and crispy bites.

DAY SIX

I headed towards Mt Kenya Safari Club, which is a 3 hour drive from Nairobi airport. You can get an incredibly magnificent view of the majestic Mount Kenya here in this hotel which is set over 100 acres of landscaped gardens.

Mt Kenya is the second tallest mountain of Africa, so you can imagine how high we were from the sea level. One more incredible thing about this club is that the line of equator passes through it…isn’t that amazing??

I had a high tea in front of William Holden cottage which was absolutely brilliant, having great weather, great view, and great masala tea…… kya baat!! Followed by an extremely unique and special dinner, the Bush Dinner. Before heading to the bush for dinner, I enjoyed a performance from the Kikuyu dancers, its a ritual in Kenya to welcome any guest by a kikuyu dance :). This dinner was in the middle of nowhere, with bon fires around... where I had Nyama Choma, which means roasted meat in Swahili. My Nyama Choma consisted of chicken, rarrouurots, ugali, fiegetables, roasted lamb and rice….absolutely mouth watering.

DAY SEVEN

On the second last day, I was meant to be going for a helicopter ride but unfortunately it was shifted to the next day. Hence, the team and I went for horse riding, fishing, a game of golf and I walked two Labradors there. All these activities kept me going and it surely was a lot of fun experiencing all these activities in just one club!!

I was inquisitive to know more about the line of equator passing the club, so I thought of doing a little experiment. Do watch the episode to know more about that ;)

After that I went to the Animal Orphanage at Mt Kenya Safari Club where I saw so many lovely animals all at once, the monkeys, lambs, ostriches, turtles- and one of them was 100 years old….. it was great to see so many animals walking with me.

Thanks to Mr. Peter De Melo, the first black hunter, I got to meet Suri the sexy cheetah and his girlfriend in their home. It was an unbelievable experience, having cheetah’s all around me and yet I stayed calm with them. I reckon cheetah’s are super elegant as they walk in the most stylish way…….a great delight to see that!

Having a view of Mt Kenya and beautiful peacocks walking outside my villa, I enjoyed a gemstone martini Tanzanite AAA worth 150,000 Kenyan Shillings. This special gemstone martini is only available at Mt Kenya Safari Club.

DAY EIGHT

We went for the helicopter ride and had breakfast 13,000 ft above sea level. WOW!!!!! What an experience………… everything was filled with tranquility, calm, quite and the best place to meditate ;)

And if you think shooting is all serious business, think again.. cos we worked 18 hours a day High Life Dubai have had a picnic putting this show together for you… watch the fun, the masti and the madness that goes on behind the scenes on High Life Dubai

This was a very exciting but hectic shoot. It was great to be surrounded by real nature and learning so much about the African culture.

HAKUNA MATATA, ASANTE SANA & KWAHERI my friends.

Love,

Uma

High Life in Istanbul! - Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Time surely flies on winged feet, but hey I am not complaining! Life has been kind. Yet another glorious season of Middle East’s most watched lifestyle show High Life Dubai came to an end, and we celebrated the season’s closure in style! As part 4 of our recently introduced Luxury Global Travel segment, team HLD hit the beautiful country of Turkey.

The filming of the one-hour long episode of High Life Dubai started off at Kempinski Barabos Bay in the Turkish port town of Bodrum. Located on the west coast of Turkey, with a view of Greek Islands and a short distance away from Bodrum, The Kempinski Barbaros Bay is a beautifully bright and spacious hotel offering unrivalled views across the Aegean Sea and its islands. This luxurious hotel is situated on a cliff top in a secluded location a little away from the town. A short walk or buggy drive down the cliff path takes you to a private sandy beach where guests can swim in the warm sea or take advantage of the water sports activities. Each of the 148 guestrooms has glorious sea views with balconies or terraces overlooking the hotel’s private bay.

We, the exuberant team of High Life Dubai, enjoyed a comfortable stay at this luxurious hotel which boasts of the world class Six Senses Spa that offers a variety of body balancing treatments including the traditional Turkish Hammam bath. And when it comes to food, guests are spoiled for choice with the selection of Italian, authentic Turkish, and Far Eastern cuisine!

For a dose of ancient history and culture, we discovered that Bodrum houses some of the most gorgeous sites, including the exquisite Museum of Underwater Archaeology in the Bodrum Castle of the Knights of St.John, which is not just a dusty collection of lifeless relics, but an original, creative and exciting experience. It can take you several hours to go through it extensively. And after a day out in the town, there’s nothing like getting a taste of Turkish nightlife, and the place to be seen at is Shipahoy at Turk Buku! Fabulous!

After exploring the quaint yet buzzing port town of Bodrum, the next place to hit was Istanbul, the only metropolis in the world to be situation in two continents. Formerly known as Constantinople, Istanbul is Turkeys most populous city and also its cultural and financial centre. Located on both sides of the amazingly beautiful, tideless Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. With a thousand years of history and breathtaking architecture to prove it, Istanbul however, offers more than that. There is some intriguing local shopping, delectable cuisine and a night life that justifies Turkey being named one among the world’s most happening night-life destinations!

During our stay in Turkey, my team and I were graciously hosted at the exquisite Çiragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, once the home of Ottoman sultans. This beautiful palace hotel offers an incomparable view that reflects the grandeur and glamour of the hotel itself, and it is the only palace in Istanbul to have become a five-star hotel. Featuring a world of splendor where luxury and history blend in perfect harmony, the Çiragan Palace Kempinski combines Ottoman-era sophistication, with state-of-the-art technological amenities. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel offers palatial comforts to its guests. From a dip in the infinity pool to a taste of good life in any of the top notch restaurants, to some retail therapy at the shopping arcade, to recreational and wellness activities, the hotel is perfectly equipped to provide its guests with service and comfort that is incomparable.

Istanbul is resplendent with rich culture and heritage. High Life Dubai made sure to visit all the sites that speak of this richness. Among those sites are The Topkapi Palace to the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Museum, Grand Bazaar, Islamic Art Museum and much more. Istanbul by day is dramatically different and unique from Istanbul by night. A change is attitude comes over this city, while retaining its innate inner beauty. Suada, Reina, Sortie are among the many happening nightspots in Istanbul, which we covered.

And of course it is the people who make the city what it is, and in the trademark style that High Life Dubai is known for, the show will feature the most powerful personalities from the fashion and entertainment business in Istanbul. Meltem Cumbul, Cemil Ipekci, Michel Adams are some of the famous faces we met and featured on the show.

Season 5 has been the most successful season in the history of High Life Dubai. Only the best of the bunch got a feature on the show, giving the viewers a new benchmark for glamour in the city. The biggest movie stars were met, including Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwariya Rai, Gerald Butler and many more. The most inspiring success stories were told, Mr Riswan Sajan, Saif and Sarah Belhasa, Dr Azad Moopen and so on. The most talented international artists spoke like they’ve never spoken before like Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo. And of course High Life Dubai brought to its audiences the changing face of fashion with an array of designers and fashion shows.What a season that was! And now as we take a break for summer, we promise to return soon with Season 6. Enjoy your holidays while we cook up a resplendent new season for you! Thank you for your support and love. It is you who bring life to High Life Dubai. Elveda Dubai… till we meet again!

 

Magical Maldives - Friday, May 14, 2010

 'After uncovering the buzz of Hong Kong and the allure of Macau, it was time to set out to explore the natural rustic beauty of the island nation of Maldives. I had always seen pictures and read about the pristine beauty of the islands, but being there was another experience altogether. . Setting off on the one week long adventure, the first stop for team High Life Dubai was the Four Seasons Resort Maldives in Kuda Huraa, followed by a magical voyage aboard the Four Seasons Explorer and it concluded with the Four Seasons Resort Maldives in the sun kissed island of Landa Giraavaru. \nThe Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kudaa Huraa is a 12-acre private island, with a setting of an enchanting Maldivian village with a relaxed and cosy ambiance. The Resort comprises of 96 thatched beach and water bungalows, set in a modern tropical style. Among the various things Uma experienced during her stay here, were, a visit to the Spa Island in the traditional Maldivian boat, the resort’s fine dining classical Italian restaurant Reef Club, some relaxed moment at the Sunset Lounge and a taste of home at the Resort’s authentic Indian restaurant Baraabaru. Cajoled by the resort’s expert trainer Mr. Naavi, Uma was also convinced to attempt surfing for the first time ever!
After getting the first taste of the trademark Four Seasons hospitality, the next stop was aboard the 39 meter, three-deck, super luxury catamaran the Four Seasons Explorer. With 10 Staterooms and One Explorer Suite, this is the Four Season’s only FLOATING resort. Built by Image Marine in Henderson Western Australia, this luxury liner has spacious decks with an upper sun terrace and a massage corner, lower sundeck with a whirlpool and bar, plus indoor and outdoor dining facilities, a lounge and a library. The boat cruises to uncommonly visited snorkelling sites, remote beaches and secluded islands giving its passengers an opportunity to experience traditional dances, historic monuments and visit isolated arts and crafts villages. Maldives is known internationally as one of the world’s best dive destinations. A large number of excellent dive sites, including marine-protected sites, are located near the Four Seasons Resort, and it also operates its own Dive Centre, licensed by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Uma visited the island of Muthafushi that offers an amazing dive which consists of layered rocks with bright colourful coral growth all upon it. Guests can also indulge in a unique spa experience in the moveable Spa Pavilion or even in more adventurous activities such as snorkelling and kayaking.
After capturing luxury in its best form at the Four Seasons Explorer, and the unassuming adventure of the charming Maldivian village-like island Kudaa Huraa, team High Life Dubai was about to experience the raw natural beauty of a rustic island, and their accommodation there was nothing short of supreme luxury - the Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giravaru. Opened in November 2006, this resort occupies the entire 44 acres of the island. By choosing to embrace the islands raw wilderness rather than develop it, this resort embodies the essence of castaway bliss with its white sand beaches and lush natural vegetation. With a perfectly appointed reception area, one-of-a-kind Land and Water Based accommodation, high tech gym, fully equipped resort shop, an unbelievably relaxing infinity pool and ample recreation for the entire family, The Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giravaru gives any guest a perfect experience. Uma enjoyed a feel of authentic Ayurveda at The Ayurvedic Retreat, a relaxing spa treatment aboard the Water Treatment Villa, delicious Italian cuisine at Blu and traditional Arabic flavours at Al Barakat.
The reef of the Maldivian islands is one of the world’s richest ecosystems but it is also one of the most fragile. While providing the country with its main source of sustenance and trade, the reefs also provide the essential wave break that keeps the 1190 Maldivian islands from eroding and disappearing completely. Four Seasons plays its part in preserving this vulnerable reef ecosystem and helping to maintain it for future generations. The resorts Marine Biologist educated the team on this subject and the team in return donated a coral frame worth USD 150, the growth of which can be monitored online. Leading hotel company Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts were our hotel partners for this adventure, along with our other partners Orient Travels, Sri Lankan Airways and Verve Communications. It was thanks to them that this amazing discover of supreme luxury and untainted natural beauty was possible. A big heart felt thank you to them!
And to all of you, my sincere advice, Maldives is one of those destinations that everyone should visit, at least once!
Enjoy!
Love,
Uma