“The best kind of therapy is beach therapy.” Unknown
It has been a busy couple of weeks here in Abu Dhabi, and as the rather lame title of this blog post suggests, the weather has cooled to near damn perfection, the humidity has died and the evening sunsets are just stunning, which all point to one thing, visitor season is upon us.
Just before Hotel Brett opened for the new season, I tagged along with the other half (well I am a trailing spouse you know) to the EMC Gala Dinner in Dubai as part of this years GITEX Technology show. One of the advantages of the car driving eldest being back in situ is the flexibility for us to have impromptu night’s away while he’s at home with the teenager and he does the school run too! The venue for the dinner was the Music Hall, located in the ostentatious Jumeriah Zabeel Saray Hotel (if you haven’t stayed there you must just for the enormous bath alone) on the Palm in Dubai.
The Music Hall, which has been on our ‘to-do-list’ for a while, is a theatre meets night-club kind of place, a vast elegant venue that embraces the ‘dinner and show’ concept popular in such places as Las Vegas. Described as “the place where the heart of world fusion music beats”, on a regular night the Music Hall offers its guests a showcase of live music from international acts hailing from all around the globe from Jazz to Rock, Middle Eastern to Latino and so much more, all served up with a gourmet menu and a well stocked bar.
The six acts that we saw at the Music Hall EMC Gala Dinner
After being greeted with Cosmos (thumbs up from me), the EMC Gala Dinner offered us a snippet of what’s on offer with a six act multicultural live show spread throughout our delicious dinner. The acts, who performed in ten minute segments, were Oudoud Halabiya, Rock Opera with Lauren, Super Tramp Show with Anthony, Melaine Greatest Pop Hits, Bilal The (flamboyant) Gipsy Prince from Yugoslavia and finally the Latino Show with Vicente. They were all quite unique in their own special way, interpret that as you will!!
After the other half went off the GITEX trade show at the World Trade Centre the next day, I took myself and my laptop off to my favourite Dubai cafe, The Lime Tree in Jumeriah for a solo breakfast. The Lime Tree cafe and kitchen offers it clientele wholesome, nutritious food in a casual environment and the original Jumeriah location has had a makeover since my last visit (I am ever hopeful that a branch will open in the capital someday). I then went for a peaceful meander around Ibn Battuta Mall before heading back down the E11 to Abu Dhabi. 
Delicious coffee and freshly baked orange and chocolate muffin
Even though it was our visitors second trip to our beach abode they didn’t experience Brunch first time around, so first stop on this years itinerary was the Marina Brunch at the Intercontinental Hotel, set to the backdrop of the hotel’s marina.
The well stocked Yacht Club bar
Chamos Churrascania, a Brazilian meat feast
This brunch is ideal for meat lovers, seafood connoisseurs and big eaters alike with all the Brazilian meaty delights of Chamos Churrascania, an abundance of seafood courtesy of The Yacht Club, Mussels and Chips from The Belgium Cafe and a selection of Italian fare of fresh cooked pasta and pizza.
As it’s October, the hotel had touches of pink around the brunch supporting Breast Cancer with pink desserts and the chefs whites were embroidered with the iconic pink ribbon logo.
A good time was had by all (some more than others but that’s another story) and well oiled from far too many cocktails, we set off for Pearls and Caviar rooftop bar to watch the sunset over the Grand Mosque and finished off at popular nightspot Sho Cho.
Post Zumba photos from the class at Al Raha Beach Hotel
Cocktails and shots at Stratos Revolving Bar
This raucous day was the start of ten days of boat, beach and pool days, gym, Zumba, Train Yas, Go Yas, Quiz night, fine dining, local cuisine, cocktails, ladies nights, revolving bars, a trip to Oman and a bit of home cooking before we wished them Bon Voyage and they headed back off to an Autumnal London. Good times 😉
Unless otherwise stated, all photos on this page © Jo Brett 2014. All rights reserved.
My favourite post so far!! 🙂
Ha ha 🙂 is that because you feature in it? x