One thing Lebanon isn’t lacking is the number of high quality restaurants. I have now officially tasted the best tasting shawarma in my life. The other places were amazing as well, and the ambience of some of these places is just fantastic. Luckily for me I had a friend who was taking me around to the tastiest places, so I didn’t have to do any research or really ask anyone, I hope to taste some of this food again soon, seriously the shawarma is not to be missed.
- Mandaloun Grill (Steak in Beirut)*
- Julias (International in Ashrafia)*
- La Plage (Lebanese in Roosha)*
- Scouzzi (Quick Bite Italian/Japanese in Solidare)
- Al Farouq (Shawarma in Beirut, Delivery, Best Shawarma Period)*
*(Not to be missed)
I honestly get hungry thinking about that shawarma, it really hit the spot and I have never tasted a beef or chicken shawarma as tasty as that before. And this is only list after being in Lebanon 44 hours.
I have flown a few times with Wataniya Airways and have had a few family and friends who have flown on the airlines. Most everyone has praised this new airline and are refreshed with the new airport. It is a long awaited change, many people prefer using Wataniya to the airlines just because of the convenience of the airport, I know I do.
Current Available Routes:
- Bahrain
- Beirut
- Cairo
- Dubai
Pricing:
Wataniya is priced as a premium airline, and their service does reflect that fact. The economy seats are wider and more comfortable then those of Jazeera Airways with similar pricing when you book early enough. Economy would be priced from 40 KD up to 80 KD, with First costing 160 KD to 300 KD, this is all depending on timing. These prices are very reasonable when compared to its counterparts such as Emirates, Kuwait Airways, and other Premium Airlines.
Airport Service:
Regarding First Class service the airline are very friendly, you don’t have to even stand at the counter. They are very relaxed about the rules, this time the immigrations is after the lounge, so they escort you into the lounge while your bags are checked in or if they just printing your ticket. The lounge staff are very nice with a large assortment of food and beverages available. There are two business computers available for use, but I think they should have provided wireless internet instead it would be more convenient then the business lounge computers. The furniture is very comfortable, with very spacious seating area, and the smoking section is closed off. Even the Ministry of Interior Immigration Staff are friendlier when Departing from and Arriving into Sheikh Sa’ad Airport, I even think they feel better working their then the main airport.
In Plane Service:
The seats on the plane are very comfortable, the best part is the technology integrated into the plane entertainment system. The staff are very friendly, but I think they are still lacking in experience. There have been times when they don’t serve the drinks or food correctly. Then there are times when they seem a bit lost as to what they have to do next. There was a time when they forgot to ask for my lunch order and decided to skip me when they were serving, but corrected that right away. Those are just some small things that have happened, but the staff are rather friendly and have solved most issues rather simply and hopefully with the time and experience the staff will improve. The food on the other hand is very good for airline food, their have been times when I haven’t had enough time to eat due to meetings and barely get to the airport, at that point I’m looking forward to the food and so I’m satisfied, and I’m happy they always have ice cream for desert.
In Plane Entertainment
They have modern entertainment system and over the past couple of months they have increased the content of the shows and music available. Lots of shows to occupy you for the two to three hour flights. Then you can connect your iPod and watch directly on your screen which is a fantastic feature. I for one connect my power socket to the seat and watch what I have on my laptop.
Booking
You can book with Wataniya directly through the website or on the phone with their staff, or through a travel agent. With Wataniya the price you see online is the same as the price that you buy from a travel agent, unlike Jazeera Airways. The process is simple enough and usually very few problems, but there have been a few hiccups before. One issue I have is that you can’t upgrade at any airport except for the Sheikh Sa’ad Airport, so if you are in Dubai or Cairo, you can’t upgrade from the airport and its a bit of annoying process which I think they should solve soon.
Overall I think that Wataniya Airways is an excellent and needed alternative to the local airlines available. Hopefully they can continue this level of service as their destinations expand.
I haven’t been to the Solidare in a very long time, I think I haven’t really walked around here before. Afer eating lunch I walked around with my friends checking it out a bit, they kept pointing at each place that is known to be crowded with people from the Gulf during the summer (Khaleejis). I remember why I don’t go to Lebanon much because the Gulf crowd that goes there, but I can’t blame them for going its a beautiful city with everything for everyone.
You notice so many families and kids running around which is very nice, with this beautiful sunny weather I think everyone was out. I think this is one of the great landmarks that have been left by Rafik Hariri, he really took Lebanon to another level. The most amazing thing in Lebanon is the welcoming atmostphere and atittude, this is with the people working in the service industry, and even the immigrations officer was decent with us.
The architecture really amazed me, I kept looking at the cut of the stone, it is new but amazingly built, it does feel like no expense was spared when building the Solidare. So many places to sit and enjoy the weather, open spaces for kids, and so many different types of shopping available.
Something came up recently that I had to take off to Lebanon on Friday. Took the Wataniya flight here which is at a pretty convenient time, the plane was filled with people. Had a meeting Friday late afternoon and Saturday morning and afternoon, the weather is amazing here. A nice cool breeze, makes you want to sit outside and enjoy this nice weather. As usual I don’t have a clue where I am or where I am going when I’m in Lebanon, but all I know is that people don’t sleep much here and its a long weekend.
Last time I was here was about two years ago, and I noticed that some people are now stopping at the red lights and wearing seatbelts which is a good development. The best thing that I remember is that people are always enjoying themselves, so many families out with their kids walking around and its very refreshing. I don’t come here often because I never have much of reason but I can’t blame so many people who enjoy coming over to Lebanon and staying here for long periods. Very nice people and amazing weather, who wouldn’t want to come here often. One thing is that I am still very confused from the naming of the areas, can’t seem to get them down and I’m enjoying that I don’t have to really know where I am going.
That is Dooxy’s cousins’ dog who seems to have a liking for me. Also he has this blank look on his face and gets too lazy to move.
Made a decision on Friday to go to Dubai for about 24 hours, it was decision on whim since a friend of mine was already there. I wanted to go check out the garage that were working on my car as well as get a bite to eat. Then there is the the idea of going to a late night movie to check out Fast & Furious, which keeps getting great reviews.
Their prices are pretty reasonable as well I found First going to Dubai and Economy returning the next day, all for the price of 120 KD which is great compared to other airlines, all of this for the ease of flying on Wataniya.
I kept hearing rumors about this bookstores, whispers from different people about its size. I went to Dubai Mall for the main purpose of visiting this bookstore, and after walking around for about 15 minutes and making a quick stop at the aquarium, we found it on the second floor towards the back end.
Kinokuniya is about the biggest bookstore I have ever seen, there is no end to this bookstore. If you have any inclination towards books then you MUST visit this bookstore. They also have the most organized magazine section I have ever seen in my life, and a very large selection of magazines, very easily navigated, you can find what your looking for since they are organized by interest.
Now for the different sections, as many know Kinkuniya is a Japanese chain which has locations in different locations in the world. The best part is since they are from a Japanese company they have a large manga section which I spent over an hour there, and then there were some statues/models which are on sale and some had reasonable prices, but the Ironman model that I was looking at was over 150 KD so I wasn’t to keen about the price, but the display is just amazing for all the different models.
I am a man of very different tastes for books, I like all kinds but not all kinds of books. I like Crime Thriller, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic, Biographies, Comic Relief, Economic, Business, and a few others. Basically what ever grabs my interest while I’m reading at the bookstore. Some books just seem so dull, and some are amazing. When I walked into the bookstore I couldn’t help but walk out with so many different books. All the different sections of books were ample in size and very easy to navigate, I bought some books that I have seen before but didn’t bother reading. There aren’t any couches that I remember but I just read in the sections. So many books, so many choices, we literally spent over three hours there before we started feeling hungry and that wasn’t enough.
Then there was the security who were hounding me, I was literally running around the place dodging these guys and taking pictures. Since I’m a paying customer I’m going to take some damn pictures. What is it about these places that they wouldn’t want you taking pictures, I don’t understand the mentality behind it, but it never really has stopped me. I just put the camera down and start taking pictures at odd angles with the camera. All I can say is that every person should visit this bookstore, I know that I will be going as much as possible when I will be in Dubai.
I didn’t even it know was possible to take off too steeply, I have always had this image of a James Bond movie or a Die Hard movie. Turns out it took off so steeply that it scratched the tail end and it started leaking, they had to keep flying until they ran out of fuel and come in for an emergency landing.
Link: BBC
It seems the cost of this plane isn’t being maintained by the routes its taking. For now the A380 or double decker going to New York has been suspended but still going to London. It seems Emirates Airlines are having more then just financial trouble these days. Its common knowledge that Etihad Airways owns a very big chunk of Emirates Airlines after running into financial trouble. Now they have to think about the routes they have and what to do with this huge plane. They could choose a different route, or lease it out, or rent it out, it would be pretty embarrassing if Etihad rented it. I think that Emirates really didn’t think about what they wanted to do with the planes before ordering them. I flew on the 777 LR to San Francisco and it was a fantastic plane, they need to plan their needs and not just go for the flashiest airline fleet. I have a feeling the next airshow isn’t going to have that many big orders or any orders for that matter.
Long days in the seminar made me very hungry and tired, a friend of mine joined me in most of the outings. I would come back and then go straight out not wasting anytime, I knew that if I spent a minute in the room I would pass out right away. We walked around Dubai mall the other day with so many shops open but very few quality restaurants open we decided to eat back at the hotel. The best part of staying at the Grosvenor House is knowing the consistent quality of their room service even late at night. I think I could smell the tray coming to the room door as I am just sitting there getting hungrier, but it was worth the wait, and the best part is that they don’t take too long.
On my recent visit to Dubai I had a chance after the seminar to go to Dubai Mall, I was hungry but I decided to go. It is located close to Burj Dubai so it isn’t too far away, about 20 minutes if you are staying in Jumeirah.
There is multiple entrances to this humungous buidling, seriously when you think they can’t make them any bigger they always do. We went in from the nice with all the nice Jewelery shops, I had to walk up to the help desk clerk to ask where the book store was and they directed me. It is three floors of stores and there is one HUGE aquarium in the middle which caught my interest.
There is one thing you notice about the mall, there are so many screens. All over the place for advertising, signs, and just digital playback everywhere.
I walked up to the aquarium and it is really cool, better then even Atlantis’s Aquarium. There were so many different stingrays, sharks (big ones too), and a few other interesting fish. I didn’t have a chance to go inside the aquarium since I was hungry but it looked amazing from the outside.
Kept on walking around, and you notice how they organized the stores. Who wouldn’t enjoy walking around when the stores are organized, and it isn’t long stretches as much as the same type of stores being above or below you.
There were a lot of interesting stores around, I even found a Canon store which I enjoyed but they didn’t have all the products I wanted to check out from Canon. Then there was the bookstore which I will be posting about at a later point.
Only 700 out of 1200 stores are open, and I didn’t even manage to walk the whole thing yet. A lot of restaurants have yet to open and there is no cinema in the mall yet, I’m not sure if one is planned to open there. Next time when I have more time I’m going to take a better look at the place.
