EXOTIC ISLAND OF SURPRISES

Island of surprises
By Emma Procter, Features Editor

Travel just 250km west of Abu Dhabi or 400km from Dubai, along highway E11 and you begin to see signs for the Sir Bani Yas jetty, the departure point for the newly opened Desert Islands Resort & Spa.

The property is located on the once-private royal nature reserve established by the late ruler and founder of the UAE, His Highness Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Tip: the signs en route are small and quite sparse, so if travelling by car keep your eyes peeled or you’ll find yourself near the border of Saudi Arabia before you know it (yes, we got lost).

Once you’re on the right track to the jetty the landscape begins to change, particularly the coastline.

Here, as the taxi curved gently around the long beach my three travel companions and I marvelled at the beautiful soft white sand and the eerily green crystal clear sea.

The jetty itself has a pleasant cabin-like area where cool drinks are served as you wait for one of the frequent yachts to take you over to the island.

It takes around 25 minutes of pleasantly bouncing on the waves to reach the island and another ten minutes or so in a small coach to reach the resort itself.

And as you move seamlessly from one mode of transport to the next, you begin to feel more and more that you’re reaching the middle of nowhere.

The hotel itself is surrounded by the wild vastness of the island, transformed into an eco-friendly wildlife rich scenic retreat.

The design of the Anantara Desert Island resort hotel pairs restrained style matched with genuine elegance.

The interiors have a unique colonial Africa-cum-Arabian feel — lots of oversized ornaments and objects of interest like telescopes and chunks of beautiful local rock embedded with crystal.

The service at Desert Island is as impeccable as you would expect from one of this region’s high-end resorts and the suites are pleasingly light and spacious with sea-facing views — and gigantic beds!

Since we had arrived late we decided to spend the rest of our day by the swimming pool soaking in the ambience. The hotel itself isn’t huge and the building is low-rise — which definitely works in its favour.

There is no nearby traffic, no drone of jet skis or the like — just clear, fresh air and the sound of the sea.

In the evening we ate at Samak, the hotel’s signature seafood restaurant, where ultra-fresh lobster, shellfish and salads are the order of the day.

General manager Andre Erasmus told us that despite only just opening, business was looking really good and they were anticipating a busy 2009.

He put this down to the range of activities offered on site and the overall tranquillity of the spot.

The following day we hopped aboard a private jeep for a safari-style tour of the reserve.

Hurtling along the sandy tracks and negotiating scrubland as gazelles dart in front of you is about as exhilarating as it gets.

Feeding time

We stopped at a llama sanctuary to feed the furry inhabitants. Up close they’re bigger than you expect but very gentle.

Again we were all struck by the quiet and the slight unreality of it all: Where were we again?

Off again to see more beautiful wildlife including oryx, sand gazelles, various antelope, giraffes and flamingos.

There are a range of activities to choose from including snorkelling, mountain biking — the terrain is stunning, with almost neon-coloured rock formations all around you — and hiking.

However, we opted for kayaking as we’d heard much about the island’s mangroves.

Our instructor was relaxed and full of local knowledge.

She soon had us negotiating the lake and the dense reeds like pros (sort of), before allowing us to chill out on a gorgeous strip of soft white beach.

Refreshed spirits

Back at the hotel we decided to ease our aching paddling arms at the Safaa Spa.

The menu offers a varied range of treatments and the property features a serene zen-style garden out front where you can relax and listen to the sound of the tinkling water fountains in your robe.

And so with heavy hearts we packed our cases. On the boat back to the mainland, ours was sadly a one-day stay, I noticed our fellow passengers all had the same blissed-out look.

It seems for those who are wedged into an office chair for around a thousand hours per week, Yas Island is the ideal tonic.

Preservation

To ensure the safety of animals, private vehicle are prohibited on Sir Bani Yas. Safe parking is available at Marsa Jabel Dhanna and resort staff will then take you to the island by boat

BENEFICIAL THINGS IN DAILY LIFE

1. Ants Problem:

Keep the skin of cucumbers near the place or ant hole.


2. To get pure and clean ice:

Boil water first before freezing.


3. To make the mirror shine:

Clean with spirit


4. To remove chewing gum from clothes:

Keep the cloth in the freezer for an hour.

TELEPHONE BILL--THIS IS CLASSIC

The phone bill was exceptionally high and

the man of the house called a family meeting...

On a Saturday morning...

after breakfast...

Dad:
People this is unacceptable.
You have to limit the use of the phone.
I do not use this phone, I use the one at the office.

Mum:
Same here,
I hardly use this home telephone as I use my work telephone.

Son:
Me too,
I never use the home phone.
I always use my company mobile.

Maid:
So - what is the problem?
We all use our work telephones !!!!!

GOOD MORNING

For every minute you are angry with someone,

You lose 60 seconds of happiness that U can never get back.

SO LIVE EVERY MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

TAKE THE SMALL PLATE CHALLENGE

What difference can two inches make? A whole heck of a lot! Studies show that switching from 12-inch plates to 10-inch plates will make your portions seem bigger—so much so that you'll likely dish out 22 percent fewer calories.

Take the Small Plate Challenge at SmallPlateMovement.org and switch to 10-inch plates for one month.
Other ways to make healthy portions look super-generous:

Drink out of tall, skinny glasses—not short, squat ones.
Break down that jumbo box or bag into one-serving Ziplocs or Tupperware.
Enjoy that scoop of ice cream with the smallest spoon you can find.

ALL ABOUT LIMA BEANS

Lima beans are among the most popular shell beans in the United States. These smooth, flat shaped, sweet tasting beans have a rich, starchy, meaty texture and a creamy, distinctive flavor.
Lima beans are nutrient-dense and their richness generates feelings of satiety (they make you feel full). Often referred to in some southern states in the U.S. as "butter beans," lima beans date back to 5,000 BC along the coastal regions of South America.
They are believed to have originated in Guatemala and Southern Mexico and were traded along routes that led into North America, and eventually were carried to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

In fact, lima beans are a good source of B vitamins (vitamin B6, niacin, folate), protein (including the important amino acid lysine), fiber (especially soluble fiber in the form of pectin), iron, potassium, and magnesium; and they have very little fat.
Studies suggest that intake of beans can help to lower LDL cholesterol levels, probably due to their soluble fiber content. Lima beans also contain the phytochemicals coumestrol and saponin, compounds that may impart anticancer benefits.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT.....MEN ARE EVERYWHERE

Ever notice how all of women's problems start with MEN?


MENtal illness

MENstrual cramps

MENtal breakdown

MENopause

GUYnecologist

AND ..

When we have REAL trouble, it's a

HISterectomy.


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