Why Goa?
Blue skies, bendy palms, plenty of sandy beaches from which to choose, a cornucopia of accommodation options and the kind of food scene that could send poets into rapture.
The small coastal state of Goa offers all this, as well as lesser-visited interiors of lush jungle, charming villages and verdant paddy fields. And there are yet other aspects as compelling available to the traveller prepared to seek them out. In no small measure, these varying faces of Goa have to do with the fact that it has long been the product of diverse influences. Maritime trade over centuries, and the direct impact of 451 years of Portuguese rule, have left their significant handprint.
Capital city Panjim illustrates this influence. The oldest district here – Fontainhas (infinitely walkable) is peppered with yellow ochre, pistachio green and sky-blue neoclassical homes – a legacy of Portuguese times. A 20-minute ride away, the Unesco-listed, world heritage Churches of Old Goa have other stories to tell.
But whether it's ancient architecture you're in pursuit of or a morning of birding on a river cruise, what's grand about Goa is the ability of the state to hold the contradictions of varied activities and flavours, people and sub-cultures, influences and experiences, in its warm and accepting embrace.
A comfortable bed
The south of Goa is just that little farther off the map of the travelling hordes. The Leela – located in Cavelossim, Salcette and spread across 75 acres of land, lets you return from a day on the town to quiet exclusivity. Located as if on an ornamental placemat of private beach, lagoon and tropical garden, you return from a day's adventure to a stylish cocoon. The suites and rooms come accompanied with all the details that those who travel without carrying very much require. And if money is no object, you can have your own private pool area. Driving one farther off the straight and narrow are the Ayurvedic spa, a litany of restaurants and a 12-hole golf course (www.theleela.com; doubles from 20,000 Indian rupees; Dh1,135 per night including taxes).
If you want to recreate what it was like to live as Portuguese nobility, Siolim House satisfies. While being strident with modern amenities, it retains old-world charm. Think large rooms with high ceilings, old-world furnishing, spacious bathrooms and a central courtyard. You’ll appreciate the characteristically distinctive pillars, terracotta tiles and tasteful antiques that dot the place (www.siolimhouse.com; doubles from 12,000 rupees; Dh686 per night including taxes).
Find your feet
It is essential to have a car at your disposal to truly explore this little state. No matter where you base yourself, nothing is more than a few hours' drive away. For the lover of splendid architecture, it's instructive to wander around the Churches and Cathedrals of Old Goa that were built during Portuguese rule. Then take the 30-minute drive from here to the Reis Magos Fort. Besides the fact that it now acts as a proficient cultural centre, it also offers superlative views of the Mandovi river.
Meet the locals
The shacks on Goa's beaches are practically institutionalised. Locals have their favourites and can be found at a similar table frequently. Curlies on Anjuna Beach is a perfect case in point, with fresh seafood dished out. The stylish La Plage on Ashvem Beach, and Thalassa, overlooking Vagator Beach from a vantage clifftop point, are other popular dining hangouts with the swish local set. The stellar food matches the magnificent views.
Book a table
If you’d like to try authentic Goan family-style food, Mum’s Kitchen has people voting with their feet. Comfort for many clearly lies in a traditionally prepared, mildly spiced bowl of tisryanche sukhem (or shellfish) – a long-standing Goan favourite. Mackerel stuffed with green masala, lemon fish coated with semolina and perch fried with rice flour only begin the litany of fresh seafood on offer. The menu is extensive and, in the restaurant’s own words, “compiled using traditional recipes from mothers around Goa”.
Pushing the boundaries on the culinary scene – the locally-owned-and-run restaurant Black Sheep Bistro is creativity personified. Here you'll find quail eggs juxtaposed with sun-dried shrimp, spring onions and kismoore butter, or 'not' bouillabaisse – a blend of seafood, vegetables, penne and lobster broth. That the "globally inspired" fare on offer is created using local and seasonal ingredients and the focus is farm-to-table dining, adds heart to this very popular gourmet path.
Shoppers’ paradise
The Saturday night market at Arpora is more niche and infinitely cooler than the also-popular Wednesday flea market in Anjuna. It features all manner of offerings from around India and the world, in no small part owing to the creative community that has long flocked to Goa and called it home. Expect to find a triumph of the small scale in everything – from funky designer wear to pashmina shawls, hammocks to mirrored boxes, uniquely-crafted shoes to handmade jewellery. Food stalls and a pulsing concert stage add energy to the retail experience.
Open daily, but especially alive on Fridays, Mapusa Market is another city institution. For the local community, it's a one-stop shop for everything - from fresh fish to fruit to coir mats; but for the travelling masses, it's a good place to pick up spices, cashew nuts and scout for Goan sweets. Don't leave without picking up or at least sampling bebinca – a layered pudding made essentially from egg yolk, flour, ghee, sugar and coconut milk.
Don’t miss
For the journey-over-destination traveller, there's little to beat a boat cruise aboard the M L Solita. You cruise the Mandovi River at a speed of 9 knots per hour aboard the 42-foot motor yacht with a view to appreciate the unique flora, fauna and bird life that characterises the interiors of the land – an array of kingfishers, egrets and, when in season, dolphins. There are a variety of cruising itineraries from which to pick. Whatever you're doing, here's the chance to savour life slowly, the way it's done in Goa.
What to avoid
Beware of randomly hailed taxis or rickshaws. It is best to pre-book a driver/guide, with fixed rates, from a reliable source. Your hotel is likely to have a trusted recommendation.
Getting there
Return flights from Abu Dhabi to Goa cost from Dh1,135 on Jet Airways including taxes.
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The%20Kitchen
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Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Pakistanis%20at%20the%20ILT20%20
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%20profile
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
