Tche-Tche Boulevard - In Al Raha Mall

One Thursday afternoon after I picked up my wife from work, we decided to drop by AL Raha Mall and have a snack.  Al Raha Mall is just on the highway side going to Abu Dhabi (click the link for Mall website, you can see how to get there on the Mall Direction section http://www.al-rahamall.com/).  So we drove down from her office in Aldar HQ to the mall. As I look for a parking spot, four Al Raha Boys came rushing to greet us, well not actually, they are asking if I want to have my car washed (maybe they noticed it's a little bit dirty, and it’s not really a car wash but a car wipe since it's waterless J). So, I said yes and asked the guy how long it would take, he said 20 minutes and the cost is 20 Dirhams(does that equate to 1 dirham per minute? anyway…). While the other guy is throwing words at him which I don't understand , probably "Hindi" and maybe they're fighting about whose turn it is to wash, my wife told him that we'll be back after one hour because we're going to eat at the mall, then we can pay him since we don't have loose change, he agreed and we went our way to the restaurant (people here are more trusting compared to where I live).  We decided to eat at this restaurant which has an odd name -- Tche-Tche Boulevard.  It's a Jordanian cafe which branched out here in the UAE(according to their website).  Now Tche-Tche from where I live (Philippines) is actually a very common name or nick-name for a small girl usually from Cherry but I'm not saying that the owner's name is Cherry ok? The location of the restaurant inside the mall is actually hidden if you'll enter from the main entrance but is easily seen from the back parking lot of the mall.  As we enter the cafe we were initially greeted by a lovely flower decoration center piece, followed by a couple of greetings from the crew.  It's actually a warm welcome I would say.  We chose our seat and were presented the menu. 

What can I say initially about the place? Awesome! Though it seems hidden from inside the mall, the cafe is actually strategically placed to have a clear view of the outside surroundings since they have a full glass wall.  We actually chose to sit where we can see the view of the Aldar HQ building, the Al Raha Residential Bldg.  and the beach (see picture below).  But since it's still early when we got there the sun is striking us from the back, so after taking some photos while we wait for our order we moved to a cozier part of the cafe.  The cafe is quite spacious and I just love the high ceiling design, very good for the claustrophobic type which I am a little bit of but not too big for the agoraphobic so no need to fear.   

What did we order? I don't know if you will call this a snack or a dinner since the servings are really large at least for us, we have small stomach (I bet my wife will disagree haha).  I don't really recall the exact names now, which I regret but we ordered caezar salad, pasta with white sauce and broccoli bits, pizza, some shakes, burger and potato wedges.  The food is really good.  The first thing I said literally when I tasted the pasta is "Is this heaven?" . It was soooo goood! They did a good job with the pizza as well, it did not go hard or stale even if it got cold already. The dough still remained soft and the texture remained nice.  And oh! The salad, it's perfect.  The vegetables are really fresh and crunchy and the flavours are full. Not to forget the shake I ordered, it's a signature of the cafe called tche-tche, a mix of berries in really creamy smoothy. Plus the presentation is excellent!

We didn't finish all the food not because it's not good but because they served a good amount that we we're so full, we're three by the way.  

Overall, it's an excellent first time at the cafe.  Would I go back there on purpose? Definitely!!!  So if you would like to learn more about the cafe you can visit their website at http://www.tchetchecafe.com/

Burp! And oh! to continue my story. We headed back to the parking lot to find my car wash 3/4 finished.  I think he did it on purpose to make sure we'll pay haha!  So after some finishing touches and wipes, we paid the guy and headed home.

P.S.

If you've been to this place (Tche-Tche).. Or if you have been to a nice place in Al Raha Mall, please share your experience and let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment. Thanxz!

The Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque

Another Thursday night, we're bored, nothing to do, no where to go. My wife's not feeling well, so I said all you need is just a little tour. We thought of going to the malls but at this time of the night (around 8 pm), a lot of people are going to the mall and it's not gonna be a relaxing experience anymore.  As we drive in circles in the city looking for a place to just relax and chill we thought , OK, why not just find a park, buy some Popeye's chicken ( http://www.popeyes.com/locator.php ) along the way and eat it there, then an Idea came!  There's a park near the Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque also known as the Majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Why not visit the place, take some pictures and eat at the park afterwards. The three of us agreed and went on our way.

I think this is the biggest prayer mosque here in the UAE ( http://www.visitabudhabi.ae/en/what.to.do/mosques.and.other.places.of.worship/sh.zayed.mosque.aspx ).  Everyone is welcome, even non-muslims.  As we came to the premise, my wife and her sister started to make some poses as I take the shot. (Poor me for being the photographer, I only have two photos for myself.) Of course we were dressed in normal pants and shirt since it's pretty hot even at this time of the night.  While shooting, a man in white uniform (ushers) approached us and said please go to the main entrance of the Mosque and have the ladies wear "abaya" a customary black robe and head dress worn by muslim ladies which is available at the entrance free to borrow. No worries about the clothes, my wife said, they actually smell nice (meaning they are newly washed).  For men, Pants and Shirt is OK. 

Once the ladies got dressed we continued our photo shoot until we got hungry and tired.  People there are reverent, even nonmuslims respect and revere the place, no shouting and loud laughter.  I asked the ushers if I can go inside the prayer roomand take some photos and to my surprise it is allowed. So I went inside and observed the people as they pray while silently taking photos. Then, We left the mosque and looked for a park to eat our mighty chicken! 

Click the link to watch a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHJ4Zv46vSQ (The prayer in the video is pretty much what you will hear during prayer time)

Cassels Ghantoot

Somewhere in Abu Dhabi… A yacht club? It’s near Cassells Ghantoot Hotel which you can see at the bottom photo (that long white building).  I come here once a week, well not to do some boating or relaxing but for work , since our site is nearby , I always pass by this beautiful place. But I hope one day I’ll be sailing in one of those yachts and relaxing in one of those cabins. :) Click the link to for more info  http://www.cassellsghantoothotel.com/ . Enjoy! :)

Update:

If you are a polo sports fan, I think Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club is also there nearby.  I saw some signs on the road while I’m driving.

Here's a video tour from youtube:

The (Aldar) HQ Building

The ALDAR HQ . One of the great architectural wonders in Abu Dhabi U.A.E.!!! Some call it the “Panadol” (pill) building, or the One Dirham tower! :)

When I first came to the UAE as a tourist I landed in Dubai Airport.  The morning I got there my cousin who lives there for quite some time took me right away to some amazing places in Dubai, like the Burj Al Arab (the 7 star hotel shaped like a sail, Dubai mall (where you can see a very big aquarium), Atlantis (hotel with water rides and aquarium as well).  Then we drove down to Abu Dhabi, where on our way I saw this building which is still being built, the inner building was finished, the outer circle frame is being patched with glasses.  Of course I thought of visiting it and have some photos of me with it. After a year of completion, I haven't had the chance to get there since they said that it is a very strict place and only people working there can access the place.

One day, my wife came with a news that their office is shifting to this building! Yay! I can go there now and take some photos! So everyday as I pick up my wife from work, I get the chance of seeing as close as I can this magnificent architectural wonder here in Abu Dhabi. While waiting for her, I took some shots and got this idea of posting it on the web, then the idea became a blog as I roam the UAE.

What they said about this place being strict is quite true. Well, not military strict though. I mean, parking is strict, like now I can no longer park in front of the building while waiting for my wife.  I need to go to the designated parking area on the other side.  What else? One day while waiting for my wife, my sister and law and I decided to take some pictures of her. While posing and moving from one spot to another, we got to the side of the building. Suddenly a security guard approached us and told us not to go further because tourists are not allowed there.  (Good thing the last time I did I wasn't caught, that's why you have those pictures up there hehe).

Here's a video: