Entertainment
Marbella Resort: When a hotel resort becomes home
Marbella Resort: When a hotel resort becomes home Lily B. Libo-on (About Sharjah) / 24 August 2013 The middle of a Middle Eastern desert country is hardly the place you would expect to find Spanish architecture — but nestled near Sharjah’s corniche, one such place has proved so popular with locals that many have even set up home there. An aerial view of Marbella Resort in Sharjah. — KT photos by M.Sajjad Uniquely embellished with Andalusian architecture, the Marbella Resort — the emirate’s first and oldest hotel resort — still manages to lure hundreds of visitors, despite a number of newer establishments coming up around it. The resort has witnessed the development of the emirate’s hotel industry over the more than three decades since it was built, in 1976, with some guests staying for years at a time. Known to be the pride of Prince Alfonso Hohenlohe of Spain, Marbella Resort started as Marbella Club in 1976 under the management of Marbella Spain. Back in 1975, on the silver anniversary of Marbella Club in Andalusia, the idea for a unique club designed in the Arab-Andalusian style of architecture in Sharjah was thought up by the Prince.After more than three decades, Marbella Club, now Marbella Resort, continues to lure clubs and families — mostly Emiratis seeking a quiet retreat. Marbella Club was sold to the Sharjah National Hotels in 1992 and underwent a Dh50 million refurbishment to modernise its furniture, interior and rooms while preserving its Andalusian architecture. The four-star resort is a popular destination for many families seeking a quiet retreat. Financial controller of the Sharjah National Hotels Yousef Abu Salameh, says that Marbella Resort added in an Italian cafe, Café Undici, in 1997. “There are lots of guests interested in Italian cuisine. In the future, we may look into making a major renovation. But, as it is, Emiratis and GCC people particularly find Marbella unique and rare with the privacy of the club.” Now a four-star hotel, the resort has become a favourite haven of many families, especially Emiratis, GCC nationals, and Indians. Rendezvous Restaurant serves buffet and a la carte international and oriental cuisine, while Caesar’s Palace has traditional cuisine on offer. The extensive outdoor pool and tennis courts are situated next to Khalid Lagoon, while the resort’s 50 villas, each comprising a master suite and a junior suite, are dotted around the grounds. The master suite has a king bedroom with attached bathroom, separate lounge and dining room and a fully-equipped kitchen, while the junior suite has a queen bedroom with attached bathroom and a separate sitting lounge with sofa. There are also outdoor temperature-controlled pools, a gym, fitness studio, sauna and steam room, jacuzzi, two flood-lit tennis courts, two air-conditioned squash courts, an outdoor kids play area, and a table tennis and snooker room. It is so well-equipped, many families stay for months — some even years — making Marbella Resort their “permanent home”. A full villa with private garden and parking costs Dh1,500 per day. Sa’ad Al Suwaidi, an Emirati who has been a regular customer at the resort, says that he comes home from work finding everything just as he wants things to be. “My kids can roam around, relax and enjoy within and outside the villa. We have a private seating area and satellite TV inside. Coming back from work, I can sit at the private garden and relax. I know my kids are safe and they can go to the fitness centre or play squash and tennis,” he says. Manned by a workforce of 100, Marbella Resort has become a byword for regular customers who return every holiday. Italian tourist, Niccolo, enjoys the sports facilities and the pizza at Caesar’s Palace. “It is the best pizza I have tasted outside my home country. I can walk around the pool lawns and watch the lagoon from my villa.” His wife Giovanna enjoys the sauna and Turkish bath. “It’s perfect for me and I love this place.” Continue reading
You swam! And now you have swimmer’s ear
You swam! And now you have swimmer’s ear Staff Reporter / 24 August 2013 Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the ear canal. If you stick your finger in your ear, you’re feeling a little of the ear canal. But if you have swimmer’s ear and you stick your finger in your ear — YOW! Let’s find out more about this painful type of ear infection, which often affects swimmers. Swimmer’s ear — also called otitis externa — is different from a regular ear infection. Usually, when people say a kid has an ear infection, they mean otitis media, an infection of the middle ear. This sometimes happens when a kid gets a cold. But swimmer’s ear happens when bacteria grow in the ear canal, which is a passageway to the eardrum. In that canal, you’ll find delicate skin that’s protected by a thin coating of earwax. Most of the time, water can run in and out of the ear canal without causing a problem. For instance, you don’t usually get swimmer’s ear from taking baths or showers. Bacteria get a chance to grow when water stays in the ear canal. The protective covering of delicate wax and skin of the ear canal is disrupted. A lot of swimming can lead to these wet conditions in the ear canal. Bacteria grow and the ear canal gets red and swollen. Sometimes you can get an infection in the ear canal even if one hasn’t been swimming. A scratch or other irritation to the ear canal can also lead to swimmer’s ear. Symptoms of swimmer’s ear usually appear within a few days of swimming and include: Itchiness inside the ear. Redness and swelling of the ear. Pain when the infected ear is tugged or when pressure is placed on the ear. Pus draining from the infected ear. Although all age groups are affected by swimmer’s ear, it is more common in children and can be extremely painful. How do I protect myself and my family? To reduce the risk of swimmer’s ear: Do keep your ears as dry as possible: Use a bathing cap, ear plugs, or custom-fitted swim molds when swimming. Do dry your ears thoroughly after swimming or showering. Use a towel to dry your ears well. Tilt your head to hold each ear facing down to allow water to escape the ear canal. Pull your earlobe in different directions while your ear is faced down to help water drain out. If you still have water left in your ears, consider using a hair dryer to move air within the ear canal. Put the dryer on the lowest heat and speed/fan setting. Hold the dryer several inches from your ear. Don’t put objects in your ear canal (including cotton-tip swabs, pencils, paperclips, or fingers). Don’t try to remove ear wax. Ear wax helps protect your ear canal from infection: – If you think that your ear canal is blocked by ear wax, consult your doctor. Consul your doctor about using ear drops after swimming: Drops should not be used by people with ear tubes, damaged ear drums. Please note: Do not swim if you have had any ear surgery or ear tubes done without the approval of your doctor. Consult your doctor if you have ear pain, discomfort, or drainage from your ears. Swimmers have an essential role in helping to protect themselves, their families, and others from Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs). Continue reading
Group clashes leave 38 workers injured
Group clashes leave 38 workers injured Haseeb Haider / 23 August 2013 Two groups of workers clashed in a labour accommodation on Saadiyat Island early this week leaving 38 people wounded, sources said. The law-enforcement authorities controlled the situation and took some people into custody on Tuesday evening. According to witnesses, the incident happened when a group of Bangladeshi workers allegedly beat up some Pakistani workers around 8pm on Monday after an exchange of heated arguments between two workers of either nationality over the handing over of a key. Next day, Pakistani workers allegedly ganged up and roughed up Bangladeshi labourers and in the evening both groups again had a fight leaving at least 38 people wounded. The attack was a result of a long-brewing unease which started a couple of months back when Pakistani workers did not join Bangladeshis in their strike against low wages. The management fired and deported several workers replacing with Pakistanis, according to Farooq Langoov, Welfare Counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy, who met with Pakistani workers and narrated their side of the story to this correspondent. Asharf Zaitoon, spokesperson for Abu Dhabi-based Arabtec Holding, told Khaleej Times that two colleagues from Pakistan and Bangladesh quarrelled with each other over the handing over of a key of the kitchen. Later, several other workers joined the minor quarrel. The spokesman also confirmed that all those who were taken to hospital have been discharged after being administered first aid. Zaitoon said those who were taken into custody soon after the brawl had also been released and they were all back to work. The incident did not affect the construction activities at the two main sites, including the Mid-field Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Louvre Abu Dhabi, he added. The Bangladeshi and Pakistani diplomats amicably resolved the issue in cooperation with Arabtec Holding officials on Thursday afternoon. Farooq Langoov said the minor dispute had been resolved and for future, a mechanism had been devised to sort out any misgivings among workers, in order to avoid any brawl. He appreciated the UAE authorities and Arabtec Holding for their cooperation in resolving the issue amicably. Stressed from day’s hard work, construction workers of different nationalities clash with each other on minor issues like queuing up for food. But, Zaitoon said that his company had allotted separate accommodation to Pakistani workers on their request. “Now they have been relocated to Al Yas Island,” he said. On measures Arabtech has taken to stop such incidents from repeating in the future, he hoped this would not be repeated again due to the composition of the company’s labour accommodation. The company has people of up to nine nationalities staying together in harmony in certain labour accommodation. haseeb@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
