What better way to start a vacation than by strapping yourself to a random stranger you met moments ago and jumping 13000 feet in 5 minutes. Skydiving Dubai is one of the busiest with divers and instructors coming from all over. Every instructor around was fit enough for Mission Impossible stunts – mine was Dave from Ukraine who does 17 jumps a day (lost my dream job status here) – who was fun to be around poking fun on what to do if the parachute fails or if forgets to lock me. They have two dropzones – one in dessert away from city which is a tad cheaper and the one in palm island costing around 41K which is the choice of most jumpers for views of the Palm Jumeriah. Make sure you book the first jump of the day to catch the sun behind the skyline and don’t wear shorts thinking its middle east – it gets freezing on the way down (foolish of me i know)

Website: https://www.skydivedubai.ae/ – the website pretty much says everything you need to know before you take the leap

Cost – 2199 AED with photos/videos

Dune Bashing

This one here is a crowd favourite. And it just as exciting as what you see in the videos. Unlike skydiving its mostly Indian drivers (Indians are 51% of the population here aren’t they) – not your usual taxi drivers but with special license am told. Though there are plenty of players to take to the dessert around Oman border for one long afternoon – its better if you choose a premium players as the dinner service in most of these places are mediocre. I hear Platinum heritage has some fine tours – though I was not able to try them. Don’t miss out on riding the buggy at the end of the day – I was a little apprehensive when it was getting late for our turn but it was a unexpected thrill driving in the dessert at night with no roads no lights as long as you can see.

Website: https://www.platinum-heritage.com/platinum-desert-safari/ – these guys also offer hot air balloon ride if you are interested

Cost – 1750 AED

Ferrari world

Our obvious choice among 3 theme parks in Yas Island – with warner bros being too kid centric and Yas waterworld well having too much water. Its got rides for the family audience too but what make it interesting are its 5 roller coaster rides. Formula Rossa – the fastest roller coaster in the world reaching 240km/h or my personal favorite Flying Aces with unending swirls and loops. Its not as expansive as the theme parks in India and you can complete all the rides in half a day on a weekday – with no need for the queue skipping priority pass. Plan to reach in the morning and complete the rides to take lunch (unlike my brother who had a early lunch and retired)

Website: https://www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/

Cost – 295 AED

Hero Odysea

There are lot of boat rides that take you around the Burj Al Arab and the coastline line – but here you get to ride your own boat. The boats aren’t exactly speed boats but definitely fast enough to give thrills. Best to take up the sunset tour circling towards the horizon and the world islands. And this spot is very close to the Emirates mall – in case you want to club these.

Website: https://www.hero-dubai.com/

Cost for a 90 min ride with one rider- 590; two riders – 790

Indoor Ice skating at Emirates mall

We did not personally try this – any sport that calls itself indoor is just half the fun. The snow park though has some fun stuff especially for family. It has slope rides, Zorb ball, cable car and also has an introductory lesson for someone just looking for a good time. Also, you have live penguins if you want to pet them there.

Website: https://www.skidxb.com/

Cost – they have different packages from AED 190 offering just basic rides to All Inclusive Snow premium plan for AED 490

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Otha Seruppu Size 7

Shabby erratic and talkative Parthiban (playing Masi) manages to keep us glued to the screen for 100 mins with just him in a 10 by 10 room with a few voices in background. I fooled myself into thinking the movie would be a psychological thriller from the trailer but it come out to be one unassuming murder mystery. But he doesn’t bring in unrealistic situations to do that, instead just portrays the struggle of common man stuck in a low income household. Even his characters are run of the mill – whether it’s the cops with different faces, the psychologist who understands him, or even his child Mahesh who he keeps bringing up, the characters are not far from reality. Merit goes to the background score by Sathya and Resul Pookutty’s sound mixing for making us visualise the characters just hearing them and get dipped in storyline; making every situation and time of day heard.

You can’t miss the cinematography standing out – especially in the perspective shots of the unseen faces and the scene where Masi is seen through his glasses. Well you can’t have Parthiban with his quips, but he keeps them minimal to not take our mood away. You have to also admire that he makes no political dig even though he could have gone away with a few and handles the audience as adults not reorienting us with details every time a knot is revealed(which every other movie does these days). Parthiban thoroughly stands out in this one person act as a director, scriptwriter and actor, in watch is a must watch of the year.

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