Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

AUH-IST (5h 20m) Airbus 330-200 ETD: 9.30am (GMT + 4)  ETA: 1 .50pm (GMT + 3) Today's post is on yet another flight with Etihad Airways. EY97 brought my BFF and me from Abu Dhabi, the UAE to Istanbul, Turkey for a reunion with my sister who's currently studying at Marmara University. Till date, I've gone to the city that was formely Constantinople three times.

Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi International Airport is the second largest in the UAE after - no prize for guessing - Dubai International Airport. It's spread over a total area of 3,400 hectares with two runways and three terminals, which are dominated by Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the country.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi (lit. Father of Gazelle) may be second to Dubai in terms of popularity and population count, but it's the capital city of the UAE with its city centre situated on an island off the Persian Gulf. It's thought that the name arose due to the abundance of gazelles, as well as a folk tale involving Sheikh Shakbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahya.

Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sat-Thu: 9.00am - 10.00pm Fri: 4.30pm - 10.00pm Blessed Ramadan to our Muslim friends! A visit to Abu Dhabi, the UAE wouldn't be complete without marvelling at the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Constructed from 1996 to 2007, it's the largest mosque in the country. During Eid, the mosque usually sees more than 40,000 worshippers and visitors alike in a day.

Al Alam Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sat-Thu: 9.00am - 4.00pm Fri: 3.30pm - 9.00pm Welcome to Part 2 of UAE Heritage Village, which is a reconstruction of a traditional desert village that you can visit for free. Do take a look at the Part 1 should you miss it. As previously mentioned, I shall post some photos of more workshops and the two museums available there.

Al Alam Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sat-Thu: 9.00am - 4.00pm Fri: 3.30pm - 9.00pm Run by Emirates Heritage Club, UAE Heritage Village is a reconstruction of a traditional desert village that gives visitors a glimpse into the past. Located next to Abu Dhabi Theatre and not too far from Marina Mall, it houses museums, workshops and stalls offering a plethora of interesting goods.

Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi's Corniche Beach is said to be an "immaculate outdoor destination ... overlook[ing] the glory of the open Arabian Gulf". Divided into paid and unpaid areas, the beach stretches over 2 km. My BFF and I didn't go to the paid area, which have more things going on, so this post showcases only the unpaid area.

West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates A luxury hotel managed by Kempinski Hotels, Emirates Palace (5*) is the third most expensive hotel ever built with the project costing around  USD 3 billion (~S$4.09 billion) . Opened in end 2005, the hotel offers a total of 394 guest rooms, including 92 suites and 22 residential apartments reserved for Heads of State.

Al Teelah Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates The dhow harbour of Abu Dhabi is nestled within the Al Mina region in the northern part of the city, which is said to be the place where good old traditional practices are still preserved. Are you interested in taking a dhow cruise? There's also a fish market at the marina.

Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sat-Thu: 9.00am - 7.00pm Fri: 12 noon - 10.00pm Promoting itself as the "cornerstone of Emirati culture and history", Qasr al-Hosn was originally erected as a watch tower in 1761 to defend the one and only freshwater well in Abu Dhabi before it grew into a fort. After years of intensive conservation and restoration work, it has finally reopened as a museum.

Zayed the First Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Managed by Danat Hotels and Resorts Group, Oryx Hotel (4*) is strategically located near Corniche Beach. Opened in 2006, the hotel provides a total of 122 spacious guest rooms. Qasr al-Hosn, the oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi, is just 2 km away from the hotel.

NBO-AUH (5h 15m) Airbus 320-200 ETD: 2.10pm (GMT + 3)  ETA: 8 .25pm (GMT + 4) In a blink of an eye, my very first adventure in Africa had come to an end. My BFF and I'd be flying out of Nairobi, Kenya to Abu Dhabi, the UAE with Etihad Airways. Founded in 2003 with a fleet size of more than 110, it's the second largest airline in the UAE after Emirates.