Atlantis Hotel thrown $20million party on its launch

There was no evidence of the global financial crisis as tycoons and celebrities streamed into Dubai last night for the world’s most expensive private party. Having spent £1 billion, the owners of the Atlantis hotel, which they hope will become the new symbol of excess in a region already replete with towering statements of wealth, splashed out £13.5(approx. $20million) million on its opening.

In the lobby of the Atlantis about 2,000 guests sipped Dom Pérignon. Outside, A-list celebrities from Robert De Niro to Lindsay Lohan walked the red carpet. After the pop singer Kylie Minogue performed on stage the sky lit up with the world’s largest fireworks display, seven times greater than this year’s Olympic Games opening ceremony in Beijing and extravagant enough to be seen from outer space.

The price tag for the party even embarrassed Sol Kerzner, the chairman and chief executive officer of Kerzner International, who built the resort on the man-made Palm Island in partnership with Nakheel, a state-owned developer. “If I had to do it all over again, I might do it recognising the fact that we’re living through a bit of a tough economic environment,” Kerzner, a South African billionaire, told media.

The timing for Kerzner’s imposing hotel is not ideal. The emirate is groaning under heavy debt and banks have tightened lending, delaying new developments. Gulf stock markets have sunk to historic lows and analysts are radically scaling back economic forecasts for the region.

Since it opened its doors to paying guests six weeks ago, the hotel has been nearly 80 per cent full, Kerzner said. Nightly rates range in price from $800 (£550) for a basic suite to $35,000 per night for the hotel’s signature suite, which features floor to ceiling views of Dubai. The 1,539-room hotel has two towers set in 130-acre grounds that feature an aquarium with 65,000 sea creatures.

Top 10 Most Luxurious Hotels in Dubai

The Monarch Hotel

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 236 Hotel Location: Sheikh Zayed Road

Number One Sheikh Zayed road is one of the world’s most exclusive addresses and The Monarch is a hotel that deserves it. Gigantic suites and stunning city views are the flagship boasts of the hotel that has already garnered a good reputation with the wealthiest international clients.

Ritz-Carlton Hotel

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 138 Hotel Location: Dubai Marina, Al Sufouh Road

Staying at the Ritz Carlton, like flying in a private jet and having your own butler, is as clear an indication you are going to get that you have made it. Despite a proximity to the high-rise Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah it is a complete cocoon of calm. Inventive treatments and a dedication to providing quality finishes mean that the experience is one that is up there with the very best spa breaks the Middle East has to offer.

Grosvenor House West Marina Beach by Le Méridien

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 422 Hotel Location: Dubai Marina Beach

Close to the beach but with all of the elegance and sophistication you would expect. Grosvenor House is an exercise in relentless style. Superb Gary Rhodes Mezzanine restaurant to the effortlessly stylish Buddha Bar every part of the hotel has been selected to enhance the overall effect of cool. Fantastic spa and business facilities all combine to make this one of the underrated delights of Dubai’s hotel scene.

Raffles Dubai

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 248 Hotel Location: Sheikh Rashid Road

Not a patch on its Singaporean sister in terms of history but still pretty striking and certainly one of a kind, Raffles Dubai has already become something of an iconic building. Especially for the less tourist-heavy area it inhabits. Leave Dubai Airport and cross Garhoud Bridge and you will be presented with the giant pyramid that is the Raffles Hotel. Adjoined to the Egyptology themed Wafi mall Raffles is one of the most expensive hotels in Dubai and the pyramid’s peak is one of the city’s most exclusive clubs.

Park Hyatt Dubai

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 255 Hotel Location: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

The Moroccan-style spa at Dubai’s beautiful Park Hyatt offers some of the best treatments in town including a popular couples hot stone massage. Guests can enjoy their own pool and a wide range of facials and massages before returning to the hotel for lunch of lounging in the spa area for the ultimate in relaxation. Definitely a good place to check into for spa fans as the creek views give an unusual twist on the usual beachfront or cityscape.

Dar Al Maysaf: Madinat Jumeirah

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 283 Hotel Location: Jumeirah Beach Road

Nobody would argue that the Madinat Jumeirah hotels of Mina A’Salam and Al Qasr offer an exceptional level of service and quality but for the absolute pinnacle of the complex the discerning traveler knows that Dar Al Maysaf is impossible to beat. The name means “summer house” in Arabic and these large villas have a real feeling of seclusion and intimacy. They can be reached here by taking a short abra ride to elsewhere in the hotel and after you’ve found your room taking a dip in a private pool or eat in one of the mini-complex’s private restaurants.

Burj Al Arab

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 202 Hotel Location: Jumeirah Beach Road

The iconic Burj Al Arab is a representation of all that is opulent and extravagant about Dubai. It is an obvious choice and one that is likely to appear on worldwide lists of the most expensive and luxurious hotels. If you’re wondering what you get in a seven-star hotel think personal butlers, massive suites, discretion, privacy, pillow menus, breathtaking Jumeirah views and..well, the list goes on really. It is often said that the decoration might not be to everybody’s tastes but there is no denying that a stay in the Burj is one of unprecedented dedication to pleasing the high-rolling guest.

Bab Al Shams

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 113 Hotel Location: Next to Endurance Village

A cheaper but less exclusive alternative to Al Maha, Bab Al Shams is a luxury hotel in the middle of the dunes. This grid of low rise buildings made of pre-scratched, crumbling mock-sandstone is filled with hidden corridors and secret stairwells: rooms open directly onto the sands, while a swimming pool, spa and four restaurants cater to guests’ needs. The range of activities isn’t as extensive as at Al Maha (and mainly revolves around desert excursions), but there is a well-equipped children center, which should keep your ankle-biters entertained. At night, enjoy a sunset shisha at Al Sarab bar or try out the Al Hadheerah desert restaurant, which offers a Disneyfied Arabian experience complete with belly dancer, band and some fairly potent shisha.

Al Maha Resort

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 40 Hotel Location: Al Maha Desert

Relaxation comes at a price. As one of the most expensive hotels in Dubai the Al Maha Resort is reserved for a select few, but those that can make the cut are safe in the knowledge of money well spent. The resort is a world class sanctuary set in 225 square kilometers of pristine desert landscape. Private plunge pools, couples therapy and the knowledge that there is not a traffic jam anywhere near by will relax you before your treatments begin.

The Address: Downtown Burj Dubai

Rating: 5 star No. of Rooms: 196 Hotel Location: Burj Dubai Boulevard

Despite being one of Dubai’s newest hotels this spacious Downtown Burj Dubai property is already redefining city style in the emirate. Without the beachfront location of many of the city’s classiest gaffes it stands out with the superb views of the world’s tallest building. But this is one address that will not be overshadowed by the towering neighbor. Little touches like iPod docking stations and Plasma screen TVS are, of course, now standard. As is the use of the best quality furnishings and luxury touches. Certain suites have outside baths and this is one hotel that will appeal to business and leisure guests. As long as they’re happy to pay the premium.

Chicago Top Hotels

Chicago Top Hotel
Chicago Top Hotel
Chicago Top Hotel
Chicago Top Hotel
Chicago Top Hotel

Red silk flower arrangements

Norwegian Houses

One thing is for certain, Norwegians love being home and they put a lot of effort into making it sweet. There are many different types of wooden houses and I’m sure they all have their stories. If you are in Norway make sure you take a walk around the burbs, especially in the old towns. You are bound to see cute little cottages with pretty gardens and flower baskets which are definitely worthy of filling up your camera stick.

Old fishermen cottages have become very trendy to live in. They are close to the sea shore normally in a prime position in the sun. The houses are often joined together in strips and have a ‘miniature’ effect as if they were built for the seven dwarfs. As cities grow more and more people are living in ‘urban’ apartments – minimalist studios attract the business class.

In rural Norway many people still live in old farm houses miles away from civilisation. A lot of people live on islands and rely on barges to get to the mainland. I am often amazed at where some houses are built thinking ‘how did someone decided to build a house there?’ But Norwegians are very practical. You will sometimes see little fishermen cottages standing along on a small island or a small group of miner cottages in the mountains. These cottages aren’t their real homes – just a place to stay while they work the week.

People who live in apartments have community gardening days and activities. They also get together to build play grounds and sand pits for the neighbourhood children.

To help with finances most houses have one or two granny flats underneath, or the attic is converted into a single apartment. Sometimes houses are split into levels and sold off separately as individual apartments.

Norwegians are very good at gardening. (They must have a planting schedule that runs all summer as they always seem to have flowers blooming in their gardens). Quite often the grass is left to grow wild especially on the outside of fences but it adds to the character of the neighbourhood.

Traditionally houses are built with poky, little rooms, to keep in the warmth, and steep roofs to help the snow slide off. Windows are small (as glass lets out the heat) and there is always a fire place or wood oven in the centre of the house to warm up the rooms during the cold winters.

Norwegian houses are very charming with their wooden panels and slate roofing. It is typical for a house to be painted a strong colour such as red, blue or yellow, but white is the most popular.

Having a south-to-west facing house is the best as it catches the day and afternoon sun. It is common for houses to have a patio or balcony on the sun side with deck chairs and hanging pots on the railing.

In the old days, it was common for Norwegian houses to grow grass on the roof. Cottage roofs were made out of tree bark and to keep it from curling up the old folk would put turf on top. The grass held the turf down, keeping it on the roof and during the Summers the grass (and weeds) would shoot and flower. As it turned out the turf on the roof was also good for insulation keeping the cottage warm during winter and cool during summer.

Norway Foods

A combination of Italian and Norwegian food is what you often find in The Blue Café. In only 12 days I am going to India for three weeks, and I wonder what will happen to my cooking after that experience, but so far Italian spaghetti carbonara eaten with homemade dark bread is not an uncommon dish. Spaghetti carbonara is actually something we eat quite often. It is so simple to make and we all love it.
This time I mixed some diced ham with celery and lemon, just because that's what I found at hand. And the dish was topped with tomatoes from the garden, some late borago flowers, and fresh ruccola from the grocery store (nothing left in the garden)

Norway Foods
Norway Foods
Norway Foods
Norway Foods
Norway Foods

Norway Hotels

The hotel is located in the street Bogstadveien. It is a 4 star hotel. Bogstadveien is behind, or north if you want, the Norwegian Royal Castle and this street is famous for the great nightlife and upscale shopping. Approx. 10 minute walk from the Royal Castle. This trendy hotel offers contemporary designed, state of the art rooms at great rates and is located within walking distance to most of what the capital has to offer.

Norway Hotel
Norway Hotel
Norway Hotel
Norway Hotel
Norway Hotel