Travel + Leisure - India & South Asia
ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
Ankush Bahuguna recalls his most daring quest and tells CHIRAG MOHANTY SAMAL how his trip to Abu Dhabi helped him evolve as a person.
You tried fun things in Abu Dhabi, which one was the best?
The best experience in the city was Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi as I had never been on 5D rides.
All the rides were amazing, and I felt like a kid at a candy store. The way it’s built is interesting—they have realistically created fictitious cities like Batman’s Gotham City. It felt like taking a trip back to childhood.
What is the one moment in Abu Dhabi that you would like to relive?
There is a bunch. The first one would be witnessing the onset of dusk at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The azaan played as I looked at the white mosque against the backdrop of the evening sky—it was magical.
The other moment would be the fun times at Cove Beach Club (covebeachabudhabi.com). We ended up at the beach club after a long day and there was a pool party with nice music. I loved the whole party vibe as it revealed the two sides of Abu Dhabi to me— quiet and collected, and fun and chilled out.
What was the craziest thing that you did in the city?
The craziest thing was getting on the world’s longest and fastest roller coaster rides at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (ferrariworldabudhabi.com).
I almost decided to skip it as it looked scary at first. But then everybody wanted to do it and I didn’t want to miss out, so I hopped in. Not only did I conquer my fear but was also thrilled that I tried the longest ride. The second one was crazier as it was twice as long. When I look back, I feel glad that I trusted my instinct and went for it.
What has been your biggest takeaway from the Abu Dhabi trip?
My biggest takeaway has been to keep an open mind while travelling and to take in everything that the city has to offer. You usually go with preconceived notions about a place, but then when you immerse yourself in the local culture, you discover so many things about yourself as well as the place. My resolve to try new things and create memories is stronger than ever now.
Also, there’s great food in Abu Dhabi. Though I am not a foodie, I enjoyed my meal at Art House
Cafe, where I also got to unleash my creative side and paint a wall plate. I am a vegetarian, and I was surprised by the options available in the cafe.
Travel changes your perception, and makes you more accepting of people and places.