Say Yas to the island of adventure

As a child, I loved Enid Blyton’s island stories. The islands in these stories seemed mysterious and exciting–the Famous Five ran off to one, and intrepid children, in other books, also routinely made their way to magical, sanctuary-like islands. 

But the island I was headed to wasn’t a mysterious island, lonely and serene; it was an island meant for escapades, exploits, and exploration. 

Spread over 25 square kilometres and located 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, Yas is an island dedicated to leisure and adventure. One of the largest tourism projects in the emirate, I found Yas the perfect setting to enjoy a no-itinerary holiday. 

I checked into my swanky hotel (are there any other kinds in the UAE?) and woke up bright and early to begin my sudden sojourn. So much to do, so little time, I thought to myself, as I confabulated with almost everyone’s best friend: the internet. 

But the mix of leisure and entertainment experiences on Yas meant that I didn’t really need to plan anything. There was plenty to choose from: theme parks, an F1 race track, a golf course, a gorgeous beach, a massive mall, and the beautiful marina. 

After a heavy repast, I knew I had to start slow. 

I kicked off my journey with SeaWorld, an immersive marine life park spread over five floors. The park’s ‘One Ocean’ theme showcases human beings’ innate bond with the ocean and how it connects all life. 

“The eight themed realms are where you can witness over 100 animal experiences and get up close to some of the marine world’s marvellous creatures,” a guide told me. 

The imposing sharks, fluid manta rays, gentle sea turtles, and massive collection of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and invertebrates all went swimmingly, but I lost my heart to the smiling dolphins. The lovable mammals showcased stunts and skills to rousing rounds of applause and gracefully accepted frozen, fishy treats. 

Elsewhere, a flamboyance of flamingos gracefully going about their day’s work made for an enchanting sight. 

A waddle of penguins making their way down the frozen landscape elicited a laugh–the flightless birds walking in line seemed much like tux-clad humans heading for a business meeting or a formal wedding party!

The park also houses the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue, a dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation, and return centre working on marine life conservation. 

The adventure continues

My adventure, which began from the shores of Abu Dhabi, continued through the vibrant tropics, endless oceans, and the poles. 

From the briny blue, I headed to one of the island’s top attractions: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. To see red. Ferrari red.

After all, as Enzo Ferrari, Founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team and the Ferrari automobile marque, famously said, “Ask a child to draw a car, and certainly he will draw it red.”

Ferrari World is the destination for adrenaline junkies–a place that promises hyper-epinephrine, heart-pumping fun with more than 40 attractions. 

Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest rollercoaster, isn’t for the faint-hearted: it goes from a speed of 0 to 240 km/h in 4.9 seconds and scales heights of 52 metres! One couldn’t blame the people, who got off the ride, with dazed expressions and without their bearings, for behaving like Scuderia Ferrari champions.

I wasn't feeling very champ-like, so I focused on the other attractions: Turbo Track, which offers a vertical climb and an epic zero gravity fall; Mission Ferrari, an immersive mega-coaster with the world’s first sideways coaster drop; Turbo Tower, for a zero gravity fall rush; and Fiorano GT Challenge, which lets you race friends on twisting parallel tracks in a Ferrari F430 Spider.

I particularly enjoyed Flying Aces, inspired by ‘ace of aces’ aviator Francesco Baracca, for the leadup to the ride. The queue takes you back to World War I air combat, with recreations of the barracks and training camp and numerous plane models. The ride sets off at a 51-degree incline, scaling 63 metres on the world’s highest roller coaster loop. Adrenaline-pumping, yes, but more so on account of the buildup.

Other attractions include the Scuderia Challenge, which shows you exactly what it takes to train as a Ferrari driver; Bell ’Italia, which lets you explore a mini-Italy at leisure; and the Junior Grand Prix, where kids can hone their racing skills. 

Mission Impossible?

After the rides, I needed to refuel and walked around in search of the perfect eatery. Lively music played and lights twinkled as I walked past vistas that included statues and a working fountain. Was I in some little Italian corner in Abu Dhabi? 

Turns out I was at Mamma Rossella, an award-winning trattoria renowned for its menu and named after Rossella Giannini, popularly known as Mamma Rossella. 

“She runs the popular family restaurant, Ristorante Montana, in Maranello next to the Ferrari factory. Michael Schumacher and other top F1 drivers have been guests there,” the man taking the order said. 

On a table covered with a chequered cloth, stacked with bottles of oils and condiments, I watched the food pile up: a slice of pizza, spaghetti in pesto, a cheese-filled ravioli, caprese salad, veg tempura, French fries with parmesan, and fresh orange juice. 

It seemed like Mission Impossible, till it wasn’t! Until the desserts rolled in–fresh cannoli (Sicilian pastries comprising tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling rich in ricotta), a coffee-heavy tiramisu, and a bowl of flavourful fruit. 

The good food and warm ambience seemed to epitomise the spirit of Italy’s bel paese, which translates to ‘beautiful country’. 

The evening was spent walking off the food and picking up souvenirs at Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi’s biggest shopping centre. The three-level mall has more than 370 stores, 60 eateries, and a 20-screen cinema operated by VOX Cinemas. 

Yas Beach and Yas Marina offer the chance to engage in activities like kayaking, exploring the mangroves, or indulging in water sports like jet skiing and banana boat riding.

I never realised when the sun went down and then I had to return to the hotel. As I stepped out of the taxi, my eyes fell upon a replica of theiconic Friends couch placed in front of a fountain not far from WB Hotel. The classic Central Perk centrepiece was signalling that I was yet to explore the theme park, a stone’s throw from where I was staying. 

Later, I had to admit that Warner Bros World offered the ideal day out for fans, with six immersive lands, including DC’s Metropolis and Gotham City, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch, and Warner Bros Plaza. 

I walked around the park, exploring a few of the 29 exhilarating rides, numerous interactive and family-friendly attractions, and live entertainment. There were surprises at every corner, including characters from Fred to Batman, Superman to Scooby-Doo. My biggest miss? The Harry Potter land that’s scheduled to open next year. 

The Starlight, a full-service family restaurant, took me straight to the 1930s Golden Age, with its classic Art Deco Hollywood-style theatre design. It was all elegance and class, till Bugs Bunny emerged for photo ops and hugs. But naturally, grace gave way to smiles as almost everyone dropped their forks and knives! 

Next up was Yas Marina Circuit, home to the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. But it isn’t just professional drivers who can burn rubber here; enthusiasts routinely try their hand at driving, drifting, drag and karting experiences. The exhilaration around the track, as auto aficionados went vroom-vroom, was palpable. Everyone seemed to be in their own F1 world!

The heartbeat thumped back to normal at Bushra by Buddha Bar, a plush fusion restaurant that combines the flavours of the Middle East and North Africa with a modern twist, and overlooks the marina. 

The silky hummus and baba ghanoush went well with a traditional bread basket, to be followed by chicken pastilla and a mouthwatering platter of kababs. The piece de resistance, however, was the traditional Moroccan lamb tagine, cooked with caramelised apricots and prunes, served with buttered couscous. A warm chocolate and caramel cake with vanilla labneh rounded off the evening. 

As I stood at Yas Marina, where the lights twinkled ceaselessly and people promenaded along the waterfront, I ruminated over the last few days. I had read Blyton’s The Island of Adventure as a child. This trip to Abu Dhabi took me to a real island of adventure!