‘Batman’s Gotham City felt like a trip back to childhood’

Shikha Duggal

Content creator Ankush Bahuguna had a recent extravagant trip to Abu Dhabi and he can’t stop gushing about it! With incredible contrasts where he saw skyscrapers stand beside the century-old mosque, thrilling theme parks with beaches, and modern malls delighting the avid shopper inside him: he just had the time of his life. To know, why will he continue to visit the same place all over again, we indulge in an interesting conversation with him.

“The best experience in the city was Warner Bros. World 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,” shares the social media influencer.

Witnessing the onset of dusk at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was the moment he would like to relive. “The Azan 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. 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.”

The craziest thing for him was getting on the world’s longest and fastest roller coaster rides at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi! He exclaimed, “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.”

His 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.”