insight

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IN-GENERAL06 EDITOR’S NOTE16 INSITE-PARTIES The latest parties, launches & events108 CLASSIFIEDS111 HOROSCOPES114 CLOSING COMMENTS

IN-FEATURE76 INTERVIEW Liqa Swidan72 CELEBRITY Influential Women86 PHOTOSHOOT Sweet Summer Breeze96 TRAVEL Hottest Party Beaches

IN-STYLE10 NEWS What’s up world24 FASHION Summer in the city34 SUMMER Adventure Sports54 BEAUTY Sexy summer look60 FOOD Summer barbeque recipes112 BEAUTY Love your body

IN-BRIEF58 SUMMER Diet mania64 NEWS & REVIEWS This month’s movies & music66 NEWS & REVIEWS Events, promotions, & what’s new in town100 INTERVIEW GM at the Cairo Marriott 102 HOTEL REVIEWS Sonesta & The Nile Hotel

IN-FACT56 SUMMER Sun Safety80 SUMMER The world of drugs & alcohol

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July 2009

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Mr. Ali Abdel Aziz, CEO of the Holding Company for Tourism, Hotels & Cinema (HOTAC) and Mr. Edwin Fuller, President & Managing Director for Marriott Lodging International, headed the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new royal suites and the renovated Gezira entrance at the Cairo Marriott Hotel.

A fresh Summerat Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars

LUXURIOUS ENHANCEMENTS AT THE CAIRO MARRIOTT HOTEL

Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars has been transformed into a beautiful get away for summer; all the hotel's façade and windows are covered with amazing pictures of the sea and beaches.

Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars restaurants are ready for summer, with lots of fun for you and your family, live music and entertainment, Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars is the place to be this summer.

Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano recently welcomed Adham Mohamed as its new chef of the Hotel’s authentic Lebanese restaurant, Byblos. Over his 15-year tenure, Chef Mohamed gained extensive experience and mastered his oriental culinary skills. It is his ability to infuse Oriental cuisine with contemporary influences, producing original and ingenious delicacies, which brought him to Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL ALEXANDRIA AT SAN STEFANO

APPOINTS NEW BYBLOS RESTAURANT CHEF

Dressage is a relatively new sport in Egypt and has had a very difficult time gaining its ground. The Dressage Competition took place at Rabab Stud, which is located in Sakkara and is home to more than 175 horses amongst those several Arabian Champions. The president of the Competition, Sheikh Khaled Bin Laden owner of Rabab Farm and his wife distributed prizes to the winners. Jean Michel Gourguet – International FEI judge and Prix St George Rider judged the competition along with the presence of International trainer Giselle Cantillon. The Dressage was organized by Armelle Ruesche Cormerais - State Instructors Diploma E.N.E Saumur France. Winners included:FEI test for 4-year-old horses (not previously done in Egypt) special test to judge the level of young potential horses. Winner: 1st Prize Laila MoureyE1 young children competition. Winner: Nour MoureyThe event was sponsored by NSGB, Accor, CFI International and BTICINO. Pictures courtesy of Ms. Claude Stemmelin.

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brief • movies & music

THE RITZ-CARLTON, SHARM EL SHEIKH

OFFERS THE FREE NIGHTS VACATIONThe Ritz-Carlton believes a vacation should relieve stress, not cause it. That’s why The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh is introducing to the unique clients an enticing summer vacation package to provide you with more than just money’s worth – your memory’s worth, with a selection of free nights offerings which are not just about spending less, but experiencing more.

Mr. Ali Abdel Aziz, CEO of the Holding Company for Tourism, Hotels & Cinema (HOTAC) and Mr. Edwin Fuller, President & Managing Director for Marriott Lodging International, headed the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new royal suites and the renovated Gezira entrance at the Cairo Marriott Hotel.

A fresh Summerat Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars

LUXURIOUS ENHANCEMENTS AT THE CAIRO MARRIOTT HOTEL

Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars has been transformed into a beautiful get away for summer; all the hotel's façade and windows are covered with amazing pictures of the sea and beaches.

Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars restaurants are ready for summer, with lots of fun for you and your family, live music and entertainment, Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars is the place to be this summer.

Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano recently welcomed Adham Mohamed as its new chef of the Hotel’s authentic Lebanese restaurant, Byblos. Over his 15-year tenure, Chef Mohamed gained extensive experience and mastered his oriental culinary skills. It is his ability to infuse Oriental cuisine with contemporary influences, producing original and ingenious delicacies, which brought him to Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL ALEXANDRIA AT SAN STEFANO

APPOINTS NEW BYBLOS RESTAURANT CHEF

Dressage is a relatively new sport in Egypt and has had a very difficult time gaining its ground. The Dressage Competition took place at Rabab Stud, which is located in Sakkara and is home to more than 175 horses amongst those several Arabian Champions. The president of the Competition, Sheikh Khaled Bin Laden owner of Rabab Farm and his wife distributed prizes to the winners. Jean Michel Gourguet – International FEI judge and Prix St George Rider judged the competition along with the presence of International trainer Giselle Cantillon. The Dressage was organized by Armelle Ruesche Cormerais - State Instructors Diploma E.N.E Saumur France. Winners included:FEI test for 4-year-old horses (not previously done in Egypt) special test to judge the level of young potential horses. Winner: 1st Prize Laila MoureyE1 young children competition. Winner: Nour MoureyThe event was sponsored by NSGB, Accor, CFI International and BTICINO. Pictures courtesy of Ms. Claude Stemmelin.

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THE RITZ-CARLTON, SHARM EL SHEIKH

OFFERS THE FREE NIGHTS VACATIONThe Ritz-Carlton believes a vacation should relieve stress, not cause it. That’s why The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh is introducing to the unique clients an enticing summer vacation package to provide you with more than just money’s worth – your memory’s worth, with a selection of free nights offerings which are not just about spending less, but experiencing more.

Once you’ve found the

perfect suit, all you need to

be a seaside knockout are a few juicy-hued accessories… and a little bit

of attitude.Beach

ExtrasBabe

Cath Kidston sunglasses case

iPod ShuffleHavaiana yellow crystal flipflops

Havaina black crystal

flipflops

Melissa Odabash zebra cosmetics/bikini bag

Marni stone embellished

necklaceMonica Vinader leo wire earrings

Dannijo frankie chain link cuff

Fendi rose detailed oval sunglasses

Alexander McQueen printed silk scarf

Maje fringed cotton scarf

River Island striped beach

hat

Tory beach tote

River Island convertible gauze shorts

Melissa Odabash jemima floppy hat

Chloe filao sunglasses

Accessorize straw bag

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How did your acting career begin?Well I’ve been acting ever since I was eight years old, it was something I loved to do, and when I got the opportunity to appear in “Agmal el Zohor” I had to take it, and my career simply took off from there. I loved performing, and I went to study singing at the Conservatoire, and then studied Acting & Directing at the Ma3had Fenoon Masraheya. It started as a hobby I really enjoyed and fortunately I was good enough and had the chance to turn it into a career. Then I had the unbelievable opportunity of performing with the incredible actors Souad Hossni and Ahmed Zaki in “Howa we Heya”, which I think many people remember me most for. I also acted in “Ra’fat el Hagan”, which of course was a big hit. All these gave me the chance to work with such great actors, I learnt a lot from them, and my career just carried on from there.

It would seem though that much of your career has centered around theatre performances, even more than TV, is that correct?I’ve actually performed in 22 plays till now, which sometimes I can’t even believe myself. I love performing live, the live audience and the instant reaction is an incredible feeling. I enjoy acting in real drama, and the opportunity to do this, for me has been more on stage. For example, performing in the play “The Blind”, which I did about six years ago, was a marvelous experience, although it was not so well-known, compared with the mainstream theatre, for me it was a unique experience and an opportunity to take on a difficult and challenging role, in a difficult and challenging story. “The Blind” is written by the famous Khalil Jibran, and the story is such an interesting, controversial, thought-provoking kind of play than the usual Egyptian style. In fact it was only 35 minutes long, but so intense and powerful, really moving. Although under any other circumstance I might have thought twice about taking part in such a project, being so controversial especially for the Egyptian audience, it was the fact that everyone involved in the play were friends or colleagues of mine from the Institute that I did not hesitate when I was offered the role.

Why made you decide to begin a singing career now?I have always loved to sing, and wanted to have a career in singing; I had studied voice training at the Conservatoire, and took part in the Opera’s children’s choir, so it was not a totally new idea for me. And I had also sung in many of my TV and

theatre roles so it was something I had always thought about. To be honest it was only personal circumstances that stopped me from turning to singing earlier. When I had m daughter I decided that it was not the right time, I had to concentrate my attentions on her at least for the first three years, and of course singing, launching a career, releasing albums, live performances take up a lot of time, so I decided to postpone it till later, now my daughter Jumana is five so I decided that now is the right time

Tell us about your album…Well it has taken me almost two years to compile, as you know it’s called “Farhat Hayati”, and consists of ten tracks. I was lucky enough to work with many great song writers and composers who are actually good friends of mine such as, Mohamed Rahim, Sherif Tag, Wa’el Akid and Nasser Fakhry. During the two years they came to me with their compositions which I loved and decided to record, and they also introduced me to other composers and writers. I was also approached by various other writers and composers when they heard that I was working on an album. Nasser Fakhry, Nader Nour, Mustafa Sabry, & Karim Abdel Wahab have also worked on the tracks in my album. It’s been really fun working on the album, and although I have sung a lot previously it’s been a really exciting and new experience for me, and of course I’m really looking forward to performing live. Nothing has been planned yet officially, but I hope to do some concerts perhaps in the next couple of months.

So you’re married to one of the most famous and loved actors in the Egyptian Acting industry, the great Hussein Fahmy, tell us how you met and got together…It’s quite simple really, we met while we working together in the play “Ahla el Bakawat”, I was the female lead and he was the male. We performed together for two years, and so naturally we became quite close friends, and friendship turned into love.

We all want to know what Hussein Fahmy is like at home…He’s lovely, really sweet, and what’s great is he’s really organized, knows how to look after himself, and likes to do things himself, he really helps out a lot. He’s very light-hearted and fun to be with, loves life and actually we’re very similar, we have a lot in common and like to do the same kind of things. For example we both like to sit and read the newspaper in the morning,

LiqaSwidanActress turns singer

Liqa Swidan is an old timer in the field of acting, known in particular for some very well-known Egyptian series, and also for many low-key, yet dramatic stage performances. Starting at a very young age, Liqa’s career spans over twenty years, she began her career as a child actress and has continued successfully appearing on TV screens and in theatre performances. Recently however, Liqa took the limelight, after her marriage to the Egyptian superstar Hussein Fahmy, with new found happiness in love, a deeper delve into the acting world and a new singing career Liqa seems to have hit the jackpot. Today Liqa has taken on her new role as songstress with a passion, launching her debut album “Farhat Hayati”. Having signed up with the music production company “Mazika”, and working with some well-known song-writers and composers, her album is soon to be released, and promises to be a huge hit. During a short stop in Cairo, between travels to shoot a new series, Liqa took some time to tell Insight about her recent endeavors.

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and actually we read the same newspapers, from even before we met. We have the same views on life, we have an amazingly similar judgment on people, when we meet someone new, we automatically make the same judgments whether or not we like them, yes were very similar.

What’s it like working with your husband?It’s great, we have a lot of fun, right now we’re working together again on a new series which will be released in Ramadan called “Qatel Bela Ajer” in which I play a doctor, assisting a surgeon, played by Hussein. The characters also become involved in a romantic relationship, so actually it’s really fun doing such a role with your husband.

And your daughter, does she take after Liqa?Jumana is wonderful, she’s an artist, she draws, she dances, she sings. She’s so active, sometimes I watch her, she has no cares in the word and just does what she wants to do.

Would you want her to follow in your footsteps?I want her to do whatever she wants to do, and anyway I don’t think I would be able to stop her even If I didn’t, she’s that kind of character, very strong. But if that’s what she wants to do, then I wouldn’t try to stop her. To be honest, I think she’s already going down the same path as me. At all her school plays she’s the soloist.

How will you manage to balance acting, singing and home life?So far it’s working out fine, as I said, I waited till Jumana was old enough to start my singing career, so she’s not too affected by any absence. Right now I’ve finished working on the album and just waiting for the release, and yes I am working on two series set for Ramadan, and although they do involve quite a bit of travelling, I have been in Moscow, Morocco and Hurghada shooting recently, I do not work every day. And once they are finished, I will go back to a relatively normal schedule, I try to balance things so I’m not doing too much at the same time. I always make sure I have time to look after my home, which I’m really fussy about. And although I do have help, I really like to do things by myself, I have to cook for Hussein and Jumana myself, which I do every day, and I have to be at home and make sure everything is fine myself, so somehow I will manage to coordinate things I hope.

Describe Liqa in 3 words:Sacrificing, honest, romantic.

Describe Hussein in 3 words:Tender, honest, responsible.

We wish Liqa great success with her new album “Farhat Hayati” and thank you for your time.

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Pisces February 19-March 20 Big changes in your love life, with friends, and in your job are in the works for you in the next few months, and July’s events will give you a sense of what needs to be done. Tests in these areas of your life are likely now. Your more playful, creative, and romantic impulses are stimulated now, making it a good time for a vacation.

Aries March 21- April 19 Changes on both professional and personal fronts are in store for you in the next few months, and July’s events will give you a sense of what’s coming, and what needs to be done to prepare. This might require some changes in your approach to career, and some schedule juggling.

Taurus April 20-May 20 A flurry of activity in July will leave your head spinning at times. There are errands to run, calls and emails to make, and paperwork to sort out. You have the ability to find extra sources of income this month, but at the same time, your tendency to spend what you earn runs high. Take care.

Leo July 23-August 22 A friendly, sociable, and spiritual month

is in your forecast. It’s a strong time for recreating yourself and your goals. Circumstances insist you rid yourself of guilt about under-performing, and to

develop faith and trust in a larger more spiritual plan. Get yourself involved

with others, through clubs, groups, and other social events,.

Virgo August 23-September 22

Others are recognizing your charm and determination this month, and

your ability to network and communi-cate with ease in July only sweetens

the pot. Your romantic life is likely to be emotional and the 21st marks a new beginning with friends and group as-

sociations.

Libra September 23-October 22

Your career is a big focus this month, and there is a chance for a new start professionally speaking. The 5th to 8th

brings urgent demands from home and family, serving as a reminder of per-

sonal responsibilities, as you’ve been paying a lot of attention to your public

and professional life.

Scorpio October 23-November 21

Events in July bring up the issues of freedom and mobility for you. You are

feeling restless and restrained, and the need to put some spice and adventure

into your life is strong. Intimate matters are heating up this month, keeping a

romance interesting, but avoid reading between the lines too much.

Sagittarius November 22- December 21

In July, focus is on a partner and rela-tionships in general for you. There are

plenty of negotiations and compro-mises to make. Love is spicy, stimu-lating, sometimes challenging, but

ultimately very satisfying this month. Changes in your income, or that of a

partner, are also in store.

Capricorn December 22-January 19

Partnerships are a big theme this month. New beginnings in relationships are in the works, and July’s events get the ball rolling in that direction. Work is

especially stimulating in July, and of-fers you wonderful social, and possibly

romantic, opportunities.

Gemini May 21-June 20 The need to sort out your finances becomes apparent in July. Some drama regarding shared finances with a partner, loans, or taxes is likely this month. On a personal level, your per-sonal magnetism skyrockets from the 5th, and especially after the 12th. Take advantage of this exciting energy!

Cancer June 21-July 22 Tests, illuminations, and dramas with a partner occur from this month, setting the stage for a strong need to revamp your approach to life. Issues surround-ing personal appearance, the body, and your image become especially im-portant now. You take a more spiritual approach to your love life this month.

Aquarius January 20-February 28Heightened romantic feelings and playful impulses are themes for you in July. It’s a strong period for taking a small, perhaps familiar, vacation that allows you to rest, relax, recoup, and enjoy yourself. Overall, July is a time to adapt and attract rather than initiate new projects or endeavors.

in the CitySummer

Natural NudesSummer is well under

way and if you haven’t noticed, nude is

everywhere! You can find this color on the

red carpet and on the runways. From designer

frames to peep-toe heels, nude is the IT

colour of the season. It’s simple, chic, and fabulous! As a broad

rule, the choice of which neutral to wear

is in inverse proportion to your skin tone; paler

skins suit darker neutrals in cinnamon and

coffee, while darker complexions can wear

more buttery colours.Bottega Veneta

runway

Erickson Beamon lily stone embellished necklace

Monica Vinader marie disc earrings

Chloe sequined racer

back top

Tomas Maier cross strap

dress

Donna Karan cushed linen

dress

Bottega Veneta skinny leather belt

Casaner Doris espadrille wedges

CC Skye mimi bag

Christian Louboutin rolando platform

pumpsGiuseppe

Zanotti ankle collar leather

sandals

Herve Leger camille beaded dress

Jimmy Choo

lucy leather shoulder

bag

Linda Farrow Luxe luxe 11 aviators sunglasses

Prada butterfly frame sunglasses

Stella McCartney canvas waist belt

Stella McCartney irdiescent bustier dress

Miu Miu patent flat slingbacks

Nanette Lepore let's boogie shorts

Nina Ricci panel frill silk gown

Susan Farber sunkissed tan kingston bag

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ARTCELEBRETIES at Grand Hyatt Cairo

Sherry Adel, Ghada Adel & guests

Hani El Behery, Bosi Shalabi,Kahled Zaki & guests

Khaled Zaki & Bousi Shalabi

Magdi El Hawari, Ghada Adel& Nancy Yousef

Saad elsoghair-M Heniedy-Idward-Maged El Kedwani

Mona Zaki & guests

Sally Khattab, Nansi Yousef ART PR Manager & Emy El shourbagi

Sherif Mounir & Mohamed Henidy & guests

Mohamed El Emam & Khaled Zaki

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Ha

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stSerene A Nour, Mohamed Heniedy, Ghada Adel & Magdi El Hawari

Tam

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Jumana Mourad, Mohamed Heneidy & guest

Emy El Shourbagi, Lekaa El Khomaisy & Abdul Monsef

Safaa Abou El Seoud & Emy El Shourbagi

Grand Hyatt Cairo hosted the annual celebration of the ART, the event was attended by several artists and high level social celebrities. The organizers chose Farahaty ballroom for their special celebration for its unique location overlooking the Nile and the hotel’s high standard level of service.

STAR STUDDED EVENT

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Melon MelodyReminiscent of a fancy martini, this sexy drink is perfect for a gathering of friends. The colorful garnishes, made of tiny fresh melon balls, are easy to make and add an impressive finishing touch. But be forewarned, the melon soaks up the punch, so be careful snacking!Recipe (8 servings):

INGREDIENTSPunch bowl and glasses4 Cups pineapple juice2 Cups vodka¾ Cup Midori (melon liqueur)½ Cup cream of coconut½ Cup fresh lime juice½ Small cantaloupe, chilled¼ Small honeydew melon, chilled1-inch-thick Slice of small seedless watermelon, chilled4 Cups crushed ice

DIRECTIONSMix all of the liquid ingredients in the punch bowl.Cut the melons into 1/2-inch balls using the smaller end of a melon baller. Thread the melon balls in combinations onto 8 large cocktail picks or small skewers. If you have more melon than you need, cut additional balls and float them in the punch for added color.Add the crushed ice to the punch. Garnish individual glasses with the melon ball swizzles and serve immediately

Argentine-Style BelliniThis Italian-style cocktail combination is very popular in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Served

in a champagne flute, this light cocktail is a great way to start any evening or party.Recipe (1 serving):

INGREDIENTS3 oz Peach nectar5 oz Cold Spanish sparkling wine or dry champagne1 Thin peach slice and 1 raspberry, for garnish

DIRECTIONSPour the peach nectar into an 8-ounce champagne glass or flute. Slowly add the sparkling wine or champagne. Stir, garnish with the peach slice and raspberry, and serve immediately.

BanaquiriYou can use this recipe to make any kind of fruit daiquiri. Just substitute 2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) of fruit (such as melon, peaches, strawberries, apricots, litchis, kiwi or mango) for the banana. If you like, you can also replace the maraschino with a complementary liqueur or brandy (Midori with melon, peach brandy with peaches, etc.). Garnish with the mint sprig and a piece of whatever fruit went into the mix, skewered on a cocktail pick.Recipe (1 serving):

INGREDIENTS1 ½ oz Silver rum½ Large banana (about 4 ounces)½ oz Lime juice1 tsp Simple syrup½ oz Maraschino liqueur1 Cup crushed ice1 Sprig of mint, for garnish1 Slice banana, on a cocktail pick for

garnishOld-fashioned or large cocktail glass

DIRECTIONSBlend the rum, banana, lime juice, syrup, maraschino liqueur and ice in an electric blender until smooth, about 15 seconds. Pour into the glass and garnish with the mint sprigs and skewered banana slice

Machu PicchuReminiscent of a tequila sunrise, this Peruvian-born cocktail, named after one of the most exquisite places on earth, is quite festive! It's deep green (thanks to a bit of creme de menthe) on the top and orange in the middle, and the grenadine sits on the bottom (but soon starts to rise). This is a fun cocktail to make and serve with colorful straws and umbrellas.Recipe (1 serving):

INGREDIENTSIce cubes2 oz Pisco4 oz Fresh-squeezed orange juice¼ oz Grenadine¼ oz Crème de menthe

DIRECTIONSFill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour in 1 ounce of the pisco, the orange juice and the grenadine. In a cocktail shaker, combine the remaining pisco, crème de menthe and three ice cubes and shake well (this will lighten the crème de menthe so that it floats on the top).Pour on top of the orange juice mixture in the tall glass and add a straw, but don't stir or the colors will blend together.

SUMMER COCKTAILSSENSATIONAL

What better than a fabulous summer cocktail to cool off from heat and quench your thirst. This summer, we’ve brought you the most sensational and easy to make cocktails to kick off your parties, on the beach, or just for a small gathering. For all tastes and preferences, you can enjoy these quick cocktails with or without alcohol.

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Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’97,Wear sunscreen.If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing everyday that scares you. Sing Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss. Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself. Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…

Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Baz Luhrmann

Download this song

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Experimenting with drugs & alcoholSummer holidays usually involve a fair amount of partying, especially for the younger

generations, and all in all that’s a great thing. You’ve finished exams, taken a week off work, whatever your situation its time to really let loose and go absolutely wild, you deserve it.

But connected with the party scene is the drugs & alcohol scene, and realistically by this age (unless you have either a personal or religious issue with the two), then it’s very likely you’ve had first hand experience with both, be it trying them yourself, knowing someone who has, being in a place where people are using them, or at least being offered to try. And particularly when we’re young and impressionable, it’s normal that out of curiosity we might want to experience something new, especially when everyone is doing it. Particularly in today’s world, drugs & alcohol have almost become socially acceptable, drinking is the norm and although drug use is certainly not the norm, it is readily available, and common for people to take either occasionally, and even regularly. Of course we’re not talking about drug addictions, that’s another story, but we mean recreational use, which is becoming more and more predominant.

Like it or not, we will be faced with the temptation of drugs & alcohol, young or old, and like it or not, we may decide to give it a go. But if you do then just be aware of what’s what, the effects, and the consequences, so you know what you’re doing. Don’t be naïve and just take whatever’s given to you, Don’t feel pressured just to be a ‘cool’; if you want to try then fine, if you don’t never let anyone pressure you into it, that’s not ‘cool’. Yes some of the effects of these things are fun – but you need to know your limits or they won’t be fun anymore, and you will end up making a fool of yourself. There are so many things that could go wrong and ruin your experience and make you recall it as a negative one, and you wouldn’t want that.

LUCYin the sky

DRUGS The thing with drugs is that there are so many of them and unfortunately people don’t know enough about the drugs they consume. People tend to mainly listen to friends’ experience and not really consider the effects and seriousness of drugs. So here’s a rundown of some of the most commonly used drugs of our generation.

Cannabis Cannabis is a plant native to Central Asia; it is the plant that marihuana, hashish and hash oil comes from. The leaves and flowers can be smoked, baked into foods, or even used to make tea. Cannabis is considered to be the most widely used and the third most commonly consumed drug after alcohol and tobacco, in the world. Most often, people smoke it rolled up with tobacco.Consuming cannabis produces a feeling of relaxation or drowsiness, and lasts for a couple of hours, it’s normally quite a relaxed happy feeling, and often gives you the giggles. On the other hand it can also make you feel nervous or paranoid, it depends on your initial mood and environment. Hunger is also a natural feeling after smoking cannabis; people describe it as getting the “munchies”. To avoid disasters, don’t mix cannabis with alcohol, since they both affect motor skills and coordination. Driving while under the influence is more difficult because the reaction time is slowed.Cannabis can affect your short-term memory and coordination, and in the long run, it can irritate the respiratory system and lead to bronchitis and lung cancer. Using the drug makes you lack motivation and have difficulty concentrating. Long-term users of the drug can develop schizophrenia, a chronic mental disease. Overdosing on cannabis is very rare; you would need to have consumed a great amount of it for the dose to be fatal or risky. Addiction to cannabis is mainly psychological, but could also be physical with regular use. It is very rare though for physical addiction to happen; mostly people get addicted to the habit of smoking the drug, not more

ALCOHOL There are many tips to keep in mind when drinking to avoid feeling sick or fall prey to embarrassing events. If you go by these tips, you will enjoy your time, and still be sober enough to maintain control over yourself and your actions, which is what you want.

TIPS:Never drink on an empty stomach. Alcohol absorption is increased by hunger; one beer on an empty stomach will have the same effect as 2 beers on a full stomach.Be the one to decide how much to drink, not your friends. You’re not in a competition; and you don’t have to drink all you’re offered. Moreover, we’re all not born equal; some can handle alcohol better than others. This applies especially to skinny people; alcohol absorption is dependent on body weight /structure, which also means that girls generally are less alcohol resistant that boy – there are always exceptions though.Make it last longer. Don’t chug your drink all at once because if everyone else is still drinking and you’re done, you will be more tempted to go for another one. Enjoy your drink – take a sip, talk, eat chips, then have another sip.Don’t mix drinks and always eat between them. You’ve probably heard of the saying: “beer after whiskey is risky; but whiskey after

beer is sincere”, the other is “beer before wine, you’ll be fine, wine before beer, you’ll be queer”. Following these rules, they are true. Mixing drinks wrongly will get you drunk faster and uglier and will just make you feel sick. Try as much as possible not alternate drinks, and if you do, don’t go back again to the one you started with.If you start to feel dizzy, stop drinking or at least take a break. Go out in the fresh air or splash water on your face to refresh yourself.If you feel the need to, don’t hold yourself from throwing up. Don’t ignore these tips and try to convince yourself that you know it all because most probably you don’t. With each time you drink, you will get to know your body, what you can tolerate and what you can’t and how much of it before you’re over the edge. Couldn’t go without mentioning the dreaded hangover in the morning, which most of the time is simply unavoidable. But to reduce the effects, drink as much water as possible before you go to sleep, as it will be the dehydration from the alcohol which will be making your head pound next day. Must also mention that if you have had quite a bit to drink, your memory can get foggy, and you might wake up next day, not quite remembering all your antics of the previous night, have your friends fill in the gaps, and laugh!

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LSDLSD stands for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, which is the most powerful conscious -altering substance known to man – it is a hallucinogenic drug. It comes in the form of liquid or tablet, on a piece of paper or a sugar cube. It is taken orally and has a slightly bitter taste.The drug produces hallucinations and there’s no way to anticipate whether the “trip” will be a good or bad one – it’s very unpredictable and a trip can last for several hours. On a good trip, the hallucinations can be funny and make you laugh lots, colours seem brighter, and some people say that your perspective on things changes, which can often make you feel much better. This drug make the pupils dilate, increase heart rate and blood pressure, and causes dryness in the mouth. Insomnia, tremors, and paranoia are all common affects while under the influence of the drug. It is difficult to know the dosage you’re getting when you buy LSD because the potency will depend on the batch made. There’s no overdose issue with LSD, but it’s possible to harm yourself because of irrational thoughts that may arise under the influence. LSD is not an addictive drug since it doesn’t at on the user’s brain in the same way other drugs, like cocaine, do. Overtime, a person will develop a tolerance for the drug and larger doses will be needed to experience a “trip”.

So there you have it, drugs & alcohol can be fun, but they can also be dangerous, don’t take risks, they can be fatal! If you are going to experiment be careful, make sure you know what you’re taking, and do it with people you know and trust, so that worst case you know they will look after you. And even better, enjoy your summer without it, you don’t have to be high to have fun!

EcstasyEcstasy is one of the most popular ‘club drugs’ today. It officially hit the party scene in the late 70s and early 80s. It is one of the few drugs that are not derived from a natural substance.Ecstasy comes in the form of a tablet or capsule with white, yellow, or brown colours – it is also available in powder form. It is sometimes stamped with an image to give it candy-like appearance. It is known as the “love drug”, “X”, or “XTC” on the street.The drug produces an overwhelming feeling of well being when consumed. It makes you more comfortable in social situations, makes you feel happy, like you love everyone, the ‘world is good’, and they have energy to dance all night. These feelings last for between one and six hours, which after, the user may feel irritable, depressed, anxious, or have memory problems. The problem with ecstasy when you buy it is that you don’t know what other substances the drug has been laced with. Ecstasy can increase the heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke, and can be fatal. Dehydration is another danger of ecstasy since it’s commonly associated with use at dance clubs, where users may be partying for extended periods, that’s why you always see people drinking water. A person experiencing an overdose may feel faint or have a panic attack; increase in body temperature, seizures, and strokes are definite possibilities.

CocaineCocaine is a stimulant that can be smoked, snorted, or injected. It is known among people as snow, blow, flake, and a variety of other nicknames. Cocaine comes in a white powder form – and crack cocaine is a processed, powerful version of the drug that looks like a rock and is smoked. Cocaine is usually snorted through the nose, and because it s relatively expensive, it used to be a drug for the rich, and the typical image of cocaine is snorting with rolled up dollar bills, kind of glamorous. Cocaine gives a feeling of euphoria, and causes blood pressure and heart rate to increase. The high you get from taking cocaine makes people feel energetic, alert and overly confident, this makes them feel good, but is a very addictive feeling. Avoid mixing cocaine with alcohol because this combination causes the body to produce a toxic substance called

cocaethylene in the blood.Cocaine overdose is very serious; it can lead to death. It’s estimated that 1.2 grams of cocaine, used orally, or 800 milligrams inhaled, can be fatal. Exceeding recreational dosage can evoke paranoid delusions where you start to feel you’re being watched or followed. Fever, rapid heartbeat, agitation, and even seizures are all symptoms that occur from an overdose.Cocaine is definitely addictive. Addicts of the drug usually develop a chronic runny nose and their ability to smell and taste becomes impaired. An addict is always trying to recreate the initial high by consuming more of the drug. The cocaine experience is not long lasting, that’s why a dose is consumed repeatedly to maintain the pleasure.Cocaine is a powerful stimulant whose annual street use revenue top 100 Billion dollars and exceed that of corporations as large as Starbucks.

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LSDLSD stands for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, which is the most powerful conscious -altering substance known to man – it is a hallucinogenic drug. It comes in the form of liquid or tablet, on a piece of paper or a sugar cube. It is taken orally and has a slightly bitter taste.The drug produces hallucinations and there’s no way to anticipate whether the “trip” will be a good or bad one – it’s very unpredictable and a trip can last for several hours. On a good trip, the hallucinations can be funny and make you laugh lots, colours seem brighter, and some people say that your perspective on things changes, which can often make you feel much better. This drug make the pupils dilate, increase heart rate and blood pressure, and causes dryness in the mouth. Insomnia, tremors, and paranoia are all common affects while under the influence of the drug. It is difficult to know the dosage you’re getting when you buy LSD because the potency will depend on the batch made. There’s no overdose issue with LSD, but it’s possible to harm yourself because of irrational thoughts that may arise under the influence. LSD is not an addictive drug since it doesn’t at on the user’s brain in the same way other drugs, like cocaine, do. Overtime, a person will develop a tolerance for the drug and larger doses will be needed to experience a “trip”.

So there you have it, drugs & alcohol can be fun, but they can also be dangerous, don’t take risks, they can be fatal! If you are going to experiment be careful, make sure you know what you’re taking, and do it with people you know and trust, so that worst case you know they will look after you. And even better, enjoy your summer without it, you don’t have to be high to have fun!

EcstasyEcstasy is one of the most popular ‘club drugs’ today. It officially hit the party scene in the late 70s and early 80s. It is one of the few drugs that are not derived from a natural substance.Ecstasy comes in the form of a tablet or capsule with white, yellow, or brown colours – it is also available in powder form. It is sometimes stamped with an image to give it candy-like appearance. It is known as the “love drug”, “X”, or “XTC” on the street.The drug produces an overwhelming feeling of well being when consumed. It makes you more comfortable in social situations, makes you feel happy, like you love everyone, the ‘world is good’, and they have energy to dance all night. These feelings last for between one and six hours, which after, the user may feel irritable, depressed, anxious, or have memory problems. The problem with ecstasy when you buy it is that you don’t know what other substances the drug has been laced with. Ecstasy can increase the heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke, and can be fatal. Dehydration is another danger of ecstasy since it’s commonly associated with use at dance clubs, where users may be partying for extended periods, that’s why you always see people drinking water. A person experiencing an overdose may feel faint or have a panic attack; increase in body temperature, seizures, and strokes are definite possibilities.

CocaineCocaine is a stimulant that can be smoked, snorted, or injected. It is known among people as snow, blow, flake, and a variety of other nicknames. Cocaine comes in a white powder form – and crack cocaine is a processed, powerful version of the drug that looks like a rock and is smoked. Cocaine is usually snorted through the nose, and because it s relatively expensive, it used to be a drug for the rich, and the typical image of cocaine is snorting with rolled up dollar bills, kind of glamorous. Cocaine gives a feeling of euphoria, and causes blood pressure and heart rate to increase. The high you get from taking cocaine makes people feel energetic, alert and overly confident, this makes them feel good, but is a very addictive feeling. Avoid mixing cocaine with alcohol because this combination causes the body to produce a toxic substance called

cocaethylene in the blood.Cocaine overdose is very serious; it can lead to death. It’s estimated that 1.2 grams of cocaine, used orally, or 800 milligrams inhaled, can be fatal. Exceeding recreational dosage can evoke paranoid delusions where you start to feel you’re being watched or followed. Fever, rapid heartbeat, agitation, and even seizures are all symptoms that occur from an overdose.Cocaine is definitely addictive. Addicts of the drug usually develop a chronic runny nose and their ability to smell and taste becomes impaired. An addict is always trying to recreate the initial high by consuming more of the drug. The cocaine experience is not long lasting, that’s why a dose is consumed repeatedly to maintain the pleasure.Cocaine is a powerful stimulant whose annual street use revenue top 100 Billion dollars and exceed that of corporations as large as Starbucks.

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Babe BasicsBeach

D&G black swimsuite

Charlotte Russe striped bandeau

monokini

Chloe floral print bikini

Dana dot monokini

La Perla margret halter neck swimsuit

Diane von Furstenberg printed string bikini

Diane von Furstenberg

Emilio Pucci printed halterneck swimsuit

La Perla stone detail bikini

Melissa Odabash sophie triangle bikini

Micheal Kors zebra print bikini

Shay Todd tassle bandeau bikini

Jets by Jessica Allen

SEA FOLLY-black hipster tie bikine

Halternecks, bandeaus, triangle, tankinis, bikinis & monokinis: swimwear

jargon. Her are some of our favourite styles.

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in the CitySummer

Natural NudesSummer is well under

way and if you haven’t noticed, nude is

everywhere! You can find this color on the

red carpet and on the runways. From designer

frames to peep-toe heels, nude is the IT color of the season.

It’s simple, chic, and fabulous! As a broad

rule, the choice of which neutral to wear

is in inverse proportion to your skin tone; paler

skins suit darker neutrals in cinnamon and

coffee, while darker complexions can wear

more buttery colours.Bottega Veneta

runway

Erickson Beamon lily stone embellished necklace

Monica Vinader marie disc earrings

chloe sequined racer back top

Tomas Maier cross strap

dress

Donna Karan cushed linen

dress

Bottega Veneta skinny leather belt

Casaner doris espadrille wedges

CC Skye mimi bag

Christian Louboutin rolando platform

pumpsgiuseppe

zanotti ankle collar leather

sandals

Herve Leger camille beaded dressjimmy

choo lucy leather

shoulder bag

Linda Farrow Luxe luxe 11 aviators sunglasses

Prada butterfly frame sunglasses

Stella McCartney canvas waist belt

Stella Mccartney- irdiescent bustier dress

Miu Miu patent flat slingbacks

Nanette Lepore let's boogie shorts

Nina Ricci panel frill silk gown

Susan Farber sunkissed tan

kingston

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Once you’ve found the

perfect suit, all you need to

be a seaside knockout are a few juicy-hued accessories… and a little bit

of attitude.Beach

ExtrasBabe

Cath Kidston sunglasses case

iPod ShuffleHavaiana yellow crystal flipflops

Havaina black crystal

flipflops

Melissa Odabash zebra cosmetic_bikini bag

Marni stone embellished

necklaceMonica Vinader leo wire earrings

Dannijo frankie chain link cuff

Fendi rose-detailed oval sunglasses

Alexander McQueen large printed silk scarf

Maje fringed cotton scarf

River Island striped beach

hat

Tory beach tote

River Island convertible gauze shorts

Melissa Odabash jemima floppy hat

Chloe filao sunglasses

Accessorize straw bag

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in the Citymatalan

Marc by Marc jacobs hobo shoulder bag

Rebecca Taylor tequila bingo satin dress

Celine scarf neck cocktail

dress

fluoro brights Theory tailored cotton shorts

Summer new look

aldo

fluoro brights -Theory (Short

sleve day dress)

each, dorothy perkins

Herve Leger rainbow

bandage dress

Fluoro BrightsSummer time means

bold & bright. So get your shades your shades out to protect you from the glare

of this season’s neon inspiration. Everything and anything in bright neon colours, yellows,

fushias and blues is back, so go all out on this one.

jenny packham

fluoro brights Nina Ricci floral cocktail dress

Jimmy Choo

panama strappy sandals

Bottega Venetta woven box clutch

Jimmy Choo lawson stacked wedges

asos

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Cityleather

and bead sandals,kurt

geiger

beaded leather sandals, around,

gianvito rossi

beaded cotton

necklace nocturne

metal, diamante

and silk velvet necklace,

mawi

inSummer the

studded leather sandals, asos

beaded cotton

necklace accessorize

The

It’s all a

bout this

summer w

hen it comes

to accessorie

s. Sandals

are in th

eir element,

embellished w

ith

beautiful sh

ades of

pearls and te

am them

with equally beautifu

l

necklaces t

o complete

your look.

Accesso

ries

Detail

bead

necklace,

principles

Melissa Odabash raffia cowboy hat copy

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SizzlingSummer

SizzlingSummer

For that extra touch, make this easy punch recipe and enjoy long cool drinks with your sizzling hot lunch.

INGREDIENTS* ½ ltr Orange juice * 2 ltrs Pineapple juice

* 1 3/4 Cups lemon juice* 2 cups White sugar* 4 ltrs Water

DIRECTIONSCombine all ingredients & stir well. Serve chilled

So summer is in sight and it›s time to wipe off those dusty BBQ›s, get out in the garden on or onto the balcony and throw some parties. Here›s a collection of our fabulous and favorite recipes guaranteed to satisfy all stomachs.

INGREDIENTS* 2 tbps Beef stock* 2 tbps Water* 3 Cloves garlic, minced* 2 tsps Cayenne pepper* 1/2 tsp Salt* 1 tsp Black pepper* 2 kilos Beef sirloin, cut into 1/2-inch cubes* 10 Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 1 hour* 2 tsps Vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS1. Dissolve stock in water. Stir in the garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Toss the meat in the marinade, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.2. Preheat a grill for high heat.3. Skewer the beef cubes, using 6 to 8 pieces per skewer. Pour the oil onto a plate, and roll the skewers in it to coat them on all sides.4. Grill the skewers, turning frequently, until the beef has turned light pink, 12 to 15 minutes.

Awesome SpicyBeef Kabobs

INGREDIENTS* 1 Kilo of large shrimp, peeled and de-veined* 1/3 Cup olive oil* 1/4 Cup orange juice* 6-8 Cloves garlic, minced* 2 tsps Fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped* 1 tbp Fresh basil, finely chopped* 1/4 tsp Salt* 1/8 tsp black pepper* Skewers

DIRECTIONSPlace shrimp in a large bowl. Combine remaining ingredients and pour onto shrimp. Toss to coat, cover, and place in refrigerator for 30-60 minutes. Preheat grill for medium heat. Put shrimp onto skewers. Try to fit about 5 on each skewer. Place onto grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. When shrimp no longer looks translucent, remove from heat and serve.

Grilled GarlicButter Shrimp

INGREDIENTS* 1/4 Cup Dijon mustard* 2 tbp Fresh lemon juice* 1-1/2 tsps Worcestershire sauce* 1/2 tsp Dried tarragon* 1/4 tsp Freshly ground black pepper* 4 Halves chicken breast, boneless & skinless

DIRECTIONSCombine the first five ingredients, mixing well; spread on both sides of chicken. Place chicken on a plate. Marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes or for several hours in the refrigerator. Grill, uncovered, over medium coals, turning once, for 10 to 15 minutes or until juices run clear.

15-MinuteMarinatedChicken

INGREDIENTS* 1/4 Cup Ketchup* 2 tsps Steak Sauce* 1 tbp Water* 1 tsp Sugar* 1 tsp Vinegar* 1 Clove Garlic minced* 3 Dashes hot pepper sauce (optional)* ½ Kilo Lean Ground Beef* 1/4 tp Salt* 1/4 tsp Black Pepper* 4 Hamburger Buns* American Cheese sliced* Lettuce Leaves* Tomato sliced* Onion sliced* Pickles sliced

DIRECTIONS1. For sauce, in a small saucepan combine ketchup, steak sauce, water, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and if desired, hot pepper sauce. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside.2. In a medium bowl combine ground beef, salt, and pepper. Shape meat mixture into four 3/4 inch thick patties.3. For a charcoal grill, grill patties on the of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 14 to 18 minutes or until meat is done (160F), turning once halfway through grilling and brushing once or twice with sauce durning the last 5 minutes.4. Grill5. Serve burgers on buns. Spoon any remaining sauce over burgers. If desired, serve burgers with cheese, letuce, tomato, onion, and pickes.

BBQ Burgers

Golden Summer Punch

This is a pioneering initiative in the industry.Marriott as a company is quite pioneering, founded in 1927, as a food and beverage company, including a range of restaurants. Then it became the first company to start in-flight airline catering services with American Airlines. Then we pioneered the drive-thru restaurant, we were the first to have one, and this is just a few of the pioneering activities that Marriott has done.The Marriott team is clearly enthusiastic and you have a good team spirit.We have great team spirit, I call it the dream team, we go out together for fun. It’s very important to have a good feeling among the team, and not just purely work. I cannot do anything alone in this hotel, its all about the team working together, so we have to have good spirit, I need to make sure my employees are happy, because they are what makes the hotel.

General Manager Ulrich Huth leads the Cairo Marriott in a pioneering initiative. The location just couldn’t be better - a tranquil setting amid beautiful lush gardens on an island on the Nile. With dramatically modern twin towers flanking a former Royal Palace, the hotel offers a magical blend of traditional elegance and contemporary facilities. Under the direction of General Manager Ulrich Huth, the Marriott has become a pioneer of the Egyptian hotel industry by introducing non-smoking lobbies.German born Ulrich Huth has been with Marriott Group since 1989, and has a wide career in the hospitality industry in Germany, the USA and in Egypt. Here in Cairo, Ulrich has become somewhat of a local celebrity, especially in the Zamalek area, where he is well-known due to his activities of serving the community. This down-to-earth, community- focused and totally “Egyptianified” GM takes some time to tell us more about his new projects at The Cairo Marriott.

Tell us more about this non-smoking lobby initiative.It was an idea born by my team about 2 months ago, when we opened the new lobby in the south tower, Gezirah entrance, and I decided I wanted it to be no smoking. And it worked, then we decided to try making all the lobbies non-smoking areas, the Lobby bar, cafes. I thought it would be quite a challenge, especially with the smoking culture in Egypt. But my team was really for it, so we gave it a go. Basically it spread throughout the hotel, of course there are still smoking areas, but now it’s the smaller portion of any restaurant, café or lobby, whereas before it was the opposite. We didn’t advertise too much

because I wanted to make sure it was an idea that would be accepted before we made big promotion about it. After a week or so of seeing it work, the idea was accepted very easily. People were really not too bothered, those who did would go to the designated areas, and the rest of course enjoyed the clean air. Nobody complained there really was not much resistance, which of course was surprising, but pleasantly surprising. When we were sure the idea passed the test, I let the Minister of Health and the Minister of Tourism know we had started the project. I was really pleased with the result.We are trying to make the change as easy as possible, trying to accommodate everybody, while keeping our initiative intact, by providing necessary smoking areas indoors and outdoors, where needed. The point is to keep the air as clean and fresh as possible. We would like to progress more in this direction, and eventually make as much of the hotel non-smoking. Right now 42% of our rooms are non-smoking so the majority is still smoking but we would like to increase this, but of course only if it is acceptable to our guests. The change is gradual and we are providing the choice, with areas for those who do want to smoke.

As a foreigner, how is it to work with an Egyptian team?We have 99% Egyptian staff here. It’s important to understand the people and the culture to work here and in any culture, ways are different, priorities in life are different, so you have to understand this and work with it. Egyptian culture is almost completely opposite to western culture, priorities are different, and you need to understand this, and I am happy to work with this. I have spent a total of 15 years here, so I do understand it and I enjoy it. I love it here, I had tears in my eyes when I left the first time, and I said “I’ll be back” and here I am.What other environmental initiatives is the Cairo Marriott involved in?It parts of the business council in which we participate, with other Marriott hotels … we started the cleaning campaign in 1999, we go around cleaning the streets, it’s to raise awareness and we hope that other companies follow suit. We have won an award “Spirit to serve our Communities” for the year 2008, we contribute to the children’s cancer hospital, have blood donation campaigns regularly, and hold charity dinners during Ramadan. So we try as much as possible to do our part in the community.

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sdfsdfsdf

Tamarai Terrace White Party

Tamarai celebrated the Opening of it’s Terrace. Partying under Cairo’s dazzling skies and foot steps away from the Nile, with white dress code and the summer spirit, all invitees enjoyed a night to be remembered.

The media is flaunted with beautiful 'perfect' women that you would kill to be like. Images of women's bodies are everywhere. Women's bodies are being used widely in the advertising world, from selling food all the way to cars. Popular actresses and entertainers are becoming younger, thinner, and even taller. Surely you've passed by so many ads and billboards while driving or just walking in the street – there has to be a beautiful woman on it, no matter what the product is. For instance a water advertisement could have a man or a child as a model, why a woman? It's a woman because this is the center of attraction for both men and women. Men will look at the ad and think 'what a babe?' and women will look at it and think 'why can't I look like that? In both cases they are both being attracted to the ad in some way, and they might buy the product just because of the model promoting it.

Magazines are probably the highest promoters of image and beauty. I dare you to find one woman magazine, including us, that doesn't mention anything about how to look beautiful, lose weight, or even just have a fuller woman on the cover – you won't. The best way to sell a magazine is to put the 'hottest' possible woman on the cover for people to pull it out of the other 100's of competitors. Most women's magazines are urging women to lose just those extra 10 kilos that will make their life so much happier, and they'll have it all – good marriage, successful career, and loving children. But is it really the extra weight that's holding you back from enjoying life?The big question is: why are beauty standards being imposed on women? Some say these standards go back to economics. When the media imposes these ideal standards, the consumer industry as a whole is accelerated.

People are attracted to beautiful images, so they buy the product no matter what it is, as they subconciously think they will be like the model if they own or use the product.

Whatsmore, cosmetic, diet, and beauty products are always the winners as the more that beautiful images are being promoted, the consumer will always want to buy even more beauty products – and of course we all know that falling into the scam of using a "magical" beauty product is so much easier than going to the gym, or eating healthy. So the media promotes the image even more, the consumer buys into the trap, manufacturers sell more, and so the cycle goes on.

Aging is another side to body image – women's biggest fear is aging, they always want to look young and wrinkle free. Women feel that if they look younger they will have more opportunities in their lives, whether it be careers or men. Of course hardly anyone understands that each age has its own beauty – and with so many

anti-aging products, why leave yourself to age. So if you don't have the need to lose weight, then aging will be a definite issue – and for most aging is a disaster.

Insecurity plays a huge role in achieving the 'ideal' body image. Women who are more insecure about themselves and have a lower self-esteem will tend to fall prey to these tactics. These women will be more anxious to buy beauty and dieting products, and buy new clothes to try and compensate for their insecurities. The biggest fear here is resorting to unhealthy eating habits and leading themselves to anorexia and bulimia. At first, women might not think that on their way to losing weight, they are actually harming themselves. These eating disorders can cause unimaginable complications. The pressure to be thin, especially among the younger generation, has caused them to go to drastic measures to fulfill the ideal look.

The barrage of messages about thinness, dieting and beauty tells "ordinary" women that they are always in need of adjustment—and that the female body is an object to be perfected. Many women believe these messages and judge themselves by the media’s beauty standards. Comparison arises between the ‘ordinary’ woman and the ‘ideal’ women, and so does competition for the male’s attention. Most women think that men only like the thin ‘perfect’ body, but that’s not always the case. Just like women are different, so are men. Men have their different tastes in women, some like a thinner body, while others like a fuller one. You can’t base your judgment on what someone else would think of you. You might like a man and want to do everything you can to impress him, such as losing a few pounds, and at the end he turns out to like a fuller shape.

The summer season is a focal stage for weight loss and dieting. Both men and women start stressing months before about how they’ll look on the beach. You find women eating all they want all year long, and just when summer is at the door, they start to starve themselves. That's crazy. Eating right is the key to maintaining your weight – you can’t eat fast food, chocolate, and junk everyday and then come crying when you gain a few kilos; it’s obvious that this is going to happen. It’s true that some people eat like pigs and don’t gain weight, but that’s the nature of their body and that’s different for everyone. All I’m saying is that don’t stress too much over how you will look in the summer; if you do all that’s right, which is eating healthy and exercising on a normal basis, then you’ve done what you can and you have to be satisfied with the outcome even if it’s no where close to the ‘ideal’ image. Don’t worry about what swimsuit will look good if your shape is full because trust me, for every shape there’s a swimsuit to compliment it – to bring out the good parts and hide the flaws that worry you.

Beauty comes from confidence and personality. How many times have you met a stunning girl or guy for that matter, but as soon as they open their mouth you think oh God, what a shame? How many times have you seen a gorgeous hunk walk into a party with a girl, you didn't think was so hot, and you've thought, how? Well there must be something to it... and that's personality. The most beautiful girl can walk down the street, with her shoulders hunched and face down because she's not confiedent, and no body will even notice her. While a girl who is not "perfect" – according to the media - can walk into a room and have every head turn because she carries herself with confidence and pride, this in itself is so attractive. Think Beyonce, not your typical skinny size celebrity, but wow, she's a star, she's definitely one of the "hottest" women around these days, women love her, and so do the men, why becuase she clearly is happy wih her body, doesn't hide it, and carries herself with such confidence and charisma that you can't help but think she's amazing.

If every woman saw her body as a gift that she’s been given, she would learn how to appreciate it. Be grateful that you have a healthy body – making it thinner might be unhealthy. Don’t care what anybody else thinks of you – you are the one who needs to be satisfied with your body. If you have the confidence and satisfaction, you will look good in anything you wear in whatever shape your body is. You have to realize that your beauty comes from within – this means that if you have a low self-esteem you will actually look less beautiful on the outside because you won’t have that glow. And yes, we do have diet tips and how to be gorgeous tips, and all that stuff. But it's not the be all and end all of life. It's a side issue. All I can say is, love your body!

Are you satisfied with your body? How often do you look at a model and wish you looked like her? Are you worried about how you look in outfits? Have you ever thought of getting plastic surgery to change your body? If any of these questions have crossed your mind, you need to think again. Beauty is not determined by how you look or how much you weigh – it comes from within. All women are different, but each and everyone is beautiful in her own way. There’s no such thing as perfection – no one is perfect; don’t stress yourself over your image. The extra weight is not going to make your life worse or unbearable.

Your BodyLove

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Fayrouz was launched in Egypt in 1997 and was distinguished with is unique blend of natural malt and the distinctive natural fruit flavors that contributed to categorizing it as a healthy refreshing alternative to Carbonized Soft Drinks. With its innovative strategy and vision to always be the trendy, cosmopolitan, great tasting natural malt drink; this led Fayrouz to a great success.

The first flavor introduction was the Apple flavor in a 240ml returnable bottle. Then more flavors followed; Raspberry, Pineapple, Lemon, Tangerine, Pear and Peach in cans, 1 L multi-serve returnable packs and lately in 1 L plastic bottles. Year 2005 witnessed a total facelift for Fayrouz; it was re-launched with more

premium packaging in all its pack types and across all flavors. Followed by this revamp, the brand was launched globally in GCC, North Africa, Nigeria, Iran and Turkey. This remarkable evolution in taste and packaging had a strong impact on the brand’s equity level and now it is considered number four among carbonized soft drinks.

2009 is marking a new era for Fayrouz - New challenge and a new exiting campaign of the Refreshment Brigades. All are positioning Fayrouz as the spice-up of the normal good time with friends. It is the drink that makes you feel good and brings more excitement and uniqueness to fun moments with others. The aim is to always be acquainted

with refreshment, fun, optimism and confidence, etc., accordingly, a new look was needed to present Fayrouz’s new mission… REFRESHING PLEASURE!

Fayrouz team had invited all ABCians (Members of AL Ahram Beverages Company) to present achievements and share the new challenges where everybody liked very much the new campaign with its refreshing spirit. When life loses its flavor and everything around seams unnatural where there is no sparkle or pleasure any more, the Refreshment Brigade’s role comes in! And refreshment becomes the natural evolution!

Brigades are in Town!

FayrouzRefreshment

As promised by Stella, the year 2009 is an active one. Started with events and parties introducing the Shella Rules, then Cairo’s down town tour around the authentic old bars using the Stella Map; besides Stella active Blog: www.stella1ofus.com, where Stella lovers (Shellet Stella!) can upload their own “Shella Rules”, photos or videos and join its competitions to enjoy more fun with Stella Beeret El Shella! Or the beer of the mates…

“What happens in Sharm stays in Sharm!!!” Stella Rule # 142 that you will see among other rules in many places!The first week of June witnessed a supper charged energy of Al Ahram Beverages’s team to support Stella, the Beer of Egypt; where 100 ABCommandos

were all over 460 venues around Egypt’s gvernorates; (Cairo, Alexandria, Delta & Upper Egypt), hand-in-hand making sure that Stella Rules were available at all bars and outlets at the same time, sharing the fun with Stella team within the real activation of the Rules Campiagn with its distinguished youthful fun spirit.

The 6 inspiring rules are reflecting the unique character of Stella Moments and Mates; an Egyptian youthful spirit that existed for over 100 years: a trusted member of all Egyptian mates, of all Egyptian “shellas”, who shared with it their most special moments. Stella has always been www.Stella1ofus.com! Best rules uploaded to Stella Blog will be soon be published within the upcoming Stella Rules!

StellaSettingRules All Over Egypt! ;-)2 insight


Adventure SportsBy Maryam Sharak

Summer is here, and with the rising temperatures, each and every one of us should step outside of their comfort zones and raise their risk levels with some summery sports. The usual options of shopping, tanning, lazing at the side of a pool, and heading out to restaurants and cafes for some dinner and socializing are great options. But why stop there? Living in a country with diverse travel locations and activities, summer is the perfect season to take advantage of this and try something new, exciting, challenging, and story-worthy. These sports may seem like a difficult area of interest to get into, but many of them have levels for beginners to explore, so give one of them a shot this month. With a myriad of options, we’ve chosen four to focus on here: rock climbing, scuba diving, kite surfing, and windsurfing.

Rock ClimbingAt the end of the 1800’s, rock climbing evolved from an alpine necessity that was a main component to Victorian mountaineering into a sport. Starting in various parts of Europe, it has spread worldwide, and adopted many techniques, styles, and sub-disciplines, while using a variety of sport-specific equipment. In Egypt, rock climbing destinations include

St. Catherine and Wadi Gnai. The mountain of St. Catherine is famous for its significance across several religions, as it is the location where Moses was given the Ten Commandments. Climbing this mountain is a wonderful paradox; the climb is strenuous yet peaceful, as the silence surrounds you completely. For beginners, courses and daytrips are available at Wadi Gnai and from Dahab. These courses require no previous experience, and provide all the necessary equipment. After completing a course, you will be able to sport climb at other worldwide locations. Courses include an extensive amount of important information and skills, including history of rock climbing, information about the equipment

and how to use it, knot-tying, and how to lead-climb, toprope and find your route. Climbing warm-ups, basic movements, and climbing techniques are demonstrated and practiced as well. The type of rocks available to climb at this location is mostly sandstone, but you may also climb granite of all kinds and colours, giving a varied view as you go on with your climbing adventure. Locations can also be picked according to your skill level, so don’t fret, you’ll be paired up with a spot that’s appropriate for your skill. Beginners can opt for a one-day climb, so excuses about not having time off work are void. Pack your bags and head out for the weekend, for the single day “try climb.” This is done with a toprope, which means the rope is secured from the top, making it risk-free in terms of you falling. You can also go a step further and head out for a 2-day course, which has the added benefit of making you qualified to sportclimb or toprope on your own after completing the course. These climbs are suitable for children as well, so making it a family trip is an option. Contact the Desert Divers for more information about rock climbing, as they are the only company catering to this sport in Egypt. Email them [email protected], or call +020 (0)69 3640 500

SummerIgnite Your

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Scuba DivingThe term SCUBA first came to use during World War II, referring to the oxygen equipment used by US combat frogmen, or human torpedoes, in underwater warfare. Initially an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, it’s now used as a regular word. The organization, Professional Association of Diving Instructors, or PADI, has instructors in Egypt, who offer a number of courses here. Those interested in giving diving a try can start out with an introductory course that takes just a few hours. In this course you will get a basic feel of diving and the equipment it includes, without taking the full course. Those interested in jumping into the first certificate can sign up for an Open Water Diver certificate, which only requires a weekend away from Cairo. After completing this course, you will be PADI certified to dive in hundreds of worldwide locations, using your PADI license. This course includes five sessions of knowledge building, five confined water sessions in which you learn several important diving skills, which can be in a pool or in the ocean, as well as four open water dives. Local dive sites include Dahab, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, and

Ras Muhammed, each of which take pride in a beautiful underwater world ready to be explored. Since these four dives can be covered over a single weekend, taking time off work or waiting for a vacation isn’t necessary, so take advantage of the summer and head out to get your first diving certificate one weekend! Get together a group of your friends for a new spin on a road trip, or meet new people through a scheduled course, as diving is a very social activity where you’re bound to meet interesting, fun-loving people. You can even go with your family, as there are dive certificates specifically tailored for children who love a bit of a challenge. With the right dive centre, classes can be flexible, and etching an adventure into your busy schedule is easier than you imagine it is. Be warned, after completing the Open Water Diver course, you may find yourself hooked and ready to sign up for the Advanced Open Water Diver certificate, the Rescue Diver certificate, and continue up the list. For more information about signing up for your newest addiction, contact Scuba Seekers at [email protected] or on their Facebook group, Scuba Seekers Diving Club, or call 0105000098/0103183000.

Kite SurfingKite surfing is surfing across waves while your feet are strapped onto a board, and an oversized controllable kite propels you against the water. After gaining enough experience, kite surfers can even jump off of waves and fly into the air for a while, before landing back to continue surfing. Skills at kite surfing schools include learning how to kite launch, fly, land, and use the bar, lines, and safety devices. Other than the aforementioned, kitesurfer students also learn to jibe, loop, jump, as well as gain information on safety techniques, where to kitesurf, what type of lines to use, and what type of kites. One of the most recently developed water sports, this budding activity is already available in Egypt, from the Sinai Peninsula to El Gouna, and south to Marsa Alam. Some of the top kite surfing destinations in Egypt include Dahab, El Gouna, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam, Soma Bay, Hurghada, and Safaga. Courses are available for beginners as well as more experienced kite surfers, so this is a skill and sport you can develop and advance in. You can ease into this sport by

starting slow in a beginner course, but in the right wind, you can go all out and harness the wind and ocean, giving your board top speeds and propelling you up to 20 feet into the air. A “taster” course generally takes about 2 or 3 hours of instruction, and could teach you how to fly and control a small kite on the beach. The beginner course generally takes a couple of days. A week-long course teaches additional information, such as kite setup, operation of the kite, maintenance, kite size and type considerations, and operation of all safety systems. This sport is definitely for the adventurous at heart, as it’s one of the most extreme water sports available, but the thrills are worth it. Even adventurous children can go for it, as it’s open for children over the age of 12 and weighing more than 40kg. For more information about kitesurfing, you can contact the Chamber of Diving at either their Hurghada branch at [email protected] or +2 (065) 346 25 63 / +2 (065) 346 25 64, or their Sharm branch at [email protected] or +2 (069) 366 64 48 / +20 (69 3666449) / +2 (012) 325 05 55.

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Inch out to the edge this summer and have a peek. You may like what you find so much that you’ll wonder why you didn’t take the plunge summers ago. Adventure sports are a great opportunities to be in the sun, explore nature, meet great new people, socialize with your friends, take some amazing photos, and spice up your life with a little adventure. And all of this is just a few hours away from Cairo, begging to be explored. What more could you ask for?

WindsurfingWindsurfing is another surface water sport that uses a sailboard or windsurf board, connected to a free-rotating flexible universal joint, which connects to a mast. The universal joint, or U-joint, combined with the mast, has the fun title of a “Squigglefloop.” This sport is a combination of surfing and sailing, mainly. However, it also borrows aspects of a string of other sports, including skateboarding, snowboarding, waterskiing, and waterboarding. In just a few hours of lessons, you can learn how to steer, sail, and turn, however you can sign up for longer courses in order to truly master the basics of windsurfing. With some advanced instruction and experience, you can finally excel in more complex manoeuvres, including but not limited to planing, carve gybing or turning downwind at speed, water starting, and jumping. Although this is a relatively new sport as well, which did not surface until the second half of the 20th century, this recreational activity is available in several local locations. Take a weekend trip out to Dahab, Hurghada, Safaga, or Soma Bay. The oldest and best known windsurfing location in the entire Red Sea is Dahab, which is home to several windsurfing spots appropriate for windsurfers – or windsurfers-to-be – of all skill levels. Those who are more experienced, whether they are windsurfing experts or freestylers, can head down to a Dahab location called “Speedy” that is just outside of a protected lagoon. This area is a shallow water area with strong winds and just enough choppy waves to give your surfing experience a bit of a bite. For those who just want

a nibble of this sport, try out Dahab’s Blue Lagoon. This is the perfect spot for beginners to have a trial run or sign up for a course, as it’s a protected area with shallow water, less intense waves, and a sandy bottom. Windsurfing in Hurghada is also amazing, with adequate wind for the sport all year round. Hurghada offers smaller and bigger bays, giving options for both beginners and more experienced divers. If you’re interested in hitting up Hurghada this summer for some windsurfing experience, try Tommy Friedl’s windsurfing centre at Hotel Jasmin +20 106672811. Safaga offers windsurfing conditions perfect for slaloms, which means constant zigzagging and weaving across the waters. These twisting conditions are mainly due to the mountains at Safaga, although the waters remain flat with no breaking waves. Check out Skyriders & Club Mistral at Shams Hotel www.club-mistral.com.

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by Shareen Nasr

Greek Get Away

Beautiful BeirutEveryone knows the Lebanese capital double dips in both European and Arab cultures, making Beirut the best of both worlds. From parties to shopping, fine dining to strolling, there is tons of stuff to do in the city recently crowned as the entertainment capital of the Middle East. Around an hour and half away by plane to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, visit one of the New York Times must see cities of 2009. The nation's capital has a little bit of everything for everybody to see and do. Starting with shopping for the Fashionistas, fantastic food for the connoisseurs, and a waterfront for the hopeless romantics wanting a stroll along the Corniche.

You just gotta go here:c The Elie Saab store – Found in downtown Beirut, this world-famous designer has dressed names like Halle Berry.c Zinc - known for being one of the best bars in the world, everyone who's anyone parties all night long here.c The Corniche - the strip along the waterside which is to die for at sun rise and sun set. There are also some very charming restaurants along your walk, and of course, don't forget to end your stroll at Pigeon Rock.c Al Balad Restaurant - located in downtown Beirut. This place is the reason we always come back for more Lebanese food. c Verdun Street - Known as the shopping capital of Beirut, go there if you just love your labels.

The Jet-Setting To A Rocking Guide Weekend

Immersed in history and culture, Greece is designed for the adventurous. Whether you enjoy taking a dip in the picture perfect waters of the Mediterranean or want

to go exploring the ancient ruins that define today this is the place to be. Ideal for a weekend getaway, Greece is only two hours away

by plane. Granting you access to endless parties, festivals, and enriching experiences, your time spent there will leave you fuller

than after a plate of Greece's best Baklava. Here's what you don't want to miss on your brief excursion:

c The Acropolis - located in Athens, this hub of historical "Ooohs" and "Aaahhs" includes the must-

sees Temple of Parthenon and the statue of Athena.

c The Temple of Poseidon - a jaw dropping scene of ruins commemorating the ancient Olympian god of the seas.

c The Oracle at Delphi - Known for its mystique ambience, this once deemed the ancient "center of the world" is definitely worth the visit. c Santorini - Known for its ideal

picturesque landscape, heavenly beaches and the discos that never sleep, hop on a ferry and visit here if you are a party lover.c Mykonos - Notorious as another party go-er island, this clubbing hotspot is one of the more diverse Greek islands reachable by ferry from Athens.

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style fashion

Probably the only city where there are more malls than nationals, Dubai is famous for its intense shopping. Visiting the United Arab Emirates is a great idea for those who are looking to restock their summer and fall wardrobes with the latest fashions and decent prices i.e. not spending a thousand pounds for a dress that actually costs LE 500 after the currency conversion. Luxury doesn’t just stop at the spree, at your hotel, be prepared for some serious pampering. Leading the Arab world with their first class hospitality, you’re certainly guaranteed a great time, plus plenty of the new hotels are looking rather nifty, ahem, the Atlantis hotel. Fortunately for the shopper, malls are a plenty and all in reasonable range within each other. Ideal for guerrilla shopping tactics you’ll definitely find everything you’re looking for and well, everything for those close friends and family as well. Doesn’t hurt to stock up on gifts now does it. Your arms will be exhausted but fortunately for you, mostly all of these malls are powered with intense air conditioners. The plane ride can get a bit dull, being a bit over three hours away,

so bring a good book or magazine for the flight.Shop Here Big Spender:c Al Khaleej Center – Located in Burj Dubai, this mall is ideal for technological supplies. You’ll find everything you could ever imagine that needs an outlet to function. c Deira City Centre – This mall is classic. Housing labels from Ralph Lauren to Zara to H&M, this mall is massive and has every store you could ever want plus Carrefour. c Mall of the Emirates – Renown for their skiing slope with real snow, yes, real snow. This mall is a definite favourite for expats and tourists alike. The mall is filled with various fun activities for you’re in between shopping pleasure. c Festival City – It’s a hotel, mall and much more, all in one. This location is also ideal for a multi-activity itinerary. With shopping, housing, food and a charming boardwalk, Festival City is a convenient place to stay if you’re too lazy to go and check out the rest of Dubai. c Vu’s- A delicious restaurant in Dubai, and definitely one of the more popular ones, go if you like food. Aside from the cool name, the food is just as awesome.

Turkey is not only known for producing mega hit soap operas and sinfully good Turkish delight, but also for their laid back and fun tourism. A little over two hours away by plane, Istanbul is a great place to start your voyage. But don’t limit yourself to just the capital, try and venture off to the coastal cities and enjoy the multiple facets of this European nation. Monuments, ferry rides, shopping and baths, there is a plethora of activities to do here. The weather at

this time of year should be pleasantly cooler that the hellish like heat wind in Cairo this August. Totally Go Here:c The Grand Bazaar – Situated in Istanbul,this shopping location is saturated with silver, carpets, slippers, purses, food and Turkish Viagra.c Turkish Baths – Popular globally, it would be sinful to be in Turkey and not enjoy one of the communal baths. c Istiklal Street – Located in Istanbul, this streets hosts major fashion labels.

c Hagia Sophia – This former church turned into present day museum is breath taking.c Taksim Square – Also on Istanbul, you will find this retail treasure on top of a public shopping mall. c Roof Top Bars – The common evening chill out activity in Turkey, enjoy the view while sipping on the drink of your choice.

Go Buy In Dubai

Totally Turkey

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