Month: May 2012

Kids Read with British Council and HSBC

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NJD at the British Council & HSBC Kid’s Read initiative

I have blogged about the importance of reading before but after little diva and I ventured last weekend to the Kids Read initiative by British Council and HSBC Bank Middle East Limited at the Pavilion, I felt like talking about it further.

I first became interested in reading & language arts in the late 90’s and regularly ventured to Singapore to get training in Speech & Drama, Creative Writing and Reading modules at the Juliette McCully Speech Training Centre. It was great fun staying in Orchard Road and going to work every morning with the talented kids in Singapore as well as having awesome colleagues – I have fond memories of my colleague Claire from Australia who was the other expat exploring the country with me during weekends….we both agreed that we enjoyed the reading programmes so much that it didn’t feel like work and she did exchange programmes at our centre in Bangsar Kuala Lumpur making it equally enjoyable.

The Kids Read community event I attended the last week with HSBC and British Council was an interactive event which included storytelling, games and competitions for children. There were also instructional workshops for parents on how to encourage reading in their families as well as hints and tips on how to connect to their children through books. I have a library in every part of my villa, including my bathrooms and I wouldn’t have it any other way….it is awesome to be surrounded by books.

As NJD was way too advanced for the activities at Kids Read initiative, I took the opportunity to talk to the organisers about the programme while little diva indulged in her library book over a carrot cake and milkshake. I love how she voluntarily carries a selection of books every time she leaves the house no matter where we are going. A lot of credit goes to Eric and the fact that he tells her a bedtime story without fail every night so she goes to bed smiling and wants to complete her stories the next day out of curiosity.

According to both Jancis McGrady of British Council and Ammar Shams of HSBC, Kids Read aims to encourage reading for pleasure both inside and outside the classroom among primary school children in the MENA region. Through the joint efforts of the Ministries of Education, HSBC and the British Council, the Kids Read program hopes to reach 25,000 children across 13 countries in the MENA region over 1 academic year.

It is Commendable that HSBC, apart from providing 50 books to each school also get staff to volunteer in the reading programme … It’s a very hands on community event for all parties involved and I’m glad to hear this initiative will continue with new themes each time. I just wish NJD was exposed to these type of initiatives when she was young. Keep an eye out for the next one if you have young kids….its an awesome programme.

NJD gets a certificate…one of many she’s been bringing home recently :)…proud mum!

My favourite picture of Tash reading when she was young

“Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco” in Dubai

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My Blackberry camera does not do any justice to this piece

My visit to Dubai Mall got exciting one weekend recently seeing an exhibition as Montblanc paid tribute to the 20th Century’s Unforgettable Style Icon, (Princess Grace of Monaco of course) with a collection of precious, handcrafted jewellery, timepieces and writing instruments that is both feminine and timelessly elegant.

I am a huge fan of Montblanc already when it comes to watches, business card holders, pens, belts and diaries but I admit I never looked twice at their jewellery in the past. And every time I have entered a Mont Blanc shop, its because I needed inspiration to buy a gift for my guy friends….never for a woman and yet I have always walked out with something for me but just not jewellery. My best purchase there has to be a limited edition commemorative pen for a dear friend.

So it was different to see Montblanc in all their glory at the mall showing this new dazzling travelling collection which forms the centrepiece for a stunning commemorative exhibition of the late Princess. It was inspired by Princess Grace’s sophistication and her love of roses. Naturally Joe Nahhas of Montblanc was over the moon about hosting the special tribute collection in Dubai.  He was with Montblanc’s Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti who worked closely with Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, to design each piece of the tribute collection. Needless to say, every detail of the collection reflects Princess Grace’s alluring spirit, poise and glowing charm.

Giordenetti was beaming when he told us the idea for this collection was borne out of the Palace of Monaco when Montblanc writing instrument dedicated to Prince Rainier III was presented to Prince Albert with a special edition. He fell in love with it and told Mont Blanc to explore this idea further and create a tribute to his mother, Princess Grace, in the form of jewellery and watches.

Before she became Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace of Monaco was already royalty in Hollywood. Known then as Grace Kelly, she shot to fame in the early 1950s and by 1955 won the Oscar for Best Actress at The Academy Awards and is remembered and revered for her sophistication, classic, otherworldly beauty and her inimitable style is effortless and timeless. Beyond the external image, her innate elegance and kindness touched every aspect of her life and work. This elegance shone through her on-screen talents, through her indefatigable charity work, her commitment to family and her never-ending support for emerging artistic talent. This spirit, compassion and style are now distilled into the Montblanc collection.

The exquisite and emotive lemotif linking all four collections is the classic pink rose, Princess Grace’s favourite flower – quintessentially feminine, an emblem of romance, passion and everlasting beauty. The rose petal, ravishingly romantic and evocatively emblematic is embodied throughout the collection in precious materials, gold, diamonds and petal-shaped sapphires of an exquisite pink. Each piece of the four collections, many of them one of a kind or limited editions – is hand-crafted to the highest standards for which Montblanc is internationally renowned.

Representing her life as a princess, the high jewellery line features diamonds and rose-pink sapphires, specially cut in a lusciously sensual drop-shape to capture the voluptuousness of the rose petal. The fine jewellery line truly reflects her lifestyle as a contemporary woman. In the two opulently casual fine jewellery collections – Petales de Rose and Petales Entrelaces motifs, openwork petal forms are outlined or paved in diamonds and echoed in soft pink gold, clustered together or interlaced to represent and celebrate the loving union between a couple, the mysterious, magical intimacy bonding a man and a woman.

The same drop-cut pink sapphire highlights the Montblanc writing instruments of the collection. With scattered diamonds, the pen clip and cap top were designed to mirror the curvaceous V-shaped neckline of a black velvet dress worn by the Princess in a celebrated photograph; one of Prince Albert II’s favourites of his beautiful mother. Quality and detailing – the hallmarks of the world-famous Montblanc pen are taken to a new level in this tribute series, featuring champagne coloured gold fittings, rubies cut in rhombus shapes taken from the Grimaldi coat-of-arms, and an 18 carat gold nib with a heart-shaped opening.

The all-encompassing collection of superlative timepieces, ranging from scintillating one-of-a-kind high jewellery watches to the everyday chic of stainless steel with diamonds, pays homage to the nobility of Princess Grace. The refined timepieces feature brilliant cut diamonds, pink sapphires and lustrous mother of pearl dials. Each piece is a ravishing masterpiece, bringing together the art of the watchmaker and jeweller together in a sublime harmony to forever personify the innate elegance of Princess Grace….well there is now another reason for the women of Dubai to make a beeline for Montblanc.

Carlo Giordanetti is super passionate about the designs inspired by Princess Grace

With Joe from Montblanc

Inspirational coffee moment with Colm McLoughlin

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With Colm and Sinead…. movers and shakers behind the most successful brand in Dubai

After seeing Colm McLoughlin around town and in the media for over 11 years, I finally had a chance for a delightful chat with the man behind the most successful Duty Free retail venture in the world. I always wanted to do a blog on him so when our awesome Group was given an opportunity to get up, close and personal with Colm one morning a few months ago, naturally I jumped at the opportunity, had a chat with him and then found out even more later about the many initiatives he and his team help support via DDF.

Arriving in the UAE from Ireland in 1983 to help set up Dubai Duty Free (DDF) on a short-term contract with just a team of 10 people, Colm was enticed to stay longer to realize the vision of H.H Sheikh Mohammed to make DDF the most vibrant, successful and profitable airport retail organisation in the world. Over 28 years later, we find that the growth of DDF has surpassed all the goals that Colm had set and has gone beyond that into other fields as well. From 100 staff and earning 72 million revenues, DDF today has over 4,000 employees and posted Dhs4.6billion in revenues.

About 48 members of the original team are still with DDF and after facing the many travel related challenges over the years, and starting with concession shops to see the company grow into a major airport retailer today. Apart from owning the Aviation Club that houses the Dubai Tennis Stadium and The Irish Village and Century Village, Colm tells us of DDF’s plans to build a hotel within the same complex that would be run by the Jumeirah Group. The five star Jumeirah Creekside hotel will have 293 bedrooms with an all day dining restaurant.

While most people revel in DDF’s retail success, many associate the brand also with major sports tournaments and CSR initiatives. Colm tells us about the birth of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the 20th year anniversary of the tournament this year and the fact that it is seen worldwide on TV in over 400 million homes. He is particularly delighted by the fact that the players always vote DDF as the best tennis championship in the world. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was honoured by the ATP, being named as the ATP World Tour 500 Tournament of the Year for 2011. This is the eighth time in nine years that the Tournament has won the Award, a truly impressive achievement.

Other than tennis, DDF also sponsors the Desert Classic Golf Tournament, World Cup Horse Racing the Dubai Film Festival amongst other key events that help drive tourism and put Dubai on the map for world class events. Other events associated with DDF is the Irish Derby, Emirates Festival of Literature, local productions like City of Life, Gulf For Good, the library at DUCTAC as well as managing the DDF Foundation for children’s education and health in countries like Vietnam, Philippines, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Dubai Duty Free also supports ‘Hand in Hand for Haiti’, the travel retail industry-funded educational initiative, where DDF Foundation provided US$500,000 to finance a new Sports Complex at the Lycee Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable School in the town of Saint Marc. The DDF Sports Complex at the Lycee school will offer pupils and the wider community in Saint Marc an outstanding sports and leisure facility. Facilities will include an international regulation soccer pitch, a 6-lane athletic track, a basketball court and a volleyball court.

During our conversation, it also emerged that DDF has won over 250 awards. But Colm personally also received an award recently by the Garbally College, which presented 55 former pupils with Alumni Awards. Colm with his two brothers Ray and Feidlim were amongst fellow alumni that included prominent and highly respected Irish professionals from the field of Business, Politics, Science, Education, Religion and the Arts. Both of Colm’s older brothers, Ray and Feidlim, have enjoyed highly successful business careers combined with high profile sporting success on the rugby field.

In addition to awards and CSR related events, Colm also supports initiatives by DDF to raise awareness and create environmental ambassadors within its operation. Dubai Duty Free sponsored two of its employees’ recently to participate in the ‘International Antarctic Expedition 2012’ expedition led by the renowned polar explorer and environmentalist Robert Swan, OBE. I asked Colm on DDF’s future plans and he enthusiastically tells us about Dubai Airports expansion plans, which would result in further growth of DDF with at least 1,000 more staff and 8,000sqm of retail space at concourse three. The concourse is anticipated to complete beginning of next year followed by another concourse three to four years later.

With the two new concourse areas, Colm expects sales to exceed the Dhs10billion mark with staff numbers increasing to over 8,000 to support the footprint at the bigger airport due to increased traffic. Speaking of some of his proudest achievements, Colm talks about team building initiatives and training provided to DDF staff. The management encourages staff to achieve exceptional results and provide them with all the facilities and tools to help them perform better in the workplace.

DDF is known to provide sports facilities at the residences of staff as well as computers and programmes so that they continuously improve their skills. Colm attributes this initiative to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed who is seen as a superstar as a boss who provides opportunities to his team to grow themselves and DDF to new heights.

In his leisure time Colm loves to cycle, swim and play golf. In ten years he hopes to see DDF doubling the business with more than 50 nationalities working together to sustain DDF in its pole position as the best airport retailer in the world. It was a pleasure spending the morning with Colm and Sinead and I hope to get insights from him and his team, who are equally dynamic, more often.

An evening with Italian Master Roberto Coin and his exclusive jewellery parure

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Looking at the reptile inspired necklaces that Roberto sketched … similar to my watch 🙂

My evenings are certainly becoming exciting these days – I guess not being stuck to the computer in the evenings and accepting invitations is working out to be very interesting…. it’s time I started learning from strong individuals who make their own decisions and are fully dedicated to driving their organisations to success without any influences from others….and Roberto Coin’s strong creative mind is as good as one can get.

A friend who knows my taste in jewellery thought I would love Italian master jewellery designer Roberto Coin and his bespoke designs – she knew my snake watch in pearl white broke despite being a limited edition piece so she hoped seeing reptile inspired jewellery instead would wow me and perhaps convert me to Roberto Coin. It did and now I wish I had spent the dough on Roberto Coin jewellery rather than the ill-fated watch which I hope one day I can wear again.

Anyway, Roberto and his sweet gorgeous wife were in Dubai to launch the exquisite one-of-a-kind jewellery parure to mark the opening of his new boutique in the Mall of the Emirates. The signature set, which consists of a matched collar, bracelet, earrings and ring, was unveiled during a preview which I was super lucky to sight on the first night and in the presence of Roberto who is sweetness and light personified.

The special parure, which is part of the Mauresque Collection, is made up of a 3.21 ct collar set with 60 individual diamonds, a 6 ct bracelet with 110 stones, earrings set with a total of 22 stones and a 1.03 ct ring studded with a total of 20 diamonds. The four pieces will be on display in the new boutique, which was officially opened by Roberto Coin, together with the Italian Ambassador to the UAE – H.E. Dr. Giorgio Starace, Anan Fakhreddin, CEO of Damas Jewellery and Raj Sahai among other senior members of Damas management.

Roberto’s jewellery is revered around the world and is known for producing the most beautiful, intricately crafted artisan pieces. The company was born in 1977 in the Italian city of Vicenza, which is famous for its fine jewellery, initially manufacturing on behalf of some of the world’s most prestigious jewellers, before Roberto Coin decided to relaunch as a brand in 1996.

Not many people know this but Roberto has an inborn curiosity and desire to know the world beyond his own borders which drove him to attend a hotel management school. The hotel atmosphere, crossroad par excellence of cultures and people, fascinated him. After a first diploma at Montecatini he went on to complete his apprenticeship in Switzerland, where he obtained the Hotel Management Diploma in Lausanne.

At the age of 18 he moved to Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency, where at the age of 24 he already owned The Duke of Richmond, an old renowned hotel in St. Peter Port, the island’s capital. During his career, he came in contact with some of the main figures of the international jet set, each of whom left behind an impression, a style, a lesson. Some of them left a deep impression, like Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who taught him by example, the value of social responsibility and a sense of responsibility for those less fortunate.

At 32 Roberto decided to return to Italy and turn a new page in his life. He brought with him a wealth of experience matured in the spheres of PR, style and the pursuit of quality. He had developed a great sensitivity for “beauty”, in the objective sense of the term, so he decided to turn to a new entrepreneurial adventure. His selection fell on the world of fashion, particularly on jewellery, accessories par excellence.

He approached this culture with a great will to learn, comparing himself with the major international entrepreneurs, who enabled him to get to know the thousand facets of the sector. Soon Roberto Coin decided to start a production line of his own, which he offered to major jewellery brands. In 1996 he created a company name bearing his own name with his creativity manifesting itself in every imaginable form and together with concepts of uniqueness, excellence and social responsibility, the brand became internationally recognized.

Roberto signs every single jewel with a small ruby set on the inside. A special caring detail reserved to the woman who will wear his jewels, in observance of an ancient belief, according to which the gem has the power of promoting a long life, blessed with health and happiness. Beyond the success of his creations, Roberto is also a member of the Board of Directors of the WDC, which collaborated with UN to create the Kimberly Process. He is also a member of the Diamond Bourse of Dubai.

Roberto lives in Vicenza now. He is married to Pilar Cabo, who assists him in managing the company’s marketing division. Together they have a son, Kevin, who is busy studying, while Roberto’s adult children, Carlo and Paola, are involved in the family business. You can see his strength lies both in his creativity, his family and friends….people can learn a lot from his example.

The time spent with Roberto was short but very insightful. We talked about technology, phones and how we should switch off to relax for periods – I’m definitely following his gem about taking time out, letting go and being with like-minded people. I’ve seen people going downhill because of the company they keep with no desire to do great things intellectually – We should always strive to be influenced by contemporary thinkers who are vibrant and energetic.

That’s why we need more creative and inspirational corporate leaders and role models like Roberto Coin in the world to make it an interesting and happy place to live in.

Candid moment with Roberto Coin

Listening intently to Roberto

Understanding myself better with Wendy Appel

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Inside Out….get an insight into Wendy’s awesome work

Every once in a while, we as individuals, family members and as employers/employees need to take a step back and assess where we are, where we want to be and what can we do to get there.

But it is also essential to get an outsider to look at the scenario you sit in from a completely different, non judgemental perspective to provide new enlightening insights into your personality, strengths and how you can develop fruitful relationships with people around you to better understand your strengths and how you can capitalise on these strengths.

Recently I met with Wendy Appel, a cultural anthropologist, public speaker and author near DMC at the home of one of Dubai’s most elegant PR personalities – I’m speaking here of none other than Susan Furness of course. Wendy was visiting Dubai to meet with some clients as she specializes in organization development, executive coaching and change leadership….her methods intrigued me when I had looked at her website hence the urge to get to know more about her work and how her work can inspire other women, individuals and organisations. Better still, if her method of analysis could be effective enough to describe my complicated personality style and I have to say, her Enneagram cards managed to pin me down better than many people around me who after years of knowing me can’t figure me out.

The focus of Wendy’s work is on individual and organizational change and transformation. She has her consulting practice in Europe working with senior executives as a thought partner, strategist, coach and in change management. She is certified to deliver a variety of tools and programs in strategy development, MBTI, Enneagram, team development, change management, group and interpersonal dynamics, meeting design and facilitation.

I was so impressed that The Enneagram Source was developed by Wendy as an online resource for her Enneagram toolkit: Her forthcoming book, The Enneagram Typing Cards, Workshops as well as a planned member community. The products, designed by her are an exciting new way to help clients (leaders and teams) deepen their understanding of how their Enneagram Type plays out in their daily life and interpersonal relationships and make transformational shifts….I definitely needed someone like Wendy to open my eyes to the fact that help like this existed and with professionals like her who are accessible to clients from anywhere in the world.

There are several different ways that people go about identifying their Enneagram Type. The most accessible, and probably most used is to go online and take one of the Enneagram Indicators. This initial insight is only an indicator – a starting place with initial test and the results that can be accurately interpreted and unravelled with Wendy’s insights and experience. She does this through a question and answer process to uncover clients underlying motivations and habits of thinking, acting and feeling before giving them an analysis that can help them move forward and deliver best results.

I’m so glad Wendy is back in Dubai in October after her successful stint with a fairly large organisation she just did team coaching with. I’ve heard she is awesome for personal coaching as well public speaking, panel moderating and does online sessions, tele-seminars and is a true example of how one can use social media effectively to create awareness.

Once again it was a delight to have coffee with an inspirational individual like Wendy and I have to thank Susan for the opportunity. If you would like to know more about Wendy and her work, look at the following links:

Website:          www.wendyappel.com
Createspace:    www.createspace.com/3731910
Amazon:           www.amazon.com/InsideOut-Enneagram-Game-Changing-Guide-Leaders/dp/0984884203/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332155684&sr=1-1
Facebook:         www.facebook.com/ConfluenceConsultingInternational
Twitter:            www.twitter.com/wendyappel
Linkedin:           www.linkedin.com/in/wendyappel
G+:                  www.plus.google.com/104003581156944335373/about

Focus on eco-friendly trends, sustainability and Green Building at Hardware Tools Middle East

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I may not look like a chick who would swing a tool belt on overalls but I spent most of my childhood around tools and machinery being a contractors daughter….while other girls played with dolls, I would take very opportunity after school to go to my dad’s workplace so I could go home with him at 5pm instead of going home at 3pm. Today, while waiting for some meetings in Bahrain, I flipped through the show guide of the 13th edition of Hardware+Tools Middle East that I picked up on the way to my businesswomen’s meeting yesterday afternoon.

As I have been fascinated with tools and salivate at stuff at Ace Hardware hoping to be DIY savvy, my interest peaked and I found out that this is the only dedicated trade show and conference for hardware, tools, material and machinery in the wider Middle East region. I wish I was not rushing from the IBWG to the airport as I would have loved to see the show and the latest trends and range in energy-saving and environmentally friendly products, as these days people increasingly opt for greener solutions.

I was browsing through the show programme over lunch today and saw that an old family friend Eng. Angus MacFarlane is speaking at the forum on ‘Building an Idea – The Burj Khalifa from Design to Reality.’ We were also close neighbours for 3 years and Angus is known as one of the best technical directors for structures in this part of the world so having him on the speakers list raises the quality of the forum that is part of the Hardware+Tools Middle East. The forum features a comprehensive program with a series of presentations, seminars and workshops specifically designed for construction industry professionals.

Although my personal diva tool box at home is sweet pink, I would still love to check out some power tools and accessories if I get a chance after work tomorrow….. I only arrive in Dubai at 6am and unless I take a few bottles of Vitaene C, getting to do this is tall order but at least I can try after work. My dad would have loved the machinery segment of the show that includes moulding, drilling, cutting, welding and soldering products as well as safety products, components and parts, automation and robotics, design software, CNC routing and lathes….pity he is currently on a project somewhere in Australia. Since he forgot to tell me if its Brisbane or Melbourne, I am so tempted to call and make him jealous just to get back.

If you are into DIY, check it out – its bound to give you a few ideas on your next funky project….as for me, I’m checking on whats missing from my pink tool box

Going to be beautiful In and Out

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Love their logo…my Blackberry camera does not do justice to it

Like most women, Island girl is always in search of remedies, products that keep the exotic skin in top form….after all there is only so much magic that FIJI water can do to one’s gorgeousness and well-being + juicing every morning is nice but cumbersome and these days I struggle to find time for at least one Moroccan bath a month.

Help is at hand though in the form of In&Out  as I am told by a few friends around town who are raving how the revolutionary new treatment from this latest Swiss skin care and wellness brand is redefining how you celebrate your beauty. Regardless of age or skin type, In&Out adopts an innovative and intelligent approach that promotes the balance of beauty and wellness both inside and out….how you may ask?

Lucky for me I met the man behind the brand at the In&Out counter who graciously spent some time explaining how he and his wife decided to combine cosmetics, skin care and supplements together to ensure the skin was taken care at all levels. They combined powerful active ingredients made up of essential oil concentrates and food supplements of pure plant extracts, that work in extraordinary synergy with the science of cosmetology so that their treatments deliver triple action results that delay the skin’s aging process, keeps intact the body’s inner health, and stimulates the body’s natural defenses.

For people who have an exotic colour like me, the In & Out Brightening Treatment range helps slow down the melanin production process which can result from a host of external, internal and natural factors such as stress, sun exposure and time.  This reduces the causes and effects of pigmentation from inside and out, while gently brightening and evening the outer skin tone.  There was something for every skin type and I’m sure you can find out more….i was more interested selfishly to find out what works for me.

In & Out is manufactured out of Innovative Biotechnologies Laboratories in Switzerland with a strong collaboration with the University of Ferrara in Italy, renowned for its Research & Development of new skin care technologies. In & Out integrates the latest technologies and ingredients for efficient, innovative skin care and wellness treatments but I like the aromatherapy element most. Any smell that makes me feel like I am in a spa environment makes me feel calm and mellow right away – not that I’m hyper or high-strung normally (no comments to this one please)

In & Out is awesome – I found them in Paris Gallery, Festival City, Dubai….hidden away but it was a worthwhile find as I’m done with superficial skin care.

Will Shay Rouge be my new scent

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Shay Rouge – packaged in RED, just the way Island girl likes it!

I’ve always been attracted to strong sensual scents and at this point may have the most number of YSL’s Champagne or Yvresse as its better known in the Middle East when I found out it was not going to be forever produced like the Chanel No. 5 type classics.

So when Emirati Perfume house Anfasic Dokhoon created Shay Rouge, its new limited edition scent for exclusive sale at Galleries Lafayette, I made a beeline to test it because I was told it was a scent I would like – a ‘strong’ perfume with subtle notes…that’s exactly how I would describe it.

Shay Rouge is a fragrance that embraces Galleries Lafayette’s elegance as well as Anfasic Dohkoon’s mastery of oriental perfumery. The iconic Anfasic Dokhoon purple bottle, which treasures creations by Emirati scent designer Mohamed Hilal, is exceptionally presented in rich red, paying homage to Galleries Lafayette’s identity and to the scarlet scent that combines an orchestra of cherry, rose, osmanthus and ‘oud.’

The former Emirates Airlines pilot who changed his career in pursuit of his passion for scents is highly regarded for his refined creations. The fragrance exhibits a rich cherry top note, enhanced by a glowing heart of romantic roses and exotic osmanthus that finally surrenders to the warmth and sensuality of the ‘oud’ base note.

The ‘oud’ element certainly reflects the cultural heritage of Arabia that crosses boundaries – When I go home to Fiji Islands, the male family members expect me to take some form of oud for them with me and that’s the one thing they appreciate truly from Arabia that they can’t get easily in Fiji.

The fragrance’s name pays homage to the dual influences of Arabian prestige and French glamour. Rouge is French for red, but also ‘lipstick’ in both French and casual Arabic, while Shay™ means ‘wow’ in Emirati dialect. The scent of a ‘wow red lipstick’ is the inspiration of striking beauty, elegance and femininity, which is the effect that this fragrance will diffuse around its wearer.

Anfasic Dokhoon brings to life a world of scents created by Emirati conceptualist Mohamed Hilal and Italian co-founder Olimpia T. Mascolo that embodies Arabian scents with the simplicity of style and minimalism….try it and see what you think?

Mike Rutzen at Atlantis – education on Great White Sharks

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With Mike Rutzen & the beautiful Rima at The Lost Chambers, Atlantis

After driving on race tracks, bashing dunes, sky diving and generally doing anything that raises the blood pressure, my next big adrenaline driven adventure will be diving with sharks…..inspired by none other than Michael Rutzen, who is known as one of the few people in the world who free-dives with Great White Sharks and campaigns for their preservation around the world.

Mike is so passionate describing his unique adventures as he travels extensively around the world to create an understanding and respect for this great predator, sharing his knowledge and involving as many people as possible in his conservation battle.  I met Mike at Atlantis, The Lost Chambers as he was with the Atlantis Marine Team who are keen to go to Fiji to experience the awesome dive sites there. (I reckon I have convinced marine conservationist, the beautiful  Rima Jabado to hang out in my flat in Nadi while doing day trips diving near untouched islands – since we have over 330 beautiful islands, it’s a diver’s dream paradise)

Mike Rutzen is sweet, down to earth and if you love the marine world as much as I do being an Island girl, watch Mike’s travels and activities which are extensively documented on TV programmes including ‘Beyond Fear’ with National Geographic, ‘Sharkman’ and ‘Shark Night’ on Discovery Channel, ‘60 Minutes special’  with Anderson Cooper, ‘The Great White Shark’ on CNN and ‘A Living Legend’ on BBC Natural World. Mike has been face to face with one of the greatest predators in the world, with no protection and no fear!

I hope someday I also get to spend some time with Steve Kaiser of the Marine Sciences and Engineering team at Atlantis –  I believe he works hard to provide education to the masses about sharks through a number of activities including the thrilling Shark Dive in the Shark Lagoon at Atlantis. It would also be great to talk more about Rima and her work on marine conservation and I reckon that will be a whole new blog on its own…watch this space.

Guests to the next Lost Chambers ‘Family Fun Day’ will be able to meet Michael Rutzen and hear him speak about Shark Conservation. Other Atlantis activities include special educational sessions with marine animal specialists, interaction with the Atlantis scuba divers, touch and feel marine exhibits, face painting, treasure hunts etc.

You can also meet ‘Shark Man’ Mike face to face as he will describe tales of his adventures diving and protecting sharks around the globe on Saturday. In his talk “The Great White Shark Carcharodon Carcharias – Behaviour and Conservation,” He will tell stories about diving with sharks; his free-diving and behavioural observations; eco-tourism as a winning solution and his research and future projects.

I warn you though…Mike is so passionate about his work, the enthusiasm rubs off on you and like me, you will find yourself navigating the high seas in no time! Thanks to the awesome team at Atlantis who always have interesting activities lined up at The Lost Chambers for kids like little diva @NJD2000, we as adults also end up learning about environment, conservation in a beautiful setting like Atlantis.

I am starting diving courses with Al Boom next month when my traumatised left arm is back in action so I can do the shark dive at Atlantis – super excited. (And no…the arm was not traumatised flipping the car on a race track as all my near and dear ones seem to think).