AGENT2

ISSUE 6 NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2009

ISSUE

06

FOR A LIFE WITH STYLE

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

GOES UP THE WALL

DAVID KOMA ONE TO WATCH

ALL I HAVE ARE MY DREAMS

RAIF ADELBERG

SHARM EL CHIC!

THE OTHER SIDE OF EGYPT

ZIGGY

GLAM ROCK STYLE

NOTE

It’s been a busy month for us here in the AGENT2 offices. The recession may be taking its toll as the economy grinds ever more slowly to a complete stand-still but, good taste and style are unrelenting and is still hidden in secret pockets behind all of the doom and gloom. We at AGENT2 are committed and determined to keep bringing you the best of what is on offer directly to your inbox.

Each issue, AGENT2 brings you the coolest features from around the globe covering the ever-changing arenas of FASHION, DESIGN, CULTURE, MUSIC, FOOD AND TRAVEL. We might be based in Manchester but we transcend far beyond the Deansgate mile, bringing you stories from within and clear of the city’s walls.

In this international climate, we bring you the features that shock, excite and inspire from all over the world right to you at just the click of a button.

So for a little while escape the rigmarole of daily life, forget scandalous politicians and rising fuel prices and kick back, relax and just enjoy AGENT2’s small dose of pure unadulterated style.

AGENT2 - for a life with style.

Graham Gartside-Bernier - Editor

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Graham Gartside-Bernier editor@agent2magazine.com DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Vincent Bernier vincent@agent2magazine.com FEATURES EDITOR Natasha Al-Atassi natasha@agent2magazine.com FASHION EDITOR Kay Weston kay@agent2magazine.com MUSIC EDITOR Colin French colin@agent2magazine.com CONTRIBUTORS Almaz Ohene Alice Fredenham Alan Gurhy Eileen Green Maeve Doyle SUBMISSIONS submissions@agent2magazine.com GENERAL ENQUIRIES enquiry@agent2magazine.com ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES advertising@gtwo-pr.com PHONE NUMBERS Manchester 0161 4087259 London 020 81449254 The utmost care has gone into ensuring our information is correct. AGENT2 cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions, cancellations and/or changes in stated event information.

No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the express permission of AGENT2 Magazine.

Photographer Beau Grealy Photo Assistant James Anastasi Model Alex Bennett at D1 Model Management Stylist Clare Richardson at Julian Watson Agency

AGENT2MAGAZINE.COM

CONTENTS

31

13

7 9

14 36 39 41 45 49

2 COVET ONE TO WATCH Designer David Koma BEAUTY Winter Trends Nailed CULTURE All I Have Are My Dreams MUSIC Paloma Faith FOOD Best Of British With A Modern Twist TRAVEL Murcia- Spain’s Best Spa Secret Sharm El “Chic”- The Other Side of Egypt

37 36

43 47

ON OUR WEBSITE

WIN A T-SHIRT COURTESY OF HERETICS AGENT2MAGAZINE.COM

COMPLEX GEOMETRIES HOODIES Complex Geomotries might not be a name you have heard much of (yet!) on British shores but we can assure you the only complicated thing about this Montreal based label is how to get your hands on more of it! The beautiful monochrome colours coupled with sharp, oversized geometric shapes certainly won’t leaving you looking square.

AGENT2’s personal favorite is the oversized square hoody pictured here. Only decision left to make, do you get it in black, black or black?

COMPLEXGEOMETRIES.COM

OKI-NI BAGS We love style and we love functionality here in the AGENT2 office. When these two things come together in perfect harmony it brings a joyful tear to our eyes. When we saw these amazing bags from Japanese label Masterpiece we were truly moved. These urban styled bags are durable, functional and are noted for their interesting use of materials, but, above all they will make heads turn whether you are in the city or on the mountain.

OKI-NI.COM

COVET SEE MORE THINGS TO COVET ON AGENT2MAGAZINE.COM

MR. RABBIT BUST CANDLES Stylish and quirky home emporium hit London’s Regent Street last month and we can safely say we want everything they have to offer. Reality check though, since we can’t have everything all at once we’ll start with these slightly macabre bust candles that come atop a resin holder. Mr. Rabbit is on our ‘must have’ list but his dog and horse companions Sir Rowf and Noble Steed are going in our bag as well.

ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM

ABSOLUT ROCK LIMITED EDITION BOTTLES ABSOLUT Vodka are not usually known for shying away from making a statement through design and their new limited edition bottle certainly does that.

Celebrating the wonderful world of rock with it’s new Rock Edition bottle, this leather clad, studded bottle takes you back to a decade of awe-inspiring and cool backstage revelry, outrageous requests, mad mullets and shaggy perms. ABSOLUT Rock Edition is a tribute to the vibrant and irreverent music genre that rocked the world but beware, the makers take no responsibility for the urge to throw your TV out of the window.

ABSOLUT.COM/PRODUCTS/ROCKEDITION

RETRO-CHIC LOMO LC-A+ CAMERAS It’s been 25 years since the iconic LOMO LC-A graced the analogue world with its colourful, extraordinarily beautiful pictures framed with vignettes! To celebrate this special occasion, LOMO bring you the first ever LOMO LC-A+ special edition - LOMO LC-A+ 25th Anniversary Edition! Get your hands on one before they are gone for snapping your pictures with some retrochic style.

LOMOGRAPHY.COM

GARETH PUGH CASES Finally. The company who brings us the best Apple product carriers and protectors, Incase, has partnered with the bi-annual culture glossy, AnOther Magazine and the uber cool Parisian boutique, colette to release onto the world a collection of cases for people that, like me, love technology and appreciate the finer things in life. The sleeves that compile the collection are all designed by the fashion designer, Gareth Pugh and are detailed with bold graphic artwork.The highly limited edition includes a 13” MacBook Pro Sleeve and iPhone 3GS Slider Case. At £55.00 for the iPhone Sleeve and £76.00 for the laptop case, the pieces are available now from the AnOher Magazine shop.

ANOTHERMAG.COM

DSM FRAGRANCES Exclusive London store Dover Street Market has this month launched its own, self-titled fragrance and the AGENT2 nose loves, loves, loves it.

The fragrance for both men and women is a modern construction of a classic woody perfume while the unique packaging created

by Comme des Garcons, Rei Kawakubo includes an inside-out looking design with a bottle that is decorated with the DSM logo, printed sideways.

The fragrance is available now at the London store, while a worldwide release will follow this month at all Comme des Garçons shops and various other outlets.

DOVERSTREETMARKET.COM

ONE TO WATCH

DAVID KOMA Words Kay Weston

YOU KNOW YOU’VE MADE IT BIG AS A DESIGNER WHEN YOU CAN COUNT THE FASHION-OBSESSED LADY GAGA AMONGST YOUR FANS. AND LUCKILY FOR GEORGIAN DESIGNER DAVID KOMA, HE CAN. AND IT’S NOT JUST GAGA WHO LOVES HIS DESIGNS. IN FACT, KOMA HAS BEEN BUILDING UP A SOLID FANBASE OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO THANKS TO HIS CREATIVE DESIGNS. Koma first came to the fashion industry’s attention with his A/W 09 collection, which consisted of black, nude and yellow body-con dresses featuring his trademark metal tubes, multicoloured chains and embellishments. The collection was an immediate hit and Browns, ever keen to scout fresh new talent, were quick to snap him up.

His S/S 10 collection was eagerly anticipated, and it didn’t disappoint. The body-con element was still present, but this time the metal tubing made way for 60s swirly shapes and neon blocked colours, though there were still embellishments a-plenty. Whereas A/W 09 had been about black and nudes, S/S was most definitely about colour.

The dresses spoke for themselves, but Koma’s glass jewellery was also a treat for the eyes. In the same vein as his statement dresses, the jewellery was big, bold and colourful.

“The collections were different in terms of colour and technique I used, but weren’t in terms of inspiration and silhouette,” Koma explains.

“My A/W collection featured body-con sculptural wool dresses, embellished with metal tubes. And also, I used metallic chain knitwear for sculpting hips and shoulders. I found the contrast between metal and femininity utterly fascinating. It is like the water sculptures of William Pye, his usage of water and metal. I was also looking at Pierre Cardin’s way of using fabric in the 1960s. My S/S 10 collection combines dresses using a 60s influenced, body conscious silhouette with exaggerated curved edging, embellished with multi-colored handmade glass fusing.

“For my S/S 10 collection, inspiration comes from the sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle in The Tarot Garden in Barcelona, with a reference to arts and crafts spearheads such as Sol LeWitt and Kazemir Malevich. I referred to geometric shapes found in organic and architectural structures as well as Minimal Art inspired forms.”

Koma showed his S/S 10 collection during London Fashion Week to rave reviews. “It was fantastic! I had a great team including the stylist of my show Kim Howells and Vauxhall Fashion Scout team members. They all are great and helped me a lot.” But it’s something that he should probably get used to, because he is rapidly becoming a fashion industry darling.

It’s been a stellar year for Koma, with him bagging the prestigious Harrods Design Award for his MA graduate collection at Central Saint Martins earlier this year, followed by the Vauxhall Talent Scout Merit Award in August. All this, despite the fact he only graduated in March. With previous winners of the Harrods Design Award including Christopher Kane, did he feel under immense pressure to succeed? “Yes. I felt the pressure of expectations. There were so many people who I didn’t want to disappoint. But at the same time it was such a powerful spur in the working process.”

Of course, it’s not just the likes of Christopher Kane who are making waves in fashion. This year has seen the emergence of several talented fledgling designers, all of whom have made an impact on the fashion industry with their unique designs, signaling the end of the big fashion houses’ catwalk domination. Michael van der Ham and Oden Wilson are just a few of the names that have emerged as ‘ones to watch’ alongside Koma. Is there enough space for so much new talent? “I would say, yes (there is).

That is, in my opinion, what London is about. It’s such a huge competition here and everybody wants to succeed. But I think as long as you have strong ideas and identity of your designs, there always will be space left for you. And that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Koma admits that he has been surprised by the press attention he has received, “but at

the same time it’s great to see my work being recognized.” It would be true to say that he has been causing something of a stir in the media.

Vogue, Elle and Dazed and Confused are just a few of the fashion bibles who have dedicated column inches to Koma. And that’s without mentioning the hundreds of style blogs which have been singing his praises for some time and spreading the word throughout the fashion underground. Koma admits that he reads what the style blogs have to say about his collections: “I really love it.”

So who does he design for, exactly? “It would be strong, sexual and confident woman. My collection always based on strong and sexual silhouette. I love to work with shapes, trying to unite female spirit with contemporary art.

Exaggerating, but I never cross the line.”

Koma spent the first ten years of his life in Georgia, a small country in the Caucasus and a former Soviet state, before moving to Saint Petersburg. “I started drawing at a very early age.

When I was 13 I participated in young designer contests, and I loved it and I thought I was so cool. Two years later I had my first show with 45 garments and I thought I was a superstar.

But at some point in life I realized that if I don’t learn how to further develop my ideas, I won’t be able to move on, so I’ve decided to apply to move to London at Central Saint Martins and I am glad I did.” What about the inspiration behind him becoming a designer? “I don’t know how to answer this question. As far as I remember I just always knew that I want to be a fashion designer.

And now I’m trying my best to succeed.”

Koma should have no fear about success.

It’s a safe bet to say that it’s a task already accomplished.

DAVIDKOMA.COM

BEAUTY

WINTER TRENDS NAILED Words Alice Fredenham

WITH EVERY SEASON COMES CHANGE. TREES RECEDE TO LAY A CEREMONIAL CARPET OF CRIMSON AND GOLD, ROOT VEG AND GAME REIGN SUPREME ON OUR MENUS AND WARDROBES SHED THEIR DUSKY CHIFFON AND WHITE LINEN TO COCOON THEMSELVES IN ROBUST TEXTILES; SMUDGING BLACKS, NAVY BLUES, DEEP PURPLES, PARTY SPARKLERS AND, THIS YEAR, METALLICS, LEATHER AND LACE. And so we must not forget that fashion extends beyond our finger tips, and fingernails are also to be embellished in the latest must have tarry lick.

I for one love nothing more than when the nights draw in and nature tells me it’s time to slick on the winter shades like a leather jacket for the nail plates, oh yes!

Well this year is no different and with the seasons vamp fashion trends it’s all about attitude.

This winter’s femme fatale won’t be caught dead without statement fingernails to complete the look.

Chanel, as always, is the powerhouse of producing nail polish that, without fail, every season sets beauty editors bare-faced nail beds scratching around to be engulfed by the fashion house’s hottest hue. And said hue is Jade Green.

Inspired by Karl Largerfeld’s winter collection which incorporates the colour in shoes, jewellery and tweeds, these green little bottles have sold out in boutiques and department stores with waiting lists of hundreds and many going for three times the price on Ebay.

But if green isn’t you, then all is not lost. It seems nail colour is no longer the only way to point out a statement. Across the pond the latest craze to emerge is the Louboutin manicure, where the under side of your nail is painted red like the soles of the fashion shoe, or, (dare I say it) stickon patterns in high-shine metallics.

Other talon trends seen on the catwalks this winter are the reverse French manicure, an avantgarde take on the domestic goddess staple, and matt nail polishes are a few firm favourites for this season. Could it be true? No more high gloss top coats? Appears so!

CHANEL.COM

FASHION

ZIGGY

Topman meets Bowie to create truly inspired Glam Rock styles for Autumn/Winter 2009-10

Photographer Beau Grealy Photo Assistant James Anastasi Model Daniel Hicks D1 Model Management Stylist Clare Richardson at Julian Watson Agency Assistant Stylist Sophie Lawrence

Triple layer scarf £12 Light blue knitted half sleeve collar cardigan £30 Retro canvas smart belt £28 Plum suede tassle loafers £40

FASHION

Steel metallic suit £150 Black metallic long sleeve shirt £26

Steel metallic suit ÂŁ150 Black metallic long sleeve shirt ÂŁ26

FASHION

Bue velour sweat crew £22 Solid blue rigid skinny £36 Red silk animal print shirt with contrast piping £36

Blue velour sweat crew £22 Solid blue rigid skinny £36 Red silk animal print shirt with contrast piping £36

FASHION

Blk real leather Blazer £110 Blk washed cotton skinny £36 Blue silk animal print shirt with button down collar £36 Black temple boot £65

Steel metallic suit ÂŁ150 Black metallic long sleeve shirt ÂŁ26

FASHION

FASHION

Leopard Print Crew £16 Random wash skinny jeans £26

Black cardi £26 Leopard Print Crew £16

FASHION

Black Skinny Jeans £25 Black Temple Boots £65 Blue Leopard Print Silk Shirt £36

Black Skinny Jeans £25 Black Temple Boots £65 Blue Leopard Print Silk Shirt £36

FASHION

Blk Sweat Biker Jacket £40 Super Bleached Skinny Jeans £36 Black Temple Boot £65

Knitted Biker Jacket £45 Leopard Print Scarf £12 Acid Wash Skinny Jeans £36

FASHION

Blue Velour Sweat Crew £22 Super Acid Wash Skinny Jeans £36

Blue Velour Sweat Crew £22 Solid Blue Rigid Skinny Jeans £36 Topman Design Boot £65

FASHION

RAD HOURANI Words Joe Tehrani

RAD HOURANI IS A NEW PIONEER IN GENDER-BENDING FASHION. THE STYLIST TURNED FASHION DESIGNER HAS JUST RELEASED HIS NEW 2010-SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION, WHICH IS SURREAL AND GOTHIC, USING ABSTRACT SHAPES WITH A FLOURISH OF DARK, SOMBER COLOURS.

Dressing in a non-conformist, androgynous facade is a fashion statement to say the least, but also a trend that has been seen in many previous high fashion catwalk shows over the years.

Hourani’s expressive use of an androgynous blend, with outlandish silhouettes, minimal colour and dynamic shapes, offers a fresh new approach in the world of fashion design.

A mass of black, skinny, shiny, geometric shapes and reflective, futuristic layered fabrics, he sends a volcanic wave down the clean, white catwalk. Heels send a potent message, as the male and female models featured in Hourani’s catwalk show are wearing the squared, chunky heel with style and grace. Skinny slashed trousers, with a mixture of PVC/ leather style fabrics, scream new wave emo/goth, very much informed by the indie rock scene. With sharp, intricately cut shoulder lines, the clothing is built heavy on top, and as you work your way down, the silhouette felt lighter and skinnier in shape and fit.

Since his first collection in 2007, Hourani has shown his flair for the minimalist, the abstract and the surreal. His look, as well as his collections, are inspired by a new generation of designers who see fashion as mix and match of identity and

gender role playing, from Gaultier and Galliano, who have toiled with sexuality, creating new masculine and feminine guises through their high fashion catwalk shows.

The collection is very much a futuristic blend of new age warrior meets indie kid. The catwalk marches of models were very difficult to distinguish, who was male or female? A deliberate approach to setting alight an array of dominate looks that can be worn by either a man or a woman, maybe. From gender bending to the clothing consisting of rich blacks and greys with hints of white. His previous autumn/winter 2008 collection used an electric red, mixed with blacks and greys also. The layering adds to the look of an armored, shield-like affect, with a hint of strong shoulder pads, 80’s style; think Prince and Grace Jones.

I got to put some questions to Rad Hourani to see what inspired this boundary breaking designer. This is what he had to say: What inspired you for this new collection?

It’s just a transformation from the season before. I don’t really make a ’statement’ with each collection. Therefore I do not start every new season with a specific theme or concept, but

rather try to establish continuity from one to the next. I always wanted to work with metallic fabric & texture and I found these 100% silver chains and some metallic zippers, but I never really liked zippers, and I thought it would be great to do something different with zippers that can be useful and can give a metallic effect. You can make jackets sleeves shorter or transform the jacket into a vest, trousers into shorts and even on the sides you can make things tighter with the zippers so there’s a transformation element.

I also wanted to focus on my signature look and pieces that I started since my debut; my main colours are black and white, my straps pants, my open elbow sleeve, my vest/top/dress, my skirt/ pants and my half leg leather pants.

Black is featured throughout in this collection and many of your previous collections. How would you convince Anna Wintour of U.S Vogue magazine to include it in her run though for the magazine? As you know she hates black…

I am more attached to the notion of purity and by choosing black simple, stark lines. I strive to blur gender boundaries; apparent simplicity, but refinement in details and if I end up using all black

for a collection, why not? Black is mysterious, chic, unisex, slick and timeless. Fashion for me is about clothes transcending mysterious, chic, unisex, slick and timeless. Fashion for me is about clothes transcending simple functionality and gaining symbolic, evocative power by engaging in a dialogue with their environment and their time. It’s a tool for self-expression and selfinvention. Anna Wintour need to set up trends for her magazine each season like all other editors to keep the fashion machine going, which I respect, but I’m not into trends or fashion, I’m into style in which I focus on my signature look. I don’t need to be the one who makes the boldest statement every season, I’d much rather commit to my personal aesthetics and that of the people who like to wear my clothes. There’s nothing scarier than making fashion, or anything else, for that matter, that everybody agrees on.

You have said your designs are ’sophisticated modern classics for anti-conformist individuals’. Can you explain further?

Circumstances have brought me to move around from an early point in my life, and I’ve felt compelled to continue on doing so; for this experience has made me consider things in a

wider perspective, with no restrictions. I want to convey this notion into my line, and design clothes that can be worn anywhere, anytime. I hope to reach people who do not define themselves primarily as men or women, who go beyond the classical demographical criteria, with no limit of age or national identity. I also try to find the right balance of something that’s not too gothic, funky or rock ‘n’ roll, something that has no reference of one limited style. You can mix my pieces with any style without looking contrived or overdone.

Androgyny, and this asexual feel to your collection, as well as previous ones, is very much a statement within your work. Why is that?

It doesn’t make sense to me why a woman will wear a dress or high heels and not a man. When I say unisex, it’s really in looking at the lines.

They are straight, there are no curves: they don’t have a feminine or masculine. It is completely genderless. I believe that using what I would like to wear, as a starting point to the design process is the most truthful and straightforward approach, for it allows me to stay focused on my aesthetic statement and also assess my commitment to wearability, functionality, and comfort. I design

from a virgin point of view, trying to elude classical ready-to-wear rules that made us believe that women and men deserve different approaches.

My pieces are timeless and freed from any gender differentiations.

Your work borders on cutting edge, yet timeless in some ways. Is that a deliberate approach, and why?

Yes, my clothes have erupted from this world of mine. They are asexual, aseasonal. I’m into unisex, timeless, long, straight, sharp, black, slick, geometric shapes and layered silhouettes that, by the use of noble, fluid materials, come alive through the movement of the wearer. They come from no place, no time, no tradition, yet they can be home anywhere, anytime. They exude a sense of discreet chic, the essence of timeless style, drawn on a monochromatic and graphical canvas. I never went to any school after high school for that matter and I guess my influences are the gathering of my own personal experiences and observations over the years; not something somebody told me to do or think. To that end, my collection might be more personal.

RADHOURANI.COM

DESIGN

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD GOES UP THE WALL Words Natasha Al-Atassi

IF SOMEONE HAD SAID THAT VIVIENNE WESTWOOD IS NOW TAKING HER HAND TO INTERIOR DESIGN, I WOULDN’T BE SURPRISED. THIS DAME OF FASHION COULD DO LITTLE TO SURPRISE ANY OF US, IF WE’RE BEING HONEST. BUT HERE IS THE PASSIONATE DESIGNER, TURNING HER ARTISTIC TALENTS TO THE WALL AND GIVING OUR HOMES THE SPLASH OF COLOUR AND LIFE YOU’D EXPECT FROM A WESTWOOD DESIGN. The legendary British designer (and firm favorite here at AGENT2) has teamed up with Cole & Son to create some of the most elaborate and decadent wallpaper designs that have featured in semi-detacheds for a while. Taking inspiration from her eccentric fashion collections, expect to see wallpapers bursting with pattern, colour and texture.

Launched on 27 September at Focus, this collection won’t be seen on the catwalk or mimicked in high street stores. A truly unique collaboration, purchasing some Vivienne paper is almost as exclusive as getting your hands on her latest fashion pieces. It’s no surprise then that someone with so much talent and eye for design would spread their talents unto something new.

The lady herself has said: “It is good when my ideas get carried over into other artistic media. This collection is a perfect opportunity… to see my ideas from fashion translated into the world of interiors and wallpaper.”

And translate her ideas she has. Some of wallpaper designs are replicas of her most famous and iconic fashion collections from the Squiggle print from the Autumn Winter 81/82 Pirate Collection to Cut-Out Lace print from the Spring Summer 07 I am Expensive Collection, hand-drawn by Vivienne herself.

Most notorious for her forward-thinking designs of British symbolisms, Vivienne’s wallpapers are every bit as patriotic as her clothes. The Union Jack wallpaper is inspired by an antique bleached ship flag; the Striped print is her take on traditional pinstripes of businessmen suits, whilst the Tartan designs have been used many a time in her previous pieces as the quintessential English motif.

Known for taking the simplest of patterns and transforming them into iconic images, over the last 30 years this designer has created fashion movements with her unconventional ideas that have swept the nation and the globe.

Now it seems she’s rather a dab hand at interior design too, creating the most distinctive wallpapers to make your home every bit as bold and alive as her fiery personality and famous flame-red hair.

COLE-AND-SON.COM

CULTURE

ALL I HAVE ARE MY DREAMS Words Meave Doyle and Natasha Al-Atassi Images Raif Adelberg

IT IS THE DAY BEFORE RAIF ADELBERG’S ANTICIPATED PHOTO SHOOT FOR THE AW09 LOOK BOOK FOR RAIF, THE CLOTHING LINE; MODELS ARE FLYING AROUND GETTING FITTED, MAKE-UP ARTISTS ARE LISTENING TO RAIF’S CONCEPT FOR HIS CLOWN INSPIRED SERIES AND HE IS LAUGHING WITH POTENTIAL COLLABORATORS, PASSING OUT CANS OF PABST BLUE RIBBON AND EXPLAINING HIS ART DIRECTION. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF STRESS ON THIS HIS FACE. AND WHY SHOULD THERE BE? Raif adelberg is an internationally renowned fashion designer born to a fashion manufacturer and an art collector. This lifestyle, full of colour, creativity and the last-minute rush, is all he knows.

Responsible for fashion lines RICHARD KIDD, Naked, RAIF, and Dead Boys Club House, his new body of work follows the pressure and anticipation you’d expect from a highly-acclaimed designer. Yet as he prepares to open ++ALL I HAVE ARE MY DREAMS++, his first photographic exhibition in London, Raif remains as calm and collected as someone you know this lifestyle comes naturally to.

Adelberg lives and breathes creativity. He claims that what he does is not work; it’s just what he does. And for this Canadian born trick-of-all-trades, the Railtown Studio in Vancouver, is where he does. Masterminding with clothes, words, paintings and photos, he is revolutionising the fashion industry. His production refines, fixes, recalls and erases bits of art and fashion history into something the artist /designer decides is a more truthful, personalised representation of popular culture.

Through art, design and photography he transforms a military jacket into a jilted lover’s revenge story called, ”REVENGE FUCK.” He illustrates an agency model with a clown face, draped in an American flag and crying black tears associated with prison time, and in “SEARCH & Destroy in DCBH,” he depicts Adolph Hitler laughing with a clown.

Every action, thought, word and image stems from his analysis on identity.

He wants to characterise, through clothes, photos and paintings, what influences our identity and how we live within our own limitations; for each man, father, Jew, German, American, artist, and indeed, clothing designer. His work is giving the audience a depiction of humans and letting them interpret it as they will.

The canvas of tattoos that transform Adelberg’s body into a conceptual entity tells a story of his life and loves. Raif has used his own skin as canvas for his unbridled creativity; exhibiting his philosophy of life through illustration.

Tattoos, like the high collars, ruffles and high-waist jodhpurs of Quentin Crisp and Oscar Wilde, are a sign of self-worship; a defence against suffering and a celebration of life.

If all of this analysis is too heavy, the considerate artist adds levity to the depth of his emotion by fusing all the images together with pop music references, the greatest social equaliser. Examples include, “Baby I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney, and, “In Dreams” by Roy Orbison, acting as inspiration for his photographic collection, ++ALL I HAVE ARE MY DREAMS++.

The amount of work produced at the studio from day to day is mind boggling. He allows for no separation between the artist, the designer, the clothes, the artwork; everything, including conversation, is approached with a curiosity and collaboration that characterises Raif’s creative process, saying himself: “Intensity is my normal resting place.”

The need to communicate and to make sense of life spills out of everything about Raif Adelberg. You get the feeling when you are in his studio that he is still looking for the perfect medium, one that will satisfy his need to uncover life the way it is supposed to be lived.

An interview with Raif is next to impossible; the direct approach will take you in a circle of riddles. For any satisfaction or closure, you must answer the questions yourself, using his designs as inspiration for questioning, theorising and concluding.

He is asking you to be responsible for your own feelings, thoughts and ideas about what you see around you. And of course, to use his tools to make up your mind for yourself. He’s just making pictures, designing clothes and talking to people.

DOYLEDEVERE.CO.UK

MUSIC

PALOMA FAITH Words Colin French Images Alice Hawkins

I FEEL CHEATED. THERE, I’VE SAID IT. THAT’S RIGHT – SUE ME. ANYONE WHO HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN “POP” MUSIC SHOULD BE ECHOING EXACTLY THE SAME SENTIMENTS, FULL STOP. THINK BACK TO THIS LAST YEAR GONE AND CONSIDER ALL OF THE RUBBISH THAT WE’VE HAD TO ENDURE. HOW WAS IT FOR YOU? AWFUL, RIGHT? AND WHY DO I FEEL SO STRONGLY? I’LL TELL YOU WHY; PALOMA FAITH, THAT’S BLOODY WHY! ALL THIS TIME A GENUINE POP STARLET WAS OPERATING RIGHT UNDERNEATH POP MUSIC’S RADAR AND WHAT DID WE DO? LISTEN TO NONSENSE-FILLED-UNDERACHIEVERS, THAT’S WHAT. EVER GET THE FEELING THAT YOU’VE BEEN CHEATED? Paloma Faith has just released her debut album, Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful, and the real truth is that it is without a doubt the most essential pop album to be released for quite some time. Think smokyWinehouse-esque vocals coupled with huge cinematic backdrops and you would be half way there – Faith’s album is one to be digested and enjoyed over a number of listens. If you don’t believe me, I besiege you, discover it for yourself. It is a genre fest of sizeable proportion that will reward you ten-fold in these dark and worrisome times.

AGENT2 tracked Paloma down and managed to catch a word with the lady of the hour before her ship sails for the land of superstars.

Your new single New York is released next week; it’s a big sweeping giantess of a song – ballad and theatrical like in places. What is the song about?

It’s about how the city took my lovers heart.

He fell in love with New York and chose it over me. He went to work there and decided to live there and end it with me!

The video for New York is extremely cinematic and well produced. How much input did you have into the creative process of it?

I am very lucky in the way that I have been incredibly involved in the creative process.

We wanted to make the New York video more about my performance as an actress in a story as opposed to an overly visual one like Stone Cold Sober. Vaughan Arnell came up with the bowling lanes setting. I think he was inspired by the Big Lebowski.

What can AGENT2 readers expect from your

album if they’ve yet to hear it?

I would like my album to transport the listeners to a fantasy world. I feel that everyone needs an escape from the world we live in today and I hope that my album has created something fresh and hopeful that they can escape to.

from a theatre background and that influences what I do.

You boast an impressive CV including working as an actress, singer, dancer and magician’s assistant. What’s the worst job that you’ve ever had?

The album title, Do You Want The Truth Or I would have to say it was when I worked in a Something Beautiful, is very evocative of cafe on a Saturday, boiling chicken. the acting world: the idea of escapism and the ability to pretend. What does it mean to You have a part in the new Terry Gilliam film, you?

The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus, what It’s an introduction to me and what I do. I am was he like to work with? proposing that I offer you something beautiful Amazing! It’s been an ambition of mine to meet as I don’t believe the truth is ever really that and work with him. I love his films and feel that he important. The title is all about perception and I is one of our generations’ greatest talents. He’s very think it’s beautifully vulnerable. In contemporary funny too. culture we spend alot of time trying to unveil the truth and I prefer to enjoy the fantasy and let it Now you’re set to become a musical force, will wash over me. you continue acting?

Definitely, although at present I’m focused on my What, so far, have been the most enjoyable music I hope that at the end of this year I can start places to perform live? doing some auditions…time dependent!!

Latitude festival… It was the first time I had performed to a big audience who knew some What do find more personally rewarding, music of the lyrics of my songs. I love people singing or acting? along! When you buy the album you get all the I love doing both and don’t think they’re lyrics in the booklet, I hope people will read exclusive. them!

During your hectic schedule of chart and world Is your live show as flamboyant as the domination, you are unexpectedly given a whole music on your album? We imagine plenty day off. What would you do with yourself? of costume changes and a sense of ‘event’ I LOVE THE CINEMA! I would like to go to rather than just another gig.

Gelato Mio for an Italian ice cream and then go to I try to create a performance that will entertain see a film in the cinema. visually as much as on an audio level. No two shows are the same although I might include Well, I know Yes Giantess and think Local homages to past shows. I like to entertain and make an event out of a performance. I come PALOMAFAITH.COM

“IN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE WE SPEND ALOT OF TIME TRYING TO UNVEIL THE TRUTH AND I PREFER TO ENJOY THE FANTASY AND LET IT WASH OVER ME.”

FOOD

BRITISH WITH A MODERN TWIST Words Natasha Al-Atassi

OVERLOOKING MANCHESTER’S CITY CENTRE AS THE RAIN POURS DOWN, THERE’S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PLEASURE INVOLVED IN BEING WARMLY TUCKED UP HERE. SKYHIGH, I CAN SEE FOR MILES AS PEOPLE SKIP OVER THE PUDDLES DESPERATE TO FIGHT THEIR WAY HOME FOR THE WEEKEND, BUT THE BEST WAY TO SPEND A FRIDAY NIGHT IS HERE: SEDUCTIVELY TOASTY, SUITABLY COMFORTED, WITH A LARGE GLASS OF WINE AND RICH, HONEST BRITISH FOOD. HERE, AT MANCHESTER’S THE MODERN RESTAURANT, THEY KNOW HOW TO DO FRIDAY NIGHTS BEST.

“RECENTLY AWARDED RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2009 AT MANCHESTER’S FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL, THE MODERN IS KNOWN FOR ITS CLASSIC BRITISH MEALS CREATED WITH LOCALLY QUALITY SOURCED INGREDIENTS. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE GOT. “

Scrambling in from the horrible wet weather, I didn’t much look like I was ready for a posh night out. Umbrella inside out, hair straggly and wet, high heels soggy, all I wanted was a towel and a cup of cocoa. Situated in the iconic Urbis building, I had preconceptions that this was going to be the Sex And The City venue of Manchester, with unpronounceable cocktails and the trendiest PR-reps this side of the Pennines. But after schwooping in the lift to the top floor, I discovered that The Modern’s focus was more on style and pleasure than the over-crowded, snobby Cristal laden bars you could find anywhere. They might not have had cocoa, but after stepping out into the dark, intimate bar, I was most certainly ready for that cocktail.

The contemporary stylish bar oozed class: dark wood tables, giant lampshades, electric candles, floor to ceiling windows all echoed a chic, minimalist feel. And yet it felt distinctly comfortable. Tables were spaced out and little booths lined its edges offering exquisite panoramic views of the city. A rare perspective, in one sweep you can see the Wheel all lit up, the colourful Printworks and late-night shoppers crawling through the Arndale.

Here in the serene quiet atmosphere of the spacious Urbis building, staring at the cocktail book, I couldn’t help but feel a guilty satisfaction, shaking the last drips of water from my hair, that we managed to escape the crowded storm outside.

The professionally made cocktails seemed effortlessly concocted, laced with a touch of class. The formal waiting service was charming and the drinks, deliciously subtle. The Jayne Mansfield (£9) strawberry, champagne and rum cocktail was a sweet, fresh and authentically fruity, aperitif to the rich food menu, whilst the New York Flip of whisky, port, egg, cream and sugar made a bold, strong statement to begin the evening.

Though the restaurant wasn’t bursting with character, it had an ambiance of peace and comfort that can’t often be found in a top-class

restaurant on a Friday night. Rows of private tables and the calming mauve, grey and beige walls created an earthly feel, leaving the diners serenely chilled. The kitchen was kept hidden, opposing the trend of open-plan kitchens that has taken over modern-day restaurants, contributing to the welcomed peace.

Sipping from our giant glasses as we waited patiently for our traditional Lancastrian meals, it was a pleasant experience to enjoy each other’s company without shouting over loud chatter or having to share your conversation with your neighbouring diners, so close they might as well be sitting with you. The Modern certainly paid attention to its atmosphere and it, for one, works stylishly well.

Let’s not dismiss the food though. Recently awarded Restaurant of the Year 2009 at Manchester’s Food and Drink Festival, The Modern is known for its classic British meals created with locally quality sourced ingredients.

And that’s exactly what we got.

Ingredients combined together to bring out each flavour, texture and taste. The seasonal menu means that the choices remain fresh and the meals suitably craved for. The warm duck salad with orange and croutons (£7.50) to start, is the perfect example. The salty duck cuts through the sharp oranges and is complimented by its rich berry sauce, honing in on the fresh ingredients of the season. The wild and rabbit terrine (£5.50) offered a unique alternative as a starter, that you don’t normally find gracing British menus.

The Roasted Yorkshire Venison (£18.50) was my personal favourite. The juicy succulent meat was presented on creamy potatoes, braised red cabbage and faggot, soaked in a rich blood red juniper sauce. The venison oozed just enough flavour to melt against the sweet berry sauce and pickled cabbage.

If you’re a meatie, then the Cheshire Rib Eye Steak (£22.50) should definitely be sampled.

Unlike usual steaks that can often come chewy and unsatisfying, this chunky portion melted instantly in the mouth. Served medium rare, the

thick steak was as succulent and juicy as meat can come. Its beef dripping chips offered just enough salty crunch and soft creamy middle to prove their home-made beginnings. Sharpness fell effortlessly against the untouched, delicious flavours of the beef, making this far more than your normal Steak and Chips.

Entirely contented with our rich, homely meals, we shouldn’t have had room for puddings, but seeing the desert menu, we suddenly did. Before we knew it, we were dipping into Dark Chocolate and Malt Whisky Tart (£5) and Apple and Blackberry Crumble (£5). Elegantly presented, the creamy deep dark chocolate tasted pure and luxuriously rich. The Cox, Pippin and Bramley apple and blackberry crumble was a fine example of the quality, unbeatable ingredients. Sweet chunky apples offered both texture and taste, a far cry from the sugary slop you might find in other restaurants.

With tummies full and taste buds pleased, The Modern certainly got our seal of approval.

Its matchless city views and chilled-out ambiance are the perfect combination for a restaurant with elegant style, and that’s before the food comes out.

A narrow corridor of tables promises couples a private, cosy evening, but if you’re planning a party, it might not be lively enough for your liking. Shimmering candles, neutral colours and wine decanters clearly proves The Modern to be the place to eat if you’re on a date.

It doesn’t scream colour and it’s not elaborately detailed but then its focus is clearly on its food. And on this subject, there is no detail left untouched. Stylish and delicious as British recipes should be, The Modern welldeserved its award, celebrating our food, our tastes and our heritage.

Watching the rain slowly drip down the window panes circled around us, you can see all that our region has to offer. Except of course, one of the best.

THEMODERNMCR.CO.UK

TRAVEL

MURCIA SPAIN’S BEST SPA SECRET

Words Natasha Al-Atassi

“MURCIA IS THE SALAD BOWL OF SPAIN,” SO I WAS TOLD, AS WE DROVE IN ANTICIPATION TO OUR RESORT. YET, PASSING THE DRY MOUNTAINOUS LAND AND CRISP LEAVES HANGING TIREDLY OFF TREES, IT DIDN’T SEEM SO. MY VISIONS OF LUSH ROLLING HILLS WERE REPLACED WITH PEBBLED LANDS, SCORCHED BY THE SUMMER’S HEAT AND A HORIZON COVERED IN A GOLDEN HUE. I found it hard to believe this could be spain’s salad bowl when it looked too sparse to even grow a lettuce, but indeed behind giant greenhouses grew bulging juicy tomatoes, spread out on dry soil lay thousands of fresh asparagus and disguised upon silvery parched trees hung an abundance of large green olives and acerbic lemons. Home to some of spain’s best resorts and spas – and of course vegetables, i learnt that murcia is a master of illusion.

Fooling the visitor of its simple rustic charm, murcia’s greatest secret lays within its world class resorts. Camouflaged so effortlessly upon sandy mountains, the luxuriousness of murcia’s exclusive hotels and spas could all too easily be missed; you’d never even know they were here.

The region of Murcia, on the South-East coast of Spain, is home to the now infamous resort group, Polaris World. Renowned among UK property owners for its quality villas, Polaris World resorts also host a variety of different accommodation to allow everyone to enjoy its luxurious facilities. Most popular with holidaygoers are its seven 5* InterContinental hotels dotted all over the coast.

Polaris World’s Mar Menor Golf Resort and Spa Each resort offers guests a break of pure relaxation, with onsite amenities that include outdoor and indoor swimming pools, buffet breakfasts, supermarkets, a choice of delicious restaurants, bars and cafes, and of course Murcia’s quality Jack Nicklaus designed golf courses for a perfect weekend retreat. Polaris’ resorts also feature the ultimate in decadent breaks; the crème de la crème of world renowned spas.

Male relaxation room Indeed, its spas unveil an oasis of opulence in this barren area, exuding luxury at its absolute finest. Polaris World’s Mar Menor Golf Resort and Spa contains well-known British spa, ESPA, free to use for all hotel guests. This spa is exquisite; every feature is embellished and

every detail scrupulously seen to.

The hotel itself is composed of Arabic and Andalucían influences with limestone walls, marble bathrooms, ornate wooden screens and rich deep colours, paying homage to its traditional Spanish heritage. All the resorts are high-quality design masterpieces individually characterised by open-plan bathroom/ bedrooms, huge waterfall shower rooms or perfectly located balconies all offering beautiful vistas.

At ESPA, these excellent features persist, allowing guests to not only feel indulged but respectfully regal too. Its Moorish architecture of dark oak woods, mosaics, lanterns and fine tiles is replicated within the spa, creating a seductive relaxing mood, and resulting in an effortless flow from one room to the next.

ESPA prides itself in giving guests a ‘journey’; a voyage to another realm, where unadulterated relaxation is the intent. ESPA spas appear all over the world, in their own unique format, aiming to grant guests total harmony in mind and body. Every moment of this ‘journey’ is so categorically peaceful, entrancing visitors as soon as they slip the cushioned slippers upon their tired feet.

Mar Menor’s spa reflects local architecture and its associated mysticism. It is also has specially designed natural products to ‘evoke sensations of Arabian exoticism and Mediterranean allure.’

Whilst a visit to ESPA in the UK could leave a big hole in your account, all hotel guests are welcome to use the spa’s facilities at no extra cost. It’s well worth making use of its hot thermal suite, vitality pool, saunas, steam and relaxation room, waterfall and lifestyle showers, 15 metre indoor pool and fitness studio, as a brief trip in England could cost a penny or two. To really spoil yourself, you can also choose from a list of treatments from facials to massages (from EUR 90).

On entering the spa, soft harmonies and the subtle aroma of sensual candles and oils fill the air, both enhancing the senses and calming the

mind. Put your velvety soft white bath robe on as you walk through the rustic wooden doors and into another world entirely, where time has no feature and nothing in the world seems to matter.

Darkness, worries and the stresses of frenetic lifestyles are left at the door. This is another realm entirely – money is no concern, time stops stills, fears whittle away and the stresses of your daily routine dissolve into oblivion. Here you forget everything. And it’s heavenly.

Cocooned within these granite tiled walls and underneath dimmed spot lights, you notice your pace slow down and your heartbeats relax. Ease yourself into the vitality pool where vibrations stimulate your body and a neck fountain massages the knots out of your back. The variety of showers all have different functions, from the sauna and steam room which sweat out your impurities to the ice fountain which closes your pores and cools your body down. All showers are designed to ease aching muscles and release tension and toxins from your body.

Female vitality pool The relaxation room offers guests a chance to escape the outside world and recline on mechanised loungers in a beautifully tiled room.

Separated by antique wooden screens, centred around an ornate fountain and dazzling skylight, this room portrays a Moroccan courtyard without the dark, seductive colours. Instead the brightly lit room is a rejuvenating refreshment after a soporific treatment or hypnotising waterfall.

Mar Menor’s indoor pool is certainly a feature to remember, lined with thousands of silvery blue tiles, it is almost a mosaic unto itself, luring the guest into the mysticism and majesty matching its lavish surroundings. Giant brass lanterns hang delicately above the still cool water giving the open room a magnetic yet spiritual glow.

ESPA’s aim is to envelop the guest in peace and empower them with strength and vitality.

The harmonious ambiance of the Eastern royal design not only unwinds visitors but makes them feel suitably important.

Pool at La Torre The pampering doesn’t stop there though – hotel guests are free to use facilities at each of the seven resorts and can travel between them on Polaris’ free bus. Use of the other hotel’s swimming pools, golf courses, restaurants and indeed, spas are all available including recently opened, La Torre Golf Resort’s new Thai Spa and Wellness Zone.

It doesn’t have as many deluxe components as ESPA but with a state of the art gym, 25m heated indoor pool, a steam room, Swedish sauna as well as six oriental-themed treatment rooms, it definitely welcomes guests into complete submission. The Thai spa is complimented greatly with Far Eastern, Mediterranean and state of the art contemporary features. The dimly lit incensed rooms invite guests to journey to exotic lands and surrender all their aches and worries.

Polaris World’s spas are definitely a good reason to pop over to this Spanish dream location but like any special resort, there is always more than one excuse to go. Polaris’ golf courses, for instance, have been designed by famous golfer Jack Nicklaus and his team, making these greens some of the best in the world. Indeed, 59 of the world’s top 100 golf courses are Nicklaus Design, putting Murcia on the map for keen golfers.

Spa enthusiasts need not be dismayed. The resorts are not teeming with men in white sweaters and there’s not a whiff of snobbery in the fresh mountainous air. Both amateur and professional golf is played here, with the opportunity of having a short beginner’s lesson. Or if golf is not your thing, then you can simply soak in the crisp green grass against the backdrop of silver mountains whilst reclining by the pool.

The resorts themselves provide everything one could ask for; Polaris World has successfully manufactured little ‘towns’, with villas, town houses, street names, restaurants, schools, doctors, supermarkets, world-class spas and the mandatory Irish pubs, meaning there really is no need to venture elsewhere.

Town centre If you do fancy a bit of Spanish culture then the city of Murcia is only a twenty minute drive away.

Narrow streets, tree-lined avenues with tables and chairs, cafes selling churros con cocoa, and old gothic buildings of rosa (pink) stone, plazas and central fountains, this city oozes Mediterranean charm felt with every relaxing stroll during siesta and every refreshing helado (ice cream). One beautiful feature is its baroque cathedral, grand yet unassuming. Its impressive statues juxtapose against cool limestone walls creating a suitably peaceful and spiritual ambiance.

The region of Murcia also runs along both the coast of Mar Menor and the Mediterranean offering guests the opportunity to dip their toes into more than one sea. Only fifteen minutes from the resorts, guests can relax upon one of the Med’s less trampled beaches, and explore unspoilt coves.

Relax against the lush backdrop Murcia seems to have a whole lot of tricks up its sleeves; the best being that it is still unspoilt by British tourism. A visit here, even in the thick of summer, will challenge you to feel crowded. In fact, its true charm comes from being able to escape a British summer to a place of welcoming luxury, sociable hospitality and phenomenal views of exotic lemon groves within a two hour flight.

The reason why Polaris World resorts are so extraordinary is simply because, hidden in this little corner of Spain, you’d have never guessed they were here. Golden limestone hotels and Grecian white villas are scattered upon sandy hills like little oases of pure, humble pleasure allowing guests to simply kickback, relax and enjoy the finest foods and wines within exquisite scenery. And yet locked in gated enclosures, it is a camouflage that hides its luxurious treats and pampering spas well, allowing this ‘salad bowl’ to continue untouched, as it always has done; an unassuming terrain with some of the tastiest secrets in the world.

TRAVEL INFORMATION Spain is one hour ahead of the UK and the currency is the Euro (€) where £1 = EUR 1.14. Spain’s capital is Madrid, a three and a half hour drive away from Murcia or an hour’s flight from Murcia’s Airport. Monarch Airways flies to Alicante, 45 minutes from Murcia’s Polaris World, from Manchester Airport from £52.99 one-way to £90.50 return. During the summer, Monarch also flies from Birmingham and London Gatwick. Monarch offers inflight meals from £3.00 and extra-leg room seats can be booked for an additional £15 (monarch.co.uk).

Polaris World gives guests the opportunity to stay in Apartments, Townhouses, Villas or in one of its seven exclusive 5* InterContinental resorts. Renting an apartment for four people starts at EUR 650 a week. A stay at Polaris World’s La Torre Resort starts at EUR 99 prpn, sleeping two people until November (polarisworld.com).

Murcia is situated in the South-East of Spain, where temperatures reach a scorching 40˚C during the summer months. An area with over 300 days of sunshine and an annual average temperature of 21˚C, Murcia is the perfect location for a last-minute autumn break to experience the summer that in England, we never had. Indeed, Murcia offers a warm recluse at any time of the year and with ESPA’s luxurious spa at hand, there really is no reason not to visit (espaonline.com)

TRAVEL

SHARM EL ‘CHIC’ THE OTHER SIDE OF EGYPT Words & Images Vincent Bernier Editor Natasha Al- Atassi

FAMOUS FRENCH CAPTAIN JEAN-JACQUES COUSTEAU HAS WRITTEN ONCE: “THE RED SEA IS A PASSAGE OF WONDERS; THE HAPPIEST HOURS OF MY DIVING EXPERIENCE WERE SPENT HERE”.

AGENT2 ventures to Egypt to discover whether Cousteau was right and explores the other wonders that Sharm El-Sheikh has to offer, beyond its pristine beaches and priceless diving.

Indeed, these words would be echoed by anybody who has the chance to spend some time in this astonishing region of the globe. In fact, few places in the world offer divers the chance to discover the unspoiled beauty of the ocean bed as Egypt does.

Located on the east shore at the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula, and with a consistent tropical climate and 60km of sandy beaches, Sharm E--l-Sheikh has become the leading

tourist spot in Sinai and an ultra modern Mecca for divers.

Now developed into a luxury holiday complex, it has become treasured by divers and sun-lovers across the globe. Famous hotels that share its beautiful bays include Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Ritz Carlton and the Four Seasons but behind these high-rises, lie Sharm’s endearing secrets: that it still has some of the best diving spots in all the Red Sea. A great way to start exploring the area is to dive to the amazing reefs of the National Park of Ras Muhammad. Created in 1983 to protect coral reefs and the fragile environment, this marine

park boasts corals brighter than anywhere I have ever seen before.

In this ocean of cobalt blue and feeling utterly disconnected, it’s not hard to see why this is one of the world’s most famous dive sites.

For those who haven’t tried it, scuba diving is like visiting another planet. In the majestic Ras Mohammed National Park, the landscape of fluttering reef walls and pinnacles seemed as unfamiliar as the canyons of Mars. The fish are weird in both colour and shape; parrotfish with their beaklike lips, goatfish sporting forked beards, and unicornfish that spar and horn-joust like the mythic beast.

I could have spent hours swimming there, in silence, away from the noisy city. Even though I eventually climb back up to the yacht, I knew that my time spent in that underwater palace would remain cherished memories.

As well as excellent diving, Sharm is close enough to the South Sinai desert that you can enjoy the sumptuous dunes with no problem.

Many local and international tour operators include daily excursions including camel rides and jeep safaris.

After enjoying everything about my snorkeling experience, I went to the dryness of the Sinai.

Throughout our journey to the deep desert, I was fascinated by the tribes of nomads, called Bedouins, who seemed able to live in the arid inhospitality of the desert.

They have adapted themselves brilliantly over the years to desert life, even though I can imagine how prettier and more romantic the sight of them must have been a couple of generation ago – with no piles of rubbish, no 4-wheel drives and no TV. One thing that has survived ‘the progress of the western world’ is the beautiful bond between Bedouins and their camels. It is still the Bedouin’s constant companion. He drinks its milk; he feasts on its flesh; he covers himself with its skin; he makes his tent of its hair. Its dung is used as fuel. It is his shelter in the cold winter nights and protector against sandstorms. It is the special gift of Allah: Ata’ Allah.

The camel has now predominantly been exchanged for the 4-wheel-drive, but they still play an important part. Trained racing and carrying tourists on camel treks, they assist the Bedouin

in becoming part of Sinai’s growing sources of income.

Its camels aren’t the only tool that attracts tourists though. South Sinai’s landscape is phenomenal. A silhouette of silver mountains, they shadowed the beautifully rich colours that were unforgettably inspiring.

A series of bays with innumerable and extraordinary coral reefs, Egypt has made a goal of turning the Red Sea into the new Riviera.

And the signs of development are everywhere: half-built Moorish domes, fieldstone walls in progress and lonely, unopened hotels. Even the nightlife in this Muslim city is modern and developed, and in fact- quite liberated. In 2005, Little Buddha, a sushi bar, took the title of having the longest continuous bar in the Middle East.

Even dance club franchise Pacha has one of its three African clubs in Sharm. These nightclubs and restaurants contribute greatly to the lifestyle led by Sharm el-Sheikh’s tourists each year.

Yet, the signs of development have also had other effects: high-rise hotels stain Sharm’s exquisite coast, and an onslaught of European tourists have turned this once traditional, ethnic port into a hub for tour operators, bars, and allinclusive resorts.

But don’t be dismayed. Sharm has a stretch of silky sandy beaches you will struggle to find elsewhere and coral as bright as you can imagine that it still shouldn’t be missed. So when you book your ticket, just remember Cousteau’s words.

Sharm el-Sheikh should be remembered for one of the best coral reefs in the world. Don’t let the rest put you off.

TRAVEL INFORMATION WHERE TO STAY A few resorts offers luxury on a silver plate like does Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh.

Located only 10 mins from the International Airport and less than an hour’s flight from Cairo, Hyatt Regency resort is embraced by the spectacular land and seascapes of mother nature. The unparalleled resort offers an extraordinary blend of international cuisine restaurants and entertainment including folkloric Egyptian dances and music.

All 471 spacious rooms and suites provide magnificent views of the Red Sea from its immense balconies.

SHARMELSHEIKH.REGENCY.HYATT.COM

WHAT TO DO DIVING There are over 20 renowned dive sites around Sinai – including the world-famous Ras Mohammad Marine Nature Reserve.

Cfun Divers are the guys to organize your snorkeling and diving trips with. The staff is fully licensed and insured. You will feel at ease with these professionals.

CFUNDIVERS.COM CAMEL RIDES, BEDOUIN DINNER AND STARGAZING You can enjoy a 30 minute camel ride, before tasting the Bedoin’s delicious cuisine and trying Egypt’s shisha, a traditional water pipe.

SHARM-CLUB.COM/ACTIVITIES_SHARM_ EL_SHEIKH/BEDOUIN_TOURS_SINAI.HTM THE MONASTERY OF SAINT-CATHERINE A formidable, fortified monastery, built in the 6thC under the Roman Empire on what was regarded as the place of Moses’ Burning Bush.

SINAIMONASTERY.COM MOUNT SINAI (OR MOUNTAIN OF MOSES) Sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians, Mount Sinai overlooks the monastery of Saint Catherine at 2285m. You can expect some great views at sunset and sunrise.

HOW TO GET THERE There are daily flights from the UK to Sharm El Sheikh. It takes 5h30 from Manchester and 5 hours from London.

MONARCH.CO.UK