Community Times Aug/Sep Issue

Since 1996

Aug/Sep 2018

IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1996

Fighting AnimAl Cruelty in Pet ShoPS

The TruTh AbouT breAThing

AykA: Turning Wood inTo FAshion Disney Cartoons Controversy in the arab WorlD

Luxembourg: SmalleSt Country in europe

Publisher Live Colors, Nicosia Managing Partner Najla Riad Associate Partners Ahmed Samy Mohamed Maher

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT

Editor’s NotE

Editor-in-Chief Moguib Roshdy Acting Editor Najla Riad Assistant Editor Rawan Abdel Latif

WRITERS Katharina Froehlich, Mona Bassel, Noha Kandil and Zeinab Abul Gheit

Dear Reader

ART DEPARTMENT

With the wrapping up of summer, we have put together a mixture of light and controversial topics that we hope will be of interest to you.

In our Style section, we find out how Ayka founders use wood to create fashionable bags, a trend that is growing nowadays with the increased interest in eco-friendly products.

Senior Graphic Designer Hania Hindy

SALES DEPARTMENT Sales Director Rania Halim Rana Touban

PRODUCTION MANAGER Enas Adly

For those interested in reading, check out our Culture section for our travel book recommendations. In that section, you can also find the latest movie releases and events going on in September that you would not want to miss.

ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT Distribution Manager Rana Ezzat

In this issue, we focused on bringing you timely Features that address current controversies and happenings, which include articles on how the community is fighting animal cruelty in pet shops as well as the dilemma surrounding Disney’s cartoon translations. Also included is how Port Said has proved itself to be an inspiration for Egyptian artists.

Luxembourg, the smallest city in Europe and an official UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a unique destination that not many people are aware of.

Head to our Travel section to find out more about this picturesque country.

Salem Tantawi

Office Manager Magda Adib

FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS Hazem Abdel Tawab Mohamed Mostafa

Office Clerk Mohamed Adel Office Custodian Ismail Othman Distribution Al Ahram, Next Media Mohandessin, Zamalek, Heliopolis, Maadi, Nasr City,

Find out the truth behind how we are meant to be breathing in Mind, Body and Soul, where you can also learn beach exercises that will help you stay fit during your summer holidays.

New Cairo, 6 October City, Sheikh Zayed City

Prepress & Printing: Sahara Printing Company

Wishing everyone a happy end-of-summer and a fruitful back-to-school season.

!e Editor editor@live-colors.com Address: 48 Abdel Moneim Hafez Street, Midan El Sabaa’ Emarat, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt Tel/Fax: (+202) 2290 8127 - 2415 8762 Mobile: 0100 005 2322 - 0100 005 2323 E-mail: editor@live-colors.com Website: published by LC Live Colors Nicosia, Cyprus

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CONTENTS AUG/SEP 2018 tOWN tAlK 06

DeStINAtIONS

54

Talk of the Town News

42

StYle 12

Ayka: Turning Wood Into Fashion

14

Summer Hairstyles

travEl Luxembourg: Exploring the Smallest Country in Europe

46

Culture 13

16

Books Top Travel Reads

18

EvEnts Events You Do Not Want to Miss

20

Films Latest Movie Releases

FeAtureS

COVER: Since 1996

Aug/Sep 2018

IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1996

Fighting AnimAl Cruelty in Pet ShoPS

The TruTh AbouT breAThing

22

Port Said: An Inspiration to Egyptian Artists

26

Speaking Up Against Animal Cruelty in Pet Shops

30

Disney Cartoons in the Arab World

Disney Cartoons Controversy in the arab WorlD

Luxembourg: SmalleSt Country in europe

50

Beach Exercises

52

The Truth About Breathing

58

BuSINeSS 34

A Talk with the CEO of Marriott International

36

Latest Business News

COmmuNItY AykA: Turning Wood inTo FAshion

mIND, BODY & SOul

40

GrEEn Community The Threat of Marine Plastic Pollution

CuISINe 56

No Bake Desserts

60

Maestro: Redefining Italian Cuisine

SOCIetY 62

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Social Events and Gatherings

TAKE TIME TO DO WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPY

RESTAURANT BAR LOUNGE JW MARRIOTT HOTEL CAIRO 0122 245 2521 PLATEAU.JWCAIRO@MARRIOTT.COM PLATEAUCAIRO

TOWNTALK An Unmatchable Summer Experience at the Cairo Marriott Starting from last May until end of September, the hotel will be offering unique summer promotions for its guests to make their summer experience an unmatchable one. A 30% off is available for Marriott International’s loyalty program members, Marriott Rewards, and 20% off for non-members.

Marriott is the first hotel in Egypt to introduce Beachill Mattresses, which are eco-friendly solar-powered beach mattresses that can even charge guests’ mobile devices and cool their drinks.

The mattress features a built-in solar-powered 7-watt charging station with a USB 2.0 output, a 2-litre thermo-storage fridge where guests can preserve both hot and cold beverages, and a heat- and water-proof pocket to help keep guests’ valuables safe.

On this occasion, Marriott International has launched its TestBED programme in the Middle East & Africa. Through this programme, entrepreneurs had a chance to introduce their products which were judged by a panel of Marriott representatives.

GB Academy Offers Latest Training Programs to Industry Professionals GB Academy, a subsidiary of GB Ghabbour Auto, held an open event in July to offer the public its latest programs providing state-of-the-art technical training to professionals in the industrial and investment sectors in Egypt. The courses cover a variety of topics related to car maintenance, engine electronics, and welding, in addition to other technical and business-related areas.

The Thrills of Gaming and Live Entertainment at Sheraton Cairo Hotel and Casino Cairo witnessed Sheraton Cairo Hotel’s long awaited Casino grand opening party, featuring special guest performances from superstar Nicole Sabaa and belly dancer Johara.

The exclusive party was filled with V.I.P. guests, signature cocktails, and gourmet cuisine prepared

by Sheraton’s internationally renowned chefs.

Guests enjoyed the spectacular array of ambient entertainment in the unique lavish setting of Rawi Restaurant and Lounge, as well as the world-class 24hour casino.

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A number of representatives from universities and technical schools in Egypt, as well as members of the industrial and investment sectors attended the event, including the GermanArab Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Elaraby Group (Toshiba), and Ezz Steel, who were introduced to the course content for the different programs.

GB Academy opened its doors in October 2011 with a mission to deliver premium quality training to ensure improved work standards, a qualified workforce, superior customer satisfaction and a diversified training portfolio.

The training programs are managed by SIS Middle East, a subsidiary of the Saxony International School (SIS) - a world leader in technical training - founded with the purpose of fostering a successful operational business in Egypt through effective processes and structures.

Michael Manley Appointed as FCA Chief Executive Officer Michael Manley was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and Chief Operating Officer of the NAFTA region on July 21st, 2018.

Previously, Mr. Manley was Head of the Jeep brand from June 2009 to July 2018, and Head of the Ram brand from October 2015 to July 2018.

Prior to those roles, Mr. Manley was Chief Operating Officer for the APAC region. He was also the lead Chrysler Group executive for the international activities of Chrysler outside of NAFTA, where he was responsible for implementing the co-operation agreements for distribution of Chrysler Group products through Fiat’s international distribution network.

Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa Appoints New General Manager and Operations Manager Hilton, a global hospitality leader, has made two highlevel additions to the team at Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa, appointing Mr. Florian Gruhl as General Manager and Mr. Mostafa Khalaf as Operations Manager at the resort.

Chic and Intimate Weddings at the JW Marriott Cairo At JW Marriott Cairo, you will experience a day of celebration that will be memorable, glamorous, fun and within your budget.

Their world-class chefs and award-winning catering expertise add another dimension to your wedding along with their esteemed wedding planners.

Varied dinner buffets and à la carte menus will always be special.

The Tutankhamun ballroom is one of the largest in Egypt and is perfect for galas. Cheops and Chephren ballrooms are ideal for more intimate occasions. The Terrace is a unique outdoor venue.

Florian Gruhl has 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry having started his career as a Trainee at Hilton Bonn in Germany in 2002. Gruhl ascended from Food & Beverage Supervisor to Food & Beverage Manager in both Europe and the Middle East before becoming Operations Manager at Hilton Salalah Resort in the Sultanate of Oman in 2012.

In June 2014, he was appointed Director of Operations at Hilton Kuwait Resort before his appointment as General Manager of Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa in May 2018.

Mostafa Khalaf has over 15 years of experience with Hilton having worked at the company’s resorts in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam before moving to the Ramses Hilton as Front Office Manager where he received numerous accolades and recognition for his work before finally moving to Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa as the new Operations Manager.

Juhayna Unveils its New Lactose Free Milk Juhayna conducted an educational event highlighting the benefits of dairy products and tackling the challenges of lactose intolerance. This event was proficiently moderated by Dr. Nourhan Kandil, nutrition expert, and Mrs. Passant Fouad, Juhayna’s Associate Director-External Communication.

“Lactose free milk” has been distinctively launched for the first time in Egypt, overcoming the lactose intolerance dilemma and setting the foundation for a healthier Egyptian population.

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TOWNTALK La Roche Posay Commences its First Derm Class La Roche Posay launched the first Derm Class in Egypt as part of the brand’s commitment to raise consumer awareness and educate the audience about the skin’s well-being.

The first Derma Class, which was organized during Ramadan in attendance of Dr. Rehab Hegazy, focused on oily skin. La Roche Posay aims at utilizing unique and innovative tools to reach out to its clients, intending to upsurge their awareness about the best skin care routines.

L’Oréal Egypt Launches its First “Digital Forum” to Create a Communication Platform in the Beauty Industry Over 300 beauty professionals attended the launch of the first “Digital Forum” that was launched by Professional Product Division at L’Oréal Egypt. The Digital Forum came in line with L’Oréal’s Strategy to lead the digital transformation in the beauty industry. The Forum served as a communication platform amongst diverse industry professionals, digital expertise and unique SMEs to lead digital transformation where panelist shared experiences, cases of success, and knowledge with salons to help them step-in strongly to the digital world.

“The New Beauty Experience” is where L’Oréal re-imagines the consumer beauty experience at salons and shows that the future of beauty will be enhanced by tools, services and experiences. Within that frame, L’Oréal Egypt announced the new “Style My Hair App” which is L’Oréal’s latest innovation and a new transformation tool in the digital and beauty industry.

During the forum, L’Oréal Egypt and the Professional Products Division announced it new CSR commitment with their salon partners to launch, for the first time in Egypt, Green & Accessible salons in partnership with Greenish NGO and Helm Foundation.

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Marriott International Reinforces Commitment to Egypt With the Launch of Tahseen Hospitality Training Program This is a unique hospitality training program developed in response to a growing need for talent within the industry. Created in partnership with Helwan University and the Professional Development Foundation (PDF), the program is focused on fast tracking the next generation of hospitality leaders from Egypt by providing them with firsthand experience and a springboard to launch successful careers in the industry. The company unveiled the program at a signing ceremony attended by His Excellency Khalid Abdul Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Also present at the occasion was Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International.

Tahseen, was first launched by Marriott International in Saudi Arabia in 2017 and received very encouraging results, paving the way for a wider regional roll out. Tahseen, which is set to commence in September 2018, provides the technical training that complements the newly initiated “Hotel Management & Operations”, Bachelor’s Degree program created through the joint efforts of the PDF and Helwan University.

Marriott International’s new Sustainability and Social Impact Platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, guides how the company makes a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business. From empowerment opportunities to sustainable hotel development, the platform is designed to foster business growth while balancing the needs of associates, customers, owners, the environment and communities. One of the priority areas, or “coordinates”, of Serve 360 is Empower Through Opportunity.

Tahseen is a program that directly supports and brings this vision to life.

Cairo Marriott Hotel and Marriott Mena House, Cairo had the pleasure to welcome President and Chief Executive Officer at Marriott International, Arne Sorenson, on his second visit to Egypt.

As he arrived at the Cairo Marriott Hotel, Mr. Sorenson was greeted and escorted on a tour around the Palace by the hotel General Manager, Mr. Khaled Al Jamal, and senior management.

During his stay at the Cairo Marriott, he also met with the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, and the Minister of Public Enterprise Sector, Mr. Hesham Tawfik. Mr. Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East & Africa (MEA) for Marriott International, joined Mr. Sorenson in this visit, reassuring the huge potential Marriott International sees in Egypt as a destination.

In the evening, a cocktail reception was held at the Eugenie Salon at the Cairo Marriott Hotel where Mr. Sorenson met General Managers and Owners of Marriott hotels in Egypt.

Another highlight of his visit was touring the newly branded Marriott Mena House, Cairo. He was then escorted by Mr. Omar Tantawy, hotel General Manager for a tour which included the soon to be renovated palace, Marriott guest rooms, restaurants, banquet venues, and the palace’s lavish gardens.

Retail Group Egypt announced the introduction of Old Navy in Egypt as part of a franchise partnership with the brand.

Launching with two stores in Cairo, the first location opened at Mall of Arabia followed by a second at Citystars Heliopolis last July. In addition to its store, customers can engage with the brand online at OldNavy. com/Egypt and Facebook. com/OldNavyEgypt.

The global apparel retailer is known for making current American fashion essentials with a focus on fashion, family, value and fun. The 960-square-meter location in Mall of Arabia and the 655-square-meter space at Citystars reflect Old Navy’s newest store design with playful details and energizing environments, while offering the same great apparel and accessories collections for men, women, kids and babies that the brand is known for in the United States .

Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino received the “Gold Sabre award for public relations campaigns” for the reopening of the iconic hotel last year.

As Sabre Awards recognize campaigns that demonstrate the highest levels of strategic planning, creativity and business results, the hotel was recognized for the great PR activities and the outstanding reopening party that caught the eyes of the public.

With a highly anticipated reopening, the hotel emerged after extensive renovation to reveal a distinct and vibrant aesthetic with modern interiors, refreshed public spaces and innovative and revitalized dining concepts.

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TOWNTALK Maxim Automotive Unveils New Chinese Giant Domy Last July, Maxim Automotive organized the launch ceremony of the new Chinese giant Domy with the presence of the vice president of the Domy Company. With the participation of officials, ministers, public figures and community superstars, the event was also attended by the commercial delegate of the Chinese Embassy in Cairo and General Mohamed Anies, Chairman of AVV factory.

Recently, all Chinese automobile users and car dealers have noticed the extent to which Chinese cars and production have developed in terms of efficiency and quality. This is why Maxim Automotive executives have been asked to address Domy Company, which is characterized by its high quality and superior performance. Maxim Automotive has established the main center, which includes two showrooms, the customer service center and the spare parts store in addition to an integrated customer care center in the Sheraton Residences.

Jaz Collection is Now Jaz Hotel Group

Yousry Ali Joins Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis as General Manager Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Yousry Ali to the position of General Manager.

Mr. Yousry’s career spans over 30 years in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining Radisson Blu Hotel, he served as General Manager for Movenpick Hotel & Resort in several destinations in Egypt.

He also has had great experiences working with several international chains all over Egypt, beginning from Aswan to Alexandria.

Egypt’s largest hospitality chain is reinforcing its presence with a new brand name, presenting “Jaz Hotel Group.”

The new identity leverages the powerful, brand equity of the Jaz brand name to drive more awareness in the marketplace, increase marketing efficiency and expand the range of experiences offered to their customers.

IHG Cairo Citystars Celebrates Achieving Outstanding Results in the Winning Metrics InterContinental Cairo Citystars, Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars celebrated winning the Ten Club Award for the three hotels’ outstanding performance in 2017.

Four Editor’s Choice Awards at Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah La Palmeraie Moroccan restaurant, Kebabgy, Manipuri Indian restaurant and So SPA at Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah were chosen among the absolute best venues and spas in an exclusive list of winners across 30 categories in the Cairo 360 online city guide in Egypt.

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Ten Club Award is an InterContinental Hotels Group regional award, which the hotels receive, based on achieving outstanding performance of the Winning Metrics, a significant way to measure the hotels’ performance. It is worth mentioning that it is the fourth time in a row for both Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars to win their way to this award.

A W EDDI NG FOR THE YOUNG AT HE A RT.

LIGHT UP THE PAL ACE W I T H YO U R O W N M A G I C .

Write a fresh page in the majestic history of the Gezirah Palace with a wedding for today’s modern bride and groom.

Blend timeless splendor with stylish chic in any of Salon Royal, Eugenie, Salon Vert and the grandeur of Aida Ballroom or enjoy the cheerful atmosphere and stunning views of the Nile from Almaz.

Ask about Salon Vert special wedding package.

Say YES to #MarryMeAtCairoMarriott...

CAIRO MARRIOTT HOTEL & OMAR KHAY YAM CASINO 16 SARAY EL GEZIRA ST., PO BOX 33 ZAMALEK, CAIRO 11211, EGYPT. T: 00. 202.27.28.3000 CAIROMARRIOTTHOTEL.COM

STYLE

AYKA: TURNING WOOD INTO FASHION

By Noha Kandil

A

nother successful Egyptian brand has surfaced, and it is nothing but good news for women. Ayka is a new local brand that will change how we think of purses.

Founders Hana and Nadine Mansour have taken women’s handbags to the next level with their design of the Demilune, a half-circled wooden bag especially made for bold women who aren’t scared of setting trends. !is wooden bag has been seen abroad as part of the brand Cult Gaia’s collection, which launched in 2012 and achieved runway success. However, the two sisters brought this idea to Egypt and are making it locally.

We had a chat with the Mansour sisters to find out more about how they turned wood into art.

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What is the back-story behind Ayka?

We have always helped each other put together a trendy outfit, and this helped us create something of our own. We wanted to use our passion and appreciation for fashion to help grow the Egyptian industry and to transform the idea of a bag from being merely functional to being a signature piece.

But most importantly, we always try to have fun with it.

Why did you choose the name “Ayka”?

Ayka is an Arabic synonym for the tree branches that wood is produced from. !e choice of the name was a combination between the sophistication of the brand, and the pride we feel in our Egyptian culture and the Arabic language; which is the main drive behind us starting an Egyptian brand.

Can you identify one main inspiration behind Ayka’s designs? !e inspiration behind the designs varies depending on the brainstorming sessions and research we do with every design. We gather inspirations, create mood boards and think a few steps ahead of our production. We even think of outfits and the end product even after the customer purchases it.

Can you take us through your other designs’ process?

There is a movement in the fashion industry towards sustainability and environmentfriendly products? Do you believe Ayka would have a role in promoting that?

Our products are a good example of repurposing raw material that is commonly used, especially in Egypt.

We believe it is one of the most beautiful materials of all time. It also produces a purse that is environmentfriendly, because it is completely handmade by very skilled artisans from natural material.

We think of different ideas and create variations from it. We then work on drawing a design on different programs, create a prototype and then sample that design.

Getting into the market, what was the main misconception you had? Were you surprised by how the fashion industry really works?

There is a high level of craftsmanship involved. Do you have your own workshop?

We primarily had an idea that our target market would not be as excited and willing to shop from local brands, especially a new one. However, that has been changing and this is definitely not what we found throughout our experience.

We are in partnership with freelance workers and factories that we believe would help us ensure the quality we want to deliver to our customers.

We focus on choosing our partners for quality management, in addition to having a very long sampling process that includes going back and forth between us and the production.

Also, we were not sure if the Egyptian culture would accept this type of purse because it could seem too playful or just have a unique look to it and would not be perceived as practical, but that was also proven wrong as we received tremendous support and feedback on our Demilune piece.

With our first product, the Demilune, we also included family and friends in the sampling process to receive feedback on quality and usage.

As an emerging local brand, what are you currently struggling with the most?

What do you want women to feel when carrying Ayka?

Ensuring that we maintain the same quality with every piece, it is very difficult to trust having constant flawless production, especially when we start working on larger quantities and needing to meet deadlines and deliveries.

We want every woman to feel different, fashionable and to be a trendsetter.

We believe, as a part of the Egyptian fashion industry, there is not a particular struggle we could call out at the moment, but it is definitely a challenge especially with various local brands emerging in the market.

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STYLE

Summer Hairstyles to Beat the Heat While many people wait all year for the return of summer to head to their favorite holiday destinations and lounge by the beach, fighting the heat and the humidity is definitely not one of those aspects we look forward to. !at is why we put together a few easy updo hairstyles that will help you avoid frizzy hair on the hottest days.

Knotted Ponytail !is look will only take you five minutes to put together.

To begin with, spray your hair with texturizing spray if you like adding volume to your look. !en, split your hair into two sections horizontally, the top one being above the ears. With that section, split it in half and tie the two together into a classic knot.

After that, also split the bottom section in half and combine each side with one of the ends of the knot you had just created. Finally, tie another knot with the two new sections, holding the look into place with a hair tie or elastic band at the base.

Twisted Bun !e twisted bun will guarantee that you will not be worrying about your hair bothering your neck or face.

Start by splitting a one-inch section above your ear and twist it away from your face, and then secure it in on the back of your head with a pin, doing the same with the other side.

Hold together all your hair, including the two twists, and secure them with a hair tie, forming a low ponytail.

Coil the hair, holding it from the tail, forming a bun using that ponytail. Secure the bun with pins.

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Double Ponytail If you want to avoid the heat, but still like a little volume, this ponytail will be the perfect look for you. Start by splitting your hair into two sections horizontally, and then pull them both into two high ponytails. For added volume, tease the top section with a comb beforehand.

Let the upper ponytail hide the below section’s hair tie, and secure them together with pins if you wish.

Double Dutch Braids !e double Dutch braids will definitely be your best frizz-free option. Begin by splitting your hair straight down the middle, and start Dutch braiding (which is similar to a French braid but you work under the hair instead of over), at the front of your head.

Side Braid Ponytail Start by parting your hair horizontally right after your ear, and keep your initial side part too, pulling them back into a ponytail.

With the top section, split it into three strands and braid normally until the end, placing a hair tie so that the braid doesn’t loosen.

Turn the braided hair around the base of your ponytail, and secure it at the bottom with pins. Use hairspray for flyaways.

Two-Braid Updo For this look, divide your hair into two, creating a central partition, and then tie each section into a high pigtail. !en, divide each pigtail into two sections, and start creating two rope braids until you reach the edges.

When you reach the nape of your neck, switch to a regular, three-strand braid, and stop an inch before the ends, tying a band at the bottom to keep everything in place. Repeat for the other side.

Once they are both secure, gently start pulling out the braids starting from the bottom, to give it more volume.

Overlap the braids, and then tuck in the ends, holding them into place with pins.

To make sure the hairdo stays put, briefly mist with hairspray, to avoid flyaways.

aug-sep 2018 | Ct

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CULTURE Books

Top Travel Books As we are all still in the holiday spirit, we brought you several of the top travel-writing titles or books about adventures that will feed the wanderlust in you. From negative experiences to life-changing events, there is a book for every type of traveler.

Vegabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel

By Rolf Potts “Vagabonding” is about taking time off from your normal life - from six weeks to four months to two years - to discover and experience the world on your own terms.

Veteran shoestring traveler Rolf Potts shows how anyone armed with an independent spirit can achieve the dream of extended overseas travel.

Potts covers financing your travel time, determining your destination, adjusting to life on the road, working and volunteering overseas, handling travel adversity, and re-assimilating back into ordinary life.

Not just a plan of action, “Vagabonding” is also an outlook on life that emphasizes creativity, discovery, and the growth of the spirit.

Marching Powder

By Rusty Young, Thomas McFadden

Love With a Chance of Drowning

By Torre DeRoche

Rusty Young was backpacking in South America when he heard about !omas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who ran tours inside Bolivia’s notorious San Pedro prison. Intrigued, the young Australian journalist went to La Paz and joined one of !omas’ illegal tours.

A city girl with a morbid fear of deep water, Torre DeRoche is not someone you would ordinarily find adrift in the middle of the stormy Pacific aboard a leaky sailboat – total crew of two – struggling to keep an old boat, a new relationship and her floundering sanity afloat.

!ey formed an instant friendship and then became partners in an attempt to record !omas’ experiences in jail.

Rusty bribed the guards to allow him to stay and for the next three months he lived inside the prison, sharing a cell with !omas and recording one of the strangest and most compelling prison stories of all time.

But when she meets Ivan, a handsome Argentinean man with a humble sailboat and a dream to set off exploring the world, Torre has to face a hard decision: watch the man she’s in love with sail away forever, or head off on the watery journey with him. Suddenly the choice seems simple. She gives up her sophisticated city life, faces her fear of water (and tendency towards seasickness) and joins her lover on a year-long voyage across the Pacific.

!is book establishes that San Pedro is not your average prison. Inmates are expected to buy their cells from real estate agents, while others run shops and restaurants. It is a place where corrupt politicians and drug lords live in luxury apartments, while the poorest prisoners are subjected to squalor and deprivation. !is is cutting-edge travel-writing and a fascinating account of infiltration into the South American drug culture.

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Set against a backdrop of the world’s most beautiful and remote destinations, “Love with a Chance of Drowning” is a sometimes hilarious, often moving and always breathtakingly brave memoir that proves there are some risks worth taking.

Microadventures: Local Discoveries for Great Escapes

By Alastair Humphreys Adventure – something that’s new and exhilarating, outside your comfort zone.

Adventures change you and how you see the world, and all you need is an open mind, bags of enthusiasm and boundless curiosity.

So what’s a microadventure? It is close to home, cheap, simple, short and 100% guaranteed to refresh your life. A microadventure takes the spirit of a big adventure and squeezes it into a day or even a few hours. !e point of a microadventure is that you don’t need lots of time and money to meet a new challenge. !is practical guide is filled with ideas for microadventures – for you to experience on your own or with friends and family – and over 150 stunning photographs, plus tips and advice on safety and kit.

Whether it is sleeping on a hilltop or going for a wild swim, cycling a lap of the Isle of Wight or walking home for Christmas, it is time you discovered something new about yourself and the world outside your window.

How Not to Travel the World: Adventures of a Disaster-Prone Backpacker

By Lauren Juliff “I had no life experience, zero common sense and had never eaten rice. I suffered from debilitating anxiety, was battling an eating disorder and had just had my heart broken. I hoped that by leaving to travel the world, I would be able to heal myself.”

Instead, Lauren’s travels were full of bad luck and near-death experiences. Over the space of a year, she was scammed and assaulted, lost teeth and swallowed a cockroach. She fell into leech-infested rice paddies, was caught up in a tsunami, her motorbike’s brakes failed and she experienced a very unhappy ending during a massage in !ailand.

It was just when Lauren was about to give up on travel that she stumbled across a handsome New Zealander with a love of challenges.

.

Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town

By Paul Theroux In “Dark Star Safari”, the wittily observant and endearingly irascible Paul !eroux takes readers through the length of Africa by rattletrap bus, dugout canoe, cattle truck, armed convoy, ferry, and train. In the course of his epic and enlightening journey, he encounters danger, delay, and dismaying circumstances.

Gauging the state of affairs, he talks to Africans, aid workers, missionaries, and tourists. What results is an insightful mediation on the history, politics, and beauty of Africa and its people.

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World

By Eric Weiner Weiner spent a decade as a foreign correspondent reporting from such discontented locales as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Indonesia. Unhappy people living in profoundly unstable states, he notes, inspire pathos and make for good copy, but not for good karma. So Weiner, admitted grump and self-help book aficionado, undertook a year’s research to travel the globe, looking for the “unheralded happy places.” !e result is this book, equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and philosophical, a journey into both the definition of and the destination for true contentment.

Apparently, the happiest places on earth include Iceland, Bhutan, and India.

Weiner also visits the country deemed most malcontent, Moldova, and finds real merit in the claim.

Both revealing and inspirational, perhaps the best thing about this hilarious trip across four continents is that for the reader, the “geography of bliss” is wherever they happen to find themselves while reading it.

World Walk

By Steven Newman “World Walk” tells the story of newspaper writer Steven Newman who, at the age of 28, packed his bag to start a four-year long journey around the world on foot. He walked his way across 22 countries in five continents.

Newman shares heartfelt stories of the people he meets along the way, as well as wild adventures including arrests, wars, blizzards, wild animal attacks, wildfires, and more.

A lesson of hope and love told through the exciting adventures of independent budget backpacking.

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CULTURE Events

EvEnts not to bE MissEd CAiRo FAshion & tEx EGypt intERnAtionAl Exhibition CEntER 28th to 30th september

islAMiC GEoMEtRiC dEsiGn CouRsE dots spACE

Cairo Fashion & Tex brings with it solid proof of high quality, thus providing exhibitors and visitors alike with the assurance of making a sound business investment. !e event is held under the auspices of Ministry of Industry and Commerce and all the industrial chambers.

Cairo Fashion and Tex is the first and only exhibition specialized in yarn, textile, garment and trimming supplies and accessories in Egypt in the Lifestyle & Fashion, Textile, Fabrics & Yarns industries.

Every sunday in september

!is interesting course in design will teach you how to illustrate Islamic geometric patterns using the grid method and polygonal techniques. After working on this for several weeks, you will get the opportunity to exhibit your final designs.

Time: 6 pm to 9 pm

Address: 30 Al Mesaha Street, Dokki Telephone: 01066606738

boARd GAMEs niGht GRAMophonE

Every Monday in september

For all the board games enthusiasts, the Maadi fun house, Gramophone, will be hosting a game night every Monday this month, with an entrance fee of 60 LE that includes one free drink.

Time: 6 pm to 11 pm

Address: 6 Street 200, Degla, Maadi Telephone: 01158700025

AdhAM Roshdy And thE WAvE JAzz bAnd JAzz bAR – KEMpinsKi nilE hotEl Every Monday in september

For all the Jazz music lovers, Adham Roshdy and !e Wave Jazz Band’s upbeat music will keep you out of your seats, giving you a midweek treat at Jazz Bar.

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CitiEs idEntity thRouGh ARChitECtuRE And ARts iEREK, AlExAndRiA 25th to 27th september

!is conference will present how citizens see their cities and how they physically or mentally compare it with the ideal city in their own perceptions. However, a city’s identity presents distinguishing factors that make it unique and unlike any other. IEREK aims to dedicate the investigation of the different and new approaches developed in architecture and contemporary arts.

Time: Noon to Midnight

Address: IEREK, Beheira Street, Gianaclis, Alexandria

Pottery for Beginners WorkshoP DarB 1718 every saturday in september

If you are interested in learning more about pottery making, then this workshop led by the Director of the Foustat Traditional Crafts Centre, Abdelhakim Sayed, will teach you everything from scratch, from the methods of decoration to how to burn products and how to use a training wheel.

Time: 11 am to 1 pm

Address: Kasr El Sham’ Street, Next to Amr Mosque and Mary Girgis Metro Station, El Fustat Telephone: 02-23610511

meDhat saleh concert must oPera house 13th september

Popular singer Medhat Saleh will be performing his hit music in a live concert at Must Opera House in 6th of October City.

Time: 8 pm

Dress Code: Formal

Tickets are available at TicketsMarche.

WorlD graD school tour intercontinental cairo citystars

“in the frame” exhiBition khan almaghraBy gallery 23rd June to 6th september

26th september

QS World Grad School Tour Cairo provides the attendees with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with admissions directors from topranked grad schools, learn about the best graduate programs in the world, apply for exclusive scholarships, and attend complimentary info sessions from the experts.

Time: 12:30 pm to 6 pm

Khan Almaghraby gallery is presenting their summer exhibition “In the Frame“ that features the work of multi-generational artists in a range of mediums. !e exhibition will run until !ursday, September 6th. !e artists include: Ahmed Askalany, Evelyn Ashamallah, Sayed Saad Eldin, Adel Hosny, Noura Seif, Souad Abdelrasou, Galal Elhusseiny, Mohamed Orabi, Wanly and Mounier Kanaan, among others.

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CULTURE Films

septembeR Movie Releases

The Nun Release Date: 5 September Genre: Mystery, !riller Director: Corin Hardy Cast: Bonnie Aarons, Taissa Farmiga, Charlotte Hope Synopsis: When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together, they uncover the order’s unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun.

The Predator

Johnny English Strikes Again

Release Date: 19 September Genre: !riller, Science Fiction Director: Shane Black Cast: Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Jacob Tremblay Synopsis: !e universe’s most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race.

Release Date: 19 September Genre: Action, Adventure Director: David Kerr Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Olga Kurylenko, Emma !ompson Synopsis: !e new adventure begins when a cyber attack reveals the identities of all active undercover agents in Britain, leaving Johnny English as the secret service’s last hope. Called out of retirement, English dives into a mission to find the mastermind hacker. As a man with few skills and analogue methods, Johnny English must overcome the challenges of modern technology to make this mission a success.

Alpha

Searching

Smallfoot

Release Date: 6 September Genre: Drama, Mystery Director: Albert Hughes Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Leanor Varela, Jens Hulten Synopsis: Young Keda tries to survive alone in the wilderness after he is left for dead during his first hunt with his Cro-Magnon tribe. He soon forms an unlikely alliance with a lone wolf that was abandoned by its pack. Facing overwhelming odds and nonstop danger, Keda and the wolf must now trek through a harsh and unforgiving landscape to make it home before winter.

Release Date: 27 September Genre: Drama, !riller Director: Aneesh Chaganty Cast: John Cho, Debra Messing, Lee Ann Michelle Synopsis: David Kim becomes desperate when his 16-year-old daughter Margot disappears and an immediate police investigation leads nowhere. He soon decides to search the one place that no one else has - Margot’s laptop. Hoping to trace her digital footprints, David contacts her friends and looks at photos and videos for any possible clues to her whereabouts.

Release Date: 27 September Genre: Fantasy, Musical Director: Karey Kirkpatrick Cast: LeBron James, Zendaya, Channing Tatum Synopsis: A Yeti named Migo stirs up his community when he discovers something that he didn’t know existed - a human. News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all new story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.

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FEATURE

Port Said: A Source of Inspiration for Egyptian Artists

By Zeinab Abul Gheit

N

ot many people are aware that Port Said city has introduced a significant number of artists, whether writers, singers, actors or musicians, to the community.

We talked to Port Said native and famous writer Skina Fouad to find out the reasons behind this. “!e first factor that affects the mentality of the Port Saidi natives is the captivating nature: the sea, the open sky and the beauty of the city itself,” she says.

Another factor is the noble values of patriotism, which relates back to when the

Famous Artists from Port Said Abu Recently, a unique style of music was introduced during the celebration of the El Gouna Film Festival when the singer “Abu” (Mohamed Abul Einein) presented the song “Talat Da’at” (!ree Beats) with famous actress Yousra. !e music video was shot in El Gouna with the participation of famous artists like Yousra, Sherine Reda, Gamila Awad and Tamer Habib, hitting ten million views in ten days.

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locals were able to get rid of colonialism.

Unforgettable songs were created by the singers to glorify their patriotism, one of which is Shadia’s “Amana Aleik Amana”.

Another song is by Abdel Halim Hafez that was created after the evacuation of the British occupation from Port Said.

An outstanding means of recreation and entertainment is the Simsimiya troupe named “Sohbet Wilad El Bahr”, which was founded by the famous Simsimiya singer Mohamed El Shinawi. !rough the folklore musical instruments, the Simsimiya reflects the agonies and joy of people’s daily lives.

After working in an American company for seven years, Abu decided to leave to dedicate his time to practicing writing, singing and composing. !e ambitious artist started his career in 2013 with a song inspired by the revolution titled “El Nas Ma Bterhamsh” (!e People Have no Mercy), which expressed the country’s situation at that time. He also addresses the youth with songs like “Oxygen”, which discusses equality between all the categories of society.

In a duet with popular singer Ahmed Adawiya, Abu sung “Travel”, in which he portrays the psychological suffering of the despaired youth who will leave the country and the difficulties they will face in foreign lands.

In Al Youm El Sabe’ newspaper, Abu declared that he is now preparing to launch a new song, where his new album called “Sharbat 2017” includes ten different songs written by writer and scenarist Tamer Habib as well as himself.

Sayed Badriya Born in 1957 in one of the poorest regions of Port Said, Al Manakh, Badriya was able to overcome the obstacles and engrave his name in Hollywood’s Wall of Fame by acting in 60 films, some of which starred George Clooney and Al Pacino. In spite of the fact that most Egyptians are not familiar with Badryia, his photos are prevailing in Hollywood.

Badriya’s father died when he was nine years old, forcing him to sell cheap perfumes in downtown Cairo for money, where he later joined a school for crafts.

With a dream to travel to the USA to study acting, he managed to save $2,000, allowing him to move to America where he worked in a Lebanese store.

Enrolling in Boston University, Badryia studied !eater and English Language then completed his studies in New York.

After graduation, he moved to New York where he met Anthony Perkins, the star of the film “Psycho” .

Perkins at that time was preparing to direct his second film and he chose Badriya as his assistant. Badriya’s first role was in a film called “Hot Shot”, later appearing alongside Al Pacino in “Insider”.

He also acted in the film “Land of Plenty” directed by the famous German director Wim Wenders. In spite of the 25-year stay in the USA, Badriya never forgot his roots, paying frequent visits to his native city Port Said.

Cooperation between Badriya and Essawy continued in the short film “Terrorist”. Highly applauded by the American critics, it was also granted several prizes.

According to a source, a company has signed a contract with Badriya to play the main role of a narrative film in Egypt called “Al Raml Station”. !e film portrays 24 similar crimes, and is said to begin filming in June.

Skina Fouad Born in Port Said, Fouad graduated from Cairo University in 1964, and started working in the journalism field. Besides writing many novels, she was granted the prize of the Arabic press through her journey as a journalist and chief editor of the Broadcast and TV magazine.

In a weekly article in Al Ahram, Fouad tackles societal issues, and is known as an unyielding fighter in attacking corruption and defending the citizens’ rights. During Mobarak’s rule, Fouad confronted officials about the shortage of wheat and asked the General Prosecutor to investigate the Egyptian Sudanese Fund project concerned with wheat cultivation.

In Cairo, Badriya presented the documentary titled “Saving Egyptian Film Classics” in 2002, which he directed and produced.

In the documentary, famous American directors Arthur Miller and Martin Scorsese along with late Egyptian star Madiha Yousri shed light on the importance of the restoration of old Egyptian films. !rough his own company “Zoom in Focus Productions”, Badriya presented another short film named “!e Interrogative” in 2002, which was the first production by the Egyptian producer Hisham Essawy, who studied cinema in Colombia University. !is film was awarded during the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival that same year.

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FEATURE !e famous actor Mahmoud Yassin has a long history in artistic works like cinema, theater and broadcasting. Born in Port Said, Yassin was greatly affected by the 1952 Revolution and had a strong feeling of patriotism and pride. During his studies in the Faculty of Law, his love for acting never faded.

After graduation, he joined a contest in the National !eater and ranked first for three consecutive times. His role in the play “El Helm” (!e Dream) was the turning point in his career.

Some of the titles for his unforgettable plays included: “Soleiman El Halabi”, “Al Zir Salem”, “Watani Akka” and “Aoudet El Ghae’b”.

Besides the 150 films he participated in alongside legends of the cinema Faten Hamama, Shadia, Nadia Lotfy, Mervat Amin and Nagla’ Fathi, Yassin played memorable roles in several TV series like “Souk El Asr” and “Ghadan tatafattah Al Zouhour”.

Amr Diab was born in Port Said in 1961, and inherited his love of the arts and his beautiful voice from his father. Convinced that his six-year-old son would become a famous singer, he encouraged Diab to participate in the Port Said Festival where he sang the National Anthem.

After the 1967 setback, his family moved to Hihya city in Al Sharkiya governorate. After receiving his Bachelor’s in Arabic Music from the Arts Academy in 1983, Diab started singing that same year.

During his long journey in singing, he has been greatly admired in Egypt and the Arab World. He was awarded the World Music Award seven times.

Sarhan, born in 1952, worked in many media outlets, like Dream and Rotana, before becoming a press correspondent for a Middle East newspaper and “Sayedaty” magazine. She later went on to work as a journalist in “Kalam El Nas” magazine, owned by her former husband and the famous writer Emad Adib.

Sarhan founded her own magazine “Sayidaty Sadati” and wrote articles in several newspapers like Akhbar El Youm, Al Wafd and El Bilad El Soudiya. She also presented interviews and programs, the most famous of which was “Ya Hala”.

Heading to Dream 2, she presented a program called “Fil Mamnou’”, which was a political program, in addition to presenting her programs “Hala Show” and “!e Cinema and !e People” on Rotana Cinema, before moving to Beirut to present a program on a Lebanese channel.

Port Said is labeled as “the heroic city” because of the bravery of its inhabitants in their struggle against the British occupation from 1882-1952 and their unyielding will in fighting the tripartite aggression in 1956 and the Zionist aggression in 1967. !e city is also known for its outstanding landmarks, like its port, which is significant due to its superior location at the entrance of the Suez Canal, and the old light house which was the first building in the world to be constructed in concrete in 1869 during the rule of Khedive Ismail.

Tourists can enjoy El Nouras Village, Nis Island. Going to Port Fouad using the ferryboat is also an enjoyable trip. Port Said’s name is composed of two parts, where Port means harbor and Said is the name of Khedive Said.

Other landmarks include !e Military and !e National Museum and !e Victory Museum for Modern Art.

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FEATURE

Speaking Up Against Animal Cruelty in Pet Shops

By Mona Bassel

A

fter the death of three animals in pet shops during Cairo’s heat wave, residents decided to speak up and take action.

For decades, animal rights in Egypt has taken a backseat to other issues affecting the country, such as economic uncertainties or sexual harassment. !is is due to the belief, as dictated by culture, that certain issues are given more priority and animal welfare is perceived as a secondary issue.

However, countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey have adopted animal welfare regulations, showing that there are ways to manage the welfare of humans and animals alike without one cause compromising the other.

In the case of Egypt, there are countless incidents of animal abuse, ranging from the insufferable conditions at the National Circus and the Giza Zoo to the poisoning of stray animals and the insufferable treatment in pet shops. !e situation remains largely unchanged because of the small number of animal rights organizations and activists in the country.

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!ere is a law that forbids selling exotic animals, such as monkeys and owls, while one article under the protection of environment in the 2014 constitution states: “!e state commits to the protection and development of green space in urban areas; the protection of plants, livestock and fisheries; the protection of endangered species; and the prevention of cruelty to animals.�

It is therefore unclear why this law is not executed on the ground. One theory suggests that there are limitations in the framework since there are no clear statements that explain what qualifies as animal cruelty. It is common to see a horse or donkey repetitively whipped while dragging behind a load clearly beyond its means, but no official in sight would take action, as they would argue that those using this mode of transportation are also poor and suffering.

Another potential reason is that people are simply unaware of how to report incidents of animal cruelty; upon speaking to the General Organization for Veterinary Services hotline, the veterinarian on the other end of the line received a complaint about a pet shop in downtown Cairo notorious for letting its animals catch diseases and die, noting: “We know that the circumstances in this shop are problematic, but we need people to file reports in order to take action.”

The Birth of the Pet Shop Watch Until recently, most efforts to stand up to inhumane pet shops were limited to individuals who would confront owners or purchase a sick pet just to save it from horrid living conditions. From shops known to sell stolen pets and others that pile pets on top of each other like commodities or throw diseased ones in the garbage and leave them to die, the list was known among animal rights activists and it was a seemingly impossible battle.

However, everything changed last Ramadan when, during a particularly difficult heat wave that confined residents to the comfort of their air conditioned homes, photos of a Husky puppy that had died of a heat stroke behind bars surfaced on social media platforms, sparking outrage.

Husky dogs are adapted to live in cold climates due to their heavy wolf-like fur, and they can withstand temperatures as cold as -51 degrees Celsius. Despite their intended habitat, they can still live in warmer climates but only if they are properly cared for; i.e. put in the shade, offered plenty of water, and with access to a fan or air conditioner. But because this particular puppy was denied water and shade and instead exposed to direct sunlight for the entire day in a metal cage, the helpless animal could only cry for help before taking its last breath.

After the photo found its way among Cairo residents, and the epidemic continued with two kittens also dying behind bars due to heat stroke, they knew they had to take action before more innocent animals came face to face with this painful death.

When Leila Gheita found out about the tragic death of the puppy, she visited the three pet shops in Maadi where the deaths took place. After seeing their cages left out in the sun without food or water, she began talking to the owners and tried to take a picture of a cat that was drooling and panting out of thirst in one of the shops, which are symptoms of a heat stroke. However, the owner began shouting and physically pushed her out of the way. Because she was alone, she left for her own safety; realizing the issue needed a group effort.

Calling for action on social media, she was first joined by Arielle El Bagory, who started marketing for a group raid to the three shops in Maadi. !ey were pleasantly surprised when more than 60 people, both Egyptians and foreigners, joined them.

One of the attendees was Dr. Ramy Eissa, a veterinary physician who had long felt troubled by the conditions of the three shops.

“I did not want to see any more animals suffering and I want to create nation wide awareness in that matter. When I see animals in this condition, it haunts me in my sleep,” he said.

Inhumane Conditions During the first visit, the group was shocked to see how these animals led their day-to-day lives. Dogs and cats were overcrowded in small cages to the extent that they could not move. Water bowls were empty or dirty, food bowls were covered in flies, and most of the animals appeared excessively lethargic and skinny.

While the first two shops appeared somewhat receptive of the group’s feedback, the third was adamant; he was the one who had pushed Gheita during her visit, and he panicked at the number of people entering his shop; telling the group he did not want any pictures taken of his animals.

One of the kittens in his shop was so malnourished and skinny that Dr. Eissa told him it would not survive the night. After long negotiations and the owner’s insistence on just treating the kitten inside the shop, he finally agreed to let the veterinarian take her in for emergency treatment.

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FEATURE

Unfortunately, Dr. Eissa’s prognosis was correct and the young animal did not survive. “!e kitten was all skin and bones; even with intravenous fluids and medical treatment, it was too late. Gheita came afterwards with a puppy also from the shop, and it did not survive either,” he recalled somberly.

Animals at pet shops, more often than not, receive a premature death sentence before they are even born. “!e parents are not vaccinated, and their offspring aren’t either, so their immunity is compromised and they are more susceptible to viruses and diseases; even the smallest virus can become life threatening,” explained Dr. Eissa. It is therefore unsurprising that there is a sign in front of one of the pet shops saying that animals can’t be returned after two hours of purchase; i.e. after a buyer has had the chance to get the animal checked professionally.

To make matters worse, Dr. Eissa noted that owners in many pet shops offer their animals low quality food because they perceive them as commodities, and to maximize their profits, they cut corners and offer the least possible resources they can get away with.

During the second visit, the group added three new pet shops to its round, all of which are also in Maadi.

In one of them, an adult Husky dog was showing signs of thirst with no water bowl in his cage. After the group requested a water bowl immediately – to which the shop owners responded by saying that the bowl was being washed – the dog frantically devoured three full bowls of water in a matter of minutes. !e owners dismissed the reaction, saying that it was perfectly natural for a dog to finish any bowl of water in sight. From a medical perspective, however, nothing could have been further from the truth.

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“!is is definitely not normal behavior; [the owners] denied the dog water in order to save themselves the hassle of having to clean up after it urinates,” Dr. Eissa explained. His words rang true when the dog’s system was so overwhelmed by the sudden availability of water that it threw up all it had drunk a short while later.

Making Sustainable Changes !e people behind the initiative, now armed with a united front and a Facebook group with more than 1,000 members, presented the pet shops in the neighborhood with a list of basic demands for the welfare of their animals, such as: adding bedding or padding in the cages, making fresh water available at all times, leaving animals indoors during the daytime, and allocating one cage per animal. !e challenge that remains is to change an instilled mindset that views animals as commodities rather than living beings, and El Bagory believes a fair balance can be achieved in order to profit while still doing the right thing, saying, “!ere is a fine line between profiting and humanity.”

Despite the progress made, there are always setbacks, so the members will organize regular visits and follow up on changes to make sure that they are sustainable.

!ere is a fine line between profiting and humanity

“If the government is involved, we can make progress a lot faster. For now, however, we need the public to take action and get involved by filing police reports,” El Bagory stated. She added: “Hopefully with our awareness and media coverage, we can let people know when they are buying from a pet shop if there is a chance they are buying a stolen pet.”

A Battle with the Culture !e activists partaking in the initiative are not just going up against pet shop owners; they are going up against a Muslimmajority culture that has normalized the trade of animals, despite the fact that the religion forbids buying and selling dogs and condemns animal cruelty.

Aside from the minority of animal lovers and rescuers who adopt and foster dogs, many households in the country purchase dogs so as to acquire certain breeds; deeming local “baladi” dogs unfit to keep in one’s home. Naturally, when there is demand, there is a supply; breeders profit greatly from keeping their pure bred pets unneutered and selling their offspring to individuals and pet shops.

But even after acquiring their dream breed, many families that purchase dogs and cats end up feeling overwhelmed with the responsibility and abandon them, which is why many pure breds can be found in shelters up for adoption.

El Bagory clarified that the initiative’s long-term goal is to stop pet shops from selling animals completely, but this is a major change that can’t happen overnight. “Pet shop owners want to make enough money to feed their families, but there are several examples of thriving shops that only sell animal supplies. So there is a way to do it, but we just need to show them how,” she said.

In addition, Dr. Eissa hopes the laws put in place can begin to be implemented in order to make lasting changes within the community.

With these objectives in mind, the founders of the initiative are aiming to gradually create a culture of pet adoption across the country, with a current focus on helping voiceless animals in pet shops get through the summer heat.

How You Can Help If you see a pet shop with unacceptable conditions, call the General Organization for Veterinary Services via their hotline 19561. If no proper action is taken, call the chairperson on 0237481750.

If you see a pet shop selling illegal exotic animals such as parrots, monkeys, foxes, lion cubs or owls, report them to the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency via their hotline 19808 and send them photographic evidence via WhatsApp on 01222693333. You can also file a written complaint in Arabic or English through www.shakwa.eg/GCP/Stakeholder/Form.aspx.

If you would like to join the Pet Shop Watch or keep up with updates, join the Facebook group.

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FEATURE

The Dubbing Dilemma: DISNEY CARTOONS SPARK CONTROVERSY ACROSS THE ARAB WORLD

BY MONA BASSEL

F

rom arguments over how women are portrayed in TV

MSA, on the other hand, is similar to classical Arabic (also known

shows to hidden political undertones in hit movies,

as Quranic Arabic or fusha). It is not usually used in day-to-day

there has never been a shortage of controversy in Arab

media. Recently, however, an additional debate made its way to

conversation, but rather in newspapers, news broadcasts, and official contexts, such as in the United Nations. MSA is universal

the spotlight – but this time it is concerned with the dubbing of

across all 22 Arab countries, and can be understood by any two

Disney cartoons.

Arabic speakers regardless of their country of origin.

Dominating social media platforms, the online debate exists largely between two Facebook groups, one calling for Disney to go back to Egyptian colloquial Arabic, and the other calling for Disney to stay in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).

Egyptian colloquial Arabic is the language used among Egyptians on a day-to-day basis, and it is characterized by its informal nature. Each country has its own colloquial dialect, and in some cases the differences between them are so striking that Arabs from different countries can’t understand each other.

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The History: Disney in Arabic For around three decades, Disney movies were presented in Egyptian colloquial Arabic, voiced by some of the country’s biggest movie stars such as Mohamed Henedy and Abla Kamel.

In 2012, however, the massive production company announced that it would begin dubbing its cartoons in MSA, starting with Brave. Since then, the market’s response has been mixed, to say the least. It is worth noting that in 2013, Al Jazeera signed a licensing deal with Disney to air the company’s cartoons on its children’s channel, although there is no evidence linking this signing to the dubbing decision.

Soon after, an online battle between nostalgia and inclusiveness ignited controversy across social media platforms; a flame arguably lit by Henedy himself when he began discussing the issue on Twitter and tweeting his most iconic phrases in cartoons such as !e Lion King.

Nostalgia vs.

Inclusiveness Currently working in the tourism industry, 28-yearold Ahmed bin Al Shaikh speaks in MSA during his interview as flawlessly as he does his Emirati dialect.

He is one of the two founders of the Facebook group titled “Disney Should Stay in MSA”, which was established in 2016 and calls for cartoons to remain universally understood by all children in the Arab region.

Egyptian would be used together, and it was as if the characters were schizophrenic,” he says.

He emphasizes that he does not dislike any of the dialects; his cause just calls for a neutral, unbiased approach that would not alienate children. “I do not think it is fair for the dubbing to be in a dialect that only one country speaks. I would not want it to be in Emirati Arabic, because it would then alienate nonEmirati people,” he mentions, adding that there are still ways to show the different origins and accents of characters by dubbing in MSA. Not long ago, most of the movies and TV shows dominating the Arab sphere were Egyptian, which is why any MENA national would know who Adel Emam is. Now, however, there is content from other areas targeting the Arab World such as Turkey and Korea, and Al Shaikh believes it is only fair for these foreign works to be inclusive to all since they are targeting a region of around 348 million Arabs.

It is important to note that while Egyptians constitute a whopping percentage of all Arabs, not all of them speak in the dialect used in these cartoons.

While this dialect is the most widely spoken in the region and indeed the most dominant in most of the country’s governorates (mainly Cairo and Alexandria), it does not apply to those living in other areas in the country such as Sinai, Nubia, or Upper Egypt.

Interestingly enough, the creators of the social media group advocating the return to Egyptian Arabic are not from Egypt; they are from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Libya. Many of the page’s supporters, however, are Egyptians. !e statement of the creators of the “Disney Must Return to Egyptian Arabic” group translates to: “We are proud that we come from various Arab countries, each having its own specific Arabic which is very different from Egyptian. !is refutes any allegation by those who like to fish in troubled waters claiming that it is a racist campaign conducted by Egyptians.” !ey go on to mention that despite the fact that their mother tongue is not Egyptian, Disney cartoons dubbed in Egyptian Arabic added “joy and happiness” to their childhood.

Al Shaikh and his supporters are driven by the inconsistencies they saw in Disney movies. “I did not like recent Disney works because MSA and colloquial

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FEATURE In Al Shaikh’s opinion, those calling for Egyptian colloquial Arabic are the minority, but their voices are louder, which gives the impression that this is the public’s general preference. “Even if the group has 1.5 million members, this is a small number compared to 348 million Arabs,” he says, noting that the online influence of Henedy and Bassem Youssef is what helped the pro-Egyptian stance reach the media and become so widespread.

Frozen !e main argument against the use of MSA is heavily based on nostalgia, but also on relevance; many adults have long forgotten the complicated MSA grammar rules that they learned in their schooling days. Some Disney enthusiasts argue that MSA is too dry and stiff for children, especially after seeing Frozen, the fifth highest-grossing film ever. !e movie has been dubbed in 41 languages, including French, Catalan, German, Russian, Serbian, and Arabic – the latter is sung by Egyptian singer Nesma Mahgoub in MSA. !ere have been mixed responses online, from those who claim the content is too difficult for children, to those happy that non-Egyptian children can now enjoy the movie in a dialect they can understand and relate to.

In response to the negative feedback on the movie, Al Shaikh believes this may have been due to the quality of the translation and the singing. He cites the dubbing of Anastasia in MSA, which was distributed

by FOX, arguing that audiences enjoyed it, and that the current debate is only related to Disney cartoons.

In addition, many Arabs – including Egyptians – enjoyed several Arabic cartoons dubbed in MSA during their youth, mainly Japanese ones such as Grendizer and Captain Majid (originally called Captain Tsubasa). !is further emphasizes Al Shaikh’s point that perhaps the debate is not linked to a general preference, but simply a fear of change in regards to Disney productions specifically.

Is it Disney’s Fault?

Elias Muhanna, assistant professor of comparative literature in Brown University, wrote a piece in the New Yorker mentioning that the problem lies in how Disney is targeting the Arab World. He cites the fact that Frozen has been dubbed in European French

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and Canadian French, European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese, and even Castilian Spanish and Latin American Spanish, so why can’t the Arabic versions include several dialects? Why is it only either Egyptian or MSA? “!e answer can’t be that the dialect markets are too small. !e population of all of Scandinavia is less than a third of Egypt’s, but is represented by five different translations of Frozen. !ere are nearly ten times as many Moroccans living in Casablanca alone as there are Icelanders in the whole world. !e markets are there. What is missing is a constituency for cultural production in dialectal Arabic,” he writes.

Muhanna is not blaming Disney, but he believes the times have changed and now that there are shows originating from Arab countries other than Egypt, the Arab World is no longer “culturally unipolar.”

Palestinian/Canadian translator !urayya Al Rayes states in an article that if the dubbing in Frozen is deemed unsuitable or misunderstood, the fault does not lie in the complexity of MSA, but rather Disney’s response to the Arabic-speaking market. She comments: “MSA can be simplified and specific words can be chosen to illustrate how easy it is.”

She goes on to ask a more pressing question: “How can we deny the importance of one language uniting [more than] 300 million people?”

She notes that it would be challenging for her to understand someone from Tunisia or the Gulf had there not been a standard language bringing them together; otherwise she would have had to resort to speaking English or broken French instead.

On the other side of the spectrum, Nesreen Amin, an Egyptian currently working at Cambridge, recalls how shocked she was to see an episode of

the cartoon Teletubbies, where the toddlers were speaking in MSA while in the original version they speak like infants.

“From pre-school until adolescence, the Arab child is forced to watch children’s programs as an educational tool rather than as a purely entertainment medium. Why are adults allowed to watch all their entertainment programs in their native dialects while children are deprived of this simple pleasure because they must be continuously taught without any space for entertainment?” she writes.

Amin’s comment raises a significant concern: what is the objective of children’s cartoons? Should they aim for pure education, pure entertainment, or both? !is, however, is a whole new debate in itself.

A Media Game Both sides of the argument represent legitimate concerns, and the ideal solution remains unknown.

Until now, it is unclear which stance Disney is leaning towards, with some reports claiming that the company succumbed to public pressure and will go back to Egyptian Arabic, and others claiming that new cartoons will still be dubbed in MSA. Despite the uncertainty of the situation, one issue that has been brought to the spotlight is that the company needs to listen to the Arabs; 348 million viewers constitute a large chunk of the global market, and their voices need to be heard.

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BUSINESS

Egypt and tourism: A TAlk wiTh The PresidenT And CeO Of MArriOTT inTernATiOnAl

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arriott International is a leading international operator in Africa and the largest in Egypt with 18 hotels operating and four in the pipeline: !e St. Regis Cairo, JW Cairo Mena House, Element Cairo and !e RitzCarlton Sharm El Sheikh.

To find out more about these incredible projects, as well as gaining insight on the status of hotel investments here in Egypt and worldwide, we sat with Mr. Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International, as well as Mr. Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director Middle East & Africa, who took the time to answer questions asked by us and our media colleagues.

Joining Marriott in 1996, after practicing law for 12 years, Mr. Sorenson became the first CEO without the Marriott surname.

Mr. Kyriakidis, was born and raised in Alexandria, and joined the company in 2012.

What is the main purpose of your visit? !e last time I was here was in 2012. !at was a time when there was so much

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uncertainty and we wanted to reassure our associates in Cairo and basically let them know that we were committed to Egypt and were watching events unfold.

Now, six years later, there is considerably a lot more stability and optimism in Egypt. !is visit is really about coming back and getting to know our associates, and hear from them as to what their concerns and challenges are today and how we can support them. It is also about meeting with our owners.

Everything we do around the world, we do with local partners. All of our hotels in Egypt, for example, are owned by an Egyptian or regional investor. We want to make sure that we are meeting with them to talk about future opportunities for continued growth in Egypt.

We have 18 hotels operating now in Egypt, and have four in the pipeline that are signed and will open in the course of the next few years. We are also currently in talks with our owners and the Ministry of Housing about potential plans for projects in El Alamein, as well as in cities that are under-represented,

like Alexandria. We also need to be in Upper Egypt in Luxor and Aswan, and so these are all high priority development opportunities for us, with discussions underway with several potential partners. !ere are several upscale brands of Marriott International that are not established in Egypt, like Bulgari and Courtyard. Are they expected to open here? Also, what is Marriott doing to attract high-end local and regional tourism to its properties in Egypt? !e peak inbound travel to Egypt was maybe about 14 million, and last year it dropped down to around nine, and so you can see that Egypt is experiencing less tourism today than its potential.

However, it has been increasing significantly over the last three years, and so we expect that there will be continued growth ahead.

When you look at the global numbers, we are at record levels. Last year, there were roughly 1.3 billion international trips, and that number we think was about six or seven percent higher than in 2016. Where is that growth coming from? It is global,

and surprisingly China is a big part of that as we are seeing more and more Chinese traveling abroad, including to markets like Cairo. !ey want to see the sights that they have read about forever.

of environmental thinking there, and are beginning to think of alternative water sources like the setting up of desalination plants to bring water to our hotels in order to look after our guests.

What we are trying to do is make sure that we have hotels around the world to welcome travelers to wherever they are going. We want to make sure that our brands are represented, and so depending on the purpose of the trip and the amount of money they want to spend, that we have got a place for people to stay.

If you take a look at Egypt, you can think of the high increase in the cost of utilities, whether electricity or water. Utility focus begins with the design of the hotel, and that is why Element will set the first flag on the ground and reflect how hotels should be designed for optimum use of environmentally scarce resources.

In the years ahead, it is expected that we will bring brands like Courtyard, AC Hotels by Marriott, Element and Residence Inn, some of which are extended-stay products, to Egypt, once its numbers move back closer to 14 million.

What is the Egyptian market like now when it comes to hotel investments?

We are grateful that business has witnessed a comeback in the last two or three years. However, we are not back to our full potential. I think that if you look at our pipeline for hotels compared to the 18 that are open, it is an indication as to how hard it has been to develop in Egypt.

In Algeria, for example, we have eight hotels open and ten in the pipeline, because they are at a different place in their cycle.

Our pipeline in Egypt is relatively smaller because fewer people have started new projects due to the uncertainty over the past couple of years.

To put it into perspective, today in Egypt, we have about 65,000 branded hotel rooms, whereas in the city of Dubai, it has reached 100,000. Egypt, with a population of 100 million, is a great market for domestic tourism, which is the highest paying in any economy where the population is substantial. With this spark of hope, we currently have a lot of investors that want to help out with projects in Egypt, especially from the Gulf.

What we are seeing right now is a surge of interest in investing in hotels, predominantly led by the government and public sector. New projects in El Alamein and the New Capital have presented great opportunities.

Talking about Sharm El Sheikh, we currently face the challenge of airlift, which we don’t have right now. We are limited to one flight from Russia, with no British or German market. If we could have them back, then there will definitely be plenty of demand for Sharm El Sheikh. We also need to reinvent the city for the future, and so we need to upgrade it to begin to attract upscale and upper upscale travellers, as it is seen nowadays as a low cost destination.

How do you believe the ecofriendly brand Element will be received here in Egypt? Can you please tell us more about this project? !is brings up a broader question of social and environmental responsibility. Yes, we have global metrics - we are all measured for what we do - but at the end of the day it translates to what is done on the ground here.

Many travellers look for less expensive options, sometimes turning to platforms like Airbnb. Is this a brand that you are interested in and do you see the other accommodation options as a threat?

We have been in a highly competitive industry for many decades, competing against other hotels as well as these other product types. We need to make sure that our products have the right quality, that the brands have the right definition, and that we deliver the right kind of service.

We have never tried to be the lowest cost place to stay, as we want to provide the best experience and we want people to come back believing that they will be cared for, welcomed and respected, and that they won’t be disappointed. !ese will continue to be the principle tools we will use to compete.

We have our own pilot in this space in London. We think that we can bring our service and our loyalty program to the home product, which is different to a hotel room. If we can offer something that is qualitatively where we want to be while remaining certain that no one will be disappointed, and do that in a way that makes economic sense, then that makes for another distinct product.

What responsibility do you have to better the perspective of Egypt to travelers worldwide? What message do you aim to send?

One of the main purposes of this visit is how to communicate the progress that has been made in Egypt to people abroad. !e St. Regis will open soon, along with the already established Ritz-Carlton. Our Loyalty Program network will allow us to let people know that there are new extraordinary places to stay in Egypt.

I am hoping that we will talk to the Minister of Tourism to discuss how we will work together to communicate to the feeder markets about the importance of coming back to Egypt.

You need to have a receptive audience, and I am happy to see that we have finally gained back the confidence after the uncertainty in 2012.

Marriott International is literally a collection of people who come from diverse backgrounds and who define themselves with every possible identity. We are a highly diverse community welcoming a highly diverse customer segment all around the world. Our business is hospitality, and so we literally welcome everyone. We have the opportunity to be an example of that all around the world.

Today, we have a water crisis in Cape Town, where its tourism has been disseminated because of it. We have to react in terms

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BUSINESS

Business news With 20 locations agreed on over the next seven years, Zooba looks forward to a bright future.

The ISP is Coming to Egypt

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ndeavor Egypt is happy to announce that their 86th International Selection Panel (ISP) will be held in Cairo from March 13-15, 2019. Last held in Egypt in March 2010, the ISP is the final stage of Endeavor’s rigorous, multi-stage and mentor-led selection process.

Baraka Retail Group Launches New Balance in Egypt

B Inertia Co-Founders on Championing Entrepreneurial Talent

araka Retail Group, led by Endeavor Entrepreneur Ahmed Ragab, launched New Balance’s first store in Egypt in City Stars Mall through a joint venture with Apparel Group. Baraka Group currently franchises and operates 15 brands in over 100 stores across Egypt, GCC, and East Africa.

Egypt from north to south to extract these artifacts. !ank God they were returned to their country,” he said.

Shaaban Abdel-Gawad, head of the Department of Recovered Antiquities at the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, said Naples police seized a collection of parcels in May dating back to several civilizations, stolen from illegal excavations. !e treasure haul included 19,000 coins from the Greco-Roman period, 151 small statues and 175 other artifacts, which were returned and displayed.

Some required restoration, but most were intact, museum director Sabah Abdelrazek said.

Antiquities theft has flourished in Egypt in the years of chaos since the 2011 uprising, with relics stolen from museums, mosques, storage facilities, and illegal excavations.

Reuters

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ecognizing the impact entrepreneurship has on the country’s economic development, and driven by a passion to support young entrepreneurs, Endeavor Entrepreneurs and Inertia co-founders Hussein Rifai and Ahmed El Adawy took the pioneering initiative of sponsoring the second season of CBC Egypt’s Hona Al Shabab in the spirit of giving back to Egypt’s bursting entrepreneurial talent.

Egypt to Start Building Nuclear Plant in Next Two Years

A cabinet committee that includes the ministers of investment, finance, petroleum, and public enterprises is overseeing the privatization program, which include some 23 companies.

Zooba Signs 20 Branch Franchise Development Agreements for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in Partnership with SADF Trading and Development Co. Ltd.

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he opportunity to share the brand of Egyptian street food and culture with neighbors in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain is a source of great pride for Zooba.

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E

gypt said that construction of its first nuclear power plant, to be built

by Russia, will begin in the next two to two-and-a-half years.

Smuggled Artifacts Returned to Egypt

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undreds of ancient artifacts were returned by Italy after they were recovered from smugglers in May, which were on display at the Egyptian museum in Cairo recently. !e relics date to different eras, suggesting that the smugglers were well organized, according to museum curator Ahmed Samir. “!ey researched

!e 4,800 megawatt (MW) capacity plant at Dabaa, in the north of the country, aims to be up and running by 2026, a spokesman for the energy and electricity ministry told Reuters.

Moscow and Cairo signed an agreement in 2015 for Russia to build a nuclear power plant in Egypt, with Russia extending a loan to Egypt to cover the cost of construction.

Egypt’s official gazette said in 2016 the loan was worth $25 billion and would

finance 85 percent of the value of each work contract, services and equipment shipping. Egypt would fund the remaining 15 percent.

Reuters Staff

Defying Fed, Egypt Cuts Rates Again as Inflation Falls

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gypt’s central bank cut interest rates for the second time in six weeks after inflation slowed into its target range, shrugging off rising U.S. rates as it unwinds record-high borrowing costs. !e monetary policy committee led

by Governor Tarek Amer lowered the overnight deposit rate by 100 basis points to 16.75 percent. !e move was predicted by all eight economists surveyed by Bloomberg. !e overnight lending rate was also reduced by 100 basis points to 17.75 percent.

Egypt Shifting Focus to Private Investments as Growth Driver

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gypt expects private investments to take the lead in driving economic growth this year, the planning minister said, suggesting that investor confidence had rallied enough to supplant what has so far been an overwhelming reliance on government spending.

Private investments are expected to contribute 60 percent of economic growth in the current fiscal year ending in June, compared to 48 percent last year, the minister, Hala El Saeed, said in an interview in Cairo. !e figure is expected to rise to between 62 percent and 65 percent in the coming fiscal year, she said. !e comments reflect new confidence in sweeping reforms launched in November 2016 with the floating of the pound and subsidy cuts - measures aimed at kick-starting an economy that had struggled since the 2011 ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. !e flotation of the currency helped secure a $12 billion International Monetary Fund and ended a dollar shortage that had crippled business activity.

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BUSINESS

SECOND OBG BUSINESS BAROMETER: EGYPT CEO SURVEY PUBLISHED Executives increasingly upbeat as reforms pay off, results reveal

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he second edition of the Business Barometer: Egypt CEO Survey by the global publishing, research and consultancy firm Oxford Business Group (OBG), undertaken in partnership with Tatweer Misr, was launched on July 3 at Conrad Cairo Hotel.

Taking place under the banner “Key Findings on OBG Business Barometer: Egypt CEO Survey”, the event provided a platform for the Group’s team to share its findings with an audience of dignitaries, VIPs, representatives from the public and private sectors, and members of the media.

Ahmed Shalaby, Tatweer Misr’s CEO and managing director, gave a keynote speech on several topical issues, ranging from investor sentiment to the business community’s expectations, after which Souhir Mzali, OBG’s regional editor for Africa, presented the Group’s findings.

As part of its survey, OBG asked 136 C-suite executives from across Egypt’s industries a series of questions on a face-to-face basis aimed at gauging business sentiment.

OBG found the vast majority of respondents to be optimistic about the outlook for the coming months.

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From those interviewed, 91% described their expectations for local business conditions in the next 12 months as either positive or very positive, up from 79% in OBG’s first survey on Egypt, which was published in early 2017.

Almost three-quarters (73%) of respondents were also upbeat about the impact they felt the decision to float the Egyptian pound in November 2016 would have on the business landscape in the near term.

A similar share (70%) of business leaders were equally bullish in their forecasts for GDP growth, telling OBG that they expected the local economy to expand by between 3% and 5% in 2018, slightly below the 5.2% projection made by the IMF. !ere were also signs that reforms aimed at enhancing Egypt’s business climate are taking effect, with 70% of respondents describing the current tax environment as either competitive or very competitive on a global scale.

While confidence is high among business leaders, regional unrest clearly remains a major concern.

Almost two-thirds (65%) viewed increased instability in neighbouring countries as the top external risk to growth in the short to medium term, well ahead of rising oil prices (17.2%).

Commenting on the results in her blog, Souhir Mzali, OBG’s regional editor for Africa, said the results of the latest survey suggested that the broader drive to improve public finances, reduce the size of the state and enhance the business environment was now delivering results.

Mzali noted, however, that while Egypt’s reforms had positioned it for ongoing economic expansion, a number of pressing challenges still needed addressing, most notably the country’s high unemployment levels, which would require longer-term attention in the form of “sustained job creation”.

Ahmed Shalaby said the survey’s results showed that CEOs had recognized the part that ambitious reforms were playing in helping Egypt to reignite investor interest and begin addressing the difficulties it faced. !e OBG Business Barometer: CEO Surveys feature in the Group’s extensive portfolio of research tools. !e full results of the survey on Egypt will be made available online and in print.

Similar studies are also under way in the other markets in which OBG operates.

GAIA: BREATHING A NEW LIFE INTO EGYPT’S NORTH COAST

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AIA is the Greek goddess of the Earth; in modern times, some earth scientists use the term GAIA to mean the complete living planet. !is is what Sabbour aim to have in their resort—a living planet that offers all services that make life complete.

Situated in the prime location of Ras El Hekma, GAIA is an upscale resort enveloped by the vibrant community of the North Coast located on km 190 Alexandria/ Matrouh road. It covers a vast area of 2,164 km boasting a 500-meter beach front view, 20,000 meters of swimmable water lagoons, and an assortment of unit sizes; ranging from 120 m2 to 284 m2. GAIA offers a variety of home styles that include standalone villas, attached twin houses, duplexes, chalets, and cabanas; providing ultimate luxury within a beach resort.

Master planned by esteemed designers Chapman Taylor and RAY Design, the concept of the resort relies on the power of integrating the essence of nature in its components. !e harmonious blend of contemporary architecture and an Arabian atmosphere aims to create a healing environment; one that motivates, inspires, and nurtures both the body and soul through its lineup of facilities; including recreational areas, walking and cycling tracks, a kids’ area, a spa, and gym.

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Green Community COMMUNITY Green Community

“RUN FOR THE OCEANS” RETURNS –

ADIDAS X PARLEY HARNESS THE POWER OF SPORTS TO CREATE AWARENESS FOR THE THREAT OF MARINE PLASTIC POLLUTION Based on the brands’ love of sports and responsibility, adidas and Parley announced the return of “Run For !e Oceans”, a global running movement that uses the power of sports to raise awareness for the threat of marine plastic pollution. !rough this worldwide initiative, adidas and Parley called on their global communities between June 8 and July 8 to take action and protect the oceans that are increasingly endangered due to man-made issues including pollution, waste and growing consumption.

Since 2015, the partners have been working together to educate people on the issue, but also showcasing creative solutions such as the use of Parley Ocean Plastic™ for the making of adidas x Parley products.

Andre Maestrini, General Manager, adidas Sports Business Units, said: “At adidas, we believe that sports have the power to change lives and the ‘Run For !e Oceans’ movement truly reflects this. We have created a unique global platform that gives everyone the opportunity to impact their lives by joining a collective running movement that fights marine plastic pollution.”

Taking the initiative to the next level for 2018, adidas will match every kilometer run with US$ 1 – for the first one million kilometers – to support the Parley Ocean Plastic Program, focusing specifically on the Parley Ocean School initiative, which educates and empowers the next generation of Ocean Guardians through immersive experiences in the environment we are fighting to protect. With in-school and water sports activities, the program introduces youth to the underwater world, teaching them about the impacts of marine plastic pollution and giving them the tools and inspiration to protect their future.

Cyrill Gutsch, Founder of Parley for the Oceans, said: “Every second breath we take is created by the oceans. Still, we are killing its life in rapid speed. We are hosting ‘Run for the Oceans’ with adidas to step out of our routine, to take a deep breath and to reflect on how important the sea is for every one of us, and to show that millions of little steps can make a huge difference for our movement.”

Follow the conversation at @adidasrunning on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and using #RunFor!eOceans, #adidasParley, #UltraBOOST.

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Meza W Sahra Summer Nights At Sheraton Cairo Enjoy the stunning summer nights at Meza W Sahra Lounge by Sheraton Cairo’s swimming pool where the luscious Lebanese food and dazzling entertainment awaits you. We’re bringing you the traditional Arabian spirit in the heart of Cairo where belly dance shows, oriental music and many more will sure make your summer nights a magical memory For more information or reservation, Please call us on 002 0102 221 6883 / 02 3333 6112

DESTINATIONS Travel

By Katharina Froehlich

LUXEMBOURG: Exploring the Smallest Country in Europe

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eing the smallest country in Europe, and also among the smallest in the world, Luxembourg has not quite had the chance to promote itself yet. With a population of only half a million people, the country is located in the triangle between Germany, Belgium and France. !e city of Luxembourg is an official UNESCO World Heritage Site.

FUN FACTS Apart from the sights and the beautiful nature, here are some facts that show you why you should give the country a chance to impress you: 1. Luxembourg is the second richest country in the world with the highest minimum wage in the EU. On top of that, it is one of the safest countries, and so even if you are thinking about moving somewhere else, this place might be a great pick!

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Luxembourg City was twice named the European Capital of Culture

2. !e people of Luxembourg are proud of who they are and of their cultural traits. !at is reflected in their motto “mir wellebleiwewatmirsinn” which translates to “we want to remain what we are”. !is especially shows how much they enjoy their independence after having been invaded by foreign countries for centuries before.

3. Interestingly, Luxembourg has a ratio of 647 per 1000 people with car ownership, which is the highest in the world. !e topselling brand is the German Volkswagen, which is produced just across the border of the country.

4. Luxembourg City was twice named the European Capital of Culture, as it is home to several well-known European artists, among whom are !eo Kerg, Su-Mei Tse and Joseph Kutter. Also, the prominent French writer Victor Hugo resided in Luxembourg for some time, whose house was located next to the German border in Vianden, and that turned into a museum later on.

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Travel WHAT TO DO IN THE CITY AND COUNTRYSIDE Around the city, you can find several means of public transportation that you can use for a small fee, such as trains, buses and car-pooling. However, if you are sporty enough, a walk around the most important sights is very much recommended. !is will help you stumble across something unexpected such as one of the little street cafes that sell “Quetschentaart”, which is an open plum tart that is very well-known there.

If you don’t like walking on your own and prefer a guide to show you around, you can ask a local to let you in on all the hidden secrets. Check the website toursbylocals.com for that.

THE OLD TOWN OF LUXEMBOURG Luxembourg city is on a hill and valley at the same time. !e old town, which is also known as the central place of the city, offers a lot of mesmerizing views for anyone interested in architecture. Many of the old buildings are still intact and have not been destroyed as much as in other cities in various European countries. !e style of many of the buildings is very pompous and takes you back to a different era in European history when there were still kings and queens, especially the Palais Grand-Ducal, which is a spectacular piece of architecture, built in the 16th Century. !e interior of the castle is a real gem that shows a delicate mix of romantic and medieval styles.

THE BOCK CASEMATES Because of its strategic position between the previous Kingdom of France and the previous Roman Empire, the fortress of Luxembourg was one of the most important fortified sites. Until today, there is an unbelievably long tunnel system known as the Casemates. !e 17-kilometer long system was carved out by Spanish invaders in the 18th Century and gave shelter to 35,000 civilians during the two World Wars. !e Casemates consist of small passages, different levels and rock stairways.

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THE PASSERELLE VIADUCT A viaduct is a long bridge-like structure looking like a series of arches which carries a road or railway across a valley. !e Passerelle Viaduct is, in a way, unique because it doesn’t only look impressive, but standing next to it will offer you a great panoramic view of Luxembourg City. !e best part: it is for free!

KIRCHBERG DISTRICT !e Kirchberg District is essential for the country’s economy. !ere, you can see the settings of the European Institutions, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and the European Investment Bank.

You can also find several art galleries there, as it is known as the place for contemporary and modernity in Luxembourg.

CHATEAU DE VIANDEN Outside of Luxembourg City is a smaller town called Vianden, where a fairytale like castle can be found. !e Chateau de Vianden is known as one of the most breathtaking castles of Luxembourg, dating back to the 11th Century. It went through restoration in the 1970s and has since been considered a monument of European importance.

MULLERTHAL REGION Apart from the city, villages and castles, a third of the country is covered by forest, especially the Mullerthal region, which is particularly interesting for tourists. !is area is also known as the Switzerland of Luxembourg, with its many green-covered hills, sandstone cliffs and beautiful rock formations. !e most known places are Beaufort and Berdorf.

You can organize day hikes to these two villages by yourself or with a group, which is generally the best way to enjoy nature.

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Travel

WHAT TO EAT When you finish exploring, it is very possible that you will be very hungry from all the effort you exerted. !ankfully, the locals love food just as much as we do, and so they came up with some tasty dishes that have interesting names. !ere is the “Friture”, which is a small fried fish from Luxembourg’s part of the Moselle River, and “Bouneschlupp”, a green bean soup with carrot, onions, leeks, celery and potatoes.

My favorite restaurant for fine dining was le Bouquet Garni in Rue de l’eau, Luxembourg City, which is a little pricey, but definitely worth the experience. A less expensive option that is just as good is Goethe Stuff Rue de L’eau.

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WHERE TO STAY Generally, it is best to stay in Luxembourg City and visit the countryside on day trips with a bus that can be booked from any hotel or travel agent in the city. If you are looking for something classy for the night, I recommend Hotel le Royal, which is located in the old city. Prices are around EGP 4000 per night.

Cheaper options are Hotel Parc Plaza for EGP 1500 per night and Hotel Grey for EGP 1600 per night.

IN A NUTSHELL Luxembourg is a beautiful and romantic little country, that is definitely worth a visit. For a trip to the whole area, I recommend a four to five-day stay, which will give you enough time to explore the city and enjoy the countryside.

In my opinion, it is probably best to include a visit to Luxembourg when planning a Euro-Trip that will include other neighboring countries.

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ADVERTORIAL

TesT Driving The new MerceDes-Benz c-class in luxeMBourg

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he extensively modified C-Class Sedan, Station Wagon, Coupe and Cabriolet family has been introduced, where almost 6,500 parts have been changed. !e front and rear sections and the interior of the best-selling Mercedes model range have been stylishly revised, with dynamic body control chassis. !e new electronics architecture provides the basis for the fully digital instrument display (optional) and multimedia systems with tailor made information and music offerings.

Community Times was chosen amongst prominent media members to test drive the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC in Luxembourg. !is was an incredible experience, not only because of the destination, but also because it widened my view of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. !e three-day-trip was an ultimate pleasure that started as soon as we reached Luxembourg and started driving through the Moselle region in Germany, all the way and back.

At noon, we were allocated the cars, and for the first route, we got into the C-Class Estate, which we got to test for 189 km while we were surrounded by beautiful scenery, until we reached our first stop. !e new Mercedes-Benz C220d Estate had an elegant blue metallic color and smooth lines from the outside that made us curious to see the interiors.

Eagerly, we got inside the car and as soon as you take the driver’s seat, the ambient lights take you into another world. !e leather interior adds to its elegance to complement it perfectly.

Driving through the countryside and on the German highway gave us a taste of how fast this 4-cylinder car can be with adrenaline speed and smooth stability that make you enjoy the scenic ride in the countryside and of the picturesque vineyards.

After a coffee stop at Weingutshotel St. Michael, all the media members exchanged views and opinions and taking pictures of this beautiful location, before taking off to meet at the hotel to hand over the cars around 3 pm.

Once we checked-in at Seezeitlodge Hotel & Spa located by the lake, I decided to go for a drive in the Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic coupe encouraged by media car expert Mr. Ahmed Bahaa El Din. !is powerful V6-cylinder car nearing 3000 CC made me not want to slow down. Other than the incredible speed, one cannot overlook the luxury inside this joy ride. !e performance of this coupe allows the driver to merge into the highway with complete smoothness. In addition to this is the fact that it can go from 0-100 in about 4.7 seconds, which makes you eager to test its performance. Of course we could not reach the max speed of 250 Km/h, however, temptation was there.

At around 6 pm, it was time to let go of the cars and get ready for the information workshop and press talk that covered information about the petrol engine with belt driven starter alternator and its fuel consumption as well as the Combined CO2 emissions that varied in the Mercedes C-Class between 217-208 g/km depending on the category.

Moving to the exterior of the car, the workshop also updated the media attendees about the new front apron as well as the front and rear LED lights that have clear contours adding to the modern design of the car.

Complementing it was the sporty interior display that takes your breath away as soon as you are in the driver seat. Moving to the seats, the side bolsters and lumbar support make it customizable to each driver. When you are tired from a long day of driving, you should not forget to activate the massage option.

During the last day, I chose the attractive Cabriolet C43 of the Mercedes-AMG and took off for the last few hours. Inside the fully digital cockpit, I could not take my eyes off the unmistakable AMG displays, neither could I take my hands off the new generation of AMG steering-wheel. !e speed-shift TCT 9G transmission as well as the all-wheel-drive made the car feel extremely powerful, yet stable. !e AMG engine driving dynamics pushed the car agility and mobility and provided a unique driving performance and experience that will never be forgotten.

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MIND, BODY & SOUL

Workout on the Beach A

lthough many people put away their exercise clothes along with their workout motivation when the summer holidays roll in, sometimes dedicating a small portion of your day to doing simple exercises when you are on the beach will help make eating whatever you want a little more guilt-free.

We have prepared for you some simple workouts that you can try if you have a half hour to spare by the shore.

Warm Up Every workout needs a warm up to get your body ready and to raise your metabolism. To begin with, jog down the shore twice, followed by high knees once and butt kicks once. When you are back to your starting position, continue by doing 10 burpees – which is when you jump into the plank position, get up and take another jump with your arms above your head – and then run as fast as you can across the shoreline down and back. Make sure to end your workout with a two-minute jog.

The Beach Crawl Find an empty spot on dry, soft sand and get into the plank position – get ready as if you were about to do a push up, then bend your elbows 90 degrees placing your forearms on the ground, with your elbows directly below your shoulders – and then crawl forward on your hands and feet for 40 to 60 seconds. Do this between each of the following exercises. If you feel like it is not challenging enough, then try it sideways or backwards. The texture of the sand destabilizes your hands and feet, which activities your hamstrings and glutes.

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Bicycle

Sand Lunges

Sit on the sand, whether it is wet or dry is up to you, placing your legs in front of you. Lift them up inches off the ground while leaning back your torso at a 45-degree angle, placing your

The more challenging version of an original lunge: step forward with one foot, with your front knee above your ankle, and then lower your body to the ground, keeping your back straight, until your back knee touches the sand.

Push up immediately using your front foot, lifting your back foot off the ground and step forward with it into a second lunge. Repeat this for 12 reps on each side. This activates the muscles in your lower body, especially since you try to keep yourself balanced because of the unleveled sand.

Once in this position, bring forward your right knee towards your chest as you rotate your torso, touching your left elbow to the lifted knee, and then switch sides (this is one rep). Repeat this for 30 reps. This workout targets your lower core muscles.

Skater Hop Stand on your left foot, keeping your left knee slightly bent and your right foot a few inches off the sand. Lower your body towards the ground, and then jump off forward and to your right using your left leg.

When you land on your right foot, bring your left foot behind your right and then reach towards the outside of your right foot with your left hand. Reverse the movement, and do this for 20 reps.

Donkey Kick Get on all fours, lifting your knees a few inches off the sand, pushing your weight onto your hands and feet. While you keep your arms straight and your legs together, lift your hips, kicking your feet in the air behind you. Do this for 20 reps. If you like more of a challenge, aim to push your legs up to handstand height.

Crab Reach Sit down placing your palms and feet on the sand. While raising your hips a few inches off the ground, lift your left foot and right hand in the air, touching your hand to your foot. If this proves to be too challenging, bring your knee to your hand. Hold this for a few seconds before returning to the starting position. Change sides and repeat, then do this for 10 reps.

aug-sep 2018 | Ct

51

MIND, BODY & SOUL

The Truth About Breathing

By Noha Kandil

I

t all starts and ends with a breath. We start our lives with our very first inhalation, then we go on hardly even noticing we are breathing, up until we exhale for the last time. Of course there is more to life than this, but the fact that our lives literally depend on breathing, and that we are hardly doing it right, is shocking.

First, allow us to share with you why we are discussing a simple subconscious activity such as breathing. It started when I almost stormed out of a meditation class because of a sudden anxiety/panic attack.

Going late into class, I missed the warm-up, which is a core part to getting your breathing right.

At first, I was shallow breathing, which means that I was inhaling to my chest instead of my lungs, where the stress receptors are; so, I was subconsciously setting my brain on flight mood. It took me minutes to calm my breathing, inhaling deeper made me feel better for a while, then it hit me again. I was overwhelmed with this odd disorientation, but this time because I was doing it right. When you manage to get into a meditative state, you feel euphoric, and even light-headed to a certain extent. Due to the fact that my body was not accustomed to breathing right or the blood flow that follows, it got me anxious.

This experience triggered many questions - What if I have been breathing incorrectly all my life? Could it be the reason behind my chronic anxiety? Is that why I always feel tired? Does it affect my concentration?

What about other body functions and organs? Is it possible that my breathing is doing me more harm than good? This is what I found out.

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The Anatomy of Breathing First, here is a brief summary of the physical mechanism of breathing. Our respiration process includes: A respiratory system that is composed of: - Airways, which are passages through which the air enters and exits the body. These airways include the nose, the mouth, the voice box, the windpipe/trachea and bronchial tubes.

- Two lungs, which each include bronchial tubes that are attached to air sacs named Alveoli. Those sacs are covered with a web of tiny blood vessels called capillaries connected to arteries and veins that bring in blood rich in oxygen and push carbon dioxide out of the body. The blood rich in oxygen is transmitted to the heart through the Pulmonary vein, and then the heart transfers it to the rest of the body.

- Muscle groups that take part in the respiration process are: the diaphragm muscle, which is the primary muscle in breathing, the intercostal muscles, which surrounds the ribs; in addition to abdominal muscles and neck muscles.

Respiratory Control Center The whole respiration process is controlled through the brain. Our breathing rates and their depth are managed by sensors located in the brainstem. Those sensors are activated through chemical, neural and hormonal signals, which subsequently stimulate the muscle groups involved in breathing to move accordingly during inhalation and exhalation.

Also, in addition to the brain sensors, other respiratory controlling sensors are located in the airways and alveoli, as well as in joints and muscles. All those sensors work together to facilitate the respiration process.

What Type of Breather Are You? Is your respiratory system carrying its job optimally? The only way to know is to identify what type of breather you are.

Here are the most common types of breathing:

Paradoxical/Reverse Breathing

Diaphragmatic Breathing: The diaphragm muscle is the primary muscle for breathing, which indicates that diaphragmatic breathing is the most efficient type of breathing for both our physical and psychological health.

Paradoxical/Reverse Breathing: The normal way of breathing involves the diaphragm moving downward during inhalation to make room for the lungs to expand; while moving upward during exhalation, to push the air out of the lungs. This movement, however, gets reversed in paradoxical breathing.

There are contradicting views concerning this pattern of breathing; while some, especially those in the yoga and martial arts fields, argue that this method strengthens the abdominal muscles and promotes a healthier immune system, other experts believe that it is unnatural and can cause damage in the long run.

Shallow Chest Breathing: This is the most common incorrect type of breathing, in which minimal air reaches the lower lobes of the lungs.

Studies have shown that the upper part of the lungs carries six times less oxygen than the lower lobes, which means that shallow breathing results in insufficient oxygen intake and transmission, which consequently impacts our energy and body functions.

Chronic Breath Holding: This pattern of breathing usually accompanies stress and anxiety; it could cause anxiety, or in other cases, be caused by anxiety. Chronic breath holding is when one frequently holds their breath subconsciously for brief seconds, either after inhalation or exhalation. This pattern of breathing causes chest pain, and increases tension on the jaw and face. It also affects the thyroid glands function.

In order to know what type of breather you are, you need to become more conscious of your breathing, even during exercising. It is not exactly easy to become conscious of a such involuntary activity, but by doing so, regardless of how much practice it would take, you will not only enhance your physical functionality, but it would impact your psychological state as well. aug-sep 2018 | Ct

53

MIND, BODY & SOUL Common Symptoms of Incorrect Breathing

do to optimize your respiratory system; however, it is recommended to practice them with experts and not by yourself.

- Chronic fatigue due to a lack of oxygen transmitted to the body cells. This reduces energy level.

Fortunately, the past couple of years, Egypt has witnessed a rise in psychological health awareness and bettering our overall wellbeing, shedding light on yoga and meditation practices. Those practices put major emphasis on the quality of breathing and mindfulness. For starters, you can learn about the various pranayama techniques, which is breathing in yoga, which will help you become more in control and aware of the airflow in your body.

- Excessive, frequent yawning could be an indication of insufficient oxygen supply in the bloodstream.

- Upper-body muscles tension.

- Anxiety, because shallow breathing sends alerting signals to the brain. Also, the lack of carbon dioxide causes disorientation, which might lead to panic attacks.

- Teeth grinding during sleep, due to rising levels of stress.

- Irregular heartbeat as a result of unbalanced breathing patterns.

- A weak immune system, because shallow breathing reduces the number of lymphocyte white blood cells.

Teaching our children to breathe right at a young age could prevent many future health problems, and would allow them to live a more relaxed life, keeping in mind that it is also easier to learn and embrace habits at a young age.

In a recent interview, Steve Maxwell, the 65-yearold international fitness guru, says “The only nutrient that people aren’t talking about is oxygen.” Maxwell argues that we often focus on diet and food, while ignoring life’s most essential element. The ability to breathe on our own is a blessing, and we often take it for granted.

- Gaining or struggling to lose weight is also a symptom of shallow breathing. According to a study conducted at Hampton University, shallow breathing slows down the lymphatic system, which will weaken the absorption of long-chain fatty acids, and consequently causes fat accumulation.

- Irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive problems.

Of course, these symptoms can occur as a result of other health issues, so it is important to exclude other factors first.

A Simple Test Also, a simple breathing test that you can take is to lie flat on the floor for several minutes, with one hand on your abdomen and the other on the chest. Observe the movement of your hands as you breathe. For instance, if the hand placed on your chest moves upward during inhalation, then that means you are a shallow breather. Other breathing patterns can only be detected through observation, like mouth breathing or breath-holding patterns.

In addition to being more conscious and mindful of your breathing, there are several exercises you can

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Teaching our children to breathe right at a young age could prevent many future health problems, and would allow them to live a more relaxed life

advErtorial

Enjoy SummEr outingS and road tripS in your all nEw Elantra ad STRIKING DESIGN

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

!e completely redesigned Elantra AD delivers an athletic presence from every angle. Its prominent hexagonal front grille dominates an edgier front end and is framed by striking headlights. Front bumper air vents and the LED daytime running lights provide more aggressive styling cues, while the car’s rear is relatively compact despite its large size, to become a family car with a sportive touch with its 17-inch sportive rims. Elantra AD blends strength and luxury together and has the ability to go on long trips due to its endurance, while maintaining luxury, that make it reliable for any driver on any road.

!e expansive interior of the all new Elantra has been completely reimagined with an intuitive design filled with advanced technology and an impressive list of comfort features. !ese include an audio system with a 7.0� touch-screen and a keyless entry with push-button ignition. More impressive, however, might be the wealth of standard features ready to ease your travels, such as a multi-function steering wheel-mounted audio, cruise and Bluetooth controls, a smart trunk open feature, and a drive mood select system.

POWER TO PERFORM

DRIVING WITH CONFIDENCE

Designed to make every mile a pleasure, this compact car boasts a 1600-litre 4-cylinder engine producing maximum power output of 127.5 / 6,300 Ps and 155/4,850 Nm of torque. !e model offers a 6-speed automatic transmission gearbox.

In addition to the advanced high strength steel that delivers enhanced driving dynamics and protection, the all new Elantra is equipped with a wide array of cutting edge safety technologies, such as airbags for the driver seat and the front passenger seat, in addition to an ABS break system, rear and front parking assist systems, and child anchor ISOFIX.

CUISINE

No Bake Desserts for the Summer Strawberry Cheesecake

Directions:

Ingredients:

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Samoa Truffles Ingredients: Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ

ĐBLOCKĐCREAMĐCHEESE ĐSOFTENED ĐCUPĐSWEETENEDĐSHREDDEDĐCOCONUT ĐTOASTED ĐPLUSĐ MOREĐFORĐTOPPING ĐCUPĐCRUSHEDĐWAFERS vĐCUPĐCARAMELĐSAUCE vĐCUPSĐSEMISWEETĐCHOCOLATEĐCHIPS ĐTABLESPOONĐCOCONUTĐOIL

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,INEĐAĐSMALLĐBAKINGĐSHEETĐWITHĐPARCHMENTĐPAPER Đ )NĐAĐLARGEĐBOWLĐUSINGĐAĐHANDĐMIXER ĐWHIPĐCREAMĐ CHEESEĐUNTILĐLIGHTĐANDĐ®UFFY Đ &OLDĐINĐCOCONUT ĐWAFERS ĐANDĐCARAMELĐSAUCE Đ 5SEĐAĐSMALLĐCOOKIEĐSCOOPĐTOĐSCOOPĐINTOĐSMALLĐBALLSĐ ANDĐPLACEĐONĐTHEĐPREPAREDĐBAKINGĐSHEET Đ 0LACEĐINĐFREEZERĐTOĐ­RMĐUP Đ ĐMINUTES -EANWHILE ĐHEATĐCHOCOLATEĐCHIPSĐINĐMICROWAVE Đ STIRRINGĐEVERYĐ ĐSECONDSĐUNTILĐMELTED ĐĐ7HENĐTHEĐ SAMOAĐBALLSĐAREĐCHILLED ĐDIPĐINĐCHOCOLATE ĐSHAKINGĐOFFĐ THEĐEXCESS ĐANDĐTHENĐPLACEĐBACKĐONĐBAKINGĐSHEET Đ 3PRINKLEĐWITHĐREMAININGĐTOASTEDĐCOCONUTĐANDĐPLACEĐINĐ THEĐREFRIGERATORĐTOĐHARDEN Đ ĐMINUTES

Ct | AUG-sep 2018

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Directions: Đ Đ

Ingredients: Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ

ĐCUPĐBUTTER vĐCUPĐBROWNĐSUGAR ĐPACKED ĐTEASPOONĐVANILLAĐ ĐCUPSĐROLLEDĐOATS ĐCUPĐSEMISWEETĐORĐDARKĐCHOCOLATEĐCHIPS vĐCUPĐPEANUTĐBUTTER

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Salted Caramel Banana Pudding Ingredients: Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ

uĐCUPSĐMILK ĐPACKAGEĐINSTANTĐVANILLAĐPUDDING ĐMILLILITERĐCANĐSWEETENEDĐCONDENSEDĐMILK ĐCUPSĐHEAVYĐCREAM uĐCUPĐPOWDEREDĐSUGAR ĐTEASPOONĐVANILLAĐ uĐCUPSĐCARAMEL ĐDIVIDED 3EAĐSALT ĐBOXĐVANILLAĐWAFERĐCOOKIESĐORĐLADY­NGERSĐ ĐBANANAS ĐSLICEDĐINTOĐCOINS

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Directions: Đ Đ Đ

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AUG-sep 2018 | Ct

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CUISINE S'mores Fudge Ingredients: For the Crust Đ ĐGRAHAMĐCRACKERS ĐCRUSHEDĐINTOĐCRUMBS Đ ĐTABLESPOONSĐMELTEDĐBUTTER Đ ĐTABLESPOONSĐSUGAR Đ 0INCHĐOFĐSALT For the Chocolate Fudge Đ ĐCANĐSWEETENEDĐCONDENSEDĐMILK Đ ĐCUPSĐSEMISWEETĐCHOCOLATEĐCHIPS Đ ĐTEASPOONĐVANILLAĐ For the Marshmallow Frosting Đ ĐEGGĐWHITES Đ ĐTABLESPOONSĐWATER Đ ĐTABLESPOONĐLIGHTĐCORNĐSYRUP Đ wĐCUPĐSUGAR

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Directions: Đ Đ

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Lemon Cheesecake Mousse Ingredients: Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ

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Directions: Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ Đ

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Ct | AUG-sep 2018

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aDvertorial

HUAWEI NovA 3 SErIES — Devices for the Young anD Daring PhotograPh bY tian Yang

Y

outh: ever filled with spontaneity and the unknown. As a series made for the youth, HUAWEI nova Series knows what it means to be young, to be wild, and to be true to oneself. !e line-up recently saw the launch of its newest entry: HUAWEI nova 3 and nova 3i. !e HUAWEI nova Series does not just embody cutting-edge craftsmanship, but also expresses the wildness and the attitude that youth should have. !e HUAWEI nova Series devices meet and exceed the expectations of young users, and as the new heavyweight addition to the series, HUAWEI nova 3 does not disappoint. It features a new and improved FullView display with barely-there bezels that blend into the screen when the display is off. !e shape of the device has also been heavily iterated upon to realize the most comfortable grip, and the materials were meticulously chosen for their quality.

Recently, HUAWEI announced that it has signed Jackson Yee as its global brand ambassador for the nova brand. !is makes Yee not just the first Chinese brand ambassador for the nova brand, but also the first “post-00” ambassador representing the youth-centric brand. !is move enables HUAWEI to clearly higher the brand positioning of its nova series, and really rein the target audience in for the brand. !e youth desire a fashionable device for themselves. But what is fashion? It’s intangible and irrational, but when something gets it right, it just clicks. !e kind of fashion young people chase after changes frequently, but the fashion-forward looks of the HUAWEI nova Series allow it to remain highly desirable. !e new notched 6.3-inch FullView display is stunning to look at, and when it is off, the notch melds seamlessly with the screen, creating a perfect bezel-less look. !e screen is secured to a chassis whose length measures at the same 5.5-inch. !e double-curved 3D glass is also upgraded, allowing vibrant colors to shine through to the fullest extent.

Of course, the appearance upgrades on the HUAWEI nova 3 Series goes beyond the design. !e HUAWEI nova 3 is available in Red, Primrose Gold, Airy Blue and Iris Purple, and HUAWEI

nova 3i comes with the classic Black & White and Iris Purple.

Iris Purple is its latest gradient color. When a device is laid flat, the gradient shifts ever so slightly to the dark side; but if you view it from a lower angle, the color lightens back up magically. !e gradient color behaves just like the youth—it is ever changing, mysterious and wild.

Looking back at the history of smartphones, manufacturers have always been keen to bolster their product portfolio with differently colored devices. And that has worked in the favor of consumers, giving them additional choice. !e HUAWEI nova Series, a line-up renowned for its design, is at the forefront of this color trend. !e Iris Purple gradient color available on both the nova 3 and nova 3i evoke feelings of mystery, excitement and adventure. Such a unique experience is only available through the trendy HUAWEI nova 3 series.

When discussing the HUAWEI nova 3 series, it’s hard to not also mention its AI quad camera setup. In fact, having dual front and rear cameras together is a rare sight to behold as it ups the cost of manufacturing significantly. However, for its nova Series, HUAWEI refuses to settle for less. !e HUAWEI nova 3 series continues to offer a quad-camera photography experience. What’s new is that the nova 3 Series enhances the cameras with AI, allowing users to effortlessly capture beauty.

In today’s social media-driven world, great photos are sought after by people all around the world, but not everyone has the time to retouch photos before posting. !e 24MP and 2MP front cameras allow users to capture themselves in their most natural, most beautiful forms. Users can also opt to beautify themselves after the fact using HUAWEI’s sophisticated retouching tools to “manufacture” beauty. !e tool supports a range of tweaks including whitening, sharpening, brightening and more.

With youth comes the energy to be wild and free. Don’t set limits for yourself, don’t let others restrict your actions.

Channel your youthful energy to explore the world and enjoy the ride—and if you need a partner, know that HUAWEI nova 3 Series will gladly ride shotgun.

CUISINE

Maestro: Redefining Italian Cuisine !ere is something truly magical about Italian cuisine with its aromatic flavors and fresh herbs, which add a tantalizing taste to every simple dish. How many times have we all dreamt of an escape where we can roam the streets of Italy to admire art around every corner and end this day with a delightful dish that awakens our senses? Like everything else in Italy, food is art.

Luckily, you do not have to fly all the way to Italy to delve in this experience, where Maestro sets this magical ambiance for you while bringing a broad assortment of this exquisite cuisine.

Italian food is a celebration of life’s simple pleasures and only a passionate Chef from the heart of Italy can bring this genuine experience to the table. Chef Paolo Collavini, the new face of Maestro, creates authentic regional favourites of Italian cuisine in the relaxed setting of the “five star ristorante”.

With over 30 years of experience, Chef Paolo sees himself as an ambassador of Italian cuisine who brings an authentic taste of Italy wherever he goes. With his meticulous focus on quality, Chef Paolo strives to source the best products, both locally and

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imported from Italy, to prepare his dishes with the authentic taste he has in mind. Coming from his belief that Italian cuisine is all about simple dishes with the right ingredients, his philosophy is against over-complicating the dishes with too many ingredients, but rather using selective high quality ingredients that are rich in flavor.

Some people think Italian cuisine is all about pizza and pasta, while in fact there is a wide array of dishes to savor and indulge in until the last bite. Italian food is extremely satisfying without being too heavy, and Chef Paolo takes all his diners on a oneof-a-kind dining experience that transcends all the norms.

Relish the antipasti, risotto, meats, seafood as well as pizza and pasta that evoke the Italian spirit as it always should be.

When you dine at Maestro, you are taken on an exotic trip to explore the authentic taste of Italy while being in the heart of Cairo. Operating daily from 4pm to 12am, dine the Italian way as Chef Paolo will surely delight you with the new a la carte menu.

Indulge in Ultimate Luxury at Fouka Bay’s Exclusive Serviced Apartments Immerse yourself in an experiencedriven destination as Fouka Bay adds a new flavor to luxurious living by the Mediterranean. Positioned among landscaped gardens, crystal clear lagoons and a mesmerizing backdrop of sea views, Fouka Bay presents its state-of-the-art serviced apartments, courtesy of none other than The House Hotel & Residence.

The 11 serviced apartment buildings offer a myriad of interior options; each effortlessly accommodating a soulsoothing sanctuary that combines contemporary elegance with premiumquality concepts specifically designed to enrich your life and senses.

Master-planned on 4 different levels, Fouka Bay’s serviced apartments take convenient luxury to a whole new level by bringing an assortment of top-notch amenities to every doorstep. The House Residence boasts a spacious yet private courtyard, as well as a vast reception area to facilitate lounging, and check-in purposes. In addition to an impressive ‘Walk In, Walk Out’ concept, which blends unmatched privacy with worlds of non-stop entertainment. The serviced

apartments at Fouka Bay’s The House Hotel & Residence are fully furnished and equipped with state-of-the-art furniture, kitchens as well as air conditioning systems. To ensure an unparalleled stay, The House Residence is designed to open onto a bustling extension of private recreational facilities; including floating water zones on multiple levels, a cutting-edge gym, kids’ play zones, a sun-drenched beach hub, and a fullyequipped business hub.

Renowned designer Mona Hussein was able to successfully capture the essence of the island’s enchanting surroundings, by incorporating raw textures from nature to feature two sets of interior moods and furniture combinations.

Inspired by the serene aura of the deep blue sea, the Blue Interior mood elevates the soul, reflecting harmony, and a seafront ambiance all around, while the White Interior mood is for those preferring a more minimalistic vibe.

Being a few minutes away from The House Hotel provides residents with an exclusive invitation to an array of benefits, as the bespoke 5-star hotel promises a superb combination of facilities catered to every mood. With access to a world-class spa, watersport activities, top-notch sporting facilities, late night entertainment, 24/7 concierge services, and signature dining experiences, residents are guaranteed to relish in the freedom of home-style

living, while savoring the luxuries of hotel hospitality.

Blissfully basking by Ras El Hekma’s gleaming coastline, Fouka Bay brings an innovative vision that represents the new face of the North Coast by combining the best elements of the blue sea, white sand, and emerald landscapes to boast a cluster of 12 eye-shaped islands, enveloping a 7 km shoreline of tranquil lagoons. With a unique master-plan, Tatweer Misr and world-renowned Italian architects Gianluca Peluffo and Partners set a new standard of expectations in architectural design and lifestyle options.

Through presenting the ultimate blend of beachfront simplicity and true exclusivity, each home enjoys a mesmerizing waterfront view. Located 211 km from Alexandria, and 75 km from Marsa Matrouh, the idyllic spot is only a 2-hour drive away from Cairo.

SOCIETY

Decathlon CFC Store Opening Brand and Social Event Management along with O! Solutions for PR collaborated together for the Decathlon store opening that took place at Cairo Festival City, showcasing its newest sports collection to the Egyptian market.

The event featured many on ground activities, introducing its spacious design and distinguished pricing for sportswear.

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AdvertoriAl

Mercedes-Benz Launches the New Mercedes-BeNz

M

ercedes-Benz Egypt introduces the new Mercedes-Benz GLC family range in Egypt, the GLC SUV and the GLC Coupe , the sport cars among SUVs. !e mid-size GLC SUV and Coupe impresses with the brand’s characteristic safety, power delivery, state-of-the-art assistance systems and superb energy efficiency. !e GLC family offers a unique concept with an unprecedented diverse range of equipment and sportiness coupled with an elegant design and the advantages of an SUV in terms of seating position, interior flexibility, enabling GLC customers to enjoy true luxury and exclusiveness.

!e Sensual GLC 300 Coupe’ !e GLC 300 Coupe comes with the AMG exterior and interior lines for a powerful stance and exquisite interior trim. !e design of the GLC Coupe is bold and oozes with appeal. !e same design language is extended in the elegant and classy interior, highlighted by the sporty driving position and instrument cluster. !e GLC Coupe features a touchpad controller, EASY PACK tailgate, Audio 20 CD multimedia system, Burmester surround sound system, a 360-degree camera, KEYLESS GO comfort package and upholstery in available in cranberry red trim for a classic sporty appeal. !e heart of the GLC 300 Coupe’ is a 245 hp, turbocharged 2.0 litre engine, enabling the car to sprint to 100 km/h in a mere 6.4 seconds.

!e Robust GLC 250 SUV !e Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV is equipped with a powerful yet efficient 2.0 litre engine, pumping 211 hp ensuring an effortless and agile performance. Coupled with a rapid, smooth shifting 9G tronic automatic gearbox, the GLC 250 reaches 0-100 in just 7.3 seconds. !e design of the GLC SUV is expressive and dynamic, however it also delivers strongly on practicality and space. !e GLC SUV of course enjoys the famous MercedesBenz hallmarks, namely, meticulous attention to detail, top level materials and reliability. In addition to the light-alloy 19 inch AMG 5-twin spoke wheels as part of the expressively sporty AMG line and a panoramic sliding sunroof. !e GLC 250 SUV also features the touchpad controller, EASY PACK tailgate, Audio 20 CD multimedia system, Burmester Surround sound system, parking package including reversing camera, KEYLESS GO comfort package as standard.

Intelligent Drive: !e Next Step in Driving Assistance Systems !e new GLC SUV and GLC Coupe takes another major step towards advanced driver assistance systems with pioneering systems such as ATTENTION ASSIST, Active Brake Assist, Blind spot assist, Adaptive brake lights, LED High performance headlamps, Parking package with PARKTRONIC and the permanent all-wheel drive system 4MATIC. !e GLC SUV and Coupe also feature DYNAMIC SELECT which enhances both ride comfort and sporty agility - on any terrain.

SOCIETY

Renaissance Cairo’s #dayofdiscovery Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel celebrated its seventh Annual Global Day of Discovery with an unforgettable trip to one of the hidden gems in the city: the Gayer Anderson Museum, followed by a vibrant Bedouin night with a Tanoura show overlooking the Great Pyramids of Giza.

The Global Day of Discovery this year was during the holy month of Ramadan, and was attended by media influencers and rising stars.

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The new GLC Coupé & GLC SUV. Now in Egypt.

Visit us or call 16362