Welcome 2020, January 2020, Identity Magazine

january 2020 - 20LE www.identity-mag.com

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winter skin guide

hair care tips 101 fashions that never die rediscover yourself: a checklist

Welcome

2020

Women of the year

look fabulous for less rising stars of 2020

BRUNCHING AT T H E PA L AC E .

B BQ B RU N C H I S BAC K !

Stroll along our Garden Promenade Café… listen to the grills sizzle …Savor the tantalizing aromas as our chefs rewrite the brunch menu. We have all what your taste buds desire from a fresh fish market and an endless sushi station to BBQ specials with veggie options, all while enjoying the live jazzy sounds sifting through the waving palms. Grab your family and friends for a great day of #BrunchingAtThePalace. Make a date every Friday from 1pm - 5pm for the best brunch in town!

16 S A R AY E L G E Z I R A S T. , P O B OX 33 Z A M A L E K , C A I R O 11211 , EGY P T. T: 0 0 . 2 0 2 . 27. 2 8 . 3 0 0 0 C A I R O M A R R I OT T H OT E L .C O M A R A B I C . M A R R I OT T.C O M /C A I EG

identity

letter

letter

from the editor

N

ow that the long awaited winter season is officially here, we all realize how short-lived it is (or has become) in Egypt. As we all pull out our favourite winter pieces and dress appropriately for the weather, we try to make maximum use of this dwindling season to sport its chic fashion, makeup and hair trends that we adore so much. Our editorial team made sure Identity’s January 2020 issue left nothing to chance. It’s all in there to help you know what trends made it and which ones sadly (or happily) didn’t make it to the brand new decade. Winter skincare and hair routines are also a must if you wish to maintain their natural glow and softness during the harsh cold winter days.

Bring it on, we’re so winter ready!

Rola Kamel

Identity Magazine was founded in 2005 by Rola Kamel to enhance every aspect of a woman’s lifestyle, helping our female readers to discover and improve their own identities.

Published by Beezarre Publishing Ltd. Themistokli Dervi, 6 Papyros Building, 4th Floor, Flat/Office D5 – P.c 1066, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The subscription rate is 240 L.E./year (12 issues) through Al Ahram, Tel: 02-27703190 Printing House: Sahara Printing company, Distribution by Al Ahram Website: qpix solutions Contact us at: 26A Montazah St., Zamalek, Cairo-Egypt. Tel: 02-27361187 Mobile: 0122-9401071 email: sendus@identity-mag.com www.identity-mag.com

IDENTITYMAGEG

4 January 2020

LET’S BRUNCH

While You Make Memorable Moments, Our Chefs Make Masterpieces

ONLY * LE395+++*Price is subject to service charges and due taxes

Wide range of fun and creative activities are set to encourage your kids to unleash their innovative side.

**

Come enjoy the offer (pay eight and dine ten) Kids will enjoy it for FREE UP TO 12 YEARS OLD For reservations and more information about Brunch at MY KIND OF PLACE restaurant please call 022677730/40

*Terms and conditions apply.

identity

masthead

january 2020

Founder & Managing Editor Rola Kamel Editor-in-Chief Nawal Ismail Art Director & Senior Graphic Designer Alia El Abd Copy-Editor Amina El Fayoumy Senior Staff Writer Amina Moustapha Staff Writers Aya Aboshady Nanise Mohamed Nada Abd ElKader Freelance Writer Joanna Neve Relationship Expert Marwa Rakha Food Writer Soha Darwish Marketing & Advertising Manager Riham Yehia Digital Marketing Manager Youssef Ali Social Media Specialist Shady Hani Video Editor Ahmed Mostafa Identity Magazine Distributor Ashraf Fouad 6 January 2020

Eden Park

The French Flair After the huge success of the first branch in Egypt, Eden Park, the lavish French brand, is expanding further with a new branch in Mall of Arabia. Thanks to FIG, Fashion International Group, who brought the brand to Egypt as part of their collaboration with other internationally famous brands.

How is the Egyptian market receiving your French brand?

We got the chance to interview the Founder Mr. Frank Mansel and he told us a lot about the inception of their rugby-themed elegance, the vision for the new store and their future plans.

I believe that Egyptians are quite fond of the Parisian fashion. When we first opened in Egypt, we didn’t know what to expect. But the turnout was great.

Tell us about the story behind Eden Park, Paris!

“We believe that it only takes buying one item from our shop to make you a regular customer.”

The story begins in 1906. When my Rugby team decided to pull a joke on the final match of the Rugby World Cup against New Zealand. Wearing a pink bow-tie as a reflection of the “FrenchFlair” got us a lot of attention. Years later, Mansel planned the launch of his rugbu0themed ready to wear brand and the pink-tie came naturally.

Why did you choose Mall of Arabia to be the location of your second store in Egypt?

After the booming success of the City Stars branch, it seemed like a suitable choice. We had to have a branch in such an impressive fashion and shopping hub. It’s also one hour away from our first branch, so we felt that we will be approaching a new patch of customers.

Does the brand remains a family-owned business?

Yes. We want to go baby-steps about everything.

We want to make sure we are not making any mistakes with the high stakes in hand. And more importantly, we don’t want to compromise our quality and textiles for the sake of going way too big or way too fast. You could like the style or not, but you can never disagree on our quality.

The rugby-themed clothes are not limiting at all.

We offer upbeat and hip fashion that appeals to everyone. Just like Jean Paul Gaultier, we are utilizing the “French flair” to our benefit.

What distinguishes Eden Park from other Parisian brands?

Everyone can use the French inspiration to advertise their brand. But we, at Eden Park, have a true Parisian story to support our approach. So, when we talk about the French flair, when know a thing or two. We are super lucky to have such story behind our brand.

What’s the future plans for Eden Park?

We are currently focusing on digitalization, or positioning ourselves more on digital basis. It’s important for us to address the social networks.

We want to inform the world of our past, present and future.

We are also planning to open two new shops in Egypt. We will open five new franchisers in France and we’re having a New York store in 2020.

identity

contents

8 Editor’s Picks 10 Surefire Ways to Get Rid of the Mid-Year Blues 11 What Kind of Relationship Do You Need?

Photography: Amr Elgohary Art Direction: Alia Elabd Outfit: Mirana Tera Couture MUA: Enas Moussa Location: Animal Protection Shelter

12 Invest in Your Skin this Winter Season 14 What’s Winter Without Some Drama?

16 Secrets of Hair Growth 18 Five Secrets to Look Posh Without Spending a Fortune 20 Fashion Has a Way of Repeating Itself 22 Happy Chaos

28 Self-Improvement Checklist 30 A Year in Relationships 32 Rediscover the Woman in the Mirror 34 Fast Forward: Meet the Stars of the Future 36 Our Female Role Models for the New Year 38 Meraki Skin Products Made with Love 40 Reflecting on 2019 42 Keeping Fit: Then and Now and Beyond 44 Classics for a Reason: 5 Books That Stand the Test of Time 46 Travel Guide 48 Winter Getaways 52

52 Advertorial 56 Press Releases 64 Horoscopes

10

8 January 2020

22

Happy Chaos

46

Ghabbour

Foundation’s “‫ ”دوس بنزين‬Competition Kicks-Off To Huge Success On the 6th of December, Ghabbour Foundation collaborated with TVET Egypt to launch its first ever Go Kart Competition “‫ ”دوس بنزين‬in Mirage Mall. The Competition included 6 groups, all consisting of trainees from vocational and technical schools. Ghabbour Foundation schools participated via 2 teams from Imbaba, Kafr El Zayat and Alexandria; all competed in assembling and racing off-road vehicles against one other.

It has been an outstanding event, as it is the automotive trainees’ first encounter in assembling cars from scratch, in addition to boosting their soft skills such as team work, planning and organization, respect of rules and safety regulations as well as time management. The aim of the Competition is to improve vocational trainees’ general learning experience as well as promote a positive image of vocational education in society, in line with Ghabbour Foundation’s mission to bridge the gap between quality of vocational education graduates and industry requirements.

According to George Sedky, Secretary General of Ghabbour Foundation, and GB Auto’s Chief Human Resources Officer, this competition isn’t just about winning a race, it’s a chance for trainees to learn how to work well together because only teamwork will allow them a chance at winning this friendly game, which is the main goal of the event.

Ghabbour Foundation’s first technical competition promoted collaboration to achieve a common goal, throughout the day, points were gained for speed, number of laps, and answering technical questions, also, team members applied safety and emergency skills that transfer directly to their safe driving practices on public roads. The day was so fruitful that not only the first and second winning teams left with trophies, but all 6 teams went home with such an incomparable added value, and a day to remember.

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30 MONTAIGNE DIOR OBLIQUE BAG Verdict: The best bag this season- best for size and colour that goes with everything.

3

Verdict: Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation Verdict: Full coverage that won’t show skin conditions like acne, improves hydration and protects from pollution.

Look no further.

5

Michael Orro Stackable bracelets

4 Picks 6 7

editor’s

Valentino Garavani leather Vlogo bracelet Verdict: A refreshing gift, won’t say no to that!

Giuseppe Zanotti Ruffle Sandal

Verdict: A little hardware never hurt nobody.

ARMANI SI FOR HER Vinyl Lip Crème Stain from YSL

10 January 2020

Verdict: It doesn’t get any more luxurious — swipe it on and feel like a fancy lady All. Night. Long.

Verdict: Your partner won’t be able to wait for the midnight countdown.

Best NYE ever!

Best of Instagram

Most Popular Articles

Best Dressed At CIFF 41 Closing!

Famous Turkish Chef Burak Ă–zdemir has Stopped Smiling; is it the End of the World?

Check out identity-mag.com for more!

IDENTITYMAGEG

SureFire Ways to Get Rid of the Mid-Year Blues

by Nada Abdelkader It’s this time of year again. School’s out and the workload is getting lighter, so we know that means: boredom. Don’t worry, though. When the kids get too restless or the girls start messaging you for fun ideas to do, you can always turn to us.

Go for the Physical Road Instead of stressing yourself out to find something to keep the kids active and yourself busy, why don’t you introduce your group to something fun?

You can start by visiting the Gravity Code amusement center in the 5th Settlement for some gravity-defying fun. If you’re not impressed, you can visit one of Cairo’s many escape rooms and add a sense of excitement to the night.

Still not buying? Well, you can keep active by taking self-defense or aikido classes to improve all of your group’s physicality.

Pamper Yourself We’ve got the kids (and your more active friends) covered, so now, naturally, we’ve got to focus on you! This mid-year vacation, take a break from all your responsibilities and pamper yourself through a fully-fledged spa day.

glory days by booking a cruise to Luxor and Aswan for you and yours in a trip that just never gets old.

Another trip that will never get old is the classic daytrip to Alexandria, where you can enjoy an enchanting winter with all the old favorites in the culinary game.

Plan for an Adrenaline Rush

Practice aromatherapy, home or elsewhere, and send yourself sailing to another plan of relaxation with all the essential oils you can get your hands on!

If you want something relatively new and exciting, you can always go for a hiking trail in the Wadi Degla Protectorate in Cairo or the Valley of Whales in Fayoum.

Satisfy Your Nostalgia

You can also go for a horse-ride in Fagnoon by the stunning view of the Pyramids or some skydiving fun, where you learn before you take your flight over the heart of the city.

Way back when, cruise trips were all the rage and for good reason. Now, you can return to those 12 January 2020

2. What’s an ideal date night for you?

A- A surprise reservation at my favorite restaurant B- Anything from zero-gravity trampolines to theme-park dates—I want to have fun C- A mini-concert at my favorite venue followed by a picnic with a sunset view D- A classic dinner and movie

What Kind of Relationship Do You Need?

by Nada Abdelkader 1. What do you look for in a boyfriend?

A- Someone who gets my busy schedule and my personal ambitions B- Someone who is fun, playful, and doesn’t take things too seriously C- Someone who regularly surprises me with small or grand gestures D- Someone who is always around and texts 24/7

3- Why did you and your ex break up?

A- We couldn’t make time for each other B- It was getting too serious too soon C- We didn’t mesh well together / I haven’t dated yet D- It was taking an emotional toll on me 4- What do you wish you knew back then?

A- That communication is key B- To lighten up and not stress so much C- That it’s okay to let my guard down D- That it’s fine to take a break when it gets too tiring 5- Should relationships always feel comfortable, exciting?

A- Comfortable B- Exciting C- A mix of both D- Neither; stable

All or Mostly D’s: The Me, Myself, and I Break Let’s face it, you need to take a big pause from dating. Life isn’t all about romantic relationships in the end. You have to remember yourself at one point. Start now.

All or Mostly C’s: The Sweet Romantic One Romance was lacking in your life for a time, for no particular reason. Fix that and find the person who focuses on your love languages because they’re out there, you know.

All or Mostly B’s: The Casual Thing It’s been a while since you’ve branched out of your comfort zone and it shows. Instead of letting that discourage you, go back and find your footing—exactly what a fling is perfect for! It’s no strings attached and chances are it will help you find that sweet balance again.

All or Mostly A’s: The Understanding Type Here’s the thing; you’re always busy so you don’t really have time to sit down and plan ahead for the romantic things. Find someone who appreciates that and would understand when to plan and when to leave you be.

Results

Invest in Your Skin in the Winter Season!

by Aya Aboshady It’s that time of year again. The time when our skin, especially the dry type, decides to act up. And this often calls for a new skincare routine that can treat as well as protect our skin and prep it for warmer times. So now is basically the time to really invest in our skin.

In addition to regular facials, there are a number of high end products that really need to be like our best friends this season- for obvious reasons. And here they are:

#1

Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum

#2

This serum is so rich with Vitamin C; it’ll brighten up your face and give you a much needed - evened out radiant look! And a bonus: The packaging is just beautiful!

#3 14 January 2020

Laneige Lavender Water Sleeping Mask Didn’t catch up on your beauty sleep, as always?

Well, no worries! Because this product will make sure you still look refreshed as you apply it on your face overnight and wake up with a hydrated face and a nice glow.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream Investing in your skin, especially in winter, surely needs a very good moisturizer to work its magic. And it’s no surprise that Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream made the cut, because it gives your skin a healthy look, and lasts for 24 hours with a very lightweight texture that absorbs really fast.

#4

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum A lot of people just swear by this product, and we’re pretty sure that you will too! The formula will give your skin a smooth feel to it and most importantly, it will rid you of all the dead skin. Also, the level of absorption is unreal!

#5

#6

Isle of Paradise SelfTanning Drops

Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator Okay, this ain’t no regular moisturizer that you just apply on your face. This cream is a rich hydrator that plumps your skin and repairs it instantly.

Say goodbye to dryness!

Who said you have to say goodbye to your tan just because it’s winter? Those self-tanning drops from Isle of Paradise will make sure you’re carrying summer around with you anywhere you go. And don’t worry, your skin will remain as even as the sun.

#7

Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask

#8

Let’s face it; winter is such a dim season. So we need our skin to always look as bright and shiny as possible. This Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask will not just leave your skin so dewy, it’ll also nourish it in the process!

#9

Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil Face oils are important.

But not just ANY face oils. This Josie Maran 100 percent pure Argan Oil is suitable for all skin types and it focuses on smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles! Pretty obvious why it should be your choice, right?

#10

Clarins CLEAR-OUT If you’re going to invest in a skincare product, then with no questions asked, Clarins should be an essential choice. Especially with its new spot cream that targets imperfections and clears out blemishes before you could even notice them!

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream This product is exactly what its name entails.

It works like magic! It’s rich with Vitamins C & E for healthy skin, a bright complexion and the smoothest face ever!

January 2020 15

What’s Winter Without Some DRAMA?

by Aya Aboshady The winter season always calls for dramatic makeup looks that we so long for all year. Because when else could we go overboard with super dark lipstick and gold glossy shadows? So here we bring you two special winter makeup looks to rock the season with anywhere you decide to go!

The Super Smudgy With the same blush, brow gel and gorgeous foundation, you could create a whole other winter dramatic makeup look with other glamorous products. But this time, we’re going crazy with the eyes, in a good way!

The ColourPop Single Shadow and Stila Liquid Eyeshadow Combination

Since your eyeshadow is going to be the focus of this eye makeup look, we’re going crazy with both color and the super smudginess.

And there’s nothing better than combining both the longwearing sparkly Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in the shade Molten Midnight with the metallic Dear Diary shade from ColourPop’s single shadows collection to create a dark smudgy and glittery purple eye makeup look.

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder

This lightweight bronzing powder with a soft matte finish is going to give you a perfectly sun-kissed contoured look; it’s like summer never left!

Becca Highlighter in Pearl Glow Luster

Dolce & Gabbana Emotioneyes Eyeliner

This highlighter is gorgeous, luminous, multi dimensional and has a liquid-like glowy finish that will complement the look in a perfect way!

This D&G Emotioneyes High Definition Eyeliner Stylo will make your eyes pop and look even more beautiful and defined with the easy to use super black liner.

Marc Jacobs O!Mega Bronzer Coconut Perfect Tan

This product isn’t just super in how it gives you a perfectly and effortlessly blended tan. It’s also super in size and is just flawless on the skin.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Star Highlighter

It’s called Magic Star for a reason! This highly pigmented Charlotte Tilbury highlighter is a gorgeous addition to any makeup look. Especially in winter when you want your face to shine so bright.

The Dark Lips Queen In this look, your lips are going to be the star of the show. So here’s what you’ll need to complete the full look.

Glossier Boy Brow Eyebrow Gel

Want your eyebrows to stay clear, full, lightly filled in and perfectly shaped? Then the Glossier Boy Brow Eyebrow Gel is the answer! And will make any look stand out.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

This foundation is all you need for a flawless full coverage.

You won’t even need a concealer with this awesome product.

Nars Orgasm Blusher

Any makeup expert swears by Nars Orgasm Blush, ALWAYS! It’ll give you naturally flushed cheeks with a beautiful glow, especially in the Amour shade.

Fenty Beauty Uncensored Lipstick

The star of the show is here! Anyone in the makeup world just knows how valuable and gorgeous the Fenty Beauty lipsticks are. So for a flawless look, the Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in the shade Uncensored is the universal red you’re looking for!

January 2020 17

Secrets of Hair Growth:

Natural tips and magical products!

by Aya Aboshady Since our hair tends to naturally grow a little slower in winter, it’s time for us to step up our game when it comes to hair growth tips and secrets. And because we want to help you, we’ve brought you a list of natural tips and tricks as well as some incredible effective products to make your hair grow longer and faster in the wintertime!

Natural Tips and Tricks #1 Don’t Shampoo Your Hair Daily, and Deep Condition It! Keeping your hair clean and healthy is, needless to say, essential. But that doesn’t necessarily have to include daily shampooing. Because over-washing your hair with shampoo strips it off its natural oils and exposes it to more breakage. Especially if that shampoo product isn’t sulfate-free. But if you turn to the “No-Poo” method, your hair will be super healthy and prone to growth. The “NoPoo” method is basically all about skipping your daily shampoo and sticking to conditioning and deep conditioning your hair on a regular basis. #2 Avoid the Heat

make your hair grow longer all of a sudden.

However, regular trims keep your hair healthy, because you remove the split ends that could make their way up to your scalp and damage your hair. Therefore, keeping your hair healthy means higher chances of its growth. #4 Natural Hair Growth Oils

As tempting as it is, styling your hair for special occasions and nights out using heat often leads to damage, breakage and protein loss. And if you overdo it, it will also lead to the prevention of hair growth. So if you want longer and healthier hair, ditching your straightener is a must!

Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Argan Oil, Almond Oil and Castor Oil are all essential for hair growth. If you massage your scalp with any of these oils and wrap your hair for 20 minutes before showering, they will nourish your hair, making it softer and healthier and much more prone to instant hair growth.

#3 Trim Regularly

#5 Eat Healthy

You should know that the whole “Trim Your Hair Regularly for Growth” is not a myth! Trims won’t

“You are what you eat,” is not just a saying people repeat every now and then. It’s actually

18 January 2020

very true because whatever we consume affects our bodies, big time. So eating junk food is an unhealthy lifestyle that is going to negatively affect our overall wellbeing, including our skin and hair.

However, eating fruits, vegetables and foods that are rich in Omega-3 will make our hair grow stronger and longer! #6 Home Remedies and Magic Masks Home remedies and hair masks with specific ingredients were proven to help hair growth. Especially the famous egg mask that you could so easily make at home. Just mix it with honey and olive oil, massage it into your scalp then wrap your hair for 20 minutes and rinse! #7 Vitamins The B7 Vitamin (Biotin) is known to be one of the vitamins that contribute to hair growth. Whether you get it from supplements or from several foods like whole grains, seafood and almonds, Biotin is essential for hair growth so don’t sleep on it!

Incredible Effective Products #1 Sachajuan Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner The Sachajuan products are just insane when it comes to hair strengthening and lengthening.

They contain thickening technology that gives a natural volume to the hair, making it look healthy and helping it grow out faster. #2 TIGI Custom Care Repair Booster Remember when we told you that trimming your hair on a regular basis is a must for hair growth?

Well, to save you from the impatience that follows the trim, the TIGI Custom Care Repair Booster will penetrate inside the hair fibre to strengthen the internal proteins from within and protect your hair against future damage. #3 Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 This hair treatment repairs all damage, strengthens your hair structure and protects it really well, leading to higher and immediate chances for hair growth. #4 The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density This one works like magic! It helps your hair look thicker and fuller. Most importantly, it volumizes it and gives it an incredibly healthy look. Which, again, is perfect for hair growth.

And always remember that your hair won’t grow out fast or at all, unless it’s internally healthy!

January 2020 19

5 Secrets To Look Posh Without Spending a Fortune

by Nanise Mohamed

20 January 2020

Aldo

Zara

Ray Ban Aldo

Go For Pointed Shoes If you think about it, pointy shoes always look expensive. You can wear them to formal or casual chic occasions and know that you’ll definitely catch someone’s eye. But, they may not be the most comfortable. Luckily though, pointy shoes in flats are now so in!

Bershka

Zara

In fashion, many people are under the misconception that in order to look stylish and hip, they need to solely rely on designer clothes. This is not entirely true. While highend brands are definitely a plus, there are many ways to look like a million dollars without actually spending that kind of money!

Invest in Sunglasses Shades on their own look expensive and mysterious.

Added to any outfit, will make it look more stylish and intact. You don’t need too many, just a couple of trendy shapes will do.

Little Black Dresses A little black dress (LBD) is a staple in every girl’s wardrobe.

They will never go out of style, they are not that expensive and they are flattering to every body type. You can never go wrong with a LBD and you can’t have too many either.

Bershka

Nanushka

Bershka

Polish with Blazers It’s no secret, a well-fitted blazer will polish any outfit. It goes with everything. Your outfit could be as simple as jeans and t-shirt or a skirt and blouse. Just throw in a structured blazer and look 10 times more chic!

Zara

Turtlenecks Other than looking super French, a turtleneck will make you look thinner and taller. Making any outfit look more luxurious. Not to mention, will keep you extra warm. Have one in black, maroon and beige and style them to fit any occasion.

Monse

H&M

H&M

Etro

Forever21

Collect Statement jewelry Statement pieces in jewelry could easily lift any kind of outfit from plain and simple to elegant and sophisticated. Make a collection of wisely picked statement earrings, bracelets, rings and layerednecklaces and utilize them when needed. Not all your accessories have to be Cartier!

January 2020 21

Fashion Has A Way of Repeating Itself, Will We Ever Have New Trends?

by Nanise Mohamed Since we’re embarking on a new decade in 2020, we decided to take a good look at fashion and how it’s rapidly changing. And we can’t help but notice how in the past five years, we’ve had absolutely no new trends. The past five years have been a cycle of repeating old fashion trends from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s! Not that we don’t love our denim jackets or flare pants, but will we, in the new decade, get new trends of our own? Anyway, to prove our theory, here are photos of our favorite celebrities rocking retro styles!

The 60s Hippie

For quite some time now, the revolutionary hippie style has been making a booming comeback.

Need proof? Look at celebrities from Coachella. Flares, floral, hoops and tie-dye; you name it. With the right spin to it, the trend is simply chic and hip.

22 January 2020

The 70s Groove

Maybe we just miss”That’s 70’s Show”, but the 70s style has been on full force for a while now. It’s pretty similar to the 60s fashion but with a little spin to it. We take it from the runways and street stylers, the 70s fashion is here to stay.

The 80s Edge

Huge hair, big earrings and shoulder pads, it just seems that everything about the 80s was BIG. If you thought that the 80s fashion has long been dead and buried, take a look around. The frenzy of denim over denim and color combos will prove you wrong!

The 90s Radicals

Combat boots, chokers, denim skirts and fanny bags, just the names get us all nostalgic. If you’re into 90s fashion, you will be very pleased to know those trends are not going anywhere soon. The 90s is the era behind the ultimate street style inspiration and it should not be taken lightly!

January 2020 23

Happy

Chaos! #SaveYourMoneySaveaSoul

Happy Chaos is a new fashion collection by Mirana Tera designed to raise awareness about stray animals and encourage people to adopt, donate to or at least visit and play with shelter dogs. The awareness campaign, which goes by the hashtag #saveyourmoneysaveasoul, aims to explain that people will be saving money as well as saving a suffering soul by adopting instead of buying pets, not to mention discouraging dog breeding and trading.

The collection consists of crop tops and skirts, beautifully hand-embellished by Egyptian women, forming one-of-a-kind scattered and cheerful shapes. The idea behind the collection is to raise funds to support the Animal Protection Foundation shelter by donating a certain percentage out of every sale.

The photoshoot was done at the shelter to show how beautiful and friendly the dogs are. The shelter is home to dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds including Egyptian Baladi, Rottweiler, French Bulldog and Golden Retriever.

Art Direction: alia elabd Photography: amr elgohary, omar elshafei, alia elabd Makeup: Enas Moussa Models: Nour Mahgoub, Yasmine amr Videography: Seham Hosny Location: Animal Protection Foundation (APF)

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January 2020 29

Self-Improvement Checklist 20 things to do in 2020

by Aya Aboshady

2020 is basically about change. We’re literally starting a whole new decade, so it’s about new beginnings and different views on life. Most importantly, it’s about becoming much better versions of ourselves. But here’s a reality we all need to face: No one can have everything. Because having it all leaves no space for self-improvement, or room for aiming higher and reaching for the stars.

However, that being said, everything should be taken one step at a time. And that’s why we thought we’d make a checklist of some life aspects that you may wish to work on in 2020.

You could also always go back to this list and tick off the things you actually worked on and improved.

You never know, it could be nearly all of them by the end of the year!

Attitude Like everyone, you must have a certain attitude or a personality trait you’ve always wanted to change about yourself. That’s the time for it!

30 January 2020

Skills In our times, improving one’s skills is very important. Whether it’s for your professional or personal life, enriching and strengthening your skills is something you should always work on.

For example, you could maybe work on bettering your negotiation skills or learn more about crisis management...etc.

Apply for a job / Find another job Want to get a job? Want to leave the one you have and get another one? Again, the time is now! Apply for your dream job or leave one that’s sucking the life out of you. What are you waiting for? It’s the year of change!

Find a hobby Horseback riding? Cooking classes? You name it! The self-improvement checklist always has to include one’s hobbies.

Play a sport Many of us have always wanted to start playing a certain sport but were either too lazy or too busy. So whether it’s basketball, tennis, or even running; start playing the sport you like!

Learn a new language Who wouldn’t want to learn a new language? It’s never too late! Go take the online French, Spanish and Italian courses you’ve always wanted to take!

Get another degree / study something new / earn a master’s degree - PHD No matter your age, you’re never too old to complete a certain degree, study a whole new one or get a PHD. Always improve!

Career shift A doctor who wants to be a writer? A marketer who wants to be an artist? Why not! Life’s too short for people to not be doing what they love.

Make that career shift you always wanted!

Play an instrument Guitar, Piano or violin lessons; who wouldn’t want to add music to their every day routine? Go and learn to play the instrument of your desire!

Hit the gym Who doesn’t use the cliché affirmation “This year, I’m going to the gym!”? Well, maybe this year you really will and can safely check it off the list!

Eat healthy Maybe, just maybe, this year could be the one where you decide to remove junk food from your life and start eating healthy!

Read more books “So many books, so little time!” It’s a known fact that reading books makes us more intellectual, so come on, read as many books as you can!

therapist but dodged them off for some reason?

Well, now you don’t have to because you’re improving. Go see that therapist and work on yourself!

De-clutter Want to de-clutter your room? Makeup collection?

Clothes? Or maybe even life? Time to do it!

Buy a house / car If you’ve been saving some money and had plans to buy your dream house or car, then maybe you can do it this year, as long as you can afford it!

Travel abroad If you haven’t already and have been dreaming about travelling abroad, then save up some money and do it. And if you do it alone, it can be a life changing experience!

Have a makeover Ever wanted to have a makeover but was too nervous to take the step? Come on, work up the courage and do it now! Dye your hair, cut it, grow it, lose the weight, gain it, change up your style... etc

Cut off toxic people Who doesn’t have some toxic people in their life that they always try to deal with but often fail and end up getting emotionally abused? Time to cut off those toxic people and not feel guilty, it’s a new beginning!

Correct past situations If you’ve had to face some ugly or heartbreaking situations, and reacted in the wrong way, then it’s time to make things right. Call up those you’ve hurt, amend your relationship with your family members, make things right!

Take Yoga classes Take that Yoga class you wanted to take and meditate yourself to a peaceful mindset, because why not?

See a therapist Have you been feeling down for some time? Have you had previous plans of going to see an actual

January 2020 31

A Year in Relationships What to Do, Avoid, and Seek

by Nada Abdelkader What a wild ride has this year been, right? With all the ups and downs and all-arounds, this year has been full of wisdom we should all take into consideration when it comes to our love lives and relationships.

Relationship expert Marwa Rakha has certainly given it her all this year, through many lessons we’re sure you all enjoyed and learned from. We’ve narrowed these gems and hand-picked the best advice to jog up your memories.

On being too damaged to love again A person who is incapable of falling in love needs therapy. No one else can help that person, other than a professional therapist.

The traumas are usually on a deeper level than anyone could reach, and changing beliefs and thoughts is a very long journey. Most of the time, that person’s early memories of neglect have been blocked.

Also, they might have been forced to pretend that, growing up, they had perfect loving parents in a perfect loving family, and only a therapist can get to the bottom of this.

Some people might be too ashamed of their first relationships, and how much abuse they have had to endure, that they decide to not talk about them because of the painful memories they bring.

On women earning more than their partners The way people are raised in a certain society determines how likely they are to accept or reject scenarios where the woman earns more than her husband. More specifically, Egyptians are raised in a society that preaches male superiority because 32 January 2020

they’re supposed to be financially responsible for their families.

When real life happens and these people grow up, girls get the same job opportunities and might excel. These women land jobs that are fulfilling and well-paying. They savor the taste of financial independence and their self-awareness blossoms.

Then they are faced with reality.

Because they’re intimidating, they may not attract all partners. Some want to marry them or money or may not want to because they earn too much or they want them to choose a less demanding career, even stay at home.

Depending on the woman’s self-awareness and her need to get married and stay married, she will make peace with the fact that she earns more than her husband.

Break the cycle of bad partners The best way to break the cycle is to find out what is causing it. Sometimes the cause is easy to find; for example, having sex with a teacher or an older relative in your early teens.

But most times, the root causes are deep within a person’s black box. That is why therapy and selfhelp books are a good place to start.

Most of the time, the “right” type of partner is right in front of you, but because of the way you perceive others, and think about yourself, you do not allow yourself to love and be loved by that person. Most of the time, the right person is friendzoned! In other times, not as rare as one would hope, that right person is the person you abuse!

Having said all of that; let me remind you that we are all human and that our experiences shape who

Their ship though, might be wrecked immediately once their responsibilities weigh on them as a couple, or they might cruise and visit many harbors together. Most probably married seesaw couples shipwreck – with or without kids.

If you are in a seesaw relationship, reading this, and wondering how to break the cycle; think of a light bulb.

Your soul, mental health, body, and entire being are like a light bulb. Visualize that light bulb glowing with light or dimmed in peace.

Now think of a reckless kid, or an irresponsible person, with his naughty finger on the switch. On/off, on/off, on/off, boom! The light bulb got burnt! The kid would either find another light bulb to watch burnout, or would learn his lesson and feel sorry, or would toy with the wrong switch and get electrified!

On new relationships

we are and how we interact with others. We have all played different roles in relationships; abusers, victims, and saviors! We have all followed wrong patterns, and that does not mean that we have to continue following those patterns.

The truth about seesaw relationships When it comes to seesaw relationships, there’s isn’t any clear manual. In one of the on-again phases, the couple can take a leap of faith and move in together or get engaged/married.

You just met someone, liked one another, began going out, and you are being true to yourself. You are not faking anything. Then that person expects more, asks for more, and eventually asks you why you are not giving more.

Being honest about how you feel, in that scenario, is not rude. You are a decent person who does not want to lead anyone on, and who is not being manipulative. That is why you need to clearly express how you feel when you are faced with an unsatisfied partner. If you have worries, doubts, or negative feelings, express them without being offensive. If you feel that it is too early to be exclusive and commit, say it. If you feel that you are pressured, be clear about it.

January 2020 33

Rediscover the Woman in the Mirror

by Nada Abdelkader When Lewis Carroll wrote “Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle” in his classic, Alice in Wonderland, he had no idea he’d be asking a question that’s often burning in the back of collective conscience.

Who are we? What do we love and what do we hate? What do we aspire for and what do we absolutely fear? These are all questions we’ve all learned to answer, once upon a time, but here’s an especially hard one to answer. What do we do when we forget who we’re supposed to be?

Well, that’s actually a question with an especially easy answer. You set out to rediscover yourself, of course. You try to reconnect with the woman in the mirror, pun intended.

There’s No Such Thing as “Too Late” Before you say that you’re too old or that it’s too late to go on a self-discovery trip, you have to know that this is kind of the reason they came up with that whole “age is just a number” saying.

But even though it might not be too late and nothing is an excuse, really, you have to begin your journey to get to where you actually want to be. You can’t just dream and hope without taking any actions because that just might be when you start to lose focus and time.

There’s no such thing as it being too late to know what you like or don’t like because that’d be like saying there’s an expiration date on being and knowing yourself.

So, now that we’ve established that we need to restart our journeys, we’ll have to map out our next steps, which will be easy if we follow these quick tips.

34 January 2020

Fun, Passions, Hobbies, Oh My! Remember how life was before all the responsibilities and deadlines and duties kicked?

You know, when you used to relax and did what you actually liked? You should start doing that again.

Yes, we know this may sound bad in the vein of someone without anxiety telling someone with anxiety to just relax, but trust us we’re not being patronizing. What we mean here is that you need to remember life before you were saddled with all what made you forget who you were.

What did you like to do? What was your usual morning routine like? Did you play any sports or take any classes? Did you paint or sew or write music? Did you somehow do the impossible and watched thirty movies a week because you just loved cinema?

Once you remember what you liked doing or had interests in, even if minimal, you should start getting back into it again. Continue those French classes you dropped, pick up where you left off in that novel. Don’t let those interests and passions fade away into the background like some old frock that had just gone out of fashion.

No Old Hobbies? No Problem Some of you maybe reading this with an unhappy sigh because, admittedly, we did assume that everyone alive had had old passions and hobbies that they’d just forgotten, not accounting once for the fact that some people never had the time for those.

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten. We’ve got just the tip for you; here it is: ask people what you should do.

Yes, we know this seems odd because we’re all for self-empowerment and being opinionated, but we’re not writing this because we’re encouraging you to delete your identity. No, we’re just asking you to gather and sift through options you may not think of if you hadn’t asked.

Maybe if you ask friends and relatives and colleagues, you’ll come up with paths like sculpting

or interior decorating or baking. Maybe you might have considered these fields, we don’t want to be assumptive, but then again, you might have not.

The answers are always worth asking the questions.

And if the answers you get aren’t to your liking, then don’t let it bother you. Just make your own paths and try to remember the hobbies and areas that have interested you from afar.

Take the Rom-Com Route Yourself A Makeover

and

Get

We’re very much aware that we need to accept ourselves and love ourselves for any look-based step in our lives to make the desired impact, so we’re advocating this stage only when you’re sure you’re doing it out of good intentions.

And what are these good intentions? Well, “becoming yourself” kind of wraps them all nicely.

A lot of women find makeovers refreshing and exhilarating because the entire experience gets them step by step closer to achieving their ideal final form.

People get makeovers when they’re in need of something new or when they’re stuck in a rut, so getting a makeover when you’re on the road to self-rediscovery is logically the way to go.

When getting a makeover, you naturally gravitate to achieving everything that goes with that final ideal image of yourself. You become naturally more inclined to defining your identity, in all its facets and path.

This makeover doesn’t have to be drastic with a capital D, by the way. You can get a new haircut or a new haircut and a new hair color to match it. You can get both and a new wardrobe to show off your new interests and changed demeanor.

There’s no set manual, really, when it comes to makeovers. The only rules are to have fun and feel better.

Singer Gerard Way once said that sometimes you have to kind of die inside in order to rise from your own ashes and believe in yourself so you can become a new person. And honestly, we kind of agree.

January 2020 35

Fast Forward

Meet the stars of the future!

by Nanise Mohamed It’s now 2020, and that could only mean one thing. A fresh new batch of TV shows and movies as well as a new bunch of talents ready to climb the ladder of stardom.. Last year has introduced a lot of new faces to the entertainment scene that we just couldn’t ignore. Although they can’t be considered fully established yet, check again by the end of the year. We are pretty sure they will be on your radar.

Asmaa Abu El Yazid Rosaline ElBay

Was it 3 years ago when Asmaa Abu El Yazid blessed our lives with her killer performance in “Haza El Masaa”?

Well, she continues doing just that and more and with the speed she’s going, 2020 will definitely be her year.

Rosaline El Bay, the actress with Turkish origins who stole our hearts last year with her memorable performance in “Qabeel”, is definitely one to keep an eye on. Especially given her Hollywood debut in Hulu series “Ramy”.

Ahmed Khaled Saleh

Other than the fact that he’s a spitting image of his father, apparently, he inherited his talent too.

It was in “Nesr El Saed” that we first got a taste of his undeniable acting skills, but it’s his many roles in 2019 that made him rise to stardom.

36 January 2020

Youssef Othman Ever wonder what became of the little boy from the movie “Bahb El Cima”? He became a famous YouTube personality and is currently taking on some serious roles. And according to what we’ve seen so far, he’ll be a star in no time.

Mohamed Mahran

Mohamed Mahran’s latest role in “Zodiac” definitely wasn’t one we could forget. In fact, this could also go for his first cinematic lead in “Asrar A’elya” that sparked a lot of controversy. And with a new movie coming our way in 2020, we are placing our bets on him.

May El Ghety

She’s only 21 and she has already taken up parts in El Kaserat, Zodiac, Grand Hotel and so many more. But let’s leave quantity aside and talk quality. Yes, she is super talented as well.

Khaled Anwar Another discovery from “Haza El Masaa” was undoubtedly Khaled Anwar. And seriously, this young man is going places.

Omar El Shenawy

If you look closely, you could easily spot his resemblance to his veteran grandfather, Kamal El Shenawy. But, will he live up to the family name? We’ll see.

Passant Shawky

She’s one of our favorites but we believe she still has some unexplored acting skills. Will 2020 be the year for Passant Shawky to really shine? We think, yes.

Our Female Role Models for the New Year

by Nada Abdelkader Although it might seem like not much has happened in 2019, looking back on the past 12 months, we found that many Egyptian women have been a true inspiration to all of us. They’ve inspired us in many different fields, giving us all hope that things can become better and achievements can be attained if only we worked hard enough for them.

From law to career to entertainment, these great ladies have helped shape 2019 and they’re not going anywhere. These ladies are our role models for 2020, too!

Radwa Moussa Radwa Moussa, Zein Youssef’s mother, has been by his side ever since he started battling cancer in 2013 when he was just 6 years old. She is also the author of ‘From Darkness Into the Light’, a book showcasing her desire to never give up and always wake up to fight another day without despair.

A great example of faith, empowerment, care and persistence; Radwa gives hope for all the other fighting women out there. She definitely helped shape this past year and many more to come.

Rahma Khaled An Olympic swimmer with Down’s Syndrome, Rahma Khaled is having the best of her best years in 2019! Not only that, Rahma has also long had dreams of becoming a TV presenter and hadn’t thought it was possible for them to become a reality until she finally made her first (and continuing) appearance as a national TV host.

Yasmine Ghaith Already having carved her name as an inspirational role model for all Egyptian women, Yasmine Ghaith realized she could even take her impact to heights rendered before as unimaginable.

38 January 2020

This year, the actress and cancer survivor launched a jewelry line with her cancer scars as the theme and main focus of her designs, showing us there is always light after the darkness and that cancer scars can be survival tokens.

Logina Salah 2019 has definitely been Logina Salah’s year, hasn’t it? This twentyeight year-old make-up artist rocked her Vitiligo spots without any make-up whatsoever and very much intentionally raised the bar exponentially high for body positivity.

Logina has also been appointed as an Abu Dhabi TV reporter, giving more power to the words “you go girl!” than ever imagined.

Marwa Kenawy A couple of years back, Youssef El-Araby was shot by a stray bullet from a nearby wedding and went into a coma, which eventually led to his death a few days later. Since then, Marwa Kenawy, his mother, hasn’t stopped even for a single day fighting for her late son’s justice.

Marwa had been fighting in court for years and had even gone on a hunger strike before finally getting her son’s justice in 2019. She hadn’t stopped there, though. In between all the fighting in court, Marwa started selling notebooks with designs of her late son’s face on them to advocate for gun-control. With the money raised, she started a movement educating people on the dangers of guns and harmful practices involving them.

Nadine Labaki

Already a renowned director and actress with heated topics such as being a woman in Lebanon, poverty, families and religious conflicts under her belt, Nadine Labaki has been a woman to look at through the role model lens for a few years now.

Her latest film Capernaum is still generating buzzes and turning heads so much so that Nadine has been awarded with the 2019 Issam M. Fares Award for Excellence, an award given to inspirational, innovative individuals from the Middle East who have managed to impact their local communities and the world.

The proceeds from the Annual Awards Gala, where the award is given, have been announced to partially go as donations to Nadine Labaki’s Capernaum Association fund.

Reema Juffali The first woman to professionally race in Saudi Arabia, Reema Juffali is making history internationally, not just in the Arab world. Reema has made her debut at 27, after the female driver’s ban was lifted in Saudi Arabia. Ever since then, Reema has began racing and never stopped, setting her sights on the biggest racing competition of all time: Le Mans.

January 2020 39

Meraki Skin Products Made

With Love interview by Nanise Mohamed

Based in Cairo, Mona Awaad is the founder of Meraki, an all-natural line for skincare products with the motto:

brand and the wisdom she would like to pass on to the younger generations.

“A blend of the purest plant extracts made with love.”

“I don’t like using makeup and I believe in taking care of your skin.”

Mona majored in Chemistry at the American University in Cairo (AUC) and fate brought her to meet and work directly with the British founder of The Body Shop in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, where she was the first non-British formulator!

Mona only decided to make a business out of her skincare passion when her close friends and family kept asking her to formulate some anti-aging and acne products, especially for them.

Later on, she got to work with big names like Channel, Dior and Clarins. When she had to quit the full-time jobs for a full-time mother vacancy, she still did consulting work for major companies in Egypt.

The thing that made her realize she needs to turn this passion into a small business, two years ago, and with the support of her kids and friends, she started establishing Meraki from scratch. She went through a long process of trial and error until she was finally set on a strategy.

Her journey as a pioneer in the field made her come to the realization that she has a soft spot for the all-natural products and for engaging first hand with her clients.

For the brand name, she didn’t want something that is too cliché or overdone, she dug deep and found the name “Meraki” which means, putting your heart, soul and essence into something!

We talked to Mona about her new brand “Meraki” and got to know more about her life, skincare 40 January 2020

“I believe if you put your heart into something, it will succeed.”

And for the branding, Mona wanted the packaging to be as simple as it could get; nothing too commercial, something that reflects the nature of the brand and would make both millennial and older generations relate.

The thing that also made her decide on launching only as an online shop. A dear friend of hers, owning a big branding and advertising company, made that happen.

According to Mona, a store sends a commercial vibe that she wants to avoid. And she would never compromise the quality of her products for the luxury of a fancy store somewhere.

“I reflected on my younger self, as a user, and what troubled me with my skin. It was mainly acne.”

So, she immediately started with formulating an acne treatment that was different and more efficient than anything else in the market.

“Some people think that if you have acne, you don’t need oils.”

Mona explains that the biggest problem with acne creams is that they overwork the skin so much to the point where they strip it off all the natural oils that nourish it as well. Hence, her main focus is to come up with a treatment that removes access oil that causes pimples and acne drying out the skin.

From here came the idea of making all her facial masks and serums oil-based.

But her favorite product, and also her clients’, so far, is the Revitalizing Coco Powder Mask. She personally uses it as it gives you an instant glow whenever your face looks tired and you have to go out. It is made of dark-Belgium chocolate, clay, aloe vera and molasses.

“It’s a booster. It works for ever skin type and all ages. It’s just a joker. When I tell people it’s made of dark chocolate, they fall in love with it!”

Mona makes her soap the traditional way. She doesn’t add them under an oven, dryer or subject them to any kind of heat. She makes them the old fashioned way, by leaving them out for several weeks. This makes them healthier and longerlasting.

Her latest creation is the cellulite treatment, which will be added to her “Body Products” alongside the foot creams, body butter and body scrubs.

“I use local ingredients and I import some that I can’t find in Egypt.”

“Formulating is like cooking. Using mushroom is not like using fresh ones.”

boxed

“Some of my clients send me messages of their before and after results and it makes me trust my natural methods even more.”

“I don’t use preservatives at all.”

For Meraki, Mona prefers using good quality raw ingredients. Some she can find here in Egypt and others she orders especially from abroad. Like lavender oil or Argan oil, those you can’t find here.

All of Meraki’s products are 100% made of high quality raw ingredients. The thing that Mona is so keen on and feels makes her stand out in the skincare scene.

Mona believes it’s never too late to follow your passion in life. Given her background in NGOS, the main goal behind Meraki is helping as much people as possible.

She also told us about her micro derma; a vitamin-c, oils and sugar based scrub. The one she recommends her younger and older clients to use regularly.

“I am not young, so I don’t have the ambition of making loads of money. People deserve good quality and reasonable prices. This is what I’m offering with Meraki.”

“Our skin renews itself naturally. For youth it’s every 21 days and for older people, 28 days. The accumulation of all this dead skin will give your complexion a dull look. So a scrub every two days is a must!”

You could order Meraki’s products now directly through their Instagram page: “Meraki_ naturalcare.” Mona also usually takes part in Galleria 40’s Farmer Market, look her up next time you’re there!

January 2020 41

Reflecting on 2019…

by Soha Darwish Food Writer & Critic - Menu Consultant Diploma in Food Journalism - London, UK 2020 is here! All expectations are high tying up with the power of those magical digits on us. It feels like a significant year for nations and individuals; after all it’s the beginning of a new decade.

I’m sure that new resolution lists have been drawn and are ready to be tackled, but what is also equally important is taking the time to reflect on the past year with its highs and lows professionally and personally.

Fortunately, I can at least share with you the highlights of my 2019 recipes, which I strongly feel should be house staples for their ease, nutritious value and originality. Nevertheless, please keep in mind that the best is yet to come…. for everything really!

Super Salad

Serves 4 This is a textbook super food salad; the Tahini dressing here elevates the flavours bringing a nutty creaminess to your palate.

Salad Ingredients: 150g chopped Kale– 200g roasted pumpkin cubes - 2 handfuls of toasted walnuts – 50g goji berries or pomegranate seeds – 150g cooked tricolour quinoa -200g blanched broccolini (baby broccoli with long stalks, you can also use regular broccoli) – handful pumpkin seeds.

Dressing Ingredients: 1 ½ tbsp Tahini - 2 tbsp water - 1 tbsp white vinegar – 1 tbsp lemon juice - pinch of cayenne pepper – ½ tsp Sumac – a splash of pomegranate molasses – 3 drizzles extra virgin olive oil - salt and pepper 42 January 2020

Aubergine Rolls

(Serves 6-8)

One of my original recipes inspired from the famous Melanzane parmigiana when I need a meat break, the mushroom here does the trick for my family.

Shopping Basket: 1kg of long aubergine, thinly sliced– 500g chestnut mushrooms – 3 minced garlic cloves 150g grated Parmesan – 100g grated mozzarella – 1 chopped medium onion – 2 tbsp parsley –1 chopped tomato can - ½ tsp paprika – ½ tsp dried basil – ½ tsp oregano - salt & pepper.

Steps: 1. Drizzle aubergine slices with olive oil then grill in the oven or electric grill.

2. In the food processor add; mushrooms, onion, garlic and parsley - blend them together until finely chopped.

3. Empty the canned chopped tomatoes in a cup and stir in 1 crushed garlic clove, dried basil and oregano and a splash of olive oil - season well.

4. In a large pan, sauté the mushroom mixture in olive oil then season with paprika, salt & pepper – until cooked.

5. Place 1 tablespoon of the mushroom mixture on each aubergine slice, top it with cheese then roll it up.

6. Lay aubergine rolls in a baking dish and cover with the chopped tomatoes mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake in oven for 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Spinach & Prawns Tortellini (Serves 4)

A heavenly match of fresh pasta, seafood and cream. An easy recipe to follow with few ingredients - delivering mesmerising flavours of sea, earth and lush dairy. It’s healthy comfort food at its best. What more could you ask for?

Shopping Basket: 500g peeled medium prawns – 400g frozen spinach – 1 small chopped onion – 1 pack of chilled spinach & ricotta tortellini pasta (approx.

400 g) – 3 tbsp olive oil - 2 crushed garlic cloves –¼ tsp nutmeg – pinch of paprika - 250 ml whipping cream - salt & pepper.

Steps: 1. In a deep large pan, sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil, until translucent.

2. Add frozen spinach (or fresh spinach leaves), stir fry until it’s completely thawed. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and paprika.

3. Cover with water and simmer until almost cooked, then add cream and simmer again for about 2 minutes.

4. Gently stir in the fresh tortellini together with the raw prawns - partially cover with lid and simmer for about 5minutes - until pasta is cooked and prawns are rosy. Don’t overcook, these are delicate ingredients and only need a few minutes on the hob.

5. Serve immediately with generous sprinkles of grated Parmesan. Surely you will enjoy!

Date & Banana Bread (Serves 6-8)

This is my original recipe; my aim here was to cut down on sugar and flour. This decadent bread which is perfect for snack is full of nourishing natural nutrients. A big hit with kids too!

Shopping Basket: 2 ripe bananas – 1 cup dates– 2 eggs – 1 cup of almond flour – ½ cup flour –1 tsp cinnamon – 1 tsp vanilla extract– ½ cup sunflower oil – 1 tsp baking soda – ½ tsp baking powder.

Steps: 1. Soak the dates in about half a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a big bowl, mash bananas then add eggs and all ingredients - whisk together.

2. Remove the pits from soaked dates and purée in soaking water. Then stir into the batter.

3. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake in the oven 180 for about 40 minutes. Leave it to stand for 15 minutes, then turn it over and cut into medium slices. The texture is soft, almost mushy and very comforting!

January 2020 43

Keeping Fit: Then and Now and Beyond

by Nada Abdelkader

One of the best perks the 2010s have given us was that they made us infinitely more aware about our bodies and health, mental and physical. Entering this new decade, we just know that the gym life is going to be even easier because developments keep on happening, as they have for decades.

44 January 2020

See, fitness has been through a lot of things. Basics and trends and fads, all to reach the silver standard we have today and the golden one we’re getting to in the future.

Growing Up with Exercise If you think about it; being fit has been something on everyone’s minds even way back when we were all kids. In school, P.E. and gym classes were all but sacred and we’ve learned about nutrition and the food pyramid more than enough times for comfort.

That was all that fitness meant to us back then but for others, older or more aware, the aerobics craze, sponsored by both Samia Allouba and Jane Fonda, was everywhere at every possible moment, making working out fun and interesting.

Another milestone we all grew up with was club culture, which ensured the presence of exercise and sports in our day-to-day living as we went from football to basketball to swim practices with ease.

Things didn’t remain as simple, though. In the following years, everything changed with the introduction of dietary fads that spoke about juiceonly diets or diets that made us exclude important, vital nutrients, all marketed as “cleanses” that did more harm than good.

It didn’t even stop at that! No, these fads also branched out until they gave us diet pills and waist trainers, two items with no real value despite their ads.

Health & Wellness Culture is Leading Us to the Future of Fitness Thankfully, wellness culture took center-stage and bombarded us everywhere with all the self-care methods and health tips anyone would want.

Though marketed as something that’s slightly “too much”, wellness culture has kind of propelled working out and self-care into a spotlight they had lost in the last couple of years.

With all the research that’s been done, this culture has made things like wearable devices that track your steps and remind you to drink water and work out all the more common and demanded, beaconing forward a new era of fitness.

This new fitness era has also ushered a deeper mixing of technology with fitness. Before, technology helped us keep fit through YouTube tutorials and online research and professionals, but now technology has even included applications that help you monitor all sorts of activities.

Apps like Couch to 5K, Blogilates, Sworkit, and Daily Yoga have helped people manage their

running, pilates, and yoga activities all while finding them the suitable workout program. The app scene is currently going so well, even sports giants like Nike have gotten in on it through their Nike Training Club app.

There are also a ton of apps to help you choose the right meal-plan for you, all research regarding nutrition as well as all your body needs included.

These apps include Foodility, MyFitnessPal, and Lifesum, among others.

So, after all of these developments, what can come next to top all of this off?

The Future Is Changing…Quickly Even with all the apps we’ve mentioned, gyms and their memberships were still a necessary part of the workout life. You’ll be more than happy, though, to know that you can say goodbye to the tediously long journey to find the perfect gym and the perfect program.

With new technologies like the steadily growing data-rich devices, you can now work out from the comfort of your own home and still go everywhere you’ll want to go because of Virtual Reality. Yes, you can use that to have the greatest workout of your life in a simulation of a place like the Swiss Alps.

If that’s not enough exciting change, then you’ll also be pleased to know that international health clubs have now started to adopt competitive methods in their apps to make things even more fun for members.

These methods include displaying everyone’s heart rates and progress on everyone’s screens, which will encourage people to compete against each other in finishing races and milestones.

That’s not all, of course. In some countries, the next step is to have gym booths on busy streets to ensure that people rushing to and from work and errands will keep fit through the available exercising machines.

And before you think that this is just an international thing and might not be available for us in Egypt, well, aren’t we as a nation pushing for more health and fitness programs? Since we are, these gym booths might actually be a closer reality than we imagine and personally, we can’t wait for the future enough.

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Classics for a Reason: 5 Books That Stand The Test of Time

by Amina Moustapha Despite all the factors that encourage the public to drift away from reading in general and reading old classic novels in particular, some novels manage to survive the test of time. The legendary authors behind those books managed to forever carve their names and reserve their share of audience and readers, and nothing can ever change that.

Those novelists’ voices were widely heard across the globe. They made it to international platforms, got their novels translated into several languages, and received international recognition and awards. But their biggest achievement remains the ability of their stories to speak to the fears and hopes and humanity of people decades or even centuries after they were first penned.

1. ‘Awlad Haritna’ Naguib Mahfouz

Published in 1950, when Mahfouz was 68 years old, this bold book still sells until this very moment. You can never come across an authentic bookshop or a book fair that doesn’t display Awlad Haritna on its bestselling and best-displayed shelves.

Awlad Hartina was one of the reasons why Mahfouz received his Nobel Prize back in 1988.

This voluminous novel was first translated to English by Philip Stewart in 1981 and later got translated into German and other languages.

2. ‘Zaynab’

Muhammad Husayn Haykal The fame of this novel strongly stems from the fact that it was the first modern Egyptian novel, published in 1911. This fact alone provokes any reader with enough book-hunger and curiosity to buy the novel and read it on spot.

It made it to a movie adaptation where it was the basis for Egypt’s first (silent) movie, Zaynab, produced in 1925.

46 January 2020

3. ‘Kandil Um Hashim’ Yehya Haky The reason why this book stood out and still does, although it was published more than half a century ago, is that it was the first ever Arabic fictional book to tackle psychological challenges students face after they return from Europe where they went to study.

It got translated twice; by both M.M.Badawi and Denys Johnson-Davies. It also made it to cinemas in 1968.

4. ‘Ard Al-Nifaq’ Youssef Al-Sibai

This novel was published in 1949 and adapted into a movie in the late sixties starring Fouad El-Mohandas, and finally adapted into a series in our recent time. If this gives any heads up it would be on the fact that the legendary Al-Sibai’s writings never age. They suit all eras and all times.

5. ‘Tholatheyet Ghernata’ Radwa Ashour True this novel is of a younger age than those mentioned above, yet it still has its seat reserved in the bestseller category because of how realistically Radwa Ashour managed to portray the world her story took place in. Moreover, how she succeeded to make the readers feel empathy followed by sympathy towards the oppressed side in her story.

“As you read the last pages of ‘Tholateyer Ghernata’, one must get goosebumps running down their soul,” said Farida Al-Nakkash, the great journalist, about Ashour’s masterpiece.

Despite the differences and diversity among them, the one thing in common between all these great novels is that they will still sell like they were released yesterday even when they turn a century old!

January 2020 47

identity

travel

Travel Guide South africa

by Joanna Neve

South Africa is the perfect location for a holiday in the New Year period. From cage diving with sharks, to wildlife watching and eating out in some incredible restaurants, South Africa is perfect for solo travellers, couples and families alike.

Visa South Africa has been working on a new eVisa system which will allow you to gain a visa without having to visit their embassy in Cairo. As they make the transition, check their website (southafricavisa. com) for the most recent information.

The list of documents needed to travel is much less than most destinations and if you travel when the new eVisa system is active, it will be an incredibly quick and easy online application process. A small fee is required upon application either at the embassy or online in the case of an eVisa.

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transportation Although public transport links are good, hiring a private car is probably the most practical and enjoyable way to travel. With baboons and ostriches wandering around on the side of the road, a hire car enables you to pull over and do some wildlife watching wherever you want. Just be careful of pesky monkeys that might scratch your vehicle! weather January-February is a very pleasant time to travel, as daytime temperatures fluctuate between 19 and 29 °C. Just like Egypt, the evenings can get chilly around this time, so pack a jacket and some warmer night clothes too.

top 5 wild life activities

other things to do

Wildlife is one of the main attractions of this beautiful country, and it’s not hard to see why with such a huge variety of wildlife-based activities. We’ve done the hard work of narrowing it down to just five.

While it’s nice to see a monkey or two, wildlife watching isn’t for everyone. South Africa has so many amazing cities, towns and non-wildlife activities you can try too.

1. Spend the day at Boulders Beach and admire the local penguins that waddle their way up and down all day long. It’s one of the most unique places to see penguins outside of captivity and some people holiday to South Africa just to visit this spot!

• Durban on the east coast is a really popular city for street food and has plenty of mosques, Hindu temples, Zulu murals and churches.

2. Cage dive with sharks off the coast of Gansbaai, a small fishing village in the Western Cape which is now famous worldwide for what lies beneath its waters. Most companies use cages that fit around four people, so you don’t have to do it alone!

They also have large viewing panels, allowing a crystal-clear view of one of the world’s most feared predators.

3. Head to Knysna Elephant Park for a day and take a guided morning or afternoon walk. Home to around forty (mostly rescued) elephants, this park prides itself on ethical tours, which is why it’s definitely worth a visit.

4. Take part in some conservation tourism by learning how to track, tag and transfer giraffes at Mattanu Private Game Reserve in Northern Cape Province.

You’ll also be able to spot roaming roan, sable, impala and buffalos.

5. Book a safari package in Kruger National Park that combines camp-style boutique accommodation with walking, driving and even quad biking tours. Here, you can spot the ‘Big 5’ which were traditionally the most dangerous animals in Africa – buffalos, elephants, rhinos, lions and leopards.

• In the Augrabies Falls region, companies offer the chance to kayak down the Orange River, which happens to be South Africa’s longest river. With paddling areas in some places and Class V rapids in others, it’s a great location for families of all abilities.

• Johannesburg has loads of amazing museums and restaurants and is home to Soweto, the birthplace of Nelson Mandela.

Nearby you’ll find the Orlando Power Station Cooling Towers which are covered in thought-provoking murals and host a bungee jumping platform for thrill-seekers.

• The Blue Train which shuttles between Cape Town and Johannesburg is worth a ride. As one of the finest luxury trains in the world, your ticket even includes a personal butler!

• Table Mountain is a popular hiking spot, although you can reach the summit 3,500 feet above Cape Town by cableway too.

The sunset views here are some of the best in South Africa, and you can often be treated with a view from above cloud level too.

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Getaways

winter

euro tour 8 days/ 7 Nights Departure: Upon request Starting from: $ 1,699 For more information visit: www.travcoholidays.com

Package Includes • Private, first-class, air-conditioned motor-coach; Eurostar London– Brussels and Paris–London; Rhine cruise; canal transfer boat in Venice.

• 7 days accommodation, including all meals.

italy & Greece 12 days/ 11 Nights Departure: Upon request Starting from: EGP 32,248 For more information visit: www.cosmosvacations.in 50 January 2020

Package Includes • Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motor-coach with free Wi-Fi; mini-train to Pisa; canal transfer boat in Venice; ferry AnconaPatras in 2-berth cabins with private shower and toilet.

• 11 days accommodation, including four meals.

portugal 7 days/ 6 nights Departure: Upon request Starting from: EGP 13,650 For more information visit: www.travcoholidays.com

Package Includes • Scenic highlights from myriad Portuguese cities like Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, with specific stops for sightseeing, food and nightlife.

• 7 days accommodation, including daily breakfast and free Wi-Fi.

switzerland 9 days/ 8 nights Departure: Upon request Starting from: EGP 38,605 For more information visit: www.globusjourneys.com

Package Includes • This train tour includes a journey through the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Matterhorn to St. Moritz where you will get to enjoy lush waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, ice fields and quaint villages.

• 9 days accommodation, including daily breakfast and three more meals.

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Morocco 10 Days / 9 Nights Departure: starting March 20th Starting from: EGP 18,972 For more information visit: www.travcoholidays.com

Package Includes • A journey full of rich experiences through Marrakech, Rabat, Meknes and Fez, where you also have the chance to see the World Heritage Site of Medina.

• 10 days accommodation, including four meals and free Wi-Fi.

iceland 8 Days/ 7 Nights Departure: Upon request Starting from: $ 2,499 For more information visit: www.cosmosvacations.com

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Package Includes • A journey to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, Valley of Horses, the Waterfall of the Gods, as well as a number of lakes, volcanic caves and geothermal hot springs.

• 8 days accommodation including three meals and free Wi-Fi.

japan 12 Days / 11 Nights Departure: Upon request Starting from: $ 3,539 For more information visit: www.travcoholidays.com

Package Includes • A chance to visit Meiji Shrine, Peace Memorial Park, Matsumoto Castle as well as an insider look into Japanese culture from tea ceremonies to modern life.

• 12 days accommodation, including breakfast and lunch.

brazil & argentina 9 days/ 8 nights Departure: starting March 2020 Starting from: EGP 23,800 For more information visit: www.cosmosvacations.com

Package Includes • An intensive tour of two South American cities, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, where you will see the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, visit local beaches, as well as the Iguassu Falls, a famous waterfall between both countries.

• 9 days accommodation, including daily breakfast and free Wi-Fi.

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identity

out&About sent me to a Michelin 3-star restaurant and after working there for three weeks, I told him, “I want to be a chef”. After that, I worked in restaurants for 10 years before moving to the hotel business.

2- How do the Egyptian and French cuisines differ?

French Cuisine is a school. It’s a culture, a long way. For example, cotton is a big part of the Egyptian culture, while we [The French] have a culture that revolves around food. That’s why we can’t compare. But here’s something I did with the Egyptian cuisine, I made a Ravioli Molokhia fusion because Egyptians like Molokheya. Like I said, it’s all about the culture.

3- What Egyptian dish is closest to French cuisine?

Introducing

Hilton Heliopolis’

Philippe Bossert Because Hilton Cairo Heliopolis is known for its superior standards in all aspects including the best cuisine; on December 3rd, they announced the appointment of Philippe Bossert as their New Executive Chef. Originally French, Bossert has 22 years of experience from his travels all around the world. From Portugal to Switzerland, Russia and more, Bossert is familiar with many different cultures. He’s the best at what he does and now that he’s stationed in Egypt, he’s aiming to create the most special dishes that reflect the Egyptian culture in his traditional French techniques.

Bossert believes that teamwork and passion are always key. And we’ve learned that when we sat down with him to know more about his philosophy in cooking.

1- When did your passion for cooking start?

How did it grow?

A long time ago, when I was just sixteen years old, my father was a chef. I started to develop an interest in food watching him planting tomatoes in the garden and making his own ingredients. One day, I told him, “I want to work in a kitchen”. He 54 January 2020

That’s difficult because I cannot compare the ingredients. It’s a completely different culture.

French cuisine is product-based.

4- What are your ingredients selection criteria at the Hilton?

We are always looking to purchase the best products in the market. For example, if you want to make good bread, you need good flour. If you want to have good croissant, you need good butter...etc.

5- What’s your special dish?

I’m more of a fish person. I like nicely made fish.

I don’t like too many ingredients to be used in a dish anyway. I like nice fresh vegetables. I’m an authentic kind of person when it comes to dishes, in general. For example, my favorites are the homemade style dishes. Back at home, in France, my favorite dish was Poulet Grillé, French fries and a nice garden salad.

6- What dish is the toughest to perfect?

If you have the ingredients, you can make any dish. It’s not easy to cook nice meals; it’s all about experience and concentration. It takes a lot of passion for you to be able to do this job. That’s the main thing. With no passion or good attitude, you won’t go anywhere in the world. Cooking at home is different from cooking for a big hotel like Hilton.

NOSTALGIC WEDDING CELEBRATIONS AT

The Nile Ritz-Carlton Cairo

The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo is bringing the good old nostalgic days back to Cairo’s favorite ballroom Alf Leila We Leila. Since founded in June 1959, the legendary property has been a symbol of elegance, history, and understated luxury. Bringing to Egypt the taste of modern international hospitality standards, the property holds fond memories for the greats of the Arab elites, royalty, artists, celebrities and the world’s most powerful and famous, first among them Nelson Rockefeller, Jane Russell, Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra.

Every wedding has a unique story and The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo has created bespoke moments for decades that showcase the distinct story of each couple. The Ladies and Gentlemen of the hotel are happy to assist couples in finding an opulent setting that suits their refined taste, be it lavish or intimate, traditional or themed. Whether the wedding is an intimate reception or a grand affair, spanning 924 square meters; Alf Leila We Leila can welcome up to 600 guests. For smaller, more intimate affairs or pre-wedding functions, the ballroom can be divided into three smaller venues.

The 1950s, 60s and 70s generations embrace treasured memories of world-class events at Cairo’s most historical wedding ballroom. For vintage elegance and opulence, Alf Leila We Leila is without par Cairo’s most popular ballroom. Hosting hundreds of glamorous highprofile weddings; its exquisite chandeliers and sumptuously upholstered walls adds a touch of class and luxury that time cannot fade.

It comes as no surprise that vintage inspired wedding themes is making a big comeback, and Alf Leila We Leila is no exception. The property’s experienced and professional team of event managers will turn wedding dreams into reality by applying their know-hows at service and transforming the ballroom’s exceptional settings into a one-of-a-kind celebration.

Always loyal to Egyptian traditions, the hotels’ historical staircase celebrates cultural roots with authentic entertainment witnessing more than 50,000 Egyptian zaffa performances that highly contributes to the mystique of this timeless venue. Gliding down the sweeping staircase while the zaffa music notes rise up, remains the most sentimental and nostalgic wedding entrance of all time.

Executive Chef Bugra Keles and Pastry Chef Jean Francois Lavialle along with their culinary team work with passion to harmonize all special occasions with the refined culinary world.

The hotel celebrates all milestone events under one roof with exceptional dinner spaces, wedding venues and more. The Nile Ritz-Carlton’s stunning ambiance and impeccable service will ensure wedding celebrations, anniversaries, and birthdays are unforgettable.

January 2020 55

MartVille Mega-Mart Redefining Grocery Shopping!

Fifth Settlement, Cairo – On Friday, the 29th of November, we paid the renowned Mega-Mart, Martville, a visit. While they celebrated their MartVille Festival, we decided to explore this new gem located in the heart of the beloved Fifth Settlement, and we were in for a treat!

The festival was pure joy to the audience of all ages.

A day filled with munching on tasty bites, unheard of discounts, gift vouchers, surprising giveaways, marvellous entertainment, and unparalleled decorations. The entertainment included a magic show, an astounding fireworks show, and music that kept us grooving on our feet all day long. The event was attended by VIPs and many guests from the media, to witness the new favourite spot in the neighbourhood.

Shopping in a super-center is usually hectic, confusing, and we end up walking through the same snug aisles, feeling lost while looking what we actually need. This time, it was completely different! The nifty market is divided up into sections that nourishes your

56 January 2020

daily needs; from breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We felt a superior arrangement scheme as a customer to find all of our needs without feeling boxed-in and constricted by tight passageways. While we found all our daily necessities, at very competitive prices we may add, we also realized the amazing variety of the products we love to indulge in, the best of local and imported products that we all dream of finding with ease. Thanks to their friendly staff that were very helpful every step of the way, the experience couldn’t have been more pleasant!

Then we learned about their specialty items. The first corner had a scent that quickly attracted us, the MartVille bakery! We were surprised to find high quality, freshly baked Balady bread and Feteer prepared in-front of our eyes! If you live in the Fifth Settlement, you would know the tremendous joy this gave us, especially while we felt eager to experience the magic of the traditional Friday breakfast. Truth be told, we didn’t just stop there, we had to get our hands on the marvellous assortments of freshly baked pastries, and it was a definite pleasure!

SIP, SWAY, AND SAVOUR THE WINTER SEASON WITH THE DEBUT OF LA FÊTE

BY Le Meridien

On December 18th Le Meridien Cairo Airport welcomed the holiday season in style by reveling the art of entertaining with the launch of La Fête by Le Méridien.

Media, bloggers and influencers were invited to enjoy matchless moments and experience a chic holiday gathering over festive cookies, cocktails and music.

To sweeten the night, the celebration started with Cookies workshop guided by Hotel’s pastry Chef, followed by gift wrapping workshop where guests were invited to to wrap their freshly baked box of cookies with La Fête giftwrapping paper and customize La Fête post cards with their personalized handwritten notes Le Méridien Cairo Airport is embracing the glamour of winter and inspiring travellers to revel in the chic style of the 1950s and 1960s with the launch of La Fête by Le Méridien.

Warm up this Winter over Brunch at the Palace!

A warm winter welcome to the Palace for guests, family and friends to enjoy the cozy weather over brunch at the Cairo Marriott Hotel’s Omar’s Café and Garden Promenade.

Enjoy the most scrumptious dishes at Omar’s Café brunch buffet from savory to sweet exquisitely

prepared by Cairo Marriott’s specialized chefs.

Multiple mouthwatering stations are available for guests to pick their favorite dishes, from grilled oriental food like Shish Kabab, Chicken Tikka, BBQ specialties and grilled veggies, to a fresh fish station for those who love to choose their favorite catch.

Also, a sushi station is available to delight in the Japanese seafood rolls. For an Italian taste nothing beats the pasta station with the different types and tempting sauces cooked right in front of you. Don’t forget to indulge in the most delicious desserts with a special mix of oriental and French pastries. Chocolate lovers can enjoy the chocolate fountain, homemade bars with roasted nuts, chocolate cake pops and many more fulfilling chocolate offerings. And for a signature warm dish have an Om Ali, to seal the day.

Grab your family, friends or your loved ones to have a warm gathering at the palace. A live Jazz band will make the winter a special season every Friday for brunch at Omar’s Café and Garden Promenade.

For daily quality time enjoy the lavish lunch buffet Saturdays to Thursdays from 1pm – 5pm at Omar’s Café. Hurry up and call 27283000 to book!

January 2020 57

One of the biggest concerts in 2019 was The Annual charity concert for Raie Masr Foundation at GUC, featuring the superstars Nancy Ajram & Mahmoud El Essiely between 7000 attendees for the great cause of conducting 100 mobile clinic to serve 5 Million patient. With the attending of Egyptian TV stars, the concert had a huge media coverage by “MBC, Rotana, CBC, ON E, MTV, Alhayah TV Network, Al-Masry Al-Youm & More”.

This unforgettable night was organized by Hi Wave Events.

Steigenberger Alcazar Sharm El Sheikh Hosts the World Youth Forum 2019 Media Celebrities The luxurious Steigenberger Alcazar Hotel was honoured to host, and for the third time, the Egyptian media delegate and a number of celebrities, VIPs and public figures who arrived at Sharm El Sheikh to attend the 3rd World Youth Forum from 14 to 17 December, 2019.

In a welcoming ambiance with red roses’ gesture, guests arrived at the hotel where the whole stuff was very keen to ensure everyone was enjoying a pleasant stay and a superb quality of service.

58 January 2020

Indulge in a world flavors with Hilton Cairo Heliopolis Friday brunch Hilton Cairo Heliopolis is introducing its new brunch every Friday. With mouth-watering items, the chefs uniquely blend subtle flavors from around the world to create a brunch experience like no other. Lavish culinary offerings, including unique food stations serving Mexican, Thai, Indian, Japanese and Italian delicacies all in one delectable buffet.

Makadi Heights Rally 2019 comes to an end and honors Rahhala Total Racing team for winning the modified desert Rally and Amr Younis from Alpha Rally team for winning the Unmodified SUV Tour’s first Place Fadi Alphonse: The success of sports events in Makadi Heights highlights the various tourism qualifications of the Red Sea Governorate Rahhala Total Racing team was awarded for the modified desert rally car tour with a distance of 300 km, and Amr Younis from Alpha team won first place in the Makadi Heights Rally 2019 for unmodified 4 × 4 SUV tour, in the third and final round of the 2019 Desert Rally Championship.

Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK– Egypt) supports public wellbeing with latest CSR initiatives Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (ABK-Egypt) is reinforcing its support for medical facilities and projects that support social wellbeing with its latest CSR initiatives. Amongst multiple new initiatives, bank employees recently visited the Abu Elreesh Children’s Hospital, bringing toys to the young patients to cheer them up and support them in their recovery. This is part of a drive to ensure that families feel as comfortable as they would be at home, during what is a challenging time. Thirty employees visited the hospital, where they talked with the children and distributed 160 toys, spreading joy and cheer to help elevate their mood.

SODIC and NUCA sign Escrow Account Contract with Banque Misr for 500 Acre Plot in New Zayed SODIC and New urban Communities Authority (NUCA) celebrated the signing of the escrow account with Banque Misr for its newest 500 acre development in New Zayed, marking the start of a new strategic partnership with the bank in a ceremony on Tuesday.

Gifts too good to let Santa take all the credit.

virginmegastoreme virginmegastoreme virginmena virgi nm e ga s tore .m e City Stars Cairo Festival City Mall of Arabia Mall of Egypt

Ajna Developments Invests 3 Billion EGP in its Debut Project, Carnelia in Ain Sokhna

Al-Futtaim breaks ground on Festival Avenue, as Cairo Festival City Mall becomes largest shopping center in Egypt

During a press conference held at the Four Season’s Kasr Al Nil ballroom, Ajna Developments, made its debut in the Egyptian market. With 600 million EGP in paid capital, Ajna Developments is a shareholding real estate company focused on the development of premiumquality residential, commercial, and mixed-use solutions. The company unveiled its flagship project, Carnelia in Ain Sokhna, which covers an area of 100 acres and offers 1000 fully finished units, complete with air conditioning and kitchens.

As part of its expansion plan in Egypt, Al-Futtaim Group has announced the launch of the new expansion of Cairo Festival City Mall, called “Festival Avenue” in the heart of New Cairo. The groundbreaking for the new expansion was carried out by Mr. Omar Al-Futtaim, Vice Chairman of Al-Futtaim Group, in the presence of the group’s management, several public figures, representatives of major retail brands in Egypt, and a group of media professionals and representatives from Egypt and the region.

60 January 2020

Egypt has a long storied history of being a meeting place for the people and cultures of the world. With that history comes a need for unforgettable venues for events and activities. Located in the heart of Cairo, Grand Nile Tower is beloved by all for both its stellar location and wide array of banquet halls and restaurants, ensuring a memorable event for any gathering, large or small.

GROHE is one of Germany’s Top Three Most Sustainable Big Companies

Fine Hygienic Holding Announces investment plans exceeding USD 35 million in Egypt Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading Wellness Groups and manufacturer of hygienic paper products and diapers, announced a massive investment in the Egyptian market exceeding USD 35 million in new equipment, research and development, marketing strategies, in addition to investing in its people.

Grand Nile Tower, Venue for Matchless Events

Egypt’s Biggest fashion platform; Cairo Fashion Festival is Back with Season 11 Cairo’s biggest fashion platform is back! In partnership with The First Mall - Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, Cairo Fashion Festival (CFF) rolled out its 11th season. The most anticipated fashion event this season, CFF brought a unique show to the runway with their Pharaonic themed line-up.

At the German Sustainability Award ceremony in Düsseldorf, GROHE secured a placement among the top 3 in the category “Germany’s Most Sustainable Big Companies 2020” thanks to its 360-degree sustainability approach and, above all, its progress in saving resources.

“We are proud that our holistic sustainability approach, which we integrate into all of GROHE’s areas of activity, has enabled us to achieve a top ranking at the German Sustainability Award,” says Thomas Fuhr, CEO of Grohe AG.

Authentic Italian flavors and extraordinary ambiance is what Alfredo restaurant is all about at Marriott Mena House, Cairo Explore the World of VOX Cinemas at City Centre Almaza The wait is finally over for those living on the East; VOX Cinemas is finally here! The region’s leading cinema entertainment brand made its official debut at City Centre Almaza, with an exclusive event that allowed viewers to truly explore the universe of VOX Cinemas.

Rolling out the first IMAX screen on the East of Cairo, VOX Cinemas at City Centre Almaza will feature 16 new screens including Gold, Kids and 4DX, offering a range of exclusive screening experiences to meet every movie goer’s needs.

Set within elegant, intimate seating arrangements, and breathtaking views of the landscaped gardens, Alfredo restaurant where all Italian goodies are mastered, offers a unique dining experience of Italian authentic cuisine. Guests can enjoy the delicious dishes while being entertained with live guitarist performance during evening time. Whether it is a pizza or a more elaborated dish that you are craving for, any occasion at Alfredo restaurant is meant to be an exquisite gastronomic experience embraced by an elegant atmosphere.

IKEA Hosts Sustainability Competition in the Egyptian Schools Hilton and The Groove to Welcome New DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel to Egypt by 2024 The Groove Sokhna Resort, DM Development’s major project, and Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced plans to introduce a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Sokhna. The hotel will be located inside the Resort, with investment EGP 400 million in the hotel’s construction phase.

For the first time, IKEA initiates its “Let’s Play” campaign this year in collaboration with Egyptian schools under the theme of “Recycling”.

The campaign launches an educational interactive competition between 17th of November to the 4th of December 2019, including awareness workshop to the teachers and students.

Additionally, a competition will be held between students to produce the most creative project assembled from recyclable items.

A Unique Egyptian Experience

by Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa Le Meridien Pyramids hotel and spa arranged a special Egyptian night with Egypt’s Indiana Jones for the Marriott Bonvoy Loyal Members.

Marriott Bonvoy Moments is an event that aims to create an unforgettable experience for Marriott Bonvoy guests, by offering them a money cannot buy experiences.

On the first anniversary of its launch in the Egyptian market.

An introductory seminar for realme for youth at Cairo University realme held an introductory seminar at Cairo University, to celebrate the overwhelming success that the young brand achieved in its first year in the Egyptian market, and to emphasize its slogan ‘’ Dare To Leap ‘’ and values that embrace, that youth is the future. realme announced, that the number of its users in the Egyptian market has exceeded half a million users, and this is in less than a year since the launch of the brand in Egypt, as it ranked sixth with a market share of 4.6% in the reports of September 2019.January 2020 61

OPPO and IHS Markit unveil Intelligent Connectivity whitepaper at OPPO INNO DAY 2019 Leading global smart device brand OPPO and IHS Markit, a world leader in market analytics, today jointly published their first whitepaper on intelligent connectivity at OPPO INNO DAY 2019. The whitepaper is titled Intelligent Connectivity: Unleashing opportunities with the power of 5G, AI and cloud. The whitepaper aims to help inform audiences about the significance and value of intelligent connectivity and enable the industry to establish a more open, collaborative understanding of the ecosystem, better informing and guiding the sustainable development of intelligent connectivity in the future.

New Beginnings Start At Hilton Cairo Zamalek Whether you are looking for an elegant open air ceremony, or a remarkable indoor classic wedding venue, we will ensure that your day is a resounding success. Menus start from EGP415.00 (including service charge and taxes). Our Chef will be delighted to tailor make your own menu or just select one of ours.

62 January 2020

Steigenberger ALDAU Resort is Aiming to Lead in Sustainable Contributions Environmental awareness is no news. In fact, it has been a global trend for many years. Numerous industries and thousands of individuals have taken different economic paths that benefit the earth rather than harm it.

Preserving energy is one of many ways to establish environmental awareness.

Steigenberger ALDAU Resort, is a grand complex of three deluxe resorts that are dedicated to offering guests the best value and quality.

Steigenberger ALDAU Beach Hotel, Steigenberger Aqua Magic, and Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle.

For the first time in the Egyptian real estate market, Somabay launches its city app digitizing all facility management and services For the first time in the Egyptian real estate market, Somabay has launched the first phase of Somabay app in collaboration with I-Community. The app offers further integrated services in Somabay’s residential facilities that allow residents to connect with services all over their community for a variety of needs.

The visit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to Porto Said Resort & Spa – Port Said – Egypt Mr. Gamal Moursy -The Regional Chief Executive Officer- of Porto Hotels and Mr. Yasser Refai -The Regional Director of Sales & Marketing- were honoured to welcome a delegation of valuable ambassadors from Southeast Asian countries -ASEAN- at Porto Said Resort & Spa on the beautiful shores of the Mediterranean to hold one of their periodic meetings at the state-of-the-art “Golden Hall”, Afterwards; they have enjoyed a lavish dinner experience in The Main restaurant “Blue Marine” embracing an atmosphere of sophistication and luxury with a special piano and violin live playing.

Castle Development Invests EGP 1.1 Billion in Construction Works at Castle Landmark Castle Development, a real estate company that focuses on developing high-value residential, commercial, and administrative projects in Egypt as well as the gulf area, has recently announced updates concerning the status of construction at Castle Landmark, their first project at the New Administrative Capital.

An approximate cost of EGP 100 million is allocated to finishing the construction of 15% of phase I by the end of 2019.

Huawei launches the iconic new Nova 5T It seems like Huawei will never stop surprising its customers, since the company has recently unveiled its newest Huawei Nova 5T, which is considered a continuation to the company’s success. The aim is to provide a series, which combines technological advances and state of the art smartphones in terms of the external design and affordability. The new Nova 5T surely comes with astronomical value and is available in the Egyptian market.

Landmark Sabbour Signs Agreement with Marriott International to Open W Hotel in Newly Launched 1-Ninety in New Cairo Landmark Sabbour, developer of premium-quality real estate, announced that it has signed an agreement with Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) to bring the W Brand’s bold design, signature Whatever/Whenever® service and innovative programming to Cairo, underscoring the growing demand for luxury in Egypt. Expected to open in 2024, W Cairo will be situated in 1-NINETY - a 300,000 sqm mixed-use development in the emerging New Cairo district featuring retail space, commercial and residential components.

Haitham Nassar Receives a Well-deserved Award for Being an Inspiration to his Team Members Haitham Nassar, General Manager of Hilton Pyramids Golf, was recently named the “Best GM Talent Developer” across Egypt and North Africa hotels by Hilton. This award is designed by Hilton to recognize general managers who play a critical role in developing their teams, spotting talent, building on transferable skills, being a mentor, emphasizing learning and passing on their knowledge.

Pepsi Black Might Arguably Be The Most Glamorous Launch Party of the Year!

Pepsi joined forces with “Disco Misr” to introduce Pepsi Black’s new flavors, a new ‘Bold Taste, Bold Flavor’ cola in Egypt!

Available in two great-tasting flavors (Raspberry &Lime), Pepsi Black appears on shelves this month in new, boldly designed cans. Aimed at the new generation that thrives on new experiences, Pepsi Black is for those who savor life to the fullest and are looking for a no-sugar offering without compromising on taste.

With EGP 200k, Henkel & Helm Foundation Revived International Volunteer & Persons with Disabilities Days Henkel Egypt together with Helm Foundation revived International Volunteer Day and International Day of Persons of determination for the 3rd time in a row with EGP 200k.

The theme of this year’s celebration focused on empowering differently-abled persons while guaranteeing their inclusion and equal treatment in the society.

A Unique Egyptian Experience

by Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa Le Meridien Pyramids hotel and spa arranged a special Egyptian night with Egypt’s Indiana Jones for the Marriott Bonvoy Loyal Members.

Marriott Bonvoy Moments is an event that aims to create an unforgettable experience for Marriott Bonvoy guests, by offering them a money cannot buy experiences.

January 2020 63

identity

signs

Capricorn

December 20 - January 21

Strengths: Ambitious, protective and stylish.

Weaknesses: Manipulating, light-headed and controlling. friendship: Capricorns love to be challenged; they are always ambitious and up for a lot of emotional effort. They are determined, persistent and will do whatever it takes to meet their goals in a friendship. Responsible, serious and very aware of their surroundings, they are the most power hungry sign in the Zodiac.

Most compatible with in friendship: Taurus, Pisces, Scorpio, Virgo.

friendship Compatibility Aries: A challenging match. Problem is you’re complete opposites in many ways. You’re cool, while Aries is a perpetual hothead. You like to savor life, while Aries prefers to zip through it.

You’re skeptical of new ideas, whereas your friend is the ideal pioneer.

only bring you more close.

Taurus: Great match. Your friendship with Taurus is more precious than gold. Rarely will you find a friend as loyal, loving and humorous.

Scorpio: This friendship is as comfortable as an old shoe. That’s because Scorpio understands your cautious outlook on life. Similarly, you sympathize with this pal’s tendency to keep their cards close to their vest.

Gemini: Risky match. It’s hard to know where your Gemini pal is coming from, but that won’t stop you from trying. You love to learn what makes people tick.

Cancer: Another risky match. Cancer is your astrological opposite, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be friends. Actually, you may feel a close connection with this sign.

Leo: You’ll always turn heads with Leo by your side, and this can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the situation. It’s easier to meet people with the Lion, a gregarious friend who has no trouble breaking the ice.

Virgo: Great match. You will take an instant liking to one another. You love this sign’s snowy white shirt, while they admire your well-cut business suit.

Two opposites unite in power. Your differences 64 January 2020

Libra: Another great match. The fact is, you and Libra are very different people. But this only brings you closer. While Libra is as changeable as a breeze, you’re realistic.

Sagittarius: Sagittarius possesses many traits you admire: honesty, humor and intelligence. And although you may not realize this, they secretly respect your diligence, determination and drive.

That’s probably why you got drawn into each other’s orbit in the first place.

Capricorn: It’s so nice to have a fellow Capricorn in your corner. You know that this friend will never ditch you at a party or forget to water your plants while you’re away.

Aquarius: Aquarius reminds you how important it is to toss out the rule book and follow the beat of your own drum, even if just for an hour or two.

Pisces: A great friendship. Pisces sees you as a shelter from the storm, and you’re happy to give them sanctuary.

Gifts too good to let Santa take all the credit.

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P3 COMFORTS. Design by Phoenix Design In creating P3 Comforts, Duravit and Phoenix Design concentrate on the definition of comfort.

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