Jumeirah April 2016 by Motivate Media Group

Pearl diving

Explore the past in Abu Dhabi

Healthy holiday

Get fit while travelling around the world

Les Misérables

Meet London’s West End leads

A new dawn

Drive through South Africa in Rolls-Royce’s latest model

IDRIS ELBA

“I was not just going to roll on my belly and give up.”

CALIBER RM 07-01

Image: James Dimmock/AUGUST

Jumeirah Magazine Jumeirah Corporate Office, Al Sufouh Rd, PO Box 73137, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 366 5000, Fax: +971 4 366 5001. Website: www.jumeirah.com Jumeirah is a trading name of Jumeirah International LLC. A Limited Liability company. Registration Number 57869. Share Capital Dhs 300,000 fully paid up. Jumeirah International LLC its affiliates, parent companies and subsidiaries (“Jumeirah Group”) and the publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication for whatever reason, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of Jumeirah Group or of the publishers. Readers are advised to solicit advice before acting on the information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. Jumeirah Group and the publishers take no responsibilty for the goods and services advertised. All materials are protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (Including photocopying or storage in any medium by electronic means) without the written permission of the copyright owner, except as may be permitted by applicable laws.

april 2016

Editor-in-Chief

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Managing Partner & Group Editor

lan Fairservice Editorial Director

Gina Johnson Goup Editor

Sophia Serin Art Director

Karen Evans Editor

Danae Mercer danae@motivate.ae Picture Editor

Janelle Salangsang Contributors

Trevor Baker, Claire Hill, Rachel Ingram, Gareth Rees, Phill Tromans Publisher – Luxury & Lifestyle

Negar Ghodstinat negar@motivate.ae General Manager – Production

S Sunil Kumar Production Manager

R. Murali Krishnan Production Supervisor

Venita Pinto Chief Commercial Officer

Anthony Milne Group Sales Director

Craig Wagstaff

Contents Monitor

Essential news and previews

Group Sales Manager

Ziad Saleh ziad@motivate.ae Abu DhAbi OffiCE Publisher

17 City watch Explore some of the finest events happening this month

Imane Eddinari for Jumeirah

Piers Schreiber

Head Office: Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai UAE, Tel: +971 4 427 3000, E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae Dubai Media City: Office 508, 5th Floor, Building 8, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 390 3550, Fax: +971 4 390 4845 Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel: +971 2 677 2005, Fax: +971 2 677 0124, E-mail: editor-wo@motivate.ae London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK, E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai

Featured 26 Idris Elba The star on his epic journey from Hackney to Hollywood 34 Petra Kvitová Meet the two-time Wimbledon champion 38 Stars of Les Misérables London leads talk challenges and joys

april 2016

Contents 48

Lifestyle 44 A new grape Could English sparkling ever be the brand new champagne? 48 Rolls-Royce See a new dawn in Cape Town

Travel 56 Modern history Travel to Istanbul and the beautiful Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah 62 A pearlescent past Dive through history in Abu Dhabi 70 A holiday for health From yoga to diving, explore it all 78 Secret spaces Enjoy Beit Al Bahar at the lovely Jumeirah Beach Hotel

82 The high life Dine on international food at Mundo in Dubai

City Watch

Explore some of the finest events happening this month

Dubai

Ballet performance

World Art dubAi

8 to 9 April

6 to 9 April

The Bolshoi Theatre of Russia comes to Dubai for the first time for a special two-night

Offering a second show this year, World Art

performance at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Leading soloists from the Gala Ballet

Dubai is a leading platform for international

will take to the stage, accompanied by special guests from the Royal Opera House and

galleries to present their most exciting artworks

Berlin State Opera.

to collectors in the city. Taking over the Dubai

Soloists of bolshoi theatre of russia, mceagency.com

World Trade Centre for four days, the event should be a priority for any art enthusiast. World Art dubai, worldartdubai.com

PoP Culture FeStivAl 7 to 9 April The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere pop culture festival, the Middle East Film and Comic Con is a meeting place for those interested in heroes, villians and everything in-between. Browse exhibitions to discover the latest works and meet your favourite stars, directors and artists, all while mingling with like-minded enthusiasts.

compiled by: Rachel Ingram

Middle east Film and Comic Con, mefcc.com

Kinetic art throughout April Observe hovering and floating art through the works of renowned French kinetic artist Quentin Carnaille. These gravity-defying sculptures levitate, slowly spinning so light catches on discs made from thousands of vintage mechanical watch components, all held together by magnetic force. The result is stunning and soothing. Mb&F M.A.d. Gallery dubai presents Quentin Carnailleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Apesanteur, madgallery.ae

Abu DhAbi/FrAnkFurt

ABu DhABi FestivAL 3 to 30 April Returning for the 13th year, Abu Dhabi Festival is one of the leading celebrations of arts and

Andrea Bocelli live

culture in the UAE. The festival presents almost

15 April

a month-long multidisciplinary programme of

Visiting Abu Dhabi for the third time, world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli will perform

music, theatre and arts performances.

at Du Arena for one night only. The highly anticipated date is part of the singerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cinema

Abu Dhabi Festival, abudhabifestival.ae

World Tour and fanatics can look forward to songs from his latest album Cinema, as well as classic hits such as Time to Say Goodbye. Andrea Bocelli Live in Concert, thinkflash.ae

night At the museum 23 April Over 50 museums and galleries across Frankfurt will come together for one night and remain open until the early hours in order to offer visitors a truly unique artistic experience. A great opportunity to see some of your favourite artworks in a new light, Museum Night is highly anticipated by art and culture aficionados alike. museum night, nacht-der-museen.de

Music to my ears 7 to 10 April A highlight of Frankfurtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events calendar for those interested in music, music production and music performance, the Frankfurt Music Fair (Musikmesse) presents concerts, workshops, demonstrations and discussions with musical masters at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre. Frankfurt music Fair, musikmesse.de

london

London Marathon 24 april One of the most illustrious races in the world, the Virgin Money London Marathon takes runners on a tour of London’s most inspiring sights and historical attractions. Every year it draws some of the world’s greatest runners, as well as thousands of people raising money for charity. Whether you’re a participant or an observer, the marathon is an annual sporting highlight. Virgin Money London Marathon, virginmoneylondonmarathon.com

A fine balancing act 4 to 24 april CircusFest is back with a three-week celebration of contemporary circus, starring British and international acts. Watch as performers push their bodies – and your imagination – to the limit with captivating displays at London’s Roundhouse. circusFest, roundhouse.org.uk

Image: Getty

a picture’S worth… From 16 april The Deutsche Börse Photography Prize is one of the most prestigious photographic

Sunset Boulevard From 1 april

award exhibitions in the UK. Held at the Photographer’s Gallery, the showcase presents photographs on the topics of politics, migration and identity, captured by shortlisted finalists.

The English National Opera is hosting a five-week run of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit

It’s a must-see for photography and art

musical Sunset Boulevard at the London Coliseum, starring award-winning actress Glenn

enthusiasts alike.

Close as Norma Desmond. The show will be Close’s West End debut so if you’re a fan of the

deutsche Börse photography prize,

actress or of the musical, don’t miss out.

thephotographersgallery.org.uk

Sunset Boulevard, eno.org

Shanghai/iStanbul

China International Boat Show 7 to 10 April Over 500 exhibitors and an even greater number of boats will converge at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre for the country’s greatest

ClASSICAl COnCerT

boating celebration, the China International Boat Show. Visitors can explore the latest

6 to 7 April

models and trends while rubbing shoulders with fellow fanatics at VIP events.

A real treat for Beethoven fanatics, this concert

China International Boat Show, boatshowchina.cn

sees Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder take to the stage at Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar - ICEC to perform all of the illustrious composer’s magnificent piano concertos over two evenings. He will be accompanied by the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra. rudolf Buchbinder live, icec.org

TulIp feSTIvAl Throughout April While many people associate tulips with Holland, the flowers are actuall believed to originate from Turkey. The annual Istanbul Tulip Festival celebrates the distinctive blooms with picturesque displays at Emirgan Park throughout the month of April.

Image: Getty

Istanbul Tulip festival, ibb.gov.tr

Formula One 15 to 17 April The Formula One Chinese Grand Prix is a highlight of China’s events calendar for car and racing enthusiasts across the country and the globe. The world’s best F1 teams will travel to Shanghai to race on the China International Circuit – a modern, challenging track famed for its winding turns and high-speed straights. formula One Chinese Grand prix, formula1.com

Featured 26 Idris Elba

The star on his journey from Hackney to Hollywood

34 Petra Kvitová Image: Getty

Meet this two-time Wimbledon champion

38 Stars of Les Misérables

London’s leads talk challenges and joys

iD Ris Reporting by Chris Harvey / The Daily Telegraph / The Interview People, additions by Danae Mercer. Images: Getty

ElBA

Idris Elba, the star of the BBC’s Luther, has been busy. This month he voices the tiger Shere Khan for Disney’s remake of The Jungle Book. And in March, it was announced that Elba will play Roland in the longawaited film adaptation of Stephen King’s fantasy western The Dark Tower. Recently I sat down with Elba to talk about his journey from Hackney to Hollywood. I learned one thing in the process: do not, under any circumstances, mention 007.

featured: idris elba

t’s 30 minutes and three seconds into my interview with Idris Elba when the ‘B’ word is first used. “Can we talk about the media obsession with you playing James Bond?” I ask him. “Can we not?” he says forcefully. Why not? “Because it feels like I’m campaigning and I’m not. At first it was harmless - oh, I know, wouldn’t it be great? - and now it’s started off racial debates. I’m probably the most famous Bond actor in the world and I’ve not even played the role. Enough is enough. I can’t talk about it any more.” He leans back in his chair. This has been going on for six or seven years now, but it came to a head when a leaked email from the 2014 hack into Sony revealed that there was talk about it at the highest level at the studio. Amy Pascal, chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s motion pictures group, apparently stated: “Idris should be the next Bond.” Then author Anthony Horowitz suggested the Hackney-born star was too ‘street’ to play the Establishment spy, leading to raised voices from Elba’s supporters, though not from Elba himself, who brushed it off with a witty riposte on Instagram. The 43-year-old has just got on with building an impressive film and television career – the recently announced The Dark Tower as well as The Jungle Book, Pacific Rim, Thor, Mandela – that has been moving forwards ever since he made his name playing the calculating drug dealer, Stringer Bell, in David Simon’s landmark TV series The Wire in the early Noughties. He says he still considers it his defining role. Then came another character that he made utterly his own: detective John Luther, from Neil Cross’s adrenaline-filled BBC One murder thriller Luther, which returned for a fourth series at the end of 2015. It’s a drama that answers a racial debate all by itself, about the almost complete absence of black lead characters on British TV. Luther, a hit from the start, proves incontrovertibly that it’s not about ratings. A success in America as well, it brought Elba a best actor Golden Globe in 2012. He won’t answer questions about discrimination in the industry, though. “As soon as you say discrimination, you’re planting seeds over and over again. I don’t want to be called a black actor. You’ve got a generation of people who just want to move forward, not keep going on about the past.” We’re sitting in a swanky London hotel, in the courtyard so that Elba can roll himself a cigarette when he feels like it. He’s dressed all in black with a gold wristwatch and he appears big, cat-like and confident. He still has his East End accent, complete with all the little tells that reveal it’s the real thing (he says “arks”, for instance, instead of “ask”). Two days earlier, he was in Berlin, opening for Madonna with a DJ set. He’s been DJ-ing since he was 14, when he started helping out his uncle on the African wedding circuit in London, later as Big Driis in clubs from Ibiza to Miami. He takes his music seriously, as he does most things.

‘‘

Elba has an extraordinarily commanding screen presence and Luther – whom he describes as “a Batman-type character in a Gotham City-type world” – is a perfect fit. Luther’s fearlessness finds an echo in Elba’s: “I’m intimidated by the idea of being overcome by fear. I see how fear makes people make a lot of decisions that aren’t insightful because they’re worried or scared. I don’t ever want to be that person who doesn’t do something because they’re worried about it or because it might be the wrong move.” Elba says he bonded with Luther from the start of the first series back in 2010. “He was a tortured character who had a lot of stuff going on. I had stuff going on as well.”

‘‘

That bonding process has continued into the recently finished fourth series, which saw Luther mourning not only his former partner Ripley (Warren Brown), who was shot and killed in the previous series, but the psychopath Alice Morgan (played by Ruth Wilson), for whom Luther had developed an intense love, apparently now a murder victim herself.

I don't want to be called a black actor. You’ve got a generation of people who just want to move forward.

“In the last season, I dealt quite unashamedly with the loss of my old man. My dad died two years ago and I brought all the heartbreak and mourning of his loss into the work, without a doubt. John and I are quite similar in certain ways: lone people who are absolute workaholics.” It’s not the last time he will use the word “lone” as we talk – later he will describe himself as a lone wolf: “an only child, self-manifesting, self-doctoring, nomadic”. Elba is the son of West African immigrants. His mother Eve was from Ghana and his father Winston from Sierra Leone. Eve found clerical work in England, Winston got a job at the Ford car plant in Dagenham. Idris got his work ethic from his dad and from his mum came his absolute self-belief. He grew up in the high rises of the Holly Street estate in Hackney, since demolished, but then considered to be one of the worst estates in London. It was the address on Sid Vicious’s passport. Tony Blair once said of it: “I got used to the society of fear in the 1980s canvassing on the Holly Street estate, when people were too scared to open the door.”

No part of his rise came easy. He needed a GBP1,500 grant from the Prince’s Trust to be able to take up a role with the National Youth Music Theatre in Edinburgh. Then came years of pub theatre and bit parts: Crimewatch reconstructions, a gigolo in Absolutely Fabulous. In the mid-nineties, he decided to take a chance and move to America with the woman who became his wife. But his accent stopped him getting parts. Money was so tight that he was struggling to get by. “It was a pivotal time for me, make or break, stay in America and continue to do something that was not going very well, or come home? There were bouts of absolute poverty, homelessness, jobs that could have got me into an awful lot of trouble, but the truth is, it was survival instincts.

TV show LuTher is aVaiLabLe on bbC FirsT on osn

Elba, though, remembers the area as “culturally rich” and a source of pride – much preferable to Canning Town, where his parents bought a house as soon as they could afford one and the teenager found himself getting into fights with racist youths.

featured: idris elba

“Around that time my daughter [Isan] was born and I had nothing to give to her. I was not just going to roll on my belly and give up, you know. “I don’t regret any of that. It’s all part of building who I am as a human being, making my journey real. I think the best actors I’ve ever worked with have come from places where they haven’t had controlled environments, drama classes and all that, people that can bring some real life experiences.” His marriage broke up during that period, but he’s philosophical about it. “It’s quite a selfish profession being an actor. And it definitely has detrimental effects on your personal life.” Fatherhood, though, has been “the beating heart of all of it”, he says. “I want both my kids to look up at the old man and go, ‘Daddy went for it’.” He moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to be close to his daughter growing up and he had a son, Winston, last year with his then-partner, Naiyana Garth. “As I’m older, I’m a lot more settled in how I raise them. Second time round is certainly easier, but just as intricate.” His private life has come under intense scrutiny over the years, including his March breakup with long-term partner Garth. I want to ask him about his reported ‘Vegas wedding’ in 2006 – a marriage that was allegedly annulled 24 hours later – but he bridles at the question, complaining that his personal life in print has become “a mish-mash of different opinions”, how he intends to stop talking to journalists “under their rules”. He has a tendency to be too honest, he says, “but I don’t know how to control it once it starts”. In an interview in GQ in 2013, he talked about how he felt discovering that the baby son he thought was his in 2010 turned out to be another man’s. “To be given that and then have it taken away so harshly,” he said, “was like taking a full-on punch in the face: POW.” This was the “stuff going on” he’d hinted at earlier when he talked about Luther.

It was a stage role that changed his fortunes. He played Achilles in Peter Hall’s Troilus and Cressida, off Broadway, in 2001. It led to parts in Law and Order and then The Wire. In the years between series three and four of Luther, Elba was very busy. He’s proud of the work he did in Netflix’s shocking Beasts of No Nation, directed by True Detective’s Cary Fukunaga, in which he played the commandant of a platoon of brutalised, and brutalising, child soldiers in West Africa. And, of course, he played the title role in Mandela, which was hotly tipped to win awards, but didn’t. Was that Hollywood feeling it had already done its duty by recognising 12 Years a Slave? “I didn’t get a sense of that. I think that’s a complicated question. But Mandela isn’t a film about a black man or a black story or a black experience. It’s about a great human being.” While future projects include King’s The Dark Tower, this month Elba appears on the big screen not as a formidable gunslinger, but as intimidating villainous CGI tiger Shere Khan for Disney’s 3D The Jungle Book. The film brings to life Rudyard Kipling’s story of a young boy, Mowgli, raised in the wild by wolves. Big names have been involved, including Ben Kingsley as panther Bagheera, Scarlett Johansson as snake Kaa, Christopher Walken as King Louie, and Lupita Nyong’o as wolf Raksha. Bill Murray, as bear Baloo, even sings the classic ‘Bare Necessities’ tune. Reproducing George Sanders’s haughty original was not an option: the director, Jon Favreau, assured Elba that “there are a lot of people who have a quality very similar to the original, but it’s you I want to bring it alive”. Elba says: “One of the main reasons I did it was because I want my kids to go, ‘my dad, he did that’.” And their dad, who, through hard work, talent and determination, has propelled himself all the way from Holly Street to Hollywood, should be proud.

featured: petra kvitovÁ

Q&A: PeTra KviTová Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová is considered one of the best female tennis players of her generation. Jumeirah spoke to the Czech star following her recent stay at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah.

‘‘

Tennis was always going to play a leading role in Kvitová’s life. Her father Jirí, a schoolteacher and keen amateur tennis player, charged her with the task of picking up balls for her two older brothers at the local club in the family’s hometown of Fulnek when she was just three years old.

Petra Kvitová currently sits at number nine in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. According to Forbes, the 26-year-old Czech star is the sixth highest paid female athlete in the world, her annual earnings an estimated USD7.7 million. Not bad going for a player born, in 1990, to a family of modest means in the small town of Bilovec in the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia). But tennis was always going to play a leading role in Kvitová’s life. Her father Jirí, a schoolteacher and keen amateur tennis player, charged her with the task of picking up balls for her two older brothers at the local club in the family’s hometown of Fulnek when she was just three years old. It was also Jirí who, during the long, severe winters, guided Kvitová through training on the fast indoor courts that would dictate her style of play, characterised by flat, powerful groundstrokes, showing her footage of the player who became her idol, Czech-American tennis great and fellow left-hander Martina Navratilova. Her father was a hard taskmaster. “He didn’t make the lives of my brothers and me very easy,” Kvitová told The Guardian’s Donald McRae in 2012. “He pushed us very hard but that’s why I am where I am now.”

‘‘

FeaTured: petra kvItovÁ

what I do. Winning is the best feeling in the world. All the hard work is worth it for those special moments when you [can] lift a trophy. the game has allowed you to travel the world. what Is your favourIte travel destInatIon?

Because I am from a cold country, I really like to visit hot countries. I love Australia, Indian Wells in California is one of my favourite tournaments and, of course, I like [visiting] Dubai. London also has a special place in my heart because I won my two Wimbledon titles there. who Is your Ideal travel companIon?

My boyfriend, [Czech ice hockey player] Radek Meidl, but unfortunately our schedules mean it is very rare that we get the chance to travel together. So I guess [my ideal travel companions are] my tennis rackets. what Is your Ideal luxury holIday?

It would definitely be by the sea – somewhere hot and far away from tennis courts, doing absolutely nothing with a good book, listening to good music and eating delicious food. Oh, and maybe being pampered in the spa. what do you do on your days off?

Jirí coached Kvitová until she was 16 years old. His insistence that she put tennis before all else paid off when, four years later in 2010, Kvitová reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon and was named WTA Newcomer of the Year. In 2011, she beat the Russian player Maria Sharapova in the Wimbledon final to win her first Grand Slam. “Everything flashed before my eyes and suddenly I was on my knees celebrating winning the title. I really don’t know how it happened and it still feels like a dream,” she recalled during an interview with Forbes in 2015. The victory hit Jirí even harder. Kvitová’s tough childhood coach burst into tears. Petra Kvitová won Wimbledon again in 2014 and now has 17 WTA titles to her name. Recently she visited Madinat Jumeirah on a holiday. It takes a lot of hard work to play tennIs at the hIghest level and wIn. what makes It all worthwhIle?

Tennis is something that has been a part of my life for so long, it is part of who I am. When I am playing my best tennis it’s because I’m in love with

I love spending time with my family and friends. That’s how I recharge my batteries. I do things any normal girl would do: drink coffee, watch some TV, get my nails or hair done, have a nice dinner – that kind of thing. how was your stay at madInat JumeIrah?

I had a very relaxing time at Madinat Jumeirah with my family. We wanted somewhere we could really get away from it all and we felt so well looked after by the amazing staff. The hotel is beautiful and we loved walking around the grounds, relaxing on the beach and swimming in the pools. The food was really delicious too. why dId you choose to stay wIth JumeIrah?

It was my parents’ first trip to Dubai, so we wanted to make it really special. I had heard great things about Madinat Jumeirah. We wanted to be right by the beach and able to feel relaxed and pampered. It was perfect. I’m looking forward to being back in Dubai very soon. Hopefully I can show my boyfriend the hotel. jumeirah.com/madinatjumeirah

Jeremy Secomb as police inspector Javert

featured: Les MisérabLes

stars of Les MisérabLes The London production of musical theatre masterpiece Les Misérables has been performed in the West End since October 1985, making it the world’s longest-running musical. Adapted from Victor Hugo’s classic tale of redemption in 19th century revolutionary France by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, and produced by Cameron Mackintosh (the man also responsible for Cats and The Phantom of the Opera), Les Misérables is currently showing at London’s Queens Theatre. Jumeirah spoke to Peter Lockyer, who plays the drama’s tragic hero Jean Valjean, and Jeremy Secomb, who takes on the role of his antagonist, police inspector Javert, about the responsibility of performing in musical theatre’s most iconic production.

The Interview How did you end up in musical tHeatre?

Jeremy secomb: I sort of fell into performing. I’m from a very small coun-

try town in Australia [Crookwell, New South Wales]. I had two brothers who played rugby league – we went fishing down at the creek in the afternoon after school, surfing, things like that. And I’d always sung. I started doing musicals and things when I was at school, but when I left my father said to me, “You need to get a job. I don’t care what it is, get a job”. I worked in a bank for four-and-a-half years. I was doing some amateur musicals when the director said to me, “You could do this for a living”. So I went away and thought about it, quit my job, moved to Sydney and started to audition. It was escapism. I still get e-mails from friends of mine who I went to school with saying, “When are you going to give up this thing and come back to Australia and get a life?” But I’m doing okay, I’m doing all right. peter lockyer: I think there’s a common bond between theatre people. Most

people are a bit displaced, whether that’s emotionally or psychologically or just that they were itinerant people as kids. I’m born of an American mother and a Canadian father and I was raised in Toronto and then Connecticut. My family was incredibly itinerant. Even if we were in the same area we moved every year, so it was sort of a natural jump to go into showbusiness, into theatre, into assuming other people’s lives. Because you move around so much, you can recognise another person’s life and what’s important to them and what is challenging to them. It’s easier to recognise different lives and try to assume them. I moved to New York two weeks after I graduated high school to pursue theatre. wHat appeals to you about tHe tHeatre life?

Js: I’m very much a guy who likes the routine of being in a show. We do eight

shows a week and that’s how I like to live my life. That’s the rhythm that I like to live. People say to me, “You do the same thing every day”, but repetitiveness is a human thing. We all do things that are exactly the same [every day], it’s just that my job is a little more specific.

PL: You’re the only other person I’ve met in 25 years of doing this who feels the same way as I do about that. I love the discipline too. I think it might be coming from a working-class background, but I love the routine of going to work every day. Being afforded the opportunity to do eight shows a week over a long period of time, you learn to be consistent, learn how to practise your craft, even on days you’re not feeling well. And overall, there’s a comfort in coming to work, a comfort in the routine.

That said, I think people might underestimate the focus that’s needed to come in and do the show every night. The focus it takes to sing difficult scores like this, to be in the moment and present, it takes your whole day. For instance, you could look at today and say we’re on stage for three hours, but our whole day leads up to that. It’s all geared towards the evening, to peak in the evening, whereas most people are winding down. JS: It comes back to discipline. How did it feeL to be caSt aS tHe LeadS in Les MisérabLes?

JS: My father was a policeman so it’s quite weird that I’m now playing a

policeman. It’s a score that I grew up with as well. I remember my mum and dad going to see a production of Les Mis in Brisbane. It was before I really knew what musical theatre really was and I told them I didn’t want to join. The next day, my father told me I would absolutely have loved the show. He went out and bought the soundtrack – and that was that for me, I’ve been singing these songs for nearly 30 years. PL: It’s such an iconic role. The day I was first offered it, I called Colm

Wilkinson, who I had done the show with [Lockyer has previously played Marius in other productions of Les Mis]. He was the first Valjean and I have such incredible admiration and respect for him, as a man and as a performer. I said, “Hey, I don’t know even how to approach it. How do you begin?” He is so generous of spirit. He said, “Look, you’re going to be great, but do you. A lot of guys do me, do what I did. You’re a kind guy, you’re a sensitive guy, find that, bring that and you’ll be fine”. I felt like I had to be anointed by Colm in order to do it. PL: Leontyne Price, one of the opera stars that I admire, once said, “Someone

out there sacrificed to be here”. I remind myself of that all the time, because you could relax and not give 100 percent, but someone has saved up, they’ve thought about coming to see Les Mis for years, they’ve travelled from Shanghai, they’ve travelled from Taiwan, and that’s a lot of time and effort. They deserve the best of what we have. JS: You watch the faces of the people in the audience and when we get to

the finale of the show people are distraught, they are crying, because they’ve gone on this journey with this character [Valjean], and lived everything that he’s lived and felt everything that he’s felt and it gets to the end and there’s just this outpouring of emotion that happens. It’s absolutely astonishing to watch from behind [the stage]. I get to see the reaction of people at the end and it’s amazing. It’s a fantastic feeling for us. lesmis.com/uk

featured: Les MisĂŠrabLes

Peter Lockyer as tragic hero Jean Valjean

LIFESTYLE 44 A new grape Image: Getty

Could English sparkling ever be the new champagne?

48 Rolls-Royce

See a new dawn in Cape Town

The vineyard at Rathfinny Estate

lifestyle

A new grApe

English wine has long had a reputation of being something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only suitable for ultra-patriots to sip at Wimbledon. In recent years, argues journalist Trevor Baker, things have started to change.

Image: Getty

The vineyard at Ridgeview Estate

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see vines, loaded with almost-ready grapes, near France’s Champagne region. This is harvest season and the world’s growing demand for wine means that more land is being planted.

English wine has never been higher. I’m sipping a glass as we speak. Its expressive nose and faint hint of strawberry and cream capture the charm of the surrounding countryside.

Yet these grapes aren’t in France. They’re in East Sussex, part of the vineyard owned by Ridgeview Estate – and they’re indicative of a larger trend. English wine, thanks to the English climate, has long had the reputation for being something suitable only for ultra-patriots at Wimbledon. When Ridgeview Estate started 20 years ago, it was drawing wine from a mere 16 acres of vineyards. Today things have changed and now the company sources grapes from a network of small producers totalling around 160 acres.

The flavour is, I admit, lovely. But could English wine ever actually become the champagne of the 21st century? To explore this idea, I speak to another of the UK’s vintners, ex-hedge fund manager Mark Driver who, along with his wife Sarah, has sunk an enormous amount of time, effort and money into creating Rathfinny Estate, a venue that aspires to be, when it’s finished, one of the largest single-site vineyards in Europe. In 2012, Driver planted the classic champagne vines of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier just three miles from the chalk cliffs of the Sussex coast in the South Downs national park.

Wine experts are starting to open up to English wine. The public, on the other hand, still needs a bit of convincing. Ridgeview Estate’s sales representative, Hannah Simpson-Banks, puts it this way: “We do really well in blind-tastings where people don’t know we’re English.”

The company’s 2006 Blanc de Blancs played a major part in raising the flag for English sparkling wine when it won Decanter wine website’s ‘best sparkling wine’ in 2010, beating much better-known champagnes and proseccos.

“The hard facts are,” says Driver when I visit him in the vineyard’s woodpanelled tasting room, “that in the UK, we import 1.8 billion bottles of wine a year. Nearly five million bottles of wine are consumed a day in this country. And yet we produce less than that a year. We’ve got a great domestic market. We’ve got the ability to make top quality wine and a good market for that wine. So for me it was a no-brainer to invest in the UK. It was a question of ‘why not?’ It would have been stupid not to.”

We are in a smart, wood-panelled tasting room looking out across the vineyard and Simpson-Banks has just finished explaining that the reputation of

Yet there is a darker story behind the hype around English sparkling wine. Arguably one reason that it’s now possible to produce quality grapes fur-

Image: Getty

lifestyle

Creating wine at Rideview Estate is a technical process

ther north of the 49th parallel is due to global warming. Temperatures in East Sussex have been about a degree higher, on average, in the last 10 years than 20 or 30 years ago. They’re predicted to continue to rise in the future. In the South Downs, as in Oregon or Ontario, vines replacing cereals are an increasingly common sight.

been hand-painted in vivid greens for an episode of Downton Abbey. The walk from Rathfinny’s centre to the sea and the glorious white chalk cliffs of Seven Sisters takes me through woods that are decorated with scampering, white-tailed rabbits and up onto a hillside where I can see, in the distance, the Isle of Wight.

Rathfinny’s operations manager Richard James is cautious about the idea that it’ll be all good news, even for this small part of Northern Europe. “The problem with climate change is that it means you’re likely to get more extreme events,” he says. “One storm at the wrong time can destroy everything.”

Back up the river to Alfriston, a tiny riverside village of Tudor houses and creaky wood-beamed pubs, it seems like everything is ready for this part of the world to rival Napa Valley or Bordeaux for wine tourism.

That’s not to imply the story is all doom and climate-changing gloom. Starting from scratch, these new English wineries are at least able to produce in a way that causes the minimum amount of environmental damage. Rathfinny recycle its water, uses solar panels and is planting wild flowers between its vines to attract ‘friendly’ insects who’ll feed on pests. The estate is also keen to develop sustainable wine tourism. Creating the wine – whether it’s due to climate change or not – is one thing. Convincing consumers to buy it, and vendors to sell it, is something else entirely. I visit the South Downs on a warm day. The countryside looks like it has

And yet… my requests for a glass of ‘Sussex’ wine are met with a sad shake of the head in The George Inn and The Star. Indeed, the only place I could get it by the glass was at Rathfinny’s showroom, The Gun Room. Even there, they didn’t have any of the acclaimed English sparkling. Instead I order their still blend of Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, sold under the Cradle Valley label, which has a palatable but thin taste that won’t convince any doubters. So can English sparkling become the new champagne? I’m not sure. Currently, the demand exceeds supply and the future does look bright for British vineyards. Yet what’s needed now is time. Rathfinny’s sparkling, for instance, won’t be ready until 2017. Perhaps the true success of English wine comes down to being patient and waiting as the grapes ripen on the vine. ridgeview.co.uk; rathfinnyestate.com

a new dawn

Rolls-Royce, the quintessential symbol of British distinction, is about to enter a brave new world. Gina Johnson takes to the breathtaking mountains of South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Western Cape to see why.

motoring

Rolls-Royce Dawn in gunmetal grey

motoring

s legend has it, Rolls-Royce’s Spirit of Ecstasy – the ethereal, winged figurine that has become one of the most recognisable icons of all time - was modelled on the great love of the second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, a lady by the name of Eleanor Thornton. Since 1920 the Spirit of Ecstasy has remained a standard fitting on all RollsRoyce cars, acting as an elegant mascot to convey the spirit of the brand: speed with silence, mystery, energy and a spectre of superb grace. ‘Eleanor’ (as she has become affectionately known to the 800 craftspeople who work at Rolls-Royce’s boutique manufacturing headquarters in Goodwood in the UK) has been the sole feminine embodiment of a brand that has remained richly steeped in gentlemanly verve and masculine exclusivity. Until now. I’m sitting behind the wheel of the new Rolls-Royce Dawn, the company’s visionary response to an evolving luxury market that has seen the age of their average customer drop from 55 to 45 in the past decade, the number of female customers increase, and the rise of emerging markets such as the Middle East. Far from the cavernous opulence of its forbearers, the Phantom and the Ghost, 80 percent of the exterior body panels of the new Dawn are unique and express an evolution of Rolls-Royce’s design DNA to encapsulate the contemporary, four-seater, drophead architecture. The grille and bumper focus attention on the horizontal lines of the car rather than the traditional vertical lines of the other members of the RollsRoyce family. This creates a curve that undulates over the body and tapers in towards the rear, echoing the elegant and distinctly feminine shape of the ‘boat tail’ Rolls-Royce coupes of the early 20th century.

motoring

The company has chosen vibrant Cape Town and South Africa’s luxuriant Western Cape as the metaphoric and literal backdrop for a driving preview of the Dawn. Mirroring the combination of elegance and free-spirit, the driving experience begins in the vineyards of the Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch, a luxury lodge owned by Graff diamonds founder Laurence Graff (delaire.co.za). Surrounded by vineyards and private infinity pools, it’s a botanical paradise populated with works of art and sculptures from artists such as the acclaimed Dylan Lewis. Our journey takes us from the Cape Winelands to Hout Bay via Table Mountain National Park and then on to the scenic mountain roads that hug the windswept outcroppings of False Bay. It’s a daylong drive of astounding natural beauty, paired deliciously with the interior craftsmanship of the Dawn, which combines hand-stitched leather, open-pore Canadel wood panelling and a refined analogue aesthetic. My model, in ‘Andalusian white’, whispers of nautical super-yacht style with its navy and arctic white interior accents and matt teak deck. It is fitted with Rolls-Royce bespoke audio and a customised umbrella that sits within the body of the car in a heated cylinder for quick drying – though the latter, for now, remains an enigma under the clear blue skies of our road trip. Customised to taste, the Dawn exudes a playfulness and eccentricity in its colour options that range from a midnight sapphire exterior with mandarin leather interiors to a vivid turchese (turquoise) blue and silver two-tone model. Sophisticated engineering has produced a soft-top that when closed cocoons the interior in silence – with one exception: during the manufacturing process much thought was given to the creation of the design to allow only the intensely pleasurable sound of rain drops to be heard overhead. We drive along. And as if on cue, the heavens open up. As we wind our way to our final destination – a striking steel and polished concrete villa called The Glass House perched over the Atlantic Ocean in Rooi Els – I can hear the barely-there patter of rain on the Dawn’s soft-top while the engine remains perceptibly silent. I kick off my shoes and curl my bare feet into the plush lamb’s wool floor covering (the result of having crossbred Australian and US sheep to create the thickest fleece) and smile. I’ll get to use that Rolls-Royce umbrella after all. rolls-roycemotorcars.com

TRAVEL 56 Modern history

Travel to Istanbul and the beautiful Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah

62 A pearlescent past

Dive through history in Abu Dhabi

70 A holiday for health

From yoga to diving, explore it all

78 Secret spaces

Enjoy Beit Al Bahar at Jumeirah Beach Hotel

82 The high life

Image: Getty

Dine on international food at Mundo in Dubai

modern History

The historical Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah in Istanbul mixes the past with the present in a purely luxurious manner. Claire Hill explores how the stories of yesterday intertwine with the reality of today.

travel

crystallinedubai

travel

haracterised by its Belle Époque style, the historical Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah in Istanbul dates back to 1892, when it was designed by the French-Ottoman architect Alexander Vallaury. The plot of land where today’s Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah stands was bought by three Armenian traders in 1879, noted Andreas Augustin in his book The Most Famous Hotels in the World. Despite the fact the site was left untouched for a decade, its position (one overlooking mosques, the Golden Horn, the hills of Stamboul, and the waters of the Marmara Sea) meant it had considerable potential. In 1891, planning for the hotel began. A year later, building works started and soon after that, the ‘palace on the hills of Pera’ was born. The architecture was stunning, elaborate and ornate under Vallaury’s design. And the focus was on, quite simply, luxury. For years, noted Augustin, the refined hotel acted as a virtual gateway for those making the transition from Occident to Orient, existing as the last stop offering continental hospitality en route to the East. For those travelling in the opposite direction, returning from archaeological excavations in Nineveh or the oil rich kingdoms of the desert via the Baghdad-to-Istanbul line, Pera Palace was a step to more familiar western civilisation.

Over the years, the hotel has attracted many famous visitors, including Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock. One of the most popular anecdotes linked to the property relates to Agatha Christie’s 1934 detective novel Murder on the Orient Express. Christie is said to have fulfilled a lifelong dream when she took the train from Turkey to Iraq, and it was during this journey she was inspired to write the book. Legend has it the novel was actually penned in room 411, which was later re-named after the author. By the start of the third millennium, the property was seen as a monument of fading glory and in 2006 its new owner carried out a EUR23 million renovation. During the refurbishment, craftsmen and highly specialised teams restored the property under the watchful eyes of the Ministry of Culture. Historic plasterwork was cleaned and painted gold. Fifteen stonemasons worked for 18 months to chip off layers of washed-out green paint that had covered the exterior for decades, revealing the original façade. Antique furniture was restored (like mother-of-pearl inlaid bookcases), original goldtinted chandeliers were re-touched, and thousands of metres of hand-laid marble and mahogany were restained and repolished. Jumeirah Group later signed a management agreement and the property became known as the Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah in May 2012.

travEl

‘‘

Even the antique sedan chairs, present in the lobby, tell a story. During the late 1800s, travellers making their way to the property usually arrived by train and then boarded a coach to cross the Golden Horn via the Galata bridge. Once they were identified as Pera Palace Hotel guests, they were carried by porters in sedan chairs up the slope to the hotel.

Today the light lobby continues to welcome guests from all over the world, inviting them inside to leave the bustling city behind. Popular spots include the Patisserie de Pera, a favourite place for tea and cakes, and the Kubbeli Saloon, a venue for traditional afternoon tea. The library’s dining table concept allows guests to adapt the space to their needs, whether they want to work, read or relax and enjoy refreshments. Fans of Christie can also dine at the hotel’s Agatha Restaurant, which draws its influence from three of the most famous stops on the Orient Express, offering French, Italian and Turkish cuisines expertly prepared by a team of master chefs.

lobby, tell a story. During the late 1800s, travellers making their way to the property usually arrived by train and then boarded a coach to cross the Golden Horn via the Galata bridge. Once they were identified as Pera Palace Hotel guests, they were carried by porters in sedan chairs up the slope to the hotel, while their luggage was transported by an oxcart.

History is also captured throughout, spanning from the interiors to the lift (the hotel was the first to have electricity in the city) to the rooms named after famous authors who have stayed over (including Hemingway, Pierre Loti, and Christie). Even the antique sedan chairs, present in the

By Claire Hill, PR manager and copywriter, Jumeirah Group. On a weekly basis, new stories about Hill’s travels from across the luxurious world of Jumeirah will be posted on the Jumeirah blog. Every month, her highlights will appear here. For more information, visit experiencejumeirah.com

Ultimately, Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah is a property which has been around for hundreds of years, capturing history and tradition while offering modern amenities. The end result is a venue that evokes feelings of elegance best described as timeless.

A peArlescent pAst

From months at sea to creatures of the deep, pearl divers in the Arabian Gulf had to withstand a world of challenges, and yet at its peak the industry employed thousands. today it has all but disappeared. One Abu Dhabi group is trying to keep the heritage alive, a single sleepy boat trip at a time.

travel

t’s a hot Friday morning in Abu Dhabi, and sat on the bank of the Eastern Mangroves a young tour guide is striving to keep the region’s pearl fishing history alive. Later he will tell me his name is Misjan Ahmed. But for now, as I move to step across the traditional wooden dhow boat and onto a stretch of carpet, he tells me to take off my shoes. I’ve booked myself a seat on the hour-long Abu Dhabi Pearl Journey, wanting to learn more about the heritage and history of the UAE. Save for two other guests, the boat is empty. I settle atop a bench of cushions, stretching my legs in the sun. Ahmed offers dates and cardamom-flavoured Arabic tea. “Arabic hospitality,” he smiles before nodding back at the boat’s unobtrusive captain. With that, we’re off. The dhow pulls away from the pier. It moves silently, stable and serene through the slow waters of the mangroves. The journey has just begun — but for Ahmed’s tale, it all starts by going back. ❖

❖

While the pearling industry in the region stretches back thousands of years (“virtually every ancient and early geographer or traveller writing about the Gulf mentioned pearls and Bahrain island,” noted scholar and Saudi Arabia-based chemical engineer Richard LeBaron Bowen Jr in 1951), it peaked in the early 20th century. Then, scholars estimate, tens of thousands of men were involved – comprising, at one point, over a quarter of the total population of the Arabian littoral of the Gulf. When the heart of the pearling season hit in the warm June to October months, these men would set sail with flags flying, the beat of Arabic drums filling the air. “It is a stirring sight to see these fleets of dhows manoeuvre with their sweeps and then set forth under huge spreads of lateen sails, with their freshly oiled, burnt-brown hulls glistening across the aquamarine water, like some ancient Phoenician or Roman fleet,” wrote Bowen. They went out in pursuit of pearls.

Mangroves in Abu Dhabi

travel

The life these divers were sailing into wasn’t an easy one, nor would it be one filled with glory. At the most basic level, the sheer physicality of pearl diving was draining and, in some cases, deadly. A diver would put his foot in a loop of rope tied to a weight or stone then jump into the sea. He’d carry a basket for the oysters, sometimes tied around his neck. His nose would be closed with a horn clip, his fingers lined with leather thimbles to help protect against coral and sharp edges. Reaching the bottom, the diver would frantically move along, propelled hand and foot, trying to collect as many oysters as possible. At the end of roughly a minute, the diver would tug at the rope, signalling someone on the boat to pull him up. “Ten dives would consume about three-quarters of an hour, after which time the diver is dragged out of the water and huddles in some spot on the ship looking more dead than alive,” wrote Bowen. “Ten dives are not difficult, nor are 50 excessive in one day for anyone experienced; but day after day and week after week the diving goes on – for four months.” Underwater, the diver would have to avoid the nearly translucent jellyfish, sharks and rays. A species of needle urchin with spines from one to two feet long, which caused slowhealing wounds, was particularly unpleasant. The saltwater itself could create open sores and rashes. “When the season is over, the diver has weathered the impossible; he has probably completed over 3,000 dives in from 30 to 50 feet of water, and has spent over 50 hours under the surface of the Gulf – that is, over a full 40 hour week without air, valiantly striving to gather all the oysters he can see through his bloodshot and irritated eyes, which become less sensitive with each dive.” Oysters were then left out overnight to weaken or kill them before the pearls were harvested the next day. At best, a diver would hit the end of a season with funds enough to sustain himself until the following year. At worse, the diver would end up physically disabled or in financial debt. The first is easy enough to understand; in addition to

travel

the dangers of marine life, “suppuration of the eardrums and rheumatism [were] common. The divers may lose blood from surfacing too quickly or from staying under too long,” wrote Bowen. The limited diet of divers – kept to a sip of tea or dates to prevent nausea – resulted in “emaciated” bodies by the end of the season. “Sleep is the only energy builder divers have.” In terms of finance, the pearling industry operated on borrowed capital, one where everyone from pearl divers to crew was given advances against potential future profits. “A bad season inevitably led to the debts being carried forward,” wrote academic Robert Carter. Yet for all its difficulties, for all its many physical and financial challenges, pearling defined the region for years. The British empire couldn’t get enough of the beautiful oystercreated beads. In the early 20th century, New York followed suit, becoming the second largest market for Gulf pearls (Bombay was first). By 1951, Paris too was desperate for pearls. Even as the Gulf exported the gems, it imported foodstuffs and basic supplies. British historian and colonial administrator John Gordon Lorimer succinctly captured the importance of pearling when he wrote: “Pearl fishing is the premier industry of the Gulf; it is… the principal or only source of wealth among the residents of the Arabian side. Were the supply of pearls to fail, the trade of Kuwait would be severely crippled, while that

of Bahrain might — it is estimated — be reduced to about one-fifth of its present dimensions, and the ports of Trucial Oman, which have no other resources, would practically cease to exist.” Yet – and this may not come as a surprise to most readers who know of the Gulf region – the pearl industry did indeed dry up. This was due to several factors: the development of cultured pearl farming in Japan, the global economic downturn and eventually the discovery of oil. “The industry lingered, much reduced, throughout the 20th century,” wrote Carter. “Its final demise being marked by the official closure of Kuwait’s pearl-oyster market in the year 2000, which brought to an end over 7,000 years of pearling in the region.” ❖ ❖ ❖ Abu Dhabi’s Eastern Mangroves make for a scenic route, all small green shrubs and trees sprouting from the saltwater, dotted with herons and warblers on one side, and the modern architecture of Abu Dhabi on the other. “Culture shouldn’t be captured in a museum,” said the company’s founder, Ali Al Saloom, to The National in 2013. “I spent the past seven years providing knowledge and content about Emirati culture and history. I tried many different ways to

The promise of a great adventure! Join us on a magic carpet ride over the Dubai desert. Catch the rising sun at 4000 feet and descent to a vast expanse of golden sand dunes. See roaming camels, galloping gazelles and the mighty Arabian oryx in their natural habitat. Let some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most experienced pilots take you on a ride of a lifetime!

BALLOON ADVENTURES EMIRATES For booking and information visit: www.ballooning.ae or phone +971 4 2854949

bridge the cultural gap in very authentic and unique ways.” Enter the educational boat tour, a journey designed to bring to life the history of pearling. On the boat, Ahmed tells a story: Al Saloom was given a box by his grandmother. “Go fill this with pearls,” she told him. “But why?” he asked. There were pearls in the shop, in the store. But no, his grandmother argued. It had to be done naturally. So Al Saloom went to sea, collecting thousands of oysters and thousands more. Not a single one contained pearls. “It’s because of the pollution,” continues Ahmed. He speaks like one telling the tale of a well-practised script, a not-unpleasant element that makes everything as slick and smooth as the wood of the boat. “The pollution in the ocean makes oysters feel ill, so now we have a pearl farm in Ras Al Khaimah.” Today, Ahmed won’t be diving. He has oysters from the farm in a bucket on the boat. At one point, after demonstrating how divers looped a weighted rope around their toes before plummeting into the sea and showing the tools used during the multiple-month journey, Ahmed gathers us all around. “Pick an oyster,” he suggests. The sun is hot and the boat soothing. I choose one. Ahmed cuts it open with practised ease and when I push my thumb into the meat, spilling water and goo across my hand, a pearl is there. We tug it out, a tiny little white-and-pink ball that Ahmed drops into a canister of salt. He calls it a ‘mini shower’. The pearl goes into a red velvet pouch, as does the glimmering mother-of-pearl shell. Next comes the meat. Ahmed finds the heart, the core, and has me try it raw. As the boat floats on, now nearly back at the original pier, I bite in. It tastes of salt and ocean and history. Adpearljourney.info. To learn more about booking a stay at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, visit jumeirah.com/ jumeirahetihadtowers

Dhows and skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi

travel

Pearls by Michael caines Jumeirah at etihad towers, abu dhabi

It’s when the dessert arrives – a white chocolate candle lined with rose petals and raspberries, accented with hints of popping candy – that I realise I must reach into a new inner reserve of strength, or at least find a second stomach. I had heard about the cuisine at famous chef Michael Caines’ new restaurant. The dishes, I was told, were the sort that combine casual food with Michelin-star aplomb. But I wasn’t really anticipating just how tempting they would be. First there was crusty bread with olives baked inside. Then came a warm lobster salad, a deconstructed dish with mango stripes and caviar that was presented as pretty as a picture. After that, I had the salt-baked cod, something I planned to have a nibble of, but that compelled me, with its flaky white meat and subtly rich flavour, to eat it all, and then use some of the remaining bread to scoop up the lingering smoked paprika and red pepper foam sauce. The end result is that by the time dessert arrives, I’m stuffed. Delightfully, contentedly stuffed. But who can say no to a dish so pretty? It’s all white chocolate and red accents, lit with an actual candle, and when you break the chocolate crust a soft mousse awaits inside. It presents like a party. It tastes like a chocolate dream. I manage one bite, dipping the chocolate into the chilled raspberry ice cream. Then another. Before I know it, the dessert, like the rest of the meal, has all but disappeared. I wouldn’t have it any other way. jumeirah.com/ jumeirahetihadtowers

A holidAy for heAlth Whether you like swimming or yoga, diving or cardio, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the perfect travel destination for you

Dive at Jumeirah Vittaveli

travel

You want: To swim, to dive, and to see the sea. trY: Diving at Jumeirah Vittaveli in the beautiful Maldives. whY: The warm Indian Ocean, stunning coral, colourful fish, turtles, sunken shipwrecks… need we say more? There’s a dive course to suit every style. If you’re new, entry-level diving courses and the ‘Discover Scuba Diving Experience’ will help you learn. If you know your diving, advanced courses and speciality courses (like enriched air (nitrox) experience, penetrating shipwrecks, practising underwater photography, and diving at night) are available. Sleep: At Jumeirah Vittaveli. Located near Malé, this beautiful resort offers subtle luxury and personalised exploration with villas and suites. Chef Gabriele kurz, exeCutive wellbeinG Chef at taliSe nutrition, SaYS: If you’re outside a lot, eat a lot of red and orange foods, things like mangos, papayas, bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, beetroots, and also a lot of greens. Since you need energy, eat fish and good fats like coconuts and Maldivian almonds. But eat light because you’re swimming. find out more: visit jumeirah.com/ jumeirahvittaveli

You want: A pool to write home about. trY: The Peak Health Club and Spa, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London. whY: Swimming in this 20-metre indoor pool is fantastic. An arching atrium of windows floods the venue in natural light, throwing captivating shadows across the pool’s metallic base. As you swim along, the interplay of light and dark can be quite soothing. A lack of chlorine (the pool uses a new hypoallergenic odour-free method) makes things overall easy on the eyes. When finished swimming, you can visit the sauna and steam room. Sleep: At Jumeirah Carlton Tower. This beacon of British style and sophistication is located in the heart of Knightsbridge and offers superb views of the London skyline. Chef Gabi SaYS: Eating light for swimming is perfect, but you also need a bit of endurance, so enjoy a vegetarian quinoa salad.

You want: Intense, motivating, sweat-creating fitness classes. trY: Fitness First Platinum Swim Club, Jumeirah Frankfurt, Frankfurt.

Image: Getty

find out more: Visit peakhealthclub.com or jumeirah.com/jct

Try TRX in Frankfurt

whY: As a guest of the hotel, you’ll have complimentary and direct access to the neighbouring Fitness First Platinum Swim Club, part of the adjacent MyZeil shopping centre. This urban-style gym, decorated with exposed light fixtures and bright green accents, offers classes in TRX, HIIT, Zumba, cycling, yoga, and more. There’s also a fantastic 20 metre pool and a sun terrace with a skyline view. Sleep: At Jumeirah Frankfurt. This striking property is located right in the heart of the city, just steps away from the popular Zeil shopping street and the financial district. Chef Gabi SaYS: For high-intensity training, you need to eat often but smaller portions, because high-intensity training burns past sugar and into your fat stores. So don’t go for extra carbohydrates. Instead

find out more: Visit fitnessfirst.de/clubs/Frankfurt-myzeil or jumeirah.com/Frankfurt

Image: Getty

eat five times a day, focusing on non-starchy vegetables and good protein (like tofu, fish or white meat).

Do yoga in Dubai

travel Enjoy a spa in Bodrum

You want: A holiday that creates inner peace. trY: Sunrise and sunset yoga in Dubai with Talise Fitness. whY: Book into one of the recently launched sunrise yoga sessions at Pacha Ibiza Dubai’s rooftop terrace. This early morning class, happening as the sun rises, is followed by a special breakfast (think green juices, egg white omelettes and chia pudding) at Frioul Bistro de Luxe. If you’re in town on the first week of every month, head to a 90-minute yoga class under the stars hosted by Talise Fitness and Urban Yoga Dubai. Sleep: Completely refurbished in 2015, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, the heart of the Madinat Jumeirah Resort, is a luxuriously comfortable boutique style hotel that offers authentic Arabian experiences on a beachfront location. Chef Gabi SaYS: Eat like I eat. Don’t have too much protein, no white sugar or flour, and eat wholesome. If you have carbs, go for quinoa, black rice, or sweet potatoes, and go for vegan or vegetarian food. This helps you be flexible and relax into a release. find out more: Visit talisefitness.com or jumeirah.com/

Eat healthy with Chef Gabi and Talise Nutrition

Image: Getty

madinatjumeirah

You want: Massages and relaxation. trY: Talise Spa, Jumeirah Bodrum Palace, Turkey. whY: Perched on cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea, this gold-andmarble spa features relaxation in an opulent setting. In the lobby, marble statues frame the room, while a fountain glimmers beneath a chandelier. Treatments span everything from hydrotherapy to facials but book in for the traditional Turkish hammam. This centuries-old tradition involves exfoliation as you rest on a heated stone bed, followed by a foam massage with handmade olive oil soap. Sleep: At Jumeirah Bodrum Palace. Open from 1 May, this luxurious property is set along the spectacular Bodrum coast. Each room has amazing views of the Aegean Sea. Chef Gabi SaYS: Turkish cuisine has a lot of beautiful vegetables, things like artichokes (which are great liver supporters) and eggplant, so go for these. Also eat plenty of salads and light soups to relax.

Swim in London

find out more: Visit jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/bodrum/ jumeirah-bodrum-palace

Image: Getty

travel

Detoxing: What’s neW anD What you neeD to knoW Chef gabi says: Detoxing is on everyone’s radar at the moment, but it’s a

include a considerable amount of nuts, are rich. Salt can be a bit overpowering

tricky one to do while on holiday. On one hand, you have time, but then you are

in some of the nut-based meat replacements. The group could have included

also probably surrounded by lavish buffets and you want to indulge. I actually

a few more of its juices and fewer nutty meat substitutes, but the meals (like

think detoxing during your regular week is ideal, but when you do it really just

‘tuna salad’ with crackers and a raw pad thai) were impressive, creative, and

depends on you.

satisfying. The end result was a fulfilling detox and glowing skin. So is it worth it? If you’re a fan of Essentially’s juices, but want something with more bite (and

Of course, you can do a huge ‘deep cleaning’, like a one-week detox. For this,

chew), this is a good option. essentially.ae

eat very clean, things like salads and soups, or go for a liquid fast that helps reset your digestive track. But I’d actually recommend doing smaller detoxes

neW in Dubai – kolD Press JuiCe komPany: In a juicing market already

more often, like a juice fast once every two weeks, or starting your morning

populated by Detox Delight (which you can find at the Talise Spas in Dubai;

with dry brushing and oil pulling (swishing a tablespoon of sesame oil in your

detox-delight.ae) and Essentially, this newly launched juice company faces tough

mouth for around 20 minutes to draw out toxins). You could even start your

competition. The brand differentiates itself with a cool hipster vibe, focusing on

day by slowly chewing and swallowing three red radishes, which helps get your

surfers, mothers, free spirits and athletes.

digestion going. jumeirah.com/talisenutrition Refreshingly, juices emphasise vegetables with only a minimal amount of fruit neW in Dubai – essentially: Known for its juice cleanses, Essentially has

added in. A three-day detox of six juices a day might feature ‘ex machina’, a

recently launched a plant-based detox programme that features raw food,

drink made with kale, cucumber, spinach, fennel, lemon, pear, and jalapeno and

juices and a small amount of cooked items like quinoa or chickpeas. A day’s

‘young blood’ with beetroot, pomegranate, cucumber, lime, green apple, and

menu might include 250ml of green juice, a berry-red smoothie, a green salad

ginger. Others incorporate broccoli and activated charcoal. Unlike competitor

and green juice, a date-and-raw-cocoa snack bar, and ‘spaghetti’ with spiralised

companies, juices are delivered in recyclable glass bottles. There are a few

courgette and blended nut ‘Neat Balls’. Particular highlights include the raw

admin kinks to still iron out (collecting the glass bottles at the end took ages),

brownie (dates and chocolate have never tasted so good) and the dehydrated

but the process overall is streamlined. So is it worth it? The company’s focus

raw onion crackers.

on vegetable juices, rather than sugar-heavy fruit drinks, is refreshing, and the surfer-chic vibe is perfect for those who like their yoga with a side of cool. The

The five-day detox isn’t difficult to follow, given that food is delivered fresh every

juices are fresh and innovative, playing with spicier flavours. And for a three-day

day and that there’s quite a variety. Portions are small but the dishes, which

all-in detox, the programme works perfectly. Juice.capitaldstudio.com

THE THE ULTIMATE ULTIMATE DESTINATION DESTINATION TO RELAX TO RELAX

secret spaces perfect for the most discerning guests, the luxurious Beit al Bahar villas at Jumeirah Beach Hotel offer privacy, space and exclusive finishing touches. Relax and unwind in the recently refurbished Beit Al Bahar villas. These 19 private spaces create a tranquil hideaway nestled between lush foliage and beautiful pools. Featuring a private express check-in and check-out, you can glide through the initial steps of your stay, drop your bags in the spacious living room, and gaze out towards the nearby ocean while selecting a villa fragrance from the aroma menu. At your doorstep is a private swimming pool. If you want something larger, you have exclusive access to the executive pool (along with your own private cabana). After a relaxing swim, you can enjoy complimentary daily afternoon tea in your villa then head off for pre-dinner canapĂŠs and cocktails. If you feel like something more active, you have endless access to Wild Wadi Waterpark, as well as a complimentary scuba diving session in the hotel pool. This is all complemented by a dedicated 24-hour butler service, meaning if you feel like simply relaxing in the airy, recently renovated villas, all the resources of Jumeirah Beach Hotel will still be at your fingertips. When it is time to leave, you can book an exclusive limousine transfer to and from Dubai International Airport. jumeirah.com/jumeirah-beach-hotel

travel

REASSURINGLY FAMILIAR, REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT

CMY

JUMEIRAH AL NASEEM, THE NEW ADDITION TO MADINAT JUMEIRAH Anchored on a stunning endless stretch of private, pristine coastline, Jumeirah Al Naseem will bring a fresh energy, exuberance and excitement to The Arabian Resort of Dubai. Dine at nine new restaurants and bars as well as an exclusive beach club Visit the turtle sanctuary and discovery trail Relax in one of four swimming pools For reservations call +971 4 366 8888 or visit jumeirah.com/madinatjumeirah

@madinatjumeirah | #MyMadinat

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re with us today. Imagine where we can take you tomorrow. The enhanced Jumeirah Sirius Recognition and Rewards programme. Collect points to go further, stay longer and STAY DIFFERENTâ&#x201E;˘. Become a member before checking out and make this stay count towards unlocking even more privileges*. If staying at a Jumeirah property, apply at reception; or visit jumeirahsirius.com *Guest on an eligible rate will accrue Jumeirah Sirius Points for their current stay.

The high life:

Mundo, Jumeirah emirates Towers, Dubai

What: Seafood dinner in Mundo at Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

Try: The buffet offers a fresh selection and the menu is constantly overhauled, allowing you to regularly discover new seafood dishes. Be sure to

The food: Enjoy the best seafood dishes from around the world at Mundo

delve into the huge oysters and jumbo prawns that are available at the

all week long. Inspired by global culinary trends, you can savour a menu

raw bar. For something sweeter, enjoy exotic fruits, sorbets, mousse or

that represents dishes from Mediterranean, Asian, Arabic, and Indian cui-

even a rich hot cocoa.

sines. To drink, you can enjoy refined wine and other beverages. Details: The seafood dinner runs from 7 to 10pm, Sunday to Thursday.

Crowd: The dinner crowd at Mundo is fairly diverse. It spans everything

To learn more about Mundoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening hours and other appetising meals

from guests hosting business dinners, to seafood lovers looking for a range

throughout the week, email restaurants@jumeirah.com, call +971 4 432

of mouthwatering dinner options, to customers celebrating.

3232 or visit jumeirah.com.