Back with the Bang Issue

Your Ideas in Print

LOL With EyshElly Meet the men behind the show

Adam Baluch

UAE-based musician launches first EP

5 Male and Female Role Models Check out who is making a difference in the world

Hisham Assad Creator of all things delicious

Tala Samman

Founder of the UAE’s premiere fashion blog, MyFashDiary

TAKE ME I’M FREE

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#CRAZYFUNNYPRANKS 8th-13th September

Share your craziest & funniest prank on our social media and 4 lucky winners will recieve a goodie bag filled with amazing prizes.

Winners will be announced on 14th September.

Check out our social media pages for more info: facebook.com/ one8one.magazine

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BHARGAVI NAGRECHA Acting Editor (editor@one8one.net)

Summer 2015 has been off the charts! We had so much happening at one8one, with over 20 interns helping out this summer on cool new projects, photoshoots and exclusive interviews. We are super excited to be back, and I for one cannot wait to show off all our hard work.

One of the coolest things we did was meet with the sweet and beautiful Tala Samman. She was brilliant, down to earth and so much fun to hang out with.

For issue 39, we decided to bring some more soul and personality to one8one, hence we added backstage images of all that we did throughout the journey of this issue.

One of the standout features is our Pilot Pens photoshoot and artwork illustration. These cool pens and highlighters have the ability to erase and rewrite as you wish, just by using friction. And to achieve a unique look, we employed the help of our amazing artist Abeer Abaidoh, who helped us transform our model's expressions and put smiles on their faces by using these pens.

On another note, we also spent some time with the team of EyshElly, who were super funny and easily to connect with.

So far this summer has been amazing, and we look forward to the fall. Be sure to check out our top male and female role models, who are making wonderful changes to the world.

Happy September!

one8one.com/read-online

OPEN 1st SEPT 2015 Discover your perfect student accommodation experience today!

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CONTENTS

2 6-7 8-9 10 12 14 15 16-17 18-19 20-21 22-23 24-25 26-27 28-29 30-33 34-35 36-37 38-39 40 42-43 44-49 50-51 52-53 54-55 56 58-59 60-61 62-64

Editor’s Letter ’s up Hitlist In Cinemas Photography Albums Movies Interns' Notes Dan Stevens Bader Saleh & Friends Exploring the UK A Bumpy Commitment Adam Baluch OMG Facts Tala Samman Coming Full Circle Five Women Five Men Out & About Tech Review Pilot Pen Photo Shoot Hisham Asaad Five Must-Haves Men’s Stripes Book Review Astrology News Distribution List

photography: Bhargavi Nagrecha

FILM

CELEBS

GAMING

COSPLAY ARCADES

16-17 October 2015 Yas Island Ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores or call 800 TM UAE (800 86 823) TICKETS START FROM AED 100

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’s up What When Where

June Dubai Summer Surprises Closes (23 July-5 Sep)

The Global Innovation Summit 2015 Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Cityscape Global 2015 Dubai World Trade Centre (8-10 Sep)

Emirates NBD Classics IV Presents Martin Frost Duo DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates

Dubai Music Week 2015 Dubai World Trade Centre (23-26 Sep)

RTEX—Robot Technology Exhibition 2015 The Meydan Hotel (29 Sep-1 Oct)

Sharjah Art Foundation Light Show Sharjah Art Museum (19 Sep-5 Dec)

Spandau Ballet Live in Concert Dubai World Trade Centre

Middle East Games Convention Dubai World Trade Centre (17-20 Sep)

Eid in Dubai—Eid Al Adha 2015 (24 Sep-2 Oct)

Thirty Seconds to Mars Live in Dubai Dubai World Trade Centre

Know of something going on in town? Want to share? Write to us about it to mysay@one8one.com

Dubai International Dance Festival 2015 Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa (14-21 Sep)

8

Hitlist Music

Apps

1. Cheerleader Omi

2. Shut Up And Dance Walk The Moon

3. Hey Mama

(feat. Nicki Minaj & Afrojack) David Guetta

4. Can't Feel My Face Weeknd

5. Are You With Me Lost Frequencies

6. Trap Queen Fetty Wap

7. Lean On Major Lazer

8. Where Are U Now

Skrillex, Diplo & Justin Bieber

9. See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth) Wiz Khalifa

NextDraft (iOS)

CamScan (Android & iOS)

How often do you and your friends read the news? Understandably, not many do.

Some find it boring and others depressing.

But to not be completely ignorant about what’s going on around the world, you only need to look to NextDraft. Writers choos 10 of their favourite pieces of news and write about them in a satirical manner. Informative and entertaining, NextDraft is a must have.

Now you can replace your scanning printer with CamScan. Take a picture of your documents, and the app processes the image and produces a high-quality picture, which you can share via email in PDF or Jpeg format. Also, the app recognises text in the image and can even locate words that you want to search for. It’s simple, free, useful and it doesn’t crash.

Find My Car (Android & iOS)

RTA Smart Drive (Android & iOS)

Imagine yourself going to the mall on a Friday during the summer. You have just finished shopping for over five hours and, while heading to the car, you realise that you forgot where you’ve parked. Sound familiar? Next time use Find My Car—it will remember your parking spot by switching on your GPS.

If you are a new driver in the UAE, RTA Smart Drive will not only guide you to your destination, but will provide many other useful features that Google Maps won’t offer. Since the data comes from the RTA and Dubai Police, the app is not only more accurate but also more efficient in providing the latest traffic details.

10. Want To Want Me Jason Derulo

11. Waiting For Love Avicii

12. How Deep Is Your Love Calvin Harris & Disciples

13. Photograph Ed Sheeran

14. Worth It

(feat. Kid Ink) Fifth Harmony

15. Stole The Show (feat. Parson James) Kygo

16. Bad Blood Taylor Swift

17. Watch Me Silento

18. The Hills The Weeknd

19. Ain't Nobody

(feat. Jasmine Thompson) Felix Jaehn

20. Black Magic Little Mix

Instagram

Blogs

YouTube

@ClimbForCancer A charity initiative-based account shows you how a group of sport enthusiasts try to be the change they want to see in the world by climbing mountain peaks and raising money for children suffering from cancer. Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Ararat, these volunteers are willing to climb any mountain in order to save young lives. And the best part is that you can join them in their journey or support them by donating money.

Adventurati-Blog.com Often as UAE citizens we tend to be restricted to the indoor 'mall life'.

Sheikh Fadi will help you break free from that kind of life by helping you find fun outdoor activities. In his blog, he shares his experiences in exploring the beautiful country with you. From camping, diving and offroading to simply writing about interesting places to visit outdoors, this site is a must for all those bored with the mainstream indoor life.

Yoga by Candace There are a lot of yoga channels on YouTube, but Candace’s channel stands out in her detailed pictures on every yoga movement. Yoga may look like an easy discipline, but a small mistake in body posture while performing can lead to pain and even injuries. Candace helps you out with all the movements for a safe and pleasant yoga experience.

@ThinkUpGCC A social media agency founded by Saleh Al Braik. The Instagram account ThinkUpGCC supports citizens with talents by writing about the Emirati community, connecting volunteers to charity campaigns, promoting health and fitness, and much more.

EatTheSun.org Nigora Normatova, the founder of this blog, is one of the brightest people you could meet in Dubai. Glowing with kindness and curiosity, she founded a charity organisation called Raising Seeds to help the children of Tajikistan.

After her charity campaign, she decided to start blogging about delicious healthy recipes. She also updates her readers on free yoga classes for a good cause.

CrazyRussianHacker Are you into cool science experiments?

Taras Kulakov does all kinds of cool and crazy experiments and posts them on his YouTube channel. Not only that, he also posts videos about zombie survival tips, and performs crazy pranks that you can try out on your friends, and so much more. Follow him for funny yet educational videos on YouTube.

DVD Picks

Pride and Prejudice

Happy Thank You More Please

Never Let Me Go

Cast: Kiera Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen

Cast: Josh Radner, Kate Mara

Cast: Carrie Mulligan, Andrew Garfield

Based on Jane Austen’s classic novel, Joe Wright directs the heart-wrenching new-age rendition of the movie. When Elizabeth Bennett meets the striking and pompous Mr Darcy, she is firm, and extremely vocal, about her disdain for him. But as their lives become more and more involved, Liz finds herself enthralled by the man she detested.

How I Met Your Mother’s lead, Josh Radner, directs and acts in this independent film. A sharp comedy, the movie follows the lives of five New Yorkers in their 20s, telling a tale about youth uncertainty and angst. Throughout the film, the characters struggle to figure themselves out, or more so, who they want to be.

Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s best-selling novel, the plot follows Ruth, Kathy and Tommy as children, at a seemingly regular English boarding school. As they get older, the excruciating pain of the truth about their lives begins to unfold, all while they attempt to deal with overwhelming feelings of love and loss.

by Sumaya Nayr & Maria Mohammad

10

In Cinemas Hotel Transylvania 2 Cast: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi Now that Dracula (Adam Sandler) has opened the Hotel Transylvania's doors to humans, things are changing for the better. But Drac is secretly worried that his halfhuman grandson, Dennis, isn't showing his vampire side. While Mavis and Johnny are away, Drac enlists his friends to help him. But things take a turn for the worse with the arrival of an unexpected visitor.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Pan

The Last Witch Hunter

Spectre 007

Cast: Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Katherine McNamara

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund, Nonso Anozie,Amanda Seyfried

Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood

Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes

In this next chapter of the epic Maze Runner saga, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and his fellow Gladers face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organisation known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, where they uncover WCKD’s shocking plans.

Offering a new take on the origin of the classic characters created by J.M. Barrie, this film follows the story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny—to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.

A cryptic message from his Centuries ago, Kaulder (Vin past sends James Bond (Daniel Diesel) slayed the Queen Craig)pour on a quest to uncover Witch, decimating her “...I just my heart out a sinister organisation while followers. Before her death, say whatever I feel, M (Ralph Fiennes) battles she cursed the warrior with and I study rap political and forces that want to ” immortality, separating him shut down the British Secret from his wife and daughter.

Service. Spectre is the 24th Her resurrection now film in the James Bond series threatens the survival of the produced by Eon Productions, human race as Kaulder, the only one of his kind, faces her and is Craig's fourth outing as the spy. vengeful wrath.

by Rabieh Ansari

12

Photography

Anusha Goyal

Want to see your photography in print?

Submit your art at mysay@one8one.com We’d love to share your talent.

27-29 October 2015 Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

Gather information and advice on the best postgraduate courses available for you by talking to delegates from leading local and international universities and training institutes Discuss your career options with representatives from leading organisations offering recruitment opportunities

Exhibition Timings: 27 October 2015: 10am -7pm 28 October 2015: 10am - 7pm (10am - 2pm Ladies only) 29 October 2015: 10am - 7pm

Skip the queues, register to visit @ www.najahonline.com www.najahonline.com SUPPORTED BY

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14

Albums

Fall Out Boy American Beauty/American Psycho Fall Out Boy's sixth full-length album, American Beauty/ American Psycho is the energetic result of bassist and primary songwriter Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley devoting themselves to Patrick Stump’s astonishing vocals. The album has a wide range of pop songs that are quite captivating and will definitely take you on an entertaining journey through a futuristic palette.

American Psycho is not within the same genre as the band's previous albums, which defined them as punk-rock with an emo twist. Their latest album is a fine modern pop record, containing enough hits to ensure that Fall Out Boy remain highly secure in their position as rulers of the pop-rock world.

The album’s title track is a tad more chaotic than most other tracks on the album, since it has more of a punk element to it, mixed with a modern-day dance feel. Their single track, Centuries, however, does a lot better and lends with a different sound to the album.

Overall the album is definitely worth listening to and we are excited to see what Fall Out Boy has to offer in the future.

by Abdullah Ali

Vance Joy Dream Your Life Away Dream Your Life Away is the debut album from James Keogh, better known in the musical world as Vance Joy, It follows his 2013 EP, God Loves You When You’re Dancing.

This highly anticipated release is exactly how you would imagine it to be—a soft yet uplifting collection of tunes, heavily reliant on that certain style of ukulele strumming which put Vance Joy into the international spotlight in the first place. But is his debut album just a compilation of Riptide soundalikes?

After the uniquely beautiful simplicity of Riptide, this album is unexpectedly full of delicate phrases and hooks.

With the smooth, emotional lyrics from Mess is Mine, right through to My Kind of Man, the songs send you into a thoughtful state of mind, but not so much as to take away from the overall positive vibes roaring from this significant debut.

Overall, it is a smooth and delicate album regardless of the repetitive lyrics.

by Abdullah Ali

Share your opinion on latest music and movie releases. Submit your reviews to mysay@one8one.com We’d love to share your thoughts.

15

Movies All You Need Is Love With All You Need Is Love, director Stuart Cameron has managed to brilliantly combine the tragic and the positive into one documentary.

The film takes the viewer into the world of Burmese children who have no identity or proof to show that they exist. In collaboration with the Good Morning School and Erin Terzieff, the documentary depicts the lives and dreams of these children and eventually shows the possibility of them coming through it.

Viewers are bound to be captivated by the way things have been brought forward from start to finish. Watching the conversations with the Burmese children make you feel grateful for what you have. The simplicity in which the documentary is shot touches the heart and makes the viewer want to be there to actually do something about it.

All You Need Is Love aims to spread awareness about these children and their conditions. It offers a ray of hope to bring forward a grander progress and allow these children to have a life beyond hiding between the borders.

The documentary holds in it a great experience for all those who watch it, and evokes a feeling of gratefulness, patience, love and support.

by Neelam Sawlani

Minions We have all grown to love and adore those little yellow pill-shaped beings wearing deep sea diving goggles and overalls. The latest flick, Minions, took the world by storm and is seriously one of this summer’s funniest movies. It is bound to be loved by people of all ages, showing the viewers the origin of the Minions and how they came into being. The entire movie is enjoyable and is quite different from its predecessor, Despicable Me. The movie is about one Minion named Kevin, who has a plan to venture out into the world and find the Minionkind a new evil boss for them to follow. Kevin is joined by the loveable and positive Bob and teen rebel Stuart. Their journey and the plot of the movie begins in the 1960s, when the three travel from the very cold Antarctica all the way to London and New York City to face their biggest challenge yet.

Even though the current movie doesn’t have much dialogue, it manages to come out quite funny. There are several words in Spanish and French that the Minions seem to use, and it's fun to see all the different characters such as Kevin, Bob and Stuart.

The movie is definitely worth watching due to the Minions' funny slapstick comedy, silly antics, weird names, and nonsense conventions. The movie is so enjoyable just for the fact that the Minions are so cute in any given situation.

by Samantha george

16

Interns' Notes

When my internship at one8one started on 5 July, I didn’t think much of it, but I quickly learnt otherwise. I was exposed to freedom and choice in writing articles.

I was expecting to be told what to do, and then I would have had to do it. Rather, I was told that I could literally do whatever I wanted, and write whatever I liked. I was taken aback and I was surprised because I had never heard of a magazine like this. one8one is truly a magazine like no other, where the youth have the ability to determine what the youth read in every issue. That opportunity is unparalleled to any other summer camp, and the responsibility is also a good challenge. My three weeks at one8one were fun, exciting and challenging. All in all, I really enjoyed my time here at one8one magazine.

A A

man

ilani

SS

uha abith

I re-discovered my passion for writing while interning at one8one magazine. As interns, we were allowed to write on any topic and that motivated us to expand our thoughts and give voice to our opinions and interests.

More than an intern, the feeling you get at one8one magazine is that of being a professional. I spent my internship not just writing articles but also helping out with photoshoots and taking part in discussions on creating ads and marketing campaigns. As a journalism student, one8one was the perfect place for me to start. To write what I liked and what I knew gave me the confidence to venture into new topics and also filled me with excitement. There is absolutely no better sense of fulfillment for a student than to see her name printed as a byline in a published magazine.

My name is Kian Schmidt. Since I'm from Germany, I will use typical german sayings in reviewing my experience of my internship at one8one magazine. #experience good things and talk about them

K S

ian

I did my two-week school internship at one8one Magazine and learnt pretty much everything you need to know about a magazine's production. #you learn until the #end The hard work was totally worth it. It was especially great to see my work get published. #first the work, then the pleasure The internship here was an experience for life because the magazine showed me how things are put together and how work can be hard but cool at the same time. #you only get wise with experience Thank you one8one magazine!

chmidt

As an amateur writer, I am always looking for ways to improve and broaden my skills. I have pushed myself to write better articles, and think of new ways to connect with readers. In addition, I learnt how to write more clearly, understand where I make mistakes, and proofread my work. I experienced the magazine being put together and all the challenges and excitement that come along with it. The most exciting thing was when I got a chance to help out at a cover story photoshoot for the cover page of the June 2015 issue. I am also grateful to all the people in the office for being kind and helpful; it was truly inspiring to witness their hard work. one8one is definitely my favourite magazine! Thank you one8one for the wonderful experience!

N M

azish unir

18

Dan Stevens Dan Stevens has been working as a professional photographer for over 25 years, since his first job with W Magazine in London in 1988. With a passion for travelling, his work covers a wide range of portraits, fashion-based photo shoots, jewellery and so much more. Dan is currently working on a personal project photographing what he calls The Art World, which consists of art, artists, collectors and agents.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Stevens and learn more about him.

"It was a combination of aesthetic and scientific, which is satisfying to both my interests."

Tell us about yourself.

Well, I have a degree in chemistry, but my interest lies in photography. Thus, as a combination of my interest in what things looked like and some magic of chemistry, I found something quite unique. In other words it was a combination of aesthetic and scientific, which is satisfying to both my interests.

Later on it developed from there into a technique.

What ignited your passion for photography? Was there a certain moment?

When I was very young, as a family, we used to have these moments in winter where we would huddle close to each other and project pictures my father took, and they were in such fine quality images that as children we were simply amazed by it.

The projection would show us events that would have happened about six months ago but to us that was a lifetime ago. And so it appeared as time travel, which was a pretty amazing thing to witness as well.

Photo by Rowan El Atrache

Advertising Campaign for Allegra Hicks

by Dan Stevens

You’ve obviously accomplished a lot—what do you attribute it to?

To be fair, I’d say luck and the willingness to adapt by being open-minded. And just looking around for inspiration and being excited about what I see.

What medium of photography do you prefer?

Well, people are definitely my main interest. It’s very fascinating and powerful to capture their reactions, and the slightest change could greatly change the end result as well. Both portraits and the directed fashion shoots have that challenging element to them and I love them both equally.

Are you self-taught or have you received education regarding photography?

Basically I’m self-taught, although I assisted a couple of famous photographers when I was younger—people like Snowden and Mario Testino. They taught me that photography is truly a personal thing, and that it is down to you. Sure, you can learn the techniques and settings but in the end it is the human aspect that makes it very personal and unique. In my experience, when you’re photographing a person, you’re recording their reactions.

That’s why different photographers will achieve different things because people’s reactions will differ.

Who is your favourite photographer?

I’d have to say Henri Cartier-Bresson, since he was one of the most poetic photographers. What I mean by that is that his subjects and the location are all perfect. No one creates photos like that anymore since usually photographers today have a crew setting up the atmosphere, while Bresson was instinctual and pure.

In conclusion, what advice would you give to amateur photographers?

Keep your eyes open since inspiration is all around you, so make sure to take time to stop and look around. From the moment I wake up I am engulfed by all the colours around me and it is beautiful, since we live in such a beautiful world.

by Abdullah Ali

When it comes to equipment, what do you prefer?

Well, I have two different cameras; one is a Leica M9, which is a digital version of a film camera and I use it all the time due to its compact size. And on the other side I also use a Canon DSLR for shoots that require a faster frame rate, but this one isn’t quite special because everyone has one and it does not have the extensive post-process since it doesn't capture the picture in the raw-form as the Leica M9, which I think makes photography more enjoyable.

Fashion Editorial by Dan Stevens for Enigma Magazine

Website: danstevens.co.uk Facebook: danstevensphoto Twitter: danstevensphoto Instagram: danstevensphoto

Dan Stevens' Personal Work, London

20

Bader Saleh & Friends

Shakir Al Sharif

Osama Salmeen

was pretty contagious. Then one day we told ourselves, “Okay, we think we have what it takes and that we should try.” We have not looked back since.

Bader Saleh is a Saudi internet sensation. He was the first person from the Middle East to receive the Golden Button from YouTube, which he earnt for his rib-tickling show, EyshElly, which basically means 'what is' in Arabic.

As part of Abu Dhabi Summer Season 2015, Saleh, along with Redwan Al Reemi, Osama Salmeen and Shakir Al Sharif, came into town to organise a night of fun and laughter at the du Forum on August 28.

Our team had the opportunity to speak with the comedians and learn more about them and their show.

Tell us about yourselves.

Bader: I’ll start. We are one team, we have a show on YouTube named EyshElly, which is basically a comedy show. It is also the number-one hit show in Saudi Arabia and in the Arab world.

We are super excited to have our stand-up comedy show at the stage of the du Forum in Abu Dhabi.

When did you discover the passion for comedy?

Bader: Every one of us had a passion for comedy before we professionally began. We believe that it was always a part of us.

It started off by making our mothers laugh, then our friends, it

Tell us about the first time you performed as a stand-up comedian.

Shakir: I got into the comedy business about three years ago, and wow, I wasn’t accepted easily because the way I approached everything initially was wrong. I didn't know that it required organising and materials to be prepared ahead of time. So after I did that, I went in again and once more I wasn’t accepted. After a while, I practiced some more and finally I managed to get a spot within the business.

When making scripts, where do you get your inspiration from?

Shakir: I have two of the best comedians who are on my mind 24/7—Louis C.K. and, no, not Osama Salmeen. Well, yes it is Osama Salmeen. These two mix like oreos. (laughs) What do you like or dislike most about your profession?

Redwan: The thing I like about my profession is that I could be the reason to make people happy and be in a good mood.

It makes me very pleased to know that I managed to uplift someone’s mood. On the other hand, what I don’t like is the fact that a lot of people within the Arab region have not accepted the idea of stand-up comedy.

BADER SALEH

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Redwan: I hope to see myself on a stage again—based on how the comedy club is going right now I expect to see a good future for us. Previously comedians had to work other jobs to pay their bills because there was no demand, but now I am happy to see that we have a better market. I hope that more aspiring young comedians go ahead and test the waters and make a name for themselves.

Youtube: EyshElly Twitter: rreemi Instagram: os_salmeen Instagram: bidzsaleh

by Hibba Syed & Abdullah Ali

Redwan Al Reemi "It makes me very pleased to know that I managed to uplift someone’s mood."

22

Exploring The UK "It was wonderful place to go for a hike and we also managed to see some cute goats on the hills."

About a year ago, I went to The United Kingdom as a school field trip. It was one of the best experiences in my life. I mean, imagine travelling with your best friends to another continent— awesome, right?

We stayed in a hotel in Brighton and used the train to travel, and even used the coach at times. The first place we went to was the University of Cambridge, which is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world’s fourth-oldest surviving university. The weather was around 14C—not too hot or cold. After that, we headed to Christ Church, a unique institution, and one of the largest colleges at the University of Oxford and the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford. It has the world-famous Cathedral Choir, scholarly collections of books and art, and is enjoyed by many visitors and guests at conferences and summer schools. There was a pond nearby and it was absolutely beautiful.

The next day, we headed out to the capital city, London. We saw Buckingham Palace which is the residence and principal workplace of the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focus for the British people at times of national rejoicing. We also walked through Hyde Park. The greenery was astounding for a city that is kind of overpopulated and polluted.

On the third day, we had an excursion to Seven Sisters, which are a series of chalk cliffs by the English Channel. It was a wonderful place to go for a hike and we also managed to see some rather cute goats on the hills.

We then explored Brighton. This was the one place that I completely adored. Brighton was full of cute little cafes, a lovely beach, the Brighton pier, and some great artistic and majestic graffiti. I would definitely recommend people to go there during the summer time since that is when the weather would is the best.

by Ayesha Maqsood

24

A Bumpy Commitment Wheels. Your own set of wheels. That’s the dream for many licensed students across the region. Cars give us a sense of freedom and happiness that is unparalleled to anything else that is materialistic. For auto lovers, buying a car is the defining moment, the ultimate choice. But you need to think of options and affordability. One usually plans ahead on what to buy and from where, along with the desired features. But for those of you who find yourself at a loss when it comes to the automobile world we dedicate this article. Owning a car can be a big responsibility, meaning that choosing the right one is a big commitment.

by SUHA SABITH

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26

Adam Baluch

UAE-based Adam Baluch is a singer-songwriter who uses a loop station, beatboxing, rapping and various instruments to produce 'alternative soul'—his medium to reach out to people with his music. He has caused a buzz all on his own, attracting the attention of Ed Sheeran, and he has thousands of fans waiting for his next step. It's all about being open to new experiences for Baluch, and that way of life is what makes him as unique as he is today. We caught up with the singer to see what makes him tick.

How did it feel to professionally record your first official EP? Did you get the reaction you were anticipating now that it is out?

With my first official EP, Answers to Questions, it was important for me to get it exactly how I wanted it. This way I get to see what people thought of it before I go ahead with an album, and so far it’s been a solid response. It’s been an important test for me, as I want to really gauge people’s feedback and what tracks they really like. I have also made the EP free to download since it’s not about making money from it just yet.

Tell us more about Answers to Questions.

The EP is basically a snapshot of 10 years of music for me. It includes tracks that I wrote way back when all the way through this year. To me it represents a lot of change and evolution, but also, I hope, a strong identity for the ‘Adam Baluch sound’.

Essentially, it is something I want to share with people… and

see what they think of it. I have been playing in and outside of the UAE for years and including original tracks in my sets, but I’d never spent time professionally recording them. People were always asking me when I would release my music, and I always knew I would, it was just finding the right time. That time is now.

How would you describe your music?

I call it ‘alternative soul’. It is honestly too hard to pigeonhole into one genre, as it is just so varied, and that is exactly my intention. I listen to and love so many different styles of music and I play everything from slow vocal ballads to beat-boxed hip-hop tracks.

What instruments, musical equipment and programs do you use to create your music?

The main piece of equipment I use is an RC300 loop station.

All my instruments, such as the guitar, keyboard, trumpet and vocals go through this. I essentially record sections of what I am playing and repeat them and then record different instruments over the top to create a live band sound with just me. It involves using my feet a lot, as I have to record the sections using a pedal on the loop station.

What started this passion for music?

I was around music from a very young age—it started with me being involved in the school choirs. I started playing the trumpet at eight and piano at 10, and then the guitar in my 20s.

"Travel is such a learning curve for a musician, and I intend to do as much as I can."

Is there anything you are excited for this year?

The release of the EP has led me to some exciting meetings within the music industry this summer, so I am very grateful and hopeful about what the next few months might bring.

Spending time in the UK and Ibiza, where I am right now, has allowed me to see how my music can work within so many different environments. Travel is such a learning curve for a musician, and I intend to do as much as I can. On the gig front, I am looking forward to starting a weekly residency in Beirut from the end of this month.

Any advice for beginners in the music field—especially now that it is so competitive?

Make sure you are trying to get into the business because you love the music that you make, not because you want to ‘make it’.

by Abdullah Ali

Facebook: adambaluch Twitter: adam_baluch Instagram: adambaluch SoundCloud: adam-baluch

28

OMG Facts

Bob Dylan’s real name is Robert Zimmerman.

Crazy About K-Pop Korean pop music (and K-drama too, for that matter)

has achieved cult status,

with legions of adoring fans.

Eating bananas can

help fight depression.

A baby spider is

The tea bag was created

by accident, as tea bags were originally sent as samples.

called a Spiderling.

In Uganda,

50% of the population is

under 15 years of age.

Sea otters hold hands when they sleep

so they don’t drift away from each other.

A crocodile can’t poke its tongue out.

A sheep, a duck and a rooster Nearly three per cent of the ice

in Antarctic glaciers is

penguin urine.

were the first passengers

in a hot air balloon.

by Maria Mohammed

Ta l a

Originally from Syria, born in Chicago and brought up in both Canada and Dubai, the talented and beautiful Tala Samman had a lot of different cultures influence her life. Having studied at the London College of Fashion, she was hooked on the industry after having worked with brands such as Tom Ford, Halston and the likes, and thus, decided to launch her UAE-based blog, myfashdiary.

What was your inspiration for starting myfashdiary?

I started myfashdiary nearly six years ago, when blogs didn't really exist in the region. My mom was the face of Nina Ricci in the region, I was a fashion student and I wanted to share a diary with my friends on my fashion adventures—hence the name myfashdiary.

They say your blog was the first one to come out of the UAE back in 2009, when you started it. Is that true and how does that feel?

Yes it is. I was definitely lucky to have started it at the best time. It also gave me years to really build my site and following organically.

You write about fashion, beauty, travel and food as well.

Which one is your favourite area to try new and different things to review?

They all excite me in so many different ways so I must say I love all of them.

How do you decide what to blog about?

When I first started, I think I had to think of content but now, I think we live in such a happening city that’s so innovative, and it’s always buzzing with life. In the past I used to write a whole piece on one beauty treatment that I loved; now I just compile a bunch of them, because there’s so much to write about.

Luckily, I’m at this point where we live in such an inspirational place that I don’t really feel like I need to plan that much; I just write about something I’m drawn to, have heard about, tried out and just loved.

So you don’t ever write about anything negative?

I will never write about something that was just horrible. That being said, if I’m writing about a restaurant and for instance, they just had horrible parking, or the service wasn’t as good as I hoped, then I’d definitely mention that. Just because people are going to go there and I don’t want them to think I’m raving about it when there are flaws. I think it kind of helps brands as well; at one of the restaurants I wrote about recently, the parking was horrendous, and I think I wrote that and they never asked me to remove it, but a lot of people were also complaining about it and eventually, they got valet parking, and it definitely helped to improve the overall experience of the diners.

Who do you think is the main demographic for your blog?

I’ve always said that I target 18-to-24-year-old women, but whenever I do events with brands, I find out that it’s not just them. The website is about lifestyle, too; I sometimes meet 14-to-15-year-old girls who read the blog for the makeup and fashion tips, and then I’ll meet older women who are married, who have kids, who read it for restaurant reviews, and travel recommendations.

Have you met any men who go through the blog?

I’ve met a few who have gone onto it, to look for something to pick up for their wives, or partners.

What are some of the blogs that you look at?

I don’t really follow any local blogs here in the UAE but in the US, I read becauseimaddicted, leaftvchannel, which is amazing, manrepeller, and refinery29 as well.

How do you feel your personal style has evolved over the years?

Since I document everything, I find it funny when I look back and think about how “I actually hated this eye shadow that I wore!” Whereas I think naturally, when you’re just out with your friends, you don’t really realise things like that. Due to the blog, I have to document almost everything I wear and that helps me learn a lot more about what works for me and what doesn’t.

I guess it’s just about being comfortable with your style and finding out what suits you.

How do you pick what pieces to wear?

I don’t know, I usually go off on how I feel, how the weather is and where I’m going, and just how anyone else might get dressed. I think I’m drawn to things that are quirky and fun.

Since I’m young I feel like I can have a lot more fun dressing up.

What do you think is the main difference between the online fashion paradigm and the industry in reality?

I wouldn’t really compare them. I think nowadays anyone can run a fashion blog online, without having to be involved in the industry. Since I have studied fashion and have worked at fashion-based companies, I can honestly say that it is a lot more serious. Whereas online, you can be more free, and you don’t have a set of rules.

Do you think the online world of fashion is growing or fading out?

Oh, I definitely think it’s growing. I mean, I do this for a living.

Years ago, brands wouldn’t look to advertise online. I make money out of this—that's also a lot more than I made at my

full-time job. Years ago, you could never do this because brands never had a set budget for online marketing or advertising and I think they have started to realise the power of the internet and how fast that message can reach out to people.

Do you think your online persona is a complete reflection of you?

I believe to an extent it is, but I don’t share every part of my life.

Maybe if it is within the topics I’m talking about. Like I only write about things I love, things I’m wearing, beauty products I’m raving about, and hotels that I’ve just discovered that are great finds. So, within the things I love I would say yes, but I don’t share everything because, you know, you shouldn’t be sharing your whole life or too much on social media.

What is your advice for young adults pursuing fashion in university?

There are so many fields under fashion—if you want to design, study at one of the top fashion schools, but if you want to start a business, personally and from experience, I’d suggest studying business and interning at fashion companies on the side.

People want to know what you do on daily basis. Could you please share with us what a typical day for you looks like?

I think I tend to paint this fun, amazing life and people think I don’t do anything except get dressed and eat. But in actuality everyday is really different. I spend a lot of my day time just discovering and looking for interesting content. The site gets updated every day, but now because I have been travelling a lot there has been some change in my schedule. During the day, it’s really just discovering and writing, whether it’s food or events.

It’s a business, at the end of the day. Also I really strive to keep my content as honest as I can, as it always was, six years ago when I first began, when I was making nothing out of it to having it become my career. But I don’t really have a certain way of how I go about my days. I spend my nights writing and sometimes I try and make use of my free time during the day doing the same as well—while juggling meetings with brands and discussions about brand images.

What is your advice to people who want to start a fashion blog?

I just think that if you have a unique story that you want to share, or just want to be yourself, a blog is a good idea. However, a lot of the time, I come across blogs that look exactly like each other because people think they can use a cookie cutter formula on how to run a successful blog, but to be honest, the blogs that I personally enjoy reading are so different and I read them for different reasons. I think the main focus should be on originality, and giving readers your own perspective.

by Sumaya Nayr

Check out what Tala is up to on:

photography: Rashad Fatayri Rowan El Atrache

Website: myfashdiary.com Facebook: Myfashdiary Snapchat: myfashdiary Instagram: myfashdiary

"I think I tend to paint this fun, amazing life and people think I don’t do anything except get dressed and eat. But in actuality everyday is really different."

Picnic Essentials

Now that the weather’s calling for it, are you planning on going down to the park for a picnic? Wondering how to go about packing up a little basket? Look no further! Here’s a quick and concise list that you can run through or use as a checklist right before you head out!

How to plan the Menu A good way to go about planning your menu is to work around a few main dishes and then have a lot more knick-knacks that you can just snack on. Just make sure your dishes aren’t messy and don’t need a lot of cutlery to eat; so that rules steaks out.

What to pack One definite and thought-free main dish can be cold pressed sandwiches. They are super easy to put together; you could pack a few savoury slices and a few sweet ones, as well. Some great other ideas for little snacks include fruits, cheese, some potato salad, garlic bread, hummus and salads.

Fresh foods always give picnics a better, cleaner feel than packaged goods, so try and stray away from processed foods if possible.

Don’t forget to pack essential drinks, like water, fresh juices, a large flask to store tea or coffee is always a good idea as well!

What else to pack Make sure you have the basic essentials like A blanket or mat to sit on You could also bring cushions for more comfort and cozniess. . Disposable plates, cutlery and cups are the easiest and lightest way to go (Don’t forget: a bottle opener or a

corkscrew, if needed) . Containers to store leftover food . Paper towels and wet wipes . Small bottles of condiments like ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper . A cool box for drinks and ice bags to keep sensitive food fresh (Can be used to drop into cold drinks after!) . Trash bags for a quick clean up afte . And of course, your basket of food Always remember to apply sunscreen!

Happy Picnicking!

by Sumaya Nayr

36

Super Women They say that 2014 was the year of newage feminism and women's empowerment.

Here, we take a look at all the big names who have continued to push boundaries and be revolutionary despite all the setbacks.

Beyoncé

In the past year, Beyoncé has been pretty groundbreaking. After deciding she was av feminist, she released her self-titled album that completely embodied it. One of the songs, Flawless, even featured public speaker Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Ted talk, where she discusses what it means to be a feminist. Later in the year, Beyoncé took it a step further by performing in front of a massive neon sign that reads “FEMINIST”.

The beauty of this lies in how well she is using her power and platform to reach out to many young and easily influenced people. Her moves are also carefully calculated, with her making sure she is seen as a mother and a successful musician, further insinuating that women don’t have to be either of those things exclusively. A great example for this is when she asked her daughter Blue Ivy to come up on stage when she was receiving an award.

Emma Watson

When Watson was appointed the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, she made it clear that she had no intention of taking the position lightly. Having already been involved in the advancement of girls’ education for several years, she bravely used her first public opportunity to address the issue of gender equality. More notably, the 24-yearold directed it towards men. Launching the #HeForShe campaign, Watson invited men to recognise how the need for gender equality is not just a women’s issue, and that the problems don't just disadvantage women, but men as well.

Hilary Clinton

Clinton is a role model to all girls who think they cannot break the glass ceiling or cannot establish themselves in a male-dominated industry. Not only did she graduate from Yale with a law degree and get herself recognised as one of America’s top lawyers, she was even actively involved in social problems, like healthcare and women’s issues, while she was First Lady. She then went on to make history with her presidential campaign in 2008, and was later the US Secretary of State. Clinton does not allow herself to be seen or treated as anything less than her counterparts because of her gender and is definitely a great role model.

Wendy Davis

In 2014, when the state of Texas was attempting to pass a bill that would radically restrict access to abortion in the state, Senator Wendy Davis decided to step up and have a filibuster. A filibuster is an attempt by a minority political party to stall a bill, and hopefully prevent a vote, by endlessly debating it until the given time to pass the bill has passed. Davis stood and spoke for 10 hours and 35 minutes on the topic, even having to wear a back brace. This move was later compared to the efforts of the legendary Rosa Parks, who is said to have indirectly started the Civil Rights movement by refusing to get off a seat in a bus that wasn’t allocated to blacks.

Ruchira Gupta (Gloria Steinhem)

An Indian human trafficking abolitionist, journalist and activist, Gupta has been honoured for her work by nations, governmental leaders and organisations on a global scale. Gupta started a non-governmental organisation called Apne Aap (Translated to mean By Myself), which addresses women’s rights and the eradication of human trafficking—they have helped over 15,000 women and girls who were trapped in or at risk of it. Gupta is constantly addressing a societal shift that is needed in order to nip the root of the problem. Gupta even invited feminist pioneer Gloria Steinem on a six-day learning tour and together they visited Delhi, Bengal and Bihar to personally see the girls that Apne Aap strives to aid.

by Sumaya Nayr

38

Super Men Need some inspiration to motivate yourself into going out and doing something with your life? We have compiled a list of five men who have profoundly been pushing barriers and norms to create a difference in the world with their charitable work, inventions, talents and skills.

Bill Gates

When it comes to talking about men who are groundbreaking, it is difficult not to bring Bill Gates into the equation. Gates is not only an investor, programmer, inventor and philanthropist, but he is also worth more than $79.3 billion. Gates, fuelled by his long-held dream, created one of the great companies, Microsoft, which is a major personal computing powerhouse.

Gates decided to dramatically reduce his involvement in the running of Microsoft to concentrate his efforts fully on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation is said to be the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, with its main aim being to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty.

Alex Zanardi

In 2001, the Italian professional racing driver met with a catastrophic accident while racing and tragically had to have his legs amputated. But Zanardi did not allow himself any limitations—physical or emotional— and began training to get back into sports immediately. From there, there was no stopping him. Zanardi went on to compete in the World Touring Championship for BMW, in a car that was custom-made for him. He also competed in several Paralympics Games, where he won multiple medals for his performance in handcycling. An inspiration to anyone who ever feels held back, Zanardi recently completed an entire triathlon in Hawaii.

Kendrick Lamar

In 2015, artist Kendrick Lamar released his bravest album yet. Fearless of whatever backlash may come his way, the album is thought-provoking and politically compelling, and straight out addresses the long-drawn American discussion about institutionalised racism. The album was a running message of empowerment and was made to draw people’s attention to what they were listening to. Always known for his unconventional flow and daring lyrics, Lamar has always been extremely vocal and transparent about the issues he sings about. It has been said that he had only recently found the words for the album he was always meant to write.

Kailash Satyarthi

Focusing on making child labour a human rights issue, instead of a “charitable cause”, Satyarthi started the Global March Against Child Labour—the single largest civil society network for exploited children all around the world. Giving up his entire career to put this at the forefront of his efforts, Satyarthi has already rescued over 80,000 child slaves and developed a successful model for their education and rehabilitation. His commitment has stood firm and tall, even after his life was threatened and put on the line more than once. The Nobel Peace Prize winner was also a large contributor to the International Labour Organisation, even influencing some of the guidelines that have been set today.

John Legend

In a day and age when the word “feminist” has negative connotation and when it’s often seen as an attack on men, it’s difficult for women to identify as one, but especially difficult for a man to identify as one. Which is why John Legend acted boldly when he performed at the Chime for Change press conference, a Gucci-founded charity that aims to raise funds to improve the lives of women worldwide. He then went on and made a courageous statement where he quoted, “All men should be feminists. If men care about women’s rights, the world would be a better place. We are better off when women are empowered—it leads to a better society.” John Legend also uses his Twitter account to comment on social issues he feels strongly about.

by Sumaya Nayr

40

Out & About

by Shivani Nagrecha

Circle Cafe Dining at Circle Cafe was a lovely experience as it is truly one of Dubai’s most creative cafes, both in terms of decor and food selection. Our journey began with the Energiser Smoothie and Go Green Juice, both of which were healthy yet tasted delicious.

For salads, we ordered the Quinoa Tabouleh and the Kale Salad.

They were simply delightful and each came with a dressing.

The Kale Salad had walnuts, goat cheese, avocado and kale.

The dressing was creamy and, together with the salad, it was a match made in heaven. The Quinoa Tabouleh was also light and fresh and had a variety of well-balanced textures.

For mains we ordered the Falafel Sandwich, the Veggie Sandwich and the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich—each was better than the other. The falafel and veggie sandwiches were served with thin crispy bagel chips and the Portobello mushroom sandwich was served with crispy sweet potato fries, which were to die for. For dessert we highly recommend the sinful Chocolate Sunday and Carrot Cake, which made us feel like we were on cloud nine.

We highly recommend you check out this delightful little joint.

Price: AED 150 for 2 Location: Ground Level, CNN Building, Dubai Media City Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar The NYC-based brand specialises in all things chocolate, with flavours that are both classic and some cool new jazzed up items as well. We checked out The Dubai Mall location, which was located near the Ice Rink. When we arrived it took us a good 10 minutes to go over the quite vast menu. The restaurant has a good blend of sweet and savoury mixes and so we decided to start out with a Lentil Soup, which was quite delicious, warm and comforting. We also ordered the Harvest Salad, which was comprised of green, thinly sliced green apples, walnuts, goat cheese with a side order of the signature dressing. We found the dressing to be a little bland but overall it was a good salad.

For mains, we ordered the Ricotta Sandwic, which was topped with a yummy Arugula Salad and we even tried the Oven-Baked Egg which was placed on a thick slice of bread. This dish was served with a side order of salad and french fries, which made it quite filling. Both dishes were simple yet satisfying.

Since the restaurant is known for its chocolate-based desserts, we ventured on to trying out the very famous Chocolate Fondue, which came with a good portion of brownies, sliced bananas, and fresh mixed berries. We also tried the Molten Lava Cake, which comes complete with two scoops of fresh vanilla ice cream. The fondue was heavenly—why wouldn’t it be, since it was melted chocolate after all. The accompaniments were perfect for it. The brownies were chewy, crisp and soft all at the same time and went great with the fondue. The Molten Lava Cake was a little too soft for our liking but was saved by the fresh ice cream that had specks of vanilla bean, which made the dish pretty amazing.

Overall, this is a good cafe-style restaurant known for its desserts and is definitely worth a visit just for the Chocolate Fondue alone.

Price: AED 150 for 2 people Location: The Dubai Mall

42

Tech Review

Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 Design The Idol 3 feels great on the hand with its elegant design, and it is better looking than many other premium phones available now on the market. And even though the phone is actually affordable in price there is no downgrade in quality.

Also the phone only comes in one colour—grey metallic brushing with a chrome rim, which we personally loved. The Idol 3 is incredibly thin at 7.4mm and weighs 141g—not bad for a 5.5-inch device.

Display The Idol 3 comes with a 5.5-inch full-HD display and it is just stunning with great viewing angles. It provides the ideal colour mix; the black hues are deep without compromising contrast, and the white balance is just right. Overall, the screen was enjoyable to look at. Everything looked amazing on the display and colours looked great.

Performance The Idol 3 runs on a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615, with four cores clocked at 1 GHz and four clocked at 1.5 GHz, coupled with 2GB of RAM. There were only a couple of issues, like when the keyboard wouldn’t respond and the phone just seemed to randomly slow down. It was still usable, but animations and scrolling seemed uneven and less fluid. The Idol 3 is powered by a 2,910 mAh battery.

Software The Idol 3 runs on Android 5.0.2, and the apps that were replaced performed just as well as stock Google apps.

Double-tap to sleep and wake is a spectacular addition to balance out that terrible power button placement. It works extremely well, and we rarely found ourselves having to double-tap more than once. Our favourite change is the reversible UI feature, which definitely stands out.

Camera The 13MP camera is good and so is the wide-angle 8MP front camera, but it doesn’t focus as quickly as we would like it to, and the low-light performance is not very good.

Some of the photos have very good detailing and the macro mode puts most phones we have used to shame. As an allaround shooter, it’s quite impressive, despite it not being the sharpest.

Verdict In conclusion, The Idol 3 is a great phone that is a victim of its own greatness. With a premium design, screen, speakers, and overall quality, it still manages to show you now and then that it is a very affordable mid-ranged phone that is disguised as a high-end one.

by Abdullah Ali

Asus Transformer Book T300 CHI

Design The Asus Transformer Book is sleek, stylish and effortless.

It comes in a beautiful shade of black with a crisp ASUS sign on the back. The screen is quite large as compared to its counterparts, regardless of that, the T300 CHI is a breath of fresh air. The whole thing is put together with a beautiful piece of metal that feels durable yet fast.

Display The laptop comes with a 12.5-inch LED backlit WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS panel screen and is one of the best that we have seen, rivaling the iPad and even the Galaxy Tab. The colours are bright and vivid, making for an overall solid experience.

Hardware The Transformer Book runs on the Intel Core M Processor, which is the quietest, lightest, and most powerful processor on the market right now. This processor is extremely economical and works perfectly for the T300 CHI. It also comes with a 128GB storage, which makes it perfectly suitable for long-time usage, especially with regards to saving office or school work on Software The Transformer Book runs on Windows 8.1 Pro with Windows 10 and other software updates available for those looking to get more out of the already powerful unit.

Camera This was, by far, the most disappointing aspect of the Transformer Book. The camera, which only has a front version and not a back camera, is clunky, unreliable, and slow.

For those people whose work requires pictures to be taken, they will be highly let down by this device’s capabilities.

Verdict Despite the disastrous camera, the Transformer Book T300 CHI is overall a sturdy and dependable device which can take high amounts of workloads and is fast enough to be used on the go. The chameleon-like ability to switch between tablet and laptop mode is quirky, fun and unique. It provides the user with a number of options based on their current working or usage situation.

Ratings Battery Life: 8/10 Camera: 2/10 Design: 9/10 Performance: 8/10 Screen Quality: 8/10 Software: 7/10

by AMAN AILANI

Shoot

50

Hisham Assaad Cookin’5m2 "I believe in home-cooked meals using natural ingredients that come fresh from the earth."

Meet Hisham Assaad, whose love for food was acquired by his fond memories of his mother’s levantine home cooking and his father’s passion for meats, since he comes comes from a family of butchers. Assaad's blog, Cookin’5M2, was created out of his kitchen for the sole purpose of sharing fresh, wholesome and healthy recipes made from ingredients that can easily be found, making it easier for his readers to follow.

Our team had the opportunity to speak with him to learn more about his cooking expeditions.

What inspired the name Cookin’5m2 and how long have you been blogging?

The blog was created two years ago. I decided to give it a go after being asked for the recipes of the dishes I would cook and share on my social media account. I wanted a unique name, and after various sessions of brainstorming, the name Cookin’5m2 came up, inspired by the size of the kitchen I cook in. When I knew the name was here to stay, I designed the logo accordingly and hence the blog was born.

What is it like being a food blogger and a chef?

It is wonderful to be able to cook and share your passion with people. It is an extremely satisfying feeling to come up with a recipe, work on it and share it, be it on the blog, virtually, or in real life. The positive response, from strangers and friends alike, always makes me blush. Like one time I was asked to feature for a weekend brunch just two days before a Saturday, and I came up with the menu, prepared the ingredients, and cooked it, with the help of my sisters.

I was so happy when the weekend brunch was a hit as the people loved all of the fresh and light dishes on a hot August afternoon in Beirut.

What would be your best recipe from the blog?

One of my favourite posts is a documentation of a traditional Palestinian dish; Moghrabieh and Maftoul. But my best recipe would be the Labneh Cream with roasted strawberries, and the lazy chocolate giant cookie. I've got a sweet tooth.

What advice would you give your followers in terms of living a healthier lifestyle?

Moderation. And read your labels. So much would change once we are aware of the food we consume. I believe in home-cooked meals using natural ingredients that come fresh from the earth. But that doesn't mean I don't crave the occasional donut or three, or some fried chicken. We all deserve it sometimes.

Do you make money from blogging?

Directly from the blog? No, or not yet. But because of the blog, I was featured as a guest chef at a restaurant once, where I currently work, and through my work and kitchen experiments, I got myself a job as a baker there. This is the same place where I'm selling my cakes, desserts, and fruitbased healthy juice mixes at their afternoon cafe.

What is your goal as a blogger?

My initial goal from the blog is, first, to keep myself occupied and sharpen my skills—be it cooking, writing, food styling, or photography. I can never find myself doing an eight-to-five job with nothing else to do. My goal from being a food blogger is to document my recipes, and share the ones that I cook and love. I love me a big fancy slow-cooked dish, but as you can see, many recipes are easy to make because they are the product of immense hunger.

by BHARGAVI NAGRECHA

Website: cookin5m2.com Instagram: hisham_ad Twitter: cookin5m2 Twitter: hishamad

Lazy Chocolate Chunk Cookie Ingredients 1/2 cup melted butter 1 cup sugar (1/2 white—1/2 brown is an option) 1 egg + 1 yolk 2 cups flour 3/4 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 tsp vanilla 1 1/2 cups baking dark chocolate (cut into chunks) 50g dark chocolate 60% or above (cut into smaller chunks) Procedure Step 1: Preheat the oven to 175ºC. Step 2: In a large bowl, mix the butter and sugar with a wooden spoon until well incorporated. Add vanilla, egg and yolk. Mix well.

Step 3: Stir in the dry ingredients—flour, baking soda and salt (the dough might appear slightly dry). Fold in the chunks.

Step 4: Line a baking tray with parchment and spread the dough evenly.

Step 5: Bake for 15-20 minutes until it starts turning golden. Cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Serve with a generous scoop of ice cream and homemade caramel sauce on top.

Grilled Nectarines with Labneh Cream Ingredients 5 nectarines, split in half, seed removed 2 cups whipping cream 1 tbsp sugar 1 cup labneh 1 tbsp orange blossom water honey coarsely ground pistachios Procedure Step 1: In a large bowl, whip the cream and sugar until you get stiff peaks.

Step 2: In another bowl, whip the labneh and fold into the cream mixture. Set in the cooler to cool.

Step 3: Heat a skillet or shallow pan. Reduce to medium heat and add the nectarines, open side down. Grill until a little soft and get a little charred.

This should take about 1-2 minutes.* Step 4: On a plate, add a dab of cream to fix the nectarine in place, scoop a spoonful of the cream, drizzle some honey, and garnish with pistachios. *Alternative method: Heat the broiler of an oven.

Place the nectarines open side up, and broil until soft, tender, and a little charred.

52

Five Must-Have Fall Items to Invest In Now

by OLGA LOBANOVA

CULOTTES Culottes were particularly popular this summer, and if you didn’t try this trend during the hot days, Fall 2015 is also a great opportunity to rock wide-legged pants. Culottes make it that much easier to show off a great pair of boots, and Fall's variety come with pleats, finished in leather, or washed in high-octane hues. Pair them with a long-sleeve cropped top or a lux knit.

Cameo Available at West LA Boutique

Victoria Beckham

Valentino

Mango

Autumn 2015 fashion season is almost here, and of course, we have your guide to some of the best fall items to invest in now.

Aquazzura

POINTED TOE FLATS Designers and the high street have paid close attention to flats in recent years and now you can buy beautifully embellished flat shoes, wear them with something quite simple and be party-ready. We fell in love with the pointed toe flats at Michael Kors' Spring 2015 runway and we continued to covet the ballet lace-ups when Tibi introduced a pair to its Pre-Fall 2015 offering.

H&M

Topshop

Predictably, high street stores were quick to follow, and Topshop, Zara, and more brands have since made the trend a whole lot more affordable. Grab a pair of these trendy sole-mates and wear them with a long-sleeve fall dress or skinnies.

NOSE RING We spotted nose rings at the runway of Acne and Givenchy in 2012. Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Scarlett Johansson were the first girls to try out this trend and the list has grown ever since. If you want to channel your punk princess look this fall, go for the septum ring.

Vidakush Available at West LA Boutique

PONCHO Inspired by the traditional South American poncho, the almost blanket-like piece is one of the most versatile and chic trends of Autumn 2015. It looks chic, feminine, very retro and at the same time ultra-modern.

When it comes to styling the poncho, keep it classic with a white blouse and slim, dark-wash jeans or on top of a mini dress.

Net-a-porter

H&M

Mango

Fendi Etro

H&M

Zara

BIG POCKETS There seemed to be a message to all fashionistas from designers at the Milan Fashion Week—increase your pocket size. At Marni, Marco De Vincenzo and Fendi, pencil skirts as well as dresses came with over-sized pockets similar to those found on safari jackets. Why not try to incorporate this practical trend into your autumn wardrobe?

Acne Studios Topshop

54

Men’s Stripes

One of the easiest patterns to pull off, stripes for men will never go out of style. It’s hardly surprising that stripes continue to cement their place within the modern gent’s wardrobe year after year.

Yet while the traditional Breton Stripe crew neck T-shirt is an ultimate classic that will never fall out of fashion, this season both luxury designers and fashion giants offer all-new slants on stripes.

For example, Kenzo opted for a graphic look with asymmetric stripes in peppermint, coral and aqua, while at Paul Smith, there were multi-coloured horizontal, vertical and zigzag stripes that took their colour cues from the label’s signature branding.

Whether you chose a traditional stripe pattern or go for a more sophisticated option, one is thing is clear this season: when in doubt, wear stripes.

by OLGA LOBANOVA

Paul & Joe

Bershka

J.W. Anderson Thom Browne

Hentsch Man

Comme Des Garcons

Hentsch Man

Polo Ralph Lauren

Paul Smith H&M

Vans Gucci

56

Book Review The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald As avid classics readers, we had extremely high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint. It had us hooked right from the opening line until the final word, leaving us in desperate need for more. This spectacular novel is about Nick Carraway, a Midwest native who moves to New York in search of the great American dream. However he founds more than that when Jay Gatsby, his millionaire neighbour, introduces him to a world of wealth and deception.

This novel seized our attention from the very first words, where F. Scott Fitzgerald writes: “Whenever you feel like criticising anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”

These words made us ponder right at the beginning—which for us is quite unusual. Similarly, the whole book made us question our knowledge of the 1920s as Fitzgerald captures the spirit of Gatsby’s generation and of Gatsby himself—a self-made millionaire whose unending hope for the future will have you tearing through the pages of the book.

The Great Gatsby will come alive through the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald as it will introduce you to a world of lavish parties, long lost friendships, mistakes and tragedy.

by Ayesha Ghaffari

The God of Small Things Arundathi Roy “And the air was full of thoughts and things to say. But at times like these, only the small things are ever said. Big things lurk unsaid inside.”

Arundathi Roy’s The God of Small Things is a powerful, melancholic book that commands attention through its amazing writing. Based in a town called Aymanam in Kerala, India, Roy masters the art of drawing the reader into the setting with his vivid and elaborate descriptions of the countryside. The story follows the lives of fraternal twins, Estha and Rahel, and how they attempt to construct a childhood out of the shards of a broken family, an over-critical society, and an India that was on the brink of political revolution.

Readers can almost smell the thick, damp air; the moist mud; murky waters and tall palm trees in the foreboding backdrop, as the twins begin to learn how things can change overnight and how events can be traumatic and unforgiving. The book is written from a third-person, omniscient narrator, and is told in a non-linear manner, with alot of the plot being painted in fragments and flashbacks, shifting between when the twins are children and when they are reunited 23 years later. Culturally rich, Kerala is kept alive and real to the readers; Roy plays with the language and integrates Malayalam into the diction often. The plot can often get frustrating, and is ruthlessly heartbreaking. That being said, The God of Small Things is a must-read; it is simply transformational.

by Sumaya Nayr

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58

In the Stars

Virgo 22 August—22 September Virgo is the sixth sign of the astrological year and is known by its astrological symbol, the Virgin. Virgos are intelligent, patient, and humble. With Mercury as the ruling planet, people born under this sign are quick-thinking, observant, and analytical. Their perfection-oriented worldview makes them extremely efficient and diligent workers. You can always trust the sturdy Virgo to get the job done, and done correctly.

September 2015

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

September is the time to get your fabulous groove on. This month is full of exciting new possibilities to create a space for your passions and interests. This is the time to celebrate with loved ones by organising barbecues, or going to the beach. Just be your fabulous, expressive self and all will be well.

It is advisable to find a creative outlet for yourself throughout the month.

This month you will be thinking of all the sweet, emotional and sentimental memories of the past. You may feel like spending more time at home with yourself or with your favourite people around you. Since you will feel like a homebody, you are likely to spark a strong desire to redecorate and revamp your settings. Take time to relax, rejuvenate and come anew with a new mind, body and perspective this month.

This is the month to build connections by meeting and greeting new people.

Your communication and interpersonal skills are at the highest and you are making quite the impression with notable people. They love your chatty and fast-paced vibe, so make sure to carefully sift through all the invites and attend events that bring you ahead in your life and career.

This month your main focus is on your career and money. With enough hard work and dedication, you will be able to move mountains. Stay grounded and watch your dreams becoming a reality. Ensure that you keep your priorities on the front burner as this is the time to roll up those sleeves and get to work.

Remember that the harder you work the more you can enjoy.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

This month gives you a fiery burst of motivation. This is not the time to take no for an answer, since you will feel a real sense of urgency to pursue the things that are important to you. Make sure you put yourself first, speak boldly with purpose and stand up for yourself, all the while toning down the aggression that may put people off you.

This is a month for healing and tying up any and all loose ends. This will help you to gain a clean slate to start afresh without dealing with any negative emotions from the past. You may need to confront someone who’s treated you poorly, or you could just hang the 'do not disturb' sign to enjoy some sacred solitude.

Make time for art, creativity, music, and fun.

This is the time to perform and get things done. Gather reinforcements, set goals, and use the power of numbers to divide and conquer. Overall this will be a wonderful month filled with surprises and gifts, and is a great time to expand your social circle. This is the time to take chances and gain new interests and hobbies by trying out new things.

This is the month to grow and evolve as a sociable person. Take time to turn your solo missions into joint ventures as there is more to gain by sharing. As the month progresses, each day will be better than the last in terms of your professional life. People now know your name and are liking your work. Be sure to stay motivated to work hard and keep up the momentum.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

This is the month to spread your wings and fly. This is peak season for you, so stay motivated as you may be eager to seek out new horizons before completing the tasks you are currently working on. This is the time to tap into your unlimited potential and soak up new life experiences. Plant seeds for your wildest dreams and see them grow into reality.

The month starts out hot and heavy with you trying to juggle various tasks and people. However, this month will be an extraordinary one filled with adventures and rewards. You will soon have a golden touch for money, with things coming to you from almost every corner of your life. Make sure to save up for the future, and not use it all in one go.

September is going to be big for building relationships and all things personal. This month is definitely not the time to fly solo. On another note, you have been having a hard time moving ahead in life due to your need to control things. As a result, you have been advised by others on how best you can overcome your challenges.

Rise and shine this month!

Focus your energy on health and vitality, especially if you have had a sleepy summer.

This is the time to get back into action by clearing out the clutter and cleansing yourself of the old. Focus on eating healthier and get into an exercise regime by signing up for gym membership or doing some fun and easy YouTube workout videos.

20 March—19 April

22 July—22 August

22 November—21 December

19 April—20 May

22 August—22 September

21 December—20 January

20 May—21 June

22 September—23 October

20 January—18 February

21 June—22 July

23 October—22 November

19 February—20 March

60

World News Extreme Swimmer Kim Chambers is a 38-year-old who beat tough odds before she even got into the water. Recently, she became the first women ever to complete the gruelling swim from the Farallon Islands to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

Google is Now Alphabet?

Google has restructured its company in a big way. Alphabet is now the holding company headed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google's founders. The various side-businesses are now divided into subdivisions of Alphabet.

World’s Longest Non-Stop Flight Emirates has announced a new, 8,700mile route from Dubai to Panama City that lasts 17 hours and 35 minutes.

Using the metric system, the UAE and Panama are 13,792 kilometers apart.

Toxic Waste Exposed Three million gallons of toxic acid mine waste was accidently released from the century-old Gold King mine near Silverton, Colorado. By the weekend, the contaminated water had turned the river orange.

China Explosions A blast took place at a warehouse located on a port, which was reportedly storing chemical goods. The blast rippled out several kilometres from the port into residential areas. More than 800 people were injured and 70 were left in critical condition. The explosion destroyed a significant number of goods stored at the port.

North Korea’s Own Time Zone?

North Korea has abandoned the time zone that it shares with Japan and South Korea and created it’s own. The decision serves to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Korea’s independence.

South Korea briefly returned to its precolonial time zone in 1954.

by HIBBA SYED

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