As an expat who was born and raised here in Abu Dhabi, I had the privilege of watching the city grow and learn the certain customs and traditions of this land while meeting a handful of local Emaratis who grew along with it but at the same time maintaining their humble roots.

When we started to put together the December issue it became quickly apparent there was no way to stem the outpouring of love, artistic expression and reminiscing of good times experienced in the UAE. So we succumbed totally and decided to dedicate the  the whole magazine to the UAE’s 40th birthday.

By Justin Thomas

The Sheesha smoke is thick. Like mist rising over a primordial swamp, its movement is virtually imperceptible. This serene smoke-scape is a fragile thing, any illusion of solidity and permanence is shattered by energetic table staff delivering food, drinks and charcoal. Smoke swirls and dances in their wake, a visible reminder of the invisible world surrounding us. Unlike the mist from a swamp however, this smoke is aromatic; an airborne fruit salad with apple, grape, mint and lemon vying for olfactory preeminence. This fragrant smoker’s utopia at the heart of Marina mall, goes by the curious name of ‘Hard Walls’.

By Alma Kadragic

City of Gold which opened the 2009 Dubai International Film Festival is usually considered to be the first full length Emirati narrative film. A highlight of the 2011 Abu Dhabi Film Festival last month was the world premiere of Sea Shadow, the first full length film by an Emirati produced by Image Nation which is part of the Abu Dhabi Media Company.

By Rohith Bhat

For some reason these days I can never get through a class without imagining my professors dying horrible gruesome deaths in front of my eyes. It could be the effect of vacation withdrawal, it could be sheer boredom, or it could be an early warning sign that there’s a serial killer movie-slash-novel writer-slash-police report, in the future with my name on it! So instead of doing my assignment for the day I decided to do what I do whenever I’m faced with a dilemma; list out the pros and cons of each of the ways I wish to kill my professors.

The Pitch:Are you an Otaku?  Do you enjoy Anime, Manga, Japanese Music or Films in all their myriad forms? Then you need to join the Abu Dhabi Anime Club – a place where fans of Japanese popular culture gather to share interests and learn more about Japanese media and society as a whole.

By Preethi Janice D’Sa- Scientist- artiste hybrid

Emirati culture, history, desert and community provide ample colour, textures, patterns, motifs and inspiration to us handcrafters.

Layla Ezzedeen- Performance whiz and Feng Shui Practitioner

It’s been roughly a month since you’ve implemented the Feng Shui basics for home and rooms. Hopefully, you’re enjoying the difference. Furniture placement can be taken a step further with the Bagua, which I introduced a while ago. These nine areas of life map onto a space as follows:

Empowerment Fame & Future Relationships

Community Health Creativity

Wisdom Self Helpful People

Entrance to space along this side