I recently came back from Barcelona. But I can’t tell you much about the beautiful Catalan city’s gothic and modern architecture, its famous Picasso Museum or its majestic Sagrada Familia church.
Instead, I am enthused about its pulsating vibe as locals pound the streets of Avinguda Diagonal on their way to work. I can also describe how the Carmel Bunkers, a viewing point perched on one of the city's many hilltops and a relic of the Spanish Civil War, is a perfect place to watch the sunset with the locals. I can also warn you that Barcelona’s heat is insidious. It creeps up on you until you suddenly feel faint after a day of walking.
These are not exactly Instagrammable moments, but it’s the kind of resonant experiences savoured when travelling alone with an itinerary based on instinct rather than a checklist.
Travelling solo is one of my favourite things to do. Ever since taking the impulsive decision to backpack around Europe as a 20-year-old at the turn of the century, a decision hastened by burnout from work and study commitments, I have taken yearly solo sojourns to physically and emotionally recharge and recalibrate.
I view them as my personal annual general meetings where I have a mental agenda of items I want to think about – whether it's an investment or career decision – and rigorously interrogate them on the long and endless walks seemingly to nowhere. It's refreshing and the clarity felt at the end of 10km walk in foreign places often placed me in good stead.
But solo travel is not only about giving yourself the time to consider things away from the daily hustle and bustle of home. It’s also an opportunity to be still, observe the world around you and give yourself the space to have uncomfortable feelings.
Here is a little a little secret I will share with you: I often hate everything about my travel destination on the first day. The new landscapes, languages, weather and social customs often leave me feeling alienated and lonely. But once I break that mental barrier, often arriving after a restful night’s sleep, each day becomes a discovery.
I do that by not hitting the museums but spending most of the day people-watching in strategically located cafes with flasks of coffee and some newspapers. Whether it's Cafe Charlot in Paris, whose terrace gives you a grand view of the bustling Rue de Bretagne; or Le Nouveau Cafe in Thessaloniki’s Aristotle Square, these sessions provide an insight into the soul of a city you can’t find in any tour.
Also, the best part of the travelling solo is how the seemingly random moments are the most memorable. A chance meeting with a bunch of local musicians in a Budapest jazz bar in 2018 somehow led me to a house party where I hosted a quiz competition because of my supposed journalism background. While four years later, another random encounter with a hip-hop aficionado in a record store in Vienna led to an invite to one of the cool DJ gigs held in a pop-up venue under a bridge.
These are the kinds of moments you just can’t get when you are on a schedule and even harder when travelling with a companion, no matter how seemingly laid back they are. Often, when returning people ask me what I have seen or experienced and my replies are often vague.
How can you explain that while you didn’t see the masterpieces at the museum, you instead took important steps in mastering your sense of self? Or, instead of being in the crowds of a massive music festival, you were more happy walking alone to your own beat? Then again, why do you need to explain anyway?
Solo travel is that gift to yourself that continues to pay off long after you arrive home. More people should try it.
Western Clubs Champions League:
- Friday, Sep 8 - Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Bahrain
- Friday, Sep 15 – Kandy v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Friday, Sep 22 – Kandy v Bahrain
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Biography
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument
Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes
Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
