Dubai Vibes Magazine | Issue 9 | November 2021

VOL 1 • ISSUE 9 • NOVEMBER 2021

Expat stories.

What’s yours?

Up close with Dubai Eye’s Helen Farmer Acaiholic?

Ask Marcio Saboya about it!

Allen Kaiser ”Kai” Gonzales Inspiring visionary behind the AK Angels

Vidya Rani: Living life beyond the stereotypes ‘ I’m celebrated because of my differences, not in spite of them.’

– Jessica Smith, paralympian

For Dubai Vibes Magazine advertising, partnerships and other promotions, kindly send email at this address: bella@dubaivibesmagazine.ae or call 0544585440

From the publisher

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STAFF BOX Publisher Gabriel John Rimando

Editor Elton Burton

Sales and Marketing Manager

Born without a left arm, then suffering an horrific accident when she was a toddler where she sustained burns to 15% of her body, Jessica defied odds and went on to represent her country in the sport of swimming for seven years, culminating in her selection onto the Australian Paralympic team in 2004.

** ‘ I’m celebrated because of my differences, not in spite of It has been a long and them.’ – Jessica Smith, paralympian - Page 10 - 11 fruitful journey for Harmeek Singh. Like many others, he started as an expatriate worker in Dubai, but saw the potential of a city that has progressive leaders. He decided to embark on his own entrepreneurial journey and started a company with a mere AED2,000 of his own savings.

** Vidya Rani lives her life beyond the stereotypes.

Vidya, a psychology graduate Acaiholic? with a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management, says: “Personally, I went through a phase of adversity and needed to go through a regime to push myself to reach heights. This journey truly gave me wings.”

** These and more inspiring expat stories in this edition of Dubai Vibes Magazine.

Indulge.

Elaine Anne ‘Bella’ Marbella

Contributing Writers Joshua Trias Amanda Hensley Zainab Shahid

Graphic Designer Allan Caragao

Photographer Than Dumas Find us at https://www.dubaivibesmagazine.ae/ https://www.facebook.com/DubaiVibesMagazine.ae

dubaivibesmag dubaivibesmagazine DubaiVibesMagazine.ae Dubai Vibes Magazine

Ask Marcio Saboya about it! - Pages 16 - 17

Up close with Dubai Eye’s Helen Farmer - Pages 20 - 21

ON THE COVER Building a wondrous dream takes time. At a young age, Allen Kaiser “Kai” Gonzales started to create a difference by aspiring for greater heights.

This man of humility believes that trust is a way of life that takes one on the road to success, which, by itself, is measured not by personal gains but by helping as many people achieve their goals.

‘Owning a fine dining restaurant in a competitive city as Dubai, is very intense yet very enjoyable.’

-- Alawi Al Braik, owner of Wakame, a Japanese fine-dining restaurant

Alawi Al Braik says he thinks outside the box and gets inspiration from ideas that he personally loves, transforming the business into what he is passionate about.

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‘Throughout my life, I have been passionate about traveling, food and cooking. Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to run a restaurant. The passion I had for Far East and Japanese cuisine was perfect for opening a restaurant in my home city.’

“Owning a fine dining restaurant in a competitive city as Dubai, is very intense yet very enjoyable.

Without passion it won’t be possible to be successful. We have molded Wakame into becoming a lifestyle for the team, therefore it is part of my life rather than just a job,” Alawi Al Braik, owner of Wakame fine-dining Japanese restaurant located in Sofitel Dubai Downtown, tells Dubai Vibes Magazine.

He added: “The challenges to any business is keeping up with the market and evolving the business. Initially the main challenge was making sure our team understands the vision, mission and standards we in Wakame would like to achieve. Once that is done, the challenge is to keep brainstorming and coming up with new ideas that will differ us from others in the market.”

Mr. Al Braik said thinking outside the box and getting inspiration from ideas that he personally loves, and evolving the business into what he is passion about has helped him overcome the challenges. “In regards to keeping the standards among the team, it simply takes daily training and taking every day as a new day to improve and grow the team,” he said.

“Having seen the city I grew up in

develop through hard work inspires me,” says Mr. Al Braik, who graduated from the American University of Dubai with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration & Marketing.

He said it’s amazing to see the world enjoys the city he grew up in.

“Learning from the previous generation and being a good example for the next generation to keep the legacy alive, and hopefully keep Dubai the number one city in the world” keeps him going, he said.

Sharing his life journey, Mr. Al Braik said he has always wanted to run a restaurant.

“Throughout my life, I have been passionate about traveling, food and cooking. Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to run a restaurant.

The passion I had for Far East and Japanese cuisine was perfect for opening a restaurant in my home city.

“Being part of the National UAE Cricket team and captain of the under-19 team, I had to overcome many challenges, which made me rise, grow and succeed. I then decided that my next challenge to accomplish should be to open and run a successful Asian fine-dining restaurant in the heart of Dubai,” he said.

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Passion for bringing a unique concept to Dubai, he added, made him embark on this journey.

“Being a UAE National I can relate to the flavors of our people and I tapped into that market,” he said.

Lessons learned?

“Know your business inside out and don’t rely on anyone to teach you.

If you do not have a passion for your business, you do not go into it. In a business, you need to learn about each department and completely understand the essence of the work, which in my opinion, is what gives it the potential to be successful,” Mr. Al Braik said.

Asked for his advice to those interested in running a business, Mr. Al Braik said: “Study the market and always do your due diligence to ensure the information and numbers are correct. Avoid depending on consultants to do the study.”

Living life with full honesty and transparency, is Mr. Al Braik’s philosophy.

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Harmeek Singh’s AED2,000 journey – from expat worker to top exec with a compassion for the less fortunate

The chairman andfFounder of Plan B shares the secret of his success in this good read. Learn all about it.

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‘It has been a long and fruitful journey. Like many others, I started as an expatriate worker in Dubai, but saw the potential of a city that has progressive leaders. I decided to embark on my own entrepreneurial journey and started Plan B with a mere AED2,000 of my own savings.’

Harmeek Singh arrived in Dubai an expat worker some 20 years ago.

Today, Harmeek is Chairman and Founder of Plan B, a multi-faceted live experience and event management agency that has offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Europe, known for its innovative event concepts and flawless execution standards, using the latest technologies.

Aside from managing Plan B, Harmeek, who hails from India, is also the Strategic Director for the UAE Athletics Federation as well as Chairman of Visit St. Petersburg for the Middle East region; and regularly collaborate with various stakeholders for the greater success of the events industry in the region.

On the side, Harmeek wears a different hat – that of being a community advocate.

He says social and community activities are an essential part of doing business for him, to be able to give back and to uplift the plight of those who have less in life and are marginalised.

during Covid-19 back to their home countries, as well as provided shelter to the destitute while delivering more than 50,000 food boxes to labor camps in the UAE. On an ongoing basis, we provide legal assistance and other advice to help our valiant labour force deal with the challenges they face at work,” says Harmeek.

“Slowly, winning client projects through word of mouth and referrals enabled me to put together a strong team and build the foundation of a growing and resilient business that now has offices in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and will soon expand in Southeast Asia and Russia,” Harmeek said.

How did it all start?

It can also be said that Harmeek’s life philosophy has contributed to his company’s success.

“It has been a long and fruitful journey. Like many others, I started as an expatriate worker in Dubai, but saw the potential of a city that has progressive leaders and an exciting vision to turn the emirate into a global hub for business, tourism, leisure and entertainment activities,” he said.

“Having seen that potential, I decided to embark on my own entrepreneurial journey and started Plan B with a mere AED2,000 of my own savings.

Like any company, we had humble beginnings and started with small projects – with a vision to become a leader and benchmark for creativity and excellence in our sector.

“I particularly work with the labor sector in the UAE, through our ‘Box of Hope’ project where we have so far flown more than 250 people

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“I believe in the dignity of hard work as well as being honest and humble in all my dealings with people,” said Harmeek, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Delhi University Harmeek said he has had so many lessons learned in his journey “but nothing beats hard work and perseverance.”

“Transparency is also key to our success, dealing honestly with suppliers and clients especially on challenges and difficulties that every project entails, so that together we can work on solutions that are beneficial to all concerned,” he said.

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‘ I’m celebrated because of my differences, not in spite of them.’

– Jessica Smith, paralympian

Born without a left arm, then suffering an horrific accident when she was a toddler where she sustained burns to 15% of her body, Jessica defied odds and went on to represent her country in the sport of swimming for seven years, culminating in her selection onto the Australian Paralympic team in 2004.

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‘Growing up, I never saw myself represented in any mainstream media. There were no images of women with a diability in the magazines or on TV. This lack of representation sent a very loud message to me, and every other young female living with a disability – a message that we aren’t good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, strong enough, nor worthy.’

Jessica Smith, who hails from the Land Down Under and is a mother of three children, has an incredible story of triumphs and tribulations.

Born without a left arm, then suffering an horrific accident when she was a toddler where she sustained burns to 15% of her body, Jessica defied odds and went on to represent her country in the sport of swimming for seven years, culminating in her selection onto the Australian Paralympic team in 2004.

Sport gave Jessica ambition and focus while she tried to confront societal obstacles around body image and disability acceptance.

She was able to eventually break free from personal struggles with depression and eating disorders in her 20’s.

But perhaps the most important story there is to tell about Jessica, is that of the inspiring woman she is today; since retiring from her international swimming career Jessica has gone on to become an internationally recognised advocate for positive body image, diversity & inclusion, and disability awareness.

Jessica, who moved to Dubai in 2019, is an accomplished motivational speaker and MC, she has taken the stage at schools, universities, businesses and community organisations - including the UN, where she shares her personal journey and expertise on diversity, inclusion

and equality. After completing a BSc. Population Health from the University of Wollongong, Australia, she went on to complete executive studies in Gender Diversity at INSEAD. Jessica is also part of Gap’s incredible new campaign – “Come As You Are,” which features four of the region’s most inspiring women.

“I was delighted to be asked to take part in this campaign with a global brand that is truly leading the way when it comes to inclusion and diversity.

“Growing up, I never saw myself represented in any mainstream media. There were no images of women with a diability in the magazines or on TV. This lack of representation sent a very loud message to me, and every other young female living with a disability – a message that we aren’t good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, strong enough, nor worthy.

“Times are changing though, thanks to brands such as GAP who understand that diversity is what drives society and business. So in order to maintain current and relative and in order to ensure customers are happy, then customers need to feel seen and heard.

“Taking part in this campaign allows me to share my story and my voice, but in so many ways my story is a metaphor for thousands of others

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who are on a similar journey of self acceptance,” Jessica said.

Meantime, Jessica’s journey into motherhood inspired her to write a series of children’s books about disability and acceptance. After growing up with limited resources on these topics, Jessica wanted to create characters that represent what kids see in every day life. Her first book ‘Little Miss Jessica Goes to School” is about a young girl with one hand on her first day at school, where she learns that being “different” is OK. Her advice? “Accept what you cannot control by surrendering and trusting that you are exactly where you are supposed to be at any given stage, often it won’t make sense at the time, but we cannot control the uncontrollable, we can simply trust the process and listen and learn from each moment.”

Jessica said she will be releasing, in January 2022, a series of children’s books based on the character of a young girl with one arm and her journeys in discovering that her disability and her differences are what unite her with new friends. “It’s a series of beautiful stories about friendship and self acceptance, so please stay tuned because I know these books will be a valuable resource for all parents and teachers wanting to start important conversations about difference with younger children,” she said.

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Erika Doyle has never been scared of making mistakes.

Find out why.

Born in Lithuania and having spent much of her life in England, Erika says it always pays not to overreact to small things and instead see the bigger picture.

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‘“I am a very honest person and have set high standards for myself when it comes to how I do business, how I treat my Brand Principles, suppliers, customers and everyone else and I absolutely expect the same in return.’

“I am genuinely super passionate about what I do. This might sound like a cliché but when I wake up in the morning, I am always excited about getting to work and seeing what the day will bring. We are a start up business, we are a small team so we all do a bit of everything every day so our days are never dull or even the same as the day before,” says Erika Doyle, founder of Drink Dry, the first and only premium non-alcoholic drinks marketplace in the UAE. Erika says she has had so many lessons in life that it has become hard t remember them all.

“I have never been scared of making mistakes because I think they best way to push forward is by making mistakes and learning from them.

“I am a very honest person and have set high standards for myself when it comes to how I do business, how I

treat my Brand Principles, suppliers, customers and everyone else and I absolutely expect the same in return.

And it is ok to be that way because I don’t just do business transactions, I build relationships and I build my business on that,” she says.

As a start-up business founder, Erika advises those looking to open their own to “be prepared to put in very long hours and a lot of energy into it.

“It is very rewarding.”

Erika left Lithuania when she was 16 and went to study in the UK. She lived in Birmingham while in college; in Nottingham while at university; and then London during her early working life.

“I then moved to rural West Sussex before making the move to Dubai in 2019,”she said.

full of opportunities! There are still so many untapped sectors in this market and different services that are not yet available here. I wish I had more time in the day so I could explore all these opportunities.

“And from a personal point of view, I like that we are 20 minutes away from some of the best restaurants in the world and the busy city living is just on your doorstep!” she said Erika is married to an Irish man and have three little girls. “I have spent three years working in politics in London and then moved to the private sector. I spent a further few years getting to know the drinks industry before taking a few years out to be a mum to my then very small children. In 2019, I started Drink Dry,” Erika said.

“As an entrepreneur, I think Dubai is

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Acaiholic?

Ask Marcio Saboya about it!

Marcio Saboya, CEO of The Acai Spot, shares how he came up with the idea about opening a cozy corner specializing in Brazil’s popular berry – the acai.

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‘I love acai. It’s a Brazilian thing.

So, I struck the idea: Why don’t we open n acai place in Dubai?

So, I started studying and saving money. It took nearly two years to come up with the business which was launched in 2015.”

Marcio Saboya, who worked as cabin crew at Emirates Airlines for more than six, prior of which he worked as waiter at a cruise ship, finally called it quits and opened The Acai Spot which offers food creations from the açai berry, an inch-long, reddish and purple fruit.

It comes from the açai palm (Euterpe Oleracea), which is a native tree from the Amazon Forest in Brazil.

Açai, which grows in most parts of the Amazon, has incredible health benefits, too.

“As CEO, I love working in Dubai because it is a safe place. I came from a country where you sometimes have security issues when you’re having a business. Here in Dubai, you won’t have that,” Marcio said.

“It’s a hub as well. Since you’re in Dubai, it is very ease for you to go to

different countries.”

Which explains why The Acai Spot has branches in Kuwait and Hungary.

Asked what made him decide to open the restaurant, Marcio said: “I love acai. It’s a Brazilian thing. So, I struck the idea: Why don’t we open n acai place in Dubai? So, I started studying and saving money. It took nearly two years to come up with the business which was launched in 2015.”

“And thank God, it’s been six years and we grew. I am happy to say that we’ve succeeded and we are opening in different countries as well.”

The Acai Spot is in Deira City Centre, DIFC, Dubai Marina, Me’aisem City Centre, Mirdiff City Centre, Sharjah and Umm Suqiem.

“It’s a lot of commitment. In life, you have got to keep moving on. If you don’t do something, you are going to fall behind. I had no business background. I don’t have people to ask about how things are done. It was all about me researching, trying and learning, and it’s quite hard. You go through difficult times,” he said.

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Up close with Dubai Eye’s Helen Farmer

The popular, BBC-trained radio show host, and mum of two, was part of a group that recently summited Tanzania’s Mt Kilimanjaro to raise funds for a children’s school. This and more as Dubai Vibes Magazine got a chance to

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‘Everyone has something to teach, and we can learn from everyone we meet.’

“I love the variety in my life, the people I meet, discovering new places here in the UAE and further afield, the enthusiasm for life that my children have and genuinely feel like life is just getting better as I get older,” Helen Farmer tells Dubai Vibes Magazine.

especially during the course of the pandemic when we need connection, information and community. Personally, I’ve been on a bit of a fitness journey over the last three years, and recently summited Kilimanjaro, which was a life-changing trip,” she says.

Hailing from the United Kingdom, Helen has been in the UAE for nearly 15 years.

Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). The majestic mountain is a snow-capped volcano.

“I loved growing up in the UK, but have been in Dubai since I was 24, and the city has been incredibly kind to me. It’s where I built my career, met my husband and where our children were born.

“Working in radio is hugely exciting and it is invaluable to many,

Asked about her life philosophy, Helen, who studied Broadcast Journalism at the university, said: “Everyone has something to teach, and we can learn from everyone we meet.”

“Come As You Are” Campaign, which features four of the region’s most inspiring women.

She said she joined because she is a “firm believer in inclusion and representation.”

“Raising daughters has made me particularly tuned into the ethos that you can’t be it unless you see it, so this campaign has been inspiring to be part of, and to those who see it.”

Her advice? “You’re never too old to try something for the first time.”

How about plans? “I have no plan!

But that’s exciting. Who knows what’s next?”

Helen is part of Gap Middle East’s

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AK ANGELS: Empowered women of the 21st century THE ETHREAL STORY OF A.K ANGELS

Fots et Origo

The perfect time has come for some innovations in the real-estate industry, where “angels” empower the sales and marketing field.

The AK Angels are from various backgrounds who have come together to combine their knowledge and leadership skills in view of helping people secure their future.

In this age of digitalized connectivity, a group of beauties called AK Angels was formed by a prolific and generous prime mover, Kai Gonzales, who trains every member of the staff for the task.

The diverse eminence of each “angel” serves to accomplish the goal of informing people inform individuals about destinies and aspirations.

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These “angels” play an essential role in educating people about financial literacy and the value of an investment.

Commitment is their number one instrument to promote financial security through real estate. They always believe in the magic of dreams and fulfillment. These are

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part of their missions to guide people through.

The AK Angels innovate their strategies to do promotions based on facts. The information and details are well-sorted and researched, supported with rigorous training by internationally acclaimed sales directors.

Mission The mission started with the aim of helping professionals secure their future by enlightening them on what suits their needs.

From the Philippines, the staff at

AK Angels flew to the UAE to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFW) make good use of the fruits of their labor and grow them to become progressive investments.

The primary role of AK Angels is to educate OFWs help in the field of being money-wise.

Visionary It all started with Kai Gonzales, Shoe Mart Development Corporation (SMDC) sales director, who has always advocated for OFWs. Part of the team’s marketing campaign is to set no boundaries

as they collaborate with the finest, most innovative, and most successful Filipinos in Dubai for an extravagant photoshoot.

The theme of the said photoshoot is “Ethereal Angels.” It symbolizes that the team is composed of empowered women who can make a vast difference in many lives. They are set as the protector, guru, and key for a brighter tomorrow.

The greatest and optimum designers behind the scene are Michael Cinco, Ezra Santos, Ryan Pacioles, Garimon Escandor Roferos. While Jha Jha Rivera,

Kerwin Solo and Josh Sanvictores Lorenzo do the fierce and classy make-up.

Photography and Videography is brilliantly shoot by Jef Anog and Mangemong Abad. On the other hand, Adronico Del Rosario of Art for Sake arrange the set design while Badz Nazareth is the creative director.

Trust ‘the good guys’ plan for your future investment. To avail their free consultation services, you can reach them through akprimeholding@gmail.com or like and follow them at https://www.facebook.com/ akprimeholdings

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Kai’s total luck in business started in 2011 when he was hired in SM Development Corporation (SMDC), the first real estate company he entered. He began as a local agent, then an international agent, and was eventually promoted to associate sales director to sales director.

“Aside from having SMDC, I also ventured to different businesses like water franchising, amusement parks, museums, buy and sell of cars, and AK Prime, a real estate company,” he said.

Allen Kaiser Gonzales

According to him, financial planning is the key to a significant investment.

When he started everything, he also made sure not to exceed his budget in a day to save money.

The inspiring visionary behind the AK Angels

He also added, “Looking back when I started, I only have 20 pesos in my pocket. Now, I am humbled to travel to more than 50 different countries, owned multiple properties, cars and businesses”.

By: Angelo Dumag

Nothing is impossible for Kai. Life might be miserable at first, but trusting the process is worth waiting.

Even copper can turn into gold.

Making people’s dreams turn into reality

“For as long as a single person is clapping, believing, supporting, and trusting me, I will never give up and stop dreaming of reaching my goals.”

Building a wondrous dream takes time and a process. At a young age, Allen Kaiser “Kai” Gonzales started to create a difference in his world by dreaming and aspiring for greater heights.

This man of humility believes that trust is not just a concept but a language and a lifestyle. Building the blocks to the road to success needs patience, determination, and, most importantly, self-trust.

Success is a concept that determines that a person finally achieved a dream that he wanted for a long. But for Kai, success is a word that modifies fulfillment. It means that helping people to achieve their goals generates joy and serenity.

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A copper turns to gold.

Like any other successful Filipinos, Kai started from scratch until it became a sketch and eventually a fantastic artwork. This man of greatness was a product of broken family.

His experiences from his boyhood of living a life to support his studies formed a leeway for him to magnify a bigger picture in his future.

“At grade five, I started making a living to support my studies.

In the third year of High School, I was a working student. I was doing modeling at that time. I also attended college at La Salle Dasmarinas,” he reminisced.

Aside from being a working student, he is also a persistent and strongminded individual who has never been afraid of trying various works in sales, car industry, cryptocurrency, money exchange, and the food industry.

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After a long journey of success, the next step in Kai’s life is to attain fulfillment. He found it by helping people to chase and reach their dreams. He loves to inspire visionary individuals who are committed and determined.

“As of the moment, I am handling 4,000-5,000 bright and effective agents. I also handling an international sales team which I called the Team AK,” he said.

At the same time, he is introducing another team called AK Angels.

These new babies are currently here in Dubai to promote and market SMDC properties.

His main goal now in the industry is to help people make their dreams come true. And truly, by creating new set of angels is a proof of his pure and honest intention.

“It is not only about the sales; it is the commitment of changing every person’s life to be better,” he ended.

Executive Chef Antonio Santos would have been a civil engineer but the mayonnaise experience was…

Antonio is executive chef at Asador de Aranda located at the Address Downtown. He says it’s difficult to say what he loves most about his work, but it boils down to one thing: ‘A happy face with a huge smile from the guests.’

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‘Everyone has something to teach, and we can learn from everyone we meet.’

Executive Chef Antonio Santos, who hails from Sevilla in Spain, had a career choice between one in the culinary or being a civil engineer – but it seems his mayonnaise experience got the better part of him.

The restaurant is run by Chef Chef Pedro Subihana.

prefer a good sardine, than a bad foie gras.”

Chef Antonio says it is tough to only say one thing about what he loves most about his work.

Here’s the story: “When I was an eight-year-old kid, I saw a TV program called World Class Cuisine, where I saw Chef Pedro Subihana, who has three Michelin stars, making white asparagus with fresh mayonnaise and Iberian ham.

“When our guests try our food and give that happy face with a huge smile or those moments when you surprise them and they were happy, those are the things I love most about my job.

Chef Antonio is executive chef at Asador de Aranda, a worldrenowned restaurant located at the Address Downtown which recently celebrated its first successful year of sharing the most delectable and authentic Spanish cuisine with the UAE.

“At that time, I didn’t know that you can make mayonnaise. So, it was like a magician for me, a game changer; and the neighbors were soon eating free fresh mayonnaise for a week because I couldn’t stop making mayonnaise.

“Actually I had a scholarship to study civil engineering, but I saw the opportunity to go also to a culinary school and I took it. So, in the mornings I would go to the culinary school and in the evenings, to the university for the engineering course – and it went like that for the next three years.

“But six months before I finish the university, I received a call from Akelarre Restaurant and I left everything.”

“Because sometimes people think that Spanish cuisine is only tapas and paella. You need to explain to them that there’s a lot of delicious and tasty Spanish dishes. We think of ways to enhance the experience by upgrading what we have and to create new things for special requests or new things in the menu,” he said.

His advice to those dreaming of becoming a chef someday: “Don’t rush any preparations. Good food needs time, patience and love. That’s why everyone like their mothers’ food, because they make it with love for you.

“It doesn’t matter how cheap or expensive the food is. It’s the ingredients that you are cooking. It’s about how you prepare it. I always

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Asador de Aranda, or for nonSpanish savvy readers the Rotisserie of Aranda, combines traditional and modern Spanish gastronomy, serving a variety of roasted dishes to the likes of both meat fans and vegetarians.

It is a family-run business established in 1983, gaining a superior reputation for its traditional cooking methods, some dating back to 4000BC, which maintains the essence of true Spanish cuisine.

Executive Chef Antonio Santos has run several Michelin-starred restaurants and has worked alongside the likes of Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay guaranteeing unmatched quality, the finest food Spain has to offer.

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Chef Jesús: The storyteller speaks

Jesús Gibaja Pérez took his love for the culinary art from his grandma who’d tell him stories about her “ingredientes” while cooking.

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‘I chose the culinary arts because of my grandmother’s influence.

When I was a child, I would spend a lot of time watching her cook, and she was a great storyteller; she’s tell stories about the transformations of her ingredientes.’

“I have been involved in the food industry since I was a kid, thanks to my father’s business. To be honest I tried to be a football player, but in the end I wasn’t so good,” Chef Jesús Gibaja Pérez, who hails from Mexico City, tells Dubai Vibes Magazine.

“I chose the culinary arts because of my grandmother’s influence. When I was a child, I would spend a lot of time watching her cook, and she was a great storyteller; she’s tell stories about the transformations of her ingredientes.

“She was always talking about stories of her trips with my grandfather and that expanded my imagination.

She talked about flavors, smells and experiences. Thanks to her, I found a place in the kitchen and grew to be a storyteller through the ingredients I discovered,” Chef Jesús said.

(3 Michelin stars restaurant) for two seasons and then I stayed working as chef de partie.

“Then I traveled to the east coast in the US, where I worked in the first six months as chef de partie in Park Hyatt Philadelphia and then I became sous chef in the XIX century restaurant of the same venue.

“After that, I returned to México.

Suddenly, my journey changed 360 degrees when I was invited for the first time to be involved in cooking TV shows. I have made different cooking TV shows, but the most successful was The Kitchen of the Magic towns that allowed me to travel for more than six years all over México cooking and showing the greatness of Mexican gastronomy,” said Chef Jesús.

He went to culinary school at Colegio Superior de Gastronomia and the Centro Culinario Ambrosia in Mexico.

He has the record for the most content hours in a cooking TV show in Spanish in the world. “A member of the Academie Culinaire de France invited to be part of the Mexican Gastronomy Council in 2015. I was the Executive chef for Cantina La Piedra in the Polanco neighborhood in México city. I’ve also been the Executive chef at Mia Tulum and now here in Dubai,” he said.

“After finishing college, I had the opportunity to travel to the north of Spain and made a professional stage in Arzak, San Sebastián Spain

Looking back, Chef Jesús said he has learned life lessons. “If you lose the passion for what you do, then it isn’t worth it. And also the results are never

Chef Jesús, who has been in Dubai for just the past few months, have worked in San Sebastian, Spain; Philadelphia, USA; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Osorno, Chile.

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going to be the same. Be humble, be open to learning, break patrons, cook with love, be disciplined and force yourself to go further. Look for challenges.

“Cooking is an expression and one of the strongest chains for human beings. Through the food and table, a lot of different things happens like business, love, change of moods, reconciliations, nutrition, proposals, happiness, calm, joy and so on.

“A dish should be so important to allow people to be seated at the table and share and shouldn’t be ever more important than human relationships created through the food.”

The seasoned chef said cooking is a discipline based on science and oriented to create art because as human, “we don’t only cook to satisfy hunger but to satisfy our senses in different ways.”

When he is not busy, Chef Jesús tries to find time with the guitar and some sports like tennis and football.

Catch him at Seva Table along Jumeirah Beach Road, where he delights customers with his creations.

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Zakiya Dhiyab Hamed Al Zakwani explains how homeopathy works

From doing custom-made jewellery to exploring the healing effects of semi-precious stones, Zakiya founded a brand centered on alleviating pain the natural way.

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‘A cough that was persistent for two months settled within three days just using homeopathy.

This pushed me in the direction of studying homeopathy, to understand how a diluted pill works. I am still in my first year studying homeopathy in the UK.’

“Homeopathy was something my mother had always been using on us as children. When having my own child, she would keep falling ill very often and the allopathic doctor kept prescribing her antibiotics which made her weaker and more prone to illnesses,” shares Zakiya Dhiyab Hamed Al Zakwani, founder Zproyecto, a brand, which blends two cultures – from the Gulf of Oman to the Atlantic Ocean.

The company name combines the first initial of her name, Zakiya, which means pure in Arabic, and the Spanish word for project - “Proyecto” the term her Spanish husband would use for project. Together, the compound word underlines the brand ideology – “A Project of Purity”.

Zakiya added: “One day, my mother suggested I look for a good homeopathic doctor in Abu Dhabi.

I found Dr Mhapoline D’ Souza from Lotus clinic in Abu Dhabi who changed my daughter’s life.

“A cough that was persistent for two months settled within three days just using homeopathy. This pushed me in the direction of studying homeopathy, to understand how a diluted pill works. I am still in my first year studying homeopathy in the UK. “Precious and semi-precious stones have always been my love. Custom making my own jewellery back in Oman was something I always

enjoyed doing. Even my wedding earrings, I custom-made with sapphire stones. But the day I started recognizing the healing effect of semi-precious stones was through my amethyst ring bought from Tiffany.

“Whenever I wore it, I would have the calmness and never get headaches due to overworking or excitement. This slowly encouraged me to read more, and after indulging into homeopathy and understanding the vital force, it led me to crystal healing. I think once you get into the holistic healing path, one thing leads to the next and you start seeing how a holistic approach to wellbeing, brings in a balance and equilibrium on all the levels of life,” Zakiya said.

Citing her personal experience, Zakiya said she had a two-year, post-delivery lower backache that couldn’t be cured completely with allopathic medication and painkillers.

“Even yoga unfortunately wasn’t helping,” she said.

But the pain was gone and she got her life back, “thanks to homeopathy,” Zakiya said.

“Homeopathy deals with the vital force of mankind and not just the physical body, which is the main reason it heals completely,” she added.

lack of awareness across the world, especially in the western culture, about holistic healing and alternative medicine properties and benefits.”

She said this “gets the people solely reliant on medicine and traditional pharmacology often used systematically or abusively to treat various diagnostics that could be cured naturally and in a side-effectfree way for the benefit of our body.

“This journey was conceived from my vision of seeing future generations being wiser and being able to choose their preferred healing method whenever this possibility exists.”

Zakiya is an Omani entrepreneur and mother of one. She holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from Waljat College of Applied Sciences, and since 2009 has owned and run Capital Veterinary Centre in Muscat.

She is also a certified crystal healing practitioner.

In 2018, she decided to consolidate her wider interest in homeopathy, healing, semi-precious stones, natural materials and mother nature into a business – Zproyecto.

Zakiya’s commitment to products’ quality and excellence and promoting wellbeing and natural healing permeates her business.

Zakiya said she embarked on her journey because there is a “global

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Vijay Bhatia says the Philippines will be his second home

He says he wants to stay in Makati.

Find out why.

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‘A cough that was persistent for two months settled within three days just using homeopathy.

This pushed me in the direction of studying homeopathy, to understand how a diluted pill works. I am still in my first year studying homeopathy in the UK.’

Fresh out of high school in 1989, Vijay Bhatia said he started working at Emirates, the largest airline and one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates.

Fast-forward to the present, Vijay is a 52-year-old businessman with at least five companies under his watch – one of them, Jules Tourism, which he acquired sometime last year at the height of travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I can’t say it’s doing very good, nor is it doing bad, as well. We are going Ok,” he says.

As a businessman, Vijay’s motto is quite obvious: “Don’t put your eggs in one basket.”

“You should diversify. You just can’t have one business. If something

happens to it, you will be down and out. We have diversified. So we have this, and we have plans to open other businesses as well like a cleaning company and a limo service company,” Vijay said.

He said it is important to keep a positive frame of mind – “Life is always full of ups and downs. Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you are going to be down. But nothing is going to be down forever.”

Vijay said Dubai keeps him going.

“It is always changing. Every day is different,” he said, adding as well that he takes inspiration from the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, its Minister of Defence, and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. w w w. d u b a i v i b e s m a g a z i n e . a e |

“I look at him as a guiding person,” Vijay said.

Vijay said he has travelled a lot – 56 countries and 126 cities to be exact.

But there’s one place that, he says, he keeps coming back to: the Philippines.

“I used to go there every year,” he said. “My second home will be the Philippines when I grow old. I am 52, so like when I am 60…65…70, I want to stay in Makati.

“Why? Makati is the business area.

Once a businessman, always a businessman. I always stay there actually.”

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Vidya Rani: Living life beyond the stereotypes

Remember, says Vidya, who won a title at the recent Mrs. India Pageant, ‘We are cheating ourselves with every excuse that we give.’

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“When opportunity knocked at my door, not always did I have the skills required for it. But I took the plunge and learned along the way. I not only succeeded, but excelled in every path. If I could do it, everyone can.”

“My life has been a perfect example of the importance of identifying the opportunities that come our way and having the courage to grab those opportunities to make the best out of it,” says Vidya Rani, who bagged the title “Inner Beauty” in the recently held Mrs. India 2021.

“When opportunity knocked at my door, not always did I have the skills required for that particular opportunity. But I took the plunge and learned along the way. I not only succeeded in the path, but excelled in every path. If I could do it, everyone can.”

A psychology graduate with a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management, Vidya has embarked on a journey to start a health care services company in Dubai.

“I saw that there were gaps in the

industry and felt a strong requirement to fill those gaps and provide the best solutions required,” Vidya, General Manager and founder of VAID Health Care Services company dealing with international patient services, said.

full spirit to create a positive impact on the lives of people.”

Vidya said she took part in the pageant to discover herself.

Having gone on her journey, Vidya says she learned that it is better to live life beyond the stereotypes, and that, with grit and determination, it is possible to achieve anything.

“Personally, I went through a phase of adversity and needed to go through a regime to push myself to reach heights. This journey truly gave me wings,” she said.

Winning at the pageant, she said, “was a very special moment, especially the title as Mrs. India – Inner Beauty.

“It was an endorsement for everything that I believe in and practice. It reinforced my confidence and gave me fuel to embark on my journey in

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She said the opportunity to “influence and impact other people’s lives” keeps her going.

“Also,” she added, “Everything in the world involves a team…always respect that.”

Moreover, Vidya said, we are actually cheating ourselves with every excuse or alibi we make.

So, she said, better to “live every moment to the fullest as today will never come again.”

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