Abi:original - If you aren't original, what are you?

So yes, I've given away the punchline in the heading of this post. Have to admit I have mixed feelings about seeing myself on camera. Not too sure I match up to the celebrities who were at the event that I was attending. Food Addict is a new show by Zen Productions. It will focus on Malaysian cuisine with a strong emphasis on healthy foods. The show is expected to air in September 2016 and was introduced to the UAE media recently. The event was highly anticipated as the launch brought four famous Indian personalities to the venue. These included comedian and actor Javed Jaffrey, actor R. Madhavan, actor and model Rahul Dev (who will be hosting the food show) and singer Sukhbir. After addressing questions from the media about their favourite foods, R. Madhavan threw light on his experiences with Malaysian cuisine. Incidently the actor and Sukhbir are both  vegetarian. Actor Javed Jaffrey had us in splits with his characteristic puns. The attendees were then offered an array o...

Over the past few years I've become particularly fond of the Honda brand of cars. It is probably due to their reliability and simplicity. Maybe its also because a Honda Accord took my family and me to a lot of places over the past four years or so. Which is why I expected no less from the new Honda Civic which was launched in Dubai recently. It has been called the 'Stunning Civic' for its sporty look and added features. On first glance the 2016 Civic sets an all-new standard in compact car style and performance. With sleek, sporty lines and an improved power-to-weight ratio, it is charismatic, spacious and stylish but also the most efficient in its class. In addition to a brand new engine in the LXi and EXi grades, it also boasts  of a new grade equipped with a new turbo charged 1.5 litre DOHC Direct Injected Inline-4 cyclinder Engine and will be called RS. Convenience features include a Remote Engine Starter which starts the engine from a distance, ensuring...

Most newly opened spas are prettty much the same. They smell minty fresh and have that air of sophistication that makes you feel like all your troubles will be whisked away within an hour of a holistic treatment. Of course most people, myself included, like to indulge in that feeling of total bliss. After a very hectic month of far too many things on my to-do list, I booked a signature massage at the newly opened Orchid Palace Wellness Spa. The spa is located on the 8th floor of Yassat Gloria hotels and apartments. The convenience of the location just makes it ideal. If traveling by the metro, just get off the Dubai Internet City stop and cross the small road from Dubai Tecom. The building is on Sheikh Zayed Road. In no time the smell of lavender and mandarin transforms your world and a sea of smiling faces greet you in Thai. Excuse the bragging rights, but having reviewed quite a few spas from the one at the Burj Al Arab to Six Senses Spa, one always wonders how long new...

Sting and Chris Botti live in concert and visibly in awe of each other. I don't have to write this blog post. No one sent me complimentary passes. I bought them like any other die-hard music fan. In fact four friends from various parts of this country got together and booked them a month in advance to avoid missing out on this once in a lifetime experience. Guess what, it was totally worth it. Admittedly I hadn't heard much about Chris Botti till I booked my ticket for the show. It was a chance to watch Gordon Sumner live and I wasn't going to give that up for anything. Watching the two musicians collaborate on various songs online, gave me goosebumps. But that was nothing like seeing their energy on stage. No video clip can do justice to it. After a mind boggling set of songs with an outstanding jazz band that has been together for 12 years, Botti told the crowd that he played for Frank Sinatra. Naturally one's respect for the musician grew ten fold. He went o...

Way before there was a Google search engine or a sea of other technological ways in which we could get breaking news, there was a ‘Tequila Sunrise.’ I was barely eight years old when I first heard the song. Well in to my teens, another anthem of sorts ‘Take it easy,’ took on a new significance in our troubled times. “We may lose or we may win, but we will never be here again,” sang Don Henley and for some reason, I felt like he was talking to me. Playing the Eagles every Sunday morning while we did our chores in a Bombay suburb, was purely automatic. There wasn’t a member of the household that complained about the easy feeling that the boys on the faithful Kenwood player belted out. Of course it was the 90’s but those evergreen hits had been written two whole decades before. To the boys from the band who undoubtedly face a collosal loss, my heart sinks today. I woke up like most of the world, to the sad news that Glenn Frey is no more. Now, yes he hasn’t been breaking records...

There is usually a crowd in here. But it is exceptionally busy on Christmas eve. Women of all ages rush in to look their best barely a few hours before Christmas. You've probably witnessed the trend, the world over. She sits behind me. I cannot see her face. I can only hear the nagging voice arguing with the hair stylist. "No, I want it shorter. I have a four month old baby. You know I wanted to shave my head off. I, I, I." No kidding. This is actually what I hear.  It is a real blessing that the women from the Phillipines who run the beauty parlour I am in, have the patience that they do. Miles away from their own families, they have to work every day plus a half day on Christmas day as well. To add to their woes there's an unending sea of women who believe that it is their right to argue and bicker about every Dirham spent. I sit and wait patiently. For my hair to transform itself. I feel lucky that I could cross the road and attempt to look decent for Chris...

Train travel has always inspired me. Sure the Mumbai suburban train service has its flaws. It packed like hell on most days. But it also provides solace and a chance for one to find your own little corner to catch a breath and think. Some of my best ideas have come on a 50-minute train ride to college or work. And that’s been no different 20 years later on the Dubai Metro. Here is one piece that came up recently. On motivating, passionate women at any age. Danica's free hand drawing, December 2015.  I don’t have to look far when it comes to women who are passionate at any age. My daughter provides sufficient inspiration. At the age of five she wants to be a mother above all else. I tell her I would simply love to be her age again but there's no going back. No adult logic that works with a five year old and for now she says she can’t wait to be a mother as I’m gathering she believes it’s a fun job. Noted poet, author and my English Literature professor is another ...