19th January 2000 we landed in Pakistan - our origin that became home officially. I was told that life will change drastically and so it did, but Islamabad will always be home. You can leave Islamabad, but Islamabad doesn’t leave your heart. When my father retired from the Foreign Service, I was fairly young. Born [...]
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The Story of the Saudi tenants (The easy ones)
I didn't even realise that I had preserved this memory away from my conscience for many years till recently but it really shaped my love for children and babies - not in a baby fever kind of way at all but in a natural way of bonding with kids and understanding cultures. When I was [...]
Athens: 1995 – 1998: Where the neighbours cats ate my pets & my siblings broke my face with a frisbee
We were very obsessed with Greece. It was a country that we had on the highest pedestal. Ironic in hindsight, but we were so in love. We felt we had hit the jackpot being posted there. Athens was the epitome of the diplomatic life for us. I was admitted to the cheaper school as my [...]
Elizabeth Mullins of the fifth avenue Hotel
I met Elizabeth through my amazing Breakfast Club ladies who wanted us to connect and meet. Little did I know, Elizabeth Mullins would turn out to be the most inspiring woman I have met in recent memory. Our worlds seemed to be similar with both of us coming from diplomatic backgrounds, having grown up seeing [...]
Islamabad via kazakhstan
The move from Kazakhstan to Islamabad in 2000 was unexpected and sudden. The one thing we did have was a house built and the only task for us to complete was to get rid of our tenants. The amount of back to back bizarre incidents that took place in the span of a year alone [...]
Coffee with Riccardo Ortigni of J.K. Place Paris
J.K. Place Paris completely stole my heart. Parisian hotels have a way of doing that, but the French take it to another level when it comes to exceeding expectations in detail, design, and luxury. They just get it. Riccardo Ortigini, the General Manager, shared insights about the hotel and his life in Paris—such a fascinating [...]
Islamabad – rewind
Pakistan. Islamabad. Ghar. Truly. A pound now converts to 350 rupees approximately so definitely a great spot for vacationing for us non residents but if you're frequenting the likes of Kohsar, Jinnah and F-6 you may still end up spending 1000 rupees on a coffee and perhaps something like 3k if a fancy pastry is [...]
Senegal via Romania 1990-96
I was born in post communist Bucharest. Tariq tells me with the fall of communism, Lambada was THE song that would constantly play on TV and radio. I don't remember much about Romania but I do recall the time we were packing to move to Senegal. I have recollections of the heavy snow and us [...]
Once upon a time in kazakhstan
I have recently started realising how important it is to diarise stories that matter in your life. I was rummaging through some old messages and came across a text from a friend where she had discovered a childhood photo of mine in her parents family album. Sarah Kuschner was my best friend in Kazakhstan. I [...]
INTERVIEW with Michael McCarty
For as long as I can remember, I have loved a party and there is no better party than a great restaurant alive with conversation, clinking glasses, smooth service and delicious food.. Michael is an enigmatic personality. He is what restaurateurs should be like - warm, welcoming and with a presence that all guests recognise. [...]
