Natasha Amar

The dishes pile up in the sink and the laundry hampers threaten to spill over. The bed looks like it’s being slept in all day; the grey sheet forever crumpled and an odd person-shaped lump under the empty covers. Grilled chicken strips from two weeks ago (“or was it three?” my husband asks) sit forgotten, wrapped in foil, on the bottom shelf of my fridge. A thin layer of dust begins to form on candles, and books, and lampshades, and photo frames—the many objects that make my house a home—and ...

Why you might need graduated compression socks on flights
Like many others, you might suffer from swollen or puffy lower legs and feet after long-haul flights, making it painful to walk or fit into your footwear. This happens when a disproportionate amount of fluid accumulates in the tissues in the lower legs.
In such cases, wearing graduated compression socks can help. Designed to apply constant external pressure to your calves, ankles, and feet, these tightly fitted socks that end just belo...

Travel
This Ramadan, break your fast with flavourful dishes from around the world, from South Asian snacks to sumptuous Levantine desserts.
In Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and the Gulf, a favourite iftar dessert is qatayef, a crescent-shaped filled pastry.
During Ramadan — a month of prayer, abstinence, self-reflection and benevolence, which this year starts on 12 April — Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, foregoing food and drink, including water, until the call to maghrib prayers...

Previously the preserve of home kitchens in Dubai, Emirati cuisine – with its rich and layered heritage, plethora of colourful ingredients and flavourful dishes – is now stepping out into the world.

Having grown up in Dubai in the early 1990s, one of my fondest memories are of Friday evenings at the beach, my fingers deep in beach sand, in search of seashells, under an orange-pink sunset sky. My parents sat cross-legged on a chatai, a woven bamboo mat, sipping hot, sweet, milky karak tea in plastic cups from a nearby cafeteria.
Much has changed since then. The city’s transformation from a humble fishing, trading and pearl diving hub to a world-record setting, futuristic metropolis full o...

At first glance, the work of multimedia artist Alia Ali is a captivating juxtaposition of color and pattern. What makes her portraits of silhouettes in vivid motif-bearing textiles truly powerful is that at their core, they are a reflection on the inherent duality of things. This reflection, both fearless and nuanced, raises hard-hitting questions about politics, history, identity, erasure, imperialism, racism, and sexism.

Tips + Trends
Looking to escape city life for something different? Whether it’s adventure, culture, wildlife or nature that you’re after, these small towns in the Middle East and South Africa promise to leave you feeling pleasantly surprised by their many experiences and utterly refreshed thanks to their relaxed pace of life.
The best part? They lie just a few hours drive away from major cities like Dubai and Muscat, and most offer breathtaking views on the road trip there.
As always, check f...

Tips + Trends
Across the Middle East and Africa, the holidays are marked by celebrating orange-pink sunsets on the beach, holiday shopping under the glow of fairy lights and watching movies beneath starlit skies. The pleasant weather and abundant daylight during the holiday season make this an excellent time to embrace the festive spirit and explore your own backyard with local travel.
Before you pack your bags and set off on a staycation, check the most current travel rules and regulations i...

Gargantuan shopping malls bustling with crowds of eager shoppers, trendy nightspots and exciting live entertainment, and a vibrant dining scene serving up the best of international cuisines — it’s easy to get caught up in Dubai’s endlessly energetic buzz to see and do more.
But venture away from these popular spots and there’s a whole other side to the city, where it feels like time slows down a bit and where locals turn when they want to pause, reflect and refuel. From lush ...

Dubai’s cultural coming of age has been at least a decade in the making. Thanks to an emerging wave of bold local and regional artists, Dubai is on the cusp of a transformation that positions the city as much more than a hub for the world’s tallest skyscrapers.
And it’s not just the cityscape that’s evolving; today’s Dubai is the manifestation of many cultural shifts that have occurred organically over the years.
These changes tell of a people who value their heritage while looking ahead at a...

“You’re not really going, are you?” my friend Siya asked, frown lines on her forehead, eyes wide open in disbelief. Just like that, the excitement of that morning transformed into a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I had just told her that I was going to Bangladesh for a month, on what would be my first trip abroad. I’d been having nervous thoughts all day, but they were seasoned with optimism and a sense of achievement. “I can do this,” I’d been telling myself, but now I wasn’t so s...

Culture + Style
A trip to the Middle East is synonymous with luxury travel, as cities in the region pull out all the stops when it comes to hospitality that makes visitors feel welcome and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that leave them awestruck.
Whether it’s contemporary museums inspired by the region’s heritage, shopping experiences fit for royalty, private seaplane or yacht trips, or memorable meals created by acclaimed chefs, these cities in the Middle East and Africa promise luxury trips...

When the need for social distancing is a top-of-mind priority for even the most intrepid of adventurers, satisfying one’s wanderlust calls for a bit of creativity. In a newly emerging trend being coined “zoning out,” travelers keen to explore are turning to certain times of the day or night (“time zones”) when popular attractions and activities offer a completely unique and naturally uncrowded experience.

If there’s one thing that’s top of mind when I’m packing for a trip, whether it’s two weeks in Sri Lanka or three months in Europe, it’s practicality. When I started traveling in my mid-20s, it didn’t take me long to realize that lugging a heavy suitcase across cobblestone streets in Bologna, or navigating the railway stations of Hanoi under the weight of a massive backpack can be miserable.
Years later, I’m still highly selective about what goes in my luggage. When it comes to shoes, I like ...