Meeting Jose Miguel Sokoloff in Bogota
Reblogged from Influencers Around The World: We are talking to Jose Miguel Sokoloff, global CCO for Lowe and partner of Lowe-SSP3 Bogota. Jose has been using creativity to try and … Continue reading
Around the World in 80 Brands featured in Brazilian ABC Design Magazine
Reblogged from Storytelling Expedition Around the World: Flavia Mendonca appraoched us for an interview, following the launch of Around the World in 80 Brands in Brazil. Here is the article … Continue reading
Meeting Arianna Huffington of 'The Huffington Post'
Reblogged from Storytelling Expedition Around the World: The Huffington Post’s Arianna Huffington speaks with JWT’s Bob Jeffrey in’Worldmakers’ Arianna is a Greek-American author and syndicated columnist. She is best known … Continue reading
Meeting Joaquin Bacardi in Puerto Rico - part 2
Reblogged from Storytelling Expedition Around the World: “Welcome to Casa Bacardi,” Joaquin says as I enter his office. “Please take a seat,” while pointing at a large wooden table with … Continue reading
Dubai – To infinity and beyond!
Driving through Dubai is like leafing through The Guinness Book of World Records. The biggest shopping mall, the biggest dancing fountain, the biggest indoor ski slopes; if it ain’t larger than … Continue reading
Abu Dhabi – Where tradition and modernity meet
As we have breakfast overlooking the Arabian Gulf, we think about our programme for today. It’s not our first time in Abu Dhabi, and we know from experience that there are … Continue reading
Paris – The culture of strolling
We’re enjoying a break on a small terrace in Paris’s Marais neighbourhood, sipping a café au lait and watching stylish people walk by. “This city is amazing,” I remark, “each neighbourhood has a unique feel to it. What a difference between the small-scale boutiques here and the department stores in the Hausmann area. Not to mention the top brand stores based at Avenue Montaigne!” Mmm, by the way, where did that elegant Parisienne get that outfit? I ask myself.
That evening, I more than happily put on my brand-new purple Valentino dress, found at Avenue Montaigne… What more can a man ask for? A stylish woman at his side to attend a special reprise of the 100-year-old Parade by the Ballets Russes, at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Maarten is all the more happy because the cubist costumes and set were once designed by his other idol… Pablo Picasso.
Geneva – Crossing the lake
From Vevey we are about to cross Lake Leman, to Geneva. Enjoying a boat trip offers a nice change when you mostly travel by car. At the CGN ticket booth, the next departure is listed for 1.22 pm. With only 11 minutes left, too tight a schedule for a coffee really, that is, if it’s on time! “Let’s wait,” I propose and before we know it, the boat arrives.
Then, as the boat ties up, he suddenly stands up and cheers: “5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Yes, incredible, exactly on time! What you just said about Swiss brand values is absolutely true: a boat trip that is said to take 1 hour and 5 minutes, and which actually leaves and arrives on time, there is nothing more accurate!” “True,” I agree stepping on to the quay, “but let me check out another Swiss value: I urgently need to test if Swiss chocolate also meets my high expectations!”
Meeting Saleh Al Geziry in the old spice souk
Here I am, on a deckchair overlooking the swimming pool. I just did 10 laps and I am now enjoying a café latte and the bestseller I bought at the beginning of the trip. I haven’t had time to read a single page so far, but now is the time. Maarten left the hotel early this morning to take some pictures of Dubai from the Burj Khalifa. When I mentioned he already has taken hundreds of pictures taken from there, he answered: “You never have enough pictures taken from the highest building in the world. And this time I’m taking my new full-frame Canon EOS 5D,” he added.
“So how was your souk experience?” he asks. “Authentic enough?” “Saleh…” I say, still a bit blinded by his impeccable white kandoora. “It was great, we took some cool pics for the book, the aroma of the spices is tantalising and I even bought some saffron.” “Ha…I’m glad you liked it,” Saleh says. “Let’s have a mint tea in in one of the cafés. Then I’ll take you to the textile souk in Bur Dubai area. I’m sure you will like that as well.”
Meeting Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Qassimi
We rented a car at Dubai Airport and instead of driving into town, where the action is, we head up north towards Ajman, in search of a more authentic Emirates experience – a place where you wake up in the morning and immediately know you’re in the Middle East – not like most hotels in Dubai, which have the same interior design as hotels in Paris or New York.
Salem pauses and takes a sip of his coffee, before he continues: “I want to showcase both traditional and contemporary art and create a space for young painters and photographers to express themselves in a modern way… but with an Arabian identity. They are influenced by the intrinsic values of our society, like family loyalty and family honour.” Salem leans forward and looks at us intently. “I studied in New York for a few years and one of the differences I noticed, is the respect we have for the older generation.”
A smile appears on his face as he continues, “And of course the belief that many things in life are controlled by fate, not by humans.” He sits back in his chair and drains his cup. “The Ajman Palace is a perfect place for cultural exchange,” he says. “A place where open-minded people can meet and learn. Of course this is on a micro level, but wouldn’t it be great to take this to a higher level?”
