As the year comes to an end, we can’t help reminiscing. The trials, the tribulations, the excitement and the inspiration. As usual, it’s been quite a ride. What follows is a quick behind-the-scenes peek at the mishaps and the ironies that happened along the way to making our magazine happen:
• Flying through the desert at 300km/h on a high-speed drive, we were somewhat surprised to see the Omani border hove into view, though not as surprised as the soldiers were when they asked to see our passports and we realised they were safe and sound in the hotel back in Dubai. As they graciously allowed us through anyway, we’d say the Ferrari California can market itself as a great car and modern day passe-partout to boot.
• Never have we felt more self-conscious than when we interviewed fashion superstar Hedi Slimane. He rolled up in one of his trademark skinny suits and looking at him, we realized that like Mr. Lagerfeld, we’d need to shed more than a few kilos if we ever wanted to look half as cool.
• Having failed to secure an interview with design icon Steve Jobs after announced his retirement from Apple, we decided to publish a story about him for our readers anyway. Imagine our surprise (and sorrow), when as the print run had just completed, we had to issue a recall and rewrite the story as an obituary instead.
• The thrilling day we imagined we’d be spending on the Italian Navy Frigate Bersagliere, as it patrolled the Gulf of Aden, turned out to be a bit of a downer. What’s the use of having the firepower to sink Sicily when the Somali pirates all stay at home? As exercises go, this one was more bravado than bravery.
• We definitely felt like a million dollars when we bagged one of the biggest suites at the sumptuous Setai Fifth Avenue but we quickly deflated when we realised that wasn’t going to get us tickets to Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s musical mauling of the Book of Mormon. Nothing like being upstaged by Cartman to take the wind out of your sails.
• We were transported to high art heaven as we filed in to see Picasso’s Buste de Femme at Palestine’s International Academy of Art in Ramallah. That is until we noticed the automatic weapon-wielding security guards standing on either side. Only in the Middle East could we turn the unveiling of a modern masterpiece into the kind of high security event to make a Mafioso proud.
• We thought it was the greatest privilege to be invited to be the 18th man aboard the America’s Cup USA BMW Oracle Racing boat. What we didn’t know is that the privilege would cost us two agonising days of strained muscles and torn ligaments. No pain, no gain? Jane Fonda, eat your heart out.
• Hitting a new low after reading the unsettling economic outlook our resident expert Toufic Farah presented, we decided to follow his advice and convert a chunk of cash into lots of shiny gold bricks. As towers go, our modest pile wasn’t exactly the Empire State but we told ourselves that Midas would have been proud of us anyway.
• The Ascari Race Resort in southern Spain might be every driver’s wetdream thanks to a track composed of the best corners from the greatest racing tracks in the world but it comes with quite a catch. Namely the150,000 USD you’ll have to stump up just to get through the door and the annual fee of 15,000 USD you’ll need to keep you there. As clubs go, this one’s definitely more than a little elite.
• Obsessed with doing a Cruise, we knew we had to make jewels the theme of our Impossible issue fashion shoot. Our Mission? To place priceless jewels, not in a little black bag, but around the neck of a scantily clad model instead. Priceless? Definitely. Impossible? Well, let’s just say we worked hard for that money.
