AT THE ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA’S celebration of the nation’s 93rd National Day (23 September) at the Shangri-La hotel’s vast Island Ballroom, His Excellency Mr. Abdullah Almadhi, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Singapore, dressed handsomely in a white formal thobe and black bisht, welcomed his guests and introduced the official tagline of Saudi Arabia’s 93rd National Day: “We Dream and We Achieve”.
I was in attendance alongside dignitaries, members of the diplomatic and business communities, and citizens of both Singapore and Saudi Arabia. It was a great occasion, with Saudi Arabian music playing softly as we mingled and partook in some amazing Arabian food. We were also shown a short film encapsulating Saudi Arabia’s history and its vision for the future, a vision that is perhaps best encapsulated in the ambitious Neom gigaproject, which we discuss in this issue’s prologue (p. 16).
I’ve met the Ambassador thrice, and in every meeting, I leave His Excellency’s office wiser. In our first-ever meeting, as we were discussing literature and the moral conflicts faced by characters, he said to me, “Being a good person is an everyday act. We don’t become good people. We choose to do good things every day.” It’s a personable brand of wisdom, honed over a life in diplomacy.
The Ambassador has dedicated his entire life to public service and to the Saudi Arabia mission, serving in the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Manila, Damascus, Doha and Prague. In 2013, he was promoted to Ambassador and was posted to the embassy in Pretoria in South Africa.
Denne historien er fra Issue 194-utgaven av August Man SG.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 194-utgaven av August Man SG.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Return To Mont Blanc
Wes Anderson Brought US To Montblanc's Fictional Headquarters Several Months Ago. Now, He Shows Us More From The Collection.
Manners Maketh Man
The Principle Of Style Is Character, And The Core Of Character Is Conduct.
Slow Travel In Switzerland
The Swiss public transport system certainly aces the luxe factor with eye popping train rides, indulgent multi-course meals on a Belle Epoque era steamship, and even efficient luggage transport services.
A NEW DAWN IN SOLAR ENERGY
AUGUSTMAN SPEAKS TO MANDALA CLUB CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER LILLY GILBERT ABOUT THE MOVEMENT THAT COULD CHANGE HOW BUSINESSES IN KEONG SAIK ARE POWERED THE MANDALA SOLAR COLLECTIVE.
THE POWER OF THREE
ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC IMAGES IN SINGAPORE TOOK THE FORM OF KOKILA PARVATHI, SITI AMIRAH (ALSO KNOWN AS CAMIRA ASRORI) AND SOBIKUN NAHAR ON THEIR WAY TO COURT. AUGUSTMAN SPEAKS TO THEM ABOUT THEIR IDEAS ON COMMUNITY ORGANSING, AND ABOUT RETHINKING OUR THOUGHTS ON POWER.
FLIGHT OF THE NARISAWA BEE
The esteemed Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa shares with us the intimate details of his brand's expansion into Singapore and what having the Mandala Club as its permanent address means to him.
DRINK THROUGH SPACE AND TIME
Preferably with a dram of The Macallan, in hand. The famed whisky maker celebrates 200 years of making perfection.
AND BUTCHER'S BLOCK MAKES IT THREE
SINGAPORE'S CHAPTER OF THE DOM PÉRIGNON SOCIETY HAS INDUCTED A THIRD MEMBER, RAFFLES SINGAPORE'S BUTCHER'S BLOCK, GIVING DISCERNING DINERS BETTER ACCESS TO THE EPICUREAN SAVOIR FAIRE THAT COMES WITH THE MARK OF THE SOCIETY.
AMERICAN SPIRIT
ROB SAMUELS, THE EIGHTH-GENERATION WHISKY-MAKER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MAKER'S MARK, EXPLAINS WHY THE BRAND'S CELLAR AGED EXPRESSION IS A PEAK INTO THE FUTURE OF BOURBON.
Wine The Time Is Right
What does the future hold for winemaking? Steph Dutton, senior winemaker for Penfolds, has some ideas.
