Mohammad al Mansouri, an Emirati spending Ramadan in Dijon, France, misses the "delicious food" the most.
"Just thinking about the great amount of good food that I won't be able to break my fast on makes me miss home even more," he said.
Mr al Mansouri, a 47-year-old painter, is studying at Le Consortium Art Centre for six months on a grant from the Emirates Foundation. He loves the artists' haven but he wishes his family could be with him during this time.
But the father of three girls and three boys thinks he would have a hard time persuading them to come.
"Fasting hours are longer here," he said by telephone. The sun sets after 8pm in Dijon.
Having already lost 6kg, Mr al Mansouri is looking to take off a little more.
"At least I am going to lose weight while everyone else gains weight back home," he said with a laugh.
Mr al Mansouri said he spends most of his day out-and-about in the city, taking photos, before returning to his studio to paint and "self reflect".
"Painting is a kind of meditation in itself, where you take what inspires you and turn it into art," he said.
During Ramadan, he will join a group of Algerian friends for prayers in what he called the "Muslim corner", set up just outside their home.
"It will be hard to fast when everyone around you is not fasting, but then you adapt by waking up later in the day, and keeping busy until it is time to break your fast," he said.
He has brought with him a bag of dates, on which he will break his fast during Ramadan.
"It is a shame I am not a good cook, otherwise I would be cooking my own iftars," he said. "I will just have to buy ready made food."
It also helps that another Emirati is visiting from the UAE for the holy month.
"I just want to make the most of this Ramadan and be productive," said Ahmed Arshi, 30. "It tends to be a slow and sleepy month with too much focus on the food and social gatherings."
Besides his filmmaking career, Mr Arshi has already published four works of fiction and is visiting Dijon to work on his fifth book.
While it has yet to be written, Mr Arshi knows the premise of the book, about twin brothers, one of them with a mental illness who ends up being killed by his twin.
"I am looking forward to just writing, praying, and self reflecting without pressures and obligations distracting me from my passion and from worshipping Allah," he said.
"Dijon is so beautiful, and so peaceful, that it is actually a great place to pray and meditate."
Mr Arshi said he will be glad to miss the "shisha" culture that has become part of Ramadan.
"Ramadan has become far too commercial, like Christmas, where everyone gets sucked in to what they have to do and buy in Ramadan," he said.
Instead, Mr Arshi said, he is sitting in a quiet café, surrounded by "beauty and art", where he can order a bottle of Perrier and keep it closed until it is time for iftar.
"The food is great there, and what is better than breaking your fast on fresh croissant and a sip of Perrier?" he said.
He will travel to Switzerland and Germany before ending up back in Dijon to spend time with Mr al Mansouri.
"Of course I will miss my family and friends, but I seriously won't be missing seeing everyone glued to the TV watching the Ramadan series," he said. "What a waste of time.
"I want to make the most of this month, and sometimes, in order to do that, you just have to be away from home."
rghazal@thenational.ae
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
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Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Brahmastra%3A%20Part%20One%20-%20Shiva
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Company%20Profile
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.9-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E620hp%20from%205%2C750-7%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E760Nm%20from%203%2C000-5%2C750rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1.05%20million%20(%24286%2C000)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded