Second Lives

There was a time when we all dreamed. We would be astronauts-slash-actors-slash-heart surgeons-slash-ninjas. We would do it all, see it all and excel in anything. Then, as we started to get older, a lot of those dreams shifted aside to make way for more ‘realistic’ professions.

The truth is, being a full-time professional doesn’t mean you have to give up on other things that excite you. We talk to some multi-tasking Dubai residents who are living proof that it’s always possible to find time to pursue the things you’re passionate about — on the side.

ON STAGE: Ankita (above, standing fifth from left) along with the cast of Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club

Architect of her own Fortune

Ankita Manikantan

Profession: Architect

Passion: Theatre

Ankita Manikantan compares her love for being in front of an audience to that of a shark smelling blood. “It’s absolutely addictive,” she confesses.

Having been raised in Dubai, Ankita took to public speaking at a very young age, participating in everything from debates to elections to dramatics. Her love for theatre followed her to the US, and before long she was participating in her film-student friends’ assignments and spending a large portion of her time watching plays. “There is so much learning in just watching someone perform,” the theatre enthusiast gushes. “I particularly remember watching Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone which influenced me to no end. I was so spellbound by the production that I secretly hoped that one day I would be pursuing theatre — even if it was a hobby.”

A satisfying hobby it would continue to be, as Ankita already had a demanding career to take care of. An architect by profession, Ankita and her brother manage their 17-year-old UAE-based family business Freeline Engineering Consultants. Having officially taken over the management of the business over the last year, the brother-sister duo work on a range of interesting projects including designing residential, corporate and industrial projects.

“I remember being creatively inclined from a young age,” says Ankita. “I grew up in a joint family where my uncle was a civil engineer. So seeing him work on these large blueprints always fascinated me. I think I found my calling towards architecture at a young age. To me, it was the perfect blend of art and engineering.”

Brimming with energy, Ankita managed to find yet another outlet for all her creative energy through Backstage, a committee of young theatre enthusiasts she co-founded in 2009. Having stumbled onto the idea with a friend while working on a production, the concept took off rapidly. Backstage is now a committee of 10 members — all working professionals, pursuing theatre during their free time.

“It was difficult initially, balancing my career as an architect with my passion for producing plays,” says Ankita. “But, for me, theatre is that one hobby that always makes me forget my work challenges. I simply had to find a way to balance my commitments towards my family, career and hobby. The key is time management. One should only take on as much as they can chew.”

Judging by her slew of successful plays, including the recent Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club, Ankita’s definitely managed to strike the right balance between business and pleasure. She may not have had any professional training — but that hasn’t stopped her from being associated with Dubai’s theatre scene for the last six years.

“I have dabbled in all aspects of theatrical technicalities and aesthetics and the role of a producer is my absolute favourite! The best part of the job is seeing the final product — the sum total of all efforts. It is a back-breaking job, putting together a production. But there’s nothing more magical than seeing it all come together on the opening night.”

MASTER CHEF: Reymher with oneof his decadent creations

Icing on the Cake

Reymher Nobrera

Profession: Senior Customer Engagement Executive

Passion: Baking

After a long hard day of work, most people can hardly muster enough energy to consider anything beyond getting home, enjoying a good meal and kicking back to relax. Then again, ‘most people’ does not include Reymher Nobrera, who openly admits that he enjoys spending the latter half of his day cooling off — in the kitchen.

“Baking is a real stress-buster for me,” the self-professed workaholic states. “Whenever there is anything worrying me — that’s when you can find me in the kitchen. Even if I’m working at night, if I’m on the laptop, I’ll be responding to emails — and checking on my cupcakes, on the side.”

Having shifted to Dubai from the Philippines in 2009, Reymer currently works as a Senior Customer Engagement Executive in one of the largest retail companies in the GCC — a profession that is as different as it gets from baking, a hobby he admits he’s had from a very young age. Reymer credits his love — as well as his expertise — for cooking and baking to his father. “Every weekend, I used to accompany my father to supermarkets in the Philippines. We would get the right ingredients and then I would help him bake. When it came to cakes, he was very particular.”

Even more surprising is the fact that he 
creates such magnificent treats, without having gone for a single formal baking class (with the exception of Home Economics class taught in high school). In fact, he credits most of his recipes to good ol’ fashioned experience — and YouTube recipes! “In pictures, every cake looks tasty. But it is only when you bake one that you can tell if it is really good or not. If I feel like the recipe is not good enough, or will not be app-reciated by my friends and family, I modify it accordingly. My father always told me, ‘If you know how to eat good food, you will know how to make good food.’ This phrase is always in my mind. I love cakes and cupcakes. I know the difference between a good cake and an excellent cake.”

It’s clear that there’s nothing Reymher likes more than baking the sweet stuff for his near and dear ones. His eyes light up as he describes some of his projects, personalised for his friends. “I have a friend who adores red velvet cupcakes — but her favourite colour is purple,” he explains. “I didn’t want to make a cake half-heartedly. That’s how I created purple velvet cupcakes. She was so thrilled.”

Another time he created a gigantic layered cake that weighed 7 kg for a friend’s daughter’s birthday. “I told them that I wanted to create my own design — so I made a sketching of what I had in mind, and they liked it. Then I went ahead and made the cake — it was huge, and covered in butterflies, grass and flower designs. It took me two whole days to make. The event was on a Friday, so I started baking on the Wednesday before, prior to going for work. I came back home that night and got started on the fondant. The next morning, I covered the cake with icing.”

Clearly having mastered the art of multi-tasking, Reymher proves that it is possible to balance a thriving career, alongside a time-consuming hobby. All it takes is a little effort, and just the drive to keep at it, even when the going gets tough. One thing is for certain — this successful professional knows how to have his cake, and eat it too.

Jane in her professional ensemble

Shifting Gears

Jane Louise Knudsen

Profession: HR and Administration

Passion: Biking

Hearing the engine roar to life. Seeing the road stretch out for miles in front of you. Feeling the wind against your cheeks, the sun against your skin. There are many benefits to biking, and Jane Knudsen lists all of them.

“I absolutely love it,” the biking enthusiast confesses over a cup of coffee at her favourite hangout — Café Rider. “No matter how bad or tough your day is, once you get on your bike, all the stress that was worrying you or upsetting you — it’s gone. It just refreshes your soul. It’s that feeling of 
being free.”

The mother-of-two only discovered the thrill of biking a year ago, partly because of what she calls a deep-seeded love and interest for Harley Davidson. Having purchased a bike out of pure impulse, Jane then spent about two months to get her licence, something that she now describes as a ‘challenging experience’.

“When you’re first learning to ride a bike — you’re busy concentrating on not falling off. It is scary. When I say blood, sweat and tears, I mean it. My lessons were in the middle of summer, so it was incredibly hot, and I fell off my bike a couple of times — had grazes and sore muscles. I had my ego bruised a few times,” she laughs.

But in the end all the trouble was worth it, judging by her unabashed passion for biking. Jane hardly goes a weekend without getting onto her bike, a Harley Davidson Street Bob, and tries to get out at least three times a week. “It doesn’t always have to be a long ride,” she explains. “Sometimes it’s just going out and meeting friends for coffee. But I try to ride as much as I can, especially these days with the weather 
being so nice. Everyday is a spoiled opportunity if I’m not on my bike.”

A British national who lived in South Africa for most of her life, Jane knows how unusual it is to have discovered such a passion midlife. “I’ve always been conservative, all through my life,” she says. “I’ve always been a responsible person, and held very responsible jobs.

As a finance, HR and administration manager at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East, dressed in suits and scarves, Jane appears to be a world away from what she describes as the ‘big, bad bikers that people usually associate with riders in black leather vests.’ Her job is as professional as it gets, and Jane admits that she loves every minute of it. “I’ve always been interested in cars and wheels ever since I was a little girl. I’ve always watched the F1 races. I used to argue with my dad over cars and I always wanted to fly airplanes. In all this ‘boy stuff’, there was always this passion for bikes just hidden away because it was supposedly dangerous and, as a girl, you’re not supposed to do anything dangerous.”

However, Jane is all about breaking stereotypes — and proving that biking can be for anyone and everyone, irrespective of age or gender. “I think we, as women, give so much to our husbands, our children, our homes and our families that sometimes we forget to give something to ourselves. Getting my bike licence and getting my bike gave me something for me — something that was just mine. I chose to do it, I love doing it, and I get such a huge amount of enjoyment from it. I think that’s what it’s all about. You only have one life — you should live it the way you want to.”

janice@khaleejtimes.com