LIFESTYLE
Nadia Issadeen
In conversation with Ashwini Vethakan
JOURNEY OF LIFE
Born in
1984
Alma mater
Methodist College
Family members
My mom (Aneesa), husband (Thisara) and our fur babies (Cairo and Whiskey)
Wanted to be
A politician – I grew up in a family involved in politics and thought it was very exciting
Is
A hotelier – I love meeting people, travelling and writing
Started as a hotelier
In 2012 – and it has been one of my best decisions by far
Drives
A Baleno
Would like to drive
It doesn’t matter as long as it has four wheels, a loud horn and gets me from point A to point B
Moments you would like to go back to
The evenings – I played the piano and my dad would sit down to listen, request a few songs and then listen to vinyl records. I’d do anything to relive those moments… I miss him terribly
Best advice received
“Be independent. Learn to stand on your own (two) feet and never be afraid to speak the truth” (my dad)
INTIMATE AND INSPIRING
Likes to play
The piano, Scrabble and chess
Likes to watch
Friends, Chuck and House Hunters
Most unforgettable event
When my husband proposed – he adorned an entire suite with lilies (my favourite flower) and curated a menu with my favourite food
Most forgettable event
It’s forgotten
Purpose in life
A chance to be the best version of yourself
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Mantra to unwind
Playing the piano
Most hated chore
Changing the duvet cover – I hate it with a passion
Impressed by
Kindness
Favourite place
Derby in England – where I lived for nearly 10 years for my studies and work
Hobbies
Listening to music – mostly vinyl records (my dad was a collector and I have around 4,000 in all)
Pet peeves
Spiders!
What you think about when you’re in the car
Food (I love food!) and coffee
Items on your bucket list for the next six months
Learn Spanish (I’m trying!) and travel within Sri Lanka because there are so many magnificent places to see
Items on the bucket list following retirement
Build a small villa in Kegalle and spend a couple of months in Italy
Three must-haves
My mobile phone, pets and passport
What you would like to have
The freedom to travel again – other than that, I’m quite content with what I have
The most romantic thing anyone has done for you
My boyfriend patiently waited outside my house for an entire day to make sure he was around if I needed to talk or a hug… I think he slept in his car that day
What led to this?
I lost my dad on New Year’s Eve four years ago. The days leading up to it were the worst and I shut everyone out especially since it’s a day of celebration and fireworks for the rest
Your reaction
I had no idea until much later but it beat all other romantic gestures… and he’s my husband now
A little-known fact about you
I can play six or seven instruments
FAVOURITES
Days of the week
Monday, Friday and Sunday
Colour
Black
Work wear
Business suit
Leisure wear
Mostly casual dresses
Brands
Coach and Buddhi Batiks
Drinks
Coffee, red wine and whiskey
Local holiday destinations
Santani Resort and Spa in Kandy, Anantara Kalutara Resort and my grandparents’ home in Kegalle
Overseas holiday destinations
Poland, Spain and Turkey
Chill out spots
The Bayleaf, Capital Bar & Grill and London House of Coffee
Restaurants to dine in
The Bayleaf, The Gallery Café and Golden Dragon
Actors
Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant
Movies
You’ve Got Mail, Pride & Prejudice and Bridget Jones’s Diary
Authors
Paulo Coelho, Haruki Murakami and Jane Austen
Favourite quote from a movie
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces” (Bridget Jones’s Diary)
Because…
It reminds me that life is never a bed of roses – Somewhere, the good and bad tend to balance out
Favourite international civil servant
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – the first elected female head of state in Africa
Sirleaf’s legacy
Her non-violent struggle for the safety of women and women’s rights, and political journey – her story is quite inspiring and interesting (nepotism excluded!)
Obsessed with
Travelling – I love travelling and exploring different parts of the world
The reason you enjoy travelling
Learning about cultures, cuisines and meeting different people – it’s all such a wonderful experience
Likely retirement destination
Sri Lanka – there’s no place like home
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
When you dance, you look like…
Somewhat like an idiot
The first thing you notice when meeting someone
Eye contact
You know it’s going to be a bad day when…
Your general manager says: “Let’s discuss this first thing tomorrow.”
You’re challenged by
A pre-opening hotel or property – it’s such a massive task and an adrenaline rush
Children are…
Not my cup of tea
The best thing about working in communications is…
Meeting new people and writing – I love writing about the brand, products and services
Colombo in a few words
Busy, dusty and vibrant
Sri Lanka in a few words
Island home
The world is…
A complicated place
PICK ONE
Memory skills on a scale of 0 to 10
Seven
Computer ability in one word
Skilled
Most productive in the morning, noon or night
Morning
A leader or follower by nature
Leader
Cook or foodie
Foodie
Quality or quantity
Quality
The glass is half full or half empty
Half full
Work or play after retirement
Work
The most delightful term you can think of
‘Thank you’
Do you consider yourself to be a student or teacher?
A student – I love learning anything new
A technology that you think will transform the future
People reincarnated through AI
Your most used word or phrase
‘A pigeon learns faster’
Work out preferences
A glass of wine in each hand (that counts, doesn’t it?)
Role model
My dad – he was direct, loyal and always grateful for everything he had. He taught me to be independent and always speak up, never hold back and appreciate what you have
Yourself in a few words
Straightforward and fun
Motto in life
Dance like there’s nobody watching
