Meeting Galina Vlasenko

Born in Moscow and with an international education attained between Russia, Stockholm, Paris, and Brussels, Galina Vlasenko lives in London with her two kids. Galina believes in a natural and healthy lifestyle and is passionate about children’s development and activities, entrepreneurship, slow and sustainable fashion, sports, and traveling.

Hi Galina, you have recently returned from the Arabic desert. Why did you choose to go there?

First of all, I decided to go there because it sounded me like an exotic destination. I‘ve never been to a proper desert before. The only time I have seen one before was on a small island in Egypt, a tiny desert in the middle of the sea. While there, I noticed that in the desert it’s completely silent. Since I wanted to be at peace with myself, outside in nature but with a different silent setting, I spent a week in the Arabic Desert. My time there passed just hearing the wind, the sound of some insects, and of the sand. That’s it. And I felt completely detached from our digital world where we are constantly bombarded by emails, information, and any other sort of messages.

Where did you stay?

When I was looking for a location in the desert, I came across the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort. It is located 2 hours away from Abu Dhabi, in the desert at the border with Saudi Arabia, in the middle of an endless hot desert. I picked it because I liked that it was a comfortable, luxury hotel with a swimming pool, like an oasis, and all the amenities we are used nowadays but still outside, in the middle of nowhere.

You have been there on your own. How was it being a woman staying alone in the Arabic Desert?

I was the only woman alone in the hotel, and this surprised everybody. For instance, every time I was going to have a dinner at the resort’s restaurants, there was always someone asking me when my company or partner would join me. They were stupefied by knowing that I was on my own. As they realized it, they immediately brought me magazines and books because they thought that I needed to be distracted. The only reason I decided to go there was that I wanted to be by myself, on my own. I guess that for people it’s unexpected, weird to have solo travelers since people are not used to being on their own. I’ve recently read the book about physically healing virtues of spending time on your own, and that people nowadays feel guilty to be ‘alone’ while some others see it as a waste of time or unnecessary luxury.

For the resort staff it was surprising to have a solo female guest. And how was for you?

For me it was not a usual trip — I like to be on my own. I enjoyed it. It allowed me to have a dialogue with myself, find peace for myself. I spent my time choosing restaurants, activities. It has been like having a one-week-long date with myself. So I just went and enjoyed it.

What was the first moment when you felt drawn into the place?

Outside the hotel, there was a traditional ‘nomadic’ restaurant serving grilled meat and local food in a typical setting, with guests sitting over pillows laying down on a floor covered with carpets. The first evening, when the light fell, and I could not see the desert anymore, I heard from my hotel balcony traditional sounds coming from that restaurant. Hearing this music, I noticed how much it correlated much to the sounds of the wind in the desert. When you listen to the same music in London, it is hard to understand or relate to it, it is too slow, too exotic, but when surrounded by desert, the setting makes this music very natural. It just feels like it connects to the dunes, to the wind, to the horizon, to long-distance roads. It feels like very liberating.

What was your most memorable experience during your time there? And why it was memorable?

During my trip I used to walk on the dunes at dusk and sit on the cliff of a dune to observe the horizon and the sun going beyond. I have never really realized before that trip that it takes ten minutes for the sun to go down. I learned to appreciate the time and to feel and understand that nothing is forever, and that everything has an end to it.

What has this experience taught you?

While in the desert I realized that it does not matter where you go, you will not find peace unless you have peace within yourself. It has been a sort of meditative travel that helped me to think about my life deeply. I posed to myself many questions, reflecting on where I am, what I would like to do, if I am happy or not, how would I want to change my life, what should be the steps to take. I asked myself questions about who are the people that surround me, if I need these people or if I am wasting my life with them, and if I would prefer to be with other people.

Would you recommend that others to do the same trip you have done?

I would recommend this kind of trip to families with kids to discover an entirely different type of landscape. As families, we usually go and think that the best vacation is by the sea. Considering it as a place where all family members can relax: with the kids just busying themselves by running around, splashing in the water and the parents just chilling under the sun. Families can find the same kind of vacation in the desert, surrounded by an absolutely stunning landscape.

Are you planning to go back there with your kids?

I try to never go twice to the same place. I have regretted that I did not take them with me because they would have definitely enjoyed it. The resort offers a warm pool, a kids’ play area, and nannies to help families with childcare.

How was overall your experience at the hotel?

The resort offers plenty of things to do with a nice fitness area with a sauna, a spa, meal plans following dietary requirements, lovely food, and a beautiful landscape. The only thing that was not so good was the wine!