Culinary Universe Dinner at COMO Cocoa Island with Citizen Astronaut Sara Sabry as Host

COMO is a luxury lifestyle haven. As citizen astronaut Sara Sabry, the first Arab woman in space, visited the resort to give an extraordinary dinner under the stars, Cocoa Island was turned into a beautiful celestial scene. This extraordinary event marked the end of a series of Space Camps for young explorers with a hunger for the cosmos that were hosted at several island getaways owned and operated by COMO Hotels & Resorts in Thailand, Bali, and the Maldives.

The date of August 4th, 2023 also had particular importance because it marked the first anniversary of Sara's famous space flight. During the space camp for young explorers, this historic occasion was commemorated at COMO Maalifushi. Intimate video footage of her journey from receiving the call to boarding the rocket to returning to Earth in the capsule was shown during the evening's dinner gathering. In the presence of the kids and their parents, these amazing sights were shared, inspiring and awe-inspiring the audience.

The evening of August 7th, 2023 saw the Culinary Universe banquet. During this special one-night event, Sara Sabry, a heavenly luminary, spoke with the resort's eminent guests about her fascinating adventures and tales from the furthest reaches of space. A carefully crafted five-course dinner, inspired by the basic five components of matter, set the scene for the evening. The brilliant Executive Chef Kadek and his superb culinary team orchestrated this cosmic-themed culinary trip, which was flawlessly complemented with specially prepared cocktails and mocktails.

Beyond the heavenly ambience, this meeting was for a good purpose. The MantaTrust Ocean Women's program, which aims to develop Maldivian women as skilled swimming and snorkeling instructors, received the proceeds from the evening's scrumptious meal. As a result, these strong women would regularly teach swimming lessons, fostering the confidence and skill of other female seafarers.

The great accomplishments of Sara Sabry go beyond her cosmic adventures. She has been a steadfast advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the field of space exploration as a renowned astronaut, engineer, and activist. She made history in particular by becoming the first Egyptian astronaut, the first Arab woman in space, and the first woman from the African continent to travel outside of Earth's atmosphere. She established the Deep Space Initiative, a nonprofit organization that promotes deep space exploration for all while democratizing opportunities within the space sector, in addition to her cosmic pursuits.

Sara Sabry described her inspiring tale in the mesmerizing setting: "I was born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Egypt. I never considered it would be possible to travel to space. I've always been interested in what lies outside of our globe. It's as if I've always known I can accomplish more. I wasn't satisfied with the normal job paths that were expected of me and those that were typically given to women. As a result of my intense interest in the medical industry, I chose to study engineering and eventually to specialize in medical engineering.

There were no options for me to pursue space training or travel back then. I decided to train on my own as a result. Then, the call that changed my life arrived to confirm that I had been chosen to be the second civilian astronaut. This accomplishment has global significance for women and minorities as well as for me. Since then, I've set out on a journey that has led me to numerous locations throughout the globe while also inspiring individuals. My advice to everyone is to never give up and to keep working toward your objectives.

Christina Korp, Sara Sabry's manager, attended the dinner with her. Christina Korp, a legend in her own right, holds the positions of president of Purpose Entertainment, space advisor, and manager of astronauts. Her distinguished career includes a ten-year stint overseeing Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut from Apollo 11, and starting his educational initiatives. She has managed innovative initiatives, such as the lauded Women's Vote Centennial in the USA, and is a proponent of space's everyday advantages for people and the earth. She presently works on projects with well-known astronauts like NASA astronaut and aquanaut Nicole Stott and Apollo 16 moonwalker Charlie Duke in collaboration with "SPACE For a Better World."

The dinner event provided as a venue for a COMO Conversation, building on COMO's goal to inspire both its visitors and local communities. These gatherings are intended to pique interest by displaying engrossing tales from creatives, writers, and trailblazers across COMO's many destinations. Sara's thoughts during this event sparked stimulating talks regarding the linkages between space, our planet, and environmental protection in the modern world.