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Profile: Nadene Ghouri

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Nadene Ghouri
Journalist, hotelier

In her decade as a reporter, most recently with the BBC, Ghouri has visited health clinics in the Ethiopian bush, underground raves in Iran, and seedy hotels in Azerbaijan. In 2003, she opened two boutique hotels in Afghanistan. She's now living in London and writing her memoir, tentatively titled Kitten Heels in Kabul.

FASHION ADVICE
"Don't push the dress code. When I first arrived in Afghanistan, it was July and the heat was intense. I was desperate to walk outside in a T-shirt, but you can't." Instead, Ghouri wore a shalwar kameez—traditional long trousers and a matching tunic—and a headscarf. "With your shades and your scarf, you can look quite glamorous —like Grace Kelly."

IN HER BAG
Ghouri never travels without a rubber doorstop. "If I'm staying in a hotel where the door is flimsy or I'm concerned about the locks, I put one under my door."

TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY
As a journalist, Ghouri saw her share of danger and learned to trust her instincts. "Every time I haven't, it's been at my peril. Be rude if you have to. If you think you're in danger, you probably are."

WOMEN'S WISDOM
A few years ago, Ghouri and a close friend embarked on "a Thelma and Louise–style trip across India." The highlight was Matheran, a small hill town that prohibits cars, where they galloped on horseback through the mountains at dawn. They also had manicures at their hotel. "We were able to be adventurous and also get pampered. Men think it's wimpy to pamper yourself. Women understand it's important to do both." —ERIKA KINETZ

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