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About
Christabel Lobo is a journalist, illustrator and guidebook co-author based between Mexico City and Abu Dhabi, who writes about food, travel, health and wellness, science and culture, with deep roots in India, the UAE and the wider GCC, Mexico and the US.
Between places
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Dubai, the US & beyond
I was born and raised in Dubai, a third-culture kid who grew up between languages, kitchens and calendars. I spent years living in the US and south India, and these days I’m based between Mexico City, Abu Dhabi and wherever my next flight lands.
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Since 2015
I’ve worked as a writer, editor and illustrator for international print and online publications. My beats are food, health and wellness, science, culture, history and travel, and my home ground is India, the UAE and the wider GCC, Mexico and the US.
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On the ground
The writing and the drawing come from the same place: something I notice on the ground, like a pattern, a colour, a meal or an old facade, that won’t leave me alone. Sometimes it becomes a story, sometimes a gouache painting or a repeat pattern, and sometimes both.
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Mysore
Yoga is the other constant. I trained at Samyak Yoga in Mysore and have been a 200-hour registered Hatha yoga teacher (RYT) since 2017. I teach pranayama, having completed The Complete Principles of Pranayama with BNS Iyengar, and I’m Yahoo Health’s yoga expert.
At a glance
- Based in
- Mexico City, Abu Dhabi and wherever my next flight lands
- Born and raised in
- Dubai, UAE
- Working since
- 2015
- Regions
- India, the UAE and the wider GCC, Mexico, the US
- Beats
- Food, health & wellness, science, culture, history, travel
- Yoga
- 200-hour RYT in Hatha yoga, Samyak Yoga, Mysore (2017); pranayama teacher; Yahoo Health yoga expert
- Art
- Gouache illustration, pattern design, animated loops
- Tools
- Gouache, Procreate, Procreate Dreams, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop
Guidebooks
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Lonely Planet Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Lead writer for the cultural heritage and food sections.
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Lonely Planet South India & Kerala
Lead writer for the piece on South India’s performing arts scene.
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Lonely Planet India
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Lonely Planet Experience India
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Lonely Planet Journey: Pacific Coast Highway
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Fodor’s Essential India
Coverage of Kerala’s cultural institutions and traditional cuisine.
Bylines
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Christabel Lobo is a writer, illustrator and guidebook co-author based between Mexico City and Abu Dhabi. Born and raised in Dubai, she writes about food, health and wellness, science, culture and travel, with a focus on India, the GCC, Mexico and the US, for publications including National Geographic, TIME and Lonely Planet. A 200-hour registered yoga teacher trained in Mysore, she is Yahoo Health’s yoga expert. She also paints gouache illustrations and patterns rooted in the places she writes about. See more at christabel.co.