IN DOHA
Mah Jong modular sofa design Hans Hopfer fabrics for Roche Bobois
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Alfardan Spa A unique and exclusive moment of luxury
* Pamper yourself for only 500 QR
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or haircut for gents at Le Salon Limousine service is available for pick-up and drop-off at additional charge. Offer validity 28th February.
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ABODE
team
QATAR
Healthy Eating
Surprise Your Valentin
How To Get The Kids To Eat More Vegetables
Luxe gift ideae s
London Calling!
Shop Till You Drop-On A Shoestring Budget
A Man Who Goes
The Distance
Candid Candid interview interview with with Nabil Nabil “Nabs” “Nabs” Al Al Busaidi Busaidi
The Value of
Eat More Chocolate Reasons chocolate is good for you
Friendship
FEBRUARY 2012 QR 12
A Fashionable Story Of How Two Friends Made Their Friendship Last
On the cover: Laurence Udo, Deliah Fucoi; Photography Jorelle Legaspi; Stylists Jeniffer Ruiz & Marlynne Mallari ; Hair & Make – Up Darin Fares @ “La” Salon Spa Chakra Alfardan; Location Roche Bobois; Wardrobes and Accessories courtesy of Salam Stores
Ahmed Hassan Bilal Chairman Nasser Ahmed Hassan Bilal Editor-in-Chief Executive Editorial Director Moona Masri-Whitice Nitya Shukla Associate Editor Marlynne Mallari Editorial Coordinator Paola Santin Graphic Designer Finalizer/ Srimani Welagedara Production Manager Jessie Palanca Photographer Deliah Furcoi Advertising Manager Business Development Kristina Helg Consultant Jeniffer Daclan – Ruiz Marketing Coordinator Lanie Fillo-Pana Distribution Gloria Duran – Renderos Contributors Lauren Penny Victoria Scott Jacqueline Bodnar Laura Prior Christina Pacshyn Willemina Mansell – van Eeghen Jorge Granda Tarn Carstens Gihan Abdul Andrea Compton Elsbeth Blekkenhorst Asma Ashimi Print Communications Owner & Licensee An Associate of Ahmed Hassan Bilal Group of Companies. Gulf Publishing & Printing Co. Printers ENQUIRIES ON THE ABOVE SECTIONS PLEASE CONTACT: TEL: +974 4443-2224 FAX: +974 4443-2225 ADVERTISING INFORMATION Qatar: +974 4443-2224 LEGAL NOTICE ABODE is owned and published monthly by Print Communications, P.O. Box 7848, Doha, Qatar. An Associate of Ahmed Hassan Bilal Group of Companies. This publication follows Canadian Press Style and is written in Canadian English. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied without the written permission of the publisher under the copyright laws of the State of Qatar. All rights reserved. No responsibility taken for unintentional errors or unsolicited material. Use of trademark is strictly prohibited.
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HOME 34 INTERIORS
At Home With Forum Design: Design for Him vs. Her
38 DECOR Tricks to Brighten a Room
PEOPLE 22 24 28
Reflections of Excellence A Man Who Goes The Distance Celebrating 10 Years of Living
the Dream
30
Empowerment Through Education
44 ACCESSORIES
34
Simple Update with Bright Colours Adding a Feminine Touch
104
LIFESTYLE 100 Tips for Making that Big Career Change
102 Is Friendship at work a Good
60 FOOD&
ENTERTAINMENT
52 Chocolate Bitter Sweet Temptation 54 The British Tradition of Afternoon Tea 58 Tea Time 60 6 Exclusive and delicious Thai Recipes 68 Home Made with Love
82 FASHION
72 ABODE loves 76 The Value of Friendship 82 Spring into Action 90 Bright Strokes 92 Shopping on a Shoestring 96 Beauty Secrets
or Bad Partnership?
104 10 Ways to get Kids Eating More
Fruits & Veggies
08 The essence of Relaxation 1 110 Reduce Your Stress for Weight Control
112 Detox with Home Remedies 114 Portugal: Europe’s West Coast 118 Interview with Mr. SMADJ 122 GMC Sierra 1500 Review FEBRUARY 2012 ABODE 13
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IN THIS ISSUE... This month ABODE brings you a host of stories, decorating tips and entertaining ideas plus two very interesting interviews, one with Nabil Albusadi an adventurer and the first Arab to walk the magnetic North Pole and another with, his excellency Crescente Retuya Relacion, the Ambassador of Philippines to Qatar. Moving in to the 2012 fashion scene, ABODE visited the bargain hunters’ side of London and their world famous outdoor markets like Portobello and Camden, where you can find designer goods at a discount. Our main fashion feature includes a story about friendship between individuals from different cultures and walks of life who met in Doha and have forged a strong bond. As this month, many of you will celebrate Valentines, we have put together a lux shopping list to make it easy for you to say “thank you’’ to a loved one.
bEHINd THE ScENES T
“M’am what’s your order?”
Ladies it’s retouch
time... The emergenc
In the interior design corner, we give you tips on how to brighten those hard to light spaces in your home through the use of proper lighting, paint colour and reflective surfaces. Our monthly Forum Design column shows you how to stifle the battle of the wills between a man and woman as it pertains to decorating tastes- they show you how to decorate a room for him or her. For those of you who enjoy Thai food and love to entertain, the Chef of Mango Tree has provided us with 6 delicious recipes to try at home to tantalize your guests. So be brave and try them all. ABODE’s team enjoyed exploring the history and tradition of English tea at Ritz Carlton Hotel, in this issue we teach you all about the proper way to enjoy this English tradition. The beautiful country of Portugal is our destination feature this month. If you are not familiar with Portugal and what it has to offer, you will be pleasantly surprised to find out more about this historical country especially its impeccable tourist water front beaches in the Algrave Region.
e of our st ylis
SPEcIal PrOmOTION Tell us your definition of a lasting friendship and get a chance to win a Friday brunch for two at Cucina & Crossroads at the Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel. Email us at info@printcomqatar.com or df@printcomqatar.com
We hope you enjoy this issue.
NASSER AHMED HASSAN BILAL EDITOR IN CHIEF
OUr FavOrITE PIckS Heart to Heart Watch
“La Bohème” Collection Make Up For Ever
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GUESS Valentines Half Bracelet
LonE Lon E Star ES ring in ing
K rEn Ka En MILLEn En MILLEn animal Print rint Suede Box Bag
ts...
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Nabil “Nabs” Al Busaidi
IntervIew
a Man Who Goes The Distance
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Doha at a glance
Hamad Medical Corporation Signs Landmark Agreement with Cerner On Public Health System
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Cerner have signed a landmark agreement to digitize the entire public health system of Qatar, including all HMC hospitals and Primary Health Care centers (PHCs). This is Cerner’s first project in the region to digitize an entire country’s public health system on a single computing platform. The Cerner Millennium® architecture, a unified health IT computing platform, will enable Qatari health professionals to elevate safety, quality and efficiency in the public health system. Acting as a prime contractor and CIS integrator, Cerner will deliver the cutting edge health IT solutions that to bring the HMC Hospital Information Management firmly into the 21st century.
ETIHAD AIRWAYS TO BECOME THE WORLD’S LARGEST OPERATOR OF THE BOEING 787-9 DREAMLINER Etihad Airways announced last month that it was buying 10 more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in a deal which will make it the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world. The airline has also ordered another two Boeing 777 Freighters for its fast growing Etihad Crystal Cargo operation. The 12 additional aircraft are valued at $2.8 billion at current list prices. The extra Dreamliners mean Etihad Airways will now take delivery of 41 787s between late 2014 and 2019. The airline also has options and purchase rights on 25 more 787s. The 787-9 will carry up to 300 passengers and have a range of 8000 nautical miles (14,800 kilometers), and will be initially used on Etihad Airways routes to destinations including Dublin, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Nagoya, Delhi and Istanbul.
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The Pearl-Qatar Hosts Quit Smoking Walk-a-Thon The Pearl-Qatar (TPQ), Doha’s five-star luxury development, hosted for the second year, American Express’s 2011 Quit Smoking walk-a-thon last Thursday December 22nd , as part of its commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles in Qatar. The walk-a-thon route took place around the scenic Island and aimed at educating the public about the long-term dangers of smoking. Visitors were able to test their lung capacity and see how smoking can affect the body. They were also given information about the effects of smoking and ways to access support for quitting the habit as part of American Express’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. The Quit Smoking initiative is also part of The Pearl-Qatar’s company’s commitment to CSR and giving back to the community.
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Mouawad To launch New Generation Boutique At Lagoona Qatar’s next retail and lifestyle destination, Lagoona, is gearing up to welcome - amidst its parade of existing brand names - world-class jewelers, Mouawad. A signing ceremony was held at Lagoona attended by Chairman of Darwish Holding, Mr. Bader Al-Darwish and Mr. Pascal Mouawad, Co-Guardian of the legendary brand. The outlet is slated to open its doors this month. With Mouawad’s legacy of haute joaillerie and its growing presence in the Middle East and Lagoona’s unique air of timeless elegance in style and structure, it is a perfect match for Doha’s most prestigious district and sophisticated lifestyle experience. The new Mouawad flagship Boutique located on the first floor and spanning 277 square meters will be the destination in Doha and for customers of the luxury brand – with collections ranging from boutique items to objets d’art and magnificent haute joaillerie pieces.
TIFFANY & CO FIRST LOOK AT CAMEO RING The iconic jewelry house Tiffany & Co has given a first look at their latest cameo ring design dubbed ‘’Simply Angelic ‘’. The ring features a lyrical cherub at play in a mythical garden. The cameo is carved from a sardonyx shell in natural light, which enables the carver to see the glowing white and brown inflections in the shell; all mounted on a bed of platinum and diamonds.
Four Seasons Hotel Doha Presents ‘Nusantao: Sea Kitchens’ Restaurant Four Seasons Hotel Doha looks forward to presenting ‘Nusantao : Sea Kitchens’ ; a new theatrical dining destination in a contemporary yet relaxed setting - set to open in coming weeks. A diverse and talented multicultural brigade of chefs will offer authentic panAsian dishes using dramatic cooking features including a sushi bar, robata grill, tandoor ovens, satay grill, tawa griddle, dumpling steamers to name a few. An attractive pastry kitchen will offer guests a full view of the preparation of baked, griddled and chilled exotic treats. Nusantao will bring the culinary excitement and sensory wonders of Southeast Asian shores to a relaxed contemporary urban dining setting at Four Seasons Hotel Doha.
Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow Voted World’s Leading Luxury Business Hotel At World Travel Awards The Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow, has won the prestigious World Travel Awards 2011: The Russian flagship of Radisson and historical landmark of Moscow has been voted as the World’s Leading Luxury Business Hotel 2011. World Travel Awards has been described as the “Oscars of the travel industry” and was launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognise excellence in the global travel and tourism industry. Votes are cast by 213,000 travel professionals including travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations in more than 160 countries. “We are honored and proud to receive this outstanding award”, said General Manager Wolfgang Nitschke at the red-carpet Grand Final of World Travel Awards in Doha, last month.
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360 society
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Sizzling Hot Pot! OPENING IN FEBRUARY
DESERT KING QUIROS TARGETS SECOND COMMERCIALBANK QATAR MASTERS TITLE Fresh from his winning end to the season, big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros will join a star-studded line-up at the 2012 Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy. To be staged at Doha Golf Club from February 2-5, the $2.5 million tournament will once again provide a unique challenge for The European Tour stars competing on golf’s now famed ‘Desert Swing’. But after wrapping up 2011 in stunning style at the Dubai World Championship last month, Quiros will return to the scene of his 2009 Commercialbank Qatar Masters confident of taking that form into the new campaign. A victory and two runners-up spots in his last three visits to Doha Golf Club bodes well for Quiros even though he lost out by four shots to eventual champion Thomas Bjorn in 2011. Organised by the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and title sponsor The Commercial bank of Qatar, the Commercial bank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy will be the second event in the three-leg ‘Desert Swing’ in between tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
This new restaurant, and eating concept, will open inside the contemporary Holiday Villa Hotel on C Ring Road and will feature an exciting new culinary concept. Taking a cue from a trend that is sweeping the globe, as a guest of Sizzling Hot Pot you can become your own ‘Chef.’ When socializing with your friends and family, you can impress them with your culinary skills and imagination while enjoying an evening out. Guests can choose from a range of ingredients including meat, beef, lamb, chicken, veal and a wide range of fresh fish and vegetables on iced scales. Diners can further select from a vast variety of spices they love in order to make their own dishes, and in effect create their own signature taste. Sizzling Hot Pot will provide a menu structure to assist you to create mouth watering scrumptious dishes. Guests can also have the staff prepare the dish to their liking before they decide to make their own. Sizzling Hot Pot will be open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.
Gala Dinner at Ritz Carlton Last month saw the excitement of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open tennis tournament take Doha by storm on and off the court as players took time to celebrate and unwind at the annual Gala Players’ dinner. It was held at the stunning Al-Wosail Ballroom at the Ritz Carlton Doha. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, the event welcomed esteemed guests from the sporting community as well as VIPs from ExxonMobil Qatar, Inc. and other sponsors. Tournament Master of Ceremonies, Robbie Koenig, was on hand as MC for the evening whilst guests were charmed by a magician and the tones of Lebanese superstar singer Maya. The dinner was said to a highlight for the players during the tournament.
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20th Anniversary of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open
Iconic Al Gassar Resort Opens Its Luxury Residential Offering The long-awaited Al Gassar Resort has welcomed its first residents as they move into this extraordinary waterfront development. Dubbed as the new social and living hub of Doha, the resort, with its luxury living offers an abundance of services and amenities, magnificent royal ballroom and not to mention The St. Regis Doha hotel which is all expected to add value to the vibrant residential and hospitality landscape in Qatar. Nestled between the lively cultural village, Katara with its restaurants, water sports, leisure and cultural activities and the business district of West Bay, this is a highly soughtafter high-end community. The official, grand opening of The St. Regis Doha hotel will take place later this month.
Last month’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of world-class tennis in Doha. Since 1993, the greatest tennis players in the world have been descending upon the city to showcase amazing athletic prowess on the court. The tournament, hosted by the Qatar Tennis Federation at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, has become the highest prize-money event of the ATP World Tour’s 250 Series. The tournament was watched courtside by more than 35,000 tennis fans and had a viewership of more than 360 million households in 115 countries. Through partnerships with ExxonMobil and a host of other sponsors through the years, the loyal fans who support the event and the Qatar Tennis Federation, and the players who make Doha a yearly stop on their playing schedule, the event continues to thrive as it moves into its third decade.
Salam Draws Winners for Canon African Safari Adventure
JASON DAY JOINS WESTWOOD, KAYMER AND MAHAN IN ALL-STAR COMMERCIALBANK QATAR MASTERS As the countdown is on to the 2012 Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy, Australia’s World Number Ten Jason Day and US Ryder Cup star Hunter Mahan have announced they will join the powerful field when the is staged at Doha Golf Club from February 2-5. For both US PGA stars it will be their first attempt at tackling the 7,388-yard course – widely considered the toughest Middle East challenge on The European Tour – and they will do so in the company of some of the biggest names in European golf. Also confirmed in the lineup are World Number Two Lee Westwood, World Number Four Martin Kaymer, 2010 US Open Champion Graeme McDowell, TPC Champion KJ Choi, and reigning Dubai World Champion and former Commercialbank Qatar Masters winner Alvaro Quiros. Add in up-and-coming stars Matteo Mannasero and Tom Lewis plus former Major winners Todd Hamilton, Shaun Micheel, Ben Curtis, Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell and Paul Lawrie and it’s a line-up that is among the strongest seen in the fifteen years of the Tournament.
January 1st saw Salam Studio & Stores, the exclusive distributor for Canon and the authorized distributor of many well-known global luxury brands in Qatar, hold a grand electronic draw to announce the winners of the Canon African Safari Adventures promotion. The draw, which was held to mark the end of a special promotion run in the final weeks of 2011, was held at The Gate Mall. A total of 64 Canon customers were picked with 8 top winners being drawn from each of the 8 weeks of the promotion. These first 8 winners received travel packages to Kenya for 2 persons for 3 days and 2 nights with 4-Star accommodation and air tickets to Kenya. In addition, the 56 remaining winners were rewarded with gift hampers.
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Premier Wedding Exhibition and Fashion Show Returns to Doha in 2012
Standard Chartered Co-Hosts Reception With British Embassy Standard Chartered Bank and the British Embassy held a Reception on 11 January to mark the visit of the Bank’s Regional Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, Christos Papadopoulos, here to Qatar. The Reception was co-hosted by Charles Carlson, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank in Qatar and HE John Hawkins, the British Ambassador to Qatar. Guests included senior members of the Qatari and British business communities, diplomats and dignitaries.
Glamorous bridal fashions and new innovations in wedding services and products will be on display at the highly-regarded 5th edition of the Qatar International Wedding Exhibition and Show (iWED) from 4- 7 April 2012, Qatar Expo announced recently. The muchanticipated iWED 2012 is the premier wedding show of the region and follows on from successful events of the past, showcasing luxurious wedding gowns and exclusive, trend-setting products and services to the fashionable soon-to-be-wed couples of Doha. Internationally-renowned wedding dress designer Vera Wang sponsored the 4-day 2011 event that drew a crowd of 24,000 visitors from all over the world. iWED 2012 is aimed both at brides and grooms-to-be and their families, as well as the meeting place for wedding professionals offering the newest ideas from across the globe. iWED 2012 is once again especially supportive of young local talent and will provide the perfect opportunity for up-and-coming designers not only to showcase their talents but also be a part of Qatar’s national wedding show.
PSG TAKE AL KASS CUP Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, President of Qatar Football Association presented the Al Kass International Cup to the Paris Saint-Germain under-17 team at Aspire Zone as they took the title in the exciting competition last month. PSG beat Juventus under-17’s in an thrilling sudden death round after both teams were tied 3-3 after five penalties. PSG eventually strode home with the cup after a final score line of 5-4.
World Famous Vienna Boys’ Choir Perform in Doha For The First Time On January 21st, 22nd and 23rd Katara, the Cultural Village brought together The Vienna Boys Choir - one of the world’s best boys choirs - and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in a unique New Year concert. The concerts took place at the Opera House, Katara under the direction of Gerald Wirth. Local audiences were delighted with performances of the famous New Year’s programme, featuring well known works by Johann Strauss, Verdi, Bizet, Schumann, Suppe, Joseph Strauss, Mascagni and Mozart. The Vienna Boy’s Choir; divided into for subgroups or touring choirs of equal standing; have been singing at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor since the early 15th Century. The spectacular show also featured the fast polka Tritsch Tratsch (Chit Chat) by Johann Strauss, the waltz king himself and Feuerfest (Fireproof), a French polka by Josef Strauss.
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Mr Crescente retuya relacion, ambassador of Philippines to Qatar and his wife Meike naomi Loing’s
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2012 could see His Excellency Crescente Retuya Relacion, Ambassador of Philippines, wrapping up his three year tenure here in Qatar. Thankfully, in wait of that decision, ABODE was granted the honour of sitting down with him at the bustling Philippine Embassy, where he reflected on his time here so far.
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elieving that ‘’everything happens for a reason, in the eyes of The Creator’’, His Excellency Crescente Retuya Relacion resolved to a move to Qatar in 2009, even though his family was very settled in Manado City, Indonesia. The affable diplomat has since become an integral link in the unassailable chain that is the Filipino community here. By devoting his and his wife, Meike Naomi Loing’s, work and leisure time to benefit that community, H.E. has been enriched by the experiences of his residency and ABODE was welcomed with open arms to spend an afternoon with him and hear all about it. ABODE: Please tell us about yourself. HE CRR: I am from a large family, one of ten siblings, from Mandaue, Cebu. My parents always encouraged education in our household, which I am thankful for. I married a little later than some but very happily so, and we have two beautiful children. My career has allowed me to travel to many wonderful places and I have taken up positions in Canada, Bahrain, Tehran, Singapore and Indonesia before coming here to Qatar. ABODE: What made you decide to be a diplomat? Was it a difficult process? HE CRR: It was kind of by accident. I was into business, finance and law and was very content with my job and lifestyle then, in the late 80s. However, my partner at the time was encouraging us to both take the exams to enter into the Foreign Service sector and so I agreed. From over 1,000 applicants I was one of few that passed. It all went from there.
ABODE: What are some of the ways you are promoting your country here in Qatar? HE CRR: We have many benefits to offer, both in terms of human and natural resources. Speaking in terms of foreign policy, we focus on three main pillars. The first is that of protection of national integrity and sovereignty. The second is the promotion and welfare of our workers. We have many thousands of hard working people who come to work in Qatar, which helps facilitate the rapid growth here and generate income for families back in the Philippines. The third and final pillar is the promotion of economic ties with the host country. We are extremely thankful to Qatar as currently we are negotiating the ‘Philippine/Qatar Agreement on Reciprocal Protection of Investments’. When this is signed we could receive substantial investment from Qatar in four different specific areas: tourism, energy, agriculture and mining. ABODE: You mentioned the Philippines are a significant provider of labour to Qatar. How much of your time is spent handling this and do the huge numbers mean more responsibility? HE CRR: Indeed, we have around 200,000 workers here and that figure is expected to double in the next five years and this is something we are very proud of. I’d say around 90% of my job is taken up by making sure this is done fairly, lawfully and morally. Qatar has been very supportive of this and their standards are amongst the highest in the GCC. Of course, I feel very responsible but it’s not the actual numbers that is the issue. It’s
people
making sure that each sector of workers is taken care of. The greatest challenges we have are in the domestic sector, and we have been working very hard on that. ABODE: How has your experience of Qatar been?
HE CRR: Qatar is a great example for the world. It has been extremely interesting to watch the growth of the country both economically and as an influential political leader in the region. Being a diplomat here has thrown up some interesting challenges and there is much work to do, but overall, I have very much enjoyed my experience here. ABODE: What do you like to do when you have some free time?
HE CRR: All of my time is spent at work or in our community. Weekends are often mine and my wife’s busiest times, as we have many gatherings to attend. We have also recently moved to a new villa with a garden that attracts birds. It’s very peaceful so I like to take time out there. I also read a lot and when I get the chance like to check in with the Filipino TV channels to remind me of home a little. ABODE: What are your fondest memories and greatest achievements while being here? HE CRR: As I mentioned, I have been working tirelessly in the area of labour but my other projects have surrounded faith, community and schools. I have supported the spiritual community in their application for land, and we have a community school which now needs funding for construction of its building after Qatar has allocated them a piece of land; but I am extremely proud of these projects in particular. ABODE: In your opinion, in today’s world, what do you think we have to be most aware of and what do we have to be most thankful for? HE CRR: From my experience people are generally good. I do think, however, that aside from climate change, we should be very mindful of moral decay. People should go back to God. We can always be thankful for new experiences and seeing God in the faces of the people we meet every day. •
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a Man Who Goes the Distance BY jORGE GRANDA
Nabil “Nabs� Al Busaidi, the first Arab to walk to the Magnetic North Pole, is one of those individuals born to inspire people through his incredible courage and will to achieve what for others may seem impossible. ABODE recently had the privilege to sit down with Nabs and learn about his incredible story.
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s we start our conversation with Nabs we can tell he is a warm, funny, engaging and committed man. He can be considered a celebrity, yet we were taken away by his modesty and openness. It seems that Nabs is not even aware of his extraordinary achievements and the impact he has had on the lives of so many. The Omani adventurer captures our attention from the moment he starts talking. Nabs was born in 1970 in London and grew up juggling his time between the UK and Bahrain. He completed his formal education at the University of Bath in England, earning a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Mathematics in 1993 and a Master in Management in 1997. Nabs decided in 1998 to establish himself in the Middle East, making Oman and Bahrain his new countries of residence. Before becoming a fulltime adventurer, Nabs was an accomplished project management professional. He worked at Gulf International Bank in Bahrain, KPMG in Oman, Mizuho Bank and Gulf Air in Bahrain. Yet the global recession a few years ago presented Nabs with a unique opportunity that would change the course of his life forever. Some might say it was destiny. abOdE: What made you decide to go from a fulltime business professional to a fulltime adventurer?
on such an adventure, so I did. After I walked to the Magnetic North Pole, I met a lot of people who were involved in charity and other altruistic causes. I was romanced by the whole idea and I started to take part in several projects. Consequently, my agenda was filled with different commitments and didn’t leave me much room to really focus on looking for a permanent job. It was destiny, I guess, one thing just led to another and suddenly I was a fulltime adventurer. abOdE: What was appealing to you about walking to the Magnetic North Pole? NabS: I wanted to do something unique and amazing that would make a positive change in the way the world perceives Arabs. I thought about climbing Mount Everest, but then found out that over 4,000 people had done that before, so I wasn’t really that unique. However, only 250 people had walked to the Magnetic North Pole. The fact that I was going to be the first Arab to do so was definitely my biggest encouragement and the main factor in my decision-making.
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we liked. In one occasion a Polar bear got very close to one of the tents, my teammates managed to scare him away, but it was a very frightening moment. abOdE: Can you describe in words how it felt to walk to the Magnetic North Pole? NabS: My entire life changed forever after that expedition and I am very happy I did it. Because of it I have had the opportunity to do many wonderful things and inspire others. Nonetheless, the experience was very intense and boring. It was freezing cold the entire time, harsh environment. It was really exhausting. I wouldn’t recommend to anybody to go through something this extreme. There is reason why people don’t do it and I know now why. abOdE: Then why did you do it? NabS: There were plenty of times when I just wanted to quit. But I had a goal: I wanted to say to the world “I did it”. But most importantly, I wanted
abOdE: Did you encounter any dangerous situations, any encounter with a wild animal worth mentioning? NabS: Polar bears were around us quite often, more than
NabS: When the global recession hit in 2009, there was not much business to do in my previous company. At that time a friend of mine told me about the expedition and it immediately caught my attention. It just seemed like the best time for me to embark
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feature abOdE: How is the preparation for such expeditions? NabS: Now, the secret to your question is that I didn’t really prepare. I know that most of the pain and challenge you have to go through is mental. No matter how fit you are, in the end you will reach your limit, and you will have to continue on sheer willpower. Being fitter obviously helps endure the stress, and I was already naturally fit from playing sports all my life. So I didn’t do anything extra to prepare myself physically other than working out every day.
to create a more positive reaction about Arabs all over the world – that we can also achieve the impossible, that we can also have dreams and go for them. I had the same reason when I rowed across the Atlantic. I became the first Arab to ever row an ocean. abOdE: Rowing the Atlantic Ocean must have been very hard. Tell us about it. NabS: It wasn’t a nice experience at all. We were 14 people in a small rowing
boat with no kitchen or bathroom and a tiny compartment to sleep in. We divided the group into two. So while one was rowing, the other was sleeping. However, we could only take shifts of two hours -which means we slept for two hours and rowed for two hours the entire time. It was like working out for twelve hours a day. Frankly, it was difficult to endure and to cope with. Thankfully, we were a very strong-minded team, and I think that prevented us from going crazy or taking out our frustrations on each other.
nABS’ FActS • First Arab to walk to the Magnetic North Pole, 650 km in average temperatures of minus 40 Celsius, dragging 50 kg of equipment • In 2009, Nabs helped the American Commander Richard Ryan set a World Record for a wheelchair journey from Land’s End, England to John O’Groats, Scotland: a total distance of 1,451 km in eight days and ten hours. • Climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa 5,895m above sea level. • Second Arab to climb Mount Vinson, the highest mountain in Antarctica 4,895m above sea level. • First Arab to row the ocean – rowed 4,600 km across the Atlantic Ocean in 43 days. • Voted one of the Top T 100 most influential Arabs in the world by Arabian Business magazine in 2009 and 2011 and he remains in the Top 500 Power list. • The documentary about his expedition to the Magnetic North Pole was directed and edited by two-time Emmy Award winning director David S. Ward. • Published a coffee table book with over 300 photos and daily accounts of his first four adventures.
26 ABODE february 2012
abOdE: After all your adventures you have become some kind of a celebrity, which has allowed you to be part of many other important projects, especially those related to charity. Tell us about the 100 schools though-out the GCC – what are you trying to accomplish and in which way do you want to inspire the youth? NabS: The 100 schools through-out the GCC is a charity project that is taking me to all the Gulf countries to help the children raise money for their charity of choice: cancer, animals, disability, you name it. I want to show the youth that dreams shouldn’t know about boundaries, that there isn’t reward without effort. I want to inspire kids to broaden their horizons and in a way I want to help shape a better world. •
ABODE
feature
r ajesh Jad
Dir hav, IaID
Celebrating 10 Years
ector
of LivinG the DreaM BY jORGE GRANDA
Ten years ago in December 2001, a dream came true with a vision to contribute to the cultural landscape of Qatar. This artistic endeavour now stands as the International Academy for Intercultural Development (IAID), a novel institute that provides quality training for Dance, Music and Arts. ABODE spoke with Mr. Rajesh Jadhav, IAID Director to find out what makes the Academy so relevant in the cultural scene of Qatar.
28 ABODE february 2012
ABODE
a
first of its kind in Qatar, IAID continues to unite diverse cultures from the east and west in timeless forms of dance, music, arts, fitness and soft skill courses. With a commitment to quality training, IAID maintains integrated courses that meet international standards and certifications as it is affiliated with the London College of Music (LCM) - University of West London UK, Nalanda Dance Research Centre Mumbai, India and more. Ten years of quality training brought transformations that continue to define its vision towards the flourishing of talents beyond culture and race. With the professional expertise, patient guidance and personal care of a team of qualified instructors, participants experience holistic instruction in dance, music, arts and fitness. abOdE: How have you seen the cultural scene change in this time? rJ: The cultural scene has grown so much over the years. Ten years ago, there were few choices, from places to go, where to live, what to see, where to dine, where to study. Now people have more choices. Different cultures from all over the world seem to be highlighted at one point. abOdE: IAID is celebrating its 10th anniversary, tell us the importance of such a special occasion, what does it mean to you? rJ: IAID’s tenth year is a special occasion for us to celebrate how much the academy has grown from a few courses to a more variety of course offerings now, catering to a multicultural group of students. It is a time to share this success with those people and families who have supported IAID since it started. There are students whom we have seen grow up with us to become such talented individuals in their chosen fields. It is also the time for us to celebrate with new students of recent years who continue to trust us in helping
feature
them grow in skills and talent. In fact, we are soon staging more than 250 students in a very prominent venue in Qatar, presenting these talents in a special musical extravaganza. abOdE: Where do you see IAID in the future? rJ: IAID will continue to bring more of the best in what we do. We look forward to seeing IAID talents flourish and find their own niche. IAID looks forward to cater to more students and to cover other areas here in Qatar and abroad to make learning dance, music and arts accessible to all. abOdE: What do you think is the impact the academy has had in the cultural growth of the country? rJ: As expected from an institution such as this, IAID has done its share in training young talents to grow their skills and creativity. A result of this is greatly seen in the events we have staged over the years, which brought together the Doha community. These are creative events such as the Doha Cultural Festival, World Environment Day (WED) celebrations in Qatar, performances for A Flower Each Spring Program and our recent participation in the Family Day of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival. We have likewise contributed to other events that have collectively made an impact on the country such as the 15th Doha Asian Games, 21st Century Leaders Awards, RasGas Train 6 Inauguration and performances for the Qatar Foundation. Recently, the IAID Dance students have represented the Doha community to the International Dance and Theatre Festival in Kuwait.
rJ: A big achievement for IAID is to see our students growing to include a lot more nationalities who want to enhance their skills in the field of dance, music, arts, fitness and other soft skill courses. Our course offerings continue to grow because of the growing needs of our clients. abOdE: Why should people come to IAID instead of choosing another academy to develop their artistic skills? rJ: IAID is a first of its kind in Qatar bringing together diverse cultures from the east and west in timeless forms of dance, music, arts, fitness and soft skill courses. A 100% passing score in several international examinations demonstrate a good focus on training excellence. So if music is your passion, arts your inspiration and dance is your form of expression, IAID invites everyone to live their dream. •
So over the years we are glad to see our talented students continue to be a part of the cultural growth in Doha. abOdE: What do you consider is the biggest achievement of IAID?
»For more information about IAID, visit www.iaidonline.org or call 4432-0974 / 6671-0589.
february 2012 ABODE 29
Empowerment
ABODE
feature
throuGh eDucation BY TA T RN CARSTENS PHOTOGRAPHY jESSIE PA P LANCA
Female law students at Qatar University have been busier than usual the past few months, eagerly laying the foundation for the first-ever Law School Clinic in Qatar. The clinic will be taught at the university this fall under the law division, addressing the important topic of domestic violence.
Stephen rosemba
um Marlana Valdez
30 ABODE february 2012
ABODE
M
arlana Valdez is a visiting professor at Qatar University and the Qatar Programme Director for the American Bar Association. Throughout her extensive career she has worked in the United States as an attorney, professor, law school administrator and management consultant. Since an early age, Valdez had dreamed of working abroad, but her flourishing career and dedication to her family kept her in the States. The ABA, however, gave her an opportunity to work in Qatar, where her presence has sparked a new venture for the young women at the university. With a twinkle in her eye, she says of the students at Qatar University, “Most of the young women I have taught are curious, hungry, they want to be leaders... I go home every day being really proud, they inspire me.” And she has been an inspiration to them, starting with one young woman in particular, Muna AlMarzouqi. Muna Al-Marzouqi, a law student at Qatar University, was recommended by another professor as an English-Arabic translator for Valdez at a meeting about domestic violence. Muna knew little about the topic and wanted to research domestic violence in Qatar before translating in the meeting. After studying relevant reading material provided by Valdez, the student was stunned. “We need to do something about this!” she insisted. Consequently, through Muna and the other students’ eagerness, the Domestic Violence Project was formed, a non-credit assignment where students met weekly to learn about domestic violence. Through the development of this project and a keen interest in the topic, came the preparation of the Street Law class; a class which the students will teach this year in February and March to non-lawyers about domestic violence, aiming to better educate students on legalities and support aspects of the issue. But the enthusiasm did not stop here: “At the same time, the women in the project began to say that the project should be a “real course,” says Valdez. They petitioned the Dean for approval, and thus the Domestic Violence Clinic was born. “I will be teaching it in the spring semester...
and the students will be working on drafting a domestic violence law for Qatar, consistent with the goals of the Qatar National Development Strategy,” says Valdez. The Law School Clinic will be the first of its kind in Qatar, teaching professional skills to students in a practical manner, as well as providing a service to the community. “Traditionally, legal teaching is all lecture and exams and memorization and so now for a number of years there has been a movement away from that and [the] legal clinic has become a popular form of practical education and service,” says Stephen Rosenbaum, a California-based clinical professor, who after working with the American Bar Association in Egypt, helping them set up a clinic, came to Qatar to assist the team here. About the term ‘clinic’, he explains, “Schools of medicine train doctors in a clinical approach, which means they moved away from books and lectures to the practical aspect of it. The legal clinical movement, which has been around for more than thirty years, became really strong around twenty years ago in the United States and now around the world... clinical means live actual cases not in the books, not fictional, not simulated... real life. “The clinic will consist of lectures, they’ll learn some skills, learn how to draft laws, learn how to work with media any time they do legislation, learn Qatar laws, they will learn about research skills and strategizing. Plus they’ll learn a bit of the background of domestic violence and probably a little bit of Sharia, they’ll have some guest speakers. There will
feature
be classroom sessions and practical experience.” Using this ‘practical’ approach, the Law School Clinic aims to actually draft a law in Qatar that will protect women and families against domestic violence. A survey done about two years ago on campus at Qatar University shows that 25 per cent of the women responded that they had been subject to domestic violence, though it is not clear in which forms: verbal, physical or psychological. The clinic will help women to become more informed about the subject, making it easier for them to identify the various types of domestic abuse and take necessary action. Regardless of where in the world, domestic violence will always be a sensitive topic and addressing the issue should be taken with care. Rosenbaum scrutinizes, “The fact that the Emir has stated that this is a problem gives the green light. At this stage the Dean has given his approval at the Law School. I think there are some people who question whether, one: is there really a problem and two: is this the best way to deal with this?” Either way, the very fact that strong interest in a Law School Clinic has come about shows the issue is real, despite its undetermined scale, and people may find reassurance in knowing that the law will be there to support families who may require it. It is also reassuring to have such bright, eager young women studying at Qatar University, who are willing to go out of their way and put in such extra effort to make a difference in their country. •
february 2012 ABODE 31
ABODE
I Love What I Do abOdE: What excites you about being a part of this industry here in Qatar? HG: The sheer growth of Qatar in all sectors is fascinating and exciting. You really can see it changing before your eyes. Even though we are in quite a crowded marketplace, each hotel offers something different for the customer and I think there is a healthy eco-system here in that respect. At Marriott we are especially thrilled to grow in line with the expectations of the Qatar Nation Vision and of course, the World Cup in 2022. Qatar has so much to offer our customers and it’s great to be part of that experience. abOdE: Describe your dream hotel if budget was no issue. Hossein Garan
What Is Meant To Be Is Up To Me! BY LAURA URA PRIOR PHOTOGRAPHY jESSIE PA P LANCA
From a fresh-faced student who did not see hospitality as a career for life, to a man who speaks with boundless enthusiasm of what has become just that, HOSSEIN GARAN is General Manager of Doha’s favourite family hotel, the Marriott. A determined believer that you are in control of your own destiny, Garan paused for reflection with ABODE on his 25 years with the hospitality leader. abOdE: Tell us about yourself HG: I am originally from Iran and am one of seven kids. I grew up watching my father work hard every day in his yarn store. When I made the bold decision to follow my heart and travel to the States to study, two of my uncles were great supporters and I have never looked back, as I met my wife there in New York. I virtually stepped off the plane into a hotel to work to pay for my studies. I quickly caught the hotel bug, and more than three decades later, two of which have been with Marriott International, I still love the experiences this industry gives every day.
abOdE: What were some of your career goals and how did you achieve them? HG: I had two main goals – the first to open a hotel and the second to renovate another. I did the first part four years ago with Marriott and now, with the upcoming refurbishment here in our Qatar property, I am looking forward to ticking the second off the list. The way to reach any goal is to be confident, determined and to surround yourself with positive people. abOdE: How would you define success? HG: Well, how would one define success, indeed? I think success is all rooted in happiness. If you are happy in life, you have succeeded.
HG: I would build a spectacular, aquatic boutique hotel 5,000 feet under the sea. I’m seeing a circular structure of some 120+ luxury suites, each with its own natural view. Of course, it would have to be located in one of the more temperate oceans – the Pacific perhaps?! abOdE: How do you balance work and home life? What do you do to relax? HG: I don’t like to micro-manage. I trust my people enough to be able to drive home from work with peace of mind that everything is being taken care of. When I’m home I love to spend time with my wife and our dog. We catch a movie together, eat out and stay connected with friends. abOdE: What would you categorize as an investment in oneself? HG: You can never stop learning in life. I would always encourage youngsters to start getting industry experience early and here at the Marriott I personally feel it is our obligation to assist with that. For example, we have internship programs to welcome graduates to the hotel. We need young people to start training today, to be the hospitality heroes of tomorrow. abOdE: Do you have any tips on how to bring out the best in oneself in the hospitality industry? HG: As a manager, I always go by the three ‘T’s’ - Time, Tools, Training. You also have to be passionate and genuine. Customers are so educated today, that integrity and honesty is always the best policy. •
FAVOURITE THINGS Authors: Too Many to Name; Colour: Grey Destination: Newport Beach, California Favourite Place in Qatar: Souq Waqif Inspirational Person/People: My Parents 32 ABODE february 2012
people
ABODEhome
44 HOME DÉcOr
trIcks
to Brighten a room t
m Design u r o f h it w e m o at h
Design for
Him vs.Her BY GIHAN ABDUL PHOTOGRAPY jESSIE PALANCA
When it comes to decorating living room space for him or for her, two different themes and ideas will rise. Aesthetically and generally, a man’s taste is different from a woman’s. A man’s cave usually reflects his past, best team colours, and vintage items. He will focus on having a comfortable, functional, and architecturally clean space. For her, she will tend to look for flowers, eyecatching pieces, a colourful theme, and curved lines.
tip Have fun with colour. Use upbeat paint (in bright reds, oranges, or purple (for example) and complementary accents such as pillows, lamps and throws add whimsical and a feminine touch.
34 ABODE february 2012
COlOuRs that shE will likEly ChOOsE Brighter, floral colours, soft pastels, ‘tea-stained’, whites Beige Use it for walls
Chocolate Brown Use it for furniture
Red Orange Use it for the accents (change the colour)
ABODE
interiors
FuRnituRE FOR hER: Women often prefer lighter colored upholstery, curved shapes, and details like skirts, cording, and extra pillows. For example, using colourful pillows with floral design will add the right feminine touch to the space.
FaBRiCs FOR hER: Beautiful patterns and designs, floral, silks, chintz, smooth, shiny and soft fabrics.
Accessories: Candles
hER Detailed arrangements, floral (silks, fresh plants), treasured collections displayed with care, themed rooms with coordinating elements.
Pillows
february 2012 ABODE 35
ABODE
interiors FuRnituRE FOR hiM: Men usually look for comfortable, simple designs, larger scale, straighter lines; plain and leather upholstery, substantial and few extra pillows. Style of furniture he would most likely choose is heavy weight, simple designs, and dark coloured pieces. For example, the coffee table consists of a large vintage box as a base, with a glass top.
FaBRiCs FOR hiM: Leathers, plain colours, stripes, plaids, nubby textures or sturdy weaves.
Accessories: hiM He will go for any of these looks: minimal with a few substantial pieces or masculine collections, or textural, unfussy, and straightforward.
Decorative Vases
Candle holderss
Pillows
36 ABODE february 2012
ABODE Man vs. natu a RE atu Bring out the adventurer in him by adding accessories that highlight his love for the outdoors.
interiors
tip Invest in some trendy floor lamps, table lamps to add light and style to your room. There are abundance of lamp options to choose from out there.
If you have questions and/or want to be advised on any interior design matters, please do not hesitate to contact Forum Design, an affiliate of Ahmed Hassan Bilal Trading & Contracting Group of Companies. COlOuRs that hE will likEly ChOOsE Muted, tan, brown, earth tones, gray, sliver, dark colours
Golden yellow Use it for walls and accents
Chocolate Brown Use it for furniture
Green Use it for accents
Telephone # +974 4456- 8716 Mobile# +974 66224008 Muntaza Street, Al Hilal Area PO Box 7848, Doha, Qatar Website: www.ahbqatar.com
february 2012 ABODE 37
HOME
décor
Brighten Tricks to
a Room
If you’d like to add more light to your room – without taking a sledgehammer to your walls, try a few of these room-brightening tricks. A brighter room will lead to a brighter mood!
38 ABODE february 2012
HOME
n
ot everyone has the luxury of having big windows that allow natural light and rays of sunlight to brighten a room. Many apartments and houses have at least one room that is continually dark. Natural light affects colour and can change it dramatically, depending on how it fills a room. Very bright colours work well where bright sunlight can wash out even the most saturated hues. However, intense bright colours such as vivid turquoises, tangerines and flamingo pinks can look garish where sunlight is diluted by the atmosphere. FaCtORs that aFFECt COlOuR There are several factors that affect the quality of natural light, latitude being just one of them. Pending on the positioning of the wall in relation to the sun (north, south,
east, or west) your colour will take on a warmer or cooler cast. For example, your northern wall will be filled with a bluer, cooler light than rooms with a southern exposure. Colour is also affected by the light other surfaces reflect, changing the cast the paint projects, much the same way hazel eyes can change depending on the colours that are worn. The same happens with paint. Take into consideration the colour in your surroundings and how it may change the hue of your paint. Consider as well what light filters through outside the window. For instance sunshine streaming through green trees will cast a green light into a room. Metamerism is the quality of sunlight as it changes throughout the course
décor
of the day. Morning light is warm due to the sun rising and the rays coming through your windows. At noon the light from the sun cools down again casting shadows. In the late afternoon, it becomes warm again with the setting of the sun. It then cools down again in the evening. Therefore, you will notice a “warming” of the walls in the morning and late afternoon adding more warm yellow tones to your paint colours and casting a cooler grey-blue shadow at noon and again at night. For this reason, and to get a trues sense of the colour your room will have, choose colour in your home and in the room to painted. This will help you confirm your colour choice as it compares to the light. The trick is to paint large swatches on several walls facing different exposures to the light, testing the color during the course of several day and the evening.
february 2012 ABODE 39
HOME
décor
wAyS tO ADD mOrE ligHt Light is important for your physical and mental health. So make sure your home is getting all the light that it can get!
Paint your walls a light colour and use eggshell or semi-gloss paint Dark, matte finishes actually soak up the light, making the room seem darker – even when you put the lights on. Lighter, glossier paints will reflect the light back into the room.
Keep your ceiling white It’s amazing the difference that a white ceiling makes in a room. Just like dark walls, a darkly-painted ceiling will absorb a lot of the available light.
40 ABODE february 2012
Choosing the Best Paint Colour The best way to choose paint colour, is to be in the room that is to be painted. To confirm your colour choice paint large swatches on several walls facing different exposures, testing the colour during the course of several days.
Creative and Innovative Interior Design Concepts RESIDENTIAL. COMMERCIAL. OFFICES. PRIVATE VILLAS
For your interior design needs, contact the Forum design Team Tel. No. +974 4456-8716 Fax: No. +974 4456-8730 An associate of AHB Trading & Contracting W.L.L
HOME
dĂŠcor
Add more lamps Yes, this seems obvious. But many homeowners rely solely on overhead lights to illuminate the room. Light needs to come from various levels – low, middle, and high. Combining uplights on the floor and lamps on tables around the room with overhead lighting will create a brighter, more comfortable room.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
Choose reflective surfaces Just like walls, other large surfaces can absorb or reflect your light. Opt for glossy countertops, add glass panes to your hanging artwork, and place mirrored trays on top of dark tables.
Hang large mirrors Large mirrors can act like windows, reflecting the light back into the room.
42 ABODE february 2012
CMY
K
AHMED HASSAN BILAL TRADING & CONTRACTING CO.
Experience The Elegance Of Perfection Townhome 101
GRAND ELEGANCE Located on the marina with breathtaking views of the turquoise water, it is a remarkable feat of architecture and interior design. Access to upscale boutiques, luxury pool and gym amenities, fine dining or a leisurely stroll on the boulevard are just an elevator ride away. This majestic three storey Townhome with built-in elevator, high ceilings and several entertaining areas, offers a lifestyle fit for royalty.
To rent contact us: P.O. Box: 7848 | Doha-Qatar | (+974) 4442 8877 | 5571 1488 | 6667 1495 marketing@ahbqatar.com | www.ahbqatar.com
ABODE
SimpleUpdates accessories
Mix fashionable brightly coloured accessories in a combination of patterns to personalize the look of your room. All Available at THE One
IDEA Add contrast with a funky mix of pillows Megha Cushion Cover {QR 85}
IDEA Add texture with a colourful throw Kantha Throw {QR 369}
44 ABODE FEBRUARY 2012
ABODE final February.indd 44
1/28/12 1:50 PM
ABODE
accessories
iDEA Use natural like silk flowers Lilly Stem Pink each {QR 93}
iDEA Create dramatic art groupings Simple p/frame pink {QR 83}
gEt tHE lOOk
Bright 60’s Retro style is back representing a fun, lively feel, with bright colours, wild designs and an overall sense of flair.
Think Loud, Busy and “Funky”
Before
february 2012 ABODE 45
A feminineTouch ABODE
accessories
If you’re a woman, this interior décor will inspire you to add shades of pink to your decor. With muted wall colours a splash of feminine mauve looks amazingly chic and cozy.
All Available at THE One
IDEA Floor Candles add both texture and flair. Group them together in sets of three. Gina Candle {QR 525}
46 ABODE february 2012
ABODE
Add impact with an accent
accessories
iDEA
to make the room feel feminine and cozy choose fabrics and colours that harmonize together.
Bring ring nature inside Calla Lily Stem Purple {QR 26}
iDEA Its ok to mix and match Gold and Silver as long as there are other elements in the room in either colour. Han an Vase Bge {QR 179}
iDEA Add drama to the room with additional floor lighting. Evane Floor Lamp Chrome {QR 1,045}
iDEA Soften the sofa and chair with mauve coloured pillows. Megha egha Cushion Cover Purple {QR 85}
iDEA Natural looking flowers Calla Lilly Stem White {QR 26}
gEt tHE lOOk
Add a Feminine Touch
Mauve is more than just a pretty color in this Living Room, where a scene-stealing modern art painting hangs on the wall above the sofa. By adding a few flowers and touches of Mauve you can add personality in an otherwise clean-lined, neutral space.
Before
february 2012 ABODE 47
Ahmed Hassan Bilal
Properties Listing
Trading & Contracting Co. WLL
Bilal Executive Suites 2 Bedroom apartments: Fully furnished for QR13,000/month Location: Al Sadd-Al Mirqab
Bilal Apartments 3 Bedroom apartment: Fully furnished for QR11,000/month Location: Al Sadd-Al Mirqab Amenities: Parking
Amenities: Underground parking, gym, steam room, rooftop Jacuzzi and barbecue area
Bilal Townhouses 3 Bedroom Townhome: Fully furnished for QR20,000/month
AHB Apartments at The Pearl
Location: The Pearl-Qatar, Porto Arabia, La Croisette 7
1 Bedroom studio apartment: Fully furnished for QR9,000/month
Amenities: Swimming pool, gym, Jacuzzi, children’s play area, entertainment room, events/banqueting hall, parking for 2 cars
Location: The Pearl-Qatar, Viva Bahriya, Tower 29 Amenities: Private beach, swimming pool, gym, Jacuzzi, events/banqueting hall, parking
For a new home or to book a visit contact us: 4442 8877 | 4442 1188 | 4441 7001 | 557 11488 | 666 71495 | marketing@ahbqatar.com | www.ahbqatar.com
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ABODEfood&entertainment
54
EntErtAinMEnt
Focus On Ritz-Carlton Afternoon Tea
spotlIght
The British tradition of afternoon tea
fOOD
feature
Chocolate Bitter sweet temptation BY MOONA ONA WHITICE
Chocoholics now have a reason to enjoy a dark chocolate truffle or two per day. Scientists at the University of Cambridge suggest that the rumors about the heart-healthy benefits of regularly indulging in chocolate treats may not be all hype after all.
wHy giVE cHOcOlAt
E
Since the days of the Aztecs and Hernan Cortez, chocolate ha s been used as a special gif t. Today a box of luxurious qualit y chocolate say s a thousand “than k you’s”, “good luck”, or “I love you”. Chocolate can also be given as a way of saying “congratulatio ns”, “I am sorry” or “get well soon”. Its the anytime, for any reason gif t. Source: http://Ezine Articles.com
52 ABODE february 2012
fOOD
feature
tOp rEASOnS tO EAt DArk cHOcOlAtE:
1
Contains powerful antioxidants: Chocolate contains flavonoids. The flavonoids in chocolate act as natural antioxidants in your body, helping your body’s cells to fight damage, and the flavonoids even help with bad cholesterol.
2 3
Makes you feel good: The carbohydrates found in chocolate raise the serotonin and endorphin levels in your brain, which can make you feel happier and put you in a better mood. Associated with a lower risk of stroke: A recent study of people who ate at least one serving of chocolate per week showed each person in the group was 22 per cent less likely to suffer from a stroke than people who did not each chocolate.
4 5
Chocolate eaters are better at math: A 2009 study showed that those who drank chocolate cocoa had an easier time counting and doing math. It’s all those flavonoids in the chocolate helping the blood flow to the brain. Has a positive effect on blood pressure: The flavonoids found in dark chocolate also help reduce blood pressure. You just have to remember a little chocolate a day can be good for you, but a lot of chocolate a day is very bad for you.
6 7
Helps you feel more alert: Feeling tired? Chocolate contains natural caffeine, which can give you a little extra pep.
Serves as a natural cough suppressant: Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine which has been shown to help reduce the coughing reflex. Theobromine cannot be digested by dogs, which is why you should never feed chocolate to a dog.
8
Makes menopause more manageable: Some studies have suggested chocolate helps to ease the symptoms of menopause and PMS. Although the research is not definitive, remember that chocolate can help put you in a better mood, so painful symptoms might seem less stressful. •
About Chocolate Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, obtained from the cocoa tree. Varieties of chocolate include white, milk, semisweet, bittersweet and unsweetened. Semisweet, bittersweet and unsweetened are considered to be dark chocolate. what is in DaRk ChOCOlatE? Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which provide antioxidant power to repair cell damage and shield the body from environmental toxins, such as cigarette smoke. White and milk chocolate do not contain enough flavonoids to provide a health benefit. aCtual hEalth BEnEFits Dark chocolate benefits the heart by lowering blood pressure and reducing LDL, or bad cholesterol. Dark chocolate also stimulates the production of endorphins, which can give a feeling of pleasure, and serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant. Daily COnsuMptiOn Eating too much dark chocolate can negate its healthy effects. The amount of chocolate that should be eaten is always being debated; however, some doctors and nutritionists recommend the daily chocolate intake to an amount the size of a Hershey’s Kiss.
Cocoa Tree
Cocoa Seeds
february 2012 ABODE 53
ENTERTAINMENT
feature
Tea
The British Tradition of
Afternoon
BY MOONA WHITICE PHOTOGRAPHY JESSIE PALANCA
54 ABODE FEBRUARY 2012
EntErtA t inMEnt tA
feature
While the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China it did not become popular in England until the seventeenth century. Originally tea was introduced into England by Catherine de Braganza, the Portuguese bride of King Charles II. As the king and queen were tea drinkers, a novelty in England at the time, the tradition immediately became popular among the wealthy. However, it was not until the mid-17th century that the concept of ‘afternoon tea’ first appeared in general society.
t
he idea of “Afternoon Tea” was made popular by Anna Maria Stanhope, the Duchess of Bedford. Once a ladyin-waiting to Queen Victoria, Anne would become hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon and would ask that a tray of tea, bread and butter and cake be brought to her room during the late afternoon. This became her habit and she soon found herself inviting friends to join her. This pause for afternoon tea soon became a fashionable social event. During the 1880s upper-class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea, which was usually served in the drawing room between four and five o’clock. A traditional afternoon tea consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches (including the ubiquitous thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches), scones served with clotted cream and preserves. Cakes and pastries are also served. Tea grown in India or Ceylon is poured from silver tea pots into delicate bone china cups. To experience the best of the afternoon tea tradition, indulge yourself with a trip to the Ritz Carlton, one of Doha’s finest hotels is famous for offering traditional afternoon tea consisting of scones, strawberry jam and the vital ingredient, mascarpone cheese that tastes like clotted cream, as well as cups of hot sweet tea served in beautiful bone china teacups. Ronnefeldt supplies The Ritz-Carlton, Doha with the finest tea from around the world. The hotel’s pledge is to serve all their guests the perfect cup of tea.
trADitiOnAl ritz-cArltOn AFtErnOOn tEA mEnu (Served between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm) Selection of Tea Sandwiches, Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam, Tea Pastries with a selection of Coffee or Tea {QR 92}
miDDlE EAStErn AFtErnOOn tEA Selection of Hot and Cold Mezzeh, Oriental Flavour Scones, Arabic Sweets, with a selection of Moroccan Tea or Saffron Chai, {QR 82}
lADiES tEA Selection of Tea Sandwiches, Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam, Assorted Seasonal Berries with Fruit Coulis and Cream, and a selection of Tea or Coffee, {QR 95}
rOyAl AFtErnOOn tEA Selection of Tea Sandwiches, Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam, Tea Pastries with a Selection of Tea or Coffee and a Glass of Proseco Tintoretto, {QR 147}
VintAgE AFtErnOOn tEA Selection of Tea Sandwiches, Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam, Tea Pastries with a Selection of Vintage Tea, {QR 115}
february 2012 ABODE 55
ENTERTAINMENT
feature
Proper Tea Etiquette Excerpt from “Afternoon Tea...Tips,Terms and Traditions” by Ellen Easton
Holding a Tea Cup: In order for one not to spill the hot liquid onto oneself, the proper way to hold the vessel of a cup with no handle is to place one’s thumb at the six o’clock position and one’s index and middle fingers at the twelve o’clock position, while gently raising one’s pinkie up for balance. Tea cups with a handle are held by placing one’s fingers to the front and back of the handle with one’s pinkie up again allows balance. Never wave or hold your tea cup in the air. When not in use, place the tea cup back in the tea saucer. If you are at a buffet tea, hold the tea saucer in your lap with your left hand and hold the tea cup in your right hand. When not in use, place the tea cup back in the tea saucer and hold in your lap. The only time a saucer is raised together with the teacup is when one is at a standing reception.
Pinkies Up: Originally, all porcelain teacups were made in China, starting around 620 A.D. These small cups had no handles. In order for one not to spill the hot liquid onto oneself, the proper way to hold the vessel was to place one’s thumb at the six o’clock position and one’s index and middle fingers at the twelve o’clock position, while gently raising one’s pinkie up for balance. Pinkie up does mean straight up in the air, but slightly tilted. It is not an affectation, but a graceful way to avoid spills. Never loop your fingers through the handle, nor grasp the vessel bowl with the palm of your hand.
Using Teaspoons: Do not stir your tea, with your teaspoon, in sweeping circular motions. Place your tea spoon at the six o’clock position and softly fold the liquid towards the twelve o’clock position two or three times. Either place the iced teaspoon on the side of another plate or ask the server or hostess to remove the spoon from the table. Never leave the spoon in the glass especially when actually drinking your tea.
Serving Tea: Milk is served with tea, not cream. Cream is too heavy and masks the taste of the tea. Although some pour their milk in the cup first, it is probably better to pour the milk in the tea after it is in the cup in order to get the correct amount. Remove the tea bag from the cup and place it on a side saucer or in a slop bowl. Do not use the string to wrap around or squeeze the tea bag. When serving lemon with tea, lemon slices are preferable, not wedges. Either provide a small fork or lemon fork for your guests, or have the tea server can neatly place a slice in the tea cup after the tea has been poured. Be sure never to add lemon with milk since the lemon’s citric acid will cause the proteins in the milk to curdle.
Drinking Tea: Do not use your tea to wash down food. Sip, don’t slurp, your tea and swallow before eating.
56 ABODE february 2012
EntErtA t inMEnt tA
Jérôme Bertoumieux
feature
ritz Carlton Traditional English Scones T (1 piece is around 70g) inGREDiEnts: » 1000g. flour » 400g. butter » 200g. sugar » 60g. baking powder » 500 ml milk » (Additional flavour variation: add 300g. hazelnut powder or 300g. black raisins) pREpa p Rati pa a On: ati » Using an electric mixing bowl with a paddle, place all the dry ingredients plus the 400g. of butter at room temperature. Mix for approximately 10 minutes. Then slowly add the 500 ml of milk.
Executive Pastry Chef, Jérôme Bertoumieux talks about the traditional tea service at the Ritz and shares his famous scone recipe with us.
When the dough is completely mixed pour it on a tray. Slightly spread the dough with flour so that it is easier to spread the dough 3cm high. Place it the fridge. » After one hour, using a round 5cm cookie cutter, cut and place the scones on an oven tray covered with parchment paper. Brush the top of each with egg yolks to make them shiny after baking. » Preheat oven to 175°C and when ready bake the scones for 22 minutes. » Serve the warm scones with mascarpone cheese, marmalade and lemon curd.
abOdE: When did you start serving afternoon tea in Ritz Carlton Doha? cJ: Since the hotel opened in Qatar in October 27, 2001, we served the popular British traditional tea every afternoon from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Most of the people who enjoy it are expats, either British, American or German. abOdE: What are the specific pastries that you serve for the afternoon tea? cJ: First and foremost, we serve traditional Scones. We make three different kinds - plain, hazelnut and one with raisins. We serve these with mascarpone cheese, lemon curd and marmalade on the side where [they] can dip in it or do the way they want to do it. Then we have a tradition of selection of pastries: it could be chocolate brownie, pate a choux, French macaroon and a lot of other pastries.
Ritz-CaRltOn-DOha siGnatuRE tEas: Golden Rose - blend of green and white tea, rose petals, rose water Silver Tips - finest, pure white tea, fresh delicate aroma Temptation - black tea, orange flower and berries Ti Wan Yin - pure blue Chinese tea Oriental Princess - blend of blue tea, liquorice, distinctive aroma, sweet, pleasant taste •
february 2012 ABODE 57
ENTERTAINMENT
in the kitchen
Lakeland
Art Deco Fine Bone Chine
• Featuring images of glamorous ladies ‘dressed to the nines’, these elegantly gift-boxed fine bone china gifts are sure to be well received. Trinket Plate {QR 39} Mug {QR 49}
a e T Time Set the table for your guests with these beautiful tea sets. You will not be disappointed with these charming selection of dainty saucers and cups. They are as diverse as the teas you decide to serve with them.
THE One Donna
• Teapot gold {QR 105} Tea c&s gold {QR 72} Donna sugar pot gold {QR 62} Donna creamer gold {QR 62}
Home Centre Daffodil
• 32 Pcs Dinner Set {QR 239} 6 Pcs Dinner Plate, 6 Pcs Soup Plate, 6 Pcs Tea Cup & Saucer, 1 Pc Vegetable Bowl, 1 Pc Oval Platter
58 ABODE february 2012
ENTERTAINMENT
in the kitchen
THE One Lustre
• LUSTRE teapot offwht {QR 72} LUSTRE creamer offwht {QR 41} LUSTRE tea c&s offwht {QR 22}
Home Centre Ophelia
• 19 Pcs Tea Set {QR 139} 8 Pcs Tea Cup, 8 Pcs Saucer, 1 Pc Sugar Pot, 1 Pc Tea Pot, 1 Pc CreamerCup
Home Centre Scarlet
• 19 Pcs Tea Set {QR 139} 8 Pcs Tea Cup, 8 Pcs Saucer, 1 Pc Sugar Pot, 1 Pc Tea Pot, 1 Pc CreamerCup
Tablearts Pikasso
K tea cups collection
• By A casa K: High quality Italian handmade crystal tea cups. Available in purple and silver color with matching coffee set. Perfect for your elegant table setting. Set of 6 pieces {QR 1,004}
february 2012 ABODE 59
FOOD
feature
6 Exclusive and delicious
60 ABODE february 2012
FOOD
feature
Thai recipes
from The Mango Tree restaurant’s Chef Pollasit Poonapirattana
february 2012 ABODE 61
FOOD
feature
4 Main dishes,
Tom Yum Goong
Spicy Thai prawn soup with lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal and red chili INGREDIENTS:
» 500ml water » 1 ½ stick lemongrass » 1 ½ inch piece galangal – save some for garnish » 6 leaves kaffir lime – save 2 pieces for garnish » 4 tbsp fish sauce » Juice of 2 limes » 3 tbsp sugar » 4 piece bird’s eye chili » 8 pieces medium size prawns, de veined, peeled and tail attached » 6 pieces button mushroom » 2 tsp chili paste » 4 tsp coconut milk » Little Thai parsley PREPARATION:
» Place the water into a pan and place on high heat » Roughly chop 1 inch of the galangal… the other half inch peel and finely slice » Bash 1 piece of the lemongrass to release the oil… the other half slice very fine on the angle » Take the kaffir lime and remove the stem… use 4 of them and save the other 2 for garnish » Once the water is boiling, add the galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime, lime juice, fish sauce and red chili sliced in half » Leave to simmer for 20 minutes » Remove from heat and leave to infuse » Quarter the button mushrooms » Thinly slice the Thai parsley » To serve the soup pour the Tom Yum stock into a pan discarding the galangal etc » Bring the soup to heat so it is simmering, not boiling, and add the mushrooms and prawns and poach until cooked » In 2 bowls add some chili paste, coconut milk, kaffir lime, sliced lemongrass, sliced galangal and the Thai parsley and mix in the bowls » Once the stock is hot, pour into the bowls evenly portioning the prawns and mushrooms.
62 ABODE february 2012
Yum Talay
Mixed seafood salad with Thai celery and spicy lime sauce INGREDIENTS:
» 6 pieces small de shelled prawns (intestine removed) » 1 piece whole squid, insides and skin removed » 1 small fillet hammour, skin off and no bones » 6 pieces cherry tomato, cut in half » 10-12 thin slices cucumber » ½ small red onion, peeled » Handful of Thai celery leaves » 2 tbsp salted peanuts Sauce » 1 tbsp fish sauce » Juice of 1 lime » 1 clove garlic » 1 piece birds eye chili » ½ tbsp white sugar PREPARATION: » Lay the squid on the board flat and cut from top to bottom and open it out » Scrape anything off that is left on the squid » Starting at the top on one side of the squid and working down on the angle, cut into the flesh of the squid but not all the way through » Repeat this on the other side so only one side of the squid is cut and it forms a criss cross with little diamond shapes. This helps the squid to cook faster plus it looks nice when it rolls up » Cut the squid down the centre and then across into 8 pieces » Cut the hammour into 8 equal cubes » In a pan of simmering water, poach the fish separately until cooked » Remove and cool » Finely slice the red onion » Roughly chop the Thai celery » For the sauce, finely chop the garlic and red chili and place in a bowl » Add the other ingredients and mix well » In a bowl add the cooked fish along with the rest of the ingredients and the sauce and mix well.
Phad Thai Gai
Phad Thai with chicken INGREDIENTS: » 300g rice noodles » 150g sliced cooked chicken (poached) » 70g yellow tofu » 30g red onion peeled » 30g diced pickled radish » 2 eggs » 50g bean sprouts » 20g Chinese chives (or spring onion) » 70g Phad Thai sauce » 30g tomato ketchup » Corn oil for cooking Garnish » 20g bean sprouts » 20g ground peanuts » 1 lime cut in half » Chinese chive (or spring onion) PREPARATION: » Soak the noodles in warm water for about 15 minutes » Cut the tofu into small cubes » Finely slice the red onion and roughly chop the Chinese chive » Place a pan on the stove to heat » Stir fry the red onion, tofu and pickled radish for 1 minute » Add the eggs and mix until cooked » Add the chicken and continue to stir fry for 1 minute » Add the noodles and a splash of water to help the noodles cook » Add the Phad Thai sauce and tomato ketchup and mix well » Finish with the bean sprouts and Chinese chives and mix in » Place on a plate and garnish with the bean sprouts, peanuts, lime and Chinese chive.
FOOD
feature
Salad and Dessert
Gaeng Kiew Wan Gai Thai Chicken Green Curry
INGREDIENTS: » Green curry paste » 7 birds eye green chili’s » ½ piece lemongrass, white part only » 2 leaves kaffir lime » ½ inch piece galangal » Large Handful coriander leaves, remove stalks » 1 coriander root » 1 small peeled white onion » Splash of Water To make the curry » 1 recipe of the curry paste » 2 medium size chicken breast » 4 pieces Thai green eggplant (use local baby eggplant if unavailable) » 20 pieces Thai nightshade (pea eggplant) » 24 leaves sweet basil » 4 leaves kaffir lime » 1 piece red chili » 4 tbsp fish sauce » 500ml coconut milk » 25g palm sugar PREPARATION:
» Depending on how hot you want the curry remove seeds from as many chilies as you wish » Roughly chop the lemongrass, galangal, white onion, coriander leaves and coriander root » Place all ingredients (including kaffir lime leaf) into a food processor and blitz until it forms a paste…you may need to use a little water to help this along (the paste will be very rustic). For a smooth paste use a pessel and mortar and pound for around 30 minutes until smooth » Put the paste into an airtight container and it will last for up to 7 days in a fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.
Khao Niew Ma Muang Som Tum Thai Mango sticky rice with sweet Thai Mango INGREDIENTS:
» 220g Cooked sticky rice » ½ tsp table salt » 200g coconut milk » 1 ½ tbsp castor sugar » 1 piece ripe sweet Thai Mango Cooking of the rice: The Traditional Method Using a Steamer: Soak the sticky rice in enough water to cover the rice for at least an hour and even overnight. Take your steamer, put water in the bottom and cover the steam section with muslin cloth. Pour the sticky rice on the muslin cloth, cover with the lid and put it on the stove on medium to high heat. The sticky rice should take about a 20 minutes of steaming to cook and will become translucent when done. PREPARATION: » Pour the coconut milk into a pan and place on a medium high heat » Stir the milk until it comes up to a simmer » Add the sugar and salt and continue to stir » Add the sticky rice and mix well. The milk will be absorbed and flavour the rice » Remove from the heat and leave to one side » Peel the mango and cut each larger side off just touching the stone » Cut the mango into strips and place onto a plate » Divide the rice evenly between 2 plates and garnish with the mango
Spicy green papaya salad with dried shrimps, snake beans, cherry tomatoes, peanuts and Som Tum sauce
INGREDIENTS: » small Green papaya » 1 clove peeled Garlic » 1 ½ piece Birds eye chili » 1 ½ tbsp Dried shrimp » 2 pieces Snake bean/Yard long bean » 1 ½ tbsp Peanuts » 6 pieces Cherry tomato Som Tum Sauce » 2 tbsp fish sauce » Juice of 1 lime » 1 tbsp tamarind juice » 45g palm sugar PREPARATION:
» Peel and finely slice the green papaya lengthways until you get to the seeds » Finely slice so it resembles thin matchsticks…this is called julienne. Alternatively use a peeler and then julienne » Cut the cherry tomatoes in half » For the sauce combine all ingredients and place on the stove to heat until sugar has dissolved » Remove and cool » In a pessel and mortar add the garlic and birds eye chili and pound well » Add the peanuts, dried shrimp and green beans and again pound » Cut the cherry tomatoes in half, add to pessel and mortar and pound lightly » Add the sauce and mix » Add the green papaya and using a spoon mix well until combined » Once all combined split evenly between 2 plates. Tip: If you would like a vegetarian salad, leave out the dry shrimp and replace the fish sauce with soy sauce.
february 2012 ABODE 63
pEnnE giArDiniErA
SAltimBOccA Di pOllO
RESTAURANT: CARLUCCIO’S BY: CHEF FGanElli tOMMasO
RESTAURANT: CARLUCCIO’S BY: ExECUTIVE CHEF FGanElli tOMMasO
criSpy cHili BEEF
kung pAO cHickEn
RESTAURANT: CHI’zEN BY: CHEF ChanG lai ChEnG
RESTAURANT: CHI’zEN BY: CHEF ChanG lai ChEnG
ABODE
recipe
ABODE
Saltimbocca di Pollo
INGREDIENTS: 60gr Butter 4 Chicken Breast 4 Sage 40gr Flour 80gr Turkey Ham 40gr Pesto 600gr New potatoes, par boiled 60gr Wild Rocket 5gr Salt & pepper 80ml Non-alcoholic White Wine
ABODE
PREPARATION:
» Place one sage leaf on each chicken breast, season, then wrap in the tukey ham. » Lightly flour each wrapped chicken breast. In a pan, melt the butter and pan-fry the wrapped chicken on both sides. » Sauté the par-boiled potatoes until golden brown. » Toss the warm potatoes with the rocket and pesto and arrange on serving plates. » Add the non-alcoholic white wine to the pan with the chicken and reduce the liquid, whilst stirring in the remaining butter. » Place wrapped chicken on top of the potatoes and pour over the butter sauce.
recipe
INGREDIENTS 150 gm Chicken Breast sliced 30 gm Capsicum Yellow chopped 30 gm Capsicum Red chopped 30 gm Capsicum Green chopped 5 gm Garlic finely chopped 10 gm Chili oil 5 gm Dry Chili 5 gm Potato/corn Starch 10 gm Ginger 20 gm Cashew nut 5 gm Coriander 1 gm Spring onion 10 gm Kung pao sauce
Penne Giardiniera
INGREDIENTS: Spinach Balls 250gr Cooked Spinach, strained 35gr Breadcrumbs 1 Egg 2gr Garlic, finely chopped 45gr Parmesan Cheese 3gr Ground Nutmeg 5gr Salt & Pepper To finish the dish 500gr Penne Regine 80gr Butter 20gr Red chilies, finely chopped 600gr Courgettes, grated 20gr Garlic, finely chopped 240gr Parmesan Cheese
ABODE
KUNG PAO CHICKEN
PREPARATION: » Poach Sliced chicken in boiling water for 1 minute » Heat the oil in a wok and fry the garlic, ginger, spring onion, dried chili, and capsicum on a high heat for 30 seconds until aroma is released from the ginger and garlic. » Remove from the heat and return the chicken to the wok. » Turn the heat on medium for 30 seconds and mix all together evenly. » Add the Kung pao sauce to the wok cook while stirring for 2 minutes. Finish the sauce with the starch mix to thicken and glaze. Remove from heat and add the cashew nuts » Serve on a dinner plate with steamed rice and garnish with fresh coriander
recipe
PREPARATION: » To make the spinach balls, tear the spinach into long strips using your hands. Combine the spinach, chopped garlic, parmesan, egg, nutmeg, breadcrumbs and seasoning. Knead firmly and leave for 5 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the moisture. Roll in 30gr balls and deep fry until golden.
» Cook the penne regine in salted boiling water until al dente (approx about 10min). Melt the butter in a pan and sauté the chopped chilies and garlic. Add the grated courgettes and saute for about a minute. Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss to combine all the ingredients. Add the parmesan cheese and season to taste. Divide the pasta into bowls, and serve with 6 freshly fried spinach balls on top.
recipe
CRISPY CHILI BEEF
INGREDIENTS: 120gr Beef tenderloin, thinly sliced strips 45gr Mixed Capsicum Green, Red and Yellow, sliced 50gr Sliced Carrot 10gr Garlic Chopped 10gr White Onion Sliced 10gr Red Chili Sliced 10gr Celery Sliced 5gr Potato Starch/Corn flour 60 ml Chili Sauce
PREPARATION: » Coat the beef strips in the starch and shake off any excess. » Deep fry for 30 seconds until crispy remove and leave to one side on kitchen paper. » In a hot wok sauté the capsicum, carrot, onion, celery and garlic for around 30 seconds and remove from the heat. » Add the deep fried beef and chili sauce to the wok and return to the heat. » Cook for a further 30 seconds over high heat mixing well. » Remove from the heat when the sauce glazes the beef and serve
ENTERTAINMENT
in the kitchen Lakeland
Victoria Surprise Cake Set Duo
• Cakes baked using these tins are sure to impress as they hide a delicious secret! With the raised bases in place, each cake is turned out with a baked-in well so fillings can be hidden from view until the cake is sliced to reveal the ‘surprise’. A single layer makes a perfect sponge flan base, or for a more traditional Victoria sponge, leave out the raised bases. Anodised aluminium for even heat distribution. {QR 159}
L ove
Home Made with Celebrate the sweet side of life with delightful treats for the ones you love. It is easy to say “ I love you “ with home made cakes and chocolate. Here are a few kitchen helpers to make it fun.
Cupboard Love
Tea Towel • Rack {QR 39}
68 ABODE february 2012
• Hang these little painted wooden hearts on your cupboard doors so everyone knows where it all goes. A charming gift for someone who likes everything in its place. {QR 69}
ENTERTAINMENT
in the kitchen
Lakeland
200 Foil Wrappers
• Shiny red, gold and green foil squares for wrapping up all those lovely chocolates and goodies you’ve made. A really easy finishing touch that looks like you spent hours creating. {QR 39}
Lakeland
Silicone Heart Cases
• A heartfelt alternative to round ones, these reusable, silicone cupcake cases are non-stick, and also turn out individual jellies. {QR 49}
Lakeland
50 Presentation Bags
• Clear gift bags to present handmade chocolates and home-baked goodies for any occasionl (Ribbon not included)
{QR 19}
Lakeland
Silicone Chocolate Mould • Perfectly formed delicate hearts, it couldn’t be easier to create your own home-made chocolates with our silicone moulds. Being so flexible, the contents just pop out ready to wrap up for gifting. {QR 39}
february 2012 ABODE 69
Centrepoint, Al Asmakh Mall, Al Sadd, Tel: 44131938, Barwa Plaza,Barwa Village, Wakra Road, Tel:44153588, City Center – Doha, Tel:44838509,Now Open at Al Rayyan Near family food centre,Tel:44164178.
ABODE fashion
76
fAsHiOn EDitOriAL
spotlIght
The Value of Friendship , a Fashionable Story
L oves
Candy Hea rts Bottega Veneta combines brilliant fuchsia hues with classic design for something special this Valentine’s Day.
Intreciato satin Knot clutch – 6100 Q Qr /a / ED E Intreciato classic hobo bag – 9900 Q Qr /a / ED E Intreciato purse with shoulder strap and clasp closure – 4600 Q Qr /a / ED E Bottega Veneta is available in the U Ua E at Mall of the Emirates and in Qatar at the Villagio Mall.
72 ABODE february 2012
f sHiOn fA
notebook B EI BE E Ij I jI j ING I NG oxfor oxforD xfor D green grey suede
P rI PA r IS I S oxfor oxforD xfor D black box-calf and Verel de Belval速 canvas 2
N W Yor NE Y orK or K oxforD d dark pink box paired with antique blue finish box
spirits of capitals apitals apitals john Lobb shoes embody the spirit of a well dressed and fashionable man as they have been making shoes and boots since 1866.
T IPEI MoCCASIN TA oxford mink calfskin, bamboo crocodile
74 ABODE february 2012
T IPEI MoCCASIN TA chestnut Museum calfskin, tan Buffalo clasp
f sHiOn fA
HoNG G Ko Ko NG G oxfor oxforD xfor D white box-calf and gold crocodile
notebook
HoNG G Ko Ko NG G oxfor oxforD xfor D Misty calfskin and dark M brown crocodile
DUBAI U UBAI SANDAL medium edium brown crocodile
DUBAI U UBAI SANDAL chestnut Museum calfskin
LoND N oN LoW BooT ND d dark brown Barenia calfskin and dark brown canvas
LoND N oN LoW BooT ND g Barenia calfskin and gold khaki canvas
february 2012 ABODE 75
The Value of FASHION
special
Friendship
By Christina Maria Paschyn • PHOTOGRAPHY JORELLE LEGASPI • STYLISTS JENIFFER RUIZ & MARLYNNE MALLARI • HAIR & MAKE – UP DARIN FARES @ “LA” SALON SPA CHAKRA ALFARDAN • LOCATION ROCHE BOBOIS
Many expats will tell you it can be hard to make friends in Doha. Colleagues and neighbors stream in and out as contracts expire and opportunities arise elsewhere. But as Deliah and Laurence will tell you, when you do finally meet a woman you’re willing to call a true girlfriend, nothing life – or Doha - can throw at you will keep you apart! On LAURENCE a classy satin dress complemented by sexy multi-strapped stilettos. Dress, Joseph, QR1,995. Shoes, Balmain, QR4,350. Earrings, Jean Claude, QR2,225. Bracelet, Jean Claude, QR2,295. Ring, Noir, QR1,250.
76 ABODE february 2012
FASHION
“True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost”
D
special
Charles Caleb Colton
eliah Furcoi, 30, is the sales and marketing manager of ABODE Magazine. Ethnically Filipino, she was born and raised in Qatar. Laurence Udo, 35, is a French national who works as a public relations and marketing manager. She is currently in between jobs and hoping to stay in Qatar. These two women met through work, but now their friendship extends far beyond the office. They come from different countries, professions and backgrounds, but the best friends say they share a connection that they hope will stand the test of time long after they have left Qatar. Q: Describe your spark – what is it that connects the two of you? Deliah: I think it’s because we are all working women trying to do something amazing in the recession, trying to prove ourselves. And I don’t think we are quite where we want to be just now, so we are still soul searching, I guess. I think it’s a journey…and I am lucky that I have these amazing friends who help each other through it all. Laurence: The first work meetings we had together, like, after five minutes, it was no longer like a professional meeting; it was like a chat! I’m one of those kinds of people that if [the spark] is not there, I’m not going to make the effort for people that I don’t think are going to be positive in my life. But once you have a connection, even if your friend hasn’t called you in a month and then she calls and says she’s had just a terrible day, you will be there for her. That’s what a real friend is and it doesn’t matter how busy you are. If your friend needs you, you have to be there. And that’s why Deliah is a real friend for me; she is there when it counts. Q: How has this friendship helped you to transition to life in Doha? Deliah: I think the most significant thing for expats is that because they are so far away from home, finding amazing friends, like Laurence and holding on to them is very important. I find it very challenging trying to open up to things because most of the time I am at work. And when you
DELIAH Busy ladies could rely to this pencil cut dress, low-key but stylish. Dress, Paola Frani, QR1,795. Love Soni, Necklace, QR895, Bracelet, QR850, Ring, QR395. Available at Salam Stores Furniture at Roche Bobois
february 2012 ABODE 77
FASHION
special
LAURENCE Dreamy blue empire cut dress brings out statuesque figure, ideal for every shape. Dress, SKY, QR2,950. Ring, QR1,095. Necklace, Rosantia Milano, QR2,495. Available at Salam Stores Furniture at Roche Bobois
do let your hair down, it’s tough trying to find common ground with somebody who can see eye-to-eye with you on issues, especially personal ones too. Q: Describe a painful moment that your friends helped you through. Laurence: I’m, at the moment, in a bit of a difficult situation [in between jobs], and I have to say that if I didn’t have Deliah, I probably would have packed up already! I’m really thankful that she is here. It’s actually quite rare to find people you can rely on for everything. Q: How have your different backgrounds affected your friendship? Deliah: Bizarrely, we still have things in common because bits of what she has been through are similar to what I’ve been through. Q: How do you maintain your friendship with your busy lifestyles, and what do you do for fun together? Laurence: We call each other pretty much every other day. It’s planned but more like ‘what are you up to tomorrow night.’ We organize get-togethers for certain events, like the InterContinental Hotel Beach Party and other events that might be happening that we can share together. ou pick up where you left off; it’s not weird. Q: What advice do you have for maintaining friendships? Deliah: Just as with any other normal relationship, it’s the same thing. Even girl friendships need work. You’ve got to work at it so that you dont lose it. That’s one of my resolutions this year: maintaining and nurturing my friendships, because, without a friend like her, I really can’t be grounded. Q: Do you think your friendship can survive beyond Qatar? Deliah (laughing): Please don’t leave me here! I don’t know what I would do without you! Seriously, I may be extremely inaccessible when it comes to work, but when there’s something up with my friends, yeah I’ll jump and I’ll fly and go! What’s great about working in Qatar is that we’re smack dab in the middle of the world, so it’s so easy to fly to the States or to Europe. I would drop everything if my friend needed me.
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Laurence: Wherever we end up, I’m sure we will be there for each other’s lives through Skype, Facebook, BBM and any other social media or form of communication. We will make sure we see each other possibly get married to someone amazing and have kids!
FASHION
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Girlfriends: Enrich your life and improve your health A close friend is good for your health. She can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Your girlfriends prevent loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship as well, giving you a sense of belonging and purpose, boosting your happiness, reducing your stress, improving your selfworth. In fact, Harvard Medical School released a Nurses’ Health Study that concluded that not cultivating and keeping our close friendships with other women is harmful to our health. Women with more friends tend to lead happier lives and suffer fewer premature aging issues. This may explain why women enjoy a longer life span than men.
DELIAH is wearig a classy, chic knit ‘Abito’ exudes divine silhouette paired with shimmering shawl perfect for every look. Dress, Paola Frani, QR1,995. Scarf, Fendi, QR1,795. Shoes, Casadei, QR3,195. Necklace, Love Soni, QR695. Ring, QR1,095. Available at Salam Stores
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For Her
PERSONAL SHOPPER
luxe gift list
CAROLINA HERRERA
LES SOUS BOIS
S UL PA
MI
TH
LOUIS VUITTON
PAU L
SM
ITH
MIC HAE L KOR S
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Michael Kors
M ichael
Ko r s
Bottega veneta
Michael Kors Paul smith
M ichael
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Ko r
s carolina herrera
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Spring into Action Clothing: PS by Paul Smith Spring Summer 2012 Collection
Get a streamlined tailored look that is smooth, clean and sharp. Tones of black, navy, grey and white with technical detailing provide a modern twist on classic garments.
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Shirt – cut up shirt with spread collar. Jacket – reversible jacket; shawl collar, bleached floral Trousers – combat pocket trouser skinny fit
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Shirt – bleached floral Trousers – combat pocket trouser skinny fit
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Shirt Jacket – enzyme washed cotton Trousers – pleat trousers
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Jacket – leather sleeved bomber. T-shirt – crew neck
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Shirt Jacket – wool / mohair
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Personal Shopper
s e n i t n Val e
luxe gift list
For Him
Louis Vuitton
carolina herrera
Paul Smith
carolina herrera
carolina herrera
Paul Smith
carolina herrera
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luxe gift list
Versace for men
carolina herrera
Carolina herrera
Versace
Louis Vuitton
Versace
TODS
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PErsOnAL sHOPPEr
ask ABODE
Bright Strokes BY ANDREA DREA COMPTON, OWNER OF HAMILTON DOUGLASS CLOTHIERS
This season, designers are incorporating brighter, more vibrant tones in their clothing lines than the recent past. Gone are the minimalist hues of a down economy. Shoppers can expect to see strong colours in the clothing industry, reflecting the current, more positive economic outlook. Many businessmen hesitate to incorporate bold colours into their wardrobe, but you can enjoy rich tones without diminishing your professional image with accent pieces. Andrea Compton
“liFE iS SHOrt lOOk yOur BESt”
AnDrEA cOmptOn
Andrea is the owner of Hamilton Douglass Clothiers a bespoke boutique clothing store in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Andrea is famous for styling many prominent businessmen, actors and TV personalities. She has loyal clients all over the world. Contact Andrea at Hamilton Douglass’ www.hamiltondouglassclothiers.com or andrea@hamiltondouglassclothiers.com
Ties-Stripes, polka dots, and plaids offer a way to enjoy colour without being overwhelmed by it. Choose a print with a main colour you’re comfortable wearing and a brighter secondary colour to add interest. Purple, yellow, and even pink add vivacity to traditional tones such as navy or brown.
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Shirts-A variety of solid, check, or striped shirts can bring tasteful colour to your ensemble as long as you keep the intensity of the colours appropriate for business clothing. Choose a pinstripe that alternates bold with neutral to avoid an overly bright combination.
Accessories-Shoes, belts, and pocket squares are an easy option for adding flair to your wardrobe. Rather than limiting your choices to black or brown shoes and belts, consider warmer shades such as burgundy or cognac for your leather items. Select a pocket square or handkerchief that brings out a secondary colour from your suit.
Personal Shopper
ask ABODE
Add variety to your wardrobe with a colourful selection of shirts
Add neckties with checks, polka dots and plaids
Hugo Boss - Log Sleeve Shirts made to be worn with a link cuff
Broadening your accent colour choices freshens up the wardrobe without starting from scratch. Add energy to your ensemble by wearing something dashing.
Cognac Colored - Leather Belt
Silk Pocket SQUAREs
Astor and Black tailored suit
Buy shoes this season in Cognac and Burgandy
Cole Hann Burgandy Penny Loafer Shoes
Florsheim Cognac Spectator
Florsheim Cognac Leather Shoes
Stacey Adams Burgandy Shoes
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Shopping on a ShoeString BY ASMA SMA ASHIMI
Europe is undoubtedly considered one of fashion’s main melting pot, and the city of London being a key leader as a great place to hunt for unique and quirky items. With the start of each New Year, London’s numerous well-known market stalls tend to see a rise in the number of customers – fashion hunters in search of trendy yet affordable bargains.
Here is a guide to where and how to get to these bargain-haven markets.
pEtticOAt lAnE mArkEt is London’s East-End destination for fashion, selling mainly clothes for men, women and children, from club wear to over-stock of designer goods, meaning you can find most brand names here, at an affordable price. One of its specialities is leather goods, where you can also find watches, fashion jewellery at bargain prices. The Market changes it location on some days; for example, Mondays to Friday Petticoat Lane Market is held on Wentworth Street, whereas on Sunday it spreads much further to the streets in the East End – indicating that Sunday is the busiest trading day for this market.
Brick lAnE mArkEt is popularly known as an antiques and vintage market, and is home to a very popular Sunday market. This street in East London has a flavour of it’s own, and if you’ve acquired a taste for things that are edgy and artistic then you’ll love this trend haven; you can find everything under the sun here, from second hand clothes stalls to fruit and vegetables, and believe it or not, gas masks from WWI. If you’re a bargain hunter than here is where you’ll want to be; the best spot for original vintage clothing, shoes and handbags can be found in Brick Lane Market, for the cheapest prices imaginable. Brick Lane Market is open every Sunday from 8am to 2pm.
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cAmDEn mArkEt is one of London’s most popular destinations for both tourists and locals. It has a rich and unusual variety of sights and its own distinctive flavour, tallying up to be the center of London’s alternative fashion scene. Camden Market is famous for its large collection of alternative clothing stores, some of them unique to the location. Gothic, Punk, Industrial and other types of alternative fashion, clothing and accessories can be found on the streets with an even larger selection to browse on the market stalls. The market is open every day, making the area well worth a mid-week visit, but it is during the weekend that the market scene jumps fully into life with all stalls and shops at the market fully open.
pOrtOBEllO mArkEt If you are an antique lover, this is the market for you. Portobello Market in West London is one of the most famous street markets in London. It is a popular destination for Londoners and tourists as well; Portobello Road runs straight through the heart of Notting Hill. The Saturday antiques market is the most popular market with antique stalls, a whole host of arcades, galleries, shops and cafes; a range of communities inhabit the street and the district contributes to an energetic atmosphere, as do the many restaurants and pubs. The architecture plays a part too, as the road meanders and curves gracefully along most of its length; where Victorian terraced houses predominate and shops are squeezed tightly into the available space, adding intimacy and a pleasing scale to the streetscape. The Portobello Road is also home to the Electric cinema one of Britain’s oldest movie theatres.
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Feeling Fabulous BY ASMA ASHIMI
As we all know, beauty is only skin deep, but given the load of toxic chemicals in everyday products like shampoo, deodorant, and makeup, that superficial truth is still cause for concern. We always look for better ways to keep ourselves younger and healthier and want advices and precautions to take regarding our skin, hair ,nails etc.
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t the heart of the Estée Lauder philosophy is the belief that every woman can be beautiful, and beauty begins with beautiful skin. It is a well known fact that mid-life skin faces a multitude of daily challenges, including dullness, dehydration and the gradual breakdown of collagen and elastin, which results in sagging skin. In the continuing quest to understand the factors that mid-life
skin faces, Estée Lauder scientists have determined that a weak support structure not only causes skin to sag, but also prevents skin from absorbing and reflecting light the way young skin does, resulting in a loss of youthful vitality and radiance. Now, even mid-life skin can be beautiful. Estée Lauder Research has developed something to restore skin’s youthful glow and vitality with its first multi-faceted
24-hour lifting system: NEW Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Collection. These intensely nourishing moisturizers harness the beneficial powers of visible light and restorative night cycles to help the skin amplify it’s natural collagen, laminin and elastin production. By targeting the major challenges mid-life skin faces, including loss of firmness, lines and wrinkles and an overall look of fatigue, skin’s youthful radiance is re-ignited. Skin rebounds with facial contours that appear sculpted and newly defined. ABODE caught up with Dr. Nadine Pernodet, Executive Director of Skin Biology, Research and Development to talk us through ESTÉE LAUDER’s The New Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Collection and explain to us the use and need of this new product for our skin. abOdE: What causes sagging of the skin? dr. NP: Proteins, such as collagen, elastin and laminin, play a critical role in keeping skin firm and youthful-looking by providing skin with the support it needs to keep looking “lifted.” Collagen builds strength, while elastin provides the skin suppleness and bounce. Additionally, both laminin as well as fibrillin (essential for the formation of elastic fibers in skin) provide skin with critical support to retain its firmness and elasticity. As we age, skin loses these main structural proteins that provide its support – not only do they break down naturally as we age, but cells begin to produce less of them as well, leading to sagging. Environmental aggressors, such as UV, pollution and ozone result in the
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production of free radicals, which can also break down these critical proteins and the result is sagging skin. abOdE: Does sagging skin affect how old a woman looks? dr. NP:: Yes, it can certainly affect how old a woman looks. As you may recall, Estée Lauder conducted an unprecedented five-year Age Measurement Study on hundreds of different women aged 20-70, and this study included a comprehensive evaluation of 77 “aging markers.” Our study results revealed that sagging contributes significantly to a woman’s perceived age. Sagging alone determines nearly 30 per cent of how old a Caucasian woman looks, and this is even more prevalent among Asian women. For example, sagging alone contributes to nearly 50 per cent of a Japanese woman’s apparent age. abOdE: Can you tell us more about how Estée Lauder determined a weak support structure contributes to a loss of radiance in skin? dr. NP: We determined that a weak support structure not only causes skin to sag, but also prevents skin from absorbing and reflecting light the way young skin does, resulting in a loss of youthful vitality and radiance. This insight was inspired by the study of a family based in the United States. The family members included a grandmother, mother and daughter, so we could see the generational differences in skin. We noted a visible decrease in translucency with an increase in age. This is because as a woman reaches mid-life and her skin support structure weakens, she not only experiences sagging, but also experiences a significant loss of light in her skin. This causes her skin to lose its radiance and youthful glow. abOdE: Can you explain the difference between bad light vs. good light? dr. NP: Our exposure to everyday light, such as UV and Infrared light, significantly ages our skin’s appearance. However, there is a sliver of light in the middle of the spectrum that is actually beneficial to our skin – this is what we call visible light. It is the portion of the spectrum with wavelengths visible to the human eye.
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abOdE: Can you tell us more about Resilience Lift Instant Action Lift Treatment? dr.NP: The treatment’s exclusive Custom Sculpt Technology™ is comprised of Mukul Plant Extract, which helps restore skin’s natural contours by plumping areas most prone to sagging. It provides an immediate tightening, firming sensation to the specific facial areas that need it most, even the neck area. The Resilience Lift Action Lift treatment also features our exclusive Photo-Activated Lift Complex, helping to boost skin’s natural collagen, elastin and laminin production over time. The treatment’s unique texture allows women to experience the instant tightening, firming sensation of a mini-lift wherever and whenever they need it.
Scientists are just beginning to understand how beneficial visible light can be. Over the last few decades, the medical industry has tapped into the benefits of visible light, such as with red light procedures. As cosmetic leaders in the science of visible skin repair, our new Resilience Lift Firming/ Sculpting Collection with SPF technology is specially designed to harness the benefits of visible light, and simultaneously help protect our skin from aging UV light. abOdE: Who should use the Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Collection? dr. NP: The new collection has been developed for women who are looking for a moisturizer to provide lifting, firming and sculpting benefits, in addition to hydration and radiance. The Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Collection offers a comprehensive, 24 hour lift system to address the challenges mid-life skin can face. abOdE: Can the Resilience Lift Night Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Creme be used in conjunction with Advanced Night Repair? dr. NP: Absolutely – it will enhance the anti-aging benefits from each formula when used together, and was formulated to work synergistically with ANR. As our Sirtuin NL1 Technology encourages the cells to slow down, skin is provided with the critical time it needs to recover from damage accumulated during the day. This allows for more time at night for ANR to support the skin
cells’ natural repair of DNA damage. abOdE: What is causing the actual lift and what can the consumer expect to see in their skin? dr.NP: The formula as a whole lifts and firms the look of skin. By helping skin increase its natural production of support proteins, such as collagen, elastin and laminin, we are helping to build and strengthen skin’s support structure. This is the most direct way in which we are “lifting” the look of skin, but these powerful formulas do so much more. They not only provide skin with the necessary moisture it needs to function optimally, but also, for the first time ever, they help protect fibrillin, the microfibrils surrounding elastin, to help secure the integrity of skin’s support structure. The new formulas also help prevent glycation, or collagen balling, to further maintain skin’s strength and lifted look. Skin is provided with the necessary energy during the day to produce critical proteins to stay looking more lifted and youthful. Then, at night, we help “slow down” cells to give skin the time it needs to recover from damages accumulated during the day, so skin is in the optimal state to benefit from all of these powerful technologies. Skin has never before been supported in such a multi-faceted way, and the results are amazing. The consumer can expect to see skin that looks more defined as facial contours regain definition. Skin will appear more lifted, firmer and luminous. •
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beauty box
Beauty Secrets Try these new beauty products for a flawless glow and a younger looking you.
lift firming/sculpting face cream Liquid Shimmer Eye Shadow Pen The ideal shade of gold shadow offered in a velvety, waterproof and super long-wear formula. This silicone gel-based shadow delivers a no touch-up, smudge-proof, non-sticky and creaseless application in a super shine metallic finish.
The NEW Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Collection addresses the unique challenges that our skin faces every day, including dullness, dehydration and the gradual breakdown of collagen and elastin, which results in sagging skin. This product gives you the refreshing and younger look you need, it’s a must have.
Flawless wear concealer Creating a perfected look of flawless skin that lasts all day. With the Double Wear promise of up to 15 hours of long wearing, stay-in-place coverage, New Double Wear Stayin-Place Flawless Wear Concealer SPF10 is water, sweat, humidity and transfer resistant, to help prevent it from slipping, sliding or melting away during your busy day.
lipstick - glam With the New MAC IrisApfel Collection, The Lipstick collection is a mixture of eye-popping colours to suit your mood or some calm colours to blend with whatever you wear. • Flamingo Light milky bright coral (lustre) • Morange Loudmouth orange (amplified) • Party Parrot Bright red-pink (matte)
Are your lashes ready for high definition? Thanks to the brand new Volume Glamour Max Definition mascara by Bourjois, intense volume is combined with high definition for maximum lashes and mascara perfection. Reveal your lashes in HD. Maximum volume + ultra precise definition = maximum glamour! Following the launch of Volume Glamour Max, the new Volume Glamour Max Definition has a “maxi” take on life: maxi pack, brush, formula, precision, wear and above all maxi definition... for a maxi glamorous result!
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beauty box
The MetalLico Waterproof Eye Pencil Kit Easy to blend, these waterproof pencils can be used to create lines either fine or wide. Each of the four shades contain a high content of light-reflecting glitter for maximum impact as well as Jojoba Oil to moisturize, protect and nourish while improving skin suppleness.
Wild & Chic Labshine The Wild Chic Lab Shine kit is a selection of 4 Lab Shine glosses (Light Beige, Fresh Pink, Electric Rose, Ruby Red) presented in a trendy turquoise snake print metallic case. They provide the lips with a spectacular and intense shiny result.
eye magic
Quick! Intensive radiance therapy! Bourjois Healthy Balance compact powder offers a radiant, matte and balanced finish without overload and without drying the skin. The high performance combination of the Healthy Balance Compact Powder formula and texture gives this new powder staying up to 10 hours.
Your eye make-up is never complete without the eye shadow effect, especially when the eyes are the most prominent part of your face that get noticed! Make your eyes stand out and enhance your natural beauty this Valentine season with one of the luscious shades from the New MAC IrisApfel eye shadow collection. • Diamond Dove Deep grey brown (matte) • Early Bird Bright coral (matte) • Howzat Deep grey with silver sparkle (satin)
paint the town red To get the sexy look for your valentine, you can select from the different range of colors from the MAC IrisApfel Lip pencil collection to give your lips a colourful look. • Embrace Me Vivid pinkish fuchsia • Entertain Me Clearly orange • Redd Clearly red
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LifEstyLE Health & Nutrition
A heAlth l Ier you lth
10 Ways to get Kids Eating More Fruits & Veggies
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tips t ti ips for Making that
Big Career Change Elsbeth Blekkenhorst
BY ELSBETH BLEkkENHORST, CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL OBAL WOMEN QATAR A ATAR
New year, new career? You could be in more satisfying line of work by the end of 2012 or sooner — the trick to making a big change is taking small steps you can begin today.
ElSBEtH BlEkkEnHOrSt Elsbeth Blekkenhorst is the co-founder and director of Global Women Qatar, an employment agency that offers recruitment services for women who reside in Qatar. Women in our talent pool come from different educational backgrounds and different nationalities, local, regional and international. Global Women Qatar was established in January 2012 as Qatar’s first employment agency to focus exclusively on the recruitment of women who already reside in Qatar. We are a very dynamic, rapidly growing employment agency with both local and expatriate women in our database.
For more information please contact Elsbeth Blekkenhorst or Danielle Duttenhofer at info@globalwomenqatar.com
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nother new year and you might still be in that job you are not totally happy about, or you are ‘okay’ in your job but would rather be in something that better matches your field of study. Truth be told, you actually wanted to change your career last year but just didn’t know how! Now with the New Year already being one month old it is still a proper time for many people to re-evaluate their lives and careers. But making a big career change is not the same as a New Year’s resolution you can make all at once. You have to take small steps. If you have a passion for cooking, it doesn’t mean you have to quit your job straightaway. A successful change often starts by looking at the things you really enjoy doing and working a little bit of that in on the side until it can become something big in the future. We’re still fresh in the year and February is a great time to start making this change. You can begin today, in small steps:
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Step Two incrEASE yOur knOwlEDgE AnD SkillS. Take the opportunity to learn as many new and useful skills as possible. Learn a new computer program, like that Photoshop course you always wanted to do or learn a new language so you can start using this on your next trip or with people around you from that particular country. Get qualified, by adding to your CV and your brains. You are getting ready to make that career change!
Step One try ry tO FinD Out nEw tHingS tHAt r At yOu A rEAlly likE. You already might have an interest in cooking shows, so buy a good cookbook or take it from your shelves and actually start trying out new recipes. Invite your friends over for a tasting feast. It is a fun process to find out what it is about cooking you really like. For some it might take years and for others, only a short while to work out what makes them really tick and to leap out of bed each morning with great enthusiasm. Now is a great chance to try new things and to meet new people on your journey of change. Start, for example, doing some volunteer work or take a course! See how excited you feel about the new things that you are trying out.
Step Three DO tHingS On tHE SiDE OF yOur currEnt JOB. You can do many new things during, for example, your lunch break or instead of watching TV after you get home from work. You will be really amazed what you can achieve during such blocks of time. You can find out when that language course starts and where, fill in that online form and hit the send button. Do you feel yourself getting excited about enrolling in the course and the people you will meet? One of them could be the final key to that desired change in your career.
Step Four BrEAk tHAt HA imminEnt cArEEr cHAngE HAt intO SmAllEr StEpS. Once you know what you really want to do, work backwards, breaking it into smaller steps to reach your goal and just take that first important step to make the life-changing move to a new career. Attend the course you signed up for, do research in the things that make you tick. Start out small, but this will make things starting to happen for you. •
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Friendship
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at Work a Good or Bad Lauren Penny lauren penny is cEO of Art of Abundant living, offering corporate consultancy services in Employee Engagement, wellness programs & Health coaching.
Ask LAuren Your corporAte Living questions Q: A superior colleague is demanding and abrupt when approaching a deadline yet we get along socially very well —how can I continue to have a professional and social relationship when I feel negative from his professional behaviour? (Samantha) A: First of all, I recommend you assess the value of your social relationship – if you see that it is a social relationship worth continuing I suggest you raise the workplace behaviour in a professional manner, addressing where you feel uncomfortable. Ensue to set the boundary as you are raising a professional feedback from a friend perspective.
Q: I have noticed my manager and her friend/colleague talk often in her office and I notice that my colleague is getting all the top projects, is this unfair? How do I raise this? (Fatima) A: You can raise this matter in a team meeting as an agenda item in an open forum: distribution of projects, how are they decided – remain objective rather than make a direct accusation. Another way is to raise this in a oneto-one meeting with your manager by asking about the criteria for distribution of projects and ask what you can do to be assigned more.
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Partnership?
BY LAUREN PENNY
A primary requirement in our human nature is friendship: friends are a source of happiness, companionship and support. We spend five of our seven days of the week at the office, so is friendship at work a good or bad thing?
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e spend more time at work than at home with our family and friends. Most people would say that having a positive relationship with people around them is beneficial to boost morale, fun and enjoyment at work. Workplace friendships can provide emotional support to relieve work stress. You may be more likely to confide in a friend/colleague on a sensitive work matter because of the proven trust level that exists between friends. But there is also the flip side: when friendships conflict in the workplace this can often be tricky and difficult to navigate and can cause ripples of discomfort throughout the office! There are differing opinions amongst people on the topic of whether to keep personal and professional lives separate in the workplace. In the scenario of a workplace friendship, let’s explore how to make this work on both levels:
A recent study in America in 2010 by Randstad Work Watch Survey explores the topic and found the benefits to be: • Creates a more supportive and friendly workplace: 70% • Increases teamwork: 69% • Increases workplace morale: 56% • Increases knowledge sharing and open communication: 50% • Higher job satisfaction: 45% • Makes employees more motivated: 36% • Reduces employee turnover: 36% • Creates a stronger commitment to company/organization: 32% • Increases employee engagement: 31% • Increases productivity/ performance: 30% These results suggest that workplace friendships are beneficial and can have a positive impact on teamwork, morale, productivity, communication, job satisfaction, employee retention, performance and engagement.
»You can write to Lauren with questions regarding corporate living. Questions will be selected for the next publication with your permission. Please email: lauren@artofabundantliving.com
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Is it all positive? Or is there a flip side where it is suggested that workplace friendship can be negative? There is the argument that they can be tricky and have a negative impact in the workplace. A few key points can maintain your workplace friendship to benefit both personal and professional relationships.
understAnd offIce boundArIes: The workplace is a professional setting and relationships within it are best kept as that – professional. Refrain from talking about confidential personal matters. It is also inappropriate to make work decisions based on friendship rather than on a professional objective level and always avoid favouritism to friends, as this will create animosity and resentment amongst workmates.
stAy focused: You are at work to work. You have a role to perform, projects and tasks to complete. Outside personal matters are to be put aside to ensure you are 100% focused on the work at hand. Stay focused and then enjoy “social” time with your friend after work.
AvoId offIce gossIp: Communicate professionally and positively at work. Avoid personal and office gossip as it negatively reflects on you both and brings down team morale.
be professIonAl: Act in a professional manner the moment you walk into the office until you leave. Speak, act, and deliver in an appropriate professional manner. Nobody likes to be involved in office conflict, should this arise it’s important you act professionally and objectively. You don’t want a workplace disagreement to ruin a friendship, so act professionally in your role at all times.
speAk ApproprIAtely: At the workplace speak of workplace related issues, don’t discuss your personal activities, especially if you spent time together socially at the weekend. Speak of workplace topics as this will ensure you keep your professional and personal lives separate.
equAl treAtMent: Treat each of your colleagues in the same professional manner whether they are your friend or work colleague. You should not talk about personal matters and be all ‘buddy-like’ at your friend’s desk, as this can create an imbalance of morale within a team. Treat all personnel equally and professionally. Be aware and intuitive about the atmosphere in the office and if you are creating any dissention amongst the team, encourage open feedback and transparency.
socIAlIze outsIde: To maintain your personal friendship, ensure you arrange social occasions outside of the work setting. Have a “no work talk policy” so as to steer you away from reflecting on work matters and blurring the barriers between work and office. Maintain personal social time away from the workplace to positively retain a healthy friendship. •
SuCCESS TIP OF MONTH
Use Common Sense. Using common sense and awareness we can combine friendships in the workplace. The key is to keep the friendship low profile and the work relationship high profile.
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10 Ways to get Kids Eating More Fruits & Veggies BY jACQUELINE BODNAR
It can be a struggle to get your little ones to eat the foods that are good for them (and necessary for proper growth and development). Turn them on to more fruits and veggies by following these easy tips.
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etting kids to eat their fruits and vegetables sometimes takes creativity but the extra effort that parents put forth will be well worth it in the long run. Most people know that eating fruits and vegetables daily is necessary for good health. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 80 percent of children do not eat the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables. Read on for tips on how to get your child eating the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables.
Include Them.
When it comes to doing the grocery shopping, try taking your kids into the produce department and show them all the different colours and varieties of fruits and vegetables. Let them pick out some things each week to include in family dinners. When it’s time to prepare them, let them do age appropriate things to help.
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Use Disguises.
There are great ways to sneak fruits and vegetables into meals. Add in extra vegetables to soups, casseroles, sandwiches, pasta dishes, stir-fry, and on pizza. Fruits are easily added to soy yogurt, muffins, pancakes, and cereal. The kids are also sure to love fruit smoothies.
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fruit f fr uit and Vegetable Portion Sizes for Children
limit tElEViSiOn. The American Psychological Association reports that advertisers spend about $12 billion per year marketing to young people and that each year the average child views around 40,000 televisions commercials. The vast majority of these commercials are for unhealthy foods like snacks, candy, and soda, which ultimately persuades many children into asking for those items. Until the majority of commercials are for healthy food and lifestyle choices, you may want to limit how much time they spend in front of the television.
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Eat Together.
There are many benefits to a family eating together on a regular basis. One of them is that children get the opportunity to see what their parents are eating. They are more likely to eat a nutritious meal when the family has taken the time to come together to share a meal instead of eating on the run or in shifts.
1 ¾ ½ ¼ ½
piece of fruit or melon wedge cup juice cup canned fruit cup dried fruit cup of chopped raw or cooked vegetables 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables Note: Serving sizes are for four to six year olds. Offer less to those younger and more to those older. *source: USDA
SEt ExAmplES.
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) reports that the best way to get your kids to eat more fruits and vegetables is to avoid pressuring them. Instead, just eat more of them yourself. When children are pressured to eat healthy foods they tend to not want them. Setting a good example, by eating fruits and vegetables daily, will likely lead to an increase in your child’s consumption.
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grOw gArDEnS. Letting children assist in growing a garden will get them interested in eating what they have grown. Getting this hands-on experience is also a great learning experience for them. Give them the opportunity to suggest some of the things they would like to grow.
Pantry Patrol.
Limit the amount of snacks that you have in the house. Children are more likely to reach for a cookie than a piece of fruit when they want a snack. If the empty calorie snacks aren’t in the house they will likely opt for the healthy ones. Keep fruits and vegetables prepared and handy for snacking. Stocking the counter with a fruit bowl and a refrigerator with ready to eat veggies will encourage healthy eating.
pOrtiOn cOntrOl. Take a look at the portion sizes in the other foods they are eating. Try cutting back a little on the other foods so they won’t get filled up before getting a chance to eat their fruits and vegetables.
BE pErSiStEnt.
The ADA reports that children’s food preferences are learned through repeat exposure to foods. Usually a child will need to be exposed to a food for eight to 10 times before they will develop an increased preference for the food. Therefore, just routinely exposing children to a variety of healthy food is creating an opportunity to get them eating and liking them.
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tEAcH tHEm. Many children realize that parents want them to eat more fruits and veggies. However, many may not understand why. Take this opportunity to teach your child about the importance of eating a healthy diet and what a body needs to be healthy.
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Health and Nutrition
Eating more fruits and veggies is a great way to improve your health and nutrition. It can be as easy as adding fruit to a bowl of cereal or adding grated carrots to your pasta. Find out more at Web MD “http:// www.webmd.com/diet/default. htm”nutrition.
BY GLORIA ORIA DURAN- RENDEROS B.SC.,M.P.H.,j.V.P.M. 2 NUTRITIONIST
How To Eat More Green Vegetables: Popular Leafy Greens v RiEty va
ChaRaCtERistiCs
RECOMMEnDED usE
Arugula
peppery, delicate texture
raw in salads or sandwiches, versatile for cooking
Beet Greens Bok Choy Broccoli Rabe Collards
mild, slightly sweet, very tender
steam, braise or sautée, eat raw in salads
sweet, mild, stays crisp when cooked
stir-fries, salads or soups
tender, chewy, robust flavour sautée or braise, typical in Italian fare mild, sweet, cooks to tender texture
steam, braise or sautée, shrinks less than other greens when cooked
Dandelion Greens pungent, spicy, bitter
eat small leaves raw, braise or sautée longer leaves
Endive (Chicory)
eat raw in salads, cook briefly for milder flavour
tender, bitter, high in fibre
Escarole
coarse, mildly bitter
eat raw in salads, steam, braise or add to soups
Kale
mildly peppery, tender
boil, steam or sautée, tough stems and ribs must be removed
Mizuna mix
tender, spicy, exotic flavour
serve raw or slightly wilted, with other greens in salads
Mustard Greens
subtle hot mustard flavour
steam, braise or sautée, tough stems and ribs must be removed
Spinach
soft, sweet, rich flavour
multi-purpose, eat raw in salads and sandwiches, sautée, braise, add to soups, quiches or pasta
Swiss Chard (Red, Green, Rainbow)
tender, sweet, velvety texture multi-purpose, wilt, sautée, braise, add to soups, casseroles or pasta, red chard may “dye” other foods
Turnip Greens T
sharp, bitter
boil until silky for traditional Southern style
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try tHiS Portion Size Guide
easy to misjudge how much you’re eating. It’s all too y, it’s essential to keep track of just plate. When you’re trying to eat healthfull out how many servings are on your easy comparisons to help you figure correct portion sizes. Here are some
Portion Size Your Plate ½ PLATE VEGETABLES:
Protein
½
Vegetab les
s for good
assortment of different vegetable Fill half your plate with a colorful palate. nutrition and tastes to please your
¼
¼ PLATE PROTEINS:
heart and better Low-fat proteins are good for your healthy meal. or grill your way to a delicious and
¼
starch
for your waistline. Bake, broil,
¼ PLATE STARCHES:
longer. your heart and keep you feeling fuller Whole-grain starches are good for s, they are high and corn are considered vegetable While foods like yams, potatoes this part of your plate. in starch and should be placed on
baSic guidelineS
1 cup = baseball
3 oz chicken or meat = deck of cards
3 oz fish = checkbook
GRAINS
1 cup of cereal flakes = baseball 1 pancake = compact disc ½ cup of cooked rice = lightbulb ½ cup cooked pasta = lightbulb 1 slice of bread = cassette tape 1 bagel = 6 oz can of tuna 3 cups popcorn = 3 baseballs
DAIRY & CHEESE
1½ oz cheese = 3 stacked dice 1 cup yogurt = baseball ½ cup frozen yogurt = lightbulb ½ cup ice cream = lightbulb
1 tbsp = poker chip
1 oz or 2 tbsp = golf ball
½ cup = lightbulb
1 oz lunch meat = compact disc
FRuITS & VEGETABLES
3 oz muffin or biscuit = hockey puck
1 medium fruit = baseball ½ cup grapes = about 16 grapes 1 cup strawberries = about 12 berries 1 cup of salad greens = baseball 1 cup carrots = about 12 baby carrots 1 cup cooked vegetables = baseball 1 baked potato = computer mouse
FATS & OILS
1 tbsp butter or spread = poker chip 1 tbsp salad dressing = poker chip 1 tbsp mayonnaise = poker chip 1 tbsp oil = poker chip
RD, LD, Director of Nutrition for WebMD. SOURCE: Kathleen Zelman, MPH, © 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
1 slice of bread = cassette tape
1½ oz cheese = 3 dice
MEATS, FISH & NuTS
cards 3 oz lean meat & poultry = deck of k 3 oz grilled/baked fish = checkboo 3 oz tofu = deck of cards 2 tbsp peanut butter = golf ball 2 tbsp hummus = golf ball ¼ cup almonds = 23 almonds ¼ cup pistachios = 24 pistachios
SWEETS & TREATS
1 piece chocolate = dental floss package 1 brownie = dental floss package 1 slice of cake = deck of cards 1 cookie = about 2 poker chips
Reviewed on November 26, 2008.
healthyeating.webmd.com
WebMD Download Food portion sizes today are far bigger than they were in the past, which means we’re taking in far more calories than we realize. Understanding healthy and correct portion sizes is critical to long-term weight management. This printable wallet-size portion control guide will help to keep you on track even when you’re on the go, to download a wallet size portion side guide, be sure to check out the hyperlink below: http://www.webmd.com/diet/printable/wallet-portioncontrol-size-guide
february 2012 ABODE 107
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health
Rela xation
The Essence of BY VICTORIA CTORIA SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY jESSIE PA P LANCA
When a new spa opens in Doha, word spreads like wildfire, even more so if the place is rather good. So it is with Essence Spa, which has just opened up for business on Al Waab. Abode sent mother and daughter team Yvonne Milne and Victoria Scott to check it out.
Spa review
M
om and I don’t get to spend much time together. The thousands of miles between Qatar and my home country of the UK make casual visits impossible, so we see each other a few times a year at most. This of course makes our time together more precious, and when she’s visiting Doha we plan nice treats to make her stay more special. And of course, nothing says “treat” more than a luxurious spa, so we were both excited about getting the chance to try out Essence. The spa is located in an anonymous looking villa to the west of Aspire Park, on Al Waab. We park easily, and as we get out of the car we’re hit by the constant rumble of traffic on one of the city’s busiest roads. Once inside, however, it’s so quiet, you could be in the wilderness. The villa’s interior is decorated in neutral colours and illuminated with low, soft lighting. We begin to relax immediately. The ladies at the reception desk are welcoming and knowledgeable. Over a cup of cinnamon tea and a hot towel, Mom and I discuss which treatments
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we’re going to have. I decide on a Balinese massage, something entirely new for me. It’s recommended for people with lots of muscle tension – something that I have in spades, particularly after a hectic drive through Doha traffic. I’m pleased to hear that my masseuse is actually Balinese herself, so it will be nothing short of authentic. Mom opts for a facial, and is recommended one that works well for older skin. Her therapist is also Balinese, and totally charming. Next, we’re taken upstairs to a comfy sofa in a darkened room, where our feet are treated to a special Balinese ritual, using warm water, coconut and cinnamon. “The smell was divine and the sensation equally lovely,” says Mom. “This was definitely the
first facial I’ve had where my feet got a bit of attention too.” After this, we’re led into the spa’s double treatment room. This is Mom’s first experience of one. “It was great,” she says later. “It meant we could chat (when we weren’t too relaxed to speak) and it was fun to open one eye and take a quick peek at the progress next to me!” The Balinese massage involves some gentle stretching, some acupressure and a massage using aromatherapy oils. The combination is divine. I get so relaxed I drop off to sleep during part of it. My feet and calves, tired of walking around in sandals all the time, feel particularly great afterwards.
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“My facial was very thorough” reports Mom. “I was cleansed, exfoliated and massaged, and my eyes were the focus of a special treatment. I emerged feeling relaxed and glowing with skin that felt soft and deeply moisturized. All of the lumpy muscle areas in my shoulders (where I’m told I store my tension) were artfully located and worked on with sensitivity. My masseuse was attentive and checked on my comfort regularly. It was a thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable facial, which I rated as the best I’ve ever had,” enthuses Mom. After what seems like both hours and just a few short minutes, a soft “ping” of
a bell sounds, signalling the end of our treatments. To complete the experience, we’re taken to a relaxation room, where we drink more refreshing tea - this time Hibiscus - accompanied by sweets made from dried fruit. Mom and I pause there for a while in our robes and let the relaxation soak in a little. We both agree it’s a fantastic experience we’d like to repeat. The only negative we can find (and it’s a minor one) is that we were both a little cold. Doha’s unusually cool winter has probably taken the spa by surprise.
health
of pampering and relaxation. I’ll let Mom have the last word. (She generally gets it anyway! Only kidding Mom…) “If you’re feeling like you deserve some me time, then book into this spa” advises Mom. “I promise you will emerge a new, more serene and definitely more beautiful you.”! • www.essencespa-qatar.com Tel: 44502226. Elemis Visible Brilliance Facial 75 minutes for 570 QR, Balinese massage 60 minutes for 250 QR. Sweet Valentine Promo 2 hours and 30 minutes
Overall, however, it was a brilliant afternoon
for 650 QR
february 2012 ABODE 109
Lifestyle
health
Reduce Your Stress for Weight Control By MOHAMED GAMAL, FITNESS SPECIALIST AT SPA CHAKRA
Weight gain is yet another ill effect of a stressful life. But with simple and consistent changes to your lifestyle you can reduce the effects of stress and tune up your physiology to maintain a positive mood, keep you energy high and your weight in check.
“
S
tress is defined as a psychological and physical response of the body that occurs whenever we must adapt to changing conditions, whether those conditions be real or perceived, positive or negative.
Although everyone has stress in their lives, people respond to stress in different ways. Some people seem to be severely affected while others seem calm, cool, and collected all the time. Regardless, we all have it.
�
Stress can affect your diet and appetite, causing you to overeat
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Lifestyle
“
It’s natural to crave chocolate cake, ice cream, and other foods that seem to improve your mood when you’re stressed out, even though you know they aren’t healthy, but making this behaviour a habit can lead to excessive weight gain
”
Is weight gain and stress related? Weight gain under stress is mainly due to hormonal and psychological factors. Every time you have a stressful day, your brain acts as if you are in physical danger and instructs your cells to release hormones. Cortisol, the stress hormone produced by the adrenalin gland, stimulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism for fast energy and can also increase appetite. Excess cortisol can lead to weight gain and difficulty losing kilograms. Abdominal fat is also affected by cortisol. Studies showed that high levels of this hormone lead to fat deposition in the abdominal area. This is dangerous, because abdominal fat surrounds vital organs and is correlated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Stress management Is a critical part of weight-loss regimens, particularly for those people who have elevated cortisol levels. In addition to a healthy eating plan, exercise is highly recommended for weight loss in this case, since it leads to the release of endorphins, which have natural stressfighting properties and can lower cortisol levels.
“
Spa Chakra offers wide range of distress and relaxing massages and treatments for men and women
”
health
While getting rid of stress and anxiety completely is not an option in our daily lives, here are some helpful tips that can help you avoid weight gain and fat deposition: • Exercise Not only promotes overall fitness, but it helps you to manage emotional stress and tension as well. It improves your sleep and increases your ability to deal with stress as it arises. • Decrease caffeine intake Caffeine raises stress hormones and can lead to insomnia and dehydration, affecting your body’s ability to handle stress. There are many delicious caffeine-free alternatives, such as herbal teas. • Get a massage Go for regular massage sessions that will relieve your stress and ‘transport’ mind and body to a calmer , more relaxed state of being. • Do yoga One goal of yoga is to restore balance and harmony to the body and emotions through numerous postural and breathing exercises. It increases flexibility and capability for relaxation. • Don’t restrict your favourite foods Stress eating may lead to satisfaction at first, but you will regret it after calming down or standing on the scale. Have a small portion of what you crave and don’t restrict entirely, but if you know you can’t control your craving, just go out for a walk or meet a friend. Keep healthy choices nearby. • Sleep well Sleep deprivation can be the main cause of stress. Be sure to get your seven to nine hours of sleep every night to manage cortisol release, keep your appetite in check and guard against weight gain. • Listen to upbeat music Music stimulates and arouses our nervous system; it brings about a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. Music can also be revitalizing and get us to take action; keeps us alert; and helps us maintain a cheerful attitude. • Watch funny movies Select movies that will make you smile. Studies have shown that smiling is associated with positive feelings. Just lift the corners of your mouth and smile! After just a few minutes you will notice the difference in your attitude as the tension seems to fade. You will feel calmer and more relaxed.
Foods that may enhance your mood Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that has a positive effect on mood. Foods containing tryptophan, complex carbohydrates (including fructose found in fruit), and vitamin B6 are all known for their positive effects on serotonin production. Magnesium and calcium have also been shown to have a relaxing effect on the muscles. Tryptophan sources: milk, soy, animal proteins such as lean beef and poultry Serotonin sources: whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta and popcorn Vitamin B6 sources: spinach, avocado, wheat germ, bananas, tuna, and some fortified cereals (high fibre content). Magnesium sources: almonds, green leafy vegetables (such as spinach), oatmeal, soy, dairy products, and whole grain cereals. Calcium sources: Low fat and fat free dairy products like milk, yoghurt and cheese.
february 2012 ABODE 111
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health
Detox with Home Remedies BY LAUREN PENNY, CEO OF ART OF ABUNDANT BUNDANT LIVING
Do you want to increase your energy, mental clarity and feel vibrant? Achieve all of the above without breaking your bank balance? Find out how with these easy home remedies:
o
ur health is a key asset to our life and everyone is at risk of toxic stress in today’s world – our bodies naturally create toxins internally as a by-product of metabolism. Add to this life stress, contaminants in our food and water, poor exercise habits and exposure to pollutants. The concept that various health problems arise from accumulated toxicity is not new. The basis of all ancient healthcare systems was on simple cleansing and detoxifying rituals, which were used to enhance the natural processes of the body, providing energy and clarity of mind. Now that it’s a new year, create a ‘new you’ by detoxing mind and body with spa treatments you can create in your very own home.
BODy DEtOx: Master Cleanse: a popular cleanse in today’s world is the master cleanse by Stanley Burroughs, recommended from one to 10 days (6 to 10 glasses per day) to correct health imbalances and detoxify the body. The cleanse is used to create vibrant overall health and mental clarity. Before conducting the master cleanse you should partake in pre- and post-cleanse eating habits to prepare your body effectively and recommend to consult your physician before taking action. • 2 tablespoons of organic maple syrup • 2 tablespoons of organic lemon juice ((freshly squeezed – about ½ a lemon) • One tenth ( 1/10 ) of a tea spoon of organic cayenne pepper • 10 oz glass of clean filtered drinking water For more information, visit www.mastercleanser.com
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health
FOr FAcE: •
Bananas ‘n’ Honey Moisturizing Mask (moisturizing & hydrating): Mash a banana with some honey and apply onto face. Bananas are great for moisturizing and honey acts as a humectant — it draws water into the skin, plus has anti-microbial, healing and soothing properties.
•
Middle Eastern Hummus Mask (moisturizing): Mix ½ cup mashed cooked chickpeas, 1 tsp light olive oil, ¼ tsp lemon juice, 1 egg yolk. Mix together until you have a smooth paste. Apply. This mask nourishes and moisturizes the skin, while lemon softens.
•
Espresso Yourself Facial Mask* (cleansing): Mix equal quantities of finely ground espresso roast coffee and cocoa powder; mix with milk into a paste and apply to the face. (Dry mix can be kept in an airtight container for future use.) Milk and coffee contain naturally occurring acids that help rid the skin of dead skin cells, while cocoa powder helps soften and condition your complexion. This mask is quite strong as it is chock-full of detoxing agents: use in small areas such as the nose/chin and another mask if needed (* dK Products signature face mask)
28-DAy clEAnSE: What if 28 days was all it took to give your mind and body a super health boost? A detox is a great way to clean out the old and make way for the new. A simple detox could change your life! A simple detox could look like this: • Week 1 – remove 1-3 target foods from daily consumption • Week 2 – remove remaining target foods from daily consumption • Week 3 – do a juice cleanse over one to three days • Week 4 – bring back some of the eliminated foods and listen to your body Foods to eliminate: • Caffeine • Sugar • Soda and soft drinks • Wheat • Soy products • Animal products including dairy and eggs • Alcohol • Artificial colours/preservatives/flavourings • Processed foods (cooked, canned, frozen, pickled, salted, packaged) T stay on track over the 28-day cleanse and To keep motivated, join the free “MORE RAW” and detox Program. For details visit “More Raw” Facebook page or www.artofabundantliving.com
FOr HAir: Coconut and Honey Hair Mask (hydrating): Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 4 tablespoons coconut oil. Warm slightly and apply thoroughly to hair. Cover hair with plastic wrap or a shower cap. After 15 minutes shampoo and rinse well. For more information about natural facials and dK Products - 100% natural, homemade body and face products - please contact Daniela on daniela@casa-massa.com or Karen on karenroberts@me.com
february 2012 ABODE 113
travel
Portugal
EUroPE’S WESt CoaSt BY MOONA WHITICE
Lisbon Portugal at night
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BY MOONA OONA WHITICE
Lisbon , Estremadura , Portugal
Portugal, the westernmost country of mainland Europe, bordered only by the Atlantic Ocean and Spain, is said to be a juncture of culture, cuisine, art and history that is attracting travellers in 2012.
i
t always had the sun and sea – a natural treasure to support tourism, but with the added cultural attractions of medieval castles, Roman, Gothic and Manueline monuments, Portugal has become a must-see destination in the itinerary of most European tourists this year. The northern part is characterized by mountainous regions and lush green plains whereas the south of Portugal, in contrast, offers the splendid coastline of the Algarve region; though both have a charm of their own. lisBOn Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, sprawls along the right bank of the River Tagus. With over twenty centuries of history, it has sailed through time, remaining vibrant and cosmopolitan and holding its own as one of the most important tourist destinations in all the country. The city has some of the most
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Streets of Lisbon, Portug
well-known cultural heritage buildings and museums in the country. The most famous are the Museum Calouste Gulbenkian, Monument to the Discoveries, Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower. Do not forget to drive down the Vasco da Gama Bridge that connects north of Lisbon to Municipality of Alcochete. Spanning across Tagus River, this 17.2 Km long bridge is the largest bridge in entire Europe. Other important cities of Portugal are Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Amadora and Braga. Porto is considered to be the cultural and financial heart of the country.
al
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Belen Tower - Lisbon, Portuga
l
travel
BEléM tOwER Built in the earlier part of 16th century, Belém Tower was erected to serve as a ceremonial gateway to the capital city Lisbon and is the city’s icon; a symbol of the Age of Discovery. The Belém Tower was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO along with the nearby Jerónimos Monastery as it represents Gothic style architecture of the past. The Manueline style too is evident in the intricately carved motifs and sculptures both inside and on the outside of Belém Tower. When you visit you can see the Moorish decorations on the beautiful carved windows, balconies and in the cupolas of the watch tower. If you are planning on visiting the tower, hours of operation are Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm from October to April.
Praia da Dona Ana beach, Lagos - Algarve, Portug
al
pRaia DE DOna ana The beaches around the city of Lagos are some of the most beautiful of the Algarve region, like Praia de Dona Ana, which can be reached after a 25 minutes’ walk from the center of the town, Praia do Camilo, a bit further on, and Meia Praia, whose sands stretch for 4 km (2.5 miles) east of Lagos. However, it is the promontory named Ponta da Piedade and sheltering the bay of Lagos that is most admired by visitors, with its caves, rocks and wonderfully transparent waters. North of Lagos, Barragem de Bravura is a water reservoir offering fine views. Water skiing and surfing are the most indulged sports in this area, as the facilities provided for them are among the best in Europe. The calm and predictable waves make water sports a possibility throughout the year. If you like to mix fun with a little speed, then go for powerboat ride. sintRa
Pena Palace, Sint ra
For over 500 years, Sintra served as the most liked summer residence for Portuguese kings. Located only 29 km northwest of Lisbon, it is a popular destination for both Portuguese and tourists alike. This one-of-akind village offers everyone the opportunity to enjoy the majestic ruins of Castelo dos Mouros, on the highest peak of the town. The town’s most famous attraction is an 8th century Moorish citadel that offers magical views of the sea. Inside the citadel, you will be pleasantly surprised to see the huge and beautiful guest rooms filled with antique items, gold leaf paintings and ornate and bulky chandeliers adorning the ballroom ceiling. Lord Byron, the famous British poet referred to Sintra as “perhaps the most delightful village in entire Europe”. The view of the village has not changed much since Lord Bryon visited as it is still the same cool, calm and quiet township.
Palacio da regaleira
, Sintra
february 2012 ABODE 115
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travel Douro, Amarante
aMaRantE Situated 56 km east of Oporto, the pretty town of Amarante is set immaculately along the banks of the River Tâmega. This ancient settlement was founded as Turdetanos in 360 BC and went on to prosper under the Romans and offer many historic builds to explore. MOnastERy OF sãO GOnçalO Dating back to 1540, the exotic honey-gold granite façade of the church and former monastery of São Gonçalo holds the golden chapel where Saint Gonçalo is buried. Visitors will find the lovely interior of painted columns and the dramatic high altar, under which exists a little golden chapel where Saint himself lies buried, magnificent. Born in Amarante at the end of the 12th century, Saint Gonçalo is mostly revered for his many healing miracles. The church also features an awe inspiring twostorey Renaissance cloister.
Monasterio of sāo Goçalo, Amarante
The town’s museum is dedicated to the life and work of locallyborn Cubist artist Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso (1887-1918), one of Portugal’s leading 20th-century artists.
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M
Y
Albufeira - Algarve
CM
MY
CY
alBuFEiRa
Albufeira - Algarve
Albufeira is located in the central Algarve region of Portugal, and it attracts thousands of tourist and visitors every year. Albufeira ‘s old town is a beautifully lined with pretty cobbled streets dotted with restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. There are also many more restaurants and bars in between the shops, so there is never a shortage of places to eat and drink. For those who love a lively night life, the bars in the old town are open late - most will be open until 4 am during the summer months but may close at 2 am in the winter. Albufeira marina is also a pleasure to spend time in, with its candy coloured apartments and long and charming sandy beaches. The attractions include boat trips, fishing trips and diving excursions. If you prefer staying on dry land have a go on a Segway - the marina’s long promenade is perfect for this novel form of transport! Just around the corner from the marina is the fishing port where you can see the fishermen going about their daily business and also get a lovely view of Albufeira across the bay. Albufeira is perfect for families, couples and singles of all ages. For tourist information visit: www.visitportugal.com Sources: editorial -www.hellotravel.com, pictures- www.visitportugal.com
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musical notes
Interview with Mr SMADj
Coming to Doha abOdE: Who inspired you to become a musician? Lots of from people from Farid el Atrach, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Charlie Parker to Square Pusher….I love every kind of good music and I am still discovering new artists.
BY MARLYNNE MALLARI
abOdE: You played with different artists, who among them did you enjoy playing your music and why? I believe music is driven by meetings, so when you meet a new musician and you love to play with him, you write a story with him and most albums are inspired by these stories, the last ones are Ibrahim Maalouf, Talvin Singh, Erik Truffaz (they played one my last album, Selin), and with Natacha Atlas we are beginning a new story now. abOdE: You achieved a lot in your career, is there still a ‘dream’ of yours you have not accomplished? For sure: An experience with Anouar Brahem, with Square Pusher, Buggy Wesseltof...
SmADJ’S in cOncErt ‘SOS tOur” The Institut fraçais du Qatar presents SMaDJ in concert on february 10th at 8:00pm at Qatar National Theatre. Smadj’s SOS is pleasant and laid back blend of arabic and european musical sentiment! It is a magical mix of electronic music with gypsy, jazz and oriental touch. abOdE: How would you describe your style and sound? It’s a mix of electronic music, jazz and oriental music abOdE: Since you were raised in Paris, how does your music reach those people in the Arab countries? I was born in Tunisia and my family too, I stayed there until I was five and went back every holiday until I was eleven. My compositions has always been influenced by oriental music and I play the Oud abOdE: You’ll be touring the Middle East, what has stirred you to share your exotic musical mélange? My music is a mix because I am a mix of cultures, my parents roots are Arabic being from Algeria and Tunisia and European from Italy and France. I believe
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that you play who you are. So I play music all around the world and I try to share with those cultures the music which is related to the countries I travel to. abOdE: After releasing a couple of albums, what’s next for you? I released five albums: Equilibrate, New Deal, Take It and Drive, SOS and Selin. I recorded a live [album] which was recorded at the festival of St Denis I played with 15 musicians featuring Natacha Atlas, Ibrahim Maalouf, Cem Yildiz, Mehdi Haddab, strings….I’m working to release it. My next album will be soon recorded and I’m still producing albums for different artists, the last one is Turkish singer named Kivilcim and the album will be released this week through Sony Turkey.
for information please contact: estelle roure, Cultural Program Manager, e-mail: info@institutfrancais-qatar.com Telephone: 4493 0862/63
To find out more go to: www.qatarhappening.com
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books
reader’s corner
Books about friendship for all ages
BAD gir irllS
gir irllS in lOVE
DiA Di Ary OF wimpy kiD
gOODn gOOD nig igH Ht mr. tO tOm m
by JaCQu el elIN INee WI WIlSON Mandy has been picked on at school for as long as she can remember. That’s why she is delighted when cheeky, daring Tanya picks her as a friend. Mum isn’t happy though - she thinks Tanya’s a BAD GIRL and a bad influence. Mandy’s sure Tanya can only get her out of trouble, not into it . . . or could she? In this well-written, easy to read story, Wilson puts down one of the most painfully believable accounts of girl-togirl bullying you will ever read. Thankfully, though, as with all of her books, there is a thread of hope, encouraging victims to be strong and not give in to the bullies. Excellent material for younger readers, parents or schools.
JaCQu el JaC elIN INee WI WIlSON The start of year nine sees Ellie worrying about her weight and her lack of a boyfriend, her best friend Nadine has fallen for a seriously good looking boy and she is desperate to please him and Magda, her other best friend is just desperate to have any boyfriend, so she is the same as Nadine. Wilson give us this enriching title – the first part in a trilogy - for older readers, all about three year -nine girls and the problems they face growing up. There are many good reasons for reading this book, but the best is definitely for the friendship of these three very different girls!
Jeff KI K INN NNee y Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the first in the series of comic fiction books by Kinney. In the book we get collected episodes from a year in the tragi-comic life of the book’s protagonist, Greg Heffley, presented in journal form. Printed on journal paper with a considered mix of illustrative cartoons synched to the hand-written type face, it makes this book not a joy not only to read, but also to hold. Laugh out loud funny and very easy to digest, this it is recommended to encourage young, non-readers into the habit of picking up books.
MIChelle MagO MagOrI a N A classic story of friendship, Magorain allows the reader the humbling privilege of following a young boy, William Beech, on his journey as he is evacuated from London during the Blitz of World War II. William is put into the reluctant care of Tom Oakley, an elderly recluse. After an uncertain start, their relationship blossoms and thanks to Tom, William experiences a new life of love and care. Now also a musical and full motion picture, Goodnight Mister Tom still commands one of the most illustrious emotional narratives, perfect for pre-teens and adults alike.
tAllE OF twO citi tA tiEES CharleSS D Charle DIICK CKeeNS This classic novel by legendary author Charles Dickens traces the private lives of a group of people caught up in the cataclysm of the French Revolution. Set in both London and Paris, the author based his historical detail on Carlyle’s “The French Revolution”, and his own observations and investigations during his numerous visits to Paris. With well over 200 million copies sold worldwide, it is loved by many and ranks among the most famous works in the history of fictional literature.
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s are All book e at availabl ore egast Virgin M
LifEstyLE
automotive
GMC Sierra 1500 Review BY DELIAH FURCOI
The pickup truck has long been a mainstay of American byways and highways, and GMC has been there from day one. Originally used and respected by farmers, construction workers and small-business owners, GMC’s hauler was a basic workhorse known for its reliability and longevity. More recent times have seen GMC’s full-size truck adopt the name Sierra, as it has changed into an upscale and great for everything ride. 122 ABODE february 2012
LifEstyLE
automotive
“
THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY A HEAVY-DuTY TRuCk THAT WORkS HARD NOT TO DISAPPOINT
”
Straddling into the driver seat of the ‘Crew Cabin’ model I had learned that the Sierra proudly has two other body styles up for grabs: the ‘Regular’ and ‘Extended.’ Somewhat, of a standard no frills worktruck model ranging to a more polished ultra chic Denali loaded with all lifestyle demands. I had the privilege to own the ‘Crew Cabin’ four-door version for a day. With the enthusiasm of a kid at a candy shop, I climbed into the house on wheels and got started. Welcomed by the roar of its 6.2 liter, V8 engine the Sierra awakens from its slumber. Its digital diagnostics light up with its all-American flair of everything oversized coming into full view. What’s more, it’s equipped with climate control, CD player, supersized storage and buckets of room to fit ‘Fat Albert and the Gang’ along with their instruments.
T
his month’s choice of review is an unusual one, one that was a personal pleasant surprise and one that is itching toward the top of my wish list this year. Guaranteed by the locals as a trusted load transporter, sworn by construction workers and small business owners, GMC’s hauler was a traditional workhorse known for its reliability and longevity. With increasing demand for its functionality and diversity, the Sierra 1500 has befriended Doha’s busy streets and growing populous with its half-ton enormity and varied good looks – trim levels and powertrains. It is becoming a true fashion statement for those yearning for attention and a trusted partner to tow your boat for those welldeserved weekend escapes.
I eased into reverse out of parking with the ‘park assist’ option, which magically appears in the corner of the rearview mirror. Without having to twist and turn I was relieved not to have knocked a passerby or two and declare that all vehicles acquire this unique technology. The Sierra Crew Cab’s rear seat is split 60/40 and can folded up individually for a flat load floor; this arrangement is also standard on some extended cabs and optional on others, depending on trim level. A comfortable ride within city limits with smooth cornering, but when put to the test off-road the Sierra Crew Cab firms up its muscle and challenges every surface with vigilance. This one is definitely a heavyduty truck that works hard not to disappoint. Overall a vehicle not recommended to the faint hearted but more for the utilitarian, bold, confident individual who likes to stand out amongst the crowd, a man or woman who seeks functionality and performance in their drivability. This beast of a truck has my vote! •
february 2012 ABODE 123
LifEstyLE
automotive news
Noble Partnership
PorCHE 911 Carrera
As Platinum Sponsor of the recent Qatar Equestrian Federation Saleh Al Hamad Almana proudly instils it’s association to ensure the passion for the traditional sport and Arab culture. As part of the group’s corporate responsibility and in the aim of giving back to the community the group partnered with the federation to promote a high profile sport in tandem with it’s brand principles. ‘Horse racing is a noble sport and our company and clientele can resonate with the feeling and image of this noble sport. We believe the brand image and culture of Saleh Al Hamad Almana Co. is a true reflection of horse racing and with this sponsorship we will begin to establish a long-term relationship with the Equestrian Federation Club and the community’ Mr.Hisham Almana the Chairman had said
The re-birth of the new 911 Carrera Porsche Centre Doha. Al Boraq Automobiles Co. WLL celebrated the introduction of the the new 911 Carrera And Carrera S Coupe in cinematic style featuring a unique presentation all in 3D at the QNCC. Invited guests were is owe as they witnessed the 911 generation reveal, along with a presentation of the incredible 48 year history of the 911 series. the involvement of regional racing heroes from the Porsche owned GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, a high tech product presentation and virtual tour of the famous Nordschleife of the Nuburgring. Salman Jassem Al Darwish, Chairman and CEO of Porsche Centre Doha Centre, said: “There has been such excitement surrounding the release of this 911. We have had a great deal of interest, and I fully expect we will be working extremely hard throughout 2012 to meet customer demand. With the nearly endless options available through Porsche Exclusive and Porsche Tequipment, each one of the Porsche 911 Carrera models you will see in our market will be as individual as its owner.”
BMW debut – National Movie Premiere All the way from Hollywood to Qatar, Alfardan Automobiles hosts the white screen with the long awaited Paramount Blockbuster premiere of Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Taking centre stage were several of BMW’s latest line-up of it’s latest cars, including the yet to launch BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car. Other leading roles were the BMW 6 Series Coupe and convertible, the BMW 7 Series. Scenes were partly filmed in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates highlighting an exhilarating car chase keeping it’s VIP Guests at the edge of their seats.
124 ABODE february 2012
LIFESTYLE
technology
«TECH SUPPORT» What’s HOT this month
We continue to see an exciting line up of Smartphones this month. Here’s a peek at what to expect: ZMotorola RAZR: Vodafone Qatar has just launched the latest smartphone from Motorola, the RAZR. Many of you will fondly remember the hugely successful older generation Motorola RAZR and we believe the new RAZR has what it takes to pack another punch. With an impossibly thin design, the new MOTOROLA RAZR is a marvel of engineering — one you’ll want to show off to the world. Thinner than your friends’ smartphones, it’s better looking, too, with sculpted glass and diamond-cut aluminium accents. Thin no longer equals frail. The MOTOROLA RAZR is build with KEVLAR® fibre, while Corning® Gorilla® Glass helps the screen stand up to the scratches and scrapes that are bound to happen. Spilt coffee? Caught in the rain? No problem. This phone is protected with a splash-guard coating — even the electrical boards inside. On the software side, besides running the amazing Android operating system with access to thousands of apps, the RAZR gives you MotoCast™, a free Motorola app that’s built into the MOTOROLA RAZR, lets you safely and effortlessly stream music, films and more from your PC. Like all of the latest super-smartphones, the Motorola RAZR has a dual core processor, an 8MP camera with full HD video and a Super AMOLED screen. The all new Motorola RAZR is now available at key Vodafone’s retail stores and Vodafone’s online store www.vodafone.com.qa.
The Motorola RAZR retails for QR 2,210, which includes a FREE Welcome Pack, RED 35 Scratch Card and 1GB data plan. Y
ZBlackBerry Bold 9790: Vodafone Qatar has recently launched another addition to the Bold family, the Blackberr y® Bold™ 9790 smartphone. The new BlackberryBold 9790 smartphone comes with a full QWERTY keyboard and a touch screen. It has a sleek, premium finish and brilliant crisp graphics. What’s more, the touch screen is smooth and super responsive – so you can connect to everything and everyone in a flash. Connect and share like never before with BlackBerry® Messenger; you never have to miss a moment of what’s going on. Capture the moment with a built-in 5MP camera. Take a picture or video and upload to your social networks with a single click for all to see. Browse the web effortlessly with a faster processor that makes multitasking a breeze. The powerful new BlackBerry® 7 software delivers stunning graphics, amazing multimedia and breakthrough technology. See videos and games spring to life, load and browse web pages faster than ever before, and find everything on your BlackBerry smartphone as well as online without having to lift a finger, thanks to the revolutionary voice-activated universal search! The all new Blackberry Bold 9790 is now available at Vodafone’s retail stores and at Vodafone’s online store www.vodafone.com.qa.
126 ABODE february 2012
Blackberry Bold 9790 retails at QR 1,899, including a FREE Welcome Pack, Blackberry Service on RED and RED 55 Scratch Card. Y
LIFESTYLE
ZSamsung Galaxy 7” Tab Plus: Vodafone recently launched the Samsung Galaxy 7” tab plus. The GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus boasts an enviably small form factor. It’s the size of a paperback book but possesses the computing power of a laptop. The 345g lightweight and compact tablet can be operated with a single hand and is ideal when you’re on the go. It also offers enhanced portability through the light and slim 7” form, and advanced productivity powered by a 1.2 GHz dual core processor, fast internet speed and updated Android Honeycomb 3.2 platform with Samsung TouchWiz. Rounded out by rich multimedia functions, this tablet offers even more possibilities on the go! The ultra fast processor allows for seamless multitasking, providing faster webpage loading, smoother UI transitions and ultra-fast power-up. It also offers the best connectivity options available, from lightning-fast HSPA + 21MPs to Wi-Fi Channel Bonding. Wi-Fi Channel bonding technology will let you receive data-rates approximately twice as fast as existing Wi-Fi. In addition, Samsung offers social, music, and readers HUBS, which allows users to easily integrate and have real time access to multiple email, instant messaging, and social networking accounts through one portal. It also gives them the chance to access anextensive catalogue or popular and classic songs along with artist information, album art, critics’ reviews and more. Readers Hub allows users to access over 2.3 million e-books, 20,000 newspapers, and 3,000 magazines in up to 49 languages.
technology
ZBlackBerry Porsche Design, P’9981: Vodafone has just launched the highly exclusive Porsche Design Blackberry P’9981. This premium smartphone features a forged stainless steel frame, hand-wrapped leather back cover, sculpted QWERTY keyboard, and crystal clear touch display. The Porsche Design P’9981 also comes with a Porsche Design user-interface and a built-in Wikitude World Browser augmented reality application. The Porsche Design has a 1.2 GHz processor and Liquid Graphics technology, designed to enable a responsive touch experience with fast and smooth graphics. It also features HD video recording, 24-bit high resolution graphics, advanced sensors for new augmented reality applications, and built-in support for Near Field Communications. The phone comes with 8 GB of on-board memory, expandable to up to 40 GB with a microSD card. Not only does the Porsche Design Blackberry P’9981 have a stylish exterior, the handset also features a premium, exclusive PIN that easily identifies the user as having a P’9981 smartphone. This a great combination of design and function that we are sure will appeal to many customers. Customers can experience the P’9981 today at Vodafone’s Landmark store. Due to very limited stock, pre-orders are being taken at the Vodafone Landmark store.
The P’9981 retails at QR 6,999 which includes a Welcome Pack, 1 month of FREE BlackBerry Service, and a RED 200 plan. Y
The Samsung GALAXY 7 Plus Tab is now available at Vodafone’s stores in select Retail stores and online for QR 2,149 which includes a free Data SIM Welcome Pack, 1 GB Data and a RED 35 scratch card. Y
Visit our website for more details: www.vodafone.com.qa
february 2012 ABODE 127
ADOBE
resource
YOUR LIFE • YOUR STYLE • your home
directory
Beauty
Geox
Villaggio Mall
4450-7194
Faces
Villaggio Mall
4450-7189
Landmark Mall
4488-7531
Landmark Mall
4487-9519
Gucci
Villaggio Mall
4413-
Inglot
Hyatt Plaza
4416-5130
Karen Millen
Villaggio Mall
4460-4279
L’Occitane
Landmark Mall
4486-5149
Landmark Mall
Villaggio Mall
4450-7585
Lacoste
Landmark Mall
4488-7604
Villaggio Mall
4450-7191
Cars ∕ Motoring
Naturalizer
Hyatt Plaza
4416-5132
Infinity
Salwa Showroom
4428-3333
Ninewest
City Centre
4483-9543
Mercedes Benz
Salwa Road
4462-4444
Hyatt Plaza
4468-2919
Nissan
Salwa Showroom
4428-3333
Landmark Mall
4486-4038
Al Sadd
4444-1334
Pull & Bear
Landmark Mall
4487-6856
Yarmouk 4488-8618
Ralph Lauren
Villaggio Mall VIP section
4413-5655
Renault
Salwa Showroom
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City Centre
4483-9476
Spring
Villaggio Mall
4460-4963
Clubs / Leisure
Swarovski
Land Mark Mall
4483-8158
Mourjan Marinas IGY
Lusail Marina
5575-6389
Tanagra
Villaggio Mall, VIP section
4413-4780
Pearl Lounge Club
Doha Marriott Hotel
4429-8444
The Athlete’s Foot
Villaggio Mall
4450-7477
4428-3333
Hyatt Plaza
4416-5133
Education
The Deal
Al Sadd, Main Road
4442-4043
Virginia Commonwealth
Tod’s
Villaggio Mall
4413-4937
University Qatar
Education City
4402-0555
Furniture / Interior Design
Entertainment
Articles
Royal Plaza, 2nd Floor
4413-1188
Ray’s Reef
Royal Plaza, 2nd floor
4413-1122
Bo Concept
City Centre
4411-5054
The Cinema Palace
Royal Plaza, 2nd floor
4432-0938
Forum Design
Al Hilal
4456-8716
Ligne Roset/ DEDON
Souq Najed, Salwa Road
4431-1843
Fashion / Retail
The One
Landmark Mall
4488-8669
Aida
Royal Plaza, 2nd Floor
4413-1188
Villaggio Mall
4450-7778
Aldo
Hyatt Plaza
4468-2920
Living Spirit
Ramada Signal
4434-1878
The Mall
4467-8896
Roche Bobois
Al Saad St.
4432-0066
Villaggio Mall
4450-7391
Aldo Accessories
City Centre
4411-5289
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Bench
Hyatt Plaza
4469-0476
Al Bustan
Museum Park St.
4435-2227
Berluti
Villaggio Mall, VIP section
4416-1860
Al Seef
Al Aaliya Street
4433-2222
Change
Royal Plaza, 1st floor
4413-1177
Chowking
Salwa Road
4437-1212
Titto Bluni
Royal Plaza, 1st floor
4413-1144
Al Saad St.
4431-4411
Marc Jacobs
Villaggio Mall, VIP section
4413-4767
Doha Marriott Hotel
Ras Abu Aboud St.
4429-8888
Celine
Villaggio Mall, VIP section
4413-4763
Four Seasons
Corniche Road
4494-8888
4413-4767
Grand Hyatt
West Bay Lagoon
4448-1234
CH By Carolina Herrera
Villaggio Mall, VIP section
4413-4748
Grand Regency
Al Sadd
4434-3333
Charles & Keith
City Centre
4493-4437
InterContinental
Al Istiqlal Rd,
4484-4444
Hyatt Plaza
4469-0413
West Bay Lagoon
Dune
Landmark Mall
4487-8158
Kempinski Residences
Ermenegildo Zegna
Villaggio Mall VIP section
4413-4765
& Suites
West Bay Doha
Events
Royal Plaza, 1st floor
4413-1155
La Cigale Hotel
60 Suhaim Bin Hamad St.
Garage
City Centre
4483-9324
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Porto Arabia
128 ABODE february 2012
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Megu
Porto Arabia
7780-9513
Mövenpick Hotel
Corniche Road
4429-1111
Real Estate
Mövenpick Tower & Suites
Westbay
4496-6600
Ahmed Hassan Bilal
Mercure Grand
Musherib Street
4446-2222
Merweb Central Doha
Ras Abu Abboud St.
4409-4444
Milennium Hotel
Jawaan Street, Al Sadd
4424-7777
Nando’s
Salwa Rd, Al Sadd
4444-2345
Spa and Wellbeing
Hyatt Plaza
4450-5853
The Spa
Doha Marriott Hotel
4429-8520
City Centre
4417-5756
Spa Chakra
Westbay, Al Funduq St.
4499-9250
Al Nahda School St.,
4402-3333
Oryx Rotana
Porto Arabia
4442-8877.
LS: Keep Moving
Tornado Tower, Ground Floor 4491-3222 T
Hospitals ∕ Emergency
Airport Rd. Pampano
Ahmed Bin Moh’d,
Trading & Construction Co. Bin Thani St T
4495-3876
Plastic Police Surgicentre & Fire Department 149 Najma St., Al Hilal
ext.1221
Doha Clinic Hospital Hotline Al Ahli Hospital Doha Dental Hamad General Hospital Rumailah Hospital Pediatric Emergency Centre Qatar Foundation for Child & Protection Hotline
Ramada Encore
Ahmed Bin Moh’d St.
4444-3444
Ramada Plaza
C Ring Rd.
4428-1428
Ritz-Carlton
West Bay Lagoon
4484-8000
Sizzling Hot Pot
Holiday Villa Hotel
4411 5335
Sealine Beach Resort
Mesaieed Umm Said
4476-5299
Sharq Village & Spa
Ras Abu Abboud St.
4425-6666
Sheraton Doha
Corniche Road
4485-4444
TSE YANG
Porto Arabia
4495-3876
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Abode
horoscope
Your February Stars By Milina
Aries (March 21st-April 20th)
» This month it is important to develop patience and establish regular work patterns. Around 9 February you may expect a surprising resolution to a situation that has been sensitive for a while. Things are slowing down until around 13 April, when Mars turns direct. Although you think you know what you want, it is difficult to put it into words. You can learn from your dreams!
Taurus (April 21st-May 20th)
» There will be increased sensitivity when Neptune enters Pisces on 3 February. Friends and co-workers either inspire or confuse you with their ideas. Compassion is a key word, but make sure you use your common sense. Sudden attractions are possible. Trust your instincts, but keep everything in perspective. Unexpected news could surprise you.
Gemini (May 21st-June 20th)
» With Neptune moving into Pisces you may be dreaming about changing your career into a more meaningful vocation. Around the New Moon in Pisces on 21 February, harsh criticism or resistance to your professional plans will not distract you from your aspirations. Concentrate on the now and your efforts will be rewarded.
On 3 February, Neptune will enter Pisces. In what area of your life will you develop more compassion?
Virgo (August 23th-Sept 22nd)
» Instead of focusing on your own or other peoples flaws, try to open your heart. It will help you to get closer to your loved ones. Around the New Moon in Pisces on 21 February you may feel drained or exhausted by a partner. Old relationships may be healed and forgiveness will play an important part in the process.
Libra (Sept 23th-Oct 22nd)
» This month you can create peace and harmony in your work area. You may feel more freedom and spontaneity in your one-to-one relationships. Use your creativity to be smart and more efficient in your work. You are very good at making your environment look attractive. Around 14 February you may be lost in a romantic fantasy, but you will transform your emotions into a better understanding of each other.
Scorpio (Oct 23th-Nov 21st)
Capricorn (Dec 22nd-Jan 19th)
» This month rigid, old ways of thinking will not work: follow your feelings instead. Trust your instinct with regards to financial matters around 18 February. You have a good sense of what things are worth now. At the time of the New Moon in Pisces on 21 February you may be able to understand things that you cannot explain. Patience will help you to get what you want.
Aquarius (Jan 20th-Feb 18th)
» Feelings will be very important for you this month. You may find it difficult to keep your feet on the ground. Around the Full Moon in Leo on 7 February you may put your finances in order. Being creative will be rewarding, and an important way to value yourself. Don’t rush into action, but consider a strategy before sharing it with other people.
» Release your suspicion and insecurity, and allow unconditional love into your life. Your intuition is strong, and creativity and joy are central this month. Around the Full Moon in Leo (7 February) you will be confronted with unfinished business. It is important to work through the process before you make any big moves in your professional life. Be careful with what you say: you may regret it if you are too emotional.
Leo (July 21st-August 22nd)
Sagittarius (Nov 22nd-Dec 21st)
» The twofold world of fact and dreams will become more important for you in the coming years. Neptune has moved into your sign and will stay there until March 2025. You will feel in touch with others even more than usual. Issues of injustice and equality will come to the fore. Follow the flow of your positive feelings. Around the New Moon in Pisces on 21 February you can add more magic to your life.
Cancer (June 21st-July 20th)
» Around the Full Moon in your sign (7 February) you will be reminded of your unfulfilled needs. Express your desires! Sensitivity and compassion become more important around the New Moon on 21 February. Trust your intuition and let down your guard. Cooperation will be better than competition toward the end of the month.
» This month there is so much happening in your personal life that your professional progress may be affected by it. You may have to slow down and rework your plans for the time being. Make sure you don’t confuse your fantasies with reality around 14 February. Your enthusiasm, energy and positive ideas will help you to find enduring solutions.
» With the Sun in your sign this month, and Mercury until 13 February, you will be able to put your thoughts into words. Around the Full Moon in Leo (7 February) you have to consider other people. Pay attention to money matters. It is important, as things can seem confusing now. A tough situation will be resolved if you confront it fearlessly.
Pisces (Feb 19th-March 20th)
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