UAE DIGEST

JUNE 2011

Dubai Shopping Festival...Craftsman at work Photo by Ujwala Ranade

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 1

February 2011

DH 5

Published from Dubai Media City

DSF

The annual shopping extravaganza HERITAGE

Caves discovered in RAK Rock drawings found Inspiration

Drama in real life Gujarat earthquake 2001

Protecting Innocence

Guard your child from abuse

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2 l UAE Digest, February 2011

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Contents COVER STORY

8

Protecting Innocence 12

16

DSF The annual shopping extravaganza

16 12

Lost Network Six of the world’s leading experts from Slovenia’s Karst Institute and UAE University have discovered a cave network that may have existed millions of years ago

20

20 28

Love round the year

Indians have always celebrated romance and passion in many of their festivals and seasons

24 24

Life Revisited Drama in real life - Gujarat earthquake 2001

28 Sun’s the cure

Boost up your Vitamin D to ward of depression

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 3

IN THE NEWS

Snake shaped hotel Ordinance for labourers

T

he Dh600 million ($163.3m) Rocco Forte hotel in Abu Dhabi, is expected to finally open in June 2011, after a year-long delay. According to Hagop Doghramadjian, the hotel’s general manager. “A lot of changes came. We realised that we could do better in some areas and we added a couple of restaurants and another bar.”

The 281-room, five-star hotel will now boast seven restaurants and bars, including a South American bar, and a Chinese and Japanese restaurant.

“If this building was a very straightforward rectangular tower we could have finished a long time ago. But when you go into a snaked shape, then there is not a single pipe which goes straight in this building, so you have to do all these extraordinary variations and changes,” he adds.

Numerous other hotel openings in Abu Dhabi have been delayed this year. Among properties that should have already opened, or should be close to opening, are the Ritz-Carlton under construction across the water from the Shangri-La, and the Hyatt hotel in the leaning Capital Gate tower. Herve Humler, the president of Ritz-Carlton, said this month that the waterfront property, with more than 600 rooms, would take an additional 20 months to complete. The Hyatt is not likely to open until towards the end of the year.

Profitability in the hotel sector in the capital has declined as supply increased last year. While the wider Middle East hotel sector experienced a slight improvement last year, occupancy in Abu Dhabi hotels dropped 13.9 per cent to 58.8 per cent, while average rates were down 31.2 per cent to $198.11, resulting in revenue per available room decreasing 40.7 per cent to $116.52, the market forecast company STR Global.

The hotel is being developed by Al Farida Investments, based in Abu Dhabi, and the Tourism Development and Investment Company. “Abu Dhabi is growing in appeal in various ways, whether it’s in the conventions market, events, sports, the cultural market,” said Magdi Samman, an adviser at Al Farida Investments. “You are going to have fluctuations between supply and demand until it stabilises. It’s not going to happen overnight. These hotels are here to stay.”

The prices at the Rocco Forte property would be in line with Abu Dhabi’s top five-star hotels, Mr Doghramadjian said. The hotel is to start recruiting about 400 staff in March.

Rocco Forte is expected to be primarily a business hotel, aimed at conferences, meetings and events, he said, adding that 90 per cent of its business was likely to be from the business travel segment.

4 l UAE Digest,February 2011

Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash has issued an ordinance on the licensing and regulation of private employment agencies. The ordinance classified the activity of employment agencies into two categories, either the activity of “mediation” between the employer and the employed or the “temporary employment activity”, recruiting workforce and supplying them to prospective employers.

The ordinance limited the right of setting up a private employment agency for UAE citizens and also stipulated that every partner and signatory in an employment agency should be citizens to be eligible for applying for a licence.

The ordinance also sets mechanisms to ensure the rights of enterprises that rely in their operations on employment agencies and guarantees the rights of workers during and after the recruitment process. The ordinance contained creation of mechanisms to reduce certain malpractices that may occur as a result of recruitment operations, and stipulated a set of guarantees and commitments from the agencies, including transparency during the entire process of employment beginning from the phase of recruiting from the worker’s country of origin until the operations of the firm in which he will work. Issuing the ordinance, the labour minister said that the new ordinance rectifies certain negative practices that were taking place during the process of recruitment, and provides for enough transparency through giving the worker the opportunity to read his original employment contract which will be accredited in the UAE while he begins the employment. The minister emphasised that the new ordinance also regulates the entire process of contractual work beginning from the labour supplying country until the labour receiving country.

“We seek, through cooperation with our partners in the labour market to deepen the reliance on agencies and recruiters to fill the jobs in firms”, the minister said.

Emirati career options An increasing number of UAE nationals are exploring careers in non-traditional sectors such as tourism, medicine and aviation, according to the fifth edition of the Tawdheef 2011 recruitment exhibition. The three-day fair was organised by the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council and Turret Media, and held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec). The first two days of the exhibition were reserved for Emiratis.

However, expatriates living in the UAE were invited to visit. Noaf Tahlak, Marketing Manager, Tourism, Development and Investment Company (TDIC), said: “We have received a large number of Emirati visitors interested in not only learning more about what we are offering but also the diverse range of projects that the TDIC is currently undertaking. “We currently have 100 UAE nationals working in various sectors across our organisation and are looking to recruit more,” Noaf said. “We are looking to do this through initiatives such as visiting universities to discuss opportunities with us as well as the different programmes we have in place, such as our graduate development programme.”We have also

recently signed a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) to provide 150 museum studies scholarships,” she added.

The exhibition had included seminars conducted by the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation to explore topics including career development, human resources and scholarships. Additionally, many participating organisations highlighted the different requirements and methods they use to place Emiratis in positions that fit or are close to their qualifications, such as the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company.

Madiha Al Marzouqi. Head of Recruitment and Manpower Planning, Seha, said: “We have sponsored several majors, such as pharmacy and biomedical, in the Higher Colleges of Technology, and once those students have graduated, we place them in various positions within the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company. While we have had some success, we are still facing challenges in encouraging Emiratis, particularly women to work in the medical field. This is because nurses are required to work in shifts.

Retirement age increased

Al-Qasimi City in Sri Lanka

Expatriates in the UAE have been given an additional five years of service with the Ministry of Labour, revising the retirement age from 60 to 65 years. Part of the widespread changes in the country’s labour law will allow expats to secure visas up to the age of 65 years.

Reports state that the retirement age earlier was 60, now it is 65 [under the new legislation) that quotes an official. The ministry had last week announced the decision to reduce the validity of labour cards to two years from three, starting from January 1, 2011. This empowers expatriate workers the freedom to switch jobs without a no-objection certificate (NoC) from the employer. The previous law had ensured workers get a six-month ban, forcing them to leave the country if their employers refuse the NoC.

HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah and Jamal Salim Al Traifi, DG General- Secretariat for Awqaf inaugurated the second and final phase of Al-Qasimi City in ‘Puttalam’ in Sri Lanka, granted

by Sheikh Sultan to help shelter victims and refugees of ethnic war. The city included 859 housing units which were built in two phases in addition to a mosque, a school and a clinic to provide better and independent life to the local population ensuring good health and education services in the region. The opening ceremony was attended by Jumah Al- Dahmani, First Secretary, UAE Embassy in Sri Lanka and Rashad Badi El Din, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka.

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 5

IN THE NEWS

Accolades Mohan Jashanmal conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Award

Late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan ‘The Father of the Nation’ with Mohan Jashanmal - 1968

6 l UAE Digest, February 2011

Indian businessman, Mohan Jashanmal was honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2011 in New Delhi at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD). The President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil conferred it on him. The Indian Government confers this award to Indians living abroad for bridging the cultural gap, furthering brotherly relations; promoting trade and commerce and rendering services to the Indian community in the countries they live.

Jashanmal is the Regional Manager of the Jashanmal National Company (Abu Dhabi) and Chairman of the Indian Business and Professional Among his prominent community services is at the Abu Dhabi Indian School, which is a premier community school in the Gulf, which came into being in the year 1971. The school began functioning in 1975 from the premises of the India Social Centre, to cater to the needs of the children of the Indian community in Abu Dhabi.

Jashanmal has been selected for this award for his continued efforts for the promotion of cultural and traditional relations between India and the UAE. He was one of 11 people chosen from the Indian diaspora residing abroad.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has earmarked 100 locations for parking bicycles in key areas across the emirate.

D

ubai RTA intends to provide parking spaces for bicycles near all metro stations in a bid to enhance the integration of the Dubai Metro with other transit modes in the emirate. In an advanced phase of the project, all the metro stations will be integrated with the dedicated cycling tracks,” Nasir Abu Shehab, Director of Strategic Planning, RTA Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector, said.

“All areas served by the cycling tracks will be fitted with bike stands, including key areas such as the Gold Souk, abra marinas, Al Shindagha area, Al Fahidi Museum and Al Bastakiya area,” Abu Shehab said.

The move aims to reduce reliance on private vehicles for travelling particularly short distances while introducing additional mobility in a planned manner. “The provision of cycle stands is a vital requirement that has to be addressed... in an effort to eliminate haphazard parking of bicycles at unsuitable locations such as tying

them to light poles, traffic signals and trees. “[Such] a practice inflicts damage to public properties, blocks visibility of motorists and road users, occupies walkways and obstructs pedestrian movement and distorts the general appearance of the area, particularly the tourist destinations,” Abu Shehab said.

The RTA has finalised studies encompassing the construction of cycling tracks with an overall length of about 900 km under five phases, which are scheduled for completion by 2020. The trial run of the project has started in some key spots in Dubai such as along the roads in Jumeirah, Dubai Academic City, Nad Al Sheba and Al Mankhool in addition to the Creek Corniche.

Work has been completed in the construction of cycling tracks — extending 12 km — along Jumeirah Street, while work in other phases will proceed as per RTA’s plan. The RTA aims to complete work on tracks under the trial phase extending 32 km.

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 7

INITIATIVE

Cycling Track for Dubai

COVER STORY

Protecting

Innocence

How do you guard your child against abuse?

A

bus driver, a worker and a bus supervisor at a private school in Dubai recently raped a fouryear old girl student residing in Sharjah before dropping her at home.

Though the incident happened two months before it was reported, medical reports of stains left on the child’s outfit, confirmed the parent’s worst fears.

The police swung into action and caught the offenders but the incident sent a shock wave across parents in the UAE. In the news some time ago, was another incident where a teacher, who had been hired to teach an 11- yearold- child about the Holy Quran, showed him pornography and repeatedly raped him for seven months.

One of the most heinous of crimes, child abuse occurs the world over across all genders, races, societal and econom-

8 l UAE Digest, February 2011

ic lines and stems from various reasons. Research though has proven that an overwhelming majority of people guilty of child molesting, were molested themselves. Statistics involving men in New Jersey prisons convicted of sexual abuse, found that over 95per cent of the men, were in fact abused themselves. Some abuse may be the attempt to relive one’s own abuse, with power roles reversed. Another reason speculated is that some people have learned that abuse is a way of feeling in control. The research also states that some abusers don’t relate well to people of their own age group but relate much better to children, and as a result, pick children to abuse. A perpetrator may create false beliefs about a child’s wishes, desires, and likes, or try to bring the child up to their peer level (imagining a sexual attraction or relationship with them). They may imagine that the

child wants them to do the sexual acts. A similar reason was cited by the child sex offender who raped and murdered a six-year-old boy in the bathroom of a mosque in Dubai on 2009 during Eid – he had said that the six-year-old child and he had consensual sex!

Popular opinion cites loneliness to be an issue for child abuse in the UAE. “The UAE, with its a huge population of single people, largely expatriates, who stay away from their families, with telephonic or chat conversations being the only source of communication between them, there are many unfulfilled needs and desires that are not addressed or channelised. While a large section of people deal with it, some give in to their temptations and an offence is committed. Children become the softest targets for these attacks because they are the most vulnerable of them all. They can be controlled and coaxed to keep quiet about the incident and put under pressure,” says a parent who doesn’t want to be named.

The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children define sexual abuse as inappropriate sexual behaviour with a child. It includes fondling a

child’s genitals, making the child fondle the adult’s genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism and sexual exploitation. To be considered child abuse, these acts have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of a child (for example a baby-sitter, a parent, or a daycare provider) or related to the child. If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely by the police and criminal courts.

In the first half of 2010, to be precise, the Dubai Foundation of Women and Children (DFWC) dealt with 65 cases of sexual abuse.

According to the Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigations Department for Administration and Control Affairs at Dubai Police, Lieutenant Colonel Jamal Al Jalaf, “In 2010, there have been 33 cases of child sex abuse and 34 children and 51 suspects were involved. Meanwhile in 2009, there were 27 cases with 28 child victims and 27 suspects, as compared to 39 cases in 2008 with 40 victims and 46 suspects.” He added that the number of children subject to sexual harassment in 2010 included 15 male and 18 female children as compared to 13 male and 15 female children

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 9

in 2009. In 2007, the International Women’s Cultural Forum in the UAE registered 21 cases of sexual attacks. Most victims were girls under the age of 14 and many of the acts took place on school buses.

Shocking as they may appear, these figures could only be the tip of the iceberg.

Speaking at a forum titled ‘Child Protection in the UAE’ — organised by the Dubai School of Government last year Ruba Tabari, an educational psychologist at Dubai Community Health Centre noted that many times such cases go unidentified due to a lack of understanding and standards that define abuse. Some of the vulnerable points included bathrooms, empty corners of playgrounds, empty buses etc. As in the case of Lulu Menez’s nephew (name

10 l UAE Digest, February 2011

changed) – the eight-year-old child was petrified of visiting the toilet in his school as one of the older boys had picked him up and kissed him wrongly. “It has taken us a good four months to counsel him regularly to get back to the same routine,” she states.

Psychologists agree that physical abuse often leaves obvious signs such as bruises and marks, but it is the emotional abuse and neglect that are the hardest to detect. Offenders who harm children are very secretive and highly skilled at hiding their crimes and scaring children to not speaking out, which is why the law becomes so important.

Dr Tawfiq Khoja, Director-General of the GCC Executive Board of the health Minister’s Council, said it was “well known” that child abuse existed in the Arab region, but it was rarely spoken about or addressed. “Child abuse is not an easy subject and it should be tackled from every direction,” he said, adding that he would like to set up an Arab initiative to “protect children from abuse.

Recently, the Dubai School of Governance organised a forum of Child Protection in the UAE where there was discussion on the UAE government’s Child Rights Law in December that was drafted in 2008, that is yet to be enacted.

Tips for parents • Introduce yourself to your bus driver and con• • • •

ductor and make sure they see you as you stand at the bus stop with your child.

It’s important to convey the message that you are a dedicated and concerned parent. Get their contact numbers; there’s no harm in calling them once in a while.

Be cautious of people who are overly involved in your child’s life.

Talk to your kids about “good touch” and “bad touch.”Go with your gut.”

Talk to school administrators and law enforcement officers if you suspect something is wrong.

Some warning signals, though not restricted to these are • Difficulty walking or sitting.

• Pain or itching in the genital area.

• Stained or bloody underclothing.

• Frequent complaints of stomachaches or • • • • • • • •

headaches.

Venereal or sexually transmitted disease.

Bruises or bleeding in external genitalia.

Feeling threatened by physical contact.

Inappropriate sex play or premature understanding of sex.

Frequent urinary or yeast infections.

An aversion to an adult — even an adult whom your child knows and has been comfortable with in the past.

Sudden outbursts of anger towards a person.

Any unusual or unexplained behaviour change.

Child not wanting to go to school on a particular day of the week — the day gym or music class is held for instance, or not wanting to ride the bus or be around a particular person.

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 11

HAPPENING

It’s that time of the year!

Brand Dubai shot to fame because of the DSF – the annual shopping extravaganza that combines retail therapy with wholesale fun, and entertainment highlights with gastronomic delights

12 l UAE Digest, February 2011

leave you befuddled, but you must find your way to at least a few of them. And the Global Village occupies a prime slot in the DSF bouquet. It’s like an autonomous unit within the larger entity (something like Hong Kong within China). It starts before the DSF and ends after it, and also attracts the maximum footfalls among all the DSF venues. The whole GV package – fun, frolic, food, festivities, fashion, friends, family – is far too fascinating to ignore. So, you have to make that annual trip to the mother of all fairs – once, twice, or maybe more – come what may.

Never mind if you’re stuck in one of those awful jams on Emirates Road – the Global Village comes once a year after all! Some of the drivers do get edgy and start blaring their horns, but the vast majority is the patient lot that knows patience pays. So hold your horses and don’t count your losses.

Actually, there are no losses. Most visitors and residents stand to gain by being a part of the grand celebration that is the DSF. Consider the prizes you can win by just banking on your luck.

T

he traffic crawls along Emirates Road to the entrance of Global Village, with cars aligned bumper to bumper. The stereos inside are playing all kinds of numbers – from Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie to Nancy Ajram’s Ya Habibi Yalla, from Sunidhi Chauhan’s Sheela Ki Jawani to Sarah Geronimo’s Sino Nga Ba Sya. People are generally in a happy mood at this time of the year – the weather is nippy; relatives, friends and family have come visiting you; and there is an air of celebration, bonhomie and good cheer all around.

Though the DSF comes year after year without fail, still there’s that air of anticipation before it arrives. It’s like a special guest that must be marked on your calendar – you must make time for it. The vast range of events and activities may

You may say “forget it, I’m not the lucky one,” but those who win the raffles are not aliens come from Mars. They are people like you and me who had faith in the fairness of the lotteries, who somehow had hope hidden somewhere that just may be they could be the ones who could drive away a Lexus or a Nissan or just walk away with a kg of gold. Most importantly, they invested their time and money in buying those coupons that opened them the gates of fortune. Many of them could be visitors for whom not only are their flight and stay expenses taken care of by the prize

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 13

money, but they are going back richer – in cash and experience.

Yes, experience is something that can’t be measured in pure monetary terms. Those who go on a Disneyland roller-coaster ride, walk on the China Wall, stand atop the Eiffel Tower, laze out in Rio’s Copacana beach, take the train on the Swiss Alps or a flight around Everest from Nepal know that those memories are invaluable. And the DSF is a brand that stands in the league of Cannes film festival, the Edinburgh arts festival, the Rio carnival and the Jaipur Litfest. It’s all about being there and savouring the ambience, sounds and sights, smells and tastes, colours and rhythms.

If we talk of the ambience or the surroundings, nothing can be more eye-filling than the Global Village. It’s global not just because there are pavilions in this sprawling complex from many many countries of the world, but because of

14 l UAE Digest, February 2011

the sheer variety of people who throng this exciting open-air international marketplace. Apart from Arabic and English, you can hear hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Bengali, Tagalog, Swahili, French, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, and a host of other languages. And look at the faces – fair, dark, pale, brown, mixed – every conceivable race on the earth can be found here. It’s a place that unites all humanity in a vast stretch of land in the desert – the glittering lights in the Village and the twinkling stars above in the skies almost complement each other.

It’s also a place that swells with collective pride, as expats from different nationalities identify most closely with their country pavilions.

An example is the India Pavilion whose size and grandness reflects the demographic position of the largest expat population in the country. Then, the verve and gusto with which folk singers and dancers shake their bodies is extremely conta-

gious. The various local radio channels stationed in the GV too attract hordes of crowds eager to get their shot at fleeting fame. The screams and excited cries of kids and adults alike on giant wheels and roller coasters get drowned in the multitude of noises emanating from the precincts of the Global Village. The aroma of various cuisines tempt the famished from far corners of the Village. The benches by the canal are the best places for a social rendezvous – the pleasant breeze, the glittering lights, the welldressed folks, the beautiful faces, and the holiday mood.

But of course, one cannot forget that the GV – like the DSF -- is best known for its fantastic bargains. All said and done, shopping is the core around which all the other activities revolve. And we must thank the female species to rev up the economy even in such trying times.

Which brings us to buying and selling – the raison d’etre of the DSF, and indeed of nations and civilisations since millennia. In the Global Village, people go to different pavilions for different reasons. They throng the India Pavilion for handicrafts, textiles and food items; they visit the Iran Pavilion mainly for carpets and dry fruits; the Chinese one for all kinds of inexpensive items; the African ones for decorative masks and spears; the Thailand one

for massage creams, lotions and aphrodisiacs; Turkey for some special curios and artefacts; the Czech Republic for its fine glass and crystalware; and so on and so forth.

But the Global Village is just one part of the DSF. There are the famous night souks in Al Rigga, Al Diyafah, and Al Seef streets in the throbbing heart of Deira – with walkers on stilts, clowns and dancers to entertain the shoppers and their kids. The Carpet Oasis is for the discerning rug buyers, and the numerous promotions in the various shopping malls of Dubai for items ranging from trinkets to TV sets and curios to computers are sure to tempt even the most reclusive Dubaian (if there was ever such a breed).

Of course, not to be outdone, neighbouring emirate Sharjah too has started timing its Spring Promotions (SSP) around the same time, but in fact for a longer duration. So, if you are living in Sharjah and would rather shop in your neighbourhood than brave the traffic to Dubai, the SSP would be a good alternative to the DSF, with equally good deals on a number of items (electronics, household, office, gifts etc).

Talking of the Dubai shopfest’s ripple effects in Sharjah brings us to another added attraction or glamorous offshoot of the DSF – the special events on weekends. Singers from Lebanon and Egypt, the western world, Indian subcontinent, Philippines and southeast Asia throng Dubai during the DSF -- each catering to a wide captive audience that is willing to shell out hundreds of dirhams for a truly groovy night. There is also the Skywards Dubai Jazz Festival timed alongside to capture a discerning audience.

This is not to forget the dazzling free shows – fireworks on weekends and the glittering lights in the streets and the trees. The DSF is truly a fulfilling experience. It’s retail therapy at its best.

But though the different segments and elements Shopmake the DSF what it is today, the Dubai Shop ping Festival, as a whole, is more than the sum of its parts. In its journey of 15 years since it started in 1996, it has come a long way indeed. Yet its movement is relentless, unstoppable – come crisis or catastrophe. The DSF did pretty well even during the recession.

But, as they say, its best is yet to come.

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 15

HERITAGE 16 l UAE Digest,February 2011

The Lost Network Six of the world’s leading experts from Slovenia’s Karst Institute and UAE University have discovered a cave network that may have existed millions of years ago

I

t was serendipity at its best. Six of the world’s leading experts from Slovenia’s Karst Institute and UAE University discovered a cave network when they were lost in Wadi Haqil in Ras Al Khaimah, and a young man led them there.

Just by chance we asked him if he knew if there was a cave in the area,” said Dr Asma Al Ketbi, the head of the Emirates Geographic Society and a geography professor at UAE University, at the site yesterday.

The cave shall provide clues about the UAE’s former climate, geography and water. According to reports,in the mountainside above, the group found shining strips of crystal green embedded in the limestone. The rock holds the remains of a hydrothermic cave network of thousands of channels covered in crystal walls five to 10 centimetres thick, with at least one chamber measuring more than seven metres in diameter.

The cave was probably carved by water that permeated its sides, developing in multiple directions at once, an unusual geological feature similar to caves found near glaciers. The scientists found another type of cave network in Fujairah on Tuesday, with help from a man from Tawaeen whose parents once lived in a cave.”I knew it because I’m from the

area and I always go to collect honey from there,” said Abdulla Al Hafeeti, 40, who is retired from the army. “I was very happy that they came here because it’s a remote area and we want to introduce the caves as a national treasure.”

The Fujairah caves, about 25 metres long and 50 metres high, are much younger and could give insight into the formation of wadis and fluctuating water levels. Some caves were so recent they are still forming, said Dr Tudej.

“The second caves are developed in a different process to the first channels,” said Dr Tadej Slabe, the head of the Karst Research Institute. “They’re developed with more rain in the area that’s associated with the development.”

The scientists have mapped three cave areas.

Sediment analysis over the coming months will reveal clues as to the climate and water systems millions of years ago. The scientists have met HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr, Ruler of RAK, at his palace to present their findings and petition him to preserve the area as a possible research and tourism centre on caving.

Meanwhile, a Dh10,000 reward previously offered by Dr Al Ketbi for the discovery of more caves remains open to adventurers and honey collectors alike.

HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of RAK, receives UAE- Sloveninan research team

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 17

HERITAGE

History’s Rocking!

Petroglyphs or rock drawings dating back to 1300BC to 300BC have been found in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Hatta, and seek protection

T

he earliest form of art, of which, we can still find traces of, are referred to as ‘Cave Art.’ As the name implies, cave art has been found around the world from Europe, Australia, Africa, and China etc. This type of art typically depicts animals, but also includes humans, weapons, crude maps, and symbols. Closer home, scores of pictures carved on rock faces in the eastern Egyptian desert 6,000 years ago are throwing new light on the prehistoric origins of the civilisation of the Pharaohs.

The images of people, animals, hunting scenes and flotillas of boats are pecked out on individual boulders, and, in some cases, over entire cliff faces in a wide area east of Luxor. But now, these rare ancient petroglyphs, or rock art, can be found scattered across the mountainous terrains of the UAE, in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Hatta, and across other parts of the Arab world. While some are mere scratches on a rock surface, others depict indigenous animals, such as camels, hyenas and leop-

18 l UAE Digest, February 2011

ards. There are human figures too, some riding horses, others engaged in battle. According to Salah Ali Hassan, resident archaeologist of the Fujairah museum, these treasures are thousands of years old and are believed to date back to the Iron Age, between 1300BC and 300BC, with some from the late pre-Islamic period.

However, they are disappearing at an alarming rate as more road and rock-crushing projects take over the mountains – the reason why Hassan wants the project to be taken seriously and treated like national treasure.

“While we may not know the exact meaning behind them, they are beautiful, and are rare paintings from the past,” he states.

Hassan and his associate, Dr Michele Ziolkowski, have rescued hundreds of petroglyphs from the valleys in Fujairah, brought the smaller ones into the museum and fenced off the larger versions so they would be protected from construction projects. Soon Hassan will raise this issue at an upcoming archaeology symposium in Al Ain

scheduled in March 2011. He believes that the issue of protecting them can be taken up ‘nationally’.

“Raising awareness about them at the national level is critical for their survival.” “When they were first discovered in the late 1980s, they were hard to get to, and it would take days to reach any of them,” he said. “But now, with roads cut into the mountains, they are more accessible. That is both good and bad.

They should be carefully opened up to visitors who are interested in rock art, and turned into touristic sites.”

The threat to petroglyph sites was made more urgent when it announced that manufacturing plants and garages in Fujairah city would be moved to an expanded industrial zone near Wadi al Hayl, an area of Fujairah that contains more than 100 petroglyphs. Dr Ziolkowski, who has been documenting the petroglyphs to a large extent on her own, is hoping for national co-operation.

“The first step is to create a national database of all the rock-art sites, where the experts should be allowed to go to a site and survey it before construction begins to protect and mark the petroglyphs,” she said.

For now, fences built around the pieces of history have helped protect many of them against destruction, but a longterm solution has to be enforced, explained Dr Ziolkowski.

“Who will make sure

that mistakes are not made on a construction site where all these bulldozers and dynamites abound?” she said. The motifs on display at the museum include clear, deep etchings, such as Wadi Al Hayl’s dotted hyena drawn over a one-metre long solid rock. Just beyond Al Farfar village in Wadi Saham, 45 minutes away past a series of cordoned-off prehistoric burial sites, stands one impressive isolated petroglyph in its original setting.

The panel depicts what appears to be a battle or hunting scene. Some figures bear missing or exaggerated features - they may have giant fingers or an oversized head - suggesting they represent a “god-like figure”. Some experts suggest they represent a lost language or provide simply directions to another location. They may be historic records of legendary figures and battles or evidence of cults. “We can’t say anything for certain,” says Hassan. “This is a relatively new area of study, and so rock art needs more research and dedication.”

There are about 60 known rock-art sites in the UAE, with many believed to have already been lost due to quarries and construction. Several years ago when a road was being planned through an area called Hassat Al Risoom, which translates to “rock with drawings”, the locals objected and had the project stopped.

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 19

Musings

Youngsters celebrating Valentine’s Day at a discotheque in Mumbai

Love round the year Who says Valentine’s Day arrived in India in the mid-nineties?

Indians have always celebrated romance and passion in many of their festivals and seasons, writes Vanit Sethi Holi celebrations in a housing complex on the outskirts of Delhi

20 l UAE Digest, February 2011

F

ebruary 13, 1995. Valentine messages kept pouring in the editorial office of the newspaper I was working for in hyderabad in southern India. Most of them came on post cards, some by fax, and a few friends of colleagues phoned in to relay their messages to be published the next day. E-mail had not yet arrived in India on a mass scale, mobile phones were few and far between, and SMSes were unheard of then. We were able to fill more than a page with all the messages. V-Day had arrived in India, thanks to Archie cards’ relentless marketing campaign to popularise the day of love.

After that, V-Day took off on a big scale in India, and you could see couples thronging public parks, walking hand-in-hand, seemingly besotted with each other. Flower sellers, gift shops, stationery shops and music stores make a killing.

It’s amusing now to see open displays of affection in Indian metros and even in smaller towns, many of which were unaware of V-Day way back when we were young. The downside: many rightwing hindu organisations disrupt such public displays, though the youngsters seem unfazed, and are fighting back for the right to express their love.

Strangely though, many public parks are always full of lovey-dovey couples on all days of the year. And they were there in our time too, when V-Day was unheard of. Only they didn’t go to card shops and music stores, or gift roses to their loved ones, but sat huddled under the canopies of trees, whispering sweet nothings. Now, most youngsters would be found in Starbucks or Barista or Café Coffee Day. But they were still some special days that made it easier to express one’s love or teenage infatuation. New Year’s Eve was one such day, but not many teenagers could afford going to discotheques. Many of us were too shy to dance.

But living in an educational campus -- where my father taught for the better part of his life – held many advantages for us. Apart from a lot of facilities, the biggest attraction was the friendships we could develop with like-minded people of our peer group. The ease with which boys and girls interacted with one another was the envy of my school friends. We played plenty of games together. Some of us had our first teenage crushes (no pun intended) during such times.

Foreigners grooving at a New Year’s Eve party in a hotel in Bangalore

Dance, little lady! however, December 31 was the night to look out for in those high school/early college days.

A bonfire, party games, cakes and snacks, and a disco would be organised in the PG hostel of the institute’s campus. As children of staff members, we could get in uninvited. And then, after midnight, we stormed the dance floor with our inexperienced adolescent moves. On one such NYE, I mustered the courage to ask my neighbour (whom I was infatuated with) for a dance. After a while of hesitation and reluctance, prompted by teenage awkwardness and prying eyes, she gave in to the swinging mood of the moment (Boney M’s Rivers of Babylon was playing on the gramophone). After that, when we looked at our watches, it was 4am. Even the PG students were tired by now and wanted to retire for the night.

I must say that was one of the most memorable moments of my life, and it was not a V-Day. Thinking of love and romance, another day that comes to mind is holi, the Indian festival of colours. holi could very well be termed the Indian Valentine’s Day. In northern India, the festival is wildly exuberant. Sometimes, it turns dirty and nasty, but if participated in the right spirit, it is one of the most joyous and exhilarating events in the hindu calendar. Usually, it appears in the first half of March on a full moon night. On the holiday of holi day, people sprinkle colours (dry and wet) on each other. The day also signals the end of the short spring season in northern India and the beginning of the long, hot summer. Boys

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 21

Monsoon breaks out in Trivandrum on the Kerala coast

and girls get ample chances to get closer on this day. It’s a socially sanctioned way of channelising the sexual energy of the youth. Of course, there are a number of people bent on spoiling this beautiful festival, but that’s another matter.

Bollywood romance Hindi films are awash with Holi songs and romances. In fact, Bollywood has even popularised Holi in southern India, which did not celebrate this festival earlier. Perhaps the most famous Holi song is Rang Barse from the 1981 film Silsila. The passion of Amitabh and Rekha oozes out in this film -- a classic tale of extra-marital love, with the scenic locales of Kashmir, fantastic lyrics and tunes, the sheer poetry of beauty and the beauty of poetry. Silsila is a pure Valentine film, though it was made much before V-Day became popular in India.

Bollywood also celebrates the Indian monsoon with its full force and fury. And for good reason too. There can be nothing better to kindle love between the protagonists than a generous

22 l UAE Digest, February 2011

splash of rainwater, wet clothes and quivering lips.

The dark thundering clouds, flash of lightning, and the sudden burst of monsoon rain can take many seasoned Indians too by surprise. While people in two-wheelers hurry for shelter, those with umbrellas become generous with the ‘have-nots’ – ideal time for romance to blossom. In many a corner tea stall, ‘rimjhim barsaat’ songs played on a transistor have sparked the romance of young couples, between mouthfuls of alu pakoras and masala chai.

I did not become a victim to these mushy monsoon melodies. But I was asked to do a story on ‘Monsoon Moods’ in another newspaper I worked for. One rainy day, while I met a couple of college girls on Kinetic Hondas, some people at bus stops munching on bhuttas, and little school kids splashing in the rain while walking back from school in their colourful raincoats, my photographer friend clicked away merrily. The monsoon captures the Indian creative imagination more than any other season – you can feel it in poetry, cinema, music and the arts. It’s the Indian season of romance, not V-Day.

Nine new nights Come October, and the cool weather begins. Navratri is perhaps the most exciting festival season in India, where you have nine nights of fun and revelry before the day evil is vanquished by forces of virtue. There’s a lot of singing and dancing with sticks (dandias) by couples wearing colourful clothes. This song-and-dance ritual originated in the western Indian state of Gujarat, but is now popular throughout India, especially among youngsters. These celebrations are frequently arranged by clubs and hotels, which make a killing during the festive season. It is reported that many teenagers get pregnant during this season in cities like Mumbai, so much so that safe sex is being advocated by social organisations during Navratri.

It is also said that one must never propose to any girl during Navratri, as most ordinary girls too look beautiful during those magical nights.

Whatever the reason – the combination of

song, dance, fun, revelry, beauty and fashion – Navratri is another occasion in India that young lovers can find the meeting space to carry on their affairs. And it’s not one day, mind you – these are nine full nights, nights of passion and romance.

So, whoever says young Indians have discovered love with Valentine’s Day just doesn’t know the country. It started as a marketing gimmick

by Archies, no doubt, but it is just one more day of love in the Indian calendar. The so-called ‘backlash’ by Hindutva forces against V-Day might be amusing were it not violent at times.

The self-appointed guardians of Hindu morality choose to ignore the many days of love Indians celebrate throughout the year, though they are never called as such. As for westerners claiming the day of love as their original idea, one can forgive them for being ignorant. But in the land of Kama Sutra, love can never go missing.

Navratri community celebrations in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 23

INSPIRATION

Sahjanand Tower, Bhuj, after the quake

Life Revisited

It was January 26th 2001, India’s Republic Day. Veeral Dalal, a 24-yearold student from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, NJ, studying for a master’s degree in computer science, was visiting his family in Bhuj, Gujarat, when the killer earthquake struck. He was discovered under the debris after four days without a scratch on him. But his family members weren’t so lucky. They all perished.

Ten years later, Veeral, who went back to the US, completed his degree and raised a family, looks back on the tragedy. His biggest lesson learnt is to ‘never ever let go of an opportunity to be with your loved ones.’

24 l UAE Digest, February 2011

I

t was a cozy evening on 28th December 2000 when I returned from USA to Bhuj.

My winter vacations were on and I was working in New York as a software instructor, but had quit my job to be with my family as it was more than 15 months since I saw them – my longest time away from them. My family that included my father, mother, brother, sister-in-law and little nephew were extremely excited to receive me at the airport. We cheered and shouted and hugged one another. My nephew Shalin, who was more than two years old now, quickly recognised me because my brother had shown him my pictures while I was away.

We drove back from the Ahmedabad airport to our home. We talked about my experiences all through our drive back home. The atmosphere was full of excitement! My father was very proud to see me achieve success in the field of Computer Science and very happy to see me stand on my own feet. My mother was one of the happiest of mothers who saw both her sons excel in their careers.

Ahmedabad had not changed much since I

had left, other than some new buildings that magically appeared on the map. I could see some new car models, and some new restaurants.

My father, who was working in Bhuj as a DGM of Ballarpur Industries, had taken a few holidays so that we all could stay together while I was in Ahmedabad. We had a wonderful time during those golden days. Spending time together, eating out, going to relatives’ places, going for movies, trip to Udaipur, trip to Nathdwara and many other things were planned and accomplished, while I spent the next 25 days in Ahmedabad.

I was scheduled to leave back for the US on 5th of February 2001, and thus we only had a few days to execute all our plans in the best possible way while accommodating my father’s leaves and holidays. We planned to spend time at one of the resorts near Mandvi beach in Bhuj. My father had made the travel arrangements for all of us such that we would travel from Ahmedabad to Bhuj on the 25th of January, and then leave for Mandvi beach & Resort on the 26th of January, and then return back to Ahmedabad on the 27th of January.

The Dalal family that died during the earthquake

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 25

We all reached Bhuj on 25th of January 2001 as planned. We spent a lot of time together. In the evening, we went out for dinner together. We had a lot of fun while Shalin played around the restaurant.

While returning back to the rented apartment building, I jokingly told my mother. “You all are going to be so happy when I am gone on the 5th of February”, I said. Before I could complete my sentence, I saw that my mom had tears in her eyes.

“You kids will not understand...” she said. “You will know how much we care and love you, when we are no more.” she concluded.

I apologised to her, and understood that I had no reason to say what I said.

It was the early morning of 26th January. I could hear sounds from the living room and the dining room. I understood that everyone in the family had already woken up and they were having breakfast.

We were scheduled to leave for Mandvi Beach and Resort by 9.30am. Due to my habit of watching TV till late in the night, I had slept late and was still in bed, taking in all the warmth that comes with a cosy family home. In a short while, my father came inside the bedroom and told me to move from the mattress on the floor to the bed, so that the room was sorted. He then closed the curtains and put a rajai (blanket) over me and left the room.

About five minutes later, I heard thundering sound from a distance. It suddenly seemed like there was a loud sound of thunder from a distance.

The sound was very loud. It had suddenly become dark in the room. I took the rajai off and looked at the window. The noise of the thunder was becoming louder by the second. The sound became extremely loud as I watched the window. I could not understand what was happening?

It was very odd to hear the sound of thunder from underneath the ground. The sound was coming from a distance, as well as the sound seemed like coming from the building and underneath the ground. I could hear the wild chirping of birds in the background. The crushing sound was becoming unbearably louder by the second! The same moment, the building suddenly started shaking.

The bed I was on, started shaking too. I looked up at the ceiling, and saw that the fan blades were touching the ceiling and the fan was dangling like a pendulum.

In the next 3-5 seconds, my bed started jumping and scratching the floor. It seemed like

26 l UAE Digest, February 2011

the whole building was jumping, and was about to collapse. My bed was jumping 6-8 inches from the floor, and I could hear thundering sound and sounds of breaking glass, things falling and sounds of metal scraping against the flooring. I could hear a shout from my mother from outside, while I tried to get up and run. As soon as I tried to get out of the shaking bed, I saw that the whole ceiling cracked right in front of my eyes, and I saw pieces of plaster, cement and concrete falling on me.

I instantly changed my position so that my entire body was against the wall. The shaking was tremendous that it was impossible for someone to walk or move. It felt like someone was shaking small branches of the tree.

The next second, I heard an even louder sound.

The sound probably was coming when the 8th floor, and then the 7th floor, and then the 6th floor and the whole building came crashing down within no time! All the eight floors crashed on top of each other, and then the whole wing fell on one side.

I fell down from the second floor to the ground along with the entire rubble and concrete and everything that came with it...

The ground shook for another 20-30 seconds before it stopped.

I was stuck in a confined space, which was smaller than a coffin. I had no light, no movement, no food, no water and limited breathing space.

Everything had suddenly become very quiet.

Extremely quiet! I was in a very small space and I shouted for help for hours. I did not hear any sounds other than my own.

I stayed in this position for a long time only thinking about my family. I had no clue what happened to them. I wanted to get out of the situation desperately. Very desperately. All I could do was wait for someone to find me.

I stayed inside in the same situation and tried everything I could to get out. But I realised I had tonnes of concrete above me. I stayed in the same situation for four days and four nights.

It had been four days since the earthquake, and people had started clearing the debris around the collapsed buildings. That was when I started hearing distant noises of heavy vehicles, and then the next day, voices of people.

I had no idea that many of our relatives had come from Ahmedabad after they had not heard back from any of us for days. My cousin’s husband Ranjeet Jadeja heard me shouting for help, and im-

mediately called the International Rescue Corps, UK team, that was camping in Bhuj for rescue operations.

The rescue team was very professional in their work and communicated with me to pinpoint my location. After they could spot where I was, they took another hour to pull me out of the rubble.

I had been inside the rubble for four days and four nights. My struggle for 105 hours cannot be put in words. It was a struggle with my own thoughts, extreme concern about the family members, feeling of hunger, feeling of thirst, darkness, confinement, and much more than someone can imagine. The only support I had was my own attitude and an iridium wristwatch gifted by my father on my birthday. I was able to keep track of time while I was inside, which helped me realise whether it was day or night.

The struggle was of unimaginable proportions.

I had my confidence level very high even though I was faced with one of the most unimaginable, devastating and most painful disasters that one can come across. I had no scratch on me!

I thanked the rescuers and first enquired about my family members. I did not want to go to any hospital as I knew that I was fine, though I was forced to go for a check-up to one of the makeshift camps. I returned in 30 minutes to help with the rescue operation.

There was no information about any of my family members for another 24 hours. Almost all my relatives had come from various places in India and they were all there to support and provide any kind of support I needed. They were happy to see me alive, but at the same time, we were all hoping to find some other family members alive.

One day after I was rescued, my brother’s body was recovered. The next day, it was my sister-inlaw and my nephew. The next day, I recovered my father’s body and on the fourth day, I found my mother’s body.

Those torturous nine days of my life can never ever be forgotten.

I came back to Ahmedabad, alone...

I returned to the US in September 2001 to accomplish my parent’s wish and my dream to complete my degree from the US. Since I completed my degree in 2003, I have been working as a software engineer in the US and visit Ahmedabad often.

It has been 10 years since the devastating and horrendous fury of nature, which took away my entire family… I am aware that I will always have their blessings. I am always thankful to my parents for giving me a good life and making me what I am today.

My dear ones’ absence is felt during every occasion and they are remembered every single moment. Time passes by. Feelings remain unchanged.

May God rest their souls in eternal peace.

I have since got married and work towards accomplishing the goals I have.

Today, when I look back at these 10 years and the years before, all I can say is; live every moment of life to its full extent, you never know what the next moment holds... Never let go the opportunity to spend time with your dear ones.

I am currently also writing a book about my experience underneath the rubble and how I was able to remain strong all through this endeavour.

I am hoping that it will help people in learning about how any situation can be handled and turned around. It is about the struggle I had to go through with myself and the situation for more than four days, and then handle the situation for another five days without breaking apart. The nine days taught me a crucial lesson about life – that one can come out strong even when faced with the most adverse situation imaginable in life.

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 27

HEALTH

Sun’s the Cure

Boost up your Vitamin D to ward of depression

A

round 95 per cent of females and 50 to 60 per cent of males suffer from Vitamin D deficiency, according to research carried out at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC). “The aches and pains of vitamin D deficiency can lead to depression,” says Dr Thomas, a psychologist in the Department of Natural Science & Public Health at Zayed University. “While depression can lead to withdrawal [from the outside world], hence the Vitamin D deficiency. It’s what I call mutual exacerbation. If someone is depressed, it is likely they are deficient and vice versa.” Scientists at Zayed University have found strong evidence that establishes the link between Vitamin D deficiency and depression. In a study of more than 200 students, both male and female, Dr Justin Thomas said that “as one goes up, the other goes up”, showing a correlation.

28 l UAE Digest, February 2011

Dr Ammar Abbas, a specialist at the endocrinology centre at SKMC, said psychologists are increasingly aware that patients must be screened for Vitamin D deficiency and depression. “Patients going to the psychologists are screened for all kinds of conditions and a good psychologist will be aware that this must be a factor to consider,” he said.

Of the sample studied, between five and eight per cent of the students had severe depression and a further 20 per cent suffered from moderate depression.

“The students are very young to have depression,” said Dr Thomas, a psychologist from the Department of Natural Science and Public Health. He said that age 25 “is usually the minimum age of onset, but the average age was 19 in our study.” The depression levels here are as high as in developing countries, he said. However, unusually, the research found no gender differences between males and females at the

university, who Dr Thomas says are “psychologically super-fit” and very aware of the concepts of depression and its symptoms, although this may not be the case across the general population, he states.

The majority of the students were also VitaminD deficient, as was expected, he said. In Australia, a study at Melbourne University in 1997 suggested treatment of depression could be helped using Vitamin D. A questionnaire given to the Zayed University students posed a series of questions, such as how they viewed tanned skin, how often they spent recreational time outside, their dress code, and beliefs about skin cancer.

“So far, everything relating to the sun and sun exposure has been linked to skin cancer, in a negative way, not from the positive angle of Vitamin D,” Dr Thomas said.

Students saw even short periods of time in the sun as bad for their health and strongly endorsed reducing sun exposure. Fatme Alanouti, who is also leading the research and is a faculty member at the university, said: “For the past 20 years, we’ve been bombarded with the message to stay out of

the sun.” However, she said, sensible exposure to the sun is beneficial. Ninety per cent of a person’s daily requirement of Vitamin D comes from sun exposure, but it can be supplemented with foods such as eggs, salmon and milk.

Patients suffering from the deficiency exhibit symptoms such as muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and susceptibility to fractures. Vitamin D synthesises in the skin after sun exposure to support bone strength. Vitamin D helps the body fight chronic illness such as cancer and diabetes and even respiratory illness in children.

A deficiency of Vitamin D has been linked to colon cancer, liver or kidney disorders, low immunity and multiple sclerosis, and is also caused by poor diets with high fat levels. “If the answer to reducing these illnesses is getting out in the sun, it could be that simple,” Dr Thomas said.

He hopes the study will fuel more research in the Gulf and Middle East, where D deficiency is rife. About 73 per cent of females studied in Saudi Arabia were deficient, and 40 per cent in Kuwait.

With funding from the Emirates Foundation and support from SKMC, the university is expanding the study in the coming months.

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 29

HEaltH

Soothing frayed nerves Get the stress out of your system by relaxing in the luxuriant La Contour Spa in JLT

By Sangeeta Sethi

F

eeling run down? Tired and exhausted? Want to crawl under the covers and sleep for the next 48 hours. But the thing is you are so tired that you cannot even sleep. Then, it’s time for you to head to a spa and ask for a Swedish deep tissue massage. This, I found out, was the wonder treatment/therapy that my tired body and soul was yearning for.

Overworked and deeply exhausted, I was like a bear with a sore head – snapping at everybody who came within a six-feet distance from me. My husband, fortunately, found a solution for my grouchiness -- after all, being married for 19 years helped him know me better than myself. he booked me for a massage session with the La Contour Spa in Jumeirah Lake Towers, and drove me there one Saturday morning.

La Contour Spa has a serene atmosphere. The masseuse guided me to my cubicle. handing me a robe to change, she directed me to lie down on the table. Reappearing once I had changed, she offered me a choice between two aromatic oils to be used for my massage. I chose the lemongrass flavoured oil.

The lovely candles and the soothing soft music set the tone for the most relaxing experience I was to undergo. The massage table has a hole where your face comfortably fits in, as you lie absolutely flat on your stomach. The opening ensures you do not get smothered and can breathe freely. As I looked at the lovely floating candles and the fresh flowers in a bowl of water which was placed on the ground below, I was transported into another world while the masseuse massaged and kneaded the tension out of my aching muscles.

During the Swedish massage, the massage therapists used smooth, gliding strokes called ‘effleurage’. her moves included kneading, friction, stretching and (sometimes) tapping. Magically, she seemed to sense exactly what each muscle needed. The Swedish massage promotes relaxation, eases

30 l UAE Digest, February 2011

muscle tension and creates other health benefits. It can be slow and gentle, or vigorous and bracing, depending on what the therapist wants to achieve.

Feel free to state your preference for pressure during the massage. It can range from light to firm. Swedish massage usually includes some deeper work on areas of specific muscle tension. If you want more intensive work and firmer pressure, ask for a deep tissue massage.

The oil used during the massage was absorbed by my body and I did not need a shower after the massage.

SERVICES La Contour Spa offers 12 different types of services – Face Rituals, Skin Renewing Peels, Skin Rejuvenation, Photo Dynamic Facial, Body Contour, Blissful Massage, Scrubs and Wraps, Intense Pulsed Light Treatment, hair Removal, Nail Service, Waxing and Threading.

Face Rituals range from Dh350 to Dh600 for one hour.

Skin Peels offer different sessions ranging from Dh300 to Dh4,000. Skin Rejuvenation half-face costs Dh500 (Dh1,300 for 3 sessions), full-face costs Dh750 (Dh2,000 for 3 sessions).

The Photo Dynamic Facial costs Dh2,000 for an hour, while three sessions coast Dh5,000. Body Contour has three packages ranging from Dh350 to Dh800. Blissful Massage has a number of packages of 30 minutes to 90 minutes duration ranging from Dh200 to Dh500. Scrubs and Wraps can be had from Dh350 to Dh600 in one and two-hour durations.

La Contour Spa – which opened in September last year -- is located on the 19th floor of Tiffany Tower, Jumeirah Lake Towers. Opening hours are from 10am-8pm, seven days per week. For bookings or further information, call (04) 447 3626 or alternatively, log on to www.lacontourspa.com

HanDY Hints

• To clear badly-blocked drains, pour two litres of boiling water down the drain, then pour a cup of paraffin. Leave aside for fifteen minutes, before pouring another two litres of boiling water.

• To give flowers in your vase an extra boost, add a dash of lemonade, a pinch of sugar or even a drop of bleach to water.

• Place a piece of camphor to overcome dampness in any room. It will evaporate, thanks to the moistureabsorbing qualities of camphor, leaving the room dry.

• At open- air parties for children, held on lawns, terraces, or the poolside, you may fill gas balloons with some sand, before blowing them up. This would keep them hanging in mid air without flying away, as the sand weighs them down. You may paint faces on them or paste stick-ons, cartoon caricatures or glitter to embellish them.

• When you microwave shelled sweet corn kernels, add a quarter teaspoonful of sugar and microwave on high for a couple of minutes, till tender. The kernels will swell and shine with a healthy yellow color. They will also taste softer and fresher. Later on, you may add any other seasoning, besides salt. If you cook the corn with the salt first, they will turn hard.

• To remove the dirt from mushrooms, sprinkle a handful of flour on them and then wash under running water.

• Make removing of pomegranate seeds easier, by simply cutting the fruit from the centre making small slits on the corners and then tapping with a serving spoon, from the top. The grains will come out very easily.

• Rather than using bread crumbs for binding cutlets, use freshly roasted and powdered chick pea flour’; it will last longer.

• Cut raw banana or egg-plant in some water, mixed with a little buttermilk or a teaspoonful of curd. The vegetables will not turn black, and will retain a fresh look.

• Bird droppings are hard to remove from windows, especially if they have been left for a while. Rub with a cloth soaked in vinegar, to remove the stains easily.

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 31

HEALTH

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation partner to immunise children

Altruism in Action The Bill Gates Foundation and General Shaikh Mohammed Al Nahyan join hands for providing life-saving vaccinations to children in Afghanistan and Pakistan

T

he partnership commits a total of $100 million - $50 million from each partner - for the purchase and delivery of vital vaccines that will save Afghan and Pakistani children and prevent disease for a lifetime.”This donation is another important step in the ongoing work that has been championed

by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Like all children, the children of Afghanistan and Pakistan deserve the quality of health and opportunities that childhood immunisation can provide. The personal, community, national and international benefits that will result from a generation growing up protected from preventable diseases have the potential to resonate for generations to come,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

Children in Afghanistan and Pakistan are especially vulnerable to preventable diseases, such as polio and pneumonia. Challenges in reaching them include conflict in the region, unequal health services and immunisation levels among provinces within each country and, in the case of Pakistan,

32 l UAE Digest, February 2011

a slow recovery from last year’s devastating floods.

“Vaccines protect children from many life-threatening childhood diseases, providing the best way to give a child a healthy start to life,” said Gates.

“This partnership is a powerful example of how collaboration by the global community can help build a healthier, more stable future for Afghan and Pakistani children, their families and communities.” One in four children in Afghanistan does not survive to see his or her fifth birthday, making infant and under-five mortality rates in that country among the world’s highest.

Of the total funds, two-thirds will be given to the GAVI Alliance for the purchase and delivery of the pentavalent vaccine and for the introduction of the new pneumococcal vaccine in Afghanistan.

These vaccines help protect children from the biggest killers of children under five, including pneumonia, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB), which causes meningitis.

The remaining $34 million of the allocated funds will be directed to the World Health Or-

ganisation and Unicef to deliver polio vaccines in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although worldwide polio has been reduced by 99 per cent during the past 20 years, Afghanistan and Pakistan are two of only four countries where polio transmission has never been stopped. To date, there has been a cycle of re-infection of this crippling disease between the populations of the two countries.

The partnership will result in the immunisation of approximately five million children in Afghanistan against six deadly diseases, and will help the World Health Organisation and Unicef workers reach approximately 35 million children in Afghanistan and Pakistan with oral polio vaccines.

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill ‘&’ Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.

In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people especially those with the fewest resources have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

UAE Humanitarian Support for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Afghanistan; In 2009, widespread insecurity, increased violence, poverty, chronic underdevelopment and natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods have contributed to intensifying Afghanistan’s underlying food insecurity; the 2007-2008 National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment found that 7.4 million people - nearly a third of the population - were unable to get enough food to live active, healthy lives.

The UAE committed more than Dh1.26 billion ($343.4 Million) in aid to Afghanistan in 2009, representing 14 per cent of the UAE’s total foreign aid during the year. Although a number of UAE donors were active in Afghanistan, almost 73 per cent of assistance (Dh918.3 million) was in the form of grants administered by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. Most of that money (Dh863.2 million) was allocated to construction, with the remainder going to transport and storage. Some Dh26.8 million went towards social infrastructure and services.

Under the guidance of the President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE continues

to make a significant humanitarian contribution in Afghanistan, and has done so since 2003. Through organisations such as the Red Crescent, the generous donations made by UAE citizens and volunteers have contributed to the construction of 11 schools educating 300 students per day, six medical clinics which have treated 35,000 Afghan patients; Zayed University, Afghanistan, serving over 6,400 students per year; a major hospital with an annual capacity of 7,000 patients; 38 mosques each providing a prayer service for over 300 people; a general public library serving more than 400 students and visitors per day; accommodation in Zayed City for 200 displaced families; and 160 wells providing healthy drinking water.

In 2009, nearly two million people were uprooted from their homes in the Swat valley, South Waziristan and other parts of Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province as a result of clashes between the Pakistan Army and the Taliban. Furthermore, 20 million people were displaced as a result of the flooding in the Punjab region in the northeast of Pakistan.

The needs of the Pakistani people far exceeded the capacity of the Pakistan government and provoked a major response from the UAE. In total, Pakistan received commitments of Dh1.60 billion from UAE donors. In addition, the UAE army sent three UAE Chinooks to deliver aid and run relief missions in remote areas of Pakistan that were devastated by the floods.

On the instruction of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Government committed grants worth Dh998.5 million in response to project proposals presented by the Government of Pakistan. Of the assistance that has been allocated, more than half was spent on health programmes, and nearly a third going to general humanitarian aid, a sector which includes emergency response, reconstruction and disaster preparedness.

The Khalifa Foundation made a number of contributions in response to the immediate needs of the displaced, including one major contribution to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) worth more than Dh55.1 million, which was fully spent during the year. The government further contributed Dh590.6 million during the year, more than two thirds of which was directed towards health projects. The UAE Red Crescent Authority also contributed more than Dh20.5 million.

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 33

bEst buYs

Scentsational

Celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, Diptyque candles, in Dubai Mall brings the exoticism of French fragrance to the UAE

I

n the early 60s, when Paris welcomed the Cultural Revolution, casting out the old and welcoming the new, with social conventions being challenged, demand for material possessions and better standards of living had become commonplace. Overnight, peoples’ houses transformed from wartime shells to fresh, contemporary palaces of modernity. Funky and eclectic, yet functional and stylish, these homes, which litter the banks of the Seine and overlook the Eiffel Tower, became the heights of luxury. Three artistic friends residing in the French capital - Desmond KnoxLeet, Yves Coueslant and Christiane Gautrot - see the fashion for renovation and new attitudes towards interior design, and decide to capitalise by creating printed fabrics, and later, scented candles for which they became famous. Fifty years later, the company they created, Diptyque, has become one of the world’s foremost creators of scented candles

34 l UAE Digest, February 2011

and perfumes. Renowned for transforming a home with their unique brand of parfum-inspired creations, Diptyque candles, eau de toilettes and soaps are highly sought after from New York to New Delhi.

According to Diptyque’s chief operating officer Sophie Lambert, Diptyque brings a wide range of products both in the home environment (candles, room sprays) as well as in the body environment (fragrances, bodycare products). The fragrances are non-gender specific. Diptyque has more than 40 candles, 20 room sprays, 11 eau de toilette fragrances, four colognes and bodycare products. Baies is one of our most creative candles, along with the woody scents like Myrrhe or John Galliano or a beautiful floral bouquet such as Roses. When it comes to fragrances, Tam Dao is an amazing sandalwood. It is made with the best and unique sandalwood from Goa.

E

mber, the grill & lounge at The Address Dubai Mall, a five-star premium hotel linked directly with The Dubai Mall - has a chic new look and menu for this season.

One of the most popular grill restaurants and lounges in Dubai and a preferred choice of food lovers as well as fashionistas, the new culinary col-

FOOD

Menu Revamp lection is designed to give visitors to the hotel and the adjoining mall a memorable dining out experience. Among the delicacies are shellfish bisque, beef tartare, tuna carpaccio, crab cakes, and a rich spread of seafood delicacies, including Scottish organic salmon, Australian yellowtail kingfish, king prawns and maine lobster.

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 35

ART

Creative Expressions Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Art Dubai - slated for March 2011 - is set to feature the work of more than 75 artists

T

his year, Art Dubai shall see the return of popular programmes including art park and performative artist tours. Presented in collaboration with Bidoun Projects, The Island, the Delfina Foundation, Tashkeel, and the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), this year’s programmes include films, talks, radio dispatches and performances, that will feature the work of more than 75 artists commissioned to create interactive works in response to the fair. Featuring collaborations with regional and international organisations including Bidoun Projects and The Island, Art Dubai Projects 2011 will be the fair’s largest and most dynamic series of curated programming yet.

The event shall affirm Art Dubai’s role as a site of discovery, according to Antonia Carver, Fair Director of Art Dubai. “From film to installation to performance, Art Dubai Projects explores the fabric, economy, and theatrical nature of an art fair. These dynamic projects engage visitors of all backgrounds.”

As part of its commissioning programme, it has invited Abbas Akhavan, Oraib Toukan, and Hrair Sarkissian to create major site-specific installations

Antonia Carver

36 l UAE Digest, February 2011

that reflect on and examine the nature of the art fair.

Vancouver-based Abbas Akhavan will undertake an eight-week residency as part of the Delfina Foundation’s international residency programme in Dubai in the lead-up to Art Dubai 2011, through a new collaboration between the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Tashkeel, with the support of the British Council.

Akhavan will be working in a studio in Bastakiya, alongside UAE-based artist Shaikha Al Mazrou; both artists will be producing work for the fair and will exhibit in Al Bastakiya as part of Dubai Culture’s Open House programme.

New in 2011 is a series of dispatches from Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (Menasa) Artist studios are designed to serve as a living archive of artistic practice across the region and interrogate the contemporary notion of the ‘studio.’ Co-curated by The Island, UK-based curators Andrew Bonacina and Victoria Brooks, Menasa Studio Dispatches will include more than 60 five-minute audio projects ranging from spoken word and music to abstract sound collage. Participating artists include Ramin Haerizadeh, Hassan Khan, Radhika Khimji, Faisal Samra, Bani Abidi, Naeem Mohaiemen, and many more. The project will be presented on radio station Dubai Eye 103.8 FM, on listening posts at the fair, and will be serialised for Art International Radio.

2011 is the inaugural year for the new Marker section of Art Dubai. Art Dubai has commissioned curator Nav Haq to invite experimental commercial and non-commercial art spaces from across Asia and the Middle East, most of whom are new to exhibiting within an art fair. These five dynamic project stands, or ‘concept stands,’ dotted through the gallery halls, will showcase work by emerging artists who are creating new work, especially for the fair. Marker will feature Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum (ACAF), Alexandria; Grey Noise, Lahore; Liu Ding’s Store, Beijing; Makan, Amman; and Ruangrupa, Jakarta.

Building on the success of last year’s interac-

tive performative artist tours, which included Daniel Bozhkov’s running tour of Art Dubai, Khalil Rabah’s sedan chair journey through the gallery halls, and SciFi Wahabi’s intergalactic interpretation of the fair, this year’s tours of Art Dubai will be developed by artists Abhishek Hazra and Malak Helmy.

Art Dubai 2011 will also launch DXB store, a not-for-profit space featuring limited edition products and artists’ multiples that are designed and made in the UAE. Highlighting the innovative work of contemporary UAE-based artists and designers, the collection will include newly commissioned objects as well as sought-after recent works.

The leading Middle Eastern arts organisation Bidoun Projects returns for its fourth year as a project partner, supported by the Emirates Foundation.

The 2011 programming is built around the theme of Sports. “The concept exists on two levels, or more,” says Bidoun’s Negar Azimi. “We are quite literally interested in sports as we all know them, but also in the practical and philosophical implications of sports: competition, stardom, the parody of sports as labour or labour as sports, the art of losing.”

Art Dubai welcomes back the peripatetic Bidoun Library, featuring ‘The Natural Order,’ a new section specially curated for the fair that focuses on printed material on the Gulf from the past five decades. ‘The Natural Order’ will include corporate and state publications, as well as magazines and lay-ethnography on the Gulf published in the mid 20th century, when the region was mostly unfamiliar to the West and was becoming a source of great interest with the discovery of oil. Bidoun Projects will also present a live mural, painted and repainted each day throughout the fair by a group of distinguished artists – Dubai-based Rokni Haerizadeh among them - tasked with depicting the theme of ‘labour.’

2011 also sees the return of The Big Idea, a highly popular, fast-paced forum for 10 young designers and artists based in the UAE, who will present upcoming projects and their ideas for the future of the cultural scene in the Gulf.

The 2011 Bidoun Projects programme includes Art Park, an underground project space for film, video and talks, that features retrospectives of the work of two pivotal Egyptian artists, Wael Shawky and Sherif El Azma, curated by Bidoun’s Kaelen Wilson-Goldie and Sarah Rifky of the Townhouse Gallery, respectively, as well as a sports-themed video programme, featuring a variety of artists, including Ziad Antar, Mahmoud Hojeij, Van Leo, and Marwa and Mirene Arsenios.

The Art Park will also host a series of workshops, programmed as part of the Global Art Forum, that focus on the practicalities of working in the arts in the region, with in-depth workshops on art law as well as writing and curating for local practitioners.

Based in London, the Delfina Foundation facilitates artistic exchange via an interrelated programme of artistic residencies and public platforms in the UK, the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. The ‘Delfina’ brand has an unprecedented 20-year-old record in the international arts world for nurturing and supporting the professional development of artists, curators and writers through innovative partnerships.

Established in January 2008 by Lateefa bint Maktoum, Tashkeel is an independent resource for artists and designers, and is committed to facilitating art and design practice, cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange.

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, working in over 100 countries worldwide to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people.

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 37

BOOK REVIEW

‘When Suzanne Cooks’

launched at Bloomingdale’s Home

‘W

hen Suzanne Cooks,’ is a showcase of modern Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine that is set to appeal to those eager to explore the tastes and flavours of the East. The book, launched last December, is a feast of photographs, personal stories and recipes. Suzanne’s love for food draws inspiration from her mother’s traditional cooking and the style of recipes reflects her own childhood and individual experiences, culminating into a delightful culinary journey. As Suzanne states: “My book is a collection of foods I love to make for my friends and family.

It has many dishes I grew up eating as a child. My mother was an amazing cook and has been my main inspiration.”

A contributor to many publications, Suzanne has been featured on various local television programmes.

She hosted one of the most popular Arabic cooking shows in the Middle East and North Africa, showcasing her unique style and earning her a loyal following among her audience.

38 l UAE Digest, February 2011

Suzanne frequently conducts live cooking demonstrations, and has been a featured presenter at major food events such as Taste of Dubai, Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Gourmand’s Paris Cook Book Fair, Frankfurt Book Fair, and Gourmet Abu Dhabi.

Suzanne has been a teacher and restaurant manager who combines her skills and passion for food to conduct cooking classes for those eager to unlock the mysteries of Middle Eastern dishes. Living in Canada, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, the opportunity to travel has reinforced what she has always suspected: that food brings people together and forges life-long friendships. It’s what happens when Suzanne cooks.

The book has recipes divided into five chapters, starting with Breakfast and followed by Mezze, Lunch, Dinner and Desserts. Armed with delightful, crisp product shots and clear step-by-step guidelines, this book is a gourmet treasure for food enthusiasts. Renowned food photographer, Petrina Tinslay’s contribution adds to the visual appeal of this book.

BOOK REVIEW

Love and Prejudice Chetan Bhagat’s 2 States details how an intercommunity couple in India has to go through a trial of fire before they can tie the knot

A

Punjabi boy from Delhi (Krish) meets a Tamilian Brahmin girl (Ananya) in the campus of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad – India’s most prestigious B-school. During the course of their course, they fall in love and start living together. So, next step – tie the knot?

In India, however, things are never that simple. It’s not enough for the boy and girl to like each other. The boy’s parents have to like the girl, the girl’s parents have to like the boy, and both the parents have to like each other. By the time this process is complete, and the boy and girl still love each other, they get married.

This is the story of 2 States, Chetan Bhagat’s last novel so far. Like Five Point Someone, it is largely autobiographical. While FPS focused on his IIT days, 2 States looks into his IIM days. The novel’s sub-title, ‘the story of my marriage’, makes the subject clear. But Bhagat says it should be seen as a work of fiction. One wonders why? Without delving into the author’s motives, one must admit the writer has a pulse on India’s youth. The writing is unpretentious, with liberal doses of humour, tongue-in-cheek remarks, and remarkable observations of human behaviour across cultures.

2 States broadly deals with the clash of two NorthSouth cultures in India – Punjabi and Tamilian (brainy Tamilians vs passionate Punjabis, serious Tamilians vs jovial Punjabis, unassuming Tamilians vs flamboyant Punjabis etc etc). To some extent, these generalisations do help in cross-cultural understanding, but they also help strengthen prejudices, which one can certainly do without.

The story -- in IIM Ahmedabad, boy meets girl, they like each other, go out, have fun and fights, and finally start living in.

At some point, when they have done it all, they decide to get married.

The convocation day seems the right time to break the news, but the meeting of parents turns out disastrous. Krish’s mother harbours familiar Punjabi prejudices against ‘Madrasis’

Chetan Bhagat and his wife Anusha

(all south Indians are clubbed together) – like those girls are out to trap Punjabi boys, with examples quoted from Bollywood. Ananya’s parents think all Punjabis are ‘unintelligent’ and ‘uncultured’ – the list goes on. Krish and Ananya try in vain to break these stereotypes and make their parents understand that they love each other.

But they don’t give up. In Delhi, Krish tries to convince his mother, without much success, that Ananya is ‘the’ girl for her. In Chennai, Krish wins over Ananya’s family one by one. This is the book’s most interesting part for its sense of humour in delineating cultural differences. Then, Ananya tries to live for a couple of days in Krish’s house, where she tries to learn Punjabi cuisine and customs, winning over the hearts of Krish’s relatives in a dramatic scene at a wedding.

Next, the two families set off for Goa, where it is hoped the scenic surroundings will help them bridge the gulf. But this meeting turns into another disaster, as all the familiar prejudices come alive again. Ananya cuts off communication with Krish, as she feels his mother has insulted her parents. Krish sinks into depression and drowns himself in work. In the depth of darkness, light shines out from an unexpected source (that’s the surprise element, though unconvincing).

Finally, the boy’s relatives descend in Chennai to infuse a Punjabi touch of song-and-dance in a typical Tamil Brahmin wedding ceremony. Some final chapters remind one of a Bollywood comedy. Undoubtedly, Bhagat has an eye on Bollywood, going by his writings.

But the real fun is in the comments and witty remarks that cannot be captured in film. Like his other books, it is a fast read.

While Five Point Someone explored the fantasies and frustrations of youth, 2 States delves into the idiosyncrasies of Indian prejudices. His other two books, one night @ a call center and 3 mistakes of my life are also about youthful dreams and aspirations. All his books have been bestsellers, with two of them made into films (3 idiots, based on FPS, was a super-duper hit). Film rights have also been bought for the other two books.

- Vanit Sethi UAE Digest, February 2011 l 39

FILM REVIEW

People power to the fore Based on a true-life murder investigation, No One Killed Jessica explores the derailment of justice, along with media activism and public support in one of India’s most explosive cases

By Vanit Sethi

40 l UAE Digest, February 2011

I

n the summer of 1999, when Pakistan thrust a war on India in the icy heights of Kargil, another explosive event took place in a trendy discotheque in South Delhi. A model-cumbartender was shot dead for refusing a drink after closing hours to a late entrant. The event shook Delhi’s high society as nearly 300 people were partying that night in socialite Bina Ramani’s newly opened pub Tamarind Court. What looked like an openand-shut case, dragged on for 11 years, as witnesses were threatened and brought over by the defence side – using high political connections -- in the most cynical manipulation of the Indian judicial system. However, campaigns by the Indian media and public pressure forced the courts to reopen the case after the culprits were let off the hook for lack of sufficient evidence. Eventually, the Delhi high court sentenced the killer to life imprisonment, and later, the Supreme Court upheld that verdict.

The case was a path-breaker, as it started a trend of media-public activism in India. It also inspired director Rajkumar Gupta (of Aamir fame) to make his second film – No One Killed Jessica – the title based on a newspaper headline after the culprits went scot free. Starring two power-packed performers -- Rani Mukherji and Vidya Balan – the film starts with Meera Gaity (Rani), a fiery reporter, covering the action in Kargil (inspired by NDTV journalist Barkha Dutt). Simultaneously, a high-society party in the outskirts of South Delhi is rocked by gunshots. A bartender lay dead, sprawled on the floor of the discotheque, with a bullet wound on her forehead. In the ensuing shock and confusion, the killer Manish Bhardwaj (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub) flees the venue with his friends, buries the weapon in a secluded place and abandons the vehicle outside the city limits. The police launch a manhunt and trace the killer, who confesses to the killing but says it was not intentional. Soon, politics takes over, as the killer is the son of an influential minister in Haryana, a northern state bordering Delhi. All pressure tactics are used to buy or bully the witnesses into changing their initial statements to the police in court. Out of the 300 witnesses that night, only seven appear in court and at least three of them turn hostile. The prosecution case begins to fall apart, despite confessions by two key witnesses.

Ultimately, the lower courts let off the killer and his accomplices seven years after the killing.

That proved a turning point in the case. Picked up by the media, and fuelled by public anger, it sparked off a flurry of SMSes pledging support for

Sabrina (Vidya Balan), the sister of Jessica who had fought the case actively but turned bitter after the lower court decision. Candlelight processions were held at India Gate, New Delhi’s historical landmark, and other places across the country. Media investigations and sting operations proved the lie of witnesses in court. The case reopens and is sent on a fast track. Six months later, the Delhi high court announces life imprisonment for the killer. The case goes up to the Supreme Court, and finally in April 2010, the country’s highest court upholds the high court verdict, bringing the curtains down 11 years after Jessica’s killing.

The film, though largely true to life, has a few fictional elements, like the role of Meera, the foulmouthed scribe, who likes to call herself a ‘bitch’.

Apart from a few scenes involving a sting operation, the film remains faithful to the actual happenings.

The high court and Supreme Court proceedings are rushed through as a commentary towards the end – the main focus being the media role in awakening the public. Though that is where the real story is, it would have helped to highlight how the higher courts took up the case afresh and brought the culprits to justice. Also, Tehelka’s role in investigating the case could have been highlighted, rather than just a footnote in the end.

Vidya Balan lives the role of a shell-shocked Sabrina to the hilt. Hers is a performance that travels far without histrionics. Rani Mukherji’s bold portrayal of a brash and ambitious newsperson – smoking, screaming and sizzling in parts – though well-essayed, is a little over-the-top. The surprise package is Jessica herself, played by debutante Myra Karn. Though a very short role, she brought out the essence of the character and her exuberance very well. The sound track by Amit Trivedi reflects the movie’s angst adequately. Dilli Dilli has a raw energy, while Dua and Yeh Pal are soft numbers which may, unfortunately, go unnoticed in the overall loudness of the other tracks.

The film, which begins with a cynical mood, ends on a positive note, extolling the silent majority which stood up for their rights this time. The same Delhi -- which is a den of political connections aligned to crime -- turns out, to everyone’s surprise, as an awakened city that can exercise people power too. A heartening message, more so because it was so real.

A must-watch film for everyone, especially hardcore cynics. If the case hasn’t changed your views, the movie – based on the case – definitely should.

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 41

HosPitalitY

The majestic Ibn Battuta Gate hotel

New level of luxury The newly opened Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel offers luxurious accommodation at an affordable cost

By Vanit Sethi

I

t was an offer difficult to resist – a onenight complimentary stay with family at a five-star hotel in Dubai, with dining at the restaurants of your choice, and the added attraction of shopping at the city’s premier mall next door. What more could one ask for?

So, off we drove from the north-end of Sharjah one Friday afternoon to the south-end of Dubai.

At the end of the long drive (no traffic though – thank God for Fridays), we could spot the palatial structure from quite a distance. The excitement rushed through our veins as we collectively exclaimed ‘Wow’. It was the Ibn Battuta Gate hotel, a fairly recent addition to New Dubai’s upmarket attractions.

42 l UAE Digest, February 2011

After talking my feet off the pedal and handing over the wheel to a valet, we entered inside the majestic surroundings – my wife and son unable to take their eyes off the high ceilings and quaint chandeliers. The lady at the counter checked my identity before we were taken to the seventh floor, which had a Turkish theme in its rooms (each floor has a separate country theme, much like the mall).

A spacious hall (drawing/dining), a large bedroom (with a changing area behind the huge bed), two toilets and a bathroom with a king-size tub – it was just the beginning of our 24-hour luxury holiday not far from home. My teenage son, as usual, plonked himself promptly on the bed and grabbed

the giant TV’s remote. he is the self-appointed channel selector for our family.

But me and my better half didn’t let him test our patience too much, as our stomachs were making noises of protest. Time to head for the restaurants, and off we marched down the elevator into the spacious hall before entering Sicilia – an Italian restaurant in the hotel. After having our fill of pizzas, pastas, exotic starters and other tantalising dishes (with the extra-courteous restaurant staff trying to make us feel as much at home as possible), we strolled around the premises, clicking some snaps at vantage points (near fountains, at the piano, in a camel seat). Back in the room, we were ready for a short nap (which is difficult in the extra comfortable surroundings).

At evening, we hopped across to the adjacent Ibn Battuta Mall, doing some shopping and a lot of window-shopping. The thought of not having to drive back miles into Sharjah in dense traffic was comforting enough. By 9pm, after a good deal of walking exercise in the mall (it’s amazing

how women gather so much energy for shopping expeditions), we were famished and headed straight to where all the aromas were coming from – Chor Bazar, the Indian restaurant.

A tempting array of dishes – veg and non-veg – along with starters, kebabs, biryani and Indian breads, complimented by red wine and some juices, had us satiated. But we had to keep space for the desserts – rasmalai and shahi tukda – before heading back to our suite.

Another round of channel-surfing late in the night before we switched off the bed lamps. Getting up in the morning wasn’t so bad as Saturday was still a holiday, and all of us were looking forward to a luxurious foam-filled hot water bath in the tub, rounded off by a sharp and gushing shower spray. After lazing off a little in the really huge balcony with a pleasant breeze blowing, we were now ready for a sumptuous breakfast in Mistral (an Arabic/Continental restaurant).

With plenty of juices and beverages, breads, eggs, cereals and fruits, the morning feast sent us

UAE Digest, February 2011 l 43

Shanghai Chic, the Chinese restaurant

into an instant ‘feel-good’ mood. There was some more time to kill, which saw us indulging in our familiar pastimes – me with the day’s newspaper, sonny boy glued to the idiot box, and wife dear doing schoolwork (evaluating the tests).

A little while later, we were trooping out of the hotel with the bellboy whisking away the trolley in no time. We did look back at the magnificent structure once again and knew we’ll remember this short holiday with fondness. If only our elder son (who’s away, studying in India) too could enjoy this stay, our joy would have doubled.

Sicilia, the Italian restaurant

44 l UAE Digest, February 2011

The plush interiors of a suite

Eat, stay, move!

The hotel has four restaurants to choose from. Mistral is the total dining, all-day restaurant - already a great favourite for Friday brunch, and shanghai Chic is open for dinner, serving authentic Chinese cuisine with an authentic team to match.

Rustic Italian cuisine is available for lunch and dinner at sicilia, and Chor bazaar goes all out with north Indian dishes as well as a three-drum tandoori at dinner.

Meanwhile, Moroc – the contemporary bar, lounge and terrace serves bites, hubble, bubbles and more from 5.30pm until 1am, seven days a week, with Laurent Perrier Champagne at Dh395 per bottle, house bubbles for free until 7pm, and two drinks for the price of one from 7-8pm every evening in an environment where contemporary Morocco is the obvious design influence.

The hotel’s different floors are each inspired by a country theme – Morocco, Egypt, Persia (Iran), India, China, and Andalusia (Spain). The best available rate starts from Dh745 + 20 per cent taxes during the high season, and from Dh595 + 20 per cent taxes during the low season. Suites can be booked online as well as via the Reservations desk. This deal has the most flexible cancellation policy as well, which is 24 hours upon arrival.

Also, the month of February is the month of romance in Mövenpick hotels & Resorts. All Movenpick hotels (of which Ibn Battuta Gate is a part) offer a special deal with 50 per cent discount on the second night of stay. For further details, visit www.moevenpick-hotels.com/en/pub/special_offers/middle_east_asia/month_of _romance.cfm

Row of chandeliers in the passageway

It’s raining keys The hotel drops 22,000 keys worth Dhs6m across Dubai and Abu Dhabi More than 20,000 people in the UAE have the opportunity to take ownership of a gold key to the Gate in Ibn Battuta Gate hotel’s Dh6 million, four-month promotion, Meanwhile, one of 2,000 platinum key holders could become the custodian of the key to an apartment lease for one year, among hundreds of other on-the-spot prizes.

According to the hotel’s executive assistant manager, Craig Cook, the 396-room hotel in New Dubai has gone all out to ensure that the community feels that the hotel and its seven outlets ‘belong to them’.

Gold keys to the Gate are available at the Ibn Battuta Gate hotel from the hotel’s concierge team or any of the

restaurants, as well as through a special market distribution. “We will give a key to the Gate to thousands of people across UAE. All they have to do is to bring their gold key to the hotel when they dine, spend Dh250 – and play immediately to win fabulous prizes from meals, to instant discounts, to beverages and special stays at the hotel,” Craig said. The campaign will run at Ibn Battuta Gate hotel until May 11 2011.

The gold key holders can also win a special platinum key on-air as City 106.1, 92FM and Al Khaleejiah are all onboard and poised to give prizes in interactive competitions and banter, plus the opportunity to win one of the limited edition 2,000 platinum keys. he confirmed that participants in ‘Unlock the Gate’ can also become a platinum key holder by spending more than Dh5,000 at the hotel.

Swimming pool, with a panoramic view of New Dubai skyline

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 45

traVEl

Have lock(ed) it Yet? The beauty of Havelock islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago stays untouched by the Tsunami of 2004. Photographer Bindi Seth gives us a glimpse of bleeding trees in the forest, white crabs on the beach and the cellular prison

I

t is called the Kala Paani (black waters) giving it a sinister, almost ominous image – named thus by the British’s ill-famed cellular jails (each cell measured 4.5 m (15 ft) by 2.7 m (9 ft) with a single ventilation window 3 metres (10 ft) above the floor) in Port Blair which was known for torturing revolutionaries during the Indian freedom movement. The most famous prisoner being Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a fiery freedom fighter. But the Andaman and Nicobar islands are one of the most beautiful parts of Indian seascape. A transparent sea, thriving with varied natural sights, numerous small

Photo credit Bindi Seth

46 l UAE Digest, February 2011

The infamous cellular jail at Port Blair

islands, an aboriginal people who still prefer to live in the primitive ages, the place is teeming with well developed resorts and not hard to guess why it is a tourist haven.

The havelock Island is located at a distance of one and a half hours by private ferry and two hours by government ferry, from Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar islands. The largest of the islands, havelock has an area of 113.93 km2 which comprise Ritchie’s Archipelago, a chain of islands to the east of Great Andaman in the Andaman Islands and is situated 57 km North East of Port Blair. The place is a mini-India and is populated by people from Bengal, Kashmir, Jharkhand and Bihar primarily – they have been there since the past 30-35 years now and the children born to them have adopted it as their home-land, some, have even not visited India.

In the recent past, the havelock islands saw the Tsunami in 2004 that claimed many lives. A restaurant owner told us, ‘how she could see the bottom of the sea and the fish on the ground’ when the killer wave nearly submerged the island. She was clutching her child when she heard her husband say run! and they ran to the hills to safety. She even told us how those who had their homes damaged

got Rs 20000 as compensation from the government while she got Rs 10000 and some ration.

Today, an eco-tourism haven, havelock islands, has a host of restaurants that serve Indian as well as continental food. The place has a very laid- back atmosphere ideal for a vacation In fact it is a honeymooner’s paradise. The greenery is lush with betel nut and coconut palm trees and the place receives rain every 6 months of the year. Our hotel Wild Orchid that cost 4500 /night with breakfast was a lovely retreat with a hay roof and a lovely verandah.

Though we couldn’t see the sea from the room, we had to just take a small lane outside the room that would lead to the sea – a lane that was surrouonded by rain forests unlike the new resorts coming up in the Andamans that look like a Goan resort surrounded by coconut trees.

We also went for two treks in the mountains and were shown different kinds of trees – one of which, when cut with a sickle let out a sap that looked like blood. It is popularly understood as the bleeding tree. There were several such trees there. It was nice to see some houses made from dried and woven leaves and some from bamboo that comes from Burma. The place is close to Rangoon-Burma and doesn’t match the Indian Standard time.

UAE Digest,February 2011 l 47

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March of Time

By Con Clude

I

t was in March 2002 that I first came to the UAE on a visit visa to explore the Dubai Shopping Festival which was then held in the month of March. Six months later, I was back in Dubai for a week’s trial and interview to join Khaleej Times. Finally, on December 12 the same year, I left India to start my new life in the UAE. Eight years later, I am all set to go back to join my father and son studying there, and start a new life again in a new job and new city I don’t know yet. So, it’s time for a trip down memory lane – a joyful and painful experience at the same time.

When my family joined me here in the end of April 2003, my sons were little kids looking forward eagerly to seeing me after four months. They started missing Hyderabad and their school almost immediately. But they were also excited by the tall buildings, shopping malls, wide roads and big cars.

For my wife and me, beginning life in a ‘foreign’ country was an exciting learning experience. The first thing we learnt from my wife’s cousin living here was where to shop. Buying furniture and other stuff from second-hand stores saved us a lot of badly-needed cash. Setting up house in Sharjah on a 12th floor sea-facing apartment was a highly satisfying activity in the weekends. Buying a music system, TV, fridge, washing machine and cooking range were things that occupied us on Thursdays and Fridays.

Next came the job of enrolling for driving classes.

The stories of failure I heard from veteran aspirants sent me frequently into bouts of depression.

Shutting my ears to the sob stories landed me a car licence in three attempts (my wife got it in the first), which wasn’t bad, considering some of my colleagues touched the double figure. Acquiring a licence was like being awarded the Nobel Prize – those who got one proudly announced it to anyone within hearing distance, and displayed it like a trophy. Then, buying a car was the next most important activity. Driving home in the new Toyota Corolla was a moment of great pride for our family.

Parting with it after six years is like leaving a family member.

These eight years have been full of changes not only in our lives, but in this country, our home country,

48 l UAE Digest, February 2011

the region and the world. Both my sons have grown up from kids to young men. My elder son is already in India coaching for a career in chartered accountancy, while my younger son finishes his Class X from DPS Sharjah. I hopped two jobs to work in Dubai Media City since 2007 -- the present job affording me wonderful opportunities to meet fascinating people and cover interesting events. For my wife too, working in an international school has been an experience to cherish.

The UAE too has changed a lot since 2002.

Freehold property began being offered to expats in end-2002; the market boom in 2005 saw a massive building of properties and infrastructure, along with an influx of expats, while the downturn in 2009 saw many of them leaving; the Dubai Metro was launched on 9-9-9; Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was ready last year; the fall in rents saw correction in an overheated market, making Dubai apartments affordable to many.

In the region too, many changes have occurred during these years – Iraq’s Saddam Hussein was overthrown and hanged; Lebanon’s Rafik Hariri and Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto were assassinated, making all the three countries slip into anarchy; Sudan is going to be split; Tunisia has witnessed the Jasmine Revolution, and now Egypt is on the boil.

In the West, Barack Obama became the first black President of the United States, creating a history of sorts; Europe was badly hit by recession, especially countries like Iceland, Ireland, Greece, Spain and Portugal, while China’s growth has been explosive, with India not far behind.

In fact, one of the reasons we are going back is India’s growth story. In 2002, India witnessed its worst communal riots in Gujarat, and the scene was very pessimistic. Today, though many leaders have been caught on corruption charges, the overall mood is optimistic, as India’s growth continues unabated, in a dismal world scenario.

We wish to be a part of this growth story, but there’s a heavy feeling while planning to leave what has been my home for eight long years. All in all, it was a time well spent, full of memories and experiences which have enriched our lives. I take those memories back with me. Au revoir!