Tawam Hospital COVER STORY
67 I OASISLIVING
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04 issue
February 2011
18 22 30 28 Publishing Director / Editor-in-Chief
Percy Chang Staff Writer
Irene Shabaya Contributing Writers
Andrew Madigan, Ginette Collin, Henry Castle, Marlina Guzowski, Maura Madigan, Toni Noble, Tony Ashton. Emirati Contributing Advisor
Reem Al Mansouri Senior Creative Designer
Emran Yousof Graphic Design/Photography
Zarjan Azam Komal Emran
Life Style
Cash in the Attic
Technology
6 Apps that will assist you in healthy living Feature
From Germany with love
Health
Embarrassing Bodily Functions
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Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day Around the World
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Al Ain Urban Development Part 2
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Cover Story
FROM THE EDITOR
February is the month most people associate with St. Valentine’s day. Synonymous with love, this day awakens various emotions in people and we try to find out people’s views on this particular day. We also dig into the worst Valentine’s gifts ever, and of course the best - Chocolate! If your love is Al Ain, the second part of Urban Development will certainly bring good news; the extension of Al Ain mall, and subsequently the new Jumeirah hotel will soon be an added attraction for residents and visitors alike. Tawam hospital, an already nationwide renowned hospital will further establish itself as a first class provider of health care. These are just examples of what is happening in Al Ain in a near future, and much more will be revealed in the coming issues of OL. With the whole city geared up for the much anticipated Al Ain Aerobatic Show, we took the opportunity to interview the youngest pilot in the UAE, Hussam Ghamal El Din who at the age of 18 put into reality what most people spend a life time dreaming about. In this issue you can also find out about our meeting with one of the first expats in Al Percy Chang Ain, Zuhair Abul Adeeb, who has fascinating stories to tell about Publishing Director our city; past and present. percy@myoasisliving.com
Enjoy your February issue!
LETTER TO EDITOR Ginette’s article I was reading the article on the New Year’s Resolutions in the January issue of this magazine. I think it’s a very helpful guide for our future. Thanks and continue in the next edition. Harunur rashid by email. It activates my classes! I’m an English Language teacher at Al Showaib Primary Secondary School in Al Ain. I use your magazine to activate my students’ during lessons, especially with topics that are related to the Emirati society. The language level used in the magazine is direct that they can understand. Moreover, the magazine is well organized and designed, so my students’ find it as a perfect source for their class wall boards. I even once shared the magazine with my colleagues; the issues are recent and so efficient for class debates and discussions. Younis Hassan Alhosany by email. Rubbertized parks, anyone? I would like to congratulate all of you in Oasis Living for coming up with a magazine exclusively about Al Ain. Is
OASISLIVING I 04
there any chance you can put up a campaign to rubberize all the parks in Al Ain for running enthusiast like me, and to encourage others to take daily routine of walking or jogging in the parks. It has been done in Abu Dhabi, I think it should also be done in Al Ain. Al Wadi Park is the only rubberized area in the whole Al Ain, I am not quite sure if there is any other. One of my patients is working at Al Ain Municipality and she said that she would address the issue, but if there are many people who has the same passion for their health, for sure the government will hear our plead. Cynthia via www.myoasisliving.com From the Editor: If you like Cynthia’s suggestion, please join the discussion on our Facebook page. Just finished reading the January edition - with all the money I’m going to save I think a trip to Istanbul will have to be on the list of things to do. Mary Heston via Facebook
Finally a great magazine about life and living Al-Ain. I guess this is what most of the people in Al-Ain have been waiting for, a magazine that focuses on the great heritage of Al-Ain, its environment and friendly people. Truly an oasis for most people who are looking for peace of mind and harmony with nature. Keep it up, you are doing great! Noel Malicdem via Facebook It was the best smile and best magazin ever. My friends and I like it. Congratulation. Hanna Abraha via Facebook Loved it .....keeping my copy safe to remind me of my goal. Very informative kudos! Lucy Wangari Fredrick via Facebook
From the December issue
Image name: - Alley Cat (produced 1/3/2009) Copyright for this image is:- photospeye.com © 2009-2011 Stuart Perry
ADVERTORIAL
Tawam Hospital COVER STORY
A New Level of Hospitality
Danat Al Ain Resort Following the successful rebranding that took place with the commencement of 2011, a new name came to life: Danat Al Ain Resort. Formerly known as InterContinental Al Ain Resort, Danat Al Ain Resort started welcoming guests starting January 2011. Being owned by the National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels (NCT&H), Danat Al Ain Resort is a new addition to the Danat Hotels and Resorts Group. Although the property has been serving the community for the past 30 years, Danat Al Ain Resort aims on providing its guests with new, luxurious services and presenting a new level within the hospitality field. This month, Danat Al Ain Resort has unveiled three new theme nights at Arabesque that is bound to leave your taste buds asking for more! To begin with, is ‘Four Corners’ every Tuesday night - where the Middle East meets with all ‘Four Corners’ of the world on your plate. The concept behind ‘Four Corners Night’ is to bring the world’s most delicious dishes to you without having to travel. This is crafted to suit all individual tastes and may introduce you to new delights. The second theme is ‘The Butchery’ every Wednesday night - where you are served the best in steak, grills, chicken wings and all the sizzling meals you can imagine. Fulfill your cravings with delicious food and wonderful ambience. The last theme night is dubbed ‘Seafood’, every Thursday night – a sumptuous buffet with a wide array of seafood. A buffet of lobsters, shrimps, oysters, mussels and much more, all prepared and served to perfection. These three-theme nights are bound to leave you asking for more, why not take your taste buds on a global and sea world tour!
YOU CAN’T MISS A FRESH CATCH at Arabesque Arabesque brings fresh sea treasures to your plate in the all new seafood night. Indulge into a sumptuous buffet with an array of seafood. A wide selection of lobsters, shrimps, mussels, oysters and much much more all cooked to your satisfaction. Every Thursday, for only AED140* per person. Call +971 3 704 6000 for more information. *Price is subject to 10% service charge & 6% tourism fee.
For reservation or information please call Danat Al Ain Resort, Tel: 03- 704 6000. Managed by Danat Hotels & Resorts, a Division of National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels PO Box 16031, Al Ain, U.A.E.| T. +971 3 704 6000 | F. +971 3 704 6009 | E. info.alain@danathotels.com | www.danathotels.com
67 I OASISLIVING
Useful Numbers in Al Ain Al
about
d l Roun Ghaza
Hospitals in Al Ain: Oasis Hospital Tel: +971 3 722 1251 Al Ain Hospital Tel: +971 3 763 5888 Tawam Hospital Tel: +971 3 767 7444 Al Noor Hospital Tel. +971 3 766 7666 Emirates International Hospital Tel. +971 3 763 7777 NMC Speciality Hospital Tel: +971 3 755 5999 Toll Free 800 662 Specialized Medical Care Hospital Tel. +971 3 755 2291
998 Ambulance 997 Civil Defense 999 Police
24-Hour Pharmacies:
Al Ain Hospital Pharmacy
Tel: 03-7635888 Al Ain Pharmacy Al Ain Distribution Company Toll Free: 800 9 008 03 7636000
Electricity 03 7641600 / 991
Water 03 763 8333
Tel: 03-7655120 Al Dewan Pharmacy
Tel: 03-7556112 Al Noor Pharmacy
Tel: 03-7655111 Al Yahar Pharmacy
Tel: 03-7816141 New Al Ain Pharmacy
Tel: 03-7554440 OASISLIVING I 06
Tawam Hospital COVER STORY
AD
67 I OASISLIVING
COVER STORY Al Ain Mall and the Jumeira Hotel
Al Ain
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Al Ain Mall Expansion & the Jumeirah Hotel COVER STORY
Al Ain Mall Expansion &
the Jumeirah Hotel
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l Ain Mall, built ten years ago and being one of the first malls in Al Ain, is now considered part of the city’s heritage. Run by Al Farida Investments, the mall, facing high demand from retailers and being always fully occupied, is now undergoing expansion. The new mall developments will result in 423 shops, most focusing on mid to high-end fashion, and a three level underground parking, accommodating 3000 cars. A fabulous addition will also be an outdoor area with an artificial lake and striking garden on the second floor, surrounded by casual and fine dining restaurants. The management of Al Ain mall wants to exemplify both the ancient traditions and the modern aspirations of the city via the mall’s developments. One way in which they hope to do so is by incorporating a heritage village inside the mall. The village will be of a traditional fort structure and feature cafes, art stores and numerous traditional goods. Al Ain Mall has also always been part of the community and plans to continue being so, by carrying on
their tradition of hosting various city events, from big international names to local schools and community groups performing and using the mall’s space. Mr. Morhaf Kishi, General Manager of Al Ain Mall, states, “ We have always been known as a very active mall and hope that with the expansions we can be even more so.” The Jumeirah Hotel, a 5-star hotel/ resort and part of the expansion project, will take the eastern part of the mall, with the majority of the hotel being on the rooftop of the mall, adjoining the outdoor areas. A unique aspect of the hotel will be its full integration into the mall. Kishi explains that there will be full visibility and accessibility between mall and hotel, which will not only give the hotel an open ambiance but also help to market the mall and all its offerings to the hotel’s patrons.
The hotel will have both the biggest spa and the biggest boardroom in all of Al Ain - holding up to 1500 people. It will also come with a variety of its own restaurants.
According to Kishi, Al Ain Mall currently has approximately nine million visitors per year, and the Jumeirah hotel with its 210 rooms, 15 chalets and 3 VIP villas has visions of doubling this figure. Kishi, who was the first Arabic advisor on the international council of shopping centres, describes this project as
09 I OASISLIVING
COVER STORY Al Ain Mall Expansion & the Jumeirah Hotel
the future of Al Ain, having relocated from Dubai to Al Ain because of his excitement for it. “The hotel will have both the biggest spa and the biggest boardroom in all of Al Ain - holding up to 1500 people. It will also come with a variety of its own restaurants.� In addition, the outdoor areas will also house real camels, falcons and other traditional animals to attract tourists. And while the stunning open rooftop will always be full of entertainment for both tourists and locals alike, tranquility will also be there for those wishing for it, with boat rides along the themed waterways and plenty of resting spots for a nice chat about your most recent purchases. The predicted soft opening date for the new and improved Al Ain Mall is June 2011. The Grand opening will be in Sep 2011. Jumeirah Hotel is expected to open within a year from the mall opening. Drive by the mall to see the daily progress on the exterior and it will quickly raise your anticipation for what you will soon find within.
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Tawam Hospital COVER STORY
Tawam Hospital
Tawam Hospital, a 466 bed tertiary care facility located in Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is part of the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA) and the SEHA Health System, one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East. Tawam Hospital, serves both as a regional referral centre for specialized medical care and a national referral centre for oncology services. Being a fully committed cancer centre, it provides state-of–the art oncology treatments with radiation therapy services available on-site twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The hospital also collaborates with The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the UAE University for their scientific research to help open more doors to new discoveries. One such initiative is The National Cancer Registry, established in 1998, which gives great insight into the prevalence of cancer. The registry covers the entire UAE population, including Nationals and nonNationals, regardless of whether they were diagnosed or treated abroad, helping to understand the patterns of the disease. In March 2006, Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) assumed day to day management of Tawam Hospital and was charged with positioning the hospital as a centre of excellence for oncology.
11 I OASISLIVING
COVER STORY Tawam Hospital
However, it was found that the size of the current cancer centre was too small to handle the number of patients it was receiving. In addition, the expanding population and the improved standards of care between 1979 (the year that the hospital opened) and the present day created a need for both expansion and upgrading of the hospital in general. The cost of retrofitting was compared to that of building a new hospital and it was decided that
building a brand new hospital and tearing down the old was actually financially sound. Proposals of various options have now been made and are awaiting the approval. The biggest expansions are being made in the areas of cancer and surgical services. Mr. Gregory Schaffer, CEO of Tawam Hospital, informs us that Tawam hopes to be the cancer and women’s care centre
OASISLIVING I 12
Tawam was founded by H.E Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE. It was built to serve UAE nationals and was meant to have all the services of a well rounded hospital.
for the UAE and these services are already being enhanced as the hospital is waiting construction, “When the construction is finished we will already have all the services in place.” In addition, the dialysis and diabetes units are also growing and the hospital hopes to start a coronary care ICU (intensive care unit). But all departments are growing as Schaffer explains, “Tawam was
founded by H.E Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE. It was built to serve UAE nationals and was meant to have all the services of a well rounded hospital.” With this in mind, the hospital maintains small physician-patient ratios, with their intensive care unit upholding 1-1 and 1-2 nursing to patient care ratio. Many subspecialties available at
Tawam Hospital COVER STORY
Tawam are simply not available in other UAE hospitals due to the rarity of qualified practitioners available for recruitment. For example, the hospital has the only gynecology-oncology unit in the country. This is one of the reasons why Tawam is collaborating with Johns Hopkins Schaffer explains, “Tawam was always a good hospital and we simply wanted to make it better with greater knowledge transfer and more international physicians with different techniques.” With the hospital’s affiliation with Johns Hopkins and the resources of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) behind it, Tawam now finds that they receive higher quality curriculum vitaes’ for both physician and nursing positions, “The name of Hopkins and the stability of SEHA has really helped us to fill the nursing shortage,” Schaffer states. Originally from Baltimore, Schaffer came to Tawam following his position as President of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, part of the Johns Hopkins Health System. He was asked to come over temporarily but during his 2009 visit, he liked it so much that he agreed to stay for several years. He states that he finds Al Ain to be a city that feels good to live in and Tawam a hospital that feels good to work in. Tawam hospital is home to more than 3,500 staff, including some of the region’s leading specialists, who have introduced a number of new services, surgical procedures and medical treatments. The hospital was the winner of the “Excellence in Imaging and Diagnostics Award” at the 2010 Arab Health Awards as well as being granted two prestigious awards by the Dubai Quality Group during the World Quality Day Symposium in November, 2010. It also received the coveted Gold Seal of Accreditation by Joint Commission International, the acid test symbol of quality healthcare institutions.
13 I OASISLIVING
FEATURE A Gleam of History Zuhair Abul Adeeb
A Gleam of History
Zuhair Abul Adeeb
W
e saw him sitting at the Palm Court café… once…twice…three times. With his crisp, white kandora and an ipad on his lap, he was not the image of the perpetual lounger of coffee shops and we had to know what kept bringing him back to the Hilton this often. When we asked, though we perhaps expected a number of “unexpected” answers, the answer we got still managed to surprise us, “I was with H.H. (now. The president) when we chose the location of the hotel in 1968. So I feel it is my baby.” It appears the quiet, pleasant gentleman we kept noticing
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بصيص من التاريخ
زهيــــر أبو األديب عندما رأيناه جالسًا ألكثر من ثالث مرات في قهوة واضعًا حاسوبه، ( البالم كورت ) مرتديًا عباءته البيضاء لذا حاولنا، في حضنه بدا كأنه شاب متسكع في القهوة فسألناه متوقعين، معرفة سبب جلوسه المتكرر هناك كان جوابه، ولكن في الحقيقة، أجوبة غريبة لسؤالنا هذا كنت متواجدًا مع صاحب السمو رئيس: مفاجئًا لنا ! فقال لذا أعتبر،1968 الدولة عندما اخترنا موقع هذا الفندق عام لقد تبين لنا هذا الشخص.هذا الفندق كأنه طفلي الصغير النبيل األنيق والذي راقبناه أن أسمه « زهير أبو األديب » وكان
A Gleam of History Zuhair Abul Adeeb FEATURE
at the hotel was Zuhair Abul Adeeb, agricultural advisor to the crown prince since 1972, and the man who helped Sheik Khalifa Bin Zayed choose where to build Al Ain’s first hotel. Though of course we were curious about his life, adventures and fascinating connections, Zuhair chose to speak with us on the basis of describing the rich heritage of Al Ain. Through his eyes we were therefore able to gleam some of the cultural history of this area. Zuhair was born in Syria and came to Al Ain in 1959 when he was only 20 years old. He remembers that the total population was around 2000 and when he first came to Al Ain the adjustment was monumental. “They did not even have a barber to cut my hair – I added a razor to my comb to cut it myself.” There were very few shops with most things in cans and though his initial thought was that he would be leaving quite quickly, he is still here.
وهوالذي ساعد، 1972 المستشار الزراعي لولي العهد سنة الشيخ خليفة بن زايد باختيار موقع بناء أول فندق في مدينة انتابنا الفضول، بعد حصولنا على هذه المعلومات.العين ولحسن، لمعرفة المزيد عن حياته الخاصة ومغامراته الكثيرة حظنا أنه اختارنا نحن ليخبرنا بما يعرفه عن التراث الغني لقد أحسسنا من عينيه أن هناك كثيرًا من، لمدينة العين .التاريخ الثقافي في هذه المنطقة وقد قدم الى مدينة العين في عام، ولد زهير في سوريا حيث كان يذكر أن، وذلك عندما كان عمره عشرين عامًا1959 عدد السكان في ذلك الوقت لم يكن يتجاوز األلفين شخصًا ففي هذه المدينة، لقد شعر عندها بتغير كبير في حياته، «العين» لم يكن يوجد إال عدد قليل من المتاجر التي تحتوي ولم تكن تحتوي على محل، أكثرها على البضائع المعلبة بعد كل هذا، مما اضطره الى قص شعره بنفسه، للحالقة وأنه لن يطيل بقاءه، اعتقد بأن أيامه في العين قليلة جدًا . لكنه في الحقيقة مازال موجودا في العين حتى اآلن، فيها - في ذلك الوقت- إن عدد القاطنين في العين: يقول زهير فالناس تعرف بعضها البعض، كان يعد على أصابع اليدين
At that time everyone knew everyone. You could count people on your fingers. The Sheikhs would walk the streets like the locals with no status differences. “ At that time everyone knew everyone. You could count people on your fingers. The Sheikhs would walk the streets like the locals with no status differences.” And so, shortly after meeting the royal family, in 1960, the first school of Al Ain was opened with only 4 teachers and Zuhair as one of them. As soon as he started working with the school Zuhair says he immediately acclimatized and entered the culture. When his first holidays came, he knew he would stay. That school was called The Al Ain School in Buraimi Oasis and its building was built from mud blocks which were later demolished. It was a school for boys, with only 49 students in grades one, two and four. There was no grade three as there weren’t any students for it. The current UAE president was in that first grade four class. In the first year of the school, Zuhair taught as a teacher, but by the second year he became headmaster and hired three more teachers, increasing the total to seven. The school grew with each grade level and after four years
ففي ذلك، والشيخ يسير في الطريق وكأنه شخص عادي ولكن بعد.المجتمع اليوجد أي اختالف طبقي وقت قصير ٍ م بعد اجتماع العائلة1960 أفتتحت أول مدرسة في العين عام حيث احتوت هذه المدرسة على أربعة مدرسين، المالكة . وكان زهير واحدًا منهم ، لقد بنيت هذه المدرسة من الطين في واحة البريمي وكان هناك، وهي للذكور فقط، وسميت مدرسة العين حيث لم يكن هناك، ثالث صفوف فقط األول والثاني والرابع فقد كان العدد،تواجد للصف الثالث وذلك لعدم وجود طالب طالبًا من بينهم كان سمو الشيخ خليفة بن زايد49 الكلي فلقد بدأ زهير من خالل، لقد بدأت األمور تتسارع. آل نهيان عرف، ومع حلول األعياد، تدريسه التعمق في هذا المجتمع ع ّين زهيرًا، ومع بداية السنة الثانية، أنه سوف يبقى هناك ليرتفع عددهم، فقام بتعيين ثالث مدرسين جدد، مديرًا . وعامًا بعد عام بدأت المدرسة تكبر وتكبر، الى سبعة وفي عامه الرابع في تلك المدرسة استدعي من قبل الشيخ 15 I OASISLIVING
FEATURE A Gleam of History Zuhair Abul Adeeb
خليفة ،ليشارك في أول محكمة إسالمية في دولةاإلمارات العربية المتحدة ،وأصبح عضوًا من أعضاءها ،حيث انتقل الى أبوظبي ،ومنح جواز سفر دولة اإلمارات العربية المتحدة ،وهو ما يزال محتفضًا بصورة عنه حتى اآلن في درج مكتبه وقت آلخر . ينظر اليه من ٍ يعود زهير بذاكرته للوراء ،خاصة في بداية سنين الوحدة ، يحدثنا عن الروح اإلجتماعية والتعاون بين السكان وخاصةً في مدينة العين ،فإذا أراد أحدهم بناء منزل ( وهو عبارة عن أغصان من النخيل مع الطين ) يقوم كل سكان
watching and helping it expand Zuhair was asked to join Sheikh Khalifa’s court. This was the first established court in the UAE. It was an Islamic court and he was a member of it. A little while earlier, in 1961, Zuhair had also been granted an Abu Dhabi passport as at that time there were no UAE passports. He still retains his copy in his top desk drawer and pulls it out affectionately now and again. Looking back at those first years in an emerging country Zuhair recalls how everyone would help each other in Al Ain. “If someone wanted to build a house everyone would come together. At that time the houses were made from
إن التطور والنمو السريع في اإلمارات العربية المتحدة بدأ عندما استلم الشيخ زايد رئاسة اإلمارات ،حيث فتح مد الطرقات أبوابها على العالم ،و ّ الجديدة ،وقام ببناء المستشفيات و المدارس والبيوت ،و قام بتوزيع هذه المنازل للسكان دون مقابل ، فكان إحداها من نصيب زهير ،الذي رفض أخذها في البداية ألنها وسط الصحراء ،مقابل مزرعة تمور ونخيل ،وكونها بعيدة ،لكنه تراجع بعد ستة أشهر بسبب وصول العمران الى جانب منزله ،حيث أصبح في وسط المدينة .
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A Gleam of History Zuhair Abul Adeeb FEATURE
the branches of the palm trees. So you would host the town people, feed them, and they would build with you. Everyone was close to each other and close to Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul in peace). Every day people would come to him and share news and talk.”
وبالمقابل يقوم صاحب البيت بدعوتهم، الحي بالمساعدة فالجميع يعرف بعضهم، بعد ذلك لتناول طعام الغداء عنده وثيقة من الشيخ زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان صلة وعلى، بعضًا ٍ ٍ يزورونه ويجتمعون عنده// طيب اهلل ثراه في سالم// . يتداولون األحاديث واألخبار معه
He says that the changes started gradually and began when Sheikh Zayed became ruler and opened the country to the world. He started with the infrastructure – roads, schools, hospitals and right from the start, began building houses for the locals for free.
إن التطور والنمو السريع في اإلمارات العربية: يقول زهير حيث،المتحدة بدأ عندما استلم الشيخ زايد رئاسة اإلمارات وقام، مد الطرقات الجديدة ّ و،فتح أبوابها على العالم و قام بتوزيع هذه، ببناء المستشفيات و المدارس والبيوت فكان إحداها من نصيب زهير، المنازل للسكان دون مقابل مقابل، الذي رفض أخذها في البداية ألنها وسط الصحراء، لكنه تراجع بعد ستة، وكونها بعيدة، مزرعة تمور ونخيل حيث أصبح، أشهر بسبب وصول العمران الى جانب منزله . في وسط المدينة
Zuhair too was given a house, along with an area for a date farm. At first he didn’t even want it because it was all desert and not even a part of the city. Only after six months of pondering did he agree to take the land, which now, incidentally, has houses going right up to it. Throughout the 1970s to the 1990s every time he went on holiday he would see changes when he came back. To this day, he feels the changes are continuing. He feels proud of most of the changes that have occurred in Al Ain– especially the infrastructural ones. But with fast growth it is hard to bring the heart of the small community with you and this is one slightly sad aspect he has noticed. What Zuhair feels needs to be done now, is keeping that oasis soul of Al Ain. While he is alive he would like to rebuild that first school as it was – while he remembers what it was like. His dream is to take all those things in Al Ain that are “old” and improve and then maintain them. Because though he has now visited most countries and major cities in the world, he states that he still prefers to stay in Al Ain.
Did you know ? •
The first school in Al Ain was opened one month before the first hospital – Oasis Hospital.
•
Prior to the creation of the airport, the place where Al Ain Mall now stands was the location of the city’s airstrip.
كانت1990 الى1970 الحظ زهير أنه في العشرين عامًا أي من خاصة فيما يتعلق بمدينة، اإلمارات تتغير من سنة ألخرى عيد الى عيد مالحظًا التغيير فكان يزورها من، العين ٍ ولكن، الكبير عن العام السابق وكان فخورًا بذلك كله الشيء الوحيد الذي يحزنه أن قلب وروح المجتمع الصغير الذي كان فيه من الصعب أن ينتقل الى هذا المجتمع لقد كان حلمه بناء مدرسة في أرض واحة، الكبير والحديث .ليبق حيًا في الحاضر العين كالتي كانت كي يرجع الماضي َ لكنه في النهاية، ويتابع زهير أنه قد زار أكبر مدن العالم . ألنه يشعر بأنها األفضل دائمًا، يعود الى مدينة العين
هل تعلم ؟ •إن أول مدرسة أفتتحت في مدينة العين كانت قبل . بشهر واحد » افتتاح أول مشفى « مشفى الواحة ٍ كان مهبط الطائرات في، •قبل إنشاء مطار العين . األرض الموجود عليها « العين مول» حاليًا
17 I OASISLIVING
LIFE STYLE Cash in the attic
CASH
IN THE ATTIC
A
s the old saying goes ‘one man’s trash can be someone else’s treasure’ – this concept has come in handy in recent times. The internet and second hand markets have become the latest cash cows! In the literal sense you can easily liquidate items in your household into fast cash. From the baby stroller to a six-year-old sofa bed - all these are items that can generate the quick buck and spare your house from being turned into a living junkyard. So how does one go about turning their junk into valuable items? To begin with, you survey the items that are saleable and in good condition for a resale. At this stage, it may prove difficult but you must train yourself to part with items that you have kept over long periods of time without consumption. Once all the items have been identified, it is time to classify them into groups and clean them to an immaculate state. Always be aware that serious buyers will never lack a reason not to purchase an item they need, but it has to be in the best of condition to impress the buyer – even at second-hand rate. You may opt to sell your item at a notable online store as second
OASISLIVING I 18
hand, a flea market or through a garage sale. If you decide on the first option, you must first create a profile for your said, second hand item including a brief description, an image and a starting price to start it if you are using an auction model (most online websites use this model). Be sure to market your item in a positive manner but do not exaggerate on the specifics as it heavily influences the buyers’ decision. Your last move is to arrange how the items will reach the buyer. You could opt for the buyer to pick it up personally if you live at a close range; otherwise, you can organize for a courier service that will deal with the shipping and packaging. The last and final step for you to take is wait on a potential buyer to contact you. It must be noted that there is no guarantee that your item will be bought. In fact, some website’s have a classifieds expiry date which deletes all adverts older than a month. Which means that if your item is not bought within that time period. It will never be bought! As a buyer, I would advise you to ask as many questions as you can regarding the item sought. Be sure to test and put your negotiation skills to the test.
Nonetheless, the online second hand sales truly epitomize the notion that one man’s trash is indeed another man’s treasure! Indeed, it is capitalism at its best.
Areas of interest for selling & buying items : Bargain Hunters section
at http://www.myoasisliving.com/ community_plus/bargain_hunters
www.souq.com Friday Souq – Al Jimi Mall –
Check out (http://www.aljimimall. com or call 03 763-8883 for more information.
Friday Market – Al Ain Mall For more information you can call - 03 7660333.
Community boards at notable shopping and sporting centers (Hiltonia, Abela and church) Community websites
Niala news (http://groups.google. com/group/nialanews) Al Ain Expat (http://www.alainexpat.com)
Tawam Hospital COVER STORY
67 I OASISLIVING
ACTIVITIES Al Ain Community Library
The Al Ain Community Library has been open for over 5 years, staffed by volunteers. We are located at the Al Ain English Speaking School, in the Falaj Hazzaa school area. The library has over 10,000 books, either donated by the community or bought new using membership fees of 150 dhs per year. The opening times are Friday 11.00 am – 1.00 pm and Sunday 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm. For further information please contact Asa Smith asalives@hotmail.com
Al Ain Hash House Harriers
Run and walk (roughly for forty five minutes/or an hour) every Monday in different places around Al Ain (children are welcome to participate). In the summer at 6.00 pm and winter at 5.15 pm you can contact: Georges Marble 0506230411/ 03 7688866 or Jude Howlett on 0506187244 .
Al Ain Netball Club
al.ain.netball@gmail.com Nicola - 050 3349757 The Ladies Netball Club plays on Sunday and Tuesday 7pm 9pm at the Al Ain Hilton. Sundays is netball training and fitness led by an ex UK National League player and coach and Tuesday is league night, come down and get straight into game play on Tuesday nights. All levels, ages and abilities welcome - we cater for all! A squad of 10 serious, competitive players travel to Dubai every Wednesday to play in the Dubai League.
Al Ain Toastmasters club
Adults with English subtitles and one Thursday for Kids) at the Alliance Française near the airport round about.
Angels of Mercy
Angels of Mercy is a cancer support, educational and awareness group. Our goals include providing the necessary tools and support for cancer patients from the time of diagnosis till the end of their treatment. We meet regularly with patients and their families in a friendly environment where they can express their emotions, gather information and speak freely to professionals as well as cancer survivors. Join the Angels of Mercy Cancer Support group meeting on Wednesday Febraury-16th-2011 at 6:00-7:30pm. At the Palm sports resort - Equestrian club meeting room. For more information contact us at: angelsofmercy20@yahoo.com
Animal Welfare Al Ain
Non-profit organization, run by volunteers dedicated to improving the welfare of animals in Al Ain. Animal Welfare Al Ain will be organizing a Dog Day Afternoon at Al Ain Amblers Rugby Club on Friday, 11th February 2011 – bring your dogs and your families. Children’s activities, arts and crafts, pet supplies and enter your dog for competitions such as owner/ dog lookalikes, best 6 legs and the wet T-shirt race. Admission at 11:00 am. Adults AED 25 & Children Free. Dog competitions begin at 12:15 pm. You can pre-register your dog for competitions by contacting nancy.fahnestock@hct.ac.ae.
Emirates Natural History Group (ENHG)
Shannon Glasgow 050-663-2550 shannonglasgow@yahoo.com The Al Ain Toastmasters Club, founded in 2001, strives to help members develop their public speaking, evaluation and leadership skills in a friendly supportive environment. Meetings start at 7:30 pm at Tawam Hospital on the 1st + 3rd Tuesdays of the month.
Meets every second and fourth Tuesday at the Danat Al Ain Resort (formerly the Intercontinental Hotel). Sign up for free mailing list and receive weekly activity notices at www.enhg.org For further information contact Walter Cramerstetter at 050 783 0380 or email cramerwa@hotmail.com
Al Ain Vipers Youth Hockey Club
at the Al Ain Evangelical Church contact : 055 736 2692 Library open to everyone in the community & free of charge Open on: Fridays 9:00 a.m to 1: 00 p.m Mondays 8.00 a.m to 10:00 a.m Tuesdays 5:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m
The Vipers are members of the UAE Minor Ice Hockey Association and play in tournaments in Al Ain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as participate in tournaments abroad. The group is made up of boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 18 with more than 15 nationalities represented. All players are welcome regardless of ability or previous experience. Training takes place at Hili Fun City and the Al Ain Mall. To register or get more details go to www.alainvipers.com or contact Tim at 050 763 6120
Alliance Française Al Ain
www.af-alain.org Ketty Laurent 0566018430 French Films every Thursday of the month (one Thursday for
OASISLIVING I 20
Living Water Library
UAEoffroaders
www.uaeoffroaders.com Every week we run trips for all levels of drivers in various locations, including Al Ain, Al Saad, Sweihan, Al Khazna and Al Khatim. Membership is free for all enthusiasts. * You may submit your listing to info@myoasisliving.com (Non profit, community based organisations only)
Tawam Hospital COVER STORY
Finanacial Planning
Why You should make a will By Tony Ashton
E
stablishing a Will passes fleetingly through the minds of most people at some stage in their lives.
However, the truth is that the majority never bother making a Will, Planning for our deaths may seem morbid to many people, but it has never been more essential for each of us to get things in order before it’s too late. We all want to ensure our loved ones are provided for when we do pass away, and likewise we want to be certain that our possessions and property don’t go to someone we consider undeserving. It’s by making a Will that we set down our wishes for after our death in a legally binding fashion. Unless you make a Will, you cannot guarantee that your belongings, when you die, will be distributed as you wish. Many unnecessary complications can arise, adding to the grief of the bereaved and the expense of winding up the estate. If you die without a Will (`intestate`) the law decides who will receive your possessions. If you are married, but die intestate, it is a common misconception that your surviving spouse inherits everything. This is usually not the case, and depends on the size of the estate, and whom you leave behind.
Leaving things to chance is not just a selfish act, it can be a certain way of ensuring that large sums of money are wasted on lawyers and court fees, whilst gifting the tax authorities a large proportion of everything you worked to accumulate in your lifetime. Half of all Britons have not made a will. In England and Wales the Intestacy Rules have been uniform since 1925 If a person dies intestate with no identifiable heirs, the person’s estate generally is legally assigned to the State In the United States intestacy laws vary from state to state. Likewise, in Canada the laws vary from province to province. As in England, most jurisdictions apply rules of intestate succession to determine next of kin who become legal heirs to the estate. Also, as in England, if no identifiable heirs are discovered, the property may go to the government. The distribution of the property of an intestate decedent is the responsibility of the administrator (or personal representative) of the estate: typically the administrator is chosen by the court having jurisdiction over the decedent’s property, and is frequently (but not always) a person nominated by a majority of the decedent’s heirs Where a person dies without leaving a will, the rules of succession of the person’s place of habitual residence or of their domicile apply.
In certain jurisdictions such as France, Switzerland and some others, entitlements arise whether or not there was a will. These are known as forced heirship rights and are not typically found in common-law jurisdictions, where the rules of succession without a will (intestate succession) play a back-up role where an individual has not (or has not fully) exercised his or her right to dispose of property in a will.
Global assets
Trying to sort out estates where assets are scattered around the globe is a very profitable exercise for probate lawyers, The fact that it literally takes years and denies closure to the bereaved, is a burden that no right minded individual would wish on those that they love. If the need is pressing (but too often ignored) for UK residents, that need is redoubled when one leaves the jurisdiction of the UK courts. One should aim to have a will in each jurisdiction in which they hold assets – for example many expats have purchased property in the UAE. In short, in nearly all cases, failure to make a will leaves too much to chance. Making a will is a must, not an option.
21 I OASISLIVING
TECHNOLOGY Healthy living
Apps that will assist you in healthy living
W
hen fingers get pointed in debates over the obesity epidemic in our modern society, technology sometimes shoulders some of the blame. Time in front of computer screens or television is often listed as part of the reason why we aren’t as healthy as they have been in the past. But the truth is there are also technological advances that have the potential to guide you in your quest for a healthier lifestyle, whether that is eating right, exercising or keeping tabs on vital numbers that are important to your health. Take smart phone applications for example. Nowadays, you can find applications for just about anything in life that might capture your interest, and healthy living is no exception. So if you’re looking to stay fit and healthy, here are six mobile apps that give you and your family a little extra help:
FitReach
This training and diet application allows you to enter information on your meals, as well as workouts. It also encourages you to do regular weigh-ins so you can compare your weight loss with your goals on graphs that are a part of the app.
The Carrot
As an interactive journal, this application allows you to track multiple items related to health. In addition to entering information on meals, workouts, and even medication, you can also enter your assessment of your moods or the level of job satisfaction you are feeling at the moment to see if you can pinpoint what healthy habits work best for you.
Size Me Up
Another application for kids. This one allows children to enter their current height and receive estimates for how tall they might be in the future, at any given age. This can be used to help keep your child motivated to eat right, so they can grow up to be tall and healthy.
OASISLIVING I 22
Healthy living TECHNOLOGY
BP Buddy This application allows people who are monitoring their blood pressure to input their blood pressure numbers and heart rate numbers and log them for up to 60 days. An e-mail feature allows users to send their numbers to their doctor for analysis.
Carb Counting with Lenny This app is designed to help children with diabetes count carbohydrates to help manage their diabetes, but can be of use to anyone. Using their mascot Lenny the Lion, who also uses insulin pump therapy, Medtronic Diabetes introduced this app, which allows children with type 1 diabetes to learn about carbohydrate levels in basic foods. The application also allows users to create a customizable food guide using their own photos or ones they find on the Internet, as well as play games to test their carbcounting
Lose It !
Counting calories is perhaps the simplest and most effective way to keep track of your health goals, especially if it involves weight loss. But it’s difficult to do all the adding and subtracting in your head, which is where the free app Lose It! comes in. The app allows you to enter what you eat each day and calculates not only calories, but fat, protein, cholesterol and carbohydrates based on portion size. It also allows you to enter different types of workouts, from walking to yoga, to see how many calories you will burn while you are exercising. Applications are available on iTunes and can also be downloaded through your iPhone, smart phone or other compatible mobile device. (ARA)
City Events February 2011
Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Hotel
Al Jimi Mall
Lawernce’s Lounge Hotelier Night Every Sunday: 50% Discount on all
Friday Souq 4th February from
the beverages (Hotel’s ID to be present) Ladies Night: Every Thursday: Ladies Step in & get a complimentary cocktail.
THEME NIGHTS AT LE BELVEDERE Asian Night Every Wednesday. Oriental Night Every Thursday. B.B.Q Night Every Friday Sea Food Lunch Bufeet – Every Friday
@ 12:30 PM – 04:00 PM
Live Pasta Station at Le Belvedere Daily @ 12:30 PM – 15:30 PM
Enjoy Kids Meal at Le Belvedere
Daily @ 12:30 PM – 15:30 PM & 19:30 PM TO 22:30 pm B.B.Q Bufeet - Every Friday@12:30 PM – 04:00 pm
Eden Roack Restaurant (Pool Side) with Live Entertainment
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM - a flea market or swap-meet, a type of an outdoor bazaar where inexpensive or second hand goods are sold or bartered. For more information or application forms, please visit our website www.aljimimall.com or visit our information desk. Valentine’s Day special visit Al Jimi Mall and enjoy our LOVELY surprises for you and your family! Every weekend in February Number of activities for children – FREE face painters, meet and greet mascots and much more!
Bawadi Mall
Valentine’s Special @ Bawadi Mall
3rd – 14th of February, 2011 Forget buying, WIN a Valentine’s Gift this time by simply entering a draw with a coupon filled with your name along with your loved one’s.
B.B.Q BUFFET - Every Friday @ 12:30 PM – 04:00 PM
Live Pasta & Grill at Eden Rock
Daily @ 12:30 PM – 04:00 PM Al Khayma Tent Enjoy the flavors of coffee and tobacco under the starts all the traditional Shisha Tent.
VALENTINE’S CELEBRATION
On 10th February 2011 -Valentine’s Party with special dinner at Ballroom with the Live Arabic Supper Star Singer Lina Fares, Alaa Al Zain along with our Hot Belly Dancer.
On 14th February 2011
Enjoy Special Valentine’s Dinner at Le Belvedere Restaurant with your loved ones.
OASISLIVING I 24
LuLu Kuwaitat
February 14th Valentines Day Celebrations
Free Photo session for all couples & Best Couple award session starts at 7:00pm Weekends throughout February entertainment for the children with Micky & Minnie Mouse every weekend check in store for more details.
COVER CITY EVENTS STORY
Danat Al Ain Resort Arabesque
Introducing NEW theme nights!
Tuesday – Four Corners: Tour the world from your seat! The Middle East meets all corners of the world. A night designed to suit all tastes and bring together all the delicious meals of the world together.
Wednesday – The Butchery: a world full of steak, grills, chicken wings and all the sizzling meals you can think of. Fulfill your hunger with the delicious food selection and amazing ambiance. A night not to be missed!
Thursday - Seafood Night: A seafood buffet that varies between fish, shrimps, lobsters, oysters and crabs, all cooked to suit your taste and take you on an everlasting sea experience.
Three Days Valentines !!! (13, 14*, 15 February) Luce : You don’t need to be in Venice to celebrate Valentine’s romantically. We bring the Italian spirit to you this year. Celebrate from the 13th till the 15th of February with our “strawberry & chocolate” set menu at a price of AED140++ (incl. 1 drink) accompanied with classical live entertainment. Surprise your loved one with our special preparations for the occasion. All you have to do is whisper the words “Te Amo”.
The Wok: Celebrate your love under the stars starting from the 13th till the 15th of February. Book your place at The Wok for Valentine’s to celebrate the night under the magnificent starry sky. A romantic set menu for two designed to suit the celebration accompanied with romantic decorations, red roses, chocolate and a ‘heavenly’ menu all for AED160++. *Dry Night: Non-alcoholic drinks will be served on the 14th of February.
The Horse & Jockey Pub : Be part of the ‘Six Nations Rugby Competition’ and cheer your team with The Horse & Jockey Pub. Watch the matches and enjoy the traditional English ambiance. Call 03 704 6000 for more information
Hilton Al Ain Paco’s Bar: Returned to Paco’s is last years success, Mike Norfolk Band, who will be playing evenings from 9 pm at Paco’s Bar and in addition the new resident DJ Adrian, is playing the hottest tunes from the London club scene after the live band. Member’s Night Sundays: Members just spend Dhs. 50 and enjoy the night with complimentary snacks from 8pm to 11pm. Quiz Night Mondays: Tease your brains on a friendly quiz game with resident Quiz Master Chalkie.
Open Mic – Tuesdays: Show your musical talent, may it be singing or playing a musical instrument, you will shine like a star.
High 5 to the Ladies! – Wednesdays: Ladies can have fun with 5 Dirham Magarithas and Daiquiries from 7pm to 10pm.
Hilton 13’s – Thursday: Fill up the drink for only Dhs. 13++ (on selected beverages) from 8pm to 11pm.
Fridays the 14th – Friday: Have a lucky night with selected beverages for only Dhs. 14++ from 8pm to 11pm.
Ladies Weekend – Saturdays:
Ladies get a complimentary snack every Saturday, when you spend Dhs. 50++ from 8pm to 11pm. *prices are subject to 10% service charge and 6% tourism fees.
Casa Romana: Valentines Day on the 14th. Indulge in a delicious dinner with the person you love! Reservation is recommended.
Palm Court: New performers in Palm Court. Natalia and Anna will be playing in the evenings from 7 pm: Pianist – Natalia Bobleco Flutist – Anna Ivaschevici
Makani Café: Arabian food and beverage specialities with hubbly bubbly available in the beautiful pool garden setting.
Al Ain Mall
1 February AL Ain Mall Ladies program 1 February Ice Hockey practice U9/ Ice Rink 3-12 February Roller Skate Park/ Ramps 3-5 February Airplane exhibition and workshop 8 February Al Ain Mall Ladies program 8 February Ice Hockey practice U9/ Ice Rink 11 February Pirates of Arabia/ play on stage 18-28 February Eco friendly workshop 14 February Valentine day 15 February AL Ain Mall Ladies program 15 February Ice Hockey practice U9/ Ice Rink 17-19 February Al Ain Mall goes roses 18 February to 10 March Recycling campaign 20–26 February Express yourself/Graffiti @ Al Ain Mall 22 February AL Ain Mall Ladies program 22 February Ice Hockey practice U9/ Ice Rink 24 February to 3 April LEGO fun @ Al Ain Mall 25 February Friday Bazaar 28 February Fairy Tale/ Disney play on Ice Rink
25 I OASISLIVING
FEATURE Romancing the tree
Romancing the Tree A trip to the Al Ain Date Factory
W
ho would have assumed that a trip to the Al Ain Date Factory would prove more a lesson in romance, history and folklore than that of the technical aspects of getting the date fruit from the tree to your nearest supermarket? I suppose it makes sense when you consider that there is actually very little involved in the processing of dates. The date palm is the oldest tree in this area. There are signs as early as 4000BC of the use of the date palm as well as of attempts to increase date production. A major reason for this may be that the date is one of the few fruits that can be stored at room temperature for up to two years – a very important point in a past world without modern storage advances. The date palm is also quite resilient. Though it may not produce as good quality fruit under adverse conditions, it can still
OASISLIVING I 26
survive and give fruit under both high winds, high temperatures and a lack of human care. However, as human care does aid in the production of higher quality fruit, individuals such as Manal Abbas, Technical Manager with a Masters in Food Technology, work at the Al Ain Date Factory to help create the highest quality they can. The first thing I learned from Manal is that there are female and male date palms. No, I am not making this up - I initially thought that Manal was, just to see how truly ignorant I am about plant life. This is a true fact and to add to it only female date palms produce the date fruit, while the male date palms produce only elongated, oval flowers. Though pollination can occur naturally, nature is not always predictable, so to yield good quality dates, pollination needs to be done by hand. The flower of the male tree
is therefore taken and put inside the flower of the female tree. The female flower is then tied closed. After about two weeks, the dates begin to grow inside the flower and it is then opened. Eventually, when the dates are larger, they are covered with the nets that can be seen on most date palms around the city. These nets serve more than one purpose. They protect the dates from birds, keep the area surrounding the tree clean and, quite possibly most importantly, prevent the fruit from falling on the heads of passerbys. The fruit generally follows the style of the mother tree. If the quality is good, it is taken care of, and if it is particularly good, it is bred and sometimes given a new name. This may sound a little confusing, but Manal explained that no date tree grown from seed can be guaranteed to produce the same fruit. For example if you take a date seed and transplant it in a different spot,
Romancing the tree FEATURE
it may actually produce completely different fruit. Because of this, there are now thousands of date variations, all with their own names. In addition we still have some of the very old varieties cush as Barhi, Fard and Ajwa. When names are given, they sometimes follow the shape, colour or the ripening time/season of the dates. Other times they are named for the person who planted them or the name is based on a story. One such story is that of the Barhi date– the sweetest variety of date. The Barhi date originally comes from Iraq where there once was a wealthy farm. There was one area of this farm which was completely empty, with nothing growing in it. In this empty and devoid area, called Baraha, a date palm suddenly grew out. No one had planted this tree and the people believed that it was a gift from God as from this tree grew dates that were uncommonly delicious. In Arabic culture it is believed that there is a relationship between the date palm and the human body. Besides being long and lean with a distinct head at the top and having a sexual nature just like a human, the date palm also has a heart, called Jumar. The jumar is a white fibrous substance located inside the tree, just below the head of the palm. If the jumar is damaged, the palm will die, just like a human. In addition, if you cut off the head of the palm tree, it will die as well, unlike other trees which may simply grow out in sideways directions. The palm leaves themselves are considered the limbs of the tree, and just like the limbs of a man, they will not regrow once cut. The mysterious relationship between man and palm may be the reason why the oldest law in the world
The mysterious relationship between man and palm may be the reason why the oldest law in the world made by King Hamourabi is on display at the Louvre Museum. The law states that no man shall cut down the date palm. made by King Hamourabi is on display at the Louvre Museum. The law states that no man shall cut down the date palm. After the dates have grown and are collected from the tree, getting them into a box and ultimately our bellies is a relatively simple process, little changed over the years. The dates are first washed with pure water and then dried and packed. Things aren’t exactly this fast and easy though, as date factories, such as the Al Ain Date Factory do a large majority of
this process by hand, picking the best to be packed up for you. The most common date in the UAE is the Khalas date and besides being full of minerals and other important nutrients and compounds, dates are incredibly nutritious – so much so in fact that if you consume just dates and milk, you will have most of your dietary needs. So take a minute or two and enjoy one of the oldest treats in history and think of the many mysteries that the date tree beholds, as you do so.
27 I OASISLIVING
HEALTH Embarrassing Bodily Functions
A
ll of us at one time or another have suffered through a social gettogether trying to control embarrassing flatulence, wondered how bad our breath was when we were talking to someone or woken up on the day of a big event with a gasp-inducing zit on our face. Oasis Living had the chance to speak with Dr. Samer Asala, a Gastroenterologist at Al Ain Hospital about some of the embarrassing daily ‘problems’ we all face. Dr. Asala explained the basic causes of occurrences such as flatulence, bad breath, and skin rashes/acne as well as how they are often related to our general diet/lifestyle and when you should seek further medical help. Here is what we learned:
Flatulence
Embarrassing Bodily Functions and what we can do about them OASISLIVING I 28
Flatulence, more commonly known as ‘farting’, is both natural and necessary for all human beings. Every healthy person releases 1.5 to 2 litres of gas per day – which roughly translated to 20-30 farts/ day. Why? Well, in layman’s terms, as you eat, the stomach and intestines chemically analyze the food that you just ate. Every chemical that is analyzed then releases a gas. You also swallow gasses while you are eating, which then need to come back out - either as burps or farts. Flatulence that occurs at a higher than average rate in individuals can have a number of different causes. Dr. Asala described Aerophagia, as one of the causes. “Aerophagia is the swallowing of too much air while eating, which creates a lot of gas in your stomach. Simple ways to decrease Aerophagia are avoiding
Embarrassing Bodily Functions HEALTH
talking as you eat (not only healthy but also polite!) and cutting down on your carbonated beverages”. There are also certain food ‘culprits’ which increase gassiness, the most famous ones being: garlic, onion, cauliflower, beans, cabbage and hummus. In terms of lifestyle, sitting for prolonged periods of time and a generally stagnant routine can cause not only severe gassiness but also abdominal pain, providing you with another great reason to get on that treadmill or visit one of Al Ain’s beautiful parks. According to Dr. Asala, gassiness is generally not a cause to see a physician as there is little that modern medicine can do for you. However, you may consider seeing your physician to check if you are potentially lactose or fructose intolerant and if you have accompanying abdominal pain it may need to be verified that there are no hidden causes.
Bad Breath “Bad breath has numerous causes, spanning many medical specialties” explains Dr. Asala. “It can be caused by dental problems, an abscess in the mouth, tonsillitis, throat inflammations and even chronic sinuses. Halitosis, an overgrowth of bacteria in your mouth, as well as respiratory infections and smoking (another great reason to quit!) can also make your breath bad, among many other reasons.” If you think that your breath is unnaturally bad it is always a good
idea to see a physician due to the varied causes. Some of these causes, such as the occurrence of loose muscle in the esophagus, require medication and many can also become serious if left untreated. For just your ordinary bad breath, besides brushing and/or chewing gum, why not try Miswak, a toothcleaning twig that comes from the mustard tree and is very popular in the UAE. A number of studies have lately come out on the many beneficial effects on both oral and dental hygiene of the miswak twigs. You can find these at both gas stations and most grocery stores around Al Ain.
Skin Problems Acne is generally associated with hormonal levels and diet. Specifically, the androgen hormones, which are responsible for puberty, cause our acne outbreaks. Though they are associated with puberty, androgen levels continue to fluctuate throughout our lives and especially for women, often cause acne outbreaks at various points of the female menstrual cycle. Sever adult acne may thus be associated with hormonal imbalances. In terms of diet, foods have varying effects on varying individuals, however, chocolate and tomatoes in particular seem to be the culprits of acne outbreaks and skin inflammation in many. Some of us also have outbreaks of rashes. Rashes are a different story and can be associated with many things, including vitamin deficiencies, reactions to medications and even inflammatory bowel diseases or autoimmune problems of the bowel, Dr. Asala explained. She also encourages individuals to seek out
Acne is generally associated with hormonal levels and diet. Specifically, the androgen hormones, which are responsible for puberty, cause our acne outbreaks. a Dermatologist anytime if they think that something on their skin is out of the ordinary. A qualified Dermatologist will be able to determine if you need to see a Gastroenterlogist or any other specialist for further examination.
29 I OASISLIVING
FEATURE From Germany with love
FROM GERMANY WITH LOVE For two decades the Sessler’s have been taking annual trips from Göppingen, a city in southern Germany (part of the Stuttgart) flying six hours away to the United Arab Emirates. Their journey does not stop in Dubai but further east to the second largest town in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain. I chatted to the Sessler’s and they opened their hearts to me as to why Al Ain is so dear to them. OASISLIVING I 30
From Germany with love FEATURE
A
t first I began with the obvious question – With seven Emirates in the UAE what made you settle on Al Ain, all these years and you are still loyal to this city? Hiltraud, began narrating, “the city of Al Ain is our home, and we would not trade it for any other place; the other Emirates are filled with skyscrapers and Al Ain has kept its authenticity, that is what fascinates us,” Heinz, adds that, “also the weather here is much better, with low humidity for our liking.”
1
Their earliest venture to the Gulf region was in the early 1990’s. It was initially the husband’s idea to head out to the Middle Eastern region – moreover friends and family up to date still question them on their travels and the safety of the region. “I would blame it on the media coverage,” says Heinz, “all these years we have been coming out here we have never had any safety issues, to say the least it is one of the safest places in the world.” The Sessler’s first laid foot in Al Ain in 1993. They were touring Dubai and decided to visit the ‘village’ (Al Ain). Hiltraud recalls amidst laughter, “we had come on a trip to see the camel market from Dubai and on that day it rained and you can imagine the disaster we had at the camel market, we had to cross over this pool of water and the place was smelling and the ground was filled with animal waste…moving about was just a disaster.”
And how much Arabic has the couple learned over the years – “kaef halik…shukran..inshallah… yallah…,” they babbled. It is a good effort to say the least with each break they savor new experiences and learn new words.
Before starting their journey back to Dubai they stopped by the Hilton Hotel for lunch and to freshen up. It was from here that their first love affair with the city began. The following year they faithfully returned to touring the Jahili fort, Al Ain National Museum, Jebel Hafeet, Hatta and the hot spring at the base of the Green Mubazzarah. With each visit they have seen tremendous changes within the city that has shaped it into a tourist destination, they echo similar sentiments, “when we first came it was a village but looking back from our very first visit, the city has grown for the better, it has definitely changed positively, maintaining its ‘shine’.”
we cannot get those spices back home, so while we are here I try to buy as much as possible because they are rather affordable out here.
2
A favorite Emirati delicacy of theirs are the pastries and date honey. In
addition to this Hiltraud loves the local way of preparing prawns and a must item to bring back home are the Arabian spices, “we cannot get those spices back home, so while we are here I try to buy as much as possible because they are rather affordable out here.” I asked the couple how they met each other and was it love at first sight – a flustered Hiltraud told me, “I was working at a building firm as a secretary and he was my boss, working for the same firm as a manger, that is how it all started and the rest is history.” Married without children the couple enjoys the simplicities of life and co own a dance company where they teach individuals, mostly couples the techniques of ballroom dancing. Living life to the fullest the couple told me that their intentions of Al Ain are to, “make a visit each year so long as they are blessed with good health.” 1 - Camel Market in town near the fort market 1996 2 - Welcome greetings Al Ain January 1995
31 I OASISLIVING
GOING PLACES Experiencing Jordan
Experiencing
Jordan
OASISLIVING I 32
Experiencing Jordan GOING PLACES
W
hen I discussed writing a travel article about my trip to Jordan during Eid al-Adha, it seemed like an easy task. That was before I visited Jordan. Jordan is not an easy place to capture in a short article. From it’s amazing biblical and Roman history to it’s diverse natural environment and current culture, Jordan is a place teeming with stories. I was lucky enough to have had nine days to explore Jordan, most people I have talked to have spent much less time. I was also lucky enough to have had a driver who knew his country very well and was able to discuss the history, politics and society of the country he so obviously loves. If you are thinking of travelling to Jordan, I highly recommend hiring a driver for the trip. Driving in Amman is hectic and the rules seem to be; if there’s a gap, take it; lanes, really?; four cars in two lanes, fine; police blasting their sirens, no need to move; seatbelts anyone? Being able to sit back and relax while watching the scenery and be driven to places of note, made our knowledgeable driver invaluable. Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a hectic city. It’s noisy and bustling with people going about their every day business. Downtown Amman is a great place for people watching while drinking tea and bargaining with the shop owners for souvenirs. Late one afternoon I sat watching local life go by out the upstairs window of a local restaurant that could be called Windows on Amman. Watching the street vendors set up and tout their wares
to potential customers; watching the nut roaster manouver his cart between the vendors; watching the mothers and babies and small children going past, chatting; watching the mad traffic, police with sirens wailing; watching the young women hailing taxis, mostly full. Amman has a treasure that I really enjoyed visiting. The Citadel sits on the top of one of the many hills in Amman. Watching over the city, the Citadel is evidence of the ancient Roman influence in Jordan. I spent many hours up there in the relative peace and quiet, wandering through the ruins as the sun set so I could get just the right photograph to capture the place. The best time to visit the Citadel is in the late afternoon. The museum closes before sunset and is well worth a visit as it houses many of the artefacts discovered as the ruins have been restored. One of the most impressive displays was that of preNeolithic pottery found on the site. This included some amazing busts and statues, believed to be some of the first of their kind. As I wandered, I was really surprised to hear the sound of the bagpipes. A Scottish reel was being played so I investigated and found Mohammed playing the drum and Braham on the bagpipes. I discovered that they were from the army band and now spent their time playing for the tourists. It was strange to hear this sound amongst the Roman ruins atop a hill in a Jordanian city, but that’s Jordan. Speaking to them and their friend Yazeed, I was reminded once again of how friendly and welcoming the Jordanian people are. It was no problem for them to take
While I was based in Amman, I travelled north to Jerash, or the ancient city of Gerasa, where there is extensive Roman ruins in various states of restoration. The Romans were masters in town planning. Walking along the paved roads from the unique oval forum to the Temple of Artemis, it was easy to feel part of this place.
33 I OASISLIVING
GOING PLACES Experiencing Jordan
the time to talk to this lone traveller, to share their stories. While I was based in Amman, I travelled north to Jerash, or the ancient city of Gerasa, where there is extensive Roman ruins in various states of restoration. The Romans were masters in town planning. Walking along the paved roads from the unique oval forum to the Temple of Artemis, it was easy to feel part of this place. I could almost hear the clatter of the wheels over the stones as the chariots passed. On my first trip I chose to wander freely without a guide, on my second the guide filled in the gaps left by the guidebook. Hadrian must have been a well travelled Roman Emperor as there
OASISLIVING I 34
are references to him in many places in the Middle East. Jerash has the Arch of Hadrian, built to celebrate his visit in AD129-130. The Romans were well established in this area with Roman ruins scattered across the landscape throughout Jordan. The Roman roads can still be seen cutting straight lines through the countryside, east -west and northsouth towards distant destinations. Um Quais is a Roman city in the north of Jordan, a very special place we got to visit just as the sun was setting. It is much less restored than Jerash so the echoes of history could be more easily felt. There were also very few tourists there so it was possible to wander alone, discovering without interruption. It was well worth the visit, especially
as the journey from there to the Dead Sea gave us a feeling for the politics of this place as we passed through many checkpoints. It is advisable to carry your passport with you when travelling around Jordan as we were asked many times to show ours. I had an interesting discussion with my taxi driver about the Palestinian refugee camp we passed on the way to Jerash, a more contemporary history. The Marka camp was one of six emergency camps established by the UN in 1968 as a result of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It is now home to more than 40,000 Palestinians in mostly permanent housing with the resulting commerce. The UN leased the land from the Jordanian government for 99 years and I was
Experiencing Jordan GOING PLACES
Um Quais is a Roman city in the north of Jordan, a very special place we got to visit just as the sun was setting. It is much less restored than Jerash so the echoes of history could be more easily felt. There were also very few tourists there so it was possible to wander alone, discovering without interruption.
left wondering what might become of its inhabitants after that time. I was really surprised at the conversations I had about Jordan’s neighbours. The people I talked with were really passionate and knowledgeable about their history. I learnt a lot and could hear the pain in their stories. I also heard the hope that the Palestinians had for their place and culture while sitting under the stars at Wadi Ramm sharing a shisha with a group of women on holiday from Ramallah. The Dead Sea was our next stop. The Dead Sea is 422 meters below sea level, the earth’s lowest point on dry land. It is more than eight times saltier than the ocean, hence its name, as aquatic animals cannot live in those levels of salinity. The mineral rich waters are used to make a variety of health and skin care products as well as fertilizers. The minerals cake the rocks on the shoreline, white crystals left as the water evaporates. Swimming in the Dead Sea is freaky. I struggled to get my feet to touch the bottom as they just kept popping up to the surface, much to the amusement of my travel companion. It was a little chilly to swim for too long so we coated ourselves with the restorative mud then went back in to wash this off, no mean feat as we were still finding muddy bits later in the day. We still had not arrived at Petra, the place we were so impatient to see, and we had learnt so much about this special country already. The rich biblical history unfolded around us as we stood where Moses had stood on Mount Nebo, looking over the lands where the characters from the bible stories lived and travelled. Seeing the stories told in the partially restored mosaics brought this time to life.
35 I OASISLIVING
HAVE A CUPPA with Simba
Sponserd by
Have A Cuppa with Simba Chikona
Job: Fitness Trainer Nationality: Zimbabwean Languages Spoken: English, Shona, Ndebele and a bit of Afrikaans and Xhosa Years in Al Ain: 2.5
How did you get started as a personal trainer? When I was still studying I interned at the university Health and Fitness Center. I liked the work environment so much that I took a part time job there. What did you do before you came to Al Ain? I was a professional rugby player in South Africa for four years. I also was a part-time fitness trainer. Why did you stop playing rugby? Because of injuries. I ruptured my achilles tendon. After that I felt low and lost my motivation to play, so I decided to go somewhere far away, to Dubai. I found work as a fitness trainer there. How did you end up in Al Ain? My wife got a job as a nurse here. At first I commuted to Dubai each day, leaving the house at 4:30 and getting back at 11:30. Now I’m in Al Ain most of the time with just a few clients in Dubai. So now you work as a personal fitness trainer, but you also run group classes. Tell me about Fitness Bootcamp. What exactly is it? It’s outdoor group fitness training at the Al Ain Corniche (the small park on the Schools’ Rd near the Indian Curry House.) We do body weight, resistance training, boxing, running, sprints, calisthenics. Sometimes we use elastic bands, dumbbells or medicine balls. I try to get people out of their comfort zones, to push their fitness levels. Each course is four weeks long and I try to keep it exciting by making each session different.
OASISLIVING I 36
Do you have any advice for people who want to get in shape but don’t have a lot of time? Make time. If you don’t have time to get to a gym, you can do push-ups, sit-ups, squats, tricep-dips and stairrunning at home. Realistically, how many times each week does someone need to work out to get results? At least 30-40 minutes, 3 times a week. What type of exercise do you recommend for someone who wants to lose fat and tone their muscles? A good balance of cardio and weight training. How many times a week do you work out and what do you do? I try to train daily (1 hour) but most Saturdays I don’t. I mix it up with weight training, cardio (running, cycling, elliptical machine), core and stability work. What do you do if a client has unrealistic expectations? I tell them up front. We have to set goals that are realistic and achievable. What’s the best part of your job? When I get the feedback from clients. When they feel good about what they’ve accomplished. What’s the worst part? Long days (usually 5 am-10 pm). What do you do in your free time? Sleep, watch sports and spend time with my wife. I also play rugby for the Al Ain Amblers, but I haven’t played for a couple of months due to injury.
What’s your biggest pet peeve? People flashing their lights behind me in the car or drivers who turn/change lanes without signaling. What’s one of your guilty pleasures or secret indulgences? Cookies and cream ice cream. Name one of your favorite places in Al Ain. The Palm Sports Resort--Rugby Club. What’s your favorite restaurant in Al Ain? La Brioche. What do you miss most about Zimbabwe? Family. If you could live anywhere else, where would it be and why? The Maldives. It’s beautiful, peaceful and relaxing. It would feel like being on holiday forever. What CD is in your car now? An MP3 mix: Akon, Sean Kingston and Shaggy. If you could be any animal, what would it be and why? A dolphin. It’s intelligent and I don’t know of any other creature that messes with a dolphin. It’s adorable and peaceful. To learn more about Simba and Bootcamp Training check out his website: www.oasisfitnessme.com
Palm Court Café in Hilton Hotel is famous for desserts and Vienna's Julius Meinl coffee.
Hearsay HOME LIVING
Tips heard tested By Toni Noble
Baby Oil/Baby Wipes Tried: Cleaning stainless steel appliances in the kitchen can be a nightmare, especially when getting rid of fingerprint marks etc. Tested: Wipe your appliances as normal, with a damp cloth. When finished use a piece of kitchen roll and a little baby oil to wipe down your stainless steel kettle etc. You can also use Baby Wipes but that can work out expensive unless you have small children in the house. Verdict: This works wonders, my mother has been using this method for years. Her appliances are always gleaming (puts me to shame).
Christmas Cards Tried: Have you ever wondered what to do with the hundreds of Christmas cards that you receive? Tested: Instead of throwing your Christmas cards away use them for next year. How?! Get some seamstress scissors (jagged edged ones), then get your old Christmas card and cut around a nice picture which is on the card and presto you have new Christmas present labels for next year. Verdict: This I thought was a brilliant idea when a friend of mine told me that she does this every year. It has saved me mounds of money. I still buy special labels though for family.
Asprin Tried: Try as I might to keep flowers alive for longer that 2-3 days, out here it is not fun and can be a complete waste of money. Tested: They say if you put an Asprin into a vase before you put your flowers into it they will last a lot longer. Verdict: I did not find this very good at all, unless I did something wrong. My flowers only lasted mayble a day or two longer. It would have been nice if I could have gotten at least an extra week out of them
Toothpaste Tried: If you just want a quick fix to fill in some holes in your walls use some toothpaste (white, not coloured). Tested: This is a really cheap method of filling in picture hook holes on a temporary basis, if you do not have any polyfilla at hand. Just put a tiny piece of toothpaste onto you finger and place over the hole and then just smooth it down. Verdict: This really does work but only for a short while. Obviously if you are going to decorate your house professionally then go for the polyfilla.
37 I OASISLIVING
FEATURE VALENTINE’S DAY Special
VALENTINE’S DAY
SPECIAL 1.
We have come to that time of the year where ‘cupid’ reigns and love is all that matters – the Oasis Living team took the time to ask people what their ideal gift would be and gives you the verdict. Hang on to those wallets and take a few minutes to read what others had to say, you may get an idea or two on how to spend this season of love.
OASISLIVING I 38
Ahmed Al Shamsi, 19, an Emirati – Wants something that conveys power and elegance and wishfully thinks, “what better way is their to express your love than with the BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) 760 series!” VERDICT: Talk about class, now that is what you call real spending, who would not want a BMW for that matter?
2.
Vesna Jarawan, 38, a Croatian would love to travel to Rome, Italy. The opportunity of being in a new place will give her the experience of newfound love and excitement. VERDICT: Traveling to a unique destination always proves fruitful, why not take the chance.
3.
Gordon Buckley, 39, Irish, wishes for a high flying trip to a casino and take a chance on Blackjack gambling , “it will be fun for the both
of us, who knows we may even win.” VERDICT: This is a no go zone, especially for Valentine’s Day. Perhaps something more romantic would do the trick.
4.
Contrary to how commercialized Valentine’s Day is, Victor, 48, German says that the only thing that matters is, “to be healthy and continue loving and be loved.” VERDICT : Don’t we need more men who think like this?
5.
Dave Handu, 44, British, would love a day full of pampering at a renowned spa treatment – “just the mere thought of relaxation with a massage or facial still leaves me breathless… it’s a must treat for all.” VERDICT: Who says men cannot be pampered, here is proof that they too need some tender loving care.
6.
Beryl, British, says that jewelry is on top of her list and she fancies some diamonds from her better half, “what better way to surprise a girl than give her diamonds, regardless of age and fashion they still are a girls best friend and can never be disappointing.” VERDICT: this is the ultimate gift to wooing your loved one away, try and they will still be talking about it for years to come.
7.
Elise, Libyan, told me that all she would love is some time away with her husband without her children in the vicinity, “ just savor a nice meal that I have not prepared myself and not having to be watching my children every few minutes is all I want this Valentine’s day.” VERDICT: You deserve some time out, this would be perfect just for the two of you.
VALENTINE’S DAY Special FEATURE
VALENTINE’S DAY
AROUND THE WORLD
Marycel Baula
Sangheuk Kong
Anna Ogrodowczyk
Giuseppe Alicino
A Filipino, told me that in her native Philippines Valentine’s day is quite over rated and commercialized, none the less apart from the giving and receiving of gifts between lovers a big hit on this day is karaoke singing, “through out the day and evening, people take part in singing the hottest love songs to each other in groups, as lovers, friends or singles – it doesn’t really matter, in the Philippines karaoke is something that is taken quite serious.”
A South Korean, said that their mode of celebration differs from the western ways with the dates particularly. Love is celebrated in three phrases, on February 14th women shower men with gifts and men return the favor on March 14th (known as white day). “Within these two time frames, individuals take the time to express their love to their sweethearts.” For those haven’t yet found their love, all is not lost, we have set aside yet another date, April the 14th (black day) where they all get together and eat Jajang noodles – which are black in color hence the name of the day.
A Polish, said that back home hundreds of lovers make a trip to an ancient Valentine altar located in Chelmno (also known as lover’s city). While there, they pray for a happy wedded life to the couples that Saint Valentine is believed to have married off there. Modern day couples exchange flowers, love quotes, cards and goodies with each other in that place. When night falls, thousands of lights are lit at the centre of the town to create a huge electronic heart. “When I was younger I used to make the travels frequently to Chelmo but now every year or so I try to make it.”
An Italian, told me that apart from the common hype we normally have, spring festivals organized in arboretums or open-air gardens and everybody is invited to join in open mic poetry and music. You will commonly find that the younger generation is more drawn to this festivities nonetheless all are welcome to participate in the fun. Moreover, lovebirds take the time to express their interest in a particular person and seal engagements at this time. The experience is all, “warmly romantic and literally love is in the air.”
A collection of top ten gifts as told to Oasis Living for Valentine’s Day.
1. A ‘man’ bag
3.
TOP TEN WORST GIFTS
5. Perfumes
Burkey, Irish,
Slow cooker Barbara, British,
Teacher.
Housewife.
2. Nail clipper set
4. Handkerchief
Wendy, Filipino,
Receiving nothing Omar, Emirati,
Sales.
Sales.
government sector.
Gennie, Filipino,
Stacey, American, Teacher.
6.
7.
9.
A plant Rita, Nigerian,
Key chain Mohammed,
Hotelier.
Jordanian, Architecture.
8.
10. Tie and socks
Attire that is far too small in size or out of fashion Mariam, Lebanese,
Gerald, South African, Advisor.
Housewife.
39 I OASISLIVING
COVER STORY Al Ain Mall and the Jumeira Hotel
Valentine’s Day & all that
V
alentine’s day brings thoughts of flowers, love and…chocolate, chocolate and...more chocolate. So, what better way to celebrate Valentine’s day than to take a little detour to a chocolate factory. Most are probably not aware that there even is a chocolate factory in Al Ain. Hidden behind the LuLu in Sanaiya the Pistache chocolate factory awakened my sense of smell the moment I walked in. As I entered, I was greeted by general manager and chocolate master Hassan Hassan, who would be my tour guide on the road to chocolate education. I initially thought that what we would receive would be a basic factory tour and to be honest did not consider that there was much to be learned about my favourite food group. I was therefore quite shocked at my obvious ignorance about this delicious plant. For those who are confused by the above statement, yes, chocolate is a plant. What then happens to this plant in order to turn it into your favourite dessert is more scientific than most would assume and definitely much more so than the movie “chocolat” leads one to believe! After the cocoa beans are picked they are first fermented, then roasted and then ground. This produces the two basic ingredients of the chocolate you see in the store: cocoa mass and cocoa butter. Cocoa mass is the chocolate grind
OASISLIVING I 40
while cocoa butter looks literally like regular, transparent butter. By law, you cannot call chocolate ‘chocolate’ unless it has cocoa butter in it – cheap chocolate type candies will contain other types of unknown fats. Variations in these two basic ingredients with the addition of differing amounts of sugar create the three basic types of chocolate: 1. Dark chocolate, which contains both the cocoa mass and the cocoa butter 2. White chocolate, which contains only the cocoa butter 3. Milk chocolate, which contains cocoa mass, cocoa butter and milk. The raw materials, as these three types of chocolate are called in chocolate industry lingo, are created and sent to chocolate factories in large blocks – as you would imagine gold blocks in a bank. At Pistache, the raw materials are imported from Belgium, Switzerland and France as those three countries are historically known to create the highest quality chocolates in the world. From this raw material, the chocolate factory then creates numerous fine quality chocolate products, from truffles to candies, and this is the part that gets really difficult. In order to mold the chocolate, it must be melted at precisely 45 degrees celsius, cooled to approximately 27 degrees celcius and then reheated
Tawam Hospital COVER STORY
again to 30. At this point you can finally mold it and place various fillings inside. After this you have to cool it to approximately 10 degrees celcius and then reheat it again to 16 degrees celcius at which point you can finally take it out of the mold. These temperatures are extremely important and a one degree difference can make a huge difference in the chocolate that you produce with each type of chocolate having slightly different heating and cooling temperatures. In the past the chocolate chef used to test the temperatures using his own lips – probably not too pleasant when you consider some of the higher heating temperatures. Thankfully, now machines are available for this job and the chocolate master assumes a more
creative and less painful position. Though some companies may, Pistache does not add any preservatives to their products and uses the freshest milk. When I asked why they chose to open a factory in Al Ain rather than just import the finished product from Europe (as that is where they get their raw chocolate anyways) I learned some interesting facts about cultural chocolate preferences. Hassan told me that it has been observed by chocolate manufacturers that our chocolate tastes differ based on where we live/ grew up. For example Europeans prefer dark chocolate with tinges of orange, mint or hazelnut flavours. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern
individuals on average like milk chocolate with more nutty flavours and a bit of crisp to them. Those in the far east love more spicy chocolate and the additions of dried fruit and North Americans appear to love all types due to the mix of nationalities and cultures present! If you are wondering whether there are sex differences in chocolate preferences, they have not been observed though women do appear to eat MUCH more chocolate than men! All these cultural taste differences created a need for Pistache to manufacture their own chocolate, as Al Ain is an incredibly multicultural society. The investment was therefore worth it as they now get to make the widest range of products to satisfy the variety of tastes in town.
Your chocolate personality: Did you know that psychologist are now doing research regarding how your chocolate preference relates to your personality? Look below to see what your chocolate selection says about you. If you like:
You may be:
Milk chocolate
Innocent with a sense of nostalgia
Dark chocolate
Problem solver, tendencies towards materialism
White chocolate
Fair person and won’t walk away till justice is served
Oval shapes
Social with a sensual nature
Coffee fillings
Lacking patience but highly open-minded
Crunchy and cerealy fillings
Generally happy yet tend to be emotional
Plain without fillings
Highly extroverted yet needs constant reaffirmation
41 I OASISLIVING
Al Ain Housewife
Appreciation
I
n many countries February is associated with love. Valentine’s Day has become another secular holiday for retailers to cash in on. Cards, boxed chocolates, red roses, and heartbedazzled teddy bears crowd store windows and shelves just after the new year. These convenient, outward displays of love beckon as an easy way to show one’s feelings. Restaurants often have special setmenus on February 14 so couples can celebrate their love. I’ll admit that Valentine’s Day used to be a big deal for me. Before I met my husband, it was a day when I was reminded at every turn of what I didn’t have: a relationship. This holiday, dedicated to love and romance, can be especially cruel to those who are unhappily single. So for many years it was a reminder of what I lacked. Once I met my husband it became a day to celebrate in earnest. Finally I was one of the lucky ones who had someone to trade valentines with. I decked myself out in red, chose thoughtful gifts, and reveled in the flowers, cards, special dinners.
OASISLIVING I 42
For a few years when we were first married, and still childless, we splurged on Valentine’s weekends away. Hotels had special deals in February that made this particularly attractive and affordable. Since we’ve had children our Valentine’s celebrations have been downscaled considerably. There aren’t any more Valentine’s weekends away, or even Valentine’s dinners at restaurants. Don’t get me wrong, we still travel, even more now that we have children. Except now we bring the whole family. And although we don’t usually join the throngs at pre-packaged Valentine’s dinners, we manage to go out to dinner quite frequently. It’s the way we celebrate February 14 that’s changed. Sometimes there’s just a simple exchanges of notes or chocolates or single flowers. Sometimes just a “Happy Valentine’s Day” and a kiss. I usually remember to buy some heartshaped boxes of chocolates for everyone. The girls have come to expect it. They love Valentine’s Day, and always present us with handmade cards.
Perhaps I’ve gotten boring after nearly 17 years of marriage, but I think it’s more than that. I think that I’ve seen the holiday for what it really is: a day when the world tells you to celebrate the love in your life. But why just on this day? It seems slightly cheesy: let’s all get together and be romantic. I suppose I’m sounding somewhat cynical now. I just think it would be more romantic if my husband brought home flowers simply because he loves me and thought it would make me happy, not because it’s Valentine’s Day. It would be more sincere. I do associate the month of February with love but not because of Valentine’s Day. It’s the month when my parents got married (Feb. 12, 1955); the month when my husband proposed (Feb. 12, 1994); and the month when my first baby girl was born (Feb. 6, 1999). We celebrate these milestones of love in different ways. There might not be heartshaped balloons and cardboard cupids, but the sentiments are true. I’m not sure what we’ll do this year or if we’ll give the day more than a passing nod. Knowing how much my husband hates this type of thing (preprogrammed holidays celebrated en-masse) makes me realize how much he must love me. To have endured all of those Valentine’s dinners at restaurants must have made him cringe. He’s extremely romantic, but also extremely private. I’m not sure what he’ll think of being this month’s topic of discussion. You don’t have to celebrate Valentine’s Day extravagantly, if at all. I like to use it as a reminder. Between the kids and jobs and all the extras, it’s easy for the days, weeks, months to fly by. It’s easy to take people for granted, especially the ones you love the most. Valentine’s Day, although overlycommercialized, is a day to stop and appreciate what you have. It doesn’t only have to be romantic love that’s celebrated. Why not use this day to show all the special people in our lives--friends, siblings, children, parents and partners--just how important they really are?
Cooking for blokes FOOD
Women love blokes that can cook so get into the art of it this valentine’s day with these easy to make desserts that will be bound to leave her asking for more…
COOKING for Blokes
Treacle Tart
Rich Chocolate pot
Strawberry Fruit Fool
Apple Fritters 43 I OASISLIVING
FOOD Cooking for blokes
Rich
Chocolate Pot Ingredients: • 4 ounces chopped dark chocolate • ¾ cup heavy cream • 2 tablespoons of sugar
• • • •
3 egg yolks ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Dash of salt Whipped cream for garnish
Method: Step one: Preheat oven to 350° (degrees). Step two: Separate egg yolks into a small bowl and save the whites for another use. Beat until lemon-colored and set-aside. Step three: Heat chocolate, cream and sugar in a bowl over simmering water, not boiling. Make sure the level of the water will not reach the bottom of the bowl. Stir with a whisk until melted. Step four: Remove from heat and beat a small amount of chocolate mixture into the egg yolks to temper them. Gradually add the eggchocolate mixture back into the hot mixture and whisk to blend thoroughly. Blend in vanilla extract. Step five: Strain the mixture through a small sieve into a 1-quart measuring cup then proceed to pour into demitasse cups or small ramekins set in a baking pan; then gently set the pan in the oven and carefully pour hot water into the pan so it reaches about halfway up the sides of the cups. Step seven: Cover with foil and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until edges are slightly firm and the center is slightly soft. Cook to an internal temperature of 150° - 155° (degrees) on an instant read thermometer. Step eight: Remove the pan from the oven and the cups from the water bath. Allow to cool for several minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped cream.
Apple Fritters Ingredients: • Ingredients: • 350g short crust pastry • 500g golden syrup
• • •
125g fresh breadcrumbs 1 lemon, zested and juiced 2 eggs
Method: Step one : Heat the oven to 190° (degrees). Step two: Roll out the pastry between 2 lengths of cling film and line a 22-23cm loose-based tart tin. Line with greaseproof paper and pre bake for 10-15 minutes or until the pastry looks set and dried. Step three: Lift out the paper and dry the base of the tart out in the oven for a couple of minutes. Turn the oven down to 160° (degrees). Step three: Mix the syrup, breadcrumbs, lemon juice and zest, and eggs with a pinch of salt. Step four: Pour into the tart and bake for 50 minutes or until the filling has lightly set. Leave to cool. TIP: Stir 1 finely chopped ball of ginger and 1 tsp ground ginger into the filling before baking. For a dark treacle tart, use 400g golden syrup and 100g black treacle in the filling. To add a touch of luxury and to result in a softer set, stir 2-4 table spoons of double cream into the filling before baking.
OASISLIVING I 44
Treacle Tart Ingredients: • 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour • 1/4 cup sugar • 1 teaspoon of salt • 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
• • • •
1/3 cup milk 1 egg 1 cup finely chopped apple 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
Method: Step one: Sift together the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Step two: Add milk and egg; beat until batter is smooth. Fold in chopped apple. Step three: Drop each apple fold carefully into deep hot oil about 370° (degrees) and at least 2 1/2 to 3 inches deep and fry for about 2 to 3 minutes - until nicely browned. Step four: Drain well on paper towels then roll in confectioners’ sugar while still warm. Serve as is or warm, with syrup, if desired.
Strawberry Fruit Fool Ingredients: • 1 cup (240 ml) strawberry puree (see ingredients for the strawberry puree below) • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream • 1 tablespoon (12 grams) granulated white sugar
Ingredients for the Strawberry Puree: • 1 pound bag (454 grams) frozen unsweetened strawberries • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons (90 grams) granulated white sugar
For the Strawberry Puree: Step one : Thaw the strawberries (this will take a few hours). Step two: Place the strawberries in a food processor, fitted with a steel blade, and process until the berries are pureed. Step three: Transfer to a bowl and stir in the sugar (taste and add more sugar if necessary) then refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Step four: Remove from the freezer after a reasonable amount of time. Step five: Separately, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Step six: With a rubber spatula gently fold in the strawberry puree, leaving some streaks of the white whipping cream. Step seven: Pour the fool into individual long stemmed parfait or wine glasses. Cover and refrigerate until serving time. TIP: Can be made about 4 hours before serving. Garnish with a fresh strawberry.
TECH TALK
For flat screens and wall mounts,
there’s no such thing as too slim
S
lim is “in” ... and not just for people watching their weight. Flat screen TVs and the wall mounts that turn the TVs into decorator showpieces seem to grow sleeker and slimmer every year. And when it comes to viewing technology, thinner not only looks better, it has practical advantages, too. Yes, ultra-slim flat screens may cost you a few more dollars initially, but in the long run will probably provide you with enough user satisfaction to justify the extra expense. And don’t forget that prices for standard flat screens dropped precipitously in just a few years after the products entered the marketplace, so it’s likely prices for slim models will follow suit. Here are a few reasons why you should go trim and slim when buying a flat screen and wall mount:
Aesthetic appeal
If you bought a flat screen TV in 2006, it may still work well but it probably takes up quite a bit of space on your TV stand or - if you wall-mounted it - sticks out into the
room considerably. Older flat screens tended to be several inches thick and could appear bulky, even when mounted high on the wall. Today’s slimmer styles may be just an inch or two think, and ultra-slim models can be less than an inch thick. Less bulk means the TV looks better, whether it’s stand- or wall-mounted. And new super-slim full-motion wall mounts like provide all the advantages and conveniences of wall-mounting a flat screen, but without adding a lot of bulk to the TV’s profile. The mounts offer a full range of motion courtesy of fingertip-tilt technology, but place flat screens 36 to 65 inches in size just 1.25 inches from the wall.
Safety factor
The weight of flat screens can be deceptive. Even older models look so sleek that it’s easy to underestimate their weight. But all TVs tend to be heavy, and, if not properly secured to the wall or a TV stand, can tip over, posing an injury risk to people and pets in the household. Less bulk means slim flat screens are a bit lighter than their thicker counterparts. Remember, however, that it’s
imperative to properly secure all TVs, including slim flat screens, in order to ensure they’re safe - and enjoyable for everyone in the home.
Efficiency
Manufacturers have been improving the efficiency of flat screens since the TVs emerged on the home market. Virtually any flat screen - whether plasma or LCD - that you purchase in 2011 is sure to be more energyefficient and produce a better picture quality than an older version. Some of the ultra-thin models boast super efficiency, requiring no more electricity to operate than a light bulb. Motorized TV wall mounts also offer energy efficiency and quiet operation. As flat screen technology continues to advance, it’s certain that TVs will become even slimmer and more energy efficient. And with superslim wall mounts available, that technological showpiece of your home decor can still maintain a low profile when it comes to how much space it takes up in your living room. -APA
45 I OASISLIVING
REVIEW Tried & Tasted - Bukhara
Tried & Tasted,
Bukhara TEXT Andrew Madigan PHOTOS Xarjan Azam
1
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was a wasteland of earth-movers and barricaded roads; now it’s something more elegant and alluring.
lentils and spices. Even better were the paneer starters. Paneer is a soft, fresh cheese, not unlike halloumi. The paneer tikka was especially good.
Bukhara, at first glance, is a small, unassuming and quite typical Indian restaurant. The ground floor is clean, tidy and uncluttered. It’s rather small, but not cramped. The décor is simple, the room is brightly-lit, and a few photographs and knick-knacks give the space a personal, homey feel. Nothing feels specifically Indian, or even South Asian.
Mr. Naresh Suri opened Bukhara 12 years ago, and it has been quietly successful ever since, a favorite among visiting dignitaries. Mr. Suri’s business card reads Your home kitchen, which is an apt description. Bukhara serves great food in a relaxed, if also professional and upbeat, atmosphere. The flavors and service are wonderful, but you’re made to feel at home, as if eating at your grandmother’s home. (Not my grandmother, mind, but a grandmother who can cook really well.)
I tried several varieties of tandoori chicken, none of which suffered from being dry or tasteless, which is, unfortunately, quite common. In fact, Bukhara’s take on tandoori was exceptionally juicy and memorable. One permutation was stuffed with cheese and minced chicken. Though chicken-stuffed chicken sounds rather peculiar, and I’d never tried anything like it, this was the highlight of my meal. Original, unexpected and delicious.
When you get to the second floor dining room, however, all of this changes. This area has been decorated with deep reds, striking yellows, and beautiful intricatelycarved wooden screens. The look is dramatic and rich, but not heavy-handed. Ceremonial flower garlands hang from the entranceway, transporting you from Al Ain’s Town Square to an upscale restaurant in Delhi. The viewand you don’t get to say this very often around hereis excellent. The courtyard outside has been refurbished, featuring a “dancing fountain,” which means the water has been synchronized to music. You can see this from the second floor or from Bukhara’s al fresco dining area. A few years ago, downtown Al Ain
I have never eaten this much in my life. I will never be able to remember all the things I tasted, but I can say that I enjoyed everything. In fact, almost every side dish, entrée and bread was absolutely delicious. A few items were merely good, but that’s high praise by faint damnation. Bukhara has an extensive menu specializing in Punjabi cuisine, but they also serve Chinese and quasiContinental dishes. They have dozens of tandoori specialties, including prawns, chicken, vegetables, mutton and fish. I recommend, as an appetizer, the palak ki shami. It looks like a darker, smoother falafel, but much more spicy and crispy. Palak ki shami is made from spinach, garlic, green chili, potato, bread crumbs,
I generally don’t order fish, except for sushi, and when I have a bite of someone else’s fish I usually don’t care for it much. All the seafood I sampled at Bukhara, however, was quite palatable. Soft and moist, pleasantly textured; the flavors were both subtle and spicy, which is a difficult feat. In fact, all of the entrées managed to have strong flavors without overpowering the palette or concealing the intrinsic taste of the dish. When the flavor of a good cut of meat, for example, is veiled behind an avalanche of spice, you wonder why the meat was even included among the ingredients. After gorging myself on 436 courses, somehow I didn’t feel too bad. I wasn’t sensing the aftershocks of
y favorite Indian restaurant in Al Ain has long been Tanjore, but now another eatery has taken its place: Bukhara. The food is every bit as good, and the prices are considerably lower.
2
OASISLIVING I 46
3
4
Tried & Tasted - Bukhara REVIEW
I wasn’t sensing the aftershocks of a “Ghee OD.” I asked the owner about this. He said that his chefs tend to shallow fry, rather than deep fry, the food, and that everything was prepared fresh. a “Ghee OD.” I asked the owner about this. He said that his chefs tend to shallow fry, rather than deep fry, the food, and that everything was prepared fresh. Restaurants that don’t follow these practices often leave their customers feeling as though they’ve eaten a trough of kitchen grease. Mr. Suri, who is an optometrist and owns two optical shops, originally opened Bukhara because the other local restaurants weren’t, in his opinion, good enough. This reminds me of the great director Stanley Kubrick, who decided to make films because he knew he could do the job as well as the so-called professionals. Kubrick, a fashion photographer and jazz drummer by trade, went on to become a master filmmaker, and Suri has developed into a skilled restaurateur. He might even consider quitting his day job.
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7
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -
Mango Lassi Hyderabadi Dum Biryani Hariyali Tikka Paneer Parabdaar Palak Ki Shami Kandhari Prompfrette Tandoori Murgh Tandoori Bharwan Aloo Gilafi Kebab Tandoori Ajwaini Prawns
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47 I OASISLIVING
THE LOOK There Are Accessories For Men Too
There Are Accessories
For Men Too By Phoenix Delray
W
hen people think about the word accessory, they usually think about women, but that notion is quickly changing. While women have always had the choices of different types of jewelry, belts, hair accessories, scarves and shoes, men are creeping up with their latest accessories now too. There is no reason that men should not have the same variety as women; they like to change their minds and outfits too.
OASISLIVING I 48
There Are Accessories For Men Too THE LOOK
Ties are becoming the most stylish way to really bring a mens fashion designer suit to a whole new level. Edwardian style cravats and the old fashioned styles of ties are definitely coming back in style. Fashion for men has really been changing a lot over the past few years and more and more designers are making clothes that tailored specifically for all types of men. It used to be that men fashion designers were only designing suits, shirts and pants for men, but now it has become all about the accessories and really tying that outfit together. Today, men focus more on the perfect pair of shoes, the ties that brings the whole suit together, and the latest belts and scarves. Ties are becoming the most stylish way to really bring a mens fashion designer suit to a whole new level. Edwardian style cravats and the old fashioned styles of ties are definitely
coming back in style. With this type of style tie you do not have to get too flashy with it; a very simple color or a silky white for a more formal look will tie everything together. When you wear a nice stylish yet simple tie like this, you can get a little jazzier with the color of the shirt or even the suit. Shoes for men are coming out in hordes these days, you can tell by how much larger the shoe department in stores has gotten over the past few years. Dark and earthy shoe colors for men are always classic and very versatile. Be sure to stick to shoes that have a slim and thin sole; this makes the shoe look sleeker and will go well with your favorite designer suit. Belts are an
accessory that every man should have, regardless of your everyday style. Men are also becoming much more fashionable and really raising the bar with stylish scarves. Scarves can turn a simple and basic outfit into something that is ready to be out on the town. Knit or smooth silky scarves are materials that you cannot go wrong with for any occasion. If you decide to opt for a more textured scarf then you probably want to go with one that is a solid color or a very simple pattern; do not overdo it. So next time you are getting ready for a night out, think about what extra little thing you could add to make your outfit perfect.
49 I OASISLIVING
Environment
Our Earth - أرضنــــا
OASISLIVING I 50
Our Earth - أرضنــــاEnvironment
Our Earth أرضنــــا
N
o matter the season, families can reduce, reuse and recycle with a little planning and organization. With a wealth of information available at your fingertips, it’s easy to develop a plan that fits your family.
:جعل إعادة تكرير النفايات ذو شأنًا أسريًا تستطيع األسر تقليل وإعادة استخدام النفايات بغض النظر عن ، وذلك بقليل من التنظيم والتخطيط، الفصل الذي نحن فيه بإمكاننا، ومع المعلومات الكثيرة الموجودة في متناول أيدينا . وضع خطة تتناسب مع أسرتنا
The key to thinking earth-friendly 365 days a year is to get the entire family involved so everyone feels like they’re a part of the solution. Here are some easy ways for the entire family to focus on earth-friendly learning and activities all year long:
إن التفكير والتعلم حول كيفية الحفاظ على البيئة هو المفتاح ومن، لجعل األسرة بكاملها تعمل على ذلك على مدار السنة :هذه األفكار
Design a recycling bin
One of the most important steps in sticking with a recycling program for the family is getting children involved in a hands-on way. An easy and fun way to do this is to have kids design a collection bin for all your recyclable items, such as newspapers, cans and glue bottles. Giving them the freedom to design the bin however they want is a great way to emphasize the fun benefits of recycling at an early age.
Use a recycling chart
A great way to get the family thinking about recycling all year is through a monthly recycling chart. Develop a simple chart or thermometer graph and hang it in an easily accessible place. Each week, the kids can chart how many items the family recycled. It’s a great way to sharpen math skills while taking care of the environment. For an added twist, set recycling-focused goals for the family each month and when those goals are achieved, reward everyone with a movie or some ice cream.
Start a repair day
Implement a monthly repair day in which the entire family works together to repair household items that might need a little TLC. By working together on a consistent basis to repair what you already have, you can teach children the value of repairing and reusing. With a little teamwork, a couple drops of glue and some elbow grease, your house will be in tip-top shape each month. By implementing a couple of these ideas you can help the entire family focus on the benefits of earth-friendly living all year long. - ARA
تصميم صناديق القمامة للمواد :القابلة إلعادة التكرير
أنها واحدة من أهم الخطوات األساسية لبرنامج إعادة استخدام فيمكن لألسرة أن تقوم بها عن طريق تدريب األطفال، النفايات للقيام بجمع ووضع النفايات القابلة للتكرير في الحاويات الخاصة وذلك بغية، والتي يقومون هم بتصميمها بكامل حريتهم، بها تعويدهم على حماية األرض بسن مبكرة وبطريقة مشوقة في ٍ والعلب بكافة أنواعها، وهذه النفايات هي « الجرائد، نفس الوقت .» )وزجاجات الالصق ( الغراء
وضع مخطط للنفايات التي يمكن :إعادة تكريرها
إن من إحدى الطرق الرائعة لجعل األسرة تهتم بكاملها بموضوع إعادة تكرير النفايات على مدار السنة هي عن طريق وضع مخطط مكان ما كي يستطيع كل أفراد األسرة الوصول بياني يعلق في ٍ ويقوم األطفال في نهاية كل أسبوع بإحصاء، وبسهولة، إليه كافة األشياء التي قامت العائلة برميها في حاويات النفايات القابلة وبذلك يكون الطفل قد شحذ مهارته أيضًا في، إلعادة التكرير وعلى األسرة أن. باإلضافة على حرصه على حماية البيئة، الحساب تقوم باستخدام الحوافز لجعل الطفل يرغب بالقيام بهذه المهمة عن طريق إعطاء المكافآت كالبوظة أو حضور فيلم سينمائي . لألطفال وغير ذلك
:تخصيص يوم لترميم البيوت
تخصيص يوم من مطلع كل شهر تقوم فيه األسرة بكاملها بكافة أعمال الترميم الصغيرة التي يحتاجها المنزل لإلبقاء على مظهره الجيد كما تنبه الطفل على قيمة اإلصالح وأهميته وذلك . في سن مبكرة ومن خالل تنفيذ فكرتين فقط من األفكار السابقة تستطيع األسر .تقدير مدى أهمية العيش على أرض صديقة للبيئة طوال السنة
51 I OASISLIVING
BEAUTY Skin care
It’s the
essential season for good skin care
Setting aside a day of beauty for yourself before or during the busy holiday season could be your key to not only looking good, but keeping yourself safe and healthy for the rest of the year. Think of cooler weather as the essential season for good skin care. Go about it naturally by crafting your own toxic-free skin care products that feature the benefits of pure, plant-derived essential oils.
Step 1:
Start your new yearly routine by examining and evaluating your skin. Everyone should periodically perform a thorough skin examination. First, get naked, and then use a handheld mirror in a well-lit room to look over your entire epidermis. Map out the location, size, color and form of any mole, scar, birthmark or discoloration. Make a note of any troubling changes that occur in any of these permanent skin features, such as blemishes, moles or lesions that are or become persistently itchy, bleeding, waxy, translucent, and hard or clustered together. Pay special attention to any blemish that increases in size and has an irregular edge. Make an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist if you note anything out of the ordinary.
Step 2:
Adjust your skin care routine. Now is the time to help your skin recover from summer sun and wind as well as
OASISLIVING I 52
get yourself ready to look your best for the parties, family, friends (and photos) of the holiday season. To that end, the most effective approach isn’t premium cosmetics - simply get adequate rest, good nutrition and hydration. Here are some lifestyle tips to promote great skin: • • • •
• •
Minimize caffeine. Get at least eight hours of sleep every night. Eat right - you already know what to avoid. Eat whole, fresh fruits and colorful vegetables. Beta carotene-rich carrots, pumpkin and sweet potatoes can even skin color and help prolong your summer glow. Drink pure, clean water instead of coffee, soda or sweetened juices. Get exercise and fresh air - 20 minutes every day is adequate and easy.
Expensive cleansers are mostly water with a small percentage of “active ingredients” thrown in,
while high-end lotions and creams are mostly water emulsified with a bit of oil. Both of these types of formulations are inherently unstable and must be preserved and stabilized with a whole host of potentially toxic and irritating ingredients that have everything to do with maintaining the product on the store shelf and nothing to do with maintaining your healthy skin. Why pay for what you don’t need or want? Step 3: Create your own safe and natural skin care products. What’s not in your skin care products is perhaps more important than what is in your skin care products. You can control what goes on your body by making and using a few essential skin care products yourself. Aromatherapy expert Tom Havran offers cleanser, moisturizer, and hydrating mist recipes that call for lavender and geranium essential oils which are toning, calming and adaptable to all skin types.
BEAUTY
Cleanser
A gentle, natural liquid soap created when an alkaline mineral salt is combined with a natural vegetable oil such as sweet almond is the cleanest clean you can use. Soap can be drying for sensitive individuals, so don’t overdo it and make sure you follow up with a moisturizer. Ingredients: •
1 cup unscented liquid vegetable oil based soap
•
2 tablespoons water or unflavored green tea
•
1/4 teaspoon lavender essential oil
•
1/4 teaspoon geranium essential oil
Directions: Combine soap, water (or tea) and essential oils in a small bottle. Apply about 1 tablespoon to a soft, wet washcloth and gently scrub damp skin in a circular buffing motion (not too long or with too much force). Rinse with warm water and follow with moisturizer below.
Moisturizer
Toning and hydrating mist
We need a moisturizer to re-fat the skin after cleansing. Washing with soap lifts away dirt, make-up and dead skin and keeps skin bright and pores clear, but it also strips our skin of its natural, protective (and wrinkle-fighting) oil known as sebum. A light-bodied and absorbent, nonclogging oil such as grapeseed or jojoba applied to still-damp skin after rinsing away your liquid soap-based cleanser will perform the same function as costly lotions and creams - but at a fraction of the price. Ingredients:
As the day goes on, you’ll inevitably lose that fresh glow of the morning. Some areas of your skin might become increasingly dry while others might be oily. A simple mixture of pure water and toning lavender and geranium essential oils can help diminish an oily appearance while moistening dry areas. Ingredients:
•
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
•
1/2 cup jojoba oil
•
1/4 teaspoon lavender essential oil
•
1/4 teaspoon geranium essential oil
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a small squeeze bottle, apply a teaspoon to the palm of hand, rub hands together and smooth over damp, freshly cleansed skin, pat dry any excess water or oil.
•
1 cup water
•
1/4 teaspoon lavender essential oil
•
1/4 teaspoon geranium essential oil
•
Small spray mister bottle
Directions: Combine water and essential oils in a bottle. Shake vigorously and apply two to three spritzes of the mist to skin. Smooth over surface if needed. (ARA)
53 I OASISLIVING
HERITAGE Arabic Falcon Hunting
Learn a thing about
Falcon Hunting
By Reem Al Mansouri
Falconry is a sport practiced with love by Bedouins. However, people in the past hunted with falcons to supply them with food. Nowadays, it’s done for the love of the sport and because it’s a traditional activity. OASISLIVING I 54
Arabic Falcon Hunting HERITAGE
What do falcons hunt? Falcons hunt bustards, hubara and hare. Nowadays, since hubara are threatened with extinction, hunting them is not allowed.
The “mngalah”
is used to carry the falcon.
Why is it such an important activity in the UAE? Falconry now is a sport practiced by many Arabs. Many UAE nationals enjoy this sport, and it’s has been a tradition for years. Younger Emiratis have gotten attached to falconry by watching their parents and joining them.
What makes the best falcon? There are many kind of falcons: • • • • •
‘shaheen’ - the best in speed ‘hur’ - very patient and able to fly long distances ‘geer’ - originally from Siberia, strong and fierce and new to the Gulf ‘garmosha’ - known for its beauty. ‘tibe’a’ - smaller in size than the others, used to hunt bustards
What does a hunter falcon cost? The best hunter falcons cost 20,000300,000 dirhams, depending on size, color and other factors.
A “burqa’a”
is a mask used to cover the eyes while training the falcon, especially when it is not yet tamed (so it won’t get wild and fly away).
“Al wakr”
is like a bed; falcons sleep on them.
A “tlwaah”
is used when training falcons. Usually it’s tightened to a rope and moved in a circular motion from a far distance to grab the falcon’s attention so the falcon can fly to it (the falcon believes it’s a bird).
The “sboog”
is attached to both of the falcon’s claws. One end can be attached to the mngalah.
Where do people do falcon-hunting today? Nowadays, hunting in the UAE is not allowed. However, you can try falconry as a sport in specified areas. There is the Emirates Falconers’ Club, for example (they’re on Facebook).
The “das”
is used while feeding the falcon.
55 I OASISLIVING
SELF IMPROVEMENT Work balance life
By Ginette Collin
I
t seems these days that everyone is busy and time is the currency that is never in abundance. More people are experiencing burn out and anxiety due to being overworked or dealing with the daily pressures of modern life. We know that poor worklife balance can lead to fatigue, depression, lack of motivation, burn out, illness and friction with your spouse, your kids and your colleagues.
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The balancing act between “work” (ambition/career) and “life” (family/ leisure /spiritual & personal development) sounds idealistic but is not necessarily simple. Given that each individual has different needs, experiences and goals, finding the perfect Work-Life balance isn’t a “one solution fits all”. It is a process of trial & error until you find the right balance that works for you. Identifying your best approach to balancing work and life is the key to living a happier, healthier and more productive life.
Where do you start? The Bigger Picture: Work Accomplishment versus Lifestyle Enjoyment Work Accomplishment: You might already have your own definition of success or achievement. Are you on that path? Do you know what you actually want to achieve?
Take some time to assess your current situation, clarify your core values and try to identify what is important to you. Lifestyle Enjoyment: Take a few minutes to think about what is enjoyable in your life. It may involve feelings such as love, happiness, contentment, fulfillment, satisfaction, pride in yourself or actions and activities that you participate in. To obtain a healthy work-life balance involves integrating work accomplishment and lifestyle enjoyment into your life every day. To assist you in identifying ways to establish a work-life balance, here is a range of suggestions divided into three sections; Time, Communication and Self: Time: •
We can’t change the number of hours in a day, but we can
Work balance life SELF IMPROVEMENT
Reflect on how you live your life Who am I? Where am I going? Cost versus Reward in my job, is it worth it? Do I work longer hours than I have to? What is “success” to me? Am I achieving something worthwhile?
Clarify your values What are my core values? What matters to me the most? Is being a spouse/parent the most important thing in my life? Do my choices and actions match my values?
• • • •
•
change how we use them. Once you know where the time goes, you can begin to be more conscious of how to best use it. Keep track of everything you do for one week – how well are you using this valuable resource? Get a daily planner; write what needs to be done with a time frame. Prioritize the order. Make a weekly schedule and include time with your family and your Self. Think outside the box and look for flexibility in your working arrangements: Can you work flexible hours, or from home 1 day/week? Sharing the driving if this is taxing for you. Leave work at work unless it is “crucial”: Nowadays with mobile phones, laptops and blackberries, it is so easy to be accessible 24/7. “I’ll just check this email” continues for hours. Be disciplined and leave work at work. Don’t work longer, work smarter. Switch off, relax and recharge your batteries.
other capable colleagues where possible. •
•
Develop a strong support system: Ask friends and colleagues for help and support when you need it. Whether it is to share picking up the kids from school or to delegating tasks to
Learn to say NO!: This can be difficult at the beginning but developing this skill will help you avoid being overwhelmed, overworked or frustrated
Self: •
Communication: •
Listen to your spouse and colleagues, when they suggest that you are working too hard – You probably are!
•
•
Stress Management: Reflect on the signs and symptoms of when you are stressed. Find tools and strategies to cope with the stressors: If you can, change the situation (Avoid the stressor or alter the stressor), if this is not possible, you must change your reaction to it (Adapt to stressor or accept the stressor). Make a point of choosing positive thoughts, give yourself permission to rest and relax in these acute stressful periods (go for a run, a massage, shopping –whatever works for You!) Set SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and within a Time frame. Nurture yourself: Eat healthy, exercise, develop a positive
attitude and set aside time to relax. Read, practice yoga, and do outdoor activities. Find something that you enjoy and is good for You! Include this in your weekly schedule. Creating a work-life balance is an ongoing process as your family’s needs, your interests and your life evolves and changes. Re-evaluate your state of work-life balance on a regular basis and make adjustments to adapt to these changes. Remember, few people’s final words in life are “I wish I had of spent more time at work!” Your health and happiness are worth the time and energy investing to this process. Good luck and enjoy the ride! Ginette Collin is a Performance Development Manager at Knowledge Point, in Abu Dhabi. She is involved in facilitating Leadership & Management and Personal Development Training. She is passionate about working with women and improving their situations, attitudes and skills. If you want to know more about Work-Life Balance or other Self Developing Courses, please contact Ginette at: Ginette.Collin@kpoint.ae
57 I OASISLIVING
JOURNAL
Uncover London
Journal of an Emirati student
UNCOVER LONDON WITH
Meraymi
It is still quite hard to believe that this is London, one of the most famous cities in the world. I have everyone back in the UAE, who made it possible for me to come here, to thank. I have noticed how, when you visit a hotel, there’s always a clock for the city of Dubai included along with Tokyo, Paris and New York.
OASISLIVING I 58
Uncover London
W
hat a start to the New Year--it is quite hard to believe this global holiday is over and now everyone must return to reality and carry on into 2011. During my holidays I spent most of my time in central London with my mum and sisters. But by now we have all thrown out the Christmas tree and packed up all those presents we received (and hadn’t liked) and made some New Year’s resolutions. I was catching up with everyone to find out what they had decided to try out. While some went with the usual--to give up smoking, spend more time in the gym, cut down on spending money--I decided to take a more relaxed approach to things. My New Year’s resolution is to simply relax. I reckon I am pretty chilled out already, but there is nothing wrong with never letting things get to you. Just concentrate on how they can get better instead of worse. I have also taken a vow to try everything out. I like doing favours for people and taking part in anything, so I am going to be a ‘Yes’ woman. Why not? They do say staying busy keeps an active mind and boosts your confidence. There is always something happening on campus, and people often call in with favours in my course--if they need extras for a film or surveys for students, I always try to contribute. On another note, I can say that living in central London is so different from Uxbridge. Although I am still in London, it is more suburban. Life seems a little more slow in this
university town. My sisters, Yasmeen and Farah, both live at London Bridge, which is right on the edge of Zone 1. It is great staying there because everything is so close and you can walk to almost every destination--if you have a good set of legs and a map handy. If you are lucky, you might even spot someone famous browsing around. Friends of mine often say they have seen the odd celebrity. Lady Gaga and Stephen Fry, for example, live on Great Portland Street, and you can spot some of the Chelsea or Arsenal football players on nights out in Mayfair or Soho. It is still quite hard to believe that this is London, one of the most famous cities in the world. I have everyone back in the UAE, who made it possible for me to come here, to thank. I have noticed how, when you visit a hotel, there’s always a clock for the city of Dubai included along with Tokyo, Paris and New York. Everyone associates the Emirates with being a city in a country called Dubai. I don’t know why. I always refer to it as the United Arab Emirates, because that is the name of the country. However, when someone has not heard of it, I say Dubai because that is usually what people recognise. Even though I consider myself from Abu Dhabi, people always ask me how everything back in ‘Dubai’ is. I don’t take offence. I just answer, ‘Well I do not really know, since I lived in Abu Dhabi.’ Some get embarrassed, but I laugh it off. It is not their fault. I know one day
JOURNAL
Abu Dhabi will be one of the most well-known capitals in the world. I am a Film and Television student so I enjoy watching anything and everything on TV. The BBC news is my preference because I believe they deliver a high standard of news from across the globe as accurately as possible. I like to try and follow politics because British laws differ so much from the laws in the United Arab Emirates. Even from watching shows like ‘Road Wars’ or ‘Passport Patrol’ I get insights on my rights here in the UK. I would love a job in journalism. I have a small ambition to become a news reader on BBC1 or Sky News--they look so professional, and it would be a privilege to join them. I will tell you one thing that I do not think I would miss if I left London: the short and dark days as well as the cold! From about late-November until early-March, the days are so short, with the sun setting around 4 or 5 pm. I am used to the winter months since I have lived through them before, but I know fellow international students who find them dreadful. It is not so bad once you switch the heaters in your house up to full blast, buy a pair of gloves or two, and make sure you stick the kettle on when you get home. Not that it will get to that point in the Emirates. It is the complete reverse: air conditioner, sunglasses, and a cold bottle of Masafi. Catch up with me next month. I hope you have enjoyed reading up on my life in London. As I always say, ‘It only gets better...’
59 I OASISLIVING
PROFILE Hussam Ghamal El Din
Into the Horizon The Youngest Pilot Graduate in the U.A.E
Hussam Ghamal El Din
A
sk half the male population out there what they dreamed of doing as a kid and I guarantee the word ‘Pilot’ will pop out of their lips before they even realize they’ve said anything.
Eighteen year-old Hussam Ghamal El Din had the same exact dream, however, unlike most others his dream began to turn real before he even had the chance to fully leave his childhood. At the age of fifteen Hussam was approached by His Highness Dr. Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan who suggested that he leave highschool and become a pilot for the UAE Falcon Aviation Services. Hussam says that he didn’t need to think – after watching helicopters fly up above from the age of 8, he knew right away that his answer was “yes”. After receiving his International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Hussam joined the UAE special forces for two years. Following another year at Horizon Flight Academy he graduated December 2010, at the age of eighteen, as the UAE’s youngest helicopter pilot to date. For those wondering what pilot training looks like, the structure of Hussam’s training consisted of a twelve week theory phase of in-class lessons followed by approximately 40 weeks of hands-on flight training. During the theory phase, students attend classes seven hours a day, learning subjects ranging from the principles of flight and navigation to electrical systems and human performance. The goal is not only to teach a person how to fly but to create a pilot who can fully understand the concept of flight and the structure of an aircraft; in effect both being able to react effectively in high pressure situations as well as have the ability to fix any technical problems himself, if need be. When entering a flight academy the perspective pilot chooses one of two main roads, fixed wing or helicopter flight. Other choices include training for a private pilot license versus a commercial pilot license, or possibly an air transport one. Some routes require more training than others and one may choose to train further to be able to fly at night. Enquiring whether there were aspects of his training that he found more or less challenging than others, Hussam replied that “even things that seem easy, when you begin to study them, you find that you don’t really know them.” We think we understand things, but what we understand is the top layer and not the deeper details. He recalls his second time flying solo when he looked down and all
OASISLIVING I 60
التخصيصات مقابلة أصغر خريج طيران- األفق
حسام جمال الدين
إذا قمنا بسؤال الذكور عن ماهو حلمهم عندما كانو أطفاالً فإن إن حسام جمال الدين، طيار: نصفهم سوف يجيبون وبال تردد ، وعندما كان صغيرًا كان له نفس الحلم، اآلن في الثامنة عشر فقد، ولكن ونوعًا عن غيره من األطفال لم يكن مجرد حلمًا وذلك في سن مبكرة جدًا عندما كان عمره، تحول إلى حقيقة حوالي الخمسة عشرة عامًا حيث اقترح عليه صاحب السمو الدكتور سلطان بن خليفة آل نهيان أن يترك الثانوية ويتابع .تعليمه كطيار ليصبح صقرًا من صقور اإلمارات العربية المتحدة فقد كان جوابه، حسام يقول بأنه لم يكن بحاجة الى التفكير فهو ومنذ سن الثامنة كان يرى بأم عينيه. » « نعم: على الفور وبعد أن تلقى حسام. طائرات الهيلكوبتر وهي تحلق في الجو التحق بالقوات الخاصة، الشهادة الدولية العامة للتعليم الثانوي ومن ثم تابع في، لدولة اإلمارات العربية المتحدة لمدة سنتين 2010 كلية الطيران لمدة عام كامل حيث تخرج في كانون األول ليصبح أصغر طيار هيلكوبتر في، وهو في عمر الثامنة عشر حتى اآلن أما للذين يرغبون في معرفة، اإلمارات العربية المتحدة : خطوات التدريب لقيادة الطائرات فهي ساعات اثني عشر إسبوعًا من التدريب النظري والذي هو سبع ٍ يتم دراسة مبادىء الطيران والمالحة واألنظمة الكهربائية، يوميًا واألداء البشري وليس الهدف من هذا كله تعليم الطيار كيف يطير وإنما لخلق طيار قادر على فهم ماهية الرحلة وهيكل بشكل سليم وبفعالية وذلك للتصرف، حد سواء ٍ الطائرة على ٍ ليكون قادرًا، عالية في الحاالت الطارئة وتحت الضغوط الكبيرة . على إصالح أية مشاكل فنية في الطائرة إذا لزم األمر لذلك فإما، فعلى الطيار أن يختار، وعندما تدخل أكاديمية الطيران أن يقوم بقيادة الطائرات العادية ذات األجنحة الثابتة أو قيادة وهناك خيارات أخرى تكمن في نوعية، طائرات الهيلكوبتر الرخصة فإما أن تكون رخصة قيادة طيار خاص أو طيار تجاري أو ولكل نوع من هذه الرخص لها تدريبات خاصة، طيارات نقل جوي ويستطيع الطيار أن يأخذ تدريبات إضافية ليتمكن من، لنيلها وعندما قمنا باإلستفسار من حسام أنه هل.القيادة في الليل : فأجاب، وجد صعوبة أو سهولة في إحدى مراحل تدريباته فستجد أنك، أنك إذا كنت تعتقد أمرًا من أمور الطيران سهل وأنه ليس، التعرف عنه أي شيء عندما تدرسه وتتعمق فيه . بهذه البساطة التي كنت تتوقعها وعندما عاد حسام بذاكرته الى المرة الثانية التي قام بها
COVER STORY Hussam Ghamal El Din PROFILE
61 I OASISLIVING
PROFILE Hussam Ghamal El Din
Because I was the youngest, I had a hard time being constantly serious at the same level as a 30-year old. And you know, pilots tend to form cliques. At the beginning it was very difficult to enter their group because I was just a child compared to them.
of a sudden thought, “why is this not falling?” and was grabbed by fear. Because though we think we understand how an airplane stays up in the sky, as he was looking down Hussam realized he still couldn’t quite grasp it. “When I got back down I took out the books and had to re-read about all the technical dynamics.” What Hussam found more challenging than the actual training though, was his age. The average age of the other pilots-in-training was approximately 25-32, while Hussam started at the age of seventeen. “Because I was the youngest, I had a hard time being constantly serious at the same level as a 30-year old. And you know, pilots tend to form cliques. At the beginning it was very difficult to enter their group because I was just a child compared to them.” Although he obviously managed well, keeping his goals in mind and focusing on his future, Hussam admits that he wasn’t exactly a parent’s dream child. The youngest of three children, he describes his siblings as very clever and always highly accomplished in school, while he was the family trouble-maker. His parents had no lack of phone calls from the school as he constantly instigated pranks, including flooding the school in the middle of exams. But things changed when he entered grade nine. His mother went to Egypt to stay with his sister while his sister attended university, his brother was working as a pilot and his father in Abu Dhabi. Suddenly Hussam found himself more or less on his own and had to quickly readjust to his immediate adulthood. He took stock of his situation and what he wanted to do with his life, rapidly maturing.
OASISLIVING I 62
وفجأة بدأ يتساءل لما، فقد نظر الى األسفل، بالطيران وحده وذلك، وعندها بدأ الخوف يتسرب الى قلبه، ال تقع هذه الطائرة ألنه ظن نفسه يعرف كل شيء عن الطيران وعن الطائرات فهو لم يستطع تفسير شيء فقد، وكيفية بقائها في الجو ولكنه عندما هبط الى األرض تناول كتبه، ظل ينظر لألرض ولكن.الخاصة في تقنيات الطيران وديناميكيته وراح يقرؤها ما وجده حسام مختلفًا وأكثر صعوبة من التدريب الفعلي هو سنة بينما هو32 - 25 عمره لقدكانت تتراوح أعمار زمالئه بين فقد وجد صعوبة في التعامل، كان في السابعة عشر من عمره فهو يحس نفسه كالطفل، والبقاء معهم في مجموعة واحدة ولكنه بسبب قوة إرادته وحبه للطيران استطاع التحكم، بينهم .والسيطرة على كل ذلك رغم أنه، إن حسام يعترف بأنه لم يكن تمامًا ما أراده له والديه وذكيًا ومتقدمًا في مدرسته،كان األصغر سنًا بين إخوته الثالثة فال يخلو يوم، جهة أخرى صانع مشاكل لعائلته إال أنه كان من، ٍ شقي قام به لعمل من األيام إال ويتلقى أهله هاتف من المدرسة ٍ ٍ حيث قام في إحدى األيام بإغراق المدرسة بالمياه أثناء اإلمتحانات، ولكنه عندما دخل الى الصف التاسع حدثت تغيرات.الفصلية لتبق مع أخته فقد عادت والدته الى مصر، كبيرة في حياته َ وأما والده فقد كان يعمل في، اثناء فترة دراستها في الجامعة ، فجأة وجد حسام نفسه وحيدًا، وأخوه يعمل كطيار، أبوظبي لذلك قرر اإلنتقال من مرحلة اللهو، وعليه أن يعتمد على نفسه وتم ذلك، واللعب الى مرحلة الجد والعمل واإلعتماد على الذات .قصير جدًا بوقت ٍ ٍ
COVER STORY Hussam Ghamal El Din PROFILE
يقول حسام للذين لم يستطيعوا دخول مجال الطيران وصناعة الطائرات إن الوقت لم،ولم تحقق أحالمهم فنحن نستطيع بالعلم، يفتهم بعد وأما بالنسبة لهؤالء، تحقيق كل شيء الطيارين الذين يقولون أنهم يعرفون وهم في، كل شيء عن الطيران وهم الذين، الحقيقة اليعرفون شيئًا . يقعون بأخطاء كثيرة وكبيرة جدًا
He regrets nothing about his choice to become a pilot and is still thankful to His Highness Dr. Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan for opening up this road for him. What he still loves most about flying is the view, “It never gets boring. Watching the sunrise is the best.” he explains with passion. One of his dreams is to fly to the north of Canada one day and watch the aurora borealis. Outside of flying he hopes to be a minister one day, to manage something of his own, stating that he never wants to stop learning in one capacity or another. This leads to a discussion of the types of people who are and aren’t suited to become pilots. “There are two types of pilots” Hussam says “those who love to fly – have a passion for the sky – and those who just fly for money. Those who just work for money, once they graduate they close the books and never learn again. I want to keep learning.” Our human ability for lifelong learning is something that Hussam persistently tries to get across, especially to those who have ever dreamed of entering the aviation industry. “Be always ready. If you want to do this, give it a go. Don’t think that you missed your chance because you may have been forced to take another career path. You can always come back to aviation.” According to Hussam, the only people who shouldn’t be pilots are those who already think they know everything. They are the ones who make the biggest and possibly most dangerous errors. So to the fifty percent of the male population who is beginning to re-dream their childhood dreams after reading this, perhaps it is finally time for some action?
فقد، لم يندم حسام في إحدى األيام على اختياره مهنة الطيار ظل شاكرًا لصاحب السمو الدكتور سلطان بن خليفة بن زايد إن حسام يعشق الطيران. آل نهيان على فتح هذا الطريق له وخاصة مراقبة شروق الشمس، ورؤية المناظر الجميلة من الجو لذا كان يتمنى دائمًا أن يذهب برحلة الى شمال كندا ليرى، فإن حسام يتمنى أن، أما خارج حياة الطيران. الشفق القطبي ليدير األشياء لوحده ويتعلم، واحد فقط ليوم ولو، يصبح وزيرًا ٍ ٍ ألنه ينقله من مرحلة، فهو اليريد أن يتوقف عن التعلم، منها .الى مرحلة أعلى منها وهذا يقودنا الى مناقشة أنواع الطيارين فمنهم من هو ليس ( إن هناك نوعان: وقد قال،مناسبًا ألن يعمل في هذا المجال الذي يعشق الطيران ويستمتع: النوع األول، من الطيارين الذي يبحث فقط: وأما النوع الثاني. برؤية السماء من األعلى عن المال فبعد تخرجهم من الكلية يرمون كتبهم وينتظرون أما أنا فال أريد أن أتوقف عن التعلم أبدًا إنا كقدرة، المال فقط هذا ما قاله حسام.) بشرية قادرين على التعلم مدى الحياة . وحاول باستمرار برهانه لنا يقول حسام للذين لم يستطيعوا دخول مجال الطيران وصناعة فنحن، إن الوقت لم يفتهم بعد،الطائرات ولم تحقق أحالمهم وأمابالنسبةلهؤالءالطيارين،نستطيعبالعلمتحقيقكلشيء وهم في، الذين يقولون أنهم يعرفون كل شيء عن الطيران وهم الذين يقعون بأخطاء كثيرة، الحقيقة اليعرفون شيئًا بعد قراءة هذا المقال يقول للذين كان حلمهم في. وكبيرة جدًا ! ربما حان الوقت أخيرًا لبعض العمل؟، الطفولة الطيران 63 I OASISLIVING
AUTO CARE Change your wiper blades
Don’t wait until it’s too late to change your
wiper blades
Another indicator that it’s time for new wiper blades is by the quality of the wipe. Streaking or unwiped areas are a dead giveaway. If the blades make noise or chattering sounds, then they need to be replaced. On some newer blades in the market, there is a builtin wear indicator which recognizes diminished blade performance. By taking one glance at the indicator, you will know when they need replacing.
How often should you replace your blades?
C
lear vision is essential to safe driving, especially in the wintertime. Neglect your wiper blades, and you may find yourself in hazardous weather situations with limited vision. The most important aspect of driving is being aware of your surroundings. When the weather takes a turn for the worse, a driver’s best friend is a set of wiper blades that leave your windshield with a consistent, clean, clear wipe.
smeared with insects, bird droppings, road tar or other messy deposits? Removing such dirt with worn wiper blades is nearly impossible. Usually, you wind up smearing the mess and obscuring your vision even more. If you change your blades regularly, you can avoid these problems and keep your eyes clearly on the road.
Not only is a clean windshield a necessity during rain, snow and sleet, but how many times have you experienced a windshield that is
So when should you change your wiper blades? When a blade is past its physical prime, it will show wear signs like cracking or discoloration.
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Knowing when to change your blades
If your blades don’t have a special indicator, it is commonly recommended that drivers change their wiper blades, at minimum, every year. However, the average vehicle owner replaces his/her wiper blades only once every 2.5 years. Most people wait until they are in a downpour and nearly drive off the road before they are convinced it’s time to change blades. Some blades even come with simple connector systems that make installing the blades on any vehicle a snap, so there is no excuse for not replacing worn out blades. If you’ve been procrastinating about changing your windshield wiper blades, take a few minutes today to change them. You’ll be glad you did when your windows are clear and dry this winter. -APA
UAE offroaders COMMUNITY
IN A NUT SHELL
UAE OFFROADERS UAE Offroaders is a family oriented club devoted to desert safaris and exploring the great outdoors. Initially formed in September 2009, the club reinforces strict measures to ensure safety of all individuals whether a driver or a passenger – intriguingly they train amateurs also known as rookies how to drive in the desert terrain (must have a tough 4x4) through gradual sessions with a professional. Once the individual has reached the peak of learning and can drive successfully they are promoted from rookie to an official UAE Offroaders marshal – meaning they can train and conduct desert safaris on behalf of the club and lead a team of amateurs into the desert. In a typical week, the Al Ain branch runs six trips especially during the cooler, winter weather. The areas they explore in Al Ain are: Sweihan, Saad , Zakher and Khazna regions. The picturesque view of the sand dunes, camels and desert scenery is bound to leave anyone breathless. Notably, an opportunity to take a trip with the club gives you a chance to join other individuals from all walks of life that you may not ordinarily be able to meet on a daily basis. So, why not take the challenge and get connected.
MY EXPERIENCE
For weeks I had been excited about my desert trip and when the day finally came, I was ecstatic like a little kid going to the zoo for the first time. I was going for a ‘rookies’ desert trip and was invited by Marina Bruce, a UAE Offroader who rose to the ranks of a club marshal from a mere rookie! I was lucky to be riding with Marina in her FJ Cruiser Hummer. It is a very powerful car for the desert terrain and it aided my adrenaline rush. The trip began with a convoy of five (4X4) drivers following closely behind us to the Saad area. It was a sight to behold - like that out of a movie for a presidential escort. Once we had settled at the Saad area, the UAE Offroaders’ marshals took the time to give us brief safety and precaution measures on what is expected of us and what to do in case of emergency. Once this was underway, I took the opportunity to mingle with other ‘rookies’ that had come for the trip while all the cars were being deflated to a suitable level. We headed back to our cars and embarked on the desert safari that was ahead of us. As we headed off into the desert, we caught a glimpse of a caravan of Majahim and Asayel camels with a Bedouin man leading them. The rookies were given a chance to learn the driving techniques in the desert terrain and as Marina pointed out, “this could all be very tricky, especially since some areas have soft sand - it’s all about control really.” After an hour or so of rookie training and myself enjoying every bit of the ride we camped at a dune and had our lunch as a group. This gave me the chance to socialize with the other members but after a little while my attention was diverted to a land cruiser that was displaying some thrilling moves in the desert sand, from swirling, to bashing and almost ‘shalling.’ I was quickly informed that the driver was Ayub, a Bahraini whom belonged to the rank of a marshal with the club. After a few stares and marvels I was asked if I would like a ride with Ayub. As if I had been waiting for the chance, I jumped into the car without any regrets and trust me the ride was worth the wait; the marshals continued training for the better part of the day and I enjoying the ride and the view of the sand dunes. The trip came to an end about quarter to four at which time we made a pit stop to enjoy each other’s company along with some warm Arabic coffee.
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CITY SNAPSHOT
City Snapshot Awf A. Rahem
Awf A. Rahem
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Russell Gale
CITY SNAPSHOT
Russell Gale
RONALD FERRER MUSNI
Russell Gale
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CULTURAL DIGEST Japan is floating
Japan
is floating By Henry Castle
W
hen I think of Japan, I think of the word “float.” To drift, to skate above the surface. To move lightly, as if through water or air. In many cases “float” is a word that others have used to describe Japan, but in some cases the word is peculiar to me and my own way of understanding the country. An Artist of the Floating World is a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, an Anglo-Japanese writer whose family moved to England in 1960. They drifted from Nagasaki, a city for whom the ashes of World War II were still palpable, floating above the ravaged countryside. The Floating World of Ishiguro’s title refers to Yoshiwara, a bustling, vibrant and, to some, rather unprincipled section of Edo renowned for its tea houses, inns and kabuki theater. This began in the early 17th century and continued for 150 years until Edo was reborn as Tokyo and the Meiji period began. The boundaries of this society were not precisely fixed by geography, but rather determined by the spirit of Japan’s rising middle class, by the urban culture that arose during this era. The borders of this world floated wherever its inhabitants−geisha, impresarios, actors, sumo wrestlers,
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Japan is floating CULTURAL DIGEST
samurai and artists−chose to roam. They created a new type of culture, a sub-culture, for a new and restless class, those caught between the peasantry and the aristocracy. Their values, beliefs and behaviors were also in flux; they did not strictly adhere to traditional Japanese attitudes so they were forced to shape their own. In Japanese, “floating world” sounds exactly like the phrase “sorrowful world,” which refers to the human condition, an earthly cycle of death, suffering, joy and rebirth. For Buddhists, life is a temporary, though repeated, cycle from which we try to escape. The floating world of pleasure, then, is also a landscape of hardship and pain, a paradox that’s consistent with the Japanese (and, in particular, the Buddhist) way of thinking. This is in distinct opposition to the rational, scientific perspective that has predominated in the West for the last 300 years. This sense of rootlessness and drift, this restive spirit, continued into the Meiji period. The struggle to balance traditional life with the pull of something new, or to upset that balance and strike out on one’s own, is a constant. In Floating Weeds, a film by Yasujiro Ozu, a troupe of kabuki actors pass through a seaside town in the 1950s. Kabuki belongs to the Floating World of past centuries, yet Ozu’s characters drift back toward it. The present and past are intermingled rather than existing as separate, isolated domains. Ozu’s masterpiece is, strangely, a remake of his own black-and-white silent film A Story of Floating Weeds (1934). Thus, the great director did not move forward in a direct, straightforward and rational line, but rather, after a successful and acclaimed career, he floated back toward one of his older works. The Japanese view, like Ozu’s career, is not a rigid progression in one forward direction. It is, instead, a never-ending circle. Think of the ouroboros: a snake that devours its own tail. This separation from reason and formal structure is characteristic of Japanese society. Consider the buildings of Tokyo. As you walk through the complex maze of this beautiful, frustrating, modern city−which is simultaneously ancient and futuristic, traditional and avant garde−you will have great trouble finding a street address. You gaze up at the well-groomed skyscrapers of glass and steel, models of order and reason. Where is building #10? Is it between 9 and 11? No. The structures are arranged in chronological, not spatial, order. Number 10 is the building constructed after number 9, but of course you have no way of knowing
when anything was built. In Tokyo, the buildings may be impeccable, but their numbering is chaotic. Or rather, they follow an order we cannot fathom. Japan is inextricably tethered to its own history, yet somehow it floats apart from itself. Paradox, the folding and bending of reason, is the norm. Tokyo is, for example, both impersonal and intensely personal. The same person who elbows and shoves you, struggling to board a subway car, will, after leaving the train, gladly help you find your destination. Fastidiously polite and grossly negligent of manners, the Japanese will go to great athletic distances to bow, greet, thank, self-deprecate and extravagantly gift-give, yet they will also, without embarrassment, fall asleep in your lap on the subway.
In Japanese, “floating world” sounds exactly like the phrase “sorrowful world,” which refers to the human condition, an earthly cycle of death, suffering, joy and rebirth. For Buddhists, life is a temporary, though repeated, cycle from which we try to escape. Japan is always floating. In my mind, the country is welded to the image of a geisha click-clacking down the cobbled streets of old Kyoto. She is a kinetic, living sculpture dedicated to the Edo period. She is an artifact from the past, but also an object in the present. She moves so delicately that her feet don’t seem to touch the ground. The fan, the parasol, the stark pallor of facepaint. Everything speaks to fragility, softness and light. Were it not for the heavy wooden sandals anchoring her to the earth, the geisha might float away.
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THE SCENE
THE SCENE
The Al Ain Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) were proud to present the first of its kind conference, featuring a number of workshops discussing the issue of Special Needs in education. The aim of the conference was to explore strategies for inclusion in local schools and to provide teachers and staff with flexible approaches, addressing the diverse needs of all learners. The conference was officially inaugurated by H.E Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor, of the Higher Colleges of Technology. In attendance were, dignitaries and educators among others.
‘Embracing Inclusion’
Al Ain Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). Wednesday 19th December 2011
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6 1- Students of special needs education singing the UAE national anthem at the beginning of the penning ceremony. 2- ‘Braille’ system of operation demonstrated by two individuals during the conference. 3- H.E Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges Technology, addresses attendees at the HCT conference. 4- Attendees of the conference. 5- H.E Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor, of the Higher Colleges of Technology engages with a student with regards technological advancement for Special Needs Education. 6- A glimpse of attendees present at the conference. 7- HCT ambassadors ‘line up’ prior to the conference.
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QUIZ CORNER
Puzzle Sudoku
Travel Trivia Is Scandinavia in the north or south of Europe?
2.
The Straight of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean with which Sea?
3.
What is Europe’s most mountainous country?
4.
The island of Rhodes belongs to which Mediterranean country?
5.
The Left Bank generally refers to the Left Bank of the Seine in which city?
6.
What is the largest country in South America?
7.
Which of the Seven Wonders of the World was a Ephesus?
8.
What island in San Francisco Bay was the site of an almost escape-proof prison?
9.
Where is the Valley of the Kings, the scene of a terrorist attack in 1997?
10.
Okinawa is a volcano in which country?
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Find the answers on our website : www.myoasisliving.com
1.
QUIZ CORNER
Great Desert of the World ARABIAN ATACAMA CHIHUAHUAN DEATH VALLEY GIBSON GOBI GREAT INDIAN GREAT SANDY GREAT VICTORIA KALAHARI KYZYL KUM LIBYAN MOJAVE NUBIAN PAINTED DESERT PATAGONIA SAHARA SONORAN SYRIAN TAKLIMAKAN
Take Me Home Jessie
Ginger cat Age: One year old Breed: Mixed breed short haired domestic cat Gender: Male
Ginger cat was found very emaciated and suffering from flu but was treated and has recovered well. Ginger is very affectionate and loves to be fussed over.
Fun Facts
Did you know that out of cats and dogs, cats can make more sounds? Cats have the ability to make more than one hundred vocal sounds while dogs can only make ten.
Age: Breed: Gender: Health:
6 - 7 months Saluki Mix Female In Great Condition
She is fun loving and friendly with a lovable personality. She would do well with a family who can give her the love and affection she deserves..
Animal Welfare Al Ain
Please contact us if you have any comments, queries,if you would like to volunteer, foster or adopt a pet Contact us by email: www.animalwelfarealain.com
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your head rests on this at night when you sleep someone who steals from you or other people a very dark colour a sweet that melts in your mouth you might see one of these when it is raining and the sun shines at the same time 6. a bird with a red breast 7. what pirates like to bury 8. the colour of snow 9. the largest ape 10. a male duck 11. what ice becomes when it melts 12. these animals can have one or two humps 13. something which is not old 14. a place where very little grows and is covered with sand 15. a part of the alphabet 16. not over but... 17. birds are usually covered with these 18. a soft covering on a floor in a house 19. a chess piece 20. ancient bones that have turned to stone
ARMS HAND FINGER THUMB TOE EYES NOSE LEG EARS HEAD MOUTH FOOT
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F I N G E R T S
X O N I C H R S
G Z O U G A U E
D L S T E Y B Y
N A A R E E K V L U MX WO E T
H M O H T U O M
T S T Y F E I U
Find the answers on our website : www.myoasisliving.com
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Tawam Hospital COVER STORY
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COVER STORY Al Ain Mall and the Jumeira Hotel
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