SEPTEMBER 21-27 2014
Adult collectors and their toy stories
September 21-27 2014
Feature
The enemy within
Cover Story Plastic Crack Adult collectors narrate their toy stories
Depression is a constant battle with the inner self
COVER PHOTO: nOMAn AnSARI
32
Travel
26 Portfolio
Banking on Help
Kashmir’s ongoing struggle to cope with the recent floods
40
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Sifting through Dubai’s past A look at the historical display at Al-Fahidi Fort
36 Regulars
6 People & Parties: Out and about with beautiful people
42 Reviews: Art and Movies
46 Tech: iPhone sales in Pakistan
Magazine In-charge: Sarah Munir, Senior Subeditor: Dilaira Dubash and Subeditor: Simoneel Chawla Creative Team: Amna Iqbal, Essa Malik, Jamal Khurshid, Munira Abbas, Mohsin Alam, Omer Asim, Sanober Ahmed & Talha Ahmed Khan Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk Twitter: @ETribuneMag & Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ETribuneMag Printed: uniprint@unigraph.com
PEOPLE & PARTIES The Institute of Architects Pakistan, Karachi Chapter, and Kansai Paint host a musical evening at the Marriot Hotel, Karachi
PHoToS CouRTESy JuMP ACTIvATIonS
Arooj and Atiq
Abha Narain and Sakar Shreshtha
Irsa Faruqi
l Sikander
Mahwish and Farya
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Aleena and Sana
PEOPLE & PARTIES
PHoToS CouRTESy JuMP ACTIvATIonS
Khalid Ahmed and Kaif Ghaznavi
Hamza and Zohra
Qurat ul Ain
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Lubaina and Sara
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Leena and Nelofer
PEOPLE & PARTIES Artist, Shaheen Siddiqui, displays her solo collection at the grandeur Art gallery in Karachi
PHoToS CouRTESy CATAlyST PR & MARKETIng
Kiran
Yasmin Haider and Cyra
Neshmia Ahmad and Shaheen Siddiqui
Toshio Fujita Rind
Aftab Alam
Omar Farid
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and Waqar
Afzal
Zubi Ali
PEOPLE & PARTIES Carmudi and Possibilites donate bikes to the orphaned children of Roshni Homes Trust in lahore
Ali Izhar and Erwin Sikma Sana Ahmad
Foha Raza
Qaiser Abbas
Anwar Dar and Khawaja Zahid Hajra
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Maryam
PLASTIC crack Toy collectors will pay an arm and a leg to acquire one of their favourite figures BY NOMAN ANSARI
DESIGN BY ESSA MALIK
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The euphoria of a newly acquired shiny toy may be hard to explain to someone who is alien to the feeling. They may question its utility, raise their eyebrows at the high prices and even sound downright amused at the idea of adults collecting toys. But for the thousands of toy collectors worldwide, the anticipation and joy of breaking the seal of a freshly purchased Gundam or Transformer figure is worth the hassle and the hole it drills in their savings. Indulgence for the ‘un-smart’ generation Childhood was a much simpler time for those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s. The absence of tablets and smartphones left plenty of room to play with toys that required a lot more input from the consumer than merely tapping screens or pressing keys. Naturally, the attachment to these toys was much higher in comparison and in the case of these toy collectors lasts long after their proverbial play days are over. “I am attracted to these toys because of memories from my childhood. They make me very happy and very excited,” says a Lahore-based artist and toy collector who wishes to remain anonymous. “Sometimes I’ve even spent more [on a toy] than its value because I really wanted it,” he elaborates adding that he has nearly 200 to 300 toys in his collection comprising mostly vintage toys from the 1970s and 1980s such as Godzilla, Kaijin and Megaman. Naeem, a Karachi based businessman in his mid-30s whose personal toy collection is worth thousands of dollars also recalls how his inexplicable thirst for the toys began during his childhood. “I remember that the Agha’s supermarket in Clifton was one of the few shops which stored these toys. I would beg and plead my mother to shop there so I could just look at the boxes and fantasise about owning one someday,” he says. The story is somewhat similar for Ahsan, another Karachi-based collector, who began pursuing this hobby during his teenage years. “I had an impressive collection of action figures that included everything from He-Man to Spiderman to Ninja Turtles,” he shares. “I had about 30 of these toys, including Transformers.” Till date, Ahsan estimates that he has spent over Rs1 million on his toy collection which ranges from low-end Marvel
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I remember that the Agha’s supermarket in Clifton was one of the few shops which stored these toys Businessman/Toy collector Naeem
The biggest players in the global toy industry in terms of estimated annual sales are:
1. Mattel - $6.3 billion 2. Lego - $4.5 billion 3. Hasbro - $4 billion
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and DC toys that cost between b Rs3,000 and Rs5,000 each, tto M t i T f Masterpiece Transformers and Hot Toys action figures, that cost upwards of Rs20,000 per piece. These pricier toys are highly detailed products that target adult buyers, such as Ahsan. When asked if his current collection is a manifestation of his childhood fervour for toys, Ahsan is initially offended but eventually concedes that it may be a possibility. Most of these collectors describe their childhood as time of dreams, and fantasy when they believed in magic, explains Erum Riaz Ghazi, a psychologist at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College and head of the psychosocial oncology department at The Indus Hospital, who has conducted extensive research on the subject. “The boy who wanted to be superman [as a kid] now relies on his action figure to transport him to another world where he has super powers and can still do anything,” she says. Each toy collector, however, may have a different reason for this indulgence. “For some, these toys offer a temporary break from reality and stress,” adds Ghazi. This is certainly true in the case of Shaheryar Popalzai, a collector of Gundam model kits which can cost up to Rs20,000 per piece. Popalzai, who purchased his collection from Hong Kong, explains that putting his Gundam toys together is what appeals to him the most, even if the
Some frequently visited retail sites by Pakistani toy collectors are: 1. Amiami: http://www.amiami.com/ 2. Hobbylink Japan: http://www.hlj.com/ 3. Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/
project lasts for more than several weeks. Similarly, for 36-year-old Abbas Saleem Khan, who collects Transformers toys, transforming them is equivalent to therapy. “Moving them around, transforming them back and forth helps me relieve stress,” says Khan. “I like to do it without instructions since the sense of achievement is awesome.”
There are as many different types of collectors as there are toys While it is hard to assess the total number of toy collectors in Pakistan at the moment, the hobby seems to be picking up momentum. This can be gauged through their increased presence on social media in the form of Facebook pages such as ‘Anime, Comics & Collectibles Pakistan’ (ACCP), which boasts nearly 3,500 members. “I created ACCP (the page and group) to provide a common platform for all anime and comic fans across Pakistan including
merchandise collectors who were scattered over various forums earlier,” says the Hyderabad-based creator of the page, Sono Durrani. Now members use the group to discuss everything from their toy’s price to quality, sculpting, paintwork and entertainment value. Different collectors are inclined towards different toys depending on their personal taste, fondness for a certain movie, comic series or action figure. For example, 25-yearold Syed Ali Tahir, who collects Transformers toys, explains, “[The Masterpiece toy line] transformation sequences are complicated and accurate to the comic and onscreen ones,” he says. “Unlike the vintage action figures, they do not distort or change the characters from what we are used to watching on screen.” Hence, Tahir is willing to pay up to Rs30,000 for a genuine sealed version of the toy. On the other hand, the Lahore-based artist/collector appreciates 29 the aesthetic of modern toys, but finds the imperfections 5 SEPTEMBER 21-27 2014
COVER STORY
For some, these toys offer a temporary break from reality and stress Psychologist Erum Riaz Ghazi
PHOTO COURTESY: NOMAN ANSARI
in the older toys charming. “They have a blocky nature to them and they are disproportionate, which I find appealing,” he says. Moreover, these collectors’ connection to their toys is not just skin-deep. For example, for many Transformers collectors such as Tahir, Optimus Prime was the embodiment of benevolence and great leadership. This is perhaps why his brutal death in The Transformers: The Movie (1986) was such a shock for fans. “There had been rumours at school that Optimus Prime had been killed, but I didn’t believe it,” shares Naeem. “When I finally saw the scene I felt this great sense of loss. You might think this is crazy, but it taught me a lesson about death and helped me deal with the loss of a grandparent,” he says. “Years later I saw the same scene again on YouTube and was surprised to feel my eyes moisten.” Similarly, Ghazi explains that while most men cannot have Lara Croft from The Tomb Raider in real life, they can have a plastic one that is 10-inch tall. “She symbolises an unattainable, sexy, dangerous woman with a dark side. Very few men can resist that!”
Not just fun and games With more websites popping up where toy collectors can
30 6 browse and order online, things have become a lot easier SEPTEMBER 21-27 2014
now than they were a few years ago. Ali, who sports an impressive collection of expensive Hot Toys action figures, which replicate movie characters with an almost eerie resemblance, began collecting toys at the age of seven but his collection truly blossomed when he was able to buy regularly from Dubai. Stores in Pakistan are of little help as they offer measly outdated toys priced at three or even four times their original value. Most retailers are also usually least interested in expanding their wares, leaving little option for Pakistani collectors other than resorting to websites in the US and Japan to fuel their hobby. Waqas Ahmed, a fairly new collector who has spent nearly Rs100,000 on his toys already, explains that he gets his toys from abroad because it is almost impossible to find
Toy prices vary according to brand, size and quality. The price of a toy collectible can range anywhere between Rs10,000 to Rs90,000. Vintage or collectible items, however, cost a lot more and can go up to Rs400,000 per item.
these products locally. “Buying items is hard in Pakistan nowadays since many stores charge double for a figure which is available at half the price abroad,” adds Sarmed Ahmed, who collects toys from franchises such as Star Wars, Thundercats, M.A.S.K., Thundercats and Toxic Crusaders. “I get most of my items when I visit my brother in the UK or when he comes here.” Not only do these collectors spend a great deal of money on these toys but also look after them with great care. The items remain sealed and displayed in their original boxes, long after they have been purchased. “I barely touch [my toys] without wearing cotton gloves, let alone play with them. Plus most of them are static, [which means they are] not meant to be played with in the first place,” says Durrani.
Keeping it in check Even though collecting has its benefits, like any other hobby, if it spirals out of control, it can end up being harmful, warns Ghazi. “Collecting can become hoarding, which is characterised as a disorder if it reaches pathological proportions,” she says. Some experts have even gone so far
There are hundreds of different kinds of toys available in the market. Some of the most popular ones are as follows:
1. Transformers 2. Marvel Legends 3. Diamond Select 4. Kotobukiya Statues 5. Gentle Giant 6. Funko 7. Bishoujo 8. Hot Toys 9. Sideshow Collectibles 10. DC Comics Toy series 11. Star Wars: Black Series 12. Medicom 13. Bandai Japan (they make Gundam) 14. Mc Farlane Toys 15. GI Joe
PHOTO COURTESY: SHAHERYAR POPALZAI
as to call it a ‘repetitive acquisition syndrome’. This becomes a problem when the hoarder spends inordinate amounts of money on his collectibles, spends more time acquiring and playing with them than meeting his everyday needs and where his social functioning is impaired. Another symptom is immense anxiety with regards to the collection and the impatience to acquire the next item. “While some people who hoard may not be particularly distressed by their behaviour, [themselves], it can be worrisome for other people, such as family members,” she explains. Adding weight to Ghazi’s warning is the fact that some collectors requested for their names to be changed due to fear of certain family members finding out about the extent of their collections. Most collectors, however, shared that their families had been quite supportive of their unusual hobby, with some going as far as helping them find their most sought-after toys. “Even though I am not a collector myself, I enjoy my husband’s collection and they add an interesting flavour to the interior of our house. Aesthetically, I really like them and enjoy having them around me,” says Zara, wife of one of the collectors.
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Noman Ansari is a freelance writer. He tweets @Pugnate SEPTEMBER 21-27 2014
FEATURE
THE ENEMY WITHIN
The difference between feeling down and being depressed is that one is a fleeting feeling while the other is a constant battle with the inner self A common reaction to feeling blue is equating it to depression. What most people fail to realise, however, is that by doing so one ends up trivialising one of the most debilitating mental diseases in the world, which recently claimed the life of legendary comedian Robin Williams as well. Often brushed aside as a cry for attention, depression is a silent disease that affects millions around the globe. And only those who suffer from it can articulate the darkness of battling with this lingering sinking feeling that cripples one emotionally and physically.
Depression — a neurological condition, associated with dysfunction of specific brain regions — is more complex than a medically defined ‘chemical imbalance’. It is a feeling of overwhelming sadness, including negative feelings, fatalistic attitudes, insomnia, loss of appetite (in some cases an increased appetite), mania and low self-esteem, that lasts for an uninterrupted two weeks. The trigger factors may range from faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events (such as the death of a loved one, divorce or loss of job) and neglect or social isolation. These causes are mostly ambiguous and unpredictable, explains Dr Jasmyn R Khawaja, a psychiatrist at Therapy Works. “It can be more devastating than any kind of grief one may experience during bereavement,” she remarks.
While depression cannot be cured completely, with patients suffering from long-term major depressive disorder running an increased risk of death, it is very much treatable if detected at an early stage For 55-year-old Taimoor Khan*, who has been struggling with depression after the loss of his child, the condition has translated into a chronic pain. “Every inch of my body is in agonising pain, from my hair follicles all the way down to the bones in my feet,” he says. It is almost as if a hundred burning matchsticks have been pressed against my skin, he describes. During a TED talk, Andrew Solomon, a writer on 322 psychology and culture, spoke about the physical symptoms SEPTEMBER 21-27 2014
BY ZARA HAFEEZ DESIGN BY OMER ASIM
of depression while narrating his own battle with the disease. They include headaches, chest pain, muscle ache and back pain. Khan found it difficult to even get out of bed due to exhaustion and fatigue, and when he fell asleep, it would haunt him in the form of nightmares. “I would wake up (feeling) as if my heart (was being ripped) out of my chest,” he shares. It hurts even more when you know what you are going through but you cannot help yourself, explains Bilal Jabbar*, a student who has undergone prolonged treatment for depression after his 11-year-old brother drowned in a pool when he was still a teenager. Initially he went from one doctor to another, but nobody could come up with a plausible diagnosis. “Ultimately, they prescribed me medication that altered my mood,” he says, adding that the medication only helped him for a short while. While preferable treatment options for patients include antidepressant medication or psychotherapy, such as cognitive behaviour therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy or problem-solving treatment, it is crucial
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million people worldwide are estimated to be affected by depression. (WHO, 2012) that they are provided with basic psychological support from family and friends at home. Fortunately, Jabbar had an understanding family that took him for therapy regularly and stood by him through every step of the way. “My dependency on my parents and approval from my friends meant the world to me,” he says. Although Jabbar blames himself even today for not being able to rescue his brother, his depression has been addressed to a certain extent. While the disease cannot be cured completely, with patients suffering from long-term major depressive disorder running an increased risk of death, it is very much treatable if detected at an early stage. “Even if you are not diagnosed with depression, chances are that you are undergoing some kind of emotional distress for which therapy can be helpful,” says Dr Khawaja, adding that the right form
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Almost million lives are lost yearly due to depression related suicides, which translates to 3,000 suicide deaths every day. (WHO, 2012)
of help is essential for a healthy recovery. When 27-year-old Vania Malik’s* engagement was called off, she suffered from a deep spell of depression which lasted for two years. Her symptoms surfaced in the form of a deep resentment, especially towards men, and she even lost her appetite. But her family took this to be a ‘normal’ reaction after a breakup. “What caused me more pain was the lack of understanding from people close to me,” she says, adding that the only solution her family could come up with was to get her settled down as soon as possible. Eventually, Malik sought professional help while staying with her sister in London and attended counselling sessions with a psychiatrist twice a week for six months. During this period she was prescribed mood-altering medication and the dosage was lowered as she showed signs of progress. “I didn’t take any off-the-counter drugs as I see people do in Pakistan. I found my therapist to be someone I could connect to,” she says, adding that three years later, she has found love once again. But deep down, Malik still feels insecure, “what if somewhere along the line, he too leaves me?”
Clinical depression can take several months to diagnose, but the first step towards treatment is to acknowledge that depression is a problem
50%
more females than males suffer from depression. (WHO, 2008)
Clinical depression can take several months to diagnose, but the first step towards treatment is to acknowledge that depression is a problem. According to Dr Sharmeen Khan, a private-practicing psychologist, if depression goes unchecked, the symptoms may disappear temporarily, only to return at a later stage in life. “It all depends on a person’s resilience and their coping strategies,” she says. Thirty-four-year-old Natalia Ahmed* was only 10 when her grandfather passed away. She grieved for him briefly then, but as she grew older, she felt his absence more and more. “In my teens, like everyone else, I had hormonal changes but that ache that I had suppressed became stronger and manifested itself in the form of anger and rebellion,” recalls Ahmed. As a consequence, she started smoking and taking off-the-counter relaxants and in her early 20s resorted to substance abuse. It was only after her relapse that her parents rushed her to a hospital and she was eventually diagnosed with depression. Along with psychotherapy, her treatment
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FEATURE
survivors of depression
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Buzz Aldrin, an American astronaut who flew to the moon in 1969, suffered from depression and alcoholism. He worked his way through, and even served as chairman of the National Mental Health Association.
Angelina Jolie, who went on to become an Academy Award-winning actress and globe trotting UN Goodwill Ambassador, suffered from bouts of depression throughout her teens and early 20s, especially after her mother passed away in 2007.
Joanne Rowling, writer of the famous Harry Potter series, was depressed and suicidal in her 20s after her divorce but managed to rise above it and contribute to the literary world in a huge way.
In an interview in 1995, Princess Diana revealed shocking details of postpartum depression, bulimia and self-inflicted injuries.
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Ernest Hemingway’s suicidal depression is examined in the book An Intimate Portrait of Ernest Hemingway by Those Who Knew Him by Denis Brian
common forms of depression • Persistent depressive disorder — Formerly known as chronic depression, or dysthymia, it is characterised by a long-term (two years or more) depressed mood. • Manic depression — It is a complex mood disorder that alternates between periods of clinical depression and times of extreme elation or mania. • Postpartum depression — It is a severe form of depression that is experienced by women after having a baby. • Premenstrual dysphoric disorder — The symptoms of depression occur one week before the menstrual period and disappear after menstruation. • Seasonal affective disorder — It often occurs during the fall-winter season, due to lack of sunlight, and disappears afterwards.
included hypnosis which is suggested to help retrieve positive experiences from one’s past and develop coping skills. While many may have dismissed Ahmed’s unruly behaviour as ‘attention-seeking’, it was an overlooked cry for help. Early intervention is therefore important as childhood depression has damaging effects in the long-run. For example, Alayna* suffered from several anxiety attacks when there were no visible signs of worry in her life. Upon probing, it was revealed that it was the long-dormant sadness over her parents’ divorce that had finally surfaced and was causing her pain. “Real depression isn’t being sad when there’s been a turn of events in your life, it is more like being sad when everything is alright and you just can’t control your thoughts,” she says. No amount of wealth, success or fame can prevent depression, says Dr Khawaja. “People who have suffered need to
speak up about it... We need awareness, support and acceptance (in Pakistan),” she urges. Despite efficacious and costeffective treatment options for depression, including selfhelp options such as regular exercise and a healthy diet to keep depression at bay, social stigma continues to be a strong barrier to care in Pakistan. Patients feel isolated and are even reluctant to confide even in their therapists, making suicide prediction and prevention almost impossible. To tell someone suffering from depression to stop being depressed is even worse than burying the matter or turning a deaf ear towards it. It only pushes them deeper into a state of self-loathing. If someone has built the courage to share their innermost fears, the least you can offer them is assurance that they can be helped. *Names have been changed to protect privacy.
helpline services available in pakistan: If you do not get the required support from friends and family at home, dial the following numbers and get the help you need. Rozan Helpline: Toll free number: 0800-22444 You can call six days a week (Monday to Saturday) from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Madadgar Helpline: Toll free number: 111-911-922 Punjab Youth Helpline: Toll free number: 0800-12145
Zara Hafeez is a strategic marketer by profession. She tweets @zara_hafeez
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FEATURE
The main gate and entrance to Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest building in dubai, located in Bur dubai.
Sifting through Dubai’s past The Al-Fahidi Fort is a glimpse into a city that is often overshadowed by concrete and glass
TExT And PhoTos By URooj QUREshi dEsiGn By sAnoBER AhMEd
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When you see Dubai’s glitz and glamour, it is hard to believe that this ultramodern metropolis grew out of dust in just 25 years. In search of the soul of this magnificent city I found myself at the Al-Fahidi Fort, the oldest building in Dubai built in 1787. The fort, which is strategically located in Bur Dubai, was built to defend a little fishing and pearling village that has grown into a megacity over time.
The south-western tower of the fort seen from inside the fort.
Courtyard of Al-Fahidi Fort, the main defence to the fishing village that was dubai.
The north-western tower of the AlFahidi Fort. A traditional dhow, a vessel used for sailing and transporting merchandise, displayed outside dubai Museum.
Constructed from sea rocks and gypsum, the Al-Fahidi Fort reminds visitors of the more humble past and the traditional lifestyle of the Emirati people. Measuring 41m long by 33m wide and consisting of three towers which are roughly 13m high, the Al-Fahidi is a far cry from the mega structures that dominate Dubai’s skyline. For this building though, size does not matter. Up until 1971, the fort served as the residence to Dubai’s rulers as well as the seat of government. Today it is home to the Dubai Museum, which attracts thousands of visitors annually with its majestic charm and entertaining exhibits. Take a step inside the fort and it feels like you have entered an oasis in a vast desert. The main gate, made of solid teak, studded with large iron nails, and decorated with brass plates, leads to the main corridor and ticket booth. In the past, such corridors were designed to act as a part of the fort’s defense systems — if the outer wall was breached, the enemy faced the armed guards and an impenetrable second wall. Today these corridors have been transformed into narrow exhibit halls. One such hall houses a fascinating display of traditional weapons including beautiful old silver khanjars (curved daggers) decorated with camel bone and swords inscribed with calligraphy. Another such hall is
FEATURE
Al-sambuk, a traditional wooden, fishing vessel displayed inside the fort.
Bronze arrowheads from the graves of Al-Qusais dating back to second millenium BC.
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Al-Fahidi Fort offers as much below the surface as it does above. An entrance under one of the fortresses fairytale-like towers leads to a spiral staircase which descends to the exhibit area of Dubai Museum September 21-27 2014
dedicated to Emirati music and dances featuring garments and instruments used for performances. Guarded by towering walls, the fort’s courtyard was once the centre of all important activities in Dubai. The enclosure can be accessed by traditional barasti (palm-leaf) houses. Two types of barasti can be found attached to the courtyard. The first, called al-kaimah is a primitive one-room house that was a common abode for residents of the Gulf coast before modern mansions replaced them. The second type of structure is called al-arish. It served as summer house with a barajeel (wind tower) designed to funnel wind blowing from any direction to naturally air condition the house. The innovative concept of barajeel is also a testament to the ingenuity of the people in this region. Step inside the al-arish and test it out — you won’t believe it’s over 40
Children being taught at a madrassah.
A typical Emirati shop from a pre-modernisation era.
degrees celsius outside! In the fort’s courtyard are several small wooden boats. Similar ones can still be found in operation on the Gulf coast but for the most part they have been replaced by luxury yachts and large container ships. I was particularly impressed by al-hourey, a small boat carved from a single tree trunk. However, it was boats like al-baggarah and al-sambuk that were used for pearling and fishing, respectively, which were Dubai’s pride before the discovery of petroleum. The Al-Fahidi Fort offers as much below the surface as it does above. An entrance under one of the fortresses fairytale-like towers leads to a spiral staircase which descends to the exhibit area of Dubai Museum. The museum’s collection vividly charts Dubai’s rapid growth from a village and one of the world’s first free-trade ports to the
Arabian mega city it has become now. All first-time visitors should consider making the museum their first stop in Dubai. An hour or two meandering through interactive presentations gives you a quick and comprehensive introduction to the city’s history, culture and traditions. Just in case you were not convinced, a multimedia presentation and a series of dioramas brought to life by hologram-like projections will leave you with a greater appreciation for what a nomadic desert community has accomplished. Visitors get a complete sensory experience by walking through life-size scenes representing life in the souqs, madrassahs, social life, education, ar-
A traditional kitchen attached to the al-kaimah, a primitive house that was a common abode for Emirati’s.
A traditional khanjar (carved dagger) displayed in the weaponry exhibit.
chitecture, the desert and oasis, star gazing and my favourite, the underwater sea exhibition. One exhibit which truly enlightened me was from the Al-Qusais archeological site dating back to 2,500BC and 5,000BC. It turns out there’s far more to this fascinating city than what we know. Whenever I thought of Dubai, I imagined luxury cars, tall buildings, yachts, and everything that is material — covered in gold. I suppose like many I have been judging a book only by its cover.
Visitors get a complete sensory experience by walking through life-size scenes representing life in the souqs, madrassahs, social life, education, architecture, the desert and oasis
Urooj Qureshi is a traveller who loves to tell stories. He tweets @uroojqureshi
Tabura (harp), a musical instrument, made from wood and deerskin, displayed inside the fort.
(Below) Al-arish, an Arab summer house, which has a wind tower designed to naturally air condition the house.
PORTFOLIO
Banking on help Kashmir’s ongoing struggle to cope with the recent floods Many houses were damaged after
TexT and PhOTOs by hazIq qadrI
When the banks of the River Jhelum were breached last week, a wave of floods wreaked havoc in Indianadministered Kashmir. Over 200 people have lost their lives while thousands of others are trapped in Srinagar, which lies inundated by flood waters. The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, said that these were the worst floods to hit Kashmir in decades. “Many of you have tweeted for help today. We are trying our best,” he said responding to appeals on Twitter. He further reassured people that help was on its way from Delhi and would be sent to the worst affected areas of Srinagar shortly, including Rajbagh, Shivpura and other areas. Moreover, the state government has also asked the Air Force to begin rescue operations in Srinagar. “This is an unprecedented situation and we are doing the best we can under the circumstances,” he added. Omer said that his administration had launched rescue and relief operations on a war footing and was working closely with the army to reach people in the worst-hit areas. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who visited the flood-hit areas by helicopter on Sunday, called the situation a national disaster and offered monetary support to help deal with the calamity.
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Locals rescuing a woman in srinagar.
Haziq Qadri is a Kashmir-based photojournalist. He tweets @haziq_qadri September 21-27 2014
a damaged truck in srinagar.
floods hit Jammu and Kashmir.
Locals living in tents on srinagar-Jammu highway.
Many bridges along the srinagar-Pulwama highway were washed away by the high pressure of the water.
Locals in srinagar are seen conducting their own rescue efforts.
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FILM
Crawling back into their shell The latest addition to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise lets down the same heroes it claims to glorify BY SAMEEN AMER
Since their introduction as comic book characters in the 1980s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have become a pop culture phenomenon. Known for their ninjutsu skills and love for pizza, the wisecracking quartet have graced the big and small screens numerous times. Their latest cinematic outing, however, is one of their least entertaining. The franchise reboot centres the origin story of the reptile vigilantes on the character of April O’Neil (Megan Fox), a television reporter tired of the fluff pieces she has to work on and eager to take charge of more important assignments. In an attempt to break an actual news story, April pursues a gang called the Foot Clan, led by the evil mastermind Shredder (Tohoru Masarismune), which has been terrorishe ing the city. Along the way, she stumbles upon four masked figures, who eventually turn out to be the titular heroes, fighting off the bad guys. Neither her cameraman (Will Arnett) nor her boss (Whoopi Goldberg) pay any heed to her seemingly ludicrous claims, but April keeps investigating, ultimately developing a friendship with the four
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brothers — dorky Donatello (Jeremy Howard), goofy Michelangelo (Noel Fisher), authoritative Leonardo (Johnny Knoxville), and rebellious Raphael (Alan Ritchson) — and their mutant rat mentor, Splinter (Tony Shalhoub). But as she discovers the Turtles’ connection to her own past, she also learns the truth about her late father’s former lab partner, Eric Sacks (William Fichtner), while becoming instrumental in defeating the Foot Clan and thwarting Shredder. Director Jonathan Liebesman has taken a page from producer Michael Bay’s playbook to create this special effects-heavy installment that is as hollow as it is predictable. The movie doesn’t choose to be dark (like Christopher Nolan films), nor does it
commit to being full-on fun à la Guardians of the Galaxy. Instead it twaddles aimlessly, unsure of its own tone — fighting begins and time slows down, and logic is defied at every turn. The CGI-generated Turtles and Splinter look creepy, while Shredder looks like he has escaped from a Transformers movie and is ready to saunter back into one. Most of the characters lack definition, development and charm. With all the focus on Megan Fox’s character, the film turns into the April O’Neil show, almost making the Turtles feel like supporting characters in their own movie. Will Arnett seems out of place, Whoopi Goldberg is wasted in a role that barely matters and Megan Fox is, well, Megan Fox. Ultimately, Tee Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles isn’t unbearably awful, but it isn’t special either. This is a by-the-numbers action film that tr tries to cash in on a popular fr franchise and ends up suffering from inconsistency, cringe worthy product placement, a shallow script, and a near-terminal CGI overdose. Rating: Sameen Amer is a Lahorebased freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen.
Unlikely heroes save the day Godzilla
In the latest addition to the Godzilla franchise, Godzilla saves the day after two MUTO (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism) emerge from the ruins of a nuclear power plant and begin to wreak havoc on the planet. It is a must-watch battle of the beasts. SEPTEMBER 21-27 2013
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X-men: Days of Future Past
This X-Men sequel delves into the unpredictable world of time travel as Wolverine is sent to undo events that threaten the existence of humans and mutants. He must stop the assassination of the military scientist who created the robots responsible for this chaos.
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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
When disease plagues the planet, the only survivors are humans and apes. But interference from traitors in their midst takes them to the doorstep of war. Who will dominate in this fight for territory and safety and can these two species find a way to coexist?
A forgotten November
No special agent can save The November Man from the critics By ViViaN J XaVier
Espionage thrillers have kept cinema audiences hooked since the advent of the art form itself. It was in 1928 when German filmmaker, Fritz Lang wrote the current thematic and visual vernacular of spy thrillers when making Spione. It contained shots of the ‘agency’ headquarters, a female agent and/or a femme fatal who falls in love with the hero (or is a very formidable match) and the agent known as a number. While the structure was written a long time ago, it is the presentation of this structure that makes fans out of mere filmgoers. But The November Man leaves one scratching their head because the movie fails at structure, presentation and logic. Pierce Brosnan stars as Peter Devereaux, a disenchanted ex-CIA agent who is assigned by his former boss, John Hanley, to extract a under cover CIA agent, Natalia Ulanova, who can bring down a Russian war criminal, Arkady Fedorov, campaigning for the country’s presidency. In the mix is a Chechen refugee whose family was killed by Federov and can bring down the 44 house of cards built by Federov and the CIA. September 21-27 2014
Alongside the main cast are Olga Kurylenko and Luke Bracey as Mila Filapova/Alice Fournier and David Mason respectively. Alice Fournier has assimilated into Montenegrin society and is a shadow of her past life. Mason is the protégé of Deveraux and the reason why he exited the agency when the latter’s impetuousness resulted in the death of a young child early in the film. The movie is fast-paced and the action sequences are believable, but not exciting. There is Machiavellian politics at play on a global stage and a gorgeous actress who can hold her own. Yet the movie falters and missteps on multiple levels. The script and story-beats seem rushed, resulting in a lack of empathy for the characters. Kurylenko’s character is reduced to a damsel in distress and not given the opportunity to show off her skills. Brosnan provides a few pithy remarks but their intensity seems underwhelming because his characters are just not relatable enough. Not even Pierce Brosnan can attenuate this scripted material. Luke Bracey’s expositional lines make you wonder if the casting choice
was to blame. He and Brosnan share some meaningful father-son moments, but the most you can do is sympathise. Not empathise. There are no bad movies. Just movies made without forethought. It is disheartening to watch an accomplished cast and director, Roger Donaldson, wade through a movie mired in these many unforgivably trite mistakes. I waited till the end for someone to redeem themselves but no one did, least of all the screenwriters. The project was almost cancelled in 2007 but later revived in 2012 by Brosnan and his producing partner for principal photography to begin in 2013. This rush in execution is evident when you watch the movie and ultimately makes it a forgettable experience. I left the theatre scratching my head knowing that I had neither learnt anything new nor felt any different.
rating: Vivian J Xavier is a cinematographer. He tweets@vivianjxavier
Seamless-scroll by roohi Ahmed
Arab Sheikh Bobble by Ben rak
Australian Crocodile Hunter Bobble by Ben rak
Two-headed Pup by Adeel-uzzafar
Enmeshed Blue by Abdullah Syed
Friends and Acquaintances by Michael Kempson
Ordered chaos
Pakistani and Australian artists display a search for order within the disorder through their work By ShAnzAy SuBzwAri
German philosopher Walter Benjamin believes that everything beautiful in art can be ‘ascribed to the realm of beautiful semblance’, or a pleasing outward appearance. Abdullah M.I. Syed, artist and curator of ‘Semblance of Order’, the current printmaking show at the Koel Gallery, believes that for the five participating artists, semblance and play are combined. This exhibit was part of a seven-week Australia-Pakistan print residency in partnership with Cicada Press, University of New South Wales, Sydney (UNSW) and Parramatta Artists’ Studios. Syed mentioned the order and disorder experienced by Australian artists traveling to unpredictable countries like Pakistan, and by Pakistani artists striving for order in a shared creative space. Through mark making, erasure, repetition, and layering, the artists pushed the boundaries of print making, resulting in a travelling exhibition that began in Sydney, is currently in Karachi, and will soon be held in New York. Abdullah M.I. Syed’s own works on display derived inspiration from Dante’s verse ‘to square the circle’ from Paradiso, the third part of the Divine Comedy. While Enmeshed Blue depicted a solar/lunar halo in aquatint, in Flare II Syed silkscreened a skull cap used for prayer. Through an on-going process of appropriating and deconstructing circular objects and symbols on embossed graph lines, Syed attempted to perform Dante’s metaphorical statement. Roohi S. Ahmed worked with ruptured marks — a response to unsaid thoughts and feelings during her extended stay in Australia. This included lines that resemble stitches — which, to decode, “one must dip into their own cache of signs and symbols.” The work of Michael Kempson, head of printmaking at UNSW Sydney, touched on complex, geopolitics, and the world the young will inherit. Highly detailed and neat etchings and aquatint from the Friends and Acquaintances series displayed soft animal toys including the panda (China), ibex (Pakistan), and kangaroo (Australia) that represented various nations and their relationships. As an Australian artist of the diaspora, Ben Rak’s work spoke of his links and friendships with other cultures such as China, Pakistan and Japan, where global narratives are woven into his own. His bobble head silkscreens such as that of an Arab sheikh and Steve Irwin (the late crocodile hunter) inferred “an allencompassing consumer culture.” Adeeluz Zafar worked with his distinctive imagery of animal toys wrapped in gauze in stark black and white. While Untitled silkscreened a zoomed-in detail of a toy, Two headed Pup displayed, according to Zafar, “a mutant along a mythical evolutionary path… Although hidden under gauze, occasional arguments often erupt between the mutated heads and appendages, leading to attacks, wounds and even attempts to swallow each other.” Zafar’s prints could read as a metaphor for entrapment, injury and conflict of various types. All artists exhibiting attempted to create a ‘semblance’ of order’, they strove to put their respective messages across and did so, successfully. However, their skill along with their struggle to keep the tradition of printmaking alive in the world of art, resulted in a thought-provoking exhibition that has been, and ought to be well-received wherever it is shown.
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Shanzay Subzwari is a fine arts student. She tweets @ShanzaySubzwari September 21-27 2014
No appetite for
Apple?
Despite being a global bestseller, the iPhone has failed to create a wave in the Pakistani market Just last week, hundreds of Apple fans across the world waited with bated breath for the release of the iPhone 6. This love for iPhones, however, seems to have skipped Pakistan. Although there are no official statistics for iPhone sales in Pakistan, a recent report published in Forbes revealed that the country sold far more Windows Phones than iPhones. The following are some of the reasons why the iPhone does not do great business in Pakistan: BY AHMAD RAZA DESIGN BY MUNIRA ABBAS
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NOTE: PRICES QUOTED BELOW HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM MOBILEPHONES.PK AND MAY VARY ACCORDING TO MARKETS.
No official support There is surprisingly no official push from Apple to sell the iPhone or their other products in Pakistan. Without an official backbone, it becomes tough for local sellers to provide warranty or repair services for the iPhone.
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No warranty, no return A majority of shops sell the iPhone with a no-return policy. This is because of the lack of a warranty with the sale of the phone. Although normally things go well afterwards if you have examined the phone well enough before buying, there are rare cases where one can be unlucky and end up paying Rs60,000 or more in repairs.
Too pricey for Pakistan The iPhone 5s ranges from Rs68,000 to Rs90,000 depending on the amount of storage space you are willing to settle for. All the latest and new iPhone models, more or less, cost around Rs 50,000. In a country where most subscribers are looking to buy the cheapest phones, this is a huge price tag.
Fierce and proactive competitors Fan boys who rush to the defence of their smart phone brand of choice on social media and blogs, become one of the greatest marketing tools for any brand. We often see HTC, Samsung, and Q Mobile partner with local Pakistani mobile networks and bloggers to launch their new products. However, any such initiative by Apple is yet to be seen.
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’It’s better to wait' phenomena Many users who are looking to buy the iPhone decide to wait for the new model if it’s only a few months away. These users then become interested in other phone models that are being released in the market every day.
No memory card expansion The smartphone generation has a habit of storing a multitude of videos, songs and other data on their phones. The difference between the prices of iPhone models based on storage is huge. For example, iPhone 5s 16GB costs around Rs 65,000 and the same model with 64GB storage space costs about Rs 90,000.
Fake replicas are flooding the market It may not be that easy to pass off a fake replica of an iPhone as a real one because the inferior quality would be glaringly obvious. However, the problem lies in identifying whether any single part of the iPhone is fake. Our mobile phone vendors are notorious for repairing or replacing one component of the phone, such as the camera or the screen, and selling it as brand new.
Resale value Most phone brands, particularly including the iPhone, have a resale value that fluctuates greatly in a short time span. A new phone bought two days prior, can now be sold back to any vendor for Rs 15,000 less than the original price.
Ahmad Raza is an MBA graduate from the University of Wales and a digital media enthusiast. He tweets @ThisizSparta
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