SLT4Manama(March09)

sur la terre foreword

» foreword

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>>> With delight and rejuvenation among spring’s favourite pastimes, this issue takes a polished spin on cheer and jubilee. For starters, paint a happy face with START. A non-profit, art education program for children with special needs, START draws on a wholehearted approach to nurture enjoyment. Workshops are led by top artists and supported by royal partnerships. Since its inception, START’s work has brought over 1,000 children to its Middle Eastern art projects alone. This season’s Art Dubai is part of START’s canvas, along with a year of other jolly initiatives in the making. Appreciate them in Out of the Box, along with the merits of unusual creativity and innovation in the fields of design, drama and even street style – such as perky landmarks dotting Manama’s sidewalks, like our new London-style cabs and Villa Moda, a Marcel Wanders icon.

Adding to the city’s lively and lush landscape is Riffa Views. In our Spotlight feature, CEO Richard Browning takes a sprightly-sort of stance on real estate and discusses how Riffa remains evergreen despite a global meltdown. Speaking of meltdown, with warmer weather heating our horizons, a refreshing approach to makeup is uber cool. Our In Vogue cosmetics feature turns a fresh face to explore makeup for men. Research suggests, it’s a hot trend. From concealer to skincare and other dainty touches, men are finding it personable and well, delightful. That’s not to say macho’s obsolete. Out of the Box Power Jolts looks at ways men – and women – can fortify their stamina and feel as good as new. Feeling revived won’t be complete without splashing out at the Lost Paradise of Dilmun, now open for the season with plenty adrenaline to keep your Out & About pumped up. For another slice of paradise, Showcase features a Moroccan vacation home that would leave you blissful – on both patio and pillow.

From the material to the soulful, joyful bounties abound. Turn our pages and find your pleasure.

Caroline

Sur La Terre - Manama

General Manager: Jocquine Chami

Regional Managing Editor: James McCarthy Consulting Editor: Caroline Zerrini

Area Manager - Manama: Chirine Halabi

PR, Sales & Marketing Director: Julia Toon Creative Director: Roula Zinati Ayoub

Designers: Rena Chehayber, Lara Nakhlé, Lamis Nashef

Editorial Contributors: George de Matteis, Eileen Hofer, Yamina Benaï, Anne & Judikael Hirel Printed by: Raidy Printing Group

Distributed by: Al Hilal Corporation

Published by: Firefly Communications, P.O. Box 11596, Doha-Qatar. Tel: +974 4340360 Fax: +974 4340359

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sur la terre content

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content 06 in town

Fresh and new, the latest exciting luxury products, launches and accessories to hit the city

09 gourmet travel

Uncovering Croatia’s crown jewel, Dubrovnik

14 showcase

Luxury holiday homes from Manama to Marrakech

18 unique Rides

It’s top-down driving weather, so we round up the coolest convertibles

24 brand history

Boucheron, a feast of precious stones

32 artopia

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Doha

36 going global

From humble Tuscan beginnings, Andrea Bocelli comes to the Middle East

43 shining stars

Cute kids highlight the best and brightest fashion accessories

49 a day in the life... of Mehdi El Bannai

52 beauty

Skin care for her and him

sur la terre content

54 fashion

The newest fashion trends to grace the catwalks

60 out of the box

Top picks from the vast range that the local market has to offer

72 i feel like... camping

74 star

Kevin Spacey talks to Sur la Terre about his move from screen to stage

76 in vogue

Your guide to the latest trends in fashion and shopping available locally

88 entertainment

The best in chapters, tunes, silver screen, small screen and online

93 society

Enjoy a slice of the Hollywood highlife with our Oscar special

96 snapshot

A photograph to inspire and admire

I cultural agenda Cultural events around the region

VII out & about Activities to do in the city

XIII directory

Your local and regional guide

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sur la terre in town

In Town est exciting Fresh and new, the lat hes and luxury products, launc city e th hit accessories to

HP Digital Clutch

HP Middle East has launched its new special edition notebook in the region created with world-renowned designer Vivienne Tam. Positioned to become the ultimate tech accessory for fashionistas, the HP Vivienne Tam Special Edition notebook represents the first time a computer company has partnered with a globally renowned designer to create a notebook PC that offers all the style and power needed for a delightful technology experience. The high-tech object d’art was unveiled at New York Fashion Week last September. The top of the notebook is gleaming red and bursting with peony flowers. The peony design is meticulously carried inside the notebook, under the keypad. The notebook also features a complementary embroidered storage sleeve that helps keep the exterior protected while being carried as a clutch bag. The peony design features a unique blend of Asian and Western cultures, blending antiquity with a modern style, technology and fashion. It was inspired by Tam’s “China Chic” style, which is recognised from the runways in Milan to the Olympics in Beijing and represents her personal mantra to live well and be beautiful.

The Dragon at Amwaj Islands The recently unveiled Dragon development at Amwaj Islands will be the Kingdom’s newest luxury seafront community. The project will be exclusive to residents and their guests. The development has 20 beach fronted villas and 31 apartments, all pledging a heavenly living experience to their good fortune dwellers. With its own swimming pool, garden and sea view, each villa will feature five bedrooms, three kitchens and two large living rooms along with servant and driver’s quarters and a double-car garage. The project’s other amenities will include a public swimming pool and health club.Located in the prestigious Amwaj Islands area, Muharraq, the Dragon will be located only minutes away from the Kingdom’s business, commercial and leisure hubs.

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Crowne Plaza Comedy The Crowne Plaza Bahrain has launched a new comedy night at its Harvester Pub. Held in conjunction with Bahrain Comedy, the evenings are hosted by Ahmed Ahmed along with international comedians, and will take place twice a month. It’s an evening not to be missed and Bahrain’s only comedy night. For further info and tickets call (973) 17297040.

Sad Man Dancing

Bahrain’s celebrated author Ali Al Saeed has launched his third book.

The aptly titled Sad Man Dancing is a collection of “poems, songs and other such writings” compiled by the author over a span of 12 years.

This is Al Saeed’s third book following the success of his two previous publications, the award-winning novel QuixotiQ, in 2004, and the national best selling and critically acclaimed collection of short stories, Moments, in 2006. Sad Man Dancing contains some of the author’s most personal and intimate writings, delving into his personality, perspective on life, and personal experiences, with a versatile style that combines narrative, satire and simplicity.

The 31-year-old author believes that poetry is a form of self-expression unlike any other and that it is one of the strongest forms of the rapeutic literature. Further to his new book, Al Saeed participates in poetry recitals and other cultural events around the Kingdom. For details and updates, visit www.alialsaeed.com

Arsenal Soccer School, Bahrain

Now kids can kick into a great sport. Arsenal Soccer Schools is set to establish its first Middle Eastern facility in Bahrain towards year’s end.

The schools have been operating for over 15 years and have a truly global presence with eighteen schools across four continents. The Bahrain school will bring professional soccer coaching and facilities to children of all nationalities and economic backgrounds living in the city and will encourage youngsters to ‘Play the Arsenal Way’. The school will build on the passion that Bahrain already has for soccer and create a sporting environment that fosters teamwork, self-development, empowerment as well as helping children become more confident as both an individual and as a young athlete. To be located adjacent to the Bahrain Football Association, the Arsenal Soccer School will be easily accessible to children across Bahrain and within close proximity to many of Bahrain’s secondary schools. Facilities will include two FIFA approved third generation Astroturf pitches, a large retail store, supporters’ club, a clubhouse and an Arsenal cafe. Seen announcing the new initiative are Paul Shipwright, Head of Arsenal Soccer School; Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim bin Hamad Al Khalifa; and Abdul Wahid Al Kooheji, Arsenal Soccer School’s partner in Bahrain.

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sur la terre in town

Holiday Inn Express Manama

Holiday Inn Express Manama is coming, with an opening date penciled in for the end of 2010. The announcement about the upcoming Bahraini landmark comes as InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding Co try to further strengthen the Holiday Inn Express brand in the Gulf. The 249-room, Manama hotel will be the brand’s first venture in the region outside Dubai. IHG & Ishraq claim that there is a healthy demand for limited service hotels as high real estate prices and growing competition for travellers is encouraging the region’s hospitality sector to diversify. The Holiday Inn Express brand has worked hard to become synonymous with reliability and quality in the limited service sector. Globally, Holiday Inn Express is one of the fastest growing brands, opening an average of two hotels a week, with 1889 hotels already operating and a further 728 hotels in the pipeline, worldwide.

Corvette ZR1

The first Corvette ZR1 has landed in Bahrain at the National Motor Company after being specially air freighted to a member of the Bahraini Royal Family. The first ZR1 paves the way for other VIPs in the Middle East to join the exclusive club of ZR1 owners. The mightiest Corvette ever created will break Middle East grounds, hammering down and out performing competitors like Porsche’s 911 GT2, the Ferrari 599 and even the Lamborghini LP640. Despite the intimidating performance figures, the Corvette ZR1 is as much about power as it is about handling and exceptional drivability.

The ZR1 boasts a brand-new LS9 V8 engine, rated at 638 hp (net) at 6,500 rpm and approximately 819 Nm (net) of torque at 3,800 rpm propelling it from 0 to 100km in a breath-taking 3.4 seconds.

The 6.2L Supercharged V8 LS9 engine is hand-assembled at GM’s Performance Build Center, in Wixom, Michigan, and incorporates specialty processes typically seen in racing engines to produce a highly refined and precise product. The ZR1 will be instantly recognised on Bahraini streets, with its most identifiable feature being a raised, all-carbon-fibre bonnet that incorporates a clear, polycarbonate window. The window provides a view of the top of the engine’s intercooler, with the legend “LS9 Supercharged” embossed on the left and right sides, and an engine cover with the Corvette crossed flags logo stamped at the front.

Jamie Oliver

Kit out your kitchen with Jamie Oliver’s cool cookware and entertaining products, now showing at THE One theatres, including Bahrain. Designed to give budding chefs the confidence to be creative in their cooking, the superstar TV cook’s collection includes scratch-resistant mixing bowls in marvelous matte melamine, gorgeously chunky bamboo chopping boards and knife blocks as well as knock-out kitchen and BBQ utensils. This is in addition to dishwasher-safe storage containers, sleek salt and pepper mills, retro picnic pieces and much more. Another must-have in THE One’s Jamie Oliver range is the über trendy, metal coolbox, which is not only watertight but also has a handy built-in bottle opener.

With its high quality metallic finish it is the perfect prop for desert camping or daring day trips!

sur la terre gourmet travel

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, Uncover Croatia s Crown Jewel Dubrovnik

It is a city where the old world meets modern Europe and is the east’s gateway to the west. Sur la Terre takes a whistle stop tour through the Pearl of the Adriatic to enjoy the sparkling sea and the rich history of Croatia’s coastline jewel, Dubrovnik.

< The coastal town of Dubrovnik is known as the Pearl of the Adriatic >

PhotograpHY: All rights reserved

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sur la terre gourmet travel

< Dubrovnik’s Old Town is the heart of the city >

>>> Skirting the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is a country steeped in history. As a retreat it is the perfect place to retire from the rat race, being one of the few nations that has perfectly melded modernity with the historical culture of Old Europe. Nowhere allows for the recharging of your cultural batteries more than the country’s oldest city, the coastal town of Dubrovnik. The famous writer George Bernard Shaw once wrote that: “those who seek heaven on earth must come to Dubrovnik.”

The Byzantine, Hungarians and Venetians left their wealthy legacy here and in the middle ages and it was almost Venice’s equal as a trading seaport. While the city was founded as far back as the 7th century, it has since become a playground for both financially, and culturally, wealthy global travelers looking for a peaceful holiday haven. It is not hard to see the attraction. The city boasts five star luxury resorts as well as miles of the finest coastline in southern Europe, making it the ideal hideaway during the warm Adriatic summers.

When it comes to luxury, Dubrovnik offers up plenty in the way of indulgence. Holidays here centre on you. Whether that means being pampered in a sophisticated hotel spa, drowning in to-die-for views of the shimmering Adriatic or sampling dining at its finest, the place is all about spoiling yourself. Wandering around the ancient streets, you can not only immerse yourself in centuries of history, but all major credit cards are accepted in the chic boutiques and bustling markets which will satisfy the thirst of any shopaholic.

After a long afternoon of pounding the plastic, the jewel in Croatia’s coastal crown delivers plenty of choice to those looking to refuel in time for the evening’s festivities. You can spend your Croatian Kuna on everything from steaming bowls of pasta, platters of smoked meats and cheeses, slow-roasted veal or enjoy the local oysters and shellfish

< The Stradun joins the east and west portals of the city >

for which the region is famous. If dining is a late evening affair, then before retiring to the comfort of the hotel, take your pick of the bars and cafes that Dubrovnik is crammed with and settle down to some people-watching and a cool cocktail or two while the sun dips below the horizon.

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city’s historical Old Town core. The Stradun is also the venue for the many large municipal events that are held all year round, the best known of which are the Dubrovnik Summer Games.

One of Dubrovnik’s most famous sons is the explorer Marco Polo, who was born on Korcula, an island in the waters of Dubrovnik. History buffs should take the opportunity to visit his home, which still stands in the city. The knightly town of Korcula has developed into a stone urban sculpture of orderly lines. Korcula remains immaculately preserved in its unique fishbone pattern, which is designed to ensure the town is bathed in the brilliant southern Europe sunlight both in the morning and late afternoon, but not during the hot midday. An international festival of song and wine bearing Marco Polo’s name takes place in the town annually in July, while a re-enactment of his heroic return to Korcula harbour is held every May. Korcula is also the site of a medieval festival of games, in which knights in traditional 16th century garb compete and perform traditional swordplay dances. < The city walls are a great way to see the Old Town >

Home When Away Dubrovnik is peppered with exclusive five star hotels. The Grand Villa Argentina, is renowned for its glamorous spa and fabulous restaurant, but if it is the waterfront wow-factor you are after then look no further than the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace. Of course, they don’t come much more luxurious than Hotel Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik. For effortless elegance, there is nothing to match it in the city and, being situated in the heart of the Old Town, its location brings you closer to the social hustle and bustle of historical Europe.

Culture Club Perhaps the most identifiable characteristic of Dubrovnik itself is the walls that circle the city in an unbroken line measuring 1940 metres. The walls form one of the strongest, most architecturally beautiful fortress systems on the Mediterranean and are punctuated by a network of forts, bastions and towers. A walk along them offers a real picture of the city, which is dominated by the Stradun, the Old Town’s main thoroughfare that connects the city’s east and west portals. Every historical story and local legend has its traces and inscriptions in the stone facades of the

< If you have a yacht, there are many small islands to explore around Dubrovnik >

Old World Chic The old town is the place for shopping, though most of it is firmly geared towards the bountiful tourist trade with prices to match.

A number of small shops follow the Stradun, but it is the warren of streets that break north and south from this thoroughfare that is where the real treasures are often found. Not only does exploring these winding avenues offer an opportunity to discover the real Dubrovnik, but you will also find a great deal more variety in the small boutiques, exclusive jewellers and artisans’ shops. While there are not too many of the big designer labels in Dubrovnik yet, there are many local designers opening boutiques in the Old Town. Their price tags match their exclusivity, but you are guaranteed to find something unique and highly original. However, if you are desperate to cough up your Kuna on major international brands, then Boutique Figurin - also located in the Old Town - is your best bet. For the more conventional shopping fare, the Lapad Shopping Centre is a modern complex that is home to many of the usual international chain stores.

Celebrity Lifestyle The summer is a good time to rub shoulders with the celebrity set, as Dubrovnik is quickly becoming one of the trendiest locales in Europe.

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“Those who seek heaven on earth must come to Dubrovnik.”

< The walls circle the city for an unbroken 1940 metres >

< Tom Cruise and his wife, Katie Holmes, like to holiday in Dubrovnik >

< Go exploring the surrounding countryside >

You will find yourself in good company as Dubrovnik has played host to a galaxy of stars and celebrities as diverse as the likes of software magnate Bill Gates, supermodel Naomi Campbell, Director Steven Spielburg and former US president, Bill Clinton. In more recent times the city can boast the affections of Hollywood heavyweights such as Sharon Stone and Tom Cruise, while it is not unusual to a see two-times Oscar nominee of Croatian heritage, John Malkovich, passing the time of day with locals in one of the Old Town’s twisting streets. < Every year there is a re-enactment of Marco Polo’s return to Croatia >

< Croatia is home to some of the best coastline in Southern Europe >

Capital Growth The worst period in Dubrovnik’s chequered history came in October 1991 when the city was attacked by the Serbo-Montenegrin army. The SerboMontenegrin siege of Dubrovnik lasted for seven months, and in May 1992 the Croatian Army liberated the city and its surroundings.

However, since the mid-nineties, Dubrovnik has been a free and safe town and has built up a reputation globally as a top tourist destination.

If anything, the troubles have added another chapter to the rich history of this ancient city, which continues to grow in stature as a beautiful reminder of what coastal Europe once was.

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sur la terre showcase

Homemade Exotica

An exotic holiday isn’t complete without a mesmerising home in which to stay. Here’s a Moroccan address to open your door to. >>> It’s like flying on Aladdin’s magic carpet to an enthralling home where the actual holiday become secondary.

Just one hour from Marrakech city centre lies this beautiful villa perched at the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains near a small village and marketplace. Ninety percent of the staff are from the local Berber villages and add to the feeling of staying in a private home.

The authentic décor fuses artifacts from all over the world, many of which feature in the bedrooms. Accommodation is blissful. There are 24 bedrooms and suites as well as six luxury Berber Tented Suites.

All are individually decorated using traditional Moroccan furnishings and antiques, as well as items from the vast collection of the villa’s former owner. To complement the home’s local flavours, each room has a uniquely descriptive Berber name, revealing the room’s character to its occupant. Gastronomy is premium. With its intimate fireside bar and breathtaking terrace views, the stunning Kanoun restaurant serves delicious local and international cuisine. The name ‘Kanoun’ is the Berber word for the traditional Moroccan freestanding charcoalburning brazier, made out of sun baked clay. The food combines local and international flavours, with homegrown herbs and vegetables from the villa’s gardens. Dine al fresco around the candle lit reflecting pool, up on the rooftop terrace underneath the stars or enjoy romantic dining in a private corner.

< Enjoy intimate and relaxing dining experiences by the Reflecting Pool >

Relaxation is certainly on the agenda. Take a dip in the indoor or outdoor infinity pool or work up an appetite playing tennis, table tennis or fitness in the gym. For a much slower pace, indulge in a spa treatment or traditional Moroccan Hammam, meander around the fragrant gardens, curl up in front of the fireplace in the salon or star gaze through the telescope. Whatever your desire, this little Moroccan gem is sure to meet your fancies – and fantasies. The holiday vacation home is available to rent from Star Holidays. With offices in the Gulf and London, Star Holidays provides an eclectic mix of luxury holiday homes from Morocco and other riveting destinations across the globe. Homes are available for short-term rentals throughout the year. Esteemed patrons have included Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard and the CEO of the Financial Times.

For more information, call Star Holidays in Bahrain at (973) 175 65 175 or write rentals@starholidayvillas.com .

< The palatial dulux bedroom will take your breath away >

sur la terre showcase

< Enjoy a swim in the large indoor pool >

< Relax in the luxurious en-suite bathrooms >

< Enjoy the stunning vistaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surrounding the complex >

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The Sealoft

Awaken to the sound of rippling waters. Spend a lazy afternoon on your private hardwood sundeck over the Arabian Sea. Take a plunge into your infinity-edge pool. Drift into an enchanted sleep on your sumptuous bed with colourful silk cushions. Welcome to the Sea Loft Holiday Homes, where your stay rests on serene comfort. >>> Located on the northeastern tip of Bahrain, Sealoft is idyllically nestled within the Amwaj Island Development.

Just within this group of reclaimed islands floats your holiday home.

Unique and exclusive, SeaLoft offers an extraordinary experience at a location that is ideal to meet your social, business and leisure demands. SeaLoft Boutique Chalets are infused with the sounds of seawater, exceptional standard of food, services and accommodation coupled with an indulgent over water living experience.

From the moment you check in to the moment you check out, staff is devoted to ensure a magical experience for you and your family.

< Relax by the water >

< A personal chef will prepare your meals >

The chalets provide all the convenience of luxury hotel living without losing sight of premium home comfort. Seventeen superior, fully-furnished, three storey, loft style residences have a water view and offer your choice of three and four bedroom en - suite villas with spacious open - plan living and dining rooms, private verandas and separate relaxation areas.

Each villa also includes its own kitchen and separate laundry area as well as servantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quarters. Cook for yourself in your own fully equipped kitchen or relax while a personal chef comes and prepares your choice of gourmet meals. Whether you prefer a romantic dinner for two or multi - course dinner party to impress your guests, your very own in-house chef will skilfully provide you with your menu requirements.

< SeaLoft has 17 three-storey loft-style residences >

< Enjoy sunsets in the Jacuzzi >

From culinary excitement to sheer adventure, your personal butler is there to make sure that everything is taken care of down to the finest detail. Prior to your arrival, information

sur la terre showcase

< Each room has a sumptuous en-suite bathroom >

< There is a fully equipped kitchen >

is sought after to include any special indulgences you may need or desire – maybe a personalised chauffeur, catering for a perfect evening or even how you would like your martini – shaken or stirred.

It’s all in the details. For added feel-great elements, SeaLoft provides you with a comprehensive variety of facilities for health and wellness, like a swimming pool overlooking the sea and a fully equipped gymnasium within easy reach.

< Enjoy all the comforts of home >

Relax after a stressful day in your very own outdoor Jacuzzi with a view of the marina from your spacious and private terrace or request an experienced masseuse to come and help you loosen up and unwind. Experiences like this are all part of the sparkling Sealoft adventure.

With a never-before stretch of sprawling beaches that welcome Bahrain’s refreshing breezes, Amwaj Islands are strategically located. The Islands have direct access to the Saudi causeway via the new Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Bridge. Within the Kingdom, Amwaj Islands enjoy proximity to the Bahrain International Airport, the Bahrain International Circuit and the Hidd Industrial Zone.

< Amwaj Islands is an idyllic location >

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sur la terre unique rides

Going Topless Remove your inhibitions and feel the breeze in these latest convertibles

BMW Z4 Making its world premiere at this year’s Detroit Motor Show and poised to lead its market segment once again, the 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster is the first BMW Roadster with a retractable hardtop. The two-seat Z4 will succeed both the BMW Z4 Roadster and the BMW Z4 Coupe. Setting a new standard in its segment, the Z4’s hardtop opens or closes at the touch of a button within 20 seconds, and a moveable partition preserves luggage space when the top is down. With the compact two-piece aluminum roof stowed, the Z4 maintains the classic proportions of a BMW Roadster. When the hardtop is overhead, driving is enhanced by a larger heated glass rear window, 40 percent

larger side windows, increased headroom and elbowroom, as well as the performance provided by either of two inline-6 engines, each displacing 3.0 liters. The BMW Z4 sDrive35i delivers 300 horsepower and impressive fuel efficiency from the world’s first inline-6 engine to feature twin turbochargers, High Precision direct fuel injection and an all-aluminum crankcase. The 255 hp normally aspirated engine in the BMW Z4 sDrive30i model also delivers excellent refinement, performance and fuel efficiency thanks in great part to the magnesium and aluminum used to produce the exceptionally light engine, which weighs only 355 pounds. © BMW

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder With the new Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder, Lamborghini has created a driving experience like absolutely no other – fascinating design, breathtaking performance and extreme handling characteristics come together with all the sensual intensity and open-air pleasure that only a soft top super sports car can deliver. An even more powerful engine, permanent all-wheel drive and an all-new chassis mean that the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder offers yet another significant increase in performance against its predecessor. With its innovative design, the new LP 560-4 Spyder represents more than ever before automotive passion in its purest form. As in the Coupé, its enormous power is delivered by the new 5.2 litre V10

with an output of 560 hp (412 kW) at 8,000 rpm. The LP 560-4 Spyder takes only 4.0 seconds to sprint from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h), reaching 124 mph (0 to 200 km/h) in only 13.1 seconds and going on to a top speed of 201 mph (324 km/h). The Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder presents itself as a razor-sharp super sports car with the precision reactions of a high-performance athlete.

The car is also surprisingly suited to long-distance driving and, despite its extreme performance capabilities, is easy to control whilst maintaining utmost stability. The car also has a unique individualisation program. Above all, the impressive Lamborghini captures the glorious feeling of the open air rushing by.

© LAMBORGHINI

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Ferrari California This coupé-cabriolet is an exceptionally innovative car. It takes its concept inspiration from the spirit and emotions of one of the great Ferraris of the past, the 1957 250 California, famous for being a superbly elegant open top car designed for the track. It has, over the years, come to symbolise not only superior sportiness and performance but also exclusivity, craftsmanship and faultless sophistication. This latest incarnation of the California boasts a number of firsts for the prancing horse marque – it is the first front-mounted V8 engine and retractable hard top model for Ferrari. It captures the best of the US’ west coast spirit in a motorcar. This new car joins Ferrari’s 8-cylinder range which is made up mostly of very high performance models. It also flanks the 12-cylinder flagship 612 Scaglietti in the Grand Tourer category. The Ferrari California is a car with the track in its DNA and is available exclusively as a convertible. It comes with retractable folding hard top in either a two-seater version with a traditional rear bench or in the 2+ version which sees the rear bench equipped with seating for one to two passengers. In line with Ferrari tradition, this model positively brims with innovative features making it a prancing horse car you’d want to ride forever. © FERRARI

Saab 9-3 convertible For 2009, the Saab 9-3 range includes a raft of engineering apart from the bold and more assertive looks. The premium convertible is the product of more than two decades expertise in designing four-seat, all-season soft tops that are as practical as they are stylish. In addition to its functional qualities, the Swedish soft-top offers a greatly improved driving experience by incorporating the widely-acclaimed chassis dynamics of the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan.

By combining its sporty and practical characteristics, it symbolises the core appeal of the Saab brand. Many of the design cues in the freshened 9-3 models have been inspired by Saab’s award-winning

and strikingly designed Aero X Concept car. For 2009, three new exterior colours are available throughout the range: Bright Champagne Metallic, which is unique for the Convertible; Carbon Grey Metallic and Glass Grey Metallic. The Convertible gets an additional colour for its soft top in the form of a grey shade which is also new for 2009. The 9-3 interiors use premium materials and are generously equipped, with standard features such as dualzone automatic climate control, eight-way power driver’s seat, rain-sensing windshield wipers, cooled and illuminated glove box, plush carpet floor mats and plenty of storage.

© SAAB

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Volvo C70 Open up to a whole new world. The Volvo C 70 is designed to move you even when you are standing still. A full four seater convertible with retractable hardtop, this car is unique in many ways. In less than 30 seconds, it can transform from an elegantly stylish convertible to a sporty, muscular coupe. Loaded with comfort and convenience, powerful performance of a 230 hp, 2.5 litre turbo engine and unmatched active and passive safety features, it takes you even higher. Inside, every little detail is quite mindful of the driver and the passengers and well thought out for elegance and style – from the tinted windows and door mounted inflatable curtains to the choice of material and the placement of equipment. The interior features a touch of leather on the steering wheel and a stylish dashboard. The driver-oriented features enhance safety and behind the front seats, you can fit a wind blocker to keep things calm. Then, when you turn up the world-class audio system, it simply blows your mind even standing still.

© VOLVO

Jaguar XKR The Jaguar XKR Portfolio sports car is defined by dramatic beauty and effortless performance. Available as either convertible or coupe, and built in limited numbers, the XKR Portfolio adds exquisitely crafted levels of luxury, premium equipment and exclusivity. Portfolio is a name that defines a series of highly luxurious special edition vehicles from Jaguar.

Following on from the success of the first XKR Portfolio model launched in 2007, the 2009MY XKR Portfolio is a breath of fresh air. Technicalities include advanced lightweight aluminium body construction, 420bhp (SAE) supercharged 4.2 litre V8 engine and six-speed Jaguar sequential shift transmission with paddleshift gear change for a more driverfocused dynamic performance. For 2009, both the XK and XKR models feature as standard the introduction of IPod and USB connectivity and the standard fitment of an air-sensor, front park assist and electro-chromic and heated power fold-back mirrors. The car combines distinctive styling with luxurious interior touches to create a model that is a supreme Grand Tourer with the performance and dynamics of a true sports car.

© JAGUAR

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Porsche Boxster S Design Edition 2 The all-new Porsche Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2 now sets new standards. To begin with, the car develops 303 bhp (223 kW) from 3.4 litres, eight horsepower more than the respective S model. It also comes with a wide range of exclusive equipment highlighted by the car’s particularly striking designs. The production colour Carrara White, for a long time one of the highlights in Porsche’s colour range, now receives additional emphasis in the new Boxster: The star-spoke rims on the 19-inch SportDesign wheels featured as standard, the side air intakes, the centre console and the dials on the three round instruments are also finished in white. Sporting grey stripes extending lengthwise along the body accentuate the car’s brilliant white finish in the same sophisticated style as the red rear lights. A unique accessory coming with the car is likewise an homage to the white rev counter and speedometer: The Porsche Design Edition 2 Chronograph men’s wristwatch from the Dashboard Collection features a white face and was developed especially for this very special Boxster. By contrast, the colours of the roof and leather upholstery featured as standard are really classical throughout: Stone Grey and Black. © PORSCHE

Ford Mustang The celebrated Ford Mustang celebrates its 45th anniversary with a new panoramic glass roof option that opens the world to pony-car enthusiasts. The segment first, factory-installed glass roof is available as an option on the GT V8 Mustang Coupe, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors year-round. The special tinted, reflective glass reduces energy used by the vehicle’s air conditioning system by 20 percent and also protects the interior fabric from fading and deteriorating. A manually operated roller blind allows owners to block the light on bright days.Noise, vibration and harshness are controlled in the cabin with a layer of sound

absorbent vinyl sandwiched within the special glass. For 2009, Ford has also added more standard equipment to the popular “Premium” array, ambient lighting, satin aluminum instrument panel trim and upgraded interior trim. Both the Mustang GT coupe and convertible are powered by a 300-horsepower, 4.6-litre 3V V-8 engine. The standard gearbox is 5-speed manual, with an available 5-speed automatic. The Mustang convertible stands alone as the only sports car and the only convertible ever to earn five star safety ratings in all of the five test categories under the US government’s New Car Assessment Program.

© FORD

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sur la terre unique rides

The Sequoia

PHotography: © Toyota

The biggest Toyota has finally been launched in Bahrain >>> While new to the region, the Toyota Sequoia has been sold successfully in the United States and many parts of the world since 2000. Now, modern and enthusiastic families of Bahrain, especially those who consider driving a V8 Large SUV to be one of the life pleasures, can enjoy the all new Toyota Sequoia 2009. The look and feel of the all new Toyota Sequoia has been designed while retaining the familiar stamp of Toyota’s quality that customers recognise immediately.

Its design and engineering meet the needs of drivers looking for a full-size SUV that can meet various usage needs, has a spacious interior, a powerful driving performance, and a sense of security, while meeting the latest global standards in emissions and safety. In shorter words, it’s what people were waiting for in this part of the world. Outstandingly, the engine, transmission and platform in the Sequoia were all newly developed using cutting edge technology to provide power performance, handling performance, and driving performance that are top of its class, when compared to others in this category. The Sequoia roars with an impressive 5.7 litre, V8 engine with 381 HP, which uses Chain Drive

and Dual VVT-I (Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence) for more power and better fuel economy. A new 6-speed super intelligent electronically controlled transmission (Al Shift) also fully utilises the engine torque and increases power, on-road acceleration and fuel efficiency. Also, to make handling more stable and safer, systems such as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Anti Lock Braking Systems (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) come as standard equipment in the all new Toyota Sequoia. As for the Sequoia interior, the design and form pursued project the premium image with the ruggedness of an SUV. Toyota originality was also followed in every detail from the material to the use of colours. The Sequoia dominates the competition when it comes to both the spacious interior and storage capacity. With the exceptionally unique seat configuration, this new Toyota will make travelling easier and more fun.

Available at Manama’s Toyota and Lexus Showroom through Ebrahim K. Kanoo, sole distributor for Toyota and Lexus in Bahrain.

< The outside of the Sequoia is big... >

< ...as is the spacious interior >

Beyond First Class, Your class.

The world of BEXAIR, the Middle East's most prestigious executive aviation service company, sets global standards for unparalleled service and redefines modern executive air travel style. BEXAIR offers you a new business aviation concept that is absolutely unique to the region, providing eminent VIPs with optimum customized travel solutions. Fly entirely at your own convenience, anywhere and anytime you choose, in the utmost comfort, safety, security and privacy. As the region's only fully-integrated FAR-135/JAR Ops 1 compliant charter operator, BEXAIR is fully insured, licensed and approved by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authorities, meeting their most stringent rules and regulations.

BEXAIR's fleet of very modern and new aircraft and our highly trained staff, are at your disposal to provide you with the best of service to a level that is Beyond First Class. In addition, our exclusive VIP Terminal at Bahrain International Airport provides an exceptional venue for arrivals, departures and meetings. We invite you to experience the BEXAIR class and consider BEXAIR as your business travel partner in the sky.

BEXAIR Corporate Office; Tel : +973-17 530 900 - Fax: +973-17 541 200 - Suite 101, 10th floor - City Gardens Shopping Mall Office Tower - Government Avenue Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

24

sur la terre brand history

Text: Yamina Bena誰 Photography: All rights reserved

Boucheron,

a feast of precious stones

sur la terre brand history

25

< Homage to Boucheron. Necklace imagined by Shaun Leane created by Boucheron. Blackened gold necklace set with a purple pear-shaped sapphire, paved with sapphires, white and brown diamonds and rubies. The center stone is detachable to be worn separately. The Flowers open manually and close with a system hidden on the stem of each flower >

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a story of family, of passion and of talent. Passed down from father to son for nearly 150 years, then taken up by a group fortunately attentive to the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity, the Boucheron jewellery house has continued to remain visionary and inventive. As it celebrated its 150th anniversary throughout 2008, the jewellery house demonstrates that continuity is built upon a knowledge of oneself and an openness to others.

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sur la terre brand history

< Yellow gold “Danger” necklace set with a 15,50 carats yellow pear shaped sapphire, paved with yellow round sapphires, round rubies and round and navette diamonds.

The yellow pear shaped sapphire is removable to be worn separately! - Boucheron Enchanteur Collection >

< Ring “Chouette”, set in blackened gold with diamonds Sapphires and amethysts >

< Ring “Chauve-Souris”, set in white gold with amethysts, violet sapphires and rubies >

>>> After years of apprenticeship, first in the workshop of the jeweller Jules Chaize, then in the shop of the jeweller Tixier-Deschamps, Frédéric Boucheron – at the age of 28 and with 1,000 francs in capital - decided to create his own jewellery house. While his ancestors had worked as clothiers, he preferred to work with minerals. In 1858, he opened his first shop beneath the Galerie de Valois arcade at the Palais-Royal. Fortunately for him, in this second half of the 19th century, anything served as a pretext for the creation of jewellery, as can be seen in the house’s

< Ring “Herisson”, fashioned in pink gold in diamond point for a ring with round cut rubies and black diamonds >

< Ring “Cameleon” in blackened gold set with tsavorites garnets, blue, pink and yellow sapphires and rubies >

archival drawings. A cigarette case, a tie clip, a tobacco box, a chatelaine, a hairpin, a soapbox, a scoreboard, a cloisonné sweet box, a coat fastener, a brooch and a pillbox, as well as a powder compact and a tube of lipstick set with rubies, and even an engravedcrystal salt bottle decorated with chased gold and diamonds. The art of fine jewellery and ornamentation constitutes an ever-renewed technical and aesthetic challenge. A challenge brilliantly met by Boucheron. As is often the case in jewellery, animals, plants and a variety of nature motifs are given majestic, eloquent

expression. One must visit the workshops of the great jewellery houses to fully appreciate the artisans’ great talent and skill. From a lacklustre lump of metal that one wouldn’t guess is gold, or from a rough pebble which is revealed to be a luminous diamond, are born remarkable forms, lines and entanglements.

What a hypnotic vision, these jewels sparkling with life! One can almost hear the chirping of the bird perched on the brooch, the hissing of the serpent coiled around the neck, or the flower petals trembling in the breeze and delicately decorating the wearer’s finger.

sur la terre brand history

27

< Ring “Cameleon” in blackened gold set with tsavorites garnets, blue, pink and yellow sapphires and rubies >

< Kate Walsh wearing the pieces, Cinna earrings and Cinna bracelets in sapphire, for the occasion of the “NAACP IMAGE AWARDS” >

The house would grow in importance after Frédéric Boucheron’s fortunate meeting in 1878 with Giddeon Reed, vice-president of Tiffany & Co, at that time the house used to sell in its stores high-end european jewellery creations to American billionaires. The vice-president put the French jeweller into contact with his extensive and well-heeled American clientele.

For one of these ladies, the house made a parure of diamonds and sapphires arranged around a central gemstone: a 159-carat

sapphire. This prestigious creation allowed Boucheron to enter the pantheon of the “haute joaillerie”, attracting a clientele from both the blue-blooded aristocracy and newly-minted but immense fortunes. For the jeweller, there’s no room for an overweening ego: creation is not the monopoly of any one individual.

Rather, it depends on the skills, savoir-faire and imagination of several men and women who, together, create a future for a handful of precious stones.

< Katie Holmes wearing two “Exquises Confidences” sautoirs in yellow gold set with diamonds and tourmalines >

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sur la terre brand history

< White gold “Gourmand” necklace set with nine pink sapphires (for approximately 31 carats), four mauve sapphires (for approximately 8,50 carats) and four orangey yellow sapphires (for approximately 7,50 carats in total), paved with emerald drops, ruby beads, diamonds and pink, yellow, golden and orangey sapphires - Boucheron Enchanteur Collection >

In 1893, the jeweller set up his shop at the prestigious address of 26 Place Vendôme, where it remains to this day. Three generations of jewellers would succeed Frédéric Boucheron after his death in 1902. His son Louis, a civil engineer, carried the family name and expertise to Moscow, London, New York and beyond. To India, in particular, which he visited for the first time in 1909. His assiduity was eventually rewarded by the munificence of the Maharajah of Patiala, who placed an order for 149 creations in 1928. An entire book has been dedicated to this collection, including drawings and details of many of the precious stones. The most miraculous treasures from around the world were submitted to the house’s expert eye at 26 Place Vendôme, from the Maharajah of Patiala’s “gigantic chests filled with precious

stones” to pieces from the Treasury of Iran in 1930. While the house was certainly pleased with its success, its president continued his tireless search for the most beautiful and fascinating gemstones. “For those able to decipher its message, more often than not it’s the gemstone that dictates what it wants. And then there’s the history behind the stones, their burdens of passions, even violence, the adventures behind their discovery, the strange destinies they have known before reaching us, the struggles for their possession,” explained Louis Boucheron. The stones’ memory, it is true, is part of the miracle.

Upon Louis’s death in 1959, his sons Frédéric and Gérard pursued the family business and were in turn succeeded by Gérard’s son, Alain,

up until 1994. The company was then sold to a Swiss firm before eventually becoming part of the PPR Group at the turn of the century. The successive collections of haute joaillerie have won the admiration of a clientele dazzled by their creativity and aesthetics.

In 2007, the brand’s Web site began selling rings, necklaces, perfume. “This Web site is meant to become the indispensable complement to our shops,” declared Jean-Christophe Bédos, Boucheron’s chairman and managing director, at its launch. In 2008, to lastingly commemorate its 150th anniversary in grand style, the jewellery house launched “Boucheron Enchanteur”, a haute joaillerie collection which necessitated no less than 12,000 hours of work.

< White gold “Mysterious” necklace set with three oval sapphires (approximately 19, 12 and 11 carats), three aquamarine (for approximately 44 carats) and three amethyst flowers (for approximately 54 carats), four diamonds (approximately 0.50 carat each), paved with diamonds and emeralds. One of the amethyst f lowers is carved into a vial to be filled with perfume or poison!)

- Boucheron Enchanteur Collection >

sur la terre brand history

29

< Pendant “Exquises confidences” in white gold, pink silk fringe, and diamonds >

This celebration has also given birth to several fruitful collaborations, with Richard Mille creating an elegant watch “in homage to complication” and Harumi Klossowska, daughter of the painter Balthus, and the British artist Shaun Leane each designing a magnificent parure. Shaun Leane created a spectacular necklace. An armful of flowers in blackened gold set with a lilac, pear-shaped sapphire and adorned with sapphires and white and brown diamonds. A mechanism hidden beneath each stem allows the flowers to open and close. A parabole of night and day, of past and future, of eternal renewal.

One only has to admire Boucheron’s creations from nearly a century ago to appreciate the profound modernity and timelessness of this house that was born to last and remain in the firmament for as long as women love to wear jewellery.

< White gold “Grenouille” watch bracelet set with a 0,30 carats diamond, paved with emeralds, diamonds, rubies and pink and yellow orangey sapphires. The watch is hidden under the lotus f lower. ETA movement >

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sur la terre spotlight

Richard Browning CEO of Riffa Views

As construction projects are halted around the globe, Riffa Views continues to flourish. CEO Richard Browning discusses the evergreen elements nurturing the project, the industry, and his drive.

Overall, what do you think of the property situation in Bahrain as compared to other areas around the region?

I think we are in a very strong position. The market has changed and become extremely wary of real estate investment in view of the global and - particularly Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current reaction - to the economic crisis.

Property prices in Bahrain did not reach the heights of other real estate markets during the boom period of the last couple of years and therefore are likely to retain their values.

Despite media reports, prices of good quality projects will not fall, although the individual circumstances of property owners may cause a few low priced offerings. Buyers have become wiser and more discerning and property developments will have to show their real value to attract them.

How is economic uncertainty affecting Riffa Views?

The market is nervous and buyers have hit the pause button. Therefore every developer is concerned. Right now, anyone in the property market is seeking a bargain. The property sales at Riffa Views reached 88% back in September with mostly end users as buyers. At this stage of both sales and construction (i.e. close to delivery) we had not projected many sales anyway until the development reached a more complete stage. Therefore the current economic uncertainty had little effect on projected sales but did require us to show a level of confidence to our existing buyers.

What drove you to get involved with Riffa Views?

My history related to the development of integrated residential golf real estate in South Africa. This started some years ago with a pioneer project there and then continued with others, that eventually produced a fairly mature market comparable with the early days of Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development of this type of product.

I therefore felt that my experience in establishing this type of development related very closely to the challenge at Riffa Views in creating a pioneer project in a traditionally non-golfing environment.

The challenge set by the investors was not only one of financial success but of creating a sustainable high quality landmark development.

Is Riffa Views taking shape as you had envisioned?

Yes. The planning of Riffa Views incorporated all of the typical attributes of the successful development model from around the globe. It not only incorporates the best from this, but also ensures that the lessons learnt from other developments have been answered.

When adapting all of that to the local climate, conditions and customer requirement was also critical. We continually monitor other new developments globally and I would say that we are still at the cutting edge of this type of development. In respect of progress we have suffered a few setbacks but delivery is on schedule for this year.

sur la terre spotlight

We know you consider property developers in Bahrain as partners in your industry. How do you see the growth of the industry during these times?

I think the relationship of developers with each other is even more important now than ever. The market needs confidence and it is up to us all to give that confidence. We can either fight for our own cause or develop The Kingdom of Bahrain as a global player together. If Bahrain succeeds, we all do.

Today, Riffa Views is setting the standard for luxury residential developments. Between all of the different projects, what is Riffa Views’ differentiating factor, both amidst your industry partners and towards your target audience?

All the different residential offerings have different attributes and rightly so as buyers look for different things in property. Riffa Views suits a family looking for a different lifestyle, offering security of their environment for the future. The sports facilities, school and landscape add something that Bahrain doesn’t offer in very many places. Riffa Views also stands strong as a great investment.

How do you feel you are truly making a difference towards that niche?

I think that as a pioneer of this type of lifestyle in Bahrain we are offering something previously unavailable. However we are not reinventing the wheel and offering something untested. This product is proven as a lifestyle product in demand around the world. What we are doing is bringing that opportunity to our doorstep.

Another difference that is surely being made is that - in the midst of a global meltdown - developers around the region have delayed or even aborted projects. How do you choose to hold the fort so strong?

We are advanced far enough in both sales and construction that the effect will not be as great as if we were just launching the project. Again the world will come out of this crisis and with a positive attitude and the right product, we will see success.

We have always been a dynamic company and prepared to move with either new information, technology or change and I think that proactive approach has helped us get this far and will help us get the job done.

31

From sporting legends to families craving the good life, Riffa Views offers a lot across its 18-hole golf course. But despite all its praises, what do you think Riffa Views is lacking in today and how will you fix that?

The criteria for success of a development of this kind are not only bricks and mortar. It is about the community that is created. The fact that most of our buyers are end-users means that the estate will be lived in and alive. We are creating the environment but the pride and the atmosphere created by that future community dictate the ultimate sustainability of Riffa Views. What’s missing? The people. How will we fix that? Deliver the development.

What are other key challenges you face and how do you plan on tackling them?

The key challenge is to finish it off. Climb Mount Everest and stop 50 feet short of the top and you have done nothing. Our current challenge is to scale the last 50 feet and plant our flag at the top.

How do you plan on not letting the global meltdown affect the company’s growth?

The company is specifically geared to deliver this one project and therefore it is not about growth. From here opportunities arise for both my team and our investors, but that is in the future.

What is it about Riffa Views that you are most proud of?

I am proud of my team, and I include consultants and contractors that have all shown a belief in the project and a belief that we could achieve something in a real estate project that not many of them had been involved in before.

I am also proud of our buyers that had the foresight and trust to make this there home when all they could see was desert dust and pretty pictures.

If you were given a chance to start over, what would you do differently?

If I were to say nothing, I think that would sound either arrogant or foolish. Yes there are some things I would change but given the big picture, I think I am happy to leave it as it is.

32

sur la terre artopia

< Opening concert Maazel & Orchester seitlich >

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Doha Photography: All rights reserved

Pulling together talented musicians from all over the world, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra offers engaging music programs, with both an international and local flavour.

sur la terre artopia

< Marcel Khalife >

>>> Established in 2008, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) is the brainchild of the Qatar Foundation and the QPO’s Managing Director, Kurt Meister, who started the project to promote awareness and interest in classical music.

Meister, a German, comes from good musical stock. He was formerly the General Manager of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, where for more than a decade he worked with many of the world’s most celebrated conductors.

However, in 2007, his work began in earnest to build a world-class orchestra that would go on to enthrall and enrich Qatar’s cultural life and musical recognition.

A series of auditions were held throughout Europe and in Cairo, Egypt, and more than 2000 musicians auditioned. This figure was whittled down to just over one hundred artists who currently make up the ensemble. Coming from 30 countries, about a third of the musicians hark from the Middle East and North Africa. The diversity of nationalities includes 21 musicians from Germany, 13 from Hungary and seven from Russia and Egypt. There are two players from USA,

Switzerland, France and Britain, and one player from Kazakhstan and Malaysia, respectively. The mission statement was clear: To raise the musical consciousness and appreciation of classical music within the local community by bringing educational and recreational opportunities to the people of Qatar.

In 2008, Marcel Khalifé, a Lebanese composer, was appointed as the Musical Director and resident composer of the newly founded Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Khalifé has produced more than 25 instrumental and lyrical works including The Symphony of Return, Concerto Al Andalus- Suite for Oud and Orchestra, Mouda’aba (Caress), Diwan Al Oud, Jadal Oud duo, Oud Quartet, Al Samaa in the traditional Arabic forms and Taqasim, a duo for the oud and double bass, which was awarded the Grand prize of the prestigious Charles Cros Academy in France in November 2007.

The Italian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Piacenza Choir performed one his most recent works, a choral symphonic composition entitled Sharq. Khalifé himself openly admits that his

< Marcel Khalife >

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sur la terre artopia

“The Qatar Philharmonic has grown in stature very quickly. So much so, in fact, that it is starting to attract the attention of world-class guest conductors.”

challenges are not only musical in character.

In his association with great contemporary Arab poets, particularly Palestinian poet par excellence, Mahmoud Darwish, he seeks to renew the character of the Arabic song, to break its stereotypes, and to advance the culture of the society that surrounds it.

This was no more evident than in his latest work, Arabian Concerto, which premiered at the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra’s inaugural concert. “Music has no homeland,” He explained at the time. “It is the sole common language of humanity that has the potential to make up for the miscommunication that plagues communities of disparate tongues bent upon mutual oppression.”The score is a re-working of local material, plunging the jealously guarded traditions of the East and its seductive beauty into world music, “expressing the historical, cultural self, in a human musical language and restoring it to a place in the world.”

The piece resonates with influences from the cultural melting pot that is the Middle East, encapsulating the spirituality of the Old East, the heritage of Byzantium’s ecclesiastical outpouring, the magical touches of Persia’s music, the melancholy of ancient Iraq whose repository is the maqam, coupled with the

rhythm of the Arabian desert and the Turkish bashraf. It was met with critical acclaim and set the Qatar Philharmonic on its way to achieving its long term goals of both providing a unique, new musical tradition that ensures the next generation of classical musicians from the region and showcasing the best of Arabic musical tradition.

Since its first tentative steps into the musical arena, the Qatar Philharmonic has grown in stature very quickly. So much so, in fact, that it is starting to attract the attention of worldclass guest conductors. The orchestra heralded 2009 in some style when under the direction of German conductor, Gerd Albrecht, the QPO performed Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in G major, followed by Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major. Albrecht has performed with numerous orchestras that play many works by Dvorak and Beethoven. His extensive experience in the field of nineteenth-century music (as a renowned conductor in Dvorak music, especially) allowed him to masterfully deliver a musical feast, which the crowd ate up and still wanted more. The QPO performed no less than three curtain calls to rapturous applause.The QPO is set to continue its growth in popularity, performing works from Mozart, Puccini, Rachmanimov as well as flying to the United States to give a performance of

< Rony Moser, Principal Clarinet, Qatar’s new ambassador >

< The Musical Twins, Alie & Lilya Bekirova >

< Mohamed Saleh >

< Practice >

sur la terre artopia

35

the Arabian Concerto at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC. It is a busy time for the organisers, as there is a full schedule of concerts throughout March and April currently being finalised. And, staying true to the philosophy of raising cultural awareness among the local populace, there will also be children’s concerts, with the QPO performing Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf on the 18th and 19th of March.In its first year, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra has already laid down strong roots. However, such rapid growth comes at a price. It won’t be long before the QPO will have outgrown its current venue at the Aspire Building’s Ladies Club. The good news is, though, that the show will always go on. There are currently plans afoot to move to a permanent, purpose-built home within Doha’s Cultural village. And so continues the development of a real Qatari cultural pearl and it is perhaps fitting to give the last word to the Maestro himself. Quoting his description of the Arabian Concerto, you could easily imagine that Khalifé was talking about the birth of the QPO and everything it stands for.

“And thus it has come. Overflowing with an abstract, symphonic, cultured content, towards a beautiful and ground-breaking adventure, towards universalism, armed and prepared to overcome any unyielding element.”

< Gerd Albrecht-QPO Guest Conductor >

< Maestro Lorin Maazel, Director of the New York Philharmonic, conducted the QPO’s inaugural concert >

< The QPO performed their first concert in October last year >

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sur la terre going global

Andrea Bocelli From a humble farm family, Andrea Bocelli rose from native Italian soil singing to family recordings of the great tenors. With no microphone and no vision, he crossed borders to become a world-beloved superstar.

Photography: All rights reserved

>>> Passionate albums. Critical accolades. Strings of memorable performances and a voice that moves mountains. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an opera tenor that has captured the hearts of music lovers, defied the odds and applauded the worth of a genre that seemed only to belong to yesteryear.

By 1999, in a feat not often achieved by classical musicians, Bocelli had attained phenomenal international success both in opera and in pop music. With a voice that was described as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most beautiful in the world,â&#x20AC;? Bocelli enthralled album listeners with the 1997 release of Romanza, which sold at least 15 million copies, and the 1999 introduction of Sogno, which, after selling some 3 million copies in less than two months, made Bocelli the first classical artist to have an album top the pop charts.

sur la terre going global

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The fact that Bocelli was blind made it difficult for him to star on the operatic stage. He performed mostly in concert. In 1999 he was featured at both the Grammy Awards (he had been nominated for a Grammy as best new artist) and the Academy Awards, where his duet on “The Prayer” (nominated as best song) with pop star Celine Dion was rewarded with a standing ovation. By 1999 “Bocellimania” had spread from Italy and throughout Europe to the US, Canada, and Australia.

Bocelli, born on Sept. 22, 1958, in the farming town of Lajatico, just outside Pisa, was afflicted with congenital glaucoma. His parents sold farm equipment, grew olives and grapes and were not particularly musical. Bocelli began taking piano lessons at the age of six, later played flute and saxophone, and sang along to family recordings of Italian tenors. At the age of 12, having suffered a brain haemorrhage as a result of a head injury sustained in a soccer game, Bocelli became totally blind. Undeterred by his lack of sight, he studied law at the University of Pisa while singing at piano bars and nightclubs to finance his education.

“In 2003 he was awarded two highly coveted UK Brit Awards for “Album of the Year” and the “Biggest Selling Classical Album of the Year” for his Sentimento album.”

< Bocelli has transcended the pop and opera divide >

After obtaining his law degree, he practiced law for a year before deciding on a musical career and studying voice with tenor Franco Corelli. With his natural predisposition towards music and song, there was no other way for the tenor, considering his extraordinary musicality.

Bocelli’s breakthrough came when in 1992, he was asked by Italian pop star Zucchero Fornaciari to record a demo of “Miserere,” a song intended for renowned vocalist Luciano Pavarotti. Pavarotti was highly impressed with Bocelli’s voice, the two became friends, and the next year Bocelli signed a recording contract; his debut album went platinum in Europe.

< The town of pisa, close to bocelli’s tuscan birthplace >

< Bocelli hails from humble beginnings, the tuscan farming town of Lajatico >

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sur la terre going global

In 1995 the single “Con te partirò” (“Time to Say Goodbye”) was released. It later became a duet in English with Sarah Brightman, and both versions became smash hits. Bocelli’s popularity soared in 1997 after repeated airings of his live show “Romanza in Concert: A Night in Tuscany.”Though he claimed opera as his first love, Bocelli mixed arias with popular music on his recordings (a genre referred to by the press as “popera”) in an effort to expand his audience base.

Criticised by some reviewers as being too lightweight to be taken seriously by the opera world, Bocelli nevertheless performed at the “Party of the Century,” New Year’s millennium concert in 1999 in New York City.

< Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman at the Bambi awards >

sur la terre going global

In 2003 he was awarded two highly coveted UK Brit Awards for “Album of the Year” and the “Biggest Selling Classical Album of the Year” for his Sentimento album.

The career of the tenor from Pisa can certainly be described as extraordinary. The world of opera has seen very few like him. For the first time, at a moment of deep crisis, we are seeing theatres packed like rock stadiums, television companies eager to broadcast events and young people turning up at the opera. Andrea Bocelli is a natural advertisement for a genre that the majority of youngsters think is antiquated and obsolete and belongs in a museum. With his unmistakable timbre and enchanting diction, Bocelli is prolonging the life and restoring the dignity to a genre that seemed to belong only to the past and whose death was already being mourned.

Andrea Bocelli has, at his own risk, entered the operatic fray without the aid of a microphone and achieved a miracle - that of overcoming his blindness and performing on stage as well as, and in some cases, even better than many of his colleagues. A series of challenges marking the beginning of a new era for opera: the most beautiful spectacle in existence, and this time with a tenor for everyone.

Today, the spotlight continues to shine on Andrea. His vocal colour and clear delivery goes straight to the hearts of the listeners and is the reason for his spectacular success. It is the famous “something” that makes an artist unique.

Andrea Bocelli performs this season at the Emirates Palace, as part of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival. See Cultural Agenda.

< Katherine Jenkins presenting bocelli with the silver clef >

< The 8th Latin Grammy Awards >

< Bocelli has restored life to his musical genre >

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O

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sur la terre

Under the Patronage of His Excellency Dr Hassan A Fakhro Minister of Industry and Commerce

s ’ n i a r h a B

r e i m e Pr rty Prope Show

27 – 30 May 2009 Bahrain International Exhibition Centre www.propertyarabia2009.com For more information please contact:

Dubai Office

UK Office

Bahrain Office

Tel: +971 4 3216166 Fax: +971 4 3216164 E-mail: mike@dubaishows.com www.dubaishows.com

Tel: +44 1235 765 512 Fax: +44 1235 765 109 E-mail: george.betz@dubaishows.com www.dubaishows.com

Tel: +973 17 550033 Mobile: +973 39403175 Fax: +973 17 553288 E-mail: abdul@aeminfo.com.bh www.aeminfo.com.bh

sur la terre shining stars

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Shining Stars

Production Firefly Communications Art Direction Roula Zinati Ayoub Photography Georges Khoury, www.georges-khoury.com Stylist Chantal Mossess Make-up Diana Haddad Location Aspire, Sports Academy, Doha, www.aspire.qa A big thank you to our shining stars Karim, Bettina, Rudi, TĂŠa Accessories are from stores within the Villagio Shopping Mall, Al Waab Street, Doha.

Branded retail outlets within the Villagio that participated include: Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Ed Hardy, Lacoste, Leowe, Puma, Quicksilver and Von Dutch Retail outlets with additional brands who participated in the shoot include: Go Sport (providing Adidas, Puma, Reebok, Heelz, Umbro and Ferrari branded products) and The Golf Shop

KARIM Cap, Von Dutch Blue Towel, Ed Hardy Sports Bag, Ferrari Wristband, Reebok T-Shirt, LACOSTE Track Suit, PUMA Shoes Worn, PUMA Red Towel, PUMA Watch,PUMA Gold shoes, Elvis from ED Hardy

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sur la terre shining stars

Bettina Pink Jacket, REEBOK Leggings, PUMA T-Shirt, PUMA Bag, PUMA Yellow Towel, PUMA Shoes, HEELZ

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KARIM T-Shirt, PUMA Shorts, PUMA Shoes, HEELZ Head and Wristband, Reebok Weights, GO SPORT Green Towel, ED HARDY Bottle, PUMA

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sur la terre shining stars

BETTINA Skirt, LACOSTE Hair Band, LACOSTE Shoes, LACOSTE T-Shirt, PUMA Racket, GO SPORT

KARIM Short, UMBRO Shoes, LACOSTE T-Shirt, BURBERRY Racket, GO SPORT

sur la terre shining stars

RUDI Trousers, D&G Cap, D&G Wristband, REEBOK T-Shirt, LACOSTE Shoes, GO SPORT Rackets, GO SPORT

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TéA Dress, BURBERRY Bag, BURBERRY Shoes, PUMA Tennis Balls, GO SPORT Sunglasses, D&G Belts, LACOSTE

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sur la terre shining stars

TéA T-Shirt, LACOSTE Skirt, BURBERRY Scarf, BURBERRY Shoes, LACOSTE Watches, PUMA Glove, THE GOLF SHOP

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RUDI T-Shirt, BURBERRY Shorts, BURBERRY Shoes, LACOSTE Glove, THE GOLF SHOP Golf Club, THE GOLF SHOP Giraffe Golf Club Cover, THE GOLF SHOP

sur la terre a day in the life...

‘A Day in the Life... of Mehdi El Bannai’

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Photography: All rights reserved

Where do you work and what is your job title?

I am currently an Art Educational Supervisor.

What does your job involve?

My job involves professionally developing teachers in a number of schools that I supervise. I also consider producing my works of art a vocation and work hard to follow up on the latest developments in this field.

Can you take us through a typical working day?

Every morning I drive my children to their respective schools, before arriving at my office in the Ministry of Education. I am not there for very long, however, as every day I visit a different school to supervise art teachers. I use coaching and a friendly, conferencing approach, to help them improve their teaching technique. After work, I like to spend much of my free time in my workshop, producing sculptures until late in the evening. During this time I look to produce works that reflect both my own line of thinking as well as recent innovations in the field.

How do you balance business and family life equally?

It can be really difficult maintaining a balance between my work in schools and my personal work as an artist. I also have to juggle my commitment towards family – there is both my immediate family and my relatives as we live in a community with strong bonds. Therefore, I try my best to meet the demands of all the different aspects in my life.

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sur la terre a day in the life...

My wife puts a lot of effort into looking after the children and monitoring their studies, as I find myself busy addressing other family needs.

What do you do to relax?

Relaxing does not suit me as I am a dynamic person. To me, relaxing means to give my body some time to rest from exhaustion, but not from work. I feel relaxed when people around me are satisfied. I also feel extremely relaxed and a great sense of accomplishment whenever I finish something I have been busy working on in my workshop. This is why I am amazed sometimes when I hear other people’s concepts of the word ‘relax’.

Do you have any hobbies or a particular passion outside of work?

I enjoy travelling and camping. I also love repairing things at home.

sur la terre a day in the life...

What books are you currently reading?

I read a lot but it is surprising that I am not able to complete reading any one book. I think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because of my great involvement with various interests and commitments at work, with my family and friends and at my workshop. They all have their own share. However, one of the books that I have read and completed many times is the Holy Quran.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

France. I just love its dedication and commitment to the field of art.

What characteristics do you find most appealing in other people?

When I look around me, I find that every one of us has his or her own unique characteristics. This uniqueness is magnificent.

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would you be?

Michelangelo. He has been my inspiration since childhood.

What is your favourite type of food?

I particularly love seafood and enjoy all types of fish. I also like all kinds of vegetables.

Tell us one thing that people might be surprised to learn about you?

I am not only a sculptor, but I am also a great painter.

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sur la terre beauty

Tailored for her and for him Production Sandra Jeannin Photographs by Ian Abela @ Visionairs In Art www.ianabela.com

Body creator, aromatic sculpting concentrate for the body SHISEIDO Issima body secret, blue exfoliating scrub for the body GUERLAIN Tonific minceur Body care, body-contouring massage oil with decongesting essential oils of cedar, rosemary and grapefruit NUXE Body Performance. SLIM Shape+, Anti-cellulite/anti-fluide Advanced, visible contouring serum OENOBIOL CELLULITE

sur la terre beauty

Body Creator, abdomen toning gel SHISEIDO MEN Body Care, body exfoliating soap stimulating and toning with marine algae and shea butter NUXE Keep fresh (without aluminim) TASK ESSENTIAL Sculptant Corps OENOBIOL HOMME Sparkle Skin, body exfolating cream CLINIQUE

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sur la terre fashion

Production: Juliette Blondel Photography: Ian Abela @ Visionairs In Art www.ianabela.com Make-up & Hair: Sandra Jeannin @ Powder & Shine Models: Caroline Groux @ City Paris Vincent Lillo @ Karin Paris Location: Oasis

Cotton jacket EMANUEL UNGARO Silk jersey polo RALPH LAUREN Cotton trousers KENZO Leather and cotton belt KENZO Watch CVSTOS Leather bag LANVIN and key ring CELINE Cotton hat ANTONY PETO Silk tie ETRO Suede shoes HESCHUNG Socks FALKE

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Silk tafeta bustier dress TAE ASHIDA Yellow tulle petticoat STANLOWA Green leather bag WALTER STEIGER Leather flat shoes STANLOWA Butterfly and flowers in the hair LEGERON Necklace and earrings KAILLIS Rings LORENZ BĂ&#x201E;UMER Bracelet K-MO

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Linen and cotton jacket EMANUEL UNGARO Silk cotton shirt ICEBERG Cotton trousers HUGO BOSS Belt LACOSTE Leather shoes REPETTO Silk clutch RALPH LAUREN Watch CHOPARD Linen scarf KENZO Ring LORENZ BÄUMER

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Chiffon silk dress ZUHAIR MURAD Tulle petticoat STANLOWA Flowers in the hair LEGERON Large bracelet LORENZ BĂ&#x201E;UMER Leather flat shoes STANLOWA Leather bag with feathers SONIA RYKIEL

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sur la terre fashion

Chiffon silk dress ELIE SAAB Tulle petticoat STANLOWA Rings PASQUALE BRUNI Leather shoes CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Flower ring FRANÇOISE MONTAGUE Flowers in the hair LEGERON

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sur la terre out of the box

Power Jolts

Fortify your stamina and feel as good as new with these activities and mighty objects of desire

Rev up for the Concept BlueSport Maximum driving fun with minimal fuel consumption: This is the standard by which Volkswagen has presented the roadster Concept BlueSport at the North American International Auto Show. The interior shows finesse in details and conveys a high level of technological fascination. Immediately visible to the eye is the intuitive and easy to operate touch screen. Perfectly adapted to the interior are the leather upholstered seats in lightweight construction with their single-piece seatbacks.

Behind the two sport seats of the 3.99 meter long Concept BlueSport, a 132 kW / 180hp strong Clean Diesel (TDI) with common rail injection and downstream NOx storage catalytic converter delivers dynamic performance. A 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission – the most economical and agile transmission system in the world – transfers power to the rear wheels.

In just 6.6 seconds the sports car is moving at 100 km/h; its top speed is 226 km/h. Also having a positive impact on the car’s low fuel consumption of just 4.3 l/100 km and reduced emissions are two technologies that are part of the so-called Eco mode: an automatic start- stops system and energy regeneration.

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Banyan Tree Al Areen Hummer Driving Academy Package

A spa treatment at the Ritz Carlton

For a sheer energising burst, the Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain offers a multitude of new and innovative treatments. Try perks like the Ritz Carlton Signature Massage. This unique body treatment applies the ancient art of aromatherapy and the heat of lava stones to enhance the sense of well being and induce a deep sense of relaxation. Meanwhile the Detoxifier uses a cleansing blend of citrus oil, which has natural diuretic properties to flush away toxins. There’s also the De-stressor, and the Immune Booster, a powerful blend of tea tree and eucalyptus oil well known for their natural anti-viral, anti-bacterial and soothing properties. The Spa facilities include nine treatment rooms, one couple’s room and a Thai treatment room, also specifically for couples. Sauna, steam rooms and a cold plunge pool are also on hand to help revive the body’s metabolism and enhance the detoxification processes that will make it easier to tackle each day with renewed energy. Tel (+973) 1758 6808.

Banyan Tree Al Areen has introduced the first Hummer Driving Academy Package to the Middle East, offering outdoor-loving adrenaline seekers something truly unique and thrilling. Boasting the most dramatic off-road 4x4 course ever made, the Bahrain International Circuit is home to the Hummer Driving Academy, which offers a purpose-built desert course littered with over 30 obstacles guaranteed to test both skill and confidence levels.

Banyan Tree Al Areen is now offering two-day Hummer driving packages, which include a stay in one of the world’s finest resorts.

Those looking for a bit off-road frolicking can bed down during their fun-filled dune and driving sessions at accommodation in a luxuriously appointed private Pool Villa. The package also includes one daily 90-minute treatment at Banyan Tree Spa, a welcome gift upon arrival and the complete Hummer Driving Academy course.

The course itself covers a variety of off-road skills in a Hummer H3, including driving techniques, vehicle recovery, GPS navigation, basic desert survival skills and first aid. At the end of the course there is a graduation ceremony with a Certificate of Achievement and complimentary Hummer gifts. The next Hummer Academy Package date is set for April 3rd and 4th, but who knows where the road leads thereafter. Tel (+973) 1784 5000.

Escape with Dnata

There’s nothing like an energising getaway, and when it’s value-added - like great escapes from Dnata Holidays - all the better. Currently the company is offering up to 50% off dozens of dreamy destinations across Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East. Here’s just a small selection of what’s on offer:From a Mauritian paradise to the underwater world of the Maldives or Sri Lankan island fever, there’s something for everyone. If you don’t want to stray to far, experience Oman in opulent style at the multi-award winning Six Senses Zighy Bay. This super-luxe resort has 79 sumptuous Pool Villas and enjoys spectacular views of dramatic mountains and a sweeping golden sand beach. To book from Bahrain, visit www.dnataholidays.com and select your preferred departure airport. Dnata Holidays will then search for the best deal. Alternatively, call (+971) 800 8118 to speak directly to an agent.

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Creative Resolve

Creativity and innovation are guiding design and drama

MINI Space When is a concrete pipe not a pipe? How do you wear your art? Or when can a skip bin double as a sun deck? For answers to these questions and more check out MINIspace.com - a virtual gallery and social network where form and function are not what they seem.

MINIspace.com is a new international website by Mini, the car brand that redefined small car design. In line with Mini’s design philosophy, the website provides an inspiring framework for like-minded people to share and celebrate their creativity via competitions, projects and events around the world under the theme, “Creative Use of Space”.

Members have a chance to join in projects and meet others who are equally enthused about handling “space” in imaginative and unconventional way. Competition winners are given an opportunity to exhibit their works and gain international exposure with some designs even being featured on touring Mini vehicles.

Ritzy Villas Among Elite Traveller’s “Top 101 Hotel Suites in the World”, the villas at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa set new standards in the Middle East with their unique design. Low lying, surrounded by azure waters, each has a distinctive identity and allure. Peppered

by Philippe Starck-inspired designs, the villas boast unusual Caribbeanstyle exteriors and surprisingly contemporary Asian interiors. The brief was to create an element of surprise; the interior is not at all like the exterior with its gabled roofs. The ambience is both sophisticated and familiar; the appeal is to modern travellers who crave inspirational and comfortable surroundings. The predominant theme of the villas’ luxurious contemporary interiors is the repetitive use of natural materials and artworks, with some elements made locally in Bahrain. The bathrooms are large and airy; many with huge bamboo poles set into the indoor garden. Uniquely, the faucet is in the ceiling – allowing water to fall like rain into the tub.

Crystallised The Crystallised line of Swarovski Elements consolidates the company’s position as a creative material of choice in interiors and architecture.

Renowned for their precision-cut brilliance, Crystallised – Swarovski elements showcases smart contemporary design solutions, innovative application techniques and a host of sparkling collaborations with well-known international designers. Swarovksi has a proven track record as a specialist project-oriented creative partner working with high-end hoteliers and restaurateurs, retail stores and private investors to bring unique designs to fruition. Radiant initiatives realised so far include the world’s largest chandelier in Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Mosque; La Cigale Hotel in Doha, which features two edra Tatlin Sofas from the iconic diamond collection made with Swarovski Crystallised; and the new Bang Bar in Dubai, a crystal bedecked bar that again sports Diamentral crystal mesh inlays. Swarovski partner boutiques include Yousuf Wahab Al Hawaj & Sons, Bahrain.

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VW Passat CC Merging the worlds of the practical saloon and the exciting sports coupé, the new Volkswagon Passat CC is longer, wider and lower than the original; this provides a sleeker look and smarter capabilities. With onboard computer, navigation system and advanced comfort control, the high-end interior has been revamped and now includes a multitude of options in real wood and aluminium. The Passat CC offers lane assist technologies to keep it safe, distance and parking functions to keep it simple and a turbocharged 1.8 or 2.0 TSI engine to keep it fun.

The Lengths of Latitude Renowned as a world-leading manufacturer of fine crystal, Baccarat is also among the most inventive. For centuries, the company has coupled tradition with innovation. Now, it has opened its studio doors to an artist in another medium, the celebrated New York interior designer Vicente Wolf, and the result is the new Latitude collection. When he sat down to design the collection, he used his memories of the chunky ivory bracelets stacked on the arms of women in Africa, dugout canoes floating down the waterways of Borneo and the truncated tops of Roman columns still standing in the sands of Palmyra.

Sifting through these images, he abstracts them into vases and bowls and candlesticks, but still bringing out the inherent quality of the crystal. The resulting pieces both revel in the physics of light and transparency, and nod to the distant cultures that inspire his work. Available at boutiques including Tanagra.

9-X Air concept The Saab 9-X Air concept is an innovative design study exploring what a future open-air Saab could look like. Unveiled at this year’s Paris Motor Show, the new concept breaks the mould of conventional convertible design by offering a unique canopy top and a wraparound glasshouse that includes the rear screen; and four-seat accommodation within the close-coupled proportions of a sports car. Its distinctive silhouette is defined by prominent rear pillars that mount the flatfolding Canopy Top and also anchor the separate, recessed rear screen.

Top down, the 9-X Air is designed to offer fresh air motoring free from buffeting. With the top up, it assumes the look of a true coupe.

The 9-X Air underlines Saab’s leading role in convertible design and was to be revealed exactly 25 years after the first convertible from Saab was shown at the international Frankfurt Show.

Weird Beauty Rubbish or ravishing? Capturing how much beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a fashion photography exhibit in New York illustrates the diversity that is characteristic of current fashion imagery. Weird Beauty: Fashion Photography Now, is running at the HYPERLINK “http://www.icp.org/”International Centre of Photography until May 3, 2009, featuring images by over forty of the world’s most innovative photographers working in the fashion industry today. To highlight the original context of these photographs, this exhibition features hundreds of tear sheets, along with approximately twenty original photographic prints and online media. Although the ultimate purpose of the fashion photograph is to promote high-end style and beauty products, the resulting works often emerge as some of the most imaginative and multifaceted images being produced. Assisted by a team of stylists and editors, the photographer carefully selects the components of each story-often drawing on influences from art history, literature, digital media, youth culture, history and current events.

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Starting for the Better

If art is about expression, then this creative medium should colour the drabbest lives yearning to be heard. Recognising this, START looks beyond black and white to allow disadvantaged children a brighter vantage point. >>> Teaching children about art can be challenging. But it is immensely fulfilling when colour and image paint a glorious smile across a child’s face. For this, START began abroad before being founded for Middle Eastern children, by Art Dubai and the Al Madad Foundation in March 2007. START is a non-profit, art education programme for children with special needs. Specifically, START reaches out to orphans, refugees and working children in regional and international communities to offer them free, fun, educational and creative workshops with artists and designers volunteering.

The association organises gallery tours, artist’s lectures, exhibitions and workshops. START enriches the lives of young people by helping them to discover their talents and develop new skills they can be proud of.

Workshops are taught by volunteering, practising arts professionals and arts students. By creating partnerships with schools and NGOs, START reaches young people living in difficult circumstances.

START’s partnerships have even included the Prince’s Drawing School, the British Museum and galleries and art institutions across the Middle East.

“The creative arts are a vital element of childhood development,” says Sonia Brewin, Director of START. “It makes sense for art institutions and artists to reach out to the community. Enabling young people to master new skills and enjoy themselves is at the heart of START’s work.” The heart of START’s work has brought over 1,000 children to its Middle Eastern art projects alone since its start. Full time team members are now based in

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by the Royal Anthropological Institute and the British Council. Sacha Jafri is a French/Indian painter who has been commissioned and collected by Prince Albert of Monaco and the London Olympic Committee, among other famous patrons. His paintings often include interaction with celebrities and the public. In the region, Sacha Jafri works with Dubai’s Tashkeel gallery. But all of these young and successful artists lead START workshops during Art Dubai. Children will be making a short documentary film about the fair with Elhum Shakerifar and with Sacha Jafri, three 6-foot canvases will be created recording daily life.

Projects 2009

Throughout this year, START is embarking along a range of projects that will benefit children across the entire Middle East.

Design Inventions: Imagining new cities with children living in orphanages and refugee camp areas. Site visits to designers and architects are combined with gallery-based sessions of imaginative collages and sculptures. [JORDAN] Thinking Cloud: Informal cultural debates that take place in galleries and focus on discussing contemporary art in the Middle East and internationally.

START to Run: Taking part in the Dubai Marathon, 3k and 10k. A fun way for the community to help START raise awareness and funds. [DUBAI] Jordan and in the UAE. In the UAE, START focuses on working with children with special needs, inside government schools and with abused mothers and children. START’s formidable UAE projects have included a kite-making workshop for Palestinian children who were brought to Dubai by the PCRF for dire surgery; along with collaboration with the exclusive Tashkeel Art Space. International artist Sacha Jafri hosted the Tashkeel workshop and invited children to join him in making an 18-foot long painting. ‘Painting my City with Sacha Jafri’ presented children with an opportunity to make a large scale, group work that explores new skills in painting while developing methods of collaboration and creative thinking.

In Lebanon and Jordan, the children’s plight is no less well heard. Here, START has delivered art education workshops to orphans living with SOS, children from Palestinian Refugee camps, The Institute for the Deaf and NGOs socially integrating Iraqi children who have lost limbs during the war. Whether Arab or British, START finds the true colours for all children with needs. And those are the colours of art.

Art Dubai 2009

“START is an intelligent attempt to encourage artistic endeavour amongst children whose situation usually puts creativity at the bottom of the list of priorities,” according to Ben Floyd & John Martin, the founders of Art Dubai. Now in its third year of collaboration with Art Dubai, START continues artist-led workshops for visiting school groups and families, allowing young visitors to meet artists and enjoy creative activities onsite, so that they can become the artists of tomorrow. In addition, there are also basic guided tours of the fair for 17-19 year olds and a ‘young person’s panel’ discussion about contemporary art. The artists and organisations that START is collaborating with during Art Dubai 2009 include Sacha Jafri, Elhum Shakerifar, Maitha bin Lahej, Noor Amin Al Khaja, Tashkeel Dubai, Darat Al Funun Jordan and Thinking Cloud. Namely, Elhum Shakerifar is a British/Iranian filmmaker whose work has been supported internationally

START Tuesdays: Artwork shops for young people with special educational or physical needs. The group meets for 5 practical sessions within a gallery setting and the sixth session is their exhibition.

Students work with a regular team of artists to build confidence in new skills. [JORDAN & DUBAI] Family Programme at Art Dubai: The START stand displays information about its work and is the Family Programme for Art Dubai annually.

Breakfast Club: START initiative to gather Middle East and North African charities together in an informal networking event.[JORDAN] Start Drawing!: An open competition calling on children aged 8-14 to draw their dreams; submitted with an explanatory paragraph. All images are guaranteed a place on the START website. ‘Draw a Dream’ opens May 30 and closes November 8.

First Saturdays: These events allow START to help families enjoy art together by introducing them to touring exhibitions and one-off workshops encouraging exploration and the hands-on making of art with visiting artists. [DUBAI, JORDAN] Start Summer School: Introducing 11-18 year olds to a full range of visual arts disciplines architecture, curating, design, drawing, painting. This is a for a mixed ability and disabilities group. The sessions are taught by practitioners in each field and offer a master-class atmosphere to talented young people. [JORDAN] START is funded by sponsorships, donations and gifts-in-kind towards maintaining its projects. START also offers training to people who wish to volunteer and teach young people. If you would like to START for the better, visit www.startworld.org or email yasmeen@startworld.org

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Admiring Miss Daisy Floral studded pianos and masterpiece cars awash with blooms.

The spring product garden is perky with evergreen collections.

Rosenthal Flower Fantasy Brilliant colours once again take centre stage in the new Rosenthal meets Versace collection“Flower Fantasy”. Sophistication, elegance and lightness merge in a harmonious floral juxtaposition with alternating shades of delicate green. Nature dictates the decorative interplay: A joyful awakening of meadow herbs and sweet scented flowers, where freesias, lilies of the valley, pansies and lucky four-leaf clovers interweave in a subtle design. The imagery is derived from one of the Italian fashion company’s archival prints. The decoration, in dreamy tones of red, pink and lilac, is embellished by Versace’s classic geometric motif in a deep shade of grass green set off by a precious gold thread. Available at Tanagra.

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Flowers on your sleeves Among Kenzo’s signature elements, florals decorate some of the House’s latest cufflinks.

Christofle Andemne Belle Epoque Featuring a finely sculptured anemone bloom, the collection is a reinterpretation of an art novae design updated by Christofle. New engraved crystal vases and romantic candelabras have been added to broaden the cocktail accessory line. Available at Tanagra.

Blooming’ Bisazza Flowers can be such a true art form that four BMW MINI’s morphed into mobile mosaics as part of an international touring exhibition that celebrated British influence. Bisazza craftsmen encrusted each MINI with over 30,000 colored glass tesserae, creating four “artomotive” masterpieces, including the theme of Summer

Flowers. The tesserae, each one-half inch by one-half inch in size were used to transform the vehicles, with 31,700 tesserae laid on each convertible and 37,004 on each coupe. The Summer Flower along with the other mosiac-ed MINIs was on tour around the world at select design and furniture exhibitions.

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Street Style

With Manama’s latest sites and attractions, it’s certainly a beautiful day in the neighbourhood

Admire Nu Asia Asian cuisine is heating up with trend and taste at Nu Asia, the new restaurant in the city’s Seef district. Offering Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Thai cuisines, Nu Asia is as much about creative design as it is about delicious food. For Al-Hili Enterprises Group, architects and designers SHH have designed and branded the stunning new build, three-storey, 50,000 sq ft, 300 cover restaurant as three elegant interlocking volumes, each one larger than the last and variously clad in timber, glass, and stone. The idea behind the branding was to sum up the essential warmth of Asian cuisine and was inspired by the vivid colours of spices. Stand-out architectural details include bespoke lighting, a planter strip that guests pass through from the main entrance to bring greenery into the scheme; a floating opaque glass bridge in the dramatic upstairs dining area and a retractable wall for greater dining space.

Dress yourself with Moda Mall Talk about a style scene. Moda Mall is set to become Bahrain’s leading ultra-high-end shopping complex. Premium haute couture and service is promised with over 160 stores representing some of the world’s finest and most exclusive brands. Located on the ground floor of the iconic Bahrain World Trade Centre, the mall’s chic fashion outlets include Chanel Jewellery, Valentino, Just Cavalli, Gianfranco Ferre, Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Jacobs.

The artsy Villa Moda is the mall’s anchor store while Moda Mall presents a unique masterpiece of style and elegance in itself.

The mall’s interior combines the concept elements of wind, water, motion and the veil, which are highlighted by an aweinspiring glass-domed entrance, cool marble floors and brushed steel, all creating an ultra modern backdrop against which luxury brands and five-star hospitality meet architectural ingenuity and flair. Carried into all aspects of Moda Mall’s design, these elements set the scene for a truly one-of-a-kind, sensory shopping and dining experience.

Make a cultural stop at La Fontaine La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art is offering, not only incomparable art and culture but also offering visitors a pampered feel-good factor as well. The opening night of the Centre featured a modern dance performance from New Delhi’s Seher Institute and plenty more stylish substance is packed in for the remainder of the exhibit. Until April 27, the Centre will be hosting China Art Scene, the first Chinese solo exhibition from the biggest galleries in Shanghai and Beijing. The Centre will also enable visitors to take some culture home with them as its new Adraab boutique offers fine, hand-woven textiles, like vintage Kashmir shawls that remain treasured and admired. The art of weaving shawls with 750 to 1400 wooden needles in Kashmir has a history over 300-years-old. These shawls were originally made exclusively for Kashmiri Kings, before finding admirers further afield, including the French court. Once visitors have draped themselves in royal Kashmir, they can be pampered like kings and queens at the new Clarins Spa. A host of treatments are on offer to energise the body as much as the Centre’s exhibits are sure to energise the imagination.

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Roam Villa Moda’s “International Souk” If you thought Bahrain’s Moda Mall was staggering, step right in and enjoy its latest style icon: Villa Moda, designed by Dutch design maverick Marcel Wanders. Situated in a prime central location with views over the sea, Villa Moda features fantastically innovative designs.

For inspiration, Wanders toured the Middle East, exploring souks and traditional retail concepts. Resulting designs were created under the theme of the ‘International Souk’. Wanders designed the store as if it were a small city. Local motifs and traditions are combined with Wanders’ joyful, fantastical aesthetic to develop an environment with an “Alice-in-Wanders-land” appeal. The façade is covered in giant pearllike spheres, a reference to Bahrain’s heritage as the pearl stock market of the Middle East. Customers enter a long, narrow corridor that opens into a dramatic, high-ceilinged space with giant patterns in black and white on custom carpeting and over scale wallpaper. Other specially designed features include walls with Bisazza mosaics and custom-made carpets created in Germany. Villa Moda Bahrain offers a cutting edge mix of innovative luxury brands that have little or no representation in the Middle East, such as Anya Hindmarch, Martin Margiela and Ossie Clark. In addition, standalone stores for brands such as Marni and Dries van Noten sit among women’s and men’s multibrand areas.

With Bahrain’s status as a hub for banking institutions, the men’s department emphasises suiting for the executive market. From ties to all sorts of hides, this luxury souk is a fun playground for shoppers.

Rev up for Rolls Royce Imagine Manama’s VIP parking lots graced by the Rolls Royce 200 EX. The latest experimental car from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, this street siren took off at the Geneva Motor Show and explores a design direction for a dynamic, modern, four-door Rolls Royce engineered for the 21st century. Experimental models have always played a significant role in the history of Rolls-Royce, from the first 1EX, built in 1919 to the most recent 101EX, built in 2006. Unlike a concept car, the experimental models developed by Rolls Royce have always been fully functioning vehicles, residing in a tangible world of wood, leather and metals rather than clay and foam. EX cars offer designers and engineers the opportunity for real-world innovation and have been used to showcase new components and engineering techniques as well as exterior and interior designs. 200EX has a dynamic edge to its styling and is noticeably less formal than previous models. The 200EX points the way to RR4, a new Rolls-Royce model scheduled for production in 2010.

Hail the Londoners Adding a retro look on the roads, Bahrain’s new London style taxi cabs are imported from the UK-based LTI Company. The newly established Arabian Taxi Company (ATC) has launched its services with a brand new, purpose-built, 200 strong fleet. You can hail the distinctively marked cabs in the street, order through a call centre, or pick up at the airport or stations around Bahrain.

And while going around in style, every car is equipped with a 13-inch LCD TV screen, and wheel chair access. Fares can be paid by cash or by credit card through a secure link. With Bahrain’s transport infrastructure among the region’s best, the new taxi service will develop this further, as well as provide added convenience for Bahrainis and expats who visit or work here; and help secure new jobs for Bahrainis.

HO 2

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sur la terre i feel like...

I Feel Like...Camping >>> As the chillier weather of winter gives way to the warming rays of the spring sunshine, March and April heralds the best time to enjoy the outdoors. What better way to spend a weekend than escaping the crowded streets and choking traffic of the city and heading out into the wilderness for a little rest and relaxation? Camping is all about shedding the home comforts, roughing it and getting back to nature, so fire up the 4x4, pick out some choice dune bashing tunes while Sur la Terre helps you choose the essential kit required for a night under the Arabian stars.

Seeing The Light It Should Be In-Tents

Possibly the most essential piece of equipment is your tent. If you don’t have one of these, you will end up sleeping in the car which is fine if it just you - but not so comfortable if you take a few friends along.

A basic, four man, dome tent can be picked up in Carrefour, Olympic Sports and Go Sports.

It might not always be the case that the headlamps of the 4x4 are close enough to help you set up your pitch, therefore shed a little light on the proceedings with a Pelican Headsup 2620 head mounted torch. The four powerful LED bulbs will provide enough illumination for you to carry out everything from fire building or tent erection, and they are much cheaper than a pair of night-vision goggles.

Mustafawi Outdoor Supplies have a great stock of camping gadgets and essential tools.

Bedding Down

Those Arabian nights can get a little cold when you leave the warmth of civilisation behind so be prepared. Carrefour does a very good line in basic camping kit, so as well as a sleeping bag, for a comfortable night’s rest it can also be worth investing in a light, fold-up camp bed. For those of you survivalist types that like to rough it or if you plan to do a lot of hiking with your kit, a foam camping mat is a much lighter bet.

Wandering About

Should you go exploring away from the campsite, you need to make sure you carry enough fluids; a three-litre CamelBak rucksack allows you imitate the region’s most famous quadruped. CamelBak bags can be found at most outdoors suppliers in the region.

sur la terre i feel like...

Tooling Around

Every man likes tools, and there is no better excuse for owning the most desirable multi-tool on the planet than a camping trip. A Leatherman Charge Titanium is not only one of the most useful things you will ever own, but once it is clipped to your belt, it will complete the rugged desert commando look to a tee. This very desirable bit of titanium hardware can cut, wrench, saw, screw, dig, open and hammer just about anything without taking a dent. Pick one up for QR 820 at Mustafawi Outdoor Supplies.

Get Fed Up

The last thing you want in the middle of nowhere is hunger pangs. Be sure to stock up on food and – most importantly – water. The best way to get your desert fare to the campsite fresh is a big, ice-filled cool box.

A 70-litre Cosmoplast KeepCold Marine can be bought from Carrefour. Alternatively, if you want to be a leader in desert chic this spring, check out the new coolbox from Jamie Oliver.

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Cooking With Gas

Here at Sur la Terre we wouldn’t recommend cooking your steak on a stick over the fire, for a number of reasons, not least the potential for food poisoning.

Try a more conventional and safer way of cooking up a desert feast with the aid of a portable gas camping stove from Campingaz. They come in a number of sizes and are available from places such as Carrefour, Go Sports and Olympic Sports.

Pointing The Way

Whether out exploring or looking for a decent pitch for your desert home, compasses and maps are a thing of the past.

Get yourself a Nokia 500 Global Positioning System. Available from Nokia outlets throughout the region, this essential gadget ensures your weekend camping adventure doesn’t turn into a week long desert disaster.

The QR 1,900 in-car navigation system does sat-nav, multimedia and handsfree Bluetooth calling all through its 4.3” display.

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sur la terre star

Kevin Spacey, from the screen to the boards

Text: Eileen Hofer Photography: Ellis Parinder

Faded jeans by day, body-hugging smoking jacket by night, whatever his dress, Kevin Spacey is never stripped of his deadpan humour. On the red carpet of the 4th Antalya Eurasian Festival held last October, the portrayer of Lex Luthor laughs whilst shaking hands with children unsettled when faced with Supermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sworn enemy. The American actor had shaken the seaside resort to its very depths a few hours earlier to assemble students of cinema and deal them an improvised masterclass full of revelations.

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Star of films as well known as American Beauty, Usual Suspects and L.A. Confidential, Kevin Spacey has never abandoned the theatre. Having lived in London since 2003 where he is Artistic Director at the Old Vic, one of the oldest London theatres, the actor has even let it be understood that he will perhaps never return to Hollywood once his current filming commitments have finished. Returning to his first love? No question about it. This actor and director, winner of two Oscars, is first and foremost an ambassador and strong defender of the theatre.

What motivated your return to the stage?

Acting in the theatre is totally different from acting for the cinema. On the stage, you undertake a journey of personal discovery for several weeks, improving your rendition with each performance. We have the time to explore new elements which allow us to improve our understanding of the very essence of our personality. In the cinema, once filming has finished, we can add nothing to our role. It is frustrating to tell yourself that you will never be better.

A dramatic change of direction in the middle of a flourishing cinematographic career.

I was fortunate to work with top-quality directors for twelve years. Quite simply, I did not want the next years to be the same. Hence my desire to change my geographical setting as well by settling in London and devoting myself to the theatre.

Which film director have you most enjoyed working with?

Clint Eastwood. He loved tricking us with John Cusack on the set of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. He filmed rehearsals without our knowing. When we announced we were ready, he would smile, as the scene had already been filmed. We subsequently were afraid of being filmed without our knowing and were constantly on the lookout for hidden cameras.

What do you expect from a good director of actors?

The role of a film director is to encourage actors to give the best of themselves, the more so that there are normally few rehearsals on a film set. You arrive in the morning and chat to a lady for the first time.

Two hours later and this same lady becomes your mother in the film.

Some directors are so nervous that they don’ stop talking and make you repeat something a thousand times to the point where the emotion disappears. Others observe. And then boom, just before saying “action”, they come and whisper some information in your ear which will make the performance entirely credible. They are the best.

How is chemistry created between actors?

This is the director’s secret who is in charge over all and who must generate a positive aura to create it. There are however arrogant actors who are scarcely generous on the film sets. I don’t let them intimidate me, on the contrary I stand up to them.

What is your relationship with the public?

I like it when people call me by the name of a character I played in a film.

It means that the role meant something to them. And yet, films tend to disconnect the public from the actual performance of the actor as, unlike the theatre, there is no spontaneous contact with the spectators.

You have played political roles in the cinema like The Life of David Gale

by Alan Parker which violently addressed the death penalty. Do you see the cinema as a vehicle for political messages?

Art, be it in an art gallery, the theatre, the cinema or a book, can influence the spectators. We are living in an era of individualism, where culture gathers people together. We don’t necessarily watch the television together but we talk about it. Just look at how far the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile has everyone talking about her. In its own way, the cinema raises problems and opens the eyes to concealed aspects of our world.

You are behind the New Voices/24 Hours programme in London. What is this about?

We select young actors, scriptwriters and directors between 18 and 25.

The first evening we present photos of the actors. The scriptwriters must take inspiration from each one to write a 15-page script during the night.

The next morning the director and the actor selected see the text for the first time and must stage it during the same day. Rehearsals with lighting and technical elements take place in early evening slightly before going on stage in front of a full house. The aim is to activate creation but above all to weave links between each one of these people who after this weekend could collaborate together again.

Why this interest in working with beginners and students?

I enjoy passing on my knowledge but above all following the evolution of adolescents. Appearing on the stage gives them confidence in themselves. They learn how to express themselves in front of the others, to dare to communicate and lose their shyness.

You enjoy joking. Do you view humour as a weapon?

I grew up with my mother who from my early childhood told me repeatedly that the finest thing in the world was to know how to make people laugh. It is also a sign of intelligence.

You travel frequently, be it for filming or promotional activities. Do you have time to explore the culture of countries you visit?

I make sure that I give myself a little time between two press conferences, official dinners and interviews to immerse myself in the city welcoming me.

Total escape proves more difficult when you are only there for 24 hours.

You won a Oscar for the leading role in American Beauty. Where do you hide your statuette?

I always have it with me!

Which director would you like to work with?

Woody Allen.Write to him - I want everyone to know! I should love to become his alter ego on the screen and play a character lost in his neuroses.

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sur la terre in vogue

In Vogue at to look Where to shop and wh ive trends in for â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the latest exclus ilable the fashion world, ava y all to you loc

Path to Embrigthenment

Follows cues from dazzling diamonds, glowing skincare and crisp style

Chanel Ultra Correction Line Repair is the legendary French brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest discovery in skincare. The anti-aging line features five products and is expected to take a dominant position in the market. The company claims that this will be because of a brand new method used to prevent and fight signs of aging. Throughout time, beauty specialists have come to agree that one of the main causes behind the appearance of wrinkles and a poor skin texture is to be found in the fact that, in time, our skin cells can no longer be renewed at the same rate as when young. This, in turn, makes the skin become thinner and thinner. Going against popular belief, Chanel experts considered another approach to the issue of fighting signs of old age. The passage of time causes a hardening of the collagen in our skin cells, making it less flexible, and thus prone to produce wrinkles, as the skin loses elasticity. Therefore, Chanelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s R&D department has developed a new active ingredient for its new line-up, Cedar Bay FPA, which the company promises will work on and improve the flexibility of the tissues.

sur la terre in vogue

The Ancient Greeks used to refer to diamonds as stardust fallen from the sky, or as the tears of the gods. Within the realm of Chopard Haute Joaillerie, some of the creations based around the noblest of all precious stones are strongly reminiscent of such beliefs. Diamonds appear in all manner of cuts - emerald, heart, marquise, square, rose, brilliant, Ashoka - and are interpreted in all manner of ways, from solitaire ring to ear pendants, along with necklaces, hair jewellery and bracelets.

The multiple perspectives of these gemstones are explored in a bold and talented spirit. Chic and trendy all-diamond models enshrine a new vision of relaxed, free-flowing luxury: the kind of Haute Joaillerie creations a woman loves to wear in all circumstances, without having to worry about how to match them.

The inspiration behind the Aigner summer collection is Riviera luxury. A joy in life, modern dress-up, the “French touch” (at the very heart of the Etienne Aigner company), international chic, and Italian knowhow all come into play when it comes to living life to the full. Personality is one of the distinctive features of the Etienne Aigner brand, and this is expressed fully in this collection. Numerous elements of the Collection bear the “Etienne Aigner” signature as a sign of creative style.

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sur la terre in vogue

Hey, Mr. Dandy

The newest trends in men’s makeup and skincare are creating an even more polished, distinguished gentleman.

According to Mintel Beauty Innovation, a global market research company, the number of men’s personal care products on the market has increased dramatically, with at least 3,600 new men›s personal care product launches just last year alone. This rapid growth has been

seen in four main areas, the researcher indicates. These include lip-, eye- and hand-specific care, makeup and self-tanning, anti-aging and exfoliating ingredients and organic, natural or ethical products. Flaunt a piece of the beauty pie with these products to try:

After-Shave: While not a grooming trend, good after-shave is among the essentials. That’s why Clarins Men has created two different aftershave products, with two different sensations and textures, to effectively soothe even the most uncomfortable skin and progressively reduce irritation. Range includes After Shave Energizer with a toning ice cool effect for an intense freshness and After Shave Soother, an alcohol-free lotion enriched with shea, avocado and marula to restore softness. At the heart of After Shave Energizer and Soother are Alpine Sea Holly and Centella Asiatica extracts, active ingredients with anti-razor burn, soothing and repairing properties.

Anti-Ageing: Men’s skin is thicker, more elastic and oilier than women’s and begins the ageing process later. But once ageing begins, its effects appear faster and often produce deeper wrinkles. L’Eau D’Issey Pour Homme Soin Total Visage fights signs of skin ageing in three ways, through hydration, protection and anti-ageing action. For anti-ageing, Soin Total Visage’s WrinkleCorrecting Peptide helps raise the collagen content of skin cells to make support tissues denser and to fight wrinkles. A collagen deficit, which increases with age, is one of the major causes of skin ageing and wrinkles. The line also includes products for hydration and protection. All products have been specially developed by the Shiseido Research & Development for the needs of men’s skin.

Products to leave a non-oily finish and provide an immediate feeling of freshness.

Makeup: Jean Paul Gautier Monsieur is a comprehensive line ranging from shaving and skincare products to skin enhancers and grooming products.

For a fast makeover, the line offers four products. Energizing Face Fluid helps

eradicate fatigue while the Fluid Bronzer Multi-Complexion would make it look like you’ve spent your day on the café terrace. Try the Lip Balm for a killer smile and the concealer to hide signs from yesterday’s perfect evening.

sur la terre in vogue

Fragrance: What would the most beautiful grooming be without a breathtaking fragrance to top it off? Porsche Design’s The Essence is a fresh, aromatic, woody scent for a cultured, sensual - and gorgeous - man.

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In addition to artical, other top notes are juniper and blueberry. Among heart notes are Russian coriander, black pepper and Siberian pine, and in the base are notes of fir balsam, patchouli and incense.

Organic: Korres Natural Skincare line has introduced a new men’s range. with six skincare and two haircare products. For face and eyes, try the Ruscus and Chestnut products. The face cream is an intensive, non-oily anti-ageing cream that offers immediate hydration whilst gradually smoothing fine lines. Sweet Chestnut has anti-oxidant properties and protects against free radicals, the main cause of wrinkles. D-ribose, a corn-derived sugar, provides energy to the cells to visibly firm and revitalise the skin. The high sun protection factor (SPF 15) also helps prevent sun damage to skin cells. For the eyes, an intensive, yet light-textured cream moisturises the delicate area and protects it from signs of fatigue and ageing. Ruscus extract promotes microcirculation and strengthens blood vessels, gradually reducing dark circles. Sweet Chestnut, in combination with vitamins C and E, demonstrates significant repairing activity to fine lines. Natural sunscreen, zinc oxide, protects from premature skin ageing. Korres is only available in the Middle East at Dubai Mall.

Exfoliating: Acqua di Parma’s Collezione Barbiere line combines rich sensorial textures with functions devised for the needs of cosmopolitan men. The line’s Delicate Exfoliant Gel is a purifying cream devoted to skin’s daily cleaning. Formulated to provide a microscrub, as well as a purifying action thanks to its grapefruit and grape extracts, it minimises shine. It helps the skin maintain a uniform, smooth and luminous appearance throughout the day, with a pleasing sensation of freshness courtesy of water mint extract and pleasantly scented cologne. The company suggests following it up with a liberal appliance of its new Nutrient Emulsion, which combines the soothing and refreshing characteristics of an after-shave product with the nutrient and regenerating action of a cream. Rich in moistening active principles such as Vitamins A and E, aloe vera, and calmatives such liquorice and horse chestnut extracts, it is ideal for soothing shaving irritations.

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sur la terre in vogue

Misfits

Free yourself. Designers defied tradition prancing down spring runways in pants with mismatched jackets.

Zegna

Saks 5th Av

Kenzo

Paul Smith

Lacoste

Ralph Laurn

new york >

1

11 ZÜRICH >

GENÈVE >

SUR LA TERRE MAGAZINE > GENÈVE SUR LA TERRE > NUMÉRO ONZE > AUTOMNE 2004 > TRIMESTRIEL > 10 CHF € 7 > ÉDITION GENÈVE

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Sur La Terre International S.A. Head office: 26 avenue de la Praille – 1227 GENEVA – SWITZERLAND Tel: + 41 22 310 48 00 | Fax: + 41 22 310 48 01

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sur la terre in vogue

Follow the Rainbow Bright accessories that will leave you chirpy

Aigner

Pucci Jimmy Choo

sur la terre in vogue mode

Lacroix Kenzo

Longchamp

Lacoste

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sur la terre in vogue

DRAMA QUEENS

From fairy-tale inspiration to intriguing details and standout dresses, spring/summer collections are vibrant and beguiling.

Dolce & Gabbana experiments with the richness of the baroque period.

Aristocratic fashion mixes the elegance of Luchino Viscontiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cinematography with hand crafted tailoring. Innovation is met with the study of geometric form. Jewelled belts, inspired by a mix of family gems discovered at home, are applied on ribbons; Hair ornaments inspired by a mix of jewels and papillons are made of embroidery, flowers and stones. Materials like satin duchess, silk and brocade lend an aristocratic air while metallic-netted evening dresses provide a stunning finale.

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To achieve a fresh and pared down silhouette, Giorgio Armaniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dress undergoes a change of direction: in a single piece, billowing slightly at the front, to give the lissom feel of a sarong, free and featherweight. Cocktail dresses are cut into leaf shapes in organza, gleaming with the shimmer of sequins, elegantly draped, skimmed at the ankle. Evening gowns sway freely with underskirts in printed organza in subtle tints that capture the delicate airy hues of the first rays of dawn.

For Emporio Armani, opposing influences achieve harmony in an unexpected cruise that brings a flavour of the Orient, but always adapts into an exotic allusion tempered by a Western stance.

Trousers, in jersey, stream in an almost liquid flow to show how even the casual look can seem exotic. Long dresses covered in beads, with rolled knit edges glide over the figure like drops of water. Gowns in taffeta and gauze with embroidery features are as striking as the collectionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brooches, upon which butterflies form part of a vibrant display of nature.

Necklaces are bodices fixed on a tulle base with filled floral embroidery and cascades of boules, a contemporary take on those sumptuous Indian colliers in a choice of blue or ivory.

Absinthe green interacts with graphic designs on a silk background, like hieroglyphs in Indian ink on a page.

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sur la terre in vogue

Christian Lacroix may evoke the pointillist painting by Matisse (1904) called “Luxury, Calm and Voluptuousness”: the Luxury of elaborate materials, the Calm of the silhouette and Voluptuousness of the sensual colours. Inspired by an “Invitation to a Voyage” by Baudelaire,

the collection is a poetic and pictorial spring and summer offering, yet one that is rational as well. An invitation to travel, with an urban touch, to where holidays offer a gold mine of impressions, colours and graphics.

sur la terre in vogue

Kenzo is inspired by Aliceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Adventures in Wonderland. Bouquets of flowers, â&#x20AC;&#x153;foulardâ&#x20AC;? prints, wool embroidered with small flowers on botanical motifs, satin and gabardine in mossy and pastel shades, all combine to invoke a memory Alice sauntering dreamily in a sun-withered garden. Fringing, folded Chinese crepe, frilled chiffon, linen and tulle all illustrate the crazy aerial slide of the young girl into her wonderland.

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A multitude of embroideries and tapestries, shells, organza petals and pearls encrusted with ribbons and sequins, as well as crochets enamelled with metallic motifs and knitted animals, provide souvenirs of the unusual creatures that Alice met on her journey. A delicate, almost evanescent line, interwoven with veils and transparency.

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sur la terre chapters

Remember Me?

The White Tiger

The World is Flat

What happens when personal growth occurs without you knowing it? That is the premise of the new book by Sophie Kinsella. Remember Me? tells the strange tale of a woman named Lexi, an average 25 year old girl with a regular routine of getting up in her tiny apartment, going to her dead-end job, coming home and, after avoiding exercise or any other physical activity, jumps into a lonely bed, promising herself that things will be different tomorrow.

When she awakens one morning, she finds herself suddenly shunted three years into the future where her once flabby figure is now taut and toned, her teeth are straight and shining, she is decked out in designer threads and is now amongst the corporate elite. But what is behind her new life, and can she exist in such glittering yet vapid surroundings? As is true with all of Kinsella’s novels, Remember Me? is a satirical, sharply written story rife with edgy themes and insane twists, all of which lead to a surprisingly deep discovery about who we are and how we grow, even when we’re not aware of it.

In his debut novel, Aravind Adiga explores the growth of a man who has found his way out of the dark shade of powerlessness, but into a larger world where the light can only be reached by tapping into the dark. Set in India, the story is told from the point of view of Balram Halwai, a lowly labourer who has been born into the imprisoning hierarchy of the caste system. For Balram, upward movement is an impossible goal, but he is desperate to escape his surroundings, a rough and rural Indian village known only as The Darkness.

When he takes a job in Delhi as a driver for a wealthy, westernised landlord, he sees it as a chance to rise from the muck of his preordained existence. However, what he finds in relative civilisation is just the same deeply rooted system as his rural upbringing. Adiga‘s biting dialogue and uncompromising voice buoys the story and keeps it from settling into a tired social commentary and offers up an amazingly written tale about the dubious lengths sometimes needed to achieve modern growth. The White Tiger is the recipient of the 2008 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

Globalisation 3.0 sounds more like a high-tech computer programme than a socio-political business model. Of course, it is the very idea that computerised software has levelled the international economic playing field that powers the message in Thomas L. Friedman’s insightful book. The World is Flat tells about how a trip to Bangalore reshaped Friedman’s economic philosophy, which states that modern globalisation has made industry equal throughout the world thanks to practices such as outsourcing, supply chaining, and completely mechanised workflow software. Coupled with political catalysts, these factors have led us to the newest iteration of business, from Globalisation 1.0, where governments maintained influence to version 3.0, which is completely controlled by computers without much, if any, human involvement. While it does have its weak points and fallacies, The World is Flat is a good summary of how international business has evolved into something a bit less one-sided. The tone is solemn, but not apologetic, and it offers quite a few examples of how the axis of business leadership could again be tipped.

by Sophie Kinsella

by Aravind Adiga

by Thomas L. Friedman

sur la terre tunes

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808s & Heartbreak

Chinese Democracy

It’s Not Me, It’s You

You have never heard Kanye West like this.

With his new album, 808s and Heartbreak, Kanye experiments within a different, darker place. Some critics have blasted it for being too different, too strange and too emotive for it to be taken seriously, but this is exactly what makes it so special and so fresh. This is not hiphop; it’s something else entirely. Appropriately dubbing it “Pop Art,” Kanye liquidly mixes traditional instruments with an ever-present undercurrent of electronic techno, pumped through the sullen, robotic voice of lyrical desperation. The effect is pure, wrenchingly symphonic melancholy, and its self-reflective pain is beautiful. Tracks like Heartless exemplify this and the same is true in both the slower, more methodical Love Lockdown and the self-analytical bout with fame in Welcome to Heartbreak. While Amazing comes close to showing the Kanye of old, it quickly pulls us back into a sweet despair. 808s and Heartbreak is a heavy ride, but with all of the other hiphoppers touting bling and style, it’s nice to have some substance, dark though it may be.

Faithful prophets of Guns N’ Roses had a few questions on their minds when Chinese Democracy was finally released late last year.

Would the many years of preparation, hype, delay and plastic surgery be enough to carry GNR to a great record? Would the tens of millions of dollars spent on the album be enough to recapture an atrophied audience? In short, would the album rock everyone’s face off?

The answer is a resounding “yeah, kinda.” Don’t get us wrong, there is some fierce Rock here and there. A few songs like There was a Time are good enough, but seem overly produced.

Other tunes, like Shackler’s Revenge, sound too industrial, but they really hit their stride with If The World, which sees guitarist Buckethead tickling a Spanish guitar while Axl employs classic melodic screeching over heavy riffs and a quasi-1970s funk undertone. Generally speaking, Rose can still hit notes just within the frequency of human hearing, and despite the absence of Slash, the other members make it a solid effort definitely worth checking out.

Everyone’s favourite little foul-mouthed Londoner is back with It’s Not me, It’s You, an album that actually shows an unexpected amount of growth, while still retaining the irreverent poppy humour of her first offering, Alright, Still. Thankfully, her two-year traipse through the halls of fame haven’t dampened her devil-may-care style, as she attacks and criticises, but never apologises. In The Fear, probably the album’s signature track, she discusses the perils of the cult of jaded personality that can be induced under the limelight, and makes no bones about the true nature of a morally empty world. Other songs like Not Fair and I Could Say take similarly hard-nosed, yet bubble-gummed stances to romantic relationships, while He Wasn’t There and Chinese are aimed squarely at her family life. While the lyrics are fresh and the music harder and more streamlined, her voice remains blissfully blasé, even in the face of tongue-in-cheek topics. If anyone except Lilly were singing this, it would sound contrived, cheesy or over the top. Luckily for us, we’ve got her, and she’s one Lilly that doesn’t want or need much gilding.

by Kanye West

by Guns N Roses

by Lilly Allen

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sur la terre silver screen

Watchmen

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Slumdog Millionaire

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? It is a Latin phrase that has been translated a dozen ways throughout time to ask the same question: who controls those who seek to control us?

Who Watches the Watchmen? This was the question that legendary comic book writer Alan Moore sought to answer when he wrote what has become the most unique and influential graphic novel of all time, Watchmen. It is a story about growth, change and what happens when men become supermen. Taking place during the height of the Cold War, the story starts out with the homicide of famous masked crusader, The Comedian. The cold-blooded murder of a national hero raises many questions and it is up to the unrelenting, violent and brooding crime fighter named Rorschach to solve the mystery of who killed his former associate, and more importantly, why. Finally, this legendary work has been transferred to the big screen, and will undoubtedly become the biggest cinematic event of the year thanks to luminaries like 300 director Zack Snyder. Who watches the Watchmen? If you’re smart, it’ll be you.

A clock runs backwards, a man grows younger and the love of two people, almost impossibly, meets somewhere in the middle. This is the story of growth in reverse. Consider for a moment that, instead of growing older with time, you grew younger. For a man named Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), this aging impossibility is a strange reality. Originally a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button explores the world of a man who is born at the age of 86, suffering all of the pains and wrinkles of old age, and subsequently ages backwards.

Falling in love with a normally-aging girl named Daisy, Benjamin leaves to travel the world and find his own place within it, no matter how strange.While the premise seems outrageous, its implementation is sublime and it only uses the device of reverse aging as a catalyst and not its principle motive. The film received a whopping 13 nominations from The Academy, three of which it won, and has grossed a total of well over $150 million throughout its international run, making this curious case just as lucrative.

Who wants to be a millionaire? Well, pretty much everyone, but there are very few people gifted, crafty or lucky enough to be victorious over the now internationally known game show of the same name. Slumdog Millionaire is the story of a man who, through adversity, critical speculation and a lifetime of emotion, seeks to conquer the seemingly unbeatable. Predominantly set on the Indian version of the show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, the film chronicles the efforts of Jamal Malik, played by Dev Patel, who has shockingly risen through the ranks of the game to get to the final question. Thanks to his past as a street urchin in a poor neighborhood, no one believes that Jamal could get this far without cheating. So, motivated by a torturous police interrogation, Jamal begins to tell his tale about how a life of chance brought him the answers to all of the show’s questions. Slumdog Millionaire has taken the world by storm. In all, it has won four Golden Globes, Seven BAFTAs and recently received an incredible eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

sur la terre small screen

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Dollhouse

Lost: Season 5

Nip/Tuck: Season 5 DVD

Joss Whedon, the creative genius behind such popular television shows as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the ill-fated Firefly, has once again returned to the small screen to impart the fruits of his disturbingly hilarious imagination.

The Dollhouse follows the character of Echo (Eliza Dushku), who is one amongst a team of people known as “Actives.” These Actives have their minds erased and are implanted with new memories and skills. Sometimes, they are hired out to be escorts, other times they are called on to be assassins. Along the way, the Actives, or Dolls as they are also known, begin to wonder if they have any control over their own personal growth. While it is yet to be seen whether Joss will capture the hearts of TV viewers as he has done in the past, the subject matter and snappy writing are enough to whet our appetites for more. Whedon has long been known for his character-driven series, but Dollhouse is a more existential study in growth. How can a person evolve as an individual when his or her identity is in a constant state of flux? In the words of its promotional ads, “You can wipe away a memory, but can you wipe away a soul?”

Just in case you have been shipwrecked for the last five years, think of Lost as the creepy grandson of Gilligan’s Island. It is the strange, constantly twisting of the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815. Due to some mysterious turbulence, the plane crashes into a tropical island. The survivors soon learn that this is not just any island, but one filled with malevolent forces, polar bears, smoke monsters, insane Frenchwomen and an army of nefarious evildoing natives known only as “The Others.”

The series takes a nonlinear approach to the plot, exploring via flashbacks how every survivor got to the island and how they are each connected to one another. Now in its fifth season, Lost has grown into an undeniable TV phenomenon. The producers and writers have suffered some setbacks, but they have recommitted themselves for the fifth season due to the announcement that the sixth season will be its last. So, if you’ve never seen the show, get out there and buy the DVDs and get ready for the last two seasons, because this is one time you will want to be lost.

“Tell us what you don’t like about yourself.”

That is the arguably backhanded sympathy that is overflowing in one of the most celebrated American TV dramas of today. Nip/ Tuck immediately shot to popularity after its introduction to the airwaves in 2003, and it has only grown in infamy. Following the shared plastic surgery practice of doctors Sean Macnamara (Dylan Walsh) and Christian Troy (Julian McMahon), Nip/Tuck focuses on their varied clients and what motivates a person to seek out cosmetic surgery in the first place.

Along the way, they deal with addiction, love, self-doubt and even murder. Nip/Tuck has won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe and has been nominated for countless other television awards. Part one of the fifth season is now available on DVD and shows the doctors moving from their original offices in Miami to the greener pastures of Las Angeles, California, where the duo hopes to cash in on the vanity of the Hollywood elite. The second part of Season 5 is now playing on American television.

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sur la terre online

Wikipedia

Ikariam

Howcast

If you’ve needed to obtain some quick, semireliable information for the past eight years, Wikipedia has probably been the place you turned to first. Simply put, it is the most comprehensive, user-edited, online information catalogue ever created. Launched in 2001, the online encyclopedia was an effort to provide free information to the masses. In a momentous power grab, Wikipedia’s creators wrested control from the academic elite and put the power to maintain and update the site firmly in the hands of the public. It may not be a completely reliable source, but it is fast becoming recognised in the world of general knowledge. Good or bad, Wiki has grown from a small venture into a considerable online entity.

With a current entry list exceeding 12 million articles, it is hands-down the fastest and most accessible place to start your search. Want to learn more about the Macedonian dynasty within the Byzantine Empire? Wikipedia has it.

Itching to read up on the duck-billed platypus?

Wiki’s got that, too. Wikipedia puts the power of information where it belongs: in the hands of the people.

Strategy/civilisation-building games have provided hours of fun for many a procrastinating youth. However, the simplicity in games like Sim City has since been wiped away with newfangled technologies and graphics.

However, gamers who don’t like complexity in their blissful mind-numbing can once again take heart, thanks to a little game-site called Ikariam. In it, players are given a small piece of land upon which they can slowly build their undeveloped plot from a village into a powerhoarding empire. Open communication with other online players allows for peaceful trade or to forcibly subsume their savage ways into your civilised new world order, laughing maniacally as you do. The international site has grown just like its in-game development, and the graphics are quite good for a game of this calibre. Registration is free and easy, and the gameplay allows you to tap into your oldschool imperialistic roots. With Ikariam, you can grow to the edge of your boundaries and dare to break through them.

Have you ever wondered how to fix a leaky water tap? What about how to bandage a hand? Have you ever fought a full-grown vampire? Well, fear not, budding handymanparamedic-demon slayer, because we have the perfect site for you. Howcast.com is not your average how-to site filled with boring textual directions about mundane tasks. Instead, this is a highly-entertaining video site with insightful clips that teach you things like how to cook a delicious meal on your car engine.

This is a great way to expand your horizons, enhance your general knowledge and basically have a giggle. The site has an extensive database with categories like parenting, crafts, health, relationships and technology. Some of our favourite vids are the following: How To Wash Your Hair Scientifically, How To Remove Gum from the Bottom of Your Shoe and How To Survive a Bear Attack. We’re happy to finally have found a website to teach us how to do these tasks; especially that Bear Attack video.

If we had a dollar for every time we were attacked by bears, we’d be millionaires!

www.wikipedia.org

www.ikariam.org

www.howcast.com

sur la terre Society

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And The OSCAR Goes To ...

Although this year’s Oscars failed to recognise Sur la Terre for Best Magazine in a Leading Role, we would still like to thank The Academy for putting on yet another great showcase of Hollywood immortality. This year’s awards show was overflowing with interesting picks, tough choices and great outcomes thanks to a wide-spanning selection of silver screen splendor.

Last year may have been grey in terms of finance, but cinematically, it was pure gold! So throw on that gaudy sequin gown or strap on that bow tie, because you’re our date for Sur la Terre’s Oscars Roundup!

During the lead in to the Academy Awards, there were quite a few surprises, particularly in the nominations. Oscar gave several nods to a few intriguing, if not unexpected stars and starlets. Some of the most interesting picks were Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei for their roles in the simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking film, The Wrestler. The gripping film Doubt was also given much praise, as all of its main stars, including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Viola Davis, were nominated for their respective roles. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button grabbed a few nominations as well for directing and Brad Pitt’s acting, while his wife Angelina Jolie garnered some praise for her work on Changeling. One of the strangest

selections was Robert Downey Jr. for his hilarious yet amazing role as an Australian playing an African American in Tropic Thunder.

Finally, the Academy has developed a funny bone! Of course, there were many other alsorans completely deserving of an Oscar, but only a select few brought home the gold.

Of these, the biggest winner was without a doubt Slumdog Millionaire, which captured eight statuesque trophies to add to its already world famous acclaim. Kate Winslet once again got to the big dance, and FINALLY won the Oscar for best actress for her film The Reader. Penelope Cruz also won her first statue for her role in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Probably the most emotional win of the night was that of the late Heath Ledger for his skin-crawling performance of the maniacal Joker in The Dark Knight. Hosted by megastar Hugh Jackman, Oscar night was bright as Hollywood celebrities bathed the watching world in illuminated starlight, and were awarded for their solid gold efforts with the highest prize tinseltown has to offer: The Academy Award. Sur la Terre congratulates all the big winners, and looks forward to seeing them at the forthcoming after-parties.

Left to right: Amy Adams (Carolina Herrera), Meryl Streep, Viola Davis

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sur la terre society

The BIG Winnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Circle Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire Best Actor in a Leading Role Sean Penn, Milk Best Actress in a Leading Role Kate Winslet, The Reader Best Director Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire Best Supporting Actor Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight Best Supporting Actress Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona

Top left to bottom right: Brangelina Anne Hathaway (Armani Prive) Frank Langella Danny Boyle, Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto and Madhur Mittal, (Cast and director of Slumdog Millionaire)

sur la terre society

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Top left to bottom right: Heath Ledger asNasser The Joker Marco Cordello, Khalifa Al Attiya, Claudio Berro with Guests flanked by GP2 drivers.

Hugh Jackman

Nasser Khalifa Al Attiya, Khalifa Nasser Al Attiya and Ahmed Penelope Al Fardan.Cruz (Vintage Pierre Balmain, Chopard Jewels) Marissa Tomei (Versace) Hasher Al Maktoum and Nasser Khalifa Al Attiya Kate Winslet (Yves Saint-Lauren Chopard Jewels) Hasher Al Maktoum and Khalifadress, Nasser Al Attiya Eddy Mercks and Rik Van Lent Paul Fadel Mohd Naeem Saleem Mubarak Al Hajri

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sur la terre snapshot

This picture was taken at Souq Waqif during the celebrations for Qatarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Day, where traditional street performances took place. I liked the idea that while the souq is a fairly recent construction, it still maintains its old-Qatar charm. I was captivated by the movement and colours of the fire juggler. It was a both graceful and dramatic performance, yet there was an underlying sense of danger, producing an excitement that was palpable among the assembled onlookers. It reminds us that however advanced we become as a civilisation, we always find a thrill in attempting to control the wilder elements of our existence â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a driving force in human nature that allows us to progress as a race.

Camera: Fuji Finepix F1000 FS Lens: Fujinon 70.8mm zoom Photographer: Janie Lee Brown

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sur la terre cultural agenda

THE CHECKLfISthTe biggest A detailed directory o events and coolest activities in the region !

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sur la terre cultural agenda

Subscription form

2009

I wish to subscribe to the magazine at the special price of 20 BHD per year (4 issues): Demand drafts payable to: Firefly Communications in US Dollars or Bahraini Dinars only.

Cheques only acceptable in Qatar Riyals.

Telex Transfer to: Firefly Communications A/C No. 4580-5820-88001 Commercial Bank of Qatar Grand Hamad Corporate Branch P.O. Box 3232 Doha, Qatar SWIFT CODE: CBAQAQAQ Last Name:

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P.O. Box 11596, Doha-Qatar. Tel: +974 4340360 Fax: +974 4340359 e-mail: info@surlaterre-me.com Website: www.surlaterre-me.com

sur la terre cultural agenda

Bahrain International Circuit April 24th, 09 - April 26th, 09

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! The pungent smell of burning rubber and the jarring sound of pounding pistons will once again soon wash over the Kingdom of Bahrain, much to the delight of race fans everywhere. That’s right, the Sixth Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is finally here, and it promises to leave permanent skid marks on the tarmac of time. Last year’s event was historic in and of itself, selling out to a crowd of over 100,000 people! This year, with nine world-class teams on hand, the Grand Prix will have even more seating capacity, shifting the audience excitement levels to a much higher gear. Formula 1 is already one of the most popular, not to mention most exciting, sporting events on the planet, and having it so close to home is a great and rare opportunity to see a cross section of the world’s best international drivers. Of course, there won’t only be spinning wheels at the event, as DJs will also be spinning records in the vending and chill-out areas. With live music, shopping outlets and vending areas aplenty, the BIC Grand Prix will be a rip-roaring event on many levels. www.bahraingp.com.bh

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sur la terre cultural agenda

The Property Show May 27th, 09 - May 30th, 09 Opening the door to real estate could be a wise decision. The sixth Property Show is a perfect opportunity for major developers to exhibit their housing, trading and services that are related to real estate. According to Abdul Razaq Kharaz, senior project manager in Arabian Exhibition Management, Property Show organiser, in the last two years, Bahrain has witnessed an unprecedented boom in the projects and islands’ properties, which has led to a tremendous and unexpected rise in property units. Accommodating this boom and others, the Property Show’s projects and exhibitors include residential and luxurious apartments, architects, financial institutions, interior design, new town projects, resorts, islands and deluxe properties situated locally and abroad.

The last Property Arabia show witnessed the launch of 10 new projects and attracted a great number of people. The May event is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors, with reputed and several newly established companies. For more information visit www.aeminfo.com.

Riffa Views Bahrain International Garden Show April 17th, 09 - April 19st, 09

Now in its sixth successful year, The Riffa Views Bahrain International Garden Show (RVBIGS) is firmly established as a leading gardening and lifestyle show attracting global and regional exhibitors. Uniquely combining a trade show for the industry and an educational experience for the public, RVBIGS delivers a wealth of knowledge in the field of gardening, landscaping and environment protection. This year, RVBIGS explores the theme of water as it relates to the history of Bahrain’s horticulture and agriculture.

Exhibits on display will include the ancient techniques used by the inhabitants of Bahrain to utilize fresh water springs and grow the plants and gardens for which the island was famous for since ancient times. The show will also examine water and its essentiality to everyday life and contrast modern day techniques of water consumption and utilisation with those of Bahrain’s ancient past and exhibit the most recent research relating to water treatment and preservation. Lectures will

be delivered by world-renowned experts while interactive educational exhibits and beautiful landscapes colour the show’s horizons. Among the show’s other educational aspects is the Eden Challenge 2009, a school competition hosted by Riffa Views to inspire the Kingdom’s students to consider water conservation and management in the 21st Century.

Emirati Expressions Until April 16th, 09

Keeping its promise as a foster and promoter of local rich culture, the Emirates Palace hosts the Emirati Expressions exhibition at Gallery One. Staged under the patronage of His Highness Gen. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Emirati Expressions is a celebration of artistic diversity in the United Arab Emirates.

The exhibition presents a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary work in which the national culture can be represented visually and symbolically. It intends to showcase native Emirati artists working in all disciplines and representing several generations. The showcase presents a diverse range of 165 works by 64 UAE artists in a variety of mediums: Painting, photography, sculpture, graphic design, video work, short films, installations, calligraphy and mixed mediums.

sur la terre cultural agenda

Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival

Red Bull Air Race

March 21th, 09 - April 2nd, 09

The 6th Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival features a varied programme of ballet, opera, classical and Arabic music, a visual arts component and a strong educational programme, which forms the festival’s backbone. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, this year’s festival is the first to take the theme of ‘Bilad Al Khair’, the Land of Blessings that the UAE is known as. Paying tribute, the festival gathers leading cultural organisations and community groups from all over the UAE to recognise their efforts in benefiting society, in line with the ethos of Bilad Al Khair. The festival features a stellar mix of artists. The opening opera gala is presented by the most gifted opera singer of our time, Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu, and internationally acclaimed German tenor Jonas Kaufmann, accompanied by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra. Following their enormous success last year, The Bolshoi Ballet return to deliver a brilliant Ballet Gala and two performances of the Yuri Grigorovic interpretation of Giselle. Andrea Bocelli, the biggest selling tenor of all time, gives a one-night only outdoor concert on the lawns of the Emirates Palace, accompanied by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra. Andrea will be joined on stage by Conductor Marcello Rota, soprano Paola Sanguinetti and baritone Gianfranco Montresor.

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April 17th, 09 - April 18th, 09

The festival’s other brilliant performers also include the legendary Lebanese UN Goodwill Ambassador and soprano Magida El Roumi. Further to the music, an integral part of the festival is the visual arts element, which features contemporary IraqiBritish artist, Dia Al-Azzawi. The artist’s works are exhibited throughout the festival at The Emirates Palace. The festival is supported by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and primarily hosted at the Emirates Palace. Tickets are available from www.timeouttickets.com, or by calling (971) 4 210 8567. All box office proceeds received by ADMAF will be donated to the Red Crescent to support humanitarian work in Gaza.

Fifteen of the top race pilots from all four corners of the globe, including four rookies, compete in the 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship, which will touch down in six spectacular locations beginning with the traditional season opener in Abu Dhabi. The world’s most exciting motor sport will then move to North America for races in San Diego, USA and Windsor in Ontario, Canada, before returning back across the Atlantic to Europe for stops in Budapest, Porto and Barcelona, marking a much-anticipated return to the enchanting Spanish city on the Mediterranean. Flying at speeds reaching 230 mph and pulling up to 12 gs, the pilots will navigate unique and demanding race tracks, negotiating their way through 65-foot-high inflatable air gates in their bid to become the 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Champion. With a speedmaximising race format, ambitious new talent to shake up the hierarchy and the top veteran pilots from 2008 returning to battle it out for dominance, 2009 promises to be another year of thrills, upsets and nail-biting tension.

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sur la terre cultural agenda

Emir GCC Camel Race, Alshahaniya Race Track April 1st, 08 - April 30th, 09

The soft, but resonating sound of pounding hooves on hot sand is once again reverberating through the powdery dunes of Qatar’s desert and off of the glass sheen of its modern buildings. These hoof beats, however, do not belong to the proud Arabian horse, but rather to the stubborn yet stately camel.

Long known in the region as a favoured sport of royalty, camel racing has further grown and spread into an absolute spectacle for residents and visitors alike. The Emir GCC Camels Race has been an epic event within this longstanding tradition, particularly in the exciting final race, when camel owners and racing devotees come together to celebrate the competitive culmination of months of training. Held annually at the Al Shahaniya Race Track, the Emir Final is one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year, and should definitely not be missed. For a more interactive experience, hop in your car and follow the action around the track during the race. See for yourself what a camel can really do. After this, we guarantee you’ll never look at horse racing the same again. The track is on Dukhan Road, about 60km west of Doha.

Qatar Class I World Powerboat Championships, Al Corniche April 23rd, 09 - April 25th, 09

Camels and horses won’t be the only beasts speeding around Doha this Spring. The modern cultural classic of powerboating is once again creating waves of excitement in Doha. Swells of anticipation will finally crash during the three days of racing in April. The annual races serve to make up the Class 1 Offshore Powerboat Competition at the end of which stands the prized Sam Griffith Trophy, the most sought-after award in the sport. Packing engines with a staggering 900 horsepower, the captains are more like top gun jet fighters. Cascading in a spray of white

foam at the breakneck speed of 160 miles per hour, these boats peel the skin of the ocean like dashing darts of the deep. Nowhere else is the culture of speed so beautifully showcased in the Gulf, and all day, every day at the event screams the muffled roar of aquatic engines throughout the crescent moon of the Corniche. The torpedoes will no doubt spray the thousands of onlookers in a shower of mist and a downpour of adrenaline.

For more information about the championships, race over to www.class-1.com

sur la terre cultural agenda

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The Doha Series, Waqif Art Centre Until June 30th, 09 The Third Line, Qatar’s exclusive pipeline to the independent art world, will host a very special initiative this Spring and early Summer at its premiere venue in The Waqif Art Centre. Part 1 of what is called The Doha Series began in February and will last until the end of April, while Part 2 will pick up again in June. The premise for this project is fantastically unique and titillating for any contemporary art lover. International artists of nearly every conceivable discipline, and working within a variety of mediums, will come to the event and, during their stay, create one-of-a-kind pieces to express their emotive response from being in Doha. The Series stands as the forebear of what will become an annual cultural event showcasing a unique homegrown/ international art hybrid. In the spotlight of this year’s show are Iranian calligrapher, Golnaz Fathi, whose talents were previously celebrated in Sur La Terre’s December edition, and Egyptian artist

Huda Lutfi, who reshapes the landscape of found objects to tell a new story, one detailing the sociopolitical appropriation of might over right. Adding to the beautiful storm of the Doha Series are the art centre’s regular exhibitions, which include Iraq’s own Hayv Kahraman, whose emotional, politically-motivated paintings are influenced by both modern and traditional styles, channeling the Orient and the Middle East for inspiration to denounce the modern ills of oppression and hate.

Kahraman’s works will be on display during the month of May. The Doha Series itself will be a historical event in Doha, opening further the small hole of expression into a gaping mouth of artistry.

After the exhibition’s closure, The Third Line will compile the works and produce a documentary book to be enjoyed for many years to come. To see more about The Waqif Art Center and The Third Line, head over to www.waqifartcenter.com

Festival of the Senses, Al Corniche

May 1st, 09 - May 30th, 09 Most everyone who visits Doha and all those who live here would quickly agree that the city is a barrage on all five of your senses. To celebrate that sensory serenade is the Doha Festival of the Senses, which occurs every May along the Corniche. In a 12 hour extravaganza, the city goes all out to launch a salvo of sensations. It is also a showcase of activity, showing off Qatar’s newfound commitment to health, fitness and the excitement of competition.

Throughout the day, visitors are invited to experience the four “Sense Tents” which dot the Corniche in a kaleidoscope of touch, taste, sight and scent. Plumes of traditional fragrances, like spices and leather, waft through the air. Swirling with these are the smells of sport -- no, not sweat and gym socks -- we’re talking about swimming pools and the freshly cut grass smell of a playing field.

Colourful photos and images fill an interactive gallery, which also includes cycle activities that are designed to spotlight the doha skyline in a rainbow of colour. Delicious offerings of traditional cuisine will alight upon taste buds, and reinvent global discovery. The air is so thick with activity that you can easily reach out and touch it. The festival is free to all comers and is the best way all year to wake up your senses with a decidedly Qatari flair. To learn more, contact the Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority at 974 499 7499.

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sur la terre cultural agenda

17th Dubai International Boat Show March 3rd, 09 - March 7th, 09

Fashion Week April 5th, 09 - April 9th, 09

April sees the return of Dubai Fashion Week with the Autumn/Winter 09 Show, which will once again be held in the Godolphin Ballroom, Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Over 30 designers will be parading their wares on the catwalk, including Walid Atallah, Reem Ali Beljafla, HSY, Hatem Alakeel, Amal Murad, Salma Khan and Mariam Al Mazro. Collections will range from couture to prêt à porter. Dubai Fashion Week, organised by the Concept Group, is the region’s flagship fashion trade event and focuses on offering retail buyers, fashion professionals and media an exclusive preview of the season’s upcoming collections and trends, thus generating publicity and revenue for the fashion industry. It has also successfully developed enormous interest in young and emerging designers to showcase through the ‘Emerging Talent’ show. There will also be a dedicated buyer lounge to provide opportunities onsite for designers and buyers to communicate and do business. “DFW is now in its 5th season and the regional and local fashion industry is once again buzzing with anticipation.

Last season the designers showed the media, fashion retail buyers, and fashion-consumers just how much talent exists in the Middle East”, said Aldrin Fernandes, Chairman, Concept Group. “We are thrilled by the interest and awareness this event is generating and look forward to another showcase of fantastic collections.”

The Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) is the largest, most important and most established event of its kind in the region. The show is one of the fastest growing leisure marine industry exhibitions in the world, and the 17th edition of the event will be a classic showcase of boats from both local and international builders together with the latest innovations in marine equipment, supplies and services. In these financially unstable times, DIBS maintains its exclusive position offering exhibitors a platform to showcase their products to trade buyers as well as private consumers with a high purchasing power from the wealthy Middle East Regional markets as well as the emerging economic superpowers such as India, Russia and China. The event is set to be a major attraction for the world’s most elite sailing fraternity, with this year’s launch of the highlyanticipated Superyacht Pavilion. According to a report compiled by the Luxury Institute with yacht broker and charter company Camper & Nicholson’s International, new orders for yachts over 130 feet were up almost 20% in 2008. With Arabs making up a third of the world’s superyacht owners, the organisers have introduced an exclusive hospitality site for VIP guests to meet with superyacht companies for private one to one meetings and bespoke tours. Among the companies exhibiting at the Pavilion are such seafaring luminaries as Abeking & Rasmussen, Amels, Burger Boats, Feadship, Heesen Yachts, Lurssen Yachts, and Trinity Yachts.

Christie’s Spring Sale

April 28th, 09 - April 29th, 09 Proving that there is always a market for investing in luxury, whatever the economic climate, worldrenowned auction house, Christie’s, is heading to Dubai in April to hold a special sale of jewels, watches and artworks. The event runs across two evenings at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, with the first given up to the sale of rare coloured gemstones, exquisite natural pearls crafted into jewels by leading designers such as Cartier, Harry Winston, Van Cleef and Arpels, alongside watches

by Patek Philippe, Rolex and Franck Muller.

Highlights will include a pair of diamond ear studs, each set with a circular-cut diamond weighing 12.56 and 11.65 carats, an emerald and diamond parure by Tabbah, comprising a bracelet, earrings and ring. A Chopard ‘Happy Diamond’ wristwatch, so called because of the loose diamonds that ‘rattle’ around the watch face, provides a highlight of the timepiece catalogue. In the second session, Christie’s will be auctioning around 150 lots of Arab, Iranian, Turkish and Western art including several important works from private collections in the West, which have not been seen in the region for many years. An early highlight of the sale is a group of four paintings by the celebrated Syrian artist Fateh Moudarres, from the collection of the former German Ambassador to Syria, Rudolf Fechter and his wife Maria. The event will be held from 7pm on the evenings April 28th and 29th. http://www.christies.com

sur la terre cultural out &agenda about

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Savour a swim, garden and spa at Banyan Tree To really enjoy a fine day, check in at Banyan Tree. The first private all-pool villa resort in the Middle East, Banyan Tree Al Areen comprises 78 luxuriously appointed villas including one-bedroom Desert Pool Villas and two-bedroom Royal Pool Villas. All feature private open-air swimming and jet pools. Bask under the sun in the outdoor free form pool complete with water jets, bubble island, lazy rivers, jet pool and hydro massage stations. A wide range of beverages and light snacks are available at the Pool Bar. Then to really kick back, find inner harmony at the meditation garden. Located adjacent to the outdoor freeform pool, the meditation garden is a haven of peace and tranquillity. A special feature of this garden is a specially commissioned Meditative Labyrinth. Guided walks and other wellness activities are organised daily at the Garden. To complement the sheer luxury of the experience, Banyan Tree Al Areen offers the Garden Hammam, which is set in a lush and serene water garden with cool fountains and invigorating streams. Contact Banyan Tree at +973 1758 0000.

Refresh your creative horizons Recharge at Al Dar Island. Al Dar is a small island off the Sitra Coast that’s small on land and big on promise. Spring is a wonderful time to enjoy the island’s flocks of migrating birds, dolphins and sea cows at play. On nearby Sheikh Ibrahim Island, there’s an old mosque and a chance to take dhow cruises and see pearl collecting. No doubt, the island’s myriad of activities and sites is both recreational and inspiring. So inspiring, in fact, that it has captured the imagination and creative mind of the Elham Arts group. Recently, a group of 20 photographers embarked on a full day excursion on and around Al Dar. Elham photographers had their eyes on shooting the variety of bird life, along with the island’s other treasures. These trips take place regularly and Elham Creative Arts Group then showcases the artwork produced at special gatherings.

To find out more, visit www.elhambahrain.net or email elhambahrain@yahoo.com

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sur la terre out & about

Float over Ritzy waters Surf’s up. For water and boat lovers, the Ritz Carlton Bahrain sports club offers diverse trips to whet recreational appetites. Dolphin trips are recommended for families with children. The trip allows you to watch magnificent dolphins as they swim and play in the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf. Alternatively, go fishing. The Ritz’s 36’ Wave breaker boat is fully equipped to ensure that no fish will be safe from your clutches. Finish it off with an Arabian sunset cruise to elegantly – and romantically – relish beautiful scenery. Besides that, the hotel offers single and double kayaks for rent; along with sporting lessons and private coaching in activities like squash and tennis.

Visit Al Areen Wildlife The Al Areen Wildlife Park has become an integral part of Bahrain’s diverse Al Areen development.

The park is perfect for families and animal lovers to explore at leisure and enjoy the opportunity of seeing animals in the wild. Al Areen Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1976 to protect rare and endangered wild plants and animals and over the last several years, the Wildlife Sanctuary has vastly grown in terms of its size and variety of species. Today hundreds of animals and bird species live contentedly in Al Areen Wildlife Park including the Oryx, Addax and Reem Gazelle. As part of the project’s development, a host of environmental issues and solutions have been carefully considered and incorporated to guarantee that the wildlife within the project is well protected. These include new green houses, bird and animal quarantines, new Oryx shelters, mosque renovation and the development of new water wells. Contact Al Areen at + 973 17836116.

sur la terre out & about

Explore Dilmun’s Lost Paradise Missed your turn on the wildest and fastest rides in town; or to splash your way down tubes and slides with your friends; or to soak up the sun and relax on Dilmun beach? Then it’s time for you to come down, with your family and friends, to the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park, which has re-opened for the 2009 season. Plenty of rides, slides and waves keep everyone entertained and wanting to come back for more. For adrenaline seekers, Falcons’ Dive is the place to go. With a choice of four different heart-pumping rides there is never a dull moment. Tylosplash, the Water Park’s tallest attraction, brings the whole family together as four people of all ages can enjoy speeding and spinning down the chute before splash landing in the pool below. Kids’ Mesopomania is all about kids getting wet.

The Kids’ Rain Fortress will keep the little ones entertained for hours.Younger children are also well looked after with a specially designed Tots’ Pool with gentle slides. Families can also enjoy relaxing in the Spa or Oasis Pool. When you need a break from the fun-filled action, there are loads of shady spots to catch your breath or relax with a cool drink or some ice cream. New for 2009,

the Lost Paradise of Dilmun is offering returning guests the opportunity to purchase an annual Splashdown Pass, offering a year’s access to the water park along with added benefits. Tel (+973) 1784 5100 or visit www.lpodwaterpark.com

Seek Out The Souk One of the hallmarks of tradition in the city of Manama is its famous souk. When traipsing through the open-air marketplace, it’s easy to see why these are such popular places for both locals and tourists to explore. The scents of burning incense, bubbling hookah pipes and simmering local dishes offer an odiferous odyssey for any would-be globetrotter. Of course, it’s more than just a novelty for your nostrils, as the bright colours and soft textures of an armada of textiles flow to life as they swing in the warm Spring breeze, making each of its snaking alleyways pop with a shimmering sense of Middle East tradition. It also has the latest modern trends and gadgets for a fraction of the price of the big malls, particularly when you get the chance to haggle your heart out. The Manama Souk is opened from Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 12:30pm and again at 3:30pm.

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Who Needs a Safari when You’ve got Adhari Whoever said that the Kingdom of Bahrain was a roller coaster ride wasn’t far off. Thanks to Adhari Park, you can get all the thrills you can possibly handle. With 38 indoor and outdoor rides including bumper cars, mini jets, a flying carousel, the super-fast Mega Disk “O” and Spinning Madness, you can feel free to toss caution to the wind. Just make sure you don’t toss your cookies in the process. The park also has attractions like mini golf, trampolines and a few refreshing water rides like the log flume and water slides, perfect for the upcoming heat of Spring and Summer. Along with all of these great goings-on, the park has over a dozen eateries, making Adhari one of the best places to spend a day outside or inside with either the family or a good group of thrill-seeking buddies. To check out more, including directions and ticket pricing, go to www.adharipark.com

The House of Qur’an For a more cultural experience, there is little better than Beit Al Qur’an, or “The House of Qur’an.” Located in the city’s Diplomatic Area, Beit Al Qur’an is a unique institution offering the public a collection of historic Quranic manuscripts and printings from around the world. The calligraphic showcase is filled with examples from across the globe, not only from the Middle East, but also from the Far East and the West.

The tradition of the holy book is celebrated in reverence and beauty. Each piece of its large collection is moving not only for the sake of historicity and a deeper understanding of Islamic culture, but also for pure artistic splendor. This is one museum that should not be missed by any traveller, despite his or her religious background. To find out more about Beit Al-Qur’an, visit www.beitalquran.com or call +973 172 90101.

sur la terre out & about

The Manama Pipe Dream While the official origin is disputed, it is generally believed that the fiery passion for smoking flavoured tobacco through a water pipe (shisha) was initially sparked in China. From there, its popularity wafted over to India before finally swirling into a settled plume in the Middle East.

Most Manama nights are perfumed with the rich scent of shisha and peppered with the sound of friendly discourse. It is normal to see the flickering embers shimmering off of the brass and gold of a hookah pipe in the twilight of early evening. The billowy smoke comes in a rainbow of delicious flavours, the most common of which are double apple, grape, rose, cherry, strawberry and mint. In recent years, there have been calls to ban shisha in many places in Bahrain due to its health risk, but there are still many places that provide the local pastime, such as its many cafes, like Casa Blu. For those wanting to buy a piece of the action, the best place to pop in and pick up a pipe at Al Fakher, which offers many styles, flavours and all the necessary acrutriments. Find Casa Blu (+973 177 10424) and Al Fakher (+973 396 93839) in Adliya.

Kart blanche to have fun If, after the speed-fest of the Bahrain Grand Prix, you fancy yourself as a bit of a Lewis Hamilton, spend a Friday or Saturday trying your hand at go-karting.

While it is not quite the high-octane experience of cramming into the cockpit of a multimillion dollar skateboard that takes corners at 260kph, an afternoon whizzing round a winding 700-metre track at the BIC Kart Zone in Manama can still stimulate the adrenal gland of even the most hardened petrol-head. This is serious fun, whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re driving around for practice or competing against your friends. The Grand Prix race package includes a practice run, a qualifying run and two 15-lap races (ten for juniors). A compulsory briefing before the races focuses on safety and the BIC Kart Zoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experienced instructors will explain the rules of the sport, what the flag and light signals mean, how to operate the kart and how to overtake safely. The GP race packages are available for both junior and adult drivers; a minimum of four drivers is required to race. Karts, race suits and crash helmets are supplied by the venue. The BIC Kart Zone is open on Friday and Saturday from 3.30pm-10.30pm. For pricing and bookings visit www.bahraingp.com.bh

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A Bath More Rockin’ Why not get a little taste of Morocco right here in Manama? The Moroccan bath is one of the best places to get a good, deep exfoliation and massage. With most public baths, guests are expected to follow the cultural bathing rituals, which include showering off the sticky remnants of a day walking around the city, sitting in a chair in a steaming hot room and sweating out any pesky toxins you’ve taken in and then getting a brisk (and sometimes jarring) scrub down, which removes any remaining layer of unwanted particles. The process may be a bit rough at times, but as the old saying goes, you have to suffer to be beautiful! And beautiful you will be once you’ve finally stepped out of the hammam, which is the actual public bath; you will notice that your skin is fresh, vibrant, silky smooth and ready to face another day of sun and fun. Two of the more popular places to bathe are La Femme in Saar (+973 177 93113) and Pinapple Spa in Gudaibiya(+973 177 12000). Just remember that you’ll have to ditch the clothes and get nude with a bunch of strangers, so make sure you walk into the correct gender section. Otherwise, it could be messy!

RELAX! Manama is a crazy place, with lots of things to do and many things to try. As fun as this can be, it also takes its toll on the old body, not to mention the mind. If you live here, it’s even more taxing, with the job and financial markets racing at a feverish pace. Luckily, the city has an outlet for you to find your centre and reinvigorate your tired soul … and soles. Located in Villa 453 on Shaikh Isa Avenue, Road 3834, the Bahrain Meditation Centre is a non-profit organisation where busy travellers or city dwellers can take a load off and get in some seriously restful contemplation. Guided by the professionals at the centre, the seminars, retreats, workshops and lectures work to settle your oversaturated senses and teach you how to live a life of selfenhancement, serenity and inner peace. What makes it even more satisfying is that the services provided at the centre are absolutely, 100% FREE! To learn more about how to replenish your world with a heaping helping of holistic health, visit their website at www.bahrainmeditationcentre. org or call +973 177 12545.

REGIONAL HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND CAFÉS GUIDE ABU DHABI

RestaurantS < Anar Emirates Palace Tel: +971 2 690 7999 www.emiratespalace.com Cuisine: Persian < Bravo Tapas BarV Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort & Towers Tel: +971 2 677 3333 www.starwoodhotels.com Cuisine: Spanish < Casa Verde Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton Tel: +971 2 558 8990 www.adgolfclub.com Cuisine: Mediterranean < Chamas InterContinental Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 666 6888 www.ichotelsgroup.com Cuisine: Brazilian < Chi Chi Meridien Village Tel: +971 2 644 3717 www.starwoodhotels.com Cuisine: Mexican < Diwan L’Auberge Emirates Palace Tel: +971 2 690 7999 www.emiratespalace.com Cuisine: Arabian/Lebanese < El Sombrero Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort & Towers Tel: +971 2 644 4309 www.starwoodhotels.com Cuisine: Mexican < Embassy Emirates Palace Tel: +971 2 690 9000 www.emiratespalace.com Cuisine: European < Fishmarket InterContinental Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 666 6888 www.ichotelsgroup.com Cuisine: Seafood < Flavours Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort & Towers Tel: +971 2 677 3333 www.starwoodhotels.com Cuisine: International < Hoi An Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri Tel: +971 2 509 8888 www.shangri-la.com Cuisine: Vietnamese < Horizons Oryx Hotel Tel: +971 2 681 0001 Cuisine: International < Il Palazzo Al Ain Palace Hotel Tel: +971 2 679 4777 www.alainpalacehotel.com/ restaurants.htm Cuisine: Italian < Il Paradiso Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort & Towers Tel: +971 2 677 3333 www.starwoodhotels.com Cuisine: Seafood < Jazz Bar Hilton International Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 681 1900

www1.hilton.com Cuisine: International < La Mamma Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort & Towers Tel: +971 2 677 3333 www.starwoodhotels.com Cuisine: Italian < La Piazza Al Diar Sands Hotel Tel: +971 2 633 5335 www.aldiarhotels.com Cuisine: Italian < La Terrazza Hilton International Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 681 1900 www1.hilton.com Cuisine: International < Le Beaujolais Novotel Centre Tel: +971 2 633 3555 www.novotel.com Cuisine: French < Le Bistrot Le Meridien Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 644 6666 www.starwoodhotels.com Cuisine: French < Le Brasserie Le Meridien Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 645 5566 www.starwoodhotels.com Cuisine: French < Le Vendome Brasserie Emirates Palace Tel: +971 2 690 7999 www.emiratespalace.com Cuisine: International < Marakesh Millenium Hotel Tel: +971 2 626 2700 www.millenniumhotels.com Cuisine: Arabian/Moroccan < Mezzaluna Emirates Palace Tel: +971 2 690 7999 www.emiratespalace.com Cuisine: Italian < Min Zaman Al Ain Rotana Hotel Tel: +971 3 754 5111 www.rotana.com Cuisine: Arabian/Lebanese < Oceans Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 695 0573 www.starwoodhotels.com/ lemeridien/property/dining/index. html?propertyID=1900 Cuisine: Seafood < Prego’s Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers Tel: +971 2 644 3000 Cuisine: Italian < Rodeo Grill Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers Tel: +971 2 644 3000 Cuisine: Steakhouse < Royal Orchid Hilton International Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 681 1900 www1.hilton.com Cuisine: Thai < Sax Restaurant Club Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 674 2020

www.starwoodhotels.com Cuisine: International < Sayad Emirates Palace Tel: +971 2 690 7999 www.emiratespalace.com Cuisine: Seafood < Sevilo’s Millennium Hotel Tel: +971 2 626 2700 www.millenniumhotels.com Cuisine: Italian < Tides Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna Tel: +971 2 801 2222 Cuisine: International < Vasco’s Hilton International Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 681 1900 www1.hilton.com Cuisine: International CAFÉS < Al Majlis Emirates Palace Tel: +971 2 690 7999 www.emiratespalace.com < Sheraton Khalidiya Hotel Sheraton Khalidiya Hotel Tel: +971 2 666 6220

DOHA

Hotels < Al Sultan Beach Resort Al Khor Tel: + 974 4 722666 www.alsultanbeachresort.com 5 Star < Four Seasons Al Corniche St, Doha Tel: +974 4 948888 www.fourseasons.com/doha 5 Star < Grand Regency Near Sports R/A Al Sadd, Doha Tel: +974 4 343333 www.grand-regency.com 5 Star < Intercontinental West Bay Lagoon, Doha Tel: +974 4 844444 www.ichotelsgroup.com 5 Star < La Cigale Suhaim Bin Hamad Street, Doha Tel: +974 4 288888 www.lacigale .com 5 Star < Marriott Ras Abu Aboud Street, Doha Tel: +974 4 298888 www.marriott.com 5 Star < Millennium Jawaan Street, Al Sadd, Doha Tel: +974 4 247777 www.millenniumhotels.com 5 Star < Mövenpick Tower & Suites West Bay, Doha Tel: +974 4 966600 www.moevenpick-hotels.com 5 Star < Mövenpick Corniche, Doha

Tel: +974 4 291111 www.moevenpick-hotels.com 4 Star < Ramada Plaza Salwa Road, Doha Tel: +974 4 281428 www.ramadaplazadoha.com 4 Star < Ritz Carlton West Bay Area, Doha Tel: +974 4 848000 www.ritzcarlton.com 5 Star < Rydges Abu Firas Street, Doha Tel: +974 4 385444 www.rydges.com 4 Star < Sharq Village Spa Ras Abu Aboud street, Doha Tel: +974 4 256666 www.sharqvillage.com 5 Star < Sheraton Al Corniche St, Doha Tel: +974 4 854444 www.sheraton-doha.com 5 Star < W Hotel West Bay Area Tel: +974 4 996530 www.whotels.com\doha 5 Star Restaurants < Al Dana Sharq Village and Spa Tel: +974 4 256666 www.sharqvillage.com Cuisine: International < Al Dente Seafood Restaurant Al Sultan Beach Resort Tel: +974 4 722666 www.alsultanbeachresort.com Cuisine: Seafood with Italian < Al Jalsa Sharq Village and Spa Tel: +974 4 256666 www.sharqvillage.com Cuisine: Arabian < Al Liwan Sharq Village and Spa Tel: +974 4 256666 www.sharqvillage.com Cuisine: Arabian and Persian < Al Sayyad Restaurant The Diplomatic Club Tel: +974 4 847444 www.thediplomaticclub.com Cuisine: Arabian and Persian < Animato Mövenpick Tower and Suites Tel: +974 4 966600 www.moevenpick-hotels.com Cuisine: International < Asia Live!

Marriot Hotel Tel: +974 4 29 8888 www.marriott.com Cuisine: Asian < Bistro Bistro Ramada Plaza Tel: +974 4281428 www.ramadaplazadoha.com Cuisine: European

< Eli France Ramada and City Center Tel: +974 4 357111 www.elifrancecafe.com Cuisine: International < Fauchon Salwa Road, Doha Tel: +974 4 324888 www.fauchon.com Cuisine: French < Grand Gourmet Grand Regency Hotel Tel: +974 4 343333 www.grand-regency.com Cuisine: Contemporary Global < Il Teatro Four Seasons Hotel Tel: +974 4 948888 www.fourseasons.com/doha Cuisine: Italian < La Mer Ritz Carlton Hotel Tel: +974 4 848000 www.ritzcarlton.com Cuisine: French < Layali Salwa Road, Doha Tel: +974 4 310005 www.alayangroupqatar.com Cuisine: Arabian < Le Cigalon Restaurant La Cigale Hotel Tel. +974 4 288888 www.lacigalehotel.com Cuisine: Modern Mediterranean < Le Gourmet Al Sadd and Old Souq , Doha Tel: +974 4 361789 www.legourmetrestaurant.com Cuisine: Arabian & French < Le Nôtre Salwa Road, Doha Tel: +974 4 552111 www.lenotre.fr Cuisine: International < Lina’s Salwa Road, Doha Tel: +974 4 365488 www.linascafe.fr Cuisine: French < Paul’s Café Villaggio Mall, Doha Tel: +974 4 135508 Cuisine: French < Pirates Cove Sheraton Hotel Tel: +974 4 854444 www.sheraton-doha.com Cuisine: Seafood < Sakura Ramada Plaza Tel: +974 4281428 www.ramadaplazadoha.com Cuisine: Japanese < Salsa Marriot Hotel Tel: +974 4 29 8888 www.marriott.com Cuisine: International < Tangia Grand Regency Hotel Tel: +974 4 343333 www.grand-regency.com Cuisine: Moroccan < The Grill Room Doha Golf Club www.dohagolfclub.com Tel: +974 4 960777 Cuisine: International

< The One Restaurant Landmark Mall, Doha Tel: +974 4 888669 www.theoneme.com Cuisine: International < Za Moda Intercontinental Hotel Tel: +974 4 844444 www.ichotelsgroup.com Cuisine: Italian Cafés < Alkut Lounge Grand Regency Hotel Tel: +974 4 343333 www.grand-regency.com < Atrium Millennium Hotel Tel: +974 4 247777 www.millenniumhotels.com < Atrium Lounge Sheraton Hotel Tel: +974 4 854444 www.sheraton-doha.com < Café Batteel Salwa Road, Doha Tel: +974 4 441414 < Café Ceramic The Mall, Doha Tel: +974 4 671100 www.cafe-ceramique.com < Coffee Beanery Ramada Junction, Doha Tel: +974 4 385366 www.coffeebeanery.com < Costa Coffee The Center, Doha Tel: +974 4 626947 www.costa.co.uk < Colombiano Coffee House Ramada Junction, Doha Tel: +974 4 350050 www.colombianocoffeehouse.com < L’Espresso Mövenpick Hotel Tel: +974 4 291111 www.moevenpick-hotels.com < Lime Café Mövenpick Tower and Suites Tel: +974 4 966600 www.moevenpick-hotels.com < Palm Garden Ramada Plaza Tel: +974 4281428 www.ramadaplazadoha.com < Ristretto Villaggio Mall, Doha Tel: +974 4 507208 www.ristretto.com < Shamaal Café Doha Golf Club www.dohagolfclub.com Tel. +974 4 960777 < Starbucks Landmark Mall, Doha Tel: +974 4 880575 www.starbucks.com < Silver Café Al Sadd, Doha Tel: +974 4 131773 www.nbks.com < Trattoria Coffee shop La Cigale Hotel Tel. +974 4 288888 www.lacigalehotel.com < Pause Café Al Rabban Tower, West Bay Area Tel: +974 498 0367

DUBAI

Restaurants < Al Basha Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa Tel: +971 4 399 5000 www.grandjumeirah.habtoorhotels.com Cuisine: Lebanese < Al Fresco Crowne Plaza Hotel Tel: +971 4 331 1111 www.CrownePlaza.com Cuisine: Italian < Al Mahara Burj Al Arab Tel: +971 4 301 7600 www.burj-al-arab.com Cuisine: Seafood < Al Qasr Al Qasr Madinat Jumeirah Tel: +971 4 366 8888 www.madinatjumeirah.com Cuisine: International < Alpha Le Meridien Dubai Tel: +971 4 217 0000 www.leroyalmeridien-dubai.com Cuisine: International < Andiamo Grand Hyatt Hotel Dubai Tel: +971 4 317 1234 www.dubai.grand.hyatt.com Cuisine: International < Bateaux Dubai Creek Park Tel: +971 4 399 4994 www.jebelali-international.com Cuisine: International < Beachcombers Jumeirah Beach Hotel Tel: +971 4 406 8999 www.jumeirahbeachhotel.com Cuisine: Polynesian < Benihana Al Bustan Rotan Hotel Tel: +971 4 282 0000 Cuisine: Japanese < Benjarong Dusit Hotel Tel: +971 4 343 3333 www.dubai.dusit.com Cuisine: Asian < Bice Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Tel: +971 4 282 4040 www1.hilton.com Cuisine: Italian < Bistro Madeleine Crowne Plaza Hotel Tel: +971 4 701 1128 Cuisine: French < Blue Elephant Al Bustan Rotan Hotel Tel: +971 4 282 0000 Cuisine: Thai < Buddha Bar Grosvenor House Tel: +971 4 399 8888 www.grosvenorhouse-dubai.com Cuisine: Asian < Certo Radisson SAS Media City Tel: +971 4 366 9111 Cuisine: Italian < Choices Al Bustan Rotan Hotel Tel: +971 4 282 0000 Cuisine: International < Empire The Monarch Dubai

Tel: +971 4 501 8888 www.themonarchdubai.com Cuisine: European < Emporio Armani Caffe Mall of the Emirates Tel: +971 4 341 0591 Cuisine: European < Fire and Ice Raffles Dubai Tel: +971 4 324 8888 www.raffles.com Cuisine: Steakhouse < Itsu Marina Walk Tel: +971 4 362 6351 Cuisine: Japanese < JW’s Steakhouse JW Marriott Hotel Tel: +971 4 607 7977 www.marriott.com Cuisine: Steakhouse < M’s Beef Bistro Le Meridien Dubai Tel: +971 4 282 4040 www.leroyalmeridien-dubai.com Cuisine: Steakhouse < Marrakech Shangri-La Tel: +971 4 343 8888 www.shangri-la.com Cuisine: North African < Marzano Al Manzil Hotel Tel: +971 5 770 4563 www.southernsunme.comalmanzil Cuisine: European < Mina A’Salam Madinat Jumeirah Tel: +971 4 3668888 www.madinatjumeirah.com Cuisine: International < Momotaro Souk Al Bahar Tel: +971 4 425 7976 www.theoldtownisland.com Cuisine: Japanese < Nobu Atlantis, The Palm Tel: +971 4 426 0730 www.atlantisthepalm.com Cuisine: Japanese < P2 Souk Madinat Jumeirah Tel: +971 4 366 8888 www.madinatjumeirah.com Cuisine: Seafood < Peppercrab Grand Hyatt Hotel Dubai Tel: +971 4 317 1234 www.dubai.grand.hyatt.com Cuisine: Asian < Peroglas Al Murooj Rotana Hotel & Suites Tel: +971 4 321 1111 Cuisine: Asian < Pierchic Al Qasr Madinat Jumeirah Tel: +971 4 366 8888 www.madinatjumeirah.com/al_qasr Cuisine: Seafood < Rare Desert Palm Tel: +971 4 323 8888 Cuisine: Steakhouse < Ronda Locatelli Atlantis, The Palm Tel: +971 4 426 0710 www.atlantisthepalm.com Cuisine: Italian

< Rostang, The French Brasserie Atlantis, The Palm Tel: +971 4 426 0710 www.atlantisthepalm.com Cuisine: French < Sakura The Taj Palace Tel: +971 4 223 2222 Cuisine: Asian < Seafire Atlantis, The Palm Tel: +971 4 426 0730 www.atlantisthepalm.com Cuisine: Steakhouse < Shang Palace Shangri-La Tel: +971 4 343 8888 www.shangri-la.com Cuisine: Chinese < Spectrum on One Fairmont Dubai Tel: +971 4-332-5555 www.fairmont.com Cuisine: International < Spice Emporium The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Tel: +971 4 399 4141 Cuisine: Asian < Spice Island The Renaissance Hotel Tel: +971 4 262 5555 Cuisine: International < Teatro Towers Rotana Hotel Tel: +971 4 343 8000 www.rotana.com Cuisine: International < The Aquarium Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club Tel: +971 4 295 6000 www.dubaigolf.com Cuisine: Seafood < The Cellar Aviation Club Tel: +971 4 282 4122 Cuisine: International < The Fountain Mövenpick Hotel Tel: +971 4 336 6000 Cuisine: Asian < The Glasshouse Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Cuisine: International < Traiteur Park Hyatt Tel: +971 4 602 1234 www.Hyatt.com Cuisine: European < Vivaldi Sheraton Dubai Creek Tel: +971 4 228 1111 Cuisine: International < Vu’s Emirates Towers Hotel Tel: +971 4 319 8088 www.jumeirahemiratestowers.com Cuisine: European < Zuma DIFC Gate Village 6 Tel: +971 4 425 5660 Cuisine: Japanese CAFÉS < Belgian Beer Café InterContinental Dubai Festival City Tel: +971 4 701 1111 < Café Chic Le Meridien Dubai Tel: +971 4 282 4040

< Organic Foods and Café Green Community Tel: +971 4 361 7974 < Picollo Mondo Iternational City, Italy Cluster Tel: +971 4 420 0788 < The One Café Jumeirah Beach Road Tel: +971 4 345 6687

MANAMA

Hotels < Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort Sakhir Tel: +973 17 845 000 www.banyantree.com 5 star < Crowne Plaza Bahrain Manama Tel: +973 17 531 122 www.cp-bahrain.com 5 star < Gulf Hotel Adliya Tel: +973 17 713 000 www.gulfhotelbahrain.com 5 star < InterContinental Regency Hotel Manama Tel: +973 17 227 777 www.interconti.com/manama 5 star < Mövenpick Hotel Muharraq Tel: +973 17 460 000 www.moevenpick-hotels.com 5 star < Sheraton Bahrain Manama Tel: +973 17 533 533 www.sheraton.com/bahrain 5 star < The Diplomat Radisson SAS Manama Tel: +973 17 531 666 www.manama.radissonsas.com 5 star < The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Seef District Tel: +973 17 580 000 www.ritzcarlton.com 5 star

Restaurants < Al Berdaouni Intercontinental Regency Hotel Tel: +973 17 227 777 www.interconti.com/manama Cuisine: Lebanese < Al Fanar Diplomat Radisson SAS, Hotel Tel: +973 17 531 666 www.manama.radissonsas.com Cuisine: Arabian < Al Raouché Sheraton Bahrain Hotel Tel: +973 17 533 533 www.sheraton.com/bahrain Cuisine: Moroccan < Al Safir Sheraton Bahrain Hotel Tel: +973 17 533 533 www.sheraton.com/bahrain Cuisine: International < Al Waha Gulf Hotel Tel: +973 17 713 000

www.gulfhotelbahrain.com Cuisine: International < Brazil!

Adliya Tel: +973 17 826 686 Cuisine: Brazilian < China Garden Gulf Hotel Tel: +973 17 746 423 www.gulfhotelbahrain.com Cuisine: Chinese < Fire of Brazil Seef Mall Tel: +973 17 583 776 www.fireofbrazil.com Cuisine: Brazilian < Fish Market Al Bander Hotel & Resort Tel: +973 17 701 201 Cuisine: Seafood < Golestan Sheraton Bahrain Hotel Tel: +973 17 533 533 www.sheraton.com/bahrain Cuisine: Iranian < Hash House Adliya Tel: +973 17 715 094 Cuisine: Thai < La Fontaine La Fontaine for Contemporary Art Tel: +973 17 230 123 www.lafontaineartcentre.com Cuisine: French < La Mosaique Crowne Plaza Bahrain Tel: +973 17 531 122 Cuisine: International < La Mediterranee The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Tel: +973 17 580 000 www.ritzcarlton.com Cuisine: International < Le Bistro InterContinental Regency Hotel Tel: +973 17 227 777 www.interconti.com/manama Cuisine: International < Mirai Adliya Tel: +973 17 713 113 www.mirai-restaurant.com Cuisine: Japanese < Mondo Diplomat Radisson SAS, Hotel Tel: +973 17 531 666 www.manama.radissonsas.com Cuisine: Italian < Nirvana The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Tel: +973 17 580 000 www.ritzcarlton.com Cuisine: Indian < Plums The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Tel: +973 17 580 000 www.ritzcarlton.com Cuisine: Steak House < Primavera The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Tel: +973 17 580 000 www.ritzcarlton.com Cuisine: European < Rimal Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort Tel: +973 17 845 000 www.banyantree.com Cuisine: International

< Royal Thai Gulf Hotel Tel: +973 17 713 000 www.gulfhotelbahrain.com Cuisine: Thai < Saffron Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort Tel: +973 17 845 000 www.banyantree.com Cuisine: Thai and Asian < Soie Sheraton Bahrain Hotel Tel: +973 17 533 533 www.sheraton.com/bahrain Cuisine: Chinese < Silk Mövenpick Hotel Tel: +973 17 460 000 www.movenpick-bahrain.com Cuisine: International < Tamarind Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort Tel: +973 17 845 000 www.banyantree.com Cuisine: International < Trader Vic’s The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Tel: +973 17 586 555 www.ritzcarlton.com Cuisine: International < Upstairs Downstairs Adliya Tel: +973 17 713 093 Cuisine: International < Versailles InterContinental Regency Hotel Tel: +973 17 227 777 www.interconti.com/manama Cuisine: French Cafés < Al Andalus Lounge Gulf Hotel Tel: +973 17 713 000 < Al Bindaira Al A’ali Complex Tel: +973 17 587 587 < Al Nour Lounge Al A’ali Complex Tel: +973 17 227 777 < Café Lilou Adliya Tel: +973 17 714 440 < Casa Blu Adliya Tel: +973 17 710 424 < Le Chocolat Seef Tel : + 973 17 582 259 < Overlook Café The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Tel: +973 17 810 180 www.ritzcarlton.com < Palace Lounge Gulf Hotel Tel: +973 17 713 000 <The Atrium Café Gulf Hotel Tel: +973 17 713 000 < The Gallery Lounge Mövenpick Hotel Tel: +973 17 460 000 < The Lobby Lounge The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Tel: +973 17 580 000 < The Lobby Lounge Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort Tel: +973 17 845 000 www.banyantree.com

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sur la terre mode

LOCAL PRODUCT GUIDE Manama < Aigner Jashanmal +973 17 582 414 < Al Bareh Gallery Adliya +973 17717707 < Al Zain Sheraton complex, Seef Mall, City Center, Country mall +973 17535331 < Amwaj Marina Amwaj +973 16033100 www.amwaj-islands.com < Aqua Di Parma Jashanmal, Al Aali Complex www.aquadiparma.com < Ashrafs Houra +973 17534441 Seef Mall, Ashrafs Corner +973 17581252 < Austin Reed Seef Mall +973 17583098 < Bahrain International Circuit Sakhir +973 17450000 < Bally Bahrain City Centre, Al Ali complex www.bally.com < Banyan Tree Desert Spa and resort Al Areen +973 17845000 www.banyantree.com < BMW Euro Motors, Sitra Highway +973 17 750 750 www.euromotors.com.bh < Breitling Bahrain City Centre +973 17171800 www.breitlingforbentley.com < Bulgari Al Aali Complex, Seef mall +973 17582559 < Chanel Faces +973 17225577 (Seef) +973 17555795 (Bahrain Mall) +973 17593151 (Country Mall) +973 17556360 (Dana Mall) +973 17535838 (Houra) +973 17582414 (Jashanmal) Sephora +973 17179521 (BCC) +973 17581915 (Seef Mall) Al Hawaj +973 17581228 (Sheraton Complex)

+973 17230088 (Salmania) +973 17783030 (Riffa) +973 17555339 (Bahrain Mall) Vava Voom +973 17179640 www.chanel.com < Charriol Al hawaj +973 17581228(Sheraton Complex) +973 17230088 (Salmania) +973 17783030 (Riffa) +973 17555339 (Bahrain Mall)

< Harley Davidson Show Room Budaya +973 17599006 www.harleydavidson.com < Harry Winston Bahrain jewellery center +973 17535091 www.harrywinston.com

< Mini-Hummer +973 36672404 www.bahrain-igc.com < Minotti Diplomatic Area, Residence Building +973 17540111 www.minotti.com

< Hermés Moda Mall +973 17535519

< Palmerie Boutique Um Al Hassam +973 36398150 www.palmerie-boutique.com

< Chopard Chopard Boutique +973 17 582 444

< Jean Paul Gaultier “Monsier” Areej, Al Aali Complex www.jeanpaulgaultier.com/monsier

< Phoenicia Decor Seef District +973 17564444

< Christian Lacroix Moda Mall +97317533747 www.christian-lacroix.fr

< Jimmy Choo Al Aali Complex +973 17582807 www.jimmychoo.com

< Regency Health Club Manama +973 17227777 www.ichotelsgroup.com

< Coast Seef Mall +973 17179480 www.alshaya.com

< Karen Millen Seef mall +973 17583335 www.karenmillen.com

< Regus Seef, Diplomatic Area +973 17567993 www.regus.com

< Coccinelle Seef mall +973 17582870 www.coccinelle.com

< Kenzo Moda Mall www.kenzo.com www.modabwtc.com Sufana, Manama +973 17 536 656 D Couture, Adliya +973 17 715 091

< Ritz Carlton Manama +973 17580000 www.ritzcarlton.com

< Davidoff Faces +973 17225577 (Seef) +973 17555795 (Bahrain Mall) +973 17593151 (Country Mall) +973 17556360 (Dana Mall) +973 17535838 (Houra) +973 17582414 (Jashanmal) Sephora +973 17179521 (BCC) +973 17581915 (Seef Mall) Al Hawaj +973 17581228(Sheraton Complex) +973 17230088 (Salmania) +973 17783030 (Riffa) +973 17555339 (Bahrain Mall) Vava voom +973 17179640 < Dolce Gabbana Moda Mall www.dolcegabbana.com www.modabwtc.com < Emilio Pucci Al Aali Complex +973 17580628 www.emiliopucci.com < Ermenegildo Zegna Moda Mall +973 13320555 < Emporio Armani Moda Mall www.emporioarmani.com www.modabwtc.com < Gaultier Al Aali Complex +973 17582874 www.jeanpaulgaultier.com

< Lamborghini Al Ghassan Motors, Saudi Arabia www.alghassanmotors.com < Ligne Roset Manama +973 17555033 www.ligne-roset.com < L’Occitane Bahrain City Center Seef Mall +973 17 581 223 < Loewe Mia Moda, Moda mall +973 17564788 < Luisa Cerano Al Aali complex +973 17568666 < Marina Bahrain City Centre, Budaiya, Seef mall +973 17582752 www.marinagulf.com < Max Mara Moda mall +973 17131041 < Mercedes Benz Al Haddad Motors Manama +973 17785454 www.alhaddad-mercedesbenz.com

< Rolls-Royce Euromotors, Sitra Highway + 973 17 750 750 www.euromotors.com.bh < Saab Mannai Motors, Sitra +973 17 703 131 www.mannaimotors.com < Samsung Techno Blue trading company W.L.L., Manama +973 17715471 < Sergio Rossi Al A’ali Complex +973 17 580 566 www.sergiorossi.com < Shift 7 Manama +973 17313333 www.elitegroup4u.com < Staff Seef mall +973 17564617 www.staff-woman.com < Sufana Moda Mall, Ground floor +973 17535007 < Vava Voom BCC +973 17179640 www.alshaya.com < Vertu Seef mall, Moda mall +973 17581004