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An Essence of Life

An Essence of Life

April - May - 2005

Tame your tresses Your way to have a healthy hair The “Pinocchio Effect”?

What are your terms for a lie…?

A Permanent Gold Rush Precious Metals: sources, Values and uses

Tattoo Fan?!

Mysterious danger..!

Please Don’t Call Me Fat!

April - May 2005

Global Bridal Moments

Obesity: Problems and solutions

Hong Kong…

No place alike..!

Different cultures, rituals, celebrations and dowries….

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An Essence of Life

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April - May - 2005

Tame your tresses Your way to have a healthy hair The “Pinocchio Effect”?

What are your terms for a lie…?

A Permanent Gold Rush Precious Metals: sources, Values and uses

Tattoo Fan?!

Mysterious danger..!

Please Don’t Call Me Fat!

Global Bridal Moments

Different cultures, rituals, celebrations and dowries….

Obesity: Problems and solutions

Hong Kong…

No place alike..!

Editor in Chief Eman Mohammed Editor Emad Mohsen Contributing Editors Birjees Hussain Amina Abdel-Halim Anthon Garcia Bandana Jain Fatima Ouzdenova Photographer Ibrahim Assi

Editor’s Letter Good Morning!

Again we meet through a new issue of Esprit. This issue seems to be very special. It is a mixture of emotions. It ignites the contradiction of our feelings.

Who of us, didn’t think of her marriage?

That easy-difficult stage in or lives where laugh meet cry, where freedom meets responsibilities, where dreams meet the reality…!!

Our own Birjees took us in a trip through the world discovering the matches and differences in Celebrating “Once a life

Design: DUBAI MEDIA CITY

Marketing & Advertising :

occasion...”

We, in ESPRIT, met the celebrity couple (Katie and Evan) and followed their interesting story and celebrated their very special moments, join us.

At the last but not the least, to everyone is getting to get mar-

Printed : Al Nisr Publishing LLC Distribution: Al Nisr Distribution LLC For Advertising enquiries contact: InterGulf Media P.O.Box 7306, Dubai Tel: +971 4 3434255 Fax: +971 4 3439577 E-mail:salesoff@emirates.net.ae www.espritmagazine.net

ried soon, we wish you a very romantic, happy and memorable celebration..

n a m E

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CONTENTS 12

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28

62

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EXCLUSIVE: 36 .. ESPRIT’ Wedding Story…..

MAIN FEATURES: 12 .. The Wedding Planner 24 .. A Permanent Gold Rush 32 .. Tame Your Tresses 44 .. Tattoo Addict? What far?!

54 .. Please don’t call me fat….

80 .. No Place like Hong Kong ELEGANCE & STYLE: 20 .. Wake up your beauty 28 .. SOLITAIRE, A Cut Above The Rest

30 .. BALOCCHI PREZIOSI.. Nature Gems’ Passion FASHION: 48 .. Lebanese Designers House 58 .. Honeymoon Accessories 66 .. Dior, Lacroix & Gualtier 74 .. Guess Jeans 76 .. Verri PERSONALITY TEST: 62 .. Liar, liar, pants on fire!

TRAVEL: 80 .. No place like Hong Kong

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CONTENTS 78

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HOME: 78 .. Elegance, Stylish and Functional is Homes R Us GEARS & WHEELS: 84 .. SLR .. Super-car… going fast ENTERTAINMENT: 86 .. Latest Movies Reviews 91.. Big on Books 92 .. VIRGIN Chart 94 .. Emerald Palace.. I want to live there!

96 .. Where to go out..?

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EVENTS: 102 .. Dubai’s Dance Competition by NIKE 104 .. Christie’s in Dubai 106 .. OMEGA… at the FEI World Endurance Championship YOUR STAR: Are you Taurus, Who thinks he knows the most???

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CONTENTS 12

36

28

28

EXCLUSIVE: 36 .. ESPRIT’ Wedding Story…..

MAIN FEATURES: 12 .. The Wedding Planner 24 .. A Permanent Gold Rush 32 .. Tame Your Tresses 44 .. Tattoo Addict? What far?!

54 .. Please don’t call me fat….

ELEGANCE & STYLE: 20 .. Wake up your beauty 28 .. SOLITAIRE, A Cut Above The Rest 30 .. BALOCCHI PREZIOSI..

Nature Gems’ Passion

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CONTENTS 48

80

62

78

66

FASHION: 48 .. Lebanese Designers House 58 .. Honeymoon Accessories 66 .. Dior, Lacroix & Gualtier 74 .. Guess Jeans 76 .. Verri PERSONALITY TEST: 62 .. Liar, liar, pants on fire!

TRAVEL: 80 .. No place like Hong Kong HOME: 78 .. Elegance, Stylish and Functional is Homes R Us

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CONTENTS 86

106

84

94

GEARS & WHEELS: 84 .. SLR .. Super-car… going fast ENTERTAINMENT: 86 .. Latest Movies Reviews 91.. Big on Books 92 .. VIRGIN Chart 94 .. Emerald Palace.. I want to live there!

96 .. Where to go out..?

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EVENTS: 102 .. Dubai’s Dance Competition by NIKE 104 .. Christie’s in Dubai 106 .. OMEGA… at the FEI World Endurance Championship YOUR STAR: 112.. Are you Taurus, Who thinks he knows the most???

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The Wedding Planner Are you about to be married? At a loss for the type of gown you want?

Birjees Hussain shows you how to pick the dress for your silhouette and gives you a peek inside the wedding traditions of other cultures

W

eddings have been performed since man first roamed the earth. The very first was performed by God between Adam and Eve. Although it was simple and straightforward it seems to have evolved into such a complicated process and it’s as varied as the cultures around the world.

Despite the many variations some things remain common such as a wedding gown, a veil and recitation from religious text. All wedding traditions stem from ancient rituals most of which have a meaning. For example, in western weddings rice or corn is thrown at the bride and groom as they leave the church. This is for fertility and to bless the marriage

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with children; the groom carrying his bride over the threshold marks the beginning of a new life and the all-universal veil is said to protect the bride from the evil eye.

The attire and accessories The colour of bridal gowns in most Muslim and Christian countries is white.

But in the subcontinent brides tend to wear red. Whereas in India it’s usually a red sari, in Pakistan it’s usually a two peace suit consisting of a long, red kameez and flared trousers made from the same fabric which is usually satin or silk. Both are intricately embroidered as is the scarf which doubles as a veil (as in the Western wedding).

Brides in the East usually wear gold

jewellery with intricate designs.

Sometimes it’s especially crafted but mostly it’s purchased readymade. It includes large, gold drop-earrings, a heavy necklace, thick gold bracelets and a disc-shaped ornament which hangs at the end of a chain from the crown of the head and rests in the middle of the forehead.

In the West, pearls are an essential accessory to most bridal outfits. Many brides wear them as chokers or as strings.

Despite the fact that they are surrounded in myths and superstition they go so well with a white gown and slippers.

Dowry A dowry (the wedding gift) is an integral part of most cultures and in the sub-

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continent usually goes from the bride’s family to the groom’s. However, in the Arab world the dowry is paid to the bride’s family.

The amount can vary depending upon the givers’ financial status and the recipients’ expectations. If everything is congenial between the parties both are likely to respect and understand the limitations of the other and that’s reflected in the amount given.

Although there’s no dowry in the West the bride’s family tends to pay for the wedding and the groom arranges the honeymoon. However, all hell doesn’t break loose if her family can’t afford it.

The preparations In many cultures the wedding day is lengthy and can sometimes extend to days; each day being reserved for one event. In the subcontinent, for example, a day is set aside for Henna painting, another for the actual ceremony and another for the reception. However, in the West, the actual day is the main event but preparations for it begin months ahead of time.

Most weddings, though, follow similar themes. For instance, there’s the shopping trip for the jewellery and other accessories, the fitting or shopping for the dress, finding and booking a place for the ceremony and the reception, the flower arrangements, guest list, the design for the invitations, the menu, the table setting, the napkins, the crockery, the music and the salon where the bridal makeup and hairstyle will be done.

Most weddings begin early with the bride visiting a salon where she might undergo a full spa treatment and then have her makeup, nails and hair done.

Location In the West the ceremony is usually held in a church but in most countries it’s

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held in a hall or the bride’s home which is decorated with elaborate floral arrangements and a central spot where the bride and groom sit during the ceremony.

Whereas in the West the ceremony is conducted while the bride and groom stand at the alter, in the subcontinent, and certain parts of Africa, they tend to sit on the floor on special rugs. In the UAE, however, they usually sit on a stage.

“I do” Before the nuptials begin in a Muslim wedding the priest will ask the bride three times whether she’ll marry the groom and each time the bride responds with a ‘yes’. It’s rather like the western ‘I do’. If she says ‘no’ at any time before she’s asked the third time the wedding is off.

Three ‘yes’s’ are crucial to ensure the validity of the marriage. In Western weddings, on the other hand, the priest or vicar asks the question, “Do you take this man/woman to be your lawfully wedded husband/wife…?” at the church during

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the actual ceremony. She or he replies with ‘I do” If either party says ‘no’, again the wedding is off.

With that said, I’d like to begin closer to home with a look at the Emirati wedding first and then follow that with some interesting ceremonies in other parts of the world.

The Emirati Wedding Before the big day the bride and groom sign a marriage contract. Then at the bride’s home a mullah coordinates the payment of the mehr, a dowry which is paid in full from the groom’s family to the bride. A full mehr is Dh20,000. The sum is less if the bride is a divorcee. An additional sum of Dh50,000 is also given as the zebha, which is the money the groom gives to the bride for clothes, jewellery and anything else she needs to buy for the wedding. It’s given either as a lump sum or in instalments. Later the groom gives

her more money for the hotel and stage decorations where the ceremony will be held, the invitations, the menu and the music.

Like the subcontinent, an Emirati wedding begins with a day of henna painting either at a salon or the bride’s home.

Once her hands are decorated with elaborate designs the bride wears an intricately embroidered green dress and traditional jewellery and shows off her hands to guests.

The actual wedding is usually held in a hotel, which is booked months in advance, and a stage is set up inside one of the halls. After an official leaving ceremony to symbolise the bride leaving her parents’ home, the bride comes in and sits down on the stage so that the guests can see her. Later the groom appears, plants a kiss on the bride’s head and sits beside her. Then the bride is taken to another room where official photographs are taken.

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The Iranian Wedding Preparations begin with a shopping trip which includes the bride, the groom and his future sister-in-law or mother-in-law.

They buy diamond and gold jewellery, a mat called a nogl, candles, goldfish, a white sheet, sugar sticks and, of course, the wedding gown.

The gown is usually white but if it’s the bride’s second marriage she usually opts for a white gown with a hint of gold.

The dowry is given to the bride by the groom and can be anything but is often gold coins and the number given normally depends on the bride’s request. For instance, she might ask for a number that corresponds to the year she was born in or to her age. The groom also buys his future mother-in-law some gold and he pays her for breastfeeding the bride when she was a baby.

The wedding day is usually long and begins early but unlike in Western weddings the groom does see the bride before the ceremony. He visits the florist to pick

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up the bouquet and then escorts her to the ceremony.

The wedding is often held in the bride’s home. The nogl is placed in the centre of a room and on it are placed honey, candles, a mirror and a goldfish which signifies a happy and lively life.

At the start of the ceremony the bride and groom sit side by side in front of the nogl reciting passages from the Quran.

The couple then give each other a spoonful of honey and then women who are happily married spread open a white, satin or silk sheet so that it forms a marquee over their heads. As the ceremony progresses other married women vigorously rub together the sticks of sugar over the sheet so that the sugar particles fall on it. The honey and sugar signify the sweetness of life. The couple are now married and are allowed to kiss.

After the reception the street outside the hall is filled with commotion as the couple drives away with the wedding guests following behind them on foot

until they disappear.

The African Wedding Africa is a cohesion of many diverse religions and cultures. Each country in the mix adds it unique blend of colour, sound and flavour. Generally speaking in Africa the bride wears a loose fitting skirt called an iroa, a short, loose blouse called a bubaa, a shawl draped over her shoulders called iborumac and a headpiece called a gele, all of which are made from matching fabric.

With so many countries together forming the world’s largest continent, I will only mention two popular wedding traditions.

The Moroccan Wedding On the day of the wedding the Moroccan bride takes a ceremonial purification bath after which her female relatives decorate her hands and feet with Henna. Once the ceremony is complete the bride walks three times around her house to indicate that she is the mistress of her new home.

The Sudanese Wedding In Sudan seven broomsticks are burned and thrown away as a symbol of discarding the bride and groom’s bad habits before the wedding so that they don’t taint the marriage afterwards. The bride then washes her new husband’s feet with water from an earthenware jug called the kendi which is a symbol of peace. To demonstrate her loyalty and obedience to her husband, the bride shatters the kendi and then enters her new home. The bride then participates in a last ritual; she eats one last meal with her parents as their daughter. The groom then breaks into song asking his new bride to permit him to enter their new home. Only with her consent is he permitted to cross the threshold.

The Japanese Wedding The Japanese bride wears three different kimonos on the day of her wedding but she begins with a white one. Her face is also painted white, her hair is combed up and she wears a tsuno kakushi, a white cloth, over her entire head. This is supposed to cover her ‘horns’ as a show of ‘obedience’ to her new husband. The white represents the beginning of her married life and the end of her childhood.

The ceremony itself is conducted in a shrine in front of the priest and only close family attend. The priest calls upon the

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various deities to bless the union after which the groom recites the marriage oath. Sipping saki three times from three nuptial cups symbolises the exchange of vows.

At the end of the ceremony the bride changes into second kimono for the reception and the one she was wearing is sewn into bedding and handed down to future generations.

The second kimono is silver, gold and red and with designs of cranes which represent fidelity, tortoises which represent long life and plum blossoms which represent perseverance. At the end of the wedding she changes into a final kimono which is purple, the colour for love.

Usually worn by virgins, this the last time she is permitted to wear this colour.

The Scottish ‘Penny Wedding’ Scotland shares many of its wedding traditions with Ireland but many of the practices are unique only to the Scots.

Although Scottish brides wear white their gowns always have a hint of their roots sewn in. The gown will often be trimmed with tartan ribbons or she’ll wear a tartan shawl draped over a shoulder or have it tied round her waist. The

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gown might also have some form of Celtic embroidery, such as Celtic knot work, incorporated into it. This embroidery is meant to symbolise eternal love.

Before the wedding the bride’s family displays all the wedding gifts at a party to which the guests who gave them are invited. The bride-to-be is then dressed in her best clothes, not the wedding gown, and paraded through the streets of her town accompanied by her friends who bang on pots and pans to attract the public’s attention and to announce the upcoming nuptials.

The groom’s close friends throw a bachelor party (known as a ‘stag night’ in Britain) during which they party, sing and generally have fun. However, the night usually ends in embarrassment for the groom whose friends cover him in molasses, feathers and soot and then leave him tied to a tree.

On the eve of the wedding the bride’s friends wash her feet. A happily married woman then drops her wedding ring into the foot bath and the first woman to find it is believed to be the next to marry. This is like the throwing of the bouquet in other western weddings; the woman who catches it is the next to marry.

On the wedding day the bride gives a coin and a drink to the first person she sees on the way to the church and this person is supposed to accompany the bridal procession for about a mile.

During the ceremony the bride and groom tie their tartan scarves together as a symbol of tying their lives together. This is where the phrase ‘tying the knot’ comes from. After the ceremony the groom tosses a handful of coins on the steps of the church and all the guests laugh and cheer as the children scramble to pick them up. Many weddings in

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Scotland are ‘penny wedding’ to which the guests bring the food and drinks.

Dress for the day Choosing the right gown for your silhouette is essential. To make the right choice it’s always a good idea to visit a top quality bridal shop where the staff are friendly, patient and knowledgeable.

Traditional bridal gowns are usually made of satin and can be quite elaborate with sequins, pearls, ribbons and gemstones sewn in. But satin can get sticky in the summer months so brides opt for silk or chiffon for a summer wedding and add lace or velvet for winter ones.

Most gowns also have a train whose length depends upon how formal the wedding is.

Not all women, though, are built like supermodels.

They come in all shapes and sizes and, thankfully, so do bridal gowns. There are four types of gowns: A-Line gowns are slimming and disguise flaws because the seams run vertically downwards into a flared skirt.

Ball gowns (Cinderella types) are traditional. They have a corset bodice with a trim waistline which curves into a bouffant skirt and disguises big hips and thighs.

Sheath gowns are sleek, chic and clingy. The disadvantage is that they cling to the body thereby accentuating every flaw. They are, therefore, more suited to slender women.

Empire gowns are reminiscent of medieval weddings

with long, flowing sleeves, square necklines and touches of velvet. The waistline starts under the bust and flows out into a slim skirt.

Mermaid gowns are close fitting over the entire body and flare out only slightly at the knees. Like the sheath gown it’s best suited to slender silhouettes.

So, whether you’re top or bottom heavy or have a thick waistline, there is a dress for you. Here’s a guide to buying the perfect gown for your silhouette.

Full bust – v-neck and off-the-shoulder numbers draw the bust line in. Be careful not to have too low a neckline because that will look cheap. Surprisingly high necklines make the bust look bigger.

Pear-shaped – choose an A-Line gown which gives the illusion of proportion.

Skirts gathered at the rear disguise a heavy hip and a bodice will accentuate the top half by taking attention away from the bottom.

Hourglass – most gowns flatter this silhouette. For a full bust look for strapless gowns with an A-Line skirt. Stay away from mermaid and two-piece dresses both of which accentuate big hips and busts.

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Beauty secretes from the bride If you’re thinking of a new look for your hair and makeup, practice with your stylist well before the big day.

Don’t use makeup with shimmer – it causes unwanted reflections in the photos If you’re light skinned don’t tan just before the wedding; if it goes wrong you’ll be in trouble. Try a bronzer instead.

Use waterproof mascara – in case you start crying!

Don’t epilate the day before the wedding. Do it at least 2-3 days before the big day to let your skin calm down. The same applies to a facial; do not have one on the day.

Don’t overdo your makeup. You may appear plastic in the photos and most grooms and their families complain that they didn’t recognise the bride.

Finally, if all these preparations are stressing you out why not book yourself into a spa for the full treatment. Have a massage, a facial and a hair treatment to put the shine back in.

Myths and Superstitions Despite the many rituals and traditions involved in weddings, some are surrounded by myths and superstition and here are two for you to mull over.

The pearl has a dual meaning. One the one hand it represents tears that the bride might shed after the wedding and on the other the tears she might shed on the day of the wedding so that none are shed afterwards.

The bride shouldn’t sew her own dress because every stitch represents a tear she might shed after the wedding.

The bride should never put on her entire wedding outfit before the wedding day for fear of tempting fate.

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Wake-up your Beauty..!

For your Beauty and Elegance, Esprit gathered the latest beauty products to keep you always shining & charming.

A New Addition to the Family CLINIQUE Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel New Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is alight-weight refreshing gel with all of the superior moisturizing benefits of the best-selling DDML and is perfect moisture drink for oilier skins.

Lips that feel as good as they look With the super glossy, Silk Gloss from Max Factor Love the high-shine of lip gloss but need the moisturizing boost of a balm? Now for the first time ever from Max Factor you can have both with new Silk Gloss - a high-beam, lasting shine combined with the smooth feel of a lip conditioning balm.

Ladies, Pout has arrived!

The Pout cosmetic range encompasses products for a flawless base and colour Ditzy Doris’ for lips, eyes and cheeks. To tempt you, there are lip glosses called ‘D and ‘llight my fire’, eye shadows named after ‘Miss Worlds’ and creamy blushpeachy passion’ and er sticks aptly named Flush Blush in colours including ‘p ‘fflushed pink’ - made to make you look like the picture of glowing health!

Estee Lauder’s Pure color collection Crystal Nail Lacquer, Lip Vinyl Gloss Stick, Pure Color Gloss, Eye Shadow Due, Lip Tint and EyeLiner will make you shine pushed to the absolute limit…!

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JUVELIA RICH DAY CREAM PLUS Exclusive Pearl Protein Complex. It supplies the skin with essential amino acids and increases its moisture content. The skin’s natural energy sources are recharged.

Stability, vitality and luminosity are restored.

REVLON sheer New Revlon LipGlide sheer COLOR GLOSS provides beautiful, sheer colour and shine that glide on effortlessly with the control of a pen – the same revolutionary packaging as Revoln’s market-leading LipGlide COLOR GLOSS.

L’INSTANT DE GUERLAIN Pour Homme A New Skincare Range Contemporary men care for their skin, and their irresistible fragrant trail subtly accentuates their masculinity. This sensual scent of L’INSTANT DE GUERLAIN Pour Homme caresses and fuses with the skin in a sensation of well-being that is heightened by each application of the new complementary products.

Brightening Powder Foundation from SHISEDO WHITE LUCENT SWL Brightening Powder Foundation realizes translucent skin as if the skin’s natural radiance is shining from within by diffusing light to naturally conceal dark spots, freckles and dullness.

Get addicted to Pink this season with DIOR Dior Addict Lipstick goes Hollywood with four starring colours. Lips get top billing with this cast of breathtaking shades in Screen Rose or Reel Rose. It comes in four tasty shades are: A Blush of Wine, Twist of Cherry, A Treat of Lollipops and A Touch of Rhubarb.

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DIOR Snow X2 falls softly to lighten and whiten skin The new Dior Snow X2 products have been created to not only dull patches of darker skin, but are now able to brighten the overall appearance and overall correct the colour of the skin.

Satiate your skin’s thirst with Estee Lauder’s Hydra complete Anyone who suffers from tired, puffy eyes knows that it is not an easy problem to manage.

It’s time say goodbye to tired, puffy looking eyes!

The revolutionary deeply hydrating moisturizer, comes Hydra complete Multi-Level moisture eye gel crème!

Dior Capture Sculpt 10 – the ongoing anti-ageing revolution Capture Sculpt 10 is another first for the Dior Innovation Centre, offering firmness for the entire face, to the power of 10 with the profile of the face lifted by up to 10degrees.

Estee Lauder Artist’s Mechanical Lip Pencil It’s a complete lip look in one creative Pencil! Shades: Double Pink, Double Rose, Double Mauve, Double Coral, Double Berry, Double Nude, Double Spice & Double Plum.

Be Confident. Be Exuberant. Be you Clinique Spring Happy to Be Colour Collection All Over Face Glow, Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad, Cream Shaper for Eyes and don’t forget the Colour Surge Bare Brilliance Lipstick to paint it with the Glosswear for Lips.

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CINEMA White and gold, a precious, sensual bath line to immerse the skin in light, leaving it velvet-smooth and delicately perfumed. A moment of sheer luxury. A delicious prelude to seduction. A star secret.

Estee Lauder pampers you skin Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser & Tender Crème Cleanser pampers the dry skin... luxurious crème foam and cleanser, leave the skin feel soft and supple, never dry or tight.

Escape to Eden this spring at Red Earth Six products makeup the splendid Secret Garden adventure. Glow with Secret Potion and illusive Blush on your face. Be a wide-eyed beauty with the illusive Triple Eye-shadow and Enchanting Colour Mascara.

And astound with a perfect pout created with Pure Lip Stain and Helix Silky Lipstick.

SHISEIDO Dramatic Transforming Effects in just 15 Minutes SHISEIDO Benefiance Pure Retino Instant Treatment Eye Mask, a highly concentrated under-eye treatment sheet that diminishes the appearance of wrinkles with a single application “15-Minutes”.

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Few things in nature can be subjected to extreme manhandling and yet still retain their beauty and value. Birjees Hussain looks at the precious metals: gold, silver and platinum metals

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G

old, silver and platinum are highly valued and exhibit some unique properties. Unlike gems no amount of extreme force, such as beating or pulling, destroys its appearance and value. These metals are soft and ductile which means they can be pounded and pulled into any shape. What makes them precious is their rarity and, hence, value.

The metals They’re seldom found in their free state and are usually extracted from alloys and minerals.

Gold is a bright, lustrous yellow metal found in its natural state, as a mineral and as an alloy in combination with various other metals, especially silver.

Silver is a bright whitish metal occasionally found in its pure form but mostly as an ore known as native silver.

Platinum, known as little silver, is greyish white and surprisingly more valuable

than gold and silver.

Unlike silver, and with the exception of just one mineral, sperrylite, platinum is found in its metallic form in natural rock often alloyed with other metals in its family. According to records nuggets weighing up to 25Ib have been found in some places.

Because of its value a fair amount goes

into fashioning jewellery but it’s usually alloyed with gold.

Sources These metals are found all over the world. South Africa is their primary source and produces around 600 tonnes of gold annually. Other sources include America, the former Soviet Union, Mexico, Australia, China and parts of Europe. Although silver nuggets are rare a Norwegian mine once turned up a slab weighing around three-quarters of a tonne!

Mining The simplest and most primitive method of mining gold is panning using a large, flat bowl with a small pocket near its base. Deposits containing gold and dirt are swirled in this dish until the dirt is washed away leaving behind the heavier gold particles. This method was mostly employed by Ancient Egyptians but it was slow and required a lot of patience. Today

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it has been replaced by a hydraulic method which is faster and gives a better yield.

Although small gold mounds do exist, mountains of gold as depicted in the movie McKenna’s Gold are pure fiction.

Nevertheless, nuggets have been discovered; the very first was Welcome Stranger found in Australia in 1869; it weighed a staggering 78kg!

Whereas the extraction of gold is a physical process that for silver is chemical involving cyanide compounds.

Fool’s find But not all panning leads to gold and

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the saying, “All that glitters is not gold” is true. Many prospectors in past years have been disappointed by spending weeks panning only to learn that what they collected was, in fact, fool’s gold. This is an iron mineral and, to the untrained eye, looks remarkably like gold but upon closer scrutiny is found to be a deposit with an identical physical appearance.

Ancient uses of precious metals But Ancient prospectors must have had a discerning eye for precious metals. As early as 6th Century BC Egyptians fashioned gold and silver into beads and precious object d’art including daggers and

drinking receptacles. Over the years Egyptologists have dug up numerous artefacts including head-dresses, statues and jewellery.

Another early use of precious metals, chiefly of gold and silver, was in making coins. Coins made from pure gold and silver were once the sole form of currency until they were replaced by coins made from alloys of the two.

Uses today Pure gold or silver coins are rare today and a major and more exciting use of them is in making jewellery. There are very few women in the world who don’t own at least one body ornament made from gold or silver. Regardless of financial status most families will save up for years to at least one item of jewellery.

Gold Because the metal is so pliable, in India it’s fashioned into the most intricate and delicate pieces of jewellery. Even a small quantity can be pulled into the longest wire. Craftsmen, known as goldsmiths in the west, work a craft which is truly something to admire.

In fact, throughout England goldsmiths are so highly prized that their craft is protected by guilds.

Although gold is also used in jewellery in the West many craftsmen use the metal in its sheet form for gilding and lettering; small quantities can be

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pounded into sheets phenomenally thin.

At this stage the leaf is as delicate as tissue-paper and is used for gilding, lettering and even covering sculptures and wall engravings.

Platinum Gold Not many people realise that platinum is more valuable than gold but very rarely is jewellery pure platinum. Only small amounts of it are used in making jewellery and any made are usually referred to as white gold which is gold containing small proportions of platinum and palladium.

Despite its greater value it’s quite surprising that small quantities of it are used for making laboratory equipment.

Because it can withstand extreme temperatures it’s made into crucibles, tongs and combustion dishes.

Reflections on silver Like platinum, silver also has diverse applications. For example, it’s used in photography, electrode switches and in making mirrors. Mirrors are made by coating the back of glass with a thin layer of silver which is then protected with a layer of varnish and paint.

Because so many people own silver most assume that it can’t be worth much.

Few western families own much gold, yet inheriting the family silver is a big deal.

Silver commonly appears in the form of cutlery, ornaments, candelabras, tea sets, napkin rings and simple jewellery.

Marks of authenticity In the West most items made from precious metals are usually bears a Hallmark indicating who made it, when and where and is a mark of validity. It appears on articles containing any one of the three precious metals in any proportion.

In jewellery precious metals are alloyed with copper or silver to strengthen them and their purity is measured on a scale of 24 using the carat as a unit of measure. 1 carat is 0.2g which is equivalent to 1 carob seed. 24 carats means that the jewel is pure precious metal whereas 22 carats means that it’s 22 parts precious metal and 2 parts alloy.

Most Western jewellery tends to be 18 carats. It’s rare for anyone to own jewellery in its pure state. Sometimes the jewellery is not even 18 carats and many are, in fact, gold-plated. This means that a metal like copper has been coated with

a fine film of gold or platinum by a process called electroplating.

Most people in the East don’t see this type of jewellery as truly valuable.

Moreover, of the three metals, gold is more popular among them and nowhere is this more true than in Dubai.

Dubai is truly the City of Gold. Its famous Gold Souk is a tourist’s hotspot teeming with bargain hunters. And they’re indeed spoilt for choice with window after window of sparkling offerings at the most tempting prices. Everyone, from the East to the West, has succumbed to its allure. Have you?

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B ALOCCHI P REZIOSI

A Collection of Nature Gems’ Passion The Balocchi Preziosi jewels are exclusively handcrafted by specialized craftsmen and are made of all natural materials.

Every year, Balocchi is interpreting trends and desires, proposing original creations to a broader and broader international audience.

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DAMAS’ Clearly a, Cut Above The Rest

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nspired by the living legend who has straddled the glittering world of Bollywood for well over three decades, the Solitaire range is mystic in appeal. And what is remarkable about Amitabh Bachchan is his stature as a human being. It takes one in a billion diamonds to qualify as a Solitaire. For a truth are both are rare occurrences in nature. The Solitaire ring is unique in many ways. It’s ring sank carries a signa-

ture of Amitabh Bachchan. Unfolding in the process, the excitement of infinite possibilities.

A limited edition of the finest diamonds, it is presented in 5 scintillating collections, each piece accompanied by a Proof of Authenticity certified by the IGI Diamond Report specifying the diamond’s identity and grade, based on an internationally recognized system.

The Solitaire range is now available at all Damas’ outlets.

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Tame your Tresses Hair loss, dry hair and oily scalp are some of the problems experienced by residents in the Gulf. Birjees Hussain finds solutions to these problems

W

ith the summer in full swing most of us begin to experience endless bad hair days. No matter what we do our hair seems to have a life of its own. If it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity or the water.

Everyone suffers from hair problems at some stage but the main problem in the Gulf seems to be thinning hair.

Hair loss is not gender specific but while men have come to accept it as a part of their lives women have a far harder time enduring it.

Common problems in the Gulf Aside from hair loss other problems experienced by gulf residents are dry hair and scalp, oily scalp and dandruff. Let’s look at each in turn.

Hair loss We’re all alarmed when we see so much hair clog up our bath plugs but rest assured that some hair loss is normal.

Hair grows around 5-10mm a month and lives for about six years at the end of which it falls out, normally being replaced by new growth in almost the same place.

Sometimes, though, it’s not replaced and if this condition persists without being addressed that root dies making new growth unlikely unless the cycle has been interrupted by a factor which can be corrected. Unless it’s hereditary, a poor diet, hormonal imbalance, hormone replacement treatments, iron deficiency and stress can all contribute. So too can the excessive heat, humidity and crash diets. Contrary to popular belief everyday washing might alleviate the condition rather than aggravate it.

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Dry hair and scalp The extreme heat in Dubai can strip the hair of its natural oils. Therefore, careless over-drying, colouring or perming by inexperienced hairdressers can worsen it.

So before embarking upon anything it’s important that your hair is well conditioned before a chemical is applied.

Moreover, as a weekly home regime, try an intensive oil treatment. But don’t leave the oil on for long periods as this attracts dirt and grime which also encourages loss.

Further, even dry hair should be washed every day but with a moisturising shampoo and towel dried before going in with a hairdryer.

Oily scalp Sometimes the hair is dry but the scalp is oily, a condition often caused by the region’s high temperatures. What happens is that sometimes the sebaceous glands become overactive, producing more oil. Use a good greasy hair shampoo containing astringents, proteins and UV protectors followed by a conditioner for greasy hair.

When washing use warm water, not hot, and try vinegar in the final rinse. This is an astringent and a shine booster.

Women with really oily hair often perm it.

Although perms are less popular now they’re excellent for combating oily hair

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because oil travels faster down a straight shaft than a curly one.

Dandruff This condition is quite common and in rare cases hereditary.

Dandruff is caused by flaking of the scalp.

Flaking of the dead epidermis is the scalp’s way of ridding itself of any bacteria that settles on it. When trapped in the hair it grows large eventually becoming visible as dandruff. The condition is aggravated by a poor diet, humidity and stress but some simple steps can help the situation.

For example, wash your hair everyday with a mild, medicated anti-dandruff shampoo. Rinse your hair in warm water until the water runs clear. Sometimes shampoo residue can also cause flaking and is invariably mistaken for dandruff.

It’s not, nor is the occasional speck on your shoulder. If symptoms persist after six weeks, try changing your shampoo and leave it on your scalp for a few minutes to give it time to work.

Feed your locks The state of your hair is determined not only by what you put on it but by what you put in it. In fact, like your skin, stress also has an effect on the hair. Some foods are believed to promote healthy roots, so if you have a particular scalp problem eating some things and abstaining from others might actually alleviate it.

In general, try to avoid excess fat and fried foods. Replace them with fresh fruits and vegetable.

Hair Growth: eat foods high in vitamin A which promotes hair growth. Try nuts and seeds.

Strong hair: Zinc and iron strengthen hair.

Fresh fish, liver, lean meats and whole grain are excellent sources of zinc, selenium, iron and fatty acids.

Stress busters: Stress is a primary absorber of vitamin B6 which is essential for keratin.

Eat bananas and fish for their high vitamin content.

Dandruff/Oily Hair: Vitamin E improves both of these problems so eat soy beans, wheat germ, oil, eggs and vegetables in your diet.

Shiny hair: sulphur promotes smooth shiny hair and is obtained from foods such as broccoli, cabbage, eggs, meat and watercress.

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Massage therapy Massage is the perfect way to relieve tension. It relaxes the muscles, improves circulation to the scalp thereby increasing oxygen flow and providing direct nourishment to the hair follicles. This in turn stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce natural conditioners, ideal for dry and scaly scalp conditions.

There are four basic massage techniques.

They are effleurage, petrissage, tapotement and vibration.

Effleurage, performed at the beginning and end of a massage, is the most relaxing of the four and involves broad sweeping motions of the entire palm and fingers.

Petrissage is a slightly deeper movement applied with the hand in a claw-like position.

It’s slow but beneficial in that it stimulates glands and can be applied to the face, neck and head.

Vibration is a soothing and stimulating motion applied with the fingertips. It’s excellent for soothing the nerves and increasing blood flow and, hence, oxygen to the scalp thereby allowing the hair follicle to ‘breathe’.

WARNING : never massage if you have a scalp condition, acne, bruises, cuts or inflammation. And never massage anything that hurts.

Most of the above techniques can be performed on yourself except for the neck and face. You won’t be able to reach the back of your neck without straining yourself and the face is too delicate an area for it to be mishandled.

Healthy Hair Tips As a general rule, never brush if you can comb. Combs should be wide toothed and made from natural material. If you prefer to brush find one with rounded tips on a rubber cushion.

Never comb or brush wet hair.

Always rinse your hair after a swim.

Dry hair naturally first then, if necessary, use a dryer.

Protect your hair from the sun’s rays with a hat and UV screen shampoo.

Use products that suit your hair type.

Drink plenty of water Eat a balanced and nutritious diet.

In short, eat well, drink lots of water, use the right hair care products and learn to relax. Your hair will appreciate your effort.

However, if you don’t notice an improvement in 3-4 weeks, please visit a hair specialist.

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Our Story Our young lady Katherine has got it all: brains, beauty, style, great career and thirst for anything new and exiting.

She is a business lady by day and a glittering socialite by evening. But she has got something on her mind. She has got few tattoos and with a big promotion coming her way, she doesn’t feel it’s appropriate.

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Katerina: All outfits from Kenzo - Burjuman

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Katherine has an appointment with aesthetic surgeon to discuss removal options and resolve her growing concern. At the clinic she meets Vadim, another tattoo fan. He grew bored of his tattoos and looking for the best way to get rid of them. They decide to keep ion touch to see each other trough he painful treatments and look for a safer options they are still big fans of body art.

Katerina: All from Bershka - City Centre

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Vadim: T - Shirt and Pants from C.K.- City Centre

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Katerina: T - Shirt & Jacket& skirt only C.K.- City Centre Jewelry : LaFayettes - City Centre

Vadim: All outfit from Hugo Boss - City Centre

We see them happy and satisfied with their new found love for each other and for their new tattoos.

They show off and admire their temporary airbrush tattoos, which they change as often as they want!

Vadim surprises Kathy with a marriage proposal which she happily accepts.

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After careful preparation for the wedding: the dress, the make up, the jewelry the hair and million other details, she is ready to start a new life with her beaming husband-to -be.

They both look happy, content and grateful for the unexpected turn of events. Let’s wish them Mabrook!

Vadim: All out fit from Kenzo - Burjuman Katerina: Lebanese designers house - Waif city Jewelry- lafayettes - City Centre

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Photography Ibrahim Assi Models: Katerina & Vadim Faces & Places Styling: Ekaterina K. Yuriy Hair Stylist: Mohd Al Mawla Training & Consulting Hair Specialist / Kadus Make up: Soft & Shine Cosmetics Bank Street Body Art Su-Do – Bank Street Special Thanks to : Da Gamma Rest - Century Village Kenzo - Burjuman Hugo Boss - City Centre Lebanese Designer House – Wafi City Calvin Klein – C.K City Centre Bershka - City Centre Jewelry - La Fayettes - City Centre

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TAT T O O ! !

Attractive, Seductive, Mysterious to which extent..??!!

By: Fatima Ouzdenova

-Hello there!

-Hello!

-You have got a lovely tattoo! What does that symbol mean?

-Oh, thank you! It’s my Chinese horoscope sign, Tiger.

What’s your sign?

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hat’s the magic of tattoo. It’s seductive and mysterious. It sparks interest and curiosity. It could bring people together. They could become friends. They could become more than that.

People have been fascinated by tattoos for over 6000 years.

The word tattoo itself comes from the sound the tattooing instrument makes on the skin of those being tattooed and derives from the Polynesian word ‘ta’ which means to strike something.

Tattoos have been and are symbols of power and unique individuality and they are still popular to this day among men and women, young and not so young.

Women generally have tattoos on body parts which are either highly visible or very intimate such as chest, ankles, arms, thighs, neck, lower back, pelvis and backside. Women usually choose to more “peaceful” designs as oppose to men who like to have tattoos with “aggressive” or erotic feel. Tattoos

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with names of beloved ones are popular with both men and women as a declaration for undying love. For men it’s the “bad boy” appeal that tattoos represent.

Men with a tattoo is often perceived as dangerous, mysterious, though and rebellious, which appeals to a lot of women.

Tattoos allow people to express themselves and project a certain image which especially visible in music and movie industries. There are many celebrity fans of tattoo such as Angelina Jolie, David and Victoria Beckham, Colin Farrell, Mariah Carey, Robbie Williams, Johnny Depp, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Metalica, Motley Crue and the list goes on.

Despite popularity, tattooing culture hit an all time low in 1961 when an outbreak of hepatitis sent the industry into a downward spiral. The media began reporting stories of hepatitis and other diseases, based on most tattoo shops having the equipment to sterilize their tools, but very few shops using them.

There are other very serious illnesses including HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis B and Sarcoidosis that could be contracted through tattoo application. The most famous example of it is Pamela Anderson, who contracted hepatitis C from her husband Tommy Lee, after a having a tattoo made with same instruments which were used for him.

Adding to health issues, there is an aes-

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Doctor Ahmed Barghash M.B.B.Ch, M.Ms (Egypt), FRCS (UK) Special Plastic Surgeon ISAPS Member Member of Pan Arab Association of Burns&Plastic Surgery Q. In your opinion, what makes people to go under such a painful procedure as tattooing?

A. There is a revival of ancient cultures and traditions and tattoo is definitely a part of it. There are few reasons why people choose to have a tattoo. Tattoo could be a scrapbook of person’s life, telling a story of love, hate and regret. They could also be purely decorative and reveal where the person is from or who he or she wishes to be. Or they could be done as means of being different or rebellious or a way to fit into a certain group.

Q. Could you tell us more about actual tattooing procedure?

A. Its done by applying color ink or pigment under the top layer of the skin. It usually takes one hour so to apply a tattoo but could vary depending on design. Originally it was done by tools of porous nature such as wood and bone. Now they are banned replaced by machinery tattooing, using needles for safety assurance.

thetics issue of having a permanent tattoo. Factor of getting bored with a same tattoo is very high, as well as the possibility of the tattoo becoming inappropriate with age or loosing its sentimental or other value.

When that happens, you can opt for removal or tattooing over the old tattoo, which a very hard task and cant be done in most cases.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy Laser Tattoo Removal three older methods a) Surgical Excision. Surgical excision removes the entire tattoo which is cut out, and then the area is stitched up.

Sometimes a skin graft is required. If the tattoo is quite large, it will be done in stages over several visits. Gosh! Would you really be in a hurry to go back? b) Dermabrasion. This technique uses abrasive friction to sand away the tattoo. A bit like using an orbital sander on your tattoo. (We jest, of course! It’s more like using a Dremel machine with a grindstone attachment) c) Salabrasion. Similar to dermabrasion, but uses salt and water to debride the skin and tattoo.

As appealing as they may seem, tattoos have got few disadvantages and require careful thinking prior making a decision.

Many people opt for temporary tattoos as they are more versatile and healthy and more fun!

There are few methods of tattoo removal, some of them quite painful and ineffective which we will discuss with Doctor

Q. What are they risk associated with tattooing?

A. Apart from the risk of transmitting diseases as HIV, hepatitis or bacterial diseases from unsterilised equipment, tattoos could cause skin cancer, psoriasis, toxic shock syndrome or even behavioral changes. There are reports of allergic reaction which are very difficult to treat because the tattoo pigments are hard to remove. Granulomas (small nodules) could develop around the tattoo if body rejects tattoo pigment as foreign as well as scars if case of skin injury. However, the most common problem is not physical. The most common problem is desire to remove the tattoo.

Q. That leads to the next question. What are the reasons to remove a tattoo and what the removal procedure?

A. Person could be dissatisfied with the final outcome of the tattoo or with change in its appearance which happens when the color fades away with time. The other reason is personal change of the individual. Person’s lifestyle, social status or fashion sense could evolve as well as his/her health and is the main reason for removal.

Laser is the best option for tattoo removal but it is still painful procedure which takes time and is considerably expensive. The main problem is figuring out which ink or pigment was used which is almost impossible in most cases thanks to ever increasing number of ink/pigment suppliers.

Q. Is there a safer alternative to a permanent tattoo?

A. Henna is and was always a popular option, being temporary and painless alternative. It doesn’t require commitment as with a permanent tattoo. Another great option is airbrush tattoo, using natural products, which gives and impression of a permanent tattoo. Unlike the permanent one, it could be changes anytime be done as many times as you wish.

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Lebanese Designers House

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Spring Summer 2005

Dubai : Al Ghurair City, Burjuman Center,Baniyas Square, Century Mall, Ibn Battuta, Lamcy Plaza Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall. Sharjah: Sharjah City Center, Al Taawun Mall. Ajman: Ajman City Centre Oman: Muscat City Center, Al Araimi Complex. Qatar: Royal Plaza, Doha

Spring Summer 2005

Dubai : Al Ghurair City, Burjuman Center,Baniyas Square, Century Mall, Ibn Battuta, Lamcy Plaza Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall. Sharjah: Sharjah City Center, Al Taawun Mall. Ajman: Ajman City Centre Oman: Muscat City Center, Al Araimi Complex. Qatar: Royal Plaza, Doha

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The problems of being overweight are prevalent not just in adults but in the young too. Birjees Hussain explains that obesity doesn’t just affect people’s health but their social life too.

O

besity is becoming an increasing problem in the developing world.

Wherever we go we’re spoilt for foods which are quick, filling and cheap; junk food outlets dot our streets and are in every shopping mall, encouraging us to overeat regularly. Studies show that in America 60% of women are overweight and 33% obese and more women are overweight than underweight. The problem is exacerbat0ed by the advent of modern technology which has given us endless excuses not to exercise. But obesity isn’t merely an adult problem; teenagers and pre-school children have weight issues too.

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Children adore junk food and it’s a known fact that eating habits are learned from parents; if they are overeaters then it’s likely the children will be too.

Mothers especially have difficulty saying ‘no’ to their children’s demands. They don’t realise that this ‘killing with kindness’ can, in the long run, be detrimental to their child’s health and social life.

Throughout America many toddlers under five are often found to weigh three or four times their recommended weight.

One five year old weighed 220Ibs because whenever she demanded food her mother always obliged; donuts, burgers, fries and chocolates were on the menu every day!

These mothers forget that their child’s overeating will eventually spill over into adulthood. They also forget that when their child starts school the likelihood of him being bullied increases dramatically.

School can be an ordeal Children can be so cruel. Some go through hell at school; those who wear glasses are called ‘four-eyes’ or those with acne are labelled a Dalmatian. In fact, anyone who looks even slightly different from the rest of the class is likely to be taunted. One overweight boy was called ‘fatty’, ‘blubber’ and ‘chubby’ and told he had manbreasts and should be wearing a bra.

But teachers too can be insensitive. Many

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have angered parents by sending children home with letters telling parents their children are too fat and their diets should be examined. Most were insulted that their parenting skills were being questioned and retaliated by asking “Does the school seriously believe that we’re oblivious to our child’s weight problem and what were they fed in the canteen?” It’s a known fact that crisps, confectionary and fried food is sold on most school premises.

If not, chip shops, MacDonald’s and other fast food outlets are usually nearby. In the UAE the problem is different in that though children lunch at home they gorge

on junk food and sweets on the school bus.

But if it’s not other children or teachers, children themselves have an issue with their weight. Like adults, looks are also important to them, even to five year old girls! A recent survey in Australia revealed that nearly half the little girls questioned wanted to be slimmer and would go on a diet if they thought it would make them popular in school. Even little girls want to wear nice clothes.

The adult experience For adults it’s not a question of nice clothes but of finding sizes they can get

into. It’s unfortunate that off-the-peg clothes only come in certain sizes. So specialty plus-size stores have been opened in the west but these are rare in some areas and I haven’t actually seen one out in Dubai.

Not travelling light But clothing isn’t the only problem.

One American airline charged an obese passenger for two tickets rather than one because he couldn’t fit into a standard seat without putting the armrest up; another passenger couldn’t sit in the seat beside him.

A passenger on another US airline was being charged for excess baggage.

Nothing wrong with that you might say except that he was well below the baggage allowance; they were charging for his weight.

Staff on another American airline refused to allow a passenger to board a plane because she weighed too much for an already packed flight. Since she and her family had to be

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somewhere urgently, she stayed behind while her husband and children went on ahead of her; she had to take the next flight. But it’s not just the outside world that can be an ordeal.

Permanent confinement A Utah-based woman was so overweight that her skin hung in heavy folds over her entire body. She spent most of her time in an armchair because her legs couldn’t bear her weight. Unable to leave the house, she fell into depression and ate more. This aggravated her condition to the point that she couldn’t go to the bathroom without help.

An actress who played Leonardo Di Caprio’s mother in What’s eating Gilbert Grape?, ended up in a wheelchair because her legs couldn’t take the weight of her body either.

Confined to a wheelchair she could no longer do what she loved most– acting.

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Career problems It’s true, though most employers will deny it, that obese people are discriminated against in the job market. This is because people assume they are likely to have more days off sick because of the known related health problems. People also see them as lazy and only concerned with their appetites and that’s not the case.

Consequently obese people have problems with self-confidence which is largely attributed to other people’s perception of them. Unattractive and untalented is usually most people’s notion. On this year’s contest, American Idol, an 18 year old girl auditioned. She had a good voice but Simon Cowell, a judge who isn’t known for his subtlety, said to her, “You have a good voice but I have a problem with your appearance. You’re overweight and not ‘Idol’ material.”

But forget work and singing, just applying for something like health insurance can pose problems.

Many insurance companies charge higher premiums to obese applicants than they do to people who are not. Their rationale is that obese people are more likely to have health problems and claim more frequently.

We’ve discussed the issues but is there a solution? Many proponents

of controlling this disease, and that’s what it is, have made some suggestions.

Their solution 1. Regulate food producers – if toiletries have contents printed on them it’s bizarre that not all foods do.

2. Governments should ban junk food in schools, a recent move made by Governor Schwarzenegger, and consider sponsoring international food days?

One day it could be Arabic, another day it could be Italian. This would serve a two-fold purpose. It might stop the kind of bullying that taunts children for the strange foods they eat and it would provide good, healthy eat.

3. Put a levy on fast foods to deter people from buying them so often. A burger can be as little as Dh3; even a child can afford it.

These solutions are fine but the real problem lies in our perception of overweight people. Our tunnel vision fails to show us that overweight people are aware they have a problem. They need our understanding, support and solutions to their problems. They need to be treated fairly.

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Honey-Moon Travelers’ Accessories Suggestions “To make it more stylish and memorable, Esprit’s team went into every shop and selected their favourites Accessories that might be a good suggestion for you…

Cartier Case and dial in 18 carat yellow gold, black lacquer and round diamonds.

Chanel Every day is Chanel’s day! With this ingenious jewel-clip shades, every day you are a new woman…..

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Braccialini Braccialini Bag, stealing spring’s colours from fuchsia, green and red.

DUNHIL

To be scanned Her&Him: Sophistication and elegance have always been the unwritten trademarks of Alfred Dunhill products, for Her and for Him

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Jimmy Choo A Greenish Jimmy Choo Cruise with a Moroccan mosaic prints, matches it a Nicky leather Shoe.

An excellent choice for a special evening..

Channel Indispensable small leather ware: a purse, a wallet and a cigarette case in Chanel’s elegance…

SWATCH A tropical coloured watches from swatch.

Your beach mate…!

Braccialini Braccialini Bag Ocean’s emerald and turquoise

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Cartier

Jimmy Choo

18-carat white gold panther set with round diamonds and two emeralds.

Dial set with round diamonds.

When you are in Hawaii beach party, this sleek, shiny green slipper will keep you elegant and comfortable!!

Chanel Chanel, propose you this season with this leisure traveler bag in prominent White and Black.

Salvatore-Ferragamo Salvatore-Ferragamo A pink mobile phone holder, signed by Aigner.

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The practical, absolute Urban nylon bag from Aigner.

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Salvatore-Ferragamo

Ferragamo’s Mediterranean travel collection should sparkle your parties..

Links Scented Candles: An intimate scents from LINKS in two aromas: “Blackcurrant & Bulgarian Rose” and “Grapefruit & Rhubarb”.

Jimmy Choo Pure Yellow Hand Bag with coin and credit card tracking Pocket are your best mate in your travel. From Jimmy Choo.

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Liar, liar, pants on fire!

Lying is so commonplace and alarmingly children tell them as often as adults. Birjees Hussain examines its many facets and tells you why kids lie so that you can discourage them.

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H

ave you ever told someone something you knew to be untrue? Did you ever tell a white lie to avoid hurting someone’s feelings?

Has you’re child ever lied to you about something? Did he know it was wrong?

And how did you explain it to him?

We’ve all heard someone say, “Your cheque is in the post” or “I was about to call you” but they’ve often turned out to be untrue. Some of us reacted with anger whilst others are nonchalant about it.

There are so many degrees of lying and so many types. In fact, the practice is so unusual and complex that not all forms of telling untruths is considered lying. And anyone’s position on the subject depends upon what in their opinion a lie is. It also depends upon who is at the receiving end of it and what their standards and tolerance levels are. In other words, what some people might regards as an excuse or bluff, others might call a lie.

Lies by any other name There are so many forms of lying that not all of them might be called lies. For example, exaggerating, fabricating or embellishing a story or cooking the books are all forms of lying. Even bluffing in a card game is another form of lying.

A rose by any other name But the question is, is there really a difference between a lie and any other form of untruth? Is one form of lying more acceptable than any other? There is a saying ‘a rose by any other name is still a rose’.

Isn’t that the same where a lie is concerned? Call it what you will but surely a lie is just a lie. This is certainly the stance taken by some fields. For example, if you were to make a statement to the police knowing it to be false, that would be a lie.

But if you told mum her casserole was tasty just to spare her feelings that might be a white lie.

It seems that the true meaning of a lie really depends upon the purpose for which it was told. That is, whether it was told with malice in mind or with the sole intention of protecting someone’s feelings. But is that the only reason people lie?

Why do people lie?

Malice and protecting someone aren’t the only reasons for lying. The reasons are many and varied and similar in both adults and children. Sometimes protecting yourself is a motivating factor.

Fear is the foremost reason for lying; fear of being caught or of being punished if the truth came out. It’s a well known fact that children do this all the time. For example, if you’re child broke something in your absence and was afraid of telling you he might blame someone else.

A second reason is ‘assuming’. The child probably assumes that if he told you the truth you might scream, shout, deprive him of television or even strike him. The chances are that he might be overanalysing your reaction because it’s more than likely that you won’t strike him or scream and shout. Hence, making assumptions about the repercussions from the truth are also a contributing factor to children’s lies.

Children aren’t born liars. Lying, like most things, is a learned behaviour, either from peers at school or from adults around them. If they see a classmate or adult repeatedly lie to escape being reprimanded and succeed then they will assume that it’s the right thing to do for them.

The “Pinocchio Effect” But we all wish that we could tell if a child or anyone was lying (don’t we all wish people were Pinocchio?) or that the liar would admit that he was. But in real life that isn’t always the case. However, sometimes, without meaning to, a liar can often give himself away (the way little

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Pinocchio’s nose did).

According to experts, a person tends to exhibit certain behaviours when they’re lying. Examples include leaning forward, licking their lips, averting their gaze, touching their nose, extending their language, e.g. saying ‘I did not’ rather than ‘I didn’t’, stuttering, clearing their throat and generally fidgeting (usually nervously). But how conclusive is this indication?

To sceptics a video of the former President Clinton is indeed a validation. In his testimony in front of the Grand Jury the

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President repeatedly denied his involvement with Monica Lewinsky (and we now know he lied) and whilst doing so exhibited most of the above behaviours; he leaned forward a lot and touched his nose a lot.

According to experts nose touching is a definitive indication of a lie; the nose contains numerous erectile tissues which are engaged when a person lies. This has been dubbed the “Pinocchio Effect”.

The Lie Detector Aside from body language, experts also

look to the polygraph and the truth serum to help weed out lies. In the early 70s and 80s most people thought these tools were fictitious but are being increasingly used in legal circles.

A polygraph detects changes in a subject’s blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and skin moisture. When a subject lies distinct changes in the above are noticed. However, many psychiatrists believe that it’s possible to fool the polygraph. They believe that when people are prone to lying they invariably start to

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believe it as the truth. Moreover, if a particular lie is repeated often enough, the teller often begins to believe it.

But experts believe that the truth serum (Sodium Amatol) is hard to fool. This drug causes the subject to become so relaxed that his defences come down and he finds it difficult to lie. When it takes its full effect, doctors have found that subjects start telling the truth. In normal life we have to do without polygraphs and truth serums.

So why not deter the habit early.

Make lying unacceptable We all know that we can’t teach an old dog new tricks so we should begin at the beginning. Children who repeatedly lie often do so in adulthood too. It’s, therefore, important for adults to deal with a child’s lying. Most parents are only concerned if a child does it repeatedly. However, it’s important to deal with it at the first onset. Here are some ways to discourage your child from lying.

Do not scream and shout Sit and talk to the child – reassure him that lying will not result in punishment Explain to your child that if their lying to cover for someone can be more harmful Use punishment only if all else fails Here are some interesting yet little known facts about lying. More people can detect truths than lies. Men think they’re better at bluffing than women although the fact is that women are better at it. But alarming people find it easier to lie to a woman than to a man. If all this sounds very depressing remember that truths are more frequently told than lies.

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Dubai Fashion 2005 Creative Nail Design creates stunning nail looks deliberated with

Dior, Lacroix & Gualtier Dubai fashion 2005 was very exciting this year with the Famous World Fashion designers Collections singular dedicated nail designs by Creative Nail Design.

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Decadence and Red Baroness for Christian Dior Creative’s ‘Decadence’ and ‘Red Baroness’, colours redolent of deep red wine and garnet, were mixed in varying proportions to complement the rechness of Dior’s intimitable fashion.

Enamel Colours used: ‘Decadence’ and ‘Red Baroness’

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Enduring French for Jean Paul Gualtier Creative complemented Gaultier’s romantic styles with another enduring French look using its sheer enamel ‘Bare Necessities’.

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Classic look for Christian Lacroix Creative contrasted Lacroix’s exciting collection with a classic long tapering French manicure.

Enamel Colours used: Sheer ‘Negligee’ and Creamy ‘Bisou De Lulu’.

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GUESS BY MARCIANO is a line that has seen a lot of success in the fashion world due to its creativity and unique style‌.

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VERRI SPRING/SUMMER 2005 COLLECTION:

DRESS TO IMPRESS The latest collection of VERRI Spring/Summer has been launched by Paris Group.

This collection tailored in the finest Italian tradition, using the most luxurious fabrics from around the world. VERRI Spring/Summer collection is stylish, vibrant and importantly easy to care for and easy to wear.

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Elegant, Stylish & Functional W

ith the residential property market in Dubai in the throes of an unprecedented boom, there is a growing demand for reasonably priced high quality retail ‘lifestyle concepts’ that are in keeping with international standards, those that provide customers true value for money. When it comes to a home, everyone wants beautiful things, lasting things, and that is exactly where Homes r Us comes in.

Homes r Us is a furniture and furnishings store with a unique concept,

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designed and developed keeping in mind modern-day home décor needs of the customer.

Homes r Us understands that furniture designs subtly enhance a room's decor. The extensive range at the store creates the desired ambience whether it's chic traditional opulence with a touch of modernity; or simple contemporary forms with an understated elegance. Stylish and functional, the furniture offers a wide choice of wood finishes and shades.

Along with furniture, Homes r Us

retails a wide variety of quality furnishings, accessories and home essentials, to suit everyone’s needs. The product range is accentuated by elegant home décor and eye-catching gifts.

All Homes r Us outlets are split into 17 individual sections giving customers a choice of over 10,000 high quality products with 60 living room concepts, 50 dining room ideas and an equal number of bedroom concepts. This convenient arrangement allows shoppers to have a relaxed and pleasurable shopping experience and make their

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selections in a comfortable ambience.

Infusing personality into a room gives it life and makes the difference between ordinary and pleasing. One way to do that is simple- accessorise.

Accessorising your home just the way you want it to look, blending your creativity along with the unique offerings at Homes r Us. Homes r Us has a wide selection of bedding and bath accessories, kitchen and tableware- there’s a lot to choose from to add a dash of that extra zing to one’s home.

Artistic rugs, Aromatic candles,

exquisite lamps, vases and pots, flowers and attractive frames complete the vast array of home décor accessories that also act as fabulous gift items to choose from. Homes r Us truly lives up to its commitment of providing ‘Everything your home needs’ in a well-planned, trendy and customerfriendly store.

If you’d like a complete solution, based on design and budget specifications, the team of efficient, welltrained staff can be relied upon. From offering practical advice on the vast

array of stock available, to casting a creative eye on a particular purchase, the team is committed to enhance the shopping experience of customers.

Homes r Us invites you on a journey into exploring the place you love mostyour home!

Homes r Us outlets are located in Mazaya Centre in Dubai, Al Qasimia Street in Sharjah, Madinat Zayed Gold Centre in Abu Dhabi. Outlets are also present in Kuwait at Shuwaikh and in Qatar at Hyatt Plaza, Doha.

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ong Kong is arguably one of the most popular cities in the world.

It is known not only for being a major global financial and trade centre, but also a place for great shopping, entertainment and dining.

Millions of tourists flock to experience Hong Kong’s wonders every year. Hong Kong’s visitors seek out a wide range of natural, cultural and cosmopolitan attractions. The most popular attractions during the past few years have included: Victoria Peak From The Peak’s summit, visitors can gaze down on the jungle of skyscrapers and Victoria Harbour, where ferries and pleasure junks glide by. At night, the whole area becomes a dazzling spectacle of lights.

High above Hong Kong Island on the ‘back of the Dragon’, Victoria Peak is Hong Kong’s premier visitor attraction, providing magnificent harbour and city

views. Arriving late afternoon enables you to experience the dazzling panorama of Hong Kong Island, the harbour, Kowloon and the hills beyond. Later, you can thrill to the neon-dotted skyline by night.

What’s more, The Peak offers visitors a multitude of fantastic entertainment, dining and shopping options.

Open-Air Markets Market shopping is a fascinating part of the Hong Kong experience. Visit the Ladies’ Market in Mong Kok for inexpensive fashion items or Yau Ma Tei’s Temple Street Night Market for anything from Tshirts to electronics. As well as souvenir markets, visitors can enjoy markets dedicated to birds and flowers.

Hong Kong’s most famous open-air market opens at 2:00pm but really comes to life at dusk, with a bustling array of stalls selling everything from watches and leatherware to clothing and souvenirs.

Other attractions include fortune-tellers and occasionally, Cantonese opera singers. Temple Street is in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon.

Kowloon’s most popular day-long street market is devoted to anyone with an eye for bargain-priced clothing, toys, cosmetics and household knick-knacks. The stalls making up this enjoyable market can be found on Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon.

Ocean Park Ocean Park is one of Southeast Asia’s largest oceanariums and theme parks, and tops the itinerary of many visitors to Hong Kong - especially those with children.

You’ll need a whole day to see everything.

There are funfair rides and dolphin shows, scenic cable cars and sea lions, magnificent shopping, great dining and so much more.

The Lowland Gardens are a must-see, fea-

Hong Kong N O

P L A C E

L I K E

by Anthon Garcia

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turing the park’s most adored attractions the giant pandas An An and Jia Jia. The animals live happily in a 2,000-squaremetre habitat that closely resembles the natural living conditions of giant pandas in the wild. The project provides an excellent opportunity for the public to learn more about this endangered species, the survival problems they face and how they can be saved from extinction.

The undersea world is explored at Marine Land. Here visitors journey under water at

the Atoll Reef to discover more than 250 kinds and 2,000 fish, including an 80-yearold, 1.8-metre-long giant grouper can be seen. The Atoll Reef also boasts the largest number of Giant Napoleon fish to be found in any aquarium in the world.

Repulse Bay Repulse Bay is one of the most accessible and picturesque beaches on the south side of Hong Kong Island.

Primarily a well-to-do residential area, sun-drenched Repulse Bay has a relaxed

resort-like atmosphere. The wide, wavelapped beach is popular with locals and visitors alike and great for sandy strolls early morning with the waking of another day, when the sun is up and the sunbathers are out in force, or at sunset when all is at peace.

As well as sun, sea and sand, there are plenty of diversions nearby. The ornate Life Guard Club is built in a traditional Chinese style, its ceiling decorated with magnificent swirling dragons. The pictur-

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esque gardens that lead down to the beach are dominated by towering twin statues of Kwun Yum and Tin Hau, both protectors of fishermen.

Peak Tower & Peak Galleria Thrilling indoor entertainment is housed in the Peak Tower and Peak Galleria.

Then, rub shoulders with the famous at world-renowned Madame Tussauds wax portraits museum. With around 100 astoundingly life-like wax figures means getting up close and personal with Jackie Chan and Arnold Schwarzenegger has never been easier.

Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple Decorated in a riot of colours, Wong Tai Sin is an excellent example of a traditional Chinese temple. Yellow latticework and multicoloured carvings complement the temple’s red pillars and golden roof.

Decorated in a riot of colours, Wong Tai Sin is an excellent example of a traditional Chinese temple and features red pillars, a golden roof adorned with blue friezes, yellow latticework and multi-coloured carvings. A traditionally carved granite archway separates the temple’s two terraces, while the main hall is surrounded by doors and windows. Worshippers gather in the front courtyard. Other temples on the

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grounds are dedicated to Buddha and Confucius.

Legend has it that Wong Tai Sin was a shepherd boy living in a part of China’s Zhejiang Province called Red Pine Hill.

When he was only 15, an immortal taught him the art of refining cinnabar into a medicine that was said to cure all illnesses.

He spent the next 40 years living in seclusion until he was found by his brother, who had spent all those years searching for him and the sheep in his care.

Aberdeen Aberdeen is a scenic highlight of any trip around Hong Kong Island. Brightly decorated trawlers, which double as floating homes for Aberdeen’s fishermen, fill a sheltered harbour whose hillsides are decked with woodland and residential towers - not to mention Hong Kong’s famously glitzy floating restaurants.

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre The Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre is one of Hong Kong’s defining landmarks, with its distinctive curved three-tier roof and vast expanse of glass walls creating a dramatic vista.

Getting around town is not a problem as Hong Kong has a very efficient and clean

public transportation system, including: Peak Tram The best way to get to the top is via the Peak Tram, a funicular railway that carves a steep 373-metre swathe up the lush mountainside. The tram has been in operation since 1888, and once competed with sedan chairs as the most popular way up.

Try to get seats at the front of the tram on the right-hand side for the journey skyward. The only way to describe the views from this vantage point is “simply awesome”.

And let’s not forget dining. There are several mouth-watering options on the Peak, including Cafe Deco and Movenpick Marche Restaurant. All impress hungry visitors with their international menus and outstanding views.

Discover more in these bits of trivia we compiled about Hong Kong: A gigantic goldfish of the species red oranda, bred by brothers Jackie and Louis Chan, who are ornamental goldfish exporters in Hong Kong, has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest goldfish, at 37.2 centimetres.

A huge, short-tailed goldfish named “Pin Day Kam” (“full of gold”, bred by Hong

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Kong’s Lee Tak-sun, has applied for the Guinness World Records as being the world’s heaviest goldfish at 1.54 kg.

Three of the world’s 15 tallest buildings can be found in Hong Kong . The three “giant towers” of Hong Kong are the 78-

storey Central Plaza (374 metres, completed in 1992), the 70-storey Bank of China Tower (369 metres, completed in 1989) and The Center at 79 storeys (350 metres, completed in 1998). While differing in size and height, interestingly, all three buildings are located on Hong Kong Island and can be viewed easily by tourists taking a 20- to 30- minute journey through town - for example, by tram.

The bottling facility for Coca-Cola products in Sha Tin is the world’s tallest soft drinks plant , standing 19 storeys (147 metres high). The Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong plant involved an investment of over HK$780 million (US$100 million) to construct and is equipped with a high-speed production line at 2,000 cans per minute.

The plant produces over 40 million unit cases of beverages annually.

The landscape mural A Great Motherland of China, in the Island Shangri-La Hotel, is 14 metres wide and 51 metres high (16 storeys), and has been named by Guinness World Records as the largest hotel mural in the world. It can be viewed from a glass elevator between the 41st and 56th floors.

Among the world’s 100 richest people listed in Forbes Global magazine in March 2002 were three Hong Kong billionaires: Mr Li Ka-shing ranked 23rd; the Kwok brothers (Raymond, Walter and Thomas) ranked 24th, and Mr Lee Shau-kee, 51st . Mr Li, the Kwok brothers and Mr Lee ranked also the first, second and fifth wealthiest people in Asia.

Internationally-acclaimed actor, director

and stunt co-ordinator, Tourism Ambassador for Hong Kong, Jackie Chan has appeared in more than 65 films, was named among the entertainment world’s most powerful players by Entertainment Weekly in 2001, and is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s only living actor to perform most of his own stunts.

Hong Kong’s Raman Hui was the Supervising Animator for the 2001 hit Shrek, which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film in 2002.

Hong Kong’s movie industry was for the first time included in the honour roll at the Academy Awards . Martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon scooped up four Oscars at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards in 2001, with Peter Pau and Tim Yip bringing home awards for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction respectively.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was nominated for a record 10 Oscars on 23 February 2001, setting a new world record for receiving the “Most Oscar Nominations for a Foreign Language Film” , according to the Guinness World Records 2002.

Andy Lau, Hong Kong superstar, Cantopop singer and actor, held the Guinness World Records in 1997 for the male Canto-pop artiste with the most number of awards - more than 292 awards for a singing career begun in 1988 (as at April 2000).

Photos and information courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board

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Mercerdes-Benz Supercar... going fast

T

he two-seater, with its striking swing-wing doors and styling elements borrowed from the Formula 1 Silver Arrows is in a select club of supercars capable of speeds of over 330km/h.

The vehicle builds on the legacy of the famous SLR race cars of the 1950s and is an impressive testament to the competence and experience of Mercedes-Benz and its Formula 1 partner McLaren in the development and production of high-performance sports cars.

“Equipped with cutting-edge race car technology and groundbreaking Mercedes developments, designed to ensure a high standard of safety and suitability for day-to-day use, the new SLR creates a distinctive image for itself as a 21st-century Gran Turismo – a thrilling synthesis of tradition and innovation,” said Johannes H. Fritz, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes Car Group, Dubai.

Underneath the bonnet is a newly developed V8 supercharged engine delivering 626 hp and capable of accelerating the supercar from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds.

Whatever the driver’s preference, from stunning performance to cruising, the SLR power plant delivers thanks to its unique mating with a standard fivespeed automatice transmission.

A rotary switch on the centre of the console enables the driver to select from three programmes – Manual, Comfort or Sport – each proving entirely different driving experiences.

The body of the new SLR, like those of the Mercedes-McLaren Formula 1 race cars, is made from carbon fibre composites – lightweight materials which demonstrate exemplary energy absorption, hence ensuring the highest standard of occupant protection.

The SLR is the world’s first series-produced car to have a front crash structure manufactured entirely from carbon fibres. Adaptive airbags, newly developed kneebags and sidebags, belt tensioners, high-performance ceramic brake discs and an automatically adaptive airbrake in the boot lid round off the range of safety equipment on board the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, setting new standards in this vehicle class.

In the Middle East the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren costs US$ 519,000 and the UK-based

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Dubai - The new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, which arrived in the Middle East in the first quarter of 2004, instantly stepped into the limelight as one of the world’s fastest production cars.

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factory will build a total of just 3,500.

Main SLR markets are North America, Europe, and the Middle East with over 150 cars already ordered and the first delivered in the spring of 2004.

Mercedes-Benz can trace its passion for the super sports car back through automotive history as demonstrated with particular élan in the ‘Uhlenhaut Coupé’.

In the mid-1950s, Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss and Karl Kling helped make the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR one of the most successful racing sports cars of all time.

With its eight-cylinder, 2982-cc engine developing up to 310 horsepower, this Silver Arrow was capable of a maximum speed in excess of 300 km/h – enough to power it to glory in all the top road races of 1955. The Mille Miglia, Targa

Florio, Tourist Trophy, Eifelrennen and the Swedish Grand Prix – the 300 SLR won them all.

Rudolf Uhlenhaut (1906-1989), head of both Mercedes-Benz passenger-car testing and racing-car development at the time, proceeded to build a road-going coupé version of this all-conquering racing machine. The 300 SLR Coupé – better known to car enthusiasts as the “Uhlenhaut Coupé” – incorporating the design and technology of the 300 SL Gullwing produced from 1954 into the 300 SLR competition car. It first appeared on the roads in 1955, turning heads wherever it went.

The spirited lines of the body, with its elongated bonnet, were complemented by the striking proportions of the sidemounted exhaust pipes, the air vents and the wire-spoke wheels.

The cockpit, with its curved wraparound windscreen, was elegantly sculptured.

Rudolf Uhlenhaut referred to his latest automotive work of art as a “hot-heeled touring car”, and the 300 SLR Coupé lived up to its billing.

Weighing only 1117 kilograms yet developing 310 horsepower, the “Uhlenhaut Coupé” accelerated to a maximum speed approaching 290 km/h in testing.

This made the two-seater the fastest car of its time to be registered for use on public roads, as well as ‘one of the most exciting cars that Mercedes-Benz has ever built’, as motorsport guru Karl Ludvigsen later observed.

However, the lightning-fast SLR Coupé never made it into series production. The Stuttgart-based car maker felt that the mid-1950s was not the right time to bring out a powerful sports tourer of this kind, leaving the road version of the SLR to fall into oblivion. As Mercedes pulled out of motorsport in 1955, the SLR Coupé project was put on ice. Only two prototypes of this masterpiece of power and elegance were ever built and yet this wonderful car had still become a legend in its own right.

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STAR WAR EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH The galaxy is weary after three long years of war.

Anakian Skywalker and Obi-Wan Henobi have become legendary heroes in their campaigns against the droid forces of the evil General Grievous. Anakian and his secret wife, Padme Amidala, have been separated for months, and he finally reunites with her to learn that she is pregnant. He is plagued by vision of her dying in childbirth, haunting images of possible future. Anakian is determined to stop her from dying.

No matter the cost. This leads Anakian down a dark path to commit terrible deeds. Obi-Wan Henobi must face his former apprentice in a ferocious lightsaber duel on the fiery world of Mustafar.

Three Good Reasons to watch…

We finally get to see exactly why Darth Vader is “more machine than man.”

It marks Chewbacca’s triumphant return to the silver screen (though he probably still won’t get a medal). This is the last Star Wars movie we’re going to get.

Bet You Didn’t Know..??!

Unlike in Episodes I and II, director George Lucas used a dialogue coach on set to make sure his actors were getting as much attention as the special effects.

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson.

Directed By: George Lucas Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox

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SAHARA An African dictator’s nuclear waste disposal plant is mutating the red tide, and so threatens the planet’s ecosystem. It’s up to Dirk Pitt and his associates from NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency) to find the source of the pollution and shut down the operation.

Searching for a treasure on the River Niger, Dirk Pitt thwarts the attempted assassination of a beautiful U.N. scientist investigating a disease that is driving thousands of North Africans to death. The suspected cause of the raging epidemic is vast, unprecedented pollution that threatens to extinguish all life in the world’s seas. Racing to save the world from environmental catastrophe, Pitt and his team run a gauntlet between a billionaire French industrialist and a bloodthirsty West African tyrant.

In the scorching desert, Pitt uncovers the truth behind his lifelong quest - the fate of a Civil War ironclad. Now, amidst the blazing, shifting sands of the Sahara, Dirk Pitt will make a desperate stand — in a battle the world cannot afford to lose!

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A LOT LIKE

LOVE It takes some people years to fall in love at first sight. A LOT LIKE LOVE is a romantic comedy about destiny, connection and the frequently fuzzy line between chance friendships and happily ever after. A LOT LIKE LOVE traces the relationship of Oliver (Ashton Kutcher) and Emily (Amanda Peet) who met on a flight from Los Angeles to New York seven years ago - each of them declaring that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other.

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BIG ON BOOKS …

Oh the Glory of It All

by Sean Wilsey

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

by Jonathan Safran Foer Oskar Schell, hero of this brilliant follow-up to Foer’s bestselling Everything Is Illuminated, is a nine-year-old amateur inventor, jewelry designer, astrophysicist, tambourine player and pacifist. Like the second-language narrator of Illuminated, Oskar turns his naïvely precocious vocabulary to the understanding of historical tragedy, as he searches New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left by his father when he was killed in the September 11 attacks, a quest that intertwines with the story of his grandparents, whose lives were blighted by the firebombing of Dresden.

Foer embellishes the narrative with evocative graphics, including photographs, colored highlights and passages of illegibly overwritten text, and takes his unique flair for the poetry of miscommunication to occasionally gimmicky lengths, like a two-page soliloquy written entirely in numerical code.

The book contains perhaps the most evil parental figure since Joan Crawford. That woman is named Dede, the wicked stepmother of the tale. Dede allegedly stole Wilsey’s father from his mom, banned afternoon TV, monitored Wilsey’s phone calls, played endless mind games, told Wilsey to change his favorite color from red, and on and on. I’m not sure which Dede will find more disturbing—her foibles being laid bare or the fact that Wilsey admits to masturbating to her photo and smelling her underwear.Dede is joined by Wilsey’s equally intriguing biological parents. There’s his mother, a drama queen who once dated Frank Sinatra, held salons, hosted a talk show, asked Wilsey to commit suicide with her and became a globe-trotting peace activist. And then there’s his father, a dairy-business millionaire, helicopter pilot and lothario. These three characters form the heart of the book. Wilsey also discusses his pot-steeped days at various boarding schools, including a bizarre cultlike institution in Italy that encouraged lots of weeping and hugging. But the parts about the family are the book’s strongest. It’s a startlingly honest tale. I can’t imagine he left out a single humiliating detail, unless he had improper relations with his goldfish.

Body for Life for Women: A Woman’s Plan for Physical and Mental Transformation

by Pam Peeke, Cindy Crawford

A History of Modern Australian Popular Romance Novels From Australia With Love is a lively, eye-opening examination of Australian romance writing between 1950 and 2000. With objectivity, humor and irony, Juliet Flesch makes a solid argument for the importance of romance writing and why it should rightfully take its place alongside other genres, such as mystery writing. She skillfully disabuses those feminists who believe that all heroines in romances are poor role models, giving many examples of strong, independent women who have rewarding careers and function in complex webs of relationships. The background information about the huge romance publishing industry is also very interesting This entertaining book will engage the interest of the romance reader and the general reader alike. The fact that it is both beautifully written and easy to read is an added bonus.

It’s not all about the jeans; flattening the tummy helps fight “Toxic Fat”—the disease-inducing weight Dr. Pamela Peeke teaches women how to conquer in Body-forLIFE for Women. Her firm belief is, most women already know what they’re supposed to do: eat a balanced diet, ditch junk food, exercise, think positively. Peeke strives to show her “girlfriends” how to accomplish these tasks, customizing plans for young and old. Clients’ stories (including a 95-year-old who worked herself out of a wheelchair and into a martial arts class, and a 14-year old who replaced 90 lbs. of fat with a healthy load of self-confidence) lend credence to Peeke’s 12-week weight reduction plan; so do the wowsie before-and-after pictures.

Gender-specific scientific evidence supports Peeke’s premise that women’s bodies require different care than men’s. But she doesn’t stop there.

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Sparkling Emerald Palace Residences in the Crescent, Palm Jumeira

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unny Beach Properties and Sun Rise Properties, members of the Emerald Palace Group have announced plans for a palatial, seven storey residential boutique development on the Crescent of Palm Jumeira.

The first of its kind for the Crescent which circles the exterior of the Palm, Emerald Palace Residences will boast luxurious accommodation in one of the world’s most sought after locations.

The sprawling plans feature 200 elegant two and three bed apartments and Penthouse suites. Equipped with roomy balconies and spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf and Palm Island, the residences are dedicated to opulent waterfront living. The lavish architecture with its imposing Palladian dome is expected

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Owner of Emerald Palace group with wife & son

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to become a recognized characteristic of Palm Jumeira’s skyline.

Each property will have exclusive access to an immaculate 500 metre sandy beach enabling residents to lounge amongst the palms or take a dip in the azure blue waters. Likewise no expense will be spared in the construction of the properties which will boast the latest in interior design. The finest imported materials and the most recent technological advances will be included, ensuring that each resident will have the ultimate dream home-opulent yet elegant.

The prestigious European firm Poznyakizhilstroy, with a reputation for their international standards will be the project architects, along with PEBM - the

largest New York based architectural practice offering expertise in planning & design. Completion of the development is expected for 2007.

The Emerald Palace Residences will be located adjacent to The Emerald Palace Hotel and Resort.

Occupying in excess of a staggering, 1 million square feet of land, the development promises the ultimate in first class, luxury living. Over 60% of the land will be dedicated to providing lush green gardens, recreational areas and swimming pools.

In line with the vision of excellence, both complexes will be managed by an international 5-star deluxe hotel group.

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Enjoy Out… this Season Fairmont Hotel: Call 04 311 8000 for reservations Spectrum on One Event: King Prawns take flight Chef de Cuisine Scott Baechler teams up with our Thai chefs to present a tasting of Thai-style King Prawns at multi awardwinning Spectrum on One this June.

From the far reaches of Southern Japan and Northern Australia to the Indian Ocean, savour it with lemongrass flavour, or in thick curry and coconut sauce for Dhs 75 for four. A perfect accompaniment to pre-dinner drinks or as a snack with friends after work.

Mezzeh will be on offer including Moutabel, Hummus, Babaghanouj, Fattoush, Zaatar Labneh; or if you like it hot, the Spinach Fatayer, Manakich Zaatar, Safiha Kofta, and Cheese Sambousek selection is just right for just Dhs 45 per person. Available during lunch and dinner.

Le Meridien Mina Seyahi: Call 04 399 3333 for reservation Waves restaurant - fill up at the Mina Visit Waves for a variety of tastes and flavours! A daily International buffet will be served, along with a tantalizing choice of themed stations.. Every night is a new celebration of different tastes,, and priced at only Dhs 145 net per person ALL YOU CAN EAT & DRINK, except on Thursday, you’ll definitely have no excuse not to try them all! The theme nights are daily from 7.00pm onwards.

Fridays A taste of the Islands - an exotic blend of ‘Salt & Spice’ Indian Ocean Island Cuisine.

ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK ! @ Dhs. 145.00 net, per person.

Pronto Event: A Mouthful of Mezzeh The Mezzeh tradition extends from Turkey into the Balkans including Greece, and across to the Middle East where a typical meal starts with Mezzeh and can be an elaborate spread of up to forty or fifty hors d’oeuvres.

Pronto continues this tradition for the month of June Saturdays with special Hot and Cold Arabian Night - Traditional Arabic cuisine Mezzeh offerings during with Manakesh Al Saj, Oozi and many lunch and dinner. Nine other favourites. Sizzling hot with live tasty selections of hot cooking and entertainment including Bacchus Event: Viva Italia!

Bacchus is celebrating Italian National Day (2nd June) throughout the month with speciality dishes from different regions complemented by wine recommendations from our in-house wine expert.

Complete the experience with classic Italian desserts such as Zuccotto, Crostata di Albicocca Al Cioccolato e Mascarpone and the melt in your mouth Tiramisu Classico.

For just Dhs 140 for 3-course set menu per person, celebrate Italian National Day for the whole month of June in Bacchus.

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Moevenpick Hotel Bur Dubai: Call 04 336 6000 for reservation Enjoy sizzling family packages filled with fun and excitement complemented with Swiss Hospitality.

So pack your bags and grab your kids to the Moevenpick Hotel Bur Dubai for an amazing value deal. For 2 nights and 3 Tuesdays Mediterranean Night - with flavours of days, have the time of your life for only Dhs 3210.

Italy, Spain, France and Greece.

ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK ! @ Dhs. 145.00 net, per person Mondays The Americas - Taste the cuisine of the Land of Extremes. From Cajun to California, and Maine to Mexico.

ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK ! @ Dhs. 145.00 net, per person.

Tabla, Belly Dancing, Henna painting.

One of the ‘Mina’s’ most popular evenings.

ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK ! @ Dhs. 145.00 net, per person.

Sundays Taste of India - Allow your taste buds to take a journey to India. Savor the irresistible aromas, abundance of flavors and delicious tastes of traditional Indian cuisine.

ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK ! @ Dhs. 145.00 net, per person

Wednesdays Asian Hawkers Street Market - Wok-FrySteam-Boil. Experience the ancient art of cooking. ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK ! @ Dhs. 145.00 net, per person.

Thursdays Surf & Turf* - Quality steak with fresh seafood. “Chosen by you, cooked by us” *On Thursday night, priced at Dhs 145 net per person ALL YOU CAN EAT,, exclusive of house beverages.

The package includes: Complimentary airport pick up Complimentary breakfast for 2 persons and children under 12 years (maximum 2 children) Children up to the age of 12 years stay free of charge in the parents room Welcome refreshing drink upon arrival 50% discount for dinner in all of our renowned restaurants (food only) Complimentary shuttle bus to shopping centers and children’s center ( Wonderland, Children World) Free access to the Beach.

Hilton Dubai Creek: Call 04 – 2271111 for reservation Ever wished you could have the chance to learn to cook like a celebrity chef? The Hilton Dubai Creek’s Verre Cooking Classes allow you to do exactly that on the 18th of June.

The gourmet cooking class is aimed at cooking enthusiasts and wannabe chefs who wish to learn the tricks of the trade from the experts. Students will enjoy a cooking demonstration by Verre’s Executive Chef Jason before having an exclusive opportunity to try their hand at producing a three-course Gordon Ramsay

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meal, specially designed to be ‘easy to recreate at home’ under the watchful eye of the expert.

If you would like to experience the thrill of cooking in a professional kitchen and have the chance to emulate an expert this is a chance not to be missed at Dhs. 450 per person.

Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Call 04 – 3991111 for reservation The salsa nights begin with a class by the experts Richard and Liris, from 7pm to 8pm before sitting down to savour the finest cuisine such as duck and chicken liver paté served with berries sauce, chicken breast marinated with guajillo sauce with almond rice and tomato-garlic confit, pineapple carpaccio that melts in your mouth and half a bottle of wine.

Throughout the evening, the dancers will perform some of the most spectacular salsa and are bound to have you dancing after dinner!

At just Dhs 145 per person the salsa nights offer diners in Dubai a superb opportunity to explore the gastronomic delights of

Latin America as well as authentic salsa dancing making Pachanga the place to be in June and July.

Renaissance Hotel: Call 04 -2625555 for reservation

Spice Island’s theme nights .. Every night!

Enjoy your favourite theme any night of the week. At Spice Island we have gone a step further and included all theme nights in our Spice Island daily buffet!

Sails – Mediterranean Restaurant Spring Thyme - June 1st to June 30th Spring marks that special time of the year.

Our promotional a la carte menu for the new season of white asparagus, baby potatoes, spring lamb and fresh herbs are available for six weeks.

Daily from 7.00 pm to 11.30 pm With selected beverages from the region.

Harry’s Place Country & Western Nights - June This summer we offer you a chance to relax and sizzle down with our Country & Western menu throughout the month of June.

Steaks and ribs on special offer to keep you out of the heat and dust just when you need it.

Aquarium Lounge Strawberry Fields Forever - June The month of June brings you strawberries in all forms; profiteroles, mousse, cake with cream and of course chocolate covered.

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Intercontinental Hotel: Call 04 – 20057333/444 for reservation Summer Days on Al Mansour Dhow If you are looking to experience a combination of adventure, fine food, good music entertainment, watching breathtaking views while sailing the Creek, then look no further than the InterContinental Dubai’s renowned five star Al Mansour Dhow in its symptous International and Arabic buffet along with a refreshing welcome drink for only Dhs125/- per person.

The China Club Celebrates its 2 nd anniversary In this occasion, The China Club celebrates in taste and style introducing the Yum Cha feast from Thursday to Saturday for Only Dhs.65/-, and Chef Liang’s special 4-course set lunch deal for only Dhs.45/- per person from Sunday to Wednesday.

Traders Hotel: Call 04 - 405 2819 for reservation ‘CARNIVORE’ at The Junction (Weekends in June) The Junction at Traders presents a special meat lovers promotion every Thursday and Friday night. Enjoy a selection of meats including lamb, chicken, beef, springbok, kangaroo and even ostrich,

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marinated in many different ways and skewered onto long swords, carved ‘The Argentinean Way’ directly on to your plate. Large bowls of simple garden fresh salads from the buffet, piping hot baked potatoes from the oven and hot sauces on the table complement the dining experience of exotic meats until you raise the little white flag on your table to indicate your surrender. Dessert buffet included for AED 139 per person including free flowing house-wine and soft-drinks. (Dinner time only 7.30pm to midnight) Friday Seafood Brunch at The Junction “The Junction” at the Traders Hotel presents a fantastic Seafood Brunch on Fridays for AED 125 per person inclusive of freeflowing house beverages (soft-drinks, selected wines and beers). Enjoy an array of seafood from sushi, sashimi, seafood inspired canapés / salads / starters and main courses, as well as fresh fish cooked right before your eyes by the Chefs at the grill, tandoor and oven. Dessert buffet included. From 11.30am to 3.30pm every Friday.

Virgin Daiquiri’s (Lobby Lounge) Cool down and chill out during the hot summer months with Virgin Daiquiri’s in the Lobby Lounge at Traders Hotel.

Choose from fantastic fruity combinations such as Frozen Apple & Cinnamon, Strawberry & Ginger, Pineapple & Hibiscus, Orange & Lemongrass, Banana & Honey, Peach & Cloves. At just AED15 each, why stop at just one?

Coffee & Cake at The Lobby Lounge (Every day) The Lobby Lounge at the Traders Hotel, Dubai in Deira is promoting a fantastic “Coffee and Cake” offer. Enjoy your favourite coffee, whether it’s a creamy café latte or a heart starting espresso combined with a slice of cake from the display trolley for just AED 20 per person.

Mina Al Salam Hotel: Call 04 - 399 3333 for reservation The Mina goes Italiano with “Bussola” Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina is adding an exciting new restaurant to its existing portfolio of outstanding outlets. “Bussola”, which means compass in Italian, French and Arabic, opens in June offering authentic Italian cuisine located right on the beach and overlook-

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ing the Arabian Sea. Bussola offers 2 exciting floors, where every guest will be delighted with a genuine and authentic dining experience. On the ground floor, you will find a casual

dining spot, while upstairs your mood will change in the trendy “al fresco” lounge & bar with 32 different pizzas, while absorbing the unbeatable sea views.

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Novetel Hotel IBIS: Call 04 – 3324444 CUBO restaurant On Thursday’s for dinner ( from 7pm until 10:30pm ) AED 99 promotion which is : Unlimited antipasti selection on a buffet Any pasta from the regular ala-carte menu Any dessert from the regular ala-carte menu Unlimited house beverages (rum/gin/vodka/whisky/beer/ wine) served by the Portion DURING THE MEAL

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Indulge in varieties of dim sum filled with prawns, beef, turkey or pork and baked, CUBO restaurant Friday Special steamed, pan fried or fried. The dim sums One Dirham pasta which is : are served with some delectable sauces Book a table for 4 and one person on the and accompaniments prepared by our table gets his pasta of his choice for AED Chinese Chef Yu. Prices start from 1.00 only.

Dhs. 22.

Children above 6 years will be considered Dinner from 6:30 to 11:30 pm, closed on as ‘a person’.

Tuesdays.

for busy business people who want an express but healthy and delicious lunch. Prices start from Dhs. 50.

Lunch from 1:00 - 3:00 pm; dinner from 6:30 - 11:15 pm, closed on Saturdays.

Café on First Tango with Mango from 1st – 30th June This summer choose from our mango menu with mango crêpes, mango cheese cake and mango pies. You can’t resist this temptation!

Also, enjoy fruit smoothies – a chilled, creamy milk drink, blended with different fruit flavours or coffee.

Daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Entertainment Lounge Linger in our lounge bar and enjoy a variety of special cocktails mixed with the stunning voice of Jacquie, performing with AJMAN KEMPENSIKI Hotel: Call 06 - Bukhara- Indian restaurant her crew daily from 9:00 pm till late, except 745 1555 for reservation Curry in a Hurry Hai Tao – Chinese Restaurant Looking for a quick bite? Fast but tradi- Saturdays.

Dim Sum from 8th - 27th June tional and sumptuous curries are on offer Daily Happy Hour from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

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Omega at the FEI World Endurance Championship For the first time, Omega was the official timekeeper of the FEI World Endurance Championship 2005, held on January 27th. The brand’s role, as official timekeeper and sponsor, is in keeping with its tradition of timekeeping prestigious international events.

HH. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

HH. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hasher Al Maktoum

H.H. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Milvin George with the guests at the Endurance Race

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Ali Al Muhairi

H.H. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Mrs. Nayla Hayek and HRH Princess Alia Bint Al Hussein

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Mr. Milvin George_ Mrs. Marcelle Nadim & Ms. Carole Samaha

Mr. Raynal Aeschlimann & Carole Samaha

Mr. Raynald Aeschlimann & Mr. Mohammad Seddiqi

Mrs. Nayla Hayek and Mr. Milvin George

Live Performance by Carole Samaha at the Omega Gala Dinner

Mr. Samir Kayali & Hisham Al Majali

Ms. Carole Samaha_ Nicolas Nakhle_ Milvin George & Raynald A

Ms. Carols Samaha

Ms. Dina Azar

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CHRISTIE'S Opens Office In Dubai Major Exhibition of Important Works of Art in Dubai

Chrities had opened in Dubai the last month and becoming the first international auction house to open an office in the region.

Lydia Limerick’s has been appointed Christie’s representative and that coincides with unveiling of Christie’s largest public exhibition of works of art to date in the region. The exhibition was led by the highly important collection of Kiswa curtains, Iznik pottery as well as magnificent jewellery and vintage wrist watches.

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NIKE

hosts Dubai’s first Women’s Open Dance Competition

Dubai’s first Women’s Open Dance Competition was held by NIKE, the world’s leading sport brand in the Le Meridien Airport Hotel. Sun & Sand has organized the competition where it aimed to promote dance as a sport. Five finalists were chosen to appear in an exclusive NIKE Dance video.

Nike’s idea behind is to change the view that dancers are not considered as athletes and to promote dance as a sport; connect music and sport.

Besides appearing in the exclusive video, which will be aired on Rotana TV, all the finalists also received a year sponsorship from NIKE.

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Esprit had a walk through most of the press conferences & events to bring you the latest news for technology, beauty, fashion, industry, charity and many other news Damas Wins Shaikh Rashid Award Recognized as Best Service Provider Receiving yet another applause for excellence in entrepreneurship, Damas won the award for Best Service Provider, launched by the Mohammad Bin Rashid Establishment for young Business leaders. His Highness General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and U.A.E. Defense Minister honored the winners and presented the awards during a glittering ceremony at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry this month, which was received by Mr. Tamjid Abdullah, Deputy Managing Director, Damas.

Calvin Klein Collection Store opens at Wafi The store will be dedicated to Calvin Klein Collection apparel, footwear and accessories for women and men, as well as meaningful presentations of Calvin Klein Jeans. An extensive range of Calvin Klein branded offerings will be featured throughout the store, including underwear, fragrance, watches, jewelry and eyewear merchandise.

LG flat screen TVs sweep global design awards LG aims to be the market leader in PDP TVs by 2006 and LCD TVs by 2008. The company is targeting a 30 percent share of the PDP module market by 2005, the number one position in the PDP TV market by 2006, and the number one position in the LCD TV market by 2008. LG’s 50 inch PDP TV, with world’s first built-in hard disk, received an iF Design Award at CeBIT 2005, and a Reddot Design Award. The 60-inch version grabbed an Innovation Award at Consumer Electronics Show 2005 held early this year.

Pantene Hair Style Demonstrations Captivate Audience during Milan Fashion Week The Pantene Style Demonstrations, part of an exclusive evening featuring Pantene’s acclaimed Global Artistic Director Andy Uffels, proved to be one of the most captivating events of the recent Milan Fashion Week.

This debut of Pantene at the fashion week also made an emphatic style statement that focused on hair.

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Design your life. Express your style Braun Impression Line launched Braun, the world’s leading electrical goods manufacturer, has launched the Impression Line, a premium line of kitchen appliances, which combine cutting edge design with minimalist, modern style. The Impression Line trio, made up of coffee maker, toaster and water kettle, is designed for the image conscious consumer who demands everyday items to be sophisticatedly designed.

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Adidas Introduce The World’s First Intelligent Shoe Adidas intelligent shoe is the most advanced ever made. Its sensor, located just below the runners heel, works by measuring the distance to a small magnet at the bottom of the shoe, takes 1,000 readings a second, and is accurate to a tenth of a millimeter. It understands via a small microprocessor, located underneath the shoe arch, capable of making five million calculations per second, and adapts with a motor-driven cable system that spins at 6,000 rpm, faster than the blades of a helicopter.

Siemens Mobile Devices announces the striking SF65 camera mobile phone The SF65 mobile phone comes with The swivel action screen enables the phone to look and feel like an actual digital camera. With the 65,000 colour display, screen images are displayed in rich colours and vibrant clarity ensuring better photography. Equipped with integrated LED flash and 4 X continuous digital zoom, be the handset enables the user to pinpoint and capture details with accuracy at any time of night or day.

Panasonic launches world’s largest capacity washing machine in the Middle East In keeping with its philosophy, Panasonic, the leading global manufacturer of consumer electronic products has introduced yet another innovative ‘idea for life’ – the giant NA-W1350T and NA-W1300T twin-tub rust-free washing machine that can efficiently wash up to 13 kgs of laundry.

The W1350T and W1300T washing machines are being introduced in the Middle East for the first time to cater to the needs of local Arab families and other large households.

Nayomi parades romantic ele gance at Bride Show 2005 Nayomi, the Middle East’s leading lingerie retailer hosted a fashion show at The Bride Show Dubai, on April 13th, showcasing their current collection of bridal lingerie and nightwear. The event comes one month prior to Nayomi’s flagship fashion show which will unveil the summer 05 collections.

Mercato announces ‘Porto Vecchio Village For All’ Mercato, the first themed mall in the UAE and the Middle East, will host a three-week long event in May, entitled ‘Street Theatre at Porto Vecchio Village’. Modelled to capture the essence of traditional European street performances, the event will run from May 4 to 24, 2005 and feature an international entertainer in multiple roles, several live theatrical performances and surprises for visitors to the mall.

ME University Inaugurate Its Branch At Knowledge Village ME UNIVERSITY recently inaugurated its state of the art branch in Knowledge Village. Created to assist students with their finances, the branch serves as The Place! to find the best student offers in town.

Tailor made to suit students’ needs; the meUNIVERSITY branch is fully equipped, housing an ATM machine, a cash deposit machine, computers, and a plasma TV screen showing the latest video clips.

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Samsung introduces World’s First ‘seven megapixel’ camera phone SCH-V770 camera phone is capable of professional photography Samsung Electronics unveiled the world’s first mobile phone (model: SCH-V770) equipped with a 7 megapixel camera at CeBIT 2005, Hanover, Germany. Just six months after the introduction of its world’s first 5-megapixel-camera phone, Samsung has reached another milestone in camera phones. The V770 comes with a design reminiscent of a real digital camera. The front is designed as a bar-type mobile phone, while the backside is used as the digital camera.

This is the first camera phone that support manual functions and wide-angle and teleconversion lenses. It also features 3x optical zoom, 5x digital zoom and auto focus.

Baskin Robbins launches exotic flavoured shakes The new shakes are conjured up from ice cream flavours exclusive to India, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Mango Berry Magic, an exotic blend of mango and strawberry evokes the spirit of India while Coconut Paradise, a delicious coconut shake, comes with real shredded coconut that brings out the flavour of the Carribean. Desert Oasis (the region’s very own), created from the unique Baklava ice cream, drenched in rich honey butter ribbon and loaded with almonds and walnuts provides true Arabian adventure.

Benetton Stages Fashion Show With A Difference United Colors of Benetton hosted an unusual fashion show in the window of its popular Deira City Centre outlet. The store’s mannequins made way for four beautiful models wearing stylish designs from Benetton’s new 2005 Spring/Summer Collection.

Benetton converted the flagship store’s window display area into an impromptu catwalk to show off four different ensembles from the trendy new range.

Contax Introduces A Beauty With Brains A slim body, a sharp eye and a speedy heart. These three core values define the new Contax i4R, 4 Mega digital camera.The i4R weighs just 90gm and its micro size means it fits into any pocket or handbag with ease. The sleek, stylish body has a brushed aluminium finish. There are three striking colour options : cherry red, black and silver.

Salalah Offers Perfect Retreat For Holiday Makers: A Place Where The Desert Meets The Tropics The resort, which is located on the private white sandy beach of Salalah, is perfectly positioned to take advantage of attracting the millions of dollars that are spent each year on golf travel. North Americans currently spend an estimated $24 billion a year (U.S. National Golf Foundation) on golf travel, while Europeans spend $3 billion (Golf Research Group) – both are major markets that Oman is working hard to attract to its shores.

Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah Tees Off Tourism Drive with New 9 Hole Golf Course

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Hastens’ Best Offer…!

Free Hastens Pillows and Duvets……

We offer two free Hastens Classic pillow size 50 x 60 and one Hastens Dream 51 Duvet size 240 x 240 ( total worth 2,570 DHS) with every 180 x200 bed purchased, until 30th of June 2005.

NIVEA Beauté ‘Beauty Protect’, the secret of radiant, younger looking complexion Imagine the perfect foundation…designed to enhance your complexion, by smoothing and firming your skin whilst offering protection from environmental stresses, all day every day.

The beauty experts at NIVEA Beauté have turned this dream into reality with their latest development, Beauty Protect, an extraordinary new triple-action foundation offering smoothing, firming and protection benefits to effortlessly enhance and look after your skin as never before possible.

Whopper Your Way Hits BURGER KING® in the UAE If you’re a fan of BURGER KING®’s flagship burger, the Whopper, you won’t want to miss Whopper Your Way that’s taking place right now at BURGER KING®. For a limited period only, two delicious new Whopper sandwiches are available in addition to the Whopper to tantalize the taste buds of all who try them. First up is the Spicy Whopper which has a mouthwatering chunky red spicy sauce, and next in line, the Garlic Whopper has a lip-smacking garlic sauce.

Panasonic introduces air-conditioners with revolution ary new air filter capable of inactivating 99% of allergens Panasonic will incorporate the filter into air treatment equipment including air purifiers, humidifiers and airconditioners to create clean and healthy indoor environments. The company is introducing new models of airconditioners using the air filter to key markets in the Middle East. The new air-conditioners range from the 1 ton to 2.5 ton models CS/CU-C12DKF, CS/CUC18DKF, CS/CU-C24DKF and CS/CU-C28DKF. The air-conditioners are the first of its kind, incorporating dual functionalities of ‘air cleaning’ courtesy the air filter and ‘air creating’ courtesy a Super Ioniser that generates rich negative ions.

Al Madani Group opens three stores at Ibn Battuta mall Al Madani Group opened three more stores in Dubai this month with the opening of the Ibn Battuta mall later this week.

Among the new stores set to open is the new Levi’s flagship store in the emirates, a Hang Ten store – designed using the new Hang Ten store concept, and Al Thawb Al Watani – the men’s tailoring chain that was launched by Al Madani in 1992.

“Being present in this area will bring us closer to where a large number of our customers are. Moreover, Ibn Battuta mall is certain to become a shopping centre that is popular not only with residents in the area, but also one that will draw tourists.

The brands that Al Madani represents, such as Levi’s and Hang Ten, already have great appeal and shoppers will seek them out wherever they are,” said Mohammad Al Madani, CEO, Al Madani Group.

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DEEP INSIDE YOUR HEART

By Emad Mohsen

Who smiles through life except when crossed?

Who thinks he knows the most??

Who loves good things???

It is the Taurus

Taurus Taurus April 20 to May 20 Ruling Planet Venus Nature Negative Quality Fixed Keyphrase I have!!

Keyword Possessive Main Trait Dependability Principle Reaction Symbol The Bull

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The second sign of the zodiac, Taurus is ruled by Venus. The glyph represents the Bull, Taurus’s symbol. The sign is concerned with the manifestation of the self, with basic needs being the foremost. Ruled by Venus, Taurus personalities tend to be driven by their affections rather than by emotions.

PersonalTraits Taurus is the direct opposite of the Aries character. Taureans tend to be slow, methodical, practical and reserved. They are also stolid, tenacious and determined. Possessing tremendous willpower and selfdiscipline, they are inclined to stick to tried and traditional methods. Their greatest satisfaction derives from results produced directly by their own personal efforts rather than by others.

Roots are very important to the Taurean. A sense of permanence, a feeling of security is essential.

Generally an easygoing person, slow to anger, but once roused is known for a ferocious temper. Very difficult to deal with when angry. Usually set off by jealousy due to a possessive nature. Loyalty is important to a Taurus, and a true friend of a Taurean will speak well of their great generosity.

Honesty, integrity and dependability are notable Taurean characteristics. The calm, pleasant, and well intentioned Taurus exterior belies the volcanic temper that can erupt when sufficiently aroused. The bright side of the stubborn bull’s nature is, they are incredibly and uncompromisingly loyal to their friends. Established slowly, a Taurus friendship can, and often lasts a lifetime Positive Traits Taureans are warm, loving, gentle and charming most of the time. Motivated by self preservation, the Taurean is not a risk taker and weighs every decision carefully, in a slow and methodical manner. To more impulsive people, the Taurean is a bore. Opinionated and stubborn, once a Taurean makes a decision, it is written in stone. Nobody can alter it. Basically physical people, they prefer the known to the unknown and the tried to the new. They love the earth, possessions, and generally treat those they love as sacred possessions.

Main positive traits: Stable, dependable, practical, conventional, determined and patient.

Negative Traits Taureans can be very caring and warmhearted but there is a tendency to be extremely jealous, possessive and very stubborn. Taurus must strive to keep an open mind because his strong personal convictions can blind him to the ideas of others. Risks are taken only if it is absolutely necessary and only after much consideration. This is a sign that’s slow to change and would prefer a steady routine in life.

Main negative traits: Possessive, stubborn, materialistic.

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Colors Light Blue, Mauve Metal Copper Gem Emerald Body Part Throat and neck Lucky No 4,6 Lucky Day Friday Tree Apple Flowers Rose, Poppy,Violet Countries Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia Cities Dublin, Lucerne, Leipzig, St. Louis Notable Taurean Shakespeare Element Earth

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Profession Prosperous at developing and maintaining wealth, Taureans do well in banking and finance. In business, they shine in fields concerned with the earth and money. Architect, builder, gardener or accountant, financier, banker, auctioneer, real estate broker, are all professions which attract a Taurus. They may even possess a good singing voice as music may be said to be a Taurean art. Many Taureans have a find real pleasure in gardening. Gifted with a natural artistic nature, they also may excel as crafts workers.

Persistence, thoroughness and single-mindedness that can take on dogmatic qualities are the hallmarks of the Taurean personality. No detail will ever be overlooked by the eyes of a Taurean. Motivated by a desire to obtain and accumulate physical possessions, they can be compulsive in their intensity to secure an ample supply of everything they consider important.

Advise for Taureans Taureans must strive to keep an open mind because their strong personal convictions can blind them to the ideas of others.

Origins in Mythology Taurus is one of the elder signs in the zodiac. In earlier ages the vernal equinox was located within the realm of the bull, roughly during 4,000-1,700 B.C. In ancient cultures, the year began with Taurus.

To the Greeks, Taurus is associated with Zeus and his transformation into a snowy white Bull. This he did as a means to abduct Europe, whom he lusted for. Thus, the Minotaur of Crete, result of this union of God and mortal, is also recognized as being associated with the second sign of the zodiac.

In the Mediterranean region,, the Sun’s entry into Taurus was celebrated as the Feast of Maya. The Sun was often represented by a white bull with a golden disc between his horns. This image was followed by a procession of virgins, exemplifying the fecundity of nature. This association of Taurus with the beginning of spring can be traced as far back as ancient Babylon.

Cultural Translations of Taurus .Arabic: Al Thaur

French: Taureau

German: Stier

.Hebrew: Shõr

Italian: Toro

Portugual :Touro

Spanish: Tauro

Syrian: Taurã

Turkish: Ughuz

Famous Taureans William Shakespeare (April 23, 1564) English Bard, Playwright Charlotte Bronte (April 21, 1816) English Novelist Karl Marx (May 5, 1818) German Philosopher, Economist, Sigmund Freud (May 6, 1856) Austrian Founder of Psychoanalysis Harry Truman (May 8, 1884) American President Rudolph Valentino (May 6, 1895) Italian-American Actor John Wayne (April 26, 1907) American Actor Barbara Streisand (April 24, 1942) American Singer, Actress, Director Hosni Mubarak (May 4, 1928) Egyptian President Madeleine Albright (May 15, 1937) American Secretary of State Elizabeth II (April 21, 1926) Queen of England Tony Blair (May 6, 1953) British Prime Minister Andre Agassi (April 29, 1970)

Tennis player David Becham (May 2, 1975) Famed Football Player Pierce Brosnan(May 16, 1952) James Bond Fame

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