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Liveliness of Mind & spirit

October- 2004

Pearl, The Queen of Gems Liveliness of Mind & spirit

Hair Coloring History Beginning & Color Revolution

Eid Blockbusters Watch out

Latest Fall / Winter Collections Jewelry, Fashion, Watches, Accessories & Home

Ramadan, the Holy Month October- 2004

Fasting…. & Feasting…..

Ramadan Loads of prizes for grabs!

Guide for Ramadan 30 nights

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Mod. FF528

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Bugshan General Trading Est. Tel: 2240224 Fax: 2221675 P.O.Box 55723, Dubai, U.A.E. Email: perfume@emirates.net.ae

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Fashion Essentials

Escada Soft suede takes an amazing elephant look in these sporty accessories aptly called Elefantino

Armani Ring hooks and steel clasps provide the trend-setting highlight for this season's Armani bags

Escada footwear boldly carries the brand's signature fuchsia pink colour, with the blue variation providing just the right contrast

Armani Court shoes are back, with a nice rounded shape, and matching straps perfect for flaunting on the ramp and on the streets

Vice Versa Trendy watches for people who have better things to do with time than watch it.

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Chic and classy describe this stunning leather Shoulder bag by Olsen Dhs 495/-

Double buckles add yet more stylish detail to this elegant bag from Armani

The Nokia 7280 comes in a lacquer-inspired, high-gloss finish making it sleek

Armani's detailing features a lot of embellishments, like these, that give a rock glam look to the season Jimmy Choo The richer details, the better as seen from these two finely crafted shoes, with a nice bohemian touch in the strap

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Escada gets away with the softness of its trademarked fuchsia colour through intricate prints

Barocco Geometric patterns enhance the elegance of these Barocco ties

Bugatti extols elegance in this durable, handsomely-crafted footwear.

Simple elegance from the strap to the buckle

Barocco Geometric lines and shapes are back en vogue in this trendy tie and shirt.

Latest Versace Eyewear Glamour combined with comfort continues to be the defining principle of the latest Versace eyewear collection. Frames are predominantly oversized acetates typically Hollywood vogue in black, red, white, and transparent colours.

Versace sunglasses combine superior design and unmatched quality in luxury designs for both men and women. The Versace sunglasses collection is sexy, smart, sophisticated and always the life of the party. Versace sunglasses and other premium eyewear collections are available at Al Jaber Optical Centre.

Armani Casual yet carefully designed leather shoes highlights subdued elegance of Armani Armani beltNo doubt about this belt being an Armani - the oversized logo does a great job catching attention rather elegantly

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Ramadan Kareem Photo & Graphics by Ibrahim Assi

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MERCEDES-B ENZ oupé CLS 55 AMG

C r e p Su

Supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8-engine with 476 hp AMG SPEEDSHIFT with Formula-1 style steering-wheel gearshift 18-inch AMG twin-spoke wheels, muscular AMG styling

M

ercedes new super coupe takes German vehicle design to new levels, showing an almost organic approach to styling, while retaining enough menace to keep the die-hard AMG fans happy.

Imposing performance figures and exclusive specification: Mercedes-AMG has succeeded in creating a most desirable car in the form of the new CLS 55 AMG. This unique four-door coupé is driven by the powerful and refined AMG V8 supercharged engine, which generates an output of 350 kW/476 hp and 700 Newton metres of torque from a displacement of 5.5 litres. This gives the car truly top-notch performance: the CLS 55 AMG accelerates from nought to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds and has an electronically limited maximum speed of 250 km/h. The CLS 55 AMG boasts AMG sports suspension, a high-performance AMG braking system plus AMG bodystyling and will be making its market debut in January 2005.

As with the other AMG high-performance cars, the engine power is transferred to the wheels via the AMG SPEEDSHIFT

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five-speed automatic transmission. This allows the driver to choose between fully automatic or manual gear changes, the latter being possible by using either the selector lever or the gearshift buttons on the ergonomic AMG sports steering wheel. The powerplant is superbly complemented by the AMG sports suspension and by the AMG high-performance braking system. The CLS 55 AMG features AIRMATIC DC semi-active air suspension with an adaptive damping system; this suspension set-up has been specially modified for AMG by giving it tauter tuning. Large, internally ventilated and perforated brake discs make for impressive deceleration and high fading resistance.

Powerful-looking 18-inch AMG lightalloy wheels and AMG bodystyling The car s dynamic ride characteristics are due in part to the wheel/tyre combination fitted 8.5 and 9.5-inch wide 18-inch AMG twin-spoke light-alloy wheels shod with 255/40 and 285/35 wide-base tyres.

These powerful-looking wheels complement the new AMG bodystyling, which in turn reflects the sophisticated coup? aes-

thetics of the CLS-Class to perfection.

The AMG bodystyling comprises an expressive front apron with large air inlets and round fog lamps, side skirts and a distinctive rear apron. One highlight which appeals to both the eye and the ear is provided by the two chromed, twin oval tailpipes of the AMG sports exhaust system.

Further differentiation from the standard CLS models is ensured by a special radiator grille with three imposing, silverpainted louvers, while a subtle AMG boot lid spoiler is claimed to increase downforce on the rear wheels.

Comprehensive, high-grade standard equipment with nappa leather upholstery The equipment of the CLS 55 AMG represents a pleasing combination of exclusive, sporty styling and high-quality materials. The design of the new AMG sports

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seats exhibits special AMG perforations, lateral piping, double stitching and Alcantara panels at shoulder height. The plentiful specification also includes luxurious nappa leather in a choice of three colours, an AMG instrument cluster with a 320 km/h speedometer scale and chromed door sill panels with the AMG logo.

One of the key visual features of the new AMG street car is its wheels, which complement and indeed highlight the curvaceous design of the CLS-Class. The way the car sits on the road is purposeful

and very eye-catching, and the 18-inch twin-spoke light-alloy wheels shod with 255/40 (front) and 285/35 (rear) wide-base tyres help achieve this. These powerfullooking wheels complement the new bodystyling, which in turn reflects the sophisticated coupé aesthetics (low and long) of the CLS-Class to perfection.

There is even a 19-inch AMG wheel package for those who want bling, with tyres in size 255/35 and 285/30.

Step inside the new CLS and, in addition to a surprising amount of interior

space, you ll notice the design of the new and rather special AMG sports seats.

These new seats get special AMG perforations, double stitching, lateral piping and Alcantara panels at shoulder height for a little bit more support.

As Mercedes wedges high performance engines in to almost all of its model range - including the mid-sized C-Class and drop top SLK-Class - it will be interesting to see whether BMW s new hero car, the M5, will be able to handle the increased pressure exerted by Mercedes.

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Phoenix dactylifera

By Bruce Pederson, General Manager Dubai Garden Centre

T

he common Date palm has been used as a supply of food, building materials and consumables for thousands of years, archaeological sites approximately 50,000 years old have been unearthed showing dates had long been used as a source of food.

The name of the plant is interesting itself, the generic name Phoenix comes from ancient Greek and is supposedly derived from “Phoenician”, the Mediterranean seafaring travellers who were thought to have carried and spread the palm through the region. Oddly enough the Phoenix is also an immortal, mythic Greek bird that is said to be able to rise from its own ashes; a fitting description of this almost indestructible plant.

In the UAE Palm trees are used both for their ornamental as well as agricultural value; almost every commercial landscape and many residential properties sport these well recognised icons. Large agricultural date plantations are located in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain as well as Ras Al Khaimah, with the UAE being ranked 7th in the worlds production of edible dates. The UAE has an estimated 40 million Date palms and produces 318,000 tones (2001) of dates per annum!

Date Palms are evergreen, un-branched palms growing up to 25 metres in height; the plant is characterised by spirals of old leaf scars up the trunk. A single growth point or bud is found at the centre of the apex of each plant, from this all new growth for the plant is produced; if this bud is damaged, rots or dies the plant will be unable to produce any new leaves, or flowers and will die.

Plants are dioecious; this means that there are separate male and female plants; only the female plant will produce dates.

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With un-hybridized plants (those grown from seed) it is not possible to tell whether a plant will be male or female until it has flowered. Obviously for farmers it is important to have more female plants than males; female plants can be produced exclusively through tissue culture, or from off-sets from a female plant. Occasionally off-sets develop from the base of the plant; these are used for commercial purposes as the material is always genetically identical to the original plant.

Palms will start producing dates from an age of about four to five years and reach maturity after about ten years. The plants are extremely hardy and can tolerate saline soils with levels of between 22,000 and 30,000 parts-per-million of salts; regular bottled water contains between 150 and 300 parts-per-million of salt!

An average Date Palm (5 metres tall) will consume about 160 litres of water per day. The biggest problem facing Date Palms in the region is from the Red Palm Weevil a wood boring insect; the larvae of the beetle bores its way into the palm and eats into the soft tissue below the stem.

Large infestations of the beetle are enough to weaken the stem/ trunk and kill the plant.

Date palms have long been an integral part the culture, heritage, agriculture, architecture and landscape of the UAE and will continue to be so for a very long time.

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Liveliness of Mind & spirit

October- 2004

Pearl, The Queen of Gems

Hair Coloring History

Beginning & Color Revolution

Eid Blockbusters Watch out

Latest Fall / Winter Collections

Jewelry, Fashion, Watches, Accessories & Home

Ramadan, the Holy Month Fasting…. & Feasting…..

Ramadan Loads of prizes for grabs!

Editor s Letter

Guide for Ramadan 30 nights

Ramadan Kareem!

Cover by M.T.

Editor in Chief: Eman Mohammed Editor Anthon Garcia Contributing Editors Debra Berriman Debbie Llyod Birjees Hussain Bandana Jain Photographer Ibrahim Assi Design: DUBAI MEDIA CITY

Marketing & Advertising :

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

We wish everyone a truly meaningful and uplifting experience in this most special of occasions the Ramadan. The spirit of Ramadan feels the air, and is felt in the solemnity of the fasting period during the day, as well as in the celebration that follows during the Ramadan feast each night.

It is amazing how the Ramadan has kept in step with the changing times. For many, it has become a period for shopping and celebratory feasts. Yet, the spiritual aspect of the Ramadan remains very firmly intact in the hearts and minds of the people in this part of the world. This has been quite noticeable in the last few years, and so we at Esprit went around to ask people what the Ramadan meant to them.

We also prepared a nice little Ramadan Feast guide in this issue, which tells you where to go for excellent meals during the feasts at night. We hope you have a great time sampling the various Ramadan specials prepared by restaurants and hotels all across the city.

We are just as excited as you are to be a part of the Ramadan and, of course, the Eid. We are eagerly looking forward to sharing the gifts, which we somehow managed to buy, despite the shopping frenzy. We know you are also looking forward to this exciting gift-giving-and-sharing experience.

Of course, our gift to you is this special issue that we put together for the Ramadan.

We have added new sections, and have as always gathered the latest trends in fashion, entertainment and leisure, shopping and others.

We wish you a happy Ramadan and Eid.

n a m E

Congratulations to all our competitions winner in August issue Winner of Paris Gallery Facial: Sumaya Al Jundi Winner of Ma Vida: Iwana Kulak

5 Winners of SAMSUNG DVD: Miriam F. Savador Beata K. Fahad Qureishy Doris Day M. Oxiano Evelyn Furtado

All Participations are accepted latest by th 15 November, 2004.

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PARIS

EST MA VILLE PRÉFÉRÉE

by Anthon Garcia

2

aris is probably the most romanticised of all cities the city has been the subject of countless accolades and superlatives in numerous travelogues, poetry and other works of art. It has been called the city of a thousand cliches, the most often quotes this bustling and charming metropolis as the City of Lights.

But this one city that deserves all the hype.

The French capital is one of the world s truly great cities that lavishly satisfies the desires of both tourists and business travellers and manages to retain a standard of living that makes becoming a Parisian so

Eiffel Tower

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alluring.

It is no surprise then that Paris is Paris is the most visited city in the world loved for its culture and language; for its people and scenic views. It s stunning, stylish and sensual, with a dramatic and historic past still morphing into a funky present.

Whether you come to Paris for the landmark sights, the exquisite cuisine or just indulge in life s fashionable pleasures, you will discover a thriving and ever-changing city. Despite its large size and population almost everything worth seeing is contained within the ring road, the Boulevard

Périphérique. The compact centre is easily navigable on foot, with the efficient and comprehensive Métro system always on hand to ease tired limbs. The lifeblood River Seine splits the city neatly in two and the useful arrondissements system neatly carves Paris into manageable chunks.

Paris is a city with a varied climate that conjures up its own seasonal delights. In summer, when the mercury rises, the locals flock to the new Paris Plage, where a riverside expressway is converted for a month between July and August into an oasis of swimming pools, sand and

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Grande Arche

Pompidou Centre Notre Dame

deckchairs. The best time to visit is, of course, during the famous Paris Spring between April and June, when the days are sunny but not too hot. The autumn and winter months are another good time to come when there are fewer crowds and snow is a rarity, but there really is no bad time to visit one of the world s truly great cities.

Sights guide: The city is very walkable and even the furthest sights can be reached easily by the clean and efficient Metro or bus. Both left and right banks of the River Seine are teeming with cultural landmarks.

On the right bank lies the Arc de Triomphe, the world famous arch commissioned by Napoleon, plus the tree/shop-lined Champs-Elysées, famous for its fabulous and expensive shops. At the end of that avenue is Place de la Concorde, where the well-travelled 3,300year-old Egyptian obelisk oversees the through the peaceful Tuileries Garden, you get to the incredible Louvre, a vast city s chaotic traffic.

On the other side of the avenue, building with glass pyramid entrance,

where Mona Lisa still smiles. Other notable buildings are Opéra Garnier, Centre Georges Pompidou, Sacré Coeur [Basilica of the Sacred Heart] with a monster white dome from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Then there s Les îles (or The Islands) with Notre Dame as the star attraction it s is well worth climbing the 387 steps for a breathtaking view of Paris and close look at some scary gargoyles. Conciergerie is a former prison where 3,000 guillotine victims including Marie-Antoinette were kept warm. One of the city s almost hidden treasures, inside the Palais de Justice is Saint Chapelle, a Gothic masterpiece with 13th century stained glass.

On the left bank lies the iconic symbol of Paris - The Eiffel Tower, the 320m landmark is considered an architectural and engineering masterpiece. An adjacent park, Champ de Mars is pleasant for picnics for weary travelers. Another must-see museum is Musée d Orsay, home to an

Paris Louvre Museum October 2004

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Galeries Lafayette

Hall of Mirrors

exquisite collection of Impressionist works.

The Quartier Latin [Latin Quarter], enlivened by students of the Sorbonne University, offers Roman ruins, Musée du Moyen Âge [ Middle Ages museum], Arénes de Lutéce [an amphitheatre], and two fine parks, the Luxembourg and Jardin des Plantes.

A relatively new attraction is La Défense, a massive skyscraper group, including Grande Arche, a 20th century

version of Arc de Triomphe, with open-air contemporary arts exhibits in the west of the city.

Arts/Culture guide: Museums: some of the world s great museums are here, such as the Louvre and Musée d Orsay. Do not be overwhelmed by their size, try to aim at a few important exhibits, or visit smaller, specialised museums. e.g.

Musée Picasso, Musée Rodin, and Musée National du Moyen Âge-thermes de Cluny.

The Children s Gallery at Pompidou Centre and Grande Galerie de l Évolution [part of the National History Museum] are fantastic for kids.

Galleries: For innovative work see the north part of the Marais; for young artists check around the Bastille; for avant-garde or traditional sculpture and paintings check around St-Germain-des-Prés; and for big contemporary names try the Champs-Elysées.

Champs Elysees by night

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The annual art fair, Foire Internationale d Art Contemporain is held in September and October.

Entertainment: Check Pariscope magazine [including Time Out weekly insert in English] for event info/listings. Booking ahead is advisable through travel agencies or ticket outlets, but discounted tickets for same-day performances can be bought at an agency called Kiosque Théâtre.

Live Music: Venues are on every corner of the city, from huge halls such as ChateletThéâtre Musical and Cité de la Musique to tiny bars and smoky jazz clubs, even in Metro stations. Classical concerts are also regularly held in churches and museums.

Dance/Opera: Two of the best Opera houses are Opéra Bastille and Opéra Garnier, though good seats are sold several months in advance.

Theatre: Unfortunately most of the city s productions are in French, but a few are in English. Look for Metro posters or information in magazines.

Cuisine guide: Traditional French meals are no longer everybody s choice [sauce fatigue?], but modern French cuisine - light and healthy, in stylish bistros - is becoming more popular. There is also a fantastic selection of ethnic foods thanks to excolonial immigrants from Indochina, the Middle-east, Caribbean and South Pacific. But best of all is taking your time over a simple petit déjeuner [breakfast] - a big cup of strong coffee and brandy with a perfect croissant.

Short Trips: Travel out to Versailles palace & gardensespecially on fine days. The garden is vast and great for walks. It s 23 km from Paris. Compiègne [extravagant hunting lodge] is 80km, Pierrefonds [neomedieval castle], Fontainebleau [royal castle and town], 65km south-east, Euro Disney Resort, 39 km east , and Chantilly [castle in a lake], 41km, Parc Astérix 36km, both north-east of the city

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4KC>O heads to the hills

7s

SriLankan Airlines sponsors tournament in Kandy

.

ans of the Dubai Rugby 7s are heading for the hills for a foretaste of their annual December tournament in the UAE, when SriLankan Airlines hosts the 16 competing teams taking part in the Rugby 7s at the Nittawella Stadium in Kandy.

A three-day festival will accompany the games between September 10 and 12, with a host of entertainment planned to complement the keen rivalry on the pitch.

SriLankan CEO Peter Hill said the tournament was another element of the growing calendar of sporting events for which Sri Lanka was becoming known.

As well as being home to an award-winning cricket team that regularly hosts the world s top cricketing nations, here in Sri Lanka there are also opportunities for both professional and amateur play in golf, horse racing and rugby, and the accompanying festivals mean there is plenty for everyone, players and partners alike.

SriLankan Airlines has received a string of world aviation accolades recently, including World s Friendliest Cabin Staff, Best Overall Inflight Entertainment (for a fleet size of 20 or less), and first runner-up for the World s Best Cabin Staff.

For airline information: www.srilankan.aero Holiday information: www.srilankan-holidays.com

October 2004

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By Ibrahim Assi, Photographer Photography , method of picture making developed in the early 19th century, based on principles of light, optics, and chemistry. The word photography comes from Greek words and means drawing with light. Photographs serve as scientific evidence, conveyers of news, historical documents, works of art, and records of family life. Millions of people around the world own cameras and enjoy taking pictures; every year more than 10 billion exposures are made with still cameras Light is the most essential ingredient in photography. Nearly all forms of photography are based on the fact that certain

chemicals are photosensitive that is, they change in some way when exposed to light.

For the purpose of producing a photograph, these silver salts are distributed in gelatin to make a mixture called an emulsion, which is applied to film or another supporting material in a thin layer. When the emulsion is exposed to light, In most cases the camera and its lens determine the appearance of the photographic image.. In the modern camera, light passes through a lens fitted into an otherwise lightproof box. Light passing through the lens casts an image of the camera s subject the object, person, or scene in Light is passing through front of the camera onto lenses to mark on the flim the inside of the box,

which in a modern camera contains film.

The camera and lens control how much light strikes the film in what is called an exposure The purpose of the lens is refraction, the bending of light. The camera s glass or plastic lens bends the light rays reflected from the subject so that these rays cross and reappear upside-down on the other side of the lens. The area where they reform an image of the subject inside the camera is called the plane of focus. The photographer, or an automatic mechanism in some cameras, must adjust the distance between the lens and the film so that the plane of focus falls exactly where the film lies, making the resulting image appear in focus.

In the early 19th century English scien-

Old Sysytem cameras Before the SLR system is invented

Win a PENTAX Optio 5 megapixel camera from Salam Studios Q1: Who was the first to produce the paper negative?

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Normal Lens, Zoom, Tele lens

tists Thomas Wedgwood and Sir Humphry Davy used silver nitrate in an attempt to transfer a painted image onto leather or paper. French inventor, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, is credited with having made the first successful photograph in 1826.

English inventor William Henry Fox Talbot devised this process and perfected it in the 1840s. Talbot s process produced a paper negative, from which he 50-55mm could produce any number Is the normal lens it’s equivalent to human of paper positives. He eye 1 to 1 exposed silver-sensitized paper briefly to light and light-sensitive, fast films, and low then treated it with other chemicals to numbers to less sensitive, slow produce a visible image films.

A few years later American inventor Whether fast or slow, all films George Eastman devised a flexible ver- exhibit a pattern called grain. Film sion of this system, a long paper strip that grain is the visible trace of the could replace the glass plate. In 1889 he metallic silver that forms the improved on this by using a type of plastic image. The individual grains of silcalled celluloid instead of paper, produc- ver are generally larger and more ing the first photographic film. color films obvious in faster film than in slowwere not invented until the 20th century. er film The first commercially successful material A range of color film types is for making color photographs, called available to photographers. These Autochrome, became available in 1907 In types include color print films; any lighting situation there is an optimal reversal films, used to make color exposure that will produce a perfect slides and larger transparencies; image on film. Film exposed to light for a Polaroid films, which develop into Zoom lens is variable in focal longer than optimal time is said to be prints without additional processTele lens is a fix focal lens overexposed and produces prints that ing; and a number of specialty films look bleached out and blurred. Too short such as X-ray and infrared. Color 200mm lens means an exposure and the image is underex- print films, which produce prints 200 posed, which shows most visibly as insuf- through the classic negative-to------- = 4 times Closer ficient contrast between dark and light. positive process, include such Film is also classified by speed, a rating brand names as Kodacolor, 50 that provides a measure of the film s sen- Fujicolor, and Agfacolor. sitivity to light Kodachrome, Ektachrome, Fujichrome, design films for such specific tasks as slide The manufacturer of the film assigns it a and Agfachrome are examples of films duplication. Film speeds of slide films standardized numerical rating known as that produce 35-millimeter slides and commonly range from a very slow ISO 25 the ISO number (ISO stands for the larger transparencies. Both daylight and to a very fast ISO 3200 International Standards Organization). tungsten versions of these films are genHigh ISO numbers correspond to highly erally available. Manufacturers also

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OLLYWOOD S H 10 C T

E L E B R I T I E S

O P

Among Hollywood s biggest and brightest stars, 10 shone the brightest last year.

According to Forbes magazine, which publishes an annual ranking of Hollywood s riches and most famous, those who occupied the top ten places in its rankings simply had more money than the rest, and had a bigger share of voice in the media.

The rankings represent quite an interesting mix of sports and entertainment personalities, but still dominated by Hollywood superstars. And in the last few years, there have been interesting movement in the rankings, suggesting how fleeting a Hollywood moment of fame and fortune can be.

We live in an age of instantisms instant coffee, instant food, and now instant celebrity, thanks in large part to

the reality TV phenomenon. Because of this, many one-time hit wonders such as William Hung (American Idol) and Jessica Simpson made it to the list; who knows if they ll be on it next year.

However, just to prove it can really get nasty in Hollywood, Britney Spears topped the rankings in 2002, but the pop princess hasn t been on the list since.

How quickly fame and fortune change.

However, there are those who have consistently made the list. Stars such as Tiger Woods, Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey consistently place at the top of the heap.

How did Forbes do it? They used a combination of income and media exposure. In their words, Start with money.

Add fame. Mix. We rank the relative star power of actors, athletes, singers and

talking heads how much they earn and how many people are paying attention.

It added, Earnings estimates are for June 2003 to June 2004, in millions of dollars; totals include dollars earned solely from entertainment income. Fees paid to managers, agents and attorneys have not been deducted. Estimates compiled by Forbes; published sources include Billboard, Pollstar, Adams Media Research, Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen BookScan.

Celebrity rankings generated by combining earnings with other media metrics: Web mentions on Google; press clips compiled by Lexis-Nexis; TV/radio mentions compiled by Factiva; and number of times a celebrity s face appeared on the cover of 17 major consumer magazines.

Take a look at this year s Top 10, with annotations coming from Senior Editor Peter Newcomb during an interview with ET, a popular US entertainment program.

#

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JOHNNY DEPP - We figured he made about $28 million in the past year, and really it s all entirely from Pirates of the Caribbean. That movie did about $600 million around the world, sold another couple of million on DVD and it really catapulted Johnny Depp into that big league where he can make $20 million a picture.

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STEVEN SPIELBERG - We figured he made about $75 million. All he has to do is wake up and he ll make $60 million on any given year. He had a fairly quiet year for him he s got The Terminal starring TOM HANKS coming up but we can expect to see Spielberg somewhere near the top next year.

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&

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Springsteen made $64 million in the past year. He was on the road again, he made about $120 million, he sells tons of T-shirts and other merchandise he s just a walrus on the road.

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MICHAEL JORDAN - Jordan made $35 million and he doesn t even play anymore. But you know what? He s still one of America s most popular pitchmen. He s got all sorts of lucrative endorsement deals. Most of it comes from Nike, but he s one of the highest-paid guys in commercial television.

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TOM CRUISE - Tom Cruise made $45 million, all of it coming from The Last Samurai. Tom hasn t been on the list since 2001 when he topped our list, and now he s back in the top 10.

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THE ROLLING STONES - The Rolling Stones made $51 million.

These guys are on top of the list; when they go on the road, they just sell millions of dollars. Their Four Licks tour grossed $120 million this year. They did a wonderful combination of club gigs and stadium gigs and small hall gigs, a fan s favorite.

J.K. ROWLING - Rowling made $147 million. We anointed her a billionaire over this year. The Harry Potter franchise is just going to keep her on top of the list the next couple of years.

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OPRAH WINFREY - Nobody makes money like Oprah as routinely as she does. This year we figured she made $210 million. She s got books and magazines and movies, and now she s even teaching a class at Northwestern.

TIGER WOODS - He s really taken over Michael Jordan s role as the biggest pitchman in the world. Nike alone pays him over $25 million a year. He hasn t won much recently, but he s still the [PGA] tour s topranked player. You know, $80 million, it s a pretty good year.

And, drum roll please, the most powerful celebrity in Hollywood, according to the Forbes Celebrity 100 List: MEL GIBSON - If you look at the top 10, it s really a snapshot of wealth and power in Hollywood. Is he the most powerful person in Hollywood?

No. But if you look at the past 12 months, nobody generated as much money, as much infamy in the press, as Mel did. We figured he made $210 million almost entirely from The Passion of the Christ. That movie today has done $600 million around the world and there hasn t been anything that s generated that much publicity.

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Eid Block Busters

Alien vs. Predator

Alien vs. Predator doesn t muster the crepuscular dread of the original Alien and its superior 1986 sequel, nor is it a stark, macho action flick like the first Predator.

Overview: An ancient pyramid is discovered buried in the ice of Antarctica, and scientists investigating the structure discover something really bad: two races of aliens battling for domination. As the two species fight, humans find themselves caught in the middle and becoming casualties.

People never expected the Alien and Predator movies to make it big in Hollywood. They did, and both movies have even become sci-fi classics and all-time favourites.

Alien vs. Predator is a movie that hopes to capitalise on the popularity of the individual movie franchises, following the tra dition of super-monster match-ups such as Freddy vs. Jason, Godzilla vs.

King Kong, and others. And just like the movies before it, Alien vs.

Predator was all hype and very little substance. The match-up of the universe turned out to be a dud. Hyped as a special-effects masterpiece, the movie is nothing but a murky, empty-headed dive into the depths of the Antarctic and the heart of monster movie cliches that leaves you praying for most of the cast to get killed off fast, to put them (and us) out of our misery.

The screwyness begins with a rather uninspiring start: Billionaire Charles Bishop Weyland (Lance Henriksen, taking the partial namesake of his Alien android character) has put together a team of experts to explore a pyramid that his satellite spotted buried under Antarctica. His team consists of strong-willed adventurer Lex (Sanaa Lathan), archaeologist Sebastian (Raoul Bova), and other assorted disposables, stumble into a mechanized, centuries old Aztec-style series of chambers and mazes that resemble a Raiders of the Lost Ark discard. They also witness a war, which has been running for centuries, between the militaristic Predators, who turn out to be the sparkplug behind the ancient Mayan, Aztec and Cambodian civilizations, and the icky Aliens, whom the Predators keep breeding as battle-tests for their warriors. The movie finally gets its game on when Alexa strikes a business arrangement with one of the Predators and provides it with a weapon that players of firstperson shooters will immediately recognize as a plasma gun. There s even a scene in which the sweet old Pred Director and Writer: Paul W. S. Anderson removes its helmet and you half expect Lathan to give Producer: John Davis, Gordon Carroll, David Giler, Walter Hill. it a kiss, although where she might find a place A 20th Century Fox release between his fangs to plant one is open to debate.

Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, and Lance Henriksen

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Shall We Dance

Overview: A lonely workaholic (Richard Gere) avoids his family in favor of late hours at the office. On a train ride home, he happens to see a beautiful woman (Jennifer Lopez) in the window of a dance studio. He promptly signs up for evening lessons.

There s been a lot of buzz about the movie s steamy late-night tango session, sending gossip writers to work. Perhaps, a Richard Gere-J Lo romance is farfetched, but in Hollywood crazier stories have come and gone.

In the movie, Gere plays the role of a Chicago lawyer who avoids his family by staying home late in the office. One night on his way home, he happens to see an attractive and seemingly lonely woman inside a dance studio and decides he wants to dance.

It will be interesting to see how this tandem fares. Gere just came off a recent blockbuster movie Chicago, whereas J Lo just had a box office disaster in Gigli.

Who s going to pull whom? And where?

The release date was pushed back from August to October this year, a sign that the producers arent all too willing to risk showing the movie, without the needed hype, or without the proper timing. But the movie has enough of a story handle, and star material to hopefully make good at the box office.

Director: Peter Chelsom, Screenwriter: Audrey Wells, Producer: Miramax Starring: Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon

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Big on Books FAMILY FIRST

by Phil McGraw Do you feel that your family is not what it used to be, or what it has the potential to be? Do you worry that the parenting decisions you re making today may be scarring your child for life? Do you sometimes feel you are in a tug-of-war with the world over who will shape your child s values and beliefs?

With Family First: Your Step-byStep Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family, Dr. Phil offers a new classic on family life and gives parents real answers and a plan for being the most positive and effective parents possible. Starting right now, you can begin to make realistic choices and take day-today actions that can make your family phenomenal. You must decide that you will lead your family with strength and love and that peace and joy are not just for the people next door or on TV. They re for your family.

SECOND CHANCE

by Danielle Steel Eccentric high fashion meets buttoned-up Madison Avenue in Second Chance Danielle Steel s captivating tale of two perfect-foreach-other people from two wildly different worlds. In a fresh, funny look at what happens when a woman who has everything finally meets her match, Danielle Steel proves that, in life and love, it s never too late for a second chance.

As editor-in-chief of New York s leading fashion magazine, Fiona Monaghan was utterly content with her life, jetting back and forth between Manhattan and Europe until the sweltering day John Anderson strolled into her office. A widower with two daughters, John was as conservative as Fiona was freewheeling, both amused and appalled by her world of highstrung designers, anorexic models, Fendi-stuffed closets, and Sir Winston, her snoring bulldog. But after Fiona impulsively invited John to the Paris couture shows, somewhere between the magic of the runway and the stroll along the Seine, she let him into her heart. And within weeks of their return to New York, John was making friends with Sir Winston-and Fiona was making room in her closets. In a dazzling tale of modern misadventures and career-crossed relationships, Danielle Steel captures the heady magic of instant attraction, the challenges of change - and the hope that comes when we dare to do it all over again.

IT S HARD TO BE FIVE

by Jamie Lee Curtis.

Illustrated by Laura Cornell It s hard to be five.

Just yelled at my brother.

My mind says do one thing.

My mouth says another.

It s fun to be five!

Big changes are here!

My body s my car, and I m licensed to steer.

Learning not to hit? Having to wait your turn? Sitting still? It s definitely hard to be five. But Jamie Lee Curtis s encouraging text and Laura Cornell s playful illustrations make the struggles of self-control a little bit easier and a lot more fun!

It s definitely hard to be five, but Jamie Lee Curtis s rhyming verses and Laura Cornell s playful illustrations make learning self-control a little bit easier and a lot more fun. This is the author/illustrator duo s sixth book for kids. Full color.

This is the sixth inspired book from the #1 New York Times best-selling team of Today I Feel Silly: & Other Moods That Make My Day and I m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self Esteem.

THE GOURMET COOKBOOK: More than 1000 recipes

by Ruth Reichl (Editor) For beginners and seasoned cooks alike, The Gourmet Cookbook is an eloquent, essential companion in the kitchen - one that will take its place among the classic cookbooks of our generation. Under the discerning eye of the celebrated authority Ruth Reichl, the editors of America s premier cooking magazine sifted through more than 60,000 recipes published over the past six decades. Testing, tasting, and cross-testing to ensure that every cook achieves the same superb results, they selected more than 1000 recipes. The Gourmet Cookbook is encyclopedic but eminently accessible. With it, cooks can go back to the days when Beef Wellington ruled the table or prepare something as contemporary as Crispy Artichoke Flowers with Salsa Verde.

Those in a hurry who want simple dinners with flavor and flair will find hundreds of possibilities, including Seared Salmon with Balsamic Glaze and Skirt Steak Fajitas with Lime and Black Pepper. At the same time, The Gourmet Cookbook is the perfect volume for entertaining, full of adventurous recipes for special occasions: Blini with Three Caviars, Fragrant Crispy Duck, and Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake. Throughout the book you ll find hundreds of valuable tips from Gourmet s eight test kitchens. Illustrated instructions explain everything from how to cut up a chicken to how to shuck an oyster.

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of the Month

A New Restaurant Concept Makes a Debut enjoy the excellent meal, thanks to a relaxing ambience and a prompt and courteous staff.

Speaking Esprit, George Saliba, Bistro 21 s Assistant Restaurant Manager, said, We have taken every effort to create a warm, istro 21 offers Dubai dining friendly, yet sophisticated atmosphere to enthusiasts a whole new level of complement a truly world-class cuisine. culinary and hospitality experiSaliba was of course speaking of ence. It recently made its debut on popular D Silva s meals. Of his many excellent Sheikh Zayed Road, by now a popular and dishes, Bistro 21 patrons have come to familiar strip for great food and entertain- favour Club Tropicana, a sandwich stuffed ment. with veal bacon, smoked chicken, smoked Bistro 21 is about fusion from the cheese, avocado, mango and fried egg. gourmets food to the total dining experi- Combined with a delicious, and especially ence. It offers cuisine made up of a prepared dressing, Club Tropicana is hard delightful mix of international dishes pre- to resist. pared by the acclaimed chef Cornel Another popular favorite is Rasta Pasta D Silva. Its diversified menu perfectly suits it s penne pasta with tropical chicken the melting pot of cultures and communi- shiitake, spring onions and may yong ties residing in Dubai. sauce. The difference is, of course, in the Bistro 21 is more than just another new preparations, and the ingredients. Where restaurant in town. Having a meal in other restaurants are satisfied to go to the Bistro 21 is indulging oneself in gastro- market for their ingredients, D Silva said nomic and social pleasure because of its Bistro 21 takes the extra effort to source exceptionally lively ambiance and deli- them directly from producers, ensuring cious food, said Lina El Khatib. their quality and freshness.

Guests are given all the opportunity to From the capital of blues & jazz music and Creole food, comes the traditional new Orleans sandwich Po-Boy , another Win one of four vouchers for lunch / Bistro 21 specialty, derived from the words dinner for two at Bistro 21 Poor Boy. With slices of beef cut from a whole roasted beef sirloin that is marinatQ1: Name three sandwiches you can enjoy at ed in Cajun spice with smothered onions, Bistro 21 ? mushrooms and melted ............................................................................. smoked cheese, this sand............................................................................. wich is always served in a French baguette accompa............................................................................. nied with the bistro 21 potaQ1: What is the coffee brand served in to wedges and house salad.

Bistro 21?

Anyone who has gone to .............................................................................

Bistro 21 must at least try the Name:................................................................. café s bouillabaisse, which is Address:............................................................. the most famous fish stew of Tel:...................................................................... the Mediterranean, and is Email:................................................................. served at Bistro 21 with large Age:.................................................................... chunks of today s catch from the gulf. It s a dinner for a Please send your reply to ceremonial occasion, a ritual P.O Box.7306 or fax : 04 3439577 feast.

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For the excellent dishes and service, one would expect Bistro 21 to be a bit pricey.

To our surprise, all the delightful dishes are reasonably priced, and they come with such exceptional service making the Bistro 21 dining experience a truly exceptional one. For the great fusion dishes, stylish and comfortable ambience and excellent waiting services, Bistro 21 raises the bar for other restaurants to follow. And for that, we chose Bistro 21 as Esprit s Café of the Month, a distinction reserved only for the best restaurants in the metropolis.

Bistro 21 provides special breakfast, lunch and dinner menus daily starting at 8:00 a.m. till midnight. Throughout the day, selections of world music compiled by an international DJ will be played, transforming food from a simple basic need to a heart-fulfilling pleasure.

Bistro 21 also offers the widest choice of hot and cold beverages. All desired coffee drinks will be provided by Testa Rossa, the leading Italian coffee brand. In addition, the energizing freshly squeezed juices are prepared into the most original and cooling cocktail drinks or can be mixed to order.

Bistro 21st is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, 21 century Tower. Its opening hours are 8:00a.m. till midnight, seven days a week.

Telephone: 971 4 3430777 Fax: 971 4 3439111

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The Paris Gallery School of Creative Beauty Dubai and Abu Dhabi

2

aris Gallery is a name synonymous with style, beauty and exclusive international brands. As the United Arab Emirates leading retailer for cosmetics, fragrances, sunglasses, watches and accessories, it has achieved an outstanding reputation and currently boasts 22 showrooms.

Retailing, however, is not the only accolade that Paris Gallery has to shout about.

Under the Paris Gallery umbrella and nestling within the flagship 2nd floor store at both the Deira City Centre in Dubai and Al Khalidia Centre in Abu Dhabi are two more jewels in the Paris Gallery crown for all ladies who take pride in

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By Debbie Lloyd their appearance and believe that style and relaxation should come hand-inhand. The first is the Paris Gallery Day Spa, which was featured in our last publication and the second is the Paris Gallery School of Creative Beauty.

Here, anticipating the future of creative beauty, inspiring all women to improve themselves and turning revolutionary ideas into reality are key fundamentals that have kept this progressive company at the cutting edge of the beauty and fashion industries. From basic to advanced courses, there are opportunities for students from all walks of life, be it young ladies who are new to applying their own make-up, the ladies who lunch and of course brides, to learn more about themselves, understand and practice new skills and techniques, not only in make-up application but also in the all important skincare, body care and hair care.

The three-hour duration courses range from elementary to advanced makeup, evening makeup, bridal makeup, corrective makeup and the one which caught my eye, latest looks and fashion trends. The general structure is that of an introduction, discussion and application on a model, followed by application of makeup on yourself whilst being overseen by a tutor.

The programmes can be attended by up to six individuals, however, for the more curious / adventurous lady, there is also the option of a one-on-one programme.

The studio is open throughout the day from 10.00am to 10.00pm and certificates are also issued for most courses, which is an added bonus!

Now, not only do participants enjoy learning some new skills and techniques, but they are also given the opportunity to discover the latest products from all the leading cosmetic brands which include: Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Clinique, Helena Rubenstein, Lancôme, Nina Ricci, Versace, Chanel, Clarins,

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an in-store department that specialises in providing makeup services. By setting the highest standards in creativity, Terry has become the region s leading makeup artist, representing international brands at private functions and for press and television photoshoots. With an impressive clientele including Darcy Van Damme, Adriana Herzegovina, Miss World, Miss India and Elite Models, Terry has enjoyed many opportunities to work with some of the most beautiful women in the world.

To conclude, it has to be said, that while some of us pick up tips on new makeup fashion from the multitude of fashion / beauty magazine which are available, many of us become stuck in rut and have possibly been applying makeup in the exact same way for too many years than we would like to admit. It may take something as simply as an eye-catching advertisement to persuade us to change the colour of an eye shadow, but that is often as far as we will go. This fantastically innovative idea of the Beauty School at Paris Gallery has inspired so many ladies into making fundamental changes to their appearance and will, undoubtedly continue to do so. So, all I really need to say is, don t get left behind, make an appointment and transform yourself into the stunning beauty you know you are.

Decleor, Kanebo, Shiseido and YSL. The state-of-the-art, professional studios are built to the highest standards and include individual workstations to make learning and relaxing an enjoyable and comfortable experience.

At the Paris Gallery School of Creative Beauty, your approach to beauty will be transformed under the guidance of the Beyond Beauty Team of approximately seven experienced professionals. These experts are fully knowledgeable in every product from all the cosmetic houses used, which means that they can choose from across a vast range of cosmetics for your exact requirements without any limitation.

The ladies have been trained by Terry Allen, the internationally acclaimed makeup artist who has had more than 17 years experience working at the highest level in the fashion and beauty industries and who heads the team as Creative Beauty Manager. Her exceptional talents were recognised by Paris Gallery almost three years ago when she joined the company. Since then, Terry has successfully launched the Paris Gallery Beauty Parlour,

To make a booking, contact: Paris Gallery School of Creative Beauty TEL: 04-2955556 FAX: 04-2959447 EMAIL: pgschool@emirates.net.ae Or visit their website: www.uae-parisgallery.com

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Beauty Line Olay Total Effects helps women look younger in seven ways: by diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smoothing skin texture, evening skin tone, removing surface dullness, minimizing the appearance of pores, visibly reducing the appearance of blotches and age spots and smoothing dry skin.

Body Performance from Eestèe Lauder Estée Lauder introduces a line of products designed to work synergistically to help achieve great looking body by attacking cellulite while strengthening and smoothing your skin. The product range includes the cellulite fighting Body Performance Anti-and Cellulite Visible Contouring Serum, the Body Performance Firming Body Crème, which firms and strengthens sagging skin while adding tone and definition; the Body Performance Exfoliating Body Polish, a unique body polish that detoxifies skin, and the Body Performance Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Spray.

Clairol Herbal Essences shampoos and conditioners, as well as Miss Clairol permanent hair colour were used on the winners in order to recreate their favourite celebrity look

Pantene Pro-V Golden System gives women the freedom to create the hair look they want without the worry of damaging their hair.

Pantene Pro-V Golden is comprised of 2-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and oil treatment, the Golden Protection System intensive nourishing formula, enriched with Pro-Vitamin B5, retain moisture where the hair needs it most to provide up to times more protection against future damage compared to non-conditioning Shampoos

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Juvena The BODY line is divided into two variations for cleansing, caring and performance: daily and luxurious. BODY is a homage to the pomegranate, the symbol of fertility and beauty. This fruit native to Andalusia is named after the Spanish province Granada. Extracts are obtained from its skin that have a stimulating, vitalizing, blood vessel strengthening and firming effect.

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Red Earth Shown is one of the models from the glittering red earth event wearing the Metro Glamour look.

Idealist Micro D Idealist Micro D's Deep, thermal action warms skin to help open, detoxify and minimize pores. One application and the radiant skin you want is revealed.

Overall, it's a unique refinishing experience--in the comfort and convenience of your own home. And the best part?

Your skin is in ideal condition to maximize the already incredible benefits of Idealist Skin Refinisher. Your skin will look and feel absolutely amazing. And best of all, it's good for women of all ages.

Moisture Lotion, among others.

Guerlain Kissing hands is back The striking new shades in the Divinore Nail Colours will have men lining up to kiss your hand! In perfect harmony with the spirit of the collection, they are additions to the existing range.

Dior Jewels Up For Autumn Look Shades of ruby, topaz and sapphire will adorn eyes, lips and cheeks in precious shades of gems and jewels this fall, thanks to a fascinating beauty product range from Dior called Jewel Collection. Inspired by precious gems, the gold and black palette comes in a luxurious jewellery box containing eye shadows, eyeliners, lipsticks and lip pencils. With Dior's Jewel Collection, beauty has never been this precious.

MUFE - rofessionals This new formula, enriched in 'nylon powder', provides an ultra-soft texture and a soothing sensation when it is applied. With its incredibly fine texture, it glides smoothly onto the skin, leaving a humongous, luminous film of color.

Guerlain Bubble Blush Destined for greatness, this appealing Original Texture presents an element of surprise.

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New

Beyond Paradise perfume transports you to a perfect world of optimism and wonder.

Beyond Paradise perfume unfolds on your skin with a fascinating blend of tropical wetness, as well as zesty freshness.

Perpetuating the magic of incanto this unfogettable visual bas been conceived to reinforcethe power incanto puor homme experince: Sensual, Virileand strikingly special

Cartier - A creation for men and women, to be worn unreservedly, generously, naturally. A different form of seduction. A kaleidoscope of sensations - fresh, soft, and full of vibration.

Blue-Issey Miyake If light blue could be the trill of a flute in the morning sun, dark blue echoes the vibrating bass and reflects the brilliance of a starry night.

This is the blue Issey Miyake, indefatigable pioneer, chooses to reveals.

The emotional and chromatic expression of a world covered under myriads of skies.

Guerlain - an unexpected and fresh scent, which moves, enchants and surprises for a few seconds of eternity.

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Dyeing to Change Your Hair Colour 6

hey say that our hair is our crowning glory. It s one of the most important features of our appearance. And it s one of the few aspects of ourselves that we can alter at will without expensive products or resorting to cosmetic surgery. We don t even need to visit a hairdresser. In fact, there was a time when people did not. Stories of hair and its various styles can be traced back to ancient Rome and Greece. Over the years hair has seen many styles, from short, long, tied back and wigs.

Through the ages In Ancient Greece boys under i8 wore their hair long. The clean shaven Spartans wore their hair long but with numerous ringlets and it was at this stage that curling hair became fashionable, giving rise to the world s first professional hairdressers.

This article is about colouring our hair and it might interest you to learn that this is not just a modern phenomenon. People have been obsessed with changing their hair colour since time immemorial.

Women in Ancient Greece wore their hair

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long with a parting in the middle and tied into a knot at the back. This was then dyed or dusted with colour.

In the 18th Century wigs were all the rage.

They resembled those worn by Briton s judges but they tended to be dusted with powder to make them look white.

Through the ages people have found numerous techniques to change the colour of their hair. Before the advent of today s colouring agents, some of the early blends contained leeches, charred eggs and walnuts. Walnuts are still used in some of today s formulations. People also used mascara to darken their eyebrows and eyelashes and olive oil, mustard oil and rhubarb to darken hair and in the 1950s bleach was use to lighten hair.

What is hair?

Hair is a fine filament that grows on all mammalian skin. It s composed of keratin and grows at around 5-10mm per month for about 3 years before being replaced.

The average number of hair on a human head depends upon its colour, blondes

having more than brunettes. An average blonde has about 98,000 hairs whereas a brunette around 120,000.

It s impossible to talk about colouring hair without making references to its structure which determines the effectiveness of the colour deposited.

Hair colours and how they work Every hair is covered in a layer of cuticle, the flatter this cuticle the shinier and straighter the hair. The colour of hair ranges from black to light platinum blonde. These colours results from the pigment found in the shaft; Eumelanin is the commonest and renders hair brown to black whereas Phaeomelanin is present in blondes and reds. Grey hair results when pigments are absent.

There are 4 basic hair colours.

Temporary deposited on the surface of the cuticle thus lasting for only one wash.

Semi-temporary last 4-6 weeks.

Semi-permanent mask white hair and last for 2-6 weeks.

Permanent alter the natural shade. They don t wash out so have to be re-touched

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every 4-6 weeks to maintain the colour.

Whereas temporary and semi-temporary colours are only deposited on the surface of the hair, permanent products actually penetrate the cuticle and deposit colour under it thus lasting longer.

Natural colourants Mindful of chemical based products, and the possible health risks and allergies associated with them, many people still opt for natural alternatives. Examples

include henna, indigo and even artificial hair.

Henna Since the beginning of time Henna has been used by Eastern women for painting their palms, fingertips, feet and hair.

Henna belongs to the family of Lythracae and is found growing naturally in hedges in Iran, India and North Africa. The leaves and twigs are ground to a fine paste with warm water. The resulting paste is orange-red in colour. The final colour of the skin depends upon the henna plant used and the time it s allowed to develop.

With some plants it can go as dark as umber or sienna. But on hair the colour tends towards orange-red. So to strength-

en the colour, Indigo is often added, the final colour being dark red or shades of black.

Indigo Indigo is a violet-blue vegetable dye obtained from various plants belonging to the family Leguminosae. When added to Henna it can increase the spectrum of shades that it can achieve. Indigo was once a major export of India but has now been replaced with synthetic versions.

Other natural dyes include madder (alizarin), logwood and cochineal (bluish) obtained from the cochineal insect. Natural extracts from Chinese rhubarb provide yellow tinge.

But if you don t want to use any products on your hair, whether they re natural or synthetic, there is a non-invasive alternative, aside from wearing a wig.

Hair Extensions Most people think that extensions are only used to grow hair overnight. Depending upon the degree of extensions sought it could take up to 3 hours to put them in. The advantage is that, because the extensions are made from 100% human hair, they look completely natural. Moreover, because the hair is pre-bonded using the latest technology, it s totally undetectable. It s also 100% safe because no chemicals are involved and it lasts up to 6 months.

However, because of the time involved this technique is only good for dramatic or funky looks such as a couple of locks of one colour which would be bonded to, say, the fringe or the crown. Popular colours to choose from are fluorescent greens and pinks. Great for late night partying.

But some people just don t want to visit a salon and would prefer to buy something off the shelf. For those who do, here is a simple way to achieve professional-look highlights for the price of the colourant.

Highlighting at home Buy a good quality colourant. None of those single sachets! You might find that

not all brands carry all shades so check them to see if there s a colour you like.

Choosing the right shade for highlighting is crucial if you want a professional result.

If you re a blonde and looking to highlight always choose two shades darker than your natural colour. If you re dark haired go two shades lighter. The way to do this is to look at your hair in a mirror, compare it to what s on the shelf and then take it two shades up or down.

Mix the contents of the pack as per the instructions in the box and pour it out onto a dish. Sit in front of a mirror and comb your hair with a middle parting. Then dip the end of your comb into the mixture and, concentrating on one section, run it along the length of the shaft. Repeat this all over your head at small intervals.

Leave the colour in for 25 minutes.

Even though the box doesn t say so, wash your hair with a colour care shampoo.

Shampooing removes excess odour and excess colour thereby giving it a more natural appearance.

Tips to buying and applying colourant 1. If you have dark hair and want to go several shades lighter, such as platinum blonde, a mild natural colourant won t work.

2. The colour charts for chemical-based colourants aren t always faithful so your hair may differ in the final result.

3. Semi-permanent dyes wash out after several washes.

4. Never use chemical-based products to dye eyebrows and eyes!

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The King of Fashion *

Many have staked a claim to his throne, yet no one has been successful. At best, those who tried will have to be content with being called heirs apparent. For now, the King of Fashion s initials remain YSL - Yves Saint Laurent.

orn in 1936, Yves Saint Laurent grew up in Oran, Algeria. At 17, he left for Paris where he showed his drawings to Michel de Brunhoff, director of Vogue, who published several of his sketches immediately. Following a stint at fashion school, Saint Laurent was introduced to Christian Dior by de Brunhoff and he went on to work for Dior until his death in 1957.

After taking over as art director for Dior, Saint Laurent launched his first collection for the company, the Ligne Trapéze, that year. It was a resounding success the world over and won him a Neiman Marcus Oscar. In 1960, Saint Laurent created his revolutionary Beat Look collection which used couture techniques to refine streetstyle. However, his dramatic designs were too much for the house of Dior and a year later they lifted bars on his national service.

When he returned from service in 1962, Saint Laurent set up his own fashion house with Pierre Bergé and continued to rock the establishment. In 1966, he introduced le smoking, his legendary smoking suit, which prompted the consequent androgynous revolution. He is now credited with a range of other innovations including the reefer jacket (1962), the sheer blouse (1966), and the jumpsuit (1968), as well as ready-to-wear culture as

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last true couturier. He maintains the highest standards of classic cut and tailoring, and he receives a standing ovation after every collection is presented.

With a quiet departure in 2002 from the madness of the fashion world he helped spawn, Yves Saint Laurent sealed his legend with the trademark class and grace he had come to represent throughout his eminent career. Although the beloved enfant terrible of haute couture first made a splash in Paris four decades ago, the Saint Laurent name is now symbolic of glamour and female sex appeal.

Timeline 1936 Yves Mathieu Saint Laurent was born in Oran, Algeria.

1953 At 17, Saint Laurent arrives in Paris, armed with a remarkable portfolio a whole.

In 1998, Yves Saint Laurent celebrated forty years as a fashion designer. Yves Saint Laurent was the first couturier to dress women in see-through fabric; he is also the first living couturier to be featured in a museum at the New York s famed Metropolitan Museum in 1983.

YSl s name is legendary. His label, an empire. His shows, a celebration.

Forty years after his Trapèze collection, which earned him his nickname as The little one of haute couture, Yves Saint Laurent remains an enigma, a billionaire anarchist capable of stating: I have but one regret: not to have invented jeans.

Not only was he the first couturier to launch a black blouson (for Dior, in 1960) and to replace low-fronted shoes with thigh-length boots, he is also one of the last to subject himself, with great humility, to the rigours he has imposed on himself since his apprenticeship years at Dior.

Saint Laurent frequently uses ethnic themes in his garments, as well as bright colors contrasted with black. His day clothes have a slightly masculine flavor, and his luxurious evening wear is tinged with fantasy. Although a shy person, Saint Laurent believes he is the

of sketches. His entry into the fashion world is quick and painless: he enrolls into the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture school; wins first prize with a cocktail dress in the Woolmark competition; and is hired to work alongside Christian Dior on the strength of recommendations by Michel de Brunhoff, editor of French Vogue.

1957 Monsieur Dior dies, leaving the young Saint Laurent to direct the house.

Saint Laurent completes a total of six collections for the house of Dior, beginning with the highly successful Trapeze collec-

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Pour Hommes .

1974 YSL moves couture headquarters from Rue Spontini to Avenue Marceau, the heart of Paris fashion establishment.

tion.

1958 Yves Saint Laurent meets Pierre Berge who becomes his alter-ego and business manager of the future YSL empire.

1961 Together with Berge, Yves Saint Laurent opens his own house.

January 29, 1962 Saint Laurent presents his first collection in a mansion formerly belonging to the painter Forain on Rue Spontini.

1964 YSL launches its first perfume for women, called Y .

1965 Yves Saint Laurent unveils the Mondrian haute couture fall-winter 65/ 66 collection.

1966 In couture, YSL makes waves with his tuxedo suit. He spearheads the move into ready-to-wear, opening the YSL Rive Gauche boutique on Rue de Tournon in Paris sixth arrondissement.

He simultaneously branches out into other artistic areas, drawing comic strips ( Naughty Lulu ) and creating costumes and decor for theatre (which he had already begun dabbling in in 1959), ballets, and films. Saint Laurent dresses Catherine Deneuve in Luis Bunuel s Belle de Jour , the beginning of a longlasting onscreen collaboration between actress and couturier. For his work, he receives the Harper s Bazaar Oscar award.

1968 Saint Laurent borrows from men s tailoring and safari stylings for his stunning Saharienne .

1971 Saint Laurent s radical 40s collection shocks fashion critics. The house launches its Rive Gauche perfume and Jean Loup Sieff photographs Yves in the nude for the advertising campaign of YSL s first men s cologne

1977 YSL launches the very popular Opium perfume.

1982 YSL celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Lido cabaret in Paris. Saint Laurent receives the International Award of the Council of Fashion Designers of America .

1983 The Larousse dictionary makes its first mention of the couturier.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Diana Vreeland, editor of American Vogue, organises the first-ever retrospective of a living designer with his most important original creations: Yves Saint Laurent 25 years of Design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

1985 Saint Laurent is awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d Honneur by French president, Francois Mitterand.

He also receives a fashion Oscar for Best Couturier. In that same year, a retrospective of his work from 1958 to 1985 opens in Beijing.

1986 Musee des Arts de la Mode in Paris organizes an exhibit entitled Yves Saint Laurent, 28 Years of Creation .

This same exhibit is also on view in Moscow at the New Tretiakov Gallery.

1990 The Sezon Museum of Art in Tokyo organizes a retrospective entitled Yves Saint Laurent 1958 - 1990 , including theatre sketches and original creations.

February 3, 1992 YSL celebrates its 30th anniversary at Opera Bastille.

1993 YSL brings out Champagne , a perfume which was later renamed Ivresse .

1996 In collaboration with Fashion Live, YSL Couture goes online with the Internet s first-ever live cybercast fashion show.

1998 In celebration of forty years of creation, a YSL photo retrospective is organized in New York. YSL puts on a 300-model fashion extravaganza at the final match of the World Cup football tournament in the Stade de France.

1999 The Council of Fashion Designers of America presents Yves Saint Laurent with the Lifetime Achievement

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/)5 AUTUMN / W

INTER

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# 1) Blue Label (Men) Jacket Skander, Long Sleeved Shirt Eitan, Pants Alberic Belt (Women) Dress Melika 2) Jeans (Men) Jacket Duncan, Pants Decker (Women) T-Shirt Doll Brand, Belt Elastic Belt, Skirt Shame 3) Active (Men) Jacket Fran, T-Shirt Irving tree, Pants Mikos (Women) Down Vest Tiny, Jacket Regin, Pants Hermia 4) Basic (Men) Sweatshirt Palmer Zip, Long Sleeved Shirt Romeo, Scarf Mark Scarf, Pants Woodstock (Women) Sweatshir Valentin Hood, Sweater New crystal neck, Scarf Cmilla scarf, Pants Muse Leigh 5) Collection- (Men) Jacket Deacon, Sweater Asat, Pants Booke (Women) Dress Zory Dress

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Wafi City

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Young Designers Time to Shine at the LFW Gala Night LUX Fashion World is owned exclusively by LUX, Unilever an event exclusively telecasted across the region

by MBC in November 2004.

L

UX has epitomized beauty since its launch. Having the power to make the ordinary extraordinary the brand is a market leader in several countries around the globe and is the leading skin care brand in North Africa and Middle East region. LUX true beauty care products connect every woman to her STAR QUALITY by making her feel liber-

ated, elevated, and charismatic. Over the years, some of the world s most beautiful faces have endorsed the brand contributing to its success as one of the biggest soap brands in the world.

The exclusive Gala Dinner on the last night of LUX Fashion World 2004 (LFW) will be just as spectacular and impressive

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Haute Couture

as the whole three-day event. Young Arab designers from all over the Middle East will present their pioneering fashion designs in the Amateur Competition in front of VIPs, dignitaries, ministers, and celebrities. The winner of the competition will train with Zuhair Murad, the famous Lebanese fashion designer, for the duration of one month.

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Zaki Bin Abboud Haute Couture

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Vicken

Haute Couture

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Amina Al Jassem

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Watch Out !

So many watches, so little time. Not so with these exquisite timepieces.

White 21 Chronoscaph Watch - an ultra-feminine timepiece in shimmering metal designed for speed and accurate timekeeping, with the chic Cartier touch.

Omega Ladies' Speedmaster offers a perfect combination of mechanical watchmaking and fashionable chic.

Diamond Roll watches from Faconnable are both stylish and practical, with its pioneering interchangeabe strap system, and a rolling barrel.

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Santos Demoiselle Watch from- a seductive, new, streamlined masterpiece from Cartier cased in 18-carat yellow gold set with round diamonds

The new Port Royal Grande El Primero is imposing with its looks and 31 jewels tough with a lot of class Tank Solo Watch - Cartier's most famous rectangular watch is now encircled in steel, creating a young, edgy, contemporary look A refreshing take on watchmaking, Michele wacthes are young and vibrant

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The new Omage Double Eagle Chronograph combines the finest timekeeping technology in a modern, manly and elegant look.

Coquette watches from Michele incorporate the latest in design and technology The Faconnable Hydra 3 has three independent timekeeping mechanisms, perfect for globe trotters.

Omega Constellation Quadrella - a classic beauty with with a new look - it's case design is neither round nor square, adding a new dimension to its charm.

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e e u The Q

by Bi rje es

f o n

H us sai n

Ge ms

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People say that diamonds are a girl s best friend.

They are also known as the king of gems . But if you re looking for the queen among gems then look no further than the beautiful pearl. Both the diamond and the pearl are precious jewels but that s really where their similarities end.

)

s far as status symbols go the diamond has always been a mark of prosperity and romance. Who can forget the world s biggest stone being slipped onto Liz Taylor s finger by Richard Burton in the most famous and romantic proposal of all time? The pearl, on the other hand, will always be associated with the strings of pearls worn by the likes of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany s and America s first lady, Jackie Kennedy.

Pearls truly represent the epitome of grace and sophistication.

However, social standing is not the only

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place where diamonds differ from pearls.

For, although both occur in their natural state, only the pearl can be produced artificially.

What is a pearl?

The natural formation of pearls is quite surreal. It also happens at random so not every shells is a pearl mine.

All shells belong to the family of molluscs that are found in sea-beds of mud, sand and coral. The pearl is produced in both freshwater and sea water mussels and oysters. The oyster pearl is formed in various species of oysters, the most significant

of which belong to the family Pteriidae.

These are found in the tropical waters of Australia and California, and in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

A pearl is formed when a parasite or grain of sand manages to find its way inside the shell thereby irritating it. This irritation causes the mollusc to secrete a chalky substance, made from calcium carbonate, called nacre or Mother-of-pearl. Successive layers of this nacre, a secretion process that can often take several years, result in the formation of a pearl.

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Pearl diving in the Gulf sling bag. When his bag is full he tugs at For more than 100 years some of the his rope to signal his companion on the world s finest pearls have been found in boat to hoist him out of the water. An the warm waters of the Persian Gulf, experienced diver is able to remain subnamely the United Arab Emirates and merged for over a minute at a time and an Bahrain and in the Gulf of Mannar average trip comprises about 30 dives between India and Sri Lanka. At one time nearing depths of 14 fathoms. pearl diving was the sole source of income The Gulf s pearling industry flourished in th th for the local UAE community. Because the the 18 and 19 Centuries when a growth land was too barren for anything else peo- in India s prosperity increased the ple of the time were busy searching for demand for pearls. However, the industry food and water rather than concerned saw a decline during the world depression with making a living. The odd pearls they of the 1930s during which Japan discovdid find whilst fishing in the shallow ered the art of cultivating pearls. waters of the coast were saved for barter- Cultured Pearls ing. To make enough money they would The cultured pearl first made its appearth have needed an army of men who could ance in China in the 13 Century and in deep-sea dive without proper equipment. Japan in 1893 where there are currently Pearl diving has essentially remained over 400 pearl farms. The entire industry is unchanged since the 1920s. The diver, based on artificially introducing an irriwho is tied to the boat with a rope, jumps tant, usually a minute bead of shell from a feet first into the water with a stone clam and a small piece of membrane from attached to his foot to enable him to sink. another oyster s mantle, into the oysters.

These are Shielding his hands with leather gloves to protect them while prising the shells from the sea-bed, he gathers as many as he can into his

then kept in cages for several years until they are ready to be harvested.

Mother-of-pearl Mother-of-pearl is the pearly lining of the oyster shell and can be as valuable as the pearl itself. They ve been in use for centuries. The Babylonians used them for various decorative purposes. In ancient China and Japan it was used as inlay for ornaments and buttons and historians have even found scratch carvings depicting scenes of oriental life. And in the 14th Century the Europeans used mother-of pearl extensively as inlay for snuff-boxes, trays and furniture.

The best varieties of mother-of-pearl come from the nautilus, abalone and pearl oyster. Like the pearl it too can be of varying shades depending upon the geographical location of the oyster; it can be blue, grey, purple and rose. To render it useable the hard outer shell is removed by either dissolving it with acid or carefully grinding it away.

Varieties of pearl Diamonds are evaluated according to their size and clarity. Pearls are evaluated not only

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by their appearance but by the mussels they come from.

We re all familiar with the white, smooth, spherical pearl. But it s hard to believe that pearls come in all shapes, sizes and colours.

Aside from the well known spherical pearl, there are tear shaped, egg shaped and button shaped gems. Moreover, there are irregular shaped pearls, named baroque, and even ones that are not formed in the heart of the mollusc but are attached to the inside of the shell. These are called blister pearls. Moreover, their colours are as varied as their shapes. There are blue, green, rose, purple and black pearls, black being the most prized of all pearls. Freshwater pearls are whiter than those of seawater but, on the other hand, seawater pearls are more brilliant than those of freshwater.

Natural or cultured Since both the natural and the cultured pearl are produced in identical ways it is impossible to distinguish the one from the other. The only way to tell them apart is with the aid of special machinery or X-rays which can detect the presence of an artificial nucleus.

The diamond is the hardest known substance in nature and it is virtually indestructible. The only thing that will destroy

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it is extreme heat. Where pearls are concerned, they do not last as long as the diamond. However, natural pearls are more brilliant in appearance than the cultured and they last longer.

Evaluation of pearls The basic fact is that irregular pearls are more common whereas the perfectly spherical ones are pretty rare, hence their greater value.

Pearls are evaluated by their weight in grains, 4 pearl-grains being equivalent to 1 carat, thus 5 carats being 1 gram.

It s hard to believe that, although the pearl doesn t last as long as the diamond, it can often have more value. In 1917 a pearl, known as Star of the West, was fished near Broome in Western Australia. It was the size of a sparrow s egg and sold for ?6,000. There is also evidence in

the 1920s of a single top quality pearl being sold for ?15,000. By today s value this is around ?350,000!

But not all pearls are so dear. It s fair to say that, though not all pearls and diamonds may be within everyone s reach, some pearls are. Those who wish to own a precious piece of elegance but have limited disposable income have the more affordable alternative of a cultured pearl rather than the more expensive natural one. For subtlety, how about a single drop on a chain or, for a more dramatic effect, even a string of brilliant white beads and a pair of pearl drop earrings worn as accessories to a black evening gown?

Pearls flatter anyone with any skin tone.

You know, nothing else quite says sophistication than the timeless elegance of the pearl.

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+=HJEAH

Introducing a new range of jewellery specially for the month of Ramadan

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Ramadan is a special month of the year all Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control.

During Ramadan, because of the the lack of preoccupation with satisfying the appetite during the day, focus is naturally directed towards one s spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to God. The Ramadan is also a time of intensive worship, reading of the Qur an, giving charity, purifying one s behavior, and doing good deeds. For Muslims, Ramadan is not merely a holiday, but an opportunity to gain by giving up, to prosper by going without and to grow stronger by enduring weakness.

Esprit went about town to ask some people what they think of Ramadan, and what special preparations they make for the Eid al-Fitr. This is what they have to say: Ahmad al Shami Manager, Bin Dismal Rent-a-Car Ramadan is a great time to be in touch with God, and your Muslim brothers. It is also a good time to show people of other nationalities and faiths what the real meaning of Ramadan is.

The Eid for me is a great time to meet everybody, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. It s a busy, exciting period because we prepare the house for our guests, as well as sweets and toys for the children. The Eid is like a reward for us from God.

Dirk Van Der Straeten Businessman As a long-time resident of the UAE, I have observed that Ramadan is a time of peace, as well as a time of giving and forgiving. The atmosphere is calm and very spiritual, hence it evokes images and feelings of peace and goodness.

For me the spirit of Eid should be practiced the whole year. No need for special preparations. I would think that doing good for humanity is something that we ought to do the whole year, and not just for a certain period of time.

Eli Musalam Showroom Manager, Ramee Jewelry Ramadan is a good spiritual exercise for us, and it brings about goodness in our lives because this is a moment where we are really close to God. For the Eid, we buy a lot of gifts for our family and friends, but also especially for the poor. For me, I give flowers to my loved ones.

From Dawn to Sunset The daily period of fasting starts at the breaking of dawn and ends at the setting of the sun. In between -- that is, during the daylight hours -- Muslims (Submitters) totally abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sex. The usual practice is to have a pre-fast meal (suhoor) before dawn and a post-fast meal (iftar) after sunset.

The Islamic lunar calendar, being 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, migrates throughout the seasons.

Thus, if Ramadan begins on January 20 one year, next year it will begin on January 9. In this way, the length of the day, and thus the fasting period, varies in length from place to place over the years.

Every Muslim, no matter where he or she lives, will see an average Ramadan day of the approximately 13.5 hours.

Devotion to God The last ten days of Ramadan are a time of special spiritual power as everyone tries to come closer to God through devotions and good deeds. The night on which the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet, known as the Night of Power (Lailat ul-Qadr), is generally taken to be the 27th night of the month. The Qur'an states that this night is better than a thousand months. Therefore many Muslims (Submitters) spend the entire night in prayer.

During the month, Muslims (Submitters) try to read as much of the Qur'an as they can. Some spend part of their day listening to the recitation of the Qur'an in a mosque. meet for Quranic studies or for congregation prayers.

Some spend the last ten days of Ramadan in a mosque devoting the whole ten days for worshipping God

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Ramon Rodriguez PR practitioner and Journalist I have been here for quite sometime and from what I have observed, the Ramadan is a time for reflection and sacrifice. It is an admirable religious exercise provides non-Muslims like me an insight into how prayerful and peaceful the Muslim faith really is.

The Eid is a celebratory period after the Ramadan, which even non-Muslims have practiced. It is about giving and sharing, something that we all need to do especially nowadays.

Joy Wurtemberger Executive, Wild Horse The Ramadam is important for the Muslim people.

While it does not affect me directly, I have a lot of respect for it, and the people who practice it.

I understand the Eid is a time of celebration. As I am new in Dubai, I haven t been able to participate in the Eid. I am of course open to these things, and very much respectful of other people s traditions and practices.

Kavita Ochani Finance and Administration Manager I believe Ramadan is a significant spiritual exercise. Fasting is not an easy thing to do it requires great devotion and commitment. The people I know who religiously practice the Ramadan say it helps them strengthen their faith, and improve their health as well.

I love the Eid because it is a time for celebration, where gift giving is usually the norm, a practice common amongst probably all faiths and traditions. Everyone is free to participate and practice the spirit of giving behind the Eid.

Mohammed Barghuthi Client Services Manager In the month of Ramadan it is very important that we spent a few moments to understand some of the wisdoms and lessons that we can learn from this month of fasting. For example, God has mentioned patience more than seventy times in the Quran and has commanded patience in more than sixteen ways in His Book. So when one fasts, and gives up one s food and drink, and one s marital sexual relations for those hours, one learns restraint and patience.

Eid-ul-Fitr is the first day after the month-long fasting of Ramadan. Muslims throughout the world prepare for this day. They give food and money to the poor. They clean their homes, wear their best clothes and prepare special sweets for the family and friends.

They also attend special Eid prayers in the mosque or in an open area.

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The Spirit of Ramadan Muslims use many phrases in various languages to congratulate one another for the completion of the obligation of fasting and the 'Eid-ul-Fitr festival. Here is a sampling of them: "Kullu am wa antum bi-khair" (May you be well throughout the year) - Arabic "Atyab at-tihani bi-munasabat hulul shahru Ramadan al-Mubarak" (The most precious congratulations on the occasion of the coming of Ramadan) Arabic " Ramadan wanaagsan" Ramadan) - Somali

(Good

"Elveda, ey Ramazan" (Farewell, O Ramadan) - Turkish "Kullu am wa antum bi-khair" (May you be well throughout the year) - Arabic "'Ramadan mubarak Ramadan)" - universal

(A

Blessed

Salem Zahiri Account Manager and Freelance Writer Ramadan is an important Muslim religious exercise. It is where sacrifice is made to bring oneself closer to God. In Ramadan, people practice not only devotion, but great self-control.

I love the Eid! It s a time of giving and people are usually genuinely generous.

Emiratis place great importance on the celebration of the Eid al-Fitr. This is the festival held at the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. On the evening when the end of Ramadan is proclaimed, there is an atmosphere of excitement and joy everywhere. On the next day, families rise at dawn to pray in the mosque. Children and adults wear new clothes and visit friends and to wish them a happy Eid. It is also typical on this day for Emiratis to share gifts with their poorer neighbours.

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30 Nights of Ramadan Esprit has put together this guide to help you make the most out of your Ramadan Feast experience. Get a taste of what the restaurants and hotels have prepared to make your Ramadan Feast a truly pleasurable experience. It s going an exciting 30 days ahead. So, check out our guide and start making those notes and reminders on your paper or digital calendars. Have a wonderful Ramadan Feast ahead.

Ramadan Nights Specials Your Guide to Check out these Iftar specials from leading hotels and restaurants in Dubai.

Try Boulvar at the Hotel Intercontinental, a 24-hour international restaurant. Different daily traditional Iftar buffets will be served at sundown featuring hot and cold mezzeh followed by main course favourites, including the popular Ouzi, and a generous spread of sweets and desserts.

Bonus: For every Dhs. 400 spent at any of the outlets of the InterContinental Dubai includ ing lunch, dinner and Iftar, we offer you a Dhs. 100 gift voucher to be redeemed at Al Khor Ramadan tent any time during the holy month.

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Shangri-La Hotel - Cooled by the late evening breeze, the resortstyled pool deck of the hotel will feature several beautiful tents offering a wide selection of mezzeh (appetizers), delicious hot dishes, saj and oriental sweets. Shisha will be available in a delightful variety of flavours. A special touch for Ramadan poolside is the inclusion of four live cooking stations featuring Ramadan specialties from Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco and Arabia.

Light Arabic music completes the unique Ramadan experience.

The InterContinental Dubai also offers an amazing array of restaurants to choose from! You can choose from Italian food at La Moda restaurant, Japanese at Minato, Persian at Shabestan, seafood at The Fish Market, traditional British at The Pub, exquisite Chinese at The China Club, international flavours at Boulvar, Far Eastern delights at Yum! and don t miss out on our new contemporary steakhouse, Palm Grill.

For the first time ever, Mövenpick Hotel Bur Dubai and Fakhreldine Lebanese Restaurant joins hands to bring a tradition up market Ramadan Tent to your doorstep during this special month.

Fakhreldine Lebanese Restaurant known for their generosity to their guest will be serving authentic Lebanese food, a fusion of oriental and Arabic Influences and offers of traditional Ramadan food specialties, with live cooking stations and a selection of fresh juices. Enjoy Sohour under the stars and be entertained by the resident Oud Player with open air Sheesha. Reservations recommended Tel: 04 336 6000

The Fairmont Dubai offers a broad range of culinary experiences to tantalize your senses.

Regardless of your travel schedule you will allows find unqiue and eclectic fare at our restaurants, some of which are open 24 hours for your convenience.

Located poolside, Bacchus is the ideal spot to rejuvenate yourself with an array of freshly squeezed exotic fruit juices, home-made ice creams, light meals and house specialties from our al Forno pizza oven.

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The Ramadan Tent at the Intercon has various specialties that are being offered to guests from the time it opens at 8:30 pm till it closes at 2:30 am. Besides providing a spectacular view of the creek, guests can sit and enjoy traditional games including backgammon. They can also sample a choice of traditional Arabic cuisine and complete the evening with Arabic coffee and shishas of different flavors.

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During the holy month of Ramadan, some restaurants in the Emirates have special opening timings: Al Nafoorah is offering a startling Iftar buffet from sunset to 8:00 pm and re-opens its doors again at 9:00 pm.

The Lobby Lounge is open from 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm.

Scarlett s tantalizes your tastebuds from 12:30 pm to 2:00 am.

The Jumeirah Beach Hotel invites its guest to the yearly Ramadan Tent Al Khayal Fort located on the North Beach of its premises.

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Whatever your taste, pamper your senses with mouth-watering cuisine at The Carlton Tower.

Take a journey through the eclectics of exquisite Italian cuisine to subtleties of succulent beef and seafood. Elegant surroundings of sophistication and opulence combined with creative menus designed by dedicated Chefs make this a distinctively different dining experience.

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The Fawanees Tent at the Sheraton Deira Hotel and Towers offers varied flavoured Sheesha s complemented with traditional Arabic snacks.

The snacks menu offers a large selection of Cold and Hot Mezzehs of Kibbeh, Koshari, Nekhi, warak Enab, sandwiches of Chelo kebab or Joojeh kebab or live from the grill station like Grilled prawns or Hammour with vegetables and French fries, Shish taouk, Kofta kebab and tempting desserts such as Katayef, Basboosa, Kunafa and more

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Treat your palate to succulent delights at Mina A Salam uniquely offering alfresco dining from extensive terraces overlooking the tranquil harbour and waterways in all five restaurants and bars. From New Chinese at Zheng He s to Ocean dining in The Wharf - dine and relax while time stands still amidst harbourside settings and an ambience which is authentically Arabian.

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Hilton Dubai Jumeirah - Traditional Arabic themed venues for Iftar and Sahour every day at sunrise and sunset with live entertainment and à la Carte service available until 02.00 hrs every night.

The doors will open daily at Oceana for a sumptuous Iftar buffet. Break your fast with an array of traditional Arabic salads and appetizers and a selection of three hot mezzah and six chafing dishes before indulging in the daily selection of eight delicious desserts. Feast on zaatar with feta cheese, babaghanouj and hot soup before savouring cheese and lamb sambousek, chicken wings and potato harra. Enjoy saffron rice with zereskh berries, chicken with moghrabieh and aubergine with cheese sauce before indulging in Umm Ali, baklawa and assorted mammoul all for just Dhs 65. Tel: 3182540

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Try the Persian restaurant Shabestan, back at the Intercon, which has a special Persian and Arabic mezzeh buffet, a choice of delicious main courses and Persian sweets.

InterContinental Dubai assures a delightful Iftar experience, a perfect complement to the mind-enriching day of fasting and prayers.

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A truly unique venue, Cascades is located on the ground floor of the Fairmont Hotel under the soaring atrium.

Open 24 hours, we offer a light, fresh innovative approach to cuisine, showcasing the diverse flavors of The Mediterranean. Our culinary team marries this culinary style with local ingredients to provide a mouth-watering selection of contemporary French delights.

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Waves Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina Arabic Night Traditional Arabic cuisine with live cooking stations. At Dhs. 75 nett per person.

If a genuine reputation as one of the most desirable, relaxed and contemporary private members lifestyle clubs in London appeals to you, then Monte s Sloane Street- adjacent to The Carlton Tower is a must. Monte s Sloane Street boasts a delicous fusion of style and taste. Consisting of a lounge bar serving many classic and innovative cocktails, a highly versatile private dining room, light and airy restaurant and a nightclub open to 3:00 am. Monte s is the perfect place to relax any time of the day or night. The restaurant at Monte s feautures an exciting Meditterranean menu with an Italian twist and the cuisine is everything you would come to expect from our experienced chefs.

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AL QASR Lebanese Restaurant Traditional Lebanese & Middle Eastern cuisine is on the menu at Al Qasr. An authentic atmosphere with traditional bread-making, a show kitchen and live entertainment provided by an Arabic Band and enchanting Belly Dancer performing nightly from 10.30 pm onwards. Express Business Lunch including a typical Lebanese Plats Du Jour is served every day at a lunch time.

Opening Hours: Lunch: 12.30 pm - 3.30 pm Dinner: 6.30 pm - 2.30 am

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Al Mansour Dhow sails away from Dubai s creek and out into the sea in a remarkable way to unwind and relax in a luxurious atmosphere. See the sights, feel the breeze and feast on exquisite Oriental Cuisine while enjoying the tunes of Jamal, our traditional Oud player. During the month of Ramadan, Al Mansour will be offering daily traditional Iftar cruises available for group booking starting from 30 persons. Al Mansour Dhow will be sailing at 5:30 pm and returning at 7:00 pm

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Café Boulevard Intercontinental Hotel Arabic night, the best treasures form 1001 nights with traditional dishes such as saffron prawns, kebab, kofta and the succulent lamb Ouzi for only AED 139 net.

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The Terrace , Sheraton Deira Hotel and Towers - The Iftar buffets consists of a wide range of items from 4 kinds of Juices Jallab, Tamarandi, Karkade, 12 varieties of Cold Mezzehs, 2 soups cream of cauliflower, tomato soup, broad bean soup, cream of mushroom, Main Courses mainly in Oriental and Arabic like Chicken Madhrooba, Hammour Harra, Fish Sayadia, including a carving station of Mufattah and popular Ouzi, Continental like Veal Piccata or Beef medallions in Pommery sauce and lastly but not the least the tempting dessert selections of 14 kinds- Basboosa, Aseeda, Legamat, Kamafaroush and more.

A splendid Iftar Buffet at only Dhs. 55 net per person.

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In the twilight hours of the night, The Fountain Mövenpick s Restaurant invites you to come in and stay a while. A noodles of noodles promotion dedication to the myth and legends of the night, presents Night Feeding of Asian style wet and dry noodle.

This unique nocturnal promotion is available from 23:00 to 02:00 in the wee hours of the morning.

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Roadhouse Appearing in Biggles every night, except on Saturday is British Duo Roadhouse both Martin and Jo are no strangers to Biggles. Martin is very talented on guitar and Jo is dynamic on stage, check them out.

Ramadan timings : open from 7pm to 2am.

For reservations and more details please call 7039118 or 04 2823464

Wavebrake r Restaurant will be decorated once again as a traditional Arabic souk with Ramadan tents dotted around the area facing the sea in which to enjoy live oud entertainment every evening from 22.30 hrs. A wide selection of à la Carte Arabic delights will be available from 19.30 02.00.

Located on the Events Lawn, Laylati Café welcomes visitors into an air-conditioned central tent surrounded by nine smaller tents suitable for private parties of eight to ten people. Decorated in trendy Arabesque style and furnished with large comfortable couches, Grand Hyatt Dubai s Ramadan tent also offers Arabic style lounge music nightly with a resident DJ.

Splendido - Ritz Carlton Indoors or outdoors, it s hard to find a more beautiful setting for brunch. An international spread of traditional brunch favourites coupled with traditional and modern jazz played live. Dhs140 per person, Dhs70 for children. Bookings essential.

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BOUDOIR French Restaurant and Lounge On entering this fabulous new restaurant, you will be seduced by the glamour, finesse and grandeur of the interior. There is an air of romance, enflamed by the French Renaissance period, yet with an added twist of Baroque arrogance.

Once you have been dazzled by the culinary delights, prepare yourself for a further indulgence of the senses. The Lounge music will gradually dissolve into the more trendy sounds of Deep House, upping the tempo and volume as the evening progresses.

Opening Hours: 7.30 pm - 3.30 am

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TAVERNA International Restaurant Friendly restaurant with superb shaded terrace and calming views over the ocean featuring an excellent international selection of dishes from around the world, ranging from Indonesian Nasi Goreng or French King Prawns Provencal to the traditional German Sausage by Metre or even more traditional English Fish & Chips . Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, Taverna takes you on a culinary journey around the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

The Exchange Grill The Exchange Grill combines refined dining with innovative cuisine. Relax with business associates amidst bas-relief timbers, rich copper panels and decorative, hand-etched Italian glass.

With our specialty being premium beef and fresh, top quality seafood we decided to go to the most famous steakhouse in the world for inspiration. The Oak Room in New York s famed The Plaza hotel has provided guests with the ultimate in dining pleasure for decades. Now, The Exchange Grill at The Fairmont Dubai will start its own tradition with offerings and recipes straight from our world-class sister property.

SHO-CHO Japanese Restaurant Trendy Japanese restaurant and Lounge with a minimalist chic underwater atmosphere that fuses traditional Japanese cuisine with western style dishes.

The cool interior is designed to reflect the aquatic feel of the menu - cream leather furniture is matching with blue lighting and stunning, almost architectural floral arrangements with ingenious fish tanks, that all give you the overall effect of being in an unbelievably stylish and specious submarine.

Opening Hours: Dinner 7.30 pm - 02.30 am

THE ALAMO Tex Mex Restaurant A lively Tex-Mex restaurant and bar with DJ and live entertainment every evening famous for its large portions of well-cooked food at reasonable prices. Another attraction of this popular venue are the frequent screenings of live sports events from around the world.

Opening Hours: Lunch: 12.00 pm - 3.00 pm Dinner: 7.30 pm - 2.00 am

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Spectacular , luxurious and adventurous are the keywords here. Recognised as one of the top ten best hotel restaurants in the world*, Burj Al Arab s signature restaurant Al Mahara elevates dining to heights of true perfection.

From the finest seafood in the world to modern International cuisine with the most delicious ingredients, exclusive dining options cater to your culinary cravings in a multitude of elegant settings that cannot be discovered anywhere else. Choose to dine high up among the stars, at the base of the world s tallest atrium or even under the sea!

Telephone: 04 301 7648

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Have You Heard Miss Lebanon 2004 wins Sony Ericsson K700i Miss Lebanon 2004 and the new phone Sony Ericsson K700i have one thing in common: Beauty. Miss Lebanon's glamour and the K700i's technology are simply phenomenal. She has wit and beauty; the K700i has versatility and technology savvy, being a mobile phone on one side and a sophisticated digital zoom camera with photo light on the other. It captures pictures and video clips, supports MMS messaging, and has an integrated FM radio, high memory, 3D gaming, and Bluetooth technology.

LG Super Racing Weekend to launch Dubai Autodrome Global and regional digital giant LG Electronics launched the LG Super Racing Weekend during the first Super Racing Weekend series held in Dubai on 6-8 October 2004 in conjunction with the official launch of the Dubai Autodrome, part of the five billion dollar Dubailand project. Eurosport and the FIA launched the LG Super Racing weekend in 2001 to showcase skilled driving. Races are held at top racetracks in Europe and this year's calendar culminated with the Super Racing Weekend in Dubai.

meLADY - banking privilege and privacy for women A customised and comprehensive banking service designed especially and exclusively for women, called meLADY, has been launched by Emirates Bank International.

The highly innovative service provides an unprecedented range of privileges - on banking, loans and credit card services, among others; as well as conveniences, just for women. It comes in three tiers - Gold, Silver and Bronze - each with its own set of enviable privileges and benefits. meLADY joins a list of nearly 20 niche-tailored products and segment offerings under the "me" brand by Emirates International Bank.

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Nakheel in Paris global property summit Nakheel shared its experience and expertise in promoting Dubai as a real estate and tourism powerhouse in the Middle East at the recently concluded Global Real Estate Institute Summit 2004, in Paris from September 13-14, 2004. Nakheel also showcased its prime real estate projects such as The Palm, considered one of the best examples of how real estate development and tourism can be used not only to fulfil the growing need for real estate, but also serve as innovative tourist destinations.

EXTREME EVENTS OPENS IN DUBAI Extreme Events, an agent of Desert Adventures Tourism, joins the league of events management companies in Dubai. As a professional event management and consulting agency, Extreme Events will handle a broad spectrum of special events, meetings and incentive programs at all levels - from simple to complex, intimate to large-scale, both regionally and internationally. With a fresh and innovative approach, Extreme Events specializes in the following services: Product Launches, Conferences/Seminars, Team-Building Programs, Fashion Shows, Weddings, Promotions and others.

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Samsung delights consumers with "Digital Convergence" experience in GITEX 2004 Committed to bringing the latest cutting-edge technologies to the region, global digital technology leader Samsung Electronics wowed visitors at GOTEX 2004 with its "Digital Convergence" pavilion. The giant pavilion showcased the company's diverse range of cutting-edge, award-winning digital convergence-enabled devices.

This is in addition to the Samsung Mobile Fun Club booth that hosted fun-filled activities including a series of quizzes and competitions, downloading of audio and video clips onto Samsung mobile phones, and a well-known DJ that kept visitors energised with the latest Arabic and English hits

'VIERA' Series, new from Panasonic Panasonic recently unveiled its stunning new range of Plasma and LCD Flat-Panel TVs at GITEX Dubai 2004 called "VIERA" with its superior picture quality, developed by Panasonic after conducting extensive research into the characteristics of human visual perception. The wide range of this line-up shows Panasonic's strong commitment to the fast-growing flat-panel TV business.

VIERA plasmas are available in three screen sizes: 50-inch TH-50PV30, which is the high-definition (HD) model, and the 42-inch TH-42PA30 and 37-inch TH-37PA30 as the standard-definition (SD) models.

Kraft Foods Kicks Off Regional Calcium Awareness Campaign To highlight the importance of calcium in the diet, Kraft Foods has launched a fun, child-friendly, in-store "Growing Up Stronger" promotion that features the calcium-rich Kraft Cream Cheese Spread. This GCC-wide campaign is especially relevant in light of recent research conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that shows many people, especially women and children, are not getting enough calcium in their diets.

HP Introduces New Suite of iPAQ Handhelds HP further strengthened its product portfolio with the introduction of a new and extended suite of HP iPAQ handheld devices and two new notebooks. The HP Compaq nx9020 and nx9030 Business Notebooks are designed for mobile professionals requiring wireless connectivity and long battery life for greater productivity, wherever their work takes them. With the new HP iPAQ handheld devices, consumers will be able to wirelessly access digital content in their home network environment, downloading and streaming music and video and wireless printing photos.

Al Bustan Centre Awards Certificates to Summer Employment Program Participants Al Bustan Centre & Residence takes pride in its Training and Development Activities designed to nourish the minds and develop the skills of the youth. Hotel Management led by Moussa El Hayek, General Manager, awarded certificates of training to four successful students of the Summer Employment Program who came from Dubai Women's College and Al Ghubaibah Secondary School - Sharjah, namely: Hanan Abdullah Qambar, Funoon Abdullah Saeed, Moza Ahmad Al Ustad and Hanan Hassan Al Saffar, as shown in photo along with other members of the Management team.

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Ramadan

A time for giving and a time for celebrating

by Birjees Hussain

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very culture has its unique rituals and celebrations. For example, Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter and the Jews Yom Kippur. But one of the most important months of the year in the Islamic calendar is Ramadan.

The Annual Obligation If you re new to the Middle East you re probably new to the rituals of this holy month. But if you ve lived in the region for a while now you re probably aware that your Muslim colleagues refrained from eating, drinking and smoking during the daylight hours and that the region s working hours have been shortened.

But did you ever wonder what Ramadan was really all about? With this holy month just around the corner I thought it might be a nice idea to shed some light on the beliefs and practices that are observed during this auspicious and most important months of the Islamic calendar.

The fast is a trust, so let each of you keep that trust! These words, spoken by the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), are remembered by all Muslims during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, known as the Hijri calendar.

Ramadan is observed by more than nine billion Muslims worldwide and is undertaken during the hours of sunrise and sunset.

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The Dos and Don ts Many religions advocate fasting as part of their rituals. Some advocate confine their consumption to certain foods or drinks, such as only fruit and milk, whilst others advocate total abstinence for one or two days of the year. Ramadan obliges total abstinence for a period of 30 days. During the hours of sunrise and sunset not a single morsel of food or drop of liquid must pass the lips of the faster. If it does, the fast is broken. However, food isn t the only thing that will break the fast. Utterance of profanities, gossiping, lying or upsetting someone is considered a non-fast . Even seeing or hearing something sinful is unacceptable.

But what is the underlying principle behind this annual obligation?

The Rationale behind the fast The foundation stones of Islam are the five pillars all of which are based on common sense. The rationale behind fasting is to train the human mind and body to endure any hardships that come its way. There are certainly going to be times when we are going to be deprived of food, drink or other sustenance (even if it s for a short period of time) and it has been found that those who fast regularly are more able to endure those difficulties than those who have never fasted before. It s all about weathering the lean times, when many

forms of disaster may strike in our lifetime, such as floods, hurricanes and droughts.

The fast begins at sunrise. At least an hour before this time families are up and about to have a quick bite to eat before the sun comes up. This is known as Sahur. When the sun sets the fast is broken with a date and some water. This is known as Iftar and throughout this month many families prepare special dishes that vary from culture to culture.

Exemptions to the fast Fasting is a duty that should be observed by every Muslim man, woman and child over the age of eleven. However, because Islam is pragmatic, its system of beliefs is also based upon common sense and, most importantly, leniency. Although the fast must be observed by everyone, there are certain exceptions. Pregnant or nursing mothers, the sick and those travelling are excused from it. But anyone exempt during this period is obliged to make up for the loss by fasting at a time when they are more able to.

The Health Benefits Aside from the religious benefits to fasting there are so many medical benefits as well.

Doctors all over the world are convinced that regular fasting is an ideal way to cleanse the body of impurities. Many patients suffering

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from chronic conditions have been known to find relief by fasting. Arthritis sufferers, for example, have reported improvements to their health during Ramadan and so too have those who are hypertensive. And aside from the physical relief that the individual finds from fasting he also finds a feeling of mental and physical well-being because of the lack of tension that is usually prevalent at other times of the year.

Remembering the less fortunate Ramadan is a time for giving charity to the poor. Although the Prophet favoured giving all year round, the month of Ramadan is especially auspicious because this was the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed. Therefore, every Muslim is required to donate a percentage of his income to a worthy cause. This is known as zakaat. However, the motive behind giving must be pure. Since overt charity may be seen as a publicity stunt, most Muslims give anonymously.

This act of giving tends to be fulfilled on the last day of Ramadan and is usually donated to the local mosque. However, rather than donating to a cause some

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Muslims arrange to have money sent to poor relatives.

ItÂ’s not all abstinence The sighting of the new moon marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the three day Eid Al Adha celebrations. Greeted with a great deal of excitement, especially amongst the younger ones, this is the time for prayer, good food and family reunions. The forms the celebrations take depends largely upon family and cultural traditions.

On the morning of Eid most Muslims rise early and go to their local mosque to offer prayers; women go as well if the mosque has separate facilities for them.

But preparations for the big day are made throughout the month of Ramadan. New clothes are made and shoes and jewellery are bought well in advance. Three or four days before Ramadan ends, preparations begin for the food, rather like the preparations that go into Christmas lunch. Again the dishes prepared depend upon the tradition and culture to which the Muslim belongs.

In Sudan, the main preparations are the various sweets that are served to the endless stream of visitors at the door. One of these is a biscuit called kaak made from wheat flour, ghee and cardamoms sprinkled with icing sugar.

For Pakistani Muslims, the main dish is lunch comprising saffron coloured lamb bhiryani to which is added nuts, raisins and almonds and rose flower essence called kevda. This is served with shish kebabs that have been grilled over charcoal in the open

air. Visitors are served an array of sweets including the very popular, sivayi, a dish comprising vermicelli cooked in milk to which are added nuts, raisins and kevda.

ItÂ’s customary not to go visiting empty handed. Most visitors come bearing boxes of sweets or flowers and, for the younger ones, eidia, which is the gift of money.

The customs for Ramadan and Eid have grown throughout the history of Islam and have acquired their own unique slants from nation to nation. Dubai is a cosmopolitan society with a melting pot of nationalities, each bringing their own unique flavour to the region. Although their customs and practices are varied their beliefs are the same.

Islam is a marriage of abstinence and celebration, prayer and fun, like two sides to a coin. ItÂ’s about belief in the One God and adherence to the five pillars of Islam.

Ramadan Mubarak!

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f you ve lived in the Emirates during the spring and summer months you must have noticed how date palms line roads and hang majestically over garden fences, their fruits hanging in strands beneath a crown of fan-shaped leaves.

Dates have been the main staple of the Middle Eastern diet since the days of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), who always broke his fast with them. This fruit comes with the blessings of Allah. They are, therefore, a part of Sunna and, thus, form an essential part of the Iftar meal (i.e. when the fast is broken).

Dates have amazed nutritionists and scientists for centuries. Despite its size this small fruit is packed full of nutrients.

Not only does the fruit provide health benefits, the tree itself provides material for building and handicraft.

The date palm is ideally suited to the hot, arid climate of the Middle East because it is one of the few fruit-bearing plants in the world that manages to live in the intense heat of the desert.

Date farming The date palm is tall and slender often rising to 30 metres in height, with a crown of beautiful fanshaped leaves the average leaf spans as much as 6 metres in length. Date palms can live for more than 100 years. A typical date palm begins bearing fruit in the 8th year of its life and reaches its prime in its 30th year. An important species of the date palm is P. dactylifera that is native to many parts of North Africa, S.W. Asia and parts of India.

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d e s er t

e

f e Th

f o t ti h

Dates

There are both male and female trees, the date growing on the female plant which is usually of the genus Phoenix. In nature, dates form when air-born seeds from the blossoms of a male tree land on the flowers of a female tree thereby fertilising it.

Date farming is a major agricultural activity in the Emirates. Date growers plant more female trees than male trees and when the pollen ripens the farmer takes a cutting of the male blossom and hangs it over the flowers of the female trees to artificially fertilise it.

Dates grow in clusters weighing up to 12kg (25 lb). The average cluster might contain between 200 1,000 individual fruits and a typical tree often produces an annual yield of up to 270kg (600 lb).

Types of Dates Although there are numerous varieties

by Dirjees Hussain of dates, the ones we often see in our local supermarkets are semi-soft dates that are golden brown in colour, oblong in shape and measuring around 35mm in length. They have a low moisture content and a relatively high amount of sugar.

The soft variety has a higher water content and thus lower levels of sugar.

Because the flesh is quite soft it is pretty fragile and thus, unlike the semi-soft variety, is harvested by hand.

Nutritional benefits of dates In order to stay healthy dieticians say that one should eat those fruits that are native to the country one is living in.

Whereas in Britain people might ensure that their diet consisted of apples, in the Middle East we should certainly include dates in our diets.

When food is scarce dates can be an excellent substitute. In the old days, dates were a Bedouin s primary source of food.

They are packed full of nutrients. They are an excellent source of energy because of their high sugar content. They also contain small amounts of protein, fat, trace minerals and antibiotics!

The high sugar content provides energy, hence its uses at Iftar. You might think, though, that the high sugar content can t be good for you but the fruit also contains a lot of fibre which slows down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Hence, the energy is released when it is needed.

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The natural cure Nutritional analyses of the date have shown it to possess not only nutritional but curative properties too. Nutritionists have found that dates aid in the relief of constipation, anaemia, various allergies, vertigo, renal failure, and it has been found to halt the growth of cancer cells.

Even the pith of the tree has been found to have medicinal properties; a blend of dried dates, flour and the pith of the tree has been found to be beneficial to asthma sufferers. But the pith isn t the only part of the tree that can be put to good use.

The by-products of the date For centuries the leaves have been used for thatched roofing and for making baskets. The midrib of the leaves is used to make crates and furniture; the fruit stalks are used for making rope and for providing fuel and the trunk provides timber for building purposes. Even animals benefit from the harvest; the stones are ground to serve as food for cattle.

A good food Unlike many other fruits dates can be eaten ripe or in their raw state. In Iraq, for example, the raw fruit is often split open and filled with butter. But butter isn t the only thing dates can be filled with. The ripe date can be filled with almonds and other nuts.

The date is truly the most versatile of all fruits. It s often eaten in the form of sweetmeats, in puddings, jams and it s even pickled in vinegar when raw.

So many chefs around the world are now incorporating dates into their recipes, whether those recipes are sweet or savoury.

Since Ramadan is often a busy time for most of us, we thought it might an idea to include a simple recipe for the sweettoothed that incorporates dates in the dish. This one can be prepared with the

minimum of hassle. It s also nutritious, great as an after-Iftar treat and one that the little ones will love.

Chocolate date crispies You will need: 250g/9oz dates, pitted and chopped 1 tbsp butter or margarine 250ml/1 cup sugar 500ml/2 cups Chocos cereal 2 tbsp flaked almonds 1 tsp vanilla essence non-stick vegetable spray 100ml/¼ cup desiccated coconut

Preparation Mix together the dates, butter or margarine and sugar in a non-stick saucepan. Slowly heat the mixture together on a low heat until it softens and the butter melts. It s important at this stage that you do not let the mixture boil. Also, keep the flames on the cooker on a low heat so that the butter or margarine does not burn. Once the mixture has come together, turn the cooker off and allow it to cool slightly.

Next, stir in the Chocos cereal, the flaked almonds and vanilla essence, blending well with a fork.

Finally, spray a shallow baking tray with non-stick vegetable oil. Pour in the thick mixture and with a wooden spoon spread it out until its surface is smooth and even. Leave it in the tray until it sets. Once it has set cut the mixture into squares or diamond shapes and then sprinkle with the desiccated coconut.

Variations to the recipe: This recipe is great but you can substitute the Chocos cereal with Rice Crispies or Cornflakes and the desiccated coconut with cocoa powder. For adults, who want that extra indulgence, why not splash out on that slightly expensive vanilla pod (although it might be hard to come by) rather than the essence. You can also substitute the Choco cereal with pecan nuts or even toasted oats for that extra healthy edge.

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Comes to Dubai!

New and exciting purchasing opportunities have come to Dubai with the arrival of Campomatic products. In countries where its good are available, Campomatic is well-known as a price beating brand which offers excellent value for money. Now, here in Dubai and just in time for the Holy month of Ramadan, you will be able to check out the Campomatic range.

Now s a good time to highlight some of the small home appliances you could become the proud owner of.

Campomatic s GrandChef FP 800 : 6 speeds to choose from 2 liter capacity bowl and blender, 30 functions, enabling you to chop and slice at the push of a button.

/245

Campomatic also caters for those who prefer their food processors to come as separate items, one for each individual task.

32/-

Forget struggling to squeeze oranges for refreshing juice drinks, or lemons for all your cooking needs: VitaSqueeze J 25 - Large 1 liter capacity bowl, you won t have to stop at one squeeze!

- 2 sizes of cone to adapt perfectly to the size of fruit you re dealing with - Its reverse action rotation makes sure you get all the juice out, to the very last drop.

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68/-

Cake making couldn t be easier with: Campomatic TurboMix MB 300 mixer.

5 speed mixer will mean making your Ramadan sweets a true delight!

It comes with a self-turning bowl to ensure thorough mixing.

A set of whisks and hooks turn bread and batter making into an easy option.

Cocktails, soups and crushed ice are a push away with the Campomatic MultiBlend B 400 blender Its powerful motor and high capacity jar provide the right answers to all your blending requirements. If that wasn t enough, it comes with a coffee and cheese grinder for good measure.

Campomatic special Ramadan kitchen appliances can be found at Union Coop outlets: Jumeirah Al-Aweer Al Touar & Karama branches only.

80/-

Win amazing gifts from No need to worry anymore about sandwich making or grilling for GS 200 has offered many benefits to the users including a powerful 2000 W heating element, detachable aluminum plates, and attractive design.

/140

All Campomatic products are CE standard and come with a 2 year warranty.

Q1: Which appliance is your best kitchen mate? ............................................................................. .............................................................................

Name:.................................................................

Address:.............................................................

Tel:......................................................................

Email:.................................................................

Age:....................................................................

Please send your reply to P.O Box.7306 or fax : 04 3439577 Gifts Includes: 1 x FP 800 Multifunction Food Processor worth Dhs. 245/1 x GS 200 Sandwich Grill worth Dhs.140/6 x J 25 Citrus Press worth Dhs.32/- each 2 x MB 300 Mixer with Bowl worth Dhs.68/- each 2 x B 400 Blender with Grinder worth Dhs.80/- each

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HomeFront

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hange your furniture, enhance your lighting, select the best linen, do all these more. Find all the help you need in our new section called HomeFront, where we feature the best that Dubai has to offer in interior design and home furnishings. Featuring the latest home furnishings and global interior design trends, Esprit helps you make your home your own paradise.

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Study Room

Classic Western study room design suggests tranquility and privacy. The modernist study table takes center stage, with its modernist appeal, with the cushioned wooden chair providing just enough warm touch. This study room is teeming with warmth and peace, perfect for reading or writing. . .or simply, for enjoying the calm and soothing atmosphere.

Home Style brings to Dubai top global brands in home furnishings that enhance the beauty and charm of our homes.

Simplicity. Sophistication.

Elegance. These are some of the images and feelings evoked by the furnishings available at Home Style.

The designs show a mastery of both classical and contemporary themes, as well as a depth of imagination and ingenuity that

Bedroom

This bedroom showcase has luxury and comfort written all over it. From the rich fabrics used in the curtain to the matching pillows and linen, plus the stylish classical bed create a warm, inviting atmosphere for this most intimate part of our homes.

add both comfort and a touch of style to our homes.

Living Room

The modernist space is used elegantly in this living room setting with hefty sofa sets in plush fabrics. The ingenious choice of furniture, including the sturdy center table and overlapping carpets provide a solid and steady ambience to the limitless illusion suggested by the glass walls, making this setting comfortable and re-assuring.

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At Home in One World Enjoy a good night s sleep with comfortable and classy beddings

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)

Excellent variety of gift suggestions that will surely impress.

re you ready for the ultimate in comfort, quality and style? One World brings together the world s native exquisite treasures that will make beautifying our homes seem like an effortless and pleasurable activity.

One World s impressive collection of gifts and home furnishings allow the decorator in us to indulge in creating a stylish home, an ambience that is a unique expression of ourselves.

From lamps to vases; from the kitchen to the bedroom; from home fragrances to décor accessories One World has a bit of everything to help both professional and amateur home stylists a better range of choices.

There is also a variety of natural and ethic materials to choose from, giving depth to the texture of items on sale in One World.

Combined with a wide range of colors, the handcrafted furniture with rich fabrics, earthy accessories, pottery and ceramics provide a stunning visual display, making the One World showroom a virtual ideal home setting.

The materials are a fusion of all that is tropical, ethnic, earthy and rustic. such as wood, bamboo, silk, lace, crystal, ceramics, celadon and wicker.

With a little of touch of ingenuity, the handmade furnishings and homeware can be used as the base for nature-inspired theme for the entire household, creating an ambience that is so natural and familiar. At the same time, the furnishings can be used as an accent, for those who prefer a more modern and contemporary look, without necessarily compromising style and sophistication.

Even the angels have found a home in One World. The cute, heavenly creatures are depicted stylishly in various glass and ceramic wares ranging from candle-holders, jewelry boxes, fig-

Relax and adore with beautiful ornaments and scented candles

urines and lampshades.

There s a whole world of natural beauty waiting for you at One World.

One World Boutique now open in Town Center, Shop 29 C, Jumeirah.

Tel: 344 9243 Fax: 344 2618 Email: heatwave@emirates.net.ae

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Mall Walk

BURJUMAN The long wait is finally over.

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he much anticipated launch of the BurJuman Extension happened last 21 September, and the promise of a better shopping experience became a reality. It was a fitting event to mark a new phase in Bur Juman s operations, with world-class troupes, orchestras and artistes performing to celebrate the opening of the mall s massive extension.

There was a stunning 6-piece classic orchestra that performed in conjunction with a 6-member Jazz band. The 12

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musicians in the classic and jazz orchestras are among the best instrumentalists in the United Kingdom.

Visitors and guests were also held spellbound by a bungee-jumping artist performing as a conductor for the orchestra and band. Suspended from a bungee cord and trapeze in the main atrium of the new mall, he bounced between the two groups, as they performed on the first and second levels.

The stunning performances aside, Bur Juman has done an excellent job with

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the new extension s architecture, featuring a carefully-laid out design that lends sophistication to the place, a perfect match for the high-profile, premium brands that now occupy the area.

With the opening of the extension, BurJuman has once again raised the bar

for retail shopping experience in the region. The extension has increased to more than 300 the number of international brands at BurJuman led by the world-famous fashion store, Saks Fifth Avenue.

Its retail store list is a virtual who s who in

the luxury goods category, with such high-powered brands as Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Bos, Hermes, Channel, Valentino, Ungaro, Burberry, Fendi, Prada, Omega Baume & Mercier, among others.

Sabina Khandwani, Head of Research and Marketing at BurJuman Centre, said: The high quality, the variety and uniqueness of the entertainment package fits well with our strategy to promote the new BurJuman as a top international luxurious shopping destination that not only enriches the shopping experience but also makes it memorable in the minds of visitors. With so many people from different nationalities visiting the mall everyday, BurJuman is proud to present this fantastic programme that will help further enhance its position as a truly international world-class mall.

Bur Juman is considered an innovator and pioneer among shopping malls in the region and is known for offering the most unusual lifestyle, promotion-based and community service oriented events and activities. The mall remains a key supporter of Dubai government driven initiatives such as the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Dubai Summer Surprises.

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arbecue Delights is just as its name suggests. An absolute delight to the palate. A newly opened Barbecue Restaurant situated diagonally opposite Lamcy Plaza, which serves the most succulent, tender, and mouth-watering charcoal grilled barbecue food in Dubai. As a food critic I went along to this restaurant as I had heard a lot about it from my friends to sample what was on offer and I was truly and very pleasantly surprised at the fare on offer.

This new restaurant has only been open for less than 2 months and being a large 200-seat restaurant I was very surprised to see it nearly full that is until I tasted the food! This nirvana of barbecue brings a whole new culinary experience to a traditional concept. Forget everything you ever tasted in kebabs, tikkas before. This food is incomparable. The kebabs are succulent and

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such a large variety. The ribs, which are the restaurantÂ’s speciality, are melt in the mouth delicious. It tingles, lingers and explodes in a multitude of exiting flavours and aromas leaving you in a state of delectable bliss.

The menu on offer is so extensive that you would have to re visit the place to try out all their delicious dishes. Apart from the barbecue dishes there is something for everyone. Sea food specials featuring Jumbo prawns and Barbecued Crabs, Vegetarian dishes especially their Vegetarian Kebabs and Banjan Borani all deliciously marinated and cooked in a way that preserves the natural juices and flavours.

In talking to the co-owner Aspy Bhathena about the concept of this food he informed me that the Concept of Barbecue Delights has been developed by Mr Micky Khan and his team from the famous restaurant in

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Karachi called BBQ TONITE, which is probably the most successful restaurant in Pakistan.

Whilst the idea of bringing Barbecue Delights to Dubai was Aspy s idea, the secret was to get Micky and his team to join him in this venture. In talking to Micky he informed me that everyone loves good barbecue food and at BD S, which is their brand name we offer the best in barbecue food at a very competitive price. The focus is on pure, fresh and best quality ingredients and aromatic spices. As Aspy explained we will never compromise on quality and we want families to come and enjoy our food and become our regular customers.

Not only did I find that the food was excellent, I was greeted with a friendly cheerful smile that never fades throughout your meal. I was also pleasantly surprised

by the speed with which the food was served considering that it was barbecued food!

The waiters were also very helpful and courteous. If you find yourself lost in their extensive menu you can ask Micky to serve you up their delicious platters of either the Barbecue Delights or the Afghani Delights. The food arrives hot and steaming from the charcoal pits and every bite thereon transports you to a dimension of pure barbecue heaven.

I spent a delightful evening talking to both Aspy and Micky and was very impressed with Micky s knowledge of the science of cooking. He explained to me that the dishes on offer at BD S have been developed and tested over a period of 15 years at BBQ TONITE in Karachi and are not available anywhere else in the UAE. What makes their barbecues so special as he explained is their unique style of cooking whereby all the juices and flavours within the meats and vegetables are retained and their original taste maintained to the very end.

I enquired if they were offering anything special over Ramadan and Aspy enthused over the special Iftar buffet on offer featuring a wide array of salads, savouries and sweets together with a superb selection of their famous barbecue dishes. All this for DHMS 40 and half price for children between 6 yrs and 12 yrs! When Micky told me what was on offer I have to admit I will be there on many an occasion over the Ramadan period. Micky also showed me their excellent Outdoor catering menus for the Ramadan period.

So hurry up all you party people who want BD S to cater for you over Ramadan as they are getting booked up very fast.

There are numerous restaurants in Dubai and one gets confused sometimes as to where to go and eat. However I felt at BD S you get the most delicious barbecue food without losing your shirt. The ambience and the décor of the restaurant all add to make your evening at BD S a very pleasant and enjoyable one. As I drove home I found myself recounting every moment and reliving every little sensation that my palate experienced. I realised that I just had one of the best meals on offer anywhere in Dubai. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

Win Lunch / Dinner for two at Barbecue Delight Q1: What kind of cuisine is offered at BD s ? .............................................................................

Q1: Where is BD located in Dubai? .............................................................................

Name:.................................................................

Address:.............................................................

Tel:......................................................................

Email:.................................................................

Age:....................................................................

Please send your reply to P.O Box.7306 or fax : 04 3439577

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Pearl, the queen of Gems Charlotte Jewelry opens in Dubai Cartier. Ramadan Special Collection Paris Gallery School of creative beauty Beauty Line. Latest in the Market Scentsational POUR HOMME Dyeing to change your hair color?

YSL. The King of Fashion GAS, a new concept by AMG LUX Fashion World. 2005 Collection WATCH out!

Most Prestigious Accessories for Her & Him Ramadan a time for giving Date, the fruit of the desert

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Campomatic. Comes to Dubai Have it warm with Home Style It is home at One World Mercedes-Benz Super Coupe The Palm Tree by DGC PARIS Est ma ville preferee PHOTOGRAPHY - Lesson 1 Subscribe now!!

Virgin Chart Eid Blockbusters BURJUMAN - No longer wait!

Barbecue Delights BISTRO of the Month ESPRIT GUIDE to 30 nights of RamadanÂ… Have You Heard?!!

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