Open Skies | August 2016

THE RISE OF CHINESE CINEMA

armanibeauty.com

#POWERWITHIN available on board

Editor-in-ChiEf Managing PartnEr & grouP Editor EditoriaL dirECtor grouP Editor SEnior Editor digitaL / Print dESignEr digitaL aniMator VidEo Editor Sub Editor EditoriaL aSSiStant

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Ian Fairservice Gina Johnson gina@motivate.ae Mark Evans marke@motivate.ae Andrew Nagy andrew.nagy@motivate.ae Ralph Mancao ralph@motivate.ae Surajit Dutta surajit@motivate.ae Donnie Miguel donnie.miguel@motivate.ae Salil Kumar salil@motivate.ae Londresa Flores londresa@motivate.ae

ContributorS

Geoff Brokate, Gemma Correll, Sarah Freeman, Ben Jacobs, Jamie Knights, Richard Luck, Kaye Martindale, Matt Mostyn, Sandra Tinari, Stuart Turton Cover: Bruce Emmett, folioart.co.uk

gEnEraL ManagEr ProduCtion S Sunil Kumar ProduCtion ManagEr R Murali Krishnan

ChiEf CoMMErCiaL offiCEr Anthony Milne anthony@motivate.ae

PubLiShEr Jaya Balakrishnan jaya@motivate.ae

grouP SaLES ManagEr Michael Underdown michael@motivate.ae

dEPuty SaLES ManagEr Amar Kamath Amar@motivate.ae

SEnior SaLES ManagEr Shruti Srivastava shruti.srivastava@ motivate.ae

EditoriaL ConSuLtantS for EMiratES Editor Manna Talib arabiC Editor Hatem Omar dEPuty Editor Catherine Freeman WEbSitE emirates.com

InternatIonal MedIa representatIves auStraLia/nEW ZEaLand Okeeffe Media; Tel + 61 894 472 734, okeeffekev@bigpond.com.au bELgiuM and LuXEMbourg M.P.S. Benelux; Tel +322 720 9799, francesco.sutton@mps-adv.com China Publicitas Advertising; Tel +86 10 5879 5885 gErMany IMV Internationale Medien Vermarktung GmbH; Tel +49 8151 550 8959, w.jaeger@imv-media.com hong Kong/MaLaySia/thaiLand Sonney Media Networks; Tel +852 2151 2351, hemant@sonneymedia.com india Media Star; Tel +91 22 4220 2103, ravi@mediastar.co.in JaPan Tandem Inc.; Tel + 81 3 3541 4166, all@tandem-inc.com nEthErLandS giO media; Tel +31 (0)6 22238420, giovanni@giO-media.nl PaKiStan D&S International News Agency; Tel +92 3235345727, dnsnewsagency@gmail.com SWitZErLand, franCE/itaLy & SPain IMM International; Tel +331 40 1300 30, n.devos@imm-international.com turKEy Media Ltd.; Tel +90 212 275 51 52, mediamarketingtr@medialtd.com.tr uK Spafax Inflight Media; Tel +44 207 906 2001, nhopkins@spafax.com uSa Totem Brand Stories; Tel +1 4168475100, nicole.mullin@tc.tc Emirates takes care to ensure that all facts published herein are correct. In the event of any inaccuracy please contact the editor. Any opinion expressed is the honest belief of the author based on all available facts. Comments and facts should not be relied upon by the reader in taking commercial, legal, financial or other decisions. Articles are by their nature general and specialist advice should always be consulted before any actions are taken.

Media One Tower, Dubai Media City PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE Telephone: (+971 4) 427 3000 Fax: (+971 4) 428 2261 Email: emirates@motivate.ae

114,149 copies July – December 2015 Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai, UAE

E D I T O R ’ S

L E T T E R

ANDREW NAGY

ON THE COVER

SENIOR EDITOR

I

n Hollywood, at meetings held by the men who make movies, China is never anything less than an integral part of the conversation. It’s a significant development for a nation whose industry was in crisis as recently as just 25 years ago.

In 1994, The Fugitive became the first foreign movie to be shown in China, and while the lure of Harrison Ford should never be underestimated, the reality was a response to an audience bored with the Communist-driven nature of its

downturn might seem like something of an anomaly, but it demonstrates why China is expected to eclipse Hollywood in the very near future. According to some, the industry is almost recessionproof, as when times are tough, people need the escapism more than ever.

In 2015 Chinese movie sales were second, globally, only to the US, and took in US$6.8 billion – a 49 per cent increase on the previous year. And therein lies the key to Hollywood’s obsession: untold riches. Such is China’s population – and

“CHINA WILL SOON HAVE THE BIGGEST MOVIE AUDIENCE IN THE WORLD… AND THEREIN LIES HOLLYWOOD’S INTEREST” titles. People simply weren’t going to the cinema anymore.

Naturally, impor ting foreign titles was done with extreme caution. Even now it has a quota of just 34 per year, for fear that demand could damage the domestic product. It’s an unlikely scenario. The audience for homegrown movies is staggering, and it dominates the char ts. By the end of 2016 they expect a domestic title to cross the US$500 million threshold for the ver y first time.

A booming enter tainment industry for a country in the throes of financial

facebook.com/ openskiesmagazine

twitter.com/ openskiesmag

love of film – that it’s expected to have the biggest movie audience in the world, potentially by 2020. Cinemas are being constructed daily and where once movies would only open in Shanghai and Beijing, now it’s second-tier cities, too.

This month we examine how China not only has the audience and the financial muscle, but is also proving a fer tile ground for filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino. The result is an industr y powerplay, and it’s one that Hollywood will do anything to win.

Enjoy the issue.

THE CHINESE MOVIE INDUSTRY TAKES ON HOLLYWOOD This month, illustrator Bruce Emmett at folioart.co.uk has created an image depicting how the Chinese movie industry has taken from its past to rapidly grow and rival Hollywood.

NOW AVAILABLE ON YOUR IPAD

instagram.com/ openskiesmag

LOOK OUT FOR THIS ICON ON EACH STORY IN OPEN SKIES FOR AN INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD OF EMIRATES

| 9 |

C O N T E N T S

FRONT

17 18 20 24 31 Experience

Flashback

Lunch With

Stay

Neighbourhood

39 Local Knowledge

MAIN

46 58 Olympic Hopes

China Takes on Hollywood

BRIEFING

66 70 72 74 76 Emirates News

Inside Emirates

Destination

Comfort

80 82 88 90 UAE Smart Gate

Route Map

Emirates Fleet | 11 |

Knowledge

Customs & Visa Information

C O N T R I B U T O R S

AUGUST Some of the people who helped create this issue of Open Skies GEOFF BROKATE

SARAH FREEMAN

BEN JACOBS

RICHARD LUCK

Geoff is an Australian photographer and writer based in the UK. A regular contributor to Open Skies, this month he snaps his personal hero, photography legend Raghu Rai.

Sarah is a freelance photojournalist from the UK who specialises in travel and wellness. This month she travels to Bali to stay at the brand new Katamama Hotel.

Ben is a senior spor ts commentator for BeIN Spor ts, and was the voice of last season’s El Clásico in Spain. This month he meets the world’s first Refugee Olympic Team as they prepare to make histor y, and take par t in Rio.

Richard is the editor of RightCasino.com, an awardwinning feature writer, and the author of books on Steve McQueen and Sam Peckinpah. This month he spoke to Quentin Tarantino, amongst others, to write on the Chinese movie industry.

“It is rare to meet a living master, especially one who has been so influential in the way you see the world. I confess to being a little nervous before meeting him but he proved to be a humble man with a profound appreciation for life.”

“Surf swells and killer sunsets aside, what really blew me away in Bali was its rich craftsmanship and talented artisans, who have put the ‘mama’ into Katamama – a hotel where I genuinely felt very much at home, despite being more than 8,000 miles away.”

“The Refugee Olympic Team is about raising awareness of a global crisis, but more than anything, it’s their passion, talent and sheer determination that really shines through.”

“I was delighted to find China’s movie execs so keen to promote their film industry, and the people I spoke to couldn’t have been more cooperative. Hollywood, please take note.”

KAYE MARTINDALE

MATT MOSTYN

SANDRA TINARI

STUART TURTON

Kaye is a semi-nomadic writer currently based in Yorkshire’s beautiful Calder Valley. An Open Skies regular, this month she travels to Delhi to speak with a photographer who has influenced her own work from a very early age.

Matt is a world-wandering writer based between Dubai, the UK and Australia. He freelances for a range of international magazines and ad agency creative departments.

This month he writes on how an Emirates aircraft makeover takes place, and just how much manpower is involved.

Sandra is an Australian freelance journalist and photographer, based in Dubai, and a regular contributor to Open Skies. This month she writes on Dubai Walls, a stunning project that sees 15 of the world’s best street ar tists use Dubai City Walk as their canvas.

Stuar t is a freelance journalist specialising in travel and technology. He spends a lot of time going in the wrong direction, grumbling at smar tphones and trying to remember where he left his house keys. This month he writes on MTV.

“Emirates completed 33 aircraft makeovers last year, and it was fascinating to learn some of the stats involved in this mammoth undertaking.”

“To see the work of so many of the world’s foremost street artists within a block radius was unimaginable and a real privilege. As ever, only in Dubai.”

“Raghu Rai is truly a mesmerising character and to meet him was to go on an adventure through his life. It was a privilege to glimpse inside the mind of one of our greatest living photographers.”

| 12 |

“Being a child raised

by MTV had plenty of benefits, but style wasn’t among them. My grunge phase suggests I was a homeless teenager who lived in a cupboard. Horrific.”

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Amazing Ocean Adventures Welcome the Devil Rays, Hammerheads and more of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures to Underwater Zoo. See them up close from our new breathtaking underwater tunnel and one-of-a-kind panoramic screens.

Explore Discovery Channel’s Shark Week exhibit in association with OSN and experience the first ever interactive, digital shark cage for a lifelike marine encounter.

Immerse yourself in an incredible aquatic adventure. Now open. thedubaiaquarium.com | The Dubai Mall DubaiAquarium

@DubaiAquarium

All new attractions are included in the cost of entrance tickets, which remain at original prices.

Discovery Channel & Shark Week © & TM 2016 Discovery Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.

Partners

Carefully curated content focused on unique experiences Dubai Walls

Flashback

Lunch With

Neighbourhood

18

20

31

39

FRONT

of op t he t o t t en w e w , ng ni or m This t he w or ld’s tallest build ing. n. ai nt ou m st he g hi ’s E A U he t Now, it’s t ime for No e levat ors here!

www.raktda.com Only 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport

Jebel Jais - Highest point in the UAE (1,925 metres)

E x p E r i E n c E

August 31

Dubai Opera UAE

Being an opera house means that it’s, well, a place of opera of course; but opera is just a story, and there are so many other varieties to tell.

This is already a city of excellence and attractions, but Dubai Opera won’t just be a cultural boost, it’s also economic… it’s about having people enjoy Dubai for longer. Now they can visit the Burj, enjoy a fine meal, and see an opera or the ballet.

By the time we open my team will number 100 people. Of that, about 35 will be purely technical – lighting, sound and rigging,

for example.The rest will be marketing, finance and similar duties. For these roles, except for the very senior levels, we’ve enlisted many people who have no theatre experience whatsoever. I want a real mix.

Our USP is being in Dubai. Not only are we the first, we’re the only venue like this in the UAE – and for performances to take place at the highest level you must give artists the right venue to perform.

Plácido Domingo will open, and be followed by a double production – The Pearl Fishers and The Barber Of Seville, two

great favourites of opera lovers. The Pearl Fishers is particularly relevant, reflecting the rich maritime heritage of Dubai – the fishing and the pearl divers.

We’ll also welcome the ballet from Russia, with another great doubleproduction of Coppelia and Giselle, two very popular ballets. We’re going to have a full symphony orchestra, rather than taped music, too. We will have performances unlike anything you’ve ever seen in the region – a feast for the ears and the eyes. dubaiopera.com

CEO Jasper hope gives a behind-the-scenes tour of the Dubai Opera in Emirates world , channel 1500 on ice Digital widescreen.

| 17 |

AS TOLD TO: SANDRA TINARI, IMAGE: GETTy

DubAI OpERA ChIEf ExECuTIvE, Jasper HOpe, ExpLAINS hOw ThIS MONTh’S OpENING pERfORMANCE by ThE LEGENDARy SpANISh TENOR, pláciDO DOmingO, wILL hERALD AN ExCITING NEw ERA fOR ThE REGION

F L A S H B A C K

I WANT MY MTV

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO MUSIC TELEVISION WAS BORN, AND IT WOULD GO ON TO CHANGE A GENERATION MTV is a litmus test of age. Turn it on for five minutes at any time of the day and if you’re entertained by its beautiful people and frenetic energy, you’re still young. If you feel like you’ve thrown your eyeballs in the washing machine with a lot of brightly coloured clothes, you’re probably old. Back in 1981, when the channel first launched, the idea of targeting high-school and university students was unheard of – advertisers being wary of a demographic that spent most of its time in its parents’ basement.

The idea of entertaining them with music videos was equally ridiculous, if only because most bands made bad ones. Naturally, MTV changed all of that. In the three decades that followed, it professionalised the music video and kick-started the careers of directors including Ridley Scott and Michael Bay. If you’ve ever lamented Hollywood’s fascination with quick cuts and flashes of action, blame MTV. And its effects weren’t just felt across film. MTV taught a generation of children how to dress and speak. It was an attitude; a way of approaching the world that appealed to a certain class of high-brow slacker, immortalised by Beavis And Butthead – which somehow managed to be critically lauded for poking fun at its own audience.

Over the years, MTV has swung away from its original music mission, focusing on television shows such as Teen Wolf and Scream instead. From leading the pack, it’s become one of the number, its viewing figures faltering in turn. For those who grew up on it, though, it’ll always be remembered as the first station that spoke directly to them. Party hard, dudes.

The MTV channel on ice has episodes of top shows like Are You the One?, Catfish and Punk’d. Channel 1302 on ice Digital Widescreen.

| 18 |

THE CRIB HEAD TO NEW YORK FOR MTV’S SPIRITUAL HOME In years gone by, you could appear on MTV simply by hanging around Times Square long enough to get in the background of Total Request Live.

These days you’ve got to be a little more proactive. Head to their studio at 1515 Broadway, check out the gift shop, then try and blag a spot on a reality show. Hopefully not aTeen Mom sequel, though. mtv.com

L u n c h

w i t h

RAghu RAi The photojournalist who made a mark on the world from his native India, talks fear, family, and Mother Teresa from Delhi’s Olive Bar WORDS: Kaye MaRtinDale iMageS: geOff BROKate

A

s 74-year-old Raghu Rai rides into the restaurant forecourt on the back of a motorbike with his red cape dancing in the wind, I feel something portentous in the making. Danish existential philosopher, Kierkegaard likened geniuses to thunderstorms, stating, “They go against the wind, terrify people, cleanse the air.” And as the imposing frame of Rai steps off the bike and directs a tirade in Hindi towards the doorman, I wonder just what kind of tempest is rolling in.

Rai has made a name for himself as India’s most defining photographer, somehow capturing the extremes and vividness of his homeland like no other. Despite being a protégé of Magnum

co-founder and 20th century master Cartier-Bresson, Rai has eschewed the style and influence of other photographers to forge his own unique philosophy and vision.

We are dining at Olive Bar, in Mehruli, a quiet – by Delhi standards – suburb were Rai lives with his wife Meera. The large yet cosy restaurant recreates the ambience of a Greek tavern with wonky white washed walls, distressed furniture and a Mediterranean terrace. It’s alcoves and nooks make for an intimate and secluded dining experience.

Rai has arrived hungry and is keen to order. As he searches around in his pocket, he realises that he’s forgotten his glasses

| 20 |

L u n c h

w i t h

Someone aSked my father how many children he had and he Said ‘i have two SonS. i had four but loSt two to photography’

and can’t read the menu. He calls over the waiter and succinctly tells him what he’s in the mood for: some salad and steamed fish. He switches seamlessly between Hindi and English as we quickly work out the order.

I’m a big fan of Rai’s work and I find myself beaming as he explains, with his deep voice, elongated vowels and richly accented English, how his father dreamed a future for him as a successful engineer. Trying to be the dutiful son, Rai followed his father’s vision halfheartedly. I find it hard to imagine this man, who seems to pulsate with energy, fitting himself into the role of civil engineer in the provinces.

Rai is still visibly grateful – he smiles wryly, perhaps for a moment imagining the life that might have been his – that his first job was a fixed term contract for two years which gave him the chance to “run away to Delhi”, where he stayed with his brother, Paul, a photographer.

Unsure what to do with himself, Rai immersed himself in the culture of city life, until one day he went out to take some photographs with his brother’s friend in a nearby village. In the developing room Paul was struck by one of the photographs his brother had taken of a baby donkey in the evening sun and sent it off to The Times in London. The image was published and Rai was paid, by Indian standards quite handsomely. From there, Rai fell into the life that fits him perfectly.

His father was not impressed by his son’s new path, engineering is a highly respected and sought after career in India. Rai leans back in his chair, as he gleefully recounts the story. “Someone asked my father how many children he had and he said ‘I have two sons, I had four but two have gone photographer.’” He deepens his voice and earnestly adds, “Later on when I started doing very well, he was very proud.”

Within one year of taking his first photograph, he was working as chief photographer at The Statesman, a highly respected Indian broadsheet newspaper. I ask him how he achieved this great leap in such a short time and he pulls back, sits up tall and wrinkles his nose as he replies sternly, “I’m very good”.

Our starter arrives, we opted to share a fresh burrata salad, and the waiter dishes it out. I tuck in as Rai pours copious amounts of pepper over his salad.

Shifting the focus, I ask about his relationship with infamous photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson. Rai explains that he had his first exhibition in 1971, in Paris, and that he saw someone hanging around 15 minutes before the show was due to open. With a childlike glee, he leans in to explain, “I saw someone with a Leica [the high quality, light weight film camera synonymous with Cartier-Bresson] in his hand looking very carefully at the pictures” Rai’s voice turns dramatically to a whisper. “I thought that must be him.”

Cartier-Bresson welcomed Rai into the fold of Parisian photography and became a major proponent of his work. It’s often considered that he was a mentor to Rai but with a similar style and outlook it was more of a meeting of minds, with both men famous for capturing a moment when the chaos of life collides within the frame of one image.

Upon returning from a world tour with his exhibition, Rai found a letter from Magnum, the renowned photography agency founded and run by the finest photographers in the world. The letter invited him to join the agency. I sit waiting for Rai to proclaim his joy but his words hang in the air. I ask was he happy, imagining that everybody who’s ever picked up a camera with some

| 21 |

L u n c h

w i t h

On HIS MOST DIFFICUlT ASSIGnMEnT, HE STATES wITHOUT HESITATIOn, ‘MOTHEr TErESA. SHE wAS MOST wOnDErFUl… AnD MOST DEMAnDInG’

yearning to be a photographer, dreams of working for Magnum.

He looks me in the eye, “No, I got so scared and I didn’t reply.”

I feel the anticlimax, like when the hero dies at the end of the movie, as Rai quietly explains that he didn’t want to leave his country and doubted whether he was good enough to work with Magnum at all.

Rai continued his path at The Statesman, in a comfortable position were he was afforded the rare luxury of being able to pick and choose which stories he wanted to cover. In 1977 Rai became restless and longed for even greater freedom. As he emptied out his desk, he found that six-year-old letter from Magnum.

Ever theatrical, Rai paints a vivid picture as he tells the story, calling Magnum but not willing to give up his newfound freedom, Rai demanded that he be allowed to work only in India and to work at his own pace.

Western-centric commentators have often wondered out loud why Rai never left India to pursue his work in Europe. As the waiter quietly places down our main course, Rai doesn’t miss a beat as he explains why he never even thought about leaving.

I’m surprised as this, almost imposing man, confesses to being shy.

My expression must betray my doubt as he explains, “Of course these days I can meet people and relate to them but I’ve never been fond of travelling or being on my own. Over the years my love for my country, my intensity and relationship with it is so so wonderful that now I can close my eyes and sniff around and take photos. This is why India is precious to me.”

A lust for life and a joy in capturing the magic of this world go hand in hand for Rai, who has a near religious connection with photography.

Yet he has also photographed some horrific events, most tragic of which was in Bhopal. On December 3, 1984. A gas leak at a Union Carbide factory killed thousands, injuring and killing many thousands more over the following months and years.

The gas plant began leaking at midnight and when Rai arrived at 8am, “the dead and sick were being brought out. There was death all around. So I was very quick taking pictures and

capturing the intensity and sadness of the tragedy.”

You might think, with some justification, that this would be the most difficult assignment in Rai’s portfolio; but you’d be wrong. When pressed, he answers without hesitation, “Mother Teresa. She was most wonderful... and most demanding.” Among his most lauded images, his photographs capture in light and dark, a woman bent over by time with her gaze firmly fixed in space looking for answers, cradling with tenderness those at the beginning of life and those at the end.

Rai has spent a large part of his career trying to override the preconceived ideas of the thinking mind and photograph out of “sheer instinctive response”. Deeply passionate about what he sees as “a lack of seriousness in contemporary media and an over inflation of conceptual photography”, Rai has created the Raghu Rai Centre for Photography. A school where he can “ignite those creative moments in individuals and put them in touch with what’s important and special in creativity.”

I’ve been happily swept along by his enthusiastic storytelling for two hours when his gusto starts to fade. Taking an overt look at his watch, he clears his throat and asks very politely if he may “take my permission.” I reluctantly oblige him and as I watch his tall frame leave, his cape billowing behind him, I rest back in my chair and close my eyes, both electrified and exhausted... as if I’ve just been expelled from a tornado.

The Bill 1 Fresh burrata salad to share (US$10.50) 1 Hand rolled gnocchi (US$12.60) 1 Grouper and puffed quinoa (US$21) 2 Orange juice (US$3)

Total: US$47.10

Emirates serves nine destinations in India – Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru.

| 22 |

Moment The Team Members of LUX* help people to celebrate life with the most simple, fresh and sensory hospitality in the world.

M AU R I T I U S R E U N I O N M A L D I V E S C H I N A U . A . E T U R K E Y V I E T N A M | L U X R E S O R T S. C O M

S t a y :

R o o m

Katamama Seminyak, Bali

Words: sarah Freeman Images: Katamama Boasting some of the largest living spaces of any hotel in Bali, the newly opened all-suite Katamama Hotel is the lovechild of gallery owner and Potato Head co-owner, Ronald Akili, and renowned Indonesian architect, Andra Matin.

Merging traditional Balinese craftsmanship with contemporary touches, the boutique hotel is almost entirely handmade – from

the building itself crafted with 1.6 million handmade tiles sourced from a single village in Bali, to the suites’ orchid-vine storage boxes created by weavers in the village of Tenganan. Naturally sourced materials offset the Danish mid-century pieces of furniture and one-off pieces of Indonesian art.

Adding some European flavour to the predominantly Balinese character is

Emirates flies non-stop daily to Bali with a two class configured Boeing 777-300ER.

| 24 |

MoVida, an outpost of the cult Spanish restaurant, which serves up stylish tapas in a tropical setting. Shimmy next door to Akademi Bar-slash-hotel reception, where you can make your way through their creative cocktail list, curated by awardwinning mixologist Dre Masso, and check in (or out) at the same time. katamama.com

S t a y :

C l a S S i C

claridge’s london, england

Words: andreW nagy Images: clarIdge’s On the corner of Brook Street and Davies Street you’ll find Claridge’s. Not simply an exclusive Mayfair address but a hotel that has accommodated history.

You want glamour? It’s such a royal favourite that it became known as an annexe to Buckingham Palace. You want tragedy? Winston Churchill stayed here

the night he lost the 1945 General Election. You want geopolitics? Churchill made Suite 212 Yugoslavian territory for a day, just so Crown Prince Alexander II could be born on home soil.

Of course, history is only par t of the story. Claridge’s offers some of the finest suites in the city, the recent Linley refurb

in par ticular something of a triumph.

But whether staying or visiting, ordering an Old Fashioned in The Fumoir, or sitting down to dinner in Fera – which replaced Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s – this storied hotel will always do nothing less than impress. claridges.co.uk

Starting October 1, Emirates will add its 10th daily service to London, with the addition of a fourth daily service to London Gatwick. The new service will complement the airline’s six daily services to Heathrow, and take the airline’s total weekly services to the city to 70.

| 26 |

S t a y :

C o n t e m p o r a r y

THE HOXTON AmsterdAm, the NetherlANds

Words: david Leck images: THe HoXToN Located in a stately position overlooking one of Amsterdam’s grand canals, don’t let the uber-cool atmosphere of one of the city’s newest hotels fool you. It might be full of bearded young media types and other trendy souls huddled over laptops, but it takes its unpretentious style seriously.

You’ll be greeted by first name in a lobby of exposed brick, low-level seating and

tasteful mish-mash of retro decor. No clone-like uniforms and corporate code going on here. The Hoxton subscribes to the ethos of individuality, so don’t be surprised if housekeeping turns up in the form of a 20-something guy in jeans and T-shirt. The endearing ambience flows through to the rooms, with wooden floors, comfy beds, rainforest showers and

Emirates flies twice daily to Amsterdam with the A380.

| 28 |

little oddities such as a trimphone (who remembers?), thumb-frayed paperbacks and a hang-on-the-door breakfast request bag. It’s like visiting a hip friend who dispenses glossy magazine-type chic as effortlessly as they take your coat. No question, though – it’s a homely base in the always affable Dutch capital. thehoxton.com

N e i g h b o u r h o o d

Noosa Heads, QueeNslaNd, ausTralia Words and Images: sandra TInarI

T

he enticingly named Sunshine Coast is a meandering stretch of relaxed beachside town an hour’s drive from Brisbane International Airport, with Noosa Heads and its chic seafront, Hastings Street, the jewel in its sandy crown.

Once just home to surfers, backpackers and creative types, Noosa Heads has been transformed with an influx of urbanites from Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney.

It’s now known for its cosmopolitan cafe culture, fresh and varied produce, exclusive shopping and rolling surf (think Australia’s version of Montauk in the Hamptons).

Butting on to one of Australia’s most renowned surf beaches and most-visited coastal national park, Noosa Heads derives its name from the breathtaking headlands of Noosa National Park on its southern border, the walking trails of which begin at the top of Hastings Street and lead to | 31 |

secluded seaside bays. To the north, the town is bounded by the Noosa River. Listed as an official Biosphere Reserve by Unesco, Noosa is home to a range of pristine natural environments, including rocky outposts where you can watch whales swim by and forested reserves that are home to koalas.

Combining natural beauty with awardwinning restaurants, cafes, shopping, as the next few pages will show you, Noosa has plenty to offer.

N e i g h b o u r h o o d

Surf + PAddle

Noosa LoNgboards You simply can’t go to Noosa Heads without getting wet in its famous point break waves, which are very beginner friendly on calm days. This place sells classic longboard surfboards and offers board hire and lessons, as well as selling all the gear needed for the beach. The shop, which has graced the town for more than 20 years, is popular for its collection of retro surf items, from mini dancing luau girls for your car, to photography books and Elvis Presley records.

55 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD, Australia | noosalongboards.com

Boardwalk Boat Hire noosa

In The AreA

Hire a stand-up paddleboard or take a guided kayak tour of the Noosa Biosphere and its wildlife. Eco-travel by paddle power.

( 1 0 - m i n u t e wa l k )

SHEratoN WHarf, NooSa ParadE, NooSa HEadS, QLd, NooSaHEadSBoatHirE.com.au

| 33 |

N e i g h b o u r h o o d

Shop + Snack

Rococo BistRo Noosa Rococo Bistro Noosa claims prime position on Hastings Street.

Opposite the beach and on the shopping strip’s only intersection, the upmarket bistro and bar is the ideal location for people watching.

Buzzing year-round with locals and tourists in search of great coffee and its European-infused modern Australian menu, the restaurant opens onto a large, shaded outdoor terrace, a mini oasis amid the hustle and bustle of Noosa Heads.

42 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD, Australia | rococonoosa.com.au

atelier motif

A coastal-luxe boutique selling cutting-edge Australian fashion, Atelier Motif’s signature aesthetic is relaxed luxury with a bohemian twist. Lifestyle accessories are also available.

In The area ( f i v e - m i n u t e wa l k )

Shop 1/12 hAStingS St, nooSA heAdS QLd, ALteriorMotif.coM.Au

| 35 |

Explore more than 50 destinations across Australia and New Zealand with Emirates and Qantas. Emirates Skywards Members can earn and spend Skywards Miles on Qantas flights. On Emirates, members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program can earn and redeem Qantas Points.

eat + Shop

El Capitano For good food and quirky cool head to Hastings Street’s newest restaurant, El Capitano. From the team behind Noosa’s famous Cafe Le Monde, the nautical-style specialist pizza bar entices guests to its first floor location via a por t-inspired entrance and leafy, tropical walkway. Don’t let El Capitano’s light-hear ted approach fool you – this restaurant is serious about food and ser ves 72hour fermented sourdough pizza bases. Enjoy a tropical-inspired drink perched on its peppermint bar stools, or soak up the balmy Sunshine Coast evenings while dining outdoors.

52 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD, elcapitano.com.au

Orlebar brOwn

Pick up a pair of tailored men’s swim shorts from the newly opened London import, Orlebar Brown, which draws inspiration from Slim Riviera and Palm Beach life.

In the area ( f i v e - m i n u t e wa l k )

14-16 HaStingS StReet, nOOSa, QLD, ORLeBaRBROwn.cOm.au

| 37 |

L o c a L

K n o w L e d g e

Dubai Walls

You might not instantly associate Dubai with a thriving street art scene, but thanks to Dubai’s City Walk, 15 of the world’s best have used the walls as their canvas

words and Images: sandra TInarI

W

hen you fly to any par t of the world, as your flight prepares to land, you notice the landscape. It could be patchwork fields or towering skyscrapers, but every city has it’s own unique look and feel. Things can change, of course, and the beige haze that is Dubai has had a significant colour injection in recent months, thanks to Dubai Walls.

The project has seen some of the world’s top street artists take to the city, claiming its walls as their canvas, making the new shopping destination in Jumeirah like a walking gallery and gaining some serious international love in the process.

Artists taking part include the French ‘Godfather’ of stencil art, Blek le Rat, the creator of pop surrealism Ron English, Aiko from Japan and the US’s Magda Sayeg, founder of the global

‘yarn-bombing’ movement. UK street art is represented by EINE, whose signature artwork was gifted to the White House by David Cameron, alongside D*FACE, Nick Walker and The London Police.

A supersized portrait of a woman has been painted by Australian muralist, RONE, while a visually arresting 3D masterpiece has been created by Beau Stanton of the US. In-demand Polish art duo, ETAM CRU, have added the largest mural ever seen in the Middle East.

While representing the street art movement in our own region are Iranian brothers, Icy and Sot. The art works can be found among the streets of City Walk at Al Safa Street – a treasure-trail of creativity – and will remain on permanent display. Here’s what some of the artists have to say about their time in Dubai...

| 39 |

L o c a L

K n o w L e d g e

Nick Walker, UK I was invited because the owner of the development liked my Vandal character painting the hear t and wanted the airport name DXB incorporated into it. I’ve also produced a life-sized stencil work featuring The Vandal who, dressed as a quintessential English businessman, can be seen on one of the other walls riding a penny-far thing and writing the words: ‘I love Dubai’.

RONE, Australia The city walls project was an amazing experience. It gave me a chance to work alongside so many amazing artists from all over the world in one place. It felt like we were contributing to a huge outdoor walking gallery.

The wall I painted is replication of a wall I painted in Cuba. The wall there has seen a city held back from progress and has the scars to tell the tale. The woman is Nadila, she has lived in Havana her whole life.

Now she’s transported to Dubai in a cultural exchange to look upon the ever-growing landscape. | 40 |

L o c a L

K n o w L e d g e

Magda Sayeg, US My role in City Walls was quite unique because I didn’t have a blank wall, I had more than 20 palm trees instead. My work fit perfectly in this setting, because the other artists obviously couldn’t paint the palm trees. This was meant for me, and it added a sculptural element to the overall exhibit.

This isn’t just going to be seen by the people living in Dubai.

This is the kind of project where people will travel from other par ts of the world just to see it, and I’m cer tain that other developments will try to emulate it because of just how successful it has become.

Dubai Walls has some of the most notable street artists in the world, and to see such a concentrated group of stellar artists in an outdoor setting is unprecedented. I am more than proud to be included – I’m honoured.

A convenient way to visit Dubai’s top attractions is with City Sightseeing’s hop-on hop-off bus. Learn more at citysightseeing-dubai.com

| 42 |

A collection of stories from around the world

China Takes On Hollywood

Olympic Hopes

46

58

MAIN

ON AUGUST 5, THE WORLD’S FIRST REFUGEE TEAM WILL WALK OUT FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES. TEN ATHLETES CARRYING THE TORCH FOR 20 MILLION IN THE HOPE THAT SPORT REALLY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

OLYMPIC

WORDS: BEN JACOBS PHOTOGRAPHY: UNHCR

HOPES

O L Y M P I C

H O P E S

RAMI ANIS FLED SYRIA FOR BELGIUM

T

he power of sport to offer hope is undeniable across all walks of life. It lifts spirits, it changes perceived destinies, it offers escapism. However, when the 10 athletes chosen to participate at the 2016 Olympic Games walk into Rio’s Maracanã Stadium this month, it could perhaps be the greatest ever example of its ability to raise awareness and, hopefully, instigate change.

With more than 20 million refugees around the world – one in 350 humans – the International Olympic Committee has created a team for displaced athletes, spending US$2 million in the process.

Ten athletes – five runners from South Sudan and one from Ethiopia, two Syrian swimmers and two judokas from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – will compete under the Olympic flag, much like athletes from Yugoslavia and Macedonia did at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona due to civil war.

“These refugees have no home, no team, no flag and no national anthem,” said IOC president Thomas Bach. “The Olympic anthem will be played in their honour and the Olympic flag will lead them into the Olympic Stadium. This will be a symbol of hope for all refugees and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis.

“These refugee athletes will show the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit.”

Of course the IOC’s well-intentioned point of forming a refugee team is to show solidarity at a time when millions are fleeing persecution, but when the athletes affiliated to it parade through the Maracanã Stadium for the opening ceremony on August 5 they could be forgiven for still feeling a little left out. The truth is most of the 10,500 athletes in Rio aren’t genuine medal contenders. For those who fall into this category the opening

| 48 |

O L Y M P I C

H O P E S

YUSRA MARDINI FLED SYRIA FOR GERMANY

ceremony will be the highlight of the Games; an indescribable moment that an athlete works towards their whole life.

“I can’t wait to enter the Maracanã,” said 24-year-old judoka Popole Misenga, who sought asylum in Brazil during the 2013 World Judo Championships and now works as a truck loader to fund his training. “Most athletes in Rio dream of winning a medal, but for me it’s more about raising awareness.

“Judo is my life. It has helped me escape war, but I still cry every day for my homeland. A gold medal won’t solve that or bring my family or friends back, but having a voice at the Games could at least inspire peace.”

Misenga lost his mother when he was just nine during the Second Congo War, the deadliest conflict in modern African history. He was found hiding in a forest and taken to Congo’s capital, Kinshasa. It was here he discovered a rather unor thodox form of judo.

“I didn’t have a proper coach to begin with,” recalled Misenga, who won bronze at the 2010 African Under-20 Judo Championships. “I was taught using fear and was always terrified of defeat. Winning meant I got fed; losing involved being locked in a cage and occasionally being thrown a stale piece of bread.”

THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED AND SPIRITED ATHLETES YOU WILL EVER MEET… BUT IT HASN’T BEEN AN EASY ROAD TO RIO FOR ANY OF THEM

| 49 |

A LEGEND IN WELLNESS MEETS LEGENDARY SHORES

11-time winner of Condé Nast Traveler “Best Destination Spa” Award www.canyonranch.com/kaplankaya +90 252 511 00 51 Bodrum/Milas Airport

10min 30min 50min

O L Y M P I C

H O P E S

ROSE NATHIKE LOKONYEN FLED SOUTH SUDAN FOR KENYA

Misenga paints a frightening picture, but Rio’s other nine refugees all have equally harrowing tales.

“We often joke about, each trying to trump each others’ war stories, but that’s just a defence mechanism,” said Misenga’s Congolese compatriot and fellow judoka Yolande Mabika. “It is so sad that we don’t have a flag to march behind, but I am grateful to the IOC and the Brazilian people for getting us this far. I am afraid I can’t claim to be happy. I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t depressed at what has happened back home. I feel unsettled, but focusing on the Games has given me a purpose.”

The interlocked Olympic rings symbolise unity and the hope remains that this summer’s Games can somehow fix the world – a fanciful wish, but one wor th clinging to. The reality, though, is the Olympics lasts two weeks and once over there’s a four-year wait until Japan – and by 2020 the refugees could plausibly outnumber Olympic heavyweights like America, Great Britain or China.

Ultimately, it’s not the IOC’s responsibility to fight the refugee cause. Shining a powerful yet shor t-lived spotlight on the issue is about as much as they can do.

“Spor t has always been a tremendous vehicle for change,” said United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) spokeswoman, Melissa Flemming.

“It puts refugees on a level playing field. However, major events have a responsibility to provide a legacy for refugees.

This applies at grass roots level, too, where spor t is a powerful form of escapism for those without a permanent home.

“For us this is not just an impor tant but a ground-breaking Games. The first ever Olympic Refugee Team will highlight the refugee plight and potentially lead to more funding. All 10 athletes have done astonishingly well to even reach Rio. They have overcome many hurdles, but the suppor t can’t stop when the Olympics does, because the the challenges refugees face are growing.”

| 51 |

O L Y M P I C

H O P E S

YOLANDA MABIKA FLED DRC FOR BRAZIL

The five South Sudanese runners on the refugee team know this all too well, and there’s a fear that, by the time that the track and field star ts on August 12, South Sudan could be embroiled in a full-blown civil war. Nonetheless, the world’s youngest country still plans to send two athletes to Brazil under its own flag. Nineteen-year-old Margaret Rumat Hassan (400m) and 16-year-old Santino Kenyi (1500m) have been preparing at Juba’s Buluk Athletics Track, but it remains to be seen whether either will board the 35-hour flight.

The refugee athletes from South Sudan have all moved to Kenya. James Nyang Chiengjiek (400m), Yiech Pur Biel, Rose Nathike Lokonyen (800m), Paulo Amotun Lokoro and Anjelina Nada Lohalith (1500m) are par t of an athletic scholarship funded by three-time half-marathon champion Tegla Loroupe.

“These are some of the most talented and spirited athletes you will ever meet,” said Loroupe, who was named head of mission for the Refugee Olympic Team. “It hasn’t been an easy road to Rio for any of them and under different circumstances I am sure they would love to be wearing South Sudan’s

colours. All five would also give up their places for a world without refugees.”

For 1500-metre specialist Lohalith the Olympics could also prove a means to find her parents. The 21-year-old was separated from them when she was six, but has been told by the UNHCR they may still be alive.

“I have a feeling the Olympics will reunite us,” said Lohalith, who first took up running so she could finish her cow milking chores quicker. “That’s all I want: to imagine, when I enter the Maracanã, that my mother and father recognise me on television and are proud to call me their daughter. If ever there’s a chance of finding them it’s through the Olympics. I have been saving money my whole life so when I finally see them again I can buy my father a house and we can all live together.”

Eight-hundred metre runner Biel is also jetting to Rio in search of someone special. The 21-year-old Manchester United fan is desperate to rub shoulders with 100-metre Olympic champion Usain Bolt in the athletes’ village.

| 53 |

M U L T I F A M I L Y

O F F I C E

‫ﻤﻬﻤﺘﻨﺎ ﺍﻟﻌـﻨـﺎﻴـﺔ ﺒﻤﻤﺘﻠﻞﺎﺘﻛ‬ WE TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSETS

Having Your Private Office in Switzerland, a staff that will take care of Prosperity, Health, Education, and Personal Requirements for You and Your family.

Unique Investment Projects Medical Treatment Abroad Assets Management Solutions Education Abroad Real Estate

‫ســيﻞون لــﻛ مﻞتبــﻛ الخــاﺻ فــي‬ ‫ـن‬ ‫ـن الموﻈﻔيـ‬ ‫ـﻖ مـ‬ ‫ـﻊ فريـ‬ ‫ـرا مـ‬ ‫سويسـ‬ ‫مﻬمتــﻪ الحﻔــاﻈ علــﻰ الثــروة‬ ‫والﺼحــة والتعليــم والمتطلبــات‬ .‫الﺸــخﺼية لــﻛ ولعائلتــﻛ‬ ‫ مﺸاريﻊ استثمار فريدة‬ ‫ العالج في الخارج‬ ‫ ﺇدارة األموال والثروات‬ ‫ التعليم في الخارج‬ ‫ خدمات عﻘارية‬

Swiss Multifamily Office Next to Hotel Kempinski, Rue de la Cloche 8, 1201 Geneva Switzerland: +41 22 731 31 97 UAE: +971 52 777 02 48 info@swissmfo.com www.swissmfo.com

O L Y M P I C

H O P E S

POPOLE MISENGA FLED DRC FOR BRAZIL

Bolt is acutely aware of South Sudan’s woes after speaking with South Sudanese marathon runner Guor Marial at London 2012. Marial camped outside Bolt’s flat for three hours in order to guarantee a tête-à-tête.

The final two members of the Refugee Olympic Team are both Syrian swimmers. Rami Anis will enter the 100-metre butterfly. The 25-year-old currently trains in Belgium having left warn-torn Aleppo in 2011.

“The situation was very dangerous,” said Anis. “Originally I wanted to stay in Syria because my uncle was the one who got me into swimming, but once the war star ted I couldn’t compete in any races.”

It was a similar story for the youngest member of the refugee team. Two-hundred metre freestyler Yusra Mardini is just 17 and alongside her sister Sara fled Damascus last August for Berlin, saving countless lives in the process.

The inspiring duo boarded a packed dinghy from Izmir in Turkey to Lesbos in Lebanon. But en route disaster struck:

their motor broke, forcing both sisters to power the boat with their legs for most of the arduous four-hour journey.

Once safely on land Mardini then caught a train through the Balkans, Hungar y and Austria before finally ending up in refugee-friendly Germany.

“The whole journey took us almost 40 days, said Mardini, who represented Syria at the 2012 FINA World Swimming

WE OFTEN JOKE ABOUT, TRYING TO TRUMP EACH OTHERS WAR STORIES, BUT THAT’S REALLY JUST A DEFENCE MECHANISM... THE GAMES HAS GIVEN ME PURPOSE

| 55 |

O L Y M P I C

H O P E S

YIECH PUR BIEL FLED SOUTH SUDAN FOR KENYA

Championships. “My instincts kicked in and I entered survival mode.

It was horrible, but nothing compared to what we were escaping.”

Remarkably, the experience left Mardini wanting to take up long-distance swimming, but when she arrived in Berlin Sven Spannekrebs, her coach at, the prestigious Wasserfreunde Spandau 04 swimming club, felt she had more potential as a sprinter.

“You’d think I’d had enough of the water after leaving Syria, but I couldn’t get enough of it. Perhaps initially I was a bit scared to jump in the pool, but to be honest I have always felt calm in water. Even when our boat failed on the way to Greece I didn’t think I would drown.

“At 17 I plan to be competing for at least the next three Olympics. I still feel I am developing and getting quicker every day.

Hopefully this is the only Games I am obliged to enter as a refugee.”

Sadly the Refugee Olympic Team is unlikely to be a one-off, but even before the first medal has been won, Rio 2016 has succeeded in getting the world talking about those without homes.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon argues that “refugees want a flag that waves for their rights”, and the Olympic badge will serve that purpose this summer.

The Refugee Olympic Team may struggle with the burden of being an effective voice for millions, after all, they’re ultimately at the Games as athletes, not politicians. But one thing’s cer tain: each of the 10 heroes deserve recognition and, who knows, one or two might even take a medal home from Rio, too.

Watch the Rio Olympics on ice TV Live, available on over 90 Emirates Boeing 777s and select A380s. Sport 24 Extra, a new sports channel, complements the existing Sport 24 channel, offering double the live sports coverage on ice Digital Widescreen.

| 57 |

China has been making movies for well over a century, but it has largely been a domestic affair. Now, thanks to studios such as Yinchuan’s Western Film City, the industry is moving into the spotlight, and it’s only a matter of time before it beats Hollywood at its own game

HOW CHINA

Words: Richard Luck Illustration: Ralph Mancao

MADE ITS MOVE

H O W

Y

C H I N A

M A D E

ou don’t need to know an awful lot about cinema to be aware that, for all its wealth and sparkle, Hollywood isn’t the planet’s foremost movie powerhouse.

Compared to its Californian namesake, Bollywood churns out movies the way a fast food joint serves up hamburgers. However, those patient enough to wait a decade or so could yet see the Indian subcontinent colossus eclipsed by one of its neighbours. China has finally got into the international movie business, and considering its wealth and resources, it could soon dominate the entire shooting match.

Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino and Ang Lee don’t only have the Oscar on their mantelpiece in common; all three have also shot movies in China. And while there are facilities such as the Western Xia Film City in Yinchuan, you can expect more and more overseas talent to shoot there, too. There’s even talk of Steven Spielberg not only setting the next Indiana Jones movie in China, but filming it there as well.

The big question, of course, is why?

“China’s a great place to make a movie. Any movie,” says the aforementioned Mr Tarantino. “There was a time when it was a great place to make things like martial arts films. But now? Well, the sky’s the limit.”

Before we get ahead of ourselves, some history.

Films arrived in China within a year of the Lumière brothers inventing the technology, and the urge to make them swiftly followed. Indeed, the 20th century was just five years old when Ren Qingtai shot The Battle Of Dingjunshan in Shanghai. Sound

I T S

M O V E

film would also be rapidly adopted, the breakthrough debuting in 1931 courtesy of the marvellously monikered Sing-Song Girl Red Peony.

The technology that first terrified and then entranced audiences in Europe and America was similarly received in the East. But like those other regions of the world, film production in China would be interrupted by a brace of world-shaking events. The difference was that, rather than two World Wars, Chinese moviemaking was hamstrung by eight years of Japanese occupation and Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution. The first of these cataclysms sent the nation’s directors scurrying to Hong Kong to find work; the second led to a lengthy period of stalemate during which many foreign films were banned and few domestic pictures were produced. In between these catastrophes, China’s filmmakers produced pictures that, at their best, rivalled those being made anywhere else in the world [see The Chinese Way].

And in the years since China started to flirt with capitalism, the nation’s movie business has been in the very rudest of health.

Besides pictures such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon enjoying box-office success the world over, directors such as John Woo – tired of trotting out fluff like Paycheck for the American market – returned home to work on pictures such as Red Cliff, a cast-ofthousands war epic of the sort that David Lean might have created had he been born in Left to right: China’s movie Chongqing rather than Croydon. industry has “The Chinese film industry of today always brought couldn’t be in better shape,” explains film intrigue from journalist Matt Goodwin. “And it’s every Hollywood

H O W

THE CHINESE WAY

A five-film introduction to the nation’s cinema

STREET ANGEL (1937) One of China’s first sound feature films and one of Chinese cinema’s earliest bona fide classics. A story of life among the lowly on the mean streets of Shanghai, the picture’s initial success was ensured by the presence of Zhou Xuan, by far the most popular singer of the 1930s.

SPRING IN A SMALL TOWN (1948)

A regular fixture on critics’ lists, Fu Mei’s melodrama was a massive hit on its original release but fell out of favour following the Great Leap Forward. Of course, the very fact that the movie was despised by Mao Zedong is but another good reason to cherish this most cherishable of pictures.

C H I N A

M A D E

I T S

aspect of the business that’s booming. You’ve got Hengdian World Studios, the largest moviemaking facility on the planet, you’ve got a top 10 that’s regularly dominated by domestic product, you’ve got Chinese pictures raking in billions of yuan at the home box-office – whether you’re a director, a producer, a distributor or a studio owner, there’s never been a better time to be in the business of making films in China.”

If Hengdian Studios are the biggest in China, it’s Huaxira Western Film City that was crucial in keeping the local industry alive during leaner times. Befitting a facility dedicated to high art, Film City was founded by a poet. Zhang Xianliang had been writing verse since his early teens, his willingness to rock the boat securing him international acclaim and a lengthy jail term.

Having been successfully ‘rehabilitated’, he not only served as a member of the prestigious National Committee, but was charged with transforming the Qing Dynasty fort in Zhenbeibu into a film studio.

Since its creation, Zhang Xianliang’s brainchild has birthed some 60 films and TV shows. The long life it’s enjoyed was in large part guaranteed by the success of the first picture made there. Red Sorghum was the debut movie of a former farm worker named Zhang Yimou. Adapted from Mo Yan’s bestselling book of the same name, it is the story of rural family upheaval during the second Sino-Japanese War. Starring Gong Li – who would become Zhang Yimou’s actress of choice – Red Sorghum was awarded the prestigious Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. With one – admittedly extraordinary – motion picture to its name, the Western Film City could lay claim to a directing wunderkind, an actress possessing true star quality and one of cinema’s most prestigious awards. A better advert for a new venture it’s impossible to imagine.

Given Zhang Xianliang’s appetite for political controversy, it’s fitting that Zhang Yimou should have been the first director to flourish under the auspices of the Western Film City. For though he has claimed to have no interest in politics, Zhang Yimou – whose body of work takes in everything from Bafta awardwinning dramas like Raise The Red Lantern and To Live, to period wuxia masterpieces such as Hero and House Of Flying Daggers – is undeniably a child of the Cultural Revolution. As he told a journalist in early 1990, “[The Cultural Revolution] was a special period of Chinese history, unique in the world. It was part of my youth – it happened between when I was 16 and when I was 26. During those 10 years, I witnessed so many terrible and tragic things. For many years, I have wanted to make movies about that period.” Thanks to Zhang Xianliang’s studio, he had the canvas upon which to paint his tragic tales.

M O V E

Now a fully-fledged international filmmaker, you’re more likely to find Zhang Yimou making movies at Hengdian’s movie metropolis, but as Matt Goodwin is keen to point out, the Western Film City continues to thrive. “Since it’s one of Yinchuan’s most popular tourist attractions, I’m sure some people assume that Film City is a museum. They couldn’t be more wrong. This isn’t like going to Almeria to visit the location where Sergio Leone shot For A Few Dollars More and his other spaghetti westerns.

Though it might look like a relic, Film City is thriving, which is only fitting since there was a time not so very long ago when it pretty much was the Chinese film industry.”

And then the Americans arrived.

For years, the filmic relationship between China and US was a frosty affair with the former frequently getting upset over movies such as Red Corner and Kundun, both of which were made by prominent campaigners for Tibet (Richard Gere and Martin Scorsese, respectively), with the latter being a biography of the Dalai Lama’s younger years. Although it’s hard to pinpoint the precise picture that helped thaw things out, there’s no denying that a certain American director’s wuxia celebration did plenty to improve the relationship.

“I had to make Kill Bill in China,” blurts Quentin Tarantino, his enthusiasm for this topic causing him to speak even more

“The Chinese film industry of today couldn’t be in better shape… every aspect of the business is absolutely booming”

H O W

C H I N A

M A D E

I T S

M O V E

Clockwise: Western Film City; Both John Woo and Quentin Tarantino filmed in China recently

quickly than usual. “I didn’t want digital effects – I wanted to do everything incamera so that it had that cool 1970s look.

We even did the blood the Chinese way, filling condoms with fake blood to get these great eruptions of gore.”

Shot in Beijing, Kill Bill is Tarantino’s love letter to the Shaw Brothers and their bloody brand of martial arts cinema. A trio of siblings from Shanghai, the Shaws gifted the world such brilliantly named movies as Five Fingers Of Death and Lady Exterminator. “I loved their stuff,” continues the creator of Reservoir Dogs and Django Unchained. “The way they shot action – the way guys in China and Hong Kong still shoot action – is really loose.There’s no schedule or shot list.

Sure, I’ve a pretty good idea of what I want, having spent so long with the script, but with Kill Bill, me and [martial arts instructor] WooPing Lee were coming up with new things all the while we were shooting. We’d add gags, we’d alter stuff at the last minute – because it’s so cheap to shoot in China, you’re under no pressure to get everything done yesterday. It’s like I said, I could only have filmed Kill Bill in China. If I’d made it anywhere else, it wouldn’t be the movie it is.”

On the back of Kill Bill, all manner of American productions headed across the Pacific. And while the execs took advantage of China’s cheap manpower and seemingly limitless resources, they were careful to make sure their products had universal

appeal – hence the villains in the remake of Red Dawn being changed at the last minute from Chinese to North Korean and local actors such as Jingchu Zhang being added to the casts of epic productions like Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation to enhance their appeal to Asian moviegoers.

If all this sounds incredibly cynical, it’s worth remembering that the only romance the movie industry has ever been interested in is that which takes place on-screen. Furthermore, the pursuit of cold hard cash often has pleasant side effects – in this case being that Chinese film directors, for so long in the movie wilderness, now enjoy access to a new audience and extraordinary opportunities.

The cosh of communism slowly giving way to the vicissitudes of capitalism – the history of the Chinese movie industry is a microcosm of the history of China. Likewise, the opening up of the People’s Republic to western individuals and ideas corresponds with the way in which an entity formerly known only to the most ardent of movie buffs is now on the cusp of becoming the most lucrative film market in the world.

It might have taken the better par t of a century, but at last the dragon has roared. Now it’s surely only a matter of time before it fully takes flight.

It’s like I said, I could only have filmed Kill Bill in China.

If I’d made it anywhere else, it wouldn’t be the movie that it is

Emirates serves five destinations in mainland China – Yinchuan, Zhengzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

RED SORGHUM (1987)

The movie that put Western Film City on the map. Besides winning at Berlin, it was championed by critics internationally.

FAREWELL, MY CONCUBINE (1993) The only Chinese film to win the Palme d’Or, it was a crime that Farewell, My Concubine didn’t receive the Best Foreign Language Oscar.

HERO (2002)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon might have kickstarted the wuxia revival, but it was Hero that cemented the genre’s rise to respectability.

Royal Voyagers Our Speciality

Exclusive VIP Packages Medical Treatment Abroad Only Women Sector Education Abroad VIP Airport Welcome Limousine Services

‫رحالت استثنائية فاخرة‬ ‫العالج في الخارج‬ ‫قطاع خدمي لسيدات األعمال‬ ‫التعليم في الخارج‬ ‫الترحيب بعمالئنا من باب الطائرة‬ ‫خدمات الليموزين‬

Switzerland: +41 848 12 24 48 info@swissdiscovery.com Geneva

|

Bern

|

UAE : +971 52 777 02 48 www.swissdiscovery.com

Zurich

|

Lugano

Thai gemstones are highly regarded for their exquisite beauty, exceptional quality and extensive colour diversity.

They are distinctively designed and expertly cut to a high quality standard. Thailand today is ranked as one of the world’s top exporters of Jewelry items and precious stones.

B2B ONLINE

VISIT OUR FAIRS

Essential news and information from Emirates Interactive amenity kit

Inside Emirates

Route Map

70

82

66

BRIEFING

E m i r a t E s

n E w s

WORLD’S FIRST INTERACTIVE AMENITY KIT

In yet another breakthrough in customer experience, Emirates has launched the world’s first interactive amenity kit in Economy Class.

The stylish new kits use augmented reality (AR) technology to unlock immersive content on mobile devices.

The bags come in six designs inspired by the different regions in Emirates’ global network, such as the Middle East

kit, which features Arabic calligraphy by UAE-based ar tist, Tagelsir Hassan.

The kits include all the necessities for additional comfor t on long-haul flights including an eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush, toothpaste, and socks. The multipurpose pouches are made of Neoprene material and designed to be reused after the flight, storing anything from devices to cosmetics or stationery.

To activate the augmented reality technology with the amenity kits: 1. Download the Blippar app from the Apple Store or Google Play on your mobile device.

2. Scan the designs on the amenity kits.

3. Enjoy immersive content on your mobile devices.

GET READY FOR THE DUBAI RUGBY SEVENS

It’s time to get your tickets for one of the hottest sporting festivals on the planet, the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens.

Now in its 47th year, the Sevens is expected to welcome more than 100,000 fans and 4,000 players to the city for another year of great rugby.

The annual event is one of the most popular on the action-packed Sevens

calendar, and in a testament to the spor t’s growing popularity, Sevens will feature at the Olympic Games for the first time this month.

Back in Dubai, high-octane on-pitch enter tainment during the day makes way for music late into the evening, ensuring everyone is in the par ty mood.

Taking place from December 1 to 3 | 66 |

at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, you can get tickets online now at dubairugby7s. com or at selected outlets.

As par t of a special offer, this year Emirates Skywards Members can redeem tickets for the event using miles.

Emirates Skywards Members should visit the Sports and Culture section of Skywards at emirates.com to avail this offer.

Spend your summer in Abu Dhabi with superb entertainment across the emirate for all the family including live concerts, amazing theatre shows, great comedy and your favourite kids' characters live on stage!

LJU 28 UG 6A UG 3A -1 10

12

LJU 28 UG A 6

and

nd l S Isla ote OW as rn H SH um, Y este I N r W MI u Fo otel , - d aH abi al Liw h u D Til Ab rbia ha Al G

l

11

4-

UG T

EP

2S

I AL tre AL a EQ l The re R a A t - T ation Thea E AL i N ity R S Dhab icipal O T F bu Mun AR - A HE habi Al Ain D Gu AU Ab l Ain 18 SEPT A

E TH

T ER e NC CO Palac IN s E e IV at N L Emir AA SH habi D u 9 Ab -1

18

BO Dhab u

19

G

AU

P

U ND

TA -S ce NS YA DY s Pala A E W e ON COM mirat L R E iMA hab uD Ab

T

d

uD

u

Ab

Al Ain Al Gharbia

Official Event Partners

10 9- T P SE

AL TIV ES l Y F s Mal D E a OM bi - Y C ha AB AR bu D A

an ICT as Isl TR Y DIS rum, E TH u Fo d ihab

Official Hotel Partner

ha

uD

Ab

Th AN R P each TE B PE aha R Al bi -

EP

9S

Ab

KEY MAP

re

eat

e INE heatr AL EN ach T R e D aB EA QU Rah CIR i - Al hab uD

Abu Dhabi

GAU 31 EPT 3S

Ab

OW SH e DY tr ME Thea O C h MA Beac R HA ha IL S Al Ra AP E K habi H T uD G Ab AU

17

Ab

AL PIT CA sland I s

Ya N D I rum, OO Fo W u Y d LL i-

A

5A 1-

G

AU

UG

h

uD

Ab

ION Yas Is AT , N N um FU u For d abi

12

3 -1 G AU

R tre STA Thea ER UP each S DY aha B ME CO - Al R i b a Dh

Official TV Partner

Official Media Partner

Official Airline Partner

Organised by

E m i r a t E s

n E w s

A380 upgrAde FOr MOSCOW

Emirates is upgrading one of the two daily flights servicing its Dubai-Moscow route to the popular A380-800, commencing October 1.

Since Emirates started flying from its Dubai hub to Moscow in 2003, the airline has carried almost 3.5 million passengers on the route.

Over the past year, demand has increased, with some 400,000 passengers having travelled on the route. The increased level of passenger support and demand has led to Emirates’ decision to bring its iconic A380 to the Russian capital.

Flight EK 131/132, the three-class A380800 will offer 14 Private Suites in First Class and 76 fully flat-bed mini-pods in Business Class on the upper deck.

It will also provide Onboard Shower Spas for First Class passengers and the Emirates Onboard Lounge, where First Class and Business Class passengers can socialise at 40,000 feet.

Moscow joins more than 40 Emirates A380 destination cities, offering Russian travellers the airline’s best-in-class onboard product and renowned service.

B777 TO SerVe SeNegAL

The service between Dubai and Dakar will be enhanced with a Boeing 777300ER from August 2.

The change to the larger Boeing aircraft will provide a superior onboard experience for Emirates’ Senegalese customers and those travelling to Dakar from across the airline’s network.

Passengers can discover the updated ice Digital Widescreen, offering more than 2,500

channels of on-demand audio and visual entertainment including the latest movies,TV shows, music, audio books and games.

Customers will also continue to enjoy the famous on-board hospitality from Emirates multi-national cabin crew, including Senegalese nationals, as well as gourmet regionally inspired dishes with complimentary beverages.

The change to a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft increases passenger capacity on the route by 372 seats per week, reinforcing Emirates’ commitment to business and leisure passengers visiting the capital of Senegal.

The airline currently operates four weekly flights to Dakar, connecting travellers to destinations in the Middle East, GCC, West Asia, Asia Pacific region and the US via its Dubai hub. | 68 |

eNhANCeMeNTS TO MeLBOurNe ANd upgrAde TO AuCKLANd

Emirates is expanding capacity and upgrading its services to Auckland in New Zealand and Melbourne in Australia.

The daily non-stop ser vices between Dubai and Auckland will boast an A380 aircraft instead of a Boeing 777-200LR from October 30.

The airline has been flying the route since March 1, in addition to three daily A380s flying from Auckland to Dubai and beyond via Australia, and a daily Boeing 777300ER from Christchurch.

The ver y first flight from Dubai to Auckland and return at the beginning of March was operated by an A380 to especially commemorate the star t of the non-stop route, but the flights have since been flown by the Boeing 777-200LR. Also commencing October 30, passengers travelling to Melbourne will now have another direct flight option with Emirates announcing that flights EK 408 and EK 409 will begin operating as non-stop ser vices from Dubai.

The change to these ser vices will provide passengers with improved one-stop connectivity when travelling from more than 150 destinations on the Emirates network to Melbourne via Dubai.

I N S I D E

E M I R A T E S

AIRCRAFT MAKEOVER As Emirates completes 33 aircraft makeovers in just 12 months, we explain what goes into this amazing high altitude paint job WORDS: MATT MOSTYN ILLUSTRATIONS: RALPH MANCAO

1ST

3

The Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre is the world’s largest aircraft painting facility owned by an airline.

The number of coats of Brilliant White paint generally applied to an Emirates plane.

4

8

The different stages for repainting an A380 – from preparation and masking to chemical stripping, sanding, repainting and application of a clear gloss overcoat.

15

1

2 6

3 7

4 8

5 9

The usual number of years between each A380 paint job.

33

10

11 12 13 14 15

The record number of days it took to strip and repaint Echo Delta Delta, Emirates’ fourth A380 to join the fleet.

The number of Emirates aircraft completely stripped and repainted last year.

34

1,100

The number of people required to complete the recent repainting of an A380.

The weight in kg of the seven coats of paint needed to repaint an A380.

3,076

105,000

The entire exterior square meterage of an A380 to be covered during repainting.

The number of paint jobs, including cabin touch-ups, conducted across the Emirates fleet last year.

| 70 |

Perfect destinations for a fun summer break with up to 30% discount on room rates

Enjoy a host of amazing offers, flexible and hassle-free booking with no cancellation fees and great convenient locations. Whether you are looking for a relaxing getaway or a fun family vacation, stay at any Rotana hotel across the region this summer and enjoy an unforgettable break at unbeatable value.

Enjoy free Wi-Fi when booking via rotana.com.

For reservations or more information, visit rotana.com, contact your preferred travel agency or call our hotels directly.

Treasured Time. Our promise to you.

Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid from 5 June to 3 September 2016.

D e s t i n a t i o n

| 72 |

D E S T I N A T I O N

YANGON AND HANOI Emirates is launching a daily service from Dubai to Yangon in Myanmar and Hanoi in Vietnam, starting August 3. Enjoy our guide to what these incredible cities have to offer Yangon and Hanoi boast attractions for both the business traveller and the cultural explorer alike.

Yangon is, in fact, Myanmar’s commercial capital and largest city, but it’s also embracing tourism, with many visitors keen to visit its multitude of historical temples and statues. Boasting numerous ancient sites, natural trails and picturesque beaches, it’s little surprise that Yangon is quickly becoming a must-visit city on a traveller’s checklist.

Located in the north of Vietnam, the country’s capital Hanoi is also a cultural and economic hub with a range of modern amenities and ancient UNESCO world heritage sites like Ha Long Bay that make it a truly magnificent destination.

So whether you’re sipping a cappuccino in a French colonial café in Hanoi or enjoying a flavor-packed curry in Yangon, you’ll know that fun and adventure is just around the corner in both of these Emirates destinations.

EAT

STAY

DO

LA TERRASSE DU METROPOLE (HANOI) Located in the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, this is the setting in which to embrace the country’s French colonial past. Everything exudes Parisian style, from the oysters to the croque monsieur.

Alternatively, simply grab a coffee and watch the world go by. sofitel-legend.com

HANOI LA SELVA HOTEL The lovely redbrick interior grabs your attention, but the staff win the rest of the plaudits for their fantastic service and more than helpful attitude.

The breakfast is an added bonus on an already pretty faultless offering at a very reasonable price. hanoilaselvahotel.com

VISIT THE PAGODAS (YANGON) There is little chance of missing the glowing Sule Pagoda, an obvious reference point in the downtown area. For a more tranquil experience visit Kabar Aye Pagoda, while the most sacred pagoda is Shwedagon, sat atop Singuttara Hill. This iconic landmark is a must-see.

MONSOON (YANGON) Set in a bright yellow colonial house, this restaurant buzzes with business chatter and people ordering fresh and flavoursome curries by day. A more intimate mood embraces the evening, but it remains a great place to sample dishes from across Asia. monsoonmyanmar.com AUNG THUKHA (YANGON) For a taste of authentic cuisine, head to this informal, friendly restaurant that serves real Myanmar dishes, such as meaty curries, flavour-packed soups and fresh, zingy salads. Try the pickled tealeaf side dish for something truly unique – and to get one over on any foodie friends. +95 1 525 194

CENTRAL BACKPACKERS HOSTEL (HANOI) For those on a budget you’ll be hard pressed to find a friendlier and more convenient hostel. Staff are helpful and the rooms and washing facilities are nice and clean. Take advantage of the free local tours they provide and the convenient breakfast. centralbackpackershostel.com KANDAWGYI PALACE (YANGON) Nestled alongside Kandawgyi Lake in a jungle-style garden, this former home of the Rangoon Rowing Club is full of charm and quiet luxuries. Sit by the pool sipping a sundown cocktail, or head to the spa to unwind after a day of sightseeing. kandawgyipalace-hotel.com

SHOP FOR ARTISAN GOODS IN THE OLD QUARTER (HANOI) More than a 100 years old, the original buildings of old Hanoi are a delight, but it’s the small artisanal shops and local eateries that make this such an interesting place to explore. Head to the night market at the weekend and shop for silks, clothing and souvenirs.

EXPLORE THE HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM (HANOI) It can be very busy and is only open at certain times. It’s also a sombre experience seeing the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh, particularly if you’re versed in the country’s history, but the large memorial to the former Vietnamese leader is definitely worth visiting when you’re in the city.

EMIRATES STAFF TIPS

Helen Mai Pham SENIOR AIRPORT SERVICES AGENT

MAKE THE CITY YOUR HOME If you want to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, try a homestay instead of a hotel – Le Bleu Art décor loft is a great choice.

EAT LIKE A LOCAL Head to Pho Thin restaurant for “Pho” or beef noodle soup – the most popular dish in Vietnam. Another special dish people love here is crispy and tasty eel vermicelli. Go to Linh Lan food court for this specialty dish.

EK 388 departs Dubai daily at 02:50hrs arriving in Yangon at 11.05hrs. It departs from Yangon at 12.35hrs and arrives in Hanoi at 14.50hrs. EK 389 departs Hanoi at 22.50hrs, arriving at Yangon at 00.20hrs the next day. The service departs from Yangon at 01.50hrs and arrives in Dubai at 5.05hrs.

| 73 |

C O M F O R T

COMFORT IN THE AIR To help you arrive at your destination feeling relaxed and refreshed, Emirates has developed this collection of helpful travel tips.

Regardless of whether you need to rejuvenate for your holiday or be effective at achieving your goals on a business trip, these simple tips will help you enjoy your journey and time on board with Emirates today.

SMART TRAVELLER

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER Rehydrate with water or juices frequently. Drink tea and coffee in moderation.

TRAVEL LIGHTLY

WEAR GLASSES

Carry only the essential items that you will need during your flight.

Cabin air is drier than normal, therefore swap your contact lenses for glasses.

BEFORE YOUR JOURNEY Consult your doctor before travelling if you have any medical concerns about making a long journey, or if you suffer from a respiratory or cardiovascular condition.

Plan for the destination – will you need any vaccinations or special medications?

Get a good night’s rest before the flight.

Eat lightly and sensibly.

AT THE AIRPORT

USE SKIN MOISTURISER Apply a good quality moisturiser to ensure your skin doesn’t dry out.

KEEP MOVING Exercise your lower legs and calf muscles.

This encourages blood flow.

DURING THE FLIGHT

Allow yourself plenty of time for check-in.

Avoid carrying heavy bags through the airport and onto the flight as this can place the body under considerable stress.

Once through to departures try and relax as much as possible.

| 74 |

Chewing and swallowing will help equalise your ear pressure during ascent and descent.

Babies and young passengers may suffer more acutely with popping ears, therefore consider providing a dummy.

Get as comfortable as possible when resting and turn frequently.

Avoid sleeping for long periods in the same position.

MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE Loosen clothing, remove jacket and avoid anything pressing against your body.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE Try some light exercise, or read if you can’t sleep after arrival.

This image is for advertising purposes.

EQ46549-29/09/2016

INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED HEALTHCARE SERVICES AT YOUR DOORSTEP MEDICLINIC MIDDLE EAST OPERATES: • • • • • •

Mediclinic Mediclinic Mediclinic Mediclinic Mediclinic Mediclinic

Welcare Hospital Dubai Mall Meadows Mirdif Beach Road Corniche

• • • • • •

Mediclinic Mediclinic Mediclinic Mediclinic Mediclinic Mediclinic

City Hospital Ibn Battuta Arabian Ranches Al Qusais Al Sufouh Al Hili

EXPERTISE YOU CAN TRUST. UAE • SOUTH AFRICA • NAMIBIA • SWITZERLAND www.mediclinic.ae

c u s t o m s

&

v i s a

i n f o r m a t i o n

Guide to us customs & immiGration Whether you’re travelling to, or through, the United States today, this simple guide to completing the US customs form will help to ensure that your journey is as hassle free as possible.

CUSToMS DECLARATIoN FoRM All passengers arriving into the US need to complete a Customs Declaration Form. If you are travelling as a family this should be completed by one member only. The form must be completed in English, in capital letters, and must be signed where indicated.

ElEctronic SyStEm for travEl authoriSation (ESta) If you are an international traveller wishing to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme, You must apply for electronic authorisation (ESTA) up to 72 hours prior to your departure.

ESta factS: Children and infants require an individual ESTA. The online ESTA system will inform you whether your application has been authorised, not authorised or if authorisation is pending.

A successful ESTA application is valid for two years, however this may be revoked or will expire along with your passport. apply onlinE at www.cbp.gov/ESta nationalitiES EligiblE for thE viSa waivEr*: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom** * SubjEct to changE ** only britiSh citizEnS qualify undEr thE viSa waivEr programmE. | 76 |

c u s t o m s

&

v i s a

i n f o r m a t i o n

Cut the queue at JFK with quiCK ConneCt If you’re connecting through New York JFK, you can avoid long waiting times in US immigration and queues for connecting flights with the Quick Connect service. US Customs and Border Protection Agency created the special service for passengers who have a connecting flight within three hours of arrival at New York JFK.

Follow theSe StePS:

1

2

3

4

have your boarding card or ticket for your connecting flight ready for the ground staff as you exit.

You’ll be given a Quick Connect card. Continue to the Quick Connect queue in the Arrivals hall.

After passport clearance, claim your baggage and clear US customs, regardless of your final destination.

If your bag is tagged to your final destination, hand it to emirates staff at the transfer counter for your onward flight.

quarantine in australia Australia has strict biosecurity laws, so when you arrive you’ll need to declare certain food, plant or animal items on your Incoming Passenger Card.

You also need to declare equipment or shoes used in rivers and lakes or with soil attached. All aircraft food must be left on board. Please take particular care when you complete your Incoming Passenger Card – it's a legal document and false declarations may result in a penalty.

quarantine in Japan Japan has strict rules around exposure to livestock and bringing in livestock items.

You will need to go to the Animal Quarantine Counter if: • you have recently been to a livestock farm • are bringing livestock products into Japan • your visit to Japan will involve contact with livestock the counter is in the baggage claim area. If you’re bringing meat and livestock products into Japan without an import certificate, you must see the animal quarantine officer. | 78 |

TOGETHER, DELIVERING BETTER HEALTH IN THE MIDDLE EAST

AMERICAN HOSPITAL DUBAI IS THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST SELECTED TO BE PART OF MAYO CLINIC CARE NETWORK

For more information, please visit www.ahdubai.com To book an appointment with a doctor, please call +971 4 377 5500

MOH RM09899

American Hospital Dubai has always focused on providing better quality healthcare. Now, we are proud to be the first hospital in the Middle East Region to become a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

Our patients not only have access to our American standard healthcare, but also to the high-quality, datadriven, evidence-based innovative medical expertise of Mayo Clinic. Which means, you have some of the world's most dedicated specialist doctors working together to ensure extraordinary care.

U A E

S M A R T

G A T E

BE SMART! USE UAE SMART GATE AT DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

NATIONALITIES THAT CAN USE UAE SMART GATES

UAE

Andorra

Australia

Austria

Bahrain

Belgium

Brunei

Canada

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Kuwait

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Monaco

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Oman

Portugal

Qatar

San Marino

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

*UK

USA

GO THROUGH IMMIGRATION IN SECONDS AND GET YOUR VISIT TO DUBAI OFF TO A FLYING START Citizens of the countries listed on the right and UAE residents can speed through Dubai International airport by using UAE Smart Gate.

If you hold a machine-readable passport or E-Gate card you can check in and out of the airport within seconds.

Just look out for signs that will direct you to the many UAE Smart Gates found on either side of the Immigration Hall at Dubai International airport.

USING UAE SMART GATE IS EASY

1

Have your E-Gate card or machinereadable passport ready to be scanned

2

Place your passport photo page on the scanner. If you are a UAE resident, place your E-Gate card into the E-Gate slot

OK!

3

Go through the open gate, stand in the blue footprint guide on the floor, face the camera straight-on and stand still for your iris scan.

When finished, the next set of gates will open and you can continue to baggage claim

*UK citizens only (UK overseas citizens still require a visa)

REGISTERING FOR UAE SMART GATE IS EASY To register, just follow the above process and then spend a few moments having your details validated by an immigration officer. That’s it! Every time you fly to Dubai in future, you will be out of the airport and on your way just minutes after you landed. | 80 |

UAE SMART GATE CAN BE USED BY:

• Machine-readable passports from the above countries • E-Gate cards

OPEN SKIES FOR IPAD

Search for Open Skies on the App Store

R O U T E

| 82 |

M A P

R O U T E

M A P

NEW ROUTES: Yangon and Hanoi: daily service starts August 3

| 83 |

R O U T E

| 84 |

M A P

R O U T E

M A P

YOUR CONCRETE PRODUCT REQUIREMENT OUR PRODUCTION SYSTEM SOLUTION

ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICALLY EQUIPPED FULLY AUTOMATIC PRODUCTION LINES FOR YOUR COMPLETE RANGE OF CONCRETE PRODUCTS

AIR PURIFYING BLOCKS UV pollutant

(E.G.Nox)

clean air

TIO2

ILLUMINATED TECHNOLOGY

AIR PURIFYING TECHNOLOGY

Fujian Excellence Honcha Environmental Intelligence Equipment Co. Ltd

Head Office: 3-16B, Quanzhou Economic & Technological Development Zone, Quanzhou, Fujian 362005, China Factory: Xuefen, Huaqiao Economic Development Zone, Nan’an Fujian, 362300, China Tel. No: (86-595) 2249 6062 , 2249 6066, 2249 6070 | Fax. No: (86-595) 2249 6061 Web: en.honcha.com | E-mail: marketing@hcm.cn , enquiry@honcha.com

EMIRATES FLEET

Our fleet of 258 aircraft includes 243 passenger aircraft and 15 SkyCargo aircraft

BOEING 777-300ER This month:

up to

1 arriving

2500+ 70% 85 (70%) out of 121 Boeing 777-300ERs are now equipped with Live Television, Wi-Fi, Mobile Phone and Data Roaming services.

More are being upgraded each month.

121 in fleet. Up to 354-442 passengers. Range of 14,594km. L 73.9m x W 64.8m

BOEING 777-300 850+

12 in fleet. Up to 364 passengers. Range of 11,029km. L 73.9m x W 60.9m

BOEING 777-200LR 2500+ 70% 8 (80%) out of 10 Boeing 777-200LRs are now equipped with Live Television, Wi-Fi, Mobile Phone and Data Roaming services.

More are being upgraded each month.

10 in fleet. Up to 266 passengers. Range of 17,446km. L 63.7m x W 64.8m

BOEING 777-200ER

This month:

850+

3 in fleet. Up to 274 passengers. Range of 14,310km. L 63.7m x W 60.9m

EMIRATES SKYCARGO

BOEING 777F

The most environmentally-friendly freighter operated today, with the lowest fuel burn of any comparably-sized cargo aircraft. Along with its wide main-deck cargo door which can accommodate oversized consignments, it is also capable of carrying up to 103 tonnes of cargo non-stop on 10-hour sector lengths.

13 in fleet. Range of 9,260km. L 63.7m x W 64.8m For more information: emirates.com/ourfleet | 88 |

1 retiring

CONNECTIVITY AND ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES AVAILABLE

# Live Television

Wi-Fi

Mobile Phone GSM

This month:

Data Roaming GPRS

2 arriving

Channels of inflight entertainment

AIRBUS A380-800 2500+

84 in fleet. Up to 489-615 passengers. Range of 15,000km. L 72.7m x W 79.8m

The first A380s with Live Television joined our fleet in June of this year.

This month five are equipped, with more coming soon.

AIRBUS A340-300 100+

4 in fleet. Up to 267 passengers. Range of 13,350km. L 63.6m x W 60.3m

850+

Economy Class First Class and Business Class

AIRBUS A330-200 100+

850+

Economy Class First Class and Business Class

8 in fleet. Up to 237-278 passengers. Range of 12,200km. L 58.8m x W 60.3m

AIRBUS A319 550+

1 in fleet. Up to 19 passengers. Range of 7,000km. L 33.84m x W 34.1m

The Emirates Executive Private Jet takes our exceptional service to the highest level to fly you personally around the world. Fly up to 19 guests in the utmost comfort of our customised A319 aircraft with the flexibility of private jet travel. Further information at emirates-executive.com

EMIRATES SKYCARGO

BOEING 747 ERF This aircraft is capable of carrying up to 117 tonnes. The deck-side cargo door, with a height of approximately three metres, allows the uplift of oversized shipments that cannot be accommodated in the belly-hold of passenger aircraft. The nose door allows the carriage of long pieces.

2 in fleet. Range of 9,204km. L 70.6m x W 64.4m Aircraft numbers accurate at the time of going to press | 89 |

K n o w l e d g e

destination

KNOW YOUR CITY. THIS MONTH: LOS ANgeLeS

“Don’t be surprised if you see goats chewing the cud on the lawns of the Getty Museum. It hires them specially each spring to manicure the grounds.”

LA and San Francisco are getting closer all the time, quite literally. Thanks to seismic activity, the two cities are shifting towards each other by 2.5 inches every year.

The area of Los Angeles is home to 3,971,883 people from 140 countries living in 88 cities, covering six different area codes.

Getty Museum

los angeles tourist Board

los angeles tourist Board

tokyo new york City Los angeLes seouL Paris

£1,900tn £1,558.518tn £866.745bn £688.2bn £688bnn

ILLUSTRATIONS bY RALpH MANCAO

Los angeLes 14,560 NeW YORK 8,270 CHICAgO 2,020 NeW ORLeANS 1,350 bATON ROUge 1,120

Where the actors live

WorlD’s richest cities

PeoPle vs cars

Little wonder, around 100 movie and television crews are filming in LA every day.

To put this into perspective, if LA were its own country, its economy would be bigger than Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Sweden’s.

3,971,883 people 7,533,131 cars

Us Department of labor

los angeles Department of Motor vehicles

official GDP figures

In LA It’s ILLegAL to…

…drive more than 2,000 sheep down Hollywood Boulevard

…lick a toad

…have more than one child under the age of two in a bathtub at the same time | 90 |

…cry on the witness stand

…process pickles in the industrial zone source: various

Antwerp Dubai Hong Kong Johannesburg Mumbai

A Unique collection of timeless perfection and creativity. exclusive diamond Jewellery from STARGEMS.

Dubai Mall

Gold & Diamond Park

Mall of the Emirates

www.stargemsgroup.com

Wafi City