so-eng-april2011

APRIL A PRIL 2011 111

LIFE THROUGH THE EYES OF M.F. HUSSAIN FUNCTIONALITY MEETS STYLE SUBARU LEGACY GT PICTURE PERFECT LOS ANGELES

POP IDOL SALAH AL ZADJALI PLUS:FOOD COURT; FASHION; TECHNOLOGY

CONTENTS 14

PEOPLE M.F. HUSAIN

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28 TRAVEL LOS ANGELES UPFRONT THE LATEST IN NEWS ARCHITECTURE THE ICONIC BANKMUSCAT HQ

ICON SALAH AL ZADJALI

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22

26 SHOP HOLLI ROGERS, 40 STOPOVER FRANKFURT

62 FOOD COURT AL MARJAN BISTRO

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FASHION KENNETH COLE

NET-A-PORTER

WELLNESS THE BAMBOO SPA EXPERIENCE

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TECHNOLOGY KEEPING 'TABS'

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PLUS MORE........

APRIL A PRIL 2011 111

LIFE THROUGH THE EYES OF M.F. HUSSAIN FUNCTIONALITY MEETS STYLE SUBARU LEGACY GT PICTURE PERFECT LOS ANGELES

EDIT NOTE

POP IDOL SALAH AL ZADJALI PLUS:FOOD COURT; FASHION; TECHNOLOGY

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY MAZEN ABUSROUR CONCEPT & CREATION MAYANK SINGH DEEPA RAJAN CONTENT REKHA BAALA RANA ALAWNEH GHALIB ABDULLAH AL FORI FATMA AL ARAIMI MYSSAA AL HINAIAH SUSHMITA SARKHEL EXPERTS Travel - BRUCE STEWART, ANNE COLBY Fashion - NATASHA LUNN, NADIA FOUZI Finance & Investments - K. L PRASAD ART Senior Art Director SANDESH S. RANGNEKAR Art Director MINAAL G. PEDNEKAR Designer MARIYAM RASHID AHMED AL SARMI Photographers RAJESH RAJAN SATYADAS C. NARAYANAN MOTASIM AL BALUSHI PRODUCTION HEAD GOVINDRAJ RAMESH ADVERTISING & MARKETING Advertising Manager CHANDNI MANIAR Assistant Advt. Manager - FAREEDA S. AL BALUSHI CORPORATE Chief Executive - SANDEEP SEHGAL Executive Vice President - ALPANA ROY Vice President - RAVI RAMAN Senior Business Support Executive RADHA KUMAR Business Support Executive ZUWAINA SAID AL RASHDI DISTRIBUTED WITH OER by United Media Services LLC Signature is an OER presentation published monthly and released in the first week of every month. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person or organisation acting or refraining as a result of material in this publication. Signature accepts no responsibility for advertising content.

Correspondence should be addressed to

Signature United Media Services LLC,

PO Box 3305, Ruwi, PC 112, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Mobile +968 99849242 Fax +968 24707939

e-mail: signature@umsoman.com/ reachsignature@gmail.com/ www.umsoman.com An

Presentation Copyright © 2010 United Press & Publishing LLC

AROUND THE WORLD

One of our favourite books at Team Signature is ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’. Written

by French writer Jules Verne, and first published in 1873, the story follows Phileas Fogg and his valet Passepartout and their attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a £20,000 wager (equal to £1,324,289 today) set by his friends at the Reform Club.

If the wager were to happen today, we suspect that it would not take more than eight days. The developments in technology and transport infrastructure, such as jumbo jets, low-cost airlines and more accessible airports have made travelling easy, not to mention cost-effective. In fact, WHO estimates that up to 500,000 people are on planes at any given point in time.

The standard of living has risen considerably and so have pay packets and work pressures.

Hence, despite the credit crunch and natural disasters, people still prefer to take risks and travel to new destinations in search of different experiences. For some it is a way of taking a break from mundane existences, for some it is a way of bridging the gap between them and their family and for some it is simply travelling for the sake of travel, absorbing new ways of life and breathing new cultures along the way.

Whatever the reason, travelling is perhaps the most oft practised hobby in this world and everyone is bitten by the wanderlust bug.

You may debate with yourself that you can sit and watch the world from the comfort of your living room, but will that ever be a worthy substitute for experiencing it real-time?

After all, to quote Charles Dickens, “Every traveller has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.”

So, do not hesitate. Pack your backpacks, put on your walking shoes and travel; meet new people, see interesting things, experience new worlds. Get bitten by wanderlust.

We’ll see you next issue….

BLOCK YOUR DATES

Chinese Grand Prix April 15 – 17 Shanghai International Circuit, China

The Bride Show [March 30] – April 2 Dubai International Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE

The London Book Fair April 11 – 13 Earls Court, London, UK

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival April 29 – May 8 New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Emirates International Peace Music Festival [March 28] – April 7 Centrepoint Theatre, Dubai, UAE Lollapalooza April 2 – 3 Santiago, Chile

Dubai Dragon Boat Festival April 8 – 9 Festival City Marina, Dubai, UAE

Paris Marathon April 10 Paris

Takayama Spring Festival April 14 – 15 Japan

World Ski and Snowboard Championship April 15 – 24 Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

International Jewellery Bahrain April 12 – 15 Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Bahrain Songkran Festival April 13 – 15 Thailand ART COLOGNE April 13 – 17 Cologne, Germany

The US Masters April 4 – 10 Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, USA

Gulf Higher Education Exhibition (GHEDEX) April 19 – 22 Oman International Exhibition Centre, Muscat, Oman COMEX 2011 April 25 – 29 Oman International Exhibition Centre, Muscat, Oman

www.givenchy.com

The new fragrance

UPFRONT

THE LATEST AND OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY… ECLECTICISM REDEFINED

Introduced in 2008 as the first figurative piece for John Hardy, the Naga collection brings to life the Balinese legend of the dragon, a revered mythological creature symbolising prosperity and good luck. The new Naga Lava collection combines John Hardy’s first figurative motif featuring the mythical dragon with the complex, yet refined technique of the lava pavé setting, lending a smoky, sensual quality in line with the inspiration of the Art Deco period.

TIMELESS LUXURY

SPRING FEVER!

From the U-Boat Flightdeck collection, this bold 50mm automatic chronograph watch features a large black dial with contrasting orange hands and markers, set within a black PVD coated steel case. The date window can be found at 9 o'clock while three sub-dials at 3, 6 and 12 o'clock act as registers for the chronograph controlled by a push-button. The self-winding movement is adjusted by the unusual left-mounted crown, protected beneath a screw down canteen cap, and can be viewed through the open case back.

The watch is secured by a black leather aero strap finished with a pin and buckle.

Since the success of Gucci Westman’s nail enamel shades last year, Revlon has developed two new stunning shades for Spring Summer 2011 based on the fashion week trends from across the world. The two new shades, Blue Lagoon and Sunshine Sparkle are the hot colours for the season. Revlon nail enamel provides beautifully smooth, streak-free colour and the ‘Expert finish’ Silk Silicone formula delivers silk proteins that work to help even out nail surface while a silicone shield rises above colour to smooth away bubbles and brush marks. New modern, sleek upscale black cap design features the gold Revlon ‘wedding band’ logo.

FOREVER YOUNG

Density and elasticity - behind each word lies a network of essential dermal fibres – collagen fibres and elastic fibres.

Until today, firming skin care focused first and foremost on collagen fibres that protect skin density and tone. Clarins Research, has taken skin care one step further with Extra-Firming Body Care. Thanks to the discovery of the important role of the Emilin-1 protein in cosmetics, Extra-Firming Body Lotion and Cream have been formulated to help preserve the skin’s natural supply of elasticity too. It’s a novel approach in achieving younger-looking body contours and helping women to defy the premature signs of ageing. The formula includes a menthol derivative for a subtly refreshing feeling.

Extra-Firming Body Care – a delicious way to take care of your body.

Available at all Capital Store outlets

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UPFRONT

SLEEK ‘N’ CHIC

Vertu, the market leader in luxury mobile phones, has unveiled its first smartphone, Constellation Quest.

Created to seamlessly complement and enhance a discerning lifestyle, this unique QWERTY device combines unparalleled luxury services with the latest business tools. The handset includes: multi-band GSM, 3G and HSPA coverage; hi-speed WLAN; 40 GB user memory; high resolution and high contrast VGA screen; video output jack; Bluetooth®; free global maps and navigation with Assisted GPS; high quality acoustics and optimised speaker; up and downlink noise reduction; and FM radio. The casing’s made of surgical stainless steel or in the case of one variant, 18K yellow gold, sapphire crystal screen and colour matched ceramic pillow and individual keys, made from either stainless steel or sapphire crystal, are honed to a beautiful, faceted V shape, resulting in a keyboard that is a pleasure to use.

For more information, contact Khimji's Watches, Shatti Al Qurum

ARTISTIC FINESSE

Taking its inspiration from one of the world’s most epic tales of romance, intrigue and fantasy, Mouawad introduces the ‘The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse’. This breath-taking creation from the globally renowned House of Mouawad takes its place in the Guinness World Record as the most valuable handbag in the world. The heart-shaped purse, handcrafted from 18K gold, incorporates 4,517 diamonds (105 yellow, 56 pink and 4,356 colourless) with a total weight of 381.92 carats. This bejewelled masterpiece was designed by world renowned Robert Mouawad and hand crafted by ten highly skilled artisans and is the second record-breaking creation from the House of Mouawad.

Mouawad statement pieces and collections are available at Mouawad Oman at Al-Khamis Plaza

IRRESISTIBLY YOURS The new fragrance by Givenchy, Very Irrésistible Givenchy L’Intense is intimately personal and yet assertive and expresses the seductive allure of contemporary women. The perfume comes in an elegant bottle in an enigmatic shade of plum, gradually darkening to become nearly black and decorated with a luxurious, lustrous silver motif. The fragrance features notes of purple plum, Turkish rose, white musk and patchouli that creates a magical fusion and an unforgettable signature. The Eau de Parfum is available in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml.

For more information, contact Muscat Pharmacy - Perfumes & Cosmetics.

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STYLE ICON

During the next edition of the Olympic Games, OMEGA will assume its Olympic Games timekeeping for the 25th time. To commemorate the occasion, the Swiss watchmaker has created the Seamaster Aqua Terra 44 London Chronograph in two configurations. One features a bicolour case crafted from 18ct red gold and stainless steel and presented on an integrated black leather strap. The other is made of rugged stainless steel and is presented on a matching bracelet. The bold 44mm case is polished and brushed and has a polished bezel. The distinctive blue PVDcoated dial features the characteristic vertically striped teak-pattern dial which has contributed to the enormous popularity of OMEGA’s Aqua Terra family. To celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games, the case back is stamped with the Olympic emblem.

Omega watches are available at the Darsait outlet of Mistal

UPFRONT

FEELIN’ FRESH

FROZEN DELIGHT

Pinkberry, the renowned Californian frozen yogurt brand, officially opened its first store in Oman at Muscat City Centre last month. Available in five distinct mouth-watering flavours: Original, Chocolate, Passion Fruit, Pomegranate and Coconut, Pinkberry’s deliciously indulgent and gratifying swirly goodness can be further accented by choosing a wide variety of rich toppings ranging from fresh fruits to Belgian chocolates – and it’s completely fat free! A hot favourite among celebrities in Hollywood, this frozen yogurt store is sure to win over customers in Muscat in no time. Go ahead, indulge!

It’s time to discover how to energise the collagen asleep in your skin. Start every day with radiant skin, thanks to Sensai's cellular performance wrinkle repair ‘collagenergy’, the latest addition to the Wrinkle Repair Series for accelerated collagen turnover from Kanebo.

This light day fluid is enriched with Star Fruit Leaf Complex to energise skin cells which leads to the production of collagen each morning.

Moon Peach Leaf Extract and CPX Vital Extract then activate the collagen cycle. The result is visibly plumper, silky smooth skin, along with a glowing complexion.

Kanebo's Sensai range of products are distributed by Mawarid Trading Oman and are available at Areej , (MCC); Capital Store; Salam Studio and Stores; Muscat Pharmacy - Perfumes and Cosmetics, Al Sahwa Tower and Jawharat A' Shatti

SIMPLY DIVINE!

The newly launched Opus V of Amouage's Library Collection explores the transformative journey of conventional media of communication and knowledge through the coalescing power of the internet; navigating a world that has changed radically and forever. In keeping with the Collection’s spirit, Christopher Chong, Amouage Creative Director, defied all rules and followed pure intuition to create a truly profound fragrance that provides a different interpretation of the popular by deconstructing traditional perceptions. The raw and classical beauty of Orris and the seductive resonance of Agarwood strike a perfect balance that allows each to manifest symphonically in a trance-like aura while the juxtaposition of Rum and Rose in the top and heart notes expresses many nuances; fragmented yet unremitting in an ingenious composition. The fragrance is rounded off with an opulent leathery and woody base. Love!

Available at all Amouage outlets

ALL THAT GLITTER

The exclusive and exquisite ‘King George’ bracelet line, brought out by French cutting-edge luxury jewellery manufacturer Akillis, holds a special place in the heart of CEO Caroline Gaspard. The designer has dedicated the entire range to her beloved father. She got the idea for the line of flat-link bracelets when she was looking for a bracelet to match her father’s watch. And the inspiration led to the creating of the King George range – a scintillating collection in 18ct gold and titanium, encrusted with diamonds. Family has always played an important place in the heart of our young designer, and so she did not hesitate to name her very first range after her father. It indeed is a gift of love.

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PERFECT SYMPHONY

Guerlain offers an astonishing dialogue, an exclusive olfactory territory, a delicate, harmonious accord, a prodigious duo: Idylle Duet. This composition, created by Thierry Wasser, was inspired by Les nuits d’été, a cycle of six melodies written by Hector Berlioz based on poems by Théophile Gautier and Le spectre de la rose, was his primary source of inspiration. All the perfumers in the Guerlain dynasty have been inspired by the rose and in reviving the ties with the past, Idylle Duet is continuing this tradition and giving it a thoroughly modern feel. Allowing rose and patchouli to sing in a different style, this contemporary tribute brings out all the subtlety and charm that create the unique character of fragrant or musical duets.

Available at all outlets of Capital Store

THE SILVER LINING

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

Theo Fennell’s first fine jewellery collection in silver, ‘Alias’ explores new design techniques in silver whilst maintaining the ethos of utmost originality of design and quality of craftsmanship.

The beautifully crafted collection includes Beasties – a collection of mythological, Zodiac or Chinese symbols; Snake Eyes – symbols of life and death; ‘Art with iconic designs such as Winged ‘Art and Zip ‘Art; Graffiti – a bangle shaped to the wrist; Mamba – fluid jewellery pieces in a serpentine avatar; and Yorick – a specially collection inspired by the most famous skull in history. Discover your Alias…

Al Qurum Jewellery, the official dealers of Patek Philippe, welcomed the president of Patek Philippe, Thierry Stern for the first time in Oman. The Swiss based firm and the only manufacturer that crafts all of its mechanical movements according to the strict specifications of the Geneva Seal is considered by experts as the finest and most elegant time pieces. These exquisite time pieces have become a collector’s item thanks to its unique craftsmanship and detailed inventions which make it the ideal choice for master collections. This is art at its best.

Patek Philippe time pieces are available at Al Qurum Jewellery.

BOTTLED MAGIC

Vibrant, charming, whimsical. Daisy Eau So Fresh, the new fragrance by Marc Jacobs is the spirited new version of the original daisy. The fragrance is bright, floral, fruity and captures the essence of the Marc Jacobs woman. This version of the original daisy scent radiates with crisp raspberry, sensuous wild rose, and deep and warm plum. Sophisticated but not too serious, Daisy Eau So Fresh captures the vintage flavour of Marc Jacobs’ feminine, edgy designs. The top notes are ruby red grapefruit, raspberry, green leaves, pear; the mid notes violet, wild rose, apple blossom, lychee, jasmine petals; and the base musk, plum, and cedar wood. And it comes in a tall, slim and feminine bottle – the the perfect showcase for the charming pink essence.

PEOPLE

Of Beauty & Form

HE HAS BEEN CALLED ‘THE PICASSO OF INDIA’ BY FORBES MAGAZINE. AT THE AGE OF 96, M. F. HUSAIN IS VERY MUCH THE LEADING LIGHT IN THE WORLD OF INDIAN CONTEMPORARY ART. A SIGNATURE REPORT

M

aqbool Fida Husain’s journey began in the town of Pandharpur, Maharashtra in 1915.

A self-taught artist, Husain learnt the art of calligraphy at a very early age. Inspired by the geometric forms and shapes, he practised Khattati (Calligraphy) and immersed himself in the world of art.

By the time he reached his twenties, Husain knew what he wanted to do with his life and set out to Mumbai to become an artist. He started out painting cinema posters and hoardings, balancing himself on flimsy scaffoldings. But it wasn’t until 1947, when he won an award at the annual exhibition of the Bombay Art Society, that Husain was ultimately noticed. Within a decade he became one of the leading artists in India with a number of great works under his belt. In 1952, his first exhibition was held at Zürich and over the next few years, all over Europe and the United States.

Then in 1955, he was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India. In 1973 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, nominated for the Rajya Sabha in 1986 and finally awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1991.

Last month, Husain was accompanied by his son Owais Husain, who’s also a renowned artist, for an exclusive exhibition of paintings entitled ‘Between 2 Lines’ in Muscat. The exhibition featured 12 of his paintings including his famed works of calligraphy. It was the first time that the father and son duo showcased their works in an exhibition together.

Despite his busy schedule, Signature managed to ask him a few questions about his recent work. Says Husain, “For the last 10 years or so, since the beginning of this century, I have been inspired by civilisations, especially the Indian civilisations that date back to the times of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. I’m also greatly interested in the Arab civilisation and hence I’ve come to this part of the world.” His stay in the region has been an enlightening time of sorts for the maestro. “During the time spent outside India, I have learnt a lot. I’m very keen on knowing about civilisations. I find there are many similarities between India and the Middle East. All this is a part of a body of work that I have been working on for the past few years. By next year I’ll complete it,” he adds. “Over the years there has been so much give and take between the two. And my work isn’t an attempt to record history or events. It is a vision of

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an artist of the civilisation.”

Husain’s subjects have varied widely over the decades, from horses to Bollywood stars like Madhuri Dixit, whom Husain adopted as his muse. Presently, his new muse is Anushka Sharma, an upcoming Bollywood star. “Anushka has recently acted in a movie titled Band Baaja Barat, which I’ve seen 25 times,” admits Husain. “Anushka has a very real, girl-next-door look and possesses a classical sense of womanhood.” He goes to explain that ‘it is the essence of her personality’ that inspires him to capture in form, the indelible impressions of the beautiful and lively actress.

Husain today is revered for his work globally and yet remains admiringly humble. When asked about his work and achievements he says, “There’s no such thing as achievement. The only thing is constant search, the search for visual truth. And for that search there’s no end, you can go on searching for centuries. You need to keep yourself creative. Even if you spend your whole life searching for it, in the end you’ll find that there’s more to learn.” And then he adds, “If you look at the millions of years that mankind has come, I have travelled only for two seconds.”

Between 2 Lines was brought to Oman by Blue Mosaic and Trinity Investment Partners and was managed by NPA Events.

OWAIS HUSAIN

Born in 1967 in Mumbai, Owais Husain received his diploma in painting from the Sir J.J. School of Art in 1990 and has created a niche of his own with his unique style of work. Owais has held many successful solo shows across India and abroad.

‘Between 2 Lines’ was the first of its kind exhibition where he shared the platform with his father. Says Owais, “Lines are vital elements of calligraphy and synonymous with a lot of other meanings at a philosophical level. But what we’ve tried to tap in is the cultural pulse of this region. We looked at different tools as to how to get into it. Hopefully it’ll become a road show and travel to all the countries in the region. It’s our attempt to understand the cultural evolution in this part of the world. I think it is best we keep this at a mysterious level.” [On choosing the name ‘Between 2 Lines’]

ICON

MUSIC & LYRICS A VOICE OF GOLD AND A HEART TO MATCH. SUSHMITA SARKHEL MEETS SALAH AL ZADJALI, MUSIC MAVEN AND AN INCONTROVERTIBLE FACE OF CHANGE

Conversing with Salah Al Zadjali is easy and a delight. He’s open, humble, has many funny anecdotes to share and his passion for music and life becomes clearly evident as we go deeper into the interview.

Salah is currently celebrating the success of his new album Ayyar, which has already reached the Top Selling Album List at Virgin Megastores in the UAE. This is yet another milestone in Salah’s long string of achievements. His is a story of conviction and aspiration and like all stories, the best place to start of course, is the beginning…

Salah’s love affair with music started during his childhood days. At the age of 10, armed with drums, a fierce enthusiasm and a passion that only kids that age possess, Salah and his friends formed a band. Salah was their official keyboard player, an instrument which he would later master to immaculate perfection. The first attempt gave the impetus for Salah and his friends went on to form other bands over time like Zekryat, Majjan and finally Awal.

“I entered this field quite by accident,” says Salah. “Although my family loves and appreciates music, I wasn’t technically from a musical background. But slowly I began to take it more seriously.” What started out as a hobby was soon beginning to

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&

“MUSIC IS THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MANKIND.” – H.W. LONGFELLOW

ICON take the shape of something more serious, and tangible. “Most of my friends who were there with me in the beginning have all moved onto other professions. I’m the only one who has stayed in this field.”

And today he’s definitely proved his worth. If one person were to be attributed to revolutionising the local contemporary music scenario, then Salah would be it. And the success that he’s finally enjoying is because of his unwavering determination and an infinite passion for music. “To be honest, initially, I hadn’t planned on becoming a famous singer. I enjoy singing but I was mainly interested in composing and arranging music. Back in the 1990s, we didn’t have any private radio stations and I wasn’t expecting much of a career in the music industry.” During those days he wanted to work for the local television channel, a dream job for him. “And very often I used to visualise myself working in a studio of my own. And now, I finally have one.” Salah admits that he considers this his greatest achievement.

He professes that he has been deeply inspired

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by the work of Mohammed Abdel Wahab, a musician and composer considered one of the best in the region and solely responsible for changing the face of the Egyptian music scene.

Something like what Salah has been doing here.

“As a musician, I’m influenced by different kinds of music and cultures and I bring those sounds into my work. I’m not like other composers who mainly stick to the tried and tested way and are not open to experimenting with new styles and genres of music. Like in my album I have different kinds of songs – each track has a different feel and a different emotion.

“For instance, Nadharti is an Arabic/Hindi song.

When I came up with the idea, many people were against it. They advised me against singing it as we didn’t know how people were going to react. But I was firm and went ahead. And I’m happy to say, the response had been incredible.

And particularly for Nadharti, I got an amazing feedback not only from people in Oman but from the entire region In Dubai, four Hindi radio stations have also been consistently playing that song. It goes to show that music has no boundaries.”

He couldn’t have said it any better. He continues, “You’ll find a crazy combination of music in my car. It’s not only Arabic music, there’s Hindi, Swahili, Iranian, Turkish, among many others.”

Salah’s enthusiasm is infectious. So much so that composers in India have readily wanted to collaborate with him and Shankar Mahadevan, a renowned Indian musician, was floored by Salah singing one of his songs! In fact he might lend his voice for Bollywood songs in the near future.

To that he adds with a smile, “Sometimes you go to your dream, and sometimes the dream comes to you.” In his studio, we get an ever so tiny glimpse into the life of his remarkable person. As we continue the conversation he casually sits at his keyboard and plays a breathtaking rendition of Maa from the Bollywood movie Taare Zameen Par – his diction, flawless.

As we leave his studio we are left with no doubt about Salah’s incredible talent and his promising future. In a world of autotune, distractingly glamorous music videos and publicity stunts, Salah’s music comes across as a breath of fresh air - pure and simple. It’s no wonder he’s won so many hearts all over, including ours.

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ARCHITECTURE

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STANDING TALL THE ICONIC NEW HEADQUARTERS OF BANKMUSCAT IS A MONUMENTAL TRIBUTE TO THE SULTANATE’S GROWTH, ECONOMIC AND OTHERWISE. A REPORT BY RANA ALAWNEH Who said banks have to be dull and drab? Take a look at the new BankMuscat headquarters, located in Airport Heights, Seeb, which heralds a new architectural era not just for the bank itself, but also for the nation. The headquarters is a tribute to the nation, designed not to please just a few, but the entire nation as a family. A fine example of corporate excellence unmatched in facilities and aesthetics, you could call it a masterpiece of form and function, set to make a remarkable difference in banking experience.

Set up on 60,000sqm of land, this iconic structure, which brings together all the different departments of the bank under one roof, has design elements creatively blend with all available space to make it a happening place for staff as well as visitors. In a competitive environment, the new headquarters is set to make one perfectly feel at home.

The facilities open to the public include a beautifully landscaped promenade adorned by fountains and gardens and lined with multicuisine restaurants, gym, beauty salons and Internet kiosks, and also a 280-seat auditorium.

The building is disabled-friendly with ramps for wheelchair users and tactile materials to guide the visually-impaired. To ensure maximum customer convenience, it also includes counters for Omantel and Oman Air. Arranged in L and

ARCHITECTURE

U shapes, the low-rise building creates shaded courtyards outside. Dotted with date palms and punctuated by a modern indoor falaj system, which creates the sights and sounds of running water, the magnificent inside blends with the landscaped exterior space.

The decision to bring all the departments of the bank under one umbrella was taken in 2003 and accordingly the land was selected. “This area (Seeb) is witnessing a remarkable growth.

We sought to provide most of our customers with the best in quality services by bringing all transactions under one roof in an area that is free from traffic congestions. Our parking space can accommodate up to 1600 vehicles. We also conducted an internal survey and found that 90 per cent of our employees were living in nearby areas extending from Ghubrah to Mabela,”

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says Said bin Salem Al Oufi, Assistant General Manager for Special Projects, BankMuscat.

As you walk into the bank, you see exuberant faces welcoming you with bright smiles. And, why not? With natural sunlight spreading through the whole office, it would be difficult to be anything but enthusiastic (despite all work pressures!) Moreover an open office set up designed in vibrant and pleasing colours makes for the perfect working environment that encourages co-operation. “We adopted the open office set up, which has proven to be very successful in a number of elite world organisations and corporations. The trend enhances cooperation amongst the staff and helps them to be more efficient, which in turn ensures customer satisfaction,” Said adds.

The offices are distributed into four departments, each of them with a distinct colour code and are designed in a way to help you reach the designated person without any hassle. No more asking for directions at every step! Designed by WS Atkins, the office space is divided into four blocks; each one in separate colours - grey, vibrant red, blue and yellow.

Combining modern as well as traditional Omani architecture and interior design, the internal arrangements significantly contribute to enhancing the work environment. Themed rest areas are designed for employees to have a cup of tea or coffee, lunch or simply relax.

As is with any financial institution, security is of utmost importance. The headquarters incorporates the latest technology and

trends, meeting the key requisites in terms of functionality, and security. Said explains, “While we welcome all visitors and clients, no one can access the building without an electronic id-card issued at the reception.”

The eco-friendly building has an electric lighting system which automatically dims as sunlight increases and bathroom taps which work by sensors, leading to substantial saving of water.

The solar penetration is minimised by deep recessed punch windows while the external Mashrabiya screens serve both as a decorative adornment as well as creating shade to help cool the building.

All said and done, this iconic building serves as a fitting tribute to our nation’s cultural and modern foundations and strikes a fine balance

between work and leisure facilities making sure that banking is not just a routine job but a vibrantly satisfying experience for both the employees and the customers. We call it the perfect expression of functional finesse!

QUICK FACTS Parking available for 1600 cars Meetings Rooms: 18 Total area: 31,000sqm 785 tonnes of steel used 22316 cubic tonnes of cement used The building has 17 elevators There is a multipurpose hall that can accommodate up to 250 people

STOPOVER FRANKFURT AM MAIN (OR SIMPLY FRANKFURT) IS THE FIFTH LARGEST CITY IN GERMANY AND HOME TO EUROPE’S LARGEST STOCK EXCHANGES. TRADE EVENTS, BUSINESS CONFERENCES AND CONSUMER-GOODS FAIRS – FRANKFURT’S CONSTANTLY ABUZZ WITH ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, TOO OFTEN, IT’S OVERLOOKED BY TRAVELLERS BECAUSE OF THIS VERY REASON. IT’S TIME TO DISPEL THE MYTHS AND DISCOVER THE TRAVELLERS’ PARADISE THAT THIS CITY TRULY IS…

SEE:

The city square Römerberg is a must-see. Its history dates back to the 9th century and over the years it has been the site for markets, fairs, coronations and various other important social and political events. The whole area surrounding the square is steeped in history. Be it the row of frame houses on the east of the square, the fountain of justice in the middle, or Frankfurt’s first bank that was established in the 17th century. Next, move on to Saal Lane (Saalgasse) and soak in the architecture of the townhouses built in the post-modern style. The History Museum and Schirn Art Gallery in the same region are also worth a visit. The Gothic St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral or the ‘Imperial Cathedral’, although strictly not a cathedral is yet another historically significant landmark. It is said that kings were elected there and that ten monarchs were crowned emperor at the coronation altar there.

At the site of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s birthplace today stands the Goethe House and Goethe Museum. The Museum presents an extensive collection of paintings, graphics and busts of the 18th and 19th centuries and shows the relationship of the poet to art and to artists such as Johann Heinrich Füssli, and Caspar David Friedrich.

SHOP:

Whatever it is that you might be looking for, you’re sure to find it on Frankfurt’s most popular shopping mile, the ‘Zeil’. Well-known department stores to high-end boutiques offer shoppers the best range of products to choose from. It is said that the Zeil has the highest turnover in Europe. We’ll leave it to you to figure out why. Every Thursday and Saturday, the farmers’ market on the Konstablerwache right on the Zeil makes for a different shopping experience altogether.

Goethestraße, also known as Frankfurt’s ‘Fifth Avenue’ is where you can splurge on the latest fashions from top international designers; while Schillerstraße and Steinweg provide a more wallet-friendly shopping experience.

The Palm Garden with its lush sub-tropical landscape in the heart of the city is a fine option if you’d like to escape the hustle-bustle of the city. Summer in particular is the best time to visit with the Rose and Light Festival underway every June.

Why not take a boat tour and admire the impressive skyline that Frankfurt’s famous for? Or relax in the Ebbelwei Express, a colourful tram (fondly known as ‘Ließsche’) and explore the finest sights of the metropolis. Ideal for sight-seeing, the tram runs right across the city and tourists may hop-on and off as and when they like.

ICH LIEBE FRANKFURT Well-known for its high-rises Frankfurt is considered the business capital of Europe. However, that doesn’t stop this city from being a top-notch holiday destination. Museums, stock exchanges, music festivals, shopping – who says you can’t have it all…

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STAY:

Frankfurt offers travellers world-class boarding options. The Marriott Frankfurt situated near Frankfurt Trade Fair Grounds, Messeturm, and Senckenberg Museum; the palatial Schlosshotel Kronberg on the outskirts of Frankfurt; Steigenberger Metropolitan; InterContinental Frankfurt; Rocco Forte Villa Kennedy near Stadel; and Kempinski Hotel Gravenbruch Frankfurt are just few of the many options available.

The stretch between Opernplatz and Börsenstraße is actually called Große Bockenheimer Straße but the locals have nicknamed it ‘Fressgass’. The street is lined with numerous restaurants and cafes and this is where you should head out to experience Frankfurt’s culinary temptations. If you’d like to try out some authentic German food then we suggest Apfelwein Wagner. The restaurant serves sumptuous German Senckenberg Museum dishes like wurst and schnitzel, slow-cooked steak with horseradish sauce, grilled schweinshaxe and more. Gargantua, with its elegant setting, antique furniture, German ingredients-meet-international recipes is also a great option to enjoy a hearty meal.

EAT:

Villa Kennedy

Weidemann and Erno’s Bistro that serve Mediterranean style cuisines or Alte Kanzlei and Charlot (Italian restaurants) are also well known for their fare. All in all, the city has an exciting and varied dining scene which is sure to satiate any palate.

FLY THERE Oman Air currently operates 5 flights/week, and by July 5 will be introducing daily flights to Frankfurt.

Mon - 1300-1800 Tue - 0035–0550 (From July 5) Wed - 1300-1800 Thu – 0035 -0550 Fri - 1300-1800 Sat - 0035-0550 (From June 1) Sun - 0045-0600 Oman Air Holidays also has incredible holiday packages to Frankfurt starting from RO 249*pp which includes: Return flight on Oman Air - the New Wings of Oman, flight to Frankfurt on a brand new Airbus A330, 3 nights twin share at a 3* hotel and daily breakfast buffet. (*Prices Valid from 1st April to 30th May 2010, surcharge applies for holiday periods.)

For more details contact Oman Air Holidays on 24531000 or mail to holidays@omanair.com

TRAVEL

CITY OF ANGELS

DISCOVER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF LOS ANGELES. A STAR-STRUCK DEEPA RAJAN TELLS YOU HOW…

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A

nyone who knows me will tell you that, among all others things, I am a drama queen. Drama is a part and parcel of my life. Given the right circumstances (not to mention the poster-girl looks), I definitely would have been in the movies. (I even rescript my entire day, in hindsight).

So, you can imagine what my reaction would have been when Turkish Airlines’ (THY) inaugural flight to Los Angeles entered California airspace. As I peered out of the window, I could see snow covered mountains slowly giving way to a cityscape that has defied laws of nature (Los Angeles is subject to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.) I must admit, not being able to see the Hollywood sign from up there, was a bit of an anti-climax. But looking back, this whole trip seemed like a dream sequence.

When I received the Turkish Airlines invitation to hop aboard their inaugural flight, my first reaction was to fall faint just like Jennifer from Back to the Future Part II (1989).

I was going to Los Angeles: the land of films, stars; the land of Universal, Warner Brothers, Paramount Studio. I was going to Hollywood. (It was an ‘Oprah’ moment!)

Except, there was a tiny little issue to be dealt with! Yours truly is travel jinxed and given the time frame available, I had almost as many chances of getting a visa as E.T. had at being awarded world citizenship (Actually, come to think of it, E.T probably had better chances, courtesy his celebrity status!)

But, to quote Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you are going to get.”

I did get my visa. And, here I was just an airport away from the second-largest city in the US.

TRAVEL

THE FLIGHT PLAN I love travel, but I don’t do any kind of transport (Would it not have been easier if we could all just say ‘beam me up Scotty’?) The total flight time from Muscat to LA is approximately 20 hours. The THY business-class seats from Muscat-Istanbul are nothing to write home about. The seat is just about comfortable and the food too is palatable. There is no provision made for vegetarians (no eggs, fish or meat) and vegans, hence make sure you make your preferences clear while booking your tickets. The THY flight from Istanbul to Muscat, however, is a pleasant change.

THY has recently launched its Comfort Class seats, which provide a cost-effective luxury alternative to business and first class. Boasting a 46-inch seat pitch and a seating area of 19.5 inches, Comfort Class offers the widest possible knee and seat space, compared to other airlines with premium economy. Every seat is also equipped with 10.6 inch in-arm monitors with AVOD services and connects to iPods or USB devices. Internet, GSM and Live TV applications will be accessible for Comfort Class passengers. True to its name, the seats make sure that your long-haul flight to LAX is comfortable to say the least.

THE MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL The route from the airport to the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa is a 21km drive, which takes you through Century Boulevard, 405 North entrance, 10 East, La Brea, and Hollywood

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Boulevard. Located on N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood is this trendy hotel that boasts of a sophisticated mid-century modern design and breathtaking view of LA. The 70-plus works of art, representing 33 artists, in the public areas of the hotel were assembled or commissioned for their real, referential or retro affinity to the hotel's design and its Hollywood sense of place.

The rooms are cosy, neatly done up and if you are lucky enough (Like I was) you can even see the Hollywood Hills and the sign from your ceilingto-floor windows. Each one of the 632 elegantly appointed rooms and suites is designed to reflect the hotel’s unique character and commitment to luxury. Mid-century modern artwork complements stylish, comfortable furniture and state-of-the-art communications facilities. This ‘green’ hotel offers lots of amenities to make every guest feel like a star.

You can get your steamin’ cuppa at the Café Fama (Brews Starbucks Coffee) or you can sample some California-eclectic menu at the Twist restaurant.

There is also a roof-top outdoor pool and Spa Luce that offers you an exotic pampering experience.

The hotel’s USP lies in the fact that it is located in the spectacular Hollywood & Highland Center, a retail and entertainment destination, that houses trend-setting shops, world-class restaurants, legendary landmarks and state-ofthe-art entertainment venues, including the Kodak Theatre - home of the annual Academy Awards® ceremonies!

LA CONFIDENTIAL Step out of the hotel and you will find yourself walking on stars. Quite literally, for the Walk of Fame is just a few feet away. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a series of sidewalks along both sides of a 15-block segment of Hollywood Boulevard and a 3-block segment of Vine Street in Hollywood that serves as a permanent public monument to achievement in the entertainment industry. More than 2,400 5-pointed terrazzo and brass stars are embedded at 6-foot (1.8m) intervals over a combined 1.7 miles (2.7km). There are so many things to do around this area that you might never step out of Hollywood. The Grauman Chinese theatre’s opulent, awe-inspiring presence and history has been a cornerstone of Hollywood for over 75 years. There are periodical tours into the theatre. But for me the highlight was the footprints of hundreds of thousands of Hollywood stars, who have graced the halls of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre at movie premieres and ceremonies. These select few have been invited to join the exclusive society known as the Forecourt to the Stars. From Marilyn Monroe to Tom Hanks, Betty Grable’s legs to Jimmy Durante’s nose, Sid Grauman helped Hollywood leave its impression on not only Los Angeles but also on the world. You can also visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, Madame Tussauds Hollywood and of course do the Kodak Theatre tour.

The Starline Tours offer you various exciting trips into the city. Do hop aboard the Celebrity homes

tour and if you get a tour guide like ours, I can promise you it would be the best thing you would have done during your stay in LA. The tour is not as exciting as one would have thought, but it all depends on the tour guide who in true Hollywood sprit adds the required drama to it all. Your tour will take you through Santa Monica Boulevard, Rhodeo Drive, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, all the way up to Hollywood Hills to get the best view possible of the famous Hollywood sign.

I particularly enjoyed the drive through Sunset Boulevard, a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades. The street is an icon of Hollywood celebrity culture and the phrase ‘Sunset Boulevard’ is an enduring shorthand for the glamour associated with Hollywood. It is also known as ‘Guitar Row’ due to the large number of guitar stores and music industry-related businesses, including the legendary recording studios Sunset Sound Studios and United Western Recorders. It also houses famous night clubs that have featured classic acts like The Beatles and The Doors and still continue to host the current lot of musicians.

The other two tasks you need to put down on your must-do list, is to visit Staples Centre and watch an LA Lakers game and visit the Universal Studios (make sure you have a whole day dedicated to this wonderland). The Lakers are the home team and therefore have managed to achieve somewhat of a cult status. Add to that the towering presence of Kobe Bryant, who is also the global brand ambassador for Turkish Airlines, and you have an experience of a lifetime on your hands. The game of basketball is a game that plays to the galleries and you will often find celebrities sitting next you.

All said and done, the actual City of Angels is out on the streets; a colourful mélange of traditional and modern cultures that co-exist with each other to create the biggest blockbuster that a country could ever produce.

As you walk on these streets, you will find yourself caught up in the ‘Angeleno’ spirit that echoes the THE lines from Pretty Woman.

WRITER FLEW TO LOS ANGELES COURTESY OF "Welcome to Hollywood!

TURKISH AIRLINES. TURKISH AIRLINES What's your dream?

OPERATES FOUR FLIGHTS A WEEK FROM Everybody comes here; MUSCAT TO ISTANBUL. FOR FURTHER this is Hollywood, land DETAILS YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TURKISH AIRLINES OFFICE ON 2476507172/. THE of dreams. Some dreams ISTANBUL-LA FLIGHTS TAKE OFF ON FOUR DAYS come true, some don’t; but (TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY) keep on dreamin’ - this AT 11:10 (ISTANBUL LOCAL MEAN TIME) AND is Hollywood. Always LAND AT 15:25 (LA LOCAL MEAN TIME). THE LA-ISTANBUL FLIGHTS ALSO OPERATE ON time to dream, so keep on FOUR DAYS (TUESDAY, THURSDAY, dreamin"…

SATURDAY, SUNDAY) AT 17:55 AND REACH ISTANBUL AT 17:10 (+1)

FOOD

CHOCOHOLICS AHOY! JOACHIM CAULA FOLLOWS THE TRAIL OF THE AROMATIC CACAO BEAN AND SHARES TWO OF HIS FAVOURITE RECIPES

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t is believed that the oldest known cultivation and use of cacao was at a site in Puerto Escondido, Honduras, dating from about 1100 to 1400 BC. The Mayan civilisation is said to have grown cacao trees and used the seeds of the fruit to make a frothy, bitter drink. Chocolate was also an important luxury good throughout pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and history shows that cacao beans were often used as currency.

So much has been written in the last few years about chocolate. There is so much history attached to this divine creation that I could almost write a book on it (Maybe I will someday!) A movie or two have even been made and people continue to consume more and more chocolate every day. I feel the simple reasoning for this is the magic of chocolate.

No wonder when Cortez first encountered this exotic dark drink made by the Aztecs, he was overwhelmed and chose to offer this drink to his soldiers when they ran out of food to give them strength as they fought against the Aztecs. This famous cocoa bean then

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made its way to Europe where it was served later in the century at luxury tea and coffee houses called ‘Salons de Tea’. Of course, it was in Switzerland where the now universally famous milk chocolate bar was first made and brought global acclaim to the cocoa delight.

Chocolate has always had a special place in my life as it became my work too. One of my best memories related to chocolate is from my childhood, when our parents took us to Sprüngli, one of the oldest pastry and confectionery makers in Europe, who were very famous for their chocolate displays in their shops.

Sprüngli was then a family owned business, located at one of the most famous business addresses in Zurich (Paradeplatz just opposite of UBS Bank Main Building).

The shop still exists; the glamour of the old world intact and I can affirm that even today the wonderful smell of chocolate that wafts through the air as you enter the shop tickles your senses, leaving you no choice but to surrender to the delectable fare. I was always partial to dark chocolate and always admired the more than 70 varieties of Pralines and Truffles available (I can still taste the goodness that was Sprüngli!) During my apprenticeship I chose to become a Confiseur-Patissier, specialising in chocolate and it was then that I realised that without chocolate my life would never be the same again.

Another memory that still remains fresh in my mind is the smell of cocoa lingering through the streets of Oaxaca, a small town in Mexico. The street had shops that roasted cocoa beans, using traditional methods (grinding them and adding the flavours) to create rough chocolate bars (not one as we know now), intense in aroma and texture. This bar was mainly used to make the famous hot chocolate drink, which is known to give you a surge of incredible energy.

Chocolate comes in different varieties but the most popular can be broadly classified into white, milk, dark, dark sweet, semi-sweet and bitter chocolate. White chocolate is made with cocoa butter, sugar, milk, emulsifier, vanilla and sometimes other flavourings. The chocolate has an off-white colour as it does not contain any non-fatty ingredients from the cacao bean. Many purists do not consider white chocolate as a form of chocolate because of the low content of cocoa solids.

Milk chocolate usually contains 10-20 per cent cocoa solids (which include cocoa and cocoa butter) and more than 12 per cent milk solids.

Dark chocolate can either be sweet, semi-sweet, bittersweet or unsweetened. The normal dark chocolate is sweetened and contains high content of cocoa solids and no or very little milk with up to 12 per cent milk solids. Dark sweet chocolate is similar to semi-sweet chocolate and often contains 35-45 per cent cocoa solids. Semi-sweet chocolate is what is referred to as the classic dark baking chocolate and has a strong yet sweet flavour. Bitter chocolate is mostly used for baking

and contains almost 100 per cent cocoa solids.

Whatever the colour and flavour, the spell that chocolate has over people is unbreakable. Go anywhere in the world and you can be assured of finding not just various types of chocolates, but also elaborate dishes made from the cocoa bean.

And, why not! After all, to quote a famous nutrition researcher, ‘Chemically speaking, chocolate really is the world’s perfect food.’

KIM’S CHOCOLATE MOUSSE “My mother used to make this chocolate mousse almost every Sunday at home. My twin brother and I enjoyed it till the last lick!”

INGREDIENTS 2 egg yolks 2 tablespoons sugar 100gms Dark Chocolate (ideally, bittersweet around 65 per cent cocoa ) 2 tablespoons hot water 250gms whipped fresh cream (It has to be fresh cream) METHOD: Take a small saucepan and add some hot water (around half to the top) place a bowl on top. Break the dark chocolate into small pieces and place it on top of bowl above the hot water. Add two tablespoons of hot water and let it sit until the chocolate starts to melt. In the meantime, beat the egg yolks and sugar with a hand mixer until it becomes creamy. Now check the chocolate and stir together with the water until it gains a creamy consistency as well. Then add the chocolate to the egg yolk mixture and stir. Let it sit for a while at room temperature.

Then whip some fresh cream until it starts to set but be sure not to overdo it. Add a little bit of cream to the chocolate mixture and with a small whisk fold in add the remaining whipped cream and fold in.

Fill a large glass bowl or small individual glass cups with the chocolate mousse. Let it set in the refrigerator for about three to four hours before serving.

Garnish: Fresh raspberry or grated chocolate before serving.

HOT CHOCOLATE “This is a simple yet absolutely irresistible chocolate drink that will have you asking for more. But be careful of how much you consume, for it can be addictive!”

INGREDIENTS 200ml fresh milk 1 red chilli, chopped finely 2 tablespoons honey 75gms dark chocolate, preferably unsweetened or bitter sweet Black pepper (optional) METHOD: Bring the milk, chilli, and honey to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. When the milk starts to boil, add broken pieces of the dark chocolate into the saucepan and stir till the chocolate dissolves. If you like your chocolate drink to be a little more spicy, then add a dash of freshly ground pepper. Remove from the fire, strain and enjoy the spicy chocolate drink!

The writer is Bailli Delegue (president) of Chaîne des Rotisseurs, Oman.

FOOD COURT

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QUINTESSENTIALLY FRENCH AL BUSTAN PALACE INTERCONTINENTAL MUSCAT’S AL MARJAN BISTRO IS THE PLACE TO BE SEEN THIS SEASON. HERE’S WHY…

W

hen it comes to authenticity, there are but few places that get it right.

Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat is one of them. Hence, it comes as no surprise that the hotel has come up with yet another fresh dining concept that is Al Marjan Bistro.

The restaurant, which takes its name from the Arabic word Marjan (red coral), brings the quintessentially French passion for great food to your tables. Al Marjan Bistro combines the traditional and the contemporary with its unique seasonal cuisine concept to bring a whiff of freshness to the world of good food.

compliments the décor and feel of the place.

Al Marjan Bistro calls itself a stylish and distinctive seasonal restaurant, serving authentic French cuisine.

Stylish it is, tres (very)! but the food is what gives the restaurant its edge. The famous chef Julia Child says, “In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport,” and at Marjan, a talented team headed

by Restaurant Manager Dominique Lemercier and Chef Herve Guillaume prove just that. The menu is as authentic as it can get with a mix of traditional French bistro specialties. Where does one begin? The starters include Le Crabe (Crab meat salad flavoured with argan oil and cilantro), Le Foie Gras De Canard (Foie Gras terrine on layers of Omani date chutney, a side of truffle butter toast), Les Primeurs (All fresh spring vegetable salad with tuna like Provence's famous Salade Niçoise)

Al Marjan Bistro is hard to miss. Al Marjan Bistro screams classic flamboyance with a custom-fused glass panel door in warm red that catches the eye as you step inside the restaurant. By and large, the restaurant’s design emulates a relaxed and elegant dining scene or stylisé as the French would say.

There are some delicious soups as well. Try the Émultion de Chataignes (Chestnut soup enhanced with celery and mascarpone cream) or the Gaspacho Andalou (Cold tomato, capsicum and cucumber soup enhanced with old balsamic vinegar). For the main course, you can choose from Les Noix De St. Jacques (Scallops roasted in the shell, topped with butter and fresh herbs from their greenhouse) or La Côte de Boeuf (Double rib for tow carved in front of you) or La Poularde De Bresse Fermière (Corn-fed chicken breast served with asparagus and morel sauce)… phew!

The right ambience often makes for the perfect appetiser ahead of any meal. The restaurant’s interiors feature a dining area with superb views and the very best of cutlery, crockery and glassware sourced from around the globe. Wooden tables covered in white table cloth and chairs with velvet finish create a warm feeling.

The flair of style is heightened by contemporary works from talented Omani artists (Hassan Meer and Rashid Abdelrahman) adorning the walls.

We were particularly impressed with the embossed details in the unique white plaster ceiling, the unusual end grain cut wood on the walls that distinctly highlight the trees’ natural rings and the multi-coloured Venetian Murano glass ornaments placed across the restaurant. The French music playing in the background

And who can do desserts better than the French? Try the Tarte Fine Aux Pommes (Crispy organic apple tart topped with vanilla ice cream and caramelised almonds) or try La Crème brûlée (Naturally flavoured caramelised Creme Brulee) or maybe Glaces Et Sorbets (an array of ice cream and sherbets of the day). Whatever you eat, we are sure you will come back for more. Oh do try the assortment of cheese that makes for a dining experience in itself!

Since the menu is a seasonal one, you can expect

changes depending on the season. But, the management promises that there will be minimum changes to the menu, because they want Al Marjan Bistro to be a place you will return for the dishes you love and remember. Given the standards of excellence and quality of service that the Al Bustan Palace is famous for, we have no doubts about that. To quote Julia Child again, “After one taste of French food ... I was hooked. I'd never eaten like that before, I didn't know such food existed. The wonderful attention paid to each detail of the meal was incredible to me….It was simply a whole new life experience.”

Al Marjan Bistro is open for lunch and dinner, from Saturday to Thursday.

MUSIC

SOUL SESSIONS REKHA BAALA IN CONVERSATION WITH VIKRAM HAZRA ON MUSIC THAT’S ALL HEART AND SOUL...

Meeting Vikram Hazra is like coming into contact with a whirlwind. The singer exudes an energy that does not only put you at ease immediately but also draws you into a spirited discussion – about everything under the sun. He also sweeps you off your feet with his depth and knowledge on diverse topics. We set out to talk about his music but in the course of an hour’s conversation covered a whole gamut of interesting subjects, from philosophy, art, technology to spirituality.

Music played an integral part, no doubt, weaving different strands subtly, each note arresting and invigorating.

Vikram is well-known internationally for his unique style of music, fusing ancient Sanskrit

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chants and secular wisdom with the sounds of the electric guitar. His is a unique genre of music – one that transcends boundaries, uplifts the spirit and scintillates the audience. From simple Indian folk bhajans (Indian devotional music), Buddhist chants, African and African-American spirituals to contemporary blues and jazz, Vikram seamlessly blends diverse styles into an organic whole.

The singer was in Oman recently for the annual music concert, ‘Spring Tunes 2’ organised by The Art of Living Oman Chapter at the Indian Embassy Lawns last month. The important goal of the concert was to raise awareness and interest about its two educational projects – ‘Gift

a Smile’, a programme for under-privileged children in rural India and the ‘Yes We Can’ programme for the empowerment of Omani youth.

Signature met the singer, philosopher, writer and Art of Living teacher for some wonderful insights on all things music and then some...

Excerpts: What is Vikram Hazra’s music all about?

“I’d like to call my music a harmonious blend of many sounds. I hate the word fusion. Music is music, let’s leave it at that. What has been valuable to me is the unifying principle of music.

There are styles of music in India and the world

which you don’t know exist. I dream that all these kinds of music will be documented.”

Do you always attempt to bring together different kinds of music?

"Yes. It’s an attempt to educate people that a particular kind of music exists. So go back and keep your ears open. Earlier, when we didn’t have the budgets to fly in musicians, I had to jam with local musicians. So for instance, in Africa, they would get me a Djembe player. One of them told me, ‘A lot of what you’re singing exists in our culture’. It’s happened in Japan, Russia and the Middle East where people have found an echo of their culture in my music. So it is nice to use this as a platform to bring people together. Zakir Hussain (renowned tabla player) once told me, ‘You don’t really understand another person until you’ve broken bread with him’. And so I think music is a language that is spoken, understood and loved across the world.”

What kind of influences have seeped into your music?

“I’d say that I am influenced by certain kinds of music and musicians as well. Jazz is a favourite, but again I’d like something that is modern and progressive but not too technologically polished, like the works of Bill Frissel, Jim Hall or Pat Metheny. I also feel that the best rhythms can be found in nature. Look at the taal (beat) of the tabla and see it as multiples of a human heartbeat.”

Do you think music is a great stressreliever?

“I think anything that brings silence in you also relieves you from stress. Soulful music and meditation are the two fastest ways to achieve this. In fact, in many cases, people find it easier to achieve it through music because they do not want to undertake the discipline of a meditation practice.”

On your website, you have said that one of your goals in life is to put a smile on people’s faces? How do you do this?

“This is something my guru (Sri Sri Ravishankar, the founder of Art of Living) says. Across the world, every human being wants to have a good life for himself. Everybody wants to be stress-free, well-fed, etc. I don’t think there is one formula or one module that can help people achieve this, right? Our goal is to facilitate that process. There have been places where our job was to provide bread; there have been places where our job was to source employment and there have been other places where our job was to tell a CEO to sit down and meditate for 10 minutes to feel better. But the common goal is

that you are available to serve in whatever way.

What’s most important is that you are also living a combination of excellence and responsibility in your own life. That helps you strike a balance.”

Finally, what does music mean to you?

“We are alive because there is some kind of life force. In Sanskrit, we call it pranayam (extension of life). The exuberant or ebullient expression of that life force is music. The human system likes to express itself and music is the most immediate form of expression that our happiness finds. And, that for me, is a sign of a happy human being."

I’D LIKE TO CALL MY MUSIC A HARMONIOUS BLEND OF MANY SOUNDS

“MUSIC IS THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MANKIND.” – H.W. LONGFELLOW

LISTEN,

MUSIC ROUND-UP CONTINUE YOUR MUSICAL EDUCATION WITH THE BEST ALBUMS OUT NOW…

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Femme Fatale Britney Spears Spears considers it to be her “best album to date.”

And although the album hasn’t hit the airwaves yet there’s been much talk about it.

Paper Airplane Alison Krauss & Union Station Paper Airplane is Krauss’ 14th album and her first release since her 2007 collaboration with Robert Plant. Union Station and Krauss have created an album that’s beyond compare.

Wasting Light Foo Fighters Foo Fighters’ latest offering promises some rip-roaring compilations that are sure to keep fans clamouring for more.

So Beautiful or So What Paul Simon One half of the hugely successful duo Simon and Garfunkel is out with his 12th studio album. This album also features the Christmas hit single Getting Ready for Christmas Day.

Angles The Strokes The band is sure to make a smashing comeback after two years of work. Guitarist Nick Valensi claims they worked “democratically” with contributions from all members.

F.A.M.E. Chris Brown Brown is all set to take the world by storm with his new album F.A.M.E. Collaborations with Justin Bieber, Busta Rhymes and even Benny Bennassi makes this an album to watch out for!

Vices & Virtues Panic! At The Disco Vices & Virtues is Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith’s first album as a duo.

This promising album just goes to show the immense talent that both these musicians possess.

Who You Are Jessie J Compared to the likes of Rihanna and Gwen Stefani, Jessie J has proved to the music industry (and her fans) that she can hold her own. And Who You Are is ample testament to this.

EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK Glasvegas Glaswegian rockers are looking to make a big splash with their second studio album followed by a spring tour. Get your hands on this album ASAP!

This Modern Glitch The Wombats Famed British indie rock act, The Wombats have a great line-up of songs for their second studio album This Modern Glitch. The first single from the album Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) debuted at #23 on the UK Singles Chart.

WATCH

CELLULOID DREAMS WHAT’S HITTING THE BIG SCREENS THIS MONTH? TIME TO FIND OUT…

Water for Elephants

Killing Bono

Hanna

Apollo 18

Your Highness

Arthur

Source Code

Scream 4

Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) is a soldier who wakes up to find himself in another man’s body and that he’s a part of a mission to find a train bomber.

A decade has passed and Sidney Prescott (Campbell) has managed to put the past behind her… or so she thinks!

Rio

Hop

Based on the novel by Sara Gruen, the movie centres on Jacob Jankowski’s (Pattinson) experiences in a circus.

Eric Bana stars in this action thriller where he teaches his 16-year-old to be an assassin.

Prince Fabious’ (Franco) bride has been kidnapped and he’s determined to rescue her – with the help of his lazy and incompetent brother Thadeous (McBride)!

This much awaited animation is about two birds, Blu and Jewel who fly to Rio de Janeiro for the adventure of a lifetime.

A comedy about two brothers who want to become famous rock stars but instead watch as old school friends U2 take the world by storm.

A year after Apollo 17, two American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon.

This movie is about the mission and what really happened on the mission.

Russell Brand is Arthur Bach, a rich Casanova who stands to lose his inheritance when he falls in love with a woman his family doesn’t approve of.

The Easter Bunny is accidentally hit by a car, and it's up to the offending driver to save Easter.

SHOP

NETTING SUCCESS

WHEN IT COMES TO SHOPPING FOR THE LATEST IN DESIGNER WEAR ONLINE, NO ONE FEELS THE PULSE OF THE FASHIONCONSCIOUS BETTER THAN NET-A-PORTER DOES. HOLLI ROGERS, BUYING DIRECTOR, NETA-PORTER, TELLS DEEPA RAJAN HOW IT'S DONE

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L

ittle did Tim BernersLee know that when he created the World Wide Web, he was not just opening a portal of possibilities, he was also generating a vital life source that would regulate the world's thought process in the days to come. There is nothing that is not available on the Internet. From hairpins to aeroplanes, everything is just a click away.

Even luxury fashion, which was once slave to exclusive by-invitation-only shows and tedious dress fittings, has broken free to embrace the wonders of the web. Online shopping is as much a trend as 'fashion' itself with websites such as Net-a-Porter offering as many as 300 exclusive designer labels for the taking. The London-based website was launched in June 2000 and has successfully established itself as a luxury brand and has become one of the industry’s most important retailers. But then managing a shopping website is not exactly as easy as clicking a mouse. It takes a whole lot of hard work and one person integral to the whole process is the Buying Director who oversees the retail programming of online sales.

Holli Rogers- Buying Director of Net-a-Porter

At Net-a-Porter, it is Holli Rogers who holds all the 'links' together. Holli was born and raised in Texas and began her career in fashion in the Neiman Marcus buying offices before moving to Chanel USA in New York. Following a year out in which she travelled globally, Holli relocated to London and joined Net-A-Porter.com as Assistant Retail Director in 2003.

"OUR CUSTOMERS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL INFORMED, STYLE SAVVY AND LOOK TO NETA-PORTER FOR OUR SEASONAL EDIT." Since then, Holli has successfully cultivated the company's retail and buying direction and today Net-a-Porter stocks over 300 top international designers including BottegaVeneta, Burberry, Chloé, Christian Louboutin, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Stella McCartney and many more.

Holli, who was promoted to Buying Director in 2008, talks about her career choices, Net-a-Porter and fashion.

On her profession "I always knew it was a career I wanted to pursue and was very much inspired by my stylish mother, who had an innate sense of fashion. I started my career in fashion in Dallas, Texas at the Neiman Marcus buying offices before moving to New York and Chanel USA. In 2003, I relocated to London and joined the Net-aPorter team as Assistant Retail Director - from this position I then became Buying Director in 2008."

Her Buying Director’s role "Understanding our customers’ needs and striving to meet those needs are key objectives in this job. This is crucial when pulling together a seasonal buy that is on-trend, compelling, exciting and reflective of the general and cultural mood. You need to be able to predict emerging trends and react quickly to changes in consumer demand, all with our customer profile front of mind."

On Challenges "It is extremely challenging to select our buy each season. However the way we achieve this is to constantly revert to our customer and keep them in mind whilst planning the season. This way we ensure that we are offering a selection of great pieces and the right brand mix that we know our customers will want in their wardrobes."

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On Fashion "Fashion is about staying true to your personal style rather than being a slave to the trends."

On the latest trends "I am always on the look out for what the next big trend will be. Whether at the shows, meeting with existing or potential new brands, reading style magazines or out shopping in my favourite London haunt, Portobello market, my team and I find inspiration all over and sometimes in the least likely of places."

Fashion essentials for the woman "Our recently revamped Essentials boutique offers Net-a-Porter's take on the perfect 10 essentials. These are the building blocks in any woman's wardobe and the list includes a crisp white shirt, a neutral knit, a pair of pumps, a classic straight leg jean, a leather jacket and a selection of jersey t-shirts. These are easy style solutions for everyday dressing."

Top tip for shopping smart These essentials (as mentioned above) should form the foundation of any wardrobe. Each season, just pick the of-the-minute pieces that appeal to you, such as a bright or printed dress or skirt or some statement making shoes, and mix and match to create the perfect capsule wardrobe.

Her wardrobe consists of "I have my favourite pieces each season, which become my everyday wardrobe staples. For Spring-Summer 2011 these will include a pair of high waisted flares from J Brand, some bright block colour separates, a great pair of wedges and a sharp pleated maxi skirt. Along with my Rick Owens leather jacket and some super luxe white t-shirts; these pieces will form the basis of my wardrobe this season."

THE ESSENTIALS The Shirt The knit The Jean The Leather jacket The Classic Bag The Flat The Blazer The Trench The Jersey Basic The Underpinning For more information log on to www.net-a-porter.com

ART

PHOTO FINISH

GUY VESEY, REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF BONHAMS MIDDLE EAST, ON THE FIRST DEDICATED PHOTOGRAPHS SALE IN THE MIDDLE EAST We always aim to be open minded to suggestions and we are happy to look at all works shown to us. In short there is no standard way to put a sale together, it happens organically, through e-blasts inviting people to consign, phone calls, word of mouth and trips to some far flung places!"

For many people, photographs are personal and hold many memories. How different, would you say, is collecting photography from collecting other art forms?

"I see collecting photography like anything else; something that stems from a passion for beautiful things. Whether it’s photographs, paintings or baseball cards they all hold memories and are special to the collector for some reason. It’s dealing with people who share that passion which makes the art world such a fascinating and great place to work."

Sebastiao Salgado, Sahara estimated at $ 6,000 - 7,000

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s Bonhams gears up for its first dedicated Photographs Sale in Middle East (to be held in Dubai) alongside its annual top Orientalist Art auction, Regional Director of Bonhams Middle East, Guy Vesey, is a very excited man. According to Vesey, “The upcoming Orientalist sale and the first dedicated Photographs sale in the region mark a truly international event. The Orientalist works are stunning examples of western artists capturing the region, with artists from all over the world much the same for our Photographs sale which includes artists from as far as Sydney, NYC, London and even artists living and working here in Dubai. We are thrilled to be able to offer our clients the opportunity to buy truly international works of art.”

In an interview with Signature, Vesey answers questions on the art of photography, the auction and more…

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This is Bonhams’ first dedicated Photographs Sale in the Middle East. What prompted the auction house to create such a platform in the region?

"Photography has proved popular in the past here within the Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern and South Asian sales and the quality of work from photographers from the region is of such a high standard it made sense to create a dedicated sale. It is in some ways a more accessible art form too and will hopefully give new collectors a great vehicle to begin collecting.

Also a number of clients have been asking for international works of art to be sold here in Dubai and photographs are an excellent format for that, which is one reason why we are offering works from all over the world."

Where do you typically acquire photographs from? Can you take us through the process of putting a sale such as this together?

"Works come from a variety of locations and people. Often existing clients get in touch and want to consign works from their collections either to make way for more works or to raise funds for new acquisitions. We also consign a good number of works from Galleries and Dealers who have works on the secondary market or who represent artists who they feel might sit well within the sale.

Where do you see photography collecting going in the future, especially with the popularity of digital images?

"I see it as a potentially extremely popular market, nowadays everyone is a photographer thanks to camera phones and the advancement of digital photographers. While that doesn’t necessarily mean we will be selling camera phone pictures any time soon it does mean that many more people are considering what it is that makes a good or a bad photograph and that appreciation in turn boosts the market."

Given that, when does photography become art?

"This is one of those questions which could take a sentence or a lifetime to answer! It’s surely art when someone is willing to buy it and put it on their walls!"

As a collector, what should one look for while buying photographs?

"People should look for the edition number – the lower the edition the better. (5/10/20 will hold greater value than if 200 were printed), whether the work is signed, what it is printed on (paper quality varies hugely and affects the longevity of the work so is important to consider) and the biography of the artist – look at where they have exhibited before, as someone with no history of shows will not have a very high value."

Guy Vesey took over as the Regional Director of Bonhams' Middle Eastern operations last year. Guy has extensive experience of the art world, and of the emerging markets of both Russia and the Middle East. His diverse background includes experience of Art Consultancy, Galleries and Dealerships. After time spent working for the Art Dealer Michael Carr in Sydney, Australia he moved to London to join Simon C. Dickinson Ltd where he worked largely in Russia and the former CIS region. He also spent time in Kazakhstan working as a consultant for a Kazakh oligarch.

One of his most significant achievements was the founding of Carrvesey Ltd – the first Western Art Consultancy in Moscow since the revolution. Whilst working as a Director of this operation he conducted sales negotiations with collections to a value of $250million. He also developed numerous professional relationships with international dealers, artists, curators and collectors.

During his career he has also undertaken a period of personal study at the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.

THE EVENT Bonhams’ first dedicated Photographs Sale in Dubai alongside its annual top Orientalist Art auction will take place on April 13 at One&Only Royal Mirage.

A photograph entitled ‘Euphoria’, 2010, by the award-winning Palestinian artist Steve Sabella is one of the highlights of the sale.

Part of his internationally acclaimed ‘Jerusalem: In Exile project’ it has attracted a pre-sale estimate of $14,000 – 18,000.

Another important lot in the photography sale is an enormous seven-part photo collage by Lebanese artist Camille Zakharia entitled ‘Cultivate Your Garden’, 1998, which has attracted a pre-sale estimate of $30,000 – 40,000. Other sale highlights include Sebastiao Salgado’s ‘Without Daylight, Oil Wells’, Kuwait, 1991 (estimate $6,000 – 7,000); Lillian Bassman’s ‘Park Avenue Woman’, 1954 (estimate $5,000 – 6,000); Armet Ertug’s ‘The Library of St Florian Abbey’, Austria, 2009 (estimate $35,000 – 40,000); and Horst P. Horst’s 'Coco Chanel', Paris, 1937 (estimate $7,000 – 9,000).

Shirin Neshat Mystified estimated $ 35,000- 45,000

The Orientalist Sale will include masterpieces from renowned European and American artists from the 19th and 20th Centuries. This sale will showcase some important examples in private hands in a genre that the Art Newspaper recently dubbed as making a comeback.

The top highlights from the Orientalist sale include artists such as Edwin Lord Weeks whose work titled, ‘Promenade in a street in India’ is estimated at $ 200,000-400,000 and Etienne Dinet whose work titled, 'L'Arabe et son cheval' is estimated at $150,000-250,000.

Other artists represented at the auction include Frederick Arthur Bridgman, Clemente Pujol de Gustavino, Rudolf Ernst, Henri Rousseau, Rudolf Ernst and Jan Baptist Huysmans. This will not only be an opportunity to view and purchase museum calibre works from paintings to sculpture, but these examples are of particular interest because they show the positive, accurate, and intimate aspects of why Orientalism was so alluring for Westerners.

Ahmet Ertug, The Library of St. Florian Abbey, Austria, 2009 estimate $35000 - 40000

Otto Pilny Recitation of the Maghribestimated $ 30,000-40,000

Etienne Dinet - L' Arabe et son cheval estimated $ 150,000-250,000

TAKE10 “Count the garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall.

Count your life with smiles and not the tears that roll.”

Unknown

Quotes to Inspire 1

“The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.”

Confucius

“The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.”

Horace Bushnell

For sometimes, even a little goes a long way…

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3

“Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater.”

William Hazlitt

“Pain is inevitable.

Suffering is optional.”

M. Kathleen Casey

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5

“If you're going through hell, keep going.”

Winston Churchill “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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7

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”

Friedrich Nietzsche

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”

Albert Einstein

"The willow knows what the storm does not: that the power to endure harm outlives the power to inflict it."

Unknown

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AVIATION

Flying High!

LUXURIOUS PRIVATE JET TRAVEL IS ALL SET TO TAKE OFF IN A BIG WAY IN OMAN, THANKS TO A TIE-UP BETWEEN ROYAL JET ABU DHABI AND QURUM BUSINESS GROUP, SAYS VISVAS PAUL D KARRA If you want to live the maxim, ‘customer is king’, then you simply must hop on to a private jet.

You will begin to feel like royalty long before you board the flight. It begins with a phone call to the private jet operator, who then enquires about your special preferences. Out there, there is no ‘sorry sir, your flight is delayed’. In fact, you can call them up and inform that you will be delayed!

Welcome to the world of private jets. Where everything revolves around you! And not around a programmed network of aircraft schedules like in a commercial airline system. You can dictate where you want to go, what time you want to go, and how many guests you would like to take along with you.

The private jet industry is a fast growing segment globally and is an interesting part of the aviation sector. This is because for a rising number of high-networth individuals and businessmen; privacy, security and timing are critical. And the private jet industry offers all of these. Which you will agree, is quite different from the commercial airline system, where the airline dictates what time you travel and to what hub you travel and has a whole range of rules and regulations of how you will actually move through the system.

“In a private jet service, everything is tailormade around the customer’s needs, so planning, right from the ground operations is key,” says Shane Jefree O’Hare, the President and CEO of Royal Jet, an international luxury flight services company based in Abu Dhabi.

Royal Jet, chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, recently

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joined hands with Oman’s Qurum Business Group (QBG) to provide the same range of luxurious international private charter services to its Oman customers as it does elsewhere in the region.

“For Royal Jet, the entry into Oman is geographically compelling and will enable customers in Oman to unlock the many benefits and privileges of private jet travel,” says O'Hare.

The agreement is part of Royal Jet’s ongoing strategy to expand into other key markets and is entirely consistent with their expansion plans after making inroads into countries like Saudi Arabia, India and Europe.

Royal Jet’s core offerings comprises luxury VIP aircraft charters, medical evacuation services, fixed base operations (FBO) / a VIP terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport, aircraft management and acquisition consultancy and charter brokerage.

In Oman, Royal Jet is targeting clients that include royalty, business executives, government officials and top corporates and also includes medical evacuation as part of its core business of providing luxurious and reliable air charter experiences.

O’Hare adds: “The association between QBG and Royal Jet will deliver strong solutions with local support to the Oman’s executive travel and medical needs. I am pleased that QBG is our local partner and I am sure they will add substantial value to our presence in Oman, which is growing at a significant rate now.”

He is optimistic that business in Oman will

take off well, given the growth potential and the economic blueprint of the country as revealed in the State Budget 2011, where the emphasis is on economic development.

The biggest aircraft in Royal Jet’s fleet is the Boeing Business Jet, a derivative of the 737-700.

This is a purpose built aircraft and the ultimate in private VIP jet travel. The company operates six of them in various configurations and is its largest operator globally.

What’s special to Oman? “We are proud to have a partner in QBG that has deep roots, is very forward looking and ambitious as well.

We believe we are natural partners. We will be working with them as the local experts in the Omani market to build a strong and quality private jet business similar to our standing in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, especially focussing on the segments, which I mentioned before. We are talking about a long-term view here,” he says.

“As far as service is concerned, our pedigree comes from standards set by the needs of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi. And this has been exemplified by numerous awards,” adds O’Hare.

Through a diversification strategy that perfectly complements its core business, Royal Jet’s performance has surpassed expectations and this is expected to provide a solid ground for the company’s five-year expansion and service enhancement plan.

In a world where time means money, taking your home and business to the sky is a good and sensible business proposition. And a private jet service gives you the wings!

FATMA AL KHARUSI BRINGS HER EXPERTISE TO YOUR HOMES. WALK INTO THE IDDESIGN STORE OR CALL UP FOR A SPECIAL APPOINTMENT WITH FATMA. MEET HER IN YOUR HOME SO THAT SHE CAN SEE THE SPACE AND UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS AND PREFERENCES. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS FATMA WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU AND HELP YOU IN CREATING A CUSTOMISED MAKEOVER PLAN THAT FITS YOUR HOME PERFECTLY. AND ONCE THE PLAN IS FINALISED, YOU’RE READY TO GO! SHOULD YOU NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PAINTERS AND OTHER SUCH SERVICES, IDDESIGN WILL BE MORE THAN GLAD TO HELP YOU OUT AND WILL BE THERE TILL THE END TO GIVE YOUR HOME THAT FINAL ARTISTIC TOUCH. For booking your appointments, consultations and other information please call: 24545658.

WELLNESS

RETURN TO SERENITY

EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY AT BAMBOO SPA: THE ELEMENTS OF B.A.T.H., YOUR VERY OWN HAVEN IN THE CITY. A SIGNATURE REPORT

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D

eep in the heart of the Muscat’s ritzy Madinat Qaboos, the latest addition to Oman’s bourgeoning spa portfolio, Bamboo Spa: The Elements of B.A.T.H. is housed in quiet and intimate settings. This exclusively for women day spa sets a unique standard for mind, body and spirit rituals.

THE AQUA BATH ELEMENTS FOCUS ON USING THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF WATER WHICH IS KNOWN TO BOOST CIRCULATION, DETOXIFY AND INVIGORATE THE BODY

As soon as you step in, expect to be transported in to a sanctuary far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You enter right into the reception which has a very Oriental-meets-Occidental feel to it. The cosy lounge space lit with dim lights, plush couches and a soothing welcome drink make it easy to relax and forget about everything else (this could well be a spa in a retreat thousands of miles away). The overall space is trendy but not overbearing. It is here at the reception where your personalised consultation takes place and you meet your therapist. While speaking with the aesthetician, you'll receive an informed, honest response and be guided through your treatment at the Spa. This non-pretentious, easy-going yet refined atmosphere extends to the treatment areas as well.

The Spa’s treatment menu will undoubtedly please even the most discerning spa guest. The tantalising treatment options stay true to its theme and offer an eclectic menu of healing and revitalising therapies. This essentially means a full range of spa treatments, including specialty massages, purification and exfoliation treatments, specialty manicures and pedicures, facials, peels, and the works. You'll fall in love with their to-die-for treatments.

The Body Sensorial Elements include a range of relaxing and rejuvenating massages such as the Bamboo Bliss Massage, Holistic Lava Shells and Timeless Green Tea Inspirations. These treatments combine ancient Asian remedies and utilise a variety of herbs and essential oils to soothe away stress from your body as well as mind. The Elements of Purification and Exfoliation offer some excellent options with respect to skin treatments that are guaranteed to leave it feeling soft and smooth. Pamper your skin to a Nourishing Honey Aroma Glow or a Purifying Bamboo & Green Tea Body Scrub and come away feeling and looking refreshed.

The Aqua Bath Elements focus on using the therapeutic effects of water which is known to boost circulation, detoxify and invigorate the body. Or opt for some of the luxurious facial treatments which include the 24 Karat Gold Facial by Kuush and Signature Caviar Facial by Kerstin Florian.

No matter what your needs are, expect to find all the solutions at Bamboo Spa. Make your day extra special and invite your close girlfriends or your mother and enjoy a blissful day of pampering and relaxation. The Spa makes for the ideal place to rest minds and bodies, and escape from hectic daily lives.

In recent years, an unprecedented number of spas have opened up and Muscat’s superlative spas with pampering treatments and outstanding modern facilities have been vying for attention. However, Bamboo Spa, with its fantastic therapists and quality treatments manages to hold its own and is a perfect place to rejuvenate and enjoy a Friday afternoon before the working week begins.

Bamboo Spa is a tranquil oasis where the mind, body and spirit can be refreshed, revitalised and restored; where opulence and understated luxury mixes with friendly efficient service; and where you will be guided by holistic wisdom, and nurtured by Mother Nature.

BUZZ

CELEBRITY SHOWDOWN The Academy Awards is the most anticipated event in tinsel town. Signature takes a look at some of the memorable (and not so memorable) Oscar moments

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards rocked television sets world over as people tuned in to watch their favourite stars on the Red Carpet as well as on stage. However, like all inevitabilities of life, the Oscars too are prone to fashion faux-pas and other miscellaneous inscrutable events. Here’s a round-up of what we thought were worth a mention…

RED CARPET RUNWAY

The clear winner on the Carpet was Mila Kunis in an exquisite Hit! lavender Elie Saab that showed off her incredible figure. The gown was from from Elie Saab’s Spring 2011 Couture collection and was a picturesque creation in cascading chiffon and lace. Kunis completed her look with Neil Lane diamond jewellery and a Bottega Veneta clutch. A close second was Halle Berry who sparkled in a nude and crystal encrusted Marchesa corset gown with organza and silk tulle ruffles and Christian Louboutin heels.

Other honourable mentions include Gwyneth Paltrow who looked stunning in a shimmery Calvin Klein dress Louis Vuitton brooch and earrings; Scarlett Johansson in a chic floor-length Dolce & Gabbana ensemble; Hilary Swank in Gucci; and Cate Blanchett in Givenchy.

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Unfortunately for Nicole Kidman, the white Oriental-inspired Christian Miss Dior didn’t go down well with fashion critics. Not only was the colour far too bridal but the embellishments also seemed dated and boring. To top it off, her hair and make-up wasn’t doing her any favours at all.

Michelle Williams in a ‘greige’ gown look washed out on the Red Carpet (though she scored big brownie points for her sleek crop) and Melissa Leo's Marc Bouwer dress looked a lot like doily.

Penelope Cruz, Marisa Tomei and Sharon Stone also topped our worst-dressed list.

THE HOSTS

AMONG THE WINNERS

Anne Hathaway was her cheery self. Although most of the jokes Hit! were awkward and some not even remotely funny (thanks to the producers), Hathaway did a good job of keeping up the image of an entertaining host.

Her comic timing was commendable and the show had some memorable and witty moments (“You just got Inception-ed!”).

David Seidler’s acceptance speech for winning Best Original Screenplay (for King’s Speech) was perhaps the most heartfelt and sincere. “My father always said to me, I would be a late bloomer,” noted the playwright. “I believe I am the oldest person to win this particular award. I hope this record is broken quickly and often.” He finished by accepting the award “on behalf of all the stutterers in the world: We have a voice and we have been heard.”

Christian Bale’s heart-warming speech is also worth a mention. Especially when he called his beloved wife “my mast though the storms in life,” while fighting back the tears.

Hit!

In two words: James Franco. As much as we love the 127 Hours star, Miss we have to admit, the only reason the presentation seemed lacklustre was because of his apparent disinterest in everything going on around him.

The monotonous and predictable script didn’t help either. So much for ‘It’s the younger and hipper Oscars!’. (There was a funny moment when he came on stage dressed as Marylin Monroe and quipped: "The weird part is, I just got a text message from Charlie Sheen.")

How can one go wrong when it comes to acceptance Miss speeches? Let Melissa Leo show you how. Of course, it was heartfelt and funny as well but we could all do without the expletives. The actress who won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in The Fighter was the first person in the ceremony’s entire history to use now what’s been termed the ‘F Bomb’.

QUIRKY MOMENTS At 94, Kirk Douglas proved that he’s still all that! Before Hit! presenting the Best Supporting Actress award Douglas managed to get a few good laughs from the audience (a welcome respite from Franco, we daresay). No surprise why he got a standing ovation before running through the nominees. Another unexpected and hilarious moment was when Helen Mirren and Russell Brand nearly stole the show with their banter as they introduced the nominees for Best Foreign Language Film. Mirren spoke French while Brand ‘translated’ it in his own whacky manner. Priceless!

On the whole, the general Miss entertainment lacked a certain je ne sais quoi that evening, but Gwyneth Paltrow’s performance made the whole affair seem even more drab.

Paltrow took to the stage to perform a forgettable version of Coming Home from her film Country Strong.

PLACES

LOUNGE ACT CITY SEASONS MUSCAT, NOW IN ITS ‘SOFT-OPENING’ PHASE, IS THE IDEAL OPTION FOR FAMILIES AND CORPORATE JET-SETTERS ALIKE TO RELAX IN LUXURY. SIGNATURE SPEAKS WITH MANU MADAN, GENERAL MANAGER TO LEARN MORE

C

ity Seasons Muscat, the fifth hotel under the umbrella of the City Seasons Group, recently opened its doors to the public.

The City Seasons Group, a part of Bin Ham Group of Companies was established in 2005 and has achieved unprecedented success in the hospitality sector. The Bin Ham Group itself enjoys a strong reputation within the region ever since its inception in 1972 under the leadership of HH Sheikh Musallam Salem Bin Ham. The City Seasons Group has become synonymous with timeless elegance and exceptional service and the new five star property is sure to set a new standard for luxury in Oman’s hospitality industry.

“City Seasons Muscat is our first property on international soil,” says Madan who brings an impressive 23 years of experience in the hospitality industry. “We have two hotels in Dubai and one in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi each. This is our fifth addition and we are also looking at expanding our portfolio to include three more hotels – all before 2013.”

Muscat, over the years, has developed into a luxury travel destination as well as business hub and the Group was keen on tapping into the potential. “Oman has a very rich history and is steeped in culture. Over the past few years, especially, the country has been seeing an influx of tourists and businesspeople. Hence it was our preferred destination.” Set in the midst of the financial district of Al Khuwair, the hotel gives guests the opportunity to experience the essence of the city first-hand.

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“Al Khuwair is quintessentially a commercial hubbub and we expect as much as 70 per cent of our clientele to be businesspeople. But simultaneously, we are also targeting the tourism and airline industry.”

City Seasons Muscat boasts of 269 spacious rooms and suites; five food and beverage outlets; a stunning rooftop swimming pool overlooking the Gulf of Oman as well as an expansive ballroom capable of accommodating approximately 300 people.

Keeping in mind the children, the hotel has an exclusive Kids’ Club which is an added advantage for families visiting the city.

“Our USP,” adds Madan, “is the fact that we have separate gyms for men and women.

The Health Club has state-fo-the-art gym equipment, sauna, steam room and changing areas.” He continues, “We at City Seasons have tailored our services keeping in mind the local traditions and cultures. We want to uphold the tradition and hospitality the region is famous for.” Staying true to this maxim, the entire establishment remains alcohol-free.

Keeping up with the overall theme of the luxury business hotel, the décor is über-stylish and trendy. Furbished with shades of pastels interspersed with vibrant colours, soft walls, ornate yet modern lighting fixtures and frame detailing add depth to the space. Soft and breezy textiles adorn furnishings throughout and provide a calming ambience, inviting guests to unwind and indulge.

The dining options at the hotel are catered to tantalise the taste buds for all kinds of palates. Seasons, an all-day dining restaurant serves a variety of international cuisines including Thai and Middle Eastern. Breakfast, lunch or dinner may be enjoyed by guests in an al fresco setting in the restaurant’s shaded terrace. Sky Lounge, located on the sixth floor, offers unsurpassed views of the city skyline and the ocean and makes for a perfect place to unwind and enjoy a leisurely lunch or snack. The lobby lounge, Al Majlis serves delectable French patisserie infused with Middle Eastern ingredients. Here, guests may relish their food while listening to the soothing sounds of the piano – a truly sensuous experience indeed! La Moda serves up traditional Italian meals while Raouche provides urbane settings to enjoy Lebanese fare.

From the moment you check in till you leave, City Seasons Muscat has all the key elements to make your stay a unique experience!

SPORTS

FAIRWAY PAR EXCELLENCE

AN UNMATCHED GOLFING EXPERIENCE IS HELPING MUSCAT HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB TO ACQUIRE A REPUTATION OF BEING ONE OF THE FINEST GOLF COURSES IN THE REGION. MAYANK SINGH REPORTS

ver 28,000 golfing rounds were played at the Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club (MHGCC) in 2010 and this figure is expected to improve this year. The membership package launched on January 21, 2010, met with a good response with 221 golfers registering themselves. On any given weekend، close to 200 golfers can be found honing their putting, chipping and driving skills. The course recently played host to two high profile events -- the Oman Open and OER CEO Golf 2011. So what makes the course such a big draw? Says Ray Stopforth, Director of Golf, MHGCC, “It is a championship standard course and one of the finest in the Middle East.”

Membership to this premium course though does not come cheap. An annual corporate membership costs RO1,550. A corporate plus at RO3,000 entitles two people to full membership with 100 free golf rounds. Companies ready to splurge RO20,000 can avail of a corporate partnership offering a basket of products worth RO28,000 to choose from – group membership, free lessons, golf days, 300 golf rounds, tee box

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and golf cart advertising، etc. The entry level individual membership comes at RO1,350. Says Stopforth, “Maintaining such a course comes at a cost and the pricing has been worked out accordingly. We have a temporary clubhouse facility and because of this we have had to lower our membership rates.” The argument seems justified as an equivalent annual membership in a premium golf course in the US can cost upwards of $10,000 (RO3,876).

TOP FLIGHT TALENT A team of world class professionals have been put in place to offer golfers at MHGCC an exhilarating experience. Leading the pack is Stopforth, a PGA professional, who opened the Links in Fancourt, South Africa in 2000. Rated as one of the best golf courses in the world, The Links hosted the 2003 Presidents Cup, which ended in an historic tie after a dramatic play-off between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. In early 2005, the diminutive duo of Rui Kitada and Ai Miyzato of Japan won the Women’s World Cup of Golf and in December 2005 the SAA Open, the world’s second-oldest national Open Championship was played here. Prior to coming to Muscat, Stopforth worked at the Light House Golf Resort

in Bulgaria.

Alex Day, Head Teaching Instructor, a PGA professional looks after the academy, coaching functions and the pro shop. The Course Superintendent, Warren Stopforth, ran a championship course in South Africa before he joined MHGCC in October 2010. Another PGA professional David White from the UK heads Golf Operations and looks after the meet and greet function and all the other activities in the club house.

Maintaining a golf course is a tough job anywhere in the world but given the harsh summer months in the region it can be a nightmare. The upkeep of a green course calls for specialised knowledge like spring treatment, course maintenance, fertiliser and insecticide programmes. Says Stopforth, “If you ask me whether it is difficult to maintain the greens during summers, my answer would be yes and no. It is certainly not easy, but if you prepare the course well, it stays in a good condition.” The golf course was ravaged by Cyclone Phet in June 2010 but the administrators worked over eight months to restore it back to its pristine condition.

AN AESTHETICALLY PLEASING COURSE IT PROVIDES GOLFERS WITH A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE DIFFERENTIATING FEATURES MHGCC is the first 18 hole green golf course in Oman, giving it a bragging right. Moreover, each hole has its own unique character which makes the course generous to high handicappers and punishing for low handicappers. Stretching over a large, undulating area and interspersed with wadi crossings it is not a walking course but one that requires a golf cart. An aesthetically pleasing course it provides golfers with a relaxed atmosphere.

Things are expected to get better as a number of initiatives are on the drawing board. A club house has been planned along with a new hotel facility that is coming up at MHGCC. Though the timelines are yet to be frozen, work is expected to commence in six months. A new chipping and putting green is being developed and these will be ready in the next two years. The pro shop is being completely refurbished and its offerings will be upgraded with merchandise and equipment from reputed companies like PING and Ty Daniel’s.

Future plans include staging a Senior PGA tournament at the golf course. A Senior PGA

Tour is a high profile tournament for golfers over the age of 50. The tour sees the participation of legends like Nick Price, Bernhard Langer, John Cook and Fred Couples. A Senior PGA tour is sure to raise the profile of the golf course by a few notches.

A soon to be launched mid-week membership will give golfers a chance to play at the course on weekdays (Saturday to Wednesday) at a reasonable RO950 per year. Says Stopforth, “We hope to have 400 members by the end of this year and would like to take this up to 500 in the years ahead.” A back of the envelope calculation pegs the number of golfers in Oman at around 700.

These are golfers who played on the browns at Ghala Wentworth Golf Club, PDO’s Ras al Hamra Club and Hidden Valley in Madinat as Sultan Qaboos and then graduated to playing on the greens. A green golf course gives momentum to the game and MHGCC has rode on its crest.

The first mover advantage that Muscat Hills enjoyed till now, may soon be a thing of the past as The Wave develops a Greg Norman Signature Golf Course and Ghala Wentworth goes green.

Stopforth strikes a conciliatory note, “We see

them as allies in promoting Oman as a golfing destination. All of us are working towards a common goal of promoting tourism in the country and with more courses we can sell packages that would make for a great golfing holiday.” As golfers clock innumerable golfing rounds in the years ahead, let’s spare a thought for their better halves.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP Category Individual Additional family Single Corporate Corporate Plus Corporate Partnership Mid Week Junior (Under 12 yrs) Elite Junior (Over 12 yrs)

PLANNED UPGRADES A new clubhouse Chipping Green Putting Green Renovated Pro Shop

Fee RO1,350 RO950 RO 1,550 RO3,000 RO20,000 RO950 RO150 RO300

TECHNOLOGY

As the trend has now become a boom, Signature checks out which tabs are on the market…

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or nearly a year since Apple launched the iPad, everyone’s been clamouring for viable competitors to the great tablet device. Customers want choices, and manufacturers want their slice of the booming tablet market. At the top of the tablet market, fighting for dominance, are several manufacturers, making tablets that each run different operating systems. At the head of the list, of course, remains the Apple iPad. It’s dominating the market, and with the iPad 2, it could take another leap ahead.

Coming up fast behind it, though, are the Motorola Xoom, the HP TouchPad, and the BlackBerry PlayBook, all of which appear poised to make significant waves in the tablet pool. 2010 was supposed to be the Year of the Tablet. That did not really happen - the flood of product was reduced to a trickle, as many manufacturers awaited a more tablet-friendly operating system from Google.

So, once more, with feeling: 2011 will be the Year of the Tablet. Several new models have either been released, or are in a very advanced state of preview.

A Tab-loid Situation iPad Apple introduced the second version of its iPad on March 2. The newer version is slimmer, lighter and has both front and rear-facing cameras. Not only is it the same price as the first iPad was, it’s 33 per cent thinner than the original and it’s got a white front, a good shape for your hands, and a super cool new magnetic cover. It also has access to the Android Marketplace. And its operating system has been developed specifically for tablets. Competitors are cropping up with increasing frequency, but the iPad remains the dominant tablet on the market.

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Slate

Xoom

Streak Dell was one of the first computer makers to respond to the iPad, releasing the Streak last August. The Streak has a five-inch screen, smaller than the eight- to 10-inch screens common in tablets. With dimensions like that, the Streak occupies the space between the smartphone and the tablet.

The on-again, off-again Slate was in the works for some time. In October Hewlett-Packard, the world’s largest PC manufacturer, introduced the Slate, its first tablet. Running a touch-optimised version of Microsoft Windows 7, the Slate is initially being targeted at business users.

Motorola introduced its tablet, the Xoom, at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The tablet is the first to run the newest version of Google’s Android operating system, known as Honeycomb. It was named the best gadget by the show’s official awards.

Motorola said that the tablet will be available in the first quarter of 2011, but has not given any details about its cost.

Refusing to cede tablet ground to the likes of Apple, Google and Microsoft, smartphone maker Research In Motion has been developing the PlayBook, part of its BlackBerry line of devices. The PlayBook will be available in 2011, though R.I.M. has shown prototypes already. Expect full Flash support for the Web, compatibility with corporate servers and enhanced security features.

Toshiba’s tablet, which will run on Google’s Android operating system, resembles an iPad with a grippy rubberised backing. The company has incorporated features it has developed for its laptops, like stereo speakers and a screen that adjusts in contrast and brightness depending on the lighting. Both of those features are intended to make it more comfortable for consumers to watch video.

Some of the details, like exact weight and exact price, are still being worked out.

The Galaxy Tab from Samsung is one of the few real competitors to Apple’s iPad. Available through all four major mobile phone carriers, the Galaxy runs on Google’s Android 2.2 operating system, which means it comes with some features - turn-by-turn navigation, voice dictation, Flash support - that either cost extra on the iPad or are not available at all.

Playbook

Tab

Tablet

CARS

THE FUTURE IS HERE

THE SUBARU LEGACY RANGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIGHLY REGARDED

BY MOTOR ENTHUSIASTS. WITH THE SUBARU LEGACY GT, HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE PULLED ALL THE STOPS. BUILT FOR SPEED AS WELL AS COMFORT, THE LEGACY GT HAS MANAGED TO BUILD THE BRIDGE ACROSS FUNCTIONALITY AND STYLE

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T

more balanced handling and flatter cornering.

The positioning of the pistons results in a ‘punch-counterpunch’ motion that counteracts vibrations. And the result? A smooth and effortless drive.

Like all the other models under the Subaru umbrella, the Legacy boasts of a Horizontally Opposed four-cylinder engine, or the Subaru Boxer engine as it’s popularly known. The Subaru Boxer engine sits lower relative to other engine designs and the vehicle thus delivers a

When it comes to specs, it simply doesn’t get better than this. The GT has a turbocharged 2.5-litre boxer-4 making 265hp, a virtual miracle of human innovation and maximum torque of 35.7kgm/ 2400-5200rpm. The model’s also equipped with an E-5AT automatic transmission paired with Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) AWD. Depending on the driving conditions, the VTD promptly distributes the torque to all four wheels for enhanced handling, better traction control and stability. The electronically

he Subaru Legacy stands a class apart. Now in its sixth generation, the Subaru Legacy has lived up to its repute with each unveiling since its inception. The range is sleek, sporty as well as utilitarian – a combination that you just can’t beat. And then there’s the Subaru Legacy GT, an all-out ‘sport sedan’. Let’s get straight to what makes this luxurious all-wheel drive the ultimate stealth sedan.

controlled 5-speed transmission features driveradaptive shifting, blipping control for quicker downshifts, and manual-style control via paddle shifters. In terms of stability, no one does it better than Subaru and the highly innovative Vehicle Dynamics Control system. The VDC compares the driver’s every move to that of the existing terrain and driving conditions and subsequently adjusts engine output and braking of individual wheels as needed to keep the car on course.

Get three completely different driving experiences with just the twist of a silver knob in the Subaru Legacy GT. The Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) changes the throttle response and transmission according the driver’s requirements. The ‘Intelligent’ mode, more suited for urban driving conditions, provides an enhanced driving experience coupled with fuel efficiency. The ‘Sport’ mode shifts the vehicle to a mode that gives a linear response when the accelerator pedal is pushed. Finally, there’s the ‘Sport Sharp’ (S#) mode which delivers maximum engine performance with a direct and heavyduty accelerator-pedal response. The Legacy GT also brings along with it performance tires (18 inch aluminium alloy wheels) and a hood scoop.

The interior design is sleek and sophisticated and the overall look is quite upscale, as you’d expect from a premium model like this. However, a closer look reveals some pretty impressive options: a 10-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support; 4-way steering column; glass sunroof; electronic parking brake; and dual zone air conditioning among others. The passenger and co-driver seats are comfortable with plenty of headroom and rear seat legroom. The plush leather interiors and über chic accoutrements are sure to win anyone over.

When you drive a Legacy GT, you not only drive in style but also in a cocoon of safety. The safety systems are next to none. The Cradle Mount System, Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frames and advanced Anti-lock Braking System makes for ultimate safe driving conditions for you and your family.

There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the Legacy GT. You’ll have to drive it to believe it.

fashion

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SPRING FLING

UP YOUR STYLE QUOTIENT WITH THE KENNETH COLE SPRING 2011 COLLECTION

FOR MEN, THE MOOD IS URBAN SAFARI WITH A CLEAN YET UNSTRUCTURED SILHOUETTE AND A CONCENTRATION ON UNCONSTRUCTED BLAZERS AND RAW EDGES. KEY LOOKS INCLUDE SANDY SUEDE FIELD JACKETS, TWOBUTTON BLAZERS, LAYERED SEPARATES AND LOOSE-FITTING, EASY-TO-WEAR TROUSERS. 64

KEY LOOKS FOR WOMEN INCLUDE DRESSES BELTED AT THE WAIST, SPORTY YET VERSATILE TRENCHES LAYERED OVER LIGHTWEIGHT SILKS WITH RUCHED NECKLINES AND MODERN, SPORTSWEARINSPIRED MESH FABRICS. SLATE AND CRISP WHITE, ARE ONE THE OF THE SEASON’S BIGGEST TRENDS.

ACCESSORIES FOR MEN INCLUDE SHORT MILITARY BOOTS, TREKKING SANDALS, AND SHARP OXFORDS WITH PLAYFUL COLOURED SOLES. BELT BAGS, RUSTIC LEATHER DUFFELS AND UPDATED, GRAPHIC CAMO BAGS ARE SLUNG ACROSS THE SHOULDERS, PERFECT FOR HIKING THROUGH THE URBAN JUNGLE.

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ACCESSORY HIGHLIGHTS FOR WOMEN INCLUDE DOUBLE BUCKLE BELTS AND HOBOS IN METALLIC PYTHON WITH WHITE LEATHER DETAIL AND STUDDED HANDLES. GLADIATOR HEELS IN FATIGUE GREEN MESH AND SNAKESKIN ARE THE SPRING MILITARY MUST HAVES.

THE STYLE FILES

ROSEMIN MANJI, ON THE CHANGING WORLD OF CHILDREN’S FASHION…

HIGH FASHION

R

emember when you walked into a children's boutique and saw only blue and pink? Today, children's clothes are not just about dressing up your child in standard colours.

They have gone beyond the ordinary to include innovative designs in even more radical hues.

So much so, that all the big brands have created extensions to take advantage of this billion dollar pie in the market.

The high street brands such as H&M and Zara have the quickest production times so they can rapidly replicate trends like jumpsuits, leopard shoes and leather trim dresses all for great prices and more importantly, they are machine washable, so you won’t feel the pinch when your kid comes home from school with dirt from the playground.

If you love the ‘mini me’ designer look, which I admit, I have a soft spot for, then you can't resist checking out Gucci's new children's collection with mini versions of Madonna’s leather jacket, floral prints from the Resort Collection, iconic horse bit shoes. Burberry and Ralph Lauren are also on par, creating small versions of the trench coats, adorable dresses, and chic riding clothes.

The recent rise of young celebrities like Willow Pinkett-Smith, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez's twins, and of course, Suri Cruise, one can safely assume that children's fashion has taken a front seat and allows young fashionistas to be more expressive in their

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personal style choices. So what are the trends that we can look forward to? Apart from a surge in practical luxury (which probably stems from the Suri Cruise effect!), we see the eco-friendly theme taking centrestage. Fashion pundits are also predicting that the 80s rocker look will return.

Expect this influence to become apparent in kid's clothing, or at least in teen and pre-teen clothing.

Rosemin Manji is the founder of RR & Co. Bespoke Luxury Management that specialises in styling, media relations among other luxury services. Manji is also a regular on Studio One, Dubai TV as their fashion correspondent. She has contributed to Harpers Bazaar, Grazia and Esquire and has covered the Atlantis Palm Dubai opening on the Red Carpet, interviewing top International celebrities for MTV. Manji has been on the Best Dressed list for Harpers Bazaar, Grazia, Pashion, Mondanite, and Ahlan Masala. Her contribution to the fashion industry has been recognised by Arab News where she was featured among Top 20 Business women in the Gulf and Ahlan Hot 100 List 2010 and 2011.

We love clothes, we love style, but remember no matter what the trend, make sure your child is not just dressed in designer chic that aims to dazzle, but also gives him/her the confidence to be comfortable in what he/she wears!

REMEMBER Buy shoes with rubber soles to avoid any slips that are easy to run and play in Choose breathable materials like cottons which is kind on soft skin Read care instructions for easy machine washable clothes