The Source Magazine - Issue 20 - English

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The

Source

Issue 20 - 19 July 2012

Ramadan Kareem Impress your guests with

Ramadan Recipes

FRUITASTIC

FACIALS A chat with award winning director

Nayla Al Khaja

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Wishing you a peaceful and blessed Ramadan w w w. t h e s o u r c e u a e . c o m


The

Source

Contents 9

8

INBOX

9

NEWS

This page is all about you! Send us your poems, pictures or letters and see them published here.

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This week’s local and national news headlines

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SPORTS

12

FEATURE

15

STUFF

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AL MAJLIS

world

All the latest from the sporting

A simple guide to the holy month of Ramadan for men

The new rules for gentlemen in the 21st Century Award winning movie director Nayla Al Khaja chats with us about her ambitions, dreams and the budding Emirates film industry

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EDUCATION

20

URBAN WOMAN

We started our language learning tips last week; this week we have the final five steps in helping you get fluent In need of a facial? Get into the kitchen, pull out the fruit bowl and whip up some of our delightfully fruity facemasks

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21

DIARY

22

RECIPES

What do you have planned for the next week or so? Take a look at our diary for the latest happenings around town

home

Delicious recipes for you to try at

23 BUSINESS Be prepared proofing’ your business

by

24

Lifestyle

25

MY EMIRATE

26

MY WORLD

‘recession-

Happiness is something we all need in our lives. Our article gives you some pointers on how to get happy and stay happy The Dhow Harbor in Abu Dhabi is the place to go to indulge your nautical side, sailor hats optional! Bob takes us on a trip to Japan, where he spent his time bathing, sleeping and eating like a king

AT THE MOVIES GAMES


Letter from the Editor

The

As I was driving to Bawadi Mall the other night, I noticed the twinkling fairy lights, delicately wrapped around the palm trees by the side of the road and the glittering crescents and lanterns dancing along its length. Ramadan decorations are popping up everywhere and giving the city a truly magical feel. We’re still not quite sure what day Ramadan will start on, we have to wait for the moon-sighting committee to do their job first of all but, either way, it will commence sometime this week. You can expect the streets to be fairly deserted during the day, the supermarkets to be jam-packed every evening and a real feeling of festivity as people come together in the evenings to break their fast and enjoy Iftar with family and friends. When I first came to the UAE five years ago, I was completely amazed at the discipline and strength demonstrated by those fasting during Ramadan and, to be honest, I still am. To be able to fast all day, in this sizzling weather and yet still attend work and function normally is pretty amazing. This year, I’m going to try fasting for a few days, just to get into the spirit of the month and sympathize a little with what my Muslim co-workers are feeling. This also means I’ll feel justified in attending one of the many delicious Iftars happening throughout the city. Our feature this week could really only be about Ramadan, and we’ve tried to give you the lowdown on what it’s all about, in a simple, easy-to-read manner. In Al Majlis we meet the first female Emirati director, Nayla Al Khaja who talks about the changing face of the Emirates movie industry. Urban Woman has some great fruit-based facial remedies for you to try in the comfort of your own home while our lifestyle article encourages you to be happy, slow down and count your blessings. In Stuff for Men we have a few guidelines for living like a 21st century gentleman while, in My World, we take a watery trip to Japan to bathe in some ancient hot springs. Our new Inbox page has all of your letters, questions and photographs as well as our weekly environmental tips. Don’t hesitate to write to us if you want to see your letter in print. Happy reading and Ramadan Kareem!

Source

Managing Director Mona Hennawi Editor In Chief Mahra Saeed Al Muhairi Editor Hayley Skirka Associate Editor Khudayja Saloojee Junior Writer Mehak Alam Senior Graphic Designer Ghulmiyyah Ghulmiyyah Graphic Designer Sikkandar Sharpudeen Arabic Editor Sami Rashid Associate Arabic Editor/Translator Hanadi Jamil Senior Translator Narmeen Al Assad Finance & Administration Manager Haneen Farid Sales & Advertising Joe Mathew Photographer Mohsin Salim Distribution Manager Mohammed Saqer Contributors Tony Patterson, Bob Studholme

Hayley Skirka

To Contact Us +971 3 7668111 info@thesourceuae.com www.thesourceuae.com

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No part of this publication or content, thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of The Source Magazine, published by Smart Design Publishing, in writing. The Source Magazine and Smart Design Publishing accept no responsibility, however caused, for errors or omissions contained in this publication. Any articles and/or images included in this publication and/or views and opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of The Source Magazine and Smart Design Publishing, and any of its affiliates, but remain solely those of the author(s). Such publications have been included for general reference and the purpose of fair review. Copyright © 2011 by The Source and Smart Design Publishing, and its affiliates. All rights reserved.

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Inbox star

lette

to you! Greetings

r

ad, learn ance to re recent ch e th t o I g st Now that h the mo dated wit s here in Al Ain p u e b d an ening that T he and happ or mation activities f in l ra e n ith us… ge sharing w PLUS the is e in z a g u a nk yo ! Source M onally tha rs e p I , With this me g some ti for takin he u T o y h k is n a ally w Again, th er and I re , and may tt le is th to read good luck nd agazine t ideas a Source M read grea p s od G ly s u . o u rs you contin to all your reade s good new ore Power!!! M bless and in roca, Al A tillore Sar s E n ly e v E

Ask The Source! Is there anywhere in Al Ain where we can find some good books to read?

I find the weekly Al Majlis feat interesting ure really and inspir ing! It’s grea the local ta t lent promot ed and to he to see individual p ar about assions an d success. lessons ar T e a nice touch to un he life that values derstand have helped their journe each perso y. n on

Sarah Youn g, Dubai

Besides the renowned Zayed Library in Al Ain, some community and public libraries have opened recently. Al Ain Community Library Located in Al Ain English Speaking School Opening Hours: Friday: 11am - 1pm, Sunday: 2 - 4pm, Fees: AED 150 per family Contact Ms. Asa at asalives@hotmail.com

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you tweeted it “Good topics, nice cover, elegant design @TheSourceUAE: keep the good work going”

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Located in Al Ain Cooperative Society - Al Bateen on the First Floor Opening Hours: Sun - Thurs: 10am - 1pm, 4 - 8pm and Saturday: 1 - 6pm Call 050 533 8734

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Environment

Six Energy Saving Tips Save energy by following these helpful tips from The Dubai Department of Water & Electricity:

in Vegetable

hino, Al A Midori Yos

Souq

PRAYERTIMES Day

Fajr

Sunrise

Dhuhr

Asr

Maghrib

Isha

Thursday

4:08

5:36

12:23

3:45

7:09

8:39

Friday

4:09

5:37

12:23

3:45

7:09

8:39

Saturday

4:10

5:37

12:23

3:45

7:08

8:38

Sunday

4:10

5:38

12:23

3:45

7:08

8:38

Monday

4:11

5:38

12:24

3:46

7:08

8:38

Tuesday

4:11

5:39

12:24

3:46

7:08

8:38

Wednesday

4:12

5:39

12:24

3:46

7:07

8:37

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When Cooking... • Zap it! Use your microwave instead of your regular oven. • Roasting Hot! When baking or roasting food, cook more than one item in your oven at a time. • Turn it Down Low! Use the lowest heat when steaming or boiling and use smaller amounts of water for cooking. • Keep it Short! When baking, preheat oven for only 5-8 minutes and don’t preheat for broiling or roasting. In General... • Use hoses sparingly when washing your car. Alternate between a bucket of soapy water and the hose, using a nozzle to stop the flow of water from the hose between rinses. Did you know…? That an average size pool left uncovered can lose as much as 3800 liters per month? Ensure that your spa or pool is covered when not in use.


NEWS

Ramadan on your Blackberry

New Management for Al Ain Hospital Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) will take over management of Al Ain Hospital on August 31st after they decided not to renew the currently outsourced management contract.

rry Blackbe les that ve a b h u o n tr o ti all the In Mo h to rc a n e e s Despite e Re y are k cturer’s tly, the of Ramadan n e Manufa c re nth aving ious mo lackberry App been h the relig B in to r n e o h brand et us ivity. G ands on some ding it s o p h lu c r with u in o get y apps anizers world to adan related rg o r e y am , pra new R r times , praye guides. d o themes fo d an

At present, and for the past five years, VAMED Engineering and the Medical University of Vienna manage resources at the hospital and there has been distinct progress made. Yet, after careful consideration, Seha have now decided to

take full responsibility for the hospital. Carl Stanifer, CEO of Seha Corporate announced, “Our goal is to create a worldclass integrated healthcare system. At this stage, we are reassessing the system of hospital management that relies on our international partners. Both VAMED and MUV have been steadfast partners of Seha since 2007 and we thank them for their support.”

10th Hunting & Equestrian

Exhibition

Announced

Top Honor For

Sheikha Fatima The 10th Edition of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX 2012) will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center from 5-8 September. ADIHEX 2012 is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and President of the Emirates Falconers’ Club. The exhibition is a popular regional and international event, showcasing artistic, heritage and environmental elements. Major deals and large contracts and sales are also sealed at the exhibition. Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Director of ADIHEX 2012, emphasized the rare opportunity that the exhibition presents at both regional and international levels to promote sustainable hunting and create a platform at which advocates of environmental conservation, hunting enthusiasts, poets and artists can exhibit. He further announced that the event will include competitions with prizes and reqards valued at over AED 500,000.

The World Family Organization (WFO) awarded HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of General Women’s Union and Family Development Foundation, with the 2012 World Family Award at a ceremony organized by the United Nations at its New York Headquarters last week. The award was received by Nora Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Women’s Union on behalf of HH Sheikha Fatima. Ms. Al Suwaidi also presented the ‘Abu Dhabi Declaration’, the outcome of the 7th Summit of the World Family Organization held in Abu Dhabi last year. The Abu Dhabi Declaration recognizes the importance of productive employment, decent work opportunities and protection for all family members. Ms. Al Suwaidi explained that the Declaration “is the outcome of discussion and reflection of 76 countries representing all five continents, governments, and civil society during the 7th Summit of the World Family Organization on how to approach those issues and how to deal with the present economic and financial challenges.”

HH Sheikha Fatima’s prestigious award was granted at the UN’s New York headquarters

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NEWS

Emirates First “Eco-Friendly”

Mosque

The Middle East’s first eco-friendly mosque will open in Dubai by the end of 2013. Situated near Al Rowad Village in Deira, and costing around AED 25 million, the 45000 square foot project will be the biggest in Dubai and will reduce energy and water consumption of a standard mosque of that size by up to 19 per-cent. Tayeb Abdul Rahman Al Rais, Secretary General at the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation suggested, “This will become the standard for all the mosques in the future. It should blend in with the environment; it will be very low maintenance.” The mosque will accommodate around 3500 worshippers and is set to be extremely energy sufficient. Gardens on the roof will act as insulation and solar panels will heat water for both ablution and the Imam’s home. The latest technologies will be installed to curb wastage in air conditioning and air purity systems and eco-friendly products will be used in its construction. Furthermore, the mosque will recycle plants to treat water used for gardening, washrooms and ablution purposes.

Yousuf Estes named Islamic Personality of 2012

Yousuf Estes has been named the Islamic Personality of the year by the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA). A press conference held last week saw Ebrahim Bu Melha, Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs and Chairman of the organizing committee, announce that Estes had been chosen for his dedication to Islam and his work in shedding light on the life of Muslims worldwide. Preacher Estes is originally from Texas, where he was born in 1944. He converted to Islam in 1991 and, since then, has been highly proactive in spreading the message of Islam worldwide. He is famed for his creation of an Audio CD, entitled ‘Daddy, Tell me about God’ which focuses on a young girl and her father having a conversation about the teachings of Islam. 10

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Exhibition To Capture

Earth’s Future Eco Future, a year-long expo aimed at preserving our ever-changing planet, will kick off on September 27 at Saadiyat Island, in Abu Dhabi. Held under the direction of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the exhibition will revolve around the sustainability of the earth and consist of six different sections, full of interactive activities where visitors can learn about a variety of topics including healthy living, environmental issues and climate change. His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General at TCA Abu Dhabi

pronounced, “Eco Future is inspired by the future plans and projects of Abu Dhabi, some of which are already under way. Just as the decisions made by people now impact the future of the capital, visitors will learn how different choices based on our priorities can have major effects on tomorrow’s world.” Four colorful characters, namely Moza, Sari, Ali and Yas, will guide visitors through the exhibits, popping up to entertain and keep everyone engaged and having fun. The expo aims to educate youngsters on the importance of working now for a sustainable future and hopes to do so in a fun-filled, exciting manner.

Satellite Dishes

Scrapped in the Capital

In order to improve the overall appearance of the UAE’s capital city, the Abu Dhabi Municipality are urging landlords, tenants and occupants to remove satellite television dishes from roof tops of residential and commercial buildings, villas and apartments across the city. According to the plan, property owners will be allowed to install a maximum of four satellite dishes on any property so long as they remain away from the edges

of the roof and have no cables hanging down walls or over balconies. No satellite dishes will be installed on the balconies of residential flats or villas to reduce the dangers and ill aesthetics of haphazard wiring. Companies engaged in the installation and maintenance of satellite dishes have been informed of the new rule which is part of the Municipality’s Buildings Improvement Plan for the city.


SPORTS

Abu Dhabi

to host Corporate Games Abu Dhabi’s 2012 Corporate Games will take place from November 21 to 24 this year at venues across the emirate including Zayed Sports City, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Al Forsan International Sports Resort. The championship aims to encourage amateur athletes to participate in sports like volleyball, basketball and soccer, and is supported by HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the sports patron, Subait Khater, UAE national soccer team captain. For its inaugural session in Abu Dhabi, the event will have a separate women’s only schedule, which will run parallel to the main event. CEO of the Corporate Games explained, “Sensitive to local and regional culture, and with a wish to encourage as many amateur female athletes to take part in ‘The Games’, we have arranged for certain sports to have a parallel women-only event schedule for those women or girls who may wish to compete, yet might feel due to cultural norms they can only do so in a female-only environment.” The games are open to athletes of different sports and from all parts of the country. The organizers have collaborated with Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy and the Women’s Sport Department of Sharjah Ladies Club to help facilitate the event and ensure its success.

First Ever Arab Cup for

Morocco

Morocco’s football stars celebrated last week after being crowned the winners of the Arab Nations Cup for the first time. The final of the cup, which is in its 9th year, saw Morocco take on Libya in the Saudi city of Jeddah. It was a close game and the score was level as the referee blew the final whistle. Morocco triumphed in penalty kicks to win 3-1 and take first place. Libya proudly took second place after their impressive performance and Iraq took the third and final podium spot with their 1-0 victory over hosts Saudi Arabia. The UAE had previously withdrawn from the cup due to insufficient players and a lack of preparation time.

Ma’Assalama

Maradona

Diego Maradona’s time in the Emirates has officially come to an end, after being fired from his coaching position with Dubai based team Al Wasl. The former Argentinean football star signed a two-year deal with the UAE club in May 2011. The team finished eighth in the 12 team Etisalat pro-league, a hugely disappointing result after the signing of such a well-known name. The final defeat of the year came in June when Al Wasl, despite having a two goal lead, lost to Bahrain’s Al Muharraq on penalties. Shortly after, the club’s board of directors resigned leaving Maradona in a vulnerable position. The decision to terminate his contract came on July 10th with the club confirming that they were now on the hunt for a coach who could take the team in a different direction.

Triathlon Pair

Seal Stateside Medals Abu Dhabi’s Triathlon Team was celebrating two podium finishes in the latest Ironman contests held in the USA. Australia’s Paul Ambrose took the gold medal at the contest in Providence, Rhode Island while Britain’s Jodie Swallow grabbed the silver in Muncie, Indiana. Ambrose, 27, is celebrating his second win of the season after taking the title in his home country in May. His triumph came after another of his epic bike splits, which have been common throughout his efforts this season. The scenic bike ride took place around Blackstone River Bikeway and Ambrose seized the moment to build a ten minute lead over nearest challenger Maxim Kriat. His win comes after two silvers in Kansas and Syracuse respectively.

York. Despite a last minute change of plan, after severe heat forced organizers to shorten the length of the event, Swallow kept her form to emerge from the swim in first place, but fell behind during the cycling and cross country running sections. She managed to fight back hard to grab a coveted second place on the podium.

Paul Ambrose celebrates his Rhode Island win

Meanwhile in Indiana, Swallow, 31, was looking to maintain her own blistering summer form after having already grabbed a win in Idaho and silver in upstate New

September 20th:

A date for your diary for all rugby fans Registration is now open for the Emirates Airlines Rugby Long Lunch, the popular annual event which brings together rugby enthusiasts and players.

Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall will take to the stage to provide their unique insights and anecdotes on the sport to around 700 guests.

The event is set to take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai Festival City on September 20th 2012. Former British rugby star Martin Bayfield and New

If you have a passion for rugby and want to be there, then register now at www. dubairugby7s.com. A table of 10 costs AED 5500. thesourceuae.com

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FEATURE

An overview of the auspicious month of Ramadan By Khudayja Saloojee

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint, (Fasting) for a fixed number of days.”

T

The Qur’an, Chapter 2 Verse 183

his week, we will be blessed with another holy month of Ramadan! Muslims all over the world are rigorously preparing to receive one of the most blessed and revered months of the Islamic calendar year. During this auspicious time, you’ll notice that mosques around the world are fuller than normal and that devotees pay even greater attention to their Islamic obligations.

So, what is Ramadan?

The word “Ramadan” comes from the Arabic root word for “parched thirst” and “sun-baked ground”. It is expressive of the hunger and thirst felt by those who fast during this blessed month. Ramadan, by nature, is a time to sacrifice. Fasting is one of the five compulsory acts of Islam. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and considered to be 12

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the most significant and sacred month in Islam. It’s believed that in 610 AD, during the month of Ramadan, God revealed the first verses of the Holy Qur’an to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). The beginning of Ramadan is based on the sighting of the crescent of the new lunar moon. Because the Islamic lunar calendar is roughly 11 days shorter than the international solar calendar, the beginning of Ramadan moves every year. It lasts for 29 or 30 days, depending on when the new moon is sighted. The last 10 days of Ramadan are considered particularly blessed nights and, even more so, the 27th night which is known as “Laylatul Qadr” or “Night of Power”. Muslims believe that it was on this night that the Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). A heightened spiritual intensity is evident on this night and, in these last few days; worshippers will spend long periods of the night praying and reciting the Qur’an.


FEATURE Significance of Ramadan

Ramadan is much more than just abstaining from eating and drinking. The objective of fasting is more spiritual than physical. It’s a means of devotion to God, a period of self-reflection, generosity, sacrifice and spiritual development as well as selfdiscipline. Fasting purifies and trains the body and soul together to carry out the orders of God.

Who should fast?

It is obligatory for all adult and pubescent Muslims of sound mind to fast. Exemptions • children, although it’s an obligation on the parents or guardians of a 7-year-old to order them to fast if the child’s body can withstand that fasting • a person not of sound mind • a person who can’t tolerate fasting either due to old age or severe illness • menstruating women or a woman who is in postpartum bleeding • pregnant and breastfeeding women • people who are travelling long distances

During the day, fasting Muslims are constantly being bombarded by messages from their churning stomachs. It helps them to experience what the less fortunate endure on a daily basis and it creates a sense of equality between the rich and poor. It makes them appreciate and thank God for his bounty and not to take for granted their good fortune. Muslims are encouraged to show generosity and good-will towards others. The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) wisely said “A man’s wealth is never diminished by charity.” Good manners, good speech and good habits are also encouraged. The changes made during this holy month also help people to adopt healthier lifestyles, especially when it comes to smoking or poor diets. There are countless family and community gatherings which also helps to strengthen the bond between brotherhood and sisterhood and promote an overall stronger community spirit. Fasting is not supposed to cause undue hardship on any person. It is designed to divert the mind towards righteousness through a process of self-denial. The true goal and test of Ramadan is to continue to show compassion, humility, devotion and selfrestraint throughout the year.

Health benefits of fasting • • • • •

regulate weight purify skin allergy reduction improved digestion respite from respiratory afflictions

What does fasting entail?

The Arabic word for fasting is ‘sawm’ which literally means ‘to refrain’. During this sacred month, every adult Muslim will refrain from eating, drinking and sex from dawn to dusk. A typical day of fasting begins early, with families getting up as early as 3am to share in a meal called ‘Suhoor’ before the fast begins. As dawn breaks, the first prayer or Al Fajr is performed and the fasting begins. As the day proceeds, fasting Muslims will continue to offer second and third prayers. The fast is broken at sunset when people hear the Call of Prayer or ‘Adhan’. It is traditional to break the fast with dates, recommended by the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) as they are a high source of protein. Muslims are encouraged to invite others to break the fast with them. These gatherings are called ‘Iftar’ parties. Just after breaking the fast, Muslims offer the fourth of the five daily prayers, which is called ‘Maghrib’. After dinner, Muslims go to the mosque to offer the fifth prayer, which is ‘Isha’. The day ends with a special voluntary prayer, the ‘Taraweeh’, prayed in a congregation reciting from The Holy Quran. Ideally all five prayers should be offered in congregation at the mosque. thesourceuae.com

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STUFF for men By Hayley Skirka

How To... become a 21st Century Gentleman Chivalry hasn’t disappeared but it’s hardly thriving. Follow the new rules for living like a civilized man…

Personal Hygiene

Good hygiene is an absolute must! Make sure you groom regularly, don’t overload on the deodorant and choose a signature cologne that you feel comfortable wearing, but don’t overload on it.

Dress Up

Pay attention to what you wear, make sure your clothes fit well and aren’t too flashy. If you want to stand out from the next guy, the answer lies in the detail. Add a pocket handkerchief, simple gold or silver cufflinks or some news-anchor sophistication by tying your tie with a pronounced dimple in the middle.

Be Polite

Be aware of your manners, hold the door open, give someone a smile or offer to help carry bags to the car.

Watch Your Mouth

Quite simply, don’t swear. Ever!

Be Courteous

Women like respect and while there’s no need to put every girl on a pedestal, trust me, they’ll really appreciate little favors here and there. Simple things like giving up your seat or opening the car door for her will go a long way to enhancing your gentlemanly reputation.

Surprise Her

Show up with some flowers or a card, not just on Valentine’s Day but spontaneously. It doesn’t need to be expensive or showy; the effort alone will keep her happy for days.

Be Cautious - to an extent

Keep in mind that the world is a little bit more threatening for women than it is for men. In a bad neighborhood or late at night, even the strongest girl is going to be an easier target than any man. So walk her to her house or sling your arm around her shoulder as you pass by crowds. Don’t overdo it though; no need to go swinging punches at anyone who looks at her sideways.

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From the Director’s Den:

Nayla Al Khaja By Mehak Alam

Award-winning director Nayla Al Khaja has worked in the film industry for almost eight years now. After graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Film Making from Ryerson University in Canada; an addition to her already impressive qualification list which boasts a mass communications qualification from Dubai Women’s College, this pint-sized lady packed her bags to fly home and join the then nonexistent, but now up and coming, emirates film industry. While starting from scratch was her fate, soaring to new heights and being an inspiration for many is her destiny. This lady successfully combined sensibility, enthusiasm and passion to pave her path to success. She has truly come a long way in a short space of time. Nayla has been internationally recognized and is now counted among the 50 most powerful personalities in the world of Arab Cinema. Speaking about her recognition she tells us, “It’s a great thing and an honor but it also means responsibility. People now expect more from me and I have to live up to their expectations. It sounds fun but its lots of hard work.” As the first female Emirati film-producer and director she certainly has a huge responsibility to fulfill. Perhaps her name, Nayla, has had something to do with her success. Meaning ‘successful’ in Arabic, it seems to reflect her life 16

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fairly accurately causing me to raise an eyebrow to Shakespeare’s famous saying ‘What’s in a name?’ Nayla is busy climbing the ladder of success and seems in no hurry to look down. Initially, this ambitious young lady worked on Arabian radio networks as a presenter but managed to open the doors of the film industry after successfully shooting her first short documentary which was called ‘Unveiling Dubai’. Since then she has been keen to touch on very sensitive topics, ones that are often too taboo to be discussed openly, and put them in the media spotlight. The support and love of her family allow her to feel content with her work and appreciate the success she has achieved in portraying the grey areas of UAE society. She calls her family her ‘backbone’ and I get the impression that she could not have achieved what she has today without their constant encouragement. Since this initial short documentary, her films and productions have kept coming and have earned her prestigious awards both regionally and internationally. One of the highlights of her career so far was being presented with the Emirati Woman of the Year Award in 2005 and others include achieving The Youngest Entrepreneur of The Year Award and the Best Emirati Film-Maker at Dubai International Film festival. Nayla’s brother is someone who has motivated her over the years, and she proudly tells us, “My brother is my inspiration. He is focused and is a true go-getter. He is extremely sharp and has achieved all his targets in life. He is like my right hand.”


just a few of Nayla’s achievements

Despite initial disagreements with some of her family due to the unconventional nature of her career choice, this has transformed over time into admiration and the family’s love and trust remains strong. Nayla seems very positive and clearly focused on achieving even more. Looking out of the window of her office at, D-Seven Motion Pictures in Dubai, where she serves as a CEO, she tells us passionately, “When people said it can’t happen, I said, it will happen!” The production house runs two film clubs; The Scene Club in Dubai and Aflam in Abu Dhabi and they respectively screen international and regional independent cinema. “It‘s a nice way of connecting the community with independent artists,” explains Nayla. She believes that post-screening discussion panels between directors and audiences serve as a crucial platform for fresh talent, something that was entirely unavailable just a decade ago. Personally, her immediate future is filled with excitement with a reality TV show on a regional channel and the production of an Emirati feature film taking up most of her time. As a CEO and young film-maker, Nayla is keen to raise the profile of film making in the emirates and is striving to build a successful track record of film projects that could attract investors from across the region. Her hard-work and that of others is beginning to pay off with the government showing interest in the development of the film-sector by funding a total of six Emirati high budget films to be released over the coming year.

Life Lessons Nayla Al Khaja really needs no introduction at all; a lady with a mesmerizing personality whose work speaks volumes. She is an inspiration for many Emirati’s and, was kind enough to share some of her lessons from life with us: •

Believe in each and every part of yourself. • Be your own competition. Push yourself to excel your previous accomplishments. • It’s so easy to hesitate and it’s hardest to find a way to pursue your talent. So work hard and show others exactly what you possess.

There are many obstacles still to be overcome within the UAE’s film industry, not least a lack of producers. Nayla also feels that finding an excellent script writer is crucially important as, she explains, “the script is king”. Despite these obstacles, there is certainly not a lack of talent in the country and, although there is a lot to do before the UAE can compete on an international level, growth and development looks promising. This patient yet confident woman is an inspiration to myself and I’m sure to many others. Her down-to-earth and friendly nature is proof that, despite her success, she remains grounded and untouched by negativity. She has had the privilege of meeting an eclectic mix of people, from all over the world, from hugely successful movie stars to humble, common men. This, and the experiences gained while travelling, have helped her to realize the human qualities that we often forget about while competing with one another in the daily rat race. thesourceuae.com

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EDUCATION

Almost there… the final

five steps

to learning to love language By Tony Patterson

Last week we took you through the first five steps in learning a new language. This week, we wrap up the feature with five final stages to truly embracing a language in the easiest way possible.

1. Discover: Don’t Invent

Probably the most common mistake made by language learners is to create sentences by piecing individual words together in reference to your native language rather than the target language. For example, Spanish speakers don’t ask ‘How old are you?’ but rather ‘How many years do you have?’ So, when you ask a native Spanish speaker who is learning English this question, they might reply, ‘I have 23 years old’. Instead of ‘I’m 23 years old’. The best way to eliminate this problem is to discover the language rather than inventing it. This goes back to the point we made last week about learning a language in full sentences. Also, remain open minded to the concept that each language may have its own way of expressing an idea completely different than what is familiar 18

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to you. The best way to discover a language is by using media (television, radio, internet, YouTube, movies, songs, commercials, audio books, etc.) to learn authentic material in its natural order and rhythm.

2. Frequency of Words

Another effective strategy in learning languages is to learn the most frequently used words first. This is how you learned your native language. The more often you heard a word used, the more likely you were to retain and own it. If you were to read a book in English you would see words like ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘is’, ‘was’, ‘go’, ‘at’ and ‘to’ thousands of times, words like ‘car’, ‘house’, ‘girl’, ‘road’ and ‘store’ might appear hundreds of times and a word


EDUCATION like ‘grasshopper’, if it’s not a book about insects, might not appear at all. Therefore, by the end of the book, even if you didn’t understand what you were reading, you will have become familiar with many words according to how often they appeared.

3. Emotional Language and Gestures

Language learners should learn their chosen language not only with correct rhythm but also using natural emotion. If you say, ‘I’m sorry’, the listener should feel that you’re sorry not only by the words you say, but by the tone of your voice, your facial expressions and hand movements. Often, language learners have difficulty in feeling what they want to express in a second language. It never quite feels as real as in their native language. Part of building a relationship with a new word is emotional acceptance of the word or the phrase it’s used in. It’s the ability to subjectively feel the word as naturally as your native language and to move your hands and body as well as create facial expressions that give added meaning. For example, the Japanese point to their nose when they say ‘Watashi’ (me). Try saying ‘me’ and pointing to your nose instead of your chest. You will instantly understand how subjective language is. Moreover, a person only truly knows a language when that person can argue, tell a sad story, talk excitedly or express love in the second language. These types of expressions require emotional language with authentic gestures.

4. Authentic Language

The material available for language learners to acquire their new language is likely to have been created for a specific purpose or a specific audience rather than to meet the needs of those who really want to master the new language. Most of the language books sold in book stores for language learning are based on the needs of travellers. These books provide survival language which

is often very formal. Instead of ‘Nice to meet you’, you learn ‘How do you do?’ The rule for language learners is to concentrate on authentic language that is useful and will be used frequently in their day to day life. One problem with teaching languages in schools is that students are often taught many unimportant words. Students don’t really need to learn ‘Excuse me, could you tell me what time the bank opens?’, ‘the wrinkled curtain’, ‘oversized overalls’, or the word for ‘tractor’ when they begin to learn a language. They need social language like, ‘I’m sorry that I’m late, but my car broke down’.

5. Inner Circle: Live the Language

Learning a language from a book is like buying merchandize online. You can’t really be sure about what you’re getting. You might see a new vocabulary word in a book, but not know how useful the word really is. You will always have doubts about what you are learning. Therefore, it’s essential to learn language as a living language. Books are great as resources but shouldn’t be the primary source for learning. Learning a living language means venturing into the inner circle of people who speak it. If you wish to learn Chinese, you might frequent local Chinese restaurants, watch the news in Chinese, or make Chinese friends. Simply put, you cannot learn languages from a distance. Even if you don’t live in the country of the languages you wish to acquire, you can still find authentic resources on YouTube and other websites. Make a concentrated effort to meet native speakers of your new language, and it will make a big difference. That’s it! You’re all set to go and tackle that new language you’ve been meaning to. With this, I bid you farewell, adios, tot wederom, elalleqa and Auf Wiedersehen!

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URBAN Woman

Fantastically Fruity Facials!

By Mehak Alam

Looking after your skin can be pretty hard work for women who have full time jobs or families to worry about. An occasional facial is a fabulous treat but in reality, it’s one that’s probably too expensive to have every week. No need to worry, as we’ve put together some inexpensive ways to keep your skin in great shape without spending a small fortune. And the best part? Most of these ingredients you’ll already have at home.

Go Bananas!

Luscious Lemon!

Peel a banana, tip it into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add a tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of yogur t. Finally, add a third of a cup of grounded oatmeal to give your cream exfoliating proper ties. Apply all over your face and leave on for around twenty minutes. Add water and rinse off gent ly before patting your skin dry with a soft, clean towel.

Take two tablespoons of flour, one of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of egg white. Mix together thoroughly before applying to clean, dry skin. Allow the mask to work its magic for around twenty minutes then wash off and apply a nourishing moisturizer.

A freshly mashed banana can do wonders for your skin. Bananas are rich in vitamin A, B and E and they have wonderful anti ageing properties.

Kool Kiwi!

This tropical green fruit has many skin boosting properties. It is rich in Vitamin A, E, C and packed full of citric acid which helps increase blood circulation. Kiwi also eliminates excess oil and helps to tighten pores. Prepare a mask using 1 egg yolk, a tablespoon of kiwi juice and a litt le olive oil. Blend the ingredients in a bowl and then apply evenly to your face. Allow the mask to set for 10-15 minutes before wiping it off with a damp washcloth.

Stunning Strawberries!

Strawberries contain natural salicylic acid that gently exfoliates skin, removing impurities and getting rid of any dead skin. They can helps to smooth skin whilst brightening your complexion. They are packed full of anti-oxidants and can really help to repair skin damages or disguise signs of ageing. To make your strawberry skin-boosting facial, take half a cup of ripe strawberry purée and mix with a quar ter cup of cornstarch. Spread it on your face and then relax with a nice book or magazine for a good half an hour, before rinsing it off with cool water.

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This nourishing fruit is undoubtedly the best option when it comes to unclogging and tightening pores, promoting fading of age spots, freckles and acne scars and leaving behind gorgeously soft, bright skin.

Tangy Tangerine!

Packed full of health boosting ingredients including Vitamins C & B, folic acid, magnesium, beta-carotene and potassium, tangerine is a small fruit with a powerful punch! To rejuvenate and hydrate your skin simply mix two tablespoons of tangerine juice with one egg yolk then apply carefully to skin, making sure you don’t get any in your eyes. Allow the mask to set for around thir ty minutes before rinsing with cold water to reveal freshly hydrated skin.

Perfect Pineapple!

In many parts of the world, pineapples play a huge part in beauty regimes. The enzymes in this fruit are excellent in removing dead skin cells and reducing oil found in skin, thus helping to improve acne conditions. High content of enzyme bromeliad also helps to repair sun damage and reduce swelling. Make a thick paste out of 3-4 medium-sized pineapple cubes in a blender. You can also add papaya for extra skin boosting proper ties. Add a tablespoon of honey and mix well. Use your finger tips to spread the mask evenly onto your face and leave it for fifteen minutes. Rinse gent ly with cool water for healthy, glowing skin that doesn’t break the bank.


DIARY

Treat you r family a nd friends luxurious to an am Ay azing Ifta by enjoyin la Restaurant. G r buffet a et into th g the gifts t the e spirit o breaking p re s ented to f the mo your fast guests fro nth with loved m the ho ones. tel and INFO: Ifta r AE Call: 03 7 54 5111 o D90+, Ayla Hotel r email: fb .alain@rota na.com

Enjoy an absolutely fantastic atmosphere at Al Fanous Ramadan Tent where you can gather your family and friends together for a night filled with great food, shisha and live entertainment.

ifts ue g in q i n u A Al ome or s ead to nce to f g in h ha look en ur c food u’re dan th r for yo Arabic o y a and r If Ram n Cente othes o songs he s i t l l h t io a es, c ring ition vent Con ys, gam to trad ncing b fe. li to a g buy listenin entic d onth to h m t e ly whil ing au special 9 Ju h s ter, 2 7pm n watc ity of thi e C v ing tion festi nven dan Tim o C in ma : Al A st, Ra am 3 INFO th Augu o t to 19

INFO: From 1st Ramadan, ADNEC-ICC HALL Call: 800 2363 or visit www.Abudhabievents.ae

Stay aw Rama ay from t he he dan w at it at Du bai S h near and and enjoy ports traditio dear the h W on oly sp n ir of au al hospita orld and y es. Partak thentic lity w ou wil e in S it of hile y l be s uhoor a hug A r a b o ic ur e u some variety of s and Orien choose fr e to enjoy om a tal de of the hisha lica .Y range sportin family ! g activ ou can als cies as w o try ell as ities o yo n of fer, fu ur hand at INFO n for : From all the 1st Ra m adan, Trade 8 : 30 Centr e, Call pm-3am, Du 04 30 8 623 bai World 8

Sports Come enjoy the very first “Fit for the Future Ramadan Football Challenge” taking place this Ramadan at ADNEC’s indoor arena. The tournament will provide a platform for young players to stay fit, get involved in the community and learn new football skills. INFO: 29 July-2 August, 9pm-12am, ADNEC, visit www.adnece.ae

Looking for an adrenalin rush? Why not register for Al Ain Raceway’s Ramadan Super Prix Challenge? Kicking off on Thursday 26th July and running for four consecutive weeks, racers can make use of the first class karting facilities and have the chance to win some fantastic prizes. INFO: Register now by calling Al Ain Raceway 03 768 6662 or email: sales@alainraceway.com

Community Adopt a cat and make a lifetime friend. This July make a difference by taking responsibility for one of the many street cats out there on adopta-cat-day! Head to Dubai to pick out your little bundle of fun! INFO: 21 July, 1-4pm, Vet Hospital-Al QuozDubai, Call: 050 451 0058 or visit www.vet-hosp.com

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21


RECIPES

Luqaimat Ingredients

Preparation Batter: Start by sifting the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add yoghurt and milk and mix well until the texture is of a middling consistency, not watery but not too thick. Leave this mixture to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tbsp yeast

1/4 cup of warm milk

Next, heat some oil in a pan. Once it is hot, drop the batter into it, piece by piece.

3 tbsp yogurt

Cook until it turns very slightly golden brown.

3 tbsp corn flour

1 tsp salt

Drain and place immediately into syrup, swirl around to coat the whole piece.

2 tbsp white vinegar

When coated completely, remove and place on serving dish. Serve warm.

Oil for frying

For Syrup:

For Syrup •

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

Date Cake Ingredients •

A bowl of pitted dates, chopped

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 1/2 cups boiling water

2 tbsp butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups flour

For Sauce: •

1 cup brown sugar

300ml thickened cream

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

60g butter, chopped

Boil water and sugar together on a low heat without stirring until it has a thick consistency.

Preparation

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a cake pan and line base with baking paper. Place dates and bicarbonate of soda in a heatproof bowl. Pour over boiling water. Allow to stand for 20 minutes or until dates are tender. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time. Using a large metal spoon, stir in the date mixture and flour. Mix well. Spoon mixture into the cake pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Stand for 10 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool. Make the caramel sauce by combining sugar, cream, vanilla and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook over a medium high heat and keep stirring for around 3 minutes or until boiling. Lower heat and simmer for 2 minutes before pouring warm sauce over the cake. Cut into wedges and serve.

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BUSINESS

Sure Fire Ways to Recession - Proof Your Business By Khudayja Saloojee

T

he most recent recession we find ourselves in has many small business owners asking the question “How can I survive during a recession?” This is a valid question and clearly borne out of insecurities and uncertainty. While the recession may seem like an insurmountable challenge to overcome, with a positive attitude and a clear focus on what’s important, it becomes clearer and easier and you will be able to survive.

Here are some ideas that you can implement to maximize business growth during this economic downturn.

down, avoiding unnecessary expenses and carefully prioritizing business expenses.

Get back to basics Explore new business opportunities. Start cold calling: if you feel uncomfortable about it, remember losing your business will make you feel much worse. In a sluggish economy, it’s imperative you get out there and find business. Don’t wait for a business to find you.

Expand your partnerships Network! Network! Network! Attend trade shows, conferences, or any business-related event that remotely relates to your type of business. If you expand your partnerships it will reduce your acquisition per sale. In a depressed economy, partnering with other companies will increase your networking and lead to success.

Sales going south? Often the first thing to go southward during a recession is sales, which results in lower profits. If you want to increase sales you have to accept that it will be at the cost of incurring additional expenses. The first way is to lower profit margins to achieve higher sales figures and spend more on marketing and advertising. Increase your sales by repackaging your current items with new names and lower prices. Offer a service upgrade or an automatic product with the new name or put a time date on the offer. Although this will initially lower your profit margin it will also increase your presence in the market, thus, as soon as the economy emerges from the recession, you’ll be at the front of the line to reap the benefits. Make it easier on the customers Do you feel the pinch of the recession in your pocket? Yes? Well, so do your customers! Make it easier for them to pay by offering extended payment terms or installment payments. This also allows you to increase prices by 10-20% which should offset the downside of not getting paid immediately. An easy payment option will also make your services more lucrative for customers who will get the impression that you care about their wallets. Try and cut down on your expenses A recession is normally associated with high inflation which means your monthly expenses could increase while your profits decrease. This could eat into your savings and cause further financial problems. Consider reducing your expenses by cutting

Rotate your inventory A large inventory could be the ball and chain dragging you down. Rotating your inventory more rapidly could increase your profits. Use the latest technology available to keep track of inventory and dispose of all your slow moving products through sales if necessary. Go global Take advantage of globalization. Have a look at the world map and widen your sales and customer geography. If the market is already saturated, expand your business horizons to find more opportunities. Lower your costs and save money With the economy in a rut, now is the time to renegotiate all your contracts with suppliers. Focus on reducing costs by taking into consideration the options you have to drop production, labor or direct costs then use these options to negotiate better prices. Use psychology Read about consumer behavior and get creative. One good example would be to generate three pricing levels for your products or services with the mid-level price being the targeted price you want to sell at. Several studies have conclusively shown that consumers will normally opt for the middle price when offered the three options. The important thing to remember during a recession is that you need to refocus on how you offer products or services to your consumers. Make them love you and remind them of all the money that they are saving when they spend their cash with you. thesourceuae.com

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LIFESTYLE

inPursuit of

Happiness

A

By Khudayja Saloojee

few years ago, on a morning like any other, I had an unusual realization: I was in the prime of my life and yet I was in jeopardy of throwing it all away. As I stared out of the window of my car, I saw my life slipping by. I asked myself, “What do I want from life? Am I really happy?” I had many reasons to be happy. My husband is loving, passionate, supportive and quite simply, the love of my life. We have two beautiful, precious daughters. I was at the top of my career and had an active social life. Yet, way too often I found myself snarling at my husband or losing my temper with cashiers at the local supermarket. I felt bleak and despondent after even a minor setback. Is this really how a happy person should act? I decided, at that exact moment, to fix this! Since happiness is a state of mind, I was going to make a conscious effort to focus on being happy and staying happy. Embarking on this new journey, it’s safe to say that the road hasn’t been easy. Unfortunately, there is no manual or set of instructions to give you a step by step guide. And yet, there are many changes and handy tips which you can implement into your daily life to help you down this road. So, if you’re seeking a permanent state of nirvana, follow these techniques to help you find that happiness and fulfillment as you journey through life.

Keep life simple Far too often we over analyze and look for the most complicated way of doing things. Sometimes life is meant to be simple – a walk in the park, a simple yes or no, or a quiet evening spent with family. De-clutter your life by eliminating unnecessary decisions that make everything complex. Keep it simple!

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Count your blessings How many times have you heard friends and family or even yourself say, “If only I had a bigger house? If I had more money I’d buy this and do that? ” Many of us simply don’t know how to be satisfied with what we have. We are so busy wanting more, that we squander what life has already given us. Stop and take stock of your blessings.

Be more decisive Sometimes in life you have to make tough choices. Don’t delay a decision that can be made today for tomorrow. You may miss some of the best and most amazing opportunities because of indecisiveness. Successful people don’t get where they are by prolonging or going back and forth on decisions. Make a decision and stick to it.

Fake it till you feel it A good way to cheat your body to happiness is to act cheerful, even if you don’t feel it. If I’m angry at my husband, I do something thoughtful for him and my anger dissipates. This strategy is astonishingly effective.

Challenge yourself Challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness. Completing a daunting task or dealing with an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction and achievement. People who do new things regularly, no matter how small, are happier than people who stick to the same activities day in and day out.

Keep an open mind You don’t have to like everyone you meet, especially those who are different than yourself. You don’t have to agree with everything they do, or all of their beliefs but, keeping an open mind and learning to get along with them will make you happier in the long run.

Learn from adversity You will learn about life by overcoming adversity and facing it head on. It can be one of the most powerful teachers and it comes dressed in many outfits. Learning how to deal with it can change your life completely.

Have a sense of humor Laugh, joke or just anticipate a happy, funny event. Laughter can raise levels of endorphins and has been shown to help people live longer and reduce blood pressure.

Learn to forgive yourself Stop living in the past and beating yourself up about things you did or didn’t do and the mistakes you have made. Forgiveness is a skill that so few of us have yet to accomplish. We spend a lifetime living in the past and we don’t move forward. It’s important to forgive yourself and just as important to forgive others in order to fulfill your pursuit of happiness.


MY EMIRATE My fascination with the brightly-lit wooden dhows that elegantly sail up and down the waters of Abu Dhabi led me on an adventure to the Dhow Harbor in Abu Dhabi. A hidden treasure, the Dhow Harbor is located near Port Zayed on the north-eastern tip of the island. The harbor is developed as a Free Port for oil rig supply and buoy tugboats as well as traditional Arab dhows resulting in bustling trade between Abu Dhabi and the Gulf countries. If you enjoy yacht races than you can head here to watch the traditional Arabic boats in action in one of their regular sailing contests. Mesmerized by these magnificent boats, I watched the Arabic ship-building process in full swing. Skilled craftsmen carve the trademark wooden dhows from huge planks of teak without the assistance of new age materials or fussy modern techniques.

Why I love the Dhow Harbor in Abu Dhabi

I’m a shopaholic and enjoy collecting even the smallest memento. I was delighted to find The Quay, a small market right beside the harbor which satisfied both my ship and shopping craving. After a morning watching the dhows being crafted, followed by some souvenir searching, I could feel my stomach grumbling and I’m sure so could those around me. I was happy to stumble across the tasty Al Dhafra Restaurant with their array of hunger satisfying snacks. The Dhow Harbor is the perfect place to catch a glimpse of the history of Abu Dhabi. You can visit from Saturday to Thursday as it’s closed on Friday. My suggestion, to get the best out of your trip, is to try to reach the harbor around five in the evening, as the sun is beginning to drop in the sky and the harbor is lit up in fascinating sunset hues.

GLASS TABLE

FOLDING TROLLEY

SOFA BED (BROWN, LIGHT BROWN & GREY)

Sofa Bed 3+2+1(Red, Grey, Black, Brown)

Annie Bunk Bed

Leather Sofa Set 3+2+1

By Khudayja Saloojee


MY WORLD

Japan’s Onsens

be at one with nature in By Bob Studholme

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MY WORLD

Who, in the world, does not like soaking in a hot bath? It’s a rhetorical question really, because we all know that it’s something everyone enjoys. Hot water; really deep, really hot water is wonderful. Lying in it for a long, long time is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind. So let’s hear it for the Japanese; for they have turned doing this into something of an art form. Japan is unlucky in the sense that it sits atop a lot of geological fault lines that have been known to cause earthquakes, but lucky in that those same fault lines provide the land with a lot of naturally occurring hot water. Since ancient historical times, the Japanese have channeled this water into places where people can enjoy them, known in their native language as ‘onsen’ . In English we’d call them hot springs or thermal baths, though England is notably less fortunate in its supply of such natural wonders. An onsen is typically a hotel with extensive bathing facilities. They also tend to be places with some of the best Japanese food that you could ever hope to eat. I know this because my family and I went on an onsen tour in the Kyushu area of Japan. It might not sound like one of the most interesting of trips but it was a fascinating experience. Our travels took the format of driving from one onsen to another, booking into the hotel, hitting the baths and soaking for hours before heading back to our room to be served ridiculously, fabulous food. I put on almost six kilos in the course a week, though that isn’t necessarily a requirement of going to an onsen!

!

en Top Five Ons

o teed t guaran , s n e ns best o n’s of the perience: is Japa e v fi re ex iji, this Here a your bathing e of Mount F e er bas enhanc ters off : At the n. ite wa h akone e s w H n o y r k • opula e mil are most p : Thes no-yu Lake Tazawa. these waters suru f T , o u • g views rthern Honsh amazin No autiful ally be S u : et in nd. q e au ll Z a • pools, in lege rs seeped atoo: Eight red wate H lti-colo ze eppu u o B m o e ly s . • xing simp u, the d n a ts and rela : Also in Bepp lan ndant p by abu d e • Kankajii d n u o are surr . on relaxati

We began our trip in Beppu, surely one of the greatest places in the world to enjoy hot water. Here, the water doesn’t just leak from the ground; it is also colored a deep red by the earth’s elements. For me, what really sets Beppu apart from other onsen resorts is the huge range of bath types that can be enjoyed there. Asides from conventional hot water baths, Beppu also offers sand baths; where bathers are buried in naturally heated sand, steam baths; where water is heated by the steam of a hot spring and mud baths; which are basically messy, muddy, hot water baths. I could have happily spent my entire vacation in Beppu, but my wife, being Japanese, had constructed an itinerary to ensure that we’d see as much of her native land as possible so we piled into our rented car and set off across the country’s wonderful mountainous roads. The scenery was truly wonderful, with the onsens nestled deep inside, a few in modern buildings but the majority in traditional settings. After eating, a maid would come to our room and set out the futons (mattresses laid upon the floor) and we would sleep in the room that had just been our living and dining room, a traditional Japanese way of making the best use of limited space in a very small country. Each and every onsen we visited gave us a true pleasure, and one which is difficult to describe. We bathed, we ate and we slept, satisfied by the simplest of pleasures. And when we ate, we ate like kings. At one point, I counted the number of dishes on the table in front of me; there were twenty two and that was only my own, personal table! Food is a thing that the Japanese take very seriously and onsens uphold a standard that few places in the world even dream of. If you go, and you really must, you have to be sure to try the special onsen eggs. These are cooked in the water of the baths and this somehow means that the yolks cook while the whites stay soft. Like everything else in an onsen experience, it’s something that you might be able to tell friends about but don’t expect them to understand exactly how or why it’s so amazing, until they are lucky enough to go there for themselves.

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27


Movie Listings

‫في السينما‬

Eva Mendes stars as Grace, a busy single mom juggling work, bills and her affair with a married doctor. Her daughter, Ansiedad, is inspired to skip adolescence after reading classic coming of age stories. She is determined to jump-start her life without her mom. But, as her misguided plan unravels, Ansiedad and Grace learn that sometimes growing up means acting you age.

‫النجمة «إيفا ماندي» ستلعب دور البطولة يف فيلم «فتاة متطلعة» ومتثل فيه شخصية «غريس» املرأة املشغولة التي‬ ‫ ابنتها املراهقة «آنسيداد» تحاول اجتياز هذه املرحلة‬.‫ وتدخل يف عالقة غرامية مع طبيب متزوج‬،‫تتنقل بني عمل وآخر‬ ‫ بعد قراءتها للعديد من القصص الكالسيكية غري املناسبة لعمرها صممت عىل بدء حياتها بعيدا عن‬،‫الصعبة من حياتها‬ .‫ وبعد حلحلة األمور تعلمت كال األم وابنتها أن الكرب يف السن يعني الترصف مبا يناسب عمرك‬،‫أمها املضطربة‬

BAWADI MALL ‫بوادي مول‬ Tel: 03 784 0300

ROTANA HOTEL & AL AIN MALL ‫العين مول و فندق روتانا‬ Tel: 03 754 4447 & 03 751 1228 1. DANCING NINJA: 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30, 23:30 2. GIRL IN PROGRESS: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00, 24:00 3. MADAGASCAR:11:00, 13:10, 15:20 3. GAME OVER: 17:30, 19:40, 21:50, 24:00 4. THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN: 11:30, 14:00, 16:30, 19:00, 21:30, 24:00

1. DANCING NINJA: 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30, 23:30 2. THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN: 11:30, 14:00, 16:30, 19:00, 21:30, 24:00 3. GIRL IN PROGRESS: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00, 24:00 4. ICE AGE – 4: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 4. RED LIGHTS: 20:00, 22:00, 24:00 5. COCKTAIL(HINDI): 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 20:00, 23:00 6. URBAN EXPLORER: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, 23:00 7. MADAGASCAR: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 7. GAME OVER:19:00, 21:00, 23:30

GRAND CLASS:

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN: 20:30, 23:00 GAME OVER: 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, 18:30

AL FOAH MALL ‫الفوعة مول‬ Tel: +971 3 784 3535 1. DANCING NINJA: 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30, 23:30, 1:30 2. RED LIGHTS: 10:30, 12:45, 15:00, 17:15, 19:30, 21:45, 24:00 3. THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN: 10:35, 13:20, 16:00, 18:40, 21:20, 24:00 4. GIRL IN PROGRESS: 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30, 18:30, 20:30, 22:30, 24:30 5. GAME OVER: 11:10, 13:20, 15:30, 17:40, 19:50, 22:00, 24:10

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