Community

P6
Community
Filipino kids
recently
completed a
basketball clinic
organised jointly
by Pibaq and SBP
Qatar Chapter.
P16
Community
The three-day
Doha Beauty
Show will
showcase the latest
trends and offerings
in the global beauty
industry.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Dhul-Qa'da 28, 1437 AH
DOHA
33°C—42°C TODAY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11
PUZZLES 12 & 13
COVER
STORY
CLASS APART: Interior designer Bachir Mohamad adds his own touch to the design of any space. He also designs his own furniture to go with the concept.
Photo by Umer Nangiana
Inspired spaces
Artist and designer Bachir Mohamad converts spaces into design marvels deriving
influences predominantly from modern Arabic and Islamic patterns. P4-5
2
GULF TIMES Wednesday, August 31, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
3.55am
5.14am
11.34am
3.04pm
5.56pm
7.26pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Hamad International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
Hamad Medical Corporation
44392222, 44393333
Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
44845555, 44845464
Primary Health Care Corporation
44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre
44594050
Qatar News Agency
44450205
44450333
Q—Post – General Postal
Corporation
44464444
Humanitarian Services Office
(Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)
Ministry of Interior
40253371, 40253372,
40253369
Ministry of Health
40253370, 40253364
Hamad Medical Corporation
40253368, 40253365
Qatar Airways
40253374
ote Unquote
u
Q
Continuous
effort — not strength or
intelligence — is the key to
unlocking our potential.
— Winston Churchill
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e—mail: community@gulf—times.com
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
Mechanic: Resurrection
GENRE: Action, Crime, Thriller
CAST: Jason Statham, Jessica Alba,
Tommy Lee Jones
DIRECTION: Dennis Gansel
SYNOPSIS: Arthur Bishop thought
he had put his murderous past behind
him when his most formidable foe
kidnaps the love of his life. Now he is
forced to travel the globe to complete
three impossible assassinations, and do
what he does best, make them look like
accidents. When the deceitful actions
of a cunning but beautiful woman force
him to return to the life he left behind,
Arthur Bishop’s life is in danger as he
has to complete an impossible list of
assassinations of the most dangerous
men in the world.
Genius
GENRE: Biography, Drama
CAST: Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole
Kidman
DIRECTION: Michael Grandage
SYNOPSIS: A chronicle of Max
Perkins’s time as the book editor at
Scribner, where he oversaw works by
Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemingway,
F Scott Fitzgerald and others.
From Academy Award-nominated
screenwriter John Logan (Gladiator, The
Aviator, Hugo, Skyfall) and
acclaimed Tony Award-winning
director Michael Grandage in his
feature film debut comes Genius, a
stirring drama about the complex
friendship and transformative
professional relationship between the
world-renowned book editor Maxwell
Perkins (who discovered F Scott
Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway)
and the larger-than- life literary giant
Thomas Wolfe. Based on the biography
Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A
Scott Berg, Genius stars Colin Firth
as Perkins; Jude Law as Wolfe; Nicole
Kidman as Aline Bernstein, a costume
designer sharing a tumultuous
relationship with Wolfe; Laura Linney
as Louise Perkins, Max’s wife and a
talented playwright; Guy Pearce as F
Scott Fitzgerald; and Dominic West as
Ernest Hemingway.
Mall Cinema (1): Mechanics:
Resurrection (2D) 11.15am; A
Flying Jatt (Hindi) 1.30pm;
The Secret Life Of Pets (2D)
4pm; Mechanics: Resurrection
(2D) 5.30pm; Mechanics:
Resurrection (2D) 7.30pm;
Mechanics: Resurrection
(2D) 9.30pm; Mechanics:
Resurrection (2D) 11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (2): Genius (2D)
11.45am; Space Dogs: Adv. To
The Moon (2D) 2pm; Space
Dogs: Adv. To The Moon (2D)
3.30pm; Space Dogs: Adv. To
The Moon (2D) 5pm; Skiptrace
(2D) 7pm; Genius (2D) 9pm; A
Flying Jatt (Hindi) 11PM.
Mall Cinema (3): Mr.
THEATRES: Royal Plaza, The Mall
THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza
Mechanics: Resurrection (2D)
11pm
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
Fuzzypants (2D) 11.30am; BFG: (2): Skiptrace (2D) 11.30am;
Space Dogs: Adv. To The
Big Friendly Giant (2D) 1pm;
Aatadunkundam-Raa (Telugu) Moon (2D) 2.30pm; Space
Dogs: Adv. To The Moon (2D)
3pm; Mr. Fuzzypants (2D)
5.30pm; A Flying Jatt (Hindi) 4pm; Skiptrace (2D) 5.30pm;
Mr. Fuzzypants (2D) 7.30pm;
7pm; Kismath (Malayalam)
9.30pm; Genius (2D) 11.30pm. Kismath (Malayalam) 9.15pm;
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace A Flying Jatt (Hindi) 11.15pm.
(1): Mechanics: Resurrection Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(2D) 11.30am; Mr. Fuzzypants (3): Genius (2D) 11am; A Flying
Jatt (Hindi) 1pm; The BFG: Big
(2D) 1.30pm; The Secret
Friendly Giant (2D) 3.30pm;
Life Of Pets (2D) 3pm; A
Kismath (Malayalam) 5.30pm;
Flying Jatt (Hindi) 4.30pm;
Genius (2D) 7.30pm; Unindian
Mechanics: Resurrection
(2D) 9.30pm; Genius (2D)
(2D) 7.15pm; Mechanics:
11.30pm.
Resurrection (2D) 9pm;
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
EVENTS
VENUE: Maktaba Qatar, Al Mabahej &
Saha 33, Doha
Are you looking for a programme that
helps your child understand how and why
our climate is changing? The programme
“Climate Change’’ is designed for children
7-14 years old to introduce them to the
causes and effects of the climate change
and what people can do to slow the change
and prepare for it. Each session is based
on games, science activities and triggering
their curiosity to make research and work
on projects.
Eid al-Adha celebrations: The PearlQatar
DATE: Sept 11- 17
TIME: 6pm
VENUE: The Pearl-Qatar
Celebrate Eid at Porto Arabia, from Sept
11-17. Kids can enjoy all the three days of
Eid and lets their imagination flourish.
A Symphony of Horror
DATE: Sept 22
TIME: 7:30pm
VENUE: Katara Opera House
This concert is part of the Symphony of
Films series, in Partnership with Doha Film
Institute and the British Council. Get info
on this website to book your show. http://
www.dohafilminstitute.com/events/dficinema
Tarzan Screening
DATE: Sept 11-17
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: City Center
The Eid celebrations will offer a variety
of daily family entertainment shows.
Exclusive live entertainment shows will
feature throughout the week, Tarzan will be
held at City Centre.
Doha Beauty Show
DATE: Oct 20-22
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Doha Exhibition and
Convention Center
Qatar’s first Doha Beauty Show will be
held from 20th to 22nd of October at the
Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
The Doha Beauty Show is the first of its
kind event in Qatar that is dedicated to
local and international trade and beauty
professionals as well as local consumers.
The three-day show focuses on four pillars
in the beauty industry, including Cosmetics
& Fragrance, Spa & Aesthetics, Natural
Products and Hair Care & Nails.
Public Speaking Meet
DATE: Sep 3
TIME: 7pm-9:30pm
VENUE: Holiday Villa
Doha Toastmasters, the pioneer club of
Qatar, trains individuals in communication
and leadership skills. Transform yourself
into a confident public speaker and a strong
leader. Acquire this vital skill in a friendly
and supportive environment. For more
details call 77036696.
Pirates from the Caribbean
DATE: Sept 11- 17
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: Lagoona Mall
The Eid celebrations will offer a variety
of daily family entertainment shows.
Exclusive live entertainment shows will
feature throughout the week, Pirates from
the Caribbean will be held at Lagoona Mall.
Dari Qatar
DATE: Ongoing
Doha Film Institute and Qatar Tourism
Authority have embarked on an ambitious
mission of producing an unprecedented
documentary – ‘Dari Qatar’ – a personal
journey through Qatar, about you, for
you, filmed by all of you. ‘Dari Qatar’ is
an intimate, engaging portrayal of Qatar
today; a refreshing look at the nation, told
entirely by its public, revealing the hopes,
loves, fears, dreams and realities of the
people who call Qatar home. ‘Dari Qatar’
will give the world a different perspective
on what it is like to live in Qatar, with its
unique beauty, its cultural diversity and its
rich Arabic traditions.
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
Beauty & The Beast
DATE: Sept 11-17
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: Dar Al Salam Mall
The Eid celebrations will offer a variety
of daily family entertainment shows.
Exclusive live entertainment shows will
feature throughout the week, Beauty & The
Beast will be held at Dar Al Salam Mall.
GULF TIMES
Filipino Community Family Day
DATE: Sept 13-15
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Westin Hotel 7 Spa, Doha
Kulinarya Qatar is inviting everyone to
attend the annual Filipino Community Day
& Food Festival to be held from September
13 to 15 from 10am-10pm at the Westin
Hotel and Spa. The event will feature
Filipino food restaurants and different
international
stalls, Filipino and local products,
cultural shows, kids activities, games
cooking competitions, workshops and
other exciting programmes.
Climate Change Programme
DATE: Sept 4-8
TIME: 10am
Aspire Splash and Dash
DATE: Every Sunday and Wednesday
TIME: 7pm-9pm
VENUE: Aspire Dome
The athletics track and swimming pool
will be open for 50 participants aged
seven years and above per session and
facility. Swimming skills are mandatory
for registering at the swimming sessions
with a limited number of 50 participants
per session. The event is open to public
registration on-site from 6 to 7:45pm.
Doha Sightseeing
DATE: Ongoing
TIME: 9am-9pm
VENUE: Around Doha
Doha Bus is Qatar’s first Hop-on Hop-off
sight-seeing bus tour, providing both local
residents and visiting tourists a flexible
way to discover the country’s vibrant past,
present and future. Each Doha Bus tour
highlights a variety of interesting locations
throughout this fast changing landscape
including Souq Waqif, The Pearl, Villaggio
as well as The Museum of Islamic Art. Doha
Bus enhances the sightseeing experience
with seven different language options to
choose from as well as group discounts,
private coach tours and corporate outings.
Doha Bus is a fun, interactive and highly
education experience for every traveller.
Combination of Sun, Sand and
Surfing
DATE: Ongoing
VENUE: Aqua Park
For the first time ever in Qatar, it will
be possible to ride up curved sidewalls at
90 degrees to the direction of the water
flow. Giving visitors and especially surfing
fanatics an amazing experience available at
only one place in Qatar Aqua Park.
Come join us and also take advantage of
the extra free ticket you get anytime you
buy two Stingray Tickets.
Garage Gallery
DATE: Until Nov 1
TIME: 8pm
VENUE: Spaces at the Fire Station
The Artists in Residence exhibition is a
culmination of an intensive nine-month
programme, featuring works by 18 local
contemporary artists who have been
working in the artist’s studios and spaces
at the Fire Station since September 2015.
The exhibition showcases new work and
projects created by the artists during their
residency period, shedding light on the
development of their innovative ideas and
diverse studio practices. Photographic,
sculptural, and installation based artworks
fill the Garage Gallery and showcase these
talented artists.
Vacation Competition
DATE: Until September 21
VENUE: FCC Office
Women’s forum of Friends Cultural
Centre has announced competitions
for Qatar-based Malayalee students
of grades IV–XII. There are two
competitions including Avadhikkalath
an article on vacation experiences and
Avadhikkalakazhchakal, on photography.
Article on vacation experiences should be
prepared in Malayalam or in English with
a minimum of 500 words. Photographs
for the competition should be printed on
A4 size art paper or photo paper. Pictures
should not have been published before
and should not be downloaded from
internet. Entries for competitions need to
be submitted to FCC Office on or before
21 September 2016. More details can be
obtained by contacting telephone number
44661213.
Yamativo Salsa Classes
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Radisson Blu
It’s always fun and always challenging.
Let’s meet and learn some moves every
Monday night. You don’t need to do
anything, just join us. Level 1 (intermediate
level) 7pm and for beginner level 8pm. Be
there at Radisson Blu Hotel Cabana Club.
Cake Decoration Classes
DATE: Morning and evening
VENUE: Tavola Royal Plaza, Al Saad
Street
Tavola offers a range of cake decorating
and kitchen skills classes. Tavola is the only
authorised Wilton method provider in the
Middle East.
New Bootcamp Abu Hamour
DATE: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
TIME: 6pm
VENUE: Doha British School
Located just minutes from Villaggio
and a walk away from Ain Khalid Gate the
Doha British School campus is our newest
Bootcamp location. The training takes place
on the main grass playing field surrounded
by an athletics track. There are showers
available and changing rooms.
Pottery workshop for kids
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 5pm-6pm
Kids will learn a new hand building
technique for creating and finishing
artworks in clay. For more, call 44865201.
Sketching with pencil and charcoal
DATE: Sunday and Wednesday
TIME: 5pm- 6:30pm
If you can hold a pencil, you can draw…
Discover techniques to make your drawing
more realistic. Every Saturday and
Wednesday from 5pm-6:30pm.
Fitness Training
DATE: Sunday, Tue, Thu
TIME: 6pm-7pm
VENUE: MIA Park
There are fitness classes in the park on
Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights at
6 and 7pm. Open to all levels of fitness.
Bootcamp is an intensive and fun way to
train and also meet new people in the open
and friendly group atmosphere. More
information, from Bootcamp, Qatar or
[email protected]
FOODIE CHOICE
RESTAURANT: Spice Market
LOCATION: W Doha Hotel &Residence
Illuminate your night. In a cozy, candlelit
lounge overlooking the glittering Arabian
Gulf, handcrafted screens create intimate
moments around a raised dining space
where you’ll revel in Southeast Asian food
by Chef Vongerichten.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change
4
GULF TIMES Wednesday, August 31, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
The inside story of
designing spaces
Every idea in interior design has a historical background, says Lebanese expatriate
Bachir Mohamad who has designed multiple buildings in Doha since joining
BluRibbon Design Atelier in 2012 as Projects Manager. By Umer Nangiana
FINDING SOLUTIONS: Bachir Mohamad says he is working on his next exhibition to be held in a few months.
W
orking with an
empty unstudied
space and turning
it into a visual
marvel is not
everyone’s cup of tea. It is an art.
While many try their hands at
designing spaces, very few excel
at it.
The work speaks for itself just
like the corridors of Al Rayyan
Radio Station at Souq Waqif,
designed by Bachir Mohamad, a
Lebanese artist based in Doha.
Inspired by musical notes,
Mohamad designed the interior
of this traditional building mixing
elements of the contemporary
with the classic.
Holding a degree in
Archaeology of Arab and Islamic
World and having trained as an
interior designer, Mohamad has
so far designed multiple buildings
in Doha since joining BluRibbon
Design Atelier in 2012 as Projects
Manager and Senior Interior
Designer.
His unique trait is his personal
touch to every space that he works
with. Mohamad designs his own
furniture pieces to go with the
concept. And his inspiration is
Photo by Umer Nangiana
Arab and Islamic architecture.
“I usually work with modern
Arabic and Islamic patterns. My
inspiration is usually derived by
local architectural features, by the
Islamic artefacts and monuments.
Sometimes I also do classic work
mostly from the Renaissance and
Middle Period,” Mohamad tells
Community in a recent chat, a few
months before the launch of his
second solo exhibition of interior
design pieces.
“But there is nothing pure. It is
never purely modern or classic.
We like to mix the two most of the
times,” says the designer.
Having a degree in Interior
Design and one in Islamic
Archaeology, he tries to mix both
of them. After all archaeology, he
says, is about art and design. “In
interior design we do learn about
the history of things otherwise
how would we get inspired. There
is nothing called ‘scratch’ in
there. Every idea in interior design
has a historical background. It is
coming from somewhere,” says
Mohamad.
“It is always about the history.
Sometimes it is related to the
early or middle Islamic history or
classics from European or British
history,” he adds.
If you look up history and
see the old residences, palaces
or royal residences, you would
see that the royals were not
interested in one pure style. For
instance, if you go to France of the
Renaissance era, they would use
the classic furniture which was
then up-to-date but mix it with
elements from India, Egypt, the
Roman empire or China.
Working on a space, he first
works with the design of the item,
piece by piece and then overall
look of the ceiling, floor and walls.
And then he goes for the fabric
and the wallpapers where the
elements can be mixed together.
“Since we started with
BluRibbon in 2012, we have had
the smallest to bigger projects.
We have worked on multiple
projects from decorating a single
wall to the entire buildings and
residences,” says the BlueRibbon
Projects Manager.
“My personal favourite so far
has been the Al Rayyan Radio
Station at Souq Waqif that we
did. It was totally conceptual.
I took the elements of music
instruments and all of that
was reflected on the walls,
the ceilings, the floor and the
furniture,” he adds.
As it was a purely traditional
Qatari architectural building and
they needed a concept for the
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Al Rayan Radio 102FM design and build by BluRibbon.
The interior of a residence designed by Mohamad.
Mohamad says he likes to design his own pieces of the design concept.
Photo by Umer Nangiana
three connected corridors to have
nice cozy finish, Mohamad says it
came out perfectly well for him.
Sometimes, he says, he gets
a project and there is this one
piece that he wants to use, so the
whole area will be conceptualised
around it. It is the feature element
and the focal point in the whole
area.
In other cases, it is totally
different. He would think about
the ceilings, the walls and the
floor and then the furniture. But
most of the times, the furniture
is the focal item because after
all he is primarily the furniture
designer.
“I like to focus my work on
furniture and when we are talking
about furniture. It is not about
GULF TIMES
a chair or a table. No, it is about
the material, fabric, the colour
scheme, the wood, the finish itself
and the function of it,” says the
designer.
It has to be functional as well.
“I always try my best to make an
item for my client that he can save
with him for years to come,” he
claims.
Mohamad says you cannot
create a concept for a space
without thinking about the
furniture and each item in it
that you are going to use inside
the space. You have to see the
function and dimensions of the
space and if you want to go for a
maximisation or minimisation
concept. “Each space has its
own story and we (designers) try
The space itself dictates the design.
to make it elaborate and give it
our own personal touch,” says
Mohamad.
Whatever they teach you in
the school is not applied in the
real market, he observes. “Life
is not about the book of design.
They can teach you standards but
nobody can teach you aesthetics
of a space,” believes Mohamad,
adding they have done designs
for spaces that were totally
unstudied.
This is where the role of the
interior designer comes. He has to
give solutions for such spaces and
how to use every single centimetre
of it, he adds. Most of the times,
the local audiences, he says, are
working with Arabic, Islamic or
Oriental designs but there are
people who appreciate the classic
as well. It is a mix of classic and
contemporary designs.
Their company, BluRibbon
Design Atelier, is a wide
multidisciplinary agency
focusing an approach to interior
design languages, strategies and
research.
It combines years of experience
with creative instinct to bring
innovative interior design
solutions; working with emphasis
on originality, evolving through
personality, reliability and strong
customer understanding to deliver
inspired interior design.
“Our presence in Qatar and our
understanding of the local Gulf
and Middle East market makes
cross-cultural design another
Photo by Umer Nangiana
key expertise we focus on in our
design practice,” says Mohamad.
In 2003, Mohamad started
his own industrial workhouse
in Beirut, Lebanon, providing
design solutions, strategic
conceptualising, and project
management from inception
to fruition for a multitude of
projects.
His commissioned interior
projects encompassed furniture
and textiles, lighting, graphic
interiors, and digital art. With his
work, Mohamad received various
awards such as finalist Lebanese
Broadcasting Group (2006),
finalist Lebanese Arts Foundation
(2006) and finalist Best Interior
Designer Qatar Expo INFDEX
(2008).
6
GULF TIMES Wednesday, August 31, 2016
COMMUNITY
GROUP PHOTO: The participants of the PIBAQ Youth Camp.
Photos by Ronnie Castro
Basketball clinic for kids below
17 years of age concludes
F
ilipino kids recently completed the
eighth session of the basketball
clinic of a summer youth camp
organised jointly by Pinoy
Basketball of Qatar (Pibaq) and
Samahan ng Basketbol sa Pilipinas (SBP)
Qatar Chapter.
The training sessions in the Pibaq Youth
Camp were attended by children of Overseas
Filipino Workers aged 17 and below to
enhance their talents in the sport, which is
highly popular among Filipinos back home.
The sessions were held every Friday at
Al Gharafa Training Gym, where they were
taught advance skills in playing basketball
by top notch Filipino trainers who were once
hardcourt idols in their heydays back home.
The students will be eligible to play in
Pibaq’s 21st season in the Under 14 and Under
17 Divisions when it opens on September 16,
BRIEFING: Children listen intently to Coach Jojo Longalong.
and put their newly-acquired skills to test.
“I’m sure they can proudly put to practice
what they learnt at the basketball clinic; we
saw promising basketball stars there,” said
Pat Carido.
The camp, he said, allowed the children
to learn advanced skills and techniques, as
compared to the basics taught in an earlier
minicamp.
Led by Pibaq Youth Director coach Francis
Mercado — who once was a star player of San
Beda Red Lions — the trainers were coach
Ferdinan “Poldong” Rodriguez who played in
San Juan Knights of the defunct Metropolitan
Basketball Association, Bryan Tolentino, who
once played for National University Bulldogs,
Jojo Longalong, former RP Youth team
standout and Willy Layag, former back-toback MVP of Toyota Otis and Head coach of
Florida Institute.
Even the younger kids were trained to discover their hidden talents.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence
celebrates its seventh year in Qatar
H
oliday Villa Hotel & Residence
Doha celebrated its seventh
anniversary recently. The
festivity kicked off with a
glamorous cultural night for
the management and staff. The evening
acknowledged the multi-ethnicity of
the hotel and allowed the employees to
showcase their national costumes and
traditional performances. The event theme
highlights multi nationalities working as
one to achieve a common goal.
Holiday Villa General Manager Joey Chen
said in his opening remarks, “We are all
away from home, the hotel becomes our
family while we are here. In spite of our
differences, we need to work harmoniously
together and help one another to achieve
the company and our own personal goals. To
look forward to more successful years would
not be possible without working hand-inhand.”
The evening also recognised the
outstanding achievements of its employees.
Holiday Villa Doha General Manager Joey Chen starting the Cultural Night anniversary celebration
with his opening speech.
Employee of the Year were Raslal Mahara
(housekeeping department – front of the
house) and Manish Kumar Nayak (safety &
security department – back of the house);
Supervisor of the Year was Kuber Thapa
(finance department); Manager of the
Year was Ishtiaq Ahmed (maintenance
department); and GM’s Special Award
went to Hany Ibrahim (housekeeping
department).
“The cogwheel of the hotel’s mechanism
starts solely with the staff. Without the
cogwheel, this business will not move
to greater heights. The hotel is proud to
have people who are passionate in their
profession and finds delight in being part of
growing this business,” Chen said.
The employee celebration brought an
inter-department competition and Mr. &
Ms. Holiday Villa Best Traditional Costume
winners. Each employee brought home
amazing prizes and loot bags. The event
also acknowledged the unwavering support
given by the sponsors and business partners.
CELEBRATIONS: Managers and staff showcasing their national costumes at the 7th Holiday Villa
Doha Anniversary.
InterContinental Doha reveals Dine & Drive winner
I
nterContinental Doha partnered
with Q Auto–Volkswagen to
announce the winners of the
Dine & Drive promotion which
took place at InterContinental
Doha between 7th of May to the 23rd of
August 2016.
Cristina Vizante, with ticket number
1120, won a brand-new Volkswagen
Golf GTI 2016 in the raffle draw. The
raffle draw was followed by the awards
ceremony at InterContinental Doha on
The raffle draw.
August 24 with the grand prize being
awarded by the Marketing Manager
of Q Auto, Anthony Kwan. Also in
attendance were Resident Manager
Georges Khalil, Ministry of Economy
representative Mohammad Saad
Alkwary, and Assistant Director for Food
& Beverage Panagiotis Tsiknas.
Anthony Kwan, on behalf of Q-Auto,
said, “We are extremely happy with
the partnership and we hope Cristina
enjoys her brand new car. We hope she
The winner getting keys to her brand new Golf GTI.
would be able to live the Volkswagen
GTI experience as she drives along the
bustling streets of Doha.” “We express
our sincerest thank you to Q Auto for
partnering with us in this tremendously
successful event. We strive to create
unforgettable experiences and we
believe that this partnership has greatly
contributed to our goal,” commented
the Area Director for Sales and
Marketing at InterContinental Doha,
Janet Turner.
8
GULF TIMES Wednesday, August 31, 2016
COMMUNITY
OFFBEAT
Speedbird soars into cyberspace
BOAC Junior Jet Club logbook with the Speedbird logo and JJC badge in the foreground.
C
hildhood memories of
BOAC, the predecessor
of British Airways,
have brought a group of
people from around the
globe together in the cyberspace.
These men and women from
different walks of life have one
thing in common. They are all
former members of BOAC’s Junior
Jet Club (JJC) – a forum set up
by the airline (British Overseas
Airways Corporation) in the late
1950s to keep young passengers
amused on long flights and kindle
their interest in aviation.
Members of the JJC, who often
travelled as Unaccompanied
Minors, were given a badge and a
log book which allowed them to
collect the signature of the captain
every time they flew BOAC, or later
BA, certifying their flight.
The log book carried details
such as the date of journey, port
of embarkation, destination and
the distance covered in statute
miles. And members who notched
up 25,000 miles were presented a
certificate by the airline.
Launched on March 26, 1957, the
BOAC Junior Jet Club continued to
flourish when BOAC & BEA (British
European Airways) merged in 1974
to form British Airways.
Some 27 years later, on March
29, 1984, the JJC ceased to exist,
and was replaced by ‘Flightrider’
along with an enrolment fee of £1
and an annual membership £2.50.
Flightrider too didn’t last long and
was eventually rebranded in 1988 as
‘Skyflyers’.
Now, three decades later, former
JJC member Simon Jones has
formed a Facebook group where the
club lives on, at least in spirit.
What began as a small online
forum with just a handful of
members in 2012, is now a vibrant
A screenshot of the Junior Jet Club Facebook Page.
group of over 500 aviation buffs,
many of them sons and daughters
of former BOAC/BA staff.
Besides sharing their anecdotal
experiences as young passengers on
BOAC’s aircraft that are no longer
in service, such as the De Havilland
Comet 4, Argonaut, Dakota, Boeing
707, VC-10, Lockheed Tristar and
the Concorde, the members have
also posted pictures of these fine
airplanes, BOAC /BA memorabilia
and old adverts of the airline that
take one on a trip down memory
lane.
But the piece de resistance in
the whole collection is the JJC’s
trademark blue log book bearing
BOAC’s most recognisable logo,
the Speedbird, on its cover. Visitors
to the site can see pictures of the
log books with entries dating back
to 1950s, and the 25,000-mile
certificates presented by the airline.
One member, Russell Pendregaust,
A 25,000-mile certificate.
was just three years old by the time
he clocked up 30,000 miles in 1963
– a ‘supersonic’ globe-trotting feat
in pre-Concorde days that made
him a local celebrity.
Another JJC member, Mark
Taylor, has demonstrated his love
for VC-10 by converting his shed to
resemble the interior of the aircraft
– complete with seats, windows
and a bulkhead!
Some avid fans of the club have
preserved the log book to this
Entries in a JJC logbook.
day, and still get it signed by BA
captains.
Whenever it is presented, the
log book creates a lot of interest
among the present-day crew, some
of whom have been trained or
mentored by former captains who
have signed the books.
The erstwhile Junior Jet Club
may well be defunct, but former
members of the club have breathed
new life into Speedbird and
launched it into cyberspace.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
OFFBEAT
Polo’s elite image slowly
dissolving in Europe
Thomas Strunck, president of the Polo Club Timmendorfer Strand in Friesack,
Germany.
By Laura Lewandowski
L
egend has it that polo originates in
Persia and dates back to around 370
BC. Alexander the Great, whose
armies swept through some 40
years later, is said to have become an
instant fan.
By the mid-19th century the sport had
taken hold among Europe’s upper classes,
with British army officers among the most
passionate devotees — a tradition that
continues with the British Royals often seen on
polo ponies.
Spain is another country where the sport
is popular, but Argentina is today seen as its
unchallenged mecca.
The South American country is home to the
superstars of the game and its best horses —
called ponies, even though most of the mounts
are full-sized horses these days.
Polo matches in Argentina draw crowds in
the tens of thousands, and passions run as high
as they do with football elsewhere in the world.
Long seen as an elite sport — each rider has
to have more than one pony — polo is now no
longer confined to the wealthy.
“We want to create a wider base for polo,”
says Bernhard Willroth of the DPV German
polo association, which was founded as
recently as 1972 and has seen rapid growth in
recent years.
The focus is on attracting more young
players, with the 35 clubs that are members
of the association being motivated to expand
induction courses.
There are no super-rich at the polo club in
Friesack near Berlin, where Thomas Strunck,
52, organises one of Germany’s largest
tournaments.
Strunck stands alongside Johan on pony “Andy”.
Chilled water, rather than champagne, is the
beverage of choice, and Strunck is adamant
that he aims to rid the sport of its elitist and
chic image to focus on the skills of the riders
and their mounts.
Two teams of four players, each wielding a
The equipment used to play polo.
Polo player Johan Funk-Gallardo on pony “Andy”
during training.
mallet, vie to strike the ball — usually plastic
these days — into the opponents’ goal, which is
eight yards wide (7.3 metres)
Fitness of horse and rider, good coordination and teamwork are essential. “Pure
adrenalin for rider and pony,” Strunck says.
According to the DPV, there are just 400
registered players in Germany, with only
150 playing regular tournaments. There are
scarcely any established teams — something
that Strunck and his colleagues aim to change.
—DPA
10 GULF TIMES Wednesday, August 31, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
You’re free! Five great ideas for
repurposing kids’ bedrooms
N
ow that your kids have launched lives of
their own, you may be considering how
to maximise the extra space they left
behind.
Making renovations can be a fun way
to turn their now-empty rooms into a useful and/
or relaxing space for your own enjoyment. And your
timing could be spot on; a recent survey found half
of empty-nesters of pre-retirement age are opting to
stay in their family homes instead of downsizing.
Here are some DIY ideas for using such tools to
repurpose your space:
Private gym
Building a workout space right into your home
should eliminate any excuses to avoid exercise.
Features might include mirrored walls, storage space
for gear, a sound system, extra ventilation and/or
rubber floor tiles for acoustic control.
Man or woman cave
This room could incorporate an endless array of
hobbies specific to your interests including reading,
watching movies, creating art, practising music,
playing video games or cheering on your favourite
sports team.
Guest bedroom
Now that your kids have flown the coop, you have more
time to entertain friends, whereupon an appealing guest
bedroom could be a boom to your social life. Another
option is using space-saving furniture to combine a guest
bedroom with a room that serves other purposes, such as
an office or reading room.
Walk-in closet
Multiple retailers now offer dream closet components
like drawers, bars, shelves, mirrors and containers.
Consider a vanity and/or benches for relaxing as you
apply makeup, try on shoes and accessories and create the
perfect outfit.
Meditation room
Create a space to recharge yourself physically and
mentally, perhaps with natural light, a sound system and
elements of nature like plants, flowers and/or a water
fountain. To achieve a Zen quality, minimal furniture and
accessories are recommended. Pastels or dark colours are
considered the most relaxing colours. Consider building
a customised meditation table to work as the centrepiece
of your room.
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
Today’s Moon in Scorpio suggests that you will be thinking about
money — in particular money you share with people around you —
your partner whether they are a business or personal partner.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
With today’s Moon in Scorpio, your fellow water sign and fifth house
of romance and fun, this is a day to do just that...kick up your Cancer
heels and have fun!
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
There is nothing worse than feeling as if you are being overlooked
for something you feel worthy and deserving of, is there? All you can
do is hold out and see if things don’t change around in your favour.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
There is nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it Capricorns.
Being an earth sign, you know when and how to dig your heels in
and really focus on the end result.
© Brandpoint
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
The Moon in your one on one relationship zone today combined
with the 2 personal planets in your romance and fun zone suggest
that this is indeed a sexy day!
LEO
July 23 — August 22
Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today Leos. There are some
really good planetary aspects for you right now and you should take
advantage of them.
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
The Moon shines in your sign today and highlights your first house
of ego and personality. You may feel a little (or a lot) moodier than
usual. Avoid anyone and anything that pushes your buttons a little
(or a lot).
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
There is a heavy water/earth cosmic contingency happening today
and being an air sign, you may feel as if you are thwarted no matter
where you turn or try to go. Soldier on!
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
If you can avoid discussions about those things that always get you
‘going’ — i.e. upset you — do so Gemini’s. Keeping calm and remain
committed to whatever cause you’ve chosen.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
Mercury, Venus and Jupiter the planet of luck line up in your sign,
your first house of personality and appearance. You are in the best
possible place you can be in 2016. Make the most of it.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
In a few days, Saturn, the planet of life’s lessons and the teacher of
the zodiac finally moves direct in your sign after being out of phase
in your sign since late March. Get ready to step into high gear again.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
It’s an exceptionally good time astrologically for you Pisces, with the
Moon shining in Scorpio, your spiritual zone and Mercury, Venus and
lucky Jupiter living la vida loca in your friendship zone. Enjoy!
12 GULF TIMES Wednesday, August 31, 2016
COMMUNITY
Adam
Wordsearch
Pooch Cafe
Ancient Weapons
BALLISTA
BATTLEAXE
BROADSWORD
CLAYMORE
CUDGEL
CUTLASS
DIRK
FUSIL
JAVELIN
LANCE
LONGBOW
MACE
MUSKET
PIKE
PONIARD
RAPIER
SCIMITAR
SHILLELAGH
SLING
SPEAR
Codeword
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once.
Squares with the same number in have the same letter
in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.
PUZZLES/CARTOONS
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
1. Backpack (9)
8. Employ (3)
9. Compliant (11)
11. Atrocious (7)
12. Offence (5)
13. Probable (6)
15. Scanty (6)
17. Fetch (5)
18. Ceremonial staff (7)
20. Inoculation (11)
22. First woman (3)
23. Modern (6-3)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
2. Curve (3)
3. Animal, in short (5)
4. Evaluate (6)
5. Patella (7)
6. Ice-cream flavour (5-6)
7. Continue (9)
10. Mercury (11)
11. Poorly-planned (4-5)
14. Rational (7)
16. Aid (6)
19. Rub out (5)
21. Eggs (3)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
1. Complete kit collected for the match (9)
8. The fury of one sapper (3)
9. See when bird is diverted to Melanesian
islands (3,8)
11. Burglarious activity is almost shattering
(5-2)
12. Estimated speed by the first of the
drivers (5)
13. Exclusive denomination including the
Spanish (6)
15. What to do in ruling over nations (6)
17. Distinguishes foreign currency (5)
18. Those who use originality as bookmakers (7)
20. But his literary output is not
necessarily supernatural (5-6)
22. Timber or the remains of it (3)
23. Safety exercise for marksmen? (4-5)
DOWN
2. Whisky consumed by Barry Evans (3)
3. Eastern potentate to tremble, we
hear (5)
4. Kind of knight going astray? (6)
5. Experience the start of the expedition
in unfamiliar ground (7)
6. Be dilatory in correspondence and
fail to get the job (4,3,4)
7. Tiredness affects the occupants (9)
10. Revolver manufacturer (11)
11. Able to get involved with steam iron,
for example (4,5)
14. Rejected actors in the wings (4-3)
16. Agent for loud thespian (6)
19. Weary, harassed editor leaving
nothing out (5)
21. Measure some of the parallel lines (3)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 7 Grotto; 8 Colour; 10 Operate; 11 Force;
12 Lout; 13 Curry; 17 Denim; 18 Hour; 22 First; 23
Ruinous; 24 Inform; 25 Barren.
Down: 1 Ignoble; 2 Hopeful; 3 Steak; 4 Comfort;
5 Mourn; 6 Brief; 9 Pecuniary; 14 Letters; 15
Sojourn; 16 Present; 19 Affix; 20 Craft; 21 Vital.
CRYPTIC
Across: 7 Tartan; 8 Source; 10 Resolve; 11 Riled;
12 Unit; 13 Yoked; 17 Stork; 18 Vera; 22 Exact; 23
Theatre; 24 Lesson; 25 Goblin.
Down: 1 Stirrup; 2 Brassie; 3 Gable; 4 Courses;
5 Drill; 6 Leads; 9 Democrats; 14 Station; 15
Seattle; 16 Pageant; 19 Seals; 20 Waist; 21 Helot.
13
14 GULF TIMES Wednesday, August 31, 2016
COMMUNITY
CINEMA
Venice Film Festival
promises to be gripping
MUSICAL: A screen grab from La La Land, which is being billed as an early contender for Oscars.
By Gautaman Bhaskaran
T
he world’s oldest movie festival at
Venice opens today — August 31
— on the breathtakingly beautiful
island of Lido, which stands across
a lagoon overlooking mainland’s
St Marks Square. Damien Chazelle’s La La
Land will unroll the 11-day cinematic event
— which during Mussolini’s days gave such
a hard time to the French that they went
back home sulking but determined to start
something that they could call their own.
Thus began Cannes, which despite a severe
hiccup brought about World War II, is now
the unchallenged queen of all film festivals.
La La Land is a musical and seems like
a pleasant opening shot, compared with
last-year’s bone chilling Everest, where
which several climbers die in a terrifying
blizzard. Staring Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling
and John Legend, La La Land is being seen
as a wonderful tribute to the golden age of
Hollywood musicals. Not just this, but as
Venice Festival Director Alberto Barbera, said
in a media interview: “La La Land is a movie
that does not merely reinvent the musical
genre, it gives it a brand new start...the film
with the biggest chance to become an Oscar
contender.”
La La Land traces the life of a couple — Mia
(Stone), an aspiring actress who serves lattes
to cinema stars in between her disappointing
auditions, and Sebastian (Gosling), a jazz
musician, who survives by playing cocktail
gigs in seedy bars. As success begins to knock
on their lives, Mia and Sebastian will have to
confront decisions that affect their love affair.
Some of the other movies that are being
keenly awaited on the Lido are Tom Ford’s
drama, Nocturnal Animals, Jacqueline
Kennedy biopic Jackie, starring Natalie
Portman, and Michael Fassbender-Alicia
Vikander romance, The Light Between Oceans.
And then, there is Mel Gibson, whose
directorial effort after a 10-year hiatus, a war
biopic called Hacksaw Ridge, may well turn
out to scintillating.
Also on the list of titles marked with stars
are Rama Burshtein’s Through The Wall and
Katell Quillévéré’s Heal The Living.
Yet another hotly anticipated feature
at Venice will be Paolo Sorrentino’s The
Young Pope. The dashing young Hollywood
actor, Jude Law, will play the American
pontiff Pius XIII — a conservative, cigarette
smoking Catholic priest. The film will have
Diane Keaton as a nun. The cast, entirely
international, will include James Cromwell
essaying Cardinal Michael Spencer, Silvio
Orlando as Cardinal Voiello, Cecile de France
as Vatican City’s marketing executive, Sofia,
and the hot French actress, Ludvine Sagnier,
(remember her in Swimming Pool?), as the
wife of a Swiss guard. Wow, that is quite an
impressive cast list.
***
Adoor’s Pinneyum
The master of the medium, Adoor
Gopalakrishnan, once took on the holy
cow of Communism in his Mukhamukham
(Face-to-Face) — undaunted by the fact
Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s latest film lambasts
his own Nair community, and he does it with
a kind of courage that can come only out of
conviction.
that he happened to be living in the lion’s
very own den! Kerala was the first State in
India to have had a democratically voted
Communist Government (which was in the
late 1950s), and the second in the world
after San Marino.
Earlier, Adoor made his debut in 1972
with Swayamvaram — a provocative look at
a couple living together outside marriage.
This was considered scandalous and
unacceptable in those times.
His latest outing, his 12th feature,
Pinneyum — which comes after a long gap
of eight years — is yet another shocker. He
lambasts his own Nair community, and he
does it with a kind of courage that can come
only out of conviction.
Adoor takes us back to the 2000 era in
Kerala, which was beginning to see the
ugly face of consumerism. It was a time
when Kerala’s Gulf boom was on with
just about every other household having
at least one member of its family on the
deserts of Arabia. It was not uncommon
to see Malayalees flush with money, which
they liberally used to shower themselves
with all kinds of goodies. I have seen the
rather uncanny sight of a huge, garishly
painted bungalow standing rather forlornly
bang in the midst of paddy fields! Towns
brightened up with men and women
sporting expensive clothes, and driving
around in the fanciest of cars. These
jalopies were insanely priced.
And those who did not have these,
aspired, often desperately, to up their status
with Gulf money by chasing sometimes
almost impossible dreams.
The Nair family in Pinneyum also has
its aspirations — only that in this case
they stoke the fire of avarice. The family
comprises a retired school-master, Pappu
Pillai (played with a touch of brilliance, as
ever, by Nedumudi Venu), his rather sickly
son, Kuttan (another great performer,
Indrans), daughter Devi (Kavya Madhavan,
a fine piece of acting here), her husband,
Purushotaman (a controlled Dileep) and
their little daughter, Revathy (who grows
up to be newcomer Meera Nalloor). And
there is also Devi’s maternal uncle, Kuttan
Pillai (another engrossing performance by
Vijayaraghavan).
The Nairs’ dream begins on a low
key. Pappu wants his son-in-law,
Purushotaman — who lives with him — to
find a job, which he has not been able to
in many years, with the family depending
largely on Devi’s salary from her teaching
assignment in a local school. Purushotaman
is the butt of ridicule. His father-in-law
and Devi’s uncle never let go a chance to
criticise him — the exceptions being his
wife and her brother. And while “gharjamai” Purushotaman punctuates his time
between job interviews by devouring the
works of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan
Doyle, Gopalakrishnan drops a hint here
of the menacingly dark clouds which are
gathering on the horizon.
When Purushotaman finally clinches
an opportunity in Dubai, the family is
deliriously happy, and his frequent visits
home bring in a lot of joy — and envy.
Neighbours and long forgotten relatives
begin to troop into the Nair household
seeking favours. And the Nairs themselves
begin to feel their feet going off the ground.
Their needs multiply, their wants even
more so.
Till a time comes when Purushotaman,
Pappu and Uncle Kuttan plan an insurance
fraud. Devi is not happy with the idea, while
her brother, Kuttan, is kept well out of this
devious plot, which involves a murder.
One is aghast at the way the Nairs turn
into ruthless killers from the simple godfearing people that they were — kind and
considerate and compassionate. So much
so that when one watches that crucial scene
in Pinneyum, one is shocked into a state of
disbelief.
An engaging work from a man who has
given us gems like Elippathayam (Rat-Trap,
about the debasement of the landed gentry
in Kerala), Vidheyan (The Servile, which
explores the brute force of the powerful)
and Nizhalkkuthu (Shadow Kill, tracing a
hangman’s guilt).
z Gautaman Bhaskaran is covering
the Venice Film Festival, and may be
e-mailed at gautamanb@ hotmail.com
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
GULF TIMES
15
COMMUNITY
SHOWBIZ
Don’t want quick success: Sayani
By Nivedita
A
ctress Sayani Gupta,
who garnered positive
response for her debut
film Margarita with a
Straw and later Shah
Rukh Khan-starrer Fan, is ready
with her forthcoming films Jagga
Jasoos and Baar Baar Dekho. She
says that she is not eyeing big
banner films and that she doesn’t
believe in quick success.
Does she plan to do only big
banner films with superstars?
She told IANS at the ongoing
Lakme Fashion Week (LFW)
Winter/Festive 2016: “That’s
exactly what I don’t have. I am
here to do good work and I feel
whatever matches my sensibilities
as a performer ... because I am here
for a long run. I don’t want quick
success.”
“I am here to stay for the next 50
years. As long as I live, I want to do
this. I want to be proud of the work
I do in the long run. I want to be
proud of my body of work. I left a
very well-paying job to study films
and acting.
“I am equipped but I am not
interested in doing films even if
it’s the lead part where the story
or script is not exciting. I don’t
want to work for a director. I want
to work for a story. As of now, I
have said no to a lot of stuffs and
sometimes I get scared that may be
I am not doing the right thing but I
don’t regret saying no,” she added.
She will now be seen in Karan
Johar’s co-production Baar Baar
Dekho.
Sayani said: Baar Baar Dekho is a
very offbeat love story. It’s an edgy
sort of a romantic film. The kind of
play the narrative has, you will have
to see it (to get it). It goes back and
forth. I feel Nitya Mehra (the film’s
director) is friends with the best
people in the industry and every
single department is handpicked in
the film,” she said.
With so many films on different
subjects coming out in Bollywood,
the actress feels that it’s a good
time for the industry. “Not only
actors, but writers and directors
... they are interested in different
kind of stories and it’s not only
about making that action film
or a blockbuster romantic film.
Especially in our country, you will
get amazing stories to tell,” said the
actress, who plans to direct and
produce films some day.
Is she scared of failure in life?
“Failure is great and I think all
of us experience failure many a
times but you should never take
it seriously. There were days
when I used to go for eight to nine
auditions. My only purpose was
that everybody who is making a
film in Mumbai should know that
I exist. That kind of belief will get
you through and nothing can affect
you,” she said. — IANS
LONG RUN: Sayani Gupta
Khloe Kardashian
finds it hard to diet
Stephen Strange arrogant
but also humorous: Cumberbatch
Reality TV personality Khloe
Kardashian feels better when she
eats well, and so she finds it tough
to go on a diet. The 32-year-old
finds it hard to stick to a strict
healthy eating regime, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
“Eating healthy isn’t always easy,
boo,” Khloe posted on her website.
“I’m the first to admit that
changing your diet is hard as @@**.
I feel so much better when I eat
right though so it’s definitely worth
it,” she added.
She does her bit by swapping
common foods and treats for
Benedict Cumberbatch is bringing the character ‘Sorcerer
Supreme’ Stephen Strange to life on the silver screen via
Doctor Strange, a take on the comic book. The British actor
says his role will be arrogant, but funny.
Cumberbatch shared what drew him to the project in an
interview to Empire magazine, reports hollywoodreporter.
com.
“The lure as an actor is the script, the director, Kevin
(Feige), and talking about how to make a character written in
the 1960s and 1970s relevant now,” said Cumberbatch.
He said the idea is to make the character “slightly less
arrogant”.
“Arrogant, but also humorous,” he added.
Cumberbatch also revealed his favourite moment in the
trailer — it is when Strange whips his signature red cape
around his shoulders in a stylishly flamboyant fashion.
The Sherlock actor said: “It was wonderful to see that
moment get a cheer. He’s really earned it by then.”
Doctor Strange also stars Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton,
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, and Benedict Wong. — IANS
ROLE CALL: Benedict Cumberbatch
Jennifer Aniston credits
father for flawless skin
GENETICS AT PLAY: Jennifer
Aniston
Actress Jennifer Aniston has
credited her father for her flawless
and beautiful skin. The 47-yearold says that her father John
Aniston, 82, and her grandmother
are the secret behind her flawless
complexion, although she has
admitted her appearance was not
always as blemish-free as it is now,
reports femalefirst.co.uk.
“Well, first and foremost, I have
my father to thank for that (skin)
and my grandmother. They have
beautiful skin so there’s genetics
at play but I’ve always been very
mindful of taking care of my skin,”
Aniston told Glamour magazine. “I
always wash it properly, drink lots
and lots of water and I really believe
that what you put inside your body
reflects through your skin.
“I remember during teenage
years and even in my 20s, I kind of
thought I was invincible, as you
do at that age, and could eat all the
crap in the world but it affected my
skin. I had a few more blemishes
and sometimes an uneven tone, but
now I take care of it. It changes as
you get older and evolves and you
need to progress your regime with
time,” she added.
However, Jennifer regrets not
applying sun cream to protect her
skin when she was younger. “I
always think, ‘Why didn’t someone
make me wear sunscreen?’ Again,
it comes back to being young and
thinking I was invincible, I thought
that dewy, tanned skin would
just stay beautiful but you have to
protect it. I understand it’s not easy,
it’s hard to keep remembering and
reapplying but it’s so worth it,” the
Friends star said. — IANS
TOUGH CALL: Khloe Kardashian
healthier replacements. “My
biggest tip for starting off strong is
to swap out some common foods
you eat for healthier versions.
Instead of serving a cream cheese
based dip at a party, set out high
protein hummus. Bonus points if
you serve with veggies instead of
crackers,” Khloe wrote.
“White pasta is high in refined
carbs, which means it won’t keep
you full for very long. Vegetable
noodles made from zucchini or
squash are so much better for you
and taste just as good with tomato
sauce. “Replace salty potato chips
that are packed with fatty oils with
baked kale chips. I swear these can
be addicting,” she added. — IANS
16 GULF TIMES Wednesday, August 31, 2016
COMMUNITY
Doha Beauty Show to
host top brands, experts
Slated for October, the three-day extravaganza will showcase the latest
trends and offerings in the global beauty industry. By Anand Holla
I
n the GCC, the average
spend on cosmetics and
fragrances is around $334
per person, industry
insights reveal. In Qatar
alone, there are almost 1,000
sales points and Qatar’s strategic
location in the GCC as a trade
hub has enabled many to invest in
cosmetic manufacturing.
These are some of the facts and
figures at hand with the organisers
of what promises to be a onestop-beauty-shop extravaganza –
the Doha Beauty Show. Dedicated
to local and international trade
and beauty professionals as well
as local consumers, the first Doha
beauty exhibition-show will be
held from October 20 to 22 at the
Doha Exhibition and Convention
Centre.
According to the organisers,
Doha Beauty Show is the first
B2B and B2C platform that brings
trade professionals and beauty
specialists expertly matched to
discuss business agendas and
potential partnership. “With the
beauty industry continuously
flourishing in the Middle East
aligning with Qatar’s thriving
economic growth, it is only apt
to open the opportunity to both
international brands to cater
the Qatari market, and the local
brands to introduce their products
globally.”
In a span of three days, the
show will focus on the four
cornerstones of the beauty
industry: cosmetics & fragrance,
spa & aesthetics, natural products
and hair care & nails. From top
local and international beauty
brands to industry experts, from
international beauty associations
to local retailers and developers,
and from hotels and health and
wellness institutions to local
institutions and regulatory
bodies, some of the finest in the
business are all set to descend on
Doha come October.
Co-organised by Elan Events
Management and Fira Barcelona,
the show will be open to the
public in the afternoon of October
20 and continue to 21 and 22,
allowing consumers to learn about
the latest trends and offerings
in the global beauty industry.
Earlier this month, in an official
statement, Ahmed al-Mulla, COO
of entertainment at Elan Group
Qatar, had said, “We are pleased
to announce the first edition of
the Doha Beauty Show that is
BIG DRAW: Earlier in May, Beautyworld Middle East 2016 in Dubai attracted 37,553 visitors from 131 countries.
set to boost the growth of the
local beauty industry. It is the
ideal platform to connect local
consumers, retailers and experts
with international brands that are
looking to depute their offerings
in Qatar.”
Some of the other facts and
figures about GCC and Doha,
shared by the organisers, are:
Middle East and Africa are
predicted to be the world’s second
fastest growing beauty market,
and Euromonitor forecasts the
value of MEA region’s beauty and
personal care market will grow
4.25 per cent annually to reach
more than $30bn in 2018. Earlier
in May, Beautyworld Middle
East 2016, the 21st edition of the
region’s largest international
beauty and wellness trade show,
featured 1,530 exhibitors from
60 countries, and attracted
37,553 visitors from 131 countries,
highlighting the vast potential
of the Middle East and African
market for beauty and personal
care.
Health and Wellness market
in Qatar is dominated by the
Cosmetics & Fragrance and
Spa & Salon Market come in as
second players, industry insights
reveal. The beauty and cosmetics
sector in Qatar registered
significant growth due to the
strong purchasing power of the
residents, and the availability
of varied products that suit all
budgets and taste.
The first day of the Doha
Beauty Show will be dedicated to
businesses and traders, presenting
a networking opportunity for
international brands to be
introduced to Qatar’s beauty
industry and connect with
local retailers and regulatory
authorities. The programme
of the Doha Beauty Show “will
include a mix of sessions with
regulatory authorities, local
beauty influencers and industry
experts, which will shed light on
beauty practice, and beauty and
healthcare preferences in Qatar.”
Following the opening
ceremony at 9.30am on October
20, there will be a B2B Match
Meeting from 10am to 1pm, and
opening for public at 3pm. The
following two days, October 21
and 22, will see the event open for
public from 3pm to 10pm.
As for the organisers, a
prominent player in the Mena
region’s MICE industry, Elan
Over three days, the show in Doha will focus on the four cornerstones of
the beauty industry cosmetics and fragrance, spa and aesthetics, natural
products, and hair care and nails.
Events is an established events
and venue management firm that
specialises in delivering new-tomarket exhibitions, conferences,
and live festivals.
Their flagship events, the Qatar
Motor Show, Doha Jewellery and
Watches Exhibition, and City
Scape Qatar, have become major
successes. Fira de Barcelona
is one of the most important
trade fair institutions in Europe
and the Spanish market leader,
especially in trade and industrial
shows. It has a portfolio of over
80 shows of different frequencies
with 30,000 exhibitors, both
direct and represented, and
receives 2mn visitors from over
200 countries.