www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

Things to do this weekend

PAGES 2-3

WEEKEND EDITION

DIYDIY GEOMETRIC RUGGEOMETRIC RUG

@peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatarEmail: plus@pen.com.qa thepeninsulaqatar

PAGES 10-11

EVENTSTHINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

02 FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

The exhibition features an exhibition of conceptual Emirati artist Hassan Sharif, titled: “Hassan Sharif: Objects and Files”. The exhibition includes a selection of artist archives and

object installations from between 1981-1987, during which time Sharif established new, self-imposed systems of repetition, dura-tion and chance in the execution of his work.

Sharif’s works are showcased alongside four significant and influential artists from across the Arab world, including Faraj Da-ham (Qatar), Saloua Raouda Choucair (Lebanon), Inji Efflatoun (Egypt) and Farid Belkahia (Morocco).

Where: Ground floor of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in DohaWhen: Until September 4Time: 11am-6pm, Fri: 3pm-8pm, Monday closed Ticket: Free entry

Works from Mathaf Collection, vol. 2

An exhibition by 15 contemporary Chinese artists curated by internationally acclaimed New York-based Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang, presented in the context of Qatar China 2016 Year

of Culture. After his solo exhibition at Mathaf in 2011, Cai Guo-Qiang returns to Qatar to present an exhibition featuring 15 contemporary Chinese artists and collectives working in a variety of media.

Where: QM Gallery Al Riwaq When: Until July 16Time: Sunday to Wednesday 10.30am to 5.30pmThursday and Saturday noon to 8pmFriday 2pm to 8pmTuesdays holidayTickets: Free entry

What About The Art?

Contemporary Art From China

Demystifying FinanceFinance for non-financial managers with Professor Patrick Legland

HHEC Paris in Qatar is offering an Open-enrollment Program in De-mystifying Finance run by Professor Patrick Legland. This program is designed to cover the fundamental aspects of accounting and

finance and to provide participants with an easy-to-learn and practical financial toolbox.

You will leave this program with:• A fresh approach towards accounting and finance• Enhanced skills and financial vocabulary • Self-confidence when discussing subjects as varied as company

financing, value creation or management dashboards

Where: Tornado Tower, West BayWhen: May 18 & 19, 2016Fee: $1,950

One of the world’s most iconic reggae pop bands, UB40 will give their Qatar live debut at Doha’s InterContinental Doha Beach (West Bay Lagoon) on Friday, May 13, 2016. Grab the

best seats before its too late.

When: May 13; 7pm Where: Intercontinental Hotel Doha BeachTicket: QR249 (General), QR499 (VIP tickets); visit q-tickets.com and platinumlist.net to book your tickets.

UB40 Live in Qatar

03

EVENTS

FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

Scan Watch&

Some events mentioned here are for next week. We are

giving you headstart so that you book your tickets in advance.

Qatar qualifications for Neymar Jr 5 Football will be held on May 6 and 7 from 2:30 pm to 6pm at Porto Arabia Boardwalk in The Pearl Qatar. 16 teams will compete in

the final to be held on May 13 with the winning team represent-ing Qatar to compete against teams from 44 countries during the world final in Brazil in July 2016.

When: May 6 and 7; 2:30pm to 6pm Where: Porto Arabia, The Pearl Qatar Entry: Visit www.neymarjrsfive.com and click on sign up

Neymar Jr. 5 Football

International Championship –

Outplay Them All

Doha Bus launches night tour

Scan the QR code to watch videos from The Peninsula newspaper

Top 10 Highest Paid Sportspersons

Qatar Football Association is organising activities in Souq

Waqif to engage fans in the biggest football event of

the year. Activities include face painting in the colours

of Qatari clubs, football juggler and a futchi rebounder .

Where: Souq Waqif When: May 5 & 6

QFA event in Souq Waqif

It’s time to hit the Qatar Sky! Skydive Qatar is holding a skydiving event from May 3 to May 31 in which the adrenaline junkies can sign up and get a chance to jump from an aircraft at 13,000 feet over the

Al Khor desert. Both male and female certified instructors are available. Where: Al Khor AirportWhen: May 3 to May 31Tickets: Tandem jump (QR 1,899 including a souvenir video & pho-tos); Certified Solo Jump (QR150 with Rig rental QR240 )

iDiveQatar

TRAVELThe Wahiba Sands, named for one of the Bedouin tribes that inhabit them — the Bani Wahiba — consists of almost 5,000 square miles of rippling orangy desert in eastern Oman.

04 FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

OMANOMAN Keeping traditions and culture intactKeeping traditions and culture intact

By Mimi KirkThe Washington Post

Oman may be the anti-Dubai. Although

the Gulf country is found just south of

the famed emirate, it boasts no glittering

skyscrapers. Instead, low whitewashed

buildings skirt the coast of the capital,

Muscat, its sole tall edifices the colourful minarets of

mosques. Five times a day, a person - rather than a

recording, as is common in other Gulf cities - recites

the call to prayer from each.

The aesthetic is no accident. When Oman’s ruler,

H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said, overthrew his father in

1970, he inherited a country with six miles of paved

road, three schools and one hospital. Qaboos’s father,

Sultan Said bin Taimur, had been so suspicious of the

outside world, particularly the West, that he banned

things such as radios and sunglasses. Qaboos set about

developing Oman using its moderate oil wealth, but

he pledged to keep its traditions and culture intact.

Almost 50 years later, Oman’s infrastructure is first-

rate, with approximately 18,000 miles of paved road,

more than 1,500 schools and about 250 hospitals and

medical centers serving its population of more than

4 million. Yet Qaboos’s cultural vision was evident as

soon as I arrived at Muscat’s airport in late February.

Omani men strolled by in national dress, a crisp long

robe called a dishdasha, and the sweet, spicy scent

of frankincense - long an Omani commodity - soaked

the air.

Fellow tourists, while in evidence, didn’t seem

to come in hordes as in neighbouring Gulf cities,

although the time of year I was there is peak for

visitors. With temperatures in the 70s and 80s dur-

ing the day and cooler at night, it’s dream weather.

(Summers are a lot hotter, except in the southern

governorate of Dhofar, which experiences a cooling

monsoon that creates a lush, green landscape.) In my

light long-sleeved shirts and pants, with the aim of

dressing respectfully in a Muslim-majority country, I

felt comfortable and at ease.

While Oman’s tourist sector is, like the rest of the

country, well developed, it takes a bit of effort to see

some of the truly stunning sites. My two-week trip in

the north and east of the sultanate included some

of these out-of-the-way places. And while I kind of

cheated - I travelled with a guided tour - it’s possible

to rent a car and do it on your own.

After spending a few days in the capital getting ac-

climated and exploring Old Muscat, the main souk and

the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, I flew to the first of

these remote locations: the Musandam Peninsula. You

have to look closely at a map to understand how this

part of Oman is separate from the rest of the country.

Positioned north of the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah,

the enclave protrudes into the Strait of Hormuz, the

narrow waterway through which about 30 percent of

the world’s oil travels daily.

In the regional capital of Khasab (population

18,000), toothbrush in hand, I boarded a dhow, or

traditional Omani boat, with 10 other tourists for an

overnight sail. Dhows, made of wood, were originally

lashed together using coconut rope rather than nails.

Today, they are still used for trade, as well as to ferry

tourists such as me around the stark and beautiful

khors - or fjords - of the peninsula. Tiny villages hug the

tan, rocky shores, layer upon layer of sediment rising up

behind them - a beginning geology student’s dream.

Dolphin sightings are common, their fins a shiny streak,

as are Iranian speedboats carrying smuggled goods,

such as Marlboro cigarettes, to the Islamic Republic’s

shores only about 50 miles across the Strait.

After a leisurely float among the khors and a swim

in the chilly waters off the dhow, the captain anchored

for the night in a small cove. A tiny boat arrived with

dinner: lightly spiced chicken, rice, lentils and other

dishes emblematic of Omani cuisine, which embodies

the culture’s seafaring and imperial past (Oman once

controlled parts of East Africa and South Asia) with

its mix of Indian, Arabian and African fare and spices.

That night the wind picked up, rattling the vessel’s

fabric roof, and I tossed for a good hour in my sleeping

bag before slumber took over. But by morning, all was

calm, and the boat made its return to Khasab. My next

stop, via a flight back to Muscat and a southerly drive

into the interior, was the desert.

The Wahiba Sands, named for one of the Bedouin

tribes that inhabit them - the Bani Wahiba - consists of

almost 5,000 square miles of rippling orangy desert in

eastern Oman. At the edge of the great expanse, my

guide let out some air in the tires of our 4WD so the

vehicle wouldn’t get stuck on the way to our overnight

locale, a bit cheesily named the Safari Desert Camp.

As he worked over the tires, I took my first steps in the

sand. The only sound was the wind constantly brushing

over the dunes and making narrow rivulets of sand on

the flatter terrain.

05FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

Wikipedia calls Jebel Akhdar Oman’s “wildest” terrain and the term is very appropriate for the place.

After about an hour’s roller-coaster-like drive past

occasional forlorn outposts housing camels, I arrived at

the decidedly un-cheesy camp. Small huts made with

long, narrow sticks were scattered about a plateau, the

interiors outfitted with vibrant red Bedouin textiles and

attached open-air bathrooms. Groups of elderly Omani

men sat together in the reception area. My visit happened

to coincide with the camp hosting them as part of a local

nonprofit organization’s mission to ensure that Oman’s

elderly are provided services and companionship. After

a buffet dinner in the dining hall, local musicians sang

and played the oud and drums for the graying crowd.

Early the next morning, I joined a group on the camp’s

outskirts for a camel ride. I had heard that camels are

ill-tempered, and the fact that many of them sported

crocheted muzzles around their mouths - ostensibly to

keep them from spitting on us -

seemed to confirm this rumour.

Yet the camel right behind mine

seemed friendly enough, stretch-

ing its neck and batting its long

eyelashes at me as I stroked its

head and cooed. And one camel

left behind - the would-be rider

who had reserved her was a no-

show - followed us forlornly about

a quarter mile back when it real-

ized its fellow camels were leaving.

My sense of camel humanity

affirmed, I enjoyed the fiery sun

beating down on my head as our

caravan made its way farther into

the desert, the vista one of the

most incredible I’ve ever seen,

with endless undulating dunes

and camels not designated for

tourist rides (and thus obviously

more authentic) ambling in the

distance.

My last stop was in the moun-

tains of Jebel Akhdar, about a

three-hour drive west from the

desert and near the historic city

of Nizwa. Jebel Akhdar is made

up of the central section of the

al-Hajar Mountains, which sweep the country from the

Musandam Peninsula south through Muscat and end

near the seaside town of Sur.

Wikipedia calls Jebel Akhdar Oman’s “wildest” terrain,

and the term struck me as appropriate. On a steep, curvy

drive up to the Saiq Plateau, situated at 6,500 feet among

rugged peaks, the rain commenced, its brownish water-

falls plummeting down the sides of the crags. In some

places, the water created large pools that our vehicle had

to traverse. Such rains can prove dangerous in Oman, as

floodwaters quickly fill wadis (dry riverbeds), sometimes

surprising hikers and campers. Many have drowned this

way, as well as by trying to cross torrential wadis in cars.

Safely delivered to the plateau and in better weather

the next day, I hiked through the nearby villages of al-

Aqr, al-Ayn and al-Sharayjah. Areas of terrace farming

were carved into the rocky summits and dotted with

tiny mosques and crumbly stone and concrete houses.

While following my guide and fellow hikers, I had to

walk on aflaj, Omani irrigation systems in which water

runs through channels dug into the earth; the channels

I saw in Oman were constructed of concrete. Some of

the aflaj on the hike seemed to be almost carved into

the side of a mountain, with the view from my narrow

walkway a sheer drop to the left or right. I swallowed my

fear of heights and tried to laugh when the guy behind

me advised that I fall “toward the mountain” if I lost my

balance. “It’ll hurt less that way,” he joked. Despite some

sweaty palms, the experience was well worth it.

TRAVEL

Where to stay

Atana Khasab Hotel

Khasab Coastal Rd., Khasab

atanahotels.com

Perched on a rocky cliff overlooking the Strait

of Hormuz. Each room has a private balcony.

Rooms from $175.

Safari Desert Camp

Wahiba Sands

safaridesert.com

Huts and tents on a desert plateau. Buffet din-

ner and breakfast included, transport and camel

rides extra. Tents from $130.

Sahab Hotel

Saiq Plateau, Jebel Akhdar

sahab-hotel.com

Soak in an infinity pool and hot tub at 6,500

feet amid marine fossils dating to 270 million years

ago. Studios from $161.

What to doDolphin Khasab Tours

dolphinkhasabtours.com

Full or half-day dhow cruises of the fjords of

the Musandam Peninsula. Overnight trips may be

available upon request. $54 per adult for a full day,

$41 for a half-day.

Informationomantourism.gov.om

IF YOU GO

• A single hive can produce up to a 100 pounds of honey.

• One pound of honey represents about 55,000 bee miles flown and visits to about 2 million

flowers.

• A single worker bee can pollinate 2,000 flowers a day.

• Almost all bees in hives are female.

• Undertaker bees remove dead bodies from the hive.

• Southeastern blueberry bees live for only about two weeks but pollinate 60,000 blueberry

flowers, which grow blueberries.

How can kids help honeybees?• Learn as much as you can about the species and colony-collapse disorder so that you can

help educate others.

• Plant a wildflower garden in a corner of your yard.

• Encourage your parents to avoid products that contain neonicotinoids.

Bee Fun Facts Bee Fun Facts

Learn as much as you can about bees and colony-collapse disorder so that you can help educate others.

06 FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

YOUNG EDITORS

By Kitson Jazynka The Washington Post

When her professor says it’s time, col-

lege student Gabby Discafani pumps

the beehive smoker. The stainless-steel

container exhales smoke that will calm

the thousands of honeybees waiting in

wooden boxes on the rooftop apiary (or bee hangout) at

George Washington University. Soon they’ll be transferred

into the eight empty hives.

Discafani leads a student bee research team over-

seen by biology professor Hartmut Doebel. Their goal?

To see whether neonicotinoids (pronounced NEE-o-NIC-

o-teen-oyds), a type of chemical used to kill insects, are

contributing to colony-collapse disorder. That is a deadly

condition in which a colony of honeybees stops function-

ing. The disorder has caused more than 40 percent of

the world’s honeybees to disappear.

That’s a serious problem, and not just for people who

like bees. The US Agriculture Department estimates that

bees pollinate about 30 percent of our nation’s food.

“Bees are very, very important,” Doebel (DOE-bull)

says. “If we don’t have pollinators, the flowers cannot

grow from generation to generation, from year to year.

We will lose the ability to grow many of our favorite fruits

and vegetables.”

Discafani has been interested in the problem since

middle school.

“When I was in sixth grade, my science teacher got

upset when she first found out about the bees dying,”

says Discafani, a 20-year-old student from New Jersey.

“She asked us to write haiku poems about bees.”

That moment stuck with Discafani. When she saw a

flier at George Washington about an opportunity to help

with the bee research project, she volunteered.

Discafani helps run the program’s website, GWBuzz.

com, which spreads awareness about the importance

of honeybees. As a research assistant and senior bee-

keeper, she helps perform experiments and care for

the bees.

On this sunny April day, five floors up on the roof of

Bell Hall, Discafani pumps the smoke and then watches

Doebel lightly spray the bees with sugar water to distract

them during the transition from travel box to hive. Then

it’s up to Discafani and the dozen or so other students to

transfer the bees into the rest of the hives. They spray the

next set of bees and then gently shake them into a hive.

They transfer the queen bee - who was kept in a small

box - and then reassemble the hive and move on to the

next one. Each hive can hold 60,000 bees.

Last year, one experiment Doebel and his students

performed examined how neonicotinoids can hurt a bee’s

memory.

“If they have above a certain level, the majority of

the bees won’t ever find their way home,” says student

research assistant Michelle Ahn, 19, who’s from Fairfax.

If a bee is confused or lost, it becomes vulnerable to

disease and loses efficiency. Many bees suffering memory

loss is a disaster for the species.

This year, Doebel and his students will examine how

chemical substances affect the “waggle dance” - that’s

when a bee vibrates its abdomen to communicate to the

other bees the direction and distance to a food source.

Doebel hopes the team’s work will help save bees.

He also hopes more people will learn about the plight

of honeybees and admire and appreciate them instead

of fear them.

“They are harmless,” he says. “If they sting, it’s because

we made a mistake and they are letting us know. And if

they get too close, they are only there asking if they can

share your food.”

Bee stings don’t scare these young researchers

07

YOUNG EDITORS

FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

Kinesthetic learning experience involves learning through doing physical activities, rather than by listening to a teacher talk, watching videos or reading books.

By Raymond M Lane The Washington Post

On a recent Monday morning,

second-graders at Takoma

Park Elementary School

walked into a classroom that

had been transformed.

Instead of the regular desks and chairs,

they saw gray domed things - looking a

little like horseshoe crabs - in neat rows on

the story rug in the middle of the nearly

empty room.

Called BOSU balls, the pillow-size half-

balls are made of plastic and rubber. Flat

on one side, round on the other, with a

bouncy center core, BOSUs are found

in training rooms of some professional

sports teams, at physical therapy centers

helping people recover from injuries, and

in some athletic and recreation facilities.

(The name comes from the idea of using

it “BOth Sides Up,” or BOSU.)

“They’re our desks,” explained sec-

ond-grader Leul Wondwosen, pointing to

jumping, hopping, bouncing, balancing,

rolling, crawling and standing classmates

doing their regular classwork on, near,

under, on top of and over BOSUs. Yoga

balls, balance boards and stand-up ta-

bles lining the walls add to the unusual

study space.

“We’re continually active,” said Leul, 7,

adding, “If we had to sit at desks the whole

day, like last year, we’d be, like, confined

and bored.”

Leul and his 21 classmates agreed this

year to give up their desks for what his

teacher describes as a kinesthetic learn-

ing experience. That means learning by

doing physical activities, rather than by

listening to a teacher talk, watching videos

or reading books.

Kinesthetics requires using space

differently from traditional classrooms.

One elementary school in Kentucky, for

example, replaced desks with sofas and

little tables. A California school brought in

stand-up desks only, with no chairs. Many

schools are experimenting with replacing

chairs with yoga balls.

“Our students voted to get rid of

desks,” said teacher Charlotte Croft. But

before making a decision, Croft said, the

class talked about possible problems.

Delina Berhanu, 7, recalled asking,

“Where will I keep my stuff?”

Classmate Madina Kante, 7, had an

answer. “We’ll keep them in our cubbies,”

she remembered saying.

They also discussed how reading,

writing and math could be done while

bouncing all over the place.

“It helps your brain to work more,” said

Ema Stroudova, 8.

“Like it? I love it,” said Devon Hoverter,

7. “When we had desks, sometimes I got

bored at the same seat over and over.”

Still, students must do the same work

every other second-grader does, and their

test results will be studied closely when

school ends in June, Croft said.

“We have been active all year long on

yoga balls, balance boards and trying new

places to do our work, such as standing

at tables, or on chairs by cubbies, or even

on the shelves of our cubbies,” Croft said.

“And the more active the students have

been, the more improvements I saw in

their schoolwork.”

Absatu Conteh, 7, said other students

would like to be part of the experiment.

“My best friend said, ‘No fair, I want no

desks, too.’ “

For at least one kid in Croft’s class, the

school year is ending too soon.

“Now I have all the tools to have fun

and study,” said Owen Howard, 7. “I am

going to miss it next year in third grade.”

Ditch desks and chairs to

make learning more active

COLOUR MEGUESS THE CHARACTER

Last week’s correct answer: Pokemon Squirtle

Identify this cartoon characterMail us the name of this famous character at plus@pen.com.qa with ‘Guess the Character’ mentioned in the subject line.

Joshitha Palani sent the correct answer to April 22 question. Congrats.

WHEELSThis is one of the best compact crossover-utility vehicles you can buy anywhere.

08 FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

By Warren Brown The Washington Post

I didn’t expect it. I thought I was done with

it, at least for another year, having driven a

2016 prototype in the fall of 2015.

But here it was - a 2016-2017 Ford Es-

cape Titanium crossover-utility vehicle. I was

incredulous. The upswept front fascia cer-

tainly looked 2016. But when I sat in the cabin,

it was 2017.

The automobile business is changing so incred-

ibly fast. Those changes are not just occurring on

the outside of the vehicles. The actual 2017 Escape,

for example, has a wider grille than the 2016 - a

“signature grille,” something more akin to that of

the highly popular Ford Fusion sedan.

But the more meaningful changes are inside

with new electronic control and communications

systems, such as the Sync 3 with Sync Connect

operations panel found in the 2016-2017 Escape

Titanium. It works substantially better than the

MyFordTouch system it replaces.

Sync3 uses an eight-inch touch screen to help

you run the car and monitor the world in which

it operates. It offers hands-free telephone serv-

ice and numerous other conveniences. Stuck in a

meeting? Left your Escape parked in a frigid lot?

Worried about your car’s fuel level and its remain-

ing travel range?

Use Sync3 in connection with another system,

FordPass, to check on your vehicle’s fuel level and

range and start it up when you are ready to go - all

of which brings me to driving.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, largely

because of the plethora of television commercials

showing people speeding all over the place, skid-

ding into stops, etc. It is absolute nonsense. No one

drives like that on a regular basis in the real world.

I drive nearly 40,000 miles annually, mostly up

and down the East Coast.

Anyone doing the kind of silly driving done in

TV commercials is an easy police target. Here are

a few more observations:

_ Rarely is the expensive high-performance car

seen on Interstate 95 or the New Jersey Turnpike

or out west on the Pacific Coast Highway.

_ I can drive 620 miles round-trip from North-

ern Virginia through parts of New Jersey, New York

and Connecticut without spotting one Bentley,

Rolls-Royce or Bugatti on the road. It makes me

wonder: Where are these cars in real, daily life?

_ Wait! Found the exotics! In relatively small

but noticeable numbers, they are on the street of

Beverly Hills and in the Citadel Outlets shopping

center in Los Angeles. Yes, a few can be spotted

in front of Trump Tower in New York City.

But mostly, driving around America and other

parts of the world, there are cars such as the

Ford Escape.

That is why it makes sense for Ford to so quickly

“update” that model, and that is why companies

such as Toyota, Hyundai, Honda and Kia (and, not

as quickly, Chevrolet) are doing the same thing.

Think of it as the-automobile-as-smartphone.

Bottom line: This is one

of the best compact cross-

over-utility vehicles you can

buy anywhere. There are three trim levels - the

base S, the mid-grade SE and the top-line Ti-

tanium that was driven for this column. I highly

recommend that you load your chosen model

with as much advanced electronic safety equip-

ment as you can afford (skip the sunroof if price

is an issue). Think of it as a good health insur-

ance policy.

Ride, acceleration and handling: In the

Titanium with nearly all options, including a turbo-

charged (forced air) 2-liter four-cylinder gasoline

engine, using 89-octane fuel, it was all good.

Head-turning quotient: Modest front-grille

change for 2017. Fits well in any church or school

parking lot.

Body style/layout: This is a compact front-

engine crossover-utility vehicle with standard

front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive.

Convenience upgrades abound for 2017, including

electronics and more storage bins.

Engine/transmission: It comes with a

turbocharged, 16-valve 2-liter

four-cylinder gasoline engine

with variable valve timing

(240 horsepower, 270 pound-feet of torque). It

is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission

that can also be operated manually.

Capacities: Seating is for five people. This is

more of a passenger vehicle than it is a cargo

hauler. Maximum cargo capacity is 67.8 cubic feet.

With the 2-liter engine, it can be outfitted to tow

3,500 pounds. The fuel tank holds 15.5 gallons.

(With the turbocharged engine, use premium or

89-octane gas for best performance.)

Mileage: I used 89-octane and got 29 miles

per gallon on the highway.

Safety: Standard equipment includes four-

wheel disc brakes (ventilated front and solid rear),

four-wheel anti-lock brake protection, emergency

braking assistance, stability and traction control,

post-collision safety system, and side and head

air bags.

Pricing: This was a special model to show the

very latest updates in advanced electronic safety

and communications. Estimated price is $39,200.

Nuts & Bolts

Ford Escape crossover in

sync with the real world

09FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

Follow some of these steps to ensure comfortable summer months till temperatures go down again in September. BEAT THE HEAT

The Peninsula

May, officially the first month of summer,

is upon us and the temperatures are

already soaring to 40 degree celsius.

Qweather predicts hot, very dry climate

for Qatar during this time, which means

it’s the time when cases of heat exhaustion, dehydra-

tion, heat cramps and all heat related illness raise their

ugly head.

Though there’s no escaping the heat here until

and unless you are in air-conditioned office or car,

there are quite a few tips and tricks that can ensure

a smooth passage till temperatures go down again

in September.

1. Drink plenty of water even when not thirsty. Ac-

cording to medical reports, one should drink water

before feeling thirsty, especially during summers. There

are quite a few traditional and popular methods of

managing body temperature which include adding

rosewater, barley to your bottled water.

2. Keep your body temperature low by staying out

of sun as much as possible and drinking fresh juices

and cold meals such as salads. Avoid alcoholic or sug-

ary drink as they cause you to lose fluids.

3. Exercise comfortably, even during summers. Just

because the temperature is soaring, there is no reason

to skip your regular workout session. Switch to exercis-

ing during the evening or early morning in short bursts

and wear comfortable clothes.

4. Ample amount of rest during summers is quin-

tessential. If possible, rest for atleast an hour to two,

especially during the hottest part of the day.

5. Take a dip in the pool (if in shaded area) to re-

duce your body temperature or just fill your bathtub

and soak yourself in the cool water and give yourself

a lovely sensation of weightlessness.

6. Opt for lightweight, loose-fitting and porous

clothing such as cotton that helps absorb sweat and

reduce body temperature. Also when looking for col-

ours, choose heat-reflecting light colours rather than

absorbent dark ones

7. Include fresh juices that include mint and lemon;

snack on juicy fruits like watermelon, strawberries and

apples; and have lots of vegetable salads with higher

water content such as cucumber, iceberg lettuce, cel-

ery, spinach, zucchini, etc.

8. An essential aspect to protect yourself from heat

is using the right products or accessories. Sunscreen,

hats and sunglasses are a must have before heading

out that door during the summers. UV rays can cause

permanent damage to your skin and other exposed

parts. Ensure that you are using a sunscreen with a

higher SPF for best protection and be sure to be reap-

ply often on your exposed parts, including neck and

ears.

9. Although often you may not feel hungry when

it is hot, it is important that you have frequent smaller

and light meals which include fruits and salads.

10. In case your profession requires you to remain

outdoors, carrying a cold water spray for a quick re-

freshing spray to your face.

11. Signs of dehydration include sleepiness, head

ache, dry and sticky mouth, muscle cramps, irritability

and confusion, etc.

Tips & tricks Tips & tricks to keep you to keep you cool in summercool in summer 1111

Include fresh juices that include mint and lemon; snack on juicy fruits like watermelon, strawberries and apples; and have lots of vegetable salads with higher water content such as cucumber, iceberg lettuce, celery, spinach, zucchini, etc.

DESIGN

10 FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

A patterned rug can help influence the rest of your design choices. Take one of the colours in your rug and pull it into a piece of artwork or a pillow to draw it off the floor.

By Holley Simmons The Washington Post

The price of some patterned

area rugs can make you want

to crawl under them and weep.

And though the materials and

time needed to hand-knot a quality rug

often justify the cost, not everyone has

that kind of money to drop.

Enter your neighborhood paint

store.

Treating a neutral, natural-fiber rug

as a blank canvas will yield complete-

ly customizable results and save you

bundles. (My 4-by-6-foot sisal ended

up costing under $150, all materials in-

cluded.) Of course there’s no way your

guests will confuse a painted rug with

a hand-knotted original, but it’s better

than having a bare floor or a rug in a

solid color.

“It’s important to layer textures and

patterns in different scales in a room,”

says Mark Riddle, a design associate at

Room & Board in Washington. “If eve-

rything is too similar, it causes discord

in the room.”

Plus, a patterned rug can help

influence the rest of your design

choices. “Take one of the colors in your

rug and pull it into a piece of artwork

or a pillow to draw it off the floor,”

Riddle says.

“That way, you’re not just drawn

to one thing: Your eye is always wan-

dering, which makes the room more

interesting.”

A word of advice once you’ve com-

pleted your masterpiece: Because the

paint can wear off over time, it’s best

to place your rug beneath a table or in

another rarely traversed area.

Here’s what you’ll need:- Natural-fiber rug, such as sisal or

jute. (Paint will adhere better to natural

fibers than to synthetic materials.)

- Up to four matte paint colors of

your choice. (I used inexpensive interior

house paint.)

- One foam paintbrush for each

color.

- Painters tape.

- Scissors.

- Measuring tape (optional).

How to make your one one-of-a-kind geometric rug

1 2

3

11

DESIGN

FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

It’s important to layer textures and patterns in different scales in a room. If everything is too similar, it causes discord in the room.

Step 1:Fold the rug in half by length and

width to determine the center point.

You may also use a tape measure if

your rug isn’t pliable enough to bend.

Mark it with a piece of tape.

Step 2:Begin building your pattern. I

chose to run a series of large dia-

monds down the center, but you can

do squares, chevron stripes, smaller

diamonds - anything that inspires you.

I eyeballed this, but feel free to use

a tape measure to be more precise.

Step 3:Build upon your design with

zigzags, triangles, crisscrosses, etc.

A quick Google Images search for

“graphic rug” will return plenty of

ideas.

Step 4:Use scissors to trim any overlapping

tape to ensure sharp lines.

Step 5:Once all of your tape is down, it’s time

to start painting. With your floor protect-

ed, work from the center out so you don’t

smudge along the way. Dip your foam

brush in the first color and dab it on in a

rapid motion. Be sure not to oversaturate

the brush, because excess paint can work

its way under the tape.

Step 6:Allow your paint to dry fully, prefer-

ably overnight.

Step 7:Slowly remove the tape to reveal

your completed rug below. Use a foam

brush to carefully fill in any gaps or make

corrections.

4

5

6

7

FILMS

12 FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

AL KHOR

ASIAN TOWN

NOVO

MALL

ROYAL PLAZA

ONE NIGHT STAND

BABY BLUES

ZITS

The story is about Urvil Raisingh and Celina who meet at an event and a memorable night later. Returning back home they continue with their lives. The memories of Celina haunt Urvil. What happens next forms the crux of the unfolding drama.

VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER

List of movies running in Qatar cinemas. Get your friends or families together, grab a bucket of popcorn and enjoy a weekend flick.

Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice.

Captain America: Civil War (Action) 3D 11:00am, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm 2D 10:30, 11:30am, 12:00noon, 1:30, 2:30, 3:00, 4:30, 5:30, 6:00, 7:30, 8:30, 9:00, 10:30, 11:30 & 11:55pm The Man Who Knew Infinity (2D/Drama) 10:15am, 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30 & 11:45pmHellions (2D) 10:00am, 2:30, 7:00 & 11:30pm The Adderall Diaries (2D/Action) 12:30, 5:00 & 9:30pmMother’s Day (2D/Comedy) 11:00am, 3:20, 7:40 & 11:40pmI Am Wrath (2D/Thriller) 1:20, 5:40 & 9:40pmThe Jungle Book (2D/Adventure) 11:30am, 1:45, 4:00 & 6:15pmTake Down (2D/Action) 8:20 & 10:45pmThe Huntsman Winter’s War (2D/Action) 11:00am, 1:30, 4:00 & 6:30pmKangar Hoppiena (2D/Arabic) 9:00 & 11:30pmCaptain America: Civil War (2D IMAX/Action) 10:00am, 12:50, 3:40, 6:30, 9:30pm & 12:30am

24 (2D/Tamil) 2:00 & 10:45pmThe Jungle Book (2D/Action) 4:15 & 7:00pm One Night Stand (2D/Hindi) 5:00pm The Man Who Knew Infinity (2D/Drama) 6:00pm24 (2D/Tamil) 5:45 & 10:45pmJust The 3 of Us (2D/Tagalog) 8:45pmCaptain America: Civil War (2D/Action) 1:30, 8:00 & 11:00pm Kangar Hoppiena (2D/Arabic) 6:45pmJacob’s Kingdom of Heaven (2D/Malayalam) 2:15 & 8:45pm

The Adderall Diaries (2D/Action) 5:00pm 1920 London (2D/Hindi) 11:30pm

Jacob’s Kingdom of Heaven (Malayalam) 12:30, 1:30, 3:30,

4:30, 6:15, 7:30, 9:15, 10:30, 12:00midnight & 01:30am

24 (Tamil) 12:30, 1:00, 3:15, 4:00, 6:15, 7:00, 9:00, 10:00pm,

12:00midnight & 01:00am

Captain America: Civil War (2D/Action) 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:15pm

One Night Stand (2D/Hindi) 1:15 & 9:45pm The Jungle Book (2D/Action) 3:00 & 5:00pm The Man Who Knew Infinity (2D/Drama) 2:00 & 7:00pm Just The 3 of Us (2D/Tagalog) 5:30 & 9:00pm The Adderall Diaries (2D/Action) 4:00 & 11:30pm Kangar Hoppiena (2D/Arabic) 7:45pm1920 London (2D/Hindi) 11:15pm

Captain America: Civil War (2D/Action) 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30pm 24 (Tamil) 12:30, 3:30 & 6:30, 9:30pm & 12:30am Jacob’s Kingdom of Heaven (Malayalam) 11:00am, 2:00,

5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm

13

PUZZLES

FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

EASY SUDOKU

Yesterday’s answer

Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1

to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every

column and every 3x3 box contains all the

digits 1 to 9.

Yesterday’s answer

MEDIUM SUDOKU

ACROSS

1. Banquet (5)

4. Velocity (5)

7. Golfing accessory (3)

8. Wild (7)

9. Fake (5)

10. Long narrative poem (4)

14. Fencing sword (4)

15. Temperamental (5)

18. Large imposing house (7)

20. Peculiar (3)

21. Lukewarm (5)

22. Part of the leg (5)

DOWN

1. Festival (4)

2. Amazing (7)

3. Second sign of the zodiac (6)

4. Location (4)

5. Type of tree (3)

6. Subtract (6)

11. Security device (7)

12. Recluse (6)

13. Part of the eye (6)

16. Discover (4)

17. Not in action (4)

19. Short sleep (3)

CROSSWORD

Feeling lazy to go out? Stay inside with a hot karak, some healthy chips and start solving these puzzles. We have some number crunching ones and also the traditional crossword.

ALL IN THE MIND

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal,vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

ACKNOWLEDGE, ADDRESS,

ANSWER, CALL, CHAT,

COMMUNE, COMMUNICATE,

CONTACT, CONVERSE,

CONVEY, DELIVER,

DISCOURSE, DISPLAY,

ENQUIRE, EXCHANGE,

GESTURE, GOSSIP, GREET,

HEAR, IMPART, INFORM,

INTERACT, LETTER,

LISTEN, MESSAGE, ORATE,

PHONE, PONTIFICATE,

QUESTION, RENDER,

REQUEST, SHOW, SIGN,

SPEAK, TALK, TOUCH,

TRANSFER, TRANSMIT,

UTTER, WRITE.

13:23 Through The

Wormhole

With Morgan

Freeman

14:10 Ecopolis

18:05 Mythbusters

18:50 Da Vinci’s

Machines

21:15 Sinkholes:

Swallowed Alive

22:00 Da Vinci’s

Machines

22:45 How The

Universe Works

13:05 American Pickers

13:55 Grave Trade

15:35 Battle 360

16:25 Counting Cars

18:30 Duck Dynasty

20:10 Swamp People

21:00 Storage Wars

Miami

22:15 Pawn Stars

Australia

13:45 Gator Boys

14:40 Treehouse

Masters

15:35 Tanked

16:30 Animal Cops

South Africa

17:25 River Monsters

(Best Of Series

1-5)

18:20 River Monsters

20:40 Shamwari: A

Wild Life

22:00 River Monsters

22:55 Gator Boys

13:00 King Fishers

14:00 Showdown

Of The

Unbeatables

17:00 Desperate

Hours

18:00 Underworld, Inc.

19:00 Taboo

22:30 Underworld,

Inc.

08:00 News

08:30 Viewfinder

Latin America

09:00 Al Jazeera

World

10:30 Inside Story

11:00 News

11:30 The Stream

12:00 News

12:30 101 East

13:00 NEWSHOUR

14:00 News

14:30 Inside Story

15:00 Killing The

Count

16:00 NEWSHOUR

17:00 News

17:30 The Stream

18:00 NEWSHOUR

19:00 News

19:30 Rebel

Architecture

20:00 News

20:30 Inside Story

21:00 NEWSHOUR

22:00 News

22:30 Rebel Geeks

23:00 Head to Head

13:10 Austin & Ally

14:00 Liv And

Maddie

15:20 Dog With A

Blog

15:45 Miraculous

Tales Of

Ladybug And

Cat Noir

17:00 Violetta

Recipes

17:10 Lemonade

Mouth

18:40 Best Friends

Whenever

19:05 Evermoor

Chronciles

20:30 Lemonade

Mouth

22:00 Binny And

The Ghost

22:50 Sabrina

Secrets Of

A Teenage

Witch

23:10 Hank Zipzer

23:35 Binny And

The Ghost

TV LISTINGS

14 FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

PARENTINGTry these small tweaks to carve out additional time for sharing a book with your child.

By Merete Kropp The Washington Post

During a recent visit to our pediatri-

cian’s office, I found myself alone with

my daughter in an empty exam room,

waiting for the doctor to make an ap-

pearance. To fill the idle minutes, I

reached down and pulled a book out

of the basket tucked under the chair. What ensued

was a delightful handful of minutes complete with

snuggles and giggles as I read aloud to my girl and we

laughed at the illustrations and chanted the sing-songy

repetitive phrases together.

The expression on the doctor’s face as she opened

the door was priceless, for you see, my daughter is 16

years old and we were re-enacting our shared memo-

ries of reading books together throughout her early

childhood years. From the time my daughter was an

infant I spent hours reading to her on a regular basis.

It was built into our daily routines, and the time we

spent together sharing books turned into wonderful

conversations and memorable experiences.

According to the results of a survey by Readaloud.

org that was released in March, parents of children

ages 0-8 recognize that children reap great benefits

from the experience of being read aloud to on a regular

basis. However, the survey shows that just 34 percent

of respondents read aloud to their children for a mini-

mum of 15 minutes each day. Despite the fact that the

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading

aloud to children from birth, only one in 10 parents

stated that they have consistently read aloud 15 min-

utes daily with their child since the day they were born.

Life is hectic for parents of young children. Their

days are jam-packed with responsibilities and activi-

ties, and little ones require a lot of help and guidance.

It may at times feel like another impossible obli-

gation to fulfill, but reading aloud does not have to

become an additional burden or activity to squeeze

into an already overcrowded schedule. Try these small

tweaks to carve out additional time for sharing a book

with your child.

- Think outside the bed. Seventy-

one percent of survey respondents

reported that they read to their chil-

dren at bedtime. That is a natural time

to curl up with a book, but given the

crazy schedules of families, it can be

challenging to carve out time at the end

of the day to spend 15 minutes with a book or two.

As bedtimes get pushed back, parents and children

may become tired and grumpy. Reading can become

a battle of wills or a chore that gets rushed. Consider

finding other quiet moments throughout the day to

share a story, such as bath time, meal time or while

taking a break in the afternoon.

- Every minute counts. Babies,

in particular, have trouble focusing

on any one activity for a sustained

amount of time. Introduce read-

aloud times incrementally. Start with

a minute or two, several times a day.

You will notice a gradual increase in

your baby’s attention span. Perhaps you only read a

page or two before your child wiggles away. That is

fine. Do not give up; try reading a few more minutes at

a later time. Introduce your infant to a variety of board

books, interactive tactile books and books with flaps

and other fun surprises.

- Banish books from the shelves. Any early childhood class-

room teacher will tell you that books

that are neatly placed on a crowded

shelf are not the books that children

will choose to read. Have you noticed

how books are placed side by side,

with the covers showing, at bookstores and librar-

ies? Sometimes books are propped up on the tops of

shelves or in baskets strategically placed where they

might be picked up and browsed through. Keep books

in your home in smaller baskets, on the tops of tables

or other furniture, or on a low shelf next to your couch.

When books are stored within reach where you and

your children sit and relax, you’ll be more likely to in-

dulge in a shared reading activity when you have a

couple of idle minutes.

- Take reading on the road. Fill a

tote bag with a few favorite books to

keep in the car. Use the inevitable wait

time during carpool duty to read to

your child. Encourage your children to

“read” the stories to you while you’re

driving. Read signs and posters aloud

as you travel. Look for books in waiting

areas. If you don’t see any at first, ask the receptionist if

any are available; they may have a secret stash behind

the counter.

- Use various resources to stock your home with books. Look for books at thrift stores, yard

sales and other places that recycle

goods. Visit the library. Ask librarians,

teachers and book store employees

for recommendations - they love to

share their experiences and opin-

ions. Check out anthologies of picture books and

poems to expose your child to a variety of texts and

authors. And reread favorite stories. Return visits to

books offer fresh perspectives and can generate new

conversations.

The good news from the recently released study

is that parents seem to have received the message

that reading aloud to their children is both necessary

and beneficial. Incorporating the minor adjustments

listed above in the attitudes, perspectives and envi-

ronment of a family’s daily routine can result in more

time spent sharing and enjoying the stories, rhymes

and information found in books. Which one will you

implement today?

Merete Kropp is a child development and family specialist and mother of three.

Five ways to find time to

read aloud in a busy world

1

2 4

53

15

POTPOURRI

FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016

If you would like to see a photograph clicked by you published here, mail it to us at plus@pen.com.qa. Don’t forget to mention your name and where the photo was taken.

Photo of the week Photographer: Sajad Sahir

A view from Aspire Park.

By Bonnie S Benwick

The Washington Post

Well, the prep for the dish took longer than the title of the cookbook it came from would indicate, but that’s a minor quibble. The sweet

variety of smoked paprika is a solid flavour driver in this Paleo-friendly, Spanish-inspired stir-fry.

In the original recipe, a handful of spinach goes into the mix. We liked it slightly wilted and served as a side dish instead, to keep its flavour profile simple and clean; cook it first and separately in the same pan you then use to cook the chicken dish.

Adapted from “Lean in 15: 15-Minute Meals and Workouts to Keep You Lean and Healthy,” by Joe Wicks (William Morrow, 2016).

Ingredients1 small red onion (may substitute yellow or Spanish

onion)2 cloves garlic1 to 2 pieces jarred roasted red pepper1 pint cherry tomatoes2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1

pound total)

Fine sea saltFreshly ground black pepper1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (may substitute coconut

oil)2 teaspoons Spanish smoked paprika (pimenton)1/4 cup blanched or skinless slivered almondsLeaves from 1 stem fresh oregano (may substitute

1 teaspoon dried oregano)1/2 large lemon

Method:Mince the onion and garlic. Drain the roasted

pepper(s), as needed, then cut them into small pieces. Cut each tomato in half.

Discard any excess fat from the chicken breast halves and remove any tenderloins (reserving them for another use), then cut the chicken breast halves crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide slices. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, stir in the smoked paprika; cook for 10 seconds, then add onion, garlic, chicken, tomatoes and peppers. Increase the heat to medium-high; stir-fry for about 4 minutes or until no trace of raw chicken remains (you may have to cut into a piece to check) and the tomatoes have softened.

Stir in the almonds and oregano leaves, and stir-fry

for 30 seconds or so. Taste the mixture, and add more salt and/or pepper as needed. Remove from the heat.

Squeeze the juice of the lemon half evenly over the skillet contents, being careful to avoid introducing seeds; divide between individual plates and serve right away.

Chicken With Smoked Paprika and Almonds

25