An Actor & A Gentleman: Amitabh BachchanAn Italian Gourmet Experience at Tuscany

Gordon Ramsay’s Chef's Table at Verre

TheMajan A100

Takes The Big Dive South

APRIL 2010

SIGNATURE REPORT: ADYSBaselworldThe Geneva International Motor Show

Hrair Diarbekirian’s Works of Positivity & Peace

PLUS:

Shop

Gaming

Collectible

THE MAJAN HAS SET SAIL ON YET ANOTHER NEW COURSE AHEAD

OF THE FIRST OFFICIAL INDIAN OCEAN 5 CAPES

RACE IN 2012.

Feature

inside

People AMITABH BACHCHAN —

A FINE LESSON IN THE ART OF HUMILITY AND

STRAIGHTFORWARD CONVERSATION

Report BASELWORLD, THE WORLD

WATCH AND JEWELLERY SHOW CELEBRATED ITS 38TH YEAR AND

WAS DEEMED A GRAND SUCCESS. HERE’S WHY...

42

Bon AppétitAN EVENING WELL SPENT

WITH HIS EXCELLENCY SEIJI MORIMOTO,

AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN TO OMAN, MADAM

YOSHIKO MORIMOTO AND CHRISTOPH FRANZEN OF

THE GRAND HYATT MUSCAT AT A RESTAURANT CALLED

TUSCANY.

3832

24

PRESENTING VIGNETTES FROM THE SIXTH EDITION OF THE OER CEO GOLF...

Event

30

Up Front

Collectible

Signature Promotions

Interview — Hrair Diarbekirian

Shop

Cars

Places

Interview — Antonio Lakshen Sucameli

Travel

Event — ADYS

Gaming

Event — Beat and Wind

Index

The Last Word

8 6222 70

28 72

46 7450 76

58 84

52 82

A NEW HEAD CHEF, A NEW INTERIOR AND A NEW

MENU ARE ALL IN PLACE AT GORDON RAMSAY’S DUBAI

RESTAURANT — VERRE.

Food Court

‘GREEN’ WAS THE WATCHWORD AT THE 80TH

EDITION OF THE GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW.

Report

68

HER HIGHNESS MUZNA AL SAID ON

ART DUBAI 2010.

Art

64

56

inside

Movies have power... they can drastically change the way you view the world and change the way

you live your life.

Some movies freak you out or make you cry; some shake your soul and leave a taste in your

mouth that never goes away.

You can always remember a few that helped you learn how to go with the flow. Or those that

made you laugh at the absurdities of life, proving to be cathartic, rebalancing you when life got

too much.

Some help you come to terms with unresolved relationships and reflect upon them with a sense

of peace. Some can change your opinion — about big things or little things. A few remind you of

what it means to be human; that the unknown is not something to fear but to embrace. Several

put you in tune with the world and others resonate on a deep level and open your eyes, shattering

illusions.

A number of them bring to the fore the injustices of the world and show us how we are both victims

and perpetrators, innocent and guilty. Some even question our moralities.

Quite a few movies make you rethink the vapidity of a selfish, consumerist existence. Many of them

remind you of the beauty of imagination or creativity, of the raw power and spirituality of nature, or

the need to experience a full, deep life.

A few make you see how just one person can make a difference or how challenging but necessary

change is. Some say love needs no reason. Several teach you how violence is a downward spiral

and that hate begets hate. Others make you want to live a life that matters. Some exemplify raw

courage...

Different movies present you with different ways to view the world; it’s not necessarily academic

but they always force you to open your mind just a bit more...

Enjoy the issue, we’ll see you next month...

COVER IMAGEThe Majan A100, courtesy Oman Sail

CONCEPT & CREATIONPRIYA NAIRCONTENT

DEEPA RAJANGHALIB ABDULLAH AL FORI

FATMA AL ARAIMIMOHAMMED FAHMI RAJAB

EXPERTSTravel - BRUCE STEWART, ANNE COLBYFashion - NATASHA LUNN, NADIA FOUZI

Technology - PAUL VILESWatches, Pens & Jewellery - BRIAN. TFinance & Investments - K. L PRASAD

Art & Culture - FREDERIQUE. BART

Art DirectorsSANDESH S. RANGNEKAR

MINAAL G. PEDNEKARDesigner - ALIYA AL WAHAIBI

PRODUCTION HEADGOVINDRAJ RAMESH

ADVERTISING & MARKETINGGroup Advertising Manager - MIMI DEB

Sr Media Executive - FAREEDA S AL BALUSHICORPORATE

Chief Executive - SANDEEP SEHGALExecutive Vice President - ALPANA ROY

Vice President - RAVI RAMAN

DISTRIBUTED WITH OER by

United Media Services LLCSignature is an OER presentation published monthly and released in the first week of every month. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of

the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person or organisation acting or refraining

as a result of material in this publication. Signature accepts no

responsibility for advertising content.

Correspondence should be addressed to Signature

United Media Services LLC, PO Box 3305, Ruwi, PC 112, Muscat,

Sultanate of Oman,

Mobile +968 99849242 Fax +968 24707939

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

An

PresentationCopyright © 2010 United Press & Publishing LLC

Life in Pictures

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

24

25

FEATURE

To World’s

End and Back...

She is a new generation vessel

that promises to carry on the

legacy of the Sultanate of

Oman’s rich maritime history. At

105ft long, Majan is the member

of an elite class of racing yachts

and is one of the fastest offshore

multihulls in the world.

Named after the ancient name

for the Sultanate, Oman Sail’s

flagship trimaran is the first of

the Arabian 100 (A100) class

that took four months to be

assembled in Salalah (the

Southern-most port of Oman).

The trimaran, designed by

Nigel Irens and Benoit Cabaret,

is capable of speeds in excess

of 40 knots. Based on the proven

design of another trimaran, the

Sodebo, that is the holder of

the solo North Atlantic crossing

record, the design has been

tailored to meet Oman Sail’s

objective of training young

Omani sailors to compete on

the international stage. Majan’s

first mission was the ‘Tour of

Arabia’ which began from

Muscat, with stops in the UAE,

Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar

before Majan joined the Dubai-

Muscat race back to Muscat.

Recently, Majan has set sail

with a crew of six, including

Skipper Paul Standbridge,

Mohammed Al Ghailani,

Mohsin Al Busaidi, Thierry

Douillard, Michael Giles, and

media member Mark Covell,

on yet another new course

taking the big dive South for a

giant tour of the 5 capes of the

Indian Ocean ahead of the first

official Indian Ocean 5 Capes

race in 2012. The race has been

organised by OC Events as

part of their continued efforts

to develop the sailing arena of

Arabia, Asia and the Indian

Ocean.

Majan is designed to sail with

a crew of seven. One of these

is a media man whose sole

purpose is to send blogs, take

photos and record videos and

generally keep the outside

world up to date with what is

going on. The sailing crew takes

the remaining six positions

including the navigator. The rest

of the crew is responsible for

trimming the sails, maintaining

the boat and anything else

needed to keep the boat at

optimum speeds for prolonged

periods of time. All the food is

cooked on a single small turbo

stove and there is no fridge to

store food. Once rehydrated, the

food is eaten out of a thermos.

There are three pipe cots as at

any one point there need to be

three people on deck sailing

the boat. Access to the below

decks area where the crew

sleep is via a 2’ x 2’ hole in the

floor of the ‘doghouse’, the only

dry area at deck level. Once

below, the crew will be stooped

down and will have to contend

with the sound of waves and

the straining of the rigging. We

are guessing sound sleep is not

a phrase that was coined for

these sailors!

The pipe cots the crew sleep in

are the bare minimum in terms

of weight and comfort. The

cots are literally carbon fiber

tubes with material drawn over

them. In rough seas the crew

strap themselves into the cots

to ensure they do not fall out.

The skipper has the only pipe

cot with a window and a sea

view. And if you thought sleep

was an issue, get a load of this.

There is no toilet or shower on

board!

So what does this futuristic

racing vessel look like?

It has three primary sails. Made

in France, they are 7,650 sq.ft

(710sqm), and are large enough

to cover two tennis courts. The

sails are made of Cuben Fibre

— a woven material that is both

more durable and lighter than

a laminated one. The mainsail

is the heaviest sail on board,

weighing 260 kilos and it takes

three people eight minutes to

MAJAN A100 IS NOT ONLY OMAN SAIL’S CONTRIBUTION TO

THE WORLD OF FUTURISTIC RACING, BUT ALSO A WORTHY

AMBASSADOR FOR THE SULTANATE. HERE’S WHY...

THE 5 CAPES RACE

Building on the foundations of the Asian Record Circuit established in 2007, and the

Extreme Sailing Series Asia, which was staged this winter in Hong Kong, Singapore and

Muscat, OC Events Asia launched two new premier racing events — the ‘Tour of Arabia’

and the ‘Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race’.

With a total distance of 16,300 nautical miles (30,200km) the Indian Ocean 5 Capes

Race will take competitors from the tropical waters of Oman past Ras Al Hadd (cape in

Arabic) down to the tip of South Africa before crossing the frozen Southern Ocean and

into the warmth of Cape Leeuwin and Australia’s West coast. From here the boats sail

North to Cape Piai in the Malacca Straits and up to Cape Comorin at the Southern tip

of India before returning to the welcoming shores of Oman and the starting point of the

journey in Muscat. The journey, with stopovers in The Maldives, Cape Town, Fremantle

and Singapore, is expected to take up to three months. With events such as these,

professional yacht racing finds itself in the relatively new and uncharted waters of the

Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

hoist it. Majan also has two

spare headsails as well as a

stormsail and a trysail, both of

which are only used in storm-

force conditions. Below decks,

there is a basic sail repair kit so

that maintenance and repairs

can be carried out on board.

The mast is 32.5m high, carbon

construction and very strong.

Within the mast runs a range

of halyards to pull the sails up

and wires which are connected

to the onboard system which

shows the windspeed and

direction, both very important

for the crew to know, but also

vital to the autopilot in the event

that it is needed. Designed

and built by Southern Spars

in Auckland, New Zealand, it

weighs just over 700 kilos. The

mast is the same length as the

boat and if you put all the lines

which run up and down to hoist

sails (halyards) they would

measure 750m.

Mounted on the rear of Majan

is a large dome that houses

the transmitters and receivers

in a watertight environment. It

is important for the crew to get

data about the weather (GIRBS)

as well as talk to the on shore

team.

32

33

PEOPLE

He is Amitabh Bachchan — the slayer of evil, the protector of the

meek and the messenger of peace. He is the only super ‘superhero’

that Indian cinema has even seen. Such is his screen presence

that it, more often than not, tears out of the screen and compels you

to worship the character that he is. Never mind then that it is all

make-believe.

When he was born, his parents — Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan (a

well-known Hindi poet) and Teji Bachchan — initially named him

Inquilaab (inspired from the famous phrase Inquilab Zindabad,

meaning ‘Long Live Revolution’ used commonly during the Indian

independence struggle), but later re-named him Amitabh which

means ‘one with boundless splendour’.And Mr Bachchan has lived up to both his names. He stormed the

Indian screen, revolutionised the way the world looked at a ‘hero’,

and set the screen on fire with his portrayal of the ‘angry young

man’ and his baritone. A household name today in his home

country and abroad, it would not be difficult for any writer to wax

eloquent about this man’s legendary status. So, call it an anti-climax if you will. For you walk into a room

expecting to meet this swash-buckling ‘superhero’ and instead

encounter a simple man with an air of dignified flamboyance that

crushes all your celluloid fantasies. Here in Muscat for the first time, to receive the Life Time

Achievement award, at the opening of the Muscat Film Festival,

being organised by the Oman Film Society (OFS) and the

International Film Fraternity of Oman (IFFO), Amitabh Bachchan

broke many a ‘superstar’ myth as he spoke with Signature,

wrapped in a black shawl and sporting thick-framed glasses,

looking very much the common man that he often portrays to a

slight exaggeration on the large screen. HERE ARE THE EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW…Early in your career, you were rejected by the All India Radio. Do

you think it was the best thing that could have happened to you?

“I went for an interview and I was rejected because they did not

the legend the manHe may be the biggest ‘superstar’ that Indian cinema ever

gave birth to, but Amitabh Bachchan is a fine lesson in the

art of humility and straightforward conversation discovers Deepa Rajan.

8

THE BRONZE AGE

Visconti’s Homo Sapiens collection — consisting of Homo Sapiens Bronze and Homo Sapiens

Calligraphy Set writing instruments — has been conceived for those to whom the pen continues to

represent an essential companion that translates their thoughts into beautiful words. Made from the

basaltic lava obtained from Mount Etna volcano, the pens are virtually unbreakable and flame-proof among other things. All metallic parts of the pens

are inspired by the Bronze Age. The clip, the decorative rings and the metal accessories, with

the exception of the power filler, are all in bronze. The high vacuum power filler charging system is

made of titanium, the only material resistant to ink aggressiveness and the 23 ct 950 palladium

Dreamtouch nib, is the first of its kind introduced by Visconti.

UPFRONT

What better way to detox than relax in a luxury resort with a magnificent view of the city of Zurich and the Alps. The Dolder Grand in Zurich is offering a ‘Grand Detox Programme’ that consists of a five-night, full board stay in the hotel with a complete detox plan. It includes an introductory interview with an analysis of individual needs, as well as daily coaching, fitness analysis and body composition testing, accompanied by daily fitness and relaxation sessions. Daily detox treatments including body rituals and massages, a round-up consultation and advice for a continuation of the programme at home is also offered. Even the daily menu is created by a fully qualified nutritionist.

THE LATEST AND OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY…THE ‘GRAND’ DETOX

10

UPFRONT

MILESTONES...Montblanc has taken personalisation to a new

level with their latest launch: the Personal Code Ink. This new series is a milestone for

Montblanc because it is the first brand to create writing instruments of unsurpassed

quality which also feature a cutting-edge ink. The ink comprises components containing an

invisible, inimitable botanical code which is similar to the human DNA code. So this ink is

‘matchless’, and as ‘individual’ as a fingerprint, making sure that only one person will own

this ink — you. Inside a sleek, personalised, black lacquer wooden chest, two Personal Code Ink Meisterstück writing instruments — the Meisterstück Signature Pen and the

Meisterstück Solitaire Barley Rollerball — will appear in a black calfskin pouch. Ten Personal Code Ink refills per writing mode are included

with the Personal Code Ink set.

Parfums de Marly revives the spirit of lavish receptions and festivities held at the Château de Marly. It rekindles the spirit of fragrances from the splendour of 18th Century France, when the finest perfumes were created for King Louis XV as a tribute to the prestigious horse races he so fervently admired. The fragrances are odes to the scented extravagances of the King’s Court, named ‘La Cour Parfumée’ (The Perfumed Court), where the King is said to have ordered new fragrances every day. Choose from the oud lime laced Shagya, the oriental fougere Darley, the woody oriental Ispazon and the woody earthy Lipizzan; all available at Capital Store.

SCENTED EXTRAVAGANCES

12

UPFRONT

UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE With technical sophistication, aesthetic refinement and understated design, the Chopard L.U.C XP is already a classic. Now, its newest version, L.U.C XPS, comes with a sapphire crystal back providing an admirable view of the L.U.C 12.96 movement and its bridges adorned with a straight ‘Côtes de Genève’ motif. The other new feature is the ‘seconds’ indication that now appears at six o’clock on the elegantly understated dial. Crafted in 18-carat white gold with a black dial or in 18-carat rose gold with a silvered dial, these two new variations embodying an ideal blend of aesthetic appeal and technical performance are both duly certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Sculptural and sensual, oriental and woody, Paco Rabanne’s Black XS collector’s edition for men is a powerful, concentrated

dose of freedom, passion and fiery youth. Excessive and contrasting, it combines the freshness of Calabrian Lemon,

Kalamanzi, Tagetes and Sage with all the gourmandise of its praline heart enveloped in Cinnamon, Tolu Balsam and Black

Cardamom, and rounds it off with the extreme sensuality of Rosewood and Ebony, Black Amber and Patchouli. The perfume

comes in a glazed black bottle that screams rock ‘n’ roll.

Located in Barka, the Al Nahda Resort & Spa’s ‘Summer Escape’ offer is a spa experience like none other. You get to choose from the signature range within the spa

menu, which includes a combination of exclusively designed multi-cultural offerings. One can choose either

a back massage, Indian head massage, reflexology, a reviver facial or even an outdoor massage ritual for one person per ‘Escape’ at an unbeatable price until the end

of August 2010. The offer includes accommodation in an executive suite for one or two persons and includes

dinner, breakfast and one spa treatment.

BEAT THE HEAT

14

UPFRONT

VIVE LA CAUSE

In 1994, M.A.C cosmetics established the M.A.C AIDS fund and the Viva Glam

programme to support men, women and children affected by HIV and AIDS globally.

As part of the programme, Viva Glam I, II, III, IV, V and VI were launched as continuous

shades. Now, Spring 2010 sees two new lipstick shades — Viva Glam Cyndi (for Cyndi Lauper) and Viva Glam Gaga (for

Lady Gaga) — introduced as limited life for 12 months on the counter. While both

feature a high-lustre finish, Viva Glam Cyndi is a light coral-red and Viva Glam Gaga is a

cool blue-pink shade.

SEIKO SHOWROOM: E-Mart, Al Raid House, Ground Floor, Qurum Shopping Area, Muscat. Tel.: 24571376

16

Made in Brazil, this after-sun lotion — a part of the L’Occitane Do Brasil sun care collection — is formulated

with the organic vegetable butter of Cupuaçu, harvested in the State of Pará. Able to absorb more than four times

its volume in water, Cupuaçu is the ideal ingredient to intensely hydrate and regenerate skin after sun exposure.

The fresh and melting rescue balm instantly soothes skin after exposure. Non-greasy and refreshing, this

dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested balm can be applied on both the face and the body.

ORGANIC COVER

TRACKSIDE VIEW

The Meydan, the world’s first five-star trackside hotel, opened its doors to the world recently. The luxury hotel forms an integral part of the

Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse, the new home to the world’s richest horse racing event,

the Dubai World Cup. It offers 285 tastefully appointed rooms and suites featuring subtle

equestrian themed motifs and modern luxury design finishes. Most of the rooms and suites include balconies with unobstructed views of

the racecourse offering every racing enthusiast the opportunity to relax as the world races past.

Those who want to venture out a bit can also enjoy the action of the races as they lounge at

the infinity pool on the hotel’s rooftop. When not at the races, they indulge at three gourmet dining

outlets or sweat it out at a world-class gym and relax at a wellness spa.

UPFRONT

18

The Dsquared2 ‘Nature always wins’ collection is a lyrical ode to the majestic beauty of pristine nature. The newest addition to this is the She Wood Velvet Forest Wood. The velvet notes have violet leaves and violet wood, wrapped in musk, creating an enveloping accord that’s timeless,

mysterious and rare, evoking a singular insulation of velvet. The forest notes include Leaves Accord, Pine

Needles and Galbanum bonding in a bright and unusual fresh accord sparking images of endless Canadian forests.

The wood notes are patchouli, vetiver and vegetal amber characterising the essence and awarding the true sense of

intensity and character.

NATURE’S ESSENCE

TECHNOLOGY & STYLEFrom Omega, comes the Seamaster Planet Ocean Liquidmetal Limited Edition, the world’s first watch to bond ceramics and Liquidmetal. Created by Swatch Group researchers collaborating with Omega’s product development team, the striking ceramic diving bezel features numbers and scaling made of the Liquidmetal alloy, which appear in stunning silvery contrast to the black ceramic background. Driven by Omega’s ground breaking Co-Axial calibre 2500, this watch —available at Mistal, Darsait — spells world class technology and style all at once.

UPFRONT

20

The port Sultan Qaboos recently had a temporary guest — the superyacht M/Y Trident. Made and launched in 2009 by the Netherlands-based Feadship Royal Van Lent Shipyard, the M/Y Trident was created to charter luxury and leisure seekers with seven comfortable suites that can host 14 guests. The yacht also has a full beam master stateroom and additional rooms for a total of 18 crew members. The interiors were handled by acclaimed designer Donald Starkey and the yacht offers many of the facilities of a five-star resort, including an elevator that allows guests to travel up through the yacht to the stunning sun deck. The yacht is for sale and for those interested here are a few specifications and details:

Length Overall: 65.22 metres / 214 feet

Naval Architecture: De Voogt Naval Architects and Donald

Starkey Designs

Gross Tonnes: 1300

Material: Steel hulled with an aluminium structure

Model: 16V 4000 M60R diesel.

Cruising at a speed of 14 knots, top speed is around 16

nautical miles per hour.

Yacht Type: Tri deck yacht.

Estimated price: 97.5 million euro

Contact details: kz@lentyard.feadship.nl

Versus by Versace is a fragrance for women that combines contrasting characteristics in a game of

opposites — from romantic to aggressive, from punk to melodious and from tough to feminine. The colour

of the fragrance, the ‘fifth essence of violet’ evokes modernity, mystery and freedom. The top notes

feature kumquat, star apple, and lemon; the heart is floral and feminine with orange flower, stephanotis,

rose centifolia while the dry down reveals patchouli, the depth of musk combined with ambrette seeds.

Available at Salam Studio & Stores.

YACHT FOR SALE

VERY VERSACE

UPFRONT

• Wide range of cars from saloons to 4WDs

• Customized rental plans

• Long term leasing available

• International booking options

• Airport transfers

• 24 x 7 customer support

• Fast processing and invoicing

• Easily accessible locations

Car rental with more flexibity and peace of mind.With a fleet of cars ranging from saloons to 4WDs and the most competitive prices in the market, OUA

Rent-A-Car is more than a service. It is an experience built around 4 decades of expertise in travel

management, so that you travel in style, with a smile.

Oman United Agencies Travel LLCPost Box No. 1938, PC 130, Al Azaiba, Muscat, Oman, Tel: +968 24813462 / 24813465, Fax: +968 24816117, Email : cars@ouat.co.om

An associate company of

Our Locations: Muscat - Muttrah Business District (MBD); Qurum; Madinat Qaboos, Muscat International Airport, Salalah - Downtown; Salalah Airport

22

AN ODE TO ORIENTAL ART

COLLECTIBLE

When a hobby crosses the

threshold of passion, it gives

birth to something spectacularly

appealing. A fine example of

this is pens from Loiminchay.

The company is an extension of

one man’s ardour for collecting

writing instruments. And, so

strongly was Patrick Chu,

the founder of Loiminchay,

inspired by Chinese art and

culture that he decided to turn

professional by designing

his own pen collections. The

word ‘Loiminchay’ is derived

from Chinese. ‘Loimin’ means

‘delightful or understanding’,

and ‘Chay’ means ‘atelier or

group.’ This was in 1999. Today

every pen connoisseur worth

his salt swears by the prestige

of owning a Loiminchay.

The latest in the ‘5000 years of

Chinese Calligraphy’ series

is the Kaishu – Calligraphy

IV. The fourth in the series,

this set illustrates one of the

most recognised and formal

writing styles of Chinese

calligraphy called Kaishu. It is a

stylisation of the chancery script

developed during the period

of the Three Kingdoms and

Western Jin (220–316/317) that

simplified the ‘Lishu’ script into

a more fluent and easily written

form. Characterised by clear-

cut corners and straight strokes

of varying thickness, the Kaishu

script underwent its most vital

period of development and

was the most important type of

script during the Tang Dynasty

(618–907), when a successful

career in the civil service

depended in part on one’s skill

as a calligrapher.

Paying homage to this script,

this set of two pens features two

famous and most influential

calligraphers from the Tang

dynasty — Liu Gong-Quan

and Yen Chen-Ching — whose

styles are known to influence

calligraphy students even in the

modern age. Both the patterns

are made in Maki-e which is

Japanese lacquer art. And like

most of Loiminchay creations,

this set is a limited edition

with only 18 sets being made

worldwide.

The other collections in this

series of writing instruments

include the Oracle –

Calligraphy I Collection,

Xingshu – Calligraphy II and

Caoshu – Calligraphy III; all

odes to an ancient and unique

Oriental art of expression.

THE LOIMINCHAY KAISHU - CALLIGRAPHY IV WRITING INSTRUMENT IS THE PERFECT ODE TO THE ART OF CALLIGRAPHY

24

FEATURE

To World’s End and Back...

She is a new generation vessel

that promises to carry on the

legacy of the Sultanate of

Oman’s rich maritime history. At

105ft long, Majan is the member

of an elite class of racing yachts

and is one of the fastest offshore

multihulls in the world.

Named after the ancient name

for the Sultanate, Oman Sail’s

flagship trimaran is the first of

the Arabian 100 (A100) class

that took four months to be

assembled in Salalah (the

Southern-most port of Oman).

The trimaran, designed by

Nigel Irens and Benoit Cabaret,

is capable of speeds in excess

of 40 knots. Based on the proven

design of another trimaran, the

Sodebo, that is the holder of

the solo North Atlantic crossing

record, the design has been

tailored to meet Oman Sail’s

objective of training young

Omani sailors to compete on

the international stage. Majan’s

first mission was the ‘Tour of

Arabia’ which began from

Muscat, with stops in the UAE,

Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar

before Majan joined the Dubai-

Muscat race back to Muscat.

Recently, Majan has set sail

with a crew of six, including

Skipper Paul Standbridge,

Mohammed Al Ghailani,

Mohsin Al Busaidi, Thierry

Douillard, Michael Giles, and

media member Mark Covell, on

yet another new course taking

the big dive South for a giant

tour of the five capes of the

Indian Ocean ahead of the

official Indian Ocean 5 Capes

race in 2012. The race has been

organised by OC Events as

part of their continued efforts

to develop the sailing arena of

Arabia, Asia and the Indian

Ocean.

Majan is designed to sail with

a crew of seven. One of these

is a media man whose sole

purpose is to send blogs, take

photos, record videos and

generally keep the outside

world up to date with what is

going on. The sailing crew takes

the remaining six positions

including the navigator. The rest

of the crew is responsible for

trimming the sails, maintaining

the boat and anything else

needed to keep the boat at

optimum speeds for prolonged

periods of time. All the food is

cooked on a single small turbo

stove and there is no fridge to

store food. Once rehydrated, the

food is eaten out of a thermos.

There are three pipe cots as at

any one point there need to be

three people on deck sailing

the boat. Access to the below

decks area where the crew

sleep is via a 2’ x 2’ hole in the

floor of the ‘doghouse’, the only

dry area at deck level. Once

below, the crew will be stooped

down and will have to contend

with the sound of waves and

the straining of the rigging. We

are guessing sound sleep is not

a phrase that was coined for

these sailors!

The pipe cots the crew sleep in

are the bare minimum in terms

of weight and comfort. The

cots are literally carbon fiber

tubes with material drawn over

them. In rough seas the crew

strap themselves into the cots to

ensure they do not fall out. The

skipper has the only pipe cot

with a window and a sea view.

So what does this futuristic

racing vessel look like?

It has three primary sails. Made

in France, they are 7,650 sq.ft

(710sqm), and are large enough

to cover two tennis courts. The

sails are made of Cuben Fibre

— a woven material that is both

more durable and lighter than

a laminated one. The mainsail

is the heaviest sail on board,

weighing 260 kilos and it takes

three people eight minutes to

hoist it. Majan also has two

THE MAJAN A100 IS NOT ONLY OMAN SAIL’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD OF FUTURISTIC RACING, BUT ALSO A WORTHY AMBASSADOR FOR THE SULTANATE. HERE’S WHY...

spare headsails as well as a

stormsail and a trysail, both of

which are only used in storm-

force conditions. Below decks,

there is a basic sail repair kit so

that maintenance and repairs

can be carried out on board.

The mast is a 32.5m high,

carbon construction and very

strong. Within the mast runs

a range of halyards to pull

the sails up and wires which

are connected to the onboard

system which shows the

windspeed and direction, both

very important for the crew

to know, but also vital to the

autopilot in the event that it is

needed. Designed and built by

Southern Spars in Auckland,

New Zealand, it weighs just

over 700 kilos. The mast is the

same length as the boat and

if you put all the lines which

run up and down to hoist sails

(halyards) they would measure

750m.

Mounted on the rear of Majan

is a large dome that houses

the transmitters and receivers

in a watertight environment. It

is important for the crew to get

data about the weather (GIRBS)

as well as talk to the on-shore

team.

25

THE 5 CAPES RACEBuilding on the foundations of the Asian Record Circuit established in 2007, and the Extreme Sailing Series Asia, which was staged this winter in Hong Kong, Singapore and Muscat, OC Events Asia launched two new premier racing events — the ‘Tour of Arabia’ and the ‘Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race’.

With a total distance of 16,300 nautical miles (30,200km) the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race will take competitors from the tropical waters of Oman past Ras Al Hadd (cape in Arabic) down to the tip of South Africa before crossing the frozen Southern Ocean and into the warmth of Cape Leeuwin and Australia’s West coast. From here the boats sail North to Cape Piai in the Malacca Straits and up to Cape Comorin at the Southern tip of India before returning to the welcoming shores of Oman and the starting point of the journey in Muscat. The journey, with stopovers in The Maldives, Cape Town, Fremantle and Singapore, is expected to take up to three months. With events such as these, professional yacht racing finds itself in the relatively new and uncharted waters of the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

26

FEATURE

Ahoy, WorldMOHSIN AL BUSAIDI AND MOHAMMED AL GHAILANI ON WHAT A SAILOR’S LIFE IS LIKE...

Mohsin Al Busaidi, the first

Arab to sail non-stop around the

world, is one of the two Omani

crew members helping to trace

out this potential race route.

Already a seasoned offshore

sailor, Mohsin is in frequent

contact with the shore team

back in Muscat keeping them

updated on the progress of the

boat as well as offer an insight

to life on board. “We left Cape

Town today for the start of Leg

3 of the route setting for the

Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race

and we are now destined for

Fremantle, Australia. We will

be racing across the frozen and

treacherous Southern Ocean.

It is going to be one of the most

exhilarating and dangerous legs

of the course.”

“The famous French sailor

Sidney Gavignet, joined us in

Cape Town and is now sailing

onboard in preparation for his

solo voyage on Majan across

the Atlantic Ocean as part of

the Route de Rhum later this

year. As a famous French

sailor with years of experience

of solo sailing in treacherous

conditions, I am really looking

forward to learning from him.”

For Mohammed Al Ghailani, the

second Omani sailor, this is the

first time he will venture into the

unknown in the Southern Ocean

“I’m filled with anticipation

when I think of this journey, but

I am totally committed to it and

won’t give in to my fear”.

For sailors, the Southern

Ocean is the vague term for

the Southern Seas and the

underworld where no land

separates the oceans. Below

40 degrees of latitude, a

series of low pressure systems

continuously ‘roar’ and move

towards the East without being

blocked by any land mass.

Further South, winds are even

more fierce, hence the nickname

‘Howling Fifties’. Down there,

the crew of Majan will find

themselves in the Grey World

— one of the most remote and

dangerous parts of the planet.

A very desolate place, where

“no one should go without

having some fear of it” as Ellen

MacArthur once put it. Some

days, there will be no horizon at

all — the grey of the sea melting

with that of the sky, or the height

of the waves hiding it from sight.

The weather conditions in the

Southern Ocean are particularly

difficult as the winds and

waves roll around the bottom

of the world without touching

land thus building in force and

severity. The condition can

change very rapidly and the

crew on Majan had to react

quickly after only three days

of entering this stretch of water

as the wind speeds started to

build. Even with a crew of seven,

the sailors were only able to

take four hours off at a time,

during which time they had to

try to sleep and cook. As Majan

was constantly rocking and

frequently jumped out of the

water when she hit a big wave,

even day to day activities such

as putting on clothes become a

hard task for the team.

With squalls at night and the

wave sizes increasing (on

average 6-9ft), Mohsin reported

back to base “The wind has

gotten up, under rain clouds,

to a gusty 26 knots at times

and the changing currents

and winds are not helping me

find my sea legs, I still feel a

bit slow and queasy. We are

mostly sailing into the waves

and flopping gently over each

one. But every now and again

the odd stray wave sideswipes

us, kicking up a splash, which

comes dangerously close to the

cockpit. I normally have a strong

stomach but both Mohammed

and I were very seasick.”

Mohsin Al Busaidi answers

a few more questions for

Signature...

Why, What, Where and How? “People are always asking us

questions about sailing and

I am glad they do. I hope as

Oman Sail teaches more and

more of the Omani nation to

sail, the questions may change

to: Why didn’t we get into

sailing a long time ago? What is

the fastest we can sail? Where

are the limits of what we can

achieve? And where can’t we

sail to?

“Questions are what drive us. I

27

am asked; why are you doing

this? I answer why did our

forefathers take to the sea and

sail out into the Indian Ocean

in a quest for new horizons and

trade routes? I want to show

the world that Oman is still a

seafaring nation and tell the

world of our wonderful country.

When we spoke at a sailing

club, after a relaxed evening

sail in Cape Town, over 1,000

people turned up to learn about

Oman Sail and our country.

South African Television and

press then asked us more

questions. Judging by the level

of interest, Ahmad ibn Majid

(the famous Omani that piloted

Vasco de Gama around Cape

Point and up to India around

1498) isn’t the only famous sailor

in Cape Town.”

What’s the condition of the ocean?“We are often asked what are

the difficulties and efforts that

go along with this journey

to places like Cape Town or

Australia. Each leg is different

as we are sailing through

changing longitude and

latitude. We sail against the

weather and all she can throw

at us. The biggest challenge

is to constantly trim the sails

and helm Majan through the

changing winds and seas.

“The Southern Ocean is

particularly difficult as the

winds and waves can roll

around the bottom of the world

without touching land so they

build in force and severity. The

condition can change very

rapidly and we have to react

to them quickly. The waves are

as big as a large house and

the sea temperature is cold.

The boat is constantly rocking

and sometimes jumps out of

the water so even standing

or putting your clothes on is a

mission.

“We make all our own water

so we can only drink and cook

with it. We wash with baby wet

wipes and sleep in cot bunks

attached to the side of the hull.

Our food is freeze-dried and

can taste very plain. We have

no comforts like pillows or fresh

milk or music or TV. We sleep

for four hours and then work for

four hours then sleep for four

and so on. Life is full of routine

and systems to keep us safe and

functioning.”

What does it take to be a sailor both physical and mentally?“We are thousands of kilometres

from land and other human

beings, so you don’t only need

to be strong and fit; you need

to be mentally strong as well.

The crew on board, who have

sailed on round the world races,

say that I come on deck and sail

in a very solid manner, never

getting anxious or nervous. This

is a good quality to have on an

ocean race because there can

be a few scary moments - you

need to keep your composure.

“Mohammed is growing in

confidence all the time as he

learns more. On the way down

to Cape Town he helmed Majan

in some very difficult conditions.

He almost got over 30 knots (34.5

mph). It is great to see my friend

improving so quickly.”

Why are you doing this? Why go through all this?“Why do we go through all

this? It is because our country

has given us this opportunity

to show the world and Oman

what is achievable if you set

your mind to a task. This could

be a mountain to climb or a

desert to cross. If I can inspire

young Omanis to take on their

own personal challenges and

set goals, break them down into

smaller steps and realise their

dreams, this is what we have

set out to achieve.

“First you must dream and see

the goal you want to reach. I

hope Oman Sail and all the

sailors on the off shore team,

X40’s, Jewel of Muscat and the

sailing academy is living proof

that you don’t have to dream it

you can actually do it. Just get

involved.

“My dream is to one day

become skipper of Majan.”

What do you want to say to your families?“It’s not just journalists or the

general public who ask lots of

questions, our families want to

know Why, What, Where and

How too. I will say to them.

You taught me to ask questions

of myself and to question my

limits. We are sailing Majan

across the Southern Ocean

not just to get from A to B but

help answer those questions

and give Oman the positive

answers.”

What are your impressions of Majan itself? “Majan is a fabulous racing

machine and has caused huge

interest in both our stops to

date (in the Maldvies and Cape

Town). At 105-foot long, she is

one of the biggest trimarans in

the world. With long thin hulls

she slices through the water

piercing the waves at high

speed and is capable of speeds

in excess of 40 knots.

The main difference is the ride

compared to a mono-hull. The

trimaran’s hulls shudder and

shake as they flex. At first it’s

quite unnerving! Good news

is it’s drier than some racing

monohulls, however, there

is less space as you only live

and work in the middle hull —

everything else is just ‘tramp’

(trampoline).

“The cockpit is tucked into the

aft (rear) of the centre hull; this

is also partly covered by a long

cuddy (to keep off the spray).

Inside, we have a tiny gas stove

where the whole crew boil

water to rehydrate food to eat.

For a non-sailor, it is extremely

basic, but we have got used

to her very quickly! Majan is

a great ambassador for the

Sultanate and I feel great pride

to now be a member of her

crew.”

28

Love of the Ride

WORLD RECORD HOLDER

OMAR AL MAMARI ON BIKING,

ACHIEVEMENTS AND DREAMS...

SIGNATURE PROMOTIONS

29

When Billy Idol sang

“Motorbikin’, motorbikin’,

motorbikin’, motorcycling...

Lookin’ like a streak of lightnin’;

If you gotta go, go, gotta go

motorbike ridin’....”, he was not

only describing his own love for

the two-wheeled ride, he was

also echoing hundreds of others

who live and die by the biker’s

code.

Then there are some who take

biking beyond the code and

turn it into their life mission.

Omar Al Mamari is one such

individual. A Computer

Engineer by profession and

a self-confessed geek, this

38-year-old is as driven by

his love for his country as he

is by his Honda CBR 1100CC

Blackbird. It takes only one

extra push to turn a hobby into

a vocation. So passionate is

he about biking that he wants

to make it a recognised sport

in the country and as the

Chairman of the Muscat Bike

Club, is striving to achieve that.

“We had been trying for nearly

five years to register ourselves

under the Ministry of Sports and

we finally succeeded in doing

that last year. They recognised

us a body under the Oman

Automobile Association.”

Once the official recognition

was in the pocket, he decided

it was time to make people

stand up and take notice.

Thus, was born the dream of

a world record that would be

recognised by the Guinness

World Records. “I had to do

something for my country.”

And that’s how Omar covered

a distance of 2,127km on a

sealed-off road between

Marmul (Central Oman) and

Thamrait (close to Southern

town of Salalah) in August 2009

to create the record. “This was

not my first attempt though,”

he admits. “I undertook a drive

from the Oman Automobile

Association premises in Muscat

to the city of Salalah, some

1031 kms South (640.634 miles)

and returned to Muscat the

same way averaging a speed

of 94.1 km and covering a total

of 2062 km (1281.267 Miles) in

24 hours.” He set the world

record for the Greatest Distance

Travelled on a Motorcycle in

24 Hours (individual) and his

achievement was recognised

by the World Records Academy.

Omar also achieved another

feat by becoming the first

Omani to enter the Guinness

Book of World Records. “This is

a great thing because it not only

gives recognition to the sport,

but also does my country proud.

As a citizen of this country, I

am happy to have been able

to do something for it,” he says.

He was also felicitated with a

certificate by Omasco.

Not satisfied with these

achievements, Omar is now

working on breaking the world

record for the fastest motorbike.

“I have promised myself that

if I achieved this record, then

I will try and make a world

record for the next five years, for

my country. Therefore, I want

to attempt this record as my

tribute to 40 years of His Majesty

Sultan Qaboos Bin Said’s

Renaissance.”

Omar also wants to strengthen

Oman’s sporting roots on the

world map by taking this sport

to an international level. Hence,

a Muscat Bike Club team will

now be participating in the

World Biking Championship to

be held in Qatar at the end of

this year.

Omar’s love of the ride began

with his very first Honda 80cc

bike. “I have been riding a

Honda since 1982 and till today

Honda is my chosen ride. For

a biker, it is very important to

be in tune with his machine.

Moreover, I feel that Honda

engines can withstand any

pressure. I have tested them in

tough weather conditions and

they have always come out

tops. For me, a Honda engine is

like a part of my body and that

is why I am still with Honda and

will continue to be with them.”

Today, Omar Al Mamari is

Honda’s Brand Ambassador

in Oman. But, Omar wants to

do much more than be a mere

Brand Ambassador. He hopes to

be a role model for the younger

generation and inspire them to

take up biking as a sport. His

advice to young aspiring bikers

is to learn to ride responsibly.

“Pay attention to yourself, your

bike, the road ahead and other

vehicles and the ride will be a

smooth one,” he says.

Perched high on his Blackbird,

Omar Al Mamari is riding high

on success, but this humble

biker says that there is still a

long way to go, a lot of things

to be done and achieved for

his country and the sport.

According to him, “Records are

just the beginning...”

30

In Full SwingTHE SIXTH EDITION OF THE OER CEO GOLF WAS A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME! SIGNATURE PRESENTS A REPORT.

Virendra Agarwal, CEO of

Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan

& Co LLC, was the last man on

stage to receive his award for

the day. And rightfully so! The

announcement of the winner of

the coveted top prize in the 6th

Edition of OER CEO Golf was

kept for the very end of the prize

distribution ceremony.

Before the announcement of the

Champion of the Day, Hayyan

Al Lawati was declared the Most

Promising Golfer-To-Be, and was

presented a Rolex wristwatch by

Khimji’s Watches.

Contacted later, Virendra said, “I

play golf only on the green. And

considering this debut of OER

CEO Golf on the greens here at

the amazing Muscat Hills Golf

& Country Club, for me this win

means much. We’ve had a great

day, and a wonderful evening,

and I am sure all of us look

forward to being together again

EVENT

next year, with more people

joining in.” That was pretty

much the general sentiment

at the end of a day that began

for many as early as 6.30 am.

Given the inaugural tee off by

HE Rumhi, Minister for Oil &

Gas, was scheduled for 8.30am,

all the pros were keen to take

positions early and be ready to

move on to the greens.

By 9.30 am, they were off.

For them, the steadily rising

sharpness of the sun’s rays, just

beginning to hint at the onset of

summer days in Muscat, were

to be relished stroke after stroke.

As they made their way towards

the end of their respective score

cards, points and positions

occupied lower positions, as

compared to the thrill of playing

on the green; the corporate

bonhomie firing each one of

them to do better with every hole

over the 18-hole championship

course.

Over lunch, some said their

game could have been better.

Others were mindless of the

scores, more enthusiastic about

exchanging notes of a different

kind with the many corporate

honchos — now the hallmark of

OER CEO Golf.

Alongside, Muscat Hills

had their star trainers run

newcomers to golf through a golf

clinic. Teeing off, putting and

driving — there were lessons

that took nearly 200 participants

through just practice, practice

and practice.

Before the evening celebrations,

again, there was a spot of fun for

the pros and their spouses. For

the first time in Muscat, people

got a taste of Water Golf.

With golf clubs stowed away

for the day, it was time for

people to unwind and enjoy the

evening. The entertainment and

awards ceremony venue was

decked colourfully with most of

Oman best brands, all ardent

supporters of OER CEO Golf

in one way or another. And,

as foot-thumping music filled

the ears, there were breaks for

the eyes to feast on too. From

a wondrous performance in

martial arts traditions from

Kerala in India, to whirling

dancers from Dubai, Caramba,

guests wove their way between

tables to friends ‘on the other

side’ and back to their own

via the elaborate buffet and

refreshment centers. It was

time to let one’s hair down.

‘Tomorrow’ was a Friday!!

The revelries went on for a while

before the curtain came down

on the 6th Edition of OER CEO

Golf, played for the first time on

the greens at the Muscat Hills

Golf & Country Club. Apart

from the venue partner, a host

of big brands also supported

the most glamorous networking

opportunity of the year.

Nawras Business Solutions were

official presenters of this year’s

OER CEO Golf in association

with the National Bank of Oman.

The event was partnered by

BMW; Rolex from Khimji’s

Watches were again the time

keepers for the event. Other

brands that proudly participated

as category partners included

the Times of Oman and Al

Shabiba (Publicity); Hi, Al Youm

Al Sabe and Faces (Media);

Jet Airways (Travel); Capital

Stores & Samsung from SARCO

(Prizes); Al Turki Enterprises,

Green Olive Enterprises &

Matharoo Trading & Contracting

(Venue & Décor); OUA

(Beverages); Signature

Magazine (Luxury);

Buzzword (PR); Reach

(Activation); AXA

(Insurance); Infoline

(Call Centre);

Oman Printing &

Stationery (Printing);

Aggreko (Energy); Al

Sawadi (Hospitality),

Cybex (Fitness),

AATCO, Al Marai,

Tahini & Muscat

Sports.

32

REPORT

WHAT A SHOW!Each year about 2000 companies from all over the globe showcase major innovations in the watch, jewellery and precious stones industry at BASELWORLD, the world watch and jewellery show. This spring, the Show celebrated its 38th year and was deemed a grand success.

33

In pursuit of the latest trends and innovations in the

industries, over 100,000 visitors from 100 countries

come to Basel, Switzerland to participate in the

BASELWORLD Show. Spread across a staggering

160,000 sq m, the show is deemed one of the most

important trade events that shouldn’t be missed by

any industry player. Not only do trade buyers get

to experience the best brands under one roof, but

the Show also provides a great networking platform for people from

the watch, jewellery and allied sectors as well. BASELWORLD is

the ideal place for companies to launch new products and present

existing brands in a fresh new light.

This year too, the show was met with unsurpassed success despite

the slowdown in the luxury goods industry. Held from March 18-25,

2010, the BASELWORLD show proved their position as the largest

and most important World Watch and Jewellery show. According

to press reports, ‘BASELWORLD 2010 met the high expectations in

terms of business performance and gave new impetus to the industry

after challenging economic times’. An estimated 100,700 visitors and

1,915 exhibitors attended the event which was held at the Exhibition

Centre Basel (Messe Basel).

The jewellery exhibits included the likes of Barakà, Brumani,

Cielo Venezia 1270, Furrer Jacot, and Swarovski. And big brand

names like Chopard, Ritmo Mundo, Seiko, Bulova, Bell & Ross,

Tag Heuer, Montres DeWitt, Carl F. Bucherer and Tissot showcased

their finest timepieces. Tag Heuer unveiled its latest offering – the

Pendulum concept which replaces the traditional hairspring used

in most automatic watches. Swiss-based Bulova Corporation also

announced their latest masterpiece, the Precisionist. As the name

suggests, this watch is considered to be the most precise timepiece

to have ever been created. Other new launches included Breitling’s

Superocean, Perrelet’s new Titanium collection and Davidoff’s Very

Zino Navigator collection.

All-in-all, BASELWORLD 2010 was a huge success and is expected to

return in March 2011- By Sushmita Sarkhel

34

Housing an ultra-exclusive movement – the very first made entirely in the Armin Strom workshop and boasting a 7-day power reserve – the One Week collection embodies

the brand’s high level of excellence. The movement is partially engraved, chamfered and hand-polished in the purest Armin Strom tradition to highlight the richness of

its mechanism. The visible crown wheels and hand-setting mechanism, the main elements of the three-part dial,

give this highly recognisable timepiece its technical and innovative style. The series is available in four versions – Earth, Water, Air and Fire – and limited to 100 of each.

In the Tissot Veloci-T Gent, the revolutionary new chronograph

movement, recently introduced by Tissot, meets elegant design with a

sporty accent. A duo of models share a black and silver colour scheme and sophisticated, speedometer-inspired

looks. Two of the chronograph counters are framed with their own metal ‘circuit’ at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock. The third one sits at nine

o’clock to balance the date display surrounded by a retro TV-screen

shape on the opposite side. These timepieces are geared to the needs

and tastes of active wearers who frequently take the time to appreciate

the essential things in life.

ARMIN STROM

ONE WEEK EARTH

TISSOT VELOCI-T GENT

Malcolm Xavier Crasta presents a few of the masterpieces that were presented at the show...

35

Black, robust and highly technical. The most remarkable feature of the Avenger Seawolf Chrono Blacksteel, its

magnetic pushpiece system, is hidden inside its case. With this exclusive, patented device, the watch can

be activated through the metal case without any direct mechanical contact. As most chronographs cannot be used when diving, this device means that the Avenger Seawolf Chrono is the only instrument of its kind that

is totally water-resistant and functional to a record depth of 1,000 metres. Its SuperQuartz TM movement

– another exclusive Breitling creation – guarantees a precision ten times greater than ordinary quartz

movements; it measures time to 1/10th of a second and indicates intermediary times. The Blacksteel will be

produced in a limited series of 2,000.

While the new Superocean makes no compromises on the technical qualities that have consistently

distinguished Breitling‘s diver‘s watches, it immediately catches your gaze with its stunning makeover. A fresh,

sporting and original look that is bound to be equally at home in the ocean depths as on dry land. The rubber-molded bezel is particularly pleasant to the touch and is enlivened by sloping numerals and a fluted pattern accentuating its technical nature and its adventurous

vocation. Water-resistant to 1,500 meters (5,000 ft), powered by a selfwinding chronometer-certified

movement and available at a particularly competitive price, the new Superocean has exactly what it takes to break the waves and sail across changing trends while

keeping several lengths ahead of the competition.

BREITLING AVENGER SEAWOLF CHRONO

BLACKSTEEL

BREITLING SUPEROCEAN

36

Featuring an original combination of complications, the first timepiece from Maîtres du Temps is the work of Christophe

Claret and Peter Speake-Marin. This model boasts a tourbillon, a mono-pusher chronograph, a retrograde date, a retrograde GMT and two distinctive rollers, one at 6 o’clock

and the other at 12, indicating respectively the days of the week and the phases of the moon.

TAG Heuer’s legendary motor racing-inspired collection, the Carrera, has been expanded with the new Calibre 1887 Chronograph. Both

high-performing and elegant, this automatic chronograph is extremely easy to read thanks to its refined design and the very slender bezel

providing optimal dial visibility. The small seconds’ hand runs freely at 9 o’clock, devoid of all constraints. Available in very classic

combinations – silvered or black dial with alligator strap or steel bracelet – the Carrera Calibre 1887 chronograph joins the exclusive

circle of watches unencumbered by time.

MAITRES DU TEMPS

CHAPTER ONE

TAG HEUER CARRERA

CALIBRE 1887 CHRONOGRAPH

REPORT

37

With this new masterpiece from Carl F. Bucherer, the brand’s high design standards remain unchanged: perfect

legibility, the striking aesthetics of the cushion-shaped case with rubber bezel and deliberately understated, modern dial, and the technical design of the Manufacture movement and

functional module. It differs from the usual image one has of it, because it is large. Indeed, exceptionally large. And in

aesthetic and technical aspects too, the restyling deviates from the conventional, so that the power reserve indication

fits perfectly with the unorthodox design of the date and small seconds.

It has distinctive character, undeniable power and represents a deliberate break with traditional watch design principles.

This mechanical marvel is powered by an exceptional ‘motor’, proprietary L.U.C Calibre 1TRM. Machined like an

engine block and mounted on silent-blocks, this mechanical hand-wound tourbillon movement was designed, developed

and produced at Chopard Manufacture. Like the most coveted sports cars, the titanium L.U.C Engine One

Tourbillon is naturally issued in a limited edition of 150, in honour of Chopard’s 150th anniversary.

CARL F. BUCHERER

PATRAVI EVOTEC

POWERRESERVE

CHOPARD L.U.C

ENGINE ONE TOURBILLON

38

PEOPLE

39

He is Amitabh Bachchan — the slayer of evil, the protector of

the meek and the messenger of peace. He is the only super

‘superhero’ that Indian cinema has even seen. Such is his screen

presence that it, more often than not, tears out of the screen and

compels you to worship the character that he is. Never mind then

that it is all make-believe.

When he was born, his parents — Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan (a

well-known Hindi poet) and Teji Bachchan — initially named him

Inquilaab (inspired from the famous phrase Inquilab Zindabad,

meaning ‘Long Live Revolution’ used commonly during the Indian

independence struggle), but later re-named him Amitabh which

means ‘one with boundless splendour’.

And Mr Bachchan has lived up to both his names. He stormed the

Indian screen, revolutionised the way the world looked at a ‘hero’,

and set the screen on fire with his portrayal of the ‘angry young

man’ and his baritone. A household name today in his home

country and abroad, it would not be difficult for any writer to wax

eloquent about this man’s legendary status.

So, call it an anti-climax if you will. For you walk into a room

expecting to meet this swash-buckling ‘superhero’ and instead

encounter a simple man with an air of dignified flamboyance that

crushes all your celluloid fantasies.

Here in Muscat for the first time, to receive the Life Time

Achievement award, at the opening of the Muscat Film Festival,

being organised by the Oman Film Society (OFS) and the

International Film Fraternity of Oman (IFFO), Amitabh Bachchan

broke many a ‘superstar’ myth as he spoke with Signature,

wrapped in a black shawl and sporting thick-framed glasses,

looking very much the common man that he often portrays to a

slight exaggeration on the large screen.

EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW…

Early in your career, you were rejected by the All India Radio. Do you think it was the best thing that could have happened to you?“I went for an interview and I was rejected because they did not

the legend the man

He may be the biggest ‘superstar’ that Indian cinema ever gave birth to, but Amitabh Bachchan is a fine lesson in the

art of humility and straightforward conversation discovers Deepa Rajan.

40

find my voice appropriate. I

don’t think I had any intentions

of joining the movies at that

point in time. I was merely

looking for a job and this was

one of the places that I had

applied.”

Fame often comes with a price. Do you think ‘Brand AB’ has got the better of Amitabh Bachchan?“I do not know what brand

means. Maybe, you can

explain that to me (chuckles). I

am just another human being.

My profession is that of an

actor, I act in movies. These

are terminologies that people

who are in marketing and in

business have designed. ”

But Amitabh Bachchan is synonymous with the Indian film industry... When people see you, they see the Indian film industry.“I do not think that is entirely

correct. There are many

artistes in the film industry and

have been since its inception.

They all bring credibility and

credit to the fact that the Indian

cinema is now gradually

becoming a worldwide

phenomenon. To find myself

here, in Muscat which is a

foreign country, and to find

so much support, affection

and love from people who go

and watch our films is really

a credit to the Indian film

industry, fraternity and indeed

to the country.

“Cinema has, over the years,

become almost a parallel

culture in our country (India).

I don’t know if that is good

for the country or not, but it

has and there is a certain

identity that cinema has, as

far as India is concerned,

which is very good for us. We

feel very happy and proud.

Not so long ago, cinema was

considered an activity that was

infra dig. People from good

homes never contributed to

or acknowledged it. But, look

where it is today. We are sitting

in a foreign land (Muscat)

doing an interview. It just

shows that there has been an

increasing acceptability to this

medium.”

Where do you see Indian cinema on the world map?“Cinema in India has a very

unique content. I know that

most of the Western world

has always looked upon our

cinema cynically and with lot

of criticism because of the fact

that it is overtly fantasised.

“But they are unaware of the

circumstances in which Indian

cinema is made. Escapist,

commercial Hindi cinema is

there for the entertainment of

the common man, who after

a day of hard work needs

some kind of release. For him

to come and spend his entire

day’s earnings and then see

his own life begin replicated

on screen… he would not want

to do that. So, we give him a

nice story with values, we give

the conquest of good over evil,

we give him relationships,

we give him song and dance.

“And, for three hours he is lost

in this world of fantasy. We

are able to provide him, as

my father used to say, poetic

justice in three hours. You and

I cannot achieve this justice

in a lifetime. I think that is the

most attractive part of Indian

cinema. The West is more

educated and therefore makes

movies that it feels are good

for the society. But, I think

that it has gradually started

accepting our form of cinema

and that bodes well for us.”

Why do you think then that a ‘Main Azad Hoon’ (I Am Free) does not deliver the same

impact as a Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire?“It depends on what part of the

world you are talking about.

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ did not

do very well in India, it did

well overseas. And, ‘Main

Azad Hoon’ was perhaps

way too philosophical and

idealistic for the Indian

audiences at the time it was

released. There were many

who were intelligent enough to

understand the hidden values

behind it and there were many

who did not, which actually

defines what I was saying

earlier that if they don’t identify

with the content of the film in

an escapist manner, then they

reject it.”

As someone who has been part of the growth process, what do you feel is the most defining moment in world cinema?“I don’t think there are any

defining moments. I think

that creativity moves from

day to day, year to year and

hopefully it is getting more

and more progressive. We

have new kinds of technology

and new ways of presenting

our films. Technology is

becoming so important that

PEOPLE

41

many a time you wonder

whether in the years to

come you will need human

actors because everything is

computer-generated. In any

case, some of the biggest

Hollywood successes have

been those that have been

made with a fish, a robot, or

an alien from outer space.

Where is the human being?

Where is the actor? In time to

come, human stories will still

prosper. There will always be

an attraction towards human

stories and emotion, it is very

important. But, technology has

improved a lot. Take ‘Avatar’

for example. It is incredible

the kind of technology that

has been deployed in the film.

“But then again, when it is

time to assess the value of it

as a film, technology, in this

case, has taken a second or

third seat. A very small film

like ‘Hurt Locker’ has won all

the accolades. It just shows

that if you lack soul, the human

emotion angle, somewhere

you lose value of the content.”

You are no stranger to awards. What do they mean to you? Do you think there will come a time when you overgrow them and leave them to the

younger generation like Lata Mangeshkar (a legendary Indian singer) did?“Awards are a recognition

of our work and we happily

accept that. I don’t say I

crave them, but if they come,

I will accept them. It would

be very rude on my part

to not acknowledge them

when someone wants to

acknowledge me. As far

as the younger generation

is concerned, they are still

beating me at my game. It is a

fair field. Everyone does their

work and leaves it up to the

audience or jury to judge. I do

not win awards every year.

“The younger generation

keeps getting awards all the

time. I am just fortunate to be

able to work in films and some

of them get recognition. It is all

very healthy.”

Is there an Amitabh the writer, who will continue his father’s legacy?“No. I am not a writer. I will

never be able to match his

legacy (smiles).”

When Sir Ben Kingsley met Amitabh Bachchan…what did one legend say to the other?

“It was a very cordial and

wonderful moment. He is

a wonderful human being,

very co-operative and very

well prepared. I wasn’t as

prepared as he was and that

was a bit embarrassing (smiles

sheepishly). But, he was just

like any other colleague on set,

always ready to rehearse, a

very regular person.”

Finally…Your impressions of Oman“Oman is beautiful. I wish I

had been here earlier. I had

heard of its beauty from a lot

of people. I find it very serene,

peaceful with warm, loving

and accommodating people,

who are very sincere in their

actions and their deeds. I find

it very different from the other

Gulf countries I have visited

not just in scenic beauty but

also in temperament. I was

very impressed by the whole

thinking: whether it is saying

no to ostentatious development,

no high-rise structures,

wanting to keep the natural

beauty as close to as it was

earlier. The usage of colours is

so elegant and in line with the

natural ambience of the place.

The emphasis on greenery

is commendable; so many

tree-lined avenues in a desert

country. It is very remarkable.

I was surprised to see so many

‘Neem’ trees, very large ones.

‘Neem’ is a very difficult tree

to grow even in India. It must

have taken great many days

to actually nurture them. The

effort is indeed laudable.”

When you think about it, a

legend is known not by how

many times it is told or its

popularity, but by the value it

brings to enhance society. On

his blog, he says, “I believe

that when one is determined

to overcome, a just path shall

form. I believe that bringing

about an atmosphere of

‘everything’s gonna be alright’,

actually does make everything

alright. I believe that pushing

oneself to command gives

one the impetus to follow. I

believe when you entertain

only positive modes, the pluses

appear. I believe when you

bring a spring in your walk,

that the road gets consumed

quicker than before...” That’s

life’s journey aptly summed

up by a ‘superstar’. But what

makes Mr. Bachchan a legend

is not his ‘superstar’ status, but

his simple day-to-day struggle

to be the best at what he is...

42

Il Dolce Far Niente LOCATION: TUSCANY, GRAND HYATT MUSCAT.

MISSION:TO PARTAKE OF A GOOD ITALIAN MEAL AND INDULGE IN ‘THE SWEETNESS OF DOING NOTHING’ (IL DOLCE…).

ATTENDEES: HIS EXCELLENCY SEIJI MORIMOTO, AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN TO OMAN, AND MADAM YOSHIKO MORIMOTO, CHRISTOPH FRANZEN-GENERAL MANAGER, GRAND HYATT MUSCAT.

RESULT: N EVENING WELL SPENT SUCCESSFULLY INDULGING ALL GASTRONOMICAL SENSES AND IL DOLCE FAR NIENTE.

BY DEEPA RAJAN.

BON APPÉTIT

43

“The Japanese are omnivores,”

says His Excellency Seiji Morimoto,

Ambassador of Japan to the Sultanate

of Oman, as he proceeds to relish the

very first course of an elaborate and

satisfying four-course Italian dinner at

Tuscany, Grand Hyatt Muscat. “We eat

everything… both plants and animals,”

he adds jovially. Perhaps, this is the

reason why His Excellency has, over

the years, developed a taste for world

cuisines. With postings Bonn-Germany

(he also spent some time as a student at

the University of Freiburg), Baghdad,

Ankara, Vienna and now Muscat, it

was not difficult for His Excellency to

explore not just the cultural nuances

of each of the places, but also the food

and enjoy it all.

According to His Excellency, “Every

country has a unique food culture.

Though Japan has its own dishes to

offer the world, it embraces all other

cuisines as well. If you visit Japan

you will see every type of restaurant

there.” A fact that is whole-heartedly

supported by Christoph Franzen,

General Manager, Grand Hyatt

Muscat; a lover of food, a former

chef and our host for the evening.

Other animated conversationalists

at the table include His Excellency’s

wife, Madam Yoshiko Morimoto, who

complements her husband’s passion for

food with her own.

All three have travelled the world and

have gathered today for an Italian

gourmet experience at Tuscany. Our

table is in a corner of a beautiful and

stately room aglow with soft candlelight

and the warmth of the conversation

that includes a range of topics from

books, to movies to school systems and

good food.

Italian food is His Excellency’s favourite

and he often dishes up some Spaghetti

Aglio Olio (garlic and olive oil) on

Fridays. So, call it serendipity that

44

we chose Tuscany for our

rendezvous. But, little did we

know that we were committing

ourselves to something really

as huge as Chef de Cuisine

Fabrizio Valdetara’s cooking.

The four-course meal began

with Pan Fried Scallops with

Eggplant Caviar, Cherry

Tomatoes Confit and Crackers,

followed by Valdetara’s

signature Risotto with Barolo

reduction and walnuts. The

third course was a double treat

with generous portions of Fresh

Tagliolini pasta with Prawns,

Sucienne Red Capcicum,

Zucchini Cream and Fried Leek

and then Veal Tenderloin with

Sautéed Spinach, Potato Gratin

and Shallot Sauce. Mamma

Mia! The Italians sure do know

how to throw a dinner party!

They seem to be totally privy

to the fact that good food is

always the key ingredient to

spice up a dinner table. But,

what is good food? According

to His Excellency there are two

perspectives on what ‘good

food’ really is. “If you think of

your health, good food is less

tasty, but if you think of the

quality of life, good food is

bad for your health…and I do

enjoy the bad food.” Madam

Yoshiko adds to His Excellency’s

explanation, saying: “For me

good food is what I feel like

eating at the moment.”

Is that not difficult when you

are a diplomat having to host

soirées and luncheons? It is not

always possible to eat what

you want. Says His Excellency,

“This is my first posting as an

Ambassador and I have been

allowed to bring along a chef.

But I have a Japanese chef who

is an expert in French cuisine.

So, it is my wife who is teaching

him the Japanese art of cooking.

But, having a French cuisine

expert has its advantages. My

chef knows how to prepare

course meals, including

desserts, for my foreign guests.”

“Also, having a good chef is

important as there are so many

elements that go into making

the food served a complete

and satisfying experience.

You should be able to enjoy

your meal thrice — through

the look, the smell and the

taste,” says Madam Morimoto.

His Excellency emphasises it

further with a Japanese saying:

“You eat your dishes with your

BON APPÉTIT

45

own eyes”, therefore, he adds,

“Presentation is important to a

meal.” Does etiquette also matter,

especially when it comes to ‘fine

dining’? His Excellency feels it

is very important to distinguish

between the public and private

life you lead. “In public life, you

have to follow certain etiquette.

But in your private life, you eat

what you want and not what

you have to.” In his private

life, His Excellency enjoys his

wife’s homely day-to-day simple

Japanese cooking. “She is the

best cook for me for she knows

what my taste is and what I

am accustomed to.” We are

interrupted (read enticed) by the

final course of the evening: the

Classic Italian Tiramisu, which

is served with chocolates. As we

tuck into the dessert, Madam

Morimoto informs us that His

Excellency also bakes cakes and

whips up really good desserts.

“I prefer cooking simple,

uncomplicated desserts”, but he

loves to makes elaborate recipes.

His Excellency adds: “I follow the

instructions to the ‘T’ because I

feel it makes a great difference if

you do follow the recipe.”

Our dessert is almost over and

so is the evening. Despite the

monstrosity of the portions, Chef

Fabrizio Valdetara’s cooking

has left us feeling satiated and

as happy as a child. Authentic

Italian cooking at its best,

Tuscany makes the ideal location

for those wanting to consume

a slice of Italy. Combine it with

some heavenly food and it is a

gastronomical delight, to say the

least.

Someone once said: “Food is our

common ground, a universal

experience.” And, a universal

experience it was. What else

would you call a gathering of

two Japanese, one Swiss and

two Indians, with conversation

ranging from all things political

and non-political, over some

scrumptiously opulent Italian

food!

46

Alchemy on Canvas

INTERVIEW

HRAIR DIARBEKIRIAN’S ART IMPRESSES YOU WITH ITS HARMONIOUS BALANCE OF A MYSTICAL WORLD THAT NOT MANY

DARE EXPLORE, SAYS SUSHMITA SARKHEL.

He is credited for bringing

about an artistic upheaval in

the region with his artwork,

steeped in an eclectic mix of

tradition and symbolism. Hrair

Diarbekirian has given new life

and meaning to his subjects as well as the ancient

art of calligraphy. With a plethora of exhibitions

displaying his artistic talents, in Lebanon and

abroad, this well-known artist, has reached a

pinnacle of success that is an apt testament to his

creative genius.

Hrair’s affair with the brush began as a child.

Born in Beruit, his earliest memories are that of his

mother bringing him a set of water paints to work

with. And later, when he was about nine, Hrair’s

father introduced him to oil paints. Lost in his

passion, Hrair would spend hours painting. Back

then, his subjects were his parents and siblings.

Later, he joined a reputed school of art, the

Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts in Lebanon,

where he studied Interior Architecture for the next

three years. During this time, Hrair won three gold

medals for his tapestries for the Presidential Palace

in Beirut and later a Gold Medal from the Sursock

Museum. These awards proved to be catalysts to

a career that is as illustrious as his famed icons in

purple and gold. Egged on by them, Hrair decided

to to focus on developing his talent.

48

Today, his aesthetically

fascinating works of art delve

into the equally alluring realms

of women, horses, flowers and

calligraphy. Hrair’s shows have

spanned from Lebanon, UAE

and Bahrain in the Middle East

to Greece, Rome, Brazil and

New York. His work seems to

belong to a certain realm of

mysticism, which no other artist

has dared explore.

Especially striking are his

artworks, influenced by the

Byzantine era, which lead to an

exquisite alchemy on canvas.

More than anything, Hrair

wants his works to bring some

happiness and beauty in the

lives of others. In a world that’s

perennially surrounded by grief

and uncertainty, he hopes that

his art will bring a little, even if

for a fleeting moment, positivity

and peace. Delving deeper into

his optically sumptuous works,

each element portrays an

elemental truth of life. The horse

is said to be a ‘symbol if male

virility, strength and mastery’

and the Sun is said to depict the

circle of life and universe, with

no beginning or end.

Apart from this, he has also

created some wonderful works

of calligraphy (following his

central theme of the circle

or halo). Even ‘women’ are

a favourite subject. Women,

according to him, are a host

of ideas, forms and inspiration

and he brings these characters

to life in his paintings. ‘Claire

de femme’, ‘Generations’,

‘Song of the Poet’ and ‘Family’

are some of the artworks that

evoke a certain delight in the

artistic mind. His latest works

involve women with the musical

instruments such as the cello

and mandolin, thus bringing

harmony, balance and stability

on a yet undefined frontier

where colour and music come

together. Symbolism and

philosophy are an integral part

“I DON’T CHANGE, I EVOLVE NATURALLY. WHEN YOU SEE MY PAINTINGS NEXT TIME, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IT IS A HRAIR.”

IN A WORLD THAT’S PERENNIALLY SURROUNDED BY GRIEF AND

UNCERTAINTY, HRAIR HOPES THAT HIS ART WILL BRING A LITTLE, EVEN IF FOR A FLEETING MOMENT, POSITIVITY

AND PEACE.

INTERVIEW

of Hrair’s works, and they only

fortify his creative genius. Hrair

has a unique talent that bring

his subjects to life. His artworks

are mainly oil on canvas,

although he has also done some

work with mixed media on

paper. Vibrant blues, reds, and

greens with luxurious splashes

of gold are typically Hrair. His

brush strokes seem to have a

constant rhythm in them and the

colours, a tune.

No wonder, his artworks have

found illustrious patrons in the

likes of HH Queen Elizabeth II,

Kirk Douglas, Roger Moore, Liza

Minnelli, Anthony Quinn and

the Late Jacqueline Kennedy

Onassis. Each of them sought

the ‘uniquely Hrair’ artwork.

HH Queen Elizabeth II, is said

to have taken a large work that

depicts a ‘group of people’ while

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

had picked out a more iconic

one, “Perhaps because of her

ties with Greece,” says Hrair

contemplatively.

Over the years, his works

have still managed to retain

his basic artistic elements.

Change is something that Hrair

believes should come naturally.

He doesn’t change his style

because he simply has to and

neither is his work defined by

what others expect of him. “I

don’t change, I evolve naturally.

When you see my paintings

next time, you should know that

it is a Hrair.”

But, perhaps what describes

Hrair’s work best is this verse

from Louis Aragon poem that

is quoted on his website: “I

am taken away by horses all

blinded by purpureus suns,

horses of the fire that are run by

horsewomen towards unknown

lands where queens and

princesses tell a story renewed

for ever, lands of purple and

gold together mixed...”

50

Their tagline is ‘Beauty, Scentsation,

You’. When you walk into any of Muscat

Pharmacy’s ‘Perfumes & Cosmetics’ stores,

you will indeed feel ample justice being

done to all three, and the newest addition to

the ‘Perfumes & Cosmetics’ family takes the

concept a notch higher, beyond shopping,

to create a new definition of customer

satisfaction.

Perfumes & Cosmetics is a division of

Muscat Pharmacy, one of the oldest medical

products distribution companies in the

Sultanate of Oman. The first luxury retail

Perfumes & Cosmetics store opened at the

Jawharat Al Shatti complex in August 2007.

And now the Pharmacy presents this store,

located in the Sahwa Towers, Athaiba,

which is a 650-square metre pure luxury

shopping experience! Inaugurated by B. S.

Mehta, Group Chairman, Muscat Pharmacy,

Beyond Shopping

HERE’S WHY THE NEWEST MUSCAT PHARMACY PERFUME & COSMETICS IS RETAIL THERAPY AT ITS BEST!

SHOP

the swanky new showroom,

which is also the fourteenth

Muscat Pharmacy store, houses

an extensive range of the best

brands in the fragrance and

cosmetics business.

Here’s where you revel in the

fragrances of Armani, Gucci,

Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy

and Calvin Klein and Ralph

Lauren, Dolce and Gabbana,

Lancôme, Estée Lauder,

Elizabeth Arden and Nina Ricci,

Kenzo, Moschino, Tom Ford and

Lacoste to name just a few! There

are options aplenty for those with

a nose for Oriental perfumes

such as Amouage, Creed, M.

Micallef and Dorin, as well.

Well, these brands are available

everywhere, so what makes

shopping for them in this store

unique? The experience of

being in an atmosphere that has

been tailor-made for ‘You’ — the

customer is this store’s USP. From

the pleasing-on-the-eyes décor,

with a generous splash of pink

complemented by classic white

counters to the well-done ceiling

with art deco lights, everything

has been positioned to catch

your eye. Even the store display

window on the outside has an

impressive collage of digital

images juxtaposed to form a

colour burst of the possible

choices available to you on the

inside.

The store also understands that

the choices available to you are

enough to send you into a tizzy.

And so, at the cosy heart of the

store, is comfort seating in the

form of a lounge — done up in

luxurious red — where you can

relax as you make up your mind

about which brand to choose, or

simply sip on some fresh juice

or coffee while the bill is being

prepared. The red lounge, a

striking contrast to the soothing

pink décor, is a special ‘red

carpet invite’ for you to walk into

Perfumes & Cosmetics and give

your olfactory senses a boost.

And it’s not just about

fragrances... the store’s

cosmetics line up is as

impressive allowing you to

choose from Clinique, Lancôme,

YSL, Elizabeth Arden, Estée

Lauder, Givenchy, Kanebo and

Nuxe. Here too, to make sure that

your experience is as unique

as possible, the store has a,

“Separate beauty room within

the store, where ladies can enjoy

complete privacy as they seek

skincare and make-up tips or

get a makeover from our trained

team of beauty advisers,” says

Amita Kalbag, Brand Manager,

Muscat Pharmacy.

With a friendly staff, a soothing

ambience and a personable

aura that puts you at ease

immediately, this Perfumes &

Cosmetics store is perhaps the

most luxurious way to pamper

the shopper in you

52

UNMISTAKABLE

STYLEHAVING JUST

ATTENDED THE

2010 BMW 5 SERIES

PRODUCT AND

BRAND EXPERIENCE,

MALCOLM XAVIER

CRASTA GIVES YOU

AN OVERVIEW OF

THE WORLD OF THE

NEW 5 SERIES.

CAR

53

As early

as in the

1960s, BMW

developed

a strong

and distinctive profile as

a manufacturer of sporty

but elegant, powerful and

technically innovative midrange

four-door sedans. Introducing

a four-door notchback body,

engines fitted lengthwise at the

front, rear-wheel drive and an

elaborate suspension, BMW

established a classical principle

at the time which remains

highly attractive and fully

endorsed to this very day. It was

at that time that the BMW 1500,

the BMW 1800 and the BMW

2000 entered the market as the

‘New Range’, establishing the

most successful model series

BMW had ever seen up to that

point.

The competence in the

development and production

of saloons demonstrated

by BMW with these models

gave the company a

worldwide breakthrough as a

manufacturer of modern and

highly desirable automobiles

with very individual

characteristics.

Switching from the New Range

to the BMW 5 Series in 1972,

BMW introduced not only a

new nomenclature, but also a

new era in design. Currently,

the sales of the BMW 5 Series

already amount to more than

54

5.5 million units in five model

generations — and now a

new chapter is starting in the

highly successful story of the

BMW 5 Series Sedan with

the introduction of its sixth

generation model.

With the longest wheelbase

in the segment, a long and

sleek engine compartment

lid, short overhangs front

and rear and a coupé-like,

graceful roofline, the new

BMW 5 Series Sedan stands out

clearly from the competition.

Design features typical of the

brand are to be found both at

the front with its BMW kidney

grille inclined slightly forward

and on the strikingly chiselled

engine compartment lid, in

the stylish and elegant side

view of the car, and on the

muscular rear end. With the

interiors, modern function and

a superior ambience come

together in perfect harmony;

unmistakable style and clear

orientation to the driver in

the cockpit guaranteeing

a truly unique driving and

travelling experience. The

interior design clearly brings

out both the active character

and the comfort features of

the car. The cockpit is inclined

towards the driver at an angle

of approximately seven degrees

and the asymmetrically

designed centre console

likewise emphasises this clear

orientation to the driver. The

multifunction buttons on the

newly developed steering

wheels now also serve to

operate cruise control. All

control units and switches

as well as the displays in the

instrument cluster, finished

in Black Panel technology,

are arranged clearly and

ensure optimum readability.

Information relevant to the

driver as well as the control

instruments are arranged on

the side of the cockpit facing

the driver, while the displays,

control units and buttons

serving to mastermind comfort

functions are positioned more

towards the middle of the car.

Measuring up to 10.2 inches

in size, the Control Display

featured on the iDrive control

system, obviously coming as

standard, is integrated into the

instrument panel.

One of the most advanced

drivetrain and suspension

technologies ensure supreme

CAR

55

sportiness and an even higher

standard of motoring comfort

all in one. At the same time

optional Dynamic Driving

Control enables the driver to

set the suspension individually

to his personal requirements.

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan

is available with ‘Adaptive

Drive’, encompassing Dynamic

Damper Control and Dynamic

Drive stability control as well

as BMW’s ‘Integral Active

Steering’.

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan

is making its debut with two six-

cylinder models, an additional

eight-cylinder model and

six-cylinder model will join the

model family later. One of these

models to be introduced later,

the top-of-the-range BMW 550i,

will come with an eight-cylinder

boasting BMW TwinPower

Turbo Technology and High

Precision Injection for maximum

output of 407 hp. The straight-six

with BMW TwinPower Turbo

and High Precision Injection

in the BMW 535i delivers

maximum output of 306 hp. The

other two straight-six power

units, featuring high precision

injection and lean-burn

operation, develop 258 hp in the

BMW 528i (the other model to

be introduced later) and 204 hp

in the BMW 523i. All versions of

the new 5 Series are available,

as an option, with BMW’s

new eight-speed automatic

transmission.

BMW EfficientDynamics

technologies are naturally

featured as standard in

appropriate combinations on

each model, with features such

as Brake Energy Regeneration,

a gearshift point indicator,

active air flap control, and on-

demand operation of ancillary

units including a detachable

a/c compressor. Intelligent

lightweight construction, finally,

is ensured by features such as

the doors, engine compartment

lid, front side panels and

suspension components made

of aluminium.

Other available equipment will

include Surround View (perfect

overview of the car while

manoeuvring), BMW Parking

Assistant (fully automatic

steering and optimum user

guidance while parking), Active

Cruise Control and much more.

The sixth generation of the BMW

5 Series Sedan is based on the

same newly developed vehicle

architecture also featured in the

BMW 7 Series Luxury Sedan.

Joint production of the BMW 5

Series Sedan, the BMW 5 Series

Gran Turismo and the BMW 7

Series at BMW Plant Dingolfing,

together with the joint use of

components, ensures a highly

efficient production process

and a supreme level of quality,

meeting the most demanding

standards. Representing the

largest production volume at

the company plant, the 5 Series

accounts for up to two-thirds of

the total production capacity.

With its technology, stunning

driving dynamics and such

a rich heritage backing it up,

the new 5 Series is a sure-fire

success.

56

The 80th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show was all about high-performance vehicles powered with eco-friendly technology.

REPORT

The Green Brigade

57

‘Green’ was the watchword at

the 80th edition of the Geneva

International Motor Show with

more than a dozen electric

and alternatively powered

vehicles from automakers such

as Porsche, Ferrari, and Lotus,

coming out to play.

The renowned manufacturer

of high-performance sports

cars unveiled not one but three

hybrid models — the new

Cayenne S Hybrid, the 911 GT3

R Hybrid racing car and the star

of the motor show — the ultra-

high-performance, mid-engine

918 Spyder prototype, complete

with plug-in hybrid technology.

Iconic sports carmaker Lotus

also took the green/performance

route with its Evora 414E Hybrid

concept, so named because it

produces 414hp from a plug-

in, range-extended electric

propulsion system.

General Motors Corporation’s

(GM) contribution came in

the form of its Opel brand

displaying the ‘Ampera’, an

extended-range electric vehicle

similar to the Chevy Volt, and

the Flextreme GT/E concept,

which is a sportier version.

Audi unveiled the A1 e-tron, a

compact, four-passenger, plug-

in hybrid with a 45-kW (61 hp)

motor that has a peak power

output of 75 kW (102 hp). The

car has an all-electric range of

31 miles and is recharged on

the go using a small Wankel

engine. Lotus unveiled the

Evora 414E Hybrid, a plug-in

hybrid concept with two 152-kW

electric motors driving the rear

wheels independently, powered

by a lithium polymer battery

pack. The vehicle achieves an

all-electric range of 35 miles

and draws on a 1.2-litre, three-

cylinder, flex-fuelled engine for

recharging.

The Kia Ray, a plug-in hybrid

that made its world debut at

the Chicago Auto Show, made

its European debut in Geneva.

This four-door sedan can run

for more than 50 miles solely on

electric power, or 746 miles on

a single tank of fuel. Kia also

premiered the all-electric Kia

Venga EV concept car, and Tata

Motors unveiled the Tata Nano

Electric Vehicle, both of which

achieve a range of about 100

miles.

Among more traditional

hybrid vehicles, the most non-

traditional entry was that of the

HY-KERS vettura laboratorio

(experimental vehicle) from

Ferrari. A Ferrari, you ask? Yes,

A Ferrari it is. Based on the 599

GTB Fiorano, the vehicle tucks

flat lithium-ion batteries below

its floor and adds an electric

motor to the back of its F1

transmission, cutting its carbon

dioxide emissions by 35 per cent.

Ferrari is now offering a hybrid-

like ‘Stop & Start’ system for the

engine on its Ferrari California.

Audi also unveiled a hybrid

concept, the A8 hybrid, which

mates a four-cylinder engine to

a 33-kW motor with a lithium-

ion battery to achieve 38 mpg.

Infiniti showcased its first

production hybrid, the M35,

which combines a V6 engine

with a 50-kW electric motor and

a lithium-ion battery pack. The

vehicle goes on sale in Europe

in spring 2011.

Volkswagen unveiled the Toureg

Hybrid and used it to introduce

the company’s electrification

plan, which includes a hybrid

Jetta for the US market in 2012.

Other hybrids unveiled at the

show include the BMW Concept

5 Series ActiveHybrid; the

Toyota Auris Hybrid, slated for a

European release this year; and

the Lexus CT200h, a premium

compact hybrid slated for

release in Japan in 2011.

But not every debut was

a ‘green’ one. A couple of

unveilings in the sport/crossover

segment included the third-

generation Kia Sportage,

showing an edgier shift in

design direction, and the Mini

Countryman, bridging the gap

between the classic Mini and

a modern crossover. Mazda

also showed its next-generation

Mazda5 mini-minivan, with

a new look based on the first

application of the Nagare Flow

design language — a wave

form that flows along the 5’s

flank — with rear sliding doors

and up to seven-seat flexibility

in the roomier cabin.

The all-new Volvo S60 sport

sedan boasts a sportier coupe-

like shape than the previous

model, a variety of engines —

including a high-performance,

304-hp, turbocharged 3.0L

six-cylinder — and a number of

electronic systems that sharpens

the driving experience and

backs up the new chassis. Of

course, Volvo is synonymous

with safety. So, the S60 will

come with the groundbreaking

‘Pedestrian Detection with Full

Auto-Brake’ system, which

can detect pedestrians who

walk onto the road in front of

the car, warn the driver and

automatically apply full-braking

power, if the driver does not

respond in time.

All in all, after a very difficult

2009, most of the manufacturers

came out and demonstrated a

tremendous capacity to adapt

to the changing times with their

presentation of more than 100

world and European premiers.

Equally enthusiastic was the

response of some 692,000 visitors

who thronged the venue to

catch a glimpse of eco-friendly,

innovative wheels that promise

us one cool ride into the future.

Be sure to book your spot next

year; the 81st edition will be held

from March 3-13, 2011

Destination Salalah

58

Relax, refresh and recharge at the recently-opened Salalah Marriot at Mirbat — one of the most attractive and upscale resorts in the Dhofar

region. Akshay Bhatnagar returns rejuvenated.

PLACES

59

A trip to Salalah was never

complete without a visit to

Mirbat. Located 80 km away

from the Salalah International

Airport, the place is known for

its white sandy beaches and

the calm shores of the Arabian

Sea. But until now Mirbat didn’t

have an upscale resort to entice

the tourists to stay for a longer

duration and the recent launch

of Salalah Marriot Resort has

more than filled in the gap.

Built at a cost of Rials 20 million

(excluding the land), Salalah

Marriot is the third international

hotel in Salalah and the

first one in Mirbat. Targeted

primarily at tourists from the

Middle East and Europe, the

resort has been conceptualised

and designed to offer guests a

complete feel of Omani culture

60

and heritage. From the glass

painted dome in the lobby to the

paintings adorning the walls

in the corridors and rooms, all

reflecting the rich tradition and

art of Oman, one gets a glimpse

of the different aspects of Omani

history and society.

The U-shaped main building

offers almost all the 237 rooms

a view of the sea and/or the

majestic mountains. The

property provides different

kinds of accommodation to suit

different budgets and tastes.

The Deluxe and Executive

Rooms are priced at Rials 72

and above per night and are

a good deal for individuals

and small families looking for

a comfortable stay and value

for money. For the more luxury

conscious, Salalah Marriot

offers three Presidential and 13

Executive Suites.

And for those seeking complete

privacy and tranquillity, the

resort offers 51 chalets located

close to the beach. The rooms

are equipped with standard

amenities such as high speed

Internet connection, satellite

TV, spacious work desk, etc. A

striking feature of all rooms is

the Marriot Revive Bedding

Package which includes

designer duvets and pillows

ensuring that you have a night

of restful sleep.

For those looking to de-stress

and unwind, the resort offers

a number of unique facilities

that were not available in the

Dhofar region until now. Such

as a large, 2,000 sq m pool with

a wide view of the sea to begin

with. Children have their own

400 sq m pool besides a Kids’

Club and a play area.

To rejuvenate body and mind

with a variety of Balinese spa

treatments, head straight for the

Frankincense Spa by Chavana

(from Bali). This is the first spa

in the region and promises

to harness the energy of the

Balinese spirit to provide an

unforgettable spa experience for

experienced and inexperienced

spa goers alike. On offer is a

comprehensive menu of facial,

massage and body treatments.

One that’s not to be missed is the

‘Journey of the Senses’ which

includes a peppermint foot bath

followed by a lime body wash

and choice of botanical body

polish. The treatment finishes

with a traditional Balinese

massage and refresher facial to

leave you feeling relaxed and

radiant.

Mirbat is also a diver’s paradise;

and the resort has a diving

centre ‘Extra Divers’, manned by

a German diving expert, to help

divers explore one of the finest

and untouched underwater

worlds.

The resort, in a true Marriot food

and beverage tradition, offers

a wide variety of dining and

cuisine options to suit the taste

buds of its guests. ‘Sumhuram’,

the all-day dining restaurant, is

for those looking for traditional

Omani specialties or popular

international cuisines. At the

Al Dana, the first specialised

seafood restaurant in the

Dhofar region, you can choose

from a selection of fresh sea

fish and request the Chef to

prepare it as per your liking.

The Omani lobster, delicious

prawns and tender hammour

fillet are recommended. Those

looking for an authentic Arabic

‘Majlis’ kind of setting can opt

for the Mirbat Arabic Café to

experience some kahwa (coffee),

Moroccan tea, mezzeh (starters),

Arabic sweets and dates.

The Havana Cigar Lounge

and The Cove are also perfect

settings for a cosy evening.

The Wharf Pool Bar offers an

exciting range of ice creams,

fresh juices and snacks,

especially when you’re done

swimming and need something

to boost your energy.

All in all, the Salalah Marriot

is a great fusion of a traditional

Omani ambience and modern

amenities. Whether you are

out with your family, on a

honeymoon or even on a

business trip, the Salalah

Marriot should be your

destination of choice.

Sipping your favourite drink,

looking out on to the beautiful

beach and the clean blue sea

from your room balcony... it’s an

unforgettable moment; one you

can cherish for a long while...

PLACES

61

62

INTERVIEW

The Director’s Cut

HE ENTERED THE MOVIE-MAKING BUSINESS AS AN INDEPENDENT, SELF-TAUGHT FILM DIRECTOR; TODAY ANTONIO LAKSHEN SUCAMELI IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST GIFTED FILM DIRECTORS IN THE INDUSTRY.

SUSHMITA SARKHEL MET UP WITH HIM DURING HIS VISIT TO OMAN.

was born, and grew up in the

town of Rimini, Italy. Right from

his school days he showed a

keen interest in writing — a

passion that has continued well

into his adult life. He has written

for newspapers and a myriad

other publications. His style of

writing was quite visual and

soon he longed to translate his

words into movies. And so was

born the Film Director.

Sucameli didn’t have any

formal training in filmmaking,

but felt that he had a certain

knack for it. He was driven

by his desire and passion for

movies and of course, he had

an innate talent to capture

emotions with his camera. “I’m

a totally self-taught filmmaker,”

says Sucameli. “I learn things

on the spot. I believe learning

about filmmaking is like going

to school to learn how to love

— you can learn the theory

and you can read books about

love, but ultimately it is how

you transfer those feelings into

practice that counts. And no

school can teach you that.”

His films mainly deal with

subjects that appeal to the

common man; questions about

life that people often introspect

about. It is perhaps because

Sucameli himself seems to be

greatly interested in the subjects

and his films are manifestations

of his learnings —

both about life, as

well as love. “I don’t

really believe that a

person’s spiritual life

is separate from one’s

daily life. And in my

films I try and share

what I have learnt

and my viewpoints.”

His movie, ‘Zorba Il Buddha’,

revolved around a young

Disc Jockey (DJ) learning

about various aspects of life.

Sucameli’s characters were

often young people mainly

because he was young while

he directed those movies and

wanted to convey his message

through younger characters. In

his other movie, ‘Blue Line’, he

portrayed his own town Rimini

with a touch of Federico Fellini

flavour. “Rimini is the same

town in which Fellini was born

and if you look at some of his

works, there are memories of

him living in the town when

he was a little boy. And I

grew in the same city with the

same memories and flavours

around me. So there were some

connections with Fellini’s style in

the movie.”

Currently, Sucameli is working

on making a film on

Osho, the Indian

mystic and spiritual

teacher who garnered

an international

following. The movie,

a bit of a thriller, will

follow Osho’s life

and his trials and

tribulations through

the eyes of a journalist.

Says Sucameli, “Osho was

way ahead of our time and the

world was not ready to accept

his ideas because he defied

some conventions. Through my

movie, I would like to shed some

light on the misunderstandings

surrounding him and want to

make it clear that his message

was for the betterment of

humanity. I hope the message

reaches across a variety of

audiences, even those who are

not spiritually inclined. I want

the story to appeal to all through

its human resonances.”

He also believes that filmmaking

in the region is interesting and

holds great promise. “Iranian

films remind me a lot of Italian

neo-realistic filmmaking. There

were filmmakers in Italy after

WW II like Roberto Rossellini,

Vittorio de Sica, who made

movies not necessarily with

big actors, and described the

lives of the common people.

Iranian films also tend to be

neo-realistic but at the same

time have a flavour of poetry

and mysticism, which I like

very much myself. Egyptian

movies have a bit of glamour. Of

course, this is a general opinion

and there are directors who

have done completely different

things.”

Enchanted by the warmth and

friendliness of the people here,

Sucameli, who was part of the

Arab jury at the recently-held

Muscat International Film

Festival, hopes to return to

Oman again and perhaps even

shoot a part of a scene in an

upcoming movie. And he hopes

that Oman retains the same

old-school charm in the years

ahead

Antonio Lakshen Sucameli

64

FOOD COURT

65

The Verre Necessities

Gordon Ramsay

was the first

celebrity chef to

set up shop in

Dubai when he opened Verre

at the Hilton Dubai Creek in

2001. The restaurant quickly

became synonymous with an

atmosphere of understated

elegance — a rare thing in

a city that likes to overstate

luxury — perfectly paired with

modern European cuisine.

Where the gimmicks of other

high-end eateries have fallen

out of favour with the gourmet

set, the crisp, no-nonsense

white linen and beautifully

prepared dishes of Verre set

a precedent for faultless fine

dining in a city where flavours

of the month change faster

than Lady Gaga’s concert

outfits. But after nine years,

even Verre’s understated blue

carpet was looking frayed

around the edges, and the

restaurant shut its doors for an

eagerly anticipated makeover.

Cue March 2010 and

the culinary stalwart

has undergone a major

transformation: a new head

chef, a new interior and a new

menu are all in place.

Looks-wise, the old décor

has been replaced by a slick,

new monochrome look. A

backlit wall dominates a white

and silver entrance. Tables

retain their signature crisp,

white tablecloths and classic

silverware. A textured wall in

brilliant white, plump black

wall panelling and subtle,

clever lighting create a sense

of anticipation. It’s signature

Ramsay minimalism: no fuss or

frills, simply the perfect stage

for presenting dishes that speak

for themselves. What hasn’t

changed is the same adherence

to the highest culinary

standards: Verre remains a

stand-out destination for those

eager to sample the best of the

city’s fine dining scene.

One exciting new addition is a

chef’s table, where diners can

soak up the atmosphere of a

Ramsay kitchen from their own

table, as new Head Chef, Scott

Price, creates dishes from the

new menu.

“I am a firm believer in using

the freshest of ingredients to

reveal great flavours, without

over complicating a dish,” says

Price, who has come fresh from

GORDON RAMSAY’S DUBAI RESTAURANT REVEALS ITS NEW, MINIMALIST LOOK AND MAXIMUM-IMPACT MENU. JOLA CHUDY DROPS BY...

66

London’s Claridge’s restaurant

where he also worked directly

with Ramsay. “I’m also very

excited to introduce Dubai to

its first Gordon Ramsay Chef’s

Table, where guests can get

up close with the magic and

passion of a Ramsay kitchen.”

The menu is concise; seven

starters and seven main

courses, with dishes like the

classic Ramsay Beef Wellington

available as specials. A light

option to start with is the vine

tomato minestrone, with a

freshness of flavour that zings

on the taste buds. For a richer

start to your meal, a thick piece

of pan-fried foie gras arrives

doused in a creamy almond

velouté. One of Ramsay’s

signature dishes is the single,

plus-sized ravioli, and the

version here, plump with

Scottish lobster and salmon,

arrives encircled with girolle

mushrooms and butter-glazed

lettuce pieces standing around

it like the hour markers on

a clock. The accompanying

lemongrass velouté is added

reverentially from a silver

pourer. The waiters retreat, in

tandem, to a discreet hover.

Main courses offer a similar

level of exquisite flavour and

presentation. Roasted fillet of

sea bass, with a thyme confit

and broccoli fricassee, is

teamed with a delicate chervil

velouté. An oven-roasted canon

of Welsh lamb perches atop

a disc of boulangere potato,

provençale vegetables and

lamb jus. Dishes such as the

roasted duck breast and truffled

bouillion, roasted ceps and pine

nut tortellini are all exquisitely

presented.

Desserts are twists on classical

sweets: a soufflé flavoured with

caramel; a chilled apple tarte

tatin run through with anise

ice cream, and a chilled, richly

decadent Valrhona chocolate

fondant... A perfect way to

end an exceptional dining

experience at one of Dubai’s

finest restaurants.

Verre by Gordon Ramsay, Hilton Dubai Creek. Advanced bookings recommended (04) 227 7550, verre.creek@hilton.com

FOOD COURT

The Chef’s Table at Verre

Very Gordon Ramsay

67

THE MAGIC AND THE MAYHEMVerre’s Head Chef, Scott Price, reveals

the culinary secrets of a Gordon Ramsay

kitchen...

What’s it like working with one of the

most famous celebrity chefs in the world?

“Gordon exudes tremendous passion

and energy that rubs off on everyone who

crosses his path. I’ve been lucky to work

with him for over six years on various

publications, demonstrations and launches.

At the Hilton Dubai Creek, he oversees all

the dining options, including room service!

My new role demands a lot of management

and is different to focusing on just one

restaurant. Gordon has been very supportive

and has played a key role in developing the

new menu. We’ve been in contact constantly

since I started, he’s been a great support.”

What’s the idea behind the reopening?

“Verre has undergone a dramatic

refurbishment! Not only has the décor been

completely revisited, but you can expect an

entirely new dining experience. Guests get

up close and personal with all the magic

and mayhem of a Ramsay kitchen with the

new Chef’s Table. There is also a purpose

built private dining room, perfect for intimate

occasions and corporate events.”

Who taught you to cook?

“I started working in the kitchen at the very

early age 12, and was always quizzing the

older chefs. I have a history of chefs in

my family and they’ve always shared their

passion with me. I was lucky to have been

taught by talented chefs during college

through to my training in the Lake District

and the six years spent working with Gordon

Ramsay and the chefs at Claridge’s.”

What are some of the new things on the

menu?

“The menu has been almost entirely

changed, barring a few classics, I’m excited

about the roasted foie gras with bread sauce

made from fresh pain d’epices. We’re

going to have evening specials like Beef

Wellington for two made with Australian

300-day grain-fed beef. Desserts include

toasted fennel seed and honey crème brulée

besides others. We want to constantly

evolve the menu whilst retaining some of the

classic touches that Verre is known for.”

What do you think turns a good restaurant

experience into a great one?

“A great restaurant experience needs lots

of elements: great service, great company,

a fitting ambience and obviously great

food! Freshness and quality of ingredients

are paramount when cooking any dish.

It’s important to know where your produce

comes from and to have a good relationship

with suppliers.”

Are you new to Dubai?

“Yes, the re-launch of Verre has kept me

busy since my arrival, but I’m planning

on getting out and looking through all the

amazing spice and vegetable souks and

markets. Over the past couple of years,

Dubai has generated a lot of buzz. Gordon’s

vision of Dubai was right on target, the

city has blossomed into a culinary haven,

attracting the best and the brightest.”

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

“I don’t have a favourite but I’ve been

lucky enough to eat in some spectacular

restaurants; like Arzak and Martin

Berasatagui in San Sebastien, Restaurant

Gordon Ramsay and Fat Duck in England,

and Guy Savoy and lots of little French

brasseries in Paris. All these serve amazing

food in their own special ways.”

What is your favourite food?

“I would be really happy sitting eating a

simple foie gras terrine with fresh brioche

and a good pear chutney. I never get tired of

eating that.”

Chef Scott Price

68

Art Fair Extraordinaire HER HIGHNESS MUZNA AL SAID VISITS ART DUBAI 2010. HERE ARE HER MUSINGS...

Art Dubai is a crossroad for

contemporary and modern

art, where artists, exhibitors,

curators, collectors and art

appreciators from around the

world gather each year. This

year there were sixty-eight

galleries from each continent

exhibiting at the Madinat

Jumeirah in Dubai, creating

an art fair extraordinaire. This

year, the Bait Muzna Gallery

was there to represent the

Sultanate of Oman, and was

proud to participate in their

first year ever.

The galleries had their own

stands in two halls, A and

B. In between the halls

there were art, fashion and

design books and magazine

stands: Canvas, Bidoun, and

Brownbook magazines. There

were children’s art activities,

painting stations and mini

workshops outside, charity

events and promotions.

Journalists and photographers

were flocking to meet new

and excited international

artists and exhibitors, artists

and guests were mingling

with each other. Curators

and collectors exchanging

business cards, visitors and

their families from around

the world mixed together

and enjoyed the festivities of

colour and installation. The

creative energy was almost

infectious as was visible from

the enthusiasm of the people

who could not but come out

impressed at this year’s turn out

of events.

His Highness Sheikh

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al

Makhtoum, Honorary Art

Patron, attended the Art Dubai

fair on the first evening and

visited the Bait Muzna Gallery

stand where he was greeted

by the Art Director Ellen Molliet

and Assistant Art Director

Mira Rahal. Exhibitors and VIP

guests had guided booklets

throughout the week packed

with information presenting

lectures, tours, luncheons,

art promotions, private

collections and of course, many

prestigious and glamorous

after-parties.

Stepping into the halls, the

exhibitions were displayed

either as group exhibits

and collaborative work or

by a solo artist. Introducing

Contemporary Saudi Arabian

Art, Curator Stephen Stapleton

of The Edge of Arabia, brought

artists such as black and

white photographer Manal

Al Dowayan, who exhibited

at Bait Muzna Gallery earlier

this year, and Faisal Samra

who is known for his latest

Distorted Reality, using video,

digital photographs, computer

graphics and performance art.

Some of the most striking

artworks included the very

beautiful and ornate displays

by Asian artist, Ran Hwang —

‘Two Love Trees’, 2009 — from

the Galerie Kashya Hilderbad,

Zurich. The contemporary

North African Galerie El

Marsa from Tunisia displayed

ART

EL ANATSUI’S ‘IN THE WORLD, BUT DON’T KNOW THE WORLD’, 2009; OCTOBER GALLERY, LONDON

69

three artists, including the

much celebrated artist Nja

Mahdaoui. One of my favourite

galleries was a contemporary

Korean gallery from Seoul

— Gallery Sun — displaying

an interesting array of mixed

media paintings, video

installations, sculptures and

design. Especially striking

here, were the Choi A Rum’s

‘The Secret’, 2009 and Chae

Eun Mi’s ‘Golden Spoon Chair

1 & 2’, 2010.

Galeria OMR, Mexico exhibited

a Lima-born solo artist Aldo

Chapparo. Chapparo uses

his entire body to mould

huge pieces of stainless steel

electrostatic paint to form

shapes into art. The idea came

to him after crunching up

pieces of paper in his hand.

March is the beginning of

the Art season in Dubai. So

besides Art Dubai at the

Madinat Jumeirah, galleries

outside were hosting special

events that were all interlinked.

I managed to tear myself

away from the centre stage

at Madinat Al Jumeirah and

attended a Curators lecture

hosted by Rose Issa, of Rose

Issa Projects, London, at the

XVA gallery in the Al Bastakiya

area, much like the old Muscat

here in Oman.

The Al Bastakiya area is

where some of the very

first art galleries — such as

the Majlis gallery — were

established about twenty years

ago. Now, there is a cluster

of new and contemporary

art spaces amongst old

traditional buildings that

have been renovated to

showcase artwork. In two of

the buildings, The Rose Issa

Project was exhibiting works

by Farhad Ahrarnia for digital

photography, embroidery

and needle work on canvas

and Egyptian artist Chant

Avedissian — Al Watan

Al Arabi, 2008, known for

his painted stencil work on

cardboard.

In order to make exploring the

vast expanse of artworks less

cumbersome, a Special Edition

Art Map Guide was made

available which provided

free information on Art Dubai

2010, supported by the Dubai

International Financial Centre,

a cosmopolitan art and design

business venue that is home to

some of the big galleries and

designer boutiques such as

Cuadro, Opera and Art Space.

And it is not just the paintings

and installations that make

ARTIST, GALERIA OMR, MEXICO

RAN HWANG’S ‘TWO LOVE TREES’, 2009;GALERIE KASHYA HILDERBAD, ZURICH

CHOI A RUM’S ‘THE SECRET’, 2009, AND CHAE EUN MI’S ‘GOLDEN SPOON CHAIR 1 & 2’, 2010; GALLERY SUN, SEOUL

up Art Dubai. There is also

the coveted Abraaj Capital

Art Prize. The coveted prize

of US$ 1 million is awarded to

artists from the Middle East,

North Africa and the South

Asia region (MENASA). It was

established in 2008 and is

considered the most generous

art prize around the world.

A select committee and art

critics follow up on the exhibits

and critique the artwork

judging best overall idea and

originality, taking into account

the techniques, the gallery’s

effort as a whole, the curator

and the artist collaboration. A

statement from Frederic Sicre,

Executive Director of Abraaj

Capital, made in the Art Map

Editorial 2010 says: “Our aim

is to empower young artists

across the MENASA and bring

their talent to the forefront

of both the regional and

international art community.”

Art Dubai 2010 has managed

to usher in some of the best

contemporary and modern

talent in the world. And, I can’t

wait to attend the next one in

2011. If you are into the art

scene, or are curious to find out

more about Art Dubai, please

do visit www.artdubai.ae.

H.H Muzna Bint Kais Al Said

Born in London in 1985. Raised in the Sultanate of

Oman and educated in the UK and Oman.

“Motivated by creativity, I consider myself a free

spirit. I’m working towards my goal in life, my passion

that is Art.”

70

An Exclusive

World For an ultimate luxury cruising

experience, book yourself aboard the MSC Yacht Club...

When it comes to exclusivity,

there are very few services

that can stake claim to offering

the very best. The MSC Yacht

Club is one of them. A very

special feature aboard the

MSC Cruises’ ships — MSC

Splendida and MSC Fantasia

— the Yacht Club offers you an

exclusive area for the ultimate

in luxury cruising.

You get to enjoy extraordinary

levels of pampering and

service that begins with

a priority check-in with a

welcome by the butler that

will escort you to your suite as

he explains the main features

of the MSC Yacht Club. The

butlers, who are trained

according to the International

Butler Academy standards,

are available 24 hours, at

TRAVEL

the simple touch of a pager.

The butlers provide a valet

service, including shoe care

and laundry — a choice of dry

or wet cleaning and ironing

(available for same or next

day delivery). They will deliver

your favourite newspaper

(yes, even at sea!). They will

make your priority bookings for

spa packages and à la carte

restaurant reservations, front

row seats at the theatre and

even arrange for fresh flowers

to be delivered worldwide

or to loved ones on board,

upon request. The butlers can

even arrange tailor-made

shopping packages, whereby

the onboard boutiques will

open specially, so you can shop

discreetly and at your leisure.

There is a 24-hour Concierge

Desk that is at your disposal

for information and services,

including reservations for

dining and spa services as well

as private shore excursions

with its costs and onboard

shopping.

Your spacious Italian designer

suites come with private

balconies or breathtaking

panoramic windows and

are fitted with state-of-the

art amenities, complete with

interactive TV sets, WiFi, and

Nintendo Wii. The beds are

pure heaven with Egyptian

cotton bed sheets and a

selection from a pillow menu

drawn up in collaboration

with Dorelan pillow research

laboratories. And, if you do

manage to get up from the

fluffy comfort of a bed, you can

head to your marble bathroom,

where you can pamper

yourself with a specially-

designed aromatherapy

toiletries line by Escents,

presented in biodegradable

packaging.

If you want some more

pampering, head to the MSC

Aurea Spa. Accessible by

a private lift, the Spa offers

exclusive treatments. In this

haven of calm you can relax,

pamper yourself and restore

harmony between mind

and body. Alternatively, you

can choose an in-suite spa

treatment - from Balinese

massages or reflexology,

to cranial and four-handed

massages.

There are several other

exclusive areas, including

The One Pool (pool, solarium

and two spa baths under a

skydome) and the Top Sail

Lounge with its spectacular

panoramic view.

You also have access to a

round-the-clock dedicated

room service menu; selected

complimentary drinks, pastries

and appetisers at the Top

Sail Lounge all day long;

complimentary dining at the

à la carte restaurants (L’Etoile

on MSC Fantasia or L’Olivo

on MSC Splendida) or dining

at the panoramic restaurant

( Il Cerchio d’Oro on MSC

Fantasia or Villa Verde on MSC

Splendida). Each afternoon,

traditional English tea is served

at the Top Sail Lounge or in-

suite if preferred.

Spa treatments, exclusive

meals, exceptional standard

services and the comfort of

luxuriously equipped suites,

the MSC Yacht Club is the

perfect way to pamper yourself

to bits. It’s really a unique

experience, like being on board

your own private ship within a

ship. With the MSC Yacht Club

you can experience the best

of both worlds: personalised

service and intimate space

while also enjoying the full

benefits the magnificent vessel

has to offer

71

72

EVENT

A Nautical Extravaganza

It was one happening party at

the 2nd Abu Dhabi Yacht Show

(ADYS). So much so that ADYS

is now being touted as the ‘next

big thing’ after the Monaco

Yacht Show. The Gala Dinner

provided the much required

dramatic start to a spectacular

weekend by the waterside.

Seven of the 30 superyachts

taking part in the event

performed a graceful water

ballet at the Emirates Palace

Marina — lit up by a dazzling

laser display that danced

across the water’s surface and

played on the walls and the

hotel’s gardens.

The rest of event witnessed a

flurry of activity on the decks of

the berthed superyachts each

evening, as major shipbuilders

and brokers conducted private

tours of the vessels for many

high-net worth clients. The

Show saw an expanded line-up

of both exhibitors and yachts,

with around 140 international

exhibitors — many of them

returning participants from

last year’s inaugural event —

and 30 super and megayachts

sailing into Yas Marina, Abu

Dhabi, especially for the

Show. Several new-builds

made their debuts. One of

the most striking was the 48m

Australis (delivered in 2010) that

arrived direct from Oceanfast,

Australia. Another 2010 build

making its debut was the 62m

Roma, which has a top speed

of 17 knots and a range of 6,000

miles at 12 knots. Impressive

2009 builds that berthed at the

Yas Marina included the 65m

Trident, 43m Le Yana, and the

73m Silver Zwei.

It was also a year of ‘concept

yachts’. The highly anticipated

models of the two WHY yachts

— a collaboration between

Wally and Hermès; a model of

the special series of 41m Motor

Yacht Catamarans being built

through the teaming of Royal

Falcon Fleet, Porsche Design

and Green Line Yacht Interiors;

the Magellano yacht concept

by Fincantieri Yachts; and the

ES117, a Weyves Couture by

Elie Saab megayacht to be

built by prestigious megayacht

builder Oceanco, were all

unveiled specially for yachting

enthusiasts.

Of course it was not all play;

there was some serious

business too. On day one of

the Show, US shipbuilding

stalwart, Trinity Yachts,

announced the opening of a

Middle East regional office on

Yas Island — its first overseas

LUXURY CONCEPTS, MILLION-DOLLAR DEALS AND SOME MAJOR DISPLAY OF YACHT PROWESS: THE 2ND ABU DHABI YACHT SHOW HAD ALL THIS AND MORE...

73

YACHT COUTUREHe has been designing fashion trends for the celeb circuit and now Lebanese designer Elie Saab will design three megayachts in collaboration with Weyves Couture and Oceanco, the first of which was unveiled at the ADYS. The ES117 is a magnificent 117m (384.78ft) megayacht and it’s as impressive in its dimensions as in the refinement of its design, characterised by its high ceiling, an innovation that Saab exclusively introduced to the yacht industry.

“I always sought to represent my vision of modernity and elegance beyond the conventional limits of fashion. Designing a yacht and conceiving its art of living constitutes a perfect opportunity to expand my brand’s universe by creating the experience of luxury,” says Elie Saab of the ES117 megayacht concept.

With a hull made of steel and an aluminium superstructure, the yacht exterior is a study in modernity and elegance. From the quality of the materials used to the skilled craftsmanship used on the interior design concept, every detail has been dealt with the fine eye of a couture creation. The final design of the yacht reveals the finer points of the thought process that has gone into making sure that the yacht owner is inundated with every comfort and luxury imaginable.

Two private suites along two decks have been reserved for the owner, with 10 luxurious guest suites, a swimming pool, whirlpool, theatre, spa and gym available on board. A helicopter, submarine, car and water toys signed by Elie Saab complete the exclusive couture lifestyle offering aboard the ES117.

operation outside its Gulfport,

Mississippi home base. Several

key deals and joint ventures

were announced. The Abu

Dhabi-based luxury yacht

manufacturer Gulf Craft and

Holland’s Icon Yachts BV

announced a collaboration to

build a 52m superyacht that

would be priced at about €30

million (approx US$ 41.19600

million).

The calibre of the show’s visitor

profile also managed to attract

sponsorship interest from über

luxury brands Bentley Emirates

and Ulysse Nardin, who signed

on as the Show’s exclusive

associate car sponsor and

official watch sponsor.

While Bentley Emirates

showcased two of its fastest

and most powerful models,

the Continental Supersports

and Continental Flying Spur

Speed, Ulysse Nardin unveiled

a special edition ‘tribute’ model,

created to mark the company’s

status as official watch sponsor

of ADYS, and limited to only 10

timepieces in 18K rose gold and

10 in stainless steel. But don’t

raise your hopes of buying one,

for all of them were sold out at

the event itself!

Megayachts, superyachts,

concept yachts, special

watches, high net worth visitors

and million-dollar deals...

we repeat, It was indeed a

happening party at the 2nd

edition of ADYS!

74

Challenge your fate

Launching Resonance of Fate this close to the launch of RPG-giant Final Fantasy 13 was a bold move by Sega and Tri-Ace. Malcolm Xavier Crasta tries it out to see if it can hold its own against the might of Square Enix’s offering

Challenge Challenge your fateyour fate

GAMING

Generally known for their work with Square Enix on

the Valkyrie Profile and Star Ocean franchises, Tri-Ace

has now joined hands with SEGA to bring you its latest

offering for the PS3 and Xbox360 — Resonance of

Fate. Although the game is a JRPG, it is a very unique

offering to say the least. Few developers of this genre

are to innovate and fewer still manage to pull it off.

With its extensive wardrobe customisation,

unique world map and insanely complex

combat system, Tri-Ace may have just

pulled it off.

Unlike most JRPGs, the story isn’t one

of its strong points. Rather than having

one cohesive story, the game is

divided into a number of chapters

with very little relation to each

other. The main plot doesn’t

come through till very late

in the game and even

then it isn’t all that

interesting. While

the main

characters

themselves

have their own dark secrets and

troubles to contend with, these

are also not revealed until later in

the game. Thankfully the excellent

voice work, great animation and

top-notch musical score keep

things interesting enough for you

see it through to the end.

The story plays second-fiddle to

the games most unique feature

— its gameplay. The semi

real-time combat system is one of the

most complex, intense and unforgiving

systems we have seen to date. For

starters, there are two types of damage

that the player can inflict on opponents:

direct damage, which permanently

damages the enemy, and scratch damage, which deals

a greater amount of injury, but recovers with time and

does not destroy the enemy when reduced to zero. Not

only do you have two different types of damage variants

to worry about but above this you have to contend with

figuring out how effectively to use up your ‘Bezels’ to

perform ‘hero actions’, special attacks that make you

temporarily immune to damage. You have very few of

these and they can only be replenished by killing off

an enemy or destroying one its parts. Run out of bezels

and your team will be critically wounded which, in

most cases, spells death. Then you have to contend

with trying to pull off tri-attacks, a special attack by all

three characters at once that makes battles a lot easier if

pulled off correctly, and altering your strategies to cope

with punishing boss encounters. While the learning

curve can be steep, the satisfaction of pulling off a

perfect strategy against bosses that feel near-impossible

on your first attempt is seldom matched by other games.

The world map is also equally unique. It is divided

into multiple plains and these are further divided into

colour coded hexagonal plates, unlocked by placing

‘Energy hexes’ on top of them. These ‘Energy hexes’ are

obtained from monsters and NPC’s in the game. Hidden

beneath these plates are towns, dungeons and other

locals for you to visit. It is a great puzzle-like system

that gives you a sense of freedom

while at the same time giving the

developer control over how much

of the game can be accessed by the player.

The areas themselves, although rendered in

3D, are explored in a similar side scrolling

fashion to the Valkyrie Profile series.

When you are not in combat or exploring the

towns there are a number of side quests to take

up and shops to visit, which also brings us

to the third unique feature of the game – the

character and weapon customisation. While

you can and should spend time

customising your weaponry with

attachments and shopping for

items, we guarantee that a

major portion of it will be

spent customising your

character’s looks. The

choices are vast and the

best thing about it is that

the changes reflect in

the cutscenes as well.

Although not ground-

breaking, the graphics

are easily up there with the

best. The stark, yet incredibly

detailed, environments really

set the mood. Even the character

models, enemy designs and the

animations on a whole are hard

to fault. If you are a fan of JRPGs

and are looking for a fresh take

on the genre then this is a game

for you, especially if you are

a sucker for a challenge. So

long as you can cope with the

steep learning curve and the

persistent difficulty this game

will definitely leave a lasting

impression

Generally

the Valkyri

has now jo

offering fo

Fate. Altho

offering to

are to inno

With its extensive wardrobe customisa

unique world map and insanely com

combat system, Tri-Ace may have

pulp led it off.

UUUnlike most JRPGs, the story isn’t

of its strong points. Rather than ha

one cohesive story, the game i

divided into a number of cha

with very little relation to ea

other. The main plot doe

come through till very

in the game and eve

then it isn’t all th

interesting. W

the

ccha

themsel

hhhave their own dark secrets a

ttroubles to contend with, the

aare also not revealed until lat

tthe game. Thankfully the exc

vvoice work, great animation

ttop-notch musical score kee

things interesting enough f

see it through to the end.

TThe story plays second-fid

thet games most unique fe

— its gameplay. The sem

rrreal-time combat system is one o

mmost complex, intense and unforg

ssystems we have seen to date. Fo

ssstarters, there are two types of dam

ttthat the player can inflict on oppone

dddirect damage, which permanently

me

with

r

y

acter

the

ard

PGs

ke

ame

e

e

layer.

red in

lling

ng the

ts to take

gs us

– the

While

Challenge your fate

76

In ‘Ryu’s Beat with Kano & Saga’

world, melodies follow the rhythm

of passion egged on by beats of

tradition, discovers Deepa Rajan

EVENT

The music that resonates

from the synthesis of Ryutaro

Kaneko’s drums, Yasukazu

Kano’s flute and Haruhiko

Saga’s fiddle can be best

described as, “Beautiful tone,

beautiful heart”, a simple

phrase that can be attributed

to the well-known Japanese

Violinist Shinichi Suzuki.

Together, the trio (known as

Ryu’s Beat with Kano & Saga)

have taken Japanese music

to new frontiers by fusing

traditional Japanese music with

modern sounds from Asia and

the world. They were in the city

recently to perform as part the

‘Beat & Wind from Japanasia’

tour that has covered

Mozambique, Angola, Tunisia,

Qatar, and Iran. Signature

spoke to Ryutaro Kaneko, the

man behind the group.

Excerpts from the interview...

How did ‘Ryu’s Beat with Kano & Saga’ come about? “Let me introduce the group

to you first. The group consists

of Yasukazu Kano who plays

the Japanese bamboo flute

(Shinobue), Haruhiko Saga,

who plays the Morin khuur

(Mongolian Horse-head Fiddle)

and me (I play the Wadaiko

[Japanese drums]). The Japan

Foundation requested me to

perform and I realised that the

beat of my drums needed some

melody and hence I requested

Yasukazu Kano to play the

flute with me. Later on, I also

requested Haruhiko Saga (who

is also a dear friend) to play

with us because I not only love

the sound of the Morin Khurr,

but I also feel that it blends well

with the sounds of the drums

and flute. Moreover, it has

never been done before. We

are the first such group.”

As a group that represents the younger generation of Japanese musicians, what change have you brought

about with your kind of music?“We create music for the

audience to enjoy and in doing

so we have maintained our

respect for traditional music. As

you can see all the instruments

are traditional, but the sounds

that emanate from them

are new. Our influences are

traditional, but the three of us

play from the heart and what

we feel in that moment. When

we are together, we discuss

our thoughts and interpret

them and the thought process

gives birth to something totally

different.”

Do you think in a country that

77

In Harmony...

7878

is proud of traditional art forms, people (both in your country and abroad) have been accepting of your kind of music?“There are so many genres

of traditional music in Japan

itself and there is always a

learning curve. We incorporate

so much from the lessons we

learn and fuse them with

our own interpretations to

recreate something new. The

whole concept itself is an

experiment to give the people

something new based on old

sounds from Asia, hence the

name ‘Beat and Wind from

Japanasia’. The reaction has

been overwhelming both in

our country as well as in the

nations we have been touring.

We have received standing

ovations and thunderous

applause and that is very

humbling. For an audience to

be so accepting of something

new is always a wondrous

experience.”

You talk about including different genres of music in your compositions... Does modern world music such as Pop, Rock, and Jazz, also form a part?“Each one of us has played

Jazz and Rock at some point

in our lives. Hence, yes the

influences are there as far as

personal growth as an artiste is

concerned. But, if you see our

performances, you will notice

that we do not use any modern

equipments, no electric guitars

or synthesisers. Our taste and

approach is new generation,

yes. But, our mediums (the

instruments we play) are

long-established art forms that

can be traced back to many a

generation.”

What does music mean to you (all three of you)?“That is a very deep question.

Music is not just about the style,

it is being able to play it from

the very core of your being. The

most important things are your

love for music and being able

to translate it to the people.

When we play music, we want

the people to enjoy what we

enjoy playing. We want to

share our joy with people. It

is more a coming together of

like-minded souls than a mere

show or performance.”

As the young face of Japanese music, what is your advice to budding and aspiring musicians?“Today, the key word is

globalisation and that includes

music too. While it is always

good to learn from other

cultures, it is very important

to know where we stand as

a community and culture.

Also, the youth should always

remember that music is a tool

to bring people together. Music

is not just a platform to voice

one’s opinion, but also to hear

another’s. It is this exchange

that creates harmony in the

society.”

You visited Qatar, Iran and now Oman. In Qatar, you even performed with local musicians. Your impressions of Middle Eastern music...“We have played with many

musicians and have learnt

something from everyone.

It has been a journey full of

surprises. We have enjoyed

every moment of it. It is an

amazing experience to be

able to enjoy and play music

that is deep-rooted in tradition

and culture. We could not

collaborate with Omani

musicians this time around, but

we hope we will be able to do

so someday soon.”

EVENT

82

BOOKS YOU MUST READ, MUSIC YOU MUST TUNE IN TO AND

MOVIES YOU MUST SEE…

BOOKS• The Shadow of Your Smile — Mary Higgins Clark• Deliver Us from Evil — David Baldacci• The 9th Judgment — James Patterson• Island Beneath the Sea: A Novel — Isabel Allende• The End of Wall Street — Roger Lowenstein• Imperfect Birds — Anne Lamott• In the Shadow of the Cypress — Thomas Steinbeck• Mike and Mike’s Rules for Sports and Life — Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic• The Lake Shore Limited — Sue Miller• A River in the Sky — Elizabeth Peters

MOVIES• Sherlock Holmes [Blu-ray] • Tombstone [Blu-ray] • Minority Report [Blu-ray] • Cocoon [Blu-ray]• Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel [Blu-ray] • The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus [Blu-ray]• Up in the Air [DVD]• Strictly Ballroom [Special Edition-DVD]• It’s Complicated [DVD]• Disgrace [DVD]

MUSIC• Emotion & Commotion — Jeff Beck [CD]• Fearless Love — Melissa Etheridge [CD]• The Age of Miracles — Mary-Chapin Carpenter [CD]• Pulse — Toni Braxton [CD]• Country Music — Willie Nelson [CD]• One World One Love — Michael Bolton [CD]• No Guts, No Glory — Airbourne [CD]• Schubert: Die Freunde von Salamanka — Schubert, Mathis, Moser, Prey, Guschlbauer [CD]• Iron Man 2 (Vinyl) — AC/DC [Vinyl]• Year of the Black Rainbow — Coheed and Cambria [Vinyl]

INDEX

84

Getting my lifelong weight struggle under control has come from a process of treating myself as well as I treat others in every way. Oprah Winfrey

When you’ve seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there.

George Harrison

I believe you make your day. You make your life. So much of it is all perception, and this is the

form that I built for myself. I have to accept it and work within those compounds, and it’s up to me.

Brad Pitt

THE LAST WORD

á«∏ª©d É kLÉàf ÊRh ≈∏Y ®ÉØë∏d IÉ«◊G ∫GƒW ‹É°†f CÉ°ûf ó≤d

.A»°T πc ‘ øjôNB’G πeÉYCG ɪc »°ùØf á∏eÉ©Ã É¡«a ΩƒbCG

…ôØæjh GôHhCG

.∑Éæg Qɶàf’G ‘ ∫ÉÑdG áMGQ óŒ ób ,∂°ùØf øe ó©HCG iôJ ÉeóæY

¿ƒ°ùjQÉg êQƒL

øe ÒãμdÉa .∂JÉ«M ™æ°üJ âfCÉa .¬eƒj ™æ°üj Éæe πc ¿CG ó≤àYCG

¿CG Öéj .»°ùØæd ¬à«æH …òdG êPƒªædG ƒg Gògh ,Qƒ°üJ ƒg ∂dP

.‹ ∑hÎe ôeC’Gh , ôWCÓdG ∂∏J øª°V πªYCGh πÑbCG

â«H OGôH

85

The way you think, the way you behave, the way you eat, can influence your life

by 30 to 50 years. Dr. Deepak Chopra

There are no regrets in life, just lessons.

Jennifer Aniston

World Health Day — April 7, 2010

Urbanisation and Health

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends, and spirit — and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber

ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls — family, health, friends, and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that

and strive for balance in your life. Brian Dyson,

Former CEO Coca Cola Enterprises

.§≤a ¢ShQO óLƒj ,IÉ«◊G ‘ ∞°SCÉJ óLƒj ’

¿ƒà°ù«fCG ôØ«æL

É¡H ±ô°üàJ »àdG á≤jô£dGh ∑ÒμØJ á≤jôW

∂JÉ«M ‘ ôKDƒJ ¿CG øμÁ ΩÉ©£dG ∂dhÉæJ á≤jôWh

.áæ°S 50 ¤EG 30 øe

GôHƒ°T ∑ÉÑjO QƒàcO

AGƒ¡dG ‘ äGôc ¢ùªN É¡dÓN »eôJ IGQÉÑe âfÉc ƒd ɪc IÉ«◊G π«îJ

ìhôdGh AÉbó°UC’Gh áë°üdGh Iô°SC’Gh πª©dG »g äGôμdG ∂∏J øμàdh –

IQÉÑY πª©dG ¿CG º¡Øà°S Ée ¿ÉYô°S .AGƒ¡dG ‘ ∂dP πc ≈∏Y ßaÉ–h –

- iôNC’G ™HQC’G äGôμdG ¿CG ÒZ .∂«dEG óJôJ É¡£≤°ùJ ¿EG á«WÉ£e Iôc øY

É kjCG â£≤°SCG ¿EG êÉLõdG øe áYƒæ°üe ìhôdGh AÉbó°UC’Gh áë°üdGh Iô°SC’G

ô°ùμæJ ób hCG ìÓ°UE’G á«fÉμeEG ¿hóH Qô°†àà°Sh á©LQ ÓH ô°ùμæà°ùa É¡æe

Gƒ©°ùJh Gòg Gƒª¡ØJ ¿CG Öéj .G kóHCG Égó¡Y ≥HÉ°ùd ó©J ødh á©LQ ÓH

.ºμJÉ«M ‘ ¿RGƒJ ≥«≤ëàd

¿ƒ°ùjGO ¿ÉjGôH

’ƒc Écƒc á°ù°SDƒŸ ≥HÉ°ùdG …ò«ØæàdG ôjóŸG