WEEKEND EDITION An offbeat museum in SAN …...2016/08/10 · FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2016 Things to do...

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FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2016

Things to do

this weekend

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WEEKEND EDITION

An offbeat museum in SAN FRANCISCO

@peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatarEmail: [email protected] thepeninsulaqatar

PAGE 15 PAGE 97Gift ideas for busy women

A culinary journey through the bylanes of Doha in search of the hidden gems

EVENTSTHINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

02 FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2016

A modern version of the old souq tradition can be seen at MIA Park Bazaar from noon. While at the Park, you could also view the large ‘7’ sculpture, an 80ft steel artwork by American art-

ist Richard Serra. Enjoy the sun and the pleasant winter, before the temperature starts rising!

Where: Museum of Islamic Art When: February 6Ticket: Free admission

MIA Park Bazaar

2016 VCUQatar Faculty Exhibition

The Gallery at Virginia

Commonwealth Univer-

sity in Qatar presents an

exhibition of works by art-

ists and designers who are

teaching and researching at

VCUQatar.

This exhibition is a collab-

oration between VCUQatar,

the US embassy in Qatar and

the American Chamber of

Commerce Qatar in support

of Discover America Week

Qatar 2016 (February 15 to

22).

Where: VCUQatar GalleryWhen: Until February 23; 10am-4pmTicket: Free admission

Pearl Qatar has many interesting family activities planned at the Medina Centrale. There are jugglers, stilt walkers and cartoon characters to entertain your little ones along with activities like

kids painting and face painting also arranged for them to participate. .

Where: Medina Centrale Date: Every Friday until February 19 Time: 3:30pm to 7:30pm

Medina Centrale

‘Family Fun Fridays’

As part of the cultural diversity festival at Katara, Georgia Youth Folkloric Ballet “Egrisi” will be held on February 5 and 6.

Where: Beach 21, KataraWhen: February 5-6; 7:30pm to 9pm

Georgia Youth Folkloric

Ballet ‘Egrisi’

03

EVENTS


THINGS TO DO NEXT WEEK

Aspire Zone Foundation

(AZF) is hosting many

activities like wall climbing,

family bike rides, fun run,

5000 step journey, ‘beat

the champion’ contest and

more for families and all

members of the community

on National Sport Day.

Take part in the Fun Run

Visitors can take part in a 3K Fun run around Aspire

Zone which starts at the fans entrance at Aspire Dome,

and crosses the Aspire Zone precinct, enabling those

who take part to explore the park. Registration begins

at 7am and is open for all age groups.

See how you measure up against star

athletes!

The ASPIRE Academy Sport Science Department

will be running a series of “come and try” sport science

testing activities on the Aspire Dome Indoor Athletics

Track, taking place from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Activities include the 20m sprint where visitors

can see how fast they are compared to Usain Bolt;

throwing speed which tests whether people can match

that of a Major League baseball pitcher; vertical jump

which gives people the opportunity to see if they can

fly like Michael Jordan; and a 200m bike race, where

participants can compete with a family member or

a friend.

On completing each activity, all participants receive

a certificate detailing their personal scores against

those of “Star Athletes” to compare themselves against.

Family Bike fun…

Following the success of its first edition launched

last year, AZF is organising a family bike activity in

Aspire Zone for the second consecutive year. Aspire

will provide two types of bikes – a four-seater bike for

families, and single-seater bikes for individuals to ride.

No registration is required.

Start your day off to the beat of Zumba

Ladies can enjoy their share of AZF activities on

National Sports Day including the opportunity to en-

joy exercising to the Latin beat of Zumba classes. This

exclusive action takes place in a private space at the

ladies club. Zumba classes combine Latin dancing with

physical exercise, helping to maintain a healthy heart

and blood pressure as well as improve fitness overall. No

registration is required. Those interested in taking part

should arrive at 9am. Zumba activity runs until 10:30am.

Learn wall climbing skills

This activity aims to teach participants mountain

climbing skills under the supervision of licensed climb-

ing instructors on an outdoor climbing wall. Wall

Climbing takes place near the outdoor pitches behind

Grand Heritage hotel.

Judo training for kids

As part of its efforts to provide a variety of activi-

ties that appeal to participants of all ages, this year

AZF will be organising judo training for boys and girls

aged 8 – 12 years old. Following a number of warm up

exercises, those taking part in this training will be able

to learn more about judo techniques under the careful

guidance and supervision of professional instructors.

Find full details of all the activities on offer through

the Life in Aspire mobile application or www.lifeina-

spire.qa

National Sport Day at Aspire Zone

Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC)

is preparing to mark the Qa-

tar’s National Sport Day (NSD)

on Tuesday, February 9.

QOC announced its NSD pro-

gramme, where the governing sport

body will start celebrating the NSF

event by staging Cycling race at the

Qanat Quartier.

The Qatar Basketball Federation

will organise a 3x3 tournament at Ka-

tara and another event at Al Gharafa

Outdoor Arena meanwhile the Qatar

Shooting and Archery Association

will hold a shooting and archery

championship at Lusail International

Complex.

The Qatar Billiard and Snooker

Federation will conduct the NSD Bil-

liard and Snooker Championship for

national team players and clubs and

the Qatar Wrestling federation will

organise a men’s championship in

Katara.

The Qatar Paralympic Commit-

tee will hold an open sport day for

people with special needs while the

Qatar Athletics Federation will organ-

ise a walking race for its employees,

coaches and players.

The Qatar Equestrian Federa-

tion will organise a Show Jumping

Championship while the Qatar Chess

Association will hold a Rapid Chess

Championship.

The Qatar Winter Sports Com-

mittee will organise Qatar Steel Ice

Hockey Championship at Villaggio

Arena.

The Qatar Boxing Federation will

conduct a boxing festival at Katara

and the Qatar Sailing and Marine

Sports will hold sailing and rowing

racing at Doha Corniche.

The Qatar Hockey Committee will

organise a hockey festival at Moham-

mad bin Abdulwahab High School

and Ali bin Abi Taleb School while

Qatar Tennis Federation will hold

an open sport day for players of na-

tional teams at the Khalifa Tennis and

Squash Complex.

Qatar Olympic Committee

activities on National Sport Day

TRAVELThe natural history museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park transforms into a sleepover science camp.


By Andrea Sachs

The Washington Post

Outside the California Academy of Sciences,

children struggled under the weight of over-

stuffed backpacks, and parents tussled with

bulky sleeping bags and pillows. I was trav-

elling much lighter - a nylon sack with a

toothbrush and sweatshirt - but I also carried a load on

my shoulders.

My burden: Would I choose penguins over my best

friend from childhood?

The line moved up an inch. Through the glass en-

trance, I noticed a stuffed toy penguin on the check-in

desk. A telling sign.

Nearly once a month, the natural history museum

in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park transforms into a

sleepover science camp. The Penguins + Pajamas event,

now in its sixth year, starts after daytime visitors have

departed and before most children’s meltdown hour.

In addition to après-hour roaming privileges, slumber

partiers can participate in special programmes (including

live animals) and camp out among the exhibits (ditto).

“Since the event takes place after normal hours,

sleepover guests have a much more intimate museum

experience,” said Kelly Mendez, a spokeswoman. “We

hope they leave inspired by the natural world.”

Doors open at 6 pm. However, a sentence in my con-

firmation letter - “sleep cards are handed out on a first

come first serve basis for each area” - set off a warning

bell. The museum offers five sleeping districts, and each

has limited capacity. If I arrived too late, I could end up

dozing with natural disasters (Earthquake) or an albino

alligator (Lower Swamp) instead of with my preferred

bedmates, African penguins (African Hall). In addition, the

museum requires all members of your party to be present

when selecting an area. The other members of my crew

were wedged in traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge.

I started polling other participants about their top

two choices. A dad from Davis, California, whose son was

splayed on a sleeping bag, said Aquarium and African Hall.

I told him that I had heard that Aquarium was way cooler.

I flagged down a staff member and asked him which

sleeping chambers fill up first. He confirmed my fears.

I was all ready to sacrifice my friendship when I no-

ticed two familiar faces by the T. rex in the lobby. Chrissy

and Lindsay, my friend’s teenage daughter, had acciden-

tally entered with a Boy Scout group and were checking

in - swing goes the karma. An employee stamped our

hands with an inky penguin. I pressed the backs of my

hands together to make a pair.

We dropped off our gear in the African Hall, a tempo-

rary storage unit for the 300 guests that mid-November

evening. I noticed a barrier separating the sleeping space

from the habitat where 15 penguins resided.

“You can’t sleep up against the glass,” a staff member

said. “You have to stay 20-feet away. They need space.”

I would give them their personal space, but not their

privacy. I scanned the long, high-ceilinged room and

located the spot with the closest penguin views: front-

right corner, by the Hunter’s hartebeest. According to the

schedule, we could set up our permanent settlement at

10 p.m. Till then, we would prowl the halls like a pack of

nocturnal animals.

“It kind of feels like we’ve broken into a museum,”

said Lindsay. “But that’s cool.”

We studied the list of activities and shouted out

our favourites. Lindsay, a high school freshman in Marin

County, California, was learning about the solar system

and selected two planetarium shows. Chrissy chose the

four-story rain forest, where she could face some of her

phobias. I selected the Animal Color Encounter because,

well, it was starting in five minutes.

In the Color of Life section, two staff members ex-

plained the concept of camouflage to a young, bouncy

audience seated in bleachers. To illustrate their point,

they produced a ball python as thick as a chunky scarf.

“The python uses its colour to hide and eat mice,” the

expert said. “How wide does his mouth open?”

Hands shot up, then approximated a maw that could

fit a bowling ball.

Halfway through the talk, I looked around and realised

that two-thirds of my group had wandered off. I found

them by an exhibit featuring California newts. My friend,

clearly alarmed, urged me to read the informational sign,

which explained how the toxin in a single newt can kill

thousands of mice.

“Why haven’t we heard about these?” she said in her

protective mother voice.

We decided to look for critters with kinder dispositions.

En route to the rain forest, we passed a gaggle of

dads.

“Is there a mom’s corner?” she asked.

(Yes, in the Academy Cafe)

A slumber party with penguins

05FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2016

A few minutes shy of 8pm, the staff started to clear the ecosystem. Its inhabitants follow the same sleep schedules as fourth-graders.

On average, upwards of 4,000 people visit the mu-

seum each day. Entering the rain forest can require

significant time and patience. We, however, breezed right

in, pausing only to consider the photographer’s question:

“Do you want to take a penguin picture?” (Unfortunately,

not a real bird but you in a penguin hat.)

We climbed the ramp, passing under a wireless

mobile of butterflies. I peeked into glass boxes hous-

ing exotic creatures, such as Borneo gliders and golden

mantellas, vibrant frogs from Madagascar that looked as

if they had fallen into Benjamin Moore paint cans. Chrissy,

meanwhile, was admiring a fluttery insect with a pair of

trompe l’oeil eyes on its wings.

“I think I’m getting over my fear of moths,” she said.

“This one is so pretty and peaceful.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that her break-

through moment involved an owl butterfly, not a moth.

A few minutes shy of 8pm, the staff started to clear

the ecosystem. Its inhabitants follow the same sleep

schedules as fourth-graders.

“The animals in the rain forest have an early bedtime,”

an employee said as we exited.

Before the first planetarium show, we ducked into

the cafe for dinner. As a special treat, the kitchen staff

allowed guests to make their own pizzas. A chef in a

white coat invited me behind the counter and handed

me plastic gloves, which I slipped on and plunged into

bowls filled with olives, pineapple, spinach and zucchini.

He seemed relaxed and good-humoured, even as I was

butchering flavours.

At “Tour of the Night Sky,” a jocular employee read

a few announcements. He told us that we would have

to stow all flashlights and electronics at night, so as not

to disturb the animals. A couple of youngsters gasped,

but he assured them that none of the sleep areas would

be cave dark. He also informed us that we would have

to rise at 6:30 am, which caused this adult to howl. We

also had to vacate the museum by 8am so the “biologists

can begin their work,” but we were welcome to return

for free when the museum reopened later that morning.

Then the lights went down and the stars came up.

We learned about cosmic dust, or star dandruff, and

that the Milky Way supposedly tastes like raspberries.

We also viewed Orion, who “is a hunter, not a thinker.”

Throughout the presentation, a chorus of kids would

sing out, “Black hole!” The educator swatted away the

interruptions, but I could feel Lindsay rolling her eyes to

the heavens above.

Bed assembly time was nearing. Chrissy ran down to

the car to grab extra blankets, and Lindsay and I climbed

to the rooftop to peer through a telescope at Capella,

two polka dots on a velvet skirt. We arrived at the African

Hall a few minutes before 10pm. An employee said we

could sleep anywhere except under the tree with the

leopard crouched on the top branch. A mother and her

son had already nabbed the prime penguin spot. We

walked through the gallery of dioramas, past a pride of

lions, a pair of zebras and a cheetah hunting a Thomson’s

gazelle. We stepped around sleeping bags, air mattresses

and a low wall of rolling luggage. We finally found a space

in the back, under an empty vitrine. The only consolation:

I had an outlet within arm’s length.

For my evening ablutions, I went to the public bath-

room and waited for a sink behind a girl in “Frozen”

pajamas and a mom in yoga pants. Instead of heading

right to bed, I crept downstairs to the aquarium, where

rows of heads rested against tanks that glowed like lava

lamps. I took the long route back. The California Academy

of Sciences felt like my own private museum, and I wanted

to prolong the fantasy.

In the African Hall, I tiptoed up to the penguins to

say good night. Four birds stood like chess pieces, wait-

ing for the next move. Eventually, the lights went out in

their home, a signal that it was bedtime for all species.

Chrissy and Lindsay were fast asleep. I fluffed my blan-

ket and pillow and closed my eyes. The room was silent

until I heard a man trying to expel a warthog through his

nose. The snoring was primal and penetrating. I jammed

squishy earplugs, a gift from the museum, into my ears.

Useless. I moved around the corner, cozying up with the

African hunting dogs. I could still hear the loud snorts. I

rolled up my bedding and embarked into the unknown.

I walked over to Color of Life, but cocooned bodies oc-

cupied most of the nooks. Earthquake was too exposing;

Aquarium was filled to capacity. I finally discovered a

secluded corner shaded by two giraffes. I didn’t have to

worry about the pair snoring; their noses were stuffed.

The staff woke us up with a cheery camp-counselor

announcement to rise and shine. We packed up our be-

longings and ventured over to the cafe for breakfast.

Chrissy grabbed a table by the spotted cuscus, and we

discussed the overnight-at-the-museum experience.

“I had a really good sleep. The floor wasn’t as hard as I

thought it would be,” Lindsay said, adding: “It’s funny that

they call it sleeping with penguins. You’re really sleeping

with the Academy of Sciences.”

Chrissy, who had been initially wary of the event,

shared her epiphany.

“It’s not all about your comforts,” she said trium-

phantly. “This made me feel like I can go ahead with

other adventures.”’

My friends left shortly thereafter. I stayed behind and

returned to the African Hall, now cleared of last night’s

evidence. I faced the penguins and watched them slowly

come out to greet the new day.

TRAVEL

California Academy of Sciences

55 Music Concourse Dr.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

calacademy.org

The Penguins + Pajamas sleepover is available

to children ages 5 to 17, plus adult chaperones

ages 25 and older. No adult-only groups allowed.

The $109 nonmember fee includes an evening

snack, breakfast, parking and museum admis-

sion the following day. You must bring your own

sleeping gear. Upcoming dates: February 12, May

27 and June 18.

If you go

A brief explanation of Chinese New Year - and what makes it different from the new year holiday you know.


YOUNG EDITORS

By Kitson Jazynka

The Washington Post

Have you ever had a slice of the Chinese sticky rice cake called niangao? It’s a squishy, sweet, cola-color-

ed confection made with rice flour. It’s sweetened with Chinese brown sugar and water and often deco-rated with dried Chinese red dates, or jujubes.

Ancient Chinese legend tells the story of a great leader who protected his people with a wall made from bricks of starchy, sticky rice. The wall later saved the people from starva-tion. Thousands of years later, during traditional Chinese New Year celebra-tions, many Chinese people celebrate and hope for good luck by devouring delicious niangao.

So, what exactly is the Chinese New Year and why is it celebrated

weeks after January 1? The holiday celebrates the start of the new year as dictated not by our modern calen-dar, but by an ancient lunar Chinese calendar. On that calendar, a new year starts after the second new moon after the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year and the onset of winter). The calendar is based on a 12-year cycle, and each year is named after an animal. In 2016, the Year of the Monkey begins February 8.

Traditionally, Chinese New Year was considered a time to honor ancestors and family. Today, peo-ple celebrate with festivals (often referred to as spring festivals, beck-oning the beginning of spring), fireworks, feasts and family. People share wishes and clean their houses to start fresh. Food is a big part of the celebrations. Fish symbolizes abun-dance, long noodles symbolize long life, and dumplings shaped like the

full moon and filled with vegetables and shrimp symbolize prosperity and the family unit.

“Chinese New Year is a time to have fun, gather with family, enjoy fireworks, parades, dances and of course good food,” says Li Hong, who handles cultural affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Washington. “It’s also a tradition that the older generations give lucky money to the young gen-eration in red envelopes.” They call it “red pocket money,” she said.

In Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes prosperity, happiness and

good fortune and is a big part of any Chinese New Year celebration.

“Everything is red,” Li explains, “from beautiful paper lanterns to red clothing and paper cards in windows to the huge dragons and lions in the traditional dances.”

Li grew up in Beijing. “For me, Chinese New Year is always about the family gathering. That’s still the most important part,” she says. “It’s a time of warmth, a time to go home, eat good food and an opportunity for everyone to express all their best wishes for the new year.”

Celebrate the Year of the Monkey with sticky rice and ‘red pocket money’

QFacts: Did you know?

At the end of January 2016,

Qatar population stands over

2,423,000 with Indians being

the largest community followed

by Nepalis and Filipinos.

Males 1,853,001

Females 570,174

Total 2,423,175

GUESS THE CHARACTER

Identify this movie characterMail us the name at [email protected] with “Guess the Character” mentioned in the subject line and the winners will be mentioned in our next edition.

07

YOUNG EDITORS


Even if science explains why you avoid certain foods, you can choose not to. Here are a few suggestions on how to make that choice easier.

By Howard Bennett

The Washington Post

When I see kids for their yearly checkups, I always ask three questions: Do you get plen-ty of exercise? Do you sleep

well? Do you eat a balanced diet? (A bal-anced diet includes milk products, grains, meats, poultry, fruits and vegetables.)

The first two questions almost always get a thumbs-up, but the last one seldom does. Why? Because lots of kids don’t like fruits and vegetables.

When I ask 4-to-6-year-olds about broccoli, for example, they often say they don’t eat it because they don’t like it. But when I ask whether they’ve tried it, they usually say no. “Then how do you know you don’t like it?” I’ll ask. The response: “ ‘Cause I don’t.”

My 8-to-12-year-old patients laugh when I tell that story because they realize something can’t taste bad to you if you’ve never tried it. However, when I ask if they eat fruits and vegetables, I often get the same response: No.

I never argue with kids about what they eat, but I try to explain why a balanced diet is good for them. So I typically ask, “Have

you ever heard of a rabbit that doesn’t eat grass? How about a lion that doesn’t eat ze-bras? A dung beetle that doesn’t eat poop?”

The answers to those questions are no, no and no. That’s because animals know what foods they are supposed to eat. For some, such as dung beetles, it’s instinctive. Others, such as rabbits and lions, learn what to eat by watching their moms.

To put it another way, animals don’t eat because something tastes good. They eat to survive. So why are humans the on-ly species to reject food that’s good for them? The main reason is that they think about how the food tastes, not about what it does to keep their bodies healthy.

But even if the brain and mouth reject certain foods, other parts of the body want them. For example, your eyes love carrots. Your muscles love salmon. Your skin loves blueberries. (Your nose is also part of this equation, because smell plays a big role in how something tastes.)

Most adults are willing to give a food a second chance if they don’t like it the first time. They have learned that foods taste better if you try them a few times.

Little kids don’t understand that con-cept. As a baby, you ate mostly food that was sweet or bland. Once you become a

toddler (ages 1 to 3), you ate “table food” that had more complex flavours. When a toddler discovers that green vegetables have a slightly bitter taste, he’s likely to reject them. He doesn’t expect that taste to change over time.

Scientists believe that some kids and adults have other reasons for not liking certain foods. One involves the number of taste buds. Some people have a lot of taste buds; to them, food flavours taste stronger. Those people tend to avoid bit-ter or spicy foods. Another reason is that picky eating runs in families. So parents of picky eaters might have been picky when they were kids.

Even if science explains why you avoid certain foods, you can choose not to. Here

are a few suggestions on how to make that choice easier:

- Help prepare the meal. You can cut up, cook or arrange the food. Dinner is more appealing when you have helped make it.

- Try a new food at least five times. Eat small amounts at first.

- Mix vegetables with foods you like or foods that hide the taste of the vegetables. Add green peas to mashed potatoes, or drizzle broccoli with melted cheese.

- Eat fruits mixed into yogurt or pud-ding, or with a little sugar on top. They can also be added to smoothies so that you barely taste them.

- Eat something even if you don’t love it. If you can eat a new food without barf-ing, give yourself a high-five!

Because I like Legos and gross things, my wife often teases that I’m a big kid. In some ways, she’s right. I like beef, chicken, cheese and bread way more than I like fruits and vegetables. But I eat from every food group every day. With a little practice, you can, too.

Bennett is a Washington pediatrician. His website, www.howardjbennett.com, includes past articles and other cool stuff.

Ever wondered about a balanced diet?

COLOUR ME5 chilled trivia about winter

Why are humans the only

species to reject food that’s

good for them? The main

reason is that they think

about how the food tastes,

not about what it does to

keep their bodies healthy

1. The Southern Hemisphere typi-

cally has milder winters than the

Northern Hemisphere as the former

has less land and a more maritime

climate.

2. Earth is closest to the sun in De-

cember, even though winter sol-

stice is the shortest day of the year.

3. Trees and plants stop growing in

winter.

4 Ten inches of snow melts to one

inch of water.

5. It can be as warm as 40 degrees

on the ground and still snow.

WHEELSThe WEpod navigates through traffic with lasers and other sensors, GPS and pre-programmed 3D maps of the route making constant comparisons to real-life images.


By Elco van Groningen

The Washington Post

Driverless microbuses started

serving the college town of

Wageningen, Netherlands, in

the first open-ended test in Eu-

rope of automated public transport on

city streets.

Dutch partners including navigation

provider Mapscape, Robot Care Systems

and the Technical University of Delft in-

troduced two six-passenger automated

vehicles into service on Thursday that

could replace standard buses on unprofit-

able routes. The trial will provide a push to

efforts to set up European Union rules for

the technology, Minister of Infrastructure

Melanie Schultz van Haegensaid at the

opening event in Wageningen.

The WEpod models, supplied by

French-Indian venture EasyMile, can travel

as fast as 40 kilometers (25 miles) per

hour, but they’ll be limited to 25 kph for

safety reasons, and initially won’t be oper-

ated when it rains or snows or at night, Jan

Willem van der Wiel, head of the project,

said in an interview at the opening event

in Wageningen.

“We want to be careful,” Van der Wiel

said. “We first want the system to operate

well on nice days like today,” before seeing

how the vehicles handle heavy precipita-

tion or fog.

While driverless trains for many years

have served major international airports

and some city routes, such as London’s

Docklands line, automated buses are still

being tested. The models pose the same

regulatory issues as automated cars and

trucks as authorities consider how to

prevent crashes when other vehicles or

pedestrians do something unexpected.

The WEpod navigates through traffic

with lasers and other sensors, GPS and

pre-programmed 3D maps of the route

making constant comparisons to real-life

images. Three buttons on the interior en-

able passengers to brake the bus in case

of emergency. During the test phase of the

coming few months, a staff member will

be assigned to each vehicle and can take

control if needed with a tablet.

If something goes wrong with the

Wageningen WEpods, the liability will

be with the system owner, in this case

the Technical University of Delft, Van der

Wiel said.

Rides are being offered free for the

moment. Developers want to offer cus-

tomers two modes of service later this

year: as a cab that can be reserved or

hailed through a mobile application, and

as a bus that travels a set route linking

the Wageningen University campus with

a train station the city shares with the

neighboring town of Ede.

Wageningen’s WEpod project follows

limited-time street trials of driverless ve-

hicles in La Rochelle, France, and Trikala,

Greece, in the past two years. The Dutch

program also exchanges data with the

CityMobil2association of technology sup-

pliers and EU municipalities focused on

developing automated public transport,

Van der Wiel said.

Besides challenges of liability there are

questions regarding European regulation

and getting technical systems coordinated

from the start, Schultz van Haegen told

reporters. With the Netherlands currently

holding the EU presidency, the minister will

try to get counterparts in April to reach an

agreement “on what we’ll adjust, research

and need to do in the coming period.”

One of the biggest challenges of au-

tonomous public transport is decide on

how to classify the technology, Schultz

van Haegen said.

“The WEpod is outside all existing cat-

egories,” she said. “It’s not a car, it’s not

a bus, it’s not a motorised vehicle as the

speed is limited -- it’s an object on wheels

at most.”

Dutch college town starts

using driverless buses

Rides are being offered free

for the moment. Developers

want to offer customers two

modes of service later this

year: as a cab that can be

reserved or hailed through

a mobile application, and

as a bus that travels a set

route linking the University

campus with a train station.

A WEpod driverless bus, developed by WEpods Consortium and Wageningen University, travels on a road in the university's campus site in Wageningen, Netherlands.

09FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2016

Once in a while, gift wrapping something and presenting it to yourself is one of the best ways to pamper oneself. WOMEN

Gift yourself,

feel good

Women for generations have put themselves last on their to-do list. But it is important to recharge internal batteries once in a while to be top of your stressful daily routine. So this weekend boost yourself by spending some time and money on yourself. Try some of these gift ideas and reconnect with yourself.

Anisha Bijukumar

The Peninsula

1. Succulent plants are incredibly simple, low-maintenance and inde-pendent. They are easy to assemble and virtually impossible to kill, a per-fect choice for beginner growers and those lacking a green thumb. Head to Ikea for some of the best indoor plants or to any of the numerous nurseries at Salwa near Wholesale market and grab a sapling.

2. Selfies often garner a lot of attention on social media, but they can also promote confidence and self-love. Grab a selfie stick from one of the Jarir stores and use it like a third arm to remind yourself of your fantastic self.

3. As a quote goes, “If it doesn’t chal-lenge you, it doesn’t change you!” Challenge yourself to join a gymna-sium and exercise for the next one year. Paying in advance might help to ensure you do not skip a workout session.

4. Embrace your free-spirited, single self and jot down all the places and activities you’ve been putting on the back burner in a book or a wonder-ful diary from one of the stationery stores in Doha.

5. Indulge yourself with a gift of warmth and shop for some colour coordinated throw blankets for each room.

6. That wardrobe in your house might be full with formal, informal and party attire; yet it’s never too full to buy one more. Shop online and gift yourself a cool outfit to flaunt a new you.

7. There are quite a few agencies in Doha that do personalised print-ing. Gift yourself a memory with a personalised message or a picture that will reflect your good taste. Get a printed mug, or an album or a key ring with one of your most treasured moments on it.

TOYS


Mattel has added seven skin tones, 22 eye colours and 24 hairstyles to new Barbies - an effort to make the dolls look more diverse.

By Sarah Halzack

The Washington Post

For years now, you’ve heard a

familiar refrain about Barbie

dolls: What kind of message are

we sending to girls when the

beloved toy comes with body

proportions that aren’t even realistic for

a supermodel?

On Thursday, Mattel announced a ma-

jor makeover to the doll that is squarely

aimed at addressing those concerns. And,

to be sure, it’s also a bid to boost sales at

a pivotal moment for the toymaking giant.

Mattel has added three new body

types to the line: petite, tall and curvy. The

traditional Barbie body - with its teeny

waist, big bust and outsize head - will

remain in the line-up. The company also

touted that this year’s roster of Barbies

includes seven skin tones, 22 eye colors

and 24 hairstyles, an effort to make the

dolls look more diverse.

In a video announcing the changes,

Mattel executives cast the move as an act

of progressivism, an acknowledgement

that they believe it is simply the right

thing to do to have their doll collection

better reflect real women.

“This is radical. Because we’re saying

there isn’t this narrow standard of what

a beautiful body looks like,” Robert Best,

senior director of product design, says

in the video.

The video includes shots of a diverse

group of girls playing with the dolls, echo-

ing similar sentiments.

“It’s important for Barbies to look dif-

ferent. You know, like the real people in

the world,” one little girl says.

Another girl, toting a Barbie in each

hand, declares, “I like them, because this

one looks like me and this one looks like

my mom.”

The line of dolls with varied body

types was available for order on Mattel’s

website Thursday and will begin hitting

store shelves throughout the spring.

Mocking Barbie’s body proportions

had become something of a sport in re-

cent years, with viral stories abounding

online about how clownish they would

look if replicated on a real person. And

her Coke-bottle-esque shape has long

been held up as an emblem of persist-

ent, unrealistic beauty standards for

women.

By adding new body types, Mattel

is aiming to change that conversation

around one of its flagship brands.

“I don’t know why Mattel waited this

long, but I’m glad they’re doing it,” said

Arun Jain, a marketing professor at the

University at Buffalo. “And it should help

them.”

Barbie’s new body shapes are part

of a broader effort by Mattel to recali-

brate its toy assortment for a confluence

of cultural changes, for a moment when

America’s non-white population is grow-

ing; when plus-size clothing brands are

challenging traditional standards of

beauty; and when moms and dads alike

are deeply conscious of gender-based

stereotypes.

For example, this spring, Mattel plans

to roll out a new line of toys called DC

Super Hero Girls. The collection of ac-

tion figures, which portrays DC Comics

characters such as Wonder Woman, is

meant to offer to girls an alternative to

the uber-girly, dainty dolls that are typi-

cally marketed to them.

There is a clear dollars-and-cents in-

centive for Mattel to change up its iconic

doll: The company is desperately looking

to regain momentum after it lost the

license to produce Disney Princess toys.

Disney took that business to toymaking

rival Hasbro, leaving Mattel without one

of its key cash cows. There have been

other signs of unease at the company,

too, including a chief executive shake-up

about a year ago after profits slumped

and some of its big brands stumbled.

But, also, there have been signs for

some time that the Barbie brand was not

quite connecting with shoppers the way

it once did. Barbie remains one of the

best-selling dolls in the world, but sales

have been soft recently.

By giving Barbie a variety of body

types, Mattel is making a two-pronged

gamble: It’s hoping to appeal directly to

little girls who might be more enticed by

a doll that looks more like them, and it’s

hoping to convince parents to open their

wallets by creating a feel-good, progres-

sive halo around the dolls.

The company has also moved to re-

vitalize Barbie by taking her high-tech:

This holiday season, it began selling Hello

Barbie, a doll that uses voice-recognition

software to have conversations with a

child.

Video link: https://youtu.be/vPETP7-UfuI

Barbie gets the makeover the

world has been waiting for

This spring, Mattel plans to

roll out a new line of toys

called DC Super Hero Girls.

The collection of action

figures, which portrays DC

Comics characters such

as Wonder Woman, is

meant to offer to girls an

alternative to the uber-

girly, dainty dolls that are

typically marketed to them

11

PARENTING


As parents, we know our kids grow up and may be ready to face the world, but do we ever see them beyond little kids heading off to their first day of school?

By Katie Hurley

The Washington Post

Recently, my son took an unexpected ball to the face during his soccer game. This is frequent in U7 (under 7) soccer, but it hurts just the same. He walked off the field with his head in his hands, fighting back tears that poured

from his blue eyes the moment his head found my shoul-der. At 6, he needs comfort when something hurts.

“Shake it off! We need you out there!”The words, from the mouth of a mother I don’t

know at all, cut straight through my heart. I tried to catch his gaze, to reassure him, but I was too late. The embarrassment already took hold of him and he averted his eyes to the ground as he picked up his pace to get to me.

I did what I always do. I ignored the comment, wrapped my arms around him and empathized. Soc-cer balls are hard. It hurts when you take one straight to your eye. It’s OK to cry, feel frustrated or just need a minute to hit reset.

I’ve never been a “shake it off” kind of parent, nor do I engage in public humiliation of little kids. That’s what it is, after all. When a child is hurt and a parent yells, “Shake it off!” in response, what the child hears is, “You’re not tough enough - be stronger.”

We tell kids to be kind to others. We want them to show empathy when others struggle. We want them to offer and hand. We want them to grow into caring and responsible citizens. But then we tell them to “shake it off.” We also rely on such gems as “no blood, no tears” or “don’t cry, you’re fine.”

“Shake it off” parenting sends mixed messages to young children. How can we expect to raise kind and caring kids when we are quick to dismiss our own children in the heat of the moment? Since when does the size of a cut or the amount of blood trickling down represent the level of pain and need for comfort?

The results of a lifelong study recently published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who perceived their parents as more caring and less controlling were likely to be happier and more satis-fied throughout their lives.

Given this research, it makes sense to tap into positive parenting strategies and teach things like empathy and kindness. That doesn’t seem to be the case in the current climate of parenting, though. Kids today hear a different message.

According to data collected in a Making Caring Common survey by Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, nearly 80 percent of youth re-port that their parents are more concerned about achievement or happiness than about caring for oth-ers. Participants in the survey were also more likely to rate things like hard work above fairness.

Parents might think they offer lessons in kindness and empathy, but what kids hear is work hard and win at all costs.

“Shake it off” parenting seems to be gaining steam as parents try every trick in the book to avoid be-ing labeled the dreaded “helicopter parent.” No one wants to be depicted as the neurotic hovering parent who refuses to let the child fail, so they pull a razor sharp U-turn and throw empathy to the wind, even when their kids need it.

That’s a mistake. The truth is that parenting is a balancing act. Sure, there are times when we need to stand back and watch them struggle. If we don’t,

we rob them of the opportunity to grow and learn. But we also need to be there for them when they’re down. Unconditional love and emotional support can’t possibly be conveyed through statements like “shake it off,” and sometimes our children need the comfort and caring of those who love them.

The hidden dangers of “shake it off” parenting can have lasting effects on our children and here’s how:

1. Empathy fades away. When we dismiss the thoughts and feelings of our children, they learn that the thoughts and feelings of others aren’t important. They internalise the message that the end results are more important than the emotions experienced along the way. We show them that we don’t really care, and they turn around and show that lack of warmth to someone else.

While we can’t protect our kids from the hurts of this world, we can give them the tools to cope with the ups and downs that life has to offer and, in doing so, plant the seeds of empathy.

2. It fosters unhealthy competition. Competition is a part of life and kids learn a lot from competitive sports, but “shake it off” parenting reaches beyond the play-ing field. Part of stepping back and resisting the urge to hover includes allowing our children to fail on their own terms. It’s perfectly normal to experience frustra-tion and sadness in the face of failure. In that case, a child should seek emotional support from a loved one.

“Shake it off” parenting lacks emotional support and forces kids to just keep competing - just keep climbing the ranks. They learn to step over others be-cause they are, apparently, strong enough to shake it off and move on. Until they’re not. Then they fall apart.

3. Humiliation shatters self-confidence. Social me-dia erupts in hot debates when parents use public shaming via Facebook or Instagram to correct behav-ioir, as well it should. But parents use humiliation to shame their children on the field, at the playground, on the way school and in the home often and that goes unchecked. Humiliation hurts and negatively impacts self-confidence whether it’s done out in the world or behind closed doors. It breaks trust and leaves them feeling empty.

It’s time to stop negative parenting strategies. It’s time to build our kids up, give them the space to learn and grow and be kind, compassionate and caring people. They’ll thank us for it one day. That much I know.

Katie Hurley is the author of “The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stress-ful World.”

It’s time to stop

negative parenting

strategies. It’s time

to build our kids

up, give them the

space to learn and

grow and be kind,

compassionate

and caring people.

They’ll thank us for

it one day.

The hidden dangers of ‘shake it off’ parenting

FILMS


ROYAL PLAZA

ASIAN TOWN

NOVO

MALL

LANDMARK

GHAYAL ONCE AGAIN

GARFIELD

ZITS

Ajay Mehra (from previous Ghayal-1990), after finishing off his life sentence, starts a newspaper called Satyakam. Still dealing with the haunting trauma of losing his loved ones, Ajay manages to make a credible name for himself in investigative journalism.

VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER

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

The Finest Hours (Action) 3D 10:30am, 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30& 11:00pm2D/Action 11:00, 11:30am, 1:30, 2:00, 4:00, 4:30, 6:30, 7:00, 9:30, 11:30 & 11:55pmAlvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2D/Animation) 11:15am, 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15 & 11:15pmCapture The Flag (2D/Animation) 11:00am, 1:00, 3:00, 4:50 & 5:40pmThe Boy (2D/Horror) 7:30, 9:40 & 11:50pmDirty Grandpa (2D/Comedy) 10:30am, 3:10, 7:30 & 11:45pmIntruders (2D/Horror) 12:40, 5:00 & 9:20pm Wild Horses (2D/Crime) 11:45am, 3:45, 7:45 & 11:45pmAshby (2D/Comedy) 1:45, 5:45 & 9:45pmJane Got A Gun (2D/Action) 10:00am, 2:00, 6:00 & 10:00pmRide Along 2 (2D/Comedy) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00pm & 12:00midnightEverything About Her (2D/Tagalog) 11:30am, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30pm & 12:00midnightThe Finest Hours (Action) 3D IMAX 11:30am, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 &11:55pm

Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 5:45pm Visaranai (2D/Tamil) 2:00pmMy Little Pony: Friendship Games (2D/Animation) 4:15pmOcean 14 (2D/Arabic) 7:30pm Ashby (2D/Comedy) 7:00pmEverything About Her (2D/Tagalog) 9:15pmJane Got A Gun (2D/Action) 11:30pmCapture The Flag (Animation) 3:00pmThe Finest Hours (2D/Action) 5:00 & 9:00pmIntruders (2D/Horror) 11:15pm Banglore Naatkal (2D/Tamil)4:15pmWild Horses (2D/Crime) 7:00pmAdi Kapyare (2D/Malayalam) 8:45pmGhayal Once Again (2D/Hindi) 11:15pm

Adi Kapyare (Malayalam) 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30, 8:45, 11:00pm & 01:15amGhayal Once Again (Hindi) 3:45, 6:00 & 11:00pm2 Countires (Malayalam) 1:00, 3:15, 8:15pm & 01:15amSanam Teri Kasam (Hindi) 6:00pm Banglore Naatkal (Tamil) 1:00, 8:15pm & 01:15am Visaranai (Tamil) 1:30, 3:45 & 11:00pm Irudhi Suttru (Tamil) 6:00pm

Banglore Naatkal (2D/Tamil) 2:15pmGhayal Once Again (2D/Hindi) 5:00pmAlvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2D/Animation) 3:00 & 7:30pm Wild Horses (2D/Crime) 9:15pmAdi Kapyare(2D/Malayalam)9:15pm Visaranai(2D/Tamil)11:30pmAshby (2D/Comedy) 5:00 & 9:45pm Intruders (2D/Horror) 11:30pmThe Finest Hours (2D/Action) 7:00 & 11:00pmCapture The Flag (Animation) 2:30pmMy Little Pony: Friendship Games (2D/Animation) 4:15pmJane Got A Gun (2D/Action) 5:45pmEverything About Her (2D/Tagalog) 7:30pm

Sanam Teri Kasam (2D/Hindi) 2:15 & 10:45pm Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip(2D/Animation)5:00pmIntruders (2D/Horror) 4:15 & 7:00pm Wild Horses(2D/Crime) 11:15pmThe Finest Hours (2D/Action) 6:00 & 9:00pmGhayal Once Again (2D/Hindi) 11:15pmMy Little Pony: Friendship Games (2D/Animation) 2:30pmCapture The Flag (Animation) 4:15pmEverything About Her (2D/Tagalog) 8:30pmAshby(2D/Comedy) 2:30 & 6:00pm Ocean 14(2D/Arabic) 7:45pm

Jane Got A Gun (2D/Action) 9:30pm

13

PUZZLES


EASY SUDOKU

Yesterday’s answerEasy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1

to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every

column and every 3x3 box contains all the

digits 1 to 9.

Yesterday’s answer

How to play Hyper Sudoku:A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like a normal Sudoku.

HYPER SUDOKU

Yesterday’s answerHow to play Kakuro:The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers.

However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In

KAKURO

ACROSS

1 Complain loudly

5 “Proud” ones with cigars

10 Cheek 14 Iridescent stone

15 Prince Valiant’s love

16 ___ Reader

17 *Left the flock

19 Greek earth goddess

20 Kind of test for newborns

21 “___ Bangs” (Ricky Martin hit)

22 ___ Sea, victim of Soviet irrigation projects

23 *Walk out

27 Tenor Carreras

30 Catcher’s catch off a batter’s bat

31 Part of an oval

32 Competitor’s lament

33 Kyle ___, “The Terminator” hero

37 *Like baking dough

39 *Sumptuous spreads

40 Crashes, with “out”

41 Got by word of mouth

44 Word that, spelled backward, can be a

clue for itself

45 Stalemate

47 Prefix with diluvian

48 *Half of a brother/sister dance duo

52 Laze

53 Inits. for Windy City commuters

54 Loosen, as a knot

58 Leon who wrote “The Haj”

59 World hot spot … or a hint to the

answers to the starred clues

62 Labyrinth

63 “That’s ___”

64 Mass-market furniture company

65 Furniture strip

66 Homes for warblers and wasps

67 Two of diamonds?

DOWN

1 Exercise discipline

2 Individually

3 First computer company to run an

ad during the Super Bowl

4 Entreaty that may follow “pretty”

5 Faux ___ 6 PC key

7 Slayer of Medusa

8 Stopped

9 Speak, in the Bible

10 Legume with an edible pod

11 Game company with a Japanese name

12 Weasel

13 Bobby who co-founded the Black

Panther Party

18 The “A” of MoMA

24 Wouldn’t hurt ___ 25 Wet gunk

26 Hackneyed

27 Rapper born Shawn Corey Carter

28 Product first released by the

National Biscuit Company in 1912

29 Survey with binoculars, say

32 Informal identification

34 Sister company of ABC

35 Runs, hits or errors, for short

36 Villa d’___ 38 Everything one can do

39 Without cost: Ger.

41 Isn’t at the deadline yet

42 Tabasco and Chihuahua, in México

43 Cool ___ cucumber

46 Game with a “perfect score” of

3,333,360

47 Source of the Trojan horse story

48 Grads 49 Miami golf resort

50 Slave woman in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”

51 “The Murders in the ___ Morgue”

55 Grab 56 “Mm-hmm”

57 Data for airport chauffeurs, for short

60 Richard Gere title role

61 French article

B E A M D I O R J E S S EA L F A E T N A O Z A W AH A R D Y B O Y S S E R I E SS N O C A T X C I A L E E

A L O E A L FH A R P E R V A L L E Y P T AA L I S I L S E E R E DR O S I E L O S D R A N OS H E R R I N A P D E BH A R V A R D G R A D U A T E

T A R I S O NE T T U Q U A T I P T O PL A U G H I N G O U T L O U DK U B L A K E R R U R S AS T A Y S S E R E G E T S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22

23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36

37 38 39

40 41 42 43 44

45 46 47

48 49 50 51

52 53 54 55 56 57

58 59 60 61

62 63 64

65 66 67

CROSSWORD

a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number.Within each collection of cells - called a run - any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once.

Hoy en la Historia��

�� !�� "�� #��$� ��%��&�� !��"�#��$��%��&�#��'(��)��%��*��+��"��&"��!��,��

-��.�&�/��,0��1��&�2�/��,�� 3��,��1��2��#��2&��/��&��&��,�,"��&�

#��'�(�� )�*+,#-!��(./�

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


INTERIOR DESIGNHere are quick answers to some common questions on clutter: Trust your instincts, make a decision and move on.

By Nicole Anzia

As an organiser, I’ve helped clients conquer many challenges. But there are some questions I’m asked over and over again, and the solution is usually the same. Here are quick answers to some common questions:

I don’t like this gift, but I feel guilty giving it away. What should

I do?

If the item was purchased at a store and isn’t incredibly valuable, it is totally okay to donate it or give it to a friend or family member who will enjoy it. The person who gave it to you would not want you to keep things you don’t want and probably will never know that you don’t still have it.

I haven’t worn this sweater for five years, but it has always been

one of my favourites and might come back into style. Should I keep it?

The answer to this one is almost always no. Sure, there is a chance it will be fashionable again, but probably not for a long time. Ask yourself whether it’s worth holding on to it for years “just in case.” It probably isn’t. However, if you’re contemplating whether to keep a few things that are in great condition, fit you and are timeless, it’s okay to keep them. But let’s be honest: Few things fit these criteria, so consider carefully. If you do want to keep a couple of pieces of clothes because they conjure good memories or remind you of a special occasion, go for it, but don’t keep them in your closet if you’re not going to wear them. Instead, store them somewhere else.

What should I do with all my digital photos?

First, make sure they are backed up. Second, do something. Endlessly thinking about what to do is not going to solve the problem. I realise that for many of us, we’re talking about thousands - and sometimes tens of thousands - of photos, but trying to decide on the perfect solution is a losing proposition. While you’re thinking about the best thing to do, more pictures are piling up. It’s better to decide whether you want to print a collection of photos and put them in albums organised by year, make albums online, or simply go through and delete all those unwanted shots. As with all organisational challenges, break the task into manageable pieces, work on it consistently and set a realistic goal for completion.

An old piece of furniture (or art) was passed down to me, but I

don’t want it. What should I do?

Getting rid of art or old pieces of furniture is a process fraught with guilt for many people. It can be difficult to part with something you’ve inherited until you know, with some certainty, whether the item is valuable and whether anyone else in the family wants it. So do some research, and if the answers to those questions are no, give yourself a deadline and make a decision. If you ultimately decide to donate the item, you’ll be relieved and someone else will be happy.

What should I do with my kids’ artwork?

There is not a one-size-fits-all solution to this common question, but waiting until your kids are 18 is definitely not the answer. Neither is keeping everything because your child would be upset if you tossed something. The most important thing is to create a system that works for you. I suggest culling through the stack each week or month. Toss the pieces that are clearly not keepers and put the ones you want to save in a bin labeled with the year and the child’s name. Keep this bin somewhere accessible, but not in your immediate living space. At the end of the year, go through it and decide what to keep for the long term.

Some people choose to take pictures of their favourites to create a calendar or photo book (there are also apps that will do this for you), some frame the best work or give a few pieces to family members, and some just keep the artwork in the box and add to it the following year. Whatever strategy works for you is a good strategy.

Although I get asked these questions frequently, I find that most people already know the answers. So trust your instincts, make a deci-sion and move on.

common questions on clutter5

15

POTPOURRI


If you would like to see a photograph clicked by you published here, mail it to us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to mention your name and where the photo was taken.

Photo of the week Photographer: Mani Unni

A bird eating a fish at Lusail International Sports Club.

HIDDEN GEMS: AL JAMAL RESTAURANT

Tucked away in one of the bylanes of Fereej Bin Mahmoud, this restaurant has made a name in the foodie folklore of Doha. To start with they don’t have a fixed menu and dishes are decided on a daily basis - this

adds to the surprise element. The place is a little dilapidated for a family dinner

outing, but not a problem for real food lovers in search of authentic Pakistani food. Finding the place is a little difficult if you are not familiar with the area as there are lots of road diversions due to metro and other construction works. Use google map for help. Finding a parking in that narrow street is next to impossible, so park on the adjoining road and walk it down.

All that effort won’t go waste when you taste their yummy biriyani. They don’t make biriyani daily but it’s on the menu for sure on every Friday. It’s available on weekdays also, but depends on your luck as menu changes daily.

The must try is their chicken biriyani, which is made in the Pakistani way (in Pakistan also there are many variations depending on who you ask and which province they are from). The aroma gives an idea of what to expect from the first mouthful. The flavours give you a good idea of how sub-continent cuisines use their spices. The meat is tender and well marinated.

The other dishes like chicken haleem, mutton karai and green masoor dal are equally good and delicious.

The carrot halwa to end the meal was average,

so stick to the magic they work up with the spices and meat.

The whole experience leaves you wanting to re-turn the next day to check out what’s on the menu that day.

Contact numbers: 55392292 & 30873754(Compiled by Shammas)

Must try: Chicken Biriyani

Other notables: Chicken haleem (pictured above), mutton karai, green masoor dal Price: Very pocket friendly. Half chicken biriyani. Enough for one, is priced at Qr16.A meal for two will coast around Qr50.

WEEKEND EDITION An offbeat museum in SAN …...2016/08/10 · FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2016 Things to do...

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