D 28 C—38 C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE PUZZLES …

DOHA 28°C—38°C TODAY PUZZLES 12 & 13D LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11L P

Wednesday, October 18, 2017Muharram 28, 1439 AH

CommunityQatari doctor has received special recognition from

the Philippine embassy for her invaluable help to indigent expatriates, including Filipinos.

P6 P16 CommunityPortuguese artist Cristina Albaker’s

exhibition’s opening attracts a large number of diplomats and expatriates.

Toughing Toughing it outit out

ON THE ROAD: Female Kenyan motorcycle taxi operator Faith Khakai was warned she would be cursed, die young, become infertile or would be a bad wife if she took up the job.

COVERSTORY

When a Kenyan woman

took up a man’s job,

people scoff ed. But

she persevered. P4-5

Wednesday, October 18, 20172 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.17amShorooq (sunrise) 5.33amZuhr (noon) 11.19amAsr (afternoon) 2.37pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.06pmIsha (night) 6.36pm

Where there is no vision, there is no hope.

– George Washington Carver

Pullikkaran Stara DIRECTION: SyamdharCAST: Mammootty, Sreeja Das,

Dileesh PothanSYNOPSIS: Rajakumaran is a

talented teacher and also a trainer for other teaching staff . The story takes

a turn when two women from two diff erent generations come across his life and change it for the better or worse.

Pullikkaran Stara, which is directed by Shyamdhar, initially promises an engaging genial comedy but has little

to off er for entertainment as the fi lm progress.

The culprit is a loosely written story and screenplay that fails to appreciate human emotions.

THEATRE: Landmark

Renegades DIRECTION: Steven QualeCAST: Sylvia Hoeks, Ewen Bremner, J.K. SimmonsSYNOPSIS: Renegades is about a team of Navy seals on

assignment in war-torn Europe who discover a treasure of gold at the bottom of a lake – rumoured to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In an eff ort to help the locals, they go rogue and engineer a heist to retrieve the gold and return it

to its rightful owners. But in a deadly turn of events, they are detected by the enemy and left with only 10 hours to carry out their mission. The fi lm stars J K Simmons (Whiplash) and Sullivan Stapleton (300: Rise of an Empire), is Directed by Steven Quale (Final Destination 5 and Into the Storm) and is an original story written by Luc Besson (Taken and Lucy).

THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza

The Mall Cinema (1): Parava (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Mersal (Tamil) 5pm; Mersal (Tamil) 8pm; Mersal (Tamil) 11pm.The Mall Cinema (2): Raju Gari Gadhi 2 (Telugu) 2pm; The Son Of Bigfoot (2D) 4pm; My Pet Dinosaur (2D) 5:45pm; Amityville: The Awakening (2D) 7:30pm; Blade Runner 2049 (2D) 9pm; Blade Runner 2049 (2D) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (3): My Pet Dinosaur (2D) 2:15pm; Renegades (2D) 4pm; The Snowman (2D) 5:45pm; Last Night (Tagalog) 8pm; Leatherface (2D) 10pm; Amityville: The Awakening (2D) 11:45pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Pulikkaran Stara (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Mersal (Tamil) 5:30pm;

Mersal (Tamil) 8:30pm; Mersal (Tamil) 10:45pm.Landmark Cinema (2): My Pet Dinosaur (2D) 2:30pm; My Pet Dinosaur (2D) 4:30pm; My Pet Dinosaur (2D) 6:30pm; Blade Runner 2049 (2D) 8:15pm; Blade Runner 2049 (2D) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (3): The Son Of Bigfoot (2D) 2:15pm; The Son Of Bigfoot (2D) 4pm; Amityville: The Awakening (2D) 5:45pm; Last Night (Tagalog) 7:15pm; Pulikkaran Stara (Malayalam) 9:15pm; Leatherface (2D) 11:45pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): My Pet Dinosaur (2D) 2pm; My

Pet Dinosaur (2D) 3:45pm; My Pet Dinosaur (2D) 5:30pm; Amityville: The Awakening (2D) 7:15pm; Blade Runner 2049 (2D) 9pm; Blade Runner 2049 (2D) 11:30pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Parava (Malayalam) 2pm; Mersal (Tamil) 4:30pm; Mersal (Tamil) 7:30pm; Mersal (Tamil) 10:30pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): The Son Of Bigfoot (2D) 2:30pm; The Foreigner (2D) 4:15pm; Leatherface (2D) 6:15pm; Last Night (Tagalog) 7:45pm; Renegades (2D) 9:45 pm; The Snowman (2D) 11:30pm.Asian Town Cinema: Parava (Malayalam) 5:45, 6:30, 8:30, 9:15, 11pm & 12am; Pulikkaran Stara (Malayalam) 5:45, 8:30 & 11pm; Raju Gari Gadhi 2 (Telugu) 6:30pm.

3Wednesday, October 18, 2017 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

EVENTS

Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign WHERE: Marina Gate 17, The PearlWHEN: TodayTIME: 6pmPink Lady Charters in collaboration with

Doha Drug Store and Qatar Cancer Society are hosting an open boat where you can come for your invisibobble. Show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness with the new invisibobble limited edition ‘Pink Heroes’ in a ponytail or around the wrist. Each invisibobble costs QR25. Complementary tea and biscuits will be provided onboard. For inquiries, please contact 7005-2949.

Still life Drawing WorkshopWHEN: Until TodayWHERE: Katara Art StudioTIME: 6pm - 8pm Cultural Village Foundation-Katara, in

co-operation with 7th Heaven Arts, presents Still life Drawing Workshop, Wooden Colours, males and females, age 16 and above workshop will be conducted in Arabic and English Available seats. There are 10 seats .

Public Speaking ClassesWHERE: Sharq CapitalWHEN: TodayTime: 6:30pm – 9pmDo you fi nd it diffi cult to give a good

presentation? Are you afraid to speak in public? Get trained by experts to be a good speaker! Smedley Toastmasters is conducting a six-session speech-craft programme that teaches new members to speak confi dently. The sessions will include topics such as improving voice quality, using eff ective body language and gestures and sharpening writing skills using rhetorical devices and vivid imagery. For more information, call Lesiley at 6605 3485, Lynn at 3396 2047 or visit www.smedleytoastmasters.org

Once in a LifetimeWHERE: Doha College, Al WaabWHEN: Until tomorrowDr Philip Zimbardo will be at Doha

College, giving a lecture on his careers work, including the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment. The biggest psychology event ever in Qatar: The ASPIRE Growth Mindset Psychology Conference. This is an amazing opportunity for Qatar to have the world’s most famous psychologist in the country. His work precedes him, so much that he had a Hollywood movie made about him. With millions of views on his TED talks and several books and studies taught in colleges and universities around the world, this is an opportunity not to be missed. For further information, please contact [email protected]

Colour Me Mandala WHERE: Al Rayyan Hotel, Mall of QatarWHEN: TomorrowTIME: 8pm-11pmNever painted before? No worries! The

original artist – Mona – will guide you step by step in creating this Arabic inspired beauty. Or follow your own creativity and take this beautiful design home – painted by you! Tickets: Reserve your seats by emailing [email protected] or navigate to: eventbrite.com

Skate Girls of Kabul ExhibitionWHERE: KataraWHEN: Until Oct 20Award winning photographer Jessica

Fulford-Dobson will present her critically-acclaimed series of portraits, Skate Girls of Kabul in her fi rst show in the Middle East. Presented by Qatar Museums, the exhibition will be at the QM Gallery Katara. The portraits tell the extraordinary story

of Afghan girls who took up skateboarding, thanks to Skateistan, an Afghan charity that provides skate parks as a hook to get children from disadvantaged families back into the educational system. The striking images bring to life the hopeful spirit of these young girls that show a new perspective and dimension to skateboarding culture – one that shows strength in the face of adversity.

Beginners Kufi c for WomenWHERE: Museum of Islamic Art,

Education CentreWHEN: Until Oct 29TIME: 5pmThe word ‘Kufi c’ is related to the city of the

same name in Iraq, Kufa, and was developed from Hijazi script. Many Qur’ans are written in Kufi c calligraphy, which is characterised by its bold and vertical letters and comes in several types (for example eastern Kufi c or western Kufi c). Join MIA to learn this early and beautiful script.

Qatar World Superbike Championship 2017

WHERE: Losail Circuit, Losail, DohaWHEN: Nov 2-4TIME: 4pm-5pmThe Losail International Circuit once again

will host the fi nal round of the WorldSBK, the Qatar Round. As previous years, the event will be held at night under the fl oodlight system of the circuit and the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is sure to be an exciting and unpredictable last round. This year the event will be from Thursday to Saturday.

ISC Skipping Rope Open Championship

WHERE: ISC DohaWHEN: Nov 3TIME: 3:30pm - 6:30pmIndian Sports Centre under the patronage

of the Embassy of India is organising Skipping Rope Open Championship. The Speed Hop Competition and Speed Endurance Competition has the following categories: adults (Men & Women), and Under-19 and Under-13 (boys and girls). The competition is open to the Indian community and registration is free

Kids CompetitionWHERE: TCA QatarWHEN: Nov 3TCA Qatar is back with another

competition. It is open to all students and will be held on the 3rd of November. The competitions involve: Rubix Cube 3X3, Abacus, Handwriting (Calligraphy), Quick Math, Drawing and Painting. For more details, please call 6652-3871, 3132-6749, or 4437-3259.

Imperial Threads: Motifs and ArtisansWHERE: Museum of Islamic ArtWHEN: Until November 4This exhibition focuses on the exchange

of artistic and material cultures between the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires. Highlighting MIA’s masterpiece carpets, among other artworks, from Turkey, Iran and India, these objects will be contextualised within the historical circumstances of politics and artistic production of their time, primarily from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Cultural Diversity FestivalWHEN: Until Nov 11WHERE: KataraTIME: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pmCultural Village Foundation-Katara in

co-operation with UNESCO Offi ce in Doha is hosting a Cultural Diversity Festival on its premises until November 11.

Evolution Sports QatarWHERE: Evolution SportsWHEN: OngoingEvolution Sports will mark its anniversary

by hosting a number of exciting events throughout 2017 as well as some amazing promotions, ten years on from when the club was formed on September 1, 2007. The club has been working with a panel of coaches and directors to plan the events which will

be announced over the coming months. Members should look forward to a variety of diff erent occasions, suitable for all ages so the whole family can get involved in the birthday celebrations. To kick-off things off , Evolution Sports recently launched their 10-year anniversary logo. The emblem has been designed by Toyan Greaves, the man behind the original Evolution Sports logo and will be used on all documentation, both online and offl ine for the next 12 months.

Train like a superhero WHERE: Aspire ZoneWHEN: OngoingKids Classes Now Open! Train like a

superhero at CrossFit Doha! CrossFit holds a variety of disciplines from weightlifting to calisthenics to gymnastics. This will help your kids excel in sports & retain the healthy & fi t lifestyle! Support your kids’ natural urge for physical activities & train like a superhero, at CrossFit Doha’s in demand Kids Classes today! CrossFit Doha is located at Aspire Zone Sports City. For more information, call 44138484.

Breakdance ClassesWHEN: Sun-WedBreakdancing is part of the Hip Hop culture

that originated in New York and has since spread all over the world. Breakdancing is an athletic and acrobatic style of dancing, which can often appear to defy the laws of physics. This extreme dance-sport uses tremendous upper-body strength for tricks and poses and a great way to get into shape and have fun. Register now by calling 33003839 or e-mail [email protected]

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

The bread earner Faith Khakai is proud that she can put food on the table and pay the cost of her children’s

schooling so that they can get a better education than she did, writes Robyn Dixon

DETERMINED: “I didn’t even feel frightened because I was determined to do it. I loved riding,” Faith Khakai says. “I want to do something that is not done by many women.”

When Faith Khakai started up work as a motorcycle taxi driver in the Kenyan

capital, Nairobi, it scandalised her neighbours.

“They say, ‘Women are weak,’” she recalled. “They say, ‘There are things that men can do but women can’t.’”

People warned her she would become infertile. Men whispered sinister warnings to her husband.

“The neighbours say I could be

cursed and have an accident,” she said. “There were some who even told my husband that now that he has allowed me to ride a bike, I will befriend other men and I will not be a good wife.”

The motorcycle taxis that zip passengers through the city’s choking traffi c are widely loathed for their daredevil antics. They weave through small gaps, cut off drivers and buzz through traffi c jams. Known as boda bodas, they have some of the highest motor fatality rates.

It is considered a man’s job, attractive to unemployed young men who have few other means to make a living. Established drivers told Khakai that she would have to be crazy, foolish or desperate to take it on.

She may not have been crazy or foolish, but, with four children to support, she was desperate. The money her husband earned as a motorcycle courier was not enough to support the family.

She had her fi rst child at age 12 and had to drop out of school. She later married the father.

Living in Kibera, a slum outside Nairobi, she settled on the job for the same reason most men do: It is something an unskilled person can easily learn in a sector that is not regulated.

“I just thought because I didn’t have a good education, the only job that I could do was to ride a motorcycle,” she said.

She knows the neighbourhood gossips would like to see her fail. “If what I’m doing is helping myself, it’s no help to people who like to talk about me,” she said.

Khakai, a quiet, serious woman who wears her hair in dreadlocks tied under a bandanna, is proud that she can put food on the table and pay the cost of her children’s schooling so that they can get a better education than she did. But when she thinks of her parents in a rural village in the west of Kenya, those good feelings shrivel.

If they knew she worked as a boda boda driver, they would be ashamed. She can’t bring herself to tell them. “They would never accept it. … It’s against our culture


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

for a lady to ride a motorcycle,” she said. Her family belongs to Kenya’s second-largest tribe, the Luhya.

“The Luhya culture is very strict. We are not even allowed to wear trousers as women,” she said.

Nor did her husband approve of her decision. “He told me it wasn’t safe for women because there are no other female boda boda drivers in the whole city.”

It took her eight months, but she fi nally persuaded him, and he agreed to pay for her motorcycle lessons. She fell off more than once.

“I didn’t even feel frightened because I was determined to do it. I loved riding,” she said. “I want to do something that is not done by many women.”

Her fi rst two months, she steered clear of Nairobi and its perilous traffi c and worked the crowded dirt alleys of Kibera.

“There are so many people in those small alleys. Learning how to manoeuvre along alleys taught me how to manoeuvre through the traffi c in Nairobi,” she said.

She makes nearly $8 a day, exceeding the minimum wage of $132 a month.

Each morning, Khakai stands in the throng of boda boda drivers on a street corner in Kibera waiting for her fi rst ride. Sometimes her competitors tell her about their injuries and accidents, to put her off .

Harassment goes with the turf. Some customers refuse to pay and accuse her of being a prostitute. Frequently, passengers touch her inappropriately.

“Usually they do that when you are on the highway. When I complain, they say, ‘No, it is your work.’ I just persevere. You just take him to his destination. Then you know it’s over.”

Many Kenyans see boda boda drivers as reckless and dangerous.

“Boda bodas are fl ies fl itting over the carcass of our rotting city,” Daily Nation columnist Mutuma Mathiu wrote in May. “They are also ridden by people who have no idea how to use a public thoroughfare and are clearly not socialised for peaceful coexistence.”

In 2016, the National Traffi c Safety Authority passed regulations that boda boda drivers must carry

two refl ector jackets and two yellow helmets. The regulations were ignored. A year ago, then-Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero banned boda boda operators from downtown Nairobi, a law they also disregarded.

Khakai knows the risks are high. Amend, a nongovernmental organisation focused on improving road safety in Africa, surveyed

motorcycle drivers in Thika, near Nairobi, in 2014 and found that 38 percent of drivers had experienced a crash in the previous three months. Of those, 62 percent were injured. Only 4 percent were wearing helmets and only 8 percent reported the accident to police.

Khakai believes the real reason for the high casualty rate is that drivers neither like nor respect boda

boda drivers. But she has a theory: If drivers see she is a woman, surely they will treat her more carefully. On this fragile logic, she carries a helmet but never wears it.

“I know it’s risky. But at least when I go without a helmet, people don’t see me as a boda boda rider. I want them to see me as a woman so at least they can give me some respect.” — Los Angeles Times/TNS

The motorcycle taxis that zip passengers through the city’s choking traffic are widely loathed for their daredevil antics. They weave through small gaps, cut off drivers and buzz through traffic jams. Known as boda bodas, they have some of the highest motor fatality rates

“Boda bodas are flies flitting over the carcass of our rotting city,” Daily Nation columnist Mutuma Mathiu wrote in May. “They are also ridden by people who have no idea how to use a public thoroughfare and are clearly not socialised for peaceful coexistence”


COMMUNITY

Philippine embassy honours Qatari physician

“She has helped and has been exerting a lot of extra efforts to continuously help Filipinos, including those who need to undergo regular medication at the hospital,” Labour Attaché David Des Dicang

CEREMONY: Dr Hanadi al-Hamad, third from left, receives her award from labour secretary Silvestre Bello III, second from left, and Philippine ambassador Alan Timbayan, first from left. Photo by the author

Dr Hanadi al-Hamad has received special recognition for her invaluable

help to indigent expatriates, including Filipinos. By Joey Aguilar

The Philippine embassy in Doha has awarded a senior Qatari physician at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Rumailah Hospital for her invaluable help

to indigent expatriates, including Filipinos, who have no families in the country.

Dr Hanadi al-Hamad, board-certifi ed senior consultant in Internal Medicine specialising in Geriatrics at HMC, received a special recognition from the embassy and Philippine Overseas Labour Offi ce (POLO) senior offi cials at a ceremony in Doha on Monday.

Labour Attaché David Des Dicang said despite Dr al-Hamad’s busy schedule, she has been very active in the Repatriation Committee of Rumailah Hospital, providing the necessary assistance to non-Qatari patients (medically and non-medically stable patients).

“She has helped and has been exerting a lot of extra eff orts to continuously help Filipinos, including those who need to undergo regular medication at the hospital,” he noted. “She has been doing this beyond

her [offi cial] time and schedule.”The awarding ceremony is among

the highlights of a Filipino Community Assembly in Doha with the Philippine delegation to Qatar, led by labour secretary Silvestre H Bello III.

Secretary Bello, who was joined by congressman Aniceto R Bertiz III, labour undersecretary Ciriaco A Lagunzad III and Overseas Workers Welfare administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, met earlier with HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi to discuss

a number of issues and developments of mutual interest.

Dicang noted that secretary Bello’s visit to Qatar was upon the invitation of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs, which was very timely “given new developments in addressing the concerns of our migrant workers”.

Secretary Bello also met with Filipino community representatives and commended them for their eff orts in the service of fellow expatriates and in nation building, according to the labour attaché.

United Filipino Organisation in Qatar chairman Henry Dimaano echoed this

statement, saying Filipino expatriates in Doha are grateful to be given the opportunity to voice their concerns to the Philippine government through Bello and his delegation.

“We are hopeful that this dialogue will pave the way for prompt resolution of those issues and lead to better appreciation of the Philippine government of the immediate needs and requests of our Kababayans,” he said.

Some of the concerns and requests raised at the community event include assistance for acquiring new computers for POLO-OWWA’s computer literacy programme, which has so far benefi ted 6,000 Filipino expatriates, and a permanent lawyer and translators at POLO who would be readily accessible to attend to the needs of the offi ce and the nationals.

Some suggested that the partnership between POLO and the Filipino community be intensifi ed in holding regular or mandatory fi nancial literacy programme (such as Family and Income Management Course) for Filipino expatriates.


COMMUNITY

InterContinenal Doha brings Gemmayze to townI

nspired by the illustrious area in Beirut, InterContinental Doha debuts a brand new Lebanese restaurant, Gemmayze, which is all

set to elevate Qatar’s dining and entertainment scenes to the next level. This new restaurant off ers diners an authentic Lebanese dining experience topped with sensational live music entertainment by renowned artists amidst a trendy setting befi tting its name.

Offi ciated by Lebanese ambassador Hasan Najem, alongside Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamad al-Thani, the hotel’s owner, Andreas Pfi ster, Director of Operations for IHG Northern Gulf and General Manager of InterContinental Doha, Andreas Petrides, General Manager of Gulf Hotels Company, and Cyril Mouawad, Resident Manager of InterContinental Doha, the grand opening of Gemmayze was a glitzy one with VIPs, distinguished guests, and media gracing the event. Guests enjoyed a great selection of Lebanese specialties prepared by Executive Chef Talal Aridi and his team of master chefs, paired with soulful performance by Joseph Nemnom, a renowned musician from Lebanon.

The new restaurant promises

diners an exquisite a la carte menu showcasing a wide variety of cold and hot mezzeh, signature kebbeh and kebbeh nayeh, mixed grilled platter, fresh seafood, and irresistible sweets – from the

quintessential kunafeh to creative ice cream made with a twist, along with an extensive beverage list. Come weekend, get ready for some of the freshest pastries and saj bread baked from the

restaurant’s in-house oven, served with traditional cheeses, eggs, and sweets.

Aside from the extensive a la carte menu boasting Lebanese signatures and favourites, the three

set menus off ered will guarantee a hearty meal with family and friends. Each set menu features a great selection of cold and hot mezzah, succulent grilled items, and deserts.

“Food has always been a big part of Lebanese culture; where dining is a social aff air over great food and company. In Gemmayze, we source and use only the freshest premium ingredients for all our dishes on the menu to provide everyone with an indulgent dining experience – be it for a family gathering, or a get-together with friends,” said Talal Aridi, Executive Chef of InterContinental Doha.

“We are very pleased to bring a piece of Beirut to Doha, where our guests can immerse in the artistic vibes of Gemmayze. Every aspect of this new restaurant – from the specially curated menu, to the interiors and entertainment line-up off er diners an impeccable Lebanese dining experience. This new restaurant is the 12th food and beverage venue in our hotel, and is defi nitely one that is enhancing Qatar’s booming dining and entertainment scenes. Also, look forward to introducing a brand new, eclectic food and beverage concept in our hotel beginning of 2018,” says Cyril Mouawad, Resident Manager of InterContinental Doha.

MESCEQ gets new off ice bearersThe alumni association of the MES College of Engineering, Kuttippuram, Kerala in Qatar (MESCEQ) has elected new off ice bearers for 2017-2019. Seen here are the association chairman Zaheer Abbas, first row, centre; alongside Fenzeer Mohammed, treasurer, first row, third from left; secretary Thaha Mahamood, first row second from left; and other off ice-bearers.

RIBBON CUTTING: The grand opening of Gemmayze was a glitzy one with VIPs, distinguished guests, and media gracing the event.


COMMUNITY

Three coff ees crafted for flavour harmony

VARIETY: The new menu includes all types of cold and hot mezza and appetisers, a wide selection of salads and grills. NOW OPEN: Al Nafourah Garden at Oryx Rotana.

Pairing the fi nest quality coff ee with smooth milk is a fl avour harmony that has long transfi xed professional baristas. Now, Nespresso is bringing this

sensation to the home with three new limited edition coff ees, two of which have been especially created to be prepared with milk. Whether you indulge in a creamy cappuccino, a full-bodied espresso macchiato or an extra intense ristretto, there is a BARISTA limited edition coff ee to satisfy your senses and allow you to bring the coff ee bar straight to your kitchen, says Nespresso.

Inspired by a barista’s craftsmanship to perfectly harmonise the complex fl avours in coff ee and mastering milk preparation, Nespresso undertook multiple sensory tests to defi ne the exact levels of roasting and the ideal coff ee grinding techniques to create the BARISTA limited editions. Karsten Ranitzsch, Head of Coff ee at Nespresso, explained, “From the many discussions with our consumers we have understood that a great coff ee in black does not necessarily become an equally great coff ee in white. Like the best baristas in the world, we have used our understanding and knowledge about

coff ee and paired it with the understanding that our consumers who love coff ee with milk are looking for ideal bitterness, acidity, body, fl avours and aromas in their cup. We are proud to have created three diff erent Limited Edition coff ees, which are specifi cally developed for those who like their Nespresso white, such as an Espresso Macchiato.”

The BARISTA limited edition coff ees are set to delight any coff ee lover with three tempting options:

BARISTA Chiaro for a CappuccinoThe coff ee has been specially crafted by

the Nespresso experts to prepare a sweet, indulgent cappuccino with a smooth creamy taste, roundness and exceptionally delicate biscuit notes. It is a medium-to-dark roasted blend of Intensity 5 when black, that becomes exceptionally smooth and round when combined with milk. It is best enjoyed 25ml coff ee topped with 60ml milk froth.

BARISTA Scuro for an Espresso Macchiato

The Scuro has been created for an intense, fl avourful and full-

bodied coff ee fi nished with a gentle touch of milk foam. It has a medium-to-dark roasted blend of Intensity 8 when black, that keeps its strong character when combined with milk. It is best enjoyed as 40ml Espresso with two spoons of milk foam to retain the strong coff ee character.

BARISTA Corto The BARISTA Corto blend has been

masterfully blended to give the coff ee an extra intense taste with a thick syrupy texture and a dark marbled crema. It is dark-roasted blend with intensity 11. It is best enjoyed as a 25ml black Ristretto.

Nespresso promises that the BARISTA limited edition coff ees are set to delight any coff ee lover.

Oryx Rotana opens Al Nafourah GardenO

ryx Rotana recently hosted a celebratory dinner to mark the completion of renovation works

of its “Al Nafourah Garden” and its new creative menu. The event was attended by Oryx Rotana General Manager Mark Timbrell, top management executives, local media, bloggers and social media infl uencers.

The new renovation consists of a new design, a new kitchen, elegant decor and an innovative menu, all of which will defi nitely meet the expectations of guests and travellers alike. In addition, a special covered area called the ‘pergola’ has been set up at Al Nafourah Garden to accommodate guests looking to enjoy the provided services throughout the year in a special ambiance.

The new menu was introduced during the event, including all types of cold and hot mezza and appetisers, a wide selection of salads and grills. In addition to this, the menu off ers a comprehensive collection of main courses, a variety assortment of desserts and hot/cold beverages.

For the business executives, a special set business lunch menu has been introduced.

The dinner menu is available from

6pm till 2am, off ering extensive choices for friends and relatives to gather during the evening.

Mark Timbrell, General Manager at Oryx Rotana, said, “I am happy today to see the renowned Al Nafourah Garden once again ready to welcome guests and visitors after the extensive renovation. We are delighted with the new design which gives a wonderful ambiance under the stars and has also

created special seated areas under hardwood Gazebos that are great for private gatherings.

“We have worked hard to make improvements on Al Nafourah Garden, and these changes allow us to serve our guests all year round in the Pergola. Al Nafourah Garden is a perfect combination of great Arabic food, outdoor seating and more all the Champion’s League matches are broadcast during the season.”


COMMUNITY

Ethiopian and Iranian artists dazzle Katara’s visitors

CULTURAL PERFORMANCE: Ethiopian troupe “Ethiocolor” during its performance.

SOPHISTICATED: The Iranian troupe performed on a medley of traditional Persian music.

ATTENDANCE: A large number of people attended the cultural performances.

Ethiopian and Iranian artists performed at the Cultural Diversity Festival at the Cultural Village Foundation-

Katara recently. The festival was organised by Katara in association with the Unesco offi ce in Doha on October 15 and 16.

Katara’s Amphitheatre staged folk dances performed by an Ethiopian troupe, titled “Ethiocolor”. The band amused the audiences through the various instruments used, including fl utes, traditional drums, and Ethiopian instrument Masenqo. The band is uniquely characterised by the common priority to represent the traditional styles in an accurate, lively and new way, as well as to spread their music all over the world. The Ethiopian troupe is led by traditional dancer Melaku Belay.

On behalf of the group, Belay said, “Our goal is not just to assemble the best traditional musicians and create another folk

ensemble. Our unique vision is to demonstrate that the immense musical heritage of Ethiopia can be performed with a great degree of creativity while still maintaining its cultural identity.”

Following the Ethiopian performance, an Iranian folklore ensemble named “Leymer Folk Music and Dance Group of Bushehr” took centre-stage and performed on a medley of traditional Persian music. The performances entailed various categories that tend to vary in accordance to the area, culture, language, and can range from sophisticated reconstructions of refi ned court dances to energetic folk dances. Each group, region, and historical epoch has specifi c performance styles associated with them.

The ongoing festival will feature other traditional performances by troupes from South Africa and Hungary, today and tomorrow, respectively.


COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITYLIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

If you’re single, you might long for a partner today. If you’re attached,

you might think of making your commitment more permanent. If

you’re married, children might be on your mind. Whatever your

situation, and whatever it is you’re searching for now, look your best

when encountering current or potential partners. You’ll probably get

the response you want!

A forthcoming social event that you’re planning to host in your

home could inspire some minor redecorating today. You might

decide to repaint or add some new plants or pictures. Your aesthetic

sense is good, so don’t put it off . Do it while your imagination is

flowing freely. You’ll be very happy with the results, and they won’t

be lost on your guests!

Today’s energies will bring good fortune and success. New

opportunities to increase status and income could come your way.

You could make some new friends at the same time, including

someone older than you who could be a potential partner. This

should prove to be a fortunate day for you, from friendship to

education to business.

Don’t be surprised if you feel a powerful aff ection for someone

you’ve met at work. This could be a friendly aff ection or it could be

stronger than that. If the latter, it might not be a good idea to express

this emotion overtly. The feeling could pass as quickly as it came, or

the person might be unavailable. Be discreet!

Have you been thinking about adopting a pet? If so, today is a

great day to go to the shelter and rescue one. You’ll know which

one to choose, as the animal will probably choose you! If this is

what you want, don’t let minor objections get in the way. A pet

can be a wonderful source of companionship, entertainment, and

unconditional love.

A very loving message could come to you from a woman, possibly

your mother. If this is a letter, it may go on for several pages. If

it’s a phone call, the conversation could last for a long time. Try

to schedule some free time during the day. Whoever this person

is, this contact is going to make a very positive diff erence in your

relationship.

Today your imagination should be flowing freely. You could channel

this into creative work, or you could come up with some ingenious

ways to advance your business interests. The next few days could

find your mind in overdrive and working on whatever ideas you

come up with today. Write them down. You’ll want to remember

them all.

A powerful feeling of love for someone from far away could

strike you today. This might be someone you’re involved with

professionally. If this is a romantic attraction, the person probably

reciprocates your feelings though is too reserved to express them.

Don’t push. Let things develop as they will. The relationship might

prove to be lasting if you’re careful!

Someone you love dearly could provide inspiration for creative

activity of some kind. You might write a song or poem about your

friend, draw or paint a portrait, or cook a special meal. Don’t hesitate

out of shyness or embarrassment. Your friend will be touched.

Your eff orts will be appreciated and contribute a great deal to the

permanence of your friendship.

A small sum of money could come today, possibly through the

eff orts of a woman. You may have been waiting for this for a long

time, so expect to feel relieved. You may have some definite plans for

the money. Perhaps it’s meant for a specific purpose, or maybe you’ll

invest it. Whichever it is, you’ll want to celebrate.

Today you could meet with an acquaintance that you know through

a group. By the end of the day, this person could turn from casual

acquaintance to firm friend. You’ll find that this friend is not only

a warm and kindhearted person but also that your backgrounds

and interests dovetail closely. The only caution is that this person is

tough where business is concerned!

Love may be on your mind. If you aren’t currently involved, you

might be attracted to someone you know through business, so a

little caution is advised. Suggest a professional lunch or dinner and

then see where it goes. You might not achieve in life what you want

today, but you could create new potential for tomorrow!

Doing the laundry is no longer relegated to dark, musty basements where no one cares to go. Thanks to modern

technology, great design and access to innovative ideas online, laundry rooms have moved upstairs and come into their own. In fact, laundry rooms today are right up there with dream kitchens and dream bathrooms – and the more style, function and “wow factor,” the better.

Below are four ways expert recommends to ramp up the wow factor, function and allure of your laundry room:

High-tech appliancesWhen looking for washers

and dryers today, there are more features than you can imagine. You should consider your needs and desires before starting your search – and we’re talking about more than gas or electric, front- or top-loading, colour, budget and space parameters. Today’s “smart” appliances off er custom wash cycles, wrinkle removal, steam cleaning, less noise, delayed start times, moisture sensors with allergen and sanitise cycles and

more. There’s even a machine that washes two separate loads with diff erent setting options at the same time. And nearly every machine today is Energy Star-certifi ed for energy effi ciency.

Loads of style Laundry rooms today can be

decorated to complement other rooms in your home – and some website off er loads of pictures

online to spark your creativity. Laundry rooms can be country French to modern, whimsical to multifunctional – and it’s not unusual to see them in bold or soothing colours, with comfy chairs, statement lighting, fl at-screen TVs and docking stations to play music or charge tablets and phones. They also can include windows to let in natural light. If you think white and stainless are

your only colour options, think again. They can be turquoise, burnt orange, glacial blue, fi re engine red, kelly green and even black stainless.

Function galoreWashing and drying are only

part of doing the laundry. There’s sorting, folding, hanging and ironing – and each of those steps needs its own space, supplies and

storage. Baskets for sorting and carrying laundry can be wicker, plastic or wood and stored for all to see or out of sight. Counters for folding can be granite, marble, quartz, butcher block or laminate, and many people put them over their washers and dryers as well as around the room. Drying racks made of ladders or upcycled cribs can be creative and functional. Ironing boards can be stand-alone, foldable and stored in cabinets or retractable and out of sight. Washers and dryers can be big or small, stacked or all in one – and even put on pedestals.

High-performance drywallWhen laundry was relegated to

the basement, part of the dread of doing laundry was the thought of being surrounded by dampness, mould and mildew – sometimes from washing machine water hose failure causing mould to grow within the wall cavity. Because your washer and dryer introduce water, moisture and heat into the room, it’s important to use drywall with extra protection for your laundry room walls and ceilings.

© Brandpoint

Upping your laundry room’s wow factor


COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

BANGLE BUNGLE DANGLE DINGLE DONGLE JANGLE JINGLE

JUNGLE MANGLE MINGLE QUADRANGLE SHINGLE SINGLE SPANGLE

TANGLE TINGLE TRIANGLE WANGLE WRANGLE

Jingle Jangle

Sudoku

Sudoku is a puzzle based

on a 9x9 grid. The grid is

also divided into nine (3x3)

boxes. You are given a

selection of values and to

complete the puzzle, you

must fill the grid so that

every column, every anone

is repeated.


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS1. People keep score without

using pen and paper (8)

5. Do, when the dog follows, go

along with (6)

9. Hint the occupant should

have backed it in (8)

10. The local lay-about came

back for the game (6)

12. I left the terrain to go off

wandering (6)

13. Composing a potential hit

song about love (8)

15. Desire to get ahead that

doesn’t last? (7,5)

18. In civvies again, but not

working (3,2,7)

23. To be brief, get the homes

into shape (8)

24. In one piece? Can’t make it

out! (6)

26. Wood is the fellow in the car

(6)

27. For the soil, a boy brought in

dressing (5,3)

28. Take in a magazine (6)

29. Goes across with the

beginners (8)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

ACROSS: 1 Buffaloes 6 Medoc 9 Corny 10 Stratagem 11 Small print 12 Oslo 14 Preside 15 Stiffen 17 Actions 19 Regales 20 Olga 22 Paid a visit 25 Panatella 26 Never 27 Rusty 28 Treasured.

DOWN: 1 Bucks 2 Firmament 3 Any Old Iron 4 Observe 5 Strings 6 Mate 7 Degas 8 Compounds 13 Misgivings 14 Pea souper 16 Fall’s over 18 Shallot 19 Radiate 21 Genus 23 Tired 24 Stay.

DOWN1. The girl brings back the

editor in chief (6)

2. Kind of tea-urn that’s gone

wrong (6)

3. The soldiers in the song are

from the old country (7)

4. The former is no longer with

us (4)

6. Dance to the notes played on

the record (7)

7. He expects people to provide

him with food (8)

8. Was no longer in occupation

(8)

11. Wink at the bloke outside the

pub, standing up (7)

14. Run across a wretched

passer-by, Eastern (7)

16. Granted it was an argument

against and gave in (8)

17. And smart about having

prestige (8)

19. Approaches one finds

touching (7)

20. Hold on! I can’t break out! (7)

21. It’s spring, but only for a

while! (6)

22. Follows the game, with the

supporters (6)

25. Speak up, love, if you want

pudding! (4)


COMMUNITY CINEMA

By Gautaman Bhaskaran

Today, we in India are blinded by the glitz and glamour of movie stars. So blinded are we that we not only place a halo over their heads, but also worship them. Yes, literally, by

building temples for actors, by celebrating their fi lm releases by garlanding the huge wooden cutouts of them and anointing them with milk and honey. Such adulation, nay worship, goes into the heads of many stars, and they begin to feel that they are above the law, above everything else – and they can do no wrong!. But they do, and thanks to saner thinking, they also get caught and punished.

I was saddened to hear that Tamil actor Santhanam – who is all set to cross the line between comedy (read buff oonery) and meaningful portrayals with his upcoming Server Sundaram, where he plays the hero (after years of being the heroes sidekick, silly and stupid) – had to get an anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court after he got into a fi ght

with a builder over a land deal gone wrong. I really do not want to go into the merits and

demerits of the case, but will confi ne myself to saying that this was real bad publicity for Santhanam, particularly on the eve of what I feel can be a landmark in his career. Server Sundaram can be seen as a tribute to one of Tamil cinema’s most original comedians, Nagesh, whose role as a restaurant waiter (who later fulfi ls his dream of being a fi lm star, a dream for which he has to pay a heavy price) was critically acclaimed. Nagesh’s Server Sundaram, which hit the theatrical circle in 1964, proved to be a breaking point for the comedian and also its director, K. Balachander, who went on to make socially punchy cinema. It is quite possible that history will repeat itself with Santhanam.

Unfortunately, the brawl between the realtor and Santhanam could not have come at a more inappropriate time. But Santhanam is not alone. There are other actors who have also been getting into a scrap.

Some days ago, Tamil actor Jai (with fi lms like Idhu Namma Aalu and Enakku Vaaitha Adimaigal) was caught by the Chennai Traffi c

Police driving in an inebriated state and crashing into a road divider. He was asked to appear before a magistrate. When he failed to do so, he was issued a non-bailable warrant. Jai then came to court, but was let off with a light fi ne of Rs5,000 and a six-month suspension of his driving licence.

Going by media reports, the police were seemingly unhappy with this light penalty, because they had informed the court that this was the second time Jai was caught driving in a drunken state!

Well, a court order is a court order, and one must respect it. But I am afraid that in a country where rash and drunk driving has become the norm with many, it is time stricter punishment is meted out. This can be suspension of a driving licence for a longer period if the person concerned has been a habitual off ender – or even complete cancellation. Certainly, fi nes should be steeper. Imagine driving a vehicle that costs lakhs of rupees but getting away by paying something paltry and for a crime like drunken driving that can kill or maim innocent people.

Here one is tempted to believe that Jai’s star power helped him escape a stiff er punishment, and this only vindicates my stand that actors in India carry such a dazzling halo around them that the society at large is driven to assume that these men can do nothing wrong. And when they do, they seem to get away – sometimes scot free, sometimes with a penalty that is not commensurate with their crime.

We saw this in the case of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who avoided prosecution for years after he had reportedly run his vehicle over sleeping pavement dwellers in Mumbai and even got out, if I am right, without being convicted. We have also seen this in the case of

Admiral Nanda’s grandson, Sanjeev, who was also under the infl uence of drink when he ran his BMW car over six people, including three policemen. He also got a light punishment.

There have been other such unsavoury incidents. Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan roughed up a security guard at the Wankhade Stadium, and the actor was debarred from entering it for a long time. He did not face any criminal charges, which you and I could have been subjected to.

Saif Ali Khan, whose fantastic performance in Omkara (Vishal Bharadwaj’s novel adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, which the helmer set in the badlands of India’s Uttar Pradesh) had me fl oored, was accused of not only killing a blackbuck, a dear held sacred by Rajasthan’s Bishnoi community and protected under India’s Wildlife Act, but also bashing up an elderly man and his son in a Mumbai restaurant. The two had asked Khan and his friends to tone down their boisterous behaviour, and this led to an altercation and physical violence.

It is regrettable that the real and the reel world have become blurred for some of India’s most popular stars. They appear to forget that a movie location is very diff erent from the space outside they have to step into once they have packed up for the day.

But what is really alarming is that in nation like India where the young and impressionable have really no great men or women to look up to, fi lm stars end up being role models. I have heard young children – barely into their teens – describe actors or actresses as their heroes or heroines, nay their role models. And the kids want to emulate these stars.

Now, imagine this! We have an Amitabh Chalisa! An Arrah-based advocate, Sharad Kumar Singh, has scripted the Amitabh Chalisa – a 40 verse compilation glorifying Bachchan. I have nothing more to add!

Gautaman Bhaskaran has been writing on Indian and world cinema for close to four decades, and may be

e-mailed at [email protected]

Blinded by misdemeanours of movie men in a glitzy world

It is regrettable that the real and the reel world have become blurred for some of India’s most popular stars. They appear to forget that a movie location is very diff erent from the space outside they have to step into once they have packed up for the day

BRAWLER: Tamil actor Santhanam obtained bail from the Madras High Court for having a brawl with a builder.

BROUGHT TO BOOK: Tamil comedy star Jai was penalised for driving while being drunk.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYHOLLYWOOD

Like characters in an old blues song, horror and I met at a crossroads decades ago. I went one way, horror another, and

lately, I’ve been trying to fi gure out why.

It’s not just the deaths of two of modern horror’s founding fathers, George Romero of Night of the Living Dead and Tobe Hooper of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” that got me thinking. Though, that played a part.

Equally crucial is the way horror fi nds itself positioned at this moment as the genre of choice for audiences as well as critics, the sensibility that is front and centre in keeping the movie business afl oat.

Just to cite the most recent statistics, Stephen King’s It crushed a September record with a phenomenal opening-week take of more than $123 million and has made more than $604 million worldwide after fi ve weeks in theatres, while Annabelle: Creation,

the latest fi lm in The Conjuring franchise, a series I’d barely heard of, put the combined worldwide gross for the cycle at more than $1 billion.

As far as the critical establishment is concerned, a surprising number of reviewers are more likely to be over the moon about a new horror movie than to applaud mainstream Oscar-type heavyweights.

As critic Nick Pinkerton perceptively wrote in a recent issue of the British journal Sight & Sound, “The genre fi lm isn’t just competing with the prestige fi lm for accolades now, but is actually becoming the prestige fi lm.”

Despite all this, horror is a genre I never review and scrupulously avoid even watching. You could count on the fi ngers of baseball legend Mordecai Three Finger Brown how many horror or similarly scary fi lms I’ve taken in over the past years. Even Tomas Alfredson’s fi ne

Swedish vampire picture Let the Right One In, which purists would say is too tame to even count, was almost too much for me.

I was not always this way. I admire early horror masters like Lon Chaney, whose unmasking in the original Phantom of the Opera is one of the great moments in silent cinema, and I spent considerable time interviewing David F. Friedman, the genial impresario who produced two early fi lms by splatter pioneer Herschell Gordon Lewis, the aptly named Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs.

And as Romero’s death reminded me, I was actually an early partisan of Night of the Living Dead. In fact, while Variety called it “an unrelieved orgy of sadism,” I reviewed the movie positively for the Washington Post when it opened in the nation’s capital.

I have vivid memories of watching that fi lm alone at a screening in the District’s cavernous Circle Theatre on a warm afternoon

and being “so completely in its grip,” as I wrote in my review, “that it’s shocking to walk out of the theatre and discover people walking around as if nothing special had happened.”

“You get what you pay for in The Night of the Living Dead,” I concluded, “a horror fi lm that has the power to literally horrify. How sweet it is.”

But rather than go from strength to strength and become part of the vanguard of America’s love aff air with horror, I went resolutely in the opposite direction. Did I change, or did horror change? The answer, I think, is both.

For one thing, starting perhaps with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, horror and fright fi lms started literally and fi guratively, relentlessly and unapologetically, going for the jugular with audiences in ways I simply had no interest in.

In glimpses I got in trailers and descriptions I read in reviews, it was clear that fi lmmakers were

increasingly taking an all but sadistic approach to their work, delighting in outdoing one another in how much discomfort and even torture they could infl ict on ever-willing audiences.

Though it is distinctly a minority position, I fi nd myself more and more in agreement with an offi cial of the British Board of Film Classifi cation who was quoted in a Hooper obituary. When he said of Chain Saw that it was traffi cking in “the pornography of terror,” I know what he meant.

Partisans of the genre, obviously, see things diff erent.

Sometimes they even propose that scaring people has little to do with what’s going on on-screen. As a recent Chain Saw appreciation in the New York Times by Jason Zinoman posited, “What really distinguishes it is not its brutality and ruthlessness, but it’s stunningly realised aesthetic.”

Speaking for myself, I am simply unable, for a variety of reasons, to see things that way.

To be a critic, someone once said, is to have the capacity to take what you review personally. One reason I can function in the job, why I am able to take in all the fi lms I do and still react with passion and interest to each and every one, is that I am strongly susceptible, even vulnerable, to the images on the screen; they go in deep with me.

So on the most basic level, the horror on the screen feels real to me. I can’t get to the place where it’s all aestheticised into an art object. That’s not one of my options. I can’t get past the surface horrors — they scare me too much in the middle of the night, and I don’t enjoy the sensation.

Even more personally, as the son of a father whose entire family died in the Holocaust, I’ve always felt that the world itself was both frightened and frightening enough for me.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become increasingly aware of the unavoidable pain and suff ering all around (how could I not?), and that in turn has made me increasingly squeamish about how many reminders of how scary things can get I’m willing to subject myself to on-screen. Where’s the entertainment in that?

For some people, presumably, watching horror serves as a roller coaster-type distraction from that reality, a challenge to be mastered and survived like eating the Japanese delicacy fugu, a fi sh that might kill you if your luck isn’t good.

But when Kumail Nanjiani, star of The Big Sick, tweeted about Chain Saw, calling it “terrifying” and adding, “it crawls inside and stays,” my immediate reaction was to ask, Why is that a good thing? Why do I need to open myself to more images to be unnerved about? Why would I want to put myself in the hands of someone whose sole intention is to make me feel as awful as possible?

Until someone gives me a convincing answer, horror and I are fi nished. No hard feelings for the creators, no problem with the fans; for me, I just need to stay away. Far, far away. – Los Angeles Times/TNS

Critic Kenneth Turan explains why he ignored horror genre

EXCEPTION: Phantom of The Opera is one of the few masterpieces that did impress Kenneth Turan, who describes it as “one of the great moments in silent cinema”.


COMMUNITY

‘When my art pleases people, it pleases me too’

Members of the diplomatic circles and others thronged the opening of an

exhibition featuring the paintings of Portuguese artist Cristina Albaker’s at W Hotel on Monday evening.

A total of 10 of Albaker’s works are on display at the exhibition titled “Mystical Art, Awakening”. Ambassador of Portugal Antonio Tanger Correa was present on the occasion as the chief guest. The exhibition ends on October 23.

Cristina’s work at the hotel is dominated by landscape paintings showing diff erent angles of nature ranging from sea, mountains, trees, to rivers and streams. The visitors were seen taking keen interest in the artwork and engaged in multiple discussions.

“I love to see people enjoying my work. It feels very nice. When I see people love my work, I love it too. It is elevating for me to see a good number of people coming to see my work,” said Cristina, while talking to Community.

She said, “My work is all about nature. I enjoy nature and feel strongly about natural objects. I started painting in Qatar as I have been living here for nine years

with my husband who works here. I got my love for nature from my country, where there are beautiful landscapes.”

The artist adds, “I studied photography and had been very fond of photography. I had exhibitions of my photography work some 20 years ago in Portugal. However, later I started taking interest in other forms of the art, especially oil paintings. Whenever I went to Portugal during summer days, I would attend gatherings of great painters there. I learnt a lot from established painters. I also travel a lot with my husband and have seen many countries. Wherever I went, I enjoyed the natural beauty.”

Cristina said, “I started painting seriously in the last two years in Doha. I have ample free time and I would sit in my house and paint. It was the best place and atmosphere for me to paint.”

“The work that is on display here is one of my earliest. It is my fi rst-ever painting exhibition. In the near future, I plan to hold my exhibitions in Portugal, Japan, and maybe in London too,” she noted.

Speaking about her experience in Qatar as an expatriate, Cristina said, “It was very diffi cult in the beginning because I had never

been out of Portugal before. However with the passage of time, I started acclimatising with the country. The nicest thing about Qatar is that you get a chance to meet people from diff erent countries and cultures every day. People with diff erent experiences do teach you many things.”

Sana AlMukhtar, who works with the Embassy of Qatar in Portugal, said that she really enjoyed the work of the artist.

She said, “Cristina is my close friend. I know she paints. When I learnt that she was going to put her

work on display in Qatar, I took a fl ight and came here only to watch and appreciate her work.”

AlMukhtar adds, “I believe Cristina had been able to paint and complete some of her works just because she is in a peaceful country like Qatar. She got time and peace of mind to paint here.”

Talking with Community, the ambassador said that it is good to have a Portuguese artist holding an exhibition in Doha. He said, “Art is a common language. It binds diff erent cultures. Doha is the best place to fi nd international

audience for the art work.”He said, “Art being a binding

force cannot be overlooked. The artists are global speakers. Their language is understood by people from diff erent cultures and backgrounds.”

“I really enjoyed Cristina’s work. It is pure nature, painted with brush. I see her becoming one of the best Portuguese artists in the coming years,” he said.

The ambassador added that they will celebrate Portugal’s national on October 17 in Doha with great festivity.

Portuguese artist Cristina

Albaker’s exhibition attracts

a large number of diplomats,

expatriates. By Mudassir Raja

INTEREST: Visitors during the launch event.

THE PAINTER: Cristina Albaker with one of her works.

CHIEF GUEST: Ambassador of Portugal to Qatar Antonio Tanger Correa.

Documents

D 28 C—38 C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE PUZZLES …