The SourceIssue 31 - 11 October 2012

theappealbox

2012

Breast Cancer

Awareness Month

Exploring in the

Okavango DeltaGadgets Every

Girl Needs

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Conten tsINBOXThis page is all about you! Send us your poems, pictures or letters and see them published here, ask us your questions and pick up some handy environmental tips

NEWSThis week’s local and national news headlines

SPORTSAll the latest from the sporting world

FEATUREOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so we chatted to cancer support group, Angels Of Mercy, about the disease and how we can win the breast cancer battle

STUFF for menHow to get in your woman’s good books in three easy steps

AL MAJLISClowning around with Emirati comedian Ali Al Sayed EDUCATIONIf you’ve just graduated high school could a gap year be for you?

URBAN WOMAN5 gadgets every girl needs

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@ the movies & games

DIARYWhat do you have planned for the next week? Take a look at our diary for the latest happenings around town

RECIPESDelicious recipes for you to try at home

SPECIAL FEATUREThe Box Appeal 2012 is underway and the people of Al Ain are really coming together to show that they care

LIFESTYLEWhen it comes to a new home, should you build or buy?

MY EMIRATEThe stunning Sheikha Salama mosque in the heart of Al Ain city

MY WORLDGetting to know the neighbors in the Okavango Delta

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What a busy week it has been!

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we take a closer look at the disease which claims almost 1.5 million victims every year. We spoke to

Al Ain’s breast cancer support group, the Angels of Mercy, who aim to provide support and hope for cancer patients in the region. There’s a whole host of awareness activities going on across the country, with everything from bake sales to fashion shows and fun runs to swim-a-thons, so it’s easy to get involved. Here at The Source we’ve all donned pink for the day, men included, in order to highlight breast cancer awareness.

We also got the chance this week to meet with Emirati standup comedian Ali Al Sayed. Co-director of the regions first comedy training institute and an international comic success, Ali had us giggling all the way back to the office.

We’ve also been busy collecting and dropping off boxes as part of The Box Appeal 2012. Schools across the city are getting involved, hoping to win the free trip to Al Ain zoo whilst the response at Al Jimi Mall and Lulu Al Kuwaitat has been tremendous. Al Ain Mall have also joined the appeal, and you can now collect and drop off boxes at their customer service point too.

Finally, we’re excited to find out the winners of our superhero competition and we invite you all to join us at Babyshop in Al Ain Mall next Friday, October 19th at 5pm to hear who the lucky winners are. There will be fun for all with face painting, balloons and a magic show for everyone who comes along.

Happy Reading!

Editor

Writeto us!

Letter from the Editor

No part of this publication or content, thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of The Source

Magazine, published by Smart Design Publishing, in writing. The Source Magazine and Smart Design Publishing accept no responsibility, however caused, for errors or omissions contained in this publication. Any articles and/or images included in this publication and/or views and opinions expressed therein do not necessarily

reflect the views of The Source Magazine and Smart Design Publishing, and any of its affiliates, but remain solely those of the author(s). Such publications have been

included for general reference and the purpose of fair review. Copyright © 2011 by The Source and Smart Design Publishing, and its affiliates.

All rights reserved.

CONTRIBUTORSYasmine Ali, Roekshana Saloojee, Etdal

Abougouche, Alicia Hoopper, Caline Boghos

Cover Image courtesy of Burj Al Arab

The Source

EDITOR Hayley Skirka

ASSOCIATE EDITORKhudayja SaloojeeJUNIOR WRITER

Mehak Alam

MANAGING DIRECTORMona Hennawi

EDITOR IN CHIEFMahra Saeed Al Muhairi

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERGhulmiyyah GhulmiyyahGRAPHIC DESIGNERSikkandar Sharpudeen

ARABIC EDITORSami Rashid

ASSOCIATE ARABIC EDITOR/TRANSLATORHanadi Jamil

SENIOR TRANSLATORNarmeen Al Assad

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION MANAGERHaneen Farid

SALES & ADVERTISINGJo Mathew

PHOTOGRAPHERMohsin Salim

DISTRIBUTION MANAGERMohammed Saqer

TO CONTACT US+971 3 7668111

info@thesourceuae.comwww.thesourceuae.com

ADVERTISINGadvertising@thesourceuae.com

@thesourceuaethesourceuae

We want to hear all about you! You can write to us about The Source, your family, your travels, life, anything you want to really! Send us your photography, poems, stories or artwork and see them published in next week’s magazine. What’s more, the star letter will win a fantastic prize. Send your entries to competition@thesourceuae.com

Next week’s star letter will win a fabulous day pass for Pulse Leisure Club at Ayla Hotel.

I WANNA GET OUT!

I wanna get out,out of this strange place,

where everything is so fast,people keep walking at a

strange pace.

Where no one listensto what I want to say,

Where you dont get to seemany people happy and gay.

Nobody over herehas got time any,

Nobody has got a heart,but machines are so many!

All are engrossed,

very busy and busy,All these strange happenings

make me feel dizzy.

I just wanna escape andgo to a place,

Where there’s peace everywhere,

and no body is in a race.

A poem byMahnoor Choudhary

Pakistani Islamic Private School,Al-Ain, UAE.

Fracas (FRA-kuhs)First known use: 1716Meaning:A noisy disturbance, quarrel or fight.Usage: The policemen didn’t take too long to break up the fracas.

Good morning Source, I love

reading your magazine I’ve

learn a lot of things! How can I

get the box appeal? Keep it up!

And god bless!Lanie Lazaro

PRAYERTIMESDay Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha

Thursday 4:56 6:12 12:04 3:25 5:55 7:25

Friday 4:57 6:13 12:04 3:24 5:54 7:24

Saturday 4:57 6:13 12:04 3:24 5:53 7:23

Sunday 4:57 6:14 12:03 3:23 5:52 7:22

Monday 4:58 6:14 12:03 3:23 5:51 7:21

Tuesday 4:58 6:14 12:03 3:23 5:51 7:21

Wednesday 4:58 6:15 12:03 3:22 5:50 7:20

Inbox ASK THE SOURCE

They say one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure. Recently, my friend decided to move to a smaller apartment. She was throwing away ‘junk’. I collected some of that junk, gave it a second life and saved on some cash. Here’s a few things I discovered…

1. Tissue boxes and baby wipe containers can be used to store your plastic bags. Fold them so they pop out like tissues normally would.

2. Glass jars can be used for storing screws, nails and so much more.

3. Turn old photos into postcards.4. Use carpet remnants as doormats.5. Old leather belts make great

pet collars. Remember to measure your pet and adjust the length by cutting carefully.

6. Cardboard egg cartons can be decorated to make pretty jewelry organizers.

EnvironmentCRAFTY WITH TRASH!

I overheard a few local women talking about the Butterfly Café. Can you give me more details

about this place?

We are really spoilt for choice when it comes to cafés and restaurants in the Garden City. The Butterfly Café is unique because it’s a café for women only. The café has a cozy atmosphere and gives ladies the opportunity to relax, catch up, and have some fun without worrying about pesky men getting in the way.

The café is located in the Ladies Cultural Center in Al Muwaiji on University Street.

Timing: Saturday-Thursday, 9am-9pm.For more information call 03 767 1001

Get the shopping list, put it in the

box, it is ur gratitude for the men

behind building our country @

thesourceuae The Box Appeal

2012.

@SerialHBreaker

ED’S REPLY – Thanks for all

your support, the people of Al Ain

are really getting behind the Box

Appeal 2012!

you tweeted it

Little 7-year-old Som sets to work on his Babyshop poster as part of The Source’ competition.

starletter

thesourceuae.com8

Al Ain student, Tasnim Al Rawi Al Naqbi, discovered an irregularity in a program that regulates airflow into plane’s engines and has convinced aviation giants Airbus to replace the program.

Tasnim, a mechanical engineering student at UAE University, recently completed a six month intensive training program at the headquarters of Airbus in Toulouse, France where she focused on the airflow into plane engines. During her internship, she came across the irregularity in the Airbus program and reported the matter to her supervisor.

Abu Dhabi University (ADU) recently held its Student Council elections on both the male and female campuses in Al Ain.

This year’s election had a novel twist, with nominees allowed to video themselves informing fellow classmates and other students about themselves and their campaign before releasing the video on campus.

Mr. Sabri Abbas, the Student Support Services Coordinator, with the help of Mr. Shadi Jamal, Floating Assistant of Al Ain Campus Director’s Office and Miss Alaa Harmous, Students Affairs Assistant, tallied the votes and announced the 2012-2013 Student Council members as follows: Presidents; Sarah Fazal and Eisa Nazem, Vice Presidents of Public Relations; Caline

Passengers who booked European tour packages with Majestic Travels, a travel agency based in Al Ain, are furious after a staff member allegedly absconded with AED180000 after cancelling their tickets and pocketing the refunded money.

According to Emirates 247, Hamad Saleem, who booked with Majestic Travels explained, “I had booked the tickets in August and was scheduled to travel for two weeks immediately after the Eid Al Fitr holidays. I paid the package price inclusive of everything and the travel agent gave me a receipt. He asked me to come the next day to collect my tickets. But when I turned up at their office, I was informed that a Syed Safeer, who issued the ticket, had absconded with the money”.

At least eight passengers have filed complaints with Al Ain Police against the travel agency and a case has also been opened with the Public Prosecution.

Dr. Abdullah Al Khanbashi, UAE University Vice-Chancellor, said that he was proud of Tasnim’s achievements and that her success confirmed the College of Engineering’s programs at the university are of a high caliber.

The internship program, supported by Abu Dhabi Education Council and Mubadala Aerospace, provides students an opportunity to gain practical experience and develop their skills in the field of aerospace engineering.

Emirati Student Reports Fault with Airbus

Fraudsters Arrested in Al AinPolice have arrested two individuals accused of committing credit card fraud and using the cards to purchase over AED150000 worth of items.

The identities of the two have not yet been released however both are Arab nationals. The pair were using the forged credit cards, along with forged identity documents, to visit malls in Al Ain and Dubai.

Director of Al Ain Police, Brigadier Hamad Al Amimi, said that the credit cards belonged to an American woman who had never visited the UAE. A special police team targeted the criminals, arresting them after they entered a store armed with the credit cards.

Investigators have now recovered 25 other credit cards and more forged identity documents as well as jewelry, cosmetics and clothing purchased with the forged cards.

Al Ain Police urge people to be cautious with their credit cards and personal details and to immediately report any stolen cards to their respective bank and local police station.

Travel Agent Dupes Customers

Boghos and Esam Daher, Vice Presidents of Event Organizers; Dalia Khater and Al Harith Essam, Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs; Eman Al Kurd and Israr Ahmed and Vice Presidents of Club Organizers; Jannath Chowdhury and Bishr Hammash.

Dalia Khater, named VP of Academic Affairs, was elated with the news, “I felt great when I was elected as Event Organizer because it won’t only allow me to be part of an extraordinary team but it will also improve my social and organizing skills.”

As part of the Student Council, members are expected to enhance students’ campus life, suggest new activities and represent ADU in a positive way both on and off campus.

ADU Hold Student Council Elections

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NEWS

Public sector employees are likely to be on holiday from Thursday, 25 October, for Eid Al Adha, returning to work on Monday, 29 October. Private sector employees are likely to be off from 25 October, returning to work on Sunday, 28 October.

An official announcement will be made closer to the date.

This is an edited version of an original story that appeared in The National on 8 October, 2012. For the full version,

please go to www.the national.ae

Eid Al Adha Holidays

The Ministry of Interior last week announced a new 24-hour hotline for visa and naturalization issues. The center will link all residency departments across the emirates and allow the public to communicate easily and directly with each department.

People from across the country can contact the Dubai based center to enquire about visa and naturalization issues for any of the seven emirates.

Speaking at a press conference, Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary for Naturalization and Residency and Port Affairs at the Ministry of Interior remarked “Members

of the public who want to enquire, for example, about their visas in Ajman or want to check an issue in Sharjah or want to enquire about information in Abu Dhabi, they can contact the toll free number in Dubai.”

The call center will open at the General Directorate for Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai and the public can call the toll free ‘AMER service’ on 8005111. Major General Al Menhali added that the the number would be in operation 24 hours a day on weekdays and will offer patrons a choice of telephone, fax, email or e-chat.

Inter-Emirate National Day QuizSchools from across the country will come together to compete in an inter-emirate National Day quiz that will see them tested on UAE traditions, heritage and culture.

The All rounders Quiz will take place on December 7 as part of the country’s national day celebrations. Schools from Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain are invited to take part.

The event is being organized by Youth Power Management (YPM) and participation will be free of charge. Speaking to Gulf News, Dr. Rakesh Chandola, founder and head coach at YPM, explained that the event will “offer an open platform for all UAE private schools. Instead of being mentally heavy, it is light, fun and innovative.”

Set to take place in the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium at the Indian High School in Dubai, the event will be based on general knowledge, UAE knowledge, public speaking and problem solving skills as well as the teams’ abilities to work together in harmony.

Visa Hotline for Whole Country

Electric cable importers, contractors and distributors that fail to comply with the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) will be subject to fines from 2013.

Using defective or substandard wires has been proven to be a factor in the cause of fires and yet, many distributors continue to distribute low-cost, poor quality cables from manufacturing companies in places such as China, Europe and India.

Acting Director of ESMA, Mohammed Saleh Al Badri, explained that inferior cables had been found on some sites, “These cables were made of substandard materials such as aluminum and steel instead of copper, and so were likely to overheat, causing

short-circuits and fires.” He continued, “At present there are no fines for the installation of faulty cables, however, our technical regulation would cover this and in future there would be fines.”

The authority will test all cables, whether locally manufactured or imported. Permitted cables and wires shall then be available in the market and shall bear the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS) mark.

Distributors can make huge profits on these products, often selling unsafe cables at 10 per cent less than standard goods.

This is an edited version of an original story that appeared in The National on 8 October, 2012. For the full version,

please go to www.the national.ae

Fines for Faulty Cables

10 thesourceuae.com

NEWS

The final was a dramatic affair with home team, Abu Dhabi Mar, sealing their second successive Corporate Cup Victory by crossing the finishing line in 1:01:06 seconds, two seconds ahead of first runners-up, Traders Abu Dhabi Dragons. Asset Co Fire came home with a time of 1:04:04 seconds to claim the third spot on the podium. Wadi Adventure were in the lead up until the 150km point but struggled to maintain their league and finished in fourth place overall.

Current world champions, the Dubai Diggers, dominated the open 500km sprint and sealed the title in their name, clocking a time of 2:23.03 seconds. They were closely followed by Dubai Flying Dragons who took second place with a time of 2:30:02 seconds and Abu Dhabi Mar, who finished third in 2:31:00 seconds.

4th Place for Wadi DragonboatersAs part of their 5th anniversary celebrations, the Shangari-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri in Abu Dhabi held the 4th Shangri-La Abu Dhabi Dragon Boat Festival last week. The two-day event saw over 1140 rowers compete, making up 57 teams hailing from various corporate, university, school and community groups and taking part in 34 races, viewed by almost 1500 spectators, who lined-up on the shorelines.

Al Ain’s Wadi Adventure had a 20 strong team, consisting of six professional paddlers accompanied by some enthusiastic staff members. The team took second place in the first day of racing and managed to secure a spot in the semi-finals. They then finished third the which was enough to see them advance to the Corporate Cup Final race.

Al Ain football club celebrated a stunning 7-0 win over Al Dhafra in the Etisalat Pro-League Championship last week at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in Al Ain.

Al Ain were in flying form from the get go and exerted pressure on Al Dhafra from the very first minute of the match. A third minute penalty kick awarded to the home side resulted in a goal after Asamoah Gyan netted the ball home. Another of Gyan’s shots in the 19th minute also found the net to put Al Ain leading 2 goals to nil at the end of the first half.

During the second half, Al Ain pelted Al Dhafra with another five goals, leading with a nice layup by Omar Abdulrahman which was fired home by his elder brother Mohammad. A few minutes later, Omar Abdulrahman netted another goal and Gyan decided to make his tally a hat-trick with a shot in the 51st minute of the match.

Al Ain’s new signing, Australian Alex Brosque, celebrated his debut for the Ainawi’s with a goal in the 68th minute and the older Abdulrahman brother was back in the action in the final minute of the match to drill the seventh and final shot passed the stunned Al Dhafra keeper.

The spectacular win saw Al Ain catapult to second place in the league with a total of 6 points while Al Dhafrah slide closer to the bottom with only 4 points. Al Ain’s next match is against Dibba Al Fujairah on October 21st at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.

Al Ain’s Spectacular 7!

Emirati driver, Khalifa Al Mutaiwei, and his German co-driver, Andreas Schulz, sealed the 2012 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies last week when they claimed the fastest spot in the grueling Pharaohs’ International Cross-Country Rally in Cairo.

Al Mutaiwei becomes the second Arab driver to win at the Pharaoh’s Rally after Qatari Saeed Al Hajiri clinched the title back in 1985.

The win proves that Al Mutaiwei’s comeback, after a long gap of eight years, has been a success. The triumph makes him the first Arab driver to win a major international, non-regional championship while his co-driver Schulz becomes the first co-driver to win the title for the third successive occasion.

Speaking on behalf of the Fazza Rally team, a delighted Al Mutaiwei said, “I want to thank Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, for his full support and backing. Without this my return would never have happened. “He then added, “I would also like to thank Andy, my driver, the X-raid team and all the members of my team and friends for their support.”

Al Mutaiwei is the Comeback King

Omar Abdulrahman posed a serious challenge for Al Dhafra

11thesourceuae.com

SPORTS

Last year, over 1.5 million people were diagnosed with breast cancer according to recent figures from the World Health Organization. Here, in the UAE, the figure is exceptionally high with cancer being the third leading cause of death and breast cancer being the most common cancer in females. Recent studies have also shown that women in the emirates tend to develop breast cancer an entire decade earlier than those in Western countries.

These figures have not been ignored. The government is dedicated in its bid to battle breast cancer and the treatment facilities at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain are entirely first class. Last year, it was also made compulsory for all Emirati women over 40 to undergo yearly breast cancer-screening in order to renew their health insurance policies. And yet, despite the huge amounts of money being spent on care and treatment for breast cancer, there is another side of the coin that is less well funded. Breast cancer support groups are something that in many western countries are everywhere and yet, here in the UAE, they are very few and far

between. Considering that these support groups have been proven to have positive effects on the psychological wellbeing of those who attend them, it is a little worrying that there are not enough of them in a country with such a high cancer rate.

One group, trying to change this is Al Ain’s Angels of Mercy. First established in 2009, the idea for the group was born when Sandy Jaloudi, one of the ‘angels’, discovered from her oncologist husband that there was a real lack of social support for breast cancer patients in the UAE. When a close friend then developed breast cancer and complained of the same, Sandy and her friends “decided to take it into our own hands and do something about it.” Angels of Mercy started as a small group of cancer patients and survivors, but as word of the group spread, the response was immense. Doctors, nutritionists and volunteers came forward to get involved and the group now meets once a month to provide information, resources, and emotional support for patients. Seham Manna, another of the ‘angels’, stresses that the fundamental role

For over 25 years, October has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, countries across the globe come together to raise awareness, inform and encourage people to

be proactive in their breast health.

FIGHTING THE BREAST CANCER BATTLE

By Hayley Skirka

thesourceuae.com12

FEATURE

of the group is to allow members to feel hope, “It’s very important for them to express their emotions to someone who went through the same experience and can relate to them.”

Think of breast cancer awareness and your thoughts, more than likely, turn to pink ribbons and a disease that affects women. This is a common misconception and something that Angels of Mercy is keen to change. Men are actively encouraged to join the group to share their experiences, learn more about breast cancer and talk to other male survivors. Despite being rarer in men (of every 100 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases, 99 of them will be in women) it is still a major concern. This lack of awareness has resulted in

lower survival rates as, all too often, men don’t realize they are even at risk of breast cancer. This can mean that they are diagnosed much later than women, when the optimum survival period has long since been surpassed. Despite all these worrying statistics, when detected early, breast cancer is 98% curable. The aim of groups, like the Angels of Mercy, is to educate and inform people while driving home the message that “early detection is the key to cure”, adds Sandy, and all that it takes is a few minutes every month to perform a simple self examination.

As part of the awareness campaign, there are loads of events going on across the UAE. Join the Angels of Mercy for their second ‘We Will Survive’ day at Al Ain Mall on November 9th and take part in a morning walkathon, enjoy afternoon activities and watch a fabulous fashion show featuring breast cancer survivors.

For those with a sweet tooth, Maison Sucre in Abu Dhabi has created a special range of delicious cupcakes for the month. Nadine Maalouf, founder and Managing Director at the bakery, told us “part of the whole month’s proceeds from the pink ribbon cupcakes will benefit our partner organization Brest Friends, a breast cancer support organization in Dubai.”

In association with many of the regions hospitals, including Al Ain’s Tawam, a new initiative called ‘Be Beautiful’ was launched last month in Dubai. Initiator, Hanadi El-Imman, explained that the sessions involve giving sufferers beauty tips in order to allow

women “to look good and so feel better about themselves and let them face cancer with greater confidence.”

Meanwhile, Breast Cancer Arabia have launched a month long event entitled ‘Dubai Goes Pink’ which kicked off with the Burj Al Arab’s iconic sail being lit up in pink to raise awareness of the campaign.

Here at The Source, we’re dedicating this Thursday to breast cancer and raising awareness by having the whole team don pink for the occasion, men included! Check out our facebook page to see the pictures and remember, a simple self examination could be the difference that saves your life.

Maison Sucre’s delicious cupcakes will help raise funds to support breast cancer awareness

Sandy Jaloudi (left) & Seham Manna (right) are two of Al Ain’s ‘angels’, dedicated to fighting breast cancer.

13thesourceuae.com

FEATURE

T: 03 766 8111 | E: info@thesourceuae.com

It's a small box but it makes a big difference!

Come on Al Ain, let's all do our bit for those who help build our beautiful country.

f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n p l e a s e c o n t a c t

SHOPPING LIST:● Toothbrush ● Toothpaste

● T-shirt ● Cap ● Shaving cream,

● Disposable razor ● Deodorant

● Small hand towel ● Comb

● Antibacterial soap ● Shampoo

● Talcum powder

GETTING IN HER GOOD BOOKSLike guys, women are quite fond of ‘stuff’. The difference is that for men ‘stuff’ largely equates to impressive electronic paraphernalia, practical gadgets or hi-tech equipment while, for the fairer sex, a bunch of flowers, something shiny or indeed anything containing chocolate is a pretty safe bet.

If you’re looking to score a few brownie points with your other half, I’d recommend jewelry. I’ve never heard a woman complain about the diamonds her husband bought her or grumble about that bracelet her fiancée gave to her. But before you rush out to the nearest store, there’s a couple of things you should bear in mind.

First up, color. What’s her favorite color? Does she prefer bright or dark colors? What color is her birthstone? Stay within her personal preference range to find something she’ll actually love, rather than wearing out of obligation to you.

Next, what does she have already? Have a nosy in her jewelry box. Do you see mostly silver or gold? Is she a fan of necklaces or earrings? It’s not your job to introduce something new to her, that’s way too risky. Stick with what she knows.

Another good indicator of what she’ll like depends on which celebs she admires? If she’s big into Kim Kardashian, chances are she’ll go gaga over bigger ‘bling’ pieces. If, on the other hand, she’s a fan of Jennifer Aniston or Gwyneth Paltrow, you’d probably be best to go for something more classic, and a little subtler.

If you’re really stuck, don’t despair. Take a sly snap of some of her favorite shoes and log on to www.gamvara.com. Here, a jewelry and style specialist will interpret her personal taste based on her shoes before recommending a whole selection for you, all within your budget! All you’ve got to do is choose which one you like best, order it online, ask for gift-wrapping then sit back and lap up all the praise dishing out!

By Hayley Skirka

5PCSNYLON KITCHEN SET

5PCSACRYLIC BATHROOM SET

LEATHER DOUBLE BED137X190

L-SHAPE SOFA/STORAGE(BLACK,RED&BROWN) WOODEN BUNK BED

8PCSCUP & SAUCER LAPTOP DESK DINING SET 1+6

COFFEE TABLE7PCS KNIFE SETWITH CUTTING BOARD

SWEET MEMORYTOUCH LAMP

AED 12

AED 24 AED

10 AED 69 AED

899

AED 1590AED

1990AED 1663AED

299

AED 12 AED

19AED 99

STUFF for men

It’s aOld World

By Mehak Alam

thesourceuae.com16

under pressure and his nerves actually helped to bring out the best in him. The gig brought a ton of good reviews and projects began to trickle in, giving Ali the confidence he needed to believe that he could really make the comedy route work for him.

Now known for his quirky punch lines and straight to the point one -liners, he has a fairly distinctive comedic approach. Shying away from creating laughs by ridiculing people or things, Ali instead encourages his audience to laugh at the humor in life. He also avoids joking about politics, believing that there is enough to laugh about in the world without adding political principles. “I stick to my guns on stage; I keep away from bringing politics in to comedy,”

Being a top comedian requires a lot of practice and Ali is always thinking about new material. Simple, everyday things inspire his jokes and he tries to recreate situations without putting words in people’s mouths, “One quality of a good comedian is to use his material in a way that says a lot of things without even saying them” he explains. Having confidence in yourself, being able to read the audience and having the ability to find humor in everyday scenarios are the keys to success in the world of comedy.

Even when away from the stage, comedy plays a big role in Ali’s life as his partner, Mina Liccione, is the other half of this comedy couple. He explains that the two simply “hit it off” when they first met as they both shared the same visions. Voted in Ahlan’s Hot 100 as Dubai’s Comedy Couple, the pair have a strong, solid relationship. Smiling widely, Ali tells us the secret behind it, “The dynamic of the relationship is so good. We have never competed with each other. It’s always been very supportive from the get go.”

Keen to spread the comedy word across the country, work towards the vision of creating a comedic community and build up a comedy industry which is barely in its infancy, Ali and his Italian-American wife are dedicated to their cause. Proudly Emirati, he explains, “This is my city and I wanted to give the region and the Dubai city something more sustainable; something that can stay.” Initially, it was a tough job. With no finance, venues or people ready to accept something new, Ali and his team had to work hard to promote standup comedy in the UAE. Restricted to getting the message across on TV or within the constraints of a theater performance, there was a tough uphill battle but Ali felt “like we were ready for a new generation of comedy.” His goal of redefining comedy through the introduction of sketch, improv and stand-up is certainly a lot closer now, with his team’s efforts certainly beginning to pay off. With definite plans in the pipeline to take Dubomedy to Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Egypt and Lebanon, Ali Al Sayed and his wife Mina are one comedy couple who hard work and whose love of life is certainly no joke.

Grabbing a few minutes to ask Ali for some advice, he happily shared his secrets to success:

Despite, having tested huge success, Ali Al Sayed is very much a down-to-earth kind of guy. The funny man has left many a person chortling away after an evening in his company, is ranked in Toastmasters International Magazine as one of the most influential comedians today and has just been nominated in the 2012 Best Personality in Dubai Awards and yet, funnily enough, he manages to keep his feet planted firmly on the ground, even if they are dressed in Mickey Mouse socks!

Ali is quite literally a jack of all trades. His comic performances are just one of his many skills. Each week, his work sees him doing stand-up, coaching comedy classes, working as a writer, directing

and hosting a TV show and that’s before we even look at the other special projects he’s involved in. He works as a diction

coach for Hollywood’s Navid Negahban, as an acting coach for the movie Mallal (the first

ever Emirati-Indian movie), is the founder of local entertainment company Viva

Acts and is co-director of Dubomedy, Dubai’s first training center for aspiring comedians. Quite a turn of events for a man who started out as an event organizer in the corporate world.

After realizing that the world of business was not for him, Ali bravely quit his job to focus on his true passion, stand- up comedy. Performing a 30 minute gig for around 800 dentists and with only two weeks to prepare was a huge challenge for him, but one on which he thrived. He discovered he works well

LIFELESSONS• Be creative.• Strive hard and never give up.• Believe in your ideas, it’s never about what

other people think but it is always about what you want to do.

What do you get if you cross an Emirati ex-businessman with an Italian-American wife and the UAE’s changing comedy scene?

Ali Al Sayed of course!

Dubomedy re-launched their Monday Night Funnies on the 1st of October. With different weekly themes and a whole host of exciting

comedians, Monday nights will never be boring again.See www.dubomedy.com for more info.

17thesourceuae.com

By Khudayja Saloojee

ONCE IN A LIFETIME ADVENTUREIt’s not often you’ll get a chance to take a few months off to travel the world, work or volunteer abroad. Gap year travel really can be ‘a once in a lifetime experience’. Whether you decide to travel with friends or head off alone, it’s certain to have a big impact on your life and is a great character building experience. Most importantly, a gap year can be great fun!

TIME FOR A TIME OUT?

I remember being an innocent 16-year-old, in my final year of school and under an incredible amount of insurmountable pressure from parents, extended family and family friends asking “So, what are you planning to study next year?” or “Have you sent your application forms away?” At the time, I was still contemplating how on earth I would get through the dreaded Grade 12 examinations never mind worrying about what my future would hold!

Although the thought of taking a year off to experience the world and ‘find myself’ sounded delightful, had I shared this thought with my parents they would no doubt have booked me the first appointment they could find with the local psychologist. Even just a few years ago, gap years were viewed with a distinct suspicion. Today, however, the idea of taking a year out has rocketed in popularity, with people finally accepting that taking some time to enrich either your personal or professional life is no bad thing. However, before you pack your bags and set off, make sure you take some time out to establish exactly what you want to get out of your time away and how exactly you’ll achieve it!

STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONEWhen it comes to gap years, you’re only limited by your imagination and, most probably, your budget. You can opt to teach, intern, volunteer or do a combination of all three. Some people work in conservation, others decide to teach English, whilst some opt for physical labor like building wells or houses. By stepping outside your comfort zone and living and working in unfamiliar environments, climates and religions, you will be emotionally, physically and intellectually challenged and you’ll quickly learn to become independent. You’ll develop a certain maturity and also have a much better understanding of things outside your immediate world.

BECOME MORE FOCUSED Gap years are not restricted to a particular age group but many ‘gappers’ have just finished school, college or university. Taking a year off to discover who you really are allows you to take a step back from what you’re doing and the path you’re on and to think about you what you really want for your future. Chances are, that when you return, you’ll feel rejuvenated, refocused and have a new found confidence to make some decisions about where you really want to go in life.

ADD UNIQUE EXPERIENCE TO YOUR CV A gap year can make an enormous difference to both your university applications and future employment prospects. Of course, it depends on what you do, but if you work or volunteer abroad it can really set you apart from the crowd. You’ll have new skills, confidence and will really be able to show your maturity and commitment. Spending your gap year doing something related to your planned studies or future career can also give you a great head start and could be the difference that puts you ahead of others in your field.

DISCOVER NEW CULTURES & COUNTRIES

Gap year travel tends to be much more authentic than planned family vacations. It gives you the opportunity to travel to more countries, experience new cultures and partake in a variety of traditions. You also get a more ‘meaty’ experience,

interacting with local people, visiting raw

locations and ultimately getting a very intimate

insight into the places you visit.

BENEFITS OF TAKING A GAP YEAR

thesourceuae.com18

EDUCATION

By Alicia Hooper

Why I Chose To Take A Gap Year

To take a gap year or not can be a difficult decision, but for me, there were a number of reasons why it seemed so right.

Originally, I wanted to do a gap year because I wasn’t quite ready to study again, especially at university level. I was exhausted after completing my exams at the end of the year and decided to take a year off to catch my breath. I took into account the vast amount of opportunities that were open to me since graduation. And on top of this, I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.

This year is allowing me to discover who I am and who I’m going to be. As a teenager, you really have no clue as to who you are. No matter how grown up you are, you’re really still very young to be making life-changing decisions. This is a common problem for students who jump right into university after high school. They tend to spend their tuition money flitting from subject to subject instead of going after what they know they want. By waiting one more year before I start university, I can then go straight into what I want to study.

Leaving for university will also mean that I have to move back to my home country of Canada. As exciting as this is, right now, I honestly feel more comfortable with my family here in the UAE where I grew up.

By taking this gap year, I hope to gain a bit more direction into deciding where my future lies. I’m also anticipating that the year will bring many challenges, new experiences and adventures.

Parents can now inquire, raise issues or lodge complaints about private schools across Abu Dhabi over the phone or online. Previously, parents had to the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s private school office to do such activities.

The Abu Dhabi Government in partnership with ADEC have launched the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, accessible online or via telephone. The customer relationship center has become the single point of contact for all government services for residents across the emirate.

Mr. Osama Al Horaibi, Section Manager, Customer Service, Private Schools & Quality Assurance Sector, praised the new service. “Parents can raise a case via telephone, web or chat. The CRM system ensures resolving an enquiry within a time frame of four hours depending on the communicated or submitted case.”

Parents who have an issue with their children’s school are advised to initially contact the school to resolve the problem. Mr Al Horaibi explained, “If the school does not resolve the issue as per the parents’ satisfaction, we then encourage them to contact 800555, where a customer service representative is well trained to lodge and escalate the complaint to the appropriate person in charge in ADEC.”

Around 300 public and private schools across Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates have competed in the National Robot Challenge, sponsored by ADEC, in a bid to represent the UAE in the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) to be held in November in Malaysia.

Nineteen teams from across the UAE will be selected to represent the country in November’s Olympiad. The contest not only provides students with a unique opportunity to showcase their talents, but it also enables them to develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Dr. Najlaa Al Rawai, Project Manager at ADEC Strategic Planning Office, commented “Participation in such international events allows students to meet and interact with their peers from all over the world. This enables our students to learn and exchange knowledge and experience, and ultimately leads to the development of their skills.”

The 2011 World Robot Olympiad held in November last year was hosted by Abu Dhabi with more than 30 participating countries. The Abu Dhabi WRO was one of the most successful Olympiads in terms of the number of countries participating, organization, hospitality and competitions.

New Education Call Center

Fierce Competition AtNational Robot Challenge

19thesourceuae.com

EDUCATION

1) SmartphoneFirst up is the smartphone. They are ridiculously useful; you can check your email, facebook, take photographs, record videos, skype, surf, download some really cool apps, the possibilities are almost endless. Whether it’s an iPhone, BlackBerry, Samsung or whatever, a smartphone is an essential in today’s fast-paced world!

2) MP3 PlayerIf you can’t live without music, having an mp3 player is essential! With huge memory capacities and available in tiny little designs, you can pop them on a strap to entertain you at the gym, listen to your favorite tracks while sunbathing by the pool or put on some calming music in the office without disturbing your colleagues. Many of today’s mp3 players also let you download apps, watch movies, play games or even use as a personal organizer!

With all the new trendy gadgets out there, it’s often hard to decide which ones are really worth purchasing. We did a bit of research to come up with the top 5 useful gadgets that we think every woman should own!

3) Digital CameraA good quality camera is something that will capture your memories for years to come. Today’s cameras are compact and light, available fairly cheaply and are the ultimate accessory for travelling, recording parties, taking snaps of your little ones or capturing other magical moments. If you tend to sunbathe a lot, opt for a waterproof camera while if you have some budding amateur photographers at home, it may be a wise choice to go for a shockproof model.

4) A Kindle or eReaderOwning a kindle or eReader is great! Gone are the days of tracking

down bookstores, buying books, finding somewhere to store them, lugging them around with you and dealing with

rapidly melting glue as you read by the pool. Now, all you have to do is go online, download the

book you fancy and get reading. With a built in night light, they can even make night time reading a whole lot easier on the eyes!

5) A GPS Navigation SystemWhilst it’s really men that could do with a navigation system thanks to their reluctance to ask for directions, if you’re new in the UAE or make regular trips to Dubai or Abu Dhabi then a navigation system could save you a whole load of headaches. A word of warning though, the roads here change so often that

your GPS may be out of date in a few short weeks. Make sure

you always have the latest software on hand!

By Etdal Abougouche

Gadgets EveryGirl Needs

thesourceuae.com20

URBAN Woman

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Get your weekend off to a musical start by heading to Al

Rikab Restaurant to catch Zina Daoudia performing live!

The talented singer will entertain you with a wide selection

of her biggest hits while you sample some delicious

Lebanese delicacies and some truly tempting shisha.

INFO: 11 & 12 October, 10pm-3am. Al Ain Equestrian

Shooting and Golf Club. Call: 03 702 6446 or

email: imad@aesgc.ae

Sandance, the spectacular beach party music

festival is back with its first party of the season

on the huge Sandance Beach at Atlantis this.

Catch some rays while listening to Krafty Kuts

and Mat Kearney, once the sun goes down

you can chill out and enjoy The Fray before

partying the night away with DJ Fresh, Frankie

Knuckles and Brit Rapper Dizzee Rascal.

INFO: 12 October, 2pm-2am. Atlantis The

Palm, Dubai. Tickets from AED 300 on the

door. Visit www.sandance.ae for more info.

Some back-to-back classic films will be

on show in the capital this week as part

of the 2012 Abu Dhabi Film Festival. A

whole host of events and activities will

keep movie lovers entertained over the

next 11 days with premiers, screenings,

talks and discussions with those from

the movie industry set to make this

year’s festival one of the best Abu

Dhabi has seen.

INFO: 11-20 Oct, Various locations

throughout Abu Dhabi.Call: 02 401 1900 or visitwww.abudhabifilmfestival.ae

Round 2 of the UAE ROTAX Max

Challenge 2012-2013 will be taking place on Al Ain Raceway’s

International Kart Circuit. Head

along to soak up some speed and

catch the thrilling action or be a

daredevil and register to take part

in the heats.

INFO: 19 October, 12pm onwards

at Al Ain SportsPlex. AED280.Call: 03 768 6662 or visitwww.alainraceway.com

ABBA fans can get ready to be transported back to the 70’s as the world famous Bjorn Again head to Abu Dhabi. This spectacular live concert will feature ABBA classics like ‘Mamma-Mia’, ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’ and there will be a fashion extravaganza. An after show party at Aloft Hotel will stick to the ABBA theme and have you you grooving into the wee hours to the sounds of days gone by.INFO: 19 & 20 October, 7:30pm-1am, ADNEC. Call: 800 23632 or buy tickets from www. BoxOfficeMe.com

Come join two days of fun and traditional camel racing at the opening of the 2012 Al Marmoum Camel Racing Season. Taking place at the track on the Dubai-Al Ain highway, this early morning action will set the pace high for the rest of your day ahead. The race will see competitors take part from all over the UAE and the GCC. INFO: 16 & 17 October, 6-8:30am. Admission Free. Al Marmoum Camel Racetrack, Dubai Al Ain Road. Call: 055 676 0006 or visit www.dcrc.ae

Save the date and join your mates in running for a good cause. Tawam Hospital’s Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2012 is underway and you can get involved by taking part in their 5th annual fun run. The event takes place on October 20th and will also involve a lot of other activities, stalls and information from the hospital’s mobile mammography unit. INFO: 20 October, 3pm at Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Sports Club. Call: 037074646

Music!

Party!

Entertainment!

Sports! Sports!

Community!

DIARY

Ingredients1 cup quinoa1 can black beans3 finely chopped celery stalks1/2 cup finely chopped parsley1/2 cup sweet corn1/2 cup green peas1/2 onion, finely chopped1 tbsp cumin seeds1 tbsp dried cilantro1/3 cup virgin olive oiljuice of 1 lemon2 tbsp wheat-free tamari sauce2 cups water

Method• Boil quinoa, black beans, celery, onion, parsley, cumin,

cilantro, green peas and sweet corn in 2 cups of water.• Mix olive oil, lemon juice and tamari sauce in a bowl.• Pour the sauce mixture over the quinoa mixture and

stir gently.• Serve warm or cold.

Ingredients1 cup ground flax seeds4 cups almond flour1 tsp sea salt2 tsp baking soda2 tsp cinnamon powder½ tsp allspice powder½ cup sugar or powdered artificial sweetener4 eggs1 tsp vanilla extract2 grated zucchini½ cup grapeseed or coconut oil1 cup mixed nuts or dried fruit

Method• Preheat oven to 170°C.• Grease two glass bread pans with oil.• Mix flax seeds, almond flour, sea salt, baking soda,

cinnamon, allspice powder and sugar together.• In a separate bowl whisk the eggs, oil and vanilla

extract and add to the flour mixture.• Fold in the grated zucchini and mixed nuts or dried fruit

to the thick batter.• Divide the batter into two equal parts and pour into

prepared pans.• Bake for 40-55 minutes or until the center is done.

Ingredients1 ½ kg plum tomatoes cut lengthwise in half ¼ cup + 2 tbsp olive oil1 tbsp kosher salt1 ½ tsp ground black pepper2 cups chopped onions6 garlic cloves, minced2 tbsp unsalted butter¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes1 can plum tomatoes, with juice4 cups basil leaves1 tsp thyme leaves4 cups chicken stock or watersalt and pepper to taste

Method• Preheat oven to 200°C.• Toss the tomatoes in ¼ cup olive oil, salt and pepper.

Spread the tomatoes in 1 layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.

• In a stock pot, sauté onions, garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil, red pepper flakes and butter over a medium heat for 10 minutes or until onion turns golden brown.

• Add canned tomatoes, basil, thyme leaves and chicken stock and cook for 5 minutes. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes from the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes.

• Pass the soup through a food processor fitted with a coarse blade.

• Serve hot or cold.

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Black Bean Quinoa

Grain Free Zucchini Bread

thesourceuae.com22

RECIPES

WOW! The response we’ve had to the Box Appeal has been truly amazing!

Readers have been flocking to the malls, picking up boxes to fill with all the items on the shopping list and returning them back to us so that we can help distribute them to laborers across the country.

The guys at Al Jimi and Lulu Al Kuwaitat have been doing a tremendous job and we want to say a big thank you for all their help so far! Al Ain Mall has now also joined the appeal and you can visit their customer service desk to pick up or drop off your boxes too.

The schools across the city are also getting on board and we’ve had loads of phone calls requesting boxes for teachers and their classes. Ammoriyah Primary School, Emirates Private School and Emirates National School have all started collecting and we encourage everyone else to get involved too. With Al Ain Zoo donating a day trip to the zoo for the class who collect the most boxes, students can get involved in a worthwhile cause while being in with a chance of winning a fun and educational field trip!

The Radio 1 Breakfast team is working hard in their contest to see whether Surina or Flo can collect the most boxes from listeners. The last we checked, Flo had an impressive 99 boxes but Surina Kelly was streets ahead with a whopping 450! You go girl! Why not tune into The ONE breakfast show weekdays from 6am on 100.5FM or go online and listen live to hear how the competition unfolds.

For anyone who missed last week’s issue (How could you?!!) here’s a quick recap of what the Box Appeal is all about…

Supported by the Red Crescent, Park Inn, Raddison Blu and Gulf News Broadcasting, The Box Appeal has been running in the Emirates since 2008. The appeal asks members of the public to collect a box and fill it with specific everyday essentials. The boxes are then distributed to laborers up and down the country. It’s a small box but it makes a big difference! Last year, over 10000 boxes were collected and this year we’re hoping to smash that number! To compensate for the lack of a Raddison Blu or Park Inn Hotel in the city, The Source has taken on the task of being Al Ain’s official partner for the appeal. Having ‘sourced’ the necessary boxes and recruited some help from businesses across the city, helping laborers has never been easier.

Simply collect an empty box from The Source offices, Lulu Al Kuwaitait, Al Jimi Mall or Al Ain Mall, take the shopping list on this page and spend around AED100 buying each of the items to fill the box with. Then, simply drop your box of at any of the pickup locations before October 30th and we’ll take care of the rest!

Toothbrush | Toothpaste | T-shirt | Cap | Shaving cream Disposable razor | Deodorant | Small hand towel

Comb | Antibacterial soap | Shampoo | Talcum powder

Shopping List

By Hayley Skirka

An Update!

Some of The Source Team in an office full of boxes!B

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23thesourceuae.com

SPECIAL FEATURE

By Khudayja Saloojee

DREAMING OF YOUR PERFECT HOME?

Start simpleYou don’t need fancy software to start putting your plans into action. All you need is a pencil and a sketchpad. Brainstorm ideas with your family and make a list of all the features that you would like to incorporate into each room. It will help you get your idea onto paper and into your custom home design.

Plan for the futureThink about the future and how you would accommodate for different scenarios, such as grandparents and grandchildren staying over for short periods of time, taking care of elderly parents or even just accommodating siblings and their families for holiday occasions.

Prioritize featuresWhen building a custom home, it’s all too easy to exceed your budget. With such a huge array of options, it’s important you prioritize the most important features. For example, in my home I would incorporate hidden cabinets and drawers in stair risers or in the pony wall (a wall to separate one area from the other). Another feature I would include is the installation of all electrical outlets inside selected cabinets, leaving the appliances out of sight but ready to use. For you, the priorities might be different.

Be practicalAs you start planning with your designer, consider where various rooms will be located and how your family will function in each space. For example, to reduce noise in the sleeping areas, place the bedrooms away from the communal rooms in the house. My family enjoys nature and we want to wake up to a beautiful view so I’ll ensure that I place the bedrooms overlooking the garden. If you’re the kind of family that tends to gather in the kitchen, an open floor plan with an easy flow between the living room, kitchen and dining area will suit you.

Lighting creates the moodBuild your home so that the rooms reap the benefits of natural light. Houses in cold climates should have windows facing the sun but in hot climates it’s probably better to have your house facing away from the sun.Consider adding skylights in order to maximize the natural light in your home. In addition to skylights, carefully think about how electrical lights will enhance comfort. Consider installing bright task lighting in the kitchen to help with food preparation. In the bedroom, use dimming sconces to create a sense of romance.

I’m contemplating the benefits of owning my own home. At the moment, my husband, two kids and I live in a three bedroom apartment with limited storage space. The kids are getting bigger and my husband and I are in the process of deciding on our next step. Right now, however, we’re at odds with one another. He feels that we should buy a house and make it our own by

adding a few elements here and there. I, on the other hand, have already envisioned my dream home where I can incorporate countless useful features into the structure without worrying about costly installation fees.

If, like me, you’re planning to build your dream house, here are some tips to consider before you start construction.

When you’re planning your dream home, don’t rush. Take your time and talk things through with the designer. If you dislike something, voice your opinion because it’s cheaper and far easier to change plans at this stage than to have to undertake

renovation in the future.

thesourceuae.com24

LIFESTYLE

By Mehak Alam

An astounding mosque, situated in Al Ain and named after the late Her Highness Sheikha Salama bint Butti (may God rest her soul), mother of the late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul) is an absolute visual treat for anyone lucky enough to gaze upon it.

In 2007, the old mosque was torn down and a brand new building opened in the same spot in 2009. The new mosque has huge sandy colored walls that echo the shades of nearby Jebel Hafeet and act as vital insulators to keep out the often scorching temperatures.

The tall minarets are built in traditional Islamic geometrical patterns and are adorned with beautiful, living flowers. The ablution area lies at the center of the mosque’s courtyard and is uniquely shaped in the form of a hot-water fountain. The roof of the mosque is quite special, sloping slightly upwards and inlaid with dozens of tiny windows allowing natural light to filter into the worship area. During the daytime, the doors remain closed and the courtyard is covered with a huge shade in order to protect the building from the heat of the sun.

The entire first floor of the mosque is reserved for women worshippers however the ground floor is open to men. The mosque’s central location in downtown Al Ain means that it’s conveniently placed for worshippers who walk to the mosque but, for anyone visiting from further afield, there’s a huge underground parking lot. With a capacity of 3860sqm, the Sheikha Salama Mosque is the biggest modern mosque in the whole city and is certainly worth a visit to enjoy its unique features and truly stunning design.

At Hili Fun City, classic and traditional family fun is what we're all about. Enjoy unlimited access to more than 30 attractions, ranging from gentle rides for the little ones, to fun family roller-coasters, thrilling rides for teenagers and an amphitheatre for live shows. Our beautifully landscaped and shaded gardens, with designated BBQ areas, are ideal for family picnics.

ANNUAL PASS NOW AVAILABLE

For more info please call +971 3 784 5542 or visit www.hilifuncity.aeFor admission fees, please refer to our website, Wednesdays are reserved for ladies only. Closed on Sundays.

THE STUNNING SHEIKHA SALAMA MOSQUE

MY EMIRATE

OKAVANGO DELTAour neighbours on the

By Roekshana Saloojee

MY WORLD

It’s surprising how little we often know about our neighbours. We probably have plenty in common, yet rarely take the trouble to really get to know each other better. My own neighbour, Botswana, shares a considerable border with South Africa and the two have amicable relations, yet many South African travellers, myself included, haven’t ever explored the tourism opportunities Botswana has to offer.

Recently, I read about an intrepid group of adventurers who decided to conduct the inaugural Wetland Bird Survey across Botswana’s Okavango Delta. This group aim to return every year, during different periods of the annual flood, and collect and compare data about the Delta’s bird life. The trans-Okavango expedition took four years to refine before it became a viable expedition, starting at the village of Seronga on the eastern side of the Okavango Panhandle, down through the village of Jedibe to Madinari Island, Mombo Camp, through Moremi and on to Maun. Specialist guides were required, especially in the unexplored plains of Madinari and Mombo.

The group of four adventurers, from varied backgrounds, were connected by their love of nature and, alongside their three guides, negotiated papyrus jungles, tricky channels, temperamental elephants and threatening crocodiles as they set off to cover 300km in just fifteen days. Their story is the stuff little boys’ dreams are made of and includes close encounters with Africa’s wild, sightings of rare rhinos, hippos, elephants and crocs, watching hyenas vie for a lion’s kill as well as a nervous encounter with a pride of lions! Slowly snaking their way through the Delta on mokoros (boats) the group recorded more than 2500 bird sightings, a truly amazing figure!

After reading about the group, my interest in the Okavango was peaked and I set about discovering more, from the perspective of a regular tourist. Technically, three quarters of Botswana is desert making the Okavango Delta all the more remarkable. The river has its source in the Angloan Highlands and passes through Namibia before forming into the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Nicknamed Botswana’s Garden of Eden and teeming with flora and fauna, it’s no wonder it attracts around 12000 visitors every year.

Delta tourism covers three sectors; hunting safaris, photographic

safaris and, in its infant stage of development, culture and heritage tourism. Hunting safaris entail sport or trophy hunting, game farming and live captures. Tourists in this sector are the highest spenders, paying high fees for hunting licences and often staying in permanent lodges or camps. Photographic safaris generally cover activities around game and scenic viewing and are favored by fixed lodge tourists who stay at permanent camps or lodges and enjoy game drives, mokoro rides, walking safaris and air charter tours. Mobile tourism sees safaris that last anywhere between five and 42 days and are ideal for bird watching, fishing and canoeing. Accommodation consists of camps and lodges.

One of the main attractions, the Moremi Game Reserve, is the first reserve in Africa to have been established by local residents concerned about the rapid depletion of wildlife in their ancestral lands, thanks mostly to uncontrolled hunting and cattle encroachment. It’s the only officially protected area of the Okavango Delta and is of tremendous scientific, environmental and conservation importance. Moremi is very popular with self-drive campers who often combine their stay with a visit to the Chobe National Park in the northeast. The rustic Third Bridge campsite, situated near the pretty Sekiri River and flanked with thick strands of papyrus, is a particular favourite thanks to its resplendent Okavango sunsets.

There is no shortage of accommodation options; you could rough it up with some camping or live it up in a luxurious lodge. Getting there is fairly easy as most major international airlines fly to Johannesburg in South Africa where connecting flights can then be take to Gaborone, Maun, Francistown or Kasane.

I found it challenging to establish the best season to visit. The dry season seems best for game viewing with perfect weather and virtually no rain, which means very few mosquitoes - ideal for avoiding malaria. November to April is the wet season and this is when the Delta is a bird watcher’s paradise with the arrival of migrant species. Roads however become impassable, mosquitoes are out and many lodges seem to close at the height of the rains. Whenever you decide to go, it’s pretty clear to me that getting to know the neighbours is a whole lot of fun when they hold the key to the Okavango Delta.

Setting up camp in Moremi Game ReserveOver 2500 bird sightings

were recorded

Cruising in a mokoro

27thesourceuae.com

MY WORLD

1. THE EXPATRIATE: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00, 24:00

2. THE POSSESSION: 10:30, 12:45, 15:00, 17:15, 19:30, 21:45, 24:00

3. TAKEN 2: 10:50, 13:00, 15:10, 17:20, 19:30, 21:40, 23:50

4. WICKIE & THE TREASURE OF THE GODS: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00

4. THE POSSESSION: 23:00

BAWADI MALLبوادي مول

Tel: 03 784 0300

ROTANA HOTEL & AL AIN MALL

Tel: 03 754 4447 & 03 751 1228

العين مول و فندق روتانا

MOVIE LISTINGSعروض السينما

1. THE EXPATRIATE: 12:15, 14:15, 16:15, 18:15, 20:15, 22:15, 24:15

2. THE POSSESSION: 11:45, 13:45, 15:45, 17:45, 19:45, 21:45, 23:45

3. ARBITRAGE: 11:15, 13:15, 15:15, 17:15, 19:15, 21:15, 23:15

4. WICKIE AND THE TREASURE OF THE GODS: 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30, 23:30

5. TAKEN 2: 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00, 24:00

AL FOAH MALLالفوعة مول

Tel: +971 3 784 3535

1. THE EXPATRIATE: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00, 24:00

2. THE POSSESSION: 11:00, 13:10, 15:20, 17:30, 19:40, 21:50, 24:00

3. WICKIE & THE TREASURE OF THE GODS: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00

3. FOR GREATER GLORY: 21:00, 23:454. FRANKENWEENIE (3D): 10:00, 12:00, 14:00,

16:004. THE RAID: 18:00, 20:00, 22:00, 24:005. AIYYAA (HINDI): 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 20:00, 23:006. ARBITRAGE: 10:30, 12:45, 15:00, 17:15, 19:30,

21:45, 24:007. TAKEN 2: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00,

20:00, 22:00, 24:00

GRAND CLASSBATTLE OF TWO EMPIRES: 13:00,

15:30, 18:00, 20:30, 23:00

The Expatriate, directed by Philipp Stölzl, is an action thriller starring Aaron Eckhart as an ex-CIA agent who uncovers a wide-reaching international conspiracy that puts him and his estranged daughter in danger. They are forced to go on the run when his employer marks them both for assasination.

فيلم إثارة رائع من إخراج “فيليب ستوزل”، وبطولة “آرون إكهارت “ الذي يلعب دور عميل في االستخبارات األمريكية، ويكشف مؤامرات دولية خطيرة مما يعرض حياته وحياة ابنته

للخطر، ويضطران بعدها للهرب بإصدر مديره أمرًا باغتيالهما.

THE MOVIE LISTINGS ARE VALID FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY EVERY WEEK.يبدأ عرض هذه األفالم ابتداًء من يوم الخميس حتى األربعاء من كل أسبوع

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