the power of sports! - gulf times
TRANSCRIPT
February 2016
FREE COPY
SPOTLIGHT
THE POWER OF SPORTS!
AID FOR CHILDREN'S HOME IN UGANDA
THE CAFFEINE CONUNDRUM HOW TO KEEP GADGETS GERM-FREE PARENTING: LOVE AND LOSS
4 Society
5Society
Editor’s Note
Follow us on : www.facebook.com/SocietyMagazine www.twitter.com/Society_Mag www.society.qa
P.12P.25
P.36
Editor-in-chief Darwish S AhmedAGM (Marketing)James John Editor Amjad [email protected] Feature Editor Dr. Sudip N.Copy Editors Rajith RShemna BijithSteve JosephFeature Writer Sami Said AliAdvertising Marketing teamCirculation Manager Adel Hammam
Contributing Writers Editorial Enquiries
Tel: +974 44466413 [email protected]
Advertising Enquiries
Tel: +974 44466620 Fax: +974 44418811 Email: [email protected]
Printed & Published by : Gulf Publishing & Printing Co. W.L.L.
Website : www.society.qa
Marie QuigleyDr. Sunaina Hameed Kelly WrightAdina- Laura AchimHomayra BillahMohammed RefaatMary JayaweeraStephanie HughesShauna LoejSondra HopeAyesha Masood
Design & LayoutJiji Yohannan
MEN TORSon a
MIS SION
Sami Said Ali speaks to the duo who is determined to shape up a healthy and fit community in Qatar, offering a regimen of eating clean and training dirty
February 2016
FREE COPY
SPOTLIGHT
THE POWER OF SPORTS!
AID FOR CHILDREN'S HOME IN UGANDA
THE CAFFEINE CONUNDRUM HOW TO KEEP GADGETS GERM-FREE PARENTING: LOVE AND LOSS
25Society
What does Sports Day in Qatar mean to you? A group of kids in town respond to Ayesha Masood.
Sports, Recreation and kids
Qatar’s increasing visibility in sport is not a new phenomenon or a product of coincidence; it has rather become a strategic approach that moulds sport as a vehicle for development and public relations. Fast becoming one of the world’s leading places to enjoy sports, the country has invested billions in infrastructure over the past several years to support athletic competitions. Among them, the 2006 Doha Asian Games was a turning point for Qatar’s strategy in hosting major sports events. In its preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will be the first mega sports event to take place in the region, Qatar has been successful in securing the hosting rights of various international sport competitions, such as the 2014 FINA Short Course World Championships, the 2015 IHF Handball World Championships, along with the upcoming events such as the 2016 UCI Road Cycling World Championships and the 2018 FIG Artistic World Gymnastics Championships. Indeed, this experience gained from hosting varied sports events along with its abundant infrastructure have led to the emergence of Qatar as a veritable sporting capital of the region and one of the most popular destinations for visiting sportsmen and women, both professional and recreational.
National Sports Day is just around the corner and communities across Qatar are preparing to show their support for sport. Scheduled for the second Tuesday of February every year, this unique day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the power of sport in community building, fortify the nationalistic spirit, as well as encourage healthy and active living. What does Sports Day in Qatar mean to you? We asked this question to a group of children in town, so flip to Page 25 and find out what they have got to say. Moving on to this month’s spotlight story Mentors on a Mission on Page 12, meet Qatar-based fitness coach duo who is determined to shape up a healthy and fit community in Qatar, offering a regimen of eating clean and training dirty.
Happy reading! Darwish S. Ahmed Editor-in-Chief
THe CAFFeiNe CoNuNDRuM
kitchenware, tableware & much more...
Ezdan Mall / QATAR www.thinkkitchen.ca
Liwa Enterprises LLC / Abu Dhabi-UAE / www.liwastores.com
The effect of caffeine on our body is hotly debated and highly controversial even amongst health experts
Art & Architecture Exploring how architecture can engage users in collaborative processes.
In lifeThe effect of caffeine on our body is hotly debated and highly controversial even amongst health experts
Technology How to keep your germ-ridden tech devices clean?
Scope Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Style
Travel
Gourmet The Foodie Trio experienced the best of the menu at Three Sixty, the only revolving restaurant in Doha
Top GearThe “Monster by Mulliner” Continental GT V8 S is a bespoke vehicle that will inspire those who want a ride with a bold look and incredible audio performance designed by Monster
Photo of the issue
Captured by Irfan Ishak
Buoyant
CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2016
54
32
36
58
61FREQUENT FLAIR FOCUS
TOP GEAR
GOURMET
TRAVEL
ART & ARCHITECTURE
The “Monster by Mulliner” Continental GT V8 S is a bespoke vehicle that will inspire those who want a ride with a bold look and incredible audio performance designed by Monster
Feeling the magic of Kenya’s Loisaba Conservancy
The Foodie Trio experienced the best of the menu at Three Sixty, the only revolving restaurant in Doha
Exploring how architecture can engage users in collaborative processes.
IN LIFE
PHOTO OF THE ISSUESubmit a favourite photo you’ve clicked on any topic of your choice for possible publication in an upcoming issue of Society. Send your photos to : [email protected]
Your cam. Your shot
Irfan IshakDoha
Next >>
Follow us on :
www.facebook.com/SocietyMagazine
www.twitter.com/Society_Mag
P.10
P.66
P.32
P.36
P.44
P.46
P.50
P.58
P.61
P.54
SpotlightMenTorS on A MISSIon: Meet Qatar-based fitness coach duo who is determined to shape up a healthy and fit community in Qatar.
reACHInG oUT To THe neeDY: Etihad Airways has launched its community outreach programme in Uganda with donations of air tickets, blankets and school supplies to the Whisper Children’s Home.
THe MAn BeHInD MAnY InVenTIonS: Mohamed Shakir, an epitome of passion for science and compassion, has conquered innovative world of robotics.
Cover StoryDeVeLoPInG An ATHLeTIC PHYSIQUe: The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activities are hard to ignore.
SPorTS, reCreATIon AnD KIDS: What does Sports Day in Qatar mean to you? A group of children in town respond.
Parenting
Talking about a loss or difficult situation with children can be uncomfortable.
Wellness
10 Fun and Exciting Ways to Lose Weight
CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2016
22
28
16
40
COVER STORY
SPOTLIGHT
WELLNESS
PARENTING
10 Fun and Exciting Ways to Lose Weight
Talking about a loss or difficult situation with children can be uncomfortable.
SPOTLIGHT
Scan the Qr Code with your smart-phone or log on to www.society.qa
read Society Magazine online
www.facebook.com/SocietyMagazinewww.twitter.com/Society_Mag
Follow us on :
18
Etihad Airways has launched its community outreach programme in Uganda with donations of air tickets, blankets and school supplies to the Whisper Children’s Home.
P.12
P.16
P.18
P.22
P.25
P.28
P.40
The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activities are hard to ignore. Mohamed Shakir, an
epitome of passion for science and compassion, has conquered innovative world of robotics.
FOCUS
PHoTo oF THe iSSue
irfan ishakDoha
Submit a favourite photo you’ve clicked on any topic of your choice for possible publication in an upcoming issue of Society. Send your photos to : [email protected]
Your cam. Your shot
Men torson a
Mis sion
spotlightFOCUS
12 Society
Saima Bukhari
Men torsMis sion
Sami Said Ali speaks to the duo who is determined to shape up a healthy and fit community in Qatar, offering a regimen of eating clean and training dirty
13Society
Nuwaid Pocker
14 Society
He was like most of the youngsters
who grew up in Doha. At one
point in time he was an avid
footballer and fit to the core. As fast food
culture and eating out habits increased,
Nuwaid Pocker too had to press the
weight panic button. He soon became
aware of his size ballooning up far away
from his fitness proportion. So he deter-
mined to shed off those pounds with
extremely strict regimen. Three months
down the lane, with immense fitness
training, he was there with those six-pack
envious abs, every man dreams of. Nu-
waid’s results were seen in 12 weeks—he
had combined weight-training tech-
niques along with detoxing with back
to basics nutrition, vitamins and weekly
progress checks. Doing a programme
independently was very challenging for
him and he realised that if it was possible
for him, everybody else could be fit as
well! His body became the talk of his
friends and they wanted Nuwaid to guide
them. That’s exactly when he found the
calling of his life.
Saima Bukhari, an International Business
Management graduate and passionate
fitness freak, was intrigued by Nuwaid’s
idea and immediately worked together
to create Qatar’s first transformational
company namely Crunch Doha. This
company came to life providing holistic
programmes with training, nutrition and
motivation.
“What is possible in 12 weeks? How far
would you go to achieve your dreams?
We will change your perception about
yourself, your capabilities, your lifestyle,
your world! This is more than just a physi-
cal change. In 12 weeks we will transform
your life; not just your physique,” says
both the entreprenuers who had gone
through the experience.
Saima who didn’t really need to push
away pounds said that the programme
changed both her physique and energy
levels. “Crunch Doha has put together a
clear-cut plan that takes you step by step
to a brand new you. This is a combina-
tion of eating clean, training dirty and
supplementing naturally. Just follow our
roadmap and our trainers will take you to
your destination,” she says.
“Fitness is like marriage, you can’t cheat
on it and expect it to work” - And that’s
why you need an honest partner, writes
Naveed on the website of Crunch Doha.
Have you ever thought, why every action
movie involving special physical fighting
techniques (Judo, Karate, Ju Jitsu or even
“Fitness is like marriage, you can’t cheat on it and expect it to work”
15Society
tips to hire a trainerWant to hire a personal trainer, but don’t know the differ-
ence between a good or not so good trainer? When hiring
a trainer to overlook your workout, you should first know
‘who’ is a good trainer. Here’s how you can differentiate
according to the Crunch buddies:
Certification and education The first and most important thing is always check the
trainer’s certification that qualifies him/ her to practice this
profession. Though, certifications and educational qualifi-
cations vary from person to person, you can check to see
if you would wish to be associated to that person. It will
broaden your horizon to learn new styles of training too.
Communicative The first step to achieving a rapport with the trainer would
be the communication. Dialogue between the trainer and
you should be free flowing and clear, though a sense of
discipline should be maintained. Set boundaries where
needed to ensure your relationship with the trainer is
sincere. Ensure that you are being educated on posture
and correct style of working out. Failure to learn this and
you will be forever dependent on a trainer to always tell
you what to do.
Attitude A trainer’s purpose is to be attentive and watch you closely.
The attitude a person holds tells you a lot about how they
will be at work. With a trainer, it’s that plus the factor of
warm and energetic body language that comes to play.
receptive Should be aware of your daily life routine and suggest a
programme fit for ‘you’ accordingly.
experienceThe trainer should be experienced enough to handle all
types of situation in the gym. From injuries to motivation,
the trainer’s experience should prepare him/ her all un-
foreseen situations in the gym. In addition, knowing what
type of programmes and results he/she has been able to
provide their clients in the past is a great example of work.
Don’t be shy to talk to his/ her past clients to know more
about the trainer’s style and see if it fits you best.
trustLastly, are you able to trust him? You should feel comfort-
able and have a level of confidence in the person training
you. This plays an important role in your progress. “Always
focus on the front windshield and not the rearview mirror.”
Colin Powell
normal combat) show a trainer who teaches
the protagonist (mostly) the secrets of the
art? It’s because for somethings you need
someone to show you ‘how’ and be a partner
in your success. Remember Mr Miyagi?
Here is why he says that one needs a trainer.
“Every once in a while, when we decide to
get up and be the best versions of ourselves,
the first ‘to-do’ that comes to our mind, is
working out. Looking great has always been
a big part of feeling great about oneself, has it
not? In order to achieve that ‘feel good’ factor
we must workout not just with motivation
but also undying dedication, which eventu-
ally ebbs away when hitting the gym alone.
That’s precisely why having an ‘accounta-
bility buddy’ who is always present pushing
you beyond your limits is a good idea. To get
the best results from your blood and sweat
workout, you need the focus and discipline
to carry on. And that’s where the trainer
comes in.”
“A trainer is the perfect guide for you in the
gym. He/she will know exactly how much
you can take and will push you to fight
through while working out. While on our
own, we tend to let go near the end; get off
the treadmill ten minutes before, stick to the
same weights every day because it is com-
fortable or give our minimum effort to finish
the exercise. Remember, it’s not about being
comfortable but pushing yourself to achieve
what you got into this for!”
“We urge you to take control of your life
and start with your physique, find yourself
a fitness trainer and explain your goals.
Be honest and frank to yourself and your
trainer. Talk with the trainer’s past clients. Be
open to be motivated. And get ready for an
intense and invigorating workout that might
end up changing your outlook about life, for
the better.”
These young entrepreneurs have started a
healthy and scientific regimen to transform
what they call their homeland into the best
it can be! Qatar, a country that focuses so
much into fitness and sports surely supports
the aspirations of these rocking fitness
coaches who put themselves through every
process that they offer to anyone who asks
them for training. Crunching has already
become the talk of the town and it will soon
be a lifestyle for everyone in and around
Doha
16 Society
reACHinG oUt to tHe neeDY
etihad Airways has launched its community outreach programme in Uganda with donations of air tickets, blankets and school supplies to the Whisper Children’s Home in Mutai, in Jinja district, Uganda.
Aimed at improving the lives
of young children in need,
the Whisper Children’s Home
was established in May 2011 to provide
much-needed hope and rehabilitation
support to local children suffering from
malnutrition and living in life-threatening
conditions.
Commenting on Etihad’s support, Veron-
ika Cejpkova, Founder and Director of
Whisper Children’s Home, said: “We are so
thrilled to receive this generous support
from Etihad Airways. The tickets will be
so useful in flying the volunteers and staff
spotlightFOCUS
17Society
from Europe who donate their valuable
time to assist us with our day-to-day activ-
ities at the home.
“We currently look after nearly 30 chil-
dren who are in desperate need of care,
and the school supplies, which include
pens, notepads and colouring books, will
help the children with their education,
and in keeping them entertained.”
The donation to the Children’s Home
falls under the airline’s ‘Giving Together’
Corporate Social Responsibility initiative
which encompasses charitable giving
programmess to selected charities across
its global network.
Whisper rehabilitation Home The Whisper Children’s Home was
established in May 2011 to bring
hope and a fulfilling life to neglect-
ed, malnourished and newborn
children living in life-threatening
conditions. The organisation
recieves its funding from UK, Czech
Republic and England. In November
2011, the organisation opened Whis-
per’s First Child Academy of Hope,
a nursery and primary school for
the children in Kagoma Gate village,
Kakira Sub-County - the poorest
village in Jinja district.
Whisper’s outreach team also
operates an intensive community
support programme on treating
jiggers in six districts throughout the
Busoga region.
More than 200 blankets were handed
over during the visit to the Whisper
Children’s Home, which was attended by
Toyin Alaran, Etihad Airways’ General
Manager, Uganda, Maclynn Kemigisha,
Etihad Airways’ Marketing Coordina-
tor in Uganda, and joined by Luzelle
Boado-Berger, Etihad Airways’ Sustaina-
Toyin Alaran, Etihad Airways’ General
Manager, Uganda, said: “As an airline we
are committed to supporting and making
a difference to the communities in which
we operate. The Whisper Children’s
Home stands out as beacon of hope for
underprivileged children and families in
need in Uganda and we are delighted to
be able to support them in this way.
“The assistance is in line with Etihad Air-
ways’ commitment to support initiatives
that bring about social development and
sustainable betterment of local commu-
nities including education of children and
uplifting the lives of the under privileged,”
Alaran said.
bility Officer, and five members of Etihad
Airways’ iVolunteer initiative, who flew
to Uganda from the airline’s head office
in Abu Dhabi, to provide their time and
support to this initiative.
Since its inception the Whisper’s outreach
team has provided first aid and support
to more than 2,000 children affected
with jiggers (a parasitic flea found in most
tropical and sub-tropical climates), and
improved the sleeping conditions for
hundreds of other local children in Mutai
and other villages across the Busoga
region by providing much needed beds,
mattresses, mosquito nets, blankets and
sheets.
Whisper also provides families with
training on food preparation, personal
hygiene and family planning, teaching
the elderly how to repair their houses, or
maintain a vegetable garden, providing
school transport for children, and food or
firewood to families in need during the
difficult rainy season
One of the volunteers takes a selfie with local village children
Volunteers distribute blankets to schoolchildren at the Whispers Academy in Jinja
18 Society
Technology has evolved and fasci-
nated the world; robotics has been
rearing its head repeatedly to gain
attention to inspire and invent a world of
its own. Mohamed Shakir, Qatar-based
young Indian expatriate, hailing from
the southern tip of India, was immensely
attracted to these elements of science
and began exploring to find his way and
Mohamed shakir, an epitome of passion for science and compassion, has conquered innovative world of robotics, writes Sami Said Ali
tHe MAn BeHinD MAnY inVentions
spotlightFOCUS
Mohamed Shakir
19Society
Mohamed shakir today has published more than 27 scientific research papers and journals worldwide in the areas of robotics, human-robot interaction, biomedical systems etc.
scale his heights that most people cannot
even dream of!
A regular winner at school science fairs
and exhibitions, Mohamed Shakir, loved
mathematics and science in a way his
peers couldn’t relate much. It was during
his first year in college that he watched
the movie, Terminator, which charged
him to think of building something of his
own. Very soon, Mohamed, at the very
tender age of 23, was holding a US patent
for building a ‘robot’ that could control
several other robots, a first time achieve-
ment in the history of mankind. It was
just the beginning for him.
Shakir today has published more than 27
scientific research papers and journals
worldwide in the areas of robotics,
human-robot interaction, biomedical
systems etc. Programming, development
of embedded systems, electronic product
design, are just some of the skills that this
young scientist has acquired through his
dedication and hard work.
Shakir has graduated with PhD from
Petronas University, Malaysia in Electrical
Engineering- specialization in Biomedical
Systems and MS from Washington Uni-
versity USA, after completion of Bachelor
of Technology from MES College of Engi-
neering India in 2005.
Shakir believes in cracking down one’s po-
tential and pursuing that passion in order
to excel in life. “To find the perfect balance
between work, family and passion is the
challenge every man faces. In order to find
results, one should never stop pursuing in
what he believes,” says Shakir.
His latest invention is the “Activsense”
device, an ECG and EEG arrhythmia
Prediction wearable gadget that can be
operated through a smartphone by con-
necting to the mobile application.
“One of my friend’s dad had a silent heart
attack and was hospitalised. When I went
to visit him, he said, “If at all I had known
earlier…” It was those lines that struck me.
I realised that not much prediction ma-
chines are available in medical science,
almost everything are analytical based
devices. I am glad that today, my research
has proved fruitful. My heart attack
prediction system took away almost four
and half years of research. There were
immense moments of frustration, hollow-
ness, but holding your dream tight brings
positive results in the end.”
20 Society
Five years ago, he was a speaker at TED
Talk for the invention “Little Master”
Camel Jockey Robot, a voice command
jockey robot system that will save racing
camels from whipping. “The objective
of my research was to conserve the
traditional camel race without hurting
the animals. The robot can also spin a
whip above the camel without hitting the
animal and this action is enough, coupled
with the voice commands, to motivate it
to go faster. The system consists of solar
panels for recharging the battery during
races, thereby making it eco-friendly. It
is designed to consume less energy for
longer operation.”
Shakir holds more than five patents
including USA, UK, GGC and Malaysia.
He was invited as a Mentor to Micro-
soft headquarters Seattle USA for the
invention of “Gladiator Robot” which is
intended to help autistic children with
disabilities. Shakir has developed lots of
robotic devices to people with disabilities
to help them and to guide them using
science and technology. This includes
a voice operated wheel chair, a smart
watch that helps easy awareness of
surroundings for the deaf, commanding
glasses for the blind to walk without a
stick, and mimicking robot to enhance
skills of autistic children.
Shakir is currently the manager for IT
Skills Development at Qatar Airways.
Prior to joining Qatar Airways, he was a
Research Assistant at Qatar University as
well as a Robotics Engineer at the Minis-
try of Interior in Qatar. He has also worked
as a consultant at MADA-ICT Qatar, Qatar
Scientific Club, TA&M QF, QSTP, EADS-Air-
bus, QMIC etc.
“I love Qatar because of the importance it
gives to education and research. To any
aspiring scientist in the world, Qatar is
the country that will tap your potential
at its best. Qatar’s openness to innova-
tion has been seen by the world as the
country adopted the clock boy, Ahmed
Mohamed.”
While asking what his future research
plans are, he said, “I am glad that I live in
this country. I believe in Allah and pray
five times a day and hope to use my skills
to do something great for humanity.” He
talks further about his other personal
interest, Sufi music.
One thing about Shakir that will surprise
his classmates, instructors and employers
is his ability to design and develop inno-
vative stuff with his innovative mind. A
true Sufi incorporating technology in the
right way, his quest for knowledge seems
unending! Let’s hope his wish for Nobel
Prize will soon become true
Stenden University Qatar offers an excellent connection to the international work field because you learn while practicing and develop your knowledge and research skills. Our courses prepare you for management positions in the international labour market.
Stenden University Qatar offers internationally accredited Bachelor of Business Administration Degrees. Three majors are available:• International Business and Management Studies• International Hospitality Management• Tourism Management
All programmes are recognized by the Supreme Education Council of Qatar.
Tel.: 44888116 - 44888126 | Fax: 44888136E-mail: [email protected]/qatar
Your future begins here
Stenden University Qatar offers an excellent connection to the international work field because you learn while practicing and develop your knowledge and research skills. Our courses prepare you for management positions in the international labour market.
Stenden University Qatar offers internationally accredited Bachelor of Business Administration Degrees. Three majors are available:• International Business and Management Studies• International Hospitality Management• Tourism Management
All programmes are recognized by the Supreme Education Council of Qatar.
Tel.: 44888116 - 44888126 | Fax: 44888136E-mail: [email protected]/qatar
Your future begins here
the health benefits of regular exercise and physical activities are hard to ignore
DeVeLoPinG An AtHLetiC PHYsiQUe
cover storyFOCUS
22 Society
23Society
24 Society
We have all flagged off 2016 with a boisterous start to chasing our resolutions. The gym membership is sorted, many of us go
the extra mile to improve and get that rocking bod; but, regular physical exercise and staying active also reap above-the-
neck benefits. Yes, whilst we are all sweating it out to shape up, regular exercise boosts the functioning of your brain too.
Here’s all that we want you to know about its how and why.
1 reduce stress with resourcefulness We do have tough days at work and feel caught in a rut. One of the foremost and common mental benefits of physical
exercise is stress relief. In fact a game or two of indoor cricket and basketball will ensure a sweat to reduce stress whilst
enhancing the body’s ability to deal with existing and forthcoming stressful situations. The playful and light environ-
ment that games like these provide, work best in beating stress along with breaking out a sweat to burn those unwanted
calories. Well, a game of action with comrades does motivate to do more. Win-win, isn’t it?
2 Discipline is the key Taking part in a form of exercise that you enjoy can help you well. Group
games such as futsal and volleyball develop strong muscles, an agile body
as well as an alert and disciplined mind. Playing with technique builds
self-control which plays a tremendous role in our corporate lives too.
Restraint required to make befitting and benefitting decisions, most of the
time is nurtured in the arena. Revving up the routine in performing physical
exercise needs to be disciplined to make it a habit so that encouraging envi-
ronments prevail and pave way to meet fitness ambitions meticulously.
3 Buck up with confidence Regardless of our age, size, gender and weight; we all are bothered about
our self-worth and should be. On a basic level, regular exercise boosts
self-esteem and improves positive image thus elevating your personal perception of attractiveness. Physical activity
and sports hones the confident streak in you to bring out a winner who will pull through situations despite all odds.
Making the time for a game of tennis or two may not always be possible but it is worth the efforts. Hold that racket and
feel like a million bucks, as getting a happy buzz will instantly pep your mood.
4 Focus is essential Yes, we now know that taking part in physical activities and leading an active life can help improve feelings of self-worth
and foster confidence. Participating in a form of exercise or even group games that demand bustling energy give you
a goal to aim for and a sense of purpose. This in turn keeps up with focus and concentration that go a long way in our
personal as well as professional lives. Corporate journeys are demanding and call for continuous attention spans and
diligent concentration levels. A disciplined routine of physical exercise not only preps up our focus for today’s challeng-
es but also tones up an active physical state to juggle between roles.
5 Prevent cognitive decline No more struggles falling asleep as regular physical exercise can not only help you fall asleep faster but also deepen
your sleep. For all those who find it hard to unwind and hit slumber; an active lifestyle is the key. Also, regular exercise
gears up the brain against cognitive decline. However unpleasant, it is true that as we get older our brains get lazy and an
active lifestyle boosts chemicals that are important for memory and learning. A routine in sports, games and exercise
ensures a fit body along with an agile mind.
6 Get more out of YoU Who doesn’t feel uninspired at their work desks, we all go thru those lows. But the solution might be a physically
active routine. It’s true that people who make time for a workout or a jog are far more productive than their deskbound
co-workers. Even as it gets difficult to make time for that swim or run from your deadline-bound professional lives; it is
worth the while to sneak in a sports or physical activity to reignite the passion for work and efficient deliverables. That’s
a healthy and active body for you along with a performance oriented mind. Who wants this winning formula!
To sum up, exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, stay active, gain health benefits as well as have fun. Pin it to
inspiration and be a part of a team where nobody wants to let down. Sweat sessions, workouts and sports have positive effects on your
body and mind that carry you way beyond the gym and sports courts. Self-confidence, getting smarter at thinking and an energetic
body teamed with a swift mind are just some of the motivations to look at to make time for that much needed regular sweat-out
routine
engaging in any sort of sports will ensure a
sweat to reduce stress whilst
enhancing the body’s ability to
deal with existing and forthcoming
stressful situations
Sou
rce:
Fitn
ess
Firs
t M
E
25Society
What does sports Day in Qatar mean to you? A group of kids in town respond to Ayesha Masood.
Sports, Recreation and kids
cover storyFOCUS
26 Society
Qatar was one of the first countries
in the Middle East to dedicate a
national holiday for sports back
in 2012. Following which every second
Tuesday of February is spent either
playing sports or enjoying sports. With
all the criticism the country receives
over the various sporting extravaganzas
hosted here, we sometimes overlook the
attitudinal changes this dedicated day for
sports in making in the life of people in
Qatar. Qatar National Vision 2030 clearly
indicates the focus that the government
has on Human Development and specifi-
cally Healthy Population: Physically and
Mentally. Has there been an impact?
After work most of the parents are busy
dropping off and picking kids from
various sports activities – it could be a
graceful art form – Ballet or it could be
test of endurance and strength in Karate
or Swimming. There are so many after
school physical activities for kids in Qatar
now than ever before. Some of these
sports centers also offer parallel zumba,
aerobics, and tennis classes for parents.
Despite, the fact that I have been a fairly
good sports person in my school and
college days, as parent I am generally on
of those parents that enjoy people watch-
ing, holding a coffee mug and munching
muffin.
As a parent in a similar situation, I sit waiting
for my daughter to finish Ballet Class,
lot of kids finish their classes and cross
paths with me. It was an opportunity for
me to seize and seek to understand what
sports and recreation meant to this young
individuals. Below is what I heard from the
kids as verbatim, their responses amazed
27Society
choose from, most of the friends I
know choose football. Sports day
brings adrenal rush in me which
gives me a boost”. I also met his older
brother Badis, who also provided a
response that I was very excited to
hear, he said that “Sports, help build
healthy society, it makes a person to
achieve more things and makes them
confident”.
When I finished my short chats with
the kids, I caught up with some parents,
most of them agreed that a dedicated
Acacia, 15 “Exercising, having fun, getting in shape and healthy, being fit, being happy”
Laith, 4 “ Football”, he murmured in his husky sweet voice
Saamia, 6 “It means I have to just play and not just try to win, I have to be nice to others I am playing with”
Kais, 14“Sports Day is going to ASPIRE ZONE and doing some sports I guess and having fun”
Hashem, 13“Every single Sports Day I spent in Qatar, was organised, and we had so many options that we could choose from. Sports Day brings adrenal rush in me which gives me a boost”
Gaith “It means school is closed and we get a day off to do whatever we want”
sports day off, gives them a day to just be
themselves, enjoy various sports, either
playing or watching them. Participating in
sports, be it individual or group competi-
tions are cognitively and organizationally
demanding activities that help encourage
self-discipline and leadership skills. They
believed that such efforts by the country
are helping shape the future generations.
The real results will be visible for genera-
tions to come
me. The questions posed to them were
simple and their responses were insightful,
funny, thoughtful and genuine and every
response has its own beauty,
For a few of them, it was a straight forward
question, what does sports and recrea-
tion mean?
While I was beginning to lose hope in
receiving an insightful response, I met
Hashem , aged 13, “Every single Sports
Day I spent in Qatar, was organized, and
we had so many options and we could
What does sports Day in Qatar mean to you?
28 Society
“When is my mummy coming home from heaven? I’ve been waiting and waiting”A five-year- old who recently lost his mother.
Love and Losstalking about a loss or difficult situation with children can be uncomfortable. read on and find out how to help them deal with grief and tough times
By Homayra Billah
parentingFOCUS
29Society
Most young children are aware
of death, even if they don’t
understand it. Whilst death is
a common theme on television, video
games and even amongst friends, experi-
encing grief firsthand is very different and
often a confusing process for children.
As parents, we can’t protect our children
from the pain of loss, but we can help
them feel a little more secure than they
do feel during times like this. Although
death is the most permanent loss we face,
there are other forms of loss that can be
devastating as well. The most common
for children are moving and divorce.
When adults decide to move or separate,
children usually have no choice but to
accept their decision. Since children have
less time and fewer skills to help them
adjust to these situations, they are more
vulnerable to loss than adults.
Grief due to loss is associated with the
element of ‘transition’ that children face. I
suppose it goes without saying that when
loss is sudden and unexpected, there is
much less time for a child to begin adjust-
ing. The pain from loss is also related to
the nature of the relationship. Children
experience the most distress when they
are close to and dependent upon the one
they are now separated from. If the move
or the separation takes the child away
from the loved one, they may experience
the same intensity of pain as if it were the
case of a death.
Often teachers are the adults most aware
of a child’s pain. Sadness, lethargy, and
learning difficulties can be easily appar-
ent. Loss affects a child’s capacity to thrive
in learning and social settings. Parents
who are often coping with the same loss,
may underestimate the impact of the
loss on the child thinking ‘children are
resilient.’ However this is often where we
go wrong. Underestimating the vulner-
ability of a grieving child will actually
prolong the child’s pain and increases the
probability that the effects of the loss will
persist.
“My daddy says he stopped loving mum-
my so I think he stopped loving me too…”
- seven- year-old whose parents have
separated.
How much our children understand
about death depends largely on their
age, life experiences, and personality.
But there are a few important points to
remember in all cases.
support not resolveThe aim is to support your child through
the grief. Here are I cannot reiterate
enough the importance of understanding
that the aim is not to eliminate the grief
as that is not possible. Instead, aim to be
the helping hand, warm shoulder and
the trusted person for guidance, to help
ease the suffering a little and teach your
children the skills they need to cope.
every child is differentThere is no best way to grieve, and there
are no cookbook approaches to taking
the pain away from children. Children
of different ages have different styles of
adapting and different abilities to under-
stand abstract concepts such as death. It
is important that we as adults understand
this and are willing to alter the ways in
which we show support to ensure it is
most effective for our children.
30 Society
Originally from Australia, Homayra Billah is the founder and managing partner of Kanga’s Pouch Nursery in Qatar. A teacher and busy mum of two, she is passionate about providing positive nurturing environments for children to grow and develop. She began her Qatari adventure in 2008 having taught in Australia for 5 years. Since being in Doha, Homayra has taught at nursery level for 18 months and a well-known British school for almost 4 years before establishing Kanga’s Pouch.
Homayra Billah
Be honestChildren understand when the truth
is being hidden and this does not help
ease the pain. Be honest when discuss-
ing death, divorce or any other kind of
loss. Encourage lots of question asking,
though be prepared to acknowledge that
you may not have all of the answers. It’s
perfectly okay to seek answers to difficult
questions together for reassurance.
explain in child termsA child’s capacity to understand loss and
your approach to discussing it will vary
according to your child’s age. Bear in mind
that until children are about 5 or 6 years
old, their view of the world is very literal.
So when explaining death for example,
use basic and concrete terms. If a loved
one was ill or elderly, you might explain
that their body wasn’t working anymore
and the doctors couldn’t fix it. If death was
sudden, you might explain that because
of this very sad event, the person’s body
stopped working.
Know that they may not understandYoung children often have a difficult time
understanding that all people and living
things eventually die, and the finality
of that concept. So even after you’ve
explained this, children may continue to
ask where the loved one is or when the
person is returning. As frustrating as this
can be, continue to calmly reiterate that
the person has died and that they won’t
come back.
Avoid euphemismsIn the case of death, avoid telling children
that the loved one “went away” or “went to
sleep” or even that your family “lost” the
person. Remember that young children
think very literally. So phrases like these
might inadvertently make them feel
afraid to go to sleep or fearful whenever
someone goes away.
Understand what they meanChildren’s questions may sound much
deeper than they actually are. In the case
of a death, a 5-year-old may ask where
someone is now. Know that they prob-
ably aren’t asking whether there is an af-
terlife. Rather, children might be satisfied
hearing that the person who has died is
not buried at the cemetery. However, this
may also be a time to share your beliefs
about an afterlife or heaven if that is part
of your belief system.
Don’t brush it under the rugDon’t be afraid to talk about death or loss.
Children do not benefit from “not thinking
about it” or “putting it out of their minds.”
Share important facts about the event
and try to get a sense of what the children
think about it and about death in general.
Share some of your own feelings and
thoughts. Sometimes children act as if
they have not heard anything you have
said, but they have. Remember that in the
midst of distressing experiences, children
are not very capable of processing com-
plex or abstract information. Be prepared
to repeat the same information again and
again.
Model the right behaviourIf children sense that you are upset by the
loss, they may not raise the conversation
even when they want to. Be a good role
model, showing children how to express
emotions in a healthy, non-aggressive
fashion. It can be very helpful for children
to know that you have been affected by
the event and that you are willing to talk
about how you feel.
A non-joke matterIf your children come home and explain
that their friend has lost a loved one to
death, divorce or separation, remember
to explain that this is a completely out-of-
bounds topic for teasing. Even if it may
not be normal behaviour for your child
to tease, they should recognise that it is
inappropriate so that they can support
their friend if they are teased. It is also
important to teach children to respect the
grieving process and avoid the emotional
tender spots for a child. Reiterate also that
this will be a long process and a major
challenge for their friend.
Don’t ignore your own griefChildren will often imitate the grieving
behaviour of their parents. It is important
to show your emotions as it reassures
children that feeling sad or upset is okay.
However, reacting explosively or uncon-
trollably teaches children unhealthy
ways of dealing with grief.
Keep as much stability as possibleChildren find great comfort in routines, so
if you need some time alone, try to find
relatives or friends who can help keep
your child’s life as normal as possible.
Although it is important to grieve over the
death of a loved one, it is also important
for your child to understand that life has
to go on.
What to do if the grief doesn’t settle with timeGrief is normal, but if emotional or be-
havioural problems are extreme, persist
beyond six months, or compromise the
child’s capacity to learn, seek professional
help. Some children struggle with adjust-
ment disorder apart from other issues
a medical professional can discuss and
help with.
Death or loss is a sad but inevitable part of
life and too many children are faced with
loss at a very young age. Acknowledge
early on that you cannot shield your
children from the pain and devastation of
death and other forms of loss but that you
can teach them healthy strategies to slow-
ly overcome their pain. And by allowing
and encouraging them to express their
feelings, you can help your children build
healthy coping skills that will serve them
well in the future
Ideas that shape your world start here.
More than 400 students from 37 countries on the Qatar campus
19 Nobel Laureates and 12 Turing Award winners
Programs:Biological Sciences
Business Administration
Computer Science
Information Systems
A global leader in education with 13,000 students across the globe
www.qatar.cmu.edu
“Interactions are the seeds of innovation” - Stephanie AKkaoui Hughes, AKKA founder and lead architect.
Design: AKKA Architects
FLAIRart &
architecture
33Society
Desire paths - as landscape designers and city architects refer to them are created by people and continue to be used because they work better for people. In the book “Universal Principles of Design: 100 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design”, the authors Butler, Holden and Lidwell describe desire paths as “Traces or use or wear that indicate preferred methods of interaction with an object or environment.”Source: www.customfitonline.com
By Stephanie Akkaoui Hughes
Here is one of my favourite stories. An architect was commissioned to design a university campus, so she designs and builds
the different departments. However, contrary to the expectations of the staff and students, she doesn’t design any pathways,
instead she plants the whole campus with grass. After the first semester, path appears in the grass. The architect then comes
back and paves them just as they emerged. Not only were the paths in unpredictable locations, none of them were straight too.
This story beautifully highlights three essential - yet forgotten - elements in the practice of architecture; namely: the intelligence of
users, the honesty of behaviour and the value of time. To explain what I mean, let me take a few steps back.
exploring how architecture can engage users in collaborative processes.
Users Are eXPerts too
“The misconception […] is the notion of
‘independent existence.’ There is no
such mode of existence; every entity is
to be understood in terms of the way it is
interwoven with the rest of the universe.” -
Alfred Whitehead.
In today’s world, we do not exist in iso-
lation, we are all highly interconnected
and deeply interdependent. Think of our
politics, our economies, our environmen-
tal issues, our natural resources and our
human resources. Today’s challenges are
necessarily global and interdependent.
In fact, the root of many of the global
challenges we are facing today can be
traced back to fragmentation. Fragment-
ed activities in various fields such as
urban, educational or scientific develop-
ment cannot lead to long term effective
development. Effective development
calls for coordinated trans-disciplinary
and trans-continental interactions.
Driven by my personal vision I call Archi-
tecting Interaction, I believe in the value
of interactions. Indeed I consider interac-
tions to be the seeds of innovation. In fact,
34 Society
when you think of successful environments, whether working, learning or social environments, there are three forms of interactions
at play; creativity, collaboration & learning. It is at the intersection of creativity, collaboration and learning that innovation can emerge.
Even though interactions are the source of added value, trying to design interactions would be futile. Interactions are not only context
dependent, they are also spontaneous and cannot be dictated. Instead we can design fertile contexts for interactions to emerge in.
Don’t design interactions, instead design the context for interactions.
The question is how can we design the contexts for interactions? I personally believe that the answer lies in the three essential dy-
namics mentioned above: gathering the intelligence of users, harnessing the honesty of behaviour and utilising the value of time.
The three dynamics of creating contexts that foster interactions.
Illustration: Stephanie Akkaoui Hughes
Gathering the intelligence of usersIn 1970, Robert Greenleaf spoke about
the concept of servant leadership. “Good
leaders”, he said, “must first become good
servants”. Servant leadership is a mature,
sustainable form of leadership. Indeed,
to be leaders in the mature sense of the
word, we have to shift from designing for
to designing with, we have to shift our
roles from dictators to facilitators.
So what is facilitation? The campus
story above, offers the three qualities of
facilitation. First, facilitating is creating
incomplete. The architect did not com-
plete the design, she didn’t dictate where
the paths should be. Instead she left the
campus incomplete as an invitation to
the staff and students to participate. Sec-
ond, facilitating is creating impermanent.
35Society
Stephanie Akkaoui Hughes is an architect, entrepreneur and worldwide speaker, based in Amsterdam. After develop-ing her vision on architecture and social development, called Architecting Interaction, Steph-anie founded AKKA Architects. Driven by Architecting Interac-tion, AKKA is dedicated to create spaces that foster interactions, such as collaboration, learning, creativity and innovation. Previ-ously, Stephanie worked at OMA, where she run three projects in Education City, including Qatar’s National Library and Qatar Foun-dation Headquarters.
The architect didn’t cover the site with
asphalt, but grass, which is intrinsi-
cally organic and allows for change
and development. Third, facilitating
is creating imperfect. The paths were
in unusual location and none of them
were straight. Imperfection relates to
human aesthetics, it celebrates texture,
history and the humanity of even
inanimate things. Facilitating is creating
contexts that are incomplete, imper-
manent and imperfect. So to gather the
intelligence of users, strive to facilitate
their interactions.
Harnessing the honesty of behaviourI do believe that users are the experts
in using a space. To make the philoso-
phy of Architecting Interaction reality,
a process is needed, specifically one
that engages the users, visitors and
other stakeholders of every project in
its conception. This is a process of col-
laborative engagement. One of its main
aims is to extract the insights - not the
opinions - of the different stakeholders.
While opinions are subjective views
and judgements based on personal
preferences, insights are objective
reflections made on the basis of an ex-
perience. That is not to deny the deeply
intuitive nature of insights, of course.
The goal of gathering insights is to form
an accurate, detailed and deep under-
standing of the project’s landscape.
Such engagement cannot happen
through conversation alone. The filter
of verbal communication is never
an objective one and often leads to
infinite layers of misrepresentations
and subjective perceptions. The use of
language is a static representation of a
certain situation at a certain moment
in time, through a certain person’s
perception. Insights are to be found not
in conversations, but in behaviours. As
Gregory Bateson - an English anthropol-
ogist and linguist - states “human verbal
communication […] always operates at
many contrasting levels of abstraction”.
Indeed, beyond conversation, users’
insights emerge through behaviour. So
to harness the honesty of behaviour,
move beyond conversations and into
observation.
interactions, we can only facilitate them.
We can do so by creating contexts that are
fertile enough for interactions to emerge
in. I firmly believe that every context
needs to foster interactions, only different
interactions and only to varying degrees.
In fact, the essence of designing sustaina-
bly is creating contexts where interactions
strive. The process of creating such con-
texts needs to gather the intelligence of
users, harness the honesty of behaviour
and utilise the value of time
Utilising the value of time This is the story of Oxford University and
it comes from Gregory Bateson. Oxford
University is a very prestigious college.
One building in particular, aged 150 years,
had a very special roof made out of full
length oak beams. After 150 years, the
oak beams were beginning to rot and fall
apart. The college’s faculty came together
to consult about a suitable solution. They
enquired about costs and only one oak
beam would cost over 100.000 pounds,
because of course full length oak beams
were quite rare. Since the faculty couldn’t
afford such costs, one of the younger
members said, ‘before you take any dras-
tic measures, let me do some research’.
Two weeks later, she came back and said,
‘I’m very pleased we did the research,
because we discovered that the architect
who built this very building 150 years ago,
planted a group of oak trees, specifically
for this purpose’.
This, I believe, is a perfect example of
sustainable design. Sustainability is not a
new concept, it is a very old concept. De-
signing sustainably is creating a system
that can sustain itself over the long term.
The dimension of time, even beyond
ourselves, is an indisputable part of our
responsibility, as architects. Considering
time as a component of any product,
service or system offers an endless added
value. Indeed to utilise the value of time,
we need to foster interactions into the
future.
In many of my speeches, I often ask the
audience “imagine you are standing at
point A with a collection of bricks, you
need to get the bricks to point B with-
out leaving point A, what do you do?”
Unanimously, people say “throw the
bricks”. Then I ask “you are still at point
A, but instead of bricks, you now have a
group of birds. How do you get the birds
to point B, without leaving point A?” This
time, there is a little more commotion in
the audience. Two answers stand out “kill
them and then throw them” and the more
subtle one “throw food and the birds will
follow”. Those two answers illustrate
perfectly the difference between the old
model of leadership - close to dictatorship
- and the new model of servant leader-
ship, i.e. facilitation. We cannot dictate
Did you know that over 2 billion cups of coffee are con-
sumed in the world every day? The coffee industry is
worth over 100 billion US dollars. It is one of the most
sought after commodities in the world, second only to crude oil.
And then, there is the caffeine fix we get from colas, tea, cocoa
and other caffeine containing beverages and confectionaries.
Many of these ‘coffee alternatives’ to caffeine are consumed by
children as well. So I think it is safe to say that we are a planet full
of caffeine junkies!
So is caffeine good or bad for you? The research and statistics
have often swayed on both sides of the debate. But what is uni-
versally accepted is the fact that caffeine is indeed a psychoac-
tive drug and a natural stimulant. It produces effects qualitatively
similar to low doses of cocaine and amphetamine, providing
classic central nervous stimulation. This includes increased ener-
gy, decreased sleepiness, and a better ability to concentrate and
memorize. Those who have a problem with caffeine addiction
and dependency, complain about feeling grumpy and lethar-
gic without having their regular dose of coffee. This led to the
coinage of the urbane term - ‘procaffinating’. It is described as a
tendency to put off doing anything until you have had coffee!
the effect of caffeine on our body — both good and bad — is hotly debated and highly controversial even amongst health experts. opinions vary and there has never been a consensus. so here’s a sum up of current medical opinion.
By Dr Sunaina Hameed, MD, Dip.ABLS (USA)
The Caffeine Conundrum
Here is a list of potential health benefits of caffeine:
1 Coffee definitely fights fatigue.
It increases alertness, and gives
the brain and body an energy jolt.
Even small amounts can reduce
sleepiness, increase alertness
and concentration, and speed up
response and reaction time. It can
also increase reading speed, which
is why it is an all-time favourite with
bookworms!
Caffeine also stimulates the heart, the muscles and the cen-
tres that control blood pressure. A dose of 200-400 mg per
person per day, equivalent to 2-4 cups of brewed coffee a day,
is considered to be moderate caffeine intake. Some studies
suggest this dosage has various health benefits. And other
studies indicate that as little as 250 mg per day (about 2 ½
cups of coffee) may negatively impact our health. So which of
these statements is true? It all comes down to how your brain
and body reacts to caffeine, and this in turn may be geneti-
cally wired. Most people who consume caffeine (including
children) do get mildly addicted to it. This means that without
their daily caffeine fix, people may actually experience
unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This is the primary reason
for coffee being so popular. However, caffeine addiction is
unique because unlike other drug addictions, one does not
need higher and higher doses of caffeine in order to get their
‘fix’. Most caffeine addicts remain fully functional on the same
amount of coffee taken for years on end. During periods
of anxiety and mental taxation, it is normal for people to
increase their intake to 600-1000 mg of caffeine a day. This is
about 6-12 cups of coffee a day. Most of the detrimental effects
of coffee are experienced in this dosage.
2 Caffeine improves short and long
term memory.
3 Caffeine elevates mood and feelings
of wellbeing. Several psychologists
have suggested that coffee has an
anti-depressant- like action on the
brain. One study even suggested that
coffee drinking can lower suicide risk
in adults.
4 Caffeine has pain relieving properties
as well. It is often added to painkillers
and headache medication.
5 Drinking 3 cups of coffee a day can
protect against liver cancer.
6 Drinking 4 cups of coffee a day can
protect against mouth and throat
cancer.
FLAIRin life
36 Society
7 There are studies that indicate that
coffee drinking can protect (not treat)
type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular dis-
ease and stroke. Since these are the
some of the most common causes
of death, it is no wonder that coffee
drinkers have been found to live
longer.
8 Caffeine protects the brain against
Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.
‘Judicious’ use has been recommend-
ed for elderly people, to protect the
brain from age-related memory loss.
9 Caffeine has helped people with asthma,
gall bladder disease, ADHD (attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder) and low
blood pressure. It can also improve the
breathing of prematurely born babies.
0A cup of coffee is full of antioxidants.
Coffee contains Vitamin B1, B2, B3,
B5, folate, manganese, magnesium,
potassium and phosphorus. Having
said that, there is no nutritional need
for caffeine in your diet.
1 Coffee can boost metabolism. It also
has a mild laxative effect. This helps
people lose weight.
1
1
Having coffee at night can make it hard for you to fall asleep, stay asleep or have a deep and peaceful sleep. this could leave you feeling tired and sleep deprived the next morning.
37Society
38 Society
But it’s not all good news. The list of the harmful effects of caffeine is even longer.
1 Caffeine is addictive. For those who are hooked on it, not getting their daily cuppa
can leave people grumpy, tired and lethargic.
2 Caffeine and headaches have a twisted connection. At the right dosage, caffeine
can fix a headache and perk you up. Especially if you are dependent on caffeine.
But too much coffee can give you a headache as well.
3 Although caffeine can act as a pick-me-up for someone who’s depressed; it can
worsen anxiety and trigger panic attacks in those who are prone to it. It can leave
you feeling jittery and on-edge. Too much caffeine will improve reaction time, but
can impair judgment.
4 Caffeine can make your heart race and increase blood pressure. So if you suffer
from arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat, glaucoma or a weak heart, you must stay off
the caffeine. It can worsen some of the symptoms of menopause, like palpitations
and hot flashes.
5 Caffeine can cause digestive distress as well. It can cause or worsen stomach acidi-
ty, nausea and diarrhoea.
6 Caffeine is a diuretic. This means it stimulates the kidneys into producing more
urine and dehydrating your body. This causes thirstiness. Caffeine does not
quench thirst. And it is NOT a cure for a bad hangover.
7 Excess caffeine in your system can lead to weak bones. It interferes with your
body’s absorption of calcium. It also interferes with your body’s ability to absorb
iron and Vitamin C from your diet.
8 Excess caffeine can cause your muscles to ache and twitch. It can flare up your gout.
9 Too much coffee can reduce your chances of getting pregnant. Caffeine can pass
through the placenta of a pregnant woman. In most cases, coffee is safe to drink in
pregnancy. But more than 2 cups a day can slow down foetal growth and increase
the risk of miscarriage. Breast feeding women should not take caffeine to stay
awake at night. This is because the caffeine seeps into your breast milk and will
keep the baby awake and fussy.
1 Caffeine can mess your sleep cycle. Having coffee at night can make it hard for you
to fall asleep, stay asleep or have a deep and peaceful sleep. Caffeine users are more
likely to toss and turn during the night. This could leave you feeling tired and sleep
deprived the next morning. Having more coffee will only make matters worse.
Avoiding caffeine for 24 hours will improve the duration and quality of your sleep.
2 Caffeine Intolerance – True caffeine allergy is rare. What is more common is
caffeine intolerance and certain people are just genetically wired to suffer from
it. Even small amounts of caffeine can cause palpitations, nausea and vomiting,
tremors and insomnia.
3 Caffeine dependence and withdrawal symptoms – While caffeine intolerance is
known, what is more common is for people to develop tolerance to caffeine over
a period of time. This leads to a physical dependence on caffeine and in some, this
can happen with a dose as small as 100mg a day (1 cup of brewed coffee). The term
‘addiction’ would be medically inaccurate in terms of caffeine. You can tell you are
hooked, if you suffer from typical withdrawal symptoms when you try to stay away
from coffee. The symptoms include headache, tiredness, irritability, muscle pains
and stiffness, flu like symptoms, nausea, and a craving for caffeine. The symptoms
can set in as early as 12 hours after quitting, depending on how many cups of coffee you
have in a day. Quitting caffeine altogether
can lead to severe withdrawal symp-
toms, which can leave you functionally
impaired. The right way to come clean is
to slowly reduce your caffeine intake and
gradually switch to decaffeinated coffee.
4 Caffeine overdose – Caffeine overdose
and even death from excess caffeine
has been well documented. This could
be from taking in too much coffee, en-
ergy drinks, caffeine pills or just eating
too much coffee grinds. A dose over
1000 mg can cause an overdose. But
if you suffer from caffeine intolerance,
then you can find yourself poisoned
with a much lower dose. The symp-
toms of an overdose include vomiting,
breathing trouble, convulsions, halluci-
nations and irregular heartbeat. Com-
bining caffeine with certain drugs can
multiply the toxic effects of caffeine, on
almost every system of your body.
1
1
1
1
Dr Sunaina Hameed, MDis a consultant dermatologist and writer based in Bangalore, India.
So, should you be drinking coffee or not? It
all comes down to knowing your limits and
how much caffeine YOUR body can me-
tabolize. In the check and balance of things,
caffeine is more harmful than beneficial.
The best way to have coffee is in the morn-
ing, and once more around late afternoon,
when the caffeine is starting to wear off. Do
not have it late in the evening. Have filtered
coffee, or better yet, decaffeinated coffee,
to minimize the ill effects. Avoid it in case of
pregnancy, diabetes, hypertension, anxiety
or heart disease. Cut back on the amount of
sugar you use in your coffee. Keep in mind
that one or two cups of coffee can improve
memory and concentration. But having
a double dose does not double the brain
boosting benefits. Having too much coffee
is futile and counterproductive. Caffeine is
the only socially acceptable psychoactive
DRUG. Respect your limits and do not
abuse it
THE FIRST FAMILY MAGAZINE IN QATAR
www.society.qa
Follow us on : www.facebook.com/SocietyMagazine www.twitter.com/Society_Mag
wellnessFOCUS
40 Society
Let’s face it, the gym is great
and whilst some people
might enjoy going to the
gym, there are those who dread
setting a foot in the gym. It can
sometimes be an intimidating
and overwhelming experience
especially as a newbie. The good
news is that you aren’t just limited
to a gym when it comes to burning
calories. What if I told you that you
could burn calories, develop some
new skills (or refresh some old
ones), and on top of that, have a good
time.
Research suggests that doing exercises
or activities that you actually enjoy,
has numerous added benefits such as
greater vitality, enthusiasm, pleasure,
self-esteem, and lower levels of stress
hormone cortisol and less bad things
such as tension, depression, and
fatigue. Importantly, if you partake in
activities that you enjoy, you’re also
more likely to exercise longer. And
10 FUN AND EXCITING WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT!
enrolling in a gym is not the only way to lose weight. Here are ten non-gym techniques that will help you shed some extra pounds.
if that wasn’t enough good news,
taking your workout outdoors can
increase your calorie burn, due
to factors such as uneven terrain,
wind and fluctuating outdoor
temperature.
Here’s a list of sports and recreation-
al activities that boast some impres-
sive calorie-burn potential, tone and
strengthen muscles, and will put
your gym workout to shame.
41Society
By Sondra Hope
42 Society
1rUnninGMake the best of the cooler weather in
Doha, by moving your running workout
outside. You will burn more calories, chal-
lenge your muscles more and according
to some studies may even run faster.
Running also gives a fantastic cardiores-
piratory workout. Leg strength and endur-
ance are maximized. Remember to warm
up thoroughly, wear proper running attire
and keep a moderate pace to avoid injury.
Burning about 450 calories every 30
minutes (based on an eight-minute mile),
running is definitely a firm favourite.
2sWiMMinGSwimming provides an excellent overall
body workout, burning up to 360 calories
in a half hour and who doesn’t love
swimming?
Swimming makes for an excellent full-
body cardiovascular workout that targets
all the major muscle groups. It is especial-
ly helpful for those suffering from joint
issues who might find it difficult to do
weight bearing exercises. The buoyancy
of the water cushions stiff joints and bears
most of the body’s weight.
And because water is nearly 800 times
more denser than air, affording water 12
times the resistance of air – and you have
to move your body through it – it’s an
awesome combination of cardiovascular
and strength-building exercise.
3CYCLinGIf you are looking for another option for a
non-weight-bearing exercise, then cycling
might be your thing. It’s simple, fun and
very effective, burning around 300 to
400 calories in half an hour, depending
on speed.
It’s a great cardio workout and it builds
up those quads, hammies and calves, but
unfortunately doesn’t do much in the
way of an upper body work out. Another
advantage of cycling is that you can use it
for exploring new neighbourhoods, bike
paths or for commuting to work. Best of
all, get the whole family to come along
with you!
5snorKeLLinG AnD sCUBA DiVinGSnorkelling and scuba diving offer the
benefits of cardiovascular exercise,
minus the strain of a typical workout. To
move powerfully and efficiently through
the water, you intrinsically adapt and
streamline your body by engaging your
core, glute and back muscles; you also
kick from the hip, rather than from the
knee (like you do when you’re swim-
ming). Using fins increases the resistance
forcing your legs to work even harder to
move through the water.
But there is so much more to it! It allows you
to enter an entirely different world, where
the only sound you hear is the sound of
your breath. It’s a calming, quiet, relaxing
and beautiful world offering a tranquil
escape from the hustle and bustle of every-
day life, and at 170 calories burnt per 30
minutes, what more can you ask for?
4stAnD-UP PADDLe BoArDinGStand up paddle boarding is becoming
more popular each year. Hawaiians have
been using it for years as a means to keep
fit when the waves are not adequate for
surfing.
It can provide you with a very good
overall workout. You will make use of
balance and strength in order to remain
upright and propel yourself in the water.
Paddle boarding will provide you with a
great core workout as well. Almost every
muscle in the body is used at some point.
Your leg muscles will be hard at work
attempting to maintain your balance. In
addition, paddling utilizes the arms, back,
and shoulders to propel the paddleboard
in the water. The core back and abdom-
inal muscles are constantly at work to
maintain your balance.
An additional benefit that it provides
is that it is a very low impact exercise.
Therefore, it is unlikely that you will do
damage to the tendons and ligaments of
your joints.
Burning 250 calories, you don’t need any
more reasons to head down to the beach.
6BoXinGBoxing is one of those fitness trends
that are always in the periphery – never
completely fading out of sight, but never
taking the world by storm. That’s starting
to change.
Boxing as a fitness activity enables the
average person to hone skills such as
athletic prowess, strength, speed and
agility, all without having to take a punch.
If you’re hoping to get in great shape and
improve your health, you just might want
to sign up for a membership to your local
boxing gym.
If you are game enough to step into the
ring, you’ll be rewarded with a 324-calorie
deficit for every half hour of slugging it
out boxing. In addition, your cardiorespi-
ratory fitness and muscular endurance
will go through the roof.
43Society
7roWinGRowing on the open water is the perfect
activity to keep in shape, lose weight,
cross-train for another sport, compete,
or recover from an injury or surgery. Be-
cause it is a low-impact activity, you can
row at any age despite specific physical
challenges.
Open water rowing is a full body work-
out, toning your arms, legs, chest, back,
and abs. Rowing is also recognized as a
complete cardiovascular workout which
is highly aerobic and burns calories
quickly. What most people don’t realize is
that rowing improves joint health through
a wide range of motion. In addition, open
water rowing relieves stress and allows
you the opportunity to remove yourself
from the world around you, to connect
to the calm and quiet of the water, and to
meditate through the rhythmic, repetitive
motion of your stroke.
Burning about 280 calories per half hour,
rowing is a very effective way to rid your-
self of extra energy.
8iCe sKAtinGIce skating is a hugely popular activity
that forms the basis of many winter
sports, including figure skating, ice
hockey and speed skating. Ice skating is
an accessible and social pastime which
offers a diverse range of health and fitness
benefits. Whether you hope to improve
balance, strengthen leg muscles or gain
nimbler footwork, it could be time to get
your skates on!
Ice skating gives you all the benefits of
running without the joint stress. A half
hour on the ice consumes about 252
calories. Skating provides an excellent
workout for your thighs, calves, ham-
strings and buttocks. The twists and turns
also tighten and tone your abs. Holding
out your arms helps you balance and also
works the deltoids, biceps and triceps.
9HiKinG“Hiking is a wonderful way not only to
participate in aerobic exercise, but also to
clear your head,” says board-certified fam-
ily physician Ray Sahelian, MD, who not
only recommends hiking to his patients
but also practices what he preaches by
hiking regularly in the mountains near his
Southern California home.
A great combination of strength-building
and cardiovascular exercise, hiking can
burn nearly as many calories as jogging.
Although hiking can be challenging and
you can get a good sweat going, it’s also
relaxing, offering the calming sights and
sounds of nature, and providing a won-
derful break from the stresses of day-to-
day life. Hiking works the leg muscles and
abs, as well as building cardiovascular
endurance. To really target those muscles
and burn a ton of calories, choose hiking
territory with some hilly terrain. If you’re a
beginner start with shorter, relatively easy
hikes and build on difficulty and distance
as you become more experienced and fit.
10tennis Tennis is one of the most popular sports throughout the world and is played by millions
of people at all levels of ability. Tennis is traditionally referred to as a sport for a lifetime
because once learned the majority of people maintain the sport throughout their life.
Join the millions of people who are onto something good!
According to scientists from a variety of disciplines, (just Google “benefits of tennis – but
not now… keep reading) tennis is still one of the best sports anyone can choose to play.
A tennis workout is THE total body workout providing physical, mental and emotional
benefits.
So don’t just watch those gorgeous tennis players sweat it out on the court, pick up a
racket and challenge a friend or neighbour to a game. Tennis is a serious calorie-burner,
and calls for repeated bouts of high intensity activity. Tennis also tones the arms, shoul-
ders and back, and is a heap of fun whether you’re an ace or a novice.
Tennis burns about 270 calories and improves speed, co-ordination, and balance.
The reason routines get boring is because, well they are routines! The moment you start
feeling an obligation to do something, you don’t want to do it anymore. Same exercises,
same music at the same time every day; exercising becomes an obligation that turns
into a punishment. If you’ve tried gymming and failed, maybe it’s time to experiment
with something new
Sondra Hope is a Qatar-based international certified fitness and health coach, specialising in personal, sports and child nutrition. She is the founder of HopeFit, which specialises in online and personal training and nutrition coaching. In her spare time, she also does motivational speaking, spends time with her other passion, Pixal8 Photography, as a professional photographer, and dabbles in painting and fine art.
44 Society
How to keep your germ-ridden tech devices clean? this is the time of year when the latest generation of technology swamps our homes. this may be because you belong to the 85 per cent of people who go to the post-holiday sales or because you have received a lot of tech gifts. But in this madness of new-fangled objects, what should you observe when it comes to hygiene?
FLAIRtechnology
45Society
earphonesWhy are they dirty?Wearing earphones or headphones can be a setup in causing acne breakouts and skin infections. This happens as the sweat and moisture collected around the earphones compresses your skin and encourages bacteria to multiply, accord-ing to a dermatologist at the skin care advisory board, simple.
smartphones and tablets Why are they dirty?Studies found that smartphones can be covered in up to ten times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Also, an analysis of handset devices found out that almost one quarter had ten times more bacteria than the accepted TVC for bacteria to meet proper hygiene.
To help you with that www.helpling.ae, the leading online platform for booking cleaners in the UAE, provides the DOs and DON’Ts on
how to stay hygienic, with your new high-tech hoard.
Do:Use a cloth, dipped in soapy water to wipe the earphones. Also a make-up removal tissue can work wonders.If there are silicone detachables or if you need to deep clean in the metal parts, you can also a dry brush – but take care in the process; you may damage them!
Don’t:Don’t share earbuds! According to a study, harmful bacteria can transfer quite easily from one’s ear to another.How often should I clean my earphones?Over-the-ear headphones should be wiped daily and also your skin must be cleaned to avoid transferring the bacteria. For a more complete cleaning and for simple headphones, once a month works fine. If you have leather mufflers, then a weekly wipe would be advisable.
Do:• Use a microfiber cloth, to clean the screen, regularly.• To a deeper clean, make sure your device is off. Then disinfect and remove excess dirt by using a mixture of water alcohol or water and vinegar – just a little bit!• When you do a full fully cavity clean of the phone, make sure you turn it off, and remove the battery, sim card and co. Use a cotton bud to get those has to reach places.
Don’t:• Don’t spray cleaning solutions directly on the screen, put it on a cloth first and then clean. Droplets may get into places like speakers and microphones and dam-age the equipment.How often should I clean my phone?Every other day wipe the screens. For deep cleaning, set regular periods (every one or two weeks) depending on how much you use it.
Laptops/notebooksWhy are they dirty?Your notebook keyboard holds 5 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Studies have found more than 3,000 organisms per square inch on keyboards and more than 1,600 on mice. They can lead to diseases and food poisoning as the organ-isms can be transferred when you touch your mouth or eyes.
Do:To clean the screen, mouse and other flat surfaces, the same process described above works fine. For the keyboards:• Make sure the notebook is off/keyboard is unplugged.• Clean the keyboard using a big soft brush (makeup brushes work well) to dust it or you can spray compressed air to remove the dirt between the keys, this also works to clean inside your mouse• A cloth with alcohol can be used to remove stains, but don’t few drops.
Don’t:• Don’t try to vacuum your keyboard or notebook pad with a normal vacuum cleaner, it can potentially damage the components.How often should I clean my notebook/laptop?Once a month, or more, depending on how often you have lunch on it!
smart WatchesWhy are they dirty?In the same respect as a smartphone, the screens of smart watches have a lot of interaction with your fingers, picking up grease and general grime. In addition, the strap on the watch collects a lot of sweat and dead skin.
Do:• Diluted soap in tepid water or a 1-20 solu-tion of vinegar and water should clean up most areas on your smartphone• Clean the straps vigorously, as they col-lect a lot of dirt and mildew on them
Don’t:• Soak your smartwatch if it isn’t water-proof – you will break it!• Soak leather strapped watches – you may ruin them. Instead wipe them down with a cloth dipped in the aforemen-tioned solutions
How often should I clean?You should wipe the screen daily, to remove any unpleasantness, clean the wristband once per week and give it a
deep clean once every half year or so
1
2
3
4
46 Society
sometimes the best way to your loved one’s heart
is through a carefully chosen gift. We round
up some of the top love tokens for your perfect
match.
JUNIPER BOOKS Classic Love Stories Set
HAPPY PLUGS Made To Order 18K Gold Earbuds
NAMSHI,SWAROVSKIDarling Studs
Eugenia Kim M’O Exclusive Limited Edition Customizable Sunny Hat
SMYTHSON Red Panama Collection Leather Luggage Tag
Goldgenie 24k Gold 64GB Black or White iPad Air 2
AQUAZZURA Wild Thing Suede Sandals In Pink
PIERRE HARDY Kid Suede Skinissimo Ankle Strap Sandals
TATA HARPER Personalized Skincare Collection
Namshi, Ginger (red fringe)
FLAIRscope
JOHANNA ORTIZ Silk Off The Shoulder Bougavillea Embellished Dress
Eugenia Kim M’O Exclusive Limited Edition Customizable Sunny Hat
DEAKIN & FRANCIS Good Heart And Bad Heart Sterling Silver Cufflinks
NAMSHItommy hilfiger
HUNTING SEASON Horn Square Table Lighter
GOLDGENIE Made To Order 24K Gold
Racing Bike
JAMIE CLAWSON Made To Order Python Leather Dartboard
BACCARAT Limited Edition Harcourt Crystal Chess Set
NAMSHI Nike shoes
SMYTHSON Red Panama Collection Leather Luggage Tag
48 Society
if you are the one who hates to go
for old-fashioned roses and chocs,
here are some more offbeat
offerings.
ELENA VOTSI Eros Envelope Pendant With
Pink Sapphire
NamshiLa Mer Collections
LYDIA COURTEILLE Surrealist Collection Red
Sapphire Earrings
Virgin ME Valentine’s Gift Set
Rometti Ceramic high heel boot vase done in
collaboration with Chantal Thomas the well known
lingerie designer
Ralph Lauren New Romantic Chandelier
49SocietyAvailable at :
VL1601Simple, yet adorable set that speaks volumes about your never ending bond of love
VL1619Entwined heart-shaped diamond pendants showcasing eternal love
VL1618Entwined heart-shaped diamond pendants showcasing eternal love
VL1605Steal the heart of your loved one with thisstunning piece of art
Surprise your sweetheart with one of these splurge-worthy luxe gifts
VL1604This quartet heart-shaped diamond pendant is an exclusive gift you can ever give to the love of your life. Available in two different colour tones
50 Society
FLAIRstyle
NOW OPEN at CITY CENTER
51Society
NOW OPEN at CITY CENTER
52 Society
FLAIRstyle
NOW OPEN at CITY CENTER
53Society
NOW OPEN at CITY CENTER
• Handcrafted by Bentley’s Mulliner Division and inspired by Monster
• Spectacular limited production vehicle designed to appeal to young professional athletes and musicians
the “Monster by Mulliner” Continental Gt V8 s is a bespoke vehicle that will inspire those who want a ride with a bold look and incredible audio performance designed by Monster.
tH
e M
on
ste
rFLAIRtopgear
54 Society
The Monster, high-performance
audio manufacturer, has teamed
up with Bentley Motors’ bespoke
coach-building division, Mulliner, to
create a stunning and uniquely Mon-
ster-inspired “Monster by Mulliner,”
which makes its debut at the Consum-
er Electronics Show (CES) 2016. The
show-stopping Bentley Continental GT
V8 S, which reflects Monster’s attitude of
“Always Lead, Never Follow,” is designed
to appeal to the target market of young
professionals and movers and shakers in
sports and music. The “Monster by Mul-
liner” Continental GT V8 S is a bespoke
vehicle that will inspire those who want a
ride with a bold look and incredible audio
performance designed by Monster.
Monster’s latest innovations in audio
technology bring the power of today’s
music into this Bentley’s luxurious cabin.
All genres of music, including Hip Hop,
rap, EDM and Rock, will be heard with
55Society
56 Society
new ears via this custom sound system
not available in any production car in the
world. A total of 16 hand selected Monster
speakers, personally tuned by Head
Monster Noel Lee, deliver 3,400-watt of
awe-inspiring Pure Monster Sound—the
company’s signature audio profile.
Embodying the distinctive Monster
colour scheme of red and black within
the cabin, Mulliner’s capabilities and skills
are showcased by the Hotspur Conti-
nental GT V8 S Beluga hide and steering
rim colour selections. Based on the
Monster logo, Mulliner created a unique
3D laser-etched fascia panel designed
exclusively for this vehicle, perfectly
complementing the Piano Black finish.
The Continental GT V8 S also features the
Monster motto: “Always Lead, Never Fol-
low™” and “Monster by Mulliner” headrest
embroidery.
interior and exterior While the interior boasts high quality
sound and extraordinary details, the ex-
terior exudes a stunning colour scheme
and intricate flourishes. Its Onyx exterior
coloured paint is highlighted with Hot-
spur accents including a unique body kit
57Society
and radiator shell bezel. Along with red
brake calipers and a gloss black polished
wheel, the black bonnet vents are also
stylized. This vehicle also includes the
GT Design Seat by Mulliner. There’s even
a special compartment that houses
Monster’s Newest 24K gold wireless head-
phone—keeping it ready for mobile use
anytime one is away from the car.
Head Monster Noel Lee noted: “Monster
is proud to collaborate with Bentley on
bringing the sound and look of a Monster
ride to those who want something bold
and different. With our Pure Monster
Sound system, the drive will be truly
incredible and brings a new level of ex-
citement to the driving experience. That’s
why this collaboration for the Continental
GT V8 S is such a perfect fit. Our Monster
motto ‘Always Lead Never Follow’ has
never been more appropriately applied
than in association with this impeccably
designed automobile.”
Geoff Dowding, Director of Mulliner, said:
“The inspiration for this Mulliner commis-
sion came from a meeting with Monster’s
CEO Noel Lee at Pebble Beach in 2015,
where we exchanged business cards.
The card contained several brand details,
such as the Monster-pattern design and
the red, black and silver colour scheme. It
was the ideal starting point from which to
create this incredible vehicle.”
rare by design Mulliner exists to respond to the re-
quirements of Bentley’s most discerning
customers. The specialist division’s
Limited Editions reflect carefully chosen
and inspirational themes. Individually
these might have special significance for
customers in specific markets, but what
they all share is the highest standards
of Mulliner craftsmanship – taking the
concept of Bentley luxury and pushing it
even further.
Mulliner Limited Editions are rare by
design and, as a result, they all have the
potential to become instant classics,
desired by many but driven only by a
fortunate few
58 Society
Feeling the magic of Kenya’s Loisaba Conservancy By Mary Ann Anderson
eXPLorinG KenYA
in the stillness just before dawn, the daz-
zling stars of Orion illuminate the African
sky. In the Hunter’s company are neigh-
bouring constellations of Taurus, Monoceros,
Lepus, Gemini and Eridanus and what surely
must be a trillion stars. The heavens are
ablaze in natural brilliance, as nary a single
manmade light tarnishes the night sky.
The air is cold as the first rays of sun
brighten the horizon. As I tug the blankets
tighter for warmth, from afar an almighty
roar cuts the silence of the early morning.
A lion is on the prowl, and I shiver as I
listen to him, spellbound by the sheer
power of his voice. Soon after the sounds
of the lion fade away, I am fully awakened
by the first chirps of the dawn chorus, a
melodious hallelujah choir of go-away
birds, doves, hornbills, weavers, rollers and
sunbirds.
This is the song of Africa, and as the sun
rises I hear it all from the safety of a hand-
crafted four-poster star bed perched high
FLAIRtravel
59Society
on a platform at the Loisaba Conservancy
wilderness in Kenya’s Laikipia County.
Just imagine lying on a big, comfortable
bed in the open with nothing but diapha-
nous mosquito netting between you and
nature. On any given night, and practi-
cally within an arm’s length, the growling
lions are joined by screaming hyenas,
grunting hippos and rumbling elephants.
That is the pure magic of a star bed. I had
traveled to Loisaba with friends who are
fellow nature geeks like me. We were
not only to see the wildlife and immerse
ourselves in Kenyan culture, but also to
see firsthand how community conserva-
tion works.
During our stay at Loisaba, we meet
Charles Oluchina, director of Africa field
programs for The Nature Conservancy.
“Loisaba is a magical place,” he tells us
over morning coffee. “It’s attractive and
has a lot of character with steep valleys,
open plains and river systems.” The word
Loisaba, which in Swahili translates to
“seven stars,” honors the Pleiades, the
cluster of ice-blue stars also known as the
Seven Sisters in Greek mythology.
“You can see the Seven Sisters beautifully
from here,” says Tom Silvester, Loisaba’s
exuberant and always smiling manager.
“Think of it as sleeping in the biggest
bedroom in the world.”
The 56,000-acre Loisaba, just north of
the equator and close to Mount Kenya, is
unlike the tourist-infused Maasai Mara in
the lower reaches of Kenya or the equally
popular Serengeti in Tanzania.
There are no great herds of tourists here,
so you truly feel as if you’re in a world of
your own. You have those 56,000 acres
pretty much to yourself and just a few
other guests and the wild creatures and
hundreds of bird species of the Kenyan
plains. The unfenced Loisaba is remote,
and since it’s on the fringes of the true
Kenyan wilderness, there are no great
herds of animals, either, as you would see
stampeding the Mara or the Serengeti.
Don’t misinterpret that to mean the
animals aren’t here, because they most
certainly are, and it’s a special thrill to find
them. On game drives we see Grevy’s
zebra, graceful giraffe, greater kudu,
wild dogs, hartebeest and Cape buffalo,
their horns curling like an out-of-control
mustache. Big cats and little cats live on
Loisaba, including leopard, cheetah,
serval and caracal, and the lion popula-
tion, Oluchina explains, is one of the most
stable in Kenya.
Loisaba also carves out a portion of the
historic elephant migratory corridor of
Kenya’s wilderness and supports the
country’s second largest elephant popula-
tion, only after Tsavo. On one game drive,
our small ladies-only group rounded
a curve in a dirt road and came upon a pa-
rade of tuskers so close we could almost
touch them.
This closeness with nature is why the
sanctuary-like Loisaba is so special. And,
60 Society
like most of the conservancies and lodges
in Kenya, there is always a back story, this
one dating only to the 20th century but
on ancient lands that are much the same
as they were a hundred, a thousand, even
10,000 years ago.
Today’s Loisaba was originally owned by
Carletto Ancilotto, an Italian count who
first visited Kenya in the 1960s. Kuki Gall-
man, his neighbor and friend who wrote
“I Dreamed of Africa,” says that Ancilotto
was passionate about hunting, fishing and
shooting. He came to adore the land and
its dramatic landscape of high plateaus
with views to forever, acacia woodlands
and volcanic rocks blasted from Mount
Kenya in its last eruption more than 2
million years ago. He built a cattle ranch at
Loisaba, with the bovines sharing the vast
wilderness with the local wildlife.
Age caught up with the count, and in the
late 1990s his daughter Luisa, rather than
selling Loisaba to developers, negotiated
to transfer the property to the Loisaba
Community Trust with the help of the
U.S.-based The Nature Conservancy and
the Kenya-based Space for Giants, an
elephant conservation group. The name
of the ranch was changed to Loisaba,
and thus began building the model for
sustainable community development,
conservation of wildlife habitat and espe-
cially for the elephant migration path that
passes through here, and, especially to
the delight of nature nerds everywhere,
safaris and tourism.
“Tourism support helps make Loisaba a
self-sustaining engine for peace, commu-
nity development and wildlife conserva-
tion,” Oluchina says. “This is an innovative
example of how Africa can both preserve
its heritage and create economic oppor-
tunities for its people.”
The star beds are a critical part of Loisa-
ba’s tourism program. Silvester explains
that while plenty of lodges throughout
Kenya and even across Africa now have
their own versions of star beds, the idea
originated at Loisaba and provided jobs
for local Maasai and Samburu tribesmen
of building the beds.
In addition to more than 200 jobs created
within the local community since Lois-
aba began in 1998, Loisaba has been in-
strumental in building schools and health
care clinics and providing managed
grazing access for neighboring communi-
ties of Samburu and Maasai farmers. All
of that is possible with the support from
TNC and Space for Giants, plus that of the
Loisaba Community Conservation Foun-
dation, tourism operator Elewana, and
the Northern Rangelands Trust, which
develops community conservancies in
northern Kenya.
“Our hope is to also create additional
community conservancies in the area
surrounding Loisaba as a means to
secure grazing lands for local people and
provide improved governance and grass-
roots decision-making,” says Silvester.
“We are working closely with Northern
Rangelands Trust to expand their proven
model of community conservation. The
Nature Conservancy brings us these rela-
tionships. The future potential to scale up
our impact is very exciting.”
In those respects, Loisaba isn’t just
another African safari. Every single dollar
goes toward the greater good of the entire
Loisaba community.
“Even if you come here and have a beer,
the money goes back into conservation,”
says Silvester. “There is a real linkage
between science and tourism. Loisaba
is conservation forever, conservation for
people and wildlife.”
There’s more to do for tourists at Loisaba
than drinking beer, sleeping in star beds
and going on game drives, certainly,
including visiting nearby villages for
glances of traditional African life, riding
camels or horses, and fishing or rafting on
the Ewaso N’giro or Ng’are Narok rivers.
But it is the game drives with which I’m
truly enamored.
The typical day begins with a very early
morning game drive, just before sunrise.
They sometimes last for hours, depend-
ing upon the wildlife patterns. During the
day, the animals slumber under shade
trees to escape the hot African sun. In the
evening the critters awake and they, along
with the nocturnal creatures of the night,
become more active and join together
across the plains and at watering holes
in a naturally orchestrated ballet in the
bush. Then in the waning light the driver
finds the perfect spot for sundowners, the
safari version of happy hour, complete
with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres served
in the vibrant light of sunset.
No two game drives are ever the same,
and on one of our final days at Loisaba
we were afforded the most memorable
moments of our journey — and for me, of
my lifetime.
As we drive away from Kiboko that
morning, our goal is to find lions. After an
hour or so, we come to a stand of dense
brush and huge, sharp rocks. Yusuf, our
driver-slash-professional wildlife guide,
manages to sidestep the largest of the
boulders as we crawl along slowly and
carefully, and he’s always scanning the
bushes for simba, the Swahili word for
lion. But the lions, their tawny hides
blending in with the warm, rusty colors of
Africa, prove elusive and we don’t catch
even a glimpse of one.
“Clever lions,” Yusuf says in a low voice as
we head back to the lodge for a big, boun-
tiful breakfast of eggs, bacon and toma-
toes. For the moment, we are outsmarted
by Mother Nature.
Not to be outdone, Yusuf is determined
to find simba on our evening game drive.
There we are, bumping along the rocks,
when he points to a spot underneath a
tree. There lay a lioness, beautiful and
golden in her majesty. As we draw closer,
immediately we see that she has several
awful, gaping wounds, and it is clear that
she is in a great deal of pain.
“I think she’s been in a fight with a buffalo,”
Yusuf says as we watch her lick her
wounds and roll over in an attempt to get
comfortable. “She’s been tossed around
pretty badly.” Then, drawing on his knowl-
edge of many years as a tracker, he states,
“She is dying.”
The one thing that guides cannot do is
interfere with nature’s balance. We watch
her for a long while, knowing it would be the
last time we would ever see her. Only when
darkness threatens to envelope us do we
finally drive away. Mother Africa had taken
back her child, and it is difficult to compre-
hend the utter sadness of it all while at the
same time reveling in its stark beauty. And it
was there, on a dust-cloaked Loisaba road,
that I cried for a dying lion
61Society
Height of
Delight
The Foodie Trio experienced the best of the menu at Three Sixty, the only revolving restaurant in Doha. Sami Said Ali writes
FLAIRgourmet
62 Society
A stylish and intimate restaurant
offering guests an indulgent culi-
nary experience with 360 revolv-
ing views of the city. The restaurant has
set industry benchmarks for revolving
restaurants worldwide and continues to
impress diners with innovative modern
inspired menus and excellent service.
In the kitchen, traditional techniques
are combined with contemporary flair
to create seasonally changing menus
utilising the best in fresh produce. At 300
meters high and with 360° panoramic
views across Doha, The Torch is haven for
discerning travellers, from sports enthu-
siasts and business leaders, to health and
wellness seekers. Currently Qatar’s tallest
landmark, the hotel is the centerpiece of
Doha’s majestic Sports City – Aspire Zone
– and provides guests with a truly unique
experience. Located on the 47th floor,
Three Sixty is the only revolving restau-
rant in Doha, offering a unique experi-
ence that’s a must for visitors.
No wonder the Foodie Trio had wanted to
try out this fine dining spot for a long time.
The high speed elevators that took less
than three quarter of a minute to reach
the 47th floor, opening to the reception of
Three Sixty was a surprise in itself.
As they settled on the table, the signature
cocktail of lemon, ginger and mint await-
ed the Foodies. Arun Chandramohan,
Senior Sales Manager joined the team for
the casual pleasantries explaining the
history of the venue. As the chat went
on, the first dish of the evening arrived.
The Foodie Trio were having their first
time, tasting langoustine soup. And they
could not stop praising the experience.
Subtle flavourings of garlic with strong
tomato base enhanced the taste buds to
a lingering experience. The presentation
of the soup was equally another feasting
experience. Keep it light and delicious
seemed the motto of the restaurant.
The next dish was true to the statement.
When the chef announced Mediterra-
nean tart, the Foodie Trio was curious
of how it would be. A fusion of various
traditions, the tart is a recipe sure to be
loved by everyone. “It has a unique taste,
something that everyone can relate to,”
said the Writer Foodie. The Photographer
Foodie nodded and was sure that there
were caramelized onions in the tart that
made him remember home. The Analyst
Foodie was amazed by the blend of so
much of different tastes into a tart shell.
“This feels so healthy and light on stom-
ach,” he said. The plates were spotless to
its detail as it was cleared from the table
for the main course.
The main course was another first time in
the lives of Foodie Trio. The venison meat
aka deer meat was the choice of both
Photographer Foodie and Analyst Foodie
while the Writer Foodie opted for Veal
scaloppini with saffron fettuccini. The
venison steak is rarely available at res-
taurants in Doha and is one of the unique
63Society
factors that pulls the crowd to this
revolving restaurant. “Hunted and
game meats are our specialty and
we ensure everything we serve
is the best quality available. Very
soon, we are going to have a festi-
val serving rare meats including
crocodile meat to our guests. It
will be a rare exploring opportuni-
ty for food lovers,” said Chathura
Weerasekara, Specialty Chef for
Three Sixty, Panorama & Sky at
The Torch Doha.
“Doha bustling with so many
options to dine in, we need to get
competent and create opportu-
nities for people to explore. Also,
being a fine dining restaurant, we
need to ensure the qualities of in-
gredients are prepared perfectly
to suit the taste of the guests,” said
the chef enthusiastically.
The venison steak was yummy
with its distinct taste and unique
flavour while the veal was juicy
and succulent. The Foodie Trio
was trying to enjoy the steak in its
full and happy that their first time
was eventful. They were full in
no time.
It was time for desserts. “Wait and
see the fusion in our desserts,”
said the chef smilingly. The
desserts, on the road to the
table of Foodie Trio, were Ginger
Crème Brulee and Chocolate and
Passion Dome. The Crème Brulee
with its ginger twist had lemon
verbena ice cream, fresh berries,
mango slices and fruit sauce was
a festival of flavours. The Choc-
olate mousse with passion fruit
and green tea sauce is a must-try
for choco-lovers.
As the evening faded away re-
volving around the Doha skyline,
the Foodie Trio couldn’t help
but wonder the development of
the city of Doha. Throughout the
evening they had been viewing
the unending streetlights in the
backdrop of their dinner. Qatar is
no doubt one of cities in the world
with a promising future, they
reminisced. Bidding adieu to the
team, they promised themselves
to check out the other dining
options at the Torch premises. It
was an elegant location where
one could have their private eve-
nings with loved ones or business
meeting lunch with colleagues.
Your need is served panoramical-
ly at this marvelous venue
Leading the culinary team as Specialty Chef for
Three Sixty, Panorama & Sky at The Torch Doha,
Chef Chathura Weerasekara has 16 years of culinary
experience. He completed Advanced Culinary Edu-
cation Programs at the Melia Hotel in Dubai as part of
the Tour with Michelins Star Chef Frederic.
His previous projects include The Meat Co, Emirates
First Class Lounge as Sous Chef de Cuisine in Titanic
Restaurant by Marco Pierre White in Melia Dubai Ho-
tel under the influential leadership of Marco Pierre
White, to name a few.
His culinary career started off as Saucier Chef/Chef
de Partie at Earl’s Regency Hotel and A Jetwing Ho-
tels in Sri Lanka. Before moving to prestigious hotel
venues such as the Serendib Resort in Sri Lanka,
Casper & Gambinis in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
World Lodges with IHG in Dubai, Rotana Hotels &
Resorts in Abu Dhabi, World Trade Center Novatel in
Dubai. Experimenting his experience, at Torch Doha,
he is a man of innovation and fusion.
64 Society 64Society
MEDITERRANEAN TART Ingredients:
Sour dough pastry 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting125g unsalted butter, chilled and cubed, plus extra for greasing1 egg yolk2-3 tbsp chilled water
For the filling
4 tbsp olive oil3 medium red onions, sliced5pc green olive slices150g feta cheese, thinly sliced50g spinach 2 eggs, beaten50ml double cream150g cherry tomatoes, halved2 each orange and lemon segment 1 tbsp capers, rinsedFresh basil
75g/2½oz butter1 shallot, finely chopped2 garlic cloves, finely chopped1 tbsp. tomato purée1 kg red plum tomato 500g/1lb 2oz langoustine shells10ml olive oil500ml brown fish stock40g fresh basil Salt and black pepperCroutons and one bake langoustine to serve
LANGOUSTINE SOUP Ingredients:
MethodHeat the butter in a frying pan and gently fry the shallot and garlic until the shallot is translucent. Add the tomato purée and cook for a further few minutes, then add the carrot, langoustine shells, , stock olive oil basil . Cook for 20 minutes in show range.
Place the mixture into a sturdy blender and pulse for two minutes until smooth. Pass through a fine sieve into a clean pan. Season to taste, with salt and pepper
Serve in bowls topped with the sour dough croutons and pesto mayo
Method• Heat the pan then add some olive oil and sliced red onion to make a
glazed onion
• Mix the egg and double cream together, beaten well and keep a side
• Take the round shaped sour dough and filled with red onion glazed, baby spinach, slice green olives, fresh basil leave, thinly sliced feta cheese and half cherry tomato, then pour the egg and double cream mixture
• Sprinkle some orange and lemon segment
• Baked in the oven for 11-12 minutes at 160 degrees Celsius.
• Serve in a flat plate with mix iceberg lettuce, Julian green apple and fennel with orange wag and slice of red grapes crispy croutons sour cream with chopped chives
65Society
VEAL SCALOPPINI WITH SAFFRON FETTUCCINI Ingredients:
500 g quality veal fillet, sinews removed, cut into 1cm slicesextra virgin olive oila few drops truffle oil (optional)2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves picked1 clove garlic, peeled and finely sliced3 handfuls rocketWorchestrie sauce1 large basil 1 handful really firm mushrooms, such as oyster, chanterelles, field or CaesarSaltfreshly ground black pepperHomemade pasta Saffron Flour egg yolk Salt olive oil Sauce 30g cherry tomato, basil, black olive slice garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese vegetable or chicken stock
1 small handful fresh thyme , leaves picked5 dried juniper berriessaltfreshly ground black pepperextra virgin olive oil400g quality venison loin , trimmed4 shallots, peeled and finely sliced1 clove garlic, peeled and finely sliced1 glass red grapes juice200g fresh blueberries25g butter120g Cherry tomato’
VENISON STEAK Ingredients:
MethodHeat the butter in a frying pan and gently fry the shallot and garlic until the shallot is translucent. Add the tomato purée and cook for a further few minutes, then add the carrot, langoustine shells, , stock olive oil basil . Cook for 20 minutes in show range.
Place the mixture into a sturdy blender and pulse for two minutes until smooth. Pass through a fine sieve into a clean pan. Season to taste, with salt and pepper
Serve in bowls topped with the sour dough croutons and pesto mayo
MethodPlace the pan of water onto the stove and bring it to boil, add salt then homemade fettuccini pasta and let it cook. This will take about two minute. Once it’s cooked remove the pasta from water in a sauté pan over medium heat, add olive oil and garlic and once oil heats and garlic has cooked, add tomato’s until cooks sealed your tine slice of scaloppini in panache. This will take around 1minute to turn it to other and keep one more minute.
Place fettuccini in to sauté pan and mix with tomato sauce toss together and dust in half of parmesan cheese. Add all of the basil and slice olives, toss together with the pasta season to taste and serve with sautéed mushrooms top on scaloppini
66 Society
What happened?
The figures blend together into a moving image because your brain remembers each image for a fraction of a second
Erase and redraw parts of the drawings to make motion smoother, then draw over all with marker
1
2
3
4
Try This
Pictures that move
You’ll need
Cut 10 cards in half; make pile of cards with cut sides all on one side
Before movies were invented, here is one way people used to make “moving pictures.”
• Index cards
• Scissors
• Large spring clip• Fine black marker
• Pencil
Draw a stick-figure person or animal on top card with pencil
Hold clip and flip through cards
On second card, draw figure with arms or legs moved a little; make sure drawing lines up with previous card
Draw figure on next card, with arms or legs moved a little more; repeat for all cards
Clip cards together on cut sideFold
Do you have artistic talent and a bit of humour? Society welcomes readers with creative minds to take up the challenge of creating a comic strip based on a
topic of your own choice. Send your works in jpeg or tiff format to: [email protected]
Party
MC
T
FREQUENTBuoyant
Texting
68 Society
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K