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2 Sunday Times Magazine

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OCTOBER 30, 2016

Times Feature

Local company offering Halloween looks, displays local talents ativity of the group.

The team

B

Devil body painting

ravo Arts offers “spooktacular” looks, and, for those who prefer something more frightening, ghastly body art/costumes for all who participate in Halloween festivities in Guyana.

The local art company is famously known for its production of scary and ghoulish costumes and body painting. With depictions of bloody faces, torn flesh and ghostly body paint, Bravo Arts has become the go-to company for Halloween costumes.

The art business comprises a fun-loving team of young people who enjoy putting smiles on people's faces, even if it means painting them on.

By use of body painting, special effects makeup and prosthetics, the Bravo Arts team transforms models into gods, mythical creatures, or any other characters, as per clients’ request. The company customises its services to meet the unique needs of its clients.

Bravo Arts, which was launched in 2009, is the brainchild of local artist, Steve Douglas. His team of young, talented and dedicated artists and entertainers add to the youthful energy and cre-

Shugar skullface painting (Model: Onica Naar. Photo

by Bravo Arts Studio)

Unlike many artists, Steve Douglas had no interest in painting and drawing in his childhood and teens. His passion for face painting and body art ignited in his early adult years. He continues to head his company which is still growing. His new-found passion is special effects makeup, which is incorporated in his body painting work.

Cassandra is a 25-year-old professional body artist who has been part of the body arts team of Bravo Arts. She acquired and developed her skills in body painting, face painting and temporary tattoos at Bravo Arts. Her stint at Bravo Arts has helped to further develop her interest in the arts, which resulted in her applying to the E. R. Burrowes School of Arts where she currently attends.

At the institution, she is a major in jewellery and minor in painting. Cassandra Chu ultimately aspires to become a professional jewellery manufacturer, and is looking forward to maturing her body arts skills with Bravo Arts

of beauty products. I do believe, however, as a business person one should know the products you stand behind to the best of his/her knowledge, hence I took it upon myself to study the art of makeup.

In 2011, I left Guyana to study makeup with Sacha Cosmetics in Trinidad and Tobago. There I did a complete course in makeup/skin care, which lasted for four months. Upon arriving back home, I started doing some freelance makeup jobs, as well as selling products on a small scale, it's during that time that I met Steve and he encouraged me to join the Bravo Arts team. I believe makeup is to be worn to enhance one's beauty and every woman should learn the basics of makeup application.”

Sharwan Khan always had a passion for art. He joined Bravo Arts in 2012 and has grown in the field of body painting since he started working with the art group. His love for art extends to permanent tattoos, which is his career. This year he launched a new business in partnership with some other young entrepreneurs.

Privileged Clothing Line offers custom design clothing, mainly t-

Evil jester – prosthetics makeup application. The piece was sculpted, moulded and made of foam latex (Photo by Kareem Hyman Photography)

as the company grows.

On his artistic career, Andre Jacobus said: “Art is one of the few things I enjoy doing, and I’m always in the habit of creating stuff, so that why I’ve decided to take it up. At the very young age of five, I was doing sketches, and very much into art books. My father, who is also an artist, recognized my potential and encouraged me to attend the art school.

I attended the E. R. Burrowes School of Arts and graduated in 2013, majoring in painting. I love every aspect of painting, but I’m kind of moving away from the traditional style of painting on canvas and paper and now doing digital painting, which was all self-taught. I also do some work on animation. My advice to young artists is to continue to love what you do, which is the key ingredient. I believe art can change the world.”

Alicia Smith, another artist, stated: “I'm really more of a business person, so when I entered the field of makeup it was mainly because my dream was to one day have a one-of-a-kind beauty store that sells different brands

shirts.

Courtney Mathium Douglas was named after West Indian legendary fast bowler Courtney Walsh. Courtney said if he had not chosen to pursue art when he was 11, he would have definitely chosen cricket. The artist graduated from Bartica Secondary School in 2007 as the best visual arts student, the best technical drawing student, and the best building construction student. He graduated from E. R. Burrowes School of Art with a diploma, and was awarded the best drawing, painting and graphics design student. Courtney has won three national art awards, two drawing competitions, and a coin design competition.

“I met Steve at the art school in 2010, and I joined Bravo Arts during that year. It has been six awesome years. I am currently working as a cartoon animator.

I also have my personal business with my wife, Matt and Annie Arts, where we turn ideas into reality,” said Courtney.

Sanoeiza Reevers recalled: “I always loved art as a child growing up, but never took it seriously until I met Steve in 2008, who

Werewolf - face painting and costume (Model: Sharwan Khan.

Photo by Foto Melange)

introduced me to face painting through a workshop. At the beginning of Bravo Arts, I started working part-time and eventually became a fulltime staff. I attended the E. R. Burrowes School of Art and was a major in painting.

“Art became a part of my dayto-day life. I started sewing, decorating and even craft just for the fun of it. I completed an E. R. Burrowes certificate course, but had to put the diploma course on hold. I am now a fulltime staff at the office of Amalgamated Security Services, and I work part-time with Bravo Arts. I am now contemplating the diploma course at the E. R. Burrowes School of Art,” Sanoeiza outlined.

Paloma Bristol is a determined young lady and an avid art lover from a very tender age. She started at the E. R. Burrowes School of Art to gain a better understanding and to develop herself in the art field. While she was attending the art school, she was asked to join team Bravo Arts in 2011.

After receiving formal training at the art school, where she studied fine arts for three years, majoring in painting and minor in sculpture, Bristol graduated with her diploma in 2012. Immediately following her graduation, she entered the Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition and placed third in the drawing category. In 2014 she placed second in the ceramics category. Paloma now aims to pursue a degree in fine arts at Edna Manley's College of Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica.

Besides art, Paloma is into volleyball, landscaping, cooking and travelling. Her goal is to become.

Lazaire Brown hails from Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven.

Art started off as a hobby, but later became a passion for Lazaire.

She developed her artistic skills from a young age and partici-

pated in art competitions within schools, regions and country, which prompted her to further her studies at Burrowes after high school.

“I graduated with a diploma in fine arts. I also studied building technology at GTI. I am presently at the Cyril Potter College of Education completing the associate degree in Secondary PreVocational programme in building technology.”

Carlus Savory hails from Region Ten. He is a graduate of the E. R. Burrowes School of Art. Carlus enjoys canvas and body painting. He is also passionate about tattooing, and has his own tattoo business. Carlus has been with Bravo Arts for five years.

Bravo Arts will be at Pegasus Hotel’s Halloween Party on October 31. Visit Bravo Arts on Facebook for more information or call 225-2856.

Green skull face painting (Model: Nicola Griffith. Photo

by Bravo Arts Studio)

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

Through hard work, dedication and the support of a loving family, Anupa Outar-Rahaman recently graduated with her Masters in Economics from UWI

Anupa Outar-Rahaman

A

nupa graduated from Mae’s High School in 2006, earning six grade ones and two grade twos in her CSEC examinations. She then graduated from the University of Guyana with a Degree in Economics (Distinction).

Subsequently, she graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies (Distinction) from the University of Guyana.

In January 2014, Anupa started working as a junior researcher within the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Guyana with Guyana’s Professor Clive Thomas. It was at this point she was offered a fully-funded scholarship from the CaribbeanPacific Island Mobility Scheme (CARPIMS) to pursue a Masters in Economics at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. She started that programme in September 2014 and completed it in May 2016. She graduated in October 2016 with yet another Distinction.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Anupa, a ‘distinction’ student throughout her academic life, shares how she was able to achieve her academic

goals, and offers her advice to youths.

Sunday Times Magazine: Why Economics?

Anupa OutarRahaman: I like a challenge. Economics is one of the most difficult fields, if not the most difficult, in Social Sciences. After completing high school in 2006 and pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, my love for the area of study grew stronger and I realised that the possibilities with Economics are endless!

Sunday Times Magazine: What was your biggest challenge as a student?

Anupa OutarRahaman: The biggest challenge for me was managing my time. I often wished that a day had much more than 24 hours. After high school, your social circle becomes much bigger and managing your personal and social life, along with your academic life, becomes quite a task. Also, grad school in another country also meant wanting to sightsee, explore the culture and cuisine, spend time with new friends, and of course, who can resist the party atmosphere in Trinidad? But on top of it all, you must remain focused. And that was my number one priority.

Sunday Times Magazine: What role did your parents play in your academic life?

Anupa OutarRahaman: My parents, Shaam and Rupa Outar, were my number one supporters. I don’t think I would have gotten this far without them by my side, cheering me on every step of the way.

They are always pushing me to strive for greater things so that I can succeed in every

A cherished memento: Letter from UWI stating she has been awarded her Masters in Economics

The start of a bright future: Anupa off to nursery school

A proud achievement: Anupa's certificate showing her Degree in Economics with distinction from UG

aspect of my life. I thank the both of them for always being there.

Sunday Times Magazine: What would you credit your success to?

Anupa OutarRahaman: My success is the product of hard work and dedication, countless sleepless nights and the support from my family, closest friends and now my husband.

Anyone who knows me knows that once I am committed to achieving something I give my all. I don’t believe in selling yourself short. Dream big and push. Always give it your 100 per cent effort.

One of the benefits of my hard work is receiving a scholarship in June 2014 from CARPIMS to pursue a Masters in Economics at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. CARPIMS is an Intra-ACP cooperation and mobility programme in the area of Higher Education, which focuses on Caribbean and Pacific institutions. It is implemented under the aegis of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Union. It is aimed at building institutional capacity and encouraging socioeconomic development in each region by enabling access to a wider variety of postgraduate degrees and research opportunities to students. These mobility activities are geared toward increasing the competitiveness of the participating higher education institutions towards ultimately encouraging ‘brain gain’ rather than ‘brain drain’ within each region. Participants explore Caribbean and Pacific solutions for challenges encountered in both regions, creating a cadre of trained, open-minded and globally oriented individuals who can serve as foundational re-

sources in developing new disciplines and competencies for their respective countries.

Sunday Times Magazine: What’s your philosophy in life?

Anupa OutarRahaman: I believe that everything sorts itself out with time. If one ever feels that things can’t possibly get worse they must remember that it can’t be rock bottom forever. Time will change the

circumstances. I always give myself a gentle reminder, “It’s only a matter of time.”

Sunday Times Magazine: What are your career plans?

Anupa OutarRahaman: Current career plan is currently on hold. I am now married with a onemonth-old son. My new fulltime job is being the best mother I can to my son. I do, however, wish to continue working in the area of the economic development and perhaps pursue another Masters or even my PhD! As it is, I am living and enjoying life one day at a time! I’m enjoying life as a wife and new mother. And believe when I say I do learn something new each day!

Sunday Times

Magazine: What’s your advice for youths?

Anupa OutarRahaman: Don't let opportunities pass you by. There are going to be times when you have a chance to make something of yourself; take it and run as fast as you can!

Life has an expiration date.

Make it count. Stay focus and study as long as you can; remember no one can take away your education from you! Additionally, youth should always respect the elderly. Just remember kids, you'll be old one day (if life permits) and when that day comes, how would you yourself like to be treated?

(Cover photo by Yogendra Callender)

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Times Feature ‘Tales of the Spirits’

Higue! John and the little boy looked at each other and decided to follow the scary object.

After about fifty to sixty yards, the Old Higue entered a house, not by way of the stairs, but through an open window. John and the little boy entered the house through the back door. Seeking to find the Old Higue, they heard a strange and eerie sound coming from the bedroom. This time, they opened the bedroom door and saw the Old Higue fluttering above a lady asleep on the bed. She was either in a very deep sleep or unconscious.

When the Old Higue had completed her job, it decided to leave for home. This time, however, it did not leave by the window but by way of the front door. It did not open the door; instead flattening itself, it passed under the crease of

had happened to her family. The police requested that she accompany them to their headquarters. She promptly agreed and asked if she could change into some proper clothes as blood stains were still on her night gown. She was permitted to go and do so.

After entering the bedroom, she did not really change her clothes. She simply approached the bedroom window, opened it and climbed onto the ledge. By this time a fairly large crowd had gathered on the street. John and the little fellow were also standing in the crowd. Some of the crowd were yelling and urging her to go back inside.

The police, upon hearing the crowd and realizing what she was about to do, forced open the door of the bedroom. But their attempts to save her proved to be futile. The woman plunged head first into the

An illustration of 'Water Baby' from the book

Although it is not a holiday in Guyana, Halloween is now a time of celebration and superstition. The popular belief is that on Halloween the ghosts of the dead return to earth.

To share a little scare with our readers, Sunday Times Magazine features “Tales of the Spirits”, retold by Tony Kissoon and illustrations by Kempton McAlmont.

The chapters in the book are “Masacuraman”, “Water Baby”, “Old Higue”, “Baccoo”, “Moon Gazer”, “Living Dead”, and the “White Man”.

In the book’s introductory notes, Kissoon said that the principal reason for writing this book is that he realised, “Guyana has a very rich history that is yet to be fully documented, especially in the category of folklore and our rich legacy of superstition, legends and other tales”.

The author hopes that this “book will be one of the efforts to inspire young writers to follow his footsteps and bring Guyana to the forefront on the map of the literary world”.

In “Tales of the Spirits”, Kissoon pens scary stories of the most prominent ghostly figures in Guyana.

“Whether or not you wish to believe these tales, is a matter entirely up to you. But a word of warning: many people are apt to read and hear of events and then they come to believe in these actual existences. As the writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle so menacingly states, "The boundary between life and death is so narrow, for no-one knows where one ends and the other begins." Please be cautious. Please be careful.

Please be mindful. Remember, reality is not what you perceive things to be or what you want them to be, but things as they actually are. Safe reading,” the

author cautions.

Below is Kissoon’s story of the Old Higue– don’t get scared now!

“I

was first told of the Old Higue by my good friend John... As you will see, it is very difficult for me not to believe him. John told me that there was an old lady living down the street from his home. One day, her grandson, a boy aged twelve, came to see him. The boy told him that every night his grandmother would leave the home and not return until the early hours of the morning. John was surprised, as he knew the woman to be very religious, but promised that he would go to see for himself.

Late one night, John visited the house and knocked lightly on the door. The door opened and the grandson, placing his index finger to his lips, whispered to John to remain very quiet as his grandmother was in the bedroom.

John, tiptoeing, approached the bedroom, but soon found he did not have the courage to open the door. Instead, he peered through the creases and all he saw was a flickering candle on the sideboard.

Then something caught his eyes. The mirror on the vanity reflected distinctly that the grandmother was not sleeping at all but was in the process of removing the skin from her body. As she was about to open the door, John and the little boy slid into a nearby cupboard, leaving the door just a little ajar. As the grandmother left the house, John and the grandson came out of the wooden cupboard and ran to the window. From the window, John saw the old lady transformed into a ball of fire which began to roll down the road. She was now an Old

Book cover

the door and headed for home.

Both John and the little boy looked at each other, not completely understanding or believing what they had seen.

Next morning, there were shouts and screams coming from the house where the Old Higue had visited.

Apparently, when the lady of the house awakened, she went into the kitchen, found the sharpest knife and simply, slit her husband's throat.

Next, she turned to her two sleeping daughters, aged two and four, and stabbed them repeatedly. It was as if the Old Higue had placed a murderous curse upon her.

Later that day, the police came and began to interrogate her. She told them that she did not know what

solid concrete path beneath her bedroom… The worst was to follow.

As the police were about to cover the bloody body, it began to shake and roll uncontrollably. Suddenly, it turned into a ball of fire and rolled away through the grassy pastures nearby. The police, like the surrounding crowd, dispersed in different directions. There were no suspects and the case was eventually dropped.

(I believe that the case was "dropped" because all those who witnessed that particular incident feared for their lives.)

On their way to their respective homes, John and the little boy formulated a plan to deal with the Old Higue the following Saturday night.

First, they went to the vil-

lage to see an old man named George. Apparently, George was known in the village as an "obeah man." George told them that to catch the Old Higue, they would have to do the following: first mark on the floor before the bedroom of the Old Higue a straight line using white chalk; second, scatter about half a gallon of raw rice on the floor before the white line; third, throw manicole broom sticks on the floor together with the white rice.

According to George, the Old Higue, on returning home, would transform herself back into her human form (less her skin), but would have to pick up all the sticks with her hands and the grains of rice with her eye lashes and would have to complete this task before sunrise. Only then could she replace her skin and so continue her mission as an Old Higue.

When Saturday came, they both arrived at the old lady's house. They entered the house and his hid in the same old wooden closet. From there, they heard weird sounds coming from the bedroom and knew that the old lady was taking off her skin. They waited patiently. When the Old Higue had left the house, John and the little boy did exactly as George had told them. But, they decided to go a little further. They rushed to the kitchen, took a bottle of very hot pepper sauce and headed for the bedroom. Once there, they began to brush the sauce all over the old lady's skin. When finished they both returned to the closet and waited, the impatience of anxiety showing on both of their faces.

At about four o'clock, on the Sunday morning, the old lady returned and rushed to her bedroom but she could not pass the white line which John and the little boy had drawn on the floor. She knew two things: first she had to pick up all the rice and sticks on the floor, and second, she had to complete the task before the sun came up. She started her

task immediately and barely completed it before the sun came up. She then entered the bedroom and began to replace her skin. As soon as she had finished, she realized that something was wrong. Her body began to burn. Really burn! She began scratching all over her body, but to no avail. She even tried to rip off her skin but could not. All the time, John and the little boy were witnessing what was happening to the helpless old lady. She lay on her bed, but her body was smoking as if it was on fire. Eventually, when John and the little boy entered the room, they did not see the old lady, but only the formation of a body made of dust. They had killed the Old Higue.

When I was ten years old, I actually witnessed "a ball of fire" rolling across what was then a horse racing course.

Again, at twenty-eight years of age, I was visiting our ranch in the Abary. It was about eight o'clock at night when I saw a ball of fire rolling across the pasture where the cows were gathered. I was not afraid and, immediately, I put on my hunting boots, took my shotgun and raced down the dam to the area where the ball of fire was rolling. What I found was that the "fire ball" was made of dried grass. As a result of the blowing wind, the grass had turned into a shape of a ball. Rolling along the hard ground, the ball of grass became heated and ignited into a ball of fire. I was certainly relieved. Let me conclude by stating this: If you ever sweep your home or vacuum your carpet, the dust you may be picking up may be that of a dead Old Higue. It was probably in your house some night.

Who knows? Certainly not you! Could someone in your family or some other person you know be an Old Higue?”

To read a copy of “Tales of the Spirits” visit the National Library or purchase a copy from Austin's Bookstore on Church Street, Georgetown.

Illustration of Old Higue in the book

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

After a promising career in music is halted by illness, Maritza Lord returns to her passion

M

aritza Lord is a USbased Guyanese artist and musician. She became a professional musician after moving to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music.

Maritza grew up in Georgetown, Guyana in a household filled with music.

Her father sang and played guitar. Her mother encouraged a career in music early, enrolling her in classical piano and voice classes and getting her to perform publicly at a young age.

“As a kid, I loved to sing, play the piano, dance, draw, paint and really, to create anything. But music was always my natural default setting and was always there like water to a fish,” she said.

After Berklee, Maritza accepted an internship in London with a music production management firm, which immersed her in the UK’s very rich and cutting edge music scene. For Maritza, this experience rePerforming at Union Square, New York

Maritza Lord

kindled her love she had for music before attending music school and it also introduced her to music production.

Maritza had been suffering from an auto-immune related illness, which began to proliferate after

college. As it worsened, her lifestyle became more and more limited, and she was forced to take a break from music professionally.

“I spent the last few years battling Behcet’s Disease and the past year completely arresting and reversing the symptoms,” Maritza shared in a 2015 post on her blog Beat Behcet’s. “I’ve healed and learned so much in the last year that I feel like a brand new me. I never expected any of this so I’m grateful for everything that’s happened that led me here.

It’s also my goal to spread awareness and to share my journey and how I healed with those battling Behcet’s and other illnesses.”

Through the journey back to health, Maritza’s passion for writing and composing music was reawakened.

“I learned that music is my dharma and if you don’t follow your dharma, it will

National Library’s rangoli in celebration of Diwali (Rangoli created by Donna Sargeant of the Reference Dept.)

destroy you. All my life I’ve rebelled against the attention and the image that’s associated with musicians and singers. But none of that stuff matters anymore.

My only job is to make music,” Maritza expressed.

Maritza has performed with artists like Gloria Estefan, Chaka Khan, and Earth, Wind and Fire.

Whether translating today’s pop songs into pianistic ballads or creating original compositions inspired by the contradictions of modern-day life, her passion for creating and sharing music continues to grow.

In 2015, in an effort to hone her craft and to share live music, she began performing in the NYC underground.

“I started performing in the NYC subways because it was the scariest thing I could think of doing as a performer. I knew that if

Maritza as a toddler with her mother

I could do that, I could do anything,” she declared.

Maritza rocks because she inspires everyone to face their fears and to follow their dreams. She is currently working on her

first album.

For more information on Maritza, visit www.maritzalord.com or email info@ maritzalord.com (http:// guyanesegirlsrock.org)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Times Book World The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

B

ob Dylan was named winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature. When the announcement was made that a singer had received the award

–the first singer to have been awarded in that category–it was a song to the ear of many, and a discordant note to others.

The consequent condemnations and commendations were quick and incisive, birth-

ing a debate that will burn itself out only when some new revolutionary act occurs in literature. As the conversation continues, one thing is certain – this move of awarding a singer the Nobel Prize for Literature opens a whole

2016 Nobel Laureate: American singer/ songwriter Bob Dylan

lot of possibilities universally, and especially for the Englishspeaking Caribbean.

As I write, I am thinking of another Bob – Bob Marley, popularly called Brother Bob. And then the ‘Birdie’ – the Mighty Sparrow hovered into the picture, and then we own, Dave Martins, coming out of our collective Caribbean belly, rumbled by…and then… and then…

This current ‘Nobel’ event is not my first foray into this area of the song as literature.

My interest in this area goes a few years back to a time in December 2010 when I interviewed the recently departed Malcolm Corrica – the Mighty Canary - on my television programme, “Oral Tradition”, now running for 14 years, and started in order to maintain a focus on Guyanese literature in the form of an adventure, where we journey into the past, present and future areas of our literature, using a widely popular form of mass communication – the television.

A few persons who have seen my television interview with Mighty Canary wondered why such an interview on a programme dealing with literature. The rehearsed response was some singers/ musicians are also writers

Guyanese singer/ songwriter Dave Martins

Jamaican singer/songwriter Bob Marley (1945 -1981)

Grenada-born Calypso/ Soca singer/songwriter Mighty Sparrow

Guyanese singer/songwriter Malcom Corrica, A.K.A Mighty Canary (1937 -2016)

– “song writers” in that they write the words or lyrics to the eventual song in its manifested form – the performance; that answer was not convincing or satisfactory to some and so the conversation continued….

It so happened, I was to feature others singers on my programme like Johnny Braff and Dave Martins. (I missed the ‘Birdie’ by a feather hair when he visited the studio of National Communications Network (NCN). But I came away from that meeting with his response to the copyright issue – he was not put out or put off when his songs are ‘pirated’ mainly because he is satisfied that more people can have access to his work and that gives him great satisfaction.)

I also interviewed on my literature programme playwrights, scriptwriters, and comedians. The comedians and stand-up comics are still a source of concern to me in that a great part of this oral literature produced is not recorded.

Before I continue, let’s spare a thought for the Mighty Canary in reference to that interview, mainly because he just passed away and the interview focused mainly on his song “Christmas; is with us again”, which is still the best local song on the subject of Christmas, remarkable in the simplicity of the words (see below) and the soft sweet melody giving rise to goose bumps and nostalgia, heralding in a true Guyanese Christmas.

And he drummed on the table between us as he related how that song came to be written, how he wrote that song: Christmas is with us again

Children with their sweet refrain Merrily hear how they rhyme Melodiously while church bells chime Choirs sweet carols they sing Oh what great tidings they bring Hatred and fighting must cease It’s now time for love and peace My backup singers (no offence intended) on this issue manifested themselves in the form of two columns – one

by Al Creighton in Stabroek News of Sunday October 16, 2016, and the other by Dave Martins in the same newspaper of Sunday October 23, 2016, both exploring the song as literature.

Creighton took us into the world of reggae poetry; its development, recognition and its contribution to the shaping of Caribbean culture.

Martins touched on the calypso - another genre on our novel Caribbean literaturescape - and its contribution to a Caribbean culture.

And now back to the Nobel Prize for Literature and Bob Dylan and Bob Marley and Dave Martins and… I wonder if one day, one day, in the not too distance future, nominations for the prize would include the likes of Mighty Sparrow and our very own Dave Martins, both of them contributing more than 100 years to the music, culture and literature of the Caribbean.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

O

ver the years, many Guyanese have grown up using words or phrases, or with certain beliefs that have been passed down through generations.

Some may have become extinct; some may have been adapted while some generally remain the same over the centuries.

Today the term “boviander”, often pronounced "buff-ee-yan-duh," refers to a person of mixed heritage, namely African and indigenous Guyanese, with some European. Richard Allsopp in “Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage” adds that it is usually the mother who is indigenous and the father is usually black, though sometimes he may be European.

In earlier times, the term also referred to the partly indigenous, partly black and partly European (white)individuals who made their homes further upriver of cultivated areas; often higher than coastal dwellers.

There have been several suggestions for the term, such as the accepted notion listed by Allsopp among other scholars, that it is a derivation of the Dutch word Bovenlander, which means people dwelling upriver; others translate Bovenlander as

a highlander or a man from the upper regions.

More entertaining, though less probable however is the suggestion of a J.S. Blake, quoted in a late 19th century Timehri Journal, that the term “boviander” originated from “the old times... when any one on his way up the river called at a house in the comparatively lower portion, and asked for some friend, the answer was “He no here he ‘bove yander’” (above yonder), meaning further up the river; hence the name given to people living in the upper districts…”

Superstitions are a global cultural phenomenon, and no less so in Guyana. The moon in particular has its fair share of superstitions in Guyanese folklore – though some may have proved to be true, such as the old idea that certain woods and bamboo, if cut when the moon is full or approaching the full, is certain to become wormeaten and therefore useless.

Another moon-lore is that when the “horns” of the moon are upward as to form a boat, that means dry weather will follow; when it is “canted” or reversed, rain will fall.

Fishing for mullet after a moonlit night is said to be futile since, according to the lo-

cals, the fish “does git up all night fo’ fill dey belly and dey no hungry day time.”

The dai- dai, more familiarly known as the bush dai-dai, is a terrifying being of indigenous folklore that has entertained and frightened generations of Guyanese (and non-Guyanese), even creating a fear of the Guyanese bush (rainforest) that remains among many.

One European (considered not one to tell tales) in the 1800s, writes a letter to his friend about his experience in the Guyanese bush: “You have, I daresay, heard the Indians speak of di-dis and adopies, some sort of wild people or ' devils,' they say, seen occasionally in the bush. Well, I will relate to you as I best can what I saw on Saturday last in the bush aback here. It was a rainy afternoon, and I went aback to pick up tonkinbeans. I had a long way to go and did not get any. On my way back I went into the swamp, and was picking up souarinuts under a tree. The rain had ceased about half an hour before, and, there was no wind at the time. I was stooping down, when I heard the bush near me shake. I looked up and saw

Main Street, Georgetown, in the year 1924

Water Street, Georgetown, in the year 1910

One of the wonders of British Guiana are its mighty primeval forests, through which the traveller has to hack his way.

(Photo and caption from “In Unknown British Guiana” by A. Hyatt Verrill. The Wide World magazine, September 1918)

a small tree, about 30 yards from me, shaking. I cocked my gun and stepped quickly toward the tree, which continued shaking; as I expected to find some animal rubbing against it. There was

a large tacouba [ fallen tree trunk] between me and the shaking tree; and when I got about 15 yards from the tree, I saw a something. I could only see the upper part of the object's body — the tacouba

and dahlibanna [a low-growing palm]hid the lower part.

This upper part was like the body, as far down as the navel, of a child a little bigger than K — [A child two-and-ahalf –years-old, but large for her age] and was quite black, and shone as if it had been varnished. There seemed to be hardly any neck; and the head, which seemed much too large for the body, was of a yellowish white. I saw no arms, nor any eyes, nose nor mouth. The object kept swaying from side to side as I looked at it. I fired at it from where I was standing, and afterward went toward the tacouba. I found nothing. I did not go to the spot at once, but waited until the smoke, which hung for a long time, had cleared away: as I was afraid that whatever it was it might turn on me.

On going to the spot, I found the small tree cut through by the shot, but could not find where the shot went into the ground, as it ought to have gone, a few feet from the tree. The ground was quite soft and there was a track, like a long and narrow foot without toes; but only two of these, so I could not see in which direction they went. I had had a good look at the object… What could it have been? I do not think there is anything the matter with me to make me see things that do not exist. Still I can hardly in this case believe my own eyesight.”

8 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Times Travel & Tourism

I

Wilfred Jupiter was hired by Jim Jones to tend to Jones' garden

n the jungles of Port Kaituma (Region One) lies Jonestown - the location where one of the largest mass suicides

in the history of the world happened.

Jonestown was a commune with many activities for its members such as farming and sports. But tragedy hit this so-called haven when on November 18, 1978 more than 900 persons died in the worst mass cult suicide ever.

A few years ago, Jonestown was proposed as a site for dark tourism (tourism that involves travelling to places historically associated with death and suffering) in Guyana. The site was prepared for tourists, but later became defunct. However, some residents of the Port Kaituma area are hoping to reopen the site and transform it into a tourism location.

The eerie location is located six miles away from Port Kaituma, and can be reached via a dirt road.

Now, all that remain of Jim Jones' notorious jungle camp are a rusted tractor, cassava mill, scattered machinery parts and a basketball ring. It is said that Jim Jones’ son, Jim Jones Jr., along with other members from Jonestown, played on the Peoples Temple basketball team, which would usually compete in Georgetown.

Aerial view of Jonestown when it was inhabited (Photo copyright to Capt. Gerry Gouveia, Roraima Airways)

Rusted basketball ring

The Kaituma Canal where it is said that Jim Jones would unload his cargo Sign in front of the entrance to Jonestown

A machinery part partially buried in Jonestown

Remains of a tractor wheel in Jonestown

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Y

ou may have heard that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is rolling out a new nutrition facts label in 2018 featuring an “added sugar” category.

And you’re probably wondering what that means for you.

The FDA wants to help you distinguish between added sugars (i.e. things like table sugar and sweeteners) and naturally occurring sug-

E

ars (like the fructose found in fruit). The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that you get no more than 10 percent of your daily calories from added sugars because they add a lot of calories to your diet without contributing much nutritionally.

That's why the FDA wants to make sure you know exactly where the sweet stuff in your food is coming from.

Julie Upton, R.D., cofounder of nutrition website Appetite for Health, applauds the move, and says it should prompt companies to lower the added sugar content in their products. “They know consumers will be looking closely at added sugars and they are now forced to do something about it,” she says.

Certified dietician-nutritionist, Lisa Moskovitz, R.D.,

Your seven-day plan to slash added sugars in your diet

ven if you’re not eating cookies every night, you’ve probably still got too much sugar in your life. And since sugar's been blamed for nearly every health crisis in recent years, you should be well aware of the risks of consuming too much.

In case you needed a reminder, though: “There is absolutely no benefit at all to having added sugar in your diet,” says Brooke Alpert, R.D., author of The Sugar Detox: Lose Weight, Feel Great and Look Years Younger.

To help you give sugar the boot, Alpert designed a seven-day plan to break your sugar addiction for good. Yes, it will suck, but you can get through it (it’s only a week!).

Monday: Nix the sugar While you're at it, it's time to ditch the brownies, the office candy stash, and your coworkers (stale) birthday cake, too. And yes,

milk for the plain versions. Some flavoured fruit yogurts pack nearly six teaspoons of added sugar into their tiny containers, which is the amount of added sugar the American Heart Association suggests you eat in an entire day. Sweeten your favourite foods with whole fruit, instead. And be on the lookout: Dressings, pasta sauce, crackers, peanut butter, and soups are all common sources of hidden sugar, too.

Friday: Kick out refined grains “White flour, white rice, and white bread are basically just sugar,” says Alpert. In fact, you might not think you have a sweet tooth, but if you’re eating bagels and pasta on the regular, you're probably fooling yourself.

“Pizza is basically dessert. Your body consumes it just like a slice of cake,” she says. The fix: Eat carbs, but make them whole grain. Brown rice,

even that low-fat blueberry muffin and the “nutritious” energy bar you stashed in your purse have got to go. It’s a no-brainer place to start, since the sugar in sweets is easy to spot.

Plus, you'll slash a whole bunch of unnecessary calories from your diet while you're at it.

Tuesday: Don’t add sugar to anything Time to ditch those packets of Sugar in the Raw. “Any time you would physically add sugar or sweetener, admit it to yourself first—and then omit it,” says Alpert. Eat your oatmeal sans sprinkle of brown sugar on top, and take your coffee with a shake of cinnamon instead of flavoured syrup.

Artificial sugars are leaving your diet today, too. “They’re sweeter than sugar and your body still responds with the same hormonal cascade, as if it is regular sugar," says Alpert.

"That’s why they don’t help you lose weight.”

Wednesday: No more sugary drinks Today, you'll start reading ingredient labels like it's your job. Yes, you know soda has added sugar, and so does a vanilla Frappuccino.

But other drinks might not be so obvious, like coconut water (some brands add sugar), bottled iced teas, and flavoured waters. This even includes “healthy” drinks like matcha lattes, says Alpert. “These have sweetened syrup pumped into them, which is why they’re deliciousness,” she says. But hold off on that deliciousness this week – and the same goes for artificially sweetened drinks.

Thursday: Go plain Continue your quest to be a label detective.

Switch out your flavoured yogurt or almond

Ezekiel bread, and quinoa are all your friends.

Saturday: Measure your fruit You may be thinking, "Wait! I thought fruit was good for you." And you're right. However, “it’s possible to over-fruit yourself and choose those that are super high in sugar,” says Alpert. She recommends capping your consumption at one to two servings a day and choosing options that naturally fall on the lower end of the sweet spectrum, like apples, berries, and citrus fruit. “The amount of fibre, phytochemicals, and vitamins you’re getting in those balance the sugar out,” says Alpert.

Sunday: Lose the liquor If your nightly glass was the only thing keeping you sane, it's time to cut the cord.

“Red wine may have phytochemicals and health benefits, but the truth is that when we drink alcohol, it turns to sugar in our body,” says Alpert. What’s more, it lowers your inhibitions, making you more likely to reach for the bread basket, slice of pizza, or cupcake.

This week will “open your eyes to how much sugar you’re really consuming, and how a few small changes can reduce a huge amount [of sugar] in your diet,” says Alpert.

Your goal: Start making it a habit to scout out tomato sauce made without added sugar, or flavour your latte with cinnamon and nutmeg, instead of a few pumps of hazelnut syrup. That way, when you have the opportunity to eat your favourite brownie you can really enjoy it knowing you now have a healthy relationship with sugar. (Women’s Health)

CEO of NY Nutrition Group., agrees. “Any time more information is available for consumers it can help them make better choices,” she says.

But experts say you might be shocked to know which foods contain added sugars.

Here are some to be on the lookout for: Packaged bread: Many types of processed, packaged breads have high added sugar counts to improve taste and preserve the product, Upton says. Until the label change allows you to track which loaves go overboard with sweeteners, try fresh-made bakery loaves, instead.

Fruit-flavoured yogurt: That sweet flavour doesn’t come from the dairy, says Moskovitz. She recommends switching to plain, unsweetened yogurt and adding fresh fruit to cut back on unneces-

sary calories.

Pasta sauces: Ever notice how the pasta sauce you buy tastes different from the stuff you make yourself?

That’s because the jarred kind is usually packed with sugar.

“Added sugar is a lot less expensive than fresh tomatoes, so some manufacturers pump up sugar and reduce tomatoes to have more profit,” says Upton. Instead of buying a jar of sauce, buy canned tomato sauce and add a few spices to DIY it.

Ketchup and BBQ sauce: Like pasta sauce, these condiments are packed with added sugar, Moskovitz says. Try switching to salsa or hot sauce to get a little punch without the side of sugar.

Salad dressing: It seems weird that you’d put sugar on your salad, but that’s just what you’re doing when you

buy most packaged dressings.

Added sugars improve flavour and are cheap, so companies add them liberally, says Upton. Consider using olive oil or balsamic vinegar on your salads, instead.

Nut milks: Nut milk sounds healthy, but most of these products have extra calories from added sugar and flavouring, says Sonya Angelone, R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. If you're a nut milk fan, she recommends opting for an unsweetened version.

Energy bars: Some bars are loaded with sugar, which is one source of the "energy" they provide. "Many bars have a health halo, but are just glorified candy bars," says Angelone. But they all aren't bad. She recommends reading labels and opting for those with less sugar.

10 Sunday Times Magazine

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Times Fashion

S

onia Noel's HYBRID collection is a blend of cultural and ethnic interwoven in design and style. “Sonia Noel Designs will ensure you stand out with an exclusive outfit,� the doyenne of fashion declared in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

The designer collection offers bespoke outfits that are comfortable for evening and

daytime events.

HYBRID, along with other contemporary collections by talented local designers,will be showcased at the Guyana Fashion Week 2016 slated for November 6-13 at Pegasus Hotel.

For more information, call 226-3099 or visit Guyana Fashion Week on Facebook.

(Photos: KeNo George Photography)

guyanatimesgy.com

Sunday Times Magazine 11 OCTOBER 30, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Star Times Hollywood

he Backstreet Boys is an American vocal group formed in 1993. The group consists of A. J. McLean, Howie D., Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell.The group rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys (1996). In the following year they released their second international album Backstreet's Back (1997), and their U.S. debut album which continued the group's success worldwide. They rose to superstardom with their third studio album Millennium (1999) and its follow-up album, Black & Blue (2000).After a two-year hiatus, they regrouped and released a comeback album Never Gone (2005). After the conclusion of the Never Gone Tour in 2006, Richardson left the group to pursue other interests. The group then released two albums as a quartet: Unbreakable (2007) and This Is Us (2009).In 2012, the group announced that Richardson had rejoined them permanently. In the following year, they celebrated their 20th anniversary and released their first independent album, In a World Like This (2013). The group also released their first documentary movie, titled “Backstreet Boys: Show 'EmWhat You're Made Of� in January 2015. The Backstreet Boys have sold over 140 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling boy band in history, and one of the world's bestselling music artists. They are the first group to have their first nine albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200,and the only boy band to do so. They also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 22, 2013.

T The Backstreet Boys

12 Sunday Times Magazine Times Hollywood Mariah reportedly says James Packer is ‘mentally unstable’

M

ariah Carey reportedly tells her friends that her ex-fiancé James Packer is "mentally unstable" and "is not in his right mind" prior to their breakup. The "All I Want for Christmas for You" hitmaker "had to leave him."

Sources tell TMZ that James hasn't been "present for" Mariah in a couple of months. The couple's relationship became worse when he got "violent" towards her on a yacht in Greece last month. The Australian billionaire did "something really bad" involving the singer's assistant, according to sources.

Following the incident, the "Without You" singer reportedly bailed on the vacation and returned to L.A. Mariah's rep confirmed that the couple drifted apart after the Greece altercation.

"The fight was not because of any cheating allegations or excessive spending by Mariah," the rep told ET, "They are trying to work it out. Right now, they're not sure if they will stay together."

Rep for James, meanwhile, denies allegations that he's "mentally unstable", saying they are "simply untrue." (AceShowbiz)

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Miley Cyrus reconciles with Liam Hemsworth M

iley Cyrus never publicly confirmed that her engagement to Liam Hemsworth was back on, but she might as well have been during a chat with Ellen DeGeneres.

Miley and Liam's wedding plan reportedly resumed after she put back the engagement ring on her finger following their reconciliation.

"Congratulations," Ellen said during Miley's visit to "The Ellen DeGeneres Show". The singer/songstress responded, "This is really weird because this is like real jewelry and most

of my jewelry is made out of gummy bears and cotton candy."

"They don't look that good together because they kind of mix up so sometimes I replace it with an actual unicorn or a Looney Tune. And he's kind of like, 'What's going on?' I am like, 'This isn't really my aesthetic but I'll wear it because you love me.' " The host then quipped, "He could have saved a lot of money by giving you like a gummy bear ring."

(AceShowbiz)

T

he longtime war between Katy Perry and Taylor Swift has excelled this year more than any, with Katy even wading in on Taylor's feud with Kanye West in summer, and now, Katy has just thrown more shade at the Blank Space singer.

For her 32nd birthday, Katy Perry celebrated by attending a Kanye West concert, where the pop star Snapchat the whole thing...

There's nothing shady about Katy using the app

- the Rise singer is an avid Snapchatter - but when she recorded herself singing a certain lyric, it was definitely more than her just singing along.

When Kanye sang his song “Famous”, Katy repeated the lyric that caused all the drama between Taylor and Kanye: "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/ Why? I made that b**** famous (Goddamn)/ I made that b**** famous."

If you need a refresh,

it all began when the lyric "I made that b*tch famous" about Taylor, elicited an outraged reaction from the Bad Blood singer when the song was released back in February. At the time, Kanye tweeted that he had had an "hour-long convo" with Taylor and "she thought it was funny and gave her blessings".

Later, Kim posted extracts from a phone call between Kanye and Taylor on her Snapchat in which it

was evident that the singer had indeed given permission for him to go ahead with the song. Taylor then responded with a lengthy Instagram post asking to be "excluded from this narrative."

With Taylor also feuding with Katy - in dramas that originate from Taylor apparently stealing one of Katy's dancers two years ago - you can tell this is an obvious dig. (Glamour)

Obama and Usher dance to ‘Hotline Bling’

T

he election may be one of the most stressful things to ever go down in American politics, but at least President Obama is working out tension the way the rest of do any given Friday night: on the dance floor with Usher and Janelle Monáe.

At BET’s Love and Happiness event at the White House — which marks the last music event the Obamas will host at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as president and first lady of the United States — several stars turned out (and turned up) for the festivities, including The Roots, Dave Chappelle, Jill Scott, and more.

After the official business wrapped, Obama rolled up his sleeves and followed

Usher to the dance floor, where the two did what anyone in that moment would:

They broke out their best Drizzy dance moves to “Hotline Bling.” (MTV)

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

K

alki Koechlin is an Indian actress and screenwriter of French descent, who predominantly works in Bollywood. Apart from acting in films, she is also a regular presence in theatre productions in India. Koechlin is the recipient of a National Film Award, a Filmfare Award and two Screen Awards.Drawn to theatre at a young age, Koechlin studied drama and theatre at University of London, and worked simultaneously with a local theatre company. After returning to India, she made her screen debut in the romantic drama “Dev.D” in 2009, and her performance as Chandramukhi earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She then starred in the comedy-dramas “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” (2011) and “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani” (2013).

These were top-grossing Bollywood productions, and both earned her Best Supporting Actress nominations at the Filmfare Awards.

Koechlin co-wrote the screenplay for the crime thriller “That Girl in Yellow Boots” (2011), in which she also played the lead role. She won the National Film Award – Special Jury Award, among other accolades, for her role as a young, disabled girl in Shonali Bose's coming-of-age drama “Margarita with a Straw” (2014). Koechlin has appeared in documentary films including “Freedom Matters’ (2016), a project aimed at spreading awareness on human trafficking, and “Living Shakespeare” (2016), a BBC production where she drew parallels between Ophelia and Indian women. Along with her screen career, Koechlin has written, produced, and acted in several stage plays in India. In 2009 she won The MetroPlus Playwright Award for the play “Skeleton Woman”. She co-wrote the drama “Colour Blind” (2014), and made her directorial debut on stage with the tragicomedy “Living Room” (2015). Koechlin is also an activist and promotes various causes ranging from health and education to women's empowerment and gender equality. She was married to Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap from 2011 to 2015.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Times Bollywood

Vivek Oberoi gifts Karan Johar father SUV on Diwali admits using Botox A

F

ilmmaker Karan Johar, who admits he has taken the Botox way for his face, says that going under knife is a well hidden secret of Bollywood.

The filmmaker, whose movie “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” was recently released, admitted getting the cosmetic procedure done in a special video - which he shot to talk about the forthcoming season of popular talk show “Koffee with Karan” season 5.

“It’s me, my face. I am Botoxed, I put collagen up there, I have adjusted my

nose, I have done what everyone does in my industry, so that is one of the things,” Karan said.

Talking about other things the fans should watch out for in the show, Karan added: “What is the second thing? Well, there will be some fun coming up in the Rapid Fire Round!

There will actually be some additional add-ons; nothing really changes in this show as you know, because you don’t allow new celebrities to walk into the industry.So pretty much the same people, different combinations.

Fortunately everyone has a new lover, a new enemy and a new controversy to talk about.”

Karan is also excited about the new set of the show, which will be aired on Star World and Star World HD from November 6 onwards.

He added: “The third thing is, uh, well the set! You have to see it, it is stripes, black and white, just like a Zebra is, but you can’t cross over at all! Alright! And I am the one who will ask the questions!”

In its past seasons, the show has been graced by a string of A-list actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Gurinder Chadha, Farah Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Alia Bhatt and more at their candid best.

This time, Shah Rukh Khan and Alia will be seen promoting their upcoming film “Dear Zindagi” in the fifth season of the talk show.

(IANS)

ctor Vivek Oberoi surprised his father, veteran actor Suresh Oberoi, with a luxury car on Diwali.

A source reveals, “Vivek usually knows what to buy for his family each year, but this time he decided to go the extra mile and ask everyone if there was anything in particular that they wanted.

His father refused the offer and told him that he didn’t want anything. Since Vivek and his dad both are fond of cars, the doting son gifted his daddy dearest a posh SUV, which was recently delivered to his residence in Mumbai. Vivek booked a car and his father had no idea

about this until the vehicle was delivered. His father was ecstatic as it was from a luxury brand he loves.”

Vivek says, “I still re-

member my first car that dad gifted me. So this is an absolutely nostalgic moment for me.” (Hindustan Times)

Dubai theme park unveils first resident Bollywood musical

"J

aan-e-Jigar" is the title of the first Bollywood musical to be staged at the Rajmahal Theatre of Bollywood Parks Dubai.

The 120-minute extravaganza will be set in a Broadway-style show with a unique twist. It is a fantasy tale of two brothers named Jaan and Jigar, in a classic story of good versus evil.

"We are very proud to bring the first Broadway-style Bollywood musical to the Middle East, and what better place to showcase it other than our star attraction - the Rajmahal Theatre. Our guests are sure to be entertained," Thomas Jellum,

General Manager, Bollywood Parks Dubai, said in a statement.

According to the officials, the musical will have all the makings of a Bollywood blockbuster, with romance, drama, action, magic and brilliant performances with foottapping music that promises to captivate audiences like never before.

In collaboration with Wizcraft International Private Limited, hundreds of actors, dancers, singers and acrobats were auditioned from across India to be a part of the musical.

Taking its inspiration from the beautiful palaces and intricate architectural designs in India, the Rajmahal Theatre is a 850-seater arena that will play the separately ticketed musical several times a week.

"As the region's first resident show, we have partnered with the best in Bollywood show business, to ensure every element seen on stage embodies the cinematic experience," Jellum added. (IANS)

Anushka Sharma: ‘I was mesmerised by Aishwarya’s persona’

A

nushka Sharma was “mesmerized” by the persona as well as beauty of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan while working with her in the forthcoming film “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”.

“I have one scene with her but it is very impactful. She is a very warm and gracious person. She has got so much achievement behind her and accomplishments to her credit,” said Anushka.

She added, “She is very inspirational.

For me, sharing screen space with her feels great. I was mesmerised by her persona and not just her beauty. Her aura and persona is very huge. You notice that and you get mesmerised.”

Directed by Karan Johar, “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” delves upon the complexities of unrequited love. It also stars Ranbir Kapoor.

The film traces the journey of Ranbir’s character as an aspiring singer and his relationships at different points of time. “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” got into trouble over its release for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. It was under threat from the

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for featuring Pakistani talent.

But Karan received a major breather when MNS allowed the release of “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”on the condition that producers who employ Pakistani artists must pay a fee to the Indian Army’s welfare fund as atonement. Distributors and cinema owners have also come forward in support of the film.

Karan had advised Aditya Chopra not to cast Anushka in “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi”.

And Anushka feels working with Karan is a big achievement for her. “I just think it reassures me that if you keep working hard you can turn opinion of people around. It is big of him to accept something on national TV and he said I take my words back; that’s so sweet of him,” she said.

She added, “I always wanted to be part of Karan’s film so I don’t care what happened before. Someone who didn’t want me to be in any films and taking me in his own film is a big achievement.” (IANS)

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Trends

Trending NOW

B

ollywood superstar Sonam Kapoor is known for her bold fashion, whether it be her outfits or makeup.

Recently, Sonam has been receiving

Star of the week

much attention for her bold lips.

From tangy orange to ruby red, the actress showcases how easy it is to change up your makeup look with just a swipe of vivid lip colour.

Choose a matte shade of red to get a plush rich look like Sonam

If you want an earthy look, opt to wear shades of brown

Opt for a dramatic evening look with a darker pout

Choose a matte shade of red to get a plush rich look like Sonam

Go bold with purple

L

ee Leung is a 19-year-old who aims to become the first male face of Guyana Fashion Week, a prestigious fashion event happening November 6-13 at Pegasus Hotel. The 5ft 11in model enjoys playing football, table tennis and spending time with family and friends. Leung attended Richard Ishmael Secondary School and is currently pursuing studies in accounts. The model is known for his fashionable look and confidence on the local runway. One of his favourite designers is Paul Burnette, for whom he has modeled. The aspiring accountant aims to excel in everything he sets out to achieve. His advice for youths is to “stay in school because education is the key to success. Also, respect your parents and be advocates of love and peace”. Visit Gfw Model Imageon Facebook to follow Leung’s journey in the competition.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Times Art

Painting of "Elsa", the artist's pet dog

"A Favorite Hat 2". Pastel

U

S-based Guyanese artist Denise Henley first realized her artistic passion at the tender age of eight. She spent much of her young life immersed in drawing.As an adolescent, she moved to the United States to study art and, after obtaining her B.A. in Visual Arts, went on to pursue a career as an artist.

“From a very young age, I knew that I wanted to be an artist, and devoted every spare moment to the pure enjoyment of drawing and creating art.

Naturally, my art caught the attention of many adults who would provide numerous opportunities for me to indulge in my obsession. I would later graduate from Southeastern Louisiana University in the United States with a B.A. in Visual Arts.

Pursuing an art career would take a back seat to stints of other occupations: teaching, banking, manag-

ing a ski lodge, property management and the occasional book-keeping and retail. It was the year of 1998 that I would finally make the decision to pursue an art career and I have been painting professionally ever since,” Denise recalled.

While she works in several mediums and subjectmatters, her passion lies in capturing the beauty of the human figure. A constituent of realism, she continuously strives to perfect her drawing skills, believing it to be the backbone of the portrait process. However, her creations range in style from photo realism to a more painterly depiction, often times opting for a palette knife instead of a paint brush.

Although most of her work has been commissioned, she has been featured in a number of exhibitions in the U.S. which earned her both recognition and awards. Her por-

"Enchantment In The Grass". Oil

Denise talking on the art process

traits hang in private homes throughout the United States and abroad.

A resident of Colorado, Denise is intoxicated with the beauty of the Rocky Mountains - it feeds her artistic spirit. She has been

married for more than 29 years and has two beautiful daughters, who are not only her fans, but often the inspiration of her paintings.

“I am fortunate to have won several awards; been

"Sunshine". Acrylic

invited to teach, do demonstrations and give private lessons. My art hangs in homes throughout the United States and abroad.

I live in the ‘picture perfect’ Rocky Mountains of Colorado with my husband and two daughters – an artist dream world – inspiration is everywhere; one needs only to see. While I am not a landscape artist, I use the beauty of nature to stimulate my creativity, allowing me to see the human form in all its natural glory, something more than just anatomy. While I work in several mediums and subject matter, my passion lies in the human figure, more specifically, portraits,” the artist pointed out.

Denise explained that it is her intention to paint as simply as possible, rendering only that which is essential to her message and omitting unnecessary marks that only serve to complicate and make for a

banal work of art.

“I consider art a gift; the marriage of craft and imagination to create an aesthetic that should be shared and enjoyed. I have always found the human figure to be the most intriguing and beautiful of subject matters and perhaps one of the most challenging - somewhat of a still-life with an opinion.

My compositions are often designed to evoke quiet contemplation and an appreciation for simplicity.Please follow me while I attempt to share with you the figure as I see it simply beautiful!” she declared.

Denise continues to evolve as an artist, ever hungry for the astounding beauty of nature and passionate about portraying it.

For more information on the artist, visit www.denisehenley.com or visit Denise Henley on Facebook.

"Family ties". Oil

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Apple reveals MacBook Pro with Touch Bar A

pple is killing the function keys. The company during an event Thursday at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., unveiled a new version of the MacBook Pro with a thin touch display that sits above the keyboard.

The 13- and 15-inch models start at USD

$1,499 and go all the way up to USD$2,399.

The new MacBooks will boast 10 hours of battery life. Schiller says they will continue to sell the MacBook Air, but will also sell a second 13-inch Pro model similar to the Air but with no Touch Bar and only two Thunderbolt ports.

Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller introduces the all-new MacBook Pro during a product launch event on October 27, 2016

Tech news

A

'Driverless' beer run; Bud makes shipment with self-driving truck

nheuser-Busch hauled a trailer loaded with beer 120 miles in an autonomous-drive truck, completing what's believed to be the first commercial shipment by a self-driving vehicle.

The trip happened last week in Colorado

as Anheuser-Busch, collaborated with Otto, a subsidiary of Uber that is developing self-driving truck technology. The semi drove autonomously on the highway between Fort Collins, Colorado and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"The incredible success of this pilot shipment is an example of what is possible when you deploy self-driving technology," said Otto Co-Founder Lior Ron. Ron and three others founded Otto earlier this year after he and others left Google where they worked on the Google self-driving car project. In August, the firm was acquired by Uber, but remains a subsidiary

Tech news

T

Halloween Tech

8 trucks in the U.S. with professional drivers logging more than 279 billion miles in 2014 according to the American Trucking Association.

When Anheuser-Busch made the shipment in Colorado, a professional truck driver was in the rig monitoring the delivery from the sleeper berth behind the driver's seat.

"As we partner with long-haul carriers to ship our beers, we hope to see this technology widely deployed across our highways to improve safety for all road users," said James Sembrot, Sr. Director, Logistics Strategy at Anheuser-Busch.

eo of NFL games are helping boost ad sales at Twitter, but not quickly enough to justify what investors and analysts have complained is a bloated workforce out of sync with the company’s prospects.

Several other firms, including Salesforce. com Inc. and Walt Disney Co., have considered and then rejected the opportunity to acquire Twitter in recent weeks.

N

othing escapes our thirst for technology, not even Halloween costumes. That said, here are a two that bring our favourite characters and costumes into the tech age:

developing the technology for self-driving trucks.

As Otto has demonstrated the capabilities of autonomous-drive trucks, companies such as Anheuser-Busch have taken notice.

There are approximately 3.6 million class

Twitter slashes, kills as it tries to eke out profit

witter may slash 9 per cent of its workforce and kill Vine as it tries to eke out a profit, reports suggest.

Twitter Inc. plans to lay off a few hundred employees, mostly in sales and marketing, and shut down its Vine video app as the social media service strives to produce an annual profit for the first time next year.

Initiatives such as streaming live vid-

Tech BYTE

EL wire (Electroluminescent wire) for a futuristic Halloween look today. According to Wikipedia, EL wire is a thin copper wire coated in a phosphor that glows when an alternating current is applied to it.It can be used in a wide variety of applications— vehicle and/or structure decoration, safety and emergency lighting, toys, clothing etc.

The once fast-growing San Francisco company has produced nine straight quarters of slowing revenue growth compared with the prior-year quarter. And monthly active users, the company’s key usage mea-

Hi-tech Tinker Bell. Fairies will never be the same with today’s digitally dazzling fibre optic wings from battery-powered LEDs

surement, has stagnated for the last year.

The cuts to the 3,910-person workforce, announced early Thursday alongside Twitter’s latest quarterly financial results, acknowledge the difficulties.

18 Sunday Times Magazine

OCTOBER 30, 2016

Times Home & Cooking

guyanatimesgy.com

Recipe of the Week

Pumpkin and roti For the pumpkin stew Ingredients

B

lack and orange work as a smart, refined and yet fun colour combination well beyond the usual Halloween season. Orange is also said to

infuse a room with energy and freshness, creating the stark contrast of a bright, punchy colour with the stately richness of black.

Orange and black with silver accents bring a unique elegance to the dining room

1/2 lbs pumpkin 3 tbsp oil 1 small yellow onion 5 cloves garlic 2 Wiri Wiri peppers

Method

Chop pumpkin into large pieces and peel skin off.

Cut each large piece of pumpkin into smaller 1/2 inch pieces. Set aside.

Heat pot with a few tablespoons of oil. Chop onion, garlic and Wiri wiri pepper, add to pot and cook until onions are tender and fragrant.

In the meantime, chop tomatoes.

Once onions are tender, add diced tomatoes. Let tomatoes cook until they are soft and mixture looks like a sauce.

Add pumpkin to pot and let cook for

1 tomato 1 tsp salt to start (add more to suit your taste) Dash of black pepper Dash of any dried herbs you like 1 sprig of thyme 1/2 tsp curry powder 1/2 tsp brown sugar 3/4 cups water 10-12 minutes on medium heat.

Add 1 tsp salt to start (add more to suit your taste), black pepper, thyme, curry powder, brown sugar, and any other seasonings you like (I added a dash of black pepper, and dried basil), let cook for another 15 minutes.

Add 3/4 cup water and allow pumpkin to cook and for 20-25 minutes.

Pumpkin is done when it begins to dissolve and loosen and there is little water left in the pot. Mash pumpkin with your spoon to break up any whole pieces.

Orange walls with black furniture and accents provide a perfect masculine combination in the room

For the roti Subtle hints of orange and black bring colour and style into the otherwise neutral room

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder

Method

Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Add water a little at a time and knead into a soft smooth ball.

Rub a little oil on the top of the dough ball to prevent from crusting. Cover with a damp paper towel. Let dough rest for minimum of one hour.

Divide dough into four equal parts. Roll each dough ball to 1/8 inch in thickness.

Brush with oil.

From one end roll dough to form a log.

Take one end and circle the centre, tuck end into the centre. Let dough sit for 1-2 hours, 45 minutes at minimum.

Heat tawah or cast iron skillet to

1/2 tsp salt 1 cup very warm water 1/2 cup oil, melted vegetable shortening, or ghee 1/2 cup flour for dusting medium heat. Roll each dough ball to 1/8 inch thickness.

Place roti on tawah or skillet to cook.

Once roti shows bubbles, flip onto other side and brush with oil. Flip to the first side and brush with oil. Do not allow dark brown patches to form as it will yield a stiff roti. Remove roti from heat.

Immediately place roti in a deep bowl, cover with a plate or cutting board. Shake vigorously to release air pockets in roti.

You may clap roti with your hands slightly if you prefer a flakier roti using your bare hands or a kitchen towel.

Makes 4 rotis.

(Source: alifeworthchasing.com)

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OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

Diet, exercise and your child

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(Conclusion)

JOKES Man questions God

Man: “God, why did you make women so beautiful?”

God: “So you’ll find them attractive.”

Man: “Why did you make so many of them so stupid?”

God: “So many of them might find you attractive.”

A

Clean cup

couple walked into a cheap looking restaurant. As they were about to sit down they noticed there were crumbs on the seat, after cleaning up the seat and wiping down the table they sat down.

A waitress came over asking them what they wanted.

“I’ll just take a coffee” said the man; “Me too” said the lady, “and make sure the cup is clean.”

The waitress returned with their drinks “OK” she said placing down their cups, “now, which one of you wanted the clean cup?”

A

Praise the Lord

religious woman upon waking up each morning would open her front door stand on the porch and scream, “Praise the lord.” This infuriated her atheist neighbour who would always make sure to counter back, “There is no Lord.”

One morning the atheist neighbour overheard his neighbour praying for food; thinking it would be funny, he went and bought her all sorts of groceries and left them on her porch.

The next morning the lady screamed, “Praise the Lord, who gave me this food.”

The neighbour, who was laughing so hard he could barely get the words out, screamed, “It wasn’t the Lord, it was me.”

The lady without missing a beat screamed out again: “Praise the Lord for not only giving me food but making the atheist pay for it!!“

A

Dad’s turn to look after baby

couple had their first baby. After a week or so the mother thought she could use a break and went shopping leaving the little baby with the proud

father.

It was only a short while before the baby started to cry. The perplexed father tried all of the tricks that he remembered his wife doing but to no avail.

Finally, after a half hour in desperation he went to the doctor. After checking all of the regular things the doctor discovered it was just a dirty diaper.

“I don’t understand “the perplexed father said “I knew it was dirty, but the diaper package said specifically that it was good up to eight pounds!”

A

Senior moment

A

Two doors

n old lady phoned the local police department to report that thieves had been in her car. “They have stolen the dashboard, the steering wheel, the brake pedal, even the accelerator,” she cried out.

However, before the police investigation could start, the phone rang a second time, and the same voice came over the line. “Never mind. I got in the back seat by mistake.”

man was invited to a wedding. When he reached the hotel, he found two doors written on them...

1. Bride’s relatives 2. Groom’s relatives He entered the ‘Groom’ door and found two doors again: 1. Ladies 2. Men He entered the ‘Men’ door and found two doors again: 1.People with gifts 2.People without gifts He entered the second door (people without gifts) ...

He found himself outside the hotel.

hange their exercise routine: Make time to play or be active with your child — set aside 60 minutes every day to play catch; go for a walk, jog, bike ride or swim; or play tag. Make sure your child gets enough activity to balance the calories that they take in.

Give them gifts that encourage activity — e.g., sporting equipment, active games or enrol them in community sports teams. Walk as much as possible — e.g., walk with your children to school, after dinner, instead of watching TV. Move around at home with your kids — e.g., yard work, gardening or work around the house.

Children are instinctively primed to imitate their parents and caregivers. They are incredibly sensitive to the messages that are sent about eating and exercise. You exert the most influence on your children’s behaviour and can model healthy attitudes and habits toward food and physical activity that persist as they grow up.

Parents and caregivers significantly influence the likes and dislikes that children attach to certain foods. These influences can last a lifetime. Each of us can probably remember a favourite home cooked meal from our childhood.

There is even research that suggests that this be-

gins in infancy; children who are breastfed may be exposed to different flavours in their mother’s breast milk than the sugars and fats in infant formula. Breastfeeding may provide protection from the development of obesity.

STORY TIME

O

Elephant and friends

ne day an elephant wandered into a forest in search of friends. He saw a monkey on a tree. “Will you be my friend?" asked the elephant.

Replied the monkey, “You are too big.

You cannot swing from trees like me."

Next, the elephant met a rabbit. He asked him to be his friend.

But the rabbit said, “You are too big to play in my burrow!"

Then the elephant met a frog.

“Will you be my friend?” he asked.

“How can I?" asked the frog. “You are too big to leap about like me."

The elephant was upset. He met a fox next. “Will you be my friend?" he asked the fox.

The fox said, “Sorry, sir, you are too big."

The next day, the elephant saw all the animals in the forest running for their lives.

The elephant asked them what the matter was.

The bear replied, “There is a tiger in the forest. He’s trying to gobble us all up!"

The animals all ran away to hide.

The elephant wondered what he could do to solve the problem of everyone in the forest. Meanwhile, the tiger kept eating up whoever he could find.

The elephant walked up to the tiger and said, “Please, Mr. Tiger, do not eat up these poor animals."

“Mind your own business!" growled the tiger.

The elephant has a no choice but to give the tiger a hefty kick.

The frightened tiger ran for his life.

The elephant ambled back into the forest to announce the good news to everyone.

All the animals thanked the elephant.

They said, “You are just the right size to be our friend."

Life still has a meaning If there is a future there is time for mendingTime to see your troubles coming to an ending.

Life is never hopeless however great your sorrowIf you're looking forward to a new tomorrow.

If there is time for wishing then there is time for hopingWhen through doubt and darkness you are blindly groping.

Though the heart be heavy and hurt you may be feelingIf there is time for praying there is time for healing.

So if through your window there is a new day breakingThank God for the promise, though mind and soul be aching, If with harvest over there is grain enough for gleaningThere is a new tomorrow and life still has meaning.

By Grammar G.

A weighty word

Q: What does an elephant have to do with the English language? A: It carries its weight in words (yes, a terrible elephant joke).

The origin of the word “elephant” is said to have begun appearing around the 7th – 9th century BC from ancient Greek elephas for “ivory”, the beautiful and valuable substance that makes up the elephant’s tusks.

A few centuries later, elephas was used by historians as the name for the animal, which by the Roman era was Latin elephantus and by the 13th century “elephant” in English.

In more modern times the word “elephant”, has been adopted to also characterize a plant or animal (including humans) bigger than others of its kind.

There is the “elephant shrew” with its trunk-like nose (according to the BBC, they are in fact more closely related to the elephant than to other shrews); a fish called the “elephant fish” or “elephant nose fish”, and “elephant grass”, a grass that can grow up to 10 feet. Very chubby human toddlers or youngsters stout for their age have been called “baby elephants” as well.

English also has idiomatic expres-

sions that make use of elephants, such as a “white elephant”, meaning an unwanted present or something – usually expensive – that is useless or has become useless.

The King of Siam in the late 19th century, would actually present a white elephant to members of the court who offended him, so that they would have to pay for its upkeep – which was very expensive. (One can’t sell or give away a gift from the king!)

Seeing “pink elephants” is a euphemism for drunkenness caused by one who has overindulged with alcohol, coined in the late 19th - early 20th century.

There is also the expression, “An elephant in the room” to mean a touchy issue no one wants to discuss as it would be uncomfortable.

Also, (to have) “a memory like an elephant” means being able to remember things for a very long time – elephants are

by Author Unknown

said to be able to remember water holes over generations.

It has been suggested too that the expression may have come from translation errors or semantic shift of the ancient Greek expression, “A camel never forgets”, referring to the camel’s ability to remember water holes in its vast desert habitat.

And last but not least is the “elephant joke”, meaning a ridiculous riddle that includes an elephant…

20 Sunday Times Magazine

OCTOBER 30, 2016

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Times Sunday Puzzle

These seemingly "nonsense" words have pairs of opposites in them. For example: lshoorntg would be "Long /Short" (LshOorNtG). If you've noticed, the letters in the words are always in the same order.

Now try these!

4) Frbeoiezle 1) Wfateirer 2) Grsokuynd 5) Rpoiocrh 3) Ppenecinl 6) Wmaomnan see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

Fjord

A goblin shark’s close-up

T

he Goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is a rare species of fish that usually lives at the bottom of the ocean, along continental shelves of Japan, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. Specimens have been seen off the coast of Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana.

Pink in colour, they are sometimes referred to as vampire sharks, and can grow 12 feet long (though it has been said that one was caught at over 18 feet) and weigh up to 460 pounds. They have narrow snouts and fanglike

teeth, giving them their terrifying appearance.

Goblin sharks feed on the organisms that inhabit the ocean bottom where they too live; this includes stingrays, molluscs, and crabs.

In some areas they are also able to eat squid.

Living where sunlight rarely penetrates, the goblin shark uses a sense system known as ‘ampullae of Lorenzini’, found in its snout, for electrodetection of prey.

Also called a “living fossil” Goblin sharks are named for their likeness to mythical goblins that appear in Japanese folklore.

A

The Nærøyfjord in Norway is 18km long

fjord (pronounced FEE-YORD) is a long, narrow sea inlet that is bordered by steep cliffs. It is usually found where current or past glaciation extended below current sea level.

Fjords form when a glacier retreats, after carving its typical U-shaped valley, and the sea fills the resulting valley floor, leaving a narrow, steep sided inlet we call a fjord.

The opening toward the sea is called the mouth of the fjord, and is often shallow. The fjord's inner part is

called the sea bottom. If the landform is wider than it is long, it is not a fjord.

Then it is a bay or cove.

Fjords are often natural harbours because they often are quieter than the open sea due to their shallow threshold in the mouth of the fjord.

Places where the fjord is shallow has seen a debris of gravel and sand that formed an underwater barrier, often called "sea thresholds" or “ra”.

Fjord is said to be from Norse fjörðr , which in English means “where you travel across”.

Spot the Difference Find 13 differences between the pictures

Colouring Fun

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all please see solution on page 23

digits 1 through 9.

please see answers on page 23

22 Sunday Times Magazine

OCTOBER 30, 2016

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OCTOBER 30, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 23

Times World

'Saints not ghouls' Spanish church advises for Halloween

S

panish bishops are fighting back against the popularity of the "satanic festival" of Halloween by urging good Christian children to forgo zombie, ghost and devil outfits and instead dress up as "saints, virgins and apostles".

Dioceses across Spain have long been trying to steer the focus away from the American style gory Halloween celebrations that have now become popular in Spain and back to the All Saints Day, a Catholic festival to remember the dearly departed.

This year, churches and catholic schools are staging "Holywins" parties encouraging children to celebrate All Saints Day by dressing up in costumes relating to the Catholic faith: your favourite saint, a monk or nun, or even one of the apostles.

The diocese of Alcalá de Henares, one of several to publicize the Holywins parties, explains in a statement: "Although Halloween has its origins in All Saints Eve, the modern day festival has nothing to do with the Christian faith."

"With Holywins, which stands for Holiness Wins, one can avoid the pagan festival and reclaim the meaning of the Catholic feast day of All Saints," reads a statement from the Diocese of Cartagena.

"Why promote the cult of death and celebrate the monstrous and the evil when as Christians we can rejoice in life and celebrate good?" said one Holywins announcement from Alcalá de Henares.

The diocese of Cadiz and Ceuta is staging Holywins parties and even includes ideas for suitable costumes on its website.

Singapore launches first Diwali-themed train

O

n October 15, a fortnight before Diwali, Singapore launched its first Diwali-themed train on its North East Line (NEL) which has a station named ‘Little India’.

Both the platforms of the Little India station too were decorated with colourful motifs, floral designs and rangolis.

The coaches of the Diwali-themed train were decked up with beautiful images of diyas and garlands. Other elements such as intricate Indian jewel-

lery, the lotus and peacock – a symbol of good luck also featured on the train coaches.

The train was launched by the Land Transport Authority in collaboration with the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA).

It was inaugurated by Minister for Transport, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, and will run on the NEL till midNovember, the transport department wrote on their Facebook page.

Brain Teaser Answer 1) Water/Fire: WfATEireR 2) Ground/Sky: GRsOkUyND 3) Rich/Poor: RpoIoCrH 4) Freeze/Boil: FRbEoiEZlE 5) Pen/Pencil: PpENeCInL 6) Woman/Man: WmaOMnAN

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

The top 15 Most-Googled Halloween costumes

CROSSWORD

I

n partnership with Google, People.com shared the year’s top 15 most-searched-for Halloween costumes and, perhaps unsurprisingly,

Harley Quinn and the Joker from “Suicide Squad” take the top spots, with the usual characters generally included. Deadpool rounds out this year’s top 15.

Spot the Difference

1. Harley Quinn 2. The Joker 3. Superhero 4. Pirate 5. Wonder Woman 6. Witch 7. Batman 8. Star Wars 9. Clown Harley Quinn from "Suicide Squad"

10. Dinosaur 11. Mermaid 12. Pikachu 13. Zombie 14. Minnie Mouse 15. Deadpool Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve this year falls on Mon. Oct. 31

24

Sunday Times Magazine

OCTOBER 30, 2016

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Fun Times

Archie

ARIES If you look for an opportu(March 21- nity, you will find one. Online April 19) job postings and former coworkers will lead to something that interests you.

Trust in yourself and ofTAURUS fer your honest opinion to (April 20- someone looking for anMay 20) swers. A day trip, retreat or time spent with loved ones will be enlightening.

Learn through experience GEMINI while trying something new.

(May 21- Volunteering for something June 20) will open your eyes to all sorts

of possibilities and introduce you to someone you'll want to get to know better.

Engaging in some family CANCER fun or getting together with (June 21- an old friend will lead to inJuly 22) teresting events. Plan a trip to somewhere you've never been before and research the perfect itinerary.

Take the day to pamLEO per yourself and make im(July 23provements that will boost Aug. 22) your morale and get you in good shape for the upcoming week. Love and romance are highlighted.

Dilbert

A day trip or a get-together VIRGO with friends or relatives will (Aug. 23open your eyes to new possiSept. 22) bilities. If things aren't going the way you want, you should make changes that will satisfy your needs.

You'll be torn between LIBRA what you want to do and what (Sept. 23you should do. Take care of Oct. 23) your responsibilities first in order to get greater joy and satisfaction from your day.

Peanuts

Stand tall and stand out.

SCORPIO Your intensity and desire to (Oct. 24- get what you want will make Nov. 22) you a tough competitor. If you focus on your goal, you will gain control.

SAGITTARIUS Getting together with (Nov. 23someone from your past will Dec. 21) lead to confusion or the need to question certain choices.

You can't change the past, but you can alter the future.

If you consider how you CAPRICORN earn your money and think (Dec. 22- about your goals, you'll come Jan. 19) up with a unique plan that will help you get your way.

Calvin and Hobbes Money matters and perAQUARIUS sonal responsibilities must (Jan. 20- be put in order before you Feb. 19) can get on with your day and have some fun. Romance, relaxation and making physical improvements are encouraged.

PISCES You need to take better (Feb. 20- care of your health. Don't Mar. 20) try to do something that you aren't equipped to handle.

Set reasonable goals, especially if they require physical endurance.