Open Skies | October 2016

CHINA’S MISSION TO MARS

Editor-in-ChiEf Managing PartnEr & grouP Editor EditoriaL dirECtor grouP Editor SEnior Editor SEnior digitaL / Print dESignEr digitaL aniMator VidEo Editor Sub Editor EditoriaL aSSiStant

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Ian Fairservice Gina Johnson gina@motivate.ae Mark Evans marke@motivate.ae Andrew Nagy andrew.nagy@motivate.ae Roui Francisco rom@motivate.ae Surajit Dutta surajit@motivate.ae Donnie Miguel donnie.miguel@motivate.ae Salil Kumar salil@motivate.ae Londresa Flores londresa@motivate.ae

ContributorS

Geoff Brokate, Gemma Correll, Marina Kay, Jamie Knights, David Leck, Vincent Long, Kaye Martindale, Sandra Tinari, Stuart Turton Cover: Daniel O’Leary (illustrationweb.com)

gEnEraL ManagEr ProduCtion S Sunil Kumar ProduCtion ManagEr R Murali Krishnan

ChiEf CoMMErCiaL offiCEr Anthony Milne anthony@motivate.ae

PubLiShEr Jaya Balakrishnan jaya@motivate.ae

grouP SaLES ManagEr Michael Underdown michael@motivate.ae

SEnior SaLES ManagEr Shruti Srivastava shruti.srivastava@ motivate.ae

dEPuty SaLES ManagEr Amar Kamath amar@motivate.ae

EditoriaL ConSuLtantS for EMiratES Editor Manna Talib arabiC Editor Hatem Omar dEPuty Editor Catherine Freeman WEbSitE emirates.com

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125,959 copies January – June 2016 Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai, UAE

E D I T O R ’ S

L E T T E R

ANDREW NAGY

ON THE COVER

SENIOR EDITOR

I

’m not one to namedrop, but I remember meeting Buzz Aldrin once.

I don’t mind telling you that I felt just a little star struck. Not the most attractive reaction, but there you have it. I console myself with the fact that his second-man-on-the-Moon credentials mean he’s made of the Right Stuff, as opposed to reality TV stuff.

Somehow, space travel has lost its lustre in recent decades, and aside from commercial space tourism, the only thing that seems to capture the public’s

industrial development the aim. They are not alone.

One NASA projection claims the US could send humans to the Mars by 2033, while Elon Musk’s SpaceX recently boasted it could have a colony there by 2025. Is it just me, or does anybody else think’s there’s a genuine chance that the typically bullish Musk will try and pilot that first Mars shuttle?

Meanwhile Mars One, the Dutch organisation that had 200,000 people apply for the first phase of its one-way

“IS IT JUST ME, OR DOES ANYBODY ELSE THINK THAT ELON MUSK MIGHT JUST TRY AND PILOT HIS FIRST SHUTTLE TO MARS?” imagination, like the Apollo missions to the Moon, is the race to Mars. This month’s cover story examines China’s possible entry into the Red Planet race.

As I reacted to Aldrin, China reacts to Liu Yang, the first Chinese woman in space. Yang’s 2012 role in the crew of Shenzhou 9 saw her become a national hero, yet the groundbreaking mission was just a small par t of China’s quiet revolution in space travel.

Unsurprisingly, the sovereign state is officially rather coy about its end game, but audible whispers point to potential manned missions to Mars by 2040, with

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ticket to Mars oppor tunity, claims a first batch of frontiersmen and women could leave by 2026. The race is on.

While governments and private space-kateers alike battle it out, the reality, as you’ll read on p64, is that everybody’s best hope of getting there at all is probably through international cooperation. And while the Cold War bir thed the Moon landings, who knows, perhaps the mission to Mars could yet result in a distinct thawing of previously frosty global relations.

Enjoy the issue.

CHINA’S MISSION TO MARS Daniel O’Leary created a photo illustration depicting a live feed from the moment that China might well just land a man on the Red Planet. Daniel has previously worked with the biggest publishing houses in the world, including Random House and the Penguin Group.

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C O N T R I B U T O R S

OCTOBER Some of the people who helped create this issue of Open Skies GEOFF BROKATE

GEMMA CORRELL

MARINA KAY

DAVID LECK

Geoff is an Australian photographer and writer based in the UK. A regular contributor to Open Skies, this month he both shot and wrote on the fabled Kila Raipur Olympics.

Gemma is a self-confessed writer, illustrator and small person. The author of books including A Cat’s Guide To Life and A Pug’s Guide To Etiquette, she draws the Skycat illustration ever y month in Open Skies.

Marina is an Australian-born writer based in Los Angeles.

A regular contributor to Open Skies, this month she interviewed celebrity photographer Richard McLaren over lunch in her adopted hometown, at the renowned Petit Trois.

David is a London-based writer specialising in travel, business, health and fitness.

He contributes to a broad portfolio of titles around the world. This month he writes on the man behind The Hoxton brand, Sharan Pasricha.

“This is undoubtedly the best example of India’s relaxed approach to health and safety I’ve ever seen.

I was terrified, narrowly missed being trampled during a horse race and saw people lifting huge weights… with their eyes.”

“When I draw Skycats, I think about what cats might do in certain situations. I love imagining what might happen if they were passengers on an Emirates plane (and had opposable thumbs).”

VINCENT LONG Vincent is a photographer and filmmaker based in Mexico City who has wandered the world for the last 15 years. His work has appeared in Esquire UK, The New York Times and Mercedes magazine Australia.

This month he photographed celebrity photographer, Richard McLaren.

“Photographing Richard was a real pleasure. He regaled us with stories from celebrity shoots and proved as much of a pro in front of the camera as he is behind.”

“Speaking with Richard McLaren felt as if I were unlocking the contents of a glorious time capsule. We lunched for over an hour, but he has days- worth of fascinating celebrity stories to tell.”

“It doesn’t take long to warm to Sharan’s hugely focused but charming and understated style.

It perfectly reflects his growing Hoxton brand of hotels and restaurants that are quietly making a global impact.”

KAYE MARTINDALE

SANDRA TINARI

STUART TURTON

Kaye is a semi-nomadic writer currently based in Yorkshire’s beautiful Calder Valley. An Open Skies regular, this month she travelled to Mumbai to experience the vibrant Colaba neighbourhood.

Sandra is an Australian freelance journalist and photographer based in Dubai, and a regular contributor to Open Skies. This month she writes on Yadawei, an Al Quoz ceramics studio that’s promising to de-stress the masses in Dubai.

Stuar t is a freelance journalist specialising in travel and technology. He spends a lot of time going in the wrong direction, grumbling at smar tphones and trying to remember where he left his house keys. This month he writes on China’s space programme.

“Colaba is a fascinating place and well worth your time, rich with history yet also ultra stylish. It’s this confluence of architectural styles and new business that illustrates its stirring past and exciting present.”

“With an welcoming atmosphere that’s brimming with creativity, Yadawei is a unique, handson cultural space in Dubai, where making a mess is considered a good thing.”

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“The race to Mars has well and truly begun, and it’s China, rather than the US, which looks like it might go and plant its flag in that famous red soil first.”

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OCTOBER 28

RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES DUBAI, UAE

For more action sports and entertainment, watch Red Bull TV onboard today’s flight. Channel 1313 on ice Digital Widescreen.

E x p E r i E n c E

When it comes to making a living by diving from a cliff that jutts out roughly 28 metres above the water, it’s probably best to start early. That’s certainly how it was for 2015 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Champion, Gary Hunt.

“I was part of the swimming club in Leeds from the age of six, and by the time I was nine I’d started training in the big pool,” says Hunt. “But I always remember that the divers looked like they were having more fun than I was, so I gave it a try. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life, and over the next 13 years I made it my mission to learn as many dives as possible, even the crazy ones that nobody else would dare try. This gave me the foundation and the confidence that has put me into the position that I am today.”

That position has seen Hunt travel around the world on what could possibly be the most exciting sporting series going, which means it was only a matter of time before it made a stop in Dubai. However, even though the event stops off at some of the most exotic locations in the world, it’s the diving that always steals the show.

Naturally, Dubai has something a little different, with divers jumping form Pier 7 in the Marina, but you should still expect a heart-in-mouth situation... the divers certainly will. “Every time you try a new dive, or jump from a new height or new location your heart beats faster,” reveals Hunt. “Your palms get sweaty and your mind fills with doubts. But then the job of a cliff diver is to overcome this fear and trust in your training, so that’s what I do.” redbullcliffdiving.com

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iMAGE: RED BULL

woRLD Cliff Diving Champion, gaRY hUnT, ExpLAins why DUBAi’s EntRy into thE spoRt this Month wiLL MAkE yoUR pALMs Go swEAty

F L A S H B A C K

MIND GAMES AFTER YEARS OF PERSECUTION, THE US GOVERNMENT FINALLY DROPS JOHN LENNON’S DEPORTATION ORDER Politics and celebrity sit snugly in each other’s pocket these days, but during the Vietnam War, movie stars and musicians were leading protests and marching for peace, placing themselves firmly on the FBI’s radar. Phones were being tapped and intimidation was rampant, but there wasn’t a great deal the government could do to gag free speech, until John Lennon and Yoko Ono got involved.

In 1972, the couple had been living in New York for a year and were campaigning vehemently for an end to the war. In their eyes, the best way to secure peace was to ensure Richard Nixon didn’t get voted into the White House, and they weren’t shy about swaying their supporters.

Unfortunately, it didn’t make a blind bit of difference, except for earning Nixon’s enmity. Sure enough, when he did take office, he made it a priority of his administration to find some way of expelling Lennon and Ono from the country.

What he hadn’t counted on was the influence of the friends the couple had amassed during their short stint in the country. After the news was announced, everybody from Beat poet Gregory Corso to novelists including Joseph Heller and John Updike voiced their objection, with Bob Dylan even writing a letter to the State Department that read: “John and Yoko inspire and transcend and stimulate. They help put an end to this mild dull taste of petty commercialism which is being passed off as artist art by the overpowering mass media. Let John and Yoko stay!”

As the letters piled up, Nixon remained obstinate, though the deportation proceedings continued to be pushed back and back and back, until finally Watergate happened. Driven out of office in 1974, Nixon’s vendetta went with him, and the deportation charges were quietly dropped, with Judge Irving Kaufman stating, “The courts will not condone selective deportation based upon secret political grounds.” Lennon was made an official US citizen less than one year later.

For more on John Lennon’s life, watch the Last Lennon Interview. Channel 1371 on ice Digital Widescreen.

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STRAWBERRY FIELDS PAY TRIBUTE AT TWO ICONIC LENNON SITES IN NYC Just five years after becoming a US citizen, Lennon was shot outside his New York apartment building, The Dakota. Take a stroll to the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central to see this and Strawberry Fields, the Central Park memorial Bruce Kelly designed in his honour.

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RICHARD MCLAREN

The celebrity photographer discusses a career snapping everyone from Nelson Mandela to Tina Turner over lunch at LA’s Petit Trois WORDS: MaRina Kay iMageS: Vincent LOng

C

elebrity photographer Richard McLaren and I are meeting at a Los Angeles strip mall. But not just any old strip mall.

One on the corner of Melrose and Highland, it’s sought out by foodies for its two restaurants run by buzzed-about chef Ludo Lefebvre.

Scribbled directions lead me past a doughnut shop and a dry-cleaner, then to a quaint bistro-cum-bar, Petit Trois. French rap plays overhead; it smells of charcuterie; nimble staff dance around one another in the small open kitchen. Chef Ludo, the hostess tells me, is next door, in his other restaurant, Trois Mec, filming a Hennessy commercial and scenes for the TV show, Mind Of A Chef.

Minutes later, McLaren arrives – a commanding yet affable presence. What’s really striking though is that he’s early, an anomaly in a town where lateness-due-to-gridlock trumps punctuality. Contrary to popular thought, not everyone in Hollywood acts according to type.

We exchange a handshake and bit of talk about McLaren’s recent photo shoot with Barry Manilow, but before we sit down, there are portraits to take. Unsurprisingly, McLaren is relaxed in front of the camera, and while he nails his Blue Steel pose, I scroll through his highlight reel of work. Photos of Sharon Stone, Tina Turner, Gwyneth Paltrow and Heath Ledger. Nelson Mandela in the presidential palace and Jean-Claude Van Damme in the buff – not an ounce of fat on him – gripping two lion cubs.

McLaren leans over in between setups, and suggests I order lunch. We end up sharing steak tartare, Burgundy escargots, a Boursin cheese omelette and a salad for good measure.

Half an hour passes… the photo shoot is a wrap and McLaren, in good spirits, pulls up a stool and orders a beer. “Right, so what shall we talk about?”

He grew up in London, a kid from a working-class family with aspirations of making the McLaren-Honda Formula 1 team. “I wanted to be a car driver,” he explains. “I liked the glamour and

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flair of racing and I’d go to the track with my older brother all the time and watch cars race. I loved it.”

Throughout high school, however, he dabbled in photography and at the age of 16, his father gave him his first camera for Christmas. It was a game changer. “I thought I’d won the lottery. It was a Pentax Spotmatic SP F, which I still have.” Sensing his talent, McLaren’s cousin, a creative art director at British tabloid News Of The World, clued him in on a job at London photo agency Scope Features. McLaren showed up, scoring a one-week trial. “On my first day, we ended up shooting models. And I thought, ‘Well hang on, why do I want to race go-karts when I can photograph beautiful women?’ And that was it.”

McLaren assisted the best photographers of the time: Brian Aris, David Steen, Allan Ballard, David James. “They were all top in their field. Some worked on movie sets, some shot glamour, some did music. The biggest thing for me was how they handled the Bob Marleys, the Thin Lizzys. Taking the pictures is easy; it’s (more about) handling the person and getting that person to trust you.” He says his mentors had a knack for putting their subjects at ease by telling jokes, or having conversations over beers. “I took a bit from each of them and put my own thing together.”

Recalling the early days, McLaren singles out photographing English stand-up comic Freddie Starr. “He’d turn up in the studio Emirates flies twice daily to Los Angeles.

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in Wellington boots and shorts. He was fun to shoot because you never knew what you were going to get from him,” he says.

“When it’s all planned, it’s a bit boring. I like people turning up and collaborating. It all depends on how comfortable they are.”

At 25, Richard went freelance; working with celebrities became his forte. “I am more of a people photographer; I’m not a fashion person. Celebrities are more fun,” he says. “You can talk to them. When I was starting out it was models on the covers, but when celebrities replaced them, ratings went through the roof. It’s a tactic that clearly still works.”

Having photographed England’s “most important” celebs, he then looked across the Atlantic and decided to try his luck over there. For 25 years he did just that, travelling to the States for three months at a time, when he’d rent a house with his crew – “I rented Mike Tyson’s house” – to complete projects for clients back in England. “In the end I was bringing the kids (his two daughters) over all the time.” They ended up moving to LA in 2000, which is when Richard launched his company, Rocket Entertainment.

“The biggesT Thing for me was how They dealT wiTh The likes of bob marley and Thin lizzy. iT’s all abouT handling The person and geTTing ThaT person To TrusT you”

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Film promos granted McLaren access to actors, and he naturally has stories to tell. “The Jean-Claude Van Damme shots were in South Africa,” he says on shooting international press for the Belgian’s film, Legionnaire. “Van Damme had come down in a dinner suit and we were doing pictures at night by the Sun City hotel pool. A Zulu band – they were all naked – was playing drums, and then he started stripping off until he was in his underpants, playing the drums.” And the lion cubs? “My friend had a lion farm there. I asked him if he had any babies, and he had six, so he brought them in. That shot was taken in the hotel’s Royal Suite.”

Next begs the question: of all the celebrities left to photograph, who in the world does McLaren most want to work with? George Clooney, he says. “He’s a character; he likes pulling jokes and pranks. In that way he’s an American version of me, so I think we’d get on very well.”

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McLaren also wants to work with more charities. “If any charities knock on my door, I’ll always do it for them.” He’s collaborated with Unicef, and wants to do the same with The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, specifically the Sheldrick Trust Orphans Project that rescues baby elephants left motherless as a consequence of ivory poaching. “I’ve been trying to get a celebrity to come with me to shoot a campaign with the elephants, because that’s what I’m good at – when I shoot an image, I can promote it to all the magazines I know in different countries. This way I can raise money to keep this foundation going.”

After 38 years of working with magazines, movie studios and on ad campaigns for clients including Nascar and Emirates, McLaren is sharing his unseen images with the world. “Lots of people ask me for images, so I decided to release a limited collection of about 20 to 30 of my favourites as prints.” These prints cannot be accessed anywhere else; McLaren maintains he’s never given any away, just “three Mandela pictures to American charities to raise money for a church and two for schools. One was auctioned for US$5,000, another for US$10,000 or something crazy.” The limited collection of prints can be purchased on his website in a variety of sizes that will be numbered and signed.

As we near the end of our time together, I ask McLaren about creative pursuits that might inspire his work. Apart from fly fishing – “I do it all over the world, in Ireland, Scotland, Norway and Patagonia. That’s the way I love to relax.” – his passion is simply photography. “I don’t think there’s a better job out there for me. It is a hobby that I have a talent for, and I get paid to do it. Every day I pinch myself and think, ‘I’ve got the most amazing job.’ I’m a boy out of London who has done reasonably well for

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himself, but it hasn’t just been given to me. Even when I leave here I’ve got three conference calls for the drive back home.

Then I’ll go straight in the office because we’re working on other projects. I don’t stop. That’s just me. I have to be doing something. My brain has to be working.”

We split what’s left of the omelette (Petit Trois is known for it, I later learn, and rightly so. It’s deliciously fluffy). McLaren finishes a Coke, scans his BlackBerry, and checks in with the chef – the two are friends – before getting into his SUV. With a wave, he’s off, headed for the Pacific Palisades and as ready as ever to photograph the next big thing.

Richard will release his collection of unseen prints later in 2016.

For more information visit richardmclarenphoto.com

The Bill 1 Steak Tartare US$19 1 Haricot Vert US$14 1 Escargot US$18 1 Omelette US$18 1 Diet Coke US$4 1 Kronenberg US$6

Total US$79

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Presidential suite, Waldorf astoria N e w Yo r k C i t Y, U S

Words: ANdrEW NAGY ImAGEs: WALdorF AsTorIA hoTELs ANd rEsorTs In days gone by, if you wanted to stay in the Presidential Suite of the Waldorf Astoria you were subject to rigorous background checks and barred from even photographing the place. Nowadays, thankfully, it’s fair game to anybody who can negotiate the rate.

If you’re able to do so, you’ll find yourself in a stunning suite modelled on

the Georgian style of the White House.

It’s for good reason as US presidents from the past eight decades have all stayed in this Art Deco icon on Park Avenue.

Whether you’re sitting behind General Douglas MacArthur’s desk, on JFK’s rocking chair, or in the 10-seater dining room, history weighs heavy here, and anybody who stays becomes part of a

very exclusive club; one featuring kings, queens and a host of superstars.

The largest hotel in the world on its opening in 1931, it remains a temple to the swagger of the city, and while the Cole Porter Suite might trump it for size, you’d be hard pressed to find a place in NYC with even half as much regal style. waldorfastoria3.hilton.com

Emirates operates four daily A380 services to New York – choose from three non-stop flights from Dubai, as well as a daily service that stops in Milan.

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Hotel Belmond Caruso R a v e l l o , I t a ly

Words : AndreW nAgy IMAges: belMond group Just occasionally, there are moments in life when you sit down, inhale, and feel something approaching an easy contentment.

A place by the pool, overlooking the Amalfi Coast at the Hotel Belmond Caruso, is undoubtedly one of them.

Perched at the top of a small cobbled street in Ravello, the building was formerly an 11th century palazzo and has retained

its Neapolitan good looks, with colourful frescos and beautiful mosaic tile floors.

You’re a five-minute walk into the centre of town, and an early evening stroll is a must, but you’ll find that it’s often difficult prising yourself away from the hotel. Belvedere Restaurant, in particular, is a fantastic example of simple traditional Italian dishes done exceedingly well.

Emirates serves four destinations in Italy – Rome, Milan, Venice and Bologna.

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When the outdoors does finally call, you can make the most of it with a complimentary boat trip along the coast, or a bus ride to Positano. But make no mistake about it, long after your trip has ended, it’s the view from your room, of the Amalfi coast melting into the Med, that you’ll be talking about. belmond.com

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Shangri-La hoteL at the Shard London, UK

Words: AndreW nAgy IMAges: shAngrI-lA hotels And resorts In little more than three years, The Shard has sharply become something of an icon in the city; a trip to the top almost as essential as seeing Buckingham Palace or the Tower.

Found on London Bridge Street, the only thing you’ll probably enjoy more than going up to the View from The Shard observatory is if you happen to be checking in to the Shangri-La Hotel on the 34th floor.

It’s initially a little difficult to work out which is the more impressive spectacle, that of Renzo Piano’s building on the skyline, or of the rest of the city from one of its 202 rooms and suites. But you’ll find your answer after 10 minutes spent gazing out of the floor-to-ceiling windows and on to Canary Wharf, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge and more of the city’s splendour.

When you’ve tired of the view head to signature restaurant, Ting, for afternoon tea or dinner. There you’ll find a contemporary Asian style, both in the menu and decor.

After that, end the day on a high (literally), at Gong. It’s on the 52nd floor and the cocktails are out of this world. Not surprising, considering the starting point. shangrila.com

The Emirates Air Line cable car promises great views of London. The ten-minute journey crosses the River Thames between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. The nearby Emirates Aviation Experience gives visitors an insight into the operations and modern achievements of commercial air travel.

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N e i g h b o u r h o o d

Colaba MuMbai, india

Words: Kaye Martindale iMages: geoff BroKate

l

ocated amongst India’s most expensive real estate in South Mumbai, Colaba is one of seven islands that make up modern Mumbai, given by the Portuguese to King Charles II in 1662 as part of a dowry.

Known locally as SoBo (many Mumbaikars hold on nostalgically to the colonial name, Bombay), the British left an indelible mark on the city, and almost every building here is in the Victorian style, offering an unusual tropical version of 1800s England.

While many of its wide tree-lined avenues evoke old money, now hipster coffee houses sit alongside 100-year-old Parsi cafes, colourful retro boutiques cram in next to grand colonial style bookstores, and late night art gallery walks contrast with chaiwallahs plying for trade along the promenade. It’s an exhilarating mix. Here’s how to plan your visit. | 37 |

N e i g h b o u r h o o d

Stay + Shop

Taj Mahal Palace

In the area (two-minute walk)

It’s impossible to speak of Mumbai without mentioning the Taj. It’s a par t of the city’s heritage and is seen by many Mumbaikars as a symbol of the city. The architecture reflects India’s divergent influences and is a beautiful merging of British, Mughal and Rajasthani styles. The hotel has eight dining areas open to non-residents so you can soak up the rich history and opulence even if you aren’t a staying guest. If you’d like the full British colonial experience head to the Sea Lounge for high tea.

Apollo Bunder | +91 22 6665 3366 | tajhotels.com

BomBay electric Probably the coolest store in the city, Bombay Electric offers modern twists on traditional Indian styles and accessories.

1 REay HousE, BEst MaRg, +91 22 2287 6276, BoMBayElEctRIc.In

Emirates flies to Mumbai five times daily. Choose from four daily services operated by the Boeing 777, as well as a daily A380 service.

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N e i g h b o u r h o o d

Dress + Dine

Payal Khandwala As you walk along Ar thur Bunder Road, with its hawkers and street vendors, it doesn’t look like a hotbed of creativity. Yet if you look up at the second and third storeys you’ll find some of Colaba’s most exciting ar t galleries, design studios and boutiques. Most sensational of all is fashion designer Payal Khandwala’s eponymous store and workshop. Always popular on Bollywood’s red carpet, Payal’s designs are stunning, contemporary takes on elegant Indian designs that appeal to a global market.

17 Arthur Bunder Road, 7/24 | First Floor Grants Building | +91 22 2283 6707 | payalkhandwala.in

the table

India’s first and finest destination restaurant.

Incredibly stylish with globally inspired food cooked by their much lauded San Franciscan chef, Alex Sanchez.

in The AreA (ten-minute stroll)

KAlApeSI TruST BuIldIng, Apollo Bunder MArg, +91 22 2282 5000

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N e i g h b o u r h o o d

the Pantry

In the AreA

A sweet café that wears its French influence on its sleeve, with muted pastel tones, shabby chic furniture and delicious pastries.

(five-minute cab)

B BhAruchA rd, KAlA GhodA, +91 22 2267 8901

InspIre + DelIght

Design Temple Par t design studio, par t concept store, it represents ever ything that’s exciting about India today. Lovingly tended, it combines the slickness of contemporar y design whilst drawing on India’s rich cultural heritage.

Concepts are conceived in-house and then ar tists or designers are commissioned to realise the vision, ensuring that you won’t find Design Temple’s creations anywhere else. From rugs to tableware to patterned toilet paper, Design Temple sells objects that will make design and home decor enthusiasts go weak at the knees.

2 Churchill Chambers | JA Allana Marg | 32 Mereweather Rd, +91 22 2282 1001 | designtemple.com

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N e i g h b o u r h o o d

In the aRea (five-minute walk)

Read + Contemplate

Kitab Khana

Amrita and Samir Somaiya own Kitab Khana bookstore and are dedicated to keeping the magic of reading real books alive in the digital age. The store is housed in an authentically restored 150-yearold building, and offers a real haven from the sensor y overload of Mumbai’s streets. Literally translating as ‘Book House’, Kitab Khana’s leather armchairs, oriental rugs and cosy nooks provide the reverence and charm associated with great libraries of the world, offering a clear message to come in, sit down, and relax with a book.

375 Veer Nairman Rd | Kala Ghoda Fort, +91 02261702276 | kitabkhana.in

Jahangir art gallery

The biggest public gallery in India is central to Mumbai’s art scene and led the way to Colaba becoming known as the city’s art district.

161 Kala Ghoda, MahaTMa GandhI Road, +91 22 2284 3989, jehanGIRaRTGalleRy.CoM

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YADAWEI words and Images: sandra TInarI

If you’re in town this month, make like a creative and get your hands dirty at Dubai’s new community ceramics studio

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Since the earliest civilisation, pottery has been a community activity…

With Yadawei the idea was to create a bright, fun space where pottery and ceramics enthusiasts could freely interact and share ideas and inspiration – an organic community space for everyone to explore this amazing and exciting art form.

Simply put, Yadawei is the very first open access pottery and ceramic art studio in the Gulf…

Members have free access to the studio whenever creativity strikes. From wheel throwing to hand building to glazing, you can do it all. There are also great workshops that aim to foster new techniques, skills and craftsmanship. From beginners to professionals, Yadawei is a really great space to come learn, experiment, create and have fun with clay.

rom strung out corporate types to artists and parents, Dubai’s residents are de-stressing and getting creative by discovering the therapeutic value of working with clay at Yadawei.

Founded by Mohamad Hassan, the ceramics workshop and studio was a means to share his passion for pottery as well as the craft’s ability to help people reconnect and relax. Here’s what to expect…

A convenient way to visit Dubai’s top attractions is with City Sightseeing’s hop-on hop-off bus. Learn more at citysightseeing-dubai.com

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Working in a 3D medium was an inspiration…

Founder, Mohamad (right) wanted a space to share his passion, a space where people could interact and experiment, a space where a community of like-minded people could exchange ideas and techniques, and so Yadawei was born.

The studio is open to everyone…

From children to grown-ups, pottery novices to ceramic art experts. While members have the freedom to come and go as they please, there are ways others can come and experience the joy of clay.Yadawei has workshops for beginners, one-day passes, private classes or you can simply walk in and get your hands dirty.

There’s been a global revival of craftsmanship…

People are tired of mass-produced, ‘cookie-cutter’ design and are looking for something unique and crafted, and Dubai is no exception. In fact ‘yadawei’ is the Arabic adjective for handmade. It’s also true that, in a busy, fast-paced city like Dubai, people are looking to relax and de-stress, and what better way to do so than with pottery?

Yadawei, 8th A Street, Al Qouz 1, Dubai, yadawei.net

The studio is big, vibrant and perfect for all events…

Yadawei does everything from private, social and corporate team-building days, to special seasonal events, such as Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Their recent Date Night was a huge success and offered a rather unique and fun night out. Couples had a chance to reconnect and inspire each other through their creativity. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want a chance to be Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore? | 48 |

Founder, Mohamad Hassan

SHARJAH ART FOUNDATION AUTUMN PROGRAMME SHARJAHART.ORG

ARNULF RAINER Towards Overpaintings 17 Sept – 1 Nov 2016

YAYOI KUSAMA Dot Obsessions 1 Oct 2016 – 9 Jan 2017

ENRICO DAVID Fault Work 1 Oct 2016 – 9 Jan 2017

KAMALA ISHAQ A Retrospective Women in Crystal Cubes 12 Nov 2016 – 12 Jan 2017

KAMAL YOUSSEF Egyptian Surrealism’s Time Capsule 17 Sept – 17 Nov 2016

ROBERT BREER Time Flies 1 Oct 2016 – 9 Jan 2017

AMIR NOUR A Retrospective Brevity is the Soul of Wit 12 Nov 2016 – 12 Jan 2017

THE KARTOUM SCHOOL The Making of the Modern Art Movement in Sudan 12 Nov 2016 – 12 Jan 2017

Robert Breer, Variations, 1970. Installation view, Bonino Gallery, 1970. Photo by Peter Moore I Kamal Yousef, Reverie, 1986. Sharjah Art Foundation Collection I Arnulf Rainer, Body Pose Series, Untitled, 1970s. Courtesy the artist I Sun Lady, Studio Mwahib, El Obeid, circa 1975 © Fouad Hamza Tibin/Elnour I Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq, My Plant, 1998. Sharjah Art Foundation Collection I Yayoi Kusama, Heart, 2013. © Yayoi Kusama. Image courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/ Singapore. Sharjah Art Foundation Collection I Amir Nour, Grazing at Shendi, 1969. Collection of Amna Elizabeth Hawa Nour. Photograph by Franko Khoury I Enrico David, Untitled, 2015. Courtesy Michael Werner Gallery, New York and London.

E n t r E p r E n E u r

SHARAN PASRICHA ENNISMORE, LONdON, UK

Words: david leck

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haran Pasricha is rather unusual.

Well, in his management style at least. At just 35 he has some serious form in creating and transforming businesses, and the Indian-born, Londonbased CEO of Ennismore – a company he founded in 2012 and that boasts the impressive hotel chain, The Hoxton – has an approach to work that, to the outsider perhaps, might appear just a little unconventional.

Take, for instance, a recent train journey during which he was so impressed by the conductor and her way with people that he gave her his business card and suggested she call him personally should she ever want a career change. “She was exactly the sort of person I want in our company. I love recruiting people from unexpected places,” he says. “We don’t have a corporate manual. That’s just not what we’re is about.”

If Pasricha seems calm beyond his years, it could well be down to his rather abrupt entry into the business world.

After university in the UK he set up and sold a student marketing agency before returning to India at just 24 to take over his uncle’s failing garment factory, complete with 300 employees who were, let’s just say, set in their ways. He made some tough decisions to turn the business around, including letting several people go as part of restructuring efforts that eventually saw the company return to profit. He admits to being young and foolish back then but acknowledges he learned much of what he knows now from that “brutal” experience.

From Ennismore’s trendy but homely London base on a sweltering summer’s afternoon, Pasricha is the epitome of cool – focused yet attentive, clearly driven but charmingly down to earth, much like that expanding chain of hotels and other hospitality interests.

The company itself is an unusual hybrid – part developer, part hotel operator and part design agency. Its first venture was the unpretentiously stylish The Hoxton (named after the emerging district in the east end of London). Hotels in Amsterdam and Holborn (also in London) followed

with Paris and Brooklyn in development.

Chicago, Los Angeles and Southwark (another burgeoning London area) are at the planning stages.

“We look for developments where we can add value and make every neighbourhood a better place. The Hoxton Paris is in a 17th century residence that’s so ‘listed’ even the smallest change requires consulting multiple parties, whereas Williamsburg in Brooklyn (scheduled to take bookings by December 2016) is our first new build on the site of a historic water tower factory.

“I think that people often overcomplicate business. We’re about offering great sleep with intuitive service delivered in an innovative way,” he says during a day sandwiched between Los Angeles and a weekly visit to his newest project, the venerable Gleneagles, in Scotland.

It was acquired last year complete with 900 staff, a 90-year history and – to be honest – a reputation in danger of losing its relevance as the expectations of the traveller shift. Phase one is complete and, as he puts it, “brand Gleneagles 2.0” is well on its way.

“It’s all about people and we retain and develop the best. You can’t really teach someone to be hospitable, but if they’re smart and have instinctive natural qualities you can really develop that. We don’t do things by the book and we’re far from a

corporate organisation. In fact, if anything, we’re more like a dysfunctional family.”

If what Sharan Pasricha and his team have achieved in just four years is “dysfunctional” then perhaps it’s a management style that a few more should come to embrace. ennismore.com

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE To escape in the city go to…

Hyde Park. It’s beautiful at any time of year.

For a lasting London memory…

Eat your way around the city. There’s such an exciting food scene right now.

When choosing a hotel look for…

Independents that are inspired by the buildings they’re in and neighbourhoods of which they’re a part.

The best neighbourhood to explore in the city is…

Shoreditch – it’s dynamic, creative and full of character.

The best advice I can give is…

Don’t get caught up in hiring experts.

Find people with passion and raw smarts and, in my experience, they’ll figure it out.

Download The Emirates App – available for iPhone, iPad and Android. Your personal journey planner makes it easy to view and arrange your trips when you’re on the go. Designed to complement the iPhone app, there’s also an Emirates App for Apple Watch.

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A collection of stories from around the world

Space Odyssey

Rural Olympics

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The rural Olympians EvEry yEar, in a small villagE in thE northwEst cornEr of india, thErE’s a sporting EvEnt so obscurE and unusual that it can occasionally appEar morE myth than rEality. but thE Kila raipur olympics is vEry rEal and thE compEtition is fiErcE words and imagEs: gEoff broKatE

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The ‘oTher’ olympics

People have heard of the Games in much of India… they’re just not exactly sure when or where it takes place.

Thankfully the clouds of intrigue ease every February, and the (very real) Kila Raipur Rural Olympics begins.

The village of Kila Raipur is a gentle bus ride away from the nearest city of Ludhiana. The journey involves an hour spent winding through the Punjab countryside, passing small farms, women working the fields clad in iridescent saris, and old men gathered together holding court in village squares.

Inside the bus there’s a hum of excitement. For many making the journey it’s their first time to the rural Olympics and they’ve travelled, not just from all over India, but from Europe to see the spectacle: the myth of Kila Raipur reaches far and wide.

Now in its 80th year and having survived a world war, military incursions and the violent division of the country’s borders, the event helps maintain and honour the rural traditions of India’s Punjab region.

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The games

Nomadic gypsies called Bazigars flock to Kila Raipur from northern India. Bedecked in their vivid and vital national dress, they make a living performing and entertaining rural audiences with acrobatic skills, circus tricks and incredible feats of strength.

It sets down a marker as the Games quickly adopt the feel of a Guinness World Records convention, packed with people lining up to take their moment in the spotlight.

As the events begin proper, each contestant attempts to outdo the one gone before, all played out to a rapidly escalating attitude towards danger.

A sweaty mix of chaos and exhilaration, the spectators are rarely less than fully involved, cheering the successes, exhaling in unison with the failures, and wincing at the painful displays of bravery – there are many.

A man tows a car with his teeth; another reads a newspaper while sitting sideways on a motorbike that zips around the stadium.

One contestant balances a five-metre pole on his chin with a pushbike perched on top. He then sets the bike on fire and rides it. The most fantastically bizarre spectacle of all, however, is left to world record holder Rakesh Kumar, who effortlessly hoists 82kg with his ear. He then goes one better by lifting a 40kg weight with his eye. It’s a good day.

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the Controversy

The Games are not without controversy, and while bullock cart racing is an ancient tradition in India – especially favoured in rural communities – Indian courts have recently outlawed the sport as inhumane. It’s an unpopular ruling in Punjab, and a final day protest sees local breeders herd their prize bullocks into the middle of the arena. The crowd, for whom the racing is often the high point, show their solidarity by joining them in their thousands.

As it was, the 2016 Games saw bullocks replaced by horses and, to the outsider at least, offered no less excitement. Riders bolt their horses down the narrow track at incredible speeds as the rickety carts that follow appear permanently on the verge of collapse. The riders, minus any safety equipment, cling on for dear life and there’s zero barrier between spectator and competitor. It’s not a problem though. When a horse and cart occasionally careens straight at the crowd, they simply part and make a path for the speeding madness.

The greyhound racing also has a rather unnerving edge to it, as fierce and desperately howling dogs are released by their owners to tear off after a fake rabbit previously wound by someone with a winch at the other end of the stadium.

Thankfully, not all of the animal displays are so full-paced.

The Games also feature remarkable displays of horsemanship, as well as surprisingly graceful camels, decorated in intricately woven fabric and weaving their way through the crowds to the sound of traditional folk drumming.

Available on over 100 Emirates Boeing 777s and select A380s, ice TV Live airs live news and sports channels. Sport 24 Extra, a new sports channel, complements the existing Sport 24 channel, offering double the live sports coverage on ice – Emirates’ award winning in-flight entertainment system.

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the NihaNg

Some of the most impressive performers are the Nihang, a Sikh order known historically for their courage and bravery on the battlefield. Dressed in electric blue, wearing turbans, bracelets and armed with spears and swords, they take to the arena with the air of timeless warriors. The highlight is their performance of gatka, a centuries old martial art used by Sikhs for combat training. Each participant chooses a weapon and performs a dance that displays strength and formidable skills.

The Nihang are also remarkable horsemen, which is demonstrated by a fearless rider stood astride two horses mid-gallop. Finally, a daring game of skill and precision sees them race their horses and spear at wooden pegs with unnerving accuracy.The performance is a point of pride for the largely Sikh population of Punjab.

the track

Aside from the more eccentric elements that make the headlines at the rural Olympics, much time and respect is given to typical track and field events, such as the sprint, long and high jumps, shot put, tug of war and even a highly subscribed octogenarian race. India’s most successful national sport at the Summer Games is hockey, with many Punjabi players going on to play for their national team. Another sport that receives a lot of attention at the Games is kabbadi. A contact sport that originated in India, it takes the form of a group wrestling match between two teams and is derived from a defensive tactic between warring tribes. | 60 |

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After the event, the village goes back to its humdrum farming life. It’s hard to imagine hundreds of thousands of people thronging through its streets and fields. at this point. As the excitement of the festivities dies down, there’s a sense that the area is immediately waiting for those three days in February again, where the village once again honours the Olympic spirit. When the international focus arrives, when the sons of the villagers return from busy lives abroad, and when this little village transforms from a dusty hinterland to a destination fit for the international stage.

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A Space Odyssey For a nation that didn’t really take space exploration seriously until around 1992, China is suddenly on the cusp of a bold new era. And it could end on Mars Words: Stuart Turton

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Shenzhou 9 blasts off

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issions to Mars, lunar bases and space stations – once upon a time, these dreams were NASA’s domain, the US eyeing our solar system as one might a deserted beauty spot they knew about before the crowds arrived.

Times have changed though, and while the US space programme has been buffeted by recession, waning public interest and a sceptical White House, China’s spacefaring ambitions have gone, well, into orbit.

In 2015, the country conducted 19 successful space flights, and has a further 20 on the books this year, many paving the way for the launch of its own space station. Beijing’s home to a sophisticated space command centre, it’s built one of the world’s most advanced spaceports on Hainan Island and successfully upgraded its booster fleet with the inauguration of the Long March 7 rocket. These are remarkable achievements for a country that didn’t take space exploration seriously until 1992, and they may yet result in a red flag being planted in the red soil of Mars.

But just what’s fuelling this remarkable transformation, where’s it heading, and are we in the midst of a second space race?

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Astronauts such as Liu Yang are national heroes in China, and the ’jade Rabbit’ lunar landings were watched live by millions of people across the country

China’s first female astronaut, Liu Yang

On April 24, 2016, China celebrated its first ever space day, opening research facilities to students and visitors, encouraging schools to give lessons on astronautics, hosting talks up and down the country, and generally getting everybody to agree that space travel was a jolly good idea. All in all, it wasn’t a difficult sell. Astronauts such as Liu Yang – the first Chinese woman in space – are national heroes in China, and the ‘Jade Rabbit’ lunar landings in 2013 were watched live by millions of people across the country. Space has captured the national imagination, which isn’t surprising considering how big China’s dreaming.

“At the moment, most of their attention is fixed on building their space station,” says Brian Harvey, author of China In Space: The Great Leap Forward.

“The first modules will be launched in 2018, and it’ll be done in the 2020s, about the time they launch a probe to Mars. After that, I think they’ll turn their attention to manned lunar missions in the 2030s and [manned] Mars missions in the 2040s. I know America tends to view China’s ambition in military form, but the one thing that has been missed in all of this is China’s scientific ambition.

China has said, very clearly, they want to be the world’s most advanced scientific nation by 2050. They want half the scientific papers by stage to be published

by Chinese scientists. It’s no longer enough for things to be made in China, they have to be invented in China.”

To understand why China associates space travel with innovation, one need only place a history book and a shopping catalogue side by side. Out of the Apollo programme, which landed Neil Armstrong on the moon in 1969, came the seeds of the internet, GPS, mobile phone technology, microchips, Teflon, and dozens of other billion-dollar products that still shape our economy today. Look closely and you’ll realise that the stars in the night sky are actually diamonds, and they’re just waiting for somebody to fly up and collect them.

China’s determined to fill its boots, but it has no intention of being reckless.

Emirates serves five destinations in mainland China – Yinchuan, Zhengzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

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Cash strapped and spaced out Ever wondered how much it costs to get a space programme up and running? We did a little digging through the yearly budgets of various governments publicly available data to find out.*

United States – $19.3 billion

“The US has the world’s biggest space budget, but their long-term programme is pretty directionless at the moment. They’re building a new rocket, the Space Launch System, and trying to find roles for it.”

European Space Agency – $5.15 billion

“By 2020 we envision a series of human missions [to the moon] that would see astronauts interact with robots on the lunar surface from orbit. Eventually we will see a sustained infrastructure for research and exploration where humans will live and work for prolonged periods.”

(ESA statement)

*ADDITIONAL COMMENT ON STRATEGY BY AUTHOR BRIAN HARVEY UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.

Roscosmos – $4.5 billion

“Most of Russia’s scientists and engineers are either very old or very young, and there’s nothing in between. That said, even American launchers are powered by Russian rocket engines and [NASA’s] Juno spacecraft, which just arrived at Jupiter, could not have got there without Russian rocket engines.

They’re way beyond the most advanced in the world.”

China National Space Administration – between $2.7 billion and $5.5 billion

“One of the features of the Chinese space programme is that the budget isn’t very high, but it is very steady, so the people working there know the kind of budgetary framework they have to operate in over the period of, generally, a five-year plan. We’re talking serious long-term planning.”

The retrun of unmanned craft Shenzhou 3

After the country’s first manned spaceflight in 2003, the next mission didn’t come until 2005. This was followed by a launch in 2008, then 2012 and 2013. Last month China launched its second-ever space lab, as part of a plan to have a permanently manned space station by 2020. Despite the increasing public clamour for interplanetary exploration, China’s space programme is happy to keep moving through the gears at its own pace, achieving its goals as one might tick off items on a shopping list. It’s not until you look at the individual groceries that you realise just how complicated a dinner they’re cooking.

“China’s space programme is divided into three steps,” says professor Yang Yuguang of the China Aerospace Science And Industry Corporation.

“The first was to prove, simply, that we can go to space and come back safely. The second step was to test the EVA [extravehicular activity] suit and rendezvous and docking technologies. These are the fundamental technologies for future space flight. If we want to have a space station, if we want to walk on the moon, we have to test these technologies first.

After that, we’re concerned with refuelling technologies. The space station has to have a very low orbit to avoid the dangerous radiation, but that | 68 |

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Celebratory postcards

means the aerodynamic drag will make its orbit decay quickly, so it needs propellants and a way of delivering them. That’s why we developed China’s first cargo ship.”

Such is the nature of space travel that solving a single problem requires you solve a dozen more first, with each one spiralling in complexity the further away from Earth you get, making a mission to Mars the equivalent of an enigma wrapped in a puzzle and stuffed inside an airless, black void.

Although the Chinese government has yet to formally commit to a manned mission to Mars, the country’s top scientists have been vocal in their desire to put a pin in the Red Planet – and the trajectory of the country’s research suggests they’ll get their wish, beginning with a satellite launch in 2020. Unfortunately, words on paper aren’t any guarantee of success. Less than 50 per cent of all missions to Mars succeed, and that’s just satellites.

Sending humans is an entirely different, much more complex, proposition.

“When a person goes into orbit, almost immediately their body feels the effect of what we call a micro-gravity environment, or almost no gravity,” says Dr John Baker of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “The body starts responding instantly to that effect, and it actually mimics the ageing effect.

Bones begin to decalcify and muscle tissue begins to degenerate, so in orbit crews are taking medication to reduce the effects and they’re doing a lot of exercise to keep their muscles strong. We don’t have any long duration space flight experience and we know that there are challenges associated with keeping people in good condition for what would be a minimum 540day trip to Mars. The thing is, we really have no idea what would happen to the human body over that period. We’ve only had two people on the planet

China has said, very clearly, they want to be the world’s most advanced scientific nation by 2050 … It’s no longer enough for things to be made in China, they have to be invented there

The crew of Shenzhou 9, China’s fourth manned mission

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Mission date: 2020 It’s not only China that’s aiming for Mars, the UAE has its own Red Planet objectives

who’ve been in space for more than a year,” he adds.

It’s a problem the Chinese are well aware of, which is why in June 2016 they locked four astronauts – two men and two women – in a box. OK, not a box, a space capsule, which is only marginally larger than a box, though it was stuffed with food and fitted with water and air recycling technologies intended to support deep-space exploration. As an experiment, they had to live in the capsule for 180 days, mimicking a long spaceflight.

The results were staggering, and suggest a very different future to the one most of us imagined. It was discovered that men simply consume too much food, oxygen and water to make them viable candidates for a long space mission. Woman, on the other hand, proved perfect candidates.

Jane T Kirk, and Mrs Spock, here we come.

Other experiments are also underway aimed at shielding astronauts from deadly cosmic radiation, and reducing muscle degeneration using ancient Chinese medicine, including acupuncture.

At this point, with the massive hurdles clearly outlined, you may be wondering just why nations are competing on this project, rather than working together to make it happen. Well, United States law currently prohibits NASA from working with China on space exploration for fear of espionage, which is why the Chinese ended up building their own space station right next door to the US-led International Space Station, though a report produced for the

By the Summer of 2020, the UAE will launch its own mission to Mars, courtesy of the “Hope” robotic space probe. Despite being the size of a small car, Hope will travel at 40,000kph – equating to a little under 25,000mph – making F1 seem positively pedestrian. Even so, it’s expected to take 200 days to reach the Red Planet, arriving in orbit to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE – a monumental achievement for such a young nation, especially considering it will be one of only nine countries to have reached Mars.

“Once it has achieved a stable orbit, Hope will spend two years studying the Martian atmosphere and climate, sharing all data with over 200 other institutions around the world”. While that mission description may sound a little dry, consider this: if the probe can explain why Mars’s atmosphere decayed, it can explain why the planet died – a question which scientists have been speculating over for years. Basically, if this was a mystery novel, Hope would be Sherlock Holmes, and it’s about to turn its magnifying glass on an entire planet. How exciting is that?

US government’s Economic And Security Review Commission indicates their position may soften in the future.

“China’s progress in space technologies, whether in relative or absolute terms, has implications for the US and its neighbours,” reads the report written by the University Of California. “Nevertheless, although China’s space programme may pose challenges for the United States and its space power neighbours, it may also present opportunities for scientific collaboration on the Earth’s environment and outer space. In addition, it may make human space flight safer by providing additional capabilities to rescue stranded or imperilled astronauts through the use of common docking apparatus.” That’s right, somebody watched The Martian. Way to go Matt Damon.

There’s also plenty of will for it to happen on the Chinese side. “The biggest problem [with a manned mission to Mars] is the money,” says professor Yang.

“Without the Cold War, without the competition of the Cold War, there would have been no lunar programme, but that situation cannot happen again. This problem can be solved by international cooperation. I know there are many reasons the US does not have cooperation with China, but to my mind, they’re all historical, so in the future, looking towards the bigger problems we have to solve, it could be a good time for the US and China to work together. The future of space exploration, including a mission to Mars, will be realised more quickly if the ESA [European Space Agency], China and the US can work together.”

In the meantime, China’s got plenty to be getting on with. One of its leading scientists recently suggested the country will one day establish a lunar research base, though he gave no particular timeframe, while a mission to the dark side of the moon – the first of its kind – is scheduled for the end of the year. Make no mistake, Mars is the destination, but China’s going to have a lot of fun first trying to get there. | 71 |

Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces

Abu Dhabi Art welcomes the world’s most innovative galleries to its multi-disciplinary art fair, public talks and events programme, presenting iconic pieces by internationally renowned artists and unique artworks by emerging talent.

AB43 CONTEMPORARY | Acquavella Galleries | Agial Art Gallery | Aicon Gallery | ATHR | Ayyam Gallery | Charlie James Gallery | Cuadro Fine Art Gallery | Custot Gallery | Elmarsa | Galerie Brigitte Schenk | Galerie GP & N Vallois | Galerie Janine Rubeiz | Galerie Krinzinger | Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac | GALLERIA CONTINUA | Gallery One | Gazelli Art House | Giorgio Persano | Hanart TZ Gallery | Horrach Moya | Hunar Gallery | Lawrie Shabibi | Le Violon Bleu | Leehwaik Gallery | Leila Heller Gallery | Lisson Gallery | October Gallery | Park Ryu Sook Gallery | Paul Stolper Gallery | Salwa Zeidan Gallery | Sean Kelly Gallery | Sfeir-Semler Gallery | Shirin Gallery | The Park Gallery | The Third Line | Hafez Gallery - Bidaya

*Gallery list is correct at time of publishing, visit the website abudhabiart.ae for up to date information.

Essential news and information from Emirates

A380 to Guangzhou

Inside Emirates

Route Map

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emirates busiNess rewards eNhaNced Emirates has revamped its corporate loyalty programme, Emirates Business Rewards, to provide greater value and added features for loyal customers.

Emirates recently commissioned an independent survey on the perception and habits of over 800 business travellers and decision makers of business travel in the UAE, and the key findings reiterated the need for cost effectiveness and flexibility in corporate travel.

One of the biggest features in the newly improved programme is the ability to use Business Rewards Points to book

any commercially available seat at any time giving members cash-like convenience.

Emirates is the first and only airline in the region to offer such flexibility as part of its corporate loyalty programme.

Emirates Business Rewards will satisfy customer needs and provide value-added benefits catered to organisations of any size, charities and clubs. In addition to allowing redemptions for any seats, there is also greater flexibility when it comes to earning and redeeming the Business Rewards Points.

With today’s business customer frequently booking their travel online

directly with the airline, Emirates Business Rewards has enhanced user-experience with easy-to-use customer dashboards.

Enrolment has also been simplified regardless of organisation size. The introduction of the ‘Guest Traveller’ function means that organisations can include non-company persons, such as consultants, or clients who travel on behalf of the organisation, and still earn Business Rewards Points.

For information on Business Rewards visit emirates.com/businessrewards

NiNe daily flights for doha Emirates is boosting services to Doha with two additional daily flights, taking the airline’s total operations to nine daily services.

Starting October 30, the addition of the two services will grow the airline’s presence in Qatar and take the total number of weekly Emirates flights to 63.

The increase will provide business and leisure travellers with convenient travel choices throughout the day as well as enabling short trips between Dubai and Doha.

The timings of the new Doha services have been scheduled to facilitate shorter connection times to popular destinations in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Cebu and Clark.

EK879 departs Dubai at 4.10am arriving in Doha at 4.25am.

EK880 leaves Doha at 5.55am, arriving in Dubai at 8.05am.

EK877 departs Dubai at 1.05pm arriving in Doha at 1.20pm.

EK878 leaves Doha at 2.50pm and arrives in Dubai at 5pm. | 74 |

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EmiratEs to offEr first a380 to ChristChurCh Emirates A380s will fly between Dubai and New Zealand five times daily from October 30, with the introduction of the airline’s double decker flagship aircraft on Christchurch services.

Emirates will be the first airline to offer regular scheduled A380 services to and from Christchurch, along with the removal of the en route stop in Bangkok which will enable passengers to travel all the way between Christchurch and Dubai, with just one stop in Sydney.

The launch of the Christchurch A380 flights will coincide with the introduction of the A380 on Emirates’ daily non-stop route between Dubai and Auckland.

Emirates currently also operates three other daily A380 services between Auckland and Dubai and beyond via Australia (Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane).

Outbound EK412 will depart Dubai at 10:15 hours, connecting with southbound services from European destinations. EK412 will stop only in Sydney before arriving in Christchurch at 13:50 hours the next day (local time). The return flight EK413 will depart Christchurch at 18:45 hours, touching down in Dubai at 05:15 hours the next day after its stop in Sydney, reducing the journey time to Dubai and Europe by about two hours in each direction.

At the same time, the Dubai service to Auckland via Sydney, will feature the opportunity for travellers to explore Southeast Asia or Australia en route as this service, EK418, will operate via Bangkok as well as Sydney. Flight EK418 will depart Dubai at 08:55 hours and arrive in Auckland at 15:55 hours the following day (local time). The return service, via Sydney and Bangkok, operating as flight EK419, will depart Auckland at 16:30 hours and arrive in Dubai the following morning at 06:45 hours.

morE than 100 airCraft with livE tv Live sports television onboard Emirates continues to grow, with 100 Boeing 777s and nine A380s already equipped, and more being fitted every month.

The service offers up to nine channels of live news and sport to keep you up to date with what’s happening on the ground as you soar above it.

Emirates recently added a second dedicated sports channel to its ice TV Live service. Sport | 75 |

24 Extra airs only when two big events are on at the same time, and complements the existing Sport 24 channel. This means you can watch the football while keeping an eye on the golf.

Sport 24 offers live matches and coverage of the most anticipated sporting events, including Premier League, Champions League, Formula 1 and NFL, meaning you can now follow your favourite team, no matter where you are.

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Flagship a380 For JohannEsburg Emirates is upgrading one of its four daily flights between Dubai and Johannesburg to an Airbus A380-800.

As of February 1, 2017, the carrier will replace one of its Boeing 777s with the iconic aircraft on the busiest route in Emirates’ African network.

It will be deployed on the first flight of the day, EK761, and will depart Dubai at 4.40am and arrive in Johannesburg at 10.55am. The return flight, EK762, will depart Johannesburg at 1.25pm and arrive in Dubai at 11.45pm.

Emirates first started services to South Africa 21 years ago and in addition to the four daily flights between Dubai and Johannesburg, it also offers three daily flights between Dubai and Cape Town, and a daily flight between Dubai and Durban.

As with all other Emirates services to South Africa, the A380 service will be a codeshare with South African Airways.

EmiratEs skywards marks 16 yEars with ovEr 16 million mEmbErs

Emirates’ award-winning frequent flyer programme Emirates Skywards has hit a milestone of more than 16 million members in its 16th year.

To celebrate the landmark achievement, new initiatives and rewards for members

have been launched.

With a focus on customer satisfaction and engagement, Emirates Skywards continuously forms exclusive partnerships and introduces new initiatives to offer greater value, choice and flexibility to its | 76 |

members. Most recently, it has introduced a programme called Cash+Miles – allowing flight redemption using a combination of cash and Skywards Miles. Members in all four tiers – Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum – can start redeeming flights with as little as 2,000 Miles. This popular new initiative instantly reduces the cost of the tickets and can be used on any Emirates flight across all classes.

Emirates Skywards members also redeem Miles at various partner retail and lifestyle brands. The latest to join the list of partners is Dubai Duty Free, which will allow members passing through Dubai airports to burn Miles on fashion accessories, perfume, gadgets and more starting from October 2016.

Other perks include tickets to top sporting events as well as access to a global network of 39 Emirates lounges in major airports. Members are also given excess baggage allowance of up to 20kg.

Visit emirates.com/skywards for more information or to sign up as a member.

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A YeAr of reAding In a mission to pay tribute to the Arabic language and encourage literacy, a brand new Emirates initiative invites us to Celebrate Arabic Reading WORDs: Matt MOstyn

this month, emirates and Google are collaborating in a rewarding new venture to make reading a top priority in the region, all in support of the Uae’s Year of Reading.

The initiative aims to create a generation of book lovers and consolidate the country’s position as a global capital for knowledge and culture. As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum recently tweeted, “A nation and its people cannot progress without reading. The scientists, researchers and innovators that will lead the future will not come from nowhere. We have to create them on the basis of a love for reading and a passion for knowledge and curiosity.”

As Celebrating Arabic Reading unfolds over the course of October, Arabic books will be made much more accessible, whether you’re a first-time reader or a seasoned book-lover.

Simply make a purchase from the Google Play store and you’ll be able to take advantage of selected book downloads which have been discounted throughout the month.

The discount will be valid across nine countries including the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt – yet the oppor tunity for learning doesn’t stop there. Google Play offers huge potential in assisting with learning, with a selection of over 4,000 Arabic

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books available to browse through and download – and the list keeps growing every day.

To help curate the book collection, Emirates commissioned the Emirates Literature Foundation, established in 2013 by royal decree issued by Sheikh Mohammed. This not-for-profit organisation supports and nur tures literature in the UAE and the region, through a programme of varied cultural initiatives.

Also involved is the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Middle East’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word, which brings together people of all ages and backgrounds with authors from across the world to promote education, debate and, above all else, a love of reading and writing. The 2016 Festival has already welcomed more than 170 writers, thinkers and speakers from 35 countries, while more than 40,000 visitors were able to meet world famous authors, attend literary debates, listen to readings, par ticipate in workshops and experience the exciting fringe and children’s events.

Alongside Emirates, these two organisations have helped to hand-pick a collection that reflects a broad cross-section of esteemed authors and bestsellers – and they encompass a wide variety of popular fiction and non-fiction titles like Albaznganh Blue, Maulana and Tell You About My Tribe, as well as a selection of children’s books like Creatures on the Ceiling, Altgraybh Al-Bilaliyah and I Love.

The initiative taps into the changing way we’re consuming information. With connectivity helping to cut the information divide in the Arab world, more of us than ever before now own or have access to a digital device – whether it’s a tablet, mobile phone or laptop. According to the Mobile Economy Arab States 2015 Report, over 200 million people across the region are subscribed to a mobile device, presenting a unique opportunity to deliver e-book and educational content and reduce the literacy gap.

With recent data showing that less than 60 per cent of UAE students are currently Arabic-literate, the need for this type of programme is clear. As Sheikh Mohammad recently commented: “We have a reading crisis in the Arab world.

We have to push the younger generation to read if we are to form a path of growth and knowledge. We should acknowledge that the present generations do not read, and we do not compliment ourselves when it comes to

As Celebrating arabiC reading unfolds over the course of october, ArAbic books will be mAde much more Accessible to everybody

developing these generations. The government is responsible to help prepare educated, intellectual and cultural generations who are empowered with knowledge.”

His aspirations for readership in the UAE are ambitious. “A society of readers is an advanced society, open-minded to the surrounding world. Our goal is to make the UAE a beacon of knowledge and education, just as Baghdad, Andalusia, Granada and others were centres of enlightenment, knowledge and civilisation over many centuries.”

The UAE is aiming for 90 per cent proficiency in Arabic literacy by 2021, and Celebrating Arabic Reading offers a wonderful oppor tunity to foster a love of literature, providing a comprehensive collection of e-books that suit all ages and cross multiple literary genres at the touch of a smar t-phone button.

It’s hoped that the initiative will encourage more people to enjoy reading for pleasure, capturing the attention and imagination of children and first-time readers, as well as existing book lovers of the Arabic language across the region.

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D e s t i n a t i o n

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D E S T I N A T I O N

GUANGZHOU With the launch of the Emirates A380 to one of China’s most important trade hubs, enjoy our guide to the cosmopolitan metropolis of Guangzhou Sat on the Pearl River delta, with the mountain Tiantang Peak at its back and the Shizi Ocean at its front, Guangzhou has all the geographical attributes needed for a booming Chinese trade hub.

A major port long before the rise of Hong Kong, it was a key destination in the Silk Route and remnants of empire and colonial occupation can be found throughout the city.

But while the past is evident, the present and future are now firmly in control. New areas of commerce boast modern hotels, luxurious shopping malls and a wealth of restaurants that showcase cuisines from around the world.

Cantonese dishes are to be savoured and you will have the adventure of a lifetime exploring the thousands of great places to eat spread throughout the city.

Once you’re able to drag yourself away from gastromic temptation, get walking and explore the temples and museums that shed light on the Guangzhou’s rich and complex history, or simply have some fun with the family at the theme park, Chimelong Paradise – the biggest in China.

As the sun sets, prepare yourself for the vibrant nightlife of one of the world’s most populous cities.

EAT

STAY

DO

WUU’S RESTAURANT Can’t make your mind up or part of a large group? No problems as Wuu’s Restaurant has an extensive menu of well-cooked Chinese treats to fill you up. Open almost 24/7, it’s also the place to head whether you want breakfast or a post-night out dessert. Be sure to try the sweet polo buns. + 86 20 8757 0062

HOMY HOSTEL Bright, colourful and boasting a great team, this hostel is a sanctuary in a fast-paced city.

More like small apartments than a traditional hostel, the location works well for those looking to dip into the city for a day or two. +86 136 8229 5605

TAKE A TIMEOUT IN YUEXIU PARK There are a number of parks spread across the city, but the largest in Guangzhou is the perfect place to escape the crowds and enjoy a relaxing stroll. Found easily with a convenient metro stop, the park is also home to the fascinating Guangzhou Museum.

TANG YUAN Sat on a peaceful lake, this colonialstyle mansion is breathtaking.

The roast pigeon stands out on a great menu, but the traditional Cantonese cuisine is also superb.

Try dining on one of their boats for a special experience, but be sure to book in advance. +86 20 3623 6823 DIAN DOU DE Arguments over where to get the best dim sum here remain hotly contested, but you can’t go wrong with Dian Dou De. It’s great value for money and the portions are more than generous. No English menu so either go with a translator or brave a ‘point and pray’ system with the menu. +86 20 8333 2898

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, GUANGZHOU In a great location, this is near faultless hospitality of the most luxurious, yet unassuming, level.

The standard rooms could be mistaken for junior suites , the outdoor pool is a delight and the spa is one of the city’s best. . +86 20 3808 8888 FOUR SEASONS HOTEL GUANGZHOU Occupying the top third of the 103-storey Guangzhou IFC skyscraper. Waking up in one of the rooms and taking in a view of the city is an incredible way to start the day. This modern take on what is possible with luxury city hoteling is a statement of intent.

Head to the bar on the 99th floor for a spectacular evening. +86 20 8883 3888

TAKE IN THE ARCHITECTURE Zaha Hadid’s modernist Guangzhou Opera House is just one of the many incredible architectural highlights to be found throughout the city. For a more traditional feat of architecture, however, head to the Chen Clan Academy and witness an impressive feat of 19th century wood and stone carving.

SHOP FOR LUXURIES There’s a huge market for luxury items in China, so head to TaiKoo Hui and get ready to spend in the domain of the rich and famous shop for Prada, Dior and Chanel.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a bargain make your way down to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, and discover a great place to shop and eat on a budget.

EMIRATES STAFF TIPS Jie Yi Huang SENIOR CUSTOMER SALES & SERVICE AGENT

GO BACK IN TIME Shamian Island served as an important port for foreign trade.

Guo Qui Ling

CUSTOMER SALES & SERVICE AGENT

GO FOR TEA Be sure to make a visit to Tao Tao Ju Teahouse in the Liwan District. It’s one of the most popular in the city.

Flight EK362 departs Dubai at 10.20am and arrives in Guangzhou at 10.05pm. The return flight, EK363, departs Guangzhou at 12.15am and arrives in Dubai at 03.50am.

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C O M F O R T

COMFORT IN THE AIR To help you arrive at your destination feeling relaxed and refreshed, Emirates has developed this collection of helpful travel tips.

Regardless of whether you need to rejuvenate for your holiday or be effective at achieving your goals on a business trip, these simple tips will help you enjoy your journey and time on board with Emirates today.

SMART TRAVELLER

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER Rehydrate with water or juices frequently. Drink tea and coffee in moderation.

TRAVEL LIGHTLY

WEAR GLASSES

Carry only the essential items that you will need during your flight.

Cabin air is drier than normal, therefore swap your contact lenses for glasses.

BEFORE YOUR JOURNEY Consult your doctor before travelling if you have any medical concerns about making a long journey, or if you suffer from a respiratory or cardiovascular condition.

Plan for the destination – will you need any vaccinations or special medications?

Get a good night’s rest before the flight.

Eat lightly and sensibly.

AT THE AIRPORT

USE SKIN MOISTURISER Apply a good quality moisturiser to ensure your skin doesn’t dry out.

KEEP MOVING Exercise your lower legs and calf muscles.

This encourages blood flow.

DURING THE FLIGHT

Allow yourself plenty of time for check-in.

Avoid carrying heavy bags through the airport and onto the flight as this can place the body under considerable stress.

Once through to departures try and relax as much as possible.

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Chewing and swallowing will help equalise your ear pressure during ascent and descent.

Babies and young passengers may suffer more acutely with popping ears, therefore consider providing a dummy.

Get as comfortable as possible when resting and turn frequently.

Avoid sleeping for long periods in the same position.

MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE Loosen clothing, remove jacket and avoid anything pressing against your body.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE Try some light exercise, or read if you can’t sleep after arrival.

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Guide to us customs & immiGration Whether you’re travelling to, or through, the United States today, this simple guide to completing the US customs form will help to ensure that your journey is as hassle free as possible.

CUSToMS DECLARATIoN FoRM All passengers arriving into the US need to complete a Customs Declaration Form. If you are travelling as a family this should be completed by one member only. The form must be completed in English, in capital letters, and must be signed where indicated.

ElEctronic SyStEm for travEl authoriSation (ESta) If you are an international traveller wishing to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme, You must apply for electronic authorisation (ESTA) up to 72 hours prior to your departure.

ESta factS: Children and infants require an individual ESTA. The online ESTA system will inform you whether your application has been authorised, not authorised or if authorisation is pending.

A successful ESTA application is valid for two years, however this may be revoked or will expire along with your passport. apply onlinE at www.cbp.gov/ESta nationalitiES EligiblE for thE viSa waivEr*: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom** * SubjEct to changE ** only britiSh citizEnS qualify undEr thE viSa waivEr programmE. | 84 |

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Cut the queue at JFK with quiCK ConneCt If you’re connecting through New York JFK, you can avoid long waiting times in US immigration and queues for connecting flights with the Quick Connect service. US Customs and Border Protection Agency created the special service for passengers who have a connecting flight within three hours of arrival at New York JFK.

Follow theSe StePS:

1

2

3

4

have your boarding card or ticket for your connecting flight ready for the ground staff as you exit.

You’ll be given a Quick Connect card. Continue to the Quick Connect queue in the Arrivals hall.

After passport clearance, claim your baggage and clear US customs, regardless of your final destination.

If your bag is tagged to your final destination, hand it to emirates staff at the transfer counter for your onward flight.

quarantine in australia Australia has strict biosecurity laws, so when you arrive you’ll need to declare certain food, plant or animal items on your Incoming Passenger Card.

You also need to declare equipment or shoes used in rivers and lakes or with soil attached. All aircraft food must be left on board. Please take particular care when you complete your Incoming Passenger Card – it's a legal document and false declarations may result in a penalty.

quarantine in Japan Japan has strict rules around exposure to livestock and bringing in livestock items.

You will need to go to the Animal Quarantine Counter if: • you have recently been to a livestock farm • are bringing livestock products into Japan • your visit to Japan will involve contact with livestock the counter is in the baggage claim area. If you’re bringing meat and livestock products into Japan without an import certificate, you must see the animal quarantine officer. | 86 |

OPEN SKIES FOR IPAD

Search for Open Skies on the App Store

U A E

S M A R T

G A T E

BE SMART! USE UAE SMART GATE AT DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

NATIONALITIES THAT CAN USE UAE SMART GATES

UAE

Andorra

Australia

Austria

Bahrain

Belgium

Brunei

Canada

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Kuwait

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Monaco

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Oman

Portugal

Qatar

San Marino

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

*UK

USA

GO THROUGH IMMIGRATION IN SECONDS AND GET YOUR VISIT TO DUBAI OFF TO A FLYING START Citizens of the countries listed on the right and UAE residents can speed through Dubai International airport by using UAE Smart Gate.

If you hold a machine-readable passport or E-Gate card you can check in and out of the airport within seconds.

Just look out for signs that will direct you to the many UAE Smart Gates found on either side of the Immigration Hall at Dubai International airport.

USING UAE SMART GATE IS EASY

1

Have your E-Gate card or machinereadable passport ready to be scanned

2

Place your passport photo page on the scanner. If you are a UAE resident, place your E-Gate card into the E-Gate slot

OK!

3

Go through the open gate, stand in the blue footprint guide on the floor, face the camera straight-on and stand still for your iris scan.

When finished, the next set of gates will open and you can continue to baggage claim

*UK citizens only (UK overseas citizens still require a visa)

REGISTERING FOR UAE SMART GATE IS EASY To register, just follow the above process and then spend a few moments having your details validated by an immigration officer. That’s it! Every time you fly to Dubai in future, you will be out of the airport and on your way just minutes after you landed. | 88 |

UAE SMART GATE CAN BE USED BY:

• Machine-readable passports from the above countries • E-Gate cards

This image is for advertising purposes.

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EXPERTISE YOU CAN TRUST. UAE • SOUTH AFRICA • NAMIBIA • SWITZERLAND www.mediclinic.ae

R O U T E

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M A P

R O U T E

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M A P

R O U T E

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M A P

G N I R O B E Y B D O GO

G N I R A O R O L HEL

TICK

!

W O N E L ETS ON SA

R O U T E

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M A P

EMIRATES FLEET

Our fleet of 255 aircraft includes 240 passenger aircraft and 15 SkyCargo aircraft

BOEING 777-300ER

This month:

up to

2500+ 73% 91 (73%) out of 125 Boeing 777-300ERs are now equipped with Live Television, Wi-Fi, Mobile Phone and Data Roaming services.

More are being upgraded each month.

125 in fleet. Up to 354-442 passengers. Range of 14,594km. L 73.9m x W 64.8m

BOEING 777-300 1000+

10 in fleet. Up to 364 passengers. Range of 11,029km. L 73.9m x W 60.9m

BOEING 777-200LR 2500+ 90% 9 (90%) out of 10 Boeing 777-200LRs are now equipped with Live Television, Wi-Fi, Mobile Phone and Data Roaming services.

More are being upgraded each month.

10 in fleet. Up to 266 passengers. Range of 17,446km. L 63.7m x W 64.8m

BOEING 777-200ER 1000+

3 in fleet. Up to 274 passengers. Range of 14,310km. L 63.7m x W 60.9m

EMIRATES SKYCARGO

BOEING 777F

The most environmentally-friendly freighter operated today, with the lowest fuel burn of any comparably-sized cargo aircraft. Along with its wide main-deck cargo door which can accommodate oversized consignments, it is also capable of carrying up to 103 tonnes of cargo non-stop on 10-hour sector lengths.

13 in fleet. Range of 9,260km. L 63.7m x W 64.8m For more information: emirates.com/ourfleet | 96 |

2 arriving

CONNECTIVITY AND ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES AVAILABLE

# Live Television

Wi-Fi

Mobile Phone GSM

This month:

Data Roaming GPRS

3 arriving

Channels of inflight entertainment

AIRBUS A380-800 2500+

The first A380s with Live Television joined the fleet in June of this year.

This month nine are equipped, with more coming soon.

88 in fleet. Up to 489-615 passengers. Range of 15,000km. L 72.7m x W 79.8m

This month:

1 retiring

AIRBUS A340-300 100+

1 in fleet. Up to 267 passengers. Range of 13,350km. L 63.6m x W 60.3m

850+

Economy Class First Class and Business Class

AIRBUS A330-200 100+

850+

Economy Class First Class and Business Class

2 in fleet. Up to 237-278 passengers. Range of 12,200km. L 58.8m x W 60.3m

AIRBUS A319 550+

1 in fleet. Up to 19 passengers. Range of 7,000km. L 33.84m x W 34.1m

The Emirates Executive Private Jet takes our exceptional service to the highest level to fly you personally around the world. Fly up to 19 guests in the utmost comfort of our customised A319 aircraft with the flexibility of private jet travel. Further information at emirates-executive.com

EMIRATES SKYCARGO

BOEING 747 ERF This aircraft is capable of carrying up to 117 tonnes. The deck-side cargo door, with a height of approximately three metres, allows the uplift of oversized shipments that cannot be accommodated in the belly-hold of passenger aircraft. The nose door allows the carriage of long pieces.

2 in fleet. Range of 9,204km. L 70.6m x W 64.4m Aircraft numbers accurate at the time of going to press | 97 |

K n o w l e d g e

desTinaTion Know your city: sydney

AN UNUSUAL TimeliNe

The FireWorKs Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display costs $7 million, with 23,000 fireworks being fired in 15 minutes. In 2016, 2,500 police officers were deployed to watch around one million visitors.

1867

Mortuary Station opens to transport coffins and mourners to Rookwood Cemetery, located outside the city.

Sydney Tourism

The Bridge

1932

• The bridge is opened to the public to walk across every 50 years.The first time was when it was opened in 1932, the second time in 1982 and the next time will be 2032.

The opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge is interrupted by a man in military uniform, who rides up on a horse, slashes the ribbon, and declares the bridge open on behalf of the people of New South Wales. He is subsequently arrested.

• Changes in temperature can vary the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s height by 180 millimetres Sydney Tourism

1957

Ten Sydney University students dressed as pirates board an American battleship, declaring “The USS Bennington has been captured by Sydney University pirates!”, sparking a red alert.They are captured and escorted from the ship before a war starts.

1972

The opera house

• The shells on the Sydney Opera House are part of a perfect sphere.

• There are 10,154 pipes in the Opera House’s Grand Organ.

• Architect Jorn Utzon abandoned the project in 1966, after the government stopped paying him. He never visited the completed opera house.

sydney’s most expensive addresses – by sale value

The 102-year-old SS Ayrfield is brought to Sydney to be decommissioned, but numerous delays mean nothing happens until 41 years later – when it’s transformed into a floating forest.

1991

One and two cent coins are phased out of the economy, and melted down, the metal later used to create the bronze medals handed out at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

2004

1.

La Mer, 40 WentWorth road, VaucLuse sold For $70 million

2.

MandaLay, 87-89 WoLseLey road, Point PiPer sold For $39.9 million

3.

ViLLa deL Mare, 6367 WoLseLey road, Point PiPer sold For $39 million

4.

11a GLadsWood Gardens, doubLe bay sold For $38 million

Real estate Association

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5.

Leura, 24 Victoria road, beLLeVue hiLL sold For $30 million

After tiring of Sydney’s bureaucracy, the Delprat family secede from the Mosman suburb where they live, declaring themselves an independent micro-nation within Australia’s borders.

It still exists.

Diamond collection in Platinum

Platinum wedding band by Christian Bauer

P.O. Box 111585, Gold House Building, Shop No.23, Gold Souq Deira, Dubai Tel: +971 4-2291100 Mob: +971 55 5444062

Fax: +971 4-2290011 www.platinumdxb.com