DOHA TODAY06 MONDAY 26 OCTOBER 2020

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Toastmasters anniversary celebrated with a dhow tripTHE PENINSULA - DOHA

Mindtune Waves Toastmasters, an organisation that moulds people to become better speakers and leaders, celebrated its 5th anni-versary and Toastmasters Inter-national’s 96th anniversary on October 22 at Doha Corniche in a dhow cruise.

The members and and their families attended the event.

It was a wonderful experience for all the participants as they were meeting in-person after nine months interval.

All the participants including a three-year boy and the boat driver lifted the spirit of the get-together by addressing the gathering.

All the participants complied with the safety and precautionary guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Health.

7th Qatar FalconIsfari Championshipregistration beginsTHE PENINSULA - DOHA

Registration for 7th Qatar Falcon Isfari Championship 2020 will begin today at the headquarters of Qatari Society of Al Gannas in Katara to kick off the season of competitions and championships.

It should be noted that the word ‘Isfiri’ is known to falconers as the beginning of the hunting season, and this period has become more attractive to the hunters than before.

It is expected that the regis-tration, which will continue until Wednesday, will witness a large turnout of falconers, as they are ready to launch the upcoming com-petitions that often see great excitement, especially Marmi Inter-national Festival and the rest of the championships organized by Qatari Society of Al Gannas throughout the season.

President of the Qatar Falcon Isfari Championship, Khalid bin Saeed Al Sulaiti, said that regis-tration for the championship for the

year 2020 has been launched elec-tronically via the website of Qatari Society of Al Gannas, and will con-tinue until 12 midnight on Wednesday.

He said that the candidates can register in person and inspection of falcons will take place from today until Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm at the headquarters of Qatari Society of Al Gannas at Katara Building No. 33.

Al Sulaiti pointed out that the last day of registration will be devoted to inspecting (Al Farrukh Al Hur) falcon, while the other days will be for examining the rest of the species of falcons.

He explained that the regis-tration for the promising falconer competition will take place at the championship headquarters in Aba Al-Qararis area in Al Khor.

Al Sulaiti explained that 7th Qatar Falcon Isfari Championship 2020 will begin on November 1 and continue until November 7 at Aba Al-Qararis area in Al Khor.

Al Sulaiti highlighted that what

is new in this year’s championship is the promising falconer compe-tition for two categories.

Al Sulaiti explained that regis-tration in the championship is open to all Qatari falconers, and the con-testants are entitled to participate with any number of falcons, provided that the falcon is owned by the the participant and has a chip, in addition to bringing an ID card during the reg-istration process.

He pointed out that Qatari Society of Al Gannas allocated attractive prizes to the winners.

The first place winner will receive QR35,000, second place will get QR25,000, third place will take home QR15,000 and the fourth and fifth place winners will get QR5,000. In addition the top three winners will receive shields.

It is worth noting that all activ-ities and events organized by Qatari Society of Al Gannas meet the needs of those interested in falcons and hunting, and what reflects this distinction and success is the great and continuous turnout.

Expect accident-free thrill in Sealine this seasonSIDI MOHAMEDTHE PENINSULA

Many stories of tragic acci-dents are buried beneath the beautiful golden dunes of the Sealine desert. The beauty and purity of the Sealine dunes have been witness to tragic accidents that have taken young lives in recent years due to careless dune bashing.

The Sealine area attracts many dune bashing enthu-siasts, especially at the beginning of the winter, as they search for some enter-tainment. Perhaps, the primary motivation for this hobby is that people can drive with no speed limit, which is sometimes abused, leading to several accidents, with some proving fatal.

To curb such occurrences,

the General Directorate of Traffic recently established a special committee to address the serious issue of traffic acci-dents in the Sealine area.

The Sealine committee will start its work from the beginning of the winter camping season. The focus has been on Sealine because it is among the places where many vehicles and people are present during the camping season, and reckless dune bashing is prac-tised in the area.

According to the General Directorate of Traffic’s sta-tistics for 2018, the Sealine area ranked fifth in locations with most traffic deaths, with as many as eight people who lost their lives in traffic acci-dents in the area that year.

As for the causes of traffic accidents in the Sealine Area,

the Department said that the reasons include families’ neglect on driving of motor-bikes by under-age young children which is a violation of law, and indulgence in reckless drifting without meeting security and safety requirements.

The Department said that significant traffic violations in the Sealine area include reckless driving, drifting, and hiding vehicles’ number plates that endanger people’s lives and road users’ property.

The Traffic Department also reminded people that the Qatari law bans taking pictures of accidents for several reasons, including considering the people who were in the accident themselves and their relatives’ feelings.

Any violator of the law will

expose themselves to pun-ishment, mainly if the accident resulted in death or serious injuries.

“We do not want such inci-dents to be seen by the parents of deceased because it causes great pain and sometimes even psychological trauma for

the families of these people,” the traffic department said.

Meanwhile, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is working to provide available services in the Sealine area to reach the injured as quickly as possible.

Saleh Al Maqarih Al Marri,

Assistant Executive Director at Hamad Ambulance, said: “The camping season has begun. We have provided many medical supplies to take care of any sick or injured person in the event of accidents or others.”

“We are keen on making first aid available as soon as possible. All campers are welcome to visit the clinic, and there is also mobile aid in case of accidents,” Al Marri told Qatar TV recently about Sealine Medical Clinic.

Al Marri also mentioned that the tourism authorities had requested HMC’s services, adding that the Ambulance Service will increase its fleet to six and five 4x4s (which have a better modification to cope with the Sealine terrain) during weekends and official holidays.

People enjoy dune bashing at Sealine. PICS: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA

According to the General Directorate of Traffic

statistics for 2018, the Sealine area ranked fifth in

locations with most traffic deaths, with as many as

eight people losing their lives in accidents in the

area that year.

07MONDAY 26 OCTOBER 2020 DOHA TODAY

THROUGH THE LENS

Najma Street Park in the Old Airport: A linear park in Doha parallel to the Najma Street between Kahramaa and The Mall traffic intersections. The park has separate tracks for walking and cycling and great pavement with benches, beautiful trees and flowers. A nice place for families to spend the evening. PICS: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA

Souq Waqif charms citizens, residents despite pandemicAYENI OLUSEGUN THE PENINSULA

A mix of people from different cultures and backgrounds, traditional art and crafts, cafes, and restaurants lined along the streets, the bird market, falcon market (with the magnificent falcon hospital) – the iconic Souq Waqif still has the thrills despite the novel coronavirus pandemic.

A Friday night at the Souq takes you back to times before the coronavirus outbreak. Despite many safety measures in place, including sanitizers hanging on walls and corners, residents and citizens alike are not deterred as they fill up the ancient market.

Just a few hundred meters from the Corniche and MIA Park, the Souq offers various family-friendly attractions that, one can say, are much needed in these unusual times.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced an initial lockdown earlier this year, not just in Qatar but globally. As Qatar emerges from the lockdown, thanks to the government’s swift action by initiating policies to help curb the spread, families, friends, and residents look for activities to engage in, and the Souq pro-vides that and more.

From the astronomy center where one can feel closer to Earth’s neighboring celestial bodies to the busy alleys with

salespeople displaying their wares and down to the handi-craft section – even the ice cream man provides some kicks for kids.

“It feels like the first time I have been here,” says Mahmud, a Qatar resident. “Since the lockdown, I haven’t gone out with the family, especially with the kids and online learning. It’s a lot of chaos. But the Souq is always nice to visit; it makes us forget about how difficult it has

been the last few months.” The Souq Waqif Art Center,

after months of renovation, is now open again to visitors. Sit-uated in the heart of Souq Waqif, the Center is home to dozens of artists and its architecture, an ode to Qatari and Islamic history.

The center has always attracted visitors. On Friday, its galleries were lined with a col-lection of exquisite artworks from themes like childhood

games to random happenings in the Souq. Many of the art-works are available for purchase for keen collectors, from paintings to drawings, pottery, and sculptures.

“This is my favourite place here,” says Lauren from London. “Besides the crafts and tradi-tional wares, the Art Center is a great place to relax. I’m glad it is open again to the public. The paintings all tell a story, and that’s what art is about.”

The Souq Waqif, a traditional market in the heart of Doha, is a place to go for traditional garments, spices, handicrafts and souvenirs. It is also home to dozens of restaurants and coffee shops. PICS: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA.

The Art Center has always attracted visitors. On Friday, its galleries were lined with a collection of exquisite artworks from themes like childhood games to random happenings in the Souq. Many of the artworks are available for purchase for keen collectors, from paintings to drawings, pottery, and sculptures.

Virsa - Bringing Pakistani cuisine to life!AYENI OLUSEGUNTHE PENINSULA

The cuisines of the Indian subcontinent are characterised by their spice and flavours distinct only to the region. In particular, Pakistani cuisine is a blend of various regional cooking traditions of Central Asia and the subcontinent.

The cuisine and cooking styles vary from Karachi to Punjab, highlighting Pakistan’s rich ethnic and cultural diversity.

For Doha-based Pakistani blogger and photographer and now author Shehar Bano Rizvi, (pictured) Pakistani food is all about family – which she beau-tifully brings to life in her new book.

Virsa - A Culinary Journey From Agra to Karachi’ is a cookbook with authentic and straightforward Pakistani family recipes passed down from generation to generation. It is specifically designed for beginners but also features more complicated recipes for

experienced cooks. Virsa which means

‘Heritage’ in Urdu, caters to everyone irrespective of their level of culinary skills. The cookbook was initially conceptualized as a tribute to the author’s mother. It, however, transformed into an homage to both of her parents, expanding the family legacy. It includes guides in both languages, English and Urdu, with categories such as desi cooking styles guide, homemade spice blends guide, and a visual lentil guide for beginners who are stepping in the kitchen for the first time.

“I think what makes Virsa stand out is that it is not just a collection of recipes, but also a collection of memories and stories of someone who grew up in the Indian subcontinent. Many people have been able to relate to these stories of their mum and grandmother cooking these dishes and

family conversations around the dinner table,” Rizvi said.

Born in Karachi, Rizvi is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Software Engineer by profession. A Pakistani expatriate living in Qatar since 2004, she gave up her career to be a hands-on mother. Rizvi began her culinary journey with minimal cooking experience but has now developed a successful blog with

a recipe section that has gained tremendous popularity due to its detailed and easy to follow recipes.

“The Pakistani food fea-tured in this book has travelled from Agra India, where my family used to live before the partition of India. These recipes are made with simple ingre-dients and a blend of spices that makes it very flavourful. Paki-stani/Indian food has a lot in common because of their shared roots,” she added.

The book officially launched recently and has been well received in Qatar and Canada. Before the formal launch, the first set of copies was com-pletely sold out.

“The response to this book has been phenomenal, more than I could ever imagine. Most of the copies were pre-booked even before the actual launch! We sold out in Qatar, the US, and Canada within a few hours! We had to reprint even before the launch; that is something that my publisher back in Pakistan said has never hap-pened in 10 years of their pub-lishing house.

“I think this book has struck an emotional chord with people. There has been a lot of love pouring in for this book, especially from the overseas Pakistanis/Indians as they say it reminds them of home and family,” Rizvi noted.

DPS-MIS holds virtual zoo visit for preparatory classTHE PENINSULA – DOHA

Due to the effect of the coro-navirus pandemic, a lot has changed in our daily lives, especially with kids’ education. Kids can’t attend classes like they usually do due to precautionary methods to limit the virus’s spread. These measures have made kids miss all the outdoor fun and activities.

In the current situation, the schools are continuing their student’s education vir-tually and are making sure that kids have activities to do that are interesting, engaging, stimulating, and educational. DPS-MIS recently organized a virtual educational excursion to the Zoo through the Zoom App for the tiny tots of Preparatory Class.

The kids were excited when the teacher announced that they would have a virtual tour of the Zoo. It also created curiosity and interest among the little ones as they were already introduced to animals, habitats, etc. Children saw various animals such as apes, elephants, giraffes, polar bears, tigers, etc. It was like the Zoo animals had come to their homes. These virtual tours at the time of pandemic benefit the students by being more inclusive, building student skills and confidence in a controlled environment, and increasing engagement in the topic studied. All the children were overwhelmed and enjoyed the day thor-oughly, as it was a surprise for them. They all were thrilled to watch animals sitting in their habitat.

BPS student wins Junior Akhlaquna Award

THE PENINSULA – DOHAQatar Foundation initiated the Junior Akhlaquna Award to encourage and honour children and young people who embody morals, values, and ethical behavior and inspire others through their actions.

Under the second category of the prestigious awards, for Grade VII-IX, Bhagath Krishnan of Birla Public School (BPS) received the award in a grand ceremony held on October 20, 2020 at a special Akhlaquna Day ceremony in Education City.