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Sharjah Light Festival to use latest technology
Sharjah Light Festival to use latest technology Lily B. Libo-on / 29 January 2014 Nine-day Sharjah Light Festival will run from February 6 to 12 in 12 locations across the emirate. The beauty of Sharjah’s architectural grandeur, monuments and heritage will again be in the limelight — literally — at the nine-day Sharjah Light Festival (SLF), which will run from February 6 to 12 in 12 locations across the emirate. For nine nights, from 7pm to 11pm on weekdays and until midnight on weekends, Sharjah’s popular landmarks and tourist sites will be seen in a new light with specially designed shows using latest techniques in lighting, graphics and 3-D technology. It will be an experience that will take the spectators to a magical world of fantasy and creativity. Mohammed Ali Al Noman with SCTDA director-general Khalid Jasim Al Midfa during a Press conference to announce the festival at Al Majaz Water Front. — KT photo by M. Sajjad Organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) for the fourth time, the Sharjah Light Festival will be celebrated this year under the theme ‘Sharjah, the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014’. It is again held under the vision and leadership of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah. Mohammed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, SCTDA, said the fourth edition of the SLF will bring a richer and greater experience in presentations and designs. “SLF will start with an opening ceremony at the Sharjah Municipality’s grand new building that celebrates the best of Islamic architecture and heritage.” In a press conference on Monday night, Al Noman said the event features highly talented international artists and performers who use the magic of lighting and cutting-edge technology to narrate the story of Sharjah’s heritage and architecture. The first and largest of its kind in the Middle East, SLF is a landmark global event highlighting Emirati, Arabic and Islamic culture. Its new site in Dibba Al Hisn joins the SLF festivities along with Khorfakkan and Kalba on the East Coast in a symphony of lights, colours and melodious motifs. “Every year we have been trying to add new locations to SLF celebrations in order to cover the length and breadth of the emirate,” Al Noman said. A spectacular hour-long parade will start at the Flag Island, cover the expanse of Khalid Lagoon before heading to the Central Souq. It will be followed by another hour of an entertainment fiesta with popular fictional characters, which will transport visitors to a world of art, fantasy and humour. SLF 2014 sites include Sharjah Municipality, Kuwait Square, Cultural Palace Square, King Faisal Mosque, Al Majaz Mosque, Al Majaz Waterfront, Central Souk, Al Qasba (Internal facade), Dr Shaikh Sultan Al Qasimi Centre of Gulf Studies, Hamza bin Abdul Mottaleb Mosque in Kalba, and Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Khorfakkan. The aesthetic beauty of centuries-old Islamic calligraphy, poetry, maps and art, and intricate decorated plants and flowers will be celebrated at the festival, in order to bring out the finer detail of Sharjah’s majestic monuments and fine architecture, he added. Since its debut, the Sharjah Light Festival has been a grand success, attracting tens of thousands of families and visitors year after year. With the addition of new sites and several new features and presentations, this year promises to be even more special. lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Chopper drones with cams may pose threat to privacy
Chopper drones with cams may pose threat to privacy Staff Reporter / 29 January 2014 The Ministry of Interior is concerned about its use and the Consumer Protection Department will investigate sales of these machines at some shops in the country. It may be a sport for some, a professional tool for photography experts, but the miniature RC (radio-controlled) quadcopter can be a threat to privacy if fitted with a camera. The Ministry of Interior is concerned about its use and the Consumer Protection Department will investigate sales of these machines at some shops in the country. The Arabic daily Al Roeya reported that the ministry convened a meeting with the bodies concerned in order to set down regulations for selling and trading in such drones fitted with cameras that could be controlled by remote control through a cordless joystick or a smart phone. The Ministry of Economy confirmed that its inspection and control squads embarked on their visits to shops and markets that deal in such kind of quadcopters to stop their sale. Al Roeya quoted Lt-General Saif Abdullah Al Shafaar, Undersecretary of Ministry of Interior, as saying that these pilotless rotorcrafts, which are sometimes fitted with a high definition camera, are sold without any constraints in the US and Europe, and are promoted online as well. Al Shafaar affirmed that the Federal Aviation Authority is the body concerned in this regard. He called upon all concerned parties and security authorities to hold a meeting to lay down regulations on this issue. Al Shafaar went on to say that police could intervene and take action if it received complaints from citizens and residents. Meanwhile, Director of the Consumer Protection Department, Ministry of Economy Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi warned the community members against the hazards of using copters that carry an HD camera which could be guided and controlled from remote distance. He pointed out that the Consumer Protection Department has planned to dispatch its inspection teams to shops and markets famous for selling these RC drones in order to stave off selling them to the public due to the negative effects these drones have because of the HD camera they are fitted with. Radio-controlled four rotor copters using high definition (HD) camera can click pictures during the time it’s in the air The RC quadcopter can fly for a period of 25 minutes and a distance of one kilometre at an altitude of 300 metres. The most shocking thing is that this kind of RC chopper was found being sold at a shopping mall in Dubai. They can be used by amateurs in a rational way by taking photos from high altitudes, and can be flown at desert, open areas, and sea. However, some others might use such adult toys in an immoral manner, which has become a hobby for those intruders to infringe people decency and privacy. There are two kinds of RC quadrotor helicopters. The first one is unprofessional and is sold for Dh4,800 and can fly for 15 minutes covering a distance of 700 metres. The second one is a professional one which costs as much as Dh8,000. The latter can fly a distance of a kilometre for a period of 25 minutes. The RC quadcopter has Global Positioning System (GPS), which makes it easy to call the chopper home automatically when the battery runs out. A user can programme and preset the flight course back and forth in certain directions, and sets the HD camera either in photo or video modes. It can transmit photos and videos to a user’s smart phone. An RC chopper owner Mohamed said he uses his copter everywhere to record horse races, car race and for other sports. — news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
A true reflection of Chinese essence at Global Village
A true reflection of Chinese essence at Global Village Lily B. Libo-on / 29 January 2014 Folk handicrafts the biggest draw at the China Pavilion in Global Village this year. For the first time ever, the China Pavilion in Global Village truly reflects the essence of China. With a facade of the famous Shaolin Monastery, reputed as the home of Shaolin Kung Fu, the pavilion represents the strength of the 6th century Chinese dynasties. Chinese guardian lions called Fu Lions, which guard Beijing’s Forbidden City, are stationed outside the pavilion as well. Chinese pavilion at Global Village. -KT photos by M. Sajjad For the first time, the China Pavilion comes alive with more than 500 massive Chinese red lanterns adorning the passageways leading to the 4,050sq metre enclosure. The passageways have been widened from the usual four metres to five metres with interlocks on the floor. “The entire pavilion is quite impressive. The ambiance resembles that of our own traditional Lantern Festival, which falls every 15th day of the first lunar month, usually celebrated in February,” Li Ming, a Chinese expatriate visiting the pavilion says. As visitors enter the pavilion, they are greeted by a striking replica of Pagoda Forest popular for its Chinese artistic design, inscriptions and carvings in the courtyard. It serves as the craft centre for live demonstrations of ancient folk handicrafts in Shanghai Yuyuan. Again, in a first, visitors can witness the creation of ordered items by skillful Chinese craftsmen. Anyone interested in Chinese calligraphy on rubber stamps can have an artist make it for him in five minutes. Other craftsmen can design names on a paper frame in dragon-phoenix calligraphy style. Dough figure sculpting, which is one of China’s oldest folk-art forms, is available as well. The innovative skills of kneading and modelling dough into vivid animal and human figures have been passed on for centuries since it first appeared during the Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. In 30 minutes, a visitor will have what he wants molded in dough figurine. A Saudi lady visitor, Jawaher, expressed her pleasure with the dough figurine showing her and her husband together. “I am so amazed with this craft; the dough really looks perfectly like me and my husband. I am so impressed,” Jawaher says. Ke Zhuing, the dough figurine artist, has been practicing the art since he was 12. “I am now 31-years old, and I still do it. This has been our business for generations.” Visitors can have their names or various designs inscribed on tiny pearls. Dubbed as micro-sculpture on pearl, visitors can have a pearl necklace pendant for Dh40. Liliang Shu, 32, says he has been practicing the art for more than 10 years. “I can engrave your name and design anything on your small pearl in five minutes.” An astounding feature at the pavilion is shadow-carving on stone, where photographs are replicated as they are on a piece of marble canvas using a sharpen-edged iron pen. The art takes a designer about one and a half hours. The artist, Qigui Lin, 27, says that his family has been practicing this folk handicraft for generations. Other folk handicrafts at the pavilion include stone seal cutting within five minutes for Dh50, art carving on bronze and shadow carving on stone for Dh480, and painting inside snuff bottles. Further inside the pavilion, visitors can haggle for deals from more than 157 exhibitors. Sunil Bhatia, the CEO of the pavilion, says the pavilion facade, which is 40m wide and 20m high, has two entrances, both guarded by lions. “We have specially imported six guardian lions from China. The two biggest and heaviest made of heavy stone totalling 18 tonnes (nine tonnes each) are guarding the main gate with a height of 3.10m and base size of 2m x 1.4m. For the back entrance, the gate lions weigh ten tonnes (five tonnes each) with a height of 2.4m and base size of 1.8m x 0.84m. The two small guardian lions are placed on the side gate, weighing one tonne with a height of 0.95m and base size of 0.6m x 0.5m. Lots of visitors are seen shooting their video and still cameras due to its originality and the mythic belief on these gate lions.” He says the products available at the pavilion encompass various categories that are either manufactured in China or are unique to the country. “We have home furnishing, fashion accessories, home decor, men’s and ladies’ wear, health care products, cleaning products, mobile accessories, plasma balls, and masks with lights for the first time. We look forward to offering our visitors an insight into Chinese tradition and culture and their contribution to the global market here at Global Village. Indigenous to its homegrown wealth and its cultural attributes, Chinese tea is a key ingredient in the country’s heritage. The only Chinese tea exhibitor in the pavilion has crossed miles to exhibit what’s really quintessential in China,” he says. China is the world’s largest producer of freshwater pearls, and the best collection of fresh water pearl jewellery set in silver from Sichuan is also at the China Pavilion for the first time. lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
