bazaar April 2015

April 2015 | Issue # 192 www.bazaar.town

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I try to avoid using the intro of bazaar as a platform for ranting and complaining, since we are all about feeling good, and living life to the fullest, but recently I tried to help a friend look for an apartment or small villa here in Kuwait, and I came away from the experience shocked at the way rent prices have skyrocketed and choices have become so limited. It used to be the case that certain areas were more expensive than others, just like anywhere else in the world, but now it doesn't really matter where you look. Rent prices are ridiculously high everywhere and anywhere, and you are usually faced with stark choices. Either you live in an apartment that is too small with boxes for bedrooms, or a villa that is too far from civilization, or you end up paying fifty percent of your salary on rent. Add to that the unusual (and possibly illegal) fact that many landlords refuse to rent to Kuwaitis or Arab expats (regardless of your profession and salary), and your choices become even more limited. Of course if you are a single male looking for a place, then you also have to deal with the fact that you can't rent in a 'family building', since there is a lurking fear that you might wake up in the middle of the night and eat the other residents. All in all, a sad state of affairs and something that needs to be remedied as soon as possible, since the higher the rent, the less cash people have to spend on other things like food and clothes and entertainment here in Kuwait, which can't be good for the economy.

Some of the bigger real estate developers need to look not too far away at other GCC countries and Egypt, and at some of the thousands of compounds they have built in the desert (of which Kuwait has plenty) that offer everything from one bedroom studios to five bedroom villas, and that all have lots of greenery, community centers with gyms, pools, supermarkets, and restaurants that all cater to the residents.

These communities reduce the pressure on the roads and services in the rest of the country leading to less stress, happier more productive people, and a higher sense of belonging, which is surely what the country wants, right?

We have definitely not forgotten that this month is all about the Earth, with Earth Day taking place on Wednesday April 22nd. To celebrate this wonderful world of ours we have made sure to give you some great examples of environmental and social warriors, right in our own region! We were extremely impressed to hear that a solar powered aircraft, Solar Impulse 2, recently took off from Abu Dhabi to Muscat – we can’t wait to follow it on its journey and see where else solar power can take us!

We also sat down with the people at Kuwait’s Scientific Center to talk about the incredible conservation efforts for the majestic sea turtle. This beautiful creature deserves our help, so we can ensure future generations can also enjoy seeing them in our waters.

In our up close & personal column this month we had the privilege of speaking exclusively to Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah who created the nonprofit Alnowair, and who continues to touch the lives of people every day by spreading her positive messages and social awareness campaigns. We also show you the plans for Al-Khiran; and how Tamdeen Group is reshaping the urban and social landscapes of Kuwait with this sustainable city by the sea.

And finally, don’t miss a 12 year old’s take on his coming of age ‘trip of a lifetime’ to Tanzania. Take the trip with him as Ramy Shaalan speaks about his experiences in this land of vast nature, wilderness, and incredible migration, and takes in the earth in all its glory.

Happy reading!

Ahmed El-Adly

The bazaar team...

Boss

Syndicates and Sources

Ahmed El-Adly

Fast Company LA Times MCT International Newsweek Tribune Media Services USA Today Variety News Service Washington Post

Operations Rebecca Sweetman Tim Burns

Business Development Ihab Mokalled

Design Padmini Chandrasekaran

Printing

Staff Writer/Coordinator

British Industries for Printing and Packaging members of:

Yasmine El Charif

Staff Writer/Online Media Sarah O. Wali

Staff Writer Amira Haroun Brook McClurg

Communications Hala Y. Sharara

Editor

w w w. b p aw w. c o m No one likes to be dumped;

recycle me, please.

The views expressed in bazaar magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff (but sometimes they are).

A. Al-Duaij

Contributing Writers Jamie Etheridge Jomanah Altajali Lili Barras-Hargan Loaay Ahmed Mike Campbell Mohammad alsanea Patrick Makhoul Ramy Shaalan Dr. Susannah J. Schuilenberg Zainab Mirza

Contributing Photgraphers Mohammed Hamza Terry Ross Waleed Shaalan

tel. 2461 0017 – fax 2461 0018 info@bazaar-magazine.com www.bazaar.town | Al Argan Complex, Shuwaikh Free Trade Zone @bazaargram bazaarmagazine @bazaartweets

MAX MARA

INDEX APRIL '15

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LET’S GET OUT!

7 YEARS IN Q8

SHEIKHA INTISAR AL SABAH

SAVING KUWAIT’S SEA TURTLES

THE AFTERTHOUGHT

Nour Alkawass shows us what it means to get out of a boring rut and pursue your passion. Rather than commit to a boring routine, she created the up and coming blog, GETOUT-me.com. Learn more about this charismatic doer in truth or dare, and read all about her latest event, I Need My Space.

Pinot Ichwandardi brings beautiful symbols of Kuwait’s culture to life through his whimsical sketches.

Leaving Indonesia and living in Kuwait for seven years, Pinot moved to New York to pursue a brilliant career, and he gives thanks to the memories he created in Kuwait through the bittersweet series, #7yearsinq8.

Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah doesn’t accept obstacles, she relishes challenges.

Join us for an in depth exploration of this remarkable character and social warrior in this month’s special edition of up close and personal. From founding Alnowair to pushing Arabic publishing to take center stage, Sheikha Intisar epitomizes positive change in Kuwait and the region.

Sea turtles in Kuwait’s Arabian gulf live a treacherous life. We paid a visit to Kuwait’s Scientific Center to learn more about the plight of this wonderful creature, and came back to you with applicable ways to help save these endangered species from extinction.

A local acoustic/rock group, we got a little taste of this remarkable band at the most recent ‘The Taste of Q8 Food Festival’. Join us as we get to know this awesome group of friends who have been playing together since 1997, and find out what makes them tick, musically and otherwise!

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YAZZ AHMED

A TANZANIAN TRIP

While her visit to Kuwait was shortlived, we catch up with jazz talent Yazz Ahmed after she regaled locals with her soulful sounds. For this captivating Bahraini-Brit, her love of jazz transcends everything else. We sit down with Yazz as she tells us all about her life between Bahrain and the UK in this edition of Arabs abroad.

Father and son team, Waleed and Ramy Shaalan, called it the ‘trip of a lifetime’. In this fantastic feature, 12-year-old Ramy journals his way through Tanzania. Read all about their encounters with the big 5, and witnessing the migration of more than a million wildebeests across Tanzania and into Kenya.

A Tanzanian Trip, pg 67

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LINE RISOM

BURJ AL HAMAM

THE SAFAT HOME MAKEOVER

TO IRAN

PERFECTLY PIZZETTA

Her personality is strong, her opinions are unwavering and her work ethic is uncompromising.

We’ve always admired Line Risom and everything that she has set out to do from the moment she set foot in Kuwait. Get to know this inspiring interior designer and her company D’Fineline of Interior Design.

We revisit this classic establishment and its unbeatable views of Kuwait’s Arabian gulf to enjoy the best that Lebanese cuisine has to offer. From an unforgettable Kebbe Nayeh, delectable mixed grills, and the best Halawat El Jeben, come away with us to Burj Al Hamam. Not hungry?

Rest assured that their selection of Shisha will truly impress.

In the first of this on-going series, we meet the lucky couple selected for a home makeover from the Safat Home Décor Center. With a plethora of brands to choose from, Safat Home’s collections will give Farah and Bader, along with the Décor Center specialists, a gorgeous selection for that dream home we all want.

With a changing political and economic landscape taking place in the great lands of Persia, Faranak Askari found her life-long dream and the perfect opportunity: building a website that showcases everything great that the nation of Iran has to offer. Join us on this wonderful virtual exploration of toiran.com for that perfect dose of escapism.

What happens when you put a majestic cheese board by the good people of Pizzetta in front of a team of hungry, very hungry, editors? It’s devoured in a matter of minutes!

Come with us to Pizzetta, check out their new dishes, and what they can do to perfectly cater your next event, big or small.

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EAU DE MADMOI

bazaar connect Freedom to find us

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With a bilingual audience of both English and Arabic, we cover everything from what’s on, to the bizarre. We print and distribute 10,000 copies of bazaar every month; each copy is read by an average of 3 people, giving us a total readership of over 30,000. bazaar is published every month (except August), delivered free of charge to a large subscriber database, and distributed free of charge in all of the following locations: Cafés & Eateries

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Al Mubarakiya Dental Clinic - Egaila, Salmiya Al Safat American Hospital Boushahri Clinic Dasman Diabetes Institute Diet Care Center Gulf Clinic International Clinic Maidan Clinic - Fahaheel, Farwaniya, Hawalli, Sharq, Subah Al Salem Noor Clinic Salam Hospital Seif Hospital Soor Center Taiba Clinic The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic

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Al Corniche Club Crowne Plaza, Farwaniya, Salmiya Hilton Kuwait Resort & Spa Holiday Inn, Salmiya, Inspire Pure Fitness JW Marriott – Residence Inn, Sharq Millenium Hotel & Conference Center Pilates & More - Salmiya, Mahboula Spaloon The Palms Beach Hotel The Yoga Center

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Haagen Dazs Galleria Al Hamra Elevation Burger Mall 360 Dunkin Donuts Marina Mall/Crescent Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar Johnny Rockets P.Q. Paul Souq Sharq Starbucks Haagen Dazs Breadz Symphony Mall Juan Valdez The Avenues Elevation Burger Johnny Rockets Paul Starbucks Airport Mall Starbucks Dar Al Awadi I.O. Center Spoons Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex Starbucks

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AUDI

Engineered intuition.

The new Audi A6 with side assist.

The new Audi A6 reacts before you command it to. With Audi side assist, you are warned if a lane change is deemed unsafe. On your turn signal the speed and distance of surrounding vehicles are analysed, triggering a warning display in your side mirror if needed. This is just one of many intuitive technologies powering the new Audi A6.

For more information please visit audi-kuwait.com/a6 or call Fouad Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company for a test drive appointment on 1811118

truth or dare

LET’S GET OUT! Nour AlKawass by bazaar staff

Meet Nour AlKawass. A Digital Strategist by day and music addict and art lover by night, Nour’s involvement in the field of marketing and advertising has taught this social media guru a thing or two about patience. After spending years working on developing her skills in the field, she decided that she was going to get out of her comfort zone and follow her passion for the arts and music scene.

Nour credits Beirut city and its explosive culture for her introduction to music. She considers B-town as the place for the latest in events, interesting DJs and street art. Speaking of which, Nour has been dabbling with the arts ever since she was only 10 years old, so it seemed only natural for her to create an online space where her two passions effortlessly collided.

When it came to founding and operating her blog, GETOUT-me.com, Nour quickly came to realize that she is amongst a few people who focused on the arts and entertainment scene in the Middle East, making this online destination unique in more ways than one! With GET OUT, she wishes to take the concept even further by adding more interactive platforms such as an online magazine to the mix.

A huge dreamer at heart, Nour embodies her blog’s ethos by getting her message out there in every way she can! She said, “I think communication needs to be accessible, no matter how creative and potentially effective your message is, it can't do much good if your audience isn't exposed to it.

You have to put it where they can't miss it, which means using the channels they're most likely to pay attention to."

Last March, Nour collaborated with Sara Farasheh and Sarah Chouari at Art Space Kuwait and gave us the awesome event, I Need My Space.

The event included an entire day of fun-filled activities the perfectly embody everything that GET OUT represents: music performances and awesome beats by local artists and DJs, a comedy night, arts and crafts workshops for both adults and kids, live graffiti shows by various artists, all within the lovely gardens at the American University in Kuwait.

If this big dreamer doesn’t inspire you to get out of your comfort zone and try something different, then perhaps we need to put you in a room with Nour. Her infectious laughter and awesome sense of humor will definitely brighten your day!

How would your mother describe you in one word?

Patient.

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How would you describe your mother in one word?

Gorgeous.

What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked?

Why I have no issue with marrying someone who’s already married to 3 women.

What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

Inviting someone out for dinner #Date.

What is your theme song?

Christina Aguilera’s 'Dirty'.

What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? ‫ متشي على قبرني انشاهلل‬very Syrian I know.

Where would you like to live? What is your dream retirement location?

Somewhere where I can live in peace and Germany – Berlin can be perfect for retirement.

What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind?

Simplicity makes me happy. It’s not a famous quote but it’s totally me.

What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in?

A dog.

What do you miss about your childhood?

I miss the part where you don’t have any responsibilities to worry about!

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

I will never think of changing my name, it's part of who I am.

Describe your handshake in one word?

Caring.

What is the toughest part of your character?

You never stay the same.

Who is your favorite historical figure?

Cleopatra.

What in the world do you least desire?

War. What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of would make the world a better place?

Humanity.

Why do you think most girls/guys like you?

Funny, loyal and a great adviser.

Finish this sentence: “Happiness is (a thing called)…”

Simplicity.

Check out www.getout-me.com for the latest art and entertainment news in the Middle East. You can also follow Nour on Instagram @Nourk and GET OUT blog on Instagram @Getoutblog, SoundCloud: Get Out Blog, Twitter @GetOutBlog and Facebook: GetOut.

ELIE TAHARI +965 2530 9618

360 MALL, LEVEL 1

KUWAIT’S CULTURAL BLOSSOMING

by Jamie Etheridge

The Secret Garden Project

Ghada Alkandari Exhibition

When I arrived in Kuwait a decade ago, one of the first laments I heard from people here was that there just wasn’t a lot to do. Everyone compared Kuwait to booming Dubai and especially to its nightlife, social and cultural activities. Kuwait, it’s true, had lagged behind its regional peers in development in some sectors. Once the leader in the Gulf, people here turned mostly inward following the invasion and promotion of tradition trumped the embracing of modernity.

That time has now passed, however, and with it a blossoming has begun to take place in Kuwait. This spring has nothing in common with the political upheaval witness in North Africa, nor the Levant, but in Kuwait, is instead a cultural and social opening. Just recently, Kuwait played host to an alternative Arab music festival, and a food festival to be proud of, and has for several years now seen a remarkable growth in social and cultural activities. Moreover these events aren’t limited to locals, or in Arabic only, but embrace a wider audience by mixing Arabic and English and encourage a greater mixing of nationalities and societies.

The last time I visited my best friend in Texas, 28

Al Hamra Tower

Remal Sand Sculpting Festival

we discussed all the things I miss about the U.S. She has two kids like me and was explaining their normal weekend routine: Trips to the library, Saturdays at the local children’s museum, open air street fairs and musical concerts and afternoons at the park. I remembered from my own days there how much I loved all of what she mentioned.

Now I realize that Kuwait is slowly developing along these same lines. Granted there are no bars, and the libraries here leave much to be desired.

There is also no escaping the simple fact that we are shut indoors from sunup to sundown for three solid months each year due to the heat. But in many respects, my kids have access to many of the same things my friend’s kids have in America.

Check local events listings for the weekend and you will be astounded by all the things that there are to do in Kuwait. From flying kites in Bnaider or open desert food gatherings, to community gardening, artists collectives, crafting and crochet competitions, dance-offs and special mime shows, to go-cart racing and outdoor shopping fests. Nearly every weekend during Kuwait’s social season (typically from November to May) is jam packed with art exhibitions and children’s fun festivals, with

concerts, supper clubs, graffiti picnics, dog shows and walkathons along the Gulf Road.

This is a boon for locals and long time residents who are committed to seeing Kuwait develop and blossom. Kuwait is not a tourist hub and probably never will be. But it can be a pleasant place to live and provide a plethora of fun, educational and healthy activities for the people who call it home. It is also refreshing and inspiring to see that it is the people themselves who are initiating this change.

It’s true that profit and not culture is often a driver of these events – but that is true in most places including the U.S. where ticket prices for music festivals can run in the hundreds of dollars, for instance. The financial incentives and rewards are part of what will drive this blossoming forward and compel its continuation.

It’s a welcome evolution and one that has before it many exciting possibilities.

Jamie Etheridge is a writer and mom of two living in Kuwait. She is the founder and editor of the Kuwait Moms Guide. You can follow her on Instagram at @kuwaitmomsguide or you can visit the website www.kuwaitmomsguide.com.

REEBOK

PIN O T I C H WA N DA RDI

7 YEARS IN Q8 by bazaar staff

Kuwait has always been brimming with a thriving multicultural community. While many expats come and go, we don't often see people who pay a tribute to their time in Kuwait through art. In the case of one Pinot Ichwandardi, however, we not only uncovered an amazing artistic series, we unveiled one family’s beautiful story and journey from Indonesia, Kuwait to New York.

Currently working as a Vine artist and motion graphic designer at New York’s GrapeStory/Vayner Media agency, Pinot is not the only artist in his family. Husband to super creative wife Dita, who we previously covered in these bazaar pages, along with three children Arwen the fairy, Leia the princess and Neo the one (their children’s names are taken from characters in trilogy movies, naturally), they artistically thrive together. This father of the ‘Neverland family’ proudly claims that his children heavily influence his work, their whimsy constantly serve his creative process.

They arrived to Kuwait in 2007 and began their adventure far away from their home in Indonesia.

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Their journey ended in Kuwait in 2015 when they relocated to New York, where Pinot today creates commercial Vines for multi-national brands like Virgin Mobile, General Electric, Ford, Disney, ESPN, Samsung, Chrysler, amongst many others.

Perhaps it is also Pinot’s upbringing in an artistic family that further nurtured his talents.

His father was a comic artist and animator, while his mother was also an illustrator. Coming from a family of visual storytellers, Pinot’s work started off in a variety of mediums, from TV, Internet media, to social media outlets like Vine. If you follow his work, you will notice his traditional handdrawn animations that he draws frame-by-frame,

combined with a stop-motion technique of real objects. His work is constantly evolving over time.

Pinot said, “I work when my family is around me, whether in the office or when I am working at home. Sometimes, I even ask my kids to come to the office and accompany me for 2-3 hours. As for the Vines I design, I work at home while my kids are watching. Their ideas, imagination and sense of fantasy really help me conceptualize the ideas that I come up with. Most of the time, they help me when I’m creatively blocked, or when I’m facing a problem with the production of a design. For this reason, they will always be involved in my work!”

During their time in Kuwait, Pinot [continued...]

MILLY

MI LLY.COM ARRAYA CENTER, GROUND FLOOR, SHUHADA STREET ENTRANCE, SHARQ | TEL: 22997739

[...continued] worked at Al Watan TV for seven years, making this his family’s first adventure outside Indonesia. Living as a minority in Kuwait (there are only 50,000 people in the Indonesian community in Kuwait), they learned from Kuwait’s cultural diversity, despite the typical opinion that Kuwait can be less dynamic than its GCC neighbors. Pinot comments that while most people arrive to Kuwait for economic reasons, he believes that Kuwait offered his family a more well rounded experience.

He said, “We admired every little thing that we saw in Kuwait. Something that may appear as 32

unimportant to others was always important for us.

That’s why we started our #7yearsinQ8 project.”

Marked by the hashtag on Instagram and Social media as #7yearsinQ8, Pinot and his family went ahead with the idea to celebrate and memorize all of their interesting experiences in Kuwait. Consider this a thank you project, if you may, and a token of appreciation for all of their wonderful experiences.

Pinot told bazaar that most of the painting was done while they were still living in Kuwait, but the project has now taken a new approach as they are now using photo documentations as a reference.

Like most of his projects, #7yearsinQ8 is

one that involves Pinot’s entire family. They are currently planning on publishing the nostalgic sketches in the form of a book in Indonesia and the US because “[they] want to show people, the real color of Kuwait.” Once this project is completed, Pinot’s family is planning on simply enjoying their new adventure in New York, with hopes of revisiting Kuwait in the future.

Follow Pinot on Twitter and Instagram @Pinot, and head to about.me/Pinot for more information.

Check out the Hashtag #7yearsinQ8 for more of his wonderful sketches about his family’s time in Kuwait.

HYUNDAI

THERE ARE NO

OBSTACLES ONLY CHALLENGES

Sheikha Intisar’s push for positivity has Kuwait covered in a yellow glow by bazaar staff

In early 2013 Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah came across a video that shook her core. A young man posted a song on YouTube that bashed Kuwait, and showed images of a country she hardly recognized as her own. As the images of trash and traffic flashed on her screen, tears welled up in her eyes. She thought to herself “why is he doing this to Kuwait? Kuwait doesn’t deserve this.” After some digging she found that the images of trash posted in the video were from Jaleeb Al-Shuwaikh, the site of one of the country’s shut down landfills.

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One of the Yellow benches found in the Marina Gazebo at Marina crescent.

One of the Yellow benches found in Funaitees Beach

One of the yellow benches found in Baladiya Garden, Kuwait City.

Never one to wallow in negativity, Sheikha Intisar found the young man’s contact information, called him, and asked him why he would do such a thing.

“He said ‘this is the truth’,” she told bazaar.

“I said, ‘this is not the truth, this is your truth’. I remember being very upset,” she said. “He loved Kuwait from his perspective. He thought by bashing it, he could make it better.”

Many of us seem to agree with the YouTube author. An issue comes up in our lives and we call our spouses or siblings, parents or friends and tell them all about it. We spend days discussing it with everyone around us, dancing around the topic and analyzing it in every which way. We think we are working through our problems, that this is part of the process to make things better. Yet, the numbers prove we are not.

The Happy Planet Index ranks Kuwait at 143

out of 151 countries. Expat Insider found that Kuwait was one of the least hospitable countries to expats. About 40% of youth in the country are afraid of responsibility, and more than a quarter are affected with depression.

Though the numbers are depressing, for Sheikha Intisar they are challenges that have motivated her to change negative perceptions to positive ones. Drawing from her experience as managing director and chairwoman of a family majority owned business and the creation of her own publishing house, she has created what she calls her CSR to Kuwait, Alnowair. With a team of eleven the nonprofit initiative has created a dozen successful events, a volunteer base of more than 20,000 people and is the winner of a local creativity award. None of which would be possible without Sheikha Intisar’s positive lens.

Prior to Alnowair she had spent much of her

early career at the Refrigeration Industries and Storage Company (RIC). In the six years she was there she dealt with drama she compares to Ramadan soap opera specials. With a major issue every day, she had to keep herself focused and fend off the stress that would debilitate most people. Simple tasks, like converting the company from a paper and telephone based communication system to email, a task that could be implemented in just one week, took months, and she loved it.

“I discovered myself at RIC,” she said. “I discovered I have a lot of abilities. Which is what you realize when you are put in front of a challenge and you find one solution after another. I realized that the more challenging it becomes, the more problem solving abilities you gain."

So when she saw the YouTube video, she couldn’t understand how the young man thought that this was a solution to the problems [continued...]

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The Alnowair team during last year’s Think, Work, Live Positive conference with speakers Jack Canfield, Todd Kashdan and Adam Fraser. (April 27, 2014)

To say hello to the new year Alnowair launched this What Went Well in 2013 campaign at 360 mall. (December 20, 2013)

36

[...continued] the country was having. However, the mystery was solved within a week. She came across a Harvard study that proved people have a singular outlook on life. Each of us either sees problems as obstacles that are unmovable, or as small challenges that can be solved. She realized that while the young man was in the former group, she was in the latter, and became determined to use such scientific evidence to change Kuwait’s perspective.

This wouldn’t be the first of Sheikha Intisar’s projects that attempt to change people’s outlooks on the Middle East. While at RIC she was an avid reader, but was constantly disappointed at the frivolous content offered to Arab women. A fluent English and French speaker, she could see that Western magazines offered content that respected women’s intellectuality with reports and studies that inspire a more productive lifestyle.

They encouraged women to accept challenges and contribute to their society. Nothing like that existed in the Middle East. With the goal of changing the perspective that Arab women have of themselves, she left RIC and started Lulua Publishing in June of 2011.

She named the publishing company after her grandmother, a woman she described as strong, determined and one that commanded respect. The name is also the Arabic word for pearl. According to the Lulua publishing website it “represents something rare and valuable that encapsulates the journey from suffering to fulfillment.”

It took her almost six months to find the perfect editor in chief, but in the end it was Zeina Bitar’s passion that landed her the job. “I love fire inside people,” said Sheikha Intisar. “I don’t work with people who don’t have fire for change.”

After a couple of failed attempts, the team

I don’t work with people who don’t have fire for change.

forged a relationship with a magazine that was perfect for the Arab world and her vision. Good Health, an Australian based magazine published

by Bauer Media, was simple, colorful and easily tailored to the Arab community. It encouraged stories that covered medical advances, psychology, relationships, kids and food, to name a few. More importantly, it was a magazine that empowered readers with the sense that they can do something positive, and change their lives.

With the largest annual growth in subscriptions of 10-20%, Good Health Arabia has become one of the largest magazines in the region. Lulua publishing also simultaneously produced books like The Alchemy of Wisdom, a collection of 48 people in Kuwait who have made a positive difference.

Lulua Publishing was up and running, and the Sheikha had time once more to think of how she could change her country for the better, and it was then that she saw the YouTube video, and the realization she came to when she read the Harvard study.

“Since I see a problem, how can I change it?

So I thought, how about I start using the scientific evidence and showing it to people. One thing led to another and we decided we are going to advertise positivity using scientific evidence.”

It was from that thought that the nonprofit initiative Alnowair was born, and named after a yellow desert flower with five different species, and as many petal shapes. The flower captures the similarity of our uniqueness. Just as the flowers from each of the five species needs the same

elements to survive, everyone in the community needed a positive attitude to grow and flourish.

“Complaining is when you think you are powerless,” she told bazaar. “So you find an excuse to be handicapped. Why? If you don’t want to do it, say I don’t want to do anything about it. I’ll do something about another thing.”

The organization launched with an opening event on March 20, 2013, the International Day of Happiness, dubbed “The Bloom”. The team set up a four-day interactive exhibit in a rundown building.

It included activities like the Balloon of Worry, where each of the attendees was encouraged to write a worry on a card, tie it to the balloon, and watch as it floated away. In the Thankful For station, they wrote something they were thankful for and posted it on the wall. Participants were challenged to put a pencil between their teeth, which forced a smile, and experience how you can change your mood to a happy one with that simple action.

The stations were based on the Alnowair tree; an outline the team has created to bring order to their message of cultivating a positive attitude. From Kindness and Simplicity to Gratitude and Making a Difference, each of the seven branches act as a guide for all events, campaigns and activities.

Now two years after the opening, the group has successfully carried out more than a dozen events, and they are making quite a yellow splash.

Take their Yellow Car Parade back in November of last year. They took 40 yellow cars, three buses and a whole bunch of supporters from Marina Waves, all the way to Green Island. They aimed to spread awareness on the importance of empathetic driving. By giving way, showing signals and following traffic rules, everyone contributes to a safer and happier Kuwait.

“Road accidents, citations and traffic congestion are one of the biggest problems faced by the people of Kuwait, and one of the ways we can help solve the problem is by being kind while on the road,” said Alnowair campaign manager Gaya Kruchlik.

The group at Alnowair also brought to light issues that may negatively impact our lives without our realizing it. At the end of last year they launched their anti-Phubbing campaign. Phubbing is when you use your PHone and snUB the people around you. According to a study done by the University of Essex, “the presence of mobile phones can interfere with human relationships.” Furthermore the study found that the ”mere presence of mobile communication devices …can have negative effects on closeness, connection, and conversation.”

Their 90 stands around The Avenues in December attracted scores of people to their main booth. There they were given Phumbs, a cloth sleeve for their thumbs that would prevent people from using their phones while at the booth. At the end of the event more than 4,000 people signed a pledge to stop Phubbing and start focusing more on the people right in front of them.

Most important, the programs from Alnowair have worked to change our outlook on the very place we live in, Kuwait. Their latest campaign, 30 Yellow Benches, challenged residents to really see the beauty that we may miss every day. Sheikha Intisar and her team placed 30 yellow benches around the country from as far north as Jahra to the southern area of Julai’a. They then presented a challenge to photographers everywhere to visit the benches, and take pictures of the beautiful settings. The benches are located on beachfronts, in the desert and around the city, encouraging everyone to truly see the beauty and wonder that Sheikha Intisar has always appreciated in her country.

Their biggest event of the year is the Think Work Live Positive conference. When it [continued...]

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The yellow car parade saw more than forty vehicles in a parade from Marina Crescent up to Green Island to encourage more courteous driving.

At the #YellowCarParade, participants pose in front of one of more than 40 yellow vehicles promoting courteous driving.

[...continued] started last year it was the first of its kind in the GCC. Held at the end of April 2014, the two days were packed full of inspirational seminars and workshops in the main lecture room at Gulf University of Science and Technology, and activities in the outside hall such as the Pick an Instant Boost of Positivity, and the opportunity to take a conference selfie.

Throughout the two days, the 600 attendees learned from speakers such as co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series Jack Canfield, professional psychologist and public speaker Dr. Todd Kashdan, and human performance researcher Dr. Adam Fraser who gave attendees tools to having a positive outlook on life.

“Last year was a huge success,” said Sheikha Intisar. “We always offer a few seats for free to people who we know need that positivity. We offered free seats to government teachers, government employees and mothers and doctors because we want a trickle-down effect. We want the influencers to have a positive outlook so they can influence the people they deal with.”

This year’s conference promises to deliver more of the same but better. The Think Work Live 38

The Alnowair team at their Phubbing booth in The Avenues.

(December 24, 2014)

Positive 2015 conference brings back Dr. Adam Fraser who will teach attendees how to make the most of every moment. Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, bestselling author and professor of psychology at the University of California, will demonstrate “the how of happiness” and will give simple daily practices that boost health productivity and happiness. Finally, the renowned author, T.V. star, international superstar and success guru Dr. Joe Vitale from The Key and DVD The Secret will give the attendees the secret to a positive, happy and healthy life. The goal of the conference is to show people what it really means to be happy, and how little material goods factor in that occasion.

“It’s going to be fabulous,” said Sheikha Intisar. “We don’t talk about money because it’s scientifically proven that big incomes don’t make you happy. It’s the fulfillment of your dream that makes you happier than having a million KD. So we are trying to find the positivity and the happiness in the small things. We look forward to a very entertaining and inspirational two days.”

Until then, Sheikha Intisar has a small fifteenminute challenge for all of bazaar’s readers. Take

five minutes and complain about everything you can think about. Focus on your body, and how it changes with each complaint. Does your heart rate increase? Are you starting to sweat a bit?

Are you wringing your hands in anticipation? Take a moment after you are done complaining to completely assess how your body has responded.

Now, take another five minutes to think of everything you like. Find whatever little thrills you may have experienced over the last few days whether it’s a beautiful scene, or a green traffic light when you are late. Assess your body again and see how you physical feel after the five minutes.

“Which state of mind would you like?” she asked. “Complaining strips you of all energy, and happiness. While positivity fuels you.”

For more information on Alnowair check out their website alnowair.com. Follow them on Instagram @al_nowair.

For more information on the Think Work Live Positive conference, or to book your ticket visit twlconference.com.

up close and personal Sheikha Intisar at the Focus on the Good photography competition award ceremony with first place winner Ramil Sunga. (September 1, 2013)

What do you most value in your friends?

I love that my best friends are interesting to talk to as I learn new things from them.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

My garden with friends and family laughing.

What is your greatest fear?

Funny that it is still success.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My inner critic is quite harsh sometimes.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

When they see firstly the bad and not the good.

Which living person do you most admire?

My daughters, each in their amazing ways to teach me new things.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I love my jewelry.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

I think.

What is it that you most dislike?

Complainers.

Sheikha Intisar puts her thumb print and pledges not to Phub at Alnowair’s Let’s Not Phub campaign in The Avenues. (December 28, 2014)

Which talent would you most like to have?

To draw, paint or play the guitar.

If you could have any job, what would it be?

I have 5 jobs and love them. Would not change them for the world.

Mother Publisher Positive hero Entrepreneur Student What would you consider your greatest achievement?

My daughters. I love and truly like them. They are amazing.

What is your most treasured possession?

My iPod. What is your most marked characteristic?

My smile. Can't keep it hidden for long.

Where would you most like to live?

Kuwait always and forever. Maybe travel, but live!!!!

Would not swap it for heaven.

Sheikha Intisar with the original Alnowair team at their opening event “The Bloom.” (March 20, 2013)

What are your favorite words to live by?

Love, Hug, Smile, Make someone happy.

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SOLAR IMPULSE - 2

A historic around the world attempt by bazaar staff

Solar powered aircraft Solar Impulse-2 took off from Abu Dhabi, heading to Muscat, Oman on March 9th 2015. After flying for 12 hours, Swiss Pilots Andre Borschbeg and Bertrand Piccard landed the aircraft safely in Muscat, Oman at 7:20pm Kuwait time, having taken off at 7:12am Kuwait time. During the flight, the team covered a distance of around 400KM. While many might consider this as a natural progression in the rapidly changing world of highly advanced, solar powered initiatives and pilot projects, we think that this is indeed, a historic feat.

Over the next five months, the pilots will fly the plane from continent to continent, crossing both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Having prepared themselves using flight simulators, they will stop at various locations along the way to rest and to perform maintenance on the aircraft. They are also utilizing the epic journey to promote a project that they themselves initiated called ‘future is clean’; a campaign to send a message to the world's governments to use cleaner technologies, and reduce global energy consumption.

Solar power is predicted to become one of the main sources of electricity across the world by 2050. We can already see evidence of the rapid growth of solar power, in countries like the USA, where solar jobs outnumber coal jobs. In the UK, solar experts believe that they can compete with wind-generated energy within 18-20 months, and even gas in the ‘near future.’ Since their initial introduction to domestic use, solar electric panel prices continue to drop as they gain popularity and are expected to continue to reduce in cost.

Of course, there is a dedicated support team behind the two brave pilots. The operation will be carried out from a control room in Monaco, with a team of engineers following the aircraft around the world with them. With such a huge challenge come some tricky and difficult circumstances.

During the maiden flight, the team covered a distance of around 400KM, which means that they were traveling at an average of 30-35KM per hour. Because of these slow speeds, some sections of their journey will take several days and nights of constant flying to complete. The two pilots will not be able to sleep properly, and only be allowed to take 20 minute naps to ensure they are both alert enough and at hand to control the aircraft. Besides which, the space that they share during their time in the craft is less than 4 square meters and has just ONE seat (with a built in toilet)…barely enough to sit or stand in one position.

Flying continuously for 2 or 3 days or more at a time, also requires them to fly during the night. On a solar craft, one might wonder, how can that work without sunlight? The enormous 72 meter wings of the plane carry 17,000 solar cells which, as well 42

as power the plane during sunlight hours, charge the aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries that will store energy, and disperse it during the night to sustain travel under darkness. The success of crossing the oceans is largely dependent upon the team being lucky with the right weather. They will need to look at the weather forecasts ahead of time, in order to wait for the perfect conditions and plan these sections of the journey…which means they could be on the ground for days, or weeks, until the ideal window of opportunity comes along. And should they encounter problems with the aircraft while traveling over oceans, they have on board survival gear so that they can eject and wait for help to arrive.

The mission ahead is full of challenges

and planning, and heavily relies upon the right circumstances. However, with the sheer amount of passion and dedication that these two pioneers have, not to mention the professionalism and skills of the team behind them, the future looks extremely bright and a huge step forward to ensure a greener world for all of us.

We wish them the very best of luck and look forward to watching the next legs of the tour unfold.

To learn more, join up, or contribute to the Future Is Clean initiative, go to www.futureisclean.org. If you would like to keep up with the latest from the solar impulse team, as well as see stats about the aircraft, follow the journey and see pictures of the mission, go to www.solarimpulse.com.

HARVEY NICHOLS 1

bazaar love/hate

WEEKEND GETAWAYS by bazaar staff

One of the best things about living in Kuwait is the centrality of the location. People seem to be more travel-happy here than most other places in the world. Perhaps it is because the country is small, perhaps because it is affluent and we all have extra money pouring out of our pockets – not me though, I spent all mine on my last trip!

Whatever the reason, the Kuwait airport sees a ridiculous amount of weekend traffic as we jaunt off every chance we get. So here they are, your top 5 conflicts to the ubiquitous weekend getaway. #5 The Hectic Thursday – You’re running around like a mad person to get home after work so you can pack and get to your late night flight. The world is conspiring against you. There is traffic. Your parking spot is stolen. You left your passport at the office.

It could be a million different things, and generally, it is. Before you know it, what was supposed to be a twenty-minute drive to the airport has taken that long just to get out of your neighborhood! It is sweet relief when you are finally on the flight, but everything until then is madness.

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#4 Last minute security hold – This is a uniqueto-Kuwait thing, but lets say you’ve done your due diligence, you have managed to do everything that you are supposed to – except you forgot to check to make sure you paid those tickets you got for speeding down the 40 on your last airport run! You think everything is fine; you meet your friends at the airport, only to find that you have not been approved for travel. Nothing worse than seeing your friends off at the airport for a trip that you were supposed to go on too. (Oh, except for maybe watching them Instagram their adventures all weekend without you!). #3 The place itself – Let’s be honest, part of why we love vacation is to see different things, but if you only have a quick weekend, you are not likely to make it very far out of the region. You may just end up spending more money than you’d like just to travel somewhere you only sort of want to visit (or have already been several times). It’s great when it works out, but when it doesn’t, or worse, if you’ve already been to your favorite list of close vacations, you are just wasting money you could be spending

on the better vacation you should be holding out for. #2 Just as you start to relax…– At its best the weekend jaunt is exactly the quick respite you need in order to sustain you until your longer break.

You are dipping a toe in the relaxation pool of your eventual future – seeing which places might demand a revisit. Yet, it is hard to not hear the ever-present clock. From the moment you touchdown it says – Quick, soak it all in, you’ve only got 36 hours left.

It can be hard to relax with the incessant ticking of time heading by you. #1 The Sunday morning blues – The fleeting weekend never rings more loudly than when you are back at work Sunday morning. When the trip is still recent enough that you can still smell the wind wafting off the beach you just left…as it's muddled amongst the exhaust of your morning commute! The fall back down to reality is a hard one, plan accordingly!

Love/Hate is your guide to all of life’s little conundrums! Hopefully you are reading this whilst relaxing in the airport lounge waiting for your mini break to take off! Bon Voyage!

HARVEY NICHOLS 2

THE TREACHEROUS LIFE OF A

SEA TURTLE The risks these endangered animals face in Kuwait’s Gulf, and what you can do to help by bazaar staff

Her large paddle-like flippers hit the sand at the edge of the shore of Qaru. She had made the over 85-kilometer journey south from her feeding spot off the coast of Failaka, but the difficulties had just begun. It was easy for her to glide her body underwater, though she weighed more than 200 kgs. On the wet sand however, gravity took its toll.

Out of the water she emerged, at the speed one can only expect from a sea turtle out of water. With each step she grunted and moaned, but nothing 46

could stop her. The moon was rising behind her, and she needed to be done before the sun rose over the horizon. Finally, she reached the edge of the wet sand, away from the tide, and began to dig.

Her large hind flippers moved back and forth, sweeping away the dry sand. Soon she was encapsulated in brown waves on either side, until the hole was almost 50 centimeters deep. She stopped and began to lay her soft shell eggs, her grunts and heavy breathing only disturbed by the breaking waves behind her. With the last of her

110 eggs secured in the sand, she covered the clutch, and hid it from the predators that were sure to wander around the beach the next morning. It had been almost three hours when she once again felt the weightlessness of the ocean water, and left her young ones alone buried on the beach.

According to Yaarub Al-Yahya, Aquarium Curator in Kuwait’s The Scientific Center, watching a sea turtle laying her eggs is an incredible event.

“It’s a very tiring process for her,” he said. “You can hear her voice moaning when she is going up

Dalal nesting on Qaru by Mohammed Hamza

Hatchling by Terry Ross

One of the first tagged sea turtles and trying and trying, and heavy breathing when she is laying her eggs. She will not move even if you touch her. She came for a reason and she wants to finish it and go back to the sea.”

Sea turtles are one of the largest reptiles in the world, and are found in almost every ocean. In 2008 scientists studying an excavated rock from the Isle of Skye found that these majestic creatures roamed the earth with the dinosaurs more than 160 million years ago. Today only seven species of sea turtles exist, and five of them are in Kuwaiti

waters. All five species are either endangered, or critically endangered.

Currently the Green Turtle, marked by the green fat under its shell, and the Hawksbill Turtle, named after its hawk-like beak and found on the Kuwaiti half dinar monetary note, have the largest populations in Kuwait’s waters. Whilst the Loggerhead and Olive Ridley have been spotted, they are more rare in the Gulf. The scarcest of the species is the large Leatherback turtle. The Scientific Center and researchers from the Kuwait

Turtle Conservation Project have estimated that 30 Hawksbill and 20 Green turtles are currently nesting in Kuwait.

For people like Al-Yahya, saving a species that has been in Kuwait longer than its human inhabitants is a national duty to save the wildlife culture. However, increasing their numbers is extremely difficult.

“Few of them survive,” he said. “One hatchling per 1000 will make a full life cycle. That is a very small number for animal survival in nature. All of the sea turtles are classified as endangered species, and they need to be protected. Here in Kuwait their nesting sites must be protected. We should not allow people to be in the islands around their nesting season and during their hatching season.”

However, it isn’t easy. The young hatchlings buried on the beach emerged almost two months later, in the dead of the night. More than 100 tiny turtles raced to make their way across the wet sand into the water. With their sight not yet fully developed, they’re only guide was the light, which they used to gauge the direction of the ocean by the bright moon above it and the white tips of the waves. A dozen of these young turtles mistook the artificial light in a building inland, and headed in the wrong direction. Those that oriented themselves properly crawled across the sand, faster than their mother did, but for some it wasn’t fast enough.

When the day broke the sand beneath their flippers heated up, and slowed them down. Birds flew over them, and swooped down to pluck them off the beach for breakfast. Crabs crept out of the sand and grabbed the smaller of the hatchlings.

It was almost impossible for the young turtles to make it to the water in the light of day.

Those that made it into the Arabian Gulf caught the current out to sea and began the swimming frenzy that lasted several days and got them away from the shore where predator populations were much higher. Sharks close to the shore ate some, while others got caught in fishing traps once they were further out. Still others couldn’t find food, and starved to death. One young hatchling found refuge in beds of seaweed. She rode currents to stay out in the ocean and away from the predators. At the end of the first year she returned to the coastal areas for small shrimp and other forms of protein, and became the first of her mother’s last 10 clutches to survive to the juvenile stage 10 years later.

When The Scientific Center opened in Kuwait back in April of 2000, they had the simple goal of making science accessible to all people. Naturally, sea turtles became an integral part of their research and work. Since then, they have been overwhelmed with the number of turtles people have brought in to the center.

“I asked them why do you bring these animals to the Scientific Center?” Al-Yahya told bazaar.

“They said, we saw them in your tank and we know you will take good care of them.”

Last year alone, the center released eight turtles back into the wild, which is approximately 10% of the current sea turtle population in Kuwait. These numbers reflect the [continued...]

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[...continued] animals that had been injured, and needed assistance. Some had damaged shells and others suffered from cuts on their mouths from fishing snares. Each animal was treated, and marked with a satellite-tracking device before its release.

According to Al-Yahya, many turtles brought to The Scientific Center are perfectly healthy. Citizens with good intentions who find them in the water believe they are in danger, and bring them in, something he strongly advises against.

“If the turtle is, for example, caught in a fishing trap and it’s healthy, just take it out and release it back. Don’t bring it to us. Don’t take it out of its natural habitat. Because at the end we will be taking that turtle back. That is our role.”

The sad truth is that much of these majestic creature’s threats come from our overpopulation encroaching on their eating grounds and nesting sites. Artificial lights on beaches misdirect the hatchlings. According to a study titled, Green Turtles, Chelonia mydas, in Kuwait: Nesting and Movements many are caught in the coastal fishing trap that is used mostly around Failaka Island, a popular foraging site for the endangered animals.

According to environmentalist Bashar Al Huneidi, founder of Kayak4Kuwait, fishermen threaten much of the marine life. “A lot of the time, fishermen take large amounts of fishing trolleys out in the sea and use it to capture as many fish as they possibly could. When forgotten, or lost, fish and other sea creatures get caught in them and are left to die.”

Bashar even calls these nets ‘weapons of mass destruction’, as the unregulated trolleys, that are different from the harmful metal cages, Gargoor, gather everything at the bottom of the seabed without discrimination, and destroy entire ecosystems in the process. It is common that the fishermen either forget where these nets were placed, or they become lost or deteriorate due to a lack of maintenance on the part of the fishermen.

The endangered sea turtles can find themselves caught in one such net while foraging for food at the seabed. On the surface they can find themselves in a collision with an unsuspecting boat or Jet Ski, caught in the snare of a fishing hook or asphyxiated when confusing trash for food.

Even a small plastic sandwich bag can be fatal for these endangered creatures.

“That plastic bag in the sea, for the turtle, looks like a jelly fish,” Al-Yahya warned. “That turtle will go and eat it, and once it eats it the bag will block its system. It will starve and it will die. It’s something we don’t think about, something very small that could kill it."

Decades after our little hatchling crawled out of her clutch and into the seabed, she returned to the same shore. She has managed to dodge predators, human waste and dangerous traps. It is now her turn to make the difficult journey to the dry sand her mother made so long ago.

For more information about The Scientific Center and their work with the sea turtles please visit www.tsck.org.kw. You can follow them on Facebook: tsckuwait or on Twitter @scicenterkw.

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Yaarub Al-Yahya, Aquarium Curator in Kuwait’s The Scientific Center,

Turtle named Sheikha Intisar released into the wild by Kuwait Dive Team

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MAIDAN

N CLINIC

SHATTERING THE INTERN STEREOTYPE

How 38 days working for bazaar restored my faith in the journalism industry and the people of Kuwait

by Lili Barras-Hargan

On November 24, I walked out of my last exam with a somewhat nervous spring in my step. My first year of university absolutely flew by. From the tedious early morning lectures (or ‘dawnies’) to the thrill of seeing a laboriously-written article in black and white, 2014 was an excellent year to begin my foray into the working world of journalism. I could not wait to take the next step towards the career of my dreams.

While Skyping my mother a few weeks before my arrival to Kuwait, she encouraged me to apply for a job, worried that I would get bored during my 11-week holiday. With a measly year’s worth of journalism experience under my belt, I decided that an internship with a publication in Kuwait would be the perfect ‘filler’. I remembered the times that I sat in Starbucks and how I would while away the hours flipping through the free, glossy publication bazaar. On a whim, and to keep my parents happy, I decided to research the magazine and apply for an internship. Clicking ‘send’ and watching my longwinded email and CV whoosh off into cyberspace, I felt like I was applying for my first job.

A few days later I received a welcoming and enthusiastic response from the Operations Manager of the publication, and I started to get excited. Although I considered myself a die-hard news writer, I had heard of the importance of a versatile journalist in the ever-shrinking career pool and decided that some experience in magazine writing would not do any harm.

Inevitably, as my first day loomed, friends and family joked about the ‘coffee internship’ I was about to embark on. The heavily practical journalism course I was enrolled in and the numerous campus newspapers available to student writers gave me a taste of what it meant to be a working journalist.

The idea of making coffee whilst other people went on assignment or wrote articles made me uneasy and I simply hoped that I would have a chance to contribute some of my work.

I made my way to the office for the first time with no idea what it looked like or who my colleagues would be. Upon arriving, all of my fears were refuted. The office consisted of less than 10 people, all of whom were warm and friendly. I was quickly introduced to the team and shown to the only empty desk in the office. I came prepared with a couple of story ideas and was soon sending through my complete articles and anxiously watching them pass through the editing process.

In my application, I had mentioned that I had some prior knowledge of online writing and editing.

However, this was based on a mere 3-week course I came across at university and my coding skills were below par. After a week of uploading bazaar’s older content onto the soon-to-be-launched website, I started to get a grasp of Wordpress and was embedding photos and videos into articles.

52

The way an article could be brought to life on an online platform was astounding. I began to write articles specifically for online content and found that it came with a certain flexibility. I provided readers with additional links to other articles and even Soundcloud tracks to listen to as they read my article. I was able to practice the kind of journalism I loved interacting with and it inspired my decision to start a blog.

When I found out I would be writing a food review, I was ecstatic. I had read other reviews and the process sounded like a dream come true: eat delicious food, take in the surroundings and write.

Although I initially struggled to inject enough of bazaar's voice into my writing, I was soon capturing the essence of eating at the restaurant and successfully conveyed it!

By far my favorite memory was when we

started working on the Mubarakiya feature for the February issue. I was able to go on assignment with the majority of the office and see the area in a completely different light. I built on my previously non-existent photography skills in the vibrant and captivating Souq and learnt so much about Mubarakiya. I realized its significance in the daily lives of the people of Kuwait.

Leaving Kuwait to start my second year of university was more difficult than expected, not only because I knew I would miss my parents and brothers in the year that we are apart, but also because I knew my times with the bazaar family that I was so fortunate to be a part of, were over.

I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with some very gifted and passionate people and witness the inner workings of Kuwait’s response to top caliber journalism. And I didn’t make one coffee!

GIVENCHY

54

THE

inside/out

AFTERTHOUGHT by bazaar staff

We first ran into The Afterthought at the Taste of Q8 Food Festival and were so impressed with their sound that we knew we had to feature them. After a small amount of stalking we were finally able to convince them to sit down for an interview about the band and their musical influences. The Afterthought is an acoustic/rock group that has been playing together since 1997. The group’s core members are Bassam “Buzz” Shuhaibar and Zakariya “Zak” Musawi, but the rolling cast of musicians that have lent their talents to the cause over the years is part of the charm of this act. The Afterthought has performed at a number of local and international venues, and has made several appearances on national TV and radio stations.

They have produced a number of original tracks and also do covers. Though Buzz and Zak are the musical nucleus, the current line-up also includes 28-year-old bassist Husain (Max) who joined as a permanent member in 2013, 25-year-old lead guitarist Hashim and 22-year-old drummer Aziz. We sit down with Buzz and Zak to see what makes them tick.

How did you first get into music?

Buzz: Both my parents love listening to music, so it seems like my life has had a soundtrack as far back as I can remember. I was exposed to everything from The Beatles to Julio Iglesias, mainly from the back seat of their car. I was always into drama growing up as well. Those 2 factors got the ball rolling until I was around 12 when one of my oldest friends started to learn the guitar. I would sing along to anything he could play. We ended up writing our first song a couple of years later, and the rest is history.

Zak: Similarly, I grew up in a household that loved music and loved to enjoy life. I was exposed to all kinds of music when I was young. As far as I can remember, my dad and mom would be blasting ABBA then Michael Jackson and Madonna. My love for Rock N Roll I guess came later.

How long have you been playing?

Buzz: I have been singing since I was 12. I joined my first band in high school, which is where I first met Zak. A few years and another band later, we hooked up during the summer of 1997, and never looked back.

Zak: I picked up the guitar at age 14. I did dabble in piano keyboards before that too. Soon after that, I joined that high school band with Buzz.

What/Who inspires your music and why?

Buzz: I draw my inspiration from rock music, especially from the Grunge era. I am a huge fan of Pearl Jam, whose front man Eddie Vedder inspires me both through his style of lyrics as well as his vocal prowess. Bono from U2 is another… his lyrics could be standalone poetry.

Zak: I was an 80's kid. The Glam Rock Era was where I found myself...and in particular, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and other melodic rock bands. I was at an age where I was finding myself still...and that Rock music summed up how I feel inside, loud, rebellious, yet undeniably catchy.

How did you get into your style of music specifically?

Buzz: Early on I really loved listening to and singing 60’s music, especially the Beatles. I was also into a lot of RnB/Hip-Hop for the early part of the 90’s. In 1994, someone lent me a copy of Ten, Pearl Jam’s first album, and I was hooked from the opening track. It may have taken me a good 4 years or so to get on the grunge bandwagon, but once I was on there was no going back.

While in our high school band we jammed to a lot of GnR, then my next band was heavily grungecentric. By the time I met Zak, we may as well have been called Pearl Jovi. We also shared a passion for acoustic rock, which we have carried with us to the present day. My early love for RnB and Motown also influenced the heavy harmonies you can hear on most of the songs we write.

Zak: As I said...I was listening to Rock Anthems like "Livin' On A Prayer", "You Give Love A Bad Name" and "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and all I can think about is: "I wanna play that!!"

Meeting other musicians with different influences definitely expanded my horizons further, and that's when I met Buzz and got introduced to this 'new' genre of Rock...Grunge...and loved it!

Tell us about any recordings you have done?

Buzz: We have recorded a lot of stuff over the years, some professionally, and others using our constantly evolving home studios. You can hear some of them on our Facebook page. We are currently working on an EP that we hope to have finished by the summer. It’s quite similar to stuff we’ve done before, a mixture of rock and ballads. We have drawn from our entire [continued...]

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[...continued] spectrum of work, from the old (“All I Want;” “I Try to Understand”) to the new (“Belong;” “Poison (Poisout)”).

How much would you say of your set is covers, vs. your own songs and which do you prefer?

Buzz: At the moment, the sets we do live are predominantly covers, with a split of around 80/20. The covers we do are songs we really like, so they are very enjoyable to perform. Having said that, there is a real rush you get when sitting with an audience who sing along to the lyrics you’ve written…it’s a surreal feeling.

How has the Middle Eastern world reacted to your music?

Buzz: The feedback we have gotten after various gigs we have played here and in Lebanon have been really positive and encouraging so far.

We are still growing as a band, and we hope to expand our horizons to other countries in the region like Bahrain and UAE, and eventually farther afield. The thing I have always found fascinating is that our music doesn’t appeal to one single group or demographic; I have been approached by all sorts of people who tell me they loved what they've heard, and why aren’t we doing this for a living?

That never ceases to amaze me.

What is your dream for your music / what would you like to accomplish in the future?

Buzz: I would love for the EP to become an 56

LP that will be the platform from which we can launch a career, with recognition that transcends the region and beyond. I would also really like to go on tour to promote it, even though these days it works in the opposite direction: you hope the music gets enough props to support the tour!

Ultimately, I hope our music inspires more Kuwaiti musicians to tap into their talent to shatter taboos and build bridges of creativity. It is my sincere opinion that music is the only true universal language: some may argue mathematics is, but the representation of numbers and symbols differs between countries and cultures. When it comes to music, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in New Zealand or Zimbabwe, a musical note on a piece of sheet music always ends up meaning the same thing on whatever instrument is being played. This is a language that I hope every Kuwaiti learns to speak.

Zak: I love performing LIVE. And around here, it's a dying art. I would love to play more concerts, see more live shows with real musicians. Put on LIVE show spectacles as they do in the US, UK and now even UAE. What is your favorite gig you have ever played?

Buzz: You never forget your first! Beirut, Lebanon in 2002. We played this lounge in Mono called “Chill Out” which was our first paid gig as a band. The energy was crazy electric, and the crowd

was awesome. Up until that point we had only played at friends’ houses and a few open mics.

That was a great gig.

What do you see next for the band, and for music in Kuwait?

Buzz: I am a firm believer that, when putting a full band together, five is the magic number. It’s awesome that, even though Zak and I have been the band’s common denominator over the years, the pool of Kuwaiti musical talent to choose from keeps getting bigger and better, with almost limitless potential and possibilities. Take the current band members, for example. Hashim plays with other local bands and has his own projects; Husain (Max) has played bass with several other bands and Aziz is a multi-talented musician who plays drums, guitar and bass, and whose day job is spent composing music for a local TV network.

We are blessed to be surrounded by homegrown musicians in every sense of the word, especially those who can showcase our local talent in such an impactful (and hopefully inspirational) way.

You can find The Afterthought on Facebook: theAfterthoughtrox or on Twitter and Instagram @afterthoughtrox. You can also go to their website www.theafterthought.rocks.

Inside Out is your guide to what is new in Kuwait music.

ORIGEM

by bazaar staff

H&M’s new Conscious Exclusive collection shows what can be done with more sustainable materials, using fabrics such as hemp, organic linen and organic leather to create pieces of great individual style.

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This year’s Conscious Exclusive collection takes inspiration from around the planet, with a focus on the versatility of the dress. An organic linen and silk sleeveless gown with a glamorous shape is printed with hand-drawn images of birds. A black cocktail dress is made from Tencel and recycled wool, with an African influence in its embellished rows of recycled sequins.

Meanwhile, a sleeveless cocktail dress has a print inspired by Japanese ink, and is made from organic hemp, organic silk and organic cotton. The collection, worn exclusively by actress and humanitarian Olivia Wilde in the campaign, will be available in around 200 H&M stores worldwide, as well as online, from April 16.

Each piece in the collection is special, whether it’s the bomber jacket made from a Tencel jacquard – which is like the reverse of a jacquard, with threads intentionally left loose – or the organic silk tuxedo blazer that is slashed to the elbow to create a dramatic effect.

The use of more sustainable materials is varied and comprehensive, from the recycled beads on a flapper dress, to the organic leather used for a minimalist leather jacket and the stackheeled sandals.

“I love the Conscious Exclusive collection at H&M, both for the look, and also for its ethics.

This is how all fashion should be: great style that’s naturally more sustainable,” says Olivia Wilde.

“I love the global influences in this Conscious Exclusive collection and the beauty of the handdrawn prints made by one of our talented in-house designers. And Olivia Wilde is the perfect choice for this collection, sharing with H&M a commitment to a more sustainable future,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor H&M. Dresses and handcrafted prints are at the heart of the new Conscious Exclusive collection for Spring 2015, with each edgy and elegant look made from

more sustainable materials. Global influences are felt throughout the individual pieces, from Japanese draping to African embellishment, each given a fashion twist. New to Conscious Exclusive are recycled sequins and beads, making the collection more sustainable than ever. The collection will be available in around 200 H&M stores worldwide on April 16, as well as online.

“I love the diversity of ideas in the new Conscious Exclusive collection. Each piece has its individual elegance, and the prints are exceptional,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s Head of Design for New Development.

The H&M Conscious Exclusive collection will be available on April 16th, 2015 at The Avenues 1st Phase, Grand Avenue – The Avenues, & Marina Mall. For more information, visit www.hm.com/kw and check out #HMConsciousExclusive online for the latest updates!

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JUMEIRAH’S FUTURE HOTELIERS

Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa lends a helping hand to LOYAC by bazaar staff

Mohammed Al Bloushi

Hanan Al Shahetawy

Alya Al Shahetawy

Mohammed Al Randi

For the longest time, the local workforce has sidelined the hotel industry in Kuwait. Young Kuwaitis don’t usually pursue a career as an hotelier, until recently. There are many facets to the hotel industry that make a career choice in this path an always-challenging one. A Hotel’s atmosphere is always bustling, with new guests, new challenges and new opportunities. Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa has taken the initiative of assisting young students in the collegiate, university and institute levels gain valuable professional experience during their spare time. By providing on-the-job training internships, the hotel helps in developing students’ future careers and building their self-confidence in the work place. [continued....]

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SAFAT HOME

Jumeirah Public Relations and Marketing Department Earlier this year, The Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa partnered up with LOYAC, a nonprofit organization working towards the overall development and personal growth of the youth of age 6 – 28 years, by providing four students with a life changing opportunity. From the 11th of January and up until the 11th of March, the four students took up internship positions throughout the hotel, from the Front Office, PR & Marketing department, Conference & Events department to the Sinbad’s Kids Club.

The overall objectives of the internship program are to provide short-term work experiences with emphasis on hands-on learning, create challenging learning environment for the students, and motivate them while giving constructive feedback.

To compile the same, Jumeirah Messilah Beach prepared a full training plan for the interns that included the competencies to be learned, the colleagues who will train them, and the timeframe with a full comprehensive orientation session.

After a carefully planned out role allocation process with the Hotel’s Human Resources department, 18-year-old Alya Al Shahetawy found herself most compelled to take on a role at the hotel’s Front Office. Alya loved the idea of meeting new guests, handling the check-in and check-out processes, responding to their general inquiring as well as offering her knowledge about the hotel’s facilities and services. She said, “I loved being 62

able to communicate with the hotel’s guests, I really benefited from this hands-on experience.”

While Alya was initially challenged by the fact that she was constantly interacting with different people at all times, she loved that she was able to communicate the hotel’s principles of service in Arabic to the country’s local and regional guests.

This showcased the hotel’s special relationship with the local community, as most people regard the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa as a cultural landmark as well as a bespoke resort.

Alya definitely recommends this experience to her colleagues, and believes that she would want to pursue a career in the hospitality industry because the position offers a fun environment with different daily experiences.

As for Mohammed Al Bloushi, he opted to spend time and learn more about Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa’s Sales and Marketing division. He dove right into conducting weekly marketing reports, assisting in the development and implementation of the hotel’s social media content as well as participating in the hotel’s marketing campaign plans and photoshoot requests. Mohammed always wanted to learn more about marketing, especially how to better promote different venues and hotel ballrooms. He said, “It was really special to learn more about how to promote a hotel, how to use its website systems, create marketing reports as well as adapting the

hotel’s planning mindset in scheduling the weekly social media content.” Mohammed’s favorite part of the entire experience was learning to work with a team, as he appreciated the vibe and spirit of teamwork. He added, “When we worked on the National and Liberation Day video campaign for the hotel, we released 300 balloons in the country’s flag colors in the hotel’s main garden and filmed the entire process from above. It was beautiful!” We finally asked Mohammed about why he would want to become a future hotelier, and his enthusiastic response said it all. “I like that I would always have something new to do. From a promotional campaign, to a branding advertisement, there’s never a dull moment!”

At the hotel’s Sinbad Kid’s Club, 22-year-old Hanan Al Shahetawy found herself. She loved working with parents and their children, showcasing the facility to the guests and organizing as well as participating in the kids’ activities. Hanan was especially fond of the storytelling activity at the club. Always an avid communicator, she honed her skills even further, especially when it came to dealing with a disgruntled child or parent. She said, “What I loved the most about the entire process is befriending the guests. I really recommend to my other Kuwaiti friends to get out of their comfort zone and experience this new type of work.”

Mohammed Al Randi was assigned to the hotel’s Conference & Events department [continued...]

CELIO

Stella Daskalakis, Director of Human Resources [...continued] and was responsible for welcoming and showing guests around the property, upselling meeting and wedding packages, handling phone inquiries regarding events, and booking events for guests.

During the two-month internship program period, each of the four interns completed 120 working hours, with flexibility according to their study schedules. The hotel, upon completion of the required number of hours, then compensated the interns. “What LOYAC has started and established in Kuwait is truly admirable and commendable,” said Hakan Petek, General Manager of the hotel.

“By providing the youth in Kuwait with opportunities for personal growth, the chance to experience the joy of service and to develop their professional skills, this program will surely help them find their sense of purpose. “As an integral part of the large community in Kuwait, we strongly believe in supporting such noble and worthy endeavors that help develop the youth into better members of society,” he added. “Therefore, we look forward 64

to further collaborating with them under a similar program in the future.”

For Stella Daskalakis, Director of Human Resources at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa and Tarek Lutfi, Human Resources Manager, working with the four interns and helping them find a role that suited their different personalities was their first priority. Daskalakis said, “This is the first time that we’ve had LOYAC interns at the hotel, and we wanted to make sure that they leave us with a changed perspective about the hotel and hospitality industry in Kuwait. While the hotel and hospitality industry is not usually seen as a viable career for Kuwaitis, this opportunity with LOYAC allowed us to dispel some of these ideals. We made sure that our interns were challenged and inspired, and in return we were impressed by their wonderful attitude and willingness to work in the different departments, and taking on challenging roles and responsibilities.” Stella further highlighted the importance of encouraging the local workforce,

as this is an important priority for the prestigious hospitality group. She said, “Jumeirah Group is focused on improving the lives of the communities in which the hotels operate, and our partnership with LOYAC for this project allowed us to prove that this is a career industry that is always challenging and inspiring. Also, given that our guests are mainly Kuwaiti, having the LOYAC interns on board gave us additional insight into their minds of, how we service them here at the hotel and how we can better meet and exceed their expectations. With the presence of a well educated and well trained local workforce, the hotel experience becomes even more positive for the hotel’s local patrons.”

The Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa is located in Messilah, Al Ta’awun Street, Block 7, Building 13.

For more information, please call 2226 9600 or visit Jumeirah.com. Follow their latest updates on Instagram @JumeirahMessilahBeach, Twitter @JumeirahMB and Facebook.com/JumeirahMessilahBeach.

ECCO

TM

C O O L

F R O M

E V E R Y

A N G L E

RED BULL

EPIC EVENTS OF

NATURE

by Ramy Shaalan | Photography: Waleed Shaalan

FATHER AND SON TEAM, WALEED AND RAMY SHAALAN, EXPERIENCE TANZANIA’S GREAT MIGRATION

When we first caught up with father and son team, Waleed and Ramy Shaalan, to learn more about their recent excursion to Tanzania, they started off our discussion with one shared sentence. ‘It was the trip of a lifetime’, they said. For renowned local architect, artist and creative Waleed Shaalan, surprising his 12-year-old son Ramy with a lifechanging trip to the wilds of Tanzania and the great Serengeti was simply the start of even greater realizations. Little did they know, however, that both of their perspectives would be altered. For Ramy, it was a coming-of-age experience.

For Waleed, it was a re-calibration of perspectives. They both learned so much from one another, proving that going back to nature and experiencing Earth in all of its pure glory, is indeed a life-changing experience.

In the span of one week, they embarked on an odyssey-like adventure in Tanzania’s riveting Serengeti National Park, following the migration of more than one million wildebeests that takes these majestic creatures to greener pastures as they follow the moving rainfalls. The migration powerfully illustrates the circle of life, as many wildebeests and other creatures fall prey to more masterful attackers. Both Waleed and Ramy photographed, drew, wrote, and conducted interviews with Tanzania’s indigenous Maasai, enjoying moving conversations about the cycles of life and death that are so evident in nature.

Not only did they see the big five – the African lion, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros, they also managed to sight wild cats, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, gazelles, vultures, warthogs and of course, the iconic wildebeest. Read on to experience Ramy’s African adventure as he chronicled his way through the Serengeti. [continued...]

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DAY ONE:

WE ARE GOING TO TANZANIA?!

“These red bananas are amazing!”

Around 15-18 hours earlier at Kuwait Airport, heading for “Oman”: Dad: “Ramy, get your camera and film this, it is something important.”

Me: “Ugh… Fine…”

(Video Starts) “Ramy, I have something very important to tell you.”

“What?”

“We have a change of plans.”

“What?” I looked at him with suspicion.

“We’re not going to Oman.”

“I knew it,” I said with confusion.

“Do you know where we are going?”

“Where?”

“We are going to witness one of the most epic events of nature, the migration of 1.5 (million) wildebeest from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Kenya, we are now flying out to Addis Ababa…”

“What?!” I screamed.

“And we are going to Kilimanjaro, here is the ticket, we are going to go to Tanzania.”

I was literally in shock. For the past 3 weeks he said we were going to Oman.

“Are you excited?”

I was in too much shock to answer.

“We are going to Tanzania!” he said.

“What!?”

If only you could see my face!

“Now I know why you lied to the doctor!”

I was in tears. Can you imagine someone telling you that you are going to camp in Oman, but 3 weeks later, after you told all your friends and family, at the airport, (emphasis on the AIRPORT), that you were going on a safari in Tanzania, Africa? Where the great Serengeti Savannah is situated!

Where Mt. Kilimanjaro towers high above the land! The Eden of Africa! We are going to Tanzania!

Amazed, tired, excited, and in shock, we head to check in our bags. I left my GoPro in my bag, which we checked in.

Bad mistake. I sucked it up and we boarded the plane. We asked for a window seat, and we got one, except without the window. Also, for some reason, the whole plane ride, I kept on hearing random national anthems in my head, and I kept on asking my dad if he was hearing them too, but, it turns out I was hallucinating. Hmmm…

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DAY TWO:

WHAT A DRIVE. After four hours of sleeping in weird positions, we landed in Addis Ababa Bole Airport and sat down in a small café. I got a small bracelet that says ETHIOPIA and while nothing exciting happened, I still couldn’t believe I was there, and we boarded the plane to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

This time, we finally got a window seat with a window!

Around 12:00 noon, somewhere over Africa:

All I am thinking is, wow, Africa is beautiful.

The puffy white clouds, the Egyptian and Lebanese national anthems ringing in my ears, my dad watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the great food… All was good. All was good.

I look outside the window and we are over Tanzania, I can see what looks like a caldera and Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was so breathtakingly beautiful. The metal rooftops of the houses reflected light which made it look like a giant accidently spilled large amounts of glitter over Tanzania while trying to complete his art project. Three words: It was shiny.

Right before we began to land, all I though about was how I was on that plane, looking out, staring at Mt. Kilimanjaro, getting ready to land in Tanzania. If my dad had never tried, and if I never got good grades, we wouldn’t have gone. If my dad didn’t work hard at his job, we wouldn’t have gone. The main factor of success and enjoyment is working, trying and doing your best. I always say, “It’s not that you can’t, it is that you believe you can’t, so believe you can.” The funny thing is that this quote cannot get any truer, and if you don’t believe me, try it out. I am not saying that if you believe you can ace an exam without studying or trying, it will actually happen.

Because it won’t. You have to try. It is like trying to bake a cake without actually having anything to cook with. It’s not going to happen.

Now enough of that, let’s cut to the chase.

We arrived at the surprisingly tiny airport in Kilimanjaro.

The plane parked a mere 40m from the airport’s entrance.

The thing that gave me a bit of the chills were the Ebola warnings and the fact that we had to pass the screenings.

We had to fill out our papers and we got our bags and met David, the tour guide. We got in the Land Rover that had two plugs, very comfy seats and a very stubborn window. We headed out to the first lodge in Karatu and on the way we bought some red bananas which brings me back to the first sentence of this article. Those bananas were really good!

We saw some baboons on the street and we drove a long 3-hour drive where we learned a bit about the tribes people there, about the geography of the land and much, much more. We arrived to the first hotel and I jumped in the pool and then we went to bed. I couldn’t sleep. At all. [continued...]

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DAY THREE:

DANCING WITH THE MAASAI. We woke up and we packed our bags and continued onwards. We ate breakfast and David took us to Ngorongoro, where I got some “Tanzanite” stone for 36,000 shillings. Turns out it was the worst possible quality of rough Tanzanite, pretty much worth very little. It’s better than nothing, as this precious gem symbolizes good luck. We head out to view the crater from above and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on.

We continued our drive to the Serengeti National Park and on the way we went to a Maasai village.

The village was called Ellerai. The Maasai people are tribesmen and women who live in Tanzania and some parts of Kenya. In total, there are about 50,000 Maasai people in Tanzania who try as hard as possible to keep to their traditions of the past.

One of these traditions is the boy’s transformation from a child to a man. They paint their face white to let everyone know that they are becoming men. A kid, between the ages of 12-16, will be circumcised and heaved into the wilderness to live for weeks, risking infection, attack and disease. An elected elder must carry out the circumcision, and if it’s done in a hospital, the child and parents will be punished. The little men live in huts called Emanyattas for the next 10 years, warding off lions, herding cattle, and starting their own villages. They are no longer kids. They are men. In the end, they get to have over 20 wives.

They showed us their dance, it was very interesting, and their voices were quite good. The women had their babies with them, wearing detailed and intricate works of jewelry made of beads and string. They all wore something called a Shokat, which is like a blanket with some patterns, just like a Scottish kilt, that they wrap around themselves.

After the dance, we walked into the village and they had another dance called “Laleyo” in which they show their jumping skills, and my dad and I also joined them. We walked around and they escorted us into one of their huts for an interview. He told us that the Maasai ate 3 meats – cow, sheep and goat. They take the cow, tie the cow’s neck and wait until a vein is clear, they stab it with their spear and collect the fresh, warm blood and mix it with fresh, unpasteurized milk.

Furthermore, the Maasai women build the huts with twigs, animal dung and mud. There are three rooms, the living room, kids’ room, and parents’

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room. The house is very tiny though, it is literally meant for sleeping and cooking. I am taller than the hut itself. The Maasai don’t need a big house because they walk for 60km a day. They are truly brave, they kill lions that attack their cattle with three stabs only using their spears.

We went on to see a little cute kid in a kindergarten learning the alphabet. They sang us a song and we even managed to record some footage of this wonderful experience. There has been an ongoing debate about the idea of the Maasai getting an education. Personally, I can see how both arguments are important. They do need to go to school because in the event of a crisis; financially or otherwise, they might get into some trouble, but some may disagree and say that they don’t need school because they have a perfect lifestyle that they have been following for thousands of years, and why should they break the tradition? What do you think?

We bought some souvenirs and left. We spotted some giraffes, an amazing surprise, and we got some good shots and continued to the Serengeti National Park.

It was a long drive, but we finally arrived. I kept on seeing mirages and it was quite weird at first.

We enter the start of the Serengeti and all we see is gazelles. Lots and lots of gazelles. Then we start to see the wildebeest and zebras (9 million of them in total) migrating from Kenya to Tanzania, following the rains. Wow, there were so many of them, you can’t even begin to comprehend how many. You can’t even try to count them. Everywhere you looked, they were there. We spotted some hyenas and ostriches. We spotted the heaviest flying birds in the animal kingdom, the Kory Bustard. It can weigh up to 30 KGS and is also served in feasts on very special occasions.

The view was breathtaking. On the way, we saw a very photogenic giraffe. I was very surprised because it even posed for us! Afterwards, we headed to the hot air balloon office to book for the next day, and after that we drove off into an Acacia forest. Acacia trees are my favorite trees; they truly paint a picture of Africa. We noticed that there was not much wildlife in the forest, except for some water buffalos. We drive past an alkaline lake filled with flamingoes. There is no life in the alkaline lake, so the flamingoes feed on algae called Spirulina. The alkaline lake smelled very bad, and I was informed that it was the algae that caused this rancid smell.

When we reached our camp, based in the Ndutu Conservation Area, I slept this time! My father spoke to me about the difference between fear and danger. He told me to be brave like the Maasai warriors, and understand that I can conquer fear and handle danger. We heard howling hyenas, and this surely inspired fear, but he made me laugh when he mentioned that the not-soinnocent mosquito poses the real threat here.

Apparently the female African mosquito has killed more humans than all animals, wars and natural disasters combined. We both opted to put on some more insect repellent spray, we each got into our netted beds and slept a deep, deep sleep. [continued...]

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DAY FOUR:

BALLOONS & MANGO JUICE.

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We woke up at around 5:00 a.m. to go start off our balloon safari. It turns out that they needed more people to balance the balloon, so our awesome guide David got to join us for free! As it turns out, it was David and I’s first ever trip on a hot air balloon, and it was a dream come true for all of us. The surprising thing was that the hot air balloon took off sideways, so we had to get in sideways, which was a fun experience.

The view was unbelievable. Trying to explain the experience is like trying to explain color to a blind person. It is such an amazing feeling, being suspended meters off the ground, flying at 15 knots, wind blowing softly on your face, the sun rising over the Serengeti Plains, while the animals run and survive. It makes you think.

Nature is amazing. What a way to wake up. We had a rough landing and the adults had some champagne and I had mango juice.

We left the landing site, located in the middle of the Serengeti, and headed back to the ticketing office and had some good breakfast. Behind us were some buffalos and over the hill were millions of wildebeest and zebras. After the tasty breakfast, we made our way back to Ndutu, and saw a majestic cheetah resting under a bush. Cheetahs are the fastest land animals in the world, and their favorite food is Thompson gazelles. Yum. These would make for some good burgers. After taking beautiful pictures of the cheetah, we head off.

We continued our safari journey that day to check out some kopjes (KOH-PEES). A Kopje is pretty much just a hill in a generally flat area, formed when leftover lava spews out from the ground and forms boulder-like structures, where big cats usually love to live. The first kopje we inspected had two young sleeping lions looking to start a new pride. We were quite lucky because in the beginning of the safari we saw lots of animals, but no lions! All tired out from excitement, we head back to our campsite.

DAY FIVE:

YOU ARE TOO OLD TO ATTACK.

We woke up that morning and outside the tent were some zebras grazing, and then we left Ndutu. Only 200 meters away from camp, we saw a pride of lions, which explains the grunting and roaring we kept hearing the night before. We drove off and saw even more lions. Some lazed around, some rested, and it was so shocking to me that this was a natural occurrence. We learned about these majestic creatures’ life habits, their mating rituals, and so much more.

As we continued through the dry Serengeti plains and we saw a dead hyena with its guts everywhere, it obviously suffered from a brutal attack. We also witnessed an entire family of elephants; they were so cute. The reason why we drove through the dry plains is to continue following the migration of the animals. We came by some zebras playfully kicking one another, and this reminded me of my friend who loved Muay Thai. We proceeded to find a herd of elephants, and they were blocking the road. The old male looked quite happy, but then he started to charge at us and we had to back away slowly. Since he was about 55 years old though, he couldn’t have reacted fast enough to actually crush us. It’s sad to say their biggest predators are humans. As my grandfather said, “Ivory looks better on a living elephant than off a dead one.”

We head to the last camp in the middle of the Serengeti, in the Acacia Woodlands, which was filled with Tsetse flies, and their bite stings like a bee. On the way we saw a huge herd of buffalo crossing the road, paused to admire the view, and continued on. [continued...]

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DAY SIX:

LUCK OF THE TANZANITE.

We woke up really early and my dad said, “We may see a lion attack today,” I say, yeah, right!

We head out into the darkness and we found hippos grazing and a pride of lions around dawn time.

We stuck with the pride for a little and there were many baby cubs, and then…

BOOM! A baby wildebeest runs through the pride, looking for her/his mother, and without hesitation, the cubs jump up and grab the baby wildebeest, strangle her and kills her. We were amazed. A-M-A-Z-E-D. David was also surprised, because he is a full time safari guide at Savannah Explorers, he worked there for 11 years and he saw one attack in his life… 8 years ago, and it wasn’t even successful. What we saw wasn’t just any lion attack, it was a cub attack! Baby lions learning to hunt! Unfortunately it happened too quickly to film, but we got some photos of this miraculous incident!

The circle of life unfolded, right in front of our eyes.

One life ended for a baby wildebeest, only to reinforce the strength of the growing cub. In a separate sighting, we saw a flailing lioness, after she suffered a boneshattering blow from a fleeting zebra. The zebra injured this lioness, and we saw her crawl under a rock. Her breathing slowed, and it was as if she was quietly accepting death. We’re not sure if a team of medics were able to rescue her in time, but I learned that even the mightiest animal could fall. It was amazing!

Around 10-30 minutes later, we spot yet another extremely rare animal, the leopard. It was walking slowly, under the bush, and then it climbed an Acacia tree and it lay there, relaxed, stalking the lions as they ate. The leopard was so close, and even David has never been this close to one in 11 years. Obviously neither my dad nor me have ever been close to a leopard or seen a lion attack live in action. I instantly thought of that Tanzanite that I brought from the market. 36,000 Shilling was worth it, and it brought us a lot of luck.

Lady Luck was surely on our side. As we continued on, we saw a blue velvet monkey; they are called as such because the males have blue testicle sacks. We even spotted an incredible 7-meter crocodile. To say that it was huge, was an understatement.

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As both Waleed and Ramy rushed back to the airport to make their flight, the father instantly noticed the end of his son’s childhood and the beginning of a new time. Waleed left Africa with a new-found enthusiasm, and a new goal. Both Waleed and Ramy decided that they would revisit Africa’s Kilimanjaro next time, and that they would start a three-year plan of physical fitness and mental strength. They will do this to celebrate Ramy’s 16th birthday on the top of Africa's highest summit: Kilimanjaro.

For more information, follow Waleed and Ramy Shaalan on Instagram, @WaleedSha3lan and @Ramyofficial.

CROCS

BOXIT.CO

Simple. Smart. Storage. by bazaar staff

It’s that time of year, when you dread that inevitable spring-cleaning task list. You arm yourself with gloves, boxes, and enough cleaning detergents to battle every hidden spot of dirt under all of that clutter. You strengthen your resolve, and negotiate with yourself to accept that things must be thrown out this spring. There’s no room in your cramped apartment to hang on to those novelty costumes you wore at last year’s Halloween office party, or that box of old jigsaw puzzles that you promised yourself you would complete last January. But, what if you don’t have to throw out these odd knick-knacks anymore? Spring clean by all means, but don’t quickly dismiss certain items that carry meaning or ideas you wish to revisit. Once you give in to reality, there’s no more room to dream!

The good people at Boxit.co will offer you the simple solution of ‘boxing’ it! Eight months ago, CoFounder and CEO of Boxit Premlal P.K faced a very similar conundrum. What if you simply don’t want to throw away certain items when you’re faced with the physical constrictions of modern-day life in Kuwait? With his strong background in logistics, Premlal set about to answer this question, and returned with the genius idea of digitizing the process of storage, versus the traditional model of storage lockers that have become extremely expensive these days, with Boxit.co.

This physical storage startup is certainly making big waves in the region. Alongside partner and Chairman Sabah Albader, Boxit.co is setting the standards in the storage industry with a smarter edge, allowing customers to take up a box of storage that is completely customizable, and accessed digitally at any time with the swipe of a screen or touch of a button.

The Kuwait-based physical storage startup also won 76

first place from Kuwait in the GCC Pitch Challenge organized by Startup Mena for the simple genius behind digitizing traditional storage solutions. In doing so, they've qualified for the mega final to be held in Abu Dhabi at the end of April.

The way it works couldn’t be simpler! All you need to do is to visit the website boxit.co, or download the app, register online, order your box. Upon placing your order, your pretty, sturdy blue box arrives for you to organize and manage according to your preference.

You can create a catalogue of the items that you store to correspond to your box’s name or label. This way, when the box is placed in storage by the good people at Boxit, rest assured that you can access and view the contents of this box lest you need something from it! Once you’re done, you can schedule a time for Boxit to come pick up the box and store it, and the same applies for when you wish to physically access the box in the future.

Sabah said, "We considered the notion of renting a storage locker to store our customers’ belongings, and thought of the very common situation where people tend to only take up a small volume of the room. So we thought about compartmentalizing this idea into a box, where many people could potentially share a space, but each person has their own personal space simultaneously." With Boxit, you pay per box, per month. That’s it. No hidden fees or costs, just the cost of KD 3 per box. You don't need to worry about anything except for your own box. This flexibility, along with the ability to create a virtual catalogue of your stored belongings and managing your boxed items via an app and website, makes Boxit stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Before pitching the idea to Sabah, Premlal worked

smartly. An avid proponent of the Lean Startup Approach, he consulted with the experts at Sirdab Lab to test out the idea before they widened their competitive research. While the idea was widely received, he searched and thought long and hard about the defining factor that would separate Boxit.co from the competition: digitizing and personalizing the complicated matter of storage and making it easy and accessible to the average user. Sabah added, “When I heard about the idea, I said yes, right there and then!”

Premlal explained to bazaar that customers would enjoy cataloguing and personalizing their virtual storage systems, because this is how we think nowadays. We couldn’t agree more. We’re Dropbox addicts, Evernote users, and we hashtag our everyday terms and think in ‘tags’ and store our files in a virtual cloud. When it comes to solving our home organizational and storage woes, why should the process be any different?

For Sabah, this startup endeavor is exhilarating.

“I feel like Boxit is completely different from anything I’ve worked on before. Premlal came up with something special. It’s happening right now, and the recognition we are earning for this simple idea proves that we are doing something right.”

Premlal concluded, “Having a partner and investor that understands the value of an idea, how scalable it could be, and taking a risk and embarking on a startup journey is no easy feat. I am lucky to be partnered up with Sabah!”

Stop hoarding, and Boxit today! Visit boxit.co to register and get your safe, flood/fire/theft proof box delivered to you today! Stay tuned to their latest updates by following them on Instagram @BoxItStorage.

‫ا ن ﻓـــــﻲ اﻟــــﻜــــــﻮﻳــــﺖ‬ ‫ﻓﻴﺴﺒﺎ ا ﻳﻄﺎﻟﻴﺔ اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪة‬ ‫اﺑﺘﺪاء ﻣﻦ ‪ 1100‬د‪.‬ك‬ ‫ً‬

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JAZZ ACROSS arabs abroad

THE SEAS

YAZZ AHMED REGALES KUWAIT WITH SOULFUL SOUNDS by bazaar staff

Yasmine Ahmed was just seven years old when she played her first note. The curious young woman was at a friend’s house, and was intrigued by the piano. Though she had never had a lesson in her life, and knew nothing about the instrument, she sat down and played, entranced by the sounds of each note as it emitted itself from the piano.

Two and a half decades later, she is known as Yazz Ahmed the rising star, according to Jazzwise and Time Out. She has played alongside major bands like Radiohead, These New Puritans and the Manic Street Preachers to name a few. Her music has been heard across seas in Europe, America, Mexico, Russia and Japan, and last month she came to Kuwait with her Quintet for a performance at the Museum of Modern Art. “I had never played to such an appreciative audience before!” she told bazaar. “After our performance at the Museum of Modern Art nearly every single audience member came up to us to say hello. My favorite feedback was from a friendly young lady who had very much enjoyed seeing a woman in charge, bossing the boys around!”

For this strong young Bahraini-British woman that moment encapsulates the ultimate reward for her work, and the love she puts into every note. Inspired by her grandfather, Terry Brown, a jazz musician from the 1950s who had played alongside the John Dankworth Seven, Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott, she has been dedicated to creating music that expresses her complex individuality. Though she plays many different types of music including rock, pop and reggae, it is the jazz that always brings her back to herself.

“I’ve always loved the freedom in jazz and the openness for selfexpression. Jazz can be a very individualistic type of music, allowing opportunities for the musicians to tell a story through improvising."

Her debut album, Finding My Way Home was released in August 2011. The compilation of original sounds and rhythms drew from her Bahraini heritage, is influenced by the likes of Miles Davis and showcases what London Jazz News calls “highly individual instrumental and compositional talent.”

She is now working on her second album, a further exploration of the sounds she developed for the first. It will feature her two bands, some duets with Lewis Wright, and a collaboration with Swedish guitarist, Samuel Hallkvist. We caught her during her hectic schedule between composing and performing to talk to the woman behind the music that has moved people around the world.

What is your favorite part of your job?

There are so many things that I love about my job as a musician and composer, so it’s quite difficult to pinpoint what it is that I enjoy the most. I love to use music as a vehicle for expression, a deeper way of communicating with an audience, and an escape from the mundane.

Music brings people together, overriding differences and prejudices that some people may have. It’s a way of bringing peace and that’s what I really enjoy. When audience members tell me that I’ve moved them in some way, or even inspired them, I feel like I’ve done my job.

What are you working on currently?

At the moment I’m writing a suite inspired by the melodies, lyrics and rhythms of the work songs of the Bahraini pearl divers and the wedding music of the female drumming groups of Bahrain.

These influences will be complimented by jazz harmony and improvisation, interwoven with elements of contemporary electronic sound design. I’m also working on my second album, which further explores my Arabic heritage. I’m really excited about both projects and

78

can’t wait to share the finished works.

What do you find most different about life inside and outside the Arab world?

Well, there are more opportunities in the UK for musicians, which is where I started playing the trumpet. However, music is becoming much more accepted and widespread in the Gulf and I hope to be a part of that journey by educating young people and adults about the importance of music, as well as inviting those who would never normally see a live concert to experience the thrill and enjoyment of music!

A big difference is the weather! It can get a bit dull and extremely cold in England! So I really miss the heat and the sun. I also miss the delicious food I loved eating in Bahrain! I think that most people in the Middle East are very easy going and relaxed compared to the hectic life style in many western countries!

What do you find most different about work inside and outside the Arab world?

I find that Arabs tend to be a lot more relaxed, which is great, but is also something people living outside the Arab world can find frustrating!

I think that some people living outside of the Middle East could benefit from taking a more laid back approach, whereas those in the Arab world could learn a bit about the way we work outside.

Where are you originally from?

My father is Bahraini and my mother is English. I grew up in Bahrain and moved to England when I turned nine.

Where is most of your family?

My family is scattered around the world, however, the majority both live in the UK and in Bahrain.

What were the circumstances under which you/your family left your home country?

When I was nine years old, my mother and father broke up, so I moved to England with my mother and four sisters.

Even though I had been to England many times already, it still took me a while to adjust to the weather and social attitudes of some people.

One thing I hadn’t experienced before was racism. Having a mixed heritage and going to an international school in Bahrain, I lived in a little bubble unaware of such prejudices. I had friends from all over the world and thought that was great!

I remember one of my sisters having a hard time at school in England. I hadn’t heard racist language before, so it was a shock to me.

Not everyone was like this though! Most of the students were very kind and accepting.

What is your favorite thing about where you live?

Where I live is very peaceful – I live in a little cottage in a very small village, away from all the noise. It’s tranquil and gives me space to think and be creative.

What is the worst thing about where you live?

I don’t drive, so that makes life a bit tricky when you’re in the middle of nowhere!

Where will you eventually retire?

I’m not sure actually. My partner jokes that he’ll retire to Bahrain with me and look after the family garden for us: tend to the fruits and vegetables; look after the goats; and take long naps in the hammock!

Finish this sentence: In a year from now I will be… …on tour with my band promoting my second album. Hopefully with some shows in the Gulf States.

Finish this sentence: When I die, I… …hope that I will have picked enough daisies, eaten enough ice cream and taken enough risks. People seldom regret the things they have done in life, but often regret the things they haven’t done.

Check out Yazz Ahmed’s website www.yazzahmed.com for more information on her music and career. Follow her on Facebook: YazzAhmedMusic, Twitter @YazzAhmed1, SoundCloud @YazzAhmed and on YouTube @AhmedDinnerJazz.

79

IKE

EA

25

Year GUARANTEE

HOW SHORT IS TOO SHORT?

by Patrick Makhoul

The Order 1886 Imagine going into a store one day wanting to buy just one game. What do you base your purchase on, and what do you value most in a game? I might value a game for its narrative, while someone else might value a game based on its gameplay elements. The answer would vary from person to person, but ultimately we all want one thing: to have fun and to be entertained.

Another important factor that consumers care about and value, is game length. The Order 1886 was recently released on the Playstation 4 and it was hyped to be the next big thing, but failed to impress in the end, largely due to its short length and lack of content. However, is a game that lasts 20 hours more valuable than a game that lasts six?

This is something we can’t determine unless we look at the rest of the game. A game can last only six hours but offer more than a 20-hour game, with a lot of mediocre content. If a game offers great gameplay and replay value, then length shouldn’t matter. So what happened with The Order 1886?

The Order 1886 is a third-person shooter action game developed by Ready at Dawn and released earlier this year. The Order 1886 was plagued with various issues - length being just one of its major ones. In the six hours you spend with The Order 1886, half of the time is spent watching cut-scenes.

Of the 18 chapters in the game, some are entirely made up of cut-scenes and no gameplay whatsoever.

Length aside, the gameplay elements found in The 82

Order 1886 are outdated and poorly implemented.

The game is partly inspired by the Xbox exclusive Gears of War, where one of the major gameplay elements was the ability to shoot from behind cover.

The difference is: Gears of War, a game that’s nine years old, did it much better. The environments in Gears of War were designed in a way that let you attack enemies using various tactics like flanking, whereas in The Order 1886, the environments are very one-dimensional and linear, leaving you to deal with enemies in one way. Other issues also include poorly implemented friendly A.I. that do not help and when they do fire their weapons, they miss, even if the enemy is standing right in front of them. Another negative aspect of The Order 1886 are the two boss fights which are identical, don’t require any skill, and entirely made up of quick-time events. Finally, the game has no real replay value, no secrets, and if you decide to play the game again you can’t skip the cutscenes and are forced to watch them over again.

So how would they have remedied this? Vanquish is a game that was released in 2010 by Platinum Games directed by legendary game director of Resident Evil fame, Shinji Mikami. Vanquish is a fast-paced third-person shooter action game that mashes together beat-em-up elements with shmups (shoot 'em ups) style gameplay with an innovation sliding mechanic and cover system. One of its flaws was that some critics believed the game felt too short. But it wasn’t a major issue like it is with The

Order 1886 because the developers took multiple steps to ensure that the game had lasting appeal.

It is easy to feel ripped off if you pay USD 60 for a game if the content is lacking. So there were various aspects of Vanquish that increased its replay value even though it was a six hour game. For instance, the game kept score and would give you a ranking after each mission, after each chapter you beat you would unlock a new challenge mode and once you beat the game you unlocked a harder difficulty setting. Simply put, the developers created a game that was incredibly fun to play over and over again, which made it so length just wasn’t a factor like it is with The Order 1886.

Hopefully developers have paid attention to the controversy that followed The Order 1886 regarding the lack of content and length of the game and won’t repeat the same mistakes. Paying USD 60 for that much content is unacceptable. The industry needs to evolve and adapt and become more similar to the PC market where games are rarely ever sold at USD 60. Now that more and more games are sold digitally through the Playstation Network and the Xbox Marketplace there’s no reason why games can’t be sold at a more reasonable price. Lowering the price of games isn’t unheard of, Nintendo priced two of their games at USD 40 because they were light on content and chances are more people would have given The Order 1886 a chance if it was a USD 40 game.

O T O G S ’ T LE

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L I Z A BR

BBW

STORE LOCATIONS • The Mall - The Avenues • 2nd Avenue - The Avenues • Al Fanar Mall • The Gate Mall • Souq Sharq Customer Service: 182-12-12

LINE

RISOM D’FINELINE OF INTERIOR DESIGN by bazaar staff

Line Risom, put in her own words, is proud to be an “expat – woman – entrepreneur – contractor in Kuwait.” While contracting is widely viewed as a male dominant field, Line is here to prove them superbly wrong. Originally from Denmark, but spending most of her life in Norway, this interior designer came here on a whim in 2003 and stayed for a passion to create. It’s no longer a man’s world – she’s proved that time and time again. Working hard on other people’s dreams, it wasn’t until 2007 that Line decided to construct her own company and break away from the corporate life. In 2007, D’Fineline was born. When asked why this part of the world, she simply responds with “the richness of the region – both in materials and design.” Fast forward eight years later, D’Fineline stands for all that is modern, chic, and most of all, precise. It’s always refreshing to catch up with this lovely lady as she tackles Kuwait one project at a time.

Starting out at THE One as an interior designer in 2003, Line was fresh out of university. She then moved onto two other workplaces before realizing that her next step would be creating her own company.

It was in 2007 that she took the leap and decided to branch out and realize her dream. D’Fineline was born out of her home before she took out an actual office. “I started with nothing but three clients that believed in me and had faith in my vision,” Line smiles – and the rest, as they say, is history. An entirely self-made woman, Line put everything she had into creating this company. Slowly growing, Line admits to working harder than ever, “This is what I wanted to do, and I work extra hard to make sure that everything is done precisely.”

She started off doing interior design for villas and commercial properties, and as of 2013, construction was introduced. Growing up as the daughter of a contractor, hard hats and power tools were her refuge.

She learnt from a very early age how to install and remove tiles, paint walls, and handle a nail-gun with grace. Line’s father was constantly challenging and supporting her in what she did. She had gained a very beneficial insight as to what it takes to become a contractor and interior designer. Inspired by the work her father did, it didn’t take much convincing to get Line to land on this career path. “My father was always taking me with him on construction sites and challenging me there to use the tools,” she added.

Seeking to push boundaries, Line’s addition of construction to her company is helping her further 84

achieve her vision. “It’s very difficult to just hand over a design and let someone else execute it – I like to be in charge of the process.” So bringing in sub-contractors and challenging them with her vision wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. The company’s name, D’Fineline, basically mirrors the philosophy she lives by – refined drawings with crisp, clean, elegant lines. With everything being d'fined, the design still has to be kept fun yet chic. This is where the name comes from and this is what she constantly strives to achieve. With the experience she’s accumulated from working for other people, Line is always ready to tackle any challenge that comes her way. “I like to think I’m mentoring the people I work with,” she smiles fondly, “I think of the team as a family, we’re only a team of seven in our office.”

With high-end projects and a trusting clientele, Line takes on the projects in full. The elements to her are very important too – not just in a design sense, but in a material sense. She loves to incorporate elements from nature and creating a focus out of them. Natural stone slabs and marble are common in her interiors as well as the use of real wood. “I don’t believe in fake parquet, and natural light is very important to me.” This deeprooted appreciation of the natural elements pushes Line to incorporate more of them in her design.

Challenging the stereotype, Line holds her own in her field. She knows what works and what doesn’t and isn’t afraid to altar a design to enhance it. “When I work on a project, I treat it as though it were my own, giving it everything I have,” she states. She works

on everything with her heart and soul to ensure that every project is done with perfection. Having lived in Kuwait for so long, Line has no intention of leaving it and enjoys seeing it grow. “Kuwait is full of potential and provides a lot of possibilities,” Line says, “I enjoy creating a home or building a dream.”

If you’re in the market to recreate a space you’re in or are just curious about what options are out there, please check out Line Risom and Dfineline at www.dfineline.com or email info@dfineline.com.

You can also follow them on Facebook: Dfineline Interior D'sign Office - Creative D'sign Minds for their latest projects. They are situated in Al Fanar Mall. 1st Floor, Office 13/F, Salem Al Mubarak Street, Salmiya.

85

LAPA

The LOYAC Academy of Performing Arts by bazaar staff

With an everlasting focus on the youth and their development, LOYAC have proved themselves as a pivotal institution in Kuwait. In their latest efforts to further empower the youth, LOYAC have introduced LAPA – LOYAC Academy of Performing Arts. By focusing on the talents of their youth, they’re giving them the chance to develop their potential and appreciation toward life. LOYAC’s mission has always been to empower the youth and to provide them with the opportunities they need to grow and evolve as enlightened and self-aware individuals. Back in 2010, LOYAC was humbly awarded the Best Practice certification by the UN Habitat and Dubai Municipality and continues to live up to that respectable merit.

Through community service and an emphasis on the service industry, LOYAC have helped shape more empathetic and humane citizens.

The LOYAC Academy of Performing Arts – LAPA – is the first academy of its kind. Catering to all aspects of the performing arts, LAPA provides its students with classes, intensive workshops, and performances. Believing that the performances strengthen talent and also create highly effective performing artists, they host major events and 86

annual theatrical productions. Like LOYAC, LAPA wishes to empower the youth through the development of skills and to help cultivate their passion through theater, dance, and music. Through their performing arts offerings, LAPA believes that the youth are able to develop their communication skills and thus express themselves in a more positive manner. By providing them with such tools, they’re helping enrich their imagination, creativity, as well as nurturing empathy.

From yoga to theater – LAPA has got your interests covered. With class offerings for both children and adults, anyone can be a student and learn something new. Through their music program you can ride the crescendo and let the notes be your guide. With lessons in all instruments from the oriental oud to the jazzy saxophone – learn to succumb to the music and enjoy the journey.

Their dance program is just as extensive and lets you express yourself with movement. Enroll in introductory or intermediate level classes and cut some lines, be on pointe, or let the music move through you with hip hop, ballet, or contemporary.

Did we mention there are Bollywood dance classes

as well? Enter – stage right – and learn the art of performing for the stage with their theater program. Left with a plethora of choice, take your pick and enroll yourself to enrich and sharpen your talent. Watch it all come together on the stage as you perform your chosen art to family and friends.

When LAPA put on their amazing performance of “Min Hawa Al Andalus” last month, it all came together for us. Taking us on a journey through the ancient lands of Old Cordoba in the late tenth-century AD, this theatrical performance was absolutely riveting. Recalling the tales of political and dramatic events of those times, “Min Hawa Al Andalus” was truly an artistic breeze of talent and theatrical poise. Be sure not to miss out on their upcoming weekly musical night, “Suwalif Awtar” in collaboration with renowned composer Nawaf Al Gheraibah! It is beyond doubt, that LAPA is an excellent initiative that’s empowering today’s youth through performance and art.

For more information, please visit their website at lapa.loyac.org or call them at 9936 6657, follow them on Twitter and Instagram @lapaloyac.

‫‪SALHIYA MEDICAL‬‬

‫اﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮر ﻣﺎك ﺳﻮﻟﻴﭭﺎن‬

‫اﺳﺘﺸﺎري ﺟﺮاﺣﺔ ﲡﻤﻴﻠ ّﻴﺔ‬ ‫اﻟﺒﻮرد ا�ﻣﺮﻳﻜﻲ � اﳉﺮاﺣﺔ اﻟﺘﺠﻤﻴﻠ ّﻴﺔ‬

‫اﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮرة وﻳﻨﺪي ﻧﻮﺑﻞ‬

‫اﺳﺘﺸﺎري ﻃﺐ اﻟﻨﺴﺎء واﻟﻮﻻدة‬ ‫زﻣﻴﻞ اﳉﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﳌﻠﻜﻴﺔ � ﻃﺐ اﻟﻨﺴﺎء وا�ﻃﻔﺎل‬

‫اﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮرة ﻛﺎري ﺳﺘﺎرﻛﻲ‬

‫اﺳﺘﺸﺎري ﻃﺐ ا�ﻃﻔﺎل‬ ‫اﻟﺒﻮرد ا�ﻣﺮﻳﻜﻲ � ﻃﺐ ا�ﻃﻔﺎل‬

‫ﺑﺼﺤﺘﻚ‬ ‫اﻟﺼﺎﳊﻴﺔ ﻣﺪﻳﻜﺎل ﺑﺎﭬﻠﻴﻮن‪ :‬ﻣﻔﻬﻮم ﺣﺪﻳﺚ ﻟﻠﻌﻨﺎﻳﺔ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫اﻟﺼﺤﺔ � ﻣﻨﻈﻮرﻧﺎ‬ ‫�ﺮد وﺟﻬﺔ‪ .‬ﻫﻲ ﻋﻤﻠ ّﻴﺔ ﺑﺄﻛﻤﻠﻬﺎ و ﻟﻴﺴﺖ‬ ‫اﻟﺼﺤﺔ ﻫﻲ رﺣﻠﺔ ﺑﺄﺳﺮﻫﺎ و ﻟﻴﺴﺖ‬ ‫�ﺮد ﻧﺘﻴﺠﺔ‪ّ .‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫اﻟﺴﻠﻴﻤﺔ اﻟﺘﻲ َ‬ ‫ﻳﺮﺿﻮﻧﻬﺎ‪ ،‬و ﻧﺤﻮ‬ ‫ﺔ‬ ‫ﻴ‬ ‫اﻟﺼﺤ‬ ‫اﳊﻴﺎة‬ ‫ﻧﺤﻮ‬ ‫زوارﻧﺎ‬ ‫ﺗﻘﻮد‬ ‫اﻟﺘﻲ‬ ‫ﻠﻴﻤﺔ‬ ‫اﻟﺴ‬ ‫اﻟﻘﺮارات‬ ‫ﻣﻦ‬ ‫�ﻤﻮﻋﺔ‬ ‫ﺑﺎﺗﺨﺎذ‬ ‫ﻖ‬ ‫ﺗﺘﻌ ّﻠ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ﺗﺎﻣﺔ ‪ ،‬أﺑﻌﺪ ﻣﻦ �ﺮد ﻣﺮﺣﻠﺔ اﻟﺸﻔﺎء اﻟﺘﺎم‪.‬‬ ‫ﺣﺎﻟﺔ ﺗﻮازن ﺟﺴﺪﻳﺔ و ﻋﻘﻠ ّﻴﺔ و ﻓﻜﺮ ّﻳﺔ ّ‬ ‫ﺟﻨﺎح ا�ﻧﻒ و ا�ذن و اﳊﻨﺠﺮة | ﺟﻨﺎح ﺻﺒﺎ ‪) SIBA‬اﻟﺘﺠﻤﻴﻞ و اﻟﻠﻴﺰر و اﻟﻌﻨﺎﻳﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺒﺸﺮة( |‬ ‫ﺟﻨﺎح اﻟﻨﺴﺎء و اﻟﻮﻻدة | ﺟﻨﺎح ا�ﻃﻔﺎل | ﺟﻨﺎح اﻟﺘﻐﺬﻳﺔ‬ ‫ﳊﺠﺰ اﳌﻮاﻋﻴﺪ‪ُ ،‬ﻳﺮﺟﻰ اﻻﺗﺼﺎل ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺮﻗﻢ ‪1880881‬‬

‫�ﻤﻊ ﻧﻮر اﻟﺼﺎﳊﻴﺔ‪ ،‬اﻟﻄﺎﺑﻖ اﻟﺜﺎ�‪ ،‬ﻣﻘﺎﺑﻞ �ﻤﻊ اﻟﺼﺎﳊﻴﺔ‬

‫‪@S alhiyaPavili on‬‬

‫‪w w w . s a l h i y a p av i l i o n . c o m‬‬

bazaar movie night The latest from the big screen playing in cinemas across Kuwait in April

FURIOUS 7

THE MOON AND THE SUN

PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2

Release Date: April 2 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller Cast: Vin Diesel/Jason Statham/Dwayne Johnson

Release Date: April 9 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Cast: Pierce Brosnan/William Hurt/Benjamin Walker

Release Date: April 16 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Comedy Cast: Kevin James/Raini Rodriguez/ Eduardo Verástegui

Synopsis: After defeating Owen Shaw and his crew, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) and the rest of the crew are able to return to the United States and live normal lives again as they had wanted. However, Owen's older brother, Ian Shaw (Jason Statham), is after Dom and his crew, seeking revenge for his brother's death and putting the entire crew in danger once more. After learning of Han's death, the crew sets out to find the man who killed one of their own, before he finds them first.

Synopsis: King Louis XIV's quest for immortality leads him to commission the capture of two specimens: a dead male sea monster covered in sawdust and ice; the other, a live female sea monster placed in the Apollo fountain in the Palace of Versailles. This is carried out by experienced explorer Father Yves de la Croix. Acting as her brother's assistant, sketching the dead sea monster's dissection, and caring for the live specimen, his sister Marie-Josèphe soon realizes the creature is not a sea monster, but a sea woman. Thus, she tries to convince the others at court, including her brother, that the sea woman is intelligent and hopefully free her.

Synopsis: After six years of keeping our malls safe since the hilarious events of Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Paul (Kevin James) has earned a well-deserved vacation. He heads to Las Vegas with his teenage daughter before she heads off to college. At first, he’s mocked by the Vegas security staff, until things take a turn for the worst. Safety never takes a holiday and while at the convention, he inadvertently discovers a heist and it’s up to Blart to apprehend the criminals.

CHILD 44

BIG GAME

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

Release Date: April 16 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Drama, Thriller Cast: Tom Hardy/Joel Kinnaman/Gary Oldman

Release Date: April 16 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Adventure Cast: Samuel L. Jackson/Ray Stevenson

Release Date: April 30 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Cast: Chris Evans/Robert Downey Jr/Chris Hemsworth

Synopsis: Based on the first of a trilogy by Tom Rob Smith and set in the Stalin era of the Soviet Union, this movie is about an idealistic pro-Stalin security officer who decides to investigate a series of child murders in a country where supposedly this sort of crime doesn't exist. The state would not hear of the existence of a child murderer, let alone a serial killer. He gets demoted and exiled but decides, with only the help of his wife, to continue pursuing the case.

Synopsis: When Air Force One is shot down by terrorists, leaving the President of the US stranded in the wilderness, there is only one person around who can save him – a 13-year old boy called Oskari.

In the forest on a hunting mission to prove his maturity to his kinsfolk, Oskari discovers the most powerful man on the planet. With the terrorists closing in to capture their own ‘big game’ prize, the unlikely duo team up to escape their hunters. As anxious Pentagon officials observe the action via satellite feed, it is up to the President and his new side-kick to prove themselves and survive the most extraordinary 24 hours of their lives.

Synopsis: When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth's Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for a global adventure.

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For more details on movie timings and the cinema nearest you, visit: Cinescape: www.cinescape.com.kw or Facebook: Cinescape – Kuwait National Cinema Company.

*Above programs are subject to change without prior notice.

SPA AQUA

@SpaAquatonickuw

@SpaAquatonickuw

LIVING GREEN WITH AAW

AAW offers a new line of eco-friendly yet sophisticated furniture in Kuwait

We’ve all heard of eco-friendly technology, cars and even homes, but eco-friendly furniture is probably something that hasn’t quite popped up on our radar yet. Imagine if you could actually do your part for the environment and be a green advocate while shopping and picking out alluring pieces of furniture for your home.

Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa Commercial Co. (AAW), the leader in the furniture industry in Kuwait since 1947 gives you the option to do just that through their range of products that are in harmony with the environment like Europe’s Nolte, CSSchmal and Express Mobel.

Nolte is the first German brand to acquire both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certification which are internationally recognized certification systems only given to products that are environmentally-friendly for their source and manufacturing process. CSSchmal and Express Mobel are also both FSC-certified.

So what does eco-friendly furniture actually mean? First and foremost, the wood used in ecofriendly furniture comes from protected forests that are certified wood harvesting sites. This means that as soon as a certain tree is cut down in these forests, a new tree is immediately planted, increasing the sustainability factor. Producers of eco-friendly 90

furniture also ensure that their manufacturing process has minimal impact on the environment and this includes the production of harmful byproducts as well. In addition, these producers also have strict guidelines to ensure that their waste management system is also safe for the environment.

Eco-friendly products are also free of toxic substances that can be found in certain types of furniture. These toxic substances tend to release harmful chemicals into the air and is especially dangerous for those who live in houses or apartments that aren’t well-insulated.

This is something that we need to be aware of especially in a dusty country like Kuwait where we often have to keep our doors and windows closed.

Therefore, switching to eco-friendly furniture will be able to improve the overall quality of air inside your home, protecting your family’s health and overall well-being.

The easiest way to ensure that you are purchasing eco-friendly furniture is to ask your retailer if the product is FSC or PEFC certified or look out for either logo on the product. This way, you will be assured that you are purchasing items that are environmentally friendly.

Another interesting tip is to consider purchasing furniture made from bamboo. Bamboo, which is in fact a type of grass and not wood, is typically grown with

few to no pesticides. Bamboo also grows rapidly which means that sustainability isn’t an issue or concern.

Nolte, CSSchmal and Express Mobel features a range of immaculately-designed furniture pieces which are also eco-friendly to satisfy the green interior designer in you. We have picked out a few favorites from their collection this season that are available at the AAW furniture showrooms. We think that this is the perfect combination of being tastefully-crafted and environmentally-friendly.

Soft Plus – Soft Plus Kids/Teens Bedroom Set Introduce your children to the eco-friendly way through an eco-friendly bedroom set which comes with a single bed, two nighstands, dresser, desk with pedestal and a hinged door wardrobe. This set comes in both silver oak and white.

SOFT plus Shoe Cabinet & Shelving Unit Choose an FSC-certified and eco-friendly shoe cabinet and shelving unit from CSSchmal which is the perfect storage solution for your home. The shoe cabinet is available in five different colors maple, white, oak, beech, walnut and silver oak.

Want to know more about AAW's eco-friendly products?

Follow Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa Commercial Co. on Instagram @AAWFURNITURE or contact their hotline 180 4449 or the following AAW showrooms - Al Dajeej: 2226 1720 / Al Shuwaikh: 2226 1890.

KIDZANIA

FORTE COUTURE

Forte Couture is a new made in Italy upcoming brand which has been strongly emerging over the past few seasons. Based in Tuscany, the Forte Couture atelier is proud to have every item carefully handmade by Italian tailors with years of experience in haute couture.

FRAME DENIM Since its inception with its debut jean, the ‘le skinny’, Frame has expanded into a full ready-towear brand embodying the founders’ restrained aesthetic ideal and relentless search to achieve effortless perfection.

DENIM CHIC AT HARVEY NICHOLS KUWAIT by bazaar staff

We are living in a new era of fashion, it’s a revolution known as street style. This is now a universal language everyone speaks. Street style is mainly based on basics, where regular people model their daily casual outfits in the streets so the demand for casual clothing has boomed since. Harvey Nichols Kuwait is now the go-to destination to get your latest casual and denim brands. The main brands that serve the casual and denim category include London’s Markus Lupfer, the all-American Paige denim and Southern Californian brand Rails.

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PA I G E D E N I M

Known for its considered and unexpected details, Paige has grown into a denim powerhouse offering styles that reflect the brand’s passion for the craft. Paige uses only the finest fabrics and materials while each design is infused with thought out and considered elements. Every detail is carefully calculated, from a contoured waistband to forward sitting side seams, each style is designed with the customer in mind.

R A I L S

Rails creates a unique intersection in fashion by blending the casual comfort of Southern California living with a sleek sophistication. Relaxed but always refined, the collection draws on influences from international travel to metropolitan living. Rails is dedicated first and foremost to the quality of the garment, by creating a perfect combination of comfort and tailoring.

MARKUS LUPFER Markus Lupfer stomps through the Sunshine State for Spring Summer '15 with a riot of kaleidoscopic sun-saturated colors, from the waves to the rave.

Harvey Nichols Kuwait is located at Grand Avenue – The Avenues. Opening hours are from 10 a.m. till midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Sunday to Wednesday. Please call 2228 3008 for more information. You can also get social with Harvey Nichols Kuwait by following them on Facebook.com/HarveyNicholsKuwait and Instagram @HarveyNicholsKuwait.

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CURB THAT CRAVING

Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis at Soor Center Kuwait by bazaar staff

Sometimes, it’s simply hard to say no to that third cookie or plate of French-fries. Whether we admit this to ourselves or not, our relationship with food is psychological and is never limited to physiology. If you’re looking for that push that will get you back on track in keeping to a healthy lifestyle, admit to yourself this relationship and accept that moderation is key.

If you still find yourself reaching for that unhealthy snack, then perhaps you should consider Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis, exclusively available at the Soor Center Kuwait. When we first heard about this interesting treatment, we thought we’d end up trying out yet another fad diet! We sit down with none other than Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, as he dispels the myths associated with this treatment.

Hi Dr. Naif! Tell us about Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis. Is this yet another diet fad?

Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis is a weight loss program that applies clinical hypnotherapy to reprogram your mind to accept smaller servings of food. The hypnotherapy enables the brain to get the message that after eating a certain amount of food, the stomach is full. Diets are generally for a short-term basis and can make a person feel deprived, eventually causing them to give it up.

Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis allows you to eat anything, but in moderation, so it leaves you feeling much more positive.

What’s the difference between the actual medical procedure and Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis?

The actual medical procedure involves surgery to reduce the size of the stomach by removing or constricting parts of it, so much so that the stomach can only hold an ounce of food. This is done by fitting an adjustable band around the top part of the stomach, which creates a small pouch, limiting the amount of food that can be eaten in one sitting. It’s a lot more expensive and can have certain side effects like nausea and vomiting.

Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis makes the client feel they’ve undergone the same but it’s a nonsurgical technique for weight loss with no risks or side effects. You can eat whatever you like; you’ll just be helping yourself to smaller portions.

There is no comparison between surgery and hypnosis. Surgery physically changes your body.

Hypnosis does not. Sometimes with surgery people do not change their eating habits and this leads to less weight loss and eventual weight gain.

Gastric Band Hypnosis can work with surgery to help achieve the best results possible.

Can you please describe the experience for a typical client wishing to undergo this method of treatment?

There are four sessions, one 90-minute session and three 60-minute ones. In the first 30 minutes I would explain the expectations and gather information through a focused intake to 94

personalize the hypnosis to the client’s needs based on their eating habits. The actual sessions are usually one week apart. The hypnosis is augmented with sounds and smells from an operating theater in a hospital and personalized hypnosis recordings are made for the client to listen to in between sessions.

What does the client experience after their first session? What’s a typical timeline for a first time client undergoing this treatment?

They’ll observe immediate changes in their eating habits and have more control over them.

Clients generally lose an average of 1-2 kg in the first week. It takes at least four sessions for it to take effect. That being said, most people lose weight in the first week.

What do you think is the most challenging part of achieving healthy weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle?

What’s more challenging, is to keep the weight off. It doesn’t help that you get bombarded with advertisements of food wherever you go. We live in a culture that gives a lot of importance to

socializing over meals and it can take immense willpower to stick to your goals and resist gorging.

It becomes harder and harder to resume a healthy lifestyle once you’ve given in.

It is common in our part of the world to see families always serving large amounts of food at the everyday dinner table. Do you believe that educating people about their perception of what makes for a healthy plate is important? If so, what are some tips that you would recommend to the average household to better manage their eating habits?

Definitely. Eat in moderation but make sure you consume the recommended daily intake of nutrients. Drink a lot of water throughout the day.

When grocery shopping at the supermarket, be careful what products you pick up. It’s a lot easier to avoid binging on snacks if they’re not in your house in the first place.

Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis is exclusively available at Soor Center Kuwait. Call 2290 1677 or email info@soorcenter.com to book an appointment. For more information, visit soorcenter.com.

HOME CENTRE

bookworms

SAVE THE WORLD One book at a time by bazaar staff

Us bibliophiles are always berated on the threats our beloved books are inflicting on the world. From the “Save The Trees” campaigns to the “Go Digital” initiatives, we have it hard. Yes, books are made from trees and trees are being cut down to produce paper – but still, physical books have a completely different air to them than their digital counterparts. Sure you can buy and read your books on a digital device or two, but in my humble opinion, nothing is more pleasurable than a big book and a nice cup of tea. Don’t get me wrong, we love the earth and want it saved – but books. So in an effort to give back, I suggest we spend the month of April celebrating Earth Day by commuting to work. While Kuwait might not have an underground, over-ground, or proper bus system – it’s still doable though. If you get together with your work colleagues and figure out who lives where, you’re bound to find someone that lives on your route. By doing so, you can carpool to work or even share a taxi! You're welcome. On that note, I’ve put together not one, not ten, but eighty books to choose from for your commute! But first, the ground rules – are you ready?

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So as we venture into the world of commuting there are a few things you need to know. For starters, the lighter the book, the better – the bags we carry to work are heavy enough as they are. This also makes it easier for you to get into the habit of taking a book everywhere! But, dear reader, make sure the book is difficult to put down for I fear you might lose it as you exit at your destination. You’d be surprised at how easily it actually is to leave a book behind if it’s not of memorable weight. Now that you have your rules, you’re ready to pick out a book – congratulations!

We all know that fashion’s most infamous sartorial icon is the little black dress or the LBD. Penguin has created it’s literary equivalent with the LBC – the Little Black Classics. Eighty little books that are short, fun, and easy to read – you’re left with a wide selection to choose from.

From Samuel Pepys to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – you read right, Mozart wrote a book – and the more traditional Dante, Twain, and Nash giving you the chance to take your pick. For a selfproclaimed book-a-holic like myself, I’m currently in the process of acquiring each and every one.

Sure I’ll have repeats in my library because of this, but I need to obtain the full collection! Yes I’m irrational like that, but I don’t care.

Don’t feel like starting a brand new collection yet? Alternatively, pick up a one of the many great novels from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series!

They’re fun to read and easy to devour and get lost in both as stand-alones and as part of the series as a whole. Explore the winding streets of Ankh-Morpork and try to find the Unseen University (just look up) – I promise you’ll fall in love with literature all over again. On that note, I would like to take a moment to mention a great loss to the literary world. Sir Terry Pratchett, creator of the Discworld, its inhabitants and even the occasional tourist and visitor has passed away. May he find peace and solace as we do in his books.

Join me as we jump into a brand new collection of books – no? Just me then? – and discover more worlds to loose ourselves in as we attempt to save the planet! Commute to work and help save the planet! Till next month!

FANTASY WORLD

bazaar goes dining

BURJ AL HAMAM A classic revisited by bazaar staff

In a country of food lovers, there are few restaurants that have stood the test of time. With everlasting quality and a warm welcome from the staff, Burj Al Hamam is known for its great food and greater location. Overlooking the Arabian Gulf, the location is flawless, the décor is incredible – mimicking the colors of nature – the seats are sky blue with hints of the sea all around. The tantalizing aromas of the authentically prepared Lebanese cuisine take over your senses. Then you spot the array of colors from the fruit bowls that are waiting patiently for you to end your meal before they grace your table. Burj Al Hamam is full of natural light and breezy space, while the welcoming colors and smells are enough to kickstart your appetite – and trust us, you’ll need it.

When presented with the menu, make sure to 98

pick and choose as generously as you can. This cuisine is made for sharing and the more you order, the merrier, so never skip the appetizers and salads.

While with most places you’d pass on the salads to save room for the main dishes, Burj Al Hamam’s salads and starters are created to compliment your meal and give your bouche a little amuse. We started off with classics like hummus and mutabal (eggplant and spice dip) with some fresh baked bread – a combination you can never go wrong with.

Next, we were presented with their famous Kebbe Nayeh – veal tartar with cracked wheat and seven spices with a side of fresh onion. Now the trick to tackling this delicate dish is to take a small piece and place it in your bread, sprinkle with the spices to your taste, add a slice of onion and a mint leaf, then enjoy – thank us later. The explosion of flavor is

incredible and will keep you wanting more.

After all that meat and delicious dip, we were left craving a little green – we blame the mint leaf for leaving us with a taste of leafy goodness – and the salad we got was spot on. The Burj Al Hamam Salad was incredibly light and refreshing. With fresh rocca at the base, this salad was dressed in a beautifully constructed lemon house vinaigrette and topped with sliced dry figs, haloum cheese rolled in black sesame, and chopped walnuts. This fresh take on a rocca salad was the perfect break we needed before our main dishes arrived. If you’re a Burj Al Hamam regular, you know that they have a dish-of-the-day system in place for every day of the week. Lucky for us, we were there on a Monday, which meant the day’s dish was Daoud Basha. An absolute classic, this dish consists of bite-sized

meatballs in a flavorful tomato sauce with a side of rice and vermicelli. Perfectly balanced, this dish was reminiscent of our childhoods and our grandmothers’ cooking.

For the pièce-de-résistance, the dish that is quintessentially Lebanese, we were brought the grilled meats. Thankfully, the breadbasket was endless. Basket upon basket of fresh baked bread came to the table as per our request to help with our selection from the grill. The dish we consumed ever so happily was the Mixed Grill. A selection of veal – cubed and grilled to perfection – succulent shish taouk, juicy kofta, and the delectable chicken kabab were devoured in a matter of minutes. Served with a side of garlic dip, this dish was the perfect end to our savory start before we ventured into desserts – yes, we obviously had room for those.

Desserts, what can one say about those that hasn’t already been said in poetry? Arabic sweets are always the perfect end to any meal – move over trifle, the baklavas are in town! From the flawless house kunafa filled with beautiful cream or sweetened cheese, to the golden filo pastry filled with crushed nuts – or cream – and drizzled with syrup, nothing can possibly compare. What we were presented with was a genuinely essential Lebanese dessert simply known as Halawat El Jeben. This is a carefully flattened sweetened cheese that’s then filled with fresh cream and rolled into a perfect cylindrical shape. Topped with ground pistachios and delicate lemon blossoms, this dessert is then covered in the perfect amount of syrup. Nothing about it is overpowering. An impeccably balanced end, to a gloriously delicious

meal – we were absolutely satisfied.

But your experience doesn’t end there. Just as you throw in the napkin and swear that you can’t have another bite of anything, the fruit basket appears. With bananas, apples, oranges, grapes, and all the seasonal fruit you can image – this display of color and choice leaves you no option but to jump in. Order a coffee and possibly a shisha and relax as you enjoy the tower of fruit on your table. Once you feel like you’re ready to nibble on something, reach for a piece of fruit and enjoy it – you’ll feel lighter with every bite.

Burj Al Hamam is located on the Gulf Road near Green Island. For reservations and inquiries, you can call 2252 9095 or 2251 7030 or visit their website on www.burjalhamam.com.kw.

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KUWAIT’S FIRST CO-FOUNDER SPEED DATING EVENT A behind-the-scenes glimpse

by Zainab Mirza

Preparations for Kuwait’s first Co-Founder Speed Dating event were under way. The banners were ready. The Astroturf circle in Dasman Complex’s courtyard had been booked. Brand new tables and chairs had been delivered. Only a few badges for participants were left to be prepared. We spent the entire work week waiting for a definite weather forecast that would help us decide whether the event should be held outdoors or not, but there was still a chance it would rain. We decided to take the risk. It was too beautiful outside!

The lamp posts illuminated the tables and chairs that were arranged along the circumference of the Astroturf circle. The air carried the fragrance of the flowers placed on the tables. All the while, the storm clouds gathered menacingly. We hoped for the best.

The Co-Founder Speed Dating event was held to help people with ideas (founders) connect with people with talent, designers (hipsters), business developers (hustlers), and developers (hackers). Starting a business is tough, and it can be challenging to find a person who not only believes in your idea, but is capable of helping you see it through. If you have a promising idea for a startup, it’s crucial to have a co-founder you can rely on to build on the idea and divide the work (and stress!) with. Similarly, more and more 100

people with skills today are seeking to create something substantial and lasting, instead of working a 9 to 5 job in a company.

At the event, founders were seated at tables while people with talent rotated. Each founder and person with talent had 3 minutes to introduce themselves and pitch their idea and skills to each other. When the buzzer rang, the person with talent had to move to the next founder.

Trouble was, the buzzer we had wasn’t loud enough. We improvised with a team member whistling piercingly every three minutes. It worked!

Just when the event was in full swing, our worst fears were realized. It started drizzling. The participants were too involved in their conversations to pay the rain any heed, but we soon had to move inside Sirdab Lab to take cover. The conversation however, kept flowing effortlessly. It was as if nothing had happened.

The positive vibes were electrifying. People enjoyed the atmosphere so much, they volunteered to wipe down their chairs and tables themselves to be able to sit back outside as soon as it stopped raining. And so we moved back to the outdoor seating.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that despite all the impediments we faced, the event was a great success with all the connections that were made. One of the participants, Mohammed

Boland mentioned, “I really got what I wanted.

I wanted to meet new people, new designers, new developers, and I got to do that. I had fun.

I wish Sirdab Lab would do more of this. It’s very community-oriented and gets people from different businesses and different professions to come together and build something.”

Another participant, Wael Al-Ahmady, found a few prospects during the Co-Founder Speed Dating.

“Sirdab helps open doors that were not opened before. The event was symbolic of what Sirdab does.”

As for me? If there’s anything I learnt from helping organize the event, it’s to never give a problem more time than it’s worth. Focus on finding the solution.

Special thanks to our event partners YourAOK and Google Developer Group Kuwait, and Tree of Life for sponsoring the gorgeous flowers. You can still smell their aroma at Sirdab Lab! Sirdab Lab is a combination of an accelerator program, a co-working space, and community events. It offers entrepreneurs comprehensive and continuous support in achieving their goals of starting a business. Follow @sirdab_lab on Instagram or visit http://sirdab-lab.com to stay updated on all they do. Stay tuned for the next Co-Founder Speed Dating event!

CAUDALIE

A SOLAR SHARM

Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh to be fully powered by solar energy by July by bazaar staff

While Egypt is famous for its glorious hot weather, the first thing that visitors think of is utilizing the sun for getting an amazing tan, or sending pictures to jealous loved ones back home in gloomier lands. However, there is a far greater use for this amazing climate, in the form of solar powered energy. This is something that the Egyptian government is fully embracing.

Early in March, Egypt launched a new power plant generated by solar energy in Siwa in the west of the country. Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the most popular tourist hotspots in Egypt, already relies on solar power for 70 percent of its lighting, but the authorities want to improve this statistic even more. Khaled Fouda, Governor of South Sinai has said that Sharm el-Sheikh aims to be entirely powered by solar energy within the next three months, aiming for June/ July of this year. That is to say, Sharm will be 100 102

percent reliant upon solar power before the end of 2015, and that (if accomplished) would be an amazing achievement‌certainly one for the rest of the world to take notice of. Of course, it could be that this deadline is too ambitious and may take longer, as can often happen in government coordinated initiatives, but reaching the goal is all that matters.

Not only will this have a positive impact on the environment, and reducing the carbon footprint, but it will also give Egyptians a reliable and consistent source of power. In recent years Egypt has faced, and is facing, quite an energy crisis, with many parts of the country seeing regular power outages and blackouts that can last for hours at a time. During summer months especially, this can be extremely difficult to deal with. For these reasons, the move toward alternative energy sources has been a growing trend by the Egyptian government, and with the

majority of the year offering regular sunshine; it is the perfect environment to take advantage of utilizing that power.

Egypt aims to build solar power plants and wind energy facilities within the next three years, with a capacity of generating 4,300 megawatts.

Egypt has also signed an agreement with Russia, who will assist in the building of a nuclear power plant. The minister for international cooperation in Egypt has said that the government hopes to attract investment of USD 10-12 billion from 20 projects, including in energy, transport and water, from the investment summit that was hosted in Sharm el-Sheikh in mid-March. The government also recently said that it expects to start signing deals for solar PV projects as a result of that conference. All of these movements suggest a positive direction for the future of alternative power supply across Egypt, and with hoping that others follow suit, across the world.

MCDONALDS

The Safat Home Makeover

PART I: MEET THE LUCKY COUPLE! by bazaar staff

With Safat Home’s newest location, there’s nothing they can’t do! They’re here to make the impossible, very possible. Working around every budget and vision, Safat Home vows to give you the home of your dreams. Their new showroom is a haven for all things home and design – they even have a Décor Center to help you style your dream home, completely free of charge! You can always rely on their consultants and experts on everything trendy when it comes to your home. If you’re in the market to make some minor changes, or have a solid image you want to build on, then take advantage of this free consulting charge.

The amazing consultants at Safat Home’s Décor Center can help you stick to your decorating budget, as you would be paying for the style that you envisioned. So when newly-wed couple Farah AlFadhalah and Bader Al-Sarraf were approached

by Safat Home for a dream makeover – they simply 104

couldn’t resist. With so much to do and a tight deadline in the mix – the Safat Home team has a challenge set up for them as they race against the clock. You won’t hear about it anywhere else, so keep reading to get all the exclusive insights!

With a plethora of brands to choose from, Safat Home’s collections will give the couple and their Décor Center specialists a gorgeous selection. With the international brands made available – such as Floor and Furnishings, Graham and Brown, Hempel, and Verosol – and the products they can specially order, no one is left wanting. From floors to ceilings and all the space in between, Safat Home guarantees that you’ll be able to find everything you need to turn a house into a home. With the Décor Center staff's sharp eye for details, their aim is to give the couple – and all their customers – exactly what they want. Functionality and comfort are what they aim to provide, as well as a variety of choice be it with

paint colors, fabrics, or furniture and accessories.

Everything used will bring a room together fabulously and they’ll stop at nothing short of just that.

It’s no secret that Safat Home has a fabulous knack for makeovers – they went from redoing a bazaarite’s bedroom once upon a time, to finding a couple and working with them to create the home of their dreams. Considered as their first official home, the two-story Moorish-style house with a basement is in its renovation phase – giving Safat Home a creative carte-blanche.

For the next few months, we’ll be updating you as Safat Home takes on this incredible project from start to perfection. And with a reception, living space, bedroom, dressing room, nursery, and dewaniya – Safat Home’s team of experts has quite a challenge ahead of them. A Décor Center’s dream-come-true – this house is currently serving as a playground for the experts at Safat Home.

Decor Center

by Safat Home

Managing the Décor Center is the talented Sarah Ahmed. The young Kuwaiti and fresh graduate joined Safat Home’s team as a buyer in the accessories team and she also manages the Décor Center and its various products such as paint, wallpaper, fabric, amongst other décor services.

Through mood-boards and long discussions about likes and dislikes, the wonderfully talented team at Safat Home have begun piecing together ideas and working closely with the couple. Collecting all the information they need, the Décor Center specialists will be picking out the key pieces that can help the couple find their new home’s ethos.

Kicking off the meet and greet, Safat Home prepared a few questions and images for our lucky couple, Farah and Bader, to gage their taste. This young and energetic couple love different color combinations and the incorporation of different elements. When it comes to picking colors though,

Farah and Bader have one request, nothing too overpowering. Their vision is simple – to keep their living spaces light and airy. The Décor Center also took note of the couples’ dislikes, such as heavy chandeliers for a start – they’re still unsure about how they feel about gold as well. With a fondness for timeless key pieces, a contemporary feel and clean crisp lines, the couple is off to an excellent start. With the help of the Décor Center, Farah and Bader were able to find inspirational images that will help the Safat Home team bring their vision to life.

Natural woods, greys accented with clean whites and ecru, and colors from the elements – the couple’s inspiration board is coming together beautifully.

In an effort to re-design their space, the couple refuses to hold back and is providing their designdream-team a full rundown. The floor plans have been set and the vision laid out for each room. Style, function, and the couple’s lifestyle are all taken into

consideration as the ideas start buzzing. Working their way from one room to the other, the Safat Home Décor Center has skilfully quizzed the couple and gauged the space to find the perfect inspirations. Nothing is going over the designer’s heads and they’re ready to tackle this challenge effortlessly.

So from now till September, join us as we exclusively find out what happens with the couple’s new home as they embark on a journey with the home gurus at Safat Home. The Décor Center can be found at Safat Home’s location in Al Rai and the service will also be available at Safat Home’s newest and largest showroom in Shuwaikh starting this summer.

For more information, please visit safathome.com or call 183 8883. Follow Safat Home on Instagram @SafatHome, Twitter @Safat_home and Facebook: SafatHomebyAlghanim.

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WISDOM FROM AN UNWISE BACKPACKER Burma

by Mohammad alsanea

Close your eyes. Imagine an open land of white mist bordered by distant mountains, in between thousands of heads of dancing trees and silhouettes of ancient Pagodas. Now open your ears and listen to the whisper of an early morning wind. This is Bagan.

To tell you about Burma is to tell you stories of railways, bus stations and dark bumpy roads.

For example, I can tell you that in the time it takes me to take the train from Mandalay to Hsipaw in the North, someone has flown from Kuwait to NYC, had probably finished a "random" interrogation at the airport and is currently stuck in traffic on their way to Manhattan. I can also tell you that small plastic bags are very common on bus rides and unlike the paper bags in an airplane, 90% are put to use after a pit stop to the highway local diner.

But those things, although they make stories more interesting, are irrelevant and might discourage you from truly experiencing the excitement of traveling through a place like Burma.

My love with Burma or Myanmar (Side note: this is just one of the unique aspects about this country, the dilemma of choosing which name to use. And it does not stop here, but goes further into cities and towns too. To clarify, it is officially recognized by most as Myanmar but I am using Burma due to its common use here.) Anyways, my love started a few years back when I spotted a puppet displayed on the walls of a gallery in Siem Reap. I wanted to meet the person who carved these beautiful wooden marionettes but I was told that "this Burmese monk puppet was handmade in Burma." Little did I know, that in the years to follow I would find myself alone on a street (now close your nose and imagine stalking stray dogs, chickens and rats!) lost for hours trying to find the one family most known to perform this puppetry art inside their living room in Rangoon (or Yangon).

Burma borders Thailand, one of the most sought-after destinations, China, one of the most powerful economies, and Bangladesh, a country well known to us, yet for some reason it fails to exist in our personal maps. It is like visiting the UAE and not acknowledging that a country as big as Saudi Arabia exists nearby. Those who know of it know of a land of many conflicts and violence, while others may know of a mystical and magical land told in old folk's tales.

Life in the northern Burmese mountains begins before sunrise as the women build their fires to prepare the meals before heading down the hills to collect water for the day. I was sitting outside the monastery, at the highest point of the village, watching the sun as it rises from behind the mountains. Everything here looks simple; monks chanting as life starts to unfold, while an old woman climbs uphill to collect firewood from the monastery's grounds. Yet I am sure it is a tough life 106

or maybe it is a simple tough life, I don’t really know.

Between my exposed (and I mean this in the most literal term) outdoor shower and the rise of the first sun of 2015 and as I try to ignore my camera and focus on these moments, I cannot help but wonder why do I feel at home in a land I barely touched and amongst a culture I don't know much about?!

I arrived at Bagan's bus station around 4 in the morning to find a town that was dark and deserted.

I gathered my backpack, along with the only three travelers I found, to hitch a ride into town. I found myself barefoot at the top of a nearby Pagoda at the edge of town catching the sun as it rose from behind the Popa Mountain.

Watching the sunrise in Bagan is like watching a blank canvas coming to life with all your senses.

It is magical, yet everything here is real; a culture trying to change to suit its newly acquired tourism status, echoes of monks chanting, farmers plowing

the lands, kids learning new scams, it is just like every other place on this planet.

I can tell you as much as you want about Burma. About its history, politics and social conflicts (actually I don't know much but I can do the reading and tell you, or better yet, you do your own reading) but I can't tell you about the many people in between, about the life inside their trains or the smiles as you trek from village to village, the taste of a freshly cut pumpkin with lime drizzle and the smell of rice being cooked early in the morning, because these are not stories to be told but experiences that must be felt.

We may choose to believe that we belong to our homes, our names, our passports, our languages, our skin, but we rarely choose to believe that we belong to something far bigger than what is within our premises, that beyond these barriers we simply belong to humanity.

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bazaar books Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures. ~ Jessamyn West

DEPT. OF SPECULATION

by Jenny Offill

INDEPENDENT ED

by Edward Burns

IT'S WHAT I DO

FUNNY GIRL

by Lynsey Addario

by Nick Hornby

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN : BLOOD BENEATH THE SKIN

by Andrew Wilson

Dept. of Speculation is a portrait of a marriage. Jenny Offill’s heroine, referred to in these pages simply as “the wife,” once exchanged love letters with her husband postmarked Dept. of Speculation, their code name for all the uncertainty that inheres in life and in the strangely fluid confines of a long relationship. As they confront an array of common catastrophes – a colicky baby, a faltering marriage – the wife muses on the consuming, capacious experience of maternal love, and the near total destruction of the self that ensues from it as she confronts the friction between domestic life and the seductions and demands of art. With cool precision, Jenny Offill has crafted an exquisitely suspenseful love story that has the velocity of a train hurtling through the night at top speed. Exceptionally lean and compact, this is a novel to be devoured in a single sitting, though its bracing emotional insights and piercing meditations on despair and love will linger long after the last page.

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Independent Ed: Inside a Career of Big Dreams, Little Movies, and the Twelve Best Days of My Life is an entertaining and inspirational memoir by one of the most prominent practitioners and evangelists of independent filmmaking, and the acclaimed writer, director, and actor (Saving Private Ryan, Entourage) whose first film – The Brothers McMullen – has become an indie classic. In Independent Ed, Burns shares the story of his two remarkable decades in a fickle business where heat and box office receipts are often all that matter.

He recounts stories of the lengths he has gone to secure financing for his films, how he found stars on their way up – including Jennifer Aniston – and how he’s adhered religiously to the dictum of writing what you know, working as if he were just starting out. This is a must-read for movie fans, film students, and everyone who loves a gripping tale about what it takes to forge your own path in work and life.

War photographer Lynsey Addario’s memoir It’s What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War is the story of how the relentless pursuit of truth has shaped her life. What she does, with clarity, beauty, and candor, is to document, often in their most extreme moments, the complex lives of others. It’s her work, but it’s much more than that: it’s her singular calling. Lynsey Addario was just finding her way as a young photographer when Sept. 11 changed the world.

One of the few photojournalists with experience in Afghanistan, she decided to set out across the world, to face the chaos of crisis, and make a name for herself. She photographs the Afghan people before and after the Taliban reign, the civilian casualties and misunderstood insurgents of the Iraq War, as well as the burned villages and countless dead in Darfur.

Addario understands she is documenting not only news, but also the fate of society.

It’s What I Do is more than just a snapshot of life on the front lines; it is witness to the human cost of war. Soon to be turned into a film starring Jennifer Lawrence.

On the surface, Funny Girl is about a working class English girl who comes of age as a TV star in the days of the Beatles and the musical Hair; what it’s also about is the way the world turned over for everybody – but especially actors and writers – in the explosive 1960s era.

Sophie Straw is the gorgeous girl from Blackpool who, like Lucille Ball, is originally deemed too pretty to be funny; like Ball, she manages through wit, decency and pratfall to become her nation’s sweetheart. She’s a great character, and readers will love her. But if Sophie is the star, the rest of the population here – the hilariously narcissistic lover/co-star, the director who pines for Sophie for years, and the writers who give her her vehicles – are exceptional supporting players.

And Hornby, who was a bit of a pop culture wunderkind himself, is wise about the way artists’ careers morph and change, and what it’s like to define a cultural moment and then watch yourself live past it.

When Alexander McQueen committed suicide in Feb 2010, aged just 40, a shocked world mourned the loss of its most visionary fashion designer.

McQueen had risen from humble beginnings as the youngest child of an East London taxi driver to scale the heights of fame, fortune and glamour. He designed clothes for the world's most beautiful women, including Kate Moss. In business, he created a multi-million pound luxury brand that became a favorite with both celebrities and royalty, most famously the Duchess of Cambridge who wore a McQueen gown on her wedding day. But behind the confident facade and bad-boy image, lay a sensitive soul who struggled to survive in the ruthless world of fashion. As the pressures of work intensified, McQueen became increasingly dependent on the drugs that contributed to his tragic end. Those closest to the designer – his family, friends and lovers – have spoken for the first time about the man they knew, a fragmented and insecure individual, a lost boy who battled to gain entry into a world that ultimately destroyed him.

source: www.amazon.com

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GREEN THINKING IN EUROPE by bazaar staff

Walking down a certain city block in Turin, Italy, you won't see any trees lining the sidewalk.

Instead, they're suspended in the air: A new five-story apartment building called 25 Verde is covered with 150 trees, each surrounded by custom-shaped terraces. It's the apartment building version of a treehouse.

"If the trees are integrated in the building, they are closer to the people who live there, and so there is more integration between man and nature," says architect Luciano Pia. The trees help filter pollution from traffic on busy nearby streets, absorbing around 200,000 liters of CO2 emissions every hour in one of Europe's most polluted cities. As the seasons change, the leaves help shade the apartments or bring in warmth, creating a microclimate for the building.

While tree-covered buildings keep showing up in architectural renderings (you could argue that "put a tree on it" is the new "put a bird on it"), the new building in Turin might be proof of how an 112

urban treehouse can actually work.

Unlike many conceptual designs, this isn't a skyscraper, and that means the trees have a better chance at survival. "In tall buildings, the outdoor climate is considerably different from that on the lower floors to the ground level," says Pia. "At the top there is always wind. I don't think planting trees on skyscrapers is a way to go."

In Pia's design, each of the trees has room to grow. "You have to plant them in pots sufficiently large to ensure the nutrition and root growth," he says. The building also surrounds a courtyard with another 50 trees, and has a green roof. Basically, when residents look outside, they'll see a miniforest instead of concrete.

Meanwhile, a few hours away at the University of the West of England, researchers are working on lights powered by an abundant resource – human pee. Inspired by the poor lighting conditions of refugee camps and the dangerous environment

in which that places women, the team have developed fuel cells that are integrated to a toilet system. Inside are microbes that eat up urine and produce electricity as a by-product. It's not a lot of power, but enough to run modern LED lights that are hyper-efficient. A single toilet could power a string of nearby lights, the team says.

Typically, camps today will use either batteries or diesel generators, neither of which are ideal.

The batteries will run down after two or three years, while the generators require fuel supplies and maintenance. The fuel cell and LED approach could last 20 years and need little upkeep. Running off "microbial fuel cells," they could light up off-grid camps and help keep refugees safer.

The bathroom is now being tested by students at the university (it sits outside the campus pub, so it's getting plenty of use). If it proves durable enough, Oxfam hopes to test it at a camp in South Sudan and then start mass-manufacturing it as a kit.

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A KACCH MEMBER Bringing happiness to hospitalized children

by Jomanah Altajali

A wise man by the name of Albus Dumbledore once said, “Though we may come from different countries and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one” KACCH (Kuwait Association for Care of Children in Hospital) is an organization in which people – regardless of their gender, religious beliefs, and ethnicity – come together to help brighten up the days of hospitalized children, children who awaken to that numbing hospital smell, and are sentenced to daily checkups and close scrutiny. We, the members of KACCH, make it our mission to add color to the dreary childhood that they have been subjected to. We make a silent oath to always keep our word and open our hearts. We believe in making every child feel needed, wanted, and worthy.

Being a KACCH member means volunteering our time to engage in playful activities with the children. Whether this means building blocks or doing jigsaw puzzles, we are willing to do whatever puts a smile on their faces. Once, I brought out a box of paints and the little boy I was with pointed at my face rather than the paper canvas; next thing you know, he was Da Vinci and I was his Mona Lisa, but more colorful, with a green moustache and an open lipped smile. That kid was the quietest one in the room before I finally got through to him. When the first set of teeth started to peek at me, eventually forming a smile, I felt on top of the world. I truly felt what it meant to be alive and measure time by memory rather than days; I felt that I had a purpose other than seeing to my own needs and accomplishing goals with the mindset of only seeking self gain.

So how does finger-painting or playing dress up effect the child? Through my experience, I‘ve noticed that their steps turn from gloomy drag into lively bounce, as if a huge burden has been taken off their tiny shoulders. These children dread the minute they have to speak to the man dressed in white wearing the shiny tag with “Doctor” on his chest. The kids will look forward to play time so much that they will tolerate their checkups better than the ones pre-play. Being a KACCH member makes you a big deal to the children and their parents. You are a huge, bright part of their lives and the children look forward to your coming and playing with them. True happiness is usually etched upon their little faces.

Most parents are extremely pleased and grateful for a KACCH member’s presence around their kids. Unlike the parents of many healthy children, these parents don't have the luxury to spend all of their available time with their child – so a KACCH member is there, ready and willing to fill that empty spot when the parents might be at work or are otherwise unable to spend visiting hours with their child. The children we play with see us as role models, observing our actions and learning 114

from them. They use a KACCH member’s character as guidelines to their own personalities. The children's progress during each playtime session is gradual, but tangible. Every session they tend to open up more and more, and even if they don't just spread their wings and turn into a social butterfly, there is still ongoing improvement. We know that some kids are just naturally shy and soft-spoken, so no session is considered wasted, even if the child is still quiet afterwards.

KACCH is great for both the volunteer and the patient, for it marks both with a beautiful tattoo as a reminder of their time together. KACCH members change the lives of children. That may be a powerful

statement, but it is one that I am willing to make with unwavering confidence. Without the presence of a KACCH member in the children’s lives, their outlook on the world would most likely be bleak and tedious, for there wouldn’t be anyone to show them that there truly is some good out there. So I urge anyone, from tentative to sure, who is driven towards making a difference, to join us at KACCH – try one session, and give these kids a shot, you will not be disappointed.

To join this worthy cause or learn more please email them on kacch@kacch.org or for more information visit www.kacch.org.

PREMIER

ALESSIO NESI FOR MARELLA by bazaar staff

Celebrate spring and all of its glorious bounty with The Enchanted Garden collection by Alessio Nesi for Marella. Revealed in its second capsule collection for Spring/Summer 2015, the polyhedric cool hunter, style and beauty editor delivered a collection that is dreamy, feminine and surrealist.

Alessio Nesi followed last season’s collection Love, Light, Desire, which comprised of T-shirts and foulards, with five maxi (120cm x 120cm) and mini (57cm x 57cm) foulards displaying a lush, surrealistic, enchanted garden. A mix of flowers and animals, putti and orchids, oneiric patterns with bright colors that alternate with pastel hues thus creating small ready-to-wear garments. Nesi commented that “Marella’s capsule collection aims at creating a secluded location, [one that] introduces one’s own personality in order to distinguish oneself.”

We absolutely loved the versatility of the collection, especially that the collection was released to also include a series of tutorials on how these exquisite foulards could be styled in many different ways. Transform your beach look and use one of these foulards as a Boho-inspired headband.

Dress up a work look and style the foulard as a necklace or statement belt. One of the most genius ideas we’ve seen from these tutorials was utilizing the foulard as a stylish tote!

Who knew? If you feel that your outfit is lacking that touch of je ne sais quoi, then styling the foulard as a one-of-a-kind bag is an inimitable technique. In addition to the selection of foulards, The Enchanted Garden collection also includes patterned silk tops and kimonos that could be dressed up or down depending on the desired look. We love the idea of mixing a kimono with work slacks and kitten heels; this updates a classic look with a chic yet hedonistic touch!

For information about Alessio Nesi, visit www.alessionesi.it.

Marella is located in the 2nd Avenue, The Avenues. Please call 2259 7500 Ext. 7080 for more information and stay updated about the collection’s latest and greatest by following Alyasra Fashion on Instagram @Alyasra.

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ABOUT ALESSIO NESI:

After graduating in fashion design from the Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan, Alessio Nesi began his career by working for the Style and Design department of Alessandro dell’Acqua. Following a specialization course at the Polimoda of Florence, in 2003 he becomes part of the Rodeo Magazine editors as Beauty & Style editor. All-rounder cool hunter, he writes, illustrates and deals with articles and still life.

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Loaay's Two Cents Got business problems or challenges at work? With his Two Cents page, Loaay Ahmed shares his expertise in strategic management consulting to help managers, employees and entrepreneurs thrive.

Q

How do we improve our chances of winning customers faster when entering a market that’s already saturated with many companies offering similar products?

Whether you’re a late entrant or an existing provider, if you follow these simple five steps you can stand out from the competition and be rewarded with an ongoing profitable business. First step you need to make is to find out who your primary customers are. The notion of selling to everyone is delusional. What about companies that sell milk, you may ask? Even such companies need to target key customers. For example, are they after price-sensitive buyers, big-family consumers, or athletes with interest in high protein and enriched milk? The answer to this question affects product development, advertising, packaging, pricing, and more. It all starts with knowing whom you’re going to sell to. If you don’t have a clear and specific description of your key target audience, you’re already on the wrong path.

The next step is to know what such customers want to buy from your industry. Basically, learn which products and/or services matter to them the most and why. Third step is how to give them what they want in a way that’s better quality, more convenient, faster, higher value for money, or whatever other way to differentiate yourself. Fourth step is figure out how to deliver the same standard consistently. The word ‘consistency’ is the foundation of professionalism and trust for successful brands. Your final step in the setup process is to find out how to communicate the value of what you deliver in clear and motivating ways that customers can immediately understand and act upon. However, if you’re bluffing, they’ll know; and your next question to me will then be, “How can we stop our financial bleeding?”...and that's just my two cents.

Q

My company pays me well, I must say. I’m good at what I do because of my experience but it’s not fun anymore. Should I stick to what I know or find a new job?

Comfort poisons development. One of the most dangerous enemies to continuous learning and growth is the satisfaction generated from familiarity. Familiarity breeds a sense of comfort that makes it difficult to leave that zone and push through obstacles and challenges with no guarantees for success. If you’re knowledgeable in your field, it becomes tempting to keep doing what you do without much change because it works, it gives you recognition, and it’s safe. So why bother rocking your own boat? For many reasons, most importantly, you don’t learn much by applying what you already know. Also, times change and what worked ten years ago may not work as effectively today. It’s also good for your mind and ego not to assume you’re always right and to question your own techniques.

Japanese anime master, director and writer Hayao Miyazaki, known

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for anime films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle, is co-founder of Studio Ghibli. They have more than 400 employees producing these award-winning productions. There’s a sign inside the studio that reads: “Please quit if you: have no ideas, always rely on others, avoid responsibility, or lack enthusiasm.” Miyazaki once said in an initial strategic meeting to the first team of Studio Ghibli that if he won’t be learning new things and enjoying work, he’ll quit and he asked the employees to do the same. Having said all this, the definition of professional success differs from one person to another.

For one, it’s more money. For another, it’s the quality of the journey.

Figure out yours...and that's just my two cents.

Q

Who should you invite from the staff when you want to hold an important brainstorming session?

While the classic description of ‘brainstorming’ is generally understood as ‘holding a group discussion to produce ideas’ according to the Oxford Dictionary, there’s another definition – in the same dictionary too – that explains it as ‘a spontaneous group discussion to produce ideas and ways of solving problems’. I find the word spontaneous to be misleading. A brainstorming session is a combination of structure and spontaneity. You need to know how to design the system and environment that gives room for spontaneous thinking to run free for a while. Why for a while? Because if the ideas remain wild and in all directions, your brainstorming session will fail to achieve its objective.

So the flow of a successful brainstorming session is freedom followed by logic. The question now is who’s responsible for each part?

Research shows that high IQ is not a guarantee for creativity. You need people who are filled with curiosity, ability to take risks, and rebels in a way. These traits form a style of divergent thinking, a thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. This is where the freedom part thrives. Once these ideas are on the table, you need other participants with traits that promote convergent thinking, a set of logical steps to arrive at one solution.

Therefore, inviting senior managers alone or specific titles because of their roles is the wrong selection criteria. Look for three participants with divergent thinking style and three with convergent thinking style.

Let the former group lead the first half of the session, and the latter lead the second; you’ll have a blast...and that's just my two cents.

For Loaay Ahmed’s advice on business or work matters, send a short email to loaay@knightscapital.com. Regrettably, only the questions chosen for publishing will be answered.

Loaay Ahmed is a management adviser and strategic expert. To learn more about Loaay and his consulting service, strategic business therapy, visit www.knightscapital.com.

BAROUE

MOMS TO BE ull page: 22x22cm mmanalo'15

Sale starts on 12th of April

THE POLAR BEAR Picking sides with Kanye by bazaar staff

Ever the polarizing figure, Kanye West seems to have an insatiable appetite for whipping folks into a frenzy. In the last month, there have been so many pop culture battles fought about or around him, that every time we sat to finish this article, something new had to be added. Let’s hop right in with what started the recent backlash: Kanye’s latest tirade! At the 2015 Grammy awards in February, Kanye interrupted Beck’s speech – the second time he has interrupted someone publicly at an award show under the guise of gaining accolades for the underappreciated – and the Internet blew up over it. Even worse, he seemed to even cow-tail in the middle of the interruption, say never mind, only to gripe later in a post-show interview about what he meant to say, if he only finished. At least the first time he did it he had the stones to follow through, I suppose.

The short version is this: Kanye said that Beck “needs to respect artistry” He went on to say that he is “diminishing art and not respecting the craft” and that Beck winning the award over Beyoncé was, “disrespectful to inspiration.” First, considering Beck was legitimately inspired to write his songs, whereas Beyoncé had “cowriters” (which for artists of that scale usually means they 120

are basically written for them) should be enough to quell the inspiration comment. Let’s consider his artistic lineage.

It is one thing to interrupt Taylor Swift; this makes sense on one level. Though she is one of the biggest stars on the planet, it is easy to place her as the face of white musical oppression: she is young, she is rich, she doesn’t seem to have suffered much for her success like we who dabble in schadenfreude would prefer to see her do. Beck, by contrast, is a different story. While perhaps there was a time when he too seemed an overnight ingénue – or whatever the male version of same is – he was anything but. An independent artist that used to partake in Dadaist inspired improvisational art shows in unexpected places and was part of the New York anti-folk movement, he has a long legacy of being off beat and whacky far more than he does courting mainstream success. Despite such Indy leanings however, he has been successful: a bidding war ensued in ’93 on the basis of his “Loser” single alone.

And when it comes to respecting art, Beck’s cred is well secure: his mother was Bibbe Hansen, a visual artist and former Warhol superstar. Her dad (Beck’s grandpa) was American artist Al Hansen,

a member of Fluxus art group and friends/study partners to art superstars in their own right Yoko Ono and John Cage, ultimately starting his own art school in Germany. His work has shown in places as notable as MOMA in New York and the Museum Moderner in Vienna, Austria.

In short, this guy has an “artist legacy” – using Kanye’s basis for measurement here – unrivaled by most, if not all, modern musical acts. Kanye by contrast, seems to think he’s an artist because he once wore a teddy bear suit (Dropout Bear is his literal trademark).

Part of the problem with Kanye’s opinion on artistry is that it seems to all be self-referential. He seems to have no want to consider art that is not him and runs with every idea like a child where the idea is legitimized solely by virtue of the fact that he thought of it (about interrupting Beck, Kanye said, “the voices in my head told me to go, so I went”). He thinks it’s good, or unique, or different, or – God forbid, Art because he looks around a homogenous pop landscape and says, it’s better than that! And he may be right, but the problem is whether it should be compared to that at all, in order to be called art. This is akin to a fastfood burger thinking he’s steak because he’s at a

greasy burger truck – with such a low bar, better than that is the literal least he could do (Crap, now I’m craving a burger…).

Case in point, Kanye’s most recent performance on the 40th anniversary special for Saturday Night Live showed him giving, arguably the most different hip hop performance I’ve seen in years. It was a study in minimalism. It was a conversation piece meant to dispel the notions of what a hip hop performance could be, meant to blend art esthetic and force perspective on the music itself – it was an understated response to his own recent tirade perhaps. It also wasn’t any good, and calling it boring as heck might be an insult to boring.

It came off as different for different’s sake where the audience is supposed to be impressed because he started the show laying down and eventually managed to make it up passed one knee to a pseudostand beneath a self-imposed ceiling (you here that, Kanye? Self-imposed ceiling!). I wouldn’t suggest that the performance had no arc, but the climax was when he switched mic’s and was joined onstage by two back-up crawlers – er, I mean singers. Not to mention, Kanye-defender’s – of which there are many – go to great lengths to discuss Kanye’s overall artistic scope being exemplified through both his move from

rapping to singing and his ability to openly discuss his feelings on the loss of his mother. While the latter of those certainly points to a potential for artistic depth – if obvious territory – and the kind of raw emotion one might hope for, the former sounded like it should have been drowning in reverb with an extra side of auto-tune before making its way out of the shower.

Another interesting Kany-e-vent thing that has happened lately has been the message that the hacker group Anonymous supposedly directed at Kanye and co. It basically calls him a child and calls out many of these things people hate him for. There is some debate as to whether it was truly released by the infamous hacking group or not. There seem to be some signs that it is not: it’s relatively poor video quality, the fact that it goes on a bit long, it seems to be moralizing without any real payback taken. A recent Billboard article suggests that an Anon Twitter handle said essentially that it is not them. Still, either way, the sentiment remains the same. For someone made the video, and many people on both sides of the Anonymous group have taken to supporting them.

And the most recent Kanyevent which is still unfolding at press time, backs up the feeling of animosity by many of the public. At the time of

this writing there is a petition made to have Kanye cancelled as a performer at Glastonbury. In a matter of 5 days the petition had received more than 90,000 signatures. Now here is where things get weird I suppose. The thing is, these people, or at least the premise of the petition – say they are mad because Kanye is not a rock act, which is normally booked to headline the festival. I suspect something a little more subversive is going on, and it appears the festival organizers agree. Emily Eavis, festival organizer said in a recent op-ed in The Guardian, “we book our acts by choosing the best and most challenging musicians on the planet – not by applying some kind of arbitrary morality test.”

At best, Kanye is currently running an art game somewhere between Andy Kauffman and Duchamp’s urinal. Kauffman’s most famous character, Tony Clifton, was purposefully polarizing and got the public angry, just to do it. And Duchamp’s urinal was meant as commentary that the artist really doesn’t matter and is of less importance than our society currently gives them – yeah, I’d buy that one. Now if only Kanye knew that.

See Kanye West in Space next month when he broadcasts his face on the moon for a whole year!

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bazaar checks it out PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS: THE RACE CAR FOR THE CIRCUIT AND EVERYDAY DRIVING With the unveiling of the new 911 GT3 RS, Porsche is once again breaking down the boundaries of possibility, redefining what it means to create a car at the cutting edge of motorsport technology which is suitable for everyday driving. Celebrating its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show and with exceptional on-track capabilities, the 911 GT3 has once again cemented its status as the benchmark in its class – straight from launch.

Through extensive modifications to its drive system, aerodynamics and lightweight design, the new 911 GT3 boasts even greater, standard-setting performance. With a lap time of seven minutes and 20 seconds, the new 911 GT3 RS even beats the historic record value of the Carrera GT super sports car on the North Loop of the Nürburgring by nine seconds.

Behind the superior performance of the model lies Porsche’s unrivalled heritage of motorsport expertise and pioneering technology. The 911 GT3 RS is powered by a four-litre six-cylinder engine with 500 hp (368 kW) of power and 460 Newton metres of torque, combined with a specially developed PDK transmission. The engine, which has the largest displacement and most power of any naturally aspirated engine with direct fuel injection in the 911 family, accelerates the car from zero to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and to 200 km/h in 10.9 seconds.

The 911 GT3 RS is a masterpiece of intelligent lightweight design. The body comes from the 911 Turbo, and it signifies its status as the closest road-legal race car with its RS-specific aerodynamic add-on parts. The front spoiler lip, which extends nearly to the road, and the large rear wing reinforce its dominant look. In addition, the 911 GT3 RS comes with the widest tyres of any 911 model as standard. The results: even more agile turn-in characteristics and even higher cornering speeds.

The interior design of the 911 GT3 RS with Alcantara elements is based on the current 911 GT3. One key new feature is the full bucket seats, which are based on the carbon bucket seats of the 918 Spyder.

The 911 GT3 RS celebrated its world premiere in early March at the Geneva International Motor Show and is available for order as of now. The basic retail price is KWD 49,800.

REEBOK ZPUMP FUSION Reebok has revolutionized its iconic innovation - The Pump technology – to create the unique ZPump Fusion which boasts a new and exclusive air-filled cage across the heel and upper of the shoe which moulds to any foot, providing a custom, locked-in fit. Combined with the Fusion Sleeve and ZRated outsole, the Reebok ZPump Fusion is the ultimate running shoe.

The revolutionary air-filled cage is at the core of Reebok’s ground breaking new running shoe.

It is a lightweight, fully customizable, inflatable bladder that wraps around the contours of the foot to deliver a custom fit and lock the foot in place for improved performance.The air-filled cage is combined with the seamless, lightweight ZPump Fusion Sleeve that brings together the key components of the shoe, and the ZRATED outsole to ensure better handling and control. ZPump Fusion is one of the first running shoes to provide a fully customizable fit.

No two feet are alike, not even your own left and right foot. Most shoes are built around a factory-developed, wooden or plastic last which is supposed to reflect a standard foot. But a standard size foot does not exist. ZPump Fusion is designed to adapt to you. Each of the three parts in the ZPump Fusion work together to deliver improved fit and control: AIR-FILLED CAGE – Is a lightweight, fully customizable, inflatable bladder that wraps around the contours of the foot to deliver a custom fit and lock the foot in place to achieve maximum performance.

THE FUSION SLEEVE – A lightweight and seamless compression sleeve, fuses The Pump technology to any runner’s foot providing improved control and comfort as they run.

ZRATED OUTSOLE – Inspired by high performance Z-Rated tires, the edges and underfoot grooves provide increased handling and control so runners can charge forward with confidence.

The Pump technology was born out of an entrepreneurial vision in 1989. Reebok took a daring approach to design, fuelled by the desire to give athletes something unique.

Reebok’s engineers took three completely unrelated items; a rubber bulb from a blood pressure monitor, an air release valve from a bike tyre and an IV bag. From it, they created one of the most forward-thinking innovations and game-changing platforms the footwear industry has ever seen.

The Reebok ZPump Fusion is available at Reebok The Avenues mall and Reebok Al Kout Mall. It can be also found the Athlete’s foot stores in The Avenues mall, Marina Mall, Mall 360 and The Gate Mall.

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DONER

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Image Legend: 1. Shiraz-Vakil Mosque: Vakil Mosque is a Zand era (1750-1794) monument with a Minbar (pulpit) cut from a solid piece of green marble and a Shabistan (inner sanctum) that has 48 monolithic marble pillars carved in spirals.

2. Naqsh-e Jahan Square, which means ‘Exemplar of the World,’ was designed by polymath Sheikh Baha’i (1547- 1621). Sheikh Baha’i designed Shah (Imam) Mosque to have the biggest dome in Isfahan, to be visible from any point in the square and to have a winter mosque and two religious schools on either side.

3. Lut Desert-Sand Dunes: They say hearing the sound of silence in the desert is a magical experience that is difficult to forget.

4. Shiraz-Karim Khan Fortress: Karim Khan Fortress (Arg of Karim Khan) was once used as the living quarters of the founder. This is a Zand era (1773-1794) monument. The fortress has four towers and combines military and residential architecture in its design.

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TO IRAN by bazaar staff

A JOURNEY THROUGH PERSIA WITH TOIRAN.COM

We all like to think of ourselves as worldly and well traveled. We’ve traveled and explored from the “Westest” West to the “Eastest” East, but in reality, there’s a lot we don’t know yet. And when we search the Internet for information on some places, we’re met with a black hole and very little knowledge. That’s how Iranian-born Faranak Askari felt as she decided to pack for Iran. Having lived in Canada, the US, the UK, and the UAE – Faranak was frustrated with the lack of information on Iran. That’s when the idea occurred to her – to create a website with the missing information. It’ll be a guide to the mysterious lands of Persia, with all its hidden gems and glorious nature. This guide has been created to put Iran on the must-visit destination map we all have, and to highlight the beauty of this culture-rich country.

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Upon her move back to Iran in 2010, Faranak couldn’t find a single thing about Iran on the Internet. She started digging and refused to let this realization hinder her.

Finding the perfect name was as important to her as the project itself. Once she found it and purchased the domain name in 2011, everything started falling into place. Faranak knew exactly what her mission was – to create a website that will not only shed light on Iran’s history, culture, and tourist attractions, but will also help people get there. Soon after, she met with a French group in Morocco to take the project forward. Sadly, the project fell through and Faranak was forced to postpone it when false reports were released about the nationalization of the Internet in Iran. But that didn’t stop her from pursuing her dream. After the 2013 elections in Iran, when newly elected President Dr. Rohani came to term, Faranak found new hope. At the Economic Forum in Davos, Dr. Rohani had invited investors to come to Iran and pursue economic opportunities there. Faranak jumped on that and decided to restart her project and head back to Iran.

Through friends, Faranak was introduced to IT consultant Mohammad Ghayati and journalist Hedieh “Heidi” Ghavidel. She also brought in a photographer friend of hers, Hooman Nobakht, and with her team set, the website was launched in its startup phase in 2013. In a matter of weeks, the office was set up in Iran and the team based out of there set off to make this dream a reality.

Before the official launch, Faranak decided to attend the Tehran Startup Weekend to pitch the idea where it was received with positive enthusiasm from the attendees. But sadly none of the developers there were a match for her vision. While traveling through Iran taking photos with Hooman for the website, Faranak was introduced to designer Hamid Beiki who fell in love with the idea and joined the team.

With Hamid’s logo design in place, Faranak felt the project was finally coming together and its identity born. With the help of PHP developer Salman Akbari, the development team was complete and the project was well on its way.

With GPS mapping, photographing, extensive documenting, and travelling – the team has gathered a plethora of information about the country that was once a mystery.

Paying extra attention to the history and esoteric sites of Iran, their comprehensive directory was growing. Then in September of 2014, finally, the website was officially launched and their Facebook page became fully functional. The dream became a wonderful reality as people now had a website to go to with any travel questions related to Iran that they can think of. From finances to dress [continued...]

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Image Legend: 5. Tehran-Darbandsar-ski-resort-restaurant. Darbandsar has a snow depth of two to four meters and a vertical drop of 500 meters.

Restaurants are always packed during the ski season. Darbandsar is also a great place for acclimatization and practice before scaling or ski mountaineering on Mount Damavand.

6. Kashan-Mahin Saray-e Raheb: Mahin Saray- e Raheb is a Qajar era (1785-1925) mansion, located in the historical texture of Kashan. With its delicate decorations, this traditional guesthouse is a prime example of Persian architecture with guestrooms situated around the pool in the main courtyard.

7.Kashan-Velvet Weaving Workshop: Weaving embossed velvet fabric in Kashan goes back to the Buyid (949 to 983) or Seljuq (1037–1194) eras when the art of Zaribafi (weaving fabric with a gold thread) was on the decline.

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[...continued] codes and even a what-to-pack guide, the website is a treasure trove of information.

With unmatched natural scenery, historical sites, and warm and hospitable people, Faranak’s dream of promoting the country’s beauty is now a reality. Since Iran is just a short flight away from anywhere in the Middle East, the tourism potential is unmatched. Whether you’d book a ski trip or a historical tour, toiran.com is here to provide you with everything you need.

A pioneer in E-Tourism, toiran.com serves as a hub for all your touristic needs. Helping you with hotel and tour bookings, toiran.com is your one-stop-shop for everything. Visit the glorious seaside or the glistening mountaintops – did you know they had forests and deserts? Explore the ancient sites that are so steeped in history and beautiful Islamic architecture. As for the food, well nothing can even come close to Persian cuisine. The spice concoctions and skillful layering of flavors pushes Iran to the top of the culinary chain. Toiran.com has even made it possible for you to acquire a card that functions like a debit card so you wouldn’t have to use an international debit card there! So if you’re ever in need of a quick getaway, visit toiran.com to find the ideal package for you. Bask in the glory of tourism created by the people of Iran, from the people of Iran, to the world – visit www.toiran.com!

For more information visit www.toiran.com and let them help you plan your next visit! If you need inspiration, follow them on Instagram @toirancom and browse through their beautifully curated images.

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Faranak Askari

RIVER

AL KHIRAN A SUSTAINABLE CITY BY THE SEA

by bazaar staff

Kuwait’s leading mixed-use property developer – Tamdeen Group – is reshaping the urban and social landscape of the country through innovative projects. By announcing their latest multi-million dollar development, they’re creating a huge buzz from the heart of the Sabah Al Ahmed Sea City with the Al Khiran project.

This resort-like project is being built across a 350,000 square meter plot with a gorgeous waterfront. This beautiful development will be home to 200,000 people, and will create significant opportunities to boost Kuwait’s tourism and business growth. The unique project is said to include Kuwait’s first high-end Outlet Mall, high-rise residential towers, a tower with furnished apartments, a marina to house over 900 boats, and a 5-star resort style hotel with an international spa. Adding to all this, the Al 128

Khiran project will be the first environmentally friendly development in Kuwait!

As one of Kuwait’s most significant privatesector players, Tamdeen Group’s Chairman, Mohammed Jassim Khalid Al Marzouq had stated, “Kuwait’s economy is among the strongest in the region. In [Kuwait,] 45 percent of the population is ranged between 20-39 years of age and the household spending on international brands within the retail sector is on the rise. This is where Al Khiran will offer value not just in terms of shopping but an overall customer experience.”

He also added, “We believe in Kuwait, in its economic future and its excellent legal systems.

It’s recognized as a country that has one of the world’s highest per capita incomes, which means the country is well placed to drive growth across different retail segments. It also remains one of

the most underserviced markets in the GCC in terms of quality retail space.”

Over the last two decades, Tamdeen Group has developed a significant shopping center and continues to work on mixed-use properties.

Known for their iconic creations – 360 Mall and the Al Kout waterfront project – Tamdeen’s projects have become significant symbols of Kuwait. Their unique architecture makes them distinctive destinations and offers an unmatched shopping experience. The Al Khiran project will add to that offering in its own exceptional way. “Kuwait has a huge untapped potential for ‘conservative tourism,’ and this project will attract people from our three neighboring countries and offer them a new destination,” Al Marzouq added. The immense luxury Outlet Mall within Al Khiran will boast the finest combination of both luxury and premium

Tamdeen Group Chairman, Mohammed Jassim Khalid Al Marzouq

Tamdeen Group’s General Manager – Corporate Marketing, Muath Al Roumi

brands. The “indoor” streets covered with endless skylights will provide the entire mall with an outdoor-ambience and will fill it with natural light.

The leading international architects at RTKL are implementing the design of the mall with a unique resort-style architecture that incorporates traditional Arabic motifs.

According to Tamdeen Group’s Chairman, Mohammed Jassim Khalid Al Marzouq, “This Mashrabia inspired architectural development will be the heart of Al Khiran’s touristic glamor and commercial growth.” The mall’s façade will add to its identity providing a highly sustainable solution that filters light and provides shade. The covered arcade will showcase the retail elements and provide comfortable seating space for the various restaurants, while a massive promenade of palm trees will create a pedestrian space between the

mall and the marina. Together, with the help and hard work of the USA’s celebrated landscape architects PWP, a landscape link was created for the entire project while providing terraced seating options for customers’ dining pleasure. With a lot of thought and input in the landscaping design, it’s sure to be an attraction for both tourists and residents alike.

At the center of the development you’ll find their most iconic landform, The Al Khiran Park.

With a variety of open-air attractions for children as well as huge performance spaces, this park will have rich, varied forms of vegetation. You heard us right – the park will have lots and lots of green space. This alone will create a powerful magnetic force for all of Kuwait. Al Khiran will become the entertainment and commercial cornerstone of the new community at Sabah Al

Ahmed Sea City and all the surrounding areas.

Reviving the once idle area into a booming hub, the area will grant the Kuwaiti’s access to some of the finest leisure facilities, private swimming pools and a ‘beach front’ – while the 5-star hotel with an international spa will attract both Kuwaiti residents and tourists alike.

With a park in the making and a gigantic shopping experience, Tamdeen Group has created the ultimate hub in Kuwait’s newest Sabah Al Ahmed Sea City. Al Khiran will now become the urban retreat that Kuwait has longed for with its Riviera-like lifestyle concept. So make sure you keep up with this project, it’s one you won’t want to miss!

For more information about this incredible project, go to www.al-khiran.com.

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Balenciaga

P.A.R.O.S.H.

Gaga Milano Antonio Marras

Alexander McQueen

THE GREEN TEAM Go green in style with Al Ostoura Style Tip: April is a time to focus on the Earth, so why not celebrate with a fresh green outlook on fashion? We’ve picked out some of the best “green” themed items from Al Ostoura. So wear your passion this season!

Find all of these products and more at Al Ostoura and Limelight stores Kuwait-wide. Each Al Ostoura multi-brand store offers a different mix of over 100 top established and up-and-coming designers selected to create the atmosphere and shopping experience that Al Ostoura customers have become accustomed to.

For more information visit www.alostoura.com or go to one of their stores located in Thuraya Mall (2208 9229); The Gate Mall (2208 9225); Laila Gallery (2208 9274); Salhiya Complex (2208 9279 / 2208 9280); The Avenues (2208 9300 / 2259 7714) or Zahra Complex (2208 9270).

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Alice + Olivia

PROTEGES

PERFECTLY PIZZETTA

Celebrating togetherness, one plate at a time by bazaar staff

Nothing brings people together better than a pizza. What happens when you add a selection of freshly prepared Italian dishes, and a magnificent cheese board or two, to the mix? The perfect gathering. Going strong for more than six years, the good people at Pizzetta always come up with new ways to celebrate their take on hearty Italian cuisine. Conceived and created by Kuwait’s very talented and renowned Chef Ahmed Al Bader and currently operating under the umbrella of TSC Group of Restaurants, Pizzetta delivers dining with a different approach to Italian cuisine that is best enjoyed amongst family and friends.

If you choose to dine at any of Pizzetta’s locations in Al Bida’a, Al Seif strip in Kuwait City or Spoons in Mahboula, then make sure that you head there in a group, to sample as many of their delightful Italianinspired dishes as possible. We loved that the dishes that we tried were light, healthy and refreshing, especially because you will always want to save some room for their delectable grill-top pizza.

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We relished the Twisted Caprese Salad, abundant with wild rocket leaves, lightly roasted marinated cherry tomatoes, all tossed in the creamiest balsamic dressing and perfectly complimented with fresh chunks of buffalo mozzarella. From this salad’s presentation to its perfectly balanced flavors, we relished every single bite. If balsamic dressing is not your cup of tea, then perhaps the fresh Burrata with apple and orange vinaigrette will do the trick. This salad is perfect for those warmer summer months, as the sweetness of the cheese and the citrus dressing are a match made in heaven. Another citrus-inspired flavor that we are definitely coming back for is the chargrilled asparagus side dish.

While these salads and appetizers appear simply assembled, it is their simplicity and the use of incredibly fresh ingredients that make each dish shine with original and unforgettable flavors. Less is always more in our books, and as far as Pizzetta is concerned, they’ve perfectly retained the quality of their dishes throughout the years by always focusing on high

quality, locally sourced or freshly imported ingredients.

You taste this in the pizza sauce, the perfect dough, as well as the crunch of the fresh vegetables.

When it comes to perfectly prepared Pastas and Pizza, let the experts at Pizzetta take charge, as the restaurant prides itself on their homemade pasta and grilled pizzettas. Just in time for spring, we absolutely loved the Spinach risotto, expertly prepared to deliver the creamiest texture; this dish is also complimented with finely aged, sharp Parmesan cheese. We also tried the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli with hazelnut cream. Both of these dishes are inspired by locally grown flavors, as you could taste the earthiness of the spinach, and the pasta’s texture did not disappoint. As for the pizza, we decided to deviate from the classic Margherita and opted for the hot and spicy West Side Pizza.

Prepared with real chilies, a triple cheese mix along with pepperoni and an expertly constructed guacamole, this grill-top pizza will take you on a journey to hot and tropical lands and back to Kuwait!

As far as dessert is concerned at Pizzetta, it’s all about going big or going home. Seriously! We can state with the utmost certainty that there is nothing like their Nutella pizza laden with melted marshmallows, caramelized bananas and vanilla bean ice cream. If you’re a pudding fan, then their homemade cocoa bread pudding will not disappoint.

If you’re looking to recreate this scintillating experience at home, then rest assured that Pizzetta is equipped to make your next event, whether it is a small gathering with friends, a lavish wedding, as an unforgettable affair. The Pizzetta catering stations include Pizza and Pasta stations that will impress your guests, and the casseroles freshly prepared, baked and delivered right to your door, will satisfy the most discerning of diners.

Another new concept conceived by Ahmed Al Bader also includes the comprehensive Pizzetta cheese boards. Before we get into describing the cheese boards, you should know that any outside catering orders should be made 24 hours

in advance, and this applies to any of Pizzetta’s outside catering activities. Trust us, this need to be slightly organized is definitely worth the wait!

For the cheeseboards, expect a full, and might we add stunning, assembly of various cheeses, dips, crostini, preserves and chutneys, fresh fruit and herbs and so much more. You could opt for Ahmed Al Bader’s Italian-inspired cheese board, or go for an Arabian-inspired style board that is sourced with local cheeses and dips such as local tapenades, labneh and Arabic bread. These are perfect for weddings, gatherings, luncheons and diwaniyas.

For the full Italian-inspired board, we were completely spoilt for choice between creamy Brie and Camembert, an original Pizzetta nut encrusted Goats Cheese log, Emmenthal, Gruyere, Halloumi slices, and delectably sharp Parmesan. The small, bite-size crostini included exceptionally clever flavor combinations such as finely chopped shitake mushrooms and wasabi cream, pear preserve set atop creamy goats cheese, aged Parmesan

complimented by fresh tomato and rocket, as well as roasted peppers with mascarpone. The full board also includes a selection of hand cut chips, including sweet potatoes, purple potatoes and parsnip chips. If, like us, you’re all about assembling your own crostini, then choose from the different breads, and start cutting up those cheeses! You can customize your cheese crostini to your liking, as the cheese board also arrives with a selection of nuts, chutneys, preserves, fresh fruit, tapenades and various dips.

We were personally sold when we first laid our eyes on that magnificent cheese board, so make sure you order yours today to satisfy and wow your guests at your next get-together. You will not be disappointed!

Pizzetta has three locations in Kuwait, Al Seif Strip in Kuwait City, Al Bida’a and Spoons in Mahboula. Please call 2245 8292 or 2225 3310 for more information, delivery or outside catering requests. Follow Pizzetta on Instagram and Twitter @Pizzetta_.

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bazaar explores INSPIRED BY THE LUSH LANDSCAPE, EXOTIC JUNGLES AND RUSHING WATERFALLS OF BRAZIL Bath & Body Works’ launches its newest collection!

Infused with luscious ingredients and vibrant colors, this mesmerizing collection will sweep you off your feet!

This Collection has 3 NEW fragrances: COOL Amazon Rain – Nature’s most refreshing blend that will drench her senses with exotic starfruit and dewy bamboo. Key notes: Amazon Rain, Brazilian Starfruit, Frangipani, Exotic Mandarin, Dewy Bamboo.

LUSH Pink Dragonfruit – An addictive fragrance bursting with Brazil’s most seductive fruits, including dragonfruit and jungle plum. Key notes: Pink Dragonfruit, Wild Waterlilies, Pomegranate Caipirinha, Jungle Plum, Passionfruit Nectar.

FRESH Brazil Citrus – Our most sun-drenched fragrance that captures the exotic beauty of Brazil with luscious citrus and pineapple.

Key notes: Exotic Citrus, Luscious Pineapple, Mango Nectar, Tiare, Passionflower Take off to Brazil with Bath & Body Works!

SUNSHINE STYLE AT THE WHITE COMPANY’S SS15 COLLECTION The White Company, a leading UK-based lifestyle brand, has introduced its stunning new Spring/Summer 2015 collection. The latest collection is inspired by the calm tranquility of the seaside, capturing the essence of laidback coastal living, from crisp white bed linen with textured throws to the ultimate spa bathroom filled with fluffy towels and pampering treats to lightweight knits and stylish layers. As ever, calm whites and sophisticated greys feature, while there is a nod to nautical with navy accents – perfect for letting the outside into your home and celebrating Summer. The White Company has a full range of products to transform every home. The interiors collection ranges from bed linen and home fragrances to outdoor tableware and bath essentials. Now, after establishing itself as a bed linen, textile specialist and homeware specialist, The White Company has also ventured into clothing with its signature style of easy-to-wear and effortlessly stylish clothes. The brand is launching an exclusive chic and comfortable loungewear and must-have accessories line across its stores.

The SS15 collection is available at The White Company store in Kuwait, located at The Avenues Mall.

The White Company is represented in the region exclusively by Jawad Business Group, a leading retail conglomerate in the region.

KEEP COOL INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE WITH V-KOOL If it’s getting warmer by the day or rather it seems like the spring season is passing too quickly; and if your window tint film is allowing heat inside your vehicle, then it’s probably the best time to exchange it with the world’s most technologically advanced heat control film – V-KOOL from AUTO1 outlets located at Shuwaikh and Ahmadi. But before you do that, the friendly folks at V-KOOL Kuwait would like to demonstrate heat factor that either you are experiencing or should we say, you shouldn’t be experiencing using scientific instruments such as ‘Thermal Heat Trap’.

One demo experience and you can be assured that you would never ever install any other window film on your vehicle other than V-KOOL because that’s how magnificently V-KOOL film blocks heat causing Infra-Red (IR) rays and the harmful Ultra-Violet (UV) rays. In fact, the premium film V-KOOL -70 rejects 99% UV rays and 94% Infrared rays. Plus based on research originally related to US aerospace and military use, V-KOOL is the world’s first wavelength selective window coating that provides a virtually transparent protective barrier against the sun’s heat and radiation. So, before you get your hands and face tanned while being in a car/SUV with boiling temperatures and long rides to home/work, why not get your vehicle tint inspected at V-KOOL at the earliest.

KENZO LAUNCHES SPRING/ SUMMER COLLECTION Kenzo launches its new iconic collection for Spring/Summer 2015.

The collection encompasses wearable everyday items adorned with various imagery from the Parisian powerhouse’s archives of iconic designs. These include the famous Kenzo Tiger, among other favorites.

Available now at Kenzo, 2nd Avenue – The Avenues, Phone 2259 7500 ext 7050.

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bazaar goes cruising

FIAT 500L The details are in the ‘L’ by bazaar staff

Expanding on the style, efficiency and driving enjoyment that has made the Fiat 500 an icon for more than 55 years, the all-new 2015 Fiat 500L expands the Cinquecento’s appeal by offering 42% extra interior space with comfortable seating for five, engaging driving dynamics, a 165 hp 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine and fuel-saving, six-speed transmission, all wrapped in contemporary Italian design. Compared to the original Fiat 500, the 500L has an ideal compromise where it is a much larger vehicle, but still small enough to be classed a supermini. Essentially, the 500L captures what makes the regular 500 so popular, while adding space for five people and all of their stuff.

Since the modern Fiat 500’s global launch in 2007, more than 1 million of these efficient and city-friendly vehicles have been sold in more than 110 countries worldwide. And now with the all-new Fiat 500L, the Cinquecento has grown 136

up to accommodate even more of life’s greatest experiences and emotions all together: children, friends, journeys, music and community. The 500L is based on the popular Fiat 500 supermini, meaning it gets the same retro influenced design, trendy interior and engines as its smaller brother.

However, the 500L's larger proportions mean it is more practical, thanks to a roomy boot, and five comfortable seats. Buyers can also go for a larger 500L MPW, which comes with a seven-seat option.

The Fiat 500L's increased ride height and almost 360-degree visibility make it very easy to drive around town, and what's more, the rear bench seat folds completely flat and slides easily. The boot also has a three-level floor and the front passenger seat has the option of folding completely flat, meaning the 500L can take large loads.

The Fiat 500L is available in four trim levels.

There’s the entry-level Pop Star, mid-range Easy and

Lounge models. Buyers can choose from a choice of economical engines, two petrol (1.4 or 0.9-liter), or two diesels; a 1.3 Multijet which can be paired with Fiat's semi-automatic Dualogic gearbox, or a 1.6-liter Multijet. All of these options are perfect for a breeze through the city, a family day out, or an adventure with friends on a lazy weekend break.

The last model is a rugged looking, front wheel drive flagship called Trekking, fitted with a 1.4 MultiAir Turbo engine that boasts the highest specific power. Designed with the active and thrillseeking driver in mind, the 500L Trekking expands the appeal and practicality of the Fiat 500L with distinct, rugged looks; an athletic two-tone interior environment; unique front and rear fascia designs; flared wheel arches and larger 17-inch wheels to support its adventurous personality. If all of this wasn’t enough, then there is a Beats Edition of the 500L Trekking, which gets black body add-ons and

TECH AND SPECS: Manufacturer: Fiat Also called: 500L Trekking, 500L Living, 500L MPW Assembly Kragujevac, Serbia (Fiat Srbija) Designer: Roberto Giolito Body and Chassis: Class: Mini MPV Body style: 5-door hatchback Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Powertrain: Engine: 0.9 L TwinAir Turbo I2 (petrol) 0.9 L TwinAir Turbo I2 (petrol/CNG) 1.4 L Fire I4 (petrol) 1.3 L MultiJet II I4 (diesel) 1.6 L Multijet I4 (diesel) Transmission: 5-speed manual and 5-speed semi-automatic (Duologic) 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic Dimensions: Wheelbase: 2,612 mm Length: 4,140 mm 4,350 mm (Living) Width: 1,780 mm Height: 1,660 mm Kerb Weight: 1245kg – 1365kg

a thumping sound system influenced by artist Dr. Dre and his Beats Audio brand. While not strictly an off road vehicle in the classic sense of the term, the Trekking is certainly ideal for use on more uneven or slightly rougher terrain.

That’s some information about the car, and the available options. But what about the ‘L’ in the model? What does it stand for exactly? We have you covered on that one. It actually stands for many things, according to Fiat, and sums up the many dimensions of the model: LEVERAGING: taking the Fiat brand’s DNA, the all-new Fiat 500L expands the appeal of the iconic 500 while adding two more doors and comfortable accommodations for five passengers.

LARGE: a Fiat 500 designed on the new “smallwide” vehicle architecture with “cab forward” design for 27 inches more length, plus 6 inches more in height and width, all to deliver an EPA Large

Car size interior with comfort, added versatility and 42% extra interior space. The 500L offers best-inclass interior volume, best-in-class front head and shoulder room and best-in-class rear cargo space (with the back seats up).

LOFT: a trendsetting interior environment featuring segment-exclusive glass from A- to D-pillars that provides nearly 360-degree panoramic views, while iconic Cinquecento (500) cues exude contemporary Italian design outside.

LIFESTYLE: the all-new Fiat 500L Trekking model highlights the perfect blend of rugged styling and versatility, offering customers a Cinquecento that complements their active lifestyle.

LIGHT: human-friendly innovations like fuel-saving and emissions-reducing MultiAir valve technology, eco:Drive and Fiat’s first application of the all-new Uconnect 5.0 and 6.5 touchscreen systems, all to provide a “lightness” to improve the quality of life.

LITERS: the 500L’s innovative 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine provides 165 hp, 184 lb.-ft. of torque and up to an EPA estimated 27 mpg (8.71 L/100 km) highway.

Paired with its tight European handling and quick steering, the sixth dimension, “Liters,” defines the fuel-efficient MultiAir Turbo engine in the all-new Fiat 500L, providing class-leading standard horsepower per liter (117 hp/liter) - for even more driver precision and control, the Fiat 500L also features a six-speed Euro Twin Clutch transmission.

To see the new Fiat 500L in person visit Al Mulla & Behbehani Motor Company, at the intersection of 4th Ring Road and Mohammed Bin Qassim Street, Al Rai, Kuwait. Or for more information phone 188 5500, 9770 4212, 9401 6675 or email: abailey@mbmcq8.com. You can also follow Fiat on Facebook: FiatMiddleEast.

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ACCEPTANCE IS KEY

Emotionally rich and psychologically complex

by Dr. Susannah J. Schuilenberg

Have you ever awakened from sleep abruptly, and been completely disoriented? Your eyes are open, you know you’re awake, but you can’t find your bearings. Your heart pounds, your head feels fuzzy, and you can’t make your brain function in any coherent fashion. You’re fearful you’ve missed something important (like you’re supposed to be at work at this moment) you can’t quite remember where you are, nor can you figure out what time of day it is.

That sense of disorientation can happen even when we’re awake. Recently, as I was cycling around my old neighbourhood after being absent for seven years, I felt completely lost. I knew I was in the right place, on the right street, but I just couldn’t get oriented. Everything had changed. All the old landmarks were gone and instead, the area had new buildings, homes, and parks I didn’t recognize.

It was difficult to reconcile the picture in my mind’s eye with what I was seeing in reality. Eventually, I found a landmark that hadn’t changed, got myself oriented from there, and put my old neighborhood back together in its new shape.

I got thinking about how this experience applies to life in general. That same sensation can happen to anyone, any time there’s been a huge change in life circumstances. If someone you love has died, 138

or a relationship has ended, the loss of a job, an unexpected change in plans – all of these things can cause temporary feelings of disorientation; of feeling like now is unreal. The psyche and emotions are stuck in the old situation, but the body and mind are in the present. It can feel a bit crazy-making.

The remedy for this disorientation after a nap is to refer to an unshakeable standard of measure – usually time. Reading that it’s 4:20 p.m. and seeing the sun out helps me to get my panic under control. I haven’t slept all night, I’m not late for work, and I haven’t missed tonight’s hockey game.

In my old neighborhood, I found something that I recognized that had not changed, and used that to orient myself to the differences between my mental picture and reality.

In life, when we suffer loss, this process is exactly the same. We are ‘cast adrift,’ and the only solution is to find an unshakeable orientation point, and wait. It is this waiting part that we so often try to short-circuit. Did you know that the general standard for grieving a loss is one month for every year the ------------- [insert thing; relationship, job, precious memento] was a part of our lives? We human beings are wretchedly bad at accepting that sorrow is a part of living. We cannot say “Hello,”

and embrace a new thing without saying “Goodbye” and letting go of the old.

If you’ve suffered a loss, no matter what the circumstances, be patient with yourself. Take the time to adjust; to re-orient your perspective to the new, while accepting the sorrow of saying goodbye to the old. Even when we choose the change, believing it to be good, we must still say goodbye to what we have now. We peeps are such emotionally rich and psychologically complex creatures – we cannot have joy without sorrow, pleasure without pain, or life without death. Acceptance is the key.

We need to practice – a little Zen would be helpful – the acceptance of what is instead of the wishing for what was or what will be. Living in the NOW with whatever emotions are present with me.

One more thought…what sorrow will we as a race – homo sapiens; inhabitants of this gorgeous blue ball floating in space – experience when the unrestrained destruction of our own environment puts us all in jeopardy? We must be the only species on the entire planet that is actively sabotaging the ability of the earth to sustain future generations; what a loss that will be. Boo us.

Be kind to yourself and maybe go do something to nurture the earth this month. Humankind will thank you.

THAT AL SALASIL

THE TASTE OF Q8 The country’s best eats, in one arena by bazaar staff

The first thing attendees of the Taste of Q8 noticed when they walked onto the Mishref Fair Grounds early last month was the smell of delectable aromas from every angle.

Each nook along both sides of the area was a window into an incredible delight. Burgers, pizzas, Indian and Kuwaiti foods were just a few of the cuisines represented. For the first time in the small gulf country, residents could taste all the greatest food the country has to offer, in one weekend.

According to organizer Michelle Lambros, approximately 20,000 people attended the festival through its three-day duration. With 78 different vendors, and 16 home grown businesses, there was something for everybody.

Her partner Caroline Rosinski was extremely pleased with the results.

“I couldn’t be happier with the festival and plans are already underway for next year,” said Rosinski. “The atmosphere was exactly what I had hoped it would be: beautiful weather, music, people lounging in the open air trying unique cuisine or just browsing through the festival.”

Each restaurant took their little nook in the festival and made it their own. Pizzeria Amami, an Italian restaurant that boasts of complete authenticity, made quite a splash. The group of Italians that run, cook for and serve in the restaurant had visitors feeling like they had stepped away from Kuwait for a moment and landed in an incredible pizzeria in Sicily.

“Our vision for the festival was to provide and share in the atmosphere,” said Franco Picco. ”All of our objectives were achieved, like pricing, live entertainment and discount coupons for our clientele. Clients truly appreciated the quality of fresh produce and that all the dishes were handmade and cooked in front of them.”

While the chefs at Amami tossed the pizza dough and spread the delicious Amami sauce (seriously, is there nutmeg in there?) the staff made everyone feel more than welcome. A mandolin player helped set the atmosphere, but it was the staff that really made everyone feel welcome. For Franco, the most memorable moment was when a young handicapped teenager came to their stall. His staff was incredibly accommodating, and made him feel right at home in their booth, and created an unforgettable experience for him.

Authenticity was a big theme for many of the vendors. Yet one was sure to catch everyone’s eye right at the beginning. A chef in an extra long beard, and thick mustache stood behind the table at the booth of the contemporary Indian 140

restaurant Taal. Beside him, a lit tank housed dozens of fish that took the term “made fresh” to a whole new level. Customers chose the fish, that was then immediately prepared for them.

Homegrown businesses were also given the incredible opportunity to show their products to people who may not have heard of them. For the owners of Sicilian bakery Di Pietro, Luciano and Mays, the event introduced them to a multitude of new faces, and gave them great exposure.

With the support of the event organizers, and their incredible cannolis, for those of you who haven’t encountered this Sicilian delight, it is a golden, crunchy pastry shell that is super light, and then filled with sweet homemade ricotta cream, were a huge hit with everyone at the food festival. Including the celebrity chefs.

“The most memorable moment for us was when we met both renowned chefs Jenny Morris and Reza Mahammad at our booth,” said Luciano Di Pietro. “We were so excited to see that they liked our Sicilian delights. Especially Reza, the way he was demonstrating the favor of the Cannoli at first bite was so humorous and expressive.”

For many attendees, vendors and even the organizers, the guest chefs truly elevated the experience at the event. Jenny Morris, also known as “The Giggling Gourmet” regaled the women with a special chili recipe for when your husband’s female friend comes over. (Just slide a very hot pepper on her cutlery and cup to turn up the heat). Reza Mahammad, known on the Food Network as “The Spice Prince” was as entertaining and expressive as he was on television. Both were extremely impressed by the festival, and were astounded at the amount of love they got from the crowd.

“I was looking out at our audiences for the Chef’s shows, and saw all the people,” said Rosinski. “From children, couples young and old, guys and gals of all ages…it was a fabulous sight to see. The Chefs loved the crowd we drew, and the enthusiasm from the public was fantastic.

Jenny and Reza are ready to come back, and next year we will definitely have to do something special, perhaps events around the festival for some of our lucky attendees.”

With this year’s success and lessons learned, the organizers are already planning for next year. So keep on the look out for the next bite of the Taste of Q8!

For more information on The Taste of Q8 visit their website tasteofq8.com. You can also follow them on Facebook: Q8FoodFestival or Twitter and Instagram @TheTasteofQ8.

bazaar fitness

UP, UP AND AWAY

by Mike Campbell

“When life brings you mountains, you don’t waste your time asking why; you spend your time climbing over them.”

– A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar Over the past couple of years I have touched on several subjects, including how to keep your training fun, challenging and exciting.

Many “fitness clubs” offer what I’ve called “entertainment training”, often as a way to distract members or clients from really having to face the hard yards of real strength and conditioning work.

However, there are plenty of methods to ensure your members can be motivated and see a new reason to improve their strength and mobility.

Look no further than an indoor climbing wall. It is a fantastic way to provide variation in your strength training routine. Many strength training equipment companies sell various types of grips to improve your grip strengths, whereas climbing on an indoor wall will not only do that, but will challenge you in your endurance, flexibility and mobility.

Indoor climbing is an increasingly popular form of rock climbing performed on artificial structures that attempt to mimic the experience of an outdoor rock.

The first indoor climbing gym in the U.S. and Canada was actually established in Seattle in 1987.

These first indoor walls tended to be made primarily of brick, leaving little scope for interesting routes, as the steepness of the wall and variety of the hand holds were somewhat limited. This is simply not the case anymore with many exciting and challenging holds available. Facilities such as Inspire at Sahara have created an actual texture concrete wall to add authenticity to the experience.

The explosion of indoor climbing gyms has increased the accessibility, and thus the popularity, of the sport of climbing. Since environmental conditions (ranging from the structural integrity of the climbing surfaces, to equipment-wear, to proper use of equipment) can be more controlled in such a setting, indoor climbing is perhaps a safer and friendlier introduction to the sport. Indoor climbing holds are easily visible in contrast with a natural wall where finding a good hold or foothold may be a challenge.

So what do you need to know about indoor climbing? Let’s begin with the two types of holds, which are footholds and handholds.

A foothold is any hold that is stepped on. Footholds can be any variety of shapes, however they are usually quite small, providing just enough surface to place the toe of one's shoe on. They are sometimes referred to as "foot chips", "footsies, "jibs", "nubbins", "edges" or "nibs". These holds are often of the screw-on variety to allow for a lower profile.

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Handholds are any holds that are grabbed with the hands. The majority of holds on a climbing wall are usually intended to be handholds, though they may be stepped on as well. Handholds are categorized by their primary features. There are around seven main types of holds, of which some are then sub-divided.

Positivity is an indication of how easy it is to maintain contact with a hold. The more outward pull the hold can sustain, the more positive it is deemed. If the hold has a large lip on it and therefore would be easy to grab, the hold is considered very positive. If the usable surface is flat and comes into the wall at a 90 degree angle, it is no longer positive. Any angle greater than 90 degrees is considered slopey.

In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a grade to a climbing route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route. There are a number of factors that contribute to the difficulty of a climb including the technical difficulty of the moves, the strength and stamina required, the level of commitment, and the difficulty of protecting the climber. Different grading systems consider these factors in different ways, so no two grading systems have an exact one-to-one correspondence.

Now you know more about indoor climbing, here are my top seven tips to get you moving in the right direction (pun intended): 1. Warm Up and Stretch. Stretching improves circulation and flexibility which translates to improved climbing technique.

2. Preview and Read the Route. This is a skill to develop just like any physical technical climbing move. Advanced climbers are skilled

at reading climbing routes and this is one of the most important of the mental skills for improving climbing techniques. Before you climb, visualize the sequences through the entire route.

3. Strength of Grip. The key to the right grip is simple: Relax. Over-gripping will wear out your forearms and when that happens, you are done.

4. Improve Your Balance. The starting point for developing a good rock climbing technique begins with your sense of balance, and how you control your balance on the wall. Your feet may be close together, or spread-eagle, or in an even stance.

5. Keep Your Body Close to the Wall. You should also keep your center of gravity balanced in a forward-backward direction. In other words, toward the wall or away from the wall. As a rule, keep your body close to the wall.

6. Find Rest Spots. Regardless of the speed of climbing, climbers who look for and take rests will do better than those who do not. Learning to spot and take advantage of rest spots is a very important technique in rock climbing.

7. Watch and Learn. The best way to learn and improve your rock climbing technique is to observe the technique used by good climbers, and practice to develop these techniques yourself.

For more information about Indoor Climbing at Inspire Pure Fitness, contact Karl Tucker, Personal Trainer at Inspire 2.0 at Sahara on 2220 3776.

Mike Campbell is the GM and Co Founder of Inspire Pure Fitness and Inspire 2.0 at Sahara. Email info@inspirekw.com or nooriya@inspirekw.com, or you can visit them at www.inspirekw.com.

STARBUCKS

bazaar around town CAUDALIE – A COMMITED BRAND “Our aim is to help give back to the earth and the vine a little of what they give us every day” Mathilde & Bertrand Thomas.

They have been dedicated, from the moment they created Caudalie, to offering women more responsible cosmetics by formulating products that combine maximum effectiveness, pleasure and cosm’ethics. Born out of the richness of the vine, the brand has been ‘recycling’ raw materials from grapes, grapevine stalks and grape-seeds to extract the exclusive active ingredients and register patents for over 15 years. They have always been in favor of natural cosmetic ingredients from organically grown or sustainable products. And make a concerted effort to ensure their work has a reduced ecological impact. As a result, the product packaging is now made from 50% recycled paper. To take their commitment even further, they decided that from 2012 onwards, they will donate 1% of Caudalie’s annual worldwide turnover towards implementing environmental projects. To start, they have identified four key pillars: •Support reforestation, particularly in the Amazon rainforest, ‘the lungs of the earth’.

•Develop sustainable palm oil without deforestation and by protecting species.

•Help build a sustainable, organic and fair-trade shea butter industry cultivated by communities of women in Burkina Faso.

•Work with small producers who manufacture organic essential oils in the Drôme region of France.

“Our desire is for Caudalie to join these independent family-run companies that contribute to a more responsible growth model. We are aware that being ecological also means, above all, inviting everyone to remain sensitive to the world around us, and this is a constant work in progress.”

They are also delighted and very proud to have joined the ‘1% for the Planet’ association which helps them choose which projects to support and follow each program’s progress. Founded in the USA, this association comprises 1,500 eco-responsible companies who give 1% of their annual worldwide turnover to environmental organizations.

PORSCHE KIDS DRIVING SCHOOL LAUNCHES AT KUWAIT HISTORICAL, VINTAGE & CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, recently inaugurated the re-location of the Porsche Early Childhood Road Safety Program for Schools with the launch of the Porsche Kids Driving School at the Kuwait Historical, Vintage & Classic Car Museum in Shuwaikh. The new location for the Porsche Kids Driving School is representative of commitment from Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company to provide children with the state-of-the-art facilities that will allow the simulation of real-life driving scenarios. During Traffic Week the importance of early road safety education became especially evident with statistics highlighting that more than 250 accidents are taking place on the streets of Kuwait every day and 17 fatalities result from every 100,000 accidents. The inauguration of the Porsche Kids Driving School at the Car Museum marks a success story of dedication and hard-work by all parties involved who provide Kuwait’s students with an all-encompassing understanding of road and traffic safety and basic road signs and traffic laws in Kuwait. In addition to the new location at the Car Museum, recently Porsche Kids Driving School also celebrated two other major milestones with their three-year anniversary, and having reached the 30,000 mark for the number of students taking part in this comprehensive road and traffic safety education program. To mark the occasion, and in response to overwhelming demand from schools, a new website has been launched. The Porsche Early Childhood Road Safety Program for Schools is conducted by applying Porsche Kids Driving School activities in a controlled learning environment, educating children between the ages of three and eight on the importance of wearing seatbelts, how to properly use pedestrian crossings, and learning basic road signs and traffic rules. The ‘learner drivers’ then put their new knowledge into practice and drive Porsche 911 pedal cars on a specially designed road circuit, complete with working traffic lights, roundabouts, junctions, speed bumps and a pedestrian crossing. Children are encouraged to respect and show consideration for other drivers whilst following the ‘Golden Rules of Road Safety’.

To commemorate the anniversary and the landmark of 30,000 student participants, the new website www.pkds.org along with Facebook and Instagram has now been launched to enable increased interaction and follow-up amongst schools, students and parents.

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CHOPARD, MAIN SPONSOR OF THE KUWAIT CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE For the second time, Chopard was the main sponsor of the prestigious Kuwait Concours D’Élegance.

Known as one of the best competitions for classical cars in the Middle East, the 4th Edition of the Kuwait Concours D’Elegance started on February 11th 2015, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Ahmed Al Sabah. Launched in 2010, the Kuwait Concours D’Elegance is an annual automobile competition that judges the designs and styles of elegant and sumptuous classic cars. The Concours D’Elégance started in Paris in the 1920s. At that time, Paris was the world’s cultural capital and a symbol of art and hedonism. The extravagance of the French automobiles competition expanded rapidly to appeal to people from all over the world. Sharing the same passion for classic racing, Chopard was proud to support the event as main sponsor. Since 1988 and the partnership with the Mille Miglia, Chopard has launched different collections inspired by the world of racing. The classic racing collection includes the Mille Miglia, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique and the Superfast watches. These watches stem from the fascination for classic cars nurtured by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-president of Chopard who is a collector and active driver. Judges, collectors and exclusive guests were then invited to the world’s largest Chopard boutique in Prestige, The Avenues mall.

HARVEY NICHOLS KUWAIT ‘THINK INSIDE THE BOX’ CAMPAIGN IMAGINES A WORLD OF NEW EXPERIENCES Harvey Nichols Kuwait, the premier high-end fashion destination, has launched its ‘Think Inside the Box’ campaign to celebrate the unveilings of its newly-expanded accessories departments. The campaign encouraged customers to let their imaginations run free to think of all the fabulous inventive looks they can unwrap, discover and create. Harvey Nichols Kuwait has rapidly established a reputation as the leading fashion retailer in Kuwait, and has again set the benchmark with the widest selection of fashion accessories in the region. Its new assortment of accessories for both women and men lives the brand’s promise to be the first to introduce the newest styles from the world’s top fashion capitals each season and to remain bold and fearless in its buying choices. This season, Harvey Nichols Kuwait’s exclusive line of handpicked accessories includes a comprehensive range of footwear, sunglasses and jewelry. The collection is destined to be a favorite with fashionistas this season, with the emphasis on versatility and creating a flawless personal style. Whether that unique style is chic and understated, casual and laid back or even cutting-edge and fashion forward, there is something for everyone.

For more details follow @harveynicholskuwait #ThinkinsideTheBoxQ8

KIDZANIA KUWAIT LAUNCHES THE KUWAIT FLOUR MILLS AND BAKERIES CULINARY SCHOOL KidZania Kuwait, the exciting kid-size metropolis, has launched the KidZania Culinary School, sponsored by Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Co. (KFM). In line with KidZania’s unique edutainment role, the Culinary School will see kids role-play being chefs, learning culinary skills and trying out fun recipes. Following the opening of the Cupcake Factory last year, the new Culinary School gives kids even more options in the food sector. They will learn a range of activities, starting with the importance of kitchen hygiene – such as washing their hands properly before handling ingredients, and wearing gloves, hairnets and cooking aprons – right up to making healthy recipes using basic ingredients. “By sponsoring the Culinary School at KidZania, KFM aims to enrich our children’s experience of food and cooking,” said Mutlaq Al-Zayed, CEO of Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Co. (KFM). “KFM fully supports KidZania’s edutainment concept, which makes learning easy and exciting while kids enjoy a real culinary experience.” Fernando Medroa, Vice President of Leisure & Entertainment at M.H. Alshaya Co. said: “the new collaboration would provide an exciting opportunity for young visitors to learn more about healthy food and experience the joy of cooking first-hand.”

ROYALE HAYAT HOSPITAL IS THE BEST HOSPITAL IN KUWAIT FOR THE 5TH TIME IN A ROW For the 5th year in a row, Royale Hayat Hospital has been named first hospital in Kuwait and won the “Best Hospital Award” in Service Hero Awards, Arab World's only 100% consumer-driven customer satisfaction index. Dr. Abubaker Elmardi, Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology says, “Being recognized as the first hospital in Kuwait for the 5th year in a row is remarkable and we are honored to receive such recognition from the individuals and patients we are dedicated to serve and cure,” added Dr. Elmardi. Marketing Manager, Christine Joubanian stated that Royale Hayat staff is grateful for this particular award because it represents the voice of our patients who took the time to vote based on their experience and satisfaction. “This award is truly empowering and inspiring, as it boosts our energy to give more and more. Since opening, Royale Hayat has dedicated all its resources, technologies, facilities, educational programs and awareness campaigns to provide the best care in the medical industry and we are thankful for this appreciation from the Kuwaiti community.“ For more information contact Royale Hayat Hospital on 2536 0000, visit www.royalehayat.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @royalehayat.

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bazaar investigates NEW LOOK SPRING/SUMMER 2015 New Look’s launches its Spring/Summer 2015 collection which features this season’s most covetable key pieces and trends for men and women. For women, sport references dominate the Le Sportif story. Stripes are key as well as sports tipping, binding and color blocking. Jumpers are tied around the waist and slogan print ribs and sweats provide an effortless vibe to this cool and casual story. This season’s sports obsession is set to have an overly feminine feel. Eclectic prints and kaleidoscopic colors lend themselves to contrasting silhouettes and utility shapes for a vivid interpretation of an international sports theme, in the Global Sports collection. For men the Spring/Summer 2015 collection features strong sports influences. White Noise focuses on longline modern silhouettes and technical fabrications, which are used to create an urban-inspired sports story. Layering is key, with high shine metallic finishes completing the look. The Outsider is a laid back rock-inspired trend, eclectic prints and varied denim washes aid a smooth transition from sixties to seventies.

Moroccan, floral and tribal prints cover lightweight shirting and grandad collars are a welcome update.

The collection is available at New Look stores located at The Avenues, Al Bairaq Mall, Fintas and Al Salam Mall.

To discover more please follow them on Twitter @newlook_me, Facebook or Instagram @newlookmiddleeast.

STARBUCKS WELCOMES SPRING WITH THE PERFECTLY HANDCRAFTED CARAMEL MACCHIATO Starbucks is marking the start of the spring season by bringing back the Caramel Macchiato, an icon amongst Starbucks’ wide range of espresso beverages. The Caramel Macchiato is a unique beverage that demonstrates the exceptional craftsmanship of a Starbucks.

When handcrafting this carefully layered drink, the Caramel Macchiato is a combination of different flavors and textures that evolve with every sip. The preparation process of this signature drink makes it worthy of its reputation, where milk is steamed until it is smooth and velvety, and then blended with vanilla syrup. The barista will then add a shot of Starbucks espresso coffee and finally complement the beverage with a topping of buttery sweet caramel sauce.

Customers can enjoy this beverage hot or chilled, depending on their preference.

Rana Shaheen, the Starbucks regional communications and CSR manager for the MENA region, said: “At Starbucks, we aim to offer our customers a perfect beverage each and every time. When prepared by our brilliant baristas, the Caramel Macchiato is sheer perfection in terms of taste, balance and uniqueness.”

The Caramel Macchiato is available at all Starbucks stores, waiting for customers to kick off their spring season with its unique taste.

DV 25 - A PASSIONATE CELEBRATION OF TIME FROM VERSACE WATCHES Versace marks the 25th anniversary of Versace Watches with DV 25, a new watch that celebrates time itself. Created by artistic director Donatella Versace, the DV 25 imagines 25 o'clock – a time that goes beyond time. It is the hour of luxury, a moment that can be felt at any hour of the day.

The DV 25 brings together the legendary codes of the house with the passion of Versace today, with the famous Greek key decorating both the face and top ring, and a modern square shape.

The DV 25 comes with either four diamonds on the face, or a limited edition that is trimmed with diamonds on the top ring. Bracelet available in either black or white. The ultimate expression of the power of DV 25 is a one-of-a-kind piece enriched by baguette diamonds, which will be worn by Donatella Versace herself.

Following its debut at Baselworld 2015, the DV 25 will make its global debut at a series of exclusive events at Versace boutiques worldwide, in cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong, New York and Milan.

Versace launched its first watch in 1990, bringing its style, passion and elegance to create the ultimate in timepieces. The DV 25 celebrates this special anniversary.

GIVE YOUR EYES A NEW LOOK THIS SPRING Vision Express launches Bella’s ‘Gray Almond’ colored lenses Vision Express launched the all-new ‘Gray Almond’ colored contact lenses from Bella at a media event that took place at their store at the Grand Avenues – The Avenues.

Part of the popular Diamond collection, the new shade from Bella blends the beauty of luxurious gray with the hue of natural almond. Gray Almond is the 39th color from the Bella that reflects and radiates the natural characteristics of a diamond by enlarging your eyes while keeping your look natural.

In addition to being attractive and unique, Bella’s Diamond collection has a high percentage of oxygen permeation rate and superior UV block, thus making it comfortable and safe to wear all day long. Bella color contact lenses are exclusively designed by Optical Supplies Co.'s General Manager, himself – Mr. Ibrahim Wehbe. With over a decade of experience in the market, Mr. Wehbe is always at his best when it comes to crafting each color and shade of Bella Lenses.

The new Gray Almond colored lenses from Bella are available at all Vision Express and Solaris stores.

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bazaar scopes what’s your sign?

TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 – DEC 21

Reaching for the unreachable will only lead to disappointment. Sure, set your sights high, but keep in mind that there are some things in life you just can’t have! A change in the workplace may be a hard adjustment at first. But creative thinking will turn things to your favor.

If you’re working on an important project now, be sure to stay focused on the job at hand. Letting little things distract you will only prolong the inevitable. Watch for investment opportunities later in the month. You could stumble upon a diamond in the rough.

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19

With all the changes you’ve been going through lately, you’ll be happy to find this to be a slow-paced month. A Taurus coworker may be the source of aggravation – especially if you’re in a management position. News of an engagement adds a bright note to the month.

What you think of as harmless teasing may come off as offensive or even hurtful to someone who doesn’t appreciate your sense of humor. Be especially cautious if you’re dealing with an extrasensitive Pisces. Take the lead when planning a special event. Your creativity will add a lot.

CANCER JUN 22 – JUN 22

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18

You may have to do everything short of standing on your head if you want to cheer up a down-and-out friend. Make the effort. It will go a very long way. A tough decision midmonth will take up much of your thoughts. Trust your instincts rather than logic to help you choose.

Not dealing with a problem won’t make it go away.

It will only get worse. Face it head on and work to fix it. A disappointment later in the month will prove to be a blessing in disguise. You’ll feel that fate probably had something to do with it. A surprise comes through the mail.

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 20

Opportunity will come your way when you least expect it and you could find yourself in the express lane to success! Just remember, be sure to dress your best. A friend who’s moved away will move back into your area. Another reason to celebrate!

Instead of trying to relieve the symptoms of an ongoing problem, you’d be better off looking for a permanent cure. Try to give a loved one extra space if (s)he is in a crabby mood. This applies especially for the introspective Cancer. Beware of a Leo with bad intentions.

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22

ARIES MAR 21 – APR 19 A misunderstanding between you and a family member could turn into a full-blown fight if you’re not careful. Explain yourself and make your intentions clear. If you’ve been feeling frustrated lately, you may want to take a closer look at your diet.

An improvement in your work situation gives you reason to smile early in the month. You’ll feel a great weight off your shoulders. In matters of romance, too, there are happy times ahead. If traveling this month, be sure you’re packed in advance. Otherwise you could forget something important.

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22 Tackle a large project with full force. Taking a half-hearted approach will only make things drag on. Use your Libran tenacity to get things done.

A loved one’s kindness will give you reason to smile. A Cancer plays a major role this month.

Romance looks promising.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22 A new Libra friend gives you valuable insight into a troubling situation. You’ll realize that there’s more than one way to skin a cat. If you’ve been feeling worn out lately, you may want to take note of your sleeping habits. Are you getting enough? If not, catch up on those zzz’s!

www.bazaar.town source: www.2015horoscope.com

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MARELLA

JAZEERA (OBC)