December 2013 | issue # 177 w w w. bazaar-magazine.com
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About The Cover In this month’s special cover feature, we showcase the unique and jawdropping photography of Kristian Schmidt’s Whale Shark series, which placed high-end fashion models in the water with these huge majestic animals off of the coast of the Phillipines. A near impossible feat that appears to at first glance be photo-shopped, the photos are illustrious and inspired, for all their untouched glory.
I usually know exactly what I want to write about in my monthly introduction to bazaar way beforehand. I always try to avoid politics of course, and as a general rule, since we are a ‘don’t worry, be happy’ kinda magazine, we tend to keep criticism off our pages, and leave that sort of bitterness to the daily newspapers, and to the daily grumblings and complaints you hear whenever you meet someone you haven’t seen in a long time. Last week’s intense rain was a perfect example of just how much everyone here loves to complain. Yes, it rained really hard. Yes, there were some incidents of flooding, and some stories of apartments and villas getting soaked. Yes, some of the roads were overwhelmed and traffic was a nightmare. But overall, let’s face it: It wasn’t that bad. Here we are a week later, and it’s almost like nothing happened. It’s nothing compared to what happened in the Philippines, and it’s nothing compared to what happened in Sardinia, and it’s really nothing compared to what happens every winter of every year in the USA and Western Europe where they are used to such weather, and are prepared for it. At least in our case, it was a once in a decade kind of storm. And for the record, the malls of Qatar and Dubai leaked too, their roads got flooded, and their schools were canceled for a day or two, and I’m not even going to describe what happened in Saudi Arabia, since you must be living in a cave if you didn’t see the footage of what happened to them when the same storm passed their way too. Take a chill pill people, and for God’s sake, stop complaining all the time! In this month’s issue of bazaar we get up close and personal with the uplifting and captivating Jana Khaldoun Alnaqeeb, one of the co-founders/owners of The Yoga Center in Kuwait. We were also lucky enough to meet up with Sherief Elkatsha fresh off of his recent Abu Dhabi Film Festival award for his film, Cairo Drive, for this month’s Arabs Abroad column. Our amazing cover was photographed underwater by the talented photographer Kristian Schmidt. You can read about this spectacular photo and the rest of his breathtaking whale shark series in our exclusive interview in this issue. We seem to be unable to let a single month pass without experiencing some of the sensational new restaurants in Kuwait, and this month was no exception. We had the opportunity to visit and savour the beautiful cuisine at Katsuya, proving once again that we can get some of the best Japanese cuisine in the world right here in Kuwait. And we take a trip to Someday café where food and inspiration come hand in hand. After treating yourself to this glorious food, why not relax and rejuvenate at the highly recommended Talise Spa at the Jumeriah Beach Hotel and Spa. Read all about our experience, and make sure you get a reservation! Go on…it’s a day ending in y, so you deserve it! And lastly, as ‘tis the season, in this issue we give you the best holiday songs, some iconic holiday films, and the love/hate top 5 conflicts about the holidays, as well as a timely reminder after Typhoon Haiyan for us all to think about those less fortunate than us. You can find details on where to donate online to help the Philippines during their difficult rebuilding phase. Happy Reading! Ahmed El-Adly
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The bazaar team... Boss
Cover
Ahmed El-Adly
Kristian Schmidt
Operations Rebecca Sweetman
Business Development Ihab Mokalled
Design Padmini Chandrasekaran
Staff Writer/Social Media Yasmine El Charif
Staff Writer Brook McClurg
Online Media/Staff Writer Sarah O. Wali
Communications
Syndicates and Sources LA Times MCT International MIT Review Fast Company The Japan News Tribune Media Services USA Today Slate Washington Post Variety News Service
Printing British Industries for Printing and Packaging
Hala Y. Sharara
Editor A. Al-Duaij
Contributing Writers Ayman Nassar Bibi Al-Falah Darlene Wakim Deepa Pant Dr. Susannah J. Schuilenberg Frances Hernandez Hanan E. Heena Parkar Jaye Sonia Kiko Al-Zaidan Loaay Ahmed Mike Campbell Purva Grover Reshmi Revi
members of:
w w w. b p aw w. c o m 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). No one likes to be dumped;
recycle me, please.
Photographers Frances Hernandez Kiko Al-Zaidan Kristian Schmidt Padmini Chandrasekaran Saba Al-Nafisi Sarah O. Wali
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tel. 24610017 - fax 24610018 info@bazaar-magazine.com w w w. b a z a a r - m a g a z i n e . c o m
BCBG
INDEX DECEMBER '13
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40
108
30
TALISE SPA
KATSUYA BY STARCK
@SHABBYCHIQUE
SOMEDAY CAFÉ
OUT OF KUWAIT
Talise Spa at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa redefines the very meaning of pampering. From the moment our staff writer pulled up at the hotel entrance up until the end of her spa experience, Talise Spa returned to us a whole new person who was physically, mentally and spiritually revitalized.
Magnificent in design and astounding in flavor, our experience at Katsuya by Starck represents the ultimate in Japanese fine dining. From a buttery Miso-Marinated Black Cod to the Crispy Rice and Spicy Tuna signature dish, let this review prepare your taste buds for a tantalizing experience.
For the first time ever, we present a fashionality that hails from the Instagram realm. Meet the enchanting Danna Jawhar, the inspiring young designer behind the brand that’s building an ever growing cult following, Shabby Chique.
We like to consider this kitschy café as the place where great food and inspiration come hand in hand. Whether you’re there to work on that chapter you’ve been stuck on, or meeting friends or looking for some peace and quiet, then head on over to Someday café.
In collaboration with the British Council, The Royal College of Art and Kuwait’s Contemporary Art Platform, 13 artists were chosen from Kuwait to exhibit their work at the Edge of Arabia art gallery in London. We speak to some of them as they tell us more about their experience abroad.
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104 Q8DESSERTS.COM
CAIRO DRIVE
With the abundance of sweet shops and specialty dessert boutiques in Kuwait, q8desserts.com is your online destination to subdue those sweet-tooth cravings. Consider this website the digital home that houses your entire favorite treats under one roof.
In the latest edition of Arabs Abroad, we check in with Sherief Elkatsha, an award winning filmmaker of Egyptian descent that is presently living and working in New York City. We chat about his recent award for his movie Cairo Drive at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and the magic of making movies.
Kristian Schmidt, pg 48
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KRISTIAN SCHMIDT
THE RENAISSANCE (WO)MAN
Internationally acclaimed Photographer Kristian Schmidt beautifully raises awareness with his Whale Shark series, featuring models posing underwater along side these magnificent, yet extremely endangered, species. In this cover feature, we find out what inspires him most about his art and photography.
In Up Close and Personal, we sit down with The Yoga Center’s Jana Khaldoun Alnaqeeb to see what makes her tick. A selfdescribed ‘Generalist’ that feels as at home speaking to science, as she does personal fitness, we get to the bottom of her many varied interests.
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BARTER MADE EASY
LOVE/HATE: THE HOLIDAYS
BAZAAR GOES CRUISING
With baadel.com, Misbah Yacob Agha had a novel idea: what if instead of looking to sell people things, he simply helped them to facilitate trading their things for something they actually wanted? Find out how easy it can be to upgrade all that has been collecting dust around your house!
The holidays easily encompass all the things that totally vex us into a confused state of love/ hate. From bad outfits, bad music, great shopping and many family dinners, we give you the best of the worst, and vice versa, of the wonderful holiday season.
In this month’s ‘bazaar goes cruising’, we feature the iconic company that is Mercedes-Benz just in time to hear what makes it so special. If you’re looking for speed, design, and a car that makes the most of an ultra dense engine, then Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG is the car for you.
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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 issue is read by an average of 4 people, giving us a total readership of over 40,000. bazaar is published every month (except August), delivered free of charge to a large subscriber database, and also distributed free of charge in all of the following locations: Cafés & Eateries
Cafés & Eateries Breadz Burger Hub, Gulf Road Café Supreme - Al Kout Mall, Al Bustan Mall, Al Safat Mall, Sheikh Saed Aviation Terminal Casper & Gambini, Kuwait City Chocolate Bar, Al Bida’a Container 75, Jabriya Crumbs, Shaab Dunkin Donuts, Salem Al-Mubarak Elevation Burger Haagen Dazs - Souk Sharq, Eureka, Arraya Jade Garden Restaurant, Gulf Hotel Johnny Rockets- Opp. Salhiya Complex, Marina, Salmiya, The Avenues, Alia & Ghalia Complex Living Room Lounge Opao Organica Fish & Chips, Jabriya P.Q. - The Palms, Marina Mall Hilton Kuwait Resort, The Avenues Prime & Toast - Al Bida’a, Seif Strip Scoop-A-Cone - Egaila, Al Kout, Fahaheel Someday Café The Early Bird - Fahaheel, Jabriya Upper Crust - The Village Starbucks Outlets: Adeliya Airport Mall Al Mowasat Hospital Al Muhalab
Al Shaya Head Office Al Zahra Aliya & Ghalia Complex AUK Bairaq Mall Baitak Tower Behbehani Complex Bida’a Complex BMW Showroom Daiya Co-op Dar Al Awadi Fashion Way Salmiya Hilton Resort Jabriya Jabriya Land Kaifan Khalifa Resort Kout Mall Marina Crescent Marina Mall Mishref NBK Nuzha Co-op Plaza Hawalli Rosa Castle Salhiya Salmiya, Salem Al-Mubarak Salwa Co-op Scientific Center Seif Hospital Shaab Shamiya Co-op Sharq Co-op Sheikha Complex
members of: www.bpaww.com
Sheikh Saed Al Abdullah Terminal Souk Salmiya Souk Sharq The Avenues The Palms Hotel
Clinics & Hospitals
Al Safat American Hospital Boushahri Clinic Dasman Diabetes Institute Diet Care Center International Clinic Maidan Clinic - Fahaheel, Farwaniya, Hawalli, Sharq, Subah Al Salem Kaizen Salam Hospital Seif Hospital Soor Center Taiba Clinic
Hotels & Health Clubs
Al Corniche Club Crowne Plaza, Farwaniya Flex Hilton Kuwait Resort & Spa Holiday Inn, Salmiya, Fawaniya Inspire Pure Fitness Pilates & More - Salmiya, Mahboula Spaloon The Palms Beach Hotel
Malls
360 Mall Dunkin Donuts Arraya
Haagen Dazs Galleria Marina Mall/Crescent Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar Johnny Rockets P.Q. Paul Souq Sharq Starbucks Haagen Dazs Breadz The Avenues Johnny Rockets Paul Starbucks Airport Mall Starbucks Dar Al Awadi I.O. Center Spoons Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex Starbucks
Gallery Tilal Gold Class Lounge - Grand Cinemas Al Hamra Jacques Dessange Salon, Shaab Karizma Kuwait Airport Business Class Lounges Landmark - Al Rai café, Fahaheel, Salmiya London Limos N Bar N Style Nail Lounge Pink Moon Boutique Sultan Gallery That AlSalasil Bookstore - Airport, Marina, Salhiya, The Avenues THE One TIES Center TXP Window Tints
Stand Alones
Kuwait University
4 Boutique A.W.A.R.E. Center Alghanim Marine Alghanim Showrooms - Safat Al Rai, Shuweikh, Sharq, Fahaheel Beautylicious Brush Salon Dar Al Funoon
Schools & Universities American University of Kuwait Australian College Kuwait Boxhill College BSK - British School of Kuwait Universal American School Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks
Khaldiya Adeliya Jabriya Shuwaikh
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24
LAKELAND
what’s on? CAMP LEADERS – WINTER EDITION!
HEALTH RAISERS KUWAIT 2ND INTENSE WORKSHOP
WHEN: December 22, 2013 at 4:00 pm – January 2, 2014 at 8:00 pm CONTACT: Camp Leaders 9968-6092, 9968-6053 CHRISTMAS IN THE SANDBOX – ANZAK EVENT
WHEN: December 5 - December 7, 2013 4.30pm8pm daily. WHERE: Palms Beach Hotel & Spa (Bida’a Area, Al-Ta’awon St. Road 25) CONTACT: Health Raisers 5595-9922; Email: healthraiserskw@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram @healthraiserskw Following on from the success of the first one, Health Raisers are running a 2nd workshop. With Yogalates by Niki Bader; Capoeira by Annas Almakhzomi and Brazil Beats by Nathalie Lima Villanova.
PARTAKE WINTER CAMP
WHEN: December 22, 2013 – January 2, 2013, 4pm – 8.30pm WHERE: The Palms Beach Club CONTACT: 66502513; partake-kw@hotmail.com; Twitter and Instagram: @partake_kw Keep the kids active this winter break! For boys and girls aged 3 to 13. Activities include: tennis, dancing, yoga, horse riding, cooking, crafts, ballet, squash and many fun surprises! THE COMEDY HANGOUT 2
PINK FRIDAY WALKATHON FOR ANTI-BULLYING WHEN: December 6, 2013 2pm – 10pm WHERE: Abdali Desert Camp (past Jahra). Map will be sent on booking. CONTACT: shellandbella@hotmail.com Bring a picnic, friends and the whole family and come to the camp for a wonderful day out! Activities, sports, music and bonfire! Free entry – all welcome!
WHEN: December 19, 2013 Mad Stand Entertainment and AlGas Events present The Comedy Hangout 2. #hangout2 ANNUAL HOLIDAY BAZAAR 2013
TES WINTER BAZAAR
WHEN: December 13, 2013 2pm – 5pm WHERE: Salmiya, Area 12, Mousaed Al Azmi St. Wonderful day of shopping and entertainment for the whole family! 1KD adults, children FREE!
WHEN: December 6, 2013 at 1:30 pm WHERE: From The Scientific Center to Marina Crescent and back. The Pink Friday Walkathon will begin at the Scientific Center and will go all the way to Marina Crescent and return! Spread the word and keep the hashtag #NicenessIsPriceless trending!
WHEN: December 6, 2013 @ 10:30 am – 8:00 pm WHERE: Salwa Sabah Al-Ahmed Theater & Hall (Salmiya, Arabian Gulf Road) COST: 1 KD
For more event information please visit: GrapevineKuwait.com. Kuwait’s favorite & first true local events & activities website! 26
VERSACE
what’s trending As much as we work our hardest to give you one rocking print issue after the other, we’re socially active (or try our best to be, we are bazaar humans after all) and we love it! Find us online: It makes our day when we see your tweets/mentions/likes/comments/shares about your favorite features and more. facebook.com/bazaarmagazine
what: Red Cross Philippines info: http://ushare.redcross.org.ph editor’s note: Instantly donate to victims of Typhoon Haiyan
twitter.com/bazaartweets
pinterest.com/bazaarmagazine
what: The self driving cars of 2050 info: bbc.com/future editor’s note: A new vision for mobility
instagram.com/bazaargram
what: @Qumar_14 info: Winter Bishts just in time for winter, order yours now editor’s note: Better yet, put that Bisht on your wish list
START READING! Scan to read full digital issue. what: #Shakshookamarket info: The weekly farmer’s market brought to you by Chef Mimi editor’s note: Fun to uncover the ‘secret’ weekly locations
what: #GulfRun info: The auto event of the season is back! editor’s note: Don’t miss the Karting event, Dec 6&7 28
issuu.com/bazaarmagazine
what: @young_Picasso_hamad info: Our favorite young artist is on Instagram editor’s note: Live coverage of events and much more
what: The BEST Christmas board info: www.pinterest.com/thewoolacorn editor’s note: INSTANT holiday cheer and amazing DIY ideas
what: : @shuwaikhmarket info: A new marketplace in Shuwaikh Industrial Area editor’s note: Select designers, cafes, and lifestyle brands
If you’re a quick off the mark, demolish the start racer, let’s get going. Introducing the first-ever Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG.
MERCEDES BENZ Catapult into the high-performance world of AMG with the new A 45 AMG, featuring the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production engine with 360 hp. Together with AMG Performance 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive, you’ll experience an adrenaline rush that only a 4.6 second 0-100kmh time can deliver. www.driveyourself.me
A. R. Albisher & Z. Alkazemi Co. Jahra Road (Highway 80), Shuwaikh Industrial Area, Tel.: 2495-0000
MercedesBenzKWT
ART RIGHT ‘OUT OF KUWAIT’
13 Kuwaiti artists show London their view of home by bazaar staff
It’s the opening night of the “Out of Kuwait” exhibition at the Edge of Arabia art gallery in London, and the 13 artists chosen for the exhibit were nearing the end of their tour of the Royal College of Art. In moments they would cross the street to unveil the pieces they had spent over a year working on, opening their interpenetrations of a drastically different Kuwait than might traditionally be expected to a critical British art scene. From organizers to artists, everyone was a jumble of nerves and excitement. “I was so nervous, I expected everyone to just walk by my pieces without a second glance,” said photographer Ahmed Alshammeri. “But then, they stopped to analyze the photos and ask me how they reflected Kuwaiti culture, and gave me really great feedback.” Alshammeri’s exhibit, titled Third Eye, is a series of monochromic photos that capture full stories in one decisive moment, an artist previously covered in the pages of bazaar. The street photos are his way of facing cultural boundaries of privacy and the rejection of public photos by Kuwaiti culture at large. His goal is to reflect the tradition and mores of the society, while challenging such notions. This is what the “Out of Kuwait” exhibit was all about. Curated in collaboration with the British Council, The Royal College of Art and Kuwait’s Contemporary Art Platform, the collection of works was the product of a year of residency seminars and presentations organized by curator Alia Farid and professor David Rayson, Head of Painting at the Royal College of Art. During the program the artists were taken to key places unique to Kuwait, including visits to the desert, the Kuwait City souks, the fishing harbor, Al Hamra Tower, shopping malls and Kuwait University. Yet, the artists found inspiration not just in the buildings and natural sprawls, but also in the details of these trips around their homeland. From the highways clogged with traffic to the little bursts of nature that line them, each piece of Kuwaiti life inspired something within the artists. Abdulaziz AHumaidhi’s piece, Unraveling Without Moving, is a culmination of 2,500 mini toy cars painted black, white and red and placed in reminiscence of a Sadu rug. The piece is a direct reflection of the local car culture in Kuwait, and speaks to the stagnation it symbolizes in much of Kuwaiti culture. Other artists chose to tackle the past and it’s impact on the future of the country. Adel Ashkanani and Aseel AlYaqoub’s short film “Kissin’ Cousins” attempts to retell Kuwait’s past through a fictional family in one traditional mud house, and using pop culture music to reflect the impact from the outside world. “We were mimicking the ideas and memories 30
The Rhumb Line, Mona Al Qanai
Unravelling without moving, Abdulaziz Alhumaidhi
of the past in a very traditional way, almost poking at the idea we have of what the past is,” said AlYaqoub. “We are saying that we should refrain from the nostalgia and that it’s problematic identifying ourselves within the constraints of ‘nationality’ and ‘traditional.’” After much discussion, seminars, critique and painstaking work, the pieces were ready to be shipped to London for many of the artists’ first international exhibit. The artists had transcended mental boundaries and expressed their views in installations, video art, drawings, jewelry and visual research, but there was one more unexpected challenge that remained: the 100-kilogram cubicle built to house Thuraya Lynn’s animation piece “I Know Places” wouldn’t fit through the door. Lynn was prepared to cut the cubicle and repaint it, but her fellow artists found a way around the
building to a larger exit. “It was 5 degrees in London, but I was red and sweating like it was the middle of summer in Kuwait,” said AlShammeri. “Everyone had their own exhibit they were working on, but in the end it’s a group show.” The teamwork and collaboration among the group helped create an all encompassing, eyecatching exhibit that showed in London from the 14th until the 28th of November. Yet, it was their own personal discoveries that made it a memorable show for the 350 opening night attendees, and for the rest of the duration of the show. For more information contact The British Council Kuwait’s Art Projects Manager Reem Dawani at 2251 5512 ext. 111. Follow the British Council on Twitter or Instagram @kwBritish.
LA MARTINA
The Avenues Tel: 22597563 - 360 Mall Tel: 25309989
truth or dare
THE HOOP HYBRID Frances Hernandez by bazaar staff
We could easily claim that the wonderful Frances Hernandez is the female equivalent of ‘a jack of all trades’ and talents. From spotting her rocking the stage at the most recent improv comedy night with the infamous Improvengers, to delivering amazing designs to an international array of clients, to expertly coaching kids by day about all things basketball, her creative yet equally athletic persona will leave you riveted. Frances considers herself “a hybrid in every sense of the word.” Being of both American and Filipino descent, she believes that both cultures influenced her creative and athletic ambitions. Born and raised with the stunning North Carolina mountains as her playground, her athletic ambitions earned her a full scholarship to play at the Appalachian State University in the U.S., while she pursued two degrees in Advertising and Public Relations. Whether she is polishing up her improv skills, working on a magazine she started back in the U.S., or leading a girls’ basketball program right here in Kuwait, Frances feels that she has found her true calling. In following through with her two passions, design and athleticism, she finds herself open to endless opportunities in being in Kuwait. She also happens to be a lover of food, dancing, art, puppies, traveling, snowboarding, shopping, movies, and playing the ukulele. How would your mother describe you in one word? Independent. How would you describe your mother in one word? Loving. What is the most insane question you’ve ever been asked? Can you dunk a basketball? What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? Moving to Kuwait! Not really knowing anyone, and it was kind of last minute. What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? YALLA! I use it all the time now. I like the literal meaning of it. “Let’s go, GO, Hurry, or C’mon” … Life is short and I believe if you have a dream or something you want to do, go and do it. Don’t wait… YALLA! Where would you like to live? What is your dream retirement location? I would love to live in London I think. I’m going for the first time in December and I really think I’m going to love it. But as for retirement, I’d retire back home 32
in the mountains of North Carolina where it is serene, beautiful, and an amazing place to raise a family. What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind? “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain” What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in? The first thing that came to mind was a penguin (I just came back from a visit to the Penguin Encounter in Dubai). I learned that when male penguins choose their mate they search endlessly for the right stone to present them. If she accepts the stone, they are mates for life. Not to mention how social, playful, funny and dependable they are. What do you miss about your childhood? The mountains. I lived in the woods: making forts, climbing trees, four-wheeling, living life without technology, just my imagination. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Up until my 20s I wanted to change my name so badly. But now, I wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s my grandmother’s name and she is the most amazing, strong person. How would you describe your handshake in one word? With kids: cool and complicated (I love making up handshakes). With adults: firm and confidant.
What is the toughest part of your character? Stubborn. Who is your favorite historical figure? Maya Angelou. What in the world do you least desire? Cucumbers, I don’t like them, not one bit. But on another note, I don’t desire negativity. What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of would make the world a better place? Understanding. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge. The more understanding and knowledge you have of something, the more you are close to respecting it and allowing it to live peacefully in its own right. Many are scared by what they don’t know or understand. But if we can let that guard down and just try to listen, the world could be a better place. Why do you think most girls/guys like you? I try to be open to everyone. No matter who you are, I want to get to know people, if they’d let me. I love making friends! Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…” Love. And a state of mind.
You can check out Frances’ work online at www.franceslynncreative.com, and find her on Twitter and Instagram @franceslynn2010.
HASSANS OPTICS
bazaar love/hate
OUR TOP 5 CONFLICTS ABOUT ‘THE HOLIDAYS’ by bazaar staff
For some, there is no more conflicting time than the Holiday Season. We all know what it is supposed to be: a time for reflection, a time for family, and a time to take all the promises and intents of a year passed, and birth them anew for the coming one; so often though, it can seem anything but. A rat race of obligations and added duties on top of your regular workload, only to wrap the whole thing up by January to a great big – what was it all for? So without any further ado, your top 5 conflicts of the holiday season. #5 The Ever-lengthening Holiday Season Seriously, does the Holiday Season start in June now? It feels that way. And though I am clearly being a bit hyperbolic, you can rest assured that merchants everywhere are squeezing every possible shopping day that they can out of your time. From pre-holidays sales, and post-holiday closeouts, to New Year’s Day shop-a-thons, and after New Year bargains. The holiday music, the malls, the crowds, the Egg Nogg—I love it—for exactly a solid 5 minutes. After that, it’s all sharpening elbows and grabbing for the last pair of gloves. #4 New Years Eve Pressure - Nothing quite articulates the “well, there’s another year of my life wasted” sentiment more than the metaphorical (or literal) turning of the yearly calendar page. Call it the existentialist muck that we all get mired in, but it has more potential toward creating inward loathing than a trip to your ex-lovers house where you yell to a second-story window from the street below for some answer as to “why it didn’t work out?” Not that it happened to me. I swear; it was a friend. New Years Eve itself, with all it’s high pressure to see and be seen, and televised minute by minute updates of what all the great people in great big crowds of the world are doing, can create a real feeling of loneliness, if you are so predisposed. That said, if you can get your mind right and look on the bright side, what a great chance to take stock of the year that has passed, decide for yourself which version of NYE you want to partake in, and march boldly to your own drummer. Take one long look at the 12 approaching months and prepare to make the coming year your beach—as in vacation, of course! #3 The Family Function - Of course everybody loves their family and enjoys the time with them—in theory! But quite often these events can turn much more into bickering sessions on the verge of all-out civil war. Whether it’s a trip to a long-lost aunt’s house, or a visit from a 34
grandparent you haven’t seen in years, there is a lot of awkwardness to be had here. Please wear the most hideous sweater possible so you can at least have a laugh with yourself. #2 Presents! - It is hard to not act like a big kid inside when just salivating over the thought of presents. And to be as absolutely diplomatic as possible, I must admit: when you get that great and unexpected gift from a friend or acquaintance, it is truly awe-inspiring. There really is no feeling like it. The feeling of giving them does in fact feel better too, when you truly know you expect nothing in return. That said, about 90 percent of all gifts are just junk from the junk store that will do nothing for you. If we just took a fraction of what is spent on bad pajamas, ridiculous desserts, and overpriced decorations we could no doubt do a lot more humanitarian
good in the world. #1 Winter Weight - While it may be fair to say that nobody actually loves gaining winter weight, we certainly enjoy the benefits of trying (how else do you explain those cookie crumbs currently sprinkled on your shirt?). Whether its just our bodies natural reaction to acclimating to the colder climate, or simply the fact that you ate 10 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups last night on the couch—the weights-a-comin’! Let us all be thankful for the wonderful sugary sweetness of all those goodies while the weather is still such that we can wear clothes that cover it all up, as January is coming up fast! Please join us next month for the next installment in all things conflicting: Love/Hate New Years Resolutions!
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GAP
The Cousteaus make progress. #GapLove
up close and personal
JANA KHALDOUN ALNAQEEB The Renaissance (wo)man by bazaar staff
Jana Khaldoun Alnaqeeb is a bit of an enigma in the best sense of the word. A unique and seemingly calming being with many varied and disparate interests, she can be hard to pin down. Having graduated from The American University in Washington D.C. with a major in Mass Communications: Visual Media, in 2003, she worked in a variety of different jobs and roles before eventually deciding to start The Yoga Center with her sisters, this last June. As someone who self-identifies as a generalist, she has many different interests and pursues them all with the same vigor. In addition to her role as owner of The Yoga Center, she is an activist, blogger, volunteer worker, photographer and selfeducated scientist who is currently well on her way to becoming a yoga teacher as well. When Jana and her sisters began down the path of opening The Yoga Center, they did so with the purpose and intent of sharing the gift that they had found for themselves, in this intersection where exercise and spirituality meet. Billed as the first and only specialized yoga center for women in Kuwait, they wished to share with the world how yoga had helped them in their daily lives, from aiding in coping with stress, to the flexibility of both the mind and body. As someone who is an avid, active person who only started doing yoga a few years back, it is safe to say that she is a strong proponent of it and eager to convert others to what she sees as a valuable tool in life-fulfillment. Additionally, they believe that yoga has a unique and inclusive ability to bring us all together regardless of our beliefs, habits and personality differences. By opening the studio, she feels as if they are actively spreading that good news to other new and potential converts. When asked, Jana notes that part of what she loves about yoga is the fact that it is a rather slow process that can require a lot of patience and self control to perform and perfect. At The Yoga Center, they have found that the challenge thus far has been to educate women and men alike about the scientific and spiritual benefits of practicing yoga. To this point, she adds, “We think it’s a lifestyle which includes not only the practice of yoga but also the food you eat and the healthy choices you make in your everyday life.” Also, since the founders themselves are part of the local community and thus facing many of the same stressors that many of their participants 36
face, they realize the issues and problems that affect the current lifestyle options in Kuwait. Thus, far from being a removed idea or foreign concept that doesn’t help with your local daily concerns, they see The Yoga Center place itself as a retreat wherein you can escape precisely from the same local stress that they seek to also. The center provides an abundance of options
when it comes to yoga teaching, including amongst other things, a hot room, where people practice in temperatures between 36-40° Celsius. With an additional array of classes that vary from athletic and power to prenatal, there is certainly a bit for everyone. We sit down with Jana for this month’s up close and personal to see what makes her tick.
bazaar questionnaire: What is your idea of perfect happiness? Reading a book. What is your greatest fear? Public speaking. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My love for cakes. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Dishonesty. Which living person do you most admire? Oh, I have so many- Bjork, Lawrence Krauss, Ani Difranco, Richard Dawkins and many many dead ones. What is your greatest extravagance? Going on a mountain expedition. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Science, scientific and scientists. When were you happiest? When I am expressing myself without censorship and with complete honesty and also when I am trying to explain a scientific phenomena! Which talent would you most like to have? Teaching. I think being able to explain things very clearly and in the most effective way, is a true art. What would you consider your greatest achievement? Being alive, really! What are the odds that out of millions of sperm that reach one egg that gets fertilized to become who I am in a universe that is 13.7 billion years old? I think THAT is the greatest achievement anyone can have! Where would you most like to live? Anywhere in Scandinavia!
The Yoga Center is located in Kuwait City, Burj Jassem, Al Soor Street, in front of Discovery Mall. Please visit their website for more information www.theyogacenter.me 37
BARTER MADE EASY baadel.com
by bazaar staff
As the Internet continues to evolve to match our modern day lives it can at times be hard to keep up with all of the new forms of e-commerce methodology. With such rapid change it is often quite comforting to find that such old-world ideas as buy, sell, and in the case of baadel.com—trade—are as fresh today as they were centuries ago. A few years back, after successful stints in the world of business, advertising, and brand management, Misbah Agha and his brother began a family business in the world of importing and exporting that would prove rewarding. However, not one to sit still and rest on his previous successes too long, Misbah decided recently to begin with his next venture. Still under the same family umbrella of businesses, and yet simultaneously all his own, the new start-up baadel.com, looks to be a fun venture offering a service as the first of its kind in Kuwait. That Misbah has done everything himself, from the product testing and research, coding and design, and marketing, all serves as signs of how passionate he is about the project. Inspired by a casual drive down the coastal road a few years back, at a time when economies the world over were struggling, Misbah wondered about all the goods that we have that we never use. Call it a harkening back to the time when people could just simply make a trade of what they had for what they wanted, baadel—an Arabic word that means trade— seeks to be the non-monetary solution to that thing that you are looking for, or that thing that you are simply trying to get rid of. The company bills itself as Kuwait’s first barter website and is a free to use non-monetary website that is simply there just to offer a service for you. Launched recently (and notably on November 13th, the founders birthday–no doubt evidence of how personal this site is to Misbah) the site aims to be a solution to what is ailing all of you hoarders out there, or those who simply know that the item they have is actually quite valuable, despite an otherwise low resale value if traded for cash, and those of you simply looking for your next toy. So how does it work for the average user? For starters, you can either cruise around the site and see what is available until you see something that piques your interest, or log in using email or Facebook and post your item for trade. When you search, you can both ask for it (post what you want and what you are willing to trade) and put an equivalent value of what you think your own item is worth, or just post what you have. This way, somebody is able to figure 38
out exactly what you are looking to get for your item. You also have the ability to open up your parameters by saying if you are willing to trade for other things, or solely looking for one specific item. Then, once you have found somebody that you have decided you want to make a trade with, you just swap each other’s information and meet wherever offline is convenient for you. Additionally notable is that the user experience is quite simple and seamless allowing users to set up an account via email or Facebook as the user prefers. As of now, the site has launched only for use in Kuwait. However, with eventual plans to grow
throughout the GCC region and beyond, Misbah sees the future as bright. He figures that in today’s day of consumerism there are enough people out there who always want to upgrade or get a new toy, and equally there are enough people with a number of items in their homes that are just collecting dust. Why not make the best of the situation and get your next new item with money you spent on something already. Sounds great to me! Go online to www.baadel.com to trade your goods! You can also find them on Instagram or Facebook @baadelcom
G-STAR RAW
bazaar goes dining
KATSUYA BY S+ARCK
An A-Lister favorite at Kuwait’s The Avenues by bazaar staff
The Grand Avenue is hailed as the place to see and be seen. So it comes as no surprise that this marvelous location is now home to one of Hollywood’s favorite restaurants, Katsuya by Starck. When the restaurant’s creator Chef Katsuya Uechi opened his first restaurant in Studio City California in 1997 he was up against competition that fed the refined palates of demanding and worldly Hollywood stars. He used what he had learned in the years as a chef in LA and infused American eating habits with his command of Japanese cuisine. When he teamed up with design connoisseur Philippe Starck, in 2006, the restaurant Katsuya by Starck was an instant success, and received accolades from critics and diners around the world. Now, in their first international opening, the 40
team has created an experience specifically for the Kuwaiti market, and it’s sure to give diners a refined sushi experience. There is an immediate sense of power when walking into the restaurant with Starck’s blend of samurais and bento boxes, while the furniture eases you into a natural beauty of wood and stone to transmit you from the mall to a memorable culinary experience. Every guest at Katsuya is greeted by the entire staff in Japanese with a “Irasshaimase” and served by a member of staff who shies away from using sir or madam, and instead keeps things on a first name basis. They know the menu inside out, so you can ask them what you like about any dish, and we suggest listening to their recommendations. With five different kitchens in the establishment, there is sure to be something there for everyone.
After a few sips of the Burning Mandarin, a citrus drink with a jalapeno kick, we started with a menu item that truly highlighted the merger of Kuwait and Hollywood, the Edamame Hummus. Organic greens are mixed with tahini and spices, topped with olives and tomatoes and served with grilled pita to create a lighter and creamier version of the traditional Arab dish. For a taste of Chef Katsuya Uechi’s creativity in merging American and Japanese tastes, try the Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna signature dish. Regarding this signature dish, the rice patties are slightly fried on each side giving a bit of added flavor and texture to the base. It’s topped with a light, yet flavorful spicy tuna that is bound to jumpstart your appetite. If you are looking for tuna, but would rather stick to something a little
more traditional, try the Spicy Albacore Sashimi with Crispy Onion, a delicious tuna topped with shoestring onions that make the fish flavors pop, without overpowering other flavors. Haven’t had enough tuna? Treat yourself to something so special it is considered the king of sushi ingredients, the Toro. It is served either as sushi or sashimi, but we recommend the sashimi, so you can truly enjoy the melt-in-yourmouth experience. This very small piece, found in the underbelly of tuna, is full of fat, which gives it the butter like texture, but has a subtle enough taste to satisfy any palate. Katsuya boasts of five kitchens that include plenty of warm dishes, and Robata (Japanese charcoal grill), for those who are uneasy about an uncooked meal or just don’t have a taste for sushi,
the mouth-watering Wagyu Tobanyaki (to roast on a ceramic plate). True to its name, the dish comes out steaming hot with the aroma of wild mushroom sauce and delectable meat so tantalizing, you might not let it cool before taking a bite. For something a tad lighter than steak, try the Beef Asparagus from the grill. Thin succulent pieces of meat are wrapped around asparagus sprouts and topped with teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds. For a warm dish that gives you a taste of Chef Katsuya’s culinary art try the Miso-Marinated Black Cod. The dish is marinated for 48 hours in sweet white miso and mirin, and then broiled to perfection. The result is a buttery cod full of a wonderful contrast of sweet and sour tastes, and is bound to have you declare it as an all-time favorite. The serving staff at Katsuya will warn you to
leave room for dessert, and they are right. You can spring for the traditional Chocolate Molten Lava, with a bit of ice cream on the side. Or you can go for Adzuki Profiteroles, a twist on the traditional Japanese Modi. At Katsuya they’ve replaced the traditional sticky rice cake with a light profiterole, stuffed it with a sweet red bean paste and served with a scoop of green tea ice cream. Whether you are going for the ultimate Japanese experience, or are looking for the hippest place in town, Katsuya should definitely be next on your dining list. Katsuya is located at The Grand Avenue – The Avenues in front of The Gaucho Grill. For more information follow them on Facebook at KatsuyaMiddleEast or on Instagram @KatsuyaMiddleEast 41
DENIM ROOM
Dana Al Khobaizi talks fashion, retail, and all things Denim Room by bazaar staff
Dana Al Khobaizi Long considered a pioneer in multi-brand retailing, Dana Al Khobaizi first delivered the local and regional fashion scene her unique vision with Closet Candy. In 2006 Closet Candy introduced thirty new brands to our local market, and is home to up and coming contemporary brands as well as fashionista favored leading brands from New York, LA and Australia. In launching her latest ‘spin-off’ concept that is Denim Room, she aims to create a movement dedicated to the craftsmanship of this special fabric that is a part of our daily lifestyle. We meet up with the talented Dana as she tells us more about her denim inspirations. Hi Dana! Can you tell us more about Denim Room? Denim Room is a unisex denim concept store. As the global fashion culture reinvents itself, so does denim – it’s fresh but remains timeless. There’s a familiarity in those perfect jeans that we all look for. To me, denim is the perfect culmination of comfort and style, and Denim Room is a celebration of that. Are you taking a new direction with Denim Room? If so, how is it different from Closet Candy? Yes and no. Denim Room’s brands are mostly brands Closet Candy had introduced years ago. So the quality, product and most of the collections are the same – with some upgrades along the years. However, the concept is very fresh, and therefore the direction we’re taking is a very urban, raw and underground one; as opposed to the pretty and super stylish Closet Candy. We are of course reaching a 42
whole new demographic with Denim Room: men. Do you think that your experience with Closet Candy organically led you towards the idea of Denim Room, or was this a plan you had all along? Since the opening of Closet Candy in 2007, we have introduced the hottest denim brands worldwide – brands like J Brand, Siwy, Ksubi and Current Elliott were introduced to the Middle East market via Closet Candy. These denim brands brought us a cult following of customers that always came back to us for more denim and denim essentials. Since then our denim, shirts and accessories collections have grown. The denim industry is also constantly evolving and – now more than ever – designers are investing in the artisanal craftsmanship of denim, such as raw Japanese selvedge denim. I have learned that it is truly an art form. All of these factors along with timing, and a gap in the market, it was the perfect opportunity to launch a spin-off of Closet Candy: Denim Room. Can you describe to us a typical customer experience at Denim Room? Denim Room is inspired by downtown New York lofts, industrial warehouses, street art, and your ideal grunge glam wardrobe. This vision came to life by designer Yousef Al Ibrahim. Rows of denim, graphic tees, cool accessories and metallic headphones, along with original artwork and indie rock music - we deliver a completely unique shopping experience to our customer. With a huge variety of Denim brands on offer, how do you go about your buying process? For many years I’ve spent season after season
on buying trips in NYC, L.A and London with access to top showrooms, trade and fashion shows. On the buying trips, I try on every sample I order and make sure I understand the fit, style and detail that goes into the collection. Being in the business for over 6 years now, I also learned what my customers are looking for in a perfect pair of jeans. I am very selective of what I offer to my customers, and only offer top quality brands from either established designer names or cool emerging lines on the rise. What did you enjoy the most throughout the process of creating a project like Denim Room? What did you enjoy the least? Working with incredibly creative people such as the interior designer Yousef Al Ibrahim and my company’s creative director David Klefeker was very inspirational. With a project like this and a perfectionist like myself, it is inevitable to spend sleepless nights stressing about the smallest details. Luckily these boys taught me how to have fun with it. One of my favorite moments was the three of us writing on the fitting room walls with permanent markers; definitely was the most fun I had while working on Denim Room. Describe your perfect casual-chic outfit. Skinny jeans, basic tee, leather jacket, high heel ankle boots and a ton of jewelry.
Denim Room is located at Shuwaikh Market, please call 2221 6939 for more information. Follow Denim room on Instagram @denimroom and Twitter @thedenimroom.
CHEVROLET
closet Bibi
FITTING INTO YOUR NEW YEAR’S DRESS by Bibi Al-Falah
I don’t know about you, but this is my favorite time of the year! It is hands-down the best season for food, friends, and fashion. Starbucks has unleashed their calorie-dense winter lattes and “chicken nuggets” everywhere are climbing onto the holiday treat bandwagon. From cookies and pies to high-calorie hot chocolates and puddings, how can we avoid temptation and look great on New Year’s Eve? Personally, I don’t believe in the “sweater weather” weight gain that is expected every winter. Just because we have cozier clothing options it doesn’t mean we should hit up Johnny Rockets every day. Especially in Kuwait, warm weather creeps back on us almost as quickly as it slips away. Winter can actually be your most powerful weapon in losing weight if you take advantage of it. Start counting down to the 31st because this is the best time to get in tip-top shape. Let’s review two of the ‘habba’ or fad diets going on at the moment. Clean eating. You have probably seen this phrase a million times on Instagram and all over the web with delicious looking posts. What does clean eating actually mean? It just means avoiding processed foods, sugars and white carbs and sticking to wholesome, natural foods. This diet allows you to eat meat and even grains, as long as they are whole grains (think brown rice and wholegrain bread). Try to include as many veggies as you can and enjoy protein-rich foods like eggs and lean beef. There are so many recipes you can follow with this diet since it only really removes chemicals and processed foods from your life, which you should try to do anyway. Paleo. Everyone in Kuwait has heard of this diet by now because you are either obsessed with it yourself or you know someone that is. Even Prime & Toast have added a Paleo page to their menu, which I thought was great! For those of you that don’t know, Paleo is commonly referred to as the ‘cave man diet’ because it includes foods that can be hunted (meat) and gathered (fruit and nuts). To me, this is just a variation of Atkins with a higher carb intake that comes from the fruit and nuts. The diet is so popular that if you want to follow it, there are tons of Paleo-approved baking recipes to try out for all you kitchen connoisseurs. What’s the main difference between Paleo and clean eating? Basically it’s the exclusion of grains, dairy, and cheese from the Paleo diet. If you are a sucker for carbs and dairy, this one is going to be tough for you! What I would recommend is try to eat healthy most of the time and avoid carbs like bread and rice whenever possible. People usually think carbs are only found in bread, pasta and rice but they are 44
actually everywhere, like in salad dressings, fruit and nuts so you are not actually depriving yourself completely. Another helpful hint that people are starting to swear by is a blood test called the Food Print test, which tells you which foods you have an intolerance towards. It is very specific and gives points for which things you should absolutely avoid. For example, one of my friends did this test and found that he had an extremely high intolerance for almonds. When your intolerance is high for a certain food that you consumer regularly, simply cutting it out can have a huge effect on your weight because your body does not digest it well enough. There are several
hospitals and clinics that now do this test in Kuwait, including Seif Hospital and the German Clinic. Other than food, make sure you sweat it out this winter! Nothing feels better than a great workout and it’s a good time to try different classes in the gym and see which ones suit you. If you’re most outdoorsy, take advantage of the weather and go for a run at one of the mamshas or walkways in Kuwait. Sometimes there’s nothing more therapeutic than fresh air, sneakers and your favorite tunes. Eating healthy and working out this December will get you into that glittery dress in no time. Happy New Years everyone!
ABS
FILMS THAT MAKE THE SEASON Iconic movies revisited by bazaar staff
Every holiday season, like clockwork, the movie industry preps and prepares for a robust season of ticket sales, as they prep for the release of multi-million dollar blockbusters and indie films alike. The formula is simple: people, in their want for togetherness around the holidays, huddle around the big screen and TV to set forth on tales that expose our many commonalities often served with warmhearted tidings to boot—then there are the comedies! In the spirit of the now iconic holiday film, we present you with this highlight reel of our favorites, in chronological order. Miracle on 34th Street, 1947 This is the only classic included on this entire list and a real purist might complain about that. The only thing is, while those movies might have been fine for their time, one must note the audience as it evolves. The fact that this one can still be relevant 66 years after its initial release speaks to the timeless story held within. A lovable story about a man who claims to be Santa Clause, and the real-life world around him that is sure he is crazy for asserting so, this film follows Kris Kringle from Thanksgiving through Christmas with a court case to prove his identity thrown in for good measure; a film that teaches you to believe. A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965 Though Charlie Brown would first appear in 1947, it would be another three years before the rest of his Peanuts gang would join him in the comic script of the same name. The lovable loser in the yellow shirt with the black zigzag would be loved by one generation after another until its run ended in 2000. What is great about this TV show (included here, as at the time there were no movie-length cartoons, making this the equivalent of its day) only is that despite its cartoon nature and clearly have being made for an adult audience, it actually touches on heavier themes of the commercialization of Christmas and teaches the valuable lesson of getting back to the roots of the true spirit and cheer that the holiday season is supposed to be all about. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 1966 A movie based on a book, made possible via the strength of the TV rendition, makes this a media trifecta. Of all of them though, the original TV short with a narration by Boris Karloff the same voice that was best known for horror films, would make this an equally frightening and heart-warming event. Based on a stingy and bitter creature born with a heart two-sizes too small, this film is all about this creature’s emotional growth. Though it would be eventually remade in 2000 with Jim Carey (which, in its defense, was good-just not good enough to make this list!) it is this original that stands the test of time. A Christmas Story, 1983 “You’ll shoot your eye out kid!” These now immortal lines refer to the pump action red rifle BB gun desperately wanted by Ralphie Parker. Throw in a tongue stuck to a poll in the dead of winter due to a childhood dare, a kid with a penchant for swear words after hearing them from his father, a lamp that is shaped like a woman’s leg that the mother can’t stand and the father can’t stand to part with, and chasing dogs that eat ruin your Christmas dinner and you have all the makings of what Christmas in your family is really like. This marked the trend towards realism in holiday film that continues today. Scrooged, 1988 Playing the lovable crackpot that we all know Bill Murray for today, this movie follows a lovable but cynical TV executive as he learns the true meaning of Christmas. Based on the
classic tale of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, this movie set the bar for what a modern take of a classic should look like. If the final scene and group singing of ‘Put a Little Love in Your Heart’, does not get you up and going, then you yourself just might be a ‘scrooged’ scrooge yourself. Christmas Vacation, 1989 Chevy Chase stars in this third installment of the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, this time touching on the idea of a stay-cation before it was even known as one. With a series of iconic moments this movie expresses the epitome of the man struggling between the idealized Christmas holiday that he wants, and the reality of what his life and family are able to provide. From a bonus that never materializes, to family that can’t seem but to help, to Clark Griswold’s coming breakdown from the million ways life gets him down, is always just a step away. Home Alone, 1990 This John Hughes directed classic about a boy who is accidentally left home alone over the Christmas holidays while his family, too big to notice his absence, carries on in France, is as good as they come. The added tension from a pair of crooks plotting to rob his house and his subsequent childhood-inspired battle to stave them off proves both hilarious and surprisingly warm at times. Love Actually, 2003 Though perhaps not traditionally what one would think of as a Christmas movie in that it doesn’t hit you over the head with Christmas all the time, in the end, the holiday serves as just one more character in this packed ensemble cast. Who can forget the Christmas lobster; the boy looking for love in the wake of his mothers death; the Prime minister knocking door to door and sucked into singing carols with his driver at the behest of the 3 young girls; the naive Brit who goes to America just to seem more exotic to the love that eludes him in his native UK—only to be proved right; the guy in love with his friends new bride? Call it a modern version of a Christmas classic to keep those of us with shorter attention spans to keep tuning in, it succeeds in all the ways a holiday movie should. Elf, 2003 When this movie came out starring a Saturday Night Live alum, there was every reason to think that it would fall the wayside of so many of its comedic lineage and play out like an SNL skit that couldn’t hold its weight at movie length. But powered by the childlike gumption and frivolity that is Will Farrell’s wit, this movie has bucked the odds to be the truest form of a holiday movie to be released this century. Based on the age-old balancing act of those who do and do not believe that Santa Clause is real, this movie is absolutely made for the entire family. Do yourself a favor and watch all of these movies at once this holiday season!
FIAT
KRISTIAN SCHMIDT An artist inspired by bazaar staff
Kristian monkeying around
Kristian Schmidt is an artist with a vision as bold as his execution of it. A world-traveled photographer that uses his lens to bring us his unique vision of the world, his work has in a short time become iconic for its blend of high fashion and unfettered nature. To date, his whale series has some of his most provocative pieces of work, for their rare glimpse of models upclose with whales. Beautiful in color, stark in nature, and both quiet and reflective for all the fluidity of fabric and models both, these pictures represent the best of what fashion and photography can be. We sit down with our December cover artist to see what inspires him.
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Interview: How did you first get into photography? I was directing music videos and commercials for 10 years (which I hated the editing process of) so it was a natural transition and I absolutely love everything about it. I learn something new on every shoot and have way more fun. What/Who inspires your art and why? Japan has always inspired me and changed the way I look at things, it’s given me a really clear understanding of colors and mood. But, like with everyone, my best ideas come at the strangest
most random times. Do you prefer photos of fashion, wildlife or blending both? Wildlife pictures themselves are hard to relate to because so little of us get to see it with our own eyes. But as soon as you add a person to the shot you can understand it more clearly. It brings out emotion and connects us right away; the messages are stronger. There is a calmness I get from working with wildlife, it’s absolutely amazing to be out there and very few people get to go. You get to experience reality; it’s rare.
Tell us about the whale shark series specifically... They came about in Mexico where I was invited to shoot some stills with Wildaid and Virgin Unite. There is a place called Isla Mujeres where hundreds of whale sharks come together in July to feed, it’s quite a sight. I said to myself I must do a photo-shoot with this, but they were moving too fast to actually do something proper. I met an incredible dive master there named Shawn Heinrichs who told me about a place in the Philippines where the fishermen are actually keeping the whale sharks away by throwing
food behind them while they fish, which makes the whale sharks quite motionless and we were able to put the most incredible water model Hannah Fraser in front with long flowing dresses creating a very unique atmosphere. Roberta Mancino also joined us as a model and brought her star power to the equation. That shoot was magic, everything clicked, it was like the whale sharks were dancing with her, and once you see the pic you can understand everything in their world. They are being finned and just like sharks will disappear shortly if it keeps on going. Having Hannah with them will send a very strong message,
showing beauty is sometimes stronger than showing gruesome images of their slaughter. Do you do other variations of photography as well, or are you sticking to this for now? As soon as there is something I want to do I start thinking about how to do a shoot around it. That’s how any of this came about. It’s sort of an excuse to go experience things so I think that every shoot is different. In your opinion, what was the hardest challenge you faced in your artistic career so far? It’s the never-ending uncertainty, “ is this going
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to be successful?” “Is it going to sell?” since I decide most of my shoots you never know how it will be perceived. It’s taken a few years of waking up every morning going “What the hell am I doing?” but now its all running smoothly. How have different audiences around the world reacted to your art? Everyone is reacting super positively. I have been lucky enough to tap into something that everyone likes it’s just amazing. Everyone is connected with animals. Is there a prevailing message you are trying to communicate with your pieces? First of all I hope it makes people travel and dream. All these places are real and the situations are as well. I’m trying to evoke various emotions 50
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with each picture. Only being on the field have I seen all the horror of the poaching, it’s absolutely astronomical how many animals get killed a year and there is only a few years left before they are gone. Something like 100 million sharks went last year because of finning. Cyanide is being put in the watering holes in Africa exterminating 300 elephants at once when drinking it then they take their ivory tusks. When I was shooting in Africa last year there was one elephant and one rhino getting killed everyday. I have no doubt that at this rate there will be no more elephants in my lifetime. So my message has become very strong trying to show the massacre and also the beauty of these animals, educating people that ivory comes from killed animals.
What is your dream for your art / what would you like to accomplish in the future? Space! Richard Branson is doing astonishing things at the moment with Virgin Galactic and I am extremely excited to try and get to work with them on it. Any exhibitions of your work coming up in the Middle East? I am doing Art Basel at the moment then I am ready to come to the Middle East, its going to be absolutely amazing exhibiting there- one of my favorite places in the world!
Kristian’s art can be found online at: www.kristianschmidt.com
CAVALLI
bazaar snap
Title: Vintage Kuwait Photographed by: Saba Al-Nafisi Location: On the 50 about to take the 2nd Ring Road Description: Convertibles: not so much driven, as they are experienced. – B. L. McClurg For your snap submissions, please send an email including the photo with its title, location, and description to snap@bazaar-magazine.com
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BOSS
big boys toys Because grown men still need to play
JET CAPSULE
DER ZIESEL OFFROAD DRIVING MACHINE
WAZUMA V8F MATTE EDITION
You’ll still be a laughing stock if you try and dock amongst obnoxiously monstrous private yachts, but if you’ve always dreamed of cruising the lakes and rivers in something a little more glamorous than a canoe, the Jet Capsule will easily fill that role, and at a price tag that won’t leave you bankrupt. Designed and built in Italy, the craft measures in at just 23 feet long and can be customized with everything from a compact kitchen, to a private bathroom. Instead of a floating mansion, you can think of it more as a floating camper that should be able to handle at least an overnight excursion.
The Der Ziesel Offroad Driving Machine (KD 8,500) — the unlikely and bizarre offspring of an M1 Abrams battle tank and a Hoveround mobility scooter — is one serious vehicle, ready to handle snow, sand, mud and grass. It’s essentially a tube steel frame and a racing seat bolted onto two off-road tracks powered by two PMS electric disk motors producing 21 Hp and 30 lb-feet of torque. The battery pack will last up to 5 hours, though driving at the top speed of 22 mph will reduce that dramatically. All of this is controlled by a simple one-handed joystick, and is fitted with wood armrests, metal mudguards, and a range of goodlooking paint schemes.
The Wazuma V8F Matte Edition might just be the most fun you could possibly have on four wheels, if you have the guts to actually turn the thing on. This vehicle a combination of a motorcycle, a trike, and a sports car and is powered by a 3L Ferrari V8 engine driven through the gear box of a BMW M3. Its massive wheels (two 285 mm slicks up front and two connected 315s around back) keep what is essentially an engine, a seat, and handlebars, on the ground, while huge Brembo brakes and a highly-customized suspension system keep it from launching into orbit. We’re not even sure it’s street legal, but it definitely looks like a hell of a rush.
www.gizmodo.com
www.uncrate.com
www.uncrate.com
DEGLON MEETING NESTED KNIFE SET
NEOCOVER
POST FOOSBALL TABLE
Now this is one funky knife set, and for over KD 200, it should be. However, everyone will be putting their hand up to cut the veggies with this set of 4 knives and block made of high quality stainless steel, with the appearance of being created from a single block. Designed by Mia Schmallenbach and made in France by Deglon this set of nested knives won first prize in the 5th European Cutlery Design Awards. Comes with a 3-1/4-inch paring knife, 5-1/4-inch utility knife, 8-inch chef knife, 8-3/4inch slicer, and matching stainless steel block.
Invented by an Industrial Design student, Jake Frey, the NeoCover (patent pending) is a standard light switch cover with a magnetic touch. Powered by super-strong rare earth neodymium magnets, the NeoCover can grip your keys, tools or most metals with seeming magical strength. Comes with nickelplated key rings, capable of holding up to 27 keys, it is also safe to use with a usb device, security cards, remote access auto keys etc. Available in white to fit most building decor, or custom colors and 2-, 3- and 4- switch models by request.
A staple of every luxury bachelor pad is a Foosball table, but this is not your average foosball table. Not at all. Made by the people at Post, it’s made with reclaimed wood and industrial metal parts salvaged from historical buildings in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Inspired by the salvaged pieces of each building project, the designers at Post began to produce custom designed furniture by repurposing these industrial pieces into modern works of art. The black ironwork develops a natural, red-orange patina over time, while game details - like iron nets and purposefully abstract “players” - give an antique look.
www.amazon.com
www.neo-cover.com
www.werd.com
54
JEEP
fashionality
SHABBY CHIQUE Danna Jawhar by bazaar staff
For the first time ever, we’re presenting you with Danna Jawhar, a fashionality who hails from the Instagram realm. Fear not, for the woman behind the stylish account, @ShabbyChique, is very real indeed. With the rise and rise of Insta-businesses it can be quite tricky to recognize a true passion for style amongst a huge array of ‘fashion businesses’ on offer. Enter Danna Jawhar. She instantly captured the attention of the region’s fashion savvy with Shabby Chique, a brand conceived out of the designer’s inspiration from an evolving Middle East. Not only so, Danna fully acknowledges the power of social media, especially in giving her brand, infamous for its kitschy t-shirts and Kuwaitcentric jewelry line, the acclaim she has earned via Instagram. Encouraged to be a part of this digital revolution, Danna wished to share her vision for fashion in an arena where others dressed the way they wanted without being judged. If anything, people quickly caught the Shabby Chique bug, as every fashionista in the know raced to get their hands on Danna’s designs as soon as they were 56
available for sale. We sit down with fashionality of the month, Danna Jawhar, as she tells us more about the woman behind @ShabbyChique. When did you first become interested in fashion? Fashion is definitely a part of every girl’s life, however I have never been one of those girls that dresses up daily and owns 200 pairs of heels. I’m actually quite the opposite, and have always worn what makes me feel happy and most importantly comfortable. I love how Kuwait has changed over the years and how social media and networking has given a whole new meaning to the fashion world. The rise and exposure of street style was when I truly started to become more aware of the fashion world and wanted to get involved, I love how people don’t find the need to go out and spend thousands on looking stylish. Being able to dress well doesn’t mean you have to have the money to do so, and I love that people have started to see that. Did you face any difficulties in starting your brand? Of course, but my difficulties were definitely a blessing in disguise! I started Shabby Chique back when I was a student at AUK, thinking I would be
able to juggle the life of a university student as well as trying to start up my own brand. It was my final year at university and I was in the middle of all my major classes in the field of Public Relations, which were very intense. Shabby just seemed to be there, something that I could not fully focus on. So I decided to put it on hold till I got my degree as that was my priority, and one day I would make Shabby Chique my priority again. As soon as I graduated, I didn’t dive right back into it, I didn’t feel the time was right and I’m a true believer that timing is everything. I started to get so many ideas and I was so inspired by how fashion in Kuwait was evolving and I wanted to be a part of that! That’s when the timing suddenly felt right. Uploading my first picture on Instagram made me so nervous yet so excited, and that was about 7 months ago. What type of Fashionistas wear Shabby Chique? I have had so many different types of fashionistas interested in my collection, which is a beautiful thing. I love that it’s not only specifically for a certain type of girl. I’ve seen my t-shirts paired
with track pants and flip flops, high waisted skirts and 6 inch heels, boyfriend jeans and skinny jeans! I am a very laid back and casual person and I have always loved t-shirts but could never locally find trendy and unique ones which is why I decided to do a collection specifically dedicated to just that. We’re in love with your mini-series! Can you tell us more about this stunning jewelry collection? I’m half Kuwaiti half British, and really wanted to have something specific and meaningful to symbolize my love for Kuwait. Wearing simple and intricate jewelry is part of my daily wardrobe, so I thought what better than to have my own collection of jewelry that came in the shape of our map. I have three different sizes to suit specific tastes. Quality is extremely important to me, which is why I only provide 18-carat-gold. You can choose between yellow gold, rose gold or silver and everything comes in either a solid shape or just the outline. As for the mini collection, which is a tiny 1cm in size, I have my best friend to thank for that as she demanded her necklace to be the smallest size I could make it.
If a client tells me where they live, I can place a small diamond on there, where their home is located, to make it that little bit more special and personal. I started just with necklaces but now have bracelets and tiny 1 cm earrings too. How would you describe your style? A t-shirt and jeans combo with accessories that allow me to express my personality and feminine style. I also have a weak spot for bags and always have my nails done. Other than that I appreciate simple yet beautiful things and like being able to keep them casual and not over do them. But I’m also aware that just because something is in fashion, doesn’t mean it’s for me, and it’s important to go with what works for you and what makes you feel the most confident. Where do you get inspiration for your style? I have always been a huge fan of street style and I love how young stylish people have now become huge inspirations to fashion designers; style now isn’t only what hits the pages of magazines, it’s seeing the younger generation take risks and go against the rules of fashion. I love browsing through magazines,
blogs, Instagram and Pinterest. Inspiration comes from personalities; style is who you are whether it is sophisticated, chic, feminine, and individualistic or even a little daring. What is your style obsession? Coming up to the colder weather it’s definitely printed sweaters or t-shirts and leather jackets. I must admit to getting very obsessed with the casual shirt loosely tied around my waist it adds so much to an outfit! I also love oversized shirts, sweaters and t-shirts, not everything needs to be fitted, casually tucked in one side is my favorite. How would you style a t-shirt from your collection? It depends on the look you’re going for, as my t-shirts can be dressed up or dressed down. Id pair my t-shirt with my favorite pair of skinny jeans, leather jacket sleeves rolled up and probably my espadrilles. Even tucked into a high waisted skirt with tights and casual boots for the winter with a statement-layered necklace. Get your Shabby Chique by following Danna’s posts on Instagram @Shabbychique. 57
inside/out
THE YTMA’S AND VIDEO TRICKS TO GET NOTICED by bazaar staff
For those of you who may not have noticed, a pretty substantial thing happened in the world of music on Sunday, November 3rd, the arrival of the inaugural YouTube Music Awards (YTMA). I know that may feel like an oversell, but hear me out. Much like how the MTV Music Awards were iconic and groundbreaking exactly 29 years ago (1984), the YTMA’s clearly sought out to do the same (it is at least a little ironic that in the same way that viewers seem to age out of the MTV audience as they approach 30 years old, MTV’s iconic award show finds itself dangerously close to ageing out of the target demographic it helped to define). There is a new game in town, one which is meant to better speak to the new generation, and they are ready for their close-up. To this end, the YTMA event itself was a direct challenge to what we think we know about award shows to begin with, and was purposefully set up to more represent all the chaos of an underground warehouse party, just with an occasional host (or mc in the literal sense), and better talent. Whether or not one feels the event was successful or not, likely reveals more about the person answering than it does the event itself. Either way, it happened, and with all the hype it generated, the entire industry is likely prepping for next year already. By the time that you read this the event will be long gone so I won’t get into who was nominated or won; the real reason you should care, is that it happened at all. Seemingly inspired by a want to stay true to the ethos that has made YouTube so successful, the awards themselves included categories meant to mix both names we all know and the unknowns. These include: Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Response of the Year, YouTube Phenomenon, YouTube Breakthrough and Innovation of the Year. These seemingly would represent a great mix of pop culture artists, our own often-comical responses to them, as well as those on the fringe just starting to make their mark. So, with all that said, it just might be time to take your own YouTube videos more seriously. So let’s talk a few basic ideas around your next video. First, get rid of whatever voice in your head it is that leads you to believe you cannot make a music video. You likely have a better camera right now in your pocket than they used to make the iconic movie Gone with the Wind, and even a better one than was used to make the first ever music video: ‘Video killed the radio star’. It matters more that it is fun, funny, cute, inventive and/or authentic. Here are a few ideas of successful methods to drive traffic or get the best video possible: 58
First the obvious, the cover song! Not too long ago the version of you doing someone else’s song was dangerous waters to be tredged very delicately, lest fans of the original take offense. These days, groups like Walk Off The Earth have a fast-growing career off of this. It helps that they are at least talented enough, but they are not exactly breaking any new ground here. Just good ideas performed good enough to get a click—that’s it! To date their version of Goyte’s ‘Somebody that I used to know’ has 154.8 Million views. Yes, you read that right. One other thing of note here, if you can manage to have a father/daughter type cutesy thing going, this will rack up the views too! Secondly, try buying stock footage or digging through your family/friend archives. Not to give away my own little technique here, but a few years back we made a music video. Having done a few of these over the years we knew what we wanted, to leave the world of amateur video making aside for something very substantial (keep in mind this is still before the cameras we have today), we bought stock footage from NASA (yes, that is possible) and put together an entire video, via editing, in outer space, for less money than it would have taken to rent a costume space suit for the day. The result is a polished interesting video. So, look around you at footage you may have lying (or worth
buying) around and start editing. The long one shot with an original idea. If you have never seen OkGO’s treadmill video for their 2009 song, ‘Here It Goes Again’—which incidentally is up to 18.89 Million views at the time of this writing—than you should check it out as a 101 tutorial in the single shot video. Take a good idea, coordinate a few bits of action, and let the internet take over. One great example of polar opposite but still staged would be the opening scene to Brian Depalma’s 1998 otherwise forgettable film Snake Eyes, which uses one long shot following Nicolas Cage around while action is coordinated around him. This one shot take could be considered a masters class in same and clocks in at exactly 12:30 (though with only a couple of cuts is around 22 min. altogether). Somewhere in the middle of those two examples your hit band breakthrough YouTube video awaits! Oh and if none of the above works…just throw in a cat. That seems to do wonders to viewing numbers! Get started now and you may just have enough clicks to make next years YTMA’s. Inside/Out discusses all things music and musician related. Feel free to send us links to your own music and/or cat related videos and we will respond in kind.
MONSOON
THE PORSCHE 911 An icon turns 50 by bazaar staff
How do you say happy birthday to a literal legend of its time? If you are anything like the folks over at Porsche Centre Kuwait, you do so with a combination of looking backwards nostalgically, and towards the future by debuting two new models. The event proved to be a fun one for all and proved why, fifty years after its initial debut, the 911 remains one of the best sports car brands in the world. Porsche’s thrilling contradictions of innovation and tradition, performance and everyday usability, design and functionality played a starring role at their recent anniversary event. In a milestone year for the brand, the powerful 911 Turbo S made its debut appearance in the country, sharing the limelight with the 911 50th Anniversary Edition, also displayed in Kuwait for the first time. Guests were taken on a visual journey through the evolution of the 911 since its debut year of 1963, accompanied with the special display of classic 911 cars from several generations – a rare opportunity for visitors to witness the legacy of the iconic 911. Virtually no other car in the world can look back on such a long tradition of continuity. For five decades the model has been viewed as the ultimate automobile and quintessential sports car. In 1963, the first 911 was unveiled at the Frankfurt International Auto Show; ten years later the first ever Turbo prototype debuted at the very same event. Decades later, on the 40th anniversary of the 911 Turbo, Porsche Centre Kuwait has unveiled the new 911 Turbo S Coupe featuring more power than ever, but with improved efficiency attributes that are more desired by today’s increasingly savvy market. 60
Embodying the landmark celebrations is the special anniversary model based on the 911 Carrera S. This 911 50th Anniversary Edition is a coupé with a flat-six rear engine and rear wheel drive, just as the original was back in 1963. Featuring active sport suspension, efficient performance and a special body, the 911’s legacy of raising standards drives on. The model features the wide body, typically reserved for the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 models. This special edition is limited to 1963 cars globally, representing the year of the first ever 911 world premiere; there is little doubt that this will of course only increase their appeal to loyal collectors. Mike Ellenthorpe, General Manager of the Porsche Centre Kuwait division of the Behbehani Motors Company, said: “It has been a genuine privilege to unveil our two new products to such an excited audience. These spectacular cars represent 50 years of the brand’s know-how in creating performance cars for every day which remain true to an unrivalled legacy.” “Behbehani Motors Company sold the first Porsche vehicle ever in Kuwait, a Porsche 356 in 1956. Since that time they have celebrated the evolution of the brand and its vehicle line-up. The 50th anniversary of the 911 links to the long history of Porsche in the country and the passion people in Kuwait have for the brand.” Setting the benchmark for Porsche’s pioneering new technology, the 911 Turbo S leads the field, showcasing active rear-axle steering, adaptive aerodynamics and new all-wheel drive. Added to the developments is an entirely new chassis in lightweight design sporting a 100mm longer wheelbase. When coupled with the 560hp
flat six-cylinder bi-turbo engine and 20-inch wheels, the role of the new generation 911 Turbo S as a circuit racing car, everyday sports car and technology platform is set in stone. Sharing the same values of performance and heritage, the exclusive 911 50th Anniversary Edition includes features that have contributed to the 50-year success story of the brand’s icon. It is equipped with specially tuned Porsche Active Suspension Management to complement the increased track width and enhance the exceptional cornering dynamics of the 911. The sport exhaust system offers a matching emotional sound. Special 20-inch wheels are a visual tribute to the legendary “Fuchs” wheels and are finished in matte black paint with polished centers. Chrome trim strips on the front air inlets, the fins of the engine compartment grille and the panel between the rear lights, emphasize the distinctive appearance of this limited edition model. The 911 50th Anniversary Edition sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (4.3 with PDK) and can reach a top speed of 300 km/h (298 with PDK). The performance features largely correspond to the 911 Carrera S. So, if you are one of the many who have long cherished this brand and have just been waiting for the perfect chance to get into one, these models will likely be the most collectible of all of them for a good many years to come. The Porsche 911 is available from Behbehani Motors Company. Visit their showrooms in Shuwaikh and on the Fourth Ring Road. For more information visit www.behbehanimotors.com.
MOSAIC
bazaar health
UNKNOWINGLY BLIND by Dr. Susannah J. Schuilenberg
There’s a phenomenon in psychology that I find fascinating. It’s called “change blindness” and it is particularly important to police and defense lawyers. In an experiment repeated many times, researchers had people who had witnessed a “crime” (staged for the experiment) identify the perpetrator from a lineup. Immediately after the event, just over 50% of the witnesses chose the correct culprit; the others chose an individual whose physical features and dress were similar to the real culprit. These same researchers conducted another experiment in a bank – people entering the bank were asked if they would be willing to participate in a research experiment. Those who consented were told to go about their business and before they left the bank, they’d be asked some questions about their experience. Those people who utilized a certain teller had their transaction interrupted by the teller dropping his pen on the floor. When he ducked down to retrieve the pen, a second, hidden person stood up and continued the transaction. Only 18% of the people caught the substitution! Can you imagine? We all like to think of ourselves as observant and ‘tuned in’ to our surroundings, but the reality is we mostly aren’t; consequently, “eye witness” testimony is not considered all that reliable. There’s another type of blindness that operates in all our lives and impacts our relationships with others. It’s called bias blindness, and it causes us to make assumptions about others. One of the easiest ways to identify this bias is when we experience surprise at someone’s choices. This sense of surprise comes from the hidden bias that what we would have done something different. Sometimes we don’t experience surprise, we experience anger …or a sense of betrayal …or a sense of hurt because we can’t understand how the other person could have done thus-and-so. We would not have done [fill in blank] therefore no one else should do it either. Alternatively, we would have done [fill in blank] so someone else saying ‘No’ or not stepping up is astonishing. Remember – we don’t actually articulate these biases to ourselves. They’re ‘under the radar’ so-to-speak. This is living on autopilot. ‘Bias blindness’ is the unconscious perception that the way I think, or the way I feel, or the way I believe is the right and proper way. (Obviously, this is not a bad thing – if we didn’t believe we were right or proper, we would be doing something else!) The trouble comes when 62
“
There really is no secret
Hard work and discipline are what you need to succeed. This applies to everything. There really is no secret – or shortcut – that will get you around this. Get to it. Now.
we unconsciously apply our internal framework to an external world. Doesn’t work. I can only live inside my own skin, inside my own head. I cannot ever truly experience what it’s like to be someone else, no matter how well I think I may know him or her. So when I make assumptions about others’ actions or words based on my own inner landscape, I’m experiencing ‘bias blindness.’ When I act on that blindness, I may trample on the Other’s inner landscape without meaning to. By my actions, I have communicated that my internal framework is more important than the Other’s. In relationships, this feels to others like judgment. As soon as I, an individual, expects others to keep my rules or follow my values, I am, by extension, automatically dismissing theirs as unimportant. Others tend not to like this experience. Just saying. The best relationships are made of individuals who know themselves well, understand their own inner landscape, and who have an unshakeable respect for the inner landscape of others. I always have the option of responding to what the
”
other actually says or does, and I do that from my own perspective, owning that the response is my choice. What I don’t get to do is think for anyone but myself. I once read somewhere, ‘Mindreading is the art of thinking for another person and then treating them badly because of it.’ Just like change blindness, bias blindness has a real world impact. Try a little experiment – for today, consciously force yourself not to speculate about someone else’s meaning, motive, or mannerisms. Mindfully choose to stay present in the moment, and only respond to what the other actually says, or actually does. If you try it, I promise you’ll learn something about yourself …and that’s always a good thing. Dr. Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg is a Canadian psychologist traveling the world on a busman’s holiday. Bossy from birth, compassionate by choice, and funny by accident, Dr. Susannah writes about anything that catches her attention. Visit: www.soorcenter.com or follow her on Twitter: @drsusannah
HTC
arabs abroad
SHERIEF ELKATSHA: FILM MAKER Interesting Arabs Doing Interesting things…Elsewhere! by bazaar staff
The son of two Egyptian parents who immigrated to the US in the late sixties, Sherief Elkatsha was born in California in 1973. Though they would also spend a bit of time in Ohio as well, the call to return to Cairo proved too strong, and would find them returning to the familial homeland by the time he was 6; a home in which he would subsequently stay throughout high school. After additional stints living abroad in both Sydney and Boston, as an adult, it would be in New York City that he would make his home base and dive head first into his work in TV and film. We caught up with Sherief fresh off of his recent Abu Dhabi Film Festival Award win for his latest film, Cairo Drive, for this months Arabs Abroad column. Tell us about the inspiration behind your work? Filmmaking appeals to me because it is a combination of so many different creative processes. When I first came to NY, I worked a lot on different TV shows and independent cinema. My first job out of college was at Jim Henson Productions, where I built sets and props for a children’s puppet show, then worked for another puppet show on PBS. I had a fear of getting pigeonholed as someone who only worked in children’s television, so I quickly got out. 64
Documentary films appealed to me largely because after working for so many years on larger sets, it was refreshing to work either alone or with a small team; the time schedule had nothing to do with the crew, but instead was based on the action one was trying to document. No hours of tweaking lights, no endless meetings about meetings – just being in the field with a camera, shooting from the hip, and letting the action happen. Of course I probably pay for it in the editing room. Film seemed to help focus all of my interests under one discipline: music, images, characters/people, dialogue, and design. In 2001 – I started my first documentary, Butts Out – 3 years in the life of 5 smokers trying to quit cigarettes. It had a limited festival run, but was really an experiment in finishing a feature film. What is your favorite project you have worked on? Perhaps because Cairo Drive is my latest film and the fact that I’ve been working on it for 4 years, I would have to say Cairo Drive. It’s a film I’ve always wanted to make about the city I love, Cairo. Cairo Drive was a direct result of working on two previous films in Cairo; one I co-directed, the other the cinematographer. In both cases, I wanted to
pull back and look at Cairo through a wider lens. How do you look a city as a whole, and not get too involved with the details of any one character? The answer was to look at what unifies the city, and what is inescapable to everyone in Cairo…namely, the traffic. What are you working on currently? The film premiered last month at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, and was completed during the summer, so most my time is spent trying to keep the ball rolling, and trying to get the film out to as large an audience as possible. The film won, “Best Film from the Arab World – Documentary Competition”, so with a bit of the earnings, I have rehired my editor Pierre Haberer, and we are going to make a few final tweaks to the finished film. As a director, your film never really feels done, so when given the opportunity to make a few changes – I leapt at it. I have also begun toying around with different film ideas, certainly something to do with Egypt or the Middle East, but keeping my options open. Tell us about the different forms of expression (features/shorts/music videos) and what you like about them? I have worked in different aspects of production
– everything has its pluses and minuses. The bottom line is a real emotion, person, or story… everything else is secondary. I am not too interested in the technology or the unbelievable “money shots”. Not to say I don’t appreciate it. It can be wonderful - just for a different kind of filmmaker. I’ve been just as moved by movies shot on cell phones, and tiny clips found on-line, as I have by big budget studio releases. I have shared music videos I’ve loved, for whatever reason…the medium is incidental, the message - ultimately more fulfilling. What do you find most different about life inside and outside the Arab world? The biggest difference of life in the Middle East is the bond of family. I’m not just talking relatives, but the tribal network of friends, family and fellow Egyptians on the street is unparalleled. Hospitality rules supreme, and everyone is somehow intermeshed and connected. The flip side is I find it is almost impossible to be anonymous in the Arab world - Cairo specifically. In NY, walking down the street, no one cares about what you’re saying, shouting, wearing, doing, at any moment in the day; one feels invisible. In Cairo, most actions are very visible. And people are interested in
everything and anything. We’re more tribal. I could also talk about speeds of cities…but that brings me back to traffic. It’s easier to live in a city with a developed public transportation network. What do you find most different about work inside and outside of the Arab world? I don’t make a big distinction inside or outside of the Arab world. In the film business, you find people you want to work with, and others you can’t; inside or out of the Arab World. You find inspirational and collaborative people, everywhere you go… and you also meet a**holes – the trick is weeding them out. Explain some differences in how you and your work have been received in different countries? I co-directed a film, Egypt: We Are Watching You, which aired all over the world as part of a Why Democracy Series. I think what was so interesting was to have the same 10 films aired in so many countries. I think our Egyptian film played differently in the Middle East just because it was closer to home. I think the times have changed in the Middle East, and people are more comfortable watching different things. I think Cairo Drive will play extremely well in Cairo…because people live it. To Western audiences, it’s different. I’ve heard people
say, “it’s a side of the Middle East I’ve never seen before – they’re funny!” With the media and news, the sense of humor, resilience – or love of life of the Egyptian…never makes the headlines. For me personally, in Egypt I am often looked at as westernized, in how I look, talk and think. And in NY, I’m thought of as very Egyptian, in the films I’ve made, and having spent half my time in the last 14 years between Cairo and Brooklyn. Finish this: In one year from now, my work will be… Rocking! What are the festivals/prizes/honors you have received (and what do they mean to you)? Cairo Drive won “Best Film from the Arab World – Documentary Competition” in Abu Dhabi, which felt amazing. I was filled with pride that it was so well received, by Egyptians especially. When editing for so long, it’s easy to lose perspective on your film, and at some point you have to rely on your instinct to get the thing ‘done’…but you never really know until you put it in front of a crowd of people. They laughed at all the right moments, and went silent when they should have been. Phew! Awards are nice, but a bigger deal is to have your film find its audience, that’s the biggest reward. continued on next page...
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Notes from the Road: Where are you originally from? Egypt. New York. Where is most of your family? Egypt. Sister and a few cousins in NY. What were the circumstances under which you left your home country? To get an education. Have you always wanted to live abroad? I’ve always wanted to figure out a way to split my time…and I’m kind of doing that. How long will you stay abroad? Who knows… Where else have you lived? Cairo, Boston, New York, Sydney. What is your favorite thing about where you live? My favorite thing about NY is my apartment in Brooklyn, where I’ve set up base for the last 16 years. It was an old orphanage from 1898 for wayward boys. My apartment, 3rd floor SE corner, was referred to as “the cozy” for orphans that needed time alone. Thank you. What is the worst thing about where you live? Not having my family and friends around me… especially when you have the flu…and that I have to listen to American News…and winter. What do you miss most about home? The people. Being able to see so many people you love in one day. If you could take one thing from home (a place, a person, an attitude, a belief) and place it where you are, what would it be? Hospitality. How often do you return home? Twice a year, depending. Where will you eventually retire? Who knows. When I die, I will… Be at peace. Information about Sherief Elkatsha’s new film Cairo Drive, can be found online at www.cairodrivefilm.com or at Facebook.com/cairodrivefilm. You can also find out more about his other films at www.katsha.net 66
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BERSHKA
KUWAIT INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR
And That Al Salasil by Frances Hernandez
Well, it’s that time of year again! And while most of you may be thinking that I am talking about the holidays or cooler weather, I am actually referring to the annual Kuwait International Book Fair, an event also known as the Arabic Books Exhibition. Located at the Mishref Fair Grounds, (and notably now big enough to take up three entire halls worth of space), this annual event remains one of the most intriguing events in Kuwait. In a recent press release by KUNA, the Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Humoud AlSalem Al-Sabah stated, “Kuwait believes in the significance of the book as a tool for promoting culture and creativity.” Reading this quote was music to our ears here at bazaar, where we love all things book-ish in nature, and made us all the more excited to cover the event. We got in touch with Hiba AlMansour, business development manager of That Al Salasil—the oldest book store and publisher in Kuwait—who was kind enough to share with us more information about the book fair and their part in it all. The Kuwait International Book Fair is a meeting place for everyone from all walks of life. You are most likely to find bookworms, teachers, and publishing professionals from across the 68
region, but everyone is welcomed! It is the ultimate one-stop-shop for bookselling, buying, publishing, and production services. Each year, the exhibition is the ideal place to do business, network, meet new faces, learn about the latest book trends in the Middle Eastern world, or to simply find a good book. You will spot everything from publishing, non-fiction and fiction books, magazines, comic books, small press, and retail solutions. Every year the event draws out book retailers, librarians, literary agents, publishers, students, and families that come to learn, shop, or just meet new people and future authors. That Al Salasil, or That Es-Salasil as it is pronounced in Arabic, was established back in 1972 and has specialized in book publications in Kuwait for over 40 years. As such, it would definitely be fair to say that they have a tremendous amount of experience in this kind of thing. This year they were more excited than ever to be a part of the Kuwait International Book Fair, primarily because of all the new and exciting things going on in the publishing world. Each time they participate they like to change things up and have products and services that appeal to different wants of their customers. This year their impressive booth had all their best sellers, including history books, cookbooks, and children’s books. They even had an interactive
Instagram and Snapchat station to keep guests entertained as they took a break from browsing through their many choices. If Arabic history books are That Al Salasil’s best sellers by subject, Kuwait history books are the top of that section. For my part though, I thought it was their children’s book section that was the most impressive. They had children’s books for learning, for reading, for writing; you name it, you could probably find it. It’s this kind of variety that separates That Al Salasil from the rest of the local pack. At one of their main stores, located conveniently in The Avenues, you can find a wide variety of books in both English and Arabic. They also have store locations in Marina Crescent, Souk Sharq, as well as the Airport which is where you will find the perfect book for your travel needs. If you didn’t get the chance to visit the exhibition or That Al Salasil’s booth, don’t fret; the exhibition will be back next year bigger than ever. So, all you authors out there: get to writing! We hope to see you next year at Kuwait’s International Book Fair. For more information on That Al Salasil contact them on 2259 7173 or visit: www.thatalsalasil.com.kw or follow them on Twitter or Instagram @thatalsalasil or Facebook at That Al Salasil Bookstore
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ADOLFO DOMINGUEZ
THE ONLY HOLIDAY RECORD YOU WILL EVER NEED Volume 1
by bazaar staff
If historians, folklorists, mythologists and the odd Wikipedia page are to be believed, the modern day holiday song has been gifted to us via an evolution from its early days as a church hymn or chant, which evolved into the wassail, which would turn into the holiday carols we all now know so well. And, while I am clearly paraphrasing for brevities sake, all I personally know is that they are unavoidable, and thanks in no small part to the holiday creep—the phrase used to describe the ever lengthening of the holiday season—increasingly filling up more of our calendar space. We present to you the only holiday LP Record (mix tape?) you will ever need: Side A if you’re in the holiday spirit, Side B if you can’t be bothered and wish to drink and sulk in a corner. Flip accordingly!
Side A - Holidays #1 White Christmas – Bing Crosby, 1942 #2 Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt, 1953 #3 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra, 1957 #4 Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir, 1971 #5 Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid, 1984 #6 All I want for Christmas – Mariah Carey, 1994
Side B - Alternative Holidays #1 Fairytale of New York – The Pogues and Kristy MacColl, 1987 #2 Christmas in Hollis – RUN DMC, 1987 #3 Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis – Tom Waits, 1978 #4 Blue Christmas – Bright Eyes, 2002 #5 2000 Miles – The Pretenders, 1983 #6 Christmas Eve Can Kill You – The Everly Brothers, 1971 or Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billie, 2012
If you do not have access to the materials needed to make a lacquer, a metal master, and the eventual stamper and corresponding hydraulic press needed for vinyl, I guess a mix-tape is ok too. Don’t say we never gave you nothin’.
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HOTEL PARTICULIER
KUWAIT | KSA | UAE LEVEL 1, THE MALL, THE AVENUES TEL: 22200545/6
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EXTRAORDINARY PAMPERING AT TALISE SPA Re-energize inside and out in Kuwait’s latest spa experience by bazaar staff
For a good spa experience you need a relaxing ambiance and a skilled therapist. For an exceptional spa day, you should feel pampered from head to toe, inside and out. Talise Spa at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa goes beyond the exceptional and gives every customer an extraordinary experience. From the moment you pull up to the front door of the hotel, there is a sense that your every need will be personally attended to by one of the hotel staff. The valet is quick to help you out of your vehicle, and hosts stand at the front door to let you in and personally lead you to where it is you want to go. Once downstairs in the 3,500m² Talise Spa, you immediately begin your journey into a state of bliss. Guests lounge in the low-lit lobby and comfortable lounge chairs to fill out a personal 72
wellness profile. The consultants use this profile to customize one of their signature treatments to ensure your problem areas are given special attention, and all those aches and pains, stresses and knots are cleared away. The Talise Spa is a journey of inner and outer well-being with 17 treatment rooms, 2 couples suites and a diverse mix of treatments from around the world. Therapists focus on relaxing all the senses during any treatment. They start with calming music and a candle-lit room. A bowl of eucalyptus and jasmine flowers is placed on the floor under the massage headrest. The calming mix relaxes the back muscles as the therapist works out knots from day-to-day stress. There’s a treatment for everyone at the spa. You can never go wrong with the long strokes of a Swedish massage. After a long flight home, you
may want to try the Jet Lag Recovery treatment, a Dead Sea salt scrub that emits negative ions when warmed to restore your inner bio magnetic energy fields and get your biological clock back on track. Athletes may want to try the 50-minute sports massage that applies massage and stretching techniques to help your muscles quickly recover and prevent future injuries. The spa also offers eight types of facials to address all skin types. Men, women and teenagers can enjoy treatments that use stateof-the-art therapies to relax and reinvigorate your look. The Diamond Sublime facial includes the exclusive DNA facial, the latest trend to hit Hollywood and give everyone younger, glowing skin. The treatment uses Adenosine Triphosphate, ATP or energy cell enhancers to boost your skin’s recovery and frozen DNA that is
replicated on your skin, giving you a young glow. In order to get the full experience at the spa, you need to make sure you clear your schedule for at least half the day. Beyond the treatment, the facility uses a wide range of self-treatments that help enhance the entire experience. Once your appointment is complete a personal consultant will direct you to the lounge where you are free to indulge in herbal teas and refreshing drinks. Guests are encouraged to experience the Color Therapy room, and lounge in a dim room with an array of colors to replace negative energies with a positive flow. The facility also boasts of its water-based therapies that can be found in the breathing room. Indulge for a few moments on the heated beds. Rework your muscles in the hydraulic pool’s ergonomic chair and strong jet streams.
Go beyond the everyday sauna experience with their eucalyptus infused room that calms your mind while releasing toxins from your body. Open your pores and give your skin the moisture that it needs in the steam room, to clean out any of the everyday pollutants your skin has to battle. Finish your experience off with two minutes under the ice fountain, an ice cold room made from snow that closes your pores back up, to make sure your glow lasts for as long as possible. Finally, enjoy a massage shower with your choice of strawberry or mint infusion brought on with a push of a button. But, the spa’s crowning glory is the Solarium. The first of its kind in the Middle East, the solarium is a room made completely out of Himalayan pure crystal salt, compressed over 250 million years. After relaxing for 30 minutes on one of the waterbeds in the room,
your breathing should be easier, skin softer and that sniffle you’ve had all day? Gone. Doctors say that sitting in a salt room for longer periods draws water into airways, thins mucus and improves the function of cilia, or small hairs that help move mucus out of the lungs. At the end of your spa experience, as you remove the plush soft robe consider giving your body a jump start at their exclusive gym, or enjoy a healthy meal at the spa’s café Aqua. However you choose to end your experience at Talise Spa, you are bound to walk out with a spring in your step and a healthy glow to your smile.
For more information check out their website at jumeirah.com/jmbtalise. To book your spa experience call 2226 9688 or email jmbtalise@jumeirah.com. 73
bazaar apps Appy Holidays!
DOCUSIGN
TINY DEATHSTAR
KILSHAY
AMAZING GIRLFRIEND MANAGER
Hate missing out when your favorite brands go on sale? Then download Kuwait based app Kilshay: A new mobile app that cleverly groups together offers and catalogues on a daily basis, helping you make better decisions that save you time and money! Among its many handy features includes: allowing users to filter and choose from 17 retail categories; allowing search through hundreds of brands and thousands of products; allow you to effortlessly follow those brands and products and save pages from catalogues, as well as to get handy store information like directions … and so much more! Currently available for Apple devices, and Android launch scheduled for mid-way through this month.
Never destroy another relationship with your inability to remember important dates and information again! The Amazing Girlfriend Manager app prompts you to fill out important data about your significant other, including her birthdate, the date of your anniversary and various gifts you have given her. The app even lets you keep track of multiple girlfriends. WARNING: For your own safety, under any circumstances, do not let your (or any of your) girlfriend(s) access this application. Available on iOS devices for $0.99.
POO LOG
NIKE+ MOVE
While this may be awkward for your friend to stumble upon while browsing your home screen, it might prove useful. Poo Log keeps a log of your, well, poo. With a clever mix of bathroom humor and legitimate medical information, Poo Log allows you to track your digestive workings and graph your poo – all with one hand. With handy references, trivia, and interesting nuggets. Available for iOs and Android for $0.99 in the app stores.
While all your strongest instincts tell you to pack on a few pounds, put on your warmest pair of sweat pants, and just wait the winter out, you can still defy those urges and remain active with Nike+ Move. Designed exclusively for the iPhone 5s, this free app takes advantage of the new M7 motion coprocessor to track detailed information about every type of movement you engage in. It charts your movement and gives you points called NikeFuel, letting you compete with friends to see who’s the most active. Detailed graphs and charts uncover your most active days, locations where you moved most, and your peak times for movement, even breaking it down by type of movement.
Sign documents and get signatures quickly and easily from your Android device. This app will save you time and eliminate the need to print, fax or mail documents and forms for signature. Safe, secure and legally binding, DocuSign empowers you to sign documents and get signatures from anyone, anywhere, whether they happen to be standing right next to you or are halfway around the globe. DocuSign is the most widely used eSignature platform, trusted by more than 40 million people who have DocuSigned in 188 countries around the world.
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All-new mobile game about everyone’s favorite space station, Star Wars! Amidst a civil war in a galaxy far, far away, the Emperor is building a Death Star level by level, and he needs your help. Intergalactic war is expensive, and space stations are, too. Live life on the dark side, and join Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader on a mission to attract Galactic bitizens, run intergalactic businesses and build an all-new Death Star! With that hard-earned money, fund the Empire’s evil schemes to defeat the Rebels and conquer the galaxy once and for all! Warning: Highly addictive.
FOX DC
bazaar fitness
ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS by Mike Campbell
Robert H. Schuller once wrote, “Goals are not only absolutely necessary to motivate us, they are essential to really keep us alive.” In your world of health and fitness no truer sentence has been spoken. How is it then that a simple goal can empower us with both motivation and inspiration? Goal setting = motivation = results. The foundation of setting a goal allows you to create the unimaginable. Let’s look at some local examples over the last 30 days in Kuwait. I’ll start with the recently held “Battle Of The East” CrossFit competition that was superbly organized and efficiently executed by Circuit+ CrossFit and Co. Everyone involved behind the scenes had a series of clear goals. Just like all the athletes who gathered from all corners of the globe to compete. Both professionals and amateurs were motivated by something deep down, external factors that drove them to perform at their best. Who steps up onto the podium? Those who have simply set the right goals in place over time to allow them to be mentally, spiritually and physically prepared to dominate their surrounding competition. Who wins? They all did. Everyone there found something to hold onto, something to believe in, and something that they will keep with them so that they can redefine their own goals to improve next year. This goes for the organizers and spectators as well. To everyone involved, Mabrook! You have 76
set a very high standard and I look forward to your further success in 2014. You might remember an article in October’s bazaar featuring Jamie Milne from Inspire Pure Fitness. Jamie completed an ultra-marathon of more than 600km traversing the length of Scotland in the United Kingdom which finished on the 19th of November. Jamie set a goal several years ago to complete at least one ultra-running event every year in memory of his grandmother. That was his goal. Every time he undertakes one of these adventures he associates himself with a charity in order to increase local awareness of the charity, as well as contribute a small financial amount raised through his running. What was truly epic about this goal in 2013 was that he ran solo, with no on-site support, completely self-sufficient. What drives such an individual to put 1 foot in front of the other, minute after minute, hour after hour up to 14 hours a day for over 10 days? Is he a superhero? Maybe. But Jamie had a goal. He was motivated by this goal. He had this goal at the forefront of everything he did, every minute on the road. This goal provided Jamie with the motivation to keep going even when his body was saying no and the voices in his head yelled at him to stop. This is the grind. For those of you who have seen the exceptional YouTube clip ‘Welcome to the Grind,’ then you understand what I am talking about. Lastly, I’d like to talk about a group of females, who I will affectionately call ‘The
Strongwomen.’ Twice a week these ladies get together to challenge themselves to perform extremely daunting physical and mental tasks. It is never easy and the level of difficultly often increases each week. Yet despite this, they show up every time. Why? No doubt the bond they have formed, but also they have a goal. A goal which includes not letting each other down. Therefore no matter how hard it gets, they are there to cover each other’s back. The word ‘no’ is not in their vocabulary, but acceptance of the challenge laid down is. Every one of us faces challenges in life. Those of you involved in training might even face more. There are always lows and highs. However the highs will always outweigh the low points. It’s all part of the journey. Just remember your goal, keep it close to you, share it if you want. Use that goal to motivate you to lift more, run faster and to not hit the snooze button in the morning, as every time you actually give up, makes it easier to give up the next time. Remember that goal, and remember tough times do not last forever. Get up, get going and get winning.
Mike Campbell is the GM and Co Founder of Inspire Pure Fitness. For further information please email: info@inspirekw.com or jane@inspirekw.com or visit www.inspirekw.com.
BATH AND BODY WORKS
Store Locations • The Mall - The Avenues • 2nd Avenue - The Avenues • Marina Mall • Al Fanar Mall Customer Service: 182-12-12
@bbwmena
www.facebook.com/BathAndBodyWorksMiddleEast
MUSICAL HARMONY by Heena Parkar
When it comes to enhancing Kuwait’s creative facet, there can be no better place than Bayt Lothan. In my recent visit during one of their events, the artistic hub proved to be a perfect station for talented folks to assemble, participate and share interests. The concert, titled ‘A Night In’ was an opportunity for upcoming musicians to redefine music in their original and unique style. These local artists performed on tunes altering between classical, western and jazz etc. “All our musical events are an outlet for musicians that don’t have an opportunity to do what they really love. Play music. This concert is just one of the few themes that we (the creative team) liked and stuck with,” said Music Coordinator, Ayman Ali. As a music lover, I was overwhelmed by these intriguing performances, which gave the audience an adrenaline rush. Each time a singer shared his/ her ravishing lyrics, the crowd roared in applause and clapped, encouraging the young, up-coming star. Undoubtedly each of them was a star. With such a promising stage performance and passion for their 78
dreams, it was undeniable. “The musicians were all of whom either live, study or work in Kuwait,” said Ayman. Their spirit and love for music was clearly reflected in the enthusiasm they portrayed throughout the show. It brought life into the event. Every musician, performing in-group or solo, delivered an excellent level of entertainment, and bewitched the listeners. The audience seated a few meters away from the stage were delighted when the artists descended and approached them to join in. The mood was set, with dim blue lights and cushioned seats, adding to our ease. A total of 100-150 people, Kuwaitis and expats, were present at the venue to enjoy an evening of melody and rhythm. “We do these events for our love of music and the arts in general. We are a venue, a place for music and culture to feel safe in a world that’s losing its sense of these things. Our goal at Bayt Lothan is to develop talent,” said Ayman. He also informed that these guitarists, pianists
and lyricists were auditioned before being selected. It was irrefutable that the committee involved in the decision-making had a keen sense for highlighting the country’s artistic gems. “The entry was open to anyone who wished to perform. The organization had been posting on our Facebook page and Instagram about the auditions,” added Ayman. Apart from well-established native bands that participated, new ones were formed under the influence of this event. The Flamenco Duo, Avo Solakian and Abdul Qadir were a Bayt Lothan discovery and have played together ever since. Nasrin Zouhair, was yet another new discovery, who auditioned only a week before the event and was selected to make an appearance. From a beautiful blend of Kuwaiti voices, to heartfelt folk music, a fresh new approach to jazz and blues, and a never-ending mixture of loud and soft music, this concert was an unforgettable one for me. You can follow Bayt Lothan events on Facebook at Bayt Lothan or Instagram @baytlothan.
BOSSINI
THE ARAB ADVENTURER
Nabil Al Busaidi by bazaar staff
Nabil Al Busaidi is the first Arab to row across an ocean, and the first Arab to walk to the magnetic North Pole. From climbing mountains in the far corners of the earth to inspiring students as a motivational speaker, we interview this remarkable adventurer in hopes of finding out what it takes to accomplish the impossible. What did you do before your first expedition in 2009? Before I started on a full time life of adventure, I had a pretty normal life. I worked for several big companies in the usual corporate jobs. I worked in banking for Gulf International Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank in Bahrain; I worked for Gulf Air and Etihad and some other aviation companies in Bahrain, as well as a stint as a consultant for KPMG in Oman. Did you always have a passion for adventure? I’m not sure if I always had a passion for adventure, but I always sought a bit of excitement or variety. I quite frequently decide to drive somewhere by a different route, just to see if I can discover some new short cut, or I will order the first thing on the menu just to try something different. I usually end up regretting my decision and vowing to always do what I know, but that only lasts a week before I am doing something new. I would say I just don’t like being bored. How did you decide to become an explorer and adventurer? I cannot really claim to be an explorer as those who went before me have discovered everywhere I have gone, but I do call myself an adventurer. I didn’t consciously decide to become an adventurer. It was decided for me in several different ways. I spent my school days at an English boarding school, playing rugby and other sports. After university I joined the military, so for those who debate the primacy of nature versus nurture, I don’t think my example sheds any light as I believe it was a combination of both. I was lucky to get the opportunity to develop my interest in adventure and thrill seeking. One without the other would not have resulted in the experiences and attitude I developed before I went to the North Pole. After my first expedition, I fully expected to go back to work, but I began to get lots of requests and enquiries for further expeditions. It was “expected” that I would do something else, and eventually through a combination of circumstances, and I suppose a lot of public “peer” pressure, I ended up looking for another expedition. One achievement followed another until I became the first Arab to row across the Atlantic. And along the way, I had unintentionally become a full time adventurer. Becoming an adventurer- do you think that this is a path in one’s life that one decides to pursue, or an innate calling that one must follow? This is a far deeper question than I am qualified to answer, but I do believe that everyone has an adventure that is calling him or her. What that 80
adventure is, depends on the individual. For some, the adventure might be risking their life to do something no one has ever done before. But for others it might be something as commonplace as learning to drive, or getting married. Each adventure is relative to the person experiencing it. I find some major adrenaline sports, like parachuting, mundane, but driving in Beirut is enough excitement for me for one day! Did you ever face any near-death experiences? If so, what motivated you to persevere? I would be exaggerating if I claim that I’ve come close to death several times, however I have been in some situations that were very dangerous. The only time that I was seriously worried that I was going to die was during the North Pole trek. We had set off that day in good weather but my teammate who was leading had a GPS that wasn’t working, so I gave him mine, as he would need it more than I would. The weather started to get worse, and we entered a rubble field. A rubble field is an
area where two massive sheets of ice are colliding and grinding against each other, creating an area with rocks as large as houses, or as small as ice cubes. As our team started going in between these massive ice structures, I started to lose sight of the team. The wind was howling so they couldn’t hear me calling to them, and visibility was getting shorter so that even if they were 10 meters away I might not see them. The temperature had dropped to a point where I thought my hands had turned green, and I knew I was being to lose the ability to think straight. And then I fell through a crack in the ice. I fell up to my hips and I couldn’t get out. Luckily underneath my feet was nothing but air. If it had been the ocean, I could have frozen to death if I couldn’t get out of the icy water, if it had been solid ice underneath, I could have broken my ankles. Instead, it was a pocket of air, and my legs were dangling. I couldn’t expect help to come and I
realized I was stuck and might die there and never be found. And even if I did get out, I didn’t know which way to go, so I might just wander until I succumbed to the cold. And so, I thought that I was going to die. But when I thought about my family and friends and how heart broken they would be, I realized that I couldn’t give up, not ever, while I still had energy, and I resolved to get out anyway I could, and walk as fast as possible. I kicked and scratched my way as frantically as possible until I was finally able to lever myself out, and I lay in the snow gasping for breath. And then I got up, and chose a direction that I thought was about right, and walked as hard and as fast as possible to generate heat and maybe catch up with my team. Eventually, through a gap in the storm, I saw one of them looking out for me on top of one of the boulders, and eventually we all reunited and made it into the check point. I may not have
been in as much danger as some other times on my expeditions, but that was the only time I ever thought I was likely to die, and had to consider the reality of not making it out alive. With many ‘firsts’ under your belt, did you set out to perform these challenges with that goal in mind? Originally, my mind had been set on climbing Mt Everest, but after talking to a friend of mine who had done several expeditions, he changed my mind. His point was that around 4,000 people had already climbed Everest and it wasn’t that unique an achievement. And several Arabs had already done it. But only around 400 people had walked to a pole and no Arab had done it. Plus, if you ever have a record, whether you are fastest, strongest, youngest or oldest, someone will always come and break your record. But if you are the first, then no one can ever beat you. So, ever since then, that is what I set out to achieve. To try and be the first Arab and inspire the
youth to follow on and become trailblazers. Tell us about the charities you support. I find that many charities are supported by people that have had a personal tragedy related to a certain cause, and I am lucky to say that I have not had a strong reason to support one charity over another; I try to support every charity that asks for my help. When I visit a school I ask the students to organize a fundraiser for charity, but the students should decide what activity to do and which charity they want to support. Making students think about which charity to support makes them realize that there are so many people worse off than they are, and there are so many worthy causes, and that they should be grateful for being in the position that they are in. Specifically, I have raised or helped raise money in Bahrain for Bahrain Mobility International, Bahrain Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, The Palm Association, and Pearl Community. In continued on next page...
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Oman, the Association for Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs, Environmental Society of Oman, The National Association for Cancer Awareness, Al Noor Association for the Blind, Dar Al Atta, and in Qatar for the Qatar Red Crescent, Qatar Charity, and laptops4workers What message do you like to convey to your audience during your speaking engagements? It has to be hope...one way or another, however bad your life is, whatever struggles you face, as long as you have hope, there is a reason to carry on. I am not a particularly special person, but what I have done is spectacular. And so, if I can do it as an ordinary guy, then there is no reason why anyone else can’t get up and do what they dream of...but it all starts with hope! I also like to weave in issues that teachers ask me to focus on when talking to their students, or topics that HR managers want me to cover when talking to their staff, but the underlying theme is to inspire people. And you never know who or how you will touch someone, but the first thing is to get in front of a group of people and talk to them. The rest follows. Do you feel like fellow Arab adventurers, like yourself, have the support and acknowledgement 82
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they deserve to further their ambitions? I can’t really talk for other Arab Adventurers, but I can talk from my experiences, and they have been very mixed. On the negative side, I had one government official writing to sponsors to persuade them not to sponsor me. Another official from the same ministry said that they would not fund my expedition, but if I got funding from somewhere else, they would make life difficult for my family and me! Another ministry agreed to help fund one expedition, but they refused to give the money before the expedition, so that if I died, they would not have to pay me! Another observation before my first expedition was that nearly all of the companies that offered me support had Western expatriate CEO’s, not Arabs. A big part of the lack of recognition is the lack of understanding concerning my achievements. It is hard for anyone from the region to understand the cold, conditions, distance and terrain that I had to overcome...because there is nothing similar in the region to relate to. On the positive side, after my first success, nearly all the companies I have approached in Oman have offered me support in one way or another, and some have approached me without
asking them. In 2009 the Ministry of Sports named me a sporting hero of Oman, I was voted one of the top 500 influential Arabs in 2009 and 2011, and in 2011 I was voted Humanitarian of the Year by Esquire magazine Middle East. But looking back, I realize that this recognition is mostly by expats, or Western educated Arabs. I am sure that is also due to the fact that I have had a lot of exposure in the English speaking press in Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, but virtually nothing in the Arabic press. Any plans for upcoming adventures? I am currently working on a project for the Qatar Olympic committee to organize 1,000 people to paddle 550 km around the coastline of Qatar. Not the same as rowing 4,500 km across the Atlantic, but organizing 1,000 people is an adventure on it’s own! The London Speaker Bureau represents some of the world’s leading business and motivational speakers. If you are interested in booking Nabil for your event, or are interested in bringing in other speakers to your corporate events and conferences, please contact tatjana@londonspeakerbureau.com or visit www.londonspeakerbureau.com. For more on Nabil’s adventures, log on to www.arabadventurer.com.
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IN THE PHILIPPINES, NATURAL DISASTERS ARE COMMON
Ways to reduce their impact aren’t by Chico Harlan
In one of the world’s most naturally deadly countries, catastrophes can originate almost anywhere. Flash floods race down mountainsides. A zigzag of tectonic plates collide below. Typhoons build in warm ocean waters and then tear westward. And when disasters do strike, they strike hard, ravaging the Philippines’ shabby infrastructure and often leaving scores dead, injured or without homes. The combination of geography and poverty leaves those in the Philippines at almost unequalled risk of calamity, a vulnerability that ranks among this nation’s most pressing and confounding challenges. For three straight years, typhoons here have killed more than 1,000 people, despite major government initiatives to reduce disaster risk. Typhoon Haiyan, which ripped through the central Philippine islands November 8, killed more than 3,600 and displaced 2 million. Years of disasters — some capturing global attention, most not — have pushed the Philippines into an unfortunate category: that of an undeveloped country where lives can disappear en masse, sometimes in preventable ways. Over the past decades, Filipinos have flocked to risky, low-lying areas, havens for cheap and crammed housing. Officials here say the Philippines must also improve emergency training for distant local governments, enforce building codes and make sure that money earmarked for infrastructure ends up helping those whose homes are the most vulnerable. Located on the Ring of Fire and in a main alleyway for typhoons, the Philippines will never be disasterproof, experts say. But it can cut the risk. If cyclones of identical intensity were to strike Japan and the Philippines, the Philippines would have 17 times the death toll, according to the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Center. Over the past two decades, the Philippines has experienced more than 300 disasters — everything from landslides to floods to volcanic eruptions. And Filipino officials say their disasters are becoming more severe, in part because of climate change. Four of this country’s 10 deadliest disasters have come in the past 10 years. The national statistics board says typhoons — 19 per year on average — have grown in power since the 1970s. Research suggests that a warmer world will lead to stronger storms. Although most scientists balk at connecting any one event with climate change, the Philippines’ representative at a climate summit in Warsaw said recently that “hell storms” like Haiyan could become the “new norm.” Since 2000, according to the United Nations, the Philippines has experienced a financing gap. In other words, the government doesn’t have the means necessary for rebuilding. Manila has 84
doubled its “calamity fund” — covering aid and relief — since 2009, but this year the fund ran dry even before Haiyan hit. Whatever is needed for Haiyan that isn’t covered by international aid will have to be borrowed or come from cutting away at other programs. The Philippines already has risk-reduction laws that the United Nations calls among the best in the world — at least on paper. Legislation passed in 2010 calls for 70 percent of disaster spending to be used on long-term steps. Just 30 percent is used for emergency aid, a shift from the earlier plan that put the emphasis on military-led relief after disasters hit. But much of the responsibility for lowering disaster risk falls to the local governments, some of which operate like little fiefdoms in this nation of 7,100 islands. Local officials not only decide how to spend the money but also oversee building codes and land planning. A January 2013 report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center highlighted the shortcomings of that approach, looking at the impact of Tropical Storm Washi, which struck the east coast of the southern island of Mindanao in December 2011 and killed more than 1,500. The storm hit hardest in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, nearby cities where more than 300,000 people had their homes destroyed or damaged. In both cities, the governments “chose not to
carry out their official responsibilities regarding disaster preparedness,” the report said. The cities ignored warnings from the Philippine Mines and Geosciences Bureau that many residents were living in hazard-prone areas — particularly sand bar islets that could be easily flooded and had been designated as “no-build zones.” In the Philippines, the report said, “decisions are based on electoral considerations rather than on evidence or technical assessments.” When disasters happen, Filipinos have little recourse. Only a fraction has insurance or any claim to property ownership. Many of the buildings damaged by Haiyan, for instance, were informal settlements made of lightweight materials — bamboo and wood, with corrugated metal roofs. In theory, a major disaster opens room for improvements. Cities can be rebuilt using more concrete. Certain areas can be marked off-limits, based on scientific hazard mapping. Please donate for victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines online using the below links: The Salvation Army: https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/TyphoonHaiyan. Red Cross Philippines: http://ushare.redcross.org.ph. Islamic Relief: www.islamic-relief.com. You can also donate clothing, blankets, sheets, canned goods, etc. by dropping them to Al Corniche Club, Salmiya.
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bazaar books Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures. ~ Jessamyn West
FURIOUS COOL
I AM MALALA
by David Henry and Joe Henry
by Malala Tousafzai
Richard Pryor was arguably the single most influential performer of the second half of the 20th century, and certainly he was the most successful black actor/comedian ever. Controversial and somewhat enigmatic in his lifetime, Pryor’s performances opened up a new world of possibilities, merging fantasy with angry reality in a way that wasn’t just new—it was heretofore unthinkable. Both a brilliant comedian and a very astute judge of what he could get away with, Pryor was always pushing the envelope, combining anger and pathos, outrage and humor, into an art form, laying the groundwork for the generations of comedians who followed. Now, in this groundbreaking and revelatory work, Joe and David Henry bring him to life both as a man and as an artist, providing an in-depth appreciation of his talent and his lasting influence, as well as an insightful examination of the world he lived in and the influences that shaped both his persona and his art.
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When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was 15, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive. Instead, Malala’s miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At 16, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize. I AM MALALA : The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls’ education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons. I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person’s voice to inspire change in the world.
GUITAR AFICIONADO: THE COLLECTIONS
AN ASTRONAUT’S GUIDE TO LIFE ON EARTH
by Tom Beaujour
by Col. Chris Hadfield
In this spectacular full-color deluxe volume, Guitar Aficionado magazine presents the world’s most epic guitars, the stories behind them, and the people who own them. Inside is an exclusive look into the incredible collections of the world’s most illustrious players, including Eric Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Steve Earle and many more. All instruments are photographed in meticulous detail and are accompanied by descriptions and recollections in the artists’ own words. Guitar Aficionado: The Collections also features special chapters devoted to the iconic, historic, and often priceless instruments employed by the likes of Eddie Van Halen, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Ace Frehley of Kiss, John Lennon-artists who changed not only the face of music, but of popular culture itself. With gorgeous color photography and rare and exclusive images throughout, this book is a must-have for any fan.
Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, and been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft. The secret to Col. Hadfield’s success-and survivalis an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst – and enjoy every moment of it. In An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, Col. Hadfield takes readers deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible. Through eye-opening, entertaining stories filled with the adrenaline of the launch, the mesmerizing wonder of spacewalks, and the measured, calm responses mandated by crises, he explains how conventional wisdom can get in the way of achievementand happiness. Col. Hadfield’s vivid and refreshing insights will teach you how to think like an astronaut, and will change, completely, the way you view life on Earth-especially your own.
NICHOLSON: A BIOGRAPHY by Marc Eliot
For five decades, Jack Nicholson has been part of film history. With 12 Oscar nominations to his credit and legendary roles in films like Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Terms of Endearment, The Shining, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Nicholson creates original, memorable characters like no other actor of his generation. And his personal life has been no less of an adventure—Nicholson has always been at the center of the Hollywood elite and has courted some of the most famous and beautiful women in the world. Relying on years of extensive research and interviews with insiders who know Nicholson best, acclaimed biographer Marc Eliot sheds new light on Nicholson’s life on and off the screen. From Nicholson’s working class childhood in New Jersey, to raucous nights on the town with Warren Beatty and tumultuous relationships with starlets like Anjelica Huston and Lara Flynn Boyle, to movie sets working with such legendary directors and costars as Dennis Hopper and Roman Polanski, Eliot paints a sweeping picture of the breadth of Nicholson’s 50-year career in film, as well as an intimate portrait of his personal life.
source: www.amazon.com
BHS
bazaar goes cruising
PUSHING THE LIMITS OF SPEED Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG by bazaar staff
At the recent Dubai International Motor Show, which took place at the start of November, Mercedes-Benz made an important historical announcement that many think marks the beginning of a new era for the celebrated automotive brand. They did this by—for the first time ever—offering the thrilling A 45 AMG; making this the first car with a four-cylinder engine to don the coveted Mercedes-AMG label. If you don’t know about the AMG moniker, think of it as a company within a company that takes your basic toy and tunes it up specifically for speed. With a maximum output of 360 horse power and up to 450 Newton meters of torque, the AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine is the most powerful series production fourcylinder engine in the world. The sensational power density of 181 HP outstrips even the most powerful super sports cars. At the same time, the engine also boasts supreme efficiency and complies with the EU6 emissions standard. At a recent press conference regarding this new launch, Michael Ruehle, General Manager of Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Co. spoke of the large appeal locally when stating, “the Mercedes-AMG transformed the already fast and dynamic A-Class into an exceptional machine that captures the body, soul and mind of the ambitious and performance driven generation… we are aware of this high-appeal of AMG vehicles in Kuwait, especially for the younger generations, so we have launched the A 45 AMG ‘Edition 1’ model, which features a few extra AMG options than the typical model. Also with its impressive high-tech package and the performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive, the A 45 AMG will be quite the looker on Kuwait’s roads.” With such an ambitious introduction, we figure it surely deserves a look under the hood. The A 45 AMG ‘Edition 1’ stands apart both on a technical level and in terms of appearance. As is familiar from the CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake, the fully appointed ‘Edition 1’ model variant boasts an expressive composition of exclusive exterior and interior details. The A 45 AMG ‘Edition 1’ focuses on the car’s affinity to motorsport: the exterior paint finish in cirrus white corresponds with the AMG sports stripes in matt graphite gray on the bonnet, roof and sides. The red highlights on the radiator grille, exterior mirrors and rear aerofoil leave a lasting impression. These highlights combine to 88
perfection with the red painted brake calipers and the AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in matt black with special AMG hub caps in central-locking look. Both the AMG Night package and the Aerodynamics package feature as standard for the ‘Edition 1,’ providing the perfect finishing touch to the model’s motorsport-inspired character. “Since the launch of the A-Class in May 2013, we have seen a great demand for this particular compact car and what it represents for young and successful individuals who are not ready to commit to a more serious sedan or SUV. The AMG label adds a little extra character and power to a car that already has an undeniable appeal,” added Ruehle. The substance of the new Mercedes-Benz
vehicle architecture for front- and all-wheel drive provides the perfect basis for the A 45 AMG and at least two other high-performance premium automobiles from Affalterbach. In designing and developing the A 45 AMG, the experts at AMG have drawn on the company’s decades of experience in motorsport and the production of powerful, high-performance vehicles. As such, the A 45 AMG will inherit the corporate DNA and embody the AMG brand claim “Driving Performance” to perfection: a fascinatingly sporty driving experience combined with impressive craftsmanship and pronounced individuality. The A 45 AMG also leads its segment in terms of fuel consumption, running on 6.9 liters per 100 kilometers in NEDC combined mode. The performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel
drive onboard the A 45 AMG sets new standards in the car’s segment. This is accompanied by particularly low exhaust emissions: the A 45 AMG already complies with the EU6 emissions standard which is not scheduled to enter into force until 2015, combined with the limit for the particle count per kilometer of 6 x 1011 which will be mandatory from 2017. The high power and torque output and the combination with the performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive as standard lead to extremely dynamic performance: the A 45 AMG accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, while its top speed stands at 250 km/h (electronically limited). The ‘TURBO AMG’ lettering on the wing is exclusive to the top model of the A-Class. The
AMG rear apron with its highlighted air outlet openings at the sides features a diffusor insert and trim in matt titanium gray. Two square, chrome-plated tailpipes of the AMG sports exhaust system with exhaust flap add an appropriately bold finishing touch. Inside, as well, the new A 45 AMG boasts a heady mix of hallmark Mercedes-AMG dynamism and exclusivity. The sports seats in ARTICO man-made leather/DINAMICA microfiber with red contrasting topstitching, the multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles and the AMG DRIVE UNIT set new standards in terms of both appearance and quality. The dashboard trim comes in carbon-fiber look – a perfect match for the five air vents in black/red, the red seat belts and the AMG door-sill panels. The AMG
instrument cluster presents information by means of a central color display with the AMG main menu and the RACETIMER. In short, if you are looking for speed, and want a car that will make the most of an ultra-dense engine and want to look good while you do it, the new MercedesBenz AMG just might be for you.
For more information on Mercedes-Benz products and services in Kuwait, please visit www.Mercedes-Benz.com.kw or follow them on Facebook at MercedesBenzKuwait, or Twitter and Instagram @MercedesBenzKWT. The iPhone application for Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Co. can be downloaded for free by searching for ‘MB Kuwait’ in the Apple online app store. 89
GIFTMAS: SOME GIFT IDEAS by Jaye Sonia
Normally, I’d make my Giftmas suggestions in November, giving all of you plenty of time to go out or get online to buy said awesomeness. But this year, like thousands (and I’m being conservative when I use that number) of others, I got caught up in the Playstation 4 and Xbox One excitement. (I also got lost in Los Santos for a while, but that’s another story entirely). In either case, November was a short buying month, by at least six days (according to Forbes), and there’s a good chance that if you’re reading this, you didn’t have to wade through the mess that is commonly called ‘Black Friday’. Of course, if you’re reading this, you’re probably also looking for something seasonal to gift to someone you care about – be it for Giftmas or one of its religious equivalent holidays. So, what do you buy in such short notice? Here’s a quick list of suggestions: Art – Wait, what? Did he just say? Yes, I said art. While it may not arrive by the end of the month, getting something special for the people you love should always be unique and thoughtful. So, while buying a new Xbox One or Playstation 4 might satisfy what’s on their list, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get one of those immediately after the holiday rush and save some cash (which means either more games or more spending money). Why buy art? Well, there’s a thriving market for illustrations and nothing says, “I was thinking about you,” like getting your favorite geek turned into something from their favorite franchise – be it running from The Walking Dead or fighting villains besides their favorite superhero. If you’re interested in checking out artists, go no further than DeviantArt.com. There are hundreds of awesome illustrators that will, for a reasonable price, turn you into a hero! Or course, you can also just check out the print shop there as well. Books – Obviously, I’m a fan of the written word. It should come as no surprise that when I learned about Q8 Bookstore, I got excited. Since Fajer Ahmed (over at 248AM.com) and bazaar (Oct 2013), already wrote about this, I’m just going to encourage you go check it out. From the pics I saw (I haven’t been yet, sadly), the space looks dangerously (and I say that because I’d spend far too much money there) like a HalfPriced Books (a book reseller chain famous in the U.S.). So, if you’re looking for something thoughtful and local, try this outlet. Hopefully they have a copy of the geek primer Geek Wisdom by N.K. Jemisin on their shelves! 90
Games – This wouldn’t be a G&G column if I didn’t mention something fun to play, so let me get to it! First up, we have the Monopoly version of The Walking Dead (yes, I just wrote that). Built around the classic Monopoly model, this board game allows you to build walls instead of buy houses. Of course, you may not want to use that ‘get out of jail free’ card if you find yourself in prison. Of course, because I still very much love my old school tabletop, I should remind you that the Pathfinder RPG released a beginner’s box back at the end of 2011 that is still, in my humble opinion, awesome. Of course, if you’re not into playing pretend or prefer card games, the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game is also an option for play! You can find both over at Paizo’s website. Geeky Gear – Honestly, there’s not enough room on this page for me to list all of the cool things that qualify in my book as “geeky,” but I’ll make
the attempt. If you didn’t know, this year is the 50th anniversary of Dr. Who, so you can probably guess that all of those cool Whovian gifts – from replica sonic screwdrivers to TARDIS ice buckets – are bound to win. Of course, that’s assuming your favorite geek loves Dr. Who. If you were looking for something that isn’t tied to a specific franchise, I’d recommend the Geek Magnetic Poetry Kit for your friend’s fridge. You might also consider the DCI Pop Quiz Clock or any of the Marvel Comics retro bags and wallets – depending on what your geek happens to love. Of course, it’s easy to buy things for people. The best gift of all, if you can swing it, is to be close to your favorite geek – which I recommend the most. Well, that’s it for this season. Next month, I have a super big announcement for all of you! Until then, continue to be awesome geeks and gamers! And enjoy the holidays!
ELEVATION BURGER
BAZAAR SPONSORS BABY
Unborn baby rejoices, we think by bazaar staff
When one of our very own staff writers announced last month that his wife was with child, you could see the eyes of our owner gloss over with $ signs as ideas began to flood his head with how this could be, what he selflessly described as, a “win-win” situation. However, it was at that time put on hold until they could determine what the sex of the baby would be, as clearly the terms would need to be negotiated accordingly. Upon a more recent announcement that the baby was, in fact, predicted to be a boy, the various clauses, sub-clauses, statutes, notifications and all appropriate legalese were hammered out to the benefit of all involved (except for the mother, whom we have yet to inform). Now, in a first-of-its-kind monetary transaction, our very own magazine has decided to sponsor said baby through adult-hood in hopes of increasing the bazaar brand presence in the international community. Though it is true that the increasingly blurred-line intersection of human life-meetscommerce is not entirely without precedent, this deal is unique in both its approach and the scope of the contract. While companies like The GoldenPalace.com have long been making headlines since their first offer for a “body billboard” in the form of a tattoo of their logo upon the body of a Jim Hanson in 2003, this particular form has never been done before (it is an interesting aside that many of these money-making participants are still burdened with tattoos advertising companies which no longer exist). Additionally notable for its almost prophetic similarity is the 1998 Paramount Pictures movie The Truman Show, which credible industry insiders say likely served as a blueprint to navigate the many different ‘sellable moments’ in this future-person’s life. At the recent press conference announcing the deal, Ahmed El-Adly CEO of bazaar explained, “We see it as a solid investment. Our lawyers have perused the minutiae to quantify all potential branding opportunities, and we ran both genetic tests as well as family tree information on both mother and father, and feel that is a great opportunity to be part of something new.” When asked why he didn’t simply just “advertise on Instagram, like everybody else” El-Adly replied, “to be quite honest, we considered it. However, we determined that we could likely yield a better ROI from the potential of this market when compared to the saturation that we feel has already been evidenced in some of the more traditional and digital routes.” While bazaar did seem to take an initial hit on both the Nikkei index and the NASDAQ, 92
due to what some were referring to as the “unknowability” of the profitability of the project, by morning both markets had recovered in a pattern trending toward frenzy. One analyst said, “It was almost as if everyone went home and dreamed about the possibilities of a babybillboard, and the market responded in kind.” Although many parts of the contract are still unknown, a key insider who spoke on the condition of anonymity gave a few confirmations to some of the rumors going around. It seems that the baby will most certainly have his own column from ‘day one’ through adulthood (which in itself would unseat the current title-holder, ‘Up Close and Personal,’ as the longest running bazaar column)—think finger-painting all the way to Nietzchean analysis! Also, it has been confirmed that the baby will only be allowed to
wear clothing that is featured in the magazine, eat at the restaurants featured in the magazine, and drive cars featured in the ‘goes cruising’ column; no doubt a potential windfall for those brands who will benefit by association. If the latest issue is any indicator…expect to see the baby driving a Porsche while wearing Hugo Boss, Ted Baker of London, and H&M in a flat furnished by Ikea, smelling like Fendi cologne while having his parties hosted by Partyland. It is a charmed life indeed for this future child. At press time there was no confirmation yet as to the rumor that the baby would in fact be named ‘baby bazaar’. All inquiries as to purchasing aforementioned ‘Sellable Moments,’ can be can be referred to babybazaar@bazaar-magazine.com
ﻣﻊ ﻗﺴﻢ أﻣﺮاض اﻟﺴﻜﺮ و اﻟﻐﺪد اﻟﺼﻤﺎء
ﻧﻠﺘﺰم TAIBA...
ﺑﺘﻘﺪﻳﻢ أﻓﻀﻞ اﻟﺨﺪﻣﺎت اﻟﻄﺒﻴﺔ ﺗﺤﺖ إﺷﺮاف ﻛﺎدر ﻃﺒﻲ ﻣﺘﻤﻴﺰ ﻣﻦ إﺳﺘﺸﺎرﻳﻴﻦ واﺧﺘﺼﺎﺻﻴﻴﻦ. أﻣﺮاض اﻟﺴﻜﺮ وﺗﺒﻌﺎﺗﻪ ،و إﺿﻄﺮاﺑﺎت اﻟﻐﺪة اﻟﻨﺨﺎﻣﻴﺔ ،واﻟﻜﻈﺮﻳﺔ ،و ﻗﺼﻮر اﻟﻐﺪد اﻟﺘﻨﺎﺳﻠﻴﺔ ﺑﻤﺎ ﻓﻲ ذﻟﻚ ﻧﻘﺺ ﻫﺮﻣﻮن اﻟﺘﺴﺘﻮﺳﺘﻴﺮون ،إﻟﻰ ﺟﺎﻧﺐ اﺿﻄﺮاﺑﺎت وأﻣﺮاض اﻟﻐﺪة اﻟﺪرﻗﻴﺔ ،ﺗﺄﺧﺮ اﻟﺒﻠﻮغ ،اﺿﻄﺮاﺑﺎت اﻟﻨﻤﻮ ،وارﺗﻔﺎع ﺿﻐﻂ اﻟﺪم.
د .روﺑــﺮت ﺳﻜﻴﻠــﻲ اﺳﺘﺸﺎري أﻣﺮاض اﻟﺴﻜﺮ واﻟﻐﺪد اﻟﺼﻤﺎء ﻋﻀﻮﻳﺔ اﻟﻜﻠﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﻠﻜﻴﺔ ﻟ�ﻃﺒﺎء -أﻳﺮﻟﻨﺪا ﺑﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ ﻟﻮﻧﺞ وود اﻟﻄﺒﻲ ﺑﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ ﻫﺎرﻓﺮد اﻟﻮﻻﻳﺎت اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة ا�ﻣﺮﻳﻜﻴﺔ
ﺧﺪﻣﺎت أﻣﺮاض اﻟﺴﻜﺮ و اﻟﻐﺪد اﻟﺼﻤﺎء ﻧﻘﺪﻣﻬﺎ ﻟﻜﻢ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺴﺘﺸﻔﻰ ﻃﻴﺒﺔ -ﻧﺘﻌﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻊ ﺷﺮﻛﺎت اﻟﺘﺄﻣﻴﻦ
ﻃﻴﺒﺔ ﻟﻠﺘﺄﻫﻴﻞ واﻟﻌﻼج اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ
ﻃﻴﺒﺔ
ﻃﻴﺒﺔ
A CASUAL JOG IN MICHIGAN Ends with a 911 call by Kiko Al-Zaidan
I was afflicted with the fitness craze during my first year studying abroad in Michigan. I tried to exercise and had to be rescued by the Sheriff’s department. I blame college and the peer pressure for making me pursue activity in the first place. I would much rather spend my time indoors pretending to be a dragon tamer, but my classmates convinced me that humans need sunshine and socialization. I left my sloth ways and started exercising. I discovered that jogging was quite fun, once you get past how awful it is. I mostly liked competing with other joggers and pretending that the slower people I passed were zombies. It wasn’t out of the ordinary when I decided to jog on a nice Friday afternoon after a massive storm. There was a great trail near my university, and I was positively itching to break in my new Injinji toesocks. I was mesmerized by their advertisements of lithe fitness models sprinting across trails with their fancy toesocks. I parked my car and skipped towards the trail for a quick sprint, leaving my cell phone behind. Into the woods I went, merrily running past trees, bouncing up and down the trail while envisioning myself as Pocahontas running for freedom. A few minutes in, I noticed that someone painted bright orange arrows on trees. I shook my head at the nerve of those thugs, vandalizing Mother Nature with neon graffiti just for kicks. The trail split into two, so I tumbled down the path of most resistance. Six hours later, it was pitch black, raining, and I was miserably lost. I couldn’t retrace my steps and ran around in random directions, crying pathetically 94
like a dim puppy confused by its own shadow. It turns out that the path split into more paths, and more paths, and even more paths. Those orange arrows they painted on the trees weren’t graffiti, they were helpful signs meant to direct joggers towards the path that wasn’t thwarted by a giant tree. Yes, in my attempt to be athletic, I managed to pick the path that was destroyed when a tree got struck by lightening. The bridge was completely blocked and there was no way across. I scraped my brain for every wilderness safety tip I remembered, and the only thing I could think of was Barney the Dinosaur telling me to hug a tree while help came. It was dark and wet; every frantic movement led me deeper into the woods. I saw a dark object swaying in the distance so I ran towards it. It was an old backpack hanging on a branch. I panicked; I just knew it was a sign left by a serial killer hunting international students. I heard a rustling in the bushes. My heart swelled up with fear. “It’s a werewolf, oh no, it’s a flipping werewolf,” I panicked, “It’s going to eat my face and I’m going to die!” It turned out to be a deer, but it blinked at me so it was obviously rabid. I took off in the opposite direction, arms flailing. I saw traffic lights in the distance so I frantically waded through the water towards them. I climbed over a short wall and was suddenly on pavement. Sweet, sweet pavement! I skipped towards the shed and cars I saw ahead. Just as you would expect from a horror movie about a student being slaughtered in the woods, they were abandoned.
Here I was, covered in mud, twigs, torn clothes, and tears, wailing the words to “I’ll make a man out of you!” A frightened old woman in a passing vehicle caught sight of me, and asked if I was okay. I nodded and promptly started throwing up. She gave 911 a ring, and I awkwardly sat by her side while she called her husband and explained why she was going to be late for dinner. Soon enough, a shiny Kent County vehicle rolled up. A tall, white Sheriff in a crisp brown uniform exited the vehicle. He had an intimidating stern face, but his blue eyes twinkled jovially at me. He smiled, to which I started sobbing until he consoled me from a distance. He calmed me down and packed me up in the back of his cruiser to help me find my car. While we were driving, he asked what on earth happened. I confessed, “I tried to jog but then your woods happened! And there was a broken tree, a broken bridge, and a werewolf! I almost died!” He simply laughed and said, “Aw, well you seem fine.” He’s clearly never faced the perils of the wild like I just did. The worst part of that entire ordeal, besides the forced physical activity, was explaining to the locals that I was a Kuwaiti student on a scholarship. I could tell they were wondering if I was the brightest student that Kuwait had to offer. Luckily, there was a glimmer of goodness in my near-death experience. Despite the hours of frantic running and stomping in muddy water, my feet were perfectly fine and blister-free. Perhaps my jog didn’t go exactly as planned, but at least my Injinji toesocks lived up to their expectations.
CROCS
BEYOND THE ORDINARY Frieze art fair
by Deepa Pant
The high-profile, high-stakes art (af)fair in London attracted blue-chip galleries, big buyers and art lovers from around the world. Making waves at the global art market, the annual Frieze Art Fair brought together artists from over 152 of the world’s leading contemporary galleries to the UK. A firm favorite among followers of international art scene, the Fair opened its doors to art enthusiasts in Regent’s Park, London, from 17-20 October. The fair, now in its eleventh year, featured two specialist sections: ‘Focus’, dedicated to galleries up to ten years old presenting projects specifically conceived for Frieze, and ‘Frame’, for young galleries who showed solo artist presentations. The display at Frieze Masters (a showcase of Old Masters) comprised of visually stunning and high quality works from art stalwarts like Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Willem de Kooning, Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon and Henri Matisse. The visitors were greeted by an intriguing display of a large reclining fiberglass sculpture by American artist Jennifer Rubell, Portrait of the Artist, at Stephen Friedman Gallery, a London based gallery. The interactive sculpture allowed viewers to crawl into its womb. The work, according to gallery notes, continues Rubell’s exploration into various pre-existing roles within the process of viewing art, between viewer and artwork, viewer and artist and viewer and viewer. Gagosian Gallery (London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Geneva, Hong Kong, Athens) had an impressive lineup that boasted the likes of Andy Warhol, Henry Moore, Jeff Koons, Pablo Picasso, Takashi Murakami and Francis Bacon. From Lobster to Tweety Birds, American pop artist Jeff Koons’s sculptures drew a big crowd, and his mirror-polished stainless steel sculpture titled Sacred Heart (Blue/Magenta) 1994-2007 was easily one of the star attractions. Dubai based gallery, The Third Line wooed the art lovers by representing the likes of Sophia Al Maria, Rana Begum, Ala Ebtekar, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. Saira Ansari, PR & Media Coordinator at The Third Line explained, “The booth explored the themes of Science, Cosmos and Futurism to provide various interpretations in the practices of artists from the Middle Eastern region and diaspora.” Blum and Poe, a US-based gallery displayed some brilliant works by a select group of their big guns. “We participated in Frieze Masters last year, but this is our first time at the main fair,” said Lynda Bunting from Blum and Poe. In addition to attending Frieze, the gallery also actively participates at other international events, such as Art Basel, Art Basel Hong Kong, Art Basel Miami Beach, and ADAA to name a few, added Bunting. Meanwhile, Beirut-based Agial Art Gallery, a well96
known name that specializes in the promotion of contemporary and modern art from the Arab world, focused on just one artist and hosted enthralling works by Aref Rayess in the ‘Spotlight’ section, an area dedicated to solo artist presentations. Carol A. Chehab, Creative Director of Agial noted, “It’s our first time in Frieze Masters representing a solo show for late Lebanese artist Aref Rayess (1928-2004).” Finally, we can’t talk of Frieze without mentioning some other top-notch galleries that participated at Frieze Masters, such as Bacarelli Botticelli, Florence Gagosian Gallery, London, Hauser & Wirth, London, Galerie Meyer Oceanic Art, Paris, and Rob Smeets Old Master Paintings, Geneva. Visitors to the fair were also able to enjoy some of the best musical events, panel discussions and talks by leading artists and curators. Frieze Art Fair was a blend of serious and idiosyncratic, a winning mantra of alluring art and mega fair all the way. Want to know more? Log onto www.friezelondon.com
Q and Art with Belinda Bowring Despite a hectic week at the fair, Belinda Bowring, Head of Public Relations, Frieze, was gracious enough to fill us in on the creative forces behind Frieze Art Fair and more. Tell us how Frieze came about. Frieze initially started as a publishing company, in 1991 Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp, with the artist Tom Gidley, founded the magazine frieze, and the pilot issue of the magazine featured a Butterfly work by the then relatively little known artist Damien Hirst. In 2003, Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp founded Frieze Art Fair, having noticed a gap in the calendar. Although London was a city where artists lived and worked, it did not have a moment in the year when the international art world visited the city, and so the fair was a response to that need. In 2011, they launched frieze d/e, a German language edition of the magazine. Following that, in 2012 the company undertook perhaps its most
ambitious expansion to date launching ‘Frieze New York’, a contemporary art fair in Manhattan, and ‘Frieze Masters’, a fair for art from ancient to modern that takes place in London at the same time as the contemporary fair. What sets Frieze 2013 apart from its previous editions? This year, Frieze London introduced some of the biggest changes since its inception, as the fair has been redesigned with wider aisles and more spacious public areas, also with new exhibitors such as Max Hetzler. For the second edition of Frieze Masters we saw a number of new exhibitors, which look to make this year an unmissable one. New exhibitors in 2013 include: Dan Galeria (São Paulo); Dickinson (London); Dominique Lévy Gallery (New York); Galerie Malingue (Paris); Galerie Sanct Lucas (Vienna); Johnny Van Haeften (London); Landau Fine Art (Montreal); Mitchell-Innes & Nash (New York); Mnuchin Gallery (New York); Otto Naumann (New York); Richard Gray Gallery (Chicago);
Richard Green Gallery, (London); and Skarstedt Fine Art (New York). What are some of the new trends this year? Galleries are increasingly deciding to use solo displays to best display what they do. This is particularly true at Frieze Masters where we will see solo stands by: Carl Andre (Sperone Westwater, New York); Edward Burra (The Lefevre Gallery, London); Lucio Fontana (Tornabuoni, Paris); David Hockney (Richard Gray, Chicago); Willem de Kooning (Mnuchin Gallery, New York); Wilfredo Lam (Gmurzynska, Zurich); Richard Long (Lisson Gallery); Henri Matisse (Thomas Gibson, London); Robert Motherwell (Bernard Jacobson); Alice Neel (Victoria Miro, London); Victor Pasmore (Marlborough Fine Arts, London); Aaron Siskind (Bruce Silverstein) and Sean Scully (Timothy Taylor). How many artists from the Middle East are being represented? We don’t have a definitive list of all artists in the fair but we’re looking forward to seeing some
of the favorite galleries from the region including: the Third Line, Sfeir-Semler Gallery and Sommer Contemporary Art. Can you tell us a little about the Emdash award? Emdash Award is given to an artist living outside the U.K. during Frieze London every year since 2006. The Emdash Award is supported by the Emdash Foundation, a private foundation with a mission to support new ideas and emerging talent across disciplines, from the arts and cultural projects to science. This year the Emdash recipient is Pilvi Takala, a Finnish artist. Takala has chosen to give the opportunity to realize the Emdash Award to a committee of 12-year-old children. Throughout the summer these children have been taking part in a series of workshops in order to explore what they might do with the production budget for the award.
Images courtesy of Frieze London. 97
THE HOLIDAY HOME
Home Centre offers a new line of holiday cheer by bazaar staff
It’s that time of year, when people all over the world are putting up beautiful decorations in their homes. Wreaths are hung on the door in the midst of bright lights that line homes and balconies. Christmas trees are adorned with family ornaments, and the latest trends in Christmas decorations. While Kuwait may be a long way off from a white holiday season, Home Centre has everything you need to make your house a festive one. It’s all about color and sparkle in their holiday decoration line, and it’s sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. You can fill your day with holiday cheer from Home Centre. Start your morning with a cup of hot coffee with a Merry Christmas from Santa, Christmas trees or even a snowman perched on top of the handle. Have breakfast with the kids with red and green linen napkins and their own cheerful dishes and cutlery. Spend an afternoon with the family decorating your home using the plethora of décor choices offered in the showroom. Whether you go for the classic red and green theme, or a more modern blue and turquoise there is something 98
for everyone. Give your room some extra cheer with a floor vase filled with poinsettia flowers. Or hang some mistletoe off the doorway between ornaments. For a more modern look try one of their silver or gold over-sized floor ornaments that are sure to make any room full of holiday cheer. Of course, there’s nothing like decorating your Christmas tree, and at Home Centre you have everything you need under one roof. Pick one out that fits the size of your room, and then get lost in the wide range of tree ornaments. Choose from sparkly or shiny, classic round or even butterfly shaped. You can choose a box of assorted ornaments, or create your own design with separate pieces. For some added cheer around the house, look for the pre-decorated mini trees. What would Christmas be without presents? For those that want to keep a tidy home, or just don’t have room for all the wonderful gift giving, try one of their stylish and practical cloth bins. With the beige base and a red lining it’s sure to fit in with any home décor, while adding a bit of holiday happiness to your day. Fill stockings with Christmas treats and hang them off Santa’s sled,
reindeer and Christmas tree inspired hooks. Christmas is just as much about getting together with your family for a good meal, and enjoying their company, as it is about anything else. Check out the dining section for a full range of table settings for the festive season. From red glittered placemats to exquisite napkin holders, it’s easy to make your holiday table a warm and inviting one. Don’t forget the Santa cookie jar for the delicious gingerbread cookies. For all those away from home this holiday season, just head over to Home Centre. They have definitely given new meaning to their slogan “Find your home in ours,” with a wide range of decorations that are sure to make even the Grinch smile. The Home Centre flagship store is located on Pepsi Cola Street (2nd Ring Road), Behind City Centre – Shuwaikh. For more information, please visit www.homecentrestores.com or call 2484 5995. You can also find them at The Avenues – Grand Avenue or follow @Landmarkq8 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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BARABOUX
One bag, many destinations by bazaar staff
“
The essence of my brand is
FASHIONABLE ORGANIZATION
”
– Princess Reema
Inherently Middle Eastern, Baraboux is a new luxury brand that, although based in Riyadh, is internationally acclaimed for drawing inspiration from traditional Bedouin philosophies that are represented in a contemporary light. Baraboux offers the modern woman the pieces that matter the most, pieces that would never hinder a woman’s journey, but rather enhances her day without sacrificing either beauty or quality. Founded by Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, elegance and practicality are the core ideology behind this special range of luxury bags and clutches. Realizing Baraboux as a vision that provides a solution to her hectic, 100
globe trotting lifestyle, Princess Reema looked to facilitate between constantly switching bags, and developed her own bespoke method of transferable pouches. From there, the idea for a range of compartmentalized deluxe evening clutches and bags emerged. We all know that the secret behind every woman’s success is organization, and with an added factor of style, Baraboux is absolutely covetable, and serves the 21st Century Neo-nomad faultlessly. For Autumn/Winter 2013-2014, beauty meets functionality effortlessly. Baraboux draws inspiration from the enigmatic, natural and sparkling tones of the Himalayas. In 2012 Baraboux’s founder and creative director, Reema
Bandar Al Saud, traveled to the world’s highest mountain range as part of the first ever team of Saudi Arabian women to reach Mount Everest’s South Base Camp. Along the way they witnessed receding evergreen vegetation, slate slopes, frozen pale blue waterways, sparkling icicles and moody grey shale. These colors form the palette of Baraboux’s autumn/winter 2013-2014 collection, and are applied to the latest range of functional bags in a unique blending of materials including layers of Italian leathers, canvas and Baraboux’s signature metal hardware. Baraboux is available at 4 Boutique. Please call 2492 5444 for more information.
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TOP 13 MOST LIST-I-EST ANNOYANCES by bazaar staff
When it comes to Internet lists, let’s be blunt: they are simply done to drive traffic. They also tend to fall somewhere between vaguely entertaining and super annoying. That said, as they are becoming more nuanced and technically advanced, it is safe to say that the things that annoy us about them are well-planned details based on click through, forward and trend rates—but apparently we can’t help ourselves. Here are the on-purpose-i-est, list-i-est things they do everyday that irk us: 1. Infuriatingly vague or all-inclusive titles. For example: “If you have two legs and consider yourself a good person, you MUST read this” or “Read this or you may not continue living.” They have all the charm of modern chain mails. 2. The arbitrary nature of the number chosen. Call me a purist, but give me a top ten and let’s be done with it. All a listing of 24 tells me is that you clearly were not judicious enough about getting to the best of the best, and are again, sadly, just driving traffic, at the expense of my time. 3. When they have only one numbered item per page. This inevitably requires you to click 20-whatever times to see the whole list. You do the math on click-through rates here. Which brings me to my next point. 4. Ads that are placed in spaces where buttons should be. Thus causing you to accidentally click on more adverts than you would like (as in, even one). 5. The sheer ubiquity of them at present. A recent guilty-pleasure viewing of the “Top 30 Schmidt Quotes” (from TV sitcom, New Girl), had on the same page, links to the following: The 30 best quotes from season two of Jersey Shore, 20 stages of being drunk, 24 reasons childhood friends are best friends, 31 celebrities only famous to New Yorkers, 27 worse feelings in the world, 15 times Tina Fey got real with us, 26 innocent things that will make you feel filthy, 30 best pop songs you might have missed this fall, 10 sounds that cats make and what they mean, and 18 things you probably didn’t know about the movie Elf. Just to be clear that is not a special page of the top 20 most annoying lists (such as you hold currently in your hands) that is just a regular old page with their regular old links, thereby showing the pervasiveness of the trend. 6. Animated gif lists that are too cumbersome to load. I get that sometimes you just need a gif so we can all see that funny thing. But how come they can’t seem to keep that in mind and shorten the list to account for load times? When they don’t, it leaves you reading the text in between, before you even see the image. Spoiler alert: this will spoil it!
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7. Consider this…none of this is new information. This is all information that you have likely already seen or heard of, just repackaged in a new way to evoke a response. It’s working! 8. Stereotypes: “little boxes made of ticky tacky, and they all look…” The reductive pre-suppositions that are required in order to pitch said list to the broadest base possible leaves them bland as a Mc-Anything. You must be put in a box. [Please get me out of this box!] 9. How normally reputable News sources are now doing them too. Not you Huffington Post—say it ain’t so! 10. Repackaging of somebody else’s list as your own. Normally achieved by simply adding a number or two on to it; get original people. 11. Superlatives. Superlatives. Superlatives. There is no most-est top #1 worst prettiest best-est strongest most handsom-est least famous uber-expensive silliest thing to know about anything—so cut it out! 12. Where the last answer to the list is a thinly (at best) veiled attempt to click on the next link down a rabbit hole or when the last point on the list is basically a recanting of the original idea of the list to begin with. This is the ultimate worst thing. 13. But for some reason, you love them and can’t quit clicking on them… Read the top reasons why you love to hate them by visiting Ihateinternetlists.tumblr.com.
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ANTA
SOMETHING SWEET IS COMING Dessert delivery from q8desserts.com by bazaar staff
It’s Thursday afternoon and you are stressed about the looming deadline at work. Your list of DIY projects at home is growing, and you really could just use an evening lounging before the weekend begins. Alas! You are headed to a dinner party tomorrow, and it’s essential you bring a dessert for your hosts. The thought of going to a sweet shop after work frustrates you, and your daydream of getting into sweats and lounging has been postponed for as long as it takes to find somewhere with those cupcakes you are looking for, and get yourself to the shop physically. Of course, you can always just call the shop, but that leaves a huge margin for error, and you want to make sure they get your order exactly right. This is the exact dilemma Abdul wahab AlOraifan and his team of four found themselves in late December 2012. He says he realized that while the online shopping experience was available for electronics, savory foods and almost every other industry in Kuwait, desserts were under represented. At first, the thought was to create a directory to ease the search process. Users could search based on location, occasion or sweet type. Then, Al-Oraifan realized that the niche in the exploding market of sweet treats in Kuwait was not just a directory, but a website that eliminated the physical errand of buying sweets all together. Enter q8desserts.com. You get to go home as soon as you are done, slip into those sweats and sit back on the couch to order exactly what you want. Now, you can do all the things you wanted to do, or just relax until the order gets delivered directly to your door. You can search for sweet shops based on the type of dessert you are looking for, whether it’s a baked good, frozen delight, a sweet treat or fine chocolate. Already have a specific craving in mind? Look for your favorite shop, or use the keyword search to find places that have, e.g. red velvet cupcakes, or chocolate cake truffles. For Al-Oraifan, the whole idea stemmed from a deep appreciation of desserts, and respect for the plethora of dessert businesses in the country. “In Kuwait, the dessert stores are creative, really creative,” he said. “So competing with such talent is difficult. We decided to stay in this booming industry and try to help the stores by providing extra marketing, and assistance with deliveries.” Besides the basics, the website also lets you search their stores based on occasion. You don’t want to be the fifth guest to bring a cake to a graduation party, for instance. Just check on Q8 Dessert’s ‘occasion’ section. Be different, with 104
a box of chocolate from Chocolate Haven with a smart graduation teddy bear nestled inside, or customized sugar cookies from J’s Bakery. Whatever the occasion, the website will filter the results, so you see the desserts that best suit your event. It’s as simple as clicking the occasions tab in the main menu, and selecting your area. While the end-user is a deciding factor in the buying process, Al-Oraifan recognizes the
importance of creating strong relationships with stores that share a mutual trust. He creates business partnerships by putting the establishments through a testing process to ensure that the website works for them, and their system of orders and delivery is compatible with the technology. However, getting the stores to recognize the value of online ordering has proven difficult. “The biggest challenge has been to try to
convince stores that this can help their business,� he said. “So what we did was give them complete ownership of the ordering process.� Store owners are also put through a rigorous testing process to ensure their stores can handle orders, and are able to use the email verification system set up through the website. The team at Q8 Desserts monitors all orders, and ensures timely and accurate deliveries. For the past three months Al-Oraifan and his
team have been working tirelessly since launching the site in August to make sure that their site is perfect, and ready for the major goals they have for the next year. They intend to tackle the issue of ordering customized cakes. They are also working on a soon to be released Arabic version of the site, and a mobile app to ease ordering on the go. Perhaps most useful is their goal to have a robust selection of Arabic sweets by the start of Ramadan in late July 2014. No longer will you
have to wait in long lines to grab your favorite plate of Kunafa before heading to Iftar. Or find a new favorite by browsing through all the selections available on the site. So keep on the lookout for your favorite dessert shop on Q8desserts.com, where something sweet is coming. Go to q8desserts.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @q8desserts. 105
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
You mentioned before that a brand is an impression in consumers’ and customers’ minds. Tracking media reach and after sales surveys are costly. How can we track different aspects of this ‘impression’ on a regular basis?
When we think of the word ‘impression’ usually words like feelings, ideas, or opinions about something or someone come to mind. And many executive managers and business owners would argue that such emotions are intangible and, therefore, immeasurable. What we tend to overlook is that emotions don’t exist on their own. Emotions are generated as a reaction to a statement or behavior. The key here is not only to understand what emotions consumers and customers have, but also to understand what caused these emotions to exist whether these emotions are positive or negative. The next step after understanding the causes is to protect and strengthen the right activities that have a positive effect and to change the processes and decisions that have a negative effect to improve the overall experience. There are many metrics that can be populated internally at a reasonably low cost. To name a few, consider ‘interaction completion rates’ to understand how functional your channels and touch points are. In other words, how many times customers or visitors can achieve their goals of interacting with your business. Net Promoter Score is another way to measure customer delight level because your customers won’t promote your business and recommend you to others if they were not satisfied with you. One more area to measure is the ease of doing business with the company, because being able to purchase is one thing, and how comfortable the purchase process was for them is another. Emotions and impressions are invisible but definitely measurable...and that’s just my two cents.
Q
We want to have a more flexible exchange policy to have an advantage over competition but we’re worried about abuse by customers of this new policy. Is there a way to go around it?
Can Yoda trust Darth Vader? Can Superman trust General Zod? Can Little Red Riding Hood trust the wolf? The answers are no; no; and yes. None of the first two villains can be trusted because their behavior clearly was hostile, corrupt, and harmful. The wolf, however, did not show any signs at his early interaction with the girl to alarm her so she continued to have a conversation with the wolf thinking it was her grandmother. As the wolf’s answers started to get weird some suspicion started to arise and things take a turn (depending on which version you read or are familiar with – there’s more than one ending). As you can see from the examples above, the focus here is on using behavior and attitude as major contributors to decide how trustworthy the character is. That means trust can only exist as a result of trustworthy behavior. I can’t accept the assumption that all your customers are not trustworthy.
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As for the few who might want to take advantage of your honesty-based exchange and return policy, go back to their purchase history. How many returns and exchange claims did they make in the past? How often did they make these claims? Were the items truly defected? I’m not suggesting to keep customers waiting while profiling them, but rather to trust your customers and to track their interactions with your company to monitor how they’re using or abusing your exchange policy. Will this exercise cost you? Sure, but it will cost you more when you’re not competitive or when you don’t differentiate yourself...and that’s just my two cents.
Q
I’ve been working closely with two of my assistants for a while and it’s time to promote one of them, but I can’t decide. They both have been demonstrating strong technical skills as far as their roles are concerned. Any tips? It’s not clear if this promotion involves any managerial duties that include being responsible of other employees. So, based on the information provided I’ll assume that the promotion doesn’t involve such responsibilities. Since their technical skills are of a similar level, I won’t address how good the promoted person needs to be. If we take managerial and technical skills out of the picture, we’re left with character and behavior. Human characteristics vary and cover a wide range of social and intellectual aspects of communication. Are all qualities important to consider? I wouldn’t recommend that because the assessment task would go on and on for a long time. Choose three to five qualities that matter to your work environment and use them as a benchmark for the comparison. There are five qualities that anyone can use to find distinctive employees: genuine, honest, true, sincere, and real. To be ‘genuine’ is to be authentic in thinking, planning and communicating constantly. ‘Honesty’ refers to fairly earning his/her income, trust and respect of colleagues and customers through hard work and a morally correct attitude. Being ‘true’ is about being balanced, loyal and accurately conforming to standards yet adaptable to surroundings and circumstances. ‘Sincerity’ at work is harmony in what one feels, says and does and to be free from deceit. A ‘real’ character comes from being factual, unpretentious and free to express and progress. It’s important to mention that not all employees should have all these qualities combined, as long as they don’t demonstrate opposite attitudes...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.
ACQUA EVA
SOMEDAY CAFÉ
The place to get inspired by bazaar staff
There are days you need a nice juicy steak and others when you want a burger and fries. But some days a fresh sandwich in a simple setting is really all you want. For those days head over to Someday Café across from Salhiya Complex. Meet a friend, write that chapter in your novel you have been stuck on, or just enjoy the cool weather in their outdoor seating area with a refreshing drink or a light lunch. According to co-owner, Dana Al-Otaibi, “it’s not your regular place. We want people to relax and feel the energy.” Al-Otaibi and her team of designers have worked hard to tap into the local energy using great food, a contemporary yet homey design and even a small marketplace in the café. Yes, a marketplace. Don’t let the name fool you, this establishment is much more than just a place to get coffee. There are all the regular ingredients for a normal café. Their coffee selections are deliciously bold, made any way you like. The light colored classical furniture in a contemporary setting is the perfect place for your creative juices to flow. Sandwiches like chicken mango and crunchy tuna with apple are proudly displayed in a refrigerator against the back wall, and you’ll always find something sweet on the counter. 108
When it comes to food, Someday Café prides itself on infusing together classics from the West and the East. Their kofta meat burger, the Royal Burger, perfectly bridges the hearty classic with a burst of Arabian flavors. Or try their konafa cheesecake, a dessert that takes the lightest elements of the two and creates a perfect ending to an incredible meal. If you aren’t feeling that bold, Someday Café also offers a wide range of local fruits and salads that are sure to hit the spot. For the owners, the café is about so much more than feeding people, Al-Otaibi points out that they even offer jobs for students. Their marketplace offers a plethora of goods, from sunglasses to t-shirts and desk accessories, all from local businesses. I Vintage, Kuwait’s local retro eyeglass designer, has a wide range of frames, from the wacky disk shaped to classic orange presented on a rustic picnic table. Or pick up a handmade lavender pillow, intricately designed to be a perfect addition to any home décor. What Someday does best though, is create an ambiance that has customers feeling at home. From their rustic furniture to the signs that inspire with sayings like “Life is short. Break the rules, forgive quickly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably and never
regret anything.” They have created the perfect spot to study, write or just gather your thoughts with free Wi-Fi. What better place to write these thoughts than on a beverage napkin? Each napkin is printed with a profile outline so customers can sketch out what they are feeling. Check out their wall of hundreds of Someday inspired napkin drawings where customers let their creative juices flow onto the napkins, thanking the café for their experience or just giving a piece of wisdom. The café never gets old, because it is constantly changing. The concept designer revamps the interior every three months. Anything can change, whether it’s the colors or the furniture. Plus, you will always be able to find something new in the marketplace. The owners are constantly on the prowl for great local designers with interesting new products. This special place has given Kuwait the setting any creative and inspiring city needs. It would be no surprise to find that the next great idea coming from Kuwait started at Someday Café. Someday Café is located in the Salhiya Complex across from Cartier. Connect with them on Instagram @somedaykw or by phone at 2299 6424.
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LandmarkQ8
SELFIE-RELIANCE
The word of the year is the story of our individualism by Dan Zak
There is a time in every man’s day when his Facebook feed spits out a photo of a friend who has turned a smartphone camera on him or herself. There is the practiced tilt of the head, to avoid additional chins. There is the palm tree or infinity pool in the background, to record momentary privilege. There is the artfully arranged cleavage, or the casually flexed triceps, to establish oneself as fit, desirable, deserving of exhibition in the carousel museum of social media. We click “like,” or we narrow our eyes in dislike, and then remember our Emerson. “Envy is ignorance,” he wrote in his essay “Self-Reliance,” and “imitation is suicide.” Regardless, “selfie” is the Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year, chosen partly because its usage spiked 17,000 percent since this time last year. We have become selfie-reliant, and now the lexicon has wholly absorbed the modern way to label the ancient fascination with self. But are modern selfies, uploaded onto Instagram by the millions, corrosive in a way that finer selfportraits are not — the oil-on-canvas selfies of Frida Kahlo, say, or Australian gunner Thomas Baker’s 1917 Kodak portrait of his mirror image in uniform? The practice of self-portraiture has never been cheaper or wider. The #selfie hashtag on Instagram summons a torrent of self-portraits, ranging in style from glamour shot to mugshot. Now we are a mob of self-portraitists. The total 110
democratization of an art form either destroys it or ennobles it, and the selfie is either a pure expression of self or the surrender to conformity. Depends on your artistic standards, and your tolerance for psychobabble. Selfies are a form of vernacular photography, like amateur daguerreotype or Polaroid, says Alicia Eler, who writes routinely about selfies on the arts website Hyperallergic, and the prevalence of the artistic tool (the smartphone) doesn’t diminish the value of the work. “I think the self-portrait and the selfie are for anyone who’s continuously documenting the act of becoming,” she says. It’s not self-obsession, though. It’s a way to connect. Such portraiture on social media is as good for self-empowerment as it is for selfobjectification, psychologist Sarah Gervais writes in Psychology Today. Though it’s possible for people to take an unhealthy “outsider’s perspective of their bodies,” Gervais says, she suggests “that Instagram offers a quiet resistance to the barrage of perfect images that we face” in the traditional media. Parse them any which way, and realize that we have come to rely on selfies. Selfies say “I was here, in this state, at this point in time.” Selfies say “I’m not alone because I can share my aloneness.” We’re not narcissists, as the curmudgeonry claims. We are transcendentalists with iPhones.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose marquee essay is titled Self-Reliance, would have been a habitual selfie-taker. The transcendentalists meticulously journaled about themselves and shared passages with each other. They prized the notion of the individual and his or her capacity for self-definition. Emerson “says the mark of wisdom is seeing the miraculous in the commonplace, and showing ourselves to each other because we find something of worth in ourselves,” says Philip Gura, professor of American literature and culture at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In this way, each selfie is one more breath blown into “the Oversoul,” which Emerson defined as the “common heart,” as individuals knit together in the ether. He could have been writing about the Internet and social media, in which case he would have cautioned against modeling yourself on others, which “loses your time and blurs the impression of your character.” “But do your work, and I shall know you,” Emerson wrote. “Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself.” If Emerson were writing Self-Reliance today, he might have added this instruction to his essay: If you do take a selfie, don’t look at the image of yourself on the screen as you snap the photo. Your eyes will be looking in the wrong direction. Instead, look into the lens itself, into the other soul who will soon be looking back at you.
REVLON
bazaar a la mode TWO NEW DOLCE & GABBANA STORES IN PRESTIGE – THE AVENUES Habchi & Chalhoub announced that Dolce & Gabbana is opening their newest men’s and women’s stores in the Middle East, in Kuwait City. The stores are located in the city’s most prestigious shopping destination, Prestige - The Avenues. The nearly 900m² women’s boutique will be home to an assortment of Dolce & Gabbana accessories, ready-towear, eveningwear and jewelry for women. It is characterized by a large facade that overlooks the main promenade of the mall. On the ground floor two large windows on either side of the semi-circular entrance showcase the collections and on the upper floor two large windows feature burgundy velvet theater curtains which frame the seasonal campaign images. Upon entering the boutique through a wide semicircular opening, the accessories collection, as well as the women’s apparel collection, is highlighted in display cases, where both the features and the craftsmanship of each piece are enhanced. From the ground floor, a short ramp leads to the vanity room through twin doors in lace that provide privacy and a space for private sales. A suspended glass path in the open space has an area dedicated to jewelry and high-end accessories. The traditional materials of the Dolce & Gabbana women’s boutiques are used: basalt floors, red and black carpets, black glass walls, burgundy velvet and red damask and black lacquered wooden furniture. The nearly 500m² men’s boutique will be home to an assortment of Dolce & Gabbana accessories, ready-to-wear, formal wear and jewelry for men. The store overlooks the main corridor of the mall with a large window that reveals the inside of the store. In the ready-to-wear room you can see the formal wear area through two wooden doors which can be accessed through the tailoring room, where there is a space dedicated to watches. The traditional materials of Dolce & Gabbana men’s boutiques are used: basalt floors, smoky black glass walls, walls covered in dark burgundy velvet and black lacquered wooden furniture.
VERY IRRESISTIBLE GIVENCHY FRAGRANCE NOW CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF SUCCESS In 2003, French elegance converged with pure American-style glamour to create an unparalleled fragrance: Very Irrésistible. Becoming a great classic among Givenchy fragrances, Very Irrésistible now celebrates ten years of success. Ten years, three different yet equally bold styles, where luxury and audacity, French-style elegance and American spontaneity converge. In just one decade, Very Irrésistible has established its standards in perfumery and won women over worldwide. Revisiting three highpoints in the Givenchy saga: 2003 Very Irresistible Eau de Toilette: Surprising, stunning and spontaneous. The first women’s floral aromatic fragrance, Very Irrésistible stirs up new winds of freedom. And, the Eau de Toilette marks a new and unprecedented genre with style. 2005 Very Irrésistible Eau de Parfum: Très chic, patchouli wood gives this second edition all its depth. A brilliant manifestation of femininity finds its sensuality through the magical contrast between clarity and obscurity. 2011 Very Irrésistible L’intense: Purple, fleshy, juicy plum entices the rose into a delicious addiction. A sumptuous aroma that is just the first impression from a fragrance with more than an assertive sensuality. Its distinctive signature: an intense Couture sillage interlaced with patchouli, an utterly timeless ingredient and an airy silken veil of white musk.
PARFOIS AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION It’s all about edgy elegance this season with fabulous new accessories from Parfois. Select from trendy handbags, clutches, neck scarves, pumps, boots, belts, sunglasses, brim hats and statement necklaces, along with chandelier earrings and cocktail rings for a fashion-forward look. The current Autumn/Winter collection is inspired by simple and structured shapes aiming for a minimal and concise look. The new Parfois collection is full of color blocks and renovated winter looks for a sophisticated and stylish woman. Renew your accessory wardrobe today with the latest pieces from Parfois in Kuwait, by visiting their stores in Al Kout or Awtad Malls.
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CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH H&M This holiday season, H&M celebrates with a brand new campaign which invites the whole family to share the fun of a mansion house party. Models such as Christy Turlington, Doutzen Kroes, Liu Wen and Sean O’Pry are all part of the H&M family, dressed for the season in nonchalant glamour for women, or sharp tuxes for men. There are also looks for party nights out, and the best times spent relaxing with friends and family. For women, this season it’s all about effortless pieces, party essentials and a new take on glamour. H&M’s Creative Head of Design, Ann-Sofie Johansson, responds on this season’s hottest items: TUXEDO JACKET: “Say hello to our new best friend. It works with everything, whether worn with a dress, or matched with a romantic blouse and leather leggings for a rock vibe.” BODYCON DRESS: “This black dress trimmed with lace is perfect for parties, and is so easy to wear.” RED FLOOR-LENGTH GOWN: “I love the drama of this sleeveless gown, which flows to the floor yet floats because it’s sheer. It’s such a modern way to add elegance this Christmas.” OVERSIZED KNITS: “A big sweater is so versatile this season. I love seeing them dressed up over sheer skirts, or worn for cosying up with friends on the sofa.” ROMANTIC BLOUSE: “It’s great when something that’s easy to wear also looks so chic. This romantic blouse is one of those effortless pieces that can be worn throughout the festive season.” For men, dress your best for this holiday season, whether it’s sharp tailored looks, innovative knits or pieces with attitude for the party season. H&M’s head menswear designer, Andreas Löwenstam responds to the season’s pieces: TUXEDO JACKET: “It’s great how the new sharp tuxedo jacket gives an immediate lift. Every man should have one in his wardrobe, especially for the festive season.” INNOVATIVE KNITS: “These are the season’s statement knits, which use traditional patterns and texture in a fresh modern way. They look so great worn with a tux.” TRIM-DETAIL SHIRTS: “Black with a white trim, or white with a black trim, both so smart shirts look good on their own.” FLANNEL SHIRT: “There’s something about flannel shirts that looks so good right now. These brushed shirts are perfect for the new mood at parties this season.”
SWATCH WARMS UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON Picture this: one cold winter morning you wake up, throw back the curtains, and ... snow! Big fluffy snowflakes have covered everything in sight with a lovely, soft white blanket. It’s unbelievably beautiful. And look! Over there, under the trees, reindeer! Now all that’s missing is ... a way to share your excitement. Not to worry. Inspired by the woollies that winter demands and that are so very fashionable these days, Swatch has created an enchanting and beautiful holiday companion. RED KNIT is a romantic New Gent, decorated with wintery signs and symbols. Remember the hand-knit sweaters and scarves, socks and mittens that kept you warm as a child? The bracelet’s vibrant red and white fabric brings all the excitement back to mind with lacy white snowmen, snowflakes, a snowy white rocking horse and snow-covered pines—all inspired by typical, trendy Nordic patterns. At the center of the dial is a golden reindeer, dotted with flakes of falling snow. Its ragged-edge, hand-knit silhouette evokes the warmth and pleasures of holiday evenings by a crackling fire, the fragrance of pine trees, wood smoke and romance in the air. RED KNIT is available in a limited and numbered edition of 14,999.
TORY BURCH LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE ROBINSON ALLIGATOR COLLECTION Tory Burch has introduced a limited edition handbag collection, exquisitely crafted in genuine alligator. Featuring the Robinson Envelope Clutch and Double Zip Tote, the collection is handmade by Italian artisans outside of Florence; each piece reflects the expert workmanship of five people and requires eight hours to create. During Tory’s recent visit to Dubai, she was inspired by the chic and sophisticated women she met. Designed with the stylish Middle Eastern woman in mind, the handbags are distinguished by luxurious textures, solid brass fittings and saturated colors. The signature styles are available in four rich tones — Tiger Lily, Fuchsia, Emerald and Ultramarine — inspired by natural elements found around the world. The silhouettes, named for Tory’s parents, Reva and Buddy Robinson, are modern classics and the epitome of effortless glamour. Reva and Buddy loved to take trips together, from Morocco to Greece, and this collection is perfect for the global traveler. Limited quantities of the Robinson Alligator Clutch and Double Zip Tote are available now in select Tory Burch boutiques, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Kuwait. 113
bazaar movie night The latest from the big screen playing in cinemas across Kuwait in December
THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (3D)
TARZAN (3D)
WALKING WITH DINOSAURS (3D)
Release Date: December 12 Theaters: Grand Cinema and Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Cast: Martin Freeman/Ian McKellen/Richard Armitage
Release Date: December 19 Theaters: Grand Cinema and Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Animation, Family Cast: Kellan Lutz/Robert Capron/Spencer Locke
Release Date: December 19 Theaters: Grand Cinema and Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Animation, Action, Family Cast: Justin Long/Tiya Sircar/Charlie Rowe
Synopsis: The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, and directed by Peter Jackson, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor and get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.
Synopsis: A teenage boy raised by gorillas in Africa falls for a pretty conservationist, Jane, following a chance meeting in the jungle, but finds their romance threatened by a menacing Silverback, and a mercenary army dispatched by an evil CEO looking for profit in the jungle in this animated adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic tale. When Jane returns to the jungle accompanied by smooth-talking entrepreneur William Clayton, her relationship with Tarzan is rekindled. But when Jane recognizes Clayton’s true intentions the only one who can save her from both the villainous industrialist and the menacing Tablat is the noble Tarzan of the apes.
Synopsis: For the first time in movie history, audiences will truly see and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Walking With Dinosaurs: The Movie is the ultimate immersive, big-screen, 3-D experience. Recent discoveries and a breakthrough in technology will introduce new and unique dinosaurs that are more real than ever before and put moviegoers in the middle of a thrilling prehistoric adventure, where an underdog dinosaur triumphs against all odds to become a hero for the ages. Staring Charlie Rowe (The Golden Compass, Pirate Radio). See and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth!
47 RONIN (3D)
GRUDGE MATCH
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
Release Date: December 26 Theaters: Grand Cinema and Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Drama Cast: Keanu Reeves/Hiroyuki Sanada/Kô Shibasaki
Release Date: December 26 Theaters: Grand Cinema and Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Comedy, Drama Cast: Robert De Niro/Sylvester Stallone/Kim Basinger
Release Date: December 26 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama Cast: Ben Stiller/Kristen Wiig/Adam Scott
Synopsis: From ancient Japan’s most enduring tale, the 3D fantasy-adventure is born. Keanu Reeves leads the cast as Kai, an outcast who joins Oishi, the leader of 47 outcast samurai. Together they seek vengeance upon the treacherous overlord who killed their master and banished their kind. The warriors embark upon a quest that challenges them with a series of trials that would destroy ordinary warriors. 47 Ronin is helmed by visionary director Carl Erik Rinsch. Inspired by styles as diverse as Miyazaki and Hokusai, Rinsch will bring to life the stunning landscapes and enormous battles that will display the timeless Ronin story to global audiences in a way that’s never been seen before.
Synopsis: Two aging retired boxing rivals Billy “The Kid” McDonne (Sylvester Stallone) and Henry “Razor” Sharp (Robert DeNiro) are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout and settle a long-standing beef -- 30 years after their last match, in this sports drama from director Peter Segal. It revolves around the fact that Razor had retired the night before the match for the title thus destroying both of their careers. Now they have an opportunity to get the score even with one last match which they both have their respective interest to participate in, but the one interest in common is getting the score even.
Synopsis: Ben Stiller directs and stars in The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, James Thurber’s classic story of a day-dreamer who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action. When his job, along with that of his coworker (Kristen Wiig) are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined. Also starring Shirley MacLaine and Sean Penn.
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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, Grand Cinemas: kw.grandcinemas.com or Facebook: Grand Cinemas Kuwait.
BEIT LADAN
NO WOMAN, NO DRIVE Behind the viral video by Sophia Jones
The idea behind the viral video “No Woman, No Drive,” came to Saudi comedian Hisham Fageeh in the shower. He was singing Bob Marley to himself and the idea started turning around in his head. A couple of months later, when Twitter was abuzz with talk that Saudi Arabian women would defy the ban on driving by mounting a demonstration October 26, Fageeh and his two friends, Saudi musicians Fahad Albutairi and Alaa Wardi, decided to produce a video to coincide with the day of protest. In the end, some 60 women defiantly took the wheel in the ultra-conservative Kingdom of Saudi of Arabia, but around the world almost 3 million (and counting) have watched Fageeh’s politically charged reggae spoof mocking the ban. Fageeh captures perfectly the kingdom’s reallife theater of the absurd. There’s no law on the books, as such, which says women can’t drive. But they can’t get Saudi licenses and days before October 26th the Ministry of Interior issued a statement saying that the country’s laws “prohibit activities disturbing the public peace,” which is the charge leveled against women drivers in the past. (Driving without a Saudi license brings a fine of up to 900 Riyals, roughly 70 KD. But many of the women who drove on the day had foreign driving licenses.) While the Saudi government officials issued harsh warnings to political dissenters or anyone supporting female drivers, there have been no reported arrests or fines, and the young comedian says he’s not afraid in the least. So far, he tells The Daily Beast, he’s gotten “nothing but love” in response to the video, from everyone from Saudi grandmothers to New York hipsters. “It resonated with people,” he says. “It was relevant to them.” The 26-year-old Fageeh, born in Riyadh, first discovered his knack for making people laugh after moving to the United States in his teens. But it was a bumpy road. He started high school in Florida just one year after 9/11, and his fellow students wouldn’t cut him a break: “It was very much like ‘f**k terrorists,’ ‘f**k Osama Bin Laden,’ f**k anything that isn’t white,” he remembers. The experience, he insists, helped make him the man – and the comedian – he is today. Fageeh went on to study religion and the Middle East at Florida State University. He worked in educational development for a while in Rwanda, then landed at the somewhat controversial Muslim Public Affairs Council in Washington D.C., where he worked on a study about American Muslim civil identity. It was then he started dabbling in standup comedy. The fast-moving, competitive capital of the United States forced him out of his more reserved shell, he says. 116
African-American comedy star Dave Chappelle (Half Baked and Chappelle’s Show) was his first stand up idol. Fageeh still recalls seeing him perform live. “There was this energetic force,” he says, “I knew I was experiencing something big.” Fageeh decided to test out the big city waters of New York, so he applied to Columbia University and nested in Harlem. He fell in love with the place, and even more deeply infatuated with the world of comedy there, which included a lively, irreverent group of Arab-Americans. He still remembers the laughter of his first few stand-up performances. “It was like heroin,” he says. “I was addicted.” The budding young comic then started a web series on YouTube impersonating what he describes as a “conservative, racist Saudi character.” It began as an inside joke with his little sister, but quickly gained a surprising following: the first video got 19 hits, the third one, 300, and the fifth, 80,000. Soon, he was an Internet sensation. The media production team Telfaz11, his current comedic home, spotted his potential. Fageeh says he comes from a conservative family, but they’ve been very supportive – especially after his recent hit. “My little sister was cracking up,” he says. “And my dad is really loving me being a comedian.” While the video has a light-hearted vibe, the ironic satire is sharp, and because the reasons given by ultra-conservative Saudis for keeping women away from the driver’s seat are so surreal, they do make easy targets. There’s the claim, for instance, that driving might damage women’s reproductive organs.
“Ovaries, so safe and well,” Fageeh intones, “so you can make lots and lots of babies.” “Your feet is your only carriage, but only inside the house. And when I say it, I mean it,” Fageeh sings in another line, addressing Saudi Arabia’s male guardianship law which strictly limits a woman’s ability to travel, work, open a bank account, marry, or undergo certain medical procedures without the consent of a male guardian. In some cases, this guardian could be a young son. In the video, Fageeh touches on the importance of tradition in the debate on women driving, and parodies the non-sequitur conclusions drawn from it: “In this bright future, you can’t forget your past,” he sings, “So put your keys away.” For the young Saudi comic, this issue of tradition blocking the future is, in fact, the biggest point of contention in his society. “This is what we’ve always done,” Fageeh says, sarcastically. “And now you’re doing the opposite. How dare you!” On Fageeh’s public Facebook page, he quotes writer George Orwell: “Every joke is a tiny revolution.” And Fageeh says, for him, the word ‘revolution’ has two meanings: the philosophical state of revolving and constantly changing, and also the political act of revolting. And right now, in Saudi Arabia, both are taking place on small scales. “The conversations happening now have taken generations,” Fageeh says. “It’s a recipe for change.” Check it out for yourself: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZMbTFNp4wI Source: The Daily Beast
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THE COSMETIC SURGERY CLINIC KUWAIT Interview with Dr. Adel Quttainah by bazaar staff
Celebrating a new milestone, The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic Kuwait will be opening its new location in Al Shaab Al Bahari in 2014. This location will be considered as the largest Plastic and Reconstructive surgery clinic in Kuwait and the Middle East. We met with Dr. Adel Quttainah, M.D., MB, BCh, BAO, FRCS (Canada) Cosmetic and Reconstructive Microsurgeon, as he tells us more about elevating the caliber of cosmetic and plastic surgery in Kuwait and the region. Why did you decide to pursue Cosmetic Surgery as a career path? I decided to pursue plastic and cosmetic surgery due to the fact that it covered the entire spectrum of surgery. Plastic surgery encompasses cosmetic surgery of the face and body as well as microsurgery, hand surgery, reconstructive facial and breast surgery, as well as pediatric and congenital or birth deformities. Burns and trauma are also a large part of the program that I found required a knowledge level far beyond any other specialty, which proved to be interesting and challenging. What are the reconstructive and cosmetic services offered at The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic? We offer complete cosmetic surgery procedures such as nose surgery, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction, breast augmentation and reduction, eye surgery and facelifts. We have a complete dermatology department for skin care, laser and non-surgical procedures such as Botox, fillers, laser resurfacing, tightening and anti aging. We have Kuwait’s only hair transplant department that offers FUT hair transplantation, which is a non-surgical procedure with rapid recovery for complete natural hair transplants. We now also include non-surgical weight loss with medically supervised weight loss for patients who want to lose some weight before surgery or those who are not candidates for surgery. 118
Is there a screening process for clients? Yes I think it is well known in Kuwait that I do not do procedures on patients if I feel they don’t need it or will not benefit. From many years of seeing thousands of patients I feel that I can predict if a patient should not do surgery. They have a complete consultation with myself where all pre surgical issues are addressed. It is important to explain to patients what looks natural and will improve their look and what doesn’t. What are the main factors that prompt clients to request certain cosmetic or reconstructive procedures? Most patients have issues after childbirth with specific weight loss problems such as loose skin and breast size issues. There is also a large percentage of patients with certain issues such as large nose size and being severely bothered by their appearance since childhood. Many of these patients have always wanted to improve these things that have bothered them and feel a sense of relief and satisfaction post operatively by improving their appearance. In this day and age, patients want minimally invasive surgeries as well as non-surgical options. We have been pioneers in Kuwait in offering rapid recovery, and minimally invasive procedures, and many surgeries using only local anesthetic including liposuction, eye surgery etc. What are some non-surgical options available at The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic that assist in weight-loss? We offer the only program for rapid weight loss by diet that is completely medically supervised. Liposuction is not a form of weight loss; it serves to resculpt the body and remove fat in specific areas such as the abdomen, hips, arms and thighs that have been resistant to weight loss. Having said that, we can remove very large amounts of fat and patients do lose significant amounts of weight.
Do you feel like clients are becoming more wellinformed about the process of undergoing a cosmetic or reconstructive procedure before they arrive at your clinic? Clients today are informed about some issues but with the surge in the Internet they have a tendency to become misinformed about what to expect from surgery. It is important to get the full story from the surgeon and discuss your expectations. If a procedure or special machine claims to do miraculous things it is always a false promise. We have so many patients who have wasted money trying to melt, laser or freeze fat away and this simply does not work. We have never offered these gimmicks in the clinic and we never will. Finally, what’s your personal advice to anyone wishing to undergo an elective cosmetic procedure? My personal advice to clients would be to research your surgeon as well as the procedure. Be sure you are dealing with a qualified, trained plastic surgeon. In Kuwait there are few restrictions on who is allowed to perform plastic surgery. Be aware that qualifications for cosmetic surgery purchased over the weekend or on the Internet are not a substitute for proper plastic surgery training at an accredited university. For more on The Plastic Surgery Clinic Kuwait, please call 2562 5030/60 or follow them on Instagram @dradelquttainah. Dr. Adel Quttainah, MB, BCH, BAO, FRCS (Canada) is a Fellow of The Royal College of Physician and Surgeons Canada - Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Microsurgeon, a Member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and a Member of The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. For more information please visit www.plasticsurgerykuwait.com or www.hairtransplantkuwait.com
HOME CENTRE
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bazaar around town TUMI INTRODUCES FALL 2013 COLLECTION Influenced by the 1960s era, the Tumi Fall 2013 Collection traces back to its origin where the art of travel was at its peak of glamor and excitement. It was during this time that the journey of getting there was just as special as the destination. Fast forward to modern time where this practice stretches beyond the jet-setters and frequent fliers: from the boardroom to the weight room and the grocery store or a dinner party, today’s individual engages in travel routinely through various modes of transit. For fall, Tumi’s design philosophy focuses on catering to the demands of today’s road warrior, without sacrificing the elegant, old-world charm that travel was once defined by. The men’s fall 2013 collection pairs utilitarian appeal with classic styling and construction. Mixed materials and rich seasonal hues like Baltic, Orange and Bordeaux contrast a neutral palette of Black, Earl Grey and White, all identified across the business, day bag and travel categories. Making its debut for the Fall 2013 season, the Astor collection of briefcases and soft carry-ons are top of the business class. Staple accessories for work or leisure, styles such as backpacks, totes and carry-alls, are redefined in the TICON, Alpha Bravo, Beacon Hill and Virtue collections. Celebrating a cosmopolitan lifestyle, the women’s Fall 2013 Collections delivers with substance and style. Polished, textured leathers and sophisticated, subtle detailing adorn totes and day bags in the Villa, Carlisle and new Carli collections. Best-selling styles from business and lifestyle lines are presented in various Tumi signature materials for fall. Muted tones are united with bright ones, including Lava, Ginger, Brindle, Slate, Indigo, Tangerine and Navy. Astor elevates Tumi’s heritage of design excellence to a new standard, blending classic silhouettes with retro-inspired craftsmanship. The ultimate statement piece found in both business and travel incorporates subtle detailing: a magnetic “T” attachment connector for shoulder straps and handles, monogram patch frames with beveled edge design and custom-designed lock hardware. Pops of seasonal colors- Orange and White- are available in the structured Dorilton Slim Flap Brief. Black saffiano leather, Earl Grey coated canvas and Tumi’s iconic ballistic nylon mix it up, instilling a diverse approach to the neutral palette.
VISION EXPRESS PRESENTS: INCREDIBLE EYEWEAR Born from the meeting of inspirational design elements, with quality industrial materials, the brand Incredible pays particular attention to every single step of its development phases to produce superior eyewear. All production stages are processed in Italy ensuring quality products and a guarantee of 100% Italian made. The shapes include current styles as well as bringing forward the upcoming fashion trends. The Incredible spectacles are light, comfortable and easy to wear, have a flexible structure and are high-tech, keeping up with the latest in eyewear developments. The range is unique and gives you the chance to choose between 48 different colors. Imagine entirely flexible spectacles. You can bend them and they won’t change their structure, you can curve them and they won’t misshape. If they fall or if you squash them, they won’t change their resistance. At only 17.2 grams with lenses (10.2 without) they are lightweight, comfortable, and easily adjustable up to 35 degrees. Available at Vision Express: Grand Avenue - The Avenues, Marina Mall, and Salwa Co-op.
TALABAT.COM MOBILE APPLICATIONS RANKS AS THE FIRST CHOICE FOR ONLINE FOOD DELIVERY ACROSS GCC Talabat.com, the leading online food delivery provider in Kuwait and GCC countries, prides itself on always being at the forefront in employing the latest technologies to make customers’ experiences more convenient, and they have continued this by employing a state-of-the-art mobile application. In this regard, Talabat proudly announced that the Talabat.com mobile application in the App store ranks first in downloads across the GCC with over 250,000 downloads. Keen to embrace the latest update in applications’ technology; Talabat.com has upgraded its application to match the developed features of iOS 7 in the App store which has replaced iOS 6. So, being an IPhone, iPad, Android user or Mobile site visitor, Talabat.com customers can enjoy downloading the upgraded Talabat online food ordering applications. In a statement, Mohammed Nabil Jaffar/ Talabat.com CEO said: “We are proud to lead the market when it comes to embracing the latest technologies’ innovations out of which we primarily aim to catering to our customers’ needs with efficiency and professionalism.” 120
AUTUMN FOR MEN: DOUBLE LAYER UP IN STYLE Bershka presents its first autumn Look book of the season for men. Coats and knitwear keep cold days at bay with urban styling. Straight cut coats are featured in browns, grays and blues, with lots of details including leather appliqués, buttons and pockets.Perfect pieces for autumn, Bershka proposes denim and print shirts combined with college-inspired knit jumpers and slim jeans for the perfect layer up look. In contrast knit hats, gloves and thick-soled shoes are essential for acquiring the must-have autumn look.
THE WORLD’S BEST FRAGRANCE COLLECTION JUST GOT BETTER! THE ALL NEW SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE COLLECTION Bath & Body Works’ iconic Signature Fragrance Collection is getting a makeover inside and out! Available in 23 of the best-selling men’s and women’s fragrances, the All NEW Signature Collection delivers the best fine fragrance experience anywhere. The re-launch of the Signature Fragrance Collection celebrates the story in every scent – told in new, modern bottles and labels – and reflects the high quality and unmatched value of the fragrances. Working with the best-in-class global perfumers, the Signature Fragrance Collection offers every customer the opportunity to experience world-class fragrances – from ingredients to facets to custom-designed packaging. The unique body lotion is also getting an upgrade. The brand new Shea & Vitamin E Body Lotion formula now features three times more Shea Butter, delivering 16 hours of continuous moisture, to leave skin ultra-soft and ready for all weathers! Available now at Bath & Body Works located in The Mall – The Avenues, 2nd Avenue – The Avenues, Marina Mall and Al Fanar Mall. INJAZ TIES UP WITH KUWAIT UNIVERSITY To Help Prepare Students for the Workforce INJAZ-Kuwait announced it has collaborated with Kuwait University (KU) to incorporate INJAZ’s Company Program into the curriculum. The Company program allows the students to develop business ideas, conduct market studies, capitalization, human resources organization, production and sales, division of profits/losses and liquidation. Through the collaboration, INJAZ-Kuwait is committed to provide five Company Program (CP) courses to 87 students to complete a total of 24 hours over the period of 12 weeks. Rana Al-Nibari, CEO of INJAZ-Kuwait said: “It is a privilege to tie up with Kuwait University, the first public university in the State of Kuwait. We are also honored to support KU’s CP classes, with support from our corporate volunteers and mentors in innovative and creative methods to provide students with practical help in their studies and develop their practical skills for the workforce.” “INJAZ-Kuwait has provided education and training for nearly 27,000 students since the organization launched its programs in 2005, and we will spare no effort to continue to introduce the latest and most advanced modern education ideology to Kuwaiti students in the future.” For more information on INJAZ Kuwait visit their website: www.injaz-kuwait.org/en/ STARBUCKS LAUNCHES DEDICATED INSTAGRAM PAGE FOR THE MENA REGION “Capturing your Starbucks moment” Starbucks Coffee announced at the end of last month, the launch of its official Instagram page for the Middle East and North Africa. The MENA Instagram page (@StarbucksMiddleEast) enables Starbucks to capture everyday moments through beautiful and genuine handcrafted images. Each photo represents a part of a greater narrative, highlighting the role Starbucks plays in the lives of its customers. Instagram will also serve to highlight the inspiring photos from Starbucks’ Instagram followers which feature the company’s stores and products across the region, giving customers the opportunity to share their views, get involved in the Starbucks conversation, join the regional and store community activities and interact with Starbucks MENA region directly. In parallel to the launch of the Instagram page, Starbucks is also working with Ahmad Al Rashid, a local Kuwaiti artist to design a special Starbucks cup that will be used both on the company’s MENA website and on various printed materials in the stores. Customers can visit and follow Starbucks Instagram MENA page on @StarbucksMiddleEast. 121
we care
THE UHN AND KCCC A partnership toward improving cancer care in Kuwait by bazaar staff
In September 2010, the University Health Network, one of the largest teaching and academic health science center in Canada, signed a five-year agreement for a fee of KD 37 million with the Ministry of Health of the State of Kuwait which will see UHN providing clinical expertise to the Kuwait Cancer Control Centre (KCCC) and to improve access to quality cancer services for the local population. We catch up with the people at the UHN to let us know how cancer care is continuously improving in Kuwait. What are the latest developments at the KCCC undertaken by the UHN? There are several new developments at KCCC as our partnership has many aspects. One area that we have been trying to enhance with our partners is awareness and better communication with KCCC’s cancer providers and within the community. To facilitate better communication we have launched the first public website for KCCC. In this website, we have used our human factor’s lessons learned from launching our Canadian website at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PMH). The Kuwait website is designed to help the Kuwait community better navigate their cancer experience. The website features both English and Arabic. Internally we rolled out a corporate intranet where KCCC staff can have at their fingertips the latest information regarding policies and procedures, online learning resources and hospital information. We also developed a cancer resource app for clinicians so that they can have UHN protocols and procedures for treatment along with international resources at their fingertips in their mobile devices. Another tool that the partnership helped to implement is telepathology. Telepathology is a technology whereby tissue samples of tumors can be taken in Kuwait but then reviewed electronically by UHN or other international pathologist for diagnosis or confirmation of diagnosis. This technology brings the world expertise to Kuwait so that the right treatments can be given to KCCC patients and reducing time delays. The partnership is also enhancing and expanding the traditional cancer care team. Cancer treatment is a team-based approached and must go beyond just physicians. Therefore we have supported KCCC leaders running case rounds to include the dietician, physiotherapist, social work and nursing. KCCC doctors are leading the charge in this regard. We are helping the other professions contribute to the care planning. Therefore, a KCCC patient is consulted on by a holistic team of professionals rather than receive a one dimensional treatment perspective. To further support this, UHN implemented Kuwait’s first malnutrition screening tool where patients who may be at a 122
greater risk of malnutrition through their treatment are identified early and supported better. Another change has been the implementation of the safe surgical checklist. UHN instituted this checklist to enhance patient safety and surgical team communication. The World Health Organization and the Kuwait Ministry of Health also support this initiative. What are the improvements on the communications front between the KCCC and concerned citizens and patients alike? One of the most important issues that we unfortunately face is the negative perception of cancer. There is widespread cancer phobia resulting in people avoiding screening. Everyone should realize that cancer could be treated and that there is support specifically designed for people and their families who are dealing with this disease. There are many forms of cancer that can be treated or managed appropriately so that people can live normal lives. However, it’s important to identify such cases early so that the chances of successful treatment can be increased. How has screening for breast cancer improved/ improving in Kuwait? KCCC is embarking on an initiative to improve care for women with suspected breast cancer through the establishment of a Rapid Diagnostic Breast Clinic. This specialized type of clinic helps to provide coordinated care, improve patient experience and decrease diagnostic delays. Under the leadership of Dr. Noha Al Saleh, Dr. Hanaa Al Khawari, Dr. Salah Al Waheeb, and Matron Darly Varaghese and in collaboration with the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, a Rapid Diagnostic Breast Clinic is being established at KCCC. PMH’s Nurse Practitioner-Bridgette Lord helped establish a similar clinic in Toronto Canada at PMH. Women who visit the KCCC Rapid Clinic will be given a physical exam, a mammogram, an ultrasound and a tissue biopsy if necessary, to determine if they have breast cancer within the span of one day. The aim is to have the preliminary pathology results available within 48 hours. The Rapid Diagnostic Breast Clinic at KCCC is based on a similar model created
at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and is the first of its kind to be made available in Kuwait. This will greatly positively impact screening for breast cancer in Kuwait. Furthermore, under the leadership of Dr. Hanaa Al Khuwari from the Department of Radiology, Kuwait has embarked on implementing a breast screening initiative in the Primary Healthcare Centers. The Ministry of Health has made a great investment in purchasing the screening equipment and training the technologists to run such technologies. We hope that the partnership will work hand-in-hand with such strong leadership from KCCC’s Radiology Department and the Ministry of Health. How do regular visits from experts at the UHN benefit local physicians here in Kuwait? The Canadian team consists of UHN Princess Margaret Cancer Centre experts based in Canada and in Kuwait. Both teams are multidisciplinary and inter-professional. The UHN Kuwait team, based at KCCC, is comprised of 16 specialized professionals including an executive nurse, a surgical oncologist, medical physicist, lab quality manager, clinical project managers, IT Team, quality improvement and health care management experts, nurse educators and nurse practitioners. In addition to this continuous day-by-day partnership, we have site visits every few months where multidisciplinary teams arrive in Kuwait and stay for the duration of 2 weeks to work with their counterparts at KCCC on enhancing systems and working through the development of policies, protocols and procedures. What’s next for the UHN and KCCC? The partnership between KCCC and UHN has been an exemplary one so far. Our multidisciplinary teams have been working together in order to see patients and their families at the center of care at KCCC. With one vision in mind, KCCC will achieve the best cancer care and control regionally and internationally, as our partnership works together to overcome obstacles we face daily. For more information, log on to: www.kuwaitcancercenter.com or visit www.uhn.ca.
TAAL
stylelights
PUTTING YOUR BEST BOOT FORWARD by Purva Grover
Brown wedge heel boots, La Redoute Getting a chance to sport a pair of fashionable boots is amongst our top 10 reasons why we love winters! We’re boot hunting to find a pair that compliments the sunny mornings and cold evenings. Classic or edgy, thigh-high or ankle length, chunky or classy, bright neon or humble brown, leather/calfskin, etc… Yes, the winter sun is shining on us and we have very little time to figure out our ‘boot’licious pick for this season. Choosing the right pair of boots is quite a bemusing task, especially if one were to follow the long list of do’s and don’ts drafted by the fashion literates. As goes the joke, ‘A lot of us go around wearing boots so huge that both our legs and an arm can fit inside one boot.’ Sad but true, this is one of the biggest boot fashion faux pas. So how does one get it right? We say, remember to wear it tight and at the perfect height! Let’s go boot hunting and figure out how a pair can add a professional touch at work or a hint of drama at play. Every boot story begins with knowing the ‘leg’ type. Women with thin legs, who get tired of flaunting them during the summer, are the first to jump on the boot bandwagon; followed by those who hope to take away the attention from the legs and move it on to the boots. And then of course there are the not-so-thin and not-so-fat, who swear 124
Leather boots, Long Tall Sally by the boots, the winter wardrobe essential. If you are not-so-thin then don’t try to balance your figure with heavy footwear. Stick to flat or platform boots, the taller ones will make your legs look slimmer. The figure-licious can sport ankle length or full-length, the latter will make your legs appear fuller. The ones with petite frame should remember the golden rule that the boots should not weigh on one. Talking of bulkiness, you should also understand the boot trimmings. Do you like the bulky pair with chunky metal flashes? Or do you like the statement pair with fur trimmings? Whatever be your accessory statement from buckles to laces, never go overboard with trimmings. If you are sporting boots with funky studs or metal straps then don’t sport jewellery of the same kind. From boot punctuations, to outfits: while winter is the time to snug into knitted dresses, not all dresses agree with boots. Over-the-knee boots kill the beauty of an elegant dress. It is a better idea to pick the boots first and then the dress! Fun graphic ankle boots work well with a trendy plain outfit or a graphic coat worn atop a plain top with pants. Also on the runway are printed boots, so if you get your hands on one, then team it up with a solid color outfit. There is a lot one can do with prints. If you have flawless legs and can master the act of combining boots, printed pantyhose and shorts
Nubuck ankle boots, Mint Velvet you can make heads turn this season. We have our eyes on Kenneth Cole’s leopard printed peep toe platform booties. A slight deviation from the peep toe and the latest addition to the runway is the ‘open-toe’ or ‘cut-out’ boots. Also, if you like the textured boots then you can add punch to a drab outfit. So, wear tall boots with a short dress and short boots with long dresses, and if you remember this then the length of the dress and boots will never play a spoiler. And yes, do show a few inches of the leg, after all one should be able to separate the legs from the rest of the body! A tailored pair of shorts or skinny pants would look lovely with above-the-ankle wedge booties. Summery dresses gel with knee-high boots and for the adventurous there is the thigh-high boot. You must check out the temptations by the brands Emilio Pucci and Givenchy. Adding a girly touch to the boots are the lace-up options, which look as great with printed dresses as with pantsuits. Chloe’s high-heeled oxfords with lace are also a good buy. So, if boots are also your reason for loving the winter, then go ahead and make the boots work in your favor! And while you can wear boots almost everywhere, we suggest you don’t wear them at red-carpet or black-tie occasions. As for the rest of the sunny mornings or cold evenings - be sure to put your best ‘boot’ forward!
TONI AND GUY (ELECTRICAL)
THE RISE OF HOMO SPORTICUS by Ayman Nassar
They walk amongst us. They drink the same water, breathe the same air and yet, they are different. They are the next stage in human evolution. They are the meta-humans. They are future. They are the sports enthusiasts – homo sporticus! The landscape of Kuwait is evolving; no, we will not be having snow anytime soon, nor will the sun get any cooler or the dust get any softer. However, the idea that Kuwait is a country of abundant restaurants with an obese population is gradually, if slowly, changing. You need only go for a drive down the Gulf Road to see them in action. Granted, you would have to do so at an unholy hour on a Friday morning however, the reward is well worth it. For you would see homo sporticus in all their glory and splendor. You would grab a rare chance to behold the majestic herds of cyclists atop their glorious metallic steeds (of both road and mountain breeds), zooming and whirring down the gulf road. Also the lone runners, darting across the sea of tarmac in search of scenic pastures in which to gaze whilst partaking in their morning runs. Sometimes the lone runners congregate and form a gang, running together with the sole purpose of traversing as much distance as possible before the air is filled with the putrid, 126
acrid exhaust fumes along with the scintillatingly seductive smell of cooking and food as restaurants display their wares, a cunning trap for the fledgling sporticus yet unaware of what constitutes a proper exercise:food intake ratio. None understand the mental reasoning of homo sporticus. To the average every day person, they feel sorry for them. Why are these people torturing themselves? Why wake up at the crack of dawn and subject their body to torture by running, cycling, walking etc.? Why persist in sport when they are obviously tired, as evident by the buckets of sweat pouring out of them as they painstakingly place one foot after the other. You will find other breeds of homo sporticus, slowly gaining momentum; the skateboarders, the roller-blading few, the half-human half-fish swimmers and most importantly, the waking walkers; the most important of the new breed, for one must learn to crawl before they can walk, walk before they can run, run before they cycle etc. We are in December, and most know it as the month of broken promises whereby we all say to ourselves in a semi-solemn pact that we will strive to be better; to eat better, to act better, to exercise better etc. only to set ourselves up for disappointment come February when we step
upon the dreaded scale to find our weight has mysteriously increased! The reason many fail when it comes to resolutions linked to health and wellness is that they focus on the end result too much. If The Lord of the Rings has taught us anything, it is that it is the journey, not the destination that counts (they could have easily rode upon the backs of the giant eagles to Mordor right?) However we would have been robbed of an epic tale of friendship, hardship and determination. Weight loss by itself is not a goal. The goal is to be healthy. To achieve that goal requires dedication and an implementation of an amalgamation of exercise as well as diet. One cannot replace the other, and one cannot exist without the other. You diet, you lose weight and you become happy. You return to your regular eating regiment and find that the weight comes back with a vengeance. The only surefire way to shed the pounds and keep them off is by adopting a head on lifestyle alteration, whereby you eat healthy as well as exercise whenever possible. The key to being healthy is fitness. Fitness is a permanent lifestyle not a temporary choice. Make that decision today. Your future depends on it.
MANNER
bazaar industry
THE PRINT MAGAZINE INDUSTRY IS THRIVING Says Hearst’s Michael Clinton by Mr Magazine
The print magazine is thriving and the circulation of magazines is very stable, Michael Clinton, President, Marketing and Publishing Director of Hearst Magazines, told me during his appearance as a guest at the standing room only “Samir ‘Mr. Magazine’ Husni and Bo Sacks Show” at the Folio: Media Next Conference in New York City Monday, October 28. His revelations and advice may surprise you as he talks about the printed word and the digital world we live in. Mr. Clinton noted that magazines are “paid content in a world of free content,” and in the case of Hearst, “a 126-year-old entrepreneur,” everything is paid content. Whether you buy the print edition or the digital edition you have to pay a separate price for each edition. In the midst of the question and answer session Mr. Clinton asked the audience to guess the percentage of digital subscriptions on the tablets compared to that of print: 3 percent was his surprising answer to an audience that was guessing 20 and 30 percent. However, Mr. Clinton is quick to add that Digital is now the third channel of revenue in the magazine media business complementing advertising and circulation revenues. “If you’re in the print business today, you can’t just wear a print hat,” he told the audience. The aforementioned words of wisdom and many more you will discover in this, the highlights from the conversation with Michael Clinton. The hope in the magazine industry during a time of great transformation: I’ll just open by saying that perhaps a provocative statement that many of you will find interesting is that the print magazine is actually thriving. And you may all say, “Huh? What do you mean by that?” And what I do is I go to the consumer because what has happened with the print magazine industry is preduring and post the recession, overall circulation of magazines in this country (The U.S.) has actually remained very stable. And if you think about what a magazine costs — it’s not a lot of money — if you buy a copy of a magazine or a subscription, but if you think about what stress people went through during the recession, you don’t have to buy a magazine to live. So some people might have thought we would see magazine circulation plummet from the consumer point, but actually it was just the opposite — it remained very consistent. I might add that it is paid content in a world of free content. We ask consumers to pay money for our content, which is a 128
completely different model than the free web and/ or other information that’s available out there. The struggles of moving people from the printed product to the tablet: Some of the complications are that discovery is a real problem for consumers. It’s hard to find a magazine on a digital newsstand. You have many, many different newsstands now. You can go onto iTunes, you can go onto Zinio, you can go onto Next Issue Media, you can go onto lots of different places, so discovery is a problem. Also on trying to authenticate from a print subscription to a digital subscription (get a print subscription and you get a digital one to download free), the downloading process is very complicated and that’s a problem we need to sort out as part of this process. We just conducted an interesting study with people who did not renew, and when we go back and ask them why they haven’t renewed, it’s generally two things. One, they’ve gone back to print because they just prefer the print experience, or two, the technology and the clunkiness of it frustrated them in terms of getting the download into the shelf and forgetting that the new issue had come. Sometimes we like to be reminded.
On insisting that consumers pay for the print AND digital versions of magazines: Our mantra is “fee not free.” When you go to watch a movie, and you are walking out of the theater do they give you a coupon to download the film? No. If you choose to watch a film on your tablet or you choose to buy a book on your tablet, regardless of if you’ve bought the physical or have the physical experience, you pay for it. So our point of view in our company is if you have a paid subscription you’re not going to get the tablet subscription for free. If you want the tablet subscription, you buy it. On customers insisting on print over digital: We are always promoting the print magazine to our consumer base. When we launched HGTV 18 months ago we had the most aggressive plan ever in terms of offering the consumer both the print edition, or the tablet edition. We generated about 750,000 print subscriptions and about 70,000 digital subscriptions. The consumer will make the choice what they want. So what we know is that in putting out new products and even in our renewals and our direct mail efforts with the print product versus digital that print still seems to be the No. 1
choice in how they want the product. On not being able to just wear a print “hat” today: If you’re in the print business today you can’t just wear a print hat. We need to think about it in the context of the ecosystem of the brand. So how do you build the brand community? Print is at the core, but all of the other platforms we have to be vigorously cultivating and developing, because we can bring people into our brand story through other messages and other formats. On Hearst as a 126-year-old entrepreneur: We’re often times the first to market and test, trying different kinds of new concepts — digital concepts in particular. We sort of view ourselves as an entrepreneur so that we can stay as nimble as we can. There’s that great expression: “innovate or die.” If you’re not constantly thinking about this then you will miss the mark. That being said, advertising and circulation combined still represent 90 percent of our revenues. And I don’t see that changing in any huge way in certainly the next few years. On the struggle to successfully monetize mobile advertising: Consumers’ eyeballs are shifting and a lot of those eyeballs are obviously shifting to this device,
the smartphone, as well as the tablet to an extent and they will continue to grow. And the advertising dollars are not necessarily following where the eyeballs are. Now part of that is that no one has cracked the code yet on meaningful advertising solutions on mobile devices. The mobile device is very hard to monetize from an advertising standpoint, but that will happen over time. On the importance of advertising in magazines: One of the things we think about a lot in the magazine business is what’s our unique selling proposition to the consumer and to the advertiser? And one of the things which is a great benefit to us, and this may not surprise you, but you know research after research proves this out that in the print magazine experience, the consumer actually wants the advertising. It’s part of the experience. If you love fashion magazines, think about what your issue of Harper’s BAZAAR would look like in terms of the experience without any advertising. You’d probably feel half empty. So one of the things we know is that consumers actually embrace advertising in our medium, which is really a compelling story that
we can tell the marketers who are trying to get the consumers’ attention in a very fleeting world where people are constantly seeing messages fly by them every single day. On the printed product they actually stop and look at the advert, because they want to see what the new golf product is in Golf Digest or what Prada is doing in fashion. So that’s a great story for us to tell. If you would like to read the full article visit: www.mrmagazine.wordpress.com Information about the source: Hearst Communications is one of the largest diversified communications companies in the world. Its major interests include 15 daily and 36 weekly newspapers and more than 300 magazines worldwide, including Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Elle, and O, The Oprah Magazine; 29 television stations through Hearst Television, Inc., which reach a combined 18 percent of U.S. viewers; ownership in leading cable networks, including A+E Networks, and ESPN Inc.; as well as business publishing, digital distribution, television production, newspaper features distribution and real estate ventures. 129
PLAYSTATION 4
Strong, but needs time to mature and gain more content by Hayley Tsukayama
Sony has redesigned the PlayStation from stem to stern, seven years after it released its last new console. The PlayStation 4’s makeover brings with it new processors, software and even a total overhaul of its controller. The result is a stellar new system that takes the PlayStation brand in a good direction. But the PS4 platform still needs time to mature before we can declare a winner in this generation of console wars. With the PS4, Sony has fixed some problems with its previous console. For example, the system, while far from silent, is much quieter than the PlayStation 3. It also doesn’t get too hot in the course of play. The console can stand horizontally or vertically, though anyone who prefers the latter orientation should probably pick up Sony’s optional stand for peace of mind. Sony has also included an HDMI cord in the box, fixing one of the most annoying parts about the PS3 launch — having to go out and buy an additional part. The console is sleek and surprisingly light, and it upholds Sony’s reputation for snazzy hardware design. Everything on the PS4 fits within the console’s clean lines, to the extent that it’s actually a little difficult to find the power button. Once you do find it, tucked between the glossy and matte halves of the console, hitting it lights up a thin, blue line the width of the console that conveys the feeling of hitting the ignition button on something powerful. A console, of course, has to do more than just look good on your TV stand. New software revamps the PlayStation’s menu design, making it flow a bit better and the options easier to read. Sony has also included a number of social features, so that players can upload screenshots and video clips to Facebook and opt to stream their games live over UStream or the social gaming community Twitch. You can post your content online with the “Share” button. That is one of the many changes Sony’s made to its controller, which also sports a large touchpad. Sony has improved the responsiveness of the new controller as well, making for better gameplay. Players also have the option of sending the audio through the controller’s headphone jack, which should be a good option for late-night gamers who don’t want to wake the rest of the household. Sony has emphasized features that benefit players, such as introducing a much-awaited option for voice-chat regardless of what game they’re playing. It has put less focus on providing other entertainment options that will feature heavily in the recently released Microsoft’s Xbox One. Sony’s console does support apps for video services such as Netflix and Hulu Plus. It also has an Internet 130
browser, which is good for light Web surfing but definitely won’t become your primary way of looking things up online. Many additional features, such as online play, require a subscription to Sony’s online service, PlayStation Plus. A free 30-day trial is included with every console and will also give players access to free games, free storage for online game saves and game discounts. While it’s possible to enjoy the console without the subscription, similar to Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold program, the system will feel a bit incomplete without it. The review unit Sony provided to The Washington Post included the quirky action platformer Knack and Killzone Shadow Fall, a first-person shooter. Both games are published by Sony Computer Entertainment and provided good testing grounds for the PlayStation’s slick new graphics and central processing units. There is a marked improvement in the fluidity and quality of how the games look, and that hints at a lot of potential for developers to make complex, visually stunning games down the line. Still, the game selection at launch is a bit
light on blockbuster exclusives. (Unfortunately for gamers who’ve spent the better part of a decade building up their game libraries, similar to the Xbox One, the PS4 will not work with older games.) The lack of big titles will likely be the PS4’s greatest weakness against the Xbox One in the early days of this head-to-head matchup and may even be enough to offset the price advantage it has over Microsoft’s console. Overall, Sony has 23 games available at launch, but many of its exclusives are offbeat titles such as Knack, which may not hold the wide appeal of Xbox One exclusives such as the racing game Forza 5. That is, however, something that will fix itself over time as more developers finish their first games for the PS4. In fact, it’s already happening: Game studio Naughty Dog officially announced that the fourth game in its popular Uncharted series is in development for the PlayStation 4. That offers a good indication that Sony will be able to pull more of its A-list titles into the mix — and quickly. Right now, the PlayStation 4 is a powerful console, but one that needs more content to realize its full potential.
PARTYLAND
bazaar techno Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. ~ Arthur C. Clarke
AIRO WRISTBAND
THE EGG MINDER
AERO SPHERE FAN
There are fitness wearables that track your steps, sleep and stress levels, but few combine all three. As for keeping track of what you eat, most people still resort to old-fashioned calorie counters. This wristband however, aims to measure all of the above completely automatically. It uses a special embedded spectrometer to track not just your heart rate, but also your sleep patterns, workout intensity and calories. It’s even able to break down the nutritional intake of your food. The accompanying AIRO app gathers all the data together to come up with useful actionable advice, e.g., if it thinks you’re a little bit too stressed out, it’ll warn you to calm down.
“If you were going to put all your eggs in one basket, you’d want it to be this one,” the product description says. The Egg Minder (from KD 4), launched by GE and Quirk, keeps track of the freshness of up to 14 eggs and sends you a text if you’re almost out. The in-tray LED lights indicate the oldest egg, while push notifications alert you when you’re running low. It connects via Wi-Fi to your mobile device, via a WINK app to track the number of eggs you have and tell you when they’re going bad.
The unusual Aero Sphere Fan has deservedly won the prestigious “Best Of The Best” Red Dot Design Award which is awarded for ground breaking design and is reserved for the best products in a category. Designed in Japan, part sculpture, part household appliance, it comes with all your customary functions too, including timer and different fan modes. Use the stand to pivot the angle of the fan, or just place it directly onto surfaces. The teardrop shape also channels the breeze from the blades inside so that it travels further and keeps you cooler, while also looked damned fine too. Also included are an AC adapter, remote control and stand.
www.engadget.com
www.gizmodo.com
www.blessthisstuff.com
HUMAN REGENERATOR
BOOKBOOK TRAVEL JOURNAL
GRAMOHORN II ACOUSTIC SPEAKER
Designed and sold by System4, a luxury and futuristic product firm out of Germany, the Human Regenerator is programmed to emit quantum pulses that imitate and elicit response from the body’s natural frequencies. The machine’s magnetic emissions supposedly breathe new life into aging or faltering cells to preserve both appearance and system-wide health. To activate the transformation users walk in and use a touch screen to fire up the cocoon, which rotates to stop wrinkes and free radicals. System4 has limited the production to 50 units per year, but also have a $10 mil diamond-dripping model which debuted in Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace in Sept this year.
The BookBook Travel Journal is a briefcase for your tablet, designed and manufactured to have the external appearance of a vintage leather book. The look of the case immediately makes you think of the books that you would see in a library in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry but it’s actually a hardback leather case. Inside you’ll find a collection of pockets and adjustable bands that neatly organize and protect items like your power adapter, cables, USB drives, stylus, mouse, earbuds or high-end headphones. Say bye-bye to your backpack.
The Gramohorn II is an unusual 3D-printed speaker dock for the HTC One. Created by British designer Justin Wolter, this dock is quite unusual as it consists of two enormous gramophone-like horns with a small platform between. Another unusual thing about this speaker is that it doesn’t use any power at all – the two “gramohorns” are acoustic resonance chambers that amplify the channeled noise emitted from the BoomSound speakers on the front of the smartphone. This simple technology increases the volume by up to 50% while preserving the quality of the audio. It also boosts low-frequency tones and produces deeper and better music experience for the human ear.
www.dudeiwantthat.com
www.werd.com
www.phonearena.com
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SOOR CENTER
CURRY ME CRAZY
Spicy, tasty and healthy at Asha’s by Reshmi Revi
It’s going to be a spicy affair this winter. Forget the bland and blah meals of a mediocre roast. As a trainer, I’m all too aware that most people tend to equate a boiled or roasted piece of poultry or fish with healthy eating. Healthy eating… at one’s last supper I’d say! And yes, that’s sarcasm dripping like gravy for you #notsorry. “This time around I decided to be shway adventurous with my culinary choices and hence picked Asha’s Contemporary Indian Cuisine in Marina Crescent as my restaurant to dine at, postkilling gym workout. I know what you’re thinking; “Hang on a sec, Resh., Indian food post-workout?” Indian cuisine is amazing, as it caters to many preferences. Step into Asha’s and you’ll see what I mean. The menu features an extensive selection of gastronomic creations of spicy allsorts. You’ve got appetizers, salads, kebabs, tandoors, curries, breads, rice dishes and not to mention a colorful vegetarian selection of everything I’ve previously just mentioned. Not many realize just how much you can design a meal here to your liking. And let’s be honest, if you’re wanting to burn the extra calories, eating spicy Indian nosh will work in your favor. Most spicy Indian dishes use an array of chili peppers which 134
contain capsaicin. The more capsaicin a pepper has, the more fiery it’ll taste, and surprise, the higher the antioxidant levels it has. On a weight loss note, spicy dishes containing capsaicin will help spike your metabolism and curb your appetite. Yes, Indian cuisine does use coconut cream and clarified butter so if you’re wanting to eat healthy, be smart about your choices. For me, I started my post-workout meal at Asha’s with their roasted potato salad. Imagine a piping hot whole potato roasted in the tandoor oven served with yoghurt and mint topped with fresh pomegranate seeds. What’s great about this, is that you can request for the topping (yoghurt, mint and pomegranate) to be served on the side for portion control purposes. For my main dish, I decided on their ‘Same Old Chicken Curry.’ Funnily enough, there was nothing old or same about this curry. Not only was this dish hearty, comforting and full of flavor, it was very healthy too. We’re talking a good portion of boneless chicken marinated in yoghurt and cooked in a pot with a myriad of Indian spices and a brown onion ‘fond’ and flavored with rose water and saffron. I opted not to have any breads or rice. I had my potato salad and was happy with that being my only starchy carb dish. For dessert, instead of the conventional sweet
treats, I opted to spoil myself with one of their cocktail drinks; my choice being the Maotai- fresh lemongrass, bird’s eye chili and coriander leaves, shaken and lengthened with coconut water. It was refreshing with a spicy aftertaste. If you’re not in the know, coconut water is great to have post gym. Full of vitamin B and potassium, it’s great for rehydration as it has electrolytes and what’s more, is low in calories. My dining experience in Asha’s is certainly one to be remembered. The staff were attentive and very much aware of my food preferences, going to great lengths to ensure I had a pleasant dining experience here. So much so that William Makepeace Thackeray’s Ode To Curry comes to mind. If one’s too lazy to head on to any of their venues, you’re able to order their spicy selections this winter as they’re now available on Talabat.com. Asha’s Contemporary Indian Cuisine is situated in Marina Crescent, The Avenues Phase 1, and Spoons Mahboula. For more information you can visit their website: www.ashasrestaurants.com/kuwait Reshmi Revi is the Personal Training & Education Manager for MultiWorks Personal Training. She is also an IFBB Bikini Competitor and an avid foodie! Follow her on Instagram @Q8MissFit.
COSMETIC SURGERY CLINIC
bazaar checks it out BUBBLEOLOGY CELEBRATES THE LAUNCH OF ITS FIRST STORE IN KUWAIT Bubbleology, the popular London-based bubble tea brand, celebrated the launch of its first store in Kuwait and the Middle East at Sanabil Tower with its local partners, Evolution Affiliates, Bubbleology Founder Assad Khan, and many bubble tea lovers. Guests were taken through a bubble-bursting event with an open-tasting session of more than 30 flavors of both hot and cold tea-based to milk-based drinks. Bubbleology was founded in the heart of trend-setting London, in Soho in 2011 by Assad Khan, who was originally a banker. Bubbleology serves authentic bubble tea with original recipes from the master tea makers in Taiwan. Assad Khan, Bubbleology Founder said: “I know that Kuwait will love Bubbleology just as much as Londoners do.” Upon entering Bubbleology Kuwait, one feels transported to a glam rock laboratory of a mad scientist. The interior design is dominated by black and white with some splashes of bright colors, bubbling test tubes and scientific equations and graphs explaining the process of preparing the beverage. The Kuwait Bubbleology team have been intensively trained by bubble tea masters from London to create the perfect drink, whose secret lies in accurate ingredient selection and measurement, maintaining their exact temperature and serving. For more information on Bubbleology vvisit them on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook @bubbleologyq8 HAIR MAKEOVER BY RACOON EXTENSIONS Why wait for beautiful hair?
BEFORE
AFTER
Racoon International provides you with the finest quality 100% human hair extensions and is the market leader in the UK and the first Hair Extension Brand to be awarded the ISO 9001 in 2004 for quality. Racoon is also the only brand that’s approved by Tricologists to be non-damaging to the hair folicle, shaft, and strand. Amber, their beautiful model has fine hair and has always wanted longer and more volume in her hair. After a full consultation by Wessal Alshaikh, the Racoon certified Extensionist, Amber’s dream of longer luscious locks came true. Wessal added instant volume and length for a dramatic result. Amber’s gorgeous strawberry blonde color was perfectly matched by blending together three different shades. This option is only available in the Racoon brnad. With Racoon you can custom match any hair color, whereas other extension brands’ hair is pre bonded which makes color matching more difficult. Racoon only uses top quality hair that can be applied with two different systems, their Bonded and the Micro Weft system. Salon customers can find the perfect match to fit their needs and budget. Both systems have been formulated to ensure that Racoon uses the safest methods in the industry and allows your natural hair to be easily and safely blended and lengthened. This multiaward-winning system is scientifically proven not to damage the hair, thanks to a unique inert polymer bond – non-allergy synthetic – which leaves no trace or residue. Racoon’s bonding material contains natural products, such as pine kernel and orange peel extracts – is translucent and about the size of a grain of rice and it takes on the color of your own hair which makes the bonds virtually invisible. The hair extension is applied over three to four hours, but can last up to six months with regular maintenance appointments. Racoon International’s Micro Wefts has a super-fine, ultra-flexible micro header, making them discreet to the eye and one of the safest systems available in the market. Easy to apply in an hour, weft hair extensions are perfect as a temporary hair extensions option as they last for up to four weeks. To maintain and keep your extensions, Racoon International offers a Racoon-Xtend Aftercare Range which is formulated to take ultimate care of your extensions and your natural hair. Which consists of: - Luxurious Shampoo: a gentle moisturising cleanser enriched with exotic natural extracts for cleansing the hair and scalp. - Luxurious Conditioner: a moisturising treatment that smoothes, revitalises and detangles hair. - Everyday Conditioner: a leave-in conditioning spray that instantly re-conditions hair and helps prevent tangles and static. - Mask: an intensive deep conditioning treatment specially formulated to revitalize your hair. - Serum: a light formula in order to give your hair a silky feel and to add high-gloss shine. They managed to add more length and volume to Amber’s hair in a few hours. Amber has kept her extensions in for almost 5 months due to regular maintenance which is of utmost importance. The same hair can be reapplied if kept in good condition. beau-tique cosmetics international is the distributor for Racoon International in Kuwait and is available at TONI&GUY Al Corniche, Blossom, Joya, Strands, Miss Annie, L&L, Blush Sharq, Brush, Candy Nails, and Klair Salon. Call for more info 2225 1285.
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QUMAR 14 - PUTTING BISHTS ON WISHLIST Classic patterns, check! Bright colors, check! Hand embroidery, check! Chunky knits, check! Bishts, wait?! Missing something this season? Searching for clothes that won’t fall apart after a few wears? Want that special thing that’s “in” but unique in its own way? Look no further! All that you’re wishing for can be found in the Qumar 14 collection by Sara N Alateeqi. Inspired by blending Arabic tradition with modernization and all things trendy, Qumar 14, also known as Q14, is a proprietary blend of culture and craft fashioned into dresses, bishts, seasonal kaftans, bags, home items and more! This season, give the gift of fashion to a loved one (or to yourself!) with a product that keeps your body warm, and your outfit hotter! Whether at a gathering with your friends or out with the family, Qumar 14’s bishts offer you comfort and style in a variety of colors and prints. Created with hand embroidery and the finest fabrics, they can be thrown on over a casual outfit to add a pop of color, or paired with a chic combo to stand out. For more information you can visit their website www.qumar-14.com or follow them on facebook.com/qumar14, Instagram or Twitter @qumar_14. ROYALE HAYAT HOSPITAL SAFETY CAMPAIGN “Right Patient, Right Care” High quality care for all patients is Royale Hayat’s pledge to the Kuwaiti community. Through focused hospitalbased initiatives, Royal Hayat Hospital launched last month a safety campaign, branded, “Right Patient, Right Care” to enhance safety standards and maintain medical excellence. Leading the way into a new era in patient safety, the campaign featured informative videos, television ads, a web-based video, patient safety leaflets, and digital and social media activities. By advancing the culture of safety, Royale Hayat Hospital provides useful information, life-saving measures, tools and support of a highly qualified staff. Among these measures is the ID Band, provided by hospital staff upon admission with basic patient information such as, full name, date of birth, and medical record number. Caregivers at Royale Hayat Hospital will regularly ask patients to confirm the information on the ID Band, whether when being admitted to the hospital, extracting lab samples for tests and procedures, labeling specimens, taking medications, undergoing minor procedures and other areas of treatment to match the correct patients with the correct care. Quality Manager Mrs. Jessy Jacob at Royale Hayat says “Quality care and patient safety is a priority at Royale Hayat Hospital; this campaign is an opportunity for the public, health care workers, and patients to learn, change and improve,” he added. THE ENTERTAINER GOES MOBILE The Entertainer, the Dubai-based international company, and the makers of the Middle East’s bestselling buy-one-get-one-free voucher books, has officially launched its highly anticipated mobile app. The Entertainer app is a free app which allows customers to redeem their Entertainer vouchers quickly and easily using their smartphones. Additionally, the app features exciting customer-friendly features including location-based services that allow users to find Entertainer outlets based on proximity; enhanced merchant outlet searches based on cuisine, amenities, and services; and a savings calculator that allows users to see their savings for each voucher redemption, as well as their savings over time using the Entertainer. The app also allows customers to share the good news of their savings with family and friends via social media. The app, developed by award-winning UK-based app developers Future Workshops is now available to download with the full array of 2014 Entertainer mobile packages, including destinationspecific packages for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Jeddah , Riyadh, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Jordan. The free Entertainer app is available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry 10 phones and can be downloaded now from the app stores with a native Windows phone app coming in January 2014. For more information visit www.theentertainerme.com/app. WATANIYA TELECOM RENEWS EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH TAMDEEN ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY Wataniya Telecom has recently renewed its agreement with Tamdeen Entertainment Company for another year of exclusive branding partnership at the company’s entertainment venues in 360 Mall. The strategic partnership is a result of Wataniya’s continuous efforts to find creative ways to reach its customers and stay in touch with them wherever they are. Based on the exclusive agreement between both companies, Wataniya Telecom will be branding 3 venues of the Entertainment Center in 360 Mall and that includes The Bowl Room (bowling area), Freeze Club (arcades and video games), and Infunity (family entertainment center) for a period of one year starting from October 2013 until October 2014. Tamdeen Entertainment is also a partner of Wataniya Loyal Program “Nojoom”, the first loyal program of its kind in Kuwait, where customers can redeem the points that they collect through making calls, sending SMS or using the internet with vouchers that allow them to use Tamdeen Services. For more information about Wataniya Telecom please visit www.wataniya.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @wataniyateleco. 137
HOLIDAY SKINCARE by Hanan E
The key to flawless makeup lies within the canvas itself. Rather than spending ages concealing imperfections, why not simply treat them. Taking care of your skin will not only ensure that foundation goes on smoothly, but in some cases you may not have to use any at all. While spa facials are the ultimate in pampering, unfortunately some people do not possess the luxury of time/ money to indulge in lavish treatments. Let’s start with those dreaded blemishes. Frequent breakouts are not to be ignored, in case over-the-counter pharmaceutical products aren’t clearing up your acne, then it is time to see a dermatologist for treatment. Acute cases may require a particular prescription, otherwise a designated cleanser will be dispensed. Make sure to disclose any discomfort to your doctor during the course of treatment, as burning and stinging sensations should not be ignored. Temperatures are rapidly decreasing during this time of year. Natural elements such as the wind can be quite harsh, rosy cheeks are a sign of health and nourishment, preserve that aspect by switching from a light moisturizer to a heavier one during winter, it will keep skin hydrated and thus providing a protective shield that consequently limits sensitivity. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen. SPF is still needed during cloudy days and should be applied all year long. A colder climate requires paying extra attention to your hands. This is the perfect time to start applying cuticle oil (preferably at bed time). For extra ‘TLC’, apply a concentrated cream with ‘Shea Butter’ being the main component, this should hydrate and infuse moisture. The same method can be applied to your tootsies, simply apply a generous helping of moisturizing cream to feet and cover with thick socks while lounging at home. Exfoliation is a habit that ought to be incorporated as part of every skincare routine to remove dead ‘cells’ which can routinely clog pores therefore causing break outs. Since cells do not posses the capability of ‘shedding’ themselves, intervening allows the creation of new ones. Regular exfoliation gradually rejuvenates skin texture, and injects radiance. Try exfoliating in the shower, you’ll be able to reach areas such as under the jaw line, the neck and décolletage, and it is also so much easier and less messy than bending over the sink. Ever wondered why skincare manufacturers implement as well as advocate, the use of a separate ‘night’ regimen? It has been speculated that skin cells renew themselves during the night, hence the motive behind those specially packed ingredients that work on regenerating collagen. Given that several independent researchers support this theory, applying a face mask when night falls will be more beneficial, for they will 138
reach their peak, thus boosting performance. Chilly weather also affects our bodies. A bath infused with natural oils such as almond soothes and relieves dryness. Why not take advantage of that quiet time in the tub by applying a face mask? This is ideal since a lot of women opt to bathe during evenings. You could even recreate the same serenity and atmosphere of a plush spa by dimming the lights and placing a few candles around the room. Every woman needs to dedicate at least an hour to herself. If you’re a mom who’s struggling with time (or toddlers) an aromatherapy shower to rinse off that facemask ought to suffice. As for the hair, keep those tresses soft and
hydrated with a weekly, or biweekly intensive conditioning treatment to restore vitality, this could be carried out in the privacy of your own home, or at the hair dresser. Adapting these simple measures will have a deep impact on your overall appearance. The simple act of exfoliation alone will allow face creams to penetrate deeper and work appropriately. Glowing skin reflects youth and healthiness, which in return will boost your self esteem. Brought to you by the beautiful people at Stylish Avenue. You can contact them by email: stylish.avenueQ8@gmail.com. For more beauty tips follow them on Instagram @stylish_avenue.
SNYDERS
bazaar music
REFLEKTOR
by Arcade Fire
Reflektor is the fourth studio album by this Canadian indie rock band. Influenced by Haitian “rara” music, and the 1959 film Black Orpheus with themes of isolation and death, Reflektor’s release was preceded by a guerrilla marketing campaign inspired by veve drawings, and the release of a limited edition single, Reflektor, credited to the fictional band, The Reflektors. Rolling Stone gave the album a rating of four and a half stars out of five, and stated the album as “a perfect summary of their group’s still-fervent indie-born hunger after a decade of mainstream success….and the best album Arcade Fire have ever made”
ARTPOP
by Lady Gaga
The third album from the pop superstar Lady Gaga, Artpop musically mirrors Gaga’s creative process. Simply put, Artpop is a celebration of obsession set to a carefully crafted musical landscape that brings the listener on a truly unique audio journey. With producers White Shadow, Zedd, Madeon and others on board, Gaga’s signature dance/pop sounds have risen to new heights, bringing a fresh experience that is destined to shake up the current state of pop music. However, MTV.com states it well when they say “Bottom line: either you love it, or you think it’s insane, unlistenable gibberish. There isn’t a lot of space in between, which, we suspect, is exactly how Gaga likes it.”
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ON AIR - LIVE AT THE BBC VOLUME 2
by The Beatles
In 1994, The Beatles’ Live at the BBC was released to worldwide acclaim - hitting number 1 in the U.K. and number 3 in the U.S. and selling more than 5 million copies within 6 weeks. There is now a new companion to the BBC’s collection. On Air’s 63 tracks, none of which overlaps with The Beatles’ first BBC release, include 37 previously unreleased performances and 23 previously unreleased recordings of in-studio banter and conversation between the band’s members and their BBC radio hosts. The album presents the sound of The Beatles seizing their moment to play for their nation. On Air also features BBC recordings of 30 well-loved songs from The Beatles’ catalogue.
WRAPPED IN RED
by Kelly Clarkson
Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist Kelly Clarkson is set to release her first Christmas album, Wrapped in Red. The album features 5 original songs including the title track, ‘Wrapped In Red’ as well as Christmas favorites, ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’, ‘Blue Christmas,’ ‘Please Come Home For Christmas’ and many more. The album’s first single, ‘Underneath the Tree,’ was written by Kelly and hit songwriter/ producer Greg Kurstin who was paramount to the success of Grammy Award winning album Stronger. Together, Kelly and Greg bring a fresh, contemporary sound to this new holiday music ensuring the songs are big hits and evergreen holiday favorites.
ECHOES OF THE OUTLAW ROADSHOW by Counting Crows The San Francisco rockers are about to release their newest collection of live songs Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow which will compliment other official live recordings the band has released. The band’s performances have been renowned since the early 90s for their energy and uniqueness: no two shows are the same; with Adam Duritz constantly rewriting songs and mixing them up live for an evening always full of surprises. Counting Crows followers are in for a real treat with this collection of audio footage which was recorded on several dates of their North American tour in 2012.
TRUE
by Avicii
True is the debut studio album by Swedish DJ Avicii. It features collaborations with Mike Einziger of American rock band Incubus, Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, and American singer Adam Lambert, amongst others. Avicii said that sonically, the album would move away from his electronic dance and house music sound on previous records, by incorporating elements of other genres such as country music. True is preceded by the release of the Blacc-assisted ‘Wake Me Up’ that topped several charts around the world and ‘You Make Me’ which features vocals from Swedish artist Salem Al Fakir. It has already been successful, peaking within the top 10 of at least 10 countries, including debuting at number 2 in the UK.
source: www.amazon.com
INBLU
TEENS BEHIND THE WHEEL by Darlene Wakim
It can be a scary thing to raise a teenager, especially when they are ready to get behind the wheel! Even more frightening is the thought of dangerous drivers out on the streets with your teenager who hasn’t had the foresight and experience an adult driver has. The thought can intensify any parent’s fear. With all the new traffic laws in Kuwait and stricter regulations by the Ministry of Interior, Kuwait has seen a drop in traffic accidents and deaths since last year. In May 2013, 15 deaths were reported due to traffic accidents as compared to 34 for the period of last year. These are reassuring statistics; however teen drivers are at a high risk category for vehicle accidents. In the U.S., according to the US National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among people aged 15-27. Teen drivers are at a high risk category for collision because of their lack in experience and immaturity. Teens also have an insatiable need to impress their friends. When teenagers have a group of friends driving together in a car, the environment and culture changes. Teens don’t see the dangers ahead as an adult would, and so face risks that normally wouldn’t be taken. The most common reason for teenage car accidents is excessive speed. Driving too fast on roads that are not fit for the purpose (such as desert roads, or non-paved roads) is also another leading cause of accidents. Newly licensed drivers are especially vulnerable because they ordinarily haven’t had enough driving time to master the complex split-second decision making that fast driving requires. With the addition of passengers, the risk of danger increases. Enquirer research into fatal teen crashes during 2000 onwards, found that the greatest dangers are after school and at the beginning and end of the school year. Teenagers find “hitting the gas” a thrill after a boring day at school. So what can you do as a parent? A good first step is to take your child to driver’s education. Of course this is just the first step and what would be even more beneficial is giving your teenager many hours of supervised practice on the road. Try taking them out during various weather and driving conditions. Experts recommend that teens have at least 200 hours of driving before applying for a license. You are the best role model in your child’s life, so buckle up consistently. Obey traffic rules, never speed, and refrain from talking on the mobile phone while driving. Also be courteous to other drivers and pedestrians and try to stay calm when traffic is hectic. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has devised a driving agreement that both parent 142
and child can sign. The aim of this will be to help motivate teenagers to drive safely. Here are some guidelines that AAA recommends for teenagers to follow. They must: • Obey all traffic laws • Wear seatbelts and require passengers to do so as well • Never use illegal substances and allow passengers to do so • Never talk on the phone while driving • Be responsible for keeping the car in good serviceable condition and regularly checking tires • Pay for petrol and be responsible as part owner of the car • Maintain a certain grade-point average at school • Tell you where they are going, what route they are taking and when they will return • Phone home if they are too sleepy to drive and return home. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (US-based) recommends that teens shouldn’t drive small (light) cars because they lack the crash protection of larger (heavier) cars. There is less structure to absorb crash energy and people in lighter vehicles also experience higher crash
forces when struck by heavier vehicles. That doesn’t mean that you have to go out and buy the biggest car you can find. Medium sized ones have good safety ratings. Look for newer cars that have good air bag protection. Try to discourage high performance cars because they promote speeding and give teens a tempting way to show off to their friends. The Institute cautions parents not to allow their teens to drive unstable vehicles. Sports utility vehicles, especially smaller ones have high centers of gravity and are more likely to roll over if a teen faces a difficult situation. Don’t buy your teen a car as soon as they get their license. If they have to use your car, at least you will have more control over where and how much they drive. Consider a purchase when they are experienced enough and have shown that they can handle driving privileges maturely.
Darlene Wakim (M.A. Comm. GDPS, Psychotherapist) offers personal psychotherapy and counseling in Kuwait and can be reached by email at napoleon111@hotmail.com
HYPOXI
bazaar investigates “SAFE FOOD, SAFE FAMILY” A NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE TO REDUCE FOOD POISONING CASES IN HOUSEHOLDS Under the patronage of the Minister of Health H.E. Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Al Yasra Foods recently put food safety education on the national agenda by launching an intensive food safety education program named “Safe Food, Safe Family” to arm households across Kuwait with information that could potentially save lives. The initiative was launched in an event held at the Exhibition Hall at 360 Mall. The event was kicked off by the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Medical Services, Dr. Mohammad Al-Khashti, and attended by a large audience from Kuwait’s health and safety industry including officials from governmental and corporate bodies, nutritionists, influential guests within the health industry and the press. Dr. Mohammad Al-Khashti, said, “We applaud Al Yasra Foods in tackling this issue in Kuwait, and the Ministry of Health endorses this initiative as a means to empower people with the knowledge they require to practice food safety.” Al Yasra Foods Nutritionist Dana Ghareeb said, “The initiative is guided by a team of highly-certified nutritionists, and with the backing of Al Yasra Foods, and particularly targets households that have not been properly introduced to basic food safety practices and who have a higher risk of contamination and food poisoning. In Kuwait, the majority of food poisoning cases occur with the assumption that expired meats or produce are to blame. The consumer is not aware of the food safety malpractices that happen in their own kitchen, which in turn play a significant role in food poisoning and food contamination cases that are potentially fatal.” The initiative also launched an integrated website on www.safefoodsafefamily.org, to guide individuals on best food safety practices. The website is available in English and Arabic, and select downloadable material is available in Tagalog, Malayalam, and Hindi in order to have maximum reach in Kuwait. The “Safe Food, Safe Family” launch event is the first step in Al Yasra Food’s ongoing commitment to promote food safety and health in Kuwait. A year-long series of events will be hosted in local co-ops, community centers, and other social hubs all around the country, to educate the everyday consumer on food safety at home, in addition to various other communicative channels such as videos, social media and booklets. For more information on Safe Food, Safe Family, please email: safefoodsafefamily@gmail.com or visit: www.safefoodsafefamily.org. Instagram @safefoodsafefamily; Twitter @safefoodsafefam, Facebook at Safefoodsafefamily
FALL INTO FASHION WITH BATH & BODY WORKS - AMBER BLUSH Just in time for the latest fall fashion, Bath & Body Works introduces Amber Blush, a fragrance inspired by the perfect autumn getaway that surrounds you in luxury and comfort. “Fall is the most exciting time of the year for fashion. We took inspiration from this iconic fashion moment to introduce a warm, sensual oriental fragrance that is rich and ultra-feminine at the same time,” said Bath & Body Works President of Brand Development and Merchandising Camille McDonald. In this fragrance, a sensuous blend of sparkling raspberry and lush white gardenia petals dries to a soft touch of creamy vanilla suede and crystallized amber. A must-have for your fall fragrance wardrobe, Amber Blush captures the unique beauty of the season – rustic yet refined and elegant. And for the first time ever, Bath & Body Works introduces a new way to experience fine fragrance – the Sheer Perfume Mist, available exclusively in the Amber Blush collection. The Sheer Perfume Mist features a higher concentration of precious fragrance oil for a longer-lasting, more sophisticated scent experience, in a limited edition bottle accented with a jewelry-inspired gold leaf. Available now at Bath & Body Works located in The Mall – The Avenues, 2nd Avenue – The Avenues, Marina Mall and Al Fanar Mall.
SWAROVSKI ADDS SPARKLE TO ANY STYLE What better time to dress up than Christmas? Festive and joyful, this “moment to give” allows one to fully express style with accessories that convey one’s personality. With its finely cut crystals, Swarovski offers every woman the guarantee to sparkle and to beautifully complete her look for fabulous holiday celebrations. Adding a chic and classic twist, the “Vintage” set pairs a necklace and pierced earrings that evoke fine jewelry. Each piece features an open-back, pear-shaped clear crystal drop enhanced by clear crystal pavé. All about refinement, the effect of this feminine set is elegantly complemented by the dome-shaped “Stone” ring with clear crystal pavé. The superfeminine and glamorous “Renewal” necklace is ideal to create a bit of drama. Crafted in fluid and incredibly sparkling Crystal Mesh, this eye-catching necklace has been subtly embellished using a beading technique. Crystal Mesh can also be seen on the “Power” bag, a regular on prestigious red carpets, as well as on the strap of the sophisticated “Piazza Lady” watch. In line with its wish to add sparkle to people’s everyday lives, Swarovski brings enchantment, style, and fashion to Christmas, providing the perfect gift for every woman 144
أصبح ضرورة وليـــــــس تـرفا )(التقويم وسيلتك للحصول على ابتسامة مثالية ، وإزاء هذا لم تعد عيوب األسنان والفكين تمثل عائقا أمام تحقيق هذه األمنية. وتزداد جماال بصحة األسنان ومظهرها،اإلبتسامة الجميلة مفتاح الدخول إلى قلوب اآلخرين .ولم يعد العالج بالتقويم كماليا يقتصر على المشاهير والممثلين والممثالت فقط فما هو التقويم وماذا يعنى ؟ واستعادة العالقة المتناسقة بين الفكين العلوي، يتم من خالله إرجاع األسنان لوضعها الطبيعي وظيفيا وجماليا بتحريك األسنان،التقويم هو عالج األسنان والفكين .والسفلى بهدف إعادة تنظيم وظائف الفم كالنطق والمضغ والتنفس ما هو السن المناسب للبدء في العالج بالتقويم ؟
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ويمكن. والبعض األخر يؤجل حتى إتمام ظهور األسنان الدائمة،بعض المشاكل تتطلب التدخل المباشر فور تشخيصها مبكرا لتغيير اتجاه نمو الفكين بالنسبة لألطفال .للمرضى الذين يواجهون مشاكل في استقامة أسنانهم أن يستفيدوا من العالج في أي عمر ما هي مدة العالج؟ وهل العالج بالتقويم مؤلم ؟
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. وتتراوح في معظم األحيان بين سنة إلى سنتين،تتوقف مدة العالج على طبيعة الحالة ومدى سؤها .وبصورة عامة عالج التقويم غير مؤلم ولكن حساسية استجابة المريض للعالج تختلف من شخص آلخر وفي خالل، ويتكررعندما يقوم أخصائى التقويم بشد الجهاز في الزيارة التالية، ويستمر ليومين أو ثالثة،ومن الطبيعي أن يشعر المريض بإنزعاج عند العض والقطع .أسبوعين يعتاد عليه المريض ما هي العوامل التي تؤدى إلى مشاكل تقويمية ؟
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فأنها تؤدى إلى بروز،أكثر العادات السيئة التي تؤدي إلى تشوه األسنان عادة مص األصبع عند األطفال خاصة إذا ما استمر في ممارستها حتى الخامسة فما فوق من عمره . ومن األسباب األخرى التنفس من الفم لسبب أو آلخر إذ يؤثر سلبيا على نمو عظام الوجه والفكين.األسنان العلوية وتشوه الفكين وضيق الفك العلوي والعضة المعكوسة هل توجد أطعمة ال يجوز تناولها مع التقويم؟
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. وكذلك تمنع المكسرات وكل ما قد يؤدى إلى كسر جهاز التقويم،بصورة عامة يأكل المريض بشكل طبيعي في ماعدا المأكوالت الصلبة مثل الجزر والتفاح ما هي أنواع التقويم ؟
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:العالج بالتقويم يشمل .التقويم المتحرك وغالبا يستخدم في الحاالت البسيطة معدنية لونها: ومنها نوعان. تثبت على كل سن ويمرر بداخلها سلك معدني لتتم عملية تحريك األسنانBrackets التقويم الثابت وهوعبارة عن وحدات صغيرة تسمى .فضي أوخزفية شفافة أميرة محمد الشيخ:الدكتورة أخصائية تقويم األسنان في مركز المباركية التخصصي فرع العقيلة- لطب األسنان
KAICO ANNOUNCES NEW AFTER SALES SERVICES TO MEET CUSTOMERS’ MODERN DAY NEEDS Kuwait Automotive Imports Company W.L.L (Al Shaya & Al Sagar), the exclusive distributor for Mazda, Peugeot, Geely, Eicher, and BAW vehicles, is strongly committed to further improve its customer service in line with its philosophy “Customer is No. 1” with an emphasis on aftersales. In order to meet the high customers’ expectations, recently KAICO announced that its Service Center, located on Banks St, Shuwaikh, would be open on Fridays from 8am to 12noon. This will enable more convenience to customers for repair and maintenance of their cars when most have a day off work. KAICO Service Centre also currently has an exclusive offer – free check-up of brakes, tires, headlamps/tail lamps and suspension for all vehicle makes and models, radiator flushing with free VR12 (Vitamin for radiator) and nitrogen inflation for a nominal fee. Further to these deals KAICO Parts counter currently offers special parts discounts of up to 60% on Mazda and Peugeot spare parts on 2007 models and older. To ensure that customers’ post-purchase experience is satisfying, KAICO has also introduced complimentary courtesy replacement car during regular service for customers with Mazda CX-9, Mazda MX-5, Peugeot 508 or Peugeot RCZ vehicles, upon appointment.
DRIVING THE GROWTH OF TALENT PwC, Zain, National Bank of Kuwait and Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa Commercial Co. launch the PIN² challenge for the second year What does it take to turn an idea into a business? Last month, PwC and it’s partners and sponsors helped young local students in Kuwait answer this question, by launching for the second consecutive year the PIN² challenge. The PIN² Challenge is a business plan competition led by PwC for high schools in Kuwait, that gives young students an opportunity to showcase innovative ideas, by working in diverse teams incorporating challenges that are relevant to the prevailing social, economic, and technological environment, allowing them to grow and develop. PwC Kuwait and its partners, as part of their continuous commitment to support communities and develop local talent, created this program focused on specific dimensions to include the development of the student analytical and problem-solving skills, communication and team spirit and many more; helping them gain a wider knowledge base to be able to further develop their ideas and compete in today’s commercial market. Through the 5 month course, the program will run through a series of interactive workshops, thought provoking case discussions, team building exercises and networking opportunities. 145
bazaar scopes
ARIES
Love matters are strong this month. While you may be on the fence about many things until mid-month, you’re certainly not lacking when it comes to admirers. You are exuding much charm and positive energy that won’t go unnoticed. Willingness to take emotional “risks” in the second half of the month can bring interesting experiences into your world. Work can be demanding around the 10th, when some of you could be wrestling with a decision or some uncomfortable gossip. Try not to react impulsively at this time.
MAY 21 – JUNE 21
APRIL 20 – MAY 20
MARCH 21 – APRIL 19
TAURUS GEMINI CANCER
OCT 23 – NOV 21 NOV 22 – DEC 21 DEC 22 – JAN 19
PISCES
Be extra cautious with your spending this month, as there is a bit of a risk-taker in you right now! There may be some drama or heightened emotions in a friend’s life around the 10th of this month. Relationships become clearer by mid-month, before which signals can be confusing and displays of affection muted. Good news or rewards on the job front can arrive in the last week of the month. You may want to make work-related New Year’s resolutions a little early - on the 28-29th.
JUNE 22 – JULY 22
AQUARIUS
Partnerships continue to keep you on your toes this month. The fine balance between your family and career can be tricky to manage. Domestic matters demand attention especially around the 10th. Changes are in store, and there can be pressure to make important decisions. However, acting in haste, as inclined as you may be to do so, is not advisable. A friendship can bring surprising and pleasant emotions to the surface this month. Despite some level of chaos surrounding your work, you are likely to end 2013 with a renewed feeling of confidence in your career direction.
An especially busy month is in your forecast. Prioritize tasks well so that you can minimize problems. Past or previously hidden matters are illuminated around the 10th. Don’t jump to speak about a personal subject unless you’re certain it’s not premature to do so. You might continue to meet with delays and assorted little problems in your work, but by mid-month, these smooth out. Watch for hastiness and impatience in speech and actions this month.
LEO
JAN 20 – FEB 18
Friendships can be fairly wacky in the first half of the month. Heightened emotions surrounding love and creative matters are especially likely around the 10th. Recognize that signals from others can be misread before jumping impulsively to action. The second half of December brings considerably easier energy for you overall. You begin to feel more confident about making important decisions and you convey your ideas with greater certainty. On the domestic front, good news may be forthcoming as 2013 draws to a close. Family ties are stronger and comfort levels run high.
Close relationships can be very complicated in the first half of the month, and particularly around the 10th, when surprising emotions bubble up to the surface with great force. Personal revelations serve to push you toward growth and experience. Watch for impatience in both speech and action on the fourth. General confusion and delays clear up by mid-month. Family life is exceptionally busy for you. While challenges can present themselves, it’s a good time to address longstanding problems and to take action to fix them.
JULY 23 – AUG 22
CAPRICORN
You start off December on the right foot, with determination but also great charm in your manner. Work seems readily available to you, and others are spreading helpful word-of-mouth. A work or health matter comes to a head around the 10th, when emotions run high. While life can be a little chaotic then, this can also point to a peak if you handle yourself well. Expect the unexpected. New Year’s resolutions might be made a little early - on the 28-30th, when your resolve is especially strong.
Watch for a clash with a partner over money or intimacy matters around the fourth, when somebody requires more space, as well as impulsiveness with money around the 10th. Challenges with finances can occur then, but they are ultimately pushing you toward better management of your resources. Romance and travel are favored this month, although both are better after mid-month. The month finds you especially adventurous. You’re both breaking routines and building new ones.
VIRGO
SAGITTARIUS
Avoid an overly independent stance this month, as relationships can be tricky enough to handle as it stands until mid-month. Alienating someone special will not help. Impulsive executive decisions can be a downfall, so try to keep your cool. Relationships heat up around the 10th. This can also be a time when something personal comes to the attention of others. A project begins to regain momentum and money-making ideas are plentiful.
Be wary of misleading information and prepare for the potential need to redo projects you thought were complete in the first half of the month. You could be dealing with delays and a general feeling of being held back. Around the 10th of the month can be especially hectic and possibly chaotic. It can be hard to know who or what to believe. After mid-month, things begin to straighten out. Ironically, your money picture looks quite bright around the holidays.
AUG 23 – SEPT 22
LIBRA SCORPIO
Money matters can get very tricky in the first half of the month, when sticking to a budget may be difficult but is necessary. Avoid borrowing and lending, as both can bring heavy complications at this time. Changes in your financial arrangements may be in store around the 10th. Impulsive decisions should be avoided, as reason is clouded by heightened emotions.
SEPT 23 – OCT 22
You’ve been going through a maturing process recently, and sometimes you may have felt that it was forced upon you. Impulsiveness in relationships may have come at a price. You’re likely to feel more in your element on a romantic level from the 20th forward. Until mid-month, delays and transportation matters can be very tricky. Around the 10th, news can arrive that has you acting on impulse, but it’s best to wait things out. Prepare yourself for changes to your itinerary. The second half of the month is less chaotic
FEB 19 – MARCH 20
what’s your sign?
source: www.horoscopes4u.com 146
STARBUCKS
OBITUARY
The Life (and death) of Brian 1999 – 2013
On behalf of the entire Griffin Family, the bazaar team regrets to announce the passing of our dear friend H. Brian Griffin, on November 24, 2013 at approximately 9 pm (8 central). The unfortunate victim of a hit and run accident by a silver Mercedeslike sedan, near 31 Spooner Street (Quahog 00093), the incident transpired in front of his home as he set up to play street hockey with his friend Stewie. After being rushed to Quahog’s local veterinary clinic—a trip where, for reasons unknown, he was transported accompanied by a decapitated chicken—the best doctor in the county tried to revive him to no avail. Ever true to his fighting spirit and steely resolve however, Brian was able to hold on long enough to say his final goodbyes to his family, and thank them for their love. One lesser-known fact up until now is that, prior to his family entering the operation room, he was reported to have said, though breathless and clinging to life, “Whose leg do you have to hump to get a dry martini around here?” Born one in a Labrador litter of five, on a Farm in Austin, Texas, Brian’s parents Biscuit and Coco were farmers by trade, though his father also worked in security. After later being abandoned by his mother (who would sadly eventually be turned into a table), Brian would go on to suffer substance abuse and racist tendencies as a result of these early experiences. Though often reluctant to reveal his true age, by most accounts he had been 8 years old for approximately 14 years (x7 for dogs); yet despite these 134 cumulative annums, he remained youthful in spirit. That he was a canine that possessed anthromorphic qualities (like speaking, driving, walking bipedally) was cartoonlike for all of its assumption, yet, it was his being picked up by future-best friend Peter as a stray, that would prove most influential in his life. When asked for a response as to his best friend’s death, Peter replied with his trademark tone, “Come on, let’s all 148
go drink until we can’t feel feelings anymore.” Known for his razor sharp wit, Brian was an Opera fan who also had a huge affinity for Jazz, of which Carmen and Coltrane, respectively, are purported to have been his favorites. He also spoke fluent French and Tagalog, and considered himself competent in Spanish. A two-time dropout from Rhode Island’s prestigious Ivy League Brown University (reportedly 1 credit short of graduating at last count), he nevertheless possessed a neargenius intellect that earned him a membership with MENSA. That his second attempt at school had come after he had acquired a job at The New Yorker –– which he would just as quickly be fired from for not having a degree –– was part of the cyclical problems that seemed to plague much of his adult life and likely directly led to his infatuation with what he called his ‘time machine.’ He would have many jobs over the years he spent living in Los Angeles—screenwriter, director, waiter, and car wash attendant—but steady work would prove difficult for him once he moved to Quahog. Though he did have temporary stints as a taxi driver, a substitute teacher at the local Junior High School, and as a ‘drugsniffing’ dog for the Quahog Police Department –– the latter of which he would be forced to resign from after becoming addicted to cocaine –– his unsuccessful track record persisted. And, while a permanent job would elude him, he would remain solvent and free of financial woes via his investments in the stock market and collection of first edition books. A musician that could easily jump from guitar, to keytar and drums with equal flair, it was the written word that truly filled his passions. A long time fan of the writings of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, this affinity would feed his own predisposition towards melancholia, boasts of suicide, and the burning need to produce his own opus. This novel, entitled Faster Than The Speed of Love, was rumored to be somewhere
between ‘in production’ and not even started; though those closest to him agreed that the plot eerily echoed 1992’s Iron Eagle III film. He is survived by his son Dylan Flannigan, a child he shared with Tracy Flannigan of Quahog. Despite not being around for much of his early life, Dylan would admit that his father had influenced him positively after an extended stay around 2008 (Season 6 Episode 11). While the longest relationship in his life was with Jillian, a woman who would eventually marry another man (despite his pleads to her at her wedding), he also dated Hollywood celebrities Cheryl Tieg and Lauren Conrad. In the end, it was undoubtedly his best friend Peter’s wife Lois, who was the one true love of his life; he repeatedly tried to win her over romantically, to no avail, despite the fact that she was married to his best friend. When asked for an opinion on any tensions this may have caused between the friends, Glenn Quagmire, a local lothario and sometimes love-rival for the attentions of Lois would simply respond “Giggety, giggety, giggety.” True dat, Quagmire, True dat. By most accounts he lived a long life, but it is safe to say that suicide was an ever-present demon. To this point, Brian himself is said to have believed that he died three times prior, primarily via the use of his ‘time machine.’ In one of these cases, he envisioned himself in heaven drinking martinis with Van Gough, Cobain, and Hemmingway. As evidence though that perhaps he knew he could never actually go through with it, he sheepishly admits to these suicide-heavyweights that he had gotten there by eating chocolate. At the time of this writing, Variety news reports that an online petition demanding his resurrection had already received over 1500 signatures; the signees perhaps not knowing that in the end, his death, much like his life, is in the hands of his creator. – by bazaar staff
ﺗﺤﺮﺭﻱ ﻣﻦ ﻗﻴﻮﺩﻙ ﻟﻴﺰﺭ ﻹﺯﺍﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ ﺍﻟﺠﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﻜﺎﻣﻞ * ﺑﺪﻭﻥ ﺃﻟﻢ
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NOOR CLINIC
ﺑﺪﻭﻥ ﺑﻄﻦ ﻭ ﻇﻬﺮ
ﺧﺪﻣﺎﺕ ﻗﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺰﺭ : ﺇﺯﺍﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ ﺍﳉﺴﻢ ﳉﻤﻴﻊ ﺃﻧﻮﺍﻉ ﺍﻟﺒﺸﺮﺓ . ﻧﺤﺖ ﺍﳉﺴﻢ ﻭ ﻧﻘﻞ ﺍﻟﺪﻫﻮﻥ . ﺗﺼﻐﻴﺮ ﺣﺠﻢ ﺍﻷﻧﻒ ﻭﺭﺳﻤﻪ ﻣﻦ ﺩﻭﻥ ﺟﺮﺍﺣﻪ . ﻋﻼﺝ ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎﺕ ﻣﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺍﻟﻮﻻﺩﺓ . ﻋﻼﺝ ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎﺕ ﺍﻟـ Stretch Marksﺑﺈﺳﺘﺨﺪﺍﻡﺍﻟﻜﺎﺭﺑﻮﻛﺴﻲ ﺛﻴﺮﺍﺑﻲ .
ﺗﻮﺣﻴﺪ ﻟﻮﻥ ﺍﻟﺒﺸﺮﺓ ﻭ ﻛﺎﻣﻞ ﺍﳉﺴﻢ . ﺗﻘﻨﻴﺔ ﺍﳌﻴﺰﻭ ﺛﻴﺮﺍﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﻨﻀﺎﺭﺓ ﻭ ﺷﺪ ﺍﳉﻠﺪ ﻭﺣﺮﻕ ﺍﻟﺪﻫﻮﻥ . ﺟﻠﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟـ VillaShape IIﻟﺘﻨﺴﻴﻖ ﺍﻟﻘﻮﺍﻡﻭﺷﺪ ﺍﻟﺘﺮﻫﻼﺕ . -ﻋﻼﺝ ﺁﺛﺎﺭ ﺍﳊﺒﻮﺏ ﻭﺍﻟﻨﺪﺑﺎﺕ .
ﺍﻟﺘﺨﻠﺺ ﻣﻦ ﺣﺐ ﺍﻟﺸﺒﺎﺏ ﺑﺸﻜﻞ ﺩﺍﺋﻢ . ﻋﻼﺟﺎﺕ ﺗﺴﺎﻗﻂ ﺍﻟﺸﻌﺮ ﻭ ﺗﻜﺜﻴﻔﻪ ﻭ ﺯﺭﺍﻋﺔ ﺍﻟﺸﻌﺮ .ﻋﻼﺝ ﺍﻟﺜﻌﻠﺒﺔ . ﺇﺑﺮ ﺍﻟﺒﻮﺗﻮﻛﺲ ﻟﺸﺪ ﺍﻟﺒﺸﺮﺓ . -ﺇﺑﺮ ﺍﻟﻔﻴﻠﻴﺮ )ﺭﺳﻢ ﺍﻟﺸﻔﺎﻳﻒ( .
EBEL (OBC)