bazaar feb 2017 issue

February 2017 | Issue # 212 www.bazaar.town

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And Triumph's edit brings you all versions of that day.

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Int I recently had friends visit from out of town who hadn't been to Kuwait in years. They were here for a week, and I can honestly say there wasn't enough time to do everything I wanted to do with them during their stay here. From all the new amazing restaurants, to Al-Shaheed Park, the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center, The Boulevard in Salmiya, trying to find tickets to Majda Al Roomi, strolling around Souq Al-Mubarakiya, and all the art exhibitions – there simply wasn't enough time to do it all. More importantly, they genuinely had an amazing time, enjoyed every single minute of their stay here, and couldn't believe how much Kuwait had developed!

The bazaar team...

It’s exactly those developments we see every single day that keep us going and fuel us with such incredible content. We got together with master crafter Lubna Saif Abbas to talk about Yadawi, all her work with Shakshooka Market and what it means to be a part of a community in our up close and personal feature. As the art season continues, we sat with the very soulful Fabrice to find out more about his latest album and what ‘going back to basics’ means to him. When it comes to concept stores, Hamad Al-Saab knows what’s up! With his new shop, ODA, Hamad has curated some of the most beautiful pieces out there to make any space in your life truly unique.

And the best part, there’s something for every budget!

Content Coordinator

We also couldn’t miss out on the chance to get together with one of the creative community’s biggest supporters, Khaled AlZawawi. He took time out of his busy schedule to update us about his latest projects, Cereal Bar CRL and Sloppy Moe’s, as we played a fun round of Truth or Dare. With the food scene deliciously growing, we caught up with one of Kuwait’s favorite foodies, Chef Ahmed Al Bader, at his latest dining concept Habra. Make sure you get there early to skip the long queues! But if a home-cooked meal is what you’re after, but can’t figure out what to make – skip the trip to the supermarket and check out PantryBee! Simply place an order for a dish and they’ll send you the exact ingredients (sans waste) plus the recipe card to help you on this culinary journey! We sat with the founders to find out more about PantryBee and how it all started with them.

Editor

And because it’s February, go out and enjoy the amazing weather while it’s still here, and have a great National and Liberation Day! For all you romantics out there, Happy Valentine's Day! Happy Reading!

Ahmed El-Adly

Boss Ahmed El-Adly

Operations Tim Burns

Business Development Ihab Mokalled

Mixed Media Solutions Jennifer Cádiz Yasmine El Charif

Design Ahmed Al-Ashab

Staff Writer/Online Media Amira Haroun

Staff Writer Yasmine Dalloul

Communications Hala Y. Sharara Alia Al Duaij

Cover by Ahmad Al Motawa

Contributing Writers Barry Rodrigues George Tarabay Lynn El Bizri Nejoud Al-Yagout Dr. Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg Strawberry Girl

Contributing Photographers Yousef Al Nasser

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Syndicates & Sources

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).

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INDEX FEBRUARY 2017 36 ODA

Are you ready to experience a brand new space featuring amazing pieces made by local designers? Situated in the luxurious KIPCO tower, we have the scoop on artist Hamad Al Saab’s one stop gift shop.

Discover it in this issue!

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LUBNA SAIF ABBAS Up Close and Personal takes a crafty turn this month with artsy mastermind Lubna Saif Abbas. We sit down with the founder of Yadawi and chat about her love of crafting, creativity, and her plans to help sustain a local market for all creatives to practice their skills.

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KHALED ALZAWAWI

HABRA BEEF CANTEEN

There seems to be nothing this Jack-ofall-trades can’t do! This month, creative appreciator and collaborator Khaled AlZawawi graces our pages with the scoop on his current projects, how he’s giving back to the creative community.

Local legend Chef Ahmed Al Bader is back at it again with his latest establishment, Habra.

This beef canteen received so many rave reviews that we had to visit – and when we did, it was no wonder why!

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Being one of the most prominent local musicians in the scene, it was an honor to be able to have Fabrice in our February Issue.

This month, we chat with the artist about his latest album Back to Roots, and his opinions and ethos on the musical community in Kuwait.

Returning to your alma mater as a fullfledged professor is ultimate education and career goals! AUK alum Abdulrahman AlFarhan dedicated the past decade towards paving his path as a professor, and found himself right back where it all started.

Everyone’s been buzzing about PantryBee! This DIY cooking service is fun, healthy and practical and if you haven’t tried it out yet, we highly recommend you do so. Intrigued?

Read our informative piece on this time saving concept in this issue.

Have you noticed how stunning this month’s cover is? Wait till you meet the person behind it. We are so excited to feature Ahmad Al Motawa’s work as our cover, but even more so, the man who creates such amazing imagery through photography, philosophy and everything in between.

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what's on February 2017

RED BULL REIGN’S 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Date: February 15th-17th Location: Marina Crescent Basketball Courts In continuation with Red Bull's habit of staging offbeat sports events, Red Bull Reign invites Kuwait’s top basketball players to compete in the ultimate 3-on-3 battle, testing teams’ endurance, skills, teamwork, and ability to own their court while trying to accumulate the most points possible to outlast their opponents. Besides other qualifiers happening in 14 other countries this year, the local qualifiers will take place this month, on February 15th and 16th in Marina Crescent Basketball Courts and concluding with the finals at the same location on February 17th, in partnership with Acqua Eva, GoPro and Marina World. The Red Bull Reign final champions will earn the chance to compete in the 3×3 World Final this held in Washington, USA in September 2017. Each qualifier will host 24 teams, players 16 and above can submit an application for their team of four players to compete during the qualifying competitions in Kuwait. The qualifiers will be held on two consecutive days at Marina Crescent Basketball courts on 15 and 16 February.

For more information, visit www.redbull.com/reignkw or call 6776 5544.

MARBLE POSTER DESIGN - SILK SCREENING CONDUCTED BY HAYA AL ABDULKAREEM Date: February 15th Location: The Print Room, Shuwaikh Participants will learn several techniques. They will start with mapping out the composition of the poster from geometric shapes. Then they will move on to learning the art of screen printing. They will learn how to create the effect of marbleizing through screen printing and give that aesthetic to geometric shapes that they have already composed on the poster.

Price: 60 KD. Price for Sila Members: 51 KD. Registration is through the Nuqat website www.nuqat.me.

CATS-BROADWAY SHOW Date: February 9th-12th Location: Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Cultural Center Once in a Lifetime, Experience the Magic of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking 2015 Olivier award nominated original musical CATS, as it comes to Dubai for the first time. Seen by over 73 million people worldwide and being one of the longest running shows in West End and Broadway History, this sparkling fusion of live music, dance and verse is not to be missed. Adapted from TS Eliot’s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’, this wonderful blend of fantasy, drama and romance is set on the night that the Jellicle Cats meet for the Jellicle Ball. With an amazing musical score that includes the timeless classic “Memory”, spectacular set designs, stunning costumes and breathtaking choreography, CATS is a magical musical like no other. CATS, has enchanted audiences in over 300 cities around the world and is the winner of 2 Grammys and 7 Tony awards. This critically acclaimed masterpiece is suitable for all ages and leaves audience and critics mesmerized from beginning to end.

For tickets, visit www.jacc-kw.com.

HALA KITE FLYING AND FUNFAIR FESTIVAL 2017 Date: February 10th Location: Camping Area, Road No. 40 A time packed of exciting entertainment. An experience you would never forget. Yes, we are back! You would not want to miss one of the hilarious and the most awaited event of the year. Are you looking for a place where you could find the tradition and culture of the beloved land Pakistan? It is all here. Join on 10th February 2017 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and make it memorable. Fun, Entertainment & Thrill: DJ & Music, Kite Flying & Competition, Food Stalls, Fashion & Garments Stalls, Fun rides for kids, Dedicated area for families, Accessories stalls and Face painting & Henna. Who would want to stand and wait in the queue at the main door of this mega event?

Then hurry up and book/reserve your tickets!

To book your tickets, stalls or sponsorship inquiries, contact the following Whatsapp numbers (messages only): 9769 8661/5595 3824/9669 7719/6621 7434.

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what's trending February 2017

What: @figkw Info: Handmade, hand-dyed cotton cord bags and accessories.

Editor’s Note: Beachy vibes with these beautiful bags.

What: @sac.kw Info: Kuwait-made clutches with a twist.

Editor’s Note: Complete your evening outfit with a sac bag!

What: @levainkw Info: A sourdough bread bakery in Kuwait.

Editor’s Note: Their olive sourdough bread is amazing.

What: @btr.juices Info: Organic, naturally sourced cold-pressed juices.

Editor’s Note: We can’t wait to try it out!

www.bazaar.town

What: @nourishmebar Info: Paleo, raw vegan, organic food.

Editor’s Note: Clean eaters, the suitable snack hunt is over.

What: @yadawi Info: A collective of artisans and a center for workshops.

Editor’s Note: Don’t miss our interview with founder Lubna!

What: @hanamibox Info: A one-stop shop for all your quirky needs.

Editor’s Note: They have the cutest cards!

What: @sinlesskw Info: An indulgent eatery, coming soon.

Editor’s Note: Guilt-free dessert? Yes, please!

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!

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truth or dare

KHALED ALZAWAWI

The creative community’s social butterfly By bazaar staff

For those who frequent the urban creative community, you’ve definitely seen him around. He’s a familiar face, always showing up at events and personably chatting with everyone around him. He’s a creative-of-alltrades who’s been contributing to the community in different ways over the past 15 years. He’s everyone’s biggest supporter, and holds a genuine interest in Kuwait’s culture and creativity, vehemently believing in the growth and opportunities the country has in this field, and he’s constantly cheering everyone who’s a part of it on. He is Khaled AlZawawi.

To most, he’s known as the Instagram style identity Zouch Fashion. He’s also known as one of the pioneering male stylists and men’s fashion bloggers in Kuwait, making his way into the blogosphere in 2008 before graduating to City Pages in 2012 as a fashion editor and stylist. “I was one of the first men to talk about fashion in Kuwait on print, opening a world of fashion for men here.” And open it he did! He paved the way for men to embrace modern style with confidence and thoughtfulness, contributing to making Kuwait as stylish as it already is.

Although his work in the local fashion industry is ongoing on Khaled’s list, he’s also invested in other parts of Kuwait’s creative community.

Whether it be his latest venture in the food and beverage industry, with the opening of two concepts, both collaborations with partners, sandwich joint Sloppy Moe’s and Cereal Bar CRL. “The local F&B scene is very relevant to the creative community, because being creative is not only about making visual art or music – also, we are all connected and we all collaborate with one another.” This is evident as even when Sloppy Moe’s was a pipe dream staged in a truck, the partners found themselves slinging sandwiches parked off to the sidelines of Qout Market in early 2014. But having a venue gives the familiar face and longtime supporter of the community a reason to give back. “I want both Sloppy Moe’s and CRL to be a space supportive of the arts.

Our friends in the community are welcome to use both spaces to host collaborative events – do whatever you want to do! We’ll be there.”

But the question remains: how does Khaled find the time to do it all? From fashion blogger 22

and Instagrammer, having his own clothing line, videography (“please don’t call me a videographer,” he humbly interjects) his credits conducting past NUQAT conferences, to the opening of two original, local concepts. He has so much on his plate, on top of his day job as an accountant! “It’s a choice, and a possibility! You have 24 hours in a day – why not use them wisely? People choose to go home after work, sleep, then go out at night for their fix of coffees and chatter with their friends – I choose to utilize my time a little differently.” Yes, he’s always on the go, but it’s opened up a whole smorgasbord for him to explore – and evidentially, he dove in!

As busy as Khaled is with his multitasking and quality time spent with different aspects oft he creative community, he managed to take a break from the hustle and bustle of his activity filled-world to answer some additional questions.

TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE

How would your mother describe you in one word?

Stubborn.

How would you describe your mother in one word?

Understanding.

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

Why do I look the way I look?

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

Travelling to Dubai for less than 24 hours for pleasure.

What is your theme song?

“Changes” - Tupac Shakur What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented?

Khaled (my name!)

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

In a mansion on an island next to Manhattan.

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

“Kill them with success” -Unknown What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in?

Black panther.

What do you miss about your childhood?

Discussions with my grandfather.

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

I wouldn’t change it.

How would you describe your handshake in one word?

Gentle.

What is the toughest part of your character?

Straightforwardness.

Who is your favorite historical figure?

Michael Jackson.

What in the world do you least desire?

Disrespect.

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

Brains.

Why do you think most girls/guys like you?

I'm easy to talk to. (Only if you know me!)

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

Food.

Follow Khaled on Instagram @not.a.designer and follow him as Zouch Fashion @zouchfashion for daily style inspiration.

aaw

AHMAD AL MOTAWA

From photography to philosophy, and everything in between

By bazaar staff

When we came across the talented Ahmad Al Motawa’s Instagram account, we initially fell in love with his photography and thought provoking musings. One photo in particular captivated our attention, and it now graces our February issue as its stunning cover. From there, we simply had to know the man behind the lens. Through our simple, yet extremely enlightening, dialogue with Ahmad, we discovered a soulful creative, avid traveler and selftaught photographer.

It all began with one question: How would you describe yourself? “Those who know me well, know that I enjoy writing almost on a daily basis. I also like commenting on current events that surround me, and I enjoy lively discussions and debates with friends and followers. I even encourage others to discuss their thoughts openly, however when it comes to talking about myself I forget all of these aspects about myself!” Ahmad’s initial answer begged us to ask ourselves the same question, because it’s true—we mainly take note of what others see. He continued on to say that he rarely ‘meets himself’, and we felt ourselves get lost some more, before he explained, “You would better know any given person in your life because you meet them regularly more than they see, know, or think about themselves. It’s also a biological phenomenon, whereby we physically can observe someone’s mannerisms, height, even the leftover food crumbs on their chin, and the way in which they interact with others. We can do this at any time, and with complete ease.”

When it comes to understanding one’s self, however, Ahmad sees a greater difficulty in this assessment. He adds, “The way our eyes are biologically engineered means that we cannot view things in whichever way we choose. You cannot see your full face without the assistance of a mirror, and the same applies with trying to see your back, for instance. We’d need visual assistance, and I consider the camera as one.”

Ahmad’s remarks lead us to think about constructed realities, where he considers the use of mirrors or cameras as late arrivals to mankind’s long existence. “We never perceived ourselves like we do today, we aren’t used to the ‘selfie phenomenon’.

Imagine that civilizations came and went without ever looking at their own faces except for witnessing their reflections on constantly shifting bodies of water. I think that’s incredible.” He laughingly adds, “That’s why I have a hard time describing myself, and now I finally understand what Socrates meant when he said ‘know thyself’."

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For Ahmad, he looks to his past for inspiration and introspection, especially those childhood memories that he cannot recall. “I once asked my mother about my childhood, and she told me I was a quiet child, and was never in trouble. She also described me as being content with everything that was given to me from coloring books, comics, to coloring pens!” Ahmad is even inspired by his uncle, who he was named after. “My father always looked to my uncle as an inspiration, because he was a traveler and wanderer, using his motorcycle as his main source of transport.”

These recollections and stories all shape the person he is today. When Ahmad’s older brother decided to travel abroad to study in the 90s, and entrusted him with his professional camera, that arrived as a turning point for the creative. “He trusted me, despite my young age at the time! I think that was specifically when I first became interested in photography. From landscapes, buildings, historical sites, antiques, people to even nothing in particular—I became impassioned. Never to take a selfie, though!”

Ahmad further recounts how he had to be specific with his photography subjects when he first started experimenting with his brother’s camera, because at the time, such equipment was quite expensive to maintain and use. “I explored this world deeper, I even learned how to manually develop pictures for fun, before the dawn of digital photography. It wasn’t easy, and the process required a huge amount of patience and technical ability. You’re in a dark room that is filled with chemical fluids that carry extremely

strong scents—and sometimes, my hard work would result in a professional photo that is actually indistinguishable.” He laughingly remarks, “I don’t think today’s modern photographers that hail from a younger generation even fathom this notion. They are indeed lucky! I’m still thankful to my older brother, and the fact that he trusted me with his prized procession.”

In Ahmad’s last step towards self-discovery, he considers his best friend. “He is rare, and he accompanied me throughout my formative years to adulthood. We’re inseparable to the point where I could never consider not being friends.

He believes in my ability as a good writer and he encouraged me to write my first book. His mental support was key in my development as a person, helped me edit every text I wrote. He even designed my writings, directed, and published my work inside and outside of Kuwait. Today, and thanks to my dear friend, people still ask me if I am indeed solely a photographer, or a writer.”

While we would love to receive a definitive answer about his life’s passions, Ahmad tells us that he is not an avid reader, writer, nor photographer, “I am simply a person who reads, writes and takes pictures at the same time— other than that, I can’t ever specifically define who I am.”

For more information about Ahmad Al Motawa, follow him on Instagram and Twitter @Ahm2o, and you can email him at ahm2o@hotmail.com.

the body shop

ASSIL DIAB Interview with the street-artist Sudalove

By Fay Al-Homoud

Also known as ‘Sudalove,’ Assil Diab is a Sudanese Visual Artist, Graphics Designer and Graffiti Artist born in Romania and based in Doha, Qatar.

Her work consists of mixed media and painting canvases using nothing but spray paint, “Graffiti on Canvas,” as well as graffiti murals. She exhibited her artwork at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, local hotels in Qatar, and Gallery 5 in Richmond, Virginia. In 2015, Diab was invited by Red Bull Qatar to attend an opening of ‘Urban Nest,’ their very own Art Space in Bahrain called ‘Malja,' where she painted an XO graffiti piece on their yard.

Diab also exhibited her “What About Africa” piece, made entirely of spray-painted, recycled water bottles, and the intriguing “Death & The Circle of Life” piece, made entirely of spraypainted worms and cockroaches during the book launch of The Khaleeji Voice.

Commissioned by Urban Creativity – 60 Degrees and Al Jaidah Automotive, Diab’s most notorious graffiti work yet is at the Qatar Racing Club in 2014, which was the major breakthrough in her graffiti career.

When did it all begin? How did you first become interested in street art/graffiti?

When I was about 14, I started doing it on paper and painting on T-shirts, shoes, hats, etc. But I didn’t get into it seriously until I was about 25.

When I was about 21, I used to see it everywhere in New York, especially while on the subway. I was attracted to it from the get-go – the shapes and colors. I just admired it. I loved what I was seeing on the streets, and I wanted to be a part of it.

I’ve always liked challenging myself to see what I could do. Who would’ve thought I would be a graffiti artist?

Where did the name come from?

“Sudalove” represents my home country, Sudan, and my love for it. I wanted to take Sudan with me everywhere. My identity does not only rely on being a female and Sudanese, but also on bringing what I know from back home and taking it with me wherever I go.

How do you describe the style of your pieces?

Most of my work leans toward typographic design.

I think my BFA degree in Graphic Design plays a big role in that. I like to experiment with every piece. Sometimes I tag in Arabic and sometimes in English. I’ve been told that most of my work is recognizable. I think it has something to do with “muscle memory.” Some letters and shapes look repetitive and that somewhat develops a style.

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Which artist is your biggest inspiration?

“El Seed.” He’s taught me how to spray paint and gave me the confidence to just “go ahead and start.”

What was your greatest challenge?

The main challenges I face are with myself. Trying to be better than I was the last time, trying to stay inspired and creative. It’s an ugly world out there that I want to help beautify. It takes me a couple of days before I get the urge to go out and paint again.

Can you tell us something about your process?

How long does it take from beginning to end to create a painting?

When it comes to non-commissioned work, I study the surroundings of the wall – its texture, color. I basically treat the entire surface as a canvas. I don’t usually sketch, if I have to, it’s because a client has requested it. I then pick up a can and I just let it all out on the wall. When the artwork is complete, I take a step back and look at the result and study how art changes the scenery and the community.

Do you have a formal art education?

I do hold a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond – Virginia, United States. I also took up a minor in Fashion Design with a special interest in Footwear Design. I also hold two diplomas in Social Media Marketing and Advanced Digital Marketing.

Has your work ever been exhibited?

Yes, my “graffiti on canvas” pieces have been exhibited in Qatar. I also do commissioned work and sell them online on qatarcollections.com and assildiab.com.

How do you feel about the movement of graffiti into galleries?

I feel like what makes graffiti unique is the audience it can reach, which is unlimited. When you take it to canvas and place it in a gallery, you are limiting the audience perhaps to only the art scene and whoever is interested in it. However, bringing graffiti into galleries is always safer than going out in the street.

What do you see as the future of street art / graffiti?

There is a huge rise in the number of graffiti artists coming out. I'm not sure if some are doing it for the fame or to spread love. If graffiti is put to a good cause, it can benefit social development by founding art schools in low-income neighborhoods and by partnering with police to paint murals in neglected and shabby areas. Graffiti can serve as community service, if the artist’s state of mind is at peace with the world.

Originally published on www.kingdome.co. You can follow Kingdome on Facebook and Soundcloud @KingdomeMagazine, Instagram @Kingdome.co, Twitter @KingdomeCo and on YouTube: Kingdome Magazine.

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up close & personal

A LEGACY WORTH LEAVING Yadawi with Lubna Saif Abbas

By bazaar staff

Crafting, creating and a sense of community – this is the legacy Lubna Saif Abbas wishes to leave behind. Having known that from an early age, Lubna set to work, specifically utilizing her hands, towards bringing like-minded people together in an environment that fuels creativity. The daughter of makers, Lubna grew up with a sense of pride for everything and anything handmade.

“My mother sewed all our clothes,” she explained, “and my father was a carpenter with a reverence for handmade objects.” And because Lubna grew up in the Mid-Western United States, the creative fondly remembers one babysitter in particular: “An Alaskan gal,” she smiled, “and for the life of me, if I can find her, I’d say ‘Thank you!’ because of the imprint she had left on me.”

“Her brother was my dad’s classmate and she was visiting from Alaska,” Lubna went on, “and while babysitting us, she would bring along her knitting and other stuff [I was six at the time].

So she had a National Geographic magazine with her and on the cover there were Native Americans in their beautifully beaded regalia.” Flipping through the issue, Lubna found her babysitter’s tribe featured in the magazine, which sparked a 28

conversation about beads and knitting. “In life, you have a series of teachers and they teach you how to make things by either watching or doing – like an apprentice. She was around me for a year and in that year, she really had an impact on me,” Lubna smiled. But it wasn’t until she sat and watched a group of Native American women beading that this creative felt a spark light up in her.

Between her parents, babysitter and the beautiful works of the Native American women, Lubna found her calling. Earning a degree in graphic design and art history, Lubna was able to focus on both technique and craft which leads us to modern day: The creation of Yadawi. With the help of angel Investors, a retail brick and mortar location was set up as LB o J’zazz to supply crafters with the supplies they needed and sign up for workshops – all under the umbrella of Yadawi. Soon enough, LB o J’zazz shifted to an online presence and Yadawi came to life in Lubna’s basement.

Also a part of a group known as ‘Legalize Kuwait,’ Lubna is an avid advocate for legalizing home-based businesses. “Kuwait was built on neighborhood craft zones and people creating items right outside their homes,” Lubna added. With the strong movement and growth that we are witnessing within the arts and crafts community throughout Kuwait, Lubna is inspired daily by the amount of emerging talent, which fuels her work towards making Yadawi a hub for creation and creativity.

Harnessing that inspiration and collaborating with the creative community has helped Lubna connect with so many likeminded people. From Chef Mimi, the Shakshooka Market gang and the Secret Garden project to the creatives that exhibit their work through Yadawi, Lubna’s network is forever growing. The beauty of this community is in their unity and perseverance. When the Secret Garden was destroyed, the community got together to rebuild it and continue to spread the idea of an urban garden. And as people continue to ask why the Secret Garden isn’t expanding to other areas, Lubna’s response is simple: “We don’t want to make it bigger, we’d ideally like to see more people starting initiatives like this in their own areas and communities.”

Between her engagement in the organically growing creative community and her workshops at Yadawi, Lubna is also helping people find their creative side [no matter their background] and put it to good use. Exhibitions and open-houses are held at times to showcase the wonderful creations that come out of the Yadawi Collective.

Lubna even supports the local talents, such as renowned local artist Fareed Abdal, by exhibiting their pieces in the workshop’s retail space for people to purchase. While she gives back to the community she holds dear, we got Lubna to take a couple of minutes and sit through our lighthearted questionnaire in this month’s ‘up close and personal’ feature.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE What do you most value in your friends?

Authenticity, a great sense of humor and a passion for ideas.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Experiencing a whole range of emotions enables one to possess an innate sense of well-being.

They are moments that add up. I’m happy when I’m dancing, goofing off and being silly, when I’m creating, having a coffee in solitude. Moments to relish and savor.

What is your greatest fear?

Fear is not an emotion I feed into – however, what motivated me the most was back in 2014 and 2015 when my late beloved mother Lady Z was not diagnosed with her condition properly here in Kuwait and she asked me to make sure I got her to NYC Presbyterian and to the US. We could not afford this kind of quality care on our own. I promised her – it was one of the most challenging ordeals to accomplish. I feared she would collapse before getting her there. We were able to do so. My mother got the diagnosis three weeks before succumbing to respiratory complications due to ALS. After that, there is not much fear…I lost my best friend and companion.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Deplore is quite a strong term. There is nothing I deplore in myself actually.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Arrogance, bullying and people who feel they are superior to others. In addition to a lack of compassion and grace.

Which living person do you most admire?

My brother Ali, he is one of my greatest teachers.

What is your greatest extravagance?

My passion for life.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Brilliant, wonderful, beautiful, breathtaking, stunning and presence.

What is it that you most dislike?

War and greed.

Which talent would you most like to have?

To know how to fly a glider.

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

The one I have now – it is not a job; it is my life calling.

What would you achievement?

Yadawi.

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What is your most treasured possession?

I possess nothing – papers and pens to express myself would be cherished.

What is your most marked characteristic?

My tenacious passion about living a life authentically and to the fullest and sharing that with people.

Where would you most like to live?

I’m good where I am now. However, Ouled Hamou, Morocco with one of my dearest friends Nazik on the Permaculture project she is working on isn’t a bad idea.

What are your favorite words to live by?

Live and let live.

Join Yadawi for a fun workshop and discover your artistic side today! Follow them on Facebook: Yadawi Kuwait and Instagram @Yadawi for more information. If you’re simply looking for supplies, check out lbojzazz.com.

Photography by Yousef Al Nasser.

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BUILDPALESTINE CONNECTS COMMUNITIES TO SOLVE PALESTINE’S SOCIAL ISSUES

By Israa Elkhatib

In Palestine, a new initiative has been taken to connect the community, with the goal to become the go-to source for those around the world who ask, “How can I help Palestine?" BarakaBits interviewed Co-founder and CEO of BuildPalestine, Besan Abu-Joudeh, on the idea behind this startup.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what gave you the initiative to start this project?

I was born and raised in the United States and I would visit Palestine during the summers. I studied Economics with the goal of creating economic opportunity and moved here last year with a job in development. Since moving here last year, I realized that there is a huge resource just waiting to be untapped– Palestinian supporters around the world. I reached out to my friend, Ola, who is also part of the Diaspora and we got to work!”

What is BuildPalestine and how did it start?

BuildPalestine is a crowdfunding platform that connects people through technology and

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grassroots problem-solving. This platform provides people of the Diaspora Palestinian community to come together and find solutions of issues within the community. So I spoke to my friend in Bahrain and she’s also from the Diaspora and has never been to Palestine. Then I met up with the other members of the team here in Palestine and we got together to get it started.

What do you mean by grassroots problemsolving?

Grassroots problem solving means that solutions are raised by the people closest to the problem.

For example, one of our projects is designed by ambulance workers in Gaza to address the fact that it takes ambulances a long time to reach certain locations, especially during war. They developed a network where each neighborhood has a designated individual who can help victims until the ambulance arrives. They are crowd funding to provide these individuals with first-aid kits.

What types of projects are on the platform?

We crowd-fund for projects that will have a social impact. We don’t cover personal causes or relief efforts, as there are already platforms that do

this. Instead, we empower communities to find innovative solutions and build for tomorrow. We want people to know that they have a voice and if they have an idea or they see a problem that needs to be fixed, then they can come together and fix it.

What does BuildPalestine need to be successful?

We need enough awareness so that people around the world know to come to our platform when they ask, ‘How can I help Palestine?’ Our goal is to engage 12 million people on: www.buildpalestine.com.

What message would you like to get across to the people?

As Palestinians, we cannot wait for others to help us. We need to mobilize our resources, come together as a community and build the future we want to see here.

BuildPalestine officially launched on the 31st of October. This initiative is a great way to support and build Palestine by empowering grassroots problem solving. After all, we are the solution to our own problems!

lilly whites

INTERVIEW WITH CEO VICE CHAIRMAN OF AGILITY TAREK SULTAN ArabNet’s CEO Series

By Lynn El Bizri

Founded in 1979, Agility started as a local warehousing provider in Kuwait and has grown to become one of the world’s largest integrated logistics providers in the Middle East. It has acquired more than 40 logistics brands around the world, invested billions to build a global network in emerging markets and today has more than 22,000 employees and operations in over 100 countries.

ArabNet’s CEO Omar Christidis sat down with Tarek Sultan, CEO and Vice Chairman of Agility, to discuss how technology is disrupting the Logistics Industry and Agility in particular.

Where has technology been integrated into your organization? What are the Top 3 areas in which technology has had a deep impact on the way Agility works?

First and foremost, with so many people and activities flowing through our business, we look at technology as a way to improve and enhance the way that we operate. The old way of doing business, using outdated technology, won’t help us in the near future so we needed to use technology to reduce our costs, make us more accessible to our customers and really make the company relevant to the new way of doing business.

To begin with, we are really transforming our core business using technology but we’re doing that both directly and indirectly. We’ve set up a team within Agility that is looking at new emerging technologies that could theoretically cannibalize or supersede our business or could be a part of enabling new business models moving forward.

We’re also looking at investing in startups that will impact the supply chain of the future and at how we can integrate some of those concepts into the way we run our business today.

What shape does disruption in the logistics sector take?

The disruption is extreme and present in every aspect of our business. Historically you would see many large companies, such as shipping companies, with their capital invested in owning assets, whereas today, a lot of those assets are basically sitting empty or idle. In the future, I think those sorts of companies that are sitting on idle assets can leverage the technologies being pioneered today to turn their assets into more productive ones by opening up their usage to consumers and customers.

There are disruptions taking place that will be help traditional companies that own assets but there are also new ways of doing business 32

that don’t require you to have those assets in the first place. Uber are probably the largest taxi company in the world and they don’t know own any taxis or assets per say. In the supply chain we talk about how can we leverage technology and increase efficiency, but there’s a whole host of other technologies that are changing the way that you conceive logistics. For example, there are electronic vehicles, and there are even companies making axles today that hook onto a truck’s trailer and reduce the fuel consumption of the truck going forward. Today you have a truck and a trailer, however you can envision a future where you won’t have a truck and the trailer will drive itself, recharge itself, refuel itself and will deliver the cargo to the customer.

How does Agility remain ahead of the innovation curve, what strategies do you use to foster innovation internally and how do you structure those kinds of teams internally to get the most out of your people?

We have a very clear and explicit strategy when it comes to technology and we are leveraging technology to fundamentally change the way our core organization works. When you try to develop new businesses and start to nurture new concepts, it’s difficult to do core business because the government doesn’t like businesses which consume cash and do not generate big profits. So any business that consumes cash and doesn’t generate profits in the corporate world is bad, meaning those businesses need to be separate and have a different strategy.

At Agility, we have a group that is investing in technologies in a way that’s complementary to our core business i.e. our core business can add value to their business. For example, there is a company that we invested in in Brazil that’s kind of like an UBER for trucking and our thought process behind that is by investing in a company like that we can generate a good return, use that same technology for our core business and give them business. So there are multiple areas of synergy there that we can extract and if you can get 4 or 5 or 6 different areas of synergy and a round of investment, usually that’s good business.

We’ve also set up a technology advisory board and engaged with investors (mostly startups) that are investing heavily in technology. We make them part of our business strategy and discuss and exchange ideas with them. They then help us validate if these ideas are worth investing in or not and sometimes they end up investing with us or we invest with them. That dialogue and synergy of networks and contacts is really helpful to us, especially being a company whose roots are not in technology. So we think we have a good formula for how to move up in the future and I think it’s going to really change our company.

You’ll probably hear of some interesting projects over the next year or so coming out of Agility and I would imagine that 50% of them are going to be technology related.

Follow Lynn El Bizri online @lnlne, For more information about Arabnet, head to www.arabnet.me.

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• 2nd Avenue - The Avenues: 22283487 • Grand Avenue - The Avenues: 22283093 • Marina Mall: 22244772 • The Gate Mall: 22081237 • Al Bairaq: 22581952 • Rawda Co-op: 22081047 • Salwa Co-op: 22081034

11/01/17 15:48

BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL Dr. Al-Farhan's journey with AUK, from student to professor By bazaar staff

University is a magical time for many, and throughout your undergrad phase, your attitude may vary. Some people have a “get ‘er done” attitude about the 4-5 years it takes to graduate, whereas others embrace the whole experience, turning their educational institution into a second home, and indulging in all that university life has to offer. It has been said time and time again, that AUK (The American University of Kuwait) is the very facility that embodies all the best days of university life, and it’s even more evident when alumni return as faculty members.

Meet Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Farhan, AUK’s very first alumnus professor for two classes: Reading in Arabic Heritage and Survey of ArabIslamic Civilization. Dr. Al-Farhan, who graduated from AUK’s Class of 2011, is the very example of a student who made the most of his time at the university, exploring everything and digging in deep to what the school had to offer. “I was initially supposed to go to Kuwait University,” he says thoughtfully, “and my father, whose undergraduate and graduate experiences were in the States, kept encouraging me to study abroad like he did. I thought the perfect middle ground between the two would be a Liberal Arts school like AUK.” As we sit and chat, Dr. Al-Farhan’s eyes light up as he reminisces on the valuable memories achieved throughout his four years of 34

attendance. “I was involved in everything!” He says, listing the organizations and initiatives he took part in. “I was in student government [as a PR representative], I was active in many clubs, I founded the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Club in 2009, a student club involving raising awareness of the Kuwaiti constitution, holding talks related to Kuwait politics, and celebrating National and Liberation Day. I also went to Dartmouth College.”

What happened in Dartmouth College? AUK and the prestigious Ivy League Dartmouth College’s Memorandum of Understanding gives students on both ends of the pond the opportunity to take part in a summer exchange program. “Back in 2010, I taught Arabic as a foreign language to students over there, being part of this program.”

What made the younger Dr. Al-Farhan evolve from majoring in Finance to pursuing his future as a full-fledged professor within a completely different field? Options! “The great thing about AUK, especially when I was a student, was that we were allowed to have up to three minors.”

Though his major was in Finance, and he did very well with it, he always felt a kinship to the arts and humanities and took on a double minor of Arabic Literature and Visual Performing Arts.

After graduating in 2011 and taking a brief hiatus working as an administrative assistant in the Writing Center at AUK while patiently waiting for his next move, he then ventured off to SOAS (School for Oriental and African Studies) in London to complete an MA in Arabic Literature, and shortly after a PhD in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.

This of course led him back to where it all began, AUK. But the question remains: how does it feel being on the other side of the fence? To Dr. AlFarhan, it only seems appropriate given all the vehemence and dedication he put into this school over the past decade. “I also feel like my students look up to me a little! They love hearing about my experiences here, and the fact that I’m familiar with their environment – one of their own – makes it that much more special to them. I hope that I’m an inspiration to them to prosper and follow in my footsteps, and to make the most out of their school and really appreciate it.”

Even we can’t help but feel inspired by Dr. AlFarhan’s songs of high-praise towards his alma mater. When he speaks of AUK graduates as we sit down to watch a brief commemorative video made in 2014 to celebrate AUK's then 10 year anniversary, he watches intently and as it finishes, names the achievements made by each featured alum: “All in all, great things, and people, come out of AUK. What can I say,” he says with a chuckle. “AUK shaped me into the person I am today, and I’m a Wolfpack member for life!”

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an independent, private, and coeducational liberal arts institution of higher education. For more information about AUK visit www.auk.edu.kw or contact them on 180 2040 or 2224 8399 ext.

3148. Follow them on social media as American University of Kuwait on Facebook, @auk_kuwait on Instagram, and @AUKtweets on Twitter.

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A ROOM OF POSSIBILITIES

Hamad Al-Saab on the inception of ODA, and its value to the creative community

By bazaar staff

Kuwait is a country that is bursting at the seams with artistic and creative talent. Shouldn’t there be a place where all those efforts are celebrated? Cue locally renowned contemporary artist Hamad AlSaab, inceptor of a space allowing those works to be displayed for purchase and appreciation, whether they be big, small, frivolous or decorative. That space is ODA, nestled in the M2 level of Kipco tower right next to Poêle café.

It’s first important to note that ODA presents a clever play on words. An acronym for ‘objects, design and art’, the store’s name is also taken from the Turkish and Levantine term for “room”. And that is exactly what it is! Be it a large room, it’s still a room that invokes creative possibilities. When you walk into ODA, you’re greeted with a burst of color.

Everywhere you turn, you’ll see vibrant accessories, knick-knacks, articles of clothing and even furniture pieces. It seems like this little store has EVERYTHING, and creator/curator Hamad Al-Saab verifies this. “I envisioned ODA to be a one stop gift shop that offers something for everybody, whether you’re looking for a gift to give to someone or a gift for yourself!” And it truly does. From sunglasses to apparel, to tables and floor cushions, the options at ODA are endless.

What’s also great about this concept is that, echoing Hamads’ ethos, the inventory at ODA arrives as an ode to support local designers. All merchandise available at the store has been created by local talents: from Hamad himself, to Samovar’s Abdulla Al Awadhi and Lulwa Al Radwan, and of course, original pieces by Abdullah Al Saab.

“We want to encourage local talent and for people to buy originals made by locals. By locals, I mean anyone who is from here, even if they don’t hold the nationality. To me, if you were born in Kuwait, and you grew up in Kuwait, you’re a local. As a creative, you have something to contribute.” We noticed that pieces are also affordable, and are crafted with quality and originality in mind. Prices vary, but whatever you’re paying will always feel right based on what you’re getting.

But let’s discuss one of the store’s most entertaining qualities: the experience of browsing for a gift, and of course, the giftwrapping! At ODA, you’re guaranteed a helpful and interactive experience, where whoever is working in the store at the moment will inquire about your budget and scour the store with you, collecting a selection of items and options to create the perfect gift!

No challenge is too big, or too small, and you’re

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guaranteed to walk out with a huge smile. Especially when carrying out the final product nestled in a gift basket and wrapped in an innovative bow and quite possibly topped with a sprig of lavender.

Though the store is seemingly small, it has a huge heart and even bigger dreams. Staged as a playground for all things design, ODA is run by the entire Al-Saab family! Hamad handles management, and the other five Al-Saab siblings play a role in inventory contribution whether it’s Abdullah stocking his merchandise, or sister Heba’s contributions by finding pieces to include in the store’s closet. “ODA is our family’s creation, and we’re extending it to the rest of Kuwait to take part in.” He says of the concept. “Each of us has a passion [in our family] because our parents always encouraged us having something to call our own that we could develop from.” And though the Al-Saab clan’s passions differ, this doesn’t keep them from joining forces to

support their eldest brother [Hamad] in his.

ODA is Hamad’s first official concept, and arguably, his biggest dream thus far, achieved. “I always dreamed of having a store—this was my ‘retirement plan’ – to live on top of a store and stock it with things that I loved, and make friends with everyone who would come in.” This dream isn’t far-fetched to what he has made happen in present time. While he is far from retirement, the inception of ODA is surreal, coincidental and meant-to-be.

Hamad’s future plans for ODA are full of possibilities. “What I really want for this space is for it to expand,” he dishes. “But I want it to expand in a way that it would be two or three stories high, filled with creations and concepts by local designers!”

Why is the local design aspect so important to him? “Look,” he starts off, gently pushing back his sleeves. “I always say it: in Kuwait, we have the largest number of individual creators in one country,

compared to the rest of the region. And everyone is amazing, but people stay as individuals. They’ll collaborate, stay amicable, and then go back to being individuals. We need to come together more.”

And what better way to come together by having local talents under one roof? “I just want to have a place where you can walk into feeling proud – proud of local design and our culture, and that we’ve done it ourselves. ODA is a small step towards that, and I really hope it will be an effective one.”

ODA is located on the M2 level of Kipco Tower in Kuwait City, and is open from Saturday-Thursday, 10am-9pm. Follow them on Instagram @oda_kuwait.

Check out Hamad Al Saab’s individual works by visiting his website at www.hamadalsaab.com, and follow him on Instagram @hamad_alsaab.

Photography by Yousef Al Nasser, @Yousefcam on Instagram.

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WISHWASH

“You wish, we wash!”

By bazaar staff

Technology is such a wonderful thing that’s making our daily lives easier than ever. All you really need to do these days is to download an app onto your phone, tap on a few icons and commands, and you’re sorted: Sorted with food deliveries, transport, banking, shopping and even chores! Naturally, we jump at the opportunity to save on precious time and download all the apps available to us.

And as avid app users, one in particular stood out to us after we downloaded it – WishWash. A sleek and minimalist looking app, WishWash offers you a straightforward approach to selecting the service you require.

Not just a laundry service, WishWash gives you the option to request a laundry pickup or a home cleaning service! Because not everyone in Kuwait is entirely comfortable or willing to hire live-in help, WishWash provides you the opportunity to hire someone to come in for just a few hours to help you around the house! As for 38

your laundry, WishWash lets you request a pickup or drop off within a half-hour timeframe. So if you select 4PM, you can expect the pickup between 4 and 4:30. As for getting the order back, you can request to get it back in less than 24 hours for an expedited fee.

The best part here is that you can either select one of the services as a one-off, or make it easier on yourself and subscribe for a weekly or biweekly service. This way, you needn’t worry about forgetting to request the service, they’ll show up at your doorstep automatically at the same time! Here to make your life easier, WishWash lets you pick whether your clothes are to be dry-cleaned, washed and ironed, or simply just ironed – because we all know how much of a chore ironing is. As for payments, you can request to pay cash, K-Net, or you can save your credit card details [a-la-Careem] for ease of mind!

When it comes to how you want your laundry dealt with, WishWash have you covered. You can request that all your clothes are folded, certain items are folded, sans bleach, extra starch – whatever you want really! And as opposed to dealing with several laundry services, they deal with one that’s tried and tested. This way, they’re

able to control the quality and ensure flexibility when it comes to the services they offer. With email and text-based updates, you’ll always know what’s happening with the items you sent. They’re also working on new and exciting updates that we can’t wait for!

As for the home cleaning service that’ll be launching soon, you can expect hotel quality service in your own home! Training and selecting the cleaners carefully, WishWash aims to provide you the best quality available. The way it would work is simple: You just make a request for a certain number of cleaners to come in for a specified number of hours. Once your request has gone through, you can then sit back and relax, knowing that your home will be in good hands once they get there. And it doesn’t end there, stay tuned for WishWash’s new and exciting features!

Download WishWash today and let them worry about your household chores! WishWash is available on both the App Store and Google Play. For more information, you can visit their website www.wishwash.me, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat @WishWashApp and on Twitter @WishWash_App. Or give them a call on 5252 7200.

AUK

The American University of Kuwait received its Institutional Accreditation from the Private Universities Council (PUC) - Ministry of Higher Education in the State of Kuwait, and has a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with Dartmouth College (Hanover, New Hampshire - USA).

ADDRESSING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN A FAST MOVING DIGITAL ECONOMY

By Barry Rodrigues

We have seen how the world has transformed through the power of technology and businesses all over have either switched to the digital economy or are in the process of doing so. But the truth is, not every company gets it right. It isn’t just about creating an online website, an e-store, social media channels, CRM, ERP, YouTube and all that fancy stuff.

It is more about creating pathways for your customers to interact with your brand, it is about helping all your internal departments have all kinds of information they need, to provide quality products and services and at the end of the day, for your company to make a tidy profit.

Many companies face hurdles when they transition into a digital business. The most common issue they face is the speed of change and the transformation this requires. Only when they embark on the journey of digitization do companies realize that a successful end result largely depends on the ability to deploy complex sub-strategies simultaneously. Many companies may have one or two successful cases where they have deployed a single component of the digital ecosystem successfully, let’s say for example, a CRM or an online e-store, but most companies are still very silo-oriented and will find it extremely challenging to convert all their digitization goals into successes. The ultimate challenge is pulling all those initiatives and sub-strategies together into one integrated machine and becoming even more customer-centric.

You need two extremely important things to deliver rapid results that are tangible and cost effective. A focused plan and talent to execute it. Creating and setting the plan in motion are dependent on a two pronged approach. For one, a long term strategy of visualizing what the company should be like in ten or twenty years.

This should be coupled with a person or a group of talented and capable people who can realize this vision. In many cases, companies have the talent but they might be hidden somewhere and you need to find them and give them all the tools, including the trust and the confidence to get the job done. In order to build your talent, you may need to actively fill the gaps by looking for suitable people outside your company.

All that is a good start you might ask; but what is or are the main components to a 40

successful digital transformation strategy?

I can’t say this with all certainty but I can attempt to educate you with all humility and based on my limited experience, on what I think is a great way to start. Companies in the digital world need three things to engage with their customers digitally.

First, is access to data. Being data driven or data focused is a crucial and almost compulsory element to becoming successful in the digital economy. Companies need to constantly look into all kinds of data, be it within their CRM or e-CRM, social media platforms including social care and beyond. They need to properly understand customer behavior and other information about its customers. How can we learn more from customer interactions in order to serve them better?

Next, is a plan to convert all that data or information or insight that will help us design a strategy to effectively communicate with our customers. What should be our approach to our customers? Should we adopt an entirely content driven strategy or apply another approach. How should we create engagement with our customers so that they buy from us at the end of the day?

Finally, what is the delivery mechanism for this initiative? Should we communicate solely via social media and other digital outlets like PPC, programmatic advertising, landing pages and the like or should we consider using some form of traditional media? How can we create a

continuous improvement process to constantly and consistently serve our customers? What are the KPIs and how are we going to measure them?

The problem is that for the last five or six decades, most companies have strongly been product driven and for the new digital ecosystem to not only work but thrive, they need to switch to an end-to-end customer driven approach.

One key thing to get this done successfully is to have or create the talent and capability within your team. The team would have to successfully fill the gaps wherever applicable and ensure that these three phases of a company’s digital transformation journey overlap and integrate in a way that provides the company a scalable, flexible and cost effective way of managing its business internally. This journey would also have to give the company’s customers an easy, integrated, omni-channel approach to enjoying engagement with the brand in ways we haven’t seen the in past.

Barry Rodrigues is Head of Marketing & Product Development at Future Communications and an associate advisor with the International Advisors Group in Kuwait. He has worked for industry leaders like Agility and National Aviation Services in various marketing capacities in addition to delivering marketing projects for the banking, hospitality and petrochemical verticals.

For comments or questions, please email Barry barry@nexgenconsulting.co.uk.

destination meternity

WORKING WITH HUMANS: A SIMPLE GUIDE

Recommended track for this piece: Henry Saiz – “Not Last Words (Guy J Remix)”

By George Tarabay

“Dear Mr. Tarabay, Your more than welcome to visit us Sincerely, CEO of Blah-Blah” I know, I cringed too. Your and you’re: a real pandemic.

The email above is a simple sample or siample (a Siamese combination of the two words siampelese. Pun score 1000000? No? Ok) of why people make me anxious in general. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s amazing when people are able to communicate in a second language, it’s the ultimate manifestation of the brain re-wiring itself, but can you, at least, use Microsoft Word? I mean, YOU’RE the CEO for God’s sake and you should positively present a reflection of YOUR company in all of its aspects, including its communication.

With that small rant out of the way… Hey! I don’t like working with humans. And please do get me wrong on this one, people are just plain…Ugh! I am no exception: come on, who starts an article with a judgment then proceeds to de-merit it and still believe in it?

I have worked with many people and many horrible bosses, including my shrink (whom, for some reason, refuses to work with me now) and I have reached the following conclusion: Working with humans is inevitable, and arrives as a necessary evil for growth.

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Yes, I know, how can you not like people and grow with them? Simple: Observation is another powerful tool, when used correctly. If you are able to observe and accurately pin point what you do not like in people, then proceed to employ that observation to better yourself, then you, my friend would be a loser.

Because seriously, who builds their personality by contradicting other people’s personality attributes?

My point is that, if you employ that observation, only to notice that you’re a judgmental fruit cake, then your life would be much easier.

Sure, it is upsetting when your manager has the linguistic skills of a toddler, but who cares? Why should you care? Why should I care? Yet, we do care. Such attributes in people can throw us so off track that we lose sight of what we were supposed to accomplish with those people. It sends us through an amalgam of positive goals for the project at hand, mixed with an unjustified judgment towards the person we are collaborating with.

But at the end of the day ( 5 p.m. in business hours), we have to co-exist with these people, as we all hold information and talents in our capacity that we render in the form of services. Whoever claims that they need no one else to grow, has obviously never experienced growth in their life. Now, someone might argue and say: Hey George, I was a baby, and I grew up into an adult all by myself. To which I would so wittily answer: Yeah but who fed you? Who gave you the food? Who taught you?

Growth is a shared experience, it’s a give and take, it’s your success prevailing where others surrendered. It’s not all yours nor will it ever be.

Isolate yourself and your growth stops, work with others and you’ve got a 50-50 chance.

So, we need one another. No, actually, we have to need one another. Otherwise, Trump. And even though most of the time, you have fantasies about correcting your boss’s grammar, or telling that lady in the meeting that she is practically screaming out her presentation, or telling your co-worker that no he may not have a small bite of your burger. It is very important to simply relax, smile, and enjoy the fantasy while it lasts. You never know who is having their own corrective fantasy about you and for what reason.

Here I am signing off, knowing for a fact that Yasmine from the bazaar team cringed while editing this piece, and fantasized about smashing my head through her screen. Still, the people at bazaar including her, always greet me with a smile.

George Tarabay is a local radio host, comedian, and marketing expert. For his latest updates, follow him on Instagram @GeorgeTarabay. For the video ‘Working With Humans: A Simple Guide’ visit Facebook.com/Georgethecomic or scan this page using the Layar App!

reebok

FABRICE ON BACK TO ROOTS AND KUWAIT'S MUSIC SCENE By bazaar staff

“My mentor, David Robinson, is the type of person who really knows music.

When he talks about music, you want to listen.” Says Fabrice, the locally acclaimed French-Caribbean performer, teacher and musical producer. He lounges back on our comfortable couch as he strums his guitar thoughtfully, “I feel that when a lot of people talk about music, they just… talk, but they don’t really know what it is that they’re saying, and they’re talking for all the wrong reasons. I think music isn’t all talk – it’s doing.”

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As Fabrice continues to wax personal philosophy on music, we find ourselves engrossed. Maybe it’s his French charm, or his fascinating life with music. We believe that it’s the vehemence with which he discusses his theories on what it means to be a professional musician and the road he traveled to produce his latest album, Back to Roots.

Fabrice hails from Montpellier, France and initially came to Kuwait four years ago to teach French literature. During that time, he held his passion for music as a constant practice in his life, and continued to pursue it despite his dayto-day teaching career. “It’s funny because my mother is a singer and my father is a teacher, so I really ended up pursuing both professions in my life.” And with an undergraduate education in Audio Engineering and a Masters degree in French Literature, this is evident. “I spend my life focusing on both: there are times where I’m strictly a musician, and times where I give teaching my full attention.” However, with several albums under his belt, not to mention a resume that boasts worldwide performances around Kuwait, Qatar, Chile, France and Abu Dhabi, it’s clear that a huge part of the musician’s life revolves around making music.

The inspiration for his latest album is even sourced from one performance. “I was visiting home last year and called up one of my old friends – a real jazz man named Franc,” he says with a smile. “Franc persuaded me to play this show with him on the beach in Montpellier and I agreed.

First off, I was blown away – I hadn’t performed in my hometown for over 5 years – and secondly, the amount of familiar faces was overwhelming. After that show, I called and reconnected with all those people and decided to collaborate with them to create something special.” And that something special was Back to Roots.

Just like its name and backstory imply, Back to Roots is Fabrice’s way of paying homage to the early days of his musical discoveries. A “never forget where you came from” of sorts, the ten tracks feature collaborations with people in his life in both continents, and the overall style of the album emulates the jazzy meets roots-reggae genre of his music. “Back to Roots is a play on words,” he explains – “I had to travel back to my roots to create this album, and the reggae aspect ties in as well with the roots-reggae subgenre.”

Roots reggae has always been a part of Fabrice’s life as well, as his Caribbean background meant that he had grown up with reggae music always playing in his house, including the works of Bob Marley and the Roots, as well as the rest of the Marley clan’s music – from Ziggy to Damian. But his favorite Marley of all time is Stephan Marley.

“In my opinion, Stephan Marley is the most underrated and most talented musician in the entire family. Each of his family members’ albums have at least one track credited to his production skills,” he says of the producer.

Although Fabrice has a great deal of respect

towards Stephan Marley and credits him as a surefire influence, he has an even greater influence he always looked up to. “It was always Prince.” He says with confidence. “I’ve always loved Prince, and to me, Prince was the one who could do it all – his sound is superior, and he was the first musician to pioneer technology like drum machines into his music.” As he continues to rave about the late singer, his eyes light up “Prince did everything on his own. He self produced and played multiple instruments!” He adds with enthusiasm. Though their styles seem different, Fabrice shares a lot of common ground with Prince. He too, self produced all of his released albums, and plays multiple instruments. Having started out with the bass guitar, the musician eventually picked up keyboard, percussion and of course, the guitar he kept strumming throughout our interview.

As a producer, Fabrice is a perfectionist with a very high standard for quality and professionalism, and when he finds the opportunity to help others, he needs them to know that it’s important for them to help themselves first. “To me, a real professional is someone who is dedicated,” he starts off “and someone who isn’t in music for the purpose of being seen. In today’s world with social media, it seems like people are obsessed with the idea of being seen! Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but in order to be seen, you have to have something to show.”

Though he’s difficult to tie down and get on board for producing external projects by other musicians, he is willing – but only if he feels the fit is right and the chemistry is there. Fabrice

produced Amin Fari’s last album in 2016, and has worked with artists like Carol “Coco” Souki and Balqis Duvall. “To me, those artists are professional – and I’m a big fan of Amin Fari: I like the way he approaches music, and how he handles himself. He’s talented, professional, and I like his look – that’s exactly why it’s always a pleasure to work with him.”

As for his next album, we can expect one from him in the near future. When Fabrice decides to make an album, it’s a whirlwind that happens within months, stemming from days of dedication, locked inside his studio. “All I need is 15 days to eat, sleep and breathe music. It doesn’t matter. I can be sound asleep, wake up at 1am and rush to the studio in my house to work on something if I have an idea.” After that period, he takes things a little slower, between collaborating and mixing. “I’m going to wait till summer when I have a bit of time off” he smiles diplomatically, honoring his teaching profession. But we all know what he’s thinking: come summertime, when school is out of session, the musical mastermind will be at work, self-producing yet another album to add to his repertoire.

Back to Roots is available for purchase iTunes and Spotify. Listen to the album on bandcamp: fabrice.bandcamp.com/album/back-to-roots.

Visit Fabrice’s website at www.fa7production.fr and follow him on Facebook @fa7production and on Instagram @fabriceroots.

Photography by Yousef Al Nasser, Instagram @yousefcam.

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BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE

By Dr Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg

Years ago, while working with a client struggling with a specific issue, I suggested that she suspend disbelief, and simply try what I was encouraging her to do in an effort bring about a resolution in her situation.

“Suspend disbelief?” she snorted. “How does one do that?”

Actually, we all ‘suspend disbelief’ when we watch the Marvel or DC comics hero movies.

Instead of falling about laughing and pointing out all the impossible stuff happening on the screen, we willingly fall into a world where humans fly and men become giant green purveyors of destruction. We suspend disbelief when we fall into the fantasy world of any good fiction series.

We have suspended disbelief when we enjoy a spirited discussion about the merits of the House of Gryffendor as opposed to the House of Hufflepuff. These places (Hogwarts) don’t exist, and to have discussion about them is to ‘believe the unbelievable.’

I would suggest that this behavior also happens in other situations. We suspend disbelief when we engage in fantastical thinking about life.

That man who has been disrespectful, abusive, violent, or unfaithful in the past will be something different today …and maybe if not today, then at some undisclosed future point will miraculously become a viable, worthwhile partner. Or, that friend that has demonstrated over and over again that she is only User Friendly... if you are usable in some way, she’s friendly. As soon as you need something from her – company, emotional support, a ride to the airport – she’s busy, unavailable, or even rude. We suspend disbelief when we completely ignore what’s observable or experiential, and continue to act as if the fantasy we’ve concocted in our heads is actually reality.

On some deeply felt gut level we understand what we’re doing but we do it anyway because we aren’t prepared to accept what is.

‘Suspending’ anything means to put it into limbo. To put that thing on hold; cease operation; temporarily disable. To hang a thing. So back to my client – I asked her to suspend disbelief; to put on hold that core belief of inadequacy and “… believe the unbelievable.”

I suggested she "act this week like you’re priceless. Unique. Irreplaceable. Your worth is incalculable, as it is for every other individual on this planet. Act as if you have the brains, the strength, the smarts, the wisdom, and the resources to meet this week’s challenges. Act as if you are not diminished standing next to anyone else. Act as if your voice has the same weight as everyone else in the room, and exactly the same weight as the person who is mistreating you. Act as if you matter in your own life. Walk with your 46

head high. Respond to what people actually say, and actually do, rather than to the fantasy script in your head.”

For a week.

Here’s my deal: I think we have trouble because we make Others’ behavior about us.

That guy who is disrespectful, rude, and abusive?

That friend who isn’t really a friend? On some deep level we believe one of two things – we have done/are doing something that justifies the outrageous behavior, or we believe at a core level that we don’t deserve any better. These two scenarios play out over and over in my office in the context of any relationship in which my client is treated as less than, or worse, is being abused.

Partners, family, friends, bosses… it doesn’t matter the actual relationship context.

We make life difficult when we have a core belief that says we aren’t worthy of respect, kindness, compassion, grace, honor… (insert anything good here), and we compound that error by personalizing the behavior of others. Research data says that very rarely is an individual actually targeting others by their behavior. I regularly tell

clients, “Before you decide that Joe/Jane Doe was deliberately being nasty/rude/ignorant/ cranky/uncooperative [insert negative of choice] to you, think about other reasons for his/her behavior. Maybe her shoes are too tight. His tie is choking him. She had a fight with her husband this morning. He got a reprimand from his boss today. S/He did not get out of bed this morning thinking, ‘How can I ruin So-and-So’s day.’ It’s not about you, so don’t make it that way.”

Could you do it? Could you act as if you matter in your own life? Could you ruthlessly disconnect the actions/words of others from your sense of Self? Make the behavior of others about them and not about you?

Suspend disbelief and believe the unbelievable.

For a week.

You might be very surprised at the outcome.

P.S. I am sorted Ravenclaw. You? Dr Susannah is a leading psychologist, registered professional counsellor and Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling based in Canada. Follow @DrSusannah on Twitter and Instagram.

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THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST FOR DIGITALLY UPGRADING YOUR RESUME

By Lillian Childress

We all want a resume that will jump out of the pile into the hands of HR managers. But how do you craft a resume that is tasteful yet aesthetic, impressive, yet not braggy? First and foremost, you need to ditch the conventions of the paper-based version. And that doesn't just mean loading up on keywords that a company's screening software will latch onto, either. It's about turning your resume into a sleek, interactive, and thoroughly digital resource.

Best of all, you don't need to be a web developer to do that. More and more websites are rolling out online tools for resume creation and formatting, from Google Docs to Etsy. Check out Glassdoor’s list of five of the best online resume tools available right now.

Then use this checklist to make sure you're including the features (some familiar, others not) that will take your upgraded resume to the next level.

1. KEEP IT SIMPLE Don’t confuse your reader with excessive design details, complicated jargon, or a muddled structure.

Focus on the significant and relevant information instead. "Accomplishments are important, but list no more than five under each position," suggests Nicole Cox, a chief recruitment officer at recruiting firm Decision Toolbox. "In general, you’ll want to choose the most significant accomplishments, but also ensure they are relevant to the opening."

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2. INCLUDE SOFT SKILLS Let your future employer visualize your place in the office by including a robust description of your soft skills. Include traits like leadership, teamwork, communication, and creativity to emphasize your well-roundedness.

3. LET IT RUN LONG Surprisingly, a longer resume may work to your advantage by giving your accomplishments context, showing a glimpse of your personality, and making your stories more robust. Building in relevant anecdotes gives your resume a more personal flavor than just the facts. You're more likely to grab a hiring manager’s attention through stories crafted to resonate with their needs, even if that means going over the one-page "limit."

4. ADD THE RIGHT KEYWORDS Whether it’s an HR recruiter scanning your resume, or an applicant tracking system automatically passing through, you want to put relevant keywords on the page that signal your industry expertise.

Anish Majumdar, CEO of ResumeOrbit.com and regular Glassdoor contributor, suggests to "take a close look at the ‘Skills and Endorsements’ section of the most visible people in your niche—this is the ‘secret sauce’ of great keywords. Jot down all of the ones you possess and include them within a ‘Core Competencies’ section of the resume."

5. SHOWCASE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND Use snappy adjectives to create a sharp sentence that sums up your personal brand.

For example, for a senior marketing executive role, Majumdar suggests writing something like, "Luxury Retail Marketing expert who can deploy cutting-edge strategies to generate awareness, double-digit profitability gains, and crosschannel cohesion."

6. MAKE IT CLICKABLE Now that resumes are generally sent along electronically, focus on making yours interactive and easily clickable. Especially focus on including creative work, such as published articles or an online portfolio.

7. TAILOR IT TO YOUR INTENDED AUDIENCE Identify the needs of the company you're applying to by researching the organization, its values, and its history beforehand. Then focus on the relevant details, and tailor your skill set to the specific job you’re applying for.

Using a digital template makes customization easy. For example, if you know the company puts customer service as a core value, just edit your resume to emphasize your customer service experience and skills your resume (within reason, of course—don’t stretch it too far).

8. MAKE SURE IT'S MOBILE-READY Making your resume easier to read for the hiring manager will give you a boost in the application process, regardless of whether or not it’s required. So when you're choosing a template, test your resume on multiple devices before finally sending it out. If it doesn't look great on mobile, don't hit "send."

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CHEF DEAN BRETTSCHNEIDER

Expect more incredible baking demos at the 2017 Taste of Q8!

By bazaar staff

Are you as excited as we are for the Taste of Q8? As time edges closer, we’re prepping ourselves for all the fun that’s to come in the three-day long event. One of our favorite features in this food-filled weekend is the live cooking demos held by globally renowned chefs and culinary masterminds!

There’s nothing like watching an expert at work, inspiring you to go and create something brilliant of your own! That’s why we’re kicking off our preTaste of Q8 mood with a Q&A with star global baker, Dean Brettschneider. Known for his internationally acclaimed baking skills, and not to mention his delicious Singapore and Manila based eatery Baker & Cook, Chef Dean returns to the Taste of Q8 for a second year in a row! Sponsored by Costa Coffee, Chef Dean will regale us with baking do’s, don’ts and everything in between.

What is your favorite thing about baking?

It has to be the magic of combining simple ingredients together (flour, salt, yeast, water, eggs, sugar, butter) to create amazing breads, cakes and pastries. It's what I call the magic of baking!

Do you find that baking is more challenging than other aspects of the culinary arts?

Yes, I do. Baking is an art and science when it comes to combining ingredients and processes together. With baking, it's not until several hours later that you get to see your results, and often, not till the next day. It gives more significance to weighing, mixing and processing.

What is your favorite signature baked good made by someone outside of your concepts?

Now that's a hard question! I do love the simplicity of the Far Breton: a traditional cake or dessert from the Brittany region in France. Its base is similar in composition to a clafoutis batter, which is flan-style eggs-and-milk custard with flour added. Prunes or raisins are common additions. It’s super simple and should be enjoyed with your eyes closed so you can let your taste buds experience with all their senses.

What is your favorite thing to bake?

At work: when I get a chance, I love making sourdough breads. It's an amazing experience, working with natural wild yeast and how you control it to give you an amazing crust, crumb & complete flavors. At home: I love making a simple gingerbread loaf using grated stem ginger. I can't wait for it to cool and then spread a thick layer of salted butter on it.

Do you find that people’s baked indulgences differ globally? (Based on your experiences).

Yes, I do. For example, sweetness levels in one country differs from sweetness levels in another country, so the challenge is to identify which level is 50

right for the market and then deliver a product that maintains its originality and integrity. Having said that, one global indulgence that doesn't change is the love of chocolate!

What is your number one rule when it comes to baking?

That's easy but it's not often adhered to: read the recipes not one, but two or three times before starting to bake. Many mistakes bakers and home bakers often make is they don't follow the instructions, or prepare ahead of time (as in many cases with baking).

Which baking tool could you not live without?

A good set of digital scales. Without accurate weighing, problems will happen.

How do you feel about being back at the Taste of Q8, and what attracted you towards Kuwait’s culinary scene?

I love being back, and it's an exciting time to be involved with the Taste of Q8. The Kuwait food scene is beginning to explode, not only with international influences but more so with the exciting local cooks and chefs that are bringing local flavors and foods into the limelight. I can't wait to see more innovative

Middle Eastern foods influencing other food cultures.

From a baking point of view, my style of New World Baking is all about bringing the very best of global baking to the region. Old World French style baking is being replaced by the more innovative flavors and textures from around the world.

For more information on Chef Dean Brettschneider, visit www.globalbaker.com, or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @GlobalBaker.

Attendance for this year's Taste of Q8 is FREE, so mark your calendars for the 16-18 of March! For more information or to book your restaurant space at the event, email the organizers at info@Q8Productions.com and visit www.TheTasteofQ8.com. Follow them on Instagram @TheTasteofQ8.

wish wash

PANTRYBEE

Home cooking, made easy!

By bazaar staff

Fawaz Al Sultan

With the myriad of food deliveryoriented services available in Kuwait, we’ve become extremely used to swiftly swiping our smartphones for our next meal, to a point where the joys of cooking are now lost on many of us. Yes, we can agree that we are all busy, and yes, ordering-in is usually always easier, but is it more fun?

Do you actually know what’s going into your delivered meals? Even more important is the following question: When was the last time you cooked something really exciting for yourself or your loved ones?

Enter PantryBee, the brainchild of a group of Kuwaiti entrepreneurs looking to spread the joys of cooking to every home in Kuwait.

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Hind Al-Awadi

Cofounded by Yousef Al Munayes, Hind AlAwadi, and Fawaz Al Sultan, PantryBee’s mission, akin to the worker bee’s ethic, is to consistently fill your pantry with fresh, wholesome and delicious ingredients that are easily prepared into exciting and fun meals. The Cofounders all share a passion for food, and while the idea isn’t novel, as similar concepts do exist abroad, they believe that PantryBee will help change peoples’ perceptions about cooking in Kuwait and vastly increase the quality of meals that people have at home.

PantryBee aims to eliminate all of the negatives associated with home-cooking and encourages diners in Kuwait to embrace the process. There is no more schlepping to different supermarkets to procure all of the necessary ingredients to make a given dish, no more searching online for a recipe that’s easy and quick, and most

Yousef Al Munayes

importantly no more waste! You don’t need to worry about spoiled, unused ingredients sitting in your pantry or fridge, as every ingredient placed in a PantryBee box is perfectly portioned for 2 people, and you can easily double up or triple up for a family of 4-6 members. Their BusyBee boxes are also designed for those who want convenience, customers can get all the weeks meals at once, discounted to pop in the fridge and cook whenever they want!

The way that PantryBee works is super easy, start your experience by visiting their awesome website, www.pantrybee.com, and pick your meals that are already developed by the expert culinary team. Here, you get to choose from new weekly recipes that showcase different cuisines and techniques. Their dishes are never boring and weekly, you will find at least one vegetarian dish, one dessert, and 2 other dishes from around the

2. Read the recipe cards before you start cooking.

3. Start cooking your delivered ingredients.

1. Get your PantryBee box by ordering online.

4. Your meal is ready in less than an hour. Sahtain!

world on offer, everything from Katsu, to tacos, to cheesecake and cookies. This way, you get to try cooking something new and different every week to expand your culinary palate even further.

PantryBee also throws in its own proprietary glazes and spice mixes to step up the flavor of each dish.

Once you’ve chosen what you want to cook, you place your order online and your PantryBee will be delivered within 24 hours of purchase.

Once you receive your box, filled to the brim with delectable ingredients, all you have to do is cook your meal by following the user-friendly recipe cards (available in English and in Arabic) they even include images to guide you through every step, right up to plating. So if you have never cooked in your life, or consider yourself somewhat of an amateur cook, there will always be a PantryBee recipe that’s appropriate for you as they offer meals for every skill level. The best

part? Your exciting and new dish is ready to go in under sixty minutes!

If you’re worried about the quality of the ingredients delivered to your doorstep, we actually paid a visit to PantryBee’s HQ, which is housed inside the main HAACP certified operating kitchens of Kuwait’s own Dan Foods company to check out how the ingredients are sourced. We put on the required hairnets, and toured the premises to observe the enchanting array of produce, sauces, and meats. The good people at PantryBee also informed us that every ingredient is custom sourced for each order, ensuring the best quality and freshness every time you order your PantryBee box.

This year, PantryBee has upped their game by launching the PantryBee online shop to make cooking even easier. Every kitchen needs its basics, so the team have curated a selection of

kitchen utensils and pantry items that they believe every home should have, all with good value and staying power, so now if you are missing any utensil for a recipe you can click and purchase online at pantrybee.com.

PantryBee is also collaborating with local chefs to create specialty BigBee boxes that includes four servings instead of the usual offering of two servings. They teamed up with the awesome Mimi of the Secret Garden and Shakshooka to launch a Korean BBQ box that brings the magical flavors of Korea to your home, and even had a cooking class launch event at Raw Sushi. We can't wait for more PantryBee surprises to come!

Get your PantryBee box delivered to your door by heading to www.pantrybee.com, and get their latest updates by following @PantryBee on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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LITERARY LADIES: RAWA MAJDI AND AJ SALEH

By Nejoud Al-Yagout

Poetry waltzes through our veins; basking in our essence and penetrating our core, leaving us breathless, panting for more (and more). And lately, the scene in Kuwait is booming with poets.

It is not that there are more poets, but more forums for bards to express themselves. Kuwait Poets Society is one such platform, and their movement is taking Kuwait by storm. This month, I got to interview the two co-founders of KPS: Rawa Majdi and AJ Saleh.

All manifestations are born of epiphanies. Tell us about the birth of Kuwait Poets Society.

The idea for KPS formed on January 11th, 2016.

We wanted to create a space for poets to meet and get to know one another, and - especially share and receive feedback on their current poems-in-progress.

Rawa tweeted out a call, and we received around 10 interested poets. A WhatsApp group was made, and we decided to meet for the first time at Shaheed Park on January 30th. It’s been a lot of growth and love since then!

Recently you hosted Voices & Verses, which 54

was a profound success - and an event you are hoping to host on a monthly basis. Is anyone welcome to perform at your Open Mic events or do they have to be a member of your society?

Everyone is welcome! Voices & Verses is meant to be a cozy and comfortable place for first-time performers – who we like to call ‘baby poets’ to test out their performance skills and build an audience. Some of the performers are our own poets, while some are poets who are not KPS members. And, of course, we have musicians doing their thing too. The application is open to all and we consider every single one that comes through.

Speaking of membership, what is your screening method?

Membership applications open and close every few months, and we often invite regular guests to our monthly meetings to become members.

KPS was formed on the basis of one rule: No hate. That is the most significant thing we look for in potential members. It’s important that members do not hold hate for others, or any racism, sexism, hate against religions, or hate against LGBT people. KPS must remain a safe space for all, as sharing poetry is a sensitive thing.

Robert Frost states that "[p]oetry is when an

emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words." Such a simple statement, yet eloquently brimming with precision and truth.

What does poetry signify to you?

Rawa: Frost put it perfectly. For me, poetry is finally finding the language to express a feeling, a sound, a taste, a memory, something that has followed me everywhere I go. When I am finally able to put it into words, it’s as though the ‘book’ of that snippet of something has closed, and I can put it to rest.

AJ: Poetry is all about connection to me. It's about feeling something, and then reaching out to others in hopes that they feel it too. It's about knowing that you are not - and never will be - alone in this world.

And finally, both of you are talented poets. Any plans to publish your work?

Rawa: It’s definitely in my plans to put together a collection of my work this year!

AJ: I have yet to venture into poetry meant for the page, but I’d definitely like to try it sometime. For now, stages will do.

You can follow Rawa Majdi and AJ Saleh on Instagram @rawamajdi and @aj_saleh. For more information regarding Kuwait Poets Society, follow @kwpoetssociety.

toyota camry

geeks & gamers

THE LAST GUARDIAN By bazaar staff

‘’TRICO!’’ ‘’EE-EDIO!’’ ‘’TURICURRRRRRRRR’’!

These strange phrases will make sense when you play this game, and you should get used to hearing them a lot during your time with it, often accompanied with frustration. I guess this isn’t the best way to start a review for what is an amazing game, but nothing is perfect and that definitely also applies to The Last Guardian.

It’s hard to believe that I’m writing about a game that should have been out for the PS3, has been delayed numerous times, and at one point was even almost canceled. But here we are, in 2017, finally playing the 3rd installment from Team Ico, following Ico (2001) and Shadow of the Colossus (2005). You control an unnamed young boy who, in the beginning, wakes up in an unknown place with strange tattoo-like marks all over his body, next to a giant half-bird-halfmammal creature named Trico, who he later befriends.

Designed and directed by Fumito Ueda, the visuals have a vibrant anime feel and the character/level design is beautiful. I can’t imagine the game looking so good had it been on PS3 as originally planned, so I’m happy to see it on PS4, even at the expense of a 10 year delay! Aside from the visuals, the story, while simple enough, is super engaging and you get sucked into the mystery of who the boy is, why 56

he’s there and where he’s going. Along with that there is a narrator that appears at key points during the game. He speaks only in Japanese while English subtitles appear, but this narrator helps to give the game a real story feel, he also appears as if to hint at what you should do next, if you’ve been stood still for a while or not made the required progress.

The sound, especially through external speakers, is beautiful. From the roaring of Trico to the shouts and commands of the young boy, the audio truly helps to immerse you in this adventure. It’s mostly a quiet game, while you navigate areas, solve puzzles and platform around, so when you experience a more action filled moment it’s audibly more noticeable.

Let’s talk about Trico, the half cat or half dog, half dragon, or whatever you see him as.

Provided you become invested in the game, you will get extremely attached to Trico, as if he were a beloved pet. You just cannot be angry at him, no matter how many times he doesn’t do what you want (which is a lot). Very early on in the game, you begin to command Trico and this is where most of the flaws lay. He’s extremely random in what he should do/wants to do/will do. At the start it isn’t too bad, because all you can do is call him and when you do, he usually follows you. Later on however, you can issue more advanced commands that aren’t really explained well in game, but essentially you can make him leap to a new area, jump on the spot, walk in a direction you chose, and sit

down/dive. It isn’t seamless when you put it into practice and you find yourself just mashing buttons, WISHING for him to do anything at all.

There was one area that brings on a migraine just to recall it. You’re supposed to command him to dive deep under water to pass through a tunnel while you grab onto him. It should be as simple as pressing a button and letting him respond. It took my wife and I half an hour of button pressing before he did what he was supposed to. After a quick Internet search, I found out that most people had this issue, especially in that area. I rarely rage quit a game, but we very nearly ended up with a PS4 controller shaped hole in our TV that day.

On a similar note, the controls can be a little clunky, or sticky, and the camera can also cause issues, especially on life or death jumps.

You kind of get used to it the more you play but it always remains, it also doesn’t help that the jump button is triangle, rather than X. That never feels right!

Overall though, you get used to the controls somehow. And Trico’s stupidity, as frustrating as it can be, is always forgiven because he is just that adorable. If you are a fan of platforming, puzzles, or adventure games in any way, you can’t go wrong with this one. The game lasts a decent amount of time and does offer some degree of replayability thanks to collectibles and trophies.

Hopefully in a future patch, the small issues can be solved, but despite those faults, this is one of the must own titles for the PS4.

ODA

bazaar goes cruising

THE NEW PORSCHE PANAMERA

A comprehensively enhanced Panamera concept, now available in Kuwait

By bazaar staff

Imagine this: The best of two worlds in one spectacular Porsche offering. A super sleek sports car and a luxurious saloon beautifully coming together in the form of the new Porsche Panamera. Yes, the dream is a true reality, as the new Panamera launch phase has officially begun in Kuwait!

In unveiling two all-wheel drive versions at a special event at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company marked the remarkable introduction of the new generation Panameras—the Panamera 4S and Turbo.

In its second generation, the Panamera has been redeveloped down to every last detail. Modifications to the engine, transmission, chassis and overall design concept, make it a performance icon in the luxury class. The new model further extends the boundaries between an ambitious sports car and a comfortable cruising car with technical highlights such as rear axle steering, electromechanical roll stabilization and a three-chamber air suspension.

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Meanwhile, inside a completely new display and control concept greets the driver and passengers upon entry. In many areas, touch-sensitive surfaces replace classic hard keys, and high-resolution displays merge into the interior. The digitalization of the Porsche interior, which began with the 918 Spyder, is now available in the Stuttgart-based manufacturer’s four-door saloon.

Speaking at the launch event, Roger Kyriacou, General Manager of Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company said: “In the new Panamera, our customers and enthusiasts will experience a fundamentally redesigned car with new turbo engines, sharper exterior design, intuitive interior features and innovative technologies. All models launched here today are more powerful than previous versions, whilst also significantly improving fuel economy and reducing emissions.”

New engines and transmission All Panamera engines have been redesigned to produce more power, whilst significantly improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. Two new twin-

turbo engines have been introduced, combined with the brand’s first eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission. The eight-speed PDK enables an even better gear ratio spread alongside a reduction in fuel consumption, because the seventh and eighth gears are designed as engine speed-reducing overdrive gears, with all models reaching their top speed in sixth gear. The Panamera 4S and Turbo apply their power to the road via Porsche Traction Management (PTM) – a permanent, fully variable all-wheel drive system. Tuned to the specific driving situation, PTM sensors continually monitor wheel speeds and perfect performance on dry roads as well as in wet conditions.

New design philosophy At first glance, the unique concept and performance credentials of the four-door sports car are reflected in a new design which creates a stylistic link to Porsche’s design icon, the 911. Recognizable sports car aesthetics which make up the typical Porsche flyline in the new Panamera, includes various features such as pronounced shoulders, athletic

flanks and an extremely fast roof line that is 20 mm lower at the rear. LED headlights and larger wheels also add to a sporty look.

The sharpened exterior includes a completely new front-end design, with a crossbar in the radiator grille emphasizing the car’s width and an arrowshaped bonnet that features a prominently contoured power dome.

The rear of the vehicle now further highlights the Panamera’s four-door coupé credentials, distinguishing it from a conventional saloon.

Features, such as the three-dimensional LED rear lights that include integrated four-point brake lights, interconnected by a narrow LED strip, result in a distinctive night design.

Refined chassis In keeping with the overall concept of the Panamera, the chassis unites the cruising comfort of a luxury saloon with the performance of a true sports car.

This is achieved by supplementing the basic layout with innovative systems such as an adaptive air suspension with new three-chamber technology and Porsche Active Suspension Management (electronic damper control), the further enhanced Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport system including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, as well as a new electromechanical steering system. The integrated 4D Chassis Control system analyses and synchronizes all chassis systems in real time for even better handling.

Behind the steering wheel The luxury saloon drive experience is taken to a new level, through the functionality and easy interaction of the new Porsche Advanced Cockpit. Its intuitive user interface, makes operation of the communication, convenience and assistance systems easier than ever. The 12.3-inch display touchscreen marks the next stage of development for the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. For the benefit of the driver, front and rear passengers, classic hard keys and conventional instruments have been significantly reduced. Instead they have been replaced with touch-sensitive panels and individually configurable displays.

Panamera 4S The 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo engine of the Panamera 4S is a completely new development, which produces 440 hp, available at 5,650 rpm and represents a 20 hp increase from the previous model. Reaching 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds (4.2 seconds with the Sport Chrono Package), the Panamera 4S has a top speed of 289 km/h. A NEDC combined fuel consumption of 8.2 – 8.1 l/100 km (186 – 184 g/ km CO2) means that the new Panamera 4S offers a fuel saving of up to 1.0 l/100 km or 11 per cent in comparison to the first generation model.

Panamera Turbo With its powerful petrol engine, the Panamera Turbo’s new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 develops 550 hp at 5,750 rpm, with a maximum torque of 770 Nm between

1,960 and 4,500 rpm. It has 30 hp more than its predecessor as well as a torque increase of 70 Nm. The new Panamera Turbo accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, whilst with the Sport Chrono Package the sprint time is down to 3.6 seconds. The new turbo model features a top speed of 306 km/h and a power-to-weight ratio of just 3.6 kg/hp. A lower combined fuel consumption of 9.4 – 9.3 l/100 km, is up to 1.1 l/100 km less than that of the previous model (NEDC), therefore equating to CO2 emissions of 214 – 212 g/km.

Engine response can be further increased using the standard Mode Switch with the Sport Response Button. The Mode Switch, which was first introduced in the Porsche 918 Spyder, is an intuitively operated rotary ring on the steering wheel, which can be used to activate one of four driving modes (Normal, Sport, Sport Plus or Individual). Located at the centre of the switch is the Sport Response Button. It can be used to free up the maximum power potential of the Panamera at the press of a button.

Presenting a harmonious balance between sporty performance, comfort and luxury, the new

Panamera has been developed for sports car drivers who appreciate four doors and four seats. Achieving a new lap record of 7 minutes 38 seconds on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit and a unique design concept that replicates the brand’s iconic 911, the revamped model is a truly attractive offering in its segment.

With a range of derivatives set to be launched throughout the year, the new Panamera 4S and Turbo are available now at Porsche Centre Kuwait.

The Panamera 4S retails for KWD 39,900 and the Panamera Turbo retails for KWD 56,100.

For more information about Porsche in Kuwait, visit Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company.

Call 1870 870 or visit www.porschekuwait.com. For the latest updates on social media, follow Porsche Centre Kuwait on Instagram @PorscheCentreKuwait and Facebook: PorscheCentreKuwait.

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MAGICAL NIGHTS AT CHOCOLATE CUISINE Dessert, with a side of entertainment, at Arabella

By bazaar staff

While we already think that Chocolate Cuisine is quite the magical destination for all things dessert, we recently learned that you can inject some excitement, and literally magic, into your experience at their majestic Arabella location every Monday night.

We absolutely love Chocolate Cuisine’s Arabella location. With bespoke marble features, and a glorious outdoor seating area, it becomes harder to resist the temptation of indulging in their chocolate delicacies—if anything, Chocolate Cuisine invites you to do just that.

Every imaginative choco-inspired dish at Chocolate Cuisine will make you think of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. With almost 35 dessert offerings on their internationally-themed menu, you can try an inventive chocolate dessert with every visit. Better yet, make it a group outing, celebrate all things chocolate and order many dishes to share! From cakes, brownies, crepes, to chocolateonly creations, you will be spoilt for choice here even if you’re not a chocolate fan.

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As far as savory options are concerned, wet your appetites with their signature Crispy Salad.

Prepared with a tangy special dressing, you will love the mix of crunchy greens with crispy fried potatoes, sweet potatoes and beetroot chips. Rest assured however, that you have many other savory delicacies to choose from before you approach the main event: Dessert! For dessert, we recommend that you try the restauran’t famous Cuisine Golden Daze. The name alone speaks miles of what customers should expect! Expertly tempered chocolate is constructed in the shape of a dome, covered in gold, and is then drizzled with warm chocolate sauce that melts the dome to reveal its delectable contents. This dessert is a pleasure to both witness and consume. Once melted, you can dive into a medley of delicious vanilla sponge cake, strawberries and banana.

Speaking of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, gooey cake fondants, sweet sushi offerings, and plenty of lotus-filled experiences, the good people at Chocolate Cuisine want you to pencil in a visit to Arabella on Mondays. Starting promptly at 7 p.m., your mind, as well as your taste buds, will

be equally entertained by the magical illusions of Imagine Group.

Founded by Abdullatif Al-Saleh, Ayed Abdullah, Khalid Al-Muharib and others, Imagine Group transform the ambience at Chocolate Cuisine to a truly magical place. While many people think of illusion shows as a somewhat serious experience, Imagine group aims to dispel this myth, and present fun sleight of hand tricks and illusions in a rather comical and entertaining manner. An experience fit for the entire family, Imagine Group aims to deliver its acts with a local touch to ensure that Chocolate Cuisine’s customers are always entertained.

So why not place an order of your favorite sweet, and savory delicacies from Chocolate Cuisine, and let the professionals truly entertain you?

Chocolate Cuisine is located in Hawalli’s E-mall, as well as Arabella in Al Bida’a. For more information, please call 9009 6007 and follow them on Instagram @ChocolateCuisine. Chocolate Cuisine’s ‘magic nights’ take place every Monday, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

fantasy world

HERE’S HOW TO STAY SAFE ON PUBLIC WI-FI

By Sean Captain

Whether you are here in Kuwait, or went to Dubai for an extended shopping weekend, or…well, anywhere really.

Consider these do’s and don’t’s when using public wifi to maximize your safety.

DO THIS Here are the steps you can take from minimum to maximum protection: 1. Turn off automatic connectivity Computers try to be handy by automatically logging into Wi-Fi networks you have used before. Turn this capability off and instead connect manually each time. YouTube is full of tutorials for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. 2. Connect to the right network Just because it says "*COMPANY NAME* Wi-Fi," doesn't mean it is. Hackers can set up spoof hotspots to scarf up your data and access your system. Check with the barista or the signage for the right network name—including the right spelling.

3. Look for https sites Almost every reputable website uses an encrypted connection, with an address beginning with "https" (instead of just http), and web browsers typically flag an address that doesn't use this encryption.

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4. Connect to networks with passwords Even something like "wifi123," written on the café chalkboard is better than nothing, as it's used to create an encrypted connection between your computer (or phone or tablet) and the hotspot.

5. Use a virtual private network (VPN) The gold standard of safety is a vir tual private network that encr ypts the connection from your device all the way to ser vers operated by the VPN ser vice provider. Few VPNs are free. They typically cost up to $10 (KD 3) per month, although some allow a cer tain amount of free internet traffic per month before charging. We haven't investigated all ser vices, but two that I like are Cloak (for Apple devices) and TunnelBear (all platforms).

6. Use your phone as a hotspot The best way to avoid Wi-Fi dangers is to avoid Wi-Fi. Many cellphones can act as a wired or wireless access point for your computer.

Cellular data limits apply, but you might switch to your phone hotspot temporarily if the public Wi-Fi networks are sketchy or you are doing something sensitive, like checking your bank account.

DON'T DO THIS 1.Download software updates A great way to take control of a computer on a shared network is to trick the victim into installing spyware disguised as a software upgrade (like Adobe Flash updates). Wait until you are on a home or office network before downloading and installing anything on your computer. For a phone-app installation, turn off Wi-Fi and use the cellular connection instead.

2. Buy anything or visit a financial site You transmit a lot of sensitive data if you make an online purchase or visit a financial service such as a bank. Connections should be encrypted with https, but it's still a good idea not to connect over public Wi-Fi (unless you are using a VPN).

3. Let Bluetooth give you away Advertisers use transmitters called Bluetooth beacons to send offers to passersby. If you prefer to not get them, you have two options.

Turn Bluetooth off if you aren't using devices like wireless headsets. Otherwise, don't install apps that ask to use Bluetooth to share data.

You should see this in the permissions screen when you are installing an app.

taiba

LAST AFGHAN STANDING

Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Being Afghan

By Negine Jasmine

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The ‘Red Desert’ photo series strives to humanize Afghans. There are pervading concepts of what it means to be Afghan, and I aim to counteract them by capturing the bright essence of Afghan identity.

Positive representation empowers a group of people, and is necessary for coming to terms with one’s identity. I am on a mission to portray my people in a positive light – one that will make others realize the vibrant energy within us Afghans.

One particular afternoon, I was in the backseat of my mom’s silver ‘97 Honda Accord as she sang along to Ahmad Zahir’s “What Love is This in My Heart?” (Persian: "In Che Eshghist Ke Dar Del Daram?"). The sun spilled through the trees and flashed onto my closed eyelids from the window; that was one of the only cassettes that my mother kept in the car and one of the two albums I listened to for most of my adolescence, the second being my mom’s favorite Googoosh tape. We lived in Sedona, a small town in the northern corner of Arizona that was surrounded by spectacular red rocks and mountains. During the winter, the mountains had white snow glazed on the peaks; yet, the redness of the rocks would continue to stubbornly bleed through.

We were the only Afghans in Sedona.

Everyone knew us as the Afghan gem collectors, for my dad worked tirelessly to maintain a crystal and gem shop to support his family.

My father has worked to support his family his entire life, whether that has meant us, or his mother and sisters. The moment he set foot out of Afghanistan, he started to set up business after business, each of which usually met its inevitable plummeting fate. One of his first projects was a family-friendly yoghurt store, which at the time he thought would be fitting to make colorful and clown-themed. It didn’t take him long to realize how much of a mistake that idea was, as children wouldn’t enter the store out of fear. Later, he married my mother – his first crush at the age of eight – and as fate had wanted, they moved to Arizona to set up Spiritstone Gems, which still stands in Sedona.

We spent most of our days inside the store; my parents even turned one of the spare rooms into a playroom for my little brother and me.

They hung one of the rejected paintings of a blue-haired clown on a maroon wall, and set up a tiny television in a corner of it. They laid down a couple of rugs and toys for us to peacefully remain occupied with as they ran the shop. My mom gave me two VHS tapes: Beetlejuice, which a neighbor had given to us, and the popular Bollywood film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Something Happens). I watched both of these repeatedly, enough times to memorize Michael [Continued...]

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[Continued...] Keaton’s vulgar lines and figure out what the Indian actors were saying, as the tape hadn’t come with English subtitles.

Anjali, played by the actress Kajol, was one of the first women of color I saw on a screen.

In her, I saw traces of myself that I had never witnessed before. We both had short black hair, and I began to wear a headband because she did, too – only my hair was much puffier than hers, which caused the headband to disappear under all my layers. Both of us also had a thin coat of hair that sat in-between our eyebrows, and our complexions were alike. I knew she wasn’t Afghan, but at the time, she was the closest thing to it.

As much as I wished to be Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice, I knew Anjali represented me, and made me feel okay about being myself. She became especially important to my identity when I began school as the only brown kid in everyone’s class. Teachers would be shocked that I’d never had The Grinch Who Stole Christmas read to me before bedtime. What was even more of a surprise was the fact that I didn’t know who the Spice Girls were, and brought spicy potato-filled meals to school instead of simple peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I eventually gathered enough pity from my peers to become known as the kid with ‘no culture’.

Those years, all in all, were unbearably lonely; I had a strange, unpronounceable name, smelly lunches, and a thin moustache, too.

My mom would wait outside my classroom for me when school had finished. She had long, big curls that spiraled down to her waist. She bought her outfits from local boutiques, and made them appear as if they’d been featured in Vogue’s latest issue. One day after school, she held me tight and squished my cheek to hers as we walked towards her little car. As usual, Ahmad Zahir began to sing out of the speakers as soon as she turned the stereo on. I stared out into the vastness of Sedona and somberly asked her where all the other Afghans were.

Why didn’t anyone else look like me? Or spoke our language? Or ate the food we did? As much as I credited Anjali as my representative and savior, I still didn’t understand her. I wasn’t familiar with the foods she ate, or the colorful dresses she wore. Like everyone else around me, Kajol had also come from a totally different world than I. When we arrived at our tan dome-shaped house, my mom ran inside and scurried through her belongings until she came across the magazine she was looking for. She handed me a copy of National Geographic, which had on its cover a haunting green-eyed girl staring straight into my soul: Sharbat Gula, a.k.a. the famous ‘Afghan girl’. My mother then went on to explain to me that Sharbat was like me. I remember staring at the photo for a long time in pure confusion, trying to grasp what my mom was

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talking about. The girl’s hair and complexion were lighter than mine, and her eyes brilliant, angry emeralds. None of my features resonated with hers.

My mom picked up on my perplexity and sat me down on our mint-colored sofa. She put a small pillow on her lap, on which I laid my head.

Running her fingers softly through my hair, she told me about the diversity of Afghanistan, about the many tribes, and the wide variety of ethnolinguistic groups and regions, each of which possessed their own incomparable culture, charm, and beauty. As different as Sharbat and I were from one another, I knew we’d come from the same glorious land. I became enchanted with my mom’s stories, and began to think about them everywhere I went. As I grew older, I started to seek more such tales, wanting to vicariously live through my parents’ memories of their life in Afghanistan before immigrating to the States. Their tales helped greatly as I came to terms with my Afghan identity, but the journey was lonely nonetheless.

Most people of color I have encountered have shared stories with me about repressing their roots or going through stages in their lives in which they desperately wanted to inhabit another body. This is an engrained mentality that takes years – maybe even a lifetime – to get rid of. I myself am still trying to do so. I used to put my hair through torture as I straightened (burnt, rather) my natural curls daily. I even

attempted to go by my middle name, Jasmine, during a very strange and uncomfortable part of my life. Doing these things didn’t make me appreciate my true self very much, but I’d been fed the idea that they’d make me be accepted by everyone else. It took years for me to truly grasp what my roots meant to me, and how I could integrate them into my life confidently and with grace – and I did so because I had no other choice. I could pretend to be a ‘Jasmine’ all I wanted, but it would never feel right because my mom had named me Negine, meaning ‘precious stone’ in Persian. Yes, that’s what the gem collectors named their daughter.

I’ve reached a point in my life where I do what I can to make people’s coming of age stories less painful. It takes being vocal to bring about change, and I long to see Afghans unite to let others like them know that they aren’t alone; to see them feel positive about themselves and reinforce the representation our society desperately lacks; and to counteract these dejected, lifeless stereotype others are so willing to accept about Afghans and conquer it by being themselves.

More of Negine’s photographs can be viewed on her website, www.neginejasmine.com.

This feature was originally published on Reorient (www.reorientmag.com). All images are courtesy of the author.

ack

‫الشهيدة وفاء العامر‬

‫يا له من منظر مخيف‪ .....‬جثة ملفوفة بعباءة سوداء وملقاة‬ ‫يف نهاية شارع يف منطقة الرسة قبل غروب الشمس‪....‬‬ ‫مهال هذه ليست حقيقة‪ ،‬إنه أحد املشاهد الخارجية من‬ ‫الفيلم الوثائقي‪-‬الدرامي (دوكودراما) عن الشهيدة وفاء‬ ‫العامر‪ ،‬والذي تم تصويره مؤخرا‪ .‬وفاء كانت يف الثالثة‬ ‫والعرشين من عمرها حني قتلها جنود اإلحتالل العراقي بعد‬ ‫اكتشافهم بأنها مناضلة ومن أعضاء املقاومة الكويتية‪.‬‬ ‫بالنسبة للذين عاشوا خالل الغزو العراقي للكويت عام ‪1990‬‬ ‫الزالت هذه املشاهد تجلب لهم الذكريات املخيفة من الغزو‬ ‫الذي كان يسعى لطمس هوية الكويت متاما ومسحها من‬ ‫الخريطة‪.‬‬ ‫وبالنسبة للجيل الحديث الذي ولد بعد الغزو ومل يعش يف‬ ‫تلك الفرتة‪ ،‬تعترب هذه األحداث بالنسبة لهم مجرد جزء من‬ ‫التاريخ ضمن املنهج الدرايس الذي يدرسونه يف املدرسة ومام‬ ‫يرويه لهم أهلهم‪ .‬ويعترب هذا الفيلم (الشهيدة وفاء العامر)‬ ‫مهام جدا إلظهار هذه الفرتة السوداء من التاريخ‪.‬‬ ‫و تلعب دور الشهيدة وفاء املمثلة منال الجارالله‪ ،‬والتي‬ ‫أعربت عن سعادتها يف املشاركة يف هذا العمل الوطني‪.‬‬

‫‪By Strawberry Girl‬‬

‫وتعلق قائلة‪" :‬مل أتردد للحظه عندما عرض عيل مخرج هذا‬ ‫الفيلم أن أمثل هذا الدور‪ .‬لقد رسرت حقا أن أمثل هذا الدور‬ ‫كون الشهيدة وفاء تعترب فخرا لبلدنا‪ .‬وقد صورت مشاهدي‬ ‫يف سبعة أيام‪ .‬ومع أن الدور صعب أمتنى أن أكون قد أديته‬ ‫عىل أفضل وجه"‪.‬‬ ‫وتضيف منال‪" :‬وقت الغزو كان عمري سنتني فقط‪ ،‬لذلك ال‬ ‫أعرف األزياء التي كانوا يلبسونها يف تلك الفرتة بدقة‪ ،‬لذلك‬ ‫قام فريق العمل بإعداد كل يش يل حتى أبدو مثل الشهيدة‬ ‫وفاء متاما‪ .‬إنها تجربة جديدة بالنسبة يل لذلك أنا متخوفة قليال‪،‬‬ ‫إال أن العاملني معي عىل هذا العمل سهلوا األمر عيل‪ .‬عندما‬ ‫قرأت الرواية عن الشهيدة وفاء مل أستطع التوقف عن القراءة‬ ‫ألنها مشوقة جدا"‪.‬‬ ‫أما دور الشخصية الرئيسية األخرى فيؤديه املمثل ميثم بدر والذي‬ ‫يلعب دور الدكتور عبد النارص فخروه إبن خال الشهيدة وفاء‪ .‬ورشح‬ ‫ميثم كيف أن د‪ .‬عبد النارص كان أقرب شخصية للشهيدة وفاء والذي‬ ‫كان يساعدها يف التنقل بني املناطق ونقلها لألسلحة للمقاومة الكويتية‪،‬‬ ‫بالرغم من عدم معرفته بأنها كانت تعمل معهم‪.‬‬ ‫ميثم أيضا كان مرسورا بتمثيل هذا الدور وقال‪" :‬متثيل هذا‬

‫الدور رشف يل‪ .‬أمتنى لو أستطيع أن أقدم حتى لو ‪ %10‬مام‬ ‫قدمته الشهيدة وفاء للكويت والتي ضحت بحياتها من أجل‬ ‫الدفاع عن وطننا‪ .‬هذه أول تجربة بالنسبة يل للعمل يف فيلم‬ ‫وثائقي‪ ،‬وأود أن أشكر املخرج عىل إختياري لتمثيل هذا‬ ‫الدور"‪.‬‬ ‫بالرغم من أن التصوير تم يف ‪ 8‬أيام فقط‪ ،‬إال أن التجهيزات‬ ‫كانت أطول بكثري‪ .‬وقد أوضح املرشف العام عىل هذا الفيلم‬ ‫صالح الحاتم بأن العمل عىل الفيلم بدأ قبل ‪ 3‬أشهر‪ ،‬حيث‬ ‫أجرى اللقاءات مع الشخصيات الحقيقية مثل أخو الشهيدة‬ ‫وإبن خالها وشخصيات أخرى عملت معها‪ .‬ويرى أن هؤالء‬ ‫األشخاص أضافوا معلومات جديدة مل يتم نرشها من قبل عن‬ ‫الشهيدة وحياتها ودورها يف املقاومة‪.‬‬ ‫مدة الفيلم الوثائقي ‪ 80‬دقيقة تقريبا‪ .‬وقد إهتم املخرج بأدق‬ ‫التفاصيل حتى يتجنب األخطاء من العمل السابق‪ .‬فاستخدم‬ ‫مثال نفس املركبة لألشخاص الحقيقيني يف ذلك الوقت‪ ،‬وكذلك‬ ‫تم اختيار األبطال منال وميثم مشابهني جدا للشخصيات‬ ‫الحقيقية‪ .‬وهذا الفيلم من إنتاج املركز العريب لإلعالم وبرعاية‬ ‫وزارة اإلعالم ومكتب الشهيد‪.‬‬ ‫‪68‬‬

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HUMBLE BURGERS

Quality, beautifully delivered

By bazaar staff

The struggle is very real at the bazaar offices when it comes to lunchtime deliveries. We rarely see eye-to-eye when it comes to where we should order from.

But the one thing we can all agree on is a cheeky burger every once in a while.

So when the suggestion of getting lunch from Humble Burgers came up, we all gladly jumped right on that boat. But what is the humble burger? In my very modest opinion, it’s the burger that satisfies a craving without weighing you down after.

That’s exactly what we got – a rich meal without the lethargy that usually follows.

And to answer your questions, yes – we ordered salads, starters, burgers, sliders and even dessert!

The salads were fresh and delicious and proved to be the perfect starter to our feast. The mighty Chicken Caesar Salad and the Avocado and Corn Salad were wonderfully prepared and crisp. As for our starters, we went a little crazy and ordered almost everything on the menu. The Humble Bites were beautifully cheese-filled and each bite delivered the right amount of heat. The Mushroom Poppers were both cheesy and flavorful 70

and the Buffalo Wings delivered a flavorful punch.

When it came to fries, we went with their Chili Cheese Fries and the Humble Fries. Each bite was an explosion of flavors as we alternated between both options.

For mains, we opted for single patties so we can each get a full-sized burger and a slider – yes we were that hungry. The Humble Burger, Cheese and Bacon Burger, Spicy Chicken Burger and the Mushroom Swiss Burger came out of the bag and we each dug in. I personally had gone for their classic namesake, The Humble Burger, and was blown away by the flavors. The lettuce was crispy and the grilled onions were wonderfully accented by the smoky mayo. The sharpness of the cheese was cut by the tangy, sticky house BBQ sauce and the freshness of the potato bun made every bite equally memorable and fluffy.

As for the sliders, we got The Classic Slider, The Humble Slider, The Classic Chicken Slider and The Spicy Chicken Slider.

It’s worth noting that the burger itself is never frozen beforehand. Basically, Humble Burgers always make sure that their burgers are prepared fresh with every order to guarantee the best quality.

As with all of Kuwait London Company’s (KLC) brands, quality is key. Mainly a delivery concept, you’re always assured that you’ll be receiving the best with every order no matter what. Using only

the freshest ingredients, we know that we are in excellent hands every time we order from one of their brands. And it certainly was the case with our order from Humble Burgers, we got the best quality and were even left with room for dessert!

As for our desserts, we simply couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to indulge in KLC’s signature: The Chubby Balls. So we ordered a portion of those and decided to go with the Salted Caramel Brownie as well. The Chubby Balls were spectacular as always, but the Salted Caramel Brownie was in a league of its own. We were all pleasantly surprised at how moist and fudge-like the brownie was. I think it’s safe to say that this brownie has found a permanent place in my heart – and stomach. It truly was the perfect way to end our meal!

Order Humble Burgers now by logging on to talabat.com or Carriage! Or visit them at one of their locations: Fintas, Block 1, Street 1, Building 11 – Shaab Al-Bahari, Block 8, Nafie Bin Al-Azraq Street Building 120 – and Ardhiya, Block 2, Sarah Complex, Building 113. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @HumbleBurgers or check out their website www.humbleburgers.com.

that alsalasil

bazaar goes dining

HABRA BEEF CANTEEN

Ahmed Al Bader’s newest creation By bazaar staff

It all started with The Burger Hub for celebrated local chef, foodie and restaurateur Ahmed Al Bader. A collaboration and several dining concepts later, Chef Ahmed stepped out of the kitchen to focus more on consulting endeavors. In doing so, he formed an alliance with MMC Catering's founder Mr. Mishari Al Roudhan and consulting agency Group Six was born. About two years and six months later, we find ourselves waiting for his culinary concoctions to make their way to our table at his latest concept: Habra Beef Canteen.

Naturally, we were eager to find out more about Habra, his long absence from the kitchen, and the bigger projects that are yet to come.

72

After his switch to consulting for a couple of years, Chef Ahmed and Group Six set to work on a new culinary directive: To co-create Habra, while co-managing The Burger Hub, in a new light. Chef Ahmed's first step towards Habra was to create a wish list of meats. From there, he went on a hunt to source the meats that would work best for the menu he envisioned. While The Burger Hub was conceived with everyone in mind, Habra is purely the chef’s concept, catering to our inner food-snob.

Without revealing too many details, we were told that if we love Habra, then we’ll absolutely adore the new restaurant that Chef Ahmed is brewing up. An all-day brunch concept, the eatery will feature a creative Kitchen Lab, complete with a show kitchen for demonstrations. Chef Ahmed's partnership with Group Six has a stellar plan in motion: To raise the benchmark and mature their

offerings further. Because ultimately, Chef Ahmed aspires to turn Group Six into leaders in the food and beverage industry both on a regional and global scale. With Chef Ahmed's presence in the kitchen at all times and personally training the staff, we all know it’s only a matter of time! But back to Habra, and all the delicious delights we’re about to sample.

If you want to enjoy the dishes offered, make sure you’re there early because service is usually full within the first fifteen minutes of them opening up their doors. Utilizing every space available, everything from cutlery to the kitchen’s pantry is on display! And if you peek through to the kitchen, you can see the Josper charcoal oven used.

Designed by LINES, with beautifully handcrafted leather detailing and a communal table for family-style dining, the place exudes rustic chic and warmth. Still, what is Habra? Colloquially,

Habra is the essentially the best cut of meat with flawless marbling — a truly fitting name.

The short menu consists of: Sharing Plates, Veggie Sharing Plates, Habra Plates, Beef from the Josper, as well as Sauces and Condiments, Sides, Dessert and Drinks. Focusing solely on the best cuts of meat and freshest ingredients available, you’re guaranteed a gourmet experience. We started our dining journey with a Bone Marrow plate served with a house-made chimichurri and sour dough bread. Warm and delicious, the marrow was expertly prepared and went perfectly with the sauce. Next were some Beef Tostadas and a Shredded Rib and Manchego Fries. The Beef Tostadas were delicious, and cleverly reimagined with a beetroot salsa. As for Habra’s take on the much-loved chili cheese fries, the Shredded Rib and Manchego Fries packed beautiful flavors and a sizzling kick.

From the veggie options, we got the Charred Baby Gem Salad, Josper-baked Beetroot, and Roasted Baby Carrots. The salad came with a sweet and tangy miso-salted caramel dressing, while the beetroot dish boasted a flavorful misomustard sauce and crumbled feta cheese. As for the baby carrots, the maple citrus vinaigrette brought out the sweetness of the carrots and exemplified their freshness with a citrusy punch.

And of course, when it came to the sides, we went for the Baked Sweet Potatoes: with a cinnamonbrown sugar butter, and the Togarashi Fries with Ponzu mayo. Making sure we don’t fill up too much on sharing plates and sides, we went on to try some of the Habra Plates and try our the 350g Rib-eye from the Josper.

The Rib-eye was juicy and tenderly prepared as per the chef’s recommendation – never welldone, and it was glorious. Our second rib-eye dish came from the Habra Plates in the form of a Sliced Rib-eye served with a palate cleansing herb salad and apricot sauce. The Three-Way Kalbi came with a deliciously complimenting teriyaki sauce and the Beef Back Ribs with the honey-cumin Sriracha was superbly flavorful. Still, there were two dishes that stood tall and kept us reaching for more: The Pulled Brisket Bun and the Four and a half hour Braised Rib. Deliciously prepared, the pulled brisket was topped with a roasted jalapeno-pasilla salsa and a mild cheddar in a fluffy, light bun. With every bite, a new and more complex flavor profile surfaced making the dish an absolute hit. Yet, the favorite at our table was clearly the braised rib. Finished with a palatable Korean Sweet Chili, the braised beef was so tender and moist we didn’t even need a knife! Coming apart under the slightest amount of pressure, the meat fell off the bone in beautiful bitesized chunks. While we tucked into the rib, we noticed the week’s special, the Grilled Avocado.

Reminiscent of a deconstructed guacamole, the avocado was delightfully grilled, served with a drizzle of black olive oil [yes, oil extracted from black olives] and coriander. For those

wondering, black olive oil tastes just like black olives and it was delicious.

Thinking we had enough, two desserts made their way to our table and we gladly dug in. As tricky as brownies can be, Habra got this one right. Their Pomegranate and Pecan Brownie was equally sweet and tangy at the same time. But the spectacle came in the form of their second dessert: The Charred Cantaloupe. Half a cantaloupe made its way to our table, charred gloriously and filled with ice-cream, then topped with bits of meringue, and finished with honey. While the ice-cream was vanilla flavored, you got hints of cantaloupe and sweet honey mixed in there with every bite. As for the meringue, it was

beautifully prepared lending a crunch to the dish and slight chew once you get past the shell. All in all, we had a fantastic time at Habra and cannot wait to see what else Chef Ahmed has up his sleeves for us!

Habra is located in Kuwait City, off of SoMu in the Aqarat Building. For more information, call them at 2206 1321 or follow them on Instagram @HabraKW. Open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., make sure you’re there early to get a table and enjoy their offerings! Set to start in early February, the lunch hours are 12PM-2PM! 73

CHKN

Move over burgers, it’s time for fried chicken!

By bazaar staff

While Kuwait might still be experiencing a burger obsession, the time has come for awesome, crunchy, juicy fried chicken to reign supreme. As eager, and usually quite hungry, editors, it is our job to point out to our dearest readers the yummiest food trends to hit the local market and we believe that fried chicken is making a huge comeback. The trick though, is finding fried chicken done right. This is precisely what we found when this bazaar team ordered from the Kuwaiti-established fast-casual concept, CHKN. There’s something so comforting about dining on fried chicken that brings people together. We think it’s all about that first piece of chicken that is offered to a close friend or colleague, and sharing the goodness to go around.

Established in Kuwait in 2016, CHKN prides itself on delivering perfectly fried chicken. In doing so, CHKN has specialized in streamlining their delivery service to ensure that diners are provided 74

with a consistent, and incredibly delicious meal every single time.

The menu at CHKN is small, but mighty. It is also worth mentioning that you immediately taste the difference in the quality of the ingredients used. In sampling both boneless and bone-in fried chicken options, we noticed one common feature: Expertly breaded, crunchy on the outside chicken pieces that are extremely moist and succulent once bitten into. Biting into CHKN’s original Chicken sandwich was truly one of the most satisfying sensations that we experienced, and if you’re a fan of sandwiches rather than eating with your hands, then we highly recommend that you go with the original fried chicken sandwich. You can even opt for the spicy version of the same.

This bazaar team went a little CHKN crazy, however, as we ordered a selection of smaller sliders for variety, original and spicy sandwiches, glorious chicken tenders and several pieces of bone-in spicy and original chicken pieces. To accompany our feast, the homemade milk buns and the variety of homemade sauces available at CHKN were equally addictive! From chili honey mustard, Garlic Aioli, BBQ ranch, spicy Sriracha,

creamy buttermilk ranch with aromatic herbs, to CHKN’s signature, mouthwatering special sauce, our chicken pieces were dipped and dunked to no end. We couldn’t believe how quickly we annihilated our shared meal.

If you’re dining solo or in a smaller group, we love how CHKN also offers great combo options as well as delicious sides like their House Slaw salad, Buffalo wings, and various takes on classic French fries. The Dirty Fries, for instance, with skin-on fries, cheese sauce, chicken bits, herbs and breadcrumbs, are refreshing twist on classic street fries.

As for dessert, CHKN’s menu offers simple American classics like the Turtle Cake, a chocolate cake filled to the brim with caramel sauce and topped with a chocolate ganache and salted pretzel sticks, and a good old Cheesecake.

You can never go wrong with either option!

Get your CHKN fix by calling 2228 1299 or 9473 3910 or order online via Talabat.com. Follow @CHKN.kw on Instagram for their latest updates!

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bazaar eats in

NAUGHTY BUT NICE

A wholesome ‘Eats In’ session from Roots Eatery

By bazaar staff

So we’re going to give it to you straight: Ever since 2017 started, we’ve been feeling a little chubby. Maybe it was all those delicious reviews we worked on for our annual bazaar Dining and Delivery Guide, maybe it was because of all the stress eating we did during the closing of said guide. Either way, our bloat has increased and with Spring around the corner, not to mention the glares of our judgmental aunties as their eyes linger on our midsections, we have been into the idea of clean eating to decrease said belly fat these days.

Like every great achievement to work towards, you need to start off slowly – make a few small changes and ease into the process, taking it bitby-bit, day-by-day. Though we were tempted to order in something a little heavier, we decided to try out the happy medium between decadent and guilt-free: which is incidentally, decadent turned guilt-free!

After perusing the delivery apps, we came across Roots Eatery. Had any one of us ever tried it before? Nope, otherwise the rules of the game would be compromised! “I’ve walked past it in Shuwaikh Market once and felt intrigued,” quipped one bazaarite. And thus, we voted on it, and scanned the menu to put in our orders.

Let me be honest with you, readers. Trying to decide on a dish was really challenging, because there’s just so much to choose from! And it’s all guaranteed to fit in with any clean-eating plan you may be on, filled with Paleo options, Whole30, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, carb-free, and classic comfort food remade to revolve around good ethics. After much discussion, we ended up ordering an eclectic range of dishes, hailing from different sections of the menu: a Beef Lollipop appetizer, a Beetroot Avocado sandwich, a Steak and Kale sandwich accompanied with Baked Potatoes, Paleo Shrimp Curry Bowl with brown rice, Paleo Grilled Chicken Bowl with brown rice, Whole Wheat Fettucine, the world’s tiniest Sweet Potato Muffin, and just because we were insanely curious, a jar of peanut butter.

When the food arrived, we could hardly contain our excitement. The sandwiches were of the easyto-tote variety, and when unwrapped revealed a panini-pressed style in a brown bread that only complimented their respective fillings. Paired with the guilt-free baked wedges of wholesome potato, this light little lunch was surprisingly filling!

The bowls were reported to be satisfying and delicious, and what we noticed was how 76

accommodating they were to certain dietary practices. When ordering one of Roots Eatery’s bowls, you have the choice of pairing it with brown rice filled with veggies or in its original glory, avocado brown rice, or cauliflower rice! Similar to the sandwiches, which allow you to opt for the restaurant’s signature Paleo “bread”, you have no excuse to fall off the carb-free wagon come lunchtime temptations.

The fettucine, like all their pasta dishes, is made with whole-wheat noodles and comes packed with flavor. With kicks of lemon and spice engulfing the classic comfort meal, you’re definitely in for a treat with this one.

The beef lollipops may have a misleading name, but they’re literally just steak bites on toothpicks, served with a wholesome yogurtbased dipping sauce. Simple yet classic, this is ideal for the inner caveperson who loves nothing more than adding sneaky bits of protein into their food intake.

We didn’t know what to expect with the sweet potato muffin, and honestly, when it arrived in a little baggie revealing the tiniest muffin we’d

ever seen, we couldn’t stop laughing. But don’t be fooled, as some of the greatest things in life really do come in small packages! This one-bite baby is perfect for satisfying any sweet tooth, and brings on an explosion of Autumnal flavors.

Let’s face it – who doesn’t love experiencing Fall memories year-round?

As for our accidental peanut butter jar?

Yes, it was an accident, but we each dipped a clean spoon into the jar for a bite of homemade peanut butter throughout the day. We now have an amazing spread in the office to use for last minute breakfasts and snacks! Yum! Suffice to say, we were impressed, left the office full, and didn’t hate ourselves after. As long as we have options like Roots Eatery to choose from in the healthy-food world, the transition into clean eating shouldn’t be a difficult one.

Roots Eatery is located in Shuwaikh Market.

Follow them on Instagram @rootskwt, and call them at 9936 0640 for more information.

Modern Italian Food

boccini

Soku - The Avenues Tel: 22200669

bocciniKW

ELEVATING YOUR MORNINGS

Elevation Burger presents organic breakfast at the Al-Seif location By bazaar staff

There is nothing like a hearty breakfast at the beginning of an early-spring day to stave off the chill and brighten your morning. What's even better is knowing that your breakfast is made up of the highest quality ingredients, is beneficial to you, and that most of those ingredients are locally sourced. This means that your community benefits from each breakfast bun you bite into, or bowl from which you scoop up hearty ingredients.

Elevation Burger was brought to Kuwait with the purpose of empowering the community. Not just when it comes to finding and supporting home-grown suppliers, but also through empowering customers to make better food choices as well.

Elevation Burger invests a great deal of time and dedication sourcing exactly these ingredients for their organic breakfast menu at the stunning Al-Seif location. The team is adamant to provide a breakfast that perfectly represents Elevation’s commitment to delivering 78

a truly elevated experience, with real quality food choices. They know that how you start your day matters and so came up with the “Create Your Own Breakfast” concept. The Elevation Burger team worked with local French Chef Thierry Vanstenberghe, who helped create the right recipes with specific ingredients to build a convenient and easy, delicious breakfast menu.

The absolutely genius idea behind the breakfast at Elevation Burger is that each person can customize how they put together their individual breakfast experience. From the menu which is printed on 100% recycled-paper, you would firstly choose a base, and then layer toppings and organic add-ons. The beauty behind this experience is that each option you choose has its own creation story.

The Brioche buns are supplied by none other than master baker Miguel Costa, the talent behind the delightful pastries at al Nata. Surprisingly light, yet decadently rich and buttery, these buns are substantial enough to hold any amalgamation of ingredients you care to put together, including the unsalted halloum specially created by Alban Dairy or Elevation Burger’s USDA certified 100% organic beef patty.

Add the organic, local vegetables from Kenaneya Farms, an establishment with over a decade of “seed-to-plate” experience, and you get a clearer idea of how much of a dedicated effort goes into each perfect component of the Elevation Burger breakfast experience.

For the more carb-conscious amongst you, these delectable delights may be served and eaten from a bowl, so, sans bun, ensuring a purely protein and vegetable intake to energize you for the day. The breakfast bowl base of grilled hash browns is like no other. The super thin and light potato noodle shavings are grilled to perfection, which you can top with mushrooms, sautéed spinach, rocca, roasted tomatoes; the choice is yours. Add the newest ingredient of free-range, organic egg whites for the more health conscious among you, and you are ready to start your day.

Proving that the effort to find high quality ingredients never stops, Elevation Burger has taken weeks to finalize the recipe for the fresh guacamole sauce now made on site every day in the Al-Seif branch. Prepared with ripe avocado, lemon and coriander, this zingy-fresh topping will wake up your taste-buds!

If you need some extra energy for your morning start, then it is possible to get it from the coffee which is locally supplied by Jumo Coffee. Now, because coffee might not be everyone’s choice drink, the team also sourced the most incredible juices, all of which deserve a taste. Fresh, cold-pressed and all natural, these fruit-packed refreshments are supplied by local concept Juiced. Exclusively available at the AlSeif location, we loved trying out the signature 'Sunray' green juice offering, which is prepared with organic wheatgrass, apples and ginger.

As you approach the majestic Al-Seif location, on the left you can see the greenery of the leafy trees, shrubbery and flowering potted plants that surround the wooden tables, benches and swing. If you listen carefully, you can hear the delightful chirruping of birdsong too. This makes for a wonderful gathering area during the cooler months.

Once there, you can take advantage of the community bikes parked in the corner patio to work up an appetite. If you feel like chilling out, you can lounge under the sun or shade in the outdoor area and enjoy the hip backrgound music. This is the perfect spot for creatives,

musicians and artists to come together with an intimate audience. We were delighted to learn that this Spring, there will be a number of music and art events planned at Elevation Burger's AlSeif location.

Even the Al-Seif location’s design lends itself to the local community, as renowned and talented local architect Aziz Al-Humaidhi, who happens to be a fan of the brand, approached Elevation Burger for a design project. The result?

The majestic Al-Seif location. Moving inside and as you walk down the wooden stairwell into the heart of the restaurant, you can feel how friendly and inviting the space truly is. The basement layout offers a homely vibe, through its use of natural wood and the evergreen potted plants dotted around. The brightness from the massive windows gives a real energy to the surroundings.

Look up at the ceiling, and you will notice the sadu-inspired loomed design that artfully weaves together reclaimed-wood slats of blue, white and green. Aziz also focused on illuminating customers to the importance of ingredients, and the use of floor to ceiling windows sheds light on the menu board that reveals all of Elevation Burger's delightful food offerings.

If you're planning when to pay this location a visit, we also learned that Elevation Burger AlSeif is open 24 hours, and breakfast is served from 4 a.m- 11 a.m during weekdays. Currently, the breakfast menu can be exclusively found at the Al-Seif location, where you have an extended service of three additional hours during weekends, as they only stop serving breakfast at 2 p.m.

Today, Elevation Burger Al-Seif stands out as completely unique amongst its seven other locations, and reads like a metaphor on making better food choices in Kuwait. If you're looking for a different breakfast experience, head to Elevation Burger Al-Seif and use your imagination to 'create your own' ultimate breakfast bowl or bun!

Elevation Burger Al-Seif is located on the Arabian Gulf Road, across from the Al-Seif Palace in Kuwait City.

Follow @elevationkw on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat for details.

Photography by Yousef Al Nasser, Instagram: @Yousefcam.

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bazaar movie night

The latest from the big screen playing in cinemas across Kuwait in February

SPLIT

COLLIDE

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS

RINGS

LOGAN

Release Date: February 2nd Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Horror, Thriller Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy/ James McAvoy/Haley Lu Richardson Synopsis: While the mental divisions of those with dissociative identity disorder have long fascinated and eluded science, it is believed that some can also manifest unique physical attributes for each personality, a cognitive and physiological prism within a single being. Though Kevin has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher, there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others.

Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey, Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him - as well as everyone around him - as the walls between his compartments shatter apart.

Release Date: February 2nd Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Family Cast: Kelly Macdonald/ Andrew Scott/ Rafe Spall Synopsis: Four children dream of escaping the tedium of a summer holiday with their mother.

When finally given permission to camp on their own on an island in the middle of a vast lake, they are overjoyed. But when they get there they discover they may not be alone... The battle for ownership of a lonely island teaches them the skills of survival, the value of friendship and the importance of holding your nerve. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Lake District, Swallows and Amazons is a heartwarming adventure for all the family.

Release Date: February 2nd Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Thriller Cast: Nicholas Hoult/Felicity Jones/Anthony Hopkins/Ben Kingsley Synopsis: After a heist goes terribly wrong, Casey Stein (Nicholas Hoult) finds himself on the run from a ruthless gang headed by mob boss Hagen (Anthony Hopkins). Now Casey has precious cargo that belongs to Hagen, who will stop at nothing to retrieve it. Left with no choice, Casey calls his former employer and drug smuggler Geran (Ben Kingsley) to protect his long-time girlfriend Juliette before Hagen gets his hands on her. Casey sets out on an adrenaline-fueled car chase on the German highways to save the love of his life before it's too late.

Release Date: February 9th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Drama, Horror Cast: Vincent D'Onofrio/Johnny Galecki/Laura Wiggins Synopsis: Rings is the third feature length film in the American Ring franchise, directly following The Ring and The Ring Two. Starring Matilda Lutz, Alex Roe, Johnny Galecki, Aimee Teegarden, Bonnie Morgan and Vincent D'Onofrio. A young woman becomes worried about her boyfriend when he explores a dark subculture surrounding a mysterious videotape said to kill the watcher seven days after he has viewed it. She sacrifices herself to save her boyfriend and in doing so makes a horrifying discovery: there is a movie within the movie that no one has ever seen before.

Release Date: February 2nd Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure Cast: Ralph Fiennes/Jenny Slate/Rosario Dawson/ Will Arnett Synopsis: The Lego Batman Movie is a spin-off of the 2014 film The Lego Movie, focusing on the DC Comics character Batman, set in the same universe as the previous film. In the irreverent spirit of fun that made The LEGO Movie a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble - LEGO Batman - stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker's hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.

Release Date: February 9th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi Cast: Hugh Jackman/ Boyd Holbrook/ Patrick Stewart Synopsis: Logan takes inspiration from "Old Man Logan" by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, which follows a past-his-prime Logan undertaking a final adventure in the post-apocalyptic future. It is intended to be the tenth installment in the X-Men film series, as well as the third and final Wolverine solo film following X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and The Wolverine (2013) In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

For more details on movie timings and the cinema nearest you, visit: Cinescape: www.cinescape.com.kw or Facebook: Cinescape – Kuwait National Cinema Company. *Above programs are subject to change without prior notice.

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elevation burger

bazaar techno

POLAROID POP INSTANT CAMERA

TECHNICS SL-1200GR TURNTABLE

KURI HOME ROBOT

DELL XPS 13 2-IN-1 LAPTOP

MOTIV ACTIVITY TRACKING RING

HP ENVY CURVED AIO 34 DESKTOP

A true Polaroid reimagined for the digital age, the Polaroid Pop Instant Camera is the spiritual successor to the 600 series. It has a 20 megapixel CMOS sensor, image stabilization, and a dual LED flash for capturing images. It has built-in Wifi and Bluetooth and a big touchscreen, shoots 1080p video, and stores its images to a microSD card.

But most importantly, it has a built-in Zink printer that outputs 3x4" images with the iconic border, resulting in 3.5x4.25" prints, the same size as their models sold long ago. It can also serve as a wireless printer for your other gear, and its design is as approachable as the classic OneStep SX-70.

The XPS 13 is one of the most popular Windows laptops around. The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Laptop isn't a full-on replacement — but it does gain some new tricks. As the name suggests, the InfinityEdge display now sits on a hinge that lets it work in four different modes. It's powered by Intel's latest Core M processors, and has two USB Type C ports, a machined aluminum shell, carbon fiber palm rest, support for the Dell Active Pen, and your choice of a Full HD or Quad HD+ display. In other words, what it loses in performance, it makes up for in versatility.

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Last year's SL-1200G lauded the return of the heralded Technics turntable, albeit at a seriously high price. The Technics Grand Class SL-1200GR Turntable expands the lineup with a model that packs a lot of the same tech for less cash. It borrows heavily from its predecessor, using a coreless directdrive motor with rotor magnets placed on both sides to eliminate rotation irregularities. The platter is a two-layer affair, with die-cast aluminum upgraded with deadening rubber on its entire rear surface, and the aluminum tonearm is manually assembled and adjusted by Japanese artisans. In other words, it's every bit as worthy of the SL-1200 moniker.

Many of us already wear a ring — and when unlike a watch, we leave it on all the time. That's why the Motiv Activity Tracking Ring sits on your finger instead of your wrist. Inside its unassuming waterproof case is a trio of sensors that let it keep tabs on your heart rate, calories burned, active minutes, sleep duration, distance, and steps, all without pinging you every time you get an email. It comes with both keychain and desk chargers, gets up to five days of battery life, and is available in rose gold or slate gray titanium.

Alexa, Siri, and Google's Assistant have gotten us used to the idea of talking to robots. The Kuri Home Robot aims to making living with them commonplace, too. Standing 20 inches tall, a foot wide, and weighing in a 14 lbs, Kuri bears at least a passing resemblance to Big Hero 6's Baymax, no doubt helped along by animations designed by a Pixar vet. Powerful motors enable Kuri to follow you around, even over carpet and thresholds, multiple mics ensure it can hear what you're saying, and a built-in 1080p camera lets you check in on things when you're away. Kuri can also recognize faces, and detects objects.

The prior Envy Curved was a good desktop. It was just a little... ugly. The new HP Envy Curved AIO 34 Desktop has no such problem. Like the Envy AIO 27, it hides its key components in a sleek tabletop box, letting the Technicolor-certified Ultra WQHD micro-edge display float above your desk. The same box also serves as a quad-speaker sound bar, tuned

by Bang & Olufsen for immersive sound, and for the paranoid out there, the Windows Hello-compatible camera and mic pop up only when in use, and stay hidden otherwise.

www.blessthisstuff.com www.uncrate.com

mais alghanim

H&M STUDIO SS2017

COLLECTION SIMPLICITY, LOVE AND PASSION FOR WOMEN

By bazaar staff

The warmer seasons of 2017 give us something to look forward to. Even in the hottest of countries, style is a fun way for men, women and children alike to express their respective individuality through garments that work with current temperatures; and what better source to find that style inspiration from than the worldwide renowned Fashion House H&M? 84

This Spring, ladies can find themselves inspired and excited by H&M Studio’s SS17 Ladies Collection, curated for women in a theme celebrating the power, strength, grace and vibrancy of the fairer gender: ballet.

The grace and romance of ballet and the passions of sport convey a message of love at H&M Studio. Femininity, volume and traditional techniques are mixed with the functionality and high-tech details of sportswear to create a fresh and modern clash.

Imagine the ballet dancer backstage, matching her traditional costume with sportswear pieces to build a wardrobe of contrasts, bridging the resonance of history with the simplicity of modern lines.

This season, comfort makes a strong appearance with fabrics consisting of organic cotton, silk jacquards, delicate fine knits and nylons. Breathability is key!

The trend of details features vintage meets modern with a lot of renaissance influence: frills are your friends, and flares have not been forgotten! And don’t doubt the drawstrings, which will bring the ultimate vibe of dancer-chic.

Combining black and white is all the rage in this collection, with pops of vibrant color to embrace the warmer weather. These colors are incorporated throughout the entire collection, from tops to bottoms, and key accessories such as the black trekking sandals, whimsical slipon flats, and the quintessential black leather headband, giving you the “I just worked out and still look awesome” low key fabulousness to put it all together.

Intrigued? We are too! The highly anticipated collection will be featured at a fashion show during the upcoming Paris Fashion week, but we have a sneak peek of some of the looks that will be shown at the fashion show, featuring pieces that will be available for purchase upon the collection’s release.

The Comfortably Chic: This look consists of a roomy, black racer back maxi dress made with a breathable nylon material, featuring an adjustable drawstring at the bottom hem.

Paired with flat black trekking sandals and a black leather headband to complete the look. Ideal for an outdoor lunch, après pool socializing, and casual garden parties.

Classic and Cool: Comprised of a woven silk jacquard tank with frills around sleeve, and paired beautifully with a full length black silk dungaree skirt for a modern-meets-classic look.

This look is a true head-turner that can be worn for casual or dressier occasions.

Corporate Casual: This relaxed, woven jacquard silk set is literally filled with love, in the style of small printed “love” text emulating a striped design throughout. Paired with double-waisted matching trousers, slip into some comfortable flat black trekking sandals to enjoy this look on a casual workday at the office. Don’t forget the season’s absolute necessity: the leather black headband!

Lady Louis: Inspired by Louis XIV, ruffles and delicate stitching make the most out of this adorable number. Ruffles showcase their femininity at the collar and sleeves, and modern ribbed detailing is continuous throughout the bodice. For extra comfort and that easy-to-wear casual touch, drawstrings are featured at the waist. The perfect ensemble for a lovely lunch, or a leisurely afternoon spent shopping.

“This is a collection about love, a positive message of hope and optimism. Knowledge of the past mixed with the energy of today creates

a path to a new future,” says Pernilla Wohlfart, H&M’s Design and Creative Director.

With this collection’s teaser, we completely agree, and can’t wait to get shopping! We’ll see you at H&M Grand Avenues this spring, ladies!

The H&M Studio SS17 collections will be available in selected stores across the Middle East from March 2nd, 2017 and the Women’s, Men’s and Kids’ collections will be available at H&M Grand Avenues-The Avenues. Follow H&M on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @HM. 85

bazaar apps

HOUSEPARTY

TRILLER

LOOKFOR

CLIP LAYER

GFYCAT LOOPS

NETFLIX VR

Meerkat may have helped ignite the livestreaming craze but its creators' latest app is taking a different approach to video. Instead, the newly-launched Houseparty is a Snapchat-like app for group video calls. The idea, the company says, is to capture some of the spirit of Meerkat but in a more personal way that encourages users to participate. Unlike Meerkat, which was all about public broadcasts, Houseparty's video calls are for small groups of friends. You can add friends based on the phone numbers you have stored in your contacts or search for their usernames.

One of the hazards of going to big events like concerts and festivals is the possibility of losing contact with friends and family in the massive crowd. An extremely simple app makes finding your companions in an endless sea of people easier.

The app is called LookFor, and its creator Logan Riley lovingly calls it the "world's dumbest app."

That description is actually pretty fitting, it turns out. LookFor basically just turns the screen of your iPhone or Android device into a blinking colored light, so you can hold it up above your head, thus helping your friends spot you more easily.

Gfycat Loops is a new GIF camera. With it, you can record video from your device’s camera and you can also record your device’s screen to make your own GIFs. Along with that, you can use links from sites like YouTube to import stuff to turn into GIFs as well.

You’ll be able to create captions and personalize with emoji to make everything just right. There is also a share feature as you’d expect. It’s a totally free app if you want to check it out.

Be the star of your own music video with Triller. The app auto-edits your videos based on your recordings and music so you don't have to spend hours picking which filter you think is best for that big debut. This week, the app was also updated with the ability to make non-music videos as well, opening up a whole new realm of possibilities.

Clip Layer is a Microsoft app from early December.

It’s a simple screen shot tool that can be launched pretty much whenever you want. You go into your settings, make it your default assistant, and then you’ll be able to long press the home button to initiate the app. You can then tweak which parts of the screen you want to capture. The only downside is that you’ll lose access to personal assistant apps like Google Now if you use them. It’s a free app if you want to try it out.

Netflix VR is the official VR app from Netflix. It’s the Netflix app you’ll be using if you want to watch on Google Daydream. That means not everyone can use this one. You log into your account just like you would on the regular Netflix app. The interface is a simple living room set up where you watch TV. The TV is where Netflix content plays. The controls are a little weird and the app is buggy, but we’re sure Netflix will clean that up eventually. It’s a free download if that helps.

tomsguide.com androidauthority.com 86

the kitchen

bazaar music

I DECIDED

LITTLE FICTIONS

By Elbow

By LeAnn Rimes

During an excursion to a Motown exhibit featuring label founder Berry Gordy, Big Sean was moved by what he heard. As he puts the final touches on his forthcoming album, I Decided, the 28-yearold Detroit native explained that R&B and classic soul was a motivating factor on the more focused concept of the album. “I was just at this Motown exhibit with Berry Gordy with my mom,” he said in a recent interview and went on to explain that, “He was talking about Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder and The Temptations and how one of the things they did was inspire people."

Earlier this year, the Mercury-winners’ announced their seventh studio record and a lengthy UK tour, with the follow-up to 2014’s The Take Off And Landing Of Everything dropping on 3 February.

Describing the sound and spirit of the new record, frontman Guy Garvey said: “It’s really quite chunky and beat-heavy. There’s a sparseness to the songs which perhaps we’re not known for. The themes are ranging as always, great big themes and concerns for the world at the same time as falling in love, looking forwards and backwards and all of the things.”

At just 34-years-old, Grammy-winning pop and country powerhouse LeAnn Rimes is getting ready to release her 16th studio album. Remnants, featuring lead single "Long Live Love," is available this February. After two decades with Curb Records, the "Blue" singer will issue Remnants as the first release under her new worldwide contract with Sony RCA Records. (In the U.S. and Canada, the LP will be distributed and marketed

by Sony Red/Thirty Tigers.) The artist is due to start touring soon after the release of her upcoming album.

By Big Sean

DROGAS LIGHT

REMNANTS

By Lupe Fiasco

By Dutch Uncle

BIG BALLOON

NOTES OF BLUE

Lupe Fiasco has been slowly leaking information about his forthcoming Drogas Light album over the past few weeks, from announcing the release date at a show in Cleveland to revealing the tracklist on Twitter. Lupe decided to make the album available for pre-order on iTunes, ultimately confirming what we already know along with the addition of seeing its artwork. Dropping February 10th, the follow up to 2015’s Tetsuo & Youth will feature guest appearances from Rick Ross, Big K.R.I.T., Ty Dolla $ign (twice), Victoria Monet, Salim, and more. It’s currently being lead by the previously heard single “Made In The USA.”

Big Balloon is Dutch Uncles' fifth LP in total, and follows last year's O Shudder. Vocalist/lyricist Duncan Wallis says of the new single: "The song has a simple message: to be content with who you are. If you need help with that, then don't be ashamed or frustrated. If other people appear to be doing a better job at being you than you then it means that that's not you. And that's okay too.

As soon as recording began, it felt like the perfect response to the feelings of abandonment we'd been harboring recently. We see it as the perfect distillation of everything we set out to achieve on the new record."

Alt-country stalwarts Son Volt will release their eighth studio album, Notes of Blue, February 17th via Thirty Tigers. The LP marks the group's first since 2013 and features 10 blues-inspired tracks that take their cues from left field influences such as Mississippi Fred McDowell, Skip James and Nick Drake. The group's last LP, Honky Tonk, was more Bakersfield-inspired, drawing from Buck Owens, Wynn Stewart and pedal steel player Ralph Mooney. The latest Son Volt touring lineup will feature founder Jay Farrar with Andrew Duplantis, Jacob Edwards, Chris Frame and Mark Spencer.

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By Son Volt

mcdonalds

ITAGIT TECHNOLOGIES' ADHAM MAGHRABY

On disrupting music & TV with apps that bring “never seen before” real-time mobile experiences

By bazaar staff

From being born and raised in Kuwait, the first Egyptian employee [number 13 to be exact] at Egypt’s first mobile operator, Mobinil; to establishing his very own tech company, MediaWave [now ITAGIT technologies]: Adham Maghraby defines disruption as “facilitating convenience in context.” In this particular case, the context he’s referring to is how people engage, interact and consume music, TV and Live events via mobile apps.

“Disruption is directly related to solving existing consumer problems or business model related problems, those are the areas where opportunities lie, where growth and market tangents hide,” Adham elaborated. While some forms of this disruption can turn entire industries obsolete, others can transform the dynamics in the market. With help from his angel investors, Mr. Moustapha Sarhank and Mrs. Shahira Zeid, Adham’s venture with ITAGIT Technologies is changing the way users interact with their favorite content.

You’ve previously likened entrepreneurship to big wave surfing. Why is that?

Have you witnessed big wave surfing? I am not talking about 10 or 15 foot waves, but about 35 to 65 foot waves! You need to have a special mind set to go for that. It’s not for everyone, it’s not easy, it can kill you, and you need to be 1000% committed to succeed.

Once you take off, there is no turning back, you are going to get tossed around like a rag doll and your heart is going to be pounding against your chest.

Once you take off and surf down the face of that wave with a wall of water chasing you as you make it through; there is no feeling like it on earth. This is why I think entrepreneurship and big wave surfing are very much alike.

How did establishing MediaWave fare for you, and what did you learn from the experience?

I think that MediaWave was a major learning experience. Being an entrepreneur requires a quantum shift in your mindset and I was fortunate enough, with the grace of God, to witness that.

My mentor and angel investor, Mr. Moustapha Sarhank, not only listened to my ideas, but also believed in my vision and incubated MediaWave through its early years and the turbulent years of the revolution. Early versions of the technology were pushed forward and evolved into multiple apps, each designed to disrupt a specific mobile media market segment. In light of this evolution and technological development, Mrs. Shahira

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Zeid, my second angel investor, came on board.

We then underwent a corporate restructure, where ITAGIT technologies was incorporated and became the holding company and MediaWave Egypt became a subsidiary with ownership to all IP, code and commercial rights to all the apps and brands.

What led ITAGIT Technologies to develop TETHER? I was in my car listening to the local radio station and a ‘golden oldie’ came on, brought back memories, and I wanted it. Three days later I downloaded the song, and ended up downloading a file that was infected with a virus. It basically destroyed my hard drive and I lost all my work – over a song! That was the inspiring moment for me, that’s when I developed the very first version of TETHER. It was an innovative SMS service that allowed listeners to tag and download their favorite music directly off live radio directly on their mobile phones and email, in high quality.

That was my first patent in the US and Europe.

TETHER, as it is today, with all its progression in features along with the TVTAG and LIVETAG apps all evolved from that first innovation.

How is TETHER different from other music apps?

What were the disruptive strategies utilized to differentiate TETHER from other apps?

We enjoy a technology advantage with our IP, along with considerable cost and content advantages, The average person carries between 3 and 6 music related apps: One or two for streaming, one for their downloaded playlists, one for music audio ID, YouTube for search, and another for radio. The market is fragmented, leaving the user scrambling between all these apps to get his complete music experience.

With TETHER, we’ve consolidated and integrated these music discovery tools into a single app. This way, the user has unlimited access to search, browse, discover, stream, share, capture and or buy all the music his heart desires all in audio/video. We have also innovated with radio as a discovery medium. No one does radio like TETHER! TETHER is free to download with unlimited search, streaming, song ID along with other features but with limited access or choose the premium version and enjoy unlimited access to all features for only $1.99 (0.61 KWD) per month.

What is the disruptive strategy utilized throughout

TETHER, LIVETAG and TVTAG to allow users this unique interaction?

We employed multiple disruptive strategies in the development of our apps. We innovated with our technology, we leveraged existing players and added value to them and we integrated them to deliver a seamless experience. A big part of our strategy is “realtime interactivity”. We focus on connecting consumers to content in real-time via mobile, regardless of the source of the content, be it radio, TV or LIVE, satellite, digital or analogue based.

Can you tell us about TETHER’s journey so far?

TETHER has been well received, we have some feedback from users that allowed us to work on updating the app to streamline the user experience further. We have learned that when it comes to music, users want convenience, access and control. Accordingly, we have just expanded our content offering to include radio based charts and archives, our free trail of the premium version of TETHER has also been expanded to 60 days and of course, our trademark real-time browsing and streaming of radio playlists was expanded to include top stations from Egypt, Dubai and London our music catalogue is extensive because it is based on YouTube and other music providers worldwide.

Look out for V2 of TETHER it is going to have some very cool new music features.

Did the development of TETHER organically lead to the development of LIVETAG and TVTAG? Could you tell us more about these two apps?

Yes, it did. With TVTAG viewers can tag and capture minute long video directly off the channel they are watching. It is then delivered to the app allowing the user to edit and share the video across social media.

LIVETAG does the same with live events.

In your mind, where and how do you think users engage most with content?

Video is the fastest growing form of digital content across social media sites. With the internet booming, streaming digital TV and digital radio is starting to boom, but it still represents a small share of the overall content consumption category.People still listen to radio in their cars, but they also carry smartphones with radio apps making it a hybrid experience that will continue to shift and change – just like magazines and newspapers. But, in the future all content will be streamed to devices anytime, anywhere. Personally though, I love the feel of

a glossy magazine in my hands and the rustle of the newspaper in the morning. And of course, you can’t really swat a fly with a tablet.

Can you tell us about ITAGIT’s apps' latest updates?

For TVTAG we recently added new TV channels to the app allowing more diverse tagging options from more TV based content. We have also started working on V2 of TVTAG and will enjoy more cool video editing tools to help users make their tagged videos their own. And we’ll also be introducing LIVETAG very soon.

How is 2017 looking for ITAGIT Technologies?

This is going to be our break out year. We are very excited about the introduction of our new app versions and the strategic partnerships we are currently cultivating to close in Q2 of 2017.

Check out ITAGIT’s various apps at www.itagit.me.

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bazaar books

THE LOST CITY OF THE MONKEY GOD

By Douglas Preston

Since the olden days of the conquistador Hernán Cortés, rumors have circulated about a lost city of immense wealth hidden somewhere in the Honduran interior, called the White City or the Lost City of the Monkey God. Indigenous tribes speak of ancestors who fled there to escape the Spanish invaders, and they warn that anyone who enters this sacred city will fall ill and die. In 1940, swashbuckling journalist Theodore Morde returned from the rainforest with hundreds of artifacts and an electrifying story of having found the Lost City of the Monkey God-but then surprsingly committed suicide without revealing its location. Three quarters of a century later, bestselling author Doug Preston joined a team of scientists on a groundbreaking new quest.

In 2012 he climbed aboard a rickety, single-engine plane carrying the machine that would change everything: Lidar, a highly advanced, classified technology that could map the terrain under the densest rainforest canopy. Read this thrilling book!

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THE TELOMERE EFFECT

THE CASE AGAINST SUGAR

NORSE MYTHOLOGY

THE LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE

Have you wondered why some sixty-year-olds look and feel like forty-yearolds and why some fortyyear-olds look and feel like sixty-year-olds? While many factors contribute to aging and illness, Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn discovered a biological indicator called telomerase, the enzyme that replenishes telomeres, which protect our genetic heritage.

Dr. Blackburn and Dr. Elissa Epel's research shows that the length and health of one's telomeres are a biological underpinning of the long-hypothesized mind-body connection. They and other scientists have found that changes we can make to our daily habits can protect our telomeres and increase our health spans (the number of years we remain healthy, active, and disease-free).

The Telomore Effect reveals how Blackburn and Epel's research findings, together with further research from colleagues from around the world, cumulatively show that sleep quality, exercise, aspects of diet, and even certain chemicals profoundly affect our telomeres and chronic stress.

From the best-selling author of Why We Get Fat, comes a groundbreaking, eyeopening exposé that makes the convincing case that sugar is the tobacco of the new millennium: backed by powerful lobbies, entrenched in our lives, and making us very sick. Among Americans, diabetes is more prevalent today than ever; obesity is at epidemic proportions; nearly 10% of children are thought to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. And sugar is at the root of these, and other, critical society-wide, health-related problems.

With his signature command of both science and straight talk, Gary Taubes delves into Americans' history with sugar: its uses as a preservative, as an additive in cigarettes, the contemporary overuse of high-fructose corn syrup. He explains what research has shown about our addiction to sweets. He clarifies the arguments against sugar, corrects misconceptions about the relationship between sugar and weight loss; and provides the perspective necessary to make informed decisions.

In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki― son of a giant―blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.

Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants.

Once, when Thor’s hammer is stolen, Thor must disguise himself as a woman difficult with his beard and huge appetite to steal it back.

More poignant is the tale in which the blood of Kvasir the most sagacious of gods is turned into a mead that infuses drinkers with poetry.

The work culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and rebirth of a new time and people. Through Gaiman’s deft and witty prose emerge these gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to duping others.

Embrace Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) and become happier with this definitive guide to the Danish philosophy of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? The answer, says Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, is Hygge. Loosely translated, Hygge—pronounced Hooga—is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and wellbeing. "Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience," Wiking explains.

"It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe." Hygge is the sensation you get when you’re cuddled up on a sofa, in cozy socks under a soft throw, during a storm. It’s that feeling when you’re sharing comfort food and easy conversation with loved ones at a candlelit table. It is the warmth of morning light shining just right on a crisp blue-sky day.

From picking the right lighting to organizing a Hygge gettogether to dressing hygge, Wiking shows you how to experience more joy and contentment the Danish way.

By Dr Elizibeth Blackburn

By Gary Taubes

by Neil Gaiman

By Meik Wiking

Source: www.amazon.co.uk

junkyard

big boys toys

POWERRAY FISHFINDER

1955 LAMBORGHINI DL25 TRACTOR

FARADAY FUTURE FF 91

FRAUSCHER 1414 DEMON YACHT

HANKOOK MIRAE METHOD-2 ROBOT SUIT

WHITEFOX SNOWMOBILE

Fishing can be a relaxing, contemplative experience.

Or it can be incredibly fun with the PowerRay Fishfinder. The Fishfinder is a waterproof drone that you set free in search of your next big catch.

It will mimic the underwater movements of fish, can operate below for up to 4 hours, can dive up to 100 feet underwater, and even includes an integrated fish luring light for an assist the next time you're searching. And if you get a nibble, you can watch your catch in real time using the internal Wi-Fi system and the 4k UHD camera. And if you're feeling even more adventurous, strap on the gesture based VR goggles that control the drone for an incredible immersive fishing experience.

Measuring 46 feet long and offering space for up to 12 people, the Frauscher 1414 Demon Yacht offers a solid balance of luxury and performance.

It's powered by dual engines with up to 520 hp a piece, and crafted from high-quality materials sourced near their Austrian shipyard. It has a large sunbathing platform and outdoor bar up top, while downstairs they've managed to fit in a bathroom, kitchenette, sitting area, and sleeping space for up to four, making this an ideal cruiser for a weekend getaway.

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Yes, it is a Lamborghini Tractor. In case you weren't aware, the Italian sports car manufacturer started out making military and industrial engines, along with tractors like this 1955 Lamborghini DL25 Tractor. The Lamborghini tractors were never imported to the US though, making this one a special treat. This DL25 has been fully restored and finished in traditional Lamborghini Trattori red with a blue finish on the chassis and wheel hubs.

It has a two-cylinder Diesel engine that can still do the same type of work it was originally made to do, but can serve just as well as a transport around a large piece of property or as yet another trophy for Lamborghini collectors.

It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. That might have something to do with Vitaly Bulgarov, whose conceptual design work can be seen in movies like RoboCop, Transformers: Age of Extinction, and Terminator: Genisys. But the Hankook Mirae Method-2 Robot Suit is no CGI dream. Instead, it's a 1.5-ton, 13-foot tall manned robot. Sit inside the cockpit, move your arms, and its arms will move as well. It's still taking "baby steps", according to the company's chairman, but should be moving far more freely when it goes on sale late next year.

We're not sure whether to call it an SUV or a sedan — its feature list reads more like a concept — but the Faraday Future FF 91 is definitely interesting.

Built on an all-electric, flexible powertrain system, its chassis and body are a single form for better handling and safety. That's doubly important since its multi-motor all-wheel drive system and 130 kWh battery are capable of producing 1,050 hp, a 0-60 time of under 2.4 seconds, and a range of 378 miles. The rest of the tech is equally impressive.

Pop-up 3D lidar headlines an autonomous system that also includes 10 high definition cameras, 13 long and short range radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors.

Take the entire family along on your winter adventures with the Whitefox Snowmobile. This concept vehicle, developed by Charles Bombardier, would be powered by a 165 hp Rotax 850 E-Tec engine, and thanks to plastic body panels, should weigh under 900 pounds, not including passengers.

With power steering borrowed from the Can-am lineup and pop-down wheels to let you turn on hard surfaces, it'd be surprisingly practical, too, but sadly it's just a concept for now, so we can only hope BRP decides to actually build it.

nestle

fashionality

ELIA

Beautifully designed footwear created in Egypt

By bazaar staff

Always on the lookout for fun and interesting designers, one footwear brand in particular caught our eye. We were introduced to ELIA, a wholly Egyptianmade brand of shoes worthy of every style.

Wanting to know more about the designer behind the brand, we contacted ELIA and got in touch with Egyptian shoe designer Amira Motawea. Barely two years-old, ELIA started in 2015 when Amira sought out a way to exhibit her love of shoes. Known for its gender blurring flair, ELIA footwear creates shoes for the modern woman – “Think Chelsea boots and cut-out Brogues,” Amira begins. As the sole designer at ELIA, Amira combines her deep-rooted passion for footwear with her own sense of style to create truly unique pieces.

Her background in business and marketing helped her shape and launch her brand, positioning ELIA to capture peoples’ minds with designs that are both functional and beautiful. Still, Amira hasn’t left her day job yet, “As Business Developer at Fustany [a lifestyle and fashion portal for Arab women] I gained insight into the industry in terms of trends and what appeals to the audience.”

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“I am obsessed with shoes! I’ve always had this way of restyling my shoes either by coloring them in or adding bits of jewelry to make them unique,” Amira elaborates. “I started by visiting small workshops all around Egypt and I managed to get an apprenticeship at one to learn more about how shoes are made.” Taking pride in using mostly Egyptian materials and working only with Egyptian artisans to create her shoes, Amira considers her process as a way to help the local fashion industry flourish.

Amira picked up on every little detail at her apprenticeship until she felt she was ready to branch out and make her own designs. Amira went on to find a local factory that would provide her with the quality she desires for her shoe line, and embarked on learning the basics of sketching online.

Feeling like she’s got a grasp on the skills needed and having found what she was looking for, Amira created her very first sandal which she lovingly dubbed the Pharaonic Sandal. “I wanted to design a pair of shoes that tells a story about Egypt,” Amira explains. “[Historically], the very first pair of shoes designed in Egypt were leather sandals. So I decided to make that my starting point and created a simple sandal using genuine leather, combining both comfort with modern style.” Amira chose the name ELIA ‘‫يل‬ َّ ‫’إ‬ [which translates to ‘Mine’] to give it a more

personal feel. As for her designs, “[they] tell a story about ancient Egypt through its culture, streets, architecture and history.”

FASHIONALITY QUESTIONNAIRE Does fashion ‘make’ the person or does the person ‘make’ fashion?

What you wear is a reflection of who you really are; the way you carry yourself says a lot about your personality and style – so yes the person ‘makes’ the fashion.

In your opinion, what makes footwear statement pieces? Why? An eye-catching shoe - is what every woman looks for! A statement shoe is all about what you add to the shoe which makes it a little unexpected. It can be the leather, the fabric, the color or even the cut. I believe shoes can take your outfit to a completely new level; you just need to know how to style it.

How would you describe your style and what inspires it?

I would say, it is laidback with a bohemian twist. I get inspired by culture, people, and places. I love to discover new places and get to know new faces. The different ways people carry themselves, the colors they wear, and

the different textures all say a lot about their unique cultures. This is what I love the most, simply exploring the way people embrace such elements in the streets.

What makes footwear important?

Shoes are a necessity across all cultures. It completes your overall look.

What makes them special?

A shoe is special because you can immediately feel a personal connection with it. It is this connection that makes you stand out.

Is there such thing as the essential every-day piece and what qualities would it have?

My every-day piece of advice would be, if you are going to wear the shoes, you are going to have to be able to bear walking in them.

Pick a shoe that makes you feel good and comfortable with a unique design, whether they are a pair of flats, heels or boots.

What do you think is the one piece that every fashion lover should own? Why? A custom-made pair of shoes, it is personal.

Who from the fashion world would you love to collaborate with?

I would love to collaborate with Sophia Webster,

Manolo Blahnik, Brian Atwood and Paula Cademartori.

What does it take to become a style innovator?

It is in the smallest of details! You have to be open to anything, committed and continuously learning.

What is exciting right now in fashion?

How quickly it changes.

Who or what has been your greatest fashion influence?

My fashion influence is anything that is artistic, authentic and has an identity.

Dalia Nsouli for her unusual styling ideas, Stuart Weitzman for his beautiful detailed designs, and Olivia Palermo and Jessica Alba for their super creative mixing and matching of styles and colors.

What item of clothing or accessory (if any) do you wish that people wore more often?

A statement piece either (scarves, accessories, shoes, clothing or bags).

To be stylish is to be fashionable. True or False and why?

False: You can be stylish but not necessarily fashionable, you just need to wear what suits you and that is how you will have your very own style.

Who are your favorite emerging designers, and what do you love about them?

I love Sarah’s bags, Bambah and Jude Benhalim – their pieces are unique and creative.

What is the highlight of your ‘style’ career so far?

Authentic with a modern twist.

Every fashionality has as a style obsession, what’s yours?

Shoes have always been my obsession.

Do you follow any fashion influencers? If so, who are they and which would you recommend?

You can get any of ELIA’s fabulous designs anywhere in the world! For more information, email Amira at amira89@aucegypt.edu and make sure you follow ELIA on Facebook: ELIA.Egypt and on Instagram @ELIA_Eg for updates!

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bazaar Time

ZENITH AND BEHBEHANI GROUP LAUNCH EL PRIMERO "LEGEND OF COHIBA" After celebrating the 50th anniversary of Cohiba with the creation of three commemorative limited editions, the Manufacture Zenith is paying tribute to this Cuban legend with the production of a watch that fits into the very heart of its collection. The El Primero “Legend of Cohiba” embodies the excellence, precision and expertise that unite Zenith and Cohiba. Lovers of beautiful objects and fans of blue swirls, for which cigars are a rendez vous with time and pleasure, are sure to fall for this subtle blend of pink gold and Havana hues. For this occasion, the Manufacture Zenith and Behbehani Group, have celebrated the launch of this watch in Kuwait City in an exquisite event gathering distinguished guests and watch and cigar lovers. Mr. Shahzad Gidwani, GM of Behbehani Group welcomed the guests while Mr. George Bechara, Regional Brand Director of Zenith watches talked about the relentless quest that both brands pursue and their priorities to enhance the customer experience. Invitees had the chance to taste good cigars while viewing the beautiful new EP Cohiba 36’000 VpH in Rose Gold.

For more information, visit www.zenith-watches.com

TISSOT BELLA ORA: IT’S TIME TO DECLARE YOUR LOVE Declare your love with a very special timepiece this Valentine's Day. The Italian name of the Tissot Bella Ora, means beautiful watch and is inspired by Italy, its romantic cities and the name the country has made for itself in the world of fashion. This model fits into that world as naturally as the hands turn clockwise on the dial. It has a natural elegance thanks to the pure simplicity of the mother-of-pearl dial. The distinctive pink and red hues give a romantic touch to the Tissot Bella Ora, a special edition set to thrill your beloved on one of the most special days of the year. This watch is the perfect accessory to complement any outfit, dressed up or down, making it the ideal gift. A passionately red strap complements the clean dial, which is only broken by a sensual red mother-of-pearl inlay, for the index at midnight and echoed in the crown; a glamourous addition to the watch. A warm, luxurious edge enhances the otherwise sleek and stylish piece with a rose gold PVD execution. It’s time to speak straight to their heart with this Tissot Bella Ora. For more information visit www.tissotwatches.com.

HAMILTON BECOMES OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER OF THE RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP In 2017 Hamilton becomes Official Timekeeper of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, known as the new dimension of motorsports. Featuring 14 of the best race pilots, among which Nicolas Ivanoff, the brand ambassador since 2005, this pure motorsport competition is a visual spectacle unlike any other, combining speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile and lightweight racing planes, pilots navigate a low-level aerial track made of 25 meters-high air-filled pylons. 14 pilots are competing in the Master Class category in eight races across the globe for the title of Red Bull Air Race World Champion. The Challenger Cup, with 9 pilots, offers young talents the chance to develop their low-altitude flying skills and to experience the thrills of the sport. The 2017 race calendar will take place in eight cities around the world starting with its first stop in Abu Dhabi on February 10-11, a celebratory event marking the diamond 75th Red Bull Air Race. Aviation, skill and precision are also part of the Hamilton brand. This partnership will strengthen Hamilton’s presence in the aerobatics world, in addition to its rich aviation heritage and collaborations with international airshows and squadrons.

For more information, visit www.hamiltonwatch.com

HUBLOT DAZZLES WITH ITS SECOND MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA CAMPAIGN Luxury Swiss watch brand Hublot has undertaken yet another great project, its second Middle East and Africa advertising campaign, featuring Friend of the Brand Ragheb Alama. Following its usual "first, different and unique" motto, Hublot connected East to West by shooting in Budapest-Hungary, the campaign which was fully conceptualized and developed by a Middle East team. Arab superstar and singing-sensation Ragheb Alama took the spotlight in the new campaign, embodying the elegant and refined Hublot man with a young spirit. In an elaborate production embodying the brand's Art of Fusion concept, the campaign brings past to future with the world acclaimed artist who has been in the Arabic pop music scene for more than 3 decades, always connecting generations through his style, music and vibrant personality. Ragheb personifies the Hublot man who travels the world enjoying a particular lifestyle, but who also shines in every day situations be it a casual walk out by the water or a busy day at work. The campaign boasts two looks based on different facets of a man’s life, and was shot in different ambiances and distinctive lighting, creating a special mood for each look.

For more information, visit www.hublot.com

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bazaar around town

ACK HOSTS INNOVATION SEMINAR The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) hosted a seminar, featuring guest speaker Mr. Fawzi Al Aradi, a Bahraini Enterpriser Strategist, entitled: “Distributive Innovation and Return on Investment”.

Mr. Fawzi focused on two key aspects which were finding innovative people for our nation and how to provide them with the right tools and environment to help them innovate, while expressing thoughts on the contemporary challenges overcoming the region. They also covered the possible causes associated with the chain effect of these key driving forces on a number of key industries within the GCC, including oil, power and building development. In addition, Al Aradi presented a Harvard Business Review study, discussing what differentiates innovators from the rest: the ability to engage both left and right sides of their brain gives them leverage in the fine skills needed to innovate: associations , questioning, observing, experimenting and networking. ACK will continue to deliver similar seminars to its staff and students to provide unique and innovative insight direct from such successful entrepreneurs, in turn providing students with the skills and knowledge to further enhance their development and prepare them for their professional careers.

For more on ACK, visit www.ack.edu.kw or call them on 1828 225.

CHILDREN’S PHYSICAL FITNESS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR PARENTS: FANTASY WORLD Outdoor play helps children develop their physical fitness, having a very healthy lifestyle, thus obesity and diabetes amongst kids was very uncommon. Additionally, children’s physical fitness develops their confidence and self-esteem and helps develop their mental health. According to researcher’s physical activity helps calm kids down thus they become more attentive and focused in the classroom. However, today’s kid’s are not engaged in physical activity but instead sit and gaze for many hours on their smartphones and tabs; hence many health problems rise amongst the children. It becomes a challenge for parents today to encourage their children to exercise and stay fit. Fantasy World acknowledged this problem and offers a wide array of outdoor play toys and products that aid children's physical development and well-being as the brand believes that kids truly deserve the best. Fantasy World caters to every child’s desire but also understands genuine parental concerns. That is why it has provided many solutions that answer the needs of both parents and children alike.

Customers can visit any of Fantasy World’s stores in Kuwait to explore and experience new toys available at Al Rai, Bustan Mall, The Avenues and Souq Sharq. Check out Fantasy World’s social media platforms on Facebook: fantasyworldtoyskuwait, Instagram @fantasyworldtoys and YouTube: fantasyworld Kuwait.

CELEBRATE THE MONTH OF CHOCOLATE WITH 40 FLAVORS IN 28 DAYS Chocoholics in Kuwait are in for a treat as Bridgewater Chocolate, known for its award-winning fine chocolates, celebrates National Chocolate Month. For the month of February, Bridgewater Chocolate will be treating its customers with more than 40 flavors in 28 days, with a daily sampling of mouthwatering treats at the store.

Located at Grand Avenue - The Avenues, Bridgewater Chocolate is all about passionately handcrafted, American-style chocolates prepared using European-quality ingredients and recipes. Each creation is unique, made using the finest ingredients including high quality cocoa and cocoa butter. The Bridgewater Chocolate range includes a variety of delicious treats, including chewy caramels wrapped around a selection of nuts, a mix of milk and dark chocolates, buttery toffees and fruit-based products to pleasure those with tropical taste buds. With a range of gifting options from small tins, cubes, chocolate bars, and gift favors to an extra-large assortment box made up of 108 hand-decorated and individually packed pieces, Bridgewater Chocolate is the perfect delight for every occasion.

For more on Bridgewater Chocolate, follow them on Facebook and Instagram @BridgewaterChocolateME to stay up-to-date with the latest products and news. For enquiries, call 2228 3806.

SEDUCTION AND ESSENCE|SPRING/SUMMER ’17: VALENTINE’S LINGERIE LOOKS Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, so whether you’re spending it with a special someone or going out with friends we’ve put together top tips to feeling stylish and confident on February 14th. The Triumph edit covers all versions of the day: a romantic night at home, dressing for an occasion or simply treating yourself.

This season, the faded Art Deco grandeur of downtown LA inspires flowing, graphic patterns on lace, while classic Hollywood glamour inspires elegant, sexy detailing and luxurious fabrics. Triumph’s Global Head of Design, Sian Thomas describes the SS17 collection as “131 years of craftsmanship and expertise help us to create stylish, perfectly fitting pieces that women love. This edit features styles that have been developed from both traditional and contemporary techniques. Pieces such as the Lovely Essence body are designed in a decorative 3D process which creates smooth bonded edges for comfort and allows lace and embroidery patterns to wrap around the body and define the waistline.” Find The One that makes you feel romantic by shopping the Triumph Valentine’s Edit.

The SS17 line is available at Triumph stores, triumph.com and at leading retailers at The Avenues, Al Bairaq, Marina Mall and Promenade. Follow on Instagram @triumpharabia.

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humble burgers

bazaar around town

CHILLI BEANS LAUNCHES NIGHT SURF COLLECTION Chilli Beans, one of the largest sunglasses & accessories brand in Latin America, starts the year with a bang – launching the “Night Surf” collection, whose inspiration comes from surfing lifestyle and healthy, fun environment of the beach. This is a collection full of natural materials, such as wood and cork. The sea is also a reference, and textures of shells and sand appear on the sunglasses’ arms and the watch dial displays. For example - the ‘Shark’ sunglasses have the shape of a shark bite on the arms. Collect your Sunglasses and Watch collection now!

For more information, check out Chilli Beans on Facebook: Chilli Beans Arabia and Instagram @chillibeans.arabia.

PORSCHE CENTRE KUWAIT SHOWCASED MODEL RANGE AT AUTO MOTO 17 With an impressive range of two-door and four-door sports cars on display, members of the public attending the ‘Auto Moto 17’ motorshow witnessed Porsche’s performance heritage in-person. Auto Moto 1017 took place at 360 Mall, and the new Panamera, 911 R, 718 Cayman, Macan GTS and Cayenne GTS were showcased at the brand’s exhibition space. As the newest model in the Porsche range, the latest generation of Panamera Turbo is captured visitors’ attention, due to its sharpened exterior design and futuristic interior.

The saloon features a completely new front-end, with a crossbar in the radiator grille emphasising the car’s width and an arrow-shaped bonnet that features a prominently contoured powerdome. The Panamera’s wheelbase has been increased by 30 mm while the front wheels have been shifted forward, giving the car a more powerful appearance. LED headlights with four-point LED daytime running lights and larger wheels also generate a sporty look.

The Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, is located in Al Rai, off of the 4th ring road. Call them on 1870 870 for more information.

SOOTHING HARMONY AND TROPICAL HEAT AS THE FIVE ELEMENTS INSPIRE At H&M Home it’s indeed back to nature this spring as inspiration comes from the five elements -- air, spirit, fire, earth and water. A tropical world of warm colors and vibrant prints is accompanied by a universe of understated beauty with natural materials and neutral tones of dusty pink. HARMONY: Warm neutrals, dusty pinks and greens are a key trend. Tone on tone combinations and nuances are also important this season. Textures and structures are key as tactility takes centre stage. Materials are natural with wood, glass and basket weave in focus. Surfaces are matte, with ceramics and matte glass. Perforated surfaces also enter the scene. The graphic expression is delicate with airy prints. Shapes are rounded. The atmosphere is serene and peaceful as air and spirit set the tone. The impression is minimalist yet soft, with a hint of luxury. EXOTICISM: Colors are vibrant with warm yellows, exotic greens and a wide range of blues as fire, earth and water set the tone for this spring. Blue is the new green.

Crafted influences continue this season as authenticity continues to be important.

Follow H&M on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @HM. H&M Home is located in the 2nd Avenue-The Avenues.

ULTIMATE OIL BY KERASTRAIGHT Lightweight and non-greasy, Ultimate Oil contains an advanced blend of 9 specially chosen oils. Specially formulated to transform and repair the hair from the inside out, Ultimate Oil protects and strengthens whilst taming and smoothing away frizz. Argan and Coconut oils deeply penetrate the hair to rebuild strength whilst Macadamia and Olive Oils add softness and shine to improve manageability and eliminate frizz. Ultimate Oil also weightlessly seals moisture into weak and damaged hair with Jojoba and Avocado Oils and a strengthening blend of Linseed, Sunflower and Wheat Germ Oils plump and strengthen the hair to maintain enviable volume and fullness.

Exclusively distributed by beau-tique cosmetics international. Call 2225 1285 for more info or visit www.beau-tiqueonline.com.

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A NEW STEP FORWARD: COLE HAAN LAUNCHES STUDIØGRAND “StudiøGrand was born out of a need for style and substance in and out of the studio. We have collaborated with extraordinary women, like Sara Mearns, who demand more out of their feet than anyone, to create a collection for the multi-faceted woman constantly moving between the various studios of her life,” says David Maddocks, Chief Marketing O¬cer and General Manager of Business Development at Cole Haan. The StudiøGrand collection includes an array of functional accessories designed for the active woman, including footwear, outerwear, bags, sunglasses, an umbrella and a yoga mat. The footwear collection highlights the StudiøGrand Pack & Go Trainer with lightweight GRAND.ØS Energy Foam. In addition, the collection also includes a feminine floral embossed StudiøGrand Sneaker, StudiøGrand Packable Ballet Flat, accompanied with a zipper shoe bag for pack-and-play ease, and a breathable StudiøGrand Knit Trainer.

Visit Cole Haan at 360 mall, Mezzanine. For more information, call 2530 9808 or check them out on Instagram @colehaan.kw.

RIVER ISLAND – SPRING / SUMMER 2017 RELEASE – MENSWEAR For Spring/Summer 2017, River Island focuses on clean silhouettes, premium fabrics and technical design features. Contemporary sportswear and chic casual pieces are paired with an array of everyday essentials for a versatile summer look. Neutral and earthy tones of khaki, tobacco and mushroom are complimented by flushes of red, cobalt blue and mint green for a fresh color palette that breathes new life into every man’s wardrobe.

DEUTSCHLAND is a chic fusion of relaxed tailoring and vintage sportswear. 90s inspired clothing are realized in a muted color palette of camel and tobacco tones with pops of brilliant red and indigo. Fitted block color knits, striped track-tops and stone-washed denim reference cult Brit Pop icons, offset by the modern aesthetic of the nylon varsity jacket and cropped tailored trousers. MILITARY SPORT brings a fresh take on the military trend. Oversized hoodies, double-faced checked shirts and laundered tees appear in a plethora of rich purples, pinks and greys to help achieve a relaxed, layered feel. Technical hardware such as functional patch pockets and contrasting zip tape inspired by traditional military detailing add an authentic touch. The iconic MA1 bomber jacket is a hero piece from the collection - dress it with statement graphic sweaters and cotton cargo pants for an effortlessly cool look. CALIFORNICATION combines subtle neutral tones with bursts of pastel blue, coral and tie-dye; layered beneath a variety of textures offers a cleaner take on the 90s skater boy aesthetic. Bleached denim jackets, heavily washed denim shirts and ripped denim shorts, draw inspiration from the West Coast grunge era, teamed with printed psychedelic hoodies and tropical printed shirts. VENICE is this season’s resort tailoring offering. Single and double-breasted jackets, Cuban collar striped shirts and slick accessories come in a variety of seasonal shades of soft blue and dusty pink. Engineered striped knits, pique tees and a variety of stylish separates are a chic addition, while the navy seersucker short suit is the ultimate alternative to formal suiting. BOHEMIAN ROCK balances quality design with razor sharp cuts of premium tailoring and a hint of rock n’ roll. Distressed skinny jeans and bleached denim jackets in masculine shades of washed grey and black are paired with opulent jewel tone silk shirts that evoke a subtle elegance whilst the suede bike jacket is perfect for that off-duty evening look.

Head over to River Island in 1st Avenue – The Avenues for the latest in menswear. Contact them on 2228 3391 or follow them on Instagram @riverislandme and Facebook: RiverIslandME for the latest updates!

‫ عامد الحمر إىل قسم األمراض الباطنية‬.‫"مستشفى طيبة" يرحب بإنضامم د‬ ‫ عامد الحمر إستشاري األمراض الباطنية والجهاز‬.‫ عن انضامم د‬،‫ الرائد محلياً يف تقديم الخدمات الصحية املتميزة‬،‫أعلن مستشفى طيبة‬ ،‫الهضمي والكبد واملناظري ذو الخربة الواسعة يف عالج مشاكل املعدة والقولون والقرحة وأمراض الكبد إىل الطاقم الطبي يف املستشفى‬ – ‫ الحاصل عىل بكالوريوس طب وجراحة من جامعة نيوكاسل‬،‫ الحمر‬.‫ ويأيت انضامم د‬.‫والذي يعترب إضافة جديدة إىل فريق العمل‬ ‫اململكة املتحدة; عضو البورد األمرييك باألمراض الباطنية والبورد الكندي باألمراض الباطنية والبورد الكندي بأمراض الجهاز الهضمي‬ ،‫ إىل الطاقم الطبي يف طيبة استكامالً للخطوات الجادة والفاعلة التي يقوم بها املستشفى من أجل تعزيز الكوادر الطبية لديه‬،‫والكبد‬ ‫ قرحة املعدة‬،‫ الحمر بإجراء مناظري املعدة والقولون‬.‫ ويضلع د‬.‫مبا يتمخض عن تقديم أفضل الخدمات العالجية للمرىض واملتابعني‬ ‫ مرض كرونز‬،‫ متالزمة القولون العصبي واملعدة العصبية‬،‫ واستئصال الزوائد اللحمية باليك‬،‫واإلثنى عرش وتشخيص وعالج جرثومة املعدة‬ ،‫ ربط وحقن دوايل املرئ‬،‫ أمراض وإلتهابات البنكرياس الحادة واملزمنة‬،‫ مرض السيلياك وأمراض سوء اإلمتصاص‬،‫والقولون التقرحي‬ ‫ أعرب السيد راشد الفضالة‬،‫ وبهذه املناسبة‬.‫ وبالونات املعدة بجميع أنواعها للسمنة املفرطة‬،‫وأخذ عينات الكبد وتركيب فتحة للتغذية‬ ‫ لتكتمل املنظومة العالجية يف قسم االمراض الباطنية والجهاز‬،‫ الحمر‬.‫نائب الرئيس التنفيذي يف مستشفى طيبة عن سعادته بانضامم د‬ .‫الهضمى والكبد مبا يتامىش مع سياسة املستشفى يف تقديم كافة العالجات املتطورة يف مختلف التخصصات‬

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sporty

bazaar around town

ALPHA SL JACKET BY ARC’TERYX : THE ULTIMATE WATERPROOF JACKET FOR KUWAIT’S CAMPING SEASON As Kuwait’s desert camping season is underway, Explorers Base is introducing a jacket to protect you from sudden rain or dust storms whether you’re spending a weekend camping in Kuwait or you’re going for a relaxing hike or a multi day climb abroad, Alpha SL Jacket by Arc’Teryx is the jacket that every camper and climber needs to own.

The new Arc’Teryx Alpha SL Jacket is made of GORE-TEX with Paclite technology making it ultra light, waterproof, breathable, and remarkably packable for campers or climbers who need protection from sudden storms without sacrificing any important elements required on their excursions. Available in classic Black and attractive Genepi Green, the Alpha SL Jacket design includes a helmet compatible StormHood that offers full coverage and a secure fit providing an ergonomic performance and freedom of vision to the wearer, while the Hemlock inserts make sure that the hood doesn’t ride up under the helmet, thus offering freedom of movement as well. Although the Alpha SL Jacket is designed to be superlight, it is packed with useful elements every campers, climber and alpiner needs. Notably, it has a one-hand adjustable drawcords, a laminated chin guard, and WaterTight external zippers with garages to protect them from snow and rain. In a nutshell, the Alpha SL Jacket by Arc’Teryx is the best companion for campers, climbers and alpiners who require protection from both rain or dust storms without having to worry about carrying extra weight that would hold them back. In addition to Arc’Teryx, AAW brings to Kuwait half a dozen of the world’s prime outdoor brands like The North Face, Patagonia, Houdini and more under their independently owned retail stores: Explorer’s Base and Carbon Fiber.

Want to know more about AAW Explorers Base and Arc’Teryx? Follow Explorers Base on Instagram @ExplorersBase, Twitter @ExplorersBase, Facebook /ExplorersBase, or visit the store at Al Tilal Mall, Shuwaikh (2225 6323).

SWATCH LANDS ON PLANET LOVE Colorful, light-hearted, and free as a butterfly, PLANET LOVE was created by the legendary Argentinian cartoonist, Guillermo Mordillo. Available worldwide in a limited and numbered edition of 14,999, PLANET LOVE comes in special packaging with more and more butterflies by the maestro himself, whose own words say it all: "Love, anything else?

For more information visit www.swatch.com.

A SUPERB REASON TO HIT THE ROAD There was something superb on display at Marina Mall last month, as the new ŠKODA Superb enjoyed its first public appearance. A superb fit for car buyers looking for a classy mid-class vehicle, the new ŠKODA model’s creativity, comfort and connectivity make it the perfect choice for drivers in Kuwait. The third-generation Superb is now powerful than ever, yet it is up to 30 per cent more economical. It benefits from the company’s MQB technology, meaning designers have made the car more spacious, lighter, safer and more fuel-efficient.

Connectivity also attains a new quality: the new Superb has a new-generation infotainment system that automatically connects to the driver’s smartphone via SmartLink. It features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which provide easy access to several apps from your phone on the car’s display, while high-speed internet connection has turned the Superb into the first ŠKODA hotspot on wheels. The Superb has been at the top of ŠKODA’s model range since 2001. To date, the car manufacturer has delivered more than 700,000 ŠKODA Superbs, making the model one of the most popular vehicles in the automotive mid-class segment.

Following its starring role, the newly designed ŠKODA Superb is now available at Fouad Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company showroom in Shuwaikh. For information call 1811 118.

PINK CASHMERE FROM BATH & BODY WORKS! Treat your skin with a cloud-like new fragrance that will send you straight to heaven.

Introducing Bath & Body Works’ newest fragrance is soft, pretty & a dreamy blend of blushing jasmine petals, sheer white amber & softest cedarwood musk. Wrapped in a perfect packaging that reflects the season of giving loved ones a reminder of just how special they are. Fragrance Key notes: Pink Jasmine Petals, Creamy Sandalwood, White Amber, Cashmere Musk with top notes of Sparkling Tangerine, Fresh Linen, mid notes of Soft Muguet, Pink Jasmine Petals and dry notes of Creamy Sandalwood, White Amber, Cashmere Musk.

For more information, visit www.bathandbodyworks.com.

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SBX

bazaar scopes

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22

TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20

Remember that you're here to have fun, and happiness is your true destiny. Keep this in mind, as forces may tend to pull you away from the fun you've been having. There may be a rather sobering tone that's stubbornly trying to rain on your parade. Recognize the need for structure and stability, but don't let it bring you down.

Your romantic side is powerfully charged. The more you tune in to this side of your nature, the happier you will be.

The one thing to watch out for is keeping at least one foot on the ground at all times. Work from a stable platform of honesty and practicality. Without this foundation, you will be hard pressed to establish any walls or windows.

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21

You will recognize and appreciate the need for structure and stability. This practical energy may work to take away some of the fun out of the equation. You may not realize it, but the fun in your life may be getting chipped away little by little.

Hold tight to the things that give you passion and purpose in life. These are the keys to healthy living.

Attend to your duties. There's a pronounced sense of time and a feeling that the days are slipping away.

Make sure you fit love and romance into the equation.

At first you may experience a bit of resistance in this department, but see that as an indication that this is an area of your life that you need to explore and ultimately feel more comfortable with.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22

CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22

Tension may build if you aren't careful about how you use your words. Remember that forces are trying to push you one way and pull you another.

You may encourage a focus on the collective while others seem too worried about themselves. Yet another force is calling for outdated remedies and traditional structures that no longer suit your purposes. Blaze your own trail.

Two different sides may tug on you, and neither one may really make a strong case for pulling you one way or the other. Realize that adjustments may have to be made for you to fit in with the scheme of things and fulfill your duties and responsibilities. A close loved one may distract you in subtle ways, so try not to get sidetracked if you can help it.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 – DEC 21

Tension may be a bit high with everyone and everything you encounter. There will be a strong need for stability and discipline, while others call for fun and frivolity. You may be caught in the middle. The worst thing is that no side, including yours, is going to want to compromise.

Try not to take things too seriously.

Take a look at what's going on around you, and do some internal processing before you reach a conclusion regarding the best way to proceed.

You may find that a combination of powerful forces is trying to win you over to their camp.

Don't pigeonhole yourself into one way of doing things. Keep in mind that the best route is often a combination of several different paths.

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18

Just when you thought you had everything planned and working smoothly, love comes in and clogs up the works. Suddenly your attention is diverted from work as the love of your life catches your eye. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on how you view it. Remember that both aspects of your life are important. The key now is to find a healthy balance between the two.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 Watch out for a jolt in the action, as someone close to you puts on the brakes in a relationship.

There could be conflicts based on a need for more structure and stability in the partnership. The imbalance between having fun and taking care of practical matters is currently working to slowly destroy the good thing that you have going. Nip this problem in the bud.

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 20 Your heart is going pitter-pat, and you're tempted to escape into a romantic fantasyland in which you play the starring role. The bad news is that something may be trying to hold you back. It could be that your conscience is coming on the scene to remind you that work needs to be done before you can go off into your own little fairytale world.

ARIES MAR 21 – APR 19 You may feel a bit of a strain as you try to figure out the best way to get to where you need to be. The happy, jovial approach tells you to let loose, be courageous, and strike out with conviction toward the things that mean the most to you. A sense of duty and restriction may be holding you back. www.horoscope.com 108

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