bazaar jan 2018 issue

January 2018 | Issue # 222 www.bazaar.town

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Int It’s funny how we all take it for granted that years/numbers actually change things on the ground. It’s now 2018 which means it’s going to be very different from 2017, right? The economy is magically going to fix itself overnight. Our bad habits are going to change overnight. Bold resolutions are going to be made and stuck to. Weight is going to be lost. Gyms are going to be flooded with newcomers. Drastic life decisions are going to be made. The entire world is going to stop smoking. Everyone’s going to become a Bitcoin millionaire. No more war. Peace. What a wonderful world it would be. The reality is of course that after a couple of weeks, 99% of you (and me) are all going to go back to doing exactly what we were all doing before we made our bold resolutions, and life will go on as usual. Maybe what we need to start working on are monthly resolutions that are less grand, and that take shorter amounts of time to achieve, and that have a higher chance of succeeding!

The bazaar team...

We’re all about humble goals here at bazaar, like putting out an amazing January issue and a fantastic Dining and Entertainment Guide to kick start the New Year!

Loved the cover for our 2018 Dining and Entertainment Guide? Then, you will love meeting the talent behind the beautiful photograph, Nader Marafi, in this issue.

Learn all about our collaboration with the self-taught photographer, what makes him tick, and his goals. From photography, we move center stage and get up close and personal with the vibrant, witty and passionate force behind the renowned community theater troupe Staged in Kuwait, Tim Waddell. Want to kick start your health kick?

Our conversation with Believe Nutrition founder Faisal Alshawa will get you on the right track! Interested in taking up veganism in 2018? Reem Al-Gharabally presents us with an explorative piece that highlights the movement’s growth in Kuwait.

Design

From inspiring people to dining destinations that will tantalize your taste buds, we invite you to join us in this issue as we take a beautiful drive to The Bistro at Miral Complex to try out their new menu additions. With incredible sea views and delicious menu offerings, we were quite impressed. From Miral Complex to Marina Mall, we heard rumors of a Kabab Festival happening at Kababji, and dutifully went to check it out. Prepare yourself for delectable Kabab offerings like never before.

Because we like to level out the dining playing field, and we know that you plan on having a lazy lie-in this New Year’s Day, we advise you to check out delivery-only concept Aromi for some of the best made-from-scratch pasta you can find in Kuwait.

Still looking for something to do? Well, we did the groundwork for you, and met up with Cozmo CEO and Co-Founder Jamal Dashti to talk about Kuwait’s favorite entertainment hub and how, 15 years on, they’ve perfected the formula for creating family-fun experiences for the masses.

Boss Ahmed El-Adly

Operations Tim Burns

Business Development Ihab Mokalled

Content Coordinator Yasmine El Charif

Mixed Media Solutions Jennifer Cádiz Ahmed Al-Ashab

Staff Writer/Online Media Amira Haroun

Staff Writer Yasmine Dalloul

Online Producer/Project Manager Umika Pidaparthy

Communications Hala Y. Sharara

Editor Alia Al Duaij

Contributing Writers Faris Almussallam George Tarabay Jamie Etheridge Natasha Feghali Nejoud Al Yagout Reem Al-Gharabally Sama Al-Refai Dr. Susannah Joy Schuilenberg

Contributing Photographers Muneera Alkhulaifi

Syndicates & Sources Happy Reading!

Ahmed El-Adly

Baraka Bits Fast Company Kingdome.co LA Times MCT International Newsweek

Printing British Industries for Printing and Packaging

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w w w. b p aw w. c o m The views expressed in bazaar magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff (but sometimes they are).

tel.2571 6122 info@bazaar-magazine.com www.bazaar.town | Zahra Complex, Salmiya. 8th floor, office 35 @bazaargram bazaarmagazine @bazaartweets

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INDEX JANUARY 2018 22

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70

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TIM WADDELL

FAISAL ALSHAWA

THE BISTRO MAIS ALGHANIM

SELF CARE IN 2018

Up Close and Personal gets theatrical this month with the vibrant, witty and passionate force behind the renowned community theatre troupe, Staged In Kuwait, Tim Waddell.

In this issue, Tim walks us through the loops and trenches of life that always led him back to where he wanted to be all along: on stage.

Making plans to get healthy in 2018? Faisal Alshawa has a wholesome agenda to get locals eating right, moving and feeling great about themselves. The beauty of it all is like Faisal, getting to your goals under the guidance of Believe Nutrition isn’t complicated.

The Bistro is one of our favorite locales to enjoy a good meal at, coupled with a great ambiance, so any time they have anything new on the menu, we get really excited to dig in! Featuring different culinary pleasures from European to Asian and all in between, read our experience from this tasty review.

“Self Care” shouldn’t just be defined as chocolate cake, goodies and bubble baths – it’s about responsibility, good health, and getting things done. While we all want to have a happy 2018, frivolity won’t get you anywhere in achieving that goal. Listen to some of our inhouse pearls of wisdom for a healthy New Year.

AROMI

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JAMAL DASHTI

54 HELIFAN

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KABABJI'S KABAB FESTIVAL

Have you tried Aromi yet? We make a comeback with eating in this 2018, and our topic of the month is this gorgeous, made-from-scratch pasta concept! Their range of dishes are as addictive as they are delicious. We should know! We tried the whole menu!

The CEO and co-founder of Cozmo, Kuwait’s favorite entertainment outlet, excels at taking matters into his own hands when it comes to creating family-fun experiences for the masses! With 15 years of experience on his resumé, that says a lot about him as a leader.

Read all about Cozmo's 2018 the surprise!

Warmer months are ahead, which makes now the perfect time to get your hands on the hottest cooling mechanism of 2018!

More than “just a fan”, Helifan was designed for people like us: those who want to sit outside without feeling uncomfortable in the scorching heat.

The Kabab Festival is on! Join us in our ultimate New Year’s resolution to enjoy as many different types of kebab we can get our hands on, all courtesy of Kababji – one of our favorite spots to frequent. But be warned: there’s some mouthwatering goodness in there!

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

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

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

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

4 Boutique Alghanim Marine Alghanim Showrooms - Safat Al Rai, Shuweikh, Sharq, Fahaheel beau-Tique cosmetics British Embassy Brush Salon CAP Gallery Cookie Dough Dar Al Funoon Dar.Nur Gold Class Lounge - Grand Cinemas Al Hamra Italian Center Jacques Dessange Salon, Shaab KAICO Kuwait Airport Business Class Lounges N Style Nail Lounge Media Elephant Pink Moon Boutique Sultan Gallery THE One The Chairman's Club USA Embassy

Schools & Universities American International School American University of Kuwait Australian College Kuwait Bayan School (Hawalli) Boxhill College BSK - British School of Kuwait Universal American School

Kuwait University Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks

Khaldiya Adeliya Jabriya Shuwaikh

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efashion

what's on January 2018

THE HUMAN CAPITAL Date: January 24 - 25 Location: Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre Hosted by Nuqat, the two-day forum: “The Human Capital” will comprise of talks and panels from speakers in different fields, with a common vision to highlight the importance of investing in creativity for social impact. Registration is now open on the Nuqat website and seats are limited. You only need to register once to get access to all the talks and performances planned for this two-day event!

For more information, and to register, visit www.nuqat.me.

KUWAIT AVIATION SHOW 2018 Date: January 17th-20th Location: Kuwait International Airport The importance of the Arabian Gulf has been increasing steadily over the last two decades. Strategically located between the West and the East, the GCC aviation industry has shown impressive and consistent growth rates while outperforming most other regional markets around the globe. Supported by the constant increase in global aviation markets along with the generally liberalized approach by the countries of the GCC will ensure the continuation of this positive trend in the years and decades to come. This growth is evident in not only the region’s airlines but also with the wider aerospace sectors, constant investment in new airport facilities, growing aviation infrastructure requirements and increasing defense spending by the region’s countries providing an attractive market proposition to companies from across all segments of the global aerospace industry.

For more information, and to get tickets, visit http://kuwaitaviationshow.com.

SADU REIMAGINED Date: January 25th-29th Location: Sadu House In 1988 Sadu House asked distinguished Kuwaiti artist, Sami Mohammad, to participate in the experiment of developing tradition sadu textiles by introducing modern artistic designs. The outcome was superb and added to the craft technically and culturally. With 2018 marking the 30th anniversary of this great artistic experiment and in cooperation with Al Qurain Cultural Festival, the exhibition aims to highlight this experiment aimed at preserving and developing cultural heritage and re-adapting it in the contemporary framework. Sadu house will be bringing some of Sami Mohammed's old sadu sketches to life, through woven pieces by Master Weavers. The exhibition will also showcase pieces on loan from private collections as well as the works of contemporary artists, inspired by Mohammad’s sadu related work.

You can find Sadu House on the Gulf Road, Kuwait City. For more information pleaae call 2243 2395.

POSTCRAFT EXHIBITION Date: 10 - 25 January 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Contemporary Art Platform BD Barcelona Design is celebrating creativity from the Arab world through the PostCraft Collection, a special design collection and exhibition curated by Samer Yamani, a Syrian / Spanish designer based in Barcelona.

The collection is designed by five designers from five countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

BD Barcelona Design and Design establishments from Jeddah - Saudi Arabia, Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain support five local talents to develop and produce a design piece under the name of PostCraft Collection. Following the launch at BD Barcelona Design’s London Showroom on October 13th 2017, the PostCraft Collection exhibition will tour these cities in the GCC during 2017 and 2018.

CAP is located at Shuwaikh Industrial, Block 2, Street 28. For more information on this event, and many others, visit www.capkuwait.com.

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ZITAAT

what's trending January 2018

What: @hadeetik Info: A hip new alternative to male gifting.

Editor’s Note: Because men don’t want flowers!

What: @peakfit Info: A women’s only gym with a range of eclectic classes, PT, and full workout equipment.

Editor’s Note: We’ve got our eye on this one for 2018!

What: @vegan.kuwait Info: Kuwait’s go-to vegan source for products in Kuwait.

Editor’s Note: Going vegan? This will help.

What: @goodstuff_kw Info: An adorable restaurant with a completely air baked menu!

Editor’s Note: The husband and wife team behind this make the best “fries”.

What: @mahaghalayini Info: Gorgeous and elegant Kamayas, handcrafted and versatile.

Editor’s Note: Winter 2018 collection dropping soon!

www.bazaar.town

What: @meetyourmatcha Info: An online shop supplying you with all your matcha and Japanese tea needs.

Editor’s Note: The perfect way to jumpstart your 2018 health goals.

What: @argansquare Info: Salmiya's newest space for dining, strolling, and creativity.

Editor’s Note: Check out the gorgeous graffiti painted on walls throughout!

What: @cozmo_group Info: Kuwait’s leading hub for family fun and entertainment experiences.

Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for the biggest surprise Kuwait’s ever seen coming this February!

As much as we work our hardest to give you one rocking print issue after the other, we’re socially active (or try our best to be, we are bazaar humans after all) and we love it!

Find us online: It makes our day when we see your tweets/mentions/likes/comments/shares about your favorite features and more.

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beautique 1

January Promotions Buy 1 get 1 FREE on label.m Treatments Spend 20KD on label.m Products & receive a FREE designer umbrella 10% OFF on label.m Gift Sets 30% OFF Mani & Pedi Combo Opening hours 10:00AM to 7:00PM 7 days a week.

Villa TONI&GUY, CLIFFS Residential Tower, Block 9, Baghdad St., Lane 7, Bldg 638, Salmiya 6616 6966 or 2572 3381 TONI&GUY Hairdressing for Ladies and Gents, Al Corniche Club, Al Shaab Al Bahary, Gulf Road 6617 8889 or 2566 3286 toniandguykw toniandguykw toniandguykw toniandguykuwait.com

RETHINKING SELF CARE FOR 2018 The better way to stabilize sanity By bazaar staff

Does any of this sound familiar?

You have so much to do, or a goal you’ve been working towards, but you find yourself straying towards negative habits to soothe yourself of exhaustion? Like clockwork, you drop your plans, drop your goals, drop your healthy eating or that important event you didn’t really want to go to but knew that being present for would advance your career, and you pour yourself some bubble bath, order a pizza, and Snapchat it all with the caption #selfcare.

We’re all guilty of indulgent #selfcare hashtags.

But the dangerous thing here is that what has turned into pop culture selfcare is actually self-destruction, because we’re crossing the line of treating ourselves to falling into traps that provide an outcome that is in fact, the opposite of this preached “self-care”.

Think about it: if you were really engaging in “self-care” rituals – would you actually be eating chocolate cake? No! Chocolate cake is absolutely terrible for you and provides no nutritional value whatsoever. Between sugar, fat, artificial ingredients and - let’s face it - more chocolate, you’re practically clogging your arteries and insides with unneeded chemicals and calories. If you were actually serious about self-care, you’d make the darn cake yourself, and think of wholesome ingredients to replace the deadly regular ones with.

It isn’t even about a small factor such as weight – it’s about internal health, which is necessary for you to survive. Ergo, “self-care”.

What about ditching everyday essential responsibilities in favor of self-care? Let’s say you’re a freelancer with a huge deadline due in a few days, but you find yourself too cold and tired and hungry to come home from work and throw yourself into even more work. Trust me, I know how easy it is to pop yourself some popcorn, throw yourself on the couch and turn on Gilmore Girls just telling yourself “I had a hard day at work today!

Self-care!” The problem is, that self-care is actually self-carelessness, because the purpose of extra work is to make and save more money, putting off your work heightens the risk of compromising its quality, which could disappoint your clients and prevent them from requesting more work from you. If you however, buckle down and do your work with a “slow and steady wins the race” mentality, 18

respecting your looming deadline, you’ll avoid conflict in the long run and be able to present your clients with adequate work.

All of this preaching isn’t to school you, dear reader, towards the more practical ways of life.

It is however, meant to encourage you to make better choices and to consider how overly spoiling yourself can affect you negatively in the long run.

To avoid such errors, take a look at some positive Self-Care ideas that work for your wellbeing, rather than the temporary (yet extremely satisfying on the surface) options that end up working against you.

Massages in favor of bubble baths Both are equally soothing, but a bubble bath is silly, and does nothing for the environment. A massage, however, has no way of negatively effecting the environment, and is actually a healthy alternative to exercise to get your blood running and flowing.

Leisurely walks rather than shopping Walking is free, shopping isn’t. Both give a rush of accomplishment, but you’ll almost always experience buyer’s remorse, or you’ll spend too much and overly justify. Rather than clouding your judgment in crowded malls or online shopping platforms, clear your head and get some fresh air by walking outside.

Family time rather than solo Netflix and Chilling Look, downtime is important – I’m not saying it isn’t. But if you live at home, spend time with your parents. They won’t be around for much longer, and you’re going to miss those precious moments once you move out and go your separate ways. While a solo Netflix binge is a nice thing to indulge in every now and then, it has a dangerous way of turning into an isolated habit, which will turn you socially awkward, and into a couch potato.

Cooking versus ordering out We’re all tempted to say “screw it, I’m ordering

a pizza”, but in my experience, teaching yourself how to make that pizza from scratch is far more rewarding. You know exactly what’s going in it, you end up eating less, and believe me, the process of creation is so fun!

Cleanses and detoxes I just felt the need to put this in here because I always do them. They really do wonders for your soul! Might I recommend the Whole30 Challenge?

Socializing instead of staying in This is a little controversial, because we’ve turned into a generation that’s proud to boast how much we hate going out. It’s not that bad, guys, and it reduces the FOMO factor. What’s more, is that when you go out and try new things and surround yourself with different people, you never know what opportunities may come from it. You could find yourself making a new best friend, finding your future partner, or even a new business venture!

Not to say that you should never ditch going out in favor of staying in for some #selfcare, but don’t make a habit of it. Besides, if you absolutely hate the environment, you can always leave.

Those are just a few tips to start your 2018 selfcare routines off on the right foot. Remember, we’re all fans of indulgence every now and then, even if it does mean making a cake out of a Betty Crocker box rather than crouching in front of google for an hour to find a vegan nondairy sugar free paleo alternative just to satisfy a craving. However, it doesn’t mean we should let it run, or ruin our lives, and we definitely shouldn’t slap on a #selfcare hashtag to justify what is purely irresponsible behavior. As human beings, we’re meant to be productive, not spoiled and lazy.

Happy New Year!

centerpoint

A DAY AT THE FARM

Kuwait boasts a growing number of lovely, lush visitor-friendly farms

By Jamie Etheridge

One of my favorite winter activities in Kuwait is a visit to the farm. When you think of Kuwait, most people think either of the sea or the desert. But tucked along the border region to the north and to the south are a growing number of lush green oasis hidden just off the highway.

We made our first foray into Kuwait’s countryside in 2013 with a visit to Yasmin Farms. At that time, the farm wasn’t really as developed as now and hadn’t been set up for visitors. But the late owner, Mr. Jamil AlSultan was kind enough to indulge a mom who wanted her kids to ‘explore’ a farm and get so fresh air. So he agreed, when asked, if we might wander about, check out the cows and buy some milk and cheese.

Four years later and winter trips to the farm are now de rigueur for my family. Like ‘Yes Day’, my girls wait all year for the chance to go exploring. They love the fields of green, the chance to see real life farm animals and to just spend a day away from the urban sprawl of concrete, paved roads and city life.

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Last year we visited two farms in Wafra and the year before that two in Al-Abdaly. Both have lots of beautiful countryside, though you can find more farms in Al-Abadly that are open to the public. The drive to Wafra takes about 45 minutes from Kuwait City and to Al-Abdaly around an hour.

Even the drive up can be fun. I always pack a range of snacks (fruit and chips usually) as well as toys, games and other car-friendly distractions. We sing songs or play road trip games to pass the time. We always stop to take photos of the camels grazing along the side of the highway. If there’s been rain, for sure, the desert will be carpeted with the yellow sunniness of fresh arfaj and alnowair flowers.

The pent up energy from the road trip spills over just as we pull into our destination and for the next few hours, the girls scramble all over the farm. They may be running and playing with other kids or simply exploring the countryside.

Escaping to the farm is like leaving Kuwait just for the day. The air is fresher, cleaner somehow. There is also a quiet impossible to find in the city. Most of the public farms allow you to walk around and a long, quiet stroll is a great way to stretch your legs after an hour’s drive. Some farms allow fruit or vegetable picking (like

Al-Bohayra) and in others farms, there are activities like bon fires or small petting zoos or even bike rentals and farmer’s markets.

Want to visit a farm? Here are a few open to the public: •Sadeer Farms in Al-Abdaly (9444 4911) – usually open on weekends for tours. They offer farm tours, fresh, farmer’s market and yummy food and have other activities for the whole family.

•Yasmin Farms in Wafra (www.kuwaitagro.com) – open 8am-8pm, seven days a week. They have a petting zoo and play area for kids. Also you can ride a cart or walk around the farm and buy fresh produce from their local shop.

•Al-Bohayra (Blue Lake) Farm in Al-Abdaly (5505 8663) – offers strawberry picking (seasonal), fresh veggies, a children’s play around and a chance to tour the farm. They also rent tents for the day and a shop for fresh food.

•Bab Dokalh (6665 3910 or 9940 3434) – Large petting zoo farm in Al-Abdaly with a range of animals.

Open for tours.

Jamie Etheridge is a writer and mom of two and the founder/editor of @KuwaitMomsGuide.

Royal hayat

up close & personal

Theater Will Make You Happy How SIK’s Tim Waddell followed his passion By bazaar staff

It’s a tradition as old as time, for men and women to take to the stage. Theater has been an outlet for many over the course of history, from ancient Greece to the Renaissance, to the Victorian age and postmodernism, it has been proven that acting has been one of the greatest, most cathartic forms of expression that benefits not only the audience, but the performers, directors, and crew as well. For Tim Waddell, this passion has chased him throughout the course of his life.

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Tim is truly a remarkable character, with many skills and talents under his belt. Since arriving in Kuwait in 1996 Tim has been a teacher, a web developer, an independent marketer, a magazine editor, and a key player in the growth of one of Kuwait’s largest travel brands across the region.

Quite a varied CV. By his own admission he was “Lucky! One of those annoying kids who never struggled in school. For whom academia was easy. It just didn’t stimulate me in the same way as the Arts. I was always the creative child!”

Tim’s relationship with the theater is a lifelong romance. As a child, he’d frequent the theater with his parents. His breakout role came at the ripe old age of ten, cast as one of the Factory Boys in a production of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield in his hometown, Broadstairs, during the annual Dickens festival. For the already-fascinated young Tim, stepping onto a stage, outside of school, was the moment when the theater “bug” really took hold. From that point forward his downtime as a teen was spent volunteering with local theater

SIK preforms Beauty and the Beast

companies and performing at children’s parties and hotel cabarets as a magician. Earning his pocket money. Honing his craft.

As he neared the end of his schooling, he was expected to continue his education at university, following the Sciences into genetic engineering, or something similar. But instead, defying, and then compromising with his parents, he settled on a degree in Education with a concentration in Music and Drama. “I had to agree to the Education degree because it promised a career down the line,” he laughs fondly. “It was quite a fight at the time, but I knew I had to follow my heart if I was going to happy!”

While most would return home from university for the holidays, excited to reconnect with friends, Tim would work long, lonely, summers as a performer on the cross channel boats that ran from Dover to Calais, and spend Christmas vacations performing twice daily with Girling Productions, the local professional theater troupe, in their seasonal pantomimes. “I was living the dream. I was studying for my degree but performing every opportunity I could. It was a wonderful time in my life. Little did he know then, that he would be

soon be bringing that experience to Kuwait, where his passion for performing and pantomime could continue to flourish in the tiny desert nation.

Flash forward a few years, and Tim Waddell arrives to Kuwait to teach at the Kuwait International English School in 1996. Though committed to his work as an educator, his first goal was to find an outlet for his real passion, theater. “I came across Kuwait Little Theater, which had been going for almost fifty years, but was just getting back on its feet after the invasion.” He auditioned for their upcoming production of the pantomime, Aladdin, and was delighted to land the part of Widow Twankey, the panto Dame. “I felt about 25 years too young to play it at the time.” Tim admits.

“But I was determined to make it my own and draw on the fantastic experience I had grown up with back home.” And so a monumental friendship with Kuwait’s community theater was formed.

For the next fifteen years, Tim directed, produced and performed in countless performances with the KLT, but the time and energy that community theater requires was taking a toll and in 2012 Tim fell out with the theatre over what he describes as “overzealous censorship” and lack of support.

"Art isn’t meant to be safe. Or simply ‘Entertaining’. There’s a line we all have to walk in respect to not offending others’ beliefs, but the committee who ran KLT became so preoccupied with not offending anyone that they began inventing reasons that people ‘might’ be offended. If you sanitize something to the point that NO-ONE can be offended by ANYTHING then you really have nothing left. The process and the product become stale.

It was at that point I knew I needed to go off in a different direction.”

Tim pulled the show he had been producing at the time, (the eighth in an annual series of songsfrom-the-shows style concerts), from the KLT lineup. He returned his keys to the little theater that had been his second home for fifteen years, and hit his computer. Drawing on other strings from his bow he created a brand identity, a website, and social media accounts, and, overnight, launched Staged in Kuwait; an independent community theatre group under which, he would stage the show that KLT felt was ‘inappropriate’.

Fast forward five years and, while KLT has closed its doors and folded, SIK has gone from strength to strength, extending to the public a yearly pantomime, [Continued...]

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a musical, improv comedy nights, and drama classes – all under Tim’s leadership. Staying true to the sentiment of true community ventures, it costs absolutely nothing for members of the public to be involved in SIK activities: just time, dedication, and a positive attitude. “Community theater is made by, and for, the local community,” Tim says thoughtfully.

“People get involved for many reasons. For some it is purely social. For some it is about developing confidence, or learning a craft. But for all, along the way, they create friendships and bonds that are real and rewarding. There is something truly special about community theatre. About doing something for love, not money.”

Indeed, the word “professional” is somewhat of a dirty word in Tim’s vocabulary in the context of community theater. “I hate seeing the word ‘professional’ bandied about as a label of quality.

It isn’t. ‘Professional’ should be used to denote that’s how you earn your living. Not how expert you think you are. I am exceptionally proud that all our performers are ‘amateurs’ with professional careers. That they give so much time and energy to our activities for something greater than a paycheck.

Community theatre is about passion, but more than that it is about teamwork, and sacrifice.”

Beyond being a time-consuming past-time, Tim’s work in Community Theater is evidently a labor of love, and with each season, that love is seen in the brilliant work the SIK community does. From last May’s impressive production of Beauty and the Beast, (a show Tim is extremely proud of, because “I just can’t believe we pulled it off!” he said giddily with a huge grin) to the recent pantomime, Puss in Boots, SIK, with Tim’s direction and dedication, continues to bring magic into our lives.

With barely time to breathe between one show and the next, he is now prepping for the 2018 Spring Musical The Drowsy Chaperone, which will be holding auditions this month. It goes without saying that our humble guest is extremely busy, but very fulfilled. “There’s a saying I love: ‘Movies will make you famous, television will make you rich, but theater will make you happy.’ Fame is all relative, and I learned in my 40s, that money really doesn’t make me happy. So I’m looking forward to another next decade or two of theater. It’s the one place I am always happy.” And he certainly looks it.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Impatience. I want everything done yesterday.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Laziness – or Arrogance.

What would you consider your greatest achievement?

Making it to 40. I have long suffered from depression and for many years thought that I wouldn’t get this far.

Which living person do you most admire?

Inspirational leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Barack Obama inspire me. People who try to be the change that they want to see in the world.

What is your most treasured possession?

My family.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE

What is your greatest extravagance?

I don’t really have one. Maybe technology.

What do you most value in your friends?

Honesty. Good or bad. I don’t want to be surrounded by "Yes" men.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“One more time!”

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I am rarely happier than when I am on stage. I just disappear into another place that I really can’t explain.

What is your greatest fear?

Being old and incapable.

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[...Continued]

theater. But I quite like my current job!

What is it that you most dislike?

Capitalism.

Which talent would you most like to have?

To be able to dance.

If you could have any job, what would it be? I would love to direct a show in a large West End

What is your most marked characteristic?

I used to be a perfectionist. I’m getting better at being happy with ‘suitably average’.

Where would you most like to live?

In the USA in the 1890s when Vaudeville was at its peak.

What are your favorite words to live by?

“Enjoy life – This is not a rehearsal!”

Interested in community theatre? Visit SIK’s website at: www.stagedinkuwait.com. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @stagedinkuwait.

Photos by Dhari Al Fozan.

bleems

GET THE LOOK!

label.m Educator Max Lamparter visits TONI&GUY Kuwait By bazaar staff

Last month, beautique cosmetics intl. held an event for beloved brand label.m inviting International label.m Educator, Max Lamparter, to share his product knowledge and hair-cutting/styling expertise at the TONI&GUY Kuwait Salon, Villa branch. Special guests from various male and female salons attended to witness the artist at work, taking on board his tips and tricks to make hairstyling in the new year an absolute breeze!

Label.m Professional Haircare was created

by TONI&GUY’s Toni Mascolo and his daughter Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck to compliment the artistic execution of hairstyling within the beauty industry. With over 60 high-performance products across the ranges, the formulas with their exclusive technologies solidified its presence at London Fashion Week as the official sponsor, setting the hair trends year after year. We loyally follow their latest hair trends, and keep rushing back to TONI&GUY’s two amazing locations at Villa and Corniche to recreate those London Fashion Week looks for ourselves.

A part of the TONI&GUY family since 2001, Max Lamparter has worked at the Knightsbridge and Regent Street salons and quickly moved into management at the Covent Garden salon.

Originally Argentinian, but considering himself as a citizen of the world by spirit, Max has based himself in Barcelona, Spain as he continuously travels around the world sharing his dynamic energy and passion for the industry.

With Max Lamparter’s visit, beautique cosmetics intl. launched the GET THE LOOK campaign, teaching participating guests how to achieve the results of the look they want by firstly understanding the desired look, and more importantly, understanding the hair type they are working with. From there, Max went on to offer participants a full tutorial to fully understand all of the amazing styling products at their disposal in order to successfully mix and match products from the label.m ranges to ‘Get The Look!’

By using a unique medley of sprays, powders to mousses to achieve a suitable cocktail of strengths for optimum effects to get the desired look of choice, all the participants were intrigued by his teachings!

To start off the event, Max began cutting the first model’s hair as he explained the process of his vision, step by step, which still seemed quite abstract, until the haircut began taking form.

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Guests “oohed” and “aaahed” in response, mesmerized by the magic styling taking place right in front of their eyes. The demonstrations continued throughout the day, with ten models in total having their hair refreshed with trims the previous day in preparation for the event.

Between the demonstrations, attendees had the chance to mingle, take photos and speak with Max one-on-one. Some of the salons, having been devotees of label.m for more than seven years, were elated at the chance to have their questions answered and to get exclusive insights on brand new product launches.

The event finished off just as it started,

with a haircut! All the guests gathered, as Max called out each salon to hand them a certificate to honor their attendance. Due to the success, beautique cosmetics intl will be inviting Max back very soon, so keep your eyes peeled for this space!

label.m is exclusively distributed by beautique cosmetics international and is available at Toni&Guy Salons. For more information please call 2225 1285 or visit www.beautiquecosmeticsintl.com.

Follow them on Instagram @beautiquecosmetics for the latest updates!

beautique 2

Buy 1 get 1 FREE on label.m Treatments Spend 20KD on label.m Products & receive a FREE designer umbrella Available at TONI&GUY Cliffs, TONI&GUY Al Corniche and other specially appointed salons.

Exclusively distributed by beautique cosmetics int’l. Call for more info 2225 1285 beautiquecosmeticsinlt.com beautiquecosmetics beautiquekuwait beautiquecosmetics 27

CAREEMING AHEAD!

The transport app giving you more for less By bazaar staff

Our day to day lives don’t change just because we have gone through the holidays and spent more than we should on gifts for friends and loved ones. We still have to get from A to B and sometimes it is just not feasible to drive ourselves where we need to be, or reliably get a lift or use public transport. At least Careem is looking out for us! With trips now charged at 30% less than before, it is even more affordable to use the Careem car app service. Savings are always a blessing in the New Year.

With more than one hundred cars now in the Careem fleet, you are guaranteed an even speedier response and broader range of service than ever before. Each car and captain has to undergo a strict quality standards test, where more than ten factors determine whether or not the highest standards required by Careem are met. At the very least the cars can be no older than a 2015 model, the interior condition must be in good working order and smell fresh and the exterior must have an excellent finish. You can also relax while travelling as each car has GPS navigation, so the driver will pick you up exactly where you are, and drop you off exactly where you need to be, efficiently and with no fuss.

All car captains undergo a strict pre-recruitment quality check and during service regularly undergo stringent mystery shopper and other user feedback processes. You can trust the choice of captain made by Careem as they keep all the required driver details on display at all times and up-to-date in their service records too. Each captain also must perform well through training in order to graduate into service for Careem. This means they have a better understanding of the user experience with the app itself, how the app works technically as well as what the various customer expectations are of the service and of the captains themselves. Something to be proud of is the existence of a mentorship program in Careem, where an experienced captain with excellent feedback scores and service history, advises those newer captains starting out on their journey with the business.

But it is not just in how Careem treats their fleet captains which is revolutionary. They have lofty goals for the user experience too. Ordering a Careem in Kuwait, should be the same as ordering a Careem in Dubai, a cab in London or a taxi in New York. A seamless journey from one place to another where your day experiences no interruption or upset. A neat little hack which makes the app even easier to use is a pin-prick marker, to mark out to Careem exactly

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where you are and where you’re going to. Those of us with stubbier fingers than others will enjoy this feature immensely. Pure precision!

There is no doubt that increased usage of Careem will mean a reduction in congestion on the roads. Why keep that second or third car in the house garage for occasional use, when you can have the convenience of a car whenever you want it. There is no risk of getting your car towed or you plates taken off for parking violations with Careem. As cars come into busy areas such as downtown and leave again, there won’t be the excessive demand for parking we see now, as the captains will move on to collect their next passenger.

There is also scope here for neighbors and workers to car-share, so they don’t have to endure all the stops they’d usually find with buses or company transport. It can be tough just splitting the cost of taxi journeys with multiple pick-ups, who pays what from which pick-up, but with the fare estimate given to you prior to booking the journey you can budget and share the cost equally. Also with with fewer cars on the road, using drivers who are committed to the drive and not worrying about anything else, the roads are safer environmentally as well as being physically

safer. Another key safety feature is that you no longer need to worry about trips with unknown drivers for your little ones. With Careem, forget being the driver of the house, and let the captains take care of those after-school activities for your kids while safely tracking them using the Careem app.

Finally, if you do have any more January events to go to, Careem is the perfect option. No more having to find parking far away from the venue and then trekking in the cold to get there in your best outfit.

No more driving in your party pumps damaging the stilettos. No more uncertain prices of unregulated taxis caught randomly on the street. Of course, if you are utterly exhausted after your night out, in a Careem car, you get to rest on the way home, confident the captain knows his way and the price has already been fairly estimated. Sage advice for the Scottish reelers for Burns Night on the 25th January of course! As the bard himself would say, here’s to the “great chieftain oh the pudden race”, Happy Burns Night!

Download the app today available on the iOS App Store for iPhone or Google Play Store for Android.

For more information visit www.careem.com.

MAX

U2 FOR OPTIMISM

Reaching the world with 'songs of experience'

By Mikael Wood

U2 isn’t kidding about the adventures and ordeals hinted at in the title of its new album.

Originally conceived as a quick follow-up to 2014’s Songs of Innocence, the repeatedly delayed Songs of Experience attempts to reflect three years full of surprising events, starting with the rocky reception “Innocence” got when the veteran Irish group dropped the record unbidden into the iTunes libraries of millions of Apple customers around the globe. After that came a bicycle accident in which Bono suffered serious injuries, and a stripped-down arena tour meant to reassert the band’s humility. Then there was the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom, followed

by Donald Trump’s election in the U.S., both of which Bono said required his lyrical attention.

Finally, U2 hit the road again this summer to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its landmark album, The Joshua Tree — a successful nostalgia trip that clearly left the band hankering for the kind of mass audience it played to when “The Joshua Tree” was fresh. Yet on “Songs of Experience,” U2 responds to all this not with pointed specifics (like those it employed on the highly detailed “Songs of Innocence”) but by going cheerfully universal; its answer to the suspicions and anxieties roiling 2017 is big, dumb optimism served up with immediacy to spare.

“Nothing to stop this being the best day ever,” Bono sings to open the album in the twinkling “Love Is All We Have Left.” Later, over the stomping march beat of “American Soul,” he tells a skeptic, “Could be too late, but we still gotta try.” Singalong-ready and set to tempos determined not to leave anyone behind, the record marks an explicit return to the spirit of U2’s ultra-earnest mid-’80s work, and also to that era’s eager commercial ambition.

No fewer than nine producers are credited on “Songs of Experience,” including Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, Danger Mouse and U2’s old collaborator Steve Lillywhite. You can hear all of their high-priced labor, too, in polished, carefully arranged tunes that gather bits of sonic sparkle as they ascend to explosive Roman-candle choruses.

Lady Gaga and the sisters of Haim contribute backing vocals at various points, and in “Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way,” one of the Chainsmokers even shows up to play keyboards.

Though the album’s sheen makes it easy to miss the daring textures of “Achtung Baby” and 2009’s underrated “No Line on the Horizon,” U2 can do high-gloss pop without sacrificing a 30

sense of human personality.

The Edge’s guitar sounds great reverberating over a sleek disco groove in “Get Out of Your Own Way,” while “Summer of Love” has a swaggering electro-R&B vibe. In the stately “The Little Things That Give You Away,” Bono’s voice hits notes you might’ve assumed he’d lost access to.

And rather than finish in full blaze, as you’d expect, the record closes instead with the smoldering “13 (There Is a Light),” a pretty, hymn-like reimagining of “Song for Someone” from “Songs of Innocence.”

But if Bono’s crowd-pleasing instinct still serves him as a singer and composer, his windblown sermonizing suggests he’s lost touch with the language of real uplift.

“One more push and I’ll be born again,” he sings in “Lights of Home,” just one of many cringe-worthy lines here, along with “Nothing’s stopping you except what’s inside” (from “Get Out of Your Own Way”) and “You’ve seen enough to know it’s children who teach” (from “You’re the Best Thing About Me”).

The worst, though, has to be the part in “American Soul” where he gets going on the importance of a home for the world’s unwanted: “For refugees like you and me / A country to receive us / Will you be my sanctuary?”

A pop star once capable of evoking brightness in dark times, Bono’s been through too much lately — we all have — for him to lay that claptrap on us.

ColeMan

truth or dare

A BETTER APPROACH

Believe Nutrition’s Faisal Alshawa on the science of food By bazaar staff

“Nutrition is easy, people just complicate it”, Believe Nutrition’s Faisal Alshawa tells me as I’ve just finished grilling him on the do’s and don’ts of nutrition: rules to follow in order to attain a healthy lifestyle and the “body of my dreams”. While maintaining his balanced, Zen demeanor, Faisal has graciously answered all my questions good-naturedly, throwing in a few laughs between thoughtful, honest and relatable responses. This conversation sums up what Faisal’s approach to healthy living is as a health consultant, and it’s with this attitude, he extends a system of his belief to those around him.

After gaining both a Bachelor’s and Masters degree in Sports Science, Believe Nutrition started off as a way for Faisal to share the science of nutrition and wellbeing to the masses. Though his initial focus during his studies was physiology, he found himself scored a gig as the Qatar’s Olympic soccer team’s nutritionist, managing a team of hungry athletes. This provided an eye-opening experience and a deeper appreciation for the science of food, what to eat, when to eat it, and why to eat it. In that, he himself learned a lot while in turn, influencing others towards the best possible choices. “I wanted to stray people away from the ‘lunchbox approaches’ of nutrition. The quick fixes, the crash and fad diets – there’s no such thing!”

And of course, spending all that time as a consultant built lots of bonds with those whom he would guide.

This isn’t an unusual side effect for coach and client relations, and Faisal carried the idea holding a bond in the journey of finding wellness with everyone he helps.

Though he started out small three years ago, just posting tips and food science facts to the public via a dedicated Instagram page, Believe has expanded towards him taking on clients for meal-plans, daily tips and guidance for them to benefit from, with his full emotional support. “I work on a habit-based curriculum that encourages positive changes in my clients' behaviour, through using visualization and other techniques.” Being present is a large part of said techniques, as Faisal prides himself in accesibility, even during the tough moments, where temptation slinks in to lead us astray. “I encourage them to keep me updated everyday with what’s going on. Even if they’re going out to eat, or invited to a party, they can take pictures and details of their options for my advice in return.”

That being said, Faisal doesn’t in any way, shape or form believe in sacrificing your zest for life and even your love for food in order to get healthy or stay healthy.

“It’s all about balance. I enjoy food, and I want people

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to keep enjoying food! No restrictions or constraints, just change your mindset. That’s the most important thing. But without changing your mindset, you’ll never reach your goal.”

That sounds super inspiring, Faisal. And if we’re doing it with someone as down to earth, supported and level minded as you, we’re into start “believing” nutrition.

TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE How would your mother describe you in one word?

Disciplined.

How would you describe your mother in one word?

Beautiful.

What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever

been asked?

“Do you ride camels to work?” Real talk.

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

Bungee Jumping What is your theme song?

Great question. Definitely a track by Kendrick Lamar called “Cut You Off”.

What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented?

Believe.

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

My preference is always living beachside, in a country

with lots of nature, blue skies and sunshine all year round. And what better place to provide this vibe than California? Definitely the dream!

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

“It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years” – Abraham Lincoln What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in?

Dolphin.

What do you miss about your childhood?

Being able to live my life with barely any responsibilities or expectations!

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

Hishi.

How would you describe your handshake in one word?

Firm.

What is the toughest part of your character?

If things don’t go my way or if I feel like something is getting in the way of my routine, growth or development, I tend to feel frustrated. I am working on being more flexible though!

Who is your favorite historical figure?

Mahatma Ghandi.

What in the world do you least desire?

Corn…I find absolutely no desire to eat it. And of course, it barely has nutritional value!

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

The ability to love. Whether loving yourself or loving others, I think we were put on this earth to love Why do you think most girls/guys like you?

I think I’m friendly and approachable and never put on a front. What you see is what you get, and I try always to be real and just be myself.

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

Healthy.

Follow Believe Nutrition on Instagram @believenutrition, and visit www.believenutrition.net for more information.

Faisal also writes for Fourteen magazine! Find his articles by visiting www.fourteenkuwait.com.

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A NEW YEAR, SAME OLD US It’s time for a change

By George Tarabay

If it’s possible to converse with every human that ever roamed, or continues to roam, this planet, you will notice several things: We all come from struggle; some are lazy; others are proactive about their dreams; some believe the earth is flat (what’s up with that, by the way?); some believe there are aliens watching over us. But through that sea of differences, you will notice that we are all connected in our obsession with what I would love to call ‘A Perfect Start.’

If it’s possible to converse with every human that ever roamed, or continues to roam, this planet, you will notice several things: We all come from struggle; some are lazy; others are proactive about their dreams; some believe the earth is flat (what’s up with that, by the way?); some believe there are aliens watching over us. But through that sea of differences, you will notice that we are all connected in our obsession with what I would love to call ‘A Perfect Start.’

At this point of the time-space continuum (by the way, this point for you is now, but for me it’s at least 10 days before you even started reading this…. mind blown?) you might be wondering: are there people who seriously believe the earth is flat? How can we eradicate them? Also, George, what on earth is ‘A Perfect Start’? To which I answer: Yes, there are people like that and believe you me, I am working on it.

Also, “A perfect start” is a term I coined (a bit of it actually, I “bit-coined” it. Pun score: a gazillion smaguillion) that reflects our inability to take decisive action the moment when we desire it. Like, when you state, “I’m starting the diet Monday”, or “I’ll start studying at 7 p.m.” Whatever the statement or desired action, we seem unable to start in the moment we desire it the most. Why? Because we are trained to like symmetry, and perfection in shape, we feel most comfortable when people tell us “let’s meet at 6”, but if someone tells us “want to meet at 6:17?” we feel that there is something genuinely wrong with them.

It’s like the value of time to us is linked to its value on the chart that describes it. Minutes one to nine are insignificant. We embed them in their closest value, be it zero or ten. Same goes for 11 to 19, 21 to 29 etc. If time wasn’t set at a certain decimally perfect mark, we rather waste those minutes than actually make use of them.

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The same applies for weekdays. Monday is King.

Every diet I have witnessed started on a Monday and ended on Monday afternoon. Even though the dietee (is that even a word?) made the claim on a Monday afternoon, he’d rather spend a full six days in bashful eating, instead of starting immediately, based solemnly on the premise: I start Monday, and today that is Monday is almost done, so I’ll start next week.

We’ve found comfort at the starting line of things, be it time, the week or the worse of them all the year, that we don’t even bother pushing through the race to see what the finish line looks like.

To me, New year’s resolutions are scary: I have witnessed many make bold claims, only to see those claims in shambles not two weeks later. And the horror you’re met with when you inquire, and you hear “I’ll try again next year”. That’s eleven months away!

You’re willing to waste eleven months on whatever you want to changed, rather than spending eleven months trying to push through with it? Why? Because it’s February? The second month of the year? Oh

My GOD! what would people say if you started on the second month of the year? Probably, nothing, because they’ll be busy loathing the shambles of their own decisions and resolutions.

Why waste time? On a personal note, I spent nine years in that loop, waiting for a Monday or New Year’s to drop the weight, until I realized that I have been doing the same mistake over and over again. You know what I did instead? I broke the cycle and had gastric sleeve surgery in 2017 (no symmetry there), in November (the 11th month? I must be crazy), on the 10th. Alright, I broke the cycle but I still love base decimal numbers! Sue me… on Monday.

Now, get up and attend to your desires. Every minute counts. Welcome 2018 with a head start.

George Tarabay is a local comedian and marketing expert. For his latest updates, follow him on Instagram @GeorgeTarabay. For more comic relief, check out George on Facebook.com/Georgethecomic.

Fantasy world

FINDING HOPE

By Nejoud Al Yagout

The Foundation of Hope was founded with an aim to help children in need. The foundation has not been limited to a particular cause, but lately provides hope for children whose families struggle to provide them with an education due to financial hardships; and has even donated funds to educational institutions (such as The Khalifa School) and centers (The Down Syndrome Society and Kuwait Psychiatric Hospital). Lately, the FOH is revamping its image and seeking to spread its tentacles in order to help more souls in need. One of the founding members, Elsie Quttaineh agreed to share more tidbits with us.

Every manifestation arises from a thought. Tell us about the thoughts that brought FOH to life.

It all started as a response to the tragedy of Ali Abbas, an Iraqi boy who suffered severe injuries when a rocket hit his home in 2003 during the Iraqi conflict. He was 12 years old when the attack killed 13 members of his family. Adding to this, Ali suffered extensive burns to his body and was left without both his arms. He was one of a group of children airlifted to Kuwait for urgent medical treatment as part of a humanitarian initiative of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. I was amongst a small group of ladies from the British Ladies Society (BLS) who went to visit him in the hospital. This young boy, in spite of his dire situation, was joking with us while fooling around in the hospital room skillfully negotiating a football while keeping his balance. Ali also learnt to paint with his feet and it was during one of our visit, the idea was born to feature his paintings on small notelets with his simple message to the world: “My paintings should be a symbol of peace. War should not happen.” The proceeds of these cards went to Ali and others like him. The Foundation of Hope was under the umbrella of BLS between 2003 until 2013 when we became an independent fully registered Charity at the Ministry of Social Affairs, The notelets were replaced with calendars, then we went on to produce diaries, but in today’s digital world, we feel that it is time to get back to the ‘drawing board’. In conclusion, as far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be of service to others.

People seem to be averse to giving money to charity these days because of the lack of transparency. How can you encourage people, who desperately want to help, to partake with their money fearlessly?

By paying personal visits to the different

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organizations that we target. People in general are very astute and I think they can easily pick up on the fact that we are serious and passionate in our mission to help others, especially children. We always provide the appropriate documentations upon receiving money, and evidence of where the money was spent.

This year, however, you decided to host more events, apart from the annual concert. What do you have in mind?

We had a night of poetry and music last month at QMC (Quttainah Medical Centre) where we launched our president Dr Adel Quttainah’s book titled “A Collection of Antique Medical and Surgical Instruments”. The proceeds from the book went to our charity. This year we are planning an event to take place either around Kuwait’s National day or Mother’s day.

Share a success story with us.

Over the past few years, the goals of the Foundation of Hope have shifted towards helping children who are intellectually challenged. Abdullah, aged seven, was inactive and unresponsive when Abeer Al-Khalid ( a co-founder) and I first met him. He was trapped in his own prison, unable to walk, unable to talk. Abdullah had, at this point, never received any

education from his family as they could not afford the fees for special education. The decision was not hard. We wanted to help this child by getting him into a specialized school. Today, Abdullah is a happy, outgoing child and is learning to stand and maybe walk in the future.

Is there anything you could say to our readers to galvanize them to start their own foundations (not necessarily charity-based)?

I recently came across these words, by Haemin Sunim, which resonated deeply within my heart; “I wish you could see my true nature. Beyond my body and labels, There is a river of tenderness and vulnerability. Beyond stereotypes and assumptions, There is a valley of openness and authenticity.

Beyond memory and ego, There is an ocean of awareness and compassion.” If only mankind would realize that we are all connected, we are all souls on a journey. We are all here on Earth to learn, to love and support one another and thus evolve.

You can follow the Foundation of Hope on Instagram @fohkuwait or on their Facebook page: Foundation of Hope. You can follow Nejoud on social media @nejoud.alyagout or visit her website www.nejoudalyagout.com.

Kidzania The Ultimate

Winter Wonderland Is Back!

December 14, 2017 - February 28, 2018

THRILLING WINTER ROLLER SLIDE

TAKE A TWIRL ON THE SKATING RINK

CHILL IN THE ICE CAVE

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HELSINKI FINGER FOOD

Haute farm-to-table in Finland’s Olo

by Faris Almussallam

When one thinks of Helsinki, Finland, one might immediately tend to the stereotypes: reindeer, cold winters, snow, saunas, northern lights, Santa Claus, etc. What one rarely thinks of, is the high end gastronomy offered over there. Don’t forget that with Finland’s abundant farmlands, one can assume that with that great food comes as a direct result.

One of the restaurants I booked was Olo, which is the Finnish word for “feeling”. The chosen word was quite apt, as the culinary journey would bring up a number of feelings along the way – astonishment, wonder, curiosity, and the feeling of tasting deliciousness – whatever that word is.

Situated just across from the main harbour, I walked the pleasant 15 minute stroll from my hotel to the restaurantand was immediately welcomed by a member of staff, and was taken straight to my table. Here, the waiter who would be taking care of me that evening introduced himself, in perfect English, and explained how the evening was about to proceed. There is only one menu, but there is also a shorter version in case you are pressed for time, as dinners at these sorts of establishments can drag on for up to 3 hours. As I was in no hurry and wanted to enjoy my first evening in the Finnish capital, I chose the regular menu.

Once I was at my table, a pot of raw dough

38

was placed in front of me, and I was asked not to touch or poke it, as it was there to “breathe” before being fully baked in the oven. Although this step wasn’t essential, I guess it adds to the theatrical element that usually accompanies the dining experience.

The evening began with an array of foods encouraged to be enjoyed by hand. Utensilfree, I enjoyed the first course: broccoli dripping with herb puree, and the salad that followed: containing edible flowers with varied creams of salmon cream and oyster. Next up was a carrot accompanied with a seaweed emulsion - once more, this dish was also to be consumed with your fingers.

Following the carrot dish, chicken liver with blueberry shaped into the form of an egg was placed in a bed of hay, accompanied by a chicken skin cracker. Hard to eat without cutlery, I was able to pick up my knife and fork for the first time all night.

During the course of the meal, I was also served a number of interesting juices, one of which was spruce juice. Spruce is a kind of tree that grows in cold northern climates, and is also commonly known as a Christmas tree.

As the evening progressed, I was served an interesting mushroom pie, which was perched nicely on a bed of wild greens.

During this time, the dough was taken away to the oven, and brought back for the bread course, which came with homemade butter, lamb tartare with sour cream and dried egg yolk, broccoli puree, olive oil and a cucumber puree.

After the bread interlude, came time for the next dish, which was a red tomato and a pickled green tomato with tomato water and frozen goat’s cheese.

After the flurry of vegetarian dishes, came time for the Icelandic sole fish, which came with bock choi, beurre blanc, and peas.

What came afterwards was another fish dish, this time in the form of a very artistic perch fish “mosaic”, with honey turnip and caviar Now that we entered the “fleshy” section of the food journey, it was time to go a bit further, with the veal sweet bread, accompanied with a symphony of grilled onions in a divine chicken broth.

With the meat dishes out of the way, came time for the trio of desserts, which featured key ingredients such as strawberries and chocolate in a variety of forms.

All in all, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this food trip, and liked that although everything was elevated to a really high level of cooking, and the techniques used were very precise, everything felt very rustic and down to earth. Everything from the fact that a number of dishes were meant to be eaten with your hands, to the relatively “common” ingredients, which were spun to create a real haute cuisine experience.

Keep up to date with Faris’ journeys by visiting his website www.traveleye.net, and follow him on Instagram @travel.eye, and on Facebook: Gotraveleye.

Follow his YouTube channel @TraveleyeGlobal.

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IT’S ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

Meeting Cozmo’s CEO and Co Founder Jamal Dashti By bazaar staff

Jamal Dashti saunters into the room exuding a good-natured confidence, making you feel comfortable while talking to him. With a firm handshake and a healthy, friendly smile, he jovially expresses how this is one of COZMO’s busiest times of the year, and how exhilarating the winter months always are in the COZMO universe.

With back-to-back holidays for both private and public schools, Kuwait’s premium entertainment outlet is abuzz with energy, bringing happy faces to families and youths enjoying their time with the facilities that the nine existing planets offer. In addition to the 2018 opening of Cozmo’s tenth planet, and the suspenseful planning of an event that will surely blow the people of Kuwait away. “It’s set to take place for 38 days, starting February 1st.” Jamal says, with a twinkle in his eye expressing that we’re about to witness something like never before, courtesy of Cozmo. “You’re right about that!” he laughs, with an essence that suggests the child within is extremely tempted to spill the beans about his surprise. It truly does take a child within to do what Jamal does, as being the co-founder and CEO of Kuwait’s most well-known entertainment venue takes a lot of work. “But honestly,” he says, “I feel that we’re in the experience business – not the entertainment business.”

Experience business indeed, with all of Cozmo’s impressive offerings making for a pleasurable experience for all – not just the kids.

But with fifteen years and ten locations has to come an amazing story! Jamal Dashti graciously shares the journey that found him behind the amazing Universe that is Cozmo.

What inspired the initial inception of the Cozmo universe before the opening of its first location?

In the 90s when I was working at the bank, all the banks of Kuwait formed respective bowling leagues and we would compete against each other. It was a lot of fun and there was a lot of interest, but bowling facilities were limited back then, and the tournaments would drag on from 7am to 3am in the morning. Because I enjoyed bowling so much, I knew that there was a need in the market to speed things up – because that would only heighten the fun in bowling. My friend, founder Zeyad Al Sanousi, was already in the entertainment industry, I had the financial knowhow, so we teamed up and put a plan into action.

Then in 2003, we opened our flagship location in Salmiya.

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Did you expect Cozmo to expand into as many locations as it has today?

There are so many factors that contribute to the company’s evolution since the initial opening of our first location. The management’s evolution reflects on the quality control and consistent updating we have in our facilities. Before franchising within Kuwait, there was a lot of work to be done prior to decided when, where and how to expand.

You have to have the proper infrastructure before expansion, and we weren’t aggressive in it. We had a lot of dynamic ideas in those years.

We had to take geopolitical and other attributes in the topic of expansion, so we really took our time weighing out the options.

How do you feel that Cozmo has done its part to benefit the lifestyles of Kuwait’s youth?

Since our opening, we’ve become Kuwait’s sole outlet for bowling, to the point where we’re major distributers in bowling gear for leagues, and all other bowling lanes have to go through us for lane repairs and technology. We are the first ones who made it in this market, and we’re also the most reputable one left standing. This gave us the good reputation and trust from schools to

be able to affiliate our name and sport into their curriculums and extra curricular activities. When teachers include bowling as part of their lesson plan for PE class, they use our equipment. We are also a hot-spot for field trips.

Most importantly, we give the youth a fun and safe experience to enjoy during their time of leisure. Cozmo is as secure as it is fun, and offers something for everybody, so parents can always feel comfortable knowing that their kids are in good hands while they’re at any one of our planets.

But one of the greatest things we have done for the youth is provide them with a bowling camp!

I’ve witnessed young bowlers from our camp turn into the fine, accomplished champion bowlers they are today as men and women.

In your opinion, why is Cozmo fun for the whole family?

What we offer in Cozmo goes beyond providing a space for entertainment. Cozmo in and of itself is an experience, but to be able to extend that to different age groups means that providing that experience is our focal point in the grand scope rather than merely creating a place to have fun.

The beauty of Cozmo is that with each visit, both

parents and their children have the freedom to enjoy themselves by engaging in whatever activity they choose, without compromising their own pleasure. Kids can engage in the trampoline while parents play billiards, kids can enjoy the range of VR games while parents dive into a competitive game of bowling – the list goes on, and the possibilities are endless, but in short, there truly is something for everyone.

Around 15 years after your first store opening, do you feel that Cozmo will remain a mainstay household name for entertainment in Kuwait? If so, how are you going to do that?

I think that we are definitely a mainstay in the entertainment industry. Kuwait will always need to have a venue for people to enjoy themselves that offers something different than shopping, culture and food. Those things are fun too and it’s great that Kuwait has an abundance of options, but we have proven ourselves to be the most sustainable outlet for good old fashioned pure FUN that’s easily accessible, lacking constraints for age groups, and that is simple enough for anyone to enjoy. To keep ourselves in the market at the level we’ve established, we’re doing so

humbly. We have a “slow and steady wins the race” mentality at Cozmo, because we aren’t racing or competing. We’re genuinely in this to give people the outlet for timeless family fun.

If you could choose any new place in the world to open a Cozmo franchise, where would it be?

I’d love to see a Cozmo operating in a fun and warm international city, like Miami or Rio! I think that would be really fun, and I feel that both cities are extremely entertaining and are all about creating experiences. That’s exactly what we stand for.

something to the Khiran-dwellers that they never had before. When people go to Khiran now, they have more options in terms of entertainment, rather than the confinements of their chalets.

Suppose it rains, or it’s simply too hot to go outside? The Skating Rink in Khiran’s Norma Mall provides a cooling alternative – and I swear, once you experience it yourself, you’ll feel like you’re in another world!

And don’t forget about our anticipated Snowtown festival in February! I won’t say much, but that’s surely going to be our biggest surprise yet for the people of Kuwait to enjoy. We can’t wait to see you there!

What’s your favorite thing to do at Cozmo, when you get to visit?

Bowling! [Laughs]. I was in a league back in the day, remember? And no matter how much variety of amazing things we offer, bowling will always be closest to my heart.

2018 marks the first year that Cozmo opens up a skating rink. Are there any other exciting features in different locations for us to look forward to?

The skating rink is exciting because it offers

For general inquiries, contact them by phone (188 5888) or email them at info@cozmogroup.com.

Visit their website at www.cozmogroup.com and follow them on Instagram / Twitter @cozmo_group or on Snapchat / Facebook @cozmogroup.

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bazaar apps

ZITAAT

GRANDMA'S GIFT

LEGO AR STUDIO

FOCUS

SOUNDFOREST

PAPER

Zitaat is an online ordering platform that provides you with a large selection of Vendors for food delivery, catering & groceries shopping in Kuwait with a unique REWARDS program, an exclusive incentive for all registered users to enrich their ordering experience as well as to thank them for being loyal customers. Zitaat offers a wide range of restaurants with different cuisines, including pizza, burger, Italian, Indian, Kuwaiti, Iranian, Lebanese, healthy and more. You can also order your groceries through Zitaat from your favorite suppliers. The app also features a live tracking feature for placed orders.

You know what's great about virtual LEGO's? You're not going get stabbed in the foot by any errant pieces that have been left on the ground. That's the sort of experience that LEGO AR Studio offers. You can play with a number of virtual LEGO sets in the real world by using your iPhone or iPad. You can set up the placement of different set pieces and watch as the minifigs perform little animations. The virtual sets can even interact with your physical sets to expand the fun.

A unique electronic music creator for iPhone and iPad, SoundForest helps you build your songs using a collection of odd musical instruments. Each one takes the form of a plant, animal, or other wilderness feature and has a unique sound. The pitch of the instrument is determined by its placement on the musical environment, and you can place multiple instruments on the same beat. You can create loops or even miniature songs. Creating your first song is free, but you'll need to pay $1.99 (750 fils) to unlock everything SoundForest has to offer.

Time to make use of the many hundreds of pictures on your phone from those special family meet ups.

With Grandmas Gift, you can create your very own custom keepsake printed book for your grandchild this holiday season. Use your own photos to create a storybook starring you and your grandchild as you go on a winter adventure. After you create your book digitally, you can order a physical copy so that your grandchild has a keepsake that they'll hold on to long into the future.

Use Focus to better manage your time. Create timed Focus Sessions during which you focus on work. Each session lasts 25 minutes with a five minute break in between each session. The app is designed to give you a 15-20 minute break after four sessions to stave off stress. Focus Pro, the app's subscription service also has its own light task manager, which lets you organize your tasks in the way you want to work on them. Focus Pro also lets you check out your Focus stats with detailed performance breakdowns, as well as sync via iCloud

The popular sketching and productivity app has received a major update with version 4.0. Paper now sports an interface that we'll call "new-ish," with a return of the original journal carousel layout that the app sported before version 3.0. You can choose between organizing each of your notebooks in either a journal or grid view. iPad users will be happy to know that Paper now supports Split View, with version 4.0 (finally) introducing proper portrait orientation support as well. Paper Patron has also been renamed Paper Pro, and now unlocks unlimited color swatches, premium covers for your notebooks.

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boccini

bocciniKw 222 00 669 Soku,The Avenues

NADER MARAFI Man versus nature, and everything in between

When the time came for us to find a cover photo for our 2018 Dining and Entertainment Guide, we extensively searched to find one that perfectly communicates why we keep producing this publication. Simply put, ever since the release of our very first annual guide thirteen years ago, Kuwait has witnessed incredible growth. This growth pushes our team to work hard, year after year, to tell a story that is often overlooked in Kuwait, from the growth of opportunity, a flourishing dining scene to constantly evolving cultural experiences. Lucky for us, our search for this elusive photo proved fruitful when we came by the work of local, self-taught photographer Nader Marafi.

By bazaar staff 44

Through a small clearing of fauna at Shaheed Park, a moody, evocative portrayal of our city’s transforming skyline emerges. This is the city we choose to celebrate, as up to a few years ago, the park was still a plan many people merely anticipated. Today, we have incredible cultural centers, creative spaces, increasing parks, and an ever-changing cityscape, and it’s all beautiful— growing pains and all.

With his efforts to showcase Kuwait to the world and his followers, Nader’s pursuit of photography in Kuwait arrives as a creative outlet after completing his studies abroad and returning to Kuwait. “I’m always inspired by the idea of making something ordinary look extraordinary. This always stayed with me, ever since I discovered my passion for photography as a university student.” Nader starts us off, “Being half Kuwaiti, I like to represent Kuwait, and to make sure that I represent it the best way I can.” Graduating from Portland State University and armed with a Graphic Design degree, his path led him toward the corporate world. Still, his creative inclinations pushed him to buy his first DSLR camera in 2014 and start snapping photos. Looking to his immediate environment that is Kuwait, Nader is intrigued by the country’s constant state of evolution, “I’m always trying to grow my skills, and look at new perspectives.

Being in Kuwait, there is so much hidden beauty, you simply have to seek it out.”

A lover of architecture, graphic design and art, photography is a natural way for Nader to showcase all of these various interests. “I feel that my photography style is a combination of all of these elements. From the design aspect, colors, and even the editing work I do to my photos, it feels natural to me, and the entire process satisfies me. When I snap a good photo, I can’t wait to get home and edit it!” Nader plans out his photographs, and pays special attention to the timings of his shoots, the weather, especially when the probability of clouds is in question. He continues, “I’m always looking for clouds, I love them! Whether shooting a sunset or sunrise, clouds makes a huge difference to the colors and final look of the photo. A clear blue sky is pretty, but one with clouds is way better.”

When it comes to Nader’s photos, both nature and architecture feature strongly. “Living abroad, and being half-British, I've always been fascinated by nature. I even recall owning a very simplistic camera when I was a university student, and the nature that surrounded me triggered me to start taking photos. When it comes to living in Kuwait, you are presented with different presets.” While Kuwait is a small country, with limited access to certain locations, these challenges push Nader to find alternatives, and to find a unique a perspective to share with his followers. A typical sunrise by the beach becomes so much more than what people come to expect, for instance.

A close up long exposure of Al-Hamra Tower standing out at sunset against a cloudy sky.

[Continued...]

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A long exposure of some uniquely shaped old boat hangers against a colorful sky just before sunrise.

A sunrise long exposure, taken just as the sun appeared over the horizon to create a beautifully surreal image.

Noting photography as a meditative process, this solo photographer is also riveted by Kuwait’s burgeoning creative scene. “While I do feel a sense of clarity and calm after I’ve taken a series of photos because it does take my mind off life’s daily challenges, I would love to collaborate with others in the future if that means I can showcase Kuwait at its best.” he says. “There are amazing photographers in Kuwait, and their work inspires me. They have a fresh, different perspective, that helps me be more creative as well."

In looking to the future, Nader would love to represent Kuwait internationally, especially from a touristic perspective, he adds “I feel that a visual campaign showcasing Kuwait would be amazing. I would love to explore the idea of drone photography as well, I’ve always been amazed by this genre.” But, why not travel the world and take pictures instead? “Well, that would be a plus,” he chuckles, “For me, taking pictures is simply what I love. I would love to explore more places on this amazing earth, see crazy landscapes, and take more pictures! There are so many other compelling cities to photograph, from Chicago, Dubai to Singapore, amongst many places.”

Discover Nader Marafi’s work by visiting his Instagram page @N.Marafi.

Portrait of Nader by Muneera Alkhulaifi @i9ora on Instagram.

A nighttime long exposure capturing intense light trails leading to the skyline of Kuwait City.

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[...Continued]

‫تمتع بالمزيج‬ ‫الرائع من اآليس كريم‬

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bazaar movie night

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

INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY

MOLLY'S GAME

TAD THE LOST EXPLORER

THE DISASTER ARTIST

DARKEST HOUR

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

Release Date: January 4th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller Cast: Kirk Acevedo, Spencer Locke, Josh Stewart Synopsis: Insidious: The Last Key is the fourth instalment in the Insidious franchise, and the second in terms of the series's in-story chronology, following 2015's Insidious: Chapter 3. The film stars Lin Shaye, Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, Josh Stewart, and Caitlin Gerard. Adam Robitel helms the fourth entry of the Insidious series, with Chapter 3 director Leigh Whannell providing the script, centering around parapsychologist Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) and her continued voyage into the "further".

Release Date: January 4th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama Cast: James Franco, Dave Franco, Ari Graynor Synopsis: James Franco transforms the tragicomic true-story of filmmaker and infamous Hollywood outsider Tommy Wiseau, an artist whose passion was as sincere as his methods were questionable, into a celebration of friendship, artistic expression, and dreams pursued against all odds. Based on Greg Sestero best-selling tell-all about the making of Tommy's cult-classic disasterpiece The Room, The Disaster Artist reminds us that there's more than one way to become a legend.

Release Date: January 4th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Biography, Drama Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner Synopsis: Molly Bloom, a beautiful young Olympicclass skier, ran the world's most exclusive highstakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans, and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe.

Release Date: January 11th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Biography, Drama, History Cast: Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas Synopsis: A thrilling and inspiring true story begins at the precipice of World War II. Within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill (Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman) faces one of his most turbulent and defining trials: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation. Churchill must withstand his darkest hour, rally a nation, to change the course of world history.

Release Date: January 4th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy Cast: Oscar BarberĂĄn, Michelle Jenner, JosĂŠ Mota Synopsis: Tad is a celebrity archeologist and adventurer just like his hero Max Mordon, in his dreams! In reality, Tad is a Chicago construction worker. One day, however, he is mistaken for a real Professor and takes his place on a flight to Peru in search of the Lost City of Paititi. Professor Lavrof and his beautiful daughter Sara are waiting for the famous professor to crack the code. But Max has secretly betrayed the Professor by teaming up with the evil Kopponen and his shady Odysseus corporation.

Release Date: January 11th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Biography, Family, History Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, Kelly Macdonald Synopsis: After leaving London for the English countryside, writer A.A. Milne starts to spin fanciful yarns about his son's growing collection of stuffed animals. These stories form the basis for Winniethe-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, published respectively in 1926 and 1928. Milne and his family soon become swept up in the instant success of the books, while the enchanting tales bring hope and comfort to the rest of post-war England.

For more details on movie timings and the cinema nearest you, visit: Sky Cinema: www.skycinemaskw.com or Facebook: Sky Cinemas Kuwait *Above programs are subject to change without prior notice.

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talabat

VEGANISM IN KUWAIT More than just a passing fad!

By Reem Al-Gharabally

“Vegan” was the buzzword in Kuwait in 2017. It was a year that saw more dedicated vegan eateries open up, restaurants offering clearly labeled vegan options or alternative vegan menus, supermarket shelves stocking more vegan products, mainstream cafes offering dairy-free milk, plant-based cheeses and vegan karak popping up at market stalls and the list of local vegan instagram accounts and celebrities grew.

It was not like that in 2004, when Dr. Abir Al Sharhan, founder of the Kuwait Vegan Society, returned to Kuwait after her studies in Canada.

“Family and friends were telling me you are going to kill yourself. Where do you get your protein from, where do you get your calcium.” she laughingly says.

“My vegan journey was an ethical decision,” she says. “Like many people, I was completely oblivious to what was happening to animals and the impact on the environment. I stumbled upon a vegan outreach pamphlet that described what happens to chickens, cows, and why one should go vegan. It made me go vegan immediately” Back in Kuwait she noticed a lack of resources in Arabic about how to adopt a balanced, healthy vegan diet and lifestyle.

Initially she was hesitant to start an organization to address this gap.

“The responsibility of creating an official group weighed down on me at first” she says.”

Concerns like will people say this is ridiculous, this does not belong in Kuwait. But knowing what animals were going through far outweighed my other concerns. At souq al juma’ (Friday market) or souq al ghanam (sheep market) they buy sheep and transport them in the trunk of a car. And if it doesn’t shut they will stuff them in. With the high demand for meat and cheese right now there is no way a thing called humane killing or humane treatment exists because the demand is more than the supply. It has become a conveyer belt. When you start informing people they stand back and accept that you may have a point.”

“It is fear that makes a lot of people antivegan, because you have to change your life, you have to change your habits, and you have to answer to people who have a negative idea about vegans,” she says. Her volunteer run and self financed society (she is still dealing with paperwork of registering it as an official group) runs film screenings, social nights, food tastings and educational lectures to educate 50

Dr. Abir Al Sharhan

Be Cafe the public on the positive effects of a vegan diet and produces educational literature in Arabic to help people transition.

“There are some people who come to every event I run and they are not yet vegan but at least they are supportive and they ask questions,” she says.

One of the pioneers of veganism in Kuwait

is Ginger, established by sisters Sheikha and Mona Al Arfaj, making it the first vegan restaurant in Kuwait. Tucked on the side of the Muthana complex they have been serving wholesome, tasty plant-based Asian fusion food since 2004.

Mona’s daughter Mariam Alshatti opend her own vegan café in Salmiya, Be Cafe in late

Juna's Eatery Vegan Biryani

Juna's Eatery Brownie

2017 - an oasis of calm by the sea, offering unprocessed, beautifully presented, plant based food and meditation workshops.

“When I think veganism, I think not just about the food but compassion,” says Mariam, who became vegan while studying in Australia.

“Conscious cooking is a big thing for us.

Everything is cooked with love. We also want to collaborate with different vegan spaces in Kuwait. Sharing that same vision, we can help Kuwait grow more towards a healthier plantbased lifestyle.” Their Soulful Saturdays are collaborations with different chefs offering vegan versions of dishes featuring a new country every week.

Juna Taki AlAwadhi, founder and owner of Juna’s also prefers the term plant based and although vegan since the age of 12 resisted labeling her food “vegan” at first. “Veganism was not even known in Kuwait when I started and I am not aiming for vegans only, I am aiming for everyone,” she says.

Juna, who has a degree in Integrative Nutrition Therapy, prepares everything in her kitchen from scratch - all ingredients are cooked, sprouted and dehydrated in house including the flour and bread. “People were happy with that more than anything else. That they are eating clean,” she says.

The dishes are rich and bursting with flavor, including vegan versions of local Gulf cuisine, contradicting the image of vegan food as bland.

She has had clients who have been on her meal plans for years including mothers throughout nine months of pregnancy.

“You would be surprised how many people get introduced to this way of eating without even knowing it was vegan and falling in love with it and taking it on as a lifestyle, without the labeling,” she says. “Happy eating is eating something that is good for you, that brings you emotional and mental happiness and that makes your soul happy.”

Veganism as a healthy lifestyle choice has found its ambassadors amongst vegan athletes. Reece Dunn, a vegan personal trainer and calisthenics coach at Kuwait’s Burrow gym says vegan athletes offer a new perspective on fitness and an alternative route in an industry where lean meats are often endorsed as essential for building and maintaining muscle and where steroid and supplement use is rife.

“There is a certain look people want to achieve.

And then they see a vegan doing sports and have the look they are aspiring towards and they are surprised -because it challenges their stereotype of what a vegan looks like,” he says.

“Most of the famous calisthenics people are vegan,” Reece says. “ It is a bit of an in joke that if you say you do calisthenics the next question is are you also vegan.”

Reece admits that he became vegan for health reasons when he discovered how the diet kept his energy level high and consistent during [Continued...]

51

competition. “But when I started to research a little bit more about all the environmental and ethical aspects it began to boost my reasoning to do it,” he says.

Reece, who also offers nutritional advice and vegan meal plans to lose weight, or gain muscle says he would never recommend switching to a vegan diet if you were unsure about what to eat.

“If you are going to try and eat leaves all day (which is what most people think a vegan diet is) then you are not going to have a good time and you are not going to portray your experience as well as it could have been if you did the research,” he says.

Juna agrees. “People who don’t know what they are doing give veganism a bad rap because they don’t know the right equation for their bodies” So is veganism just a “haba” - the Kuwaiti word for trend - of 2017 or will veganism continue to gain acceptance and momentum in 2018.

“If people experiment with veganism and see the positive, long-term effect on their lives it won’t die down but grow,” says Mariam from Be Café.

“If people are doing it now with a purpose it will last, if they are doing it because it is fashionable then we worry. But let’s not worry, let’s be positive” says Juna.

Selected list of vegan resources in Kuwait Organizations Kuwait Vegan Society @kuwait_vegan_society Vegan website in Arabic www.veganliterature.com 100% Vegan restaurants @gingerkw @becafe_kwt @junaseatery and https://junas.co/ Flexitarian restaurants with vegan menus @lovekw_ @ovokwt @Healthy_Feast Vegan caterers @rusticgardenkwt Vegan athletes and trainers Reece Dunn @rjd_wham Hazel @heyhazelhey Vegan Kuwait guides @wheretoeatvegankw @eat_vegan_in_kuwait Vegan online shopping @allthingsvegan_kw Reece Photo by Paris Recinto

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[...Continued]

hatay sofrasi

HELIFAN

The hottest way to stay cool in 2018 by bazaar staff

AUK alum may remember a patch of desert that was rarely ever frequented, merely crossed as a pathway to get to classes, or to the parking lot. A few years pass to Summer 2017, where the area is abuzz with life, light and a lot of happy students. The space has been transformed to a congregation hub, complete with a seating area, pops of lush greenery, a coffee stand and even a ping-pong table! What changed in the atmosphere to withdraw AUK’s community from their famous hallway hangout to the outside world? Simply put, a fan.

Yes, dear reader, you read that correctly. And perhaps it didn’t take you by surprise! Living in such a hot country, we know how a little bit of air can uplift a sour or fatigued mood in even just a matter of minutes. But the issue is, not everything is made equally to cater to that need.

Air conditioners and standard fans, be they house friendly or outdoor industrial, are often flakey and can give up on you without notice.

Helifan, however, the market’s most advanced technology when it comes to temperature cooling, is constructed to never fail your needs.

Ahmad Altammar and Amro Alkhadra can verify this, as their initial interaction with the fan happened by chance, and immediately prompted them to bring this revolutionary gadget to Kuwait. “I discovered it in Malaysia at a waterpark, of all places,” Ahmad begins as we gather round the meeting table in the intimate office space of United ATAK – a General Trading company founded by partners Altammar and Alkhadra, whom have a slew of successful projects under their belt. The space, though small, houses mighty ideas, and the two men, along with Helifan installing expert Kevin Montague and brainy, involved secretary Nibal gather communally to work out every detail of the company’s venture of the moment. Their workspace exudes scientific rationing and technological thought, as the team, limited in numbers, share the wide table without rank of position. Papers are strewn with ideas, and there are even sketched equations on the glass windows! All in all, it’s a great indication that something spectacular is brewing, courtesy of these gentlemen.

“Two summers ago, I was in Malaysia with my family and we were in an upscale waterpark for 54

the day.” He continues. “Amidst the palm trees, I spotted this fan, designed to blend in with the trees, but its acceleration generated such a pleasant breeze. The Kingdom of Malaysia is a hot country, and this fan was doing such a great job at keeping everyone cool. I automatically knew, that it was just what Kuwait needed.”

Ahmad’s gut feeling was onto something, because Helifan is one of the best inventions to make an appearance in Kuwait. First of all, we must praise its complex construction that provides an impressive wattage of cooling. “The helifan’s blade is constructed of aero-grade aluminum, making it the same type of fan used for helicopters (hence its name; Heli-fan.) and is lightweight, yet strong, causing uplift. “This isn’t your average fan, like the type you grew up with,” Kevin jumps in. Kevin, jolly and approachable in his own right, is in charge of overseeing all technical logistics of the fan, and ensures that the installation process occurs under his wing. In fact, it was he who installed the first and to date, only, helifan located in all of Kuwait, and outside the Kingdom of Malaysia – the famous AUK fan!

“It was commissioned in August 2016, and was installed this past July – so we were working on it in the hot months.” He says fondly.

“I remember that while I was at the site, these professors and doctors – I call them the “smart guys” – stopped to ask what I was doing. When I told them that I was installing an outdoor fan,

they looked at me like I was crazy. ‘An outdoor fan? How’s that going to work?’ and so I’d reply, ‘when I’m done, come back out and we’ll find out together!’” chuckling at the memory, he goes on to clarify, “when it was up, they stepped out of the indoors where the AC was and stepped out into the heat, and they were so surprised by how great the fan felt. Sweat evaporates into moisture, and causes a cooling effect beneath this fan. It just made being outdoors, even in August, more pleasant for everybody.”

What Kuwait currently has going for it is that it’s the only other country in the world, besides Malaysia, that has helifans for distribution. In Malaysia, helifans are used everywhere for the public to enjoy. Outdoor spaces, shopping malls, even mosques, which is an ingenious idea that partner Amro Alkhadra is vehemently working towards in order to cancel out the outdoor and AC systems of the stone-age. “Air conditioners are generally bad for our health, and these fans are environmentally friendly – so there’s no risk.

It’s a great asset for any hot country to have.”

And what’s even better about them? They’re huge, and can accommodate the cooling of even 1,500 square meters, if erected at 24 feet tall.

The Helifan models are also fully customizable, according to client preference.

When bringing it into Kuwait, United ATAK ensured this upgraded feature to the product, because they understand what our local market

needs in their everyday lives and businesses.

“We have given clients the option to personalize their Helifans however they see fit. We can have them decorated according to whichever color schemes they like, and we can even put wood plaster on it to make it look wooden,” Ahmad describes. Meaning, Helifans can become, just as AUK had done, a central hub for outdoor relaxation. Imagine a helifan in the middle of a garden, surrounded by lawn chairs, tables, and a nice gentle breeze generating around you? Top that off with these amazing attributes: helifan customization also allows for WiFi generation, and power outlets to be installed, so that it becomes a hotspot for you to recharge, stay connected, and even provides jacks for you to charge your phone.

But the best thing about Helifan besides the fact that it’s useful and environmentally friendly,

is that despite its power (which amounts to the equivalent of about 60 regular fans at warp speed), the fan itself is virtually silent – which we found surprising, given its size. That’s just one more factor that makes it a must-have for any large outdoor space.

While having an indoor helifan is not impossible, if the propeller itself is ceilingmounted, the product is recommended for industrial-sized outdoor areas. United ATAK’s distribution includes sizes that start at 18ft tall and go up to 24ft, targeting businesses with outdoor seating, schools, parks, and public areas like mosques and large outdoor markets like Mubarakiya. “Although if someone has the capacity for it in their property garden, that would be cool!” Ahmad laughs. Currently, the only helifan is at AUK, but United ATAK is in the process of designing personalized fans for

companies like McDonald's and Ooredoo, and are excited to launch their products in other communal areas as well. “We also think it would be a great idea for a place like the pedestrianonly part of Salem Mubarak Street to have a fan – imagine how much more pleasant it would be to walk outside in the summertime.” If the change of heart AUK students has for spending time outside is any indication, we know that it’ll be more pleasant.

Follow Helifan on Instagram @helifankw, and visit www.heli-fan.com. Call United ATAK GTC at 2202 3388 for installation and product inquiries.

Photography by Muneera Alkhulaifi @i9ora on Instagram.

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DON’T MAKE A NEW YEAR RESOLUTION! EVER…

By Natasha E. Feghali

The New Year is upon us, which means it's time to make a resolution or two. So what will it be this year: lose weight, again; promise yourself a change of job, again; earn more money, perhaps?

The truth is, most of us will do the same thing we always do: set some goals that will be forgotten about by the 7th January, or thereabouts.

It is common practice to keep re-creating ourselves every year with the hopes that we will actually stick to our new plan, routine, lifestyle or saving grace. Yet, it can be totally crushing when nothing works in our favor and the plan becomes worthless. Sometimes the idea is to progress yet so many barriers present themselves that we get so frustrated and give up. Thus, leading to a total crush in our ambition and self-esteem as well as thoughts of failure and even a desire to keep going. Our lives are always evolving and growing and therefore it’s only natural to progress however sometimes when we force a plan into action it may not work. Or it may be working, but the hurdles 56

and un-anticipated downtimes may derail us from continuing.

Weeks ago I started asking my family what theirs were going to be. I have a fantasy that January 1st will be THE day we launch headlong into our new-and-improved lives. I LOVE a fresh start, and there is nothing fresher than the first week in January. But I know better. People don’t just make resolutions and then the next day spring into lasting action. I may wish this was possible, but time has shown that it probably isn’t.

The way to move from here into action is to take an honest look at how the change you are preparing for can truly make your life better. How do you think and feel about yourself as you are right now, if you never change the behavior in question?

Maybe you are often stressed, and you’re seriously thinking about getting in an exercise habit to combat this. Without more physical activity, you think of yourself as sedentary and out of shape, and you feel stressed and anxious. Now, imagine yourself having made the change you are looking for. How will you think of yourself differently? Most importantly, how will you feel?

Rather than rushing forward in a panic to set resolutions or a list of goals you can start on New

Year's day, forget all that and enter the New Year in a mode of being absolutely present, and absolutely positive about how great it's going to be. If you do this, and endeavour to maintain this approach, you'll end up doing everything you're supposed to as and when it's supposed to be done. Stop the “I must” thought mill turning over all the things you should have done this year that you'll “definitely do next year”.

Enter the New Year with zero pressure on your back to do anything other than remain open to the possibility of your potential, receptive to change and ready to show compassion to yourself for your shortcomings. Out of the state of being will arise all the doing, and achievements you never planned for but will be amazed to see unfold.

The reality is that there's no point in setting the same resolutions you've been setting for years on end, only to feel disappointed and down on yourself. Sometimes, on New Year’s Eve — or in life — we feel pressured to commit to changes we just aren’t ready to make. If you aren’t ready to spring into action, there’s no harm in that.

Please realize that you have more options than either making a resolution or doing nothing at all.

Mac

A YEAR TO REMEMBER FROM AN IMPRESSIVE 2017 TO AN EXCITING 2018, PORSCHE CENTRE KUWAIT IS STEPPING IT UP

By bazaar staff

What makes Porsche such a loveable and classic automobile brand? It never fails to surprise us, and constantly updates classic car models in a modern fashion to keep its loyal enthusiasts cruising happily all over the streets of their hometown. It has to be said, however, that 2017 was an especially memorable year for Porsche.

Representing a year of major milestones for Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, the past year saw the kick-off of an unprecedented product offensive, with the announcement of several new Porsche sports cars, resulting in an evergrowing choice for customers across the region.

718 Boxster GTS and 718 Cayman GTS

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Deesch Papke, Chief Executive Officer, Porsche Middle East & Africa FZE

The New Cayenne range to arrive in 2018 2017 was indeed a legendary year for Porsche, welcoming in the arrival of the new generation Panamera, including the fastest model in the series, the new Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. The brand’s iconic 911 range saw new additions in the form of the 911 GTS range, 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series and 911 GT3. This goes without saying, that Porsche fans from around the world were giddy with these new additions to the mainstay’s repertoire, but none could be more excited about 2017’s developments other than Deesch Papke, Chief Executive Officer at Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE. “2017 has been a true showcase of Porsche’s evolution, resulting in the most diverse selection of sports cars in our history. Each new model, we have either introduced or will be launching in the next few months, produces impressive performance and exhibits the iconic Porsche design DNA that make them all attractive offerings in their respective segments. Our aim has never been to purely chase sales volumes, but rather, to continuously evolve our sports cars by ensuring that they fulfil our customer’s needs and desires. This approach has resulted in the noticeable positive reaction from enthusiasts in our region to the second generation Panamera and the continued growth in popularity of the Macan.”

Also in 2017, the conclusion of a successful era in Porsche’s motorsport history came in the form of the 919 Hybrid’s final competitive outing at the Bahrain round of the World Endurance Championship. As a catalyst for development and testing, a range of key technology advancements have been transferred from the 919 Hybrid into road-going cars, including the four-cylinder turbo engine for the Porsche 718 Boxster. Achieving a list of accolades that includes; six world championships, three consecutive Le Mans wins, 19 pole positions and 12 fastest laps across 33 races, the contribution of this iconic Porsche race car will play an ongoing role in the evolution of the brand’s future sports cars.

Last year’s excitement, however, does not

indicate a stagnant future. Dealer organizations across the Middle East, Africa and India spent 2017 opening up order books for several other new models set to arrive early 2018, including the highly anticipated third generation Cayenne, the recordbreaking 911 GT2 RS, an all-new Panamera Sport Turismo, 718 GTS range as well as the refined 911 Carrera T. It’s only fitting that a year of monumental model releases is scheduled in 2018, because, as Deesch Papke explains, the literal drive to take legendary to the next level comes from a place of sentiment for Porsche. “June 2018 will mark the 70th anniversary of when the first Porsche sports car was approved for road use and we are looking forward to celebrating such an important milestone in our history. We are proud to offer a model range that truly reflects the founding principles of the company ever since that day.”

One of the first models on the list of new arrivals in showrooms across the Middle East will be the new Cayenne range, a continuation of Porsche’s most prevalent success stories to-date. With more than 770,000 units of previous generations sold worldwide, the arrival of the models presents a new chapter in the brand’s history.

Available for order in three versions, the new Cayenne features powertrains that produce between 340 hp (250 kW) and 550 hp (404 kW) of output and introduce a new eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox. Top of the SUV line and premiered at this year’s Dubai International Motor Show is the Cayenne Turbo, which delivers a maximum torque output of 770 Nm and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, when equipped with the optional Sport Chrono Package.

Combining typical Porsche performance, design and versatility, the latest Cayenne range features up to 65 kilograms of weight savings, along with innovative chassis systems, wider rear tyres and rear-axle steering. Going off-road is now even easier, as the driver can choose between five preprogrammed drive and chassis modes, depending on the terrain. A completely new interior showcases

the Porsche Advanced Cockpit concept, which creates an even closer link between driver and vehicle. Virtually all the vehicle functions in this fully networked SUV can be viewed and operated using the high-resolution display and touchscreen.

Also arriving across the region in 2018 will be the all-new Panamera Sport Turismo models. Initially presented as a concept at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, and officially unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the all-new Panamera Sport Turismo, signalled an expansion of Porsche’s successful sedan range. A versatile and practical sports car in the luxury segment, the Panamera Sport Turismo can accommodate five passengers and up to 520 litres of luggage, as well as featuring a completely redesigned rear exterior. With its 8-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) and all-wheel drive as standard, the new model will be available in five derivatives, including the 680 hp (500 kw) strong Turbo S E-Hybrid version.

In keeping with Porsche’s tradition of developing and refining its most iconic sports car, the 2018 arrival of the fastest and most powerful road-legal 911 is sure to generate high levels of interest.

Debuted at the Festival of Speed in Goodwood, the 911 GT2 RS features a 700 hp (515 kW), flat-six bi-turbo engine and weighs in at 1,470 kg with a full fuel tank. The lightweight rear-wheel drive two-seater coupé accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and achieves a top speed of 340 km/h with its motorsport-derived drive technology. Reinforcing the benefits of implementing key learnings from motorsport into its road cars, the 911 GT2 RS has set the fastest lap time for a sports car on the famous 20.6-kilometre Nürburgring Nordschleife, achieving a time of 6 minutes, 47.3 seconds.

Please visit Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company for more information, 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 59

#METOO …AND YOU

By Dr Susannah Joy Schuilenberg

The #MeToo movement sprang up spontaneously after the wretched, predatory behaviour of Harvey Weinstein was exposed by the many women he has ogled, groped, exploited and assaulted.

When his response was less than stellar (“It was a different time.”) and exculpatory (“All men do these things.”), other victims of sexual exploitation channelled their rage into forward momentum, creating the hashtag “MeToo. This has resulted in the ‘outing’ of some very powerful men. To date, as I’ve reviewed the cases of the men who have been exposed, the majority of them have a history littered with the abuse of power through sexual exploitation, but to protect financial positions, the victims in the history of each of these men have been ignored, discredited, threatened, or bought off.

Time magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’ is a group – The Silence Breakers - women and men who have ‘blown the whistle’ on these predators, and I applaud this choice. It takes great courage to stand up and speak of things that mark you as a victim. It takes great courage to speak of things that are shameful. It takes great courage to speak of things that acknowledge exploitation and coercion. And it takes great courage to be facing a ‘collective Goliath’ – the entire system that protects and covers up the serial predation by these powerful men.

Oscar Wilde famously stated, “Everything in the world is about sex, except sex. Sex is about power.” This is an important point to introduce here. Media has used sex, sexiness, attraction, and virtual sexual exploitation to sell everything from art to perfume to zippers. You name it; someone has sexualized that thing, or its use, or its acquisition, using sex – overtly or covertly.

Everything is about sex.

Sex, however, is about power. (Let’s make a quick distinction between the ‘sex’ I’ve just been writing about, and intimacy. True intimacy is nurturing the ‘We’ of a committed relationship and encompasses reciprocity, equality, and affection.

Sex, even without coercion or exploitation is rarely about intimacy.)

So. The “#MeToo …and You” part. Distilling what others had written historically, Lord Acton

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stated in 1887, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Men whose belief in the protective insulation of that power allowed them to feel safe in committing acts of coercion, aggression, and violence against the powerless.

The Silence Breakers have allowed the victims of sexual abuse all over the world to speak up and break the silence of the shame and trauma they have experienced at the hands of powerful and unscrupulous men. Sexual exploitation happens everywhere. Research data tells us that this is true regardless of socio-economic status, cultural, geographical, or racial divides. Truth: where there is unchecked power, there is exploitation.

This movement is desperately needed for the ‘ordinary’ victims whose experience involves a predator much closer to home. Exploitation happens wherever there is an imbalance of power.

This could be within the family, on the job, at the gym, or in relationship. Predation and exploitation are possible when the balance of power - physically, emotionally, or financially - is uneven and an individual with power exploits it for his own benefit.

If you are “#MeToo” know that it is not mandatory that you speak up publicly or that you

must name your abuser or in any other way expose him in order to find help. There are ways of finding healing which don’t include exposing yourself or anyone else. You can be a ‘Silence Breaker’ for yourself by simply acknowledging the truth/reality of your situation and asking for help. This help is available in Kuwait through a variety of sources including counselling centers and student services at your university. Whatever the circumstances of the exploitation – no matter who is doing the exploiting – confidential help is available. Take heart from those who are “#MeToo” and be a Silence Breaker …for your own sake.

Dr Susannah is a leading psychologist, registered professional counsellor and Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling based in Canada. For more information, please follow @DrSusannah on Twitter and Instagram and stay tuned for her latest updates.

Dunkin Donuts

1/2 Dozen - 2.200 KD 1 Dozen - 3.600 KD 2 Dozen - 6.000 KD

PREMIUM PAIR

The brothers in law behind bleems’ growth By bazaar staff

We've recently fallen in love with the gifting app bleems, and since first hearing about it, we've been using the app to send all manner of flowers, chocolates and other gifts. It is easy to use, with an excellently broad range of items, that we wanted to find out more about this local company and the business brains behind it. We sat down with co-founders Sulaiman Al Tarrah and Abdullah Alkhuzam to discuss how bleems came about and what the future holds in store for this blooming business.

The entrepreneurial twosome first met in Statistics class at Kuwait University, although Sulaiman had heard of Abdullah before they had actually met. From there they both went on to an MBA in Portsmouth, England, Abdullah starting his program first and Sulaiman graduating in 2010. “Studying abroad is a collection of experiences,” says Sulaiman and they both agree that this breadth of experience has shown them an appreciation for the different ways in which people approach the same problem. This has expanded their thought processes and benefits them in business through being open to a range of business ideas, open to change and development, and open to embracing technology.

After international study, they returned to Kuwait and both ended up in the financial sector, investment banking being their game.

They continued to talk to each other about developing their business ideas. Sulaiman was the first to jump the corporate ship in 2015, ploughing all his time and effort into their company 965 Flowers before Abdullah joined him one year later as agreed. “Entrepreneurship is all about taking the risk,” states Sulaiman.

“We were thirsty for success.”

Some of you may have been in Kuwait long enough to remember 965 flowers. This was the first business that the two men established.

It was Abdullah’s 2006 experience of owning a flower shop that spawned the idea behind flowers as a product to sell. The challenges of being a bricks and mortar vendor, and listening to the demands of clients, showed him that there needed to be an easier way to access a variety of products without one shop stocking absolutely everything. It was important to become the market. It is a simple model; list all the vendors and their products and link them up to customers via a website or application.

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The possibility for expansion using this model is endless, the only controls being that the vendors need to meet the bleems standard.

Currently the minimal selection criteria to be listed is: currently operating with a full and valid license, have more than 15 products to offer, items ranging in price but in the neighborhood of 30-40KD, and have their own system for delivery.

“To be honest, in Kuwait, the flower business and the owners of the flower shops are very talented. We are lucky to have started our business here,” states Abdullah and Sulaiman agrees. “When we travel to other countries they look up to Kuwait. When it comes to flowers, these shops are very amazing.”

Because the standards here in Kuwait are so high, 965 Flowers performed incredibly well and the two partners looked into expansion. The only thing that made it a challenge was the name “965” which is the area code for Kuwait. They swiftly changed the name to “bleems”, similar to “blooms” a term for flowers, and expanded into other countries. bleems agreements now currently exist in Bahrain, Saudi and the UAE. This means that you can order a high quality, fresh bouquet of premium flowers easily and have it delivered with confidence and on time to

friends, family and colleagues in these places.

Oman is next in their sights and in time, why not the entire North Africa!

The way in which bleems intends to do this is simple. The challenge is to bring sending flowers, confections and gifts into the lifestyle of customers. What does this mean, exactly?

Through social media, paradoxically the thing that is supposed to bind us closer, we have become even more distant than ever before. It used to be hard copy letters, cards and gifts that were sent often between people, not just for occasions like birthdays and anniversaries, but for day to day communication; now we just “like and comment”. It is the former behavior that bleems wants us to get back to again. Say “thank you” with chocolates for a friend who picked up your kids from school, send a bouquet of flowers because “I saw these and thought you’d like them”, send a tea service because “I heard you were having your mother over for lunch and these would look great in your living room”…yes you can get fine bone china from bleems! Check out the “Gifts” category which itself is filtered into nine sections.

Using the app, you can see that bleems is beautifully organized. There are a number of

Left to right: Sulaiman Al Tarrah and Abdullah Alkhuzam ways in which they have categorized flowers, gifts, confection and combination packages.

This is to ensure you get every conceivable chance to find the perfect gifting item which matches the character of the person for whom you are shopping. You can shop by occasion, filter by price, filter by when the items can be delivered, you can shop for same day delivery or schedule all the dates you definitely don’t want to forget throughout the year. Sulaiman summarizes, “Ultimately what we are trying to do is provide our customers with the best user experience with the best user interface for them to have an outstanding journey for their gifting experience.” Research shows that for the bleems website, customers are spending six to seven minutes carefully checking the offerings, which is an astounding statistic.

Even though the website and app are both extremely easy to use, it is these interfaces that the team continues to improve on. But what is there to fix? It is more about building a better service, rather than fixing any issues it seems. The use of algorithms to streamline the choices for the user, a little like Netflix, should make the customer engagement even more efficient through targeted offerings. Currently

the measurements of your chosen flowers allow you to guess how the whole creation looks, but in the future the use of Augmented Reality will allow you to see exactly how the bouquets and gifts would appear in place in your chosen environment. There are endless possibilities for bleems that, because of their educational backgrounds and the support of each other as partners, they are open to exploring.

Beyond each other, the support of family has been tantamount to their success. Both married and with children it is this familial responsibility that has kept and keeps Sulaiman and Abdullah going. Another surprising fact? The two men, married sisters! Both sisters are professional women with careers of their own as well as being mothers. They understand what it means to have their husbands work so hard towards a shared goal. The relationship between the two men developed so steadily it has a very deep and therefore strong foundation. They have been friends for years, business partners, and their families are now integrated. “This guy is an exception,” Abdullah ventures, “He started as a colleague, then he became my partner, then a family member. Honestly, we can understand each other more.” Sulaiman adds, “It keeps us

strong, because there is a bond.”

It has always been Abdullah’s dream to build a company for his children, so this may become a family business in the future as there are daughters and sons to pass the business on to. If not bleems, then the holding company at least will continue with perhaps another venture. No doubt Sulaiman and Abdullah will take this decision together and the final outcome will be the success that they want it to be, as it was with 965 Flowers, and now is, with the international bleems.

Bazaar decided to test the partners and see how well they know each other by answering questions as if they were the other person.

We have to say Abdullah performed a little better than Sulaiman, but that may be because Abdullah has recently changed his “What’s your favorite hot drink” from latte to iced coffee. In Winter! Check out the video on bazaar.town to see more on how they both answered.

Download the bleems app from the iPhone AppStore, and for Android find it on Google Play. Follow @Bleems on Instagram to see more of what’s on offer, or to shop the collection online go to www.bleems.com.

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PASTA PERFECT

Aromi spoils us for lunch By bazaar staff

When Aromi told us they were sending us lunch just for fun, we were extremely excited. Pasta in the middle of the day? We know we should say no, but it’s our weakness! Besides, we thought that we’d be getting two or three dishes to share and a fun appetizer or two, but we were ever surprised by the outcome.

Without knowing where to start, we dug in respectively to things in order of their theme. We first tried the salads: An artfully made Caprese salad with mixed tomatoes, fresh herbs, baby mozzarella, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Alongside its Italian Salad counterpart, involving a medley of mixed greens, red onion, olives, parmesan cheese, Italian dressing, the two salads complimented each other perfectly.

Onto more substantial appetizers: Arancini balls, breaded and fried to perfection, took the classic risotto balls we know and love to another level. Coupled with Aromi’s signature marinara dipping sauce (or their pesto, if you’re extra creative!) you have yourself a delightful experience.

They also generously sent some beautifully breaded chicken tenders, and what was quite possibly the best garlic bread we’d ever had. This garlic bread was focaccia based, making it incredibly tender and a gorgeous melt-in-your-mouth addition to all things that were indulged in.

Spoiled for choice, we had, wait for it, ELEVEN different variations of pasta to choose from! We did the smart thing by rolling up our sleeves and taking samples from each dish. The fried ravioli, to start, was not meant to be a main – this is an appetizer – but in my opinion, toss some sauce on it and its cheesy goodness will make you swoon! Also swoon-worthy is its more substantial Ricotta Spinach cousin. Creamy and stuffed with spinach, fennel and orange zest, this was easily one of our favorite dishes.

We enjoyed two different types of lasagna, brisket 64

(oh so tender!) and vegetarian (oh so creamy!). The most important thing to note is that the creaminess of their béchamel was just oozing out of the tender sheets of pasta monumentally. If you’re a fan of béchamel in your lasagna, we highly recommend this source for your lasagna dreams.

Traditional pastas made their way into our bellies as well: the Pomodoro with its meaty sibling in contrast, Bolognese, which contained a mixture of spices that left us reminiscent of our childhood. A classic no-nonsense Alfredo made it to the party as well, and brought along its good friend and nationwide favorite Pink Pasta. But our absolute favorites were two unsuspecting stars who we’ll forever come back to: The Pesto and the Mushroom.

Both vegetarian pastas are seemingly simple in principle, but deliver a world of flavor so explosive, that you’ll fantasize having them all on their own, without a care and without share. The pesto pasta

was made with spaghetti, and burst with essence of basil, giving it an aromatic sensation while devouring. The mushroom is cozier, which is perfect for this winter season, and more bite sized with its tiny gnochetti pasta texture. All in all, these creamy pastas were absolute winners in our books, if we had to choose of course.

The best thing about Aromi isn’t its convenience, however. Yes, it’s nice that it’s a delivery-only concept, because really, who doesn’t like having pasta in the privacy of your own home (let’s face it: it’s a sweatpants food.) but that isn’t what draws us towards this piece of heaven. It’s the fact that everything from A-Z at Aromi, and all the pastas in between, are made from scratch. With all that in mind, didn’t this just become your favorite go-to pasta joint?

Order Aromi online through Carriage, and follow them on Instagram @aromi.kw.

Chicster

AN EDGE TO ADULTHOOD

How Fantasy World caters to its original clientele By bazaar staff

When Fantasy World first opened its doors in Kuwait, our childhoods were forever changed. Fantasy World delivered to us glimpses of the luxe life, offering wondrous toys, games, crafts and educational activities for us to indulge in without having to travel out of the country to the West to procure these childhood favorites. Fantasy World was our ultimate fantasy, as its brand name implies, because all our wildest dreams were possible in that iconic flagship location in Al Rai. 66

Twenty-one years and many locations later, many of us who have surpassed our Fantasy World doting years have sadly lost touch with the wonderland of play. It seems that Fantasy World misses us, however, and so to pay homage to our generation and include us back in the fun, they’ve introduced The Edge – a department dedicated to adults! (If that’s what we’re calling ourselves now.) Tried and tested, The Edge literally evokes the same emotions you’d feel when going into Fantasy World to spend your hard-earned Eid cash. The only difference is that now, instead of entering with a wad of Eidiya, you have a credit card jam-packed with your salary!

The Edge is filled with fun gadgets that still hold the creative twist that Fantasy World loved instilling in the children it helped raise (i.e.: Us). So it makes sense

that we should continue to frequent the toy store for gifting needs, as The Edge’s “adult gifts” are perfect for everyone.

3D printing pens, quality drones, Karaoke machines and easy gardening systems are just a few of the treasures The Edge has to offer. Speakers are aplenty with different options to choose from, but what caught our attention was the Marshall Stanmore speaker system that exudes retro vibes with ultimate modernity. Its appearance mirrors the classic Marshall amplifier system, but operates with Bluetooth to you’re your favorite tunes from your preferred device. It also gives you control to fine tune the system in order to produce the sound you like, but promises great quality even if left as is.

Their PURE speakers offer a walk down memory

lane, as their design mimics that of our boom boxes and radio/stereo combinations from days of yore.

These speakers, however, are far from prehistoric with endless high-tech touches that make them amazing for everyday use, and uncomplicated. The system includes radio AM/FM listening, a CD player, Bluetooth operations, AUX input, a kitchen timer, an alarm clock, and a snooze tap-handle feature! Our unanimous vote is that they’re perfect for placement in the kitchen, the bedroom, or the terrace while you’re entertaining.

The Eclipse capsule system by Dolce Gusto is also available, but what’s special about this specific model is its sleek design. Ideal for anybody who loves to embody the ultimate chic, this system is made to pair flawlessly with any pristine office. It also makes the busy bee’s life way easier, as it features an advanced touch technology, meaning the caffeine-dependent has the opportunity to make their perfect cup of coffee with their fingertips!

Drones are aplenty at Fantasy World, and feature some of the best lines on the market, with advanced cameras installed, ideal for professional use. However, if you’re still in the early “just for fun” stages of drone discovery but still want to delve in the complex fields of tech, the Power Vision Egg Drone is your friend.

This brand new addition to Fantasy World’s inventory offers a minimalist, non-intimidating presentation of a sleek egg, and opens up on command to fly around like any drone should. In our opinion, it’s also the perfect bonding gadget for any tech-indulgent parent to share with their child, since it’s fun, futuristic, and easy to use.

But what was quite possibly our favorite feature item The Edge has to offer is Flyte: The Levitating Light Bulb. It consists of a modern wooden base (that made our inner interior decorators smile) exuding strong magnetic fields to levitate a large light bulb directly above. It’s wireless technology allows for the light bulb to turn off and on with just a simple tap, and if you have the newest iPhone or Samsung smart phone models, your phone will charge if placed upon the wooden platform!

What we really loved about all of The Edge’s products is at the end of the day, they reminded us of the values that Fantasy World instilled in us, their very first customers, when we were children. Continuing the tradition with adult centric gadgets that we can enjoy around the house is the best recognition they could’ve given us, and now, we can still say as full-grown adults, that a trip to Fantasy World is still something to look forward to.

Fantasy World has five different locations: Al Rai, Boulevard, Al Bustan Mall in Salmiya, Souq Sharq and The Avenues. Follow them on Instagram @fantasyworldtoys for more information.

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NEW YEAR, NEW FLAVORS!

Say hello to 2018 with Kababji’s Kabab Festival!

By bazaar staff

It is easy to imagine large groups of friends and family seated around the dining tables at Kababji, with lots of chatter greeting the endless stream of dishes coming out from their kitchens.

That's why, when the good folks at Kababji told us that they were launching their very own Kabab Festival, we rushed right over to get our Kabab fix!

From authentic essentials like Tabbouleh, Fattouch, Hummus Muhammara, Hummus, Baba Ghannouj, Vine leaves to Sujouk, our table fills up with dish after dish, tantalizing our taste buds with the Kabab goodness that is soon to follow.

Surely enough, the kitchen saves the best for last, and the Kabab Festival offerings make a grand entrance on two chunky wooden serving platters. This is a celebration of everything that Kababji perfects, and now on a bigger scale, with each skewer containing no less than two hundred grams of meat, this Kabab Festival is not to be missed!

The Kabab Festival runs until May, and Executive Chef Hussein El Sayed spent many long hours making sure that the upscaling of the recipes for the larger kababs results in the same authentic Lebanese taste Kababji is famed for.

The classic Halabi is meaty and basic, with only the special spice blend and white onions in the recipe, this is a really honest kabab with no 68

pretentions. With bunches of added parsley, the Kafta tastes fresh and aromatic. But the stars of the show are the Kabab Spicy and Kabab Cheese. The Kabab Spicy is brushed with chili oil, and you’re hit with its fiery warmth as soon as you bite into it. As you continue to chew, you can feel and taste the plentiful chili flakes and fresh chilies that run through the meat deliver another layer of spice to the flavor profile.

The Kabab Cheese features carefully cubed pieces of two different kinds of Lebanese cheese mixed in with the beef. This particular skewer is quite moreish, and the saltiness of the Halloumi and Kashkaval cheeses cleverly enhance the Kabab’s texture. If you can’t choose which of the kababs to try, there is a Kabab Mix option on the menu which allows you to choose two skewers from any of the four kinds of kabab.

For those choosing to dine in, there is the added pleasure of experiencing the way the dishes are presented. A roasted eggplant and tomato garnish is delectable as well as decorative, with a smothering of sumptuous roast garlic and tomato sauce drenching the thickly sliced vegetables.

As well as the delicious kababs, traditional dishes have also been given a Kababji touch.

A whopping 22 dishes were previously added to the menu, representing the best in Lebanese cuisine. From these classics, we loved the Arayes section, particularly their Cheese Arayes!

With its special mix of cheeses, the tasty center features Zaatar, mint, basil, black olives

and tomatoes. Try dipping the Arayes into the creamy Hummus, or the warmly spiced Hummus Muhammara for an added depth of flavor. There are no rules here, as long as it tastes great!

Despite filling our tummies with all of Kababji’s yummy offerings, we knew we couldn’t leave without sampling dessert! New to their dessert menu is a large slice of decadent, chocolate cake. Deeply dark and cacao-rich, one entire side of the cake is spread with a coating of halawa. The sweet, sesame confection adds a texture to the dessert that makes it taste even more indulgent than your average chocolate cake. Then, our eyes are delivered with what can only be described as an egg-shaped offering of vanilla ice-cream, wrapped in candy floss halawa with a drizzle of caramel and crushed pistachios on top. Named Ghazal Beirut, this is exactly the Kababji dessert of our dreams! Wonderfully fun to eat, we defy you to eat this without laughing out in joy. It is an experience you will not find anywhere else. And yet, at the very heart of it, is delicious food that you will want to remember sharing with your loved ones.

Treat yourself to Kababji at any of their 6 dinein locations! We visited their flagship location at Marina Mall, on Salem Al Mubarak Street.

Kababji is available for delivery online via talabat.com, or by calling them at 186 1616.

Follow them on Instagram @kababji_kuwait for their latest updates.

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bazaar goes dining

LET’S MANGE TOUT!

Experiencing The Bistro’s new menu additions By bazaar staff

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hours dedicated to the ceremony of gathering, particularly over a meal, in Kuwait. This isn’t exactly what Henry James had in mind but on this brisk winter’s day, walking up towards The Bistro Mais Alghanim, through the Miral Complex, the thought of dining as a ceremony comes to mind.

Indulging in the pleasure of a relaxed meal with friends and family is precious in these fast times.

Location is everything, especially if you want your customers to stay and take their time over a meal. The Bistro Mais Alghanim has the advantage of being perfectly situated with an expansive vista for guests to enjoy.

Tucked in at the apex curve of the coast, you are assured of views like no other in Kuwait, and the floor to ceiling glass windows, which run along one entire side of the restaurant give you unrestricted views of the beach and the dancing Miral Fountains, not to mention copious amounts of natural light.

With the experience of Mais Alghanim behind them, the Bistro was launched with the key idea to deliver a quality concept, with a high level of expertise in the kitchen, producing meals made from scratch for discerning customers. Servicing a cosmopolitan clientele with an international understanding of food, it is important to Bistro to maintain a smaller menu of high quality, with the offerings always consistent, from the look and textures to the taste.

Keeping the most popular dishes untouched, the new menu offers select dishes with various influences from European to Asian, keeping in mind all the flavors favored by customers.

Arriving hot out of the oven and oozing creamy gloriousness is the oversized Vol-auVent. Coming under the section “B-Special” it certainly is! Large enough for one person to be completely satisfied, this is a great choice to share as well. The flakey, buttery crown puff-pastry is filled to an overflowing brim, with a chicken and mushroom sauce packed with sweet kernels of corn. Topped off with a generous amount of shaved parmesan, this is the best comfort food on a cold winters day and we defy you to not eat every bit!

Writing of comfort food, there is one dish that is always popular throughout Kuwait and Bistro has its own version. The Dragon Shrimp 70

is truly dynamite, and it is the texture as well as the complex flavors that make this starter so moreish. Plump shrimp, shorn of tail and clad in seasoned breadcrumbs, are fried and then tossed in a spicy sauce. A large helping is piled high on a bed of shredded Romaine lettuce lining a pastry shell bowl. The shrimp are so skillfully bread-crumbed that even after marinating in the sauce, there is still a discernable crunch when you bite down.

The next two main dishes can be heard before they are even seen. Through clouds of steam and enticing smells, emerges hot Lava plates of thick, cast iron sitting on wooden presentation blocks. The “Shrimp Noodle Sizzler” and the “Surf and Turf” have arrived!

Both are such a beautiful array of color that it is hard to know where to start. Masterfully, the shrimp in the noodle sizzler have been placed atop, rather than through the noodles, so as to

not get overdone while we dig into the meat and fish combo first.

A trio of sauces accompanies the “Surf and Turf”. While you can confidently use any with each of the three skewers of charcoal grilled chicken, beef and shrimp, there are recommendations.

The paprika seasoned chicken pairs well with the home-made garlic sauce; a simple whip of garlic cloves, corn oil and egg-white delivers an unexpectedly lively result. If typically, the smell of garlic is a barrier to your enjoyment, this dip is more flavorful than aromatic and all three dips are served on the side on their own platter.

Chunky cubes of beef tenderloin swipeleft with the herbed spinach and fresh cream dipping sauce and it is advised to dip deeply the pink, tail-on shrimp into the rich, gooey butter garlic sauce. Accompanied by a sizeable fluffy potato, glistening with butter and a scattering of freshly chopped, flat-leaf parsley. In order

to make sure the Bistro potatoes are at their premium fluffiest, they are sourced from all over the region, depending on when the crop is in season during the year.

Still sizzling gently on the other side of the table is the “Shrimp Noodle Sizzler”. It is a pleasant surprise to pop a shrimp in the mouth and discover it has remained tender and not become overcooked on the hot plate. This dish has a more Asian feel to it, with a soy sauce base on the noodles. Instead of an egg noodle, the dish is prepared with al-dente spaghetti, an astute choice as it allows you to focus on all the flavors in the mixture without moving over completely into the realms of Chinese stir-fry.

Having proven resoundingly that the new dishes so far are executed with flair, we are to move on to the desserts but take a short respite to enjoy the new Tea Karak. A traditional tea set with a tall, curvy teapot and colored glasses to fill is placed onto the dining table.

With its own stand, a tea-light is lit as a burner to keep the chai warm. A tiny dish of date balls accompanies the warming, spiced drink. Rolled in coconut-kunafa vermicelli, this home-made date confection concoction is so sweet and soft so you can’t help but squish it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue, and the Karak washes it down perfectly.

Chef Ziad Hilal, famed for his pastries and desserts created the new ‘afters’ menu for Bistro. The first to taste is the three-layered “Chocolate Cheese Fudge”, topped with caramel coated popcorn. The intense cocoa flavor is matched only by the depth of the burnt umber color of the two cake rounds which are layered with a whipped cream cheese filling in the middle. This is an unbelievably moist cake and brilliantly executed. Next comes the “Chocolate Lotus Fondant” and the “Chocolate Brownie” offerings. Both are topped with a home-made vanilla ice cream which is light, full of flavor and vanilla bean seeds can be seen running through the refreshing topping! This is perfect to complement the rich desserts.

Finally, after at first refusing anything else, we decide to go with the server’s suggestion of Arabic Coffee to finish off. This is a delightfully multi-layered, complex flavor combination of coconut, cloves, saffron, cardamom and Thymol seeds. The care that has been taken to bring these ingredients together in only a simple coffee reiterates the depth of thought that goes into each offering on the Bistro's menu. You would be well advised to give it a try!

The Bistro Mais Alghanim is located on the first floor of the Miral Complex in Mangaf. For more information, please call 2205 4200. Visit their website at www.bistromais.com and follow them on Instagram and Facebook @BistroMais.

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bazaar around town

SYMPHONY STYLE HOTEL KUWAIT NAMED BEST LUXURY FAMILY HOTEL IN KUWAIT AT WORLD LUXURY HOTEL AWARDS Symphony Style Hotel, Quorvus Collection’s flagship hotel in Kuwait, is celebrating further global recognition after being named the 2017 Best Luxury Family Hotel – Kuwait, at the recent World Luxury Hotel Awards. Judges on the World Luxury Hotel Awards panel selected Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait for the high-profile award based on its commitment to outstanding hoteliering and outstanding achievements in the luxury hospitality industry. The award follows the concerted efforts of the hotel to enhance its offering to cater for all ages and ensure a memorable stay for the entire family. In 2017, the third & fourth floors of the hotel were turned into a designated Kids Floor. The Kids Club features a 500 sqm multipurpose play room, a dedicated cinema and a library, providing younger guests with access to a fun, educational and interactive space, under the supervision of highly-trained staff. The Kids Club also features a dining area for the little ones, and their own sleeping area. The hotel’s ideal location offers the whole family easy access to world-class shopping and lifestyle options at the adjacent Symphony Mall.

For more information, visit www.symphonystylehotel.com or follow on Instagram @symphonystylekw.

LAVAN: BOLD AND BURSTING WITH FLAVOR ‘Lavan’ by Crafters Co. serves up authentic Indian cuisine prepared in an inviting, open kitchen environment.

Crafters Company, the creators of delectable and innovative restaurant concepts and cuisines in Kuwait, unveiled their latest casual-dining concept, Lavan. The restaurant serves traditional Indian cuisine in a unique open kitchen concept and marble-infused setting, with dishes served straight from a custom, tandoor oven. Lavan first debuted last month at its new location on Khalid Ibn Waleed St, Kuwait City, arrives as the latest addition to Crafters' fast growing restaurant portfolio. Seamlessly combining modern and classic elements and design, high ceilings and large windows adorn the space filled with slatted wood and marble accents in a convivial setting. The restaurant’s unique open kitchen concept offers customers an outlet to satisfy their curiosity, chefs to showcase their cooking skills, and delights the diners's senses with the aroma of delicious Indian cuisine being prepared, making it the ideal place for a one-of-a-kind, interactive casual-dining experience with your loved ones. A Crafters Company spokesperson said: “When we first set out to create Lavan, we wanted to not only create dishes that were authentic and rich with flavor, but to also offer these dishes in a dining environment unlike any other in Kuwait. Spending months on research and traveling around India to find the perfect cooking facilities and recipes, our experience and passion shines through our menu and we invite you to join us for an authentic taste of India in the heart of Kuwait.” Lavan’s menu features a mix of fresh ingredients infused in tastefully and traditionally made dishes, including a combination of curry, biryani, and tandoori dishes cooked in a custom tandoor oven where handmade naan bread is also baked fresh daily.

Established in 2010 by two Kuwaiti entrepreneurs on a journey to create the ultimate concept dining experience in the region, Crafters Company brings almost a decade of food-service experience to their new endeavor with the launch of Lavan. Based in Kuwait, Crafters are the curators behind original dining concepts: Triangle, Ridley’s Burger, Bao Steamed Bun, and Haute Gourmet Hot Dogs.

Lavan is located in Al Matrouk Tower on Khalid Ibn Waleed St, Kuwait City. Opening hours are from 19:00-23:00 Sunday through Wednesday, and 14:00-17:00 and 19:00-23:00 on weekends. Please follow @HouseofLavan on Instagram for the latest updates.

KENZO LAUNCHES SECOND KUWAIT STORE AT 360 MALL KENZO is happy to announce the launch of a new store in Kuwait located in one of the country’s most prestigious shopping destinations, 360 MALL. The 154m² store has been fitted with KENZO’s global approach to retail, developed by Creative Directors Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, to showcase the brand’s continued ethos of revitalization. Dedicated to KENZO’s collections for women and men, accessories, footwear and leather goods, the store is part of an all-immersive brand experience for customers of the storied French fashion house. Upon moving through the store, the medley of materials and minerals such as concrete, white cement, mirrors and varying tones of marble unexpectedly merge together to create this singular and effortless KENZO shopping experience. Built into white niches, the racks and shelves illuminate the high architectural space. Geometric tiger rugs, sporadically placed over the stone flooring and color-coded for the different zones, add touches of brightness to compliment the men’s and women’s offerings.

Find the new KENZO boutique at 360 MALL. To learn more about the new KENZO and its full range of designs and collections, customers can visit their store from 10 am – 10pm Sunday- Wednesday, 10am – 11pm on Thursdays and Saturdays and 12:30pm – 11pm on Fridays. For further updates, please follow KENZO on Instagram @Alyasra.

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SBX Available at all our Starbucks stores.

For more details, contact us on 1821212 or log on to http://mena.starbucks.com and check our store locator. ‫تواصلوا معنا عبر‬ Like us

facebook.com/StarbucksMiddleEast Follow us

@starbucksmiddleeast

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bazaar around town

THE CHILLS ARE COMING SOON TO KIDZANIA WITH THE RETURN OF WINTER FESTIVAL! The most awaited program of the year, Winter Festival, has finally come to KidZania with new additions to watch out for! The program is the biggest annual program at the kid-size metropolis, which offers children an exciting and educational opportunity to gain insights about the cold climate by indulging in series of winter-inspired atmosphere. The program kicked off at KidZania on December 14, 2017 and will continue until February 28, 2018. Back with a new twist, the program is set to take children on a fun winter adventure with many upgraded activities including a sculptured Ice Cave, a designated skating rink, roller slides, and many other spectaculars.

With its sub-zero temperatures, the Ice Cave welcomes children to see artistically-crafted ice sculptures that spark an enchanted sensation within them. Kids are also promised to enjoy winter-inspired street performances and daily shows featuring KidZania’s beloved characters and artistic team. While providing an opportunity to have fun, the Winter Festival is also educational at heart as it aims to teach children about the climate and winter habitats, such as penguins and polar bears, and how people live and adapt to cold climates. With a minimal additional fee, children can get their own “Arctic Pass” to unlock the full Winter Festival features. This includes entry to the Ice Cave, a 3D winter-decorated golf course, a winter car circuit, and free giveaways to enjoy. KidZania’s Winter Festival is inspired by the right “to share”, one of children’s five fundamental rights at KidZania, which is entrusted by KidZania’s sociable RightZkeeper, Chika.

For more information on KidZania Kuwait, visit www.kidzania.com.kw or KidZaniaKuwait on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

THE PROMENADE AND CUBICAL SERVICES LAUNCH THE FIRST RETAIL INCUBATOR IN KUWAIT: SOAPBOX As part of their commitment to supporting entrepreneurial development, The Promenade and Cubical Services have collaborated to bring you SoapBox, Kuwait’s first retail incubator. The press conference announced the launch of www.applyforabox.com, an online portal where entrepreneurs can submit applications for retail space at SoapBox. Held at the Promenade Culture Centre, the event was attended by representatives of The Promenade, Cubical Services Business Incubator, Ministry of Youth, and Kuwait National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development. Located at The Promenade, Soapbox is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs; offering fully-fitted shop space, with low overhead and flexible terms. SoapBox will also feature an e-commerce portal for tenants to reach an even wider audience and market their products and services online. In addition, tenants at SoapBox will have access to Cubical Services’ expert consultation and support services for SMEs. The Promenade Management Team commented: “At The Promenade, we endeavor to harness talent, creativity, and the entrepreneurial spirit, and therefore we are very pleased to be launching SoapBox in partnership with Cubical Services. Our vision has been to create a space where entrepreneurs have a platform to be heard and to succeed, therefore SoapBox offers young businesses a vibrant space to be creative and to be able to easily elevate their business models for greater exposure.

With the support of Cubical Services, Ministry of Youth, and the Kuwait National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development, we are confident this will be a successful venture and benefit the local entrepreneurial community.” “Cubical Services is proud to be launching the first ever retail incubator in Kuwait, in collaboration with The Promenade. This business model is the only one of its kind where entrepreneurs can receive constant support, guidance, and advice to ensure that their businesses grow and reach their full potential. Our commitment has been to ensure that the local business community in Kuwait thrives, and we are pleased that SoapBox supports that vision,” stated the management of Cubical Services Business Incubator. Ministry of Youth stated: “The Ministry of Youth is pleased to be supporting initiatives in Kuwait that benefit the youth of Kuwait.

There has been a much needed space for young entrepreneurs to be able to grow their business and harness their talents in a supportive environment such as SoapBox. We look forward to supporting The Promenade and Cubical Services Business Incubator in making SoapBox a great success in Kuwait.” In addition to offering shop spaces, SoapBox will also feature a community space where workshops for entrepreneurs, events, and activities will be held throughout the year.

The Promenade is located in Hawally. Please call 2227 7130 for more information. To apply for a space at SoapBox, please visit www.applyforabox.com.

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PORSCHE CENTRE KUWAIT COMMEMORATES ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY THROUGH AN EVENTFUL YEAR Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, commemorated the 60-year anniversary of Porsche Centre Kuwait through an enigmatic socially engaging campaign spread across the entire year that encompassed all major communications mediums in the country. The campaign included a series of social media videos, customer testimonials, a one-of-a-kind talk show, a distinctive cinematic advertisement as well as numerous press engagements that collectively showcased the brand’s evolution in the country over the past six decades. Among the celebrations, Porsche Centre Kuwait launched their first-ever and exclusive awards programme, BMC Plus, as part of the Behbehani family to reward Porsche customers in Kuwait. Setting the tone for the campaign was the brand inception story in the country which was the introduction of Porsche in Kuwait by the late Mr. Morad Behbehani and the official inauguration of the first Porsche Centre Kuwait back in 1957. This historical moment in Kuwait was portrayed through a 60-second video, which was the first of a series of videos that highlighted the brand through the eyes of various Porsche owners, fanatics, collectors and ambassadors. Each video demonstrated their unwavering loyalty and commitment as well as their personal anecdote with the brand. Also in conjunction with the 60th anniversary celebrations, was the debut of #MeshaweerPorscheQ8, a Ramadan-themed talk show hosted by a prominent social media influencer. The talk show took place inside the all-new Porsche Panamera 4S and featured four renowned celebrities from all walks of life who were passionate about the Porsche brand. Six glorious decades of Porsche in Kuwait were strengthened by preserving the brand’s principles and heritage and embracing technological advancements. The introduction of revolutionary concepts, throughout the years, such as the Cayenne and the Macan transformed the market of sports car and received great acceptance by the community. These year-long initiatives were a reminder to all of Porsche’s history in Kuwait and the love of Porsche that transcends through generations. This sentiment was gracefully reflected through a distinctive television and cinematic advertisement that reignited the Porsche passion and connected further with Porsche enthusiasts who were able to reflect on their own Porsche experience and adventures through the years. In celebrating this special occasion, Behbehani Motors Company’s management also ensured to honour their valued customers and provide them with exclusive benefits through the launch of the loyalty card programme, BMC Plus.

For more information about Porsche Centre Kuwait’s 60th anniversary campaign and series of videos, you can visit Porsche Centre Kuwait on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the currently available models and new vehicle launches, please visit www.porschekuwait.com or call 1870 870.

EVERY FRIDAY, DELIGHT IN THE BEST OF TURKISH DINING AND LUNCH AT “TASTE OF TURKEY” Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait launched a delectable new dining concept in the presence of Turkey’s official representative in Kuwait and influential members of media. Turkish cuisine is steeped in history, influenced by a vast range of ancient empires and customs, resulting in unique dishes packed full of a plethora of flavors. And guests at Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait can now experience the best in Turkish food and authentic hospitality with a luxurious new weekend option. The Quorvos Collection’s flagship hotel in Kuwait launched its innovative new dining concept, “Taste of Turkey” by hosting an engaging afternoon of dining and entertainment, attended by number of VIPs, including Turkish embassy officials, and distinguished members of the media and their families. The invited guests were treated to a memorable experience, soaking up the ambiance of a traditional Turkish gathering in the hotel’s large outdoor tented venue, situated in a stunning location next to Symphony Style Hotel’s renowned swimming pool area. Once the diners stepped into the Taste of Turkey tent it was like walking the streets of Istanbul, with a live band playing Turkish melodies throughout the afternoon as the aromas and flavors of the historic cuisine engulfed the senses. The atmosphere encourages you to get lost in thoughts of wandering round a Turkish bazaar while indulging in renowned favorites from the region. The delicious Turkish feast includes a variety of the famous specialty kebabs, such as kofta and donor, a mouthwatering selection of hot and cold dishes and the popular oven baked seabass and chicken covered with salt, Simit – a specialty Turkish bread – world-renowned Turkish delights, followed by everyone’s favorite, Turkish Baklava and ice cream, all accompanied by authentic Turkish tea and the refreshing yoghurt-based Aryan. The option of shisha completes this truly authentic afternoon of Turkish dining. There’s plenty to keep the entire family happy throughout the afternoon, with a dedicated children’s area with a host of activities to keep the little ones happy. The weather’s cooling, it is the perfect time to try a new dining experience and take your taste buds and senses on a tour of a region famous for food and stepped in so much history. A true Turkish delight awaits at the Taste of Turkey, which takes place every Friday from 1 p.m.- 5p.m.

For more information, visit www.symphonystylehotel.com or follow on Instagram @symphonystylekw.

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THE BOARDING PASS TO SELF-EXPLORATION

Find inspiration this year with GUST and Oxadventure!

By Sama Al-Refai

As university students, it’s easy to feel as if we’re drowning in books, constantly racing to meet deadlines, as we hustle day and night to fulfill our numerous commitments; we often forget to slow down, self-explore and embrace all of our countless blessings.

Last summer, Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) gave us the opportunity to expand our comfort zones, immerse ourselves in a new culture, and absorb the wisdom and knowledge of a foreign country: Vietnam.

The trip is part of GUST’s Mass Communication and Media Department’s annual summer internship program, run in coordination with Oxadventure. This is the fourth consecutive year that GUST has run this internship with the previous destinations being India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The internships are designed to expose students to new challenges, while providing opportunities to practice their media skills, 76

and understand the importance of helping communities less fortunate than their own.

The first stage of the internship was to gather books and stationary to donate to a children’s charity in Vietnam. It was such a delight going through my old books, as old memories raced through my head, and I kept thinking about how such a simple act would have such a profound impact on the children we would meet in Vietnam. At this point, we also did thorough research on Vietnam, and educated ourselves on the Vietnam War and its impact on the country, the country’s current position as an ASEAN member, and its burgeoning economy.

While in Vietnam, a number of students kept a journal to not only document the journey, but to help internalize and interpret the significant moments we collectively went through. The following are excerpts from my writings during my time in Vietnam. They reveal the most pertinent moments that acted as eye-openers and catalysts to think more deeply about my life, and the world I want to live in.

July 17, 2017 – 7:52 AM I can’t stop analyzing the familiar and the unfamiliar. An airport; a simple word that holds a much bigger context. An airport is where

masses of people cross paths to fly onto other destinations. What I find alluring about airports is how people just come together with their differences. Monks, wanderers, imams, rabbis, priests, and people of all races and beliefs; it’s the place where we unite in peace and solidarity.

In that moment, I envisioned myself boarding one flight after the other, meeting new people and embracing new cultures. All this and I still haven’t left Kuwait.

July 18, 2017 – 10:55AM We boarded a plane to Abu Dhabi for a connecting flight to Bangkok, Thailand. With ears clogged, dimmed lights, and the airplane’s engine roaring in the background, I found my brain stirring with thoughts about life and the contradiction of truth. We are taught that happiness is luxury, and leading a meaningful life comes with a good income and stability, when in fact I’m beginning to think otherwise.

How does one lead a meaningful life? What does it mean? How can I determine whether or not mine is? And who gets to judge it?

July 19, 2017 – 6:20 AM After spending one night in Bangkok, we took a drive to board our next flight to Da Nang,

Vietnam. As the plane approached Da Nang, our home for the next few days, all I saw were my fellow Ox-ers looking out the window in complete astonishment. The view we saw from above was otherworldly. The mountains in all their majesty, the shades and hues of green. Oh, how they contrasted harmoniously with the lakes.

July 20, 2017 – 11:40 AM Today we had the chance to visit the kids at Children’s Hope in Action, a local nongovernmental organization that supports children’s education, and helps with disabilities and improving living conditions. It was such an eye-opening experience to see them smiling regardless of all they’ve been through and continue to go through. Some suffer from severe bone diseases, and yet that didn’t hold them back from sharing their laughter with us.

The true essence of life is found under one term and one term only, “contentment”.

Content was all they were and all that we’re not.

We get sucked into a world of consumerism and materialism; we begin to slowly convince ourselves that this is what happiness is. The truth is, happiness is attained once we’re content with the fundamentals of our lives.

July 21, 2017 – 9:03 AM

Our first day volunteering at Oytutomg School at Bhing brought on a spectrum of feelings. After three consecutive hours of painting the school walls, we were tired, happy, sore, and at the same time excited to meet the children. For the next three days, we helped organize the books we collected and categorized them according to genre and subject. Volunteering really pushes you out of your comfort zone. Your soul starts connecting with nature and you begin to break your own borders. You begin to realize that there’s more to life than just a recurring routine and conformity.

For the next week, we spent our days endlessly exploring the small town of Hoi An. We took cooking classes, biked around an island, kayaked through lakes and scuba-dived.

July 27, 2017 – 4:26PM As a group, we understood the true meaning of the term ‘cooperation’. We lifted each other’s spirits whenever one felt down, shared genuine laughter, and were sure to offer one another kind gestures. We’d spend long nights talking about our backgrounds, and how our differences actually unite us, just like an airport. At the end, the small things count for so much.

It was at this point that the thought of leaving Vietnam and the kids behind brought me

down. What brought my spirits back up was the comforting notion that I had contributed to making their lives better by supplying them with tools for a better education, and a way to improve their lives The biggest lesson I learned on my trip to Vietnam was to accept people for who they are, regardless of any cultural, ethnic, or ideological differences.

Unfortunately, this is a daily struggle we face in our society, and sadly we tend to block out people who do not share our views, principles, and beliefs. A sustainable open mind gives us the opportunity to learn so much.

Most importantly, the trip to Vietnam helped me uncover what I wanted to do with my life: to travel the world, create more art, and do my part to help people improve their lives. Personally, I urge everyone to take a leap of faith and try something new. This experience has shaped me both internally and externally, and I’m very thankful for that.

Images courtesy of Salem Al Mathkour. For more information, please visit www.gust.edu. kw and www.oxadventure.com. Sign up for your next adventure and make 2018 count!

77

INTERNET KILLED THE VIDEO STAR

Our film and video history is facing a streaming threat

By Michael Hiltzik

There isn’t much not to like about streaming video. Subscribe to Netflix or Amazon Prime, and you can choose from thousands of film and TV titles with the press of a button. No VHS tapes to get chewed up by a tape player, no DVDs to clutter the living room or collect dust and scratches. Whole seasons of TV series ready for binge viewing for fans with the addictive habits of chain smokers. This is entertainment technology at its best.

Or is it? Film historians and film buffs would beg to differ. For them, the rapidity with which streaming has supplanted discs and tape as a viewing mode is a bug, not a feature. As the mass audience gravitates toward the big streaming services, those services have more incentive to focus their streaming inventory on recent and self-produced titles.

“That crowds out older films,” says David Bordwell, a film historian at the University of Wisconsin. “They’re going to have less and less

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motive to highlight the classics in their catalogs.”

That threatens the economics of film history. “How many restorations of old films will there be?” he asks. “How many foreign titles?”

For classic-film buffs, the golden age may have been the 1980s, when the rapid spread of VHS tape players awoke major studios to the commercial potential of marketing their back catalogs for home viewing. The trend continued through the DVD era — Warner Bros., Universal, and Disney were especially notable preservers and marketers of their archives — but it may be fading as physical discs fall out of favor.

Netflix currently offers more than 4,700 film and TV titles for streaming. But only 19 were released before 1950, according to the search website justwatch.com. Netflix does include a “classics” genre among its inventory, but its definition is loose enough to encompass the 1970s features Jaws and Grease as well as the 1927 Fritz Lang silent masterpiece Metropolis.

As the big streaming services increasingly define themselves as purveyors of mass market fare, the way that many movie buffs first discovered the glories of cinema history — through serendipity

— is evaporating. Several services have sprung up online to serve the classic film buff audience, but they have to be sought out by those with a preexisting interest in the field — and they each require a separate subscription.

“We’re in an interesting moment when it’s never been cooler to be interested in classic movies,” says Nora Fiore, who blogs about classic film as Nitrate Diva. “Directors and screenwriters like Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino love to talk about the movies that influenced them. But it’s very hard for people to see those movies the way they did. Star Wars is having another moment, but how many people have seen The Hidden Fortress, the Akira Kurosawa film that was its inspiration?” (Netflix has “The Hidden Fortress,” but only on its DVD service, which is separate from its streaming subscription.)

Concerns about the decline of physical distribution of film and video fall into two categories: technical and commercial.

Each technological transition seems to leave more history behind. Film historians say there were fewer classic films available on VHS tape than on 35- and 16-mm film, and fewer still on DVD and a yet smaller selection on Blu-ray discs. At first glance

it might seem that digital storage would be a more reliable and perhaps cheaper archival technology than film and magnetic tape — after all, what can go wrong in just storing digital bits and bytes? The answer is: plenty. Digital assets are subject to degradation from “heat, humidity, static electricity, and electromagnetic fields,” a 2007 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences report warned.

“You have to monitor digital assets constantly to make sure the files haven’t been corrupted,” says Jan-Christopher Horak, director of the Film and Television Archive at the University of California, Los Angeles. They also have to be periodically migrated to new formats, because they can be illegible to new generations of read-and-write technology. (NASA discovered this flaw in 1999, when it was unable to review data from the Viking spacecraft from 1975 because all the programmers familiar with the original format had retired or died.)

About 99 percent of UCLA’s roughly half-million titles are archived on analog media — 35- or 16-mm film or videotape — Horak says. Estimates for the creation of a digital asset management system run from $1.2 million (KD360,000) and up, Horak told me. “That’s a huge expense for a public archive.”

The increasing focus of major streaming services on recent fare has left the field open

for niche services. Mubi, a 10-year-old, $5.99 ( KD1.8) per month service that now claims 100,000 members, adds one film a day to its streaming inventory of foreign, independent, and art-house fare, and leaves it up for 30 days. Fandor ($4.99 (KD1.5) a month), a film-buff site partially funded by the studio Lionsgate, offers an inventory of 5,000 streamed films with a focus on independent and foreign titles. The service says its specialty focus allows it to acquire films “the big players don’t think it’s worth their investing in,” says Gail Gendler, Fandor’s head of programming.

The gold standard classic film channel for historians and film buffs is Turner Classic Movies, a cable channel that also operates the streaming service FilmStruck — which is now the exclusive streaming distributor for the Criterion Collection, the premier classic film library (from which one can stream “The Hidden Fortress”). A combined FilmStruck/Criterion subscription costs $10.99 (KD3.3) a month.

“There’s a frustration among classic movie fans that Netflix, Amazon and Hulu give you a smattering of classics, but they’re not robust in that way,” says Charles Tabesh, the head of programming for TCM and FilmStruck. “TCM is kind of the only game in town.” About 150 of

TCM’s classic titles are available for streaming on FilmStruck, with plans to more than double that next year — in addition to the service’s independent, foreign, and Criterion offerings.

What worries film aficionados is that the rise of mass-market streaming will sap coming generations of their interest in classic films, which will in turn discourage those services and the studios themselves from continuing to invest in their century-old patrimony.

“Kids today are exposed to so much that they think that everything’s out there,” says Bordwell.

“There’s a sense of super-abundance, but there are lots of important films that are not available, including silent films that are impossible to see unless you go to a film archive and watch them on a flatbed moviola.”

Tabesh, for one, thinks it’s possible that digital storage and streaming will be the savior of film history, not its nemesis. “There are a lot of films that have never been available at all, even on DVD or home video, because there hasn’t been a market for them,” he told me. “If anything, digital might make some of these more available to people.

There are collectors of DVDs who will feel more safe owning the hard good. But over time, I think the convenience of digital will win out.”

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ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS ARE EATING AWAY AT DARK NIGHTS And that’s not a good thing

By Amina Khan

Earth is losing its darkness. A new study using satellite data finds that artificially lit surfaces around the world are spreading and growing brighter, producing more light pollution at night.

The findings, described in the journal Science Advances, track what researchers called a worrisome trend that has implications for the environment as well as human health.

“This is concerning, of course, because we are convinced that artificial light is an environmental pollutant with ecological and evolutionary implications for many organisms — from bacteria to mammals, including us humans — and may reshape entire social ecological systems,” Franz Holker of the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, one of the study’s authors, said in a briefing.

Thanks to electric lights, outdoor lighting grew

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at a rate of 3 percent to 6 percent annually in the second half of the 20th century. While this has benefited human productivity and safety, it has come with a dark side: The night is no longer dark enough.

Half of Europe and a quarter of North America have experienced seriously modified light-dark cycles, the study authors wrote, calling it a “widespread ‘loss of the night.’”

This light pollution can have serious consequences for living things, which have evolved in accordance with a natural day-night cycle, where the only major sources of light at night would have been the moon or more intermittent sources such as volcanoes, lightning, wildfires or auroras.

“From an evolutionary perspective, now, artificial light at night is a very new stressor,” Holker said.

“The problem is that light has been introduced in places, times and intensities at which it does not naturally occur, and many organisms have had no

chance to adapt to this new stressor.”

That’s a big problem, given that 30 percent of vertebrates and more than 60 percent of invertebrates are nocturnal, he pointed out. It can affect plants and even microbes. It also could be harming vital interactions between species, such as the pollination of plants and spreading of seeds by key nocturnal creatures.

“It threatens biodiversity through changed night habits, such as reproduction or migration patterns, of many different species: insects, amphibians, fish, birds, bats and other animals,” he said.

Humans are impacted by artificial light too because there are certain physiological processes that happen during the day and certain ones that happen at night — and they often work against each other, Holker said. That’s why working against our biological day-night clocks (for example, as night-shift workers must) can result in many kinds of issues, from depression-like symptoms to

obesity and diabetes.

And of course, the more light pollution there is, the fewer stars we can see — which makes it difficult for astronomers to study the heavens with ground-based telescopes.

To find out whether the human demand for light is still on the rise or leveling off, an international team of scientists used the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite, also known as VIIRS, a satellite sensor that’s a collaboration between NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The researchers studied data from the month of October in each year from 2012 to 2016. They found that over that time, Earth’s artificially lit outdoor surface grew by 2.2 percent each year, and the total radiance grew by 1.8 percent per year. On top of that, the outdoor areas that already had been lit when the study started in 2012 also brightened by 2.2 percent per year.

The fastest growth took place in countries in developing regions, such as Asia, Africa and South America. Countries that already were brightly lit, such as the United States and Spain, appeared stable. A small number of war-ravaged countries such as Yemen and Syria saw a drop in their artificially lit levels.

But even in those brightly lit countries that appeared stable, light levels are probably still on the rise, the scientists said.

That’s because many well-lit cities have been replacing yellow-orange sodium lights with energy-saving LED lights. Those sodium lights put out a small amount of infrared radiation, which would have made them look brighter to VIIRS. The white-toned LED lights have more blue wavelengths, which VIIRS cannot see. The combination of losing the infrared signal and not being able to see the blue wavelengths means that VIIRS registers this areas as dimmer, even

though they may be brighter than they were before.

“That means that this measurement that we’re reporting is a lower bound on how Earth’s light is increasing,” said study lead Christopher Kyba of the German Research Center for Geosciences. “And in fact, the true increase that a human being would perceive is actually larger than what we report here.”

Researchers had long suspected that the introduction of LEDs would mean less energy used for lighting, he said. The problem is this also made lighting cheaper.

“Whenever you make lights more efficient, you just don’t save energy,” Kyba said. “What happens instead is that people put more lights up.”

The blue light in those LEDs also are particularly disruptive for many nocturnal animals, researchers said.

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CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22

ARIES MAR 20 – APR 19

Help with a creative project - either working on the project or promoting it in some way - could come from an unexpected quarter, increasing your inspiration. This is an excellent time to present anything you've done to the public or to those who matter. You're feeling especially innovative, and you should make the most of it. You might be surprised by what you accomplish.

A night of troubled sleep and strange dreams might have you feeling listless and lacking in motivation.

Pull yourself together. Opportunities may come your way that you'll want to take advantage of.

You'll come up with some interesting new ideas.

Your energy level could go up and down, however.

Eat properly and stay focused in order to make the most of the planetary energies.

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22

TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20

An intense phone call, perhaps some kind of cry for help, could come from a relative or close friend. You're more strongly equipped than usual to help someone in need, but try to stay objective. The person may be exaggerating the situation or confused about its true nature. In fact, all communications could be confusing.

It may be difficult to separate fears from reality.

Use your electric feeling to fuel your passion. A subtle tension has been building for some time.

You've reached a critical turning point. Don't shy away from adventure because you fear failure.

Change and open up your heart to the world. You may hesitate to make a move because you don't want to make waves, but how else are you going to advance in life?

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22 Experiments with computers or other technology could reveal a hidden talent you didn't know you had. You could decide to work at developing this skill as it could open doors that increase your income. Friends could help you either with this or other matters. By month's end, you'll feel more focused than you were earlier.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22 Your mind is going a thousand miles an hour. Different ideas, interests, goals, and projects could dart through your mind all day. Write them down! Go through the list to see which ideas are workable, which are immediate, and which can wait for later. Take a long walk before bed or you might not be able to sleep.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 – DEC 21

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21 Inspiration could hit you like a bolt from the blue.

Your imagination, innovation, and ingenuity are high. Whatever you devise or discover should attract a lot of positive attention. Your nerves could be a bit stressed, so try to remain calm and not get too flustered if you hit a few roadblocks here and there.

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 Friends involved in the arts and sciences may want to get together soon, perhaps to brainstorm a few ideas. You should be feeling innovative.

Perhaps you have a lot to contribute. Group activities should prove satisfying, particularly those involving humanitarian pursuits. This promises to be a busy, stimulating period. Don't try to do too much and burn yourself out.

This month, you might host some kind of group activity or meeting in your home. A number of interesting people could attend. Some may have a lot of good ideas to share. This is a good time to work toward financial gain either for you or for a cause that means a lot to you. If fundraising is an issue, you should come up with some great plans.

Occultism, alchemy, or astrology could grab your interest. You might attend a lecture or workshop on the subject, or you could sign up for a class. Your mind is sharp, so whatever you decide to study you'll learn faster and retain more. Reading and experimentation could teach you a lot now. Other possibilities include meditation, ritual, or past-life regression.

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18 This is a good time to keep a low profile. Any attention that comes your way is suspect. Don't trust the motives of anyone who asks too many questions or who seems too interested in anything you're doing. This isn't a good time to start new projects or move forward with any new acquaintances. Lose yourself in the pursuit of your own interests.

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 19 Now you might have lots of plans for the future. Ideas could come thick and fast. You might find it difficult to decide which ones are most workable. You should be especially inspired, innovative, and enthusiastic. This is a good time to make plans and formulate ideas for creative projects.

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