January 2017 | Issue # 211 www.bazaar.town
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Int New year, new attitude! There you go. I'm not going to beat around the bush, promise to stop smoking (I did, actually), start going to the gym (I started doing that too, although too infrequently to count for anything except to justify buying insanely expensive sneakers), or any other optimistic resolutions. They all invariably end up in the same garbage dump as everyone else's until the next year when we all make similar or the same resolutions all over again. This year, I'm going to try something else. A mental resolution that doesn't require lugging heavy weights around, and doesn't include buying expensive tickets to remote islands half a world away to 'find oneself'. This year, I'm going to follow the advice of a very wise man called Pete Holmes who I stumbled across on HBO recently (yes, all stand-up comedians are wise). He said, and I quote "Love yourself for what you're doing, not what you could be doing", and I think I'm going to try that this time around. Simple, cheap, doesn't involve weights, unless you count the mental ones, and it makes a lot of sense for expats who live here in Kuwait who spend far too much time complaining about their lives here, instead of appreciating all the good things they've got going for them. In this issue of bazaar we spoke to some very inspiring people – the sort of people that help kick start the New Year on the highest of notes. For starters, what do you think of our cover? Teasing us with an image of her many origami paper polyhedras with all their variations of color and sizes is Kuwaiti artist Ghadah Alkandari. As she prepares for her fifteenth solo exhibition at CAP Kuwait, the artist behind the many familiar faces of Eve takes us on a riveting journey in this issue. From the arts to the world of music, it may have taken us a while, but we managed to track down Sons of Yusuf to talk about how they broke the internet with the sensation hit “Hala (We Dem Boyz Arabia Remix)”. And because we’re all interested in finding out more about the people behind the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center’s stunning interiors, we spoke to SSH’s Head of Interior Design Sebaa Orabi about design, accomplishments and fears. But if you’re still feeling the need to find yourself and journey to the depths of your soul, take a page out of Sumaiya Al-Sharhan’s book and seek out Husaak Adventures! One look at the stunning imagery she’s shared with us and we guarantee you’ll be on the next trip out. While we’ve provided you with the ultimate dining and delivery guide to keep your appetites satisfied for days, we just had to check out the local concept open amidst Al Shaheed Park’s beautiful scenery: Terazzo. A fresh and comforting dining experience, we suggest you go in a group to try everything on their menu! With that, we would like to wish you and yours a wonderful Happy New Year! Ahmed El-Adly
About the cover Creator of the many faces of Eve, prolific Kuwaiti artist Ghadah Alkandari prepares for her fifteenth solo exhibition titled Until set to take place at CAP Kuwait this month. Inspired by the character of Amaranta and how she embroidered her own shroud in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s 100 Years of Solitude, Ghadah created over 400 (and counting) of origami paper polyhedras that vary in size and color. In doing so, her latest collection of paintings grew in tandem with the origami structures. Photographed by Thilo Mayer, our first cover for 2017 is quite playful and festive, bidding us all to explore the various thought provoking experiences that will be present at the artist’s upcoming exhibition.
The bazaar team... Boss Ahmed El-Adly
Operations Tim Burns
Business Development Ihab Mokalled
Mixed Media Solutions Jennifer Cádiz
Content Coordinator Yasmine El Charif
Design Ahmed Al-Ashab
Staff Writer/Online Media Amira Haroun
Staff Writer Yasmine Dalloul
Communications Hala Y. Sharara
Editor Alia Al Duaij
Contributing Writers Ali Al-Woozain Barry Rodrigues George Tarabay Nejoud Al-Yagout Rita Makhoul Dr. Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg
members of:
Contributing Photographers Ebrahim Alawadi Yousef Al Nasser
Syndicates & Sources Baraka Bits Fast Company Kingdome.co LA Times MCT International Newsweek
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).
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INDEX JANUARY 2017 32
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SEBAA ORABI This month’s Up Close and Personal features the genius mind of Sebaa Orabi, head of interior design at SSH, and a valuable part of the team behind the stunning interiors at the Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center. We pick her brain about all things design, and find out her likes and dislikes in the process!
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ALHUMAIDHI ARCHITECTS Meet Aziz AlHumaidhi, resident architect extraordinaire and founder of AlHumaidhi Architects. In this in-depth one on one, Aziz gives insight on the process of his craft and what it means to be a master of this profession in Kuwait today.
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TERAZZO
GHADAH ALKANDARI
From designer extraordinaire to avid adventurer, we catch up with one of our very own alumni to dig deep (pun intended!) into her journey of becoming a co-guide at Husaak Adventures! Get on Sumaiya’s track to learn more!
Are you ready for a brand-new local, fresh and comforting dining experience? Nestled within the grand lushness of the beautiful Al Shaheed Park, Terazzo is serving up heartwarming dishes to ignite feelings of nostalgia and overall warmth!
The faces of Kuwaiti artist Ghadah Alkandari’s Eves are familiar, and has always existed as an extension of the artist. In this feature Anna Wallace-Thompson explores the Ghadah’s latest work just in time for her fifteenth solo exhibition set to take place at CAP Kuwait.
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During his recent visit to Kuwait and his performance at the Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center, we sit down with internationally acclaimed musical artist, Sami Yusuf. In this interview, he opens up to us about his new album, Barakah, and his inspiration behind it.
Have we got a special treat for you! When we heard that world-famous Japanese Porsche customizer Akira Nakai was visiting Kuwait for one short weekend to tirelessly work on a special project, we were there! See the full project in action in this exclusive feature!
You know them, you love them – they’re “dem boyz”! We’ve tracked down this amazing Kuwaiti duo to discuss them breaking the internet with their hit “Hala” and the buildup to their debut album, scheduled for release early this year.
SUMAIYA AL-SHARHAN
SAMI YUSUF
George Michael (1963-2016)
AKIRA NAKAI
SONS OF YUSUF
Carrie Fisher (1956-2016)
Coca Cola
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what's on January 2017 GHADAH ALKANDARI: UNTIL Date: January 11th - February 22nd Location: Contemporary Art Platform (CAP) Kuwait Contemporary Art Platform (CAP) is pleased to announce the opening night of “UNTIL”, the exhibition by Ghadah Alkandari taking place on Wednesday the 11th of January 2017. Two years ago Ghadah constructed her first origami polyhedron. She was unaware that this one object would be instrumental in shaping many paintings and stories to come. And many, many polyhedra to follow. But such is the pattern that plays itself out in her life as an artist: creations are influenced by both the banal and the important in life, not imitating art but mirroring it. As she prepared for this exhibition, the mood of her work kept shifting from purpose to purpose. Until love, until peace, until she’s settled in a place she wants to be. Always waiting for the big Until. CAP Kuwait is located in Industrial Shuwaikh, Block 2, Street 28 on the Mezzanine Floor of Life Center. For more on the show, check out @CAPKuwait on Instagram. KUWAIT MOTOR SHOW AUTO MOTO 2017 Date: January 12th-21st Location: 360 Mall The Kuwait Motor Show Auto Moto 17 returns for the fifth consecutive year! Reveals and launches of the latest most exciting cars of 2017 in addition to exclusive offers all offered by authorized dealers in Kuwait. The event will take place at 360 Mall ground floor from the 12th to the 21st of Jan 2017. For more on the show, check out @automoto_q8 on Instagram.
KRM : FOUR HANDS Date: January 24th- February 16th Location: Sultan Gallery L’Esprit Du Mur (the spirit of the wall) is a concept and style of painting created by KRM, the French-German artist duo Chérif and Geza. Their concept and style ESPRIT DU MUR is a rebel, urban art, based on human tragedy and the complexity of existence. Their works reveal a portrait of city-life and freely expresses interior contradictions, suffering and joy. Their work is revolutionary, based on overlapping images, words and impulsive gests. Working with four hands on the same piece defines the duo’s working process and makes their confrontation authentic. The final result is an assembly of color, emotions and different techniques. The work witnesses a contemporary actuality and treats social-political subjects and questions. KRM and a running dog figure on each picture is their signum. Sultan Gallery is located in South Sabhan, Block 8, Street 105, Building 168. For more on this event, and others at the Sultan Gallery, visit www.sultangallery.com. INFOCONNECT 2017 Date: January 22nd-28th Location: Kuwait International Fairgound Infoconnect is a 7 day event being held from 22nd January to 28th January 2017 at the Kuwait International Fair Ground in Kuwait City, Kuwait. This event showcases products like computer peripherals, IT security tools, software solutions, data warehousing systems and a host of other related services and accessories. The show draws in active participation from eminent professionals from both the public as well as the private sectors and the latest innovations and developments in the IT industry are closely looked into here. The show is held over a period of seven days at the Kuwait International Fairground and enjoys large scale media coverage too etc. For more information on this event, visit www.infocenterexpo.com.kw. REMEDY CARNIVAL Date: January 28th Location: Al Murouj Remedy Carnival is a charity carnival held by students in Kuwait. Their aim is to spread awareness and we will donate our profits to Bayt Abdullah. The carnival will be held on January 28, 2017 in Murouj. For more information, visit @remedy_kw on Twitter and Instagram. You can also contact 6768 0743.
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what's trending January 2017
What: @letsbookr Info: Salon appointments at your fingertips. Editor’s Note: Fight awkward walk-ins/rejections once and for all!
What: @brushed965 Info: Custom brushing your design of choice onto canvases. Editor’s Note: They operate worldwide as well!
What: @capkuwait Info: An exhibition space for modern and contemporary art. Editor’s Note: Follow them for updates on artsy events to attend.
What: @bastakwt Info: A local sustainable non-profit based in Kuwait. Editor’s Note: Look out for them in local markets like Shakshooka!
What: @shakshookamarket Info: A local market encouraging entrepreneurship and craftsmanship. Editor’s Note: Kuwait’s favorite tiny market is now on Instagram!
www.bazaar.town
What: @pantrybee Info: Exciting recipes and ingredients delivered straight to your doorstep. Editor’s Note: Cooking made stress-free and delicious!
What: @historylovin Info: The account of a local history buff. Editor’s Note: This account makes for a great convo starter!
What: @globalaidkuwait Info: Aiming to change the world, one picture at a time. Editor’s Note: Start off the new year right by staying informed.
As much as we work our hardest to give you one rocking print issue after the other, we’re socially active (or try our best to be, we are bazaar humans after all) and we love it! Find us online: It makes our day when we see your tweets/mentions/likes/comments/shares about your favorite features and more. facebook.com/bazaarmagazine
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TWELVE NEW HABITS IN 2017
By Dr Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg
“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” – Andy Warhol Traditionally, January is the Month of Resolve; the regular cycles of the calendar encourage this natural tendency and millions of us mentally and psychologically think of January 1 as the beginning of something entirely new. Years ago, as I contemplated the nearly completed calendar, I realized that two particular clients I’d worked with felt significant to me. Both had begun therapy in January, both were driven to seek help by unexpected crisis, and both were going to finish out the year with me. But there the similarity ended. One was going into the New Year with anticipation, looking forward to the “anniversary” of having begun therapy as the day he planned to be finished. He had a well-practiced toolbox of techniques and strategies for managing stress, making decisions, and grounding himself in the reality of the present moment. The other client, however, was living every day with the fervent, heartfelt wish, “I just want this year to be over.” Her mantra had become, “This is just a bad year. Everything will be better when it’s over. It has to be.” Though she had access to the same tools, and the opportunity to learn how to use them, she fixated instead on the idea that the year itself was somehow responsible for the ‘series of unfortunate events’ that were making her life so miserable. While it appeared that these two individuals were similar in many ways, in one vital way they 18
were very different. Client #1 believed that he had the power within himself to change things, and Client #2 believed she had to wait for something to change. Don’t get me wrong – really, really unhappy things happen in life and we don’t get to choose whether or not these painful events impact our lives. What we do get to choose is how we face, process and manage these circumstances. Client #1 comprehended that he could do something about his attitude toward life and he diligently set out to learn how. We channelled that desire by identifying one small change he could make in his daily life; small enough to be sustainable, but significant enough (if he kept doing it) to have an impact. Sometimes this was difficult to do – the proposed change for that month would be too big (“I’ll stop smoking.”) or unquantifiable (“I’ll stop being so controlling.”) or not intentional enough (“I’ll exercise.”) and we’d have to wrestle to find a way to make the change doable, sustainable and relevant. In February, he decided he would try, “Not My Problem Day,” and picked one day a week when his response to anyone who told him about a problem would be, “I can see that’s a difficulty/problem/issue for you. How are you going to solve it?” He was so pleased with the outcome of that experiment that when I proposed for March that he say, “No,” to one request per day because he could (and he needed to exercise his ‘No’ muscle), he was willing to try it. In April, while continuing to practice February and March’s changes, he added leaving his desk at lunchtime every workday for at least 30 minutes. These
small actions, consistently done in conjunction with the opportunity to process his emotional and mental distresses, added up to a completely different life and lifestyle at the end of 12 months. Client #2, however, resisted the idea that small changes could be helpful, wishing for a ‘magic wand’ (her words) to make everything right. Though she also asked for support for the emotional and mental distress of her circumstances, she actually changed nothing, persistent in her belief that the year was a bad one, and things would be better when it was over. Guess what? That didn’t happen. It is the small changes in habit – which we ALL have the ability to do – that add up, over time, to big changes in life. On the contrary, when we ‘bite off’ more than we can chew, we end up choking. Many, many people experience a sense of failure and temporary depression when they realize (often in April) that most, if not all of their New Year’s Resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Don’t be those people. Set yourself up for success by planning small, sustainable actions that will add up to Big. Change. Twelve new habits in 2017. You can do it.
Dr Susannah is a leading psychologist, registered professional counsellor and Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling based in Canada. Follow @DrSusannah on Twitter and Instagram.
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COMING DOWN AGAIN
On storytelling, REORIENT, and novel writing with Joobin Bekhrad
By bazaar staff
As a predominantly online publication, REORIENT needs no introduction, as it’s made a mark on the international arena with all of its innovative content celebrating Middle Eastern arts and culture. Award winning founder and editor of REORIENT Joobin Bekhrad is widely acclaimed for his written works, and with a resume that runs high with literary experience, it comes as no surprise to see him publish his first novel. The Iranian-born author of Coming Down Again claims that his relationship with the pen is a surprising one. “There was a time when I could never imagine being a writer. My highschool teachers had effectively turned me off of anything having to do with the written word, and I absolutely hated things involving reading and/ or writing.” He tells us, but it didn’t take long for him to discover his talents “I soon took up the pen again and began writing like there was no tomorrow. I must have been around 23 years old when I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I’d thankfully discovered literature in my first year of university.” With piqued interest, we delve deeper into Joobin’s literary mind, inviting him to turn the tables and hand over the pen, surrendering himself over as our subject. We absolutely love everything about REORIENT, can you please introduce the publication and website to our readers? Thank you! REORIENT is a predominantly online publication that celebrates contemporary Middle Eastern arts and culture. Our areas of focus are visual art, literature, film, and music, and we’re supported by a network of amazing contributors from around the globe. I launched it in 2012 on a whim (as with most of the other things I do), although it really assumed its identity and character in 2014. Our Instagram account has become very popular, although what troubles me at times is that many don’t know we’re actually a serious publication. If I had a dime for every time someone approached me at a gathering and said, ‘Oh! You’re the Instagram guys!’ … Woe is me. From REORIENT to your new novel, Coming Down Again, tell us about your journey as a writer and content producer. Well, in the early days I was writing completely different material. I don’t write reviews anymore, or even articles; I only write stories. That’s what really interests me; I mean, anyone can just write a review of a film that will be irrelevant in a few
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months’ time. Stories last and don’t have an expiry date; they’re also more challenging to write. Even if I’m writing about, for instance, history (as I did with the pieces Of Bandits and Popinjays and Ramblings of an Iranian Wino), I try to tell a story. There’s always a bit of me lurking in everything I write. Really, I’m writing my autobiography as we speak: it’s all there. Coming Down Again was begging to be written. I always wanted to tell this story, and it had gotten to the point where I was feeling physically ill because of not getting anywhere with it. I’d written two drafts that I scrapped prior to releasing what you have in your hands, as I didn’t feel I was conveying what I’d initially set out to. It began with a series of images: a red electric guitar, the mountains of Tehran, flowers, a boy with shaggy hair and blue jeans. I knew I wanted to (or rather, had to) do something with them. It was just a matter of gluing myself to my seat and knocking the book out.
a whirlwind of emotions. That being said, it’s also about heavy doses of rock and roll, vitriol, and eyeliner. On another level, you could look at it as a love letter to Tehran and London. The Tehran I’ve written about is the Tehran of my heart and soul … Just add chai. What are some of your goals in 2017? Well, aside from not being lazy and finally going on the greatest Iranian road trip of all time I’ve been dreaming about for ages, there’s the book of essays and stories I mentioned and the poetry book I hope to finish in time for the Iranian New Year (Norooz). Hopefully more people will discover Coming Down Again, as well. Additionally, I’d love to find more inspiring artists to speak with for REORIENT’s podcast series (REORIENT Radio), as well as continue churning out material that strikes chords within our readers. Really, the goal is to just write, write, and write. And get filthy rich and famous in the process.
What should readers expect from Coming Down Again? Don’t expect a standard novel. The first two drafts were plot-driven, and I decided to scrap the idea of a plot entirely. The book is about a feeling, a mood,
‘Coming Down Again’ is available online through www.amazon.com. Book cover art by Melodie Hojabr Sadat. For more about Joobin and his latest book, head to joobinbekhrad.com. For more on REORIENT, visit www.reorientmag.com.
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UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD By Anna Wallace-Thompson
The faces of Kuwaiti artist Ghadah Alkandari’s Eves are familiar – they fill a universe on canvas, spread their wings across pages of her journals, wave at you as three dimensional puppets. The archetypal character in her oeuvre, Eve has always existed as an extension of Alkandari – a character who is all of us yet none of us; so wholly the artist yet an independent being. Her arched brows, rosebud lips and severe hairstyle identify her instantly; the bright spots of color on her cheeks belie the rambunctious and passionate inner monologue that must exist behind her eyes, at once playful, steely and all-seeing.
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Gaining recognition with the 2008–9 series The Yellow Tape Portraits, the character of Eve was born initially out of a painful separation and the ensuing familial vitriol, and has always been Alkandari’s own protagonist, acting out both heartaches and victories, losses and joys. Her new works, however, on display at the solo exhibition Until, at Contemporary Art Platform in Kuwait (11 January – 22 February) mark a departure of sorts. Building on previous forays into sculptural installations, including a 2014 residency at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, the series which has inspired the exhibition’s title, Until Love, comprises over 400 (and counting) origami paper polyhedra of various sizes and colors. “I started making these polyhedra (let’s call them stars) about two years ago,” explains Alkandari. Parsing emotions at a time of change in her life, she was inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s 100 Years of Solitude. “This idea of the character of Amaranta embroidering her own shroud got me thinking about the things we do while we’re waiting; in her case, waiting for death, in mine, I suppose I felt I would start creating these stars until I found love – it really was a simple idea like that. I started creating and creating, and then it became an Instagram project, and, as with everything I work on, it snowballed from there.” As with all her work, she imbues each piece with a part of herself – in some cases, literally, from strands of her hair, to hidden messages, rather like the missives in fortune cookies. “There came a point where this new work stopped being about love, and started becoming about me and my transient living,” explains Alkandari. “I feel like I’m always waiting for something to happen – I’m not ‘there’ yet. I don’t even know where ‘there’ is, so I’m hoping to find out one day.” The experience of Until has also seeped into her painterly practice, gradually changing the color palette with which she depicts Eve. “The colors I chose and their interplay with each other became a fixation for me, to use these colors and deconstruct all the shadows in the faces,” she says. “The paintings grew very much in tandem with the origami structures.” In fact, earlier works created in this series featured the paper stars themselves, such as Comet, in which Eve sits, surrounded by them, with a more ominous mass comprising polyhedra coming at her out of the sky like the titular meteor. What is also striking about these new paintings is their scale. At 180 x 240 cm, the two largest pieces loom heavy over the viewer, as in Come in/Come Close/Come Together, in which a chorus of women stand huddled [Continued...]
Bocce Girls, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 180 x 150 cm.
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Ghadah with Eves, real and imagined. The artist often collaborates with other women for her projects, collecting special 'Eves' along the way. These are just some of the Eves that hold a special niche in Ghadah's world: (left to right) Jana Alnaqeeb, Xeina Almusallam, Yasmine Alkandari, Lubna Saif Abbas, Ghadah, Deema Al-Ghunaim and Fatma Abodoma.
[Continued...] together. The rest, at 150 x 230 cm, are no less striking, such as Eve to Eve. All skullcaps and ruffles, like two hauntingly beautiful Pierrots, the two protagonists stare at each other, eye to eye, serious, meaningful, full of knowledge. Or take Eves at the Forum, in which Alkandari is beginning to move into more abstracted geometric shapes; there are still women here, but their bodies fragment into a new direction. The third and final component of Until is intimate, and features 80 portraits of women. Putting out an open call, she asked women to send in their stories – the emotions they evoked produced these small 30 x 30 canvases, and to enter the room is to be completely enshrouded in faces. Voices speak on endless loop – at times speaking together in cacophony, at times in silence, at others, individual voices discernable like fleeting strands of narrative. This focus on the narrative element has always been at the heart of Alkandari’s work. However, while each painting comes with the artist’s own internal story as she produces it, and while
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projects, such as Etna and the Baby (2009), have Alkandari talk through a narrative as she draws, rarely have external voices provided the soundtrack. “When you look at these pieces, they’re all the same face, but when you really look at them, they’re all different,” she explains. “I do like to get people involved in my work, I love to have another point of view. I listened to these women’s voices as they sent me their stories and I’m very visceral and emotional – some are naughty; others would make me cry. Then I would paint how they made me feel.” These women, sad as some of their stories are, however, are not beaten or submissive. “My work is very much a celebration of women,” asserts Alkandari, “and I really dislike how women are often portrayed as weaker, particularly in regional art, by painting them behind a veil and so forth. Kuwaiti women in particular are such powerhouses, they are so inspirational”. Like the polyhedra, these are not a faceless mass – many facets converge and collide as personalities are revealed through the finite
details of each face. “I see these women and I see people who are strong,” says Alkandari. “Women seem to play so many roles – the submissive wife, the powerful career woman – why can’t we all just be ourselves? I’m here, painting and creating and trying to be outside of my head and just be me and that’s all we can really do.” Until is Ghadah Alkanadri’s fifteenth solo exhibition that will showcase at Contemporary Art Platform in Kuwait starting January 11th – February 22nd. CAP is located on the Mezzanine floor of the Life Center in Shuwaikh Industrial, Block 2, Street 28. Please call 2492 5636 for more information or check out @CapKuwait on Instagram for the latest updates.
For Ghadah’s daily musings, check out her blog www.prettygreenbullet.com. Follow the artist on Instagram @PrettyGreenBullet, and if you’re missing the playful ‘Eve’, check out @Stories_of_eves. Photography by Thilo Mayer. Photography of Ghadah’s paintings by Tony Santos.
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HORRIBLE BOSSES: A CATALYST FOR SUCCESS
Recommended track for this article: “My Way” - Frank Sinatra By George Tarabay
“You’re 8 minutes late.” “I want this project yesterday.” “I am your manager, so I know more.” Ok, maybe the last one is a bit of a stretch. But really, don’t you think that, somewhere, there is a boss saying the very words you're reading to their employees? If you heard any of these sentences in the past week or even today: I feel for you. I sincerely would leave anything I am doing and come to your office just to support you! See, it’s not that I haven’t heard these words myself, but it’s been a good nine months since I last heard that combination of words being addressed to my left ear (I’m partially deaf in the right one) and akin a pregnant woman, nine months later, here I am delivering this piece. We’ve all had, or have, bosses. Some are great, some are just plain…expired. I’ve had my share of the latter and at every turn of events they reminded me of one thing and one thing only: I am not employee material. No, this does not mean I have no professional integrity or discipline (ok, mom?) It just means I suck at taking orders. I am about to seriously plug myself in this next paragraph, so brace yourselves. As a civil engineer, I woke up one day and decided that the only time I want to see concrete is 26
when I lay down on my bed and stare at the ceiling. It was hard, but I have an awesome team of sidekicks: my wife and my belief that things can only be so bad before they start being awesome again. Career changes are not something out of this world, many do it, many fail and many succeed. Many do it for different reasons -- mine was simple: I did not want to have a boss except the best boss I know and lived with for a long time: My wife (A clichéd joke…but a serious one!) All jokes aside, I can’t stand a boss, I can only stand to be around leaders, and in my career I only met a few, sadly none of which I worked with. Bosses can be awesome at being horrible because some reach a point where they don’t evolve anymore, much like every human on earth ever. However, some of these people decide that no one working for them should also progress. Why? Because I represent the horrible sisters, combined with their evil mother, and you are Cinderella. While this is their personal choice, one cannot linger in this environment and wonder why they are miserable. When I was faced with this challenge, I made a conscious decision to get up and leave. Not because I am sensitive and I brush everything under the ‘bullying’ label, but rather because I am the only person responsible for my happiness and that should ring true for anyone else, wherever they may be. I used the fact that I had a horrible boss for my advantage. It made me anxious to find out what I
really want to do in my life and devise the plan that will lead me there in a short time. I knew, it was going to be hard, I knew I will sometime doubt it, but I also knew that my gut never lies and that my gut told me that I was just fed up. I literally woke up one day and decided that no longer will I put myself through this feeling of being oppressed and being wrongfully guided. I quit my job and ventured into my own thing with a lot of planning and a lot more of foolishness. Do I hate my boss? No. Do I like my boss? Surely not. Do I appreciate them? This one is a definite no. What I do appreciate, however, is the fact that I had to be dragged through the mud (Figuratively, that is. If your boss does this literally, then that would be illegal!) to know that I can get up and leave whenever I want. And think about it: it’s just a job. Today, as a guy who is self-employed, I can tell you this: I surely am a cool leader to work with, I appreciate my team and consider them to be the best and make sure they are constantly happy. You don’t believe me? Ask them. P.S. I mostly work alone…I still don’t like people (but that’s for another article). George Tarabay is a local radio host, comedian, and marketing expert. For his latest updates, follow him on Instagram @GeorgeTarabay. For more on 'Horrible Bosses' visit Facebook.com/Georgethecomic.
اﻟﺘﺠﺎري ﻳﺤﺼﺪ ﺟﺎﺋﺰة اﻟﺮﻳﺎدة
ﻓﻲ ﻣﺠﺎل اﻟﻤﺴﺌﻮﻟﻴﺔ اﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻴﺔ
ﻟﻠﺸﺮﻛﺎت ﻟﻌﺎم 2016ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺴﺘﻮى دول ﻣﺠﻠﺲ اﻟﺘﻌﺎون اﻟﺨﻠﻴﺠﻲ
CBK ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺪى ﺧﻤﺴﺔ أﻋﻮام ﺑﺎﺗﺖ ﺣﻤﻠﺔ "ﻫﻮن ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻢ" ﺗﺮﺟﻤﺔ ﺻﺎدﻗﺔ ﻟﻠﻔﻌﺎﻟﻴﺎت اﻟﺨﻴﺮﻳﺔ وا ﻧﺴﺎﻧﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺒﺘﻜﺮة ﻣﻦ اﻟﺒﻨﻚ اﻟﺘﺠﺎري اﻟﻜﻮﻳﺘﻲ ﻟﺘﻘﺪﻳﻢ ﻳﺪ اﻟﻌﻮن واﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪة ﻟﻌﻤﺎل اﻟﻨﻈﺎﻓﺔ واﻟﺒﻨﺎء ﻓﻲ ﻣﻮاﻗﻊ أﻋﻤﺎﻟﻬﻢ .وﻣﻨﺬ إﻃﻼﻗﻬﺎ ،ﻳﻘﻮم اﻟﺒﻨﻚ ﺑﺘﻮزﻳﻊ اﻟﻬﺪاﻳﺎ واﻟﻤﺴﺘﻠﺰﻣﺎت اﻟﻀﺮورﻳﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻫﺬه اﻟﻔﺌﺔ اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺮة ﺑﺎﻻﺣﺘﺮام واﻟﺘﻘﺪﻳﺮ ﺑﻞ وﻳﺸﺎرﻛﻬﻢ اﻻﺣﺘﻔﺎل ﺑﺎﻟﻤﻨﺎﺳﺒﺎت اﻟﺴﻌﻴﺪة. واﻟﻴﻮم ﺗﺴﺎﻫﻢ ﺣﻤﻠﺔ "ﻫﻮن ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻢ" ﻓﻲ ﺗﺴﻤﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﺠﺎري ﻛﻤﺆﺳﺴﺔ راﺋﺪة ﻓﻲ ﻣﺠﺎل اﻟﻤﺴﺌﻮﻟﻴﺔ اﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﺸﺮﻛﺎت ﻟﻌﺎم 2016ﺑﺤﺼﻮﻟﻪ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺟﺎﺋﺰة ﻣﺘﻤﻴﺰة ﻣﻦ ﻣﺠﻠﺲ وزراء اﻟﻌﻤﻞ وﻣﺠﻠﺲ وزراء اﻟﺸﺆون اﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻴﺔ ﺑﺪول ﻣﺠﻠﺲ اﻟﺘﻌﺎون ﻟﺪول اﻟﺨﻠﻴﺞ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ.
TURK HIMSELF
By Nejoud Al-Yagout
Tarek Kabbani is a musician, multiinstrumentalist, producer, designer and the owner of his own studio called Jaybird Studios. At many events across town, you can see Kabbani share the stage with other musicians as a drummer, guitarist or as a beat-boxer. A few months ago, I was blown away when I heard an original tune of his on Instagram. I got in touch with him immediately to collaborate. He not only obliged, but came up with a transcendent tune that gave justice to my poem and resurrected it. I will be working with him again soon, but for now, I am lucky to be able to interview him for this month's issue. You know we are suckers for intrigue. So, before anything, tell us why you use the pseudonym Turk Himself? This name has a funny story. I was given the name Turk by an old friend in grade 4 while watching the Disney movie Tarzan in class. The “himself” part of the name really stuck because I played all the instruments of my music myself. Tell us a little about your baby: Jaybird Studios. The project started in 2008, while I was at Art College. I have been interested in recording and creating music since I picked up the drums in 2005, and it’s been a slow and steady growth up to this point. What really set me off into producing music was GarageBand on my first Mac, in 2007 28
which has now expanded into more toys and more sound! I feel lucky to be able to do what I do and more than happy to share it with the world. Jaybird is the name of my late pet bird - a white-spectacled bulbul. A loving and brilliantly intelligent creature, who was adored by my whole family. She is unforgettable. Conceptually, having wings means freedom - in the physical and the spiritual realm - and this also inspires me to take flight through creative expression. You and I once discussed how a world without music would be dreary. What people don’t realize is that the power of music resonates within the musician first. What does music do to your soul? Music feeds and nourishes my soul; it runs through my veins. I am uplifted and energized by it, especially when creating it with friends! I whole-heartedly agree that a world without music would be extremely dreary. To me, music is home, heart and soul. If everyone picked up a musical instrument, the world would be a better place. You seem to thrive on collaborations, which is antithetical to the competitive world of our current paradigm. How would you encourage artists to shine with others instead of basking alone in the spotlight? I believe that there is strength in unity. I feel that we should cooperate instead of compete; we can get things done faster. Unity has been shown to reach immense strengths in the past, so I encourage artists to stay humble, kind and openminded. You never know what can happen! Collaborating with others can help you learn, communicate, and reach new levels you may not
have seen before! You might even make some really strong bonds along the way. Lastly, Tarek, it is every musician’s dream to retire from their day jobs and spend the rest of their lives performing. But, it is difficult to permeate a system that does not support this. Unfortunately, as a result, many artists give up on their passion. Any tips on encouraging artists to make time for their calling - even while stuck in the matrix? It breaks my heart when artists give up on their passion. The world needs more creation, amidst all the destruction. I can sympathize that the matrix is complicated and full of obstacles and can overwhelm many of us to the point that we break. It may not be an easy journey for everyone. Personally, I do it for the fun of it all. It makes me feel good and can make my friends feel good as well. I like to see smiles. Music has allowed me to meet and work with so many different people and I have made some deep bonds that I deeply cherish. I am stuck in the matrix, yes, because it is what I am told will keep me stable - but the light inside me will never burn out. Music will always be close to my heart. If ever the opportunity arises where I can take my art full throttle and leave the so-called safety of the matrix - I would surely be thrilled at the prospect!
You can follow Tarek Kabbani on his Instagram account @turkhimself to keep up to date with his recordings and upcoming events and collaborations.
ACK
BABEL
The flavors of Lebanon in Kuwait
By bazaar staff
Jad Mounzer - General Manager at Babel
A constantly adapting menu, Babel’s ethos is to conform to the cultures, habits and most importantly, the ingredients of the area they inhabit. At heart, Babel serves up authentic Lebanese delicacies and forever exudes with the beauty of Lebanon’s culture. Since its conception in 2009, Babel has been treating diners to culinary adventures inspired by both land and sea. With their three wonderfully diverse locations in Lebanon, Babel’s first expansion abroad has given us a delicious treat – our very own Kuwait location. For those that make Babel their first destination on a trip to Lebanon, rest assured that you can now fully enjoy this exquisite Lebanese experience right here in Kuwait. We sat with Babel’s General Manager, Jad Mounzer to learn more about this fabulous culinary concept. Babel’s grand waterfront location in Marina World boasts stunning views and a variety of foods that honor Kuwait’s offerings with Lebanon’s finest flavors. It’s worth mentioning that you’re better off making a reservation beforehand. As 30
you walk in, you find yourself greeted by the staff and ushered to your seat. Take a moment to really look around the space as you walk through it and note the stunning olive tree in the middle – Mr. Jad informed us that the tree is around 1,000-yearsold and has been rooted in this location to add to the authenticity of the Babel experience. Entirely custom-built, Babel’s Kuwait location is made to dazzle the diner without cluttering the space. With stunning views of Kuwait’s skyline and the Arabian Gulf, you’ll surely enjoy your visit. “The Babel concept is built on three pillars: The first is the design and as you can see it’s built to give a sense of grandeur,” Mr. Jad started, “Second is the menu and cuisine, which is progressive Lebanese. And third is the service we offer as it is one that cares for the guest and gives off a sense of warmth and coziness.” While there are differences in menu offerings dependent on the location, Mr. Jad assured us that there are staples. Such dishes are the Nayeh Moutammameh, which is the traditional raw meat but served as individual portions encased in crushed nuts and seeds; Tabbouleht El Bahar, a traditional tabbouleh salad with the addition of shrimp and ginger; and lastly the Maajoua, which is a kebab filled with cheese and nuts.
But why the diversity in menu items and offerings depending on each location? “Food should belong to the environment it is served at,” Mr. Jad explained, “The environment and culture are always a reflection of the food we eat and Babel mirrors that culture.” Because Kuwait enjoys the geographic markers of land and sea, diners are treated to the best of both with Babel. Their selection of grills and delicious fish will surely be a hit with everyone – they certainly were with us! And because we can never visit a restaurant without sampling a dessert of sorts, may we suggest that you never walk away from Babel without having tried their Ashta bel Ashta. A combination of fresh cream ice-cream topped with more fresh cream and flower jam – trust us, this one is NOT to be missed! Before we ended our visit, we had to ask Mr. Jad about the name – why Babel? “It is told that the people of Babel didn’t speak to one another because of their differences, but the one language they all understood and came together for was food,” he smiled. Babel Kuwait is located in Marina World on Gulf Road facing Marina Waves. For more information about Babel, follow them on Facebook and Instagram @BabelKuwait.
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SEBAA ORABI
The many talents of SSH’s Head of Interior Design
By bazaar staff
A woman of many talents, Sebaa Orabi’s passion extends far beyond the world of design. Constantly seeking out challenging adventures, she took her love for sport and hiking to the next level by participating in an Everest Base Camp Trek. Her belief in the correlation between a sound body and mind fuels her to push herself athletically. “I wake up every day at five in the morning to make it to the gym by six because it keeps me sharp” Sebaa began, “For me, the challenge starts from early on in the day.” As the Head of Interior Design at SSH, Sebaa finds that an early workout keeps her creative juices flowing. And with her deep-rooted love for all things design, Sebaa decided to pursue her passion for video games by extending her expertise and gaining a certification in Video Game Modelling. But when you ask Sebaa about her favorite adventure, she says it’s her two daughters, “One is 13 and the other 32
is 11, they are my everything,” Sebaa gushed. So we sat with her to learn more about her experiences and her passion for interior design. Starting her career as a freelance designer upon graduating from the University of Damascus in 2002, Sebaa found herself working on several smaller projects with different design firms. In 2010, Sebaa’s experience and passion landed her the opportunity to join SSH as an interior designer where she continues to lead her dedicated team to this day. While at SSH, Sebaa went on to get a Master’s degree in Architectural Management and Design from the I.E. University in Spain in collaboration with The Royal College of Art in London. Graduating at the top of her class, Sebaa’s unique degree and experience deemed her eligible for heading the department of Interior Design. Her first order of business: To expand the team and take on bigger projects. With her team in place, Sebaa took on their biggest project yet – the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center. Working on that project gave them the inimitable opportunity to take on the Amiri
Diwan as a client and to work on the interiors for the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Center, Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Center and the Al Salam Palace. “I had no time to relax!” Sebaa laughed, “I jumped right in after my Master’s degree with no breaks and it was hectic. But it wasn’t just me, I’ve been working nonstop with a very strong and talented team that I owe a lot to.” Refusing to take the glory all to herself, Sebaa acknowledges the hard work and talent of each of her team members. “Working harmoniously and in a positive environment has given us all the chance to show off our skills,” she stated. Having worked on several projects and honing her design skills over the years, Sebaa believes that the project that taught her the most when it comes to the technical side of things was the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center. “But the project that’s nearest and dearest to my heart,” Sebaa smiled, “is the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Center.” Creating the drawings and plans for the project, Sebaa and her team had to work quickly and efficiently. “It was such a rush, drawing up
plans one day and the next watching them being executed,” Sebaa explained. Working on the plans while the building was being built provided Sebaa and her team with the unique shot to alter and create plans according to reality. “At the end of the day, the renderings don’t do the building’s interior justice!” Sebaa draws inspiration from the clients’ requests and what the brief entails, making her design-style superbly malleable. “I believe that my job is to translate the client’s needs and add value and functionality,” Sebaa continued, “You need to really understand what the space will be used for and how they interact with it to create what they envision.” While it may be challenging to do so, Sebaa views these challenges as positive experiences. Having learnt a lot from even the most difficult of clients, Sebaa has grown and benefited from each and every project. Her love for interior design hasn’t stopped Sebaa from growing and absorbing as much as she can from everyone around her. “I love what I do and I love working at SSH,” she explained, “I feel like I belong here.” And in terms of what’s next for Sebaa and SSH, “It’s a surprise,” Sebaa laughed.
relaxed, my mind is at peace, and I’m watching Family Guy, surrounded by the people I love.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE
What is it that you most dislike? Laziness and lack of ambition.
What do you most value in your friends? That they don’t let me do crazy things alone.
Which talent would you most like to have? I have always wanted to play classic guitar like John Williams. Specifically, his technique in “Asturias.” He displays pinpoint accuracy and articulation. I just admire that.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Happiness is the feeling I have when my body is
What is your greatest fear? Cats. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My absolute intolerance for stupidity. What is the trait you most deplore in others? I can’t make up my mind. I am stuck between dishonesty, hypocrisy and people who answer “K” instead of Ok. Which living person do you most admire? Not one, but two. My precious daughters Leya and Tala. What is your greatest extravagance? I am weak in front of a beautifully designed pair of shoes. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I always preach that it is ok not to have experience. As long as you are committed, and you put in the hours, you will make it.
If you could have any job, what would it be? I would still choose to be an Interior Designer. I love what I do. What would you consider your greatest achievement? What I have accomplished so far in my career at SSH. What is your most treasured possession? My most treasured possession is not a thing, it’s the good memories I have from my travels. Especially my hike to the Everest Base Camp. It was valuable time spent meditating and self-reflecting. What is your most marked characteristics? I would say hard work, commitment and my love for dark humor. Where would you most like to live? It doesn’t matter, as long as I am with the people I love in a house I designed myself, with a huge open-space concept, cooking and hosting gettogethers for those I value the most. What are your favourite words to live by? I don’t believe in words to live by, I hate people who live by words, as I am a doer. I design, I create and I let my work “speak” for its self. You can learn more about SSH by following them on Facebook: SSHIC and Instagram @SSHDesign. For more information, visit their website www.sshic.com. Photography by Yousef Al Nasser @yousefcam. 33
DISRUPTING THE AUTO INDUSTRY
By Rita Makhoul
A Drive Down Memory Lane Cars were initially considered as just a trend that would not affect riding horses. Henry Ford changed that in 1908 when he introduced the Model T. Automobiles prior to the introduction of the Ford Model T were expensive and a luxury item, priced at around $9000 that did not disrupt the horse-drawn vehicles market. Through Ford’s innovative production method, he was able to mass-produce automobiles priced at $850 in 1908 that later dropped to $250 in 1925, which inevitably replaced common horse-drawn vehicles. The mass-produced car manufactured on moving assembly lines, with complete interchangeable parts in huge quantities became the technological starting point for the car. Not only did cars become a commodity anyone can go and buy, but also a medium for new ideas that developers can work on and evolve. It’s no wonder that the Ford Model T was named as the most influential car of the 20th century at the Car of the Century awards. Back to the Future The 2008 global financial crisis slammed the world’s automakers; sales took a sharp fall with a decline between 30% and 45% for most manufacturers. The financial crisis also affected consumer behavior and preferences that shifted towards a shared economy. As a result, the auto industry today is on a collision course with the forces of digital disruption. Several old companies collided when they ignored digital as a disruptive technology, such as Kodak, in spite of the fact that a Kodak engineer invented the digital camera. In looking at the automotive industry, May Barra, CEO and Chairperson of the General Motors Company said that “The auto industry is poised for more change in the next 5 to 10 years than its seen in the past 50 years.” Although, there is still no integrated perspective on what the auto industry would look like 5 to 10 years from now, industry experts project a few ways technology will be disrupting the industry. Autonomous Cars: The Future is Here As artificial intelligence has significantly improved and the technology required to build driverless cars has gotten cheaper and more accessible, many cars have self-driving features that continue to advance. There still are quite a few hurdles though. Highway driving, for example, is a lot simpler for autonomous cars to master, therefore, in a couple of years time, commuters might not be driving on highways and possibly in the suburbs, but will drive themselves within the city since cities have more unpredictable obstacles such as cyclists, pedestrians, and so forth. Even if the technology for driverless cars is ready today, governments 34
aren’t ready for them yet. Regulations and policies need to be set in place and many countries have been looking into it. Another point of concern today, is that if driverless cars were here today, in the real world, not in the realm of science fiction, would people be comfortable with the idea and be able to trust driverless cars on the roads? Fully autonomous cars seem highly unlikely to be widely available before 2020, in the meantime though, advanced driver-assistance systems is playing a crucial role in preparing consumers and regulators for what it is to come. Ridesharing: The Future of Transportation PwC predicts that the five main sharing economy sectors, with transportation being one of the largest, will generate global revenues of $335 billion by 2025. As many reconsider ownership and lean towards car sharing and ride hailing, we’ve seen several automobile manufacturers invest in or acquire ridesharing companies and introducing ridesharing programs. Ridesharing is a hot button issue in cities around the world and rightfully so. Listening to current demands and trends is just as important as predicting future ones. Not only does ridesharing increase accessibility, providing a solution to those who normally would not own a car, it also proves to be a better option for those who would normally purchase a car, since it is cheaper to share than to own, considering ownership costs. Moreover, ridesharing would lessen congestion, increase pedestrian space, and decrease carbon emissions per household.
Connectivity: The Rise of Smart Cars There has been an increase in the number of connected cars on the road as consumers are adopting the connecting car rapidly. According to Business Insider Intelligence, there will be over 380 million connected cars on the road by 2021. Connectivity has become a key product feature being incorporated into everything. Gartner, a global technology research firm, estimates that by 2020 there will be a whopping 50 billion IoT devices installed worldwide—many of them in our cars. Considering the amount of time people spend behind the wheel, there’s real pressure to make that time productive, or at least entertaining, and it’s turning your car into an intensely personalized and customized extension of yourself. Certain vehicles are already being built with driver assistance technology to help keep cars from drifting out of lane, monitor blind spots and more. Some cars are able to offer more personal assistance, monitoring your vital signs by linking up to a fitness band or other wearable or if the car detects you’re nodding off, and the vehicle can react automatically. Or, if your fitness band detects you’re having a heart attack by detecting your heart rate, it will instruct the car to park on the side of the road and notify the emergency center. Rita Makhoul is the Managing Editor of ArabNet’s website as well the publication ‘ArabNet Quarterly.’ Visit www.arabnet.me for more information. Follow Rita on Twitter and Instagram @Rampurple.
AZumami
A NIGHT OF BARAKAH
Interview with musical artist Sami Yusuf By bazaar staff
Last month, and for one magical night at the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center, audiences in Kuwait witnessed the musical stylings of internationally acclaimed artist Sami Yusuf. Titled Barakah, audiences were regaled by a seamless journey of self-discovery and mystery, musically foraying from East to West through the artist’s latest album, Barakah, along with a stunning performance of his greatest hits. In association with the British Council in Kuwait and the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, cultural collaboration is presented at its finest through this concert to provide opportunities for audiences in the UK and Kuwait to experience the culture and creativity of both nations. As part of the “Kuwait Capital of Islamic Culture 2016” initiative, world renowned British musician Sami Yusuf was invited to perform, and we were extremely lucky to sit down with the artist during his short visit to Kuwait. How did your career develop 15-years-ago? I come from a musical family, my dad is a composer, and I grew up in a highly cultivated and culturally rich home, where the works of Rumi, Hafez and Shakespeare, amongst many other greats, were constantly discussed. The music we enjoyed was always connected to spirituality, and in growing up in London, I learned how to play several instruments from my father, along with composers from the Royal Academy and got into the business very early on. I began producing music before performing at the age of thirteen. Was that when you first performed? Well, we always sang at home as a family before I sang for the first time at a studio. It was daunting, surely, but I felt a rare passion and sincerity, that everything developed organically from there. What inspires your music? I’ve always loved the sacred from a very young age. I would say it’s my profound love for the sacred, all that is sacred, and all that stems from the sacred. Our histories, our nations, beautiful faces and people, different backgrounds led me to believe that ultimately there is a sacred in all of us—this is what inspires me. How did your music evolve throughout the years? There has been an intellectual and spiritual evolution since I began my career. My first album, Al-Mu’allim, that was released in 2003 arrived as a devotional piece of work, and it was record breaking. This provided me with a meteoric rise to fame that I didn’t really want at the time, if I’m being honest. After my second album, My Ummah, 36
that discussed social and political issues and the Palestinian plight along with peoples’ freedoms, I felt quite disillusioned by the fame and therefore I took a five year break for contemplation and introspection— I needed to study what I am doing this for. It was a healthy break, and I came back musically revived. It allowed me to delve deeper inwardly and the result was the album Wherever You Are, which came out in 2010 with songs like “Healing”. Thinking of that, healing is an act of kindness, that in and of itself, is charity as music elevates our daily interactions. Music is healing, and the Ottomans back in the day utilized music for its therapeutic qualities that are attributed to the practices of music therapy today in modern culture. I also worked towards raising awareness for various causes, and presented “Forgotten Promises” alongside the UN World Food Program to help feed the world’s most impoverished populations. Then came my first overtly spiritual Sufi album, The Center, which was truly an ode to the mystic relics of days past, and after that, I spent my time researching my latest work— Barakah. What should audiences expect from Barakah? I consider Barakah to be the most important work that I’ve done today. [Yusuf laughs and points to album cover] First, I had a beautiful, traditional, Moroccan-inspired image on the cover, then the record company asked to change it to put a picture of my face on it- unfortunately. On a more serious note, however, it was to my absolute surprise that this album became a bestseller in the Middle East, and it was number one on the iTunes store in
the UK World Music Chart. It is a celebration of 1000 years of spiritually-inspired music— it is not sectarian, it is mainstream. I celebrate traditional music from India to Andalucía, and everything in between. It must have been a lot of fun to work on. Fun, and again daunting! The pressure of making it authentic, maintaining this authenticity while keeping it all minimalistic. It took me a year of research at least, from Cambridge in the UK to Harvard—it was a great undertaking. Would you say that Barakah is an educational, as well as an uplifting album? I believe so. I also think that it’s a reminder of our tradition. It’s important to celebrate success, but at the same time it is also important to delve into the past, not as though it is some distant thing, but as a living tradition that is still alive and well in various parts of the world. It’s just not accessible worldwide. We’ve made it accessible to the masses. Without delving too much into the issue of politics, it is also important to fight today’s extremism with positivity and intellect. The way to deal with that, I felt, is to go back to tradition, understand it, and revive it through musical understanding. Barakah is a celebration of over 1000 years of spiritual music but not only that, it is also a celebration of tradition, culture, and heritage. As a lover of all the religions, I believe that Barakah’s message is universal and it is one that depicts love and understanding.
For more information, please visit Sami Yusuf's website www.samiyusufofficial.com.
Library Cafe
AKIRA NAKAI THE MAN BEHIND RAUH WELT BEGRIFF By bazaar staff
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In an unmarked repairs garage, hidden from prying eyes and the heavy traffic of the Shuwaikh Industrial area, we found ourselves standing in front of a vintage, air-cooled, beautiful deep forest green Porsche 911. Piece by piece, we watched as the car went from the very familiar Porsche 911, to a one-of-a-kind Rauh Welt Begriff custom design. A small dog ran around, unfazed by the loud bangs and whizzes of the machinery as a man, single handedly, sat at the base of the car and expertly poked and prodded at it with silicone binding and rubber sheets. This man, worldrenowned Japanese Porsche 911 customizer, founder of Rauh Welt Begriff (RWB) and the proud creator of the Stella Artois, was none other than Akira Nakai a.k.a., Nakai-san.
[Continued...]
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[...Continued] Six-months prior to the famed customizer’s flight to Kuwait, the local owner of the Porsche 911 contacted Akira and provided him with the car’s specs. Intrigued by the 1st request from Kuwait, Akira took the specs and suggested a self-designed kit which includes sideskirts, a racing wing, other noticeable extras and the color of the car itself. The shipped parts are only ever added on by Nakai-san during his visit. As for the custom tire rims, they were shipped in from US-based specialists, Fifteen52. But to understand how this project came to be, you need to understand Nakai-san. Grease stains and residual silicone covered his hands as he pondered his next move, and he glided from one side of the car to the other. “He only uses what’s made available to him,” a voice explained in the background, “Akira has a talent to create something spectacular from what's available and what he has planned for.” Akira, unperturbed by the noise, blissfully sifted through a pile of bolts, found the missing piece to his hyperbolic puzzle, and placed it in its rightful spot. No blueprints, plans or notes were anywhere in sight. As I wondered how the project was going to come together, Akira spoke. “I don’t come here with an idea. The idea comes to me when I start working.” Baffled by the notion, he further explained, “I know the specs of the car from before and I already made the parts I want to 40
attach. So when I see the car, I can adapt a design that would work.” His progression was unlike any other, and it was fascinating having watched him craft his creation. While the style of his cutting and wielding of parts seemed brash from a distance, up-close there was an expertise to the flicks of his wrist, however, as he maneuvered the electric saw from one end to the other. Nakai-san draws inspiration from his surroundings and is influenced by everything he comes in contact with. From the moment he sets foot in the country he’s working in, to the test drive he takes his completed project on, Akira is consistently buzzing with ideas. He listened to whatever local music and radio his hosts listened to, ate machboos and fatayer for the duration of his stay, and indulged in whatever pastimes were made available to him. Soaking in as much of the local customs and culture as he possibly could, Akira loved every second of it and reflected his admiration in the final product. He worked away furiously, not an instant was wasted as Akira stuck, removed, added and cut through the parts. It’s worth mentioning that the entire project was done in the span of one single weekend. He began his work with spare parts and ended the weekend with a leisurely drive at hyper-speed and with epic drifts to check the functionality of his creation. Akira leaves no spec or turn for
chance before he leaves. A mechanic-turneddrifter and race-car driver, Akira understands the car’s requirements for efficiency. As a builder and creator, his appreciation for aesthetics makes for interesting design elements. Combining his two passions, the results are astounding in both intent and execution. Having previously worked on his own vehicle, the Stella Artois, to perfect his drifts and increase stability and speed, Akira’s flourishes and additions turned from a necessity to an exaggerated representation, that gave the vehicle its iconic look. From there, he rose from drifter and racer to creator and icon-extraordinaire. But his humble disposition rejects the notion of this status, as Akira insists he does it out of love. As someone that lives in an entirely analog world, Akira prefers to do most of his interactions face-to-face. The only time he would consider using technology is when he's communicating with his next client, otherwise, all calculations are done by hand - on pen and paper. When asked about the number of projects he's done, he simply shrugs. But we've managed to figure out that he's worked on at least 300 cars over the span of his career - and more than 60 in 2015 alone! When one contacts Akira, they're essentially buying a look and feel for the car. How it drives later depends on how Akira puts it together and the exterior modifications he's implemented to his design - the interior is entirely up to you.
The Farukon by @EAPhotology But exterior design isn’t the only thing that lends Akira’s work its status, we’re told the name is a huge part of it. The allure of naming the car at the end imparts a strength and mystique to the vehicle. As it’s engrained in Japanese culture that names hold a sanctity and power, the car gains its sway when Akira bestows a name upon it. But the name doesn’t come through a thoughtless process. On the contrary, Akira waits till the project is complete, and lets the car guide the inception of its name. For the duration of the weekend, it was all people would talk about. Whispered wonderings of what the possible name would be rang throughout the garage as Akira worked in silence. We watched
him with fascination, as he carefully inspected every inch of the car, but nothing had everyone on edge as much as the wait to uncover the car’s name. With the name hanging in the air, Akira continued to diligently work on the car until he was ready to attach the wheels. The custom rims were created to not only mirror the authentic feel of this vintage Porsche, but to accommodate the modifications impeccably. Once the reformations came to an end, Akira took it out for a spin to listen to every shake, rattle and ding – or lack thereof – to ensure the quality of ride. As it delicately purred away, the project was deemed complete and the customization process a
success. And the name? With all the influences that were present around Akira as he built this custom-beauty, the name came to him easily. And as the project wrapped up, Akira dubbed this one-of-a-kind Rauh Welt Begriff creation: Farukon - Japanese for falcon. You can contact Akira by visiting his website www.rauh-welt.com, or follow @garage_shuwaikh on Instagram for more information about getting your car pimped out here in Kuwait. Akira’s photos by Yousef Al Nasser – Instagram @yousefcam. Photo of the Farukon by Ebrahim Alawadi – Instagram @EAPhotology. 41
CUT AND PASTE BAZAAR
The one where we starred in a Primary School’s art show! By bazaar staff
The best thing about being a bazaarite is providing informative, interesting and entertaining content for our community. From our writers, to our design department, our communications manager and our media expert, even down to our head honcho, we all feel pride and dedication in serving our readers with engaging tidbits about what’s what and who’s who (and what’s delicious!) in the country. This year marks our 20th anniversary since initial publication, and with over 200 editions circulating Kuwait since 1997, we’re always overjoyed to learn that many still hold our post to high regard. This is why, when Ghadeer AlKhabbaz, a local primary school arts teacher, contacted us requesting 50 copies of our magazine to use for an art project she’d assigned her students, we were overjoyed and promptly decided to inquire about her process! We love nothing more than seeing the proof in the pudding when it comes to members of the community using our publication in different ways, and in Ghadeer’s case, we love that she’s extended our pages to her students, introducing them to the fun and value of print media in the process. What’s even more fun about her project is the day-long exhibition the students partook in to display their bazaar-filled works of art! We sit down with Ghadeer to discuss her vision, as she explains to us how our magazine has helped her curriculum, and how her students were able to utilize our words and images to create frame-worthy masterpieces. What inspired you to use bazaar magazine as a base for your class to create collages with? My decision to choose bazaar came in the right time, because it motivated my students as well as me. bazaar is accessible: it’s usually easy to find and you have the option of picking it up whenever you manage to find it at a café, university or school. As an art teacher, I have a different perspective on looking at thinks. When I browse bazaar, I find professional photos, attractive article titles, variety in colors and format that helps us to achieve balance in creating our artworks. Plus, it has different topics that speaks to the youth and sparks their interest. What was the objective of this project? We instruct Paper Art in stage 9 curriculums, and Collage is a part of that curriculum, tying
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into the overall Paper Art experience. The main objectives of this project were to: •Look at things in a different perspective and in an unusual way. •Create non-traditional art to inspire the audience. •Increase the students’ confidence, supporting their talents. •Spread art and youth creativity in the nation. Why is the experience of creating collage important to the student’s artistic development? In our community, a popular belief when it comes to art is “you are an artist if you can draw.” This is unfortunate, and we need to change people’s perspectives, especially amongst students, because they are in the learning stage of their lives and they trust what their instructors advise them to do. Art has different aspects that the community, as well as the students, should be made aware of, and if these artworks can do anything, they can showcase this expansion of “art” to an audience or group of students firsthand, which may even inspire them to
branch out and try a similar concept on their own. What part of the collage process did the students enjoy the most? I noticed that they most enjoyed the process of cutting parts of a whole photo and re-structuring it with other photo parts to create a new shape out of the combination. They played around with creating structures resembling human faces and bodies by collecting the face parts and outfits from different photo references. The challenge of the project was also an exciting factor. This is because the students were instructed to create their pieces by using only your September and October issues to create different concepts and styles. Will this become a part of your yearly curriculum for future classes? Definitely! The lesson and exhibition were successful, and the students had learned a lot from it, so that inspires and encourages me to make this an annual thing. Hopefully, I’ll be using even more bazaar magazines for these projects in the future!
MAC
CELEBRATING THE ARABIC SHORT STORY AUK hosts the first Al-Multaqa prize award ceremony By bazaar staff
While works of literature in English are widely celebrated, it is still important to recognize the art of the written word in all languages, especially when it comes to Arabic works of literature. With the efforts of the Cultural Circle in Kuwait and the renowned educational hub AUK (The American University of Kuwait), Arabic literature is not only supported, but also celebrated, at the recent Al-Multaqa prize awards ceremony hosted by the university. Under the patronage of the Minister of AlDiwan Al-Amiri Affairs HE Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, writers of the region were recently given the chance to compete for the Al-Multaqa Arabic Short Story Prize. Launched last year by writer Taleb Rifai, the Al-Multaqa Arabic Short Story Competition arrives in partnership with the Cultural Circle and AUK. Known as the first competition of its kind solely dedicated to the Arabic language short story, the long-awaited results were revealed at an awards ceremony hosted by AUK on December 5th and 6th, 2016. The ceremony was part of a two-day event that also included panel discussions from authors of Arabic short stories, and featured acclaimed authors, editors and publishers in attendance. Launched last year by writer Taleb Rifai and the American University of Kuwait (AUK) the AlMultaqa Arabic Short Story Competition arrives. Known as the first competition of its kind solely dedicated to the Arabic language short story, the long-awaited results were revealed at an award ceremony hosted by AUK on December 5th, 2016. The ceremony was part of a two-day event that also included panel discussions from authors of Arabic short stories, and featured acclaimed authors, editors and publishers in attendance. The esteemed jury committee held the responsibility of selecting the winning story out of the 189 short stories submitted for consideration. The jury committee included committee chair Ahmad Al-Madeeni, and panel members: Ezzat Elkamhawi, Dr. Fadia Faqir, Dr. Ali Al Enezi and narrator Salima Salih. The two-day event was divided into three sessions, including a meet-and-greet with the jury, discussion panels, and speeches from special guests prior to the presentation of the sought-after Al Multaqa Prize. His Excellency the Minister gave a speech praising the efforts 44
of Al-Multaqa’s mission to promote the art of short story writing in Arabic: “I commend Kuwait for initiating the first cycle of this prize, and hope that it establishes a presence in the Arabic literary and cultural scene by honoring authors for their creative efforts,” he said. “I also hope that this initiative will attract more young writers in the future.” These words of wisdom and encouragement touch close to the cause of emerging writers in the region honing their craft towards recognition, and inspire all creatives to really put literary works of our culture on the map. Literary works from the Middle East have been renowned throughout history, and there’s still room for it to be further celebrated. During the first session of the competition, the jury and panel met the five shortlisted writers (Anis Arrafai, Ziad Khaddash, Lutf AlSarari, Mazen Maarouf, and Mohamed Rafie), with a panel moderated by Saudi Arabian literary critic Hassan Al-Naemi. The second and third sessions featured various established writers of the region in panel discussions moderated by literary critics Dr. Louay Hamzah and Fahad Al-Hendal. These panels enhanced the atmosphere and importance of the event, touching on the vitality of literary presence in the region, and what has already been contributed to it, and more importantly, how the art of the Arabic written word could be improved for forthcoming generations. Then, jury chair Ahmed Al-Madeeni announced that Palestinian author Mazen Maarouf was the winner of the first cycle for
his submission, Nukat Lelmusalaheen (Jokes for the Gunmen), and Maarouf was overjoyed! In his victory speech, he stated, “I am overwhelmed with happiness; I did not expect to win. I was thrilled with the announcement of the establishment of the prize because it provided the genre of short story-writing with rejuvenation and brought it back to life.” Maarouf received a trophy, a certificate and $20,000 (KD 6,126) in addition to having his winning collection translated into two languages, and the opportunity to have his works published. The other four finalists were honored on stage with a small trophy and a certificate of recognition for their participation, along with $5000 (KD 1,530) each. We at bazaar would like to extend our congratulations to Mazen Maarouf, and commend him for his brilliant work. As fellow writers, we can only imagine the joy and pride he feels towards his success! We’d also like to encourage all other aspiring writers to join this brilliant opportunity for next year’s competition. Get your works ready, because submissions forthe second cycle of the Al-Multaqa Short Story Prize will be accepted starting January 2017. The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an independent, private, and coeducational liberal arts institution of higher education. For more information about AUK visit www.auk.edu.kw or contact them on 180 2040 or 2224 8399 ext. 3148. Follow them on social media as American University of Kuwait on Facebook, @auk_kuwait on Instagram, and @AUKtweets on Twitter.
Junkyard
truth or dare
LIFE BEGINS AT THE END OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE Living and loving adventure with Sumaiya Al-Sharhan By bazaar staff
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“I remember when we arrived at basecamp 2 during my first trip to Jabal Shams. I stood on the side of the mountain, at approximately 5000 ft. above sea level, and looked down to the wadi (valley) below while falcons flew next to me. The experience took my breath away, and I felt that I was one with nature. It was a remarkable feeling of excitement, serenity and happiness all at once that I will never forget.” As longtime friends and former colleagues together here at bazaar, the local Art Director and designer extraordinaire Sumaiya Al-Sharhan recounted her adventures in Oman with a passion and fervor in her eyes that I never saw before. Her newfound love for adventure is inspiring me, and hopefully all of our readers, to seek the road less traveled this 2017.
repeat the experience. But once I recovered, I realized that I had conquered the mountain, not the other way around, and everything in my life became suddenly easy.” Since that moment, Sumaiya tries to face every problem with a new found sense of simplicity. She added, “My way of thinking had changed forever. It became my addiction and sure enough I was registered the following month on another beautiful adventure.” Sumaiya chose Husaak Adventures because she witnessed Ali’s dream of sharing the experience and beauty of the outdoors with others come true. She also cites other factors that set Husaak Adventures apart from other operators, “We take people to remote places to find themselves and change their way of thinking.” Rather than take the common option of visiting luxury resorts, Husaak challenges the norm by having travelers experience every facet of nature. From scenic surroundings to facing mental and physical challenges, the experiences take people out of their comfort
laughingly said, “so I kept going on different trips and sometimes, the same trip multiple times. This is because no matter how many times you visit the same place, the group is different and thus the experience is different.” Noticing Sumaiya’s passion and daringness, was Husaak Adventures owner Ali. After giving her a detailed presentation about the team, Ali asked her if she would like to try guiding others towards finding their place in nature. In becoming a co-guide, Sumaiya embarked on a different kind of journey. One that not only involved a great amount of preparedness and hard work, but also great responsibility. Due to the nature of this job, being physically fit is a must, and Sumaiya has proved herself to be more than capable of handling all the preparations that need to be done for each trip. She assists and supports the guide(s) in whatever they may need, and is responsible for multiple tasks throughout the trip while also caring for others. She does all of this with a huge smile on her face, only because she is ultimately having the time of her life.
Always the outdoorsy type, Sumaiya knew that she wanted to explore the adventurer within, but didn’t know where to begin. When she heard about Husaak Adventures from a family member who happened to be a part of the Husaak team, Sumaiya decided to give it a try. Renowned for their remarkable adventure trips, and discovering rare sites across scenic Oman, little did Sumaiya know that she was about to embark on a life-changing experience. While most might know and follow Ali, the famous explorer and founder of Husaak Adventures on Instagram, we see a person’s vision truly transformed with Sumaiya, and it all began with her very first hike. In retrospect, Sumaiya told me that she didn’t think she could survive her very first hike, “My first trip was my worst. I had trained for the hike a month ahead and once I reached Muscat airport I caught a horrible flu. Regardless, I still decided to go on the 20+ kilometer hike.” She felt broken, both mentally and physically, “It was extremely challenging and I felt like the mountains had conquered me. When the trip was over, I said to myself that I would never
zones and places them with strangers who inevitably support one another. Sumaiya further explained that, “The quality of the trips taken is paramount to the success of Husaak Adventures, from the safety preparations to the best quality of food possible for those camp site dinners. Lots of customers give us feedback that the guides become more like friends or family, rather than people only there to guide the trip, which makes the experience a lot more enjoyable to them and us as a team.” As our conversation progressed, I immediately noticed that it is Sumaiya’s love and respect for the Husaak team that motivated her to become a co-guide. She said, “I love their never-ending support, as well as the opportunity to explore new places and push myself beyond my limits. I personally learn from every experience no matter where we go, whether we are exploring mountains, wadis, beaches or canyons.” Initially, Sumaiya didn’t train to become a part of the team, but she noticed how her fitness level drastically increased ever since her addiction to these Oman excursions began. “It became my outdoor gym,” she
Sumaiya’s experience proves that the journey of self-discovery is never-ending. When she was going through a tough time, one of the executives at Husaak Adventures recommended that she should take on the 7th Hole Cave Trip to clear her mind. In doing so, Sumaiya met amazing people who she immediately connected with as if they were family, and together they climbed down a remarkable cave for the very first time. To her surprise, Sumaiya developed a friendship with one of the customers, and today she calls her “my Habitat adventurous soul sister. We became adventure buddies and both of us are now part of the guide team!” I caught up with Sumaiya after one of her many weekends away in Oman to ask her how she was faring as co-guide, and her eyes shone with elation when she replied, “I am ever so grateful for this amazing oppor tunity of being par t of the team and I see myself change and grow to the better. I've learned and am still learning to deal with different personalities from different countries and dealing with various situations I've experienced.” She jokingly added that “the only [ Continued...] 47
[...Continued] challenging part is trying to remember 15-20 people's names in three days and wanting to get to know all of them within the trip.” Sumaiya’s experience urges us all to inject some adventure into our lives. Her key advice is to make sure that you’re physically fit for the level of fitness required for the Husaak Adventures trip that you sign-up for. She also advises to “go with an open mind and heart, and I guarantee either a change in your life or at least seeing things differently in the sense of appreciating many things we take for granted on a daily basis.” When she’s not hiking or co-guiding, Sumaiya’s aim is to further explore Oman, and travel the world to get as many passport stamps as possible. On a personal level though, her ultimate goal is to continuously train to eventually become a Husaak guide, and she ended our conversation over coffee and lotus biscuits with this assertive plan, “I’m looking into getting outdoor guiding certificates from different countries. I want to simply keep learning, growing and improving as a person and an outdoor enthusiast.”
TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE How would your mother describe you in one word? Adventurous. How would you describe your mother in one word? Perfect. What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked? “Where is the bathroom?”, while on a camping trip. What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? Flew to Abu Dhabi and back in a day to meet with Ali, owner of Husaak Adventures to discuss the opportunity of joining the guiding team. What is your theme song? “Shoop” by Salt & Pepper. What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? Awesome. Where would you like to live? What is your dream retirement location? I love Kuwait but I definitely would love to retire in Oman of course. It’s close to home and the outdoors there are too beautiful to resist. What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind? "I am strong because I've been weak. I am wise because I've been foolish. I am fearless 48
because I've been afraid. Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures. They will overcome challenges and nourish their souls." What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in? A Dolphin. What do you miss about your childhood? The innocence. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I wouldn't change my name but if I was forced to, it would be Maya.
Ghandi & Maya Angelo. What in the world do you least desire? Egos and racism. What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of would make the world a better place? Respect & kindness. Why do you think most girls/guys like you? I think it’s my positive energy and down to earth vibes. Some also tell me, my smile. Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…” Peace of mind and unconditional love.
How would you describe your handshake in one word? Friendly. What is the toughest part of your character? My energy. Who is your favorite historical figure?
For more information about Husaak Adventures, visit www.husaak.com. Find the complete calendar of upcoming trips to book your next adventure with Sumaiya and the Husaak team.
the Kitchen
HOW INBOUND IS MAKING INROADS INTO MARKETING (PART 2) By Barry Rodrigues
In my last article I wrote about how companies and brands in parts of the developed world are taking to inbound marketing to create more deep and meaningful relationships with their customers. We also took a look at ZMOT or Zero Moment Of Truth, a terminology coined by Google to identify the time prospects spend on researching, reviewing and debating products or services before they buy them. Instead of using the old methodologies like buying ads online, sending endless amounts of email shots and waiting for leads in the hope that they will covert, inbound marketing focuses on creating quality content that pulls people towards your brand. By attracting people towards your brand, you are getting exposed to the possibility of engaging, converting and finally delighting them in the process. Confused? Read on… To explain further I will use the principles laid out by HubSpot, one of the world’s leading providers of marketing automation software and the inventors of the inbound marketing concept. The folks at HubSpot believe that the inbound marketing is the best way to turn prospects into customers and promoters of your business. The principles are: attract, convert, close and delight. If you are interested so far, all you have to do is Google this and you will find out more. But I know that half of you will expect me to explain the concept so I will attempt to explicate it in the best way possible. First, is the Attraction phase. Here your customers are strangers who have not heard about your product and are in the process of doing their research either via blogs, search engines or looking at reviews on social media. It is vitally important that your brand has a share of voice on this platform because this would be your prospects’ first interaction with your brand. In the second phase you would try to Convert them to followers either through forms, calls to action or landing pages with quality content. In this phase ensure that you have forms and landing pages that are optimized for conversions. Short but interesting videos, easy to fill forms with minimal fields and a clear call to action are an absolute must for success. After this phase, your prospects are then funneled into the Close stage whereby you use tools like CRM to learn their buying history and patterns. This enables you to understand your prospects better and give them a more customized customer journey before you close them. Finally, once you convert and close them as customers, it is now your responsibility to 50
delight them with excellent service so that they spread the word and help drive in even more business. Critically, the delighting happens only once you’ve closed the customer and are able to provide him or her with stellar service that is memorable. All these principles need to work in tandem in a synergistic approach to ensure that prospects and customers are getting top notch services that will make them become brand ambassadors of your product and recommend them to others. While the ZMOT concept was meant for Google’s own advertising platforms like AdWords, marketers in general can take and apply this concept to pretty much every form of marketing that is digitally available out there and that includes social media too; the reason? Thanks to the abundance of information out in the digital realm (I’m beginning to think like Thor now) and the fact the more and more companies are moving from a single or multi- channel approach of marketing to Omni-channel channel, it makes perfect sense. Ensuring that there is sufficient amount of product or company information, be it in terms of product specifications, how to videos, reviews, likes and comments in turn keeps the product or service within line of sight or at the very least, at the top of mind in your prospects’ heads. If you do it right and have a healthy balance of interesting and engaging product information
as well as sales literature, hopefully more of the former and less of the sales pitch, your prospects’ confidence in your brand builds up and sooner or later they end up buying your product. But what is significantly different in this situation is that if they were to simply buy your product based on your sales pitch alone, your brand would not have built a relationship. There would have been a significant improvement in customer relationship when they buy your products and services after having learnt about your brand and industry. Like I said in my previous article, the main principles of inbound marketing are educating customers and building trust so that your brand maintains a top-of-mind retention. By aligning quality content with your prospect’s interests, your brand will be able to naturally attract inbound traffic that you should be able to attract, convert, close and delight over time. Barry Rodrigues is Head of Marketing & Product Development at Future Communications and an associate advisor with the International Advisors Group in Kuwait. He has worked for industry leaders like Agility and National Aviation Services in various marketing capacities in addition to delivering marketing projects for the banking, hospitality and petrochemical verticals. For comments, please email Barry at barry@nexgenconsulting.co.uk.
Proper Slider
A HOSPITABLE VISION
Interview with The Regency Hotel Kuwait’s GM Marc Guenther
By bazaar staff
The Regency Hotel is a long-loved establishment that prides itself on exquisite hospitality and amenities. Within its gorgeous structure overlooking the scenic Arabian Gulf, there is a stellar team of professionals who work hard to provide the very best experience, which guests at the esteemed hotel will encounter. Be it a visit to indulge in their luxury facilities, a banquet, or an out of town stay in one of their comfortable rooms, you can rest assured that the Regency family will handle your needs with care and welcome you into their kin with warmth. It goes without saying, that to achieve such quality standards, behind every great team lays an extraordinary manager. In the case of The Regency Hotel, General Manager Marc Guenther is the very person who guides his staff to ensure the comfort and quality that The Regency stands for, and does so with pride and excellence. And here he is, torn away for only a minute to answer some of our questions, proving that multi-tasking is a possibility, even when successfully managing one of the most renowned hotels in the country. When did your hospitality journey begin? I was introduced to the hospitality industry in my home country, Germany, over twenty years ago. Since then, I have wandered through about ten countries, honing that skill in numerous facilities. Now, I find myself breathing a new culture and life here in Kuwait. Why did you choose to pursue a career in this field and what sparked your passion for the industry? My personality is quite distant from a regular 'desk job', and this triggered me to chase a profession that is social and interactive. With this in mind, I naturally felt that the hospitality field was the most stimulating option for me. I find that the glamor and magnificence this industry offers is fascinating, and it provides a real reason and incentive to be a part of it. Moreover, I was sure that this glamor only shines from professional knowledge driven by passionate work, which only years of experience can show for. Where were you before coming to Kuwait? I’ve lived in many different countries and continents, but my most recent residence before coming to Kuwait was the UAE. 52
What is your impression of Kuwait, and The Regency Hotel? Coming from a European background, the initial impression we get from any GCC country is totally different from reality, and Kuwait as a whole exceeded my expectations. This place is cultured, welcoming, and developing where opportunities are easily opened. Regarding The Regency Hotel Kuwait, the spacious architecture provides a lobby that massively fascinated me once I stepped into this hospitality landmark. I also loved how easily admirable the Arabian Gulf is and how the sun reflects through its high roof glass-atrium. Moreover, once you aware of the hotel’s history, its captivation only inspires you to do your best as a contribution to one of the leading luxury hotels in Kuwait. As GM at The Regency Hotel in Kuwait, how would you describe your leadership style? In the hospitality field, you end up in dealing with a variety of everything: tastes, way of thinking, problem solving, people, and the professional environment. Nonetheless, my focus is always oriented to care for and meet the guests’ expectations. After all, our hotel's mission is to completely delight and satisfy our guests.
Regarding leadership, well, it is a challenging yet satisfying aspect; either you born as a leader, or you have to work hard and learn how to become one. I confess that I am constructively demanding, and pay absolute attention to details, but these attributes are fundamental for building a solid and successful business management. I like to motivate my team to be accountable and conscious in providing the best quality service, thus making any stay at our hotel an exquisite experience. What are your plans for The Regency Hotel in 2017? My aim is to sustain our position as a top-leading hotel in Kuwait, and to expand our reputation as one of the independent hotels competing with the well-known chains.
For more information, contact The Regency Hotel Kuwait by calling 2576 6666 or visit their website www.theregencykuwait.com for reservations and bookings. Follow @TheRegencyQ8 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The New Meaning of Chocolate
Choco Cuisine
BUILDING NEW BEGINNINGS
Presenting the architectural craft of Aziz AlHumaidhi
By bazaar staff
In 2012, we met Aziz AlHumaidhi as Principal in Charge at NHE Consultants. Since then, the local architect has graduated from working for his father’s Engineering Consultancy, learning the tricks of the trade to move towards building greater aspirations for himself in the form of AlHumaidhi Architects: a practice specializing in a modern approach to building structures in Kuwait. Upon indulging on the “Projects” page of AlHumaidhi Architects’ website, you can easily see the influence of Aziz’s passion for architecture in the works he envisioned and implemented. Whether the project is commercial or residential, Aziz’s vision includes the generous use of glass to invite floods of light, as well as clean lines and the theme of geometric patterns. It boasts the craft of an artist who thoughtfully constructs spaces to make the most out of embracing the gifts that have to offer, such as sunlight, temperature, and lots of shade for Kuwait’s extreme heat in 54
the summer and rainfall in the winter. After all, these are factors every architect has to consider, as theirs is a practice that marries many of life’s greatest skills: a penchant for math, science, logic and drawing. With a keenness to learn more, we chat with Aziz, touching on the exciting journey of building his dream further, from when he was a fortressing child, to his very first project, to the inception of the empire he is building for himself today. How did your journey with architecture begin? I suppose I explored the urge of human nature to find or create and utilize shelter from an early age. I enjoyed creating enclosures and fortresses to inhabit. I would sleep in them and move through tents and tunnels attached to one another like an obstacle course. I also drew as a child and continued to draw all throughout high school. When it came time to apply for university, I tried to think of a degree that would combine my interests in drawing and art with other forms of study, such as science mathematics and physics. I felt that architecture offered the best of both worlds, and decided to apply to the Rhode Island
School of Design, where I graduated with a degree in architecture as well as a degree in fine arts. What prompted you to build your practice? Our practice was established prior to my granting by my civil engineer father, who I worked for since 2002 [at NHE Consultants]. At around 2008, I began to manage more of the office’s functions, and a couple of years later, I became the head of office and have since been directing it towards a more architectural and design-based practice than an engineering one. What’s the most challenging aspect of being an architect? For me, the most challenging aspect is the allencompassing nature of design and the slow turnover of each project. Design takes time and so does execution, meaning one’s learning curve is quite shallow. This is why, I suppose, it is called an “architectural practice: you have to practice over and over with each project in order to better understand the multiple factors and elements that influence design. You have to not only conceptualize and visualize a design, but be
able to figure out every small detail, construction specification and its impact on the specific element it’s covered with. You also have to be mindful of the general overview of the project as a whole. What is your signature architectural “style” if you have one, or any influences you look up to? My style is pragmatic, and some may see it as modern due to its lack of ornamentation or classical elements. I try to create spaces and designs that work for their intended use, and to fulfill the client’s brief, first and foremost. Then, there are factors like budget, maintenance, location, users and constructability that influence every decision made towards the final design. And even after completing said design, sometimes during construction a lot of items may change and adapt to a myriad of factors: from contractor issues and owner changes, to economic factors and/or miscellaneous issues. The challenge is adapting all these changing and unfolding obstacles, and how to use them to our advantage rather than resisting. We allow life and its circumstances to be a factor in determining the final look and feel and contraction of the project.
It’s not about forcing one’s own vision on a project, but rather being the artistic and/or technical facilitator of the vision behind it in the face of the circumstances that govern it now and later. What are some of the most memorable projects you’ve worked on? My first project is probably my most memorable one. I was asked to design a memorial commemorating the deaths of young students at a local school due to car accidents. The project was my first experience with a budget, a brief, and a site. The brief was emotionally charged: I felt a connection to it since I too, suffered from the loss of a relative in a car accident not long before this. I was given a small site with a pre-existing, mature, palm tree, which the client wanted to uproot in order to make room for the memorial. In conceptualizing the project, the idea was to resist the initial intention to remove the tree and rather keep it and enshrine it in a glass enclosure with the names of those deceased etched on the glass. The tree became the backdrop to this monument, and continued to grow and thrive as with the memory of those who passed away.
The location was within an existing playground, so children would see it daily to be constantly reminded of the memorial’s representation. The opening was very beautiful and emotional to the parents, and it gave me a taste into what impact architecture and design could have on people. What is your opinion on the future of architecture in the region? How do you feel it’s changing in Kuwait? Many young, talented architects are emerging in the country, and I’m happy to see them grow and expand their client base and project base. I think that in order to fully develop the profession, we must focus on demystifying the architectural profession and the design process to the layman. Only when they understand how we work and how much effort is involved in the process, will the profession be truly accepted for what it really is.
Visit AlHumaidhi Architects’ website at: www.alhumaidhiarchitects.com, and follow them on Instagram @alhumaidhiarch. 55
IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
KidZania’s Winter Festival is back! By bazaar staff
Round up the kiddies and jump for joy, because it’s that time of year again! KidZania, a city dedicated to, governed and run by kids, is hosting their annual Winter Festival and has turned the kidsonly haven into a winter wonderland for the family to enjoy! And what’s so special about this year’s Winter Festival? The eclectic and educational theme: Winter From Around the World. The Winter Festival is KidZania’s most exciting and anticipated program of the year, because it celebrates the very season that we all love in Kuwait the most: Wintertime! This six-week-long festival, in partnership with Burger King and Crocs, is fun-packed and filled with activities and events for your children to enjoy to the fullest. Though Kuwait’s winters are borderline freezing and always beautiful, where’s the snow? Where can the little ones go for snowy sports and activities? To KidZania, of course! This year, the festival will include many different features that will transform the children to different winter environments around the world, allowing them to delve into activities they’ve always dreamed of, replacing a world of sand with ice and snow. Children will be excited to visit the Ice Palace. This feature is authentically modeled after a real sub-zero winter environment, adorned with artistically crafted winter sculptures representing the most famous landmarks from around the world. Worried about keeping the kiddies warm in such temperatures? Don’t worry, KidZania provides both kid and adult sized parkas and mittens for their comfort. Other icy features include a Cross Country Skiing activity and a Winter Toddlers’ Area, built in the style of a pre-historic themed cave (a la Ice Age) which serves as a safe and educational wintry environment for toddlers to learn and play. An indoor skating rink is also available for the children to enjoy! They can skate alongside one another to make beautiful memories, and you can be rest assured that their safety and comfort will be ensured by supervisors. The indoor skating rink is the perfect place to practice free-style skating and figure skating, and ice skates are provided for use. Though KidZania’s Winter Festival theme differs from previous years, the program will still include old favorites that the establishment always hosts, with different twists. Magical winter-themed face painting will be on offer, to get your kids primped and prepped with their 56
best “winter face” to attend the shows! Shows include street performances with a returning appearance from previous festivals’ Ice King and Queen telling winter tales throughout different parts of KidZania. Mime shows are another feature to look out for, adding a fun and humorous ambiance to the overall experience of the festival. But the main attraction of this year’s shows has to be the Winter From Around the World show in KidZania’s theater. With this show, kids will embark on a fun winter adventure starring the five RightZkeepers (Vita, Chika, Bache, Urbano and Beebop), who will teach them about the winter season and activities in different countries, as well as the cultures and histories of those places. A great feature for artists in the making to enjoy is the Painting School, where they can explore their potential and have fun with painting winter artworks onto provided canvases. They can then hone their skills with House Painting, an activity where they can paint the wall with their own winter-themed designs, adding to the beautiful wintry backdrops and décor that will decorate the KidZania grounds. For upgraded winter fun, FroZen passes are available for purchase, offering a package of great benefits including: exclusive entry to the
Ice Palace, exclusive access to the Winter From Around the World show, KidZos (KidZania’s local currency) free entry to the Ice Skating Rink and Cross Country Skiing, free face painting, snacks such as mini donuts and Starbucks hot chocolate, and a free KidZania giveaway. What more could they ask for to fully embrace and take advantage of this wonderful festival? So parents, let the kids be in charge for the day! Round them up over to their turf, and let them show you what a winter wonderland can really be like at KidZania’s Winter Festival. It will be a fun and educational environment for them to enjoy. For added memories, don’t forget to snap a wintry photo at the photo corner against different winter-inspired backdrops!
The Winter Festival is currently happening at KidZania until February 4, 2017. KidZania is located in Level 1, The Mall—Avenues. Call them at 2228 3180 or check out their website at www.kidzania.com.kw. Follow their Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram accounts @kidzaniakuwait for the latest updates.
Shawarmamatic
KUWAIT’S IDYLLIC FAMILY HOLIDAY DESTINATION Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa
By bazaar staff
Recently named as the Best Luxury Hotel and leading Luxury Beach Resort in Kuwait by World Luxury Travel Awards 2016, Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa provides families with an all-inclusive destination. There is something special for every family member; guests looking for a time to relax are welcome to Talise Spa, and those looking to stay active can bond over a game of tennis at Talise Fitness, children seeking playful activities can head to the dedicated kids clubs, and the whole family can try a truly memorable dining experience at any of the hotel’s award-winning restaurants. Whatever it may be, your stay in Kuwait’s premier luxury destination promises an unparalleled memorable experience catered to all guests’ needs. Situated on the Arabian Gulf coast of Messilah, the stunning beachfront resort is a place that offers unforgettable experiences. Families have the opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and spend quality time with one another during their stay amongst idyllic surroundings. Enjoy the comfort of home while embracing true luxury in any of the hotel’s 12 villas with one, three, to five bedroom accommodations fitted with luxurious amenities and perfect for large families. With sublime views of the sea and garden landscapes, make yourself at home with the secluded harmony of the lush gardens and comfortable pleasure of expansive living rooms, dining spaces, two kingsize bedrooms, three twin bedrooms, a fullyequipped kitchen with convenient appliances, private parking, and private plunge pools that are heated during winter times. You can also relish in a delightful breakfast buffet in the all-day dining restaurant, Garden Café. Elegantly luxurious with contemporary Arabian touches, the inviting Duplex Residences offer a relaxed master bedroom and twin bedroom with stylish furnishings, living room, and fully operational kitchenette with a dishwasher, fridge, oven, microwave, and chinaware. Special features include automatic curtains, a writing desk, along with deluxe bathroom amenities. The Grand Deluxe Room makes for a comfortable stay in well-proportioned rooms. As with all the hotel’s exquisite accommodations, the Grand Deluxe is spacious and finished to the highest possible standards with a separate sitting area, a kind size bed, marble bath, and walk-in shower. Guests can also access the nearby Club Executive Lounge for time out to socialize and 58
enjoy a light meal, afternoon tea, or freshlymade desserts and drinks. The hotel’s kids' clubs entertain the youngest members of the family throughout. Sinbad’s Kids Club and The Scene Teens Club provide an area for children to escape and enjoy tailored entertainment provided by fully-qualified staff. With the latest computer games and table-top activities and private cinema, children of all ages are inspired, entertained and engaged. For dinner, families can choose from the resort’s six award-winning signature restaurants and try sensational international menus. Dining experiences include Pepper Steakhouse for premium meat cuts, Olio Italian Restaurant for authentic Italian specialties, Salt Seafood & International Restaurant for inspired dishes, Arabesque Middle Eastern Café for Arabian cuisine, Mint poolside Café for light bites, and Garden Café for a delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet of international and local favorites. s all-time international and local favorites. If you wish to give your mind, body, and soul a rest, treat yourself to absolute peace and rejuvenating wellbeing at the prized Talise Spa. Engulfed in a haven of tranquillity, the 3,500m2 oasis with a space dedicated to men and women, is specially devoted to giving you an utmost pampering experience through carefully selected
and tailored massages, body treatments, rituals and facials in utterly tranquil treatment rooms or luxurious private suites. Access to top-class facilities provide amazing health benefits be it the snow room, exclusive Himalayan Salt room, or sauna. Ever since its opening, the idyllic landmark has welcomed returning guests to discover worldclass cuisine, hallmark service, entertainment, wide-ranging activities, adventures, and wellness retreats during their stays. Featuring 407 elegantly guest rooms, including 316 rooms and suites, Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa is a place that continuously exceeds all expectations.
The Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa is located between Al Ta’awon Street and the Fahaheel Expressway in Al Messilah. For more information or reservations, please call 2226 9600. Follow the resort on Facebook: JumeirahMessilahBeach, Twitter @JumeirahMB and Instagram @JumeirahMessilahBeach for the latest updates.
HUMBLE BURGER
bazaar goes dining
A FUSION OF FLAVORS
Invoking memories through taste at Terazzo restaurant By bazaar staff
Al Shaheed Park is truly a gem of a location in Kuwait. Large and lush, filled with greenery, vast spaces for jovial strolling, and quite a few luxurious dining options! What’s lovely about these dining options is that they’re widespread and nestled around different parts of the park, providing ample space for patrons to enjoy their visits as they see fit. When you’re hungry, be sure to pop over to Terazzo for a gorgeous meal to top off your gorgeous stay at the park. Nestled directly across from the amphitheater where shows and concerts are hosted, this crisp eatery is the perfect spot to grab an intimate meal. It serves a modern and welcoming vibe, with minimalist chicness and beauty from the moment you walk in. Consisting of natural hues with wood elements as well as full glass windows and a black mosaic wall alongside the bar of the restaurant, light is invited into the restaurant during the daytime to create a playful movement along the pixelated walls. Gold-toned 60
chain curtains are also placed at the windows, allowing a beautiful shimmer and let’s face it, offers temptation to play around a little while you wait for your food, but mostly shows off the restaurant’s contemporary touches. But let’s talk about the food served at Terazzo. The menu seems small, but it is far from simple! It touches on classic comforting traditions with Mediterranean undertones such as creamy Burrata platters accompanied by crostini and a trio of different styled Bruschetta: Ratatouille topped with a fried quail egg, pistachio pesto Caprese, and sweet brie with almonds and cinnamon. And lest we forget, the chicken wings. Let me start off by saying that this bazaarite isn’t a poultry person, and has barely touched the protein in 15 years. However, co-partner, architect and dining companion extraordinaire Yousef Al Qaoud persisted that I should try possibly the best chicken wings of my life and promised that if I didn’t like them I would never have to bother with chicken again. I think, this was when I officially converted: these wings were perfectly fried with
a lemon-garlic glaze and a spicy kick, encasing tender, tender chicken. Served alongside a sour cream and chive dip, this appetizer is described as ‘a basket full of goodness’ for a reason! For the record, I had not one, not two, but three of those bad boys – they were seriously addictive. Next came an array of mains to enjoy. Glittering the table was a beautifully constructed plate of colors making up the indulgent Paella Risotto, Funghi Fettuccine, and the pizza to end all pizzas, Bresaola. The Paella Risotto consisted of saffron spiced risotto, giving the rice a beautifully rich golden color and mildly creamy texture, with artfully placed mussels, shrimp and squid throughout. And the crème de la crème of the dish? A gorgeously roasted chicken drumstick topping off the masterpiece, with skin so crisp, that I, as a newfound chicken lover, was able to appreciate. The Funghi Fettuccine offered a lovely combination of three different types of mushrooms, arriving as a medley that deliciously enhanced the creaminess of goat’s cheese mixed
throughout the fresh ribbons of pasta. Each bite emoted comfort and complete satisfaction, promising you warmth and pleasure on even the dreariest of days. But nothing could prepare me for the Bresaola Pizza: a pizza so good, that although the size is perfect for two, I wanted to hog the whole thing for myself. Let’s start out with the way the crust is prepared: The base of the thin, bubbly crust had the telltale signs of a wood-fired oven, but Yousef swore that Terazzo houses no such fixture! In my book, if someone can trick you into believing it was made in a real-deal pizza oven, then you know that this is going to live happily ever after in your tummy. The beautiful combination of mozzarella with bresaola and a heap of crisp, green arugula did the trick, but the showstopper was the generous drizzle of truffle oil, bringing out the playfulness of flavors. “You think this is good?” Yousef asked me as I helped myself to a second slice (don’t judge me, he didn’t!) “Then you should try our Brie
and Berries pizza!” Described as a blueberry compote base, brie, blackberries, arugula, honey and bacon bits, it sounded intriguing, but it would have to wait until the next visit, because dessert caught my eye. While their dessert menu is small, it delivers maximum taste and indulgence to end your Terazzo experience on a sweet note. The Alaska wowed me in its presentation, as well as taste. Reminiscent of the classic vintage dessert, Baked Alaska, this version was deconstructed. Featuring a cake ‘biscuit’, vanilla ice cream and pistachio-chocolate blend, complemented by a pool of homemade raspberry coulis and topped with a torched-at-the-table, generous pile of creamy meringue. This resulted in one of the most unforgettable desserts to ever grace my palate. Then I met the Tiramisu Donut, and I knew I was in trouble. A decadent double coffee-glazed donut fit for sharing is cut in half to sandwich whipped vanilla, mascarpone and cocoa powder. Pair this with a steaming cup of hot coffee, and you’re in heaven.
The inspiration behind Terazzo’s inception is to invoke happy memories, be it from your childhood, time spent abroad or any other happy thoughts that may be triggered by the taste of glorious food. My experience definitely sparked lots of happy memories: from having moms moonlighting as Michelin-worthy chefs cooking fettuccine for me, the urban vibe of the Bresaola Pizza taking me back to my time spent abroad at university, to the general ambiance of the restaurant, which took me back to the intimate eateries of NYC’s Nolita district in Manhattan – something I noticed promptly upon walking into the restaurant. Yousef Al Qaoud and his four partners know how to convey this nostalgia, comfort and satisfaction, which is why I urge you all to pay a visit to Terazzo soon – I know it won’t take me long to return with a goal to try a different pizza each time.
Terazzo is located in Al Shaheed Park. Follow them on Instagram @terazzo.kw for more information. 61
FRESH, DELICIOUS AND OH-SO-PROPER A visit to Proper Sliders’ newest Shaab location By bazaar staff
It’s no secret that bite-sized portions are awesome. Knowing that their small, but mighty, tiny-burger place is a hit, Kuwait London Company (KLC) decided to expand Proper Sliders from one to three locations to serve a wider delivery range. For those of you who haven’t discovered this gem of a concept, let us be your guide to their gourmet sliders, sides and shakes. As a point of reference, the more people you go with/have over, the more sides you can devour guiltlessly – well, almost, but we’re not here to judge. Having been to their quaint Mahboula location last year, this time we visited Proper Sliders in Shaab Al-Bahri’s Golden Street. A stone’s throw away from The Kitchen; you can’t possibly miss the fire-engine red umbrellas outside, or their ticket-stub signage. You can either get your food delivered to you, call them to prep the order as you make your way there to pick it up, or dine-in! We opted to dine-in to enjoy the location and take advantage of their outdoor seating area – the weather was beautiful! After carefully mulling over the menu, we finally settled on our selection. What happens when you take three hungry bazaarites to a delicious burger place? We end 62
up ordering everything we possibly can! And with that, we started with Proper Shakes before we even ordered our sides and sliders. Our shakes - delicious, creamy and properly thick – were Peanut Butter & Vanilla, Peanut Butter & Chocolate and Lotus. As we sipped on our shakes, our sliders and sides showed up. With a total of nine sliders, two sides, three shakes and a dessert, we had a superbly fulfilling meal. For our sides, we went with the Proper Chili Fries and Proper Onion Rings. There’s something about Proper Sliders’ onion rings that make us sing with joy. The way they’re seasoned, battered and fried make for a perfect crunch with each bite. We ordered extra Smokey BBQ Sauce and extra Proper Sauce so we can fully indulge in the glory of the onion rings. As for the Proper Chili Fries, we devoured the entire thing in a flash! Melted cheese, chili beef and chopped jalapenos and onions topped with some Proper Mustard – the fries were golden and the perfect based for the chili. Our Proper Sliders were glorious as always with their gourmet beef patties, tender chicken breasts and fresh-baked potato buns. Because each of us ordered three, we had slight variations of their offerings. Full disclosure, we all insisted on ordering their classic, The Proper Slider. There’s something about the
classic flavors of a burger that’s always a win in all our books. And our other copy-cat order was the Proper Mushroom Slider, which is another classic mushroom and Swiss cheese combo that is absolutely perfect! For our other choices, one of us went for the Proper Spicy Chicken Slider which packed a punch and another went for the Proper Crispy Chicken Slider. But this bazaarite went for the Proper Grilled Chicken Slider, topped with an onion ring (because one can never have too many onion rings) and some Proper BBQ Sauce. Thinking we were completely full, we spotted KLC’s fun-loving dessert: Chubby Balls. So we took the plunge and ended our review as we had started it, in decadence! Now go get yourself a very proper slider at Proper Sliders! You can find Proper Sliders on The Golden Street in Shaab Al-Bahari, in Mahboula, Block 2, Street 201, Building 233 or in Ardhiya, Block 2, Sarah Complex, Building 113. You can call them on 2239 1002, 2239 1903/04, or 2239 9600 respectively for orders or log onto www.talabat.com. To have them cater your next event, check our their menu on www.bilbayt.com. For more information visit www.propersliders.com or follow them on Facebook: ProperSliders and on Twitter and Instagram @ProperSliders.
FANTASY World
bazaar eats in
FROM AUSTIN TO KUWAIT
Barbecue done right by Oak and Smoke By bazaar staff
There are very few gastronomical experiences that exceed the deliciousness of tucking into a perfectly barbecued piece of meat. The smokiness only heightens the taste of your protein of choice, and such exuberance can only be achieved by expertise. Oak and Smoke’s founder, Mubarak AlRazouki, understands the importance of quality and skill, and felt so dedicated to it, he found himself balancing his studies abroad with his passion for the delicate process of southern barbecue. Mubarak learned all he knew during his university days in Austin, when he would travel miles to try different barbecue joints around the area. And so with experience from apprenticing with his mentor in Texas, barbecuing competitions, and learning the craft from friends whose families have a rich history in the barbecue business, Mubarak returned to Kuwait with a university degree and a passion he knew he had to fulfill. In Kuwait, Mubarak’s purchase of an offset smoker, a slab of ribs and an invitation for his cousin to come over and try his slow-smoked ribs was the inevitable birth of his concept, Oak and Smoke. “It’s called Oak and Smoke because my brisket and ribs are all manually smoked with a wood smoker and charcoal – never put in an oven!” As word got out that pro-smoker Mubarak was honing his skills on family and friends, he graduated to an established menu a business plan, and Big Bertha: a 30ft long smoker dedicated to the day-long smoking process used to tenderize the meat giving it a beautiful finish of a smoky, dark exterior, encasing succulent meat adorned with the red print of smoke rings. Suffice to say, the buzz made its way to our office, and we obviously felt more than compelled to try out this boasted original form of barbecue that could only be achieved by experience and knowledge like Mubarak’s. An array of goodies arrived to us, smoked expertly by Big Bertha herself and manhandled by Mubarak, running the small operation with a lot of passion. The Ribs – where do we even start with these gigantic ribs? An order of ribs, smoked for at least 16 hours and wrapped tightly in aluminum foil, is enough to feed four people. Dubbed Dino Ribs for a reason, you either feel like a medieval king or Fred Flintstone when chowing down on these ribs that are so tender, meat just falls off the bone with even the slightest prod with your fork. 64
We also sampled another specialty of Oak and Smoke’s, the Brisket Sandwiches – made with a slow smoked whole brisket, chopped up and sautéed in sauce of choice, sandwich between slices of Oak and Smoke’s homemade (you read that right!) bread. Can you imagine anything more delicious? Whole smoked briskets are also on offer, and would pair beautifully with the sides listed on the menu: traditional Potato Salad made with eggs and chopped up pickles, homemade coleslaw, the most beautiful, buttery sweet potato mash you’ll ever try, and hand-cut fries, spiced with Cajun seasoning and tossed in one big ol’ brown bag for communal bites. Though authentic Texas barbecue doesn’t require sauce as an accompaniment, Mubarak’s homemade sauces certainly heighten the meaty experience. Such sauces are pomegranate molasses sauce, giving the overall taste of a Middle Eastern twist to otherwise American favorites. An Arabic coffee-inspired sauce is also included, made with hints of cardamom to enhance the flavors of the meat’s juiciness.
And of course, we can’t forget about the pepperiness of Mubarak’s personal favorite, the spicy sauce, which provides a tangy kick with every bite. You will be full after feasting on Oak and Smoke’s authentic barbecue, but remember that you will be filled with great memories and an education that you could only learn by seeing firsthand how passion and knowledge can make the most out of something. At least, that’s what our experience with Oak and Smoke had taught us, along with the fact that what constitutes good barbecue is the type of meat you’re getting, and that in the process of smoking, the longer the better. But we wont ruin all the surprises for you – make sure you check it out for yourself, and only then will you completely understand what it is we’re talking about.
Order from Oak and Smoke through Whatsapp 5130 7160. For more information, follow them on Instagram @oakandsmoke.
KIDZANIA
THEY DEM BOYZ
Meeting musical legends in the making, Sons of Yusuf
By bazaar staff
Many have heard this song before – whether on YouTube or as famously reshared by singer/songwriter/actor/author Tyrese Gibson on his Facebook page, which reached a whopping 7 million views. That’s right, “Hala (We Dem Boyz Arabia Remix)”, is the clever, regional play on words by the original Wiz Khalifa hit, “We Dem Boyz”. It’s catchy, relatable, and we have brothers Ya’koob and "Humble Abdul" Abdul’Rahman Al Refaie, a.k.a. Sons of Yusuf to thank for that. When we sat down to meet the fraternal duo, they opened with describing themselves as artists, creatives, producers, and first and foremost people of the planet Earth. They then credited the name of their collective, and their overall artistic sense of being to their father, Yusuf Al Refaie. “Our father Yusuf is an artist, a visionary, and our mentor.” Humble Abdul quips. “He inspired and encouraged us since we were
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kids, to dream big and never give up, to love all people and help change the world. That’s why we are sons of Yusuf.” Between brothers working together and paying homage to the root of their talent and sense of being, it’s easy to see that the act keeps it down to earth and in the family when seeking inspiration. Another great inspiration for them is their culture, and namely, their hometown, which they discuss with gusto. “After traveling and living in many places around the world at a young age, we always had to tell people about our culture and background. Our intention was always to spread a message and share our story and change the false media and image that’s out there, which is mostly targeting Muslims or Arabs. We felt like we needed to speak up and do something about it.” In fact, they did something about it in the way they knew best. They gave viewers a sense of what modern Kuwaiti culture is really like, be they expatriates, strangers to the culture and/ or region, or familiar locals. Either way, there’s a sense of dedication and representation we see
in their music, and if it’s any indication, what’s to follow will be no different. To Sons of Yusuf, representing Kuwait is important, and it’s evident that their modernmeets-traditional representation of the country through music, specifically using established western music as a base, speaks volumes about their personal views on the potential of a modern, musical scene here. “We feel like Kuwait has a lot of potential, and can give birth to many new thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. Music has always been here, and Kuwait has influenced many of the music and art in the Gulf. It will soon be recognized worldwide Inshallah - why not?” And perhaps the first step to that is by making it relatable. The question lies, though - has Wiz Khalifa noticed this remixed work of art? Ya'Koob informs us, “We know he’s heard the track, but we haven’t heard any direct feedback from him." It has, however, caught the eye of Tyrese, as well as other acclaimed acts, such as Talib Kweli, a described “favorite hip-hop legend” by the collective, who the brothers have worked with in
the recent past, for the sweet surprise they have in the works for us to enjoy. Currently, Sons of Yusuf are building their craft to graduate from their catchy cover to more original works. With plans for a debut album Sheikh the World to be released in early 2017, they are excited to produce the album in the best way possible, using none other but Grammy award winning producer Shafiq Husayn, and featuring artists such as Talib Kweli, Yancey Boys, Consequence, Narcy and more. The album will be available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, TIDAL and everywhere else. “We have a lot more coming, Inshallah - we’re just getting started.” The Los Angeles-based brothers frequent Kuwait and vehemently take their culture back and forth with them wherever they go in the world, and they do tend to travel a lot, toting the influence of their art like they would suitcases. “Being able to travel the world and connect, and seeing the impact we can have on people has been a great experience and we’re very thankful for that.”
As for media coverage and exposure, the brothers feel that they’ve been representing Kuwait wherever they find themselves, from the Middle East Institute in Washington DC to Expo2020 in Dubai, CNN to Al Arabiya. The brothers recognize these achievements as rewarding, and they count every single experience as a blessing “Alhamdulilah we’ve been getting great feedback from all over the world. We love Kuwait and we’re going to continue representing our home.” How do they juggle all this talent with life’s trials and tribulations, not to mention the everyday responsibilities to take care of amidst making music and influencing the globe through their art? “It’s all about balance,” Ya'koob responds matter-of-factly, “between family, work, prayer, and everything in between. Our time is limited and we try to make the most out of every day.” Though balance can sometimes be a struggle, looking to their hip hop roots gives them the tools to create a new vision for the world through important lessons they’ve learned along the way
by immersing themselves through the genre’s culture. “Hip hop gives us the opportunity to reach out, speak our minds and connect with the world. [The connection] really just happened, it’s not something we chose to start. We always had music in the house growing up, so we always did that, and we grew up around Hip Hop culture.” The Sons of Yusuf journey proves that music and culture can be melded to create something brilliant, and that, as a collective, they are so much more than a cover group. Humble Abdul leaves us with this pearl of inspiration: “We hope we’re bringing a positive vibe to the scene and to inspire young artists to follow their dreams and make an impact in the world. We support the art and music scene out here, and we want to help make it grow with the intention of uplifting the youth and the next generation.”
Follow Sons of Yusuf on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Soundcloud @sonsofyusuf. Check out their website for more information www.sonsofyusuf.com.
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REAL VEAL BURGER
Widening our burger horizons By bazaar staff
Burgers are often seen as a favorite indulgence among many food lovers in Kuwait. But as much as we love them, we can’t have them all the time! They really pack on the calories and cholesterol, as delicious as they are. This is why Real Veal Burger (RVB) is a huge asset to burger lovers of the nation. With its tenderly grilled milk-fed veal patty, calories and cholesterol are cut without compromising taste. That’s right! It’s been proven that veal is in fact a superior red meat health-wise, and when it comes to chowing down on your favorite treat, it’ll fare you better in the long run if you’re prone to frequent burger days. As avid burger fans, we at bazaar were thrilled to learn this information, and promptly decided to order in from RVB to see if we felt any less guilty for deciding to have burgers for lunch. We all decided to go for something different – some of us opted for an RV Burger 68
– their signature item on the menu – others chose Chipotle or Swiss. Veggie burgers and Fried Chicken were on offer too, and for good measure, we ordered one of each alternative to share and sample. The food arrived hot, which is a huge plus for us, as our regular readers may know. As soon as we dug into our respective burgers, we automatically saw the difference that a veal patty presents. Upon taking the first bite, it seems obvious that veal is a lot lighter than the traditional beef, and less crumbly – giving the patty a steak-like feel, only way easier to bite into. That’s the other thing about the veal patty – it’s so succulent and tender that each bite feels lighter than air and melts in your mouth. Topped with cheddar cheese and fresh veggies, as well as RVB’s quintessential secret sauce, the combination is heavenly and produces a taste that’s well worth switching over for. The other burger styles were brilliant, with an optimal level of spice achieved for the Chipotle option. The Mushroom Swiss Burger gave a classic combination that’s been appreciated for generations – with exactly the taste to satisfy
that craving for caramelized, savory mushrooms you may have. The Veggie Burger, consumed by a resident health-conscious foodie, was reported to be hearty, yet easy on the stomach. Vegetarians surely won’t feel left out with this flavor-packed sandwich! And as for the Fried Chicken burger, there were raving reviews. With carefully curated contents that made this sandwich delicious, it still managed to maintain a lightness that wouldn’t make you feel like you’d just gone over 1000 calories on your cheat day. RVB, with its vast varieties of food items, gives you lots to choose from, with a consistent end result that promises quality and a burger that will leave you satisfied without compromising your health. So if you’re a burger lover like we are, then try something new and better for your health. Go veal: you won’t regret it.
Follow Real Veal Burger on Instagram @rvb.kw. For more information or delivery, call 1820 022 or 5160 2209.
Dean & Deluca
ALL ABOUT AUTO MOTO
Interview with Osama Bastaki, Founder & Organizer of The Kuwait Motor Show (Auto Moto) By bazaar staff
In a nation that appreciates cars as much as Kuwait does, it’s no wonder that this upcoming event is anticipated among us all! That’s right, auto-enthusiasts! Rev your engines and set your gears for the 2017 Kuwait Motor Show (AKA: Auto Moto). This January, 360 Mall is the venue that is set to wow us with some classics and newcomers for consideration, admiration and purchase! Founder of the show Osama Bastaki sits down with us, spilling the juicy details to further intrigue our curiosity and zeal towards this family-friendly event. Where did the idea for The Kuwait Motor Show in 360 Mall come from? Motor shows are held worldwide in major cities around the world to showcase what’s new in the automotive industry. All these automotive brands you see in the world invest in motor shows to emphasize on the design, features and new technologies they offer to the world to attract the general public to their brand. So, the idea isn’t new, and Kuwait’s market is not any different. Kuwait was the first in the GCC to develop an international motor show about 35 years ago. After Dubai became a regional hub for pretty much everything, it developed an international motor show supported and financed by the automotive manufacturers. Doha then introduced a second international motor show in the region, but manufacturers saw there was no need for three motor shows in the GCC; an area the size of Germany. Then, the support from manufacturers to the dealers participating in the Kuwait International Show was reduced as Dubai had taken the regional title as the place to go, for not only the Gulf, but from the Far East and West. That’s where the idea was born; to create a local, small but effective show that is developed by Kuwait, for Kuwait, in a beautiful setting with activities, food and a great shopping experience, all under one roof. How did the motor dealers react to the idea? Motor dealers loved the idea, and thought it was amazing. Because it was a new idea in the beginning, only a limited number of dealers joined. We faced some hardships in the start, but offered a great concept that was positioned in a reputable venue, had ample parking, an established footfall and welcomed all genders and ages. Year after year, we gained the trust of the dealers in Kuwait. Today, we are the only Motor show in Kuwait that the dealers wait for every year.
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What does the Kuwait Motor Show, Auto Moto, offer to visitors? We attract all segments of visitors, male and female, 18 years old and above. Basically, anyone driving a car! The show offers 32 of the most well recognized automotive brands in the world displayed straight from the local dealerships. In the show, there are more than 100 cars displayed which vary from economy to luxury and family to sporty. Visitors can shop to find what they need in one platform instead of going to Shuwaikh and Rai to visit each dealership. Dealers also make great offers at the show, which visitors can benefit from. For you, what is the most satisfying part of the event? The numbers and the success: I can’t begin to explain the satisfaction I felt when we saw the
mall numbers, combined with the dealer figures. Over 266,000 people walked into the mall in a period of 7 days last year. And, more than 2,000 leads were collected by dealers, and over 100 cars were sold as a result of the show. What do you think is the key to its success? The very concept of cars is appealing to all ages, and the show being inside a mall multiplies that appeal, making it a true family event. Another credible reason is that we offer everything from economic passenger cars to the latest luxury and super cars, all under one roof! Say goodbye to show-room-hopping; with Auto Moto you can see it all. The Auto Moto will take place from January 12th and will continue until the 21st. You can keep up to date via their Instagram account @automoto_q8.
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HEAVEN’S
SCENT ON THE TRAIL OF OUD, FROM SCRIPTURES AND SOUQS TO THE HEART OF THE JUNGLE By Ali Al-Woozain
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I have known oud for as long as I can remember; it has been present in almost every aspect of my life. The scent was in every sitting I was in – at home, at the houses of my neighbors and relatives, and in every mosque. I remember the scent of oud very well in our local mosque back in the 80s; of course, this was when everyone burnt quality oud. Nowadays, it is only the smell of the best oud that takes me back to my mosque in 1987. I am one of those people who are very sentimental about growing up in the 80s. I love the cartoons, television programs, and cars of the era; but nothing gives me the feeling of nostalgia like the aroma of a certain type of oud. This very oud has become incredibly rare and expensive to possess these days, and its scent carries a feeling of hope and carelessness that can only be felt by a child.
Constantly having been around that amazing scent since my childhood in Qatar has instilled something deep in my subconscious. Little did I know, however, that I would take it for granted. Growing up, I did not notice the changes in the oud market until I started working with Al Jazeera in 2001 and became independent. I started to realize then how high quality oud had become hard to find, and was doubling in price every few years. Being an oud fanatic made it easy for me to differentiate between choice oud and that of poorer quality, and nowadays, other than the stacks of precious oud gifted to me by my uncle every now and then, I’ve always struggled to find the oud of my childhood at reasonable prices. Around 2008, I began looking at oud from a different angle, wondering about its sources, the factors affecting its supply and demand, its politics, and its transformation into a rare commodity whose price was soaring. That was when the idea of producing a documentary about oud hit me, and when I realized such a project was inevitable. Being in the UK, and having commitments to continuing my education, though, made it difficult to pursue this ambition at that particular moment in time. In the UK, I have discovered many more dimensions of oud that I hadn’t tapped into during all my years of using it. For example, I have learned about how it reacts to cold climates, as well as different clothing fabrics. Oud has a very ‘hot’ aroma, which explains why it used to make me feel warm when I wore it on my clothes; my thick layers of cotton and wool would absorb its smoke for days. I remember those cold, sunny mornings walking to university in London, when the warmth of the sun, along with the wind and weather hitting against my layered clothes caused the strong scent of my oud to react and rise in the air as a result. Not only was the scent accentuated, but I felt happier as well. I have certainly enjoyed the smell of oud far more in the UK than in my native Qatar. I can confidently say that oud is a part of who I am. As an Arab from the GCC, it is inseparable from my daily life and my culture. To put this into perspective, I am a coffee lover, and smelling oud always feels to me like smelling coffee after a long, deep sleep. Oud – or, agarwood or gaharu, as it’s called in other cultures – is a type of strong incense and oil. It originally comes from the tropical aquilaria trees in India and Southeast Asia, but is also widely used in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf region. In an effort to answer my initial questions about it in the form of a documentary, I embarked on a journey around the world. I knew the trip would be very long and tiring, and I felt tense and uneasy; I wasn’t sure why, though. Was it because of the places I’d planned on visiting, whose jungles and cities I thought could have been dangerous?
Or, was it because I thought I might discover things I didn’t want to know about something so precious to me? To me, oud was innocent and pure, and I didn’t want to get more than I’d bargained for. What if I’d found out enough to make me hate the oud trade, and … oud itself? Traditionally, oud came to the Persian Gulf through trade between Arab countries and India and China. It has been mentioned in a number of Islamic texts, in addition to having been cited extensively in Arabic literature. I thought, therefore, that old souqs, where the smell of incense is mixed with that of spices and other traditional commodities, would be ideal as a starting point; but, as the high quality oud chips are found in a near-final state in souqs, I had to visit my uncle – one of the few people I know who uses the best oud. I was lucky to find Mr. Khamis, my uncle’s dealer in the souq, who was very specific about the rarity of good oud chips. To obtain this oud – the quality of which often differs – he often has to make several visits
to Southeast Asia. The dealer told me about a local oud expert, Mr. Mohammed Aldulaimi, who also assured me that oud was difficult to find, primarily as a result of its rarity and high prices. Both Khamis and Aldulaimi gave me valuable information as to how to find quality oud and differentiate grades; but I was still confused, as the grading system is highly subjective. Therefore, to get to the bottom of the problem, I (like Khamis) had to travel to Southeast Asia, the source of most of the oud in the international market – a fact reinforced by the information provided to me by the Customs Authority in Qatar. Before my travels, I went to find out more about the ‘science’ of oud and its trade in the West. London is my second home; I’m comfortable moving around there, as I’m very familiar with the people and the places. I had been to Arabian Oud – ‘the only specific shop for oud in the UK’, and (according to them) the only place selling actual oud chips in the [Continued...] 73
[...Continued] UK – many times, but never knew they had a VIP room. Coincidentally, I met a Sufi from Ghana in the shop who’d been introduced to oud in the UK. Although it is not traditionally used in Ghana, he told me that he began using it in his Sufi rituals, believing the scent had a spiritual quality that brought him closer to God. In being determined to identify the geographical connections this valuable resource has made around the world, I was led to the Harrods department store in London. There, I met renowned perfumers who used oud oil in their scents. They spoke passionately about oud, even though it was to them a recent ingredient. It was clear to them, though, that oud had become a new trend, as so many perfumeries are now using it in their most expensive and exclusive perfumes; but to truly understand and appreciate oud, I had to travel to its ultimate source. After a short flight from London, I landed in the historic perfume capital of the world in southern France: Grasse! I’d always associated the south of France with lavender fields; the place, however, was full of jasmine fields, as lavender season had passed when I arrived. According to a French farmer in Grasse, skilled fourth-generation Gypsy women visit the fields between six to nine every morning to pick jasmine. Upon arriving, I went straight to visit Henry Jacque, a passionate perfumer who only produces blends of oils. For decades, Jacque’s perfumery had been exclusive; he used to supply perfumes for only VIPs, including royals and celebrities; but a year ago, he opened a boutique in Harrods’ Salon de Parfums. I was very fascinated by Jacque; modest and highly knowledgeable about oud, he has been a regular visitor to the Gulf countries since the 60s. He shared many insights about oud with me, such as the fact that it took him a quarter of a century to produce a blend containing it, as he believes oud to be a very complicated ingredient. Afterwards, I went to a perfume school, where great ‘noses’ teach the art of perfumery. I’d been a university student for the past five years, but never imagined that I’d sit in a classroom to hear a great French nose explain the properties and types of oud oil! The nose was equally excited to meet such a heavy user of oud as myself. Swamped with information on the oud market in the West, I wanted to know more about the science of oud, and so planned to go back to London to meet Joachim Gratzfeld of the Botanic Gardens Conservation. But before I left France, I got in touch with a very interesting individual – a French oud expert who hunts for only the best oud chips around the world with particular and passionate customers. Alan Mahaffey was introduced to oud as a child, as his parents worked for the late King Fahad bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. Alan is not what I’d call an ordinary person; he’s quiet and secretive, perhaps as his trade in high quality oud is mysterious by nature. I brought some oud chips with me to see what Alan thought of them. He immediately recognized their shape, but I had to 74
burn them for him so he’d be able to give me his opinion of their grade. We agreed to meet a week later, in Thailand. Back in London, Gratzfeld supported the claim that all agarwood trees are endangered to some extent. It was educating to discover the origins of a commodity harvested from India to Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, and even Papua New Guinea. The professor took me to the herbarium containing many types of aquilaria trees, and explained how oud is formed. One in every ten trees is wounded (by animals, storms, etc.); afterwards, the wounds provide an open door to bacteria and insects, which incite the tree to defend itself by producing antibodies in the form of agarwood. So far, the trip had only made me even more curious to know about the wild jungle tree. My first stop in Southeast Asia was Thailand. For millennia, oud has had spiritual associations in many Southeast Asian cultures, its smoke being said to aid contemplation. It has been mentioned in some of the world’s oldest texts (e.g. the Sanskrit Vedas), and also appears in the Bible, the Torah, and Islamic scriptures. I was supposed to go to a national park to see a tree in the wild. Coincidentally (and unfortunately), there had been some trouble in the jungle, where shooting between park rangers and agarwood poachers had led to the death of a ranger. Because of this, I didn’t get to see it. This was the first clue of the danger surrounding the oud trade. At the funeral of the fallen ranger, I met with government officials and other rangers, who talked about steady illegal logging, and the endangerment of the agarwood tree as well as others. I later visited Bangkok, where illegal oud chips are sold publicly, suggesting not only a huge market for it, but also corruption. To document illegal practices, I had to take with me a secret camera. I remembered what a major oud dealer had once told me: when you start asking questions about the oud business in Bangkok, you’d better look over your shoulder! I had never been in a dangerous situation like that in my life; but my curiosity was stronger than my cautiousness. I disguised myself as a wealthy client, and was invited to a private flat, where oud had been piled on the floor and was being sifted by shady individuals. I could tell it was the ‘good stuff’, and they comfortably told me that they’d sourced it from India, Myanmar, and Cambodia – the same countries that have a ban on exporting wild agarwood. It became clear to me that the oud trade was not only harming nature, but also people. But, I thought, as the harm was only being done in places where the tree is nearly extinct, and as all of what I buy comes from Indonesia and Malaysia, I might not have anything to feel guilty about. I was happy to meet Alan in Thailand. There, he introduced me to one of his friends, who was kind enough to show me agarwood trees and the process of distilling oud oil. What was
really amazing, though, was a trip to a 200-yearold agarwood tree, full of resin. To add to its magnificence and the dodgy side of the oud business, a whole regiment of the Thai army protects it. A Japanese company had made an offer to purchase the tree for $23 million, which might make it the most expensive in the world; but, as amazing as it was, it wasn’t enough to feed my curiosity. I needed to see the agarwood tree in the jungle itself. The final stop on my travels was Malaysia. I got in touch with a member of the native forest people, the Orang Asli, who took me on a day trip deep into the Malaysian jungle. It was hot, humid, and of course, very dangerous. Nevertheless, it was worth it, as I eventually managed to see the agarwood tree in the wild. It was also a very sad experience, as the Orang Asli have so few trees that they have to harvest them earlier, resulting in lower quality agarwood. The Malaysian market,
however, seems to be relatively stable. Most of the wild agarwood being sold is harvested legally, suggesting that the oud trade is less problematic in Malaysia, despite the illegal Indian, Sri Lankan, and Burmese agarwood being sold there. My journey, all in all, was beyond belief on so many levels. I had the opportunity to link East and West, and North and South, as well as uncover the stories surrounding a magnificent natural resource and observe the dynamics of its market. As for oud itself, perhaps everyone who consumes it is a part of the problem to some extent, as its demand far outstrips its supply. The question, some may argue, is how to preserve the rich cultures that have thrived on this resource while safeguarding its life in the wild as the same time. This article was originally published REORIENT (www.reorientmag.com).
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The latest from the big screen playing in cinemas across Kuwait in January
ASSASSINS CREED
RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER
THE SPACE BETWEEN US
MORRIS FROM AMERICA
THE GREAT WALL
XXX: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE
Release Date: January 1st Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Cast: Marion Cotillard/Michael Fassbender/Michael Kenneth Williams Synopsis: Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day. Assassin's Creed stars Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Days of Future Past, 12 Years a Slave) and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (The Dark Knight Rises, La Vie en Rose). The film is directed by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown, Macbeth).
Release Date: January 5th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Cast: Craig Robinson/Carla Juri/Lina Keller Synopsis: A coming-of-age adventure story of a 13-year-old American boy Morris who is currently living in Germany with his father Curtis, a soccer coach. Mo faces rejection from his peer group, finds himself impinged on boundaries of trust with his language tutor, romantic infatuation and drug use, finds niche in his rapping skills, learns to accept unexpected and odd experiences without taxing himself. His father also struggles to fit in with German culture and tries to be a stand up man for his son while grieving for his recently passed away wife. He does what can be done best at the given time for making a better environment for Mo to grow up.
Release Date: January 1st Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi Cast: Milla Jovovich/Ruby Rose/Ali Larter Synopsis: With the launch of the rebooted Resident Evil game this month comes a brand new Resident Evil movie (although both are not connected story wise). The human race's last hope against apocalyptic obliteration is super soldier Alice (Milla Jovovich), but she's been stripped of her psychic powers. She must form alliances and rally survivors in Raccoon City for the climactic battle against the Umbrella Corporation and its ravenous hordes of the undead. This sixth installment of the video game-inspired franchise is directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (AWP: Alien vs. Predator).
Release Date: January 5th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Adventure Cast: Matt Damon/Pedro Pascal/Willem Dafoe Synopsis: Starring global superstar Matt Damon and directed by one of the most breathtaking visual stylists of our time, Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers), Legendary's The Great Wall tells the story of an elite force making a valiant stand for humanity on the world's most iconic structure. In the battle for humanity, an elite force makes a heroic stand atop the Great Wall of China to combat an army of monsters. The monster is identified as the Taotie, a beast of great greed from ancient Chinese mythology. A horde of monsters creep up on the wall every 60 years, forcing the army to defend it.
Release Date: January 1st Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance Cast: Britt Robertson/Carla Gugino/Asa Butterfield/ Gary Oldman Synopsis: Gardner Elliot, the first human born on Mars, begins an online friendship with Tulsa, a teen in Colorado. On his maiden voyage to Earth, the 16-yearold finally gets to experience all the joys and wonders of a world he could only read about. Problems arise when scientists discover that Gardner's organs can't withstand the atmosphere. United with Tulsa and on the run, the interplanetary visitor races against time to unravel the mysteries of how he came to be, and where he belongs in the universe.
Release Date: January 19th Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller Cast: Nina Dobrev/Vin Diesel/Ruby Rose Synopsis: After coming out of self-imposed exile, daredevil operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) must race against time to recover a sinister weapon known as Pandora's Box, a device that controls every military satellite in the world. Recruiting a new group of thrillseeking cohorts, Xander finds himself entangled in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of government. It is intended to be the third film in the xXx franchise, and thereby a sequel to both the 2002 film xXx and the 2005 film xXx: State of the Union, though more directly with the first film.
For more details on movie timings and the cinema nearest you, visit: Cinescape: www.cinescape.com.kw or Facebook: Cinescape – Kuwait National Cinema Company. *Above programs are subject to change without prior notice. 76
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TISSOT PRESENTS THE NBA WATCH COLLECTION The NBA Collection is composed of 39 watches that showcase Tissot’s multiple watch segments. Models in the collection include the Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar, with its 20 essential tactile functions and solar power energy, the Tissot PR100 for a classic style, the PRC 200 that has a sporty attitude with a chronograph function, Tissot Vintage gold watches, and a Tissot Ball Watch desk clock. Each of these feature the Official NBA Logo, engraved or silk-printed on the caseback. Additionally, every NBA team has a dedicated Tissot Quickster Special Edition watch, featuring team colors and logo on the caseback. The NBA Collection is available for sale in Tissot boutiques, Tissot’s online store and key retail partners around the U.S. For more information on Tissot’s role as Official Timekeeper of the NBA, visit www.tissotwatches.com.
A NEW DAY FOR THE RENDEZ-VOUS COLLECTION The new Rendez-Vous collection, once again the result of the combined talents of the watchmakers and craftspeople of the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux, is a celebration of horology designed for women, with sophisticated materials in muted and sparkling tones reinforcing the timeless style of these elegant, noble timepieces. The introduction of a moon phase and a new chiming reminder function, yellow and rose gold options, a larger size and sumptuous new straps, all reflect the popularity of the Rendez-Vous collection worldwide, among art, design and watch lovers alike. A rich gamut of colors, including yellow and rose gold watch cases, takes inspiration from the constantly changing light of the sun and the moon, from the first glows of dawn to the vibrant shades of dusk, turning to a moonlit sky as day turns to night – eliciting colors, reflections and emotions to accompany and inspire a woman every moment of her life, whatever the occasion and wherever she may be. For more information, visit www.jaeger-lecoultre.com.
RADIOMIR 3 DAYS ACCIAIO – 47MM The new Radiomir 3 Days Acciaio models are two Special Editions from the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, which for the first time reproduce all the fundamental characteristics of these vintage watches, respecting their identity and giving collectors the opportunity to appreciate a fascinating chapter in the Panerai story. One of many vintage details of the new Radiomir 3 Days Acciaio watches is the 12-sided bezel in brushed steel, with smoothed, polished angles and the same engraving as the historic models, using the lettering of the time. The bezel is screwed onto the classic cushion caseband of the Radiomir and, together with the screwed back forming the rear part of the case, like the historic watches it has an elegant symmetrical construction divided into three parts, clearly visible when looking at the case in profile. For more information, visit www.panerai.com.
REFLECTION OF A LEGEND The LANGE 1 appeals mainly to purists who have grown fond of the regular winding ritual. The LANGE 1 DAYMATIC tends to be the choice of pragmatists who place emphasis on convenience. They like the fact that, when pulling back the sleeve to cast a glance at the watch, the first thing they see is the time indication on the right-hand side of the dial. This applies particularly to those who wear their watch on the left wrist like most people. There is another difference between the two winding concepts. In the manually wound LANGE 1, the three-day power-reserve indicator serves a very useful purpose. Designed as a brand-typical UP/DOWN display, it is located on the right-hand side between the Lange outsize date and the subsidiary seconds dial. For a regularly worn self-winding watch, this information is not essential because the power reserve, depending on the owner’s level of activity, will likely remain in the middle to upper range. For more information, visit www.alange-soehne.com.
LIMITED-EDITION PORTUGIESER AUTOMATIC EXCLUSIVELY IN KUWAIT IWC Schaffhausen and its retail partner Behbehani Group are launching a limited-edition Portugieser watch to celebrate their successful partnership in the Gulf state. The Portugieser Automatic Edition “Kuwait” has a green dial and is limited to only 98 pieces – a special reference to the year the partnership between IWC and the Behbehani Group was initiated. The Portugieser Automatic Edition “Kuwait” (Ref. IW500708) has a stainless-steel case with a diameter of 42.3 millimetres and a green dial. The golden numerals and hands contrast nicely with the dial. The watch is limited to just 98 pieces, which is a reference to the year when IWC and the Behbehani Group started their partnership in the Gulf state. The Portugieser Automatic Edition “Kuwait” can be purchased exclusively at the IWC boutique at the iconic 360 Mall. 78
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AAW LAUNCHES THE NORTH FACE, EASTPAK, AND VANS AT BOULEVARD Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa Commercial Co. (AAW) have celebrated the inauguration of three of its new stores, The North Face, Eastpak, and Vans at Boulevard, Salmiya. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by AAW Chairman Faisal Al Mutawa, AAW General Manager Ali Faisal Al Mutawa, and Regional Sales Manager of Eastpak Michele Messori. AAW has brought together world’s prime brands catering to families practicing seasonal outdoor activities, individuals that have a passion for action sports and also provides a choice for the contemporary lifestyle consumer. The North Face delivers an extensive line of performance apparels, equipment, and footwear with an innovative collection designed to provide rock climbers, backpackers, hikers, trail runners, and outdoor enthusiasts with the ultimate fit and function. Eastpak offers street-smart backpacks to convenient shoulder bags and ingenious luggage and travel items. While Vans offer fully comprehensive range of footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women and kids. Opening the ceremony with a speech AAW Chairman and CEO Faisal Al Mutawa expressed AAW’s commitment to providing customers with top-of-theline outdoor products and adding more stores to serve them better. The event concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by media and mall visitors who indulged in canapés and refreshments and enjoyed exclusive store opening benefits in all three stores. Boulevard is one of the newest and largest touristic hubs in the country occupying more than 353 thousand square meters and includes a heritage village, botanical garden, multiple sporting areas, a health club, and more. Eastpak’s first exclusive store occupies 127 square meters and offers bags of various size, type, and style as well as travel gear and accessories specializing in design, development, and manufacturing able to withstand and resist strong conditions of use and a guarantee up to 30 years. The North Face flagship store occupies 242 square meters and delivers an extensive line of performance apparel, equipment, and footwear designed to provide outdoor enthusiasts with the ultimate fit and function. The Vans store occupies 127 square meters and provides a fully comprehensive range of footwear, apparel, and accessories made to be a dominant force in the action sports and the brand of choice for the contemporary lifestyle consumer. In addition to Eastpak, The North Face, and Vans, AAW provides top-of-the-line products for outdoor and action sport enthusiasts from worldwide brands such as Arc'teryx, Patagonia, Houdini and more. Find out more about AAW and their brands at www.aaw.com. FANTASY WORLD CELEBRATES ITS 20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH ITS BEST FRIENDS Fantasy World celebrated its 20-year anniversary with their best friends, the customers of Kuwait. The brand held the celebrations in two of its most popular stores, Al Rai and The Avenues. One surprise that Fantasy World had in store was Frank Truong, an internationally renowned iPad magician who came all the way from France to further energize the entertaining celebration. It is noteworthy to mention that Fantasy World continues to introduce diverse toys to the local market including ones that have an educational basis. Twenty years ago, the once children who enjoyed shopping for new toys at Fantasy World have now grown up to be young adults and are now interested in the newest exciting gadgets in the market. That is why Fantasy World has created EDGE, a new department in Fantasy World’s stores that caters to adult gifting ideas. The Edge department, by Fantasy World, stands for Eclectic Designer Gifting Excitements, it is the hub for the most innovative, tech gadgets and unique gifting items targeted for adults. Customers are invited to visit any of Fantasy World’s stores in Kuwait to explore and experience new toys available at Al Rai, Bustan Mall, The Avenues and Souq Sharq. Voice any inquiries and concerns by visiting Fantasy World’s website www.fantasyworldtoys.com social media platforms on Facebook fantasyworldtoyskuwait, Instagram fantasyworldtoys and YouTube fantasyworldKuwait. THE PROMENADE EXPANDS FAMILY OFFERING WITH OPENING OF CHOCOMELT The Promenade mall welcomed its latest opening and expansion of its offering to families following the introduction of Chocomelt. The new dessert bar and café is set to attract families and friends with passion of chocolate sweets, dipped fruits, hot and cold drinks, and coffee blends with the finest form of chocolate. The Kuwaiti concept, founded in 2015 by Abdul Rahman Fahed Al-Oudah and Mishari Jamal Al-Oudah, specializes in the perfect blend of chocolate with sweets, served with both cold and hot sips. Chocomelt dessert bar and café serves a variety of sweets prepared by the finest ingredients and best Belgian chocolate featuring “Baby Dynamic”, “Red Velvet Soufflé Pancake”, “French Peanut Butter Brownies” besides of a various cold and hot drinks like” Café Mocha”, “Nutella Espresso”, “Iced Spanish Latte” and “Caramel Frappe” to name some. To mark the opening of the new coffee shop, The Promenade and Chocomelt partnered to host media for a special brunch to showcase the cafe menu and the available activities across the mall for families. Learn more about The Promenade via their Instagram @thepromenadekw. تحقق أمنية "سجى كامل.. أمنيتي حدثتنا عن. الحظ فريق أمنيتي موهبتها الفذة خالل زياراتهم لها ب "مستشفى البنك الوطني لألطفال" حيث كانت منهمكة كل الوقت يف رسم لوحات فنية غاية يف الدقة واإلبداع، عاما15 "سجى كامل" الفنانة اليافعة والتي تبلغ من العمر " بجامعة لندنChelsea College of Arts " وعليه قام فريق أمنيتي بالتواصل مع كلية.شغفها بالرسم وخاصة فن البورتريه ولوحات األلوان الزييتية وعربت عن رغبتها يف السفر ألوروبا لتطوير موهبتها ودراسة الفن بشكل أكادميي احرتايف الجدير بالذكر أن أمنيتي هي املرشوع الوطنى الغري ربحي األول من نوعه يف الكويت والذي يهتم.للرتتيب لحضور سجى الدورات اإلحرتافية التي متنتها وقام أيضا بعمل كافة الرتتيبات الالزمة لرحلتها وتحقيق أمنيتها يف أن تصبح فنانة محرتفة BACCH و بيت عبداللهKACCH سنة وذلك وفق رشوط ولوائح منظمة و بالتعاون مع الجمعية الكويتية لرعاية مرىض الرسطان18 و3 بتحقيق أمنيات األطفال املصابني بأمراض مستعصية ومهددة لحياتهم والذين ترتاوح أعامرهم بني وذلك بدعم من كربى الرشكات يف دولة الكويت ويضم2011 الرئيس التنفيذي لرشكة أمنيتي – بأن رشكة أمنيتي هي غري ربحية تم تأسيسها يف عام- منى عدنان الشيتان/ وقد رصحت السيدة.وجميع مستشفيات األطفال يف دولة الكويت مجموعة، رشكة أبناء عيىس حسني اليوسفي، مجموعة صناعات الغانم، رشكة فاست تلكو، مجموعة عبدالرزاق الصانع وأوالده، مجموعة الراي اإلعالمية، مجموعة الحمييض، رشكة التمدين العقارية، مجموعة الساير:مجلس اإلدارة كال من . أمنية300 وأضافت الشيتان أن أمنيتى قد قامت منذ أن تأسست بإدخال البهجة والفرحة لألطفال املرىض من خالل تحقيق أكرث من. املركز املايل وبنك الكويت الوطنى، املعورشجي
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H&M SPORT: AN EXPANDED CONCEPT WITH FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE, FIT AND FUNCTION H&M is excited to share with you the latest H&M Sport Collection SS17 that offers the ultimate fusion between fashion and training. Available in stores from January 5, 2017, the sport line includes a great variety of fitness essentials from yoga and training to jogging, fitness and more. H&M’s Sports functionalities are developed with the athlete’s lifestyle in mind, vibrant colors, breathable, windproof and waterproof, water repellent, quick dry and water resistant material. H&M Sport offers a greater choice and new designs for more sporting activities, reflecting the increasingly active lifestyles of women, men and children. H&M Sport has been designed with input from world class professional athletes from the Swedish Olympic team, placing the emphasis on performance, with a natural instinct for fashion. The expansion confirms H&M’ s long -term commitment to H&M Sport, and its rapidly growing engagement with the world of sport. Work out in style and stay active with #HMSport. Follow H&M on Facebook and Twitter @HMKUWAIT and Instagram @HM.
ACK CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF THE UAAK BASKETBALL LEAGUE The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) won the 2016 University Athletics Association of Kuwait (UAAK) Basketball League’s Championship Cup outperforming other university teams, including the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), the American University of Kuwait (AUK), and the Arab Open University (AOU). The UAAK tournament is known for its competitive atmosphere, whereby university teams face each other in a grueling schedule over several months with the leader crowned Champion and holder of the cup until the following season. On this victorious occasion, the Student Activities and Recreational Center’s Manager, Mr. Basel Dana, stated: “I would like to congratulate our students on the Championship! It’s very rewarding after all their hard work and efforts. We are very proud of all our athletes and wishing them all the best in their academic and non-academic endeavors.” ACK’s Basketball team will now begin preparations for the next season, with the keen desire to retain the Championship and keep the cup on ACK’s campus. For more on ACK, visit www.ack.edu.kw or call them on 1828 225.
NEW PORSCHE 911 RSR FOR LE MANS Porsche will tackle the 2017 racing season with a completely re-developed GT racer. The new 911 RSR makes full use of the breadth of the Le Mans 24 Hours GT regulations, and in addition to systematic lightweight design, features an ultra-modern, flat-six unit positioned in front of the rear axle. The four-litre, extremely light aggregate features direct fuel injection as well as a rigid valve drive and is characterised by outstanding efficiency. The new 911 RSR will make its debut at the Daytona 24-hour race in January 2017. Depending on the size of the restrictor, the new naturally-aspirated unit delivers around 510 hp (375 kW). Shift paddles on the steering wheel actuate the sequential six-speed gearbox with a magnesium housing, which delivers power to the 31-centimentre-wide rear wheels. The changeover to the new engine generation is now complete. After the 911 GT3 R and the 911 GT3 Cup, the spearhead of Porsche GT racing cars is now also powered by the same cutting-edge six-cylinder boxer engine family. Visit the Porsche Center in Al Rai, on the 4th ring road. Call them on 1870 870.
INTRODUCING TANGLE TEEZER BLOW-STYLING ROUND TOOL What style does your hair want to wear? Whether you hair desires the softness of Malibu waves, a style with natural volume or bounce, or all over smoothness and shine, the Blow-Styling Round Tool delivers your hair with the best ever blow-dry. Not your average round brush, this tool takes hair from wet to dry in a faster time and leaves hair looking fabulously healthy. The secret is in the teeth. Designed to pick hair up at the root for great lift and volume. Hair flows through the innovative teeth easily with no re-tangling, pulling or tugging. There’s no need for hair straighteners or tongs as the tool does it all for a professional finish. Available in two sizes, SMALL size for short to medium hair and LARGE size for medium to long hair. Exclusively distributed by beau-tique cosmetics international. Call 2225 1285 for more info or visit www.beau-tiqueonline.com.
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THE NEW AUDI RS Q3 PERFORMANCE HAS ARRIVED TO AUDI KUWAIT Fouad Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company, the exclusive dealer of Audi in Kuwait, is honing its sporty profile with new RS performance models. The “performance” in the name stands for both significant power boost and exclusive equipment that clearly elevates the respective models above the rest of the portfolio. This also applies to the new RS Q3 performance, whos pulse is driven by the legendary Audi five-cylinder engine. Since 2010, an international panel of automotive journalists has named the 2.5 TFSI “International Engine of the Year” in its category six years in a row. With its pulling power, free-revving character and inimitable sound, goosebumps are guaranteed. Compared with the RS Q3, Audi has bumped up the output of the 2.5 TFSI engine for the performance model, with additional 27 hp. The standard seven-speed S tronic has also been rigorously tuned for sportiness. The Audi RS Q3 Performance is exclusively available at Fouad Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company Audi showroom. Call 1811 118 for more information.
EATING HEALTHY HAS NEVER BEEN THIS DELICIOUS WITH DEAN & DELUCA Following the indulgence of the holiday season, the Dean and Deluca Healthy Living menu will be available from January 8 to February 26, 2017, and will include a wide selection of fresh and light dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast options include the Light Labnah, a succulent blend of mixed berries, nuts and honey; and the savoury Egg White Omelette, which features a fusion of onions and mushrooms. For customers with a sweet tooth, the sugar-free Signature Waffles and Pancakes - drizzled with sugar-free mascarpone cream and topped with fresh red berry puree, maple syrup and fresh berries - offer a healthier alternative. The lunch and dinner menu includes an Organic Quinoa & Giant Couscous Salad, with baby spinach and lemon olive oil dressing; and the flavourful Wood-Fired Rolled Chicken Thighs & Mushroom, accompanied by healthy green bean salad, carrot puree and marinated wood-fired tomato. Make sure to head to DEAN & DELUCA at The Avenues. For more information, follow @DeanDelucaME on Instagram and DeanDelucaME on Facebook.
KIDZANIA’S WINTER FESTIVAL IS BACK WITH MORE ICE THAT’S TWICE AS NICE! Winter Festival, KidZania’s most thrilling and anticipated program of the season, is back with more exciting activities to give children an exceptional winter experience about the winter environment, in a festive and fun setting. In partnership with Burger King and Crocs, KidZania’s Winter Festival kicked off on December 15, 2016 and will continue until February 4, 2017. This year, ‘Winter from around the World’, KidZania’s spectacular theater show, is set to take children on a fun winter adventure to experience winters across different parts of the world. From traditional clothing to folkloric performances and natural winter phenomenon, kids will get a real-life insight of what winters around the world feels like. With its sub-zero temperatures, the Ice House welcomes children to see artistically-crafted winter sculptures that will introduce them to the most famous landmarks from around the world. For more information on KidZania Kuwait, visit www.kidzania.com.kw and @KidZaniaKuwait on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
OVER 70 WINNERS HAVE DOUBLED THEIR SALARY! Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait’s (ABK) exciting promotion gives existing and new customers the chance to double their salaries on a weekly basis. New customers who transfer their salary to ABK will receive KD 100 and will automatically be entered into the weekly draws to double their salaries. Existing customers will be entered into a separate draw. Commenting on this promotion, Stewart Lockie, General Manager, Retail Banking at ABK said, “We are very excited to engage customers in this promotion, rewarding both new and existing customers. Research highlighted that our customers want a simple promotion with a high frequency of draws and a high probability of winning. The campaign is a direct response to this feedback. ABK continuously seeks to reward its customers with differentiated services and added value, and we will further enhance our products and services in line with our ‘Simpler Banking’ strategy.” For more information, please visit eahli.com or contact an ABK customer service agent via ‘Ahlan Ahli’ at 1899 899.
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VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22
TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20
There's a great deal of grounding energy in your world, Virgo, which might work to smother your fire. Whatever happens, don't let the embers burn out. One of the assets you bring to the group is a strong dynamism that gives people the courage to change. Be a fighter in the ring. Remember that at the end of the day, you need only be satisfied with the performance of one person - you.
A solid grounding is apt to be extremely important to you, Taurus. Hearts may be broken or won, depending on how well you play your cards. Keep in mind that the slow and steady contender is most likely going to win this race. All the talk in the world will get you nowhere. January is about quality and action. Shoddy efforts will yield shoddy results.
LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22
GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21
Take pressing matters to the hilt, Libra, especially when it comes to romantic issues and emotional needs. You have all the data you need to make a valid point. You have a whole battalion of facts to back you up, so fire at will. Your feelings are strong and intense. Don't ignore them under any circumstances. Go with your gut instincts before you trust anything else.
Regardless of how much the storm seems to be raging out of control, you will be able to handle it, Gemini. Have confidence in your grounded nature. There's a reason why you take the time to address the details and carefully plan your moves. This month is one when you will see the rewards of your diligent actions, especially in love, beauty, and your deepest emotions.
SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22
CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22
As you try to express your opinions, you may have the feeling that someone is kicking sand in your face, Scorpio. Like a kid on the beach, you have nothing but the raw elements to use to defend yourself. Use one of your greatest gifts - the power of your mind - to combat the opposing force. Your ability to outsmart others will be your most powerful tool.
Hold on to your hat, Cancer, and be ready for some action. You're coming to a critical point in your emotional cycle when your heart feels heavy. You may feel pinned down by a huge weight, like you're being sucked into quicksand. Grab a branch and pull yourself out. Rise above the current situation with the help of a lofty perspective.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 – DEC 21
LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22
Your boat is likely to be rocked Sagittarius, to the point where you and all of your belongings could go overboard. Be prepared to swim ashore. Grounding and stability are the keys to maintaining a healthy attitude, especially when it comes to ever-fluctuating emotions. Issues regarding the home and people's possessions are likely to surface in a dramatic manner. Listen to your heart for the answers.
In a string of intense emotional dramas, the last thing you need is one more, Leo. Unfortunately, it looks like you're going to get just that. Once again, an incredible romantic scenario is coming to a head, and your emotions are in turmoil. Hold still, wait for the hit, and then proceed. If you have the feeling that you're going to blow up at someone, simply walk away from the situation.
CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 Calm down and get centered, Capricorn. This is an extremely special month that's likely to pique your emotions. You're apt to receive input from each one of your senses, so keep these channels open and available for new information that's trying to break through. Don't be hasty. You're better off taking a reserved, receptive approach.
AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18 January is your time to shine in every way, Aquarius. There's a concentration of energy in your favor, so act boldly and without hesitation. Your emotions are leading the way, and your heart is barely a half a step behind. Follow these forces like the Pied Piper. Let this be the start of a wild ride on a whole new roller coaster of adventures. The time is right for you to lead.
PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 20 Your heart and emotions are on the same page, Pisces, but they may not be on the page you want them to be. It could be that you're reminiscing about an event from the past. What was once a happy set of encounters now leaves you feeling like there are thorns in your side. Focus on the present and let the past become history.
ARIES MAR 21 – APR 19 Let your sensual, nurturing instincts shine through, Aries. Rely on your sixth sense. If things start to get rough, remember that you have the ability to keep your cool. Not only is this an extremely important tool but it's also essential to maintaining any sort of stability in the situation. Keep your footing at all times. Your sanity depends on it. www.horoscope.com 84
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ABK OVER 70 WINNERS HAVE DOUBLED THEIR SALARY Transfer your salary to ABK today. • Receive KD 100 when you transfer your salary • Enter a weekly draw to double your salary • 2 weekly winners - 1 new and 1 existing customer
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