Bazaar june 2014 by bazaar magazine

June 2014 | Issue # 183 www.bazaar-magazine.com

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Summertime and the living is easy! I love June. It’s probably my favorite month of the year. Beachy weather. Holidays being planned, almost within reach. It’s hot, but not too hot. Humid, but not too humid. The roads are noticeably emptier as schools start their summer vacations, and parents are more relaxed. Most shops are on sale and there are some amazing bargains out there, if you’re willing to venture out to the malls. And food. So many choices. I read somewhere that Kuwait has the highest number of restaurants in the world per capita. Don’t quote me, since I’m not sure how accurate that is, but it seems reasonable. After all, there are at least 3 or 4 new restaurant openings every single month, and most, if not all, are really good. Everything from gourmet pizzas, to gourmet burgers, to gourmet Japanese, to gourmet Lebanese, to everything in between. This June is even more special than most, since it brings with it the FIFA World Cup, something that many of us have been waiting for impatiently, for four years! This issue is full of great facts, stats and information, touching on everything from the players and the teams, to the history and the music. We even have a piece on the reasons to watch for non-football fans! Also, don’t forget to pull out and hang up the World Cup schedule, so you can follow your favorite team and not miss a single minute! Of course, life does exist outside of the World Cup (I know, I just said it) so in the downtime you can read some of our great interviews and features this month. Check out our special piece where we get up close and personal with the founders of the Nuqat conference and discuss how this creative platform continuously aims to educate, connect and execute inspiring ideas. We also meet Khalid and Phoebe from Dogdom and find out how this inspirational team are changing the lives of dogs and their owners in Kuwait. We meet the man behind Kayak4Kuwait, Bashar Al Huneidi, who is engaging the youth via the fun activity that is kayaking, whilst raising awareness about the importance of keeping our seas and beaches clean for future generations, and we groove with Arabic Reggae star Basil AlHadi (aka Rasta Baba) from Karrouhat preaching the positivity that music can create to connect us all. Don’t put this issue down without checking out the review of Boccini, the new Italian restaurant in Mahboula creating hearty innovative Italian dishes. We also give you a bazaar run-down on some of the wonderful shawarma places we are lucky to have in Kuwait, and we were buzzing when we found out about Elevation Burger’s new West Mishref location – go now and grab your favorite burger – you won’t regret it! Happy reading!

Ahmed El-Adly

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The bazaar team... Boss

Photographers

Ahmed El-Adly

Amira Haroun Hanilens Photography Studio Padmini Chandrasekaran Sarah O. Wali

Operations Rebecca Sweetman

Business Development Ihab Mokalled

Syndicates and Sources

Design

Fast Company LA Times MCT International MIT Review Slate The Japan News The Guardian/The Interview People Tribune Media Services USA Today Variety News Service Washington Post

Padmini Chandrasekaran Vaishnavi Kumar

Staff Writer/Social Media Yasmine El Charif

Staff Writer Brook McClurg

Staff Writer/Online Media Amira Haroun Sarah O. Wali

Communications Hala Y. Sharara

Printing British Industries for Printing and Packaging

Editor A. Al-Duaij

members of:

Contributing Writers Abdulmohsen Al Mayyas Ashraf Abdalla Ayman Nassar B. Qureshi Bibi Al-Falah Hoda Abbas Marafie Heena Parker Loaay Ahmed Lujain F. Al-Mulla Mike Campbell Mohammad Alsanea Mohammed El Soukkary Nora Al-Ruwaished Purva Grover Dr. Susannah J. Schuilenberg Zainab Mirza

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w w w. b p aw w. c o m The views expressed in bazaar magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff (but sometimes they are). No one likes to be dumped;

recycle me, please.

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CAVALLI

INDEX JUNE '14

NUQAT

LAILA AL-MUKHTAR

WORLD CUP PLAYERS

LOVE/HATE: THE WORLD CUP

GIVE A DOG A BONE

The annual Nuqat conference, initially introduced as Nuqat Ala Al Huroof, serves to foster a Middle Eastern creative culture in an effort to connect, educate and execute ideas that inspire. Get to know this platform’s founding members and their vision for the future.

A self-confessed chocoholic, Laila Al-Mukhtar is an avid chocolatier at heart. We meet the co-owner of custom-made choco-creations boutique, Absolute Chocolate, who tells us all about her torrid love affair with the magnificent cocoa bean in truth or dare that started long before she opened this specialty boutique in Dar Al-Awadhi, Sharq.

Hoda Abbas Marafie is not only an awesome comedienne, she also happens to be a football absolutist. For the love of the game, she gave us the lowdown on the top players to watch this World Cup. If you like to impress with snazzy facts at pre-game gatherings, this feature was written for you!

Brazil is counting down the days until all the participating nations and their fans arrive on its shores. We might be on the other side of the world, but we are just like them. We share the joys, goals, penalties and frustrations. Here are our top five conflicts about universal World Cup occurrences.

Khalid Al-Qassem takes on Kuwait’s roughest and toughest dogs, by training their owners, and he’s showing bazaar readers how to do it. In this feature we bring you the man who has defined canine pack mentality and what it means to your pet and your family.

56 THAT LAMBAH MOMENT

FOOD MADE FUN

You know that moment, when a light bulb turns on and the bright idea pops up in your head? The young ladies at Lambah know what it’s like to see that moment become a reality and their new project will help artists and designers achieve their professional dreams.

Who says grocery shopping has to be a chore? Noor Al Qatami, SaveCo’s founder and CEO talks to us about Kuwait’s newest food market and teaching us just how fun this ‘chore’ can be. From recipes to food classes in the store, SaveCo will change your food buying experience.

World Cup Players pg 64

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WOK & GO

OXADVENTURE

THE GREAT SHAWARMA HUNT

THE BRAIN THAT SINGS

THE RASTA BABA

An idea that started in the streets of New York came to fruition in the UK and has now opened its first international branch in Kuwait! From flavorful Volcanic Shrimp to perfectly cooked Mongolian beef, we give you the best eats at the Rolls Royce of Noodle Bars, Wok & Go.

Showing us that quitting your day job isn’t the end of the world, OXadventure aims to inspire people to volunteer their time for the greater good. Trying to make a difference in this world, OXadventure invites you to join their cause to help make our world a better place.

Meat and veggies wrapped in delicious soft bread….what’s not to like?! Join the bazaar team as they do the hard job of taking Kuwait by storm, one shawarma place at a time. Going to great lengths, and full stomachs, to bring to you seven choices of this quintessential Middle Eastern wrap. You’re welcome!

Autism is a neural development disorder that knows no boundaries. In The Brain That Sings, Amal Al-Agroobi takes us on a journey into the world of autism and the effect music therapy has. Following the lives of two young men, this documentary sheds light on autism in the Middle East.

Singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist; Basil AlHadi is a musical maverick who kept finding himself delving deeper into his musical roots with each step. Basil branded his music as Arabic Reggae, and plays rhythm guitar in a band, Karrouhat. We sit with him as he tells us about his musical ethos and where it all began.

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

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Starbucks Outlets: - Adeliya - Airport Mall - Al Mowasat Hospital - Al Muhalab - Al Shaya Head Office - Al Zahra - Aliya & Ghalia Complex Andalouse Coop - AUK - Bairaq Mall - Baitak Tower - Behbehani Complex - Bida’a Complex - BMW Showroom - Daiya Co-op - Dar Al Awadi - Divonne, Abu Hasaniya - Fashion Way Salmiya - Hilton Resort - Jabriya - Jabriya Land - Kaifan - Khalifa Resort - Kout Mall - Marina Crescent - Marina Mall - Mishref - NBK - Nuzha Co-op - Plaza Hawalli - Rosa Castle - Salhiya - Salmiya, Salem Al-Mubarak - Salwa Co-op

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

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Arraya - Haagen Dazs Marina Mall/Crescent - Casper & Gambini’s - Chocolate Bar - Johnny Rockets - P.Q. - Paul Souq Sharq - Starbucks - Haagen Dazs - Breadz The Avenues - Johnny Rockets - Paul - Starbucks Airport Mall - Starbucks Dar Al Awadi - I.O. Center Spoons - Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex - Starbucks

Stand Alones

Sharq, Fahaheel - Beautylicious - Brush Salon - Dar Al Funoon - Gallery Tilal - Jacques Dessange Salon, Shaab - Kuwait Airport Business Class Lounges - Landmark - Al Rai café, Fahaheel, Salmiya - London Limos - N Style Nail Lounge - Pink Moon Boutique - Sultan Gallery - That AlSalasil Bookstore - Airport, Marina, Salhiya, The Avenues - THE One - TIES Center - TXP Window Tints

Schools & Universities -

American University of Kuwait Australian College Kuwait Boxhill College BSK - British School of Kuwait Universal American School

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- 4 Boutique - Alghanim Marine - Alghanim Showrooms - Al Rai, Shuweikh,

bazaar magazine has been a member of BPA Worldwide since June 2010, ensuring complete transparency, verifying bazaar as an audited publication which distributes 10,000 copies on a monthly basis. To access our BPA report, please visit: www.bpaww.com or log onto our website www.bazaar-magazine.com for a downloadable pdf version.

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In addition to our monthly magazine, our free-access website gives us the ability to reach an even broader audience, with an average number of 28,000 unique visitors. Packed with our articles covering entertainment, art, local happenings, music, movies, fashion, interiors, health, and interviews with the people responsible for said genres, bazaar‘s website will not disappoint.

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We get even closer to our readers by taking advantage of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels on a daily basis. With more than 10,000 collective fans and followers, we love starting different conversations with our readers, sharing music, jokes, photos, competitions, and much more. Twitter gives us the ability to tweet live from the many fun and exciting events that we cover, giving our readers minute by minute coverage and commentary, and allowing us to follow the people and brands that we like too, of which there are so many.

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what’s trending As much as we work our hardest to give you one rocking print issue after the other, we’re socially active (or try our best to be, we are bazaar humans after all) and we love it! Find us online: It makes our day when we see your tweets/mentions/likes/comments/shares about your favorite features and more. facebook.com/bazaarmagazine

what: thisismycity.tv info: A show about what cities mean to the people that live in it. editor’s note: Fantastic mini series, we love this show!

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what: @skraabkw info: Recycled car parts turned into furniture! editor’s note: They make recycling cool and we love it!

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what: @q8boatlife info: IG directory to buy or sell your boat or Jetski! editor’s note: Stun shades and Maui tanning lotion also available!

START READING! Scan to read full digital issue. what: @SocialC info: K-town’s newest Social Media Management + Consultancy Company editor’s note: Innovative individuals make for innovative companies!

what: @DeeraKW info: Report problems related to public services. editor’s note: The problem is fixed ASAP! 30

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what: @Kayak4Kuwait info: Raising awareness about Kuwait’s seas via kayaking. editor’s note: Follow them and read the full feature in this issue!

what: @Art7ake info: Expression through words. But not. editor’s note: By @Naderdagher

what: @Tamashee info: Fresh new footwear from the Middle East. editor’s note: Updated classical Gulf designs with a twist!

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KUWAIT - MILANO - ROMA - ST. TROPEZ - SANTO DOMINGO - LAS VEGAS - BUENOS AIRES

TOP 5 REASONS TO WATCH THE WORLD CUP Even for the non-football fan by bazaar staff

I write this actually as a football fan, but I do understand not being a fan when everybody else is immersed in the hype of a global event. For example – everyone at the bazaar office watched the season finale of Breaking Bad, and at the time I didn’t even know who Jesse Pinkman was (I know, shame on me). So, here are some reasons to take part in the wonderful, over-blown World Cup madness, even if you don’t care to understand the sport. 5. Celebrations Are you the type of person who loves watching gymnasts compete in the Olympics? Well the footballers during the World Cup are basically glorified acrobats – especially when they are celebrating scoring a goal. There are the obvious actions – jumping on someone’s shoulders, running around like a plane, taking their shirts off (although they get fined now – booo!) But I’ve seen some pretty spectacular and entertaining victory laps. I once watched an Italian footballer get down on one knee and pretend to play an imaginary violin after hitting an amazing strike, the Irish (who are sadly not in it this year) do somersaults like leprechauns, some Muslim players take their celebrations to God, and many African and South American nations do the kind of group dances people wish went viral on YouTube. 4. Understanding those Social Media References Let’s be honest, now that Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have sort of become a necessity in life, once the matches start, your feed will be inundated 32

with post after post of whatever controversial or amazing event that happened during the games that day. Won’t you have #FOMOF (Fear of Missing Out on Football) when you can’t understand why the Internet is suddenly flooded with memes of some player head-butting another? I don’t know about you, but if I can’t make a snarky comment or laugh about it with someone else at work the next day, life as I know it would be over. 3. The Atmosphere Okay, maybe you don’t like smoking shisha or eating fried food, or even just sitting in a packed restaurant or café, but just for a second imagine that buzz you get when you’re in a room of people and you’re all experiencing the same thing at the same time. That atmosphere is the reason we go to movie theaters or concerts or clubs. When we see the on-screen couple get together (provided it’s not cut), when we’re all shouting the lyrics back to our favorite band, when that song comes on and you and everyone else around you goes crazy – you get the same thrill when someone scores a goal, when someone gets sent off or when it’s time for a penalty shootout. When the team that everyone has been supporting for 90 minutes scores the winning goal and the place goes nuts – you’ll understand the madness and want to be a part of it. 2. The ‘Talent’ Not to objectify anyone, but look – footballers are hot. That’s all I feel like I need to say on that topic. 1. A Piece of History Now, as I’ve already said, plenty of moments will

be captured and saved on the Internet for leisurely viewing by generations to come, but isn’t there something special about remembering the exact time and place that something happened? Maybe it’s not changing the world and maybe we ought to be focused on the more important global issues and events – but this is the kind of thing you’ll remember. At the last World Cup final, I was living in New York City and all of the bars and restaurants were too crowded, so my friends and I went out on to the street to watch the tiny screen that the Spanish Benevolent Society had propped outside of the third floor window of their headquarters. Along with tens of other people, we watched as Spain took the victory and everyone on that street – hundreds of people – started an impromptu Fiesta. They were dancing in traffic, waving giant flags, honking horns and cheering – and that was in America. I will tell my kids about that moment one day – even though I don’t remember the score or who took the winning shot – I can still picture the faces of the people dancing in the middle of that crowded New York street. So, grab your friends, set up your flat screen and throw a party to celebrate the opening match on June 12th. Never mind about learning the offside rule or figuring out why they would substitute their best player when they’re a goal down in the last fifteen minutes…watch, enjoy, cheer when everyone else does, and make some memories. Vámonos! Allez! Olé, Olé, Olé!

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ELIE TAHARI

truth or dare

CONFESSIONS OF A CHOCOHOLIC Laila Al-Mukhtar for Absolute Chocolate by bazaar staff

A self-confessed chocoholic, Laila AlMukhtar’s dream to open up a small artisanal chocolaterie started long before co-owning Absolute Chocolate in Dar Al-Awadhi. From playing pretend chef as a young child where Laila hosted her own dessert cooking show, to studying to be a chocolatier in Paris, she first considered putting her passion to use while she was still in college. After many years of home made chocolates, desserts and delectable baked goods, it was Laila’s brother-in-law, Abdulwahab, who officially instigated the start of her home-based business by bringing in orders from his friends in 2009. Too embarrassed to say no, her home business flourished, and the requests continued to pour in. Being a mother of two, while balancing a challenging work position at NBK, a brief hiatus from her chocoholic tendencies ensued, but that didn’t last very long. She bravely left her position at the bank in 2013, and shortly after that, opened Absolute Chocolate to pursue her passion full time. Today, you’ll find Laila at the quaint chocolaterie, crafting her delicious recipes for the different, tailor made, chocolates at the boutique. She’s an expert in creating chocolates and desserts for special occasions such as weddings, receptions, and even the casual everyday gathering, with the aim to cater to the tastes of refined chocoholics like her. As a specialized chocolaterie, customers can design their own chocolates, with the option to choose 34

from color, size and shape—they can even create their own signature chocolate flavors according to their taste palates. What is immediately noticeable at Absolute Chocolate is that the chocolates are handmade in limited quantities for freshness and quality purposes, where Laila opts to not ship in ready-made chocolates with added preservatives to create her desserts. She simply does what she loves, and won’t compromise her notion of quality for the sake of cost. When she’s not busy at the boutique, Laila loves to read and enjoys being outdoors. Otherwise, if she’s not baking or making chocolate, she’s probably dreaming about some new flavoring for her chocolate. How would your mother describe you in one word? Content. How would you describe your mother in one word? Ambitious. What is your theme song? ‘We are the world’, ever since the original came out in 1984. What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? ‫ احلرية‬Freedom. Where would you like to live? What is your dream retirement location? I love the South of France. I would live somewhere on the French Riviera. What is the first famous quote that comes to mind? “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

What do you miss about your childhood? Being with my father. What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in? A wolf. It’s strong, shy, protective, loyal, fast and clever. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I wouldn’t change it. I love my name. Describe your handshake in one word? Friendly. What is the toughest part of your character? I can be too honest sometimes. Who is your favorite historical figure? I really don’t have one. What in the world do you least desire? Inhumanity. What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of, would make the world a better place? Definitely empathy!! Why do you think most girls/guys like you? My chocolate, haha. Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…” Peace.

For more information, check out @Absolutechocolate on Instagram. The chocolaterie is located in Dar AlAwadhi, Sharq. Please call 6633 6399 for orders or inquiries.

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Musicians Wardell and Lived In Summer White.

up close and personal

NUQAT ALA AL HUROOF

Introducing the platform’s founding members, and Nuqat’s vision for the future by bazaar staff

Inspiration is, without a doubt, a matter of perception. We are all touched by it in different ways. One could become inspired by the faultless flow of what began as an awkward conversation, or when brilliant ideas ebb without containment out of a teensy spark. Ultimately it is creativity, in all of its evolving mediums, that elicits an inspired reaction. The annual Nuqat conference that we’ve all come to know and appreciate, initially known as ‘Nuqat Ala Al Huroof’, serves to foster the Gulf and Middle East’s creative culture in an effort to connect, educate and execute. 2013 marked a definitive turn in Nuqat’s efforts, as the conference has now become a fixture in our local and regional community. Here to tell us all about their journey, and their vision for the future are 36

Nuqat’s founding members, Wakim Zeidan, Sara Al Nafisi, Dana Al Hilal and Hussa Al Humaidhi. The story began with Wakim Zeidan, a renowned creative director with over eighteen years of experience in the advertising field. He recalled what he thought was a ‘dream’ trip to the Cannes Advertising Awards, where he then noticed that all of the communication that made it to the festival from the Middle Eastern region was in either English or French, and not in Arabic. The year was 2007, and even today we barely see our regional creative efforts breach the European continent. He returned to Kuwait, sad and frustrated. He said, “I realized that our regional culture does not foster creativity, and that we have no lectures, short courses or classes to better our skills as creatives.” Rather than complain, Wakim formed what is now

considered as the first Nuqat consortium, entitled ‘Nuqat Ala Al Huroof’, which translates to ‘dotting the I’s’ in 2009. With a limited budget, and only two days to spare, Wakim, along with renowned type artist Tarek Atrissi, were the speakers. Still, what Wakim set out to do at the time attracted a small yet excited group of individuals who shared his creative concerns, including designers Hussa Al Humaidhi and Sara Al Nafisi. Upon meeting with Wakim, the trio decided that it shouldn’t be too difficult to get a workshop together to help, and more importantly get to know, Kuwait’s local creative community. Hussa added, “Sara and I worked at an ad agency, yet we had no knowledge of other Kuwaiti graphic designers, let alone finding workshops and seminars to further develop our skills.” While Sara is the

creative mastermind behind the Nuqat brand, Hussa is also the design strategist and Sara’s partner of Raw Design Studio, Nuqat’s creative abode where the founding members regularly hold their brainstorming sessions. Even though the first ‘Nuqat’ had no planned categories and no activities as an extension of the conference, Wakim’s efforts provided the start of something beautiful. The conference proved that talent in Kuwait is abundant, yet this talent has been stagnated. With the very first formation of what we now know as Nuqat, talented individuals would finally begin to appreciate and realize the importance of furthering their knowledge. The importance of being inspired was a notion that a) we may not realize, b) we’re afraid of what inspiration

might change and c) we’re too lazy and comfortable to reconsider an alternative. Given that the three founders all shared the same views, the missing link was the successful PR and events guru to make all of their organizational efforts leave a resounding mark. That’s where Dana Al Hilal comes in, earning her title as the Nuqat booster. An artist as well as a PR professional, Dana joined Nuqat as she shared the team’s vision and urged them to dream big. The 2010 edition on Visual Pollution marked the return of an even bigger Nuqat, in which the team integrated several graphic design and architecture disciplines together. After the success of Nuqat conferences 2009 and 2010, Nuqat 2012 was held under the theme “The Lost City of Arabesque”. Last year’s 2013

conference, themed ‘Executing Culture Shock’ in The Middle East served to challenge and examine the experience of cultural change and its effect on artists and designers, and in doing so, it also assesses the role of creatives in executing this change. A clear pattern in thought and execution formed. Every year, Nuqat gained traction, meriting its position as a creative consortium that is truly one of its kind in Kuwait and the Middle East. Nuqat’s success may easily be attributed to its restless founders, yet they believe that their efforts and collaborations with other creative entities are strictly tied to people’s reactions. The Nuqat team organically builds upon their annual theme, where a relation is made to target any gaps from the preceding conference. They call this the feedback system. Hussa said, “Based on people’s feedback, we document and look for the most repeated conversations and keywords in an effort to pinpoint an overlapping direction of thought. We look for the gaps that were left out of the conversation and then look at how we can help people think about these points that were missed.” The real work for everyone involved at Nuqat begins once they’ve decided on the annual theme for the upcoming conference. The Nuqat team then aligns the annual goals with art and creative initiatives throughout the Middle East via various Nuqat ambassadors. They coordinate, create, and support, a creative activity that communicates the year’s theme inside and beyond Kuwait as an extension of the conference. We’ve seen these activities this year and even last year as part of 2013’s ‘Executing Culture Shock’ theme. In this light, we actually see that Nuqat functions as an educator. It’s not just about conducting conferences and workshops; Nuqat addresses the quality of the content that is delivered in every activity that is communicated. Nuqat’s brand ambassadors include Tala Saleh, Raneem Al Farsi, Noof Khonji and Bushra Badri. Along with the wonderful ambassadors, the Nuqat team also thrives on the helping hands of Juliette Zeidan, Sara Al Yaqout and Natalia Desai. For 2014, a worthy point of mention is that the annual conference has officially become a Kuwaiti fixture, a decision that the founder’s arrived at once they saw how people became completely enamored with what the conference provided in 2013. Sara said, “ The conference carries a personal vibe that is indescribable. The warmth of the volunteers and the team members made it more enjoyable.” Wakim added, “Unlike international conferences, people weren’t there to network and compete. No one was schmoozing, everyone was learning.” Hussa also stated, ‘everyone fell silent and took notes, and the speakers even felt a sense of focus. The creative sparks were simply contagious.” Dana Al Hilal reiterates that fostering this atmosphere is their priority. She said, “Learning need not be limited to people in the creative industry, we want to make Nuqat an accessible platform that is open to everyone wishing to seek inspiration. The conference is not just for designers, nor creatives. Creative thinking need not apply to people in the industry, it actually applies to every facet of [cont..] 37

[continued...] your life.” They seek to accomplish this by aligning themselves and continuously collaborating with like-minded entities, such as The Ministry of Youth, and other creative platforms like YourAOK. More importantly, Nuqat is strictly not-forprofit, meaning that they always work with a wide network of volunteers and sponsors to make the magical conference happen every year. As they look to the future, the Nuqat team is looking to integrate the principles of the creative platform in educational curricula that starts with elementary students. They further want to support the local talents in Kuwait by producing their work to create new retail outlets for aspiring artists because they believe that encouraging and developing creativity in any given culture serves as an investment.

Q&A with Nuqat

What do you most value in your friends? WZ: Honesty and trust. What is your idea of perfect happiness? WZ: Having enough money to get by, an enjoyable job, happy family, and good health. What is your greatest fear? WZ: Distrust. 38

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? WZ: I avoid direct confrontations. What is the trait you most deplore in others? WZ: Hasty judgment, lying and more importantly, laziness. Which living person do you most admire? WZ: No one specifically (unfortunately). What is your greatest extravagance? WZ: Laying down on a hammock on a beautiful sunny day. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? WZ: yalla. What is it that you most dislike? WZ: Smart people who use their talent for doing evil. Which talent would you most like to have? WZ: Fortune telling. If you could have any job, what would it be? WZ: Filmmaking. SN: I have more than one! I would love to own a sailboat and maybe be the captain if I need to have a job or own a bakery, that’s something more realistic. HH: Either a teacher or a music producer. If it’s something far fetched from my current profession I want to be a vet. DH: A painter. I wish I could just create art and make a living out it but for now it’s a hobby.

What would you consider your greatest achievement? WZ: My children. HH: I feel that I will always be pursing that; I look back and want to do more. So I consider my greatest achievement is to always keep looking for it. DH: Without a doubt Nuqat. With Nuqat we are creating a community of creatives linking people who wouldn’t have met in other events. Even though I’ve hosted the first TedX talk in Kuwait I feel like Nuqat is so much more than an event, it is a movement. What is your most treasured possession? WZ: Peaceful mind. What is your most marked characteristic? WZ: To the point. Where would you most like to live? WZ: Anywhere on earth. SN: If I’m going to own a sail boat then I would want to maybe live in Greece, or anywhere around that area. DH: Amalfi coast in Italy. What are your favorite words to live by? WZ: Leadership is the art of silent influence. For more information, please visit www.nuqat.me. You can follow them on Instagram @Nuqat, Twitter @Nuqatweets and Facebook: NuqatME.

FRANKLIN MARSHALL

LET’S DRIFT

The Traction OFF thrillfest by bazaar staff

The Internet tells me that the layman’s definition for drifting involves hurling one’s car toward a wall and avoiding said wall to miss it completely. Others define this action as an art, where the driver effectively controls what is an out of control vehicle. It is also technically the opposite of grip driving, where the driver causes the car to slide or drift laterally. It seems simple enough, as it takes the pull of the hand break at a sharp turn to cause the car to drift. Putting all definitions aside, I can definitely tell you that drifting is not for the faint of heart, but the experience is beyond epic! Not to be confused with racing, drifting is truly a subjective sport where the drivers are judged on both facets of style and execution. It is most definitely a controlled task, where a true driver’s experience is put to the test. Drivers here are not scored based on time, yet on their form. To learn more about drifting, we were invited by none other than the amazing team at Traction OFF to attend and experience the art of the drift with Mubarak Al-Rumaidhi. Previously appearing in our bazaar pages, the Red Bull Car Park Drift champion always had a vision for the automotive sport industry in Kuwait. Mubarak even gave up a career in the corporate world to pursue his innate passion and skill for drifting full time. The Traction OFF team went on to compete in and win the Red Bull Car Park Drift in 2012, and Mubarak is also the Race Director for the Red Bull Formula One. The amazing success of that campaign is a portrayal of his passion, and the start of a brand new field in the local scene of motorsports in Kuwait and the region. However, even after his successes, Mubarak still saw how people here reacted to drifting in a negative manner, deeming the act as simply reckless. Tired of all the negative pre-conceived notions that exist in Kuwait about drifting, Mubarak and Talal Al-Othman decided to do something about changing this image, by expanding the activity to include a crowd that knows very little about cars (enter this bazaar writer). Mubarak realized that this was his only chance to make people from different walks of life understand what goes on behind the wheel during a drift. During the planning phase, where Mubarak and Talal began to draft a list of names of people who truly wouldn’t know what to expect from this thrilling event, online automotive magazine Qabaq came into play, and a scheduled date was made at the Sirbb Circuit for “Traction OFF – Exclusive Drift Experience, Kuwait’s Thrill Event.” We were given our very own Traction OFF Piston invite, while our friends were also allowed to come to the circuit so that they would enjoy seeing this staff writer scream her lungs out. As a passenger, I must say that Mubarak has all the patience in the world. He noticed that I was a nervous wreck right before we stepped into his suped-up Nissan. He 40

was extremely careful to explain to me the complete procedure, and then it happened. For those who don’t know, I have an irrational fear of cars, let alone driving. So imagine being on this thrill ride! Scary? Absolutely. Concerned for my life because I feel like Mubarak is going to lose control of the car? Not even close. He made sure that all of the drifts were well rehearsed and explained to the passengers, including myself. He also mentally prepared us for the adrenaline rush that would follow. The buzz was incredible, and I am definitely encouraged to try this again, knowing that I’m in the safe hands of a mature driver who simply knows what he’s doing with the car!

By the end of the drift, which I thought ended too quickly by the way, everyone ran up to me and asked me how it was. Even though I never thought I would utter the words, amazing is an understatement. We hope that this event proves as a fruitful start to many more to come, all toward encouraging safe and fun drifting practices in Kuwait and the region. Follow Mubarak AlRumaidhi on Instagram and Twitter @rumaidhi. For more information about Traction OFF, visit www.tractionoff.com and follow them on Instagram @TractionOff.

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GIVE A DOG A BONE?

No, give him a job says Khalid Al-Qassem by bazaar staff

It started in August 2013 when 4-year-old Aisha was attacked by a pack of dogs while on the beach in Khiran. Her father, Mohamed Al-Mulla told AlRai Daily that it had been an enjoyable afternoon at the chalet until he heard the shrill scream of his little girl. He rushed to her aid and found six stray dogs had bitten off her ear, maimed her face and dragged her across the beach. Later, a group of amateur snipers made headlines when, according to K’s Path Kuwait, they killed more than 80 stray dogs in retaliation to the attack. Khalid Al-Qassem, a dog owner for more than 35 years was shocked at the brutal incident. He told bazaar it wasn’t the snipers or the dogs that he was angry about. “They [the six dogs] must have belonged to people at some point. If not then the parents belonged to someone who didn’t get them neutered or speyed,” he said. “Think of it as the cost we are now facing because of the irresponsible dog ownership implanted in this country over 30 years.” 42

According to Al-Qassem, there are currently more than 200 adoptable dogs in Kuwait, with many more strays on the street. Owners may discard their pets when they move away from Kuwait, or, more often, find dog ownership to be more of a hassle then expected and discard their pets. So, Al-Qassem put his corporate career in Human Resources on hiatus and decided to combine his skills with dog knowledge and philosophy to start Dogdom. Dogdom is defined as the “world of dogs and dog enthusiasts,” in the Webster dictionary, and Al-Qassem is definitely an enthusiast. His new rehabilitation service aims to reintegrate dogs into the families they belong to, or the pack, and it has just as much to do with humans as it does with the dogs themselves. “Our whole problem is that any issue from the dog is not caused by the dog,” he said. “Dogs do fine in the wild. Wolves have a magnificent sense of community, and bonding, their relationship is amazing. So it’s always humans that mess up the dog.”

His solution? Don’t give a dog a bone, give him a job, he says. Dogs by nature are pack animals, and are either leaders or submissive members of the pack. Specific actions define the leader: he eats first, walks in front, passes through narrow openings first and demands actions. But, being the leader is stressful for the dog and they become more territorial, experience anxiety disorder when one of the pack (you and everyone in the house) leaves and feels a general sense of responsibility for all the tasks in the house. So how do you give your dog a job? According to Al-Qassem it starts from the moment you decide you want to add a canine to your family. He has developed a 9 point puppy test that he explains in his lectures at Petzone and with individual clients in their homes. At Dogdom he takes on clients looking for a puppy and helps them with the assessment. First he visits them at their home to understand the environment the dog will be living in and observes the family schedule. He sits with

his clients and has them consider why they want a dog, and what it will add to their lives. “You want to lose some weight?” he said. “Get a dog whose energy level matches yours and lifestyle matches yours in terms of size and spending. We pick the right dog and you have a running partner for the next ten years whether you want to run or not.” Whether you are looking for an exercise buddy, home protection or therapy dog, make that the dog’s focus and you will find he barks and jumps up on your buddies less. They are patient animals that are more than happy to be submissive to the leader of the pack, otherwise known as their owners. Sometimes dog ownership goes very wrong, and this is when Al-Qassem’s specialty truly comes into play. Recently he was asked to help a client with a raging mix of Rottweiler German Shepherd. The dog was dangerous and difficult, and had bit a little girl just days before. When AlQassem arrived he found the collar was digging into its skin and they had kept him locked in the

cage for the past week out of fear. Al-Qassem did dominance exercise with the dog the first day, but left him in the cage. He went back for five days and finally placed him on the leash for a walk. At first he was fine, and engaged in the pack activity, until he stopped to pee. Since the dog was not neutered he needed to mark his space. However, as the pack leader Al-Qassem couldn’t let him do that, so he tugged on the leash and the dog attacked. “It was gruesome but even then you can’t stop the fight,” he said. “Then I started confronting this dog. I’m still bleeding but I cant lose. I’ve got him on a loose leash, and I loop the leash so it controls his head. Every time I yank he is just going for my arm again and I’m still bleeding. The minute I arch back he’s back at it growling.” Eventually, Al-Qassem recommended the dog be put down, because it could not become a productive member of any pack due to its extreme aggression. While killing a dog is not the ideal solution to most

problems, it is a difficult decision he must be able to make when attempting to rehabilitate a dog. “That’s the price we are paying,” he said. “I’ve dealt with places here and societies that are putting dogs and animals above human needs. That’s wrong. We are doing this with a sense of humanity. This dog was a danger to society and it is our responsibility as humanitarians to put the dog down.” To see how well Al-Qassem’s programs and training works, one only needs to look down to AlQassem’s side. There, a beautiful mid-sized golden retriever will probably be sitting or standing quietly. Phoebe is Al-Qassem’s partner in Dogdom, and her job is to assist with rehabilitation, and she follows her pack leader to the letter. It’s Al-Qassem’s job to help your dog do the same. For more information on Dogdom dog rehabilitation contact Khalid Al-Qassem at 5550 8891 or follow them on Instagram @dogdomkuwait. Images courtesy: Hanilens Photography Studio. 43

1930 – 1962

WORLD CUP

HIGHLIGHTS ANDLOWLIGHTS by bazaar staff

URUGUAY 1930

FINAL: Uruguay 4 – 2 Argentina

Highlight: In group 4’s second match – USA’s Bert Patenaude scored the first tournament hat-trick against Paraguay (although until 2006, one of his goals had been attributed to another teammate). Lowlight: The referee for the high-tension final, John Langenus requested a boat be ready at the harbor within one hour of the final in case he needed to make a quick get-away.

CHILE 1962

FINAL: Brazil 3 – 1 Czechoslovakia

Highlight: Since Pelé was injured in the second group match, the young Amarildo stood in and played brilliantly in his stead. Lowlight: In a first round match known as the Battle of Santiago between Chile and Italy – tensions ran high after Italian journalists wrote about the host country in unflattering articles. The match saw repeated violence from players on both sides and the Italian team had to leave the field with police protection.

SWEDEN 1958 FINAL: Brazil 5 – 2 Sweden

ITALY 1934

Highlight: Although he did not play until Brazil’s last group game, amongst rave reviews, a teenage Pelé dominated the competition becoming the youngest scorer to win a World Cup Winner’s Medal. His Cup campaign included a hat-trick in the semi-final. Lowlight: The 1958 World Cup remains the only occasion where Italy failed to qualify.

FINAL: Italy 2 – 1 Czechoslovakia Highlight: In a highly aggressive semi-final match, that would have to be replayed after it ended in a draw, both the Spanish Goalkeeper, Ricardo Zamora and the Italian player, Mario Pizziolo were so badly injured that neither of them could participate in the deciding match. Lowlight: The 1930 winners, Uruguay refused to participate in protest of many European teams who refused to travel to South America for the previous World Cup. 1934 was the only World Cup where the reigning champions did not participate.

FRANCE 1938

SWITZERLAND 1954

Highlight: As a result of World War II, Italy held this title for a record 16 years. The Italian VicePresident of FIFA hid the trophy in a shoebox under his bed throughout the Second World War and thus saved it from falling into the hands of occupying troops. Lowlight: Spain became the first country to be prevented from competing by war.

Highlight: Underdogs and newly reformed West Germany obscured the strength of the real team during the group round by using reserves and then pulled off an upset against Hungary in the final to win the Cup in a match dubbed ‘The Miracle of Bern’. Lowlight: The quarterfinal between Hungary and Brazil was referred to as ‘The Battle of Bern’ because of the amount of in-game violence. The referee sent off 3 players and fighting continued between the teams in the dressing room after the final whistle.

FINAL: Italy 4 – 2 Hungary

FINAL: West Germany 3 – 2 Hungary

BRAZIL 1950

FINAL: Uruguay 2 – 1 Brazil Highlight: Brazil dominated the competition in the final group stage thrashing Sweden 7-1 and Spain 6-1 before shockingly falling to Uruguay 1-2. Lowlight: Several teams withdrew or refused to participate in qualification, including most nations behind the Iron Curtain.

GARRETT

WORLD CUP

HIGHLIGHTS ANDLOWLIGHTS by bazaar staff

ENGLAND 1966

FINAL: England 4 – 2 West Germany

1966 – 1986 MEXICO 1986 FINAL: Argentina 3 – 2 West Germany Highlight: The Argentinian team was captained by Diego Maradona who scored the infamous “Hand of God” goal in the quarter-final against England. The tournament also saw the appearance of the phenomenon dubbed the ‘Mexican wave’. Lowlight: Portugal, making their first appearance in 20 years, went on strike during the competition in what was called the ‘Saltillo Affair’. Players refused to train between their 1st and 2nd games and were eliminated by Morocco in the final group match.

Highlight: In the build-up to the tournament the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy was stolen from its exhibition display. A nationwide hunt for the icon ensued and was eventually discovered by a dog named Pickles who sniffed it out from where it was wrapped in some newspaper under some bushes in London. Lowlight: FIFA had to caution Argentina for its violent style of play during the group matches, particularly against West Germany, which saw Argentinean Rafael Albrecht get sent off and suspended for the next game.

MEXICO 1970

SPAIN 1982

FINAL: Italy 3 – 1 West Germany Highlight: After an extraordinary bicycle kick from German Klaus Fischer leveled the scores in extra time, France and West Germany participated in the first ever penalty shootout at a World Cup final. Lowlight: In the semi-final between France and West Germany, while the German Keeper Harald Schumacher was blocking a goal from Battiston, he jumped, completely missed the ball, rendered the French player unconscious, and knocked two of his teeth out. Although the referee didn’t rule the shocking move foul, play was interrupted to carry Battiston off the field on a stretcher.

FINAL: Brazil 4 – 1 Italy Highlight: As stipulated in the trophy rules in 1930, the third win allowed Brazil to keep the Jules Rimet trophy permanently. Lowlight: The only blip in what was widely regarded as the finest tournament in World Cup history was the seemingly strict officiating in the opening match which was perhaps brought on by the introduction of yellow and red cards.

ARGENTINA 1978

FINAL: Argentina 3 – 1 Netherlands

WEST GERMANY 1974

FINAL: West Germany 2 – 1 Netherlands

Highlight: The current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga was awarded to the hosts West Germany. Lowlight: The Dutch were awarded two controversial penalties in the final where the players spontaneously decided to kick, however even this wasn’t enough to beat the host nation. 46

Highlight: In a game between France and Hungary, both teams arrived at the venue with only their white kits, resulting in a delayed kickoff while officials went in search of jerseys of a local team. As such, France ended up wearing vertical green and white stripes rather than their national uniform. Lowlight: In a cup marked with several conspiracy theories – most of the drama followed the host nation. As all of their first round games kicked off at night, the Argentines had the advantage of knowing where they stood in the group.

GSTAR

G-Star Raw Store Kuwait City - The Avenues Mall Groundfloor Unit 201, 5th Ring Road, Al Rai Area Operated by Al Mutawa & Al Khatib

1990 – 2014

WORLD CUP

HIGHLIGHTS ANDLOWLIGHTS

BRAZIL 2014

Pre-tournament Highlight: All of the previous world cup champions have qualified for the 2014 contest and it will be the first tournament to use goal-line technology. Pre-tournament Lowlight: Several protests have taken place with many groups angry at the amount of money being spent on the World Cup finals.

by bazaar staff

ITALY 1990

FINAL: West Germany 1 – 0 Argentina Highlight: Cameroon emerged when they opened the Cup with a shock victory over Argentina. Roger Milla’s 4 amazing goals and his flamboyant celebrations made him one of the tournament’s biggest stars and after reaching the last 8; Cameroon became the 1st African nation to achieve this on the world stage. Lowlight: Widely regarded as one of the poorest World Cups ever, the goal average per game was just over 2 and a record 16 red cards were issued, including the first ever dismissal in a final. The back-pass rule was also introduced 2 years later to discourage time wasting.

USA 1994

FINAL: Brazil 3 – 2 Italy Highlight: Brazil became the first nation to win four World Cup titles when they beat Italy 3-2 in a penalty shootout after the game ended 0-0 after extra time. Lowlight: The tournament saw the end of Diego Maradona’s World Cup career after he was expelled for failing a drug test. Additionally, Colombian defender Andrés Escobar was a tragic figure after he scored an own goal against the US and eliminated his team. Escobar was shot to death outside a bar only ten days later, apparently in retaliation.

SOUTH AFRICA 2010 FINAL: Spain 1 – 0 Netherlands

GERMANY 2006 FINAL: Italy 5 – 3 France

FRANCE 1998 FINAL: France 3 – 0 Brazil

Highlight: For the first time, the group stage was expanded from 24 teams to 32 with eight groups of four. Lowlight: The build up to the final was largely dominated by news of Brazilian striker, Ronaldo having a convulsive fit before the match. He was initially excluded from the starting line-up before being reinstated just over an hour before the final.

SOUTH KOREA/JAPAN 2002

Highlight: In a dramatic final, which ended in 1-1 after extra time, Italy won their first World Cup title in 24 years during the deciding penalty shootout. Lowlight: In perhaps one of the most memorable moments, the final saw Zinedine Zidane headbutt Marco Materazzi’s chest in retaliation to verbal insults. The offence saw the veteran French player sent off in his last-ever match. The incident was extensively lampooned on the internet and in pop culture, including a Family Guy parody episode, numerous online GIFs and a novelty song titled Coup de Boule (Headbutt) reaching the top of the French charts.

FINAL: Brazil 2 – 0 Germany

Highlight: After putting in a joint bid, the 2002 World Cup was the first to be held in Asia and so far the only World Cup tournament to be held in two nations. It was also the last cup that used the golden goal rule. Lowlight: Saudi Arabia was eliminated as the worst team in the tournament with 3 defeats, no goals scored and an embarrassing 8 - 0 loss to Germany. 48

Highlight: In a bidding war open to only African nations, South Africa became the first African country in history to host the World Cup tournament. Lowlight: The 2010 finals amplified international awareness of the vuvuzela, a long horn blown by fans during matches. The horn became something of a controversy with many players complaining that it interfered with team communication and audiences watching on television felt as though the sound of the horn drowned out every other sound broadcasted.

VERSACE

we care

KAYAK4KUWAIT Saving Kuwait’s sea, one kayaker at a time by bazaar staff

“

An avid fan of the outdoors, Bashar Al Huneidi has sustained his passion and kayaking hobby ever since he brought back his Kayak from the United States in 1990. At the same time, he had since noticed the deterioration of the quality of Kuwait’s marine life and the rapid pace in which this is occurring. For that cause, he thought that kayaking would be a useful way to tackle this issue, especially since the kayaking scene has grown tremendously in recent years and for that reason he decided to put his kayaking skills to great use—raising awareness about the health of Kuwait’s sea and marine life by engaging others in a fun water activity that is accessible to people from all walks of life. The message conveyed through Kayak4Kuwait is one that is shared by many people: Sustaining Kuwait’s natural treasures and preserving the 50

country’s national sea heritage. Bashar is an enthusiastic outdoorsman for more than thirty years. From hiking, rafting, kayaking to scuba diving, he enjoys activities that allow him to enjoy the raw and untouched beauty that nature offers. Yet with time, he noticed that the way in which we treat our waters is deteriorating at an alarming speed. Bashar told bazaar, “We appreciate nature, utilize the resources it offers, without giving back. We must leave nature as if we were never there, as this is our legacy for future generations. Kuwait’s marine culture will surely perish in our time, if we do not take action today.” His concerns are perfectly legitimate, and we have noticed this in recent years, where the fishing season is not what it used to be, and the complaints about the trash that washes ashore the coast and surrounding islands are on the rise. Yet many of us remain complacent. From highly polluted water

levels that are visible to the naked eye, and could even be smelled, harming the marine ecosystems, to forgotten fishing cages (the hazardous Gargoor), Bashar documents the ecological turmoil seen by the Kayak4Kuwait team on Instagram and other media outlets. Through this awareness activity, where more and more people are taking a cue from his efforts, Bashar hopes to elicit a response from the people who see the posts. After kayaking to Failaka Island last October, a round trip that totaled 11 hours, Bashar noticed various spots of Red Tide, also recognized as the discoloration of seawater caused by a bloom of toxic red algae, and documented this phenomena on the Kayak4Kuwait Instagram account. His trip garnered the attention of various media outlets, and this encouraged him to continue his mission. He said, “People enjoy kayaking, so I thought it

would be useful to raise awareness about these issues through an activity that people generally have fun doing.” The most recent Kayak4Kuwait trip took the team from the Parliament toward Kuwait Towers, where floating dead fish disrupted what was supposed to be a leisurely trip along the coastline. The smell of the sea, stomach turning to say the least, is a disappointment in and of itself. This, sadly, is not a new sight for Bashar, who has seen this happen many times before. He recounts tales of Kuwait’s history, where the pearl diving nation emerged and flourished by the sea. He said, “We depended on the sea for pearl diving and fishing. As our country evolved, our dependence grew on the sea in terms of trade and shipping, and even to this day, Kuwait enjoys an active beach and sea lifestyle. What we succeeded to do, however, is abuse

the natural balance of the marine ecosystem. We continue to take the sea for granted without paying any attention to the consequences and without giving back. If we continue to pollute, our seas don’t even have a fighting chance.” The Kayak4Kuwait team has so far witnessed various types of extremely dangerous practices that are causing our seas to become highly polluted. • A regular practice that should be deemed illegal immediately is the anchoring of boats we commonly see around Kubbar Island. Bashar explained, “These anchors, when dropped into the sea bed thoughtlessly, ruin the reefs below the water, ultimately disrupting the underwater lifecycle.” As a solution, buoys were made available around the islands by volunteers so that people can tie their boats to them, rather than throw a hefty and damaging anchor.

• Another extremely alarming polluting activity seen by the Kayak4Kuwait team includes the countless unregulated fishing cages (Gargoor) and fishing trolleys. This time, the culprit is greed, as many fishing companies and fishermen opt to utilize colossal quantities of large fishing trolleys, huge nets that are cast deep into the water. Bashar said, “A lot of the time, fishermen take large amounts of fishing trolleys out in the sea and use it to capture as many fish as they possibly could. When forgotten, or lost, fish and other sea creatures get caught in them and are left to die.” Bashar even calls these nets ‘weapons of mass destruction’, as the unregulated trolleys, that are different from the harmful metal cages (Gargoor), gather everything at the bottom of the seabed without discrimination, destroying entire ecosystems in the process without paying heed to the already existing marine biology. What actually happens in these situations is that due to the large amounts of fishing trolleys and cages employed, it is common that the fishermen either forget where these nets were placed, or they become lost or deteriorate due to a lack of maintenance on the part of the fishermen. • Another polluting activity that continues to take place and goes by unnoticed and neglected, is the disposal of Ballast water from incoming empty ship liners. This amount is insurmountable, and the waters contain not only harmful oils, yet they also contain external species to the local water habitat that are foreign to our waters, further disrupting the life cycles of our own marine ecosystems. All of these abuses are very real and the repercussions are seriously damaging. The activities stem from a variety of reasons, many of which most definitely include complacency and neglect on our parts, along with ignorance and greed on the part of many others. More importantly, many of these practices are documented by the Kayak4Kuwait team via social media, throughout their many journeys around Kuwait’s coast. Bashar added, “It’s not just us, everyone sees these issues, yet perhaps involving the youth in Kayaking will nurture a new perspective. I seek the attention and aid of the individual to work together to find a solution; I am not after anything else. If I can convince the individual, then I’ve succeeded in making the solution in the hands of individuals and not only one person. If we look at the sea as a person, a friendly giant, rather than a vast entity that is never-ending, then we will realize that by harming one part of this person, the entire being is affected.” [cont...] 51

[continued...] Bashar further highlighted the different types of pollution that we see on a daily basis: • Personal littering, where we regularly see people at the beach or on their boats disposing of waste with no repercussions. A large fine, if correctly applied, would easily mostly eliminate this type of pollution. • Commercial entities should also be held accountable for their actions. He said, “Fishing companies and ship liners are not regulated in how they dispose of their waste, and fishing companies employ the use of illegal nets. It’s disturbing that we see this on a regular basis, and people have grown accustomed to these actions.” While Bashar does acknowledge that legislation doesn’t happen overnight, he truly hopes that Kayak4Kuwait will garner the attention of the right people, whether government officials or company owners, so that perhaps a small CSR initiative will snowball into a national campaign against greedy fishing practices that are taking Kuwait’s natural treasures for granted. • Governmental littering, where the concerning polluting factors include heat pollution coming from the local power plants, where the immediate heat emanating from the power plants kill the surrounding marine life due to the increased temperatures of the seawater. Other issues include the inappropriate disposal of sewage that directly results in poisoning the seas with waste products and other severely damaging chemicals. All of the team’s efforts boil down to one successful strategy, and this entails targeting people from different walks of life to help give their wide and varying capabilities. Littering is a behavior; it is a challenge to normal social standards of behavior. Bashar stresses that this is social issue, rather than a personal choice, and by educating people to act otherwise is the key factor. From there, the Kayak4Kuwait team leads by example. Through kayaking, they utilize it as an opportunity to explore our country’s natural beauty. The sport can be practiced almost all year round, and it is especially cold-weather and rough-weather friendly, which means that the season typically starts after the summery chalet season. You get to breathe in clean, seawater air, and you can go in a group or solo. Kayak4Kuwait, nonetheless, stresses the importance of safe kayaking practices, where the team doesn’t carry out a trip without the required safety gear. Bashar is keen on teaching those who join the different enjoyable aspects from the sport, especially that you can cross long distances in a challenging manner, and it serves as an amazing upper body workout. Bashar also encourages everyone to join because the kayaks now available in Kuwait are super easy to use, and you will soon feel challenged to upgrade your first kayak to a larger one that can also be used on kayaking trips abroad. According to Bashar, the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, as he is overjoyed by not only how kayakers respond to seeing their homeland from the sea, yet every one who has come on board to raise awareness is staggered by what they keep discovering about Kuwait’s deteriorating 52

sea waters. The team also plans on speaking to the government in the near future to see how different MP’s can actively support and implement new legislature that will help preserve and rescue Kuwait’s marine life. One might ask, ‘If I am not a kayaker, how could I possibly help?’ This problem can easily be remedied, as everyone and anyone can help. People can get involved in different ways, whether media outlets, lawyers, environmentalists, or even your average Joe and the Kuwaiti household. It all begins with not only education, yet taking action to actively involve people and leading by example. Just like the amazing team behind Kayak4Kuwait, you don’t need to wait for someone to elicit change because you can do it yourself. This amazing initiative combines the love of adventure with a cause, and through their efforts we have come to learn so much about the different polluting factors that surround us on a daily basis.

We’ve almost become numb to these horrific changes. The Kayak4Kuwait team has refreshed our passions, and re-energized our zest for life, simply by taking us on a fun ride across Kuwait’s coastline. While Bashar always found it difficult to refrain from angrily reprimand those who hastily pollute, he understands the importance of patience, and showing people a different choice by encouraging positive behavior. He leaves us with one motivational conclusion, “If any of the issues that I’ve mentioned or posted about on Instagram are tackled, then we would have tackled so much more than what people could fathom.”

The Kayak4Kuwait team aims to create awareness and trigger actions to help the sea survive to allow future generations to enjoy its natural treasures. All kayakers or anyone with a kayak can join. Follow @Kayak4Kuwait on Instagram for more information.

SPORT WITH STYLE

The battle has begun

ATHLETES FOOT

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

EDGE OF TOMORROW

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

LORDS OF LONDON

Release Date: June 5 Theaters: Grand Cinema and Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Cast: Tom Cruise/Emily Blunt/Bill Paxton

Release Date: June 5 Theaters: Grand Cinema and Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure Cast: Jay Baruchel/Kristen Wiig/America Ferrera

Release Date: June 12 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller Cast: Glen Murphy/Ray Winstone/Giovanni Capalbo

Synopsis: In a near future an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world. Major William Cage is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loopforcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again...and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski. And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.

Synopsis: It’s been five years since Hiccup and Toothless successfully united dragons and vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid, Snotlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races, the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Now, Hiccup and Toothless must unite to stand up for what they believe while recognizing that only together do they have the power to change the future.

Synopsis: Set mainly in picturesque Italy, the story follows villain Tony as he is injured in London, only to wake up in sun-kissed Italy. Problem is, he doesn’t know how he got there. Heading to the nearest town, he begins observing a relationship between a violent, unpredictable English boy, Terry and the Italian girl who has fallen in love with him. Ignored by most of the town, Tony’s only confidant is Francesco, the father of the girl who doesn’t want his daughter to go traveling with Terry. He may also hold the answer to how Tony got here. All the while, flashbacks show Tony’s life as a boy, growing up as the son of a tough London gangster.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

BLENDED

22 JUMP STREET

Release Date: June 12 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Drama Cast: Shailene Woodley/Ansel Elgort/Willem Dafoe

Release Date: June 12 Theaters: Grand Cinema and Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Comedy Cast: Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore/Wendi McLendon-Covey

Release Date: June 19 Theaters: Grand Cinema and Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime Cast: Channing Tatum/Jonah Hill/Ice Cube

Synopsis: Based on The Fault In Our Stars, the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, (also see bazaar books this month) this romantic comedy-drama centers around Hazel and Gus, two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them - and us - on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. This book explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love. Directed by Josh Boone (Stuck in Love) and features a great soundtrack with tracks by Ed Sheeran and OneRepublic.

Synopsis: After a disastrous blind date, single parents Lauren and Jim agree on only one thing: they never want to see each other again. But when they each sign up separately for a fabulous family vacation with their kids, they are all stuck sharing a suite at a luxurious African safari resort for a week. Their attraction grows and their respective kids benefit from the burgeoning relationship. Blended, is the third comedy collaboration between stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, and is directed by Frank Coraci (Click, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Here Comes The Boom).

Synopsis: After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. Now they don’t have to just crack the case - they have to figure out if they can have a mature relationship. If these two overgrown adolescents can grow from freshmen into real men, college might be the best thing that ever happened to them.

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

‫*حسب الشروط واألحكام‬

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‫رياضية‪ ،‬ديناميكية‪ ،‬كفاءة‬

‫‪AUDI‬‬

THAT LAMBAH MOMENT

New service brightens the lives of creative professionals in Kuwait by bazaar staff

You’ve finally done it. You’ve found a space that you absolutely love, and can spend a long time in. You want to make it your own and create the perfect home for you and your family. In Kuwait, to find an interior designer or architect to get your project going you can either rely on big name firms, or word of mouth from friends and family. The same would apply if you were looking for any artist or designer. Yet, there is a whole industry of untapped young creative designers that you would be missing out on. Now, with the launch of Lambah.co, an online venue for artists and creators in Kuwait, you will be able to find every type of creative with the click of a button. It started when Lulwa Al Omani completed her bachelor’s degree in interior design, and stepped into the real world. She searched for a position that would allow her to continue learning about her industry and hone the skills she had acquired as a student. Yet, few would hire her without real world experience and there was no group support for interior designers. Her cousin Aysha, a graphic designer, was having similar difficulties. Together they realized that employment was just a small part of a much larger problem novice creative types in Kuwait face. “The simplest thing is, if I’m working on something, I can’t find a book related to design,” said Lulwa. “We have needs as artists and designers. Even after we graduate we need education and self-development. But, we don’t find these things in Kuwait.” Then in November of 2011 there came the lambah, Arabic word for light bulb, moment when they realized they needed to create something to improve their industry in their home country. They paired up with Lulwa’s sister Maryam Alomani, a mass communication major who became their art director and talent scout and the business minded Dalal Al Houli with a major in finance. By April of the next year they had a concrete plan for the hub of local creative professionals. Then finally, on May 4, the first part of their concept for Lambah Co., the registration at Lambah.co was launched. “We called it Lambah because we wanted something that talked to all designers,” said Dalal. “Every design comes from that light bulb, that moment.” Aysha created a logo and the milestone was marked with a flier blitz documented using the hashtag #LambahAroundKuwait. The girls put stickers of the logo on columns, trucks, buildings, pedestrian cross lights and even at the popular Someday Café. They were surprised when local well-known artists showed up at their office. The girls have chosen a gorgeous 11th floor space designed by Lulwa, and truly visualizes their 56

slogan “brighten your life.” The space is brightly decorated with yellow and turquoise, and has an amazing view of the Arabian Gulf, bound to inspire any creative. Their guests, seated on a lovely leather couch, were given the summary of the vision for Lambah. By the end of Ramadan the girls will be launching a fully-fledged website that aims to become the ultimate hub for creative professionals in Kuwait. The website will launch with four main sections. The directory, for which you can sign up now, will give freelancers and firms the opportunity to put their portfolios on for one year so that potential clients can search them. Businesses looking to brand their trademark can find graphic designers, brides can find wedding planners and advertisers can find movie producers in the vetted list. All with the goal of connecting people with designers. The community is built around a library, where you can find art books and magazines typically absent in the Kuwait market. There you can buy and sell books, and the girls are working hard to

expand the collection. Workshops, seminars and field trips will also be organized for members to connect experienced professionals with fresh graduates. There is even a boutique where furniture and home accessory designers can sell their products online. This ambitious project is just beginning, and the girls are setting their sights high. “In 10 years we hope to be the platform for interior designers and artists in Kuwait,” said Lulwa. “We see it as a company that cultivates young designers in Kuwait, helps them with their needs and problems and gives them direction. It will help them fulfill their dreams any way we can, that is why our slogan is ‘Brighten up your life.’”

Visit www.Lambah.co to register your portfolio today. For more information visit the team in Al Nassar Tower, 11th floor Office 3. Keep up to date on Lambah news on Twitter or Instagram @LambahCo.

MILLY

GROUND FLOOR, ARRAYA CENTER, AL SHUHADA STREET GATE, SHARQ TEL #22997739

bazaar fitness

INSPIRING PILATES by Mike Campbell

Pilates is designed around the core principles that mental and physical health are interrelated. It was designed by Joseph Pilates, a physicalculturist from Germany, during the first half of the 20th century and is a system of exercises which were intended to strengthen the human mind and body. Practiced in gyms all over the world now, Pilates is a conditioning routine that helps build flexibility, muscle strength and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing and developing a strong core or center, and improving coordination and balance. The Pilates system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty, from beginner to advanced. Intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercises. Recently, I had the pleasure of lunching with Nicole Ritchie, the Stott Pilates coach at Inspire Pure Fitness. It was a fantastic opportunity to broaden my knowledge base on the subject of Pilates of which I have a general, but basic, understanding. Mike: So Nicole, how would you define Pilates? Nicole: Basically it is working on your dynamic posture. This involves moving in different planes of movement with muscle control during both the concentric (shortened) and eccentric (lengthened) phases. We focus on what’s happening with and around the joints where the muscle, bone, tendons and ligaments are located. Think of the movement of a bicep curl as the dumbbell moves away from the shoulder toward the hip on the downward phase, in this case the lengthening of the bicep muscles and then moving back toward the shoulder shortening phase. Mike: What are the key points that a new-comer to a Pilates session should be aware of? Nicole: There are 3 key areas that a client should be aware of: The first is to focus. Focus is required to learn the movements. Within the area of focus there are 5 points to remember: 1. Breathing 2. Ribcage placement 3. Pelvic placement (think around the hip bone region) 4. Scapula Placement (think shoulder blades) 5. Cervical placement (think of those vertebrae immediately inferior to the skull). The second is patience. Often clients need to learn and re-learn how the body as a whole is supposed to ideally function. Depending on various factors, the client might have several dysfunctional movement patterns that need to be re-taught. This can take time and is often 58

frustrating at the start too, but becomes easier as you progress. The third and final key is body awareness. A combination of the first two key points into a complete package. Finally, being aware of how the body moves in the client’s daily lifestyle. Mike: What can a client expect to feel after completing a Pilates session? Nicole: Often they will feel tired. Re-learning movement patterns is taxing on the CNS (central nervous system). Focusing for up to 50 minutes is not easy. Clients often feel taller and more relaxed post session and can experience some degree of muscle pain over the next few days as muscles are taught how to correctly operate. Mike: What are some of the main reasons people want to come to you to do a Pilates session? Nicole: Mainly for the following 3 reasons. To try a fun exercise they may have seen, or because it is popular or something that has been seen on Instagram by a famous model or celebrity. The other reasons are to reduce pain, and finally to improve their posture. It’s not uncommon for all points to be linked together.

original exercise method pioneered by the late Joseph Pilates. Their experts have spent over two decades refining the acclaimed Stott Pilates method of exercise and line of equipment. The refined method they created resulted in the inclusion of modern principles of exercise science and rehabilitation, and therefore making it one of the safest and most effective methods available. As well as continuing to develop her Pilates skillset, it’s not uncommon to view Nicole out on the Olympic Lifting platform working on her weightlifting technique. She finds that strength training continues to challenge her, make her stronger and produce a positive example/role-model for females who what to lift weights. Finally, I asked Nicole what would be her number one piece of advice for those wanting to improve the quality of life through Pilates and strength training. “You have to be honest. Honest as to what you can do and are willing to do for yourself. Are you honest enough to treat your body the way it should be treated and be aware of what you can and can’t control? Above all, listen to your body and know it’s never too late and you’re never too old to become a mini bendy beast.” Follow Nicole on Instagram @nicole_leslie_ritchie.

Nicole is “Stott” qualified. She often travels to attend courses in Canada or Hong Kong to pursue her passion in helping people find pain relief through the Stott Pilates method. According to Stott Pilates they describe themselves as a contemporary approach to the

Mike Campbell is the GM and Co Founder of Inspire Pure Fitness. For further information please email: info@inspirekw.com or jane@inspirekw.com or visit www.inspirekw.com.

CMY

EXPRESS

MODERN. ICONIC. COOL.

FASHION FOR WOMEN & MEN

2ND AVE NUE - T HE AVE NUE S TEL : 2495452 0

bazaar goes dining

A CULINARY OPERA Contemporary Italian cuisine takes center stage at Boccini Pizzeria by bazaar staff

The good tastes of the past, reimagined for a refined present. This is the promise that the good people of Boccini Pizzeria aim to deliver local diners. Located at the Levels restaurant complex in Mahboula, you instantly feel like you’ve stepped into a hearty Italian kitchen that is prepping for a grand feast. Boccini’s décor is inspired by modern grandeur. You will be impressed by the fashionable lights and the sleek walls adorned with funky typography, yet your eyes will linger a little longer at the serving plates that are formed to resemble handmade clay creations. Toward the end of the restaurant, the wood fire oven will capture your gaze. Then hunger, if in that rare instant you arrive at this establishment feeling only slightly peckish, will suddenly kick in with the rising aromas wafting out of the oven and kitchen. Expect regional Italian flavors alongside your favorite classics, where the 60

pizza is only prepared Neapolitan style and, at the same time, modern palates will rejoice for many contemporary options using classical flavors. As you feel the opera music playing in the background wash over you, let your eyes glance over the Antipasti selection. We reveled in the wide array of choices, especially the towering Parmigiana Di Melanzane, with layers of parmesan encrusted fried eggplant loaded with both mozzarella and provolone cheese drizzled with a flavorful marinara sauce. We also loved the completely innovative Boccini Nachos. Imagine pasta dough used to make crisp, yet light and fluffy nachos, layered with Parmesan enhanced sauce, basil, onion, and tomatoes, along with pistachio Pesto. This appetizer is also perfect to share amongst friends. If your craving is strictly dough-centric, then you must try the Panzerotti, fried mini calzone filled with beef salami, spicy

rosso pesto, herbs and cheese with tomato sauce. As far as the salads are concerned, the options at Boccini are ample, but the Goat’s cheese salad with summer vegetables is a musttry. Prepared with a whole round of baked goat’s cheese, we loved how the warmth of the cheese complemented the grilled vegetables, while the pistachio and honey citrus vinaigrette elevated the salad’s simplistic flavors. The Pasta Di Casa, or freshly prepared inhouse selection of Pasta, is a sight for sore eyes. Taking on the same ethos in preparing authentic Neapolitan pizza, the pasta selections are equally crafted with care. We loved seeing Spinaci Toretellini (Spinach tortellini) and authentically prepared Carbonara on the menu. Still, we ventured toward the unconventional, and opted for the Parppardelle Con Pollo Salsiccia, Funghi E Asparegi, that’s home made,

perfectly Al-dente’d Pappardelle pasta with chicken sausage, asparagus, juicy mushrooms and punchy Romano cheese with a spiced, smoked pepperflavored tomato cream sauce. Not only is this dish extremely filling, it was layer upon layer of flavor. The sauce alone is addictive, and combining cuts of the asparagus with sausage and the pasta was equally enjoyable. At that moment, we wished we had dined at Boccini in a larger group to sample more of their pasta options. The main attraction at Boccini’s culinary opera is without a doubt their pizza. Prepared Neapolitan style in a wood fire oven, the dough is light, airy, slightly crisped on the outside and a touch soft in the middle. What Boccini has managed to create with that impeccable dough, however, is an admirable feat. Imagine this Neapolitan pizza dough, cut into thin strips, topped with fresh cream cheese and spices, then rolled up into

mini spherical bites. Such is the house creation of the Bocconcini Di Pizze. Or, double up on that dough, and order your pizza Spumanty style to enjoy the taste of an authentic pizza pie. Finally, the Foccaccina Di Pizze delivers a thicker crust, almost like a muffin, with a tomato and spicy veal stuffing spilling over the edges of these small pizzas. All in all, you can opt to go traditional and order your Margherita pizza how you regularly prefer it, or you can dare to try something different and try a staggering 5-cheese pizza! We took a culinary leap of faith and tried the Bocconcini Pesto Rosso, complete with a deep and nutty pesto, olive, caper, anchovy, red onion, ricotta and mozzarella cheese filling. Another highlight at Boccini is the selection of infused olive oils that are prepared by their expert chefs. From garlic, lemon and rosemary to chili to aromatic basil, you can pick and choose between the different oils to

drizzle atop your choice of pizza or pasta. There’s something particularly reassuring about Italian desserts. Whether you choose a Tiramisu, a messy banana and Nutella pizza, or you go for fresh fruit with Mascarpone cheese, you simply know that you’re in for a treat if the dessert is executed with precision. At Boccini, the dessert selections are delightful, especially the Panna Cotta, where the vanilla bean flavored pudding is served with an abundant amount of fresh berries, both sweet and tart and topped with a tangy raspberry coulis. Expect to devour this instantly, and also to find it difficult to share this particular dessert with others. Boccini Pizzeria is located at the Levels restaurant complex in Mahboula. For more information please call 2371 6216 or you can follow them on Instagram @Boccinikw. 61

FOOD MADE FUN

Saveco’s ‘Food Academy’ puts culinary lessons front and center by bazaar staff

When Saveco’s CEO Noor Al-Qatami was pursuing a degree in the management of teams from Bentley University, right outside of Boston, Massachusetts, she had an unusual past time: grocery shopping. She roamed the isles of local supermarkets and discovered new brands and ingredients, admired displays and got lost in the possibilities. She returned home to Kuwait in 2008 to a comfortable desk job as a director with Al-Qatami Steel. Yet she felt unfulfilled, “It was a waste of time for me and a waste of money for my father,” said Al-Qatami. “I would go in and sign papers and do nothing. At the end of the day when I sat with myself and reviewed what I did that day. I’d say ‘What is the thumbprint that Noor put in this world, what did I do?’ I didn’t do anything. So I told my father – I can’t do this.” At home with nothing to do, Al-Qatami tried to go back to her favorite past time but found that the food shopping experience she loved was not available in her home country. She complained to her father constantly until one day he told her to stop complaining and do something about it. Then it hit her, starting a supermarket would be the perfect thumbprint for her. But, it wasn’t just about the food offerings. AlQatami was still very concerned with making her mark and being a positive influence on society. Instead she came up with what she says is a fusion between a mall and a supermarket. Saveco offers everything from clothes to electronics and home appliances, food and kitchen gadgets and even has an indoor playground for kids. The megastore 62

is massive with rows upon rows of imported goods, at bargain prices. Most important, a visit to Saveco is sure to be an educational one. “The whole idea behind Saveco is that it is an educational supermarket,” she said. “It’s not a regular supermarket. If you go anywhere downstairs you will see educational signs everywhere, like health benefits of fruits and vegetables. There is a recipe printer where you can choose certain products and it will print a recipe for you” The store has 12 sample stations that let customers taste healthy alternatives to their normal shopping list. Al-Qatami will also make recipes available for unknown products to encourage customers to try new items. But, the crème de la crème of Al-Qatami’s new venture is the Food Academy. Located in the center of the store, with glass walls surrounding the space, the Food Academy offers classes for moms, children and even the house cook. “I wanted people to have a better way of learning how to cook,” she said. “The issue when they are learning in a regular classroom is they don’t have the items right in front of them. Here you have alternatives right in front of you, where you can go and get them. The Food Academy has offered classes in healthy meals, Kuwaiti national dishes, cake decorating and making for kids, and even one on organic cooking. The twelve stations are equipped with products from Moulinex, Kandy, Pyrex, Brabantia, Geo, Salter and Ballarini, all sponsors of the academy. The gorgeous space is so well equipped it hosted an upcoming Ramadan cooking show for the Al Watan television station. The classes have been wildly successful thus

far. Participants have told Al-Qatami that the classes were the best they have had, and shoppers stop to watch through the glass windows. Comments that keep a broad smile on the young CEO’s face. It is that personal connection with her project that indicates Saveco’s future success in the Kuwaiti market. She runs her own social media accounts to avoid a buffer between her and the complaints. When customers tell her they want to see a product on the shelves, she works hard to get it for them. We took a tour of her store, and Al-Qatami stopped frequently to adjust shelved products and check on items that may need to be restocked. Whenever she stopped to talk to an employee she would address them by name, a difficult feat for anyone leading a team that large. In the coming months Saveco will introduce a savings card that gives you a discount at check out and home delivery for all their products. Ramadan lessons at Food Academy for the whole family are sure to help you make your iftars memorable. Not to mention the plethora of healthy food choices that are bound to put you back on the healthy track. Saveco is here, and Al-Qatami is using her thumbprint to make grocery-shopping fun. Saveco is located in Al-Rai off the 4th Ring Road. Contact them at 2228 7700 or visit their website at www.saveco.com. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram @saveco, or on Twitter @SaveCoQ8. For more information on the Food Academy you can call 9714 6363 or follow them on Twitter @FoodAcademyKw or Instagram @TheFoodAcademy.

SWATCH

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN BRAZIL: PART ONE by Hoda Abbas Marafie

CRISTIANO RONALDO

LUIS SUAREZ

THIBAUT COURTOIS

LIONEL MESSI

SERGIO RAMOS

Country: Portugal Age: 29 Position: FW Caps: 110 Goals: 49

Country: Uruguay Age: 27 Position: FW Caps: 77 Goals: 39

Country: Belgium Age: 22 Position: GK Caps: 15 Goals: 0

Country: Argentina Age: 27 Position: FW Caps: 84 Goals: 37

Country: Spain Age: 28 Position: DF Caps: 115 Goals: 9

It took a dramatic two-leg playoff against Sweden, including four goals by Ronaldo himself, to book Portugal’s place in the tournament. As much as it pains many football fans that Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be missing this year, it would have been a slightly awkward international tournament without the reigning winner of the Balon d’Or, La Liga pichichi of the 13/14 season and winner of the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid C.F. Portugal’s all-time top scorer will be hoping to captain his team to glory in what could be his last chance to lift the historical trophy.

The English Premier League’s standout player of the 13/14 season by far, Luis Suarez will be attempting to replicate his deadly attacking Liverpool form for Uruguay in Brazil. Suarez is known for his notorious antics on the pitch, not to mention the blatant handball that stopped a certain goal for Ghana in the 2010 World Cup that cost Ghana advancement to the semifinals, but he is older now and some might say that he has matured. What’s certain is that fans will be expecting the same fire he plays with for Liverpool be blazing when he plays for his national team.

At the age of 22 and since the past couple of seasons, Courtois has been widely considered to be a future legendary goalkeeper. Courtois was an easy pick for the Belgium World Cup squad, due to an impressive 20 clean sheets for Atletico Madrid this season and a shiny new La Liga winners’ medal. Hoping for clean sheets in Brazil, Courtois will be shielded by tanks at the back named Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen and Daniel Van Buyten. A towering figure standing at 1.98m (6’6”), Courtois will be a source of confidence and security between the two posts.

Not a lot of superlatives left to describe the player many consider to be the best ever. He has won everything he could possibly win at club level with Barcelona but many others say he can’t be the best ever until he wins the World Cup with Argentina. Following a disappointing trophy-less season in Spain, Messi will be looking to salvage his confidence and lead his national team to a victory. The four-time Balon d’Or winner will be backed by a talented in-form crop of players such as Angel Di Maria, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Sergio Aguero to score as many goals as possible.

Spain is one of the favorites to win the tournament and Ramos is one of the reasons why. Sergio Ramos was by far the best Spanish player to play for Real Madrid this past season, winning the Copa del Rey and winning the final of the UEFA Champions League. Ramos is dependable at the back and can be counted on to occasionally unleash his headed goals. If given open spaces, Ramos can orchestrate a rapid and powerful attack and deliver the perfect pass into the final third. He and his team will be looking to win consecutive World Cup trophies so the motivations and expectations are high.

GIULIETTA

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN BRAZIL: PART TWO by Hoda Abbas Marafie

DANIEL STURRIDGE

NEYMAR

FRANCK RIBÉRY

TONI KROOS

MARIO BALOTELLI

Country: England Age: 24 Position: FW Caps: 10 Goals: 3

Country: Brazil Age: 22 Position: FW Caps: 47 Goals: 30

Country: France Age: 31 Position: MF Caps: 81 Goals: 16

Country: Germany Age: 24 Position: MF Caps: 42 Goals: 5

Country: Italy Age: 23 Position: FW Caps: 29 Goals: 12

Daniel Sturridge was Luis Suarez’s partner in crime for Liverpool this season with 21 goals, proving himself to be worthy of a call up from England manager, Roy Hodgeson. In his first appearance at the World Cup, Sturridge will be playing alongside the experienced Wayne Rooney who might be making his last appearance at the tournament. Sturridge packs thundering speed and pace in his arsenal and can play central and wide attacking positions. He makes for the perfect replacement for when Wayne Rooney hands over the reins and the World Cup the perfect stage to prove he’s capable.

Neymar is under immense pressure to perform and deliver what’s expected from him from his fellow Brazilians and the world for that matter. He’s a fast and skillful winger but is often accused of cheap diving. It’s been a long time since Brazil was seen as the indestructible force in international football and supporters are looking toward Neymar to bring that image back. The fact that he shares the same club disappointments, as his Barcelona teammate, Messi, will be fuel to show that world that he is worth all the pressure and responsibility laid upon him.

This will most likely be the last time Franck Ribéry features in a World Cup but it won’t be his last international tournament to showcase himself on a global stage. Ribéry brings in experience, strength and attacking power to an underperforming French squad. With Samir Nasri controversially excluded from the squad in Brazil, Ribéry needs to perform well enough to back that decision by French manager, Didier Deschamps and make up for the loss of Nasri. Ribéry publically revealed his bitterness at losing the Balon d’Or to Cristiano Ronaldo and occasionally loses his temper on the pitch, but French supporters will be hoping he releases his passion through his performance.

Toni Kroos is already seen as one of the best young midfielders in the world. He may not be a prolific goal scorer but his vision and great reading of the game makes him great at opening play and creating real chances. Numerous European clubs have been courting Kroos all season in the hopes that he would be an answer to a weak midfield. He is strong and a player who stays on his feet, not wasting any opportunities to move play forward. He can also be frightening in the final third, having enough confidence to fire in long shots from outside the box at different angles.

He’s either a powerful presence or an immature idiot. One thing for sure is that you never know what might happen when Mario is on the pitch. When inspired, Balotelli can be unstoppable. He gets top marks in strength, power and ego allowing him to go on solo runs with defenders bouncing off him before displaying his shot power in the final third. He’s a skillful finisher and he knows it. Despite being a behavioral liability, Balotelli will be one of the more entertaining players to watch for both supporters of Italy and their opponents as well.

SHEAFFER

inside/out

THE RASTA BABA by bazaar staff

For Basil AlHadi, singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist of the band Karrouhat, music is a fluid thing that connects us all. Expressing both his love for his roots and his favorite music through his own brand of Arabic Reggae, he is primarily interested in music’s magical ability to connect us all. His belief in positive energy and a joyful spirit have earned him the loving nickname Rasta Baba, by friends and fans alike. After majoring in Telecom engineering, Basil studied film in New York where he earned a degree in acting. He also got involved in making short films and documentaries, at least one of which was featured in major film festivals in France. Still he always comes back to his musical roots. Currently he is trying to create his signature sound of Arabic Reggae, bringing it from far away Jamaica to the Arab world and enhancing it with Eastern flavors. As an artist he tries to keep moving so as not to get stagnant and notes the Middle East as 68

being exceptionally inspirational in this regard. As part of the “art salon” group he also tries to help others. Since 2012, he has worked with them to organize events and festivals for peace with the United Nations. They support young artists from the Middle East and try to help them to overcome the early steps to get started as artists. We check in with Rasta Baba to talk all things music. How did your musical journey begin? Since long before I was born, my family has been involved in music; it’s in the genes. My last name AlHadi is itself an old Arabic word that means “the musician who entertains travelers.” My Grandfather was 7adi, he was like the mp3 player of his age. I started out by playing a mostly broken guitar. Also, since I’m left-handed, there are very few places to learn how to play, so I had to start by playing the guitar upside down. I noticed early on that I was pretty good at writing and composing songs so I kept with it.

What/Who inspires you to compose your music? I’ve always been inspired from the street, society and daily events of life. So, the starting point of a song could be a simple word I hear from a guy working at a gas station, somebody camping in the desert, or even a dream I had while sleeping. Most of the time while I’m writing the lyrics, the composition is playing in my head naturally. I’m a big fan of the theory of simplicity. I try to compose in a way that anybody can understand because I’m delivering my songs to everybody, not just musicians. Lyrics wise, I’m 100% aware of what is happening in daily life and try to write true to everyday life. Genre wise, I have a very big influence from Reggae music. In the 80s when Bob Marley was pretty big, I had an uncle who was studying in the Philippines. He would bring me back cassettes. I’ll never forget the first time I heard ‘Buffalo Soldier.’ It clicked with me right away and I have been a fan ever since.

Why did you choose this genre of music? The feeling of the beat and bass is really something remarkably different with this genre, especially when the one-drop feeling invented after the Ska & Rock Steady genres. They all inspired me to create this subgenre called Arabic Reggae. Reggae is all about feeling. The drum part, for example can’t be played stiff and machine-like. He has to groove. If he is not feeling it, the onedrop, it will not work right. The rhythm guitarist as well cannot play on normal ON beats; he should be keeping the offbeat with a chunky style. What are some of the challenges of performing your music locally? I think there are not enough venues to host alternative bands that don’t fit the main stream. Also in the beginning it was hard to sing the street language and different topics about life, philosophy, or a dream of eating watermelon on MARS. But at the end of the day, if you believe in what you are doing you

will find a way to do it. Another big challenge is that it was hard for event producers and organizers to see that people would enjoy this type of music at events, but now things have started to change. The crowds are bored from the same music and this makes the organizers have to book different types of bands. Honestly I believe we helped to kick-start the music scene here for alternative genres. Is the final sound of a musical track an individual or group effort? I believe it is all teamwork! It’s the best feeling to work with people who understand you musically and have the same dream, so the final product is a group effort for sure. Normally though, I start with writing and composing the song as a first draft. We then sit with the band or producer to get the final image in the right frame. Who/What in your early beginnings influenced your music? I listen to everything. But some of my favorites

are: Asmahan, Aisha ElMarta, Awad AlDoukhi, Ziad AlRahbany, Khalid ElHabr, Bob Dylan, Mohamad Muneer, Pink Floyd, Rodriguez and even gypsy Roman bands. Still, Bob Marley is the biggest influence and all time legend. In your opinion, what was the hardest challenge you faced in your musical career so far? The financial support is probably the hardest thing in any musician’s life. You often need a day job doing anything other than music just to feed yourself and family. You can’t produce without money and there are often many free shows done when you are just starting out. That said, this is all after you have a good product, good lyrics and music to share with people, so the first challenge is having something. How has the Middle Eastern world reacted to your sound? I’m not in a place to decide here, but it seems as if people really enjoy it. That’s the feedback [cont..] 69

[continued...] I get. I think because I’m talking about daily life in the lyrics, I think everyone can relate to it. Do you feel that music should always serve a specific purpose? Sure it should, because it can influence people; so the song should have a message. The songwriter is the person who is responsible for this. I want to send a positive vibe to people so I have to focus on finding the good—even in the worst scenarios. What are some of your favorite tracks, and why? I need a full book to fill this list! No doubt though, my mp3 player will always have Bob Marley, Pink Floyd and gypsy music. Beyond that, my list is long. What is your dream performance space and destination? Woodstock in 70s era! Other than that, my plan is to tour the Middle East and then a world tour. 70

Do you have a favorite gig, or place that you’ve played? My favorite gig—and where we got a very warm reception — was at the International Peace Day last year. We played on a great rooftop venue in Istanbul, Turkey. What would you like to accomplish in the future? I have big dreams, and a plan to achieve them. I’m now going to Istanbul to work with musicians and a big record label there. I’ll record my first album officially, between here, Istanbul and London this year. Then I will start touring with my band Karrouhat, the Turkish version. My other plan is to create a musical bridge between Middle East and Istanbul, which I have already started. Of course the current thing I have been working on for many years is the Kuwait music scene. I’ll always keep myself here because of all my friends, and fellow musicians who are working

to make this such a great music scene. When is your next show in Kuwait? We just had a big show at the end of May. As for what’s next? We have a big show coming up on the 21st of September at CAP for the purpose of Peace. I will also perform soon with a Turkish band that should be a big surprise in Kuwait. Hopefully everybody can make it as it should be a good show. I will post the details to Instagram and Facebook, so be sure to follow me. To follow Basil and Karrouhat, Instagram @karrouhat or Facebook: basil.hadi. You can also reach Karrouhat Studios on Facebook and YouTube: KarrouhatStudio. Inside/Out brings you the freshest of local music and worldwide industry trends - submit your recordings!

WAHRAN TRADING

bazaar apps READMILL

NAS AIRPORTS

WORLD CUP 2014 BRAZIL

GRID

Now you can follow all the games of the FIFA Football World Cup 2014 in Brazil. This app is very user-friendly as you can quickly access the areas you want using the tabs provided. Also involves full data customization so you can track your chosen teams, groups, and matches, view a schedule of all matches in the World Cup championship, gain match details including scorers, line-up, substitute players, cards, the list of substitutions, coaches and referees, browse results in offline mode, view a history of previous World Cup results, set the specific time zone, and also be first to receive news about Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. Available free for Android devices.

Organize all the thoughts in your untidy mind into tidy little spaces with Grid. Whether you’re planning a trip, collaborating on a project with coworkers, or you just enjoy making order out of chaos, it helps you easily display a bunch of information in a way that just makes sense. It lets you create grids of related items, including text, maps, photos, and contacts, with intuitive touch gestures accompanied by minimal chrome. When you’re done, you can share them with friends to work together, or just save them for your own reference. Free on iPhone devices.

MAGISTO VIDEO EDITOR AND MAKER

UP COFFEE

Just because you’ve already gotten your hands on one of the many great e-readers available doesn’t mean you should discount the one in your pocket, at any given time — your smartphone. Readmill gives you the kind of reading experience you’ve always wanted, with the convenience of a device you’re already carrying. The app is designed beautifully, and includes a host of adjustable attributes like font size and brightness. The ability to highlight and share your favorite passages makes reading a bit more social, while a wealth of free reading material means you’ll never be left without a good book to dive into. Free for Android and iPhone devices.

Included in Google’s list of Best Apps of 2013, Magisto Video Editor & Maker automatically turns your video clips and photos into awesome edited movies, complete with your choice of music, cool graphics, and effects, in just a few magical minutes! You don’t have to be a video or photo editor or know anything about video or photo editing at all. Magisto will analyze your video and photos and splice it together for you, creating a professional looking movie—an edit that you’ll be proud to share with your friends on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Email, Youtube and even Whatsapp. Best of all, it is free for Android and iPhone devices.

This is the new app from The National Aviation Service (NAS). It currently covers Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Kigali, Sharm El Sheikh, & Kabul International Airport, as well as “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services. Using this app you can receive live flight information updates (Departure & Arrival), complete passenger check-in and seat selection procedure from your mobile device, book airport “Lounge” services and enjoy fast Internet, comfortable waiting area, delicious buffet, kids play area and much more. Book airport “Meet & Assist” services for arriving and departing passengers, trace lost luggage among other things. Available free on iPhone and Android devices.

UP Coffee, the first app from Jawbone Labs, is the simplest way to understand how caffeine affects your sleep. Behind its delightful interface, Jawbone’s world-class data scientists crunch numbers so you can learn about your body’s reaction to caffeine effortlessly. If you have a fitness band, it will make correlations, and tell you when it might be wise to stop sipping espresso if you’re hoping to sleep at a reasonable hour that night. UP Coffee knows when you’re “wired” and how long it will take you to become “Sleep Ready”. Check in with UP Coffee when you drink, and even when you don’t, for just 7 days to reveal your Caffeine Persona. Free for iPhone devices only.

SALE 50%

upto

ADOLFO

DON’T JUDGE A GAME BY ITS GRAPHICS You will miss out on the adventurous world of indie games by Ashraf Abdalla

It recently dawned on me, what I’ve been playing most on my PC and consoles, and what a lot of friends, acquaintances and I have been buzzing about the most over the last couple of months (if I’m being really honest I’d actually say the last couple of years,) were Independent, or indie games. There have been tons of indie games released over the last few years, it’s been a growing phenomenon, my Steam library (if you don’t know what steam is, you may want to do your research and come back to this) is chock full of indie games sitting right next to dozens of games by mainstream developers and publishers. At first glance, indie games generally illicit the reaction “that looks horrible” (that’s not to say all indie games look bad, some are absolutely gorgeous). That initial reaction is exactly what makes most indie games amazing. These games are made by passionate small teams who tend to fund these projects out of their own pockets before starting to sell them on one of the multitude of digital delivery platforms, or crowd-fund them à la Kickstarter and their heart and soul is poured into them. Indie games hearken back to days of old when games weren’t about the graphics, or the effects, or selling a console system over another. It was all about the gameplay and the challenge. I’ve spent countless hours on a number of these over the last couple of years. FTL: Faster than Light was one of the first Kickstarter projects I pledged money for. It’s one of the most played games on my gaming rig, MacBook and more recently my iPad following the release of the iOS version. Gameplay is simple and straightforward yet complex enough to present you with many variant strategies. Graphics are pixilated but cute, the music futuristic and atmospheric. You’re the captain of a federation ship trying to escape the rebels to a federation base across the galaxy. The mission: deliver a vital piece of information. I’ve finished it multiple times, and it has been a wildly different journey each time. FTL is a labor of love and that really shows. This was a game made by two guys, with brilliant music written by someone they commissioned for the job. That is what indie games are all about. Day Z is another labor of love that started off as a mod to ARMA, a tactical military sim game. Day Z added zombies and online survival play for you and a team of friends or strangers in a massive map on a multitude of online servers. The mod was made by one of the ARMA developers, and more recently became an indie standalone game. Anyone who has ever played Day Z if prodded, will regale you 74

with countless adventures of exploration, terrifying moments, hopeless odds, miraculous survival, being a predator against another group of survivors or prey of a clan of Mad Max-like gamers. That mod kept me up many a work night well past when I should have gone to bed. I can think of dozens of more indie games that entertained me for hours on end. Hotline Miami, a gory top-down action game with cool story telling, gore, stealth, more gore, a brilliantly thematic soundtrack and art style inspired by all the dystopian movies of the 80s, blended perfectly together. Monaco, where you and a team of friends are conducting multiple heists, is a complete riot when things start going wrong. Starhwal: Just the Tip, a local multiplayer fighting game, really needs to be appreciated. Nidhogg with its epic fencing battle is another favorite. Others like Don’t Starve, Outlast (this is the only game I’ve ever stopped playing because I was genuinely scared and freaked out), Limbo, Payday 2, Rust, Gone home, and Dear Esther, are just a small portion of the list of brilliant indie games.

Indie games don’t necessarily have to be small affairs. Star Citizen is one of the games I’m most excited about. I missed the Kickstarter campaign but will pledge on their website probably right after I’m done writing this. It’s an epic space sim the likes of which we have not seen since the days of Wing Commander and Elite. Star Citizen being more like the latter in its free form. For those who might be too young to know that reference: you’re in space and you can do whatever you want. The game started with a crowd-funding goal of $500,000 on Kickstarter and at the time of writing has now reached $43.6 million. Its graphics put most AAA titles to shame and you can do more than you could possibly imagine in its expansive universe. It is a PC gamer’s dream come true. Don’t overlook indie games just because they might not look that great, or you may have not heard of them with all the AAA marketing and hype. Some indie games will be the most fun you’ve had in ages, and if that doesn’t persuade you, the fact that most cost $15 or less but offer you hour upon hour of fun for you and your friends, should help.

THE AMERICAN TAX BUREAU Expat taxes done locally by bazaar staff

When living abroad, many American citizens watch the looming April tax deadlines with a combination of relief and apprehension. On the one hand they envision their many counterparts back home making the mad-dash to a mailbox by midnight in order to get postmarked in time, and are glad they are not apart of it. But on the other, because your tax situation is so different than your average counterpart back home, it is tough to keep up on what you owe, when you owe it, and what your allowances may be. Lucky for you all, there is now a local company set up to help you ensure that you are keeping as much of your own money as possible, all while keeping you worry-free about getting the tax man his due. We sit down with Danielle Huss the General Manager of The American Tax Bureau to see why this is so important. Why open a U.S. tax preparation company in Kuwait? Currently, there are many U.S Citizens as well as many permanent residents residing in Kuwait. There are no U.S. tax preparation companies dedicated to help these citizens with their tax needs while living and working outside the United States. Every year the tax laws change and are consistently difficult to understand. Many citizens are unaware of what they are required to file and why they must do so; therefore, American Tax Bureau was founded to relieve U.S. Citizens and permanent residents of the stress that is involved with preparing and filing their tax returns every year. What is FATCA? It is the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and certain U.S. taxpayers holding financial assets outside the United States must report those assets to the IRS. Foreign Financial Institutions will be required to submit annual reports about financial accounts that exceed $50,000 held by U.S. taxpayers directly to the IRS. Foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest are also required to report information. Kuwaitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ministry of Finance has already formed a committee that is preparing to sign the FATCA agreement before the July 1st deadline this year. Failure to report foreign financial assets may result in a penalty starting at $10,000 (and a penalty up to $50,000 for continued failure after IRS notification). Further, underpayments of tax attributable to non-disclosed foreign financial assets will be subject to an additional substantial understatement penalty of 40 percent. Who is obligated to file a tax return? By U.S. Federal Law all U.S. Citizens, including passport and Green Card holders, are required to file an annual tax return with the IRS, even if you do not owe any money. Unfortunately many people wrongly assume that because they have never 76

owed money or they live and work outside the U.S., they do not have to file, which is not the case. When is the deadline for filing a U.S. tax return? For most taxpayers, April 15th is the deadline to file returns but U.S. Citizens living abroad have an automatic 2-month extension making the deadline June 15th. However, it is important to know that if you owe any money and do not pay the tax due by April 15th, interest will be charged from that date until the date the tax is paid. What are the consequences for failing to file on time? If you do not file your return by June 15th, you

can be charged a failure-to-file penalty and interest on whatever you may owe. Greater consequences can occur for those who have never filed or havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t done so for years including hefty fines, freezing and seizure of financial accounts, liens on physical assets, and even criminal prosecution. If a citizen renounces their U.S. citizenship, would they still be responsible for paying taxes? Yes, a timely filed tax return is still due for the year in which you renounce. It is a partial year return that will reflect from January 1 to the date the Certificate of Loss of Nationality (COLN) was issued. A person who renounced would still be

ATB sends a monthly newsletter to all clients and subscribers to keep them updated on all tax-related news. required to pay any outstanding amounts due up to the date of renunciation. Also, an additional U.S. Exit Tax is required of those who qualify as a covered expatriate under one of three tests. One, if the individual has a net worth of $2 million USD or more at the time of renunciation. Two, if the individual had an average annual net income tax liability of more than $157,000 USD in the five years ending before the date of expatriation. Or three, the individual failed to certify that he or she had complied with all U.S. Federal tax obligations for the five years preceding the date of expatriation.

Is American Tax Bureau part of the U.S. Government? No, ATB is a privately owned company in Kuwait. We are in compliance with all laws and regulations pertaining to the U.S. tax system but are not a U.S. Government entity or affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Like any other tax filing company, ATB submits client tax returns to the IRS as part of its service, but the IRS does not have access to confidential client information. Your financial information is protected at ATB, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a guarantee. How can ATB help? We offer an initial private consultation during

which one of our qualified tax preparers will answer questions regarding your individual tax requirements ensuring you have an accurate understanding of your situation. We will thoroughly review your tax situation and prepare your return making certain that you do not over-pay the IRS, and that you get all deductions and tax advantages that you may be entitled to claim. The American Tax Bureau is located in Mazaya Tower #2 on Omar Ibn Alkatab St. in Sharq. You can reach them by phone at 9800 6080 or online at www.americantaxbureau.com 77

bazaar love/hate

THE WORLD CUP by bazaar staff

By the time you are reading this, it is very likely that we will be very close to, or already into the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The 32 teams from around the world will have gathered for an attempt at the greatest victory in worldwide football, though some admittedly have more chance than others. Sixty-four years after it first hosted a FIFA World Cup, Brazil will once again stage the event. With a record five world titles to its name and the distinction of being the only country to have played in all 19 previous editions of the tournament, Brazil is counting down the days until the participating nations and their fans arrive on its shores. In honor of these matches, here they are: your Love/Hate occurrences for the World Cup. #5 The Incessant repeat of official songs – The official World Cup song is nice enough as an idea. And generally, the multicultural approach and (supposed) spotlight on the home country is a welcomed one, but that can only last about the first ten times you hear the official song. The problem is that you are destined to hear it at least a thousand more times before the games are over. This is especially bad in a year when the song 78

happens to be a bad one (I’m thinking of you Daryll Hall!). Plus there are about 10 different versions of the official songs, plus all the unofficial versions; it can really be a bit much (for more information on the best songs of FIFA history, see our article on the World Cup songs in this month’s issue). #4 Other Football fans – Have you seen football fans lately? They are loud! They are rambunctious!! They are troublemakers! They are…hooligans! And that’s just my grandmother. Wait until you see the people less hampered by old age and a 6pm curfew. There is really no telling which way the crowd is going to go at any minute, and anger+frustration over your team’s loss = disaster à la mode (as in fight mode). So if you are going to the games, cheer like crazy, stay safe, and watch out for my grandmother! #3 Astronomical prices – We get it: hot dogs have to cost about 20 US dollars once they cross the stadium threshold. Thank you, but no. I will take the parking lot-sold mystery street meat for 0.50 centavos amigo! #2 Fair-weather fans blocking your TV – So you couldn’t afford the thousand Dinar trip to Brazil and back? At least you can sit at your home/ office/favorite gathering spots amongst friends

and frien-emies both! You’ve waited four long years for your team to get another crack at the World Cup title and…at the last minute some guy who doesn’t even like football puts his huge cranium right between you and the screen…UGH! #1 Your home country gets knocked out in an early round and you are forced to spend the rest of the month with your head hung in shame – Truth be told, there is nothing as good as the feeling of your team doing well in the World Cup, but most of us understand our chances heading in. So for us realists out here, we revert to a mentality of “I know we cannot win, but just don’t get knocked out too early”. This request seems understandable enough. You have the next four years of razzing on the line here. You just need a little something to be proud of—is that too much to ask? Beyond just that though, there is nothing worse during an entire month’s worth of games than seeing your countries’ chances of winning go down before they even get going; love the games, hate this part. Best of luck to you all…and my team most of all! Love/Hate is your monthly guide to the arguing voices in our collective heads! No it’s not. Yes it is! No its not. Yes it is…

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WISDOM FROM AN UNWISE BACKPACKER: COTOPAXI by Mohammad Alsanea

It was not as dramatic as a movie scene but it was real. I was trying hard to hold onto my axe digging my boots into as much as I could find of the glaciers below my feet, attached only by a rope to a man half my size, and which I hoped to be twice my strength. I felt just like a lizard stuck somewhere along the Cotopaxi volcano (OK, this metaphor is wrong in so many ways but it’s as close as what I imagined I would look like on Google Earth that very moment). For the few moments that followed I asked my guide to stop yelling at me and allow me just those few seconds of silence (which I truly believed at the time to be my last) and for the first time that I could remember I was able to listen. I listened to the sound of ice as the wind blows, sounding like shattered pieces of glass. I listened to myself, my inner voice, to my hopes and my dreams. I listened for the first time in a while to my own faith. It was such an experience to listen to myself detached from all the voices in my world and being able to see clearly my choices, my mistakes and my past experiences. It was a very strange feeling of calmness that came upon me in that time of fear. Fernando’s voice slowly began to pierce into the silence as he shouted at me to keep moving. And although I don’t remember how exactly, but thanks to my genetics, I was able to stretch my legs and dig my crampons into my next step. I am not an adventurous person by nature or nurture. But in recent years I developed a habit of challenging myself. Sometimes it becomes a mistake (a nerve wrecking night walk on the dark streets of Puno) and sometimes it’s a triumph but almost always it’s a lesson and a wonderful story to tell. Cotopaxi is one of the highest volcanoes in South America standing tall at 5,897m in Ecuador. I spent around five days in the Andean region trekking surrounding mountains, reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, and listening to stories of those who lost their lives attempting Cotopaxi and its surroundings. Very encouraging I must say! At 4,800m I was enjoying my hot chocolate inside the refugio; a refuge along the trail where trekkers spend a night to acclimatize, rest and gear up for their midnight climb to the peak of the volcano. I had an unsettling feeling in my stomach as I started to get my climbing gear on and clipping the harness to my waist (a valuable piece of advice: make sure to gear up after carrying out your call of nature duties). Trekking on snow and ice is very different from what I had experienced before. I had to keep up my speed to avoid snow crashing beneath my feet and dodge dangerous crevasses while navigating for the best route against the sloping and ever shifting snow. I was also attached to my guide, which meant that I was putting his life at risk and I was barely coping with the pressure 80

of my own life here to be able to handle another. After almost four hours and about half way to the summit my body was aching and running out of breath. I tried to keep up, although in my mind I knew that Cotopaxi had triumphed and that I gave up hours before as I crossed the glaciers. After reaching our resting spot I asked Fernando, just as a mere confirmation to my hurting ego, if he thinks that we can make it in time before the sun comes up melting the snow below and his exact cryptic reply to me was “my job is not to get you to the peak but to get you back alive.” A few hours later two avalanches struck the area and all the trekkers had to descend leaving Cotopaxi to claim its victory. After I left my job I noticed that people constantly gave me advice on what I should do or should have done, where to work and what not to do. And while much of the advice was well

intended and few of them may be wise, I found myself in a state of static confusion. There are those who want to keep you grounded and others who want to push you off the cliff. But in the midst of this confusion I lost sight of my own self and it was in those moments that I fell back on the valuable lessons I learned from previous experiences. We have two voices: an outer voice and an inner voice. The outer voice is that voice shaped by our family, society, culture and religion. It is the voice which is logical and wise most of the time. The latter voice, however, is that voice that will let you know the truth about yourself. Maybe sometimes we need to be pushed off a cliff, to step away from comfort, take a leap of faith, maybe dive deep into an ocean, jump off a plane or hang to the side of a volcano in order to listen to that inner voice within to know the truth about ourselves.

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CROSSFIT965

Kuwait takes on the Regionals by bazaar staff

CrossFit is currently big news, and Kuwait has not been left behind. Meet the CrossFit965 Team, who recently made Kuwait proud by competing on the country’s behalf at the Regionals competition. We sat down with them to give us information about the competition and their reasons for pursuing CrossFit. The CrossFit competition season begins with the worldwide Open competition. Everyone in the world is invited to compete in five workouts over five weeks, posting their scores online in real time. This year, over 200,000 athletes competed in the Open. Competitors are then ranked both worldwide and by region. The fittest 48 men, 48 women, and 30 teams from each region earn invitations to one of 17 Regionals. This is the first chance athletes will have in 2014 to establish their international standings. After the Open, the fittest from each of 17 regions around the world move on to the next phase of the season—Regionals. Athletes and spectators gather en masse to watch the CrossFit competition in a live format. Over the course of three days, athletes perform brutal events to test the range and depth of their capabilities. This year, the Asia regionals took place in Seoul, South Korea from May 23-25. CrossFit965 was one of the top 30 teams, and the first team from Kuwait to compete in Asia regionals ever. CrossFit965 is comprised of Head Coach Craig Drennan (36), Tarek Trad (28), Eloy Rodrigues (27), Moussa Alanezi (27), Dalal Al Qattan (27) Lulu Al Armeli (25), Jay Still (23), Haya Al-Issa, and Amy Freeman (27). Although they are competing as one team, their backgrounds and motivations are all very diverse. bazaar: Hey CrossFit965! Tell us about yourselves and why you got into CrossFit. Tarek Trad (@tarektrad): My background is obesity. 82

When I started losing weight, I felt that I lagged behind my peers in terms of sport, but felt that I’ve got the commitment and energy. I got bored of traditional weightlifting at the gym, and got introduced to CrossFit. I’ve never felt more confident about myself, and now my aim in training is not to look better, but to perform better! It’s a great community! Jay Still (@jayjstill): My partner is Ben Thompson, a.k.a. Speedy. He is one of the fittest men in Asia and a leader in CrossFit in Kuwait. Watching him motivated me to get into it. Craig Drennan (@leanermenastronger): My friend told me to have a go. I did and failed miserably and realized I wasn’t fit at all, so went about rectifying it. Haya Al-Issa (@hayaalissa): I had a great trainer (Ben Thompson) who made me love the sport. It changed the way I think about my strength and fitness and I liked the sense of community #onebigfamily Dalal Al Qatan (@dalwaq): I wanted to be strong enough to aerial dance, then suddenly felt the love for the sport. Eloy Rodrigues: It gave me something specific and measurable to gauge my improvements on and because of it I made a lot of friends in the community. Lulu Alarmeli: I enjoy the sense of community, and it taught me that also as a smaller sized athlete, CrossFit has a lot to offer. bazaar: Has CrossFit generated a following in Kuwait or is it still growing as a sport? CrossFit has generated a following, with currently four gyms tailoring to this sport. That said, there is still plenty of room for growth as the sport just started to be recognized nationwide. bazaar: How did the team form? The individuals with the highest scores in the

open made it to the team. bazaar: What do you hope to achieve from the tournament? Regardless of our performance, we are just happy to be the first team from Kuwait to ever represent in Asia Regionals. No matter how we perform, and if future teams from Kuwait make it, we will be happy, but it will be remembered that the first team to participate is CrossFit965. bazaar: Were you faced with any challenges and what were they? It’s very difficult to get a group of 8 opinionated individuals to get along. We had a few bumpy roads, but then focus on what’s best for the team and moved along. Another issue was funding. Costa Kuwait (@costakuwait) believes in the youth and being healthy, and they are excited to continuously support such initiatives that make Kuwait proud. They are our sole corporate sponsor, an initiative that no company was willing to do. bazaar: What’s a common misconception about CrossFit and what would you recommend to people seeking to “up” their workout routine? The biggest misconception is that it is dangerous and results in a lot of injury. Just like in any sport, when not coached correctly the result is injury. CrossFit requires a lot of work on mobility and warming up, and many people rush into the sport without mobilizing or warming up, and that’s when the injury takes place. You can follow CrossFit965’s journey and show the team some support by checking their individual Instagram accounts listed or by following the team @CrossFit965. You can also follow the entire CrossFit Games by visiting http://games.CrossFit.com.

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WOK & GO

The fast Asian alternative that doesn’t compromise on taste by bazaar staff

Walk down the street in New York City and you are sure to come in touch with some type of exotic food from a place you have never visited. The unique aromas are bound to draw you in, and challenge everything you knew about flavors and tastes. For Des Pheby this was an adventure he wanted to make available in England, and thus the idea for Wok & Go was born. “I got home from a trip to New York in 2007 reeling with a sense of opportunity and excitement about the myriad of quick, casual, convenient dining experiences on offer,” he said. ”I wanted to recreate authentic, Asian cuisine in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. For me, the answer was Wok & Go, a tasty, healthy, fresh and nutritious Asian food.” Now, with more than a dozen branches in the United Kingdom, Wok & Go has made it across the Mediterranean to its first international home, 84

right here in Kuwait. In the Al Hamra Luxury center, businessmen and shoppers on-the-go now have a Pan-Asian option that is guaranteed to be quick, fresh and delicious. The first thing you will notice about the delectable noodle bar are the wok stations right next to the counter, where chefs toss different types of noodles, rice, meats, vegetables and sauces. With no back kitchen at the restaurant, you can be sure the food will be fresh made to order. We started off with some of their delicious appetizers, and strongly suggest you do the same. The Volcanic Shrimp, classic crispy battered fried shrimps with a coat of delicious volcanic sauce, can be ordered mild, spicy or hot. Or go Thai with their Vegetable Spring rolls. The mushroom, glass noodles, onion, bean sprout and carrot are wrapped in delicious dough and deep fried for a perfect light and crispy start to your meal. Dip it in their amazing

sweet chili sauce and it’s bound to be a crowd pleaser. Want something Thai but different? Try the Chicken or vegetable Tung Tong (Thai for “money bags”). These crispy purses are filled with water chestnut, sweet corn and mushroom or chicken, depending on your order. For our favorite though, we went to China for their delicious Fire Cracker Prawn. These king prawns are wrapped in a crispy wonton, and the first bite will undoubtedly surprise you. The wontons are stuffed with delicious sweet peanuts that make each bite pop with flavor. Each box contains six pieces. We suggest you order one for yourself, and another for everyone else. If you are looking for something a little lighter to start try the Wok & Go Special Soup, a creamy seafood soup with shrimp, vegetables and bean thread noodles. Or, try one of their delicious salads. We opted for the crab salad of romaine lettuce,

iceberg lettuce and avocado mix accompanied by an amazing special dressing with a refreshing citrus twist perfect for a meal starter. As good as the appetizers are, your taste buds are in for a real treat with their main offerings. All the dishes come with their delicious jasmine and basmati rice or noodles. The question is, how do you like it? We chose the popular signature dish, Mongolian beef, and it was perfect. The delicious pieces of flank steak were perfectly cooked with a bit of crispiness right around the edges. Green onions and garlic caramelized in dark sauce added a sweet flavor that boosted each flavor in the dish. White meat and seafood lovers will not be left for want with dishes like the classic sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken and Szechwan shrimp or their Yaoguo Shrimp, made with a cashew sauce and topped with roasted peanuts and cashew nuts. For some diners rice mixed with lots of delicious

ingredients is the perfect meal, and at Wok & Go you can pick from their chicken, vegetable, shrimp or beef fried rice. All are made with a mix of vegetables, egg and rice and tossed in the wok right in front of you. The crème de la crème, what makes Wok & Go the Rolls Royce of noodle bars, is the endless possibilities of types of dishes. While there are eight preset menu options like Black Bean Beef Noodle made with egg noodles, beef, green pepper and Asian veggies and smothered in their rich black bean sauce, or their traditional Pad Thai made with rice stick noodles, Pad Thai sauce with chicken and Asian veggies and crushed peanuts. Or, you can make your own box. Choose from five different bases including rice, vermicelli noodles, thin or thick flat stick noodles or egg noodles. Then add three proteins: squid, crab meat, shrimp, chicken or beef and your choice of vegetables. To make sweeten your dish, add a perfect sauce. Try

the sweet chili or sweet and sour, or spicy with Thai Green or red sauces, or go earthy with their delicious oyster sauce. Whether you decide to dine in at Wok & Go or take your meal to go, don’t be surprised when your fresh, delicious, MSG-free meal comes in a swanky blue box. The box is your freedom ticket to enjoy Wok & Go wherever you are. Take the meal to a park, back to your desk or the beach. No matter where you enjoy your meal, Wok & Go will be that healthy and delicious choice that will keep you coming back for more. Wok & Go is located in the Al Hamra Luxury Center, 3rd floor Food Court. For delivery call them at 2220 2225, or through talabat.com. Find more about Wok & Go at www.wokandgo.me, or follow them on Twitter and Instagram @WokNGo_KW or on Facebook @WokNGoKw. 85

ASK

Aunty Yaz

Do you have a problem that needs solving? In need of some tough love or hard hitting life advice from a lovingly nagging know-it-all? Write to bazaar’s very own agony aunt, Aunty Yaz! Aunty Yaz can be found wandering the streets of Salmiya dishing out unsolicited life lessons to random passersby. If you’ve heard the gruff shout of “Tuck your shirt in, you slob!” or “Someone get me something to sit on,” or even overheard her incoherent ramblings, you have probably encountered her wrath before. While Aunty Yaz is neither a psychologist nor certified life coach, you would still be wise to address her as Aunty or Dr. Yaz.

Dear Aunty Yaz, So who do you predict for the win at the 2014 World Cup? Obviously you seem like the type who would be an expert on the matter. – Footballfan201 Dear Footballfan, First, I have to ask - are there two-hundred and one other people who chose the name ‘Footballfan’ or did you just forget a number at the end? Second, I have many predictions for the Cup - obviously the host nation will pull off yet another win - I remember back when I was in my twenties and Brazil won the 1958 World Cup, I had never seen such elegance - that team will forever be in my heart. Another prediction I have is the award for the best looking team Argentina will win hands down because La Pulga Atomica plays for them. Other teams I’m sure will make a splash are Belgium and Nigeria... because they have to at some point, right? My son thinks I’m crazy - but I’m the expert here! – Aunty Yaz Dear Aunty Yaz, It’s that time again and I’m dying inside. How can I possibly watch England attend another World Cup when I never managed to win one myself? Why didn’t they ask me to come out of International retirement this year? I’m so sick of watching my countrymen play while I am at home with 4 kids and doing underwear shoots every couple of months. And they’ve got me playing this weird sport called soccer. Please tell me how I can get over my jealousy! – Becks Dear Becks, I understand what it feels like to only be given attention because you’re pretty but you must embrace it, dear! My Messi does some mediocre modeling on the side and I consider that a public service. You also touch our hearts with your underwear, and we thank you for that. Have you considered that you might just be too pretty to be back on the field? Enjoy the red carpet and the galas – and take comfort in the fact that you are easily the most recognizable English footballer to ever play football or soccer. Once Jack Wilshire retires, the only thing he’ll be good for is serving your tea. – Aunty Yaz Dear Aunty Yaz, I’m feeling the pressure because this year the World Cup is being played in my home, Brasil. What tips do you have for someone

trying to get over nerves before their opening match on the world’s largest stage? – Neymar Ah Neymar, The one thing you should focus on is trying to prove that you were not a huge overrated and overpriced flop. How about a nice relaxing swim before each match? You can even get all the diving out of your system too. – Aunty Yaz Dear Aunty Yaz, My teammates…and well, the whole world is constantly teasing and berating me for being overly emotional. I can’t help it if the tears start when my coach pulls me off the pitch and we’re down on goals! Is it my fault if I feel so passionately that I occasionally throw a temper tantrum? What do you think? – Ronaldo To whom it may concern, I do not directly communicate with said football player. There is only ONE Ronaldo and his name is Ronaldo Lima, my Brazilian legend. Please inform that Portuguese Beckham-wannabe that this will probably be his last World Cup and that it won’t be Messi’s last. – Aunty Yaz Dear Aunty Yaz, I heard you’re a big fan. Just wanted to say hi ;) – Messi. Leo my dear boy! You broke my heart not winning a single thing this past season but I won’t mention it too often. I am an even bigger fan and I love your outfits at award ceremonies so don’t take those fashion-police posers to heart at all. You are the shortest captain Argentina has ever had and I am proud that you have made it your mission to overcome the “national team flop” that the media has unfairly labeled you in the past. I’ve changed my mind! I love you to death, Messi, and I want you to lift the World Cup! If you’re ever in Kuwait, you are more than welcome to grab a coffee with me and my friend, Hoda. – Aunty Yaz

Send your questions to Aunty Yaz at auntyyaz@bazaar-magazine.com. Any advice given is strictly opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of bazaar. But it might—just sayin!

SPRINKLES

SMOOTHIE FEVER by Bibi Al-Falah

While all the fans are bouncing off the walls with World Cup 2014 fever, over in the realm of health and fitness we are buzzing over the latest obsession: smoothies! Every health wannabe’s pantry is now filled with ingredients like flax seeds, chia seeds, agave syrup and probably a folder on their phones with smoothie recipes. So what’s the deal with the latest obsession, and how far should we take it? I’ve taken the liberty of doing all the research, and here’s the breakdown of everything you wanted to know about smoothies. There are a few different smoothie categories, the most popular being green smoothies, fruit smoothies and protein smoothies. You can often combine protein with the first two categories in the form of a scoop of protein powder. Green smoothies are the latest craze because they get your greens in and all the recipes have at least one or two fruits to balance out the bitter taste of the greens. Green smoothies are smoothies that contain two cups of some kind of leafy green, usually kale or spinach. They also have 1-1/2 cups of a liquid (either water or non-dairy milk like almond milk) and a few fruits like a frozen banana and a cup of pineapples for added sweetness. Sometimes almond milk is too brutal for me, so I use skimmed milk or sweetened almond milk to give it a better flavor. A lot of people like throwing in half an avocado for a creamier texture and a more filling smoothie. Once your base ingredients are in, you can add your favorite extras like a spoon of flax or chia seeds and a scoop of protein powder if you like. Once blended, give it a little taste to see if it is sweet enough. If not, you can always add some honey or stevia to the mix. I would stay away from agave syrup as more and more reports are coming out saying that it is just as bad for you as high fructose corn syrup, contrary to popular health freak beliefs. If you want to get into making green smoothies, I suggest visiting the great starter website simplegreensmoothies.com which has green smoothie challenges and endless recipes to introduce you to the world of green smoothies. I swear, not all green smoothies taste like you’ve taken a bite of grass. Other great recipes for both green smoothies and fruit smoothies can be found by perusing any of the following Instagram accounts: @fit_smoothies, @healthysmoothies_, @healthyblends, and @simplegreensmoothies. The basic outline for making a green smoothie is as follows: two cups of tightly packed leafy greens, 2 cups of your chosen liquid base, and 3 cups of fruit. For tastier fruity or coffee based smoothies, leave out the green part and just throw in all your favorite fruits with a liquid base of choice. You can use some Greek yoghurt for a thicker 88

consistency, just be sure to add water as needed so that it’s not too thick. The accounts above have hundreds of different amazing recipes. If you want a smoothie with a coffee kick, sometimes I like to blend a cup and a half of skimmed milk with a big tablespoon of instant coffee (my favorite is Clipper “Super Special Organic Coffee” sold at most supermarkets), a big tablespoon of PB2 (this is a peanut butter powder ideal for smoothies with 85% less fat than regular peanut butter) and a frozen banana. This mix is amazing for sleepy mornings when you are in a rush, and the banana will fill you right up!

If you know you’re going to be blending up a storm tomorrow, try to freeze the fruits that you want to use. This is much better than throwing ice cubes into your blender because it gives you that icy consistency without diluting all the flavor once the ice starts to melt. As a final tip - when enjoying all your fabulous smoothies this summer make sure to use a high quality blender like Black & Decker. Also, beware of fruit smoothies late at night since they usually pack in a lot of sugar and are best consumed earlier in the day or right after a workout. Happy sipping and best of luck to the team you are rooting for this World Cup!

MAS

MAMAS AND PAPAS Summer 2014 collection

Mamas and Papas launch their chic and adorable Summer Babywear and Kidswear collection that comes packed with pieces that can be mixed and matched to suit your individual taste and style. Whether you are looking for a cute casual look or a standout piece for a special occasion, with Mamas and Papas you can now dress your little one in the perfect outfit of your choice. For the summer season, Welcome to the World (0-2 years) is available in a neutral color palette with some nautical highlights added. Heritage fabrics are used with nautical subtle touches for this range. Key pieces for this collection include a sailor-inspired dress and a selection of classic pieces in nautical prints. Their Welcome to the World collection is perfect for cherishing those memorable moments and ideal for dressing up for those special family occasions. In the Fashion range (0-4 yrs), Mamas and Papas launches ‘Aries’, ‘Flora Fantastica’, ‘Hazy Daze’ and ‘Promenade’ collections for girls whereas for boys, ‘Tropical Vacation’ and ‘Resort’ are the new additions. Aries is a sophisticated takes on a truly girly, pretty story in soft pastel palette made up of mustard, pale 90

pink and cream. Large geometric prints are used against delicate story-telling prints featuring birds and butterflies. Ditsy styling gives this range a new fresh feel and frills and ruffles sit against pretty girly shapes to form feminine silhouettes. Flora Fantastica offers items rooted in a palette taken from the rich colors found in tropical climates including citrus yellows, rich reds and navy blue. Think dark tropical, exotic florals and rich tones. Whereas Hazy Daze has pieces with florals teamed with the key ‘flamingo’ print giving a summer holiday vibe. A color palette of soft brights and faded hues; including pink, mint, lime, peach and soft red makes pieces from Hazy Daze a perfect collection for the season for girls. Promenade presents a new take on a nautical story where bretton stripes and ginghams are key to this range. Easy, baby-friendly silhouettes incorporate quirky story-telling and placement prints. For boy’s fashion, summer in Miami City is the inspiration behind the Tropical Vacation collection. An ocean drive inspired color palette with knockedback corals, washed navy and sun-bleached yellows dominate the range. ‘Resort’ offers slim fit chinos,

mini-me gent styling, statement linen blazer that finishes off this story’s key look. In the Limited Edition range (0-4 years), this season sees the launch of Jardin collection for girls and Global Trader collection for boys. Soft and sophisticated shapes and details rule the Jardin range whereas mini menswear inspired shapes with statement sweaters, blazers and scarf print trousers form the Global Trader story. Mix & Match collection that has ready to wear essentials for 0-6 year olds is designed with the idea of creating lots of practical, easy to wear garments, where the brand offers choice for everyday and essentials customer. For 2-6 year olds, Mamas and Papas Kidswear range has playful playsuits for girls and polo shirts for boys with unique story telling prints. Preppy styling is key for the boys range whereas conversational prints teamed with oversized polkas and ditsy florals are part of the girl’s range. Mamas and Papas is located at The Avenues on the first floor. For more information, please call 2259 7307/308.

TIK TOK

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

Every year my employees expect a pay rise without demonstrating what they’ve learned throughout the year. How can we separate between those who deserve the increase or bonus and those who don’t?

If you directly manage more than seven employees, it’s difficult to know thoroughly how each one managed to learn and grow on a regular basis so much so that you can make bonus decisions comfortably. One simple and yet important tool is to have Continuous Professional Development (CPD) records as a prerequisite to bonus meetings. A CPD record is about documenting something an employee learned from work or personal learning experiences in the form of short insightful reminders. CPD records can be filled out using a simple online platform that can be accessed from any device. Of course this can be done manually as well. However, online platforms will record each entry’s date, which eliminates the chance of anyone trying to outsmart the system by writing the notes a week before the performance review. For example, if an employee presents CPD records that demonstrate improvement (something for the employee) that generates strong results for the department (something for the team), and the company hits its targets (something for the business) then a bonus is granted based on whatever set scale you have. You could add customer experience scores, peer evaluations, or whatever you want as part of what an employee is rewarded for depending on what’s important for the business as long as it’s fair and the success criteria is clear so that employees know how the evaluation is made. One of the benefits of the recession is that it became quite common for companies to conduct performance-based bonuses while freezing salaries. The keyword is ‘performance’; bonuses are not gifts...and that’s just my two cents.

Two years ago, I sold shares in my company to different investors. Since then, I’ve asked the Board to support the business in various ways, but they never did. Why does the fact of them being involved mean more profit is overlooked?

When you observe the attitude of football coaches during games you’ll find that most of them are hyperactive, expressive and pretty much involved. And why wouldn’t they be! They’ve put a lot of time and effort into getting the players to win championships. Coaches have a personal interest as well because we live in a blame-the-coach culture; so when the players do well, coaches get to keep their jobs. However, if the players – not the coaches, mind you – don’t perform well, it’s the coaches who get fired, not the players. Clubs owners, on the other hand, have a different position. They naturally want to see higher returns for their expensive investments, but they don’t spend as much time with the team and some of them invest for sentimental or for strategic reasons that are not dictated only by money. Investors, like coaches and owners, come in two styles. The first 94

kind is active investors: very much hands-on; they open doors, share resources and raise flags. A good example of such an attitude would be Venture Capitalists. They behave almost like managing partners to protect their investments. The second kind is passive investors: investing in various businesses for obvious, and sometimes not so obvious, reasons. They focus on companies that are well established and are not dependent on their support for higher dividends and increased equity. The clash you’re currently having could be from having club owners (i.e., passive investors) while you need coaches (i.e., active investors). Knowing your investors’ type is essential before signing any contracts. Change your plan before it’s game over...and that’s just my two cents.

The Middle East office asks us for data to evaluate efficiency but it’s time wasting and somehow I feel it’s damaging productivity because of the time spent filling in forms. Is there a way to assess efficiency without involving the team? Regardless of how many times one reads or hears the warning phrase ‘Mind the gap’ in the London Underground, it seems that most people don’t give it much thought outside the stations. Regional offices within a company can often develop a communication gap pretty much like the gap between the platform edge and the train. Unlike the trains, this gap is not needed for operational reasons. Therefore, it should be eliminated. The Middle East office is just focused on their needs and how they need to pass reports to the Head Office. So, they request information from all the offices in the region to collect, analyze and forward. A better approach is to engage all the offices with the objectives of such reports and why they would be helpful to the company. Opening the door for each team to come up with suggestions on how to streamline the data entry process creates a sense of partnership and more involvement. If none of you managed to think of an efficient data entry solution, then, at least, you can collectively see that the current system is the best option available so far. And you’ll continue filling out the forms without much resentment about the process as you have now. Employees will follow management requests anyway; yet, when employees are part of the process rather than just being at the edge of it, companies will gain a dynamic working experience and an enhanced level of commitment from everyone. Being productive and happy shouldn’t be opposing qualities...and that’s just my two cents. For Loaay Ahmed’s advice on business or work matters, send a short email to loaay@knightscapital.com. Regrettably, only the questions chosen for publishing will be answered. Loaay Ahmed is a management adviser and strategic expert. To learn more about Loaay and his consulting service, strategic business therapy, visit www.knightscapital.com.

ABU SID

SELFISHLY ENVIRONMENTAL by Mohammed El Soukkary

I took a few days off recently to enjoy a brief hiatus from a decidedly hectic urban environment and went to the seaside in search of fresh air, away from the polluted and smog infested city. The season is still not in full swing so the beaches were almost deserted. I took my daughter to the edge of the water where the waves met the land and was met by the sea lapping gently at the shore. I looked to my left and to my right, and realized that the beach was positively riddled with litter as far as I could see in either direction; plastic bags, wrappers, glass, some half buried in the sand, others freshly deposited. The sea was patiently and relentlessly returning the refuse we have so magnanimously dumped in it. It was a powerful reminder of the fact that the earth is constantly restoring itself as well as its astonishing resilience over the course of its existence. It will patiently and unwaveringly self heal. The observable pattern is that our planet first incorporates and then returns whatever is introduced into its system, with interest. Consider the tiny seed that grows into a powerful, fruit laden tree. You plant a small, shapeless blob (agriculture is not my forte) and wait. It grows into something much greater than it originally was. We can see this, yet we extract what we need and reinsert it in toxic forms into the ecosystem, based on the (mis)understanding that we are somehow outside of it, and we bask in the certainty that we can mitigate any negative consequences of our actions by hiding the garbage away where no one can see it. This is the equivalent of sweeping dust under a rug and proclaiming the house to be dust free. Now to be fair, many of us are tired. We have been endlessly harangued about how if we bought a hybrid car (for example) we would save the environment and how our air conditioners are allegedly causing the spontaneous combustion of pelicans in some remote island somewhere, and how if we bought this particular brand of car, we would really be saving those albatrosses. Also, something about whales. It is beginning to sound eerily similar to proselytizing, which drives our collective egos to adopt a defensive attitude. That does not negate the reality of the matter that we are not treating the system with the respect it deserves, and for that we pay the price; we pollute the air, and then we are startled by the incidence of respiratory problems. We dump waste into the oceans, and express astonishment at the rising levels of toxins in our water (which we have to spend resources to purify). We poison the very earth (how dramatic) where we grow our crops, and express surprise when our tomatoes try to kill us (by having high concentrations of toxins, not by mutating into killer vegetables). The pattern here should be fairly easy to identify, especially given our inherited predisposition to believing in patterns; Michael Shermer in his very informative Ted Talk 96

pointed out that we evolved the tendency to believe in patterns because those who erred by identifying false positives survived more often than those who erred by identifying false negatives (those people who believed that a rustle in the grass was a dangerous predator but were wrong lived, while those who believed that a rustle in the grass was the wind but turned out to be wrong became a midday snack). While our actions will undoubtedly have effects on the planet, the main danger we pose is not to the earth, which despite our best efforts will more than likely end up burying us all (after we

have likely irradiated and suffocated ourselves out of existence), but rather to our ability to live on it. Not some abstract concept of our selves, but rather directly and immediately, to our own well being. Being environmentally friendly, is not about a ‘feel good moment,’ or adopting a ‘holier than thou’ approach to life, it is about living well. Just because the effects of our inconsideration aren’t visible to us, does not mean that there are no consequences; the worst maladies are often those that don’t exhibit symptoms until it is too late. It’s not the planet that needs saving, it’s us.

ALGHANIM MARINE

bazaar health

FEELING BLUE? GET RED by Dr. Susannah J. Schuilenberg

Mood disorders have always been treated rather shabbily in the wider world. People who are experiencing depression are often told things like, “What do YOU have to be depressed about?” Or, “Snap out of it. Think yourself happy.” They’re depressed to begin with, and then they hear such ‘advice’ from others who have a) never experienced what it is actually like to be depressed or who b) believe that rubbing desiccated liver of Spitting Vipers on the right elbow while reciting the words to “Don’t Worry Be Happy” cures everyone of nearly anything, but especially depression. Puhleez. Depression is a very real and measurable disorder, and as we heard from Dr. Mohammed Alsuwaidan during a professional development workshop for the Middle East Psychological Association (MEPA), that impacts the sufferer mentally, emotionally and physically. There is just no way to separate the parts of who we are into discrete, not-connected pieces. To be depressed is so much more that just being ‘sad.’ So let’s dispense with the “It’s all in your head,” garbage and get to the research that’s being done in the field of mood disorders. Dr. Alsuwaidan, a Canadian-trained psychiatrist (Oh Canada!) is Clinical Head of the specialized Mood Disorders Clinic at the Kuwait Center for Mental Health. His first line of treatment for many patients newly diagnosed with depression is E X E R C I S E. Not drugs – exercise. Specifically, Dr. Alsuwaidan prescribes “30 minutes of moderate intensity activity 5 – 7 x week; (a) you must work hard enough to sweat for the majority of the exercise period and (b) you must be working hard enough that you cannot maintain a conversation.” More and more of the focus of research is on the actual, physical changes in the body that happen as a result of mood dysfunction. Neurons melt, synapses fire/misfire, and brain chemicals are altered. Exciting to me is the body of data emerging that appears to support the theory that exercise is an effective antidote to depression. Not only does exercise stimulate the efficient and effective production of serotonin and dopamine (among a lot of other brain chemicals), exercise also encourages the production of endorphins (‘endogenous morphine!’). Further to that little bit of good news (proof of what was already suspected), is the growing body of evidence that seems to indicate that exercise actually rebuilds or rejuvenates neural pathways. It’s looking like exercise could be both cure and relapse prevention for depression. I’m so okay with this. I’ve been “prescribing” exercise for my clients with depression for years. To learn that for a significant percentage of people with depression, exercise has the same effectiveness 98

as does medication, is just simply...glorious. And last I checked, the negative side effects of a good exercise program were, um… like, non-existent. How groovy is that? Exercise may be a natural answer to depression with no down side; rather, in fact, a lot of upsides. Better health, better mood, better thinking, better life. As is true with all disorders, exercise may not be the complete answer for some individuals in relieving their depression, and other intervention(s) may be prescribed in addition to the exercise. Exercise needs to be part of a lifestyle change that includes good self-care, mindful stress management, and in the case of depression, working with an experienced therapist. So the

next time you come to see me about depression, you can be assured that among other things we discuss, I’ll ‘prescribe’ regular exercise ~ that’s 5-7 times a week. Hot, sweaty cardio is good (I’m a runner), but so is brisk walking …or cycling …or spinning …or yoga …or Pilates. Actually, don’t wait to see me. Start now. You won’t regret it. A Canadian psychologist traveling the world on a busman’s holiday, Dr. Susannah writes about anything that catches her attention. Bossy from birth, compassionate by choice, and funny by accident. You can visit: www.soorcenter.com or follow her on Twitter: @drsusannah.

SOCIETY

WATANIYA TELECOM BECOMES OOREDOO

Adel AL-Abdulsalam, Senior Technical Specialist, tells us all about it by bazaar staff

The company that we have all come to rely upon and love is undergoing a huge change, one that is to be greatly celebrated! Wataniya Telecom is now Ooredoo, a leading international company that operates in 14 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. Bearing witness to this milestone is one of Ooredoo’s oldest employees, Adel AL-Abdulsalam, who joined the company in 2002. A Senior Technical Specialist, Value Added Service Support, Technology/Network Operation Center (NOC) – Technology Division, AL-Abdulsalam is always on the front line when it comes to dealing with customer’s requests and any technical challenges that they may face. He monitors the entire network for any issues or server problems, and takes firstlevel actions to resolve any customer service technical related issues. If need be, he goes above and beyond to make sure that customers are appropriately dealt with, escalating the matter to the operations department in order to effectively help the customer. Furthermore, AL-Abdulsalam has seen how the company’s networks have highly evolved throughout the years, ensuring that all of Ooredoo’s network systems are all up to par with the company’s goals and missions. For that reason, he is also responsible for the integration and testing of all network elements to the centralized fault management system, as well as maintaining the current system. Adel, let’s start by talking about the rebranding of the company you work in. Wataniya Telecom is now officially Ooredoo. Congratulations! How does this change impact your job? My colleagues and I are very happy about the launch of the new brand name Ooredoo. It is an important milestone that we are extremely proud of. Ooredoo Kuwait is part of Ooredoo group, a leading international company that operates in 14 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. At Ooredoo, we thrive on being a community-oriented company with the vision for enriching people’s lives. We’re an integral part of this community in what we do and we are there to support its growth, to contribute to the social and economic development of the communities within Kuwait. This means we work hard in every division of our company to satisfy the needs of our customers. We put the customer experience at the heart of everything we do. The name Ooredoo might sound quite strange to some people. Can you tell us a little bit about it? Ooredoo’s beliefs are built upon three C’s: Caring, connecting, and challenging. We continuously work hard to not only achieve these core beliefs, but to also maintain and strengthen these beliefs. Our ultimate aim 100

is to provide services that enrich people’s lives. In order to fulfill our promise of helping the community, we want to understand what matters to each of our customers and how they connect with us. Based on that, we are better equipped to help them grow as individuals, families and as a community. We will always be supportive, respectful and responsible. We want to collaboratively engage with customers by working together and becoming involved with Kuwait’s different communities. We will always look to improve ourselves and make a change.

This is what makes us different than other telecommunication companies. Being a young, passionate and motivated Kuwaiti, what opportunities does Ooredoo provide to young Kuwaitis? Most young Kuwaiti graduates are very enthusiastic and ambitious. They want to achieve the best for themselves in their careers. With my personal experience at Ooredoo, I was given the opportunity to take responsibility of my role and grow within my field in the Technology Division. Ooredoo definitely sees potential in Kuwaiti youth

and therefore provides them with job opportunities to excel in. Ooredoo’s vision of enriching people’s lives starts from within: by enriching the lives of its employees. I went through continuous training courses throughout my work at Ooredoo. Aside from providing training for its employees, Ooredoo also believes in enriching the lives of the youth in the community. This comes in various forms, one of which is providing services that cater to their needs. Another way is by supporting youth initiatives, which the company has been keenly implementing since its establishment as

Wataniya Telecom in 1999. You have launched a teaser marketing campaign before announcing Ooredoo and called it Project O. You asked people of Kuwait to tell you what they want. What did you find? What do they want? We launched this campaign to engage with people and get closer to them, and to get a better idea of what they want. From the answers they gave us, we found out that regardless of their various wants and needs, people actually want a network they can rely on. A reliable network would work as a backbone in supporting our customers

in achieving what they want. So, at Ooredoo, that’s what we’re working hard to give them; a reliable network, impressive offers, and advanced devices and technologies to make their life easier.

For more information, you can visit their website www.ooredoo.com.kw, or follow them on Facebook and YouTube: /OoredooinKuwait or Twitter and Instagram: OoredooinKuwait. 101

FROM GRANDMA’S KITCHEN TO YOUR TABLE Kuwait’s latest homemade delights are a phone call away by bazaar staff

We all remember those wonderful moments when we were lured into grandma’s kitchen with the smells of tasty savories and delicious desserts. She never failed to deliver the homemade dish that you just can’t find anywhere. No matter where you try the different variations of that dish, your critique at the end of the meal would always be, “but teeta does it better.” Now, Fatma Dawood, the lady behind GrandMa’s Kitchen is giving you a chance to recreate that experience, with a simple phone call. The 68-yearold grandmother of two baby boys has perfected the art of cake making, and is now turning it into a business. “Our love for things changes with age,” said Dawood. “Where does love come from? When something is successful.” In her formative years cooking was not her forte. She had difficulties with home economics while her sister seemed to be a natural in the 102

kitchen. Dawood was more visually inclined, and created a career in interior design for herself. “I just didn’t understand the recipes,” she said. “I would just follow the recipes and they wouldn’t turn out right sometimes. I don’t like to fail.” Eventually Dawood found herself running the administration of a culinary school run by her sister-in-law in Kuwait. During her breaks she would sit in on the class and listen to the chefs and try to implement their tips in her own kitchen. The one thing that never failed were her anise cookies. They were loved by her son, requested by her friends and given as gifts to people around her. While this is her first baking venture, Dawood has been linked to the food industry in Kuwait for more than a decade. Almost 15 years ago she approached The Sultan Center with a novel idea to sell hollowed-out squash. The vegetables could then be used in any stuffed vegetable dish with minimal effort. They loved the idea, and it sold

like hot cakes. Yet, the mundane work wasn’t for Dawood, she wanted something more creative and fun. So, at an age where most would sit back, relax and enjoy spoiling their grandchildren, Dawood has taken on a new venture, GrandMa’s Kitchen. She has perfected three nine-inch cakes: the German chocolate cake (KD 9), is fluffy and moist with an amazing walnut icing (or coconut for those with a nut allergy). For the chocolate lovers, the all chocolate bundt cake (KD 8), with chocolate icing is sure to fill that cocoa craving. If you want a real treat though try her perfect and incredible carrot cake (KD 9). The perfect blend of carrot and spices topped with a not-too-sweet cream icing is so perfect we guarantee you’ll be sneaking bites from it all day long. To order a cake or cookies from GrandMa’s Kitchen call 5009 0029.

HanD soaPs NEW FragrancEs! NEW Formulas! NEW look!

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TOP SONGS OF WORLD CUP HISTORY by bazaar staff

We already have World Cup fever over here and it is beginning to drive the neighbors batty. We have the steady drone of stadium horns going on in our head when we wake in the morning and can’t help but hear “olé, olé, olé, olé…olé, olé” as we try to tuck in to sleep (or maybe that is the sound of the boys playing football out front). And just in time, the new 15 track record – 17 on the bonus edition – One Love One Rhythm – The 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Album was released on May 8th, by Sony Music Entertainment. The official theme songs are those adopted for use as warm-ups to the event, to accompany the championships during the event and as a souvenir reminder of the events. The songs chosen are usually multilingual using a combination of English, the official language of the organizing country for that year, as well as other world languages, most notably Spanish. Though it might take years for me to still decipher what the difference is between “We Are One (Olé Ola)”, The Official FIFA World Cup Song, and “Dar Um Jeito (We Will Find a Way),” The Official 2014 World Cup Anthem (to say nothing of “Tatu de Bola”, The Official 2014 FIFA Mascot Song), the reality is it doesn’t matter much: you are going to be hearing them for the next month (or few), so get ready. We have scoured the annals of World Cup history—and the occasional Billboard Music chart—to come up with these top 5 songs ever to be made for this quadrennial event. 104

And, though they did not make our list, as frankly the song is not a very good one, we give an honorable mention shout-out to English band, New Order, for their offering (though not an official song of FIFA, it was England’s official song in 1990) “World in Motion”. Here are the top 5 songs of World Cup history… #5 World Cup Willy - Lonnie Donegan, England 1966 If you don’t know what Skiffle is don’t let the “Skiffle King” steer you wrong with this novelty song—it’s actually pretty cool. Still, for his 1966 song dedicated to the mascot of the World Cup in England, you will be hard pressed to find a funnier novelty tune about a World Cup mascot. #4 The Cup of Life - Ricky Martin, France 1998 I know, Ricky Martin?! We didn’t want him on here either, but the boy did cause a worldwide sensation with this song, so what could we do? This song brought football anthems to a new level when it made charts worldwide and officially set off the socalled Latin music explosion when he performed it on the Grammys. #3 Wavin’ Flag - K’naan South Africa 2010 (Unofficial) K’naan’s celebratory version of his uplifting song inspired by the stories of refugees was used in Coca-Cola’s 2010 World Cup campaign. Not an official World Cup theme, but was subsequently

adopted by football fans around the world. It’s got a nice feel to it, the video is full of kids playing football…what’s not to like? #2 El Rock del Mundial - Los Ramblers, Chile 1962 I don’t know who these guys are, but this is a serious tune. The Chilean rock band, Los Ramblers, who are still performing today after more than fifty years, sang this rockabilly anthem accented with handclaps and refs’ whistles. This is the kind of song that would be good whether it is a World Cup song or not. #1 Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira, featuring Freshly Ground South Africa 2010 If there is one time of the year that cultural appropriation is encouraged, it is World Cup time! Once the criticism of Shakira taking the spotlight away from African artists died down, however, the song became a global hit that transcended the time of the mundial. It is now the sixth most-watched video of all time on YouTube. The popularity of the most listened to World Cup song ever hints at the massive power of songs associated with 2014 Brazil could have. (No, Fozzie Bear of The Muppets fame is not featured on the Waka track).

These top World Cup Songs are from the 2014 bazaar magazine World Cup mix tape! Make your own copies accordingly!

KIDZANIA

stylelights

SHORT AND SMART by Purva Grover

Looming summer months suggest we’ll be seeing the menfolk walking around in a pair of fashionable shorts and even short suits! Gone are the days when the shorts were plain and simple, here is our take on the ‘short’ revolution. Lengths, hems, shapes, occasions and even hairless legs; no, it’s not just the women who fret over this and that. As the sun gets ready to play its part in our town we witness the menfolk discussing these salient fashion points. The men are prepping for the summer and on their wish list is at least one pair of shorts. One can’t debate the comfort quotient of a pair of shorts. Easy to slip in, men over the generations have expressed their love for this hassle-free garment. However, what has got them worried is the increasing fashionable expectation of wearing shorts the right way. One of the earliest memories and images of men wearing shorts is that of young boys wearing plain cotton ones to school and playing with their socks pulled up to their knees. And while the trend is still alive on many streets, the runway 106

experts suggest that shorts look best sans socks, and when worn with flip flops or slip-on and open shoes. The kickers and yanked up socks look is for children. If men wish to experiment with socks then they should roll them down and finish the look with Lace-Ups and Oxfords. Next, remember that length is crucial. Fishing trips, football matches, road trips and left-over pizza get-togethers are an invite to slip into ‘short’ shorts. Unexpected work lunches on a weekend or trips to the shopping malls would require a few more extra inches. Take your pick from Bermuda, track and cargo shorts. If your work place supports liberal fashion then you could walk in wearing single pleated black shorts or classic suiting shorts with a button-down collar shirt. Think Andrew Rannells, the popular Elijah from the American televisions series, Girls. Andrew was spotted in dressy shorts and sockless ankles on the season finale of the show. And yes, the length is also detrimental when it comes to fuzzy legs. You’ve got to be comfortable (more importantly the people who sit next to you

have to be fine with it too) either flaunting the hair or shaving it off, unless you are one of the lucky boys who have no hair trouble. A few choices would be from Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Jacobs range of drawstring Bermuda shorts, Paul Smith’s tailored shorts and Gucci’s deck shorts. Before you think of accessorizing the look with a bold dial watch or a funky chain/link bracelet you have to pay attention to what you team up the shorts with. A gunjee with beach shorts, a collar neck tee with cargoes and a double-breasted blazer with the classic shorts. And for those looking at having fun with this outfit choice, bring on the floral-printed and graphic printed shorts teamed up with tees in solid colors. As for those who are still hesitant to go the short way, there is always the pair you wear to the gym and game. So here’s looking forward to the streets full of men sporting the beach, city, cargo, denim, chino and deck shorts. And what a sight it would be to walk into an office with the men wearing short suits. Wouldn’t it be?

IHOP

THE BRAIN THAT SINGS

Filmmaker Amal Al-Agroobi discusses her new feature documentary by bazaar staff

Even though she first fell in love with acting, Amal Al-Agroobi’s passion for filmmaking was inevitable. Her life presented her with many opportunities in front of the camera, yet her calling to make films became stronger, until a serendipitous opportunity presented itself. Amal once watched a TED talk online about Tala Badri, a woman whose autistic daughter Sara benefited from music therapy. Tala’s daughter went from an angry ball of energy to an easy-going, friendly, bubbly little girl in three months thanks to Marion, her Music Therapist’s 108

teachings. After watching the film, Amal then received an email which came from a mother asking if someone could make a film about her son. From there, Amal met Khalifa, and then Mohammed—and everything fell into place. This meeting spurred her new feature documentary The Brain That Sings, which answers many unanswered questions about autism in the Arab World, and went on to win ‘The People’s Choice Award’ at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2013. It follows the lives of these autistic boys living in the UAE as they go through 3 months of

treatment through music therapy. Amal speaks to bazaar about her filmmaking journey so far, and what she aims to accomplish through her films. What sparked your love for film? Through acting. This was my first love and I always wanted to be in front of the camera. Being an “actress” initially gave me a great advantage as a director. A great director must know every aspect of their craft. I used to go to the cinema every week with my family and in between we would watch movies too. It was just a big part of my life

and my passion and when you have a passion, it’s really hard to get it out of your system. My first film Half Emirati is about mixed-race/heritage/ parentage kids in the UAE. It became the most watched film at Dubai Film Festival 2012. But it took me a while to get to the stage where I could do something about it. When you’re learning, you just don’t know where to go or what to do- but you have to just do it! You originally studied Biomedical Sciences and Neurosciences, why the change of heart? I wouldn’t call it a change of heart because my heart was always set on the film industry. Unfortunately in the Arab world we don’t really have much leeway in terms of what we can do and parents hope to exert as much influence on their children as possible. I don’t regret it though… it’s just how life panned out. At the University of Durham I pursued a degree in Biomedical

Sciences and then continued with a masters degree in Neurosciences at University College London where my research was focused on Parkinson’s disease. During my time in London, I immersed myself in a few short film production courses. But there comes a time where you feel like enough is enough. No amount of money, no opportunity, no environment, no person can stop you from doing what you want to do. You realize life is short and you become stronger and take your life into your own hands. I did that. Why autism specifically? Most people think it’s because it’s a part of my life, but strangely enough, I don’t know anyone with autism, though many people are affected worldwide. Music has always been close to my heart. I play an instrument and believe it’s a great outlet for expression. Coupled with my studies of the brain, it became

basically research to test the effects of music therapy on the brain. In autism, we really don’t know how the brain works. All I know is that the idea came to me and when you’re given an opportunity to make a film like this that will influence and help people…you should take it. Please describe the concepts behind using aflamnah.com and crowd-funding to help make this film The Brain That Sings? I met Vida Rizq and her husband Lotfi Bencheikh and their team at the aflamnah launch party in the UAE. It was mid 2012 and they had introduced the first crowd-funding site of its kind in the region. They introduced the project through a short promotional video, which we placed online, and then asked others to support the film by pledging certain amounts of money dubbed “contributions.” Depending on the amount you contributed, you would get certain [cont...] 109

[continued...] rewards. For instance, $10 would get you special thanks on the Facebook page but $10,000 would ensure your name/logo was on all media collateral, you would get invited to the wrap party and it would earn you an executive producer credit on the film. We raised a whooping $15,000 in the 3-months the video was on the site; mostly from people we didn’t know or never met! Vida and Lotfi were also very supportive. Although the funds didn’t cover the entire project, it was a big help from the community itself. Plus, it helped spread awareness so that people were more inclined to come and watch the film. Now, for the distribution part of the film, the film was invited onto another crowd-funding site called Zoomaal (zoomaal.com) who match the amount donated in funding. The campaign will be open until the 7th of June and allows us to collect proceeds to tour the country in an autism awareness campaign pertaining to the film. But to be honest, the film is sort of by the people for the people, and the community cares more about it than I think some companies would, This way it gives them a chance to be part of it and of course get rewards that perhaps wouldn’t otherwise be on offer. For instance, I’m offering a chance to make a film with me as well as a role in my upcoming film – not many people know that I have 110

some major celebrities attached to the project so a chance to work with them is incredible. The campaign is supposed to inspire and help women entrepreneurs through additional support. What do you hope to achieve from this documentary? Will there be a follow up? Simply awareness, understanding and acceptance. I’m really passionate about helping people. When I say ‘helping people,’ I mean the betterment of humanity as a whole. I believe I am a creative individual who, through the use of film, can share ideas that may inspire people to do greater things, and this is also how audiences in the Arab world prefer their content. If you affect one person through your work, or you can help a single person understand themselves, or a topic, better, then you are adding positively to this world. As for a follow up – no not really. I’m a filmmaker with an interest in social topics so after this I bounce on to the next topic or next film. I always say it’s the families who will continue to live on but then I’ve left something for them as a gift that they can use to help make life easier for themselves and their children. What do you aim to accomplish in the future? I want to make as many films as I can and establish myself as a filmmaker. I have another documentary that I’m working on already. I’m still

trying to find my feet and my place in the world of film and I can only do that by challenging and pushing myself to try new and different things. So far I’ve done a web series, documentaries (both short and feature), corporate work and TV…now all that’s left is animation and narrative. I’ll get there. I just have so many ideas that I need to stop myself and focus on one. Is there anything you’d like to tell the filmmakers of the future? In the film industry you need to be resilient. You will go through periods where you have no jobs at all and sometimes too many that you can’t choose. Always focus on building yourself and of course, it’s not about what you know as much as who you know. I’m a firm believer in passion and ambition. If film is really a part of who you are and you exhaust yourself on a film and are ready to do it all over again then you know you’re in the right place. Ridley Scott once said and I quote, “If you want to be a filmmaker, nothing should put you off and nothing should put you down”. You hear that? NOTHING. Now go shoot something. In order to help support the film you can visit www.zoomaal.com/p/bts. For more information about Amal Al-Agroobi and her documentary, check out www.thebrainthatsings.com.

BAROUE

TRAVEL PUNCH by Heena Parkar

‘Now, why did I need to know that?’, was an obvious thought, as the gentleman next to me described how his uncle wasn’t pleasant and would spoil any or rather all family occasions. It had been 45 minutes since this middle aged passenger insisted on making small talk, entirely for his convenience. I felt a humdrum alert when a conversation opener about how often I travel, was thrown in my direction. I should have ignored it but instead smiled and answered politely. It definitely wasn’t the right time to be humble. What next! My reaction opened doors to a world of wearisome and soul-destroying monologue. He managed to paint a picture of his burdensome and traumatic life ordeals with incomparable passion. ‘Did he know the torture people went through while being made to live those moments again?’ Who would know? I was more at ease believing he was unaware of his skill to wrap life into a highly negative and pessimistic experience. By then, my idea of a calm, composed and delightful journey was a lost dream. I stared at 112

the TV-screen, which listed movies I wanted to watch. The tedious talk made it so difficult for me not to frequently glance into my bag, which stored the novel I purchased for this flight. I even tried pulling it out partially which effectively distracted my ludicrous acquaintance but it only shifted the topic but didn’t cease the commentary. Unfortunately for me, he was familiar with the writer and what could have prevented him from sharing every bit of detail about the novel and how it was brought to effect. The explanation came as a splash of noise striking my ears heavily and forcing words into my saturated brain. I had my emergency pills ready, for a headache was on its way. I could have traded my life for some silence. Even awkward silence would have been blissful. However, desiring it around him was wishful thinking. I knew my thought process was shutting down and I was thinking bizarrely. “I will be right back,” I lied quietly and escaped from my seat clutching my bag tightly. A blank look spread across his face, as he

was interrupted while making a break-through invention of ‘how air travel can be made more comfortable’, mostly for his own sake. I had lost all patience and walked straight ahead, not even knowing what my plan was. Almost unconsciously I sat on the first empty seat I found and adjusted myself comfortably. It felt delightful. Just then, a young lady, probably gone to visit the lavatory, was back. She smiled at me from the seat next to me. I gave a very unfriendly and ‘don’t even think about it’ glare back, turned in the other direction, pulled a cloth on my face and went off to sleep. As an amateur traveler, I always fancied meeting strangers and sharing life-enhancing experiences. I often imagined exchange of cultural ideologies, comparing respective civilizations and probably gaining practical insight into varied lifestyles. However, the shock of my first experience was bound to impact this idea and it would be years before I would even consider glancing at someone seated next to me.

PINKBERRY

big boys toys Because grown men still need to play

GOLME FOOTBALL GOAL BACKPACK

STAR WARS DEATH STAR FOOTBALL

“VICTORY” MOVIE (1981)

Get your kicks wherever you are with the Golme Football Goal Backpack. The industry leader in portable, easy to setup football goals has changed the game again with the first football goal that fits in a backpack. Its Shield Anchor System connects the goal and the backpack through a dynamic skeleton shell, allowing the Urban Pac to shrug off even the hardest shots. This clever bag features a hidden, rapidly deployable 1.5’ x 1.5’ net that’s perfect for a size 5 ball — which you can stash in the exterior carrier. Other features include a mobile device or key zippered pouch, water bottle pocket as well as comfortable cushy shoulder and chest straps.

The Death Star football is a limited edition release, part of some Star Wars Celebration Europe II series of merchandise. So of course it’s football-themed. And you can save your breath contacting the manufacturer to politely inquire about R2D2 basketball jerseys or Princess Leia bun American football helmets. At a little less than 9” in diameter, the Death Star football probably won’t pass for regulation size on the field. But it’s at least in complete, Episode IV form, and so will still suffice for nerdalicious father-son bonding time.

Perhaps among the greatest of all football movies, this classic stars more than a handful of greats and an interesting plot and storyline. Though Sly Stallone is the centerpiece for this classic, the real action comes when countless football stars, including Pele, Bobby Moore and others, take to the pitch. There is a quality to this movie that can never be replicated, not even in a quality movie like Bend it Like Beckham. Perhaps it’s because some of the greatest players to have ever played the world’s game are taking part; and perhaps it’s because of the first time I saw the bicycle kick sequence, in which Pele executes the difficult manoeuvre flawlessly in slow motion. That scene still brings tears to my eyes, even after all these years.

www.uncrate.com

www.dudeiwantthat.com

www.amazon.com

FOOSBALL TABLE BY AUDI DESIGN

NIKE PRO COMBAT

LEGO SPORTS FOOTBALL GRAND STADIUM

You thought the boys at the office would be impressed when you drove up in your new Audi A4 Avant. Especially, when you explained what Avant meant. But, if you rolled this Audi-designed foosball table into the back office, they’d be blowing off the rest of the afternoon. Impressive, yes. It’s the same classic pub game, but dipped in Audi detailing – all brushed aluminum finish & sleek German styling. 2 years in the making this baby is limited edition, so you may find it hard to get your hands on one now….but if you did, this table would keep football talk going long after the World Cup is done and gone.

Whether you’re playing football, basketball or rugby odds are you’re gonna take some hits from time to time — which is why there’s Nike Pro Combat (KD 6 – KD 25). These high-tech undergarments are made from Dri-Fit fabric to wick sweat away while allowing for the maximum freedom of movement, and also feature hard plates and foam cells in the most contact-prone areas to keep you protected and help keep your mind on the game. Also part of the new line are compression hypertights which were developed based on insight from athletes, scientists, physiologists and coaches, to aid impact recovery after the game, so you can bounce back and play on to your heart’s content.

A perfect pastime for children and adults with World Cup fever (when there are no games on, of course), this Lego model builds the football stadium and then allows for a two-player game. The set comes with a few extra detailed touches, such as stadium lights, goals, and a scoreboard. Plus it comes with a tiny football and 12 minifig players—six on the red team and six on the blue—that can each be manipulated with a rear lever to rotate or move side to side for real game play. While it is not as fast as that on a foosball table, it’s definitely passable as a mock game of football. The stadium contains 386 Lego pieces and takes about an hour or two to build before play can begin.

www.werd.com

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www.amazon.com

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MAIS ALGHANIM

ELEVATING MISHREF

Elevation Burger’s newest location gives a healthy option to the classic burger by bazaar staff

In early May, the residents of Mishref were given a treat that had been a long time coming: the latest branch opening of Elevation Burger. For months the team worked hard to make sure everything in the branch was perfectly done, from the equipment and the food stations to the chairs and tables diners sit on, all with the goal of expanding the Elevation lifestyle to Kuwait. “An Elevation lifestyle is one that elevates everything, your body, your mind, your soul, your life experiences.” said Amal Al Dahouk, from Elevation Burger’s Marketing team. “You aren’t just having a juicy yummy burger that you want to sink your teeth into, you are also having a burger that is made from 100% USDA certified organic and halal beef. Elevation burgers leave you feeling satisfied but light, so you won’t miss out on life.” On opening day the people of West Mishref got more than just a burger, they got a day filled with an elevated experience. As they enjoyed their free burgers, customers played the classic Connect Four game and added their Elevation moment to the Share Your Moment board. They were also greeted by social media celebrities Dana Tuwairish, the micro-blogging American University in Kuwait student and Instagram celebrity Omar Al Othman. They got the chance to meet Hamad Qalam, a social media celebrity and marketing guru that hails from Mishref. “One thing we noticed was that people of Mishref take pride in their area,” said Al Dahouk. “You could tell they are a very tightknit community. They were very welcoming of Elevation Burger coming to their neighborhood and seemed happy that they will have more food concepts to choose from in Mishref now. We hope to live up to their expectations.” The event was broadcast live on Kuwait’s radio station 103.7 on the Al Gaaylaa show. Customers had a chance to meet the team from the popular show, and listen to a live interview with Elevation Burger’s Ali Ashkanani, who explained what it is that makes Elevation Burger so special. There are more than 60 locations to find a burger in Kuwait, but Elevation Burger made its mark from the moment it stepped on to the scene. The concept began in Northern Virginia when founder Hans Hess dreamt about conceiving the immaculate burger. His goal was to create a burger that is good for us and for the environment without sacrificing great flavor. While Elevation Burger has opened in almost a dozen states in the US, their first international franchise is here in Kuwait, and it feels like home. They started with the burger, and made sure all of their meat was organic grass-fed beef. When cows are left to graze in their natural habitat, they remain stress free and mostly disease free. This means they are not given any antibiotics nor 116

beefed up with a corn-based diet that can result in a fatty product, and a less healthy burger for the consumer. The end result is tender, lean beef. With grinders in each store, you can be sure that your patty is 100% meat without any of the harmful additives, preservatives and chemicals. They didn’t stop at the meat though. Most of their produce is purchased locally, and if they cannot find what they need in Kuwait, the Elevation Burger team makes sure it comes from the region to reduce

travel time, and make sure that every bite is as fresh and as delicious as possible. The genius is in the detail though, and so everything in your burger meal is prepared daily. Elevation Burger’s special sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy in a unique and almost indescribable secret recipe. And what burger would be perfect without the fries? According to Al Dahouk, the franchise has developed a special method allowing them to prepare fries in the healthiest way possible. It

starts with locally or regionally grown potatoes that are always fresh, never frozen. Frozen fries usually include preservatives to maintain their color and texture. Elevation delivers the fresh whole potatoes to every store where they are diced, and then fried at the perfect temperature in heart-healthy olive oil. It’s not just their burgers that are healthy, sustainable and good for you. To create a fully elevated experience, the people at Elevation Burger have put a lot of work

into creating an environment that has the lowest carbon footstep possible. All their wrappers, bags and packaging are made out of recycled material. The chairs, tables and material used in their branches and the head office are made from sustainable material. LED lights are used in all locations and stores to conserve energy. This, says Al Dahouk, is their way of keeping with the Elevation Burger promise by delivering a product and service that is “Above and Beyond Good”:

good for people, and the planet. Elevation Burger is located at in Second Avenue – The Avenues on the first floor, Al Hamra Luxury Center, the Menus complex Mangaf and now in West Mishref in the New Mishref Co-op Mall. For more information, please call 2259 7516 or visit www.elevationburger.com. Follow them on Twitter @elevationkw, Instagram @elevationburgerkw or Facebook: Elevationburger.kw. 117

FIFA WORLDCUPFACTS FIFA HISTORY

19TO DATE

Tournament created - Amsterdam, 26 May 1928 1st FIFA WC - Held at Montevideo, Uruguay (1930)

TOURNAMENTS

HAVE BEEN HELD

with 13 countries from 3 continents

6 host countries - crowned Champions

Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), England (1966), Germany FR (1974), Argentina (1978), France (1998)

5.38 (AVG)

5.38 - Highest goal average per game

REFEREE

FIFA

BRAZIL STATS PARTICIPATED IN ALL

19EVENTS

FIFA

Switzerland (1954) - 140 goals in 26 matches

18 - Total number of winning managers

Vittorio Pozzo (Italy) - won twice - 1934 & 1938

Only country to be involved in every tournament Their first FIFA World Cup tournament held in 1950 3 times as many spectators as the FIFA World Cup in France, 1938

Won 5 FIFA World Cup Tournaments (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

Ronaldo - Top Scorer in FIFA history 15 goals across 3 FIFA World Cup tournaments RONALDO

FRENCH CONNECTION WITH FIFA

WORLD CUP

Involved in first FIFA World Cup match 1930 - Defeated Mexico 4 - 1

Lucien Laurent scored first FIFA goal ever Laurent Blanc scored FIFA’s first golden goal 1998 FIFA World Cup in France Featured 32 countries for the first time

World Cup held at France 1998 - Most number of goals scored in a single tournament - 171 goals in 64 games

TOTAL of

FIFA WORLD CUP

BRAZIL 2014 820 matches

118

SIX

continents

202 teams

x 171 in 64 games

20th FIFA World Cup tournament 2 million+ people interact with the official website of world football’s governing body daily First qualifying match for Brazil 2014 held in Montserrat 15 June 2011

6 languages around the world you can follow the games live in Maracana - the second stadium to have staged the final twice

the other one being Mexico’s Estadio Azteca

820 total matches, across 6 continents, with 202 teams

TAIBA

COLORS OF A MUMBAIKAR WEDDING by Lujain F. Al-Mulla

I send a reminder: “Don’t forget the wedding invites, Nora!” I peek into my purse one final time and, sure enough, my passport is still inside — same as it had been the last five times I checked. Nora sends back: “They’re in my suitcase. Don’t worry.” A honk outside startles me. My ride is here. I rush downstairs and halfway down I realize I’d left my suitcase in my room. “Scatterbrain!” I huff and rush back upstairs. At the airport counters, I meet with my co-workers/ makeshift travel-mates and we share big smiles. “Can you believe that this time tomorrow, we’ll be at an Indian wedding?” I squeal. “Can you believe we’ll be in India — period!” Shahd corrects me. We check in our four bags and head to our gate. Khalid holds out his phone and takes a quadroselfie of us before boarding the aeroplane – a selfie that involves four subjects, including the person snapping the photograph. It’ll catch on, I tell you! None of us have ever visited India before and I fidget with excitement throughout the plane ride. After stopping in Doha, we are on our way to Mumbai, or Bombay as it is still often called. It’s 3a.m. local time when we touch ground. We disembark the plane into a jetway, and are welcomed by a lush extension of carpet. This carpet, we come to realize, is bedecked upon the 120

entire distance from the gates to the passport control desks. Gilded with a vivacious paisley pattern of bright orange and deep purple, the soft carpet gives with every weary step, thoughtful of tired red-eye travelers. Lucky for us, this terminal had just opened two weeks prior and is absolutely exalting. Besides the hospitable carpeting, we are met by walls covered in a blend of contemporary artwork and ancient artefacts: murals of printed circuit boards studded with computer chips and electronic thingamabobs, followed by carved statues of Indian deities like those one might find in a Jain temple. At the passport control desks we behold yet another colossal piece of art; the white wall of this hall is beautifully lit through recesses, quite dreamlike – having had no sleep, I fight the urge to slip into a dream, a trance, hypnotized. Mumbai had curated a museum of an airport that is in itself enough reason to visit this city. We collect our luggage and head out. Our hotel is a minute’s drive away from the terminal. As soon as we check in and roll our bags into our bedrooms, we get ready for bed. I yawn in between oohs and ahs at the luxury of the place. We have a big day ahead of us and need all the rest we can get. We wake up at 2p.m. and get dressed and ready for day one of wedding festivities: the Ring Ceremony and Sangeet. “I can’t wait to see Aanchal”, I tell Nora as I outline my eyes with black

kohl and she slips her head through the neck of her sparkling dress. We call the others; they’re ready, we’re ready, I adjust my aubergine gown and makeup one last time and we head to the elevators. I pull out my phone and we take another quadroselfie of us all dressed up. A hotel car drives us to the venue. The streets of Mumbai are packed with jostling cars and auto rickshaws. Lane markings are non-existent, and taxis and lorries are painted in every hue of a color palette as if smeared in war paint, ready to battle their way through the crowd. The words “Horn OK Please” are stencilled onto bumpers everywhere and tailgating vehicles oblige; honking is encouraged, nay, celebrated in these streets! Car horns are the shofars of chauffeurs! The noise is incessant. Vehicles stack up at traffic lights as tightly as tiles in a game of Tetris. The traffic is dizzying. The roads are lined with shops and crumbling blocks of flats. Flats are then cut off by a myriad of rickety shanty houses interlocking, one over the other, like colorful Lego blocks; a network of ladders criss-crosses the façade. We gape — amazed and disheartened. We finally arrive at the clubhouse. Our eyes dilate and feast on luxury once more. Trees outside are ornamented with lights and the entrance is framed with an arch of dangling white flowers. Inside: lights, food, music, color and more color. Multi-colored saris and kurta pyjamas [cont...]

[continued...] diffuse about the room and I feel I’ve entered a kaleidoscope. The room is set up like a musical concert with a stage. We find the bride sitting in the front row. “You guys made it!” she shrieks and hugs. We meet the bridegroom — a tall soft-spoken gentleman in a prim sherwani. I’m instantly envious of the embroidered sari she is in — green and blue and bejewelled. A pearl-studded headpiece hangs on her forehead. Her henna is like none I’ve seen before; her forearms are a canvas depicting an Indian bride and groom surrounded by auburn blooming vines — a sacred crawling garden fenced by stacks of bangles. The music is riveting. Three singers alternate through the night backed by a lively band. Families dance. Food goes around. A veil of mirth and incense blankets the room. At the end of the night, we’re spent. We return to the hotel, change out of our regalia and recount all we’d seen over a cup of Darjeeling tea. We share photos with family and friends back home, then call it a night. The next day, we have breakfast together and head out to explore the city a bit before day two of the wedding. We return late in the afternoon bearing shopping bags and sore feet. Nora and I alternate between ironing our party-wear and taking a rejuvenating shower. We repeat the routine of the day before; this time, I apply lighter hues of makeup to match the gold and aqua blue of my dress. We meet Shahd and Khalid by the elevators where, having worn a suit and tie the day before, today, Khalid is in a crisp dishdasha and shmagh; 122

we chuckle at the thought of the stares we are about to get. Day two consists of the wedding and reception, and is held at our hotel ballroom. We take our now habitual quadroselfie and head down. Very conscious of the attention we’re getting, we glide through the lobby, all smiles, and are stopped dead in our tracks as soon as we reach the ballroom entrance. We’re greeted by yet another plethora of flowers. At the far end of the ballroom, we see the bride and groom’s mandapa — a red, flower-adorned canopy under which sit Aanchal and her beau. The canopy shelters them under a glass dome that lets in lustrous sunlight; its windows are cracked open and echoes of chirping birds reverberate from wall to wall. I am filled with veneration. We sit ourselves in the second row of seats, scooching to get a better view of the bride. Her sari is scarlet red and tinselled in glittering threads and sequences. A piece of jewelry hangs from her ear to her nose, hooking on a golden hoop. Red and white choora bangles are stacked up her arms; according to tradition, she must wear these for 40 days. Kaliras hang from her wrists — large heavy masses of golden jewelry that look very uncomfortable but lavish. A veil rests on her head and, across her shoulder, a sash of roses; she looks majestic. Hindu rituals carried out by a mantra-chanting man of religion bind the blushing pair together. A shehnai — an Indian oboe-like instrument — can be heard in the background. People are walking into the ballroom and out to the buffet as all this takes place. We try some of the food ourselves. For the first time, I try what I come

to discover is called panipuri, a pleasantly sweet yet spicy surprise to the taste buds. The newly-weds leave the ballroom sprinkled with flowers and holy water. We hang about the ballroom a little longer and mingle with the guests, many of whom, we learn, are residents of Kuwait — Aanchal’s side of the family. Others, natives of Mumbai, very thoughtfully let us in on the best places to visit during the remainder of our stay in the city. We notice that the guest chairs are now being turned to face the other end of the ballroom; their covers are replaced and a stage is revealed, decked with yet another floral array of pale pink and white. Men carrying trays disperse among the seated crowd, tempting guests with more Indian finger food. Everything is spicy and delicious. Later, the bride, groom and their family ascend this stage and the reception begins. Aanchal has changed into another decorated sari, pink, this time, and no less beautiful than her former gowns. Guests line up to walk across the stage, say their final congratulations to the proud family and take photographs. It gets crowded so we settle for a wave to Aanchal from afar, sending a flying kiss or two before leaving the ballroom and heading back to our rooms. As I lie on the hotel bed, knackered and uncoiling, I think how lucky I am to have been given the opportunity to attend an authentic Hindu wedding, to have shared it with people dear to my heart. What I love most about Mumbai is its people, friendliness and hospitality seem to come so naturally to locals of this land. What the rest of our stay has in store for us, I can barely wait to feast my senses on.

INTERIORS

ELEMENT EIGHT space articulators

from concept • Restaurants • Boutiques • Hotels • Retail shops • Exhibitions • Furnishing packages Offices

to completion Behbehani Villas, Gulf Road, Kuwait City, Kuwait Tel. (+965) 224 507 56 • Mob. (+965) 667 947 21

interiors@element8-kw.com

bazaar a la mode AMERICAN EAGLE – ART POP INSPIRED! It’s all inspired by Art Pop for the AEO girl this summer, with graphic prints and hyper color neons adding fun to everyday basics. The 90s trend is in full swing and they’re paying homage to one of their favorite fashion decades with destroyed denims, plaids to accessorize around your waist and body con silhouettes to take you from day to night. If you’re thinking easy and breezy summer, their style stays comfy and casual with their soft dressing looks; pull-on skirts or harem pants are perfect to pair with their favorite crop tops and bralettes. They always stay true to their heritage, as their summer staples include the best denim shorts, lightweight chambrays and the perfect cropped jeans. Their newest addition, the Aloha Tank, will be your favorite top all season. For the guys, Classic Americana is the heritage of AEO and for summer they’ve taken it to a new level. Stars and stripes, vintage prints and cut-off denim are the summer staples we can’t get enough of. This season, they’ve mixed classic beach wear with iconic prep styles for a new take on summer style. Polos with swim trunks and chinos with tanks are their new go-to outfits. The assortment mixes on-trend geo-prints, tropical florals and color-blocking. We love these bright prints paired back to their famous denim. Throw on a classic Birkenstock and you’re set for a casual cool look. For more information, please visit www.ae.com.

BANANA REPUBLIC AND MARIMEKKO ANNOUNCE LIMITED-EDITION CAPSULE COLLECTION FOR SUMMER 2014 Banana Republic and Finnish fashion and design house Marimekko announce the Banana Republic Marimekko Collection – a limited-edition capsule that uniquely marries Banana Republic’s modern, American style with some of Marimekko’s most iconic textile designs – offering a spirited collection of dresses, separates and accessories for women that will make her summer wardrobe “pop.” The women’s capsule collection launches exclusively at select Banana Republic locations worldwide and online beginning in late May 2014. Marimekko first made headlines in the United States when Jacqueline Kennedy donned a number of the brand’s iconic printed dresses during the 1960 U.S. presidential campaign. Today, Marimekko’s vibrant designs still resonate with celebrity tastemakers and consumers alike. The near 20 piece apparel and accessories women’s collection blends some of the most signature items from both brands, including Banana Republic’s iconic Hampton pant in Marimekko’s heroic black and white polka dot print. Items range from an architecturally designed cotton tunic with a plunging neckline, to a billowing maxi dress, to a dramatic full skirt – offering a versatile summer capsule that marries culture with style. The collection’s featured patterns each tell a unique story through distinctive prints. From intriguing landscapes and folk-inspired art, to circular dots that dance in a single file, the prints splash the capsule with bright hues alongside classic black and white.

BREEZY SUMMER AT AL OSTOURA Billowing skirts and dresses inspired by the 50s have made a big comeback this season. Elegance is reflected in the draped silhouettes and slim fits on jumpsuits and maxi dresses. Add a bright pop of color with your accessories. All these brands are available at Limelight boutiques. For more information log on to www.alostoura.com. L-R: (Bag) Love Moschino, (Shoe) Marc By Marc Jacobs, Poca & Poca, See by Chloe, Milly 124

SUMMER 2014 MENSWEAR AT H&M Men looking to create contemporary, flexible wardrobes will always find what they need at H&M. The collection offers smart suits and shirts for work and festive occasions, easy everyday favorites, sports clothing, shoes and accessories. The collection includes the latest trends, tailored classics and comfortable leisurewear. Regarding the new summer 2014 collection, Andreas Löwenstam, H&M’s head menswear designer says, “I love that there’s such a blurry line in menswear right now between tailoring and sports. For spring at H&M, the two sit naturally together, with smartened casual wear, and suits that have a more relaxed but still sharp feel. It’s all about pieces that work for the way men live their lives today,” The new collection coincides with the brand being recognised for its environmental work. Ethisphere recently listed H&M in its rundown of the world’s most ethical companies for a fourth year. Working to compile the list, a New York-based research institute, professors, attorneys and government officials named 41 industries, with 144 companies included. H&M was given the number one spot, beating the likes of Levi’s, for promoting best practices with a number sustainablyproduced collections. See more of the H&M Menswear summer collection in H&M stores throughout Kuwait. For more details visit www.hm.com/kuwait.

DESIGUAL NAMES ADRIANA LIMA AS ITS “LA VIDA ES CHULA” AMBASSADOR Adriana Lima, one of the most sought-after models at the moment and an international sensation in the fashion world, will be the new face of Desigual. For the first time ever, the fashion label is appointing a brand ambassador, and is doing so in collaboration with a woman who truly embodies the free, fun and colorful spirit of the brand. The model will be the face of Desigual and its ambassador for two seasons, spring-summer 2014 and fall-winter 2014. Adriana Lima’s personality and her fun and sexy spirit are a natural fit for Desigual and its slogan “La Vida es Chula”. That’s why we call this a match made in heaven. “Adriana will be an excellent “La Vida es Chula” ambassador because she reflects our values and represents Desigual women who are confident, optimistic and full of life. Our aim is that all women in the world will be able to identify with our philosophy.” Borja Castresana, Marketing Director. Desigual is currently present in 109 countries with over 425 retail stores, 11,000 multi-brand stores, 2500 corner concessions in department stores and online stores in 20 countries.

RALPH LAUREN - CREATE YOUR OWN POLO - AVAILABLE AT THE PRESTIGE, AVENUES. Choose your own polo from a selection of 11 different mesh colors and then pick the embroidery from a wide array of colors including silver and gold, which are exclusive to Design Your Own Polo. Next step is choosing between small, large or dual pony logos, custom monograming and putting the RL year on the hem. Your personalised polo will then be ready for collection between 7 to 14 days after your order is placed. Design your Own Polo is available in Kuwait at the Ralph Lauren store in The Prestige - Avenues. The store offers over 4,500 square feet of total retail space on two floors and features the modern, elegant collection, Black Label and Blue Label for women as well as the impeccable Purple Label, Black Label and iconic Polo Ralph Lauren for men. Also included is an amazing array of men’s and women’s footwear and accessories.

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bazaar explores STARBUCKS SUPPORTS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER FOR THE HANDICAPPED AS PART OF ITS GLOBAL MONTH OF SERVICE Starbucks partners (employees) painted walls, gardened, and renovated workshops at the Vocational Rehabilitation Center for the Handicapped in Salmiya on April 19th, part of Starbuck’s second annual Global Month of Service, which aims at mobilizing employees and customers to get involved in community service. 131 Starbucks partners (employees) and customers contributed a total of 917 volunteering hours helping out at the centre. This activity was one of many projects carried out during the month of April, underlining the commitment of one of the world’s most recognised brands to making communities stronger. Commenting on the Global Month of Service activity, Regional Communications and CSR Manager for Starbucks MENA, Rana Shaheen, said: “Starbucks is all about inspiring human connections that create positive impact on the people we serve. It was also wonderful to see the families of Starbucks’ partners contribute in the GMOS with the same passion and energy”. In addition to its Global Month of Service, Starbucks also runs a Community Connections Programme, which has been running for the past five years across 10 markets in the Middle East. Visit http://mena.starbucks.com to see how you can get involved with Starbucks in strengthening your community.

BATH & BODY WORKS’ NEW HAND SOAP COLLECTION BOASTS NEW FRAGRANCES, NEW FORMULAS AND A NEW LOOK The Bath & Body Works Hand Soaps just got better! This season spice up your sink with new fragrances, new formulas and a new look in its ever-popular collection of Deep Cleansing and Gentle Foaming Hand Soaps. With more than 25 scents to choose from, including the NEW Fresh Picked and Aloha Collections, the new creamy, rich formulas contain soothing aloe and protective vitamin E to help nourish and condition, leaving hands feeling soft and smooth. Now is the perfect time to give every sink in your home a sudsy and scented makeover!

COTTAGE CHIQUE AT THE ONE Bring a quaint, countryside feeling to your pad with THE One’s delightfully down-to-earth, charmingly romantic Cottage Chique home fashion style. Vintage floral print wallpaper sets the tone for this feminine lived-in look, which combines an earthy palette of greens, off-whites and browns with natural linen and leather upholstery, rough metal and natural wood for a warm and welcoming ambience. To create this cozy, cottagey living room, think petite furniture and eclectic accessories. Start with a beautifully buttoned, cottage-sized sofa and armchair with classic, turned wood legs, upholstered in taupe linen and piled high with cushions for ultimate comfort. Pair this with a traditional toffee brown leather armchair with stud detail and a space-saving two tier oval coffee table, all perched on a hand-woven rug. Add personality and interest with a variety of eccentric lighting choices and accessories, ranging from classic candelabra and a table lamp with a repurposed ginger jar-base, to a quirky collection of ceramic jars and vases. Round off your rural retreat with a crocheted throw and a floral cushion or two and you are all set for cottage life! For more details visit THE One at Marina Mall or The Avenues, or visit their website www.theone.com.

TANGLE TEEZER AQUA SPLASH – THE INNOVATIVE DETANGLING BRUSH Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash is the latest innovative detangling brush which will effortlessly banish tangles and knots from wet hair whilst distributing shampoo and conditioner evenly. Aqua Splash design with the hollow makes for easy, lightweight handling, and the rounded edges allows for smooth, free-flowing detangling. Featuring patented, uniquely designed teeth which flex and flick as they glide through the hair, Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash eliminates tangles and knots and minimises breakage, damage and splitting often caused by tugging and pulling on the hair shaft. Aqua Splash is available in four colors: Pink Shrimp, Blue Lagoon, Green Marine and Black Pearl. Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash is exclusively distributed in Kuwait by beau-tique cosmetics intl. For more information please call 2225 1285 or visit www.beau-tiqueonline.com.

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CAFE SUPREME

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

WHAT IF?

DUST & GROOVES

FINDING ME

by Randall Munroe

by Eilon Paz

by Michelle Knight and Michelle Burford

The mind often wanders — drifting to strange ideas, bizarre notions, and ridiculous questions — most of which you’ve probably dismissed or never found answers for. But What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions doesn’t just let those questions go. Instead, it explores well-researched answers to some of the weirdest quandaries you’ve ever thought of. Questions like: How fast can you hit a speed bump and survive? How long would humanity survive a robot apocalypse? In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations, and consults with nuclear reactor operators. His responses are masterpieces of clarity and hilarity, studded with memorable cartoons and infographics. They often predict the complete annihilation of humankind, or at least a really big explosion. Far more than a book for geeks, it explains the laws of science in operation in a way that every intelligent reader will enjoy and feel much smarter for having read.

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Whether you choose to organize your record collection chronologically, alphabetically, or autobiographically, there’s no denying your obsession with vinyl — you hunt, dig, and browse for that all-important LP, willing to do just about anything to add it to your collection. The writers of Dust & Grooves: Adventures in Record Collecting understand that obsession all too well. Five years ago they began traveling the world, photographing all kinds of record collectors and their vinyl. They documented it on their website, and then started a Kickstarter campaign to turn the project into a book. Now successfully released on Record Store Day on 19th April 2014, this book details the fixation with vinyl of 130 collectors, and their collections, with gorgeous photographs, and in-depth interviews that shed light onto what makes them tick. With 250 full-page photos framed by captions and quotes featuring the collections of DJs, producers, music lovers, and record dealers, as well as 12 detailed interviews, you might just get some insight into what motivates you.

Michelle was a young single mother when she was kidnapped by a local school bus driver named Ariel Castro. For more than a decade afterward, she endured unimaginable torture at the hand of her abductor. In 2003 Amanda Berry joined her in captivity, followed by Gina DeJesus in 2004. Their escape on May 6, 2013, made headlines around the world. Barely out of her own tumultuous childhood, Michelle was estranged from her family and fighting for custody of her young son when she disappeared. Local police believed she had run away, so they removed her from the missing persons lists 15 months after she vanished. Castro tormented her with these facts, reminding her that no one was looking for her, that the outside world had forgotten her. But Michelle would not be broken. In Finding Me A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed: A Memoir of the Cleveland Kidnappings, Michelle will reveal the heartbreaking details of her story, including the thoughts and prayers that helped her find courage to endure her unimaginable circumstances and build a new life worth living.

MAMMOTH BOOK OF THE WORLD CUP

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

by Nick Holt

An inclusive, chronological guide to football’s World Cup, one of the world’s few truly international events, in good time for the kick-off in Rio de Janeiro. From its beginnings in 1930 to the modern allsinging, all-dancing self-styled ‘greatest show on Earth’, every tournament is covered with features on major stars, as well as stories about some less celebrated names and quirky stats and intriguing essays. Holt’s focus is very much on what takes place on the field, rather than anything going on in politics or on the sideline. From the best World Cups, in 1958 and 1970, to the worst, he looks behind the facts and the technical observations to the stories: the mysterious sins of omission; critical injuries to key players; and coaching U-turns. The book also asks questions such as why Brazil did not contribute in 1966, despite having won the previous two tournaments and going on to win the next one? And why the greatest players of their day did not always shine at the World Cup? Alongside accounts of epic games, there are also brief biographies of all the great heroes of the World Cup.

“The Fault in Our Stars is a love story, one of the most genuine and moving ones in recent American fiction, but it’s also an existential tragedy of tremendous intelligence and courage and sadness.” —Lev Grossman, TIME Magazine. Insightful, bold, irreverent and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. The story is narrated by a sixteen-yearold cancer patient named Hazel. Despite the tumorshrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. Life changes again when Hazel is forced by her parents to attend a support group, where she subsequently meets and falls in love with the seventeen-year-old Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player and amputee. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern.

source: www.amazon.com

FANTASY WORLD

SUMMER SLOWDOWN

5 reasons to love the rising temperatures in Kuwait by B. Qureshi

Kuwait takes its seasons seriously. For every year I’ve been here, it seems like the first of May rolls around and someone has flipped a climate switch from “pleasant” to “unbearable even in the shade.” You’ll find plenty to complain about during summers in the Gulf. Car seatbelts burn, dust storms roll in, a few minutes in the sun provokes migraines and eggs start tasting funny, as if the hens were staging their own protest. But I still find myself looking forward to it, as a welcome slowdown from an active winter spent outdoors. Lazy Weekends I’ve spent every winter weekend outside during the day, sometimes for as long as eight hours, with my husband who lives for the outdoors. I love my vitamin D, fresh air and exercise as much as anyone else. Yes, there is something to be said for a creamy, sunburn-less complexion and not having to be bone-weary from toting a toddler around town only to come home to work I’ve neglected. I’ll be glad to use the weather as an excuse to stay home and have the time to do chores and tasks leisurely while someone else plays with my son on the weekend. And when the toddler naps, maybe I’ll nap too, or get caught up on watching movies on the couch these summer afternoons. And the all-male outdoor pool my husband frequents will reopen, so he can fulfill his requirement of being outdoors—by himself. Shopping Days indoor don’t mean we won’t be enjoying the city nights. Although I didn’t especially miss being advertised at this winter, I do relish the cold blast of the air conditioning at the mall when I enter from a parking garage sizzling with heat radiating from car engines. Even more so, I am eager to ditch my outdoor style of carefree hair, minimal makeup, and casual clothes for indoor styles of bolder makeup, straighter hair, and delicate fabrics. Also, since most people hibernate indoors during the day, even the outdoor souks have an electric intimacy at night that I’m looking forward to. Summer Foods Rising temperatures promote a switch from baking and outdoor grilling to salad prep and sipping cool drinks. When it’s hot, I’m much more able to appreciate the crispness of lettuce dripping with a tart vinaigrette, or the spicy sweetness of chaat, all welcome after a season of stodgy stews, meat and rice dishes, sticky desserts, and too much bread. Substituting iced tea, lemonade, and fresh juices for warm drinks also takes the edge off of the hot season. As a bonus, any processes 130

requiring low heat or sunlight occur faster than usual. If you want to dehydrate your own chilies or herbs, need to quickly dry kitchen towels, or have to cure homemade pickles fast, all you need to do is put it out in the sun for a while. Mango Season I’ve never had a Chaunsa I didn’t like. I can’t wait to introduce my son to the King of Fruit, just like I had been so long ago by my parents on trips to Karachi. It’s a complete sensory experience: the bright orange color, the perfume, the sound of the fibers giving against your teeth, the dribble of the juice down your chin, the complex sweetness of the ripe fruit. Executioner, I want mangoes for my last meal--but you’ll have to delay my sentence until late May, when South Asia’s mango season kicks off. Everyone I know has his own way of eating a mango. I divide the fruit into two

hemispheres that I cube and detach from the peel with a spoon. My husband slices around the stone and eats off the slivers of skin. Mango lassi was my sister’s favorite, my father opted to suck on the fleshy stone, and my mother preferred hers dressed in a spicy fruit salad. I’m eager to see what way my one-year-old makes of his first experience. As if he didn’t already have enough strawberry and avocado smears on his shirt. Vacation If in the end you can’t take the heat, you can always go abroad for a while. Summers are the ideal time to leave Kuwait, since most tourist spots outside of this latitude enjoy sublime weather. However, if you decide to stay for the summer, the roads, absent school traffic and a great chunk of the population, are blissfully clearer. There is grace in that.

KITCHENAID

OXADVENTURE GETS THEIR WINGS by Nora Al-Ruwaished

We quit our jobs to create our dream lives. Our dream lives that did not lead to owning expensive cars or venturing out on lavish European vacations—but one that enabled us to give, to share and to explore. Everyone laughed. Everyone told us we couldn’t. They thought we were crazy. Sometime a little crazy is just what you need to succeed, and this article proves that if you believe in yourself, you will achieve. When I was a little girl I used to stare out the window at school and envy the birds for their freedom to be anywhere, anytime. I felt like the joke was on me and I was actually the animal. I lived in a cage called a house, but I never felt at home, and every day I sat in what felt like a prison called school. It wasn’t the shelter or the education that I minded— it was the monotony. Eventually I would be 132

expected to become robot-like between four walls from 9-5 making another’s money for them, and maybe if I made it to being old and gray I would be able to retire and be “free”– as “free” as you can be with aching bones and limited mobility. I saw the same faces every day, took the same routes to my destinations. I became bored of conventional life from the moment I understood what it meant. I vanished from the real world and dove into my books. I loved to read because it took me to places in my mind that I could never go with my body – back in time, to new lands, to fantasy worlds and I found freedom with every page I turned. Eventually though, that wasn’t enough for this free spirit. After all, everything on this earth is here to be found, and why shouldn’t I be allowed to discover it for myself?

The most rewarding decisions in my life have simultaneously been the most terrifying. OXadventure was one of them, and the most prominent at that. The scariest part of life, in my opinion, is the unknown – but at the same time the only way to alleviate the fear of the unknown is to discover it. To ask questions in this life and to then relentlessly seek the answers on your own is one of the most beautiful and liberating freedoms we have as humans. There are two types of dreamers – the type who merely entertain thoughts of the life they would love to live, and the ones who fight until their dreams are realities. There are the ones who say “I wish” and there are the ones who say, “I will” and eventually “I will” turns into “I did.” Dreams are like potential – they mean nothing unless acted upon.

OXadventure is a prodigy of three dreamers who did not let laughter, disapproval, doubt or criticism stop them. Saud AL-Juwaiyan, Ibrahim ALFraih and I, Nora Al-Ruwaished, had a very simple plan – to create a platform that enabled traveling without being a tourist, and a way to give back to the country that you visit and the at-risk children or less fortunate indigenous. We preferred to spend our money helping others rather than splurging on ourselves, and we did so because there is no greater gift than to give, especially considering how fortunate we are to come from a country like Kuwait. We have things that others might never have. It is in our humble opinion, our duty, to share our blessings with others. It was not until we did aid work ourselves that we began to truly value what have been given and that we learned the lessons in life that matter the most. It humbled our characters and molded us into better people. We only want the same for our peers in Kuwait as we feel that many are born in their comfort zones and die in their comfort zones. If we can change this, we can change Kuwait. Last September, OXadventure began to pilot

projects in Africa, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka in between jobs and school. Our strategy is to research a country and its areas of need, travel abroad to the country to meet with Local NGO’s and sustainable development organizations, plan a safety package, budget and itinerary and make local connections to create the perfect plan for our potential participants. We did not have money, ‘wasta,’ support of any kind, or even a proper team. None of us were experts in development work but we managed to handle everything: From planning, marketing, design work, running booths in P2BK and Qout Market, to coordinating meeting after meeting to try to gain the support of ministries, companies, universities and the general public. None of this went without fights, tears, days where we thought we would not succeed, days where we felt stupid for trying or worrying that we put so much at risk to chase a dream. But we didn’t quit. We fought. Much less than a year later, we feel proud and honored to announce that we have the most vibrant and quirky team of 15 participants for OXRwanda, going to Rwanda this August to restore the homes of

genocide victims. They will also deliver used laptops to the university students who were orphaned during the genocide in 1994. Fifteen days will be spent pouring sweat and energy into bettering the lives of the survivors of such a horrible tragedy, while creating a documentary about the rehabilitation of the country into what it has become today due to forgiveness and perseverance. GUST University has accredited the OXIndia program for their Mass Communication and Business majors to build an orphanage dormitory in India, during which the interns will live amongst the orphans they are building for, far out of their comfort zones. These unique and hard-working participants will work with a local media company in Kuwait. During the build, they will create a documentary about this life-changing experience and why they chose to do this instead of travel with their families over summer. OXadventure is assisting Q8 Books to build a library in Jordan at the Syrian Refugee Camp: Zaatari, in which the 6th graders of the American International School were able to raise over 1000 books for the project. They have requested [cont...] 133

[continued...] to become pen-pals with the refugee children, and OXadventure will do their best to meet these hopes. There are plans to have three international projects a year and one local program, plus a huge event that, should we have Kuwaitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attendance and support, would make us ecstatic. OXadventure has been running through our veins long before the idea actually came to us. It took immense patience to get where we are, but the founders have been walking the broken path of this journey for many years and it feels so good to be home: comfortably found, lost in the world. And I, 134

much like the very birds I used to envy, got my pair of wings. To live with purpose is to be free. I can only hope that those seeking adventure, seeking a soul-searching opportunity, those wanting to get their hands dirty and those who have a desire to change their way of thought consider OXadventure as their next travel opportunity. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell you how it will change your life; I can only tell you that it will. You have to come find out for yourself, instead of taking my word for it. Words will only satisfy you for so long. The adventure is in your own journey. OXadventure would not be able to do all that

we do without our partners whom we would like to thank: United Real Estate Company, our Real Estate partner for OXRwanda, and of course, Ooredoo, our annual partner for OXadventure. If you would care to assist OXadventure in the laptop drive by donating your used laptops, please call: 9607 8844 or 9099 8807. For more information or to stay posted about upcoming trips visit www.oxadventure.com or you can follow OXadventure on Instagram @oxadventure or at www.facebook.com/oxadvenuture.

ALAA MAKKI

EMMA STONE

Looks can be deceiving by Donna Freydkin

Here’s what it’s like to be part of Emma Stone’s inner circle. When her mother passed her five-year mark of being in remission for triplenegative breast cancer, Stone and her brother Spencer and their mom celebrated not with a fancy dinner or a swanky vacation, but by getting matching tattoos. It’s why Stone, 25, has been volunteering at Gilda’s Club, which doles out group love to cancer patients, for three years. And it’s also why she’s a bit uncomfortable doing the promotional version of a drive-through at the organization’s downtown headquarters. “It makes me so happy but I want to be there more in person there with them. I’m a little bummed I’m not spending more time with them today. It always feels a little bit like, ‘Gilda’s Club, bye!” she says. And unlike so many other actors, who ooze faux candor and neediness like bad deodorant, you get the sense that she means it. It’s perhaps why Stone epitomizes unforced sincerity and breezy confidence on the big screen as well, as Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. So how to reconcile that persona with the bundle of nerves that Stone says she really is on the inside? “You can easily forget that she’s only 25 because she has this emotional maturity and sophistication. It’s interesting to talk to her about anything. It makes her entertaining and fun to be around,” says Spider-Man director Marc Webb. “I remember when we were halfway through shooting and we had a halfway party. I’d had a very weird dream involving Hugh Jackman. She listened to me and gave me eye-opening dream analysis. I say this because there are a lot of layers to her and she’s textured as an actress and a person. She understands what people around her are feeling. She’s very sensitive to other people’s insecurities and embarrassments and worries and concerns.” It’s why Stone finesses any questions about her real-life relationship with Andrew Garfield, who plays Parker/Spider-Man, with enviable ease. There’s no tension, no weirdness, no elephant in the room. Just total awareness of how to diffuse any queries. “It’s been easy because all I have to say is that I don’t talk about my private life. It’s kind of easy,” she says, pausing for effect. “Actually, I slap people in the face.” No, but really, how does she stay so upbeat while answering repetitive questions for the second month in a row? “I don’t think I’m that good-natured about it. When I’m really jet-lagged, I have such a state of psychosis that I have the tragedy mask. This tour has been a lot easier. I knew what to expect,” she says. But that awareness of what’s around her works both ways. Stone says she’s been profoundly affected by nasty comments made about her appearance online as she’s traversed the globe 136

promoting the Peter Parker franchise. She’s looked, and been appalled by what she’s read when photos of her premiere looks are posted. “I firmly believe that nothing really affects you or can really bother you if you don’t already feel that way about yourself. I’ve seen a lot of comments that say, ‘Eat a sandwich’ or ‘She looks sick.’ I’ve been looking at myself in the mirror being mean to myself. I’m not sick. I eat sandwiches,” she says. “There is in no way is it my intention to be a bad example. That has been kind of bothering me lately. I’ve shamed myself for it. We shame each other online. We’re always too skinny or too fat or too tall or too short. They’re just confirming this feeling I have about myself. I’m trying to figure my body out. It bothers me because I care so much about young girls. We’re shaming each other and we’re shaming ourselves, and it sucks.” For the record, food is a huge part of Stone’s life, and the pivotal point of how her days are structured. Girl needs to eat — and it’s why an appearance at a school in Queens is scheduled right before a mandatory lunch stop at a diner. But rather than endlessly defend herself, Stone has made a decision, she says, to keep the mean girls out of her life. “When I make a comment about someone or I choose to gossip about someone and speculate about their body or their life or their face, it’s usually a reflection of something I’m feeling myself. That has become ingrained in me. I’m trying to eliminate gossip from my own life,” she says. It’s one reason that when possible, she tries to surround herself with strong ladies, like Divergent’s

Shailene Woodley. “She feels good about herself. I like being around women like that,” says Stone. She’s also charmingly self-deprecating, talking about how she broke off her nails the other night after slamming her hand into the door of her hotel room while rushing to open it. And she wonders whether her new ‘do, one with bangs and slightly feathered ends, might be a dubious move. “Do I look like Susan Dey right now? Do I look like the mom on The Brady Bunch?” she wonders. Not in the slightest. As always, Stone manages to look, and act, precisely like herself, regardless of her varying hair hues. Much has changed since she made her film debut as a spunky redhead in 2007’s Superbad and went on to star in 2011’s Crazy, Stupid, Love and The Help. And she’s in Woody Allen’s Magic in the Moonlight, opening in July and co-starring her cinematic soul mate Colin Firth. “I call him paprika, because I talk about being vanilla. I’m vanilla. He’s paprika. He’s one of the only people I’ve met who sits at home as much as I do. That’s what we did: sit around,” she says, giggling with pleasure at the memory and breaking into a flawless British accent to mimic Firth. She’s eager to do theater. And she’s excited about spending her summer months doing nothing but settling in. “What I would like to do is try lots of things. When I first started out, there was no real plan. I still don’t have a plan. All of this has been really wild, doing things like Spider-Man. I’m still finding my footing and figuring out what it really is that makes me the happiest,” she says.

CANNON

WHY DO WE LOVE SPORTS? by Zainab Mirza

Flashes of white and blue on a 21 inch TV screen. A mention of ‘Maradona.’ A stadium erupting into cheers. My dad’s face breaking into a rare smile as an Arab commentator yells, ‘GO OOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!’ (It amazes me how long they can hold their breath.) These were my first glimpses into the world of football as a toddler. I didn’t understand much of what was going on then and I certainly didn’t get what the deal was (with watching any sport for that matter) while growing up, preferring to barricade myself in my room to avoid the incessant blaring of the television whenever a match was on. The craze amongst fans has always been amusing to observe however, whether it’s the explosive atmosphere in the stadium behind our apartment when one of the local teams was playing, or young men stopping traffic on Gulf Road to do a few celebratory jigs in the midst of honking cars, their faces beaming with exultation at Kuwait having won a game. June 2006, I was home alone at my aunt’s in Bombay and started watching a football game out of sheer boredom. I was transported to a state of excitement within minutes, infected with the thrill that emanated from that TV screen, and suddenly the most important thing then was who’d score a goal. From that moment on, I was hooked. Family bonds strengthened as the next few weeks until the World Cup finals were spent either watching matches with various relatives, devouring every daily that covered the event, or in heated discussions with cousins and uncles about players’ capabilities and which team would lift the Cup. After the finals, a deep gloom settled upon me like it did with millions of others. There was a void that couldn’t be filled as the question, ‘now what?’ resounded inside my head. And then, still on a World Cup high a couple of months later while observing Ramadan in Kuwait, the unbelievable happened. The Brazilian football team visited Kuwait to play a friendly and my dad took me to watch it. I was in a trance throughout the evening; watching some of the world’s best footballers play is not a regular occurrence. The stadium was pulsating with an electrifying energy like nothing I’d ever witnessed, and I thought I would lose my hearing when Ronaldinho and Kaká came onto the field. The legendary Pelé appeared as a guest of honor. My dad, who despises being anywhere near a public spectacle, joined me in doing the Mexican wave (which the spectators did about every five minutes). I cheered myself hoarse as Robinho scored on an incredible bicycle kick. Quite predictably, Brazil won. What is it about sports that makes us spend so much time and emotion upon it? Scientifically, our feelings while watching a game are dictated by the 138

release of different hormones such as oxytocin, a hormone responsible for creating contagious feelings of positivity, connectedness and promoting social bonds. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, transmits signals within the brain and is produced at the time of unanticipated but pleasant events, such as your team winning. A surge of dopamine at this time makes one want to relive the elation, explaining why fans don’t tire of watching their favorite sports. The activity of watching sports injects a high level of excitement into our lives—more so with a group of people—and enables us to build social connections. We may watch football to feel the rush of adrenaline as a player on our favorite team successfully tackles another, the stress and

anxiety brought about by a penalty shoot-out, the joy and exhilaration after our team wins when hope seems futile. It may also be to marvel at the skill of the players, occasionally feel a sense of wonder as they defy the odds stacked against them, and love them for it. They may inspire us to work harder to shatter preconceived limits, strive to be better, and attain our goals. Humans have an innate need to look up to an ideal; we admire achievers that stand out in a sea of mediocrity. And then there’s the human element to it all, to show solidarity to our team even if it loses. After all, as Terry Pratchett said (and this can be applied to any sport), “the thing about football—the important thing about football—is that it is not just about football.”

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THE GREAT

SHAWARMA HUNT by bazaar staff

It is the Middle-Eastern fast food, the in-a-pinch sandwich every one of us turns to late at night or when there are only a few moments for lunch. It is the greasy pleasure we can’t get enough of. There’s nothing more mouthwatering than the layers of meat soaking in drips of fat as they slowly turn on the spit, browned by the fire behind it. There are so many choices when it comes to eating a shawarma from bread, meat, sauce and even the types of veggies that make up your perfect shawarma. Not to mention the many shawarma places you can find all over the country. From The Avenues to the side streets of Salmiya the choices are seemingly endless. So, the bazaar team took up a shawarma challenge. In one day we hit seven of our team’s favorite shawarma joints, and ordered the house beef shawarma from each.

SLICE

Located right after Liberation Tower in Kuwait City, Slice is a favorite doner shawarma spot in Kuwait. Since opening last summer it has continued to wow clients at its amazing location that is full of ample parking, and a small outdoor eating area for those dining in. Choose between a beef or chicken doner in a wrap or pita bread. Yet, their secret is in the sauce, with offerings of a yogurt sauce, tahina, chili, Garlic and even ketchup. Or you can go for the special sauce with a mêleé of spicy flavors bound to have you come back for more. You can also add lettuce, cabbage, tomato and onion to your shawarma to really liven it up. Slice is located on Abdullah Al Salim Road (Rd no 50), towards Kuwait City, in front of Souq Al Wataniya. You can reach them by phone at: Tel: 6700 9974 or follow them on Instagram or Twitter @slice_kw.

SHAWARMA-MATIC

Behind Baghdad St. in Salmiya’s Block 8 is a shawarma haven. Brought to you by the same people who created Mais Al Ghanim, one of the country’s greatest Lebanese restaurants, Shawarmamatic is a place of endless possibilities. The back wall has six spits spinning beef, chicken, Turkish doner, tandoori, taouk and kabbab meats. Choose between Lebanese, samoun, saj or a baguette bread and top it off with four of 9 vegetables and a choice of one of 10 amazing sauces. Make it a super special shawarma with one of their ten premium toppings. Shawarma-matic is open from 1pm to 1am. It is located in Salmiya, Block 10, Sayed Yasseen Street. Reach them by phone at 2225 6444 or check out their website at: www.shawarma-matic.com. You can also follow them on Instagram or Facebook @shawarmamatic.

MEARMISHA

In the side streets of Shaab Al Bahary this small shawarma boutique has become a favorite among shawarma lovers. Their spices are picked carefully to enhance the taste of their fresh meats. The small sandwiches are great for a snack, or order more for a full meal. They serve five different types of beef and chicken shawarma, but it’s Mearmisha’s chutneys that give it a special flavor. You can go sweet with a mango chutney, or spicy with green pepper or jalepeno. Choose to get it wrapped in saj bread or get it served on Lebanese bread, it’ll be as fresh either way. Our personal favorite is the Abo El Waleed beef shawarma, made with whole mint leaves, this is definitely a light and healthy choice. Mearmisha located in Shaab Al Bahary, Al Thahaby Street, Building 32. Open from 1 pm to midnight, call them on 9918 9890 to place your orders. 140

SHAWARMA SHUWAIKH

In the unassuming Shamiya Co-op, the hip little shop’s pictures will keep you interested while you wait for your delicious sandwiches. Shawarma Shuwaikh sticks to the classics, while celebrating classical Kuwaiti heritage and does them well. While you are welcome to create your own mix, the eight sandwiches on offer are a definite must try. The 1961 on saj bread with chicken, parsley, rocca, potato, onion, and chili ranch sauce is a celebration of the country’s independence. The Dickson House – beef, honey BBQ sauce, Maabooch aioli sauce, fried crumbs, jalapeño, parsley and lettuce – pays tribute to the Dickson House Cultural Centre and Dame Violet Dickson, better known as Umm Saud, or Umm Kuwait. Shawarma Shuwaikh is located in Shuwaikh Residential area, just opposite the mosque, at Shuwaikh co-op. For more information visit www.shawarmashuwaikh.com or call 6636 6612.

ABOU JASSEM

One of the newest in the shawarma scene, Abou Jassem offers a sandwich that is both fresh and bursting with flavors. From the same people who brought you SemSom, Margherita and all the restaurants in the Plajat complex, the chef at Abou Jassem has nailed the fresh tastes of a shawarma by creating everything that goes into it on site. From breads to sauces and meat marinating, the entire process happens in-house. And they keep it simple, very simple. You can pick between a meat or chicken shawarma on saj or sandwich bread, and with your choice of tomatoes, onions, parsley and pickles. They have the garlic sauce toumiya for chicken and tahina for meat. Or you can get the Abou Jassem with their special sauce. No matter what you choose, it’s guaranteed fresh and delicious. Abou Jassem is located in Plajat off the Arabian Gulf Road at Plajat Street, Gulf Road, Salmiya and is open from 12pm to 12am. To contact them call 188 8848.

MR. GREEK

In January of this year, we here in Kuwait got a special treat with the opening of the first of five Mr. Greek locations in Marina Mall. The franchise’s slogan Because life has to be enjoyed!, definitely hit home as we immersed ourselves in the Greek pita and delicious doner meats. Mr. Greek’s sandwiches use the thicker Greek pita bread, or flatbread. The thicker bread is important to hold up the large slices of perfectly seasoned doner meats and fresh toppings like tomatos and onions. If you want a healthy choice Mr. Greek is definitely the place to go with their Greek yogurt dressing that takes you right to the tip of the Mediterranean. Visit Mr. Greek in their dine-in location in The White Tower, Intercontinental Mall, Gulf St. Salmiya, or their express location in the Marina Mall food court or call them on 2266 4433.

DONER KEBAB

The latest to hit the shawarma scene has definitely made a huge splash. Doner Kebab, German Doner is not for the faint hearted. With amazingly huge portions, and a great new concept this is a must try for shawarma lovers in Kuwait. There perfect veal or chicken doner is served in a specialty wrap bread made fresh. All their sandwiches come with the standard lettuce, tomato, onion, cabbage and three different types of sauces. Want to go bold? Mix the meats for a delicious veal and chicken doner sandwiches. Looking for something cheesy? Add extra feta cheese. Feeling really carnivorous? Get your sandwich with extra meat. There is something delicious for everyone in Doner Kebab. Doner Kebab is located in Salmiya on Restaurants street. Call them at 2220 0123 for delivery options. Follow them on Facebook @donerkebabkuwait or Instagram @donerkebabkw. 141

bazaar music “Music can change the world because it can change people.” ~ Bono

ONE LOVE, ONE RHYTHM

by Various

Spanning the world, the track listing for this official 2014 FIFA World Cup album represents artists from Brazil and all over the globe. The lead single “We Are One (Ole Ola),” a collaboration between American artists Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte was released in April and serves as the tournament’s official theme song. The second single “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way),” will be performed by Carlos Santana and Wyclef Jean (feat. Avicii and Alexandre Pires) at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony and is the brain-child of two-time Grammy award-winner Ash Pournouri. The album also features “La La La (Brasil 2014)” by Colombian singer Shakira.

TRIBAL by Imelda May Ireland’s reigning queen of rockabilly, the truly unique Imelda May, is back with a brand new album, entitled Tribal. Since the release of her debut, Love Tattoo, back in 2009, Imelda has been one of the most strikingly original talents in the music arena, taking her infectious blend of rockabilly, jazz, blues and torch songs to the biggest festivals in the world. With her live shows widely acclaimed, she has picked up fans as diverse as Jeff Beck and Bono who dueted with her at two sold out 02 shows. Far from mellowing with motherhood, Imelda sizzles more than ever, returning with a brand new album of hard-edged anthems. Imelda is pinning her colors to the mast with music which celebrates the great rock n roll sub-culture and her own Tribal allegiances.

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by Ed Sheeran

X (pronounced “multiply”) is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran set for a worldwide release on 23 June 2014. Its lead single “Sing,” in which he collaborated with Pharrell Williams, was released as a digital download in April. On working with Pharrell, Sheeran said that they had written two other songs together that were in the style he “usually did”, but for “Sing” he was pushed “out of [his] comfort zone” which made the track stand out. Pharrell reportedly said that he wanted to “shake the world’s view of [Sheeran] up” and make pioneering songs that no singer/songwriter has done before rather than just “a cool record”. Sheeran’s last album (+) has sold more than a million copies in the UK alone and shortly after release it became the secondbiggest-selling digital album since records began.

by Adele

25 is the upcoming third studio album by Adele, scheduled to be released later this year. It is the highly anticipated follow-up album to 21, Adele’s hugely successful sophomore album. When first speaking about the album in 2011, Adele revealed that she has written 7 songs for it, which she promised would be more intimate and stripped-down than her first two albums. Adele has admitted that she wants to make sure the album is “good enough” before she releases it, which is one of the main reasons why she is in no rush to release it. Adele planned to enlist producers for artists such as Florence + The Machine and Calvin Harris to change her sound so that her music “move[s] with the times”. Adele has also stated that she will include a cover of the song “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS on the album.

MONTY PYTHON SINGS (AGAIN) by Monty Python Monty Python Sings (again) remasters and resequences the classic Monty Python Sings album to celebrate its 25th anniversary and the imminent reappearance of the Pythons for their sell-out reunion shows at London’s O2 where they will be performing some of the album’s material. Monty Python’s Flying Circus (the famous English comedian troupe) first hit British television in 1969. And in 1989 Monty Python Sings was released and dedicated to Graham Chapman who died earlier that year. It is the Python’s most successful album to date. With additional brand new recordings and long-forgotten gems from the Python archives, this album is bigger and better than ever. 45 years after the Flying Circus first took flight, this could very well be, in Python parlance, the final, final rip off.

ME. I AM MARIAH

by Mariah Carey

This, the fourteenth studio album by Mariah Carey has been in development since 2011. Previously titled The Art of Letting Go, the album was originally scheduled for release in 2012 following the release of the single “Triumphant (Get ‘Em),” however, after underperforming, the song was removed from the album and additional songs were recorded, causing the release date to be pushed back several times throughout 2013 and again in 2014 before its final date was announced. It is named after a self-portrait that Carey drew at the age of three-years old that she captioned Me. I Am Mariah, and is included as part of the back cover of the album. “The Elusive Chanteuse” part of the title is one of Carey’s many monikers.

source: www.amazon.com

CROWNE PLAZA

MY LIFE WITHOUT A SMARTPHONE by Kathleen Davis

I’ve worked in online media for years – I’ve even covered technology – but I’ve never owned a smartphone. Here’s why I don’t feel like I’m missing out. Maybe I should be embarrassed when I pull out my nearly 10-year-old flip phone, but I’m not-not even a little bit. There might have been a time when I felt self-conscious, and I’m sure that I’ve been judged as out of touch, but I’m actually kind of proud that I’ve held out this long. HOW IT STARTED Let’s get one thing clear right away: I’m not a Luddite. I’m on social media, I’m up to date on new apps and tech start-ups, I get most of my news online, and I spend far too many hours on email. I haven’t forgone getting a smartphone as some sort of anti-establishment statement; I just never got one. I was in good company for a long time, until a few years ago, when my world reached a near saturation point. Suddenly it seemed like everyone I worked with, all of my friends, every person walking toward me on the sidewalk, and even my less-connected Midwest family were entranced by thumbing tiny screens. And it’s not just my anecdotal observation: It is widely cited that over a billion people worldwide now have smartphones. In fact, according to research from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, as of January, 58% of Americans own a smartphone. And when you break it out by my demographic--urban-dwelling college graduates between the ages 30 and 49 -- I’m in an even smaller minority of about 20%. THE CONNECTIVITY QUESTION One of the most common reactions I get when people hear I don’t have a smartphone is, “Oh, I wish I could do that, but I need it for work.” I understand why you feel that way: There are numerous studies about how much we check in with work on our phones at meals, in bed, when sick, and even on vacation, and worse, how much our bosses expect us to. But I can almost guarantee that this isn’t necessary. I have a cellphone: I can be reached in an emergency when I’m not at work. I have a laptop: I can check email, social media, etc. remotely (I’ve even live-tweeted events). But there has never been an email that needed to be read or answered in the time I’m walking between the subway and my apartment, or standing in line at the grocery store, or having dinner with friends. THE TRAP OF CONVENIENCE Sure, there are some situations where having a smartphone makes life more convenient, but I would argue that they could be part of the downfalls of owning such a device -- inconvenience breeds resourcefulness and curiosity. I’m often more prepared with directions and addresses because I can’t look it up on the fly, or I’m more apt to try (and sometimes fail) to find my way on my own or 144

interact with strangers to ask for directions. I write things down, which has been proven to spark creativity and build a better memory. INCONVENIENCE BREEDS RESOURCEFULNESS AND CURIOSITY. When in conversation with friends, I’ll try to remember what actor was in a certain film or when an event took place, rather than halting the conversation to look it up. And if I can’t remember, I’m okay not knowing. In a time when every mystery your brain creates can be instantly solved by a search query, there is a refreshing joy in not knowing something THE PAINFULLY DIFFICULT TASK OF PAYING ATTENTION Most of life can be so excruciatingly dull: We spend hours standing in line, commuting, and waiting. It’s forgivable that we distract our minds with email, tweets, texts, and 35 tabs open on our browsers. The problem is, divided out like that, we are left as partially everywhere and fully nowhere. We live with a constant Fear Of Missing Out; but in need to fill the moments documenting life and making sure we don’t miss an email or update, we miss out being present in life, a sentiment beautifully illustrated in the viral ‘I forgot my phone’ short film from last year. A recent study from Tel Aviv University of smartphone users relative to their old-school, flip-phone counterparts, came to the unsurprising conclusion that smartphone users were more detached from their physical surroundings, and, when asked about a place that they had just visited, they were far less likely to remember anything about it. The problem is smartphones combine the main

spheres of your life: your social network, your work, your news source, and your personal conversations. As the researchers found, for smartphone users, the social norms of the physical world are often trumped in favor of this device that holds it all. THE CASE FOR BOREDOM A bigger problem perhaps even than the social etiquette breaches and distracted lives that smartphones are leading us to live is the way the devices affect our brains. Smartphones have been linked to both sleep and concentration problems, as well as a lack of empathy. Perhaps the most detrimental effect is that we no longer know how to be bored. Boredom is a gift to creative ideas; it’s time when your mind can wander and make new connections. But the easy distraction that smartphones offer, kills the empty moments that make life what it is. Of course ownership of a smartphone doesn’t make you a better or worse person; it doesn’t automatically make you less mindful or empathetic. The act of checking out of life because it’s boring or painful is an easy reflex regardless of technology that makes it easier, and like anything else in life, owning a smartphone is what you make of it. To live and work in the world today is to be tethered by technology for better and worse. No matter how I resist it, I know that someday (probably soon) my “dumbphone” will bite the dust. Then I’ll be just like you, and I’ll likely wonder how I ever lived without Instagram at my immediate disposal. My hope is that in those moments of boredom, I’ll remember what it’s like to let my mind wander and I’ll leave my phone in my purse.

BELLA LENSES

THE SANDS OF RACE by Abdulmohsen Al-Mayyas

“We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way... To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress... You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.” - Charlie Chaplin Once upon a time, in a place just like this, I was in an office waiting on my 2-weeks late business cards to be delivered. Only to receive the wrong ones, again! I proceeded to call the press loudly demanding an explanation from the expatriate worker, only to find that my accent has become thicker and more “Arab.” My tone has become dry and almost threatening. And my general behavior has become rude and inconsiderate. I finished what I had to say only to hang up, unapologetic and proceeded with my day. In this part of the world the statement “no one expects us to be waIt,” didn’t become clear to me until a friend pointed out that my racism went deeper that I had thought. And how, even some unapologetic behaviors might as well be influenced by that very racism. We all come from this Earth and are destined to return to it. This law is universal. In between, in that time, you have the opportunity to reflect on your image— To wear that dress and spray that cologne. To call with your beaming voice to your 146

expatriate servant to bring you your watch in which you schedule your timetable according to the significance of those you will meet. This individual in front of you is Indian, the other Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Egyptian, Filipino, and a long list crosses your path that perhaps exceed you in their humanity, in their intelligence, in their spirituality. But it was fate that brought them to you in search of a bite. Yet you leer at that simple human being that did not shine your shoes exactly the way you requested. You go out to the street approaching your vehicle and send warm greetings to that who is similar to you in nation and title. They return the greeting. You drive past two streets and on the third you don’t have the right of way, but you speed through regardless because the person on the opposite side is not of your color. You reach your office and whisper in the ear of those closest to you by race or blood... “Look at them. What are they up to? The expats. The Bedouns. The liberals. Those shmucks.” And everyone sings to his or her tune. Meanwhile, your tune is a family tree that defines your value. Its shade grows for every member that exceeds you. And you embrace yourself in the cool shades of its lavish growing arms. As you return home try to remove your shoes and walk in theirs. Walk with no significance, crushing your arrogance and unjustified pride. Try to find a place outside the sands of that path where your own litter and spoils don’t land on you. Try and smell that soil you walk upon so perhaps you would resent yourself and the origin in which you hold so true to. Try; perhaps you would step on a tribe of sand that may be your own. Try walking barefoot, so that if you were to trip, you would remember the agony of those whose paths you spoiled, mocking their inabilities and imperfections.

Step hard into the mud and soil and should you hear a sound, slow down. It may be the remainders of your own tongue that speaks so poorly of others. And if you tire of walking, try lying down. For what sands stick to your body are the remnants and origins of that human you scorned. Gandhi had a dream that the hungry bellies of his people would be full and thrive with food instead of racism. Mandela had a dream that the tanned throats of his people would chant the national anthem of their land. Martin Luther King had a large dream in his speech, “I have a dream,” that his four offspring would not be treated based on their skin color. So let’s have a dream to change ourselves. For the light of all humanity to spring from inside them and not from out. And for all the different colors to form a beautiful, complete, canvas. Just like you, I hold affection for the sands I ran on as a child and embrace as an adult. Just like you, I am full of ambition and curiosity, and hold the desire to remain eternal even after my death. Just like you, words wound me. Words that judge me on a land I do not know and a place I don’t belong to. That deprives me of my birthplace, my district, and my local language that I know none other. Just like you, I return to a home where I am the number one man. When to you I was the last. And even though my family tree is merely trimmings, my shadow extends across my nation’s land. Just like you, patronizing looks, stale sympathy and cold half-hearted greetings hurt me. Just like you, I search for kindness but from the heavens. For we all need tender true kindness and everything above the sand is merely sand, only destined to return to it.

SOOR CENTER

bazaar investigates ALL-NEW JEEP CHEROKEE STARS AT JEEP ROADSHOW IN KUWAIT Sets A New Standard In The Mid-Size SUV Segment. The latest generation of the Jeep Cherokee mid-size SUV is a key model in expanding the success of the Jeep brand in the Middle East, where it will be available in Sport, Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk trim levels, and offered with a choice of two powertrains - the new 3.2-litre V6 Pentastar and 2.4-litre MultiAir Tigershark engines, both of which are paired to an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission, available for the first time in the mid-size SUV segment. The all-new Jeep Cherokee has evolved from over 70 years of legendary 4x4 leadership. Building on the successful, original Jeep formula with an all-new frame, exterior and interior design, engine and safety and convenience features, it delivers class-leading capability, interior space, comfort, refinement and power plus state-of-the-art technology. The launch of the all-new Jeep Cherokee is being celebrated across the Middle East with a special roadshow that gives consumers the opportunity to take a close-up look at the Cherokee as well as its stable mates from the Jeep range. “The all-new Jeep Cherokee offers customers the unique combination of legendary Jeep 4x4 capability, superior on-road ride and handling, cutting-edge, revolutionary design, world-class craftsmanship, innovative technology, new levels of efficiency, entertainment and comfort plus five-star safety features that project the Jeep brand into the future,” said Maher Abu-Shaaban, Assistant General Manager - Sales and Marketing of Al Mulla & Behbehani Motor Co. (MBMC), the sole distributor of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Mopar in Kuwait. The Jeep Roadshow, which took place at the Kuwait International Fairground, saw the all-new Cherokee joined by the Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited and Grand Cherokee on a custom-built obstacle course - an articulation section, a side step akin to a vehicle being driven with two wheels on a raised ramp and a monstrous bridge with over 40 degree inclines and a height of nearly 4 metres - designed to showcase the go-anywhere, do-anything capability of the Jeep range that has seen it become a global icon. An enthusiastic crowd of visitors experienced the capability of the Cherokee, Wrangler Unlimited and Grand Cherokee during the event and were impressed by the off-road prowess of the vehicles. The Jeep brand line-up available in the Middle East comprises the Compass, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited - the widest range of models ever available at any time in Jeep’s long, legendary history.

SAMI BADER’S TOP DIET TIPS SERVICES – KUWAIT CITY With the initiation of Mr. Sami Bader’s all new dietary services, we can all achieve a diversified human physical infrastructure! Sami Bader’s dietary services have revolutionized the idea of ‘Dieting’. While we have had diet tips that occasionally ensure a short term weight loss, while on the other hand, Mr. Sami’s diet tips ensure a long term output of a balanced and well maintained weight and an organized lifestyle. The diet tips service will provide the users with unique tips based on seasons, as well as personal diet aims. These tips are provided to a large fraction of individuals of different age groups. Not only does this grandeur service provide stupendous results, which are complied with the straight-jacket guidelines of the IDA (International Dietetic Association), but it also categorizes a wide variety of those individuals respective to their preferences and essentials. In addition to that, there are distinct and diverse programs for different sorts of conditions, such as ‘Diabetes’, ‘Kidney malfunctions’, ‘Pregnancy & Lactation’, ‘Post-bariatric surgeries’, ‘Gluten intolerance’, ‘Specific Doctor referrals’, and concluding the list with ‘ Aggressive Cholesterol treatment’, which is the only food program based on the latest scientific research to help improve cholesterol levels. Sami’s diet menu comprises of a pool of mouth-watering, and healthy Oriental, Asian, MiddleEastern, European and American cuisines, that are suitable to the appropriate standards of healthy cooking. The subscription service has been launched in Kuwait by ‘Simatel’, a leading telecom marketing service provider. The service will be available for only 500 fils/week with 30 diet contents per week, said a spokesperson from Simatel. ‘Simatel’ is a Kuwait based telecom marketing service provider with presence throughout the Middle East. Simatel provides business to consumer marketing service through telecom operators. Sami is a well-renowned clinical dietician, as well as a respectable member of the Clinical Community Dietician GM, who is currently offering daily magnificent diet tips. He studied in KMBS (Kuwait Maastricht Business School), along with ‘Purdue University’- West Lafayette, IN. You can now subscribe through all 3 mobile carriers, Zain, Viva and Wataniya, by sending an SMS to the following numbers: Zain users can send “D” to the Short code 92270. For Wataniya, Kuwait users can send “D or ‫ ” ت‬to Short code 1629. Lastly, Viva Kuwait users can send “D or ‫ ” ت‬to Short code 55091.

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‫‪‎‬كما عودتنا تشيلي بينز دائما بطرح‬ ‫كل ما هو جديد ومتميز من خالل‬ ‫تصميماتها العصرية الممزوجة بروح‬ ‫التحدي‪ .‬وبمناسبة إقامة كأس العالم‬ ‫في البرازيل والتي هي منشأ تشيلي‬ ‫بينز‪ .‬فقد طرحت عالمتنا هذه المره‬ ‫مجموعتها الخاصة لعشاق الساحة‬ ‫المستديرة‪ .‬لتشكل مزيجاً رائعاً بين‬ ‫األناقة وسحر كرة القدم‪.‬‬ ‫‪‎‬تحكي كل قطعة من النظارات‬ ‫الشمسية والطبية (فيستا) والنظارات‬ ‫الخاصة باألطفال قصص ًا مثيرة‬ ‫من كأس العالم‪ ،‬لتبرز أروع ما في‬ ‫البرازيل من مالعب وأندية لكرة القدم‬ ‫فتشعرك باألجواء الحقيقية للحدث‪.‬‬ ‫وتستدعي من خالل تصميماتها تاريخ‬ ‫البرازيل في كأس العالم وعصرها‬ ‫الذهبي‪.‬‬ ‫‪‎‬كما تميزت تصميمات الساعات‬ ‫بخطوط مستوحاة من مالعب كرة‬ ‫القدم الشهيرة ‪ :‬ماراكانا ‪ -‬وأليانز‬ ‫أرينا ‪ -‬وبيردس نيست‪ .‬ومزجت‬ ‫التصميمات بين األساطير الشائعة‬ ‫للجمهور كتشبيك األصابع واألصداف‬ ‫البحرية و أوراق اللعب‪ .‬أما األلوان‬ ‫المائية فتمثل تكريمًا ألجمل أزياء‬ ‫المنتخبات الوطنية على مر العصور‪.‬‬

‫ميك أب ستور تطلق مجموعة ميلك الجديدة‬ ‫أطلقت ماركة ميك أب ستور السويدية مجموعتها الجديدة لشهر مايو تحت إسم ميلك‪ ،‬والتي تتنوع ما بين أحمر الشفاه‪،‬‬ ‫ملمع الشفاه‪ ،‬أحمر الخدود‪ ،‬كريم األساس‪ ،‬البودرة‪ ،‬طالء األظافر‪ ،‬ظل العين‪ ،‬وأيضا المنتجات الالزمة لوضع كريمات‬ ‫األساس قبل الماكياج‪ ،‬لهذه المجموعة من ماركة ميك أب ستور مميزات وخصائص رائعة‪ ،‬من حيث إختيار أأللوان ومزج‬ ‫الحليب في المستحضر لبشرة نقية ‪.‬‬ ‫شركة ميك أب ستور المتخصصة في صنع مستحضرات التجميل تفتح اليوم آفاقا واعدة أمام صنع قرابة مائة مستحضر من‬ ‫هذه المستحضرات‪ .‬حيث أعادت هذه الشركة تاريخ ملكات كثيرات كن يستخدمن الحليب في مستحضراتهن التجميلية ومن‬ ‫المعروف أن كليوباترا كانت تتمتع ببشرة رائعة‪ ،‬وأحد أسرار عالجاتها التجميلية هو الحليب الذي يحتوي على حمض اللكتيك‬ ‫الذي يساعد على تقشير البشرة‪ ،‬وحمض ألفا هيدروكسي‪ ،‬مما يساعد على تنظيف طبقات الجلد العميقة‬ ‫وألن مستحضرات التجميل الخاصة بالمرأة تعد وكأنها سبائك ذهبية ثمينة البد أن تقتنيها المرأة وتحافظ عليها كأنها كنزاً‬ ‫من كنوزها‪ .‬مجموعة مستحضرات التجميل ميلك من ماركة ميك أب ستور مميزة ومبهرة وقد تم تقسيمها وفق ًا لكل إمرأة‬ ‫وكل مناسبة‪.‬‬ ‫‪ The Make Up Store‬متوفر في مجمع أوتاد – الجهراء ة وقريبا في ‪ The Promenade‬حولي ‪.‬‬

‫!‪SWATCH CATCHES BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL FEVER WITH ENTUSIASMO‬‬ ‫‪Football is played with a passion by people of all ages all over the world. Enthusiastic support for all kinds of‬‬ ‫‪sports plays a big role at Swatch, and in honor of football’s huge popularity in Brazil the Swiss watchmaker has‬‬ ‫‪created a special New Gent Lacquered, ENTUSIASMO. ENTUSIASMO testifies to Swatch’s passionate belief in‬‬ ‫‪the values and importance of sports for young people. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each watch‬‬ ‫‪will be donated to the Gol de Letra Foundation, a non-governmental organization founded in 1998 by the former‬‬ ‫‪football players Rai and Leonardo. Recognized in 2001 by UNESCO as a world model for assistance to children‬‬ ‫‪and adolescents in an environment with social risks, today Gol de Letra assists some 1,300 children and young‬‬ ‫‪people in Brazil. The foundation approaches social themes by way of the arts, culture, education and sports,‬‬ ‫‪aiming to enable children and teenagers to act with autonomy to change their realities. ENTUSIASMO takes up‬‬ ‫‪the colors of the flag of Brazil. The flag is also represented on the exchangeable loop around the strap. Fans of‬‬ ‫‪a particular team may also purchase separately one or more loops with flags from another 31 countries, and‬‬ ‫‪passionate followers of the game can acquire the entire set of 31 country flag loops.‬‬ ‫‪For more information please visit: www.swatch.com.‬‬

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bazaar checks it out PERSONALISE YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE AT BOOTS THIS SEASON You love Boots because it’s the place to go for everything you need to take care of your skin. You can choose from lots of great brands – some exclusively available at Boots – and find the product that best suits your skincare needs. Soap & Glory, Botanics and No7 are just three of the must-have product ranges that can only be found at Boots. All three exclusive lines offer an incredible array of day creams, night creams, eye creams and serums from which to select your perfect skincare partners for your daily beauty routine. And with so many amazing products available, there is always something new to try! Developed by Boots in collaboration with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, the Botanics range captures the beauty boosting power of plants. All products are free of parabens, sulphate surfactants, animal derived ingredients and mineral oils, and have been entirely developed with sustainable principles without being tested on animals. With products developed to meet the needs of a broad range of skin types, the Botanics Age Defense skincare range fights the first signs of ageing and enhances skin’s natural radiance and youthful glow by harnessing the natural antioxidant power of the Ginkgo extract. Fun and sometimes a little cheeky, Soap & Glory is one of the UK’s most well-known and best-loved lines of beauty products. If you need a daily boost of youth, protection and repair, Soap & Glory has a range of products for your skincare routine that are perfect for all skin types. After taking care of your skin, why not treat yourself to a visit to the Boots makeup counters? In store you will find everything that you need and more, with 12 cosmetics brands available – including Boots very own No7 – plus their beauty consultants, ready and able to assist you. Finding the right foundation in the right shade is no longer a mission thanks to the No7 Foundation Match Made Service. Through an innovative device that reads the precise color values of the skin, every woman can now discover the color that suits her best among No7’s 17 different foundation shades. The No7 cosmetic range also includes a vast selection of lipsticks, eye shadows, mascaras and eyeliners for a complete makeup look.

GULF BANK SPONSORS Q8HOOPS PROJECT CHARITY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR KUWAIT CENTER FOR AUTISM Gulf Bank concluded its sponsorship of the Q8hoops Charity Basketball Tournament, which was organized on behalf of the Kuwait Center for Autism to raise awareness of Autism in Kuwait. After an exciting grand finale between the Q8hoops team and the Kuwait Center for Autism team, Hadeel Al Fadhli, Senior ManagerCorporate Communications, representing Gulf Bank, presented commemorative medals to the winning team members. Beforehand, the enthusiastic crowd was entertained by three knock-out games, a hoop-shooting contest between sponsoring companies and a guest knock-out game with Kuwait National Team players, who also played a 3 point and dunk competition. Gulf Bank’s involvement in the tournament was to help encourage greater understanding of Autism in the wider community, and what it really means to children, young people and their families. This latest initiative was to support World Autism Awareness Day, which took place on the 2nd April, and was part of the Autism Awareness Month. Q8Hoops is a basketball-based project that offers a variety of services such as basketball skills development, personal basketball training, group basketball training, basketball events and camps.

PRINT PASSION AT AL OSTOURA! Celebrate bold prints and motifs this season with Al Ostoura. Explore the primary and pastel color palettes that were so visible on the runways this season. Fun and flirty hemlines, ruffled and tiered skirts; and slim silhouettes are perfect to keep you on trend. All these brands are available at Thuraya Mall. For more information log on to www.alostoura.com. L-R: Emanuel Ungaro, Alberta Feretti, Alexander McQueen, Casadei 150

MR GREEK

iWATCH

Will it do for wearables what iPad did for tablets? by Cameron Fuller

Conceptual designs for the iWatch by enthusiasts Apple may be a little ahead of schedule on its rumored iWatch, as the China Times reported last month, but that doesn’t mean the product will launch any earlier than fall. There’s way too much on the line for the tech giant to depart from its tried-and-true strategy of coming to market only when they’ve got it right. The new wearable is expected to release in late September: It’s the first new product launch under CEO Tim Cook and comes amid chatter that Apple has lost its innovation mojo. With polls showing the public less than rabid for wearables, it’s hard to imagine Apple’s iWatch could do for the wearable market what its iPad did for tablets. Cook has been tight-lipped, as usual, regarding the rumored device, but he has been promising a “new category” of products, saying on an investor call recently that Apple is “closer than ever” to releasing something new. The iWatch will be Apple’s first new device category since Cook took over after founder Steve Jobs’ death in 2011. While Apple is just now hitting production, competitors have been selling their own wearables for many months -- with lackluster numbers. The Pebble, a Kickstarter-funded smartwatch, sold a paltry 400,000 units last year. A recent report by Strategy Analytics stated that just 2 million wearables shipped last year (“shipped” being the key word), 61 percent of which were Android devices. But Matt Wilkins of Strategy Analytics suggested that the nascent market is poised to grow, believing that the market will experience 152

a 350 percent boom in 2014 and a quadrupling by 2018, up to 154 million devices shipped, 71 million of which will be smartwatches. Right now, though, interest is rather tepid. According to a September 2013 study by Harris Interactive, only 47 percent of Americans are interested in wearable devices, and sales of current wearables like the Samsung Galaxy Gear and Pebble have been sluggish. But Apple, of course, has a history of taking industries that are not performing well and revolutionizing them. They did it first with the MP3 player, next with the smartphone and most recently with the tablet. And Apple maintains a fashionably late mentality for device launches. As Cook pointed out on Apple’s recent quarterly earnings call: Apple doesn’t want to be first; it wants to be the best. One thing that may give Apple’s iWatch the edge in the market for touchscreen smartphonecompanion devices is its integrated ecosystem. For the uninitiated, a device ecosystem refers to a catalog of devices that connect with each other -- for example, the iPhone and the iPad can share files wirelessly through Apple’s Airdrop, and Google’s Android devices sync via the Web to Google Drive. The closed ecosystem of Apple’s iOS may be more beneficial to a smartwatch. Google recently announced Android Wear, a mobile operating system developed with wearables in mind. But the problem with Android is the number of devices that run different versions of Android. The most

recently released Android version is called KitKat, v4.4 (Android devices are named after delicious treats). However, only 5.3 percent of devices run that version. The majority of devices run Jelly Bean (v4.1, 4.2, 4.3), Gingerbread (v2.3) and Ice Cream Sandwich (v4.0). Apple’s most recent version of iOS, iOS 7, runs on 87 percent of all Apple mobile devices. Consider the developer’s dilemma when creating an app for a smartwatch. On Android the app will have to be programmed to work on Android Wear and to communicate with four different versions of Android OS, where on Apple the same version of iOS will run on all devices. Currently, iOS 7 powers the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Apple TV. Robert Scoble, noted tech evangelist and blogger, thinks Apple’s iWatch will be a big hit -sales of 10 million in the first month, he predicts -- thanks to the talents of Jony Ive, Apple’s senior vp of design. Ive helped design the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad among many other devices, and his reputation, Scobie contends, will hang on the iWatch’s success, the same way Cook’s will. “They both have their legacy wrapped up in this,” he told International Business Times. According to Scoble, Apple is successful not because it’s later to market but because of its design and aesthetic. He believes Apple will be conservative with the iWatch’s features and sensors but that the device will function seamlessly. “I expect it to be beautiful and to work well,” Scoble stated. That’s Apple’s definition of getting it right.

STARBUCKS

blended beverage

RECYCLED RESOLUTIONS by Ayman Nassar

Where does time go? It seems like just yesterday we bid farewell to 2013 and welcomed 2014 with open arms, a smile on our face and a song in our hearts as we meticulously planned every second in order to stay true to our resolutions. And what age old resolution is always made on the first day of the year and unceremoniously dumped straight after? The health resolution. At first it does not seem like such a difficult task; you watch what you eat and try to inject exercise into your daily routine by walking around the office, parking farther from the building and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Those that are adventurous (and well off) mistakenly believe that by paying for a gym membership upfront they will motivate themselves to go to the gym, much to the amusement of Gym owners who prey on this mentality by offering discounts early in the year knowing full well that no one in their right minds will show up on February 1st. However, this is Kuwait we are talking about! When the weather is nice (for a third or so of the year) we try to enjoy by going to a quaint restaurant and sitting outside, or driving down the Gulf road with the windows down and the music blaring, and when it is hot, humid, or dusty (the rest of the year) we hide off inside our houses and silently curse our abysmal luck at not having started our resolution faster, for before you know it it’s June and all you were able to belt in terms of bicep curls was lifting that fat, juicy, greasy burger off the plate and into your mouth. Day by day you choose to delay the physical aspect of your resolve, bragging to anyone who would listen that you will start tomorrow, and justifying eating a meal large enough to feed a small family by sheepishly claiming that you skipped dinner the other day and therefore are entitled a cheat day. Unfortunately, the cheat day has become a cheat week, cheat month, cheat quarter and pretty soon a cheat half year. All the while the only thing enlarging is your waistline, and the only thing hardening is the feeling of dread at the pit of your stomach that had you started earlier, you would not be in such a precarious position! The problem with resolutions is finding the resolve to back them up. It is quite easy to get lost in a sea of commitments and obligations, from late night sittings at the office eating into your “you” time, to sleeping in on the weekend to make up for the late office sitting! It is a vicious circle that, if not broken, will continue to eat away at your personal time to the point where your entire existence becomes centered around the office and your bed (or one and the same if you work from home). What people fail to realize is that the corporate wheel stops for no one; whatever work you do not 154

finish today will be there tomorrow, and whatever work you leave behind will be taken up by someone else. It is the conundrum of the one-track-mind; of looking ahead and seeing nothing except bills, bills and more bills, completely oblivious to the world around you and neglecting that which is your most prized possession; your health. The goal of any summer resolution is not to get into shape, but to attain a healthy existence; it is not to have a chiseled physique that would

make a Greek sculptor jealous, but to have the ability to enjoy a simple walk without complaining of aches and pains in every nook and cranny of your body. So instead of making it an annual goal to lose weight, make it a life decision to be healthy. By looking at the task as a series of daily steps instead of one monumental life changing decision, you just might be able to recycle that resolution!

HYPOXI

bazaar around town BE INSPIRED TO SWITCH. NEW 2015 MAZDA3… ACTION! Kuwait Automotive Imports Co WLL (Al Shaya & Al Sagar), exclusive distributor of Mazda cars in Kuwait since 1969, proudly launched the new generation MAZDA3 in KFH showroom in Shuwaikh on the 20th of April. The unveiling ceremony took place in the presence of KAICO and KFH management who expressed delight at hosting the event in their showroom. The launching of the New MAZDA3 in KFH showroom further reinforced the long business collaboration between KAICO and Kuwait Finance House. Mazda, the name alone evokes exhilaration and driving pleasure. With styling directed by the “KODO – Soul of Motion” design theme, this unprecedented sports compact seizes the emotions from the first glance. The latest in SKYACTIV TECHOLOGY enhances Mazda’s hallmark Jinba Ittai feeling of unity with the vehicle. Plus the advanced safety technologies actively work to maximize your driving abilities and increase the joy of being behind the wheel. “At Mazda, if it’s not fun to drive, we just don’t build it.” It’s this dedication to outright driving pleasure that gave birth to SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, the revolution in every single one of the automobile’s fundamental technologies. Now New MAZDA3 features a full suite of SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY that has evolved even further. Conventional engineering says an engine can be either extremely powerful or outstandingly fuel efficient, but not both. In contrast, Mazda’s “Breakthrough” approach began by tearing up the rule book of Highefficiency SKYACTIV-G direct-injection petrol engines are your passport to a world of driving that is both exciting and eco-friendly, SKYACTIV-G engines do more than just set new standards for fuel efficiency and emissions control, they also actively enhance the Zoom-Zoom performance. An important part of the driving experience is feeling secure in knowing what`s going on around you at all times. MAZDA3 is equipped with a host of features engineered to keep you informed, and to help you anticipate and avoid hazards on the road. Mazda has also developed MZD CONNECT to provide versatile connectivity with the highest standards of safety. MZD CONNECT offers a huge range of infotainment options from the Internet when connected to a smartphone. The system’s Audio feature allows selection of various music sources including AM/FM radio, CDs and mobile audio players, and AHA Internet Radio. AN ITALIAN OPERA AND FASHION NIGHT TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF BOCCINI PIZZERIA Royal Food Service, one of the leaders of catering services in Kuwait and the GCC, took on an Italian theme for a celebratory evening for Boccini Pizzeria’s opening. Planned by Richter-Creative office, the buzzing celebration was held with the presence of CEO Mr. Sulaiman Al Wazzan, Vice President Mr. Mohammad Al Wazzan and Executive President Mr. Maher Alaadin among guests from the food and fashion industry, and VIP’s with taste for music, food and fashion. Royal Food Service charmed the guests with an orchestra of 11, led by the famous Kuwaiti Opera singer Abdulrahman Al-Mahmeed, who enchanted the audience with well-known classic Italian songs. The highlight of the evening was the special menu by Boccini Pizzeria, made specifically for the Italian themed night to give the guests a taste of Italy that they will never forget. Truly authentic regional Italian cuisine takes center stage at Boccini Pizzeria, a casual dining room where you can enjoy Neapolitan wood-oven pizza and other simple rustic dishes. Boccini Pizzeria is located in the Level Restaurants Complex in Abu Halifa. The 2nd Boccini Pizzeria Location is due to open during September 2014 in The Avenues Kuwait. ELIE TAHARI ANNOUNCES “ELIE TAHARI EDITION 1974” In celebration of his 40th anniversary, designer Elie Tahari announces the limited edition collection “Elie Tahari Edition 1974”. The select pieces from “Elie Tahari Edition 1974” were shown during the designer’s Spring 2014 presentation. The collection features updated iconic silhouettes from the past four decades and includes a cage mesh swing coat, jumpsuit, a laser cut shift dress, and signature leather pieces. Each piece from the collection is named after an iconic New York landmark, paying homage to the city that’s provided the designer with endless inspiration for over 40 years. Elie Tahari Boutique is located in Mall 360. For more information, please call 2530 9618.

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‫مشروع 'باتيشهير' الحائز على عدة جوائز عالمية‬ ‫مشروع “باتيشهير” أكبر وأرقى مشروع في أوروبا‪ ،‬يقع المشروع‬ ‫في الجانب األوروبي من مدينة اسطنبول التركية‪ ،‬التي يحدها بحر‬ ‫مرمرة ومضيق البوسفور والخليج الذهبي‪ ،‬ما يضفي عليها جماال‬ ‫واستمتاعا بالمناظر الخالبة‪.‬‬ ‫يتميز مشروع “باتيشهير”بموقع استراتيجي فريد في مدينة‬ ‫اسطنبول التركية على طريق “‪ ”TEM‬الرئيسي وعلى مقربة من‬ ‫عدة معالم مهمة في المدينة ومترو األنفاق وأبرز مراكز التسوق في‬ ‫اسطنبول كما أنه قريب جدا من مطار أتاتورك‪.‬‬ ‫يحاط مشروع “باتيشهير” بمسطحات خضراء تغطيها الغابات والمياه‬ ‫ويحتوي على مالعب منوعة ومسابح ضخمة ومركز تسوق ومدرسة‬ ‫و نادي صحي وفندق خمس نجوم ويشكل فرصة استثمارية مهمة‬ ‫بالنظرإلى تلك الخصائص وألسعاره المناسبة مقارنة بالمشاريع‬ ‫األخرى‪.‬‬ ‫اآلن أصبح مشروع “باتيشهير” صرح ًا على أرض الواقع يتمركز في‬ ‫مدينة إسطنبول بتصميمه العصري المميز وموقعه الفريد وسط‬ ‫مدينة إسطنبول األوروبية‪.‬‬ ‫الهاتف‪ 1820111 :‬الموقع اإللكتروني‪www.mas.net.kw :‬‬ ‫‪Instagram: @MASINTC‬‬

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bazaar techno Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. ~ Arthur C. Clarke

MOPHIE LIGHTNING POWER RESERVE

KOR-FX - IMMERSIVE GAMING VEST

LECHAL SMART FOOTWEAR

Mophie has introduced the updated version of their popular keychain-friendly power reserve for all of your Apple devices (KD 15). The new sleek and extremely small battery charger comes with an integrated lightning connector and features a compact and quick-charging 1350mAh-capacity battery giving you up to 50% extra battery charge. It also includes a LED power indicator, and a convenient key ring making it easy to carry. Available in Mophie’s usual array of black, white, or red, the Power Reserve is the size of a large matchbox: 1.5” wide, 2.84” tall, and 0.56” thick and like all Mophie accessories, it feels solid and really well put together.

KOR-FX is a tech company aiming to change the way we game forever. Their new product is the next evolution in gaming, the KOR-FX gaming vest takes you into the fourth dimension of gaming. The vest uses award-winning 4DFX technology that transforms the audio coming from your games or media into pinpointed highdefinition feedback that allows you to feel the on-screen action and environmental factors for the first time. This creates an incredible sense of immersion which enhances games, movies, and music. Explosions rattle you. The blades of your attack chopper thump in your chest. It is the next generation of environmental realism.

Lechal, meaning ‘let’s go,’ makes Bluetoothenabled shoes and insoles with GPS and fitness tracking capabilities. They guide you to the right direction by vibrating. The co-founder describes how it acts for users, like this “It’s like a poke in your foot and keeps the hands free so they can find obstacles around them.” Together with a mobile app, they also let you save destinations and share your location. What we also love is the help this will give thousands of visually impaired people and enable them the confidence to get out and experience the world.

www.werd.com

www.blessthisstuff.com

www.theawesomer.com

EZ ROBOT KITS

RECHARGEABLE BOTTLE LIGHT

CALYPSO TAG

Made as a robotics kit for the everyman, the EZ Robot Kits make building, customizing, and programming your own robot accessible to anyone — even if you don’t have a degree in engineering or computer science. With three chassis available (a hexapod, a humanoid, and a tracked roller) you can build on each with modular components like arms, legs, servos, sensors, and cameras. Their EZBuilder software lets you construct robots digitally before assembling them, and write programs with a simple-to-use interface, letting you share your creations across the community. And for those feeling a little more adventurous, you can even 3D-print pieces for your robot at home.

Turn old bottles into mood lighting with Suck UK’s rechargeable light. The light is shaped like a stopper and even has a cork lid. With it, you can use your creativity and many differentsized vintage bottles to create your own cosy improvised table feature. The LED light adds a decorative appeal indoors and out. However I would not recommend it as a dedicated lamp as even with the USB recharger it lasts only 2.5 hours per charge, although this is just enough time to serve dinner, enjoy some conversation, and then subtly hint that it’s time for your guests to head home.

Let’s be honest with ourselves here: When we’re in the air, we don’t give a second thought to our luggage traveling in the belly of the plane just a meter or so below us. We don’t really start thinking about our checked bags until we’re standing at the carousel. The Calypso Tag, shaped like the leaf of some exotic alien plant and embedded with a Bluetooth transmitter, is an Italian leather luggage tag that connects to your smartphone via an app, so you can monitor where your luggage is at all times, even when it’s coming out on the conveyor, and will therefore never get lost.

www.uncrate.com

www.awesomer.com

www.werd.com

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LABEL M Get beautiful voluminous locks with label.m

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bazaar scopes what’s your sign? CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22

Finances are strong this month and many of you will be enjoying gifts and bonuses. The first three weeks of the month find you more introspective than usual, and will be putting a lot of energy into studies and projects. Sudden or unexpected career opportunities are likely in June—you are approaching a professional peak of sorts. Some of you will be discovering your “true calling.” The need to make changes in your love life will become clearer as the month draws to a close.

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22

Love is exciting and perhaps a little exotic for you this month, whether that means spicing up an existing relationship, taking it to a whole new level, or meeting a new partner for singles. Some changes on the work front and in your domestic life seem necessary now. You may be dealing with some power struggles that now come to a head. From mid-month, your personal magnetism is especially strong.

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22

Work matters are at the forefront for you this month. You’re especially busy and often turned to for advice and requests. You will face any of these problems with energy, confidence and courage, but can be a little impatient if things aren’t moving fast enough. Sudden developments in the financial or emotional support you receive are likely now, and they seem promising. A partner might enjoy good news on the financial front. You may even realize a long-term goal you’ve been pushing toward.

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22

A surprising circumstance or sudden change of attitude can occur this month and jolt you out of your usual routine when it comes to relationships. Some of you might enter into a new partnership quickly, or meet a special someone with whom you have strong intellectual or communicative ties, and the desire to take it to the next level is strong. Domestic and family matters require special attention in the last week of June. Finding a balance between your professional and personal lives will be essential.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22

Opportunities and new insights come in the areas of work and health this month. Many will become especially excited and hopeful about a new health and wellness program, and this lifts your spirits to new heights, giving you a sense of having a new lease on life. Improvements or other opportunities at or through work can come out of the blue, boosting your confidence and improving your attitude toward your work. The temptation to break out of monotony or other lifeless aspects of a job is strong. Finances look promising.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 – DEC 21

An exciting and uplifting month is in store for you. Your creative juices are flowing and you are feeling especially demonstrative, confident

and adventurous. Partnerships are strong, and your personal magnetism gets a pleasing boost. Taking creative chances is likely. Many of you will be focusing on learning, improving your skills set, and possibly writing or speaking in new and more creative ways this month. In the last week of June, financial changes or worries are likely so just be aware and adjust accordingly.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19

A busy month for work is in store, but your social life is not suffering. New and exciting energy is brought to your family life this month. There may be a scurry of activity in your home and with your family, or opportunities to move or expand that seem to come out of the blue. Gifts, bonuses, or good news on the financial front are likely. The last week of the month brings some changes and perhaps drama to a close personal relationship or with friends.

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18

A feel-good month is in your forecast. You are feeling especially enthusiastic, creative and generous. A new friend may be part of the picture. You will also be feeling extra studious seeking new ways to learn in life. Inspiration can be found now, and it’s likely to come through your conversations or communications with your friends. Wonderful energy for love relationships is also with you this month.

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 20

Excitement is likely to revolve around finances and new possessions for you this month. There might be a sudden change in financial position, even a windfall or significant gift, a sudden urge to spend or invest money, a new money-making idea or project that seems to come out of nowhere. Money might be seen now for its value as a tool used to achieve more freedom in your life. Home and family life is busy, and especially stimulating.

GEMINI

MAY 21 – JUN 21

Socially, June will bring opportunity. Meeting new people means new friendships, and, for some of you, partnership opportunities are themes this month. Experimentation is especially important to you, as you are feeling adventurous and courageous. The unknown or unexplored is alluring, and is a good time to make plans to travel. You have a lot on your mind and are itching to share it. Others will find you especially witty and interesting this month.

ARIES MAR 21 – APR 19

Your love life is certainly exciting this month and you’ll be ready to go out on a limb for love. Your confidence runs high in general, and the desire to break free from restricting or limiting circumstances is strong. Your career picks up pace, and there may be some struggle between the demands of family and home and those of your career and professional responsibilities. It’s an exceptionally busy month for you, and you will be performing a balancing act as a result.

TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20

Your romantic life picks up pace this month, although it’s not without its fair share of drama. Some adjustments and changes are necessary in order to bring harmony back to this area of your life. June is a good money month for you. It’s excellent for financial planning, and also for a partner’s finances, but the impulse to splurge might also be strong, and probably should be resisted. Career opportunities may come about suddenly. source: www.horoscopo.org

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