bazaar November 2014 by bazaar magazine

November 2014 | Issue # 187 w w w. b a za a r -m agazine.c om

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‫ﻟﻴﺰر ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﺒﻴﻜﻴﻨﻲ‬ ‫‪ ٤٠‬د‪.‬ك‬

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CLINIC

MAXMARA

INDEX NOVEMBER '14

48 HAUTE GOURMET This month, bazaar revisits the newly revamped Lenotre restaurant. Encapsulating modern French elegance, Lenotre’s new look and menu is definitely worth a try. The refurbished dining space allows the sun and the sea to freely flow in, while the menu will satisfy every discerning connoisseur.

HAVE A ‘MO’MENT

ALEXANDER WANG X H&M

In up close and personal we focus In H&M’s first collaboration ever with an American fashion powerhouse, on one bearded Mo and pick his brain about all things Movember. ALEXANDER WANG X H&M delivers sports, performance and style – all While Mohammed Al-Tamimi, in one riveting collection for men, aka Mohi, always seems to be juggling a million things at once, women, accessories and even quirky yet always seems to find the time objects. We exclusively speak to Mr. Wang himself and H&M’s Creative to have a ‘mo’ment. Advisor Margareta Van Den Bosch about this collaboration.

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BOOKWORMS, UNITE!

BAHAMAS: ISLAND HOPPING

When it comes to the world of books, it’s a beautiful one to escape to. But series and trilogies are the most beautiful distraction of all. Stay as long as you like, and we hope you enjoy the ride with this month’s three world choices!

Deserted Islands you can kayak up to in crystal blue waters and pristine beaches, world-class restaurants and delicious dives, tens of thousands of flamingos and an abundance of history, are just some of the amazing attractions we explore in this Caribbean heaven.

DIVINE DISORDER

THE GREAT SUSHI HUNT

Kuwaiti brothers Jassem and Yousef Al-rumaidheen’s power metal band, dives deep into everything that makes us human with their upcoming album. The band tells us about their journey around the world to create an album that tells all of our stories, and lights the beauty in the ugly.

How many ways can you roll a sushi roll? The possibilities are endless, as we find during this month’s Great Hunt! Chefs all over the country are going beyond the typical raw fish and seaweed roll, with mango, foie gras and even a homemade olive oil.

Bahamas, pg 108

ART AND ACTIVISM

THIS IS AN IMPRINT

Life is poeticized for this Kuwaiti Afghanistan is a country rich author’s debut into the world of print. in culture and history, yet the Her spare time was filled with writing art scene is hushed. While and contemplating the imprint we, talent is superfluous there, the as humans, leave in this world. showcasing medium is lacking. Nejoud Al Yagout is the librarian With the Kabul Art Project, that introduced herself to the Afghanistan is experiencing literary world through her beautiful a burst of creativity and a collection of poems. wonderful art scene helping them express their artistic voice. 24

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CINEPHILIA PRODUCTIONS

PATRICK MAKHOUL

BURGERFUEL

Nuqat’s The Missing Link Conference has brought the visionary and founder of Cinephilia Productions, Darine Hotait, to share her experience in the world of film. With the eminent struggle filmmakers and screenwriters go through in the Middle East, Cinephilia’s lecture and workshop is dedicated to turning dreams to reality.

We go 16-bit dreaming with our latest Geeks & Gamers columnist, who also happens to be a bonafide gamer, Patrick Makhoul. Before you run off and read his debut article that showcases the coolest games to play with friends, get to know Patrick in truth or dare.

The good people at BurgerFuel have engineered the perfect burger. Enjoy the delicious menu, complete with your very own New Zealand invention that is the ‘doofer’. Say goodbye to oily fingers and messy burgers and relish the flavor of the grassfed beef at the newly opened BurgerFuel.

HARVEY NICHOLS

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

Hotels & Health Clubs

Al Corniche Club Crowne Plaza, Farwaniya, Salmiya Hilton Kuwait Resort & Spa Holiday Inn, Salmiya, Inspire Pure Fitness Pilates & More - Salmiya, Mahboula Spaloon The Palms Beach Hotel The Yoga Center

Malls

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Brush Salon Cookie Dough Dar Al Funoon Dar.Nur Gold Class Lounge - Grand Cinemas Al Hamra I. O. Center Italian Center Jacques Dessange Salon, Shaab KAICO Kuwait Airport Business Class Lounges N Style Nail Lounge Media Elephant Pink Moon Boutique Sultan Gallery That AlSalasil Bookstore - Airport, Marina, Salhiya, The Avenues THE One USA Embassy

Stand Alones

Kuwait University

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VERSACE

what’s on THE SACRED PATHS Photography Exhibition from the Middle East Exhibition Dates: October 27, 2014 – January 4, 2015 Venue: Contemporary Art Platform / Exhibition Space Throughout the centuries the Middle East has been regarded as the cradle of religions; a title with imposing implications on the socio-political structure of the Middle East. The Sacred Paths is not a search for the essence of the sacred, so much as it dissects the social and cultural accumulations that have evolved in accordance with ideologies that derive their legitimacy from religion, and thus divine rule. This exhibition engages the symbolic, political, social and personal meanings of the Path rather than its physical aspects. It underscores the overarching collective social practices that developed from a continuous search for belonging, fed by the myriad myths and narratives of holy homelands, ordained by higher powers, that generations have been raised to believe. The Sacred Paths showcases 13 photographers from the Middle East, mostly acclaimed photojournalists, whose work documents their journeys through various countries in the region. Three sections: “The Body”, “The Land” and “The Leader” make up the exhibition and emphasize the dual nature of man in his capacity to create and destroy. Furthermore, the exhibition underlines the capacity of the collective, either to form stable, balanced societies, or to be caught in the crisis that can result from the interpretation of the metaphysics of the sacred. Photographers: Abbas Kowasri, Boushra Al Moutawakel, Dalia Khamissy, Farah Nosh, Issa Touma, Laura Boushnak, Laura El Tantawy, Newsha Tavakolian, Raed Bawayah, Reem Al Faisal, Samer Mohdad, Tamara Abdulhadi and Tanya Habjouqa. This show was curated by Abed Al Kadiri and exhibited in Modem Museum Hungary in 2013 as part of Zenith Art Exchange. Contemporary Art Platform (CAP) is located in Kuwait Industrial Shuwaikh Block 2, St. 28, Life Center. Ph 2492 5636.

HONOLULU by Arwa Abouon Opening: November 11, 2014; 7 - 9pm Exhibition Dates: November 11, 2014 til December 4, 2014 - 10am - 4pm (closed on Friday, Saturday & Public holidays) Venue: Sultan Gallery “This body of work is dedicated to the memory of my beloved father.” Honolulu translates as ‘Land of Pearls’ in Arabic, or literally ‘Here are Pearls’. This land that is often described as ‘Heaven on Earth’ establishes a final meeting place where we are promised a reunion with our deceased loved ones. For some, the attainment of Paradise remains a myth, but for others it instills hope and provides motivation to redress wrongs. This show represents both the coming to terms with the landscape of the unknown and embracing its faith counterpart. Heaven cannot be attained without our time here on Earth. About the artist: Born 1982 in Tripoli Libya, to Amazigh roots from both her mother and father’s side of the family, she received a BFA with distinction, majoring in Design from Concordia University in 2007. Based in Montreal Qc. where she lives and works. “Through my lighthearted photographs to graphic interventions, I question my own place within a so-called Western culture on the one hand and an upbringing in a Muslim household on the other.” Sultan Gallery is located in South Sabhan, Block 8, Street 105, Building No. 168, Kuwait. Phone 2471 4325 xtn 110, 6097 0001 or email: sultangallery1969@gmail.com or for more information visit their website: www.sultangallery.com.

“BREAKING THE CHAINS OF ADDICTION” Medical Seminar by the Indian Women’s Association Date: Monday, November 10, 2014, 5-8pm Venue: Gulf University for Science and Technology/Auditorium W6-500 Smoking, drugs, alcohol or any other habitual activities can turn into addictions that negatively affect our lives and those of our loved ones. Often addicts do not recognize these signs or are in denial and need help to overcome these habits. Recognizing a need for “Breaking the Chains of Addiction”, the Indian Women’s Association is organizing a seminar that addresses these issues under the Reach for Health initiative. Leading experts will speak about the causes, prevention and cures for common addictions. Topics include: From Addiction to Recovery … the possible Journey Dr. Adel Zayed Psychiatrist & Head of Addiction Center, Kuwait Center for Psychological Health Director, Kuwait Psychiatry Board Addiction: Not Just a Bad Habit Jason R. Sullivan, MA Director Career Services and Wellness Mental Health Counselor Addictions 3X3X3 William Schuilenberg Therapist, Soor Center. The seminar is open to all and completely free of charge. To book your seat, email iwa_kuwait@hotmail.com or call 2489 8680. [continued on next page...]

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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: #thesecretgardenproject info: Collective efforts to promote urban gardening. editor’s note: @mimikuwait @saltbakery @kuwaithealthyliving

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what: @Nuqat info: Find the latest about the November Creative Conference. editor’s note: Read more details in this month’s issue!

instagram.com/bazaargram

what: @Qoutmarket info: 1st Saturday of every month. November-April. editor’s note: New vendors are in, so you better check it out!

START READING! Scan to read full digital issue. what: @freshmozzarella info: Freshly imported cheesy goodness from Italy! editor’s note: Delivery, and also available at SaveCo.

what: @HikmaKwt info: Monthly social event that elicits change! editor’s note: Venues differ, follow them for details! 32

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what: @Plusrecovery info: Active recovery for fitness enthusiasts! editor’s note: Book your session today!

what: @themullfarm info: Beautiful hobby farm in northern Kuwait. editor’s note: themullfarm@gmail.com

what: #BurgerFuelKuwait info: Follow the latest burger concept in Kuwait! editor’s note: Located in Al Bida’a.

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truth or dare

16-BIT DREAMING Patrick Makhoul by bazaar staff

With the departure of our previous resident ‘Geeks & Gamers’ columnist, the bazaar team embarked on a nationwide hunt to find an honorary bazaarite to satiate our readers’ thirst for the latest and greatest news about all things that are wonderfully geeky and sensational gaming. Enter 29-year-old graphic designer Patrick Makhoul. You might already know of Patrick’s thorough reviews regularly updated at SixteenBitDreams.com, as well as on his brother’s blog, 248am.com. Patrick has been playing video games for as long as he could remember. His earliest gaming memory includes an experience with a Coleco, and he especially appreciated the Super Nintendo, which is a 16-bit console. He said, “I played a lot of great games on it and I have a lot of good memories with it. So even though my blog isn’t strictly about old video games, the 16-bit era is where I started to really get into games, hence the name of my blog.” SixteenBitDreams.com is a place where Patrick could share his thoughts and experiences with games as well as other interesting images or videos, essentially becoming his virtual gaming journal. Besides his blog, the avid Twitter user loves giving out his opinions and reviews online, where he has tweeted bazaar several times with ideas for our monthly “Geeks & Gamers” column long before he agreed to come on board as a columnist! With an equal passion for journalism, his interests diverged on his blog, and also on this month’s issue, where he discusses different games one can enjoy amongst friends. For someone who grew up with an industry that equally matured to tailor games for adults and children alike, Patrick believes that ‘gaming’ isn’t a “small” club anymore. He explained, “I see gaming as more of an art. I love it because it’s an everevolving genre that brings a lot of people happiness and enjoyment. It’s disappointing when I hear people put down video games because they consider it a waste of time, you’re denying yourself a form of enjoyment.” He believes that the gaming scene in Kuwait is extremely open to new changes, mirroring what’s happening in the rest of world, “You don’t just see parents buying games for their kids, you see parents buying games for themselves. You also have gamers who love video games finding different ways of expressing that love for their hobby. For instance, you have the Lucky Generation Gamers (luckygg.com) who are a bunch of guys that have their own podcast. The competitive gaming scene on the other hand is still young, tournaments pop up here and there but they don’t tend to be well advertised or they tend to be poorly put together.” 34

Besides gaming, Patrick loves photography and design, watching movies, football and reading. If this bonafide geek could lead a different lifestyle, he easily sees himself inside the kitchen as a chef. He dreams of simply enjoying life, and concluded,“I want to play all the games that interest me, eat new kinds of food, travel to all the places that I can, take as many photographs as I can, and finally to design as many cool logos, album covers, book covers and posters as I can.” How would your mother describe you in one word? Thick headed. How would you describe your mother in one word? Caring. What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve done? Buying a plane ticket to Japan. What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? Formidable. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Where would you like to live? What is your dream retirement location? I wouldn’t mind living in a place like Seattle or San Francisco, but I’d want to retire to a city like Kyoto. What is the first famous quote that comes to mind? “The unreal is more powerful than the real, because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it” - Chuck Palahniuk.

What do you miss about your childhood? I remember getting so excited about summer vacations, now I just hate the weather. What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in? A cat, I guess? Describe your handshake in one word? Pretty average! What is the toughest part of your character? My patience, it takes a lot to annoy or frustrate me. Who is your favorite historical figure? I think one of the most interesting people to read about is Nikola Tesla. What in the world do you least desire? Power. I don’t get why people would want it. What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of, would make the world better? Empathy and patience. Why do you think most girls/guys like you? I think my laid-back nature helps people feel comfortable around me and I can be a good listener. Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…” Pizza. For more about Patrick, you can find him on Twitter @Pat_Makhoul or visit www.sixteenbitdreams.com.

A FR EO O J M EA K N D S 15

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MANIFESTO 13

Creative education in Kuwait’s backyard by bazaar staff

In one of the first classes at Kuwait’s latest art school, manifesto 13, Dalal Alnafisi was teaching a group of young students between six and eleven years old. She asked them to draw a landscape piece with beautiful scenery. Almost all the paintings included a mountain with the sun peeking out from behind. The students, educated in systems that do not encourage creativity, all had the same ideas of beauty. It was Alnafisi and her team’s goal to unleash the children’s potential and open their eyes to the unsuspected. Alnafisi is the proud parent of a 12-year-old artist. The art was in her, but Alnafisi realized her daughter had little access to creative mentors in the place she spent most of her time, school. “I come from a family of creatives, but it’s not enough,” said Alnafisi. “I wanted my daughter to see me at work, to show her what my creativity is through the space. We try to encourage kids to let go, that its ok to experiment, and enrich them with historical information, conceptual information.” Alnafisi came across a TED Talk by Ser Kevin Robinson, a leading thinker on creativity in the education system. As an advisor to government and education systems in Europe, Asia and the USA he has criticized the basis on which we evaluate students, the precedence placed on the math and sciences, and the lack of a creative education. “Imagination is the source of every form of human achievement,” he said in the February 2006 Ted Talk. “It’s the one thing that I believe we are systematically jeopardizing in the way we educate our children and ourselves.” Inspired by the talk she joined forces with Nada 36

Dalloul, an animator with a love for working with “lost souls” and teenagers, and artist Nino Paez. The three had the goal of offering collaborative art education in a space that would encourage a connection with the medium, and release creativity generally stifled by the traditional education system. “I searched for classes,” said Dalloul. “All I found was workshops. But with that you just walk away with a finished product, not a connection to the medium. So when I met Dalal, the word we used was ‘collaborate’. It wasn’t about business. It was all about bringing the values of art together in one space.” Their first order of business was to create a manifesto, or mission, for the space. Their 30 declarations include bold statements and goals like ”make art education accessible”, “art can save generations” and “schools do not pay enough attention to art”. They also include words of encouragement for aspiring students like “show them your art”, “work with artists in your community” and “art is not prescribed, it’s explored.” The space, located in Hawally on Ibn Khaldoun street, is a light airy studio with birch wood tables and matching stools, plenty of space for even the largest projects. The lounge area, with colorful cushions and beautiful rugs, faces a projection screen for lectures. Every student is given a sketchbook at the start of the class, and is welcome to use the space whenever they want to work on a project. The curriculum at manifesto 13 is based on the international Art in Action program, which was developed in 1982 by Judy Sleeth in response to the same concerns about lack of creativity in her

child’s kindergarten education, and is taught in over 200 schools nationwide. Their fundamentals of art course (for both younger and older children) focuses on introducing children to new media, and enriching their appreciation for art, both historically and, what might be hidden right underneath their noses. A comics 101 course provides teens and tweens (ages 11 – 18) beginner skills and background information on creating a visual narrative through experimenting in drawing and by learning from professionals in the field. Once students complete a piece, they are encouraged to sell it for charity. They also provide portfolio development and review for students hoping to apply for art programs in their chosen college. The team is growing their curriculum by continually inviting practicing creatives to come teach. So when Alnafasi met with her young students later she asked them to look out of the studios wall to wall back windows, and draw Hawally. They began to open their eyes to the details they missed every other time they had looked out the window. Their pieces were reflective of detail, of looking and really seeing the landscape around them. For Alnafisi, this was the lesson, to learn to appreciate their surroundings, understand their environment and with encouragement find a medium to voice those feelings. manifesto 13 is located in the Al-Mulla Complex in Hawally on Ibn Khaldoun St. For more information call 2265 0335, email info@manifesto13.com, or visit their website www.manifesto13.com. Follow them on Instagram @manifesto13, Twitter @manifesto13kwt or Facebook by searching manifesto13.

MILLY

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HAVE A ‘MO’MENT up close and personal

Mohammed Al-Tamimi by bazaar staff

While thousands, if not millions, of ‘Mo’s’ around the world are gearing up for Movember, we decided to focus on one bearded Mo and pick his brain for this month’s issue. Meet Mohammed Al-Tamimi, aka Mohi. Our dearest male readers, if you find yourself constantly rushing between projects and trying to balance between work demands and life’s endless trials and tribulations, then you’re probably like 99% of other men out there, Mohi included. Between trying to stay fit, married, and starting a brand new business, not to mention attempting to make it to the 20 or so destination weddings that seem to be all the rage these days, this man is juggling a handful. After completing his studies in Marketing, and even acquiring a Masters in e-commerce from Boston University, he returned to Kuwait searching for and trying to recreate that Tech

Industry excitement he saw in the States. His work experience is varied, with broad marketing, sales, and e-commerce experience, strategic planning, corporate branding, and lately, social media management. From the tech industry to marketing, Mohi’s journey changed his perspective on how content can truly better the conversation between client and consumer. Mohi looks to social media to connect to his people, his interests, and his brands. He says, “While my focus has always been on the latest and greatest in technology and the marketing behind it, my interest in social media began on a personal level before I worked in the field.” It’s not news that the social sphere has revolutionized basic marketing practices, “Kuwait is a great case study, the Instagram e-commerce culture we have built here is astounding, the way in which we used to traditionally purchase has been completely turned

upside down, and brands are clamouring to keep up.” While Mohi is currently planning his next business project, he looks to technology as a main facilitator in reducing daily annoyances that stress him out. “Technology is there to make our lives easier, more efficient and enriching, so much of the way we currently live our lives, run our homes and businesses is inefficient and thats something I’m interested in fixing.” For instance, Mohi has a centralized storage drive that is shared with his entire family; a system set up whereby his favorite shows are automatically downloaded and updated. “What started as a pet project to keep my siblings off my back about their favorite shows, ended up opening a whole new world of automation to me. I personally believe that all of our personal devices and appliances will slowly learn our habits and react to our presence, giving us the time to do what we want.”

Whether he reads articles to further his passion for the latest trends in technology, catches up with his favorite football team’s latest developments, or travels to far-fetched parts of the world to immerse himself in new cultures, Mohi makes a conscious decision to find a way to mentally take a break. Managing a career, family, and wife is hectic, and looking at ways to de-stress and recharge one’s batteries is one of Movember’s main goals. Men’s mental health needs as much awareness as any other aspect of our lives, and we looked to our Mo of the month for advice. “Men in Kuwait have started paying attention to their fitness, however they seem to confuse that with being healthy. Just because we work hard to get the physique we want doesn’t mean we are immune to cancer, and specifically prostate cancer.” “I personally love the Movember campaign because it reminds us men that we need to take care of ourselves. Prostate cancer is one of the leading killers of men and we need to be aware of that. Plus who doesn’t like a good moustache!”

questionnaire What do you most value in your friends? That we can repeat the same lame situationspecific jokes to each other and still laugh out loud. What is your idea of perfect happiness? I still don’t know what that is, but I’m working on it. What is your greatest fear? Zero vacation days. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My procrastination, although I read somewhere it’s genetic so I guess I can blame an ancestor for it! What is the trait you most deplore in others? Loud chewing sounds drive me insane. We are not goats. Close your mouth. Which living person do you most admire? Bruce Wayne. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Probably nothing we can print here. What is your greatest extravagance? I wouldn’t say I’m extravagant, but I pretty much spend all my money on travel.

What is it that you most dislike? Juventus! And dill, I despise the taste. Which talent would you most like to have? Beat matching. If you could have any job, what would it be? Being the President of FC Internazionale de Milano. What would you consider your greatest achievement? Finishing this questionnaire. What is your most treasured possession? My home theater system and all of its bells and whistles. Oh, and my wife. What is your most marked characteristic? My dashing good looks. Where would you most like to live? Williamsburg, Brooklyn. What are your favorite words to live by? The night is dark and full of terrors. For more on Mohammed Al-Tamimi follow him on Instagram and Twitter @Supermohi. Photos courtesy of Aziz Al Mudhaf. 39

big boys toys Because grown men still need to play

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KORMARAN

MINIPRESSO

One of the best things about Rockstar’s Table Tennis was the music that played in the background to the game, serving as a perfect accompaniment to the action. The Stiga Studio Ping Pong Table is likely as close as you can get in real life. This unique table uses its chunky base to house a 2,800 Watt Bluetooth-enabled stereo system that includes a QSC CXD series professional processing amplifier, two Kicker Solo-Baric 12-inch subwoofers, and eight Kicker KS 6x9 speakers for 360-degree sound. And should you want some visuals to go with the tunes, it also packs in LED down-lighting that changes colors and can be set to react to the beat of the music – but sadly not the bounce of the ball.

Is it a monohull? A katamaran? A trimaran? Actually, the Kormaran is a bit of all three – and the perfect tender for a luxury yacht. Crafted from carbon fiber, this unique watercraft can function as any of the previously listed boats, as well as a luxury sunbathing platform, and can transform even while on the move. And lest you think luxury Transformerlike capabilities were the only concern, the boat also features completely new hydrofoils that reduce water resistance by up to 80%, allowing for higher speeds while putting less of a hit on the environment. The interior is made from Boxmark Xtreme leather with teak wood accents and decking. Oh, and the doors open in Lamborghini fashion. Why wouldn’t they?

There are tons of ways to make great-tasting coffee on the go. Espresso? Not so much. Until now. The Minipresso is a highly-portable, handpowered espresso machine that lets you brew delicious shots wherever you may be. The key is the ingenious, built-in semi-automatic piston that achieves optimal extraction pressure after just a few pumps, injecting small quantities of water into the coffee adapter for a rich, flavorful drink. Available in both coffee grind and Caffitaly models, you don’t even need to remember a cup – the cap doubles as a vessel for your drink. Perfect for us extreme caffeine addicts, who can’t go on one day trip without our trusty espresso.

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TESLA MODEL S DUAL MOTOR P85D

FURTIF EVERCUT KNIVES

BLAZINGBLOCK PORTABLE WOOD BONFIRE

The Tesla Model S was already one of the coolest cars on the planet, but the new Tesla Model S P85D is better! For starters, there’s the dual motor system, giving the car true AWD while improving efficiency, resulting in greater range AND it lets you zoom from 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds! There’s also the new suite of autonomous driving technologies, including a long-range radar, a camera with image recognition that can read signs, and a 360-degree long-range sonar. When integrated with the GPS, navigation, and real-time traffic, you have a car that’s capable of driving itself. Which means it can park itself, or even come pick you up – provided you’re on private property, as the system’s not quite yet ready for the open road.

Whether professional chef or amateur foodie, a great set of kitchen knives is a must-own for anyone that likes to cook. And most of the time that means plenty of work trying to keep the blade sharp – unless you’re cutting with Furtif Evercut Knives. Made in France by eco-friendly TB Groupe, these solid steel knifes feature a laser-bonded titaniumcarbide surface that lasts 300 times longer than standard steel, meaning you should only have to sharpen them once every 25 years. They’re not all about utility, though, as the inky black color and geometric handles make them something you’ll be proud to display in your kitchen.

Want to relax around a roaring bonfire without any hassle? Add ambiance to your next outdoor gathering with the BlazingBlock, a portable, selfcontained bonfire made from a simple block of wood. Just place this USA-made wooden block on any fireproof surface, down in a firepit, or even on a sandy beach, light the fire starter Fatwood stick and place it in the chimney hole, and you’re done. BlazingBlock is completely natural, and doesn’t use any chemicals or other artificial fire accelerants in its Southern Yellow Pine construction. A rope handle on the side lends even more retro charm and it will burn for more than three hours after a single strike.

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ADOLFO

AFGHANISTAN, ART AND ACTIVISM THE KABUL ART PROJECT by Deepa Pant

Azim Fakhri -–Changes Imagine how you would feel about your art, if there were no viewers and no appreciation? Afghanistan is overflowing with talent but everything works under hushed tones, as the gallery-scene is practically non-existent. Afghanistan is experiencing new bursts of creativity, resulting in an innovative and experimental art scene. These artists from this conflict zone, are slowly but surely, finding a global voice through Kabul Art Project, which promotes and celebrates a range of talent. The artworks offer a rare experience of cutting-edge, culturally edifying art in the midst of all of the chaos that envelopes the art community. There is a constant challenge for the artists to create openly, let alone exhibit, in a conflict-ridden zone. It is encouraging to see a positive image of warravaged Afghanistan and the artists emerging out of the shadows to express their cultural identity. Shaking the traditions, a collision of opposites and juxtapositions are some key components that perpetuate Azim Fakhri’s powerful upbeat works. 42

Ali Akhlaqi – Identity The artist envisions a happy future where the Kalashnikovs will be replaced by guitar, as seen in his hybrid work titled Changes, while in artist Ali Akhlaqi’s surrealist works, identity and assumptions remain a critical element. Similarly, Hamdullah Arbab uses art as a tool for development and peace in the region. Drawing on his own experience, Rashed Rahmani’s striking, minimalist work titled Bird in the Cage gives ample evidence of his angst on the loss of freedom. The focal point of his artworks is real life experience and human suffering. One encounters umpteen questions on his nuanced narratives that are poetic and delicate and focus on social justice and freedom. Visually arresting blue Burqa-clad women are central to the work of female graffiti artists Malina Suliman and Shamsia Hassani. Their spirited pieces have carved out a place in art activism with issues that have affinity to their very own issues of identity and gender, conflicting emotions, as well as an allegory for multi-layered reality for a woman that transcends borders at large.

Suliman brings this about very aptly in her series Girl in the Ice Box that explores the multiple roles of women and their position in society. Suliman’s works record the minutiae of a woman’s life punctuated with snippets of complexities and fragility that are raw and revealing, yet delicate in appeal. In her unique body of work, Hassani gives a new identity to her protagonists and firmly believes that art can bring about a change in the society. Already a known name in graffiti and street art, Hassani was a finalist for the prestigious Artraker Award 2014 for raising awareness through art. These Afghan artists are coming together and forging new voices and starting a compelling dialogue through their work. The changing landscape of Afghan art is being received very well. Kabul Art Project’s initiatives are undoubtedly a turning point and will be a catalyst to greater interest, understanding, and opportunities for contemporary art from Afghanistan. Spreading the culture of art and peace, the project works as the bridge that art needs to make in connecting with the world. [continued...]

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Shamsia Hassani – 3D art

Kabul Art Project Hamburg

Q AND ART: CHRISTINA HALLMANN Christina Hallmann has put her heart and soul in her project. Speaking with bazaar in an exclusive interview, Hallmann gives us an insight into the Afghan art scene and underlines the dynamic core unique to her Kabul Art Project that aims to bring art closer to the people. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Art and music have led my life, as an active musician, sound engineer and artist, but also on the organizational side as a concert and band promoter and now with Kabul Art Project. I live in Cologne, Germany with my 8-year-old daughter and work as an illustrator and graphic designer. How did the Kabul Art Project come about? As a teenager I had a friend from Afghanistan. When I met him again three years ago and after almost 20 years, I started researching Afghanistan, 44

Arif Bahaduri – Incurable Wounds because I realized that I actually knew nothing about it. I made new contacts in Afghanistan through Facebook and my research started with music, film and of course art. But it proved difficult to find anything on Afghan art. I found outdated websites and broken images. The rough idea of Kabul Art Project was born. A friend of mine in Kabul then went to search for artists and we made contact with the Marefat High School. Zainab Haidary, alumna of the Marefat High School, spread the word about the project to different groups of artists, and so we started with eleven artists from Kabul in January 2013. How many artists are you supporting currently? Kabul Art Project is working with 27 artists, 21 of them inside Afghanistan, 4 are currently out of the country for education or as refugees (they lived in Afghanistan at the time the project started), and two artists are permanently living abroad.

Is there a socio-political comment behind the work of these young Afghan artists? Making contemporary art in Afghanistan is a socio-political comment in and of itself. Most of artistic work was prohibited by the Taliban until 12 years ago under the threat of death penalty. After the fall of the Taliban, a lot has changed, but you can’t turn a switch in the people’s minds, of course, and depending on the place and activity, it still poses a real danger to exercise art. Kabul is more progressive than Herat or Kandahar. Artist Malina Suliman, who grew up and lived in extremely conservative Kandahar, felt she had to make art to break out and affronted the Taliban, who followed, threatened and even hurt her family last year. Some artists follow their socio-political concept and intentionally want to use their art to change the situation in Afghanistan for the better, like the graffiti artists Shamsia Hassani and Malina Suliman or activists Azim Fakhri and Hamdullah Arbab. But for many artists I feel it is especially a way to be personal and to express themselves, tell their story and process their experiences. How do you envisage the future of female artists trying to raise issues through art in Afghanistan? Art is Freedom – not only for female artists. I think, the situation for female artists in Afghanistan remains delicate, especially in more conservative areas. The security situation worsened in the past few years and in some areas the Taliban gained more power again, on the other hand, the number of female artists is growing and they definitely have an impact on other women. How do you support these artists? I promote their artworks on a daily basis through social media and our website. We’ve had three exhibitions and Kabul Art Project is a constant and easy to find contact point for media, exhibitors, art buyers and other art projects. But the artists also get individual support, if they need something. The only thing, that Kabul Art Project can’t provide is financial support, at least not yet. My work for this project is voluntary and the expenses are barely covered. But with our next steps I hope to change this, so that Kabul Art Project can bring long-term plans into operation. Can you tell us a bit about the future projects that you would like to venture into? The next steps we are going to do with Kabul Art Project are the publishing of Artist Books, more exhibitions and the shooting of a documentary film about our artists. At the moment we are trying to raise the funds for these steps with a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. If Kabul Art Project can reach a larger public, we might be able to implement the plans like organizing workshops, renting working places, giving out scholarships and also perform campaigns in Afghanistan that should bring art closer to the people. KAP has taken great strides in encouraging emerging talent. If you would also like to make a difference, log on to www.kabulartproject.de for more details. Images courtesy of Kabul Art Project.

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bazaar love/hate

FACIAL HAIR The Hirsute Pursuit by bazaar staff

For better or worse, men are always at some degree of stubble. Unless you just took out a razor ten minutes ago, it’s coming back already – seriously, take a look! Yet, the decision to consciously commit to facial hair is not one to be taken lightly. There are a lot of things you may not be anticipating and we’re here to hip you to it. Here they are, your top 5 in the painstaking process of facial hair. #5 Keeping up with the times – One second you have the hippest and best look around, the next it’s dated and you appear behind the times. The Goatee, the soul patch, the Van Dyke, they all imply very specific times and none of them are particularly current now. Do you go with the tried and true or throw caution to the wind with follicular expression unfettered by the times in which they exist? I say being painfully and proudly out of style is the new in style – or maybe I just heard a hipster say that. Either way – to thine own ‘stache be true! #4 The perfect tools (for unforeseen problems) – If you have gotten serious about your trimming, than you already know how many tools exist to perfectly shape your face coif; the amount of razors alone are enough to break the bank. The electric razor, the peanut shaver, the one with trimmer or without, the twin blade, the triple, the quattro, the Mach 5, the sick 6 – exactly how many blades do they have to throw on these things? On top of that there are lotions to be used, balms to be balming, oils for oiling. Which brings up the related – Problems of the facial hair. There is a little known fact about the facial hair. The face is full of imperfections that must be overcome. Perhaps you grow a patchy beard, perhaps it curls and folds the wrong way, maybe you have dry spots and dandruff of the beard. But for every problem there is a solution. It just takes time. And money. And time. Still, when you get it right, it looks amazing. #3 On being abrasive…! – No matter how hard you try, your face is going to scrape somebody: maybe it’s your spouse, perhaps it’s your mother or when you’re greeting your child at the end of a long day at work – but boy do they not like it. Never in my life have I heard so much grief about it. Stay strong my friend, they only pretend to not like it (at least this is what I secretly tell myself). #2 You grew a beard, now what? – You got it through the awkward-looking stage, you made it through the super-itchy stage, now what are you going to do with the bad boy? If seems for most people you are always either growing one or shaving one. You are almost never content with one. Except 46

for Santa. Or Abe Lincoln. Or Zach Galifianakis. Or Sarwan Singh, the Guinness Book of Records holder for the longest beard for someone still alive (a qualifier that reads weirder than it actually is). Otherwise, it’s coming or going but never quite is. #1 The Social Problem – When you start to get serious about your facial hair, at some point it is just impossible to hang out with your same friends. You must let them go. You have a new friend now and he hangs from your face. You can’t be hanging out with some baby face pretty boy when you’ve got a Rip Van Winkle growth on your face. No! This won’t do! You have wood to go chop! What if they

want to go eat messy foods you can’t eat anymore for fear of getting it in the beard? What if you have inadvertently bearded yourself into a no-fly list? You can’t even vacation together anymore! You must go out and find people who have dedicated the same time and effort to follicular perfection as you have. You must find your brethren of the beard. Now go fourth. On the plus side, with your new look it will be easier to hide from everyone you knew in your previous pre-facial foliage life! Love/Hate is your guide to life’s many conundrums: the good, the bad, and the bearded.

SEQUOIA

bazaar goes dining

HAUTE GOURMET Lenotre Kuwait’s revamp offers diners the finest in contemporary cuisine by bazaar staff

Since its official inauguration in Kuwait in 1998 under the supervision of the prestigious MMC Kuwait, Lenotre has always been our home away from home, a place where we experienced all things Parisian and chic. We would put on our finest outfits, and gather with family and friends at this establishment for many a celebration. From the exemplary food to beautiful décor, Lenotre’s main location on Gulf Road always had an inimitable vibe. Recently, however, Lenotre’s customers had to endure the most testing of changes, as MMC announced that a revamp of the concept’s décor and menu was well on its way. Upon its completion, we were invited to check out the all-new and revamped Lenotre. The revamp was surely worth the wait, as the flagship location’s new look encapsulates modern French elegance. The space is now light and airy, prominent with art deco elements that are reminiscent of the 1950s. The gorgeous windows that envelop the restaurant allow the lights bouncing off the Arabian Gulf to freely flow into the open, airy space. Monochromatic stripes accent different facets of the restaurant, while the minimalist look also ties in the multi-leveled dining areas. Gold leaf detailing, whether you notice the beautifully suspended hummingbirds, or the stylishly displayed Lenotre signage at the façade of this establishment, make you feel Lenotre’s signature touch of understated luxury. Today, the restaurant is also home to Lenotre’s dedicated chocolate boutique and florist, where you can easily come to the location to organize your next event with complete ease and peace of mind. An important note that is worthy of mention is that these services are also extended to MMC’s catering services, meaning that you can enjoy the finer things in life, as offered at Lenotre, within the comforts of your own home. The moment you walk through the doors at Lenotre, or speak to any of their expertly training catering consultants, you’re delivered with a consistent service that thrives on quality, luxury and impeccable attention to detail. Lenotre has not only revamped the look of their iconic location. The menu received a genius makeover under the supervision and culinary direction of the elusive Chef Samaan Hilal. Expect the finest in contemporary French gastronomy coupled with a Middle Eastern twist alongside your favorite classics at Lenotre. More importantly, Lenotre adheres to a “paddle to plate” policy, ensuring that customers receive only the freshest ingredients. For our Lenotre tasting, we started off with a 48

refreshing Pumpkin, Quinoa Soup. We relished this dish, first receiving an almost empty bowl, except for crisped kale leaves, feta cheese and quinoa. Then, the waitress, who was sharply dressed and sported a pair of quirky wayfarer frames, poured the warm, freshly prepared pumpkin soup. The flavors served to tease our palates, preparing us for the next plate. We lapped up our soup, and eagerly waited for our next dish. While the salad bar at Lenotre is now a thing of the past, the current array of salads offered on the à la carte menu will surely please every food connoisseur. Our experience with the Beetroot Edamame Salad, served alongside a shot of honey vinaigrette, was magnificent. The salad’s

presentation was artful to say the least, and the added touch of crumbled edible rose petals elevated the garden-fresh flavors of this dish to a whole new level. The salad was followed by the Mixed Tempura Plate, with an assortment of calamari, marrow, carrots and snow peas offset by a sweet chili and wasabi sauce. For our main dishes, we delved right into the beautiful Carré Pasta. Prepared in-house, we adored these oversized pieces of ravioli, stuffed with green asparagus and a mélange of goat cheese and parmesan cheese. The perfect compliment to this dish included the Crusted Rack of Lamb. Prepared to pink perfection, we began cutting off pieces of lamb, mixing this dish’s horseradish spread with

the pasta, and the result was beyond spectacular! Swiftly after we’ve cleaned our plates, the pièce de résistance promptly arrived in the form of Slow Roast Chicken. Presented in a rustic, deep copper pot, this whole chicken is marinated for 24 hours in advance, and slowly cooked until the meat succulently falls off the bone. We paid no heed to what we consumed earlier and enjoyed every single part of this chicken, only pausing to try the baby potatoes, onions and bell peppers that came with this dish, soaked in the chicken’s delicious sauces. Dessert has always been a tantalizing treat at Lenotre, and when we learned that the menu had undergone a revamp, we spent hours upon hours daydreaming of delectable concoctions. To

our delight, such fantasies become realities at this establishment. A vision of sugar, spice and everything nice, the Caramel Pop Corn Ice Cream is an imaginative dessert that delivers on both flavor and whimsy. We loved how the texture of the honeyed ice cream was interrupted by the crunchiness of the popcorn, offsetting its sweetness with a touch of salt. We really recommend that you share this dessert with friends, as the portion is indulgent, and rightfully so. If you’re wishing to channel an authentic Parisian experience, then the Apple Tatin is the ideal choice. Think of yourself sipping on an espresso, while digging your fork into this expertly prepared tart with vanilla sauce and caramel cream. The classic Tatin is given the Lenotre treatment, as a freshly

whipped and torched meringue compliments the tartness of the apple pieces. For a lighter dessert option, you can pair your favorite coffee with a small selection of homemade Lenotre chocolates, as these little dainty bites of goodness offer the right amount of sweetness without being too rich. Lenotre Restaurant is located on Gulf Road, by the Kuwait Towers. You may also enjoy their exceptional cuisine at other Lenotre Cafes, with locations in Al Fanar Complex, Marina Mall, The Avenues and 360 Mall. For restaurant reservations or more information, call 1805 050 or 9933 3100, visit www.lenotreparis-kuwait.com or follow them on Instagram @LenotreKw. 49

PLAYING WITH FRIENDS by Patrick Makhoul

When I was younger, weekends used to excite me because I knew I would be hanging out with my friends playing Super Smash Bros, FIFA or whatever game we were obsessed with at that time. When Halo 2 came out, it was a big deal – it was riding on the success and hype of Halo, a firstperson shooter developed by Bungie for the Xbox. One of Halo’s selling points was its local multiplayer features. I had five good friends and we’d bring along three Xboxes to a friend’s place who had three TVs we could use, connect them all up, split into teams of two and then compete against one another. Other times we’d keep it simple and play four player splitscreen. The split screen, in theory, should have been a nuisance. But it wasn’t an annoyance to us – it was fun. It’s true that you didn’t have a big screen all to yourself, but you’d forget about it once you started playing. It’s also true that you were always suspecting that your friends were peeking at your part of the screen, but we all knew we were all stealing glances. Our experiences continued with Halo 3, which still had the competitive modes we enjoyed, but there was something new that Bungie introduced, called the Forge. In the Forge you could get a little creative and fully customize a map by adding vehicles or items that were not available on default. And if you wanted to, you could create an entirely new map yourself. What made this mode more fun was that four players could work on it together. This means that friends around the world could get together and play. We did it before and we all still do it. Gaming isn’t an activity to be enjoyed alone. So

why is it that in the past few years, game developers seem to slowly be moving away from including local multiplayer features in their games? Yes, you can play online with your friends, but the experience isn’t the same. There’s always been this negative perception (generally held by people who don’t play games) that gaming is an anti-social activity. But in truth, playing games has always meant doing it with others. Before the release of gaming consoles, people spent time together playing various kinds of games, board games or tabletop role-playing games

like Dungeons & Dragons. When consoles were released they included two controller ports so you could play with a friend. Nowadays you can easily connect four controllers to a console, but how many developers take advantage of that? A lot of the big budget games which have come out in the past few years are focused on the single player experience, which I love – don’t get me wrong. But there is a lack of variety when it comes to the big budget games that do include local multiplayer modes – they’re mostly generic shooters or sports games.

MY RECOMMENDED GAMES TO PLAY WITH FRIENDS

Minecraft It’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to local multiplayer games. Minecraft, a game created by Markus “Notch” Persson, is like a large digital Lego playground with no narrative or point to the game except to build, which you can do with up to 3 friends. The game features two modes. In Creative mode you don’t have to worry about enemies or about gathering resources as you start off with an infinite amount to use as you please. In Survival mode you have to gather resources, like wood, before you can build anything, and you have to worry about enemies that come out at night.

Mario Kart Now it’s true that the Nintendo Wii U isn’t as powerful as the PS4 or the Xbox One. It’s also true that not many third-party developers are working on games for the Wii U. But the Wii U still has a great library of games. Nintendo have a wide range of fun multiplayer games like Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, Nintendoland, Wii U Sports, Wii U Party and the soon to be released Mario Party 10, Super Smash Bros. Wii U and Splatoon.

Towerfall Ascension Finally you’ve got two great indie games that you can play with friends or family on a Playstation 4 – Nidhogg and Towerfall Ascension. Nidhogg is a side-scrolling two player sword-fighting game. The goal of the game is simple, reach the end of your opponent’s side to win. Towerfall Ascension is a four-player 2D arena fighting game but the catch is the characters are all archers. Your supply of arrows is limited and the only way to replenish your ammo is by picking up arrows that have already been shot.

OOREDOO

THIS IS AN IMPRINT Life is poeticized by bazaar staff

Forty something, Kuwaiti, woman, has career, and has hobbies. These are all labels that we, and many others, place on ourselves to give off a sense of identity. When asked to introduce herself Nejoud Al Yagout found the answer she had given hilarious, “It seems as though I’m on autopilot saying that. We come to Earth nameless, ageless, and nationless. Somehow I am beyond my age, name, and country.” A fascinating answer from a fascinating woman, words are definitely this wordsmith’s weapon. With a passion for the written word, Nejoud is a fulltime librarian who found herself writing in her pastime. The results of this “hobby” manifested itself into a collection of poetry that she fondly named This Is An Imprint.

You’re a librarian. How does one get into this career path and what do you love most about your job? What inspired you to write? Actually, getting the job was serendipitous. I am so grateful for my job because I love being surrounded by books and students. Working in a school is so rewarding. I draw my inspiration from love and life. Spirituality deeply moves me as well. When we ask the essential questions of life, we move from existential dread to awakening. The journey itself inspires me. Are poems your go-to writing style of choice, or do you write in other styles? Definitely, although I also enjoy writing letters to people. Well emails, in this day and age… Who are the people that influence your writing? My nearest and dearest never cease to amaze and inspire me. I derive inspiration from those who I have loved the most or those who have hurt me the most. Always, they are one and the same! Then, there are the poets that inspire me. Richard Brautigan – a Beat Generation poet – is a personal favorite. However, I’m moved by a wide range of poets from Pablo Neruda to Rabindrath Tagore, Emily Dickinson to Robert Browning, and from Rumi to E.E. Cummings. What is your book about? My book consists of 58 poems and 58 responses. There is no significance to the number. It just turned out that way. Each pair of poems consists of one poem - which is written from a frequency of angst, loss, identity crisis or heartbreak - and its response, which is written from a higher level of consciousness. For example, the first poem is confusion.com and its answer is No more confusion.com. I wanted to let the reader understand that no matter how dark life can appear, there is always a more elevated perspective that can alleviate our suffering. How did the compilation of poems come together? Some of the poems were written when I was in university. Others are very new. When someone who resides in my heart was dying of cancer earlier this year, it was cathartic to write poems for and to him. It is an honor that I can somehow keep his memory alive in this book by including a couple of poems that were dedicated to him. The other poems are therapeutic musings and reflections of life experiences. The book is neither in chronological order nor in order of importance. It had a life of its own when I was compiling the poems together. What inspired the title? What is the book an “imprint” of? When I was in high school, my favorite book was Richard Wright’s Native Son. He used the phrase ‘indelible imprint’ and I fell in love! I find that whatever we offer to the world is an imprint – whether it is a smile or a book.

Is there a recurring theme throughout? A recurring theme is grief. However, each time our hearts are shattered, there is an opportunity to transcend our pain. This is highly stressed in my book so that I do not keep readers stuck in the frequency of angst. So, transcending our pain through awareness and presence is the most essential theme in the book. Spiritual teachers always use the metaphor of the diamond. It can only shine after immense heat and pressure. Another theme is love and its power over us. Ain’t love grand? It can break us into a million pieces, but our hearts continue to love. That’s an art. Are you in the poems? Or do you take on a different persona when writing? Yes, I am in the poems. There is no other persona, but I must add that when I say ‘I’ in

the poems, it is either my lower self or higher self that is reflecting on any given situation. Both aspects are present and represent the dichotomy of light and darkness that is ever present in our world. Also, when I say ‘I’ am in the poem, there is nothing unique about my feelings. We share a collective consciousness that is beyond our own identity. Our experiences may be different, but our range of emotions and feelings are the same. We are much more connected than we know. Check out excerpts from the book on YouTube by visiting http://www.youtube.com/results?search_ query=this+is+an+imprint You can order This Is An Imprint by email for delivery at thisisanimprint@gmail.com, or you can visit dar.nur for a copy. 53

we care

HEYA! The childhood and adolescent obesity awareness campaign in Kuwait by bazaar staff

Childhood and adolescent obesity is a growing epidemic in Kuwait. Studies have shown that one of every two teens have been diagnosed as overweight or obese. With the fast-food culture taking over, bigger is always more appealing the faster one can eat it, the better. With a fairly sedentary lifestyle that goes hand-in-hand with said culture, the numbers are getting scarier by the day. This is why the Health Empowerment Youth Association (HEYA!) and the Strategy and Analysis for Health (SAHA) Institute are launching the first evidence-based public health campaign in Kuwait, to help tackle the ever-soincreasing pandemic that is childhood obesity. With most of the region ranking amongst the top most obese nations worldwide, Kuwait’s very own SAHA Institute took the initiative to create an awareness campaign to put an end to this. While the initial focus is to raise awareness through this campaign, their ultimate goal is to get the youth, communities, and policy makers to take a stand and end this state of obesity. Based on the French EPODE methodology, which is the most successful obesity prevention program, HEYA!’s campaign is the first to be tailored and executed specifically to the region. Being the single most important contributor to diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, and 54

psychological disorders, childhood obesity in Kuwait is on the rise. This phenomenon has been increasing since the Gulf War due to the poor diet choices and habits as well as a decrease in active lifestyles. As a result, three in every four women suffer from obesity and one in every two children are diagnosed as overweight or obese. HEYA! also know that healthy living starts at home and gives some quick tips to help steer you and your family in the right direction in healthy eating: Add greens – make sure you eat fresh vegetables with all meals, which are full of the right vitamins and minerals your body needs and help you feel full and satisfied; Pick the right snack – go for some sliced fruit or nuts, instead of something which you will regret as soon as you have finished eating it; Thirsty? Drink water – Don’t drink your calories, as most juices and other sodas do not help your body at all. Feed your muscles – Eat the right proteins (avoid processed meats if possible) for strength and growth at all ages. And finally; try making your own meals so you can be aware of every ingredient going into you and your family’s bodies. Nadeem Alduaij, Founder and President of SAHA Institute and Instructor at Harvard Medical School, said, “Our campaign brings the best evidence to our communities to tackle one of the most critical health problems our societies are facing,” he also added,

“It promotes collective and concerted action by a coalition of public and private stakeholders.” HEYA! also welcomes volunteers of all ages! So join in the efforts to make Kuwait a healthier place to be!

HEYA! is a collaborative effort between the US State Department’s MEPI program, SAHA Institute, Ministry of State for Youth Affairs (www.youth.gov.kw) and social marketing leaders TBWA (www.tbwabcomad.com), Snipp! (http://home.snipp.com), and Socialobby. For more information on HEYA! visit: www.heyakuwait.org or follow them on Twitter and Instagram @heyakuwait. The SAHA (Strategy and Analysis for Health) Institute is an innovative, independent, and non-partisan health policy think-and-do tank serving the Arab World. It is a platform for scientists, marketeers, and policy-makers to design and implement meaningful solutions to public health threats. SAHA Institute seeks to promote equitable, efficient, and sustainable health systems through research, education, advocacy, evidenceinformed policies and strategic partnerships in the field of global health policy. It was founded in Kuwait in 2012. For more information visit www.sahainstitute.org or follow them on Twitter @sahainstitute.

MY RIDE-ALONG

With an American officer on Halloween by Raheeq Al-Zaidan

I’ve never willingly walked into a police station, certainly not one in a foreign country. I was freelancing as a photojournalist in Michigan, when I was given the opportunity to spend a 12hour shift with an officer from the Grand Rapids Police Department. Since I was feeling particularly mischievous, I asked them if I could do my ridealong on October 31. I’ve often heard that officers hate working on Halloween, so I was positively itching to experience the horrors of the night. When the evening finally came, I felt a bit anxious about riding along with Officer Stevens. I was hyperventilating underneath the fluorescent lights of the police station bathroom. What if we had nothing to talk about? What if I offended him with a stupid joke? What if he was that officer who caught me inhaling a Frosty milkshake in an empty parking lot at 3 a.m.? I was simply told, “wear comfy shoes, no jeans.” Since the rules were so vague, I couldn’t decide if wearing my Batman costume would be a tad distasteful. I ended up wearing an all-black 56

ensemble and left the cape at home. I still had the ability to blend into the night, if the situation called for it. I arrived at the quiet station around 5:30 p.m. and was given a faded bulletproof vest. I put it on with trembling hands and waited for Lt. Mark Ostapowicz to lead me into the Squad Room. During what was possibly the longest elevator ride ever, Mark told me that I missed out on the action-packed shift last night. There were shooting homicides at a place called Chicken Coop. “They’ve got good chicken, but not worth dying for,” joked Mark. It was that precise second when I realized that all my hot talk of wanting to fight criminals, to tangle with baddies, and wrestle around with crooks, was all but a fantasy. Wearing a uniform and being sassy wasn’t real police work. Real police work involves mistakes that could result in death. Mark stepped out of the elevator. I hesitantly followed him into a room with several uniformed officers. I nodded and casually looked around for any surprise traps. Officer Stevens introduced

himself, and to my relief, he wasn’t any of the officers who had pulled me over in the past years. “So, I hear you’re a journalist,” he said in a polite, conversational manner as we entered his cruiser. I spent the next few minutes convincing him I was merely curious, and that I wasn’t out to get him. He must have bought the act, because he didn’t punch me in the face. We chatted amicably and cruised around the streets for a bit, issuing a few parking tickets. The night had come and cold raindrops were sprinkling down onto the city. I asked why some neighborhoods were much more crowded than others, and he explained the rules of trick-ortreating. Kids scope out the areas and flock to the houses that give out the best candy. It was my first time seeing Halloween traditions played out in real life, and it was surprisingly just like the movies. As we drove past trick-or-treaters, I suggested that we snatch one of their candy bags and drive off like maniacs. “What are they gonna do, call the cops?” I cackled. He laughed but [continued...]

VISION EXPRESS

[...continued] seemed resistant to join me in marauding the city. We were soon interrupted by a call. The person on the radio kept repeating something about a “possible G6.” A stern look washed upon Stevens’ face so I internally freaked out. What could a G6 possibly be? Is it a gun or a tank? We better not be heading to the Chicken Coop, people get shot over there! When we arrived at a deserted, dark parking lot I could barely unbuckle my seatbelt from how my hands shivered in fear. It turned out to be a child in a Darth Maul mask reporting his stolen Halloween candy. I never knew quite what to do during calls. I mostly stood silently in the corner, awkwardly lurking behind dark shadows as people mistook me for a nosy neighbor. It was hard not to say anything at all when we had someone handcuffed in the back of the cruiser. Stevens would casually speak with me, but I couldn’t shake the desire to include the future inmate in our conversation. When we pulled into the county jail, Stevens had to remove all of his weapons and place them in a locker. “You’re not carrying any weapons, are you?” he asked. “No...unless these guns are considered dangerous,” I responded, gesturing seriously toward my biceps. The silent stares from both him and the 58

handcuffed woman were a bit uncomfortable. We entered the facility and I tentatively wandered around while Stevens filled out the woman’s paperwork. Jail staffers were quite kind and asked many curious questions about Kuwait. They gave me Halloween candy as a distraction from the leering inmates. We headed back out to the cruiser to continue our crusade for justice. We found something to eat at Wendy’s and I tried a Twinkie for the very first time. The vest became heavier and hotter as the night progressed. We responded to many incidents throughout the shift, but the final call was probably the most hectic. It was a traffic stop involving a reckless driver. He placed her in the backseat and I spent a few moments of silence with her. Well, I was silent, but she was screeching about whatever random thoughts she had in her drunken stupor. Other officers quickly joined us on the scene. She became hysterical and started fighting in the backseat. They tried to verbally diffuse the situation and I found myself wanting to reach over, grab one of their Tasers, and zap her myself. We went back to the jail, where the accused lass kept screaming her head off. She was finally taken to a cell after all the paperwork was processed. I stood sullenly in the corner as she swore at me

and flashed vulgar signs from behind the glass doors. The jail staffers offered me some cupcakes this time and we were finally able to leave. The calls that Stevens received were often spliced in between our conversations and laughter. He would recover from the tensions of a scene and begin laughing again, when he’d suddenly be reeled back into his stressful duties. It was like a badly edited movie, one moment we were outdoing each other with awful jokes, and in the next, my heart was racing as he yelled “put your hands up!” at a strange man trying to break into a window. When the sun started peeking out from the clouds, the calls drastically slowed down. We headed back to the police station to turn in some documents, and at around 4 a.m. I called it quits. I took off the borrowed vest, feeling both a physical and mental weight lifted off my chest. I left the GRPD with a newer understanding of officers and the community they protect and serve. I never thought that my travels would lead me to spending so much time with American officers, but I was fascinated by what I saw and the interesting characters I met along the way. It was an unforgettable Halloween experience. I drove back home in silence, longing for the childlike comfort of my Batman pajamas.

RESIDENCE INN

BURGERFUEL

Engineering the ultimate burger by bazaar staff

When I heard that BurgerFuel was heading to the shores of Kuwait (making that a total of 23 outlets in the MENA region) I admit to getting a tad excited. Okay, that’s an understatement. I was literally bouncing off the walls with joy! Having tasted it on numerous occasions both in the UAE as well as in its origin country of New Zealand, it helped that I was already addicted. Brought to Kuwait for the first time with the help of Al Khayyat Investments (AKI) who operate 11 BurgerFuel outlets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Kuwait outlet is located on the vibrant Al Bida’a strip of restaurants, and is well placed and easy to get to off of the Al Taawon Street. My first impression of BurgerFuel was that the branding is something special. They pride themselves on using 100 percent recycled biodegradable packaging for all of their products, and your burger will come complete with what they call a ‘doofer’, a kiwi (that’s New Zealander for all of you Non-Kiwi folks) invention which helps you hold your burger without getting oily fingers or having a fear of losing any of the delicious ingredients out of the bottom. Genius. The eco-consciousness even makes it to the interiors in Kuwait, where the chairs are made of recycled material. But don’t let that fool you – it remains modern, classy, comfortable and clean, with a cool vibe (the atmosphere is helped with the streaming of BurgerFuel radio from NZ) so you feel like you have been zapped into the BurgerFuel world with full force. We had to prevent ourselves from each ordering every one of their amazing appetizers/sides for fear of leaving no room. Firstly we have to stop for a second to talk about their fries…the spud fries are a must-have! Not only due to their perfect crunchy outside and soft center inside, but also the fresh aioli dip that accompanies them…it’s addictive! For those who are not a fan of the fry, there are options of Motobites, made of crumbed pumpkin, carrot, chickpea and ginger with a lemon aioli or yoghurt relish dip, or fresh Chicken Fenders, made of only pure skinless juicy chicken, sea salt, garlic and rosemary, in its basic healthy but delicious form, and a great way to add in more protein to any meal. Now, to the main event: the burgers. Using quality healthy ingredients such as prime New Zealand beef (100% pure grass-fed beef) imported directly from NZ and salted on premise to retain the juicy goodness, chicken which is locally sourced and grilled to perfection, crispy fresh lettuce and beetroot, and generous dollops of their famous creamy aioli, even with the multitude of burger options in Kuwait, the quality and uniqueness of these ingredients will bring you back every time. For a classic experience we recommend you try the CN Cheese, the most popular of their burgers in the MENA region with 100% pure NZ grassfed beef, delicious melted cheese and grated 60

parmesan, or the BF Monster, a signature beef burger, with melted cheese, premium beef bacon, beetroot, mango and avocado, relish and aioli, on a soft delicious bun, the biggest of their gourmet burgers. They also do a limited edition burger flavor every month - watch out for their spicy Rehabanero this month - so there is always something new for your tastebuds! It doesn’t stop there. They have plenty of options for the kids and those with small appetites (with smaller burgers and kids meals), for vegetarians (V-Twin vege is highly recommended), vegans (V-Dub Vege, incidentally BurgerFuel appears to be the only restaurant in Kuwait with a certified 100% vegan burger) and even those health conscious, low-carb dieters with the option of any burger wrapped in a delicious double whammy of salad greens, better known as “Low-Carborator” Why should these people miss out on the mighty burger? There really is something for everyone here! For the ultimate in liquid goodness, you must accompany your meal with one of their shakes.

Coming in the classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, the thick yet smooth texture is a perfect Thelma to your Burger Louise, and you must end your experience by tempting yourself with the soft, creamy natural Hokey Pokey ice cream for dessert, a unique hometown favorite. BurgerFuel plan to expand throughout Kuwait in the future, and to also offer a delivery service straight to your door. But, for now, make sure you take a leap into the Southern Hemisphere at Al Bida’a and try some of the gourmet burgers at BurgerFuel, you won’t be disappointed! But, for now, make sure you take a leap into the Southern Hemisphere at Al Bida’a and try some of the gourmet burgers at BurgerFuel, you won’t be disappointed! BurgerFuel is located in the Al Bida’a strip of restaurants, next to the Movenpick Hotel in Al Bida’a. For more information visit www.burgerfuel.com; contact them by email: info@burgerfuel.com, phone 2225 3140, or follow them on Facebook: BurgerFuel Kuwait.

‫ا ن ﻓـــــﻲ اﻟــــﻜــــــﻮﻳــــﺖ‬ ‫ﻓﻴﺴﺒﺎ ا ﻳﻄﺎﻟﻴﺔ اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪة‬ ‫اﺑﺘﺪاء ﻣﻦ ‪ 1100‬د‪.‬ك‬ ‫ً‬

‫‪VESPA‬‬

‫‪BikeWorld‬‬

‫‪www.bikeworld-kw.com‬‬

‫‪: 24929303 / 24928686‬‬

‫يوغا في البحر‬ ‫‪by Strawberry girl‬‬

‫إن محبي اليوغا وكل الذين يحبون تجربة األنشطة‬ ‫الرياضية الجديدة سوف يستمتعون بكل تأكيد بتجربة‬ ‫حصص ال «‪( »SUP Yoga‬تمارين اليوغا على لوح‬ ‫التجديف)‪ .‬انها تجربة رائعة حقا أن تمارس التمارين على‬ ‫لوح بمواجهة البحر واستنشاق نسائم البحر‪.‬‬ ‫حاليا تقام حصتين على مدى يومين أسبوعيا (الجمعة‬ ‫والسبت)‪ .‬و يمكن أن يشارك خمسة أشخاص في كل‬ ‫حصة معا‪ ،‬حيث أن هناك خمسة قوارب فقط متوفرة‪ .‬و‬ ‫قريبا ستتوفر حصص إضافية لتشمل أيام األسبوع كلها‪.‬‬ ‫مدة الحصة ساعة واحدة‪ ،‬تشمل ‪ 10‬دقائق للتسخين‬ ‫على الشاطئ و ‪ 50‬دقيقة من التمارين في البحر‪ .‬و تقام‬ ‫الحصص في الساعة الثامنة والساعة التاسعة صباحا‪.‬‬ ‫و تشرح مدربة اليوغا مايا ويمبيري أن الحصص تبدأ‬ ‫باكرا ألن الجو الزال حارا‪ ،‬وأنه بعد أن تنخفض حرارة الجو‬ ‫يمكن أن تقام الحصص متاخرة قليال في الساعة العاشرة‬ ‫أو الحادية عشرة صباحا‪ .‬وتعلق قائلة‪« :‬إننا نعتزم تقديم‬ ‫هذا النشاط المسلي حتى شهر ديسمبر على األغلب‪.‬‬ ‫أعتقد أنه تمرين رائع للعضالت المختلفة ويتطلب التمرين‬ ‫المحافظة على التوازن على اللوح‪ .‬و يستخدم المشاركون‬ ‫مهارات أكثر أثناء هذا النوع من اليوغا‪ ،‬والذي يمنح المزيد‬

‫من المرح مقارنة مع تمارين اليوغا الكالسيكية‪ ،‬حيث أنه‬ ‫يحتاج أيضا للتجديف‪ .‬هنا يمكنك اإلحساس بنسيم البحر‬ ‫يلمس الجلد‪ ،‬وأن تنظر للبحر بدل بساط التمرين‪ .‬إنها‬ ‫طريقة رائعة لبداية األسبوع»‪.‬‬ ‫و أضافت قائلة‪« :‬هذا النشاط يمنح السكينة وهدوء‬ ‫البال‪ ،‬كم أنه يحث المشارك أن يستخدم حركات مختلفة‬ ‫و التي تقوي عضالت مختلفة‪ .‬أيضا هذا النوع من اليوغا‬ ‫مرتبط بالتجديف‪ ،‬والذي يعمل أيضا على تقوية عضالت‬ ‫األذرع»‪.‬‬ ‫المدربة مايا تقيم في دبي وهي تأتي إلى الكويت‬ ‫أسبوعيا لتقديم الحصص‪ .‬و تروي كيف أنها تعلمت ال‬ ‫«‪ »SUP Yoga‬في هونغ كونغ‪ ،‬حيث بدأت بإعطاء دروسها‬ ‫األولى كذلك‪ .‬وبعدها انتقلت إلى دبي لكنها لم تتمكن من‬ ‫إعطاء حصصها لفترة طويلة بسبب قلة األماكن المتوفرة‬ ‫هناك التي يمكن أن تقيم بها الحصص حيث أنهم يقومون‬ ‫بتغيير القوانين باستمرار‪ .‬وأعربت عن سعادتها بوجودها‬ ‫هنا لتقديم الحصص‪ ،‬و تمنت أن ينضم أشخاص أكثر لهذه‬ ‫الحصص‪.‬‬ ‫من جهتها أعربت رغد الخضيري الشريكة في هذا‬ ‫المشروع عن سعادتها في جلب هذا النشاط الجديد إلى‬

‫الكويت‪ .‬هي رياضية وتمارس رياضات مختلفة تشمل‬ ‫السباحة‪ ،‬الركض‪ ،‬ركوب الدراجة وغيرها‪ ،‬إال أن ال «‪SUP‬‬ ‫‪ »Yoga‬كانت تجربة جديدة بالنسبة لها‪ .‬وأوضحت أنها‬ ‫شريكة بهذا المشروع مع كل من ندى وصالح‪ ،‬الذي التقى‬ ‫بمايا في دبي و اتفق معها على تقديم الحصص هنا في‬ ‫الكويت‪ .‬وتضيف أنهم سوف يتعاقدون مع مدربين آخرين‬ ‫لل «‪ »SUP Yoga‬بجانب مايا حتى يتمكنوا من تقديم‬ ‫الحصص خالل باقي أيام األسبوع‪.‬‬ ‫و شكرت رغد النادي البحري الكويتي على تسخير‬ ‫المكان لهم إلقامة الحصص ودعمهم الدائم للشباب‬ ‫الكويتي ليبدؤوا بممارسة رياضة جديدة‪ ،‬حتى يتمكنوا‬ ‫في المستقبل من المشاركة في البطوالت العالمية‬ ‫وتمثيل دولة الكويت في المحافل الدولية‪ .‬أيضا هي‬ ‫ترى أنه خالل فصل الصيف ال توجد الكثير من النشاطات‬ ‫في الكويت‪ ،‬لذلك سعوا لتوفير شي جديد وقاموا بجلب‬ ‫هذه الفعالية‪.‬‬ ‫حصص ال «‪ »SUP Yoga‬مفتوحة للرجال والنساء من جميع‬ ‫األعمار‪ .‬يمكن للمهتمين بالحصول على المزيد من المعلومات‬ ‫على حساب اإلنستغرام‪ supserenity@ :‬و يمكن التواصل‬ ‫معهم على اإليميل‪Mayayogadubai@gmail.com :‬‬ ‫‪62‬‬

FRANKLIN MARSHALL

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

SONGS OF INNOCENCE

THE ENDLESS RIVER

by U2 In September, the digital release of Songs of Innocence made the record available to over 500 million iTunes customers, for what Apple CEO Tim Cook marketed as “the largest album release of all time”. This album was U2’s first since No Line on the Horizon (2009), marking the longest gap between studio albums of their career. After the latter’s relatively lukewarm commercial performance, lead singer Bono expressed uncertainty over how the band could remain musically relevant. Thematically this album revisits the group members’ youth in Ireland, paying tribute to musical inspirations Ramones and the Clash, while touching on childhood experiences, loves and regrets. Bono described it as “the most personal album we’ve written”.

by Pink Floyd The Endless River, releasing November 10th, represents a return to the creative principles that informed the writing process that produced Pink Floyd classics like “Echoes”, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Animals”. Described as a “swan song” for Richard Wright (sadly passed away 2008), The Endless River is based on 20 hours of unreleased material the band wrote, recorded and produced with Wright during sessions for Pink Floyd’s previous studio album The Division Bell in 1994. Stylistically, The Endless River includes all of the musical elements that characterize Pink Floyd: mellifluous keyboards, jazz-tinged drums, musique concrete, ethereal vocals, and distinctive, emotional lead guitar. The cover concept is by Egyptian digital artist Ahmed Emad Eldin.

TELL ‘EM I’M GONE

ROCK OR BUST

by Yusuf/Cat Stevens Tell ‘Em I’m Gone is the first new Yusuf album to be released since 2009’s acclaimed Roadsinger. Recorded all over the world, including Los Angeles, Dubai, Brussels, and London, the album features 10 brand-new studio recordings, including 5 originals and 5 carefully-chosen cover songs. Each track revives the age-old themes of freedom and peace that have prevailed through more than four decades of Yusuf’s musical career. On this album, Yusuf returns to the roots of his teenage musical inspiration: American blues and R&B, using these genres to explore humanity’s climb to freedom with songs that recall the spirit of his earliest days as a nascent singersongwriter in London. 64

by AC/DC Rock or Bust is the highly anticipated studio album from Australian band AC/DC and will be released December 2nd, 2014. This is the first album of new AC/DC material since 2008’s multi-platinum Black Ice and will be the band’s first album without founding member and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who left the band in 2014 for health reasons. In 2015, the band will embark on a world tour to promote Rock or Bust and celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary. The album will be available on CD and LP that features very special multi-dimensional moving cover art, which gives the illusion of the band’s iconic logo exploding as the package is moved in different directions.

NOSTALGIA

by Annie Lennox On Nostalgia, Annie Lennox pays tribute to some of the greatest artists of the 20th century – including Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Billie Holiday – and interprets compositions that have moved her, stripping them down to their emotional and musical core and making them her own. A collection of Lennox’s favorite songs from youth, it is her first LP in four years and her third cover album. Mike Wass of Idolator wrote that Lennox “breathes new life into the much-covered gems with perhaps the best vocal performance of her long and varied career.” He stated that it would be an understatement to call the album “a departure from Annie’s usual oeuvre,” and that Lennox “puts her own inimitable spin” on the tracks.

SUKIERAE

by Tweedy (Wilco) Tweedy, the band, is a collaboration between Jeff Tweedy, best known as the founder of the pioneering Chicago rock band Wilco, and his 18-year-old son and drummer Spencer Tweedy. Jeff says, “When I set out to make [Sukierae (pronounced sue-key-ray)] I imagined it being a solo thing, but not in the sense of one guy strumming an acoustic guitar and singing. Solo to me meant that I would do everything: write the songs, play all the instruments and sing. But Spencer’s been with me from the very beginning demo sessions, playing drums and helping the songs take shape. In that sense, the record is kind of like a solo album performed by a duo.” source: www.amazon.com

CHAMPION

LABE

The 1st luxury Haircare range from label.m designed to scientifically treat the adverse effect of hair ageing. The sulphate and paraben free solution incorporates White Caviar and their exclusive Rejuven-8 Complex to actively replenish, revive and rejuvenate ageing hair. ،‫اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺤﻀﺮ اﻟﻔﺎﺧﺮ ا ول ﻟﻠﻌﻨﺎﻳﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺸﻌﺮ‬ .‫ﺻﻤﻢ ﻋﻠﻤﻴ ﻟﻌﻼج أﺳﺒﺎب ﺗﻘﺪم ﻋﻤﺮ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ‬ ‫ ﻣﺰﻳﺞ ﻓﺎﺧﺮ ﻣﻦ‬،‫ﺧﺎﻟﻲ ﻣﻦ ا ﻣﻼح واﻟﻜﺒﺮﻳﺖ‬ ‫ ﺗﺠﺪﻳﺪ وإﻋﺎدة ﺗﻌﺒﺌﺔ‬،‫اﻟﻜﺎﻓﻴﺎر ا ﺑﻴﺾ ﺣﻴﺎء‬ .‫اﻟﺸﻌﺮ اﻟﺘﺎﻟﻒ واﻟﻤﺘﻘﺪم ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﻤﺮ‬

EL M

label.m Therapy Age-Defying Collection is available at TONI&GUY Al Corniche and other selected salons. Exclusively distributed by beau-tique cosmetics int'l. Call us on 2225 1285 for more information. www.beau-tiqueonline.com beautiquecosmetics beautiquekuwait beautiquecosmetics

ALEXANDER WANG X H&M SPORTS, PERFORMANCE AND STYLE by bazaar staff

Never before have we seen such secrecy, as the fashion industry has been painstakingly tight-lipped about the long awaited launch of the ALEXANDER WANG X H&M collection. Upon the announcement about this designer collaboration for H&M, we predicted that Wang’s functional design aesthetic would be a prominent feature. However, the resulting collection exceeded our, and everyone else’s, expectations, presenting what could easily be counted as H&M’s best collaboration yet. The collection by Wang highlights a new genre in fashion, performance wear, essentially 68

capturing facets of everyday modern life. The pieces capture the speed of the city, mixing sports and performance, function and fashion. Versatility lies at the core of Wang’s design vision, and we see this in 38 exclusively designed garments for women. You can wear this collection on the street, at the gym and even at your next dinner party. For men, Wang’s collection creates an urban wardrobe that also shares in functionality and performance wear with 23 garments. Both collections include an accessories line, as well as a playful take on everyday objects. Wang’s debut performance wear pieces include

quick-dry black running tops and perforated laser-cut shorts, each bonded and branded with Alexander Wang in silver mesh. Seamless performance T-shirts, tank tops and crop tops are knitted in a pointelle pattern with a hidden tonguein-cheek message that becomes visible when worn. Sports bras also feature the Alexander Wang logo on the back or on the wide bands of elastic, while compression crop tops, tights, dresses and bra tops play with logos of different scales. bazaar speaks to the designer himself, as well as H&M Creative Advisor Margareta Van Den Bosch about this incredible collaboration.

INTERVIEW WITH:

ALEXANDER

WANG Did you ever see yourself designing a contemporary collection for H&M? When H&M approached us and told us this would be their 10th anniversary of designer collaborations and that we would be the first American brand to join their roster, I was extremely honored and excited to take part. I’ve always been an admirer of H&M’s designer collaborations. It’s not just the products and their desirability, it’s also the way they communicate the collaborations, and stage the events. I’ve experienced some of these on a first hand basis, having attended the launches in New York for both Versace and Maison Martin Margiela. This is the tenth year of their designer collaborations, and I’m the first American designer, so it feels special to be collaborating with them this year. How did the idea behind the collaboration come about? I really wanted to relook at the nature of their collaborations, and to do something different. H&M have done a great job with previous archive-based collaborations, but I wanted to design new pieces exclusively for the collection. The ALEXANDER WANG X H&M is a collection based on performance wear that is directly linked to everyday wardrobe items. I’ve always been inspired and intrigued by the make and technology of sportswear and the advanced construction of performance clothing. They’re catering to the body in its most active state and the pieces really have 70

to outlast and outperform. We utilized techniques such as bonding, welding and foam injection treatments in select items that feel innovative and modern. I didn’t want to just cater to one type of customer with this collaboration, so I chose a genre of clothing; no matter if you shop mass, or high luxury, it doesn’t discriminate by price. Can you tell us more about designing a ‘versatile performance wardrobe’ for men and women? What prompted this design direction? For me, functionality is also one aspect of style in a piece. Functional details, such as the rubberized zip or a particular grommet, can additionally be interesting. But I also Iove pieces like the welded parka where the absence of surface can also be interpreted as a design detail. There are also pieces where we make fashion from functionality, such as the elastic sports bra, or the cutaway scuba dress with interwoven straps. What challenged you the most about creating this collection? It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Margareta Van Den Bosch and the H&M team. She must be one of the most energetic and openminded people and always open to pushing the boundaries. The biggest challenge was editing, because I wanted the ALEXANDER WANG X H&M collection to be made up of mostly new designs, based on performance and sportswear. I’ve always been inspired by performance and sportswear, particularly the make and manufacture, and the

new technologies that are used. Technology and innovation in materials is what excites me, and with this performance-inspired collaboration we had a chance to explore so many innovative materials. At the same time, I wanted the collection to be really tight and focused, so we concentrated on really specific pieces, such as the performance gym clothes, or the functional outerwear, to create the collection. We utilized techniques such as bonding, welding and foam injection treatments in select items that feel innovative and modern. I love how its functional details both keep the body warm while also having a really elevated aesthetic and quality, like with the seamless welded parka. Do you have any favorite pieces from the collection? If so, can you tell us why? While I don’t have a favorite piece, technically, I was most impressed by the foam-injected knits. And I love the Objects part of the collection; I like looking at everyday items and giving it a different context or treatment to add a different point of view. For ALEXANDER WANG X H&M, the objects complete the collection, as well as they add a new element to the H&M designer collaborations. There are pieces that are both practical and playful and humorous, like the yoga mat, or the boxing glove key rings. The ALEXANDER WANG X H&M collection will debut on Nov 6 at the H&M store at the Grand Avenue – The Avenues at 8 am! Visit www.hm.com/kw and check out #AlexanderWangxHM on Instagram.

SAFAT HOME

bookworms, unite!

ON THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF SERIES by bazaar staff

While reading can be a great escape, it can suddenly turn into an obligation. The obligation isn’t necessarily “to read,” but it’s more of an “I need to finish this” scenario. Some one-offs (novels that aren’t part of a series) give off this feeling of doom, while others are difficult to put down. Although a series is always entertaining, getting into said series can be tough. The commitment alone is daunting, but trust me, when you find the right series for you, it’s absolutely brilliant. Below are series, from three incredible authors with a wild imagination. Whether you wanted to speak to the River Thames, drink tea with a book’s character, or witness what statues have seen over the years, you’ll be pleased with this month’s selection. Now, read on to find out what the three “Book Ones” chosen for this month are, and enjoy! “What if Harry Potter grew up and joined the Fuzz.” With a tagline like that, what Harry Potter fan wouldn’t be intrigued? Upon reading it though, that description didn’t do the book justice. Rivers of London follows PC Peter Grant as he leaves his regular force to join The Folly, or the supernatural department as many 72

like to call it. Running around London, learning about magic, and fighting against wizards, warlocks, and the Rivers (yes, they’re personified here) Grant discovers just how difficult it can be to delve into all this. Ben Aaronovitch came up with the idea to this series while working as a bookseller, mighty good-on him! Rivers of London is book one of the mind-blowing PC Grant series. So if you’re a fan of wizards, join this apprentice on his journey around London’s glorious rivers. In a series of unfortunate events, literary detective Thursday Next finds herself facing the wrath of Baconians, caring for her pet dodo Pickwick, inside The Raven, fighting Hades’ children, and attempting to literally save Jane Eyre (the character, not the book). While the resurrection of a once extinct species is never an issue, and Neanderthals rally for their rights, Thursday discovers that she has the ability to enter into any work of fiction by just concentrating. Basically, these books are about worlds, within worlds and the books they’re set in. Is that Meta enough for you? If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like wandering in your favorite story, then this series is worth investing in. Set in an alternate version of 1985, The Eyre Affair

is the first book (of the current seven books) in the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. While this might not be intended exclusively for adults, Charlie Fletcher’s Stoneheart trilogy is intriguing. Revolving around a twelve year-old boy’s school trip to the Natural History Museum in London, this series takes us into a parallel world where stone comes to life. He finds himself invisible to the London he knows and very prominent to the statues instead, where an epic battle rages on. This series hooked me from book one. Not only because of the history it provided, but also due to the tour of London that you can actually follow as you read. It was fascinating to track down every living statue mentioned when on vacation. Yes, it’s an easy read, but worth every second and equally entertaining for every member of the family. So whether you’re a fan of standalones or a “serial reader” (pun completely and utterly intended), make sure to give one of these books a chance. They do read well on their own, but if you start, you might never want to stop. You’ve been warned, now go forth and read on!

FANTASY WORLD

bazaar health

CAPE, TIGHTS, AND A PHONEBOOTH by Dr. Susannah J. Schuilenberg

Culturally, socially, interpersonally, and even intra-personally, men are held to a laughable standard of the ideal male. I bet you’ve heard, “He’s the strong, silent type.” “Real men don’t cry/wear salmon/eat avocados/[fill-in-theblank]...” “Stitches are for wimps. Pass the masking tape.” Men do this to themselves, and to each other. Society often acts as if all men are wearing tights and a cape underneath their work clothes and know the location of the nearest phonebooth. We might not actually require a hero at the moment, but should the need arise… The reality is not so heroic. Men die earlier than women, they are more often injured on the job, less likely to take the time to heal properly, more likely to conceal injury or pain, and they avoid doctors. If a man won’t go to the doctor for stitches after he’s cut himself at work, how likely is he to go willingly for a complete health check up? Not very. Men’s general attitude today about prostate cancer is about where women used to be in talking 74

about breast cancer. They didn’t …and they died. It’s happening with men and cancer. This is Movember. A portmanteau created by combining ‘moustache’ and ‘November,’ this charity’s stated aim is “To change the face of men’s health.” In particular the focus is cancer, specifically prostate and testicular cancer, but all cancers in general. These numbers are bad, gentlemen. Prostate cancer is first among types of cancer diagnosed, and second as a cause of premature death. Early detection and diagnosis followed by effective treatment is vital. Just as with breast cancer, early detection raises the chances of recovery by a significant margin. This means yearly screening after age 35, regular health check ups, keeping weight within 10% of ideal, and some form of exercise 3 to 5 times per week. I promised I wouldn’t mention that other serious health risk, but that’s a no-brainer. (Think, “puffing”) Women tend to look after themselves. They go to the doctor, ask for help when they need it,

and generally, are pretty good at managing healthrelated issues. The same cannot be said about men, as a rule. They simply don’t pay enough attention to their own health. This is equivalent to the hero cape being in the wash. You won’t have it when you need it. Gentlemen – man up. Make an appointment for a complete health check up THIS month. Plan to follow the doctor’s advice and get healthier. This world needs all the potential heroes it can get. You might also want to be a ‘Mo Bro’ and sport a groovy ‘stache for the month. *P.S. As of 2011, Canadians were the largest contributors to the Movember charities of any nation. Go Canada! 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.

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THE MISSING LINK: PRACTICING THE COLLECTIVE APPROACH Nuqat’s fifth conference by bazaar staff

As a monthly publication, we thrive on the efforts of a dynamic team, and believe that the phrase “the more, the merrier” rings true in enabling bazaar to create and curate content that is original on a monthly basis. Since our last feature about Nuqat (June 2014), we’ve kept our eyes open for any news about their chosen topic for this year’s upcoming annual creative conference. Upon learning that the theme of this year’s conference is “The Missing Link: Practicing the Collective Approach”, our excitement could not be contained. The annual conference, which continues to be a resounding success since its inception in 2009, will address a range of topics including: fostering dialogue, executing collaborative projects and heightening exchange between creative individuals. This notable shift in thought, where creativity is no longer the product of an individual effort, yet results from the conducive efforts of the collective, is refreshing to say the least. Nuqat, initially launched and recognized as “Nuqat Ala Al Huroof,” started off with one objective in mind – to develop Arab creativity on all levels, be it in design, advertising, architecture, fashion, production, and all creative and cultural fields. Established out of the frustration and lack 76

of spirited exchange in the region, the Nuqat team is made up of like-minded cultural visionaries from Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Dubai. The conference will be held over the duration of seven days from the 13th to 19th of November 2014, starting with a rich assembly of 24 lectures and a dynamic weekend of cultural entertainment. In addition to the lectures, 11 workshops and seminars will be led during the week by world-class artists who will host lively debates and teach new skills to participants. “The Missing Link” conference will be held for the third time in a row in the Al Amricani Cultural Center under the management of Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah, in addition to events held at Beit Al Sadu and AlMakan. The conference theme was chosen in recognition of the Middle East’s history as a prominent arena for innovation, cultural exchange and shared knowledge. However, due to recent social and political developments these characteristics have been put under duress to the point of becoming endangered. For this reason, this year’s Nuqat conference will shed light on the collaborative potential of the Middle East – with the aim of nourishing collective projects and creative experiments that are led by forerunners in the cultural field. Nuqat will offer a series of talks and workshops on collaboration in a

range of exciting and challenging fields – including creative education, screenwriting, art curating, filmmaking, product design, psychology, publishing and musical improvisation. Presenters The list of participating presenters this year are: actress and filmmaker Ahd Kamel / artist Ahmed Mater / curator Alanood Alsharekh / publisher Ali Khadra / art therapist Dr. Amar Behbehani / curator Aya Ali Reza / curator Barrak Alzaid / art gallery director Bayan Al Barrak / writer Bothayna Al Essa / writer and director Darine Hotait / designer Doreen Toutikian / creative director Huda Abi Fares / artist Jassim Nasrallah / actor and producer Khaled Abol Naga / product designers Massoud and Mahmud Hassani / engineer and inventor Nasser al-Khalidi /incubator Onqoud / designer Pascal Zoghbi / curator Raneem Farsi / designer Samer Yamani / fashion designer Sarah Hermez/ communications specialist Suzanne Talhouk / graphic designer Tarek Atrissi/ musician Tarek Yamani / organisation waraq.org / service designer Yara Al Adib / design director Yara Khoury / product designer Younes Duret / actress and director Zeina Daccache. Lectures The lectures will be held over three days (13 to

November 15, 2014) and will cover the experiences and viewpoints of creators in the Middle East. Each presenter will discuss collaboration in their respective fields, helping to promote the concept of participation and to further elevate “the collective approach” to a wide range of cultural, creative and social platforms. The lectures will cover topics such as: the Arabic language and its role, creative dialogue and the functions of the creative mind, Kuwait Bedouinism and the arts, contemporary design and the importance of cooperation in design. Throughout the three days the lectures will illustrate how collaborative work changes our lives and how collective efforts in all art forms helps cultural work reach its full potential, making social change through drama therapy, among other approaches. Workshops The workshops will be held from November 16 until 19 and are designed to provide participants with specialized insight and practical experience in various creative fields. The workshops’ objective is to create a positive collaborative environment, taking only a limited number of participants in order to assure productivity and valuable one-onone time with the lecturers. Workshop subjects include: product design, modern and classical calligraphy, type design & advertising, furniture

design, collaborative musical improvisation, screenwriting, jewelry design, wearable technology, design thinking and novel writing. Panel discussions Open discussions will be held among the four or five lectures dealing with different topics and asking questions about “the collective approach.” The interactive panel discussions are an essential part of the conference, as they open new audience participation channels, raise important questions and bring around constructive and collectivelydriven solutions. Evening entertainment Among the activities of the conference are three cultural events designed to promote networking and mutual exchange between the participants, giving all involved some time to unwind and have fun. The first of these events is a filming screening of “Scheherazade’s Diary.” On November 14 the award ceremony and exhibition of the winning font from the Horouf bilingual type design competition will be held, and on November 15, Nuqat will hold a book signing with Yara Khoury, author of the book “Nasri Khattar: A Modern Typotect.” “The Missing Link: Practicing the Collective Approach” conference is held under the auspices of gold sponsors IKEA – Al Homaizi ltd., Gatehouse

Bank and Elevation Burger and in association with Al Amricani Cultural Center and Bait Al Sadu, with the support of Arte Casa, Choowy Goowy, Snaprint and Chocolateness. Additionally, Almakan and Blackpearl jewelry have provided their efforts towards producing the conference, along with 29LT, Breakthread, Fab Lab, Madina, The Yard, the Khatt Foundation, Studio Azza Fahmy, AlMohtaraf, Bab Nim Nim, Cinephilia Productions, Rosetta and Inner Works. The media partners for the conference are: bazaar, Sorbet, Canvas, WTD magazine, Khaleejesque, Way Communications, Saudi Art Guide, The Bustop, Transform magazine, Sketchbook, and the Obai and Hill company. MPrints Advertising is the Nuqat conference production partner, with Raw Design Studio serving as the branding partner, the software partner being Software Senior, the payment partner is Tap and the event’s official carrier is Jazeera Airways. A pop-up shop in collaboraton with The Yard, food kiosks, musical entertainment and a calligraphy exhibition will be held on the conference days in the courtyard of the Al Amricani Cultural Center. For more information, visit www.nuqat.me, follow @Nuqatweets on Twitter and Instagram @nuqat. 77

PLANNING THE DETAILS

Rita Merheb Khair doesn’t design for a living – she lives for designing by bazaar staff

The winter season in Kuwait is unlike any other. With all of the events of the year taking place in the small time span of only a few months, your calendar is most definitely overflowing with plans to attend and, more importantly host, an event of some sorts. You also have your best friend’s bachelorette party to plan (hello wedding season!), your child’s birthday is in two weeks, and you’ve taken on the additional role of planning the annual office Christmas party. The inevitable reality is that you will run out of ideas, and could use a creative mastermind to aid you through these arduous tasks. Fret no more and get in touch with events guru Rita Merheb Khair. Before you commit to a mainstream events planning company, get to know Rita and her personalized touch when it comes to events, in this interview. How did you get your start as an event planner? Well, event planning was always more of a hobby than a career to me. I love doing it as much as I enjoy doing any of my other hobbies, and I think that in order for anyone to succeed in what they want to do, they really have to enjoy it and not deal with it as a job, or as something you have to do. My motto has always been “I don’t design for a living, I live for designing…” What do you like about event planning? I like the whole process from A-Z. I enjoy talking to my client and getting to know them and to know what they want, as much as I enjoy seeing the people enjoying and having fun on the actual day of the event. And most of all, I love the various details 78

that you have to take care of and deal with in order to insure a successful event. Tell us a little about your background? My background is in Graphic Design. I got my Master’s degree back in 2003 from the Academie Libanaise Des Beaux Arts “ALBA” Lebanon. I worked in the field of Graphic Design both in Lebanon and in Saudi Arabia. I was a creative director in an inhouse creative department in Saudi Arabia. In 2006, I moved back to Lebanon, and I started teaching Graphic Design in 3 different universities. I also managed to finish my second Master’s degree in “Multimedia for Education” in the University of Balamand. In 2009 I moved to Kuwait and I am currently an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design in the American University of Kuwait. Did your Graphic Design background have any role in you getting into Event Planning? Of course, a very big part of my passion for event planning stems out from my passion for Graphic Design. Design is one of the most important ingredients in the recipe of a successful event. I actually make it a point to follow the principles of design and take the various elements of design into consideration both when I am planning and executing any event. It helps bring everything together in a really nice way that would be practically impossible to achieve if you didn’t have a thorough background and experience in design. How would you describe your work style? Unique and personalized. It is always very easy to search the web for subcontractors and item providers, everybody can do that, and the end result

will most of the time look similar to something you saw or something that was done before. And personalization really involves much more than just getting a design and sticking a name on. When you take every event on its own, and you understand the client’s needs, and the target audience, that is the people invited, and you build / design the event from the ground up around those coordinates, the end result will automatically turn out to be totally unique and personalized. Everything in the work is built around those coordinates, the color palette, the typeface, and the style of the imagery and illustrations. Everything is built to meet and exceed the needs and the expectations of the client. Besides personalization, what makes your work stand out from the rest? Many things come to my mind as I think about the answer to this question, but mostly the attention to detail – I always make sure that everything is under control. The smallest detail can turn into a disaster once the event starts. The other thing is the wide spectrum of services I offer to my clients. In addition to all the traditional design matters, I offer multimedia services, such as animations or videos that can play during the event, interactive invitation cards, and animated teasers that are perfect for social media accounts. With all those services, the sky is the limit, the challenge becomes what the client wants to exclude from the event, and not what to do for the event. Visit www.ritamerheb.com or find Rita on Instagram @rita.h.merheb and Facebook: Rita Merheb Khair.

CANNON

FESTIVAL OF FOOD, COMMUNITY

The women behind Kuwait’s upcoming food festival by bazaar staff

When Michelle Lambros moved to Kuwait she left behind a quaint and personally fulfilling food and beverage store in south Florida. Her store, filled with gourmet products, was always swarming with customers, and large festivals attracted a clientele who appreciated good quality, and were always willing to try something new. When she arrived in Kuwait she was impressed by the quality of the cuisine in the restaurant industry, and thought the country was missing an official food festival. She approached Caroline Rosinski, a fellow parent at her children’s school, The English School Kuwait, with the idea to create an annual food festival. The event would be big, with major chefs, leading restaurants, entertainment for children. She was right on board. “We were so impressed with Qout and Shakshooka, and it showed us the country is really ready for what we have in mind,” said Rosinski. “We wanted to bring a major city festival to Kuwait, and we wanted it to be a big deal... all about food.” Kuwait became home for Rosinski 22 years ago when she moved here after university to start her short lived career in education, which soon emerged into retail banking and marketing. She married her husband in 1998, and has made his country her home. Always a foodie, she even once tried boiled locusts, despite her husband’s warnings! “They taste like gritty chickpeas, in case you’re wondering.” She 80

had experience in customer service, marketing, sales training, news editing and is on the board of governors at The English School Kuwait. Her partnership with Lambros meant they could open a legitimate company, Q8 Productions, and put into motion the grand plans they had discussed. The company, established in March 2014, aimed to keep the city’s culture, signature cuisine and local talent in mind. The ladies incorporated Lambros’ seven years of experience with such festivals in Florida, to their business plan. Now just months away from the big event the ladies have been hard at work filling booths, gaining sponsors and booking chefs. The event will host some of the biggest restaurant names in Kuwait, along with celebrity chef demonstrations. Fans of Reza Mahammad will have a chance to see the Spice Prince in person! Not to mention regional chefs from the popular food channel Fatafeat. Q8 Food Festival promises to be an exciting event. The ladies have already received so much positive response and can sense the excitement from participants. The Kuwait foodies and entrepreneurs have been a pleasant surprise, and the women admire the dedication in Kuwait to good food. “People here care about good ingredients and quality ingredients,” said Rosinski. “The minute a place starts to slack on the quality, they shut them down.”

For the ladies of Q8 Productions, the main goal is to create strong-knit communities, and encourage engagement. The Q8 Food Festival, a conglomerate of restaurateurs, culinary professionals and the most important participant, you the foodie, is a way to connect the eclectic culinary community in Kuwait. Their second site LivinQ8.com is an expat e-newsletter and website that targets expat news and information specifically targeted to expat’s lifestyles and interests. “As a new expat here four or five years ago there was nowhere to go to find out the best restaurants to go to, travel tips, etc” said Lambros. “We really wanted to create a resource for the expat. So it’s giving a helping hand to expats so they can get out and be a part of the community they are in now.” What started as a small idea has become a huge project for the pioneering women. Articles posted on LivinQ8.com are sourced from expats around the country who are doing food reviews, travel reviews and event announcements. They provide links for groups based on sports and hobbies that a newcomer could join. The classified section provides a marketplace for those looking to buy or sell used goods. The website is perfect for finding all the necessities you need in your life when you first arrive. For updates on the Q8 Food Festival check out q8foodfestival.com. For updates on what’s happening visit LivinQ8.com.

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

INTERSTELLAR

DUMB AND DUMBER TO

THE DROP

Release Date: November 6 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi Cast: Matthew McConaughey/Anne Hathaway

Release Date: November 13 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Comedy Cast: Jim Carrey/Jeff Daniels/Laurie Holden

Release Date: November 13 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Crime, Drama Cast: Tom Hardy/Noomi Rapace/James Gandolfini

Synopsis: A team of space explorers travel through a wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. They aim to travel beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars. Written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, the screenplay is inspired by the works of the theoretical physicist Kip Thorne. He described the story as “based on warped space-time - the most exotic events in the universe suddenly becoming accessible to humans”.

Synopsis: 20 years after the dimwits set out on their first adventure, Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) and Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) head out in search for Harry’s long lost daughter, in the hope of gaining a new kidney. Directed by original directing duo Bobby and Peter Farrelly. This marks the first film since Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995) where Jim Carrey reprises his character from a previous film. Jennifer Lawrence is actually a fan of Dumb and Dumber and wanted to audition for the sequel. She makes a cameo in the film.

Synopsis: To earn some fast cash, graduate student Carter Wilson (Michael P. Bondies) agrees to drive a car from Northern California to a Los Angeles garage – and comes to regret it in this eerie thriller. Upon arriving in the Southland, the courier discovers that the trunk contains a mysterious attaché case, and he can’t resist opening it – unwittingly unleashing evil forces bent on obliterating humanity. Sean Young shines in a supporting role. Based on Dennis Lehane’s 2009 short story Animal Rescue, and the 2014 release marked the late Gandolfini’s final appearance in a feature film.

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1

THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR

HORRIBLE BOSSES 2

Release Date: November 20 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi Cast: Jennifer Lawrence/Josh Hutcherson/Liam Hemsworth

Release Date: November 27 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy Cast: Tom McGrath/Chris Miller/Christopher Knights

Release Date: November 27 Theaters: Cinescape Kuwait-wide Genre: Comedy Cast: Jason Bateman/Jason Sudeikis/Jennifer Aniston.

Synopsis: The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, which finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage. The novel on which the film is based is the third in a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins that has over 65 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.

Synopsis: Super spy teams aren’t born...they’re hatched. Discover the secrets of the greatest and most hilarious covert birds in the global espionage biz: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private. These elitists of the elite are joining forces with a chic undercover organization, The North Wind. Led by handsome and husky Agent Classified (we could tell you his name, but then...you know). Together, they must stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine, from destroying the world as we know it. Also starring the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes), John Malkovich (Adaptation), and Ken Jeong (The Hangover).

Synopsis: The follow-up to the 2011 hit comedy Horrible Bosses reunites Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis as everyone’s favorite working stiffs: Nick, Dale and Kurt. Jennifer Aniston, and Oscar winners Jamie Foxx, and Kevin Spacey also reprise their roles, while Chris Pine and Oscar winner Christoph Waltz star as new adversaries standing between the guys and their dreams of success. After Nick, Dale, and Kurt decide to launch their own business, a savvy investor appears to take them down. With no other viable option in sight, the trio decide to kidnap the investor’s son in order to put up a ransom to take back their business.

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

inside/out

DIVINE DISORDER by bazaar staff

After disbanding from previous local bands in 2010, Kuwaiti brothers Jassem and Yousef Alrumaidheen decided it was time they took their music to a whole new level. The result is a 5-yearin-the-making move past experimentalism into the brave new world of what they call orchestrated melodic death metal. The fruits of that labor, their new record, Garden of Dystopia, represents a labor of love and toil. With Jassem at the helm of their compositions, and Yousef principally as the idea man, they combined with a list of local musical contributors (including good friends Aatrey on guitars and Mahmoud Tahan – Mortis, 23 on keyboards) and international musicians (Carlos Alvarez, Dan-Elias Brevig, Achokarlos, and Jon Phipps) for a sound that is distinctly their own. On the eve of their new release, we sit down to talk about their musical journey so far... 84

Tell us how you first got into music? Yousef: Music has always been a big part of my life, ever since I was in kindergarten. I constantly identify with melodies and music in my mind. But I did not work on it as a serious outlet until my brother Jassem “Darkvain” introduced me to his industrial music project. Initially, I was merely the guy who helped name the songs. After a few years, Positive Poison, our earlier band, was constructed upon those industrial foundations and I helped out as a live keyboardist and live backing vocals. In the last years of Positive Poison I got to take on a bigger role as the lead vocalist. And as you can see now, Divine Disorder was born after years of musical experiences and personal projects. Jassem: As Yousef has mentioned, I could remember that Positive Poison was my first serious port of expressing music. This was around early

2003. I had been involved in music and composing for a few years before that but Divine Disorder is my first serious step into the music industry. How long have you been playing? Y: I have personally been actively involved in the music world since 2004 as a pianist/keyboardist. Things have escalated for me in the years since around 2007 when I switched to singing. J: I started writing music around the late 90s and it was more along the lines of midi sequencing, DJing, and writing basic dance/trance beats. This lent itself to developing a good understanding of the digital world of music for me. It happened before we got introduced to Metal or Rock music, which goes to show just how little appreciation the surrounding media had for those kind of genres – to a point that I wasn’t even aware back then that such genres existed. With time and our inclination

toward Rock/Metal music, I devoted more attention to programming realistic drum patterns by studying drummers’ performances, seeing as drums play an especially important role in rock music with all the great energy it enriches the music with. Usually that’s the spirit and inspiration such genres of music spread in us, as it is one of very few genres whose fan base is majority comprised of musicians as well. What inspires your art and why? Y: To be honest quite a few things and people inspire me to delve into my mind and uncover stories and treasures that every human has. First and foremost Hideaki Anno is the main person who has pushed me into reaching the furthest places into my mind. He has planted the curiosity within me that questions everything, which gave birth to the philosophy of the story that resides in this album

and beyond. I have a whole list of inspirations to be honest! Because the thing is I see the beauty and the ugly in the world, and I just sit and admire that which drives me to write both philosophy and stories in my mind. I think my admiration of this beautiful life would mainly go to Mr. Charles Darwin. J: Our minds, how it functions and how we receive and send information. Basically anything and everything our minds can create, calculate and cure/ solve the puzzle that is our life. How did you get into Metal music and specifically the kind your band plays? J: Metal music – especially the harsh or extreme type that we play – has a very honest and straightforward attitude. This is the kind we need to express a pure idea to the widest range of people, and the kind that will grab people’s attention. It’s a figure of power and glory, and one of the strongest

theatrical methods of expressing a very deep idea that wants to break out. Y: Both my brother Jassem and I were big fans of the power metal genre. HammerFall was one of the very first metal bands we became fans of, for example. From listening to power metal we fell in love with the speed and glorious aura that it emitted, so we looked for other genres that gave us similar feelings. Then we found the extreme metal genre and we just went crazy! We always had a knack in putting things together that shouldn’t be! Jassem usually created new Lego pieces just to make robots or airplanes that fit the description in his mind. Also Rammstein, The Kovenant, Dimmu Borgir were all among the bands we were in love with. Tell us about the name of the band – where did it come from? Yousef: I LOVE this question! It is a [continued...] 85

{...continued] constant reminder of our work’s grand roots. It is a psychological philosophical approach toward the life and cosmos. When us humans are in great calm and awe, we would feel the ultimate serenity which people often label it as “Divinity”. While when we are in our worst, the fine line between chaos and anger, we would feel an unamountable rage which people usually label it as “Disorder”. We humans are so keen on the idea that we are the center of the universe, the fine tip that holds the balance still. So most of our philosophy comes from the narcissistic human point of view of life and the cosmos. Jassem: Yousef has summed it all up! (hahahaha) Tell us about the new record? J: After the successful release of our two singles in 2012, we thought the materials needed to be approached differently in a way that hadn’t been done in Kuwait before so we took our full-length album to the good folks in Sweden where they handle such music as carefully and professionally as the genre demands. It was a very big step to take both financially and mentally. That being said, Jens Bogren, the guy behind one of the biggest metal studios where a lot of the big names of the metal genre had their albums produced, gave us a warm welcome and made us feel right at home while he took on the mixing mission. And to spice things up we thought of fitting in a second mind to the production process to support Jens Bogren and add another layer of creativity, so we invited Brett Caldas Lima, a French rock and metal producer to master the album. As Divine Disorder is more of a collaborative project, we made sure to feature and invite some interesting figures from all over the world to jam with us in this album and as such, many surprises ensued. Y: It is indeed a garden of dystopia (Haha)! I think the album is a carefully constructed work of art. There is nothing more beautiful than a colorful canvas painted by a collaboration of great minds, a spiral of grace and inelegance heading toward one point. Now you saw the garden, look forward to the house! Is the new record similar to stuff you have done before or different – and if so how? J: This album involves a wide variety of styles and approaches. It’s richer, bigger and basically more whole than anything we’ve released before. We’ve 86

brought in Kevin Talley, a very dedicated drummer who appeared in many well-known records, to fill in the position in place of our previous session drummer who had recorded tracks for our singles. Kevin Talley is a very straightforward kind of drummer. He would hear a part and go “that’s what fits,” knowing immediately how things would go. He doesn’t like to complicate things. He cares about the impact the drums create – just the type of drummer the album called for. The album has a narrative structure and the singles only covered a very small portion of the moods and styles, much like how you’d want one story to unfold over the span of several chapters that still carry the same plot but vary in pace and approaches as we climb up to the climax point. Y: I agree, as this is indeed the biggest work we have ever done. It does hold many of the old principles we held in our old projects. We tried to push the limit as far as we could handle and there you have it. It was both very hard and tiring work and also is filled with unforgettable great memories. In your opinion, what was the hardest challenge you faced in your artistic career so far? Y: As the vocalist of the band I’d say getting sick or a cold at the worst of times! And countless writer’s blocks were a great source of depression and negativity. J: We have faced many ups and downs – bad luck has played some really hard times with us. The worst enemy in our case would be lack of communication and that works badly with strict deadlines. We have worked a lot online, so communication is one of the hardest challenges we faced, mostly. How has the Middle Eastern world reacted to your music? Y: It has been a nice and positive reaction. But truth be told there was a much bigger positive reaction from Europe and Japan. Nonetheless it is a positive reaction and with that alone is a great feeling. J: The Middle Eastern world can still be confused about whether to fight with or against metal music. It is not supported in a lot of Middle Eastern regions including Kuwait itself. But with that, we still will do our best to spread the word and to make our messages heard loud and clear. Is there a prevailing message you are trying to

communicate with your music? Y: Yes (x)10,000! Actually, there are countless messages in every corner. But none of these messages are any kind of negative ones. These messages would have a different reaction from one person to another. Our messages are universal, it is not meant for just humans. It is aimed toward every living being and our connection with everything. What is your dream for your music / what would you like to accomplish in the future? Y: My dream is for our message, music and hard work to be spread across the globe and hopefully even further in the future. Who knows what kind of colonies and planets we’ll live in (haha)! J: (Hahaha) Other colonies – how cool that would be? I keep saying that in every article we post, that I seriously care if all the messages or puzzles we implanted in our music and lyric concepts are taken more in-depth and read deeper between the lines by the audience. There are more hidden fun stuff to be solved like mazes and riddles – like the concept of the “Code Trilogy”. Any shows of your work coming up in Kuwait? What is your favorite gig you have ever played? J: Divine Disorder has not taken the shape of a live or gig performer yet. We cared to have worthy material written and have the album spread out as far as it could. Then we will tour the world. Unfortunately it will be nearly impossible to perform shows in Kuwait, since it is a very restricted area especially for such kind of genre. The society here is still having a hard time swallowing this style of music as it has always been misunderstood for a lot of weird labels – satanism and the work of devil to name one. My favorite gig we have played though, despite being not a Divine Disorder’s one, I would say a gig called “Rock in the desert” in 2009 with our previous band Positive Poison. It was in an American camp in the Kuwaiti desert. We played an amazing set of tracks and it was a night to remember. For more info on Divine Disorder or to pick up their new album, visit www.divine-disorder.com. You can also reach them at Facebook: darkvainjassem or on youtube.com/darkvain. Inside Out is your home to all things music related.

MCDONALDS

SECURITA

Insurance made easy by bazaar staff

You see or hear about an insurance policy you like and you decide to purchase it. Simple enough, wouldn’t you agree? But, in reality it’s a darker world than you would expect. Policy after policy, clause after clause, if you’re not trained to understand the phrasing you might end up buying something that’s actually useless. In the insurance game, wording is everything, you should seek an expert to help decipher all the literature. This is where Securita comes in. As an insurance brokerage company, Securita has a way of getting you the best policy made specifically for you. Securita was founded in 2012 in Kuwait and the staff all come from an insurance background. We got the chance to sit with Securita’s very own managing partner, Ramzi Najjar, to learn more about the services they have to offer. An insurance connoisseur himself, Ramzi’s expert eye in finding his clients the perfect policy is what started it all. As opposed to approaching an independent insurance company right off the bat, Securita brokers you the best option out there. “We can get you the best price ever,” states Ramzi, “our job at the end of the day is to make sure the policies you have are correct.” Their services are personal, professional, and superior, giving you the best value out there. With professional insurance consultants lined up for your benefit, Securita knows exactly what type of insurance is suitable for any situation. In essence, they go over the fine print so you won’t have to. Tailoring your insurance policy to suit your specific needs, they won’t rest until you’ve got an exact match. From figuring out what type of insurance your company needs, to where and how you can get it, Securita always have you covered. Because they know the policies inside out, they can always assist you, no matter what. To help you find optimal protection, they go over your existing insurance policies and advise you on clauses or extensions that need to be added to your policies and what has to be removed from them. They advise you about certain policies and always know what rates to choose, this way they guarantee you the best possible policy at the best price. Thoroughly assessing your needs in a policy and creating all the paperwork linked to it, is their specialty. Upon obtaining the best quotations out there for the unique policy requirements that suit you, Securita goes over the options with you and delivers you the best rates for policy out there. From health insurance to special risks (warzones and instability) and financial insurance, Securita have it covered. Varying from risk management solutions to major reinsurance, they operate on a national and international level. With an extensive knowledge of the region, they can insure your business for anything and 88

from anywhere in the region. Dealing with overseas clients is never a problem for Securita. With their expanding portfolio, you know you’re in good hands when you pass your insurance policies to them. Their database of insurance providers is your best bet to get exactly what you need, when you need it. Ethically committed to providing you with the most effective solutions and policies. So whether you own a building or two and it’s time to renew,

you own a stable with show-horses or just bought several high-end cars, don’t worry about finding a policy that works! Head over to Securita and let them take care of you. For more information you can visit their website www.securita.co or email them at info@securita-is.com.

VIE FITNESS

WINTER WITH

ALYASRA FASHION by bazaar staff

Alyasra fashion delivers style lovers with the hottest trends coming out of New York, London, Milan and Paris. Whether you’re into power clashing eyecatching prints, prefer to warm up in luxurious overcoats, or wish to fashionably channel your inner Brit spirit in amazing plaid, these winter style must-haves will make you wish for cooler weather – all year long!

GERARD DAREL CELIMENE

KENZO

MAXMARA

OPULENT PRINTSPLAID POWERFUL

OVERCOATS This season, Marella, Gerard Darel and DKNY have Kuwait wanting to cover up in style. From fashion shows to street-style, Fall/Winter 2014 brings you overcoats, jackets and accessories in the softest materials.

Bold prints were all over this season’s runways, and more “in” than ever. While floral prints dominated closets in the spring, this season brings items that are bold and bright. KENZO has introduced a collection of prints developed in 3D and tryptic embroidery, while Jimmy Choo has developed a collection with metallic foiling and suede made to make any outfit instantly pop.

PRETTY IN

A key trend this season, plaid can be worn as anything. From hats to scarfs and pants, the pattern is everywhere. Brands such as Weekend by MaxMara have taken it a step further and developed a plaid collection unlike any other!

For more information about Alyasra Fashion visit www.alyasra.com or follow them on Instagram @alyasra or Twitter @alyasrafashion. 90

TAIBA

bazaar goes cruising

A WORLD ELECTRIC The newest innovation at Zero Motorcycles by bazaar staff

It starts simple enough…I got a call from a fellow motorcycle riding friend telling me about a new to Kuwait (and largely new to market overall) electric motorcycle that he had just ridden. We like to talk bikes at the office so he knows I’m in. His entire review was as follows: “imagine going from 0 to 100 in total silence in 3 seconds; it’s like something out of The Matrix.” And while I know this might sound like hyperbole, this single statement addresses exactly what the problems with electric bikes in the past have been: no torque. With the new Zero Motorcycles now on the market, this rider is happy to say, these have enough get up and go to make you feel like your arms are about to rip off. Zero Motorcycles is the next step in motorcycle evolution. By combining the best aspects of a traditional motorcycle with today’s most advanced technology, Zero produces high-performance electric motorcycles that are lightweight, efficient, fast off the line and fun to ride. Each motorcycle is optimized from the ground up to leverage the revolutionary Z-Force electric powertrain and uses a specially designed rigid, aircraft-grade aluminum frame to minimize weight. Born inside a Santa Cruz, California garage, Zero has rapidly grown into an internationally known motorcycle company. Since 2006, when the first prototypes were produced, Zero has invited motorcyclists to go for a ride. In 2014, they are focusing their development resources on their most popular models, the Zero S “Streetfighter”, the Zero DS “Dual Sport” and the Zero FX, the ultimate inner city/off-road trail hooligan motorcycle (this one seems the obvious choice if you want to combo the city streets and as dunes en route to the chalet). These three models make up the core of the 2014 line. They offer a wide range of design, reliability and performance improvements including an all-new Power Tank option (installed as an aftermarket accessory item by your Zero dealer) for the Zero S and DS models. Since the lifecycle of a charge has also been an issue historically for electric bikes, Zero’s Power Tank feature is a welcome one and can extend range to as much as 275kms on the Zero S 11.4 kWh model, making it the longest range electric motorcycle ever offered. In addition to the Power Tank extended range option, Zero is offering its first ever super high performance model, the Zero SR. The Zero SR is based on Zero’s highly popular “S” (Streetfighter) model and offers an incredible 67 hp and a mind 92

blowing 106 ft-lb of torque. The SR is an absolute rocket ship of a motorcycle. All this power would be useless if it wasn’t harnessed by major improvements to the chassis and suspension. So, they’ve included a beefier 43 mm front suspension, improved rear suspension, new triple clamps, a more robust frame/ swingarm design, increased ground clearance (on the S model), improved rear brake calipers and larger diameter rotors on every model in the line. The new cockpit layout and instrumentation package offers increased utility, a sleeker look and more aerodynamic integration with the headlight. And don’t forget Zero’s revolutionary app that allows the customer to custom tune the power and regeneration settings on his/her motorcycle (Just in case you didn’t hear that, I feel it should be repeated…they have an app…that allows you to fine tune your bikes performance – more on that in a second). Backing all this up is the most aggressive battery warranty in the electric motorcycle industry, 5 years or 160,000kms, whichever comes

first, on every 2014 Zero S, SR and DS model. Zero focuses on balancing performance, range, weight and affordability to build the best electric motorcycles available on the market today. With the intent of combining the long perfected aspects of traditional motorcycles with today’s most advanced technology, Zero has assembled a team of skilled engineers from both the motorcycle and high-tech industries. Zero’s innovation centers around its revolutionary powertrain technology that is designed to safely withstand the demands of aggressive off or on-road use. The result is a safe and incredibly powerful technology that scales rapidly, is long lasting and reliable, and all with a compact, maintenancefree and clean power source. Their new 2014 models feature a new Z-Force Power Tank accessory that allows riders to travel up to 275kms in the city or 140kms on the highway. Providing customers with the unique ability to increase energy storage capacity during or after purchase, the

Power Tank can be added to any 2014 Zero S or Zero DS model. The company also announced a new “R” configuration of their award winning Zero S model that offers riders 56% higher torque and 24% more power. Available in a new deep red color as well, the Zero SR offers riders 106 ft-lb of torque through a wide power band and does 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds using Zero’s highly efficient direct drive system. The Zero SR, as well as the entire lineup, includes improved suspension, well-integrated new design elements and a sleek new dash. As for the dash itself, it is an entirely new version with a high-contrast, cool blue backlit LCD screen that lists out useful riding information and motorcycle statistics. The display also indicates to the rider whether they are in the “eco,”“sport,” or the new “custom” riding mode. Using new right hand switch gear, riders can toggle between the different performance profiles. They can also set the custom performance profile using the Zero

Motorcycles app, which now supports English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch. There are a number of new design elements on each model that range from large and eye-catching to merely refined and subtle. The Zero S and Zero DS now feature an aerodynamic chin fairing that funnels air into the powertrain to provide additional air-cooling. Projector beam headlights illuminate the road for the Zero FX and are housed in aggressive black bodywork that beautifully ties into Zero’s new dash. The Zero FX also features a new seat that provides a passenger area and owners can purchase passenger pegs as an aftermarket accessory. Overall, every component is designed with purpose and to create the riding experience of a premium electric motorcycle that is designed to thrill. Lastly, customizing performance takes on new meaning with the Zero Motorcycles aforementioned and very-futuristic feeling app. Not only does the app allow riders to view a real-time customizable

dashboard, it also allows riders to actually change the performance characteristics of their motorcycle. Seriously? While you are checking Instagram I can be tuning up my bike? Awesome. Using Bluetoothenabled iPhone and Android mobile devices, riders can adjust acceleration, top speed and regenerative braking to their exact specifications. The app provides two fundamental interfaces. The riding interface can be customized to show real-time data and acts as a secondary, more detailed motorcycle dashboard. When parked, it provides riding statistics, motorcycle data, helps with any diagnostics and allows the rider to customize both the motorcycle performance and the riding dashboard. All in all, a bold step forward for the future of electric motorcycles. Visit their showroom NGM, Shuwaikh Industrial Area, Off Shahrazad Roundabout, Street 30, Police Station Road. For more information phone 9936 1220 or visit www.newgenerationmotorcycles.com. 93

KUWAIT’S SPECIAL SURGEON Dr. Salma Kayani by bazaar staff

Dr. Salma Kayani was a practicing OB/GYN in London when she noticed that a significant number of her patients were travelers from the Middle East, and in particular Kuwait. She developed a strong empathy for her patients, who faced difficulties in the unfamiliar environment including language barriers and loneliness in a time when they need family support the most. When asked why they made the trip, they told her they wanted evidence-based care and specialized surgery not available in Kuwait at the time. “In particular they wanted a female gynecologist for their gynecological keyhole surgery, which even in the UK was almost impossible to find,” Dr. Kayani told bazaar. Gynae keyhole surgery, is known as laparoscopic surgery in the medical profession. This procedure uses a small telescope (laparoscope) inserted just under the belly button to look inside the patient’s abdomen. The telescope is attached to a miniature camera, which transmits the video images on to a high-resolution color monitor. With only a 5mm incision it is referred to as minimally invasive surgery or minimal access surgery. It allows the surgeon the ability to perform a procedure without leaving unsightly scars in the bikini line. In the United Kingdom, Dr. Kayani is the only person in the country with the title of Advanced Minimal Access Surgeon in Excisional Benign Gynecology. Today, she treats patients locally from the comfort of their hometown and with the amazing 94

technology available at Taiba Hospital, which is only available in a few of the leading hospitals in the US and UK. In her time here she has identified some pressing issues about medical assistance, particularly that which effects women’s health. Most important, she says, is awareness. Dr. Kayani is currently working with Taiba to provide as much information as possible to each patient through leaflets about different conditions, printouts and web addresses of international guidelines, and most important, communication with the patient. “The bottom line is that the doctor should be able to explain to the patient in a very clear way what the problem is, explain the treatment options in simple language and be able to answer any questions which women have about their conditions,“ she said. Dr. Kayani says the field is also limited by a lack of specialized physicians and minimal push for continued education in their fields. Since completing her five-year master’s degree she has undergone special training in the management of pelvic pain in women and extensive training in the debilitating condition endometriosis (when tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus grows outside of it). She continues to publish research papers in prestigious international medical journals, speak at international meetings and conferences, and train consultants and junior doctors in keyhole surgery. She also specializes in high-risk obstetrics and is an international expert in vaginal birth after a previous caesarean section. “I can see the patient during her pregnancy and

give her an expected percentage of her chance of a normal delivery,” she said. “If I am attending, a woman’s chance of having a normal delivery after caesarean section is about 85-90%. I have successfully delivered women normally even after previous two caesarean sections at Taiba Hospital.” Her incredible experience, up-to-date information, and evidence based diagnostics make Dr. Kayani a reliable and comforting professional in what could sometimes be distressing situations. She does caution that women of all ages should visit their OB/GYN at least once a year for checkups, proper vaccinations and screenings. Women attempting to get pregnant should focus on their diet, avoid unhealthy habits like smoking and take folic acid supplements to ensure healthy pregnancies. When the time comes for you to bring your newest family member into your life, Taiba is there. State-of-the-art equipment and excellent luxury packages that include special dietitian consultation, postnatal exercises with a physiotherapist are all available for their patient. Most comforting though is the fact that doctors like Dr. Kayani are there to help you through thick and thin with all of the information required, and a personalized care, special to the hospital. To book an appointment with Dr. Kayani call Taiba Hospital on 180 8088. For more information visit www.taibahospital.com, check out their Facebook: TaibaHospitalQ8, or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @taibahospital.

MAS

ANDRÉ 3000

On playing Jimi, going solo and managing fans’ expectations. by Zach Schonfel

André Benjamin has long fancied himself an actor. Now the rapper finds himself caught between two career-defining roles: In Jimi: All Is by My Side, he stars as a young Hendrix in London, while in an ongoing Outkast reunion tour, he reprises the André 3000 of 1994-2006. Somehow, he still found time for a chat. Tell me about getting into character as Jimi Hendrix. It was a hard-core two months of vocal training, physical training, guitar training. But we’d been discussing it for, like, seven months. I’d read two biographies before I’d even met John [Ridley, the director]. What was the hardest part of becoming Jimi on-screen? The voice. The voice and the left-handed guitar playing. You and Jimi both became famous at a very young age. Yeah. I never thought about it that way – knowing what it’s like to start off not having all the confidence and building [it] over time. And actually, the people around you too, which is what this movie is about. He wouldn’t be the Hendrix that we know if it wasn’t for these two women. Or even the bands that were around. If it wasn’t for the Who, if it wasn’t for Eric Clapton, if it wasn’t for these blues artists, Hendrix would not be who he is. What was tough about getting the look down? The toughest part was trying to walk like Hendrix, which was hard because our body shapes are completely different. I have more of an athletic body shape. Hendrix is really slight-built, so I had to lose a lot of weight. If they made a biopic about you, who would you want to play you? I joked earlier about making the Outkast movie as a comedy. I don’t know 96

seriously who I would get to play me. But I did say Leonardo [DiCaprio] would have been someone hilarious, just to see him do my mannerisms and voice. It would be hilarious to see Kevin Hart play Big Boi. Anyone in mind to direct? What’s that guy who works with Will Ferrell? McKay? Is that his name? [Adam McKay.] A great comedy director. Or, actually, Woody Allen. That would be dope. Wow. Is he an Outkast fan? I don’t know! I don’t think so. I just like his sensibility of filmmaking. I just think he would find it hilarious too. I thought it would be cool to change the whole biopic genre. Instead of making it all serious-serious, make it a comedy. And do it while we’re still alive so we can get the facts right. There are lots of rumors swirling about you making an album. I’d love to make another album, but I’m not trying to mess with people’s emotions or anything. A solo album? A solo album. There’s no plans for any Outkast albums right now. As for a solo album, it kind of sucks that people wait on something or kind of expect something, so I’ll just say, People, please don’t wait on it. Do you feel a lot of pressure because of how long it’s been? Yeah, I think there’s a certain pressure. But also I think there’s a kind of freedom. There’s no pressure to be successful with it or anything because I’ve been successful in my young life. Even if I sell, like, 20,000 albums and do little clubs here and there, as long as I get off what I want to get off, I’m totally satisfied.

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THE GREAT SUSHI HUNT by bazaar staff

The tradition of sushi began more than eight centuries ago in a form most of us would balk at eating today. In an attempt to preserve the freshness of fish, the Japanese would cure it and wrap it in rice. It took a couple of centuries before the rice was elevated to an edible part of the meal in the 1300s. Today, sushi has become an international phenomenon with only two requirements: that it has rice and the ingredients are rolled up into that rice. The cuisine has given chefs the opportunity to explore the combination of different flavors, and around the world they are making the native Japanese dish their own – Kuwait is no different. This hunt did more than just explore the greatest rolls in Kuwait, it showed us just how creative we can get here, and how delicious the results can be.

EDO

With its unique villa setting at its Shaab location, and a classic décor that embodies their zen philosophy, you will only get the best at Edo. We tried their Kyoto roll for the hunt, and it had a special surprise. Made with shrimp, tuna and crab, it’s a seafood delight. The thin slice of avocado wrapped around the delicious rice delivers the perfect balance. Then, the surprise kick: fresh mint leaves give it a refreshing finish. Edo is located in Block 8 in Al Shaab Al Bahari, street 80, Villa 5 and at Sahara Golf Club. Call 2265 9598/90 visit www.edorestaurant.net and follow them on Instagram @edo_restaurant.

GENKI SUSHI

A brand well known in Japan, you can expect nothing less than an authentic experience when eating at Genki Sushi. The Far Eastern concept has made its way to Kuwait with a refreshing roll. Think seafood salad with a sushi taste. Shrimp tempura, crabsticks, salmon, carrot, lollo roso lettuce and flying fish roe topped with a delicious special sauce, takes the idea of a fresh roll to a whole new level. Genki is located in Arraya Complex in Sharq. For more information, call 2299 7933/4, visit www.genkisushi.com.kw or follow them on Instagram @genki_sushi.

KEI

Dining at Kei is a trip back to the traditional, with dishes reminiscent of original Japanese culture, and hospitality that brings out the soul of the country’s culinary delights. We went for their house roll, the Kei Special Maki, and it was everything a roll should be. The tempura shrimp, iceberg lettuce, avocado and cucumber topped with salmon, finished with a delicious plum sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds, was what sushi nights are all about: fresh ingredients and delicious combinations. Kei is located in the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Kuwait. Call 2242 2650 for reservations, visit kei-restaurant.com for more information and follow them on Instagram @kei_restaurant.

MAKI

As a pioneer in Kuwait’s sushi scene, Maki has taken our expectations of imaginative rolls to a whole new level. Their house-made extra virgin olive oil put them on the map, so it’s only fitting we try the Caviaroli roll. Made with prawn tempura, wild thyme and spices, wrapped in spinach and topped with olive oil caviar (encapsulated spheres of extra virgin olive oil), it’s a whole new sushi experience. Maki is located in Marina Waves, The Avenues, M2 in Salhiya, and Burj Jassem or call their delivery center to dine in: 182 3080. For more information visit www.olivermaki.com or follow them on Facebook: MakiRestaurant and on Twitter and Instagram @Makirest.

ORA JAPANESE TAPAS Although new to the dining scene, Ora has made its mark with Chef Tiger’s delicious combinations. With ingredients that are always fresh, thanks to their unique refrigeration system, each roll is a party for your taste buds. We tried the Ora Crispy roll, filled with tuna, salmon, avocado and cream cheese and wrapped in cucumber. The piece de resistance? Ponzu aioli and a dab of spicy tomato chili that gives this delicious roll a brand new sushi kick. Ora Japanese Tapas is located in Arabella in Al Bida’a and is open for Lunch from 12 pm – 4 pm and dinner from 6 pm – 11 pm. For more information please call 2227 5090 or follow them on Instagram @Ora_kw.

SAKURA

At Sakura, sushi is an art form that should be taken to bold new heights. We decided to take on a roll so unique to Sakura, we’d be hard pressed to find it anywhere else in the world. The Caramel Maki has, you guessed it, caramel sauce. Don’t dismiss it so quickly. The sweet sauce is the perfect addition to the crab, shrimp tempura and crispy crab topping. Sakura is located in the Crowne Plaza (2474 2000), Mahboula (2373 3388) and Layla Gallery (25744447). For more information visit kuwait.crowneplaza.com/dining/sakura-japanese. Follow them on Instagram or Twitter @sakura_kuwait.

SUSHI BAR

Sushi Bar made its debut appearance in Beirut, and has made its way to Kuwait with gourmet ingredients and unthinkable combinations. They’ve kept the idea of a sushi roll, but elevated it to new heights. Our hunt brought us to the addictive Fois Gras Ura Maki: tempura fried fois gras with shiitake mushrooms, grapes, and a red cress topping with sweet miso dressing. Strange, but sensationally delicious! Le Sushi Bar is located on the second floor of Al Hamra Luxury Center. For reservations or delivery please call 2227 0300, and like them on Facebook.com/leSushiBar, or follow them on Instagram @sushibarkw.

TATAMI

Tatami’s menu fixates on delivering healthier, organic elements that are prepared from scratch. Be prepared for contemporary twists on traditional and classical Japanese recipes. We tried the ever-so-popular Crispy Almond roll. The combination of toasted almonds and a spicy honey sauce, is yet another imaginative twist on the traditional roasted eel and shrimp sushi roll. Try your taste at Tatami by calling 2225 1266 to reserve your table. Tatami is located at Shaymaa Tower on Omar Bin Khattab Street in Sharq, Kuwait City. For more information, please visit www.tatami-japanese.com, and follow them on Instagram @tatami_kuwait.

WASABI

This delightfully popular restaurant is an original concept diner with chic décor, accented with modern Japanese art. Here we got a special treat with an ingredient that is becoming quite popular in Kuwait’s sushi scene, mango. The Red Lobster roll is the perfect blend of breaded lobster, cucumber, and avocado rolled in nori (seaweed) and topped with a slice of mango and red capsicum. The spicy mango sauce gives it the perfect kick. Wasabi is located in Al Bida’a Restaurant Complex (2225 3112); Mahboula (2373 0061); and The Avenues (2259 7880) and most recently, Marina Walk, Salmiya. Follow them on Facebook: Wasabi Kuwait, Instagram @wasabi.kuwait and Twitter @Wasabi_Kuwait. 99

CINEPHILIA PRODUCTIONS AT NUQAT

Interview with Darine Hotait, founder of Cinephilia Productions

by bazaar staff

Filmmakers from the Middle East share the common struggle of finding a channel that gives them a viable opportunity to properly portray their vision, and turn their scripts into real projects. We can blame this inability on a myriad of factors, such as economic and political turmoil in the region, social constraints, and fear of persecution, amongst many more. With Cinephilia Productions, however, we learn that when there is a will, there is a structured path toward turning a filmmaker’s dream into a reality. Cinephilia Productions’ Founder, Darine Hotait, knows this struggle all too well. After then 11-year-old Darine’s family left their civil war-ridden hometown of Beirut to the US, she discovered her love for writing, and began fervently writing her diaries and poetry at her grandmother’s home in Detroit. She wrote of loss, adaptation, and defining family. From there, Darine grew up to complete her MFA in screenwriting and film directing at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Her work revolved around writing and directing a number of award-winning films at International film festivals. She gained recognition as an ‘EMMY Award Finalist’, ‘Best Short Film at Evolution Film Festival, ‘Audience Award’ at Zero Film Festival, Nominated for ‘Best Foreign Film’ at International Filmmaker Festival, and ‘Honorable Mention’ at the Los Angeles International Film Festival, amongst many others. Her work was published in the Journal of Short Film, an Ohio State University DVD publication. Darine also wrote her debut science fiction feature film Symphony of a Flood that made it to the top finalist list at the Hearst Screenwriting Competition and the Sundance Sloan Award, and is currently in its financing stages. This creative’s passion for production, screenwriting and directing, led her to found Cinephilia Productions. She is also an avid science fiction fan, and aside from her role at Cinephilia Productions, Darine is also a published playwright, short story writer and poet, and is currently in the process of writing her science 100

fiction short stories collection I Come From Future. Just in time for her upcoming appearance at the Nuqat Creative Conference, bazaar speaks to Darine about Cinephilia Productions, and what she aims to accomplish in the future. What experience(s) triggered your desire to found Cinephilia Productions? Cinephilia was founded in Los Angeles in 2009 then it was moved to NYC in 2011. Initially it started as a production house to produce narrative films in the US. Now the question is, what made me want to go on with Cinephilia? After a tour that I did in the Middle East in 2010, and after connecting with filmmakers there, I knew that Cinephilia could be much more than a production house. I felt it was very much needed in the region. So I decided to focus Cinephilia on the Middle East and Africa and to create initiatives to educate filmmakers, discover new voices and produce content from the region. Cinephilia aims to be dedicated to filmmaking as a distinctive independent art form. What does Cinephilia want to accomplish, and how does it help filmmakers? Cinephilia aims to be a platform that can provide unconditional freedom for filmmakers to address absolute restricted issues and be employed in their own imagination. As well as to work on developing storytelling potential, criticism faculty and technical proficiency and above all, to promote content originality and high standards of storytelling sensibility. At Cinephilia, we want to help filmmakers by employing a threefold strategy; first of all to develop their content through our lab initiatives, second of all to have the opportunity to produce this content through our resources, and third, to create a window for collaboration. What are the types of projects that attract Cinephilia Productions? Cinephilia Productions is looking for unique, ‘outside the box’ projects. We love science fiction as much as we love auteur films. What matters is the filmmaker. We are interested in the filmmaker as an individual. We are looking to work with

filmmakers who are committed to their vision, have a clear voice and apply a good deal of maturity to their work. We want to tell stories that matter from the point of view of filmmakers who really have something new to say and can say it using an authentic language. Can you tell us about the “Filmmakers to Watch” platform? Launched in 2013, the Cinephilia Filmmakers to Watch (FTW) series is a yearly curated screening series that includes between 5-8 short films from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. It highlights the work of unique and remarkable voices from the region. It is a platform to promote upcoming talents. During the past 2 editions the series included awardwinning films from Afghanistan, Turkey, Lebanon, India, the UAE and more. The program screened in Alexandria, Cairo, Tunis, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. The Cinephilia FTW screens in art houses independent theaters, art galleries and non-profit screening spaces. Screenings are followed by a panel discussion (Q&A) and a networking event where local filmmakers and industry professionals gather to discuss the current of the art form. We open submissions yearly from January 1st until the end of February and we expect filmmakers to fit the eligibility requirements that can be found on our website. Can you tell us more about Cinephilia’s initiatives in the Middle East? Cinephilia has launched three lab initiatives in the Middle East and Africa with a major focus on screenwriting. All our labs are highly selective and only accept up to 6 filmmakers. The Cinephilia Screenwriting Lab for Shorts is an intensive one-week lab where filmmakers develop their short film screenplays. This lab offers the Best Screenplay Award to one filmmaker who shows dedication to the art form, sincerity to their personal vision and novelty in their voice. The screenplay gets financed and produced by Cinephilia. In 2013 we had 4 winners, of which one film titled ASH by Yasmina Hatem (Lebanon) premiered at the Montreal World Film Festival. AMAL by [continued...]

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I decided to focus on the Middle East and Africa and to create initiatives to educate filmmakers, discover new voices and produce content from the region. Cinephilia aims to be dedicated to filmmaking as a distinctive independent art form.

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[...continued] Yasmine Ghorayeb (Lebanon) is filming this November in Beirut. MAUDE by Jason Joseph (UAE) is in pre-production in Dubai. INTERLUDE by Salma Ibrahim (Egypt) is in development. This lab also often invites acclaimed filmmakers as guests to discuss their career and give advice to filmmakers. The Cinephilia Screenwriting Lab for Feature is a three month long lab where filmmakers develop their first or second feature film screenplay with the help of a script doctor. This lab offers filmmakers the tools to get their screenplay in shape and to get their film properly packaged for financing. The Cinephilia Directing Lab is a one-week intensive lab that focuses on the director’s work with actors and the importance of the director’s vision. Our screenwriting labs have toured in over 10 cities developing over 120 screenplays. By the end of this year, we are launching a journal that will feature filmmakers in a unique way, and a production lab is also in the works. What about your latest project that is currently in development, ORB. Can you tell us more about that? ORB is a science fiction film with a story that takes place in Beirut in the near future. It’s the story of a mother who lost her child in an accident but she is given the chance to bring him back to life and make him immortal. The film questions our understanding of the repulsion between mortality and immortality, these 2 poles of extremities that govern our nature. The science fiction genre is almost non-existent in the Middle Eastern/Arabic speaking cinema. Since our cultures are immersed with the present and the past, it is hard to see the future that seems 102

at a loss. I decided to create ORB to propose a vision of the near future. Also ORB serves as a showcase of ideas from my debut science fiction feature film that’s now in the financing stage. Hopefully ORB will boost the chances of attracting possible investors. ORB is being produced by renowned Lebanese producer Sabine Sidawi Hamdan from Orjouane productions and co-produced with Cinephilia. The film will be shot in Beirut and New York City in January 2015 with the fabulous actress Cherien Dabis (May in the Summer, Villa Touma) playing the role of the mother. The film is scheduled to release in May 2015. ORB will use a great amount of visual effects and innovative robotics that will be done by a highly acclaimed company in New York and I am very excited to implement this experience in an Arabic speaking film. In you opinion, what is the greatest challenge faced by filmmakers based in the Middle East? Definitely not inspiration. There are lots of stories to be told from the Middle East. I think there are great challenges that come in a sequential order. First, a majority of filmmakers are not showing enough commitment to the art form, therefore there is a lack of maturity in the films that are being made. Second, those committed are not finding resources where they can develop their projects with the assistance of consultants, so we often get underdeveloped screenplays. Third, with a committed filmmaker and a well-developed project there is still a huge fracture in the financing stage, therefore projects take so long to be made or never get made. I must add, however, that this is slowly changing in the region.

You will be giving a lecture and a workshop at the upcoming Nuqat conference. What should attendees expect, and what will they benefit from the experience? My lecture is titled ‘The Film Smart Mobs and the Global Brain’. This year’s conference focuses on the collective approach. I call filmmakers Smart Mobs as they have to think, act and move collectively to form a global brain that can achieve symmetry in the synthesis of individual ideas and collective actions. This global brain functions only under a collective intelligence that is equally and dynamically distributed between its modules and their interactions. This is film from data to product. As for my workshop, it’s a 4-day screenwriting workshop from November 16 -19, 2pm-6pm. This workshop offers the tools that result in a strong narrative short film screenplay while focusing on the individual’s unique voice as a writer and by connecting like-minded people through shared collective feedback. The participants will be guided through a set of exercises to develop a simple one-line idea to a fully developed screenplay. The workshop covers various aspects of screenwriting: character and plot development, thematic to visual storytelling. It will also highlight the business aspect of screenwriting from pitching to development funding. The workshop will only allow up to 15 participants. People can register by referring to the Nuqat website. For more information, please visit their website www.cinephiliaproductions.com, and sign up for Darine’s workshop at www.nuqat.me. Photo of Darine by Nora Schaefer.

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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.

I want to open a restaurant next to several other restaurants in the same street. How can I stand out?

Let’s just agree that if you don’t already know what fundamentally makes you different from your competitors then maybe you’re not ready to open for business yet. A gimmicky name or an attractive advertising campaign might make some noise for a short period of time, but consumers are smart. They can see beyond the surface and your business will be exposed if you don’t have something that makes you genuinely different in a good way. As for location hunting, consider being next to non-competing businesses. If you share the same target audience with a neighboring pharmacy, laundry, mechanic, or one of those dime-a-dozen hair salons, consumers won’t have to choose between one of you because you’re not competing with each other in the first place. They’ll buy from you both. To take it a step higher, consider being next to a shop where you both offer consumers complementary products and services, like a dessert shop for example, to create an experience that is more pleasant for the street visitors and more relaxing for the retailers. Such a location-finding strategy is not only clever for retailers in general but also crucial for businesses that are average or barely above average because the consumers visiting that location won’t conduct an immediate comparison with the competition next door since they’re not there. Having said that, I’m not encouraging mediocrity but when many businesses can barely differentiate their offering from others they shouldn’t go out of their way to make it more difficult for themselves...and that’s just my two cents.

I thought of joining a number of people I know in a new business but I can easily spot in each one a number of weaknesses in their management style or business skills. What’s the best way to choose a business partner?

What will happen if all the players in a football or basketball team were defense? They would likely lose their games. Can you make a hospital work smoothly if all staff from the security outside to top management were all medical doctors? Egos will get in the way and you’ll have waves of resignations. It’s also fair to assume that the majority of young couples in the world these days are both uncomfortable being in the kitchen. Give them five years with nobody cooking a proper meal and look at their health conditions then. Not pleasant. Selecting a business partner should be about working with people that have a different set of skills to yours to create a powerful team. Duplicating your strengths will not add much value because the weaknesses are not taken care of. If you’re good at coming up with new products and services, find a partner who’s good at finance and maybe a second partner 104

who’s good at business management and operations. The only area where founding partners may need to be equal is in their financial contributions to the seed money to avoid issues in the future; assuming that their involvement in managing and growing the business are relatively equal. One of the greatest values of having partners with complimenting skills is that you’re constantly challenged. By knowing that you need to pull your own weight in the area you’re responsible for, since the other partners see you as the expert in that field, you’ll always do your best every day, which is what your business needs and deserves. So think yin yang...and that’s just my two cents.

Recently, I was promoted to group sales director. The stress level is killing me because of the weight on my shoulders knowing that the owners of the business trust me to deliver results. Is this anxiety normal in executive management? Until you’re in the shoes of Dr. Richard Thorndyke in Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety movie, your stress level is not that bad. Stress and business are good old friends. Seeing this friend from time to time or getting in touch from a distance every now and then is good for you. See this friend every day all day and you’ll lose it eventually. If you come to think of it, you’ve had a certain level of stress in every new position you landed in your career. You just forgot that you controlled your stress gradually – until of course your boss came back again demanding more and pushing you to the edge again. Chances are, you are good at what you do and that’s why the owners trusted you with the sales director position. If they can see and trust your capabilities, then you need to stick with these qualities that got you the job the first place. Instead of spending your time and energy worrying about whether or not you’ll be able to meet the targets, focus on meeting prospects, developing a sales process, training and mentoring your team, and creating opportunities to make what you sell shine in front of consumers and prospective buyers. The rest depends on other factors, like how good what you’re selling really is, if it adds value, if there’s a good after sales team in place, and so on, which are not things that you are responsible for – but you should flag it if you spot any room for improvement. Use your stress to keep you doing what you do best, not the other way around...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.

MAX

‫‪THE BAD WEARS DISNEY‬‬ ‫بقلم‪ :‬عبدالعزيز الحشاش‬

‫في السينما المصرية قديما مصطلح كان يطلق على‬ ‫شخصية الشرير الذي يعمل جو كوميدي في الفيلم وهو (‬ ‫الشرير الظريف ) وكان يعتبر كركتر الشرير الكوميدي من‬ ‫الحيل التي يستخدمها المؤلف أو صناع الفيلم لكي يكون‬ ‫العمل أقل حدة ‪ ..‬أو خفيف على المشاهدين‪.‬‬ ‫اليوم بدأت تتجه السينما العالمية‪ ،‬وبالتحديد شركة‬ ‫أفالم ديزني إلى تقديم أفالم شخصياتها الشريرة التي‬ ‫عرفت على مدى عقود من الزمن بشرها وشخصياتها‬ ‫القوية والمركبة ‪.‬‬ ‫و قد بدأت ديزني في أخذ هذا االتجاه من خالل إنتاجها‬ ‫لفيلم‬ ‫‪Maleficent‬‬ ‫الذي يتناول شخصية الشريرة التي سحرت األميرة في‬ ‫فيلم الجميلة النائمة‪ ،‬و المتابع ألفالم ديزني الكارتونية‬ ‫سيجد أن الشخصيات الشريرة ال وجود لمبرر يكشف سر‬ ‫شرها وطغيانها‪ ،‬ودائما نجد الشخصية الشريرة هي الند‬

‫للشخصية الطيبة دون أسباب معروفة‪.‬‬ ‫و من هذا المنطلق بدأت ديزني في كشف أسرار‬ ‫الشر وراء شخصياتها الحاقدة والشريرة‪ ،‬وابتداء من فيلم‬ ‫ميليفسنت بدأت رحلة ديزني في تقديم الجانب اآلخر‬ ‫ألشهر شخصياتها التي تربى المشاهد على كرهها‪ ،‬رغم‬ ‫أنها عمدت على تقديمهم بشكل يستلطفه الطفل‪.‬‬ ‫فنالحظ دائما األشرار في أفالم ديزني يعتمدون على‬ ‫مساعد‪ ،‬وهذا المساعد عادة ما يكون حيوان أو مخلوق ‪..‬‬ ‫مثل جعفر في فيلم عالء الدين والطائر الذي يساعده‪،‬‬ ‫وسكار في فيلم االسد الملك ومساعدوه الضباع األغبياء‪.‬‬ ‫إن عملية تسطيح هذه الشخصيات المساعدة هي رغبة‬ ‫من ديزني بتحبيب شخصيات الشر لدى الطفل ولتقديم‬ ‫خط كوميدي في العمل‪.‬‬ ‫و قد بدأت ديزني المشروع من خالل طرح روايات‬ ‫تتناول تاريخ الشخصيات الشريرة و سر شرها‪ ،‬وقد كلفت‬ ‫الكاتبة الشابة سيرينا فالنتينو لكتابة هذه الرواية و كانت‬

‫أول رواية ميليفسنت التي تحولت إلى فيلم قامت ببطولته‬ ‫النجمه أنجلينا جولي وحققا نجاحا باهرا هذا الصيف‪.‬‬ ‫أما الكتاب الثاني والذي حمل عنوان‬ ‫‪The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince‬‬ ‫فهو يتناول شخصية الوحش والجميلة(الوحش الذي‬ ‫أنتجته ديزني في عام ‪ )1991‬وتتحدث الرواية عن السر‬ ‫الذي جعل الساحرة في بداية الفيلم تلقي التعويذة على‬ ‫األمير وحولته إلى وحش‪.‬‬ ‫أما الكتاب الثالث فيتناول شخصية أرسوال من فيلم‬ ‫حورية البحر‪ ،‬أما الكتاب الرابع فيتناول شخصية زوجة األب‬ ‫المتسلطة في فيلم سنووايت‪.‬‬ ‫و هكذا فإننا موعودون مستقبال بمجموعة أفالم من‬ ‫ديزني تتناول هذه الشخصيات المقتبسة من هذه الروايات‬ ‫المكتوبة بحنكة وذكاء من كاتبة شابة تملك خياال واسعا ‪..‬‬ ‫جعلتنا نحب شخصية ميلفيسنت التي لطالما كنا نخافها و‬ ‫نحن صغار‪.‬‬ ‫‪106‬‬

SOCIETY

BAHAMAS Island Hopping by bazaar staff

Whether you are the type that prefers to go island hopping or just plant your feet into a beach and not move for a week, the Bahamas has a bit of everything for the outdoor and beach-obsessed vacation enthusiast. Located in the Caribbean Sea, of which other notable islands are Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica, to name a few, these islands are best known for their beautiful, warm crystal blue waters and pristine beaches. Of all of these though, none are as iconic or more imbued with the island spirit than the Bahamas.

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First off, the basics: the Bahamas Islands are comprised of roughly 700 islands and 2400 Quays – or coral reefs – located over 1200kms between Florida and Haiti. Roughly 30 of the islands are currently inhabited; the rest are hiding places for pirates, or were historically anyways. Although they represent over 100,000 square miles of sea and land, for many visitors and locals alike there is only one that matters: New Providence Island – the 11th largest in the island chain overall – on which sits Nassau, the political hub, commercial capital, and where most Bahamians live. Mostly descendants of English settlers and ethnic West Africans from the time of the North Atlantic slave trade, the remnants of Colonial England are found everywhere. In 1973 the Bahamas became a free and sovereign country, ending 325 years of peaceful British rule. Today, tourism, banking, and investment comprise approximately 55% of the countries GDP. The temperature of their crystal-blue water averages an amazing 80°F/27°C year-round. Which means it’s perfect for all kinds of beach activities and water sports. The temperatures only vary slightly throughout the year though they are prone to sudden storms. There are only two seasons in the Bahamas: wet and dry. In the north, the wet season runs from May through October and is due to the increase in tropical waves and other tropical weather. The southeastern Bahamas, by contrast, have a considerably drier climate and the wet season runs from September through December resulting largely from tropical waves and cold fronts that stall in the region during the latter months of the year. There is a threat of tropical cyclones, especially in August and September. The tropical thunderstorms – even in the dry season – can come out of nowhere and are quite powerful when they do. They usually don’t last very long, but can certainly interrupt your sun-seeking tourist plans. The old adage about volatile weather places seems apt: if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes (and it will pass). As for the islands themselves there is as much variation from one to the next as you have time to commit to exploring them; each is poised with their own reward for the weary traveller. Andros is the largest, yet most sparsely developed with the worlds third-largest clinging barrier reef and the most blue holes – underwater caves or vertical sinkholes – per square mile, whereas Acklins and Crooked Islands are two of the most remote. Bimini Island, which is the closest to the U.S. at just 80kms off the coast of Florida, is purported to be the favorite of writer Ernest Hemingway. Cat Island is known for its 8-mile long pink sand beach and boasts the highest point of all the Bahamas islands with a hill at just 206 feet. Inauga Island has over 80,000 flamingos – the national bird of the Bahamas – as well as 140 other species of fowl. Mayaguana, which was a favored base for pirates, is one of the most sparsely populated and is great for an unencumbered adventure. The island of San Salvador is historically relevant as the spot where Christopher Columbus first landed

and boasts a few landmarks in support. Because we are social butterflies that spend all but one week a year chained to our desk over here at bazaar HQ, we stayed mainly around Nassau to get the best mix of island life in the least amount of time possible. Have you ever heard of conch? As the unofficial national dish of the Bahamas, you must know about and experience the beauty of conch, normally found served in the form of either fritters or salad. Though a name that is often broadly applied to larger sized sea snails – and before you turn up your nose, let us not forget that even land snails have been considered the food of the elite as early as Roman times – these gastropod mollusks of the family Strombidea are served all throughout the Caribbean, but are taken to a whole new level here. The sea vs. land snail distinction seems important here, since they are more like shellfish and less like escargot. Even if this does not sound like your thing, this would be the place to try it – notably in fritter form for the less adventurous. I mean, battered and deep-fried anything is pretty great, isn’t it? One local food destination that is absolutely not to be missed is The Fish Fry. This local Nassau spot used to be solely for the fishermen (see what I did there? #fishjokes) and local workers, but lately is becoming a hit as the underground spot. It remains, however, the least touristy place you are likely to find on the island. With outdoor seating directly next to the canal from which they get your conch, the food could not be fresher. The fried Lobster and grilled Snapper dishes were also amazingly fresh. Plus, the homespun charm of the locals will not be lost on you. The Dune restaurant is Jean Georges’ – one of the world’s most famous chefs with 3 and 4 star restaurants worldwide (at least regionally significant is his The Market restaurant at The W in Doha) has a Bahamas concept that sits perched atop a white sand bluff and offers dramatic ocean views. Located at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island they serve an innovative blend of French-Asian fare, flavored with herbs from its own organic garden. They also feature a display kitchen, an outdoor patio overlooking the beach and an adjacent beach front bar – the perfect island life. Nobu is also great and has tasting menus, which were amazing and serve up a ton of food as well for those with a healthy appetite. Though we may have been a little crazy with our food budget, my friend said it best when noting “for the most part everything is expensive here so it’s better to actually go to the nicer restaurants, since you’re going to be spending money either way. At least this way you have an amazing meal!” I knew there was a reason I liked these people! Lastly, Graycliff Hotel is another not to be missed place. Originally built in 1740 by Captain John Howard Graysmith, a famous pirate, it would later become the first Anglican Church during the second settlement of Nassau, in 1666. Though its history is far too extensive to properly do justice here, it should at least be noted that [continued...] 109

[...continued] by switching hands over the years this location played ancillary roles in the American Civil war and prohibition, the development of the Bahamas themselves, and lastly was a nearconstant host to British Royalty. During our brief visit, after dinner, they hand-rolled cigars for us while a local Bahamian played piano and sang 110

blues songs in the background. All of which made for a beautiful and memorable island evening. Of course, for those who only know of the Bahamas from the Atlantis sister resort of Atlantis Dubai you would not be disappointed to simply replicate your experience of pampering at their Paradise Island location. That said, with an entirely unique cultural

experience waiting at the doorstep of even this amazing resort, there is much more to see off of the well-worn path for those bold enough to go looking. For more information about the Bahamas go to www.bahamas.com. Images courtesy of Katie Foster.

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bazaar apps Some top apps for Men

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GIF KEYBOARD

ROOMSCAN

Having problems communicating with your significant other? Forget Emoji – if you really want to get your wordless message across, a GIF is the only way to go. Now GIF Keyboard lets you send them straight from your keyboard over iMessage, thanks to the keyboard friendliness of iOS 8. In addition to offering millions of great GIFs, the app also lets you save new GIFs from Safari with just a single tap – no cluttering up your camera roll – and customize your keyboard with your favorite GIFs, keeping you from having to dig for the perfect clever response.

What feels better than making some home/ interior improvements? If you need to quickly get the dimensions of a room, you could drop some serious coin on a laser-based measure, struggle with conventional tape, or just use RoomScan. This brilliant app lets you walk around the room, doing nothing but just touching each wall with your iPhone or iPad. It draws the floor plans automatically, whether it’s a small square room or a complex layout, and measurements are estimated to the nearest half a foot, giving you both the wall lengths and square footage.

HOW TO TIE A TIE

PMS BUDDY

Many people would agree that knotting a tie is a big problem because we use them quite rarely. The new app How To Tie a Tie is a real life-saver for you if you don’t know how to knot ties. If you don’t have much practice in making tie knots, start with making the simplest tie knots like Four-in-Hand or Simple Double. After that, you’ll get the idea of how to make other more difficult tie knots. Each knot comes with step-bystep illustrated instructions to help you tie the perfect necktie knot. More than 20 knots (12 for free) and folds help you look respectable on any special occasions of your life.

You may think some of your iPhone apps are truly indispensable, but what if you discovered an app which could actually save you from grievous bodily harm? One app, PMS Buddy, strives to do just that, helping men the world over track the menstrual cycles of the cranky, hysterical women in their lives. The app, already claims over 150,000 registered users and another 20,000 signed up on Facebook, with the tagline “Saving relationships, one month at a time.” This may be one of the worst, most insensitive, moronic apps of all time, but it does also give the user the ability to locate flower shops near them (via GPS), when they may need it most.

STACHETASTIC!

PENNIES

Do you feel like your weak facial hair genes are holding you back from achieving that sex symbol status? Now you can go from BARE to BEAR in one easy step! With this easy to use photo editor, you can take a new picture or select one from your photo library and instantly add a moustache or beard from a selection of sweet facial hair. ‘Stachetastic can give you that bad mofo beard or porn star moustache you’ve always wanted without the weeks and months of growing and maintenance. They’ll also throw in over 40 sweet beards, hairdos, and other facial enhancements. ‘Stache your friends, your co-workers, your kids, even your pet monkey!

Pennies is a new app for managing your personal budgets and finances on the go. The beautifully designed and intuitive interface makes budgeting fun and easy, with no complex charts or diagrams, all is displayed in one clean overview so you can understand at a glance how well you are doing. The personal finance app lets you set up as many repeatable budgets as you like and sync them with friends, family or partners, it reminds you to track your finances and outgoings with friendly reminders, and even includes a “spending wizard” to help you work out how to plan your finances, plus a lot more.

POTBELLY

NUQ

QAT

IN SABINA

Escaping to sustainable living by Shabana H. Shaikh

Socio-entrepreneur, Hanouf Aljuhail (a.k.a. ‘Basket Lady’), whom we know as the founder of House of Butterflies (HOB, bazaar January 2012), escaped this summer to the hills of Sabine in Italy’s land locked region of Umbria to fulfill a tradition she started four years ago. What was once about grieving and healing has turned into a wondrous journey of self-discovery. Hanouf’s experience with Rachel Bonkink’s week-long Revealing Vajra Yoga Retreat on the lush estate of In Sabina – which Taschen selected as one of the ‘Great Yoga Retreats’(2009) calling it ‘a second home that makes you forget the passing of time’– is about eating organic, total relaxation, and reflection whilst vacationing. The Need to Escape One week. That’s all Hanouf takes off every summer from her annual family getaway exclusively for herself, ever since she lost her baby sister to cancer in 2010. At first, the goal was to leave behind all that’s familiar in search for solitude, but over time, she discovered amazing places, learned so much about the universe, its diverse cultures 118

and people, but most importantly, about one’s identity – the ‘Self’. In Hanouf’s own words, she says: “I escape for a week from the roles I love playing all year – the mother, the wife, the employee, the daughter, etc. I believe that investing in one of the most important relationships, the one with your ownself, is the most crucial achievement in life. Once you step out of your comfort zone, you are forced to reconnect with your inner self, to find out how you’ve changed over the years, reappraise your identity...finding the ‘you’ again!” In Sabina – Sustainable Estate Hanouf nearly skipped with joy when she accidently stumbled upon ‘In Sabina’, a selfsustaining estate nestled in an utterly serene surrounding, giving her a whole new reason to visit and learn. Sabina is conveniently situated just 60km NorthEast of Rome. According to one source, ‘it’s quite hard to say where ‘Sabina’ really begins and ends’! From Rome, it takes less than an hour to drive to In Sabina estate, and the village of Torri lies 3 kms away. There’s a natural spring, gardens, pond

and swimming pool on the property. A magnificent yoga platform sits in the valley, surrounded by nature and wildlife. Estate guests are fortunate to drink water coming fresh and clean down from the hills of Torri. Due to the high altitude, some of the best olive oil in the world is grown in this region. Most produce are grown in its fields down the hill (tomatoes, olives, apples etc.). Meals are strictly vegetarian, freshly prepared by the talented visiting chef from the UK, Gloria. Lip-smacking marmalade and soup prepared in-house made Hanouf daydream about owning a sustainable home. After each meal, guests carry leftovers to dispose in a compost bin, which is later taken to the composting site near the farm. When the composted soil is ready, it’s used to farm new vegetation, and the whole process is repeated over again. Arriving In Sabina The merits of a good retreat are all too wellknown; especially one that combines body and mind rejuvenation in a tranquil environment, In Sabina being no exception. Comprised of two beautifully restored 17th century stone buildings, [continued...]

PARTYLAND

@PARTYLANDKWT @PARTYLAND_KUWAIT

[...continued] the estate is surrounded by acres of lush groves of olive trees, fruit trees and flowers, and several natural spots perfect for relaxation. Hanouf arrived in Sabina on a dark night, with no lights in sight, but rather scattered candles lighting the pathways to the dining area and the guests’ rooms. She was greeted by the estate’s owner, Giulia Landor who held a lantern to walk her to the dining communal table where she met Rachel Bonkink, the retreat founder, and Laura Fisher, the guest yoga instructor. She instantly noticed that both Rachel and Laura appeared to be “zenned” and very laid back individuals. “I thought to myself, ‘must be the Italian mountains effect and that’s what I’d like to look like when I leave this place!” recalls, Hanouf. Revealing Vajra – A holiday in a Retreat Rachel Bonkink, founder of the Revealing Vajra Yoga, explained, “One of the reasons for the success of Revealing Vajra Holidays is the fact that they are all about relaxation. You can spend about 3.5 hours per day on the yoga mat, but that’s your choice. The main thing is to ‘Relax’, and do exactly what you feel like doing.” The word ‘Vajra’ is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘diamond’. After leaving her corporate job in 2011, she has so far organized 16 retreats in 4 different countries. Her own corporate past makes her relatable to those 120

getting away from the hectic lifestyle. “Many opt for my personal life coaching, where we focus on ‘getting a grip on our thoughts’, via the yoga philosophy,” she added. Rachel’s a Master Practitioner in NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP), a certified shiatsu practitioner, and has completed several yoga teacher trainings in India and the Netherlands. Yoga and Meditating with a Monk Morning Yoga began at 7am. Hanouf awoke to the sound of soft music – it was Rachel’s way of waking up the guests for the morning sessions. Over the next six days, 20 hours of Yoga were planned ranging from Hatha yoga, Yin yoga, Restorative yoga, Kundalini, Acro yoga, and meditating with a Monk. Most were beginners, mostly women of similar ages who came from different walks of life and bonded instantly. To get to the yoga platform, they had to go down a green bamboo path and once done, they’d hike up the hill back to the dining communal table and lodging rooms. Digital Detoxing For all the good reasons, there is no WIFI In Sabina. Before you groan, according to Hanouf, ‘a week without internet isn’t so bad’. As it turns out, the world continues to exist uninterrupted while you were inactive on Facebook or not hashtagging on Twitter. It’s as simple as that, but extremely vital, to disconnect from chaos in order to return

to the daily grind fully recharged and reinvigorated. Hanouf returned from In Sabina spiritually energized, and inspired. Already an advocate of sustainable living, she says she rediscovered its infinite benefits at In Sabina. That said, Umbria is a destination of natural and historical beauty. Italy’s first Nobel Prize laureate, Giosuè Carducci aptly called Umbria ‘il cuor verde d’Italia’ in one of his poems, which translates as ‘the green heart of Italy’. Cities and towns within reach of In Sabina include Rome, Spoleto and Orvieto, Siena and the World Heritage Site of Assisi. For more information about In Sabina, log on to: www.insabina.com. The best time to visit Sabina and the surrounding areas is June to September; the weather is hot, but it is also when the place is most alive with many festivals. HOB promotes the concept of green life through recycling, upcycling, sustainability and eco-friendly living, while employing co-op community workers in rural communities to make handmade baskets and home accessories. Visit www.hobq8.com. Images by Hanouf Aljuhail / Rachel Bonkink.

SPRINKLES

OXADVENTURE

Improving international relations and striving for equality by Nora Al-Ruwaished

It is said that happiness begins with contentment. Perhaps those less fortunate have mastered this tactic – the very same tactic that the privileged seem to find nearly impossible. All that glitters is gold in our town, and less is definitely not more. More is the only way in most people’s eyes. It is a harsh reality, but it is true. When is the last time you did something for the first time? When did you last stare into a sunset as opposed to a luminous screen, or found yourself beaming at a child’s laughter? Have you ever worn the same clothes for three days without a shower, and thought that you were lucky? Lucky, because the situation was not your everyday reality, but rather a trial of your willpower that eventually had an exit route back to your comfort zone? OXadventure volunteers do so on every trip, and although the projects change, the volunteers are strangers and the countries vary – the lessons learned are valuable and irreplaceable and everyone goes 124

home with a new family, broadened mind and newfound appreciation for simplicity. A glimpse of a starving African child on television may happen to catch a viewer’s eyes and even their emotions for a few minutes, but as quickly as it enters the mind, as quickly as it usually exits. The dollar that was requested to make a difference will most likely not be sent, and even if it is, one can never know where that dollar went – whose mouth it fed. Feeling sorry for a brief moment in time that somewhere very far away from one’s existence is a child, who hasn’t had a proper meal in their entire life, is not the same as seeing it first hand. Then there are those who see it first hand in their own backyard (such as Kuwait) yet turn a blind eye, allowing the vicious cycle of poverty to florish without even a flicker of disapproval. Despite the denial and the hush-hush attitude commonly exhibited about the way in which domestic, service and labor workers are treated in

Kuwait, it does not make the problem non-existent. While slavery is illegal, the modern day slavery that occurs in Kuwait today is ever prevalent and swept under the rug. Our silence is not changing these victims’ lives for the better and without action from each individual, justice cannot be brought to this inhumane situation. OXadventure is a Kuwaiti based non-profit company, which was started by the youth, for the youth, and takes participants out of their comfort zones to travel and explore atypical countries while giving back to the impoverished communities through education, sustainable development and income-generating activities. OXadventure volunteers do their best to build the bridges between international borders and to repair international relations, and though their efforts might still occur on a small scale, it is with deep passion. As much as is it our desire to help others around the world simply for the

OXRwanda sake of giving others a better chance at living a sustainable lifestyle, this desire to elicit change also stems from a deep-rooted embarrassment, a generation that is tired of accepting a stigma about how we’ve come to accept the condition of laborers in our country. A large majority of youth recognizes that laborers, who make up 70 percent of our country, essentially represent our economic backbone. They leave what is considered as an already painstakingly difficult lifestyle in their home countries to come serve us, leaving their loved ones behind just to put a small bit of food on the table. Whenever anyone says the typical, “They have better lives and make more money living here, so we are doing them a favor,” I beg, ask yourself if you could leave your families to be someone’s slave/worker/nanny/maid for a little bit comfier of a bed, simple food and hopefully extra money. That is, if your employer actually pays you. I have witnessed housekeepers survive off of nothing

but white rice, seen elderly women be forced to give massages until arthritis is developed in their hands and fingers, salaries withheld because the children of the household broke a plate and the maids were blamed, passports confiscated and cell-phones taken away. If this isn’t bad enough, some undergo sexual abuse and extreme neglect. To state that suffering and pain reflects in their eyes, is an understatement. These humans have lived through hell and have no one to seek help, love or support from. If this is not a form of slavery, then what is? The youth of Kuwait are not satisfied with the backwards attitude that our society has adopted with regards to this sensitive issue, and because of this, are traveling to countries to improve the livelihood of others, setting positive examples for their peers and families in Kuwait. They are adapting humanitarian practices in their homes and in the Kuwaiti community when they return,

and they are leaders and fine examples of what we would like to see future Kuwait become. Since its inception, OXadventure has completed a project in India, Rwanda and Nepal in 2014. OXRwanda consisted of a restoration project in collaboration with Survivors Fund (SURF) in Rwanda. The restoration was for four houses of the survivors of the 1994 genocide, which left 1 million massacred in only 100 days. The homes were set for demolition, but the volunteers spent their time and hard work to paint, cement, reconstruct the walls that were falling over, plaster and give hope to the families who were about to give up. They also put together a bookstore with Q8 Books donating over 100 books – fiction and non-fiction, as well as educational material for the teachers. We were able to sponsor one primary school girl’s school tuition and one Master’s student’s tuition, furbish a woman’s home, deliver 22 used laptops that were collected and repaired in Kuwait, and [continued...] 125

OXNepal [...continued] enjoyed hearing the rich history of Rwanda, and the country’s miraculous recovery from the genocide to becoming the country with the safest and cleanest capital in Africa. During their OXNepal project, OXadventure teamed up with Partnership for Sustainable Development (PSD) to complete their charity work. Over the course of 10 days, the team experienced Nepal and all its beauty by trekking and camping in Pokhara for 5 days, and then the team of 17 youth made their way to Kathmandu. The team restored Garma Sudhar School in Kathmandu Valley and built a basketball court to encourage the children to play sports and be active and healthy while keeping them off of the streets. In collaboration with Q8 Books, a non-profit library in Kuwait, the team arranged a library for the children to engage in leisurely or studious reading. Also they provided textbooks for all ages. In collaboration with Teacher’s Cellar, a teachers resource supply company in Kuwait, the team was able to donate teacher’s resources to help aid the teachers in educating the students as efficiently as possible. A cement pathway was created to prevent the school from flooding and cancelling classes during the 126

monsoon season. The artists in the group gathered together to paint murals on the classroom walls and repair the chalkboards, providing a more inspiring and pleasant educational ambiance. As for the smiles that we see along our journey, one can only imagine that although they are povertystricken and lacking in basic amenities, they stay true to their customs, their belief systems and their families. They know the value of everything in life, including education, food and livelihood. They know what a hard day’s work feels like and how it pays off to provide every bit they can for their families. They stay close to the earth and they respect it, in turn the earth respects them. If only we could say the same about our own country and our own people, what a different world we might live in. I can only hope that the youth of today will lead to a new Kuwait tomorrow. One in which we respect others equally as citizens of the world, which accepts differences as a learning experience and a world which learns to appreciate and to have strong work ethics as opposed to selfentitlement and being stagnant. OXadventure strives to fulfill their premise of making sustainable development a viable option for all, helping others around the world help themselves.

It is the organization’s firm belief that education is a key player in eradicating poverty and that sustainable development projects and volunteerism are not options, they are necessities. Modern day slavery, and while the modern sense of the term might vary on a technicality, is inhumane and unacceptable and the youth are doing their part to actively challenge what has become a norm and break the cycle. They are becoming the voice for those that are too afraid or incapable. All are citizens of the world and some are more fortunate than others. Sharing, educating and cross-cultural exchange are elements in life that can inspire and change an individual in ways they may never expect. No one can tell you the exact journey you will have…instead you must take the opportunity and write your own story…exactly the way you want it to be written. By the end of an OXadventure trip, one thing is promised though – the soul will appreciate the simple joys and life and the secret to happiness will be that much closer. For more information or to keep up with any upcoming trips visit www.oxadventure.com, or you can follow them on Instagram or Facebook: @oxadventure.

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AUK

Develop your Career at the American University of Kuwait The Center for Continuing Education’s public program portfolio comprises over 120 programs. You can choose programs that extend your skills and understanding to achieve your organizational, personal development and career objectives.

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To register or for more information, please contact: Tel: 1-802040 / (+965) 2224-8399 Ext: 3185 & 3197

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cce_auk

PHISHERS AND FALSE KINGS Spotting the false things by Ayman Nassar

If you have been using email for quite some time, you will undoubtedly have been informed of the tragic passing of a stranger who bore the same family name as you and how their estate is willing to give you USD 10 Million to pose as their heir, in return for your credit card information. Maybe a rich king in Africa wants to share his wealth with you, to the tune of USD 100 Million, in return for a small fee of USD 10 – 50 to cover banking expenses. There is also the age-old favorite of winning the lottery and being issued USD 230 Million to your name, you only need to do one small thing. You guessed it...give them your personal information to verify you won this lottery you never remember entering. Since the invention of the Internet, there has always been a group that preys upon the novice users with promises of riches in return for pennies. Mind you even the experts are finding themselves ensnared in the traps of the millions upon millions of fraudsters and scam-artists all over the Internet. I cannot count the number of times I jumped up and down, excited and giddy like a school child, at the notion that I was being offered employment by a big company at a huge salary or that I had won the elusive green card lottery, only to find out it was 128

all a scam. I have seen it all – or so I thought. As times have changed and people have become savvier to these forms of deceit, the deceivers have upped the ante and now go the whole 9 yards in a vicious attempt to goad you into a false sense of security before beating you over the head with a club and stealing your money. Just recently I was approached with the notion of investing in a blockbuster movie set to shoot in the UK. It started off too good to be true. A guaranteed return of 120 percent in the first year and royalties for the next 25. Unfortunately the most time-honored truth is that if something sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. They were persistent, calling every week and trying to weed GBP 5,000 out of me as the base investment. Of course being a skeptic I ran every countermeasure available. They had gone as far as establishing two bogus websites and a fake professional online profile on LinkedIn, cross referenced too! What was worse was that, in addition to the lack of concrete evidence suggesting foul play, online searches brought up no reported scam with similar queries unlike other scams, i.e. you need only search for the text sent from your rich dead uncle’s lawyer to find that it is a template for phishers everywhere. Once upon a time I was approached by someone wanting to

advertise on my blog for a whopping USD 10 (paid TO me), when I searched for their name online a user across the globe had called this a scam as he had been contacted by this person and nothing came of it. However, as it was money flowing in, I decided to entertain their requests and sure enough, the money was paid to me! We all wish it were possible for someone to wave a magic wand and shower us with untold riches. If a person can raise USD 67,000 to start a project to make a “potato salad” (seriously, search for it!), then obviously there are ways to make easy money online. The only advice to be offered is to exercise due care when receiving unsolicited emails. It is not always the case that you are requested to pay a small fee. Sometimes they request personal information for a far more nefarious purpose than simple monetary theft. With certain details to provide such as passport number, civil ID number (or worse, copies of such), you can find yourself a victim of identity theft. We would love it to be possible that we suddenly find ourselves millionaires, but as with most things in life, if you do not put the effort in to achieve it, the victory will be bland and tasteless. Of course this can be construed as the poor man’s argument, however, we leave it to your sound judgment.

BOSSINI

IKEA’S PAX

The perfect wardrobe solution for every personality

For everyone, the day begins and ends in the bedroom, and the key to creating a perfect start and close to the day lies in having an easily organized wardrobe, built to compliment and simplify your routine around your personality, needs and habits. Everyone’s personality is different, and not everyone needs – or wants – the exact same wardrobe layout, functions or look. Some people are ‘Super Organizers’ while others like to ‘Do-It-My-Own-Way’, and a wardrobe for the super organizer won’t necessarily work to help somebody who likes to be a bit more creative with their wardrobe solution. From shelves and doors, to material type and color, IKEA can help design and layout the perfect wardrobe solution to fit any room, and more importantly, personality. Whatever your needs, they are possible through the PAX system, able to be individually designed by yourself directly on 130

the IKEA Kuwait website, or with an experienced storage solution expert in the IKEA showroom. With the launch of the new 2015 IKEA Catalogue, IKEA has introduced even more options and lower prices across the store, including in the flexible PAX range of wardrobe fixtures, and their accompanying fittings and accessories. With multiple sliding door options you can create the perfect modern look to fit your style, or choose the more classical wooden style doors to bring out your personality. Flexibility to create solutions for your personal needs lie at the core of PAX, with ingenious new additions to help get rid of the clutter so you can move out more quickly in the morning. By adding in the new KOMPLEMENT jewelry insert to your storage solution or the divider tray – which is perfect for being able to quickly find the right belt for your day’s outfit – the start and end of your day will feel completely natural and make you wonder

why it hasn’t always been like this. IKEA’s PAX range also offers solutions for scarves, morning grooming products like perfumes and lotions, and even ways of keeping your shoes hidden away in your wardrobe without them needing to be on top of each other or even in the same area as your clothes. No matter the personality, style or wardrobe need, with PAX, the sky is the limit – literally – with solutions as small as single, 50cm wide shelve units, to full, walk-in closet layouts made to spec according to your room size, style preference, and ease-of-use requirements. To create your new dream wardrobe solution, visit www.ikea.com.kw and use the PAX Planning tool to create your own solution from the comfort of your home at your own speed, or visit the IKEA showroom at The Avenues, and meet with an expert who can set you up with the perfect solution for you.

CAFE SUPREME

bazaar a la mode TOSCA BLU AT AL OSTOURA Animal Regalia Tosca Blu presents an animal-inspired collection. Textures of crocodile skin, snake skin, and leopard print take on trendy shapes and silhouettes. Accessorize with these statement handbags for a fierce look! For all these and more visit Al Ostoura boutiques at Thuraya Mall, The Avenues, The Gate Mall, Sahab Tower (Salhiya Complex) or visit www.alostoura.com to shop from the comfort of your home.

BHS AUTUMN WINTER 2014 LAUNCH The new BHS Autumn Winter 2014 collection provides an effortless transition into the changing season. Most notable is the air of excitement with the launch of Home in Kuwait. Building on the foundations of offering great value products, BHS has added to the diverse portfolio with the launch of its first Home department in its store at 2nd Avenue – The Avenues. With high-quality designs, you can now style your home as well as your wardrobe at value prices. BHS delivers a versatile and confident Autumn Winter collection, embracing sophisticated layering and statement pieces to create a modern wearable range. The color palette of blushing pinks and dusty greys moves into berry, mustard, red, black and white. With an Americana sportswear influence, the menswear range is easy and casual. There is a nautical edge with sea green blues and pebble greys. Supersoft knitwear is a key layering essential this season. Girlswear is inspired by magical woodland and fields of wild flowers with sun washed denim color palettes and ditsy floral prints. Inspired by nature’s great explorers,the boyswear collection is all about earthy tones, comfy sweats, stylish jeans and checked shirts. The new BHS home collection gets you ready for those autumn evenings and cosy nights in. Surround yourself in vintage designs, snug bedding essentials and fluffy cushions. Or bring some glamour and vibrancy into your bathroom with colorful soft towels and accessories. To find out more, visit one of several BHS stores around Kuwait or visit www.bhs.co.uk. JIMMY CHOO KUWAIT INVITES CUSTOMERS TO DESIGN THEIR OWN JIMMY CHOO SHOES Alyasra Fashion introduces Jimmy Choo Made-To-Order service in Kuwait Alyasra Fashion announced that it will provide the 2014 Jimmy Choo Made-to-Order service at their Avenues store between December 15 to 19, offering customers a tempting suite of signature styles that can be custom made in a myriad of colorways, textures and finishes tailored to personal style preferences. With the Made-to-Order offering, dream shoes become design reality with the stunning range of material and color options to choose from. Women in Kuwait may choose from delicate suedes, lustrous satins, sumptuous leathers, glitter, crocodile or exotic snakeskins, and be creative with a palette of colorways. For an extra personal touch, Made-to-Order customers are offered the chance to personalize the soles of the shoes with the addition of monogram initials. Alyasra Fashion Head of Marketing, Adel Al-Ansari said: “Made-to-Order by Jimmy Choo has been introduced in the global market only a few months ago, and will soon be in Kuwait. This fabulous service is ideal for shoe aficionados looking to build a bespoke wardrobe or for brides planning their wedding shoe wardrobe. The Made-to-Order service combines quintessential skilled Italian Jimmy Choo craftsmanship invested with the luxurious quality of materials used. We invite women in Kuwait to book their appointments to experience this for themselves as the offering will only be available for a limited time.” The tradition of made-to-order shoes can be traced back to the roots of the brand and has continued quietly throughout the company’s evolution as it has grown from a small London atelier to a global luxury fashion brand. Occasionally, by special request, a client would order a special fabrication, an exotic material or unique color for a special event, most notably on the red carpet, where Jimmy Choo Made-to-Order shoes continue to have a steady presence. Representing the House signature style, Creative Director Sandra Choi has selected her favorite Jimmy Choo silhouettes for inclusion in the Made-to-Order program. These shoes are the time-honored iconic designs, continually adored by clients worldwide and perfectly suited for customization and include the ANOUK, LANCE, XENIA and TITE in varying heel heights. Made-to-Order will be available at Jimmy Choo, Prestige – The Avenues between December 15-19, 2014. Customers may book their appointment by calling 2530 9912. 132

STEVE MADDEN UNVEILS ITS ‘AUTUMN WINTER 2014’ COLLECTION FOR MEN AND WOMEN Get into the swing of the new season with the eclectic range of ‘Autumn Winter 2014’ collection for women from Steve Madden. From combat boots to stylish flats, the new range is designed for the woman of today who is a born explorer and loves to flaunt her style at every occasion. Steve Madden is throwing it back in a big way this season. The collection showcases a mix of glamorous and casual styles that reflect the eclectic tastes of every fashionista! Styles like ODYSSEY, with their chunky heels and at-to-above knee shaft heights, channel the 90’s. The HIGHTING boasts an over-the-knee shaft height along with platforms and heels that remind us of the cool Goth girls who wore black lipstick. The retro movement extends into Steve Madden handbags; the BESSIE tips its hat to the 80s with geometric inserts and slouchy style. Boots continue to thrive and Steve Madden is just the designer to spin the trend in unique and eye catching ways. Styles like NYRVANA and GILTE feature quilted details and colors. The GRETCHUN and MUNCH-C offer a new take on combat boot with a higher heel, hardware and a foldable upper. Another lace up style, the RASPY sports a beautiful stacked heel. Even when she’s casual, the Steve Madden girl is chic. The laidback feel of the sneaker trend is elevated in Steve Madden’s interpretation of the style. Steve Madden’s AW’14 collection for men highlights a wide range of styles that cater to the high-spirited urban young man. A perfect blend of intricate detailing and classy designs makes this collection a musthave in every man’s wardrobe this season. Steve Madden’s attention to detail is what sets the brand apart and subtle details like contrast stitching go a long way. The technique is used on the grittier styles of the ANTONN and MAKLEMOR to add a touch of refinement to the combat boot style. The stitching technique is used to achieve the opposite effect in the classic desert boot style, DURVISH. Whether it’s a formal event or a casual hangout, the AW’14 collection from Steve Madden will keep your look modern and edgy at all times! Revamp your shoe closet this season with Steve Madden’s fabulous AW’14 collection available at The Mall – The Avenues.

A FANTASY WORLD OF FASHION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR H&M AND UNICEF’S ALL FOR CHILDREN This year’s All for Children collection at H&M offers an innovative new way of dressing up, creating a fantasy world of pieces with a contemporary edge. The activewear-inspired collection is for children of all ages, and is available now in selected H&M stores worldwide, as well as online. 25% of the sales price from the All for Children collection will support UNICEF to help the most vulnerable children have a better future through education. The collection is like an adventure into the woods, with pieces that use color, texture and print to reflect the nature of the forest. The results are perfect for autumn play, like the padded down gilet that comes with a reflective feather print, while a terry sweatshirt with bat wings glows in the dark, and a jacquard-knit poncho is decorated like a folkloric owl. H&M launched the All for Children initiative with UNICEF in 2009 with a USD 4.5million donation to help children in some of the world’s poorest communities. Initially concentrating on southern India and Bangladesh, H&M’s support to UNICEF has so far positively impacted the lives of over one million children. This autumn’s All for Children collection is a chance for customers to make a personal contribution and help UNICEF give children a better start in life through early education and development. For more information about their collections, visit www.hm.com/kuwait. SWAROVSKI INTRODUCES ITS NEW MUST-HAVE JEWELRY PIECE, THE “STARDUST” BRACELET Light, sparkle, and subtle glamour are key characteristics of Swarovski’s instantly recognizable signature style. Each season, these qualities are reinterpreted to deliver exquisite pieces that are of the moment. Alongside on-trend designs sit versatile creations that women can wear from morning to night, whatever their style and look. The new ‘Stardust’ bracelet is a perfect example, with all the makings of a musthave piece. It is not only its clean, simple lines that make it special. ‘Stardust’ is a light, flexible bracelet that seems to almost burst into a thousand sparkles. The secret behind this intense brilliance? A translucent fishnet, brimming with loose crystals. For supermodel Miranda Kerr, muse of the Fall/Winter 2014/2015 campaign, “The ‘Stardust’ bracelets are so much fun, because you can mix and match different colors depending on where you are going and how you are feeling. It really brings an instant touch of fashion to any look.” The perfect illustration of multifaceted glamour, each woman can stack and combine the ‘Stardust’ bracelet in whichever way she prefers. Whether in block colors, contrasting tones or monochrome, delicate pastels, or a mysterious palette of grays and blacks, this new must-have adds the perfect finishing touch to alxl kinds of styles, from casual to dressed-up. 133

bazaar investigates CHILLI BEANS – THE LARGEST SOUTH-AMERICAN CHAIN SPECIALIZING IN SUNGLASSES – NOW IN KUWAIT Featured in the most stylists and fashionista/celebrities in the US, Will.i.am - Britney Spears music video, Kourtny Kardashian, Stylist Lindsay Albanese, Chris Zylka, Lucy Hale and Lenny. Chilli Beans Brand is now represented by 700 Point of Sales throughout Brazil, as well as in Portugal, the United States, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Kuwait and more recently, in United Arab Emirates. Kuwait is the first Middle East country to welcome Chilli Beans brand with already 5 Point of Sales in the most famous and trendy malls: 360 Mall, Marina Mall, Al Bairaq Mall, The Avenues and Al Fanar Mall. Chilli Beans is more than a fashion accessories brand: it has its own DNA, a modern and irreverent state of spirit. Throughout the years, Chilli Beans has invested in the establishment of a brand full of seduction, attitude and personality. This is how the brand is positioned online and on social media, investing in unusual marketing actions. Chilli Beans’ product mix meets the expectations of all audiences, from children to adults, and is very popular among the youth. In 2013, more than 3 million products were sold. The Sunglasses line is divided into Kids, Adults and Thematic products, and all have 400 UV protection, part of them are even polarized. To complement the sunglasses line, Chilli Beans also offers cleaning sprays for lenses, cases, cloths, sicurezza (strings) and sunglasses holders for cars. Watches lines and optical frames were created a few years ago in the same vein as the sunglasses: fashionable, modern, affordable and spicy! Chilli Beans participates in the main Fashion Weeks and supports the best parties, shows and events in Brazil. For instance, it has sponsored the live transmission of ex-Beatle’s Paul McCartney concert and was one of the official sponsors of Rock in Rio Festival, featuring a store in the premises and installing its own Roller Coaster during the event. The famous artists Isabela Capeto, Ronaldo Fraga and Carlinhos Brown among many others have been the names chosen by Chilli Beans for the launch of its new signature collections. The partnerships were officially presented during the 31st edition of São Paulo Fashion Week. They were all chosen because of their relationship with sunglasses. Fraga has adopted the object as his logo; Isabela is a collector, and the musicians Brown always chooses the accessory as the first piece of his outlooks and Lenny Kravitz made a special Kravitz Design fashion accessories line with Chilli Beans. Chilli Beans currently works with two formats of selling points: kiosk and store. The kiosk offers simplified infrastructure, ideal for mall corridors and galleries. It has a modern layout and offers easy access to the products and the store enables the brand to express itself in an optimized way. Check it out now at 360 Mall, Marina Mall, Bairaq Mall, The Avenues and Al Fanar Mall.

SEASON 6 OF PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE MIDDLE EAST ANNOUNCED The Middle East’s most successful racing series the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is gearing up for an exciting return to action with a full schedule of race weekends now confirmed by race organisers. Regarded as the purest form of racing with all drivers competing in identical fifth generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, the unique one-make series will consist of 12 races between November 2014 and April 2015. Six intensely competitive race round weekends will be staged at the region’s leading circuits with two rounds in Bahrain, two in the UAE and two in Qatar over a six month period. The new season will open in spectacular fashion with a night race on the 14th November 2014 at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) as part of an illustrious World Endurance Championship weekend. It will be the first time the championship will open under floodlight conditions adding to the challenge and tension of the first race of the new season. Created to encourage Arab talent and offer a platform into the world of international GT and sports car racing, the one-make GT series has already proved vastly popular amongst local drivers. For the latest news on GT Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East please visit the official website www.gt3cupchallenge-me.com or follow series’ news on Facebook: porscheGT3CCME or on Twitter @PorscheGT3CCME. 134

MOVEMBER ‘Movember’ is when men grow moustaches to raise awareness for men’s mental health issues, in addition to prostate and testicular cancer.

ARE YOU A MO BRO?

Men who support the Movember movement are called Mo Bros. WANT TO BECOME A MO BRO? Start by signing up on Movember.com

Begin Movember clean and shaven

In 2003 Movember

of men are less likely to go to the doctor compared to women

was born in Melbourne, Australia with two guys who simply wanted to see a revival of the moustache trend and raise money for prostate cancer.

1in 8

men who suffer from mental health illnesses actually seek help

Then grow and groom your moustache for the rest of the month of November

Raise money along the way!

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Mario

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CONQUERING

JEBEL

SHAMS by Bibi Al-Falah

Where: Jebel Shams, Oman. Elevation: 3009 m. When: October 16-19, 2014

Over the past few weeks, several posts have been popping up on my Instagram feed about this vivacious group of Kuwaitis taking the lead on intensely challenging, yet stunning, weekend adventure trips in the nation of Oman. All it took was one of my friends mentioning it and suddenly we found ourselves roaming the aisles of Decathalon going through the “what you need” checklist. We purchased everything from a giant backpack to a tiny headlight, which seems so insignificant but makes all the difference when you’re trying to assemble a sleeping bag in complete darkness. Supplies in tow, October 16th crept up on us much sooner than expected. Just to clarify one thing, I go to the gym regularly but have never been both as physically and mentally challenged as I was on this two-day hike. What I expected was an extra long stroll through desert terrain at an intermediate level, what I got was the most difficult steep and rocky terrain and the biggest athletic feat to date. This is how it felt to be there. THURSDAY MORNING: DAY 1 The morning kicked off with a breakfast at the pick-up location hotel, which we checked in to the night before. We were warned that there would be no food until dinner and to make sure we ate enough to last us for the day. After breakfast, many of the soon-to-be hikers began trickling down to the lobby in nervous anticipation of the two days ahead. You could feel who had been there before. They were calm and collected as they observed the rest of us in a “you have no idea what you’re in for” kind of way. Us newcomers were clearly torn between two alternating feelings. One emotion was sheer excitement at the thought of what this hike was going to be like and how we could barely wait to get started. The second reaction was darting our eyes to the door whilst contemplating the last possible chance to make a run for it. Before we could bolt, our guides had arrived in three large cars outside the hotel. We piled our ridiculously large backpacks into the trunk of a pick-up truck and divided ourselves amongst the three cars. 140

THURSDAY AFTERNOON/NIGHT: DAY 1 There was no turning back now. We were split up and put into a car and were well on our way to the first camping ground for the night. There is no hiking involved on the first day, but you get exposed to the beauty of the outdoors immediately, with gorgeous views driving up the mountain. Upon arriving at the first stop, we were able to appreciate the herds of mountain goats casually walking around, completely unmoved by our human presence. We began setting up camp beds, and soon found ourselves in the dark. This was the first of many truly breathtaking moments of the trip, because when you looked up at the sky you could literally see every single star. It was the kind of sky one could gaze at for hours and get lost in either deep thought or complete clarity. I fell into the latter state of mind. We got lost in the sky for some time, each taking turns scolding each other to turn off our head lights so as not to hinder the view above. Soon after, dinner was served and we huddled around a campfire

for proper introductions. This is when we got to know our stellar guide Lulu a little bit better. We also met Ali, the Kuwaiti adventurer otherwise known as “@Husaak” on Instagram. He told us how this whole thing started with him taking small groups of friends around, showing them his world and showing them what our region had to offer of the great outdoors. This has now grown into expeditions that take place almost every weekend, conquering the most beautiful hidden gems of Oman, his current country of residency. After the campfire, we each tucked into our sleeping bags and dozed off before our first day of hiking. This was the first time I ever experienced camping in my life, and it wasn’t as uncomfortable as I had imagined it at all. Other than the tent collapsing on us in the middle of the night as a result of the howling

Omani winds, it wasn’t all that bad. FRIDAY MORNING: DAY 2 5:00am. This is when we woke up to roll up our sleeping bags, grab a quick sandwich, then get going to the starting point of our journey, otherwise known as the last time we would see the cars for a day and a half. We were each given four large water bottles and sandwiches to stuff into our bags for the long hike ahead. When I first carried my bag with the water in it, I was mortified at how heavy it felt, then Ali said, “let me see your bag” and picked it up. He proceeded to laugh about how it was “way too light”. This is when I knew I had no idea what we were in for, and reluctantly stuffed some extra soda into my bag. [continued...] 141

[...continued] Now at the starting point, we strapped our bags on and began the first stretch of the Jebel Shams hike. The ground was nothing like what I had imagined it would be. There was rarely a flat surface to walk on and most of the mountain is so incredibly rocky that if you take your eyes off your next step, even for a moment, there is a risk of easily tripping or spraining an ankle. We started getting tired immediately because we were not used to the weight of the backpacks. Suddenly, the terrain turned from just rocky, to rocky and very, very steep. During the course of this first stretch (about two and a half hours long) we passed through an area Lulu referred to as “the grind”. The grind is essentially the steepest part of the hike and we found ourselves panting for dear life and stopping to sip water and catch our breath just to keep moving along. This was definitely one of the hardest moments in the journey, and I was never happier than the second we reached basecamp B where we would be sleeping for the night. Earning our highly coveted sleep that night, however, did not come easily. FRIDAY AFTERNOON: DAY 2 We only had an hour to rest before getting a move on to the summit, because you have to make it back before the sun starts to set. We took a two-hour stop at our basecamp, dropped our bags behind a tree and began making our way toward the summit with full determination. This stretch also lasted about two hours, and after a final steep climb we reached the ultimate goal: the top of Jebel Shams. To say the view was spectacular would be the understatement of the century. It literally resembles what you would imagine the Grand Canyon to look like, and if you are afraid of heights, you had better not look down. After taking all the necessary pictures to document our accomplishment, there was no more time to waste of the sunlight’s last few precious hours. If you thought going uphill was hard, you find an entirely different challenge going back down. The downward slopes force you to pick up momentum, but you have to try and slow yourself down enough to avoid slipping on a rock. This task exhausts your knees and feet to a painfully tiring degree. The group had different views on uphill versus downhill, I personally liked the downhill challenge more. FRIDAY NIGHT: DAY 2 Finally, we made it back to basecamp in disbelief of the day we just had. 142

The challenges, the beautiful moments and the surprises, are things we all shared over our freshly grilled steaks cooked right on the campfire. By this point we had already chosen spots on the cold hard ground to lay our humble sleeping bags for the second night of camping, this time completely out in the open. Thankfully, there was much less wind than the night before and the cold was somehow bearable. I slept like a baby. SATURDAY MORNING: DAY 3 Last night we had reviewed the trip over the fire, answering questions like ‘what were your best and worst moments.’ The trip, however, was far from over. We still had to hike back the grueling first stretch from the morning before. This hike felt so long because our heels and legs were already sore and throbbing from the previous day. Most of us had blisters, one suffered a fractured toe, and another fell ill and didn’t make it to the summit on Friday. I have to say that if you are planning on joining one of these trips, do not take your physical fitness lightly. Train as you would for a marathon, because it is basically a slower marathon with inclines and extremely rocky paths. About four of us got a bit off-course somewhere between the first and second group for a portion of the return hike, but we learned to follow the trail markings on the rocks that eventually guided us back to our starting point, where one of the guides, Aziz, was waiting with freshly cut watermelon. It was the most delicious watermelon we had ever bitten into. We clapped for each new person’s arrival to the finish line, and supported each other to the very last moment. This trip taught me above all that the only limits we have are the ones we set for ourselves; you never know what you are capable of until you are in a situation where there is no other option but to power through and finish what you started. There were several times on this hike when I doubted myself, then realized that I didn’t come this far to quit now. That was the most beautiful feeling and I recommend that everyone should, at least once, take on a challenge in life that pushes you to your very limit. You will be surprised what your capabilities are, and it will forever change you for the better. Images by Sarah Al Fraih.

SOOR CENTER

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

NEXSTAR EVOLUTION 8 TELESCOPE

LOGITECH HARMONY HOME REMOTE

TUL SUITCASE

Gone are the days of long, clunky telescopes that you had to manually point at every little thing in the sky you wanted to see up close – consumer telescopes have evolved, and there’s no better evidence than the NexStar Evolution 8 Telescope. With an optical tube that’s eight inches wide, it does the job of older, much larger telescopes, while its compatibility with iOS and Android apps takes all the guesswork out of finding stars, constellations, and planets. An onboard motor responds to everything you tell it to do through your phone or tablet, so all you have to do is stare up at the night sky.

Logitech’s Harmony remotes have long been the best way to control your home theater, and now they can control more than just your entertainment – they can control your house. Working in conjunction with the included, Wi-Fi-enabled Harmony Home Hub, this 2.4inch touchscreen remote lets you control a bevy of connected devices in your home, including Philips Hue lights, Lutron-controlled window shades, Nest thermostats, and even Z-Wave devices. And thanks to its connectivity you can control things right from the Harmony app on your phone. The result? You can create and customize dedicated activities that can do everything from turning the TV to the right channel to setting the lights at the right level with a single touch.

As airlines continue to find new ways to nickel and dime you over everything from boarding order to carry-ons, it’s wise to do everything you can to try and keep them out of your wallet. The TUL Suitcase should certainly help. This full-sized, hard-shell suitcase features a built-in scale to let you know when you’re coming close to the airline’s weight limit, via an LCD screen on the side. As with most high-end cases, it also features multiple interior pockets, an included TSA-compliant lock, four wheels for rolling it through tight airport spaces, and an external protection jacket made from PoronXRD that will keep it looking great, your stuff protected, and provides a bit of weather resistance, as well.

www.uncrate.com

KINDLE VOYAGE

MBLOK

BITPLAY SNAP 6

If you, like us, are addicted to your Kindle…you are about to want an upgrade! It looks more like a normal tablet than ever, but make no mistake, the Kindle Voyage is still very much a readingfocused device. It sports a new, 300 ppi e-paper display for even sharper text, an adaptive light sensor that adjusts the backlight automatically, and new PagePress sensors that let you turn the page without lifting a finger. Also a new feature is the angular magnesium back, micro-etched glass screen, and 4 GB of storage to hold an insanely large number of books, all in a 7.6mm thick body that makes it the thinnest Kindle ever. Yes please!

Storing your photos, files, music, and videos in the cloud is great, but it requires an Internet connection for access, and there’s always the possibility that someone could hack your account. The Mblok solves both these problems by holding up to 256 GB of your stuff in a tiny, portable package that you can take with you anywhere. This personal cloud-like box connects to up to seven of your devices via Bluetooth 4.0, offering immediate access to your data. The battery lasts for up to 300 hours on a single charge, the app offers one-tap backups, and best of all, your data is protected with 128 bit encryption, so no one’s going to see your naughty selfies, even if they steal your device.

The iPhone is the most popular camera in the world. Make it even better with the Bitplay Snap 6, which is a new case that makes snapping professional pictures easier than ever before. Designed specifically for the new iPhone 6, the sleek and compact case features a special ergonomic grip and a hands-free strap, a built-in shutter button to snap shots as you would with a traditional camera, and comes with detachable macro and wide-angle lenses for taking photos with enhanced quality and amazing details and perspective. An app with professional settings is also included to help you take your photos to the next level. Of course, it also protects your phone, while offering a touch of personalization by giving you a choice of four metallic colors.

www.uncrate.com

www.blessthisstuff.com

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bazaar fitness

THE FOOD INTOLERANCE CYCLE Part 1: What is it and how is it affecting you? by Mike Campbell

Anything that puts stress on your body, also eventually affects your immune system. When we are at a balanced healthy state our immune system is effective in fighting off invading infections. Some research suggests that if our immune system is compromised in any way, whether it is from prescription drugs or food intolerances, then we stand a higher chance of experiencing some type of inflammation. Food intolerances, if left unattended compromise the immune system with two-fold consequences of infection and inflammation. Before we begin, it is important to not confuse food intolerances with food allergies. A food allergy arises when the immune system over reacts to a certain food particle, causing the body to mistakenly produce an antibody, to fight off what is otherwise a harmless antigen. Food intolerances are more common and often go unnoticed because symptoms can arise hours or days after the food is ingested. Modern foods are those which were typically not available to our ancestors. I am not going to go as far as to say our prehistoric human ancestors, as this is not a push to sample a paleo diet. Rather I’m talking about your great-grandparents. These foods typically fall into dairy, grains and refined sugars. I know it sounds hard to believe, but according to many scientists and nutritionists, these simple foods that we have become accustomed to, are in fact causing chronic disease. Identifying food intolerances is important, as they are very often linked to many chronic diseases and symptoms such as headaches, migraines, colitis, epilepsy, heart disease, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, stiff joints, arthritis, neuro muscular disorders and even some behavioral disorders in children. They can also cause asthma, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue, eczema and fibromyalgia. Food intolerances may be the major factor causing these illnesses, or they may exacerbate an underlying genetic predisposition. I know some of you reading this may doubt me, but it is simple. The food we are consuming could be making us sick, and what is even sadder is that many of us don’t even know it. We don’t know that it’s not normal to be tired all the time, or to crave certain food types or to be constantly run down. This is not normal and often these issues can be rectified over a relativity short period of time. Current research states that the most likely food intolerances, leading to dozens of inflammatory disorders, are those which are caused by ‘leaky gut syndrome’. When your body can’t digest foods properly then the partly digested proteins and sugars actually damage your small intestine. Small holes 146

develop in the tissue lining causing unfamiliar protein pieces (peptides) to get into the blood stream. This is what health practitioners call ‘leaky gut syndrome.’ The immune system then fires up after immediately detecting these “foreign invaders” and sets up inflammation. Over a period of time this builds up until there is a chance of experiencing chronic disease. Below is a list of the most common offenders; 1. Dairy intolerances (via casein protein) 2. Gluten intolerances (gluten protein) 3. Yeast sensitivity (yeast proteins) 4. Corn allergy (zein protein) 5. Nightshade sensitivity (lectins) So now the immune system is weak and thus can become more prone to infections from common germs, bacteria or fungi, but can’t the doctor just give antibiotics to fix this? Well yes, they can, but the problem is that they may reduce the probiotics in the intestine by up to 60%. This severe reduction in probiotics in the immune system further handicaps the already weak immune system. When these low grade or recurring infections are allowed to continue to develop (because you’re still ingesting foods your body cannot tolerate) then the immune system gets more and more inflamed. You can now start to see a vicious cycle appearing and as more antibiotics are prescribed to treat the new and remaining infections and inflammations, these just continue to reduce the probiotic levels and weaken your immunity. Sounds bad? Well it gets worse. History has suggested that if these conditions persist, then blood sugar levels swing, chronic pains and inflammation rises, fatigue increases, intestinal upsets occur and the liver becomes so overloaded it can’t detoxify the

body. The body reaches a level where it becomes more sensitive to chemicals found in smoke, alcohol, yeast, fungi and fumes. Somewhere along this path mental and emotional problems arise. What might start as mood swings and poor concentration develop into fatigue, lowered motivation and depression. More medication is prescribed which in turn cause the intestines to leak more, and the spiral continues. The liver becomes further damaged with pain medications making it more toxic. These underlying immune stresses can progress to more serious diseases such as autoimmune diseases if they are left untreated. What can you do? The great news is that if you suffer from any of these symptoms, you may be able to fix this yourself, but you’re going to have to wait until next issue, when I teach you how to break the cycle. For more information on the discussions above, I recommend you check out the following sources: Food sensitivities and intolerances: Here’s how to do an elimination diet by Bryan Walsh, The Comprehensive Elimination Diet by Liz Lipski, Eating with Purpose by Doug Kaufmann, Natural Solutions for Digestive Health by Dr. Jillian Sarno Teta and Jeannette L. Bessinger or visit The Food Intolerance Institute of Australia on www.foodintol.com.

Mike Campbell is the GM and Co Founder of Inspire Pure Fitness and Inspire 2.0 at Sahara. Email info@inspirekw.com or nooriya@inspirekw.com, or you can visit them at www.inspirekw.com.

KITCHENAID

bazaar checks it out AL SHAYA & AL SAGAR UNVEILS SPECIAL 25TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION MAZDA MX-5 Kuwait Automotive Imports Co WLL (Al Shaya & Al Sagar), exclusive distributor of Mazda cars in Kuwait, celebrated the unveiling of the Special 25th Anniversary Edition Mazda MX-5 recently. Mr Ashish Tandon (General Manager KAICO) emphasized that this anniversary model was created to express Mazda’s sincere gratitude to the millions of MX-5 enthusiasts around the world, and as such Mazda spared no effort in creating the very best MX-5 yet. Mr. Mohamed Osman (Mazda Brand Manager) urged all sports car enthusiasts to visit the Mazda showroom and experience firsthand, Mazda’s exciting sports model. Mazda – the name alone evokes exhilaration and driving pleasure. Since day one, this vehicle has been a true driver’s car with its “jinba ittai” spirit of oneness of car and driver. This highly-celebrated model has received over 200 awards from around the globe including ‘Japan Car of the Year 2005-2006’ and is in the Guinness Book of Records as The best-selling two-seater sports car with nearly 1 million MX-5s sold to date. The 25-year history of the MX-5 Miata showcases the absolute pursuit of a unique driving feel in which the car and driver become one, and also is a chronicle of how far Mazda has grown to establish its own unique style of driving exhilaration. Under the bonnet there is a 2.0-litre fourcylinder engine, which produces 188Nm for the six-speed automatic transmission. A meticulous attention has been paid to the weight and balance of the engine’s moving parts, including the pistons, connecting rods and flywheel which have been lightened to make the engine rev more freely. Outfitted only in a Soul Red Metallic premium coat, the depth of this deep red symbolizes the multi-faceted nature of the fiery fiend within. Creating a striking contrast are the Brilliant Black A-pillars, windshield surround, outside mirrors and MX-5-signature Power-Retractable Hard Top (PRHT). The interior opens up brightly as a luxury lounge with its standard almond leather seats and door trim. But no limited-edition anniversary model is complete without the proper badging. The 25th anniversary logo is pronouncedly etched into the leather headrests as well as on the stainless-steel door scuff plates. On the exterior, a single 25th anniversary badge is mounted onto the driver’s side front fender and features an identifying serial number. As the soul of the sports car continues to be reinvented, this MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition is only the beginning of another 25 years and beyond of daily driving, weekend racing and all the excuses in-between to get behind the wheel.

THE ONE - TROPICAL PUNCH Bring a relaxed island feel to your home with Tropical Punch, one of four new home fashion styles from THE One’s inspiring Autumn/Winter Collection. Simply pair a fresh palette of white, soft turquoise and taupe with a cocktail of bright accent colors, mix in some natural materials, exotic florals, parrots and palm trees for a cool, Bahamas beach house-inspired look. A twotone wall treatment in white and aqua paint - reminiscent of the sea on a perfect summer’s day - will instantly brighten up your space and create a serene backdrop for this down-to-earth feminine style. When it comes to coastal living, think comfort and keep fabrics mostly light and natural with textural appeal. In the seating department for example, go for a generously cushioned sofa in pristine white cotton, an inviting wingback chair in linen-like taupe upholstery and a pair of stitched leather stools in dark brown, for contrast. Perch them all on a golden sand-colored rug along with an informal yet cleverly functional dark wood coffee table, featuring three removable oak trays. Give a few more nods to nature with a bamboo bowl, papyrus-inspired paper wall art and cloud white cotton curtains, to billow gently in the sea breeze. Now it’s time to channel the tropics with some exotic fauna and flora! Nothing says Bahamas quite like a few lush palm trees, a bunch of bright orange Strelitzias, a couple of pineapples and a parrot or cockatoo (albeit only a statue). This season, more realistic, close-up representations of plants, fruits, flowers and insects are in vogue and THE One is all over it! Brighten up your sofa with two of their beautiful botanical style cushions and you’ll be bang on trend. Finally, finish off this cool, calm and collected seaside scene with some fab faux coral and seashells and start living the beach life, sand free.

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ZAFRAN LAUNCHES ITS EXQUISITE NEW WINTER MENU In the presence of local media representatives and invited guests, Zafran, the contemporary Indian restaurant by Foodmark, celebrated the launch of its new menu. The popular restaurant is now tempting food lovers with an exciting new menu with the introduction of new additions along with the regular Zafran favorites. Zafran’s brand Chef Gaurav Singh has crafted the new recipes knitting the global ingredients and techniques with the flavors and traditions of India while complementing the ingredients with the restaurant’s signature contemporary twist. Chef Gaurav Singh along with the entire restaurant team welcomed the local media representatives and other guests to an afternoon of good food and friendly service in heart-warming ambience. They were provided insights on the new dishes that have been introduced in the menu. Some of the new appetizer additions in the Menu include: ‘Masala fried fish’ (deep fried fish with curry leaves and black pepper seasoning), ‘Pakora’ (onion and potato fritters) and ‘Aloo Tikkia’ (pan fried potato cakes on a bed of chickpea masala). New additions also include a sizzling platter for Kebabs – choice of vegetarian, nonvegetarian and seafood designed for family dinners which include chicken mixed grill, veg mixed grill and mixed grill with seafood to name a few. The main dishes have additional choices of biryani’s including ‘Chicken Awadhi Biryani’ and ‘Jumbo Prawn Biryani’. New tandoor items include ‘Hariyali Salmon Yikka’, ‘Bhatti ka Murg’, ‘Pudina Paneer tikka’ and ‘Tandoori king prawn’. Not leaving behind the curries customers can try out the new ‘Zafran chicken curry’, Saag Gosht’ and ‘Lal Mass’ The offer of a new beverage menu compliments the food as well and has varied choices from a ‘lassi’ to the refreshing shakes and mocktails. The feast is not complete unless you enjoy the best in-house dessert ‘zafran phirnee’ (reduced milk cooked with broken rice, saffron and rose water), and the famous ‘kulfi’ (Indian milk ice cream with saffron and pistachio’. Zafran, is located in Salmiya (Salem Al Mubarak Street), is known for its vibrant and modern setting, and is a warm and welcoming retreat for friends and family who wish to relax and enjoy good high quality food at purse-friendly prices. For more information or make a reservation call 2575 0647.

2014 ‫متجر أدولفو دومينغز يحتفل بحضور المصمم العالمي أدولفو دومينغز وإطالق تشكيلة خريف وشتاء‬ ‫ بطرح تشكيلة جديدة من أزياء المصمم العالمي أدولفو‬،‫ بمقره الكائن في مجمع األفنيوز‬،‫إحتفل متجر أدولفو دومينغز‬ .2014 ‫دومينغز لموسم شتاء وخريف‬ ‫ كما شارك بالحضور رئيس مجلس إدارة‬،‫جاء طرح التشكيلة الجديدة برعاية وحضور السفير اإلسباني المعتمد لدى الكويت‬ ‫ باإلضافة إلى‬،‫شركة اإلمتيازات الخليجية القابضةعلي الفليج ونائب رئيس مجلس اإلدارة والرئيس التنفيذي أحمد اليعقوب‬ ‫ كما حرص المصمم اإلسباني أدولفو دومينغز على‬،‫عدد من أعضاء مجلس إدارة الشركة والمدراء وعشاق الموضة واألزياء‬ .‫الحضور للمشاركة في اإلحتفالية التي أقيمت في هذه المناسبة‬ ‫تأتي التشكيلة الجديدة للمصمم اإلسباني أدولفو دومينغز مناسبة لكافة األذواق خاصة المرأة العاشقة لخطوط الموضة‬ ‫العصرية كما تضم باقة من األزياء التي يمكن إرتدائها في مختلف المناسبات كما كان لمالبس السهرة التي تتميز بسحر‬ ‫ كما حرص أدولفو دومينغز على استخدام العديد من الخامات واأللوان والمواد في‬،‫خاص نصيب كبير من التشكيلة الجديدة‬ .‫حياكة تشكيلته للشتاء والخريف‬ ‫ ولم تختلف خطوط‬،‫ هناك أيضا بعض القطع للرجال واألطفال‬،‫باإلضافة إلى باقة األزياء النسائية التي جاءت بها التشكيلة‬ ‫المصمم في إبداع هذه التشكيلة عن الجهد الذي بذله في ابتكار المجموعة النسائية حيث تميزت أيضا بالخطوط العصرية‬ .‫األنيقة ومناسبتها للذوق المحلي‬ 4A MONO BRANDS WINTER ITEMS AT AL OSTOURA All Bundled Up! Get warm in style this winter, with stylish offerings from Al Ostoura. Gorgeous cocoon coats and jackets are a must-have in your closet. Choose from intricately embroidered designs; or more quirky patterns like fur trims, animal prints and cute motifs. For all these and more visit Al Ostoura boutiques at Thuraya Mall, The Avenues, The Gate Mall, Sahab Tower (Salhiya Complex) or visit www.alostoura.com to shop from the comfort of your home. 149

GIVE HIM A DONUT… by Mohammed El Soukkary

“Be a man.” “Stand up for yourself.” “Don’t show weakness.” “Fight for what’s right.” “Violence is not the answer.” “Don’t be a girl.” “An educated man doesn’t behave like a barbarian.” “Only an idiot resorts to violence.” “Defend the weak.” “Be a man.” “God created men to enforce his will on earth.” “Look how pretty she is.” “A real man respects women.” “A real man can get a different woman every day.” “Go on… hit on her…” “You will go to hell if you look lustfully at a woman” “Be a man.” “Hit him; he insulted you.” “Real strength is patience.” “If you don’t fight you are a coward.” “Kindness is strength” “Kindness is weakness.” “Real men don’t cry.” “Real men are scared of nothing.” “Be a Man.” Between the culturally inherited views on men and the associated acceptable behaviors, and the images hailing from the various forms of global media, we have a generation of boys and men that is bombarded from every direction by contradictory messages about what manhood entails. Look at the nearest comic, and you are likely to find a hulking monster of a man as the main character (or even the monstrous Hulk himself if you are lucky), thrashing bad guys left and right and standing victorious over a pile of their inert bodies at the end of the story. Listen to the nearest political or religious speech targeting young men. Listen to what it tells them about their duty, about sacrifice, about hard work and about how they should stand up against what is wrong and for what is right. Consider then what they (we) are taught at schools about how violence is never the answer, and that educated men behave in a civilized manner, avoiding unnecessary confrontation and not causing trouble. The message is drilled ad nauseam. Then there is the reality that young men are exposed to in terms of power dynamics. When they step out of the protective bubbles of their homes, schools, comics, or entertainment, they find that often being good does not necessarily mean that they will win in the end. They sometimes realize that the loudest and most aggressive are the ones who get what they want. Respect and fear become intertwined, and the ethics and morals lauded inside the safety and comfort of the classrooms and texts, loses its luster. That is where things get complicated, because we vilify confrontation in all its forms, and deny its innate presence in our structural make up. Rather than direct and guide its energy towards constructive goals, we attempt to suppress it in most public contexts, allowing it to fester unchecked outside the confines of ethical and moral boundaries. Like all things relegated to taboo status, the relationship between manliness, confrontation, violence, kindness, morality, and ethics has become blurred. Because the relationship is not dealt with 150

in the open, the vacuum has been filled with ideas that have developed through social dynamics particular to every community. This allows for fringe ideas to bleed in and help deform concepts, resulting in a hybrid that compartmentalizes the different aspects of manliness and allows each to grow without any regard to maintaining the balance between them, or even allowing them to act as checks and balances. This fosters selectively black and white world views, as well as internal dissonance in the individual concerned. The same person can hold two conflicting ideas simultaneously, separating their behavior based on circumstance. The same person can be very spiritual for instance within a religious context, extremely abusive in his relationships, illogically aggressive in public, and attentive and careful at work. These selective

views, these pitfalls and vacuums contribute to the spread of extremism and erratic behavior among young men seeking to prove to themselves (and society) that they can live up to the conflicting ideals they have been fed without letting go of their morality or ethics. In the absence of guidelines on managing this behavior, it can spiral out of control and result in both individual and collective violence. Fortunately (for broader society at least) the effects of this confusing and internally distressing equation are often kept well under wraps, exhibited in extreme behavior at sporting events, video games, or other social occasions where it is socially acceptable to vent for a few moments by screaming at the top of your voice and jumping about. So for the love of God, give one a hug, and possibly a donut.

NASSER SPORTS

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

ROCK COVERS by Job Kirby

Album art is indelibly linked to our collective musical memories; when you think of your favorite albums, you picture the covers. Many photographers, illustrators, and art directors have become celebrities from their album artworks – the best examples of which will go down in history as permanent fixtures in popular culture. Paying tribute to this art form, Rock Covers brings you a compilation of more than 750 remarkable album covers, from legendary to rare record releases. Artists as varied as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, The Cure, Iron Maiden, and Sonic Youth are gathered together in celebration of the cover art that defined their albums and their cult status. Each cover is accompanied by a fact sheet listing the art director, photographer or illustrator, and more. This farreaching catalog of visualized rock is contextualized with insider interviews with five professionals who shaped the history of rock, and by top-10 record lists from ten leading rock collectors.

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AS YOU WISH

NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME

by Lena Dunham

by Mike Thomas

BEING MORTAL

by Cary Elwes

From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes As you Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film filled with neverbefore-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner. The Princess Bride has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and one of the top 100 screenplays of all time, the film will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come. In As You Wish, Cary has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets and backstage stories. As You Wish is a must-have for all fans of this beloved film.

For readers of Nora Ephron, Tina Fey, and David Sedaris, this hilarious, wise, and fiercely candid collection of personal essays establishes Lena Dunham – the acclaimed creator, producer, and star of HBO’s Girls – as one of the most original young talents writing today. In Not That Kind of Girl: a young woman tells you what she’s “learned”, Dunham illuminates the experiences that are part of making one’s way in the world: falling in love, feeling alone, being ten pounds overweight despite eating only health food, having to prove yourself in a room full of men twice your age, finding true love, and most of all, having the guts to believe that your story is one that deserves to be told. Exuberant, moving, and keenly observed, Not That Kind of Girl is a series of dispatches from the frontlines of the struggle that is growing up. “A lovely, touching, surprisingly sentimental portrait of a woman who, despite repeatedly baring her body and soul to audiences, remains a bit of an enigma: a young woman who sets the agenda, defies classification and seems utterly at home in her own skin.” – Chicago Tribune

Beloved TV comedic actor Phil Hartman is best known for his eight brilliant seasons on Saturday Night Live, where his versatility and comedic timing resulted in some of the funniest and most famous sketches in the television show’s history. Besides his hilarious impersonations of Phil Donahue, Frank Sinatra and Bill Clinton, Hartman’s other indelible characters included Cirroc the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, Eugene the Anal Retentive Chef and, of course, Frankenstein. But his seemingly charmed life was cut tragically short when he was fatally shot by his troubled third wife, Brynn, who turned a gun on herself several hours later. Now, for the first time ever, the years and moments leading up to his untimely end are described in illuminating detail through exclusive interviews with scores of famous cast mates, close friends, and more. Both joyous tribute and serious biography, You Might Remember Me: the life and times of Phil Hartman is a celebration of his multi-faceted career and an exhaustively reported, warts-and-all examination of his often intriguing and sometimes complicated life.

In Being Mortal, bestselling author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending. Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Hospitals isolate the dying, checking for vital signs long after the goals of cure have become moot. Doctors, committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that in the end extend suffering. Gawande, a practicing surgeon, addresses his profession’s ultimate limitation, arguing that quality of life is the desired goal for patients and families. Full of eye-opening research and riveting storytelling, Being Mortal asserts that medicine can comfort and enhance our experience even to the end, providing not only a good life but also a good end.

by Atul Gawande

source: www.amazon.com

IAA

STARB

BUCKS

bazaar around town CENTREPOINT LAUNCHES AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION The region’s largest fashion retailer is the perfect destination for family fashion this Autumn/Winter. With temperatures set to cool down over the next few months, a new wardrobe for the entire family is a must-have. With an unbelievable range of products, Centrepoint is the definitive destination for family fashion this season. Centrepoint stores across the MENA region will house a vast variety of accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear, make-up and fragrances geared towards the cooler months ahead. Inspired by runway trends from across the world, Splash’s Autumn/Winter collection has an exciting selection of ready-to- wear for both men and women. Women’s wear is inspired by Dark Florals this season. This range features maxi dresses, flowy pants, trench coats and soft tailored jackets. Another edgy trend is the rocker-inspired Punk look. Key pieces from these collections include boxy coats, twisted tops, tailored jackets and draped dresses. Men can go for a formal, casual or sporty looks this season with Splash. Formals incorporate elements of classic British heritage such as blazer waistcoat sets, sartorial puffers and aviator jackets. Sportswear includes long t-shirts, sweatshirts, joggers and neoprene jackets. Shoemart offers a wide variety of shoes and accessories for kids, men, and women this season. Women are in for a delight with an exquisite collection of shoes that incorporate flashes of metal, multi-faceted trends and color bursts. Shoemart has a variety of modern and elegant boots, stilettos, power flats and peep-toed shoes. Shoemart’s collection for men incorporates traditional styles with quirky patterns, details and durable materials. Men can opt for signature highlander boots, casual sneakers, formal footwear, moccasins or classic sandals. Lifestyle houses an amazing range of mascaras, eye shadows, lipsticks and lip balms for women this season from the professional makeup line NYX and Misslyn. Being bold and beautiful is easier than ever with NYX’s Color Mascara, Lush Lashes Mascara and Hot singles eye shadow. Enhance your locks and stand out from the crowd with Hair Lights and Hair Mascara by Misslyn. With such a diverse offering of products, Centrepoint is the perfect destination for the entire family’s fashion needs this Autumn/Winter season. So stop by any of the stores located at Al Rai, Hawally, Salmiya, Kuwait City, Fahaheel, Jahra, Fintas, Sulaibikhat and The Avenues, for a wonderful shopping experience.

ROYALE HAYAT HOSPITAL WELCOMES DR. ROKAYA FATHY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY Royale Hayat Hospital recently welcomed Dr. Rokaya Fathy specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology with over 20 years of experience to join the team of physicians at RHH Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Rokaya is a graduate of MB.ChB from Faculty of Medicine for Girls; she has a Master’s Degree in Gynecology and Obstetrics, and a Diploma in Gynecological Operative Endoscopy, in addition to being a member of the Egyptian Gynecology Cancer Society. Her outstanding experience includes management of low and high risk pregnancy, recurrent abortions and ectopic pregnancy, hormonal disturbance at puberty and menopause, ovulation induction and I.U.I, normal and aperture deliveries, Endoscopic surgeries and diagnostic operations (Laparoscopy – Hysteroscopy – Colposcopy), and early detection of Gynecologic Tumors. Royale Hayat Hospital is committed to provide unprecedented medical services by seeking devoted and experienced professionals to guarantee excellent care parallel with advanced technology and exceptional hospitality. For more information you can visit www.royalehayat.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram on: @royalehayat. HOME CENTRE LAUNCHES LATEST CATALOGUE FEATURING 135 NEW STYLE BUYS Tailored to suit every style and budget Home Centre, the region’s leading home retailer, has released its latest catalogue featuring a bigger and better collection than ever before. The 140-page catalogue features several new style buys to give your home the now-factor. Whether classic or contemporary or a clever combination of the two, the catalogue introduces a comprehensive range of furniture and accessories that quite evidently reinforces the brand’s promise that ‘No Two Homes Will Be The Same’ with Home Centre. The newest catalogue from Home Centre takes an editorial slant, offering tips, style advice and recommendations for the house-proud reader. Some of the highlights of this year’s catalogue are new special features such as ‘Six of the Best’, ‘Object of Desire’ and ‘Outstanding Value’. ‘Six of the Best’ features the top furniture picks of a category, the ‘Object of Desire’ collection highlights three sought-after products and the ‘Outstanding Value’ segment reveals a variety of affordable living, dining and bedroom collections and accessories. The catalogue will be available at all Home Centre stores located at Al Rai, Shuwaikh, Fahaheel, Kuwait City and The Avenues and can also be viewed online at www.homecentrestores.com and Facebook: homecentrestores. 156

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT, KUWAIT CITY HAS ARRIVED Marriott International proudly announces the introduction of its extended stay brand in Kuwait The Residence Inn by Marriott Kuwait City has recently opened its doors to the 139 suites property, to welcome its extended stay travelers. This is the brand’s first property in Kuwait, but its second in the region, with an existing Residence Inn by Marriott Manama Juffair in Bahrain. Coming to the region under a long-term management agreement with United Family, the Residence Inn by Marriott Kuwait City has become the third brand and property within Marriott International’s portfolio in Kuwait along with JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City and Courtyard by Marriott Kuwait City. A long-standing leader in the extended-stay segment, Residence Inn by Marriott has the thirdlargest number of hotels and revenue in the Marriott International portfolio worldwide. Designed for a traveler who seeks balance on the road, along with large suites and upscale amenities, Residence Inn hotels are ideal for guests who need accommodation for a day, a week, a month or more. Residence Inn by Marriott Kuwait City extends the feeling of a comfortable home away from home and offers guests inviting and functional public spaces to relax or collaborate. Other hotel facilities and services include a fitness center, business center and three meeting rooms designed to accommodate small meetings or events. It is also an ideal option providing spacious overnight accommodations for out-of-town wedding guests and family reunions. Rates vary depending on length of stay and the hotel is now open for bookings for all stays for all dates. Perfectly located in the Sharq business district, Residence Inn by Marriott Kuwait City has a lobby that offers a communal environment including a self-service lounge, and a warm casual restaurant – The Blendz. A “grab and go” kiosk/market offering snacks, basic food items, newspapers, magazines and various sundries is located adjacent to the front desk. Three fully equipped meeting rooms are available with state-of-the-art technology and a professional event management team to handle all details. Overlooking the beautiful blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, the sun-drenched meeting rooms are an ideal location for any corporate events and meetings. Residence Inn featuring its fitness facilities will allow travelers to continue with their regular routine of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. For bookings or more information, visit them at www.residenceinnkuwait.com or call 2299 7100.

)Orchid Medical Center( ‫مركز أوركيد الطبي‬ ‫خدمات غير مسبوقة في مجال عمليات التجميل والعناية بالبشرة‬ ‫ والذي يتخذ من مجمع «أكنان» في‬،‫أعلن مركز أوركيد الطب عن إطالق عمليات التجميل والعناية بالبشرة‬ ‫ في خطوة من شأنها أن تؤسس لمرحلة جديدة على مستوى قطاع التجميل والعناية‬،‫منطقة السالمية مقراً له‬ ‫ سواء من ناحية االستعانة‬،‫ وذلك استناداً إلى المعايير العالمية التي يعتمدها المركز‬،‫بالبشرة في دولة الكويت‬ ‫بكادر مميز من أطباء عالميين وأصحاب اإلختصاص والخبرات الطويلة أو عبر توفير بنية تحتية تكنولوجية‬ .‫متطورة ومتكاملة من خالل اإلستعانة بأحدث المعدات الطبية المعتمدة من قبل شركات عالمية‬ ‫» يعد تأسيس‬:‫ فقد صرح المدير اإلداري «أسامة الناصر» في تصريح صحفي‬،‫وتعليقاً على بدء المركز نشاطه‬ ‫ ثمرة أشهر طويلة من الجهود‬،‫مركز أوركيد الطبي كجهة متخصصة في مجال عمليات التجميل والعناية بالبشرة‬ ‫والدراسات التي هدفت إلطالق مركز طبي يتبنى المعايير العالمية المعتمدة في هذا المجال ويوفر في الوقت‬ ‫ وذلك يساهم‬،‫ ما يجعل نشاطها متميز عن ما هو سائد في السوق المحلي‬،‫نفسه مستوى راق من الخدمات‬ ‫ كان هناك تركيز على ضرورة اعتماد‬،‫»انطالقًا من هذا الواقع‬:‫ وأضاف الناصر‬،‫في تحقيق قيمة مضافة للعمالء‬ ‫ وهو ما تمثل بشكل خاص في عنصرين أساسيين هما‬،‫وابتكار نموذج يتفرد بجملة من الخصائص والمزايا‬ ،‫ من أصحاب االختصاص والكفاءات والخبرات‬،‫التعاقد مع مجموعة من الكوادر الطبية األجنبية الالمعة في مجالها‬ ‫ وذلك عبر اإلستعانة بأحدث المعدات الطبية المعتمدة من قبل‬،‫والتركيز على توفير بنية تحتية تقنية متطورة‬ .‫شركات عالمية‬ ‫كما أن هذه الخطط تزامنت مع حرص المركز بالحصول على أعلى الشهادات الدولية المعترف بها من قبل‬ ‫ بما يوفر الراحة للعمالء ويحافظ على‬،‫ باإلضافة إلى توفير بيئة مالئمة داخل المركز‬،‫جهات عالمية شهيرة‬ ‫ هذا باإلضافة إلى توفير خدمات ذات قيمة مضافة من حيث متابعة الملف الطبي للعميل وتقديم‬،‫الخصوصية‬ .‫اإلستشارات المستمرة‬ ‫وأوضح أسامة الناصر أن المركز يتطلع إلى تقديم خدمات راقية وغير مسبوقة في مجال عمليات التجميل‬ ‫ األول من خالل النشاط الخاص‬،‫ وسيتركز نشاطه بشكل خاص في توجهين أساسيين‬،‫والعناية بالبشرة‬ ‫ أما النشاط الثاني فمن خالل‬،‫بالعناية بالبشرة وكل ما هو مرتبط بإزالة الشعر وتحسين وترميم البشرة‬ ‫ ويتولى هذا الجانب أطباء من أصحاب اإلختصاص‬،‫عمليات التجميل والترميم والتي تشمل مختلف أنحاء الجسم‬ ‫ناجي حايك وهو اختصاصي جراحة التجميل والترميم وعضو كلية‬.‫من بينهم البروفسور اللبناني المعروف د‬ .‫الجراحين األمريكية‬ ‫ يترك لهم خيار اختيار المستشفى التي‬،‫ولفت الناصر إلى أن المركز وبهدف توفير مزيد من المرونة للعمالء‬ ‫سيتم فيها إجراء مثل هذه العمليات مشيراً إلى استعداد المركز لتقديم كافة الدعم الالزم والمطلوب في هذا‬ ‫المجال كونه يملك شبكة واسعة من العالقات اإلستراتيجية مع مختلف المؤسسات المرتبطة بمراحل العملية‬ .‫الجراحية‬ 157

GUIDE TO DRIVING IN KUWAIT by Lulua Al Osaimi

1. First rule: there are no rules. 2. Second: Common sense and common courtesy…are not so common. 3. Must have your own car and so does every single person in your home along with a driver or two. 4. Choose whatever car you dream, because hey, let’s face it, you live with your parents until you’re married, so NO BILLS. 5. Yes, I said your dream car, even if you have no clue how to properly drive it. 6. Get a driver’s license, syke, that’s what “wasta” is for. 7. Throw all consideration out the window, this is your road, no one else’s. 8. Keep your phone on hand at ALL times: You never know when someone from your high school “Whatsapp” friends group needs to send you a text of an emojicon story of what happened at The Avenues that day. 9. And duh, you must check your Instagram feed at every red light. Like, like, like. 10. Never, ever, use your blinker. 11. Merging, what is that? No, it’s every man for themselves, no, I won’t let you in, noooo. 12. Zipper merges, wait...zippers like on my Fendi bag? That’s the only zipper I’m familiar with. 13. Spot a car accident? Must yell at the traffic, honk horns, flash lights, and then take at least ten full Mississippi seconds to block all traffic to stare. 14. No car accident? Must take at least five seconds to stare at every driver regardless. 15. Crosswalk? “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” 16. When someone wants to merge into your lane, SPEED UP! 17. When in doubt, never look in your rearview mirror. Say a silent prayer and hope that the other person drives a car as nice as yours, so they will not want to smash their’s either. 158

18. Wait, what’s a rearview mirror? Isn’t that what I have a camera/sensors for? 19. Look straight. If you make eye contact, that is equal to holding up a sign that says “FOLLOW ME FOR HOURS.” 20. Cup holder must hold a Pumpkin Spiced latte at all times. Unless you want to take a drink, in that case you must shift your phone to your other hand, use your right hand to drink, and drive with your knees. 21. I can’t even make a joke out of this one… Good gracious! Where are all the car seats?!? Put that baby in a car seat and strap their precious tiny body in! 22. Women, please, let’s not perpetuate the stereotype that “Women are bad drivers.” 23. Speed limit, is that what those signs with numbers are on the side of the road? 24. Driving on Gulf Street, look forward. No really, seriously, always just look forward. 25. Allow the Mustangs, Camaros, Lambos, and any other fast car to dodge and weave around you and the others, they are clearly practicing for Fast and the Furious #38, duhhh. 26. Don’t go on the 2nd Ring Road in the evenings, unless you are up to no good. 27. Emergency lanes = Extra lane for all! 28. Roundabouts…Oh dear, take a deep breath, and don’t exhale until you have exited the roundabout. 29. Read this while driving. 30. Okay I’m joking about #29! But, I know you’re reading this while driving, put your phone down! 31. Remember to say a prayer when turning on your car and remember, revolution begins with one…. Blinker. Stay safe on the roads, people!

HYPOXI

bazaar scopes what’s your sign?

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 – DEC 21 Got the blues? Try not to give in. Focus on things that make you feel happy. It’s a great time to make efforts in health and fitness. Start a nutrition plan. Go to the gym. Maybe even look into signing up for a class. Just don’t be afraid to put yourself first this month. It’s a wise investment.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 Tired of trying to please an impossible boss? Don’t. Do things as you know how, and let him/ her fix the rest. And, definitely don’t take the aggravation home with you. Also, if your boss happens to be a Taurus, watch out for meddling. Know where to draw the line, and stand by it.

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18 It’s your own fickleness that’s driving you crazy. Figure out what you really want. Trying new things has never been hard for you. It’s sticking to them that’s your problem. Advice? Slow down, and set aside a period of time for that new activity – and don’t back down until the time’s up.

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 20 Feel like you’re just going through the motions in romance? Bring your heart back into the picture. You’re hit with some serious relationship questions. Think before you answer. Honesty and sincerity are the only ways to obtain the closeness you so desire. Weigh your options carefully.

ARIES MAR 21 – APR 19 Things aren’t exactly where you want them on the job? Practice patience. It’s OK to do the same thing over and over again; this kind of work ethic pays off in the long run. Socially, it’s time to meet new people. A Sagittarian makes a friendly overture this month. Accept.

TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20 Too much work and no play isn’t good for anyone, Taurus. Especially not for someone

who’s been going at it for as long and hard as you have. Take a break. Use this month to plan a special trip – and make it a long one. There will be plenty of time for work when you return!

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21 If finances aren’t looking too good this month, it may be time to make a new plan. Take time out to budget your expenses for the month – or the year. Feeling creative? Make a flowchart, and note where unaccounted-for pennies are going. You’ll probably be surprised with the outcome.

CANCER JUN 22 – JUN 22 This is not the month to be your usual practical self. It’s a month to treat yourself right. Work stressing you out? Call in sick, and enjoy some downtime. Your romantic outlook is good for the coming weeks, but move slowly if you want to secure victories in matters of the heart.

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22 You seem to be doing a lot of talking lately, Leo, and not enough listening. Wise up. A Gemini friend comes to you for career advice. You have the chance for a starring role this month behind the scenes, instead of in the spotlight, like you’re accustomed to. Don’t blow it.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22 Romance not going your way? Things can change this month, but it’s up to you. Are you going to keep dwelling on the past, or will you look to the future for happiness? It’s your choice. Don’t know where to look? Check right under your nose. You’ll like what you see.

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22 Work isn’t everything. Practice telling yourself that over and over again this month. You’ll find things changing from stressful to dull often. That’s OK. Don’t forget you can make your own challenges outside the workplace. Plan things to look forward to. New romance looks promising.

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22 Slow down, Libra. You’re trying too hard to do too many things – romance, work, friends, family, hobbies and downtime. There’s time for it all, but not in one day. Use this month to take time out for yourself. The weekend is a great time to focus on romance, but if things don’t go the way you want, don’t force it. Instead, let go.

source: www.2014horoscope.com 160

UGG

The Avenues

Marina Mall

The Gate

Tel: 22200790

KUWAIT 2nd Avenue, The Avenues Tel: 22597500, Ext: 7080

MARELLA (OBC)