CityPages December 2015

MAGAZINE ISSUE No.

72

DECEMBER 2015

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Abdul Mohsen BEHBEHANI

Upholding the family tradition LIFESTYLE / PEOPLE / EVENTS / FASHION

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contents ISSUE 72, VOLUME 5, DECEMBER 2015 ENTERTAINMENT

FOOD

FASHION

HEALTH

116. Citypages Fashion Report 119. The Style Code 120. Fashion News

72. Exposing Uv 74. Why Do Your Fingers Prune Up After A Bath?

76. Obesity Surgery 78. Kuwait Child Resources Centre

FEATURES

INTERVIEW

91. Top Music Charts 96. December Movie Releases

20. Life After Divorce-Advice For The Modern Woman 22. Never Blame The Weather 24. Making Yourself At Home 26. That Festive Feeling…

34. Image Creation-Myths Of Our Time 36. ‫سوشيال ميديا ديتوكس‬ 38. Family And Friends Are Not Always Right 40. For The Love Of Walking 42. “Running Shoes At Dawn, Anyone?”

50. The Gloomy Side Of Peregrine Spode 58. Homes For Entertaining This New Year 68. Anatomy Of A Dig 88. The Kuwait Book Fair

54. Green Concoctions, Local Gelato And Hot Chocolate…

80. Let’s Get Real With Nat

28. Abdul Mohsen Behbehani 44. Jamie & Alana Karehana 60. Tamara Saab 82. Tamara Hayat 92. Eric Fabro 100. Anwar Ahmad 110. Osama Bastaki

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Baitak Tower: 22257908 Behbehani Complex: 22403954 Symphony Mall: 22441614 www.ybsco.net

contents ISSUE 72, VOLUME 5, DECEMBER 2015

TECHNOLOGY 104. Cool New Gadgets 106. Tech Updates & News

TRAVEL 52. Top Five ‘Musts’ For Tokyo, Japan

REGULARS 56. The City Guide 90. In Permanent Pursuit Of Perfection 98. December Book Releases 99. Book Club 109. Adopt A Street Princess

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60

92

126. Events 136. Press 144. Horoscopes 146. Homework For Grown Ups

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100

44 82

MAGAZINE

From the Editor Dear Readers, Welcome to the final CityPages of the year - and what a year it’s been! I will look back at 2015 with a combination of pride and melancholy. There’s no denying the magazine has gone from strength to strength and my sincere thanks go to both my team for their hard work and commitment, and also to you, the readers, for your continued support - we couldn’t have done it without you. But as we know, behind every success story there is sacrifice and my thoughts are with those who, for one reason or another, we lost throughout the year.

Dhari Al-Muhareb Editor-in-Chief

This December issue definitely supports the expression ‘last but not least’. In fact, we’re leaving 2015 with a bang; starting with our cover star Abdul Mohsen Behbehani. Not only does Mr. Behbehani grace our cover, he also took time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about his luxury brand business. We were honored and privileged to meet this successful but humble man and to learn more about his grandfather’s legacy. Don’t miss his words of wisdom in his very candid interview.

Jameel Arif

General Manager & Editor

Eng. Homoud Al-Muhareb Publishing Director

Gill Sherry

We were also lucky to talk to Osama Bastaki about his upcoming Auto Moto, the successful Motor Show turning the heads of motor manufacturers from across the globe. This well established annual event takes place at 360 Mall from 17th to 23rd January – definitely a date for your brand new diary!

Group Editor

Kinda Al-Faris

Executive Editor

We have two Tamaras in our pages this month. Tamara Saab talks about her rise to radio stardom and Tamara Hayat introduces us to her world of miniatures. Both fascinating stories not to be missed.

Muhammed Altaf Sr. Sales Manager

When it comes to photography, Eric Fabro knows every picture tells a story. But he’s taken this theory one step further by making a short film with a definite message behind it. Read on to learn what lead to this ambitious decision and what he hopes to achieve from his aspiring project.

Nathalie Roland Sales Manager

Claudia Farias

Anwar Ahmad is another talent who sees life through a lens. Anwar shares her story with us – including the challenges she faces as a female photographer.

Content Supervisor

Tanya Burns

Creative Director

For those interested in keeping fit, December sees the start of a new series of articles brought to you

by Jamie and Alana Karehana. Their joint expertise in everything ‘health and fitness’ is sure to inspire and encourage, so don’t miss their tips and advice on how to find that illusive life balance. You will also find other health related articles to grab your interest along with your usual regular favorites.

Graphic Designers

Mohammed Syed Khaled Al-Enezi

Happy holidays to you all. See you next year!

Jameel Arif

General Manager & Editor

Published by:

jameelrf@citypageskuwait.com

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DISCLAIMER

Extra care has been used to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors and omissions in the publication. In addition, the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Photos have been altered to comply with the Laws of Kuwait.

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COPYRIGHTS

All rights reserved. No part of this publication including pictures, articles, artworks, and overall design may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any language in any form or means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the written permission of the editor or the publisher. Copyright © December 2015

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MAGAZINE

The Team! #72 DECEMBER 2015 Kinda Al Faris Executive Editor

I hope you're all enjoying the cold front we've been experiencing, Europe had nothing on us!

I love the winter season in Kuwait when we are all celebrating and looking forward to the string of holidays coming up.

I'm guessing everyone's Christmas tree is decorated, and hoping that you're sitting around it with your warm weather drinks taking in the joy of it all.

ON THE COVER: Abdul Mohsen Behbehani PHOTOGRAPHY Claude Stephen

I'm taking a break from interviews this month, but will be back with a very special person in January's issue, so look out for it then.

In the meantime, enjoy the season. Happy Holidays to you all !

Abdullah Y. Shams AlDeen Abdulaziz Al-Khamis Abdalla AlMuzaini Ali - DJ RAVEN ASAMA Perfumes BirthKuwait Dr. Nazia Nausheen Faisal Al-Dhofari Erika Habig John McArthur Julieta Altamiranda Layla Harmony Maha Al-Rashed

Photography Team Abdullah Hamadah Abdulaziz AlSoraya Abdulaziz AlShayaji Natalia Sitcai Othman AlMishaan Dalal AlDhughaishem

Nadia Al-Hassan Nada Soliman Nada Faris Nour Al-Zaabi Paul Tunbridge Sanaa Abdul Hamid Sandra Bakhamian Sherihan A. Hassabo Talah Alabdulaaly Tassnim Hassoun Zahra Taqi

Distribution Team V. Rajan S. V. Gopal

Sincerely,

Kinda Al Faris

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‫دورة دﺑﻠﻮم اﻟﺘﺪرﻳﺐ‬ ‫ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻌﺎون ﻣﻊ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ ﺳﻴﺪة ﻟﻮﻳﺰة ‪N.D.U‬‬ ‫ﻓﺮع اﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻢ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻤﺮ ‪ -‬ﺑﻴﺮوت ‪ -‬ﻟﺒﻨﺎن‬

‫)‬ ‫* دورة دﺑﻠﻮم اﻟﺘﺪرﻳﺐ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﻠﻮم اﻹدارﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﺠﺎرﻳﺔ )اﻟﺘﺴﻮﻳﻖ واﻟﻤﺒﻴﻌﺎت(‬ ‫* دورة دﺑﻠﻮم اﻟﺘﺪرﻳﺐ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﻠﻮم اﻹدارﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﺠﺎرﻳﺔ )إدارة اﻻﻋﻤﺎل(‬ ‫* دورة دﺑﻠﻮم اﻟﺘﺪرﻳﺐ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﻠﻮم اﻹدارﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﺠﺎرﻳﺔ )إدارة اﻟﻤﻮارد اﻟﺒﺸﺮﻳﺔ(‬ ‫* دورة دﺑﻠﻮم اﻟﺘﺪرﻳﺐ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﻠﻮم اﻹدارﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﺠﺎرﻳﺔ )اﻟﻤﺤﺎﺳﺒﺔ اﻟﻤﺎﻟﻴﺔ واﻟﺒﻨﻮك(‬ ‫* دورة دﺑﻠﻮم اﻟﺘﺪرﻳﺐ ﻓﻲ ﻋﻠﻮم اﻟﻜﻤﺒﻴﻮﺗﺮ )اﻟﺠﺮاﻓﻴﻚ(‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻜﻮﻳﺖ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﺴﺎﻟﻤﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﺷﺎﺭﻉ ﺳﺎﻟﻢ ﺍﻟﻤﺒﺎﺭﻙ‬ ‫ﻣﺠﻤﻊ ﺳﻴﻤﻔﻮﻧﻲ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﺪﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﺜﺎﻧﻲ‬ ‫ﺗﻠﻘﻮﻥ ‪٩٩٩٩٤٦٠٢ - ٢٢٢٤٥٢٢٢ :‬‬ ‫‪info@ihikuwait.com‬‬ ‫‪ihikuwait.com‬‬

LIFE AFTER DIVORCE ADVICE FOR THE MODERN WOMAN

Zahra Taqi Zahra is a Certified Professional Coach and the President of Milestones Coaching. She would love to hear back from you. So please feel free to drop her a line on her email: zahrataqi@gmail. com or find her on FB: http://www. facebook.com/MilestonesCoaching or twitter: @MilestonesCoach

Divorce is a major life event that can leave a person bewildered, sad and angry. After you have invested in one person and built a life with him, you find yourself alone, having to take on responsibilities that might previously have been shared or delegated to your husband.

After X number of years being married, even if it was a miserable marriage, divorce is not a happy event or one that you have welcomed. Divorce shifts the dynamics not only within your family but also within yourself.

Once divorce has happened, now what? Where do you go? How do you start over? Here are a few tips to help you, but before getting to those tips just remember that divorce is not the end of the road, nor is it the end of your life. There is life after divorce and many times it is happier and more balanced, especially if your marriage had been falling apart for years prior to your divorce.

Now that you know this fact, it is time to move forward.

1.Grieve: Take time to grieve your marriage and

your relationship but do not wallow in your misery.

Acknowledge your feelings, your hurt, anger and disappointment and recognize them for what they are.

After you have done that, acknowledge that you have power over your feelings and not the other way around.

Make a conscious decision that you want to, and have to, move on.

2.Think positive thoughts: Negative thoughts

such as “My life is over”, “What will people think of me now?” and “I can’t get over this” will keep puling you down whenever you try to move on. Change the way you think and you will change the way you feel.

Negative thoughts will affect your approach to life and will hinder your efforts in moving forward. Change the way you think about yourself and change your selftalk. Talk positively to yourself, surround yourself with positive mantras, and tell yourself that you can do this; you can move on and you certainly will. citypageskuwait.com

3.Set an example to your kids: While your

marriage might be over, your role as a parent is a lifelong one. What kind of mom do you want to be for your children? Also, if your own daughter is ever in your place, how would you want her to handle the situation? Do not wallow in your misery, be an example for your children and demonstrate that life simply goes on.

4.Define your relationship with your exhusband: You will need to talk about parenting

with your ex husband. As much as you may wish for him to be absent from your life, you still have to deal with him because of the shared love for your children.

Define your relationship with him in an adult manner away from bickering and anger. You will both need to put your differences aside and discuss your roles as parents to your kids.

5.Create a support system: Now is your time

to be a little selfish by creating a network of people to support you. Hire a counselor or a coach to help you deal with your grief and anger and to assist you in moving on. Divorce is one of life’s biggest milestones and it will help tremendously if you have some professionals to guide you.

6.Start something new: A new hobby or a new job will help you feel excited again about life. A new experience is a great way to gain confidence and help you feel like life is still worth living.

Life is messy but its beauty lies in its chaos. Embrace this fact, love life and allow life to love you back.

“If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you're allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind.” ~ Shannon Adler

December, 2015

NEVER BLAME THE WEATHER

Nadeen Dakkak

Nadeen studied English Literature in Kuwait and England. She's interested in language, literature, film, theater and culture.

Yes, I shamefully admit that I always blame it on Kuwait's weather – the fact that I'm not as active as I would like to be, that I do not belong to those strange species who start their day with a run on the beach. I don't lead a very healthy lifestyle, my dreams of becoming more involved in outdoor activities never materialize, and I struggle to wake up early in the morning for work or school, and all this is definitely Kuwait's fault. I still remember the conversations my friends and I used to have in school about how Kuwait magically turns us into zombies with no energy for anything. We would say something vague about the percentage of oxygen in the air with the pretentious knowledgeability of high school students, and often recount experiences of Levantine summers in which we always seemed to have so much energy despite the few hours of sleep. I believe it unlikely that those conversations have taken into consideration the difference between having to wake up for school, and wanting to wake up for an exciting day with cousins and friends. And so, Kuwait's poor weather would always take the blame.

To be honest, I'm not sure if there is any scientific basis to our claim that Kuwait's weather makes people lazy, or that, as many of us jokingly say, this country with its heat and dust, is not a proper place for human survival.

Yes, we must have heard that somewhere, but as I am not intending to settle anywhere else at the moment, I stay as far away from science as possible for my own peace of mind. I distinctly remember the miserable days in which, as a university student compelled to take a summer course, I had to walk in the sun as fast as I could to catch the bus that would take me to another campus. In that overwhelming heat, my dream of travelling abroad after graduation became more like a mirage, and I myself became a thirsty four-centuriesold Arab traveller, striving to reach water instead of an air-conditioned bus.

But when that mirage-like dream became a reality, the condemned appeared to be a victim, and I realized that Kuwait's weather, though very discouraging at

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times, could not possibly be held accountable for my unfulfilled resolution to have a healthier and a more active lifestyle. I have recently had the chance to spend an entire year in a place where July and August are equivalent to Kuwait's February and March, where a breathtakingly beautiful landscape with all the shades of green can be seen from one's window, and where the number of sheep exceeds that of cars. Indeed nothing could be more relaxing than contemplating the peaceful life of these adorable fluffy creatures which, from a distance, look like white dots on green hills.

And yet, this place which I so lovingly describe is not that admirable in the eyes of its own countrymen. Two centuries ago, England's flamboyant Romantic poet, Lord Byron, sarcastically writes about its weather, "I like the weather, when it is not rainy, / That is, I like two months of every year." But rain is bliss to those who only get to wear their fashionable wellies in shopping malls, and so I found myself pretty satisfied with the new climate and even optimistic about the prospect of an active life. The dramatic change in the weather, however, had no magical effect on my lifestyle, as you must have guessed by now, and my enthusiasm faded away after the first few weeks, that is, after I have realized that the problem was not the weather, but my own lack of will.

Kuwait's weather turned out to be innocent, after all.

I have always used it as an excuse, even though it is easily substituted by a never-ending list of similar excuses, like a busy schedule, a bad mood, or even rainy English weather. Only a few months in Byron's land were enough for his two lines of verse to ring true in my ears. People tend to draw comfort from the fact that they're not alone, that their problem is a universal one. I too, like to think of myself as part of an entire class of beings who justify their inactive lifestyle by blaming it on the place in which they live.

But sometimes, I also like to think that I can one day belong to the species that actively defy Kuwait's heat and somehow resist the laziness which the rest of us inhale along with its suspicious oxygen. At least, I hope I can do that before I quickly find myself some new excuses.

MAKING YOURSELF AT HOME

Paul Tunbridge A professional Facilities Manager from England, and with work experience across mainland Europe before arriving in Kuwait in 2007 Paul's interests include architecture and gardening as well as creative writing and the arts in general.

Moving from one place to another is often quite stressful and traumatic, especially if the place you are leaving had been exactly as you had wanted it, or held special memories. It is therefore important to transform your new space to meet your own tastes and lifestyle as quickly as possible, so that you can quickly return to your comfort-zone and feel relaxed in your new home.

This was particularly significant for me recently, when my 91-year-old mother decided to give up her home of 34 years and move into an assisted-living residential home, whereupon she would have to leave or condense all her possessions from a 3-bedroom house to fit into just one room in her new home! With such a major transition for someone of her mature years, it was essential that she should settle quickly and feel totally comfortable in her new surroundings. A week before the move, her new room was freshly painted in her favourite colours, and her prized paintings were hung in pride of place on the walls so that she would have some personal touches as soon as she walked through the door. As I write this, just two weeks after the move, she now has all her chosen framed photos and most valued ornaments displayed in new shelving units; her familiar cushions and bedcovers are in situ and all stylishly co-ordinated; and when we talk on Skype she seems so happy and settled already.

As with any life-event, we have a tendency to pay greater attention to the needs of our nearest and dearest than

citypageskuwait.com

to ourselves. Thus, when moving from one home to another, our priority is to tackle all the tasks which will help our children, parents, wives and husbands feel most at home in the shortest possible time. When we are single and live alone, there can be a greater tendency to simply move in and put up with what’s there, but to accept this we are missing a trick! I have always believed that everyone needs to be able to go home after a day at work or study, and be able to fully relax in their own space, and that to relax the space has to feel like a true home. But for anywhere to feel like a true home it has to be de-sterilised and personalised.

Yet to create a good homely feel does not have to break the bank or reduce your bank manager to tears.

And, especially if you are renting somewhere shortterm, consideration has to be given to the cost of personalisation.

When I first arrived in Kuwait I moved quickly into a serviced apartment. It was nice, but basic and sterile.

It felt like someone else’s apartment, and nobody’s apartment at the same time. Within two days I had popped into a mall and acquired some cushions and covers, colourful bedlinen, some photo frames and a few other selected items for display, all of which reflected my own style and personality. For just a small outlay, my space was instantly transformed and had become a warmer and cosier place which welcomed me after work each day.

Personalising a room is all about creating a space which reflects your personality, and about surrounding yourself with things that mean something to you – whether of sentimental value or just that you simply like them. It’s an opportunity to put your own stamp on a room. It’s also about style!

Just one year ago I moved into a new apartment. It was my 8th house move in as many years and, as always, I was faced with an empty space and white walls throughout.

Bringing in my existing furniture helped to make it quickly feel like my own space, but it lacked the full homely feel until I started to put my more individual stamp on it. Taking one of my favourite colours, and matching to a pre-existing rug, I painted just one wall which runs almost the entire length of the apartment. This was to be my ‘statement’ wall on which nothing would be hung. All other white walls could then be used to display pictures etc., and a couple of large mirrors would reflect the colour of the wall and create blocks of interest. The key then was to choose matching or complimentary accessories and, hey presto, I had a warm and comfortable living space that reflects my taste and personality. The pictures that accompany this article will give you an idea, hopefully, of how I used colour interest to link everything together and provide a unified look that oozes the welcoming warmth for which I had been looking. This may not be to your personal taste, but hopefully you will feel inspired to view your own space in a different light, and to get creative.

December, 2015

That Festive Feeling…

Gill Sherry Having enjoyed a successful 30 year career in insurance, Gill left the UK to move to Kuwait.

She is now a valued member of the CityPages team where she is utilizing her editing and writing skills. In addition to her official role as Group Editor, Gill also contributes with regular interviews, features and reviews.

Instagram: @gsherryq8

I must admit, when I moved to Kuwait last year I wasn’t expecting to see much evidence of Christmas.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to see miniature snowmen, Santa hats and Christmas trees, along with other festive paraphernalia, for sale in the supermarkets.

Christmas was also evident in other retail stores, with window displays designed to entice customers with their twinkling lights and snow-filled scenes. This year appears to be no different with shops clearly taking advantage of this magical winter tradition.

I suppose it’s obvious when you think about it. Why would Kuwait not enter into the Christmas spirit and enjoy the festive celebrations? If there’s one thing I’ve learned since moving from the UK, it’s that Kuwait is quick to welcome those from other countries, along with their varying cultures and beliefs. And in the same way that ex-pats embrace Eid-al-Fitr, Eid-al-Adha and other significant Islamic festivals, Kuwait has learned to embrace an alternative season of goodwill.

The shocking incident on 26th June this year proved citypageskuwait.com

that the people of Kuwait, in all their varying nationalities and religions, want nothing more than to live a happy, harmonious and peaceful life. They will help each other in their hour of need, regardless of their background or beliefs, and live side by side, respectful of each other’s culture.

So, happy in the knowledge that Christmas is not the taboo subject I suspected it would be, I can fill my shopping basket with baubles, tinsel and fairly lights and create my very own Santa’s grotto. Judging by the number of Christmas trees lighting up people’s windows, I’m not the only one to enter into the Christmas spirit.

There are numerous ways to take advantage of the festive holiday season and to enjoy the age-old tradition of giving and receiving. Winter Bazaars are held across Kuwait offering a variety of gifts and other Christmas related items. And no Christmas would be complete without a Pantomime! These date back to as early as the sixteenth century and are as popular today as they’ve ever been. Based loosely around well known

fairy-tales, the stage shows are essential Christmas entertainment for children and adults alike. This year, the Staged in Kuwait team grace the stage with their own unique version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which will no doubt prove just as popular as last year’s Cinderella, with guaranteed audience participation and feel-good, hearty laughter.

As you may expect, Christmas is widely celebrated in the UK with shops, garden centers and hotels displaying their festive wares as early as September. Certainly, if you fancy a change of scene this December, there’s no better place to create your very own winter’s tale. Christmas markets can be found in most large cities, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham.

But the biggest and best is London’s Winter Wonderland. Situated in Hyde Park, this seasonal event is more than just a market. In addition to the usual stalls selling everything

from clothing, jewellery and accessories to handmade crafts, lanterns and candles, you’ll find a fairground, giant observation wheel, ice-rink and circus. Not forgetting the array of tasty treats including roasted chestnuts, toasted marshmallows, waffles and toffee apples. There’s something about wrapping up nice and snug in a big coat, scarf and hat, fingers curled round a steaming mug of hot chocolate, whilst standing by a fire-pit singing seasonal songs. The temperature may be frosty but the mood is anything but.

This year, this spectacular Christmas extravaganza runs from 20th November to 3rd January. It can get ridiculously busy, particularly in the evening, but it’s well worth a visit and is a typical example of Christmas at its best. And don’t forget, you’ll find Pantomimes in London too. This year’s selection includes Dick Whittington, Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin and Robin Hood. Oh, yes it does!

Oxford Street, London’s best-loved but busiest shopping destination has a reputation for being particularly crowded in the run up to Christmas. But along with the rest of London’s popular tourist attractions, it’s eerily quiet on the 25th of December. So, for those not too stuffed after tucking into their turkey, it’s a great day to see those favourite landmarks up close. A special open-top bus evening tour will take you to the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, providing you with the perfect crowd-free photo opportunity of London’s Christmas highlights. And if you want to see something really amazing, take a look at the queue outside Harrods on Boxing Day! It may be too late to make the most of London’s festive calendar this year, but there’s always next year….. In the meantime, sincere Yuletide greetings to you all; wishing you health, peace and happiness for 2016.

December, 2015

Abdul Mohsen BEHBEHANI

Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography

Following the family footsteps to satisfy our desire for luxury brands.

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citypageskuwait.com

Abdul Mohsen Behbehani is the Director of the Morad Yousuf Behbehani Group and the third generation Behbehani to take the reins of the family business.

The Group brings the very best watches, jewelry, menswear, automobiles, audio visual and medical equipment to Kuwait; ensuring their customers not only a wide choice, but the superior quality and world-class service they have come to expect.

Their impressive portfolio has earned the Group an excellent reputation across Kuwait; a reputation the family are extremely proud of and one they have worked very hard to achieve.

So what does their Director really think about Kuwait’s desire for luxury brands and how does he see the future for the successful Behbehani Group?

December, 2015

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citypageskuwait.com

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with an exclusive interview.

To start things off, can you tell us a bit about your background?

I am part of this great family business, which was founded by my grandfather, Morad Yousuf Behbehani, back in 1935. His leadership and vision are the fundamental assets of this Group.

Being part of a historic family business, how did you feel when you joined the company?

It was 2003 and a great responsibility; but also a great honor. The legacy of our Group and my grandfather makes me more dedicated and determined to keep and maintain the image of my family name.

You already supply a number of luxury brands, do you intend to add to this already impressive catalogue?

We are happy with our existing brands and are not looking to add any brands in the near future.

Do you think you can ever satisfy Kuwait’s desire for luxury brands?

Our customers are aware of, and have great access to, luxury trends through their travels and through attention to details through movies, news, media etc.

This makes us more attentive in following the latest trends to meet customer expectations.

Does having such a wide spread, for watches in particular, make it hard to profile the customer?

Not at all. Our portfolio carries more than 30 mid to high end watch brands. This helps our quality-seeking customers who are looking forward to owning a genuine Swiss reputable watch brand that is associated with his or her character.

What do you think of Kuwait as a luxury market?

Kuwait has always been a stable market for luxury brands and with the rise of shopping malls in the past 15 years, the market has been developing and growing year after year.

You deal in a wide variety of products and services. Do you have a personal favorite?

All the brands that we represent are my favorite; yet OMEGA has a special place for me as it’s the first brand we represented in the Behbehani Group back in 1935.

In your opinion, what is the key to your success?

The key to our Group’s success is the trust that has been built through the years.

Customers in Kuwait always question the group or company that represents the brand and this will have a major affect on their purchasing decision.

Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography

How was 2015 for the company?

2015 was a really active year. We added new multi-brand showrooms and boutiques to our network as we are confident and optimistic about the Kuwaiti market.

What are some of your plans for 2016?

We are exploring and reviewing new opportunities that we will announce upon completion. However, we are looking forward to our Black Korloff Diamond event in Dubai this month.

December, 2015

What piece of advice would you give to would-be entrepreneurs?

Don’t stop your imagination; and keep the dream alive.

When you find time to relax, how do you unwind?

I relax with my family. I like to walk and we spend time in Souk Mubarikiya and The Avenues. I also like to have the latest gadgets and I use my i-Pad Pro a lot.

Do you have a favorite holiday destination?

Recently I have been to the States and I would like to go again. I visited California but would like to visit Las Vegas and San Francisco.

What are some of your hobbies?

I like driving sporty cars; I currently drive a Porsche hybrid. I enjoy watching the latest movies; although I do not enjoy the cinema in Kuwait. The censorship rules are too strict and can spoil the enjoyment of the movie.

Do you have an all-time favorite movie?

Lord of the Rings and The Godfather.

Where is your favorite place to eat?

I have dined in most restaurants in Kuwait but Japanese food is my favorite.

Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography

Finally, do you have a message for the team at CityPages?

I wish you all the best for the continued success of the magazine.

citypageskuwait.com

December, 2015

IMAGE CREATION MYTHS OF OUR TIME

John MacArthur John MacArthur was born in England, but has Celtic ancestry, so loves to sing. Abandoning his choral training, he sings songs of love and loss, owning several antique acoustic guitars. He has degrees in physics, chemistry and mathematics, has studied theology and business management, so, in fine nomadic tradition, he can call several universities home.

After seven years in Kuwait, he 'retired' and laughs at himself every morning, commuting between his Paris island home and country house in rural France where he lives with his wife, a food writer and stylist, and, perhaps soon, a dog, should he be allowed one. Much to her dismay, he is thinking of taking up the mandolin. He has written for various publications worldwide on whatever happens to catch his imagination.

citypageskuwait.com

A newspaper in the 1920s might contain a sketch or two, perhaps one or two pictures. But, not many; instead the story was told in columns of close, Edwardian prose in long, convoluted paragraphs.

Not so today. Images trump words.

Video displaces the still image. It could be argued that in some quarters, the written word has become almost redundant, replaced by images, the myths of our time.

How many images have you seen today, compared to how many paragraphs read? We have learned to draw our own conclusions, form specific judgments and respond emotionally to what we are seeing, since in the hands of skilled image-makers, if a photograph is worth a thousand words, then a video must be worth ten times as many.

Not so very long ago, a skilled photographer had to spend considerable time and effort to frame a shot, light it properly, shoot a roll of film and deliver the

result on silver halide print. The original technique was, surprisingly, discovered by Thomas Wedgwood, the son of the world-famous potter, but in our day very few, except die-hard enthusiasts, take the time and trouble to lightproof a room in their homes and buy the chemicals and containers needed to develop their own pictures from a roll of film.

Hasselblad's iconic 500C camera, thought by some to be the best medium-format camera in the world in the 1950s, can now be bought second-hand on eBay for less than the cost of a good smartphone. Our perspectives have changed over time and today, images, thousands and millions of them, are snapped, captured and stored every hour of the day. Everyone takes pictures, but can everyone call himself or herself a photographer?

Fortunately, selfies aren’t by any means the way one should, or should not, measure the artistic quality of

an image. Professionals argue that there comes a time, whether pictures are taken purely for pleasure or one develops ambitions to build a career in photography, a seminal moment, when people realise that they have to stop just snapping and start making pictures. As an analogy, consider fine art. There are a very large number of people in the world who have mastered the hand-to-eye co-ordination required to draw accurately from life. But, this alone does not make a great artist. It is the compositional skill, how the parts integrate seamlessly, over and above native ability, which brings a drawing or other work of art to life.

We all take more photographs than we have ever done or were able to in the past. We post images on social networks, share them with friends and use them as a form of visual shorthand to communicate where we are, what we are doing and often how we feel. Yet few of us - and quite rightly - would describe ourselves as photographers. Even fewer would describe themselves as professional photographers or understand that the job description means producing work of such quality that people pay money for it, day after day.

So how can we begin to understand what a professional photographer is or does? And how can we start to move our own work towards the kind of professionalism that we might aspire to?

One answer is really quite simple. If we use photography to record and document the things we ourselves are passionate about, we are part of the way there, since our passion fuels a desire to examine the work of others who share it. For example, how often have we taken a picture of a particularly appetising dish in a restaurant? Food journalists do this all the time and even professional food photographers whose job and passion it is, often flip out a smartphone and use it almost as a sketchbook. So, if you enjoy cooking, look towards food photography. If you enjoy sports, look at the work of photographers documenting your favourite sport. If you enjoy styling and decorating your home, interiors photography could be the area for you.

These are just a few examples of genres of professional photography, and there are as many more as people's passions and interests can drive. Some take pictures of high fashion - the catwalk models - others use a musical stage to capture a moment, which becomes iconic in the audience's collective memory. There can be so much information in portraiture - a friend is producing a vast social canvas of the First World War, incorporating images from the period and modern ones in period costume. Even a still life - a vase containing flowers - evokes a whispered memory of English gardens after rain.

When we focus on our passions, we stamp an image with some uncovered part of our own soul, as if a curtain is partly pulled back, shyly exposing a small part of who we are. This brings both insight and commitment to the pictures we take. Thanks to advancements in camera technology, most of us can take technically good pictures to what some might consider to be a professional standard, but the professional photographer can and has to do this consistently and to order. They also need to understand the importance of telling a story with a series of images and having an area of photographic specialisation that a potential client needs for their business.

Every decision we make, from what we wear, eat, how we decorate our home, which places we visit, what we listen to, watch and even what we believe or how we vote is influenced by professional image-makers.

How should we begin? It is assumed that we own a decent camera with full automatic as well as full manual capability. A simple internet search will pull up a whole host of good buys, which can meet the needs of virtually anybody from rank beginner to near-expert. So, let's begin.

Tip Number One. Read the manual. In an age when instructions are frequently tossed aside, a few careful minutes with the device in front of us and the book open is time well spent. I also think that a few minutes

learning how the camera mechanism actually works is useful - the device is after all an extension of hand and eye. When I first began, knowing a little about things like shutter speed, exposure, f-numbers and so on, for me, at least, helped to demystify the processes considerably so I had some understanding of technique but was not governed by it.

One of my own particular passions can sometimes be a balancing act, fraught with delicate social conventions - trying to photograph people.

Not, I might add, the me-and-the-leaning-tower-of-Pisa selfie, which simply juxtaposes oneself with a famous location and is proclaiming to the world "I've been here and you haven't". No, I mean the carefully composed image behind which one can read politics, emotion, despair or hope. It's worth remembering that in just the same way as a scientific experimenter, by virtue of the fact that he is himself a part of the apparatus can influence the outcome, when we take a picture of someone, the image is not necessarily the same as it would have been had the camera not been present. When photographing people, many photographers try to spend time engaging their subjects in conversation since being genuinely interested in them, their lives and opinions, opens their faces. Subjects can then relax and feel as if the act of photographing them is a collaborative process - they become part of it and carry some responsibility for the outcome.

Pro photographers take a lot of pictures - so much easier in a digital age, when all that happens is that the memory card fills up. It demonstrates a willingness to try different compositions, angles, lighting situations and approaches to the subject.

Sometimes, being influenced by work we admire tempts us to try to copy it. I have always thought that this was a mistake; for two reasons.

First, because one is never satisfied by the quality of the copy - we just miss the perfection which the original photographer sought - and the result is clumsy and contrived. Second, a particular texture or shadow might not have been available in the original and our own interpretation is the better for it.

A very common mistake is to suppose that post-production software can paper over the cracks of one's ineptitude. The word ‘sincere’ is derived from the Italian ‘sin cera’ meaning ‘without wax’. A poor sculptor would fill in the cracks in his imperfectly executed work with wax, which had the effect of temporarily giving an impression of perfection. A sculpture ‘sin cera’ is thus perfect. Retouching to create ‘interesting’ or ‘different’ images covers flaws in the original workmanship and to expert eyes, is just as unconvincing as wax-filled sculpture. Bad retouching spoils good pictures, in other words.

The difference between a tourist and a photographer is clear. The professional spends time taking pictures, and does not expect to succeed every time. They are prepared to learn from mistakes and revisit images that have not succeeded with a new approach. Tourists have no such luxury, since the scene or event will not be available to them another day.

Smartphones are useful to ‘photo sketch’, taking pictures every day, focusing on the way the light works, the juxtaposition of shape, unexpected texture, anything that allows us to break down any expectations we may have of what ‘good’ photography is.

Photography is often about taking risks, challenging perceptions about what works and what doesn't. Of course, listening to friends' opinions can be helpful but it's unwise artistically to be over-influenced by them.

Instead, be yourself. It is your eyes that see, your heart that is beating a little faster when the moment comes. That is what excites the viewer and can potentially turn a good picture into a great one.

December, 2015

‫سوشيال ميديا ديتوكس‬

‫‪Nour AlZaabi‬‬

‫‪Nour holds a Master in Business‬‬ ‫‪Administration and a Bachelor‬‬ ‫‪in Marketing and is a Member‬‬ ‫‪at The Kuwait Economic Society‬‬ ‫‪and British Council Entrepreneur‬‬ ‫‪Network in Kuwait. Stay tuned‬‬ ‫‪for her articles and features in the‬‬ ‫‪CityPages magazine.‬‬

‫ال يخفى على الجميع أن اليوم بتنا نرى اهتمام وتوجه كبير‬ ‫من األشخاص لنظام األكل الصحي والحياة الصحية‪ ،‬وظهر‬ ‫ما يعرف بنظام الديتوكس‪ ،‬وهو نظام غذائي يعتمد على‬ ‫الخضروات والفواكه لتخليص الجسم من السموم المتراكمة‪.‬‬ ‫صحيح أن الكلى والكبد المسؤولين عن اخراج السموم‬ ‫من الجسم إال أن هذا النظام يساعد جميع أعضاء الجسم‬ ‫على التخلص من السموم المتراكمة‪ ،‬وهو يعتمد على اكل‬ ‫الخضروات و الفاكهة ثالث أيام متتالية واالكثار من شرب الماء‪.‬‬ ‫وبعدها يبدأ الشخص الشعور بانتظام في حياته وصحته و‬ ‫نومه واتزان في أعضاء جسمه‪.‬‬

‫االجتماعي‪ ،‬ونادر ما تجد المفيد منها ) إال من رحم ربي( ‪،‬‬ ‫فتوقفت لفترة أراجع فيها حالتي المزاجية واألشخاص من‬ ‫حولي فكنت بوضع المراقب فقط دون حكم‪ ،‬ولم أكن‬ ‫أعلم أن االبتعاد عن كل تلك الوسائل يعيد للشخص اتزانه‬ ‫و حياته وسكونه الداخلي‪ ،‬فالضوضاء الخارجية لم تكن‬ ‫موجودة في عالمي في تلك الفترة‪ ،‬أصبحت أكثر هدوءًا‬ ‫وأكثر اهتمامًا بذاتي ومن حولي‪ .‬فتذكرت يومها موضوع‬ ‫الديتوكس فنحن بحاجة فع ً‬ ‫ال لبعض من التنظيف الداخلي‬ ‫للعقل والروح واالبتعاد عن وسائل التواصل االجتماعي‪.‬‬

‫أما ما أتحدث عنه هنا مختلف تمامًا فهو يعتبر تنظيف‬ ‫ولكن ليس للجسد‪ ،‬انما للروح والعقل والقلب‪ ،‬وأعتقد أنها‬ ‫أهم من الجسد وال يقلل ذلك من اهمية الجسد ‪ .‬فوسائل‬ ‫التواصل االجتماعي اليوم باتت سموم يومية نراها ونسمع‬ ‫بها‪ ،‬فلن تجد أحد ال يمتلك حساب في أحد برامج التواصل‬

‫وحتى ان قلت انك ال تتأثر بما هو متداول في الوسائل‬ ‫تلك فقد أخطأت‪ ،‬ستتأثر بها بوعي و بدون وعي‪ ،‬فالصور‬ ‫والكلمات والمشاعر تتخزن في عقلك الباطن وستظهر‬ ‫فيما بعد دون وعي منك‪ ،‬انتبه لما تراه وتقرأ وتسمع فذاتك‬ ‫أهم بكثير‪...‬‬ ‫‪citypageskuwait.com‬‬

FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT

Reem Ayoob Reem Ayoob is an entrepreneur and event planner. She is the founder and CEO of Diva Events, a company located in Bahrain Kingdom. Reem holds a master degree in marketing from New York and has been working in the PR, marketing and events sector for more than ten years.

She is also a member of the Exhibition Committee at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bahrain Business Woman Society. You can follow her on instagram/twitter/snapchat: @reemdiva

“There are a lot of competitors in the market and they are doing what you want to do, so don’t open the same business” “Your business is never going to succeed so don’t waste energy, time and money” “Get a normal job, get paid and be secure; most startup businesses fail” “You will never succeed in this market condition” The majority of ‘wannabe’ business owners often hear these phrases when they want to start up their own business. But the simple fact is, most people around us are afraid of change and taking risks so they try to transfer this fear and negativity to the people surrounding them.

For these negative people, taking an idea and believing they can transfer it into reality is not an option, so when someone they know does just that, their immediate reaction is to stop them or bring them down, even if done unintentionally. They may mean well but if you’re not careful, their negative comments can be a devastating blow to your self-esteem and your entrepreneurial spirit.

So how do you deal with these kinds of people? The answer is to never share your ideas of starting a business with people likely to discourage you, especially close friends and family.

I know it’s a harsh thing to hear, but let’s think about it for a second. The people who cast the most doubt on your business ideas are people around you. This will always be the case because you will never approach a stranger with an idea! However those close to you, because they love and care for you, will instinctively

citypageskuwait.com

want to protect you from harm and will steer you away from risks. Some may not outwardly express their skepticism but will secretly believe that your business won’t stand a chance.

When it comes to listening to advice regarding your business idea, the best people to talk to are other entrepreneurs and highly motivated individuals, especially in the early stages of your business. People with a positive and supportive attitude can further fuel your excitement towards your business because they are the people that have done it. Some will have failed, others succeeded, but they have all taken risks, have the experience to talk about it, and have the knowledge to back it up. So it seems talking to a stranger isn’t such a bad idea after all.

If you need advice regarding your business, try to ask someone who is successful in his work. Does he love his job? Has he achieved the things you dream of achieving? Is he positive and someone who takes risks and opportunities? If the answers to these questions are yes then you may communicate and share your ideas with them. Unfortunately, the majority of people who will give you advice have none of this essential experience. So why do you listen to them and why do you seek advice or approval from them?

Avoid talking about your business ideas with inexperienced individuals. Instead, seek support from someone who will listen without judgment and who will give genuine, constructive advice.

You need to constantly remind yourself that you possess unique ideas and characteristics that can’t be compared or found in anyone else. And remember, no matter how many comments, obstacles and failures you may face, this business is worth it.

WHICH PAGE WILL BE YOUR HOME? Pick up a copy of the new Home Centre Catalogue and get inspired by the latest home trends and design ideas.

Celebrating 20 years of inspiring homes in the region, this year’s catalogue is a step further.

It features an endless range of our new products and also highlights unique collections that will help you design bedrooms, living rooms and dining areas with complete synergy.

So, browse through and pick your favourite ideas for your home.

View it online at www.homecentrestores.com

December, 2015

FOR THE LOVE OF

WALKING Ali Stewart Born in Cambridge, England, Ali enjoyed a career in the logistics and safety sector for 15 years.

Following the birth of her son, she switched careers to pursue a life long love for education and teaching. Since moving to Kuwait in 2013, Ali’s interests include fitness, healthy living and running. From her University days she has maintained a passion for world history and creative writing, although thanks to her son, she can also now consider herself quite the expert on all things ‘Marvel super heroes’ and Karate related.

‘’Walking is man’s best medicine’’. Not my words sadly, but those of the ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates. To me, these words are as true today as they were over two thousand years ago. You see, I am a recent convert to the many benefits and splendours of walking and like all new converts to anything that excites them, I love to tell people all about it.

The most common questions to my over-exuberant ‘walk monologues’ seem to be threefold: •Where do you walk? Surely the possibilities are limited in Kuwait.

•Why bother? Surely there are better things to do.

•When do you go? Surely it’s not safe.

I try my best to answer these with an objectivity that does my passion justice, without turning into a rambling obsessive.

Where: With the weather now turning cooler in Kuwait the options for local outdoor activities are more attractive.

There are many fantastic places on our doorstep to suit a variety of interests, fitness levels and locations; from a leisurely stroll in the tranquil gardens of the beautiful

citypageskuwait.com

Al Shaheed Park, to the walking tracks of Jabriya or the Cycle Palms of Mubarak Al Kabeer. There are lots of apps available online to help you, including guides for cultural walking tours and even a shopping walking guide. Google Play is a good place to start.

My personal favourite walking route is along the Gulf coastal road. A favourite because I can leave my apartment and within a few minutes find myself standing in front of the stunning Arabian Gulf, with the option to either go left towards the magnificent Kuwait Towers, or right towards the Scientific Centre. This route offers continual, almost perfect, pavement and many benches if a rest or time for reflection is needed.

Yes, there are areas in need of investment and repair; and early in the morning there can be a sad reminder of people failing to dispose of their litter, but if you look beyond, the beauty can be breathtaking.

Unexpected architectural gems can be noted in buildings, big and small, that you might pass every day in the car and not notice. There are beautiful small flowers and shrubs to see and smell, and when you take the time to look, you notice the colours of the sky and water are ever changing. Out walking I have been lucky to observe many species of wildlife, even in the most urban of settings. This time of year can be a great time to see visiting winter birds including Cormorants, Terns and even Kestrels.

Why: Now I need to make it clear I am not a doctor, just an ordinary ’40-something’ mum, who loves the outdoors. For me, there are few better feelings in the world than standing in the fresh air with the absolute freedom to decide where and how far I shall walk. The health benefits of walking have been well documented, with proven reductions in the risk of strokes, type 2 diabetes and many cancer types (including colon, breast and womb). Brisk walking is a fantastic natural energiser – and calorie burner - boosting your circulation and oxygen supply. It provides a great workout for your legs, buttocks and stomach muscles; and let’s be honest, who doesn’t need that?

I love walking because you don’t need any fancy equipment or expensive gym memberships. I can do it at a time that completely suits me.

It can be a solitary pursuit, or one done with friends and family. Recent studies have also shown that regular walking outdoors can be as effective as anti-depressants in mild to moderate cases of depression, releasing feel good endorphins. There has been many a day when out walking I have felt truly lucky with life; a feeling usually made stronger when I Skype home to hear friends and family complaining of the cold and rain. It’s sometimes hard not to feel a little smug.

I also love to walk because I want to be a role model to my 7 year old son. I want him to learn, and love, that there is this whole world out there that does not consist of Minecraft or malls; that he has a mum who does not huff and puff when we play; and that you are never bored when you have shoes on your feet and thoughts in your head.

When: I like to walk early in the morning, after I’ve waved my son off on the school bus. Getting the blood pumping and my lungs filled with fresh air sets me up for the challenges of the day. It can be a 10-minute power walk or, time permitting, an amble over a couple of hours. I might take my headphones and listen to music or an audiobook, or take my camera or a sketchbook to (badly) draw anything that interests me. I have never felt unsafe on any walking routes in Kuwait, but am mindful of personal security. I choose not to walk alone in the evening and I don’t carry anything I would be unhappy to lose. I am always aware of my surroundings and where to go should I need assistance.

Sometimes I see many people on my walking route and on other occasions I have whole stretches all to myself. At the weekends I try and encourage (cajole) my family into joining

me. My son and I often venture out armed with what we call ‘Walking Bingo’ - a list of around 20 things he has to spot on our walk.

Each item has a variety of points attached to it and if he achieves a set number of points he wins a reward. The items can vary from an empty soda can, to a baby in a stroller, or just something purple. This helps keep him interested and focused, and the reward can be anything from choosing the evening family movie to getting me to do one of his chores.

Sometimes we’ll play ‘in my imagination…’ and guess the ‘stories’ behind the people we pass; the possibilities for conversations and games are endless.

You see, walking time can be dual purpose; a time to escape from the pressures of work or family, or a time to bond with family. It can be whatever you want or need it to be. I do my best problem solving when walking.

The American 19th Century poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, defined the qualifications for walking as ‘’… plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humour, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much’’. I couldn’t have put it better myself.

So if you haven’t tried walking lately please do, and if you see a lady with a silly smile walking

along the coast road one morning please feel free to stop and say ‘’Hi’’.

December, 2015

“RUNNING SHOES AT DAWN, ANYONE?”

Paul Tunbridge A professional Facilities Manager from England, and with work experience across mainland Europe before arriving in Kuwait in 2007 Paul's interests include architecture and gardening as well as creative writing and the arts in general.

Some people enthuse about a 6am jog to get their hearts racing and get them psyched up for the day. Others wouldn't dream of breaking a sweat before noon, preferring a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. But is any one time of day the best time to exercise?

If you have read any of my articles in previous issues, you will of course already know that, for me, there is never a best time to exercise! I simply do not enjoy exercise, so there is little motivation. But my doctor is insistent that I need to diet and exercise for the benefit of my health, so I thought I would try to determine when would be the best (or easiest) time for me to suffer/enjoy torturing all those muscles that are usually perfectly happy to remain in a state of constant slumber.

So what did I discover? The truth is that there's no reliable evidence to suggest that calories are burned more efficiently at certain times of day. But the time of day can influence how we feel when exercising.

The most important thing, experts say, is to choose a time of day we can stick with, so that exercise becomes a habit. citypageskuwait.com

The Body Clock Our bodies’ circadian rhythms determine whether we're a night owl or an early bird, and there's not much we can do to alter it.

Circadian rhythm is governed by the 24-hour pattern of the earth’s rotation. These rhythms influence body functions such as blood pressure, body temperature, hormone levels and heart rate, all of which play a role in our bodies’ readiness for exercise.

Using our body clocks as a guide to when to go for a walk or hit the gym might therefore seem like a good idea but, of course, there are other important considerations, such as family and work schedules, or a friend's availability to walk with us, that we also need to take into consideration.

The Perks of Morning Exercise If we have trouble with consistency, morning may be our best time to exercise, experts say.

The thinking is that we should get our exercise in before other time pressures interfere. Indeed, one friend tells

me that he usually exercises at 6am because, no matter how well-intentioned he is, if he doesn't exercise in the morning, other things will squeeze it out.

On the other hand, if I decide to exercise in the morning, when body temperature is lower, I will need to allow more time to warm up than I would need if I were to exercise later in the day.

Physical and Mental Stimulation Whilst I was staying in England recently, I was with a friend when her daughter arrived home from school, and I asked what she had been up to.

She said that because it had been raining so much (it tends to do that occasionally in the UK) they hadn't been allowed to go outside to play.

After lunch, she said, none of them had been able to concentrate. But then the teacher - who also teaches dance, and consequently knows the importance of physical activity - made an executive decision.

She took all the children outside and encouraged them to run around the school for 15 minutes. When they returned to the classroom they were able to concentrate again.

Being physically tired doesn't make you mentally tired. To improve concentration, you need to take the right kinds of breaks, with plenty of movement - and where possible, fun!

And as adults we're not that different from children in our need to move. Rather than playing with your phone or eating at your desk, physical activity - even if it's just a walk around the block at lunchtime - refreshes your mind. We can even use standing and walking between desks in the office to keep ourselves active!

But this also highlights that exercising late at night could similarly stimulate the brain and thereby decrease our ability to sleep.

When Insomnia Interferes Unfortunately, and much as I might want to argue to the contrary, hitting my alarm clock’s snooze button repeatedly isn't considered as exercise. But to someone who has suffered insomnia and experienced difficulties in sleeping through the night before, it can seem a lot more appealing than jumping out of bed and hitting the treadmill.

Good, regular bedtime habits can help to counter insomnia. But good habits include winding down before bedtime.

The body needs to get ready for sleep. Both heart rate and body temperature need to be in a rest zone. It starts the body getting into a habit of sleep. Exercising or eating too late sabotages the body's urge to sleep, because both exercise and eating raise the heart rate and temperature, and that's not conducive to sleeping.

When Later Is Better In spite of good intentions to get up early and get my exercise over with, I decided a while ago that I would be more likely to exercise after work. I figured it would be easier to get my body into a rhythm, because I'm not fighting my body the way I do in the morning.

I must admit that this was beginning to work well for me, and I got into a habit of getting home, changing, and going straight down to the gym in my building for a 4-kilometer stint on the treadmill. Then I went on vacation and now have to motivate myself to return to the habit.

For some people, lunchtime is the best time to exercise, especially if co-workers participate to keep each other company. In such cases, it is important to remember to eat after the workout, and not before.

exercise. Why not try different times of the day to discover what suits you best?

Work out in the morning for a few weeks; then try noon; then early evening. Which do you enjoy most and which makes you feel best afterward? You will also need to consider the type of exercise, and other daily commitments.

Most of all, find a time that helps you make your exercise a regular, consistent part of your life. This is more important than the time of day.

Establishing the Exercise Habit

Finding Your Own Best Time to Exercise

I’ve been told that, one day, I will reach a point where daily exercise comes as naturally as breathing (though I doubt that will ever be the case for me). But if that point is ever reached, I dare say I will be desperate for some variety.

After all, keeping the exercise fresh could make it more enjoyable and consequently more likely to be continued. But if, like me, you're still at the point where exercise is hit or miss, scheduling it for the same time each day will help you make it a habit. Whether you choose morning, lunchtime, or after work to exercise, I believe it is critical to make it part of your routine.

Nobody needs to be an expert on circadian rhythms to determine their best time for

So, is anyone going to put on their running shoes and join me for a dawn run tomorrow?

Nobody should exercise immediately following a meal, as blood that needs to go to the muscles is going instead to the digestive tract. The golden rule is to allow at least 90 minutes before starting exercise after a heavy meal.

December, 2015

Jamie & Alana Karehana Husband and wife team Jamie and Alana Karehana have a shared passion for health and fitness. The New Zealand born couple are now bringing their expertise to Kuwait, sharing their knowledge and encouraging wellbeing. And what better time to embark on a lifestyle change than the start of a new year? In the first of their inspiring regular articles, Jamie and Alana share their story so far and hint at what’s to come in their ‘get Kuwait fit’ campaign.

citypageskuwait.com

December, 2015

Jamie

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and your journey to becoming a fitness trainer?

Hi my name is Jamie. I was born and bred in New Zealand. I played many sports growing up. I was also very skinny, so during my teenage years decided to start weight training, to gain muscle and size. This is where I developed a passion for training and learning different training methods. I grew up in a big family, where we were taught from a young age to care and help each other. With these values and my found passion of weight training, it was inevitable that my chosen profession would be the fitness industry. I decided to attend Otago University and completed my undergraduate degree with a Bachelor of Physical Education majoring in Exercise Prescription (in my opinion you don’t need a degree to become a great trainer but this was my starting point). In my last year at University (2003) I started my career in the fitness industry. I have now been involved in many roles including gym instructor, personal trainer, group fitness instructor, corporate health consultant, community health educator, personal trainer lecturer, sports team trainer and personal trainer/group fitness/operations manager. I have spent tens of thousands on education and learning, to improve myself as a trainer and to provide a more comprehensive service to my clients. I have been in the fitness industry for over a decade because it keeps me young and I get to travel; but most importantly I enjoy helping people achieve what they never thought was possible.

This is one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do and why I will continue.

What is your ‘fitness’ philosophy and why?

Get your balance right. I know this might sound broad but after having our son this changed my whole perspective of fitness. Being sleep deprived and juggling responsibilities my food habits were all over the place and having to shorten workouts made me re-think what my goals were in health and fitness. Essentially my focus now is on balance. Eating clean most of the time, getting strong, moving pain free, keeping a positive mindset (reading, relaxing and sleeping), taking vacations and keeping a good work life balance. The majority of clients come to me wanting to lose body fat or weight. They tell me that they want to look like a certain person or lose X amount in X amount of time (normally unrealistic but in terms of society today most people want a quick fix solution) but are highly stressed from work and personal relationships, not sleeping enough, going to be late, not eating enough food or eating too much of the wrong food, not going to the bathroom daily, not drinking enough water, are on medications, not training enough or training too much the list goes on. Ultimately you have to work on your lifestyle and constantly find the right balance in order to achieve the results you want.

Tell us a bit more about your current approach/ philosophy to training.

I have found that having an open mind and learning many training methods has helped immensely. For fat loss I use a combination of strength training, metabolic conditioning and sprint intervals. I mix these with a number of periodization techniques whilst using performance measures (1, 3 or 5RM strength tests) and/or body composition measurements (biosignature) to see how effective the programming is and if I need to adjust anything.

What's new in nutrition approaches for athletes, fat loss and health?

These might not be new to some but they are definitely popular at the moment - carb cycling, intermittent fasting and eating right for your body type.

What are 3 advanced fat loss nutrition tips? a.If any foods make you feel bloated or gassy or give you

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an upset stomach or diarrhea, make sure to exclude them from your diet. b.If you take medications these can interfere with your fat loss progress, so make sure you read the side effects or ask your doctor if they will cause weight gain. c.Eat right for your body type – I will be writing an article on this topic so make sure you keep an eye on the up and coming editions.

What are the biggest mistakes you see in athlete diets and in people's diets that are eating for fat loss or muscle gain?

1)Not enough variety in their diet e.g. most people will have the same breakfast and/or lunch every day.

2)Not rotating protein sources (one day have fish, next day beef, next day chicken etc).

Where are our youth going wrong with respect to nutrition?

It is common internationally for youth (and not just youth) to skip breakfast. This is important to kick starting your metabolism and to make sure you have energy to start your day. This is one of the reasons why people binge or eat unhealthy food later in the day.

When someone is ready to start making nutrition changes for fat loss, how do you counsel them on where to start? How should they progress?

We have two approaches.

1)The first approach allows for more freedom of choice when it comes to meals and foods.

However, we provide an e-book nutritional guide which uses your hand as your measuring tool to help with portion control.

2)The second approach is our popular KarehanaKitchen 21 Day Meal Plan which provides everything including a shopping list, daily meals and recipes. This is an e-book that has everything set up for you. All you have to do is follow the plan and our coaching system.

Do you favour volume training or shorter high-intensity workouts?

For fat loss I use both methods. When I attended a fitness convention in 2006 (called Filex in Sydney, Australia) one of the lectures I attended was about the best training protocols for fat loss/weight loss. Volume training, shorter high-intensity workouts and sprint intervals were the best for fat loss and weight loss.

Can you explain what Swedish massage is and what makes this style unique?

Swedish massage is a more relaxing full body massage. I use this style with clients who want a nice calming and relaxing end to their session, or clients who are really sensitive and have a low tolerance to firmer or aggressive massages e.g. deep tissue or trigger point.

What is Biosignature? Does the Biosignature Modulation Method of Body Fat Testing Work?

Biosignature is a 12 site body fat test using calipers. This method assumes that where your body stores body fat correlates to a hormonal imbalance. For example, if someone has a high reading behind their shoulder blade this indicates that genetically the individual can not tolerate carbs or have possible high insulin levels. I have found this method to be very valuable because I can tell if someone is not only losing body fat, gaining muscle or being compliant with their food, but also if someone is possibly inflamed, not sleeping well, not detoxifying properly, is on medication, has water retention, is stressed, overtraining or may have a nutritional deficiency due to a hormonal imbalance.

What's the best way for a person to stick with a fitness program?

I’ve found that an accountability system works best. These approaches are what I recommend: 1)Join a group or class that meets at least 2-3 times per week.

2)Train with a friend, family member or colleague.

3)Meet with a trainer once a week, once a fortnight or at least once a month.

Your typical breakfast?

My breakfasts are more protein based. I rotate my breakfasts but generally they include: 1)Boiled eggs with gluten free oats.

2)Beef or chicken and spinach.

3)Scrambled eggs or vegetable omelette.

December, 2015

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, my name is Alana. I’m a personal trainer, a sports nutritionist and a mother to a very active two year old. I have been into various sports and fitness from a young age. Growing up in a small coastal community in New Zealand there was never a shortage of teams to join and sports practices to make. Once I started to play sports regionally, I also added a gym program to my sport schedule and within a few months it was a healthy fun habit that I had for life.

Tell us about your education.

I realized early on that the fitness industry was where I wanted to develop a career. At the age of 17, I started a certificate in Sport Management and Exercise prescription. One year into my studies I wanted to challenge myself and decided to study a Bachelor of Health Science in Wellington, New Zealand. It didn't take long to figure out that all the anatomy, physiology and sports nutrition was right down my alley.

I’ve spent more than a decade working with various gyms around the globe. Whilst studying I began as a fitness instructor at my local YMCA. I continued working at Les Mills Wellington at university. This was a great lead into an Exercise prescription and Lifestyle role within a regional sports trust. I did this full time while I finished my studies and educated a small community through health promotion and teaching group fitness in Taupo, New Zealand. I worked with medical professionals and the local gyms, and Maori community health services.

A move to Australia led to tutoring at the Australia Institute of Fitness, both online and face to face. I met many fitness professionals, made great friends and consolidated more information from my degree that I could imagine. I followed my group fitness passion and went into GFM management and corporate health management. It was busy but the balance was right and again, the people I worked with on a day to day basis were the highlight; their energy and enthusiasm were infectious. My time in NZ and Australia showed me how vast and fast paced the industry really was. It prompted many group fitness certifications and the early mornings and late nights were all worth it. I got to motivate people daily, encourage them, set goals, build confidence and most importantly help them towards a healthier lifestyle while still having fun. My main focus here was making sure that the participants enjoyed what they were doing. They were getting up before work, training during their lunch break or after work so fun and intensity was always a priority. Fitness was never a chore.

What other special trainings did you go for to be in the fitness field?

I started with group fitness about 8 years ago. Les Mills Body Pump, Body Attack and RPM helped build my confidence with group training and provided more ways for me to interact daily with people that wanted to get fitter.

Biosignature is a body fat assessment that is based on the hormones of the body and indicates lifestyle changes you can make according to 12 different sites.

Precision Nutrition is a sports nutrition course that covers relative, practical, up to date nutrition information that I can use and apply with my clients daily. Once I completed this course I realised that people needed more than just to be told what to do, or guidelines to follow; they needed a plan to follow daily and people to help guide them along the way. This is when my husband and I developed the KarehanaKitchen Clean Eating 21 day nutrition challenge and the education tools that went with it.

I also completed Pre and Post natal studies via correspond (Preggie Bellies Australia and Lisa Westlake). Training while pregnant was extremely important to me. It was part of my everyday lifestyle and I wanted to keep training throughout

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Alana

to help stay fit, active and of course, not pile on an excessive amount of weight. Both these courses were extremely informative and help me program safely and appropriately for both pre and post natal clients.

If you had to define all that you do in a title, what would you say?

Lifestyle coach.

What is the difference between working with a personal trainer compared to exercising alone?

The difference between training by yourself and with a personal trainer is the ability to push yourself harder than you would if you were training by yourself, safely. Stress management, lifestyle and nutrition coaching also play a big part in the role of a personal trainer.

How would you describe your philosophy about being fit and healthy?

My philosophy to being healthy and fit has changed since having my son two years ago.

Previously I would spend up to two hours in the gym, sometimes longer if I was instructing classes. Now I like to maximize my training in 45-50 minutes. I also take more time to 'work in' for example stretching, foam rolling and walking or aqua jogging are all part of my training outside of the gym. The days that I don't get time to train I workout at home with my son. A 20 minute circuit using my own body weight (and toddler) and play dates by the beach or on the grass chasing a toddler helps keep me active, strong and fit. I’ve also learnt that nutrition is equally as important as your fitness routine. It helps manage energy levels and mood even after a busy day or long night.

What does your typical day look like?

5.30am Wake up 6am Breakfast with the family 7am My own training 8am - 11.30am Work, PT and Nutrition clients 11.45am School run 1pm I make lunch for the family 2pm Playdate or beach time 5pm I make dinner for the family 7pm Work PT and Nutrition Clients 9.30/10pm Bed

chill out time together. We explore Kuwait, eat good food and love to hang out with like minded people. Good coffee is also essential.

Where can people contact you to learn more?

You can find me at Inspire Pure Fitness here in Kuwait. You can check out our Blog on www.karehanafitness.com or follow us on Instagram – karehanafitness, or snap chat karehanafitness.

What are some of the benefits of Pre and post-natal fitness?

Exercise during a normal pregnancy and when done safely can benefit both mother and baby.

For the mother, below are some benefits of pre and post-natal fitness: i)Maintaining a healthy weight. ii)Manage stress levels and anxiety. iii)Improving mood throughout pregnancy -the endorphins high still happens while pregnant! iv)Helps fight fatigue in the early days of pregnancy - going for a walk in the fresh air. v)Exercise helps maintain blood sugar levels naturally in normal people, so during pregnancy it also helps lessen the risk of developing gestational diabetes. vi)Exercise can help by releasing any aches and pains she may have from a growing baby. vii)Learning how to breathe for delivery. viii)Exercise can help mother recover faster post delivery.

trainer, walking, swimming, yoga or pilates.

What forms of exercise do you recommend for older women, who may not be comfortable hitting the gym?

Maintaining bone mineral density and also muscle mass is very important for older women. Resistance training for women is important at any age and stage of life. As you get older the muscle mass in your body declines, as does your metabolic rate, so it is important to include low impact weight training. Body weight training is also good to practice for improved range of motion and building strength in muscles. Co-ordination, balance and flexibility also decreases as we age, so sore joints, aches and pains can be counteracted with flexibility training such as yoga and pilates. Cardiovascular training is extremely important for heart health and maintaining a healthy weight. As we age our metabolism slows down too so adding exercise into your lifestyle is a great way to maintain a healthy weight. Exercises I would recommend are walking with friends (especially now the weather is beautiful in Kuwait), going cycling (it’s low impact and joint friendly), swimming during warmer weather or in a heated pool (warm water helps with range of motion and sore joints). Playing a sport such as tennis or golf also helps get cardiovascular exercise in and the social aspect too.

If you have been training in the gym before getting pregnant then you can definitely continue throughout each trimester with your doctor’s clearance. However, if you are new to exercise but still want to stay healthy, it’s important to start slowly and with your doctor’s permission. Programming a safe and effective exercise program is important, especially with the changes that take place throughout pregnancy. There are a variety of exercise options available for expectant mothers including training with a personal

Who or what gives you the most inspiration?

My parents. They are still very active and lead an extremely healthy lifestyle in NZ. My father is a sports physiotherapist and my mother still plays sport today or goes hiking up mountains with her friends! My parents have a vegetable garden, go fishing, preserve fruits and are always active around our property keeping our home tidy.

What makes you laugh, smile, and be joyful?

Nothing beats family day on a Friday! It’s our December, 2015

THE GLOOMY SIDE OF

PEREGRINE SPODE

Peregrine Spode

Dentally challenged. Still single.

Never let it be said, or even imagined, dear people, that Spode is a permanent resident of the Slough of Despond. (He’s in one of his literary moods again, Ed). He does not have what the cartoonists call an ‘empathic environment’ in the form of a small permanent rain-cloud above his head. An occasional visitor only, when the usual boundless enthusiasm, espièglerie and general joie de vivre tend to evaporate a bit, if you catch my drift. You know, that rather greyish fogginess when one is just trundling along rather aimlessly and the road ahead seems to stretch on into infinity amidst a pretty featureless landscape.

When the weather conspires with the daylight hours shortening a bit, and the accustomed supplies of enriching vitamin D get a tad depleted, some people, including Spode, suffer from a world-weary malaise and tend citypageskuwait.com

to feel a bit, er, glum.

I suppose, given the time of year, one is allowed a little bit of emotional latitude but I sometimes wonder how they manage in Iceland with nineteen hours without sunlight during the winter months and nothing much to do except take the four wheel drive up a volcano in the dark. However, the cold and the dark are made immeasurably less bearable when it’s raining as well. As, might I add, is the present case in my little corner of the Northern Hemisphere.

While living in Kuwait, when a wee drop of gentle, warm mist is greeted with street parties and much horn-honking, I had forgotten how depressing rain could be. The kind that falls, straight down like a flat curl-free head of greasy, adolescent hair. Unremitting, continuous, surroundings become featureless, a grey mist that washes colour from the

sky. I read the other day that some shrinkwrapped pundit suggested that acting happy, regardless of feelings, appears to coax one’s brain into processing positive emotions.

Apparently, making people smile forcibly for twenty seconds while tensing facial muscles, particularly the muscles around the eyes which create ‘crow’s feet’, stimulates brain activity associated with positive emotions.

Grinning for an uncomfortably long time like a deranged psychopath isn’t entirely my glass of tea, people already cross the street when they see me coming, but it might be worth a try whether or not I happen to feel like it. Just a whisper of warning, everyone. Pull this one in the Avenues and the security guards might bristle a bit.

All very fine, but it’s still raining outside.

I spend quite a lot of time in the rural South of France, where summer temperatures can

rise above 420C – and all my readers know very well what that’s like – but in autumn and winter a normally benevolently optimistic landscape can often suffer from violent and unpredictable storms. The waterfall at the bottom of my land cascades angrily, audible from a hundred metres away; swollen river waters uprooting trees as if in angry and petulant protest. When my pool overflows it means that twenty centimetres of water has fallen rather rapidly. Lightning doesn't just rumble, comfortably far away, it bangs and clashes like angry warriors in battle, occasionally sparking in spectacularly closequarter combat, leaving a sulphurous, electric odour and clouds of steam.

My dear old uncle, long since having shuffled off this mortal coil, did a lot of fishing in his retirement, much to my aunt’s relief, since it got him out of the house and prevented him from cluttering the place up too much. Fishing, it seems, is best enjoyed in the rain, which, boys and girls, isn’t really a frightfully sound idea. Waving a metal fishing rod heavenwards preparatory to floating a perfectly placed fly tends to tempt fate a bit, don’t you think?

More people have been struck by lightning when fishing than any other outdoor sport, even golf.

Lightning, then, is not good either for people’s well-being or, indeed that of surrounding objects, electrical components in particular.

Internet routers were not meant to be in such proximity to all that electromagnetic rage.

Neither were telephones attached to fragile connecting wires, some of which are unsafely draped above ground, instead of being securely cocooned below the surface. Charged particles are goaded into activity by the storm and, desperate to find the path of least resistance, seek any pathway to the safety of mother Earth. Recently, an uninvited jolt of electrical energy caused my router to light up like a Roman candle before displaying a single red LED, ominously winking, before it and the attached phones mutely expired. Hardly surprising then that one’s customary geniality gives way to a certain oily blackness of mood.

As Oliver Goldsmith once wrote "The mind is ever ingenious in making its own distress."

Especially without Facebook.

Rain, of course, like the Quality of Mercy, dropping as it does more or less gently from Heav’n upon the Earth beneath, is in fact, not necessarily the only thing that causes one’s brow to sickly o’er with the pale cast of thought; instead, the first time that we smell the air, we wawl and cry. (I wish you’d stop putting in all these literary bits! People will make the mistake of thinking you’re clever!

Ed) I don’t often answer back He Who Must Be Obeyed, but that last is from King Lear and I’ve been trying to use the word ‘wawl’ for months! Really! Yes, I have and the ‘smelling of the air’ is a nicely oblique, even cryptic

reference to my personal Chamber of Horrors, The Air Port. No doubt one or two of you have travelled by air quite recently. Airports are places designed by malevolent beings who probably sacrifice their children to Moloch.

Their consistent and unremittingly intense job of work is to make as many people miserable in the same time and place as is humanly possible. Now, unless one happens to own a Gulfstream V, (you wish! Ed) you know – the business jet with those gloriously optimistic tip-tilted wings – most of us forgo the simple pleasures of hide leather armchairs, glass tabletops and a TV that’s a bit bigger than a handkerchief for cheap rates in cattle class.

Somebody once told me that spending several hours in a crowded airport produces as much stress hormone as a street riot. And, that’s even before you get on the plane. So, I’m going to bore you all witless for a bit with an Airport Story. Pay attention, now. (Oh, if you must.

Get on with it. Ed) Frankfurt airport is vast. It extends for kilometres in all directions. Kenyan long distance runners train on its walkways and in spite of immense passenger throughput, together with Germanic efficiency it rarely seems to be crowded. Unless of course, two inches of snow falls unexpectedly in Northern Europe. Newspapers headline with ‘Chaos’, which I really never quite believed until my aircraft took off almost four hours late from the desert Shangri-La which we all know and love en route for wild and bitter weather in the North. I arrived in Frankfurt having missed my connection, which normally means a peaceful wait with good literature (or as good as can be found in the airport bookstall) for as long as it takes to reconfigure everyone's flights and get them comfortably on their way again. Not this time. Stampeding wildebeest

does not adequately describe the pushing, shoving and sheer bad manners. Being herded from pillar to post and back to pillar again in unfamiliar surroundings along with what seemed to be about two and a half million others is just a little bit disconcerting. This caused the Spode nerves to stick out a bit, like the ‘quills upon the fretful porpentine’.

Hamlet’s ghost, people. Look it up. One tries to maintain one’s sang-froid, of course, a discreet but continuous grinding of the molars being the only signal to a close observer that one is a heartbeat away from uncontrollably homicidal rage. Now I know why they don’t let you have scissors in your hand luggage. Some fellow-travellers – I use the term loosely – are giving way to hysteria because they have flown halfway around the world for a wedding which will almost certainly start without them. I was ‘on standby’ which can mean anything from 'there might be room on the 2:30, guv' to 'be prepared to sleep on the floor in the airport, perhaps for days, Sir'. The lower lips of grown men were seen to tremble.

OK. Fine. Excellent. Being adept at slipping between the interstices of energy wasted by others, a moment seized and the absence of luggage secured me a seat on a flight to Paris.

Nimble, adroit and completely heartless sidestepping around distraught Belgian families with increasingly distressed minors in tow ensured success. Did I feel a little bit guilty? Yes. For about a nanosecond. Were it required, I would have paid, like King Solomon ‘even unto half my kingdom’ to be just about anywhere but there. I comforted myself with a little mellow anticipation. It's pot-au-feu with Aubrac beef or magret de canard stuffed with foie gras and figs at the other end. In this particular case, it was better to arrive than to travel hopefully. Oh, yes.

December, 2015

TOP FIVE ‘MUSTS’ FOR

TOKYOJAPAN Jim West By day a Cyber Security Expert, and by night an award winning author of the Magicae Mathematica series. Jim has lived in Kuwait since 2007, and is excited to be part of the CityPages team.

Winter is upon us, bringing with it its usual drop in temperature. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay in. Why not jump aboard a flight to Tokyo, Japan? A city where everything from the language to the culture is unique, quirky and different.

A place filled with courteous people and great food.

From the excitement of Shinjuku to the serenity of the parks and temples, old meets new in a harmonious way in Tokyo.

1-The MUST see….to really get a sense of how

large Tokyo is you need to view it from Tokyo Sky Tree.

On a clear day you can see Mount Fuji. Be sure to make reservations - and keep track of special holidays when it may be closed. http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

2-the MUST eat…with 226 Michelin-starred

restaurants (more than any in the world!) it is not too difficult to find a good place to eat. Step into the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and you have three Michelin-starred restaurants at your service. Every restaurant has excellent views of the city. http://www.

citypageskuwait.com

mandarinoriental.com/tokyo/fine-dining/

3-the MUST shop…for souvenirs you must head

to the market just outside of the Senso-ji Temple. But for the latest in fashion you have but one destination in Tokyo - Ginza. Ginza has long been the center for high fashion and opulence. https://www.gotokyo.org/en/ tourists/areas/areamap/ginza.html

4-the MUST stay…if you seek something away

from the hustle and bustle stay at the Park Hotel Tokyo and enjoy the great views from your room. Yet if you want to be near the excitement of Tokyo’s nightlife, then Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku is the place for you.

5-the MUST do off the beaten path…right next to JR Shinjuku Station’s east exit is an area of tight walkways and restaurants called ‘Memory Lane’.

It is like a trip back in time as you sit cramped up with other patrons dining upon sushi, yakitori, and of course, ramen. http://www.shinjuku-omoide.com/ english/

For more information check out https://www.gotokyo.org/en/

December, 2015

Green Concoctions, Local Gelato and Hot Chocolate…

Khaled Nazar Khaled is a Colorado School of Mines Graduate with a BS in Petroleum Engineering.

Currently working for KOC and co-founder of Kuwait Events mobile application, he is (but is not limited to) a cinematographer, photographer, filmmaker, artist, engineer, geek, food critic, wanderlust and car enthusiast. He prefers a mountain hike to a city stroll.

Last month I attended the Nuqat Creative Conference where I stumbled upon Scoop A Cone. I was offered a green shake from the small gelato booth and asked to take a leap of faith to try it. Of course I’ve already had my share of healthy green drinks living in the United States but it was my first one in Kuwait. I say this because I like to keep very low expectations when it comes to food here. So I grabbed the shake, sipped on it a couple of times, then sipped some more. And hey! I liked it. I continued to try the few gelato flavors and finally decided that it was worth writing about. The small booth at the conference wasn’t enough for me so I arranged to visit the shop in Dasma two weeks later.

It was a lovely, inviting shop with nice seating arrangements and glass walls bringing in that much needed sunlight. There’s not much of anything nice to look at in Dasma, yet there is so much ‘nice’ happening inside Scoop A Cone. The first thing I asked for when I arrived was the green shake and I was very sad to hear that it was only available for the duration of the conference. What I did get to taste however, was almost everything else on the menu.

I started with the sorbets and the Mango flavor was a winner. I wanted more but had to leave space for the creamier gelato like Ferrero Rocher, Cookies & Cream, Red Velvet, Nutty Caramel, Sea Salt Caramel and much more. I’m not easily impressed and flavor originality

citypageskuwait.com

was lacking but for once I was really enjoying just how well done each flavor was. I guess this should be of no surprise since they’ve been open for quite some time, giving them the advantage of customer feedback and hence, refining their flavors. The team behind Scoop A Cone seems to care about the smaller details and they’re very proud of their ‘no artificial coloring or favors’.

Next I tried the Melt N’ Scoop, a full sugary treatment of chocolate, gelato, brownie cake and fresh strawberry.

It’s always a joy watching chocolate melt into a mouth watering mess! And last but not least, I indulged in a thick delicious waffle with a cool vanilla scoop. The waffle was made from fresh dough and seemed to find a perfect balance between spongy and crispy.

It might seem a bit out of place writing about gelato when the weather is getting colder but Scoop A Cone does offer hot drinks like coffee and such. The gelato infused hot chocolate seemed like the perfect winter treat. You can look at the picture in this article all you want but that taste will only be revealed if you grab your keys, drive to the nearest Scoop A Cone branch and get yourself one.

One last thing and I quote: “We are planning a big surprise and it’s a first in Kuwait”. This surprise is going to have to wait until January - and I am one excited customer!

DELIVERY : +965 66 583 274

CRUKAFEKW

www.crukafe.com December, 2015

New York City

Home to the Empire State Building, Times Square, Statue of Liberty and other iconic sites, New York City is a fast-paced, globally influential center of art, culture, fashion and finance. The city’s 5 boroughs sit where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean, with the island borough of Manhattan at the “Big Apple's" core.

Where to Stay

The Surrey

This steely Upper East Side gem – literally, everything is decorated in silvery shades of grey – is all about luxury. The staff is attractive, the vibe is cool and the walls are decorated by namebrand contemporary artists like Chuck Close. In addition, the roomy ‘salons’ (aka ‘guest rooms’) are equipped with Duxiana beds decked out in Egyptian-cotton linen.

Things to do Central Park

The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York

This historic New York City hotel is located directly across from Central Park. A state-of-the art gym and classic rooms are available.

The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, guest rooms are furnished in light colors and state-of-the-art amenities such as iPod docking stations and flat-screen cable TVs. Each room boasts marble bathrooms with bathrobes and slippers.

Like the city’s subway system, the vast and majestic Central Park, an 843-acre rectangle of open space in the middle of Manhattan, is a great class leveler – which is exactly what it was envisioned to be.

Created in the 1860s and ’70s by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux on the marshy northern fringe of the city, the immense park was designed as a leisure space for all New Yorkers, regardless of color, class or creed.

Book of Mormon

Subversive, obscene and ridiculously hilarious, this cutting musical satire is the work of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez. Winner of nine Tony Awards, it tells the story of two naive Mormons on a mission to 'save' a Ugandan village.

New York City Hop-on Hop-off Tour

A hop-on-hop-off bus tour is the ideal way to explore every corner of the Big Apple and, with lively tour guides to keep you entertained and informed, you are sure to learn facts old and new about the city that never sleeps!

Where to Dine Eleven Madison Park

Museum of Modern Art

The Greenwich Hotel

From the plush drawing room (complete with crackling fire), to the lantern-lit pool inside a reconstructed Japanese farmhouse, nothing about Robert De Niro's Greenwich Hotel is generic. Each of the 88 individually designed rooms features floor-to-ceiling French doors opening to the flower-filled courtyard; dark, aged wood across the floors; and opulently tiled Carrara marble or Moroccan tiled bathrooms.

Founded in 1929, MoMA is one of NYC’s most popular museums, home to more than 100,000 pieces of modern artwork, most by A-listers – Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Rothko, Pollock, Bourgeois and many others. It’s dedicated to showcasing artwork based on the emerging creative ideas of the late 19th century through to those that dominate today.

Balthazar

Statue of Liberty

In a city full of American icons, the Statue of Liberty is perhaps the most famous. Conceived as early as 1865 by French intellectual Edouard Laboulaye as a monument to the republican principals shared by France and the USA, it's still generally recognized as a symbol for at least the ideals of opportunity and freedom to many.

Crosby Street Hotel

Step into Crosby Street for afternoon tea and you’ll never want to leave. It’s not just the scones and clotted cream that will grab you, but the fun and upbeat lobby, chi-chi bar and one-of-a-kind rooms. While some of the latter are starkly black and white and others as pretty and floral as an English garden, all are plush, playful and adorned with heavenly amenities by London perfumer Miller Harris. citypageskuwait.com

Big Apple Helicopter Tour of New York

See New York's famous landmarks from the air on an exhilarating 15-minute helicopter tour. You'll come face-to-face with the Statue of Liberty as you fly above the Hudson River. Admire the iconic Empire State Building, the silver Art Deco brilliance of the Chrysler Building, and the sprawling green expanse of Central Park. A must for any visitor to New York City!

Bon voyage!

Le Bernardin

November, 2015

HOMES FOR ENTERTAINING

THIS NEW YEAR

To bring in the New Year with a bang, you want the perfect pad to entertain your friends and family and celebrate the dawning of another year. Barton Wyatt, the award-winning Surrey estate agent, presents a selection of the best homes for entertaining this New Year.

The Ridge, Wentworth Estate

Wellington House, Wentworth Estate

This Georgianesque style house is a grand and spacious home close to the centre of Virginia Water. If your friends are coming from far afield then being close to the M25, M3 and M4 motorway networks plus Farnborough and Heathrow airports is a bonus.

When your guests arrive, they will no doubt be impressed by the gentle slope of the long private approach to the house, bordered with pristine grass and Georgian style lanterns. This property has a visible 'no expense spared' finish. Invite your friends to sleep over in one of the six bedrooms - all with en-suite bathrooms for even the most discerning guest to prepare for the night's festivities ahead.

You are spoiled for entertaining space in The Ridge. The layout lends itself to contemporary living with an enormous kitchen/breakfast/ sitting room and a more formal living and dining room plus a beautifully fitted study. Perhaps you can even watch the chimes of Big Ben on the big screen in the cinema room or if you're feeling brave, heat up the outside pool and have a midnight swim under the stars. You can be the proud owner of this glorious home for ÂŁ8,750,000.

This virtually brand new residence was completed in 2011 to an exceptional standard in this superb location. The property offers in excess of 11,000 square foot of luxury!

This is THE house in which to have a pool party - you and your guests will be amused for hours in the sports and leisure area, with its large indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna. The pool area is just off the kitchen so popping back to the house will be no problem at all.

After a night of celebrating in the pool, Wellington House has ample reception rooms to dry out and toast the New Year. As the evening progresses your fellow partygoers can gather in the large drawing room and spread out into the dining and kitchen/breakfast rooms.

Time for bed and the grand staircase leads up to seven en-suite bedrooms, so plenty of room for everyone to stay and let their hair down.

Located on the prestigious Wentworth Estate you will be the envy of your golfing friends with the superb golf and leisure facilities on your doorstep. Wellington House is also situated close to the village of Virginia Water with its excellent array of boutique shops, varied restaurants and the mainline railway station. On the market at ÂŁ7,450,000.

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Windsor House, Wentworth

Byways, Ascot

There is no need to squash your helping hands into the house for your New Year party at Windsor House: the property comes complete with over-garage staff accommodation so your poised party professionals can be on site in their own fully fitted apartment.

This is a very spacious home of 10,932 square feet complete with four large reception rooms, a massive kitchen/breakfast room for casual entertaining and an outside pool. Your guests will not know which room to fill when the clock strikes twelve!

Putting your guests up for the night is not a problem at Windsor House; on the first floor there are five bedroom and bathroom suites, with two further bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second floor.

This stunning brand new Wentworth mansion house is ready for immediate occupation and fully furnished if desired. It is set in a wonderful south facing acre plot in a highly desirable location within the Wentworth Estate, just a short walk from the picturesque village shops and mainline station, and approximately one mile from the world-renowned Wentworth Golf and Country Club.

Situated in one of the most exclusive private roads in Virginia Water with beautiful landscaped gardens, you will be the envy of the New Year revelers for ÂŁ6,950,000.

This gorgeous Georgian style mansion sits in a quiet and tranquil private road in South Ascot. The property has six large bedrooms all with luxury bathrooms and is already furnished and waiting for you and your house guests to party. The second floor boasts a cinema room for the latest Christmas block buster.

A wonderfully large kitchen/breakfast/garden room and four further reception rooms will keep you and your guests fully entertained and give lots of space for eating, drinking, games and then sleeping.

The house also has a studio apartment for staff/au-pair over the triple garage and sits within a delightfully landscaped garden of approximately 0.4 of an acre.

The price for Byways is ÂŁ3,750,000.

If the above houses have got you in the mood for a party contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk. Their team of property professionals will be able to assist you with further information or help you find your perfect property to fit your every requirement.

December, 2015

The voice-over artist always on the go.

Tamara Saab worked in television before transferring her talents to radio. Now part of the popular breakfast team on Kuwait’s 99.7 Super Station, her voice is instantly recognized by many.

But despite her popularity, she’s determined to stay humble and insists that teamwork is the key to her current success.

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December, 2015

Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography - Outfits: Ingie Paris - Hair: @toniandguykw

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Tamara Saab, wife and mother of two handsome boys.

I started my career almost 19 years ago at a young age, working in television. I presented different entertainment shows in Lebanon. When I got married and moved to Kuwait I worked for almost three years in Alrai Television on two shows, one all about movies and the other on home design and architecture.

Tell us about your education.

I am a BA Graduate in Advertising and Marketing.

How did you end up working as a voice-over artist and presenter? Is there a particular event that led you to this path?

I loved being on stage since I was a little girl but entering this field was unplanned. It all started when I was visiting the set of the number one kid’s program on Future TV in Lebanon (Noah’s Ark). The creator of the show saw me and asked if I would be interested in casting. I said yes and the same day my parents received the call to say I was a member of the Noah’s Ark kids show.

After a couple of years I moved on to a different channel doing different entertainment and live game shows, until I moved to Kuwait and recorded my voice for a radio ad. That’s why my voice is now almost everywhere in Kuwait and the Middle East.

What was your big breakthrough?

When I presented my first Music Festival live on national TV in front of thousands of people in Lebanon.

In the voice-over business, is having a regional accent a disadvantage?

Not necessarily. In this business, the client chooses the accent.

In my case, I record in English, French and Arabic (the formal Arabic language).

What steps did you take to train yourself to talk in a more conversational way?

First I listen. Then I always read from newspapers, magazines and books. When I talk or record anything I put myself in the place of the listener. I speak in a way where people will understand what the message is.

Do you specialize in voice work or do several types?

I do several types depending on what I’m recording or saying.

How did 'Breakfast with Tee and Aki' come up? And how did you all assemble?

The Breakfast Show already existed on 99.7 Super Station but two years ago Mix Media Advertising Agency sponsored two hours airtime of the show from the Ministry of Communications and ‘Breakfast with Tee, Aki and George’ was born. We are a great team working together on all ideas for the show.

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December, 2015

Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography - Outfits: @etoilelaboutique - Hair: @toniandguykw

Who puts the layout of the program together?

It’s team work.

What’s the most positive feedback you’ve ever received, and which negative feedback really had you wondering?

The most positive feedback we received was when we talked about mislabeling children and the resulting disadvantages to the child and parents. Several listeners called and thanked us for bringing this subject up and hosting special doctors. This is one of the most important issues parents are facing here but no-one had spoken about it so openly. As for the negative, it all happened when I first started. But I love negative feedback because it makes me work harder on myself.

You interview lots of famous people - who are your favorites?

All of the guests we have on our show are amazing but for me, especially since I am obsessed with cooking and baking, my favorites were Celebrity Chefs Jenny Morris and Riza Mohammed, along with Caroline and Michel from The Taste of Kuwait Food Festival.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

To me, there is no ‘biggest’ challenge. Every day is a big challenge because I always want the show to be the best.

How does Tamara relax?

Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography - Outfits: @etoilelaboutique - Hair: @toniandguykw

Tamara doesn’t relax! I’m always on the go; I relax when everything is good, then I’m happy.

How do you stay motivated through difficult times?

No matter what the circumstances are I always stay positive. Whenever I feel down I always get back up in no time and just do it! God gave us one life and we must live it to the full; so I don’t have time to be angry or sad. For sure I am human and I do have my off-days, but I calm down pretty fast.

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RAPID ROUND When I face a big challenge I… breathe and pray and face the challenge.

My greatest fear is… losing people I love.

If I could go back in time to when I was 20 I would wish to… return to where I am now - in the present with no regrets.

I believe…the sky is my limit. Ask. Believe. Receive.

The biggest lesson I have ever learned is…to stop trusting people because you never know their intentions.

My favorite business tool or resource is…my husband (always) and Google (sometimes).

My favorite food is....Japanese.

My zodiac sign is...Pieces

December, 2015

Tell us about your hobbies.

I love cooking and baking as well as making baby souvenirs and I LOVE to sing; that’s why I have numerous professional karaoke systems.

What are your future plans?

There are several I can’t talk about until they happen, but what I can say for now is that I’m preparing my own blog and YouTube channel.

What’s the most important gift in life?

HEALTH, HEALTH AND HEALTH! What advice would you give young people trying to get into TV and Radio Presenting?

Work hard, be yourself, be creative and most important never give up and stay humble, no matter how important you become.

Your message for us at CityPages magazine:

Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography - Outfits: Ingie Paris - Hair: @toniandguykw

Thank you for this lovely interview and these questions that made me remember my old days, appreciate my present and look forward to my future. I love CityPages magazine for its diverse articles, interviews, valuable information and real life stories. The part I love best is that it has answers on anything I can imagine from tips to recipes and more.

citypageskuwait.com

December, 2015

ANATOMY OF A DIG GETTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL IN ANCIENT THEBES

Barbara O’Neill Barbara O’Neill is a part time PhD candidate with the University of Winchester and a long-term resident of Kuwait. Barbara is a founder member of SACK (Studies in Ancient Culture, Kuwait). The group meet once a month and new members are always welcome. For more information contact the group at primarykes2@yahoo.co.uk

As anyone who has spent time getting up close and personal with the ancient past will confirm, it takes an inordinate amount of time for normal function to resume back in the real world. If you are ever fortunate enough to find yourself part of an excavation team in Egypt, you will find that time, as most of us understand that concept, changes radically. It starts with one’s working day. The morning alarm was set firmly for 3.30am. This allowed enough time to wake up, shower and breakfast before heading out for the dig bus, literally at the crack of dawn. It sounds dire but one finds oneself in a different space with another mindset on an archaeological dig.

Amongst the dig team, all housed under the same roof in West Bank Luxor, no one ever looked sleepy or unprepared for the day ahead. No one ever complained about the unearthly hour in which the alarms started ringing. It was heavenly to rise with the Egyptian sun; blissful to experience the deliciously cool temperature of a Luxor morning. What might elsewhere be viewed as unacceptable timings were easily assimilated as one gradually left all normal activity behind and began following the ‘other worldly’ timetable of an excavation.

the base of the Theban hills, the location of many dozens of tombs dotted across the limestone hills. As for suspended time, the concepts of ‘now’ and ‘then’ quickly become blurred when one’s working space is a two thousand year old tomb and where one habitually breakfasts in the shadow of the über impressive Deir el Bahri plateau.

By 5am, sunrise is well underway in Luxor. The hot air balloons were just reaching cruise height at that hour, keeping pace with the sun as both hovered over the supra-green fields of the farms around the dig site.

Occasionally spotted on Luxor’s West Bank, though more frequently seen on the East Bank, western style eateries, restaurants and a rare Internet Café or two stand out, not least due to their truly garish signs. Luxor’s streets are rough on walkers and not

A short journey through sleepy villages brought us to citypageskuwait.com

Before heading out as part of this archaeological mission set up to record, and as far as possible, reconstruct two Late Dynastic tombs, it had been more than twenty years since I last visited Luxor, but little had changed. There were more motorbikes and fewer donkey carts perhaps, but unlike other parts of the Arab world where the transatlantic dress code of obligatory jeans, t-shirts and a minimalistic dress sense has swamped traditional culture, the people of modern day Luxor looked exactly the same as back in the day. Without exception, (excluding Westerners) every woman was covered, usually in regulation black, elegantly and effortlessly graceful as they went about their business; always looking cool despite the searing heat of an Egyptian summer. Men are more likely to appear in western clothes but fewer have abandoned the gallibaya than I expected.

much better for other forms of transportation, challenging the most agile pedestrian. Forget disabled access or even keeping your feet dry; the practice of hosing down dusty earthen pavements outside shops and houses makes mud and the closely associated ever present puddle, a constant. It is fairly certain that the ubiquitous inappropriately dressed tourists (usually young, western and sad to report, female) one spots within temple complexes on the East Bank, would surely not continue upright for long, teetering down a West Bank street oblivious to sense and sensibilities.

European Health and Safety Inspectors would find themselves with ‘flagged urgent’ issues to discuss, let loose at these same locations.

Surreal sensations can never be commonplace but fast become the norm as one functions amidst the trappings of the ancient past while coping with the realities of the present. I have long been fascinated by ancient Egyptian concepts of time; one of many Egyptian dualities where time is conceptualised as eternal perfection or ‘Djet’, most often associated with Osiris and the flawlessness of creation. At the same instant, time can be cyclically repetitive or ‘neheh’, most often linked to the sun god Ra and the recurring cycles of life. One experiences aspects of both Djet and neheh time as they occur simultaneously on an Egyptian dig.

dictionary, flicking through formulaic Middle Egyptian phraseology in a valiant attempt to decipher partially destroyed hieroglyphs, before carefully writing a 21st century date on limestone fragments thousands of years old. Another hour or two might be taken up manning the opening of a new trench; watching as steps unseen for thousands of years were once again exposed to the light of a summer day. Later, one might have the opportunity to observe skilled conservators as they worked on fragmented, carved limestone using stateof-the-art preservatives created through space age technology. Surreal becomes real when one finds oneself labelling an assortment of ancient items which might include faience beads, inscribed papyrus or scraps of mummy wrappings, packing these carefully into plastic sandwich bags, everyday receptacles as far removed from their contents in style, form and function as it is possible to be. I’m ever-hopeful that one day someone will ask me ‘what’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever popped into a Sainsbury’s sandwich bag’- I have my answer ready, ‘the tip of a mummified finger with gold leaf still visible on the fingernail’!

Characters abound on an established excavation site. The reis, or dig foreman, stands proud and tall commanding all aspects of the physical space. He must be commanding and most definitely able to assume the position of ‘he who will be obeyed’. Ours had many years of experience working for the best people on the best sites. Yet for all that, there was a definite softness in his personal interactions with the youngest workers; a sense of humour at our clumsy efforts to scramble around the site; not a practice for the faint-hearted. When physical features of an excavation site are referred to as ‘the bridge of doom’ and ‘the hole to nowhere’,

you already have a red flagged note-to-self to stay alert at all times.

Archaeologists and students are always outnumbered by the ‘bucket boys’, hard working men who move effortlessly from trench to tomb, across impossibly deathdefying rickety ladder bridges and up the steepest inclines for hour after hour through the hottest time of day, at the hottest time of year with never a sign of fatigue. Swinging their rubble laden baskets up from trench to shoulders effortlessly, they form a graceful ballet choreographed straight from a starting point in the tomb below, up to the growing mounds of detritus on high where they build mini-Theban hills of ‘left-overs’ surrounding the site. This slow moving band of brothers casts long shadows along the upper ridges of the excavation site from dawn to midday with the sun at its highest point, before heading home to rest. Located in the shade of the biggest mound sits the oldest ‘bucket boy’, a semi-retired elder who spends his days sifting through the heap of his more active companions’ discarded rubble. Eagle eyed, though no longer lithe enough to work the trenches himself, his job is to pick out the smallest scraps that may have escaped first examination in the cluttered trench. The great Egyptologist Petrie himself might look on approvingly from beside this old excavator’s mound, nodding in sage approval at his efforts and at the efforts of the experienced excavation team, assessing, recording and measuring the complex stratigraphy of each well-worked trench.

To the novice excavator, what initially looks like a rough wall of mud dotted with stones, straw and rubble soon takes on a more complex meaning; irregular layers indicating multiple

The realities of the unavoidable repetition experienced during the all-important mission work of registering a multitude of limestone and other objects could indeed become repetitive, but it was never ordinary. The juxtaposition of using technology in tombs never failed to produce wry smiles; we used laptops, cameras and mobile phone technology while working deep underground, seemingly far from the real world where such technology is commonplace. Registration work plunged us into an out of body experience as we delved into the dog-eared site copy of an ancient Egyptian December, 2015

occupations of a particular space. In a dig trench time is marked in layers; layers packed with tomb remnants, settlement deposits and flood debris, no neatly defined distinctions here. If one is lucky, traces of ancient rooms, porticos and stairs might be indicated in these spaces, but even the remnants of much-laterthan-the-tomb though still ancient stables are of interest to modern archaeologists.

Assessing what gradually emerges from multiple trenches was a vital part of our day, as was recording levels with theodolite and measuring equipment as the dig progressed, always deeper and increasingly wider. Within one trench one might find the outlines of long eroded domestic settlement or inscribed papyrus fragments suggesting the location of a room from a long destroyed Coptic monastery or reworked stone from a much later mosque.

It is no small thought, the dawning realisation that the space within one excavation trench may have been sacred to people from at least three distinct cultural traditions; ancient Egyptian, Coptic and Arab. Thebes encompasses rich remnants from all of these with a good sprinkling of Greek and Roman thrown in for good measure. One never looses trace of the fact that equidistant, ever-present and beneath everything lies an Egyptian tomb complex, for it was Egypt’s first and oldest tradition which dominated the entire ‘world’ when this particular Theban ground was originally dedicated as a burial site.

It is said that all time is relative and that cliché takes on a whole new meaning when you are stopped short, hardly daring to breathe upon finding an ancient thumb print casually pressed into the base of a faience shabti, indicating where an ancient craftsmen had casually finished off his work. I pressed my own thumb print against his, clearly visible on the base of just one of the many hundreds of little worker statues this craftsman would have produced over the course of a day. The

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fact that his day (to say nothing of his thumb) existed thousands of years before mine; that sensation of shared humanity never grew old and remains with me now, freshly poignant as all precious memories are.

In Thebes - for it is impossible when away from village and town where the silent hills dominated everything, to think of the place as modern day Luxor, any understanding of time is indeed relative, suspended and surreal.

Perhaps it was always thus? The ancients may be long gone, with mere traces of their craftsmanship and their beliefs remaining, inscribed into chunks of broken stone and delineated across crumbling tomb walls. It is

nonetheless important to preserve what is left and to witness, as I have, how painstakingly this preservation is being carried out, with every scrap of stone, painted plaster and fragment of papyrus logged, tagged and squared away, carefully preserved and recorded because each piece is important.

I understand that now. The next trench could answer important questions or pose new ones. The past is important and during our modern era when tragically, the ancient past is being brutally obliterated, Egypt’s past is crucially important to us all. We have to understand past civilisations in order to truly understand our own.

Egypt herself has been described as the world’s largest open air museum. If so then Luxor is most definitely a beautifully carved doorway into this superlative repository. The ancients may be long gone but ‘Thebes’ endures in djet perfection and neheh eternity hidden beneath this modern town. And me, I’m left with treasured memories of getting up close and personal with an outstanding civilisation, right there in the foothills of ancient Thebes.

December, 2015

EXPOSING UV round.

Natalie Rose Choonoo Natalie is an optometrist and contact lens specialist at International Optique. She has a Bachelor of Optometry from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa. For more information contact International Optique.

Tel: 25714007 – 97234753, www. intoptic.com – info@intoptic.com, Instagram: @intoptique

Most of us synonymously relate the concept of UV (ultra violet light) to being a summer aspect and do not actually associate it with the chills of winter.

However, UV is present in every season and needs to be considered all year

The sun supports all life on our planet, but its lifegiving rays also pose certain dangers. UV rays primarily emanate from the sun, but are also present in other artificial sources like welding machines, tanning beds and lasers. Many of us are aware of the harmful effects of UV radiation on the skin, but equally important are the effects on the eye.

There are three types of UV rays which need to be considered for the visual system:

UVC RAYS: These rays are potentially the most damaging to the eyes. Fortunately, the atmosphere's ozone layer blocks almost all of these rays. However, due to the depletion of the ozone layer, these rays could reach the earth's surface in the very near future.

UVB RAYS: UVB rays are filtered partially by the

ozone layer but some still reach the earth's surface.

Skin discoloration, sunburn and premature aging have all been attributed to UVB rays. Pterygiums (fleshy growths on the conjunctiva of the eye) are caused by UVB exposure. These growths are unsightly and also lead to dryness and irritation of the eye. Photokeratisis or ‘snow blindness’ is attributed to UVB rays. This is a temporary loss of vision and is greatest at high altitudes. Beware that the risk is prevalent anywhere snow is present and increases when incorrect UV protection is worn.

UVA RAYS: UVA rays are closer to visible light.

These rays pass through the cornea, lens and retina, therefore posing a potential danger to these structures of the eye. Overexposure to UVA radiation is linked to cataract formation and could play a role in the development of macular degeneration.

Outdoor risk factors which put UV at unsafe levels are: •Geographic location: The levels of UV increases the closer you are to the equator.

•Altitude: UV levels are greater at higher altitudes.

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•Time of day: Typically from 10:00am to 2:00pm when the sun is at its peak.

•Setting: UV levels are greater in wide open spaces, especially where there are highly reflective surfaces e.g. snow and sand. UV levels double when UV rays are reflected from the snow.

•Cloud cover: This does not affect UV levels. Even on a cloudy or overcast day your risk of UV exposure can be significant. UV is invisible radiation, not visible light, and it can still penetrate clouds.

Here are some UV ‘limiting’ tips, be it in the sand, snow or sun: •Look for sunglasses that provide a 100% protection against UV rays. Not all sunglasses are manufactured equally in their ability to provide UV protection.

•To protect the delicate skin around your eyes, try a large sunglass frame or alternatively, wrap-around sunglasses.

•The amount of UV protection a sunglass provides is unrelated to the darkness or color of the lens itself.

•Additionally, wearing a wide brimmed hat with your UV protected sunglasses can reduce UV exposure.

•Even if you wear contact lenses that are labeled as being ‘UV blocking’, you still need to wear sunglasses.

Only the parts of the eye under the lens are shielded, leaving the surrounding conjunctiva and sclera at risk.

•UV protection needs to be considered in all outdoor sports. From blue blocking lenses to polarized lenses, a wide selection of UV protective eyewear for sports is available.

•Sunglasses need to be worn in the shade as well, but especially in the snow. Ski goggles should be an essential winter sport attire.

•Even if you are dark skinned, you still need to protect your eyes and skin from UV exposure. The risk associated is the same as someone who is fair skinned.

•Finally, it is important for children to be included in the UV protection conversation. Children spend more time outdoors than the average adult and it is said, that up to half of a person's lifetime exposure of UV can occur before the age of 18. Therefore, encourage your children to wear quality UV protective sunglasses with impact resistant lenses so they are free to jump and play to their heart's content!

For more information on how to choose the most suitable UV protective eyewear for your sun, sea and sand adventures, do visit us at International Optique for further advice.

25754187 / 97234753

- Sharq

22409341 /

- Kuwait City

- Sharq

- Fahaheel International intoptique December, 2015 Optique

WHY DO YOUR FINGERS

PRUNE UP AFTER A BATH?

Dr. Nazia Nausheen Dr. Nazia Nausheen is a certified medical doctor. She also holds a Masters Degree in Business, Specializing in Sales and Marketing.

Readers should look forward to her regular articles on women health and other general health related issues.

If you’ve ever spent too much time in the pool, or if you like to unwind at the end of a hard day with an hours-long soak in the tub, you’re probably familiar with the ‘pruney fingers’ phenomenon. Believe it or not, scientists have been studying this raisin-like effect for decades, trying to figure out why your hands (and sometimes your feet) get so wrinkly when wet.

to a reaction in the central nervous system - a ‘classic mechanics problem’. The mechanics theory is based on the idea of vasoconstriction, or the narrowing of blood vessels. Basically, when fingers and toes are immersed in hot or cold water, nerve endings fire off signals that cause your blood vessels to constrict and the tissue below your skin’s surface to contract. This, in turn, forces the outermost layer of skin to buckle, resulting in wrinkling.

According to one popular theory, the epidermis (outer layer of skin), which is made up of dead keratin cells absorbs moisture when immersed in water for an extended period of time. This absorption causes the cells to swell, but because they’re still connected to the underlying tissue, which does not expand, the outer skin has to wrinkle to compensate for its larger surface area. It’s a little like having a king-size sheet for a queensize mattress: The extra material has nowhere to go, so it bunches up unevenly on top. But why are only your fingers and toes affected - why doesn’t your entire body wrinkle? Scientists say it’s because our hands and feet have the thickest epidermis and thus more keratin cells to absorb water. (Your nails also contain keratin, which is why they may feel softer after you do the dishes).

But recent research suggests there may be even more to wrinkly skin. According to another theory, pruney fingers and toes are not just the products of a dermatological quirk; rather, they’re the genetic equivalent of rain treads - those functional grooves on all-weather tires and shoes that help with traction in wet conditions. These so called treads on hands and feet may have been built into DNA over the ages to improve your grip under water.

Is There a Purpose to Pruning?

The problem with this hypothesis is that it doesn’t really account for the fact that fingers and toes don’t wrinkle when their nerve endings have been severed, as by injury or complications from diabetes. This can be explained by a different theory, which proposes that the prune-like effect is due not to skin saturation but citypageskuwait.com

In the latest study, participants picked up wet or dry objects including marbles of different sizes with normal hands or with fingers wrinkled after soaking in warm water for 30 minutes. The subjects were faster at picking up wet marbles with wrinkled fingers than with dry ones, but wrinkles made no difference for moving dry objects.

Wrinkled fingers could have helped our ancestors to gather food from wet vegetation or streams. The analogous effect in the toes could help us to get a better footing in the rain.

Dr.Shehab Ekrouf

Specialist General, Laparoscopic and Obesity Surgeon Boushahri Clinic Instagram : dr.shehab_ Twitter: doctorshehab Whats app: 00965 65757522 Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877

www.boushahricp.com

Boushahri_clinic

OBESITY SURGERY BMI is based on a simple calculation using a person's height and weight. The formula is BMI = kg/m2 where kg is a person's weight in kilograms and m2 is their height in meters squared.

Obesity is a major health issue these days. It is responsible for early death, diabetes mellitus hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obstructive respiratory apnea, cardiovascular diseases, fat deposition in the liver that may lead to liver cirrhosis, vertebral disc prolapse and knee stiffness and pain, and psychosocial disorders.

What are the benefits Of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Kuwait is no different from the rest of the world, but it actually has the highest percentage of obesity in the world.

Depending on their pre-operative weight, patients can expect to lose between 40% to 70% of their excess body weight in the first year after surgery.

In turn, Kuwait had the highest percentage of obesity surgery in the past few years according to the International Obesity Surgeries Associations. The most common procedure was sleeve gastrectomy.

Sleeve Gastrectomy The surgeon creates a small stomach ‘sleeve’ using a stapling device; the rest of the stomach is removed. This procedure induces weight loss in part by restricting the amount of food (and therefore calories) that can be eaten without bypassing the intestines.

1cm in length.

Most surgeons prefer this method because it results in shorter hospital stays, faster recoveries, smaller scars, and less pain than open surgical procedures.

Who can go for sleeve Gastrectomy?

During the procedure, the surgeon will:

The surgery is done according to your body mass index and follows this criteria:

1.Divide the stomach along its vertical length to create a long, slender pouch, or sleeve.

1 - If your BMI is equal to or above 40.

2.Remove the rest of the stomach (about 80 percent).

2 - BMI of 35 and above and suffering from one of the following:

Removing most of the stomach causes changes in gut hormones to suppress your appetite, control blood sugar and help you feel fuller longer

a-high blood sugar. b-high blood pressure. c-high level of cholesterol and lipids. d-knee pain due to obesity.

Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure: The majority of weight loss sleeve gastrostomies performed today use a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique.

The entire procedure is done through small incisions in your abdomen. However, it can be done with a single incision or multiple incisions reaching up to five, not more than citypageskuwait.com

Many obesity-related comorbidities improve or resolve after sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

Diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea and abnormal cholesterol levels are improved or cured in more than 75% of patients undergoing LSG. The weight loss that occurs after LSG results in dramatic improvement in these medical conditions in the first year after surgery.

e- vertebral disc prolapse and your orthopedic consultant advised you to lose some weight. f- infertility due to obesity. g- ovarian polycystic syndrome, or irregular menses. h-if you were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea disease.

Can I have sleeve Gastrectomy again?

Yes. I have seen and operated on many cases.

Who can go for sleeve Gastrectomy again?

Patients who had not lost more than 50% of their excess weight or patients who regained their weight after surgery.

If I have extra kilos and I don’t want to go for surgery what shall I do?

Intragastric balloon insertion is a very safe procedure and now we have a new type of balloon that doesn’t require anesthesia for insertion or removal.

Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877

www.boushahricp.com

Boushahri_clinic

KUWAIT CHILD RESOURCES CENTRE

Shahad Al-Fadhel MA in Applied Linguistics.

Instructor at the Language Centre in PAAET. Operational manager at BirthKuwait, passionate about breastfeeding, prenatal and postnatal care and a mother of two angels.

BirthKuwait is a non-profit organization operating as part of The Voluntary Health Association.

For more information, visit their website: www.birthkuwait.com or Instagram: @birthkuwait

citypageskuwait.com

Kuwait Child Resources Centre (KCRC) is a website created by three non-profit organizations in Kuwait as an online resource for healthcare workers, parents and community focal points. Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute/Child Evaluation and Rehabilitation Centre, BirthKuwait and 6abebat have collaborated on this project to create a society where children and families receive appropriate and timely healthcare and development advice, education and services.

KCRC aims to promote awareness of child health and development for children aged 0-18 years of age within Kuwait. It is intended to build a culture within Kuwait that supports child health and development initiatives with a central virtual space where childcare-givers, whether parents or professionals, will be able to locate the information and resources they need in Kuwait.

It will also help health professionals network and

share information related to child health, whether it be current research, best practice standards, events, special pediatric services, testing, healthy mother-andchild programs or other relevant information.

KCRC was created because of the public need for this type of health care service. Currently Kuwait does not have any standardized governmental testing programs or a centralized system for pediatric service providers that support children throughout their development.

Much of the information on child health and wellbeing that would be provided by the government and schools in other countries is simply unavailable in Kuwait. This means that those caring for children parents, guardians and teachers - are often left to make decisions in isolation about when and how to access child health services. Without this information being easily accessible to the diverse socio-economic groups in Kuwait, many children do not have access to the basic healthcare resources that they need to thrive. As

pledge can be found online at www.kuwaitcrc. org.

Using this information platform, we hope that parents and health practitioners, as well as community focal points, can share information on child health and well-being, rather than parents sometimes spending several years going from doctor to doctor, seeking help internationally, and also using information that is not evidence or best-practice based to make decisions about their child, from conception throughout childhood.

In addition, health professionals and community focal points can use this information-sharing resource to help them make referrals, or seek support in the delivery of their own services to the community, rather than relying only upon word-of-mouth.

three organizations made up of experts in the field of healthcare and specialists in maternal and pediatric health, the practitioners are constantly faced with the negative outcomes of this lack of accessible general information on the most basic health needs of children.

KCRC combines the resources of the three organizations, which already promote family and child well-being as part of their activities, and will create a space where child health and wellness resources in Kuwait can be accessed.

This wealth of information is provided in Arabic, which is currently a limited option within Kuwait. Making this one of our main activities will allow those unable to access English based information, an opportunity to expand their knowledge to have a positive impact upon the children of Kuwait. In addition to the direct beneficiaries of parents, care-givers and health care professionals, there are non-direct beneficiaries. They include children, schools, health and medical students in Kuwait, private and government health care systems, professional health care societies and associations as well as child welfare NGOs.

particular focus on developmental milestones and necessary testing. In addition, there is an active calendar of events for all members of the site to post ongoing activities relevant to child well-being. This aims to involve the target population in support and educational events, helping promote a change in Kuwaiti culture towards child and maternal health and wellbeing.

To drive the promotion of improved maternal and child health services and education in Kuwait, KCRC is currently promoting a ‘pledge’ for parents and professionals to sign, by which they would commit themselves to utilize the information provided, professionally and personally to promote child and maternal health and well-being in Kuwait. The support gathered through this pledge will inform the project partners in their future efforts to lobby the national government to implement mandatory developmental pediatric testing within the national health care system. The

KCRC was developed with the support and collaboration of the US Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and the en.v Initiative as part of the Support for Training, Advocacy and Networking for Development (STAND) program. To sign the pledge as a care-giver or a professional you can do so by visiting the website: www.kuwaitcrc.org. To learn more about the nonprofits involved in this initiative, please feel free to visit their websites and/or follow them on social media: FSRI/CERC: www.fsrikuwait.org/cerc.html @fsri BirthKuwait: www.birthkuwait.com @birthkuwait 6abebat: www.6abebat.com @6abebat

In addition to this, practitioners will have the opportunity to add research and evidence based articles to the website. This helps improve the shared resources between health care practitioners and allows those wanting to gain information the ability to make an educated decision about the healthcare they access. Links to international evidence based standards are also included in the website.

Moreover, it includes contacts to practitioners and links to any current pediatric research that Kuwait-based health care professionals wish to share. These resources, along with those created and contributed to by the project partners, will constitute a database of up-to-date research and information related to child health and development, with a December, 2015

Let’s Get Real… with Nat

Natalie Van Rooyen

Winter Warmers

Winter, it just creeps up on us, with not much time to prepare. During the winter months our bodies crave cooked food as opposed to salads, so it’s even harder to stay fit and healthy. Well, not really. It’s all about smart substitutions to your favorite winter meals.

One of my all-time favorite dishes to cook in the colder months is Cottage Pie, so for this month’s segment I will share my banting version with you. The potato mash is replaced with cauli-mash. You can also opt for loaded cauli-mash by adding garlic, cheese and mustard for an amazing flavor explosion.

GUILT FREE COTTAGE PIE CAULI-MASH

BEEF MINCE FILLING

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 1 head (1kg) cauliflower, broken into florets

• 400g beef mince • 125g streaky beef or veal bacon

• 300ml milk

• 40g butter

• 100g butter

• 1 large onion, finely chopped

• salt and pepper

• 4 celery sticks, roughly chopped • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced • 50g tomato paste

Directions: 1. Steam the cauliflower until it is mushy - never boil your veggies as it literally washes the nutrients away.

• 1 cup beef stock • 3 large sprigs thyme, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried thyme • 200g button mushrooms, sliced • 1 tin chopped tomatoes

2. Using a stick blender or food processor, puree the

• 3 large sprigs origanum, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried oriagnum

cauliflower until smooth.

• salt and pepper

3. Continue to purée, add the milk, then the butter and beat until smooth and silky.

Directions:

4. Season to taste and serve.

1. In a medium-sized, heavy-based frying pan, sauté the mince and bacon in the butter until golden brown.

2. Once the mince has browned, remove the meat, leaving the fat in the pan, and add the onion and celery.

3. Sauté the onion and celery in the fat until golden brown. Add the garlic and sauté until aromatic.

4. Return the mince to the pan, add the tomato paste and stir until a dark sediment collects on the base of the pot (this sediment gives the mince an amazing roasted flavor).

5. Add the beef stock, thyme, mushrooms and tinned tomato and simmer on a low heat for about an hour to cook and reduce.

citypageskuwait.com

6. Add the origanum and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Let’s Get Real… with Nat

To assemble the cottage pie: • Fill a lasagne/pie dish with the mince and smooth it out.

• Top it with the cauliflower purée and press the classic fork pattern into the top.

• Place it under the grill for 15 minutes until golden brown.

• Add cheese as an option.

December, 2015

TAMARA HAYAT

Combining the love of food with the art of clay to make the perfect miniature keepsake.

Taking inspiration from her own inner-child, Tamara Hayat creates unique pieces of art, perfect for food lovers and art lovers alike.

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

I am half English half Kuwaiti and have lived my entire life in Kuwait.

I have worked with children in various settings throughout my career and I am currently the Activity Coordinator at Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice in Kuwait.

Tell us about your education.

I attended the American School of Kuwait from elementary until my high school graduation. I never knew what I wanted to be; I still don’t have one job title I’m striving toward! I did not take the route that I knew would guarantee me security in the job market. I chose my educational career passionately, rather than pragmatically. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to study abroad for university where I spent my first year in Paris studying the humanities of Art History and Philosophy. I then moved to Montreal, Canada and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Education called Child Studies and continued to citypageskuwait.com

minor in Art History. Although they seem like completely different fields, I found a similarity in the two. Art History seemed like an intro to psychology and it provided me with the ability to empathize with the artist in order to understand the motives for their manifestations.

Trying to understand and analyze why someone chose to paint a certain scenario, or use a specific medium and technique, enabled me to learn so much about the roots of expression, which I believe stems from childhood. I changed my career path to study the development of children because I believe children are the most honestly expressive beings in the world. They can communicate their emotions in ways that adults choose not to; they just need someone to speak their language.

I experienced working with children in schools, but I felt like I needed to work with them in a way where they would teach me, and do so on their own turf, through play. I have always loved working with children because I feel like we speak that same language; I have not let go of my ‘inner child’. I currently work in a place where I am blessed and honoured to experience the world of children’s expression every day.

December, 2015

Why and when did you start making miniatures?

There are many reasons. I have always enjoyed working with my hands. The tangible feeling of using your hands to create a piece of work (or art) helps to reduce stress and the idea of something being handmade holds a lot of sentimental value to me. I have also always enjoyed animations, like Pingu! I also love doodling, especially pictures of food.

I took an Art Education course in university where I made my first (super-amateur) Claymation video in 2010. The scenario took place in a diner and I made all these retro food items like ice-cream sundaes and banana splits. I enjoyed the process of making it so much more than just the final result (or the 2-hour photography session it took to yield a 25 second video). I then realized that the intricate details and aesthetics are just as important as their taste when it comes to enjoying a certain dish. I started seeing dishes and not only wanting to eat them, but to recreate them because they were so appetizing.

I then found myself playing with clay while watching TV, while on the phone and especially when I was stressed.

Where did you get the talent from?

Who inspired you?

My sister has a bakery in Kuwait called November. I have always been inspired by the artwork and craftsmanship that goes into the citypageskuwait.com

cake decorating and the themes of the cakes.

At first I would watch tutorials of how to mold fondant, and then I realized I wanted to work with something that would last, which is when I discovered the world of miniature art and polymer clay.

Of all the other sculpting mediums, why did you choose polymer clay?

It is the typical clay that people use when creating miniature clay pieces. People often ask me if this work is painted, like what you see when people paint miniature figurines (like ships in a bottle and tiny soldiers) under a magnifying glass. My pieces are not just one big block of clay that is chiseled, molded and then painted. Each piece is made by combining various colours and shades together. I love polymer clay because it’s flexible and malleable and can be combined flawlessly with other colours to create your own unique piece which adds to the sentiment of handmade work.

What are supplies?

your

basic

tools

and

First and foremost, at least 100 different shades of polymer clay! I also use translucent and liquid clay. I make my own molds out of silicone and use epoxy resin. The tools I use are various sizes of ball tools, needle tools, Xacto knives and anything I find that can serve a purpose!

Polymer clay is a difficult medium to master. To what do you owe your success with it?

Patience, especially when making canes, which is when you build your own shape with details, typically a slice of something like a strawberry, tomato, banana, etc., and then roll it out and hope it looks like what it’s supposed to when you slice it! I also try to educate myself by learning new methods and techniques by reading and watching tutorials online.

What is your favourite miniature to create?

Although I make tons of ‘cutesy sweetie’ charms, such as cakes, cookies, popsicles, etc. my favourite pieces I like to create are the ones that have a lot of details to them. Mostly Asian dishes such as Chow Mein, Ramen dishes and Asian style soups that require not only clay but also epoxy resin, which dries as a hard impenetrable plastic.

Is there one thing you turn to for inspiration?

Two - dollhouses and good restaurant menus!

How long does it take to create your miniatures?

It all depends on what I’m creating. From the most simple, such as a cookie, it takes around

December, 2015

10 minutes, to the most intricate ones that require me to make a clay cane, which may take me up to 3 hours. If I’m using EpoxyResin it takes around 12-24 hours to cure (or harden).

Why do you think people love working with clay so much?

In modern society, we unfortunately don’t get our hands dirty enough. We’re either on our touch screen devices, typing or doing paper work. The act of making things is quite therapeutic and cathartic. If you’re having a bad day, baking cookies makes you feel better. You get to the break the eggs, whisk the batter and transform any negative energy into positive kinetic energy that will yield something great (and delicious). It physically relieves stress by working certain muscles and different parts of the brain. Focusing on the details for certain pieces can help alleviate and redirect all your frustrations and stress into the piece you are making. It also gives your mind a chance to restore.

Who are your customers and what are some of the best uses of the clay charms that you create?

I sell at various stores in Kuwait. I make miniatures of the items found in the display of the November bakery and I sell all items at My Pink Moon, a popular and fun boutique in Kuwait. I sell individually to people who request things on my Instagram and these customers range from kids around the age of 10 to older ladies!

Although I typically add them to accessories for people to wear (charm bracelets, necklaces, etc.) I find that the best use of the charms is when people consciously choose charms that mean something to the person they are gifting. Right now I am working on a 50 piece order for someone who is gifting their significant other a keepsake memory box of all of their favourite foods from their favourite restaurants they have visited throughout the years. To me, that increases its sentimental

citypageskuwait.com

value, and I am honoured to recreate that with these representations.

Why have you chosen to make miniature food instead of other objects?

What is your most viewed miniature?

The November Bakery Heartbreaker Cake and the most popular ones are the Starbucks charms.

People’s responses to my food charms are always “That’s so me!” (Or you, or whoever they’re gifting). We live in a society in which people are constantly identifying themselves with objects or ideas and trends. But I believe associating yourself with a certain food is a lot more meaningful than with a brand of clothing for instance. I always ask the customers who wonder what they should buy, the following questions: What food do you associate your personality (or the person you are gifting) with? What captures his/her/your essence?

Although these seem like silly questions, they are quite reflective! Are you more of a hot cup of coffee person (someone who enjoys taking their time) or a latte on the go person? Are you classic with your cheeseburgers and fries, or are you a healthy-food trend junkie that associates themselves with something like a Kale, Quinoa or Avocado salad?

Besides working with clay, what other things do you like to do?

How many pieces have you created todate?

Always have a clean table and clean hands.

Cover your pieces in the oven with foil so that they are not exposed to the heat directly.

I think I’ll be coming up on 1,000 pieces within the next month.

What are your goals as an artist?

Specifically toward miniature art, I want to pursue the art of woodworking so that I can make my own miniature furniture and displays.

Do you conduct any workshops to teach this art?

I incorporate miniature clay art into my activity plans for the children at the hospice and sometimes I will show glimpses of the methods I use on my personal snap chat or Tamarasteaspoons Instagram. But no, unfortunately I do not conduct workshops.

I like to draw, craft, cook, bake and make candles and natural beauty products. I lead an active lifestyle, and enjoy playing volleyball and tennis.

Do you think miniatures differ from country to country?

Absolutely! I have received many requests for making Kuwaiti cultural dishes and items. I’m still practicing.

What is your dream project?

To build a dollhouse.

Do you have any interesting tips for beginners working with polymer clay?

A message to all crafters, artists and designers: Do your own thing. Find your own source of inspiration, and be inspired by it; don’t imitate it. Let it motivate you to find your own unique talents.

Your message for us at CityPages magazine: I’d like to thank you for giving me this opportunity. I am honoured to have been chosen to be featured in your interview with my very ‘small’ business. It is people like you and magazines like this that give hope to entrepreneurs and small business owners so that, if passionate about their mission or project, their hard work can be recognized and appreciated.

December, 2015

THE KUWAIT BOOK FAIR HOOKED ON BOOKS

For those who may be tempted to think that books are a thing of the past, think again. The Kuwait Book Fair proved, once again, that books are here to stay. Despite the ever advancing modern technology and its associated variety of reading gadgets, people still love to turn the pages of a good old fashioned book. With this in mind, over 150 exhibitors took part in this year’s Book Fair, with a display of books to suit all ages, cultures and tastes. The displays, both eyecatching and vast, were guaranteed to turn the heads of all who entered the exhibition hall at Mishref’s fairground venue last month.

One such display was that of That Al Salasil whose huge stand was a hive of activity from day one. With over twenty bookshops across Kuwait, the printing and publishing experts were an expected presence at the Fair.

And who better to encourage reading and education than the company with the inspiring ‘Little Readers Future Leaders’ logo? Their display included a huge collection of children’s books, with help and advice readily available from their on-hand representatives.

Judging by the number of people laden with heavy bags, the Book Fair was a huge success. The promise of a new book stirs your imagination, leaving you impatient to get home and start reading. Books are also an excellent gift idea and with thousands to choose from, you can always find ‘just the right one’.

Fact or fiction, the cover of a book is designed to tempt you inside.

Once you’ve opened the book, its pages then act as a hook, drawing you into the story and locking you in with their words. There’s no denying that E-readers are convenient and lightweight, but the physical feel and weight of a book, with its tangible pages and distinctive scent, will always be a winner.

If you missed the Book Fair this year, you can still browse the huge collection of books at one of the That Al Salasil stores. Visit www. thatalsalasil.com.kw for details of their branches. citypageskuwait.com

December, 2015

by: Melody Mackintosh @MelodyMackintosh

melodymackintoshblog.wordpress.com

Promises, Promises.

I’m starting to wonder why I (or anyone else for that matter) should bother to make a New Year's resolution.

Every year, I promise to do something, or not to do something, in order to make myself, or somebody else, feel better. My problem is not the lack of discipline or willpower required to enforce my own resolution, but the fact that I should wait until 1st January to do it. What’s so special about this particular date that makes people think it holds the secret to achieving all of their goals? It’s just another day after all.

Every year, from childhood to adulthood, I promised myself I would stop biting my nails. I tried painting them with disgusting tasting polish; I tried filing them more often to stop me nibbling the ends; and I tried acrylic nails to cover up the offending bitten ones. Nothing worked. Seeing as I’d chewed them regularly throughout the previous year, what made me think I could stop at the start of the next? My good intentions always, unsurprisingly, came to an end before January did.

Quitting smoking continues to appear at the top of the list year after year. This is a habit that not only affects smokers themselves, but friends and family as well. Which makes we wonder if we wouldn’t all be better off promising those we love that we’ll stop, rather than just promising ourselves. Would we make more of an effort to avoid letting other people down than we would if we were simply breaking a promise to ourselves? I suspect we probably would.

Smoking is a bad habit no matter what time of year it is and it’s a well known fact that it’s harder to quit in winter (when the days are shorter and it’s colder) than it is in the summer. It’s not as though the health implications aren’t reason enough to stop right away; surely the money you will save is all the motivation you need.

I’ve made similar resolutions involving diet, fitness, evening classes and travel – all of which I broke and all of which continue to appear annually in the top ten of our most popular New Year resolutions. The fact that we make the same resolutions repeatedly, year after year, suggests that the chances of success are slim to say the least.

Other popular New Year resolutions include cutting down on social media use, raising money for charity and finding a job we love, instead of one we just tolerate. All commendable goals but again, ones we shouldn’t have to wait until January 1st to adopt. Imagine how much more fun the winter holidays would be if we weren’t all staring at our phones; why do people pay more attention to other people’s lives than they do to their own? I know of many parents who limit their child’s social media use to an hour a day. Maybe they should apply the same rule to themselves – but don’t want until January 1st to do it!

Wouldn’t we all be better off just doing it – whatever ‘it’ is – when we first think about it? If I decide in July that I want to learn to speak French, why not find myself a tutor there and then? Surely, if I wait until January the motivation (and quite possibly the reason) for learning will have passed. The same applies to dieting. Putting off a diet until the New Year is really just an excuse to keep eating for another month, two months or however long it is until January. And if we want to join a gym to get fit, why not join now? Why do it in six months time when we’re a stone heavier, a year older, and the gym is packed full of countless other half-hearted New Year sign-ups.

I’m not saying it’s not good to make resolutions. All I’m saying is don’t fall for the myth that they’ll be more successful if you start them on January 1st. Any day is a good day to start something good or stop something bad. However, unless you’ve got the determination to see it through, it’s pointless making the promise in the first place. I’ve long since stopped trying to convince myself I can stop biting my nails; and I’d love to learn French but unless I live there and I’m able to speak the language every day, I know I won’t have the inclination, or dedication, to learn it. I do have one resolution though. I’ve decided that this year, I’m not going to bother making one!

citypageskuwait.com

TOP MUSIC CHARTS 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06.

Hello

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Shawn Mendes

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Like I'm Gonna Lose You

679

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Justin Bieber & Jaden Smith

Meghan Trainor & John Legend

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13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

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19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

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December, 2015

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citypageskuwait.com

Eric Fabro

Urging drivers to look up, not down.

It’s often said, a picture is worth a thousand words. So if one photograph can reach so many people with its message, imagine what a whole video can do! Well, Eric Fabro decided to find out.

Progressing from photography to short film production, Eric entered his short movie ‘Line to Heaven’ in the Sinematika competition, the first Filipino short-film competition in Kuwait. Read on to learn what inspired him to make the film, the message behind it, and what he hopes to achieve from its production.

December, 2015

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married. Sometimes I would make a simple music video, without any story line and, scene by scene, join them together using video editing software. That’s how it started. It was already in my mind that maybe someday I could produce a short film.

Have you done any video projects in the past?

One day I attended a fashion show by Iszonica Modeling School where I met Michelle Johnson, a British national who teaches fashion modeling.

Most of her students are different nationalities. She asked me one day if I could produce a video trailer for her upcoming fashion show event titled ‘I am a Man – The Sound of Silence’. This project gave me more exposure as a producer of video clips, particularly with the help of my friend Mr. Ever Villacruz (a.k.a. ‘Pamatay Homesick’). Since then, Ever and I have worked closely on video projects for Iszonica Modeling School. I also did a video commercial for a ladies salon here in Kuwait and, from time to time, I shoot engagement videos for couples.

Who is Eric Fabro? Please introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born under the sign of Virgo in Davao City, in the southern part of the Philippines. I studied primary education in my home town and secondary education in Manila at Arellano University. Later, I proceeded to college and graduated in Electronic Technician and Computer Science Technology at the Asian College of Science and Technology at Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.

We know of your interest in photography but when and how did the interest in story telling develop?

It’s related to the photography. I progressed with still photos over a five year period, along with the rest of the members in our photography group PINDOT (Pinoy Digital Photographers in Kuwait). PINDOT is a literal word in Tagalog meaning ‘click’. Out of curiosity, since DSLR now has full capabilities and functionalities for recording high definition videos, I tried taking videos of friends, or couples who were getting citypageskuwait.com

What is SINEMATIKA? Tell us more about the short-film competition.

Literally, Sinematika is a Tagalog word meaning ‘Cinematic’. The event itself is organized by the Filipino Mediamen here in Kuwait and it is the first Filipino Short Film Competition in Kuwait.

So, what inspired you to produce the story of ‘Line To Heaven’?

I was inspired by a song composed and performed by a famous band in the Philippines called the ‘Introvoys’. Line to Heaven is the title of one of their songs.

How long did it take for you to complete the story?

About one week to complete the concept and scenario.

How difficult was it to for you to choose the actors for your film? Can you tell us a little about your characters and who played them?

Since I am a member of ‘CoupleCan’, a financial literacy advocacy group, it was not too difficult for me to choose the actors/actresses. I posted an announcement on our Facebook page and members replied, expressing an interest in participating in the short film; so we were able to come up with the characters to play the role of the story. The main characters are played by Christian Jan Sevilla, ShelamaeManaay, Aleck Tubale and Cianna Mercado. Other members joined us in the production team and we also had the help of my assistant director Ms. DeeseTubale, founder of CoupleCan. Did you face any difficulties while filming this short movie?

The hardest part during filming was the scheduling. Most of the main characters and the production team have only limited time due to different schedules in the workplace so it’s hard for us all to meet together at the same time. Instead, we filmed whoever was available on a specific given time, until we completed the entire scene.

How long did it take to film and then finally produce the film?

It took us four weekends to complete filming and another two weeks for processing and editing. It was also necessary to retake and re-shoot a specific scene.

What is the total duration of the movie?

The total running time is 9 minutes and 13 seconds.

Yours was the first submission to the competition - was this a strategy or you were confident enough?

What is the prize for the winning entry?

All finalists will receive a certificate of participation and there are three major prizes: 3rd Prize: Trophy, Plaque, Cash 2nd Prize: Trophy, Plaque, Cash 1st Prize: Trophy, Plaque, Cash and return ticket to the Philippines Are you planning to do any new projects in the near future?

Yes! In fact, we are now in the process of working on a series of inspirational videos for the CoupleCan advocacy group.

Who designed the poster of the film?

I did.

What is your goal? What would you like to achieve?

My goal is to produce inspirational short films and video messages. It is my way of reaching out to more Filipinos by helping to educate them, especially in financial literacy. That is the advocacy of CoupleCan. Any special shout-outs?

“Calls and texts can wait - don’t challenge fate”.

Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Thank you CityPages for the opportunity to share our short film story, produced and filmed by CoupleCan, written and directed by yours truly. I am happy and delighted that I was once part of the CityPages photography team and I can see CityPages will remain a strong and leading magazine in Kuwait. Good luck and more power!

We were just on time with our submission by the time it was all done after the post processing and editing. However, the organizers decided to extend the deadline following a request from another group and individual to give them more time to finish their film.

What is the main message that you want to convey through this film?

The film is intended to send a message to all drivers to stay focused on the road and not on their mobile phones. The government introduced a law prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving, but most drivers pay no attention to the law. Using a mobile phone while driving, especially texting, is highly distracting and very dangerous.

Here is the synopsis of the short film and the twist of the story: They were a happy family whose lives were tragically changed by a terrible accident when their car was involved in a head-on collision - all because the father was texting while driving. His wife died instantly leaving behind her badly injured husband who suffered from depression, and a 6 year old daughter who became blind. Four years later, the daughter desperately phoned a call center agent begging to be connected to her mother whom she believed was in heaven. The film revolves around the theme that tempting fate could lead to painful consequences for the people who find it hard to cope with the tragic aftermath.

How many entries did the competition attract?

At the time of writing, I think 3 or 4 have already been submitted.

December, 2015

DECEMBER Movie Releases POINT BREAK

JOY

CONCUSSION

THE HATEFUL EIGHT

KRAMPUS

Director: Ericson Core

Director: Director: David Guillermo O. Russell del Toro

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Director: Director:Peter JamesLandesman Wan

Director: Michael Dougherty

Starring: Edgar Ramirez, Ray Winstone, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Tobias Santelmann, Delroy Lindo

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Elisabeth Rohm, Virginia Madsen, Dascha Polanco

Starring: Kurt Russell, Walton Goggins, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern

Starring: Albert Brooks, Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Bitsie Tulloch, Stephen Moyer

Starring: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Allison Tolman, David Koechner, Conchata Ferrell, Stefania Owen

Genres:

Genres:

Genres:

Genres:

Genres:

Thriller, Action, Crime, Remake

Synopsis: A young FBI agent, Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey), infiltrates a cunning team of thrill-seeking elite athletes – led by the charismatic Bodhi (Edgar Ramirez). The athletes are suspected of carrying out a spate of crimes in extremely unusual ways. Deep undercover, and with his life in imminent danger, Utah strives to prove they are the architects of this string of inconceivable crimes.

THE FOREST

Biography, Drama, True Story

Western, Action

Thriller, Drama, Sports

Fantasy, Comedy, Horror

Synopsis: Joy is the wild story of a family

Synopsis: In The Hateful Eight, set six

Synopsis: Will Smith stars in Concussion,

Synopsis: When his dysfunctional family

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI

SHERLOCK: THE ABOMINABLE BRIDE

THE BIG SHORT

across four generations centered on the girl who becomes the woman who founds a business dynasty and becomes a matriarch in her own right. Betrayal, treachery, the loss of innocence and the scars of love, pave the road in this intense emotional and human comedy about becoming a true boss of family and enterprise facing a world of unforgiving commerce. Allies become adversaries and adversaries become allies, both inside and outside the family, as Joy’s inner life and fierce imagination carry her through the storm she faces.

or eight or twelve years after the Civil War, a stagecoach hurtles through the wintry Wyoming landscape. The passengers, bounty hunter John Ruth (Russell) and his fugitive Daisy Domergue (Leigh), race towards the town of Red Rock where Ruth, known in these parts as “The Hangman,” will bring Domergue to justice. Along the road, they encounter two strangers: Major Marquis Warren (Jackson), a black former union soldier turned infamous bounty hunter, and Chris Mannix (Goggins), a southern renegade who claims to be the town’s new Sheriff. Losing their lead on the blizzard, Ruth, Domergue, Warren and Mannix seek refuge at Minnie's Haberdashery, a stagecoach stopover on a mountain pass.

a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu's emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.

clashes over the holidays, young Max (Emjay Anthony) is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers.

All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family’s home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive.

Director: Jason Zada

Director: JJ Abrams

Director: Tom Hooper

Director:

Director: Adam McKay

Starring: Natalie Dormer, Taylor Kinney, Yukiyoshi Ozawa, Eoin Macken, Rina Takasaki, Stephanie Vogt

Starring: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Adam Driver, Anthony Daniels

Starring: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, Max Martini, James Badge Dale, David Denman, Dominic Fumusa

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman

Starring: Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei

Genres: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action, 3D, Sequel

Genres:

Genres:

Genres:

Synopsis: The beginning of a new Star

Synopsis: An attack takes place on the U.S. Special Mission Compound and a nearby CIA Annex in Benghazi on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11. Four Americans are killed in the attack, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens.

Genres:

Horror, Suspense

Synopsis: A supernatural thriller set in the legendary Aokigahara Forest at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. Set in the legendary Aokigahara Forest, a real-life place in Japan where people go to end their lives, The Forest tells the story of a young American woman in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared.

Despite everyone's warnings not to "stray from the path," Sara dares to enter the forest to discover the truth about her sister's fate, only to be confronted by the angry and tormented souls of the dead who now prey on anyone who crosses their paths.

citypageskuwait.com

Wars trilogy will take place 30 years after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The new films will feature "a trio of new young leads along with some very familiar faces" (per StarWars. com).

Drama, True Story, Adaptation

Drama

Synopsis: The Abominable Bride will see

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman reprise their roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in a one-off episode set in Victorian London in 1895. The episode has been co-written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss with performances by Rupert Graves, Una Stubbs, Louise Brealey and Amanda Abbington.

Drama, True Story

Synopsis: When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything.

Travel Made Easy SISTERS

DADDY’S HOME

Enjoy our

Meet & Assist Service

Director:Jason JamesMoore Wan Director:

Director: Sean Anders

Starring: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, James Brolin, Madison Davenport, John Cena, Renee Elise Goldberry

Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church, Paul Scheer

Genres: Comedy

Genres: Comedy

Synopsis: Follows two disconnected

Synopsis: The film follows a mild-

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP

THE REVENANT

sisters summoned home to clean out their childhood bedroom before their parents sell the family house. Looking to recapture their glory days, they throw one final highschool-style party for their classmates, which turns into the cathartic rager that a bunch of ground-down adults really need.

Director: Walt Becker Starring: Bella Thorne, Matthew Gray Gubler, Justin Long, Jason Lee, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Jesse McCartney Genres: Synopsis:

Family, Animation, Sequel

Through a series of misunderstandings, Alvin, Simon and Theodore come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in Miami… and dump them. They have three days to get to him and stop the proposal, saving themselves not only from losing Dave but possibly from gaining a terrible stepbrother.

mannered radio executive (Will Ferrell) who strives to become the best stepdad to his wife’s two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father (Mark Wahlberg) arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Lukas Haas Genres: Action, Adventure Synopsis: In an expedition of the

uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption.

facebook.com/pearlassist

Whether you are arriving, departing or transiting at Kuwait International Airport, Hala Kuwait is there to make your journey easy. From the moment you get to the airport, our team is there to take care of your every need whether it is using our Fast Track immigration, dedicated check in area, Pearl Lounge, private transportation, or our Meet & Assist Service to guide you every step of the way.

@pearlassist

+965 24372304/305 halakuwait@nascorporate.com www.pearlassist.com

Member of the National Aviation Services Group

Member of the2015 National December, Aviation Services Group

DECEMBER Book Releases Too Much of a Good Thing: How Four Key Survival Traits Are Now Killing Us

First Bite: How We Learn to Eat

Over the past 200 years, human life-expectancy has approximately doubled. Yet we face soaring worldwide rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, mental illness, heart disease, and stroke. In his fascinating new book, Dr. Lee Goldman presents a radical explanation: The key protective traits that once ensured our species' survival are now the leading global causes of illness and death. Our capacity to store food, for example, lures us into overeating, and a clotting system designed to protect us from bleeding to death now directly contributes to heart attacks and strokes. A deeply compelling narrative that puts a new spin on evolutionary biology, TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING also provides a roadmap for getting back in sync with the modern world.

In First Bite, award-winning food writer Bee Wilson draws on the latest research from food psychologists, neuroscientists, and nutritionists to reveal that our food habits are shaped by a whole host of factors: family and culture, memory and gender, hunger and love. Taking the reader on a journey across the globe, Wilson introduces us to people who can only eat foods of a certain color; prisoners of war whose deepest yearning is for Mom’s apple pie; a nine year old anosmia sufferer who has no memory of the flavor of her mother’s cooking; toddlers who will eat nothing but hotdogs and grilled cheese sandwiches; and researchers and doctors who have pioneered new and effective ways to persuade children to try new vegetables. Wilson examines why the Japanese eat so healthily, whereas the vast majority of teenage boys in Kuwait have a weight problem—and what these facts can tell Americans about how to eat better.

Lee Goldman

Daughter of Sand and Stone

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Libbie Hawker

Alan Dean Foster

Zenobia, the proud daughter of a Syrian sheikh, refuses to marry against her will. She won’t submit to a lifetime of subservience. When her father dies, she sets out on her own, pursuing the power she believes to be her birthright, dreaming of the Roman Empire’s downfall and her ascendance to the throne.

Defying her family, Zenobia arranges her own marriage to the most influential man in the city of Palmyra. But their union is anything but peaceful—his other wife begrudges the marriage and the birth of Zenobia’s son, and Zenobia finds herself ever more drawn to her guardsman, Zabdas. As war breaks out, she’s faced with terrible choices.

he official novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the highly anticipated blockbuster film directed by J. J. Abrams, featuring an 8-page color photo insert of thrilling images from the hit movie.

More than thirty years ago, Star Wars burst onto the big screen and became a cultural phenomenon. Now the next adventures in this blockbuster saga are poised to captivate old and new fans alike—beginning with the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And alongside the cinematic debut comes the thrilling novel adaptation by New York Times bestselling science fiction master Alan Dean Foster.

The Anatomy of a Calling: A Road Map for Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

Lissa Rankin

In The Anatomy of a Calling, Lissa Rankin, MD, makes a simple yet revolutionary claim: We are all, every single one of us, heroes. We are all on what Joseph Campbell calls "a hero's journey;" we are all on a mission to step into our true nature and fulfill the assignment our souls were sent to Earth to fulfill. Navigating the hero's journey, Dr. Rankin argues, is one of the cornerstones of living a meaningful, authentic, healthy life.

In clear, engaging prose, Dr. Rankin describes her entire spiritual journey for the first time-beginning with what she calls her "perfect storm" of eventsand recounts the many transformative experiences that led to a profound awakening of her soul. Through her father's death, her daughter's birth, career victories and failures, and an ongoing struggle to identify as both a doctor and a healer, Dr. Rankin discovers a powerful self-awareness. As she shares her story, she encourages you to find out where you are on your own journey and offers wisdom and inspiration in the form of "Hero's Guideposts" along the way.

Not If I See You First

citypageskuwait.com

Bee Wilson

Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World Aja Raden

What does the diamond on your finger have to do with the GI Bill? Why is green-tinted jewelry exalted by so many cultures? Why were the glass beads that bought Manhattan for the Dutch initially considered a fair trade? And how did a coveted necklace start the French Revolution? In this delightful account of how eight jewels shaped the course of history, jeweler and scientist Aja Raden tells an original and often startling story about why we covet beautiful things and how that desire has transformed the world as we know it.

What moves the world is what moves each of us: desire. Jewelry has long served as a stand-in for wealth and power, glamour and success: It has birthed cultural movements, launched political dynasties, and started wars. With a sharp wit and a light touch, Raden weaves together history, science, and economics to explore our enduring love affair with beautiful things and shows us that, just like their glittering surfaces, jewels have a singular power to reflect our desires back at us and show us who we really are.

Year of the Goose: A Novel

Eric Lindstrom

Carly J. Hallman

Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances.

Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.

When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react-shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened--both with Scott, and her dad--the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.

As China's economy booms, so do its corporations, but none are as successful as the Bashful Goose Snack Company. Founded by Papa Hui, the company is a national treasure, as is his beloved pet goose who steadfastly remains at his side. Papa Hui's daughter, Kelly, is desperate to prove herself, and jealous of that wretched goose. Kelly heads up the corporate responsibility department where she builds a fat camp for children.

All of the children are killed in a series of gruesome accidents, but the government views the project as a success— the province is no longer the nation's leader in childhood obesity. With all of the nation's obese children cured of their fatness, albeit by death, Kelly returns to the city where hair tycoon Wang Xilai plucks her extensions from Lulu, the woman with the most lustrous hair in China.

BOOK CLUB

MODERN

ROMANCE

This epic modern book with this interesting title is written by American standup comedian Aziz Ansari. He is currently starring in a Netflix series that he wrote and directed on his own. In 2014, he became the seventh comedian ever to sell out Madison Square Garden in New York City. For seven years, he starred as Tom Haverford in the beloved NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation (2009) with Amy Poehler and other great people. He has also appeared in several films including This Is the End (2013), Funny People (2009) and 30 Minutes or Less (2011). He enjoys eating fresh pasta and watching multiple hours of critically acclaimed television dramas in one sitting.

This book was surprisingly good. Mind you, it’s not a novel, it’s a book based on our 2015 modern romance.

Aziz has done his research about this topic with the help of Eric Klinenberg, a professor of sociology at

New York University and author of Going Solo (2015).

What is so lovely about this book is that Aziz stays true to his funny character throughout the book, saying things in his own famous way to deliver the message to the reader. What better way to look at our modern romance of the century except through a comedian perspective; at least we won’t be so miserable. The book is divided into chapters and is in color which makes it fun for the reader. It has some interesting photos as well as chapter names.

Nada Soliman Meet Nada, our team member is simply a book savvy. Every month Nada picks her favourite book and shares with you its review. Please feel free to contact Nada to discuss your opinion or ask her opinion on your favourite book or author. nada.soliman@citypageskuwait.com

This book is so interesting that you won’t put it down.

Just imagine buying the audio book and hearing Aziz read to you – he will always make you laugh and doesn’t disappoint. For those of you from the older generation who don’t have background about modern romance or know how hard it is for us to date, love or marry in this day and age, this book is for all of you; not just from a ‘normal’ person’s perspective but from that of a professor, so the information is valid.

December, 2015

Anwar Ahmad

Navigating her way to photographic success.

Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Anwar Ahmad. I’m an instructor in the high institution of navigation and communication.

Tell us about your education: I have a master’s degree from Kuwait University in electrical engineering.

When did you start getting into photography and what inspired you to pick up a camera?

I started four years ago. I used to take many nice pictures on my mobile phone. I would wake up in the morning and watch the sunrise and later I would wait for the sunset. I spent many hours taking pictures so my close friends advised me to buy a camera. I felt the difference in the quality straight away. I was amazed and felt I was now on the right path, so I decided to learn how to shoot pictures and take good photos.

How did you get into wildlife photography?

I learned how to shoot photos in many fields but I concentrated on animals because I love them; I feel they are so close to humans. But I love landscape as well and in the last year I’ve been trying to study portrait.

Did you take any special training in photography?

Sure, I started with a 6 month training course with producer Khalid AL Rashed, then many training courses with Bahaa Al Qazwini. I also read books about photography.

What inspires you about wildlife photography?

Animal behaviors are really something; they’re so interesting to shoot and to know.

What kind of equipment do you use now, and what did you start with?

I started with a Nikon 5300D. Now I’m using a Nikon 810D. Where is your favorite place to shoot and why?

There is no specific place for me to shoot. I love many places in Kuwait.

I believe that good photographers can create the moments and the pictures because they have different eyes from normal people; they have to be creative and feel the beauty in their heart before they see it with their eyes. citypageskuwait.com

Do you travel outside Kuwait for photography?

Yes, I’ve travelled to Oman, Paris, Singapore and Dubai.

What are the difficulties faced by a wildlife photographer on a regular basis?

Wildlife photography for a woman is not easy at all. The places we need to go and look for the animals are really limited.

What are your thoughts on raw images vs images that have been worked on (Photoshop)?

I believe that Photoshop will not make you a professional photographer but it can add some touches to the photo to enhance it.

What is it like to be a woman in a primarily male-dominated profession?

It’s not easy – it’s especially hard to go on safari like men do.

What are some of the techniques that you use?

I use many techniques including filters added to the lens in order to get the right picture.

Tell us about your achievements: I don’t really enter competitions. Having said that, I have won the first prize in competitions arranged by the producer Khalid Al Rashed .

Where do you display your work? Do you sell your photos?

I haven’t really thought of selling my photos, but I wouldn’t mind doing it. I joined two exhibitions in the last couple of months and now I’m a member of Bahaa Photo Friends.

How do you plan a shoot?

I plan it first in my mind and then I draw it on a piece of paper and try to do it as I imagine it. Sometimes, especially with animals, you have to wait for the right moment to take the photo, even if you wait for a long time. Remember, the lighting is the element that makes the difference in the photo.

Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Thank you so much for this interview and for your support.

December, 2015

citypageskuwait.com

Anwar Ahmad

@louna375

December, 2015

to add to your wishlist Some things are just ... better.

MECCANO MECCANOID G15 KS The Meccanoid G15 KS is a build-it-yourself robot made from 1,223 parts that can rove around, crack jokes, and respond to questions. It’s controlled by a tiny computer and stands nearly 4 feet tall when constructed. Users operate Meccanoid using a voice-command system. They can teach it new moves by moving its limbs like a puppet or using a drag-and-drop avatar in its companion app. Makers can rebuild Meccanoid into any number of forms, including a scorpion, raptor, and more.

ZTE SPRO 2 Wiring a projector can quickly turn into a tangled mess with video cables, power cords, and ethernet cables. The ZTE Spro 2 kills cables altogether. It's a portable 4G LTE hotspot, Android device, and wireless projector in one. The size of a book, the Spro 2 has a 5-inch touchscreen that runs the full Android OS, meaning you can project any app (such as Netflix and Instagram). The device can also provide Internet for up to 10 devices.

BOSCH POWER-READY WIRELESSCHARGING SYSTEM With its inductivecharging system, Bosch has made charging power tools effortless.

Simply set the tool on its dock, and—voilà!—the electromagnetic field replenishes the battery.

A full charge takes 50 minutes, but you may never need that: The batteries are lithium-ion, so you can top them off as you go.

SAMSUNG SUHD SERIES The Samsung SUHD series matches the quality of sharpest TVs on the market—but at half the price. The trick is in the nanocrystals, which are layered on cheap-toproduce blue LEDs and allow more backlight to shine through to viewers. That means sharper contrasts, more­-accurate color, and brighter images fill the screen.

The SUHD series also uses an eight-core processor to power the TV's smart operating system, letting users access Netflix, YouTube, and Playstation Now without the need for a set-top box. citypageskuwait.com

CONNECTED CYCLE

Replace your bike pedals with these smart ones. They pair with an app to notify you when your bike is moved and allows you to track location. Plus, these pedals are self-powered and come with their own Internet connection.

RIF6 CUBE - FOR MOBILE PROJECTION

SPHERO BB-8 When The Force Awakens’ trailer debuted this summer, the movie's star robot, BB-8, rolled onto the screen and into our hearts. Now, it’s rolling into our living rooms. This 4-inch toy version has three modes: driving, which lets users direct the BB-8 using a joystick on your smartphone screen; holographic messaging, which uses the phone’s camera and an augmented-reality engine to turn videos into Star Wars holographic messages (like in A New Hope); and patrol, which automates BB-8, documenting any collisions in its app.

The CUBE though small in name is designed to make a BIG impression by turning virtually any setting into your own entertainment environment. The CUBE is great for: home cinema, office, education, entertainment or anything else you can come up with. Equipped with its own speaker, internal battery and SD card reader, the CUBE is a completely autonomous projection unit that can instantly bring any room or space alive with light, colors and sound!

MEDTRONIC MICRA TRANSCATHETER PACING SYSTEM

GOPRO HERO 4 BLACK

Doctors surgically implant most pacemakers in the chest and run wires from the device to the heart. The vitamin-size Micra can be threaded through the femoral vein into the heart with a catheter. Tines then attach to the heart to deliver electrical impulses directly. The battery lasts more than 10 years, and when it’s depleted, doctors can disable the device and insert another nearby. So far, the success rate in trials is 100 percent.

The most popular action camera now shoots 4K video—and it’s still just the size of a Zippo lighter. The Hero4 Black records ultra-high-definition video at 30 frames per second and HD video at 120 frames per second—fast enough for detailed slowmotion. The camera pairs with an app that lets users frame shots or review footage on the go. The GoPro Hero4 Black has also been used to film parts of the feature film The Martian, and if it’s good enough for that, it’s probably good enough for you.

NVIDIA SHIELD

There’s nothing worse than having your movie marathon rudely interrupted by image stuttering or buffering. That won’t happen with the Nvidia Shield. The first 4K streaming set-top box employs the world’s fastest mobile chip, Tegra X1, and gigabit ethernet to ensure it never hits a speed bump. It also doubles as a gaming console and runs on Android TV—so thousands of movies and games are already available.

RED EPIC DRAGON The Epic Dragon by Red captures more detail than any other camera in the world.

It’s the first to include a 6K image sensor—a higher resolution than most monitors can display—giving filmmakers more flexibility while editing. The quality is so good, scientists recently shuttled one to the International Space Station to film experiments.

December, 2015

Techs expected to be at CES 2016 Within a month, Consumer Electronics show lands in Las Vegas. We expect to see 11K video recorders. Also, virtual reality could steal the show, especially Microsoft with its HoloLens headset - developers can create games and apps especially for this new technology.

There’s a new generation of smart objects, like internet-connected smart watches, smart home and 8K TVs (some with a curved screen). Many CEOs have already confirmed their attendance including Samsung, Netflix, YouTube and Intel. CES takes place 6 to 9 January 2016.

CES 2016 ‫تقنيات مرتقبة في‬ .‫ معرض اإللكترونيات االستهالكية سينطلق في الس فيغاس‬،‫خالل أقل من شهر‬ ‫ أيضا قد تسرق تقنية الواقع االفتراضي‬.11K ‫نتوقع أن نرى مسجالت الفيديو بجودة‬ ‫ فالمطورون يستطيعون‬.‫العرض خصوصا مايكروسوفت مع جهازها هولولنس‬ ‫ جيل جديد‬.‫من خالله تطوير األلعاب والتطبيقات المخصصة لهذه التقنية الجديدة‬ ‫ البيوت الذكية وشاشات‬،‫ مثل الساعات الذكية المتصلة باإلنترنت‬،‫منالتقنيات الذكية‬ ‫ العديد من الرؤساء‬،‫ المحاضرات‬،‫ وأخيرًا‬.‫ خصوصًا الشاشات المنحنية‬8K ‫التلفاز بدقة‬ ‫ معرض‬.‫ يوتيوب وإنتيل‬،‫ نيتفلكس‬،‫التنفيذيون سيلقون محاضرات مثل سامسونج‬ .2016 ‫ يناير‬6-9 ‫اإللكترونيات اإلستهالكية سينطلق مابين‬

Saad Almseikan A burger lover who works as a Computer Technician during the day. Saad has a curious mind that likes to discover everything new that's related to computers, hardware, gadgets and technology.

You'll most probably find him holding a burger while playing with a new gadget. He is 27 years old, loves Mixed Martial Arts. Music is what keeps him going especially Rock & Roll.

citypageskuwait.com

Yousif AlSaeed Yousif holds a BSc. in Information Technology & Computing Degree and is a Teacher and Software Developer. He loves sharing the latest technology news and gadgets with people.

Yousif believes that behind everything in the tech-world is a great story. He spends most of his time reading technology blogs and self development.

16 cameras in one!

When it comes to camera design, this is really different. A company called ‘Light’ introduced a brand-new camera called L16. Every lens is 13-megapixel camera module. As mentioned before, this camera blends all images into one high-resolution image up to 52 megapixels.

You can also select your focus after you take the picture!

Google can remotely bypass your Android!

More than 70% of Android devices can be remotely reset with a court order! According to one source, devices running Android 5.0 and newer can't be remotely bypassed, thanks to full disk encryption. Unfortunately, this option is not switched on by default. Apple can't remotely bypass the passcode on any device running iOS 8 or higher and provide full disk encryption by default.

Google Glasses might not be glasses after all.

Instead, it might be a single eyeglass, a monocle. This is a single eyeglass, kept in position by the muscles around the eye. The US Patent and Trademark Office has granted Google a new patent for a potential upcoming version of Google Glass. It will be wrapped around your head and once you configure it, the glass will retain its own configuration. Google was quiet about the glasses project for a while, since it stopped the sales on the previous type back in January.

So far we don`t know if the company is working on any software or hardware improvements.

It looks like Google did not give up on the Glasses project after all. We personally can`t wait to see what the final project will look like, especially regarding the hardware.

Bluetooth technology to gain longer range, faster speed and mesh networking in 2016.

Bluetooth is here to stay and it wants to be the backbone of the ‘Internet of Things’. The “IoT” potential market is between $2 - $11 trillion by 2025. The Bluetooth technology in 2016 will help make these expectations a reality and accelerate growth in IoT. The Bluetooth smart range will be 4x its current range and that will provide an extended, more robust connection for full home or outdoor use cases. A 100% increase in speed, without increasing energy consumption, will enable faster data transfers in critical applications. And mesh networking will enable Bluetooth devices to connect together in networks that can cover an entire building or home, opening up home and industrial automation applications. We love the mesh networking feature, because nowadays we can’t connect more than one Bluetooth device together.

Imagine that you can charge your phone to 48% in 5 minutes!

Well done Huawei, well done. Watt Lab, part of Huawei's Central Research Institute, has developed lithium-ion batteries that it claims can be charged 10 times as fast as currently available batteries. The demonstration happened with a 3000mah battery capacity that was running out of juice. They plugged it for 5 minutes and it ended up with a 48% battery life. This is really impressive. Huawei says its technology does not decrease energy density or battery lifespan, though it doesn't mention how it deals with the heat issue - this kind of battery might generate heat. The battery will go through lots of tests before it reaches the market, and so far there is no word on when it will be available.

December, 2015

citypageskuwait.com

ADOPT A STREET PRINCESS @ADOPT_A_STREET_PRINCESS

www.facebook.com/adoptastreetprincess

Dear CityPages readers, We have amazing news for the end of the year! We are extremely proud to announce that every month from now on, we will have one big Adoption Event at @animall_kw in Al Rai. Pictures from our last Adoption Event are shown below – such happy moments! Don’t miss our next big Adoption Event on December 26th at @animall_kw. Many beautiful dogs and very cute puppies are waiting for you.

Come along and have some fun - meet, see, experience and enjoy!

Don’t forget the date - Saturday 26th December 4pm-8pm @animall_kw All of the beautiful dogs in the pictures below are still available for adoption, plus many more you can see on our Instagram account. We will still be running our normal adoption days at the shelter so please get in touch if you would like to visit us there.

Warm wishes, Nathalie Veys Founder of AASP December's 3 lovely dogs are:

Blue. 2.5.month female. Medium size dog

Cuty. Female. 2.5 month

Mixed breed puppies. Medium size December, 2015

OSAMA BASTAKI Founder & Organizer of Auto Moto

Osama Bastaki is not afraid to try something new. Having already made his name in advertising, media, PR and marketing, he set his sights on events. His first major success in Kuwait came with the Sukar Ramadan Expo and was quickly followed by Auto Moto. With the 2016 motor event fast approaching, Osama is busy preparing for a bigger and better motor show. citypageskuwait.com

December, 2015

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Where did the idea of Auto Moto Kuwait come from?

The concept is not new. For decades around the globe, motor shows have existed as a means to showcase what’s new and what the future may look like. Automotive manufacturers use motor shows to flex their industrial muscle to the world in the hope of attracting the general public to their brand. Kuwait is no different; in fact Kuwait pioneered the first motor show in the gulf some 35 years ago before modern day Dubai existed, and well before anyone knew Qatar was even on the map.

Things took a turn for the worse after the invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

With a steady rebuilding of the entire country and focus on the rapid developments within the private sector, the non private institutional sector got sick, and in some cases lead to the weakening of many projects including the regions oldest motor show. While all this was happening, Dubai emerged as a regional hub for pretty much anything, and Doha simply did everything Dubai did with ample gas money to make it happen. The question to the manufacturers around the world was simple..."Do we need to be part of 3 major shows in a geographic region less than the size of Germany?" The answer is simple...No! So the support from manufacturers to the dealers participating in the Kuwait Show was reduced as Dubai had taken the regional title as the place to go, for not only the Gulf but from the Far East and West.

This, along with poor facilities, high prices and a very 1970's setup and environment resulted in a large number of dealers boycotting the Kuwait International Motor Show since 2010. So is it fair for the dealers in Kuwait and for the people of Kuwait to go on without some sort of motor event annually? That’s where the idea was born; to create a small but effective show that is developed by Kuwait, for Kuwait in a beautiful setting with activities, food and a great shopping experience all under one roof. And that's exactly how Auto Moto began.

The first Auto Moto took place in 2013. How did the public react to the expo?

2013 was a test to our concept and was very different. The idea was to launch something and fix it from there. I can say for sure that everyone loved the concept in theory, but the public, as well as the dealers, had their constructive criticism which we welcomed and built on. I can definitely say as a concept we were spot on. However, our first year was

a soft launch or test; our real first year we consider to be our second show which exceeded our expectations.

Did you struggle to convince motor dealerships to take part?

Everyone we spoke to thought the idea was great. However, I can say that only half the dealers in Kuwait jumped on board. Did we struggle?

Yes, but we did offer a great concept that was positioned in a reputable venue, had ample parking, had established footfall and welcomed all genders and ages.

What made you decide to hold it in a mall? And why 360 Mall?

We basically wanted to create an event that was augmented by shopping for all, entertainment, fine dining and cars. The mall concept was a no-brainer. Why 360? Well that’s a technical choice. After looking at the landscape of venues in Kuwait, the following elements were to be considered: The place had to be modern and fresh, with a strategic accessible geographical location, that hosts ample parking, with an interior usable width exceeding 14 meters, had multiple entrances, and getting from one end to the other would be achieved in 5 minutes. 360 was made for this show.

How much has the show changed since that first year?

The show has undergone some 27 changes since its first edition. Some you will notice, others only the dealers and the organizers faced. If I went through every point I would bore everyone, but we have gone the extra mile year after year to bring you a great event.

Are you constantly looking for ways to improve the event?

We are continuing to up our game, and we have some great ideas for the coming years. In 2017 we will shock everyone!

What is the most challenging aspect for you as the organizer?

The biggest challenge is really to keep it exciting for everyone and that falls heavily on the product offering at the show. If the factories keep coming up with new vehicles then we are in business. The biggest

December, 2015

challenge we have faced is getting the right team together and I am happy to say 2016 has been lead by our new General Manager, Rawiah Al-Ateeqi, and her team that brought fresh new additions to the show and a valuable thought process powered by the youth of Kuwait.

What do you think is the key to its success?

The very concept of cars is appealing to all ages, and with the show being inside a mall it is even more appealing. It is a true family event.

Another credible reason is that we offer everything from economic passenger cars to the latest luxury and super cars, all under one roof.

The need to go showroom-hopping disappears; with Auto Moto you can see it all.

How many dealerships will be represented at the 2016 Auto Moto?

I can say that we had 32 brands participate in last year’s show, but it looks like 2016 has around 40 brands on display.

How do think it compares to other big city motor shows?

It does not compare simply because it is not the same. We are not a motor show in the sense that other cities translate. We are simply unique, and different. Auto Moto is the beginning of a trend that will spread in cities around the world.

What type of customer is the Auto Moto aimed at?

Anyone who is looking to buy a car really. We offer some great models on display but this year we are coming with a great financial deal that is aimed to instigate sales.

Are you able to attract visitors from overseas?

Not yet. The show was designed with the local market in mind. Many factors must be considered before attempting a regional marketing campaign, but 2017 may do just that.

citypageskuwait.com

Is the event only for new models or do you also have a section for vintage cars?

The motor show today is for new models only. But our group is developing other events to cater to the different aspects of the motor world.

How many dealers and companies participated last year and what was their feedback of the event?

32 brands in total last year and around 40 this year - our numbers speak for themselves.

It’s now a successful annual event in Kuwait, do you plan to continue it indefinitely?

As long as the public likes what we offer them, I will continue working for them.

For you, what is the most satisfying part of the event?

The numbers. I can’t begin to explain the satisfaction when we saw the mall numbers, combined with the dealer figures. 266,000 people walked into the mall in 7 days; that’s an increase to the normal mall traffic by almost 120,000 people. That means 17,000 a day came to see my show, 2,600 leads were collected by dealers, and over 80 cars were sold as a result of the show. Satisfaction comes through success.

What can we expect from the event this year?

Come to the show and see for yourself!

On what dates will the Auto Moto take place in January 2016?

The show will launch on January 17th and will continue until the 23rd.

You can keep up to date via our Instagram account @automoto_q8

December, 2015

CityPages Fashion Report Julieta Altamiranda Julieta Altamiranda is a talented fashion designer on the rise. She was born and raised in Argentina. During her adolescence she started developing her artistic vision while living in The United States and in the capital of fashion (Italy). Eventually her love for sketching and for creative artistic expressions led her to study a career in fashion in one of the main institutions of her home country. From then on, she has been developing her own collections. Once having moved to Kuwait she has collaborated with one of the main Kuwaiti fashion companies designing several collections. Additionally she has participated in designing competitions where she has been awarded with multiple prizes. Her great devotion for the world of fashion keeps her constantly engaged in exciting new projects. @fashioncookieq8

The Frosty Approach

December has arrived which means cold weather, fun

events and happy vibes. Another great year in fashion terms is coming to an end. The revival of great trends such as the 90s color fur and 70s palazzo pants helped this to be a more than pleasing and memorable year to remember; and what’s even better is that it’s not over yet! Here we’ll show you the trends that you’ll be needing to finalize this year. And why not start 2016 in the most captivating and stylish way a cool lady should?

Vast Hems This winter, puffy bell sleeves are a synonym of a refined woman.

Simple plain sleeves are out, leaving room for blouses and dresses marked by this imminent conspicuous trend. Hanging soft and wide, umbrella like sleeve endings are the especial touch designers from Honor NYC, Celine, Alexander Mc Queen, Mark Kenly Domino Tan and Paul Costelloe used to heat their catwalks. citypageskuwait.com

Hot Waders Over the knee boots are the unique footwear that will give a massive twist of coolness to your everyday outfit. Simple accessories and solid apparel are a must for a subtle, yet super chic look, like the one Olivia Palermo wore.

Oh My Cape This is a requisite for any fashion lover and has been seen for a few seasons - and it’s back in its most creative version. This winter every mode devotee should own a super voguish statement cape. Either with a visual or tactile texture this item promises to help you finish the year in the most a la mode way you deserve.

December, 2015

Calzedonia’s Galaxy Capsule Collection

Calzedonia ‫ من‬Galaxy Capsule ‫مجموعة‬

From the teen pop scene, stars are right on-trend once again.

A starring role for your legs - in fact, a constellation.

Black and grey microfibre for the America design.

The stars come out, on tights and leggings, with the combination of different thickness and transparency creating contrasting colours.

Perfect for an urban-chic look, or to give that special touch to a more elegant look!

‫ الجديدة التي تجسد كوكبة‬Calzedonia ‫تعود موضة النجوم من خالل مجموعة‬

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‫ تتنوع تصاميم‬.‫متأللئة على خلفية من المايكروفيبر باللونين األسود والرمادي‬ ‫ مجموعة‬.‫ الشفافية واأللوان المتناقضة‬،‫السراويل الضيقة من حيث السماكة‬ !‫مثالية إلطاللة حضارية وأنيقة‬

WHAT DOES YOUR BODY SHAPE LOOK LIKE?

Everyone gets confused about what to wear - sometimes it takes an age to choose clothes, or an outfit in general.

To become more confident with your choice, you need to be aware of your shape.

There are 5 shapes - Triangle, Inverted Triangle, Rectangle, Round and Hourglass – and each one of these shapes has a unique look.

An image consultation will help you to understand your body shape (and to love it!). This, in turn, will help you with your choice of accessories (bags, shoes and jewelry).

As a result, you will be able to save money, time, space and frustration.

In my next article I will talk about the meaning of true style. Don’t miss it!

Shaikha Jumaa For booking appointment contact #965-94080449 or email info@stylecodekw.com Instagram: @style_coach_shaikha

Identifying your body shape is essential for choosing the right clothes.

For example, if you have the Triangle shape you should focus on your positives in order to achieve the correct balance. The right clothes will transform your look into more of an Hourglass shape.

Tips for the Triangle body shape: 1-Add structure, dimension and a little more shape to the smaller top half.

2-Redirect attention away from the wider bottom half and toward the slimmer top half.

3-Add heels for height and glamour.

4-Wear jackets with wide lapels.

5-Avoid trousers or skirts with bulky pockets or flaps.

6-Avoid high-waisted trousers or skirts.

7-Avoid shoulder bags that rest on the hips.

When you know all the tips for your body shape, you will be able to organize your wardrobe by focusing correctly and deciding what is (and is not) needed.

Plus, it improves awareness for your shopping habits.

December, 2015

Hublot Launches Its First Middle East & Africa Campaign.

Luxury Swiss watch brand Hublot unveiled its first ever Middle East and Africa advertising campaign, announcing Lebanese Australian celebrity Daniella Rahme as its new “egerie” for the region. Hublot has always prided itself in being "first, different and unique"; reinforcing these key values, the Swiss watchmaker is the first luxury brand to have developed and launched a Middle East and Africa campaign, fully produced and shot in the region.

Featuring the new face of Hublot’s ladies campaign, TV presenter and host of famous international talent show ‘The X-Factor’ on MBC Daniella Rahme, in a multifaceted production embodying the brand's Art of Fusion concept, the campaign celebrates the link between tradition -with the locations and backgrounds- and innovation -through the outfits and watches.

Hublot Middle East & Africa Regional Director Marco Tedeschi presented the campaign and announced the new face of the campaign during Bahrain’s Jewellery Arabia 2015 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, in the presence of watch connoisseurs, collectors and media. “Hublot started out as a brand offering men’s watches; however, with our ‘Art of Fusion’ ideas, we succeeded in creating extremely feminine watches that bring together innovative techniques, fashion and glamour, whether with the Big Bang Broderie collection or with the Tutti Frutti and Jeans lines. We will increase the number of ladies’ collections in 2016; as such, our Middle East and Africa campaign featuring Daniella Rahme will bring our female customers closer to our luxurious and stylish timepieces,” said Marco Tedeschi.

The campaign, in its three looks, is set in different backgrounds that depict some of the region’s assets; a panoramic view from an ancient fort, an old house in a fishing village and a sea shore at sunset. The warm hues of the images do not break with the past; Hublot is actually paying homage to it by connecting it to the future.

Instagram / Twitter: @HublotMEA #HublotMEA

‫ تُطلق أول حملة لها في الشرق األوسط وإفريقيا‬Hublot

‫ عن أول حملة إعالنية لها على اإلطالق في الشرق‬Hublot ‫كشفت ماركة الساعات السويسرية الفاخرة‬ ‫أن الشخصية اللبنانية األسترالية المشهورة دانيال رحمه ستكون وجه الحملة‬ ّ ‫ ُمعلنة عن‬،‫األوسط وإفريقيا‬ ‫ وفريدة من نوعها"؛ وفي إطار تعزيز‬،‫ مختلفة‬،‫ بكونها "أولى‬Hublot ‫ لطالما افتخرت‬.‫اإلعالنية في المنطقة‬ ‫ أقدمت دار تصنيع الساعات السويسرية على إعداد وإطالق حملة مخصصة للشرق‬،‫هذه القيم األساسية‬ .‫ لتكون بذلك أول ماركة فاخرة تقوم بذلك‬،‫تم إنتاجها وتصويرها بالكامل في المنطقة‬ ّ ،‫األوسط وإفريقيا‬

‫المتم ّثل في‬− ‫ واالبتكار‬−‫المتم ّثلة في المواقع والخلف ّيات‬− ‫تحتفي هذه الحملة الجديدة بالرابط بين التقاليد‬ ‫ المذيعة التلفزيونية‬،‫ للس ّيدات‬Hublot ‫ وتظهر فيها صاحبة الوجه الجديد لحملة ساعات‬،‫األزياء والساعات‬ ّ ‫متعدد‬ ‫ في إنتاج‬،‫ دانيال رحمه‬،MBC ‫محطة‬ ‫" على‬The X-Factor" ‫ومقدمة برنامج المواهب العالمي الشهير‬ ّ ّ .‫" الذي تتم ّيز به الماركة‬Art of Fusion" "‫"فن اإلنصهار‬ ‫األوجه‬ ّ ‫يجسد مفهوم‬ ّ ‫قدم ماركو تيديسكي المدير اإلقليمي لهوبلو في الشرق األوسط وإفريقيا الحملة في‬ ّ ،‫في هذا السياق‬ ‫ وأعلن عن الوجه الجديد‬،‫" في مركز البحرين الدولي للمعارض والمؤتمرات‬2015 ‫معرض "الجواهر العربية‬ ‫ وجاء في كلمة ماركو تيديسكي‬.‫ إلى جانب وسائل اإلعالم‬،‫للحملة بحضور خبراء الساعات وهواة جمعها‬ ‫ لكن بفضل أفكارنا المتمحورة‬،‫تقدم ساعات رجالية فقط‬ ّ ‫ في بداياتها‬Hublot ‫ "كانت‬:‫في تلك المناسبة‬ ‫ تجمع ما بين التقن ّيات المبتكرة والموضة‬،‫ نجحنا في ابتكار ساعات أنثوية للغاية‬،"‫"فن اإلنصهار‬ ‫حول‬ ّ ‫ كما أنّنا نعتزم زيادة‬.Jeans‫ و‬Tutti Frutti ‫ أو تشكيلتي‬،Big Bang Broderie ‫ سواء كانت من مجموعة‬،‫والتألّق‬ ‫فإن حملتنا الخاصة بالشرق األوسط وإفريقيا‬ ّ ‫ ولذلك‬،2016 ‫عدد المجموعات المخصصة للسيدات في العام‬ ."‫ من شأنها تعريف عميالتنا أكثر على ساعاتنا الفاخرة واألنيقة‬،‫التي تظهر فيها دانيال رحمه‬ ‫ منظر بانورامي من‬:‫ حيث تُظهر بعض م ّيزات المنطقة‬،‫وتتنوع الخلف ّيات فيها‬ ‫تتضمن الحملة ثالثة إطالالت‬ ّ ّ ‫أن ألوان الصور الدافئة ال‬ ّ ‫ والجدير بالذكر‬.‫ وشاطئ بحر عند الغروب‬،‫ منزل قديم في قرية صيد‬،‫حصن عريق‬ ً .‫ هي في الواقع اإلشادة بالماضي من خالل ربطه بالمستقبل‬Hublot ‫إن غاية‬ ّ ‫ بل‬،‫تم ّثل انفصالا عن الماضي‬ @HublotMEA #HublotMEA :‫ تويتر‬/ ‫إنستغرام‬ Hublot.com :‫ يرجى زيارة‬،‫للمزيد من المعلومات‬ citypageskuwait.com

December, 2015

New Look Autumn/Winter 2015

Fashion for women & men this Autumn/Winter 2015 season is rich and luxe, with a colour palette of deep copper, steel grey, indulgent navy and chocolate brown. The fabrics to stay warm with are suede, lurex and shearling coupled with metal details and paired with vibrant prints to make an autumnal style statement.

citypageskuwait.com

Carpisa unveils its latest capsule collection in collaboration with Penelope and Monica Cruz

ARMANI EXCHANGE WINTER 2015

Anchored in utility and deconstructed tailoring, the Armani Exchange Winter 2015 collection refines dressing through the inspiration of art, culture and Italian-city style. Quality fabrics, unique textures and innovative techniques elevate urban designs. The collection is comprised of three themes: Monochromic, Nordic Escape and Modern Edge.

December, 2015

XMAS MAN COLLECTION Bershka Man launches its new Christmas collection characterized by updated tailoring and new fittings with a touch of rock.

Denim trousers are detailed with waxed finishing, gilet-inspired cuts and rips. The bomber, must have this season for men, is reedited with embroidered chests and sleeves, and combined with accessories with leather effect.

The younger look transforms sweatshirts in an essential item for nightwear in deconstructed patterns and zipper details.

Long fit t-shirts come forth with rips on the neck, and loose-knit, oversize pullovers.

Black is the base color for the collection, combined with greys and tinted wine tones.

citypageskuwait.com

TABLE CLOCK OFFICINE PANERAI PRESENTS TWO NEW TABLE CLOCKS INCORPORATING THE P.5000 MOVEMENT, HAND-WOUND WITH A POWER RESERVE OF EIGHT DAYS, WITH THE CLASSIC DIALS WHICH HAVE WRITTEN THE HISTORY OF THE BRAND ENCLOSED IN A PERFECTLY TRANSPARENT MINERAL GLASS SPHERE. The new Panerai Table Clock has the perfection of a sphere: a sphere of transparent mineral glass, which encloses a dial that has become part of timekeeping history, and a Manufacture mechanical movement with a power reserve of eight days.

The new Panerai Table Clock is available in two versions, identical except for the graphics and structure of the dial. The first (PAM00641) has the sandwich dial with the S.L.C. design, the most mysterious and minimalist of those developed in the history of Panerai, dating back to the 2 end of the 1930s. It has dot markers at the hours and bar markers at the cardinal points and it was probably originally used on a test sample, for supply to the Italian Navy which did not then follow it up. The denomination “S.L.C.” refers to the legendary Siluri a Lenta Corsa, the human torpedoes which were ridden by the commandos during their missions equipped with Panerai instruments. The magnifying effect of the sphere also enables the engraving on the black dial to be admired, including the words “8 days” referring to the power reserve of the timepiece.

Indulge your sweet tooth this fall with Rado’s chocolate brown ceramic Timepieces One-of-a-kind colour and material combination for the upcoming festive season Rado is paying homage to its Swiss roots with an exquisite new range of timepieces in chocolate brown high-tech ceramic, a unique colour and material combination that evokes the artistry and craftsmanship of Switzerland’s famed Maîtres Chocolatiers. The Rado HyperChrome family, known for its embodiment of everyday elegance, has added three new watches in this glossy chocolate colour just in time for the festive season. The three cocoa-coloured models – the HyperChrome Automatic, HyperChrome Automatic Chronograph Tachymeter, and Limited Edition HyperChrome Automatic Diamonds – will help you set the table for your holiday feast in style. The tasty trio comes in three sizes and is crafted in a luminous earthen hue paired with chic rose gold coloured accents, making these timepieces equally at home in the chalet or the city.

December, 2015

At The Kuwait Book Fair In Mishref International Fairgrounds

From The Hyundai Scrap Art Exhibition

citypageskuwait.com

From The Universal Children's Day Celebration By KCRS Group

At The Launch Event Of Sephora Loyalty Card Program In Kuwait

December, 2015

From The Launch Of Casa Boutique

At The Launch Of The All-New Jaguar XF

citypageskuwait.com

From The Get Together At The Millennium Hotel, Salmiya

From The Opening Of Burger & Lobster At The Avenues

citypageskuwait.com

At The Unveiling Event Of The New Bentley Continental GT 16MY

At The Burger Tasting Event By News Burger

December, 2015

The British Ladies Society Kuwait Christmas Party At The Crowne Plaza

Business Creation Lecture In CBA Made By The INVENTIVE Program

citypageskuwait.com

December, 2015

At The Opening Of Nasser Sports 46th Branch At Dream Mall

At The Official Opening Of Korloff Boutique At 360 Mall

citypageskuwait.com

December, 2015

Thousands of Residents Walk to Support Diabetes Awareness at Landmark Group’s annual Sixth Beat Diabetes Walk 2015

FROM THE PRESS

Baume & Mercier Hosts a Special Pop-up Exhibition in Kuwait as part of its 185th Anniversary Celebration

IKEA stores around the world to raise funds to brighten lives for refugees

‫ﺗﻌﺎوﻧﻚ‬ ‫ﺳﯿﺠﻌﻞ ﺣﯿﺎة‬ .ً‫اﻟﻼﺟﺌﯿﻦ أﻛﺜﺮ إﺷﺮاﻗﺎ‬ ‫ ﻣﻘﺎﺑﻞ ﻛﻞ ﻣﺼﺒﺎح وﻟﻤﺒﺔ ﺗُﺒﺎع ﺧﻼل اﻟﻔﺘﺮة‬.‫ﻣﺴﺎھﻤﺘﻚ ﺗﻌﻨﻲ اﻟﻜﺜﯿﺮ‬ ‫ ﺳﺘﺘﺒﺮع ﻣﺆﺳﺴﺔ اﻳﻜﯿﺎ‬،‫ دﻳﺴﻤﺒﺮ‬۱۹ – ‫ ﻧﻮﻓﻤﺒﺮ‬۲۹ ‫ﻣﻦ‬ .(UNHCR) ‫ﺑـﻳﻮرو واﺣﺪ ﻟﻤﻔﻮﺿﯿﺔ اﻷﻣﻢ اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة ﻟﺸﺆون اﻟﻼﺟﺌﯿﻦ‬

‫ﺗﺪﻋﻢ‬ SUPPORTS

© Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2015

www.IKEA.com/kw :‫ﻟﻤﺰﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت ادﺧﻞ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ‬

The IKEA Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign returns to over 40 countries to raise millions of euros for refugees. Between November 29 – December 19, for every LED product sold in all IKEA stores, the IKEA Foundation will donate ¤1 to help UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, provide light and energy from renewable sources to refugee camps, – making them a safer, more suitable place for the many families who live there.

Funds raised by the campaign will help to provide solar street lights, solar powered lanterns, and solar energy systems that will support energy self-reliance among refugees and host communities in UNHCR refugee camps in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In addition, the campaign will also fund improved access to primary education.

Today, there are 19.5 million refugees globally, half of whom are children. While war and persecution are the leading causes forcing people to flee, UNHCR is also increasingly concerned about climate change and related drivers of displacement including natural disasters such as droughts and floods, and scarcities of natural resources.

citypageskuwait.com

As part of the diverse celebrations taking place on the occasion of Baume & Mercier’s milestone 185th Anniversary, the elite watchmaker is hosting a pop-up exhibition at Kuwait’s popular shopping destination, 360 MALL. Held in collaboration with Baume & Mercier’s exclusive retail partners in the country, Morad Yousuf Behbehani Group, the exhibition takes place between the 19th of November and 19th of December. Visitors at the month-long exposition will get the chance to discover novelties and classic timepieces from Baume & Mercier; exquisite models that have led the brand to amass 185 years of rich legacy and a distinct place in every connoisseur’s heart. Baume & Mercier’s dedication to values of comfort, elegance, harmony, warmth, and timelessness are set to shine at the exhibition and will have guests spending some special moments as they discover the Universe of Baume & Mercier.

A good stretch of the Gulf Road was dressed in blue as more than 5000 residents came together to raise awareness about diabetes during the annual walkathon organized by the Landmark Group. The Beat Diabetes walk supported by Ministry of Health and Dasman Diabetes Institute marked a very successful completion for the sixth year in a row.

Many dignitaries joined the supporters at the Yacht Club in the 3.2 km walk sporting blue 'Beat Diabetes' T-shirts. Professional trainers from Fitness First led a mass warm-up session prior to the walkathon. Participants were also provided with complimentary t-shirts, caps and a healthy breakfast. The release of blue balloons, symbolic of the global color for diabetes awareness, signaled the start of the walkathon.

Saibal Basu, Chief Operating Officer, Landmark Group Kuwait, said: “Now in its sixth year, the Beat Diabetes initiative has touched the lives of millions of people across seven nations.

The overwhelming turnout that the walkathon draws year after year is truly heartwarming. We are thankful to all the people who continue to support us in our fight against diabetes. Our mission is to focus this momentum on fostering a better and seamless understanding of the condition and help the community achieve a healthy, active lifestyle. I would like to extend our appreciation and thank every person who joined us at the walk to spread the message and support the campaign”.

Professor Kazem Behbehani, OBE, DirectorGeneral of Dasman Diabetes Institute, an affiliate of Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) added: “Living with diabetes is a daily struggle but can be managed by following a disciplined lifestyle. The involvement of the Institute in the ‘Beat Diabetes Walkathon’ stems from our mission to improve the lifestyle of the population of Kuwait. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise and physical activity such as the walkathon, is essential in living well with diabetes. The condition can lead to serious consequences if not detected and controlled at an early stage. Hence, awareness is extremely crucial. It is really inspiring to see the dedication of the Landmark Group and the support they receive from the Kuwait residents to spread the message about diabetes.”

To reinforce the Group’s core message ‘Beat Diabetes – Take the Test’, free blood glucose testing booths were set up at all Centrepoint stores in Kuwait on 29 October, 30 October, and 31 October Landmark Group would like to thank its Partners – Al Ghanim / Xerox, Fitness First, Bahrah Trading Co, One Touch. Media Sponsors – “Al Rai, Al Qabas, Al Seyassah Al Anba, Kuwait Times, Arab Times, Al Jarida, The Times.

Al Yaqza, Ahlan, Student Talk, The Talk, Al Hadaf, Bazaar, Mondanete, Sarab, Layalena, Styles , Business Islamica, Executive Woman, City Pages, Lana, Kidzine, Wave Line. Bikers Association - Kuwait Dragon Riders, Bikers in Kuwait Encounter, Filipino International Triathletes and other entities who extended their support to the Beat Diabetes campaign.

Hyatt And Tamdeen Group Announce Plans For Grand Hyatt Kuwait

Starbucks Marks The Start Of Winter With Its All-Time Favorite Toffee Nut Latte Nissan Patrol ‘Desert Edition’ to write new chapter in legend of ‘Hero of All Terrains in Life’

Winter is back and so is Starbucks’ festive red cup that brings warmth to customers every year, especially when filled with Starbucks’ all-time favorite Toffee Nut Latte.

The Toffee Nut Latte's rich, buttery flavour of sweet toffee is combined with warm toasted nuts and blended with Starbucks' smooth espresso and velvety steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and toffee nut sprinkles.

The Starbucks red cup has become Starbucks’ winter trademark that customers look forward to every year. With the unique flavour associated to this season, winter is only complete when the red festive cup appears.

Rana Shaheen, regional communications and CSR manager of Starbucks Coffee MENA, said: “We look forward to celebrating this beautiful season with our customers every year. It’s a magical time that brings with it lots of hope, dreams and future plans, and Starbucks couldn’t imagine it without the signature red cup. We are delighted to bring back the Toffee Nut latte and we hope our customers enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoy making it for them.”

Starbucks’ winter offerings are always completed with a masterpiece: the Holiday Blend. The dark roasted coffee, with a blend of lively Latin American coffees and smooth Asia/Pacific coffees, including rare, aged Indonesian beans, is a unique blend that is anticipated by customers and partners alike each year.

Stay warm and enjoy your favorite winter season drink in your red cup today - and don’t forget to take along the perfect Holiday Blend.

The renowned Nissan Patrol has been made even more capable off-road with the World Premier launch of the Desert Edition – a new model conceptualized and developed in collaboration with the Middle East’s most famous and influential motorsports personality, Dr Mohammed Ben Sulayem, specifically for this region.

The Nissan Patrol Desert Edition made its global debut at the 13th annual Dubai Motor Show, affirming Nissan’s customer-centric commitment to delivering tailored models for regional consumers.

Managing Director of Nissan Middle East, Samir Cherfan, said: “The development of the Nissan Patrol Desert Edition followed a research study that we conducted in the GCC, which outlined that our consumers wanted an ultimate offroading version of the Patrol tailored to the region. The Nissan Patrol already occupies a unique place in the hearts and minds of offroad enthusiasts in the Middle East, teamed with the survey results we believed it was fitting for us to offer a special Desert Edition for its fans here. With his vast and unparalleled levels of experience, it was clear that there was nobody better to partner with than Dr Ben Sulayem.

It is not only the ultimate Nissan Patrol but is also, without a doubt, the most capable vehicle there is for exploring this region’s unique and challenging terrain.”

Visually identifiable with special ‘Desert Edition’ and ‘MBS’ badges, this new model is based on the Nissan Patrol LE, powered by Nissan’s powerful 5.6L V8 engine that generates a formidable 400hp and 560Nm of torque. It is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission that incorporates manual mode and synchronised rev control – a set up that guarantees unmatched driving enjoyment, whatever the terrain.

With Dr Ben Sulayem’s personal involvement, the mighty Nissan Patrol is now even more capable. Its suspension has been specially tuned after extensive and punishing sessions of desert testing. Having spent so much of his time competing in some of the harshest conditions on earth, Dr Ben Sulayem went further still and specified special equipment to ensure the Desert Edition won’t ever be caught short.

Jazeera Airways #j9streetfood big hit!

Street food tastings from top destinations

The event was designed to recreate and commemorate the delicious diverse range of street food available at three Jazeera Airways destinations, namely Turkey, Egypt and Lebanon. It featured a special mouth-watering experience each day, introduced by a famous culturally aware Chef: Dondurma Ma’alem from Turkey, Gallabiya Koshari Ma’allem from Egypt and Ka’ak Ma’allem from Lebanon. The event featured one country per day from 5-10PM, and offered mall visitors the chance to try the highlighted authentic food of each destination and win two-roundtrip flight tickets.

Jazeera Airways Vice President of Marketing and Product, Dr. Mohamed Barakat said: “Offering the opportunity to recreate and discover the spectrum of irresistible, ethnic food available at our destinations, the Street Food experience is a time for the entire family to enjoy a taste of their travels - reliving where they are from, where they have been, and where they are hoping to go.”

Based in Kuwait, Jazeera Airways serves popular destinations in the Middle East. The airline operates a fleet of Airbus A320 aircrafts with two class cabins comprising a Business Class and an Economy Class. Business Class travelers get both an upgraded experience and exclusivity, starting with exclusive check-in lines, business lounge access, up to 60 kilograms in free baggage allowance, and an exclusive onboard cabin. The airline’s Economy Class offers travelers free baggage allowance of 40 kilograms and free on-board meals with a changing menu every month.

Jazeera Airways is an IATA-member airline.

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a contract with the Tamdeen Group to develop a Grand Hyatt hotel in Kuwait. Expected to open in 2020, Grand Hyatt Kuwait will mark the Fifth Grand Hyatt hotel in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, after the opening of the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi in 2016.

“Kuwait is increasingly becoming a major gateway city and resort destination, so we are delighted to announce we will be bringing our Grand Hyatt brand to this global business and cultural hub,” said Peter Norman, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Development for Hyatt – Europe, Africa, and Middle East.

“We look forward to welcoming guests to Grand Hyatt Kuwait, where they will be able to experience the innovative design, dramatic architecture and superior service for which the Grand Hyatt brand is known. It is also a pleasure to execute this project with the Tamdeen Group who are well known for the impeccable quality of all their developments.

Tamdeen Group is an organization aiming to reshape the urban and social landscape of Kuwait through developing innovative mixed use projects.

“We are honored to work with Hyatt as the brand continues to expand its presence in the Gulf region,” said Mohammed Jassim Khalid Al Marzouq, Chairman, Tamdeen Group. “Our first project with Hyatt will bring the hospitality aspect of our mall expansion to life as 360 MALL expands as part of the prestigious international tennis complex launched last month. Given Hyatt’s strong brand name and the new hotel’s excellent location, we believe that the Grand Hyatt Kuwait will attract both business and leisure travelers from across the region.”

The (261-room), new-build hotel will be an integral part of 360 MALL, an iconic premier luxury shopping destination that integrates retail, leisure and entertainment under one roof as one of the most successful malls in Kuwait. Located seven miles from downtown on the 6th Ring Road, Grand Hyatt Kuwait will be within close reach of various embassies, a number of government ministries and the Kuwait International Airport.

Grand Hyatt Kuwait will offer standard rooms of 40 square meters, four food and beverage outlets where guests can enjoy inventive cuisine from experienced chefs, and first class meeting and events facilities which will cater to government, business and social events in the city.

The hotel will be designed by RTKL Architects, who also designed the adjacent 360 MALL. As with all Grand Hyatt hotels, this new development will offer guests a sophisticated environment, based on innovative design and architecture complementing Kuwait’s unique culture.

The state-of-the-art facilities on offer at the Grand Hyatt Kuwait will extend beyond the interior of the hotel, as it forms part of 360 MALL’s expansion comprising the new state-of-the-art Sheikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah Tennis Complex. With the expansion, the mall’s shopping and food & beverages experiences will grow to 120,000 square meters. This leisure complex marks an important milestone in the growth of Kuwait’s luxury market, and Hyatt guests will be able to enjoy its facilities, right on their doorstep.

The Tennis Complex will have a combined stadium seating for over 7,600 people across two main arenas, each with the capacity to hold 4,000 and 1,600 people respectively, eight indoor courts with over 500 seats and eight outdoor courts with 1,500 seats.

December, 2015

FROM THE PRESS

Home Centre Announces Regional Launch of Latest Annual Catalogue with Inspiring Home Trends and Design Ideas

‫تقدم أفخم األنواع وأشهر‬ ‫املاركات العاملية مع فريق تصميم‬ )‫وتركيب مبدع (كازا بوتيك‬ ‫الوجهة األفضل ألرقى وأكبر‬ ‫تشكيلة من السيراميك والرخام‬ ‫واألرضيات وأطقم احلمامات‬

The ultimate 911 models: the new Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S

At the 2016 edition of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Porsche will be presenting two new top models of the 911 series: the 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S which now boast a 20 hp increase and a sharpened design. Both models will be available as coupe and convertible versions. The bi-turbo sixcylinder engine in the 911 Turbo with 3.8 litres of displacement now has a power output of 540 hp. This power gain was achieved by modified inlet ports in the cylinder head, new injection nozzles and higher fuel pressure. The 911 Turbo S develops 580 hp, thanks to new turbochargers with larger compressors. To-date, Porsche is still the only manufacturer to utilise turbochargers with variable turbine geometry in petrol engines.

The engines feature a dynamic boost function to further improve their response in dynamic operation. They maintain the charge pressure during load changes, i.e. when the accelerator pedal is released briefly. This is achieved by interrupting fuel injection, whereas the throttle valve remains open. As a result, the engine reacts with practically no delay to another press of the accelerator pedal. The effects of this function are more pronounced in the Sport and Sport Plus modes.

Overall, the new high-performance sports cars achieve breath-taking driving performance, while fuel consumption is further reduced. The 911 Turbo S Coupé sprints to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 330 km/h, which is 12 km/h higher than before. The 911 Turbo reaches the 100-km/h mark in 3.0 seconds, and its top speed is 320 km/h – 5 km/h faster than the previous model. Nevertheless, the coupes only consume 9.1 l/100 km, and the convertibles 9.3 l/100 km. This represents 0.6 litres less fuel per 100 km for all versions and has been achieved following advanced electronic engine and transmission management, with revised gear change mappings.

citypageskuwait.com

Home Centre, the region’s leading name in home retail, has announced the launch of its much-anticipated 2015/16 annual catalogue.

Featuring an array of new designs and concepts for home decoration, the catalogue fulfills Home Centre’s promise of inspiring beautiful homes for the last 20 years.

Every year, the annual catalogue offers customers consistent newness and a guarantee of quality products at a great value. Yet again, this edition will reflect the year’s global trends in home furnishing, customised and presented beautifully for regional shoppers.

The catalogue features more than 195 new inspirational styles. A distinct focus this year is on ‘The Collections’ – an exclusive range of discerning furniture that can weave harmony into homes with a cohesive range of furniture for the living, dining and bedroom. Creating a strong sense of design synergy for the entire home will be simple with The Collections, as beautiful details and colour palettes find resonance from one room to the next. The Collections – Juliette, Helen and Prestige – will offer customers affordable luxury for the entire home.

The catalogue is designed to appeal to Home Centre’s diverse customer base. While there are classic elegant options to choose from, those looking for glamorous, modern designs in store will not be disappointed either. In addition to furniture, customers will also get a glimpse of Home Centre’s wide assortment of lighting and home accessories, as well as bath, bedroom and kitchen essentials in this edition.

Now available at all Homecentre stores – Al Rai, Shuwaikh, Awqaf and Fahaheel & The Avenues –The Mall

‫ألن شرارة اإلبداع تنطلق عندما يلتقي‬ ‫شغف اإلنسان الدائم بالبحث عن الكمال‬ ‫ وألن متعة اإلنسان األطول مبا‬، ‫مع الطبيعة‬ ‫ جاء إنطالق‬،‫يقضيه من وقت مريح في بيته‬ ‫شركة (كازا بوتيك) التي تقدم أفخم وأجود‬ ‫أنواع السيراميك والرخام وأطقم احلمامات‬ ‫واخلالطات وحمامات السباحة وأرضيات‬ ‫ ومن أرقى املاركات‬، )‫اخلشب (الباركيه‬ ‫العاملية املصنعة وفقا ألحدث املواصفات‬ ‫واملقاييس العاملية من حيث التميز واجلودة‬ .‫والفخامة‬ ‫حرصت (كازا بوتيك) على ان جتمع في‬ ‫معرضها مجموعة واسعة من املنتجات‬ ‫لعدد من الشركات العاملية املتخصصة‬ ‫واملتميزة في عالم السيراميك واخلالطات‬ ‫ المبورغيني‬:‫واحلمامات وفي مقدمتها‬ ،‫ فوندو فاللي‬، ‫ واو‬،‫ آلتمايز‬، ‫ جيورجيو‬، ،‫ ودن فلورينغ‬،‫ ماربل‬،‫ ترند‬،‫ ووترجيت‬، ‫فالفيكر‬ ،‫ وآسكوت‬،‫ ريكسا‬، ‫ تشييلو‬،‫شاوربوكس‬ ‫ وغيرها من كبريات‬، ‫ فالداما‬،‫أوليمبيا‬ ‫الشركات األملانية واإليطالية واإلسبانية‬ ‫واألميركية التي حتتل مكانة الصدارة من‬ ‫ التاريخ‬،‫ تنوع التصاميم‬،‫حيث جودة املنتجات‬ ‫العريق لبعض منها حيث متتد خبرتها ألكثر‬ ‫ سنة من التجربة والعطاء مما‬40 ‫ الى‬30 ‫من‬ ‫جعلها حتفر اسمها في هذه الصناعة على‬ .‫الصعيدين األوروبي والعاملي‬

Experience the Ferrari Factory & Track Tour in Maranello (Italy)

Every Ferrari passionate can get the chance to truly experience the Prancing Horse on its home grounds. The Ferrari Museum in Maranello (Italy) offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive shuttle bus tour of the Fiorano Test Track and Viale Enzo Ferrari in the factory complex.

A Museum guide introduces visitors, both in Italian and in English, to the various characteristics and features of the circuit where Ferrari has done its road and competition car testing since 1972, and to the Ferrari Factory where the Prancing Horse cars are built. The buildings are designed by famous architects such as Renzo Piano, Massimiliano Fuksas, Jean Nouvelle, Marco Visconti and Luigi Sturchio.

The historical features, which are carefully preserved, starting from the entrance hall, which dates back to 1947, are also extremely interesting. In order to keep it a truly unique one-on-one experience, visitors may not leave the bus, take photographs or video footage during the tour.

Visitors have to book their places on the tours through the Museum website. You must first purchase online an entrance ticket for the Museum, await confirmation and the arrival of your booking code by email before proceeding with purchasing your place on the shuttle bus tour.

‫حملة إعالمية لتوعية المجتمع‬ ‫بدور ذوي اإلعاقة‬ ‫ديسمبر ‪2015‬‬

‫الرعـــاة‬ ‫‪Sponsor‬‬

‫‪integrated media solutions‬‬

‫‪www.alamal.com.kw‬‬

FROM THE PRESS

Celebrate This Season With The New Winter Collection At Williams-Sonoma Al-Zayani Reveals the All-New Jaguar XF & Jaguar XE in Kuwait Tissot is named Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)

Black Gold At THE One

Give monochrome a modern makeover with gold, silver and chocolate brown accents in this iconic New York loft look from THE One’s Autumn/Winter collection. Brimming with Big Apple attitude, this mature masculine style contrasts clean, straight lines with graphic geometric patterns and chunky feature pieces in leather, mixed metals and mirror finishes.

Combined with black-and-white photographs, luxurious furs, ivory-coloured velvet and sparkling crystal, this contempo-classic set-up oozes suave sophistication. Add some pops of green by way of a few faux topiary trees and you’re ready to start living the high life, Manhattan-style!

citypageskuwait.com

Williams-Sonoma, a leading supplier of gourmet foods, professional-quality cookware and home entertaining, presents its new winter collection, designed for the modern home cook and their culinary needs. The new collection aims to provide the right cooking accessories and chefs’ tools to make cooking effortless and enjoyable.

The range includes an array of unique and innovative gadgets such as the KitchenAid® Artisan Stand Mixer, with enough power and capacity to prepare large batches of cake batter or cookie dough without compromising your kitchen counter space. Mauviel Professional Copper Cookware has been used in the kitchens of the most discerning and professional cooks since the 1830s. Appraised and loved by master chefs, the elegant copper and stainlesssteel cookware set is designed to last a lifetime, with its perfectly-uniform heating and unrivaled temperature control, and includes ideal pieces for a wide variety of culinary techniques.

Nurturing your healthy side just got easier with Williams-Sonoma’s ultra-efficient Kuvings Whole Slow juicer, featuring technology that extracts maximum juice from fruits, veggies and herbs while maintaining maximum nutrients. It’s perfect for everything from juicing to making smoothies, sorbets and baby food.

Need to stock up on premium quality ingredients? Now you can choose the best for your kitchen. Start with the world’s best freshlybaked sugar cookies, using William-Sonoma’s premium Vanilla Sugar Cookie mix - perfect for crisp, buttery cookies, baked with a delicate creamy flavor. Pizza-making never seemed so appealing, with the easy-to-use must-have classic Williams-Sonoma’s pizza sauces. The mild and creamy tomato sauce is the perfect base for pizzas with robust toppings like sausage and peppers.

The exclusive marketing partner of China’s CBA Professional Basketball League, Infront Sports & Media, has announced that Tissot, the renowned Swiss watch brand, has been chosen as Official Timekeeper of the CBA League. The long-term agreement between CBA and Tissot starts now and will go on for the next five years, covering all games of the CBA League, including the play-offs and the hugely successful annual CBA All Star Game.

Basketball is the most popular televised sport in China, with every CBA League game shown with as many as 417 games between November and April. At the end of last season, the games totalled 1,015 hours of live signals, 41 editions of Daily Summaries totalling 20.5 hours of programmes. The last match alone reached an audience of 191 million television viewers in china. This in mind, it was essential that they find a reliable partner to ensure precision timing at the highest level.

Tissot’s experience was therefore a valuable asset for obtaining that role. It already has a major presence in the world of Basketball, as Official Timekeeper of both the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and more recently of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Partnering with the CBA was the logical next step for the brand. The expertise it has gained, timing basketball games over the years, will now benefit the CBA. Tissot will be implementing a new shot clock, which is one of the most essential features of the game and, as Official Watch, will be creating a new collection dedicated to the League and their teams, portraying their spirit.

Francois Thiebaud, Tissot President, said: “We are a global brand that is aiming for a global partnership in the world of basketball. CBA is therefore the ideal partner for us. Additionally, China is a key market for Tissot and, as such, it was only natural for us to partner with the most popular television sport in China. Offering timekeeping services and exclusively designed watches will also give our customers and partners in the region an additional reason to be proud of their commitment to Tissot.”

Al-Zayani Automotives, the exclusive distributer of Jaguar cars in Kuwait, hosted the unveiling of two of Jaguar’s dynamic, coupélike, aluminium-intensive, lightweight cars, the All-New Jaguar XF and the Jaguar XE, in 360 Mall. Albert Boyadjian was flown in from Lebanon and filled the corners of the mall with his very talented musical percussions show that created a one-of-a-kind introduction for the allnew Jaguar XF and Jaguar XE. The All-New Jaguar XF joins the Jaguar saloon car range between the XE and XJ model lines, sitting at the very heart of Jaguar.

Underpinned by class-leading driving dynamics and refinement, the All-New Jaguar XF brings an unrivalled blend of design, luxury, technology and efficiency to lead the business car segment.

Staying true to the principles of elegant lines and disciplined surfacing, the All-New Jaguar XF is the most visually dynamic car in the executive segment. The car’s dynamic design is formed around Jaguar’s aluminium-intensive architecture and combines the outstanding proportions, surfaces and lines which define all Jaguar cars, with a longer wheelbase, more interior space and exceptionally low aerodynamic drag.

The All-New Jaguar XF retains its predecessor’s core attributes while using Jaguar’s aluminiumintensive architecture to enable weight savings of up to 190kg and an increase in torsional stiffness of up to 28 per cent. The architecture also delivers dramatic improvements in packaging and the proportions, essential to Jaguar design.

The cabin is a seamless blend of contemporary luxury materials and finishes, traditional Jaguar craftsmanship and state-of-the art technology, with features such as a reconfigurable 12.3inch TFT instrument cluster, laser head-up display and the InControl Touch Pro premium infotainment system.

SPICY MOCHA CHOCOLATE MOUSSE MOCHA

FROM THE PRESS

West Elm Debuts Winter Collections

3rd Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience at ‫احتفت فيه مبوظفيها الذين‬ The Dubai Mall ‫ساهموا في ريادتها‬ defines Dubai as a 10 ‫كاريبو كوفي حتتفل مبرور‬ global fashion capital ‫سنوات على انطالقها بالكويت‬ ‫واإلمارات‬

‫افتتاح الفرع السابع لبيت حناين‬ ‫في مجمع البروميناد حولي‬

‫مت افتتاح الفرع السابع لبيت حناين في‬ ‫مجمع البروميناد حولي وسط حشد من‬ ‫كبار املصممني واإلعالميني وجنوم التواصل‬ ‫اإلجتماعي و على أنغام موسيقى هادئة‬ ‫متازجت مع الديكور الفاخر واملالئم لعراقة‬ ‫ وتال احلدث عرض أزياء‬.‫املعرض وجودته‬ ‫لتشكيلة بيت حناين اجلديدة خلريف وشتاء‬ ‫ حتت رعاية ميك اب ستور الذي إهتم‬2016 .‫مبكياج العارضات وجنوم التواصل اإلجتماعي‬ ‫اشتملت هذه التشكيلة على أحدث‬ ‫التصاميم الراقية من العبايات والشيالت‬ ‫املستوحاة من أحدث صيحات املوضة العاملية‬ ‫ودور األزياء الفاخرة والتي مزجت بني احلداثة‬ ‫واألصالة لتتماشى مع ذوق املرأة املعاصرة‬ ‫وتناسب إختيارها و متنحها األنوثة واجلمال‬ ‫ وأما عن‬.‫والتميز باسلوب أنيق ومعاصر‬ ‫النسيج فقد طغى على التشكيلة نسيخ‬ ‫جاكار اإليطالي و سالونا الياباني ليضفيان‬ ‫ملسة من الرقي واجلودة الفاخرة وأضفى‬ ‫كريستال ولؤلؤ سوارفسكي األصلي و‬ ‫التطريز اليدوي األنيق بريق اإلبداع وشغف‬ ‫ وكما قام فريق‬.‫التميز في كل قطعة‬ ‫التصاميم بإدخال ألوان أخضر الطاوس واألزرق‬ ‫املستوحاة من عصر النهضة في سبعينيات‬ ‫القرن املاضي على بعض القطع لتحاكي‬ .‫مختلف األذواق والفئات العمرية‬ citypageskuwait.com

Home furnishings retailer West Elm debuts its’ striking new winter collection at its flagship store at The Grand Avenue - The Avenues, Kuwait. Centered on design and innovation, this season’s product offering includes uniquely assembled and handcrafted products ranging from dinnerware and textiles to decorative accessories and furniture.

The winter collection’s highlights include the Monroe Mid-Century sofa - a hand-upholstered piece with a vintage spin from tapered wooden legs and shelter-style frame. Another classic item to mark your personal style in the living room is the retro-inspired Hamilton Sofa, which feels as luxurious as it looks, covered in premium topgrain leather. For the perfect finishing touch, customers can instantly dress their living room or bedroom windows with the Luster Velvet Curtains, woven with a high sheen and glossy finish.

Design lovers can also shop for decorative objects, all curated with the character of West Elm. Modern silver finish Metallic Pillar Candleholders, featuring wax exterior or handhammered textured metal trays, are perfect on coffee tables and living room bookcases, with their unique style.

Offering a complete bedroom package, West Elm presents its customers modern bedding solutions, with the Nailhead Tapered Leg bed set featuring a lofty headboard and paired with the subtle curve of its saber. To complete the look, wrap layers of luxury with a set from the bedding collection, woven with a blend of pure cotton yarn and luxe textured threads. Throw in some fur for a warm setting with the Faux Fur Ombre Pillow covers; the fur is faux, but the haute effect is very real.

West Elm’s talented team of designers create a one-of-a-kind collection that draws inspiration from traditional craft and global artisans’ skills.

Understanding that each customer is unique, West Elm’s products can be mixed and matched to make it easy for customers to reflect their personal style at home.

The third edition of Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience (VFDE) organised by global property developer Emaar Properties in partnership with Vogue Italia and supported by the Dubai Design & Fashion Council, held at The Dubai Mall once again defined Dubai as a global fashion capital while also serving as a platform to promote and support emerging talents from around the world.

A charity gala dinner, hosted by supermodel Eva Herzigova, marked the closing of the third VFDE, which raised funds and awareness for the World Food Programme, underlining the social commitment of the fashion industry to make a positive difference to humanity.

A-list celebrities and international fashion personalities from around the world attended the event. They included: Carla Bruni, Italian singer, songwriter and former model; Christian Louboutin, CEO of Louboutin; Peter Dundas, Creative Director of Roberto Cavalli; Silvia Venturini Fendi, Creative Director for Accessories & Men’s Lines & President of Alta Roma; Philipp Plein, Creative Director; Alberta Ferretti, Creative Director; Carlo Capasa, President of Camera Moda; Federico Marchetti, Chief Executive Officer, Yoox Neta-Porter Group; Raffaello Napoleone, CEO of Pitti Immagine; Imran Amed, founder of BOF. com; Miroslava Duma, founder of Buro 24/7; and supermodels Mariacarla Boscono and Eva Herzigova, amongst others.

VFDE 2015, held over two days, commenced with a Catwalk Fashion Show in the Fashion Catwalk of The Dubai Mall, hosted by model Carmen Kass. The show highlighted the creations of eight international emerging designers. The designers chosen were: Studio One Eighty Nine, The Kayys, Reem Al Kanhal, Arthur Arbesser, Krikor Jabotian, Melitta Baumeister, Xiao Li and L72.

Caribou Coffee ‫أقامت شركة كاريبو كوفي‬ ‫الرائدة في مجال تقدمي املشروبات واألطعمة‬ ‫اخلفيفة حفال خاصا جلميع العاملني في‬ ‫فروعها املنتشرة في الكويت واإلمارات‬ .‫ سنوات‬10 ‫مبناسبة مرور‬ ‫ويأتي ذلك االحتفال تقديرا من الشركة‬ ‫للجهود الكبيرة التي يبذلها جميع العاملني‬ ‫في الشركة ولإلخالص والتفاني في العمل‬ ‫لتعزيز انتشار الشركة واحلفاظ على ريادتها‬ ‫وترسيخ سمعتها ومكانتها باعتبارها‬ ‫الشركة التي تلبي جميع األذواق وحتقق كل‬ .‫الرغبات‬ ،‫ سنوات من التميز في اخلدمات‬10 ‫وبعد‬ ‫ تفتخر‬،‫والريادة في تقدمي املنتجات املميزة‬ ‫كاريبو كوفي التي متثل شركة إمتيازات‬ ‫الساير الوكيل احلصري لها ببلوغ عدد فروعها‬ ‫ فرع موزعة‬200 ‫في الشرق األوسط ألكثر من‬ ‫على اجملمعات واجلمعيات واألسواق التجارية‬ .‫واملراكز احليوية‬ ‫وحترص الشركة على جميع العاملني‬ ‫ وهم‬،‫باعتبارهم أهم عنصر لديها‬ ‫املساهمون احلقيقيون في حتقيق األهداف‬ ‫التي تنشدها لتكون منتجاتها الفريدة‬ ‫وخدماتها املتميزة املتجددة في متناول أكبر‬ .‫عدد من روادها وزبائنها‬ ‫وكرمت كاريبو كوفي العاملني الذين كانوا‬ ‫ وبذلوا‬،‫مثال املثابرة والتفاني في العمل‬ ‫الكثير من اجلهد والعطاء للحفاظ على‬ ‫ريادة الشركة وحتقيق النجاح الالفت لها‬ ‫لتصبح ذات سمعة متميزة في تقدمي أفضل‬ ‫اخلدمات واملنتجات واملأكوالت واملشروبات‬ .‫لروادها‬ ‫ومتتاز فروع كاريبو كوفي في الكويت واإلمارات‬ ‫بتصميمها اجلمالي ومعمارها املتميز‬ ‫ وجمعها بني فخامة‬، ‫وجتهيزاتها األنيقة‬ ‫الديكور الداخلي ورقي األثاث واإلطاللة‬ ‫الرائعة لتتمكن من تقدمي أفضل املنتجات‬ ‫واخلدمات جلميع زبائنها وتضفي على روادها‬ .‫جوا مفعما باحليوية واملتعة‬

DECEMBER HOROSCOPES ARIES

(March 21 - April 19)

The New Moon on December 11 could make you a teacher or mentor. You won't see it that way, though. You'll be busy learning and sharing as you learn. A clash of thoughts or opinions could happen at work when Mercury conjoins Pluto on December 19. Don't bring any harsh feelings home with you. Make the most of all your time at home around the December 25 Full Moon. Christmas (and all the adjacent holidays) may have a public side, too, and you'll enjoy the socializing. Go out and take part, but home is where your heart is.

TAURUS

(April 20 - May 20)

Your planet Venus enters secretive Scorpio on December 4.

Romance and the need for love are driving forces even if you don't want to explain why you feel how you feel. People keep you busy all month, and this could peak with the New Moon on December 11. Become the source of advice and comfort for someone needing encouragement or redirection. Or you could simply be an example of what they need to see. Friends and neighborhood acquaintances warm your heart during the Full Moon of December 25 (Christmas Day). You could very well meet some neighbors for the first time.

GEMINI

(May 21 - June 20)

Mercury trines Uranus on December 1 to set up a month of mischief and cleverness for you. Romance revs up with this New Moon on December 11. You project a mature and well-grounded image and that could attract a love interest with the same qualities. No, it does not have to be stodgy or boring. The Full Moon on December 25 (Christmas Day) could inundate you with gifts and well wishes no matter your holiday. Treasure the spirit of giving and claim all that goodwill for your own no matter how much you like (or don't like) the particular object.

CANCER

(June 21 - July 22)

December 7 is a day full of love and dreams when the Moon conjoins Venus and also trines Neptune. Thrive in the holiday spirit and refuse to get run down or run around. Get extra rest and take your vitamins around the December 11 New Moon, especially if family or home affairs are draining energy and making you feel older than you are. Be good to yourself. The Full Moon on December 25 (Christmas Day) may be packed with people coming and going and activities that may not totally thrill you. You'll love the family contact, though, and all those traditional holiday trimmings. citypageskuwait.com

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

(July 23 - August 22)

The Sun trines quirky Uranus on December 8. If searching for that perfect holiday gift, find it that day. With the December 11 New Moon, you can be creative, take a big chance, and be responsible all at the same time. Most likely it will involve other people's opinions more than it will money. Be bold and confident. The Full Moon on December 25 may bring you some quiet, private moments to reflect on what's really going on in your heart and conscience. Whether at Christmas or one of the other yearend holidays, make a private observation that enriches your life hereafter.

(November 22 - December 21)

The Moon conjoins Jupiter on December 3 and you may strive to do everything at once. Rethink this when Mercury squares Jupiter on December 4. The December 11 New Moon is yours to succeed at work and then enjoy with friends. You'll face no obstacles or quarrels.

Do what you like, smile, and be easygoing. Your mind may be on money around the Full Moon on December 25, but the holiday season will have penetrated your heart and let you have a magnificent time no matter what. Share all the goodness that comes your way and general good luck that attracts even more.

VIRGO

CAPRICORN

(August 23 - September 22)

On December 1, Mercury trines Uranus and squares the asteroid Chiron. Be more efficient in your routines and don't wear yourself out. Family and home life are the focus around the New Moon on December 11. Don't feel inadequate or insecure in any way.

Be the grownup in the room with no extra stress. The Full Moon on December 25 lights up your social life and the institutions that touch your heart and connect you to the world at large. Holiday celebrations may be generous and busy with parties and gift exchanges. You could spend little time at home this holiday season.

(December 22 - January 19)

December 5, making it easy to deal with any difficult people. Shop with renewed courage and confidence. The New Moon on December 11 touches you in a deep and private place. Gain an insight that teaches you an important lesson and lets you deal more comfortably with people, especially in public. Let the Full Moon on December 25 light up your love life and maybe bring a new lovable and loving person into your heart. He or she may not instantly become your new best heartthrob, but sometimes love finds you before you find it.

LIBRA

AQUARIUS

(September 23 - October 22)

Hanukkah begins December 7, and the Moon conjoins Venus and trines Neptune. Your holiday spirit lights up bright and early. Friends and locals will treat you like the authority and leader you are during the New Moon on December 11. Say what you want to do and where you want to go and watch everyone make it happen. The Full Moon on December 25 may be Christmas, but it will put you in the public spotlight anyway. Dress up in that holiday finery, smile, and distribute your gifts and grand spirit widely. Whatever your holiday, no one can make and spread peace like you.

(January 20 - February 18)

Around the New Moon on December 11, go out and rub shoulders with a great many new people. You may go somewhere exotic or to a large party or social event. Be stimulated by people and pleasantries. The Moon squares Uranus on December 13, and you could decide that a certain holiday plan may be fun but too far over the top. You may be pampered with a modest but sincere holiday celebration around the December 25 Full Moon. Be it Christmas or one of the other major holidays, it will seep into your heart and perhaps heal a wound you didn't know was there.

SCORPIO

PISCES

(October 23 - November 21)

The Moon conjoins Mars on Saturday, December 5, giving you a jolt of energy to get through that endless list of errands. Accomplish a lot this weekend. Get smarter about a money matter around the New Moon on December 11. You may be able to save more and be glad for the extra cash later on. If friends want you to go out more now, stick to your guns and your schedule. They'll still love you. Feel connected to everyone and everything around the December 25 Full Moon. It's Christmas, but you're in the mood to celebrate everyone else's holiday, too. Go for it!

(February 19 - March 20)

Control your workday at the New Moon on December 11. You have the responsibility, authority, and expertise, so step into the spotlight and be the star. Have a shiny, bright, and fun Full Moon on December 25. It's Christmas, but whatever your holiday, celebrate with the heart of a child. With the Moon opposing Pluto, something big and unexpected may happen, but you'll put a humorous slant on it. On New Year's Eve, December 31, the Moon conjoins Jupiter and trines Mercury. A burst of good luck could find you before the year ends, and you'll know what to do with it.

*All the Illustrations on this page are done by: Sandra Bakhamian @SandraBakhamian and are Copyrighted

HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER?

1. Aquae Sulis is the Roman name for what aptly renamed English spa city?

2. What metal element, symbol B, was named after its natural mineral form, popularised for its use as a cleaning product in the 1880s?

3. What friendly word produces six new words when it prefixes: Ace; Ate; Let; Lid; Mate; and Try? 4. The human Frenulum Linguae is webbed tissue between: Tongue/Mouth-floor; Thumb/Hand; Ear/Scalp; or Chin/Neck?

5. Pomology is the science of: Volcanoes; Cheerleading; Apple cultivation; or Australian colonization?

6. A Muscovite refers to a native of where in the world?

Test Your Vocabulary An animal might not question it, but a human would see hands had manufactured it quickly enough.

In this sentence, manufactured means: 1. crumpled up or wadded up 2. shown to be right by providing justification 3. put together out of artificial or natural components 4. ripped it to shreds or small sections Manufacture is generally associated with industry and factories. Henry Ford, for instance, revolutionized industry by using assembly lines to manufacture Model Ts. But manufacture can also be used for the natural word, like bees that manufacture honey. Occasionally it use used more generally to mean to construct by putting parts together. And in a pinch, you can manufacture — or make — the truth, which is a creative way to say “lie.”

General Knowledge Quiz

7. What is a third of a half?

your own clothes, a company probably had to manufacture them.

ANSWER: 3.To manufacture something, is to make or construct it, usually for industry and sale. Unless you make all

8. La Niña is the counterpart of, and often follows what?

9. Sage, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram are members of the plant genus: Apple; Mint; Lemon; or Pine?

10. The Great Wall of China generally runs: East-to-West; North-to-South; In a

MATH EQUATION

circle; or Every which way?

11. In Shakespeare's Richard III, King Richard's horse (killed prior to Richard's plea 'My kingdom for a horse') is called: Surrey; Kent; Dorset; or Northamptonshire?

12. What famous ancient city is on the river Tiber: Cairo; Rome; Athens; or Babylon?

13. A prebiotic induces growth in humans (and other living hosts) of beneficial: Hormones; Fungi/bacteria; Antibodies; or Hair? fat content; Atmospheric pressure; Gambling machine payout; or Hotness of chili peppers?

The value of 1.07 × 65 + 1.07 × 26 + 1.07 × 9 is;

A. 10.73

B. 10.7

15. What eponymous brand, founded1946, re-established Paris as world-centre of

C. 10.70

D. 107

'D' is correct answer. Well Done!

women's fashion: Chanel; Dior; Gucci; or FCUK? 16. Linoleum (e.g., 'Lino' flooring) originally comprises which three of these: Polypropylene; Canvas, Bamboo; Linseed oil; or Powdered cork?

17. What old English term for a third came to refer to an administrative division of Yorkshire and an electroral district of Canada?

18. The CAC40 is a main stock market index of: Brazil; France; Japan; or USA? 19. Golden Horse/Rooster/Bell/Melody, and Hundred Flowers are major movie/TV/ music awards for which nation/language: Russia; China; Mexico; or Saudi Arabia?

JUMBLED WORDS M I P L E A L K I E G U C T A H

20. Which one of these did not originate in 16th century Italian 'Commedia dell'arte'

ANSWERS: 1.Bath (after Sulis Minerva, a goddess, representing the healing qualities of the spa waters, worshipped by the Romano-British), 2.Boron (named from Borax), 3.Pal, 4.Tongue/Mouth-floor (Latin - Lingua, tongue), 5.Apple cultivation, 6.Moscow, 7.A sixth (or 0.1666666 recurring), 8.El Niño (the weather systems - 'El Niño', 'Christ child', because Pacific warming near S America is often at Christmas, and so 'La Niña', 'The Girl', was chosen to refer to the counter effect), 9.Mint, 10.East-to-West(along China's old Northern borders, protecting against invasion from Siberian tribes), 11.Surrey, 12.Rome, 13.Fungi/bacteria. 14.Atmospheric pressure, 15.Dior (fully Christian Dior), 16.Canvas, Linseed oil, Powdered cork (the word is from from Latin linum, flax, and oleum, oil), 17.Riding (from 'trithing', in turn from Old Norse, thrithi), 18.France, 19.China/Chinese, 20.Edward Scissorhands (created by Tim Burton and Caroline Thompson 1990)

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B A V E H e C A N Y L U ANSWERS: IMPEL, ALIKE, CAUGHT, BEHAVE, LUNACY

travelling theatre: Harlequin; Punch & Judy; Scaramouche; or Edward Scissor-hands?

ANSWER:

14. 101325 Pa (Pascal) or 1.01325 bar is the regulation standard/unit for: Milk

It’s time to believe in yourself.

TONY PARKER. WILLIAM ANTHONY PARKER IS A FRENCH PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER IN THE NBA, ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED IN THE WORLD. HE HAS PROVEN THAT MEASURING 1.88 METERS IS NOT AN OBSTACLE TO REACHING THE TOP. TONY IS WEARING A TISSOT CHEMIN DES TOURELLES AUTOMATIC WITH A POWERMATIC 80 MOVEMENT WITH UP TO 80 HOURS OF POWER RESERVE.

TI S S OT WATC H E S .CO M TISSOT, INNOVATORS BY TRADITION