Dare to be different
We were intgoo. . busy partoy make working t cover a front th this mon Motoring Special! Get your vroom on and move into the fast lane with everything carS
Time Capsule! Turning back the clock to rediscover Bahrain in 2004
Spring of Culture! mark your calendars as the festival continues with more events fact magazine
MARCH 2014. VOL | SR10 April 2014. VOL 7 7ISSUE 8 7. BD1 | SR10 JANUARY 2014. VOL 7ISSUE ISSUE 5. BD1 . BD1 | SR10
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CONTENTS FACT Magazine Bahrain Edition April 2014 Volume 7, Issue 8
contents
Director Omar Shaheen Chief Executive Officer Greg Hughes Editor Apple Sharma (apple@factlive.com) Group Motoring Editor Tony Sidgwick Editorial Assistant Pallavi Ramesh Creative Director Paula Leal Senior Graphic Designer Raquel Henriques Designer Rashed Bindaina Photographer Shobin Joseph
30. Q&A: F1 Artist
We talk to German F1 artist Armin Flossdorf about his upcoming exhibition at Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel.
12. Exclusive Interview
We caught up with international artist Craig David ahead of his performance at Klub 360.
24. Spring of Culture
The festival continues this month and FACT has a roundup of all the events you should check out.
35. Motoring Special
Our new motoring editor has gone all out to bring you everything from F1 to car reviews and exclusive interviews.
69. Time Capsule
We take you down memory lane back to the good old days of Bahrain - see what was happening in 2004.
84. Fashion Focus
FACT brings you all the latest trends for the Spring/Summer 2014 season - there’s something for everyone.
89. Venue Review
We went along to Thai at the RitzCarlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa to check out this beautiful poolside venue.
94. Chef ’s Table
We dine at the table of Chef Michael Kyu Lee at Meisei to find out more about their special F1 menu. 6.
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Production & Distribution Manager Neil Mahmood Business Development Manager Selma Carolina Jemouai Sales Manager Mariam Sallam Contributors Shabana Adam Christal Dennis Craig Heslop ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Tel: +973 3457 1067 E-mail: mariam@factlive.com PRINTED BY Awal Press, Bahrain.
All Rights Reserved. Opinion expressed within does not necessarily represent the opinion of the publisher. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy of the information within this publication. However, FACT M.E. Bahrain cannot accept legal responsibility for any erroneous content or omissions. FACT M.E. Bahrain Publishing W.L.L. Office 53, Building 872, Road 3618, Block 436, Seef. Ministry of Information. Subject Registration Number: CFB779
www.fact-magazine.com
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THE EDITOR
Vroom Vroom…
U
“
April is starting off with a bang with Formula One returning back to the island. There is a lot to celebrate this month and FACT has you covered this entire month of April…
ntil you’ve learned to drive, you’ve
never really learned how to swear!” (Robert Paul)
Pg 35). We have everything covered from F1 to news,
month? We know we are…
personalities of the motoring world.
Are you ready for a whirlwind start to this We are racing into this month (literally) as we
this month and we’ve done a round up of events (Pg
One as Bahrain celebrates the 10th anniversary with
artist (Pg 30). We bring you our usual venue review
the first night race of the season (we cannot wait to
get in on the action). As we all know so well, our little island transforms for 72 hours during the Formula
24) and a very special interview with a brilliant F1
(Pg 89) and chef ‘s table (Pg 94) along with our picks of dining hot spots (Pg 92).
All you fashion conscious people out there, check
One weekend (it’s nice to see Bahrain bustling with
out our collection focus (Pg 84) and fashion round
the causeway), what with all the international acts
abreast with what else April has to offer (Pg 22).
people apart from our lovely neighbours from across (Avicci, The Scorpions, Craig David) hitting our
ups (Pg 86). Check out the calendar to keep yourself With so much excitement this month, I would
shores and the hundreds of parties lined up (you
say fasten your seatbelts, and get ready to ride out
fan of Craig David, don’t miss our exclusive interview
that in Bahrain) and plenty of fun…happy days J
must’ve read about it all in our last issue). If you’re a with the artist (Pg 12).
Time has really flown by since Bahrain hosted
the first Formula One race. We wanted to take this opportunity to remind you all of what Bahrain was
like back then, so we came up with the concept of the ‘Time Capsule’ (Pg 69). We had so much fun putting this together and taking a trip down nostalgia lane. I really hope you enjoy reading this as much as we enjoyed collating it!
With all the fuss about Formula One racing, we
just had to have a ‘Motoring Special’ this month (Pg to
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Not to forget, the Spring of Culture is continuing
welcome the 2014 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain
Grand Prix. This will be an especially exciting Formula
8.
to exclusive interviews with some very interesting
April…Formula One, springtime (if you can call it
Apple Sharma Editor apple@factlive.com
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MuseLand
Music Festival
Bahrain is fast becoming a new arts and cultural hub for local and international artists to showcase their talents, and we love it! This month we have a two-day MuseLand Music Festival that will be held on a large scale with an exciting lineup of local, regional and international acts. There will be live performances, a series of panel discussions, workshops and talks on the music industry as well. This event is getting penciled into our diaries for sure! GO: April 18: Coral Bay, April 19: Albareh Art Gallery, 10am. Visit www.muselandfestival.com or email muselandrecords@gmail.com for more info.
Chuckle Club Funnies
Chuckle Club has yet again come up with a fresh line up of top international comedians to tickle your funny bones and make you fall off your seats. This month the joyride features hard-edged comedy from Gavin Webster, award-winning stand-up Owen O Neil and coveted funny man, actor and writer, Tom Allen. This is one you won’t want to miss! GO: April 9 at The Capital Club, April 10 at The British Club and April 11 at InterContinental Regency Bahrain. Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are priced at BD15. 10. fact magazine
BYC Spring Regatta
Brew lovers are in for a treat as the Bahrain Yacht Club Annual Spring Reagatta kicks off this month. A refreshing Hops Fest is being organised by BMMI alongside the Regatta activities on April 25 from 4pm to 8pm. Watch the sailing, listen to some mellow music and taste your way through 28 different brews from different parts of the world. The popular watersports club will be home to various hops where people can enjoy an old favourite or try a new brew. There will be an extensive range of malt from 11 different countries, so there’s plenty to taste. A fun two-day outing – what more could you ask for? GO: April 25 to 26. Guest Fees to enter for BYC non-members BD 1 per day during the Regatta. Call 1782 7516 for tickets.
F1 Fun at Seef Mall Seef Mall is bringing the racetrack closer to Formula 1 fans by creating a remote control racing version of the Bahrain International Circuit (powered by Subaru), which will be in the west extension of the mall. The Antennas area will have six cars, racing around the track for three laps. Each contestant will be given a steering wheel to control and race. Race times will be recorded and the winner will be crowned at the end of the race. Visitors will be educated on road awareness and safety, so head down to Seef Mall for a fun day out! GO: Ongoing until April 10 from 10am to 10pm. Call 1758 2111 for more info.
Sitra, Tel: 17 732732 www.infiniti-bahrain.com fact magazine .11
Y EXCLUSIVE Q&A
What are you most looking forward to in Bahrain? “I love experiencing new cultures, new architecture, new energy. Last time I was in Bahrain was a great time performing all my hits. This time will be great coming over with my TS5 DJ Set, which is a different side of my musical ability.” What are you currently working on? “I’m working on my new album, which I am very excited about. Also, I have a house party from my home in Miami called TS5 that broadcasts live on Capital Xtra in the UK, which has become a big show. This is where I DJ, sing over the songs and create an exciting party like no other.”
ou have come a long way from the days of ‘Fill Me In’. How would you describe your artistic journey so far? “It’s been an evolution for me. Having started so young I’ve seen so many things in my life and so many artists and groups come and go. The song is the
Craig David The island is buzzing with the news of Grammy Award nominee and Mobo Award-winning international artist Craig David to perform at Klub 360, located at Elite Crystal Hotel in Juffair. FACT caught up with the artist in an EXCLUSIVE interview! most important thing in an artist’s career. Knowing that I am always three minutes away from changing my life is what makes me always energised still 14 years after it all blew up for me. I am grateful for this gift.”
GO: Tickets: BD20 for women, BD30 for men (inclusive of one complimentary drink) Call 3336 0300 for more information. 12.
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What motivates you to write songs and who has been your biggest inspiration? “People motivate me to write songs. Being able to tell stories about real life events that people can connect with is what I love. The great song writers like R-Kelly, Boyz 2 Men back in the day to the more current hit songwriters Bruno Mars & John Legend are some of the few that push me to really strive for perfection in my song writing.”
What do you enjoy more – song writing or DJing? “Song writing is very different to DJing as you are creating something from nothing, whereas DJing is more of a performance and a chance to play other people’s songs as well as mine in an exciting way.” What would be your advice for up and coming artists? “Work hard on honing your talent and remember there is someone out there getting up an hour earlier than you to reach their goal, so go all out while following your intuition on what is right for you rather than listening to other people’s opinions.” One for the ladies – are you single and what’s your idea of a romantic date? “I am single at present, but would love to be in a loving relationship with a girl. My idea of a romantic date is being able to sit down anywhere with the person you love and be lost in a beautiful moment without worrying about location, external distractions, but just knowing that all is perfect with the person right in front of you.”
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LISTEN UP
Red Bull BC One Returns to Bahrain The premier one-on-one B-Boy battle in the world promises to push participants to their limit, in a scene where the level keeps growing year after year. The top 16 local B-Boys will battle it out at the Alumni Club in Adliya on May 2. Participants will go on stage paired against one another, and each will have two chances to throw his signature moves. At the end of each round, judges will knock down one, until the last B-Boy remains standing and is crowned Red Bull BC One Bahrain Cypher winner. The local champion will represent the Kingdom in the Middle East and Africa Final on September 27 in Algeria. GO: Log on to www.facebook.com/Red Bull BC One Bahrain Cypher 2014 or www. redbullbcone.com for more information. Twitter @redbullbahrain
F1 Special at Upstairs Downstairs
Upstairs Downstairs Restaurant has been continuously bringing some class tribute acts to the island. This month is no exception as Upstairs Downstairs, in association with Momentum Entertainment, is pleased to announce its big F1 Special “The Elton John & Billy Joel Experience”. The event will feature Graham Nash on April 4 with tickets prices at BD 12 per person. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 9pm. GO: Call 1771 3093 for tickets and more information.
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CHECK IT OUT
Fact Finds
Rastelli Direct Bahrain New Gourmet Delivery Service
Discover more of Bahrain with FACT Finds. Every month we’ll bring you our favourite eatery, activity or interesting find from around the island
Visit
www.RastelliDirect.com.bh or call 36282993 for your gourmet deliveries.
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Imagine having a gourmet delivery service that brings fine dining quality meat, poultry, seafood and other food products directly to your doorstep. Well, imagine no more, as this has become a reality with Bahrain’s newest gourmet delivery service – Rastelli Direct Bahrain! This online service will absolutely revolutionise the way you shop, eat and entertain at home. You can now order premium cuts of US beef, poultry, seafood, desserts and side dishes from across the world direct to your doorstep (that’s a first!). All the products are five star restaurant quality, which you can now cook and enjoy in the comfort of your home. There is a wide range of 20 products to choose from, including Boneless Black Angus Ribeye Steak (US bestseller), All-Natural Turkey Smashed Burgers (US bestseller), All Natural Boneless Turkey Breat Roast, Chicken Breast Herb Marinade, Pacific Cod Loins and Scottish Salmon (US bestseller), to name but a few. Gourmet side dishes and desserts are also available for delivery. All these come individually vacuum-sealed and flash-frozen, and delivered frozen to preserve the taste of every individual product. Every pack has full details of the nutritional information, including expiry dates. It also tells you how best to cook a certain meat, to retain the quality and taste of the products. You can also order gourmet gift boxes, Rastelli gift vouchers and E-gift certificates for a unique and thoughtful gift. There has always been a real demand for premium US meat and poultry products, and now you can have it at your fingertips – it couldn’t be easier!
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MASH UP
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND MAYBE YOU’LL BE HERE NEXT MONTH! @FACTbahrain
3,256 @FACTBahrain
Fact
Torre Holmes
Reem Al Aseeri
@Fact
@jinx301
@Reem_AlAseeri
If you download “Voice Skin”, you can have Snoop Dogg/Lion give you directions on your TomTom GPS.
I’ll stop procrastinating tomorrow.
Twitter was so magical until I found out that you all know eachother personally.
Mohammed Greepaly
Bushra
bryanboy
@Arshub_J
@bryanboy
What’s the point of being baby-faced if it won’t land me a free Kid’s Meal at DQ :(
I love bacon so much if bacon was a human being I would run to Graff, buy a nice yellow diamond ring and propose to bacon to marry me.
Here are the tweets that caught our attention this month. Follow us on twitter and check back next issue to see if your tweet made the page!
@Greepaly
Boss: Lunch meeting, let’s go. Me: Do I have to? Boss: Free food. Me: *moonwalks to the car*
Razi
@RaziAmin I really need to invest in “PS4 in my car” to kill time in traffic
Where’s Rashed? He’s hidden somewhere in the issue, exclusively on the FACT App!
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Khaliji_Woes
@Khaliji_Woes I can never screen shot a snapchat fast enough. #khaliji_ woes #firstworldproblems
WIN Find FACT’s dapper designer chilling somewhere in our online issue for a chance to win a Gift Voucher worth BD50 from Rastelli Direct Gourmet Delivery. The rules have changed and you can only find Rashed now on FACT’s online app (turn to pg78 for more information). Email apple@factlive.com with the page number you think he’s on! Good Luck!
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SCOOP
Around the world ...Doing Bahrain Proud
Bringing you the latest news of fellow Bahrainis around the world... tell us your news, or share your finds with us on twitter @FACTbahrain!
Geneva Shura Council Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee chairman and Foreign Minister Dr Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa gave a keynote speech before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. He highlighted the steps and measures Bahrain is taking to ensure that the recommendations of Bahrain Independent commission of Inquiry (BICI) are fully carried out. The welfare and safety standards of the citizens of Bahrain were also underlined.
India Bahrain resident John Iype received the prestigious Bharat Gaurav Award (Pride of India) in Delhi to honour his dedication to helping needy people. John was chosen by the India International Friendship Society for this top award and he will join the ranks of others who were honoured with the same award including Mother Teresa, Sunil Gavaskar and veteran actors Shammi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna. Some of his noted contributions were helping the survivors of the 2006 Gudabiya fire, finding employment for 800 workers after a factory’s bankruptcy and also being instrumental in launching a free insurance scheme for Indian workers with below BD150 salary.
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Bahrain Buzz
Abu Dhabi
Bahraini researcher Zainab Al-Ansari was awarded the third prize in the Innovation, Creativity and Institutional Applications Award for her research entitled ‘Control of Wheelchair by Voice Command’. The organisers, Emirates Identity Authority, through the launch of this award, seeks to promote innovation and scientific research in the areas of smart identity card and its applications, at the domestic, regional and international level.
Love it
Breaking records!
We love the fact that Bahrain residents are making the most of what this beautiful island has to offer. Bahrain resident and German girl, Anke Brandt, has successfully accomplished the 250km kite challenge around the island, breaking her personal record and attempting a new world record. Anke ventured into the water at 6am from Amwaj Islands and successfully completed the loop in Al Dar Island at 6pm.
Hate It
Dogs killed intentionally
We hate animal abusers! Two dogs were found dead in the streets of Bahrain on the same day. One was found with eyes popped out and back injured, as if it was beaten with a rod. The other was found rotten by a volunteer for Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who presumes the dog was poisoned to death. We hope these perpetrators are punished!
Can’t Believe it
Victim of Cyber-Hate
We were shocked to hear that a local newspaper journalist was a victim of a cyber-hate campaign. Her face was photoshopped onto models wearing next to nothing, and furthermore her email address was sent to men caught up in the sex industry. A high tech cybercrime unit is set up to investigate the case and get to the root cause. We are appalled and shocked, and hope the matter is dealt with urgently.
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HAPPENINGS
Getting Out and About
11. Friday
Breakfast at Figs & Olives, Sofitel Eggs Benedict, crepes, homemade oatmeal or freshly baked pastries! Whatever you fancy, the Breakfast Buffet has it all. Begin your day with a delicious spread of tasty food! Buffet is from 6:30am to 10am. Call 1600 0000 for more information.
This Month in Bahrain
Say goodbye to boredom this 04. Friday 08. Tuesday Midweek Green Fees at Royal Fashion TV Black Tie Night at month and mark your diaries Coral Bay Golf Club with these all-important dates. The well-known Fashion TV has its black Experience the Royal Golf Club’s lowesttie themed night featuring Judge Jules and ever green fees throughout April. Tee We’ve put together a calendar a dance show by Rumors entertainment. off between 9am and 3pm any day of the week and pay just BD5 for nine holes on sure to be the star of the night. packed with happenings just Make the Wee Monty par 3 course or BD20 Tickets are available at JJ’s, Camelot and for 18 holes on the Montgomerie Coral Bay. for you! This is what FACT championship course! Call 3374 5547 for table bookings. Call 1775 0777 for more information. recommends (and you can 05. Saturday still find more throughout the 09. Wednesday Avicii and Scorpions at BIC rest of the mag!). The spectacular Avicii and The Scorpions Russian Night at Elements Pool
01. Tuesday
The 16th International Book Fair at Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre If you are into reading and wish to find all sorts of books under one roof, then you must visit the Book Fair. The exhibition is to showcase latest publications in all fields of knowledge Visit www.moc.gov.bh for more information.
02. Wednesday
Ladies Night at Downtown, InterContinental Regency Bahrain Enjoy a night out with your girlfriends with Ladies Night at Downtown. Ladies receive unlimited selected beverages from 9pm until midnight. Call 1722 7777 for more information.
03. Thursday
Ibiza Affairz at Coral Bay Make sure to attend the Grand Prix 10th Anniversary Opening Party, ‘Ibiza Affairz’, featuring Dani Zaro and vocalist Syra Martin. Entry by invitation only, so grab your invites from JJ’s, Camelot and Coral Bay. Call 3374 5547 for table bookings.
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are here for the first time ever to perform live. Call 1745 0000. Grand Prix Prestige Party @ Dragon Hotel & Resort Party in VIP style with international artists and DJs, to enjoy one of the best entertainments on the island. Call 3969 9168.
06. Sunday
Hed kandi Party at Coral Bay The Grand Prix Closing party at the Coral Bay is definitely Glamour & Glitz. DJ Sam Canon from the UK is ready to entertain you and The Kandi Dancers are set to perform and make you sway. Tickets are available at JJ’s, Camelot, Virgin, BMMI and Coral Bay. Call 3374 5547 for table bookings.
07. Monday
Italian Night at Sofitel Saraya and Fiamma Restaurant join forces to bring you the ultimate Italian cuisine. Feast on a dedicated Italian buffet that features homemade pizza, authentic pastas and traditional desserts from 7pm to 10.30pm. Call 1763 6363 for more information.
& Lounge, InterContinental Regency Bahrain Don’t miss this amazing Russian themed night and enjoy a selection of Russian spirits with 50% off from 6pm to 12am every Wednesday. Call 1722 7777 for more information.
10. Thursday
Afterwork at Bushido Unwind and loosen up your tie straight after work with a buy one, get one free drinks promotion on selected cocktails & mocktails. Call 1758 3555 for more information.
12. Saturday
Retro night at Zodiac Lounge, Elite Grande Hotel Get your Retro feet on and boogie to the music from the 80s and 90s from 8pm to 2am. Call 1756 5888 for more information.
13. Sunday
Jam Night at Downtown, InterContinental Regency Bahrain Jam with the resident band, whether you sing or play an instrument, and receive a complimentary drink. Winner receives a special prize! The Jam Night is from 9pm to 12am. Call 1722 7777 for more information.
14. Monday
E.K. Kanoo Drag & Drift Nights at BIC Challenge your friends to the ultimate action-packed event. Feel the rush of speed drag nights by taking your own car or bike out onto the circuit’s National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Drivers from novices to seasoned veterans are invited to car park 6 to show off their drifting skills. Call 1745 0000 for more information.
15. Tuesday
Health & Wellness Expo at Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC) The Expo aims to promote wellbeing and holistic lifestyle practices that will make a positive difference in one’s dayto-day living. It also aims to increase awareness on how to live a good and healthy life. Visit www.healthexpobh.com for more information.
16. Wednesday
Vino Tasting at Bushido The monthly vino-tasting event offers guests a selection of premium vintages to sample and enjoy. Learn the art of distinguishing a premium wine while sampling cheese and canapés. Call 1758 3555 for more information.
17. Thursday
Thursday Night Brunch at Mövenpick Hotel Friday brunch gone Thursday soirée! Start your Thursday night with a quality brunch. Go healthy with salads or try the various cuisines from the Bahraini shrimps to the European cheese corner. The Brunch includes unlimited exotic cocktails, ales and vino. Call 1746 0000 for more information.
18. Friday
24. Thursday 20. Sunday
Easter Buffet at Saraya Restaurant, Sofitel Enjoy unique flavours in a wonderful Easter themed buffet! Spend an afternoon of fun and enjoyment with your family from 12.30pm to 3:30pm. Call 1763 6363 for more information.
21. Monday
Chill out at Elements Pool & Lounge, InterContinental Regency Bahrain Elements Pool & Lounge presents the new resident DJ Rafa Ristallo from Italy. Relax in the chic surroundings while listening to the smooth beats. Daily performances begin from 9pm onwards. Call 1722 7777 for more information.
22. Tuesday
Live in concert with Sunidhi Chauhan at Crowne Plaza Desert temptation 2 announces Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan’s live Concert in Bahrain from 8 pm onwards. For tickets Call 3677 6265 for more information.
Wahine Tuesday at Mai-Tai Make time for your girlfriends and enjoy a fun and relaxing catch-up in the beautiful surroundings of MaiTai’s lagoon pagoda. Ladies receive free entry, drinks and a selection of complimentary Trader Vic’s tid-bits. Call 1758 6555 for more information.
19. Saturday
23. Wednesday
Teppanyaki Promotion at Soie Restaurant, Sheraton Enjoy the delicious menu with a medley of mixed meat Teppanyaki and Seafood Teppanyaki from 7pm to 11.30pm. Visit www.soiebahrain.com or call 1753 3533 for more information.
Drink & Sing at Zodiac Lounge, Elite Grande Hotel Drinks & sing on the Karaoke Night and the best voice wins a free round. Come in and give your vocal cords a little exercise from 8pm to 2am. Visit www.elitegroup4u.com or call 1756 5888 for more information.
Thursday Night Grills at Waikiki, Elite Resort & Spa Feast on the meat bazaar with marinades and toppings of your choice, cooked by the chefs at the seaside, with a large choice of sauces and pasta. Call 1731 3333 for more information.
25. Friday
Kingdom Shopping Festival at Al Fateh, Marina Corniche Shopping is always fun! Check out the stuff the exhibition has to offer and participate in the raffle draw to win exciting prizes. The exhibition is on from 4pm to 10pm. Call 1771 3716 for more information.
26. Saturday
Urban Week, Venue: TBC A week-long programme of workshops (hip-hop culture: music and dance, graffiti) and development programmes by international and local artists. From April 25 to May 2. Contact @redbullbahrain on twitter for more information.
27. Sunday
Pizza Promotion at Prego, Royal Golf Club Dine in after 6pm and for every main course or pizza ordered, receive a 40% discount on the second main course or pizza of equal or lesser value. Call 1775 1263 for more information.
28. Monday
Latin Monday at Txoko, Le Domain For all the Latin music lovers, dance to the tunes of Salsa, Merengue and Reggaeton all night long. Come early and enjoy 2 drinks for the price of 1 from 6pm to 8pm. Call 1600 0000 for more information.
29. Tuesday
Social Hour at An Nada Lounge, Sheraton Explore new vino or try an old favourite. You can also compare two 50ml at Sheraton Social Hour from 6pm to 7pm. Visit www.sheratonbahrain.com or call 1753 3533 for more information.
30. Wednesday
Finesse Nights at Klub 360 Finesse Ladies Night offers unlimited complementary beverages for ladies all night long. One lucky winner wins a luxury prize. Visit www.elitegroup4u.com for more information.
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CULTURE
Spring of Culture Weaving Colours
2nd – 9th April 4pm - 9pm Bahrain National Museum
This year, the Bahrain Heritage Festival will focus on textiles and traditional costumes of Bahraini men and women, featuring a textile exhibition, market, daily Bahraini music, food and specialised workshops. www.moc.gov.bh
The ninth edition of the ongoing Spring of Culture festival that started and took Bahrain by storm last month rolls into this month, bringing more cultural, musical and dance extravaganzas to our lovely island. There is something for everyone and every age. The festival celebrates Our Year Of Art and Manama: Capital of Asian Tourism showcasing art in its diverse forms. Here is a look at the event line up for this month!
Ahmed Jamal 3rd April, 8pm Cultural Hall
Lovers of classical Egyptian tarab music are in for a treat with the young singer Ahmed Jamal, whose exceptional performances made him one of the breakout stars of the talent show “Arab Idol” broadcast on MBC, in which he captured the attention and hearts of viewers and the show’s judges with his strong voice and genuine emotion.
Opening of Bait Al Ghous 3rd April, 6pm Muharraq
The Al Ghous House is one of the 16 world heritage properties that make up the Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy UNESCO World Heritage site in Muharraq. The house will accommodate an exhibition facility offering visitors the opportunity to experience the living conditions of the lower income members of the society during the late pearling era.
Gloria Gaynor 4th April, 8:30pm, Arad Fort
The Queen of Disco, Gloria Gaynor, electrifies Arad Fort with the greatest disco anthems of all times. Gloria made history with her version of ‘Never Can Say Good-Bye’ that became the first dance song to reach #1 status in dance music. 2014 also marks the 35th Anniversary for the singer’s iconic song ‘I Will Survive’. www.gloriagaynor.com 24. fact magazine
Songs of spring: The Tree of Life 5th April, 6pm Tree of Life
The Tree of Life, a natural wonder and long time symbol of Bahrain, will provide a spectacular backdrop for a unique cultural performance of Bahraini folk music. The performance will mark the official opening of the Tree of Life Visitor Centre.
The Maternal Man: Yahya Jaber 7th April, 8pm House of Poetry
Famed Lebanese poet, playwright and journalist Yahya Jaber shares some of his best known works. Jaber delves into controversial topics, which unveil the often contradictory layers within him, his adult-themed poems from some his published works.
Hossam Dirar
7th - 27th April, Opening 7pm Sat – Thur: 9am - 1:30pm 4pm - 8pm Al bareh Art Gallery
Albareh Art Gallery introduces the first solo artworks of Hossam Dirar in the region. One of Egypt’s most significant contemporary artists, he is a multi-disciplinary artist working across painting, photography, installation, video and graphic design. His works are conceived as a re-interpretation of Egypt’s rich visual heritage, the region’s traditional iconography and the influence of contemporary media in shaping cultural referents. www.albareh.com
Road of Silk Exhibition: Tradition and Fashion of Chinese Textiles Part of the Chinese Cultural Week 10th – 19th April, Opening Night at 7pm, 8am - 8pm Art Centre near Bahrain National Museum
China is synonymous with silk, a valuable commodity discovered by the ancient Chinese, which remained a closely guarded secret for many centuries. The Road of Silk exhibition, part of Chinese Cultural Week, is a beautiful showcase of garments and equipment, which highlights the role silk played in spreading Chinese culture and inter-cultural communication, and the evolution of this industry from ancient times to present day. This April marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bahrain and China. fact magazine .25
CULTURE
Liaoning Ballet Part of the Chinese Cultural Week
10th April, 8pm, Bahrain National Theatre Chinese Cultural Week activities continue with the Liaoning Ballet, widely recognised as the preeminent group of its kind in China. Its talented dancers are set to perform select ballet masterpieces, with a distinctly Chinese flavour. Established in 1980, the Liaoning Ballet’s performances are charged with the spirit of exploration and innovation, illustrating the value of ballet as an artistic medium.
Entropy of Fusions 11th April - Mid June 10am - 6pm L a fontaine Center of Contemporary Art
other materials through fusion with glass technique. His works “Sukufe” and “Ekmek” were exhibited in Pera Fine Arts Gallery and his thesis, Reflections of Ottoman Ornaments on Glass, a fusion sample of Ottoman Motives, is exhibited at Faculty of Fine Arts Gallery.
BuSaad Art Gallery Opening
13th april Opening 8pm Sat - Thur: 9am - 1pm, 4pm - 8pm Busaad Art Gallery - Muharraq near Sh. Isa Bin Ali Mosque
Situated in a traditional house in old Muharraq, Busaad Art Gallery opens with a special exhibition entitled “Shade of pink,” showcasing fine artworks by renowned Bahraini artist Ebrahim Busaad.
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Cinema In The Gulf Region, The Voice Of Women And The Young Generation Haifaa Al Mansour
14th April, 8pm Shaikh Ebrahim Center For Culture and Research Haifaa Al Mansour is the first female filmmaker in Saudi Arabia and is considered one of its most significant cinematic figures. The success of her films influenced a new wave of Saudi filmmakers.
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Sheikh Jaber Al Sabah Highway, Sitra, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: 77320001
Recreational Purpose 14th April - 15th August Opening 7:00 pm 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Bahrain National Museum
Recreational purpose is a group photography exhibition commissioned on the occasion of Manama, Capital of Arab Tourism 2013. Six photographers from across the Arab world were invited to Bahrain for a short-term residency to work. The exhibition offers 11 personal and subjective readings of the urban and natural landscape and just as many interpretations. The diversity of the photographic portfolio questions the increasingly homogenous branding initiatives for cultural tourism. Participating artists: Taysir Batniji, Nicène Kossentini, Hrair Sarkissian, Ghada Khonji, Jamal penjweny, Waheeda Malullah, Eman Ali, Steve Sabella, Haya Al Khalifa, Camille Zakharia and Wed Abduljawad. 28. fact magazine
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ARTS
ART F1 ARTIST Armin Flossdorf
How would you describe your style of painting? It’s kind of cultivated sketching. I start with sketches to find the right perspective, and then decide which direction I take, aggressive or atmospheric. Sketching is fast, but the painting itself takes days. The end result is very close to the original sketch because my workflow with brushes and handling of colours are nearly the same as with pencils while sketching.
German artist Armin Flossdorf has been creating sports-themed artworks for the past ten years, in particular F1. He will be exhibiting at the Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre from April 1 to April 6. He will be painting live on April 4 at the Ixir Lobby from 12.30pm onwards. We had an EXCLUSIVE interview with the artist!
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What got you interested in sports themes and why particularly F1? I inherited F1 interest from my father. I was five when my parents took me to the Nurburgring motorsports complex - I was soon addicted. When I first started painting it was always a theme near to F1. The speed, the atmosphere became part of me. How do you capture the essence of such a fast paced sport in your live paintings? The essence is catching the speed. Sometimes people see me completely absent while my brushes just fly across the canvas. It almost looks like they work by themselves and I’m just guiding the way. People say the painting seems to grow by itself, and certainly sometimes I’m not aware exactly what I’m doing there!
What do you enjoy more, still or live painting and why? I enjoy working live because there’s usually time to talk to people and be in touch with the surroundings. Also, it’s a chance to improve myself. Which is your favourite F1 painting and why is it so special? It’s a 4,50m x 2,10m work on natural canvas, showing Michael Schumacher from above, in a Ferrari, with the whole crew working around the car during a pit stop. FIA President Jean Todt was Scuderia Ferrari team principal at the time. Both Michael and Jean signed the painting. What are you most looking forward to at the Bahrain F1? I’m delighted to exhibit at Kempinski Bahrain again. I’m thankful of having found a partner in Kempinski who thinks on the same level of quality and never stands still. I’m also really keen to meet more people of Bahrain, whom I found so friendly last time.
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REVIEWS
On the Record ALTERNATIVE/ROCK Education, Education, Education & War By KAISER CHIEFS
From the artwork to the lyrics, Education, Education, Education & War, strikes us as a true homage to Britain’s heritage. The fifth studio album is packed full of British reminiscence, from the sound of bitter wind and squawk of seagulls in The Factory Gates, to the regimented-sound of Ruffians On Parade, and the softer-flowing Coming Home. Though hardcore fans may be left divided in opinion, this is, at best, a purely patriotic collection of songs.
ROCK
1987
By Naser Masterihi
If you’re into 80s metal, then you might just want to go out and get your hands on 1987 - the sophomore solo effort of the Gulf ’s very own rock musician. Naser Masterihi is known as somewhat of a pioneer of rock music in this region, and the Qatari artist certainly proves his rock credentials with this album. Skip to Exodus Highway – a fast-paced, hairraising track that also displays Naser’s instrumental talents (his guitar technique is insanely good!). Expect some sick falsettos in songs like The Road Home, Wovoka, and Emerald, all of which could easily become your favourite tune on the LP. If you class AC/DC, Aerosmith and even Bon Jovi as some of your all-time favourites, then Naser’s sound should be right up your street. This is one rock star ready to explode onto the international music scene.
POP/ROCK
Louder
By Lea Michele
If you’re a fan of hit musical TV show Glee, then you know that this girl has a pair of lungs on her! With Louder, Lea Michele is stepping away from show tunes and cover songs to belt out material that, we believe, is going to put her on par with the likes of Taylor, Miley and Katy. Her powerful vocal abilities are demonstrated best on ballads like Battlefield and If You Say So. The album is packed with emotional lyrics and anthem pop tracks to suit many a mood - winner!
Fully Booked HISTORY/REFERENCE
Speeches that Changed the World
By SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE
This book has around fifty inspiring and significant speeches from many of the world’s historic eras, with each speech inclusive of a brief introduction, the biography of the speaker, importance of the speech and its resulting effect. It’s interesting to see the passion each person had during a given oration, and you’re almost drawn into the live moment whilst reading. Each story is attention-grabbing if you’re passionate about history and includes some noted speeches from Patrick Pearse’s rousing funeral oration that fanned the flames of the Easter Rising, to Kevin Rudd’s historic apology to Australia’s mistreated Aborigines, and Barack Obama’s momentous US election night victory speech. In Association with Virgin Megastore
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CONTEMPORARY FICTION
The Beating of his Wings (Left Hand of God Trilogy 3) By Paul Hoffman
The finale of the epic Cale and the Sanctuary of Redeemers series, The Beating of his Wings by Paul Hoffman keeps you gripped if you have followed the previous novels. This one has Thomas Cale’s unusual treatment which he received at the hands of the Redeemers as part of their mad obsession with correcting God’s greatest mistake by wiping humanity from the face of the earth. New characters are introduced and Cale is shown physically weak until the very end. The fact that it’s the last in the series, makes this a must-read just to know how this epic tale ends.
Big Screen
Captain America: The Winter Soldier Director: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo Cast: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Frank Grillo, Sebastian Stan
Rio 2
What’s it about: The sequel picks up where the original left off, with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) struggling to embrace his role in the modern world after being transported from WWII to the present day. Steeve Rogers a.k.a Captain America now has to battle a new threat from old history, the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier who also happened to be the superhero’s close friend back in time… how will this complex villain scenario work out? Why it’s worth watching? Let’s go back to the beginning and Captain America: The First Avenger, fans of the Marvel series will know that the 2011 release lacked humour – an element that has made the other Avengers movies really fun to watch – and maybe that’s why the motion to hire Anthony and Joe Russo (best known for their work on Arrested Development and Community) to co-direct the sequel, will reassure movie-goers to expect a few laughs second time round. One thing that stands out above and beyond from watching just the trailer is the two-hour and eight-minutes of Marvel cinematic experience in store for viewers, with early buzz suggesting that this could be Marvel’s best film to date and its action will blow fans’ minds… we say, mind blown!
Director: Carlos Saldanha Cast: Anne Hathaway, Rodrigo Santoro, Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx What’s it about: All our favourite Rio characters are back, with a few big-name newbies like Andy Garcia, Bruno Mars, and Kristin Chenoweth. This time we follow the witty, nervous, and nerdy Blu, and family after they’re hurtled from that magical city to the Amazon. Blu goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most formidable opponent of all – his father-in-law. We must applaud the animators at Blue Sky for bringing to life a rainforest filled with parrots, macaws, toucans and cockatoos, in a flying delirium of colour. This is an adventure-packed comedy with colouful visuals, to seriously rival the animations coming out of Pixar.
Classic Car Film: Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)
Win 2 Free Cinema Tickets Redeemable for any film at any Cineco cinema Answer the following question:
Name the two directors of Captain America: The Winter Soldier E-mail answers to: apple@factlive.com
Director: H.B. Halicki Cast: H.B. Halicki, Marion Busia, Jerry Daugirda, James McIntyre
What’s it about: Forget the ridiculous Nic Cage remake; this original is packed full of all the road rage action and car thievery you need. Insurance investigator Maindrian Pace and his gang lead double-lives as unstoppable car thieves, and their latest heaist includes a troublesome Ford Mustang nicknamed ‘Eleanor’. While Pace and his team slickly pick off the cars, the cops have picked up their scent... get ready for a real car chase! fact magazine .33
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Zahra Isa Ali Isa Nasser
This is a special motoring feature. In it we write about cars. It’s pretty self-evident really. fact magazine .35
MOTORING
After a pretty decent season, which saw Lotus F1’s French driver on the podium a few times, Romain Grosjean sits down to talk through the plan for the year ahead, how continuity will help with his progress and that all important first win.
LOTUS F1
FACT was invited by Burn, a brand of Coca Cola, one of the official sponsors of Lotus F1, to spend an entire day with the Lotus F1 team during the preseason testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, to get a sneak peek at behind the scene operations.
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New season, new rules and new cars; how much of a challenge do you see the coming months to be? Everything is pretty new and our challenge is pretty big. It’s very exciting though! We don’t know exactly what’s going on and where people are, it’s the same every year when we start the season, but it’s particularly the case right now with all the changes and new rules. Yes, some tough work for the engineers and drivers to understand and get on top of everything as quick as we can and hopefully faster than the others. You are going into your third season as race driver for the team; will the continuity enable you to continue to learn and grow as a driver? I think continuity will be important this year with all the rule changes, and it’s my third year at Enstone so it feels like home. We have a common aim for the future and we want to win races and win
“I think continuity will be important this year with all the rule changes, and it’s my third year at Enstone so it feels like home.” championships. We’ll work as hard as we did to achieve even more than last year. I am ready to lead the way with this challenge. You’ve been on the podium nine times so far. Is that first win within reach? I don’t know when it will come, I’ve come close a few times and nine podiums with the team is a good record. I trust the people here to try to give me all the tools we need to achieve that win - it’s a good
car, a good engine, we have good strategy, we have good engineers and mechanics, and a good driver. So I’m looking forward to try and will go for it, and the day it comes, we’ll have a big party! Why the number 8? Simply I like this number, plus it has some significance to me. My wife was born the 8th of December, we started dating in 2008 and, to my eyes my son is the 8th wonder of the world.
GO: Romain on the track during the pre-season testing
2014 Lotus Exige S More power, more speed and more thrills... Lotus Cars is the road-going sports car manufacturer that Lotus F1 is derived from. It has been making low frills, high thrills, super-lightweight road and track machines for over 60 years now, and it is famous for such marvels as the Lotus 7, the Lotus Esprit, and the Elise and Exige. And this is the all-new 2014 Lotus Exige S. It’s powered by a 345bhp Toyota-derived supercharged V6, which will rocket the performance machine from 0-60mph in less than four seconds, and from 0-100mph in
9.6 seconds. This is thanks to a monocoque tub made of bonded box-section aluminium extrusions, lightweight composite body panels and double wishbone suspension, and it weighs only 1,200kg fully fuelled. It also comes standard with
plenty of competition-spec chassis components, including Bilstein gas dampers and crossdrilled, four-piston iron brakes from AP Racing. If you want to find out more, contact regional Lotus dealership Al Ghassan Motors on 1770 1307. fact magazine .37
MOTORING
The BIC
Celebrates a Decade with an F1 Night Race! Bahrain’s world-class racing circuit celebrates turning 10 with its first ever Formula One night race, and some of the best off-track entertainment that Bahrain GP has ever seen!
T
en years! Has it really been that long? Seems like only yesterday we were getting all dizzy and excited about what was arguably the biggest thing to ever happen in Bahrain – the arrival of the inaugural Bahrain F1 GP. And many naysayers thought it wouldn’t happen, with a desperate race to complete the facilities, leading some to call for a postponement of the race. However, the powers that be wouldn’t hear of it, and whips were cracked, midnight candles were burned, and the Bahrain International Circuit welcomed the F1 circus to town. And it turns out the naysayers couldn’t have been more wrong, as the circuit was awarded ‘Best Organised Grand Prix’ by the FIA for 2004, a stunning achievement for the first ever race in the Middle East! Then, in 2007, the BIC was further rewarded when it became the first circuit to be awarded the FIA Centre of Excellence award for its excellent safety record and design.
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The circuit has since played host to several international race series, including the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Bahrain endurance race, the Australian V8 Supercars, and the FIA GT series, as well as a host of home grown series, and the first Hummer Academy outside of the States. While many efforts were made to encourage youth participation in motorsports, through series like the Formula BMW and the Bapco Caterham Challenge, it was soon recognised that for an access to the sport at the most grassroots level was required. And so a temporary karting track was set up in one of the circuit’s expansive car parks to get a series going, whilst a new, world-class facility was built on a permanent site nearby. And then, in April 2012, the Viva Karting Track opened, hosting international series such as the Sodi Kart Series, the Rotax Max Challenge, and the
24h endurance races, was set up. This has led to a number of local and expat youth in Bahrain developing their racing talents. And now, in another historic event for Bahrain, the circuit celebrates 10 years of staging the F1 Grand Prix with the track’s first ever night race, and one of only two in the whole championship season alongside Singapore. In celebration, they’re also hosting some of the biggest artists ever for the evening entertainment, which begins with two-time Grammy-nominated Swedish DJ Avicii, who will be performing live on April 5. One of the greatest rock bands of all-time, The Scorpions, will also be performing for the first time ever in Bahrain on the same day. Another main act – popular Saudi singer Rabeh Saqer will be performing live on April 4 at 8pm. Don’t miss out! Tickets are available at the BIC stand at Bahrain City Centre, Seef Mall and online at www.bahraingp.com or on the circuit’s official Facebook page. Call 1745 0000 for more information.
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Car Collector
Akram Miknas An avid collector of everything unique, Akram Miknas has an ever-increasing collection of antiques, from paintings, clocks and automatic dolls to vintage cars. He sat down with FACT to chat about one of his biggest passions and his impressive collection of cars!
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Motoring
The rare Clement poster cost as much as the price of the car itself
Most of Akram’s cars have a story behind them, like the Z1 and especially the Z8, which was in a James Bond film
A
kram’s fascination for old cars started right from when he bought his first vintage car in Qatar, The Chrysler New Yorker 1959, about 25 years ago, previously owned by King Saud of Saudi Arabia. Talking about his favourite Chrysler, he says, “I was in love with this car and would drive it on the weekends. I then started collecting, a difficult hobby as a lot of cars come from outside. I bought cars from New Zealand, Germany and America, which were expensive to ship and sometimes cost more to ship than the car itself.” “I’m lucky that I found some very interesting and good cars. One of the earliest in my collection is a car called Clement, used in WW1 (1912).” “Then I started reading about the Ford. I have a Ford A and a Ford T. I started collecting and bought one of my favourite cars, the Rolls Royce 1958 Silver Shadow - the first car to ever have a sunroof. I found a Cadillac at an auction, then the Citroen and started collecting cars from all over the place.” His second car was a Jaguar E-Type from America, with automatic gears and air conditioning. “It was my dream car as a
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student, I was so lucky to buy it,” he says reminiscently. “My favourite car is still the Chrysler New Yorker, it’s a lot of fun. It’s a huge car with wings and has push button electric convertible, automatic gears and air conditioning - for that time it must have been a very special car.” Akram sources most of his cars at auctions and is a member of around 56 auction houses. “I drive a Maserati, Porsche Cayenne, and in Dubai I have a Maserati Cabriolet and a BMW 7-series. My favourite sports car is the BMW Z8,” he says. “I’m looking at buying “I have a great passion some Ferraris next. I have for movement, it is one Ferrari – these are extremely important the most difficult because in our history.” the good ones are very expensive.” “My favourite luxury car is a Bentley, I have a Bentley because it’s not overstated - it’s a modest statement. There are other expensive cars, but they look too over the top. “As a collector, personally what I look for is uniqueness and features,” he says. Akram’s desire for collecting beautiful objects is clearly evident in his car collection, and can only be described as absolutely astounding!
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Akram has about 30 rare cars in his collection
Akram has been a car collector for 30 years fact magazine .43
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Big Changes for 2014!
New engines, new drivers, and “interestinglyshaped” new nose cones – and most excitingly, a new pecking order! It’s all shaping up to be a very engaging F1 World Championship.
It was a tough few months for all of the Formula One teams in the run up to the testing sessions in Bahrain last month, and it will continue to be tough as we enter the 2014 Formula One World Championship. This is largely due to the fact that they’ve all been working flat out to get to grips with the new engines that they’re all required to use this year. The new turbo-charged 1.6l V6 hybrid ‘power units’, as they’re being referred to these days, now incorporate kinetic and heat energy recovery systems, making them extremely complex. The FIA test sessions held recently in Bahrain were a great indication of the season to come. All the teams struggled with the new engines, with very few staging an actual full race simulation, although some fared better than others. Mercedes are looking very good this year, as a team with considerable financial clout, and former world champion Hamilton backed up by the talents of Nico Rosberg, as demonstrated by his early win in Melbourne. Their engines, which are also being supplied to Force India, McLaren and Williams, look to be some of the most reliable and fastest on the grid so far, with all the Mercedes powered teams achieving good results in testing. The results of the first race of the season in Melbourne were surprising,
though. Hamilton’s McLaren broke down
after taking pole in qualifying, but team
mate Nico Rosberg cruised to a comfortable victory. Vettel’s Red Bull also broke down, increasing the woes for the formerly
dominant team, which were compounded when teammate Ricciardo took second
place, only to be disqualified in a ruling that Red Bull are determined to overturn.
One of the season’s biggest driver
changes was Kimi Raikkonen leaving Lotus F1 to join Ferrari, alongside
Fernando Alonso. The two former world
champions could not be more different
in personality types, with the ‘Iceman’
“The FIA test sessions were a great indication of the season to come.”
Raikkonen’s ruthless and no-nonsense approach to racing in direct contrast to the Spaniard’s fiery temperament. It remains
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MOTORING
to be seen which type will suit the Italian team’s style, but we predict the rivalry to be intense. Felipe Massa has left Ferrari after eight years, and is now with Williams in their stylish and retro new Martini racing livery. He has proven that he can be seriously quick, given the right circumstances. Now, in a team with a car with good pace and reliability and as the #1 driver, we could really see the Brazilian come into his own. Another interesting fact from Williams this year is the inclusion of Scottish female driver Susie Wolff, who joined as a test and reserve driver for this season, making her the first female driver to take part in a Grand Prix weekend since 1992. Red Bull are struggling with reliability this year, as are all the Renault-powered F1 cars. While this has set them off to a shaky start, this isn’t the first time that the Red Bull team have started the season on the back foot and come out on top. They have the driving, engineering and technical talent, and most importantly, the financial clout to address any issues they might have, far more so than some of the other teams who are currently struggling. Their reliability issues were apparent in Melbourne, with Vettel’s car breaking down
early on in the race, but they still showed impressive pace, as Red Bull’s rookie driver, Australian Daniel Ricciardo, took a shock second place in his debut race. He was then, unfortunately, disqualified after his Red Bull car was judged to have breached technical regulations regarding the rate of fuel flow to the engine. Some of the biggest news for McLaren F1 is the return of Ron Dennis, who is once again actively involved with the F1 side of the company after a five-year hiatus, but will his return change the fortunes of the team for the better? Initial signs are very positive – McLaren are looking good in terms of reliability, and when it comes to looking after the tyres and engine. there are few better drivers than Jenson Button. What he lacks in aggression he more than makes up for in race craft. Talented young rookie Kevin Magnussen took third place in Melbourne, but was promoted to second after Ricciardo was disqualified. This also raised Jenson Button to third place in an impressive double podium finish for McLaren in the debut race of the season, a result they’ll be more than happy with, as it puts them top of the Constructor’s Championship. In our opinion, the teams that are going to “Felipe Massa has be dominating the first left Ferrari after eight half of the season are years, and is now Mercedes, Ferrari and with Williams.” McLaren. However, this is by no means a sound prediction of how things will be towards the second half. Watch out for a Red Bull resurgence, and Williams also look hungry to bring the fight to the bigger teams. But with all the rule changes, new systems and technologies that have been incorporated into the sport, we wouldn’t place our money on anyone just yet!
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MOTORING
Interview with Bahrain Drag Racing Club President Fahad Taqi Drag racing is one of the biggest crowd pleasers for both locals and expats alike, what with all the local talents to cheer on. We conducted an EXCLUSIVE interview with self-proclaimed petrol head and the one man behind the success of BDRC, Fahad Taqi.
What got you interested in drag racing and how long have you been with BDRC? What really got me hooked into Drag Racing was when I was in the States back in 2008 a friend of mine asked me if I could take his car down the drag strip and see what it could achieve in the ¼ mile, before and after installing performance parts. I actually won the race and clocked a personal best for the car. I guess you could say I found my drug of choice. Tell us about the origins of BDRC and how has it developed over the years? It all started in 2004 when the club was formed, I was lucky to be nominated and be part of the team that would lay the base foundations for the sport of drag racing in Bahrain. Today the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship and its organisers have reached a level of professionalism, noticed by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), the Drag Racing governing body. Bahrain still holds the highest record of participants in a single drag event in the region. What are the events and activities that the Drag Racing Club is involved in? Our Main activity is Drag Racing and
main goal is taking street racing off the roads and into a safe environment. We organise a lot of workshops with the local media and the public explaining the sport of drag racing. We have also partnered with the Bahrain International Motor show (BIMS) for four straight events. I’m also leading a project in building a motorsports park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Dirab Motorsports Park). What preparations do you undergo for the National Drag Racing Championship series and other BDRC events? The track surface must always be washed and cleaned. A special glue compound, Track Bite, is sprayed onto the drag strip and then dragged on by slick tyres to eliminate wheel spin of the line and improve traction for a better launch. Track sensors to monitor speed and Elapsed Time (ET), all need to be checked and maintained before an event. Tell us about Ebrahim Kanoo’s record breaking supra moment? Ebrahim Kanoo was the main person behind the success of the sport in Bahrain. If it wasn’t for his support and sponsorship back in 2004, we would have not been where we are today.
We all knew that Ebrahim Kanoo would set the bar high with his Supra because of the wealth of experience he has brought to his team and the talented tuners from the States. Ebrahim holds today four world records in all cars. What other achievements have Bahraini racers accomplished? Salah Salahuddin hold the record for the fastest and quickest Street V8 in his Black Mustang Adel Hassan Hold the record for the fastest and quickest Honda All motor, tuned by Ahmed Aryan Tariq Hadi from Team TRT built the first ever full tube Chassis Pro Mod, built here in Bahrain and is fully 100% Bahraini. Where do you see BDRC in the future? I see the future being bright, the club has grown-up and is much more mature, it can only get better. We are lucky to have the support of Bahrain Motor Federation President H.E. Shiakh Abdulla bin Isa AlKhalifa and also the BIC Chief Executive Shiakh Salman bin Isa Al-Khalifa.
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The Jaguar F-Type S V8 fact magazine
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There has been a lot of fuss made recently over the new Jaguar F-Type, the first allnew sports car made by the company in almost 20 years, and the spiritual successor to the legendary Jaguar E-Type. So, does it live up to all the hype?
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Well, first impressions are extremely good. It’s a truly beautiful car to look at, with an aggressive ‘shark-nosed’ front end with big air scoops, a long sweeping bonnet and a wide muscular stance instantly giving the impression that this car means business. Once inside, the F-Type feels as premium as any of its competitors, though it does lack in technology and gadgetry compared to, say, a Porsche 911. Having said that, you do get an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, SatNav, CD/MP3 stereo with (optional) 10-speaker Meridian sound-system, and steering wheel mounted audio and cruise controls. The leather sports seats are comfortable and figure hugging (which is a very good thing, as you’ll see later), and the soft-top roof fully retracts in a very nippy 12 seconds. All of this, though, is completely irrelevant. This is because your
ISLAND RIDES
It’s a truly beautiful car to look at, with an aggressive ‘sharknosed’ front end.
experience in this car doesn’t truly begin until you start the engine. The whole car comes alive with the 5.0l supercharged V8’s menacing growl. Instinctively, you’ll find yourself blipping the throttle, and grinning like a Cheshire cat as the exhausts roar, and then spit and crackle as it winds down again. The biggest impression the F-Type S V8 gives you, above everything else, is that this car is fast. Really fast. Bat s**t crazy fast!
“In time, you become thankful for the highly capable electronic limited slip diff and stability control system.”
This is obviously thanks to the 488hp and 625Nm that the supercharged V8 puts out. The 0-100km/h time of 4.2 seconds, while impressive in itself, is misleading. When you’re in this small coupe it feels a lot faster, and more indicative of the experience is the acceleration at speed. Floor it at 100km/h, and the engine bellows, the supercharger spools up, and within seconds you’re pushing 200km/h. It’s biblical! And the noise… it’s absolutely stunning, exactly what a Jaguar should sound like. In time, you become increasingly thankful for the highly capable electronic limited slip diff and stability control system. Even with it on, the back end feels twitchy, and without it, facing the wrong way on the motorway would be the rule rather than the exception. It would’ve taken a braver man than me to switch it off when I was barrelling along the desert roads of Sakhir. The
stability control lets off a little when you put the F-Type in dynamic mode, and you find yourself putting on a bit of opposite lock whenever you accelerate out of a corner. This car is an absolute blast. However, storage space is practically non-existent, and it’s so low that anyone with any kind of back ailment would be unable to climb out of it once inside. As a weekend joyrider, it’s second to none. As a daily drive, only carefreeand-singles who never have to go to Ikea need apply.
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2014 Ford EcoSport
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L ISLAND RIDES
T We review one of the latest models to be revealed by the American automaker, the secondgeneration Ford EcoSport, a little car with a big complex…
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he EcoSport is a strange one – essentially a compact economy car pretending to be an SUV, it manages to pull off the act surprisingly well. A slightly higher ground clearance than most cars, and even some other CUVs, along with a high seating position combine to make the EcoSport feel deceptively large. It’s quite a party trick! The first-generation EcoSport was originally made for the Brazilian market, providing a cheap-to-run, but versatile vehicle that could handle both the city and the country’s uneven rural roads. This exact same formula is the reason they decided to produce it in India and China for the Asian markets too. In Bahrain, this makes it the perfect city and suburban budget run-around, as you can park it in those tricky spots, like on pavements or unpaved surfaces, without having to worry about damaging the underside or the body work of the car. And, you can take those shortcuts along
unpaved tracks with the same confidence. First impressions are positive. It’s a good-looking car, obviously drawing on the styling of its European and American siblings. Inside, a high seating position gives you a commanding view of the road, with plenty of headroom. The rear seats could possibly do with a little more legroom, but can be folded down to create a large cargo space, which is made all the more accessible by a large swing gate rear door. The dashboard is stylish and modern, but the economy car status is made obvious by a slightly plasticky feel to the surfaces. The EcoSport, which is based on the Ford Fiesta platform, is powered by a 108hp 1.5l Ti-VCT inline-four cylinder engine. It can feel a little lacking in power sometimes,
L
especially when you’re trying to overtake, but on the plus side, we drove the car for several hours and the fuel gauge barely moved, so it only sips the fuel. The EcoSport comes with a variety of features, including the latest Ford SYNC voice-command driver connect system, a centrally mounted LCD screen with SYNC controls, and a USB port and MP3 jack. There were also audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel, as well as Bluetooth connectivity for your phone. Safety features include anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability program (ESP). It was really quite impressive for a car in this price range. What the EcoSport manages to do is remarkable – it combines the low-cost of production in India with the stylish design of Fords from Europe and the States to make an extremely affordable car that is also very good looking and well appointed, which is a good recipe for success.
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MOTORING
JEAN-ERIC VERGNE Torro Rosso’s French driver, Jean-Eric Vergne, had a great start to the season by securing a position in the top six at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. FACT caught up with Jean-Eric in an exclusive interview prior to the race!
How did the testing in Bahrain go for you? “Bahrain testing was a mixed bag, with some days going better than others. The overall positive aspect was that we made progress gradually from the first day to the eighth one. It’s no secret that our engine supplier had some difficulties with all its teams and everyone at Renault worked extremely hard to catch up as quickly as possible and the final results were positive. Of course the whole feel of testing was different to usual, because in recent years, with F1 cars being so reliable, almost immediately you would start working on performance and fine tuning the set up, as well as adapting the car to the tyres, but this year, for all the teams, a lot of the work focused on just understanding how all the systems worked, especially those relating to the new power unit.”
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What do you think about Bahrain being a night race this year? “I think it will be quite special driving at night for the first time. It should be cool and I’m looking forward to it. It will bring a little bit of a special moment to this race. It will be very different to the Singapore night race, maybe look more like Qatar where they race in MotoGP at night.” What do you think about the new V6 turbo hybrid engines? “We are not supposed to call them engines, they are power units now, with the V6 combined with much more energy recovery than we had in the past. The characteristic of the power unit is that it has masses of torque, so you can accelerate hard in almost any gear and the power is always there. It is nice to have that power always available, but it is quite tricky to use. We have a lot to learn about how best to manage them in a race. It’s going to be interesting.”
“I think it will be quite special driving at night for the first time.”
What are your ambitions for the 2014 F1 Championship season? “This year, I am the most experienced driver in the team and I am really looking forward to taking on this role. I want to make the most of the opportunity and move forward as much as possible with the team and direct them in the right way, in which we have to go. It is my aim to work in this way and I think if I can succeed, then we can get some good results throughout the year.” What is your favorite race of the season? “It’s strange but all the races with an ‘M’ are good – Melbourne, Montreal, Monaco, Monza and in the old days, even Magny-Cours the French race was good!”
Win Big in April!
Two excellent competitions are running in Bahrain as of this month. One gets you to the Champions League Final, and the other could give you an actual career as a racing driver. Read on to find out more‌
Win a trip to UEFA Final with Ford! If you love your football, and you’re in the market for a new car, we think you just might end up driving a Ford! This is because each customer who purchases a Ford from March 1st until near the end of April will enter a raffle that will be drawn on April 27. The lucky winner will receive a UEFA Champions League Final package that includes two economy class tickets, two nights stay in a hotel, match day hospitality and transportation services. The Ford range currently encompasses everything from the EcoSport CUV to the Taurus sedan and the full-size Ford Expedition seven-seater. To be in with a chance to win, visit Almoayyed Motors in Sitra or call 17737 373 for more information.
The GT Academy Returns! Nissan and Sony PlayStation have joined forces again to bring the GT Academy back to the Middle East for 2014. The hugely successful inaugural competition in 2013 turned Qatari Salman Al-Khater, previously a mechanical engineer, into a class-winning race driver at his first attempt. The Bahrain leg of the competition will be held at the Bahrain City Centre on the 11th and 12th April, and at the Nissan Sitra showroom from 14th April to 17th May. Visitors can compete on dedicated GT Academy simulator pods. The fastest gamers then have the chance at a Regional Final event, before the very best head to Race Camp where they are assessed on their fitness, mental attitude and car control. Ultimately the winner gets a seat behind the wheel of a Nissan 370Z GT race car. fact magazine .59
Motoring
The 6.0l W12 grand tourer is the fastest production Bentley ever.
News Round up Bentley New Regional Director Middle East - Plus GT Speed Launched in Geneva
Luxury British automaker Bentley Motors recently appointed Stephen Reynolds as Regional Director for Middle East and Asia Pacific. Reynolds will head up operations for Bentley Motors across the Middle East and Asia Pacific markets, including sales, marketing and aftersales and will be based in Crewe, England. The role was previously held by Geoff Dowding, who has now taken the position of Director for the Mulliner Division. This comes as Bentley moves into an exciting new era with the launch of the new Bentley Continental GT Speed at the Geneva motor show. The 6.0l W12 grand tourer is the fastest production Bentley ever, with 626bhp and a record 820Nm of torque, meaning that it will reach a top speed of 331km/h, or 206mph. The convertible model reaches 327km/h.
The extra dynamic performance to the Continental flagship model is complemented by an even more distinctive road presence, including red-painted brake calipers and a stylish chrome “Speed” badge fitted to the front fenders.
Audi A3 Sedan Launched in Bahrain The very first Audi A3 Sedan recently arrived in Bahrain, signaling Audi’s entrance into the premium compact sedan class in the Kingdom. Winner of one of the most coveted awards in the automotive industry – the Golden Steering Wheel 2013 - the latest addition to the Audi line-up has been lauded for its ultra-lightweight design, strong and efficient drivetrains, and a great many high-end infotainment and driver assistance systems. Audi Centre Bahrain Dealer Principal Geetan Jessen commented: “The A3 Sedan presents a very unique opportunity for the Bahrain market, bringing a number of high end features combined with competitive and attractive pricing.” The Audi A3 Sedan is available now, with a starting price of BD 9,440. 60. fact magazine
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Motoring
The McLaren 650S Spider is a high performance sports car.
Nissan Most Awarded Brand clears up at the Dubai Lynx Nissan has once again claimed the most awards of any automotive manufacturer at the Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity last month. Nissan claimed ‘gold’ in the typography category for its ‘Crash Text Dummies’ campaign; its Lebanon distributor, Rymco, claimed ‘silver’ for the quality of its Corporate PR communications; while the innovative GT-Academy programme won ‘bronze’ in the Branded Content category. Last year Nissan became the most awarded automotive brand across the Middle East in 2013 for its marketing campaigns with ‘Crash Text Dummies’ having previously won at both the MENA Cristal 2013 and the Global Cristal Ceremony 2013. Nissan’s grand gold award winner, ‘Crash Text Dummies’, utilized a 1.8 metre sculpture of the letters ‘FYI’ to illustrate the dangers of texting while driving. 62. fact magazine
Stunning McLaren 650S Spider Launched McLaren Automotive has now released images and full information for the convertible version of its latest model, the McLaren 650S, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. The McLaren 650S Spider is a no compromise open-top high performance sports car offering the same performance, handling and driver enjoyment at its coupe counterpart, with the addition of a two-piece retractable hard top. The McLaren 650S Spider is mechanically identical to the 650S Coupé and is fitted with the unique McLaren M838T twin turbo V8 engine, producing 641bhp and 678Nm of torque. This means a 0-100km/h sprint of 3.0 seconds, identical to the Coupé, and 200km/h is reached in 8.6 seconds. Maximum speed is 329 km/h (204 mph). The 650S Coupé and Spider models are fitted with a high level of luxury equipment as standard. IRIS satellite navigation with Bluetooth telephony, wireless tethering, audio streaming and voice control are all fitted as standard, and the cabin is fully trimmed in Alcantara.
Bahrain International Circuit Renames Corner After F1 Legend In a highly fitting and touching tribute to the driver, who was recently in a serious skiing accident and is still critically ill, the Bahrain International Circuit is proud to announce, following consultation with his family, that it is to name the first corner of the BIC track after F1 legend Michael Schumacher. The motorsport venue is honouring Schumacher as part of its 10th anniversary, which will also be the BIC’s first Formula 1 night race on 6th April 2014. Schumacher, who won the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix in 2004 - and still holds the lap record - won an unprecedented seven world championships during his illustrious career.
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Motoring
Ford Focus ST This rip-roaring hot hatch has joined the Golf GTI in serving to change attitudes towards hatchbacks in the region, thanks to its incredible levels of performance and styling that appeals to the teenage boy in every man. You simply won’t get this much fun, performance and practicality for this price anywhere else.
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We had no choice but to include this beast in the round up after we reviewed it for this issue. With a supercharged 5.0l V8, this car is a premium British sports coupe that thinks it’s a muscle car. Think James Bond, in a tuxedo, kicking seven shades out of bad guys, and you get the idea. Check out the full review on page 51.
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Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 If you’re like a vast percentage of drivers in the Middle East, and you like your vehicles big and brawny, they don’t come much more so than the Grand Cherokee SRT8. True, it won’t go very far off road, but on the road you’ll get 470hp from that 6.4l V8 HEMI, and all the luxury of a top-of-the-range Grand Cherokee.
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Motoring
3 of the best
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Infiniti Q60 This stunning coupe from Japanese premium brand Infiniti is a firm favourite for many drivers, thanks to its powerful 3.7l V6, impeccable handling and superior levels of luxury. However, its smooth, elegant flowing lines give it the kind of styling that attracts many discerning lady drivers especially.
Range Rover Evoque There is no mistaking that this particular Range Rover was targeted specifically at the ladies, when Victoria Beckham came aboard as the model’s brand ambassador and design consultant. Every aspect of this stunning and sporty CUV has been designed with the well-to-do lady in mind, and its success speaks volumes.
Porsche Macan Again, this ‘baby-Cayenne’ wins for being as stylish, powerful and luxurious as its larger counterpart, only with more manageable proportions, making it excellent for the urban driving requirements of the lady-about-town. The Cayenne was Porsche’s most successful model globally, and the Macan is already promising to further extend that success.
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Re-rewind (…and the crowd SAYS Bah-Selecta!) With Bahrain celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, we thought it would only be apt to take you back in time to 2004 and reminisce about what our little island had to offer back in the days. We are taking you down memory lane; so all you hard-core veterans will know exactly what we’re talking about. You’ll either get nostalgic or be laughing your head off at some of the quirks that Bahrain had to offer – whatever it may be, keep those tissues handy and enjoy the ride in our ‘Time Capsule’!
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Skyscr
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Battle of the Skyscrapers
Bahrain World Trade Centre
Bahrain’s skyline is set to rival some of the best in the region with the addition of some great new (and very tall!) buildings – will we be the next Dubai? FACT takes a look at what is set to be soaring high on the island in the coming years… Bahrain l Harbour Financia
ANOTHER ONE FOR future reference – FACT watched the first bits of foundation get laid down for what will become an exceptional commercial complex near King Faisal Highway. As far as a financial hub goes, this is going to be an epic venture with multiple buildings including a Performance Centre, two 53-floor-high commercial towers (east and west), a Diamond Tower (ooh, sounds fancy!), a Dhow
Almoayyed ain Tower Bahr
A true landmark building, and the first real skyscraper in the country, has finally been completed. This lavish tower will go down in history for being the tallest building in Bahrain, offering panoramic sea and city views. It’s a prestigious business tower in the posh Seef neighbourhood, made up of 47 floors, consisting of office space and retail units. These are serviced by state-of–the-art six public and one service elevator, so
Harbour, a hotel, and residential north and south, as well as the actual Financial Centre. Sounds like a whopping project to us, and if it’s completed around the same time as the World Trade Centre then Bahrain will have a lot to celebrate indeed – there’s no holding us back now, Dubai we’re coming to get you!
whizzing up to your chosen floor is a whirl! And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a helipad (yes, you heard right!) for all those who want to arrive in high-flyer style. There’s VIP parking space for 40 cars, perfect for all the high rollers driving in, in their Bentleys and Maseratis. Those in their Jeeps and Lancers can make use of the spaces in the basement and adjoining multi-storey car park. And that’s not even the best part – Almoayyed Tower has the excellent location of being in the up-and-coming Seef area, and is only 11km from the
airport. This is THE skyscraper to make every Bahrain resident proud, and it’s only 2004 – can you imagine what’s yet to come?
Just when WE thought Dubai couldn’t aim more higher (no pun intended!) they’ve gone and started construction on the Burj Khalifa, which is set to be the tallest man-made structure in the world (we’ll see how that pans out!). This skyscraper will stand tall at
829.8m - 2,722ft to be precise – in the new development called Downtown, along Sheikh Zayed Road, which will be Dubai’s main business district. Officials have said that the decision to build Burj Khalifa is reportedly based on the government’s idea to diversify from an oil-based
To answer the question of what’s yet to come – Bahrain will have its very own World Trade Centre in a few years, with construction already underway. So, it looks like Almoayyed Tower already has some healthy competition in the size department! WTC will soon be the talk of the town as it’s set to be the first ever large-scale building that will introduce the use of wind power. We went on to scoop some information from the architects at WS Atkins & Partners. The twin towers are going to be inspired by the shape of the sails of ships that use wind energy to surf (ooh, clever!). This supports the idea of using wind power in the towers! Impressive huh? The tower will be 240m high with 53 floors, which will be placed on a three-storey-high podium, which will house an entertainment complex including restaurants, a shopping center and, of course, a parking complex. Looks like we’ll be breaking some GCC records with this one!
Burj Khalifa, Dubai
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economy to one that is service and tourism based. Sure, this sky-high structure will put Dubai on the world map with something really sensational, but the question is, will it fill up or will it remain mostly empty like many other wondrous highrises in the world?
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Gulf Daily News
Novotel Al Dana Resort Inspired by traditional Bahraini design, the new Novotel Al Dana Resort is Novotel’s flag ship hotel and the only hotel in Bahrain to boast
an ancient Arabic architecture. The hotel has 172 rooms, with Arabian Gulf and beach view on one side and lush courtyard
on the other. The hotel offers top-notch room, fitness and spa facilities and a range of dining and entertainment options. The
hotel has everything from multifunction meeting and banquet facilities to alfresco dining on the private beach.
Krumz Bistro Located in the heart of Adliya is one of the most popular eateries, Krumz Bistro. It has a downstairs dining section as well as a smaller upstairs section, with a cosy bar to enjoy a quiet drink with your mates. The food is superb and offers everything from continental dishes to a full English. The staff are extremely friendly and make you feel completely at home. Restaurants come and go, but the legendary Krumz is here to stay!
Magnificent Mövenpick Experience Swiss hospitality as a brand new hotel, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, opens on the island. Located near the international airport and aimed mainly at a clientele of discerning business travelers, it’s the only hotel in Muharraq and a short drive from the City Centre. Guests can expect traditional Arabian atmosphere with 106 luxurious rooms. From deluxe and superior rooms to elegant executive suites and the spacious Ambassador Suite, the rooms provide every possible comfort, welcoming international clientele to Bahrain. It’s the only hotel in
Bahrain to offer high-speed wireless LAN for fast cable-free Internet access in all the rooms (that’s a first)! The top-notch culinary delights offer appetising antipasti, theme-based buffets, fish specialties, family brunch, a lavish breakfast buffet and à la carte dishes. The hotel’s Flamingo Bar and Lounge, with its live music is particularly popular with vintage connoisseurs. The Hotel also boasts the largest swimming pool in Bahrain - 570 m² in size, ideal for relaxing. The leisure amenities include modern fitness centre and two tennis courts. Other hotels, better watch out! fact magazine
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reviews
on the record HIP HOP/RAP
BIG SCREEN Indie/Rock
The College Dropout
Funeral By Arcade Fire
By Kanye West
Hip-Hop has been craving a breath of fresh air, and low and behold there’s a new lyrical genius out to steal the music throne. Straight out of Chi-town comes Kanye West and an album that is bringing soul back to the hip-hop genre. The College Dropout is likely going to spawn a number of chart-topping singles for the goldchain wearing artist; from the R&B sound of Slow Jams, the rich spirituality of Jesus Walks, and the catchy Through the Wire fuelled by a Chaka Khan hook, where Kanye spits some impeccable rhymes despite his jaw being wired shut after a near-fatal car accident (how’s that for hardcore hip-hop?). The album confronts personal demons and larger concerns in the AfricanAmerican communities in a less preachy way – which is certainly refreshing! We’re going as far to say that this might just be the hip-hop album of the decade!
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Who’s at the top of their game? Arcade Fire, that’s who! Just as fans are yearning for music that is pure escapism, along comes Funeral. This album does some serious heavy lifting in the emotional department with great melodies and powerful lyrics, from its opening Neighbourhood, to the brutal honesty of Rebellion, and the sweeping chorus of Wake Up. How can something so wracked with grief be such an infinite source of pleasure with many uplifting moments? No one knows, but Funeral has quickly become indie rock’s de facto album of the year! If you’re thinking of investing your pocket money on a record that will no doubt become a classic in your CD collection, there’s no other album that seems quite as deserving as Arcade Fire’s debut LP.
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Mean Girls Director: Mark Waters Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams,
Why it’s worth watching: A complete teenage chick-flick with bitchy fights, gossiping, back stabbing, and love triangles et al. Look at Lindsay Lohan all grown up! We think this is just the movie to put her firmly on the Hollywood map, with thousands of young girls looking up to the actress as a role model. A total must-watch for every high school teen.
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Fully Booked Fiction - Drama
Fiction
My Sisters keeper By Jodi Picoult
The story touches your heart with a high level of emotions involved with the thought process of 13-year-old Anna. She was born as a saviour sister so she could save her ailing sister Kate’s life, who suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia, a blood and bone marrow cancer. Anna is willing to donate whatever Kate needs, but when asked to donate one of her kidneys to Kate, which was a major surgery for the siblings and could impact Anna’s life, she petitions for medical emancipation. My Sister’s Keeper inspects what it means to be a good parent, a good sister and a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child’s life?
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The London Pigeon Wars By Patrick Neate
Neate’s novel focuses on “twirtysomethings” a phrase describing the twenty to thirty year old clans of characters struggling to find jobs, identities and love. The roll of Londoners includes Tariq and Emma, Tom and Karen, Kwesi, Freya and Ami. When Murray, the mysterious college friend returns to town after a decade, it awakens each character’s dreams and aspirations and also shows how they somehow get lost along the way!
Troy Director: Wolfgang Petersen Cast: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom
Why it’s worth watching? Troy, a tale of love and war set in the ancient Greek era is an epic-scale adventure. With the ensemble star cast and campy action, Troy is definitely worth a watch. The highlights of the film are the one-on-one antipathy matches between the characters, in particular the five minute sequence involving the clash between Achilles and Hector. This sequence took the two actors months, and long hours of choreography training, to pull off the scene. Pitt’s top muscular form and heroic postures alone are worth your time, especially his drool-worthy close-up shots... mmmh!
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Grand Finale of Friends We can’t believe that the last of the Friends episode is coming to an end (sob!) and we’ll actually say goodbye to our favourite series. What’s even worse is that we won’t get the low down on what’s happened (unless we bribe our local DVD guy)! It’ll be interesting to see how it all pans out – will Rachel get back with Ross, do Monica and Chandler keep their flat or will Phoebe actually settle down, and what about Joey? Whatever happens, one thing is for sure - we’ll hear all about it, either through the grapevine (friends who have access to fast internet) or through one of those blabbering idiots who love to spoil the ending!
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Top Comedic Trio at BJ’s April has never been so exciting – not only will we witness the nation’s first F1 race, but Bahrain is also going ablaze with parties and comedies galore…we like how 2004 is planning out so far!
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ne of the most popular watering holes in Bahrain, BJ’s, located in Al Bustan Hotel in Adliya, will be home to comedy central as it sees the return of the Laughter Factory this month! The Laughter Factory will have an exceptional line up of comedians Glenn Wool, Noel Britten and Roger Monkhouse, all the way from the Comedy Store London, UK.
NOEL BRITTEN
Head to JJ’s for some warm up drinks and the perfect pub grub, before sneaking into BJ’s for a night of pure entertainment. Keeping up to its reputation, BJ’s is THE only place on the island for a night of fun, frolic and NOW laughter! GO: Tickets cost BD8 per person. Doors open at 8pm and show starts at 9pm. Call 1774 2323 for more information.
Hypnotic Weekend at Warbler
Pictures: Gulf Daily News
Britney Spears Weds Again Britney Spears is the talk of the town again! After being married to childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander, earlier this year, for only 55 hours (she claimed she lacked understanding of her actions – we say that’s not the only thing she’s lacking) - oops…she did it again! Yes, she has tied the knot yet again to American dancer Kevin Federline. It’s getting more and more difficult to keep up with the star’s whirlwind life. We can’t understand what’s going on here - her antics are getting crazier by the day (next she’ll be shaving her head off)! It’s a shame that Spears is getting more publicity for her personal life rather than her singing talents!
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Pictures: Gulf Daily News
nal Internatio Scoop
The Warbler, located in The Best Western Baisan Hotel, has paired up with British entertainer Dave Crane to bring a Wild Weekend of entertainment this month. Dave Crane will have you in splits with his hypnotic skills (front row seats beware)! Carry on the party as Dave takes over as DJ Shaft (a man of many talents) bringing you the Ultimate Disco Experience. GO: Tickets to the Dave Crane Hynosis Show cost BD2. Call 1729 0600 for more information.
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Plugge
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The Social Media Invasion
Hi5 What would be your initial reaction if some nerd you didn’t know ran up to you, held his hand in the air and said, “Hey dude! High five!” Well, it’s probably the same reaction you’d have towards this website. You can add friends to your ‘friends list’, upload pictures, comment on their profiles, post updates on what you’re doing, join groups and send messages to other users. It all just sounds so nerdy! How could something like this ever really catch on?
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TheFacebook This is an invite-only social network that has gained a huge following amongst college students in America… and that’s about it. You have to be invited, which we were by an American friend of ours, and we have to say, we weren’t impressed. The design is basic and unappealing, and
it’s just full of college kids talking about getting drunk, with a lot of ‘dudes’ and ‘bros’ involved. We don’t see this becoming a success at all, and reckon it’ll fade away in a couple of years.
This one is much more appealing than TheFacebook, with customisable design, and much more scope to upload content like images, with links to other users and their interests and activity. Whereas TheFacebook is the go to place for drunk students, we see MySpace as more for arty professionals and musicians, and can see it really taking off. This one will stand the test of time.
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SONY ERICSSON K300 Those loyal to Sony will be dying to get their hands on the brand new Sony Ericsson K300, destined to become the envy of all! The K300 is a tri-band GSM phone with interesting features to support its elegant design. It has a built-in VGA camera with video capture and an image editor as well, to beautify your photos. It also features a quick speed WAP 2.0 internet browser, Java support and MP3 player. Planning your day has never been easier, with inputs in the organiser and your to-do lists just a click away. If you look closer at the phone’s side parts, you will find nothing else, but the QuickShare button placed on the left side of the phone, which shortcuts the start of the camera. Get creative with the ringtone composer, and make your own ringtone. Store music, images and up to 500 contacts.Super impressive!
Nokia 6600
Price: BD47 Colour: Silver Grey Availability: All major electronic stores
MOTOROLA RAZR V3 The MUCH awaited Motorola Razr V3 is finally here with a super cool design. Marketed as an exclusive fashion phone, it has a striking appearance and the solid anodised aluminium case with plastic screen and LCD glass, Weighing just 3.35 ounces, it feels light as a feather in your pocket. It has a battery capacity of 680mAh, keeping your phone alive for at least 6.5 hours. It also offers Bluetooth connectivity, computer sync, voice recording, voice dialling. The 0.3MP VGA camera quality is decent with digital zoom, mirror and self-timer. If you are looking for something really cool and stylish, this has to be your first choice. Say goodbye to outdated old technology and say hello Moto!
Nokia has done it again with the latest introduction in its classic business series of mobile phones. The Nokia 6600 is making huge waves being described as Nokia’s high-end model. It offers the functionality of a smart phone, but in a compact design. Weighing only 125gms, it’s light with a big enough screen to view all your contact and diary information at-a-glance perfectly. Although, texting might be slightly difficult for the single-hand-user, the fiveway joystick in the middle, which also doubles up as volume control while making a call, really is a joy to use (no pun intended)! Aimed at the business user, this Symbian smartphone provides excellent Bluetooth implementation, email, a removable MMC memory, a bright 16-bit LCD display and Opera browser. The VGA-resolution camera is located at the back of the phone with a 2X digital zoom, night mode and time delay setting. What’s more, the video mode gives you about nine to 27 seconds of recording (totally cool), with audio and zoom options! If you can overlook a few drawbacks, like the green call key and red end key placed on the side rather than in the centre, then the Nokia 6600 is definitely the way forward towards a smarter living! Price: BD96 Colour: Black/Grey Availability: All major electronic stores
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PLUGGED-IN
App-licious Today’s tech-savvy generation of smartphones and tablets means the world is at your fingertips, literally! FACT has three great apps to download for your device, keeping you plugged-in to all the best techie help for every area of your life...
MOTORING CarBuzz (Android, iOS)
If you’re a car enthusiast and want the entire motoring buzz at your fingertips, this is the app you need to install. CarBuzz gives all the latest news and information from the automotive industry with just a click. It has reviews, updates, features, videos, and images of all the latest cars with daily info. If you decide to buy a new car and are confused between two, just open up the app and compare your top two to select the best!
BEVERAGES/ FOOD & DINING Cocktail Flow (Android)
GAMING Crazy Racing (Android)
If you love playing the bartender or your taste buds crave for something different, Cocktail flow is the perfect app for you. This app is a treasure with its wide cocktail database, and its cool Barstock search, with a virtual bar cabinet, which helps you choose ingredients to make your drink. The guide lists all the essentials to create the perfect cocktail and also hands you a step-by-step recipe. This time you could try a Bloody Brain instead of a Bloody Mary!
Drive the coolest cars and race with the best in the virtual world of gaming! This insane car racing game has 3D graphics with a variety of tracks to drive in, from snowy Canada to desert Mexico! Compete with your friends and clash with the police and find out who is the supreme racer. This game is addictive and will make you crave more for speed, acceleration and excitement!
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PLUGGED-IN
Garmin Nuvi 1690 FACT has gone motoring mad this month, and to continue the on-the-road theme, we’ve picked one of the best car navigation devices to have for the GCC region… let’s see what the Garmin Nuvi 1690 has to offer Bahrain’s roadies! A sure shot handy device, the Garmin Nuvi 1690 is a combination of slick design and clever technology. With the standard touchscreen and Nuvis style design, this Portable Navigation Device (PND) is noticeably superior to its predecessors, the Garmin Nuvi 860 and 865T. The external change comes in the form of a gloss-black frame with a chrome trim that surrounds the device. We also see a change in the SD slot, which is shrunken to a microSD size, and, for those of you in a hurry to be on your way, the Nuvi 1690 starts up in about 25 seconds (winner!) and the GSM network kicks in a few seconds later, quickly linking up with the satellite, to provide pretty decent responsiveness compared to many navigation devices on the market right now. The Nuvi 1690 GPS receiver is fortified with a 4.3-inch touchscreen and voice-prompted directions, which lets you keep your eyes on the road ahead, whilst giving you turn-by-turn directions. Garmin partnered with AT&T and created the data service, NuLink and a new connected PND to use it. This was created when MSN direct went offline (and good thing too!). The Nuvi 1690 and the NuLink service work together in perfect harmony, to bring you up-
to-date turn-by-turn directions, live fuel prices and traffic data, as well as Google Local and White Pages search to the dashboard, all in one package, without the trouble of monthly fees. One of the innovations is definitely the real time traffic info and speed camera alerts, which are updated without you having to link up to a computer. The traffic info is impressive, especially as you can quickly change your route if the device notifies you of any unwanted disruptions on your current journey. There’s lane assist, speed limit alerts, display of signs with the direction you should follow, and text-to-speech. With the inbuilt Bluetooth system, you are free to make hands-free calls with your eyes constantly on the road (safety first, we say!). It also has the ecoRoute feature, camera reader, and PIN code Garmin lock protection, just like your smartphone. Apart from the fact that the NuLink service has to be paid for after two years, the Nuvi 1690 ticks all the boxes for an advanced, efficient and helpful car GPS for Bahrain. It also features a world travel clock, currency and unit converter and a calculator - pretty much covering all the necessities, and then some, of a reliable GPS system.
Price: BD95 to BD130 Availability: All major electronic stores and online.
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Saks fifth avenue Advertorial
Saks Fifth Avenue TRENDS Saks Fifth Avenue has a brand new selection of menswear for Spring/Summer 2014 including footwear that is bound to put a spring in your step! Time Traveller The time traveller trend is about cool buoyancy with a touch of adventure. No other colour reminds you of Indiana Jones style classic comfort as the khaki. Saks’ collection of DSquared trousers is just what you need this season to get you exploring. Put on those khaki trousers or shorts, pair it with a sunhat and a backpack and be on your way!
Kenzo @ saks fifth avenue BD 110
T Alexander McQueeN
he Black and White trend returns this season and Saks has everything from printed shirts to trousers in these contrasting classic shades. This Alexander McQueen ensemble is not for the faint hearted, but if you can carry it off with panache, you are bound to turn heads! 82. fact magazine
The Blues This new trend of hues of blue is just perfect for this season in keeping you cool and classy at the same time. Saks has some great new styles, be it formal shirts and trousers to relaxed jeans and trainers. It doesn’t matter what look you go for, just make sure you introduce a hint of blue in it. Take inspiration from the Kenzo catwalk and instill some uber cool confidence into your wardrobe. Keep up with this trend and you’ll never be blue again!
Update your wardrobe with Saks’ colour trends this season!
saint laurent @ saks fifth avenue BD 82
Dsquared @ saks fifth avenue BD 156
christian dior @ saks fifth avenue BD 266
Dior homme @ saks fifth avenue BD 190
Dsquared @ saks fifth avenue BD 173
alexander mcqueen @ saks fifth avenue BD 193
Dsquared
Find these collection pieces in the store now!
riviers exclusive @ saks fifth avenue BD 43
KENZO
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Collection Focus
Juicy Couture Juicy Plate Muscle Tee BD18
Meadow Print-Tie Neck Blouse BD80 Floral Applique Shorts BD50 Fleece Cut Out Pullover BD60 Bengal Print Piping Shorts BD40
Jersey-Heart Printed Dress BD75 Sierra Leather Steffy Bag BD85
Juicy Dice Skinny Jeans BD75 Satin Juicy Dice Blouse BD50
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Juicy Couture’s Spring 2014 Collection has the ‘Go West’ concept, which is all about a carefree spirit on the open roads, much like the brand’s roots in LA. The collection focuses on Juicy girls who embrace their freedom, fun and fashion!
There is no better feeling than taking a road trip with not a care in the world…that’s the way this season’s Juicy Couture collection is headed. Inspired by the journey through life, it evokes a sense of adventure and thrill to be out and about, hence came about the concept of ‘Go West’. The collection is full of bright bold prints, colours and eye-catching graphics. There is everything from gingham and floral to cheetah prints and stripes. The collection is not just feminine, but also daring! Inspired by the Bohemian glamour of the 70s and the rock era, this collection serves the Juicy girl’s passion for adventure before anything else. The LA style exudes youthfulness and confidence with a touch of sauciness and this is clearly portrayed in the brand’s Spring 2014 collection, with a fresh modern style for jeans, dresses and handbags. Juicy Couture signature track collection continues to get updated with even more mix and match options. Flowing silhouettes, breezy blouses and body-conscious ponte dresses, all add a sense of coolness without compromising on comfort, giving an aura of simplicity to the collection. Girls, let your hair down and have fun the Juicy way!
Sweatshirt BD14.9 Skinny Jeans BD17.9 Sneakers BD29.9
Printed Jacket BD16.9
Print Shirt BD14.9 Skinny Jeans BD17.9
Pull & Bear
One of the favourite high street shops Pull & Bear’s Spring/Summer 2014 Collection is pretty impressive. This season is full of bold bright colours and prints, right on trend with the spring season. Load up on these cool casual combinations and you’re set to strut your stuff!
Spring is in the air and the weather is getting warmer just like Pull & Bear’s Spring/Summer 2014 Collection. The collection screams vibrancy with prints ranging from small floral to nautical themes. For a casual look, try a pair of printed khaki trousers and a half sleeved shirt in a mellow colour. For a night about town, pair rolled up skinny jeans with a printed tee or a classic Pull & Bear branded full-sleeved t-shirt. Get a more relaxed look, with shorts and tees in wide range of prints and colours. Tap into your adventurous side with classic chino shorts, a striped t-shirt, combined with a printed bomber jacket for added effect. There is so much to choose from - just mix and match and have fun with it!
Basic Jeans BD14.9 Cap BD5.9 Plimsolls BD19.9
Spruce up your wardrobe with these super cool combinations and be right on trend with the spring season. fact magazine .85
STYLE
Flirty Floral The must-have flowery pieces to add to your wish list this season; this is the trend you’ll be wearing!
Pull & Bear (POR) It’s all about matching pairs this season with feminine styles to accentuate the midriff and pins.
h&M BD4.2 Sparkle in these pretty earrings, great for both a day and evening look.
Bershka BD15.9 Gear up for a day out with this spacious and trendy satchel!
New look BD13 For a classy floral style with pretty flowers, invest in this hour-glass dress!
Stradivarius BD17.9 Parfois bd5.9
Dress for the day in a flirty piece with a hint of floral to get that ideal spring/summer look.
Elegant floral can be achieved with this beautiful bracelet.
Stradivarius (POR) Colourful floral is set to take centre stage, and this skirt is a staple piece for any wardrobe.
Vincci BD9.9 Comfort and style combined, these cute flats are perfect to go with any spring/summer dress.
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New look BD4.5 Funk up your hair with this exquistely-colourful band, great for a garden-party style.
Blurred Lines The coolest stripes and checks must-haves for the season; these are the pieces you’ll want!
Pull & Bear bd19.9 Trendy shirts with check and stripe details give a cool spring/summer look.
MASSIMO DUTTI (POR) Enjoy the spring breeze in a light striped shirt perfect for a day and night.
Massimo dutti (por) Accessorise with this uber stylish tie with stripe detail.
BERSHKA BD8.9 Wrap up in a checked snood to spruce up your everyday attire.
bershka bd17.9 ZARA MEN BD8.9 Keep it real with a stylish checked newsboy cap.
Stripe down and check up with a cool and comfortable t-shirt to while away the spring days.
Pull & bear bd5.9
lacoste BD41.3
Ideal for casual wear and subtle accessorising - stripe belts are great for both casual and evening looks.
Slip into these med-style espadrilles, taking you from day time cool to night time chic. fact magazine .87
The hunt is over
Alosrasupermarket Follow us on @Alosra_Bahrain Alosra Supermarket Saar 17 697558 Amwaj 16 033773 Durrat 77 770001 Riffa 17 750006 www.alosraselect.com 88. fact magazine Insta
Thai at Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa fact magazine .89
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa has always been home to some of the best restaurants on the island, offering fine dining experience at its best. There has been a fairly new addition of a South East Asian restaurant, Thai, to the list. We had to check it out for ourselves and here’s what we thought of the place..
Located opposite the Overlook Cafe is this little haven of tranquillity, Thai. On one side is the outdoor pool and on the other is the beach. Walk towards the restaurant, even before you enter it, there is a sense of calmness that envelops you. It’s the perfect venue for a chilled lunch, a couple of sundowners or a romantic dinner (what more could you ask for?). In the daytime, you can see people chilling in the pool or on the sun beds, 90. fact magazine
a stone’s throw away from the beach. The moment you enter the restaurant, you are instantly transported into a modern yet cosy lounge with a distinctive hint of Thailand! This is accentuated with a signature feature in the middle - a huge bar counter embedded in a mythical golden
VENUE REVIEW
GO: Call 1758 6499 for reservations and more information.
swan. It is a real size replica of the “Suphanahong”, the flagship fleet (the king’s barge itself ) of the four Royal Thai Barges, which are used during the ceremonial processions on the Chao Phraya in Bangkok (how very fancy). The opulence of the swan somehow fits quite nicely with the rest of the decor, which is laid back and relaxed and is apt for a chic lounge setting. The floor to ceiling windows gives an unobstructed view of the outdoors, overlooking the beach, the private island and the poolside. Impressed with what we had seen so far, it was time to taste the
food (always the most exciting part of the review). The chef had prepared an array of dishes - we started with a finger food platter, which was an assortment of Firecracker Shrimp, Spring Rolls, Chicken Wings and Shrimp Toast (the perfect start to the meal). This was followed by Suzuki Rolls, with a combination of avocado and plum (surprisingly yummy and
most definitely our favourite), Mango Rolls (exquisite in taste) and the Thai Beef Salad (always a winner). The main course was a Thai Green Vegetable Curry, which was finger-licking good. We washed all this scrumptious food with Thai Virgin Mojito and Cardamom Citrus Virigin Mojito (refreshingly good). Thai has a huge selection of drinks that are made from typical Thai fruits, mixed with herbs and infused with spices The venue also features live DJ entertainment most evenings. Every Tuesday (Tini Tuesday), ladies get treated to complimentary special drinks all night long, with special offers on Sushi platters on Wednesday (Sushi Wednesday) from 6pm to 11pm. You can also boogie the night away with DJ Sami on Chill Out Thursdays. Think chilled atmosphere, light snacks and great drinks, think Thai!
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BAHRAIN BITES
Sunset Saturday at Mai Tai Celebrate the Formula One week with your peers at the Mai Tai lounge. Experience a peaceful and serene atmosphere and watch the sunset as the DJ plays lounge music that will give you a chance to unwind from the stress of the week. Enjoy a sumptuous selection of mouth-watering starters and main course along with a refreshing drink and welcome the week in Mai-Tai style. GO: The Formula One weekend at BD 10 for entrance and welcome drink. Call 1758 6555 for reservations and inquires.
F1 menu at Special Formula Bushido Burger at Le Bahraini Chef, Noor Murad, Domain has joined the Bushido kitchen Incorporating the mix of creativity and fine dining, Executive Chef Bengt Carlsson introduced the very special ‘Formula’ burger, which has already hit Le Sauvage menu and will be on it until April 6, the last day of Formula One. Chef Bengt reveals the five step formula to the delicious burger, beginning with making the patty to topping with pan fried foie gras. GO: The Special Formula Burger and “Death by Chocolate” dessert is available for BD12.75. Call 1600 0222 for more information.
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as “Development Chef ” and is working to form a special menu for the 2014 Bahrain Formula One. The four course meal includes trio of Japanese white fish with spicy truffle ponzu sauce or duck tataki with garlic ponzu sauce for your starters. The main course has the option of Grilled Teppanyaki Japanese Sea Bass with Garlic Butter Sauce or Grilled Rib Eye with Japanese Herb Sauce. Noor has a themed “Off Track” dessert creation - Chocolate Tyres! GO: Available from April 3rd to 6th for BD 35++. Call 1758 3555 for more information.
Family Friday Brunch at Elite Seef Residence & Hotel Enjoy a meal with a wide variety of starters, main course and delicious desserts for your whole family as The Oasis Pool Area offers Friday Brunch buffet with unlimited soft beverages. Also take advantage of Happy Hours from 11am to 5pm. Your kids can enjoy free access to the Kids Club, where they can indulge in a variety of activities and games. GO: Family Friday Brunch is priced at BD 10++. Visit www.elitegroup4u. com or call 1758 3388 for more information.
Turkish Festival at Movenpick A lavish, week long festival dedicated to Turkish culture and cuisine is on until April 5th at the Silks Restaurant. The festival promises exotic flavours crafted by master chefs travelling all the way from Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul. Discover Turkish specialties like countless Mezzeh and Fresh Salads, Oven Fresh Lahmacun And Turkish Pizza, Calamari, Istanbul Kofta And Meatball Station, Along With Bulgur Pilaf, Mantı Ravioli, Lamb Saslik, Donner Kebab and many more dishes to sample. Dine to the rhythms of live shows and traditional Turkish dancers to get into the spirit of the festival. GO: Turkish buffet is priced at BD 16++. Call 1746 0000 or email hotel.bahrain.fb@moevenpick.com for more information.
Promotions at InterContinental Regency Bahrain Noor Lounge is bringing great offers your way this entire month. Treat someone you know, who is graduating, and make them feel extra special on their glorious day. What’s more, if you place your graduation cake order by the end of the month, you can avail a whopping 20 per cent discount for your cake in June, starting from BD 80 net. Noor Lounge also gives you some amazing quench-yourthirst options, with homemade iced coffee and tea starting from a nominal price of BD1.9++ only! GO: Call 1722 7777 for more information on offers at other InterContinental Regency restaurants.
Teppanyaki Promotion at Sheraton Indulge in some delicious Teppanyaki dishes throughout this month at Soie Restaurant as Sheraton Bahrain Hotel introduces its Teppanyaki Promotion. Make sure to enjoy the mouth-watering dishes cooked on an iron griddle. The menu includes a medley of Mixed Meat Teppanyaki (BD5.5++) and Seafood Teppanyaki (BD6.5++), which will be grilled, broiled or pan fired. Enjoy the amazing variety of dishes everyday from 7pm to 11.30pm. GO: Call 1753 3533 for table booking and more information.
Thai New Year at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa Celebrate ‘Songkran’ – The Thai New Year with a magnifique presentation of Thai culture, heritage and cuisine! A team of top chefs will be arriving from Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit to prepare an exquisite menu of Thai cuisine, with favourites such as Paneang Curry, Gai-Pad-Med (Chicken with Cashew Nuts), Kheaw Waan and the always-tasty Tom Yum soup! There will be a series of unique performances of traditional Thai dancing by a dance troupe. The launch day is set for April 23 at the Saraya Restaurant and will continue until May 3 from 7pm to 10.30pm. GO: Call 1763 6363 for more information on the Songkran festivities.
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Apart from the specially designed Formula One menu, Meisei is also offering 30 new items on its menu!
Chef Michael Kyu-Lee Meisei, tucked away in Adliya, is best known for its divine mixed Asian cuisine, impeccable service and attention to detail. FACT sat down with Chef Michael, who talked us through his plans for the Formula One weekend and gave us a sneak peek of the menu...
No stranger to the island, Chef Michael has spent 12 loving years on this island. Having years of experience opening and managing various restaurants locally and globally, he is no stranger to the restaurant business. Being half Korean and half Japanese, his specialty lies in Japanese cuisine with a twist. “My style of cooking is modern Japanese/Asian, with influences from Szechuan, Canton and South Korea. My other love is Italian and the components that I use from these regions,” says Chef Michael. “I don’t like 94. fact magazine
CHEF’S TABLE
GO: Call 1700 7770 for reservations and more information.
to use the word fusion because that word has been abused quite a bit. I use modern because during my travels, I like to take each ingredient from that country and try to marry it with my style.” He explains the special menu that he has created for the Formula One weekend. A special race day package, ‘Race on the Roof ’ will be hosted by the restaurant on April 6, where guests can come and watch the race at Meisiei’s roof top and savour Chef Michael’s special three-course menu, while watching the race on large outdoor screens (what better way to watch the race?). First up, we tasted the Crispy Duck Salad, which uses speciality duck from China in order to execute a proper Peking style. The textures were different and worked very well – one was crispy and the other soft, with sakura mix truffle oil, roasted fig and shallots vinaigrette, black Hawaiian salt, yuzu grape seed oil, pine nuts, pomelo, pink grape fruit and Boston cranberries. “It’s all about the explosion of flavours,” says Chef Michael. “Simplicity is always the best, but I like to use some intricate flavours.” We then tried the Baby Spinach Dry Miso Tiger Prawn Salad, which had grilled prawns and baby spinach with truffle oil, parmesan, dried miso, dried yuzu, and lemon skin dressing. The salald was delicious, especially the flavours that came out of the dry miso, which is
hydrated in the restaurant itself. Next up was the Vegetarian Dol Sot, which was by far our favourite (we’re still drooling at the thought of it). It’s a dish that comes in a hot stone pot with assorted roasted vegetables (grilled shitake, spring onions, courgette and carrots), with egg, and in the middle is black rice, served with spicy gochijang sauce (spicy Korean vinaigrette). Chef Michael explains how black rice is fantastic for the body. “It’s all about educating my clients and letting them know about the ingredients,” he says. Last dish was Black Angus Houba Leaf, which is Black Angus beef marinated with sweet miso on a bed of homemade garlic black bean sauce and roasted spring onions. The meat was exceptionally tender and the leaf acts like a vessel and enhances flavours,” explains Chef Michael. The demand for Japanese food has increased tremendously and Meisei is definitely keeping up to its name meaning Fame and Honour!
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My Baby is my PT! Fitness guru Craig Heslop, Founder & Coach of Tribal Fitness, believes that a more back-to-basics and natural approach to living is the key to a healthy lifestyle…
In a fast-paced world, our priorities can be corrupted. We stay awake late into the night through artificial lighting, TV or partying. We are tempted into consuming the ‘wrong’ foods that are detrimental to our health. We even manage to stay enclosed all day as prisoners from movement and sunlight. These perils got me thinking about my nine-month old son and how he lives his life. He prioritises sleep, food and play at the top. I’ll discuss how my son uses these three components to optimise his health. My son naps for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. He also normally sleeps 12 hours through the night. If this routine is disrupted, 96. fact magazine
we have one cranky little beast on our hands. Although it would be nice to sleep for 16 hours, most of us only need half of that. It is first pillar to growth, strength, immunity and happiness. As adults, many of us have forgotten this. Today, my son has consumed a well balanced diet of blended spinach/chicken combo, sliced apple, two bottles of milk, sliced capsicum and sweet potato, with a few pieces of biltong, beef mince/garlic/onion/tomato combo, and plenty of water throughout the day. He wakes up with energy, sleeps well and is tipping in the scale more than a 12kg kettlebell. Good homemade food is the second lifestyle pillar for him, not a short-term battle. The final component in our son’s life is daily movement. He loves to play outside - the outdoors is a place of great adventure. Every day he spends at least one hour outside. He loves to roll, climb, crawl, throw and jump. Disturbing this playtime has knock-on effects on his sleep and food. All three pillars work in harmony. After three months of personal training,mysonhashighlighted the importance of good sleep, food and movement for optimal health. His priorities will not be compromised. Life has slowed down and I’m extremely grateful to have been taught a few lessons by a nine-month old boy. Thanks Tallis! GO: For more information, email craig@tribalfitness.com, or call 3947 3710.
PEP TALK
Get Your Social On!
Beauty Spotlight
Joz Salon & Spa
Christal Dennis
is a Personal Performance Coach and Hypnotherapist with a Masters in Psychology, Leadership Development and Coaching. She is dedicated to helping people overcome life’s hurdles and tapping into their deepest potential...
sociable, break you plan down into small steps. For example, if you attend meetings or groups with people you feel relatively comfortable with, start speaking up more in these groups. Notice how you feel in these situations and practice feeling calm when speaking up. Then start getting used to having conversations in situations where you are more likely to feel comfortable, so that you can experience what it is like to enjoy social situations. Next, when you start joining actual social situations, start small. Don’t begin with a rendezvous that will be overwhelming. This will only possibly set you back and put you off your goals. Most of all, fix it firmly in your mind that socialising is supposed to be fun and get mingling with the intention of enjoying.
Some of us are natural extroverts. Meeting new people and being in social settings seems to be energising and the epitome of fun for them. Others on the other hand tend to be natural introverts and they find socialising draining and not fun at all. Curling up with a book alone at home sounds like way more fun than any party. GO: For a personal consultation I’m talking to the call 3669 6666. introverts now. Maybe at some point in your life you are discovering the advantages of being outgoing or maybe a life situation is forcing you to make a transformation into a social butterfly. Either way it’s much better to go into it proactively than to start halfheartedly or unprepared. So here are a few pointers to get your social on. Once you have made the decision to be more
Think you’ve got it all figured out when it comes to looking your best on your wedding day? Look into these before your wedding day… List down all your assets you want to flaunt. Don’t think that you don’t have to do anything about your good qualities. These are the things you want to show off, so you still have to work on it. Start with your hair. Is it too frizzy or do you need to grow it to a certain length before your wedding? This assessment will give you the time to select your styles of the day and work towards them. If you have dry hair, then start treating your hair now. Want to try short fringe, but dread that they will turn out bad? Take this time to experiment and improvise. Next is your skin. Do you have acne or enlarged pores? If you have too much on your hands in preparing for your wedding, it is good to take a break and pamper yourself. If you want to go for something major like microdermabrasion, do it now rather than one week before the wedding as you can have post peeling and redness. Look at your skin condition on other parts of your body. Do you have back acne or dry skin on your neck and cleavage area? Looking after them now will ensure they look picture perfect later. Don’t forget to remove that unwanted hair. And most importantly, help your hubby look his best for his wedding. If they’re going to get their shave done, they have to do their homework. Advise your guy to get a trial shave at the salon a few days before the Big Day. It is advised for guys to keep it classic when it comes to their hair. This means no spikes or gel overload. A Pre Grooming Package at Gentlemen’s Lounge at the Lagoon will be a perfect gift to show him that you care. We make your special day more special with our pre bridal packages and groom packages At Joz Salon & Spa with outlets in Juffair (17369133), Amwaj (16031120) and Awali (17756449) and a new outlet for your better half at The Gentlemen’s Lounge by Topcut at Lagoon (16031126). Call now as we will provide you solutions for all above and our promise is to make you look the most beautiful, fantabulous and stunning bride and groom ever! fact magazine .97
Mohamed J Shareeda National Press Officer at Bahrain International Circuit. He has lived in Bahrain all his life.
Tell us three things you enjoy the most about living in bahrain I am Bahraini - I love my country dearly, therefore I love living here, simple as that. My wife, two daughters, the rest of my family and most of my friends are all here, so I can’t imagine being anywhere else, as much as I love to travel. Bahrainis are some of the warmest and welcoming people in the world. I lived in the US for a few years, but always missed Bahrain as it’s home. 98. fact magazine
island insider
What has been your most exciting moment working with BIC?
What was your first car and what would be your dream car?
I have a lot of memories here at BIC, having been involved in the grand prix ever since 2004. My most exciting memory is my first podium ceremony for F 1 in 2012. There’s a lot of work and coordination that goes into it. You’ve got all the teams watching, spectators at the circuit and more than 500 million people from around the world.
My first car was a Honda CRX. I used to drive it back in 1992. It was a great car; it got me to where I wanted to go. I loved it very much and you never ever forget your first car. My dream car is a Porsche GT2 or GT3. Right now, I drive a Porsche Cayman, but how I would love to be behind the wheel of a GT3 car.
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