FACT Magazine Bahrain January 2012

THE SMART MONTHLY GUIDE TO LIFE IN BAHRAIN

CONFLUENCES 3-seat sofa. Design: Philippe Nigro.

Catalogue: www.ligne-roset.com

FACT M.E. - BAHRAIN EDITION

FASHION. ART. CULTURE. TECHNOLOGY JANUARY 2012

VOL 5, ISSUE 5

BD1

SR10

JANUARY 2012 ISSUE 53

Ligne Roset - Al Jazeera Tower - bldg 487 road 1010 - Sanabis - Phone: 17 555 033 - www.ligne-roset.com jan Cover.indd 1

The

Bahrain International Air Show The most spectacular event on Bahrain’s calendar returns to Sakhir Airbase this January! (p6)

Akcent LIVE in Bahrain!

The New Year’s Resolution Issue

FACT’s comprehensive guide to making and keeping those NYE Resolutions, from tips to gadgets and even fashion!

The Romanian dance music trio are set to perform a live show this January! (p10)

PLUS

When Dance Becomes Art The Ballare Dance Studio! (p24)

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Range Rover Vogue Ali Driver goes all posh! (p40) 28/12/2011 21:42

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THE SMART MONTHLY GUIDE TO LIFE IN BAHRAIN

CONFLUENCES 3-seat sofa. Design: Philippe Nigro.

Catalogue: www.ligne-roset.com

FACT M.E. - BAHRAIN EDITION

FASHION. ART. CULTURE. TECHNOLOGY JANUARY 2012

VOL 5, ISSUE 5

BD1

6 Bahrain Int’l Air Show

SR10

The Kingdom’s most spectacular expo returns to Sakhir Airbase this January!

6

NOTEWORTHY

10 Akcent - LIVE at Bushido!

JANUARY 2012

The

Bahrain International Air Show The most spectacular event on Bahrain’s calendar returns to Sakhir Airbase this January! (p6)

ISSUE 53

ad 1010 - Sanabis - Phone: 17 555 033 - www.ligne-roset.com

The Romanian dance music trio are set to perform in Bahrain...

Akcent LIVE in Bahrain!

The New Year’s Resolution Issue

FACT’s comprehensive guide to making and keeping those NYE Resolutions, from tips to gadgets and even fashion!

The Romanian dance music trio are set to perform a live show this January! (p10)

PLUS

When Dance Becomes Art The Ballare Dance Studio! (p24)

+

Range Rover Vogue Ali Driver goes all posh! (p40) 28/12/2011 21:42

FACT Magazine M.E. Bahrain Edition January 2012 Volume 5 Issue 4

FACT M.E. Bahrain Publishing W.L.L. Office 53, Building 872, Road 3618, Block 436, Seef.

Ministry of Information Subject Registration Number: CFB779 Director Omar Shaheen Publishing Director Edward Smith Editor-in-Chief Tony Sidgwick (editor@factlive.com) Sub-Editor Zara De Haldevang Sales Manager Laura Alvarez Senior Sales Executive Sari Mabire Designer Rashed Bindaina Distribution & Office Manager Hayley Elaine Fashion Consultant Laura Bale Photography Contributors Armand Hough Rashed Bindaina PRINTED BY Union Press ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Tel: +973 1721 6099 E-mail: laura@factlive.com 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.

18 Solutions for your Resolutions

As we move into 2012, we bring you a New Year’s Resolution feature, helping you to stick to those personal goals and ambitions...

24 Where Dance Becomes Art

We take a look at the impressive new Ballare dance school in Saar.

18

24

CULTURE

ARTS

28 Underworld Awakening

FACT previews the latest instalment of the Underworld franchise...

34 Fitness Tech

We review some of the latest gadgetry out there that will help you get back in shape in 2012!

TECHNOLOGY

34

40 Range Rover

Ali Driver reviews the impressive British luxury SUV...

48 Fitness Fashion

We take a look at some of the most desirable sportswear out there at the moment, including collaborations between famous brands and even more famous designers...

48

FASHION

TIME TO UNWIND FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY

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N t t

FROM THE EDITOR

B B 2 2 2

2012: Let’s Try This Again, Shall We? IN reality, when you consider the neverending universal march of time, a New Year means nothing. It’s just something that human beings invented a couple of thousand years ago, based on our tiny planet’s orbit around the sun, to mark the passage of the seasons. January 1st is essentially no different to December 31st whatsoever.

Psychologically, however, January 1st is hugely important. It’s a NEW YEAR! A clean slate; a new chapter, as yet unwritten.

Philosophically, it’s an opportunity for change – to start afresh.

At the end of the day, if there was no such philosophical change – no opportunity for wiping the slate clean and starting something new – then what hope is there to improve? If we’re destined to march endlessly on towards our ultimate fate along a predetermined path with no opportunity to make a change, to shift our paths, to progress, then there is no hope at all.

New Year’s Day is a chance to mentally cast off the mistakes, regrets and bad decisions of last year, and turn it all around.

Didn’t finish that book you’ve been

writing? Then this is the year. Didn’t lose that weight you wanted to? Then by June 2012 you’re going to look fantastic. Didn’t get that promotion you wanted? Then by all that’s good and holy grab the bull by the horns, and work your ass off for it!

And if you still don’t get it, then by 2013 make sure you’re in a new job where you’re appreciated!

We all have our faults and regrets, but carrying them in to the New Year like a mantle we can’t shrug off is pointless. It’s as easy as saying, “No more.” There are a couple of things I want to get done this year, and I refuse to reach the end of it thinking, “Crap, I failed.” That pretty much defines 2011 for me!!

We have a whole bunch of “New Year’s Resolution” stuff going on in this issue, from the Culture to the Technology sections, but this is just a guide. The real initiative has to come from you. As a person, the desire to improve yourself, to learn new things and to achieve your goals, has to come from within, and if you don’t have it, you need to find it.

After all, that’s “The Whole Point”, isn’t it?

B I R 2 2

W e to B f a

Tony Sidgwick Editor-in-Chief tony@factlive.com

My favourite story this issue Ali Driver reviews the Range Rover Vogue p40-42 The very definition of luxury and off-road performance combined, the Range Rover is a truly impressive beast, and it looks incredible in the photos!

4

T

News from the

FACT Penthouse

Well, we all return to the office after the festive season a little older, a little wiser, and a little rounder in the belly, and prepare for a whole New Year of bringing you all the most important news for Bahrain in 2012...Last month we signed off on another hugely successful FACT Awards campaign, with a glamorous event in Cafe Italia which all the guests enjoyed thoroughly... We’re really looking forward to the Bahrain International Airshow this month, and we were somewhat surprised to see how excited Ali Driver is too - it seems it’s not just cars he’s obsessed with!

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Not once, not twice but FIVE times a winner!

Bahrain’s Favourite Bar/Lounge 2009 2010 2011 Bahrain’s Favourite International Restaurant 2010 2011 We would like to extend our gratitude to the people of Bahrain for voting for us time and again!

Thank you.

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Look To The Skies!

January

SUN

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It’s been a two-year wait, but now finally the spectacular Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) returns to the skies over Sakhir Airbase this January for what is arguably the most impressive exhibition in the Kingdom …

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WED

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THUR

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FRI

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SAT

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SUN

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MON

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- “Yusuf” exhibition opens @ Albareh Gallery

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Ring of the Dove exhibition opens @ Shaikh bin Moh’d Al Khalifa Centre for Culture 11 -Ebrahim (see p11) WED

12 THUR

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Bahrain International Air Show @ Sakhir Airbase 19 -(see opp) THUR

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- Bahrain International Air Show @ Sakhir Airbase

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Bahrain International Air Show @ Sakhir Airbase opp) 21 -(see SAT

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25 - First day of Autumn Fair @ BIEC (see p10) WED

26 - Akcent LIVE @ Bushido (see p10) THUR

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US$1 billion

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The value of orders announced following 2010’s show...

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he airshow back in January 2010 was the inaugural event, and was a resounding success, with billions of dollars of aeronautical hardware on show, and breathtaking aerial displays by some of the world’s most renowned aerobatics teams, including the Bahraini, Saudi and Jordanian aerial display teams.

There were private jets, military jets, passenger jets and helicopters lined up on the tarmac to wow visitors, and major deals were signed and sealed in the first business-to-business oriented airshow of its kind in the world.

And this year, the Civil Aviation Authority are planning to make it even bigger and better, with a VIP gala dinner hosted by His

Highness Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa and attended by the official delegations, ministerial and government representatives and industry leaders.

The event is being organised by Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Authority, in partnership with Farnborough International, the company responsible for one of the world’s most famous airshows, the Farnborough Airshow in England.

Companies already confirmed to participate in the show include Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Cessna, Bombardier, GE and Sikorsky.

BIAS, which launched in 2010 and saw US$1bn in orders announced, has once again attracted major sponsors for

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Fantastic Aviators Create Thrills

,,

QUOTE OF

THE MONTH “We have lived together in love and harmony for decades and what is happening now is really worrying.”

Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulnasser Al Mahmeed,

commenting on clashes between Sunnis and Shi’ites in Muharraq last month.

Follow FACTBahrain on

the 2012 show, including Gulf Air and Batelco who were both headline sponsors of the launch event. BMW has signed up as Official Vehicle Provider through exclusive Bahrain importer Euro Motors, and petrochemical company, GPIC, has come on board as a gold-level sponsor.

In addition to five-star corporate hospitality opportunities and meetings with civil and military delegations, BIAS 2012 will also feature star-studded flying and static aircraft displays which are currently being finalised and look set to equal, if not exceed, those of the launch event in 2010.

FIL’s Events & Exhibitions Director, Amanda Stainer said: “We now have only one chalet

left available for BIAS 2012.

The demand from industry for opportunities to participate in the show has been very high, as expected following such a successful launch event in 2010,” says Amanda Stainer, Farnborough International’s Events & Exhibitions Director.

“There are still opportunities to take part in the show in terms of sponsorship and corporate hospitality and I would urge interested parties to contact us as soon as possible.”

GO:The Bahrain International Airshow takes place from January 19-21, 2012.

For further information, log on to www. bahraininternationalairshow.com. Tickets are BD7 for adults and BD3 for children, and are available from all Batelco stores.

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NOTEWORTHY

THE SCOPE

LOVE IT !

Homes for Families!

SO OBVIOUS! City Centre Parking Misery

A couple of months ago, signs went up in the City Centre Mall car park saying “We are currently improving the parking system, apologies for any inconvenience.” What they actually should have said was: “We are currently transforming the parking system into a sophisticated form of torture for all motorists, and causing permanent inconvenience!” What were they thinking? The new system is just AWFUL!

Al Fateh Corniche Being Re-Developed

Recent plans were resurrected to re-develop the Al Fateh Corniche into a idyllic public leisure facility for families.

According to the announcement by the Manama Municipal Council, all current public and private facilities will be cleared away to make way for the development, which is all well and good, but we REALLY hope that this doesn’t include one of our favourite sunspots on the island, Coral Bay (Coral Beach Club). Losing that place would be a SERIOUS blow to Bahrain’s leisure scene!

CAN’T BELIEVE IT

The Housing Ministry recently announced the allocation of over 2,500 homes to Bahraini families, some of which are built and some of which are yet to be completed. This will hopefully go some way to quelling the sense of injustice many Bahrainis felt at the lack of available and affordable housing in Bahrain, and therefore to restoring some calm to the Kingdom. Bravo!

HATE IT!

Zara’s Question of the Month:

Y

New Year’s Reso-what?

es I know. You already know what this column is about.

Firstly, Happy New Year readers! I hope you celebrated it like I did. In fact, in other thoughts, hopefully not... I am still wearing sunglasses in the office and wishing the ‘open bar’ didn’t bully me into drinking until 4am. Golden Tulip though – what a night!

I am like the rest of them. I always think that a new year means a new

8

start and all that rubbish. Well this year I am not making any resolutions; instead my only resolution is to ban setting new rules.

I hate diets, I hate going to the gym (any one who says otherwise is lying) and 2012 is going to make no difference to my figure, alcohol intake levels or sobbing bank balance…

Having spent Christmas at home (in the UK) snowed in and wearing everything I own (my parents don’t

believe in heating) this year I am going to enjoy myself.

Yes, you heard me.

So before you all set ridiculous new rules that you ‘swear you will stick to’, be realistic. You will break that diet and probably never use that gym card.

As for me? You will probably find me in JJ’s on most occasions. Watch out Tony, you might need to find a new regular spot so I don’t start keeping tabs on you…

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Knowing what counts .

Budaiya Showroom: 17 592233

www. poggenpohl.com FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY Jan issue.indd 9

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Bags ‘o Bargains at Autumn Fair!

The Autumn Fair, one of the biggest and most popular shopping events on Bahrain’s annual calendar, is back this January…

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acked with over 700 exhibitors from 23 countries, this 14,300 square metre shopping extravaganza showcases thousands of products from across the globe. A huge variety of goods will go on sale during this nine day period, ranging from specialty food, fashion and furniture to technology, toys, textiles and much more.

“Now in its 23rd successful year, the entire exhibition centre is transformed into a colourful bazaar by traders who have travelled from far and wide to Bahrain, bringing with them their country’s best exports and a slice of their culture,” says Mohammed Ebrahim, Arabian Exhibition Management’s project manager. “The largest international groups assemble to form country pavilions and include countries such as China, Egypt, Kuwait, Turkey, UAE and Pakistan.”

With so many products on display, the goods news for shoppers is that prices can get very competitive, meaning that there are countless bargains to be found at the Fair. But it’s not just for shoppers, as there is also a strong business-to-business element as well, according to Mohammed. “The Autumn Fair acts as an important sourcing venue for local companies, and wholesale agreements and new partnerships will be established during the course of the exhibition.

Numerous local businesses also regularly take part in the exhibition and many offer special deals for visitors.”

GO:The Autumn Fair takes place from January 25 to February 2, at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. For information, log on to www.theautumnfair.com, or call 1755 0033.

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Akcent – LIVE at Bushido!

The first major live music show of 2012, the Romanian hitmakers are set to perform a live gig in Bushido, supported by the ever-popular Kaan Gokman and resident Dara Singh…

Y

ou all remember the Edward Maya event that took place in Bushido for the Top Model Grand Finale in 2010? If you didn’t manage to get in, then you’ll definitely have heard about it, as it was one of the most memorable nights of the year!

Well, this could very well top it! Akcent are a Romanian group now famous for their smooth dance tracks, with singles like ‘My Passion’ and ‘That’s My Name’ charting in many countries across the world, from the Americas to Europe and Asia.

Their successful rise to fame in Romania caught them the attention of the now world-famous Edward Maya, who signed on to produce their latest album, No Tears, which has unleashed some of their most popular tracks to date. ‘That’s My Name’, ‘Stay With Me’ and ‘Lover’s Cry’ all feature Akcent’s smooth vocals and Edward Maya’s

signature sound, which has proven to be a winning combination.

And now you can catch the group live in Bushido this month! They will be supported by a set from the legendary Kaan Gokman, who is now a well-known face in Bahrain, having already wowed the crowds in Bushido on several previous occasions. There will be a warmup set by Bushido’s resident DJ Dara Singh, followed by a live fire show, before Akcent take to the stage.

And knowing Bushido like we do, you can bet that there will be a whole lot more on the cards in the way of entertainment, so be sure to get your tickets nice and early so that you don’t miss out!

GO:Akcent are playing in Bushido on Thursday, January 26. There will be a warm up set by Dara Singh, and Akcent go on at 11.30pm, followed by Kaan Gokman, who will round the night off. Tickets are BD15, or BD30 for VIP. For information, call 1758 3555.

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The Ring of the Dove

Get arty in Bahrain this January!

The arts calendar for 2012 kicks off with two great exhibitions taking place this month…

“Yusuf”

Albareh Art Gallery is hosting a solo exhibition showcasing the works of contemporary Iraqi artist Nazar Yahya. Entitled “Yusuf ”, the exhibition symbolises the biblical story of Joseph’s (Yusuf) exile in the desert, whilst at the same time telling a parallel story of the cruel Iraqi exodus from Iraq. Nazar attempts to compare Yusuf ’s life with his life story in the perils of our times.

Nazar presents ten artworks that used staged digitized photography printed on rice paper and executed on canvas. He will also introduce an art book consisting of 12 paintings inspired from the poem of poet Mahmood Darwich, Father, I am Yusuf. There are ten editions of this art book.

Born and raised in Baghdad, Nazar started his art path as an illustrator for children’s magazines in the early 1980’s while he was still

Also taking place this month, the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Heritage is hosting an exhibition entitled “The Ring of the Dove”,

by Bahraini artist Ebrahim Bu Saad.

The exhibition of 20 ink on paper drawings was inspired by the work of famous 10th Century Arab poet Ibn Hazem Al Andalusi.

The drawings feature both detailed miniatures as well as different styles of calligraphy.

Ibn Hazem was born in Islamic Andalusia to a noble family, and during his lifetime reached the rank of vizier. His poetry, however, was considered quite bold for its time, and much of his work was publicly burned. His book, Ring of the Dove, was his only experiment in the field of elegant literature, and in it he writes in prose embellished with elements of his own poems about love and its meanings and attributes.

It’s this work that has inspired this exhibition by Bahraini artist Ebrahim Bu Saad. Born in Muharraq in 1954, Ebrahim is a holder of a BA in Fine Arts, and is the founder of the Bahrain Arts Society. In addition to his current works, he has permanent exhibitions in the British Museum and the National Museum of Bahrain.

GO:The Ring of the Dove takes place at the Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research from January 11 to 24. For information, call 1732 2549.

in high school. He then pursued his art education and graduated from the painting department at the Academy of Fine Arts in 1986.

As an Iraqi artist who has witnessed the war, some of his works are a reflection of that reality, such as “Blocks”, “Migrating Birds”, and “Bird Land”, however he managed to present strong ideas through a harmony of well-composed forms and colour.

During the past ten years, he participated in many art exhibitions in the Middle East, England, and the US. His pieces are exhibited at the British Museum, Qatar Museum, Houston Museum and soon the Station Museum of Contemporary Art. GO:The “Yusuf” exhibition takes place at Albareh Art Gallery from January 10 to February 4. Timings are Saturdays through Thursdays, from 10am – 1pm and from 4pm to 8pm.

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NOTEWORTHY

RESTAURANTS. CAFES. LOUNGES. PUBS. EVENTS

2011

Last month saw us sign off on another hugely successful Citibank FACT Awards campaign, with a glamourous awards ceremony at Cafe Italia

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he ceremony saw eighteen category winners announced as guests dined on a fantastic gourmet dinner provided by the winners of 2011’s Bahrain’s Favourite Restaurant, Cafe Italia, who won the coveted title again this year.

A great time was had by all, as you can see from theh following pages, with entertainment provided by the lovely Esra, whose smooth and sultry vocals were accompanied by the talented guitar skills of Adel.

All in all, a fantastic evening, and another successful event!

Thank you to all who voted...

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,,

FACT Awards Ceremony Triumphed!

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Winners of the Bahrain’s Favourite Italian and Bahrain’s Favourite Restaurant categories for the second year in a row, the staff at Cafe Italia have a right to be a touch excited!

The ceremony saw eighteen category winners announced, as guests dined on a fantastic gourment dinner provided by Cafe Italia

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Fresh produce. Friendly shopping. Simply, premium every day!

Discover fresh produce, both local and from all over the world, with every grocery item you’ll need. Shop at Alosra and enjoy a friendly shopping experience that is warmer and more personal - our staff are simply here to help you!

There’s an Alosra store nearby - in Saar, at Amwaj and Durrat Al Bahrain. Just call our Amwaj Superstore on 1603 3773 for details 16

FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY

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CULTURE

p18: The New Year’s Resolutions Feature!

GETTING UNDER BAHRAIN’S SKIN THIS MONTH

s n o i t u l o S o your t ons i t u l o s Re

oble e a n the r a s s on soluti en’t alway n for e R s r ’ o ut a Year ead New ntiment, bstick to! R e to those . se ing to ing truovement.. y th a t t s s e i r eas r guide to self-imp ou oals for g

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r u o y o t s n o i t u l So CULTURE

s n o i t u l o Res in ings certa th o tw ly on There are th, and New Years f trying o a e in life – d s! They’re our way a noble n Resolutio ourselves, which is o ls e to improv However, they’re a ularly ic t. rt n a e p don’t sentim things we volve some ly b a it v e in l in o, that wil want to d ange on our part. u this o h effort or c things easier for y ew g N So, makin guide to the Top 5 r u ! o 2 r 201 year is olutions fo s e R rs a Ye

#1

Get Fit/ Lose Weight

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his has to be the most common resolution in the world, especially given the excesses of the festive season.

However, it’s also the resolution that people probably stick to the least! Those expensive gym cards remain unused, and those shiny new trainers remain shiny and new. So, here are a couple of ideas that will make getting fit and healthy a little more interesting: Firstly, check out our Technology Section this month – it features a round up of fitness and healthrelated gadgets that’ll assist you in your quest for physical glory.

Secondly, looking good in the gym isn’t always easy, but if that’s what’s holding you back, then turn to our fashion section, where there’s some super-stylish gymwear to help you look your best as you get your sweat on!

If you’d like to try something different (and you’ve got the funds), the Sofitel are doing something rather unique. They take you in for a whole week, where you’re cut off from the world and totally immersed in their slimming and wellness programme, which incorporates 30 treatments and three wellness appointments.

For the treatments, you’ll

18

have five a day for six days, and they include seaweed wraps to tone and detoxify, hydrotherapy treatments, body contouring, water fitness sessions and much more.

You also have two appointments with a dietician to review your eating habits in general. All throughout the week, all you eat is a specially created diet of low-calorie meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by the Sofitel’s specialist chefs. They guarantee noticeable weight loss, and even more afterwards if you stick to what they teach you during the week.

To find out more, call 1763 6363.

#2

A

Quit Smoking

nother one that many try, but most fail – nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs in the world, and for heavy smokers, the prospect of giving up means months of irritability, withdrawal, headaches, cravings, depression and more.

For not-so-heavy smokers, or social smokers, the addiction is usually mental rather than physical, and giving up can be as simple as making lifestyle choices or changing habits to avoid triggers for the impulse to smoke.

For those heavy smokers, the addiction goes much deeper – the nicotine reliance is linked to the release of dopamine in the brain, and without it intense cravings and even depression can kick in. It can literally be traumatic for the smoker!

There are a whole number of methods to battle smoking. There are nicotine patches, imitation cigarettes that release nicotine when sucked on (not recommended, as these mimic the smoking itself, and don’t work well towards breaking the addiction), and even prescription drugs such as Zyban, which have proven to be very effective for many smokers, although some have reported side effects. You should consult your doctor who can best advise on what course of treatment to take.

For those who want to try something different, there are hypnotherapy classes available in Bahrain that have proven successful for some people.

You start with a consultation to find out more about your habit and your motivation for quitting. Then follow up sessions focus on relaxation techniques and gentle mental conditioning to help you break the habit. To find out more about these, call 3777 0618.

Whatever happens, remember that the success rate for smokers quitting is only 5% to 10%, and very few smokers quit on their first try. It’s a recognised part of the quitting process as a whole that most will try several times before succeeding, so if you break, don’t lose hope! Just steel yourself and try again.

The most important factor is that you have a definite desire to kick the habit. Good luck!

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CULTURE

#3 I

Learn thing Some New

t’s widely recognised that taking up a hobby, or learning something new, can be a great boost to your confidence and self-esteem. Very few people realise that one of the many causes of a general lack of motivation and enthusiasm for life can be attributed to not challenging oneself every now and then. Overcoming a challenge proves to yourself that you can accomplish things, and you have ability and worth!

Here are some suggestions that we’ve come across lately: Karate – This has a whole range of benefits aside from the obvious selfdefence. It improves fitness, flexibility, coordination, and self-confidence, and a structured programme of grading through being awarded belts gives you a constant set of goals to accomplish, thereby improving self esteem! There are a number of Karate centres in Bahrain, but the Bahrain Karate Centre (1759 1237) comes highly recommended.

Golf – A much more peaceful past time, golf is an easy sport to learn, but a notoriously hard sport to master, which is why so many people become avidly addicted to it! Getting that good round in and bringing your handicap down is a hugely satisfying feeling (so we’re told).

However, playing the actual game aside, the mere act of spending a quiet day in the sunshine and fresh air walking around on the beautifully manicured greens is a healthy pastime in itself! To find out more, log on to the www.theroyalgolfclub.com, or call 1775 0777.

Dance – For some people, the idea of walking on to a dance floor in a crowded venue holds no small measure of dread – and it’s exactly these people who would probably benefit most from some skilled dance tuition! The Ballares Studio is an impressive new facility recently opened in Saar. For more information on that, turn to our Arts Section on page 24.

Amed and Eva from the Latin Dance Studio run several dance classes out of Coral Bay on the Al Fateh Corniche, including salsa, Zumba, reggaeton and even breakdancing (3388 9821)! You’ll also find some great salsa tuition at Tabu nightclub in Juffair (3999 4199 BB PIN: 23B781C1).

All of the above activities have an added bonus – they combine exercise with learning, and therefore improve your health and fitness too – double bonus!

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CULTURE

#4

Stop Procrastinating & Achieve a Goal

For this one, we thought we’d get some advice from a real expert, so here are some tips from Life Coach, Counselor and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist Kelly Armatage…

A

new year begins. With all new beginnings come the deep yearnings for a ‘new you’. All over the world, people start to think of New Year Resolutions: “I want to lose ten kilos/study for my masters degree/stop smoking/achieve a healthier work-personal balance.”

These are enthusiastic, confident and strong statements of intent to change our lives in some way. Alas, what happens for many is that the initial enthusiasm falls by the wayside and the old habits rear their ugly heads.

However, does it have to be that way this year? There are methods to achieve those things that the inner you so desperately craves. The following are five steps to ensure old habits can be broken and new, healthier habits are created AND maintained...

Step 1 (and the most important step to change a habit) If something like smoking has been a habit for you in the past, accept that it was a mechanism (that worked for you) to create an experience of happiness/love/security/relief in some way. No self-blame, guilt or frustration! It is important to accept the fact that you needed that habit in some way in the past, in order to feel a certain way.

However, now it is your choice to change it to a healthier, more positive activity that will ‘work for you’ now and going forward. Ask yourself the following: Without a cigarette could I still feel relief/happiness?

Step 2 Get clear on the new activity you wish to replace the old activity with.

If it is stopping smoking, organise a schedule to assist you. In what ways can you support yourself to break the old habit? Nicotine patches, meditation, exercise, breathing techniques? Have

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an organised, achievable plan figured out in your mind that you can follow.

Remember, there should be no unrealistic expectations that would be stressful to do!

Step 3 Praise, praise, praise! The way we achieve goals quickly and with harmony is through self-praise, encouragement and support. So, if you have written two chapters of your first book, for example, reward yourself for how far you have come. Try not to look at it as just two chapters; look at it as a few steps forward on your journey. Yes you have more time in front of you to complete, but instead of feeling overwhelmed about how far you have to go, look instead at how far you have come. Support yourself unconditionally at all times.

Step 4 If you fall off your path, that is OK. It is normal. Breaking old habits will mean you cannot be absolutely perfect in the very beginning. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back on the path to your goal. No self-punishment for a ‘slip up’ here and there. Beating yourself up will just mean it will be much easier for you to revert back to the old, unhealthy habits.

Step 5 Notice the new confidence, inner happiness and contentment you have when you start to achieve your new goals. Like I mentioned previously, just two chapters IS an achievement! You ARE doing it - you are doing what you set out to do. Enjoy the feelings of positivity that come with making changes. These new, upbeat feelings of self-empowerment can urge you forward to continuing and, most importantly, maintaining your new goal.

Notice the new confidence, inner happiness and contentment you have when you start to achieve your new goals ... Enjoy the feelings of positivity that come with making changes.

GO: If you would like more help on turning your life around, log on to www.kellyarmatage.com.

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#5 A

Do More For Others…

more unusual one here; many of us are indifferent to the many struggles and hardships that so many around us face, but what might interest you is that doing charity work doesn’t have to involve financial sacrifice – sometimes all it takes is some of your spare time.

Giving money is the easy way, and all donations to charities are, of course, appreciated. However, what is often

appreciated even more is for people to get involved on an organisational level, planning fundraisers, doing actual charity work, raising awareness, and more. Even if it’s just one evening a week, doing something as simple as writing newsletters or spreading the word can be hugely beneficial.

This isn’t completely selfless! Doing this kind of work can have huge benefits to your sense of self-worth.

Unfortunately, finding a list of all the charities in Bahrain isn’t easy, so finding out which you’d like to support can be difficult. The best way to find out is through word-ofmouth, or keeping an eye out for the many social fundraising events that take place throughout the year in Bahrain.

However, to get you started, here are a few suggestions:

The BSPCA The Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is one of Bahrain’s most respected charities, making colossal progress in changing attitudes towards animals in Bahrain, and helping lost, abandoned or abused animals where they can. They have advised the government on proposed legislation protecting animals, and are currently building an Animal Welfare Centre purely through donations and the goodwill of local companies. www.bspca.org The Palm Association This is a small group of expatriate ladies who have decided to give something back to a country that they have a deep fondness for. The Palm Association collect funds to purchase much-needed appliances and goods for impoverished Bahrainis. They never give cash handouts, all their charitable handouts come in the form of air-conditioners, refrigerators, stationary for school children, and so on. www.thepalmassociation.com

The Migrant Workers Protection Society An organisation that champions the cause of expatriate labour in Bahrain, who often fall prey to unscrupulous employers who withhold pay, or physically and verbally abuse them. They collect donations such as clothing and household items to distribute to low-income workers, and run a shelter for domestic workers who have escaped abusive employers. www.mwpsbahrain.com

Think Pink Bahrain A very active organisation in Bahrain, Think Pink raise awareness and funds to battle breast cancer in Bahrain. All of their fundraising at the moment is focused on raising funds for a digital MRI scanner, which will greatly increase detection of breast cancer, especially amongst younger women.

They have also provided funding for Bahraini nurses to go abroad for specialist training in breast cancer treatment. www.thinkpinkbahrain.com FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY Jan issue.indd 21

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ARTS

KEEPING BAHRAIN’S EYES, EARS AND MINDS IN SHAPE

THIS MONTH YOU MUST...

p24: Ballare Dance Studio p26: Bahrain Beats p28: On Screen

SEE

Ballare Dance Studio

A truly impressive new dance studio offering internationallyrecognised dance tuition... (see p24)

READ

House of Silk

by Anthony Horowitz

The first Sherlock Holmes novel not written by Conan Doyle to be sanctioned by the Conan Doyle estate, and it’s a cracker! (see p31)

HEAR

Mylo Xyloto

by Coldplay

Their new ‘concept’ album ain’t as conceptual as they’d like... (see p28)

WATCH

Underworld Awakening

Vampires and lycans go headto-head with humans this time! (see p28)

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ARTS

Where Dance Becomes Art...

Professional dancer Shanna LaFleur once said, “It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer.” For many, dancing is a unique and true form of expression, where you’re at liberty to let yourself go and ‘ feel at one’ with the music. Zara de Haldevang talks to Hala Al Zayani, a ballet teacher from Ballare Studios to find out more.

A

lthough it only opened at the end of September 2011, Ballare Studios in Saar is already one of the most renowned dance studios on the island.

Situated as it is in the tranquil Palace Gardens 1 compound, the studio creates a gorgeous first impression.

With its clean lines and minimalist décor, the studio is fresh, airy and uplifting. The musical melodies float around the transformed villa as you peer into the three separate dance studios.

As a professional ballet dancer, Hala has been dancing since the tender age of five. She went on to study at Millennium Stadium of Performing Arts in London, and she is now an incredibly talented ballet dancer. One of Hala’s classes is the Advanced Ballet Adult class, where the standard is of a considerably high level.

This school is one of a kind.

Recognising a gap in the market for performing arts, Hala realized that

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there was a lack of professionalism in Bahrain when it came to educating children and adults on the beauty of dancing.

Hala is already overwhelmed at the response the school has received since its opening. “The kids on the island are just so charismatic, driven and dedicated,” she says enthusiastically.

Although there was a two-month period where she was apprehensive towards the school’s success, she stuck to her gut instinct. “I decided to push for it. In Bahrain you have to set examples – it is like a domino effect when it comes to business on the island.”

Many of the students at Ballare are new to dance but, unlike other establishments, the classes are worked according to ability as well as age. The potential in the students is fantastic, with huge hidden talent coming to light over the past few months.

For many, dance is a dimension of sport where, according to Hala, “It

We want to provide an incentive for greater competition and creativity as operators compete to build consumer loyalty and attract new subscribers.

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requires a lot of discipline. By watching yourself in the mirror you can learn how to become more confident and more aware of yourself. Over time you can see a huge change in the dancers, for example their postures.”

The school works according to the educational calendar, where the terms run from September to June, with the obvious exception of the school holidays. At the end of June, the students have their examinations, where Ballare use the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) accreditation to test their students. Examiners are sent from the UK to examine the students during this period.

The classes on offer at Ballare are extremely authentic, where classes cleverly combine fitness with dance, resulting in an enjoyable workout. As well as Hala, the two main instructors are Louise and Kelly. There is also Rose, Rawia and the Street Star Crew who hold lessons throughout the week.

The classes range from Zumba to Tribal Fusion Belly Dancing and Break Dancing to Yogalates, a two-in-one class that combines Yoga and Pilates designed to create a healthy body and centred mind. The earliest age for students is two and a half to three years old, where proud parents can let their children enrol in Baby Ballet. There are also Piano classes where the musically inclined can practice and improve their skills.

The class sizes vary in popularity; 30 is currently the largest class size, but for those who tend to be less confident than others, private lessons are available where a one-onone session can help you to build up your self-belief in the serenity of your own studio.

2012 sees some exciting new classes and events for the school. Michelle, a professional ballet dancer from the UK, will be holding a Body Balance class. Originating from New Zealand, the class is pre-choreographed, where the programme combines three forms of dancing. The class begins with a Tai Chi warm up and then moves on to Yoga, where exercises such as standing strength and controlling and holding poses are concentrated on. Slowly the class works its way down to a Pilates routine. The class is said to be a full one-hour body workout, which will leave you feeling energized and centred.

As well as a new class, the Ballare School of Performing Arts is putting on a show entitled ‘This Is It’ – a performance combining all the students and all forms of dance to the infamous musical theme of Michael Jackson. This show will be in March and will undoubtedly be a fantastic chance to witness Bahrain’s talents first-hand.

It is rare yet refreshing to come across a school with such promise in Bahrain. Ballares’ motto is “where passion and inspiration come together”; if you are looking for a new way to express that inner you, this dance studio could be your second home.

ARTS

A summary of classes available:

Urban Acrobat Musi Urban Ballet

Cheerleading

Stretch & Flexibility

Acrobatics

Breakdancing

Twinkle Toes

Musical Theatre

Theatre Craft

Zumba

Street

GO: For information, email info@ballarestudio.com.

Street Dance

Tap

Jazz Lyrical

Jazz

Pointe

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ARTS

NEW ALBUMS, ARTISTS, AND AUDIOPHONICS

CHOICE TUNES

In Association with Virgin Megastore, Bahrain City Center

Rock

Mylo Xyloto

By Coldplay WHAT’S IT LIKE:

COLDPLAY’s bassist Guy Berriman inferred before this album was made that the band were looking to take their musical direction down completely new avenues, and in this respect, Mylo Xyloto has failed completely!

Don’t let the artsy cover and cryptic title (it’s pronounced “My-lo zy-letoe”, just in case you were wondering) fool you.

This album is unmistakeably Coldplay, and instantly likeable, just like all their other albums before it!

To be perfectly fair, they have pushed the boat out a little bit, with a good collaboration with Rihanna on ‘Princess of China’.

‘Paradise’ is our bet to be the festival favourite of the coming summer. With a smooth organ intro, Chris Martin’s lyrics build humbly up to a roof-raising chorus that was just made to be sung by 30,000 people in unison - they knew exactly what they were doing with that one!

Overall, Mylo Xyloto isn’t anything groundbreaking - just more of exactly what Coldplay do best, which is happy, uplifting stadium rock with flavours of social commentary and lots of feel good factor, albeit with a distincly U2 flavour throughout...

A-

The band were starting to get really pissed off with Chris Martin jumping to the front whenever the picture was taken...

Folk Rock

Indie

Heavy Metal

Lifes Rich Pageant (25th Anniversary Edition)

Junk of the Heart

A Dramatic Turn of Events

WHAT’S IT LIKE:

WHAT’S IT LIKE:

By Dream Theatre

By The Kooks

By R.E.M.

Following the announcement of the band’s break-up late last year, they have released three swan song albums - their last studio album, Collapse Into Now; a ‘greatest hits’ compilation entitled Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage; and this one - a digital remastering and rerelease of one of their most pivotal albums, Lifes Rich Pageant.

This is considered their breakout album, crossing the divide between subculture and mainstream, and bringing their sound to the masses. Their recipe of counterculture rhetoric and political commentary dressed up in an uptempo pop-friendly folksy rock proved a heady combination.

However, what makes this album a must-buy for R.E.M. fans is the collection of demo tracks that never made the final cut, which provide interesting insight into the creation of the album.

B+

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The Kooks have made a very obvious attempt to take the glossy sheen off of their teen indie pop image with this album.

The first clue is in the song titles, with track names like ‘F**k the World Off’ (oooh, edgy...). The next is lyrics like the very last line of the album, “No more Mr. Nice Guy”.

Another is their claim that they were inspired

by LCD Soundsystem whilst making this album (who is, in fact, actually edgy).

However, they’ve failed miserably in their ambitions, because Junk of the Heart is EXACTLY the same brand of glossy, chart-friendly indie rock that they’ve been making all along.

This is a shame, because it shows absolutely no sign of the group maturing as a band.

They shouldn’t lose heart though - it’s what’s made them so popular in the first place! Just don’t expect any suprises...

B

WHAT’S IT LIKE:

Dream Theater fans around the world lamented the departure from the band of drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy, and were dubious as to what this latest album would present without such a core member of the band.

They needn’t have worried. The band recruited the talents of five-time ‘World’s Fastest Drummer’ Mike Mangini to fill the gap, and while he doesn’t exactly shine on this first album with the band, he does the job well.

For Dream Theater fans there are no unpleasant surprises - the album is still chock full of wailing guitar solos, machinegun drum beats and the angst-laden vocals of James Labrie screaming out cliched lyrics like ‘lambs to the slaughter’, etc.

There isn’t much new or scandalous to talk about, it’s really more of the same, which will relieve their old fans, but won’t earn them any new ones!

B

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Seating system from the Donovan Collection

MInotti S.p.A Diplomat Radisson SAS Tel. 17540111 www minotti com

ARTS

TOP FILMS SHOWING THIS MONTH IN BAHRAIN

ON SCREEN

Under the circumstances, the vampire hunter suddenly felt a bit silly standing there with a wooden stake raised in the air...

Underworld Awakening D: Måns Mårlind C: Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, India Eisley

WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

Though historically mortal enemies, the vampire clans and the lycan (werewolf) clans are forced to join forces to save their own skin when their existence is discovered by the human race, who decide, for some strange reason, that the world might just be a tad safer without armies of vampires and werewolves wandering around!

WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING:

So, the vampires have battled the werewolves, and the werewolves have battled the vampires, and vampires have fought with vampires, and werewolves with werewolves. What could they possibly do next? Hmmm...

Of course! Let’s bring humans into the mix! We suppose having the vampires joining forces with werewolves to bring the war in the underworld into the everyday world makes a kind of poetic sense. And you just know that the battle scenes are

going to be immense, as the vampires and werewolves are highly outnumbered, but obviously physically far superior, although the humans have armies, etc. Oooh, who’s going to win?

It’ll be worth watching just to see the delectable Kate Beckinsale vamp it out and kick some ass for the fourth time.

After all the soppiness of the Twilight series, it’ll be nice to see some gothic gunslinging vampire action on our screens once again!

WIN 2 FREE CINEMA TICKETS

Redeemable for any film at any Cineco cinema

Answer the following question: What is the name of Kate Beckinsale’s character in the Underworld series?

SMS answers to: +973 3655 8274 or E-mail answers to: editor@factlive.com

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ARTS

One for the Money D: Julie Anne Robinson C: Katherine Heigl, Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata

Katherine Heigl finally does a film where she gets the guy... right in the gut with a 9mm round!

WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

Divorced, laid-off, down and out and generally without purpose or direction, Stephanie Plum takes a job at her cousin’s bail-bond business. Far from the admin job she was expecting, she finds herself out and about newly armed with a gun hunting down bail-jumpers, one of whom turns out to be an old flame, which makes things interesting!

WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING:

For one main reason: Katherine Heigl. Despite the fact that she is the queen of chick flicks and rom coms, she’s a likeable sort, and it’s fantastic that she finally has a role where she gets to do something a bit different, for a change! And despite its action-filled storyline, the script is also full of humour and fun, making it an attractive package through and through. Having said that, the appearance of the old flame is bound to throw some romance in there somewhere. She just can’t seem to avoid it... Nevertheless, bring it on Katherine!

Maggie Thatcher: Didn’t have a gun. But then, she didn’t need one, did she? She had the entire British Army...

Haywire sees former American Gladiator Gina

Carano take on the role of an elite operative who is double crossed by her agency, sending her on a quest to find out why, and get some payback in the process! This new femme fatale is exploding onto our cinema screens with a colossal cast behind her, including Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Channing Tatum and Antonio Banderas, so she must be doing something right!

Are you starting to notice a theme here?

The Grey

The Iron Lady

D: Phyllida Lloyd C: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Richard E. Grant

WHAT’S IT ABOUT: The Iron Lady highlights the life of one of Britain’s most

follows the story of a wildlife expert (Neeson) who is stranded in the snowy wilderness with his team-mates following a plane crash, and ends up being stalked by a pack of especially nasty wolves. He must use all his animal expertise to outwit, outrun and outmanoeuvre the wolves, who start picking his friends off one by one.

Liam Neeson: Because we ran out of gun-toting alpha-women...

prominent political figures, Baroness Margaret Thatcher. It charts her rise to power in a male-dominated political world, her challenges dealing with a war with Argentina in the Falklands and civil unrest with the unions at home, and the personal sacrifices she had to make to achieve all these things.

WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: One of the strongest women in recent history, and the first female British Prime Minister, whatever you say about her, you can never say that her life wasn’t interesting! This film explores the personality behind the ‘Iron Lady’ persona, and the struggles she faced balancing political life and personal life, and it all makes for very interesting viewing! You can bet Meryl Streep’s going for Oscars with this one.

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ARTS

BAHRAIN’S BEST READS THIS MONTH BY GENRE

CHOICE WORDS

In Association with Virgin Megastore, Bahrain City Center

Mystery/Crime

The House of Silk By Anthony Horowitz

WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

That’s right people, Sherlock’s back, in this, the first Sherlock Holmes mystery novel not written by Conan Doyle to be sanctioned by his estate.

This book is actually written from the perspective of Holmes’ faithful sidekick Dr. Watson, who is telling the story in retrospect, after Holmes has already died, and Watson himself is an old man, with seven grandchildren.

The story, he says in the book, was so scandalous and shocking that it had to be buried for many years before it could be published, which really sets the tone for what is set to be one of the most thrilling Sherlock Holmes stories to date.

The game is officially afoot!

WHAT’S IT LIKE:

Taking on a legacy of magnitude is a huge responsibility, and the big question is, does Horowitz live up to the legend?

We’re glad to say that yes, he really does do justice to the great Conan Doyle. The House of Silk really manages to capture that atmosphere of foggy Victorian London, and the storyline is suitably tense and gripping.

The mystery itself, without giving anything away, turns out to be just as scandalous as promised, and the many twists and Aturns are just as enjoyable as Holmes’ cold and genius logic is at unravelling them.

Thriller

Fiction

Historical Non-Fiction

Bad Signs

Faith

The Lost Empire of Atlantis

By R.J. Ellory

WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

Set in 1960’s America, two half brothers are orphaned by a senseless act of violence that takes their mother from them.

Growing up in the system, their lives are changed forever when they’re kidnapped and held hostage by a convicted killer headed for Death Row. As the trail of violence they leave behind in their wake threatens to engulf them, the killer’s homicidal tendencies start to awaken dark and previously buried parts of one brother’s personality, and the other has to reconsider their relationship.

WHAT’S IT LIKE:

Considering this book was written by a man from the West Midlands in the UK, the detail and realism that Ellory gives to this story in 1960s America is incredible.

Add to that the depth and richness of the characters, and you end up with a story that will absorb you completely.

However, Bad Signs is not easy reading, and definitely not for kids, with some downright shocking subject matter covered.

In addition, sometimes the descriptive writing of Ellory can be a bit laborious, going on for quite a while.

B+ The end effect, though, is a riveting story overall.

by Jennifer Haigh

By Gavin Menzies

WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

Faith is a story set in suburban Massachusetts, where a priest is embroiled in a child sex abuse scandal.

As the atmosphere of paranoia grips the community, and people start jumping to conclusions, the priest’s sister must face the truth behind the allegations, and resurrect a secret about her brother that she promised to keep, separating fact from malicious rumour to find out whether her brother is really the man she thought he was, or a vile sex offender.

WHAT’S IT LIKE:

Haigh approaches this story with a surprising amount of sympathy, really getting under the skin of a family that is almost destroyed by the allegations against the priest, and capturing the overwhelming avalanche of guilt and confusion that envelops them.

It’s told as a first person narrative by the priest’s sister, and as the book progresses, you develop a keen fondness for her forthright and honest personality, and a profound sympathy for the situation she finds herself in.

It’s this likeability and sympathy towards the subject matter that makes this story readable.

B

WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

Historian Gavin Menzies travels the Mediterranean exploring the history of the ancient Minoans, a civilisation that preceeded the Greeks and the Romans, and even the Ancient Egyptians.

He poses the hypothesis that the Minoans were global seafarers and traders whose civilisation was wiped out by a massive earthquake and the resulting tsunami, and this is what Plato was talking about when he wrote about ‘Atlantis’. Hence the name, the Lost Empire of Atlantis.

WHAT’S IT LIKE:

We can call this book non-fiction only in the loosest sense of the term, because while Menzies is writing about a real ancient civilisation and real historical sites, much of the book is his own theories and opinions, backed up by the loosest connections between so-called evidence and facts.

As you read it, you really, really want to believe what Menzies is saying, as it makes for magical reading. However, even as you read, you’re distanced by his often rather far-fetched conclusions, such as the fact that two things are related because C+ they both have a picture of a bull on them, and so on.

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Professional Photography & Videography

image is everything 32

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TECHNOLOGY

p34: Fitness Technology p36: The Lab p40: The Range Rover Vogue

KEEPING THE PEOPLE OF BAHRAIN STATE-OF-THE-ART

Better Fitness Through Technology For all of you out there who shamelessly overindulged over the festive period, and are now facing a New Years Resolution to lose the pounds, help is at hand‌

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TECHNOLOGY

Better Fitness Through Technology While we all had fun last month feasting and making merry, we’re all paying for it now with the tell tale signs apparent everywhere – you get out of breath climbing stairs, your waistbands are a little tighter than they were, you had to loosen your belt a notch… But don’t despair! There is a whole range of fantastic gadgetry out there to help you get in shape, from console games to workout aids – read on for the best fitness technology out there today!

Go Pro Camera

What’s cooler than participating in extreme sports? Well, recording your awesome activities and playing it back to your friends, of course! Go Pro cameras aren’t so much a fitness aid, as a fitness motivator, because being able to record your gnarly mountain bike ride across the desert in all its cliff-jumping glory will inspire you to pull the bike out of the garage, dust off the ol’ helmet and get back out there!

The Go Pro camera can be attached to just about anything, from helmets to car bonnets, bike handle bars and even skateboards, thanks to an ingenious attachment kit with a variety of different fixtures (Don’t believe us? Go on YouTube and check out the video of the dog fetching a Go

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Pro camera tied to a piece of wood and hurled into the sea!).

They come with waterproof kits too, so you can record your epic wake boarding or kite surfing skills (or your hilarious wipe-outs) for all to see.

The Go Pro cameras are so versatile and useful that they’ll ultimately encourage you to get out there and start getting extreme!

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Nike + Sport Band

A while ago, we wrote about the Nike + iPod Sports Kit, which basically involves a sensor in your Nike Shoe which transmits to your iPod, which stores data about your run – pace, times, distance, etc. – and can also program playlists depending on your exercise requirements.

It’s a great piece of kit, but you do have to have an iPod strapped to your arm the whole time, which some people might find cumbersome. Plus, if you’re not the sort of person who runs to music, the whole set-up has very little appeal – you don’t want to lug around a whole iPod if you’re not even listening to it!

TECHNOLOGY

Enter the Nike + Sport Band.

This highly compact device works with the same transmitter that the iPod does, but is instead worn unobtrusively around the wrist like a watch. It records everything that your iPod would – pace, time, distance, etc., without the bulky arm strap.

When you’re done with your exercise, simply pull the USB stick out of the band and plug it into your computer to upload all your running telemetry, which can then be compared to other people’s data via the Nike website.

Philips Airfryer

One of the hardest parts about getting back into shape is watching your diet because, at the end of the day, the best foods are always the ones that are the worst for your health! And there are few foods that are worse for your health than deep fried foods!

Anything that has been immersed in boiling oil or fat for any amount of time is going to end up soaked in saturated fats and trans fats, and will therefore increase your levels of cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.

The Philips Airfryer uses superheated air instead of oil to cook your food in a pioneering

UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System

The training that top-flight UFC fighters undergo to prepare for a match is some of the most intense of any athlete in the world. It involves working on ALL the body’s muscle groups, including core strength, because the fighting style itself involves so many different

techniques, from punching and kicking to grappling.

And now you can have your very own UFC personal trainer, right in your living room! The UFC Personal Trainer for the Xbox Kinect features the characters of real-life UFC trainers, who put you through your

technique developed by Philips. The result is still crisp and thoroughly cooked food, without the saturated fats!

It has been proven to reduce the fat content of deep fried potato chips by up to 80% - you can’t argue with those results! The device comes with a recipe book featuring a whole load of recipes that can be created with the Airfryer, including favourites like chicken wings, fish, etc., as well as a range of features to help you with your cooking, like a separator so you can cook different things at the same time, a timer with automatic shutoff, and it’s all dishwasher friendly, making it easier to clean!

Result!

paces in a series of fitness tests and workouts that increase in intensity as your fitness increases. There are workout sessions involving punching, kicking, resistance training, and personal workouts such as push-ups, sit-ups and the like.

You can either do one-off workout sessions, or commit to 30 or 60-day courses with fitness tests along the way, so that you can actually see your fitness levels improving.

This has been described as one of the most physically intense workouts that you’ll find for consoles, so if you’re really interested in getting fit, this could be just what you’re looking for!

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TECHNOLOGY

LAB TEST

LG HOM-BOT Available: AJM Kooheji

THE future is here people! Do you remember those sci-fi movies you used to watch, where the little robots go around performing everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning? Well, now fantasy has once more merged with reality thanks to technology, with something straight out of the Jetsons!

We introduce to you, the LG HOMBOT 2.0.

This fantastic little device will vacuum your home completely on its own. Simply switch it on and walk away, and the robot will hoover away using dual upper and lower cameras combined with ultrasonic and infrared sensors to avoid objects and furniture, whilst mapping the layout of your home and storing it in its memory banks for future use.

The upper camera is tasked with simultaneously mapping and storing house floor plans, while the lower camera incorporates an Optical Flow Sensor to capture surface images at high speed and report obstacles back to the HOM-BOT 2.0’s decisionmaking software. The two cameras combined allow the smart vacuum cleaner to calculate distance information and plot courses that maximize cleaning efficiency whilst saving time.

Course selection is further assisted through the HOM-BOT 2.0’s ultrasonic and infrared sensors, which identify obstacles in real time, helping the cleaner avoid the

EMOTION

BOT runs low on battery power, it will automatically go back and find its docking station to re-charge itself, and once charged, will go out and finish vacuuming.

PROS

-You don’t have to lift a finger -Recharges itself

CONS

-VERY expensive

A

LG HOM-BOT EXPERIENCE-METER

Happiest human ever

Very impressed

bump-and-retreat action that plagues other robotic systems. In addition, the accelerometer and gyro sensors support stable movements even on slightly tilted surfaces.

It also boasts a Smart Battery System with a Li-Polymer battery that has a longer life than conventional batteries, and this also means that the HOM-BOT won’t get tangled up on its own wires. However, the best part is yet to come: When the HOM-

“We absolutely loved it when the HOM-BOT went ‘home’ to charge itself!”

“It’s expensive, but looks great, really futuristic.”

“The HOM-BOT makes sci-fi a reality, which is exactly what good gadgets should do...”

Pleased

Indifferent

“Switch it on, and off it goes, learning its way round!”

Ouch!

TIME 36

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28/12/2011 21:50

LAB TEST

LG 3D PROJECTOR Available: AJM Kooheji

EMOTION

AS the 3D movement sweeps across the globe, more and more 3D-enabled gadgetry is being unveiled. Recently, a 200-inch (yes, 200!) 3D TV was announced that doesn’t need 3D glasses. It shows an HD image from 57 different angles, which means that you can literally walk to one side and see around an object on the screen.

It will also, however, probably cost around a million dinars, and you won’t be able to buy any Hollywood blockbusters for it (they would have to be filmed with 57 cameras simultaneously), so if you want a true 200-inch 3D viewing experience in your home, then this here is the nearest you’ll get – the LG CF3DAT 3D projector.

It can project on to any suitable viewing surface a 3D image of up to 200 inches, and comes with a builtin tuner and 2D to 3D conversion engine, projecting anything you want in full HD 3D viewing! Despite its large 200-inch projection area, it projects clear and bright images, using its 1920x1080 HD display supported by a brightness of 1,250 ANSI lumens in 3D mode, approximately six times brighter than other premium projectors.

The LG 3D projector employs the passive Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) display technology,

enabling the use of LG’s polarized 3D glasses, which are far more affordable and lightweight compared to shutter-type 3D glasses. This type of display technology is widely being recognised as the most preferable, as not only are the glasses much less bulky than the battery operated Active Shutter glasses, but they were also certified ‘Flicker Free’, meaning that eye fatigue is greatly reduced.

In turn, larger audiences can use the passive CF3DAT to enjoy 3D content more economically and for longer periods. Due to such qualities, the CF3DAT is not only suitable for large living rooms, but also museums, auditoriums and other types of public venues.

We love projectors because of their versatility – you can hook them up anywhere (for example, outside in front of a Jacuzzi perhaps? You know who you are…) and enjoy a real home cinema experience. Add in the group 3D viewing factor, and you’ve got a winning concept!

PROS

-FPR flicker free display -Can set it up anywhere

CONS

-Quite expensive -Bulky for a projector

A

LG 3D PROJECTOR EXPERIENCE-METER

Happiest human ever

“Wow, the 3D picture quality is fantastic, and there really is no flicker!”

Very impressed

Pleased

Indifferent

“It’s bulky AND expensive, so doesn’t make a great first impression…”

“The glasses are light and comfortable, which is a bonus!”

“If you have the cash and a suitable large wall, then this is the home cinema 3D experience for you.”

Ouch!

TIME FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY Jan issue.indd 37

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TECHNOLOGY

RICK’S

(New Year Resolution)

WEB PICKS

Our dedicated online time waster bestows upon us his eternal wisdom, in the form of his 10 websourced New Year’s Resolutions…

“In 2012, I will…”

1.

Check my pockets before laundry day

3.

2.

4.

Remember not to give this guy a gun during the aforementioned zombie apocalypse

7.

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Stop freaking out shoppers

Prepare for the zombie apocalypse

8.

Accept challenges when they arise

Learn what the yellow box is for

9.

Story of the mont h:

A marine was de ployed to Afghan istan.

While he was th ere, he received a let ter from his girlfrie nd. In the lette r, she explained that sh e had cheated on him with two other guys while he ha d been gone and she wante d to break up with him.

She also wanted the picture of he rself back. So the ma rine did what any other man would do. He went around to his buddies and colle cted all the unw an te d photos of women he could find. He then mailed about 24 pic tures of women (w ith clothes and with out) to his ex-girl friend with the following note: “I don’t reme mber which one you ar e. Please remove your picture and send the rest back.”

5.

Hang out with the Fact Magazine staff more often

Tell her what I really think

10.

6.

Enjoy kid before th s ey grow up

Become a chick magnet

FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY

Jan issue.indd 38

28/12/2011 21:50

FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY Jan issue.indd 39

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TECHNOLOGY

ALI DRIVER SAYS THAT

“It was everything I always dreamed it would be…”

Our Mystery Motoring Expert, Ali Driver, finally gets his hands on a Range Rover, and is pretty chuffed about it…

F

inally! I have driven a Range Rover. After all the long years, and countless cars, one car I had always wanted to have a go in was a Range Rover. The original or the Sport, I didn’t care which, just any Range Rover.

I was invited to a big Range Rover event in Bahrain last year, but was unable to make it because of other commitments, and was absolutely gutted to hear about the great day out everyone had driving the whole range all over the Bahraini desert.

But now, at long last, I’ve driven one. And not just any one – I was given the top-of-the-range, fullyloaded, bells and whistles Vogue edition, with the Supercharged Jaguar 5.0l V8, and all the gadgetry you can poke a finger at.

Range Rover is Land Rover’s luxury brand – whereas a Land Rover LR3 is made for farmers to drive out to their muddy fields, the Range Rover was built to carry Lords across their country estates. That’s not to say it’s prissy or delicate – at the very heart of any vehicle produced by Land Rover is excellent off-road capability. It’s the very essence of the Land Rover brand, and something that they never compromise on, no matter how luxurious the car is.

Their policy goes something like: “Yes, it’ll drive through that waterlogged field, no problem. You just have to decide whether or not you really want to get your BD50,000 car all muddy…”

The first thing that strikes you about the Range Rover is its sheer

40

size and presence. When you climb in, the seating position is very high, with huge windows and a high roof making for a commanding view of the road all around you. It’s extremely spacious and comfortable.

And the second thing that will strike you is the headrest, right in the back of your head the first time you naively plant the accelerator without thinking, and the supercharged V8 winds up, lets out a roar, and proceeds to send you back to the future...

This is an engine with 503hp, and 560Nm of torque, that will accelerate from 0-100km/h in just over seven seconds, which doesn’t sound too impressive until you realise that the car weighs three tonnes! And this acceleration continues all the way through the higher speeds – plant it at 100km/h and the power delivery is immense!

An object of this size accelerating with this kind of pace must bend the very fabric of space and time. You can almost see the light distorting around you as the speedometer needle sails past 160km/h in a mere matter of seconds.

At this stage, you start to become aware of the fact that you’re only a few seconds away from travelling at 200km/h in something the size of a small elephant, and ease off the accelerator with a nervous chuckle and no small measure of relief. Gentle touches from now on, methinks…

This is when you’ll really start to enjoy the car. It’s not a car made for drag racing or track driving – when you drive the Vogue it does feel as

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“The adjustable offroad settings are just one of the reasons why the Range Rover is so good...”

big and heavy as it is. The power is there to help the large vehicle overtake coaches on country roads, and to power it through soft mud and water in fields. It will do all this in the utmost comfort, as the ride is as smooth and refined as you’d expect from a Range Rover, largely thanks to the electronic cross-linked air suspension.

Everything about the Range Rover is superlative – the styling is the handsomest I’ve seen. The ride

is the most comfortable I’ve ever enjoyed on an SUV. The adjustable traction control system is the most sophisticated I’ve ever experienced off-road… the list goes on. But let’s talk details.

Off-road, the Range Rover is best in class, no exceptions. One could even argue that it’s best full stop, but others would sing the benefits of Jeep Wranglers, or Land Cruisers, and so on. However, when it comes

to combining luxury with off-road capability, nothing else even comes close. The Toyota Land Cruiser could possibly match it for performance, but not for prestige. The Land Cruiserbased Lexus LX470 sacrifices off-road performance for luxury, as it becomes too heavy with all the goodies in it.

The Range Rover features adjustable off-road settings with four different options, helping you to select the setting that’s best for where you’re driving, be it mud, gravel, snow or rock.

In addition to this, it also boasts an adjustable ride height, which can be lowered for optimal on-road stability, and raised to improve ground clearance when off-road. Then there’s one of my favourite bits, the Hill Descent Control. When this is engaged, you can point the Range Rover down a rough-surfaced hill, take your foot off the brake, and let the car do all the work for you, as it combines the brakes and acceleration to maximise grip and maintain a constant and safe speed as you roll down the hill.

The Range Rover isn’t the only car on the market to feature adjustable offroad settings and hill descent control – the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee that we reviewed back in April had them too – but the Rangey had it first!

I took the car to a hill in Sakhir with a little bit of an axle-bender on it that I like to test SUVs on. It’s not particularly extreme – all but the most unworthy SUVs will make it up – but I judge the car’s abilities by how easily it climbs the hill; does it scrabble for grip; does it jolt about as it tries to FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY

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TECHNOLOGY

“The very epitome of luxury and offroad performance, and a handsome devil to boot!”

transfer power between the wheels; is there a lot of wheel spin; does the engine struggle to cope?

For the Rangey, the answer to all the above questions was: “I beg your pardon! Do you realise who you’re talking to?”

All I did was point the car at the hill, apply the tiniest bit of gas, and with the absolute minimum of fuss, and a polite cough, the Range Rover casually ascended the hill as if it was made of tarmac.

The power smoothly transferred between the wheels so that the grip was always there, and the suspension delicately placed the wheels into the troughs and over the bumps without rudely disturbing the occupant (which would be me), who sat in the drivers seat feeling very serene and somewhat unnecessary! It was all very polite and dignified, just like a Range Rover should be!

Overall, I enjoyed the Range Rover immensely, but there was just one tiny complaint I had about it, which is the digital instrument panel. It boasts the same one as the new Jaguar XJ, and it was the only thing I didn’t like about that car too, although the car itself I absolutely loved.

Call me old school, but I think a premium brand car should have premium-looking gauges with backlights and silver bits and stuff – the whole digital thing just looks a bit “PlayStation Generation” to me. But that’s just me.

In every other respect, there was nothing I could find fault with. It’s a masterpiece!

Who is Ali Driver?

42

“The Range Rover tackled this particular obstacle with the absolute minimum of fuss...”

1. He lives in Bahrain and says he grew up on the streets of Muhurraq, but we think he’s actually from a rich family in Saar, and won’t admit it.

2. He says his car skills are all self-taught, but we’re sure we’ve seen a course certificate from the BIC on his wall.

3. He drives cars better than anyone we know (but don’t ever tell him).

4. He claims to be able to change a regular car tyre in under 4 minutes, but we’re sure that’s only when his wife helps him.

FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY

Jan issue.indd 42

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Home s

More e xc stock a iting rriv every d ing ay!

Stockists of: Yankee Candle scented products Willow Tree figurines Baby gifts/baby baskets Photo frames/albums Wedding gifts/accessories Birthday gifts Greeting cards and wrapping paper (gift wrapping service available) Household ornaments and gifts Located in Hamala, near the Dream Body Centre and the British School FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY Jan issue.indd 43 Home shop ad.indd 2

43 28/12/2011 21:51 24/02/2011 16:20

TECHNOLOGY

ALI DRIVER SAYS THAT

“Sometimes, my job is really tough...”

Our Mystery Motoring Expert, Ali Driver, takes a look back at some of his favourite motoring shoots we’ve done at FACT Magazine over the course of 2011...

The Maserati GranCabrio - quite simply one of the most beautiful cars we’ve ever reviewed!

The Jaguar XJ - a masterpiece!

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee the best example of the model to date!

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Everything about this Porsche 911 shoot was just right - the car, the location, the lighting, and we got some truly fantastic shots!

The Dodge Challenger SRT8 - a true Hollywood movie star of a car, it looked good just about anywhere!

As soon as we saw this wierd structure out by Amwaj Islands, we thought, “Can we fit the car under it?” This amazing shot of the Audi A7 is the result...

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FASHION

p48: A Sporting Chance - All the best sportswear fashion...

FIGHTING THE BATTLE AGAINST BAD TASTE IN BAHRAIN

A Sporting Chance…

A Sporting Chance…

As the New Year kicks in, one of the main focuses for January will be on getting fit and healthy. With this in mind, we bring you the best of sporting fashion to help you look your best on the treadmill.

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FASHION

A Sporting Chance…

Given the general New Year’s Resolution theme running through this issue, one of the main focuses has been on getting fit and healthy.

With this in mind, we bring you the best of sporting fashion to help you look your best on the treadmill, because, let’s face it, when you’re gasping, red-faced and sweating, you need all the help you can get!

Adidas for Oysho

A

rather unusual collaboration here, with women’s lingerie brand Oysho teaming up with the global sports brand Adidas to create a very desirable collection of gymwear.

To be honest, Oysho also make pyjamas and swimwear, as well as a line of sport underwear, so perhaps the partnership isn’t so strange. The main focus of the collection is the sneakers, which are absolutely gorgeous. They come in two colours, one black, and one white, both with golden details, including the infamous ‘three stripes’ on the side.

The collection is rounded off with a range of clothing and accessories designed principally for the practice of various sports such as running, fitness or yoga.

Feast your eyes on the pictures. We think you’ll agree that you’ve never looked so good on an exercise mat…

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FASHION

Not-so-sporting Sportswear

Ok, so these collections aren’t so much ‘sportswear’ as ‘sports-inspired’. These looks from Puma and Lacoste both come from companies that are traditionally sportswear manufacturers, but these aren’t conceivably anything you would ever wear in the gym. Perhaps on your way TO the gym.

However, we like them so much that we had to include them…

Urban Fold

Bound Mid Fur

Puma

A

didas isn’t the only sportswear brand to collaborate with design labels. Puma has joined forces with several huge names in the fashion industry to come up with some truly unique products.

Perhaps the most high-profile collaboration is the one with Alexander McQueen. The Street Climb Mid is a model that combines McQueen’s fashion sensibilities and Puma’s vulcanized look. More from Alexander McQueen, the Bound Mid Fur features an easily detachable fur collar.

Made in Italy and boasting a metallic nappa leather upper, this style oozes subtle nautical references: check out the metal D-rings and studs to the oversized, statement rope laces.

Another winner from Puma comes from its partnership with Mihara Yasuhiro. The My-56 takes the iconic Puma Clyde silhouette but adds the distinctive Mihara by adding 3D rubber spheres that peak through the quarter. The styles are available in rich and colourful suede’s and finished with a full grain leather formstripe.

A collection by Hussein Chalayan showcases the Urban Fold, a sporting piece made from heavy reversed suede. Standing as a signature branding of Urban Mobility, the line containing this outfit, the look is finished off with a subtle stenciled formstripe.

Rudolf Dassler and Puma have paired up to design the Mojave Suede boot; a key style for Dassler. Ideal for these cooler months, the boot is designed with a heavy stitched formstripe and Puma archive foilprint branding to complete the look of the heritage design language. The rubber foxing on the shoe’s lower part makes it protective against weather damage too.

Street Climb Mid

MY-56

Mojave Suede

Lacoste

A

s for these ones, yes, this range is Lacoste’s Sportswear Autumn/ Winter Collection, although what it’s got to do with sport we really don’t know. But, they’re called Sportswear, and they look nice, so here you go…

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FASHION inthe Home FIGHTING THE BATTLE AGAINST BAD TASTE IN BAHRAIN’S HOMES

Italian Style In Your Home!

Luxury Italian furniture design firm Minotti recently unveiled their Design Identity for 2011, with a stunning range of premium-quality furniture embodying the very essence of style in the home. FACT talks to Feryal Yusuf, showroom manager of Minotti Bahrain to find out more about the collection…

FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY Jan issue.indd 51

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FASHION inthe Home

Italian Style In Your Home!

Luxury Italian furniture design firm Minotti recently unveiled their Design Identity for 2011, with a stunning range of premium-quality furniture embodying the very essence of style in the home. FACT talks to Feryal Yusuf, showroom manager of Minotti Bahrain to find out more about the collection…

Can you describe the latest product offerings from Minotti?

The Minotti 2011 Collection transcends well beyond home furniture and extends very effectively into the project and contract market.

The construction and design of many of the products in the “Design identity 2011” collection lend themselves perfectly to Contract spaces in terms of taste, identity and personality.

Who were the designers who created these products, and what is their background?

The principal designer was Rodolfo Dordoni, an architect and designer who boasts an unprecedentedly sophisticated and complex design soul. He was born in Milan, where he graduated in Architecture in 1979.

52

Following that, Dordoni started working in the world of design, and he specializes in image strategy from product to communication.

What was the inspiration behind these products, in terms of design, materials, and so on?

The inspiration was to choose things which time cannot extinguish by pursuing quality and common sense for lasting design.

They are products designed with strong thought, clear visions transformed into elegance, discretion, consistency, passion, simplicity, and quality. Minotti plays with the impulse of fashion in Milan to locate remarkable materials to add to its craftsmanship.

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FASHION inthe Home

Who is the Minotti range aimed at? What type of customer will appreciate Minotti furnishings?

Minotti lifestyle attracts everyone for its harmonious style and the blend of tradition and modernity as the key principle that joins and coordinates all the ingredients. It will appeal to people with an ambition to create places where conversations are more fluent, hospitality is more open, friendship is softer, the family is closer, life is easier, and solitude is warmer.

When choosing Minotti furniture for your home, what factors should you consider to ensure that you get the most out of your choices, and that they are the right choices for your home?

Choices can only be made when you understand what your needs are.

Minotti researched over the years to bring what is important for each individual. Comfort, durability and precision impart an aesthetic cohesion and uniqueness.

Do you have a service in which you offer advice or assistance in this regard?

Minotti has an interior design division offering a new culture to the market with innovative design strategy coordinated amongst all parties to fit the end user.

GO: For information, call the Minotti showroom on 1754 0111.

Jan issue.indd 53

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LEBANON

Escape to healthy living in the heart of nature - Mesmerizing view of the sea and mountain - Exceptional location with healthy climate - Gated community between Baabdat and Bikfaya - Apartment areas from 175sqm to 450sqm - 24hr Security at project gate - Payment facilities

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Jan issue.indd 54

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//

Time Unwind to

Recreation is just as important in life as occupation! This is your guide to making the most of your precious spare time. There’s no need to waste it...

FINAL WORD

What’s your

BAHRAIN

IQ

S.A.T’s? M.B.A’s? Pah! In Bahrain,

only one test score really matters: your

This month is our big New Year’s Resolution Issue. Do you:

Bahrain IQ!

a

conscientiously write out a list of all your objectives for 2012, and dutifully stick to them, thereby losing weight, giving up smoking, learning the guitar, and generally making everyone else feel inadequate? dig out the crumpled remains of last year’s list, give it a read through, decide it’ll do, copy the whole list of unfulfilled ambitions onto a new piece of paper, and stick it back in the bottom of the junk drawer with vague self-promise s to try and get at least one or two of them done this year? decide that you don’t need any resolutions this year. Why mess with perfection?

b

c

The Bahrain International Airshow takes place this month. Do

a

you: go along and buy a ticket, and then “Oooh!” and “Aaah!” like a child when billions of dollars worth of military hardware roar above

your head at supersonic speeds? b go along and sit outside the Sakhir Airbase’s fence

and watch the aerial displays from a distance, because you’re too cheap to buy a ticket, and don’t really want to see the cool planes close up anyway? sit at home, because you’re not really interested in all that fighter jet mumbo jumbo, and you’d much rather stay in and sort out your stuffed bear collection anyway?

c

With the Festive season now behind you, are you:

a completely broke? b completely exhausted? c completely relieved?

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FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY

BAHRAIN IQ - p66

Our sly monthly round-up of recent Bahrain news

Jan issue.indd 55

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//

VENUE REVIEW

Panasia Umm Al Hassam Tel: 7719 0772

PANASIA is a new venue dedicated to all things Asian in the world of cuisine, with a menu comprised of dishes from the Subcontinent to Far East Asia. Located in Umm Al Hassam, the restaurant occupies a renovated villa just opposite Kims Medical Centre.

Panasia have chosen a rather tough area to open a Chinese/ Indian combined restaurant, as they’re smack bang in between one of Bahrain’s most popular Indian restaurants and one of Bahrain’s favourite Chinese restaurants!

One way they’ve thrown down the gauntlet is with the venue itself. The décor is modern, clean and yet cosy, with a pleasant ambiance provided courtesy of the water gardens that can be seen through all the windows of the downstairs dining area.

The other way, we presume, is by endeavouring to offer the best of both worlds under one roof. The menu is a combination of classic curries from India, as well as famous dishes from China, Thailand and other countries in Far East.

We asked the waiters to bring us a

56

selection of what they consider to be their best dishes, and let them do their thing. The meal started off with a round of Hot and Sour Seafood Soup. It was tasty, but had the rather unusual addition of chicken, which I hadn’t experienced in a seafood soup before!

The starters were Steamed Chicken Dumplings and Thai Hammour Satay, both of which were delicious, although the Hammour Satay tasted a little more like tandoori than Satay!

The peanut sauce, however, was excellent.

For main course, we had Crispy Beef, Beijing style, as well as King Prawn with Honey Chilli, and accompanied with Seafood Munfun rice. All of these were tasty enough, though not the best examples of each dish I’ve ever had.

They also brought a portion of Tandoori bread, which was strange because we didn’t end up trying anything from the curry menu! This I later regretted, for one main reason.

I was interested to see how good the curries were, as Panasia is located just around the corner from the Copper

Chimney, one of the best curry houses in Bahrain, and if Panasia are planning to tempt people away from there with their curries, then they’d better be absolutely top-notch!

Though the staff were friendly and helpful, their inexperience showed, as at times the service was a little clumsy (e.g. the tandoori bread), and the waiters weren’t sure of themselves when questions were asked. However, what they lacked in experience, they made up for in warmth, as they did their utmost to deal with our queries, and we are sure that things will smooth out with time.

Something to look out for is the upstairs tea lounge, which is a very comfortable room with numerous cosy booths for groups to sit in and relax whilst enjoying food and snacks from the tea menu. This room can also be booked for private parties, which is a very good thing!

Overall, Panasia is a pleasant place to go for a meal, with tasty food and a great ambiance. Once they iron out the kinks, in time it should become a real player in the Asian food scene in the Umm Al Hassam area.

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Cocoon Lounge Address: Website: Opening hours: Contact No:

Best Western Hotel, Juffair www.cocoonlounge.net 17:00-02:00 Every day +973 3650 0114

THIS MONTH

Weds, 4 Jan

Nakadia (Tropical Underground) Nakadia is one of the top female DJ’s in the world, spinning unique sets of deep house, tech-house and minimal influenced techno. She brings an open minded and fresh vibe to her nights with an unstoppable energy that pulses through the crowd! - Ladies Night.

Weds, 11 Jan

Matthew Charles Matthew Charles kicked off his career by winning the GCC regional final of the Thirst Studio contest.

He has held residencies in the likes of Cafe Mambo in Ibiza, and now plays the biggest clubs in Dubai such as Chi and 360. - Ladies Night.

Friday, 13 Jan

Natalie B Playing soulful house, deep funky tech and a little electro, Natalie B is one of the hottest DJ’s to take up a residency in the UAE, playing such events as Cream Fields! - Ladies Night

Weds, 18 Jan

Suzee X After a multitude of Residencies in the top clubs in the UK, Suzee X graced the decks of the Ministry of Sound, Egypt and is now at the renowned Lava Lounge in Doha playing her signature vocal, funky and dirty House! - Ladies Night

Friday, 20 Jan

Hattitude with Damian D’Costa Cocoon Lounges’ brand of Hat Parties, Hattitude is renowned for its unique mix of humour and the hottest House tunes! Damian D’Costa keeps this edition stylishly techy. - Ladies Night

Weds, 25 Jan

DJ Maffous (Ibiza) Croatian DJ Maffous has made a big name for himself in Ibiza over the summer with a Residency at Es Paradis and the Hed Kandi Bar. Enjoy as he embarks on his global winter tour! - Ladies Night

REGULARS

MONDAYS

Sushi on Mondays

WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS

Lipstick Lounge

THURSDAYS DAILY

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Indulge in one of eight generous platters of Sushi with unlimited selected beverages for just BD12 per head from 19:00 – 23:00.

Complimentary cocktails for the ladies from their indulgent Lipstick Lounge menu. 17:00 - 2:00.

Fabulous!

Get Fabulous as Cocoon Lounge heats up for a luxurious night of deep and delicious RnB spun by exclusive guest DJ Neil T! Ladies enjoy free sparkling wine all night long!

Chillax

Enjoy a selection of food and wine with their daily Chillax special promotion from 17:00-21:00 offering a 20% discount on the food and wine menu and BD1.5 on selected beverages.

DONT MISS...

Once Again, Housexy is Here!

The glamorous Ministry of Sound brand returns once again to Bahrain, bringing with it the turntable skills of DJ Scott Langley…

SINCE 2005, Ministry of Sound’s most glamorous and funky brand ‘Housexy’ has been leading the way in the world of sassy and sophisticated house music. Now, with over five years’ experience bringing clubbers hit-selling compilations together with spectacular worldwide events, Housexy shows no signs of slowing down!

Nothing makes Housexy work so well more than the six resident DJs that proudly represent Housexy wherever it may take them all over the world, several of whom have already got the crowds going in Bahrain, including Paul Deighton, Tom Murgatroyd, Shane Kehoe, and Patrick Hagenaar. However, Scott Langley will be making his debut in Bahrain this January.

With 20 years of DJing experience under his belt, Scott Langley is going places. Having played in over 35 countries worldwide, and a dab hand in the studio too with 100 productions signed to over 40 labels, he is a man who knows his music.

In the UK alone, he has played numerous gigs across the country, at 30 major clubs in London and at one point managed to hold down a staggering 20 residencies.

This sort of dedication makes him a phenomenal talent with the gift of being able to adapt to new surroundings and whatever challenges are thrown his way. His passion for house music is unmistakable, and that love of music can be felt in his performances.

It’s no surprise then that he has been selected to represent the legendary dance music brand Ministry of Sound as one of four official world tour residents - a huge privilege if there ever was one!

With his tireless touring schedule ripping up dance floors at the world’s best clubs and events, Scott has played them all and been a repeat guest to over 50 cities on continents across the world, including Bangkok, Barcelona, Brisbane, Dubai, Dublin, Istanbul, Ko Samui, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco and Singapore - a pretty impressive list to say the least!

Alongside his DJing, Scott is the driving force

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VENUE SPOTLIGHT

Dragon Hotel & Resort Address: Awmaj Islands Contact No: +973 1603 9800 Website: www.dragonresorthotel.com www.mujuamwaj.com

Playing five nights a week in Muju...

The Margaret Bell Jazz Duo!

behind three successful independent dance music labels, and is throwing himself into his studio work too, having just joined forces with DJ Alan Jinx Chamberlain, former MN2S resident and long term manager of Marshall Jefferson, and many other godfathers of house to form The Tomorrow People.

So people of Bahrain, be sure to keep your eye out for this up and coming DJ/Producer - a man with a wealth of experience on and off the decks, and a DJ who knows how to cut it with the best of them and to make a whole club move.

GO: Housexy takes place on January 26, in JJ’s Music Hall.

Tickets at the door are BD5 for men, but ladies get the privilege of free entry and beverages all night. For more info and table booking, call Siyana on 3932 9083.

Live and direct from Detroit, come and experience the unforgettable and authentic sounds of the Margaret Bell jazz and soul duo, whilst dining at the island’s most stylish venue!

Margaret Bell is a hugely accomplished artist with an extensive background in jazz, rhythm & blues and soul, having performed and worked with a variety of A-list names in the music business, including Whitney Houston and Luther Vandross, and performed for no less than two US presidents!

DON’T MISS OUT...

Muju Jazz Brunch

Hosted at Muju every Friday, what is already becoming one of the favourite brunches on the island, featuring international cuisine and excellent sushi. The price is BD25 nett, inclusive of all beverages, and takes place from 12pm to 5pm.

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VENUE SPOTLIGHT

TABU Now open in Juffair!

Address: Opening hours: Contact No: BB Pin: Dress code:

Email:

DONT MISS...

1st floor, Panorama Hotel, Juffair 20:00 – 02:00 - Seven days a week +973 3999 4199 23B781C1 Smart Casual (no t-shirts, no caps, no sports wear, no exceptions!) tabu.juffair@hotmail.com

One of Bahrain’s favourite nightclubs, TaBu is keeping the island’s clubbers on their toes with a fresh start and a fresh attitude. TaBu can now be found in the Panorama Hotel in Juffair, in a chic and stylish new venue that is guaranteed to impress TaBu’s faithful following.

Still bringing you the most cutting edge beats courtesy of their talented inhouse DJ Salime, the new-and-improved TaBu will maintain its rightful place as one of the hottest nightlife venues in the Kingdom. Check out their special events and promotions below, and make sure you’re in the know...

DON’T MISS OUT...

Friday, 11th January

‘Oriental Night’ with DJ Shaker

A night of excellent Oriental beats with DJ Shaker, supported by resident DJ Salime...

Friday, 12th & 26th January

‘Hospital’, with DJette Kiwi

Naughty nurses and dirty doctors are the order of the evening, with DJ Kiwi from New Zealand Thursday, 13th & 27th January

Poetry Over Music “Spoken Words” Nights of luscious lyricism, with spectacular skill on the microphone for your listening pleasure.

REGULAR NIGHTS...

Mondays and Wednesdays.

Ladies Night

Complimentary cocktails, wine and sparkling all night long!

Thursdays and Fridays

Weekend Rise Up

All the best weekend dance floor fillers with resident DJ Salime!

TaBu’s resident...

DJ Salime

Salime has been entertaining TaBu’s crowds for over three years now, spinning up a heady combination of classics, crowd-pleasers and the latest dancefloor hits to keep things pumping all night long!

Stunning New Italian Restaurant Opens in WTC

The WTC/Moda Mall Complex has made another bold move into the leisure and dining scene with the opening of the worldfamous Italian restaurant brand BICE…

FIRST, there was a Japanese fine-dining venue, Maki. Then there was the high-end Arabic restaurant Abd El Wahab. And now, providing Italian fine dining is Bice (pronounced bee-chay), which is located in the complex’s most prestigious space – the venue that juts out the front of the World Trade Centre over the main driveway entrance – until now unoccupied.

Bice is a New York-based Italian restaurant with an international network. It was founded in 1926 in Milano by Beatrice Ruggeri – ‘Bice’ to her family and friends – who was known for her extraordinary hospitality and personal warmth.

With Bice in the kitchen and her brothers and sisters serving in the dining room, ”Il Ristorante Da Gino e Bice”, or Bice as it would later be known, had a real family atmosphere. Bice Milan remained a flourishing local establishment throughout World War II, and has enjoyed nearly six decades of success at Via Borgospesso 12, Milano.

As Milan emerged as a European fashion and banking centre in the 1970s, Bice Milan was embraced by a new, very discriminating international clientele that included the continent‘s leading designers. Bice Ruggeri, with her Tuscany origins of food and determined commitment to satisfying her clients, was recognized then as a highly respected restaurateur, and her sons Remo and Roberto have since taken steps to extend her vision throughout the world.

Having seen the place we can tell you that it’s stunning. With a classy and elegant ground floor dining area and a relaxing and stylish lounge bar on the mezzanine, the venue alone is going to draw a strong crowd. We can’t attest to the food… yet!

Expect a dining review sometime the near future.

They’ll have to be good though, as they’re currently facing some very stiff competition from the likes of Café Italia and Masso!

GO: For more information, call 1753 3666.

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CHECK IT OUT...

Opening January!!

VENUE SPOTLIGHT

KLUB360°

Address: Elite Crystal Hotel, Juffair Website: www.KLUB360.com Opening hours: 18:00 – 02:00 - Seven days a week Contact No: +973 33 360 300 Dress code: Smart For information: 360@klub360.com VIP memberships: VIP@klub360.com

KLUB360 Has

Arrived!

And it’s only a YEAR late... Yes, we know it’s hard to believe, but KLUB360 is finally opening its doors to the Bahrain clubbing public...

WHEN we first heard about KLUB360, we got extremely excited. A new venue that was going to take the clubbing experience to a whole new level in Bahrain, with world-class decor and service. We couldn’t wait!

We even got involved on a professional level, running a VIP competition to promote the place, and offering a prize VIP experience out to the winner.

And then... nothing!

At first, the opening got delayed by a month. And then another month. And then another after that... The reason, we were told, was that they couldn’t get power to the venue, because the municipality was dragging its heels, or something to that effect.

However, this is all in the past. An official opening date (not month, not “Soon”, but an actual date, with numbers and everything) has been announced, and that date is: Thursday, 12 January, 2012!

We’re sure that all the gossip and rumour surrounding this place is going to generate quite a lot of excitement over the opening, as everyone’s curiosity (ours included) is piqued, so if you want to make sure you’re on the guest list for the opening night, be sure to get in touch.

Judging from the professional and stylish website, they’re really going the whole nine yards on this one, so the venue itself should be good. According to their representive, Director of F&B Najeeb Rahan, “KLUB360 combines stunning interiors, exquisite lighting, and huge video wall with visual effects to make something fantastic to look at, whichever way you turn! It’s aimed at the discerning, sophisticated customer who likes to relax, socialize and party in a stunning, luxurious and uniquely captivating environment.”

The venue also boasts a VIP lounge, LED bubble wall, and an ultra-modern dance floor complete with state-of-the-art audio and visual enhancements, and will also feature world-class DJs and artists on a regular basis.

We’re looking forward to checking it out...

GO: For more information, see the Spotlight on the right for contact details..

Unreservedly aimed at the discerning customer who likes to relax, socialise and party in both a luxurious and captivating environment, Klub 360 will the freshest, newest and unquestionably by far the most sophisticated nightclub in Bahrain.

Prepare to experience the unique new feeling of walking right into the best nightclub in Bahrain. If you really want to party like rock stars, you can let their VIP hostess set your group up for the night, or even organize your bachelor, bachelorette and birthday parties.

With the best service on the island, the friendliest staff, valet parking and an extensive range of food and beverages, KLUB360° is a beautiful place for beautiful people.

Welcomes will be warm, expectations will be exceeded, entertainment will be endless and fun will be fervent.

The one and only complete nightlife experience in Bahrain!

REGULARS Early evening

From 10pm till late

Lounge Cool, ambient music, great food, amazing cocktails and plenty of special offers to spice up your evenings and warm you up for the night ahead...

Club With the finest DJ’s and sounds on the island providing the beats to keep you on the dancefloor until the early hours of the morning...

THE RESIDENT: DJ Bren

Klub 360 is proud to present DJ Bren (U.K) as its resident DJ. He is well known in UK for his ultra mix and video enhancements. Bren is widely considered to be among the hottest talents the VJ (video DJ) industry has to offer. Bren has played in super clubs and bars across the south of England, and has performed in Europe from sun soaked gigs on the coast of Croatia to events such as the Sarajevo festival.

With over 10 years of experience his music is a fusion of international hits as well as edgy remixes. You could also be introduced to one of his deeper sets, playing the best in underground dance music that sees genres like electro, progressive house, funk, tribal and all that’s “hot mixed to perfection” FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY

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SUBSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN Are you a keen FACT and Ohlala! reader?

This is your chance to not only receive both magazines to your door for a year but if you subscribe this month you will automatically be entered into a draw to win some fantastic prizes, including...

A holiday in Thailand!

You could enjoy the breathtaking views and ultra-luxurious surroundings of Samui Sunset Pavilions in Koh Samui, Thailand. www.samuisunsetpavilions.com

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The Essence of Style FACT BAHRAIN JANUARY

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Health & Wellbeing Your body is your temple, so worship it! Looking after your health doesn’t have to mean exercising and eating health food - a good pampering is just as important...

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VENUE SPOTLIGHT

Address: Seef Mall, New Extension, 2nd Floor Contact No: 1700 1700 Website: www.toniandguybahrain.com

Set yourself up for

2012!

Christal Dennis is a hypnotherapist/ psychotherapist with a Masters in Leadership Development and also provides corporate motivation and stress management. This month, she talks to FACT about preparing for the New Year…

I

Are you ready for a new hairstyling experience?

BEHIND the doors of Toni&Guy you will find a modern ride that renders you a great new look.

Toni&Guy offers professional haircuts, colour, highlights, color correction, extensions and hair treatments along with its own hair care and styling range Label M. Hair designers take extra time to coach clients on how to reinvent their salon style at home leaving them with a WOW Factor that will never be forgotten.

Toni&Guy holds dear to integrity and unmatchable customer service, making you tell all you know about this world class salon.

Make an appointment and feel the difference.

Let them bring out the real you.

Visit Toni&Guy at Seef Mall or call 1700-1700. www.toniandguybahrain.com

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t’s that time of year again. Christmas and New Year’s parties and kisses under the mistletoe. What a wonderful time to get together with people you care about and be merry. Oh, and then there is that thing we tend to do when the clock strikes twelve as we herald in the New Year. That New Year’s resolution!

With a heart filled with love and wonderful intentions of becoming the super human we so want to be, we carelessly state: “I will [Insert Resolution Here] in the new year.” Then we wake up the next morning and jump back into our old habit before we even remember that we made a resolution the night before.

If you have made a New Year’s resolution and you are not so sure whether you are going to stick to it, you could just decide to get started on it a bit later. Choose a date that you will start executing it, preferably after all the festivities have ended and visiting family and friends have gone home.

State a positive intention. It is better to say: “I will eat healthily,” as opposed to “I will not eat chocolates anymore”. This way you won’t feel like you are depriving yourself amidst all the merry making. At the same time you can avoid that feeling of failure if you are not able to stick to your plans.

Last but not least start a daily routine of visualizing yourself doing whatever it is you so much want to do. See yourself eating healthily, or see yourself smoke free. Involve all your senses and emotions as you visualize yourself at your best. By the time the decided day comes around, your brain will already be familiar with the plan and your decided actions will feel more natural.

Here’s to a splendid 2012!

GO: For a personal consultation call 3669 6666.

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FINAL WORD

What’s your

BAHRAIN

IQ

S.A.T’s? M.B.A’s? Pah! In Bahrain, only one test score really matters: your Bahrain IQ!

This month is our big New Year’s Resolution Issue. Do you:

a conscientiously write out a list of all your objectives for 2012, and dutifully stick to them,

thereby losing weight, giving up smoking, learning the guitar, and generally making everyone else feel inadequate? dig out the crumpled remains of last year’s list, give it a read through, decide it’ll do, copy the whole list of unfulfilled ambitions onto a new piece of paper, and stick it back in the bottom of the junk drawer with vague self-promises to try and get at least one or two of them done this year? decide that you don’t need any resolutions this year. Why mess with perfection?

b c

The Bahrain International Airshow takes place this month. Do you:

a go along and buy a ticket, and then “Oooh!” and “Aaah!” like a child when billions of dollars worth of aeronautical hardware roar above your head at supersonic speeds?

b go along and sit outside the Sakhir Airbase’s fence and watch the aerial displays from

a distance, because you’re too cheap to buy a ticket, and don’t really want to see the cool planes close up anyway? sit at home, because you’re not really interested in all that fighter jet mumbo jumbo, and you’d much rather stay in and sort out your stuffed bear collection anyway?

c

With the Festive season now behind you, are you: a completely broke? b completely exhausted? c completely relieved?

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