FACT Bahrain September

WIN

SEPTEMBER 2013 | VOL 7 | ISSUE 1 | QR10 | SR10

A DINNER FOR T WO AT THE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL! SEE P.10

THE BANKSY DUO OF BAHRAIN THE SMART MONTHLY GUIDE TO LIFE IN BAHRAIN

FACT September

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FACT September

Content

NOTEWORTHY

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CULTURE 28. Mystic India

FACT talks to the choreographer and creative director of the Mystic India dance crew about the spectacular performance the dancers will be putting on for audiences in Bahrain!

ART 33. The Street Art Takeover We talk exclusively with two Bahraini friends who are sharing their passion and talent for street art.

44. #WILLPOWER

Will.I.Am is back with his signature techno tunes.

TECHNOLOGY 52. It’s a Gamer’s World

Q&A with Bahraini online sensation and gaming enthusiast.

56. BMW 6-SERIES

Ali Driver takes the the Grancoupe for a spin.

The Tea Room

FACT finds a charming dining experience that all foodies should go and try!

12. Bahraini Writer On His Way To The Top

FASHION 65. Collection SAKS

14. The Relocators To Launch EP

70. Fall Preview

Ali Al Saeed has been selected for a prestigious writing programme in the States.

We peek into the nautical Faconnable line at SAKS. FACT brings all the latest designs and trends for the coming season.

Bahraini alternative-blues band will launch their debut EP at the Albareh Art Gallery.

FACT M.E. - BAHRAIN EDITION

FACT Magazine M.E. WIN

SEPTEMBER 2013 | VOL 7 | ISSUE 1 | QR10 | SR10

A DINNER FOR TWO AT THE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL! SEE P.10

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SEPTEMBER 2013

Design & Photography Rashed Bindaina

Chief Operating Officer Rami Khalil

Regional Head of Sales Laura Alvarez Sales Manager Adam Lees

SEPTEMBER 2013

Contributors Christal Dennis Craig Heslop

ISSUE 73

Creative Director Paula Leal

THE SMART MONTHLY GUIDE TO LIFE IN BAHRAIN

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Director Omar Shaheen

Editor Shabana Adam (editor@factlive.com)

THE BANKSY DUO OF BAHRAIN

Bahrain Edition

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Tel: +973 3672 7213 E-mail: laura@factlive.com PRINTED BY

Dar Akhbar Al Khaleej, Bahrain.

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Volume 7, Issue 1

All Rights Reserved. Opinion expressed within does not necessarily represent the opinion of the publisher.

All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy of the information within this publication. However, FACT M.E. Bahrain cannot accept legal responsibility for any erroneous content or omissions.

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

Ministry of Information Subject Registration Number: CFB779

www.fact-magazine.com Scan the QR Code with your smartphone to log on to our new website, where you can get all the latest updates on Bahrain, the magazine and the team...

8/28/13 1:24 PM

FACT September

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The editor

“Creativity takes courage...”

Shabana Adam Editor shabana@factlive.com ...A quote by famous artist Henri Matisse, and one that I find to be of great relevance to this issue of FACT magazine. This month our big feature is all about two Bahraini friends who are turning their passion for drawing and sketching into a meaningful movement, for all to see.

From the get go we at FACT were aware of the sensitive subject of street art, and after meeting these two very talented and enthusiastic individuals it was clear that the street art they are producing is all done with the idea and purpose of positivity.

Thanks to the British Council where both young men are creating murals on the walls outside, we talk exclusively with Huvil and Leon.D on p.34 all about their techniques, their raw talent and, of course, the risks that come along with pursuing this type of spirited art. Both Huvil and Leon.D produced some potential cover designs for us which you can check out on p.42.

Drop us a tweet and tell us what you think, we’d love to know your thoughts!

Staying on the path of unique talent and bright colours, we caught up with the man behind the majestic show that is Mystic India, which will be coming to the island as part of the Bahrain Summer Festival. Read all about the costume design, the cultural dances and the how this incredible show is put together on p.28. We’re also excited about Naqsh Short Film Days on p.6, which is all about unearthing filmic talent from all around the world!

As the island starts to pick up on the social scene again, for all you party-goers and food-lovers check out our calendar of happenings on p.16, detailing some of the best entertainment and dining events taking place in Bahrain. We’ve also rounded up some of the best hotspots for a shisha experience on p.21, so there are plenty of cool places to go and spend time with family and friends. All that’s left to do is get your diary out and fill up your September schedule...

...it’s time to get busy and have some fun!

News from the FACT Penthouse This month we sadly say goodbye to Adam Lees. A bonafide member of the FACT team... his great British humour, witty way with words and unique talent for hangman will be missed. We wish you good luck Adam and hope to see you at your favourite karaoke place in the future... Another year, another food adventure, FACT has started preparing for the dining awards once more, and we’re excited to get things rolling, especially hearing what your favourite food places are on the island... It’s also FACT’s sixth anniversary, all those issues and years later we are happy to be going strong all thanks to our amazing readers, we love you all!

We dropped by Haute Couture Cupcakes in Seef for our favourite sweet treat, the red velvet cupcake! Great for a quick bite, a catch-up and good goss with friends!

THE STREET ART TAKEOVER

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FACT September

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Image of the Month

My favourite story this issue Definitely the most interesting story in this issue of FACT. As well as being exclusive to the magazine we’re sure that those interested will appreciate our take on this modern

C

day art scene. And those who may not know much about street art, this is an intriguing feature to fulfil your curiosity about graffiti work and the positive movements being made.

K

FACT September

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NOTEWORTHY

Lights, Ca

Act

GO: Naqsh Short Film Days is now accepting submissions. Visit the website at www.naqshgallery. com/films or call 3905 5052 for submission guidelines, requirements and regulations. The festival takes place on September 26th to 28th.

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FACT September

NOTEWORTHY

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

mera,

ion!

Are you a budding film director, a producer in the making or a screenwriter looking for their big break?

Then you may just want to pay attention to this!

Naqsh Short Film Days returns for the island’s mostanticipated short film festival, which is back for a second year in late September. And following the unexpected success of the event’s debut in 2012, this year it’s all about more films and more creative storytelling for cinema fans.

Seef Mall will form the filmic backdrop where movie-goers can enjoy screenings of 82 short films in different languages, by 50 directors from all over the world (how’s that for a cinematic experience?).

Naqsh Short Film Days 2013 aims to capture the best of amateur filmmaking, including the work and artistry of producers, directors and screenwriters the world over, giving the cream of the crop a place to showcase their raw talent.

Excited about the festival, Mohamad Maskati, Founder and President of the gallery, says, “Short Film Days 2012 became an arena for showcasing ‘creative freedom’ and ‘a breeding ground for fresh ideas’ in the local film industry.

“What’s more it welcomed entries, whether from a first-time filmmaker or an established director. But this year, it will be twice as exciting because we are featuring international films.”

Inspired by the Bahrain Cinema Club, the event will give the public a chance to meet and interact with the filmmakers. And for those who are enthralled by film and the movie industry, there will also be a series of workshops and talks by guest filmmakers.

That’s not all. The 2013 festival will also launch the ‘Naqsh Creative Award for the Bahraini Film’ whereby film directors and the general public will select the best films for an exclusive screening, awarding local talents in various filmmaking categories, and encouraging professionals in the Bahraini film industry.

You don’t need to be a movie buff to enjoy the short films on offer at the festival later this month. If you fancy some good entertainment and a great atmosphere then pop along to a screening – the FACT team will go along for sure, and give full support to the entrants!

“Sheesha should be offered throughout the year and should follow the same standards that are required of Ramadan tents.”

Council Vice-Chairman Mohammed Mansoor tells the Gulf Daily News about plans that could see sheesha being served year-round at hotels in Bahrain, in a bid to boost business.

THIS MONTH... DON’T FORGET

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SKYSCRAPER DAY Who doesn’t love a tall building? Whether it’s the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Empire State Building in New York City, or Bahrain’s very own World Trade Centre, today, take a minute to facebook, tweet or instagram your favourite high-rise wonder.

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VIDEO GAMES DAY Whether it’s Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty, get out your most-loved video games today and play to your heart’s content. If you’re not a video games player then why not take today to give it a go? (We might just bring out the old-school Super Mario!)

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HOBBIT DAY Probably the most important day for all Middle Earth fanatics, today is the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, the famous uncle and nephew characters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s popular books.

Celebrate by dressing up and having a LOTR movie marathon in honour of our fave halflings!

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HEART DAY Part of an international campaign to spread awareness about heart disease and stroke prevention, Heart Day is perfect to quit smoking and get exercising in the name of keeping your ticker in good working order. Here’s to a healthy heart!

FACT September

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NOTEWORTHY

OOM R A E ET

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FACT Finds

Discover more of Bahrain with FACT FINDS every month we’ll bring you our favourite eatery, activity or interesting find from around the island.

This month the FACT team stumbled across what can only be described as a one-of-kind and especially unique dining area that still has all of us excited about it. The Tea Room, nestled towards the back of Trousseau in Al Aali Mall is quaint, quirky and characterful, with the elegant vibe of Trousseau itself blending into this tucked away tea treasure.

Nancy Al zain, managing director at Trousseau describes The Tea Room as having an “eclectic atmosphere” one where her aim is to “make the experience special for customers”. And we have to agree, there’s a lovely mix of European style here; a little bit of

the high tea English influence, some vintage decor that screams classic French and even a hint of Italian renaissance with large gold-framed mirrors. Now, with the scene set, let’s talk about the important stuff - the food!

If you’ve got a sweet tooth then you’ll find all sorts of delectable and appetising cakes, biscuits and tarts to accompany your tea or coffee. Our favourite is the American-style red velvet cake - the icing alone is to-die-for. And let’s not forget the scones with pistachio which add a lovely Arabic twist to the menu, as well as being served with real British clotted cream and delicious rose jam! There’s also a variety

Love It Girl Power Strikes for Bahraini Women in Politics

THE SCOPE

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FACT September

A new report, ‘A View of Bahraini Women’s Political Stance’, has revealed a key vote of confidence from female constituents for Bahraini women who may want to stand in next year’s parliament and municipal elections. Let’s spur on this forward-thinking attitude and show support for the women who will get involved!

of wondeful cakes and cookies, all of which are homemade using Nancy’s collection of family recipes. You’ll also find a selection of hot drinks - our favourite was the tasty rose tea. This is the place you go for some real me time, there’s even a basket of books you can pick from to read for some light reading.

For something a little more lively, The Tea Room caters for bridal showers, small parties and even holds themed tea events! The Alice in Wonderland theme went down a hit, and now that we know it’s all happening at The Tea Room, we’ll be making reservations for the next themed tea party pronto!

Hate It Dhows Dying Out

We were concerned to hear that Bahrain’s dhow making tradition, which dates back hundreds of years, is on the brink of going under as the industry isn’t given as much attention anymore. We think a dhow festival on the island could really help to revive the dhow making industry back to it’s original reputation as a source of national pride.

Can’t Believe It Disney Star Ends Life

We were extremely saddened to learn that Jett Jackson actor, and former Disney star, Lee Thompson Young, has died aged 29 after suicide. Following the tragic death of Glee star Cory Monteith recently, it’s heartbreaking to see hollywood lose another young actor. Our hearts go out to his loved ones. R.I.P.

18 AugusT - 9 sepTeMber

SponSorS

Media SponSorS NEWS

Hotline : +973 17112118 or 80008089

Tickets are sold at Virgin Megastore and online at

FACT September

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NOTEWORTHY

Social Media.

@

FACT rounds up the best of our social media news, from tweets to funny finds... this is dedicated to our followers, friends, instagrammers & fellow online geeks...

THIS MONTH IN BAHRAIN

114

NADA GONADZ

The number of people to follow FACT on Twitter in a month! #welcome #yourock #thankyou

M.K. Al-Binateej @ATEEKSTER Went out to look for some healthy organic food...

Bought chicken instead...

The Kentucky type.

Tariq @tkhonji To be or not to be. Who says tweets can’t be literature? Or at least rip off literature?

Saira. @LoKarloRT I dream of a better world. A world where people are not compared based on the number of followers but number of IQ.

Grumpy Cat @GrumpyyCat When life knocks me down, instead of getting back up I usually lie there and take a nap.

Jawaher Alwardi @Jalwardi @FACTBahrain the magazine cover page is awesome. It screams summer.

(Why thank you!)

Azza Mubarak Matar @femme_arabe The good people over at @FACTbahrain obviously want to fatten me up.

So much choice at Bushra Bushido tonight! #goodfood #iftar #thankyou

Trousseau Bahrain @Trousseau_B ancient mosques were built using mortar mixed with musk so the scent would emanate from the building: “Cult Perfumes” #perfume

Surekha Pillai @surekhapillai what makes a human great: curiosity w/o ego, and generosity of spirit. no amount of talent is worth anything without kindness ~ @brainpicker

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND MAYBE YOU’LL BE HERE NEXT MONTH! @FACTBahrain

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FACT September

Find of the month WE LOVE GAME OF THRONES AND FAMILY GUY SO THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT FIND!

Win Where’s Rashed?

Find FACT’s dapper designer somewhere in this issue and win a dinner for two at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Bahrain. Email your answers to editor@factlive.com

by September 20. Look carefully, he could be anywhere!

VolkswagenCentreBahrain

www.volkswagen-bahrain.com

Often copied. Never equaled.

The new Golf GTI. Available now at the Volkswagen showroom, Sitra.

o Starting fr

m

/0 0 9 , 2 1 .

D B

German engineering for everyone.

Sitra – Tel: 17459977 Email: volkswagen@behbehani.com.bh

FACT September

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NOTEWORTHY

Al Riwaq Art Space Teams up With NYC Studio

Bahraini Author Books Spot on Major Writing Programme Storytelling in books is one of the most creative talents, and impressive authors can be hard to come by… but we may just have one in the form of 35-year-old Ali Al Saeed.

The Bahraini author has become the first person from the country to be selected for a prestigious writing programme in the States.

He’s published three books and won many awards, including the Bahrain Outstanding Book of the Year Award 2004, and now his homegrown talent is being recognised internationally.

Ali is attending the International Writing Programme at the University of Iowa, which brings together some of the best writers from around the world for a 10week long residency programme held in Iowa City.

After having applied for the residency four times over six years, Ali’s determination finally paid off this year, as he became the first Bahraini writer of English fiction to be chosen for the programme.

“I knew this was a programme I had to get into it,” Ali says, “So I kept submitting my application, refining my work and continuously writing better submissions. When I applied this year, 12

FACT September

I had a good feeling about it, and thankfully it worked.”

During the program, which began on August 24 and runs until November 12, Ali will attend workshops, classes and discussions on creative writing as well as literary events, readings and recitals by well-known authors.

And Ali’s fans are also in for a treat as he is preparing to launch his latest book, a non-fiction collection entitled ‘The Randomist’, which he will promote during his visit to the States.

He says, “I’ll have the opportunity to hold a few readings and events while I am there and currently in talks with several venues to organize something during my stay. It’s a great opportunity to get my work exposed to the American public for the first time.”

We look forward to Ali’s new work and hope he enjoys his time in Iowa!

GO: ‘The Randomist’ will be available to order online soon in paperback and ebook format. For more on Ali’s work visit www.alialsaeed.net or follow him on twitter @alialsaeed.

The Bahrain arts scene was given a chance to shine on an international scale with the help of Al Riwaq Art Space.

This summer, Al Riwaq Art Space sponsored three artists, Jaffar Al Oraibi, Mohamed Sharkawy and Waheeda Mallulah, for a two-month residency at the International Studio and Curatorial Programme (ISCP) in New York.

The gallery recently formed collaboration with the ISCP programme in the Big Apple as part of their ongoing commitment to support, advocate, and act as a catalyst for the development of arts in Bahrain.

An Al Riwaq spokesperson explains, “This residency is an important opportunity for our artists to further develop their skills and to introduce their work internationally.”

FACT September

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NOTEWORTHY

French Riviera Boost for Bahrain Tourism

Island’s Newest Band to Launch EP If you’re looking for a new sound for your stereo then The Relocators may just be it! The Bahraini alternative-blues band will launch their debut EP at an event hosted at the Albareh Art Gallery on Setpember 5.

The 5-track EP, released under MuseLand Records, the first of its kind independent, online record label in Bahrain, is available to download for free online and limited physical copies are available to purchase at select stores.

The launch event will feature a live performance from the band, led by vocalist and guitarist Faisal Amin, drummer Ali Al-Qaseer and interim bassist Romeriko Canlas, as they entertain the crowd with their melodic talent, playing songs from their new record.

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FACT September

FACT caught up with two members of the band, Faisal and Ali when the band was first signed, and got a great insight into the men who make up The Relocators.

Faisal told us that winning over the Bahraini music scene, for any musician, should mean “taking themselves a bit more seriously” and working on “developing, not only their craft but how they see themselves as artists.”

The band members will also be signing copies of the album, which will be sold for the special price of BD1 at the event only. We loved the EP here at FACT – it’s definitely worth getting your hands on!

GO: Doors will open at 7pm and entrance is free.

For more information visit www.MuseLandRecords. com or follow @MuseLandRecords on Twitter. Tel: 36960396.

In a bid to boost tourism in Bahrain, members of the Ministry of Culture, visited the French Riviera capital, Nice.

H.E Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamood Al-Khalifa visited Nice with the aim of further improving the tourism sector and exchange of visits with other leader nations. The French Embassy’s Advisor for Culture and Cooperation, Cedric Devais, led H.E, Acting Undersecretary for Tourism, in a tour of the main cultural and tourist attractions of the city.

Bahrain is the first Arab country to develop cooperation and mutual relationships with the City of Nice with regard to tourism, culture and the development of coastal beaches.

The tourism development between Bahrain and Nice will continue for the next five years.

Bahraini Wins Big in iPhone Photography Awards

The iPhone has definitely revolutionized the way we document our lives. It essentially allows everyone to carry a small, high-quality, pointand-shoot camera in their pockets, with the ability to instantly upload and share their work.

So it’s no surprise that thousands of people worldwide entered the seventh annual iPhone Photography Awards, in which a local Bahraini man, Mohammed Radh, of Tubli, won first place in the News/Events category with his striking photograph of what appears to be a funeral procession.

Congrats to Mohammed!

FACT September

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Getting Out and About THIS MONTH IN BAHRAIN

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SUNDAY

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MOHAMMED ASSAF CONCERT The Arab Idol sensation is coming to the island for Bahrain Summer Festival! Enjoy!

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THURSDAY

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BARNEY LET’S GO LIVE! One for the kids, everyone’s favourite Dino will take to the stage for a fun-filled show as part of the Bahrain Summer Festival.

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WEDNESDAY

GIRLS NIGHT OUT AT BLOCK 338 Go and join the fun and excitment every Tuesdays & Wednesdays at Block 338!

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FACT September

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THE SCORPION TRIBUTE SHOW Guys n Gals, get ready to rock out at Rocky’s Cafe. The live performance will be electrifying, so be there if you dare! Tel: 3628 9349.

TUESDAY

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SHERATON SOCIAL HOUR Explore new vino, or try an old favorite at Nada Lounge in the Sheraton Hotel. Relax with friends from 6pm-7pm! Tel: 1753 3533.

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MONDAY

BAHRAIN CITY CENTRE CITY WALKERS Stay healthy and window shop at the same time with this cool fitness programme. Meet at the customer service desk on the ground floor. Tel: 1717 7777.

03

MONDAY

AFTERNOON HIGH TEA IN T-SPOON Enjoy a traditional and delicious spread of European sandwiches, pates, scones and selection of sweet treats at Kempinski Grand Hotel. Tel: 1717 1000.

FRIDAY

CORAL BAY SUMMER FESTIVAL On until the 8th, expect great music & good food with international grub & a BBQ station as well as fun family activities! Tel: 1731 2700.

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SATURDAY

CATCH OF THE DAY - ELITE GRANDE HOTEL Enjoy H2O’s yummy seafood buffet. Tel: 1756 5888.

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SUNDAY

MYSTIC INDIA SHOW It’s going to be an explosion of colour and movement as the Mystic India crew head our way for the Bahrain Summer Festival. Don’t miss it!

SOMBRERO NIGHT - ELITE CRYSTAL HOTEL This delicious Mexican buffet is guaranteed to delight with the freshest possible ingredients and tasty delights! Tel: 1736 0360.

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THURSDAY

THE NOISE AT JJ’s IRISH RESTAURANT Currently taking Bahrain by storm as the resident band for JJ’s, The Noise do great great covers of popular songs! Tel: 3932 9083.

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FRIDAY

DRINK & SING - ELITE GRAND HOTEL Karaoke lovers, go and belt out the ballads in Zodiac Lounge to try & score a free round of drinks! Tel: 1756 5888.

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SATURDAY

FLAVOURS OF ARABIA - SOFITEL HOTEL Nibble on an impressive buffet of authentic Middle Eastern and North Africa cuisine at Saraya all afternoon. Tel: 1763 6363.

There are so many exciting events going on in BaHRAIN these days. So, we’ve put together an events calendar for the entire month, just for you! It’s interesting and never boring… This is what FACT recommends (and you can still find more throughout the rest of the mag!).

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SUNDAY

25 YEARS OF ARAB CREATIVITY For a glimpse into some of the best art from the Arab world head down to the Bahrain National Museum for what will be the last day of this very special exhbibition.

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21

SATURDAY

JAZZ NIGHT AT BLOCK 338 Go and jam with True Blue’s acoustic jazz sounds! Tel: 1771 0338.

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SUNDAY

TEX MEX NIGHT - CROWNE PLAZA Enjoy the culinary creations of MexicanAmerican style cuisine. Tel: 1753 1122.

MONDAY

COOKING CLASSES AT LA MED Discover the cook within you at the Ritz Carlton Bahrain, with three great classes to choose from. Tel: 1758 6499.

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THURSDAY

DJ DIMI.EL. AT BUSHIDO Get ready to groove the night away with special guest Buddha Bar DJ Dimi.El. Tel: 1758 3555.

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FRIDAY

TOPLOADER AT THE DILMUN CLUB If you were a music fan who was ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ to the sound of Toploader then get down to the Dilmun Club for an exciting live show later this month. Supporting will be three acts, the Revival Band, Muskillaz, and Past Masters. Tel: 1769 0926.

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TUESDAY

SOUNDPHORIA AT THE WARBLER Dance away to the eclectic sounds of music from all around the world. Tel: 1729 0600.

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INTEMPO BAND & VDJ PAUL REES Enjoy an explosive mix of musical talent at Buffalo Club - for music lovers! Tel: 3968 8207.

WEDNESday

ABSOLUTELY GEISHA AT BUSHIDO An exclusive launch party for a brand new night. Enjoy a welcoming selection of free Geisha-bites including seafood, edamame and crispy chicken dishes with a live fire show and music. Tel: 1758 3555.

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THURSDAY

THURSDAY NIGHT BRUNCH Get down to the Mövenpick’s first dining experience of the unique and exciting Thursday night brunch. Tel: 1746 0000.

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FRIday

FRIDAY BRUNCH AT LA MED Enjoy the ultimate relaxing weekend brunch at the Ritz Carlton Bahrain. There’s buffets and even a choco fountain! Tel: 1758 6499.

SATURDAY

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MONDAY

PASTA NIGHT - SOFITEL HOTEL Try all-you-can-eat homemade pasta and pizza at the mouthwatering live cooking stations! Tel: 1763 6363.

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TUESDAY

GAMES NIGHT AT KICKS BAR Who doesn’t love a good games night? Free pool, darts, and board games plus Happy Hour prices all night long! WIN!

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WEDNESDAY

SALSA NIGHT AT BLOCK 338 Slip into your dancing shoes and boogie on down to Block 338 for the Latin Soul Band featuring Farooq. Tel: 1771 0338.

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SUNDAY

THE TEA ROOM - TROUSSEAU Our FACT finds this month - go and experience the delicious sweet treats and tea while catching up on reading at the lovely Tea Room in Trousseau, Al Aali Mall.

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MONDAY

NEW DJ IN BIZARRE LOUNGE The Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel has a new music man in Bizarre Lounge, Bahraini underground house DJ and upand-coming producer, DJ Mysterioo Arif.

Highly recommended for an energetic time! Tel: 1717 1441.

FACT September

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NOTEWORTHY

Back to School Get your kids (and yourself) ready for another year of bus stops, books, and bake sales! FACT HAS THE ULTIMATE LOW DOWN ON EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR ANOTHER GREAT START TO SCHOOL!

PACK ATTACK Survive back-to-school shopping with our smart tips on where to go for those much-needed backpacks, school accessories and cool clothes.

Virgin Megastore: One of our favourite places to get lost in, this entertainment haven has got the kiddies covered with everything from colourful and funky pencil cases to quirky pens; this is definitely the place where the cool kids shop!

GO: Bahrain City Centre - Tel: 1717 2300

Shoe Citi: Picky kids will rejoice at this massive shoe store, where they’ll have options-galore on leather and non-leather school footwear. There’s also a wide selection of backpacks, perfect for different ages.

GO: Bahrain City Centre - Tel: 1717 9783

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FACT September

GYMBOREE: Located in bustling Bahrain City Centre Mall, kids will love the colourful choices available at Gymboree. The US brand carries stylish highquality children’s clothing and accessories for kids up to the age of 12. It’s all about premium fabrics and colour coordinated outfits, so if you’re kids want to look unique from head-totoe, this is the place to shop!

GO: Bahrain City Centre - Tel: 1717 2318

TOYS R US: The ultimate pit-stop for everything toy related, Toys R Us is as much a magical place for parents as it is for the little ones. Pick from an awesome collection of cool lunchboxes, cartoon pencil cases, matching backpacks and more.

GO: Seef Mall Tel: 1758 0860

GAP KIDS: If you’ve got any little fashionistas then Gap is definitely the place to head for an awesome backpack. There’s cute, quirky and stylish from stripes, stars, dinosaurs and polkadot. Let the little ones choose between playful colours and designs, and rock a cool number on their shoulder! While you’re there, go all out and get them a hat to match as well.

GO: Bahrain City Centre - Tel: 1717 8432

SANRIO: This world-famous brand has turned many a student into fashionable icons. Hello Kitty has everything from pens, pencils, stationary cases, backpacks, notepads and cute accessories covering all the tools you’ll need for school.

GO: Bahrain City Centre - Tel: 1717 9626

NOTEWORTHY

BACK TO SCHOOL : CHECKLIST items Cut out our checklist of the must-have school spree. ping shop y breez easy an for you and take with

Uniform Shoes School Bag Lunch Box Drink Bottle Pencil Case Pens & Pencils Eraser Ruler Glue Correction Fluid Markers Compass & Protractor Stapler Scissors Paper Clips Notebooks Binder & Files Name Labels Calculator

H&M: We stumbled on the cutest Angry Birds lunchboxes and flasks at this high street favourite.

So if your kids are big fans of the crazy birdversus-pig action (we are addicted) then this is definitely the place for those gaming tots!

GO: Bahrain City Centre - Tel: 1717 9885. Seef Mall Tel: 1756 4606.

LUNCH BOX TIPS BOOK WORMS Jashanmal Bookstore: The country’s most-recognised bookstore, Jashanmal is considered the place to go for all your book needs in one place. There’s a massive collection of various books to help with your school subjects and a good selection of cross pens too.

GO: Bahrain City Centre - Tel: 1717 8407 Seef Mall - Tel: 1758 1632

THE BOOKCASE: One of Bahrain’s best bookshops, gift shops and educational suppliers, here you’ll find two floors jam-packed with fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. So whether your child wants the latest novel or picture book, this is the place to browse.

GO: Seef Mall - Tel: 1758 1315

HYPERMARKETS: The perfect place to save as well as find bargain deals are the different HyperMarkets around town. Head over to Carrefour, Geant, and LuLu for all their back to school offers on everything from stationary to backpacks; you’ll definitely save a few pennies!

School time means your child will be brown-bagging it during lunchtime. So why not turn plain boring lunches into a fun meal with these kid-friendly ideas: • Get veggies into their system by cutting up cucumbers and carrots and pairing them with a hummus or yogurt dip.

• Use last night’s leftovers for today’s sandwiches.

Mini meatballs, chicken mayo, and pasta salad can go straight from your fridge into the lunchbox.

• Instead of using regular bread why not make sandwiches using tortilla wraps, a fun spin to plain old toast and more reason to change up the filling!

• Get veggies into their system by cutting up cucumbers and carrots and pairing them with a hummus or yogurt dip.

• Use last night’s leftovers for today’s sandwiches.

Mini meatballs, chicken mayo, and pasta salad can go straight from your fridge into the lunchbox.

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CULTURE.

GETTING UNDER Bahrain’S SKIN THIS MONTH

Bahrain’s best shisha cafes FACT brings you the ultimate guide to the best places for enjoying hubbly bubbly!

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Hubble Bubble!

Bahrain’s Best Shisha Cafes It seems that shisha could be served year-round at hotels in Bahrain, in a bid to boost business, according to recent reports. But until that comes to pass, FACT has rounded up some of our favourite places on the island to enjoy this popular pastime Aroma Restaurant & Café One of the most well-known and coolest shisha cafes in Bahrain, Aroma Café offers a beautiful and comfortable setting with a delicious menu, friendly staff and a range of recreational activities. The menu is as exciting as the atmosphere, serving grills, pizzas, and middle-eastern and Italian cuisine.

We particularly enjoyed the grilled halloumi sandwich, the Moroccan tea and, of course, when it came to shisha, surprisingly, the pineapple flavour got everyone’s vote! Aroma Café is also perfect for families, with a great non-smoking area for children, where there’s even a nanny to keep the kids entertained while the grown-ups have some down time!

GO: Seef Mall, Seef, Manama. Tel: 1758 2711

Friend’s Café You won’t find the Central Perk gang hanging out here, but what you will find is an incredibly unique and artsy environment. Essentially, walking into Friend’s is more than just going 22

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into a café, you’re entering a converted villa so there’s a real home feel, where there’s a small room for enjoying shisha as well as a good-sized area to enjoy light food such as soups, pasta and burgers, while catching up with friends. There’s art on the walls and the wood-beam ceiling really adds a homely touch to the surroundings.

GO: Adliya, Manama. Tel: 1771 3732

Levante Café One of the best spots to look out over in Bahrain is Amwaj Lagoon, and if you really want to appreciate the views as well as enjoy delicious food and good shisha, then go and try Lebanese restaurant Levante Café.

We recommend trying the mixed starter, for under BD5 you get hummous, moutabel, labneh, garlic bread, chicken wings, kibbeh, onion rings and deliciously warm Lebanese bread. The steak is also great and the chicken dishes make a tasty stand too!

Shisha should be best enjoyed on the outdoor

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terrace where the views in this beautiful location can be truly appreciated, with a glass of fresh juice to go with your delicious menu choices! GO: The Lagoon, Amwaj Islands. Tel: 1603 0393

La Maison du Café If you’re looking for a unique setting, a lively yet relaxed atmosphere, and good shisha as well as food, La Maison du Café in Seef is the place to be. The menu offers mixed cuisines including Arabic, Moroccan, Indian, Italian and Tex-Mex alongside a huge selection of fresh juices and shisha. Here it’s all about the ambience, which is an elegant blend of traditional dining, lounge-style seating and lively Arabic music. Lunch times are quieter whereas the evenings draw a young crowd to the lavishly decorated venue where it’s shisha galore – this time our favourite flavour was lemon! For families and couples there are semi-private sections upstairs which are much quieter and relaxing. GO: Seef, Manama, near Elite Seef Residence. Tel: 1759 3376

Veranda Café The Adliya branch of Veranda Café is by far one of the most popular spots on the island for grabbing a quick bite to eat and indulging in great quality shisha.

The place is described as a “lifestyle café offering a variety of fusion dishes in a unique gallery ambience.” It’s almost like walking into a beach side tavern or quaint street café in Europe!

The venue has special areas for families and also a youth gallery with a speciality fruit juice bar, bakery and ice cream stand. But, it is the traditional-style shisha that draws many a crowd and our favourite here is fresh grape with an orange head, great for whiling away the time with family and friends.

GO: Adliya, Manama. Tel: 1771 5868

Rayes Restaurant & Lounge Let us say, the food here is truly exceptional and just like it’s been home-cooked by a group of Lebanese mums!

The place is usually packed at lunch with everyone wanting to sample the delectable vegetable stews (okra was our favourite), fresh salads and various meat dishes, followed by delightful desserts.

There’s a cloud of shisha smoke at most times of the day and this is another one where we would say to make the most of the stunning surroundings and head to the outdoor seating!

There are plenty of shisha flavours to enjoy and this is the place to really chill out for a few hours on a beautiful sunny day!

GO: Fateh Corniche, Manama. Tel: 1731 2700

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we love the relaxing atmosphere at bushido, and their shisha is also very good!

Angham Beirut Not only is this place located in a lovely area, the inviting atmosphere, high level of food quality and the nice view from the outdoors lounge, all have made Angham Beirut a popular place with shisha-lovers.

The cold mezza, mixed grills and delicious banana and mango milkshake are some of the best things on the menu. It’s almost like walking into a trendy lounge in downtown Beirut itself, we give it a thumbs up!

GO: The Lagoon, Amwaj Islands. Tel: 1601 0360

Bushido This is where the cool and sophisticated go for chill out time. The Shisha Lounge at Bushido attracts a mixed young crowd of men and women and is open from 12noon until 2am (last Shisha orders at 1.15am). The Lounge serves high quality Shisha in almost all flavours – we love the grape, cherry and orange, which you’ll find on the extensive shisha menu that includes other flavours like saloom, zaglool, mint, double apple, lemon mint, lemon, banana, melon, mango, strawberry, berries, and fakhfakhina, to name but a few. You can also enjoy Bushido’s “Giant Shisha” (served using a 24

FACT September

whole Pineapple or Melon) too. Guests are welcome to order snacks from the Bushido bar, and there really is a fab choice of culinary treats, including dishes from the robata grill, sushi, sashimi, rolls and desserts.

GO: Seef, Manama. Tel: 1763 6363W

SHISHA CAFES WITH OUTDOOR SEATING AND THOSE WITH STUNNING VIEWS ARE DEFINITELY WORTH A VISIT WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY!

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Avanti Restaurant & Café Where the young and hip flock to until the early hours of the morning, Avanti is a lively two-floor venue with comfy sofas and coffee tables on which visitors spend time playing a friendly game of cards, dominos, monopoly and other fun games! The shisha is of a good standard and we particularly enjoyed the mixed fruit flavour! The menu also offers snacks, food and a selection of hot and cold drinks.

GO: Seef, Manama. Tel: 1758 7765

Al Bindaira Café Al Bindaira Café is a cosy venue with homey surroundings, serving tasty food including Arabic and Lebanese cuisine. You’ll find lovely light meals for a quick bite or full course meals cooked in a traditional style. The absolute must here is, of course, shisha. The grape with mint is especially flavourful but we also love that the staff here are very helpful and attentive too.

GO: Adliya, Manama. Tel: 1774 4066

Chaise Café Described as the best shisha in town by many locals and expats in Bahrain, Chaise Café is one of the most popular spots for food and shisha lovers. This is the hotspot for an after work or weekend gathering with friends or colleagues.

The staff are welcoming and the ambience is relaxed! We particularly enjoyed the barbecue chicken platter and the watermelon juice is also delish. When it comes to shisha, try the grape with mint orange head – you won’t be disappointed!

GO: Adliya, Manama. Tel: 1771 5161

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DESIGNED FOR SPEED.

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Majestic Mystic India is Ready to Dazzle Bahrain Ever wanted to visit India? Well here’s your fast track there! The world-famous Mystic India tour will take you on an awe-inspiring cultural journey as part of the Bahrain Summer Festival. FACT caught up with Creative Director and Choreographer Amit Shah to find out more on this mystical performance.

Hi Amit! How many hours practice does the group put in before a big show?

The group rehearses on a regular basis, but due to the constant reinventions of the show, there is always something new to work on. On average we rehearse 8-10 hours per day and spend about 60-70 hours on just blocking the show for a given city. Given the number of pieces and the variety of formations throughout the show, we need to work hard on a regular basis to keep things looking clean.

How long does it take to make the costumes and what do they represent?

The costume design process is one of the most exciting yet challenging aspects of the show. It usually takes about 3-4 workers one entire day to make one costume for one person. Due to the intricate handwork, number of stones and sequins, as well as fabric manipulation, Mystic India’s costumes are complex to produce. We have to keep in mind the style of the piece and comfort for the dancers while ensuring the costumes are easy to take off and put on. Usually the style of the song depicts the way the costumes should look. Our design team and I work closely to create unique pieces for audiences, remaining authentic to Indian culture. There are over 750 costumes in the 90-minute show, so it has taken a team of 40 workers over two years to create the looks for this show!

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What influences the routines and where do the dancers find inspiration?

Who comes up with the choreography and how often do you refresh your routines?

We try to cover various geographical regions of India in the show through dance. We choose the music based on what styles of dance we want to deliver to audiences. In the show, we have managed to give a taste of many of the most popular dance styles in India but also keeping in mind the modern audience. We like to say the dance styles are a genius blend of the streets of Mumbai and New York.

I come up with the choreography with my assistant choreographers Kruti Shah and Rohit Gijare. Since we all have unique dance backgrounds, the three of us make the perfect creative combination for this show. Also, company dancers from AATMA Performing Arts have had a tremendous share of creative input in the show. The reason why it has been so successful is due to the number of minds who constantly edit and add/remove details.

Since the show is constantly adding new pieces, this is an ongoing process. Even during long tours, the dancers work on new pieces that they can add for the next show. It is an amazing process from beginning to end!

Would you say you are giving audiences a taste of Indian culture?

Absolutely! There is no doubt that audiences will get to understand India’s primary figures (both ancient and modern) as well as take a trip through the Bollywood film industry. We use classical and folk styles of dance to transport audiences through India, and they will most definitely get a taste of our culture. I’ve always said, “If you’ve ever wanted to visit India, this show is your direct flight there!”

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Tell us about some of the dancing styles and techniques used…

As we progress from traditional to modern India, we use classical dance styles such as bharatanatyam and kathak, folk styles like lavani, garba,

and bhangra, as well as hip-hop, jazz, ballet, and contemporary. As India continues to modernise, the show adds new elements to keep it current.

What can audiences expect from the show?

Audiences can expect a blend of old and new as well as a fusion of traditional and modern styles of dance. Live musicians, acrobats, and brilliant dancers will take the stage and transport them to parts of India in seconds. They will walk away feeling as if they have truly travelled and learned the history of India. They will be dancing in their seats when the artists take them through the Bollywood film industry. The show is for all ages and nationalities and there is something to enjoy for everyone!

Tell us about any standout experiences for Mystic India…

Every country and city we travel to has memorable moments. The best part of travelling around the globe is being able to share Indian culture with other people while also learning about their

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culture, surroundings, and customs.

When we are able to meet audience members after a show and they have tears in their eyes, you cannot help but remember each one of them.

What keeps you all motivated?

Dance is our passion. The cast lives and breathes dance. When you love what you do, you do not need anything else to get you up in the morning. Even though we rehearse long hours nothing feels like work. We are blessed with this opportunity, and I’m lucky enough to have a cast that never takes that for granted.

In your own words how would you want audiences to interpret the show?

I want audiences to fall in love with India. I want them to understand how deep and rich India is in its culture, and learn something they have never known before about Indians. Beyond that, I want them to forget about their hardships and stresses, and have the best 90 minutes of their lives.

What’s coming up next for Mystic India?

We are always working on something new. We don’t like to give away all the surprises, but we have many new projects coming up. This is one show of many that we are going to bring around the world. For now, we are focused and dedicated to bringing Bahrain the best show we can and we are totally living in the moment.

GO: Catch the Mystic India World Tour at BIECC on September 8 and 9. Show starts at 8pm.

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ARTS.

Keeping Bahrain’s eyes, ears and minds in shape

THIS MONTH YOU MUST...

ART: STREET STYLE EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT STREET ART IN BAHRAIN

READ

INFERNO DAN BROWN

Mystery, symbols and codes - is this another clever and charismatic thriller from Dan Brown? See what we think of it...

LISTEN

WATCH

#WILLPOWER

RIDDICK

Party, funky, pop and techno - Will.I.Am is known for experimenting with music on a whole new level. Creative or too commercial?

Vin Dieseal is back, in all his muscles and glory, to take on the sci-fi character of Riddick once more. Here’s our verdict..

WILL.I.AM

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the Street art takeov ARTs

STILL REGARDED A SENSITIVE ART FORM IN BAHRAIN, SPRAY-PAINTING THE WALLS AROUND THE ISLAND WITH CHARACTER, COLOUR AND DIFFERENT CONCEPTS IS YET TO BE ACCEPTED BY MANY IN SOCIETY. The british council is currently working with two good friends with a passion for street art. HERE, SHABANA ADAM TALKS WITH huvil and leon.d about THEIR STYLES OF WORK AND THE RISKS THAT COME WITH THIS UNIQUE TALENT...

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HUVIL

While most teenagers will have been out playing sports or watching a movie at the cinema with friends, Mahmood, a.k.a Huvil, was busy exploring his interest and passion for sketching. “I started by sketching cartoon characters on the walls inside my room,” he says. “When my friend Leon saw what I was doing he said ‘since you like to do big scale artwork, why don’t you use spray paints?’” Oblivious to such tools, Huvil was introduced to a whole new world of street art through YouTube tutorials and videos about graffiti artists in places like the US and Spain. “That day we went to the shop and bought cheap spray cans, just to try first.” The rest (since 2008 that is) is history…

Realising that street art hasn’t gained the same prominence as it carries in other parts of the world, Huvil’s journey into this field has sparked a desire to turn negative stereotypes of graffiti artists into a positive outlook. Hence the street name ‘Huvil’ for his artist persona. “Here in my country what many understand by street art is only vandalism,” he says. “I’m trying to change the image of street art by using the words humanity and evil (creating Huvil) to transfer what people think is evil into a positive thing.”

His techniques include graffiti-style art, Arabic calligraphy, and big murals and portraits of faces, for which Huvil refers to culturally significant symbols. “I use the batoola in my art because it represents beauty for me and that’s what our culture is about,” he says. And while he’s a self-taught street artist, Huvil draws on inspiration from worldrenowned names like eL Seed, a French-Tunisian street artist with a distinctive style of Arabic calligraphy, as well as Shepard Fairey, an 36

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American contemporary graphic designer, illustrator and artist.

What’s interesting, and refreshing, is that despite street art being frowned upon by some, and after Huvil tells us he’s been “caught” in the act a few times, even figures of authority are intrigued by what he’s doing. Huvil explains, “Some of the police guys who find me will stand there and ask me to continue, they’ll say, ‘actually you’re doing a great job.’ They usually come and paint over the walls and fences with things written on them so when they see my artwork they say ‘we’ll keep it, why not?’”

Unlike the paintings that hang in galleries, street art doesn’t have crowds of art connoisseurs gathering around to appreciate its raw beauty, especially in Bahrain where many focus on the abstract and conceptual arts. However, Huvil believes that street art is developing and moving forwards, and it’s his willingness to learn new techniques that keeps him excited in this edgy scene.

Furthermore, Huvil’s talents are all about positivity and raising the profile of street art in Bahrain. “As you know, Bahrain is under stress of political problems, so I’m trying to relieve stress with street art and send a positive image that we’re still a good country,” Huvil explains. He’s already worked on events for Ford and Red Bull as well as a “collective artwork” project at Bahrain Fort, so it’s clear to see that his dedication to street art has come a long way from those teenage years spent sketching on his bedroom walls… Needless to say, we’re excited to see where his art will take him in the future!

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LEON.D What began as a flair for illustration and comic art turned into something deeper for Mohammed, a.k.a Leon.D, around three and a half years ago when he spent time studying overseas in the United Kingdom. “The street art thing started out of the fact that I did my degree abroad and I was lucky enough, and fortunate to see what artists were doing on a massive surface,” he explains. “I was exposed to that, so then with Mahmood and my other friends we thought ‘let’s try doing it’. We went out, bought cheap spray cans and we did it!” And it was this curiosity and need to experiment that has continued to fuel Leon.D’s passion for street art.

He’s heavily influenced by pop culture and his art revolves around contradiction and culture clash, which is presented with Arabesque and comic techniques as well as colour blend on surfaces. And just like his very particular art style, the street name Leon.D arose from the word lion and its multiple references. He says, “The name Leon is Greek itself and the lion reference exists in a lot of places. It’s something that has the ideology of being brave, mighty and something that is more cultural.”

Leon.D finds inspiration in “everything… from music to other artists” like Ian Francis, Takashi Murakami, a contemporary Japanese artist, and David Choe, a world-renowned American muralist and graffiti artist. But unlike them, Leon.D admits to facing obstacles in getting people to understand street art, especially here in Bahrain. “Street art is new and people here are not exposed to art culturally, we have people from all over but at some

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point in time we stopped doing art,” he explains. “Especially when you do art on the street, people might not understand it so they might not be helpful, or give you the wall, or the space, or the materials.

“As an artist we depend on people to supply you, but again you’re supposed to get paid for the work you do. Here in Bahrain you have to sacrifice things, I have to have a main job which I get paid for. Then with that money, besides living, do what’s my passion.”

For Leon.D the excitement used to be just putting a piece of work on a wall with the adrenalin rush to finish on time, without being questioned or caught, as well as making it look beautiful. But, now, he says, “It’s not about me anymore, it’s about the people. I want to leave a message; I don’t want to do it just for the sake of putting something on the wall.”

Just like his own perspective on street art has developed and changed, Leon.D believes that there has been a significant, albeit slow, shift in how serious street art is being taken in the GCC region. “It’s considered serious abroad, yes,” he says. “I think the gap is getting minimised because you have a lot of artists coming here from different backgrounds and different cultures.”

For Leon.D it’s not really about having an end goal more than it is about the journey itself and making a mark. “I get inspired by a lot of people who I saw as a role model when I started. They’re amazing artists, they’ve progressed and they’ve evolved,” he says. “They do charity work which is completely different from art but they manage to create a certain charisma and energy.”

We’re confident that Leon.D will have a poignant journey, and one thing’s for sure, he’s dedicated to remaining true to his art and keeping it outside for all to see, as he confidently says, “It’s street art, so if you put it into a gallery, it’s not street art anymore.”

ARTs

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designed by huvil

THE STREET ART TAKEOVER 40

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ARTs

designed by leon.d

THE STREET ART TAKEOVER FACT September

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Artist: Neuzz Where: Mexico

Global Spectrum: Street Art

We believe that the best art isn’t always behind a glass frame or velvet ropes, as more modern artists are leaving ghostly footprints with spray-painted images on walls All around the world. Here are some of the most striking works we found‌

Artist: Uknown Where: Manchester, England

Artist: INTI Where: Lodz, Poland 42

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Artist: El Nino De Las Pinturas Where: Granada, Spain

Artist: Specter Where: Brooklyn, New York

Artist: Scampi Where: Wellington, New Zealand

Artist: Banksy Where: Los Angeles

Artist: JR Where: Shanghai

Artist: : Agostino Lacurci Where: Lugano, Switzerland FACT September

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CHOICE TUNES

In Association with Virgin Megastore, Bahrain City Center

NEW ALBUMS. ARTISTS. AND AUDIOPHONICS

3 SOUL, FUNK, R&B

#WILLPOWER

By WILL.I.AM

WHAT’S IT LIKE Having played a gargantuan role in pop music with his genre-bending band, The Black Eyed Peas, Will.I.Am’s yet to achieve the same level of success with a solo project. On #willpower, he returns to his unique style, incorporating futuristic twists and exceptional production (he even features the Czech Symphony Orchestra is some tracks!). The 18 club-ready tunes are self-written (wahey!) and Will has roped in his close pals Lil’ Wayne, Justin Bieber and Nicole

Scherzinger for some mutually beneficial hookups.

The standout for us is the fresh-sounding “Getting’ Dumb” which features a naughty rap courtesy of South Korean girl-band 2NE1, and, surprisingly, “#thatPOWER” makes us think that the Biebs might actually have decent pop-soul pipes.

Yes, he’s used a hashtag in the title, and yes, that’s somewhat cringeworthy. But, if you can get past the self-serving social media shout-out then this album makes for a feel-good funky record... wait for the sale!

DANCE-ELECTRO

pop-ROCK

Pop-CLASSICAL

INTENSE

ENGLISH RAIN

By ARMIN VAN BUUREN

By GABRIELLE APLIN

ALL THAT ECHOES

By JOSH GROBAN

WHAT’S IT LIKE: TWO YEARS in the making, this is Armin Van Burren’s fifth studio album, and it seems that the DJ’s musical repertoire has certainly expanded, even if most of the tracks sound like a mish-mash of big dance names such as Alesso, Swedish House Mafia, and Avicii.

Expect trance beats and etherial vocals in “Won’t Let You Go” and “Love Never Came”. There’s a real house sound in “Alone” and “Beautiful Life”, but we can’t help but think that Armin is not nearly as much as a genre chameleon as Tiesto.

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WHAT’S IT LIKE: FROM THE girl whose sweet voice seranaded millions in the John Lewis UK Christmas TV ads, comes this beautiful collection of tracks. It helps that Gabrielle is blessed with the softest of voices, filled with raw honesty and emotion, along with an incredible songwriting ability, which is best showcased in tracks like “Home”, “Human”, and “Evaporate”, with their wonderfully poetic lyrics, wrapped in full warm melodies. The record is neatly packaged with crystal-clear production too. She’s bringing the ‘borecore’ genre to the forefront of music and we love it!

WHAT’S IT LIKE: MADE UP of passionate lyrics, it’s hard not to get lost in the songs on this record. Josh Groban’s sixth studio album topped the billboard charts and with tracks like “Brave” and the dramatic ballad “False Alarms”, bringing to mind the yearning uplift of bands like U2 and OneRepublic, it’s easy to see why this record was a success.

However, in some places it lacks the heart and feel of his older albums and what we want more of is the loud, roaring voice he once projected. It seems Josh’s real musical strengths are in his epic classical style.

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CHOICE WORDS

In Association with Virgin Megastore, Bahrain City Center

BAHRAIN’S BEST READS THIS MONTH BY GENRE

autobiography & MEMOIR

CRIME FICTION

tHE GENERAL

BACK FROM THE DEAD

By aHMED ERRACHIDI

By PETER LEONARD

WHAT’S IT ABOUT: WHERE were you on September 11 2001? Ahmed Errachidi was sat in a London café, watching on in horror as the twin towers collapsed. Shortly after, his life changed in the most terrifying way; Ahmed was sold by the Pakistanis to the Americans in the diplomatic lounge at Islamabad airport and spent five and a half years in Guantanamo. This is his story.

WHAT’S IT LIKE: So many words come to mind when reading this book; courage, survival, justice, all things that you’ll gain new perspective on from Ahmed’s story.

What this account of events will make you rethink is the meaning of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The book will also make you look anew at the War on Terror and draw your own conclusions.

Fiction

the Quarry By iain banks

WHAT’S IT ABOUT: KIT has never known his mother and now, his father, Guy, is dying of cancer. For his last days, Guy gathers around him his oldest friends - or at least the friends with the most to lose by his death. Old jealousies, affairs and lies come to light as Kit watches on.

WHAT’S IT LIKE: Being Banks’ final novel, before he passed with gall bladder cancer, The Quarry is a spectacular blend of emotions. An 18-year-old awkward boy who is coping with the imminent death of his father, who has an emotionally-filled past himself - readers will be gripped.

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Fiction

INFERNO

By DAN BROWN

WHAT’S IT ABOUT: SET in the heart of Italy, Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces...

Dante’s Inferno. Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling rival and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a world of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust... before the world is irrevocably altered.

WHAT’S IT LIKE: As with his earlier novels, The Lost Symbol, The Da Vinci Code, and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown masterfully fuses history, art, codes and symbols in this new thriller. The character of Robert Langdon is, once again, brilliant, clever and charismatic which really adds spark to this riveting story. This is Dan Brown in his element and at his best. Inferno is, handsdown, his highest-stakes novel to date... an edge-of-your-seat novel that you won’t be able to put down until the very end.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT: IT’S 1971 and we’re in the Bahamas. Nazi death angel Ernst Hess is missing and presumed dead, but emerges alive on a hospital bed. Holocaust survivor Harry Levin believes Hess has been stopped from carrying out his life mission. But, soon enough, Harry is crossing continents, and putting his life in danger to destroy Hess once and for all.

WHAT’S IT LIKE: Jaw-dropping, action-packed and darkly humorous, Back From The Dead is the dramatic conclusion to the story of two mortal enemies first introduced to readers in the book Voices Of The Dead. If suspense is what you’re after then you’re onto a winner with this one as each page leaves you wanting more.

Peter Leonard strikes gold with this! [ ALSO READ ] OUR Tweeps had a few books to recommend this month: @abltheviper - I’m revisitng my childhood days and reading The Hobbit at the moment - love it! @paulacsbleal - I’ve finally got my hands on the GoT books and can’t wait to get stuck into it!

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ARTs

ON SCREEN TOP FILMS SHOWING THIS MONTH IN BAHRAIN

Who doesn’t want to see this muscle-man fight alien predators?

RIDDICK D: DAVID TWOHY C: VIN DIESEL, KARL URBAN, KATEE SACKHOFF

WHAT’S IT ABOUT: Betrayed and left for dead on a desolate planet, Riddick fights for survival against an alien race of predators, while becoming stronger and dangerous than ever before. Bounty hunters from all over the galaxy soon descend on Riddick, who plans a vicious scheme for revenge. With his enemies right where he wants them, Riddick will face-off with his past and a new breed of mercenaries, all before returning to his home planet of Furya to save it from destruction.

WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: This is David Twohy’s third attempt at making audiences root for the nocturnally gifted anti-hero Riddick (Vin Diesel), and, we have to say, though the movie is a continuation of The Chronicles of Riddick, it certainly has enough plot details to stand alone.

Far from the space opera-feel that it’s predecessor had, this storyline moves at a steady pace bringing the location and characters in and out as needed.

Riddick also goes full-blown sci-fi with its production quality really stepping up to rival some of the biggest sci-fi flicks of the year.

This includes the likes of Cloud Atlas, Pacific

Rim, After Earth and Oblivion. Basically, the movie has enough action-packed CGI and special effects to satisfy the midsummer “I wish to go to another universe” impulse.

If that’s not enough then just look to the main star. Vin Diesel is a man who very obviously still believes in Riddick and you might just appreciate the action-filled sequences more knowing that he did a majority of his stunts himself, some of them being quite hardcore.

To top that off, we sure do get more than a fair few moments to drool over Vin Diesel’s cool-guy poses and man-muscles, all while he’s throwing out gritty one-liners... win!

WIN 2 FREE CINEMA TICKETS

Redeemable for any film at any Cineco cinema

Answer the following question:

WHAT IS THE NAME OF VIN DIESEL’S CHARACTER IN THE FAST & FURIOUS FRANCHISE? E-mail answers to: editor@factlive.com

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ARTs

[ SYNOPSIS]

PRISONERS D: Denis Villeneuve C: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2 is the fun-packed sequel featuring Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) and his friends, who are out to save the world from mutant food beasts like living pickles, hungry tacodiles, shrimpanzees and apple pie-thons. Flint’s famous machine is the cause of these foodanimal hybrids, and now he’s forced to walk away from his dream job, working at The Live Corp Company for his idol Chester V... One for the whole family!

INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2 follows the haunted Lambert family who seek to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world. Expect to see inanimate objects move and ghosts puff in and out of the family home, all to the backdrop of the eerie lullaby “Row Row Row Your Boat”. If chills and thrills is what you’re after then this pretty much covers that!

WHAT’S IT ABOUT: Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. Knowing his child’s life is at stake, Keller has no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: How far would you go to protect your child?

A father frantically trying to find his young daughter who has gone missing - sounds all too much like what you might hear in the news, more frequently than not. That’s where the heart of this movie is, in showcasing real feelings and emotions, real relationships and the real bond between a parent and their child. We’ve been waiting a long time for a truly gripping crime drama, and by the looks of it, Prisoners will deliver... definite must-see.

THE FAMILY D: Luc Besson C: Robert De Niro, Dianna Agron, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones

WHAT’S IT ABOUT: As the saying goes, “old habits die hard” and that’s the case with the Manzoni family, a notorious mafia clan, who is relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program. Fitting in to their new lifestyle soon becomes challenging when all they want is to continue doing what they know best.

WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: This is a darkly funny movie with a somewhat believable plot. Let’s be honest, it’s exciting (and scary) to think that there are mafia families out in the real world, but what sets this one apart is the fact it’s headed by frontman Fred Manzoni (Robert De Niro), who only handles problems the “family” way... watch for chaos and laughs!

FACT September

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FACT September

TECHNOLOGY.

Keeping THE PEOPLE OF Bahrain state-of-the-art

BMW 6-SERIES GRANCOUPE

Ali Driver takes the BMW for a spin...

TESTED

CANON EOS M It’s slick with all the specs that any camera enthusiast would love to try. Here’s our take on this Canon camera...

AND ALSO...

LIBRATONE ZIPP

Available in a fusion of colours with a super cool zip design... are these the most funky speakers on the market right now?

Q&A

We talk to Alaa Ebrahim ahead of Video games Day. A young gaming enthusiast in Bahrain with a huge online following!

FACT September

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TECHNOLOGY

it’s a

Gamer’s world

It’s Video Games Day on September 12 and we were excited to sit down with a young gaming enthusiast in Bahrain who, along with a close group of other gamers on the island, has turned his passion for video games into an internet sensation. FACT meets Alaa Ebrahim, 23, to talk all about the GCC gaming scene, his online presence and his top six games on the market right now.

Hi Alaa! Tell us more about your online gaming presence…

I work on two YouTube channels, one is DVLZStation and the other is VGStations. I realised that we need to do more in the gaming industry here, and these stations concentrate mostly on first-person shooter games and daily vlogs. On VGStations we are five guys working to deliver everything on our website and YouTube. We concentrate on the video games industry in general, we do everything from mobile games, to computer games, and console games too.

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Describe the video games scene in Bahrain and the Middle East…

Gaming in the Middle East is not as big as the USA or UK where they are one step ahead of us. They’ve been working with video games for a long time but in the Middle East many games have only recently been localised in Arabic.

Even big games like Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 will be localised in Arabic. People have just started to realise that the Middle East market is getting bigger and so they’ve started to do more for Arab players.

What is it about video games that make them so popular?

I think people really enjoy their time and interaction they get from playing with friends.

So when I’m playing a game with five or six friends, you have to play with tactics, you have to rely on your friends to get the job done. If you didn’t count on them it wouldn’t be fun!

Like multiplayer games online, they cater for this because people can play from anywhere with their friends.

PS4 and Xbox focus a lot on social activities,

TECHNOLOGY

They concentrate on how to share games, how to interact with other people, how to chat with people – they realise that your friends are what makes the gaming more enjoyable!

Video Games can have negative effects on young people – what do you think about that issue?

There are games with 18+ ratings.

Parents should watch their kids and not let them buy these games. Some kids may want to do the same actions in the games – I don’t know how you can handle this, but I haven’t come across any cases or noticed this here. But maybe outside our region it’s different.

How did you get started in gaming?

My start was with Playstation 1 in 1998 - I used to play video games all day long like a normal teenager. I didn’t start with thinking that I would be teaching people about gaming.

On PS3 I started to play games like Call of Duty (COD) and first person shooter, which are very popular. I watched videos on YouTube to understand the game more and teach myself more about the game. After this step I gathered with friends to play the game.

We made a plan where all of us were one team, one clan, and we would fight in the video games world against another clan.

I started my own YouTube channel after this and I didn’t expect to be continuing this as a career. But I’m considering this now because there are so many things you can do, so many companies you can work with and make this a career.

What keeps you excited about the gaming industry?

I see a future in the gaming industry. In the Middle East it’s only getting big now and I’m seeing a lot of attention put on this region. Such as the COD event in LA, I was just invited to – they invited a few people and gamers from the Middle East. I met some great people from other countries, for example I have around 200,000 subscribers, but I met people with 2 million subscribers at this event. These events make you want to do more things in gaming because the industry is caring about the Middle East now – it’s a growing industry here.

Would you consider yourself a gaming expert?

It depends on the game. For example, COD – for this game I feel I’m a 100 per cent expert. But for other games I don’t know everything. It’s hard to understand some games, for example Minecraft, I’ve played it many times, it’s easier now but for me it was complicated, you have to play it a lot to understand it. It takes a lot of time to be an expert in some of the games and in other games it doesn’t take any time to be an expert at all.

What’s coming up for you in the future – will you study gaming?

My friend studies gaming development in Canada so we have a guy who understands all of this. But for me to study gaming – I don’t think I’ll have the time to do this. I’m planning to expand what we’re doing – and make my social media accounts bigger.

In what ways do you help your followers who have gaming questions?

For COD I teach people how to play the game and how to get better at playing it. What I do sometimes is live commentary where I record my gameplay and show them. They can see my game play and understand how they’re playing, so they can start playing on my strategy. If I get high amount of kills and less death they’ll understand I’m a good player and follow my style. I also make tutorials – what equipments and weapons to use in the game so people can learn how to be better.

Is there anyone you want to give a shout out to?

This all wouldn’t have happened without the support of my followers, who I call my own YouTube family, or the team I work with (Mako, Rashid, Ali and Mohamed) and the support from the people who work backstage in the Middle East to deliver those games in our hands (Pluto Distribution and Red Entertainment). Also, not to forget my top and number one supporter - the Elgato company.

Follow @VGStations on twitter for more on gaming.

Grand Theft Auto IV Grand Theft Auto IV is one of the most anticipated games this year. A game that makes you live the life of criminals with million things you can do beside the incredible story.

Call of Duty Ghosts COD is my favorite game.

The most-selling game around the world. The best first person shooter game. This is the game that improves every year and attracts all the players to play a fast based war game.

The Last of Us The last of us has one of the best story lines games. This game teaches how to survive from the world of infection and try to protect the people you care about.

Battlefield 4 Battlefield 4 is the most realistic first person shooter game. EA has done a lot of work to make this game take the next step in the first person shooter genre.

Pro evolution soccer 2014 How can you not be excited with a game that is working to bring a lot of stuff to the Middle East? I am very excited about this game because they have localised everything into Arabic.

TitanFall Another First person shooter game but it has its uniqueness. The only FPS game I like with robots in it.

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TECHNOLOGY

LAB TEST

CANON EOS M camera

As the last major camera manufacturer to take a stab at designing a compact interchangeable lens camera, Canon has had more than enough time to get it right. And with new EOS M it has done just that, hitting all the right spots required for a good CSC. The camera’s commitment to simplicity is found in its physical control layout, with buttons and dials kept to a minimum. It has a compact, magnesiumalloy body, and comes in four different colours - black, white, silver and red.

And although it has no built-in flash, it comes with a hot shoe on the top plate and Multi Shot Noise Reduction, providing outstanding noise reduction while preserving precious detail in photos at high ISO speeds. Its Scene Intelligent Auto mode delivers expertly optimized photos and improved scene detection for amazing results when

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shooting at night.

For those looking to capture outstanding quality Full HD videos, the EOS M Digital Camera offers a number of advantages.

With a large APS-C sized sensor, the camera is able to deliver shallow depth-of-field for achieving impressive cine-style results. We love its ability to capture clean, high-quality video, even when low-light conditions apply.

The Canon EOS M is one of the most capable and easy to use CSCs we’ve tested, and it’ll keep both entry-level and more experienced users equally happy. Image quality is some of the best we’ve yet seen in a CSC and certainly a match for many DSLRs. Our only negative comment though is that AF speed and burst shooting could both be faster. That said, we fully expect to see Canon expand the EF-M range in the near future!

Plus Price: BD 299 Buy: Electro store Battery: Up to 230 shots Image Quality: 18 MP Dimensions: 2.6 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches Weight: 10.5 oz PROS

Sharp images and Compact body

CONS

Slow to start and No flash

TECHNOLOGY

LAB TEST

Libratone Zipp Although not quite household name yet, Libratone is just a 30-person Danish company. With its roots in acclaimed Steinway Lyngdorf audio, this brand is hoping to change the face of portable speakers… literally. Starting with just ten employees and introducing the Lounge and Live AirPlay speakers in 2011, the company is now back with the new Zipp portable speaker.

Watch out Bose and Jawbone because here we have a new technology called PlayDirect – a nifty newbie which has more bandwidth for streaming lossless audio. Better yet, the speakers don’t require a Wi-Fi access point. PlayDirect gives you the convenience of Bluetooth with the higher-quality audio and range associated with Wi-Fi, and that is a pretty good deal.

The most visible design element of the Zipp speaker is a selection of colouful sleeves that zip into place. The ‘funky’ collection is available in purple, pink and yellow, while the ‘classic’ consists of black, blue and red sleeves. A leather strap is a quirky yet necessary addition

and somewhat useful when transporting the 4-pound device. But don’t worry, it is the perfect size to fit in a shoulder bag or rucksack.

When it comes down to the sound (which of course is the most important part) you are in for a treat.

The 360-degree-firing Zipp fills the room better than any of its competitors. It offers an impressively low amount of stereo separation but does get very, very loud, with the first signs of distortion occurring at 90-95%.

What’s more is that you can control the speakers through the iOS app. Keep an eye out for the battery life and control the volume through your phone. You can even change the mood and genre of the music being blasted.

Now for every one of you who are running out to the shops to buy these… wait one second. They only support iOS – so all you Nokia and Samsung and Windows phone owners would be wasting your money. However, despite this, it is worth downloading iTunes on your computer and buying these bad boys anyway.

Plus Price: BD207.3 Buy: Virgin Megastore Battery: Up to 9 hours Dimensions: 4.8 x 4.8 x 10.2 inches Weight: 4 lbs

PROS

Sounds terrific and PlayDirect makes AirPlay truly portable for iOS

CONS

Expensive and Not supported for Android or Windows

Very Happy:

“Better yet, the speakers don’t require a Wi-Fi access point”

FACT September

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TECHNOLOGY

Ali driver says...

“The BMW 6-Series Gran Coupé is an impressive blend OF STYLE, PERFORMANCE AND LUXURY...”

Our Mystery Motoring Expert, Ali Driver, is thrilled to check out the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupé!

The 6-series you see here is the 640i Gran Coupé. To those who are not aware, the 6-series is a coupé based on the chassis of a 5-series. The Gran Coupé part of the name is a new addition to the BMW range, though perhaps one that was inevitable. Whilst Audi have the A7 and Mercedes have the CLS (both of which are coupé shaped sedans), BMW until now, have not had a direct competitor.

In order to resolve this, they have added a bit of length to the 6-series wheelbase and a few extra doors to create a four-door version. So it’s a sedan based on a coupé that’s based on a sedan! This seems to be the latest trend from manufacturers; filling niches within niches in the car 56

FACT September

market, and why not? The primary differences between the 6-series and 5-series are limited to a new interior and a new body. Engines are shared, chassis and suspension systems are shared, so BMW minimises its workload and produces an entirely new and very desirable car (which is surely an attractive business proposition).

As is becoming a common trend nowadays, BMW share many things between the cars in their range; for example the 3.0 turbocharged straight-6 engine from this car performs its duties in everything from the 1-series hatchback to the executive full-size 7-series sedan. There are some that may be shocked by this fact, “how can BMW justify using the same engine in cars with such a vast gap in price?” The answer is simple; they have created an engine

TECHNOLOGY

Price Grandcoupe 4-door starting FROM BD38,000

Who is Ali Driver?

1. He lives in Bahrain and says he grew up on the streets of Manama, but we think he’s actually from a rich family.

2. He says his car skills are selftaught, but we’re sure we’ve seen a certificate from the Bahrain International Circuit on his wall.

so versatile that it’s not overly powerful or heavy for a small car such as the 1-series, yet is powerful and refined enough to utilise for their executive sedan. This is a remarkable feat of engineering. I have actually been waiting quite a while to get my hands on a car equipped with this engine as it is held in such high regard in the world of motoring and I wasn’t disappointed.

Since its re-introduction after a 14-year hiatus, BMW’s 6-series has been their GT car offering. Its focus is on comfort and luxury rather than outright performance or space. The Gran Coupé offers more practicality than the 6-series coupé thanks to a stretch in its wheelbase and two extra doors, however this cars sole purpose is refinement.

There is next to no road or wind noise even at higher

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 four minutes, but we’re sure that’s only when his wife helps him.

speeds, and the comfort provided is exceptional; the 640i Gran Coupé can be driven in complete comfort at a pace which ensures you’ll reach your destination VERY quickly.

Although the GranCoupé’s remit is to be a luxury cruiser, it does have a very neat trick of imitating a supercar when you put the pedal to the metal. For a car weighing not far off two tonnes, it can be rather surprising how this thing piles on speed.

To ensure that BMW’s performance claims were legit, we obviously had to do some independent testing. After driving down towards the desert, we found the highway pretty much deserted and I’m pleased to tell you that we can now verify that the 640i does indeed accomplish its claimed performance figures.

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TECHNOLOGY

The most notable feature of the Gran Coupé for me was the interior.

As I climbed in I immediately noticed a distinct difference in cabin quality from the 5-series, all surfaces are covered in soft, stitched leather, the seats are more comfortable and luxurious and then there is THAT screen. It’s simply huge, and forms a part of a very driver-centric cabin. All the controls are slightly angled towards the driver and the transmission tunnel being quite high (or perhaps the car being a bit lower) gives a very snug feeling to the cabin. Everything is nicely adjustable, the seats in particular give an impressive range of adjustment, which was very handy for me as I’m quite tall.

This car then, is very competent in a number of areas but there is still an important question that needs answering. Why take one over a 5-series sedan? Well, there are several reasons; the interior is more luxurious, there’s more focus on style and it’s a more exclusive car. This should ensure that the Gran Coupé is a successful car here in Bahrain, as luxury and style are two very important aspects of Bahraini life.

Overall, I think the Gran Coupé can take the fight directly to Audi and Mercedes. It’s a very relaxing car to drive, has some fantastic engines and distances itself enough from its 5-series origins with sleek, smart styling, a more luxurious and driver-centered cabin and a general feel of exclusivity.

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FACT September

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TECHNOLOGY

Ali driver says...

“The Ford Focus is a highly capable car, being everything from an A-to-B family hatchback to a turbocharged road-racer...”

Our Mystery Motoring Expert, Ali Driver, tests out the Ford Focus on the roads of Bahrain.

This year marks the Focus’ 15th birthday and it’s safe to say that it’s had an enjoyable time so far. When it was released back in 1998, it was way ahead of its rivals. Ford decided to ditch the traditional rear suspension of hatchbacks and implement a more sophisticated system which gave a massively improved ride. Having driven/been in all 3 models of Focus (and many of their rivals) I can say with confidence that the Focus is undoubtedly one of the best riding hatchbacks on the market. Another aspect of this car that has always set it apart from its rivals is the styling. The first generation still looks fresh today. Ford utilised a few design cues on that car which, at the time were vastly different to 60

FACT September

anything that had been seen before. This endowed the Focus with a certain something; it wasn’t just another small family car, it had genuine appeal.

The car we have here is the third-generation model, this one sporting the 1.6 Ti-VCT engine. Ford has used some clever innovations to help this engine achieve a reasonable spread of power and torque whilst only sipping fuel. It’s a real testament to modern engineering too, as I drove quite a way and made full use of the rev-range and the cars ‘sport’ mode, yet the fuel gauge didn’t seem to have moved when I returned the car. Whilst the engine is clearly a remarkable feat in terms of efficiency, it can occasionally lack pace. Ford seem to be moving towards smaller-capacity turbo-charged engines as are many other companies and I believe such a unit would

TECHNOLOGY

Price BD6,000

Who is Ali Driver?

1. He lives in Bahrain and says he grew up on the streets of Manama, but we think he’s actually from a rich family.

2. He says his car skills are selftaught, but we’re sure we’ve seen a certificate from the Bahrain International Circuit on his wall.

be more suited to the Focus. They actually offer two other engines that fit this mould and on paper at least, they do seem to make more sense.

To be completely truthful, the 2nd generation and current cars styling has not made the impression on me that the first model did. This may be more a case of the original being such a great design which raised my expectations for the subsequent models.

I can only imagine the difficulties faced by the design team after such a success the first time around. I am warming to the new Focus though, after seeing a few on the road (especially in ST form) there are certain aspects that caught my eye. The rear of the car looks very good; Ford has ceased having the tail-lights up near the roof and the car now looks a touch more conventional (in a good way). It’s also more rounded in the roof and boot

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 four minutes, but we’re sure that’s only when his wife helps him.

areas with the roof sloping off towards the end of the car to give it a more streamlined design. Fords designers have steered away from the typical hatchback shape to a certain extent; it is perhaps more imaginative than a Golf, but less radical than the Mégane.

This is about the best balance in design terms that you could hope for. While it may appear as though they have focused (no pun intended!) primarily on the design, nothing could be further from the truth.

The purpose of a hatchback is to be practical; they should have plenty of room and storage space. The Focus excels in both these areas, the cabin is spacious both in head and legroom and the boot is extremely generous when you consider the size of the car.

Another important factor in a hatchback is ergonomics.

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The controls and displays in the Focus are all relatively easy to use and well located; they never interrupt your concentration whilst driving and are very straightforward. Some people however, may be disappointed with the cabin; the door cards are made from a hard plastic and feel quite cheap and the buttons and switches leave room for improvement, especially if you’ve driven a Golf recently where all of the controls have a premium feel.

Unfortunately, this has been an area of Fords that has suffered for quite a while; things like the indicator and windscreen wiper stalks often feel flimsy and the dashboards often look like they have been designed with more emphasis on aesthetics. If Ford invested some time on their interiors and addressed some of the quality issues, I believe they could be a more valid rival to their ‘premium’ German competitors.

The Focus then, is a great choice for those in the market for a hatchback.

It’s a very practical, efficient and comfortable car, yet can still offer an enjoyable driving experience. Choosing a Focus will also set you apart from the masses; German cars are seemingly the default choice these days, yet there is little that they can offer that Ford cannot.

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FACT BAHRAIN OCTOBER

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FASHION.

FIGHTING THE BATTLE AGAINST BAD TASTE IN BAHRAIN

THIS MONTH YOU MUST...

Cruise control

For their Pre-Fall collection French fashion house Faconnable is going all out nautical and it’s time for all of us to get on board!

TREND REPORT WHAT TO WEAR

Your ultimate guide to the fashion trends that are making it big this fall/winter season.

Modern PUNK

IN THE SHOPS

Get ready to rock a tougher look with our pick of the coolest punkinspired pieces!

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Fashion

Cruise Control Reworking the famous maritime style associated with the elegance and grandeur of transatlantic ocean liners of the 1900s, Faconnable is bringing back a bit of shipboard sophistication, marrying modern day classics and traditional tailoring with hints of nautical here and there. Their Pre-Fall collection eases the busy urban man into a season where simple yet practical dominates the scene. To help men cope the rules are simple: warm colours, sporty touches and easy tailored cuts.

Shaping up to be the colour palette of the season, fresh yet sporty shades have been splashing their way across the collection. From bright navy, teak and cerulean to warm cream, leaf green and amber, traditional hues are given a revamp yet still exude that timeless and chic air.

Leading the way from hot weather dressing into fall is a relaxed new silhouette, where light sportswear becomes the key element to new season dressing. Graphic stripes meet maritime details, where softly tailored separates literally set sail with marine-style glamour. To get the look, loose linen trousers are paired with cosy lightweight cardigan jackets teamed either with a sharp bib front shirt or a traditional polo for a more Picture first class cruise liners casual spin. For those looking and dapper looking captains, where for the perfect pair of pants, shipboard elegance meets modern Faconnable’s cotton tuxedo chinos are the go-to trousers, classics. This Pre-Fall season, suitable for daytime cool or French fashion house Faconnable is for an easy evening look once going all out nautical and it’s paired with a striped sweater.

The French brand’s classic shirt time to get on board! jacket makes a comeback this season in a travel inspired stretch cotton or an Atlantic blue version in feather weight suede. Both epitomise the very essence of breezy elegance as well as maritime ease, perfect for any casual loving man. For fans of the house’s famous polos, designers have created a line of colourful numbers complete with flag details and vintage graphics pulled from bygone cruise liner posters for a contemporary nostalgic feel.

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Go: Faconnable is available at SAKS Fifth Avenue, Bahrain City Centre. Tel: 1717 2000.

Fashion

A Pre-Fall collection that exudes a timeless yet modern air

FACTFACT September AUGUST

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Fashion

FACONNABLE MUST-HAVES Find these collection pieces in the store now!

01

02

03

05 04

01. BD219 02. BD53 03. BD549 04. BD64 05. BD81 06. BD86 07. BD64 08. BD76 09. BD53 10. BD64

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08

10

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Fashion Fashion

Fall 2013 Trend Report With the Fall collections slowly making their way into the stores, FACT brings you the musthave guide to the season, with our picks of the standout trends that are this fall’s biggest hits.

See everything you need to know about fall/ winter 13 here!

Rosey outlook

Dusky hues of pink and pale rose took over the colour palette, drenching the collections in a warm rosy glow.

Whether it’s a head-to-toe look or a signature standout piece you prefer, this overtly feminine and flattering palette brings new meaning to womanly allure.

Carven

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FACT September

Miu Miu

Nina ricci

topshop Unique

Fashion Fashion

NOUVEAU PUNK

Custo Barcelona

Jeremy scott

kenneth cole

Saint laurent

This season toughen up and get in touch with your rebellious side as the anti-establishment look “punk” kicks off in full throttle. The runways saw everything from tartan, studs, chains and spikes to fishnets, vinyl and flat stompy boots; it definitely sounds like the time to channel a bit of Courtney Love wouldn’t you say?!

HITCHCOCK HEROINE

bottega veneta

Dior

ermanno scervino

oscar de la renta

Bringing back a bit of the femme fatales of the Film Noir era, designers turned out a slew of nipped-waist coats and skirt-suits, all worthy of a Hitchcock blonde.

Blouses and sweaters were loosely tucked into the waist while belts were cinched at the middle, creating an hourglass shape that is smart and superfeminine.

X&Y DRESSING

ermanno scervino

Kenneth cole

theyskens’ theory

vivienne westwood

Whether it was girls dressing like boys with an androgynous twist or a constant mix between both wardrobes, it was all about that girl-boy thing this season. Think unisex pieces, oversized double-breasted coats and menswear fabrics like pinstripes and Prince of Wales checks.

So feel free to pillage your boyfriend’s closet as required!

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Fashion

COLOUR-FALL Straying away from the classical and conventional boring hues of Autumn, the collections have taken burgundy and blue, both navy and electric, as the colour palette of choice for the new season. Teal steals the spotlight though as the new must have colour.

Calvin klein

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Costume national

DIor

hugo boss

Fashion

CHECK IT OUT

boss

Dries Van noten

Tommy hilfiger

vivienne westwood

The runways were awash with the classic haberdashery fabrics of tartan, check, houndstooth and herringbone, all edging their way into everything from suits and coats to shirts and tops.

From oversized to graphic, mix and match the prints for a modern look this fall/winter.

TRACK & FIELD

boss

issey miyake

richard nicolL

vivienne westwood

There’s a spirit of athleticism in the air as fashion experiences a fitness streak with the new luxe sportswear trend.

Performance fabrics take on a metallic, brash and oversized look with a strong silhouette of cinched waists and hi-tech anoraks and jumpers.

Avoid though sporty brights by night and stick to monochrome colours for an elegant twist instead.

LEATHER LORDS

Costume national

gucci

prada

valentino

Rich, rebellious and a bad-boy essential, leather offers a sleek take on autumn’s new decadent air. Not limited to the typical jackets, the rocker favourite comes in various forms like shirts and trousers, giving a new edge to men’s wardrobes this season. So go and get yourself a bit of cool with a leather piece either in classic black or one of Autumn’s new colours.

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Fashion

Spreading Anarchy Bad girls rule supreme as a new wave of modern punk takes over. Think tartan schoolgirl skirts, don’t mess with me logos, and arm loads of spiky metal cuffs. Feeling rebellious already?!

River island PRICE ON REQUEST next BD15.8

Diesel BD232.5

Miss selfridge BD26

Bershka PRICE ON REQUEST

H&M BD79 Debenhams BD6.8

versace

river island PRICE ON REQUEST

Stradivarius BD9.5

BErshka BD5.9 OPI peace &love BD2.5

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Pinko BD227.5

Fashion

y WHO WEARS THE PANTS? Girl-boy dressing gives “dandyism” a whole new meaning, where gender is thrown right out the window and his and her’s pieces are this season’s must-haves.

Massimo dutti BD25

pinko BD252.5 Iris & INK AVAILABLE ONLINE @ WWW.THEOUTNET.COM

GAP BD23.25

Diesel BD66.5 Stradivarius BD19.90

Bershka BD15.9

pinko BD109.9 TOPSHOP PRICE ON REQUEST

Massimo dutti

H&M BD42.90 FACT September

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Fashion

All Puffed Up

Filled with down or synthetic insulation, puffer jackets are the perfect way keep warm while looking good this fall. The wind chill factor is a major plus for Bahrain’s sometimes cool breeze!

DESIGUAL BD103.9

DIESEL BD227.5

MASSIMO DUTTI BD52

LOUIS VUITTON BERSHKA BD35.9

RIVER ISLAND BD36.7

NEXT BD12.5

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Fashion

Autumnal Hues Accent colours are the way to go to add a little jazz to fall’s drab blacks and greys.

Pick a burgundy wine, teal or navy blue to make a statement.

MASSIMO DUTTI bd25

NEXT BD14.1

H&M bd49.9

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO PRICE ON REQUEST

DIESEL bd75

RIVER ISLAND PRICE ON REQUEST

burberry PRORSUM TOD’S bd165

FACT September

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FIGHTING THE BATTLE AGAINST BAD TASTE IN BAHRAIN’s Homes

think sophistication, style and superb quality fabrics... we take a look at luxury linen brand peacock alley and what it offers to help you achieve your dream bedroom FACT September

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Fashion In the home

LUXURY & STYLE

PEACOCK ALLEY Create a haven of comfort and beauty in your bedroom with luxury bedding from Peacock Alley. FACT learns more about this elegant brand sold exclusively at Trousseau in Al Aali Mall.

W

hen we first walked into the multi-brand Bahrain store of Trousseau, it was the beautifully elegant displays of beds draped with stunning quality fabrics that caught our attention. Trousseau, established in 2008 by a Bahraini brother-sister team has flourished into a successful family business, bringing hand chosen and unique products to the Arabian Gulf.

The store in Al Aali Mall is home to USbased luxury linen brand, Peacock Alley, which produces fashionable bedding and bath lines in natural fibres. What’s 80

FACT September

exciting is that Trousseau exclusively represents Peacock Alley in the retail and hotel market for the Middle East.

In other words, Trousseau is the only place you’ll find this indulgent and chic brand if you’re looking to add a touch of sophistication to your bedroom decor.

The store’s managing director, Nancy Al Zain, is herself an admirer of Peacock Alley products. “I was first attracted to Peacock Alley about 20 years ago as a customer,” she says, “I liked the quality, sophisticated look and the moderate pricing. After continually purchasing the

Fashion In the home

products over the years, we thought of Peacock Alley first when we started choosing brands we wanted to sell and we wanted to bring something different to the market in the Gulf.”

And different it definitely is. After paving the way for the luxury linen market back in 1973, in Texas, Dallas, Peacock Alley has grown into a wellrespected and high-quality brand. This is the name you turn to in order to find those superb quality, stylish and one-of-a-kind luxury bedding products, including blankets, duvets, sheets, shams and much more, made using only the best of materials.

Personally, we love the Baroque linen with its timeless tapestry print and rich textural design; the fun and flirty geometric designs of the Emma collection, and the contemporary satinstitched details of the regal-looking Corsica collection. Each range within the brand represents a different mood and feeling, with designs that transcend time and trend yet continue to please customers all around the world.

This is great for consumers with different tastes; you can find vibrant colours or more earthy tones, heavy print or subtle design, theres something suited to each individual. Nancy adds, “It’s not mass produced and the founder of the company who was once an investment banker started creating this product out of passion for something beautiful, elegant and quality.”

Though Trousseau means ‘To carry all the things a woman would collect before her marriage’ the great thing is that customers are not limited to this, with a whole variety of products available at the store. For us, Peacock Alley was simply one of the standout brands that clearly embodies what Trousseau is also about; providing that extra special product for your home needs, in this case.

And as Peacock Alley celebrates it’s 40th anniversary this year, we’re sure, from the exquisite linens we’ve seen, that it’s a brand seriously worth considering for an exclusive mark, to create a dream bedroom that embraces comfort, peace and happiness.

The Baroque-style collection is one of our favourites

GO: For more information on Trousseau go online to www.trousseauco.com/. To shop Peacock Alley visit Trousseau on the first floor of Al Aali Mall. Tel: 17541041

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TIME

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...

The Chef’s Table with WANG GANG

We dine at the table of the Gulf Hotel’s renowned China Garden restaurant, to try the superb Chinese cuisine prepared by culinary whizz Chef Wang Gang

PERSIAN ROOM

The FACT team was yet to find a dining venue in Bahrain that offered authentic Persian cuisine. Can the Persian Room fill in this foodie gap? We find out...

SEPTEMBER DINING

There are plenty of exciting eating options this month for all you foodies...

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TIME TO UNWIND

VENUE REVIEW This venue is great for experiencing authentic Persian food

Persian Room THE lagoon, Amwaj islands, manama.

TEL: 16 01 0166 PRICE: BD10 per person

This month’s venue review had us excited from the get go as we were yet to find a place that offers authentic Persian food in Bahrain. Hoping we were going to finally find a place that would fulfil this foodie gap, we set out for the Persian Room in Amwaj Lagoon.

The venue itself is decorated in true Persian style with a blue and turquoise colour theme using traditional paisley design and a stone that is significant to Iranian culture. A modern twist is added to this with the use of the ‘evil eye’ design and there is even real 24-carat gold leaf on the wall (wow!). The overall feeling is casual chic, relaxing and very pretty with gorgeous views over the Lagoon.

Ok, let’s get down to business; the food. We had the pleasure of trying the restaurant’s ‘Taste of Persia’ menu, which is available every Thursday. Every table is given a complimentary plate of sabzi, made up of fresh herbs, like mint, parsley and rocket, delicious creamy feta cheese 84

FACT September

and crunchy walnuts, soaked in salt water, to start with. All wrapped up in warm bread, this makes for a light appetiser and sets the tone for the healthy food choices on the menu.

Next came Ash Reshteh, a traditional noodle soup with beans, chickpeas, lentil and herbs topped with special yogurt sauce, olive oil, mint, garlic and fried onion.

The soup had an incredible earthy taste and texture, though the yogurt sauce was a little heavy for our taste buds. But our first thought was ‘this is perfect for a winter warmer dish, with all of its rich green goodness’, we were onto a winner!

A mix platter followed, made up of Kaskh Bademjan (eggplant dip), Mirza Ghasemi (mashed eggplants and tomato), Mast Khiyar (traditional cucumber yogurt), Zeytoon Parvardeh (olive salad mixed with walnuts) and, our favourite, the Special Persian Room three-flavour hummus in mint, somac and classic. With a rumbling tummy we attacked and what stood out for us was the two eggplant concoctions and the colourful hummus, with the warm flatbread it was simply delightful.

For mains we were truly spoiled with four different types of grilled kebabs; Cheli Kabab Koubideh, Joojeh Kabab, Tikkeh Mast Morgh and Tikkeh Mast Goosht, accompanied with lovely little mountains of the restaurant’s three colour rice. The meat was succulent and had a nice smoky taste with the flavours of the marinade shining through. But what made this main step up from a regular meat and rice dish was the incredible basil and hot pepper chutney! Rich, spicy and uplifting, it took the whole dish to a new, tastier level.

Dessert was a treat with the Special Honey Cake and the Faloodeh-style ice cream. It’s obvious that no expenses are spared when it comes to selecting the best and most authentic Persian dishes for the menu here (and portion size is generous as well as very reasonably priced).

After what was indefinitely a true experience of Persian cuisine, we highly recommend the ‘Taste of Persia’ menu...

You might just fall in love with this healthy and delicious food as we did!

GO: The ‘Taste of Persia’ menu is available every Thursday, priced at BD9.5 per person.

TIME TO UNWIND

French Vino Week at the Sofitel Grape connoisseurs get ready, from September 23 to 30 the Sofitel Bahrain will host a French Wine Week entirely dedicated to French reds and whites, and to mark the harvest which traditionally takes place in the northern hemisphere during the month of September. All restaurants will be serving more than 15 variations of French vino during the week including Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Languedoc, Loire, Rhone and many more.

This special week offers a unique opportunity for guests to discover the famous French Art de Vivre that Sofitel has made itself the most ardent ambassador of. Memorable moments will be celebrated in the hotel’s restaurants and bars including vino tasting in Tapas Bar every night, wine and dine food pairing at La Mer, Elite Nights on Thursday and Friday, a special French vino selection during Brunch as well as happy hour from 5pm to 7pm in all restaurants.

GO: 1763 6363

Scrumptious Salad’s at the Sheraton

There’s nothing better than a plate of cool, refreshing salad in this hot and humid heat. If you want to try some of the best greens and veggies with an addition of succulent meat, then head to the Sheraton hotel. Check out the salad promotion at Illy Café throughout September, serving delicious chicken and grilled vegetable salad for just BD2.9; a tasty seafood and avocado salad for a mere BD3.5, or the jarjeer with apple and pear for a fab BD4.9 – the choice is yours!

GO: 1753 3533

Thursday Night Brunch At Mövenpick Say what? Yes, you heard right! Brunch just got a whole lot bigger and better with the Mövenpick hotel. Taking inspiration from its famous Friday Brunch, the Mövenpick is starting a first-of-its-kind evening concept, where you can experience brunch as never before. After a long week of hard work, guests can enjoy Thursday Night Brunch, a dining experience with a twist. It will be held on Thursdays rather than Fridays, at Silk’s restaurant and the Lobby, starting September 19.

The menu will be all grown up, offering a lavish selection of premium cold cuts, gourmet European cheese and a sumptuous garden-fresh salad bar. You can sit back and relax with your favourite cocktail, chosen from a rich variety of beverages, as you watch your steaks and pasta being made just the way you like them at the live cooking station.

GO: The price per person is BD22++ including unlimited beverages.

Tel: 1746 0000

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THE CHEF’S CHEFS TABLE TABLE

Chef Wang Gang When in search of tasty Chinese cuisine in Bahrain there’s one place that gets our attention every time. We meet Chef Wang Gang at the China Garden restaurant in the Gulf Hotel to try some of his special and popular dishes...

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U

nlike many in the cooking profession, Chef Wang’s reason for choosing this career path wasn’t down to any big foodie role models, in fact his reason for becoming a chef is quite simple; “I love to cook,” he says. “When I cook something and guests finish what’s on the plate – that is what makes me very happy.”

Having cooked professionally for over 23 years, it is that satisfactory feeling of being faced with a cleaned-out plate that keeps Chef

THE CHEF’S CHEFS TABLE TABLE

Wang ready and motivated when he comes to work every day.

He has been Head Chef at China Garden restaurant, in the Gulf Hotel, for three years now after picking up a range of culinary skills and techniques in restaurant kitchens around the GCC, Dubai, Egypt and his homeland of China.

He has a passion for fusion food;

a combination of various Asian cuisines. However, Chef Wang admits that here in Bahrain he follows, “the taste buds of what the local and European people like”.

With that said (and as our team is made up of Bahrainis and expats alike!) we were intrigued and excited to taste the two popular main course dishes that Chef Wang was going to prepare!

First up is the Yu Huang Prawns, which are prawns in hot garlic sauce.

We see Chef Wang marinade a large handful of fresh prawns with salt and pepper seasoning, corn flour and a little bit of sesame oil. He advises that 20 minutes on the side would be great to absorb the minimal flavours.

The prawns are then tossed into hot oil in a large wok, with carrots, asparagus, sweet corn, ginger, spring onion, garlic, red chillies, homemade chilli paste and - what the Chef says makes this dish “special” - his secret recipe garlic sauce, which is, astonishingly, made up of 20 different sauces.

Everything is stir fried for a few minutes and put onto a plate. Chef Wang moves onto make the Crispy Hammour Fillet in Sweet Chilli Sauce. Thin strips of hammour fish is mixed with salt, pepper and sugar,

which acts as a marinade, in a bowl.

It is then put into a special (and another secret recipe) of a runny butter concoction, then tipped into corn flour. Chef Wang spends at least 10 minutes mixing it all and separating the fish into further small crumbly pieces. The corn flour is sieved out and the fish is then deep fried for five minutes, after which it is stir fried in the wok with carrots, peppers, onions, tomato, sweet chilli sauce, sesame oil, and chilli paste.

So, we come to the tasting. The prawns go down a hit. They are perfectly cooked and juicy. The garlic taste bounces off your tongue and the vegetables keep it a fresh-tasting dish, as well as giving it some colour.

The crispy hammour is delightfully crunchy, full of the sweet chilli flavour and, again, a light and tasty dish. Overall verdict: two very fine and delectable Chinese dishes! To top them off, presentation was perfect - Chef Wang had produced beautiful hand-carved creations, (which take more than half an hour to do!) to accompany the plating.

Though the prep time is short and ingredients minimal, the flavour in these dishes was exceptional and satisfying to everyone’s tastebuds.

We’ll definitely return for more!

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VENUE SPOTLIGHT

BAHARAT Address:

Contact No: Website: Email: Twitter:

Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre (+973) 1717 1000 www.kempinski.com/bahrain restaurants.bahrain@kempinski.com @KGIHBCC

Get Ready For More Giggles With The Return Of Chuckle Club

Baharat Open 6 Days a Week with á la Carte Menu!

Due to popular demand, Baharat is now open six days a week for dinner! With a delicious selection of your favourite Arabic dishes on a special á la carte menu from Mondays to Thursdays and Saturday, and a sprawling buffet true to Baharat’s style on Fridays, the only day excluded is Sunday. Enjoy classic Arabic dishes with a modern twist, specially prepared by talented Kempinski chefs. Try Baharat’s Signature Dish “Slow Braised Local Lamb Shoulder Marinated with Homemade ‘Baharat’ Spices, Cumin Sauce and Cloves Rice’ and other tantalising dishes. All the dishes are made using the finest, freshest ingredients, with many of the vegetables sourced locally from our partner farm in Karranah, a green oasis just minutes away from Manama.

Venue: Baharat, Kempinski Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre Date: Open daily except Sundays Time: 7:30 pm till 11:00 pm Price: Price dependent on item in á la carte menu; Friday dinner buffet at BD 16++, exclusive of beverages Special Pool Offer with Friday Family Brunch at Baharat!

Embrace the warm intimacy of Baharat and treat yourself and your loved ones to a continental gourmet buffet with a special corner for Arabic specialities. From a selection of your favourite appetizers, to a sushi counter, a pasta station, and a spread of beautiful desserts, there is something delicious for every taste.

Your children enjoy a dedicated children’s buffet, a colourful play area with activities, a bouncy castle and friendly mascots to keep them entertained all afternoon. Get ready for the same beautiful food and entertainment by the gorgeous Friends Band!

After every brunch, take advantage of the special pool offer for brunchers, and relax by the outdoor infinity pool, located on the third floor between the two hotel towers. Soak up the sun while your children play in the Camelo Club*, equipped with toys and games for children ages 3 to 8 – a perfect combination to define every weekend. *Please note there will be no supervision at Camelo Club and children remain the responsibility of their parent/guardian.

Venue: Baharat, Kempinski Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre Date: Every Friday Time: 12:30 to 4:00 pm For additional information or reservations: (+973) 1717 1144.

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We’ve missed the regular laughs and amusing comedic talents of the Chuckle Club, and now the wait is over as one of Bahrain’s best shows is back with another great line-up for September.

Meet Chris Martin (the comedian one not the one from Coldplay), he’s done gigs and shows on television and radio, and he’s supported the likes of Jack Whitehall, Russell Kane and Milton Jones on tour. To top that, he’s even performed a sold out run at Edinburgh Festival in 2011 for his show “Chris Martin: No, Not That One”, and he’ll be embarking on his first solo tour in the spring of 2014. So, we’re quite lucky to have in Bahrain!

Next up is Stuart Goldsmith, who has caused waves in the comedy circuit with his energetic and charming performances, both in the UK and internationally. He’s also done a host of performances for television, radio and at numerous festivals. The Metro has praised him for his “Slick monologues and excellent one-liners” and The Daily Telegraph has called him simply “delightful” so we look forward to seeing him on stage.

Last. but by no means least, taking The Chuckle Club stage is Pete Johannson who has made a name for himself on big time TV networks and shows such as NBC’s Friday Night and The Comedy Channel’s Comedy Now series. He’s recently completed the sell out ‘Snowed In’ tour performing to crowds across Canada, and also has a trunk full of awards for his funny man talents.

The line-up is sorted, we can’t wait for this one!

GO: There are three shows on this month; Wednesday September 11, Bahrain Rugby Club at 8.30pm; Thursday September 12, British Club at 8.30pm; and Friday September 13, Regency Hotel at 8pm. Tickets are BD15. Tel: 3666 3509

“I Can Make You Thin!”

Discover How You Can Lose Weight and Transform Your Body in Just 23 Minutes!

Dear Friend, Do you feel frustrated, embarrassed or self-conscious because of your weight?

A special message from Suhail G. Algosaibi, Founder of the Dream Body Centre. “ We are dedicated to giving you the body of your dreams no surgery, no pills, no unrealistic, fad diets and no embarrassing group weigh-ins! Finally, a revolutionary process that melts away fat and transforms your body in just 23 minutes”

Do you feel uncomfortable in your own skin? Or even disgusted with yourself?

Have you tried diet after diet and not seen any results?

It can be frustrating going through life feeling self-conscious all the time. And it’s really annoying not being able to find clothes that fit you. You see people everyday flaunting their gorgeous bodies around and it just frustrates you even more.

It’s Not Your Fault!

The truth is most people don’t know how to get their Dream Body. They get conflicting advice from different sources. Some people will tell you to eat less, others might tell you to eat more. Some advocate calorie restrictions while others tell you to have several small meals a day.

Some say you should do mild exercise while others advocate vigorous exercise. Some tell you that you don’t need a gym, while others say you should spend several hours a week in the gym. No wonder you never get results!

Introducing The Dream Body Centre® The Dream Body Centre (DBC) is a unique place where you can literally get your “Dream Body” in just 23 minutes, 3 times per week. It is not a diet center or clinic. You lose fat and tone muscle by training on specially designed circuit training equipment. It consists of an effective fat burning process that works fast. No more risks, no more lies, no more hassle, no more time wasted and no more boredom at the gym!

But we won’t stop there. You’ll also get a FREE copy of Our exclusive weight loss book, the DreamBody Eating Plan, which will make it even easier to burn off your excess fat. This book is not a diet book - it is an easy-to-follow, As seen on the “Al-Arabiya news Channel”show on Bahrain TV.

Saturday to Thursday 7:00 am to 10:00 pm

Step-by-step guide on what you can do nutritionally to get your Dream Body. You’ll be surprised to find out that you don’t have to follow a strict diet, or make impossible-to-stick-to sacrifices to your eating habits.

Guaranteed Results Or Your Money Back!

The DBC will burn fat from your belly, thighs, hips, buttocks, back, arms, and anywhere else where it might accumulate. It will also tone up your muscles and give you a nice, trim and attractive body. Not only that, but you’ll finally feel better than you’ve felt in years! Imagine being able to wear a size (or even several sizes smaller than what you are wearing today!

I realize that this may sound too good to be true, and I don’t blame you if you are skeptical. That’s why I am offering you two money back guarantees!

Call us now on 17 582 982 to set up your FREE trial.

Dedicated to yours and your family’s well-being, Suhail G. Algosaibi

Lose weight in just 23 minutes!

Fridays 10:00 am to 10:00 pm FACT September

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“...and then Sami and I rescued the cat from the evil caterpillar...�

holiday stories always taste fun!

Follow us on @Alosra_Bahrain Alosra Supermarket Alosrasupermarket Saar 17 697558 Amwaj 16 033773 Durrat 77 770001 Riffa 17 750006 www.bmmigroup.com Insta

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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 healthy food - a good pampering is just as important...

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

DIY Body Scrubs Summer can wreak havoc on your skin. Whether you’re dealing with greasy, ashy, dry or flaky skin, a little TLC can work wonders. To help you out FACT has put together some great DIY body scrubs that you can make at home to keep your skin soft, supple and glowing all over.

“Wake Up” Coffee Scrub

Good For: Exfoliation Is your skin looking rough? This scrub will get rid of all those icky dead cells bringing to surface the baby soft layer of skin underneath.

Ingredients: 1/4 cup olive oil 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 cup brown turbinado sugar 15 drops peppermint essential oil 1/2 cup used coffee grounds from a freshly brewed pot Directions: Mix ingredients together and massage into dampened skin, starting from your feet and working your way up.

Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.

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Sea Salt Scrub

Good For: Detoxifying For tired or gaunt-looking skin this scrub works like magic.

Ingredients: 1 cup course sea salt 1/2 cup baby oil (if you don’t have baby oil, you can use vegetable oil) Directions: Combine all ingredients into a bowl and stir.

Cover the bowl and let it sit for 24 hours.

Stir the mixture.

Apply to body and massage into skin for a few minutes then rinse.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Coconut, Brown Sugar and Vanilla Scrub

Ground Almond and Avocado Scrub Good For: Dry Skin A rich and buttery scrub that nourishes dry skin and restores a natural radiance.

Ingredients: 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and mashed 1/3 cup of ground almonds 3/4 - 1 cup of ground oatmeal

Good For: Moisturising Subtly fragrant and slightly miraculous, this is a basic, simple sugar scrub that can be whipped together in minutes.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions: Mix together all ingredients in a bowl.

Dampen skin in the shower, rub scrub all over in firm, circular motions, and then rinse clean.

Directions: Mix all the ingredients together and rub all over your body from the top down.

Massage in gentle circles and take extra care on rough areas like heels and knees, then rinse thoroughly.

Be sure to rinse your tub/shower enclosure well afterward.

Basic Salt and Honey Scrub

Good For: All in one This scrub exfoliates, moisturises and nurtures skin, and the honey can also be substituted with lavender, basil or mint.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup of sea salt 1/2 cup of honey Directions: Mix both ingredients in a bowl.

Dampen your skin in the shower.

Place a spoonful of scrub in the palm of your hand and add a bit of water to make it smoother.

Gently scrub your body down with it.

Wash with soap and water. Rinse clean.

Mediterranean Olive Oil Scrub

Good For: Dewy-glow With no need to moisturise afterwards, this scrub is great for a natural glow and supplely soft healthy-looking skin.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup of sea salt 1/2 cup of brown sugar (like muscovado or demerara) 1/4 cup of olive oil A couple of drops of orange essential oil Directions: Blend all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

Gently rub the mixture over damp skin in the shower and rinse thoroughly.

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Download our App! With all the latest issues at your fingertips, Enter the world of FACT Whenever and Wherever you are!

www.fact-magazine.com

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FACT September

Please note: the fact app is available for IPHONE, iPad and ANDROID AND will soon be available on other platforms

FITTER THAN YOUR DEMANDS Our Health Columnist is fitness guru Craig Heslop, Founder & Coach of Tribal Fitness, who believes that a more back-to-basics and natural approach to living is the key to a healthy lifestyle…

At Tribal Fitness, we utilise the benefits of natural movement, food and living to optimise our Members’ fitness. We define one component of fitness as ‘exceeding the demands of your every day activities’. Does your level of fitness mean that you cruise through the whole day without fatigue?

My wife recently gave birth to our young son, Tallis. I have never fully appreciated the demands on a new mother until now. There is a need for great static strength in holding a child for long periods. Posture can be comprised due to the body’s changes and regular bending means the back is severely tested. All of this is combined with reduced sleep cycles and the recovery of childbirth. Smart and specific conditioning for any expectant mother is a must!

A fitness or movement plan should also compensate for any negative elements of our lifestyle. Do you sit in an office all day or fly frequently? Welcome to the ‘tight hip flexor and Craig Heslop, hamstring club’. If you Founder & Coach want to avoid the potential of Tribal Fitness injuries that result from sitting, then address them with regular hip mobility and walking. Sitting in a chair for a long time is unnatural. If our level of fitness does not exceed these demands then we enter the world of chronic pain.

At school, I see children who can barely survive the demands of their educational day. Their activities include sitting, eating and then home for Playstation. If these youngsters are not mentally or physically fit for school, then how can we expect them to learn effectively? Activities like walking with the family or playing on the jungle gym will enable them to stay focused at school. Also, the students that I work with who struggle physically have one thing in common: their lunchbox is full of processed and beige coloured items.

Movement should be fun and spontaneous but when you are programming a fitness plan, think about whether it is specific to your personal demands.

Everyone’s life is different so we should evolve and adapt our movement specifically.

Move beyond the demand tribe!

GO: For more information, or to get involved with Tribal Fitness, email craig@tribalfitness.com, or call 3947 3710

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SPEED RENT A CAR

Currently renting or looking to rent a vehicle? Why not try us?

New vehicles available, from saloons to 4x4s Competitive prices

Daily – Weekly – Monthly – Long-term rental schemes Vehicle delivery and collection to your home Airport pick-up and drop-off service

“ Helping to manage Your Path” Amwaj: +973 1601 0131 Saar: +973 1779 5300 Out of Hours: +973 3885 2413

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HEALTH SPOTLIGHT Christal Dennis

A health tip from...

positives

Contact No: 17 587 333 | Website: www.bnl4life.com

back to school

Christal Dennis is a Personal Performance Coach and Hypnotherapist with a Masters in Psychology, Leadership Development and Coaching. She is dedicated to helping people overcome life’s hurdles and tapping in to their deepest potential...

Summer vacation has come to an end for all our school goers. After two months of fun, travelling and lots of free time, children are getting back into their school routines.

For many school is already a familiar environment although there will always be an element newness since most will be going to the next level in their school development.

For some school is a totally new experience, and it could even be new and exciting territory for you and your child. By now you will have prepared your kids for school by getting them out of the less than structured holiday routine and into the school routine by letting them go to bed earlier and having them wake up earlier in the mornings. This way, by the time school starts, early morning wake ups would be less of a strain for them and you.

For the little ones who are experiencing school for the first time you can prepare them for their life changing experience by talking to them about how fun school is going to be. Starting school is a big mile stone for children and parents both. Children are quite amazing when it comes to sensing how you feel about something.

So before you discuss the prospect of starting school with your little one make sure that you feel excited rather than fearful about school. This way they can take your lead with a healthy attitude about their new adventure.

Schools often have orientation days for the new school goer. Take advantage of these days so that you and your child can get acquainted with school environment.

It is most likely that they will realise that school is a much more fun place than they had anticipated.

There is nothing like a round in the preschool play area to create excitement for the place that is going to be a big part of their life from now on.

Happy learning! n To find out more go to www.basicmindfulness.org.

GO: For a personal consultation call 3669 6666

Back to School Health Essentials

With the new school year just around the corner, let’s brush up on some health tips to make sure your kids have another successful school year.

Establish a good sleep routine

Sleep is essential to children’s performance in school.

Preschoolers should get an average of 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night, and school-age children up to Grade 5 should get about 10 hours. Children who don’t get enough sleep risk being overtired and underperforming at school.

Make sure vaccines are up to date

Vaccines are designed to prevent your children from getting diseases. Since children may be exposed to a variety of people and pathogens while at school, it’s a good idea to make sure they’re up to date on their shots.

Schedule an eye exam

Perhaps your children have been squinting in front of a television for a good part of the summer. Their time spent in front of the screen may have an impact on their vision. The best way to find out: schedule an eye exam.

Eat breakfast every morning

Eating a full and balanced breakfast can prevent weight gain and help them build stronger bones and a healthier immune system.

Children who eat breakfast have higher energy levels and function and concentrate better in school.

Plan for healthy lunches and snacks

Starting your kids off right by packing school lunches with nutritious foods that taste good will help them establish healthy eating habits for life. Instead of just packing up whatever lunch you think is fine, let your kids be part of the lunch planning, they are much more likely to eat it.

Food Safety

A lunch that sits un-refrigerated for hours waiting for the lunch hour can pose possible health risks. If your child takes food that needs to stay cold, use an insulated lunch box and chilled freezer gel pack to keep the food safe.

Backpack on Wheels

If your kid’s backpack is bigger than they are, consider going mobile with a rolling version. Experts say kids shouldn’t carry more than 15% of their body weight, but we know that’s not always possible. Hello, wheels!

Aluminum Water Bottle

Help your child swap out sugary drinks for water by giving him a cool bottle. Skip the plastic kind and you’ll be doing your part for the environment.

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Bringing you the latest news of fellow Bahrainis around the world... tell us your news @FACTbahrain!

AROUND THE WORLD

St Petersburg, Russia

Surrey, England

An excited group of young football players from Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain travelled to the UK for the 22nd London International Soccer Festival. Hosted at the Royal Holloway College, the festival brought together football enthusiasts of all ages from countries such as Kuwait, South Africa, Canada and the US! Both the boys and girls teams got to compete in the fruitful tournaments!

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Bahrain’s very own Jiu-Jitsu hero, Reza Monfaradi, has picked up a bronze medal at the International Master and Senior Jiu-Jitsu championship. The 38-year-old practitioner, and proud owner of Reza’s Martial Arts Centre in Deraz, gained podium position in the featherweight black belt division at the prestigious global event. Congrats!

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FACT September

Computer enthusiasts on the island will be thrilled to know that the Buzzlers, a three-member-strong team represented Bahrain in the worldwide finals of the software design competition in Russia.

Fatima Al Mannaei, Amna Hafiz and Talha Muhammad returned from St Petersburg after receiving participatory accolades for their social networking software!

Bangalore, India

More than 50 amateur artists from Bahrain, 35 of whom are children, put on a three-hour mega event in the southern Indian city of Bangalore to celebrate the culture of both countries. This was part of Bahrain Kannadothsava, led by Bahrain-based Indian businessman Kiran Upadhyaya, and the show featured dance, singing, a fashion show and even a short film about Bahrain, highlighting the county’s tolerance of all religions and faiths!

The Toyota rav4 is loaded with an efficient 2.5-liter 180HP engine, a 6-speed automatic transmission and available 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) system. A sporty and roomy cabin of unparalleled craftsmanship fills you with a new sense of fun and excitement every time you drive.

Visit our Toyota showroom and let’s get this fun started.

Toyota Showroom - Sitra 17 730 730 www.toyota.com.bh

TesT Drive & TraDe-in available

ToyotaBahrain

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FACT SEPTEMBER7/29/13 89 11:39 AM