Ohlala Bahrain January 2017

THE ESSENCE OF STYLE BAHRAIN

FRESH START

ULTIMATE BEAUTY TIPS FEEL GOOD What To Do, Where To Go

REGIONAL ESCAPES Luxury Weekends In The Gulf

PICK-ME-UP THE FASHION HOT LIST

COLOUR ME BEAUTIFUL START THE YEAR WITH HAPPY HUES

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JANUARY 2017 ISSUE 144 BAHRAIN BD2 KSA SR10

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Contents Ohlala

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Getting Colourful Style Focus: Happy Women Bring Out The Blues Sizzle In Orange

Ben Amun

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Designer Focus The Vibrant Bunch The Sublime: Tory Burch dale A Look At Victoria Scan 6

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Happy Lives Travel Escapes: Maldives ns Spa Review: Four Seaso a Miss Ohlal

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New BEGINNINGS Colour Me: Editor’s Letter Shine On: Style Icon

this is the one...

THE DESIGNER

SALE CITY CENTRE BAHRAIN +973 17172000

*PART SALE www.ohlala-magazine.com

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January 2017

issue 144

Publisher & Chairman John Hughes Chief Executive Officer Greg Hughes

Editor-in-Chief Georgie Bradley

Publishing Director Edward Smith

Contributors

Creative DIrector

BUsiness development

Angela Beitz

Paula Leal

director

Sofia Graniello

Graphic Designers

Rami Khalil

Bridget Gleeson

Jyoti Rawat Rashed Bindaina

sales Director

Gareth Woods

Country Director Kirsty Edwards-Harris

Mayukh Majumdar

Victoria Production Manager

Photographers

WEBSITE

Neil Mahmood

Shobin Joseph

Melek Yildirimtekin

Distribution Manager

Rashed Bindaina

Ajit Kumar

COVER Image Victoria Scandale

Credits image Joshua Sanders

Accountants Gigimon Thankachen Praveen Alexander

Distribution Team

Printing Press

Distribution

Jayapragash Ganesan

Akhbar Al Khaleej

Bahrain – Al Hilal Qatar – Dar Al Sharq

Rajesh Abdul Kadar

UAE – GLS, Tawseel Distribution & Logistics Enquiries

Editorial: georgie@ohlala-magazine.com | Advertising: kirsty@ohlala-magazine.com General: admin@ohlala-magazine.com | Telephone: (Bahrain) +973 1721 6099 | Postal Address: Ohlala Magazine, The Nans Group, P O BOX 30378, Budaiya, Kingdom of Bahrain. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, FACT M.E. Publishing and all of its publications cannot accept legal responsibility for any error, content or omissions.

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YEAR OF THE ROOSTER

Count Your Lucky Dishes on Chinese New Year Visit Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay on January 27th to celebrate Chinese New Year at re/Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck. Indulge in authentic Asian food from our live cooking stations with bespoke beverages for 32++. Awaken your senses from January 27th to February 8th, with our 5 and 7 course dinner by our master chef Brian Becher for 35++ and 50++ respectively.

Reservations: (973) 1711 5046 fourseasons.com/bahrain

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Editor’s Letter P

erhaps it’s because we are in the Gulf, I’m not sure, but I love January. I love it for the fact that we don’t have the blues here – unless you’re one to fall into a post-festive slump, it’s a beautiful place to be this time of year. But I still sympathise with the above drop, so that is why our first issue of 2017 is dedicated to happiness in the form of colour. We love an excuse to do something visually strong and eyecatching here at Ohlala, so we really went for it with our style pages. Colour can be a daunting prospect for some (me) as you can come off being too clownish, illinformed and questionable about your pairings. We give you a base colour and the key pieces of each hue to have in your wardrobe and then show you how to mix and match. So it’s a bit more formulaic but allows you to make smart and even alternative choices to what you’d normally gravitate to. Our designer focus section sees us deconstructing the style prowess of the incomparable Tory Burch, who never shies away from colour (in fact, her use of colour is fearless). We explore her SS17 collection which taps into many a bohemian vibe and makes you feel warm, sunny and hopeful.

You’ll find the rest of the issue is equally as spirited, aiming to give you the tools and confidence to put you on the right track for the start of the year. We also indulge (for your purposes, of course) in soul-feeding spa treatments and fine dining that will blow you out the water this year. Never has there been a better time for self-care, than now. So let’s put away any of last year’s woes and hit refresh. Enjoy the issue and I hope it adds a spring to your step.

Georgie Bradley 10

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Editor in Chief

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Style Icon

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Step to a happy beat and transform your shoe closet (because yes, you can have a wardrobe dedicated to just your shoes) with this winning number. Pair them with your favourite jeans and you’ll be ready to strut your stuff

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Happy Woman

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Fashion in January means renewing your love for bright and sprightly hues and embracing an upbeat sense of self. We show you how to wear each colour in a fresh and modern way. The bold choice, is the right choice

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bedouin

Style

Elisabetta franchi

delpozo

michael michael kors

Focus

The Key Pieces Royal blue to

joseph

powder blue, the spectrum is forever chic

and sophisticated look

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bint thani

Mix & Match

Play off the intensity of blue with some ‘shining’

delpozo

Splendid @ net-a-porter.com

tory burch

marco de vincenzo @ moda operandi

inge christopher

larkspur & hawk @ net-a-porter.com Mansur Gavril

The Finishing Touches Play between a casual 16

Céline

Bring a touch of cool frost to your wardrobe

hussein bazaza

Altuzarra

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The Finishing Touches Dress up your outfit with

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these pop pieces

alberta ferretti

beaufille @ net-a-porter.com

eddie borgo @ net-a-porter.com

Rag & Bone

marques almeida

percossi papi @ net-a-porter.com

Fendi

johanna oritz @ net-a-porter.com

Rochas

The Key Pieces Fall in love with Diane von furstenberg

Cushnie et ochs @ net-a-porter.com

carolina herrera

Gucci

Focus

elie saab

Dolce & Gabbana

Style

these deeply romantic pieces

The green light

Be lovely and lush with these emerald hues

Keep it strong, simple and confident

Mix & Match

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Style

Apiece apart Rick Owens

The Key Pieces These oozing

Eres @ net-a-porter.com

Paul Smith

Focus sunset-gorgeous separates are uber wow

orange Crush

Nothing says force of nature like this hue

kate moss for equipment

Tomas maier @ net-a-porter.com

CĂŠline

m2m

The Finishing Touches Whether burnt or flame

Endemage

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loewe

Dinossaur Designs @ net-a-porter..com

Mix & Match Complement the magic of orange with added earthiness

current Elliott @ net-a-porter.com

ChloĂŠ

mark cross @ net-a-porter.com

orange, heads will turn

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Style

gucci

The Key Pieces Create a serious

J Crew

Embrace the look of an unforgettable siren

allure of red with stand out accessories

Mr by Man Repeller@ net-a-porter.com

Mix & Match

Gucci

Make the red pop with animal print and quieter tones

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Stella Mc Cartney

The Finishing Touches Complete the Gucci

Lanvin

Katerina Makriyianni @ Net-a-porter.com

Claudie pierlot

Chanel

red hot Woman

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gucci

entrance with scarlet fever numbers

Slpendid @ net-a-porter.com

MCQ Alexander McQueen

Valentino

Alice & Olivia

Marchesa

Focus

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Style

pilotto symphony

Alexander mcqueen

Roland mouret

Focus

The Key Pieces Dusty rose to

phony Zero maria carnejo @ sym

kate spade

T-wang @ symphony

Antonio berardi @symphony

Roland mouret

bright fuchsia, this delicious hue is ultra-sweet

pretty in pink

Play off pink shades with florals or daring blacks

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lk bennett

valentino

kate spade

valentino

noon by noor

marchesa

phillip lim

for chic innocence

Mix & Match

Maison michel @ net-a-porter.com

The Finishing Touches Add a powdery pink

lk bennett

Add some bright feminine pink to your look

Michael kors roberto cavalli

Kenzo

victoria by victoria beckham

The Key Pieces For women

Roland Mouret

who like to show who’s boss around here

Madewell @ net-a-porter.com

Get inspired by this most opulent shade

these are impossibly sultry

prada

Mix & Match

Jazz and spice up the tone with loud print Valentino

The Finishing Touches For the mood maven,

jimmy choo

L’autre chose @ stylebop

Amrapali @ net-a-porter.com

ralph lauren

Dries Van Noten

Purple Patch

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proenza schouler tibi

Cedric charlier @ net-a-porter.com

Focus

paule ka

Style

The Key Pieces Bolster your

spirits with yellow fever and have fun

Yellow & Mellow

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marni Jacquemus @ net-a-porter.com

paule ka

stand in their own right of fabulousness

marni

kayu @ net-a-porter.com

The Finishing Touches These electric numbers

johanna ortiz @ moda operandi

moda operandi

gianvito rossi

versace

gucci

Eye-catching pieces for a happy you

Mix & Match

Counter-act the vibrancy with more subdued hues

Ohlala Arabia Bringing style across The Middle East

ARABIA

‫أروع أزياء املوسـم‬

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OHLALA!

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WWW.OHLALA-MAGAZINE.COM JULY & AUGUST 2014 | ISSUE 01

Follow us www.issuu.com/ohlalaarabia

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Live.

Love.

Life.

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Tory Burch is a woman’s woman. We say this because her SS17 and Holiday Resort are ultra-feminine, polished and intrinsically comfortable – just looking at her designs makes you feel calm, elevated and happy – all the things we women want to feel and stand for when we dress up or down www.ohlala-magazine.com

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T

oday’s woman, no matter her heritage or locality, will naturally gravitate towards a Tory Burch look.

It’s hard to pin point, but there’s everything you could want in her designs. Mesmeric prints (that can fix your gaze for long periods of time), sumptuous pearl embellishments, strong strokes of colour alongside playful piecing of fabrics and an overall element of positive Feng Shui. Every piece is well thought out and unique and makes you feel so good.

For Spring/Summer 2017, it’s about creating style synergy between the U. S’s East Coast and West Coast. “We begin out East, hostess chic to cool prep. From there, we continue to the free-spirited beach towns of the West Coast. It’s about contrast: graphic motifs and engineered prints, rope and rickrack, pearls and macramé, mules and moccasins, structured and bohemian ease. It’s relaxed and effortless...quintessential American style,” says Tory.

When it comes to the silhouettes, it’s about structured tailoring. Think empire waists, widelegged sailor pants and tomboy blazers, which soften as the collection moves West with breezy dresses, peasant blouses and board shorts. You can expect to see voluminous hostess skirts with sweeping hemlines that are paired with crop tops that play on 30

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“Every piece is well thought out and unique and makes you feel so good”

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Designer

Focus

proportion while tunics and caftans round out the collection, putting the emphasis on effortless style.

As for the colour palette, it’s all about orchid, pink and green, a classic preppy pairing, where ocean blues and bold reds give way to sunwashed oranges, yellows and periwinkle blues, balanced by soft neutrals of white, ivory and sand. And with this palette comes graphic a graphic garden motif, regatta stripes and nautical prints, followed by bohemian batiks and patchwork florals.

A placed wave print subtly references the surf scene and establishes a maritime symbol.

The season’s coastal contrast carries through to a mix of fabrics —from linen burlap and cotton knits to silk shantung and delicate fil coupe—and embellishments. Appliqued patches, rickrack. and pearl details provide dimension while fringed macramé and criss-cross lacing lend an easy, undone vibe. Metallic threadwork and moonstones add shimmer and shine.

“It’s all about structured tailoring. Think empire waists, wide-legged sailor pants and tomboy blazers” Topping and finishing off every look, you’ll find that the relaxed, effortless mood extends down to the accessories, from mules and moccasins to pearl-embellished slides and ruffled sneakers from Tory Sport. A convertible handbag with wooden handles brings nostalgic appeal while jewellery draws inspiration from the sea with articulated fish collars and cuffs and cowrie shell charms. www.ohlala-magazine.com

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A Touch Of Frost 34

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Victoria Scandale.

A name you need to know. The French dwelling, Polish native has a joie de vivre attitude to fashion which shines through with her spirited personality. Victoria often utilises fabric combinations, contrasting linings and geometric cuts to produce separates that are noticeably luxurious but are equally wearable in dayto-day life. With strong values of individualism and independence, the Victoria Scandale woman embodies a polished grace.

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Christian siriano

Beauty Buzz Air Brush, Kink & Kisses, Marc Jacobs Beauty

Bold Strokes Lipstick Guerlain

A colorful approach to polish off your look

Totally cute pallette, Too faced

Meteorites Guerlain

Stick Foundation, Anastasia Beverly Hills

Shimmering Skin Perfector, BECCCA Portland square, Nailsinc

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Maison margiela

Naeem Khan

mascara V for Volume, Sephora

victoria beckham, estĂŠe lauder

Moodboard:

colorful eyeliner, Sephora

Moschino

marni

C is for Colour

Fendi

Beauty Editor, Sofia Graniello shares her favourite items to rock this season for that ultimate and illustrious, striking pose

rouge matte, sephora up front personal OPI

nuit kajal attractive BI, sephora

jason wu

g Rin e ya ac Vit Vers

zac posen www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Get Into A New Routine

Beauty Column

It takes 21 days to form or break a habit. This could be anything from exercising daily, cutting out sugar or generally becoming more active. The first three weeks of a new routine may seem more difficult, but once you have the process down, it becomes much easier. Create a workout or eating plan and stick to it. After a month, it won’t be a question of whether you can or can’t, but it will become something that you just do and hey, you may even start to love it. Bonus.

Make Realistic Changes Sometimes all you need are small changes and minor tweaks.

You don’t want to end up being disappointed by setting the bar too high too quickly. By tweaking your workout and eating routines, you can reach your goals more quickly.

Weights, along with short intense bouts of cardio will give you faster results than running or lifting alone. By eating smaller portions five to six times a day and trading simple sugars for complex carbs that are high in fiber, you’ll see results quickly too.

Set Your Goals Writing goals down and the reasons why you are setting them, as well as having specific time frames for achieving them is a key step in keeping your resolutions. Achieve your goals by ‘having a set plan and guidelines’ for accomplishing them. Don’t go extreme when creating a resolution, whether it’s regarding organising, diet, or exercise. Saying “I am never eating bread again” is ridiculous. It’s better to say “I am going to eat bread in portion control and make it whole wheat.” If you can accomplish your goals, you’re more apt to continue working on them.

Preparation Is Key

A Clean

Slate It’s a new year which means a chance for a new start. Angela Beitz shares her tips for getting healthy, fit and organised

We’ve all had those days where we eat well because we are super organised and then it gets busy and hectic and it all falls apart by eating a burger for lunch and snacking on cake and chocolate during the 3pm slump. Preparing meals ahead of time and making small snacks such as crunchy crudités, a handful of almonds, berries, a green juice or air-popped popcorn will keep you from reaching to that bag of chips or sweets.

Rest Up Sleeping Beauty had the right idea, it’s been proven time and time again that beauty rest is both real and necessary.

The closer you can get to hitting that eight-hour goal, the more likely your skin is to be clear, radiant, and fresh come morning, not to mention your mood! To step up your game even further, take advantage of the time by applying before-bed products that need an extended, uninterrupted amount of time to work their magic, like a beauty-balm or rich night cre www.ohlala-magazine.com

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www.ohlala-magazine.com FACT SIZE.indd 3 new ones.indd 1

6/16/15 10:52 AM 6/14/15 10:15 AM

The Heavenly Maldives Forget preconceived ideas of the Maldives being reserved for giddy-in-love newlyweds. The Maldives are also a magical playground with lots of fun and activities. Edward Smith, picked up two different styles of escapes to reveal the broad range of activities the archipelago has to offer. www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Travel Escapes

kandolhu island - ocean pool villa

Kandolhu

The Best Kept Secret For people interested in extreme privacy and natural wonders,

Kandolhu is a treasure. Located in northern Maldives and accessible only by plane, the island is a 25-minute flight from Malé. Intensely intimate, Kandolhu is the essence of a barefoot-chic island resort with its only 30 secluded villas scattered in and around its sandy coast.

On this tiny island (it takes less than five minutes to walk around it), all the villas are loaded with luxury amenities and an incredible attention to detail. Even down to the music playlist customised for different mood and time of the day, designer furniture sofas by Rolf Benz or bathtub in the water villas with a view of the sea beyond, simply incredible!

The lagoon is almost tailor-made for swimming and snorkelling is “All the villas are loaded with luxury amenities literally right on your doorstep. Skip incredible attention to detail” the hassle of boat rides and offshore excursions, jump in from your private jetty and you can spot some parrotfishes, reef sharks, eagle rays, occasional moray eel, you name it.

There are also number of resident turtles who live on the reef and are easily approached by snorkelers. More serious divers can partake in the PADI training programme (the dive school offers PADI and SSI certified courses for beginners) and explore the Ari atoll, a spot that most divers agree still offers the best diving in Maldives. Dorianne and Walter, the dive instructors, even proposed fluorescent night dives, a must-do for enthusiasts for big thrills. And for a perfect end to a beautiful day at Kandolhu we highly recommend the sunset cruise on board of the island private sailing yacht ‘Ari Explorer’ and last but not least don’t miss the foie gras at Olives restaurant, one of the four à la carte restaurants available in the resort.

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and an

kandolhu resort

Ari Explorer The yacht of Kandolhu Island

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Travel Escapes

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kurumba - sunset & dolphins

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Travel Escapes kurumba - cooking demonstration at hamakaze

Kurumba

The multifaceted resort Now let’s take a look

at one of the country’s (oldest - first resort to open in the Maldives) grandest resort, Kurumba.

It is also the closest resorts from Malé, just 10-minutes by speedboat from the airport, so it’s an ideal choice for a short stay. Like Kandolhu this resort offers the most modern comfort and amenities and half or fullboard (breakfast and dinner) packages as well, so you don’t have to worry Imagine an over-water open kitchen bar with panoramic views of the about anything and enjoy the moment. We loved our beachfront deluxe Indian ocean, few baby sharks swimming around in the background and bungalows which offers private terraces and daybeds perfect for dozing in the in-house chef teaching you how to prepare a ‘rihaakuru’—a tunathe late afternoon sun. based thick brown paste—an essential item in Maldivian cuisine. It was The outside enclosed shower even further enhanced the tropical an incredible experience! rainforest feel of the resort.

Note that lessons for children can also be arranged upon request With one eight top restaurants, including Arabian, Chinese, Indian, Italian, and a Japanese counter, Kurumba Maldives is a classic resort that sets the standard for the rest of the “Imagine an over-water open kitchen bar with panoramic archipelago. views of the Indian ocean” One of the top five must do’s on Kurumba is the Sunset dolphin cruise.

After a beautiful 20-minute breathtaking boat ride, you can see many as Kurumba is very family friendly destination and offers a wide range dolphins swimming alongside the boat and some others flipping in the of activities for kids and grown ups alike. Kids’ clubs are relatively rare air! It’s truly an amazing sight. in Maldives, especially among luxury resorts, so it is worth mentioning Spotting them is one thing-capturing them on camera is another! the resort offers great kids amenities with Majaa Kids Club, which offers The trick is to keep your camera focussed and ready for the shot. And a playground and supervised activities like face painting, crab racing, yes, it is so gratifying once you manage to catch a good shot of a dolphin treasure hunts for 4-12 years and parents will be free to enjoy some time jumping above the water! alone too!

One of the resort’s mission is to introduce Maldivian culture to its “On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it”, The guests through a myriad of activities, cooking class being one of them.

Maldives perfectly illustrates this beautiful statement by French author Jules Renard. However, the archipelago nowadays attracts over a million visitors each year and with its second international airport now open, Gan in Addu Atoll and a few new properties in the pipelines, things may not remain quite so idyllic and quiet for much longer. So go soon if you want to keep ahead of the crush.

Best Time To Visit Even though weather is warm year around, the best weather is between November and April. January to March are the driest months, with little rain and low humidity, making this peak season at the resorts (higher rates).

However in the last couple of years the weather pattern has been much harder to predict so experts now advise that it may be worth taking your chances in the wet season or during the transitional months, especially if you want to take advantage of seasonally lower hotel rates. For surf aficionados the season is from March to October, which is convenient as resorts will be at their cheapest from May and less crowded! www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Be Well Healthy living is almost a religion to some. We simply love to feel good – especially this time of year. We check into The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa for a spot of wellness to help banish the January blues

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As we pulled up into the Westin Doha Hotel &

Spa’s winding driveway, we knew off the bat that this city based property has more of a resort vibe, allowing you to be cut off from the outside noise and indulge in some self-care and relaxation. It’s located in Doha’s serene downtown sanctuary and is set right in the heart of Salwa Road, minutes away from Doha’s central business district, museums and unique cultural venues as well as Hamad International Airport, which is a mere 20-minute drive from the property.

Checking in was a seamless process, made even more unique with a welcome drink. The Very Berry elixir drink – not too sweet, not too watery, was a perfect kick-start to a staycation. Before coming to the hotel, we had made one thing clear: we were not leaving until it was check-out time. The main purpose was to zone out, live and feel well.

There’s an overall chic edginess about The Westin. You feel like you’re in a modern sanctuary with cutting edge light fixtures, engaging yet calming colours and an intuitive sense of design. The hotel really does meet with the demands of the digital age but doesn’t make you feel like you need to be connected and plugged in all the time. You can undergo a proper digital detox here but still have all your gadgetry at your fingertips knowing that the hotel is conducive to techies.

Our Deluxe Room brought sumptuous comfort to us. We couldn’t fault the regal-large bed, in particular. Being the main focal point in the room, the bed called out to us. The combination of its fluffy pillows, down duvet and customary pillow-topped mattress, we whiled away more hours than necessary in bed to make the most of the luxury experience. Trust us, once you get into this bed, you won’t want to get out.

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“The combination of fluffy pillows and a down duvet make it a luxurious experience.

Once you get into this bed, you won’t want to get out” The bathroom comes with a feast of features. Firstly, the standalone bath is deep and full in size, the separate rainforest shower and toilet area flank the double sinks – there are lots of mirrors, making the space feel larger than it already is.

Our room overlooked the lush green grounds where you got eyefuls of the brilliant blue swimming pool, Waves Pool Café and Sabai Thai. The hotel’s architecture is soulful, neat and unobtrusive, ideal for anyone who doesn’t want the pretence of a lavish set up, but wants to feel comfortable and calm.

As part of our staycation, a spa visit was in order. Heavenly Spa is a space of total tranquillity. Just getting there makes you feel

like you’re heading into a world away from the norm, happily so. The lovely water sounds and warm spirit of the staff (who attend to your every whim) got us feeling the right kind of vibes from the outset. We were at the spa to experience the signature treatment which started off with an intense and cooling lemongrass drink.

Featuring nine elegant treatment rooms with designated male and female zones and wet relaxation areas with saunas, steam rooms and hydrotherapy pool facilities, this is the real deal. Our treatment room (as with all of them) included a full bath tub with bath amenities so that you can prepare for your services. The emphasis on soul-soothing techniques is wonderful. Our therapist was attentive to every ache and pain we had during the massage and went about the treatment based on our terms and wants. The atmosphere is as light and airy as you’d imagine while the treatment was sleep-inducing, filled with heady essential oil aromas to make us feel our absolute best.

After being heavily pampered and rested, we took to Hunters Room & Grill for a late-night tipple and snacks. The elegant, no-frills atmosphere is great for after-work drinks and nibbles – we took advantage of happy hour and combined it nicely with a splendid selection of tid-bits like mozzarella jalapeños, truffle potatoes and sushi. But for our intents and purposes, we simply fell in love with the intensely popular Sabai Thai. Thai food is known for its complex tastes and Sabai Thai’s inventive yet authentic menus showcase the season’s finest ingredients at their irresistible best. Think succulent and peanut sauced chicken, crunchy spring rolls with layers of fresh vegetables and dried fried beef. But for your everyday

Regional Escapes

casual dining concept, Seasonal Tastes is worthy of note too, for its global cuisine offering everything from paneer to dim sum – we had our uber healthy breakfast here which included a peach smoothie and burcher muesli. All in all, the hotel’s dining options are in keeping with a healthy lifestyle and cater to all.

This hotel is a smart choice for guests seeking an authentic sense of place away from the crowds where it helps restore some balance in your life just by not leaving the property – because let’s face it, you really won’t want to.

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Ohlala Boutiques

anne

klein

F For Fuschia

Ready, Steady, Shop!

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Charles & Keith

Charles & Keith

Taking you from winter to early spring, this intense hue, coupled with its mega-watt jewels make these shoes a must-have

Sometimes the best way to shop is by watching others shop. So, we took it upon ourselves to pick our favourite items from Seef Mall’s cult stores and share them with you‌

all Nail polish from INGLOT

Colourful Tips

Give your nails a vibrant freshness and add flair to your look. But also, play off that colour with darker hues for your makeup dune

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ingl

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Time For Fashion

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inglot

Whether you use it for function or fashion, we love a good timepiece. This simple and elegant watch is all statement as well as discreet

Bag It

dune

This kind of ‘fits-all’ handbag is always versatile. Style up sportswear or chic up business wear. Above all, the colour is exquisite

The Golden Era

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s & Keit

Charle

Charles & Keith

Indulge in a closet refresh with evening pieces that will place you firmly on the top of the style stakes

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Aldo

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Tribe Festival

origem

Unearth your inner bohemian and pay homage to cool vibes

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Accessorize

Go for a new style twist on regular stripes but still keep in line

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Say It With Flowers

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River Island

Earn Your Stripes

10 Must-Have Wardrobe Pieces Start the year off on a stylish note and head to the best high street brands for some essential pick-me-up separates and give your wardrobe new life

Flat Lines

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For your everyday needs, these pumps will get you from A-Z, no problem

H&M

new look

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Ohlala Boutiques

Yellow FeveR

Intropia

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rius

Channel your inner Victoriana and display it loudly in this hue

Pull A Face

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It’s A Wrap

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For those lovely, lazy couch days, unwind in a fun and flirty jumper

ure Cout juicy marks & spencer

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How Charming

Show your strong jewellery game with this stunning all-day bracelet

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Let Loose

These slouchy trousers are super versatile and fashion forward

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Cout ure

A lovely cover up that hides a multitude of sins and is still fabulous

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In The Red It’s all comfort and statement ticks with this on point and chic heel www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Chic Eats

Just Like Mama Used To Make We’ll never say no to wholesome good Italian cuisine. Cucina Italiana proves to be the island’s most loved and talked about restaurant for dishes that make you feel all warm and gooey inside

Style and passion.

These two words conjure up ideas of Italian food at the outset, do they not? Italian food, in terms of portions, are typically fit for Kings and Queens, so that is a sure-fire way to get us on board! Cucina Italiana, in Bahrain’s bustling Juffair, is your homely, rustic and warm hang-out – be it for work or with family, it’s got a multi-purpose vibe where you can relax and get your work done at the same time in and amongst the wood-panelled set up with the certainty of fine food.

We start off with Insalata Caprese, an absolute firm favourite of buffalo mozzarella, ripe cherry tomato and basil pesto. The cooling bolus of buffalo mozzarella is the best thing since milk; it’s incredible moreish, especially when paired with the tangy pesto and served with liberal quantities of olive oil – we were mind, body and soul in Italy at this point. Next up were four perfectly poised and hunky Arancini balls which were golden fried, rice packed and had oozing mozzarella spilling out with each bite. The slightly spicy tomato dip 60

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gave it added character and personality.

For mains we were given a silky Saffron Risotto with delicate pieces of chicken laced in between. This is a dish that you’d get on a cold winter’s day for its stodgy goodness and feelgood warmth. The Linguine Al Cartoccio – all sea life present – saw a medley of prawn bisque, mussels and tiger prawns brought to boil with linguine pasta, sealed with a creative slap of pizza dough which is baked in a traditional wood fire oven. It simply screamed authentic on every level. This bulky but brilliant dish has so many layers of flavours, it’s unending in food satisfaction and just when you think you’ve captured everything you can fork, there’s another surprise. But what really crowned the meal in full was the Quattro Stagioni, a fourpart pizza divided up in fresh herbs, seasoned tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, olives,

sweet basil, mozzarella, chicken, smoked beef and artichoke heart. Every bite was nostalgic and made the experience one to take to heart.

The Italians have long been famed for their Tiramisu for a spot of dolce and ours was faultless. What we loved the most was that it wasn’t overpoweringly sweet nor dry in flavours, it was a perfect way to end our meal.

And if that wasn’t enough to get you over to Cucina Italiana, there’s the annual Master Chef competition this month where budding chefs and cooking enthusiasts will come together and have a cook-off for season 4 of the amateur cooking competition. The heats will run from January 15,17,22, 24,29 & 31.

To participate and for more details contact: manager@cucinaitaliana.com.bh For more information or reservations call: 1700 1317 www.ohlala-magazine.com

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January Dining “If music be the food of love, play on” William Shakespeare

Bushido Restaurant & Lounge

There’s nothing better to warm you up this winter than a delicious hot pot dish – and throughout January, Bushido has your taste buds covered! Experience their range of hearty Japanese winter dishes, “nabemono” (nabe is a cooking pot; mono are the things in the pot), with an exciting variety of healthy comfort food in the form of mixed broths and stews. Much like you’ll find in a Japanese home, the nabemono dish is perfect for sharing and is considered an enjoyable and social dining experience with family and friends. Call: 1758 3555

Trader Vic’s, Bahrain

Putting together their love of grills, juicy meats, succulent seafood and outof-this-world desserts, Trader Vic’s introduces a brand new special menu, exclusively for the month of January: The Flaming Tiki. The menu on offer consists of fiery, sizzling and smoking dishes, split into four sections: Yakitori, made up of table-style grills with your choice of chicken, beef, prawns or salmon skewers served on a hot cast iron plate. Trader Vic’s innovative chef has sourced the freshest ingredients and most creative recipes, resulting in a casual yet very modern approach to the restaurant’s dishes. Call: 1758 6555

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay

Celebrate Chinese New Year on Friday 27 January at the Market Night Event celebrating the year of rooster with live cooking stations at re/ Asian Cuisine and Blue Moon Lounge. You’ll be treated to bespoke cocktails and mocktails for the night where it’s BD 32++ including beverages from 6pm-12am. Or, if you fancy something more broad and varied, try out the Chinese New Year Themed Tasting Menus over 5 and 7 courses with traditional Chinese offerings where it’s BD 35++ for 5 courses or BD 50++ for 7 courses. This takes place from January 27 to February 8. Call: 17115000

The Gulf Hotel Bahrain, Convention & Spa

Head over to this prominent property for its Cigar Dinner being held on January 25 at Fusions where you’ll be treated to a Single malt and cigar dinner pairing whiskies and cigars.There will be a pre-dinner reception at Oak Lounge and the cigars to be supported by Tobacco road. And if you’re one to brave raw meat, head over to Zahle from January 19-31 for Kibbeh Nayyah wa Arak (Raw meat & Arak) where you’ll have a raw meat selection of kibbeh combined with Arak. Call: 1771 3000 62

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The Royal Golf Club, Bahrain

Break from the brunch tradition and experience instead a weekend of dining delight at the award-winning Links Restaurant at the Royal Golf Club. Choose from three fabulous traditional roast dinners with all the trimmings, available from noon every Friday and Saturday. Alternatively, dine a la carte from the numerous menu options.

To really make your meal go with a swing, indulge in the special new beverage package – just BD 15 net per person for unlimited selected beverages for three hours.

(Only available when you order a main course). Call: 1775 1262

The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain

Enjoy a wonderful wine dinner on January 27! Each month, the hotel’s Sommelier introduces a special wine list for your enjoyment. This month, a wonderful selection of 6 Cabernet Sauvignons will be presented in combination with a wine lesson and tasting. Guests will have the opportunity to learn specific details and discuss the wines with their expert Sommelier, Valentina, before continuing to a lavish set-menu dinner, paired with 2 selected wines from the specially created wine list. At the end of the evening, each guest will receive a certificate of participation. This event is for BD40, happening from 7-11pm at La Med. Call: 1758 6499

ART Rotana, Amwaj Islands

Celebrate the diversity of Desi food at Choices Restaurant every Monday. Travel through southern Asia with a huge selection of curries, grills and traditional beverages showcasing the very best of cuisines from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and more! This is happening every Monday from 7-10:30pm and is BD15 or BD25 with alcoholic beverages at Choices Restaurant. And since all the festivities are over and you’re probably slightly out of pocket, we think you should take advantage of the Pizza and Beer offer. For the whole month of January, Rosso are offering this great treat. Get any pizza off the menu plus 2 beers for just BD10. This is valid every Sunday and Wednesday this month from 6pm onwards. Call: 1600 0111

Le Meridien Bahrain City Centre

When it comes to brunch, Baharat know how to put on a show.The Sweetest brunch, having been awarded best brunch by popular vote by Citi FACT Awards, we urge you to discover it for yourself, and be prepared to indulge in a sensorial and savoury experience BD18++ including soft drinks and water, or BD30++ including selected free flow beverages. You’ll also be getting Live music from Colombian Fire Soul Duo. Book for 10 + people, and receive 20% discount, where you’ll also get discounted access to the swimming pool. It’s on from 12:30-4pm. Call: 17171 1441

The Westin Bahrain City Centre

If you’re wanting to have a no frills but fun evening of Latino vibes and culture, head over to the Mezzaine Lounge for cocktails, tapas and tunes. The vibrant cocktails and hip shaking tunes and mouth-watering Tapas is the perfect after work event to be at, to relax and unwind. It’s on every Thursday from 7-9pm. Call: 17171 1441

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

When your taste buds call for flavours, what a better way to celebrate the first month of the year than with a French pastry festival dedicated to Macarons. Choose from a wonderful variety of 20 delicious colorful flavors and add some French sweetness to your life with these tasty treats! This is available from January 15-30. And for the lovers of French patisserie, join the baking class with French pastry Chef Daniel Lajoux and learn how to make the perfect Macarons. This unique practical hand’son baking class will teach you the French method of creating mixtures, fillings, flavors and baking these tasty sweet treats and assembling them with finesse. This is happening on January 21 and January 28 from 10am-12pm for BD18 inclusive of baking class and a complimentary Macaron High Tea. Call: 1763 6363

Lauren Conrad

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health Files

Honest Goodness It’s January. Enough said. All we want to do is feel good about ourselves. Georgie Bradley visits The Spa at The Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay and enters a sanctuary away from the stresses and strains of modern life Your run of the mill massage is always a certainty at any spa you go to. Think aromatherapy, Swedish or Thai massage and you’ll get my drift. But something bigger, better and more complete is needed for January. I, like you, want to restore balance, wellness and the feel-good factor post parties and latenight revelries.

A trip to the Four Seasons Spa is never without anticipation. The grounds are wonderfully mosaic and calming to the point where just being there can instantly fend off soreness. I was there to experience the two-hour Royal Hammam Ritual – a treatment which by name alone, is enough to make you unwind.

Entering the steamy hammam room, you cross over into a galaxy-lit chamber where you are at the mercy of my favourite element: water. After being thoroughly drenched in terrifically tepid water, a pearl and jasmine renewal body scrub is applied and then is followed by an amethyst gel body wrap for a gentle sedative effect to relax the nervous system, stimulate circulation and renew the skin cells.

The products used are by ILA, a beyond organic luxury skin care brand from England and you can absolutely tell that it is the best of the best – my skin has already thanked me for it. The hammam portion of the treatment ends with an express facial that hydrates and nourishes the skin where you get a scrub and mask, too. My absolute favourite part was the relief of the ice cold towel smoothening my face, taking off the clay mask is delightful, leaving my skin butter-soft.

After drying off from the hammam and coming away from it with new skin, I was shown to a relaxation room before going to another treatment room for the relaxing back massage. The relaxation room makes for a spiritual spa experience.

The bed I was placed in was warm, comforting and private; I felt like I was being taken care of by nurses and doctors – in fact, my therapist gave me a cooling orange juice which gave me a gentle kick back into action.

The entire experience was capped off with a relaxing back massage to relieve tension and stress. I was taken to a lovely, low-lit treatment room, enveloped in a delicate scent of aromatherapy oils, which had an instant calming effect. The long, languid strokes across every tense part of my body was brought back to an even keel and sent me into a deep slumber – really.

There is nothing about this treatment that isn’t worth words of praise. From the attentiveness of my therapist (gorgeously positive, smiley) to the meditative moments you have between each part of the treatment, this is a tantalising experience for anyone who wants to be good to themselves.

The Royal Hammam Ritual is 120 minutes long and is BD130. For more information or reservations call: 1711 5000 www.ohlala-magazine.com

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D

Embrace

The Vision Al Zain Jewellery have always been the proud purveyors of stunning craftsmanship and haute jewellery for the most discerning of women. They have had an honest relationship with their customers for decades. We embrace their vision 66

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uring Jewellery Arabia 2016, the prestigious and largest jewellery exhibition in the region, the Bahrain Exhibition Centre was dazzling with diamonds. But the Al Zain space stood out from the rest.

Since 1930, the Al Zain family holds proud and dear to their heart, workshops that are based in the heart of Bahrain. The passion and attention-to-detail that they invest into the design and craftsmanship of each unique piece simply embodies their philosophy of ‘giving…from the heart of their family to the hearts of yours’.

From the humble beginnings of a pearl merchant to a multinational brand, Al Zain has come a long way. The family’s forefather, the late Hassan Al Zain, began the business as a trader of pearls back in 1930. His son, the late Abdulla Al Zain, who soon after joined the business, became an essential asset to his father’s business concept. He expanded Al Zain’s geographical footprint by being one of the first to combine pearl and jewellery making in the Arabian Gulf. As time went by, Al Zain grew. The company started to be recognised and the family name ‘Al Zain’ and ‘jewellery’ became synonymous.

Mohammed Hassan, the long-time friend to Al Zain and the admirable manager, with whom we spoke during the exhibition this past November, told us that “it’s not an easy job. It takes precision to make these pieces and for them to be accepted by our customers.” Exquisite, intricate and breath-taking, the jewellery showcased during the exhibition displayed the highest class of gems from diamonds to emeralds and natural pearls.

Al Zain offers its clients only the most sought-after creations in the market.

Always one step ahead of the trend, they envisage only the most stylish pieces

Ohlala Boutiques

of jewellery to be fashioned for their customers. They embrace and celebrate individuality and that’s why they offer designs to suit every single type of client.

“Women want something different when it comes to jewellery. Young girls are looking for simple jewellery. They don’t want splashy sets but still, even simple pieces are difficult to master. Now customers are more informed and they understand the technicalities and quality,” adds Mr. Hassan.

Every collection is uniquely feminine and delicate. Whether using bronze, silver or gold, Al Zain create intricate and detailed designs with rich patterns – allowing you stand out in a crowd.

“They embrace and celebrate individuality and that’s why they offer designs to suit every single type of client” www.ohlala-magazine.com

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The All New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class The New E-Class opens up aworld oftechnical innovation, giving us a glimpse ofthe future ofthe automobile

W

e all know the Germans are master car manufacturers.

This has been hugely apparent when appreciating the offerings from the car giant, Mercedes-Benz, over the decades. Their latest model does not fail to impress on any level and we were most excited to try out all of the new novel features.

This luxury car looks very similar to both the C and S-Classes. It is 4cm longer than its predecessor, with a 6cm longer wheel base. It is slightly narrower with lower sitting. 100kgs have been shaved off this improved design.

An elongated bonnet, complete with coupe-esque roof and broad shouldered tail end, displays the prestige of the vehicle, whilst a muscular front end shows this motorcar means business, giving it a commanding yet eloquent presence on the roads. Large wheels assist with control and safety, whilst its well-defined flanks display a fresh, stylish and dynamic interpretation of the feature line.

Once inside, the beauty and ingenuity of this Mercedes becomes even more obvious. Firstly, this car has great sound proofing. What this really means is, one can sing at the top of their voices in bumper to bumper traffic, without the worry of being judged by other motorists.

The seats are an ergonomic shape and their backrests, side bolsters and the curvature can be configured to fit an individuals’ body shape, ensuring 68

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maximum comfort. Two adults can easily fit into the back, with a third having slightly less space in the middle. The front has loads of leg room and there are compartments for storage.

The car has a widescreen cockpit with two display screens, which can be configured to one’s own preference. High quality materials have been used to cover the interior and harmonised colour tones are present. A special feature is the 64 colour ambient lighting option, allowing one to individually customise the interior lighting. So one can now match the colour of their interior with their outfit or mood. The 540 litre boot is slightly bigger than that of the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6.

Then there is the intelligence of this vehicle and the resulting drivability.

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a step into the future of driving. It is a semi-autonomous vehicle which basically means it has combined the technologies of lane change assist and cruise control to help drivers to make correct decisions and ensures safe manoeuvring amongst traffic. For example, if one indicates to change lane, the vehicle’s sensors check the surroundings to see if it is safe to do so and implements the movement automatically.

The vehicle can manoeuvre safely amongst the traffic, whilst its 360 degree camera system ensures the car stays at the correct speed and away from

Diva Drives

“Large wheels assist with control and safety, while it’s well-defined flanks display style”

other vehicles. The system insists on human contact with the steering wheel every so often in order to ensure the driver is still involved. If the driver does not respond to the visual request for contact, audio cues will then be given and the car will begin to slow down and eventually stop, turning on the hazard lights. Let’s not forget the parking pilot system, which will not only search for an empty parking space, but will also park the car in the spot automatically!

OK, so how does it drive? Well, we have never felt more relaxed in a vehicle. A smooth driving experience is what is on offer. With the autoadjustments being given by the vehicle, mistakes are made very difficult to execute and one can just enjoy the smoothness of the experience.

With the E 200 184 horse power engine and 300Nm of torque, one can feel the power of the Mercedes, especially in both the sport and sport plus modes. The car does 0 -100km in 7.7 seconds, which is not bad for a car weighing in at 1700kgs! The 9 speed automatic gearbox is superb and it shifts seamlessly.

Choosing a motorcar to purchase is like choosing a partner. You need to be able to rely on it, whilst being treated like you are important.

When choosing the Mercedes-Benz New E-Class to be that partner, you get not only the good looks, but intelligence and power as well.

For more information or to book a test drive contact Al Haddad Motors: 1778 5454 www.ohlala-magazine.com

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Citi Fact Dining Awards 2016 As our esteemed brother title, FACT magazine, held its annual Citi FACT Dining Awards this year at ART Rotana, Amwaj Islands, celebrating all the industry greats in hospitality, we were supremely pampered with a wonderful setting, fabulous fare and a host of VIPs and leading figures in Bahrain to mingle with.

The event was sponsored by: Bentley Bahrain, CITI, ART Rotana, Amwaj Islands, Hackett London, EJ Hair, Alosra, Home Centre and BMMI.

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Swissbel Hotel

Hotel Christmas Tree Lightings Prominent hotels across the Kingdom invited the media and guests of the island to enjoy festive evenings of carols, scrumptious food and spectacular lighting ceremonies along the month of December.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain

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Downtown Rotana

Elite Resort & Spa

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Elite Seef Residence

The Gulf Hotel Bahrain, Convention & Spa

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The InterContinental Regency, Bahrain

Crowne Plaza, Bahrain ART Rotana, Amwaj Islands

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Aldo Sole Mates With the right shoes, they say you can conquer the world! ALDO, in association with The Rotary Club of Salmaniya, launched their #AldoSolemates event last month to encourage customers to give away any pair of shoes to people in need. The event was held at City Centre Bahrain where each donation was met with a brand new pair of ALDO shoes in return.

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Jawad Christmas Market Opening Festive cheer and a warm atmosphere, the Jawad Christmas Market held at the Jawad Dome in Barbar opened to a flurry of excitement and saw kids and adults alike enjoy the Christmas offerings and good spirit.

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WCCI’s 2017 Certified Crisis Advocates Graduation Women’s Crisis Care International, the Middle East’s first crisis response program for victims of domestic violence, held its second annual graduation for its new recruit of advocates last month at the Golden Tulip Bahrain.Because of the extremely generous support of the Yousef and Aysha Almoayyed Charity Foundation, WCCI has been able to continue their work throughout Bahrain of supporting abused women and are helping victims of abuse move forward from their time of crisis, to live happy and healthy lives.

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Hilton Watson’s Year End Ball As far as leaving 2016 on a high, Hilton Watson’s year end ball held exclusively at Oliveto Bahrain this year, was a sparkling and fabulous event and definitely got us feeling good about life. We love an excuse to dress up and be shoulder-to-shoulder with Bahrain’s best and this ball was one that got everyone talking. Till next year!

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Noir Prive Masquerade Ball At Cafe Italia, Adliya last month, London’s House of Noir held a themed dress-up masquerade ball, titled NOIR PRIVÉ. This spectacular evening saw guests don their finest black tie, beautiful black dresses and hide behind masks for a night of ultimate celebration. Spectacular top London performers were flown in all the way from London to make this night unforgettable.

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Miss Ohlala

There’s No Place Like Home Miss Ohlala reminisces over Christmas parties which evoked the senses

December flew by in a whirlwind of fun. Party season with friends and family is always the best time of the year. In order to make any event stand out in December, in a calendar packed full of festive events, you need to make it special. And an event I attended for the festivities in the city certainly achieved that.

I attended this event and it was magical. From the moment we reached the stairs the quintessential Christmas smells, mingled with gingerbread and candles, wafted up the stairs. We were welcomed into the room by their attentive and charming staff and were immediately made to feel at home. The space is dark and enticing and was beautifully lit that night with clusters of white pillar candles which reflected off the dark mirrored and wood surfaces.

I am a huge fan of tapas so I was delighted to see big truckles of cheese and stands with meats being carved on the bone. What better way to relax after a hard day’s work than eat tapas and wine in good company?

And the company was as well dressed as always. One joy of the event from a fashion aficionado’s perspective is that it is chilled enough all year round to wear one’s winter wardrobe. Any chance to get out ones boots and faux fur stoles in this country must be grabbed by the horns.

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particular, events during the festive season must be distinctive in order to stand out. This event felt truly special as the team had created a homely feel and the chefs had taken time to create beautifully designed deserts featuring Santa Claus and candy canes sculpted out of icing. The effort was palpable and much appreciated.

As a parting gesture, we were each presented with a goody bag containing a beautifully decorated Christmas cake. And this was not just a cupcake-sized cake for one. This was a cake that I could proudly share with friends or family, which saved me the need to bake my own!

I was inspired to host a tapas party of my own. I spent hours in my kitchen researching recipes and creating various tapas and pintxos from scratch, but it was worth the effort. In particular the serrano ham and manchego croquetas and pancetta wrapped dates stuffed with goat’s cheese were devoured by my guests. I enjoyed decorating my house with Christmas decorations, lighting scented candles which smelt of pine cones and open fires, and welcoming guests into my house. Most of all, I enjoyed spending time with close friends who I can always rely on to fill the house with laughter. It’s times like these when I truly appreciate how lucky I am to be living as an expat with a happy family and wonderful friends. There’s No Place Like Home.

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