Online edition at www.FashionArabia.net
Guide to Arabian life, luxury and fashion!
132 Issue
BAHRAIN SHINES INSIDE
- Everything You Need For The Perfect Holidays - Fashion - Parties And Much More ... BAHRAIN BD2 KSA SR20 KUWAIT KD2 OMAN RO2 QATAR QR20 UAE DHS20
Contents December 2013 • Issue 132
Competition 22
Win a One Night Stay at The Domain Bahrain, with Breakfast.
Poetry 28
Poem: David Hollywood: Within My Gardens Soul
Opinion 34 John Ridley: Letter from Bahrain 76 Rehan Ahmed: Energy Efficiency Programme
Regulars 10 Not to be Missed 20 New in Town 74 Technology 84 Society: Out & About
Exclusive Interview 18 58
Barry Hilton Mariam Abdulrahim (Of Purple Swirl & Purple Patchouli Fame)
Mariam Abdulrahim
Fashion 38 42 44 46 48 50 54
Burberry: Art of the Trench Saks Fifth Avenue Designer Outlet Editor’s Scoop: Festive Fashion Punt Roma Nine West La Senza
Beauty, Health & Well Being 68 70
Health Updates: Winter Teas One Arab Vegan
Juicy Pickings 24 40 52 78
Art Space: Photography by Rogier van Zeventer Bahrain International Designer Week Festive Feature: Christmas Confidential Travel: Switzerland
Cars 111 Car News 112 The BMW X5
Essential Listings 117 Recommended Restaurants, Nightspots,
Essential Info, Beauty Spots, Sports and Fitness, Clubs and Associations.
Bahrain International Designer Week
www.faces-me.com
Publishers: Nick Cooksey and Rebecca Smith Editor in Chief: Rebecca Smith Editorial: Melissa Nazareth Jenny Ann Thomas Art Design: Noel De Juan Contributors
Eng. Rehan Ahmed David Hollywood John Ridley Ameena Adel Bucheeri Enosh Kumar Sales Account Manager Zena Williams Gareth George Administration Nikesh Pola Sales Coordinator Smily Andrews PR & Events Mark Jason Garcia Photographer Shareef Panhatt Business Development/ProDesign Redia Castillo Sueallen Menezes Dhanraj S. Distribution Distribution Executive Mohammed Yousif Muhammed Shareef P Rafnaj Regional Sales-Point Distribution Bahrain: Al Hilal Corporation
Tel. +973 1748 0800 UAE: Jashanmals Tel. +971 4341 9757 Online edition at www.FashionArabia.net
For Advertising Opportunities: Tel. +973 1782 2368 Email: sales@ArabianMagazines.com
Letter Dear Readers,
Aren’t we glad that the much awaited festive season has finally arrived? It’s time for puddings, plum cakes, gifts, carols, parties, wardrobe transformations and more! Give your year-end that finishing touch with some revelry (Pages 117-121). December looks like a fun month with so many activities in the pipeline (Pages 10-14); hope to see you guys at all the events! Don’t forget to relax amidst all the hoopla; sip on some winter teas while you snuggle up on your couch with your stockings and a copy of Bahrain Confidential (wink wink!); there is a tea for every one (Pages 68-69) and this beverage has health benefits too. Talking about health, frozen yogurt is good for you too; Mariam Abdulrahim couldn’t agree more! A classic example of beauty with brains, check out our exclusive interview with this Bahraini entrepreneur by yours truly.
Published by:
Online edition
ian Guide to Arab
life, luxury and
A Division of C.G. Arabia W.L.L. P.O. Box 26810, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. Tel. +973 1782 2388, Fax. +973 1772 1722 Email: info@ArabianMagazines.com Website: www.ArabianMagazines.com Ministry of Information approval no. ISDN 99901-01-17-5 © Copyright 2008, C.G. Arabia W.L.L. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Printed at Dar Akhbar Al Khaleej, Bahrain.
nArabia.net
at www.Fashio
fashion!
132 Issue
N BAHRAIES SHIN INSIDE
- Everything You Need ys The Perfect Holida - Fashion - Parties And Much More ...
RO2 KD2 OMAN KSA SR20 KUWAIT BAHRAIN BD2
For
UAE DHS20 QATAR QR20
Cover Credits:
Model: Yevgenia Vygulyar Photographer: Rogier van Zeventer
The much awaited Bahrain International Design Week (BIDW) is being held this month and we are happy to be there at the roadshows. This country has so much creativity and our magazines, both Bahrain Confidential and Areej are always happy to put young local talent in the spotlight. (Pages 40-41) December is a special month for another reason. Our beloved Kingdom of Bahrain celebrates its 41st National Day. This is not just a big day for Bahrain nationals but also for the many expats in the Kingdom for whom, Bahrain is home away from home. We wish The Royal Family and all the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain a very happy National Day! May this country prosper and continue being the beautiful haven that it has always been for us.
The Bahrain Confidential Team
Discover a season of magical surprises for everyone Come, join in the rejoicing as we unwrap a magical season of fun and grand surprises. · Unwind at the Festive Family Brunch at Baharat, every Friday from 12:30pm · Enjoy Santa’s Wonderland Kids buffet at Saveur, every Saturday from 3:00pm · Order your Festive Turkey box for a gourmet experience at home from 29th November · Decorate cookies with your little ones at the Kempinski Chalet every weekend from 2:00pm · Learn to cook turkey like a five-star chef with a cooking class on 11th December Moreover, make Kempinski your home away from home and benefit from our Festive Season room offer for Bahrain residents from BD29.95++ per person per night only. *Terms and conditions apply
+973 1717 1441 | restaurants.bahrain@kempinski.com | kempinski.com/bahrain
Readers’ Letters
Dear Editor ... Many thanks to all who wrote in last month and apologies if p us informed and your letter isn’t printed but we get so many. Kee abianMagazines.com keep us in check by sending comments to info@Ar d humour. and remember our response back is said in goo Bruce Lee Baring
Online edition at www.FashionArabia.net
This is regarding the image of Bruce Lee that you used on your Horoscopes page for Bahrain Confidential’s November issue. He hadn’t worn a shirt and I think that’s very obscene. Many women read your magazine and sometimes even young adults. You need to be careful about using appropriate images in your magazine.
132
Guide to Arabian life, luxury and fashion!
Issue
Ashamed Guy
BAHRAIN SHINES
Dear Ashamed Guy, please don’t be! ‘Cos we aren’t! What on earth made you feel that the image is obscene? It’s an image of the martial artist ready for combat and that is his attire. In fact you need to give it to him that he has worked so hard to earn that fit body. Are you just jealous that you don’t have a body like that? Hit the gym instead of cooking up such nonsense; and just a heads-up, a lot of women go to the gym – there may be one secretly watching you work out!
INSIDE
- Everything You Need For The Perfect Holidays - Fashion - Parties And Much More ... BAHRAIN BD2 KSA SR20 KUWAIT KD2 OMAN RO2 QATAR QR20 UAE DHS20
Online edition at www.FashionArabia.net
Guide to Arabian life, luxury and fashion!
Go Vegan!
131
I have one question for Bahrain Confidential. On one hand your magazine promotes non vegetarian food by printing promotions and images of meat. On the other you advocate kindness to animals. Funny how convenience talks, no? You promote whatever gives you good readership I suppose. I was born into a non vegetarian family, but stopped eating meat when I was very young. Animal slaughter is loaded with cruelty and apathy; we must exercise self control over our diet because the lives of these poor creatures are at stake!
Issue
Dear Palak, thank you for the compliment; we had so much fun interviewing these leaders and the photoshoot with them just brought out the lighter side to things – we will cherish this feature forever. We love the point your father mad mode; he is so right! We need all kinds of people in the world to attain the right balance.
Animal Lover Taking It To The Next Level - Leaders in the Hospitality Industry .... And Much More
Online edition at www.FashionArabia.net
Guide to Arabian life, luxury and fashion!
Complimentary Copy
BAHRAIN BD2 KSA SR20 KUWAIT KD2 OMAN RO2 QATAR QR20 UAE DHS20
130 Issue
Dear Animal Lover, we hope you’re a human lover too! Nature has evolved in such a complex way and each creature on earth has its own part to play in the food chain. Don’t animals eat each other? Now, you come along and point your stubby fingers at us if we start promoting snake skin bags and ivory show pieces! Until then, live and let live!
Getting Candid Bridezilla?
The One Stop Shop For All FACE TO FACE
MORRIS L. REID DJ YVES V IN PICTURES
The London Underground – 150 Yrs Old The Chloé LookBook .... And Much More BAHRAIN BD2 KSA SR20 KUWAIT KD2 OMAN RO2 QATAR QR20 UAE DHS20
6 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
The ‘Leaders In Bahrain’ feature that you ran in your November issue was really nice. It’s assuring to see the informal side to such established individuals; it makes you believe that one day you can reach there too. I believe that leaders are born and not made. When I was younger I used to feel very bad that I’m not a leader; but my father told me that it was okay because if everyone was a leader then we’d have no followers. Palak
Click Click I was going through your magazine and would like to compliment you on your images. I do photography too and would like to contribute to Bahrain Confidential. Please do let me know how we can take this forward. Amer
Dear Amer, thank you for that pat on the back and your interest in working with us. We are always happy to try out new and creative ideas. Please send us samples of your work on info@ArabianMagazines.com and our editorial team will consider.
People
“Even as an actor, I think like a storyteller. My parents raised us to look at the script.” Jake Gyllenhaal
Birthday: 19th December 1980 Age: 33 years old Birth Sign: Sagittarius Place of Birth: California Before Fame: Jake Gyllenhaal worked as a lifeguard and busboy as a teenager. Family: He was born into a family in films. Stephen Gyllenhaal is a director, Naomi Foner is a producer and screenwriter and his older sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal is an actress. Paul Newman and Jamie Lee Curtis are his Godparents. First Role: His first leading role was in “October Sky” when he was 19. Top 10 Movies: City Slickers (1991), Donnie Darko (2001), The Good Girl (2002), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jarhead (2005), Zodiac (2007), Rendition (2007), Brothers (2009), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) Fact: Jake Gyllenhaal went to elementary school with band members of Maroon 5. Favourite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird
ICONS OF THE MONTH Bahrain Confidential’s Favourite December Babies. “We believed from the first moment, from the moment the first leg finished.” David Villa
Birthday: 3rd December 1981 Age: 32 years old Birth Sign: Sagittarius Place of Birth: Spain Current Club: FC Barcelona Position: Striker Nicknames: “El Guaje” and “Villa Maravilla” Known as: He is known as the World’s Greatest Striker Awards: Player 2006, Soccer in Euro 2008, The 2010 World Cup Silver Shoe as the second leading scorer, FIFA World XI 2010 Before Fame: He was recruited to Langreo’s youth team at the age of 10. Family Life: David Villa married his childhood love, Patricia González. They have two daughters, one born in 2005 and one in 2009.
8 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
What’s On
Missed Not To Be
For more events, gastro, parties & nightlife turn to pages 117 - 121
International Family Fair
The British School of Bahrain celebrates the global citizenship of its student body and diversity of its school. Come join the celebrations at their fourth annual International Family Fair. With an extensive marketplace that will feature a wide selection of jewellery, art, handmade crafts as well as other shopping items live entertainment by the students, a Santa’s Grotto, games, rides and also a raffle draw. When: 6th December Time: 10am to 3pm Price: Entry ticket cost BD1 The Marketplace is open to public and vendors, who are interested in purchasing a table, contact: marketplace@thebsbh.com
MARKET 338 is BACK!
MARKET 338, Bahrain’s most loved artistic market is back. Featuring the work of local and regional artists and designers with a special focus on Bahrain circa 1950. Live music performances, designer talks and workshops will also be there. Where: Block 338 Area When: 28th November to 14th December daily For more details, contact, Tel. +973 1771 7441, or email: info@alriwaqartspace.com
Sonique
Sonique “Live In Bahrain”
The Legendary House Pop Music Star, Sonique, is all ready to make her Bahrain Debut. Spinning all over the world at some of the famous festivals, Sonique has blended her singing abilities with her mixing talent to create an amazing club atmosphere. Sonique has won a series of prestigious awards like the Best British Female in 2001, International Hit of The Year for her single “It Feels So Good”. Make sure you catch her along with supporting acts, International DJs Laura Love & Suzee. Where: The Dragon Hotel When: 6th December Time: 5.30pm Price: Pre-sale tickets: BD15, which includes 2 beverages. Tickets at the gate are BD15 for entrance only. For more information, tickets, & table bookings please call, Tel. +973 3696 9168.
10 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Great Inventions
Bahrain Science Centre gives you the chance to experience the new theme, “Great Inventions’. With three new exhibitions, as well as workshops, demonstrations, talks and discussions on inventions, they are set to entertain. It features inventions from the past, inventions that have made a huge impact in our lives, unusual inventions and many more. When: November and December For more information, call Tel. +973 1768 6466 or Visit: www.bahrainsciencecentre.com MARKET 338
It’s Karaoke Time Great Inventions
Its time to show them people what you got! JJ’s Irish Restaurant is hosting the 9th Annual Karaoke Idol 2013 competition, with the prize of BD1,000. Yes, exactly that much. So, if you think you have it, go ahead and register! When: Until 17th December For more information, call, Tel. +973 3932 9083 or follow JJ’s Irish Restaurant on Facebook and Twitter.
Find us on Find us on Find Find us us on on
Celebrate Celebrate the the Festive Festive Season Season Celebrate in in Style! Style! the Festive Season in Style!
Create unrivalled memories with family and friends during the holiday Create unrivalled with family andRoyal friends during season by paying amemories visit to the award-winning Golf Club.the Joinholiday us for season by paying a visit to the award-winning Royal Golf Club. Join us the for a traditional Christmas Day or New Year’s Day carvery lunch with all Create unrivalled unrivalled memories memories with with family family and and friends friends during during the the holiday holiday Create a traditional Christmas Day or New Year’s carvery lunch with all the trimmings or indulge in our spectacular NewDay Year’s Eve set dinner. season by paying a to the Royal Golf Club. Join season by or paying a visit visit to spectacular the award-winning award-winning RoyalEve Golfset Club. Join us us for for trimmings indulge in our New Year’s dinner. a traditional Christmas Day or New Year’s Day carvery lunch with all the a traditional Christmas Day or New Year’s Day carvery lunch with all the Christmas Day Lunchin our spectacular BD 29 net perYear’s personEve ^ set dinner. trimmings or indulge New trimmings indulge in our spectacular New dinner. drink Christmas Day Lunch 29 net ^ set New Year’sor Eve Dinner BD 36 perYear’s personEve inc. welcome EveLunch Dinner 36 New Year’sDay Day Lunch BD 29 net per person ^inc. Christmas BD 29 net per person ^^ welcome drink Christmas Day Lunch BD 29 net per person New Year’s Day Lunch BD 29 net per person ^inc. welcome drink New Year’s Eve Dinner BD 36 per person New Year’s Eveavailable Dinner so book BDearly 36 net net per person inc. welcome drink Limited places by calling +973 New Year’s Day Lunch BD 29 net per person ^^ 17 750777 today! New Year’s Day Lunch BD 29 net per person Limited places available so book early by calling +973 17 750777 today! Member’s discount applies. ^ Includes unlimited selected beverages. Limited places available so book early calling +973 Limited bookunlimited early by byselected callingbeverages. +973 17 17 750777 750777 today! today! Member’splaces discountavailable applies. ^ so Includes Member’s Member’s discount discount applies. applies. ^^ Includes Includes unlimited unlimited selected selected beverages. beverages.
The Royal Golf Club website is The RoyaltoGolf is available youClub 24/7website all year availableKeep to you all year round. up 24/7 to date with The Royal Golf website is The Royal GolfupClub Club is round. Keep date with everything going ontoatwebsite the Club, available to you 24/7 all year available to you 24/7 all year everything goingoffers on atand the news, Club, view our latest round. Keep up to date with round. up dateofnews, with view ourKeep offers and reserve alatest table into any our everything going on at the Club, everything going on at the Club, reserve a table in your any next of our restaurants or book tee view our latest offers and news, view offers and news, restaurants or book your next tee time. our latest reserve reserve a a table table in in any any of of our our time. restaurants restaurants or or book book your your next next tee tee www.theroyalgolfclub.com time. www.theroyalgolfclub.com time.
www.theroyalgolfclub.com www.theroyalgolfclub.com
What’s On
Missed Not To Be
For more events, gastro, parties & nightlife turn to pages 117 - 121
Meet-And-Greet
If are a football fan, then this is for you! The Dilmun Club brings the legendary footballer Peter Shilton. If you love him, you have to be there. There’s going to be meet and greet, dinner, and question and answer time. Spend time with England’s most loved footballer. When: 12th December Time: 8pm Price: Members BD22 and non-members BD25 that includes a three-course meal.
Dina Khalifé Bahrain International Design Week
Organised by All in One Services, Bahrain International Design Week is exciting with pre-event roadshows across the capital, from 1st December to 3rd December, followed by the three-day gorgeous exhibition. The roadshows will be held at Al A’ali Mall’s Naqsh Café, Al Riwaq Art Space’s ‘Market 338’, Saffron Coffee Shop in Muharraq and The Domain Hotel.
Let’s Decorate Em Cookies!
It’s decoration time. Children can now decorate cookies at the Kempinski Winter Wonderland Chalet at Bahrain City Centre. This is your chance to do good this season. Decorate a cookie and contribute to The Palm Association. Where: Bahrain City Centre When: Every Friday and Saturday from 6th to 12th December. Price: A cookie is for BD2. For more information, call Tel. +973 1717 1000 Visit www.kempinksi.com/bahrain
Featuring latest trends in jewellery and fashion, interior design, graphic design and much more, designers, this is your time to shine! For more information, visit, www.bidw.co
12 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Let’s Decorate Em Cookies!
Want to get your hands on some of the latest textiles and accessories from Lebanese designer Dina Khalifé? Make sure you stop by the Market 338 this December, where Dina Khalifé designer will be selling her products in Bahrain for the first time. So you know what you have to do. Head down to Market 338 to get your hands on those perfect accessories that will take you through this season, be it colourful scarves or playful jewellery. she has it!
Winter Wonderland
Bahrain City Centre is bringing back Bahrain’s favourite Winter Wonderland. Starting December, say hello to magical moments with snow caped trees, snowmen, and winter animals, roaming mascots and so much more. Promotions: The opportunity to win a whole new winter wardrobe worth BD15,000. Spend BD50 or more to receive a limited edition Winter Wonderland snow globe. Bahrain City Centre is inviting community schools to experience the Winter Wonderland experience and offer special souvenirs. There will be special Gift Cards promotions throughout the Winter Wonderland campaign. When: 1st to 31st December
get your iPhone 5s with VIVA Unlimited Plans
The highly advanced iPhone 5s features the A7 chip with 64-bit architecture, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, a new 8-megapixel iSight camera, a new FaceTime HD camera, ultrafast wireless, iOS 7, and iCloud. Unlimited Smart 20 Monthly Subscription
Unlimited Smart 25
Unlimited Smart 30
BD 20
BD 25
BD 30
Free Minutes (VIVA to VIVA)
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Free Data*
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
-
50 minutes
100 minutes
Silver
Gold
Gold Plus
iPhone 5s 16GB
Unlimited Smart 20
Unlimited Smart 25
Unlimited Smart 30
12 months contract
BD 99
BD 59
BD 29
18 months contract
BD 39
Free
Free
Minutes to other networks** Free special number
Device Upfront
*Fair usage policy applies **Valid till end of contract term
What’s On
Missed Not To Be
For more events, gastro, parties & nightlife turn to pages 117 - 121
Chuckle Club Celebrates Christmas EARLY! Chuckle Club celebrates Chritmas shockingly early with some of UK’s favourite comedians, Andrew Ryan, Barbara Nice and Alastair Barrie. Save the date and enjoy!
When: 4th December, Bahrain Rugby Club 5th December, The British Club 6th December, The InterContinental Regency Hotel Price: BD15, Group and Corporate discounts are available. For more information, email sales@ punchlineme.com! Tickets available at venue or online at: http://www.amiando. com/chuckleclubdec.html
Image credit: http://amalzone.wordpress.com
“Thank You Bahrain”
With the main aim of bringing everyone close together, Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Association is hosting an event that includes a lot of attractions, raffle draw, stalls, children’s stage shows & play area. There will also be representatives from embassies, schools and universities. And it’s free for all! Where: National Stadium Car Park When: 6th December For more details, or to book a stall etc. call Tel. +973 3913 3655 or email: info@thankyoubh.com Visit the website: www.thankyoubh.com
Top Motor Show Back in Bahrain
The fourth Bahrain International Motor Show (BIMS) is back and is expected to attract 50,000 visitors. Crowd pleasers such as monster trucks and drift cars will be featured alongside motorcycles and commercial vehicles with a focus on interactive exhibits and activities. When: 12th to 14th December Where: Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) Price: BD5 for adults BD2 for children Tickets will be available at McDonald’s, Virgin Megastore and www.motorshow.bh
National Day Mega Festival The National Day Mega Festival features a range of exciting activities and attractions. It’s this year’s best carnival! There will be around 200 retail booths selling jewellery, garments, games, toys and lots of food. When: 13th to 17th December Where: Bahrain International Circuit Those interested in taking part can call, Tel. +973 17451099 or email: bic.nationalday@bic.com.bh
14 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Imran Al Aradi
Think you have it in you to be a stand-up comedian? Well then, this night is for you. Here is your opportunity to get on stage and give stand up comedy a try at Ibrida, Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa. Bahrain’s favourite comedian, Imran Al Aradi, will host the Open Mic Comedy Night. Each comedian or participant will get five to seven minutes on stage. Entry is free. All participants should be 18+.
Events
Festive Season’s Promotions At The Royal Golf Club December Dining Promotions Friday Carvery Feast in Links Restaurant. Award-winning classic roast
New! All You Can
Winter Sports Camp
Experience the very best of Italian cuisine at the Royal Golf Club’s new All Your Can Eat Buffet, taking place in the Club’s Prego Restaurant every Saturday lunch time. Enjoy freshly prepared salads, pastas, pizzas and risottos as well as tempting authentic Italian desserts, all for just BD12 net* for adults and BD5 net* for children under the age of 12, inclusive of unlimited selected soft drinks. Children under the age of five years can eat for free. This fantastic buffet is sure to be a hit with Club members and visitors alike so be sure to book your table well in advance. The all you can eat Prego buffet is available between midday and 3pm every Saturday.
Send the kids along to the Royal Country Club this festive season for a fun-filled Winter Camp of sports, games, dancing, snacks and fun! While schools are out for the holidays, let our team of professional fitness trainers keep the kids entertained in a fun and safe environment while they enjoy fresh air and exercise. Participants will be sorted into age appropriate categories and supervised by our team of highly professional fitness instructors. Suitable for children aged three to twelve years. Prices inclusive of a snack each day.
Eat Italian Buffet
*Members’ discount applies.
Dates: 15th to 19th December Time: 9.30am to 1pm daily Daily Rate: Members BD12 / Riffa Views Residents BD13 / Non Members BD14 Full Week: Members BD55 / Riffa Views Residents BD60 / Non Members BD65
Kids’ Christmas Party Send your children along to the Royal Country Club gardens on Friday 20th December for a fantastic Christmas Party where they’ll enjoy fun games like Hunt the Christmas Star and the Snowball Race as well as festive snacks, a fancy dress contest for the best festive outfits and lots more! The party will start at 4pm and will finish at 6pm so why not stay on afterwards and enjoy the family movie night or a meal in Prego too. Limited spaces, book now! Cost: Members BD3 / RV Residents BD4 / Visitors BD5
carvery buffet with all the trimmings plus live cooking stations. Special buffet table for the kids. BD27 net per person including unlimited selected beverages. (Member’s discount applies). Kids under 12 BD9.5 inclusive of selected soft drinks. When: Every Friday from Midday to 4pm
Kids Eat Free At Links Restaurant
For every adult main course ordered, a child aged twelve or under can enjoy a dish from the kids menu free When: Every Saturday from Midday to 3pm
Poretti Promotion At Prego Restaurant
For every adult main course or pizza ordered, receive a free bottle of Poretti. When: Every Sunday from 6pm to 8pm
Happy Hour At Links Restaurant Discounts on a wide range of selected beverages. When: Daily from 5pm to 7pm
December Golf Events Wee Monty Family Day – only BD15 per adult, kids play free! Inclusive of green fee and hire clubs. Tee times from 10am to 2pm. Open to all. When: Every Saturday Ecco Monday Stableford. 1.30pm shotgun. Open to all. When: Every Monday
Monday Madness Night Golf Series
– different format each week. 6.30pm shotgun. Open to all. When: Every Monday
For further information on all above events and offers call Tel. +973 1775 0777 or visit www.theroyalgolfclub.com
16 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Entertainment
by Jenny Thomas
W
ith a track record of 30 years in comedy, Barry Hilton is the 2013 Recipient of the Comics Choice Lifetime Achievers Award. Barry, an old-school comedian is as streetwise as any youngster. Living in South Africa, Barry has become a national icon in a country where a new generation of comics is beginning to find its voice. A face as funny as his comebacks and an outgoing personality makes Barry Hilton a guaranteed entertainment.
What made you become a comedian? It was an itch that became a rash; I just had to do it. When I looked at other comics performing it made me sick to my stomach that it wasn’t me on stage. So I quit my very well paid job and took the plunge. Who is your inspiration? Richard Pryor, he is the greatest stand up comedian. He made everything look so easy. How would you define yourself-laid back and lazy or proactive and enthusiastic? Definitely proactive and enthusiastic. Favourite on-stage experience? My favourite on-stage experience would be performing at The Royal Albert Hall in London. Even Adele said it was “the best experience.” Scariest on stage experience? Working the North East of England in the early days. In those days, if the crowd didn’t like you, they would throw beer mats on the stage. You had to be creative and entertaining. Have you ever blanked out on stage? If so, what happened? I have blanked out many times. Most of my performances are done off the cuff with a theme in the background. If I go blank, I just carry on talking for a few seconds and it comes right back again. How do you handle criticism? From a Pro - anytime! Criticism from a punter - a punch on the head usually does it.
Catch Barry Hilton and enjoy his quick wit, unrehearsed performances and hilarious facial expressions at the Dilmun Club on 5th December 2013.
18 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the following words: Joke, Life, Coffee, Money, Cars? Joke - A spider was cut in half, it wasn’t dead but it was on its last legs. Life - A sentence you get even without murder. Oh, and a David Attenbuourgh documentary. Coffee - What happens when you have a cold? Money - I’m not too sure what that is, but I know my ex wives have it. Cars - I’m too tyred! What are your future plans? My future, well, I’m building a cottage at the bottom of the garden.
New In Town
Be The Head-Turner This Season Have you gone through a lot of diet plans that just did not work out? Want to fit into that stunning dress or that blazer that you have been dreaming of this season? We know exactly what can help you. The newly opened Diet Mealz is a successful diet centre that helps you live that stunning dream. With healthy nutrition choices and expert advice from nutritionists, you will be able to achieve your goals whether its weight loss, maintaining your healthy lifestyle, toning your body, etc. Diet Mealz provides personal nutrition counseling that will help you make the smart food choices. With follow up sessions to monitor your progress and fresh daily meals to ensure quality perfection, this sounds like too good an offer to resist. So, look no further, book your appointment, consult their professional nutritionist, pick your meal from the vast variety offered, enjoy the daily pampering, improve your health and be the centre of attraction this season.
Make sure you grab a copy of Bahrain Confidential, January 2014, to find out how creativity, health and lifestyle go together with Diet Mealz.
+973 1722 7700
New In
Town
Bahrain Confidential fills you in on the who, what, why, when and where in Bahrain!
Your Personalised Health Companion
Health @ GDSC, an app designed by Gulf Diabetes Centre is out now on both Apple and Android. This easy to use app will help you access your health information with detailed illustrations: Blood Sugar, Blood pressure, Cholesterol: Users can store their Blood Sugar, Blood pressure & Total Cholesterol readings in the app and retrieve them later as graphs. Weight management & BMI: Users can store their body weight and retrieve later as graphs. The utility to calculate BMI also is available. Request Appointment: You can also request an
20 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
For more information Email: info@dietmealz.com Or visit: www.dietmealz.com. Stay up to date with what Diet Mealz is doing. Follow: @dietmealzbh
@dietmealz
dietmealz
Gamers, Here’s Your One-Stop Online Shop
Red Stallion Interactive (RSI) is probably the first of its kind in the Middle East. Gamers, you can do your happy dance. With RSI, you can access a whole array of games and services. Register once and enjoy free games and premium games. So, Men of War trilogy, the Unreal series, Black Light Retribution and lots more will be available. The catalogue can be downloaded mostly to Windows platforms. But RSI is also launching the Android App store to cater to the Android market at the end of 2013, introducing a whole catalogue from Inlogic Software and other publishers. It will also be supporting more user platforms like hopefully Mac games support, iOS games support and more.
appointment with GDSC consultants through the app. Medicine Reminder: It lists the current medications of GDSC patients’ and sends reminders for each of the
medication. Appointment Reminder: The app will list next day’s appointment with GDSC consultants and the user can set reminders. GDSC news and alerts: Twitter feeds of GDSC and health tips will be delivered to the app. Contact Information: Maps, contacts and information about GDSC are available. This app is definitely your health companion at your fingertips. For more information, email: it@gulfdiabetes.com
New In Town
! N IO
“Tony Roma’s Anyone?”
Ooh those bountiful beef ribs, we just cannot get enough of them. If you ask us, casual dining with the freshest ingredients, interesting cooking techniques, and affordable prices couldn’t get any better. Jasmi’s Corporation has launched the second Tony Roma’s restaurant in Enma Mall. The new outlet has its own entrance on the ground floor of the mall and it definitely appeals to you with the whole Tony Roma’s signature warm and classy décor with comfortable seating arrangements. With cheerful faces at the restaurant and delicious Steak Medallions and ribs, you are guaranteed to have a memorable experience.
T I T PE
M O C
The Domain Bahrain opened the doors to its Japanese restaurant, IMARI. This contemporary Japanese restaurant and lounge is located on the 35th floor of The Domain Bahrain. Sushi, Sashimi, Robata grill skewers and other classic Japanese dishes are served Izakaya style. Want to win a one night stay at The Domain Bahrain, with breakfast? Just answer the below question and send in your answers with your full name and contact details to
competition@ArabianMagazines.com
Chef Paolo Taban At HUE
HUE, Bahrain’s newest art and dining space is all set to jump boundaries. With the new leading Italian Chef Paolo Taban appointed as the Executive Chef and Operations Manager, HUE is ready to bring in more traditional combinations with a twist by using high quality organic produce and letting the flavours speak for itself. “In Middle Eastern countries, eating is a large part of the culture, family and friends come together to enjoy each other’s company and their cooking. I am looking forward to becoming part of this culture, discovering and working with local produce and flavours – creating unique and flavoursome dishes, but at the same time remaining true to my northern Italian roots,” said Chef Taban. Head down to HUE to see what we are talking about!
Where can you have South of France, Basque, Japanese, Italian, Lebanese cuisine all under one roof?
Little Darlings, Cry No More!
Elizabeth just made all the mothers in Bahrain very, very happy! The only known supplier of amber teething necklaces in Bahrain, Elizabeth has made it her mission to provide mothers of little babies with healthy teething options. The necklaces are fantastic, natural and a healthy pain relief for the little children. Located in Amwaj, we reckon you should give her a call. Tel. +973 3643 9697.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa
Next Destination- Miami
Qatar Airways is at it again. Naming Miami as the sixth destination to the US, Qatar Airways will begin their operation to and from Miami (MIA) effective 10th June 2014: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: QR777 Departs DOH 08:40 hrs. Arrives MIA 17:20 hrs. Travel time: 15:40 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: QR778 Departs MIA 21:15 hrs. Arrives DOH 18:20 hrs +1 day. Travel time: 14:20 The airline will operate a Boeing 777-200 to Miami with a two-class configuration with 42 seats in Business and 217 seats in Economy. Miami is considered a magnet for the finance buffs and entertainment lovers. With a direct flight four times weekly from the Hub in Doha, it just seems perfect to make Miami one of your destinations next year. For more information, visit: www.qatarairways.com
22 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa Revamped
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa’s brand new look is as gorgeous as ever. After an intense renovation over twelve months, the new look of its array of dining venues is definitely on our list. Striking changes have been made with the upgrade in leisure and entertainment facilities adding an infinity pool! Score! That’s not all. Two outdoor Jacuzzis, a Thai Lounge and chill out sunbeds as well as a Gourmet Longe, a more contemporary ambience for Primavera, and lots of good food to eat. Head down to The Ritz and see if for yourself. For more information and reservations, call Tel. +973 1758 6499.
Art Space
Passion Calling
Bahrain Confidential explores the lens of freelance photographer, Rogier van Zeventer.
24 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Art Space
R
ogier van Zeventer’s tryst with photography began when he was around six or seven years old; he took pictures with his dad’s Pentax on holidays, in France. The artist got his first DSLR from his grandmother in 1996 – an analog Canon. Rogier’s love for the art developed alongside the photos and slides in his dad’s darkroom; the father-son duo would spend rainy Sundays together, developing photos in the darkroom. Though Rogier takes photographs of food, people and nature, this self-taught photographer likes taking pictures of people, the most.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 25
Art Space
Yevgenia Vygulyar
“My muse is my good friend, Yevgenia Vygulyar. She is an amazing woman who encouraged me and boosted my confidence. She is beautiful inside out and that resulted in almost 5,000 images over a 2-day shoot at different locations in Bahrain.”
“I hope my work is appreciated by a big enough audience and every subject of course brings or triggers different emotions.”
Rogier van Zeventer
Rogier’s photography spans nature, wildlife, glamour and food. For further inquiries email: rvanzeventer@gmail.com or call on Tel. +973 3777 5374.
26 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Poetry
Within My Gardens Soul
David Hollywood
‘This month David Hollywood’s poem embraces the sacredness of the soil and the various lives beneath our feet, and how with their own essence and world of independent survival, which is completely removed from what we can see, will always guarantee that whatever the seasons’ activities above ground what is being preserved is the future of new creations’.
Within my gardens soul abounds, A spirit stirring neath the ground, Aroused by secret depths that found, Concealed, inspired, a place profound. And as the rustling leaves surround, With stories from the breezes sound The haunting wind shall sing and pound, Upon the life beneath this mound. And in this knoll of moistened dirt, Where worms dig deep into the earth, The tubers turn to sleep from hurt, As winter storms its first alert. And slumber waits for times delay, To show how seasons laws obey, Arousal’s that deny decay.
28 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Sheer Luxury
Officine Panerai presents the Radiomir Platino – 47mm and Radiomir Oro Rosso – 47mm, two exquisite new Special Edition models inspired for the first time by a rare example of the Radiomir dating from the late 1930s. These limited edition beauties are supplied with a brown alligator strap fastened by a folding clasp of white gold or red gold respectively. Inspired by the water-resistant originals, the new models are water-resistant to about 50 metres. For more information, call Tel. +973 1753 5344.
Prices available on request.
30 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Europe’s Best Airline*
Advertorial BD1,425
Bangles BD920
Bangles (Pair) BD2,250 BD795
BD650
Rings BD375
BD365
Pendants
BD465
BD895
Era By Malabar
Gold & Diamonds Era jewellery is inspired by the cultural heritage of India. The Mughal royalty wore these as a symbol of prestige and heritage. Visit Malabar Gold & Diamonds at Gold City, Manama. Tel. +973 1700 6916 and Lulu Hypermarket, Riffa. Tel. +973 1700 7916.
32 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
BD590
Opinion
Letter From Bahrain
John Ridley shares an instance of technology based community building.
John R Ridley
Image Credit: pennsid.org
H
ome in the UK is a very small coastal town, Lyme Regis, famous for the film “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”, the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, and being a digitally deprived community - a community with poor to nonexistent broadband. Back in the UK for a few weeks, I was asked to support a project to bring super-fast broadband to the town. Rural communities, unable to compete with towns connected to high speed broadband, suffer economically, leading to depopulation of once vibrant neighbourhoods. For much of my career I’ve been solving engineering problems that challenged accepted wisdom, I’ve spent hundreds of hours in soulless aircraft, reading books written by people who also think differently; it seems an appropriate genre for long haul flights. Many think of broadband as a tool for emails, browsing the web and entertainment, by stepping away from objectives defined by performance indicators and metrics, we began to understand the social requirements of broadband networks - our project was about connecting communities to overcome the social, economic and cultural impacts of digital exclusion.
34 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
“High speed broadband strengthens communities, not just internet based - but physical communities too; connecting to the wider world is creating closer bonds at a local level, far from making us lazy, broadband is providing new opportunities.” As we were to discover during our research, communities are evolving, adaptive, complex systems; high speed broadband strengthens communities, not just internet based - but physical communities too. We met a disabled social housing tenant living in a nearby town, he played games with a wider on-line community for a couple of hours each day, the members, just as neighbours do, look out for one other. Far from making us lazy, connecting to the wider world is creating closer bonds at a local level, creating new communities, and reinvigorating neighbourhoods - and providing new opportunities for us all . The network in Lyme Regis is now live, and we are signing up new subscribers every day. It’s is one of the fastest network in the country, but what surprises most people is the cost - we built a network serving a whole town for less than the cost of a cheep second hand car!
People in other communities are now asking for our help; we will try to connect them all using the world’s first community owned and built undersea cable. Everyone said it was not possible, but we expect to begin work laying the cable in the next few months If you’d like to know more about alternate ways of tackling problems, there are some excellent resources at http://www.triarchypress.net You can read more about rural broadband and connected communities at www.johnridley.nu/broadband John Ridley is a Bahrain based journalist, broadcaster and writer, he can be contacted at john@johnridley.nu or john@ghostwriting.me
Travel
Conquering Our Skies – War Of The Airports By Harris Saseendran and Dr Sonia Selwin Business Studies Trainers at Bahrain Training Institute, Ministry of Education
The Gulf, just a layover destination? Nahhhh!
S
o Dubai just got a bigger airport. Again! ‘Dubai-zilla’ seems to be like a giant dinosaur that just gets bigger. The humble ‘City of Gold’ has gone ahead and opened the new Al Maktoum International Airport for a whopping cost of BD12 billion, supposedly ten times bigger than the earlier Dubai International Airport and expected to handle up to 160 million passengers by 2030 - thus making it the biggest airport in the world. (Hope my
36 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
American buddies aren’t heart-broken that Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has to give up its crown!) By the way, all those doomsday-sayers who predicted the collapse of Dubai’s economy four years back- take that – thirty two billion times! Since Gulf countries have always been on an Olympic marathon trying to outwit each other, let’s take a peek at how the rivals are doing. Presently, Saudi Arabia’s King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh is increasing its capacity from the present 12 million to 35 million passengers per year for a cost of BD300 million. Oman is
concreting its Muscat International Airport development project with an initial capacity of 12 million annual passengers for a cost of BD678 million. Kuwait yawns at those numbers making them look like pocket change by pumping in BD2.2 billion for its own international airport to handle 13 million passengers by 2016. Not to be outdone, Qatar has been dreaming about its own super-mega BD5.6 billion dream airport for some time now but unfortunately it still remains just a dream. The new Qatar airport that is supposed to be 12 times larger than the present overcrowded one is still in the
Travel pipeline - delays for the fourth time. With the Qatar World Cup approaching, the country is desperate to speed things up so that football fans won’t take a detour and go to enjoy the Dubai desert safaris instead! Amidst all the action, is our very own Bahrain left behind? No way! The island nation with the most severe case of under-capacity in the region is planning its own airport expansion from 9 million passengers to 13.5 million. It’s not just the airports but the region’s major airlines too are in competition including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad. This year Skytrax named Emirates as the World’s Best Airline 2013 while Qatar Airways who were last year’s numero uno have stepped down for the silver medal. Why the sudden mad rush to conquer the skies in this region? Forecasts have shown that the Middle East is destined to be the future global travel hub. A 2011 Amadeus report projected that the number of tourists to the region is bound to jump to about 136 million by 2020. With such statistics, the Gulf rivals are in competition for a bigger share of the pie. They no longer want to be just a layover stop for travellers en route to other destinations, but the key travel plan itself. The target market here is clearly the global citizen. The recent global economic recession is another factor that seems to have reduced the external competition, leaving most countries high and dry, unable to invest in developing their infrastructure for the distant future. The oil-rich Middle-East countries
“... is our very own Bahrain left behind? No way! The island nation with the most severe case of under-capacity in the region is planning its own airport expansion from 9 million passengers to 13.5 million.” who were affected at bare minimum, have grabbed this golden opportunity with a diversification plan for future economic growth instead of relying solely on the power of petro-dollars. Along with the opportunity comes a few tough challenges too. Even in this modern age, there are a lot of misconceptions regarding the culture and treatment of people in the Gulf. The recent Arab Spring and the continuing violence in neighbouring Iraq, Syria and Egypt have spooked foreign tourists. A suggestion would be to stick to aggressive promotional campaigns projecting the region as the hub of entertainment and safe business opportunities. Another area that needs to be looked into is the relaxation of visa restrictions to turn around tourism. Flexible travel packages could be designed with the airlines, tourism and immigration officials working hand-inhand. The region needs to invest in creating an affordable wonder-world that can attract people of all cultures alike, just as countries
Christmas Tree Lighting & Carol Singing What’s Christmas without the Christmas Tree? g this You simply can’t miss the lighting and carol singin date! the save so, n; seaso festive Spa: Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and December Christmas Tree Lighting & Carol Singing on 4th from 6pm onwards. g& Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel: Carol Singin to 6pm from ber Decem 24th on e Choir Performanc 8pm in the Lobby. 5th The Gulf Hotel: Christmas Tree Lighting on . lounge us Andal at ds onwar 7pm from ber Decem g on Diplomat Radisson Blu: Christmas Tree Lightin 6th December from 4pm to 7pm. Lighting Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain: Christmas Tree . Lobby the in m 6.30p at ber Decem on 1st Lighting & Sheraton Bahrain Hotel: Christmas Tree Visit by Santa on 8th December. g on 4th Elite Grande Hotel: Christmas Tree Lightin . Lobby the in m 7.30p to m 6.30p from ber Decem g on 9th Elite Resort & Spa: Christmas Tree Lightin . December from 6.30pm to 7.30pm in the Lobby g on Crowne Plaza Bahrain: Christmas Tree Lightin ds. onwar 7pm from ber 5th Decem Singing on The Domain Bahrain: Tree Lighting & Carol 6th December. Singing on Ramee Grand Hotel: Tree Lighting & Carol ber. 7th Decem Tree The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa: Lighting & Carol Singing on 1st December
Christmas at Mövenpick
like Singapore have done in the recent past (how about getting Disneyland to sign the dotted line? wow!). The Middle-East can work to be the centre for feeder flights from the west to all destinations in the east and vice versa. The few days that travellers are stuck here would be the best opportunity to entice them for some sightseeing and shopping. With customer delight as the end result, the profit graphs are sure to continue their trajectory northwards for a long time to come. Here’s hoping for the best. Let the sky-wars continue! For inquiries: Harris Saseendran Tel. +973 3630 5218 Email: simply.harris@gmail.com Dr Sonia Selwin Tel. +973 3635 3897 Email: soniaselwyn@gmail.com
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Festive Fun Activities Winter Breaks by Kempinski Grand and Ixir Hotel: Kempinski is offering affordable winter break solutions in all of its 74 hotels worldwide with up to 35 per cent off regular rates. Winter Breaks are available until 15th March 2014. To book your escape visit: kempinski.com Kempinski Winter Wonderland Drop by the Kempinski Winter Wonderland Chalet at the Central Galleria, Bahrain City Centre and decorate a cookie for BD2. Proceeds go to The Palm Association. When: Every Friday and Saturday from 6th to 28th December, 3pm to 6pm.
Kempinski Gingerbread Houses Village Stay at Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel during the month of December and get a chance to win a daily festive-themed prize at their Gingerbread Houses Village! When: 1st to 24th December Radisson Gingerbread House Decoration Competition Purchase a gingerbread house for only BD8 and receive complimentary goodies, icing and sweets for decoration. When: 6th December December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 37
Fashion
BURBERRY
Art Of The Trench Burberry brought its digital platform, Art of the Trench, to life physically for the first time in Asia with an event celebrating Shanghai and its creative community. The event, hosted by British actress and face of Burberry Body Tender Cara Delevingne, took place at the Burberry K11 store in Shanghai and was attended by over 450 high-profile guests. The event, which celebrated all facets of the brand including music, innovation and the trench coat, was an immersive physical and digital Art of the Trench take over. Burberry store windows throughout the city were also transformed to celebrate the merging iconic London and Shanghai skylines, and showcased the Art of the Trench portraits on LED screens. As part of a global celebration of the site, Burberry has hosted Art of the Trench events in Chicago, Brazil and India, and has further events planned in Paris, Seoul, Kiev and Istanbul later this year. Launched in 2009, the site artofthetrench.com is a celebration of the iconic Burberry trench coat and the people who wear it. You can submit your own trench portraits to feature on the site! Burberry is available at MODA Mall and Bahrain City Centre.
38 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
BIDW
BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN WEEK (BIDW) is one week of dedicated artists, creators and designers offering the latest unique style and design. An exhibition covering the MENA region, it caters to all types of designers from different design fields. With an aim to provide opportunities for designers in the international market, BIDW will be divided into three categories: • Personal Design • Architecture and Interior Design • Services in Design including Design Universities and Schools.
That’s not all! The exhibition is a One-StopShop for visitors who are looking for new and unique designs or just looking to pursue design careers.
Some of Bahrain’s favourite exhibitors will be there too!
1
BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN WEEK
2 40 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
MANO DE SABKAR Mano de Sabkar is a proud
creation by one of Bahrain’s talented fashion designer, Muna Sabkar. Born in Southampton, Muna received her degree in fashion design from the Southampton Solent University in 2002. Participating in the Beirut LUX Fashion Week in 2004, exhibiting 15 couture dresses in Rome, Muna has not stopped. She has been participating countless exhibitions and fashion shows in and around the Middle East and also displaying her breathtaking creations in Southampton.
DAR NASEEM ALANDALOS Dar Naseem AlAndalos, a brand by
Bahraini designer Hayaa AlFadhel and her mother Nabila AlAissaoui. With wonderful imagination and creativity, they produced a new breed of luxurious caftans that mix the Moroccan and Khaleeji heritage. Gaining a respected aname in the Arab fashion industry, they have embraced traditional handwork and applied it on modern and stylish designs. It speaks sophistication, elegance and excellence.
BIDW
3 HARAKA With a degree in Interior and Spatial Design
from Chelsea College of Art and Design and her Master’s degree in Urban Design from University College, London, Muna Yateem created her own design, HARAKA. HARAKA is a blend of the local Bahraini culture and the fast paced, modern world. With her first collection of colourful watches, T-shirts and tote bags already out in the market, Muna Yateem dreams of including more products to her brand. Price of the wrist watches ranges from BD20-45. For more information, visit, www.haraka.com
LOG HOME Ehsan Al Mubarak is the perfect example of a
4
person who changed his hobby into an inspiring career. He made wood carpentry his passion and has loved every minute of it. “A small home décor item can be made in a day whereas big furniture piece may require more than 50 working hours”, said the creative and dedicated Ehsan.15 years ago, he made his first piece from reclaimed Bahraini wood and since then has created a spectacular collection of garden benches, dining tables, chairs, coffee tables, home accessories and lots more.
For more information, visit, Website: www.bidw.co Instagram: BIDW2013 Facebook: www.facebook.com/Bahrain International Design Week December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 41
Fashion
Designers You Love at Prices You Adore!
for HER Three partners, Pieter Drent, Russell Mack and Peter McGowan, formed The Designer Outlet that opened on 1st August in the new Seef Corner Mall.
44 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Fashion
I
It’s true! Luxury retail and discount are in the same sentence. Designer Outlet aims to provide the local population with branded clothes and accessories, but at affordable prices. “The name reflects what we do, which is to offer popular designer brands at outlet prices. All the goods are discounted as they arrive at the shop and we then offer further promotional discounts
on selected items of between 20 and 80 percent. We aim to be different by offering a large range of goods, covering a wide spectrum of prices, from Diesel t-shirts to Valentino dresses. We buy what is available in the market, customers can expect to see a variety of manufacturer’s goods, which will change regularly and, as previously stated, will be offered at discounted prices. We offer goods ranging from, Hunter boots, Toms’ shoes, handbags by Bruno Magli, Humanity bracelets to Diesel, Dolce
for HIM
& Gabanna, Polo Ralph Lauren, Versace, Fred Perry and Celine, to name a few.” The Designer Outlet is always on the lookout for new opportunities. They have recently been able to acquire some Burberry and Ralph Lauren children’s clothing, which are turning out to be very popular. With the hope of replicating this concept in other GCC countries, Designer Outlet’s negotiating with various potential partners in Qatar and Saudi Arabia and are considering opening a larger outlet in Bahrain and possibly a children’s outlet.
As the company slogan says, their exclusivity is to provide brands by ‘Designers You Love’ at ‘Prices You’ll Adore’ For more information, Tel. +973 7701 1996 Email: thedesigneroutletbahrain@gmail.com. For all the latest arrivals, follow them on Instagram: designeroutletbahrain Located in the new Seef Corner Mall on the opposite side of the road in between Seef Mall and Bahrain City Centre.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 45
Editor’s Scoop Golden Heels BD426
Collection by Charlotte Olympia. Available at net-a-porter.com
Black Heels BD367
Reindeer Pouch BD191
Get them heads turning with these Christmasy accessories!
n o i h s a F e v Festi BD9.2
BD9.2 Holly Clutch BD350
BD14.8 Moschino Forever Sailing
John Richmond Festive Coffret BD30.5
Versace Pour Homme Festive Coffret BD38.7 Gingerbread Clutch BD273
Collection by Charlotte Olympia. Available at net-a-porter.com Perfumes available at leading luxury stores across Bahrain. 46 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Blouse: BD31 Scarf: BD4
unt Rom
Fashion
Animal Print Is The New Black Stay in trend with Punt Roma.
48 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Fashion
Blouse: BD34 Necklace: BD10 Skirt: BD49 Shoes: BD31
Skirt: BD29 Sweater: BD29 Bag: BD23
12
Dress: BD37 Necklace: BD5
Left side: Leopard Sweater: BD25 Jeans: BD19
4 3
Right side: Leopard sweater: BD25 Brown vest: BD39 Jeans: BD19 Bag: BD19
Punt Roma is available in Bahrain City Centre. For more information, contact, Tel. +973 1717 2307.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 49
Fashion
BD47.9
BD49.9
NINE WEST
BD34.9
BD46.9
BD34.9
BD43.9
BD52.9
Available at Nine West Stores in Bahrain City Centre, Seef Mall and Bahrain Mall.
50 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Authentic Taste & Hospitality
VARIETY
AUTHENTICITY
HOSPITALITY
EXPERIENCED
LUNCH BUFFETS
SEAFOOD NIGHT
EVENTS BOOKING
CATERING, DELIVERY
AT THE LAGOON AMWAJ ISLANDS.
16 010 666
WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS
EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT
s a m t s i r h C fidential Con Christmas Special
BD20
Bahrain Confidential brings you an exciting list of DIYs, gifting ideas and self-indulgence options to choose from, this festive season.
BD950
Gifting Ideas
Play Santa for Christmas this year and gift your loved ones these coveted goodies.
AIGNER
Make your favourite people feel oh so loved with these accessories by AIGNER, designed the Italian way.
Wujood for Men by Syed Junaid
We all have an intense personality hidden somewhere in us and Wujood is a fragrance that brings to life this hidden side. Created for the modern man in line with Arab traditions, Wujood has been designed to be worn on the traditional Gatra.
GANT
BD106
GANT Time’s new collection is a tribute to the brand’s heritage and this season’s urban take on American Sportswear.
BD103 Cake DIY Christmas find their way to your kitchen
Your neighbours are going to tion by Anita Menon, food with this aromatic and divine crea at Bahrain Confidential. or ribut cont lar regu a blogger and
52 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
BD106
Christmas Special Indulge
with Rel axing Sp a Treatm ents
Thalassa Spa Treatments at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa
Pamper yourself and enjoy a 50 per cent discount on all Thalassa Spa treatments during the month of December. Offer valid from Sunday to Wednesday every week.
Turkish Hammam at Pure Spa, Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel
Take your bestie or your better half to the largest Turkish Hammam in Bahrain, this Christmas. Introduced and transformed over thousands of years from the magnificent Ottomans of ancient Turkey, the Turkish Hammam is a cleansing ritual that is as much a relaxation experience as a social gathering for close friends. Open daily from 10am to 10pm; specific male and female times for Turkish Hammam between 11am and 9pm.
A Very Rich Fruit Cake
Ingredients: 2 + 1/3 cups golden raisins 1 + 1/2 cups raisins 3/4 cup chopped apricots 2/3 cup chopped pitted dates Finely grated rind and juice of 1 large orange 2 sticks or 226 gms of unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar Anita 4 eggs, beaten 1/3 cup chopped candied peel 1/3 cup quartered candied cherries 2 pieces chopped candied ginger or preserved ginger 1/4 cup blanched almonds, chopped 1 and 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground allspice Preparation: Place the golden raisins, raisins, apricots and dates in a large bowl and stir in the orange rind and orange juice. Cover and let soak for several hours or overnight. Preheat the oven to 300F/150 C. Grease an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment paper. Beat together the butter and sugar in large mixing bowl until pale and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs, beating hard after each addition. Stir in the soaked fruits, candied peel, candied cherries, candied ginger and blanched almonds. Sift the flour and allspice over the beaten mixture, then fold in lightly and evenly. Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the surface, making a slight depression in the center with the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours and 15 minutes, or until the cake begins to shrink away from the sides and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan. Different ovens heat differently. So it would advisable to keep checking on the cake after an hour of baking in the oven. Invert the cake and remove the parchment paper. Wrap in some wax paper and aluminum foil and store for at least two months before use. Visit Anita’s blog on http://sliceofmylyfe.wordpress.com/
Latika
s Christmas Bite The festive season is always a busy time; so, if you find yourself hard pressed for time but can’t help the sweet tooth cravings then here’s your solution.
The Farrell’s Confectionery
Order your very own Snowman Cake from The Farrell’s Confectionery. Latika Farrell, Founder, The Farrell’s Confectionery, promises to wow you with her creations. Give your celebrations a
personal touch with your very own customised cakes and cupcakes. There are other items like macaroons, cookies, biscuits, rum cakes, cupcake bouquets and more! Elegantly packed, these baked goodies also make for fantastic gifts. To order call, Tel. +973 3363 6583 Visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ ThFarrells?ref=br_tf
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 53
Fashion
BD20.5
Hello Sugar Bra
BD27
Hello Sugar Panty
Beyond Sexy Bra
BD21.5
BD5.5 Show Off Removable Santa Baby Bodysuit
BD11.5 Rhinestone Chain Link Thong
BD5.5 Beyond Sexy Luxury Thong
BD21.5
Hello Sugar Bra
Hello Sugar Panty
Unleash your wild side with these oh so sexy pieces from La Senza’s ‘The Hottest Holiday Ever’ collection.
BD24
BD9.5
BD5.5 Hello Sugar Satin Lace Garter
Hello Sugar Bustier 54 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Available at La Senza stores across Bahrain.
Email:airport@sixtbahrain.com
Airport Counter Tel : 17 32 93 38 Fax : 17 3 2 93 18
Mobile booking allows to make reservation for your car, anytime, anywhere on your smart phone, globally.
Download mobile application
Email: lloyd@sixtbahrain.com
Head OfďŹ ce Tel : 1 7 40 80 00 Fax : 17 4 0 07 61
sixt-bahrain
Email:sales@sixtbahrain.com
Exhibition Road Tel : 17 7 1 17 70 Fax : 17 7 1 1 7 66
sixtbh
www.youtube.com/ SixtBahrain
Email: juffair@sixtbahrain.com
Juffair Tel : 17 71 81 91 Fax : 17 71 17 66
8
sixtbh
Email:kempinski@sixtbahrain.com
kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre Tel: 17 171436 Fax: 17 329318
* Offer valid only for daily & weekly rentals * Rate includes free delivery & Collection * Valid until 31- 12 - 2013
2014
A KI
Model
0 M il e
a
Rent a KIA for just BD.
(Valid only if booked using the Sixt App available on play store for Android users & App store for iphone users)
ge
Rio *
No more calls... No more waiting Hassle free car rentals in just 60 seconds !
Download-rent-Save!
s
Bin Hindi Transport Co.
* Conditions apply
People
ONE-ON-ONE
Georgina Jennsen, Bahrain Confidential’s Diva-of-the-month. the speed of light. Those long-haul flights are a killer! Gadgets you’re currently using? My iPad. I’m on it all day - blogging, sharing and emailing.
Life Mantra: Just get on with it! Favourite Food Spot In Bahrain: Breakfast at Saffron, lunch at Lilou, afternoon tea at Ritz’s Gourmet Lounge and dinner at The Meat Co. Favourite Food Spot Outside Bahrain: Takeaway fish n’ chips on Melbourne’s St Kilda beach pier and anything that comes from my mother’s kitchen! Favourite Holiday Destination: Venice, Italy Favourite Brand & Shopping Destination: Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. rocks (but then you need to have the lifestyle to go with it!). I’m an online shopping addict, and my fave site is gilt.com Favourite fall-winter look: I love this season’s floral print cigarette pants. Fashion Sense: Sporty and simple for day, and girlishly glam for night. Current Read: The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory Are you an animal person – do you have pets? I adore animals. I have a Shih Tzu. She’s less of a pet and more of a little person in a fur jacket. Dream gadget: My dream gadget is a travel machine, which would allow me to get back to Australia at
it’s creative and fun, and gives me the chance to share my ideas with the world. If you won a 100 Dinars to shop at only one store, what store would it be? 100 Dinars? Oh that’s tough - couldn’t I have more? Ok, ok, I’d go to Karen Millen in Bahrain City Centre and head straight for the sale rack! What song do you have on repeat? Blurred lines by Robin Thicke. 3 words to describe yourself. Happy, healthy and fabulous Your favorite TV show and movie. Favourite TV show is The Sopranos and favourite movie is The Shining.
Are you an accessory junkie? No. I buy them and then forget to wear them. Your fashion inspiration. As a blonde, it has to be the young Brigitte Bardot, with her tousled hair, heavily-lined eyes, and sexy St Tropez style. Your blog name. Why do you love blogging? My blog is blondeinbahrain. com. I love blogging because Visit Georgina’s website: blondeinbahrain.com
56 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Your dental health is important. Dr Ali Hussain Al Juffairy Dental Services provides top-notch quality services from the most basic to the most complicated dental procedures you require.
implants orthodontics fillings extractions root canals bleaching etc.
FOR WORLD-CLASS DENTAL SERVICES, THERE’S ONLY ONE PLACE TO GO.
Al Juffairy Clinic es! Now moved to new premis Al Juffairy Clinic 6th Floor, Mashtan Building next to Almoayyed Tower
Book an appointment today.
Call +973 1727 3700 EMAIL: juffairy@batelco.com.bh
OPEN Sunday thru Thursday from 9am up till 6pm
Exclusive Interview
One Head, Many Hats Mariam Abdulrahim is a Bahraini entrepreneur who is inspired by western service oriented businesses. After moving back from Los Angeles post graduation, she recognised that there was a potential in the market place for her business concepts. Rebecca Smith sat down with Mariam to discuss how she has made an impact in the beauty and frozen yogurt industry.
You were living in LA. So, what made you return to Bahrain? I flew back to Bahrain to attend my sister’s wedding; I ended up meeting my future husband, here. Though I had intended to stay in LA, my plans changed. That said, I consider LA to be my second home. Most products at your spa and yogurt cafe are organic. Is this choice of products influenced by the time you spent at LA? Definitely. In LA everyone is so health conscious and aware of what they’re putting onto or into their body. So, it was important to me to find these products locally. But I couldn’t find anything. So I contacted the suppliers and started to bring them in myself. What challenges did you encounter while setting up your businesses? The toughest challenge is finding and keeping the right staff. I wanted to employ people, who I would feel comfortable doing my hair or nails with. I was on the lookout for staff that had been trained in their profession and would be able to explain to the client what they could expect from a certain procedure. I ended up recruiting outside. But the problem I faced then was trying to convince people to move to what they perceived to be a small, very hot and not very ‘happening’ country. So bringing somebody from LA or London wasn’t going to work. I ended up recruiting from the North of England and Europe. I
58 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Exclusive Interview probably had the best team in Bahrain. Some nationalities are really good at certain jobs; for instance, the Vietnamese are renowned for being excellent nail technicians; I recruited from there too. The first few years were very smooth. However, after the political problems we faced many obstacles, which included many of our staff temporarily or permanently having to re locate outside Bahrain. But you know they say, “What doesn’t break you, makes you stronger”. We learned a lot, and managed to build a new team that our customers are very happy with today. What sets your spa apart, from others in Bahrain? When it comes to spa’s there is so much competition in Bahrain. But I don’t see many spas in Bahrain offering every service. We do Micro Dermabrasion, Spray Tan, acne treatments, hair care and all nail treatments; we also have a boutique selling luxury organic wear and skin care. So it really is a one-stop-shop. We also focus on customer service in a big way. The boutique was opened on the advice of my husband who is an investor. He felt if I only opened a spa then I was facing too much competition. So he suggested I did something that also gave me some leverage if the spa doesn’t do so well one month – I still have the income from the boutique and vice versa. It works really well.
“Shortly, we will be completing our expansion plans in Bahrain with 8 branches for Purple Swirl in total. Our next main milestone is our franchise project. I have already secured deals in India and Abu Dhabi and we have many more requests.” skip meals and live off organic, unsweetened live yogurts which you can buy anywhere. It was such a great way to lose weight. A big cup full of fruit and live yogurt is very filling, healthy and very delicious too. In fact, Purple swirl, my yogurt bar was supposed to open before the spa.
Where do you source your clothing from? BedHead. It is a sleep-wear line, in LA and we will be distributing their products, which are organic, shortly. They do a lot of community work especially for women empowerment. LemLem is an African-Ethiopian organic brand that again specialises in creating jobs, in those countries, for women. Otherwise a lot of the products are from Dubai or sourced from trade shows. Why the colour purple? How do you connect with it? I love the colour purple; also, it is said to have positive effects on the human brain. It is considered to be the most soothing of all the colours and is in fact the most powerful wavelength of the rainbow! I also used the word purple to maintain some association with my businesses – Purple Swirl cafe and Purple Patchouli Spa & Boutique. But I have another spa in Riffa called On the Glow; this is a Medi Spa which specialises in more specific skin treatments such as LASER and Eczema treatments; it also has a tanning bed. I have also just launched a distribution company, Casa Dermardo which will distribute the products I’m importing, to other salons around the region. You’re obviously very much into your beauty. Where did the idea for a yogurt bar materialise from? When I was studying in LA, I would often
When I came back, there was nothing of that sort here and so you can imagine my disappointment. I approached Pink Berry who hadn’t opened here at the time. But I was shocked when they informed me that it would cost two million dollars as franchise fee. So I approached other companies but couldn’t find what I was looking for. At this point I decided to learn more about the industry in order to create my own brand. Today, I honestly believe that Purple Swirl has nailed the frozen yogurt industry as we are truly healthy. You can go to most other stores but you will end up eating sugar which defeats the point. I think the market in Bahrain is yet to understand how beneficial yogurt is. All our ingredients are FDA approved and made from fresh milk and fresh active
cultured yogurt. Whereas most yogurt bars use powdered milk and yogurt. We are also very honest on the calories. Purple Swirl yogurt cafes are now at four locations in Bahrain. Three more stores have been finalised and a few more in pipeline. What kind of challenges have you faced on the competition front? The market in Bahrain is very competitive. One of the factors that I dislike about our market is the culture of copying. Many people tend to copy concepts exactly, where I believe they can come up with their own ideas that can just be as original as Purple Swirl if they put their own thoughts into them! The political issues in Bahrain forced us to try new areas. However, this has proven to be a successful step for Purple Swirl. Our Amwaj and Riffa branches are doing very well. You’ve opened up a number of businesses and expanded very quickly. Has there ever been a point where you thought – I’m out of my depth here? Definitely; on the difficult days I I wish I can just walk away and focus on just being a “mom”. I have a two year old son who I can’t spend a lot of time with, on the very busy days; my days are quite hectic. If I don’t have any meetings then I’m either at the salon or warehouse, or checking out new flavours. I end up getting torn apart between work and family life. Fortunately, my mother is very supportive. But I know that if I didn’t have my businesses and stayed at home then I would personally feel useless. What are your future projects? Shortly, we will be completing our expansion plans in Bahrain with 8 branches for Purple Swirl in total. Our next main milestone is our franchise project. I have already secured deals in India and Abu Dhabi and we have many more requests. As for the beauty field, I think my next salon will be over in LA! I say that because I’m someone who truly values quality, and only likes to work with the most professional people in the field. Recruiting high calibre employees in Bahrain, and importing these kind of products would just be too expensive. People would never appreciate it if the final price is too high!
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 59
Beauty
Get Your Dream Look Bahrain Confidential talks to one of Bahrain’s favourite makeup artists - Sarah Al Bustani. Read on to find out what’s hot and what’s not this season!
Sarah Al Bustani
How long has it been since you have taken makeup professionally? I have always loved makeup. When I was 23, I portrayed my talent to my friends and family. I officially started as a freelancer only once I got my certificate from the Academy of Freelance makeup in September 2013. What beauty products can you not live without? My skin care kit from Bobbie Brown (Toner & face moisturiser), blusher and mascara. As a freelance makeup artist, what services do you provide? 1 I have giveaway gifts for my clients especially for brides (eg. Lipstick/skin care products). 2 I do Makeup for all occasions with home service. 3 Editorial & beauty makeup for magazines and fashion shows.
shape: It can make your eyes look tired and heavy. Embrace the natural eye shape. 3 Drawn-on eyebrows: Just don’t do it. Shaving and drawing on your eyebrows looks unnatural. Let the natural eyebrows grow back in full, and then pluck the undesirable stray hairs. 4 Orange face: Foundation will not make you look like you have a tan. Going with a darker shade than your natural skin tone can lead to an Oompa Loompa-like effect. If you want to get an artificial makeup tan, swipe some bronzer across your cheekbones, nose and forehead. It’s a far more natural look. With National Day and Christmas coming up soon, what beauty/ makeup trend do you recommend? With festive season right around the corner, the glamor Vamp look, using rich colours but keeping it simple in the same time is your best option. Classy and Chic!
Are there any trends that you are particularly interested in? I love the red lips trend; its always in and never changed and “The Natural” makeup look.
What do you think is the best everyday look? A no make up makeup look: A BB cream or tinted moisturiser with sprinkles of light pink blusher, a mascara and lip gloss.
What makeup faux pas have you noticed in Bahrain? Any advice to correct these? 1 Overdone makeup/Cakey look: A light cover-up is the best way to make sure you look your best. 2 Trying to make your eyes a different
Places you recommend to shop for beauty products? In Bahrain: Sephora, Kroylan, Mac, Vavavoom, Faces. I love to shop online for my beauty products as not everything is found here.
60 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
If you had a thousand dinars to spend beauty products, what would you buy? Kevyn Acoin highlighting powder Charlotte Tibury foundations & brushes Chanel loose powder Nars lipsticks Smashbox face primer YSL concealer & highlighter Laura marcier products Bobbie brown skincare Orogold 24 kerat gold muilti-vitamin moisturiser For more information, contact Sarah on Tel. +973 3655 5425 or email: bustanis@hotmail.com Follow her on Instagram: @sarahalbustani
At Beautytales ... You are the fairest of them all!
Tel: +973 1733 6667 / Fax: +973 1733 6900 Mobile: +973 3679 1910 Email: Beautytales.bh@gmail.com Instagram: Beautytalesbh Address: Flat 11 Bldg 2270 Road 2833 Block 228 Al Sayh-Busaiteen (opposite to King Hamad Hospital) Opening Times: 9:00 – 21:00 Seven Days a Week
Spa Review
Simplicity, Tranquility & Time
– Review of Reborn Spa at RAMEE GRAND HOTEL & SPA
I
t’s often easy to forget that the new Ramee Grand Hotel also has a luxury spa. The excitement for me is both in the welcome, the service and the variety of treatments all available within one hotel. Tucked into the 3rd Floor of a brand new facility over-looking both the harbour and Seef Mall lays the Reborn (Spa, Salon & Slimming Wellness Centre). It is not only calm, but also nestled next to an infinity pool and outside area to really
62 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
accentuate the nature and natural aspects of the well themed hotel. Even better after a treatment, their salon is readily available to get us working folks back on our way both relaxed and beautified. The Welcome: Upon arrival I was asked to sit, pick my (much needed) treatment and offered a cup of warm ginger tea by the receptionist. Although the spa offers all of the best including Aroma Therapy, Hot Stone Massage, to more medicinal treatments, I
by Zena WIlliams
choose a classic Moroccan Bath & Facial as I know that I will be back to try the rest! The Treatment: Please note that with the franticness of both life and work, we often do find it challenging to relax. Not at this spa. My masseuse made every effort to ensure my comfort and relaxation. I cozied right into my Reborn robe and slipped on my slippers to walk into a candle lit steamed to perfection room with a beautiful marble bed at the centre. That is when my journey began. Between steam sessions and oily massage goodness, I finally arrived to peace of mind and serenity after only 10 minutes and transported to a wonderful place. Embracing the steam and process of the bath was liberating and the different movements I was taken through was what felt like a weight being lifted off my shoulders. Through the cleansing treatment and facial, I found that my skin was both soft and clean. Soft, clean and relaxed, what more could I want? Well, lucky for me, I had a delightful meal waiting for me at Rasoi (Bahrain’s newest and innovative Indian Restaurant). So off I went both relaxed, clean as can be and very very impressed. To say the least I will be back with company, as Reborn offers not just single, but couple treatments. What a day!!!
Beauty Life in Pink
Bourjois celebrates the colour pink. There’s pink in all tones that makes up a beautiful palette of shades. The Souvenir de la Poudre de Riz de Java is definitely a collector. Made especially for ladies beauty, this powder is highly addictive. The Smokey Eyes Trio is Bourjois’s new ready-to- wear shade for the subtle and pink light make up. It’s the perfect decision for the delicate pale pink lit up eyes. Volume Glamour Max Definition Mascara is a maxi brush with 500 bristles for maximum volume and ultra precise definition. The fringe of lashes is perfectly defined, volumised and instantly coated.
BD7.6
BD6.67 BD7.9 Enticing. Uninhibited. Wild.
Beauty
Buzz
ite r ou v fa ’s er b em ec D beauty products
64 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Victoria Secret’s Night is a fragrance that is full of mystery and magic of the dark. Ever dreamt of a midnight in Paris. It’s all about the sparkles, the flowers that lead to the warm dark woods. That is what ‘Night’ is all about, a glamourous cocktail of luscious apple, black plum and velvet woods.
BD26 (50ml) BD34 (100ml)
Beauty Tom Ford Beauty
Atelier d’Orient by Tom Ford is a collection of four private blend fragrances inspired by the sublime beauty, sensuality and divine luxury of Asia. Let each of these fragrances tell you a mesmerising story. Be charmed!
Forever Bold, Forever Classic
Add More To Your bareMinerals Family
The new READY SPF 20 Foundation is a must have in you beauty kit. It is formulated using a unique solid mineral technology. The hydrating mineral complex can be seem throughout the day resulting in silky and continuously hydrated skin.
BD98/each
CHANEL No. 5 is the classic perfume that every women dreams of. The floral-aldehydic, it feels like a bouquet of flowers with n indefinable femininity. All you have to do is put a drop behind the ear, on the side of the elbow or on your wrist and enjoy the attention!
BD16.30 Available in 20 shades
BD40 Your Christmas Makeup Is Here!
Get your wildly crazy and irresistible makeup set from Guerlain for this season. The Dancing Météorites are crazy pearls that offer a legendary combination of six shades- beige and rosy beige to even out your skin, mauve to refresh, white to light up, gold to illuminate and pink for a healthy glow. Say hello to amazing illuminating powder. The Ultra Violet Top Coat is beauty to those nails. Apply directly to bare nails and it reveals the whiteness by giving your nails a slightly blue hue. That’s not all! Your nails become fluorescent under the party black light! Christmas is not complete without the La Petite Robe Noire. It brings the chic to the party. With the fruity notes enhancing the bouquet of floXwers and the timeless appeal of white amber is what you need for the festive season. Unless otherwise stated, products are available at leading cosmetic outlets.
BD27 BD13
BD41
BD13 December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 65
Advertorial
Unwind At Al Areen Palace & Spa If you’re not heading out of Bahrain this December, then head straight to Al Areen Palace & Spa – your home away from home.
T
his year Al Areen Palace & Spa had a complete makeover – upgrade of facilities, continuing refurbishments and newly opened restaurants – proving that the five star luxury hotel is still a valuable player in the hospitality industry. There was also an evident increase of guests who checked in. Living true to this year’s tagline, “Escape in Style”, Al Areen Palace & Spa has opened new dining concepts such as Saffron - Al Areen. This restaurant blends together the much loved Bahraini Cuisine with an exquisite Fusion of Khaleeji dishes in a grandiose set up. Another signature dining venue is “KEIZO”, the lagoon type restaurant which serves an elegant array of Japanese, Chinese & Thai dishes. This feast has already become a favourite among guests within a short period of time.
LPOD Waterpark Closes the Season on a High Note
“There will be a specially prepared Christmas Eve Dinner at Keizo restaurant, Christmas Brunch at Rimal Restaurant, an elaborate New Year’s Eve Gala Night at Nadwah Ballroom & a special New Year’s Day Lunch at Rimal Restaurant. Al Areen Palace & Spa has a whole list of new events and activities, new dining concepts plus the latest spa signature treatments lined up for 2014.” The third new concept to be opened soon is the Al Areen Food Village. This chic yet casual diner serves delicious Lebanese, American, Arabic and Italian cuisine; there are live grill stations too. Turning 3 elegant villas into an open dining, cafe and lounge area, the venue wishes to bring together the younger generation gourmands. Before the year ends, Al Areen Palace & Spa invites guests to a festive escape
and is also offering special packages on Villa, Dining & Spa retreats. There will be a specially prepared Christmas Eve Dinner at Keizo restaurant, Christmas Brunch at Rimal Restaurant, an elaborate New Year’s Eve Gala Night at Nadwah Ballroom, New Year’s eve dinner at all restaurants and a special New Year’s Day Lunch at Rimal Restaurant. Al Areen Palace & Spa has a whole list of new events and activities, new dining concepts plus the latest spa signature treatments lined up for 2014
LPOD Waterpark closed its regular season last month For more information, visit: (30th November). With a remarkable footfall of more than www.alareenpalace.com or call, 1,50,000 guests within a period of nine months. The season featured Tel. +973 1784 5000. exciting events and activities one after the other. This was a perfect platform for budding young and local Bahraini and expat artists. There were live musical bands, DJ acts, fashion shows, traditional music performances, anime convention and an arts festival that showcased local creativity including live painting, sand art making, caricatures henna art and a lot more. 2013 was also the first year when LPOD waterpark organised a successful BEACH BBQ Night Out, Family Night Out & Ladies Day out. Although the regular season has closed, the waterpark will open for December, January & February; watch out for exciting corporate events, special shows and activities. Entering its 7th year, LPOD waterpark is looking forward to another exciting year - 2014!
66 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
1722 7700
Diet Mealz
Have you been to Diet Mealz Yet?
Your one-stop diet centre is here to help you kick start your way to a healthier lifestyle.
Road 3830 Bldg 935 Block 338 Adliya, Kingdom of Bahrain Phone: +973 1722 7700 Email: infor@dietmealz.com Web: www.dietmealz.com
dietmealz @dietmealzbh dietmealz
Health
Green Tea
Green Tea is known to be a wonder tea. The holiday season and the winter makes it difficult for some to maintain their diet goals. Drinking green tea helps suppress appetite and increase metabolism. It also supports concentration levels and calms the mind. It’s exactly what you need for a stressful day. It also helps prevent sickness with its strong antiviral properties.
HEALTH
Kick off this winter with warm healthy herbal teas.
UPDATESmers Winter War
It’s that time of the year when the heat is turned up, and the snuggly blankets, warm sweaters and cozy socks come out of the closet. There are lots of varieties of teas and brews where each herb used is packed with health benefits. Herbal teas help with your hydration levels and helps cut out on the not so healthy stimulants. 68 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Dandelion Tea
If you are searching for those all round healers, look no further! This is a tea that you need to have in your cabinets when you just want to refresh. It is super bitter, so be warned. This tea helps in digestion of food you are about to have. It is a powerful liver cleanser and offers amazing support to the body after probably a very fun night! It is also said to be helpful for skin conditions like eczema and is great if you want to keep your blood sugar in check.
Health Chamomile Tea
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint screams winter! Its refreshing flavour has been recommended for relief from various problems like headaches, sinus problems, stomach upsets, bacterial infections and many more. Just the aroma of peppermint tea helps relieve symptoms of colds, which is why it makes a popular ingredient in aromatherapy.
Nothings sounds better than to unwind and relax with a cup of chamomile tea after a long cold day. Chamomile is said to have calming properties for every part of the body. People who suffer from poor digestive symptoms benefit greatly from a warm chamomile tea. It also helps with insomnia and anxiety. Its your perfect choice when you want to relax.
Tulsi Tea
An Ayurvedic herb that goes by the name of ‘Holy Basil’, tulsi is wonderful for decreasing stress and helping to adapt to changing circumstances. It supports many immune functions and supports the body including the lungs, respiratory organs; keeps blood sugar level in check and it also has immune-boosting antioxidants. Blend it with your chai and enjoy!
Ginger and Lemon Tea
If you have a cold, this is your solution. Ginger and lemon tea do wonders to your system. Lemon is a cleanser that balances your pH and drives the bacteria out of your system. It also helps in thinning the mucus so that it is easier for you to get rid of it. Due to its strong acidic smell, you can say hello to better breathing when you are sick. Ginger is a spicy anti-inflammatory. Putting both of this together in your tea along with some honey is just pure goodness in itself.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 69
Pe Pe fla fro
Health
Known as One Arab Vegan, Nada El Barshoumi is an avid vegan blogger, health and fitness enthusiast and an amateur chef. She is also the founder of the Arab Vegan Kitchen – a first of it’s kind catering venture in Bahrain offering delicious, empowering and nutrient packed plant-based food inspired by Middle Eastern flavours.
Make Smart Choices
U
pon hearing that I’m vegan – many people often assume that I’m also extremely healthy. While I definitely strive to achieve a balanced lifestyle – I want to point out that “vegan” isn’t necessarily synonymous with “healthy”. Not all vegetarian or vegan foods are good for you - in fact many can be filled with processed fillers, preservatives and heavily processed fats. The truth is, any diet can be unhealthy – vegan or not. It’s all about making smart and informed choices. After all, I could eat a diet consisting solely of Oreos, Fritos and Diet Coke and still call myself vegan. That said, it could be challenging for many people to maintain a balanced and nutritionally dense diet regardless of their preferred eating style. Without further ado, I give you my five top tips for staying healthy:
70 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
1 Incorporate a wide range of textures, colours and flavours in your diet, so you don’t get bored. I always try to “eat the rainbow” so to speak by including several different types of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, pulses and legumes. Along with changing your meals regularly, a bigger variety means you won’t get bored, and that you’ll reap the maximum amount of nutritional benefits from a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals and vital nutrients. 2 Balance your plate Eat mindfully and try to balance your plate by including complex carbohydrates (i.e. whole grains) vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats. Eating everything in moderation will also take away cravings for “bad” foods. 3 Eat seasonally, locally and organic when possible Fresh, locally harvested foods not only taste better, they’re higher in nutrients too. Eating locally is also easier on your
wallet – when produce is in season locally, the relative abundance of the crop makes it less expensive. When shopping for dried goods and pantry staples, opting for organic is best to avoid toxic pesticide residues. 4 Stay Active The tagline of my blog and my personal mantra is “Health, Fitness and Hummus!” – for me eating right and physical exercise go hand in hand. Staying active, whether it’s some yoga or a full-body workout at the gym motivates me to make better choices food wise. 5 Aim for consistency, not perfection There will always be the odd cookie or chocolate bar that finds its way to you – so don’t beat yourself up over it and focus on the big picture instead.
*For a delicious vegan recipe by One Arab Vegan, turn to page 115.
Health @ GDSC, Bahrain’s first iPhone and Android Medical Health Application.
American Southern Style Family Restaurant & Lounge Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center (GDSC) introduces the Kingdom’s first smartphone medical app. Download the free application NOW! Just put the QR codes of Android and Apple, and live a healthy vibrant life with GDSC.
Your wellness available at your fingertips! Why is Health @ GDSC unique? This app is a personalised health companion that gives frequent updates on your well-being, within seconds. Features: Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol (store, read and retrieve graphs) Weight Management & BMI (store, calculate and retrieve graphs)
Request Appointment Medicine Reminder Appointment Reminder GDSC News & Alerts About us Security Support
Serving Real American Food in The Middle East since 1997 We are located in Juffair...Come see us! Grand Mosque Gulf Hotel
Al Jazira Supermarket
NSA
Tel: 17725550 email: ricsbah@yahoo.com
Download our FREE app!
Call +973 17 239 239 Visit the Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center in Salmaniya – Block 329, Road 29, Building 99, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
Because we care!
Health
Is Your Baby Safe?
Tips that will help you protect your child against Neonatal Jaundice.
I
nfant jaundice is a common condition, particularly in babies born before 38 weeks gestation (preterm babies) and breastfed babies. It usually occurs because a baby’s liver isn’t mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream, leading to an excess.
Symptoms of Neonatal Jaundice
Signs of infant jaundice usually appear between the second and fourth day after birth and include yellowing of the skin and eyes. You’ll usually notice jaundice first in your baby’s face. If the condition progresses, you may notice the yellow colour in his or her eyes, chest, abdomen, arms and legs. Your baby may also make high-pitched cries, feed poorly and seem listless and sick. Your baby should be checked for jaundice when he or she is between three and seven days old, when bilirubin levels usually peak. Therefore, if your baby is discharged earlier than 72 hours following birth, you should have a follow-up appointment to check for jaundice within two days of discharge.
Risk factors of Neonatal Jaundice
Premature birth Bruising during birth. Sometimes babies are bruised during the delivery process, he or she may have a higher level of bilirubin from the breakdown of more red blood cells. Blood type. If mother O+ve and baby A, B or AB+ve or any one has Rh –ve can cause his or her blood cells to break down more quickly. Breast-feeding. Breast-fed babies have a higher risk of jaundice, particularly those who are having difficulty nursing. Dehydration and low intake of calories from
72 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
poor breast-feeding may contribute to the onset of jaundice.
Tests & Diagnosis
A physical exam: Your doctor will likely diagnose infant jaundice on the basis of your baby’s appearance. However, it’s not possible to judge the severity of jaundice based on appearance alone. A laboratory test: Your doctor will need to measure the level of bilirubin in your baby’s blood. The level of bilirubin (severity of jaundice) will determine the course of treatment. of a sample of your baby’s blood. A skin test with a device called a transcutaneous bilirubinometer, which measures the reflection of a special light shone through the skin. Your doctor may order additional blood tests or urine tests if there’s evidence that your baby’s jaundice is caused by an underlying disorder that needs to be treated.
Treatments & Drugs for Neonatal Jaundice
Mild infant jaundice often disappears on its
own within two or three weeks. If your baby has moderate or severe jaundice, he or she may need to stay longer in the newborn nursery or be readmitted to the hospital. Treatments to lower the level of bilirubin in your baby’s blood may include: Light therapy (phototherapy). Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Intravenous transfusion of immunoglobulin, a blood protein that can reduce levels of antibodies, may decrease jaundice and lessen the need for an exchange blood transfusion. Exchange blood transfusion. Rarely when severe jaundice doesn’t respond to other treatments, a baby may need an exchange transfusion of blood. The best prevention of infant jaundice is adequate feeding. Breast-fed infants should have eight to 12 feedings a day for the first several days of life. Formula-fed infants usually should have 1 to 2 ounces (about 30 to 60 milliliters) of formula every two to three hours for the first week. Like they say, prevention is better than cure!
For further information call, Tel. +973 1782 8282 or visit: ibnalnafees.com
Technology
Product Review by Jenny Thomas
X Mini MAX All right, so when it comes to music, volume and portability are a huge deal for me. If you can replace the sound of my phone to an even better and louder volume, consider them SOLD! When I received the X Mini MAX, I was not convinced if it would deliver the sound they say it does. Here is what I thought of the X Mini MAX in two categories.
Design iPhone 5s: Technology at the touch of finger
The iPhone 5s has amazing new features packed into a remarkably thin and light design. The phone is powered by the Apple-designed A7 64-bit chip and comes with an all-new 8 megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash. It also features Touch ID, a brand-new and innovative way to simply and securely unlock your phone with just the touch of a finger.
Bahrain Confidential brings you the latest tech updates.
It’s tiny and it just might fit into your pocket. Each of the speakers has its own built in audio cable, which makes it so much easier to switch between mono and stereo mode. The cables take a few minutes to figure out. There’s a main cable that branches out into two, one to spit between a USB and a jack and one to split between the two speakers. You can shrink the size of the speakers even more if you wish to. The ceramic tweeters help give a wide frequency that helps cover the high and low sounds.
This is a good thing because it provides a better clarity to a The new SIM Lock feature is song. available on the GALAXY Note 3, which It even can lock the device if not purchased comes in through authorised retailers. With this six different feature, the GALAXY Note 3 will only be colourscompatible with a SIM-card issued from a Purple is my mobile operator within the region identified. choice! This feature will soon be rolled out to the GALAXY Note 2, GALAXY S3, GALAXY S4 So, for design it’s an 8/10. and GALAXY S4 Mini. If you’ve bought your device from the UAE, don’t worry! Performance The regional SIM Lock feature is It you want stereo sound; this should be currently not available in the your choice. I was quite impressed with UAE. the sound. Though it is not anywhere close to a full size system, it is definitely impressive! The bass is not too deep, but it thumps enough to vibrate and dance on the surface (Yay WIN). It does get loud which is kind of incredible. All the rock and hip-hop fans won’t be disappointed. It can go on for 20 hours continuously, which is so good because I wouldn’t need to bother of charging them ever so often!
Samsung’s New SIM Lock: Tech Policing
So, for performance it’s an 8.5/10.
Samsung F500: Washing Machine with a twist
Indulge in some smart washing with the Samsung F500. The model boasts an integrated smart feature that identifies possible errors and communicates directly with smartphone devices to alert the user via an application called Smart Check. The F500 also uses Samsung’s Eco Bubble technology to effectively clean, using lower temperature water to reduce energy and unnecessary damage to clothing.
74 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
The X Mini MAX is good value for money. For a compact speaker, it does deliver impressive sound. If you are looking for portable speakers on a budget, this should be your choice. You know what they say, all good things come in small packages! The X-Mini is now available at Sharaf DG, Carrefour, Xtra & Home Electronics.
Technology
Behind the scenes ….
About Me Social Media Executive @ VIVA Bahrain
We use and interact with mobile apps and games every day, but have you ever thought who is behind the creation of them? With this in mind, I got on the task to interview a local app developer and a game developer to get to know the behind the scenes on the creation of their master pieces!
idea of developing an app. I didn’t know what I want and I didn’t know how to begin. Years later, I developed apps for others for money but never did my own. I didn’t know what to do. Until one day a friend complained needing a proper cinema app. That was when my personal project started.
Introducing Ali Almahdi Bahraini Mastermind behind ‘Bahrain Cinema’ app How did you get into mobile app development? Being a developer, I always developed desktop apps. But when I got my first smartphone the Sony Ericsson P800, I got the
What are the challenges you have faced? Designing the application interface. Developing the app isn’t hard since I’m a developer but designing an interface for a mobile screen isn’t easy. Another thing is Android got multiple versions and unlike iOS you expect everyone to be up to date. I have 20 per cent of my app users running Gingerbread. I need to test my app and make sure it runs on all with same look and feel.
inspiration, the video games of the 80’s. Back then, computer technology was so undeveloped and limited, that game makers had to deliver outstanding game play instead of breathtaking graphics. So I never let this dream go and once I was able to get my hands on the right tools and acquired the required skills I developed my game and chose the mobile platform.
Introducing Janos Filip Hungarian living in Bahrain since 2006. Game developer and mastermind of ‘Tapforss’ How did you get into mobile app development? My generation was the first to grow up with affordable personal computers and game consoles in our living rooms. As a member of this generation, I always dreamt of making my very own game one day and I had the best
get stay social informed
What are the challenges you have faced? Every possible challenge you can think of! Since this was my first game and first ever development on mobile platform, every aspect of the game was quite an undertaking. And if I would start talking about the challenges of creating artificial intelligence for the enemies deployed in the game; trust me, even all the pages in this magazine wouldn’t be enough to cover! :-] Your recommended resources to learn more about app development?
Mohammed Zainal
Your recommended resources to learn more about apps development? If you are into Android development read Google documentation. They are the best. You need patience and good reading skills but they cover everything. And if you are into iOS development, Apple documentation rocks. The easiest to read. However, you need good knowledge in Java for Android development and good knowledge in Objective C for iOS development.
ALI’S TOP 5 APPS 1 Tasker. makes your life way easier with automation. 2 DashClock widget and its plugins. Gives you a glance of whatever you want from your lock screen. 3 Dolphin Browser with its Jetpack plugin. Way faster browsing experience. 4 WakeLock Detector. A very useful app to find what’s draining your device battery. 5 Flyne. Probably the best news reader.
I think finding the right platform or framework for your project is more difficult than finding good resources. For example, if you want to make a game you are better off with a framework which supports at least both iOS and Android. There are even better ones with Windows Phone, Playstation, XBOX, PC, Mac and web support too. So basically you develop your game using one programming language, within one development environment and you can roll it out to all these different platforms. Imagine how much time and energy you can save. But that doesn’t really work for non-game apps where most probably you will have to go native and create it from scratch for each and every platform you wish to support. Without getting lost in the details, let me recommend Unity 3D as the best crossplatform game engine and Corona SDK as another great one. If you want to create a regular app I would recommend using the native environments, Objective-C for iOS and Java for Android. Powered by
Subscribe
Twitter: @VIVA_BH
Google +: +vivabahrain
Instagram: @VIVA_BH
Facebook: VIVA.Bahrain
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 75
Opinion
Energy Efficiency Programme
“We need to understand that per capita energy consumption in Bahrain is amongst one of the highest in the world, reaching 11,800 Kilowatt Hours in 2012 with a peak demand of over 2,900 Megawatt Hours. ”
T
he Kingdom of Bahrain is taking urgent steps in enhancing energy efficiency and is promoting the subject in all spheres of life. With this aim, the Energy Efficiency Implementation Programme (KEEP) was launched in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the implementation agreement was signed between the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank, in cooperation with the ministries of Electricity and Water, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs, Works and Housing. The Programme aims to provide technical
76 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
support and advisory services to the Government of Bahrain to address the challenge of curbing energy demand in the country over the next three years. The energy efficiency program is true indication of the genuine commitment of the government to values of sustainable development, environmental safety and green economy and is as per the action plan of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030. The energy efficiency programme was initiated as the country witness high energy consumption per capita in the region, which leaves great room for improving energy efficiency across different consuming sectors in the country. It is a new era whereby urgent attention
Eng. Rehan Ahmed
is given to utility efficiency programmes to combat with the rapid population growth, urbanization, commercialisation and enhancement of living standards. Utilities are being provided to the country’s residents based on international standards. Energy Efficiency Programmes are thus required to be planned and implemented to meet the challenging energy savings targets and to improve their performance. We need to understand that per capita energy consumption in Bahrain is amongst one of the highest in the world, reaching 11,800 Kilowatt Hours in 2012 with a peak demand of over 2,900 Megawatt Hours. Annual electricity demand has been growing at around 10 per cent in recent years due to low electricity tariffs that do not incentivize the efficient use of energy. It is expected that by 2020, energy demand will reach 19,706 Gigawatt Hours with a peak demand of 4,312 Megawatts. The Energy Efficiency Implementation Programme thus seeks to reduce inefficient energy consumption mainly in the buildings sector covering residential, commercial, and public buildings. While major efforts are being done by the Government, we as individuals and as responsible citizen of this country should be sharing in minimising energy consumption. Let us remind ourselves to do the following voluntarily to make Bahrain a more livable place for our future generations. Switching off all unwanted lights, switches and gadgets when not in use. Turning off computers if not in use. Stand by mode consumes energy. Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged. Use fans with ACs to attain more cooling. Having proper insulation in the room. Buy and use appliances based on the number of users/capacity. Small appliances use less energy. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting is more efficient as it use ten times less energy and last 50 times longer than incandescent lights. Replace old gadgets, like older refrigerators and freezers which use up to three times more electricity
*Head, Waste Disposal Unit, Supreme Council for the Environment, Bahrain (Email: rehan900@gmail.com)
PERSONAL
TRAINING Improve your overall fitness Reach & maintain a healthy weight
Learn new skills Find the right way to work out
13th Floor, Al Safir Tower, Juffair. Tel.: 17 813 815, 17 827 999 (ext 1318) E-mail: healthclub@alsafirhotel.com
BAHRAIN
For advertising and other queries, email: info@ArabianMagazines.com Or call, Tel. +973 1782 2363
Lana Peters, Osteopath DO. Bsc (Hons) Ost. Med. Osteopath in the Cranial-sacral field N.D. (Dip. in Naturapathy). Grad Dip (Animal Chiropractice) A.A.O.A. (Registered Osteopath). M.A.V.C.A
Relief from back pain, joint or muscle pain, sports injuries
+973 3919 7480 For a map of our location and to find out about osteopathy and how we can help you, visit our website:
www.backonthemove.com Email: lanadawnpeters@gmail.com
Lana advert.indd 1
08/04/2013 22:49
Travel
The Perfect Honeymoon by Famiya Abdul Razak
Lunch at Kleine Scheidegg
A month before my wretched exams, my husband decided to cheer me up with an after-exams treatSwitzerland. That was definitely a treat!
S
witzerland may sound cliché for a honeymoon destination, but after going there, I can say, it is definitely a cliché worth visiting. We did a seven-day trip, and covered Zermatt, Interlaken and Lucerne (in that order). We explored each of these places elaborately, as there was quite a bit to discover, in each. Zermatt is a town at the foot of Switzerland’s highest peaks, a very popular place to stay for many hikers at the Swiss Alps. You cannot skip this part of Switzerland. For us, this was the Holy Grail of Switzerland, comprising the gorgeous
Matterhorn. Believe it or not, this is a town where only electric cars and horses are allowed as means of transport to maintain clean air! Yes, you read that right. Night walks along the cozy chalets, bakeries, tiny shops, homely restaurants and the misty weatherRomantic? I think so! Matterhorn makes its peak the most photographed in the world. No surprises there tsk, tsk. All chocolate lovers, a heavy bonus here, this is the peak that appears on the cover of every Toblerone chocolate. We spent an entire day hiking near the Swiss Alps and the Matterhorn and Oh Boy! It was gorgeous! We saved up all our energy for that one-day. It was an amazing start to our weeklong trip.
On the way up Matterhorn
78 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
You may want to ditch the 4/5 star hotels in Zermatt and instead stay in one of their typical cosy wooden chalets. It only adds more to the Swiss-love-sickness. While wooing about Switzerland, before departing for the trip, one of the things that my husband shared which got me excited was that we would be going to a place where land is locked by rivers on either sidesInterlaken. Here is where you might want to go 4/5 stars. Interlaken is a pretty place. We treated ourselves with a hotel room that pampered us with a first class view of the snow-capped mountains; right from the moment we opened our eyes in the morning. I think the word ‘gorgeous’ is under rated. To do this place justice, you must go to Harder Kulm. It’s the happiest part of our trip. There is a funicular railway, which takes you from Interlaken all the way up to Harder Kulm, covering 1322m in just 8 tiny minutes! This place gives a portrait of the whole of Interlaken and the blue rivers on either side. Standing at the edge of the cliff, taking in the unreal picture down there, the spot did give me a strange high. Hub dubs had to literally drag me out of there. The next day, we prepared ourselves for the much awaited, much talked about, Jungfrau. Jungfraubahn railway takes you to the highest railway station in Europe-Jungfrau Railway Station, at 11332 ft. Reaching the top made me squeak like a little girl. We were welcomed by the Ice palace, which is entirely hewn from the longest glacier in Europe. Pleasing ice sculptures are spotted all over the palace, including my all time favourite-Ice age characters!!Now, that is cute. Here’s a word of advice-Do not wear a thin shrug and a tee. It was quite freezing at 3.7 degrees. I was too mesmerised that morning by the view to think right. Do you remember the tiny New Year cards you would have exchanged with your
Travel
At the Ice Palace, an ice sculpture
While hiking down from a lower point of Mount Titlis
friends when you were young in school with huge snow covered mountains that looked just too good to be true? There, that’s Jungfrau for you. On our way down from the Jungfrau, we stopped at the much under stated Kleine Scheidegg. It is beyond me as to how any tourist could visit Switzerland and not visit this spot. This, my friends, makes you want to lie there, all, and I mean ALL DAY! The greens, the happy yellow flowers, the snow capped mountains, the tiny railways, and the lake was gorgeous beyond comprehension. Any amount of movies made, pictures clicked simply cannot bring out the beauty this place really holds. We loved this place so much, that we decided to revisit this place the next day where we again spent a couple of hours, lunched there, laid down enjoying mother nature, dipped our feet in the lake and took a walk. How can you go to Switzerland and not go paragliding?? After a lot of thinking, litstening to all the “donts” and “avoid” from our parents, we finally decided to go for it. My husband chose a beautiful spot at Grindelwald, which gave us a breathtaking view of the glaciers, the mountains, and the endless beauty. Lucerne, on the other hand gave us a very European feel. If you plan to do another European country along with Switzerland, you have complete reign to skip this place. It does have Mount Titlis, which felt like a replica of the Jungfrau, although not as
entirely pretty (opinions can differ, of course). Now, no travelling experience is complete without that one element-Food!!! Being die-hard Italian-food fans, my husband and me pretty much took advantage of authentic Italian food at restaurants all over the place. For those of you who are wondering what Italian food has got to do with Switzerland, this place is divided into three lots-German, Italian, and French speaking citizens. Oh and if you are as faithful a chocolate lover aswe are, you should visit the traditional
Swiss chocolatier found all over the place. They have the best, melt-in-your mouth chocolates, Yum! The two mind portraits that I hold close to my heart are easily Matterhorn and Kleine Scheidegg. We used only trains as means of transport throughout the trips, including panaromic trains. So go on, get those hiking boots on. This is going to be a trip you are going love. You can thank us later!
At Kleine Scheidegg, truly a canvas spot
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 79
International
Qatar International Boat Show 2013
S
taged for the very first time, at Lusail Marina in Qatar, the Qatar International Boat Show (QIBS) 2013 was a grand success. Over 10,000 visitors came to see the luxury boats and yachts on display, 38 boats by more than 60 exhibitors. The boatshow also hosted the fastest composite Maxi Open Yacht ever to be built, the Overmarine Group’s Mangusta 165, which is 50 metres in length and has a top speed of 40 knots. QIBS also featured a Japanese submarine, luxury water sports equipment, fishing and diving stands, nautical spare parts and navigation equipment. There was also a collection of 50 Harley Davidson motorbikes and Porsches on display and a demonstration of flyboarding – a unique sport featuring a board that uses water jets powered by a jet
80 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
International
ski to propel its operator into the air, as high as 10 metres. Sponsors of QIBS included The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, under whose auspices the show was held; The Qatar Tourism Authority, who licensed the Show; Lusail Marina – the venue for QIBS; Mourjan Marinas IGY – a leading industry provider for marinas and management services; Qatar Marine Sports Federation; Qatar’s Ministry of the Interior Coastguards; Katara Hospitality – the official hospitality sponsor; The Ritz-Carlton, Doha – the official hotel; Ali Bin Ali – distributor of Ulysse Nardin – the official watch brand; Qatar Airways – the official carrier for the Show; Mannai Marine as Gold sponsor; BCC – the official freight forwarder; AIG – the official insurance company; ‘World of Yachts and Boats’ – the Show’s official magazine; ‘Sur La Terre’ – the Show’s lifestyle partner; Al Kass TV – the official media partner; Kulluna – a health and safety campaign put together by Hamad Medical Corporation and Conoco Philips; and QVision – the audio-visual partner. Plans for the next Qatar International Boat Show, which will be held in 2014, are already underway. With QIBS 2013 surpassing all expectations, we think that the ogranisers and management have really big shoes to fill!
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 81
Home Decor
Doğtaş
Kids Paradise
Sea set
Let Doğtaş design your child’s home, this festive season. Cool
Jamal Al Kooheji CEO and Managing Director, Dream Group
Y
ou know the feeling when you decorate your walls and change your furniture once in a while? it gives a whole different feel to your home; and it definitely leaves you with a huge smile on your face. Bring a smile to your child’s face, this fesative season. Transform your home into the best possible space where your child can enjoy, learn, develop and become the bright future of tomorrow. Make your home, heaven with this amazing new collection.
Speedo Smart
Available at Doğtaş Kidsland in Enma Mall, Riffa Tel. +973 7701 6600 / Fax: +973 1791 1098 / Mobile: +973 3605 8114. 82 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Doğtaş KidsLand Creating an imaginative environment for your child.
P.O. Box 70157 | Sitra | Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 7701 6600 | Fax: +973 1791 1098 | Mobile: +973 3605 8114 Location: Riffa and Enma Mall Website: www.dogtas.com
Society
Society
If you don’t spot a picture of yourself or your friends on our Society Pages, you can always check our online newsletter which is updated regularly. Visit www.FashionArabia.net
“The Exhibition of Korean Costumes” by the Ministry of Culture
The Exhibition of Korean Costumes by the Ministry of Culture was held at Bahrain National Theatre on 22nd October. HE Bangladesh Ambassador Mehdi, Meeji Kim, HE Joonha Yu and Shantida
HE Joonha Yu, wife of Indonesian Ambassador, Meeji Kim, Indonesian Ambassador
The models
AWA Media Dinner
The American Women Association (AWA) held their media dinner at Diplomat Radisson Blu on 22nd October.
Melissa Nazareth enjoying an entertaining dinner with American Women Association
84 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
ain’s National r h a B f o m o Day Kingd All the management and staff of C.G. Arabia WLL, the holding company of Arabian Magazines, takes this opportunity to congratulate His Majesty the King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa His Highness the Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa His Highness the Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the people of Bahrain. We pledge our continuing support to the King, his Government and people, and look forward to our contributing to the prosperity of the nation both now and in years ahead.
P O Box 26810, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, Tel. +973 1782 2388 Fax. +973 1772 1722 e-mail: info@ArabianMagazines.com www.ArabianMagazines.com
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Launch of Al Bander’s Friday Brunch
The launch of Al Bander’s Friday Brunch was held at Al Bander Hotel & Resort on 25th October. Lani, Ahmed and Leobel
Al Bander management and staff Joseph Manaois
Abdulla and Ahmed
Catherine and Leilanie
Opening of Japanese Restaurant, Imari
The opening of Imari was held at The Domain Hotel on 25th October.
Mohammed, Hussain, Volker Mandlowsky and Hameed
Georgina, Rebecca, Tom and Anushka
Irina and Alexander
Rita and Megan
Hanana and Wafa
Elmer and Leslie
Peter and Linda
Maike, Jumana and Bilyana
86 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Julia, Hilton and Carolina
Jennifer and Francoine
Rana, Rose, Nadia and Sarah
We Care Because
your Health Is our Responsibilty
Bahrain’s preferred private healthcare providers
To Book Appointmets or Request Consultation Please Contact 17 828 282 or 17 828 230
EMAIL: info@ibnalnafees.com WEBSITE: www.ibnalnafees.com FAX: 17 828 232 P.O. BOX 54533 Manama - Kingdom of Bahrain
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Caribbean Evening at Overlook Thai
Caribbean evening at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa on 29th October. Hassaan, Saufiane, Julia, Carolina, Mark and Ahmed
Loni, Patrice and Chelsea
Mark, Rebecca, Zena, Sara and Ahmed Julia, Carolina, Nick and Claudia
Savi, Tamara and Nga
Jen, Pie and Fatima
Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa Marathon Relay Sofitel team was placed 1st amongst the hotels category and placed 5th overall.
The winning Sofitel team with the proud Samy Boukhaled
88 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Lina, Yusra, Sareen and Zaher
Bahrain City Centre Electronics Campaign
Bahrain City Centre, the largest shopping, entertainment and lifestyle destination in the Kingdom, awarded Batoul Qaweqi with a grand prize 85 inch Samsung TV as part of its electronics campaign! The mall highlighted its expansive range of technology retailers throughout the month of October, including daily chances for shoppers to win a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. The event held on 13th November.
Batoul Qaweqi, Dipti Bhatia and Ahmad Fakhro
Halloween Weekend Goosebumps
Harvester’s Pub held their Halloween party on 31st October. Pascal Eggerstedt and Ehab
Cathy and Nina
Ehab and guests
Majeed and Shishi
Costumes just got a lot more fun!
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Official Media Launching and Opening of Keizo Al Areen The models
Far Eastern Cuisine with a Fashion Show by “Princesynch�, held on 6th November. Dr Essa Faqih, Advisor to the Owners and HE Li Chen, Ambassador of China to Bahrain were the honorary guests in the opening.
Sameera, Kenny, Tania, Khalid and Witchu
Annaliza, Donna, Frances and Cristina
Mohammed Al Hassan, HE Li Chen and Dr Essa Faqih
Mark and Suzie
Khalid and Joao
Mariam, Abdulrahman and Marwan
Bahrain Housing Conference & Exhibition
The Bahrain Housing Conference and Exhibition was held at Bahrain International Exhibition Centre on 5th November.
HE Bassim bin Yaqoob Al Hamar during the opening ceremony
HE Bassim bin Yaqoob Al Hamar visiting the stall
The exhibitors
90 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Opening Ceremony of the Career Expo
The opening ceremony of the career expo was held at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Conference on 29th October.
Opening ceremony by Abdul Redha Hubail
The Zain team had all the pretty ladies
YK Almoayyed had their own booth too
A career in Batelco sounds fun!
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Halloween at Bennigan Marie and Angie
Halloween at Bennigan’s was celebrated 31st October.
Team Bennigans
George, Talia and David
Anselm, Minerva, Cynthia and Jona
Abdul and Mariam
Arrival of Chelsea Pensioners
The arrival of the Chelsea Pensioners was held at The Harvesters, Crowne Plaza on 5th November.
Dena, Ebrahim Kooheji, Simon, Khalid Zayani, Barry, Linda, Albert, Mona and Priya
Launch of Vapiano’s Special
The launch of Vapiano’s special was held at Bahrain City Centre on 7th November. Donia and Sara
Joan and Jovi
92 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Tyrone, Junaid, Harlyn and Mutaz
Mutaz in action
Halloween Beach Party
Sofitel celebrated Halloween in a big way on 31st October.
Paul, Mikey, Kat, Naveen, Sherif and Joseph
Waked and Huda with Friends
Essa and Ahmed
Devilicow and Pillaqer
Bos and Mesho
Vanessa, Nataline and Mireille
Fatima and Yazer
Angelica, Caris and Kaja
Laura, Berty, Rajo and Kelly
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Elite Christmas Cake Mixing
The Elite Christmas Cake Mixing was held at Elite Resort and Spa on 21st October.
Yellena, Sarosh and Frigie with the chefs Jameela
Sarosh Saibara
Kate and Rebecca
Jude, Anurag and Glaiza
Rebecca and Ronald
Jayram, Anurag, Wilbur, Abhiram and Faith
Mövenpick’s “Another Fun Employee Party 2013!”
Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain celebrated the employees staff party on the 2nd November under a theme titled “Halloween” at Al Murjan Ballroom. 100 employees have attended this special event.
Fun employee party!
94 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
IGN Convention
The IGN Convention was held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre on the 18th and 19th October.
Kate, Mohammed and Joan
Saud and Sami
Jeff, Camelle and Jannelle
The Lifestyle Atlantis The Palm Promotion by Al Rashid Group
Al Rashid Group announced the winner (Amina Alhelali) of a couple ticket for a trip to Atlantis The Palm – Dubai. The announcement held on 18th November.
Saud Al Subhi selects the winner
Al Rashid officials with Saud Al Subhi
Zaffer
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Walk For A Cause
Gulf Diabetes Centre held a walkathon on 1st November at Amwaj.
Walking for a cause
Mariam, Noor and Zain
Turki and Khalid
Dana, Mashal, Eman and Aysha
Cathy, Melone, Ariana, Sara and Maria
Mohammed and Deena
Briham, Denise and Aysha
Thalassa Evening
Sofitel held their Thalassa evening on 23rd October.
Sami and Mousa
Cris, Antonine and Said
96 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Covi, Mike and Hassan
Jameel, Desak, Salwa, Wafa, Said and Zak
Basel and Laura
Enhance Your Natural Beauty In Seconds! Effortless Hair Extensions Provides A Quick And Easy Way To Add Body And Fullness To Your Hair in an instant.
Effortless Extensions Instantly gives you THE HAIR you wish you were born with! no clips
no glue
no tape
For FREE PRIVATE CONSULTATION by appointment call on, Tel. +973 1782 2388 or +973 3618 8122 Email: info@hairbynecca • Visit: www.hairbybecca.com
& no damage
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Harley-Davidson 2013 Open House
The Harley-Davidson 2013 Open House was held at the Harley-Davidson showroom on 26th October.
Nidhal, Navas and Nasser
Iqbal and Tareq Rafeeq, Jamsheer and Nasik
Indu and Kath
Rajilal and Saleh
Steve and Dawn
Bob and Kap
Gloss Think Pink Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Event
The Gloss Think Pink Annual Breast Cancer Event was held at Marriott Executive Apartment on 21st October. Dr Samia and Sara
Dina and Dunia
Zahra and Hana
Connie
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific held their event at the Capital Club on 28th October.
Sohail, Jassim, Tom, Walid Sherif, Yousif Al Rayan, Suhair Al Ryas and Mahmood
98 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Zainab and Fahad
Chocolate Rendez-Vous Come and treat your taste buds to a special chocolate desserts selection
PAUL Arabia
* Available for a limited period only
Bahrain City Centre, Seef Mall
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
American Mission Hospital Awards Ceremony
American Mission Hospital Awards Ceremony was held on Diplomat Radisson Blu on 31st October.
Platinum and Emerald sponsors
Gold sponsors
Silver and Hole sponsors
HE Thomas Krajeski, Bonnie and Dr George
Nick Cooksey and friends
100 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Amal, Abdul wahab Al Hawaj and Jawad Al Hawaj
NO ONE KNOWS YOUR DRIVING PASSION LIKE ALLIED
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
AMH 16th Annual Island Classic Charity Golf Tournament
AMH 16th Annual Island Charity Golf Tournament was held at the HM’s Private Golf Course from 24th-26th October.
A fun filled day for charity
Organiser Commitee Platinum sponsors
Boggi Milano Themed Cigar Night
Rebecca, Pierre and Mark
Boggi Milani Cigar Night was held at BICE Restaurant on 29th October.
Mariam, Insi, Pierre, Ahmed, Safa and Shereen Zena and Ahmed
Zena, Ahmed, Sara and Rebecca
102 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Ekram, Dalia and Insi
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
An Evening with Neil Razor Ruddock
The fun evening with Neil Razor Ruddock was held at the Diplomat Radisson Blu on 24th October.
Hen, Stuart, Nikki, John, Jonna and Andy
Steve, Kitty, Kamilla and Mark Viki, Rebecca and Tom
Elaine and Adrian
Franzcarr, Kenny and Eric
Neil Razor
Darren, Stephen and Alan
Perry, Tarquem and Sam
John and Sue
Exclusive Revealing of the New 911 Turbo S
The exclusive revealing of the new 911 Turbo S was held the Porsche Centre on 29th October. Mohammed Shirazi
Hussain Shirazi, Morgan, Mohammed Shirazi, Abbas Shirazi and Ahmed
Morgan , Mohammed Shirazi and Abbas Shirazi
Ahmed, Carolina, Nick, Firas and Ali
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 103
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Bizarre Halloween
Bizarre Halloween was celebrated at Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel on 31st October. Paul
Jelena and friends
Ksenia, Rajesh and Autouneta
DJ Mysterio and Mohammed
Jana and Candy
Wael and Ola
Euromotors Press Conference: Great Expectations
Euromotors held their press conference at the Land Rover Showroom on 27th October. Nickola and Ryan
Debbie, Anthony and Heather
Russ Dixon, Zayed Zayani and Robin Colgan
Wael and Ola
Rebecca, Robin, Nick and Carolina
Posing with the car
104 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Dena and Meher
www.backonthemove.com Email: lanadawnpeters@gmail.com
Lana advert.indd 1
08/04/2013 22:49
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Capital Club 4th Anniversary
Capital Club held their 4th Anniversary on 31st October. Stefan, Aline, Tim, Clare and Mark
Gloriant, Maggie, Sumaya and Josh Yetta, Jeff, Jack, Chaavin and Sylvia
Helen, Waleed, Mohammed and Vicky
Zaid, Tareq and Khalid
Bernol, Viola, Viebke, Andreas and Dieter
Richard, Carol and Alex
Murjan, Shahnaz, Jamal, Andrea, John and Yahya
Ahmed and Safa
Steve, Harold and Khalid Zayani
106 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Abdulrahman, Essa and Abdulla
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Land Rover Charity Event
Land Rover’s Charity Drive event was held at Bahrain International Circuit and Royal Golf Club on 31st October.
The Think Pink volunteers
Mark, Gareth, Rebecca and Zena (The excited Bahrain Confidential team) Volunteers with the Land Rover at BIC
Salman, Kamal and Ahmed
Pink Cadillac Afternoon Tea
Pink Cadillac Afternoon Tea was held at Capital Club on 29th October. Kim and Sarah
Andrea, John and Shahanaz
Margie, Beverly, Leanne, Karla, Margaret and Liz
Jackie and Fiona
Julie Sprakel and Tahina
Margie, Margaret, Hani, Beverly, Rina and Salina
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 107
Society Latest society photos at www.FashionArabia.net
Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa Grand Opening
The grand opening of Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa was held on 12th October. Faisal Salahuddin Ali Alireza and Salvatore Romano
Asha, Dr Hala, Ashis and Dheeptna
Paul Henson and Sue Henson
Mirza, Al Nasheet, Isa Hasami and Hamer
United Pinoy Photographers Bahrain’s “Shoot for a Cause”
A ‘Shoot for a Cause’ photo event for the benefit of the typhoon Yolanda victims in the Philippines was held at Prince Khalifa bin Salman Park on 15th November. The total amount of BD842.500 were collected.
‘Shoot for a Cause’ participants
Kenza Cocktail Party
Kenza held their cocktail party on 23rd October.
Mohammed, Hussain, Volker Mandlowsky and Hameed
Hani anad Lyn
Doreen and Liza
108 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Leng and Toots
Bilal and Charles
Ahmed and Zakaria
Abdulrahman, Hassan and Ali
Business Gourmet Dining at 37,000 ft! Turkish Airlines won the Skytrax Awards for the “World’s Best Economy Class On-board Catering”, in 2011 and “Best Business Class Catering”, in 2013. The airline has completely renewed its in-flight catering materials to further enhance customer satisfaction. New dishes have been created for all classes – Business, Comfort and Economy – by Turkish Do & Co, Turkish Airline’s catering partner. The new materials have a modern and elegant design, reflecting Turkish culture. Inspired by the Ottoman and Seljuq motifs, these new components have been designed according to new trends and are especially adapted to the special needs of onboard use. The new catering plan of Turkish Airlines was recently introduced, for the first time, on the Istanbul-New York sector, as a trial application. As of today, the new concept is being used on flights to New York, Guangzhou, Jakarta, Cape Town, Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo, Hong Kong, Washington DC, Seoul, Johannesburg, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Chicago, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Toronto, and Houston. The new service concept will be applied across the network of Turkish Airlines, in the next four months.
Zain Bahrain to Go Green Zain Bahrain is taking its interactive ‘Go Green’ initiative through the last mile with the announcement that its e-invoice service will be mandatory for all customers starting December, 2013. Customers who still want printed invoices mailed to them after the end of 2013 will be charged separately for the service. The telecoms brand has undertaken many initiatives to support environmental causes including Electronic Billing Service and Mobile Phone and e-Waste Recycling Campaign.
Hamdi Topçu, Chairman of the Board - Turkish Airlines and Dr Temel Kotil, CEO - Turkish Airlines gourmet dining, on board
Business
In Brief
Sheraton Bahrain: Making Dinners Memorable Sheraton Bahrain Hotel was one of the recipients of the prestigious award “The Most Memorable Dinner” from Chaine des Rotisseurs Bahrain Chapter this year. The award honours the best themed dinner that demonstrates the highest standards of excellence in food, service and overall hospitality. This year’s theme at Sheraton was based on BRICS – the emerging national economies including Brasil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Bahrain, to be The Regional Base of the British Telecom Company Minister of State for Telecommunications Affairs, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa received VIVA Bahrain’s CEO Alyan Al-Wateed accompanied by Director-General of International Telecommunication Marketing of British Telecom, Beatriz Butsana Sita and the accompanying delegation who visited the Bahrain. The meeting discussed opportunities of selecting the Kingdom to be the regional base of the British Telecom company to activate its IPEX services that offer voice calls services by the use of Internet Protocol (IP), with the provision of all facilities and investment advantages by the Kingdom to assist in making the company’s work successful. “The Most Memorable Dinner” award
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 109
Business Turkish Airlines Welcomes Bahrain Turkey’s share in the global tourism industry continues to rise as visitors from across the world flock to the country’s abundant tourist attractions. From January to September, this year, Turkey recorded an impressive 60 per cent increase in inbound passengers from Bahrain and a 32 per cent in crease in passenger traffic from Bahrain from January to October, compared to the same period in 2011. Turkish Airlines has been honoured this year as ‘Europe’s Best Airline’ for the third consecutive year at the Skytrax 2013
awards. To celebrate the accolade and highlight the airline’s European connectivity, Turkish Airlines has launched promotional fares from Bahrain offering attractive fares to 20 cities in Europe. At the Skytrax awards, Turkish Airlines was also awarded ‘Best Business Class Catering’, led by the innovative ‘Flying Chef Service’; business class travellers can experience culinary delights as Flying Chefs work alongside cabin crew to serve a weekly menu of the finest international and Turkish inspired cuisine. Turkish Airlines
is also promoting fun winter activities and an enriching holiday experiences as part of its upcoming ‘Winter in Turkey’ which highlights the country’s seasonal offering as a playground for exhilarating sports with over 20 skiing destinations, as well as the enriching cultural experiences in Istanbul and historical cities, delectable culinary delights and stunning natural scenery. To view the flight schedules and other details, please visit www.TurkishAirlines.com
Tamkeen Business Quiz Show Tamkeen and FinMark Communications held the Tamkeen Business Quiz Show last month. The participating teams were Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), Al Salam Bank and Gulf Finance House (GFH), Alba, Midal Cable, Al Amthal Group, Promethean, T’azur and Benefit, and Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF). The Grand Finale will be held on 10th December at Al A’ali Mall in the Seef District.
Gulf Eye Center Hosts Visiting Surgeon
Dr Ahmed Sallam
Gulf Eye Center is hosting Dr Ahmed Sallam, Consultant Opthalmic Surgeon at Gloucestershire Hospitals and Honorary Lecturer at University of Bristol in the UK. He specialises in retinal surgery and treatment of ocular inflammation. His consultation dates are 21st and 22nd December. To book appointments call on Tel. +973 1723 9171/ +973 3354 0976.
InterContinental Regency’s Accolade Michael Koth, General Manager of InterContinental Regency has been awarded as the “Highly Commended General Manager of the Year” at the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2013 which was held at Dubai.
Come, Be a City Walker! Bahrain City Centre’s ‘City Walkers’ programme has grown in numbers and popularity since its inception in 2010. The programme has over 2,000 registered members with more than 200 regulars and welcomes people from all nationalities and ages. It takes place three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9am to 10am and is completely free for residents. What’s more, walkers are led by a certified instructor who also gives advice on fitness. All participants also receive an exclusive ‘City Walkers’ T-Shirt after joining three sessions. Register at the Ground Floor Customer Service Desk
Bin Hindi Signs New KIA Showroom Project AA Bin Hindi Group has signed a key contract with Almoayyed Contracting for the construction of a new complex in Muharraq that will house a new Kia Motors showroom facility and Enaya, the group’s multi-brand after-sales service centre. Both facilities will have the latest equipments and offer excellent customer service, based on International standards. This project is expected to be completed and handed-over within nine months.
HE Sabine Taufmann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany with business leaders
German Business Network Reception A German Business Round Table hosted a business network reception in Elements Pool & Lounge at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain. The event was held under the patronage of HE Sabine Taufmann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany and sponsored by Siemens and RMA Middle East. Key decision makers from various companies were invited to further build relationships.
110 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Khalid Bin Hindi checking hand with Mathews and Loqman at the middle along with officials
The multi-award winning Arabian magazine
GulfInsider The Arabian Review
The Sixt Rent a Car App
Islamic Banking
World Islamic Banking Conference in Bahrain
Rent a car in 60 seconds! Sixt Rent a Car has introduced a smart app that will let you rent a car in just 60 seconds! The app is now available on Google Play for Android users and App store for Apple users. This upgraded version is now optimised for use with the new iOS 7 Apple operating system. You can enjoy a transparent booking process; the app not only guides the user through every step of the booking process but also guarantees that the customer always knows the current status of the booking. On completion of a booking, you will receive all the relevant information including the reservation number and an option for potential cancellation. During the rental period, the Sixt App offers customers access to information about returning the vehicle and the rental contract and even displays any existing vehicle damage. The Sixt App can now also be used in Arabic, Russian, Korean and Chinese. The Sixt App also offers customers an option to state a preferred bonus programme for the collection of miles or points. Users can now also enjoy the benefit of a discounted tariff when authorising a binding payment via smartphone. The iPhoneapp also features a remarkable additional function that allows customers to choose their preferred vehicle up to 30 minutes before collection. Sixt rent a car, a division under the Bin Hindi Group’s Bin Hindi Transport Co, in Bahrain has 4 outlets at the Bahrain International Airport, Exhibition road, Juffair & the Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel, at the Bahrain City Centre.
Issue 107
Bahrain
Real Estate Report
Egypt
Demoralized Tourist Industry
Interview with
H.E. Saeed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim Chairman of the Board – International Investment Bank
Bahrain BD2
KSA SR20
Kuwait KD1.75
Oman RO2
Qatar QR20
UAE DHS20
Complimentary Copy
CAR NEWS
Arabia’s most intelligent magazine … for Arabia’s most intelligent individuals
Gulf-Insider.com
December issue (#107)
on sale now! Only BD2 GulfInsider is bold, insightful and reaches GCC decision makers. Distribution includes: shop sales, home delivery to VIPs, 5 Star Hotel Concierge and Club lounges, First and Business Class lounges, private jet fleets, ARAMCO, and at exclusive events. Our exclusive subscriber database, one of the most valuable databases of VIPs in the world, and includes leaders in business and government including CEOs and senior executives, government ministers, ambassadors, and the region’s high spending consumers. GulfInsider exclusive interviews have included: Sir Richard Branson (entrepreneur), Christine Lagarde (head of the IMF), James Wolfensohn (former president, the World Bank), Mary Robinson (UN Commissioner for Human Rights) … and many more!
read GulfInsider online - visit
www.gulf-insider.com
Cars
The All-New BMW X5
The powerful engine is another upgrade over the previous X5 models; the SUV is fitted with the V8 petrol engine which pumps out 450 bhp – that’s 10 percent more power.
B
MW has launched its third generation X5 in Bahrain; sportier, more powerful and more spacious than its predecessors. Sturdy and stylish, the all-new X5 has BMW’s hall mark characteristics like the twin circular headlamps and kidney grilles and at the same time offers a host of new features like the touch sensitive iDrive controller; you don’t have to scroll for the letters anymore; instead you can just write them on the surface of the controller. The powerful engine is another upgrade over the previous X5 models; the SUV is fitted with the V8 petrol engine which pumps out 450 bhp – that’s 10 percent more power. In addition, for the first time, the X5 will be available with a choice of new suspension packages. These include the Adaptive Suspension Comfort, Dynamic, Professional
112 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
and Adaptive M Suspension, all of which provide further enhanced ride comfort. Customers keen to make the configuration of the exterior and interior a little more personalised, can for the first time, order the new BMW X5 with Pure Experience and Pure Excellence design packages, in addition to the M Sport package. The exterior and interior content of these two design packages can be ordered separately, and they can be combined with each other with standard equipment or the M Sport package. The interior is spacious and comfortable offering a newly raised seating position thanks to the model’s 3.2 cm extended wheel base; an optional third row of seats turns the SUV into a seven-seater. When it comes to storage, the boot can now hold 650 – 1,870 litres, a noticeable increase on its predecessor’s capacity. BMW Group’s commitment to reducing
fuel consumption and emissions is evident through this new model which offers weight minimisation features, optimised air guidance, enhanced engine technology and the standard-fitted – and extremely efficient – eight-speed automatic gearbox with additional BMW Efficient Dynamics technology; Auto Start Stop function, ECO PRO mode including coasting function and Proactive Driving Assistant. The BMW X5 has been the absolute market leader in the Sports Activity Vehicle segment, and one of BMW’s best-selling model series accounting for almost a third of all BMW models sold globally. The SUV is available in a new Sparkling Brown colour option
For your test drive visit the showroom in Sitra.
Pets
Home! Looking For A BSPCA Animals
Snow Chickpea
Grumps
If only animals could talk, you’d be hearing their sad, pitiful stories. But since they can’t, we are giving these adorable creatures a voice. One way or another, they have been hurt and abused in ways you would not imagine a human doing to another creature, and yet the fact remains that these animals end up abandoned and left for dead all over the Kingdom. If you’re thinking of buying a pet, please don’t - instead, adopt one today. Buttercup
Rooney
Albert
Jake
Smokie
Lilian
Jimmy
Joy Kittens
Interested in Adopting?
Visit the BSPCA in Animal Welfare Centre in Askar, see www.bspca.org for directions. Open for adoption viewing Sunday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm and Friday and Saturday, 9am to 1pm. Tel. +973 1759 1231.
Tony The Dogfather
Interested in Adopting?
Call Tony ‘The Dogfather’ Waters on Tel. +973 3962 9889 or visit www.thedogfatherbahrain.com
Do you have animal concerns? Need a vet? Call Animal Care Clinic in Hamala, Tel. +973 1761 2459 or Nonie Coutts, Tel. +973 1724 5515.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 113
Gastro
Rasoi
How long have you been with Rasoi I have been with Rasoi from the start and therefore know the uniqueness that this restaurant offers. When developing the restaurant’s theme we really had to understand the market to which we serve. Imagine a restaurant that goes above and beyond to service clients and creates that unique experience for individual clientele according to their taste. We know that everyone has a certain level and standard but we meet that and try and go further than one expects when it comes to the Indian cuisine. By the way, if a client wishes to have something that is not on the menu, and if we have the ingredients, we will prepare it to the highest standard.
114 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Zena Williams interviews Chef Subir at Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa’s newly opened Indian Restaurant.
What ingredients do you like working with? Why? Indian spices, and of course the basic ingredients of fresh vegetables like onions and tomatoes that compliment each dish. We also infuse spices in such a way to bring the best out of the meats. Also please know that all of our masalas are home made. You will not find food that we have brought from the outside, everything is freshly prepared. What’s special for New Years, at Rasoi? We have delicious platters that consist of different fishes, seafoods and meat. Lobster is the main show, but we do provide other types of meat like lamb and delicious duck recipes.
We pride ourselves in the flavours of India. For dessert, do not doubt that there will be Indian favourites like gulab jamun … you will have to come see for the rest. ☺ Your view of the F&B sector in Bahrain? Anything that you’d like to change about it? This is my first time working and living in Bahrain. My previous kitchen was in Geneva, Switzerland, where I had great experiences preparing foods from around the world. From what I have experienced in Bahrain so far, there are a lot of similar spices … I guess your question is; is there anything that I would like to change? Well let’s start with the service provided. Our staff is highly educated in the foods that they take to the tables and always try and get an understanding of what the client wants from spice levels to family style service or individual plating. This kind of organisation brings quality; with quality we can maintain a loyal customer base and great experience. Furthermore, we are providing business lunches adapted to the kind of business people who do not have much time to dine but would like to samples our made to order Indian delights. We are always searching for ways to develop new concepts and bring the best to Bahrain. Food wastage is rampant in the Kingdom. Your take on this? We make food to order and are extremely organised in our kitchen as anyone can see (we have an open kitchen to view). If we have left over food, we challenge ourselves to create something new with the given ingredients. What is the future vision of Rasoi? We would like to serve more banquets, and observe greater growth. With growth we can also grow as chefs. Also, I want the people to enjoy our delicious Indian creations that are not only fresh but also unique. We will continue to evolve and provide the best services. See you at Rasoi, for lunch or for dinner, we welcome everyone to be our guests in fine dining and luxury Indian cuisine!!
Gastro
Leewan Al Khor A celebration of authentic Khaleeji cuisine. Sample delicious Arabic cuisine at Leewan Al Khor, one of the best Khaleeji fine dining restaurants in the Kingdom. In addition to good food, guests are also offered an ambience that allows for some unwinding and relaxing. Dedicated staff offers exceptional service which will leave anyone who comes here once, wanting for more. Great food, beautiful surroundings and fantastic service – that’s Leewan Al Khor for you! Dine at Leewan Al Khor, at The Lagoon, Amwaj Islands. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1601 0666.
Delicious buffet at Leewan Al Khor
Super Chunky Lentil And Zucchini Soup by One Arab Vegan
With the colder weather right around the corner, I wanted to share one of my absolute favourite “winter warmer” recipes. Choc full of fresh seasonal vegetables from the farmers market, hearty lentils and fragrant herbs – it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser any time of year. Serves 4
1 red onion, diced 1 tsp coconut oil (or cooking spray, or even some vegetable stock if you want this recipe to be oil-free) 2 average sized cloves of garlic, finely grated/crushed 1 courgette, cut into chunks 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar 4 small-medium tomatoes, skinned 1 tbsp pure tomato paste 1 cup red lentils 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock (I use the low sodium Kallo organic brand) 1-2 cups water 1 tsp dried thyme, oregano, fresh parsley,
basil and/or whatever herbs you have on hand sea salt and pepper to taste 1 Start by sweating the onions and garlic in a little oil or stock, until translucent. Add the zucchini and balsamic vinegar then cook for about 10 minutes or so until soft. Feel free to add additional stock if you notice the pot getting dry. 2 At this point skin your tomatoes by dropping them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes, then peeling. If you’ve never done this before – beware. It’s awesome. They come right off! Who knew? 3 Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, herbs
and remaining vegetable stock and bring and stir through before adding the lentils. 4 Bring to the boil and add additional water as needed (I added about 1.5 cups), then cover and simmer until lentils are just about done – they should retain their shape so keep a watchful eye to make sure things don’t get too mushy. 5 Season to taste with salt and pepper, garnish with a smattering of fresh herbs and serve piping hot. *For more information you can visit: www.onearabvegan.com or follow Nada @onearabvegan!
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 115
Gastro
Christmas Special At Cucina Italiana
The festive season is one of the most joyful times of the year and Cucina Italiana is going all out to celebrate. Experience authentic Italian cooking and get a taste of the Christmas spirit. The entire venue will be revamped with decorations in a cozy, warm, Christmas atmosphere. Christmas Meal Enjoy this festive three-course meal with your family for only BD18++ per person from 16th December to 6th January. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1700 1317 or email: marketing@bflc.com.bh Other Promotions & Offers Lunch Deal: Order one starter, main course and softdrink. BD6 net. Sunday to Thursday 12pm to 3pm Buy 1 Pizza and get 1 Focaccia Pizza FREE! Sunday
PAUL Bakery Des fêtes parfaites! PAUL, Maison de qualité since 1889, surprises us once again this festive season with its creations that are as lovely to look at as they are delicious to savour. Special breads such as the Orange & Chestnuts or 6 Cereals & Figs will perfectly accompany the most refined of your dishes for the festive occasions. The assortment of bûches such as the traditional “Tout Chocolat”, or the sweet and exotic “Framboise Pistachio” - combination of raspberry mousse and pistachio mousse on plain genoise - or the “Divane” - a lovely mélange of vanilla mousse and cherries mousse on chocolate genoise - warms our gaze and all just waiting to be tasted! “Igloo” cake twinkles like frost and brings a wintry feel to your dinner while Santa’s cake will keep the children amused. And what more than the sweet attention of flavoured mini macaroons, a delight to enjoy whenever the whim takes you. The piece of resistance, however, has to be the turkey, in PAUL’s pure Gallic style. Done in either the traditional or the oriental way, whichever meal you opt for includes your choice of accompaniments and gravy sauces. Remember to place your orders 48 hours in advance at your nearest PAUL restaurant. At PAUL everything is ready for the perfect feast! Visit PAUL Bakery in Seef Mall and Bahrain City Centre.
116 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
to Thursday. 12pm to 3pm Cooking Classes: BD10 net. Two dishes and complimentary drink. Italian Master Chef Grand Finals It’s time to find out which of the four remaining Italian Master Chef hopefuls will emerge above all the rest. Watch out for Cucina’s “Italian Master Chef” Grand Finals on 18th December from 5.30pm onwards. Each grand finalist will strive to deliver a three-course meal in less than 90 minutes The winner will receive a coveted Winner’s Apron, trophy, certificate, 50 per cent discount in Cucina Italiana for 6 months, free session for the cooking class for 6 months, as well as a host of other prizes. Here is the catch! One of the winning dishes will be featured in Cucina’s upcoming 2014 menu.
Gastro Gingerbread house at Sheraton
Elite Resort & Hotel
Sheraton Bahrain Rock Lobster Promotion at Soie Restaurant from 1st to 31st December, 2013. Sizzling Lobster
instantly tossed in high flame with crushed black pepper sauce accompanied with egg fried rice BD12.5*. Spicy Szechwan Lobster morsel of gulf rock lobster cooked with chef special szechwan sauce served with garlic fried rice BD15.5*. Stir Fried Lobster with broccoli, shitake mushroom, spring onion, dry red chili and sliced ginger served with fried rice BD15.5*. Cantonese Style Grilled Rock Lobster with chef’s secret exotic spices served with fried rice BD18.5*.
*Prices are in Bahraini Dinars and subject to 15 per cent service charge and 5 per cent government levy Festive Treats Special Christmas Eve dinner buffet at Al Safir Restaurant from 7.30pm to 11.30pm for just 12.5* for adults. Children from four to twelve years get 50 per cent discount and below 4 years eat for free. Christmas day lunch at Al Safir Restaurant for just BD16* for adults and BD6* for children. Christmas day dinner at Al Safir Restaurant from 7.30pm to 11.30pm. BD12.5* for adults, children from four to twelve years get 50 per cent discount and below four years eat for free. New Year’s Eve dinner is priced at BD18*
Christmas Activities Brunch at the Poolside
on 25th December from 12.30pm onwards. BD15 net per adult and BD5 (below six years old).
Turkey at Sheraton
for adults and BD8* for children. New Year’s day lunch will be served at Al Safir Restaurant from 12.30pm to 3.30pm and priced at BD13.9* for adults, children from four to twelve years get 50 per cent discount and below four years eat for free. *Prices are in Bahraini Dinars and subject to 15 per cent service charge and 5 per cent government levy For bookings call, Tel. +973 1753 3533.
Elite Crystal Hotel Christmas Activities Rock & Roll Kid’s Fiesta at La Cascada
on 7th December, Saturday from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. BD3 net for kids and BD7 net for adult accompanied with kids. New Year Activities Couples dinner at La Cascada. BD25 per couple inclusive of buffet and soft beverages. 31st December. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1736 0360.
New Year Activities Buffet dinner at La Brasserie. BD25
per couple, inclusive of buffet and soft beverages. 31st December. Arabic Night at Noor Tent with traditional Arabic buffet. BD40 per person. 31st December. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1731 3333.
Elite Grande Hotel Christmas Activities Candle Light Dinner at Julios Coffee Shop on Tuesday, 24th December. BD25 per couple. Christmas Brunch at H2O, Poolside on 25th December from 10.30am to 2.30pm. BD6.9++ per person. New Year Activities Candle Light Dinner at Julios Coffee Shop on 31st December. BD25 net per couple. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1756 5888.
Please be aware that timings and offers are likely to change. It is advised to call up in advance.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 117
Gastro
Elite Seef Residence & Hotel
Christmas Activities Christmas Eve Dinner on 24th December from 7pm to 12 midnight at Oasis, Poolside. 4 course set menu with unlimited sparkling wine. BD25 net per couple (2 packs). BD15 net per person (1 pack). Children as per consumption. Special Christmas Brunch Menu on 25th December from 12 noon to 4pm at Oasis, Poolside. BD25 net per couple with unlimited House wine. BD15 net per person (1 pack) with unlimited House wine. Children above eight years BD10 net (1 pack). For bookings call, Tel. +973 1758 3388. Christmas Goodies at Elite Turkey Orders Served with rice, meat and nuts stuffing, cranberry sauce, new potatoes or mashed potatoes and spring vegetables. With a complimentary season offering of your choice. Prices as below: • ½ kilo plumcake or one Christmas pudding. BD45.5 kg good for 10 pax. • ½ kilo plumcake or two Christmas puddings. BD55.7kg good for 15 pax. Yule Log - Vanilla/Chocolate. BD8 per log. Christmas Pudding 250gm. BD3 per pudding Christmas Plumcake - 1kg BD 7.5, 2kg BD14, 3kg BD20 Carrot cake - 750g. BD5 per cake Mincemeat (Nutmeat) pie 250g. BD3.5 Gingerbread Men - 6 pieces of 20g each. BD2. Christmas Hamper. BD15 per Hamper • 1kg plum cake • 1 Christmas pudding • 1 Mincemeat (Nutmeat) Pie • 6 pcs of Gingerbread Men • 1 Carrot cake
Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa Christmas Eve Dinner at Saraya on 24th December from 7pm to 10.30pm. BD22 per person which includes dinner buffet and soft drinks. Sea Food Delights at La Mer on 24th December from 7pm to 11pm. BD32 per person. Christmas Day Brunch with live entertainment from the resident band ‘Christian and Antonina’. Brunch starts from 12.30pm to 4pm and is spread over The Wok, Saraya and Fiamma and is priced at BD38 per person and includes buffet and free flow of house beverages. Children between six to twelve years old will be charged BD19 per child while children below the age of six years old can enjoy the brunch free.
118 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Time: 7pm to 10.30pm Price: BD24++ for 3-course set menu Winter Delicacies in T-Spoon Date: Throughout December Time: 9am to 11pm on week days; 9am to 12am on weekends
Enjoy the freshest five-course seafood set menu with house beverages on 31st December from 7.30pm onwards. BD55 per person. Celebrate New Year at Tapas Restaurant and Bar on 31st December from 8pm to 2am. Priced at BD25. Enjoy the Lebanese twist at Pashawat on 31st December from 8pm to. Priced at BD55 per person for a set menu with selected house beverages and BD45 per person for a set menu including soft drinks. All you can eat New Year brunch at Saraya on 1st January from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. BD24 per person which includes soft drinks and a selection of international dishes from the hot and cold stations. Macaron’s Festive December Special Order your Christmas turkey, including condiments and accompaniments. Please note that large orders require a three day notice period. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1600 0222.
Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre Festive Family Brunch Venue: Baharat, Kempinski Grand Hotel Bahrain City Centre Date: Every Friday (6th, 13th and 20th December) Time: 12.30pm to 4pm Price: BD28++ inclusive of select beverages; BD19++ inclusive of soft drinks; children below one to six years eat free, children seven to twelve years eat half price Santa’s Culinary World Venue: Saveur, Kempinski Grand Hotel Bahrain City Centre Date: Every Saturday (7th, 14th and 21st December) Time: 3pm to 6pm Price: BD8++ for children under twelve years, BD13++ for adults, free for children under three years; inclusive of soft beverages Christmas Menu at Saveur Date: Until 25th December
New Year’s Eve at Baharat Date: 31st December Time: 8pm to 1am Price: BD48++ inclusive of unlimited selected beverages; BD34++ exclusive of beverages New Year’s Eve Dinner at Saveur Date: 31st December Time: 8.30pm to 1am Price: BD28++ inclusive of one soft drink, a la carte depending on selection New Year’s Breakfast at Saveur & Baharat Date: 1st January, 2014 Time: 8am to 4pm Price: BD15++ Christmas Turkey Boxes Venue: Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre Date: 13th to 31st December for pick-up only Time: Reserve from 29th November; pick-up between 13th and 31st December Price: Ten to twelve people for BD70++/13 to 17 people for BD95 ++/18 to 22 people for BD130 ++ Kempinski Cooking Classes Date: 11th December Time: 3pm to 6pm Price: BD25++ per person per class Express Lunch at Saveur Date: Sunday to Thursday Time: 12.30pm to 3.30pm Price: BD10 Net inclusive of one soft drink For bookings call, Tel. +973 1717 1441.
Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain
Christmas inspired advent brunches on 6th, 13th and 20th December, including traditional Christmas delicacies and refreshing drinks priced at BD24++ per person. Christmas Brunch on the 25th December, priced at BD32.3++ per person at the Gallery Lounge, Silk’s restaurant and Flamingo Bar or at the Murjan ballroom only at BD29++ per person. Discover Asia Buffet - Christmas buffet on 24th December priced at BD19++ including all the drinks. First festive family day including Latino extravaganza show on 1st January with a delicious buffet priced at BD19++.
Please be aware that timings and offers are likely to change. It is advised to call up in advance.
Gastro New Year Party including Latino extravaganza show. Tickets priced at BD69++ per person at the Gallery and at BD59++ per person at the Flamingo Bar and Silk’s restaurant. All packages include New Year Gala buffet and festive unlimited drinks. The buffet opens at 8pm until 11.30pm and the first show start at 9.30pm. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1746 0000.
Diplomat Radisson Blu Enjoy a 5-course Christmas Eve Dinner on 24th December for BD25 net per person. Special discount for Groups & NSA Enjoy Christmas Day Brunch on 25th December at 12.30pm. BD25 net per person. Kids between six and 13 get 50 per cent discount and kids under six can dine free. Friday Brunch & Boxing Day Celebration on 27th December. BD24 net per person. Great Gatsby-inspired New Year’s Eve Party on 31st December. BD65 net per person including dinner buffet and selected beverages. For bookings call, Tel. +973 3994 5208.
The Domain Bahrain Afternoon Tea Feast on Christmas goodies like Yule Log, Gingerbread, Christmas Stollen and all trimmings prepared by resident Chef. Wash these down with aromatic tea. BD8.5 24th December Enjoy Spanish wines and superior malts paired with Basque Pintxos (tapas), at Tsoko. BD48 5-course Izakaya Style dinner complimented with the sommelier’s private selection of beverages. At Imari restaurant. Entertainment by Imari’s resident DJ. BD48. Christmas Eve 3 or 4 course dinner at Level 34. From BD27 onwards. 25th December Christmas Brunch at Level 34. The Finest Choice of Christmas favourites complimented by a Turkey Carving Station, the best views in town and the sommelier’s favourite selection. BD35. Enjoy Spanish wines and superior malts paired with Basque Pintxos (tapas), at Tsoko. BD48 5-course Izakaya Style dinner complimented with the sommelier’s private selection of beverages. At Imari restaurant. Entertainment by Imari’s resident DJ. BD48. 31st December 8-course Kaiseki Menu including a selection of premier Japanese and international spirits. At Imari restaurant. BD78. Izakaya style free-flow of Imari’s signature dishes of Sushi, Sashimi and Robatayaki, complimented with a selection of house beverages. At Imari lounge. BD70. Book a table for 10 with 2 bottles of bubbly and other beverages – BD598. New Year Black-Tie Dinner & Dance at Level 34. A 6-Course menu, including the sommelier’s finest selection of wines as well as a glass of sparkling wine. BD75. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1600 0222.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa
InterContinental Regency Bahrain
“Le Cirque du Nouvel An” Al Noor Ballroom on 31st December. BD115 net. Festive Buffet at La Med on 24th December. BD29++ per person. Festive menu at Nirvana on 24th December. BD28++ per person. Eclectic four course menu at Plums on 24th December. BD38++ per person. Natale at Primavera - Festive four course menu with Sgroppino upon arrival on 24th December. BD35++ per person. Christmas Day Brunch Buffet in the Grand Foyer from 12.30pm to 4.30pm. BD35++ per person. Turkey to go. BD80++ for 7/8kg and BD100++– 9/10kg All prices are subject to 15 per cent service charge and 5 per cent government levy.
Christmas Bubbly Brunch on 25th December with a 9-course meal at Legendz Steakhouse from 11.30am to 3pm. BD40 net. Christmas Corporate Set Menu from at Medzo & Legendz Steakhouse from 1st to 31st December. Prior reservations compulsory. Starting from BD25 net. Christmas Evening Celebration with 5-course meal at Legendz Steakhouse. BD42.5 net. Christmas Set Menu on 24th and 25th December with a 5-course meal at Medzo. BD26 net. Bubbly Christmas Dinner on 24th & 25th December (inclusive of house beverage) at Selections Restaurant. BD30 net. Enjoy our New Year’s Eve Dinner at Medzo & Legendz Steakhouse starting from BD30 net for dinner only; starting from BD50 net for dinner and after party with unlimited beverages in Elements, Noor and Downtown. Special Dinner Buffet at Selections. BD30 net. Order for snacks from Downtown Bar. Order by the dozen. Prices start from BD6.5++ Turkey to Go! Order your Christmas Turkey from 15th to 25th December from Noor Lounge. Prices start from BD10 per kg.
For bookings call, Tel. +973 1758 6499.
Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa
Turkey-to-Go at Tea Garden from 20th to 25th December. Special Christmas Eve menu at Lemon Tree on 24th December. Special holiday buffet at BD21 net including select house beverage. Special Christmas Eve menu at Rialto on 24th December. Special holiday buffet at BD21 net including select house beverage. Special Christmas Day Family Brunch menu at Lemon Tree on 25th December. Special holiday buffet at BD35 net for adults and BD10 for kids. Special New Year Day brunch at the Lemon Tree on 1st January. BD18++ Special New Year Eve Celebrations with the theme as ‘Time Travelling’ – the 50’s to 2014 on 31st December. Lemon TreeInternational cuisine celebrates the 50’s (for BD50 net), Rialto-Italian cuisine transforms into the 60’s (for BD60 net), Rasoi-Indian cuisine takes you back to the 70’s (for BD70 net), party the night away 80’s style at our steakhouse Ibrida-Super Supper Club (for BD80 net). All Prices for outlets include a set 5-course set menu, live entertainment, cotillions, unlimited select house beverages and access to Ibrida for the countdown & festivity with unlimited select house beverage. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1711 1999.
Bushido
For bookings call, Tel. +973 1727 7777.
Trader Vic’s Seventies New Year’s Eve Dinner with beverages on 31st December from 7.30pm onwards. BD85 exclusive. Dress Code – Seventies. Unlimited drinks included in ticket price. Christmas Lunch Enjly sumptuous roast lunch on 25th December, served family sytle. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1758 3555.
Crowne Plaza
Japanese New Year’s Eve Dining on 31st December from 7pm to 10.30pm. Party 9pm onwards. BD85 set menu & evening celebrations (beverages). BD50 vegetarian set menu & evening celebrations. Dress Code - Smart Casuals. Enjoy a bottle of wine which is offered with the 5-course menu. Friday Brunch every Friday from 12pm to 3pm. BD18.5++ with non-alcoholic beverages. BD24.5++ with selected alcoholic beverages. BD44++ with premium beverage selection. Friday Brunch with a festive theme on 27th December.
Christmas Day Lunch at La Mosaique, Harvesters Bar & Terrace, & Cappuccino’s. BD27++ with beverages. BD13.5 for kids between three to twelve years. New Year’s Eve Dinner at Waves Seafood Restaurant. BD24.95++ New Year’s Eve Dinner at La Mosaique. BD19.95++ including selected beverages. Bollywood New Years Eve Dinner at Spices Indian Restaurant. BD19.95++ including beverages
For bookings call, Tel. +973 1758 3555.
For bookings call, Tel. +973 1753 1122.
Please be aware that timings and offers are likely to change. It is advised to call up in advance.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 119
Nightlife
Elite Seef Residence & Hotel
New Year’s Eve at Il Giardino & Outdoors On 31st December. BD25 (men) and BD20 (women) per person. From 9pm to 3am. Buffet from 11pm to 2am with sparkling wine & regular drinks.
DJ at IMARI, The Domain Bahrain
Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa
Crowne Plaza
New Year Eve Celebrations with the theme as ‘Time Travelling’ – the 50’s to 2014. For those who will arrive later BD30 net from 10pm with unlimited select house beverage. And for the super- late crowd there’s always Red Lions – Lounge at BD10 for men; free for ladies with snacks. All Prices for outlets include a set 5-course set menu, live entertainment, cotillions, unlimited select house beverages and access to Ibrida for the countdown & festivity with unlimited select house beverage. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1711 1999.
Elite Crystal Hotel
KLUB360 International DJ + Entertainment with giveaways. BD25 Men and BD10 Woman. 31st December. Enjoy great music by Violinist Esther Anaya & DJ Stephanie Loayza. Awtar Party at Awtar. Arabic set menu, LIVE Arabic entertainment, Singers, DJ, Belly dancer, Giveaways. BD75 per person. 31st December. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1736 0360.
Elite Resort & Spa Party at Shift 7 on 31st December. BD25 for ladies and BD35 for men Party at O Club on 31st December BD40 net per couple, incusive of selected Beverages and finger foods. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1731 3333.
120 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Harvesters Pub & Terrace – ‘The Count Down At Las Vegas’. On 31st Night from 9pm onwards. Surprise act. Tickets priced at BD10. New Years Eve Ball: A memorable evening with great excitement which includes a legendary Elvis Tribute performance. Live entertainments & DJ. Tickets priced at BD70. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1753 1122.
Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre New Year at Bizarre Lounge Date: 31st December Time: 9pm to 2am Price: BD10 net including one glass of sparkling wine and a selection of finger food. New Year at Mezzanine Lounge Venue: Mezzanine Lounge, Kempinski Grand Hotel Bahrain City Centre Date: December 31st Time: 11am to1am From Bureau to Bar in Mezzanine Lounge Date: Sunday to Thursday Time: 6pm to 8pm Price: Buy one get one free on selected beverages Bizarre Thursday’s at Bizarre Lounge Date: Every Thursday Time: 9pm to 2am For bookings call, Tel. +973 1717 1441.
For bookings call, Tel. +973 1758 3388
Elite Grande Hotel New Year’s at Zodiac Lounge on 31st December. BD30 per person. Open Regular Drinks with Finger food For bookings call, Tel. +973 1756 5888.
Sheraton Bahrain
Mexican Snacks Promotion at An Nada Lounge from 1st to 31st December. Enchiladas - Corn tortillas stuffed with chicken topped with enchilada sauce baked with yellow cheddar and salsa BD3.5*. Tupelo - Strips of marinated fried chicken served with a honey mustard dip and potato wedges BD3.5*. Cheese Bites - Stuffed cream cheese & jalapeno bites served with a refreshing cumin flavoured cream dip BD3.5*. Quesadillas - Strips of chicken, bell peppers, shredded mozzarella accompanied with tomato salsa BD3.5*. Mexican burger - Chargrilled burger accompanied with jalapeno pepper, salsa and taco chips BD3.9*. Nachos- corn tortillas topped with chili con carne baked with Monterey jack cheese, accompanied with sour cream and avocado dip BD3.9*. *Prices are in Bahraini Dinars and subject to 15 per cent service charge and 5 per cent government levy. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1753 3533.
Trader Vic’s Wahine Tuesday: Every Tuesday except 31st December from 6pm onwards. Ladies receive free drinks. Seventies New Year’s Eve Celebrations on Tuesday 31st December from 8.30pm onwards. BD45 per person with unlimited drinks. Dress Code – Seventies. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1758 3555.
Please be aware that timings and offers are likely to change. It is advised to call up in advance.
Nightlife
Wine Flight VIP Launch on Monday, 2nd December from 8pm to 10pm. BD12 for guests without invitation. Japanese New Year’s Eve Celebrations on Tuesday, 31st December from 9pm to late. Geisha’s BD10 advance/BD20 on 31st December. Samurais BD15 advance/BD25 on 31st December. Dress Code – Smart Casual. Pink Friday on 27th December from 930pm onwards. Chance to win an Emporio Armani gift. Absolutely Geisha on every Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm. Free Entry. 40 per cent off on selected beverages. Afterwork, everyday from 5pm to 8pm. Buy one, get one free.
Txoko Nights Sunday We combine Jazz with Views and 50 per cent off selected beverages between 5pm to 7pm.
Tuesday Enjoy throw-back-Tuesdays with the best 70s, 80s and 90s music all night long. Come early and enjoy 2 drinks for the price of 1 from 6pm until 8pm. Wednesday This is the ultimate ladies night. Bring four of your girlfriends and receive a complimentary bottle of bubbly from 9pm until 11pm. Surprise and great music in store. IMARI Sunday Sip on some great cocktails and eat great Japanese cuisine served Izakaya style. Enjoy great music by The Domain’s resident DJ.
For bookings call, Tel. +973 1758 3555.
Glamour Nite
Monday Salsa, Merengue and Reggaeton will be played all night long. Come early and enjoy 2 drinks for the price of 1 from 6pm until 8pm. Terms and conditions apply.
New Year’s Eve Ballroom Party: A guest DJ from Orlando, Florida , DJ Gil Lugo, will entertain guests with his special mix of house, pop, electro, Ffrom 8pm till the early hours. The ‘Black and Red’ themed event is priced at BD75 per person and includes a dinner buffet and unlimited house beverages. Moonlight beats at Tapas: Enjoy New Year with a selection of tapas and three beverages of your choice while the resident DJ spins the latest tunes. Priced at BD25 per person from 8pm to 2am. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1763 6363.
Monday Monday Nights come with an Extended Happy Hour from 6pm to 10pm on selected beverages. From 6pm to 10pm.
Dragon Resort & Hotel, Amwaj
Tuesday Add a signature pitcher for only BD9 and enjoy great Japanese food.
Gypsy Kings: On Thursday 28th November, Fuel:VIP are proud to present a night full of music from the legendary Gypsy Kings, Manolo & Lito who have performed around the world and for the first time in Bahrain. They will be joined on stage with Drums On Live - two Spanish drummers who are famed for a perfect fusion between their own rhythmic beats and the live atmospheric music. From 8pm onwards d at BD20 entrance including 1 complimentary beverage.
Wednesday Enjoy Old School Nights with RnB and Hip Hop. 50 per cent off on drafts and pitchers, from 6pm to 10pm! Thursday Aphrodisian Thursdays with free bubbly all night long. Friday Kanpai! Fridays Miss D will be behind the decks pumping out the best beats, whilst we serve up a storm of Japanese favourites. Saturday Enjoy great house music and a unique selection of sushi, sashimi and Robatayaki skewers. Add a signature pitcher for only BD9.
For bookings call, Tel. +973 1603 1111.
Gypsy Kings, Manolo & Lito
Dim, Saxophonist
Level 34 Wine Tasting – Monday From 8pm to 10pm, at only BD10++. Enjoy great wine with the Chef’s favourite canapés.
Sofitel Bahrain Bushido Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa
Damien, Percussionist
The Domain Bahrain
InterContinental Regency Bahrain Countdown Party Bring in the New Year with the Countdown Party. There will be a live performance by Cinderella Rockafella. Walk-ins only after 11pm. No presale of tickets; subject to seat availability. When: 31st December Where: Downtown Bar Price: BD40 net per person, inclusive of drinks. New Year’s Eve Party Enjoy New Year’s Eve with DJ Lisa & Saxo. Walk-ins only after 11pm. No presale of tickets; subject to seat availability. Where: Elements Pool and Lounge Price: BD40 net per person, inclusive of drinks. Countdown at Midnight Bring in the New Year with Jazz Band. Walk-ins only after 11pm. No presale of tickets; subject to seat availability. Where: Noor Lounge Price: BD40 net per person, inclusive of drinks. For bookings call, Tel. +973 1727 7777.
For bookings call, Tel. +973 1600 0222.
Please be aware that timings and offers are likely to change. It is advised to call up in advance.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 121
Listings
BAHRAIN RESTAURANT GUIDE American
Asian
Bennigan’s 1781 3750 Al Safir Hotel, Juffair
Baan Saeng Thai Adliya, 11.30am to 3pm/6pm to 12am
Blaze Burgers 1774 4773 Adliya, 11am to 12am Brasa de Brazil 1758 2225 Seef Mall, 12pm to 11pm Burger Lounge 3984 2840 Amwaj, 12pm to 12am Burger Wisconsin 1759 4458 Sa’ar, 11am to 12am Chickey’s 1774 4144 Zinj & 2 other locations, 10am to 1am Chilli’s 1758 1221 Seef Mall and many other locations Downtown Bar 1722 7777 InterContinental Regency Bahrain, 4pm to 2am. Elevation Burger 1758 7828 Seef Mall, 12pm to 11pm Fat Burger 1713 1414 Bahrain City Centre & 2 other locations 9am to 1am Franks a Lot 1781 1970 Juffair, 10am to 1am Fuddruckers 1774 2266 Adliya & 4 other locations, 8am to 12am Grub Shack 1713 1363 Al Hamala Hard Rock Café 1729 1569 Exhibition Road, 8am to 1am Jan Burger 1771 2505 Adliya & 5 other locations Johnny Rockets 1756 6565 Al A’ali Complex & 1 other location 8.30am to 1am Melt Restaurant 1749 9900 Shaikh Hamad Avenue, West Riffa & Juffair, a place to sit back and enjoy great burgers, freshly tossed salads, sumptuous sweets, and much more! 11am to 12am
Bali Orchid 1718 0424 Gudaibiya, 12pm to 12am Chin Li 1771 7717 Adliya, 12pm to 3pm/6.30pm to 11.30pm Curry Country 1753 7555 Juffair, 11am to 2am David’s Stir Fry 1754 0188 Adliya & 1 other location 12pm to 3pm/6.30pm to 11.30pm Honey’s 3923 8507 Souq, Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 5.30pm/ Friday to Saturday 24 Hours Hot Wok 1717 8083 Bahrain City Centre, 10am to 12am Kontiki Restaurant 1753 1666 Diplomt Radisson Blu Mamy Soup 3919 5343 Exhibition Road, 11am to 11pm Monsoon 1774 9222 Adliya, Saturday to Thursday 12pm to 2.30pm/7pm to 11pm & Friday 7pm to 11pm Nu Asia 1758 7171 Seef, 12pm to 12am Pan Asia 1772 1600 Umm Al Hassam, 11am to 3.30pm/7pm to 11pm Peppers Fusion 1771 7808 Adliya, 11am to 3.30pm/6pm to 12am Pong’s 1753 0800 Exhibition Road Thai Chi 1717 9747 Bahrain City Centre, 12pm to 12am Thai Express 1769 3595 Jawad Dome, Budaiya, 10am to 11.30pm Thailand 1771 7040 Block 338, Adliya, 6.30pm to 11.30pm
Brazilian
Ric’s Kountry Kitchen 1772 5550 Juffair
Brazil 1782 6686 Adliya. Authentic Brazilian Rodizio. All you can eat + beverages BD16.2++, Friday Brunch BD21++
Tony Luke’s 1749 4940 Riffa, 11am to 12am
Cafés
Tony Roma’s 1787 0070 Zayed Town, 12.30pm to 1am
Al Bindaira Café 1774 4066 Adliya, Monday to Thursday 10.30am to 12.30am and Friday 1pm to 1am Al Bareh Art Café 1771 3535 Adliya, 8.30am to 11pm
122 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
A Lounge 1771 0041 Adliya, 11am to 2am
Bahrain Confidential’s Favourite
BUSHIDO
Al Riwaq Café 1771 7441 Adliya, 10am to 9pm Aroma Restaurant & Café 1758 2711 Seef Mall, Open for lunch and dinner Café Ceramique Al A’ali Mall, 9am to 11pm Café Lilou 1771 4440 Adliya & 1 other location Saturday to Thursday 8am to 11pm/ Friday 10am to 11.30pm
The Way of the Warrior For reservations, call Tel. +973 17583555 or email: bushido@bushido.com.bh
Café T 1775 0777 The Royal Golf Club
Sky Walk Café Mariott Executive Apartments, Juffair 6.30am to 11.30pm
Café Sayah 1722 4000 Delmon International Hotel, Open 24 Hours
Tea Club Amwaj Islands 12pm to 12am
Candles Coffee 1771 4844 Adliya, Sunday to Thursday 9am to 1am/ Friday & Saturday 5pm to 1am
Tea Garden 1711 1999 Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, 7am to 11pm
Caramel 1770 7087 Cyprus Gardens, Budaiya, 8.30am to 12am Columbus Café 1717 2324 Bahrain City Centre, 8am to 12am Crepe Café 7711 5566 Budaiya & 1 other location Sunday to Wednesday 8am to 12am/ Thursday to Saturday 8am to 1am Deli France 1769 6031 Jawad Dome, Budaiya Sunday to Thursday 8am to 10pm/ Friday to Saturday 8am to 11pm Dome Café 1781 0180 Juffair, Open 24 Hours Friend’s Club 1771 3732 Adliya, Saturday to Wednesday 10am to 12am/ Thursday to Friday 10am to 1am La Maison du Café 1771 7524 Adliya, 8am to 2am Le Chocolat Seef District 7.30am to 12am Levante Café 1603 0393 Amwaj, 12pm to 1.30am Maya Chocolat Seef Mall, Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 11pm/ Friday to Saturday 10am to 12am Med Café 1771 3088 Adliya and other locations, 11am to 1am Organic Foods & Café 1333 3285 Seef Mall, 9am to 10pm
Veranda 1771 5868 Adliya and 2 other locations, 9am to 1am Waterlemon 1758 1785 Al A’ali Shopping Complex 10am to 11pm
Chinese Beijing Chinese 1771 7969 Block 338, Adliya, 11.30am to 3pm/6pm to 12am China Express 1771 7439 Adliya,12.30pm to 1am China Garden 1774 6423 Gulf Hotel, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm Ching 1756 4424 Seef Mall, 10am to 12am First Chinese 1771 3603 Adliya, 12pm to 3.30pm/6pm to 12am Foli 1772 2199 Um Al Hassam, 12pm to 3pm/6.30pm to 11.30pm Hong Kong 1772 8700 Adliya Kowloon 1772 5015 Umm Al Hassam,1am to 3.30pm/6.30pm to 12am Magic Wok 1769 4105 American Alley, Juffair, Open Daily 8am to 11pm PF Changs 1717 9757 Bahrain City Centre
Patisseri Valerie MODA Mall, 7.30am to 9pm
Shanghai Hut 1729 2988 Exhibition Avenue 11.30am to 2am
PAUL Bakery & Restaurant 1717 2321 Bahrain City Centre and 1 other location
Soie 1753 3533 Sheraton Hotel
To be included, email: info@ArabianMagazines.com or call +973 1782 2368.
Listings
BAHRAIN RESTAURANT GUIDE
Bahrain Confidential’s Favourite
MAKI
Fantasy Restaurant 1729 2382 Hoora, 11am to 12am Georgia Chinese 1781 3814 Juffair, 11am to 12am Grand Royal 1772 1787 Umm Al Hassam, 12.30pm to 3.30pm/6.30pm to 1130pm
A Culinary Haven! Located at the Bahrain World Trade Centre. For more information, call Tel. +973 1752 2733
Grill Room Buffet 1769 6660 Budaiya & 1 other location 12.30pm to 3.30pm/6.30pm to 11.30pm Havana 1731 1440 Hoora, 12pm to 1am
Chocolatiers Godiva 1758 0699 Seef Mall, 10am to 10pm Patchi 1725 0501 Manama and 1 other location, 9.30am to 9pm Rawasi Chocola & Flowers Mahooz, 9am to 1.30pm/4pm to 9pm
House Boat 1601 0321 Amwaj, 11am to 11.30pm JJ’s Irish Pub and Restaurant 1774 2323 Adliya, 12pm to 230am Marmaris 1755 3825 Al Daih, 11am to 12am
Fusion
Paprikas 1729 7100 Hoora & 1 other location, 10am to 1am
Al Osra 1749 1492 East Riffa & 3 other locations, 11am to 12am
Paradise 1753 5306 Manama, 9am to 1am
Atayeb Restaurant 1759 0119 Budaiya, 12pm to 4pm/6pm to 11pm
Salt & Pepper 1762 3535 Sanad, 10am to 12am
Block 338 1771 0338 Adliya, 11am to 2am
Saraya 1763 6410 Sofitel Bahrain, 6.30am to 11pm
Bangkok International 1774 0666 Adliya & 1 other location, 10am to 1am
Silk Restaurant 1774 9750 Adliya, 11am to 12pm
Blue Moon 1729 7100 Hoora, 10am to 1am
Spice Nice 1771 3603 Adliya, 12pm to 3.30pm/6pm to 12am
Bu Ali 1724 2432 Zinj & 2 other locations, 10am to 12am
Sun & Sand 1731 1366 Exhibition Avenue, 11am to 2am
Camelot 1771 7745 Adliya, Block 338 12pm to 12am
Tandoor Hut 1771 3874 Adliya, 11am to 1130pm
Caesars 1771 6955 Adliya, 12.30pm to 3pm/6.30pm to 11.45pm Century International 1771 0100 Adliya & 1 other location 7am to 2am Charcoal Grill 1721 3410 Manama & 1 other location Clay Oven 1771 7008 Adliya, 11.30am to 3pm/ 6.30pm to 11.30pm Citrus Restaurant & Café 1774 4950 Adliya, 12pm to 12am Deja Vu 1365 7770 Adliya, 4pm to 2am
Asha’s 1717 9751 Bahrain City Centre Bright Candle 1722 9076 Manama, 11am to 3pm/6pm to 12am Charminar 1726 1896 Manama, 11am to 3pm/6pm to 12am Clay Oven 1771 7008 Adliya, 11.30am to 3pm/6.30pm to 11.30pm Copper Chimney 1772 8699 Um Al Hassam, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 12am Curry Tree 1603 0662 The Lagoon & 2 other locations, 12pm to 12am Hyderabad House 1772 0031 Umm Al Hassam, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 12am
Nirvana 1758 9318 Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa 12pm to 3.30pm/7pm to 11.30pm Papadom 1756 4434 Seef Mall, 10am to 12am Rajdhani 1771 5222 Gudaibiya, 7am to 2am Rasoi 1711 1999 Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, 6.30pm to 2am Saffron Curry 1722 3014 Enma Mall, 12pm to 12am Sahar 1772 5117 Umm Al Hassam, 8am to 12am Sangeetha 1727 2768 Gudaibiya, 7.30am to 3pm/5.30pm to 11pm
It’s Mirchi 1772 7230 Ramee International Hotel, 12pm to 3pm/ 7pm to 12am
Shamiana 1717 8085 Bahrain City Centre, 10am to 12am
Kalpaka 1729 7000 Windsor Tower Hotel, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 2am
Spices 1753 1122 Crowne Plaza, Diplomatic Area, 12pm to 11pm
Khazana 1727 4767 Manama, 7am to 3.30pm/5pm to 12am
Taka Tak 1725 4848 Gudaibiya, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm
Lanterns 1759 0591 Budaiya, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 12am Now also open in Adliya
The Great Kebab Factory 1769 0629 Jawad Dome, Budaiya 12pm to 3pm/6.30pm to 12am
Mantra 1721 1133 Best Western Plus Olive Hotel, 12pm to 2am
The Yellow Chilli 1758 0480 Seef Mall, 12pm to 10.30pm
Moti Mahal 1782 5333 Juffair, 12pm to 12am
Vrindavan 1723 4454 Manama, 7am to 3.30pm/4.30pm to 11pm
Mumbai Spice Bahrain Mall, 10am to 10pm
International
Nattinpuram 1729 0600 Ramee Baisan Hotel, 12pm to 12 am
Al Waha Restaurant 1774 6425 Gulf Hotel, Adliya, Open 24 Hours
Tapas Bar 1763 6412 Sofitel Bahrain, 11.30am to 3.30pm/7pm to 12am The Food Station 1725 4007 Marina Mall & 2 other locations, 10am to 10pm Trader Vic’s 1758 6555 Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Spa 12pm to 3.30pm/7.30pm to 11.30am
Indian Aachi’s Chettinand Kitchen 1723 3110 Gudaibiya, 10.30am to 3.30pm/ 5.30pm to 1130pm gomiami.about.com
Akbar 1729 6660 Ramada Palace Hotel 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 12.30am
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
To be included, email: info@ArabianMagazines.com or call +973 1782 2368.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 123
Listings
BAHRAIN RESTAURANT GUIDE Rimal 1784 5000 Al Areen Palace & Spa, 6.30am to 11pm
Italiano 1758 1919 Al A’ali Complex, 11.45am to 11pm
Salad Boutique 3666 4427 Adliya, 8am to 12am
La Pergola 1771 3000 Gulf Hotel
Café Marisol 1770 1201 Al Bander Hotel & Resort, 7am to 11.30pm
Selections 1722 7777 InterContinental Regency Hotel 6.30am to 11.30pm
Little Caesars 1717 9400 Bahrain City Centre & 4 other locations 11am to 12am
Cyprus Taverna 1771 6316 Adliya, 11am to 2pm/4pm to 2am
Silk’s 1746 0000 Mövenpick Hotel
DownTown Lounge 1720 8308 InterContinental Regency Hotel, 5pm to 2am
Tamarind 1784 5000 Al Areen Palace & Spa Wednesday to Saturday 12pm to 3pm/ 6pm to 11.30pm & Sunday to Tuesday 12pm to 3pm
Margherita Pizza & Pasta 1772 3133 Umm Al Hassam, 12.30pm to 3.30pm/ 5.30pm to 12.30am
Al Wasmeyah Restaurant 1753 5000 Golden Tulip Hotel, Diplomatic Area Open 24 Hours Bambino 1753 3336 Sheza Tower Hotel, 24 Hours
East West Cuisine 1721 0012 Bahrain Financial Harbour, 8am to 5pm Figs & Olives 1600 0000 The Domain Bahrain, 10am to 12am Fusions 1771 3000 Gulf Hotel Ginger Lounge 1737 0037 Majestic Arjaan by Rotana, 6.30am to 11.30pm Healthy Calorie 1736 9399 Juffair, 8am to 12pm Jim’s Restaurant 1771 0654 Adliya, 11am to 3pm/6pm to 12am La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Arts 1771 3000 Ras Ruman, 9am to 10.30pm La Med 1758 0000 The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa Le Bistro 1722 7777 InterContinental Regency Hotel
MASSO 1772 1061 The Palace Hotel, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11.30pm
The Gallery 1746 0000 Mövenpick Hotel
Medzo 1722 7777 InterContinental Regency Hotel Open for lunch and dinner
Upstairs Downstairs 1771 3093 Adliya, 7am to 11am/12pm to 3pm/7pm to 12am
Metro Pizza 1779 4000 Sa’ar, 12pm to 12am
Vins Bistro 1771 7101 Adliya, 10am to 2am
Mia Mia 1756 4414 Seef Mall, 10am to 12am
Yamin Jana Mediterranean Sea Front Lounge 1603 3800 Dragon Hotel & Resort, Amwaj Open 2pm onwards
Mino’s 1774 4777 Adliya, 11am to 12.30am
Zodiac Restaurant 1781 3366 Al Manzil Suites, Juffair, Open 24 hours All day dining offering a wide selection and panoramic views of Juffair from the 15th floor. Zoe 1771 6400 Adliya, Block 338, Saturday to Tuesday, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 12am & Wednesday to Friday 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 2am Zytoun 1729 8008 Novotel Al Dana Resort 6.30am to 12am
Mondo Restaurant 1753 1666 Diplomat Radisson Blu Ninos 1756 6555 Al A’ali Complex, Seef Pasta Art 1700 1750 Zamil Tower, 8am to 6pm Pastarito 1717 9300 Bahrain City Centre & Durrat Al- Bahrain 11am to 12am
Lemon Tree 1711 1999 Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, 6.30am to 11.30am
Italian
Pick a Pizza 1772 0929 Umm Al Hassam & 1 other location 12pm to 1am
Links Restaurant 1775 0777 The Royal Golf Club
BICE 1755 3666 MODA Mall, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11.30pm
Pizza Express 1601 0524 The Lagoon Amwaj, 11am to 12am
Little Chef 1759 5950 Budiaya, 12pm to 12am
Café Spasso 1782 2274 New Zinj, Open 830am onwards
Pizza Hut 1771 1113 Manama & 10 other locations, 11am to 1am
Mei N Yu 1601 0160 The Lagoon, 12pm to 3pm/6.30pm to 12am
Café Italia 1774 4774 Adliya and 1 other location 12pm to 3.30pm/7pm to 11.30pm
Pizza Inn 1781 1666 Juffair & 1 other location, 10am to 12am
Muju Restaurant & Lounge 1603 9800 Open 24 Hours Nando’s 1782 5100 Juffair, 11am to 2am Prego 1775 1263 The Royal Golf Club, 11.30am to 12am Primavera 1758 0000 Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm Rendezvous 1758 7708 Seef Mall, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm
124 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Carino’s Italian Grill 1758 7878 Seef Tower, 11am to 12am Coco’s Café 1771 3710 Adliya, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm Cucina Italiana 1700 1317 Al Safir Hotel, Juffair, 6am to 2am Fiamma 1763 6363 Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa 12.30pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm Gusto Pizzeria 1769 5556 Budaiya,12pm to 11pm
Pizza Bella 1782 7133 Juffair & 1 other location, 11.30am to 11.30pm Pizza Company 1781 1830 Juffair & 1 other location, Open 24 Hours Pomodorino 1700 0121 Adliya, 12pm to 1am Prego 1775 1263 The Royal Golf Club, 11.30am to 12am Primavera 1758 0000 Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm
Bahrain Confidential’s Favourite
MEISEI
A Story of Honour, Elegance and Integrity For reservations, call Tel. +973 1700 7770
Rialto 1711 1999 Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, 12pm to 11.30pm Rolandos 7732 2222 Juffair 12pm to 12am Roma 1772 5885 Um Al Hassam, 12pm to 2.30pm/7pm to 11.30pm Vapiano 1749 1391 Bahrain City Centre, 10am to 10pm
Japanese Bushido 1758 3555 Seef, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 2am EDO 1729 0945 Exhibition Avenue, 11,30am to 12am Fuji Sushi Bar 1753 3336 Sheza Tower Hotel,12.30pm to 12am Frangipani 1758 2422 Seef Mall, 10am to 12am Haji Sushi 1772 5638 American Alley, Juffair, 11am to 11pm Imari 1600 0000 The Domain Bahrain, 6pm to 12am Kei 1753 5000 Golden Tulip Hotel, 12.30pm to 3pm/ 7.30pm to 11pm Maki 1752 2733 MODA Mall, 12pm to 12am Meisei 1700 7770 Adliya, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 12am Mirai 1771 3113 Adliya, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm Ruka 1711 1999 Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, 12.30pm to 2am Sato 1771 3000 Gulf Hotel Sumo Sushi & Bento 1771 8090 American Alley, Juffair, 12pm to 12am
To be included, email: info@ArabianMagazines.com or call +973 1782 2368.
Listings
BAHRAIN RESTAURANT GUIDE
Bahrain Confidential’s Favourite
MAI-TAI
Aloha Life! Located at Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa For more information, call Tel. +973 1758 6555
Dalaona Restaurant 1733 0930 Muharraq, 9am to 12am
Takht-e Jamsheed 1774 6431 Gulf Hotel, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm
Fakhruddin 1769 5949 Sa’ar, 11am to 11pm
Wafi Gormet 1779 999 Bahrain City Centre, 9am to 12.30pm
Golestan 1753 3533 Sheraton Hotel Sunday to Friday 12.30pm to 2.30pm/7.30pm to 11.30pm
Yalla Yalla 1782 7999 Al Safir Hotel, 6.30pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm
Isfahani 1755 0567 Hoora and other locations, 12pm to 12am Kenza 1736 0000 The K Hotel, 7pm to 2am
Sushi 101 1782 2274 New Zinj Saturday to Thursday, 12pm to 3pm/6pm onwards & Friday 1pm to 4pm/7pm onwards Yo Sushi 1758 3373 Al A’ali Complex, Seef Saturday to Wednesday 12pm to 12am/ Thursday to Friday 12pm to 2am
Middle Eastern Al Abraaj 1759 5656 Budaiya and many other locations, 12pm to 12am Al Arisha 1772 5414 Um Al Hassam, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 12am Al-Bokhari 1731 1186 Hoora & 2 other locations, 12pm to 2am
L’lle 1784 5000 Al Areen Palace & Spa, 6pm to 11pm
Leewan Al Khor 1601 0666 Amwaj, 1pm to 11pm
Zayt Zaytoon 1731 2222 Manama & 2 other locations, 7am to 12am
Leila 1756 6556 Seef, 9am to 12am
Zeitouna 1736 5055 Juffair & 4 other locations, 8am to 12am
Marmaris 1755 5909 Sanabis, 11am to 12am
Mexican
Mashawi Lebanese Grill 1733 9014 Muharraq, 12pm to 12am Melh Al Zad 1731 1170 Hoora, 12.30pm to 1am
Al Mukhayam Ramada Palace Hotel 8pm to 1am
Persian 1781 1511 Adliya, 12.30pm to 3.30pm/7.30pm to 12am
Al Shama 1729 7000 Windsor Tower Hotel, 9pm to 2am
Persian Room 1601 0166 Amwaj Islands Saturday to Wednesday 12pm to 12am/ Thursday to Friday 12pm to 1am
Café Blanc 1710 0069 Al A’ali Complex, 8am to 12am Carla’s 1769 7687 Cyprus Gardens, Sehla, 12pm to 12am Chakmagia 1755 8500 Dana Mall, 10am to 10pm
Legendz Steakhouse 1722 7777 InterContinental Regency Hotel Open for lunch and dinner
Zahle 1774 6417 Gulf Hotel Monday to Tuesday 7pm to 1am/ Wednesday to Friday 7pm to 2am
Pashawat 1763 6413 Sofitel Bahrain, 7pm to 12am
Baharat 1717 1000 Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel, Bahrain City Centre Wednesday to Friday 8pm to 12am
Klouds 1736 0000 The K Hotel, 6.30am to 2am
Laialy Zaman 1729 3097 Fateh Corniche, 11am to 4am
Kosebasi 1717 2322 Bahrain City Centre
Al Hamra 1722 4000 Delmon International Hotel, Open 24 Hours
Badawi 1729 7799 Manama, 10am to 11pm
Butcher’s Shop & Grill 1717 2323 Bahrain City Centre, 12pm to 11pm
Le Sauvage Meat + Fire 1600 0000 The Domain Bahrain 6.30am to 3pm/6pm to 12am
Momo 1718 0659 Adliya, 8am to 2am
Abd El Wahab 1713 1111 MODA Mall, 12pm to 12am
Yas-e Isfahani 1758 1151 Seef Mall, 10am to 10pm
Brazil 1782 6686 Adliya, 12pm to 3pm/6pm to 11pm
Zahlawiya 1771 0051 Adliya, 7am to 2pm/4pm to 4am
Al Fanar 1753 1666 Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel Open Monday to Saturday 9.30pm to 2am
Al Yacout 1729 8008 Novotel Al Dana Resort, 8pm to 2am
Yamin Jana 1600 3380 The Dragon Hotel & Resort, 7am to 2am
Steak Houses
Qasr Al Sultan Grill 1774 4144 Bahrain City Centre & 1 other location 11am to 12am Rayes 1731 2700 Fateh Corniche, 12pm to 1230am Shawarma Express 1772 9922 Juffair & 5 other locations, 7am to 3am Shoo Fee Ma Fee 1731 1280 Adliya, 10am to 12am Tarwe’a 1724 0046 Manama, Open 24 Hours Taza 1778 4997 Tubli, 12.30pm to 12.30am
Casa Mexicana 1771 5521 Adliya, 12pm to 3pm/6pm to 12am Margarita Mexicana 1774 6462 Gulf Hotel, Adliya, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 11pm Senor Paco’s 1772 5873 Adliya, 12pm to 3pm/6.30pm to 12am
Sea Food Asia Sea Food 1722 4466 Mashtan Hotel, 6am to 11pm Far East Sea Food Market 1772 7230 Ramez International Hotel, Juffair Daily, 12.30pm to 11.30pm Fish Market 1770 1201 Al Bander Hotel and Resort, 12.30pm to 11.30pm La Mer 1763 6411 Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa 7pm to 11pm La Perle 1729 8008 Novotel Al Dana Resort, 7pm to 12am Sea Chef 1729 2911 Hoora, 12pm to 1am
Mezzaluna 1774 2999 Adliya Sunday to Wednesday 7pm to 11pm/ Thursday to Saturday 7pm to 11.30pm Plums 1758 0000 Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa 7pm to 11.30pm Ponderosa Steakhouse 1758 0552 Seef, 11am to 1am Sizzlers Restaurant 1771 6999 Mansoori Mansions Hotel, Open 24 Hours The Meat Co 1774 2080 Block 338 Saturday to Wednesday 12.30pm to 3.30pm/ 7pm to 11.30pm and Thursday to Friday 12.30pm to 12am
Thai Banana Leaf 1774 4171 Adliya, 11am to 11pm Hash House 1771 5094 Adliya, 12pm to 4pm/6pm to 12am Muay Thai Quick Meal Restaurant 7704 0454 Juffair, 12pm to 12am Orchid Thai 1729 6660 Ramada Palace Hotel, 12pm to 3pm/7pm to 1am Royal Thai Sea Food Restaurant 1771 3000 Gulf Hotel Shada 1772 1155 Zinj, 11.30am to 3.30pm/6.30pm to 12am
Sheza Seafood Market 1753 3336 Sheza Tower Hotel, Diplomatic Area 12.30pm to 12am Waves 1753 1122 Crowne Plaza Hotel, 12pm to 4pm/7pm to 12am
To be included, email: info@ArabianMagazines.com or call +973 1782 2368.
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 125
Listings
Sports, Fitness and Kids Creative Kids
Fitness/Aerobics/Spinning
Meditation/Yoga
Al Safir Fitness First The Regency The Diplomat Radisson Blu Curves (Budaiya) Ez Fit Sports Complex Image Spa & Leisure (Sheraton Hotel) The Health Club (Gulf Hotel) Nautilus (Crown Plaza) Sports Club & Spa, Ritz-Carlton Al Gosaibi Gym Ghassan’s Gym (mat and private classes available) La Fontaine Centre World Beat Fitness Centre
Art of Living 3988 8760 Dessange 1771 3999 (Yoga classes offered several times a week) Bahrain Meditation Centre Bahrain 1779 5961 (Wellness Resort) Saturdays and Wednesdays. 7pm to 8.30pm, Mixed yoga classes. Sundays and Tuesdays (Ladies Only), 10am to12pm Bayoga Centre 1772 5027 Daily yoga classes, relaxing yoga and meditation for beginners and advanced students. 1749 1958 Herbal Massage Center, Riffa 3977 6882 World Beat Fitness Centre 1761 2576 The Diplomat Radisson Blu 1753 1666 Reiki Master And Teacher Melanie 3933 0911 offers Reiki sessions and courses or www.reikibahrain.com Anubhaa Sharma anurays@yahoo.co.in
1781 3815 1332 2200 1722 7777 1753 1666 1769 1496 1769 2378 1752 4570 1771 3000 1753 0764 1758 9380 1729 3221 1769 5911 1723 0123 1761 2576
Badminton Bapco Club Telgu Kala Samithi The Indian Club
1775 3666 1727 6300 1725 3157
Basketball EZ Fit Sports Complex Bahrain Basketball Association
1769 2378 1774 1010
1770 1201 1775 3666 1782 2077 1775 3666 1729 2313
Cricket EZ Fit Sports Complex Bahrain Rugby Football Club SLC Grounds, Riffa Thursdays, Training 3pm to 5pm
1769 2378 1769 5809 1727 6134
1765 0079
Dance Bahrain Ballet Centre Indian Institute for Performing Arts Latin Dance Bahrain Sampaguita Club Sayaw Unlimited Dance Club Victoria Dance Centre World Beat Fitness Centre Profiles Fitness Centre Pineapple
1769 3232 1723 1717 3967 6349 3910 6589 3982 7096 3987 6215 1761 2576 1772 7766 1771 2000
Football Al Ahli Sports Club Al Hala Sports Club Bahrain Rugby Football Club British Club Dilmun Club EZ Fit Sports Complex Arsenal Soccer School
1727 7712 1734 2182 1769 5809 1772 8245 1769 2986 1769 2378 1756 1615
Golf Awali Club Royal Golf Club
Bahrain Snooker Association Jimmy’s Snooker and Billiards Club
Bahrain Badminton and Squash Federation The Country Club Al Bander Resort Nautilus (Crowne Plaza) The Diplomat Radisson Blu
1782 5301 1771 6147
Swimming Lessons British Club Dilmun Club Ritz Carlton Sports Club The Diplomat Radisson Blu
1753 1165 1745 0000 1778 0011 3944 4137
Martial Arts Japan Karate Association 3944 9628/3667 2204 Profiles Fitness Centre (Boxing for ladies) 1772 7766 Zen-Do 1761 1909 Bahrain Karate Centre 3947 7709 Goju Karate Club 3965 9510 World Beat Fitness Centre 1761 2576 Bahrain Karate-do Academy 3665 7059
126 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
1759 3593 1770 1201 1753 0764 1753 1666
Awali Riding Club 1775 6525 Saturdays to Thursdays, 7am to 7pm. Fridays 7am to 6pm. Desert rides. Qualified instructors Bahrain Riding School 1769 0448 Daily rides 4pm to 6pm Dilmun Club 1769 2986 Sundays to Thursdays. 8am to 11am and 3pm to 7.30pm Shakhoora Riding School 1759 1103 Sundays to Thursdays, 8am to 12noon, 3.30pm to 7pm The Country Club 1759 3593 Fridays Horse riding in paddock, 1pm to 4pm Twin Palms Riding Centre 1759 1668
Bahrain Sailing School Coral Beach Club The Marina Club The Sailing Club The Yacht Club Aquatique - Organised pearl diving Al Bander Resort Bahrain Swimming Association Dilmun Club
1729 2313
1729 2662
Horse Riding
Watersports
Ice Skating Funland Centre
1769 5809
Snooker
1775 6770 1775 0777
Go Karting/Racing Rally Town BIC Silver go-Karts (Tubli) Gulf Speed One (Seef)
Bahrain Rugby Football Club
Squash
Cycling Bahrain Cycling Association
Bahrain Rugby Football Club 1769 5809 (Thurs) 4.45pm for girls; (Sun) 7.30pm for women Riffa Views Netball League 3630 6946
Rugby
Bowling Al Bander Hotel & Resort Awali Bowling Centre Bahrain Bowling Association Bapco Club Funland Centre
Netball
1772 8245 1769 2986 1758 0001 1753 1666
1731 0252 1721 2700 1729 1527 1783 6078 1770 0677 1727 1780 1770 1201 1768 0867 1769 0926
Tennis Bahrain Tennis Club 1772 9561 The British Club 1722 8245 The Country Club 1759 3593 Dilmun Club 1769 2986 Gulf Hotel 1771 3000 Marina Club 1729 1527 The Diplomat Radisson Blu 1753 1666 Bahrain Tennis Club 1772 9561/1772 9756 Filipino Club Tennis Group 3952 7587
Where To Go
Art Classes Paint In Space 1762 6232 Chaoss 1759 2096 Dar Albareh 1771 3535/3906 9016 Celebrations 1759 5791 Bahrain Art Society 1759 0551 Indian Institute for Performing Arts 1723 1717 The Studio 3975 4863 Studio Ceramics 1759 9026 Things to Do 1759 0409
Drama Film-making workshops
3600 1777
Kids Gyms/Gymnastics My Gym, www.my-gym.com EZ Fit World Beat Fitness Centre Chaoss
1756 6566 1769 2378 1761 2576 1759 2096
Libraries Awali Library (BAPCO, Awali) British Club (Times vary) Iqra’s Children’s Library Muharraq)
1775 3666 1772 8245 1732 0955
1783 6116
Adhari Park
1740 7300
North of the Shaikh Isa Bin Sulman Highway Fun for all ages, includes a sports camp, groovy town, discovery village and indoor entertainment Children’s Health Academy of Specialised Sports
Chaoss
1759 2096 Swimming, gymnastics, dance and Taekwon-Do for children and teenagers.
Dolphin Park Corniche next to Marina Club One hour marine mammal show.
1729 3109
Funland Corniche next to Marina Club Bowling and Ice Skating everyday.
1729 2313
Hawar Island
1731 1770 Day trips to Hawar Island, boats depart from Ad Dur Jetty at 10am daily
Kid’s Kingdom
Music Lessons Bahrain Music Institute Kindermusik Bahrain Room to Rock
Al Areen Wildlife Park
1772 1999 1761 3144/3925 6904 1761 1785
Corniche, next to the Hawar reservation office A small outdoor playground. Good fun for young children. Open until late.
Magic Island Seef Mall
Play Centres Chakazoolu Indoor Theme Park www.danamall.net Chaoss Funland Centre (bowling, ice skating, pool) www.funlandcentre.com Mad Science Magic Island, www.seefmall.net My Gym, Softplay at Dilmun Club Lost Paradise of Dilmun Waterpark www.lpodwaterpark.com
1755 8500 1759 2096 1729 2313
1759 1136 1758 2898 1756 6566 1769 0926 1784 5100
Play Groups Chaoss, Off Budaiya Highway 1759 2096 Kindermusik 3925 6904/1761 3144 Ajyaal Montessori Pre-School 3912 9585 Mini Storytellers, British School (4 to 7 year olds) Musical Babies, Nadeen School 1772 8886 My Gym, Seef District 1756 6566 Rhymes & Chimes, Dilmun Club 3929 6848 Soft Play, Off Budaiya Highway 3965 3678 Sticky Fingers 3961 8340 Storytellers, British School 3912 9585 (7 to 11 year olds) Tots & Toddlers Group, 1772 8245 The British Club Wriggly Readers, British School 3912 9585 (for pre-schoolers) www.mumsinbahrain.net
Over 120 different games and attractions and Bahrain’s only indoor Roller Blade Arena.
Playland 1774 2266/1762 0999 Above Fuddruckers in Adliya An indoor centre full of games. Each ride costs 100 fils. Tokens available. Soft Play 3965 3678 Future Shape Dance Studio, Garden City Every Monday and Wednesday from 9.30am to 11.30am Children under the age of six months attend for free. www.softplaybahrain.com Studio Ceramics
1759 9026 Budaiya Highway Pottery painting and more. Open 9.30am to 6pm Sunday to Thursday, or by appointment. Birthday parties and private group bookings possible.
Water Garden Salmaniya 1726 2034 Near Dairy Queen roundabout A semi-filled lake with paddleboats and birds. School & Nurseries Wahooo! Waterpark Bahrain 1717 3000 Bahrain City Centre Opening Hours: Saturday to Tuesday: 11am to 8pm Wednesday: 11am to 10pm (Ladies Night 5pm to 10pm) Thursday and Friday: 11am to 9 PM
Things to know The Tourist Department (Tel. 1721 1717) is located in the gate to Manama’s souq, Bab al-Bahrain, on the ground floor next to the tourist shop, Times: 8am to 12 and 4.30pm to 6pm, closed on Friday.
Currency The Bahrain Dinar (BD) is pegged to the US dollar at the rate of USD1=BD0.377 - in other words a dinar is worth about USD2.65. It is a convertible currency with no restrictions on its import or export. Tip: the Saudi Riyal (SR) is also accepted
in shops for purchases at an exchange rate of BD1=SR10 (less in hotels) and you may be given Saudi money as change.
Business Hours Friday is the Islamic equivalent of the Christian Sunday. The weekend falls on a Friday and a Saturday. Most shopping malls and commercial centres are generally open seven days a week.
Listings Schools American Curriculum
Clubs & Associations
Other Private Schools
Al Hekma International Tel. 1762 0820/1762 3999 Modern Knowledge Schools Tel. 1772 7712 Riffa Views International School Tel. 1656 5000 The Bahrain School Tel. 1762 0820
Al Noor International School Tel. 1773 6773 Ecole Francaise de Bahrain Tel. 1732 3770 Ibn Khuldoon National School Tel. 1778 0661 Shaikha Hessa Girls’ School Tel. 1775 6111
British Curriculum
Al Mahd Day Boarding Tel. 1779 2422 British School Tel. 1761 0920 Budaiya Preschool Tel. 1779 1491 Dilmun School (elementary) Tel. 1771 3483 KG Kids Tel. 1766 3556 St Christopher’s School Tel. 1778 8108 Sacred Heart School Tel. 1768 4367 Talent International and The Infant School Tel. 1725 2346/1777 0078
Nurseries and Creches
Al Dana Nursery Tel. 1725 3541 Dana Pre-school, Riffa Tel. 1777 0180 Lilliput, Budaiya Tel. 1769 4947
Special Needs
Disabled Sports Federation Tel. 1778 9191 Hope Institute Tel. 1768 0815/1768 0500 R.I.A. Institute Tel. 1771 6871 The Children’s Academy Tel. 1761 3234 UCO Parents Care Centre Tel. 1767 7717
Things to know Taxis
Taxis are easily available in the capital, Manama, and have meters but be sure to make the driver use the meter. 99% of drivers won’t switch on the meter and will try to charge you double the legal fare. Beware! Confidential Tip: BD1 per five minutes in the cab is the most you should pay for an un-metered journey. If traveling from the airport or busy taxi rank, add BD2/after midnight add BD1 to the total e.g. a 10 minute drive from the airport after midnight should cost you no more than BD5 (BD2 + BD2 + BD1= BD5). Taxis do use meters and companies may use similar rates.
Avoiding Offence
Generally speaking, very short skirts and tight midriff tops are frowned upon in public, although acceptable by hotel pools, in private clubs and on the beach. If visiting a mosque, cover the body well (women should ensure that arms and legs and hair are fully covered). Shoes should always be left outside the entrance.
Essential Info 24-Hour Pharmacies Jaffer Pharmacy Tel. 1729 1039 18, Tarfah bin Al Abid Avenue, Manama 319 Nasser Pharmacy Tel. 1774 0900 63-B, Qadisiya Avenue, Manama 332 Awal Pharmacy Tel. 1777 2023 30 Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Avenue, East Riffa 901 Muwasaa Pharmacy Tel. 1733 5666 Shaikh Mohd bin Salman Avenue, Road 205, Muharraq.
Courier & Express Delivery
Tel. 1733 0434
DHL
Tel. 1736 4100
TNT
Tel. 1734 9199
Car Hire An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required to drive in Bahrain except for visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council states, U.S.A., Canada, countries in the European Union, Australia and New Zealand. The offices of car-hire companies are easily encountered at the airport. Recommended principal rental firms include: Budget Rent A Car National Car Rental Avenue Car Rental and Leasing
Tel. 1753 4100 Tel. 1723 1156 Tel. 1771 3181
Embassies & Consulates Embassies generally open from 8am to 1pm from Saturday to Wednesday and some Arab embassies also open on Thursday. Many embassies have a number of staff on call outside these hours for emergencies. Algeria 1771 3669 Bangladesh 1771 4717 China 1772 3800 Denmark 1772 5119 Egypt 1772 0005 France 1729 8660 Germany 1753 0210 India 1771 2785 Iran 1772 2400 Iraq 1774 1472 Italy 1725 2424 Japan 1771 6565 Jordan 1729 1109 Kuwait 1753 4040 Lebanon 1778 6994
Malaysia Morocco Netherlands Oman Pakistan Palestine Philippines Portugal Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Switzerland Syria Trade Mission of Taiwan Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE UK UN Info Centre USA
1756 4551 1774 0566 1759 1568 1729 3663 1724 4113 1727 6099 1725 0990 1753 6709 1772 2922 1772 5222 1753 7722 1753 1166 1772 2484 1729 2578 1727 4142 1771 4149 1753 3448 1771 0333 1757 4100 1731 1676 1724 2700
Flight Information Airline offices are normally open from 8am to 12.30pm and from 3pm to around 5pm, Saturday till Wednesday. 1733 9339 Flight Info British Airways 1758 7777 Turkish Airlines 1751 6100/1731 2233 Air India 1729 6444 Cathay Pacific 1722 6226 Emirates 1758 8700 Gulf Air 1733 5777 Jet Airways 1722 7114 KLM 1722 9747 Kuwait Airways 1722 3300 Lufthansa 1782 8762 Qatar Airways 1721 2202 Saudi Airlines 1721 1550
999 1725 3447 1779 0025 1781 2000 1782 8282 1728 8888
Telephone Helpline Intl. calls via operator Directory enquiries Directory enquiries - Intl. Other phone enquiries Speaking clock
Scrabble Bahrain Scrabble League Bahrain Kannada Sangha Saturdays. 6.30pm.
Art Societies Elham 1771 7441 La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art 1723 0123 The Bahrain Contemporary Art Society 1772 8046
Charitable Organisations Alia for Early Intervention 1773 0960 Bahrain Cancer Society 3960 3489/1723 3080 Bahrain Charity Society 1729 3363 Bahrain Disabled Sports Committee 1778 9191 Bahrain Human Rights Society 1753 1822 Bahrain Red Crescent Society 1729 3171 Friendship Society for the Blind 1762 4496 Hope Institute for the Handicapped 1768 0815 1772 0053 Islamic Enlightenment Society Lions Club of Bahrain 3908 0097 Manama Rotary Club 3939 4522 Migrant Workers Protection Society 3946 5378 1721 3825 Overseas Workers Welfare Admin. Palm Association 1779 0826/3964 3211 Riffa Cultural and Charity Society 1777 5444 Think Pink 3907 6717 BSPCA 1759 1231/1759 3479
Gallery/Crafts Al Riwaq Art Space 1771 7441 Al Jasra Handicrafts Centre 1761 1900 Art Lounge 1758 0522 Traditional crafts including palm weaving, pottery and woodwork. 1759 0551 Bahrain Arts Society Thursdays drawing and painting for Children, 18 hours @ BD25, 10am to 12pm Saturdays and Mondays drawing and Painting for adults, 18 hours @ BD30, 3pm to 7pm. 1778 6898 Bahrain Pottery Society Clay pottery, ceramic and painting lessons - Saturdays and Mondays, 5pm. Crafts Centre Gallery and Workshop 1756 8032 Arabic calligraphy Caravan Galleries 3996 5853 Kerala Arts and Cultural Association 3963 9319 The Studio 3975 4863 Pottery painting and more for adults and children, open 9.30am to 6pm Sunday to Thursday or by appointment. Birthday parties and private group bookings possible. 3940 2302/1732 2549 Shaikh Ibrahim Cultural and Research Centre Studio Ceramics 1759 9026
“Help” 24-Hour Helpline for Distressed Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous
3987 3357 1753 0020 1753 3558
151 181 191 100 140
Bahrain Bridge Club Bahrain Bridge Committee
3960 7219 3968 7190
Darts Balouch Club Sri Lanka Club
1724 2641 1727 1157
Speech & Drama Bahrain Cinema Club Dilmun Amateur Dramatics Society Folk Poetry Society Manama Theatre Club Manama Toastmasters Club
1772 5959 1769 0926 1776 1000 1777 6489 3965 5676
Ladies Clubs American Association of Bahrain 1756 4170 American Women’s Association 1775 6075 Australian Association of Bahrain 3910 1348 Awali Ladies Association 1767 8947 Bahrain Business Women’s Society 1772 1188 Bahrain Garden Club 1772 7625 Bahrain Women Society 1782 6777 Bahrain Young Ladies Society 1727 3508 BYLS-Toastmasters Club 1762 6237 Get together for Ladies 3917 4247/3902 7892 Indian Ladies Association 3980 5372 International Ladies Group 1772 9128 Madinat Hamad Women Society 3964 3396 Contact person Amal 3987 8758 1771 0944 Pakistani Women’s Association Second Sunday Newcomers 3927 0413/3641 1368
Language Schools Al Quran Translation 1764 5156 Bait Al Taleem 1764 3199 1782 7847 Berlitz British Council 1726 1555 Carousel 3967 3635 Lingua English Saturdays. Mondays and Wednesdays. English Language Classes, 4.30pm to 6pm, 4pm to 5.30pm. 1770 0040 English Language Centre Lingo - Ease Language Centre Budaiya Highway 1759 0895
Social Clubs Alliance Française 1768 3295 Assamese Community 3909 1959 Awali Caledonian Society 3636 6458 Bahrain Caledonian Society 3944 0658 1786 2620 Bahrain Hash House Harriers Bahrain Irish Society info@bahrainirishsociety.com Bahrain Kannada Sangha 1727 1257 Bahrain Round Table 3960 8568 Bahrain Rugby Football Club 1769 5809 1772 7127 Bahrain Welsh Society Balouch Club 1729 2231 British Club 1772 8245 ext. 32 Bhatia Mitra Mandal 3960 1789 Country Club 1759 3593 1769 0926 Dilmun Club Filipino Club 1726 2143 Indian Club 1725 3157 Karnataka Social Club 1725 4257 Pakistan Club 1725 8520 Pakistan Association 3941 5200 Royal Society of St. George 3972 6329 Saar Cultural & Sports Club 1779 0335 Shree Nayrana Cultural Society 1725 5517 Shri Gujarati Samaj 3962 4285 Sri Lanka Club 1727 6134 1772 7575 Wisdom Home Society
Wellbeing
Bridge
Hospitals & Clinics Emergency American Mission Hospital (AMH) Saar Medical & Dental Clinic (AMH) Bahrain Specialist Hospital Ibn Al-Nafees Hospital Salmaniya Hospital
Animal Welfare Al Ahli Animal Centre 1762 2102/3965 4343 BSPCA 1759 1231 Delmon Kennels & Training 3971 7609 Jassim Veterinary Centre (Sugaya) 1723 1242 Modern Animal Health Centre (Budaiya) 1759 0908 Nonie Coutts Surgery, (Manama and Saar) 1724 5515 Pet Arabia 1759 2288 Saar Kennels 1779 2064
1729 2231 1729 7878
Kelly Armatage Inc. Offering counselling, life coaching and cognitive behavioural therapy sessions Mob: 3993 1399 Email: info@kellyarmatage.com www.kellyarmatage.com
Chess Bahrain Chess Federation
1725 2133
Photography Awali Photo Society Bahrain Arts Society
1776 4468 3966 7751
December 2013 | Bahrain Confidential | 127
Lifestyle
Horoscopes Super Model, Tyra Banks celebrates her birthday this month.
Leo 23 July-21 August
There will be many times when you will wonder whether to go right or left, perhaps even whether you should just go straight instead but you will be forced to decide eventually and only time will tell if your decision is the right one. A good piece of advice to follow would be, “Listen to your heart”.
“I’m a perfectionist. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s okay if there are flaws here and there.” – Tyra Banks
Capricorn 22 December-
19 January Change should be expected and although it might cause some uneasiness and discomfort. Business is looking positive but be careful in terms of your relationships because enmity might be looking to taunt you. Don’t waste your time worrying about it too much.
Aquarius 20 January-
18 February You have been trying really hard to get past all your troubles and worries and at the end of this month, all your work will pay off. There may be some difficulty in concentration but hopefully with a little extra work, that will be easy to overcome. Favours are coming your way.
Pisces 19 February-
20 March This is a good month for finances and businesses. Because your professional life is in good shape, you will be able to enjoy your personal life a lot better this month and this will give you the opportunity to work on your relationships. Don’t let wonderful opportunities go to waste.
128 | Bahrain Confidential | December 2013
Aries 21 March-19 April
This is a favourable time to achieve your goals and make your dreams a reality. Disputes that you may have been having for a while will take an unexpected turn so don’t give up just yet. In terms of finances, you have been running into some trouble but this situation is likely to get better.
Taurus 20 April-20 May
You might be seeing mixed results in both your career and your finances this month but don’t let that dishearten you. You might have a few issues with your co workers and partners but if you do what needs to be done, everyone can be satisfied. Difficulties with the significant will disappear.
Gemini 21 May-21 June
Your long standing issues related to your profession just might come to an end soon. Your financial and personal troubles will also be disappearing. Harmony and peace will find their way to you and everything that was once rough will become smooth.
Cancer 22 June-22 July
This time seems to be one of transitions. If your transitions don’t make your life easier, at least be thankful that they don’t make your life worse. Some of what you do with your talent might go unnoticed but don’t question your self worth. Don’t jump to conclusions about others.
Virgo 22August-
21 September Things have been looking bad lately but don’t beat yourself up over it. You need to trust yourself and your emotions A little bit of wisdom will do you some good; you can true wisdom only within yourself. Learn from your experiences and remember your lessons.
Libra 22September-
22 October You might find yourself in moody situations and you may feel a bit blue every now and then but toughen up and pull through. You might be experiencing negative emotions from your friends and loyalties might come into question but so what? Nothing lasts forever.
Scorpio 23 October-
22 November Your will power will be tested this month. You might find yourself falling into the wrong relationships, with the wrong people. Look beyond your own boundaries and through the perspective of those around you. In terms of your career and finances, things are looking up.
Sagittarius 23 November-
21 December Your level of self confidence and your desires are likely to fall into balance, giving you less to worry about. Take the time to make new plans, initiate new projects and take up new ambitions. Both your personal and professional life are in dire need of change and something new.
cartier.com
TANK ANGLAISE New Collection