Bahrain This Month - August 2013

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

BD 2.000 (SR 20)

August 2013 ~ Vol. 17 ~ Issue 8 www.bahrainthismonth.com

Summer Festival

Music & Fun

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Featured This Month:

ASEAN Day | India in Bahrain | Summer Coolers

HAPPENINGS ­ ~ DINING ~ ARTS SCENE ~ CLUBS & SPORTS ~ KIDS’ EVENTS ~ AFTER DARK ~ SAT TV

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Issue 192

Contents August 2013 Cover Story:

23 Summer Festival What would summer be without the annual summer festival?

Slightly later this year, due to Ramadan, there’s still plenty to

23

keep the children occupied.

Happenings: Bahrain This Month reviews events happening around town during the month of August 2013:

24

48

23 Mid Summer Carnival: Scooby Doo and friends are sure to entertain 28 ASEAN Day: Celebrating Southeast Asia 32 Art Initiative: Capturing your favourite photos online 34 Noble Aspirations: Offering a helping hand to those in need 36 Summer Activities: Where to keep the kids occupied 38 Olympian Hopes: The Kingdom’s U-23 soccer team aims for gold 23 Calendars: Events during August

Spotlight:

48 Beating the Odds The word ‘meningitis’ sounds terrifying; Liam Hunt recounts

52

his recent encounter with this illness and how he has

54

recovered from receiving shocking news.

Business:

51 Navigating Choppy Waters The new board of the Bankers’ Association of Bahrain meets to address a number of pressing issues, including an impending review of charges to customers.

56

108 Bystander At BTM we we went French this month, celebrating this European country’s national day, taking in a concert and a business meeting. We witnessed the launch of a new Rolls-Royce marque and new models from Lexus and Jeep, and spent time with the kids at the Nadeen School sports day.

There were Iftars and Ghabgas to take in from the likes of VIVA as well.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

52 Melding Nature with Art To establish a landscaping business in this part of the world requires a mentality that thrives on beating the odds, as Abdulla Mani explains.

54 Nurturing Female Enterprise The Bahrain Development Bank, in conjunction with the Supreme Council for Women, establishes a second business incubator — just for women.

August 2013 3

Issue 192

Contents August 2013 India in Bahrain:

61 Long-standing Partner Relations between Bahrain and India continue to expand

61

across facets of our lives and business, explains Dr Mohan Kumar, the Indian ambassador to the Kingdom.

Downtime: 81 Three’s the Magic Number: 3D images you can touch 82 Festival Time: Essential gear for attending summer festivals 84 Showcase: Lulu Hypermarket gadgets 86 Music: Seeking the Holy Grail 88 Computer Games: Download and conquer 89 Websites: News and pictures 90 Apps: Keeping fit for the weather 91 Movies: The end of internships

86

101

Motoring: 101 Sporty and Elegant: Lexus IS 102 Test Drive: Peugeot 4008 103 Spotlight: Innovative leasing plans from Euro Motors

Dining: 107 Happy Hours: The K Lounge Bistro and Grill 108 Feature: Summer coolers 112 Showcase: Al Arisha Restaurant

Showcase:

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117

32

34

36

125 126 127 128

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WIN WIN Tarotscope AD Index Last word

115 What’s New: Iconic colours 116 Marketplace: Latest products and services

107 August 2013 5

The team

Bahrain This Month August 2013

Publisher and Chairman George F. Middleton Email: george@bahrainthismonth.com Publishing Director David M. Robertson Editorial queries: editor@redhousemarketing.com Editorial Consultant Dr. Paul Balles Assistant Editor Elma Bartholomew Events Editor Maryam Toorani

Dear Readers,

Contributors James Claire (dining), Simi Kamboj

Like many of my fellow residents in the Kingdom I’ve taken a couple of weeks out of the blistering heat in the Gulf — to take in a heat wave in Europe! Such is life; there’s nothing better, though, than a spot of warmth in Paris to feel refreshed and to recharge the batteries. It was also a pleasure to meet up with my old friend Jurgen Michelfelder in Arbon, Switzerland.

I will, however, be back to take in a potpourri of events over Eid and to prepare myself for what I anticipate will be a busy last few months of the year.

In the meantime I’ll be taking a time out to enjoy an old favourite, Scooby Doo. The Ministry of Culture has yet again put together an entertaining programme of events for the Summer Festival, with an emphasis on music to rid ourselves of any summer blues. Also expect me to cheering on the Kingdom’s Under-23 soccer team as they aim for gold in the GCC Gold Cup for emerging players.

In our Spotlight article this month we talk to Liam Hunt about his recent encounter with meningitis. It’s one of those illnesses that we often hear has afflicted someone else; it comes as shock to discover you have contracted the ailment yourself. Liam speaks about his recovery and the support he received from family and friends.

The Bahrain Development Bank, working with the Supreme Council for Women, opens up a second business incubator in A’ali — exclusively for women. Bahrain can be rightly proud of its track record in promoting the rights of women, and this new venture continues to demonstrate the Kingdom’s pioneering role in this regard within the Gulf region.

We also talk to Abdulla Mani about the trials and tribulations of establishing a landscaping business in this part of the world, as well as speaking to Patrick de Groot about his latest venture, The Domain Hotel.

To keep us refreshed we’ve included our feature on summer coolers in this issue, offering a tempting range of delights to soothe our souls as the heat outside shows no signs of abating. There’s also our annual India in Bahrain review and our Downtime pages are packed with ideas to while away our free hours.

So, whatever you do during the remaining days of summer, be sure to enjoy the great way of life that the Kingdom has to offer.

Print Production Manager Sabu Sebastian Layout and Graphics Dalal Al-Sabbagh, Romeo San Miguel, Rodolfo A. Reyes Jr. Staff Photographers Shankar Kunhambu, Subeesh Kumar N S Administration and Finance Samson Vaz, Marlyn Ragasa Personnel Manager Bassem A. Al Khabbaz Sales Manager Mayukh Majumdar Media Sales Marise Prata Dos Santos, Hilary James Circulation Manager Fawaz Al Balooshi Distribution Team CM Abdul Rahman, Rafeeq Mohammed, Gopal Arul Kumar, Epegenio Tempra Jr. Distributor Al Hilal Corporation Photography Picture Arabia: andrew@picturearabia.com Printing Press Dar Akhbar Al Khaleej W.L.L., Bahrain

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Red House Marketing (Jersey) Ltd. P.O. Box 641, No. 1 Seaton Place St., Helier Jersey JE48JJ, Channel Islands, U.K.

Red House Marketing P.O. Box 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: (+973) 17 813-777, Fax: (+973) 17 813-700 Email: info@redhousemarketing.com www.bahrainthismonth.com © Copyright Reserved 2005 The concept, content, style and design of this publication remain the exclusive property of Red House Marketing (Jersey) Ltd. and must not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written permission. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, Red House Marketing cannot accept legal responsibility for any error or omission.

• Views expressed in this magazine by journalists

and writers are not necessarily those of the publishers of Bahrain This Month.

Cover

Cover Picture: Scooby Doo and friends are on the bill for this year’s Summer Festival.

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

Licensed by the Ministry of Information Publication Code: TA001 ISBN 1 899 348 09 3

BD 2.000 (SR 20)

August 2013 ~ Vol. 17 ~ Issue 8

Only 8 issues to go.

George F. Middleton Publisher and Chairman

April 2014

Bystander Editor Anil Ravi Shankar

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Featured This Month:

ASEAN Day | India in Bahrain | Summer Coolers

HAPPENINGS ~ DINING ~ ARTS SCENE ~ CLUBS & SPORTS ~ KIDS’ EVENTS ~ AFTER DARK ~ SAT TV

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August 2013 7

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BFEA First Annual Family Luncheon Under the patronage of HE Dr Hassan Fakhro, Industry and Commerce Minister, the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations (BFEA) hosted it's first Expatriate Annual Family Lunch. The event held at the held at the Alumni Club, Adliya last month was attended by a large number of expatriates and their families

Angela & HE Dr Hassan Fakhro & Abdulrahman

Lynette, Glyn, Rebecca, George, Arthur, Anne, Grace & Sarah

Shaun, Anita, Shannan, Shayne & Samson

Christy, Leo, Sime & Kevin

8 August 2013

Betsy Mathieson, Ingrid & Neville

Geg & HE Anura Mudiyanselage Rajakuruna, Sri Lankan Ambassador

HE Ahmed Shahizan, Malaysian Ambassador & Nor Hayati

Betsy with Angela & HE Dr Hassan Fakhro

Meher & George

Johnson

Suresh & Shakuntala

Ancy, Deepthi & Peter

Arul & Leo

Chris

Stephanie & Audrey

Maya

Bob, Rupert & Ann

Maria & Nelly

Urvashi & Ingrid

Darius, Darynee & Dinsy

Shoroq, Ahmed & Shatha

Hemant & Chirag

Asli & Gulberk

Mae Ann & Victor

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Abdulla & Khan

Seneja, Janeesha & Raghunath

Pandula, Sampath & Nihal

Abdulla & Robert

Leonora, Cheryl & Judy

Wazeer & Hanif

Saurabh & Puja

Zubair

Nazli, Kudri & Ulku

Sharon, Rowena & Melitta

Gilbert, Serah & Poornima

Sithija & Maheshwara

Kevin & Jessica

Kirsty & Helen

Wasantha & Priyantha

Khalid & Nazli

Sajid, Rashid & Khalid

Jeewa, Munitha & Renuka

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Paolose, Richard & Zonica

Loshitha, Manuldee & Varsha

Edwin, Dennis & Jerin

Raphy & Jacob

Robert & Ann

August 2013 9

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French National Day Celebrations HE Christian Testot, French Ambassador, hosted a reception to celebrate the French National Day. The event attended HE Sameera Rajab, Minister of State for Information Affairs, HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, HE Shaikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, diplomats & guests was held at the Ambassador's residence last month Dr Dhafer Al Umran, HE Shaikh Salman, HE Shaikha Haya, HE Sameera Rajab & HE Christian Testot cut the cake

Nejib, HE Sameera Rajab, HE Sabine Tauffmann, German Ambassador & Rodolphe

HE Nejib Senoussi, Algerian Ambassador, Dr Dhafer Al Umran, HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa & HE Christian Testot

HE Alberto Vecchi, Italian Ambassador & Abdulla Juma

Taher, HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador, Dr Dhafer Al Umran, HE Chilman Arisman, Indonesian Ambassador, HE Sahid S. Glang, Philippines Ambassador & HE Anura Mudiyanselage Rajakuruna, Sri Lankan Ambassador

Abdulrahmin, HE Iain Lindsay & Waleed

Admiral Miller & Caitlin

Fredric, Cogne, Andre & HE Christian Testot

Alexandre, Martine & Cynthia

Dominique & Gabay

Aicha & Salma

Dr Said, Dr Flouty & Noura

Mendy & Ratna

Jennifer & Jules

Sebaic, Pla & Leon

Philip, Hayat & Mariam

Ahmed & Noora

Mr & Mrs Wazen

Mark & TR

10 August 2013

Nasser Alarayedh

Peter

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‫ سبتمبر‬9 - ‫ أغسطس‬18

18 AUGUST - 9 SEPTEMBER

Follow us on: Twitter@BahrainSummer Facebook.com/BahrainSummer Instagram/moc_bh

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Lexus IS Models Launch Ebrahim K. Kanoo, the sole distributor of Toyota and Lexus in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has introduced the all-new Lexus IS model range at the Lexus Showroom in Sitra, in the presence of Ebrahim K. Kanoo's top management, Lexus top executives, Lexus enthusiasts and members of the local press

Vivek & Omar

Ismail Akbar & Koji Nagata

The all-new Lexus IS model

Issa, Ebrahim, Fawaz, Wasna, Waleed, Nasser & Mohammed Kanoo

12 August 2013

Fawaz & Wasna Kanoo

Anne, Bashar Darkazalli, George, Grace & Glyn

Nadeem, Khalid & Alaa

Zainal, Lourdes & Bisan

Reem, Zainab, Noor & Alinoor

Ali, Mahmood & Issa Kanoo

Ali, Ismail & Zahra

Yunus, Sebahat & Ozer

Gurcharan Singh & Khalid Kanoo

Zaid

Isa & Fawaz

Layla, Grace, George, Anne & Charlie

Ali & Alaa

Ayman

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Rotary Clubs Handover Dinner The Rotary Clubs of Manama, Salmaniya & Adliya hosted their annual handover dinner at which the clubs welcomed their new presidents and committee members.

The fund raising event was held at the Gilgamesh Ballroom, Golden Tulip Hotel last month

Hasan Haider, Robert Timmers, Pres. Hussain Tadayon, Pres. Fareed Bushehri, Pres. Sebahat Isik, Julian Clarke & Sajida Tabbara

Osama Muein, Khalid Turk, Karim Mouawad, Sebahat Isik (Pres) Steve Glykys, Amira Ismail, Ashraf Obeid, Marjan Modara, Yusuf Fakhro, Raed Al Samahiji & Ernst Weber

Hisham, Khalid, Ann & Robert

Elenora, Marta & Sebahat

Waleed, Ajay & Adnan

Joseph, Rupert & Ann

Hind & Mohammed

Fareed & Roya

14 August 2013

George & Hassan

Brian & Debbie

Bob & Sunita

Papa G was in the house

Zaid

Steve

Jameela & Rangin

Madeleine & Henry

Poonam & Kishore

Raed & Areej

Younis & Ingrid

Viran & Rekha

Rodolphe

Hussain

Huda

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VIVA Media Ghabga In recognition of the continuous support and positive role played by the media, VIVA hosted members of the Bahrain media community for a ghabga gathering at the VIVA-sponsored Al Khayma tent at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel & Spa. The event, which was attended by VIVA CEO, Ulaiyan Al Wetaid along with company’s top management team offered an excellent opportunity to network and socialize with media representatives who enjoyed an evening of traditional live entertainment and an extravagant spread of Arabic cuisine

Nezar Habib, Ulaiyan Al Wetaid, Andrew Hanna, COO VIVA, Jamal Al Sayed & Karla Solano

Mohammed Ismail, Jamal Al Sayed & Jamal Al Yaqoot

Andrew Hanna with guests at the event

Robert, David, Charlie, Layla & Karla

Hebba & Arish

Yousif & Mohaned

Ghassan & Ian

Mayette & Angela

Rukhaya, Samar, Karla & Pooja

Andrew & Jamal

Issa & Khalid

Latha & Alison

Having fun with the Elephant Booth

Nassem

Jamal & Mohammed

Ali

Ulaiyan Al Wetaid & Andrew Hanna with members of the media

16 August 2013

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Bahraini French Business Club Dinner Reception The Bahraini French Business Club (CAFB) hosted a dinner reception for members and guests at Al Fanar, The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa last month. At the event Khalid Almoayed was inducted as a honorary member

CAFB president Rodolphe Melki & Khalid Almoayed

Dr Faisal, Taskin, Mina, Kamal & Netin

Abdulla, Abdul Hamid, Dr Faisal, Hisham & Waleed

Francois, Fuad & Pramod

Abdul Hamid, Jawad Al Hawaj, Frederic & Waleed Kanoo

Fares, Rana & Roger

Fadhel & Dominic

Reem, Guillaume & Zied

Viveka, Mathias & Btisam

Oussama & Salma

Rodolphe & Christine

Guillaume & Aurelien

Sandra & Gaby

BAC Staff Ghabga Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) hosted its annual staff Ghabga during the Holy Month of Ramadan at the Al Ghazal Ballroom, The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel & Spa. The event was attended by Mohamed Al Binfalah, CEO of BAC, management & staff

Gordon & Cheryl

18 August 2013

Mohamed Al Binfalah

Laila, Kawther, Aysha & Maryam

Eyad, Hesham & Hussain

Noor, Sharifa & Hanan

Fatima, Nayla & Lubna

Emma & Clifford

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St Christopher's Summer Ball St Christopher's School hosted a summer ball for the school's senior students to celebrate the end of term. The event attended by students and teachers was held at the Crowne Plaza's Bahrain Conference Centre last month

Tamara & Konrad

Fanan & Reema

Dena, Ellie & Sophie

Aditi & Hayley

Diddam, Ahad & Saif

Celine & Milan

Mehdi, Justin & Karan

Faye & Melinda

Aysha & Yasmine

20 August 2013

Leena, Mrinal, Deepali, Angelina & Devi

Tom, Fern & Conor

Noora, Lubna & Amanda

Hannah & Alienor

Olivia & Esme

Nick

Hannah & Tara

Farah, Shaikha, Sahar, Jana & Jordanna

Keerthana, Namita & Rachael

Fionnuala & Olivia

Layla, Persia & Nadia

Michael, Ashweena & Raeesah

Ed

Gabby & Aaliyah

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Bentley Perfume Launch Al Hawaj and Sprecher & Berrier Group of Companies launched the brand’s first fragrance entitled ‘Bentley for Men’ at the Ahmed Zayani and Sons showroom in Zinj. The event was attended by Yvan Jacqueline, Sprecher & Berrier group general manager, HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador, HE Christian Testot, French Ambassador, Al Hawaj management, Ahmed Zayani and Sons management, members of the media and a number of guests

Brigette Lindsay, Alicia, Jawad Y. Al Hawaj, Naser Al Zayani, HE Christian Testot, HE Iain Lindsay, Riyadh Al Zayani & Yousif

Marise, Godwin, Bambi & Alison

Hebba, Yvan Jacqueline & Alicia

Nicolas, Rajeev, John, Susheel, Sham & Harish

HE Iain Lindsay & Abdulwahab Al Hawaj

Lubna

Sattar, Efthekar, Hazem, Shaker & Vanessa

Children's Fun Day The Crowne Plaza Bahrain held and sponsored a Children's Fun Day event with a day of enjoyment and activities for children under the care of the Royal Charity Organisation, in celebration of International Children's Day at the hotel's poolside area Sayed, Ahmed & Tariq

Abdulrahman & Abdulla

Dukra & Noora

Subash

Jassim & Ebrahim

Sandie & Winnie

22 August 2013

The kids with Crowne Plaza staff members

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happeningsthismonth

Ballet Scheherazade

Mid Summer Carnival Ankita Mamgain

Back with a raft of arts and culture events from home and abroad, the Bahrain Summer Festival gives you reason to rejoice.

Returning with its fifth edition, the Bahrain Summer Festival organised by the Ministry of Culture is a potpourri of ethnic events held in the Kingdom. It invites people from various genres and ages to sample some of the finest creative and cultural offerings from around the globe. The festival is a mélange of art, theatre, music and dance, bringing together talented artists and performers from countries like Lebanon, Germany, Thailand and India.

From educative activities and workshops to elaborate stage productions and concerts, the festival is a treat for one and all.

Scheduled to run from August 18 until September 9 across various locations, the event is a part of the Manama Capital of Arab Tourism Programme for 2013. E Call 80 008-089 or visit www.bahrainsummer.bh.

Nakhool City Programme When? August 18-September 9 Where? Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) The Nakhool City invites you to enjoy informative workshops on art, puppetry, theatre, technology, dance and music. The Also this month

programme that is spread over a month introduces you to the adventurous duo — Nakhool and Nakhoola. Discover a world of colour with enchanting shows, educational workshops and interactive activities.

Magida El Roumi: A message of love & peace When: August 18 Where? TBA Lose yourself in the soulful strains of Lebanese singer Magida El Roumi. Celebrated the world over for her performances of poetic verses and melodic renditions, she has been hailed as a true ambassador of love and compassion. Through her concert titled ‘A Message of Love & Peace’, she ushers you into an unforgettable evening filled with nostalgia and hope as she performs the best of her illustrious repertoire.

When? August 2 Event? Burnout nights Venue? BIC Think you are a drifting genius?

This month you can join in on the action for BD5.

E Call 17 450-000.

When? August 6, 9 Event? Golf tournaments Venue? Royal Golf Club Take a swing at it in the Green Keeper’s Revenge and Wee Monty Power Play.

E Call 17 750-777.

When? August 15-25 Event? Olympic Gulf Cup Venue? Bahrain National Stadium Cheer on the Olympic team as they compete for the Gulf Cup. E Call 17 685-775.

When? August 18 to September Event? Summer festival Venue? Various locations The Bahrain Summer Festival gets under way with some fun events.

E Call 80 008-089.

Magida El Roumi

32 x Arts & Culture - 34 x Clubs & Societies - 36 x Teens & Kids - 38 x Sports & Recreation

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When? August 1-3 Event? Shopping festival Venue? BIECC Falling behind on your Eid shopping? Head to the Bahrain Shopping Festival.

E Call 36 554-441.

When? September 6-7 Event? Summer festival Venue? Coral Bay Enjoy a weekend of good music, great food and a host of water sport activities.

E Call 17 312-700.

August 2013 23

happeningsthismonth

Reflection of Thais When? August 20 Where? Cultural Hall This immensely talented trio of Thai musicians from the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music, presents a fascinating amalgamation of western classical music and Thai folk tunes. The audience is promised a musical journey, which features great masterpieces like arias of Puccini, Verdi and Britten in addition to classics from Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera.

Expect an entertaining evening of the old and the contemporary wrapped up in the exotic.

Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries When? August 21-25 Where? BIECC Everybody’s favourite ghostbusters are in town. Join Scooby, Shaggy and the rest of the gang in their theatrical avatar that includes an original script and soundtrack, and of course the classic Scooby-Doo theme song. The musical features a worldclass cast of theatre professionals, clever staging and heaps of spooky special effects.

Songs of Five Directions When? August 22-September 6 (Every Thursday and Friday) Where? Across various locations The Ministry of Culture unfurls the wealth of Bahrain’s folk music by organising a series of open-air concerts at some of Bahrain’s most prominent historical and cultural sites. The event promises performances by some of the most renowned local artists and folk bands. It celebrates original cultural aspects of the island such as pearling, harvest, fishing, weddings and religious festivals. The shows are held across the five governorates: Bahrain Fort Museum (North), Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa House (Muharraq), Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed Al-Fateh Fort (South), Bab Al Bahrain (Capital) and Isa Town Walkway (Central).

Sanostra: Face It! When? August 29-30 Where? BIECC Enjoy the awe-inspiring, acrobatic moves of Sanostra, a group that has come all the way from Germany. The show entails a mix of elements from swinging poles and bike artists to flying drummers and light dancers. The visual appeal is further amplified by cutting-edge three-dimensional video projections that complement the futuristic choreography. This one-of-a-kind treat for the senses is not to be missed!

24 August 2013

Mohammad Assaf When? September 1 Where? TBA Mohammad Assaf of Arab Idol fame brings his incredible voice to Bahraini soil. This Palestinian prodigy, after winning the hearts of millions, is all set to enthral the Kingdom’s music lovers. Often compared to Egyptian legend Abdel Halim Hafez, the young singer is the highlight of the Bahrain Summer Festival 2013.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

SLIMMING | BE AUTY | FITNES S F O R

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W O M E N

happeningsthismonth Mystic India: The World Tour When? September 8-9 Where? BIECC Visit the mystical subcontinent through a spectacular Bollywood dance production that transforms the stage into a heady vortex of movement and colours. Let the costumes, drama, music, lights, magnificent sets and larger than life choreography transport you to the streets of Mumbai. Here’s the confluence of East, West, contemporary, old, mellow, extreme and everything in between.

Farida Mohammad Ali When? September 5 Where? TBA Considered one of the most prominent female voices of her generation, Farida Mohammad Ali brings her melodic magic to Bahrain. Her extraordinary talent can be sampled as she performs a selection of some of her best works and of timehonoured Arab poets.

Barney Let’s Go! Live on Stage!

When? September 2-6 Where? BIECC Everyone’s favourite dinosaur Barney returns to the stage to share his latest adventures in a roller coaster ride of song, dance and fun. This musical production shares Barney’s experience in building his toys from scratch after they were broken by his friends. Knowing that nothing beats the power of imagination, the creators have put together an ingenious story and are aided by superb performances.

26 August 2013

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happeningsthismonth When? August 22 | Event? ASEAN Day | Venue? Al A’ali Shopping Complex

HE Dato’ Ahmad Shahizan Abd Samad

Shared Aspirations This month sees the ASEAN community in Bahrain coming together to celebrate a common history and collective ideals.

28 August 2013

Given the economic meltdown in the developed countries and the rise of the Asian Dragons, we seem to be heading into an Asian century. As eyes increasingly turn towards Southeast Asia, it’s time to commemorate the formation of what is possibly the most successful intergovernmental organisation in the developing world — the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

It was on August 8, 1967 that the five founding fathers — Indonesia, Malaysia , Philippines, Singapore and Thailand — aligned in a bid to promote regional peace, stability and political cooperation, in what is known as the Bangkok Declaration.

“ASEAN has grown by leaps and bounds since those early days. With a combined population of around 600 million, the ten partner countries together represent a US$3 trillion economy and have an observer’s status at the UN,” says Malaysian Ambassador to Bahrain, His Excellency Dato’ Ahmad Shahizan.

Ambassador Shahizan is perhaps best equipped to talk on the subject, given that he was director-general of the ASEAN office after completing his ambassadorial posting in Pakistan in 2009.

It is no coincidence that he is handling the arrangements for the ASEAN Day celebrations in Bahrain this year.

“Celebrations will start with an ASEAN flag-raising ceremony at Al A’ali Shopping Complex, when the ASEAN anthem will be sung. All the ASEAN heads of mission, as well as around 500 members of the ASEAN community, are likely to attend the

event. The evening will also feature an exhibition of Sepak takraw, a popular sport of Southeast Asia that is the equivalent of volley ball but played with your feet,” he says.

Al A’ali Shopping Complex is the main sponsor of the event, providing the venue as well as the players’ costumes.

In keeping with the ASEAN motto of ‘One Vision, One Identity, One Community’ the August celebrations will culminate with an ASEAN Cup soccer match and a gala dinner organised by the ASEAN community in Bahrain led by the President of the Malaysian Club of Bahrain and the Embassy of Malaysia.

Around 70,000 members of ASEAN countries are resident in Bahrain at present.

“The objective is to bring together nationals of the ASEAN countries in the Kingdom and get them to bond together as an ASEAN Community,” he says.

ASEAN countries have achieved a certain degree of economic integration with the setting up of an ASEAN free trade arrangement (AFTA). Further integration involving physical and institutional connectivity along with seamless movement connecting people-to-people within the region is on the cards.

The ten partners have decided to accelerate plans for integration from 2020 to 2015 to achieve a single entity, the ASEAN Community. Malaysia’s contribution during this countdown will come under the spotlight as the country chairs ASEAN for the year 2015. E Call 17 564-551.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

happeningsthismonth When? Until August 7 | Event? Ramadan Promotion | Venue? The Bahrain Mall THE BAHRAIN MALL

The Lucky Charger Taking the island’s festive promotions a notch above, this popular mall saves its most exciting offer for last.

Raffle draws are a customary feature of Ramadan promotions.

With a plethora of exciting prizes on offer, thousands of these tickets are bought each day and a handful of us do get a piece of these sweepstakes.

However, pulling all stops this season is The Bahrain Mall, adding a massive attraction as its mega draw. Enticing the mall’s tremendous footfall is a brand-new Dodge Charger on display that goes to the grand prize winner of the raffle draw.

Sponsored by Ahmed Zayani & Sons WLL, this award-winning, power-packed sedan is impossible to ignore when you shop at the mall.

“It’s the iconic character, craftsmanship and tremendous performance that make this car so special. The Dodge Charger is truly one of our most treasured possessions. We are proud to offer it as the grand prize during Ramadan at The Bahrain Mall,” said Godwin D’Cruz, sales and marketing manager at Ahmed Zayani & Sons WLL. Every BD10 purchase at any store in the mall grants you a raffle ticket. All you have to do is hope your ticket gets selected.

Highlighting other attractions for the festive season, the mall’s marketing manager Ilse Viljoen mentions, “Ramadan celebrations at The Bahrain Mall also feature many events where local artists and craftsmen showcase their skills in pottery, painting and basket-weaving.”

Perk up your shopping experience with live Arabic music and freshly cooked local delicacies. E Call 17 558-101.

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Nadeen School Sports Day The Nadeen School held its annual sports day for students last month. The sports day was held at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club (RFC) in Saar last month James & Henry

Jordiu, Lucy, Tina & Ethan

Katya, Rachel, Henry & Yousif

Ahmed, James & Rhys Chantal, Tooti, Steph, Georgia & Marin

Lawrence & Kevin

30 August 2013

Enana, Dana & Annika

James & Savvas

Rhyanna, Alma & Helen

Greta

Olivia, Maya & Zainab

Broodi

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happeningsartsculture When? August 8 | Event? Art programme

Showcase Your Talent Looking for a platform that could elevate your art onto the next level? Why not print your pieces on beautiful canvases for the world to see?

If you, like most Bahrainis, love taking pictures (Instagram, anyone?), then you must have heard of Canvas.bh. The company turns your everyday images and photographs into pieces of art by printing them on canvases. This month, founder Yazin Al-Irhayim hopes to take it up a notch by collaborating with local Bahraini talents for an innovative art initiative.

“There are very few artists in Bahrain that can afford to work on their art full-time since it rarely brings in any income. Our new programme, the Canvas.bh Limited aims to change that.

We provide an opportunity for any artists, professionals and amateurs, to share their art with the public,” explains Yazin.

The line-up of artists include photographers, graphic designers, calligraphers, and yes, even Instagramers! The programme is simple. Launching during Eid celebrations, one artist a week, every week, will be featured on the company’s website and social media channels.

This reaches a broad spectrum of audiences across the Middle East, promoting the artist’s work on a platform that would otherwise be difficult to attain. All the artist has to do is submit their art and Canvas.bh takes care of everything else — from printing their work to preparing the sales shipments.

“We’ve got great artistic talent here in Bahrain; I feel like it’s

32 August 2013

our role to make sure this talent is both recognised and rewarded. We make both of these easy through Canvas.bh Limited. Except for the rare few, most artists in Bahrain are really bankers, engineers or have otherwise ‘normal’ jobs. We think it’s about time that changed. This is an opportunity for artists to test their creations. If people are willing to buy your art, then that’s solid validation of your talent,” he continues.

Applications are reviewed and are chosen based on a straight vote by a group that Yazin has set up to curate the artists.

When it comes to the type of art featured, he wants to leave no stone unturned.

“Surprise us! Creativity has no limits; we’ll feature anything from nondescript smudges to very detailed landscape art.

Artists have different styles of expressing themselves; we showcase a variety of those styles,” he adds.

Yazin goes on to stress that the Kingdom boasts a lot of unrecognised talent and that collaborating with it is important.

“We see ourselves as the glue that connects artists with art institutions here in Bahrain, with the ultimate vision of elevating both the skills of these artists and the recognition they receive,” he says.

Keep your ears to the ground as Yazin and his company plan for another exciting project that could be released by the end of the year.

E Call 38 382-969.

Artistic Legacy In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Parisbased Institut du Monde Arabe, an exceptional collection presenting an exhaustive panorama of contemporary Arab art will be on display this month. From paintings and sculptures to photography and video installations, the collection will feature works by some of the most renowned names in the contemporary art scene.

Titled 25 Years of Arab Creativity, the exhibition will be held at the Bahrain National Museum until September 15. Exhibition timings during Ramadan are 8am to 2pm and 8.30pm to 2am. After Ramadan timings are 8am to 8pm.

E Call 17 298-777.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Faisal Osama

Noble Aspirations Only those who have selflessly helped the destitute know the real joy of giving. Faisal Osama is one of the rare breed.

Reaching out to the disadvantaged and distressed comes naturally to Faisal Osama. The 20-year-old from Hamad Town first decided to launch his charity when he was 16. It was only in early 2012 that he could realise his dream with HopeShip Bahrain.

“We used the word ‘ship’ in the name to underscore the teamwork involved. We are a group of 70 volunteers, most of who are teenagers, but their hard work and discipline keeps the ship sailing,” says Faisal.

The team’s first project last year was the collection of good quality clothes through appeals disseminated on social media channels. After sorting, the clothes were gift-wrapped and distributed to impoverished families in Muharraq. On the occasion of Eid last year, HopeShip Bahrain distributed hundreds of packets of traditional snacks and halwa to the families in Hamad Town, Manama, Sehla, Isa Town and Jid Ali. The volunteers, with their local knowledge, are a valuable help when the team is working in some of Bahrain’s old neighbourhoods and remote villages, where locating addresses can be particularly difficult.

“Sometimes, people are too proud to ask for help, even if they are in dire need. Our volunteers keep us posted about the families and the areas where our assistance is needed,” he notes.

A notable feature of HopeShip Bahrain is that it doesn’t restrict itself within a specific sector, extending help to the disabled, the underprivileged, blind people, orphans and even expatriate labourers.

34 August 2013

“Some people have asked why we extend help to those from other religions or even expatriates, but that’s not our concern.

Anybody who needs help deserves assistance. We continue to extend ourselves to poor expatriates in an open-minded manner, regardless of their religion or sect,” Faisal explains.

In one of their biggest charity campaigns over two months, HopeShip volunteers have collected 2,000 toys including board games, soft toys and bicycles. Some of these toys were given out during a Gurgaon evening for friends and relatives of physically challenged children this Ramadan. Also, a large number of toys will be sent to children in the war-torn regions of Syria.

Faisal’s dream campaign is to be able to repaint some of the oldest and most dilapidated streets in Manama, which are disfigured by graffiti. The second-year logistics student of Bahrain Polytechnic plans to launch a collection drive later this year.

Grooming leaders Much of what HopeShip Bahrain has accomplished in Bahrain involves team effort and social cohesion. Faisal is keen to have volunteers in his team treat their experience here as training ground for achieving higher things in life.

“We hold regular training sessions to build teamwork and leadership qualities in the Bahraini youngsters I work with.

Earlier this year, we invited experts from the Challenger Team in Jordan, who are specialists in the fields of professional training and capacity building, to train our volunteers. I would like to see them running their own social initiatives when they grow older,” he says.

E Call 33 166-655.

Rock Your Socks Off The British Club rings in the Eid celebrations with a special performance by one of the Kingdom’s favourite bands, The Boxtones. The free event will feature the five-piece Scottish musicians from 8-11pm in the club’s Windsor Room. To be held on August 9, don’t miss the live entertainment by Louise Peel, Gary Tierney, Gill Tierney, Patrick Thibault and Will Janssen hit the stage for another unforgettable show.

The band covers everyone from Johnny Cash, Adele, Guns N’ Roses and Rihanna.

The Boxtones are as energetic and dynamic as they come with a natural ability to reach every audience they entertain. This U.K band offers a versatile performance to suit any venue and engage any crowd anywhere in the world. They have reached cult status playing to packed audiences.

E Call 17 728-245.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Mini-golf Hospitality Tent Kid’s Cinema Cartoon Characters

Balloon Twisters Traditional Shows Henna Designers www.yateemcentre.com www.facebook.com/yateemcentre

Draw Dates: 15/7, 22/7, 29/7, 14/8

Manama Suq

happeningskidsteens

Fun Away from the Sun Summer holidays, despite the sweltering heat, are the most anticipated time of the year for kids. Here’s how they can make the most of their favourite time.

The last day of school before the summer break unleashes a spirit that is akin to a sugar rush that lasts for almost two months.

With a host of options available to keep your little ones busy, you might want to stretch their engagements beyond the kitchen craft and twilight playoffs. Here’s our roundup of some of the most interesting summer activities that the island has to offer.

Mad scientists When? August 1-30 Where? Studio Ceramics Introduce your children to the tranquil environment of Studio Ceramics. The centre is running a special summer camp that introduces kids to ceramic painting and clay modelling. It also provides daily sessions of mad Science with exciting experiments and workshops. The items made by the children will be on display at the studio. E Call 17 599-026.

Agile amigos When? August 1-22 Where? Life Fit Gym Known to organise regular events for different age groups, Life Fit Gym makes no exception this summer. They are running a fitness camp for ages three to 13. From taekwondo, zumba, swimming and gymnastics to football, music and dance, there’s a healthy mix of activities planned from Sunday to Thursday.

E Call 17 692-424.

Little fashionistas When? August 1-22 Where? The Official Fashion Organisation (TOFO) An amazing concept in itself, TOFO is a centre of fashion

36 August 2013

studies for the young and chic. The centre offers classes and workshops in fashion design, dressmaking, textiles and prints, sewing techniques and modelling. Watch your child create a fashion line during the camp and catch the little ones strutting down the runway at the end.

E Call 17 180-343.

The canter-banter When? Throughout summer Where? Twin Palms Riding Centre Twin Palms Riding Centre has ponies and horses that will suit a wide range of age and ability. Training riders as young as four years old, their instructors employ a hands-on approach in coaching young learners. Lessons take place in the shaded sand arenas in the summer months. E Call 39 687-755.

Aikido kids When? Throughout summer Where? Bahrain Aikido Academy Introduce your little samurai to the ancient Japanese martial art of aikido. Considered a way of life, it emphasises improving focus and boosting confidence in an environment that is fun and interactive. Its family day, gives parents an opportunity to engage in a fun activity with their kids.

E Call 33 868-676.

Summer dance-off When? August 1-29 Where? Ballare School of Performing Arts Put on your dancing shoes and master the art of break dancing.

Taught at the Ballare Studio by Craig Whyte, the classes will run in two batches, for ages seven to nine years, and 10 years and above. The centre also gives piano lessons, so your children can polish classic tunes before returning to their books.

E Call 17 300-021.

Gamers United Anime and gaming fans are in for a major geek-out session this month. From cosplay competitions to trivia games, the AFK gathers fans of games, series, movies and Japanese pop culture under one roof. To be held at the Bahrain International Circuit Media Centre on August 30, the event will host a number of gaming programmes that could win you big prizes.

These include a PS3 competition, PC games challenge, skill contest, talent show, dance off, karaoke and open mic show.

The games include FIFA13, the Call of Duty series, Tekken Tag Tournament and Guitar Hero. Guests can also get a bite to eat and join in on a number of art workshops.

E Call 39 990-011.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

The Mรถvenpick Hotel Bahrain is a resort nestled into lush gardens, tranquil and relaxing at the same time. An impressive infinity pool invites the families to swim and enjoy outdoor activities. Relaxing evenings at the poolside await while smoking a Shisha and listening to the live performances of international bands. Our restaurants offer the best Friday Brunch as well as fancy themed nights every week. The Mรถvenpick Hotel with its modern rooms, extraordinary service and genuine Swiss touch awaits you in Bahrain.

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Welcome to Bahrain

cherish every moment.

happeningssportsrecreation When? August 15-25 | Event? Olympic Gulf Cup | Venue? Bahrain National Stadium

Anthony Hudson, top right, and the Bahrain Olympic Football Team

On the Brink of Greatness After bagging the silver medals at the 2012 Under-23 Gulf Cup in Qatar, the Bahrain Olympic team is pumped up for even greater success in this year’s edition.

Being hosted by the Kingdom for the first time since its inception, the tournament will see GCC nations battle it out for top honours. BTM talks to coach Anthony Hudson to learn of his expectations and the preparations the squad takes before competitions of this calibre.

“From day one, we start working on our philosophy and on how we play. Within that framework we improve fitness levels, technical levels and shape the culture of the group — the mentality,” he explains.

Bahrain is drawn with UAE and Kuwait in Group A while defending champions Saudi Arabia will face Qatar and Oman in Group B. The team was runner-up at last year’s tournament. Today’s squad has few new players; they are preparing only for a win.

“I’m confident that playing here in Bahrain will be good for us. Regardless, the experience will be excellent and of course the target is to prepare as many of the boys to get into the country’s first team,” says Anthony.

Having sparked new life into the country’s young football squad, he has one goal that he is determined to reach. That is to make Bahrain’s Olympic team the best in the Gulf. After nearly two years as team manager, he explains that he has

38 August 2013

seen growth in his players and that football in the country is improving immensely.

“I think there are some fantastic talents here and some great characters. They are a special group of players to work with, boasting great team spirit and skill,” states the coach.

The tactician completed his UEFA Pro License last year, becoming one of the youngest to have achieved the highest coaching award in the game. Inspired by the likes José Mourinho, whom he had the pleasure of learning from in his recent visit to Madrid, Anthony has previously managed Real Maryland FC and Newport County AFC. Of course no road inclining towards success comes without its challenges. The Englishman explains that it is not easy to physically prepare the team in such a short time.

“Some of our under-22 players don’t play regularly enough in club teams, bringing problems when they come to us. You cannot beat playing a game every week, especially at this age of their development. When they don’t play, they arrive with a host of things needing tidying up,” he continues.

Regardless of these issues, the highly ambitious coach is determined to make a mark in the region and believes the level of football here is at an all-time high and can only grow from strength to strength.

E Call 17 685-775.

Dance into Fitness Want to get fit while still having fun? Join Salsa De Bahrain’s revolutionary concept in salsa dance education. Break a sweat with the experts in their firstever summer boot camp. The professional international instructors share their tips and tricks in a friendly environment. The event will be held at Al Bander Hotel and Resort between August 29 and 31.

E Call 39 755-503.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Batelco Media Ghabga Batelco held a media ghabga at the Sofitel Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa’s Layali Al Zallaq Ramadan Tent. A number of members of the media and members of Batelco’s management led by Batelco Group Media Relations general manager Ahmed Al Janahi were present on the occasion

Ahmed Al Janahi, Samy Boukhaled, Osama & Charbel

Ahmed, Ahmed Al Janahi & Mohammed

Evelyn, Marina & Fatima

Ahmed Al Janahi, Anwar Ahmed & Hassan Abdul Karim

Vinod, Hashim, Varun & Basheer

Eman & Noor

Mehmood & Sayed

Basel

Hilary & Ross

Abdulla & Ahmed

Aala & Madeleine

Smile & Sue

Anwar & Osama

Basil & Abdulla

Muna & Bambi

Ahmed, Mohammed, Zainab, Muna & Ibrahim

Batelco Ghabga For Business Customers Batelco’s Enterprise and Government Division welcomed over 250 of its business customers to a Ramadan ghabga banquet at the Sheraton Hotel. The event, which was attended by Batelco Enterprise general manager Adel Daylami and a number of Batelco senior management, was held in the hotel's Al Taj Ballroom

40 August 2013

Adel Daylami, 4th from left, with guests

Adel Daylami presents a prize

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Rami Faisal Wedding Celebrations Faisal Abu Rami hosted a reception for family and a number of his friends to celebrate the wedding of his son Rami Faisal. The reception was held at the Ibrahim Kanoo Hall in Gufool last month

Jassim, Rami, Faisal & Ismail

Yousif, Yaqoob, Rami & Ahmed

Mohammed, Rami, Ahmed & Hussain

Ahmed, Rami & Ahmed

Rami & Faisal with family & friends

Ayman & Ahmed

42 August 2013

Faisal, Rami & Masood

Faisal, Rami & Faisal

Anwar, Riyadh, Faisal, Rami, Abdul Haji & Mansoor

Rami, Anwar, Mishal & Ali

Naji, Hussain, Ali, Faisal, Hassan & Ali

Badie, Faisal, Phillip & Kerry

Fahad & Mohammed

Mirza & Mohammed

Hussain & Isa

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Desi Launch Party A Desi party was held to launch the new album of DJ Andy last month. The party was held at the Bedrock Nightclub, Ramee California Hotel

Sheldon, Michelle, Sandeep & DJ Andy

Cynthia, Samiha & Priscilla

Cornelia, Aditi & Dillon

DJ Andy, DJ Fredz & Aapka Paresh

DJs Ahmed & Andy

Sandeep & Shah

Charlene & Hema

Buffalo 4th Of July Celebrations Club Buffalo at the Ramee Califirnia Hotel in Juffair played host to a number of people as the outlet held party to celebrate the US Independence Day

Tricie & Troy

JD, Bryan, Sandeep & Nag

Sheeren & Juan

Rich, Natalya & Frank

Mariam, Aziza, Lant & Bryan

Kaite & Frankie

Ashleigh, Shannon & Elara

Myrene & Cherry Lou

MeatCo Fine Vintage Evening MeatCo Restaurant in Adliya hosted a number of guests to sample some of the restaurant's selection of fine vintage from around the world

Hussain & George

Anne, Grace & Glyn

Jellie, Grace, Byron, Samir, Melvin, Collbert, DJ Nirmal, Edwin & Veena

44 August 2013

Indira, Wael & Dinara

Burak & Gizem

Saja

Apple & Kate

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Golden Tulip Dinner The Golden Tulip hosted a dinner at their seafood night for all 5 star hotel F&B managers last month. The dinner was held at the hotel's Al Wasmeyyah Restaurant

Zahi & Nizar

Zahi with guests at the event

Monica, Lama, Francesco, Franca & Nicola

Nicolas, Justin, Vibeke & Zuhair

Hanya Suleiman Birthday Hanya Suleiman celebrated her birthday with family & friends at the Lanterns Restaurant in Budaiya last month

Hanya

Ibrahim Ghamdi, Dr Bora Aktan, Hanya Suleiman & Fady Mikhael

Dr Emad Tarawneh, Hanya, Zara & Zilia Monteiro

Dr Bora, Hanya & Rawan

Hanya gets ready to cut her cake

Hanya & Rawan Suleiman

Babu & Martin

World Beat Party The World Beat Fitness Centre in Janabiya hosted a Summer Solstice party to celebrate change and renewal for a number of members and guests

Khalid & Seema

46 August 2013

Yusef, Jane & Khalid

Peter, Adel & Liz

Michelle, Lanie & Myla

Yousif & Moya

Jane, Fady, Axen & Patrice

Iman, Jo, Pete & Salah

www.bahrainthismonth.com

spotlightthismonth

Liam Hunt

Beating the Odds Simi Kamboj Back from the brink after a deadly bout of meningitis, Liam Hunt is learning to appreciate life and is promoting prevention of ailments.

48 August 2012

Liam Hunt is counting his blessings. The 42-year-old CEO of 2Connect has fully recovered from a bout of bacterial meningitis which ravaged his brain and kept him in confinement for a fortnight last December.

A resident of Bahrain for over 20 years, Liam has always been physically fit. So, when he started shivering on the evening of December 1, he thought nothing of it and drove his son to Manama. When he reached home in Janabiya he felt exhausted, as if he had walked back from Manama.

“I told myself to snap out of it and went to the mall that evening, and had a dizzy spell while I was there,” he recalls.

“The next day I went to a private hospital, where they gave me some panadol!”

He went back twice and on the third visit the doctor there suggested he get a lumbar puncture done if his headache worsened. By evening on the third day, Liam was at the emergency ward at a government hospital, sweat-soaked and running a 40-degree temperature.

His fingers were white and doctors had difficulty extracting blood from them. The doctors still ruled out a lumbar puncture, asking him to wait awhile. It was only on Thursday evening, five days after his symptoms first showed up, that he was put into an isolation ward, where the lumbar puncture was made.

The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was confirmed.

“They had to put three carrier bags of ice on my head, back and legs, all of which turned to water in less than ten minutes.

All the while, I had to lie perfectly still on my back,” he says.

On Saturday morning, Liam was handed over to an infectious diseases consultant. Although Liam was feeling very poorly at this time, his doctor told him the disease would be controlled.

xxxxx Eventualities such as these make you realise how important your health is and why you should never take it for granted “He told me most people didn’t survive meningitis after ten days. I was lucky to get diagnosed within the first six days,” Liam explains. “My wife visited every day, but my children were forbidden from entering the ward.”

When he was finally wheeled out of isolation after four torturous days, Liam had temporary amnesia, his speech was slurred and he had trouble communicating.

“I felt like I’d had a stroke. It took three weeks of physiotherapy and it was only in May this year that I could play cricket again.

I managed to pull through with the support from my wife Andrea, my children Emily and Lewis and my dad,” he says.

Liam believes he couldn’t have received better healthcare in his native United Kingdom (UK) than he did here in Bahrain. “I survived thanks to the support and attention of my doctor and the excellent medical care by the hospital staff.”

Liam is now doing his bit to spread the word. Last month, he attend a charity boxing match organised by his younger brother, Elliot, in aid of cancer research, and another event on meningitis awareness, in the UK. “Eventualities such as these make you realise how important your health is and why you should never take it for granted — not even a slight headache or low fever,” he muses.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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P.O. Box 1412, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: (973) 1736 0000 | Fax: (973) 1736 0049 E-mail: info@thekhotel.com Web Site: thekhotel.com

Enjoy the latino evening Monday to Saturday at the K lounge from 7 pm to 11 pm.

Also performing LIVE during Friday Brunch at the Klouds restaurant.

For reservations, please call 1736 0000

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Rolls-Royce Wraith Launch Euro Motors, the authorised dealer of RollsRoyce motor cars in the kingdom held an exclusive launch for the stunning Rolls-Royce Wraith at the at the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel and Spa. The event was attended by HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador, Geoffrey Briscoe, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East, Africa and Latin America, Euro Motors management and guests

The stunning Rolls-Royce Wraith

Alaa Tarabay, Zayed Alzayani, Ayman Alghanim, Khalid Alzayani, Geoffrey Briscoe, HE Iain Lindsey & Majid Alzayani

Khalid Alzayani & Hamid Alzayani

Geoffrey Briscoe & HE Iain Lindsay

Majid Alzayani & Paul Yates

Majeed Alsadiq, Nawaf Alzayani, Ayman Alghanim, Alaa Tarabay, Fatima Almarhi, Paul Yates, Zayed Alzayani, Geoffrey Briscoe, Majid Alzayani, Salah Alsayed, Hussain Aljuffairi & Craig D’silva

Habib Associates 20 Anniversary Party Habib Associates hosted a party to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary.

The event held at the Meisei Restaurant in Adliya was attended by company management, associates and well wishers Fatima, Jenan Habib & Ali

Rania, Huda & Budoor

Abdulla with Karim & Deena Al Ansari

Mona Almoayyed & Adel Fakhro

Ayesha, Bashar, Yunus & Sebahat

Qays Zu'bi & Wael Sayyar

Michael, George, Jenan & Shakar

Waleed & Dalia Kanoo

Jenan cuts the celebratory cake

Felipe, Cristina & Nada

50 August 2013

Mala & Huda

www.bahrainthismonth.com

businessthismonth When? August 1 | Event? BAB board meeting | Venue? Capital Club

The new BAB board with the Chairman in the centre

Navigating Choppy Waters The banking sector is never far from the headlines given its pre-eminent market position and the cash it secures for businesses and individuals to thrive and grow.

The newly-elected board of Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) under its new chairman, Abdul Razak Al Qassim, meets for the first time this month to discuss and resolve issues of common concern. On the face of it banks in Bahrain have little to worry about, after posting a strong rebound in profits in the first quarter of this year.

Combined net profits of Bahrain’s banks nearly doubled to US$1.1 billion in the first three months of this year, compared with US$427 million in cumulative profits during the same period in 2012. According to data compiled by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the rebound in profits was across all sectors of the banking industry, comprising conventional wholesale and retail banks, and including Islamic wholesale and retail banks.

The Central Bank believes the results are a reflection of recovery in the banking sector; that banks have been able to capitalise on a strengthening domestic and regional environment despite relatively weak global cues.

The Kingdom’s banks have come under criticism in the past for being risk averse and too conservative in their outlook, especially when it came to funding start-up businesses. But, as one observer pointed out, banks in Bahrain have simply adopted prudent practices in response to the challenging economic environment.

Also this month

One of CBB’s recent moves that has the banking circles worried is the regulator’s review of the banking fees and charges levied for services to clients. According to the CBB these show large variations and, in some cases, unreasonably high levels of charging. The central bank has conveyed to local banks that it wants to have a fair and adequate level of charges reflecting the cost of providing the service.

For its part, the banking lobby has reservations about the involvement of the regulator in setting the level of fees, which it feels is a departure from the policy of free market and open competition.

In his first meeting with the new BAB board in June, CBB governor Rasheed M Al Maraj encouraged banks to be more realistic and reasonable when imposing charges on retail customers and indicated that CBB would take appropriate action to better serve the customers in Bahrain. The central bank had introduced a code of conduct protocol back in 2007 to ensure protection of consumers’ interests and promotion of best practices.

Bahrain’s retail banking industry has posted a steady growth this year, both in its loan portfolio as well as assets.

Conventional retail banks saw their net profits more than double during the first quarter of this year.

Deemed as one of the best banking regulators in the region, the CBB has worked to improve regulations, especially those related to risk management, and has been encouraging banking consolidation in Bahrain. E Call 17 823-005.

52 x Entrepreneur - 54 x Interview - 56 x Spotlight

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Answering Reward VIVA Bahrain has received the Best in Customer Satisfaction award at the 2013 Middle East Call Centre Awards ceremony in Dubai.

“Our mission is to add value and make the lives of our customers easier by delivering differentiated customer services and providing the highest quality,” said Andrew Hanna, VIVA Bahrain chief commercial officer.

“We acknowledge the good work of all VIVA call centre staff for their dedication and service round-the-clock which has earned us this award, which would have been impossible to achieve without them.”

The company’s three-yearold call centre currently has a team of over 200 agents.

August 2013 51

businessentrepreneur

Melding Nature with Art xxxxx Our approach differs from other players; once a project is complete, we pay the same attention towards maintenance of landscape so that the quality doesn’t deteriorate in the long run

Abdulla Bani Hani

Simi Kamboj The business of desert landscaping has more than its share of impediments.

But players such as Abdulla Hani thrive on overcoming the odds.

52 August 2012

Landscaping in a desert calls for an out-of-box approach, believes Abdulla Bani Hani. Faced with high temperatures and extremely saline soil, it makes more sense to incorporate ‘hard-scape’ features such as paving, walkways and arbours in addition to ‘light-scaping’ for a more sustainable garden.

On the ‘soft-scaping’ front, Abdullah’s choice rests mainly on African plants that can withstand harsh summers and saline conditions and are water efficient.

Abdulla’s Horti Group has carved a niche in the field of landscape design, construction and outdoor lighting, commanding around 70 per cent market share in Bahrain’s luxury segment. “Our approach differs from other players; once a project is complete, we pay the same attention towards maintenance of landscape so that the quality doesn’t deteriorate in the long run. Around 60 per cent of our clients come through references, so you could say that our work speaks for itself,” says Abdulla.

The Jordan-trained agricultural engineer has executed landscaping, design and lighting projects in villas in Amwaj Islands, Riffa Views and Durat Al Bahrain in addition to many restaurants in Adliya’s Block 338 district. For his niche clientele in Bahrain, he has constructed mini golf courses, infinity pools and gardens replete with domed gazebos and pergolas.

Abdulla cut his teeth in gardening at his family farm in the hills of northern Jordan, where they grew apples, peaches and grapes, among other crops. Having earned a master’s degree in environmental engineering, he completed a number of projects in Jordan including his most challenging assignment, constructing an 80-metre long river down the middle of a garden at a hilltop palace. Following another stint in Saudi Arabia, where he beautified many royal palaces, he moved to Bahrain five years ago.

“Now that Saudi has stopped agricultural exports to Bahrain, the government has green-lighted imports of plants from Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Jordan. But I believe Bahrain should become self-sufficient and, with a little governmental support, the agriculture and horticulture sector here can compete with other GCC states,” he says.

Costs in Bahrain are definitely higher than Saudi Arabia, where bore well water is suitable for irrigation. Since Bahrain’s underground water is about ten times more saline, Abdulla has invested BD40,000 in a reverse osmosis (RO) plant to obtain suitable water for his nursery.

Despite the higher living costs business in Bahrain has thrived, which he ascribes to the expertise of his staff.

“We take care of our workers and it shows in their work. We treat them as technicians and provide decent accommodation.

They’re paid overtime and fixed annual increments and in this way we’ve been able to retain our expertise; something that is lacking elsewhere in the region,” he says.

Abdulla’s dream project in Bahrain would be the designing of beaches and related infrastructure at Diyar Al Muharraq. He also harbours plans to expand into Qatar and the eastern province of Saudi Arabia in the near future.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Knowledge is Power AMA International School - Bahrain (AMAISB) is a candidate School for the Diploma Programme. This School is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are Schools that share a common philosophy, a commitment to high quality, challenging international education that AMAISB believes is important for our students. Come and experience our whole new approach to learning at AMA International School.

AMA International School – Bahrain, has become an authorized Examination center for administering the College Board’s PLAN/PSAT/NMSQT/AP exams and the school code given by College Board to AMAISB is “AI 654020”. Prospective students are hereby requested to quote this number while registering for the exams or requesting to receive their exam scores. For further information, contact AMAISB at 17598445.

AMAISB is the Kingdom's first school to offer Lego Robotics as a key part of the curriculum. The Pre-School, Primary, Middle School and High School curriculum is enhanced by the world-renowned Great Explorations in Mathematics and Science (GEMS) program of the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.The AMA International School is recognized by the Bahrain Ministry of Education and is accepted regionally and internationally.

Call Admissions at 17 598444 Now! OFFERS: PRE-SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL Registration ongoing

businessinterview

Shaikh Hesham Al Khalifa

Dhawiya Al Alawi

Nurturing Female Enterprise Simi Kamboj A joint venture between the Bahrain Development Bank and the Supreme Council for Women aspires to help women walk the path of entrepreneurship in Bahrain.

54 August 2013

It’s often said that productivity comes from loving what you do and doing what you love. Extending this conviction to women in Bahrain, the Women’s Incubator Centre (WIC) in A’ali offers opportunities for women who aspire to translate their passion into a viable business.

“We’ve been looking at ways to foster the spirit of innovation and enterprise in society. In translating this vision for women in Bahrain, the idea took the shape and function of a shopping mall,” notes Shaikh Hesham Al Khalifa, Deputy General Manager for the Non-Financial Services division at Bahrain Development Bank (BDB).

The centre in A’ali comprises 62 units spread over two floors and will cater to manufacturing and retail services run by women entrepreneurs. Two lower floors will have showrooms and office space of up to 100 square metres, while the top floor will house a business centre. This is the BDB’s second incubation centre, after the Hidd facility.

Shaikh Hesham points out the initiative was spearheaded by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) which contracted BDB as a partner in this venture.

“The WIC aims to serve Bahraini women who have the desire to start small and medium-sized enterprises,” explains SCW Assistant Secretary-General, Dhawiya Al Alawi. “We hope that this will provide women with the encouragement and starting foundation to not only develop their businesses, but also come up with creative new ideas. The economic empowerment of women is a critical and main part of the SCW’s strategy.”

Dhawiya hopes the project will provide encouragement and

opportunities for women who would like to establish a new business or those who’ve recently established one.

“The objective is to enable women to work in a business platform where they can further develop their businesses given the tools offered by the centre, with the potential of expanding in the future. We look forward to women contributing even more to the Bahraini economy and its development,” Dhawiya adds.

In addition to providing entrepreneurs office space on subsidised rates, BDB also provides further assistance in form of seed capital, as well as training to hone skills in managing, marketing and accounting.

“Our focus is on building entrepreneurs rather than businesses to nurture a society that will create enterprise. A business is liable to fail, but a spirited entrepreneur will always bounce back and build an enterprise that’s sustainable,” says Shaikh Hesham.

The BDB held regular meetings with SCW in finalising the businesses that will occupy the new centre, which has been oversubscribed.

“We evaluated applicants based on their attributes, business plan, and the creativity and innovation of their idea. We have businesses dealing with cosmetics, food, clothing, fashion, structural engineering and publishing. While some of these may sound conventional, the ideas all have an element of surprise and innovation in them,” he adds.

Going forward, the BDB plans to set up specialised incubators to encourage the growth of enterprise in ICT and multi-media, and arts and crafts.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

businessspotlight THE DOMAIN

Master of His Domain

Patrick De Groot

Ankita Mamgain Spearheading a brandnew concept that blends hospitality and social networking, Patrick De Groot is the face of a remarkable venue that blurs the divide between work and leisure.

56 August 2013

A hotel development and marketing strategy authority, Patrick De Groot carries with him a wealth of industry experience spread over almost two decades. As managing director of The Domain Bahrain, he combines his entrepreneurial assertiveness and brand-building expertise to create a space that he describes as a “socially charged members’ club”, offering a unique, new social concept.

“Most global hotel brands haven’t really embraced social engagement. Instead of being restricted to an online platform, The Domain Bahrain facilitates social engagement in offline settings as well.

A designated social director will actively look for opportunities to make introductions between members, guests and ambassadors,” Patrick explains.

This experience can then continue online with ‘The Conversation’ — a social communication platform embedded in The Domain app and website, which will provide further connectivity between the guests and clients.

“The concept of The Domain wasn’t created overnight, but instead has been developed over several years,” he states. “As a social members’ club inhabited by a luxury boutique hotel, we recognise the power of social media and have deftly incorporated it into our business model.”

Breaking new barriers in providing unique customer experience, Patrick expects his team of colleagues to provide an excellent level of intuitive service — although not to be mistaken for servitude. Their butlers and domain managers are trained to deliver an exceptional experience to the guests; a professional challenge that he recognises and “cannot wait to deliver with pride”.

Tapping the enormous Arab appetite for social media, especially YouTube, there has been a conscious decision to create a social space around it, giving birth to Anthology, the hotel’s media lounge.

“We don’t believe in the divide between business and leisure. Today, our guests look for opportunities to mix business with pleasure as often as they can. We believe that business should be pleasure,” he mentions.

The Domain Bahrain as a social members' club inhabited by a luxury boutique hotel, offering 131 rooms and suites spread over 17 floors. The social spaces on the 34th, 35th and 36th floor of the building provide a spectacular view of Manama and Muharraq. Patrick has returned to the Kingdom after 18 years and carries fond memories from his short stint in 1995.

He has been associated with some of the most prestigious hospitality giants, such as Kempinski Hotels, The Jumeirah Group, Hyatt International and Mutiara Hotels.

“These companies provided me with the opportunity to learn my trade and get a solid understanding of the industry. They have provided me with unique insights on how to deliver exceptional service with great commercial results. Experience gives you confidence, but I thrive on the adrenalin that comes with creating something new,” he mentions.

With the scheduling of an Eid Al-Fitr soft launch and a grand opening in mid-September, Patrick De Groot and his entourage are all set to release the ‘stay work play’ ethos of The Domain Bahrain. It is a building waiting for stories — stories that are testimonials of its distinct character and impeccable hospitality.

E Call 16 000-000 or visit www.thedomainhotels.com.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystanderthismonth

BMI Staff Ghabga Bahraini retail and commercial banking institution, BMI Bank recently held its annual Ramadan ghabga for staff at the Sheraton Hotel Bahrain. The event was attended by the chief executive officer Jamal Al-Hazeem, general manager Support Services Eyad Sater, the Bank’s senior management as well as employees and their families who got an opportunity to interact with their colleagues while participating in various traditional games and raffles

(R-L) Fathi, Isa, Qassim, Abdulaziz, Sami, Eyad & Jamal Al Hazeem

(R-L) Ahmed, Abdulaziz, Sami, Mohammed, Qassim, Isa, Ahmed, Gordon & Mohammed

The organising committee of the bank

(R-L) Farah & Basma

(R-L) Zainab, Khadija, Nabeela & baby Yasmeen

Jamal Al Hazeem with staff members

Staff members at the event

(R-L) Fatima, Ameera, Marwa & Talal

58 August 2013

(R-L) Veena Karishma & Veena

(R-L) Mariam, Eman, Mariam & Mitra

(R-L) Khadija, Ameera, Fatima, Eman & Ebrahim

(R-L) Luay, Alok & Mohammed

Ameena

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Fete De La Musique Evening The Alliance Francaise and the French Embassy hosted the Fete De La Musique at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa last month

Nijad, Jameela & Nejib

Martin & Noe

Roula & Thea

Melika & Lisa

Louis & Eric

Franka, Francesco & Anna Lelia

Ariadna & Ayad

Tete & Viveka

Rashid, Bahiya & Alia

Laurence, Roula & Gabrielle

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Adnan, Carole, Fanny & Daniel

Jean-Baptiste & Fredric

Claudine, Nina, Effat & Michel

Rami & Hanan

Nadine, Juelem & Dominic

Isabelle, Christian & Pascal

Nina, Claudine & Carmen

Stanislas & Segolene

Wendy, Christophe & Fanny

Emanuel, Michel & Francois

Mohammed & Babu

Farwa & Zaid

August 2013 59

indiaindependence

A Special Supplement Commemorating India's 67th Independence Day 61 Long-standing Partner Relations between Bahrain and India continue to expand across facets of our lives and business, explains Dr Mohan Kumar, the Indian ambassador to the Kingdom.

64 Keeping the Faith From an initial construction venture to help a friend, Varghese Kurian has built up a diverse portfolio of assets in the hospitality and healthcare sectors.

66 Social Networks The Kingdom is home to a plethora of clubs and societies that cater to the needs of the Indian expatriate community; we take a look at the major social hubs.

75 Indian Cuisine This ubiquitous cuisine knows no boundaries and the many flavours of India are represented on the local restaurant scene, from The Yellow Chilli to Lanterns and from It’s Mirchi to Mumbai Spices.

75 Keeping Us Moving Forward Whether it is running a hotel, offering medical care or educating our children, the likes of the Ramee Group, Air India, KIMS and Al Noor International School are at hand.

Commercial Index Air India......................................................................... 79 Al Noor International School.................................... 68 Bahrain Cinema Company......................................... 69 Citibank......................................................................... 63 KIMS Bahrain Medical Centre................................. 76 Lanterns Restaurant..................................................... 71 Lulu Hypermarket......................................................... 60 Mirador Hotel............................................................... 75 Mumbai Spices............................................................ 66 Ramee Group of Hotels............................................... 73 Rangoli........................................................................... 69 Royal Bahrain Hospital............................................... 77 The Yellow Chilli.......................................................... 72

India In Bahrain August 2013 61

indiaindependence

Long-standing Partner

HE Mohan Kumar

Simi Kamboj India and Bahrain share a time-honoured relationship, which is steadily acquiring a deeper significance.

62 August 2013 India In Bahrain

As India celebrates its 66th year of independence, the country’s economic growth has slowed to the lowest levels in a decade, perhaps a reflection of the global economic climate. The challenge before India, now, is one of inclusive growth and investing enough in the health and education sectors to cater for a burgeoning population.

Fresh from a state visit accompanying the Crown Prince to India, bilateral ties have never looked stronger according to the Indian Ambassador in Bahrain.

“State visits to India are now part of the Crown Prince’s ‘look east’ policy and have become an annual feature in his calendar,” notes His Excellency Mohan Kumar. Instead of

touring the bigger Indian cities, the Crown Prince visited Kerala, the state from which around 70 per cent of Indian expatriates in Bahrain originate.

“This was the first such visit to Kerala by a Bahrain ruler. The Crown Prince was very moved with his reception there as well as the show of communal harmony he witnessed in Kerala,” adds the ambassador.

During the visit, a Kerala-based healthcare company secured a deal to manage the 100-bed Middle East Hospital in Bahrain.

In addition, Indian company JBF’s US$200 million polyester plant is likely to start operations this year at the Bahrain International Investment Park. The plant will create 300 jobs and have a capacity to produce 90,000 tons of polyester film in the first phase.

At the conclusion of the last financial year, India’s non-oil trade with Bahrain stood at US$1.3 billion. The country imports metals such as zinc, aluminium and iron and steel from the Kingdom, while it exports agricultural produce, including fish and meat, aluminium bars and pillars, gold jewellery and tyres.

A major portion of Bahrain’s refined oil is exported to India.

Ambassador Kumar believes trade between the two countries will rise in the coming years.

“Bahrain is now starting to realise that it doesn’t always have to go for Rolls-Royce technology. The industry here could look at appropriate Indian technology, which is reasonable and, more importantly, it works,” he observes.

An India-Bahrain Trade Fair in October this year will showcase the best of Indian expertise in sectors ranging from technology to higher education and crafts.

On the workers’ front, India is in process of tightening migration procedures which will cut down on corruption and the involvement of middle men in the visa process in the GCC. “The e-Migrate project will link manpower agencies in India with the immigration authorities and the Indian embassies abroad. Workers will have to upload their contracts electronically, which will then be attested by the embassies online. However, we’re aware that workers with limited knowledge of English will need assistance in this process,” he advises.

Indian tech firm TCS is currently working on the e-Migrate project, which is expected to be launched within two years.

New embassy Work on the new Indian Embassy building in Seef is expected to begin this year. The Government of India is in process of awarding the contract and work is expected to begin this year. Once begun, the project will take about 18 months to complete.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

indiaindependence

Keeping the Faith Actively involved on the real-estate front for almost three decades, this Indian business has grown and diversified right through the middle of Bahrain’s crisis.

64 August 2013 India In Bahrain

Given the scale of his business operations in the Kingdom, Varghese Kurian probably has the lowest profile of Indian businessmen. Over the years, the soft-spoken civil engineer has forayed from residential real estate into the hospitality and health care businesses.

Kurian, however, maintains that the diversification did not happen by design. He built the Moon Plaza Hotel in Umm Al Hasam for a businessman friend in Dubai, who later moved to Canada, leaving Kurian to run the property. Equally, the Middle East Hospital near Salmaniya was built for an Indian doctor who left Bahrain, leaving Kurian in charge of this healthcare business.

He followed these ventures with other hospitality projects, including the Al Murooj, Diva, Casanova, Samada and Taj Plaza hotels. He continued to build even during an eventful 2011, when Bahrain’s image was in tatters.

“We completed Best Western Olive, Al Murooj Hotel, Lulu Hypermarket in Hidd and the Middle East Hospital during the peak of unrest. We were able to build at a fraction of the cost, given that the price of raw materials had fallen, the subcontractors were charging less and there was virtually no demand for building materials. Because of our faith in Bahrain, we are now able to consolidate our holdings,” notes Kurian.

This resilience best defines Kurian’s business strategy in Bahrain. He first launched VKL Holding Company in 1986 as a construction contractor, but the Gulf War threw his plans into

Varghese Kurian

disarray. He subsequently established Al Namal in 1992 to participate in the real-estate boom across the Kingdom.

He now has a raft of projects in the pipeline, which include two hospitals and four hotels, one of which will be his first five-star property. The line-up of hotel projects ranges from a bed and breakfast establishment in Juffair to a hotel-cum-mall venture next to the Al Fateh service station and a 23-storey hotel property.

“Our five-star property is coming up at the Bahrain International Wharf in Hidd. We’re talking to various hotel operators to finalise a management contract,” he says. Kurian will soon take over management of the Hawar Island Resort now that its management contract with Golden Tulip is over.

His investment in healthcare facilities comprises an upcoming 40-bed hospital in Muharraq and the Middle East Medical Centre in Hidd, which is scheduled to open in October.

So optimistic is Kurian about the market in Bahrain that he has ventured into the low-cost housing segment for Bahraini families. He is building 200 housing units in Arad, Tubli and Sadad in partnership with Bahrain Islamic Bank.

“It’s not a very profitable venture, but it is part of our social commitment to Bahrain. We’re also launching new housing concepts for Asian expatriates, who have a long-term view of Bahrain. Two-bedroom flats will be available on two upcoming towers in Juffair priced at around BD50,000 each. When the purchaser has decided to leave the Kingdom, we will guarantee to buy back the property from them,” he says.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

PROUD TO CELEBRATE THE GLORY OF INDIA WITH YOU. WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Where everybody shops !!!

Lulu Centre Tel : 17 250 334 ♦ Juffair : 17 826 884 ♦ Muharraq : 17 343 266 ♦ Hamad Town : 17 412 563 ♦ Salmaniya Tel : 17 252 624

indiaindependence

associations that unite the community. All work towards preserving their heritage for themselves and the generations born away from the motherland.

Social and Sports Clubs

Grounded to Roots Ankita Mamgain Building a home away from home is a lifetime pursuit for most emigrants.

In the wake of the Indian Independence Day, we zoom in on the cultural hives this vivacious community has formed over the years in Bahrain.

66 August 2013 India In Bahrain

As for most people who leave their native country in search of a better life, one grabs on to even the faintest resemblance of the life back home. The fact that nearly 400,000 Indians live on the island is testament to a community that embraced its ways, while preserving their own cultural heritage.

From Kerala, Goa and Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, the diversity of the country is well represented by the Indian community in Bahrain. They hold on to each other and their roots, forging friendships that look beyond their own cultural and regional divide.

The Kingdom is home to a number of Indian clubs and

Bahrain Kannada Sangha (BKS) For the 100,000-member community of Kannadigas on the island, BKS spells a close-knit family. Established in 1977, it organises social and cultural events that include Independence Day celebrations, a health day, music and dance performances by renowned Indian artists and showcases the talent of members. The club offers a library, Kannada courses, and a drama and toastmasters’ wing. E Call 17 271-257.

Bhatia Mitra Mandal Founded in 1959, this club is dedicated to bringing together the Sindhi community of Bhatias. The 142-member club, started by the Thattai Bhatia Community, revolves around family picnics, cultural programmes and community games. Their major annual events are the camping trip to Sakhir Grounds and the club’s annual day. E Call 39 461-794.

Bongiyo Samaj Social & Cultural Association Registered in 1999, Bongiyo Samaj unifies the island’s Bengali population. The members gather to play indoor games and hold cultural functions twice a year. The highlight of the year is the Durga Puja festival, celebrated with true Bengali zest and vigour.

E Call 17 251-951.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Indian Ladies Association (ILA) It took birth as a small sewing club in 1956, but over the years the ILA consolidated its representation of Indian roots and philanthropic endeavours. This club of 150 ladies, apart from organising the gala Dandiya festival each year, runs fundraisers for various local charities, including Project Sneha.

E Call 17 531-468.

Karnataka Social Club (KSC) KSC hails from the IT city of Bangalore and was established in 1972. The club organises events throughout the year, including regional festivals, national days and the annual dance, singing and a mimicry competitions. The much-anticipated Anand Bazaar gives Bahrainis a taste of authentic south Indian fare.

E Call 17 254-257.

Kerala Social & Cultural Association (KSCA) Founded in the year 1982 by the Nair community, KSCA was established to help the working class Indians and Keralites in the Kingdom. Engaging mainly in charitable, social and cultural activities, the members celebrate festivals like Vishu, Onam, Vijay Dashmi and Diwali. E Call 17 251-941.

Ganesha Festival, Maharashtra Day, a blood donation and free health camp. E Call 17 272-050.

Shri Gujarati Samaj (SGS) One of the largest business communities in India, Gujaratis gather under the canopy of SGS in Bahrain. Born in 1987, the club has nearly 200 dedicated members. Its annual fest, Anand Mela brings out the best of Gujarati culture and cuisine.

E Call 36 885-333.

Tamil Social and Cultural Association-Bahrain (TSCA) Serving as a socio-cultural nucleus for the island’s Tamil community, TSCA was founded in 1983. It is involved in fundraising activities and organises seminars inviting notable Indian literary personalities to participate in intellectual discourses and exchanges. E Call 17 273-553.

Bongiyo Samaj Social & Cultural Association

Maharashtra Cultural Society (MCS) Established in 1991, MCS offers the island’s Maharashtrians a sense of home and community. It houses a health centre, an auditorium, a kids’ play area, a library and a gaming room.

The club’s major annual events include Salaam Bahrain,

www.bahrainthismonth.com

India In Bahrain August 2013 67

indiaindependence The Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam

and regional celebrations, including Bahrain’s National Day, it is most known for its annual May Queen beauty pageant, Badminton Open Tournament, cricket and tennis matches and summer camp for kids. E Call 17 253-157.

Young Goans’ Sports Club Set up in 1953 by a group of enthusiastic footballers, it subsequently developed into a social melting pot for the community. They organise annual events like the Bandra Fair, feast of St Francis Xavier, a carnival and the annual Goan football league. E Call 17 710-602 or 39 659-539.

Culture & Arts

The Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Registered in 1947, the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam is the single-largest unifying body on the island for those belonging to ‘God’s own country’. Members enjoy facilities like a library, multipurpose hall, badminton and table tennis courts, and indoor games. Yearly highlights include a youth festival, summer camps, Keralotsavams and Onam celebrations.

E Call 17 251-878.

The Indian Club Established almost a century ago, in 1915, The Indian Club is the oldest and largest expatriate club in Bahrain. Situated in the heart of Manama, the club boasts an impressive strength of over 1,500 members. Along with hosting the major national

Konkan Singers Club Established in 1979, the KSC focuses around music-centric activities involving music classes and singing competitions.

Annual attractions include the Konkan Queen beauty pageant, Christmas and New Year parties, annual picnics and the celebration of St Cecilia’s feast. E Call 17 243-511.

Telugu Kala Samithi (TKS) Registered in 1998, TKS embraces the artistically and musically inclined from the state of Andhra Pradesh. Their annual highlights include Ugadi celebrations, a Bahrain open chess tournament, a state formation day function and an annual mega show featuring renowned South Indian musicians and artists.

E Call 39 085-023.

bystanderthismonth

Navya's 2nd Birthday Party Sachin & Anita hosted a party for a number of their friends to celebrate the 2nd birthday of their daughter Navya last month. The party was held at the Juffair Grand Hotel Navya cuts her birthday cake

Steven & Sachin

Divya, Navya & Santosh

68 August 2013 India In Bahrain

Anita, Sachin, Suhani & Navya

www.bahrainthismonth.com

The Indian Fine Arts Society The IFAS, formed in 1974, offers a gateway into the Indian classical and folk art heritage. This brings eminent vocalists and other performing artists from India to the Bahraini shores.

It organises classes along with a number of cultural concerts and competitions throughout the year. E Call 17 535-844.

The Sree Narayana Cultural Society Started as a social reform movement in Kerala, the ideology of this society translates into their social welfare work in the Kingdom. Since its establishment in 1989, it has hosted fundraisers. Its other activities include monthly competitions, annual sports day and Malayalam literature lessons for children.

E Call 17 255-517.

from India and is the largest body of professionals in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It provides an excellent platform to its members to acquire and share knowledge and its nuances.

E Call 39 224-238.

The Institution of Engineers (India): Bahrain Chapter This association of over 500 engineers is a platform for them to interact and conducts monthly seminars and site visits. It marks Engineers’ Day on September 15 every year and hosts annual scientific model exhibition. The association conducts the prestigious Associate Membership for Institution of Engineers (AMIE) examinations in Bahrain. E Call 36 040-507.

Business & Other Associations Indian Medical Association: Bahrain Chapter This prestigious body is open to the Indian medical practitioners on the island. The club organises periodic symposiums and seminars and Community Relief Fund medical camps. Having taken shape three years ago, it organised a medical show in association with the Indian embassy last year.

E Call 39 430-708.

Bahrain Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (BCICAI) Established in 1998, BCICAI welcomes chartered accountants

www.bahrainthismonth.com

The Indian Club

India In Bahrain August 2013 69

indiaindependence

Navneet Kampani

CITIBANK

Geared For Growth

Having recorded a stellar performance this year in Bahrain, Citibank is poised for further growth as consumer confidence gradually returns to the market.

70 August 2013 India In Bahrain

Heading one of the largest business divisions at his bank in Bahrain, Navneet Kampani has his priorities in order.

“Consumer lending is our focus area and credit cards have been the main driver of growth in this segment,” says the Citibank Bahrain head of consumer banking. “When it comes to credit cards, Citibank has always had the first mover advantage.

We launched the first co-brand airline card with Emirates airline back in 2005, and introduced the first credit card with a flexible redemption programme across different airlines.”

The bank launched PremierMiles Visa credit card, the first card of its kind in Bahrain to offer flexibility to directly redeem Citi Miles against a host of airlines.

“Travellers were earlier limited to choosing their credit card on the basis of one frequent flyer programme. With Citi PremierMiles, customers have total freedom to redeem their Citi Miles to an airline, destination of their choice from as many as three frequent flyer programmes to start with,” he observes.

Navneet is confident that his division will be able to grow the segment further within the current financial year.

“We will not only continue to retain the market segments but will enhance the business portfolio through innovation, partnership and a customer-centric approach in the course of this year,” he says.

One of the bank’s winning campaigns in recent times has

been the ‘deals on meals’ dining privileges, which is an essential guide of super dining deals at over 65 restaurants in Bahrain, offering dining discounts of up to 50 per cent when using Citibank Credit and Debit Cards.

In a bid to provide customers with a more convenient banking experience, Citibank has recently partnered with Bahrain Financing Company (BFC) to allow its customers to make their monthly credit card and loan payments in cash across any of the 33 BFC branches in Bahrain.

For now, Navneet is optimistic about the state of the market.

“We continue to remain bullish about growth prospects in Bahrain. Consumer lending has performed well as people begin to feel more confident and have developed a long-term plan for the Kingdom,” he says.

Catering for a large expatriate and Bahraini clientele, the bank has a robust offshore banking division offering realtime money transfers, and its loyalty programmes cover various airport lounges in India and across the world.

Earlier this year, Citibank Bahrain launched its biggest ever ‘Cash Back’ campaign, which has been very popular with its credit card members. The scheme awarded customers up to 20 per cent cash back on transferring their other credit card balances to a Citibank credit card over instalments of up to 36 months.

E Call 17 584-158.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

LANTERNS

Enchanted Garden

www.bahrainthismonth.com

A recently launched restaurant and lounge in the heart of Adliya’s 338 district just gets more satisfying with every passing month.

Adding another element of fun to its outstanding offerings, Lanterns opened its long-awaited Sky Terrace Lounge in June.

For Eid, they plan to unveil an all-new garden barbecue buffet with live cooking stations.

The multiple areas for dining and relaxing within a single property make Lanterns a home away from home. It is replete with delicacies and offers à la carte dining, snacking on the garden terrace, dining on the rooftop terrace and unwinding at the bar.

The Lanterns franchise has been celebrated for over 20 years for its food and catering. Its new branch, which opened earlier this year, is proving to be a huge success. The décor, reminiscent of old-world India, houses antiques of the homeland. The light-hearted ambience mirrors the original restaurant on Budaiya Highway.

Upon entering Lanterns in Adliya, one is impressed by the open-air garden patio, where dining is welcome. When the area heats up, it is immediately cooled by a waterless mist reducing the air temperature by several degrees. Lanterns is perfect for any gathering as it offers indoor, outdoor and rooftop dining facilities with buffets, an à la carte menu and bar snacks.

The newest offering, the garden barbecue buffet, starts from 3pm daily after Eid. It boasts live stations that change regularly and prepare the freshest and most delicious Indian cuisine.

E Call 17 250-999 (Adliya) or 17 590-591 (Budaiya).

India In Bahrain August 2013 71

indiaindependence THE YELLOW CHILLI

India on a Plate August 15 is a time for the people of India to pay homage to those who fought for its independence. It is also a time to enjoy the finest feasts of a nation renowned for its food.

In the country itself, the lead-up to the date is a time of illuminating buildings with strings of lights and having the tricolour flutter from roofs of homes and other buildings.

Such is the pride of the nation. In the hope of being as intricately decorated as the motherland, celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s restaurant, The Yellow Chilli at Seef Mall, celebrates this occasion from August 14-17 by offering guests a special Independence Day buffet that culminates with jalebi, a traditional Indian dessert. It will feature dishes from different regions of the vast country served by traditionally dressed ushers. The event is highlighted by festive music and inspiring decorations that will keep guests feeling that they are not so far away from home.

Named after the ingredient that Sanjeev Kapoor discovered on the streets of Meerut, the hometown of his grandparents and mother, The Yellow Chilli is an abode of the finest Indian cuisine created by the skilled hands of one of India’s most celebrated chefs.

“The yellow chilli is different in taste and is used by the chaatwaalas of Meerut,” says chef Kapoor. “It adds extra zing and provides a blend of flavours, aroma and colours.”

The restaurant, located on the first floor of Seef Mall, features numerous signature dishes that are prepared using his secret recipes. It is inclined towards the cuisine of northern India. Indulge in the fine fare whether you choose to dine in or take advantage of their take out and home delivery services.

E Call 17 580-480.

SPECIAL

INDEPENDENCE DAY

BUFFET

India on a Plate

August 14 to 17, 2013

The irresistible cuisine of The Yellow Chilli becomes more tempting with its festive ambience and celebratory decor.

With food from all over India, surely Independence Day can’t get any better than this.

FOR DELIVERY OR RESERVATIONS

17 580 480 GATE 6, FIRST FLOOR, SEEF MALL

72 August 2013 India In Bahrain

www.bahrainthismonth.com

IT’S MIRCHI

Contemporary Cuisine The team at a popular Indian restaurant in the Kingdom invites you to check out the refurbished interiors, exceptional fare and live ghazal.

You can now enjoy the irresistible aroma and taste of exotic spices in rich Indian recipes at It’s Mirchi in Ramee International Hotel. The extraordinary dining experience includes live cooking stations, impressive buffet spreads and a special attention to desserts, all in an authentic setting.

The kitchen brigade looks forward to treating your taste buds with contemporary Indian fare and guarantees unparalleled service. The venue, which continues as a leading eatery in the market since its opening in 2008, is part of a franchise that has branches in Mumbai, Dubai and Muscat.

Popular for the juiciest kebabs, marinated overnight and served hot and fresh, It’s Mirchi has a lot to offer. Enjoy the extravagant feast that is the Gujarati thali for a taste of India’s distinctive dishes. It is one of the most popular offerings of the restaurant. Why shouldn’t it be, when it is priced at such affordable rates? Owing to its success, the pure Saatvik vegetarian thali is now a staple on the Friday lunch menu. Walk in for endless helpings of kebabs, biryanis, curries and desserts.

The restaurant is also famed for its hospitality, making it a preferred venue for private parties and family get-togethers.

It’s Mirchi even offers a complimentary cake to those celebrating their birthday or anniversary at the venue in groups of four or more.

Indulge in the exotic dishes while you lose yourself in the music of the elite, performed live. Ghazal performances add a tasteful element to the cosy restaurant.

E Call 38 381-615.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

India In Bahrain August 2013 73

indiaindependence

MUMBAI SPICES

The Street-food Paradise

The World Heritage Organisation may have titled French and Mexican cuisines as cultural icons; the street food of Mumbai ought to be on that list as well.

74 August 2013 India In Bahrain

Sold by hawkers from portable stalls in Mumbai, street food is one of the enduring characteristics of the bustling city. It is notable because people from all economic classes enjoy the quick bites around the clock. Few restaurants sum up the culture as well as Mumbai Spices.

Created by Abdul Rasheed Puthuserri, founder of the Unique Restaurants Group, this eatery reflects the philosophy of simple food that is done exquisitely well. Situated in the food court of Bahrain Mall, Mumbai Spices also has outlets in Sharjah Airport, Meena Bazaar-Dubai and will soon open a second branch in the Juffair district.

The menu covers paav favourites from the Maharastran state, Goan idlis, chaat from Uttar Pradesh and dosas from the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Eat a sumptuous meal or snack on many little treats like the street vendors would have you do in Mumbai.

As with all Unique Restaurants’ ventures, freshness is a vital factor in the food’s preparation. If you’re uncertain of your order, ask the friendly staff to suggest favourites. The prices are welcomingly affordable. Opt for combos as they are a

great way to dine your way through an entire country in a single meal.

Aside from featuring a full array of vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes, Mumbai Spices offers a Chinese selection of dishes. Those with an affinity for breads love their filled, baked and fried varieties.

Adding to the range of healthy choices is a full range of freshly prepared fruit beverages. The smooth and refreshing fresh mango lassi, fruit purées and sodas are part of a lengthy menu of beverages complementing the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent.

Open from 9am to 11pm, Mumbai Spices is happy to cater for your indoor and outdoor events with onsite chaat, paav bhaaji and grill stations.

“We do outdoor catering, including a fully serviced package for those who request it. We set up live grill and chaat stations for any occasion at a very reasonable price,” Abdul affirms.

For a taste of Mumbai, visit the Mumbai Spices outlet at The Bahrain Mall, which remains open from 9am until 11pm.

E Call 17 382-255.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

GOLDEN PEACOCK RESTAURANT

Subcontinental Pride Bringing the culinary wealth of India to the island, a restaurant is carving a niche for itself with authentic recipes and warm hospitality.

Tracing culinary footprints back through the spice route, Golden Peacock is a restaurant at the Mirador Hotel. It recreates the gastronomic magic that has become a staple the world over. The eatery unveils its refurbished version, housing an intimate dining room with sweeping views of the Arabian Gulf.

Perfectly complementing the ambience are the kitchen offerings that include a wide variety of dishes of the subcontinent. The menu covers the vivid culinary diversity offered by India in addition to an exhaustive list of dishes from other Asian countries like China, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. This challenging coverage is delivered with flair by the talented team of chefs that bring the taste of their native countries to your table.

The restaurant serves lunch and dinner specials on a daily basis, puts together an extraordinary weekend platter (thali) and organises frequent theme nights. Some of the favourites on the menu are onion bhaji, Thai fishcakes, the soups and salads, tandoori grills, ayam goreng with coconut rice, Peking duck, a variety of rice and noodle dishes, and their flavoursome curries.

With an airy decor, it serves as a good venue for corporate gatherings, small parties, anniversaries and other celebrations with friends and family. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Golden Peacock at Mirador Hotel promises a journey to some exciting cuisine corners of the world that will keep you coming back for more.

E Call 17 312-000.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

India In Bahrain August 2013 75

indiaindependence KIMS BAHRAIN MEDICAL CENTRE

Homeopathic Healing

Dr A Jayasree

Providing relief to millions around the world, the success stories of alternative therapy continue to reassure its patrons.

As one of the most popular and widely followed alternative medicine disciplines, homeopathy is based on remedies prepared by repeatedly diluting a chosen substance in spirit or distilled water.

Its use of natural materials in minute doses, absence of harmful side effects and person-centric approach make it an increasingly popular choice with those seeking alternative healthcare.

Homeopathy’s immaculate success rate is attributed to it bringing out the healing power of an individual by triggering the patient’s own physical, emotional and constitutional capabilities.

Headed by Dr A Jayasree, KIMS Bahrain Medical Centre has been offering homeopathic treatment in the Kingdom since 2005.

“We consider a wider range of aspects while treating a patient. Personality traits, physical features, environmental influences, family health history and even social relationships are taken into account,” she mentions.

Attention is also paid to changes of symptoms according to the weather, time of the day and season. Information is gathered about mood and behaviour, likes, dislikes, response to stress, personality and reaction to food. This ‘symptom picture’ of the patient is matched with the drug picture and a treatment is prescribed.

“Homoeopathic medicines are said to be slow in action but a well-selected remedy acts even faster than conventional drugs,” Dr Jayasree asserts.

Those taking conventional treatment can also take homoeopathic drugs without fear of complications. Numerous success stories are indicative of homeopathy’s effectiveness and efficiency.

E Call 17 822-123.

76 August 2013 India In Bahrain

www.bahrainthismonth.com

ROYAL BAHRAIN HOSPITAL

Medical Proficiency Raising the bar in healthcare services, a medical institution continues to receive international acknowledgement and national respect.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Establishing a benchmark in healthcare standards in the country, the Royal Bahrain Hospital (RBH) received the prestigious Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI) accreditation. This makes it the fastest to be accredited hospital in the Kingdom.

The hospital’s chief operating officer Dr Ravi Preet Singh said, “To the patients, the accreditation is a vote of confidence from experts that their medical facility is on the right track and ensures the implementation of highest standards of care.”

Having worked hard to gain the certification over the past two years, several members of the management expressed their delight at the achievement.

“This official recognition was granted in appreciation of our commitment to continuous improvement in quality patient care, service and safety, complying with the international guidelines set by the ACHSI,” commented KIMS Group chairman Dr Mohammed Sahadulla. “We are proud that RBH has a template for delivery of services that offers world-class medical attention and safety.”

The hospital board thanked the Bahrain government and the Economic Development Board for encouraging Indo-Bahraini business ties, which encourage the facilitation of establishments such as RBH in the country.

The board also expressed that it was a proud moment for them when HRH Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa commented on the hospital in Kochi, India, during their recent visit. They noted RBH and KIMS as leading private medical service providers in the Kingdom. E Call 17 246-800.

India In Bahrain August 2013 77

indiaindependence INTERCOL

Indian Flavour

To ensure your dishes are of five-star quality, you must use the products and ingredients sworn by some of the most elite chefs in the world.

Since the time of ancient India, British Raj and then modern India, Indian royalties, viceroys as well as fine food connoisseurs selected the finest Basmati for its unique aroma and special taste.

Grown and nurtured in the most fertile fields of the Indo-Gangetic planes in the foothills of the Himalayan sub-ranges, true Indian finest Basmati, in its truest regal form, is a rare gift of nature.

The Kohinoor Basmati brand, authentic and timeless, believes in bringing its culinary essence to the global doorstep.

Today, the brand is a household name in countries like the USA, the UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Canada, Japan, Australia, Singapore and Mauritius. In the Kingdom, Kohinoor Rice is well appreciated by its residents and is regularly used in homes for cooking biryanis, machboos and other traditional dishes.

All products offer great quality with the support of dedicated and fully equipped quality control centres and microbiological labs. The group boasts manufacturing and processing facilities that are HACCP and ISO 9001:2000 certified, USFDA- and FSA-compliant as well as Kosher-certified.

Kohinoor also enjoys remarkable international recognition and accreditations such as SuperBrand (achieved six times) and Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand Award (achieved thrice). It has also been mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records for making the world’s largest biryani.

E Call 17 725-794 or email cpd@agabahrain.com.

P.O. Box 600, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Contact: 17725794 or 39334213 Email: cpd@agabahrain.com

78 August 2013 India In Bahrain

www.bahrainthismonth.com

AIR INDIA

India Bound With competitive rates and exceptional service, let the Indian national carrier escort you to the country’s heartland in true ‘maharaja’ style.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

It’s that time of the year when the rising mercury slows down the pace of the Kingdom. The schools close for summer and the majority of the population migrates to cooler pastures to enjoy this break.

However, for the island’s almost 400,000 Indians this often translates to a trip back home. If you’ve happened to plan a trip to any Indian city like Amritsar, Bangalore, Chennai or New Delhi, Air India provides a daily flight connecting the two countries.

Flight AI 940 to New Delhi departs daily at 8.45pm and lands at the IGI Airport, New Delhi at 5.15am. Connecting flights to all major destinations are available from the same terminal.

Subsequently, the return Delhi-Bahrain flight departs at 6.15pm and arrives at 7.45pm daily. The Airbus 319, assigned to this route, offers both business and economy class travel with complimentary meals onboard.

Air India gains advantage over other airlines due to its pricing strategy. The regular Bahrain-Delhi one-way fare starts at BD56 and a round trip costs BD86 (exclusive of taxes). Additionally, the expense to fly further to cities such as Amritsar, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Goa, Bangalore and Chennai is often as little as BD10.

Started in March 2012, the Air India flight has become exceedingly popular with India-bound travellers.

Its subsidiary, Air India Express has doubled its frequency to Mangalore, operating on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Recording an on-time performance of 100 per cent in June 2013 it also provides flights to Kozhikode and Kochi.

E Call 17 220-787/88/89.

India In Bahrain August 2013 79

bystanderthismonth

LuLu & RCO Summer Camp Closing Ceremony Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Charity Organisation (RCO), a closing ceremony was held for the Summer Camp that was held

by LuLu Hypermarket in association with Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) at Ramli Mall. RCO Secretary-General Dr Mustafa Sayed, & the regional director of LuLu Hypermarket, Juzer Rupawala also attended the event

Dr Mustafa Sayed, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Juzer Rupawala & Mohamed Kaleem

Sami, Praveen, Salah, Vineet & Hassan

Fatima, Fatima & Asma

Shahad, Fatima & Haya

Mohamed, Juzer, Tawfeek & Ronnie

Fatima & Haya

Waqas

Fatima & Mariam

Khalifa

Moyid

Mo & Talal

Geely Car Launch HE Li Chen, Chinese Ambassador, unveiled the latest range of Geely cars at the International Motor Trading Agency’s showroom in Tubli alongside IMTA’s president Suzy Salman Kanoo last month. The cars launched were the GX2, Emgrand 7 & Emgrand 8

Suzy Kanoo & HE Li Chen with the Geely Emgrand 7

K.N. Singh & Scott with the the Geely GX2

Suzy Kanoo Randa

Imran & Baba

80 August 2013

The Geely Emgrand 8

Hilary

HE Li Chen

Scott, Yvette, Bill & Ethan

www.bahrainthismonth.com

downtimeintro

Three’s the Magic Number Paden Vaughan Microsoft’s research unit has now published details about a touchscreen that produces 3D images that can be manipulated and touched.

As the 21st century progresses, it seems as if much of what was prophesised within science fiction has started to come to fruition — touch screens, holograms and even robots. It seems as if Microsoft has created something truly incredible: a 3D touchscreen.

The project is an LCD television combined with force sensors and a robotic arm allowing it to move around. Users wear 3D glasses and are encouraged to touch the objects as if they were real.

So by controlling the amount of resistance there is from a person’s fingertips, the researchers aim to simulate the shape and weight of the objects shown on screen, giving the illusion that it’s being touched!

This new development is the latest in what is known as ‘haptic technology’ — hardware that takes advantage of the feeling of touch by offering feedback via pressure or vibration. This new technology looks set to change the face of gaming forever. This could mean endless possibilities for television, too.

Aside from this, there are a myriad of medical benefits that can be reaped. One such benefit is the idea that the device can Also this month

be used for body scans. The principle behind this is that images of the brain could be generated onto the 3D display. Doctors could push their fingers on the screen to navigate the different areas and hopefully spot threats such as tumours.

Are we advanced enough to really utilise a device such as this in the medical world? Researchers claim that it’s one thing to use this technology on simple shapes such as spheres and cubes, but when trying to work around a complex shape such as the brain and rapidly changing shapes, then it would be hard for the device to respond appropriately.

Education could also benefit largely from the new threedimensional wonders. The ability to interact with classroom displays opens up a whole new world of possibilities for teaching.

Microsoft isn’t the only company working on new forms of haptic feedback. Disney Research launched their own technology named TeslaTouch back in 2010 that creates a “broad range of tactile sensations on touchscreens.”

When it comes to technology of this ilk, it really is hard to predict what exactly it will be used for.

The advancement of 3D technology is so large; one can only assume that this device will reshape the way we interact with technology, whether it is in the world of business, education, science or entertainment.

One thing that’s safe to predict is that these revolutionary, intricate and quite simply astonishing devices aren’t going to come cheap!

82 Gadgets x 86 Music x 88 Games x 89 Websites x 90 Apps x 91 Movies

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Run away!

The Nike Free Hyperfeel running shoe mimics the intricate workings of the human foot. The Lunarlon foam of the sole replicates the cushioned pads under the foot and the outsole protects like hardened skin on the sole.

Now you see it Nokia established a new benchmark in smartphone imaging with the arrival of the Lumia 1020, boasting a second generation 41 megapixel sensor. It reinvents zoom, enabling people to discover more detail than the eye can see.

August 2013 81

downtimegadgets

Let the Festivities Commence!

This month’s gadgets are ideal for festival-goers who want to have a great time — and remain tech-savvy!

Pack for the sun

The Solarbak backpack is ideal for summer festival fun. Using solar energy, this backpack allows you to charge all your devices so you’ll never have the worry of running out of battery!

Glowing well

With the glow lantern from Baker+Bell, you’ll be able to always keep illuminated wherever you are. Running on AA batteries, this can be taken on-the-go to light your way.

Charge efficiently

Now you’ll never have to worry about charging your phone!

With the PowerBee solar charger, you can make the most of the sun and your phone’s battery.

No rain, no gain

As we all know the weather can be very unpredictable at festivals! So with this handy seat umbrella from Napier, you won’t have to worry about looking like you’ve just been hit by a tidal wave!

82 August 2013

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Power to the station

Chargers have been a big part of this month’s feature; there are plenty of great devices on the market. The Mophie Powerstation Duo has enough energy to charge a smartphone three times. The dual USB ports mean you won’t have to pick and choose between devices.

Turn it up!

From Wow comes these great wireless speakers, which feature a rechargeable battery and a sound output of 85dB so you can be the party starter on the campsite this festival season!

Clean and keen

There’s nothing like the need for a wash at a festival, but now you won’t have to worry with the HiGear Solar Shower.

The portable solar shower heats cold water in three hours, allowing you to stay clean, fresh and ready to party!

Just what the doctor ordered

There’s always a chance of injury at festivals, so with the Lifesystems Trek first aid kit, you’ll no longer have to worry about injuries ruining your festival experience!

All gadgets are available online.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

August 2013 83

downtimegadgets

Technology Reigns If you’re after some new gadgets, Lulu Hypermarket is where you should be.

Expect to find the most competitive offers on the latest products.

Editor's pick!

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom

Have you ever wanted the features of a compact camera and an Android phone in one gadget? The Galaxy S4 Zoom will have you waving goodbye to your regular point-and-shoot hardware.

Toshiba All-in-one PC

More than a mere PC, this all-in-one touch-screen desktop is a TV, PC, big-screen monitor and multimedia machine combined. The striking full HD touchscreen comes with an amazing sound system and loads of performance-driven features.

Samsung Galaxy Star

Samsung has managed to tap into the affordable smartphone market with another hit. The Galaxy Star offers decent picture quality, 3-inch display and 4GB of internal memory.

HP Slate

This gadget offers you all your tablet needs without breaking the bank. At 4.75 inches wide, the device boasts a 1,024x600 pixel resolution and great sound quality.

Samsung Galaxy Fame

One of the best value-formoney purchases you can make, the Galaxy Fame features many of the hightech specifications of highend devices at a more affordable price. The attractive design is coupled with a good quality camera and a vivid 3.5-inch screen.

Samsung Galaxy Core

This 4.3-inch, 480x800 display is powered by a 1.2GHz processor alongside a 1GB RAM and a 5-megapixel rear camera — perfect for avid social media users.

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www.bahrainthismonth.com

Sony PS3 God of War Ascension

Gamers will love the latest from the God of War franchise. In this edition, the Sony PS3 game will see Kratos tested as he seeks freedom, redemption for his sins and the clarity to avenge his family.

Toshiba Canvio HDD

If you want a smarter way to preserve your most precious digital files and memories, opt for Toshiba’s portable hard drive, a complete system backup solution in a box.

Philips 39-inch Smart LED TV

If picture quality matters to you, then this is the way to go. Enjoy crystalclear viewing, a host of connectivity features and so much more with the Philips Smart LED TV.

Sony 40-inch LED TV

Enter a world of dazzling video quality and unlimited entertainment. This elegantly slim LED TV boasts full HD viewing for incredible detail and Edge LED backlighting for boosted contrast. With internet connectivity at your fingertips, you can access a full spectrum of online entertainment.

Samsung 64-inch Plasma TV

The Korean powerhouse is becoming a major player in the plasma market with its new 64-inch TV. Samsung combines innovative design, powerful performance and value in equal measure.

Lulu Hypermarkets can be found at Dana Mall, Hidd, Ramli Mall and East Riffa

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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downtimemusic

Empire of the Holy Grail This month’s best music features everything from rap to electro to the classic solo performance; there’s sure to be something to keep you happy!

Jay-Z Magna Carta Holy Grail

MN BUMO ALTHE

OF

RATING:

WHAT’S THE STORY? Still heralded as one

TH

of the most influential rappers ever to have performed, Jay-Z has a reputation to keep up, especially with so many great records coming out this year. The ‘king of rap’ returns with his latest release, Magna Carta Holy Grail. Having gone platinum before it came out, the album features guest appearances by Justin Timberlake, Nas, Rick Ross, Frank Ocean and Beyonce Knowles.

WORTH A LISTEN?

It’s hard to see Jay-Z in the same way as we did 10 years ago. It feels as if the 43-year-old rapper’s age is beginning to show. We’re left feeling slightly empty as this album fails to stay interesting. The record gives the impression that Mr Z has been lazy in his song writing when compared to that of younger producers.

That being said Magna Carta Holy Grail does have some redeeming features. His flow is as good as ever and a couple of enjoyable collaborations, with Frank Ocean and Nas, help to change the pace a little bit and inject life into the record. His first single featuring Timberlake refrences to iconic 90's anthem, Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Verdict: Magna Carta Holy Grail is a fair release from one of the most established rappers in music today.

Sure it’s noYeezus, but a worthwhile listen nonetheless.

TOP TRACKS: Picasso Baby and BBC Kanye West

Yeezus The latest release from 36-yearold Kanye West is engaging. The production is magnificent. West is keen to experiment with a variety of interesting textures such as dancehall. Standing at 10 tracks long, Yeezus is bold, passionate and ingenious. Kanye West is definitely back in the game. It may seem like the rapper and his Watch the Throne counterpart and friend, Jay Z, are set to out-do each other this year, but Kanye has set the bar pretty high. An yes, he did throw the CD into a blank disc cover.

86 August 2013

Empire of the Sun

Ice on the Dune In the latest offering from the electro-inspired duo of the ‘80s, Luke Steele and Nick Littlemoore bring their eclectic mix of catchy pop hooks and dance-inspired rhythms to a whole new level. Ice on the Dune is a wonderful contribution.

Tom Odell

Long Way Down There’s no doubt that Tom Odell has talent. His piano skills are cleverly virtuosic.

Yet this album feels as if good song writing is the main foundation rather than genuine inspiration. Long Way Down is already taking the charts by storm.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

downtimecomputergames

Download and Conquer Today, most games have downloadable content to improve them. We look at the best of them this month, from the adventures of a Mario brother to taking a look at a hitlist.

Call of Duty:

OF

TH GA E M M E ON TH

Black Ops 2-Vengeance The newest Call of Duty venture boasts a range of great new maps and equally awesome weapons.

Whilst not all the new maps are truly spectacular, the downloadable content makes up for it by adding a range of cool new zombie-related stuff, which is always fun!

Call of Juarez:

New Super Luigi U (Wii U) RATING:

WHAT IS IT?

The Super Mario Brothers games are still among the best gaming franchises of all time, with countless releases being added to their already impressive roster. This has also caused a whole range of spin-off games such as Super Mario Galaxy and Luigi’s Mansion to name a few. So with Nintendo’s latest release New Super Luigi U, Luigi takes centre stage while his big brother’s out of the picture.

No more can you give the guy in green the ‘player two’ status.

Gunslinger (Xbox 360) In the downloadable addition of the Call of Juarez series, we revisit the original source material — an exciting proposal. The more ‘openworld’ set pieces are stripped down in favour of detailed and welllayered interaction. Aside from these small successes, the game still feels like any old shooter.

GRAPHICS:

In terms of graphics, it’s designed nicely with classic levels looking fresh and revitalised. It’s nice to see a Super Mario Brothers game in HD, yet the game feels a little bland on the surface. In terms of vibrancy, it just can’t compare to previous games from the franchise. A new control scheme lets him jump higher and float in the air for longer than other characters in the game series.

GAMEPLAY: While Nintendo has tried to put the focus on Luigi, this will have you feeling as if Mario is greatly missed. Levels feel as if they have been greatly trimmed down and simplified, taking some of the enjoyment and charm out of them.

There’s a noticeable lack of consistent flow throughout each level of the game. A 100-second time limit doesn’t give you the freedom to explore many of the game’s secrets, which have been thoroughly enjoyable in the new Mario games.

VERDICT: Nintendo has tried to do something different by placing the focus on Luigi, yet New Super Luigi U seems to remind us why Mario and Luigi work better together rather than separately.

88 August 2013

Castlestorm

This game takes the projectile-based arcade style of Angry Birds to a whole new level. You defend two towers in what is a simple yet extremely enjoyable game. It’s charming, unique and fun. This one’s sure to keep you busy!

www.bahrainthismonth.com

websites

TE TH SI ON M E WEB TH

OF

NowThisNews.com RATING:

WHAT IS IT?

NowThisNews is the video news site for the mobile and social generation. The site has a wide collection of viral videos and is accessible on smartphones and tablet devices. It is founded by former staff of Huffington Post and is backed by leading media firms.

THE GOOD: The site has an appeal due its chic, modern design; its

simple layout allows users to navigate quickly. The collection of videos is impressive and the site allows you to share these directly with Facebook and Twitter, in keeping with the theme of ‘socialisation’. Videos are organised into categories, such as politics, entertainment and science, which let you pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for straight away. The site is available in an app format so smartphones may browse through its content with ease.

THE BAD:

The only real problem is that it’s exceedingly focused on its target market. It is geared towards those who have smartphones and tablets, and those who are tech savvy. So it may seem that the older generations will find it hard to really get interested in NowThisNews.com. Aside from this, it’s hard to find fault with the site’s informative and unique articles.

VERDICT: A news site for the mobile generation; it’s simple yet effective.

App.net Reminiscent of Twitter in its early days, App.net allows users to create profiles and converse with friends without the commercialised feel of other social media sites.

Unfortunately, it’s mostly a paying service right now.

Pinstagram.co Pictacular is the easier and more powerful way of viewing Instagram pictures online, even more so than the parent site! Sign in with your profile and browse through an endless supply of photos in a layout in the style of Pinterest.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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downtimeapps

Whatever the Weather This month’s apps are perfect for those who like to keep healthy both indoors and outdoors!

T

S ONTH M APP HE

OF

Scientific 7-minute Workout

Foresee

Sometimes you just want someone to lay out guidelines for how to put the newest fitness research into practice. This new fitness app promises to get you in shape with a sevenminute workout every day! It’s designed for maximum results in minimal time. Nicely designed and simple for anyone to use, this is one app we’ve all got time for!

In 12 exercises, using only body weight, it fulfills the latest mandates for high-intensity effort, which essentially combines a long run and a visit to the weight room into about seven minutes of steady discomfort!

RATING:

WHAT IS IT?

Foresee intelligently blends weather data with your ideal conditions, allowing you to plan ahead and find out when’s best for you to enjoy your favourite activities.

With this app, you will no longer plan on doing something and then check to see what the weather will be like. If you enjoy outdoor activities, but have a hard time planning around the weather, Foresee is worth checking out.

THE GOOD: This app allows you to make the most of the weather. The ability to

personalise it allows you to decide your perfect conditions for a range of activities such as running, cycling and so much more. It is compatible with thousands of cities across the world, meaning you can always take full advantage of the weather. The app lets you plan days or even weeks ahead, so you’ll be sure to be kept busy!

Foresee allows you to share information on your Facebook and Twitter pages. The app’s clean and easy-to-use design is fantastic.

One of the downsides of the app is it that, much like the weatherman, it’s not always right! The weather can be horribly unpredictable so you’re never too sure of what you’re getting. And in the grand scheme of things, it’s not too dissimilar from other weather apps. It may be inexpensive, but it’s hard to see if it’s really worth USD1.99.

THE BAD:

VERDICT: A nice twist on the traditional weather app — not without its problems.

90 August 2013

Performance Stretching Everything you know about stretching could be wrong. The right way to get ready for an intensity workout is dynamic stretching.

Performance Stretching is a cool new way to stretch and warm up your body and achieve the most out of your exercise. The app features over 150 different stretches with simple guides as well as audio descriptions to ensure you’re doing it right. It improves your athletic performance.

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movies

TH

OF

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ON

M OV M IE

WORTH WATCHING? It’s always tricky to get these self-parody movies to work well. More often than not, when celebrities play themselves, it does nothing more than distance them further from the audience than before. It has to be said, though, that This Is The End has a lot of great merits! It’s pretty funny seeing celebrities such as Michael Cera and Rihanna acting moronic, then getting annihilated by aliens!

VERDICT: It may not be the best comedy of the year, but This Is The End is a great new comedy concept, and it’s awesome to see all our favourite comedy stars reunited again!

The Internship

This Is The End

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson return in the duo’s latest comedy release. Whilst there’s a great deal of laughs, the movie often feels like a giant plug for Google. Aside from that, they look fresh-faced and are on form in terms of comedy.

If the script were better, then it’d be superb!

RATING: DIRECTED BY: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg STARRING: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill

THE PLOT:

Jay Baruchel comes to LA to visit Seth Rogen and, against his will, gets dragged along to party at James Franco’s house. It reminds him of how much he hates the Hollywood lifestyle, but then the apocalypse is soon upon them and the actors must fight to survive.

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Now You See Me Crime and magicians always make for an interesting movie concept. For the most part Now You See Me is thoroughly entertaining. The visual effects are impressive and the action is enjoyable.

Sadly, the end of the movie leaves you feeling cheated. You are taken from experiencing the magical to feelings of plain disappointment.

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BHS Relaunch The Jawad Business Group held an event to mark the relaunch of the BHS Store in Seef Mall that has been redesigned with a new look to offer a complete shopping experience for the whole family Zainab Jawad relaunches the store in the presence of Jawad officials and guests

Emma & Caroline

Hassan, Zainab, Kareem & Ameer Jawad

92 August 2013

Ashwathy, Gladys, Clara & Ameera

Steven, Reynolds & Mushtaq

Shijoy, Sohail & Suraj

Abdulwahid & Sameera

Adel, Angelo, Hussain & Vijay

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Jeep Grand Cherokee Launch Ahmed Zayani and Sons held a launch ceremony for the all-new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the Jeep Showroom in Zinj last month

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Essam, Eldho, Mayank, Rashid Al Zayani, Luay Abu-Kaff, Godwin D'Cruz & Sunil

Rashid Al Zayani, Luay Abu-Kaff & Godwin D'Cruz with members of the media and officials

EID HOLIDAY PACKAGE ROOM TYPE

RATE

Standard Single Room Standard Double Room

- BD 38.000 - BD 46.000

Executive Single Room Executive Double Room

- BD 48.000 - BD 56.000

Standard Suite Single/Double Executive Suite Single/Double

- BD 68.000 - BD 78.000

· · · · · · ·

The above rates are subject to 15% service charge and 5% government levy.

The above rates are inclusive of buffet breakfast at Al Wasmeyyah Restaurant.

Free usage of internet in the room.

Complimentary airport pick-up and drop off.

Children under 6 years stay for free and 6-12 years of age are charged at 50%.

Commissionable to Travel Agents.

Terms and conditions apply.

BAHR AIN - HOTE L

International standards, local flavours.

Golden Tulip Bahrain Hotel @GTBahrainHotel

GOLDENTULIPBAHRAIN.COM

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Auguat 2013 93

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Haraka Launch Designer Muna Yateem launched a unique range of digital timepieces to add to her Haraka range. The entrepreneurial 25-year-old Bahraini displayed her new Digital Mix Collection of fashionable watches and accessories at a special pop-up store at the Yateem Centre

Shirley & Fatima Yateem

Johara, Safa, Muna Yateem, Maha, Amal & Alla

Syra, Andrew & Anne

Krishnan & Paresh

Mohammed Yateem, Nabeel Al Zain & Nabeel Ajoor

Batool & Maitham

Ahmed & Fatima Yateem

Muna Yateem with her family & friends

94 August 2013

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Nissan Ramadan Offers Launch Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons held a launch event for the group's Ramadan promotional campaign for leading automotive brands such as Infiniti, Nissan, Ford & Renault. Top managers of YKA group, staff and media attended the event held at the Nissan Showroom in Sitra

One of the Ramadan promotions

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Paul & Ranjit

Ian, Mohammed, Dharmesh, Mario, Zainab & Sandeep

Unnikrishnan, Tony & Prabhudev

Auguat 2013 95

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Al Haddad Motors Media Ghabga Al Haddad Motors, the sole distributors for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the kingdom hosted a Ramadan media ghabga last month. The event was held at the Elite Resort & Spa's Al Noor Tent

Ashraf, Jaffer, Abdulla Al Haddad, Alia, Mehmood & Graeme Newport

Al-Haddad management with members of the media

Steve, Cuthbert & Graeme

Pallavi, Manjita & Bharti

Rajesh

Adel, Steve & Paul

Deepak

Sofitel Ramadan Tent Launch The Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa hosted a reception for a number of guests to mark the launch of the hotel's Ramadan Tent, Layali Al Zallaq Jassim Al Zayani, Charbel & Debbie

Hakima & Vina

Kate & Apple

96 August 2013

Said, Charlene & Tarik

Carie, Beverley & Karina

Ahmed, Basel & Abar Ahmed

Elma & Vijith

Ammar & Zahra

Alison & Silvia

Grace & Anne

Latha & Covi

Kareem

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Tamkeen Customer Service Centre Launch HE Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Political and Economic Adviser to HRH the Crown Prince's Court & Tamkeen Board Chairman, officially inaugurated Tamkeen's Customer Service Centre at Seef Mall. The event was attended by Tamkeen Chief Executive Mahmood Hashem Al-Kooheji, the executive team, board members, officials and the media

HE Shaikh Mohammed & Khalid Amin

Mohammed, AbdulKarim Bucheery & Deena

HE Shaikh Mohammed & Mahmood Al Kooheji with officials

Peter & Sabeeka

Mehmood & Abdulla

Italian, reinvented.

Café Italia, our award-winning restaurant has a stylish modern yet casual atmosphere. Café Italia prides itself in serving authentic Italian cuisine; Beech wood-fired Neapolitan Pizza and has an extensive variety of fine beverages.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Maheen & Reyham

Hanan & Farah

Faisal, Reem & Abeer

Mahmood & Mohammed

Nawaf

CAFÉ ITALIA PIZZERIA & RESTAURANT Location : Road 3825, off Sh.Isa Avenue, Adliya Telephone : 17 744 774 Fax : 17 742 229 e-mail : cafeitaliabh@alialsharif.com Smoking & non smoking area available

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Classical Tabla Performance Indian classical music fans had a chance to revel in a night of ghazal songs and classical music as master of the tabla, Ashiq Ali performed at the La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art. HE Jauhar Saleem, Pakistani Ambassador & HE Christian Testot, French Ambassador also attended the concert

Ashiq Ali on the tabla

Bushra, HE Jauhar Saleem & Dia

Cath & Clare

Shahnaz, Dena, Adel Fakhro, Fatima Alireza & Mona Almoayyed

Mariam, Omar & David

Apple & Marilyn

Frank & Chris

Josephine & Steven

HE Christian Testot

Roy & Mary

Azazel & Mish

K Hotel Reception The K Hotel in Juffair hosted a reception for the hotel's K Plus and K Rewards members.

The reception was held at the hotel's Champions Sports Lounge last month

Volker, Nader, Hussain & Ahmed

Amod, Anjali & Kalpana

Andrew, Sophie, Nadia, Tamim & Shimon

98 August 2013

Binu & Jesna

Gopal, Likhiya & Bilal

Bilal & Hillary

Mani, Augustine & Bernard

Ayla & Sascha

Layla & Charlie

Randa

Hussain, Ayna & Ahmed

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Rotary Club Of Salmaniya Meeting The Rotary Club of Salmaniya held a luncheon meeting for members & guests at the Gilgamesh Ballroom, Golden Tulip hotel. The guest speaker at the event was Glyn Ashley

Sebahat, Ameera & Andrew

Veeru, Khalid & Raed

Hassan, Osama & Mohammed

Sandra & Sebahat

94mm (w) x 125mm (h)

Steve Sebahat with&3mm bleed

Abdulrahman, Akram & Kays

Glyn Ashley

Laith & Fareed

Wael

Michel & Khalid

Elias

BMW Military Sales Party A party was held for clients of BMW's military sales at the Regent Tower Poolside

Ross, Dave & Derick

Dave, Hillary & Ross Lani, Katherine, Dianne & Tony

Jad, Jubble & Kutt Acutim

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Wendell & Ghie

Robert & TR

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Russian Film Festival Opening HE Victor Smirnov, Russian Ambassador opened the three-day Russian Film Festival titled 'Days of Russian Film' at the Bahrain Museum last month

Dr Yousef, HE Victor Smirnov & Vera Smirnova

Semen Korzhev & Gaidar Gamzatov

Abdul Khader, Vera Smirnova, HE Victor Smirnov, HE Shigeki Sumi, Japanese Ambassador & Tomoko Sumi

Rimma & Mohammed

Anna & Natalie

Sergey & Fomin

Soja, Himaja, Vera Smirnova, HE Anura Mudiyanselage Rajakuruna, Sri Lankan Ambassador & HE Victor Smirnov

Peter & Tjeere

Raina & Mariam

Adel

Ayna

University Of Stratclyde Ghabga The University of Stratclyde Business School held a Ramadan ghabga for members of the alumni at the Elements Lounge, InterContinental Regency Bahrain

Ravi & Lynette

Bob & Ron

Rami & Khalil

100 August 2013

Siddiqa, Milushka & Fatima

Abhishek, Sameera, Milushka & Elvin

Alumni members at the event

Anette, Milushka, Neethu & Elvin

Amera & Miluksha

Bapna

Rajeeb

Dilia

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motoringthismonth

Lexus IS

Sporty and Elegant At the wheel of the new Lexus IS you feel every move as if it is your move. The car is an extension of the driver — a sedan that really is fun to drive.

The new Lexus IS looks fast and powerful, even standing still.

From the front, the unique, trademark spindle grille is elegant but aggressive and powerful. The side view reveals lines that flow smoothly from the door to the tail-lights in the rear, which are angled down and out. Additionally, the rear spoiler is now integrated into the trunk lid’s trailing edge.

“This car is definitely sportier,” commented Junichi Furuyama, the IS chief engineer, at the launch of car last month in the Kingdom. “The L-shaped LED daytime running lights are positioned just underneath the headlamp cluster drawing the eye to the side and rearwards in a subtle yet sophisticated way.”

Drivers will love the interior, with its exciting cockpit-like design. The dashboard has both an operation and a display zone, reducing visual clutter and allowing for better situational awareness and control. The cabin’s contemporary lighting, premium materials, and other features suggest the highest quality and luxury.

Moreover, the longer wheelbase increases rear seat space and luggage capacity. This is a sedan that is sporty, ergonomic, comfortable — and elegant.

“We specifically made driving pleasure the major premise behind all aspects of performance,” advised Junichi. “The engineers really did their thing to ensure the IS is fun to drive.”

Also this month

The IS 350 has a 3.5-litre V6 engine with direct fuel injection producing 312hp, while the IS 250 is powered by a smooth 2.5litre V6 that delivers 204hp.

An eight-speed sport direct-shift automatic transmission features paddle shifters and the G-force artificial intelligence shift, which automatically selects the optimum gear and downshift pattern in response to G force.

Alternatively, the F SPORT grade redefines the concept of the modern luxury sports sedan. Its exclusive spindle grille is eyecatching and bolder. The bottom corners of the front bumpers feature aerodynamic intakes that not only look great but enhance brake cooling.

On board, the interior trim detailing includes an F SPORT steering wheel and shift knob, and aluminium pedals and scuff plates with the Lexus logo. Both the front and rear suspension systems and the electric power steering are exclusively tuned.

Optional variable gear ratio steering controls the steering angle in accordance with vehicle speed and driver operation for better control, even while changing lanes and navigating winding roads.

An additional driving mode, SPORT S+ (in the IS 350 F Sport only), uses an adaptive variable suspension system and refines the power train, so the driver can fine tune the ride for even more fun when driving.

To see the new IS for yourself, visit the Lexus showroom in Sitra. E Call 17 737-773 or visit www.lexus.com.bh.

Nissan Leaf

A Green Leader Nissan has been named one of the world’s greenest brands for 2013 in Interbrand’s third annual Best Global Green Brands report.

Noted for its leadership in zero emissions mobility with the Nissan Leaf fully electric vehicle, Nissan was ranked in fifth place overall out of 50 brands that were selected.

Nissan aims to maintain its leading position in the development of electric vehicles, as exemplified by the Leaf. This sedan has racked up 65,000 units in sales to date and is the world’s best-selling electric vehicle.

The Interbrand report ranks brands on both their ecofriendly activities and customer perceptions.

102 x Wheels - 103 x Showcase

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August 2013 101

motoringwheels

CUV = ‘Chic’ Utility Vehicle!

TONY SIDGWICK Peugeot are adding some chic to the compact SUV segment with the super-stylish and sexy Peugeot 4008.

Model Peugeot 4008 Model year 2013 Engine 2-litre I4 Displacement 1,998cc Horsepower 147 hp @ 6,000 rpm Torque 197 Nm @ 4,500 rpm Transmission six-speed automatic transmission Transmission 0 to 100 km/h: 10.9 seconds Top speed 188 km/h

102 August 2013

The French are known for their striking automotive design, and Peugeot are no exception. Models like the Peugeot RCZ are already turning heads, and now this new compact SUV from the brand adds to their portfolio of stylish cars.

Manufactured in partnership with Mitsubishi Motors, the 4008 shares a platform with the Mitsubishi ASX and the CUV from Peugeot’s sister company, the Citroën C4 Aircross. This is yet another example of the French automakers partnering with Asian manufacturers to produce attractive cars at affordable prices.

When you talk about ‘frills’ and ‘thrills’ in a car you normally use the phrase ‘low frills, high thrills’, alluding to a sports car that has been stripped down to save weight and costs whilst increasing performance. The 4008 is the exact opposite — it’s low thrills, high frills. They’ve added to the fantastic styling by including lots of great features and high levels of comfort, but sacrificed power and performance to keep things economical.

The 4008 currently comes in two spec levels, Active and Allure, with the Allure model we drove being the full-option model.

The list of features is frankly staggering: rear-view camera, cruise control, speed-sensitive power steering, remote central locking, fully electric windows, six-speaker CD/radio with Bluetooth streaming and USB connectivity, steering wheel audio controls, electric windows and electric front seats, and so on.

The 147hp two-litre four-cylinder engine isn’t going to win any races, but it does do a pretty good job of getting the 4008 on the move, with a smooth and seamless delivery of power thanks to the CVT (continuously variable transmission). The Allure spec model we drove features both two-wheel-drive and all-wheeldrive, with a diff-lock setting for tricky off-road situations.

There are also paddle shifters on the steering wheel, which help to wring even more performance out of the engine when the need arises.

Due to the coupé-like styling of the 4008, there’s not a lot of storage space in the rear cargo area, though this is made

slightly better by folding the rear seats flat, at the expense of seating for three. It’s not the right choice if you’re going for a CUV for its cargo-carrying features.

In essence, the 4008 is a chic and stylish city run-around, great for carrying the kids to school and doing the shopping, but not for any serious cargo carrying or long journeys with large families.

The added versatility offered by the 4WD modes on the Allure spec means that you can reach places an ordinary car couldn’t, such as taking a shortcut across that empty sandy lot or driving to that more secluded camp spot. Limited engine power means that you wouldn’t want to do any serious dune bashing though!

It isn’t a car for people looking for high levels of on-and-offroad performance, but it will easily win over anyone looking for high levels of style and comfort.

The exclusive distributor for Peugeot in the Kingdom is Zayani Motors, and the Peugeot 4008 is available for a test drive from the showroom in Sitra.

E Call 17 703-703.

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spotlight

BMW X6

EURO MOTORS

Innovative Leasing Plans Designed to make it easier to acquire a BMW or MINI of your dreams, a range of financial plans are now available from this premium car dealer.

Paul Yates

www.bahrainthismonth.com

We all have our own ideas of our ‘dream’ set of wheels; if money were no object our streets would be full of the most exotic and luxurious cars one could imagine. The reality is, of course, that we often need to tailor our purchases to a budget that is within our means.

Euro Motors, the official distributor for BMW Group in the Kingdom, which includes the MINI and Rolls-Royce brands, appreciates that acquiring a car or sports utility vehicle (SUV) is a major financial decision, second only to buying a property in which to live.

“Listening to our customers has always been at the heart of our operations at Euro Motors,” says Paul Yates, the general manager for Euro Motors. “Our agreements with Zayani Leasing reaffirm our continuous efforts to provide premium services to our customers that help make owning a BMW or a MINI that much easier.”

A recent example of the leasing promotions we can expect from Euro Motors was the one for the BMW X5 and X6 models. This promotion offered a complimentary BMW Service Inclusive Plus package, which covers all major servicing for the first five years, or 100,000kms (whichever comes first), as well as a three-year warranty or 100,000kms (whichever comes first).

However, it is not just an attractive financing plan that is available; customers can also expect to receive premium aftersales care from the moment they decide to lease the car.

“Our leasing campaigns are part of our continuous efforts to provide premium services to our customers that help make owning a BMW or a MINI that much easier,” adds Paul.

“These brands are popular here in Bahrain as they represent high performance, engineering excellence and pioneering innovation, all of which are qualities appreciated and desired by our discerning customers. Offering these unique ownership opportunities supports our long-term strategy to ensure customers are fully supported at every stage of the ownership experience.”

Coming soon Among the new models that Euro Motors expects to launch later this year is the all-new BMW 4 Series Coupé, which will mark the introduction a brand-new series for the German automaker — the 4 Series.

We can expect a new model from MINI to be unveiled as well — the Hatch.

Euro Motors In addition to BMW and MINI, Euro Motors is also the official distributor for Land Rover, Ferrari and Maserati in the Kingdom.

To test drive any of their vehicles, head down to the showroom in Sitra.

E Call 17 750-750.

August 2013 103

motoring

Citroën C-Elysée

MOTOR CITY

A New Family Sedan Motorcity recently unveiled the latest incarnation of their attractive French compact family sedan, the Citroën C-Elysée.

104 August 2013

Well, we say it’s a French family sedan, but that’s only really half the truth, as the C-Elysée is actually the product of a joint venture between the French PSA Group (Citroën and Peugeot) and Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng Motor, and is produced in Beijing.

The car then benefits from the combined engineering and styling experience of the two huge French auto brands and the more competitive production costs of China to bring you a very attractive and stylish family sedan for an even more attractive price! “The all-new Citroën C-Elysée demonstrates Citroën’s expertise in technology and design by developing a modern and affordable European engineered and manufactured vehicle,” said Motorcity general manager Dr Bijan Majidi.

“The new VTi engine of the C-Elysée is designed for better performance, fuel efficiency and durability. This car has been tested over more than four million kilometres around the world, in all driving conditions, to ensure that it surpasses customer expectations. We invite the customers to test drive this new model to get a glimpse of what it can offer.”

So, what does it offer? Well, the looks, for one. Citroën have always been quite avant-garde in their approach to the styling of their cars, and this has led to some truly radical designs.

While the C-Elysée is less radical than other models, it is still unmistakably Citroën, and features the handsome French styling that comes with it.

The front end immediately identifies the vehicle as a member

of the Citroënfamily, with a large chrome signature emphasising the enveloping, ribbed bonnet.

The bodywork is both harmonious and eye-catching, conveying a robust sense of presence with a high waistline, wide tracks and strong curving wings. The Citroën C-Elysée is available in a choice of seven body colours, with chrome detailing depending on the level of trim.

A wide wheel base and specially designed new generation gearbox are combined with electric power steering that is both informative and precise at all vehicle speeds, to ensure strong road holding and safety for all passengers, even in the most difficult conditions. It’s also fitted with ABS, in addition to dual airbags.

The Citroën C-Elysée is equipped with the new 1.6-litre VTi DOHC engine, delivering 115hp of power, and is combined with a four-speed automatic gearbox.

The car truly illustrates the brand’s expertise in terms of providing comfort to its occupants, ensuring real driving pleasure even in the most extreme conditions.

The standard features of the Citroën only add to the appeal of the car, with things like MP3 and CD stereo, Bluetooth hands-free and USB connectivity included in the list.

With low running costs, excellent fuel efficiency, appropriate servicing frequency and extended service life, the Citroën C-Elysée, is an ideal car for requirements of fleet customers and modern families.

E Call 17 621-162 (Sanad) or visit www.motorcity.com.bh.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystanderthismonth

Summer Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Week Opening Ceremony Alba organised a Summer Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Week at the plant's TCS Hall last month. The five day event aimed at fostering greater awareness on staying safe and healthy during the summer months, as well as suggesting ways of remaining productive despite the harsh weather

Abdulrahman & Ahmed

Ali, Sayed & Shafeeq

Yousif, Abdulrahman, Ahmed & Jun

Riyadh, Makki & Mahmood

Ashish, Nezar & Osama

Nezar, Hassan, Parijat, Vishal, Lathifa & Ghadnana

Sultan, Khalid & Khalid

Yousif

JJ's 14th Anniversary Adele Tribute JJ's Irish Restaurant in Adliya celebrated its 14th anniversary last month with a tribute to Adele by Jo, the lead singer from The Noise Mike, Lisa & Charlie

Salin & Karen

Dave & DJ

Aneta & Dave

Dinky, Tina & Hunter

Kathleen & Abdul-Jabbar

Cat & Sabine

Tomas & Brittany

Jo, as Adele

Kay & Manz

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Raquel & Laura

Sarah & Katy

Katia & Husni

Natalie & Candy

Liz & Kat

Auguat 2013 105

bystanderthismonth

Timothy Pounds Hosts Ramadan Iftar For Youth US Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Timothy Pounds hosted an Iftar for Bahraini youth to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan and the strong friendship between the United States and Bahrain. CDA Pounds recognized the accomplishments of several Bahraini ACCESS English Language students and presented awards to the winners of the Embassy’s Ramadan Eid Card design contest. The event was held at the Crowne Plaza's Bahrain Conference Centre

Maryam, Yusuf, Ammar & Faten

Timothy, Mooza & Brad

Ahmed, Timothy Pounds & Brad

Salman, Rana & Hana

Timothy, Alan & Zahra Oman Air Bahrain rewarded Candida Correya, reservations and ticketing agent as Employee for the month of July for ‘Excellent Customer Service and the "Lets do it Together' attitude. Seen here are, Suhaib Kidwai, general manager, Al Fanar Travel (GSA), Eric Almeida, senior sales executive, Oman Air, Saji Kumar, reservation supervisor, Oman Air, Maria Lazarus, office coordinator, Oman Air & Candida Correya at their new Oman Air office located at Manama Centre

Becky, Hajar & Sarah

Hussain, Samar & Talia

Rob & Jules

Ahmed

Nada & Maryam

Bahrain City Centre successfully closed its City Sports Camp, a fullybooked program which took in more than 90 kids aged 7-12. Seen here some of the kids at the camp Citi employees, alumni, family and friends around the world reinforced the company’s commitment to supporting and improving communities by turning out in force during Citi’s eighth annual Global Community Day. In Bahrain, Citi volunteers got together and collected food items, toys, books, new clothes and any useful goods and donated them to more than 4000 families in need inside the Kingdom. The activity was organized in conjunction with the Red Crescent Society. Seen here, Citi Bahrain employees volunteering on Global Community Day

During the month of July, Oman Air along with the Royal Thai Embassy held an awareness programme for its route, Bahrain-Bangkok-Bahrain, with 10 weekly flights, conducted a raffle draw offering a return ticket to Bangkok. Seen in the picture is HE Vichai Virasirikul, Thai Ambassador, the Winner & Oman Air officials at the presentation which was held at the Thai Embassy

106 August 2013

Scores of people attended the seminar “Happy Me”, organised by Anasa Inc and Bahrain Reiki Centre at Monsoon Restaurant, Adilya. It aimed to create one’s own happiness and bring peace, harmony and joy to oneself and those around as well as create awareness to reduce stress, increase focus and concentration, manage chronic diseases, raise energy levels, detoxify the body through breathing exercises, manage negative emotions and create a sense of well-being. The presenters were Fawsia Mohammed Al Sindi, K M Thomas and Waleed Abdulla Hashim. Seen here, participants at the event.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

diningthismonth

K Lounge

The Happy Hours As we inch towards Eid, the island’s fleet of bars and restaurants rev up to deliver the ultimate drink and dining experience.

Bahrainis are not the ones to compromise on their dining experience. During Ramadan, the Kingdom’s culinary district is replete with delectable options that range from the no-frills fast-food stalls to classy restaurants — all offering supreme taste and flavour. For when it comes to food, we don’t settle for anything less than the best.

With Ramadan reaching its final leg, bar menus reappear and ready themselves to lift your spirits. For those returning from their summer sojourns, the tables are laid with the finest regional and international cuisine. Hope you’re hungry!

Leaving no stone unturned to deliver a fantastic dining experience in its post-Ramadan avatar is The K Hotel at Juffair.

If you’re in a mood to lounge in elegant settings, sip on a smooth drink and enjoy an evening of live music, then head over to The K Lounge Bistro and Grill.

Marking the return of the happy hours, it offers discounted beverages from 4-6pm daily along with a specially complied menu by the chef.

Ladies can enjoy a selection of complimentary beverages from Monday to Wednesday between 6-8pm. The Colombian duo of Sandra and Carlos deliver a fusion of South American and other international music.

The ambience combines traditional steakhouse dining with a Also this month

contemporary environment and is reminiscent of an art bistro with a touch of intellect added by numerous books and games.

Closer to home The K Hotel’s prized jewel, Kenza restaurant, offers Lebanese cuisine, preserves tradition and exudes luxury — ideal for those craving regional splendour. Those wanting to sample the true taste of Arabia must visit it for the scrumptious buffet every Monday and Tuesday from 7-11pm for BD 8++. On offer is a rich medley of mezze, starters, mains and desserts.

“All dips are made from scratch, in-house daily,” says executive chef, Sylvester Rozario. “We have added a fresh twist to salads such as tabbouleh, fattoush, hummus, baba ghanoush, tahini and yoghurt-based dips. Expect a whole new variety of meat-filled pastries, patties, saucy green beans and stuffed vine leaves.”

The vast menu offers other favourites such as grilled eggplant dishes, kibbeh, meat skewers, seafood and kofta in addition to a host of Arabian desserts.

The restaurant encapsulates true Arabesque magnificence that is reflected in the colours on the wall, ornate decor and luxurious upholstery. Perfectly complemented by live Lebanese music by Marwan Mattar, the venue invites you to reserve an evening of Arabian treats.

E Call 17 360-000.

Baharat

More like it!

Due to popular demand, Kempinski Ixir Hotel’s exquisite Arabian restaurant, Baharat, is now open for six days a week for dinner starting from Eid. It offers a selection of your favourite Arabian dishes on a special à la carte menu from Mondays to Thursdays and Saturday, in addition to a sprawling buffet true to its style on Fridays.

Enjoy classic Arabian dishes with a modern twist, specially prepared by the talented chefs.

Keeping the hotel’s ‘think global, eat local’ philosophy in mind, all the dishes are made using the finest, freshest ingredients, with many of the vegetables sourced locally.

108 x Summer Coolers

www.bahrainthismonth.com

August 2013 107

diningsummercooler

Heat Breakers JAMES CLAIRE

In a hot climate like Bahrain’s, it may be difficult to know when a seemingly eternal summer truly begins and ends.

Ultimately it’s the size of the cold beverages and their changing flavours that give us the best hint.

108 August 2013

It is said that summer is when your hair gets shorter, your skin gets darker, the hours are longer and drinks are colder! It’s no wonder we all love the summer months so much.

Luckily this year the balmy days are eased by the slower life of Ramadan and evenings are our time of joy and feasting.

Assisting us to cool down are the cafés and ice cream shops that work hard to soothe our souls with ice-cold beverages that are ever trendy and ever delicious. Here is a list of some of the best.

Aroma Restaurant and Café Aroma Café blends the concepts of a casual hangout, a fullfledged restaurant and a shisha café without alienating the opportunity for family get-togethers and business meetings.

Cooling down is made easier this summer with their introduction of virgin margaritas and mojitos as well as flavoured versions of both drinks, like mango and strawberry.

Visit them between 8am and midnight for a taste of the delicious beverages. If drinks don’t cut it, then try Aroma’s ice creams in mango, caramel, vanilla and chocolate flavours.

BMI card holders get discounts on their order. The traditional Arabic hospitality makes every moment at the venue a truly enjoyable experience.

Ashraf’s Café This café in Hoora is open from 9am until 9pm. Cool down in a relaxing atmosphere with the freshness of real fruit juices, the healthiest choice during a hot prolonged summer. Try the flavour combinations of strawberry carrot juice or orange carrot juice, or go for the simple fresh pineapple or mango juices.

You can concoct your own combination of flavours at Ashraf’s Café. If you truly want something amazing, then try their ‘miracle juice’. The venue also offers a complete range of sodas and water for cooling alternatives.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

COSTA COFFEE

Summery Slurps The soaring mercury can make your energy level take a mighty drop, but these icy antidotes will have you nudge away the heat and enjoy the long summer days.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

These days, the sun is no longer the guiding force but one that drives you to the comforts of conditioned air, dips in the pool and an eternal quest for constant hydration. Costa Coffee serves as a cooling retreat with its cold beverage menu, offering you a variety of creamy, fruity and icy freshness.

Those seeking a refreshing coffee-based drink must try out the coffee coolers. They’re a rich and creamy blend of Costa’s exclusive Mocha Italia coffee espresso with milk, whipped cream and ice cream. Alternatively, one could enjoy the authentic flavour of plain coffee or add a hazelnut, caramel or vanilla twist to it. Taking the creamy delights a step further are Costa’s creamy coolers, a real dessert in a cup. Available in decadent flavours like Belgian chocolate, raspberry and white chocolate, they are vanilla-based and blended with ice.

For those who yearn for fruity flavours, the mango, passion fruit and red berry coolers come to your rescue. The new flavour joining the ranks is a mix of pineapple, coconut and lime, bringing you the true taste of the tropics.

In the mood for something fresh and light? Try out their freshly brewed iced teas that come in lemon, peach and berry flavours. Another favourite is the iced coffee that is a cold version of the hot classic.

There’s no summer drink that works better than the good ol’ lemonade. This refreshing classic is available in peach, peach with mint, strawberry and mint flavours.

With these ice-blended sips of joy to indulge in, make sure you’re always in the vicinity of a Costa Coffee outlet this summer. E Call 17 253-032.

August 2013 109

diningsummercooler trio exotique, an exotic concoction of dragon fruit, banana and pineapple rich in antioxidant properties and vitamins, one can’t go wrong with the natural drinks.

With a decor that is reminiscent of a turn of the century Parisian brasserie, Café Lilou is a place where the elegance and grandeur of that time remains.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Meeting the needs of coffee drinkers since 1963, this brand is now a global entity. It boasts outlets in Bahrain at four locations: Oasis Mall Riffa, Al Murjan Centre Juffair, Bahrain Financial Harbour and Bahrain City Centre.

Original ice-blended drinks offered include iced mocha, iced caramel and the ultimate Black Forest and white chocolate dream. Add to this line-up iced drinks such as espresso, iced latte and iced teas and you have all the requirements for a cooler day.

Café Lilou With outlets in Adliya and Al A’ali Shopping Complex and a third yet to be launched, the queen of the local coffee shop scene, Café Lilou, offers relief from the heat with their ‘jus sains’ collection of healthy juices.

From tonic de légumes (beetroot, carrot and apple juices) to

Costa Coffee This brand needs no introduction as it is a premier loved brand on our island. It has been serving amazing coffee to the world since it opened in London in 1971.This season we can look forward to fresh summer flavours as Costa Coffee has reinvented their iced drinks’ range with highlights on the cooler flavours — introducing ice-blended sips of happiness.

Try a Middle Eastern-inspired beverage of caramel and date coolers during Ramadan or be tempted by the creaminess of a white chocolate and raspberry cooler that puts forth a ripple of

bystanderthismonth

Mohmmed Latif Farewell Party The Bahrain Family Leisure Company (BFLC) hosted a party to bid farewell to Mohammed Latif, BFLC Senior Personnel Specialist prior to his departure after working for the company for 15 years. The party was held at Ponderosa, Seef area last month

Renjith & Tilak

Mohammed & Sathian

110 August 2013

Berna, Mariel, Mohammed, Sabina, Cynthia & Sadiqa

Ram, Sudhakar, Sathian & Suvi with Mohammed

Sadiqa, Sabina, Cynthia, Renjith, Mohammed, Pauly, Nelson & Daz

Vinod, Al, Mohammed, Nelson & Tilak

Pauly, Mohammed & Renjith

www.bahrainthismonth.com

cool white chocolate and raspberry sauce blended with ice.

If you’re looking for freshness, then try the fruit coolers available in mango, passion fruit, red berry and in the new tropical flavour, a mix of pineapple, coconut and lime.

The freshly brewed iced teas, in lemon, peach or berry flavours, are available in a pitcher for sharing with family and friends.

Freshberry Freshberry outlets at Bahrain City Centre, Juffair and Oasis Mall in Riffa offer dreamy frozen yoghurt and summer drinks.

Their best seller may be strawberry and banana smoothies, but no one quite perfects natural fruit juices and zero-fat yoghurt smoothies like they do.

With four flavours of yoghurt available, popularity has grown for their sugar-free vanilla. Offering all things fresh and healthy, Freshberry delivers delicious cooling drinks that don’t add inches to the waistline — a plus for summer.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees With amazingly named cold drinks on their regular menu, such as ‘Very Vanilla Chiller’ and ‘Voltage (Extreme Coffee)’, the coffee house covers our supply of delicious cold drinks for the summer season. Topping their usual chillers and Italian soda are the seasonal newbies; the freshly brewed ice teas come in various flavours like lemon, lychee, tangerine, grapefruit and peach.

For lovers of lattes, they have introduced a Ramadan special — a rose and date chiller. Visit their outlets at Bahrain City Centre mall and Bahrain International Airport.

Starbucks Making us happy since 1971, Starbucks’ focus this summer is the Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino. Cold as ice, spun with delicious strawberry sauce and topped with a swirl of whipped cream, it is said to be inspired by Wimbledon and the classic flavours of an English summer.

An enticing option is a coffee blended with mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, chocolate chips, milk and ice, and topped with chocolate whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumbles and going by the name of Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino.

bystanderthismonth

Ali, Yasser & Ali

Ali & Hassan

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Mahesh & Mitesh

Virender & Sameer

All Natural, “O” Fat

Sindhu & Victoria

‫قليل الدسم‬

Matthew Deakin

،‫ منعش‬،‫طبيعي‬

HSBC hosted its annual staff ghabga during the Holy Month of Ramadan at Bushra Tent, Bushido last month. The event was attended by Matthew Deakin, CEO, HSBC Bahrain

With Active Cultures

HSBC Staff Ghabga

Oasis Mall: 17627244, Juffair: 17811333 August 2013 111

diningf&bhappenings AL ARISHA RESTAURANT

Lebanese Flair

Authenticity is one thing, but fresh and high-quality ingredients are paramount at a restaurant. A Lebanese eatery in Umm Al Hassam excels in both.

Seventeen years into the business, the team at Al Arisha restaurant still works hard to ensure that quality, freshness of ingredients and preparation go hand-in-hand with authentic cooking methods. Maha al Mahmood, owner of the Lebanese bistro, started Al Arisha in her youth. She maintains her enthusiasm and inspiration through frequent travel, returning to Lebanon for spices, ingredients and new menu ideas. She returns with traditional concepts to which she adds a hint of Bahrain. The resulting dishes are delicacies not to be forgotten.

Al Arisha features dishes from various Lebanese cities in addition to old-time favourites, such as asafeer (whole baby birds). Quails are on the menu too.

Try authentic recipes and homemade breads, straight out of the oven. Have a go at shanklesh, a cheese of unimaginable flavour. If you’re searching for traditional fare, then try their ghouzi. What is usually served in Bahraini style can also be prepared in Lebanese and Kuwaiti style upon request. This just proves the efficiency of the kitchen brigade and their gastronomical skills.

With a full offering of cold and hot mezze, fresh breads and main courses, it only seems natural to finish off with dessert.

The options are carabiege, umm ali, osmalieh and muhallabieh — all prepared daily. Best enjoyed with friends, the dining experience at Al Arisha allows for sharing so you can gather the most from the restaurant’s chefs in a single visit. Attention to detail, freshness, delicious cuisine and an atmosphere inviting you to sit and dine for hours makes Al Arisha a hidden gem of Lebanese perfection. E Call 17 725-414.

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Manama Singers & Sofitel La Fete De La Music The Manama Singers & Friends in association with The Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa presented the La Fete De La Music show at the hotel's Al Nakheel Ballroom last month

Gabriella & Beatriz

Nidal & Stephanie

112 August 2013

The Manama Singers

Katrina, Carrie & Ann

Elisabetta, Elena & Maxim

Abir, Zaynab & Faouzia

Omar & Zaid

Jeffery & Jacqueline

Silvia & Angelique

Trevise

www.bahrainthismonth.com

MÖVENPICK BAHRAIN

Assured Loyalty It’s hard to tell what sets apart one luxury hotel from another. We decipher the incontestable customer loyalty achieved by a five-star hotel in the Kingdom.

RAMADA BAHRAIN

Certified Excellence

The Exchange Restaurant & Pub

www.bahrainthismonth.com

In these troubled times, when businesses are trying too hard just to remain afloat, Mövenpick Bahrain can boast a loyal customer base that speaks volumes for the experience it offers.

According to its general manager, Heinz Krähenbühl, “Our strong emphasis on personalised and professional service complements our world-class accommodation.”

He has immense confidence in his team and the shared belief that, after a tiresome journey, guests view the hotel as a ‘sanctuary of comfort and hospitality’, a role Mövenpick plays with finesse.

“Guests would not remember the decor or the architecture as much as how well they were treated by the staff; that is when they naturally enjoy their stay and develop brand loyalty,’ he claims. The hotel has successfully created an open communication atmosphere, fostering unhindered message flow amongst the employees and the guests.

Referring to the customer feedback collected via social media and hotel’s VEOS system, he mentions, “Those methods adopted by people across the globe give us an opportunity to engage a much larger audience of clients and potential guests.”

The five-star property achieved the TripAdvisor certificate of excellence for second year in a row and has over the years become a favourite dining destination with the locals.

Known for its top-notch food and beverage venues and theme events such as the Seafood Night, Discover Asia and BBQ night organised throughout the year, Mövenpick Bahrain enjoys a dedicated customer base of travellers and locals alike.

E Call 17 460-000.

An award-winning luxury property in the heart of the city extends its warm offerings for Eid and beyond.

For the second year running, Ramada Bahrain, located in Adliya, has received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. The popular travel website accords this to the properties that maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five. These ratings are given by users, who have experienced the services first hand, giving the accounts credibility.

Known for its chic ambience and consistently good service, Ramada Bahrain is exceedingly popular amongst leisure and business tourists alike. It offers 123 rooms and suites, three food and beverage outlets, an outdoor swimming pool and a spa.

In addition to maintaining world-class hospitality standards, the four-star hotel embraces the local culture by participating in the festivities during times like Ramadan and Eid. It brings out a range of cakes made especially for the season.

On display at the lobby café, they make perfect gifts for friends or a decadent indulgence with your family.

The hotel invites you to The Exchange Restaurant & Pub that offers an enticing menu of cocktails and bar food. You can avail the rock-bottom prices on select beverages during the daily happy hours, between 8-10pm.

Allow the resident band, The Mystified, to pep up your evenings with live performances from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Make a magical experience of your dinner with a fine drink, great food and an entertaining mix of rock, jazz, pop and country tunes. E Call 17 742-000.

August 2013 113

bystanderthismonth

Gulf Hotel Ghabga The Gulf Hotel hosted a media Ramadan ghabga at the hotel's Ramadan Tent last month. Ian McKie, general manager, Imbi Sarv, director of sales & Ryan Advincula, marketing and communications manager attended the event Ryan, Imbi & Ian

George, Imbi & Liz

Nader, Munira & Bong

Riina & Imbi

Ryan, Imbi & Ian with guests at the event

Ian

Y.K. Almoayyed Ghabga Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons hosted the group's annual ghabga at the Gulf Hotel's Ramadan Tent last month

Hussain, Rohit, Ali, Arif, Maram & Mohammed

Salman

Ali

Natalia

Victoria

Baharat's Iftar Evening The Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel, Bahrain City Centre hosted a dinner for a number of guests at the hotel's Baharat Restaurant to sample the outlet's Iftar that will be served during Ramadan.

The event also marked the launch of the hotel's exclusive Spice Art Exhibition

Claudia, HE Dr Mohan Kumar, Indian Ambassador, Mala Kumar, Puneet Singh & Sari

Puneet, Surbita & Ebrahim

Rashid, David, Dena & Nicole

114 August 2013

Grace & Glyn

Ajay, Ilham & Killian

Chef Yousef, Mary & Simone

Maria, Anja & Jieun

Burak & Ghassan

Robert & Ebrahim

Waleed

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Iconic Scent The British luxury automotive brand Bentley spreads its wings into the fragrance field. Bentley for Men is created especially for cosmopolitan, self-confident, individualistic and successoriented men, who are only satisfied with the very best.

Available at leading retailers.

What’s New Edited by Maryam Toorani

Peach on the Beach

Bronze Goddess

Paint the town red with Bourjois’ Colour Boost lipsticks. The array of summer shades will keep you on trend and ready for Eid celebrations.

Available at leading retailers.

The 22K Glowing Baked Bronzing Powder collection from Mikyajy comprises exquisite Italianmanufactured bronzers. It will have you sporting a natural summer glow all year round.

Available at leading retailers

Deep Impact Improved Quality Built for people who want to make a statement with their television, the JVC 55-inch TV is modern and engulfing. With the 21st century liquid crystal technology feature, you are assured vibrant colour quality and 3D viewing. Available at Gajria Electronics.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Those who have a passion for diving and luxury are in for a treat with the Alpina Extreme Diver range of watches. In addition to their professional diving functionalities and extreme reliability, Alpina watches feature a see-through case-back through which their finely decorated movements can be observed. Available at A La Mode.

August 2013 115

marketplace GULF DIABETES AND ENDOCRINOLOGY SPECIALIST CENTER

Strength for Your Body Vitamin D is indeed the backbone nutrient. However, its alarmingly low levels in more than 90 per cent of the young population is raising much concern.

Dr Wiam Hussein

BOCONCEPT

Designs that Come Alive

116 August 2013

One of the most important vitamins for overall health and wellbeing, Vitamin D reaches us mainly through sunlight.

Rampant anti-sun campaigns by cosmetic companies and fear of cancer have pushed us away from direct sun exposure over the last decade. This has resulted in an acute Vitamin D deficiency.

Today a vast majority of people are at a critical risk of bone disorders like rickets in kids (bowing of the bone and disrupted bone growth leading to deformities), osteomalacia (softening of the bone) and osteoporosis in adults.

Dr Wiam Hussein, medical director at the Gulf Diabetes and Endocrinology Specialist Centre, clarifies that the risk of skin cancer is related to excessive unprotected sun exposure which contains harmful UV rays. It is the sun rays received during early morning or late afternoon hours that result in the synthesis of Vitamin D in our bodies.

“In addition to bone-related disorders, it can lead to diabetes, thyroid disorders, multiple sclerosis, other autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases and even certain kinds of cancers,” he adds.

Studies indicate that hypertension, cardiac ailments, depression and age-related memory problems have been linked to lower vitamin D levels.

“Since our sun exposure is limited owing to our lifestyle, dietary supplements along with a Vitamin D-rich diet must be consumed in order to maintain healthy levels,” the doctor suggests. Foods rich in Vitamin D include fortified milk and orange juice, Swiss cheese, fortified cereals, salmon, mackerel, sardines and cod fish. E Call 17 239-239.

An urban rage the world over, here are some furniture pieces that strike just the right balance between aesthetic freedom and user functionality.

Present in 58 countries around the world, BoConcept is a Danish name in urban-chic furniture. They are known for customised designs that are affordable and crafted with a holistic approach that is reflected in their entire range of products. Bearing in mind the importance of comfort and functionality, their creations press ahead with modern design while serving their basic purpose.

With talented designers like Karim Rashid, Anders Nørgaard, Morten Georgsen and Henrik Pedersen at work for them, BoConcept captures the essence of modernity in clean structures with sophisticated detailing. An example is their range of ‘living chairs’.

Designed by Anders Nørgaard, whose aesthetic influences are drawn from his time spent with Danish architects of the ‘50s and ‘60s, the designs are reminiscent of those decades. From the swivelling Smartville chairs to recliners, resting chairs and Ogis, their minimalist designs merge effortlessly with the rest of the room. BoConcept allows you to choose from a wide range of upholstery. Be it cloth or the finest quality leather, it lets you decide the final look and price of your purchase.

Their work ethic is summed up in a set of seven fundamentals; the sixth one states, “It’s sad when you feel uncomfortable in a beautiful chair.”

This approach has led its designers to think beyond their own portfolios and into your living space and comfort needs.

E Call 17 564-319.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Galaxy S4 Mini

Galaxy S4 Zoom

Galaxy Mega

VIVA

Technology Powerhouse In the market for a cool new gadget? Take a look at the latest innovative releases from one of the Kingdom’s largest telecommunication companies.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

VIVA Bahrain’s customers have a wide array of Samsung’s latest devices to choose from with the introduction of the Galaxy S4 Mini, the Galaxy S4 Zoom and the Galaxy Mega.

All the devices are available with flexible choices of several unlimited smart plans.

Customers can get the phones for zero up front payment on the Unlimited 25 plan or for as little as BD29 up front payment on the Unlimited 20 plan with a 12-month contract. They can also opt for a package with no initial cost with the 18-month contract. All plans include unlimited VIVA-to-VIVA calls and data.

All of Samsung’s products have been designed taking the users’ needs into consideration and are tailored to suit different lifestyles without compromising features and

quality. For instance, despite its compact size, the Galaxy S4 Mini still delivers great entertainment and a smooth user experience. With a powerful 1.7GHz dual core processor and vivid 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy S4 Mini offers big performance.

The Samsung S4 Zoom is touted as the only smartphone in the world with 10x optical zoom. It features a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, xenon flash and optical image stabilisation. This means that users don’t have to carry both a phone and a compact camera with them any more.

Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy Mega has an expansive and vibrant screen for the ultimate entertainment experience.

E Call 124 or visit www.viva.com.bh.

August 2013 117

marketplace ROCHE BOBOIS

Lap of Luxury We might not lead an A-lister’s life, but that’s no excuse to keep your home from looking like it belongs to a celebrity.

Voiles console Grand Hotel bed

Impresario modular sectional

YATEEM CENTRE

Sismic dining table

Everlasting Revelry

Designed by Pierre Dubois and Aimé Cécil, the Grand Hotel bed is aimed for those who love to add a tinge of luxury to their bedroom. Created for the Nouveaux Classique collection of a French furniture brand, Roche Bobois, the bed is made of solid wood ash and ash wood veneer on slatted wood. The legs, base and buttons are in silver-coloured brass. The leather panel headboard is given a caviar high-gloss finish.

For those looking to give their living space a contemporary touch, Roche Bobois offers the Impresario modular sectional seating designed by Roberto Tapinassi and Maurizio Manzoni.

The designer-architect duo shares an aesthetic affinity, which is evident in this sofa upholstered in Dolce leather and boasting a pigmented finish. Opt for cushions in the favourite colour combos of the season — blue and yellow.

Another popular piece in the contemporary line of the highend furniture house is the Sismic dining table. Cedric Ragot is known to seek the materialisation of domestic furniture through a biotechnological viewpoint. The designer has given this one-of-a-kind table an extra clear glass top with a fading screen-printed pattern.

If the twist and curve of the Sismic range doesn’t suit your home, take a look at the Voiles console. Non-conformist designer Maurice Barilone is celebrated for his Kyoto and Murano collections. With the Voiles table, he reiterates his belief that an object conceals a little magic, which he should make emerge. For him, a piece of furniture is primarily a sculpture, where balance answers to imbalances.

E Call 17 582-901.

With the Holy Month drawing to an end, make the most of the festive fare at the island’s oldest and still popular shopping destinations.

If you thought the malls on the island had already brought out their best and the Ramadan wrap-up will comprise the residual of last month’s festive hoopla, you couldn’t be more mistaken.

Yateem Centre promises a gala time with your family while you make your last-minute Eid purchases.

Enjoy a putting session at the mall’s nine-hole minigolf course. “The idea of a minigolf course, free of charge, gives the shoppers a much-needed breather from the shopping frenzy.

Young ones might even get a fine chance to beat their dads,” quips Andrew Petty, centre manager.

“We will play children’s films in the kids’ cinema next to the first floor food court, so they can be rested and occupied as the parents continue to shop,” he adds.

Be sure not to miss Weda’a Ramadan (Farewell Festival) organised on the first weekend in August. Take a moment to enjoy the soulful melodies of a traditional Arabic band cruising its way through the stores, a resonant reminder of the true essence of the season. Experience the hospitable ambience of the mall’s majlis while enjoying the Iftar with a cup of Arabic coffee or tea, fresh dates and baklava with your loved ones.

Every BD5 spent gets you a raffle ticket. The offer of 35 weekly prizes raises your chances. There have already been over 100 lucky winners; you could be next!

E Call 17 215-615

118 August 2013

www.bahrainthismonth.com

ASIA JEWELLERS

Time of the Serpentine

Keep a close tab on the hours of fortune during the year of the snake as its fabled beauty gets imbibed into the ticking blades of the Turbine.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Perrelet, a legend of a brand once again draws inspiration from the Far East to spruce up its designs; this time producing a limited edition collection of the Turbine watches. Marking the year of the snake, the watchmakers eloquently translate the reptile into the dark, powerful and the mystical allure of these numbered timepieces.

Nestled under the dial of the iconic Turbine model is the master craftsmanship of Perrelet artisans, who have carved a unique design that is painstakingly reproduced by hand and possesses magnificent detailing.

Its striking 44mm steel case is fortified by a DLC coating, providing a sharp backdrop in black. The remarkable yet controlled design is further complemented by a black crocodileleather strap.

Accentuating the elegance of this master timepiece is Perrelet’s inimitable Turbine that comprises 12 rapidly rotating black titanium blades, alternately revealing the beauty of the serpent beneath. This 99-piece limited edition collection contains an exhibition back that reveals the exclusive in-house P-331 double-rotor movement.

Originally released several years ago as a sort of test sport watch, the Turbine became exceedingly popular and has since spawned a number of versions. It delivered the unique rotatory movement in the watch that stuck the right chord with timepiece connoisseurs. The powerful serpent slithers into its design this year, which, according to the Chinese, is a harbinger of good luck and wards off all evil and misfortune.

E Call 17 587-888.

August 2013 119

marketplace AMA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Global Relevance

An educational philosophy can translate to the goals of an institution as a reflection of its core values. We look into a body that strives to bring international standards to your children.

PARS INTERNATIONAL HOTEL

The Place to Be

120 August 2013

Through the years, AMA International School of Bahrain (AMAISB) has developed a teaching philosophy with a global perspective mirrored by their past and present achievements.

‘Success starts with us’ is AMAISB’s dictum and it is their goal to guide individuals in achieving success in life. The school takes to heart the task of assisting young people in making a transition from classroom life to the challenging world.

In recent years, AMAISB has looked to redefine the purpose of education and the roles of students and teachers in the community. The school caters for a diverse population of children of different nationalities and backgrounds.

It is a continuing task striving to balance the needs of individual learners with the needs of the entire class. To address this issue, current approaches to the delivery of quality education are implemented in order to turn out globally competitive graduates. Teaching initiatives have impacted the delivery of quality education in classroom management, instructional strategies, curriculum design and assessment.

Likewise there is an ongoing implementation of practices, such as using alternative assessments and preparing lessons, which appeal to different learning styles. The use of cooperative learning explores diverse techniques and emphasises on the involvement of parents, making them part of the solution.

The school’s active student body is well represented by its student council, which initiates annual charitable events. This year, students and teachers organised a fundraiser for the benefit of needy people in Syria. By selling home-cooked food, used clothes and second-hand books, amongst other things, they were able to generate a total amount of BD612. E Call 17 595-161.

Come Eid and the island springs from its slumber. Here’s a hotel whose range of dining options has something for everybody.

One of the Kingdom’s most popular hotels, Pars International Hotel’s food and beverage venues have opened their doors to deliver great dining options and non-stop fun.

Z Club & Lounge is where the most sensational people come to party. It offers a night out that you and your friends will remember for long. Dance the night away with the DJ spinning the latest tunes; sip on a fine cocktail or two.

For those who want their midnight snack to be of gourmet quality, Parsia offers the perfect setting to rest, rejuvenate and enjoy a delicious meal. This 24-hour restaurant is located in the hotel’s lobby. A hard day calls for some hearty time with your mates. Join them at Boomers, the hotel’s lobby bar, where the happy hours last from noon till 7pm. Stay on for a few more hours and the live band will make your workplace woes vanish.

If you’re all spent from dancing at the club, visit Mayan Lounge to replenish. Enjoy some smooth jazz or an intimate conversation in its comfortable ambience. Sample the treats from the buffet spread or order à la carte. This is a bar, a lounge and warm restaurant, all rolled into one.

Drop in at Latin Quarter if you want tantalising Latina salsa, flirty margaritas and foot-tapping music.

The kitchen offers a Latin twist on international favourites and the bar pours creative cocktails. Indulge in its casual elegance as the new Colombian band, BarbaRosa, makes your evening even more melodious. E Call 17 814-777.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Dr Teerath Kumar

BAHRAIN SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

Diabetic Kidney Disease High blood sugar can cause the tiny vessels in our kidneys to damage, a condition that could, with time, lead to kidney failures.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Diabetes puts us at risk of a number of health problems. These include heart attacks, strokes, vision loss and nerve damage.

We sit down with Bahrain Specialist Hospital’s (BSH’s) nephrology and internal medicine specialist, Dr Teerath Kumar, to learn about a clinical syndrome of the metabolic disease.

The kidneys play an important role in the body, filtering blood by removing waste products and excess salt and water. If these vital organs become diseased, they falter in their task, leaving the blood polluted.

Diabetes can damage the kidneys and cause them to fail.

Healthy kidneys prevent protein from leaking into the urine, but failing ones lose their ability to filter out waste products. This results in diabetic nephropathy, kidney damage caused by high blood glucose. “Although the condition has no symptoms, finding protein in the urine is a sign that you are in trouble,” says Dr Teerath. To detect the disease, healthcare providers rely on tests that measure protein levels in the urine and blood tests to evaluate kidney function.

“The diagnostic test looks for a protein called albumin. If there is albumin in your urine, it means you have diabetic nephropathy.

You may be told that you have microalbuminuria. That simply means that you have only trace amounts of protein in your urine, but it could still lead to damage,” explains the expert.

There are several factors that can increase one’s risk of developing diabetic nephropathy. These include chronically elevated blood sugar levels, being overweight or obese, smoking and having diabetes-related vision problems or nerve damage.

“In this situation, many tend to only focus on keeping their blood sugar levels in the right range. It is just as important to control blood pressure too as they go hand in hand in damaging our vessels,” the doctor says.

Having a family history of kidney disease or belonging to certain ethnic groups can also increase your risks. The doctor goes on to explain that the main treatment is tight control of blood pressure and blood sugar that prevent or slow down the damage to the kidneys. E Call 17 812-000.

The major steps to stall kidney disease: l Make healthy lifestyle choices. These include limiting the amount of salt you eat, quitting smoking and losing weight. l Keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. The target for fasting blood glucose and for blood glucose levels before each meal is 80 to 110 mg/dL. l Keep your blood pressure below 130/80.

August 2013 121

marketplace

InTempo

ramee group of hotels

Start the Party!

Are you ready to set the rhythm? Leading nightclubs in the Kingdom are back with brand-new live entertainment lineups. Get your groove on!

122 August 2013

InTempo (Ramee California Hotel) These seven musicians that make up the new in-house band at Club Buffalo in Ramee California Hotel were handpicked from over 150 applicants. The septet has all the characteristics you want in a residency band: professionalism, work ethics, charisma, stage presence and musicianship of the highest level.

With a wealth of experience, on the national, independent and cruise markets, the stage is set for InTempo to bring their explosive mix of talent to the Bahraini market.

Bandleader and drummer extraordinaire Lawrence Giles says, “After working with the likes of Shaun Lowe and Mike Hoddinott, I gained valuable experience being a professional musician. It’s a pleasure to work with six fellow musicians that share the same attitude and professionalism.”

April and Georgina complete a very fresh vocal front along with Dan Batchelor. Harmonies and backing vocals are prominent throughout the band’s set. Medleys keep the audiences dancing all night long. DJs mix songs together; to do that they need to keep ‘in tempo’. That’s where the name was born. Howie (keys), Elliot (guitar) and Jim (bass) complete the rest of the line-up. These melody makers know every song in the set list inside out. This allows them to flow seamlessly

from one track to the next, without the audience realising they are now singing and dancing to a different top 40 classic.

“The InTempo line-up has everything covered. Point them to the stage and let them do the rest. The only thing you will ever hear from then on is great songs and great feedback,” Giles affirms. E Call 17 826-001.

XOP (Windsor Tower Hotel) Your favourite party place, Club Enigma at Windsor Tower Hotel, features today’s hottest show in Bahrain — XOP — starting from Eid. Having quit the ordinary life, this group titles themselves ex-ordinary people or XOP. The audience, however, have renamed them as extraordinary people owing to their awesome performances. Rest assured the in-house band has lived up to its name.

Composed of talented musicians from Manila in the Philippines, XOP has performed at nightly gigs internationally for over 12 years. With its male vocalist and band leader Louise Ramos, the energetic troup conquered audiences in the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi and the USA. XOP has three female vocalists on board. Virginia possesses a captivating voice. Aileen is specialised in belting out

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popular songs. Jenni sings from the heart and easily reaches out to the audience with tracks from Taylor Swift and Rihanna. Fernando is the man behind the drums; Jeffrey is at the keys. Rogelio takes up the role of the bassist, while Robert acts as lead guitarist.

The band consistently comes up with spectacular and innovative acts. Patrons of Windsor Tower Hotel will be excited by what they can offer. These extraordinary musicians surge higher energy with their signature repertoire of sensational music from the ‘70s to the magnificent tunes of the ‘80s. Add today’s Top 40 hits of the new millennium to the mix and you have a treat for every night of the week. Get the groove on as they dish out well-loved hits to local favourites.

E Call 36 185-525 or 39 508-403.

Groove Line band (Ramee International Hotel) Rocky’s Café at Ramee International Juffair is often considered the ultimate destination for thrilling entertainment. They live up to this title by introducing the international band Groove Line to take the stage, starting from Eid. The group of musicians puts forth an ecstatic performance night after night; their high energy levels are contagious. Made up of seven artists, the dynamic resident band at what is known to be one of the most happening nightclubs in the Kingdom invites you to an evening of limitless fun.

Whether tearing up the stage with their explosive energy or holding an audience spellbound with their dramatic intensity, Groove Line is known to captivate a crowd. They know how to transform the mood of the venue from a laid-back lounge to a high-voltage dance floor. They remind you why you love live performances; in their hands, your favourite songs get new life.

With a repertoire as diverse as it is extensive, Groove Line moves seamlessly through a wide array of musical styles, as they cover hits from the ‘70s to today’s top hits. The varied musical backgrounds of their members ensure that the band is truly international.

They have each gained acclaim for performing in extended engagements throughout Canada, the Far East, the Middle East and on cruise liners.

The in-house DJ Dan from UK will keep the party alive. He is good at gauging the crowd and keeping them involved while he spins popular R&B, hip-hop and electro house tracks.

E Call 36 197-736.

XOP

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SOS band

SOS (Ramee Palace Hotel) SOS is the new international band at the American-Irish pub in Ramee Palace Hotel, where international truly means international. Seven highly talented musicians and vocalists, representing seven countries on five continents, form this band, which has enough air miles to its credit.

Despite experience playing in many top venues worldwide and corporate gigs for some of the world’s most recognisable brands over the last few years, this will be their first foray into the Middle East and they cannot wait.

Band leader Lucile, from the heart of France, exerts a commanding stage presence as the band progresses through hits from Alicia Keys to Bob Marley and through Linkin Park to Santana.

Joining her on stage are Alex from Colombia, Damar from Indonesia, Denis from Cuba, Jeffery from Cameroon, Ramon from Italy and Terrence from Canada.

As a band, they bring high-energy performances to the stage, set after set, night after night, and are looking forward to entertaining the crowds here in Bahrain. They will be performing from 9pm till late, six nights a week, Monday to Saturday.

DJ Angel returns to the decks with a whole stack of new tunes and remixes ready to get the dance floor jumping right from the word go. All the big summer hits and some exclusive classic mash-ups are waiting for their Dublin debuts.

Ladies, visit the outlet every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday for unlimited beverages from the Citrus Chic menu — free of charge! Happy hours run daily from 5-9pm.

E Call 39 736-547 or visit Facebook.com/Dublin Club Bahrain.

Groove Line band

August 2013 123

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August 2013 125

tarotscopethismonth

LEO

July 21 – August 21 If you have been away, or on holiday, then August may provide you with one or two unexpected surprises as you return to normal life. The principal hurdle to overcome could manifest itself in the form of an invoice that was left unpaid and has now developed into a serious problem. If you act quickly the matter should be resolved without too much difficulty; leave it as it is and you will find yourself with a major mountain to climb.

Regarding family matters you may discover a child has not been as honest with you as you would have expected and this could lead to an embarrassing revelation some time around the 17th.

Card of the Month — The Knight of Coins For a detailed, personalised Tarotscope reading, contact Raphael by email: raphael@tarotscope.org.uk

Virgo August 22 – September 22 There are plenty of opportunities for change this month although some do not carry all the promise they may at first suggest. If you feel the time has come for a move from work following a successful restructuring of your finances, then choose your path wisely and be sure you have a large pool to select from. Above all, do not jump headfirst into unfamiliar territory since the omens for a career shift, rather than simply a company change, are not good. The adage ‘better the devil you know’ is perhaps very apt in this circumstance.

Card of the Month — The Three of Coins

Libra September 23 – October 21 August is a month you will both look forward to and wish away since it brings sweetness tinged with bitterness. On the whole, a successful period in your family life will find you buoyant and optimistic for the future, with a recent financial gain also putting you in a positive frame of mind. Your only down point lies in the inevitable separation you are likely to have to face with the departure of a loved one to foreign shores.

It’s difficult to accept but not something that was completely unexpected.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is let them go so they can live their lives and be happy.

Card of the Month — The Five of Swords

126 August 2013

Scorpio October 22 – November 21 There seems to be plenty of romance in the air this month and your sign will be affected by affairs of the heart. However, cupid’s arrow leaves a different impression upon you and what might seem to be the start of a wonderful relationship could in fact turn out to be a disappointment. It appears that, for some, the absence of someone special in your life has left you feeling lonely and prone to jumping into any possible new relationship headfirst. Exercise caution because there are people out there who will break your heart if you let them, and they won’t think twice about doing it!

Card of the Month — The Five of Cups

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 August is very much a month of choice for you, with some difficult decisions to make. Firstly, you need to address a problem within the home where a member of your family is perhaps taking advantage of your generosity and beginning to display a side to their personality to which you find offensive. If you can, try to avoid a scene.

Another problem could arise at work, where a male colleague’s incompetence could result in a major fault with some serious implications.

You have to address this matter head on and, if necessary, implement unpopular instructions.

Card of the Month — The Lovers

Capricorn ­December 22 – January 18 You will suddenly look back on the year so far and think that something has gone missing from your life. There is a difference about you, particularly where friendships are concerned, as your circle of close companions has significantly reduced, leaving you wondering why.

Have you become insular and detached or is a current relationship dominating your social calendar more than you might realise? Whatever the answer, honest self-analysis is required. Being in love is a wonderful thing but it shouldn’t come at the cost of friendships and other experiences.

Card of the Month — Temperance

Aquarius ­January 19 – ­February 20 Grey days indeed are ahead, although it is sad that they are mostly of your own making. You fall out in a big way with someone at work, leading to you having little choice but to change position. Much of the problem stems from your inability to accept the blame for anything you do and, as a consequence, you are forever trying to pass responsibility onto someone else. If you do not change your ways then it could be more than just your job that suffers.

You might also discover that people will respect you a lot more if you show them a more honest side.

Card of the Month — The Wheel of Fortune

pisces February 21 – March 20 As August wheels its way into your life, you may feel slightly deflated seeing others close to you plan holidays, social events or family get-togethers. This could have something to do with the fact that a partner’s lack of attention is leaving you suffering from a sense of vulnerability. A good course of action might be to sit down and talk things through with a loved one. Perhaps, even plan some time away so that you can reconnect and bring some excitement back into your relationship. Sometimes a simple change of scenery is all that is required to get things on track again.

Card of the Month — The Four of Wands

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advertisersindex Aries March 21 – April 20 There is love in the air this month and the person you are attracted to could cause heads to turn as they are considerably younger than you are. If you do find yourself smitten, you’re advised to take things slowly since things are not quite all they seem to be. Be especially careful not to dismiss the advice of a close friend. On another note, you might find yourself invited to a party and if you have to buy a present, don’t just walk out with the first thing you see. It might be that someone else has the same idea, which could end up being embarrassing for everyone involved!

Card of the Month — The King of Swords

Taurus ­April 21 – May 20 You may bump into an old flame early this month and it could lead you to thinking of things that might have been. It will therefore not be too surprising to receive a telephone call several days later from that very same person inviting you for a drink and, perhaps, something more. The only complication could be an existing partnership and you must decide quickly whether the rekindling of an old romance is really the right thing to do. There’s a reason why certain relationships end and as time passes it conveniently allows us to forget the negative things that forced any split in the first place!

Card of the Month — The King of Cups

Gemini May 21 – June 20 If you’ve not been feeling your best lately, then August will give you plenty of reason to be more positive as the chance of an unexpected trip abroad provides you with a welcome break.

However, be sure that you take a young person’s needs into consideration since any unforeseen requirements may leave you with a major headache while you are away. Within the home, things come to a head with a sibling who owes money and it could end up on your shoulders. If you do have to bail them out, just make sure you get them to stick to a repayment programme or they will learn nothing from the exercise.

Card of the Month — Judgement

cancer June 21 – July 20 If you have been suffering from a low point at work through lack of enthusiasm, then fate may just step in this month and point you towards a unique opportunity. You could suddenly find yourself presented with a position that has been a lifelong ambition and any doubts or uncertainties should be cast aside. On the health front, a niggling back or shoulder complaint will finally be cured, although you shouldn’t rush back into your normal routine too quickly. The chances are you need to take a phased return to work or risk undoing the healing process.

Card of the Month — The Empress

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Charlize Theron

Dustin Hoffman

Madonna

FAMOUS leo THIS MONTH

Fashion

Sharif Group (Jaguar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Bhs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Medical & Dental Services

Financial Institutions Bahrain Development Bank . . . . . . . . . . 21 Mashreq Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 BoConcept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Roche Bobois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Hotels & Luxury Apartments Golden Tulip Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Mövenpick Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Pars International Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Ramada Hotel Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Ramee Group of Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 The Domain Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The K Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

India in Bahrain

Bahrain Specialist Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Gulf Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Motoring Al Haddad Motors (Mercedes-Benz) . . . 39 Ebrahim K. Kanoo (Lexus) . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Euro Motors (BMW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC First Motors (Hyundai) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 National Motor Co (Cadillac) . . . . . . . . . 31

Others Al Aali Shopping Complex . . . . . . . . . . . 19 AMA School of Basic Education. . . . . . . 53 Bahrain Science Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Dream Body Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

Air India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Al Noor International School . . . . . . . . . 68 Bahrain Cinema Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Citibank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Intercol (Kohinoor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 KIMS Medical Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Lanterns Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Lulu Hypermarket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Megamart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Mirador Hotel (Peacock Restaurant) . . . 75 Mumbai Spices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Rangoli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Royal Bahrain Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 The Raymond Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 The Yellow Chilli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Gajria (JVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Jewellery & Watches

Telecommunications

Asia Jewellers (Raymond Weil) . . . . . . . . 2

VIVA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC,33

Picture Arabia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Radio Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Summer Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Bahrain Mall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 VLCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Yateem Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Restaurants & Cafés Al Arisha Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Aroma Café & Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Café Italia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Casa Mexicana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Costa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 FreshBerry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

BTM retail sales outlets BAHRAIN THIS MONTH, your guide to a great way of life, is available at the following selected outlets:

● 24 Hours Market, all outlets ● Al Hilal Bookshops, all outlets ● Al Jazeera Supermarket, all outlets ● Alosra Supermarket, Saar ● Bab al Bahrain Souvenir Shop ● BooksPlus, all outlets ● Burhama Cold Store ● Classic Shop, Bab Al Bahrain ● Elite Supermarket, Hoora ● Supermarket, Awali ● Jawad Supermarket, all outlets ● Jim’s Restaurant ● Mega Mart, all outlets

● Miami Cold Store, Adliya ● Midway Supermarket, all outlets ● Park Supermarket, Mahooz ● Waitrose Supermarket, Amwai ● Other leading Cold Stores and

News Stands All Gulf Daily News home subscribers receive a complimentary copy of BTM. You can also subscribe directly by visiting www.bahrainthismonth.com For subscription enquiries and back issues of BTM, call 17 813-777.

Photos Copies of most pictures depicted in this publication (and some which aren’t) are available from National Photo Services, Gudaibiya 17 742-955.

August 2013 127

lastword Play it again Sam!

How Real Is Reality?

JAMES CLAIRE I love going to the movies these days; a good Hollywood flick seems far more realistic than most reality TV on the box.

128 August 2013

In the 90s we all welcomed reality television programmes as fresh and invigorating. It was a breath of fresh air to the television line-ups of the day; sadly there is little real in the reality any longer.

If what I watch on the History, National Geographic or Discovery channels is for real, then the general truth to life is that no one actually catches fish any more to eat; everyone kisses the fish and releases it back into the ocean. I’m not sure why anyone worries about sustainability of species. Fish are safe.

Deer, ducks and other birds are not so lucky, dispensed with through a single shot in every episode. The reality is that everyone seems to be a marksman, whether it is using a bow and arrow or a rifle.

Truck drivers in India or Alaska risk their lives every second of every day while facing melting ice and rock falls all year round, never quite knowing if their load will get to the destination or not. Reality is dangerous.

What about those modern fools who dig for gold and only find the ounces they need in the final episode? Or the cake decorators and chefs who never know from one minute to the next if they will or won’t get their creations to the table on time? Cake decorators only get last-minute orders that even they don’t believe they will get finished in time. If chefs are as disastrous as they seem on television then there are a lot of incompetent caterers out there.

Reality shows present chefs struggling to survive and not knowing if they can do whatever it is they have promised a client. It is little wonder that shows such as Master Chef have proved so popular. These at least are amateurs arriving with no training and trying to make luscious dishes, and not pretending to be qualified until they win. To me such shows wreak of unreality; but, perhaps, I’m just a cynic!

Reality TV, though, by its very existence creates unreal situations. Just watching sequences about airlines, baggage handlers, customs officials and the like, one can tell that the

minute the camera has begun to roll, the person in front of it has begun to act and perform. One wonders, if in real life staff of any company would argue so aggressively with customers, or if customs and immigration staff would be so arrogant, rude and downright belligerent. My guess is no!

We as humans have egos. The minute a camera begins to roll we establish a ‘persona’ to fit the occasion; it’s very far from our real selves, going about our daily business without being followed by a camera crew and sound technician.

One only has to watch the credits at the end of a show and see the long list of editing staff to realise that in life we can’t edit situations. I wish we could, but if something is ‘reality’ then surely editing would be kept to a minimum.

Blooper reels for most shows can be seen on the Internet or YouTube! Are these not a real reality? Why are they cut from the shows if they are supposedly based upon ‘reality’ anyway?

But what I truly can’t fathom is that if reality TV is based upon its own premise — being real — then how on earth do they end every season with a cliffhanger?

When it started, many folks stated reality TV was a fad and would not last. Some shows have certainly stood the test of time and are into the second decade of production. Hopefully it will all end soon.

To be real, surely, it has to be true to life — the life we suffer on a daily basis. As humans we like to be voyeurs and love looking into other people’s lives and situations. But, let’s not kid ourselves that any of this is reality.

‘True to life’ television, perhaps, will be the next fad, where a camera is positioned into the lives of people without their being aware of it. That, to me, is ‘reality’ — unscripted, unedited and unlike anything we have seen before.

For now, I’m a little done with television altogether.

Wrestling is staged, reality TV is scripted and life is a little too unreal at times for me to handle anyway. Perhaps when I get a solid grip on life and the reality that faces me daily, then I might return to television to view the unreal lives of others.

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