Bahrain This Month - December 2014

FESTIVE FARE | NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES | CHALLENGE BAHRAIN | JAPAN IN BAHRAIN

www.bahrainthismonth.com

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

December 2014 ~ Vol. 18 ~ Issue 12

BUMBLEFOOT Guitar Hero

ANNUAL REVIEW: Maher Salman Al Musallam — Overcoming Challenges Arts

Culture

Clubs

Sports

Interviews

Lifestyle

Dining

Nightlife

OMEGA Boutiques: OMEGA Boutiques: Moda MallModa (Sheraton Mall Complex) (Sheraton Tel: Complex) 17537753 Tel: 17537753 Bahrain City Bahrain CentreCity Tel:Centre 17100135 Tel: 17100135

Issue 208

Contents December 2014 COVER STORY 85 Ready to rock!

Guitar hero Bumblefoot talks to BTM about his upcoming visit and the importance of nurturing young musicians

HAPPENINGS

23

Bahrain This Month reviews events happening around town during the month of December 2014: 23

Rising to the Challenge:

Triathlon debuts in the Kingdom

Retail Therapy:

24

The Bahrain Commercial Shopping Festival is back 26

Music to your Ears:

28

Focus on banking:

Mozart’s most famous works, Le Nozze Di Figaro, comes to Bahrain

34

Key players in Islamic finance gather for the 21st annual World Islamic Banking Conference

58

30

The Race is on:

32

Ready to rock:

Red Bull kart fights gets into gear Jam Up provides a platform for aspiring musicians in the Kingdom 34

A Fictional Tale:

36

Female Identity:

38

Chuckle Away:

Anna L Thackray launches the second chapter of the Shamal trilogy Moroccan artist Lalla Essaydi’s solo exhibition Punchline Media presents another rousing rendition of the Chuckle Club

88

68

40

Shop Till you Drop:

Bahrain Noor El Ain festival gets underway this month

Calendars:

26-30

Events during December

ANNUAL REVIEW 55 A Year of Revival:

A number of substantial projects are gaining momentum, fuelling the Kingdom’s growth and contributing to Bahrain’s increasingly rejuvenated economy.

58

26

30 Bystander At BTM we celebrated Diwali with many of our friends from the Indian community. We attended the opening of the Corneliani Boutique at Moda Mall and the Russian Ambassador’s cocktail party. The German Embassy held a concert at Shaikh Ebrahim Cultural Centre in Muharraq and of course Bahrain celebrated the opening of Jewellery Arabia at the BIEC.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Gulf Air:

The National carrier’s acting chief executive officer, Maher Salman Al Musallam, reveals optimism for 2015 60

Al Tamimi:

Providing specialist business knowledge to entrepreneurs 72

K Home And Kitchen:

Exciting plans for 2015 65

Zain:

Solidifying a reputation as a leader in the telecom community

68

JAPAN IN BAHRAIN Boosting Cooperation

The new Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom, HE Kiyoshi Asako talks with BTM about his new role and how he plans to bolster bi-lateral relations.

December 2014 5

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Issue 208

Contents December 2014

97

86

INTERVIEWS Roaring into Action

90

JLR Backseat Chat

Jaguar Land Rover’s new general manager Simon Ellis discusses the importance of customer service.

Jaguar Land Rover Backseat Chat: George F Middleton talks with Afnan Al Zayani, the president of Al Zayani Commercial Services.

Suits You Sir!

92

Cristiano Corneliani chats with BTM about his menswear maison opening its doors in Bahrain.

94

Setting the Standard

Klaus Niefer, complex general manager of The Westin Bahrain City Centre and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre discusses his plans for 2015.

LIFESTYLE

114

Motoring:

103

97

Galloping Ahead:

99

Dynamic Appeal:

The Ferrari F

The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé 100

Showcase:

Mercedes-Benz E Class

Downtime:

109 Showcase: Lulu Hypermarket gadgets 110 Gadget Gifts: The coolest new items 113 Music: The hottest beats of the year 114 Computer Games: The newest releases 115 Websites: The most useful sites online 116 Apps: A selection of innovative ideas 117 Movies: A must-watch selection

134

Dining:

155

119

Packed with Flavour:

124

A Scrumptious Start:

Lantern’s Restaurant 130

Engies

Happenings:

Festive fare round-up

After Dark:

155

Sonic Transcendence:

Derrick May takes to the stage 156

Happenings:

Catch the action around town after dark

110

158

117

Feature:

New Year’s Eve parties

Showcase:

164

Marketplace: Latest products and services

Regulars:

144 www.bahrainthismonth.com

163

193 WIN WIN 194 Tarotscope 195 AD Index 196 Last Word

December 2014 7

The perfect gifts for the Holidays!

STORE LOCATIONS • City Centre Bahrain • Seef Mall

Customer Service: 8000-1320

BathAndBodyWorksMiddleEast

@bbwmena

@bbwmena

THE TEAM

Bahrain This Month December 2014

Publisher and Chairman George F. Middleton Email: george@bahrainthismonth.com Editorial Consultant Stan Szecowka Editor Charlie Holding Commercial Editor Apple Sharma Assistant Editors Ankita Mamgain, Georgie Bradley

Dear Readers,

Events Editor Hanna Moore

As the year winds down and a new one is just about to begin, for many it’s a time of contemplation and reflection. There are always ups and downs in life; perhaps a karmic reflection of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice!

Whether you’re celebrating National Day or getting ready for seasonal festivities there is a tangible excitement in the air. Of course, it’s much more enjoyable in Bahrain’s relatively warm climate and atmosphere compared to elsewhere on the planet.

This month, guitar hero Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, the axe man for iconic rock band Guns N’ Roses, comes to the kingdom to help nurture local talent, and is also taking part in a charity initiative for children with special needs. In an exclusive interview with BTM he talks about the importance of music and its role in promoting selfdiscipline and creativity.

Our annual review recaps the biggest business developments of the year and highlights the achievements of some of Bahrain’s biggest players in a variety of industries.

We talk with Gulf Air’s acting CEO, Maher Salman Al Musallam, about the national carrier’s recent revamp of its A330 fleet, new destinations and its plans for 2015. With a firm focus on improving customer service, the sky’s the limit for the year to come.

The Westin’s new general manager, Klaus Niefer, is settling in nicely and shares his plans for the renovations planned at his complex.

This issue also includes our yearly round-up of festive fare options and New Year parties, as well as a host of other events taking place around the kingdom during this action-packed month.

Also included in this edition is our annual Japan in Bahrain review, which features the first interview with HE Kiyoshi Asako, the new Japanese Ambassador.

The eagerly-awaited Challenge Bahrain triathlon is set to shine a global spotlight on the kingdom. The event takes place across the island, giving participants the chance to see the best Bahrain has to offer.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before and, more importantly, you’re doing something.

Let’s all continue to appreciate the great way of life the Kingdom has to offer.

Contributor James Claire Bystander Editor Aisha Siddiqa Print Production Manager Sabu Sebastian Layout and Graphics Romeo San Miguel

Staff Photographer Subeesh Kumar N S, Ranjith Mohan Administration and Finance Samson Vaz, Marlyn Ragasa, Katherine Lao Personnel Manager Bassem A. Al Khabbaz Media Sales Marise Prata Dos Santos, Hilary James Sales Manager Sanhita Kar Marya Circulation Manager Fawaz Al Balooshi Distribution Team CM Abdul Rahman, Gopal Arul Kumar Distributor Al Hilal Corporation Photography Picture Arabia: andrew@picturearabia.com Printing Press Dar Akhbar Al Khaleej W.L.L., Bahrain

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•

Views expressed in this magazine by journalists and writers are not necessarily those of the publishers of Bahrain This Month.

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

COVER Cover Picture:

Ron “Bumlefoot” Thal is ready to rock this festive season.

FESTIVE FARE | NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES | CHALLENGE BAHRAIN | JAPAN IN BAHRAIN

www.bahrainthismonth.com

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

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BUMBLEFOOT Guitar Hero

December 2014 ~ Vol. 18 ~ Issue 12

Bahrain This Month is a member of BPA Worldwide

ANNUAL REVIEW: Maher Salman Al Musallam — Overcoming Challenges Arts

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George F. Middleton Publisher and Chairman

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Dining

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Nightlife

December 2014 9

bystander

Kishore & HRH Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa

Kewalram and Sons Diwali Get Together The Kewalram family celebrated Diwali at their residence in Sehla. Invited were His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister & Deputy Supreme Commander of the Bahrain Defence Force, HE Dr Mohan Kumar, the Indian ambassador to Bahrain among other Bahraini dignitaries and prominent businessmen.

The Kewalram family

Jai, Baboo & HE Dr Faisal Al Hamer

HE Dr Mohan Kumar, HRH Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Baboo & Kishore

Zuhair, HE Shaikh Salman bin Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa & Nabeel

Kishore, Faisal, HE Abdulla Juma, Bahiya, Dr Mohammed, Baboo, Farouk, Abdulrahman & Yousif

Raj, Mansi, Veena, Parita, Sneha, Roshini, Hishang & Aditya

Poonam & Noor

10 December 2014

Vinod & Aditya

Anoop & Shantaram

Karishma, Parita, Sneha & Mansi

Abdulwahab, Amal & Mohammed

Yousif & HE Ali Saleh Al Saleh

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

HRH the Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Manoj & Yogesh

Bharat, Yogesh, Abdulkarim Bucheery, Manoj & Hemant

HE Shaikh Khalifa Bin Duaij Al Khalifa

Diwali Celebrations at the Bhatia Residence Mr. Manoj Bhatia and Mr. Yogesh Bhatia hosted a Diwali get- together which was attended by HRH the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, along with various other dignitaries and VIPs. The event took place at the Bhatia residence in Tubli.

HE Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa

HE Shaikh Salman Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa

The Bhatia Family

Jehad Zain, & Adil Maskati

Abduljalil Sanad

Ali Maki & Hameed Rehman

Ahlam & Afnan

Bhatia ladies with the ladies from Bahrain Businesswomen Society

Rashed Akbari, Waleed, Yogesh, HE Jehad Bukamal, HE Dr Abdulla Juma, Manoj, Abdulrahman Juma, Shawqi Fakhroo, Sameer & Hemant

12 December 2014

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Amin, Jihad & Abdul Hameed

Bee & Vida

Pair, Kate & Aun Aun

Netty & Jackie

Jewellery Arabia 2014 Inauguration Under the patronage of HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the 23rd Jewellery Arabia was inaugurated by the Deputy PM Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The exhibition ran for 5 days with 600 exhibitors from over 30 countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa inaugurates the exhibition

Jawad Al Hawaj, Abdul Latif & Abdul Wahab Al Hawaj

Jib (Miss Ploi Thai), Nang & Bright

Sylvie, Jean & Liesel

Rim, Mohammed & Meriam

14 December 2014

Jassim & Khamis

Amira & Mandana

Olga, Reema & Sherry

Georgette & Nawal

Lulwa & Abdulla

Khalid & Jun

Ahlam & Mala Kumar

Zahraa & Noor

Aysha

Nidhi, Maitry, Gimi & Virti

Nada

Alex & Valeria

Elina

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Amal, HE Hatun Demirer, HE Sabine Taufmann, Alia, Maryam & Fatema

UN Day The UN Country Team commemorated the 69th anniversary of the United Nations Charter. The event included addresses by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Shaikh Ghanem bin Fadhul Al Buainain and Peter Grohmann, the Resident Representative of the United Nations. The event was attended by foreign dignitaries and prominent businessmen.

Cutting the cake

Jehan, Hashem, Doris, Nawal & Mohammed

Sadar, Haman, Rasheeda & Suraiya

Rated & Paul

Awatef & Omaya

HE Bernard Regnauld-Fabre & HE Mohammed Reza Babaie

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Saif & Hani

Dr Salah & Dr Khalid

Ahlam

Tareq & HE Alberto Vecchi

Afif & Rania

Eman & Nawal

Nurul, Huda, Hathaichanok

HE Ahmed Naef Rasheed Al-Dulaimi & HE Abdullah Ahmed Othman

HE Kiyoshi Asako

Ahmed & Ali

Sabah

HE Dr Dhafer Al Umran

Diane & Marcel

HE Helman Arisman & Marietta

HE Yu Joonha

Hatem, Noufal & HE Mohammed Bin Yusuf

Khulood, Reem & Leena

Suha

December 2014 17

Join The Nutcracker adventures and win wonderful prizes.

Once upon a winter, a magical snowy forest came to life. Snowflakes started dancing, candy trees started growing and mountains of gifts began to rise. Explore the colourful chapters of The Nutcracker Winter Tale in the Central Galleria, and spend BD40 at our stores for a chance to win BD20,000 in GiftCards. Spend a minimum of BD50 to receive a limited edition Nutcracker figurine while quantities last.

Until December 31 *Terms and conditions apply.

BAHRAIN

UNITED

ARAB

EMIRATES

OMAN

LEBANON

EGYPT

bystander

Dr Khuldoon addresses the guests

HE Sabine Taufmann, German Ambassador to Bahrain

HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador to Bahrain

HE Alberto Vecchi, Italian Ambassador to Bahrain

European Cultural Week Film Festival and Photo Exhibition The British Council, French Embassy and the German Embassy jointly organised the ‘European Cultural Week’ in remembrance of World War I at Shaikh Isa Cultural Centre.

The photographs depicting WWI on display

HE Bernard Regnauld-Fabre, French Ambassador to Bahrain

Maria & Romina Vecchi

Sara & Luca

HE Mohammed Ali Abdulhameed Siraj

20 December 2014

Bridget Lindsay, Tony & Roberta

HE Sahid Glang

Nancy & Christina

Laurence & Violette

Daniela

HE Li Chen

Laura & Stefano

Luca, Carlo & Lorenzo

Holger & Hans

Julia

Lina & Jean Paul

Maya & Gianna

Maria & Tiziana

Noor

Lucas & Benedicta

Angela & Alessandro

Bernard & George

Nasser

Silvione

www.bahrainthismonth.com

DECEMBER 2014 . HAPPENINGS RISING TO THE CHALLENGE Challenge Bahrain, one of the Kingdom’s most eagerly anticipated sporting events, is edging closer and triathlon fans on the island are counting down the days.

When? December 6 Event? Challenge Bahrain International Championship Venue? Across Bahrain It doesn’t matter whether you’re young or old, a man or a woman, a sportsman or a spectator.

This month Challenge Bahrain is making its mark as the largest single-race participation event in the Middle East, putting Bahrain firmly on the international triathlon map.

Athletes from 51 countries, including many of the sport’s biggest names, will make triathlon history at the event that aims to set new standards for the sport and is offering a recordbreaking prize purse of USD500,000 (BD188,514).

The field will bring together world and Olympic champions along with some of the greatest names in triathlon such as Mirinda Carfrae (Australia), Sebastian Kienle (Germany), Rachel Joyce (Great Britain), Caroline Steffen (Switzerland) and Jan Frodeno (Germany) as part of the 80-strong pro field. Athletes categorised into a number of age groups will be joining them including many local Bahrainis competing for the first time over the half distance. The Challenge Bahrain prize purse is evenly split between men and women with each winner taking home USD100,000 (BD37,700).

With Middle East fast becoming an emerging region in triathlon, Challenge Bahrain has also allocated smaller amounts, of up to USD3,000 (BD1,131), to athletes of all ages and both genders from Bahrain and the GCC, to encourage local participation.

Relay teams from Bahrain and the GCC as well as international teams will be rewarded for their participation in keeping with Challenge Family’s ethos of inclusiveness.

The first place team will walk away with USD2,000 (BD754.200), the second place winners with USD1,500 (BD565.650), third with USD1,000 (BD377.100), fourth with USD500 (BD188.550) and fifth with USD250 (BD94.2750).

The same prize breakdown will apply for Bahraini relay teams (female/male/mixed), GCC nationals (female/male) and the top five relay teams.

Athletes of all ages and abilities will embark on a journey through Bahrain’s history from its most modern architecture to historic mosques and archaeological sites; from the high-speed Formula One racetrack to running with native animals and birds through the Al Areen Wildlife Park.

The action from Challenge Bahrain will be shown around the world over the Internet in a live broadcast with commentary by multiple world champion Chris McCormack and Oliver Wilson. The start gun is set to go off at 7.30am and live coverage will be broadcast online.

Visit www.challenge-bahrain.com.bh.

10 TIMES INTENSITY High-intensity interval training alternates extreme effort with rest. This back and forth can improve aerobic fitness up to 10 times more than other workouts.

Try a 1 minute plank, 1 minute walk. Repeat 5 times.

H.97.581mm X 61.167mm (3col)

Also this month: 26 | Le Nozze Di Figaro - Bahrain Noor El Ain | 40 - 36 | Lalla Essaydi Exhibition www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 23

bystander

Diplomats & artists

Irresistible India Charity Gala Dinner Under the patronage of the Indian Embassy in Bahrain, the Irresistible India Charity Gala Dinner was held at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa. The Event was brought to you by La Bonn V, the premium event professionals and the chief patron of the event was Mrs Mala Kumar, wife of the Indian Ambassador His Excellency Dr Mohan Kumar. The who’s who of the Bahrain and expatriate community were in attendance.

In time with the beat

Shaikha Hind & Mala Kumar

Khalid Kanoo with Family & Friends

Shantaram, Mala Kumar, Irwin & Asha

Mohammed & Anisa

Nissrin Dumdum

24 December 2014

Cristina & friends

Abdul Hussain Dawani

Guests

The American Women’s Association

Mr. & Mrs. Taral Parekh & Mala Kumar

Shaikh Salman & Shaikha Marwa

HE Dr Mohan Kumar, Renuka & Irwin

Hanna & Ronnie

Esther

Eric

Ryan

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Alia & Suhail

Mr. & Mrs Bhatia

Isa & Zeenat

Mr. Juma & Sherry

Irresistible India Charity Gala Dinner Dancers present a traditional dance

Ravi Pillai group

bystander

Vineeth

Vikas

Abeer, Fatima, Bashar & Ahmed

Official Opening of the Corneliani Boutique Corneliani, the world leader in high end men’s clothing, opened its doors for the first time in Bahrain at Moda Mall, Bahrain World Trade Centre. Present at the inauguration were HE Dr Hassan Fakhro, the Minister of Industry and Commerce and HE Alberto Vecchi, Italian Ambassador to Bahrain.

HE Dr Hassan Fakhro cuts the ribbon

Redha & Dr Abdulla Juma

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Yusuf

Fawaz, Mohammed & Quraish

Aziz, Ebrahim, Abul Kasim & Rasool

Mr & Mrs Aziz Mithaiwala

Mrs Romina Vecchi & HE Alberto Vecchi, Italian Ambassador to Bahrain

December 2014 25

happenings

MUSIC TO YOUR EARS

NATIONAL DAY FORT MARKET When? December 4-5 Event? Market Venue? Qal’at al-Bahrain

Theatre fans are in for a treat as one of Wolfgang Mozart’s most famous works, Le Nozze Di Figaro, comes to the Kingdom.

When? December 5 and December 7 Event? Comic opera Venue? Bahrain National Theatre Enjoy an evening of culture as Mozart’s most celebrated composition is presented at the Bahrain National Theatre in all its glory. Originally composed and written in 1786, Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) is a true classic.

The show is recreated and produced by the Festival of Aixen-Provence in collaboration

with Opéra de Dijon and Opéra Théâtre Saint-Étienne. The production will feature musical direction by Jérémie Rhorer and is performed by the Le Cercle de l’Harmonie Orchestra and Les Arts Florissants Choir.

With a youthful cast of talented performers, this rendition of the production transposes its famous characters in the dramatic and contemporary world of lawyers for an enjoyable and creative reinterpretation of a classic. The event starts at 8pm and tickets are available at Virgin Megastore.

Visit www.moc.gov.bh or follow Facebook (Ministry of Culture), Twitter (moc_bh), Instagram (moc_bh) and the App (Bahrain Culture).

Ever wondered what markets in the olden days looked like? Experience the souqs of yesteryear as Qal’at al-Bahrain plays host to a National Day Fort Market on December 4 to 5, from 4pm to 9pm. This will be an open air event that reconnects with the traditional markets of the Dilmun civilisation, known for its many trade and exchange routes. In addition, workshops for children, aged seven to 12 years will take place from between 4pm to 5pm and workshops for over 14 years of age, from 6pm to 7pm.

Register in advance at qab_sitemuseum@ moc.gov.bh.

Call 17 567-174 or visit www.moc.gov.bh.

MEXICAN MELODIES When? December 11 Event? Concert Venue? Cultural Hall Enjoy an evening of mixed melodies as an international Mexican group hits the Kingdom’s shores in time for the National Day celebrations. The Eblen Macari ensemble will take to the stage in a concert at the Cultural Hall on December 11 at 8pm.

Integrating contemporary guitar, jarana, harpsichord and percussion from around the world, the Eblen Macari ensemble revives together the Arab and Baroque roots of Mexican music. The talented trio - Eblen Macari, Olga Martinez and Kabalan Macari – interpret classical Mexican music in their own way, resulting in an authentic and cutting-edge musical style.

The Eblen Macari ensemble has performed in most of 26 December 2014

When? December 1 Event? Literature and Cinema Venue? Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture & Research Literary event featuring Mahmoud Qassim from Egypt from 8pm to 9.30pm.

E Visit www. shaikhebrahimcenter.org.

When? December 1, 8, 15 Event? Golf Venue? Royal Golf Club Partake in the VIVA Monday Madness Night Golf Series featuring a different format each week.

E Call 17 750-777.

When? December 3-5 Event? Music Venue? Various The Bahrain Music Conference (BMC) is back for the second time bringing a fresh perspective on music in the Middle East.

E Visit www.bmc-bh.com.

When? December 4, 12 Event? Film Festival Venue? Bahrain National Museum Auditorium Korean Film Festival 2014 returns, screening The Thieves on December 4 and Miracle in Cell No.7 on December 12.

E Visit www.facebook.com/ KoreanEmbassy.Bahrain.

When? December 4, 11, 18, 25 Event? Movie Night Venue? Royal Golf Club Enjoy old family classics and all the latest releases in the club’s fantastic garden for free.

E Visit www.theroyalgolfclub. com.

When? December 6, 13, 20, 27 Event? Golf Venue? Royal Golf Club Practice your putting every Saturday with Mini Monty Family Day for only BD15 per adult, kids play free.

E Call 17 750-777.

Mexico’s festivals and toured North America, Europe, Central America, Brazil, India and Lebanon.

The event is open to the public.

Visit www.moc.gov.bh or follow Facebook (Ministry of Culture), Twitter (moc_bh), Instagram (moc_bh) and the App (Bahrain Culture).

When? December 8 Event? Bahrain Writers Circle Monthly Meeting Venue? Coral Bay Join a group of like-minded writers for an enjoyable literary gathering.

E Call 39 574-795.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

White chocolate, soft sponge cake, raspberry compote, vanilla Bavarian

City Centre Bahrain: Tel. 1 717 2321 - Seef Mall: Tel. 1 758 0073

happenings FOCUS ON BANKING When? December 8, 29 Event? Drag and Drift Venue? Bahrain International Circuit Try out a new innovative experience featuring on-the-track action with Ebrahim K Kanoo Drag and Drift Nights.

E Call 17 450-000 or visit www. bahraingp.com

Pioneers, industry titans and global leaders who have trail-blazed the development of Islamic finance are gathering in the Kingdom for the 21st annual World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC).

When? December 1-3 Event? Islamic Finance Conference Venue? Gulf Convention Centre The 21st annual edition of the World Islamic Banking Conference is set to be the most important gathering ever in its two decades history. This year’s theme is Islamic Finance: Towards the New Paradigm Shift in Global Financial Markets.

WIBC 2014 will have a number of new features and innovative sessions that will not only examine the significant achievements of the industry over the past two decades, but will also provide major discussions on transforming the industry to

achieve further success and growth.

The conference will tackle key areas of the Islamic finance sector, including regulatory, strategic, Shari’ah, operational and risk transformation.

The event, held under the official patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain, will see more than 1,300 attendees, representing over 50 countries to shape the future of the Islamic finance industry.

Some of the select speakers include Central Bank of Bahrain governor Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, British

ambassador to Bahrain Iain Lindsay, National Bank of Kazakhstan deputy governor Nurlan Kussainov and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, to name but a few.

A pre-conference seminar, organised

by International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM), will be held at the Awal Ballroom on December 1 and the main conference will be held at the Gulf Convention Centre on December 2 and December 3.

Visit www.worldislamicbanking. megaevents.net.

Driving Your Business Forward When? December 9-11 Event? Technology Exhibition Venue? Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre Thousands of people will be flocking to one of the largest technology exhibitions in Bahrain this month. Bahrain International Technology Exhibition (BITEX) will be held under the patronage of transportation minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, from December 9 to December 11.

With over 80 exhibitors, from the GCC and across the world, BITEX is one of the most productive ways to find business technology that can make a real difference and drive a business forward.

The event, organised by WorkSmart, is in parallel with the fifth edition of the well-known MEET ICT conference that specialises in IT technologies.

Visit www.bitex.bh or email bitex@worksmartbh.com.

28 December 2014

When? December 9-11 Event? ICT Venue? Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre Improve your network and business in the ICT industry at the MEET ICT 2014.

E Call 17 717-200.

When? December 14 Event? Christmas Carols Venue? Dilmun Club Embrace the festive spirit with Manama Singers Christmas Carols at 7pm for members and non-members.

E Call 17 693-032.

When? December 15 Event? Tribute Act Venue? Dilmun Club Enjoy Easy Lover Phil Collins Tribute at 8pm, with pool barbeque and special drinks promotions throughout the evening.

E Call 17 693-032.

When? December 15 Event? Concert Venue? Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture & Research Indulge in an evening of culture as Al Farabi Band entertains guests from 8pm to 9.30pm.

E Visit www. shaikhebrahimcenter.org.

Talking Photos When? December 30 Event? Talk Venue? Qal’at al-Bahrain A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes.

This is definitely true when it comes to internationally acclaimed artist and photographer Camille Zakharia. He will be giving a talk on 20 Years of Photographing Bahrain at Qal’at al-Bahrain on December 30 at 6.30pm.

Camille is a Lebanese-born Canadian photographer who has been photographing and documenting the urban landscape of Bahrain for more than 20 years. In his talk, he will share with the audience for the first time the extent of his archival photographic documentation of the transformations of the urban landscape in Bahrain.

The talk will be held in English.

Call 17 567-174 or visit www.moc.gov.bh.

When? December 16-19 Event? Drag Racing Venue? Bahrain International Circuit The third round of the Bahrain National Drag Racing Championship takes place at BIC. E Call 17 450-000 or visit www. bahraingp.com.

When? December 19 Event? Fundraiser Venue? Bapco Club Terrace, Awali Be part of a festive fundraiser and support The Dogfather’s Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.

E Call 39 927-630.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

TEL: 17 737 666

happenings

THE RACE IS ON When? December 20 Event? Karting Venue? Bahrain International Karting Circuit Bahrain Karting Sprints Championship (BKSC) will takes centre stage at the Karting Circuit, located alongside BIC. E Call 17 450-000 or visit www. bahraingp.com.

Red Bull Kart Fight, a global tournament to determine the fastest amateur kart racer in the world, returns to the Kingdom this month.

When? December 11 Event? Karting Venue? Bahrain International Karting Circuit If you’re an avid karting fan and want to show off your skills, then gear up and head down to Bahrain

International Karting Circuit (BIKC) for the Red Bull Kart Fight.

Bahrain is among 20 countries around the world searching for the best two drivers to represent their country at the World Finals, which will take place at Austria’s Red Bull Ring in February 2015.

Red Bull Kart Fight Bahrain qualifiers will be held at BIKC every day until December 4 and participation is open to all. The top 40 who set the best time will compete in the national final on

December 11 at 7pm.

Red Bull Kart Fight is held in collaboration with Batelco, Ford Middle East, Bahrain International Karting Circuit and Arabia Motors.

For the latest updates on Red Bull Kart Fight, join the event page on Facebook and follow Twitter and Instagram @redbullbahrain #Kartfight.

Call 17 451-745 or visit www. redbull.com/kartfightbh.

Need for Speed When? December 19 Event? Racing Festival Venue? Bahrain International Circuit

National Day Festival When? December 13 Event? Festival Venue? Bahrain International Circuit Excitement is rife in the country for the upcoming National Day. So, join in on the festivities and unite to show your support. The highly-anticipated BIC National Day Festival 2014 will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit from December 13 to 17.

Looking to build on the success of last year’s festivities, which attracted more than 28,000 people, 30 December 2014

this year’s event will feature a wide array of attractions for the whole family to enjoy. Among the many surprises, this fiveday festival will include carnival rides, live stage performances, traditional markets and more.

The BIC National Day Festival is being supported

by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

Call 17 450-000 or visit www.bahraingp.com.

For all you petrol heads out there, here is an opportunity not to be missed as Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) hosts a whole day’s worth of action. The BIC National Racing Festival will take place on December 19 at the circuit and is set to feature three of the most popular locally bred racing series, including the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship, the BIC 2,000cc Challenge and the BMR 600 Championship.

The Bahrain championship is expected to attract more than 100 competitors battling it out in 13 different competition categories for cars and motorbikes.

The drag racing championship is sanctioned by the US-based National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and BIC’s quarter-mile drag strip is a member of the prestigious NHRA Worldwide Network.

Call 17 450-000 or visit www.bahraingp.com.

When? December 22 Event? Literature Venue? Abdullah Al Zayed House The event Freedom of Expression in Press and Literature will feature Hala Al Badry.

E Visit www. shaikhebrahimcenter.org.

When? Ongoing-December 13 Event? Market 338 Venue? Adliya Running over the weekends, the market will feature a variety of different vendors, musical guests, workshops and installations.

E Call 39 992-466.

When? Ongoing-March 6, 2015 Event? Exhibition Venue? National Bahrain Museum Discover the evolution of Saudi contemporary art with ‘Modern and Contemporary Saudi Art, The Al-Mansouria Collection’.

E Visit www.moc.gov.bh.

When? Ongoing-April 24, 2015 Event? Art Project Venue? Qal’at Al-Bahrain Site Museum Qal’at Al Bahrain through the Ages is an interactive art installation project depicting the site’s historical significance.

E Visit www.moc.gov.bh.

When? Ongoing-December 31 Event? Exhibition Venue? La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art ‘Periphery – Shifted’ is an exhibition of Atelier Uraiqat’s latest work exploring formations of triangular patterns.

E Call 17 230-123.

When? December 15-February 16, 2015 Event? Bahrain Noor El Ain Venue? Various Malls Indulge in some retail therapy with a major shopping festival, Bahrain Noor El Ain, in time for National Day celebrations.

E Call 17 000-710.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

happenings

GET READY TO ROCK

In a bid to provide a platform for aspiring musicians in the Kingdom, a new concept is rolling into town with a celebrity visitor. BTM sat down with the organiser of Jam Up, Jude D’ Souza to talk about the event in detail.

Bahrain may be a small island but it has a huge amount of undiscovered talent ready to be nurtured. Spotting a niche in the market, Jam Up — a unique, first-of-its-kind concept was created. Jam Up is not a concert, it’s a series of music-based activities with the objective of empowering Bahrainis and Bahrain-based musicians. It consists of local talent, regional talent from the GCC and international talent.

“Jam Up is a platform wherein we get local talent to showcase their music and forge all sorts of connections with the international artists that we bring in. We are proud to announce that the first Jam Up will feature Guns n’ Roses guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, Point of View (POV) from Dubai and Bahrain’s popular Bahraini independent artists Ala Ghawas and Likwid,”says Jude.

The Live Concert will be held on December 5 at Ibrida, Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa, Seef, from 9pm onwards. An exclusive Guitar Clinic will be held on December 4 at Room 2 Rock in 32 December 2014

Adliya from 7pm to 10pm, providing an exclusive chance to jam alongside Bumblefoot, Ahmed Abdulaziz the acclaimed Bahraini guitarist in Likwid and Royden Mascarenhas from Point Of View.

A meet and greet session plus a mini Bumblefoot gig, with free entry, will be held on December 3, from 7pm to 9pm at the Virgin Megastore, Bahrain City Centre. The event is supported by Orangina, Diamond Water, Virgin Megastore, Room to Rock, Hype Energy Drink, DM Ads, Bahrain This Month & Woman This Month.

Jam Up supports the cause for Autism awareness and is using the first event to generate consciousness about people with special needs. Bumblefoot will also be playing a live gig for RIA students, supported by Artology Bahrain, which will set up special canvases for students to create abstract art pieces. These pieces will be signed by the musicians and auctioned later with part of the proceeds going towards RIA. Proving that just because they rock, they’re not made of stone, the big-hearted rockers will also have a special jamming session which will include interacting with the kids.

“There was an overwhelming response from

Bahrain bands prior to the final line-up; all demos were shared with the Jam Up team and Bumblefoot, with Ala Ghawas and Likwid making the final cut,” explains Jude.

“Through Jam Up, we aim to provide opportunities by allowing local artists to develop synergies with international artists and producers by exposing their music to them live. It is a genuine cause we fight for; these artists need to be heard outside the Gulf region. Jam Up is not restricted to one genre of music; it’s spread across different genres as we are all about promoting original, independent musicians and artists.

“Jam Up is not designed to be a major festival with 15 to 20 bands playing to thousands of people. We aim to deliver warm intimate live gigs with select artists, which make fans go all fuzzy and happy.”

Standard tickets are priced at BD10 and VIP tickets at BD20 for the Live Concert, Guitar Clinic tickets are priced at BD25 per head.

Tickets to both the events are very limited and are available at Virgin Megastore, Tobacco Road Juffair, Room to Rock (Adliya & Hamala Branches) and Souq Gourmet in Riffa.

Visit www.jamup.me. www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Mariam, Alison & Heather

Jackie & Ewan

BBBF Business Networking Lunch Meeting The Bahrain British Business Forum held their monthly business networking lunch meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The lunch meeting included a presentation by Simon Brebner, the CFO of APM Terminals.

Chris, Steve & David

Mike & Paula

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Yasmeen

Viv & Richard

Jaysree & Sari

Daniel & Andrea

Jose, Rodney & Daniel

Simon

Mary & Nicole

December 2014 33

happenings

A FICTIONAL TALE Comic enthusiasts get ready to go on another epic adventure as artist Anna L Thackray launches the second chapter of the Shamal trilogy.

When? December 3 Event? Book Launch Venue? Maison Jamsheer, Muharraq This fantastic fictitious tale, set in modern day Bahrain, as well as in the preDilmun era, continues with the launch of artist Anna L Thackray’s most recent comic, ‘The Feuding Shamal: War is Peace!’.

The launch takes place on December 3, between 7pm and 9pm at Maison Jamsheer, Muharraq.

Organised by Stafford &

Sharabi Art Consultants, the event will be held in association with the Alliance Française, Bahrain and is open to all.

This story is the second part of the Shamal comic trilogy, the first of its kind in the Gulf region.

Inspired by the rich heritage, culture, traditions and history of Bahrain, Anna felt that when juxtaposed against the growing landscape, those attributes provided the perfect backdrop for her story.

The Feuding Shamal: War is Peace! is a continuation of the adventures of the two main protagonists, archaeologist Dr Lorna Carse and the resurrected figure Shamal. Both are

searching for answers in their own way, one with the help of science and the other with his bizarre powers, as to why physics and the laws of nature have been turned upside down in present day Bahrain.

The event will include a book signing and raffle where two winners will be awarded a signed copy of both this chapter as well as chapter one. Both comics, either sold as a pair or separately as well as signed limited edition prints of images from the comic exhibited at the venue will be available for purchase.

Visit www.desertcomic.com.

Alladin’s Adventures When? December 3, 5, 6 Event? Pantomime Venue? The British Club Enjoy the antics of Aladdin, a ‘naughty but nice boy’, as one of the Kingdom’s amateur dramatic societies provides an entertaining production for the entire family. The Manama Theatre Club, a section of the British Club, will perform the pantomime ‘Aladdin’ at the British Club on December 3 at 7pm, on December 5 at 1.30pm and 5.30pm and on December 6 at 2.30pm.

It tells the tale of Aladdin, who lives in Pekin with his mother Widow Twankey and his brother Wishee Washee.

He spends his life playing practical jokes, but all that is about to change when he falls in love with a girl, who turns out to be Princess Jasmine.

The course of true love does not run smoothly as the evil Wizard Abanazar has other ideas for Princess Jasmine’s future and for himself.

The play is directed and produced by Richard Silver. The main cast includes Cliff Sarjeant as Widow Twankey, Hannah Lynch as Wishee Washee, Bethany Malcolm as Aladdin, Ethan Coombridge as Abanazar and Deema Turkomani as Princess Jasmine.

Tickets cost BD6 for members and BD8 for non-members and are on sale at The British Club reception and The Great Deli Café, Najibi Centre, Saar.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity.

Call 17 728-245.

MAGICAL NEW YEAR When? December 31 Event? New Year’s Eve Party Venue? The British Club Spend a magical evening at one of the most popular expatriate clubs on the island. The British Club will host its New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31.

The event will feature award-winning magician Jason Rea who will present his unique close-up magic. Already boasting a reputation as a top close-up magician, Jason is a regular performer for celebrities worldwide and has been mentored by some of the most recognised 34 December 2014

magicians on the planet. From making a signed card appear inside a sealed bottle to making a signed note appear in a lime. There’s nothing like seeing Jason’s sleight of hand in real life. It’s pure magic with no smoke or mirrors.

The act will be followed by Revival, a six-piece British dance band that play covers of classic songs from the 60s to the 90s. From the Rolling Stones to Lady Gaga, this group will have you dancing the night away.

Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are priced at BD22 for members and BD25 for guests.

Call 17 728-245. www.bahrainthismonth.com

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happenings

FEMALE IDENTITY

GREASED LIGHTNING When? December 2-5 Event? Musical Venue? St. Christopher’s School Hall, Saar St Christopher’s Senior School students are gearing up for a rousing rendition of the everpopular production ‘Grease’.

The talented students will perform as Danny, Sandy, the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies and will take on classics such as Summer Lovin’, You’re the One that I Want and, of course, Greased Lightning. The performances will take place at

the school’s Saar campus on December 2,3 and 4 at 7pm, and on December 5 at 3pm.

Originally written in 1971, the musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey was set in 1959 at the fictional Rydell High School and has become a success on both stage and screen. The story followed a group of high school students navigating the complexities of life, forging friendships and falling in love.

Tickets are priced at BD6 and all shows are open to the public.

Call 17 788-121.

If a photograph evokes an emotion or a thought in your mind, then Moroccan artist Lalla Essaydi’s solo exhibition will definitely get you thinking.

When? Ongoing until December 17 Event? Exhibition Venue? Bahrain National Museum A thought-provoking solo exhibition by Moroccan artist Lalla Essaydi entitled ‘Writing The Self, Writing Others’ is being hosted at Bahrain National Museum. It traces and maps a history often cloaked in misunderstanding by re-visiting and re-imagining the complexity of the Arab female identity.

“I do not intend for my work to be a mere critique of either Arab or Western culture. I am going beyond simple critique to a more active, even subversive, engagement with cultural patterns to convey my own experience as an Arab woman,” she says.

Visit www.moc.gov.bh or follow Facebook (Ministry of Culture), Twitter (moc_bh), Instagram (moc_bh) and the App (Bahrain Culture).

Debut Exhibition When? December 14 Event? Exhibition Venue? Memory of the Place, Bin Matar House French-Romanian artist Stefan Ramniceanu will make his Gulf debut this month. The Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research presents ‘Dialogues’ on December 14 from 7pm until 10pm.

Stefan’s ‘Dialogues’ is a bridge, crossing the disciplines of painting and sculpture exhibition.

For the first time in the Gulf, more than 36 December 2014

50 of his paintings, sculptures and drawings will be brought into dialogue, providing an overall view of his atypical path and ever changing styles. The exhibition will illustrate the itinerary of an artist who has made a powerful contribution to contemporary art.

The show will highlight the diversity of Stefan’s composition between clean conceptual gesture and baroque profusion of colours and materials, between painting and sculpture.

Call 17 322-549 or visit www.shaikhebrahimcenter.org. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Buone Feste

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happenings

CHUCKLE AWAY

Rory O’ Hanlon

Ian Smith

Laughter is the best medicine, so gear up for a weekend full of it as Punchline Media brings you another edition of Chuckle Club hilarity.

When? December 3-5 Event? Stand-up comedy Venue? The Rugby Club, The British Club, InterContinental Regency Bahrain They say the best things come in threes and the Chuckle Club is aiming to deliver with a trio of international comedians who will be performing for three nights on December 3 at The Rugby Club, December 4 at The British Club and December 5 at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain. The lineup comprises Ian Smith, Rory O’ Hanlon and Stephen Carlin.

Ian Smith’s 2011 and 2012 Edinburgh Fringe shows, with Rob Beckett and Tom 38 December 2014

Toal respectively, received critical acclaim and were regularly voted amongst the top free Fringe shows of the festival. He delivered his hotly anticipated debut solo hour ‘Anything’ to sellout audiences in 2013 to fantastic reviews. Ian returned with his second full hour ‘Flappable’ in 2014, which proved a hit with audiences and critics alike, earning him rave reviews.

One of the rising stars of UK and Irish comedy, Rory O’ Hanlon started off his comedy career in Dublin.

Bringing his audiences to tears with his machine gun style comedy, Rory is now a firm favourite at every top comedy venue in Ireland as well as the UK. Just back from another hugely successful run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival, the future looks extremely bright for this storytelling comedian.

An insightful writing style and accomplished delivery has earned Stephen Carlin critical acclaim, accolades and a growing fan base.

He was named one of the

Stephen Carlin

‘Ten Best Comedians in the World Ever’ by Stewart Lee. Alongside a host of TV and radio credits, Stephen took ‘Gambling Man’ to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013. He also supported Tom Stade on tour and has previously supported Stewart Lee, Stephen Merchant and Felix Dexter

on their national tours.

These are hilarious evenings of entertainment not to be missed!

Tickets cost BD15 and can be purchased at reception for the Rugby Club, the British Club or online at amiando.com/ chuckleclubdec2014.

Call 36 663-509. www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Visit Lexus Showroom to see the entirely new range of the Lexus RC. Lexus Showroom - Sitra 17 737 773 www.lexus.com.bh

happenings

SHOP TILL YOU DROP

RACE FOR CHARITY When? December 13 Event? Charity Race Venue? Bahrain International Circuit

A major shopping festival, Bahrain Noor El Ain, set to attract thousands of shoppers from Bahrain and the region gets underway this month.

The American Women’s Association’s bi-annual Cherry Tree Trot (CTT) will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit on December 13.

With a substantial fundraising target, the event aims to provide crucial support to a number of charities around Bahrain. Having begun in 1981, the CTT is well known for being one of the first major charity fund-raisers on the island.

The CTT is a foot-race, with several categories. An 8km race for ages 15 and up will be held at 9am, a 2km race for all ages and abilities at 10am, a walkathon for all ages at 10.30am, a 5km race for ages 13 and up at 11am and a 2km race for juniors, ages six to 12 at noon.

People of all physical abilities are encouraged to complete the race and anyone who needs help running will be provided with a volunteer to physically support them.

For details, visit www.mowatens.com/cherry-tree-trot.php.

Call 35 566-785 or email ctt@awabahrain.org.

When? December 15 - February 16, 2015 Event? Shopping Festival Venue? Various Malls This is every shopoholic’s dream come true as one of the biggest shopping festivals opens in time for the National Day celebrations.

The nation-wide festival is being led by a committee that comprises Tamkeen, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Information Affairs Authority, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning, Ministry of Health, Gulf Air, Bahrain Development Bank, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat) and Edamah. It is also supported by several private and public sector organisations.

Bahrain Noor El Ain literally means ‘Bahrain the Light of our Eyes’, a term of affection often used by Bahrainis to describe how brightly their deep pride and feelings of patriotism shine.

The spirit of Bahrain will come alive with this festival as it features an exciting array of events designed to showcase the very best of what Bahrain has to offer to its people, the region and the world. It will also create economic and commercial benefits for the Kingdom, while communicating Bahrain’s unique spirit. The festival is supported by the public and private sectors, emphasising the partnership feel of the festival.

This two-month long shopping festival will have shops and malls offering customers amazing weekly prizes, a chance to draw from a mega raffle, shopping opportunities, discounts and special offers designed to bring real economic benefit to local and regional visitors.

Moda Mall, Al A’ali Mall, Riyadat Mall, Yateem Centre, Bahrain Mall, Ramli Mall, Lulu Hypermarket locations, The Center, Jawad Dome, Sultan Mall and Reef Mall, amongst others, will be participating and supporting the festival.

Independent retailers can participate by registering at the Bahrain Noor El Ain kiosks at the Beit Al Tijjar lobby in Sanabis, between 8am and 4pm, and designated kiosks at the Northern and Muharraq Municipality offices.

Visit www.bahrainnoorelain.com, email info@bahrainnoorelain.com or call 17 000-710 between 7.30am and 11pm.

40 December 2014

DOG WHISPERERS When? December 5, 6 Event? Dog Training Venue? Dilmun Club The Kingdom’s dog-owners are gearing up for an event that provides expert advice on caring for their beloved pets and what makes them tick. Delmon Boarding Kennels are bringing professional dog trainer and behaviourist Steve Mann to Bahrain on December 6

for an evening event at the Dilmun Club, Saar, from 7.30pm. Steve regularly appears on Who Let The Dogs Out, The Underdog Show, Loose Women and BBC Breakfast.

Tickets cost BD20, which includes dinner.

The kennels are also bringing Nando Brown from the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers for a ‘Trick Training’ session on December 5 at 2pm to be held at the Delmon Boarding Kennels, Barbar. This will be a great opportunity to learn new skills and then put them into practice at home with your dog.

Tickets cost BD10 for adults and BD5 for children.

Tickets for both events are available from the kennels.

Call 17 694-066 or visit www. delmonkennels.com. www.bahrainthismonth.com

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bystander

Gregory, Vera Smirnov, Irina & HE Hatun Demirer, Turkish Ambassador to Bahrain

Russian Ambassador’s Cocktail Party The Russian Embassy in Bahrain hosted a cocktail party at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain to honour His Majesty the King’s visit to Russia and the launch of Gulf Air’s direct flights to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Maher Al Musallam, HE Li Chen, Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain, HE Victor Smirnov & Jawad Al Hawaj

Julia, Yusuf, Hassan, Habib, Kawthar & Azza

42 December 2014

Hilal & HE Kareem Al Shakir

Maher Al Musallam & HE Li Chen

Wisam & Walid

Sahar & Azza

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

GCC Power Conference 2014 Under the patronage of the Minister for Electricity and Water Affairs, HE Dr Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, the GCC Power Conference was held at The Gulf Hotel Bahrain.

More than 350 high-level industry leaders participated in the conference. The event was organised by the GCC Regional Committee for Electric Systems (GCC CIGRE).

HE Dr Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza with the GCC CIGRE delegates

Musabah, Hisham & Adil

Leban & Cartalas

Jean

Hamad & Rashid

Amin

44 December 2014

Jay & Kenny

Rajesh

Khulood & Huda

Mohammed & Omar

James

Madhu

Komedo

Rana & Amal

Karuna

Mauro

Jody

Faye & Walter

Barry

Sascha

Zeljko & Zoran

Suzanne & Mohammed

Dieter & Shubadha

Oleg

Sinisa

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Amal, HE Hatun Demirer, Turkish Ambassador to Bahrain, Abdul Hamid & Sebahat

91st Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Turkish Republic The Turkish Embassy in Bahrain marked the 91st anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa. Present at the event were Bahrain and foreign dignitaries.

Cutting the ceremonial cake

Lucia, Sylvia, Humbert, Wendy & Jap

HE Alberto Vecchi & HE Dr Mohan Kumar

Anthony & Peera

HE Helman Arisman & HE Kiyoshi Asako

HE Sahid Glang

Kristie, Tracy & Scott

Ninet, Ali & Suleyman

HE Abdullah Ahmed Othman, HE Abdulla bin Thamer Al Thani, HE Mohammed Bin Yusuf, HE Ibrahim Assaf & HE Abdullah bin Rashid Ali Al-Medelwi

46 December 2014

Dr Jamal & Mazen

Seham & Suha

Daisuke & Yukiko

Asli, Duygu & Ebru

Fatema & Shirley

Faika, Hala, Fathia & Yasmin

Shanjitha, Mehdi & Dana

Doris & Mala Kumar

www.bahrainthismonth.com

At Saar Mall you will find an incredible array of stores supplying a diverse selection of goods and services under one roof, fashion, furniture, electronics, accessories, jewelry, Kids entertainment, ... anything you could possibly wish for!

Celebrate Bahrain National Day at the Saar Mall on the 16th of December The opening hours for now: Geant open At: 8:00am to 10:00 pm and other outlets from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm email: fahmed@darabh.com contact: 17790203/ Mobile 36314349

bystander

Mohammed Almoayyed, Shawki & HE Abdulla Juma

Diwali Get Together at Prakash Bhatia Prakash Bhatia family & friends celebrated Diwali at their residence in Tubli.

Indukumar & Prakash family

Hanan

Kanshka

Bhavika & Seemal

HE Jehad Bukamal, Indu & Prakash

Fuad & Osama

Sachi & Prisha

Mala, Darshan, Indu, Amrita & Bina

HE Abdulla Juma, Shawki, Mohammed Almoayyed, Indukumar, Abdulrahman & Dr Yousif

Dr Bahiya

48 December 2014

Miss Maskati

Afnan Al Zayani

Sanjana & Bhavesh

Kamlesh & Vineet

Omar

HE Jehad Bukamal

Prakash & Pallavi

Waleed

Mrs Maqsood

Mr Kooheji & Mohammed

Adel & Mohammed

Kamal & Kamel

HE Ali Saleh & Yousif

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Sparkle &

Shimmer This December

bystander

Holger & HE Hatun Demirer, Turkish Ambassador to Bahrain

Carmen, Shandra, Mala Kumar & Rocio

Concert and Dinner at German Ambassador’s Residence The German-Austrian duo, Andreas Woyke (piano) and Friedrich Kleinhapl (violincello) gave a concert in the German Ambassador’s residence. Bahraini dignitaries, diplomats & representatives from the Bahraini and Germain business and cultural community were invited.

Gernot, Jihan, HE Sabine Taufmann & HE Dr Dhafer Al Umran

Christina & Georgette

Irina & Charlie

Cai

Huda & Miralla

Lunghei & Liz

Tareq & Maike

Yousef & Soraya

Daniela & George

Friedrich, Ella & Andreas in action

Andreas Woyke & Friedrich Kleinhapl in Concert Under the patronage of the German Embassy in Bahrain, the German-Austrian duo, Andreas Woyke & Friedrich Kleinhapl performed a concert at Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research in Muharraq. They performed classical works from Beethoven, Franck, Brahms & Rachmaninov.

HE Sabine Taufmann, Ella, Andreas, Friedrich & Gernot

HE Bernard Regnauld-Fabre, French Ambassador to Bahrain

50 December 2014

Araceli & Deyra

Carmen & Rocio

VIP guests invited by HE Sabine Taufmann

Faryal & Liliane

Kirsten

Daisy & Nada

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

71st Anniversary of Lebanese Independence

Jameela, Nisag & Fouad

Zuheir & Nicholas

Bridget Lindsay & Brigitte

Brigitte & HE Ibrahim Assaf, Lebanese Ambassador to Bahrain

Gernot, Sadiq & Arif

Fadi & Elaine

Reem & Fatima

Ghassan, Gisele & Souheil

HE Yu Joonha, Korean Ambassador to Bahrain, Yuki & Daisuke

HE Bernard Regnauld-Fabre & HE Dr Dhafer Al Umran

Tariq & May

The Lebanese Consulate in Bahrain celebrated the 71st anniversary of Lebanese Independence at the Ambassador’s residence in Qufool.

www.jfcbahrain.com

www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 51

bystander

Marcus & Alex

Robert & guest

Anne & Marietta

Rod & Jilan

Al Tamimi & Co. In Bahrain Tamimi & Co. held an event at The Thai Lounge, Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel & Spa, with clients, senior government officials, management & employees to celebrate the establishment of its presence in Bahrain earlier in the year. Mr. Essam Al Tamimi, Founder Director, addressed the assembled guests.

Foutoun, Omar, Saad, Mai, Hussein & Raj

Izabella & Helen

Amal & Vanessa

Chris & Odettee

Rushdi & Oliver

Amal

Jody

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ANNUAL REVIEW

A YEAR OF REVIVAL AVINASH SAXENA A number of substantial projects are gaining momentum, fueling the Kingdom’s growth and contributing to Bahrain’s increasingly rejuvenated economy.

T

he year so far has seen Bahrain’s economy progress along a stable and inclusive track as key growth drivers gather momentum.

Retail trade and commerce has picked up, the cranes are moving again, stalled real estate projects have resumed and Bahrain is seeing renewed interest as meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions return.

The recently concluded Jewellery Arabia 2014, the premier international jewellery and watch exhibition in the Middle East held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, reported great success, attracting 50,054 visitors of various nationalities over fivedays.

Other major events held and lined-up during the year included the World Islamic Banking Conference in December, Petrotech 2014, the region’s leading downstream hydrocarbons exhibition and conference in May, Northern Gulf’s showpiece exhibition for construction and building materials, GulfBID 2014 and its two www.bahrainthismonth.com

parallel exhibitions GulfInteriors and Gulf Property Show also in May and the Gulf Industry Fair in February.

Industrial activity has seen a spike in the year so far with US-based Mondelez International announcing plans to build a $90 million biscuit plant in Bahrain.

Others that have announced plans to set up shop in the kingdom include Turkey’s Türkiye Finans Bank and Malaysia-based Pharmaniaga among others.

The year started with the announcement of a joint venture between MENA Aerospace Enterprises and Tempus Jet Centers to be based at Bahrain International Airport.

Some of the UK’s leading car and motorcycle manufacturers, as well as key environmental, manufacturing and engineering organisations, were in Bahrain in January for the Kingdom’s GREAT British Week celebrations, which included an ‘Advanced Engineering and Innovation’ event sponsored by the Economic Development Board (EDB).

ALSO THIS MONTH: 58 GULF AIR 60 AL TAMIMI

In February the spotlight was on India as His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa made a visit to the South Asian republic. A number of memoranda of understanding were signed between key business organisations from both India and Bahrain during the visit.

April saw the ‘Business in Formula 1’, a unique initiative that brings leaders from the worlds of business and sport together, held at the 2014 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

It focused on ways to utilise international events to strengthen ties with the local and international business community.

This year’s speakers included Formula 1 personalities such as racing legend, Sir Jackie Stewart; Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal of Williams Grand Prix; Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automative; Susie Wolff, the only woman in Formula 1, as the development driver for the William Formula One team; Alaa Al Shaikh, Managing Director of VMotion; and Hussain Rajab, Business Development Manager, EDB. December 2014 55

annual review

An official visit led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the EDB to Russia in April-May, set the tone for the first Bahrain-Russia Business Forum in Moscow. The event was attended by a high-level business delegation from Bahrain alongside close to 200 key Russian business leaders.

In May, the EDB welcomed the participation of leading German companies from a variety of sectors in the first combined German Breakfast & Catalogue Show, held in the InterContinental Regency Hotel Bahrain.

The months past have also seen high level business delegation visits to and from UK, China and Hong Kong, India, Germany, Japan, France among others with many memoranda of understanding signed with businesses and trade organisations to strengthen economic and trade ties.

In mid-October Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, announced that $22 billion worth of infrastructure projects are currently planned in the Kingdom, and will cover various sectors.

The projects will not only help boost the national economy, but also provide opportunities for Bahrain’s citizens and strengthen the Kingdom’s regional competitiveness.

The projects include the Bahrain International Airport modernisation project, the development of Al Jazair Beach, investment projects in Durrat Al Bahrain, the expansion of the Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA) smelter and the modernisation project being carried out by Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco).

Reflecting this success, the UNCTAD World Investment Report 2014 confirmed that total foreign direct investment into Bahrain in 2013 was $989 million, an increase of 11 per cent on 2012, outpacing global average growth of 9 per cent.

56 December 2014

The government of Bahrain is also investing in a range of other areas, including housing and its accompanying infrastructure projects. These represent the Kingdom’s priorities and are included in the $7.5 billion which was provided as part of the GCC Development Fund.

Bahrain aims to create 40,000 new housing units in a quick and efficient manner, following on directives from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to support this growth with investment in education facilities.

The new visa policy that allows nationals from more than 100 countries to obtain a visa either online ahead of travel, or on arrival, was implemented in October. Under the new policy, visitors from 66 countries will be able to receive visas upon arrival in Bahrain.

Visitors from a further 36 countries will also be able to exclusively obtain electronic visas,

bringing the overall total of countries eligible to receive e-visas to 102.

In September, Bahrain was named, for the second year in a row, the GCC’s leading Islamic finance market and second out of 92 countries worldwide, according to the ICDThomson Reuters Islamic Finance Development Indicator (IFDI).

Bahrain’s ranking reflects the Kingdom’s competitive advantage as a location for investment into the Gulf market, an economy now worth $1.5 trillion.

Strategically located in the heart of the Gulf, Bahrain has long been considered the gateway to the region, with easy access to the large economies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.

Bahrain’s favourable business environment and strong economic fundamentals have been endorsed by the Heritage Foundation’s 2014 Index of Economic Freedom, which saw the Kingdom ranked 13th in the world and first in the Middle East and North Africa.

The report highlights that the Kingdom’s ‘transition to greater openness and diversification is based on foundations of economic freedom’, and that Bahrain ‘continues to be a financial hub for dynamic economic activity, with high levels of trade and investment bolstered by a competitive and efficient regulatory environment’.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

More Living • More Styles • More Trends

10

Sitra Mall • Lagoon Amwaj • Budaiya www.iddesign-bahrain.com Tel : 1773 2919

annual review

GULF AIR

Flying High CHARLIE HOLDING The Kingdom’s national carrier has had a turbulent few years.

However, the airline is more determined than ever to forge a new path and, following its dramatic turnaround in 2014, Gulf Air looks set to reach even greater heights in the coming year.

58 December 2014

Gulf Air’s acting chief executive officer, Maher Salman Al Musallam, is optimistic for 2015 and envisions a score of positive developments on the horizon as the airline focuses on improving its products and services, both in the air and on the ground, to better meet passengers’ evolving travel needs.

“Gulf Air was one of the first commercial airlines established in the Middle East and was one of few airlines operating in the region, at the time. The aviation landscape, since our establishment, has changed dramatically and we have evolved alongside it. In fact, we are in a constant state of evolution; we cannot afford to be stagnant in this industry and, since the airline’s 2013 restructuring, we are more focused than ever before on enhancing our services, tailoring a product offering that best fits passenger needs and, by doing so, winning loyalty and confidence with a range of new initiatives,” he says.

Maher believes Gulf Air offers much more than simply a seat on a plane; it offers a distinctive, quality service epitomised by its trademark Arabian hospitality and supplemented by such signature offerings as the Gulf Air Sky Chef and Sky Nanny services.

In line with its customer orientation and strategy for continuous product and service enhancement, in 2014 the airline retrofitted its Airbus A330 fleet. Used primarily on Gulf Air’s long-haul London Heathrow and Bangkok routes, the aircraft have a two-class configuration of 30 fully-flatbed Falcon Gold Class seats and 184 revamped Economy Class seats.

Featuring a state-of-the-art in-flight-entertainment system throughout, the retrofit was designed specifically for the airline and incorporated various elements of passengers’ feedback.

“We are in a post-restructuring phase of development that sees the focus firmly on the passenger. That’s why, alongside the A330 retrofit we are also enhancing services such as Video-OnDemand in-flight entertainment whereby our passengers can enjoy a selection of Hollywood movies, Arabic movies, foreign language films and TV shows in addition to dedicated Islamic prayer channels. We have even launched a local offering: “Helwa Ya Bahrain” a new channel that showcases local TV programmes and has garnered positive feedback from our travellers.”

This year’s developments show, however, that Gulf Air’s focus goes well beyond the onboard experience to ensuring the enhanced facility and convenience of travel. The airline offers multiple daily flights to 10 regional cities and has recently launched its sixth Indian destination: Hyderabad. It has also added a route to the Russian capital city of Moscow, which is helping to strengthen political, business and tourism ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Russian Federation.

On the network front, 2014 saw Gulf Air resume flights to Sialkot, its fifth destination in Pakistan, the Iranian capital city of Tehran and the Greek capital, Athens all in the first half of the year. The latter half of the year saw the airline launch direct bi-weekly services between Kuwait City and both Istanbul and the Cypriot city of Larnaca. Gulf Air has also resumed flights to Shiraz, Iran and Hyderabad, India. In Bahrain This Month’s discussion with Maher, he spoke of the importance of the Saudi Arabian market for the airline. Today, Gulf Air operates direct services to four Saudi Arabian cities – Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh and Madina Al Munawarah – with a total of 86 weekly flights.

Bahrainisation is another key focal point for the Kingdom’s national carrier. Maher asserts that one of the most rewarding things about being where he is today is having the opportunity to create a successful www.bahrainthismonth.com

business that enables personal and professional growth for its employees. He says his personal mission for the national carrier is to promote a culture of leadership, training and development for Bahraini nationals. As he talks of the ‘Gulf Air family’ he speaks frankly and simply about the responsibility the airline has to continue to be a major employer in the country as well as a contributor to Bahrain’s GDP – a responsibility he embraces.

Alongside its operational advances over the past 12 months, the airline’s balance sheet is looking better than it has done in years. “We see signs that our strategy is enhancing bottom-line performance and if we can maintain this pace we can strengthen Gulf Air’s role as a key national infrastructure asset – one of our primary goals,” says Maher.

“My vision for Gulf Air is one that is shared by the entire Gulf Air family and one that resonates with the Kingdom of Bahrain itself. It is for Gulf Air to become a commercially sustainable carrier, one that strategically operates to deliver direct and indirect benefits to the Kingdom, providing business links which are important for the Kingdom’s wider economic development.”

Next year looks promising but it is increasingly apparent that 2014 might be the definitive year in Bahrain and Gulf Air’s history marking the beginning of a permanent change in the trajectory of the national carrier. www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 59

annual review AL TAMIMI

The Law on Your Side

The largest law firm in the Middle East, Al Tamimi & Company, is available to provide entrepreneurs with invaluable insight into the world of business as well as strategic legal advice.

60 December 2014

Starting a new business venture is a daunting task anywhere in the world. And when it comes to the Middle East, one has to take into account various other considerations like specialised market knowledge and cultural awareness.

With more than 25 years of experience in the Middle East under its belt, Al Tamimi prides itself on providing sound local business knowledge and ensuring that its clients are at the forefront of doing business in the region.

The firm has 14 offices in 8 countries, with 290 expert lawyers, and says that the opening of Al Tamimi’s office in Bahrain at the end of June has been its foremost achievement this year.

“During the last six months since opening our office, we have been privileged to provide legal support to a number of high-profile clients across a number of industries including some major international businesses, corporations, banks and government institutions,” says Foutoun Hajjar, Al Tamimi Bahrain Head of Office.

Having won several key mandates, the firm plans to become the leading law firm in Bahrain, providing high-calibre and commercially-relevant legal advice to the most senior organisations and government bodies in Bahrain.

“We expect that our best opportunities for growth will be in the corporate commercial field including corporate structuring, as well as employment, , real estate, family business, banking and finance and regulatory areas of practice,” adds Foutoun.

“We intend to employ and develop a first-class and diverse team of lawyers across several sectors with

the aim of training and developing their skills. We plan on leveraging on a pool of young local talent in order to develop a team that includes both Bahraini qualified lawyers and Western qualified lawyers.”

In line with the Al Tamimi philosophy, the firm is aiming for the Bahrain practice to be at the forefront of legal developments in the Kingdom. As such, it intends to host several legal seminars and conferences across its practice areas.

“We also intend to launch a strategic marketing initiative to increase our exposure and ingrain our name in the Bahrain market,” says Foutoun.

“We are very excited about the opportunities that we believe Bahrain offers a firm such as Al Tamimi.

We are confident that we can differentiate ourselves from other legal services providers in the Kingdom and have a real impact on its legal landscape.”

Visit www.tamimi.com. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Doing Business in the Bahrain?

So are we...

As the largest law firm in the Middle East, Al Tamimi & Company knows more than just the law. We pride ourselves on understanding the business environment in which we operate, benefiting the clients we work with.

We have the knowledge, expertise and cultural awareness to ensure that our clients are at the forefront of doing business in the Middle East.

14 Offices

8 Countries 290 Lawyers

www.tamimi.com

annual review

K HOME

K Home and Kitchen This year has seen the hospitality sector bounce back as Bahrain’s economy begins to recover and K Home And Kitchen is ready for an even better 2015.

62 December 2014

“We are in the hospitality segment and the fact that new hotel properties are in getting ready to open in the next few months makes us feel more confident about this sector. We have made substantial investments in our business and we have a very positive outlook towards hotel and tourism industry in Bahrain,” the company says.

The company plans to diversify and open three to four retail outlets within a span of three years at different locations in Bahrain.

Also in the pipeline is a separate division for commercial kitchen equipment for professional kitchen solutions. The company says that Bahrain is in need of more one-stop shops for design, supply,

installation and commissioning of commercial kitchens. These areas will be supported by qualified technicians to handle after sales service with sustained stock of spare parts.

Millions of dinars are being invested in Bahrain’s tourism industry with five and four- star new luxury hotels set to open in the next few months.

Bahrain’s government has worked hard to win back the investors and to to ensure that developers carry on with their plans to build these luxury hotels. With the new visa rules and regulations the number of visitors to the Kingdom has also increased which has given the economy a muchneeded boost.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Spyros & Evie

Janet & Rania

Sheryl & Beverley

Vivienne & Akin

Linda & Rich

Eduardo & Christina

Joe & Sam

Greek Lunch The Diplomat Radisson Blu, Hotel, Residence & Spa organised a Greek-themed luncheon for its guests.

Iro, Liz, Charmaine, Beverley, Mandy & Lisa

Tassos, Mandy & Eric

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Adam

Candice

Sheila

Doris & Augusta

December 2014 63

bystander

Dr Faisal, Waleed & Jawad Al Hawaj

George

x

x

Hendry, Dr Paul & David

Betsy

AMH 17th Annual Island Classic Charity Golf Tournament Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the 17th annual American Mission Hospital (AMH) Island Classic Charity Golf Tournament was held at the Al Safriya Golf Course.

Al, Filippo, Jason & Martin

Bahnaz, Jules, Elizabeth & Shama

Julia & Dr Fawaz

Tapan & Dr Mehta

Mohammed

Fatima

Order Now: 1722 1722 mcdelivery.com.bh 64 December 2014

www.bahrainthismonth.com

annual review ZAIN

Marking an impressive series of milestones

This year has seen Zain expand its network coverage, thus offering customers an improved experience for mobile, smartphone, home and broadband services.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Zain Bahrain has had an impressive year, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the telecom community.

The best, however, is yet to come following a recently launched USD100 million new network along with new products and services.

Mohammed Zainalabedin, General Manager, Zain Bahrain says: “We continue to see tremendous growth in data and we look forward to continuing to

be an integral part of the overall growth of the Kingdom and to solidifying our leadership presence in the telecom community. We are very pleased with the strides we have made as an organization throughout 2014, and we are excited to witness remarkable growth for Zain Bahrain as well as the business sector in the Kingdom next year.”

Consumers can choose from a range of packages that best suit their needs and the company is focused on maintaining and developing services and packages that suits the needs of its customers.

During the year, Zain Bahrain also added additional features and services to its portfolio, offering customers new choices such as HD Voice and 4G LTE capabilities.

It also launched a new retail experience strategy covering a total of 22 shops and kiosks. The ‘enhanced shops’ represent an overhaul of the retail experience and provides a one-stop destination for customers including education, support and hands-on demonstrations of products, services along with self service machines and a dedicated signature team member and technical support area.

The company continually strives to expand its stateof-the-art network coverage to ensure optimal customer experience for mobile, smart phone, home and broadband along with enterprise solutions customers.

Among its notable key milestones this year was the launch of the USD100 million new network; ensuring optimal customer experience for mobile, smart phone, home and broadband along with enterprise solutions customers.

Empowering employees remains the heart of Zain Bahrain’s strategy; the company says, and the operator achieved Bahranisation of 88 per cent in 2014.

Keen to offer opportunities to young people, Zain Bahrain established a work experience programme called the Future University Network (FUN) which aims to mentor and teach young Bahrainis. Launched back in 2008, it provides young Bahrainis hands-on job experience.

Zain Bahrain also launched its Initial Public Offering (IPO) during the third quarter of the year. The offering of 15 per cent of Zain Bahrain’s issued share capital gave retail and institutional investors the opportunity to participate in the first IPO in Bahrain since 2010.

December 2014 65

bystander

Roger, Pauline, Ian, Trish & Ken

Chelsea Pensioners Poppy Ball The Chelsea Pensioners Poppy Ball was organised by the Bahrain British Business Forum. The ball took place at Crowne Plaza Bahrain.

Paddy, HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador to Bahrain, Pete, Bridget Lindsay & Sam

Eric, Sara, Gilles & Danielle

Stuart & Garfield

David & Steve

Steph & Sylvia

Dena & Alison

Panos, Doris, Simon & Anne

66 December 2014

Carol, Sharon, William, Sue & Elaine

Wallace, Peter & Sam

Steve

Jill & Julia

Sally, Allison, Sana & Jasim

Rodney, Michelle, Kate, Ashley, Jules, Ron, Mandy, Stuart & Jill

Jackie, Tis, Mike & Sanne

Louise, Johanna & Sarah

Geoff & Sylvia

Paul & Erica

www.bahrainthismonth.com

japansupplement

Japan in

December 2014

A Special Supplement by Bahrain This Month 68 Boosting Cooperation The new Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom, HE Kiyoshi Asako, believes that Bahrain and Japan’s relationship is stronger than ever and talks about returning to the island after a decade away.

78 Wintery Delights Kei restaurant is dishing up a seasonal selection of Japanese specialties alongside contemporary sushi and modern options.

73 Oriental Appeal Akiko Restaurant, located in one of island’s plush culinary districts, aims to set new standards in modern Japanese fine dining.

77 Filled With Flavour The land of the rising sun is famous for a number of accomplishments and one of its most popular culinary creations now enjoys a special spot on the menu of Hakisushi.

79 Speak The Lingo Berlitz helps students to tackle the challenge of learning to speak Japanese without travelling to Japan.

82 Living in Japan Bridget Lindsay, wife of HE British Ambassador to Bahrain, Iain, talks about their stint living in Japan and their affinity for the country.

Commercial Index Ali Sharif (Akiko)......................................................... 73 Ambassador Stores (Seiko)........................................ 81 Berlitz............................................................................ 79 Casio.............................................................................. 75 Hakisushi....................................................................... 77 Kei Japanese Restaurant............................................ 78 Maki............................................................................... 80 Mohammed Jalal (Suzuki).......................................... 76 Ramee Grand (Ruka)................................................... 70 YK Almoayyed (Nissan).............................................. 71 www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 67

japansupplement

HE Kiyoshi Asako

Boosting Cooperation CHARLIE HOLDING The new Japanese Ambassador to Bahrain, HE Kiyoshi Asako talks with BTM about his new role and how he plans to bolster bi-lateral relations.

68 November 2014

H

aving previously worked in the Kingdom as Deputy Chief of Mission & Counsellor at the Japanese Embassy in 2003, HE Kiyoshi Asako is back and more determined than ever to develop mutual interests between the two countries.

Ambassador Asako says that some things about the Kingdom have not changed; notably the hospitality, kindness and friendliness of the Bahraini people.

“When I was in Bahrain, the financial harbour was still under construction and compared to 10 years ago, Manama has developed greatly,” he says.

One of the most prominent developments in recent years is the popularity of Japanese cars on the kingdom’s roads.

“I am surprised that the number of cars on the road has dramatically increased and many of them are Japanese. I am proud that Japanese cars are popular among Bahrainis,” says Ambassador Asako.

Before embarking on his new assignment in Kiev, Ukraine, out-going Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Sumi, said he hoped his successor would expand our

relationship with Bahrain further so that both sides see each other as “indispensable”.

This is a task Ambassador Asako has taken up enthusiastically and as a result of high-ranking visits between the two countries, Ambassador Asako believes Japan has strengthened bilateral cooperation in many fields including: political, security, economic/ trade/investment, education and culture.

“I am determined to follow-up on frameworks of various agreements made by top-level representatives from both countries. I will do my best to realise concrete projects,” he says.

Besides contributing substantially to various businesses in the Gulf region, Japan has also offered support with security.

In November, the first Comprehensive Security Dialogue between the two countries was held in Tokyo and HE Abdullah Abdullatif, Under-Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed the delegation.

“We had a good exchange of views. This dialogue was set up when Prime Minister Abe visited Bahrain. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Stability and Security of the Gulf is crucial to Japan,” explains Ambassador Asako. “In this regard, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force sent two minesweeper ships to Bahrain in order to participate in the International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 2014 and showed to the region our contribution to international efforts for maritime safety.”

Japan has made a number of investments in Bahrain, emphasising the value both countries place on each other. An example is SULB - a joint venture that was established in 2009 and began operation last year in Hidd industrial area - that sees renowned Japanese company Yamato Kogyo produce steel in the Kingdom.

Ambassador Asako highlighted some of the more recent cooperation developments including ASAHI TEC, another joint venture between Japanese and Bahraini companies to produce aluminum wheels for cars. This company will soon establish a factory, leading to more job opportunities.

Ambassador Asako revealed that Japan’s SBI Pharmaceuticals would like to establish a factory to develop and produce medicine in the Kingdom and negotiations have already started.

“This is a very interesting project. The National Health Regulatory Authority of Bahrain and its Japanese counterpart have been cooperating to establish a system in Bahrain to examine and approve medical drugs which are produced in the Kingdom,” he says.

“If this factory opens in the near future, we can offer employment opportunities to many Bahrainis.”

Ambassador Asako also stated that in addition to importing Japanese food products, especially fruits, high-quality Japanese Wagyu Beef prepared Halal-style will soon be available in Bahrain.

Japanese companies choose Bahrain as a place for investment for several reasons and Ambassador Asako believes that the Kingdom’s ‘down-to-earth’ atmosphere, low cost of living and efficient workers are some good examples.

“Compared to other neighbouring countries, Bahrain has a better environment for Japanese businessmen to live in. Bahrain is wellconnected to the Saudi market and the Causeway is an absolute merit,” he says.

Japanese cultural events planned for the near future is an area the ambassador is particularly excited about.

“Japan is rich in culture and the embassy, with the support of Bahraini authorities, plans to introduce this culture to Bahrain more and more,” Ambassador Asako says.

The New Year rings in new possibilities and www.bahrainthismonth.com

exciting cultural developments are in the pipeline such as an authentic Japanese Garden that will be constructed in Al Areen Wildlife Park, funded by GPIC, and built by Japanese gardening company Kosugi Zoen. It will be open for public in February next year.

February also sees a planned exhibition of contemporary Japanese crafts at the National Museum where beautiful fine crafts such as lacquer, china and glass arts will be displayed.

Japanese educational programmes are already in place to help boost cultural understanding and develop long-lasting relationships. One such programme is Ship for World Youth Leaders (SWY) which gives Bahraini youngsters the chance to travel to

Japan to gain precious experience. During their visit they will receive various training on board, stay with Japanese families and visit cities and the countryside. In return, Japanese youths will visit Bahrain and enjoy a number of similar experiences.

In terms of tourism, the purchasing power of Gulf nationals is attractive and Japan is keen to promote itself as a destination for visitors from the region.

“We are developing ways to draw more Muslim tourists such as preparing shopping centres with prayer rooms, or recommending travel agencies that can provide information of restaurants or shops where Halal fare is adopted,” Ambassador Asako says.

November 2014 69

RUKA

A Perfect Balance Finding the right balance between traditional cuisine and contemporary offerings is a delicate process, but this restaurant aims to bring you the best of both worlds.

Located in the Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, Ruka brings you the best of ancient Japanese gastronomy and contemporary innovation. Here’s a dining experience, inspired by the land of samurai and sushi, served in a chic environment that adds to the dining experience.

Inspired by the Japanese word for a bright blue flower, Ruka’s decor is fresh and tasteful. The interior of the restaurant, which is located on the 24th floor, is complemented by the breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf and Manama skyline.

The menu, which is essentially Japanese, also has influences from other cuisines and caters to a global and well-travelled clientele.

“We handpick the finest quality ingredients and present a fresh take on this popular cuisine that’s not available anywhere else in Bahrain,” says executive chef Jason Lynn.

The restaurant recently received the ‘Highly Commended Best Japanese Restaurant’ and ‘Highly Commended Business Lunch’ awards, hosted by a popular regional magazine.

From Sunday to Thursday, enjoy a special lunch priced at BD12 or take the express option for BD8. Relax in the lounge during the ‘Sunset Session’ from 4pm to 7pm where you can order a tempura dish and enjoy selected beverages. Visitors can also learn how to make ‘cocktails that you can eat’ at a master class from 4pm to 6pm for BD9++.

The restaurant won the ‘Favourite Japanese Restaurant’ award at a ceremony hosted by a regional lifestyle magazine. Drop in on New Year’s Eve for a special ‘all you can eat’ package from 7pm to 2am for BD35++.

Call 17 111-971.

70 December 2014

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Roisin, Eileen, Laura, Eloise, Leonie, Louise & Theresa

Bahrain Irish Society and Arabian Celts Gaelic Festival 2014 The Arabian Celts in partnership with the Bahrain Irish Society and the Bahrain Rugby Football Club organised the annual Gaelic Festival. 55 teams from all over the Middle East with nearly 700 players, both male and female, flew in especially for the event. The event lasted the whole day at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club.

Sean, Muf, Seamus, Cathal, Stephen & David

Tara, Dearbhla, Caoimhe, Lauren & Claire

Geraldine, Melissa, Jenna & Caoimhe

Johnny, Talal, Joe, Abdulla, Ben, Jacob, Brian & Andrew

Deirdre & Amy

Joseph, JK & Anne Marie

Orlaith, Oonagh, Eilis, Nuala, Marie, Orla, Laura & Teagan

Marie Claire & Michelle

Tom, Grace, Damon & Jack

Sinead, Dearbhla, Rachelle & Marissa

72 December 2014

Aaron & Brian

Noirin, Peter & Lorraine

Siucra, Ciunas & Bainne

Louise, Hayley & Sarah

Lorraine & Tina

Gabriela & Orlaith

www.bahrainthismonth.com

japansupplement AKIKO

Oriental Appeal This new restaurant, located in one of island’s plush culinary districts, aims to set new standards in modern Japanese fine dining.

Akiko is a modern venue that dishes up contemporary Japanese food to match. Located in Adliya’s block 338, right behind Café Italia, this is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

The spacious venue has clean, modern architecture with evident Asian influences. The two-storey restaurant and lounge has a sprawling garden, featuring a refreshing water fountain and ample seating. It is available for dinners, cocktail parties and casual gatherings for up to 80 seated guests and up to 200 people when standing.

The Sushi Bar forms the heart of the Akiko experience and can serve up to 10 guests at a time for lunch and dinner. Another signature feature of the eatery is the Robata Grill, offering you a great way to experience the flavours of Japanese barbecue.

As you go up the stairs, you reach the Sake Lounge; a modern and sleek space ideal for meeting with friends or colleagues.

Akiko offers a number of special promotions throughout the week. Every Tuesdays is Ladies Night where ladies enjoy free selected beverages. The restaurant hosts ‘Grape Night’ every Wednesday where you can try out a variety of wines and canapés for BD10. On Fridays, enjoy a special brunch that’s priced at BD15++ and BD20++ with select beverages and starting from this month, Akiko offers a beer and barbeque promotion every Saturday and Sunday evening. Throughout the week the venue offers 30 per cent discount during happy hours from 3pm to7pm.

Halloween at Klub 360 Klub 360 was packed with revelers on Halloween.

Elise, Allie, Ric, Tihiz & Dolly

Tex & Waro

Don, Fernando & Manuel

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Jussara & Sasha

Jess & Catherine

December 2014 73

japansupplement

ASHRAFS

For Your Listening Pleasure Time, check; music, check; trendy watch with a difference, a definite check! We’re talking about Casio’s innovative G’Mix GBA-400, which was recently launched by Ashrafs.

If you want to turn heads with a watch that is packed with cool tricks, then Casio’s newest addition in the G-Shock series is definitely worth checking out. This tech-savvy timepiece is now more versatile than ever, enabling a two-way operation of a watch and smartphone to enhance your music-listening pleasure.

You can operate your smartphone’s music player from the watch using the rotary switch and intuitive volume control. When paired with the G’Mix App, a new music app for smartphones, the watch can control the audio settings, add live effects that stimulate concert sounds and identify the names of songs from music playing nearby.

The watch boasts an impressive range of other features including a phone finder setting that enables access to your smartphone alarm function, time adjustment by synchronising with time data received from the phone, a music controller as well as a link loss alert which notifies you when the watch loses its connection to the phone.

The GBA-400 is available in four different colours - black, black and gold, red and blue.

In addition, this model also features a vibrate alert, auto LED hi-bright, 1/100th second stopwatch, countdown timer, five daily alarms and it is water resistant and shock resistant. It costs BD71 and is available at all Ashrafs showrooms and authorised dealers.

Call 17 520-218 or email hussain@ashrafs. com.bh.

74 December 2014

www.bahrainthismonth.com

japansupplement

SUZUKI

Promotion Continues There is a special promotion on a range of Suzuki cars at Mohammed Jalal & Sons, the agent in Bahrain for the Japanese automaker.

Customers looking for a stylish ride at a competitive price are encouraged to head to the showroom in Al-Khamis to see the

76 December 2014

stunning array of vehicles. One of the most popular models is the 2015 SX4 Sedan which has the elegance and practicality of a saloon,

a roomy interior and the convenience and utility of Suzuki’s high-roof sedan, its maker say.

As part of the promotion, it comes with free insurance, free registration, free-five year warranty, free road assistance for a year and free rustproofing.

The economical sedan has a 1.6-litre VVT petrol engine that delivers generous power and torque throughout the rev range. The suspension, brakes, and transmissions were tuned in Europe, with further fine-tuning for local preferences.

Safety features include a rigid body structure with front and rear side door impact beams and three-point ELR seatbelts are standard for all occupants on all grades. Dual SRS airbags are fitted on all models. Side and curtain airbags are fitted on the higher grades. The system can be upgraded to ESP (Electronic Stability programme).

To book a test drive, call the Khamis showroom on 17 252-606 or the Sitra showroom on 17 707-070

www.bahrainthismonth.com

HAKISHUSHI

Filled With Flavour

The land of the rising sun is famous for a number of accomplishments and one of its most popular culinary creations now enjoys a special place on the menu of this popular restaurant.

The origin of the ramen dish is hotly contested, but almost everyone is in agreement when it comes to its deliciousness and universal appeal.

Hakisushi has added this traditional treat to its constantly evolving menu and is aiming to woo customers across the Kingdom. Broadly comprised of two components, ramen is loaded with flavour and taste.

The broth is generally made from chicken stock, combined with a variety of ingredients such as kombu (kelp), katsuobushi (tuna flakes), niboshi (dried sardines), beef, shitake mushrooms and onions. It’s then seasoned with salt and miso with soya sauce added for extra flavour.

Hakisushi’s nutritious adaptation is available in four delicious versions, namely seafood, chicken, beef and vegetable. With a mix of delicious toppings and exotic ingredients, in addition to its traditional essence, the restaurant delivers a fresh take on this time-honoured favourite.

Along with ramen, the menu boasts a variety of authentic sushi rolls and offers other traditional dishes such as nigiris, gunkans, harumaki, edamame and miso soups. There’s also a selection of hot preparations like tempura, teppanyaki and yakitori. One of the most popular items on the menu is the tempura ice cream; a cool way to finish a delicious meal.

Hakishushi offers an ‘all you can eat’ meal for BD5.4 which includes unlimited sushi, miso and a drink. Located in Juffair, Hakisushi is open every day from 11am to midnight, with options to dine-in, take-away and home delivery.

Call 17 506-070. www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 77

japansupplement KEI RESTAURANT

Wintry Delights Fans of Japanese cuisine have a reason to rejoice this winter as this popular restaurant delivers fun times and respite from the weather, with its seasonal offerings.

As the weather gets colder and a noticeable chill lingers in the air, Kei Restaurant invites you to keep warm and indulge in seasonal Japanese specialities.

Nabemono is one of the popular wintertime dishes in Japan. This hearty favourite is prepared from a variety of ingredients and the experience begins with a large lidded clay pot or ‘nabe’, which is brought to your table. Plates piled up with ‘mono’ such as raw seafood, sliced meats, vegetables and noodles are laid out. The nabe is then placed on a hot plate and filled with a broth made from dashi, soy sauce and sake.

As it simmers, you add your selections into the pot and transfer it into small bowls when it’s cooked. While everyone enjoys this course, more ingredients can be added to the pot and by the time you finish your first round, the next is cooked and ready to eat.

The best part about it, in addition to its flavour, is its versatility as there are just so many different ingredients to choose from! As you keep adding more of these to the pot, the broth becomes increasingly rich and flavourful. At the end, after all meat and vegetables are eaten, rice and egg can be added to the remaining stock.

The 30-year-old Kei Restaurant offers seasonal Japanese dishes along with a variety of contemporary sushi and modern options. Located in the Golden Tulip Hotel Bahrain, it delivers an experience that boasts authenticity and high quality in equal measure.

Call 17 533-450.

* Free Insurance * Free Registration * Trade-in Available * Road Side Assistance * Free 5 years Warranty Unlimited Kilometer

78 December 2014

www.bahrainthismonth.com

BERLITZ

Speak the Lingo

Japan’s rich culture and traditions have made it popular all over the world. Fortunately, language enthusiasts don’t have to travel all the way to Japan to learn how to talk the talk - Berlitz helps you learn right here on the island.

Japanese is fast becoming one of the most popular languages to learn, be it for exploring business opportunities or understanding the culture. If you have a flair for languages and are interested in exploring this ancient culture through a language, Berlitz in Bahrain offers various courses to get you started.

Berlitz Corporation is a global education company founded in 1878 in Rhode Island, USA. Today, it is part of the Benesse Group, a leading global Japanese supplier of products and services for language and global leadership training as well as education and lifestyle.

Working with students in more than 60 countries around the world, Berlitz combines experience and expertise to offer a professional, successful and enjoyable learning experience to its students.

The institute has been offering Japanese courses in Bahrain for more than 10 years, catering to groups and semi-groups and offering private courses.

Berlitz provides personalised attention for individuals and groups, with accelerated programmes taught by highly trained, native/fluent instructors. Proprietary conversational Berlitz Method of teaching is the standard for language instruction, with customised training programmes also available.

Berlitz language and communication centres offer more programme options and ways to learn Japanese than any other language training provider, the company says. For those who don’t have the time to learn another language, luckily Berlitz also offers a range of translation services.

Call 17 827-847or email berlitz@berlitz-bahrain.co. www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 79

japansupplement MAKI

Gluten-Free Menu One of the Kingdom’s most popular Japanese eateries is offering a new gluten-free menu that offers all of the taste with none of the hassle.

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Maki recently held a special dinner introducing their new gluten-free menu, which contains new dishes such as taco sushi and favorites such as prawn tempura (now with brown rice batter), chicken yaki tori, edamame fried rice and a variety of nigiri sushi.

Maki Group has been working hard on bringing in new healthy ingredients, but has now taken an extra step to cater for specific dietary requirements. The company says it is excited to be contributing positively to society by catering for people with celiac, people that are gluten intolerant and anyone wanting to avoid gluten in their diet.

“We want all guests to be able to enjoy our menu, and with this new gluten-free menu, we will hopefully reach out to more Japanese food lovers,” said Amer Zeitoun, managing partner and agricultural expert. Maki group has taken strict measures to avoid cross-contamination. “We have designated an area and special utensils only for our gluten-free options,” he explains.

Maki Bahrain is located at Bahrain World Trade Centre, West Tower, adjacent to Moda Mall, King Faisal Highway.

For enquiries and reservations, call 17 522-733 or 36 999-102 or email maki.bahrain@olivermaki.com.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

SEIKO

A Grand Timepiece The makers of the Grand Seiko have been striving for perfection for decades by creating the most ideal watch that money can buy - and the latest offering may have attained it.

Connoisseurs of fine timepieces will agree that a watch is not just an accessory, but a reflection of a person’s individuality. The creators of the Grand Seiko had a vision to not only create the best and most luxurious watch in the world, but to also attain the highest standard of precision and reliability by international chronometer standards. After years of research, the dream was fulfilled with the launch of the first Grand Seiko watch in December 1960.

Over the years, Seiko’s watchmaking technology has evolved rapidly, but the spirit and essence of the brand has remained the same, its makers say. The acclaimed timepiece is accurate, reliable, legible and comfortable to wear and offers everything a luxury watch should.

Seiko produces every part of the exquisite timepieces in-house, from hair springs to the watch hands. It is the only manufacturer that has mastered all four watchmaking technologies - spring drive, mechanical, kinetic and quartz.

Grand Seiko features a range of mechanical calibres, the celebrated 9S series, the unique Spring Drive calibre 9R series and the accurate Quartz calibre 9F series.

The watches are crafted between two studios in Japan by 240 dedicated master craftsmen and women.

For more than 50 years, Grand Seiko has stood for the same simple yet exacting ideals - perfect precision, beauty and legibility - and it aims to keep those ideal ticking well into the future. www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 81

japansupplement

The Lindsay family at Calum’s graduation ceremony in Glasgow alongside postcard images of their experiences in Japan

Japan in our hearts NEWSPAPER columnist Bridget Lindsay, the wife of British Ambassador to Bahrain, Iain, talks of her family’s love of Japan, their former home during two stints of diplomatic service in the 1980s and 1990s.

82 December 2014

Iain and I arrived in Japan within weeks of our wedding. After a year of learning Japanese, he was prepared. I wasn’t. It was 1983 and nothing was written in English. I had never really understood what foreign meant until I saw Tokyo but I needn’t have worried.

When I worked up the courage to travel on the Metro, I discovered that the only way I could hope to reach my stop would be to count the stations.

It should have been straightforward but I’m easily distracted, particularly in such a new environment. I often lost count and ended up in the wrong place.

It didn’t take long to learn that the Japanese are the kindest of people. Strangers led me to the platform and put me on the right train. A couple of times, I was even escorted to my destination.

One of my concerns about Japan was the food. I had grown up disliking fish, thanks to my Catholic school that served us fish every Friday that my mother wouldn’t have given to the cat. Tinned salmon and fish fingers were all I would eat.

When Iain proposed he already knew he was going to Japan and the thought of raw fish was the one thing that made me wonder if I should accept. Fortunately for our marriage, one of the fallacies about Japanese food is that you’ll be served sashimi at every meal. The food is varied and delicious, including raw salmon, though I

draw the line at sea-urchin.

We had three fantastic years in Tokyo. The culture is rich and unique. We learnt so much about appreciating and respecting our own heritage by seeing how the Japanese preserve their traditions.

It was our honeymoon posting and when we were asked to go back in the 1990s, we accepted with trepidation. Not because we hadn’t enjoyed it, but because we had enjoyed it so much. It was hard to believe it could be as good again.

We knew we couldn’t recreate the same experience. We weren’t newlyweds anymore. We were parents of a three-year-old with all the responsibilities that entails.

We lived on the beautiful British Embassy compound the first time round. It is a wonderful combination of East and West, with grand Britishstyle houses, (ours was tiny), amid some of the best cherry blossom in the city. It was a great way to start life in Japan but we soon found ourselves yearning for a more authentic experience. Returning for a second posting gave us that opportunity.

We chose to live in a very Japanese area and it was one of the best decisions we have ever made.

There’s a funny thing about Tokyo. It’s one of the biggest cities in the world but it is also a collection www.bahrainthismonth.com

of villages. Our neighbourhood embraced us and included us in all the local activities, particularly the festivals. Our son Calum became the star attraction.

We often lost him in crowds, particularly if there were high school girls around. We would see his little head bobbing among the sea of black hair as he was passed around for hundreds of photo opportunities.

That might have been why sending him to the local school wasn’t the best idea. If the older girls weren’t cuddling him, he was sitting on the teacher’s knee. That’s probably not going to make you popular with your classmates.

Calum’s culture shock wasn’t in Japan; it was when we returned to the UK five years later. He missed the neon Coca-Cola sign that he could see from his bedroom window; Hertfordshire was too quiet; and he could walk down the street without teenage girls telling www.bahrainthismonth.com

him he was cute. It comes as no surprise that he decided to go back.

Japan has remained part of lives, not least because we have many wonderful Japanese friends, including the previous Ambassador to Bahrain, Shigeki Sumi. Iain and Shigeki have been friends since they were both junior diplomats 20 years ago, and they whiled away many a diplomatic dinner party here reminiscing about their younger days.

Calum is now making new Japanese friends.

He celebrated the 20th anniversary of his arrival in Tokyo in Fukuoka, where he is now living.

He’s teaching English at a high school, eating his way through mountains of ramen, sushi and anything-else he’s served, and enjoying the wonderful Japanese hospitality.

He tells me he’s found a substitute mother – the supermarket where he can pick up freshly-

cooked food on his way home from work.

We’re going to visit him in the spring. I wonder if he has a crowbar… he might need one to get us out again.

* Read Bridget in Bahrain every Wednesday in GulfWeekly.

December 2014 83

INTERVIEWS

READY TO ROCK! CHARLIE HOLDING Guitar virtuoso Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal is set to rock the Kingdom during a series of events to promote local and regional musicians.

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erhaps best known for his role as lead guitarist in Gun N’ Roses, Bumblefoot has a musical career spanning decades. During that time he has grown from strength-to-strength, achieving word-wide fame and is keen to help other musicians make the transition.

Speaking exclusively to Bahrain This Month, he shares his tips for success and discusses Jam Up, a first-of-its-kind venture that gives the Kingdom’s budding talents the chance to shine.

“JamUp put together a fantastic batch of events that combine art and music, bringing together local and foreign musicians, performing - it’s personal, it’s educational, and it supports local charity. It’s got it all,” says Bumblefoot.

“I’m excited about meeting the local musicians, to meet the kids at the RIA Centre, everyone getting to know each other. Jam Up has put together great events and I’m honoured www.bahrainthismonth.com

to be part of what they’re doing.

“It’s important to be encouraged, and to have experiences that teach, inspire and build who we are. I wish I had something like this when I was starting out.”

As part of his visit, Bumblefoot will conduct a special workshop where he will play some of his songs, explain techniques and answer questions. However, the format is far from formal.

He explains: “I go by the questions of those attending and talk about what interests them anything from business, touring, song-writing, practicing, staying healthy, psychology, philosophy, funny stories, anything.”

Playing to sold-out stadiums is every musician’s dream but, for Bumblefoot, the smaller shows are just as important.

“I prefer intimate gigs more,” he explains.

“Smaller shows have the things I like about performing, it’s personal, you can interact with the audience more. I interact a lot in my own

ALSO THIS MONTH: 86 MILVIN GEORGE 90 NEHAL ALOMARI

shows, going into the audience, inviting audience on stage, very face-to-face. I’m looking forward to doing this in Bahrain with everyone!”

Bumblefoot’s advice to aspiring musicians in Bahrain is simple; don’t let anything get in the way of your passion for music.

“Life will get complicated, challenging, difficult - stay focused on why you love music and don’t let anything get in the way of it. All the struggles are on the outside surrounding it, the inside is simple and beautiful and keeps you strong, it’s part of your soul and part of who you are,” he says.

Over the years, Guns N’ Roses have had a selection of guitarists including Slash, Buckethead and now, Bumblefoot … does Axel insist you have an unconventional name to fill the position?

“Ha, ha, ha,” says Bumblefoot. “I’d hope people in the position got there on their merits over their name.”

December 2014 85

interview

Roaring Into Action Recently-appointed Jaguar Land Rover general manager Simon Ellis talks to BTM about moving to Bahrain and his plans to bring the Brands into the future.

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aving started his career at Jaguar 30 years ago, the enthusiastic fatherof-two from Lincolnshire, UK, sees his new role as a home coming of sorts and is eager to build on the marque’s reputation in the Kingdom.

After leaving school, he joined the Royal Engineers, and spent seven years in service before taking a graduate trainee position at Jaguar. After three months with the company he went into marketing and was running worldwide events for the company.

The experience, he says, was fantastic but after three years he decided it was time for a new challenge. After stints at various other automotive brands worldwide, he jumped at the chance to return to Jaguar.

“Jaguar was British-owned when I joined and was in the process of being sold to Ford when I left and now, under Tata, it is thriving beyond all recognition,” Simon explains.

86 December 2014

Simon Ellis

“The product has moved from being average to being fantastic. Jaguar Land Rover are really strong brands and their plans for the future and investments are something to watch out for. They are aggressively addressing any and all issues and the brands are moving steadily forward.”

Simon says that Zayed Al Zayani, Euro Motors’ Managing Director, played a huge part in his decision to take up the position.

“His commitment to the brand is second-tonone so it was an easy decision for me to accept Mr Zayani’s offer. Working in Bahrain is a very welcome bonus. I’ve only been here for a short while but so far I think Bahrain is

great. I like the people and I’ve had nothing but warm welcomes.”

Simon believes that customer satisfaction is key to drive the brand forward in the Kingdom.

“The customer experience is important whether they’re coming in for a spare tyre or to buy a BD 60,000 car, it makes no difference.

They should receive the same, consistently high quality of service,” he explains.

“This business is not just about selling cars, it’s about providing the best ownership experience. Our people and our processes must all be aligned to continually exceed our customer needs and requirements. Customer first is the only way to go.” www.bahrainthismonth.com

interview

“

As a man, the number of accessories we can have is limited, and a good watch is the ultimate accessory for any gentleman.

”

Milvin George

Making A Statement CHARLIE HOLDING Officine Panerai’s managing director Milvin George was in Bahrain to attend Jewellery Arabia and promote two limited edition timepieces specifically made for Bahrain.

88 December 2014

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watch does more than tell the time, it makes a statement about the wearer’s personality and gives others a glimpse of their identity.

For Milvin George, this is truer now than ever before. With the technological revolution and rise in popularity of smartwatches, he believes that traditional analogues still maintain their relevance through their craftsmanship and art of watchmaking which sets them apart. “Smartwatches are for an entirely different clientele,” he explains. “My watch is an extension of who I am and that’s the case with most of our customers.

Panerai has created a collection of timepieces which have become part of the history of watchmaking for their uniqueness and authenticity. About a century after developing its first instruments for the Italian Navy, Panerai still finds its own reference universe in the world of the sea: in every new creation it instils that remarkable blend of history, technical skill and design which makes Panerai watches unique.

During his visit to the kingdom, he revealed two special edition Bahrain timepieces which are personalised with the same engraving on the back of the dial, showing the World Trade Centre towers; the first skyscrapers in the world to integrate wind turbines into their design.

“These watches are aimed at collectors, the kind of guys who will change their watches every day,” says Milvin. “They are unique, classic and, obviously, the same exceptional quality our customers expect and deserve.”

The first Special Edition dedicated to Manama (PAM00547), of which 50 units have been made, is a Luminor Marina – 44mm with a case in polished steel and the bridge protecting the crown in brushed steel.

The watch has a classic Panerai black dial, with its elegantly simple alternation of hour makers and figures coated with a special ecru Super-LumiNova; the decoration consists simply of the words “Luminor Marina” and “Panerai” with a picture of a slow-speed torpedo, the vessel on which the frogmen of the Royal Italian Navy carried out their historic missions in the 1940s wearing the first Panerai watches on their wrists.

The hour and minute hands, like the small seconds hand at 9 o’clock, are coated with the same luminous substance, combining maximum visibility with a vintage look, which is emphasised by the antiqued leather strap The movement is the hand-wound calibre OP II. The second Special Edition dedicated to Manama (PAM00556), of which only 10 units have been made, is a Radiomir 10 Days GMT – 47mm, with the elegant cushion case in polished steel. All the elements on the black sandwich dial, as well as the hands, are in ecru Super-LumiNova: the figures, the linear indication of the 10-day power reserve, the small seconds dials at 9 o’clock, the calendar and the inscription “Radiomir Panerai”. The strap is of vintage leather and the movement is the automatic calibre P.2003, created entirely within the Officine Panerai manufacture at Neuchâtel. www.bahrainthismonth.com

spotlight

JAGUAR LAND ROVER

BACKSEAT CHAT She’s done everything from being a television chef to heading a multi-million-dinar company and somehow still finds the time to be an advocate for female empowerment in Bahrain.

We meet the person behind this inspiring persona.

All new Range Rover Sport

90 December 2014

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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his year, we embarked on a new journey and are extremely proud to see how far we’ve come. For the Backseat Chat season finale, we are joined by Afnan Al Zayani, the president of Al Zayani Commercial Services.

Recipient of the medal of efficiency by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in 2013, she ranks 32nd on Forbes Middle East’s list of 100 most powerful arab women - family business. Afnan joins George Middleton in a new Range Rover Sport for a candid conversation about her personal and professional journey as they traverse Amwaj Islands. Watch the interview on Bahrain this Month’s YouTube channel.

George: Afnan, you have two degrees - in food technology and agriculture. What drew you towards mainstream business and your role in Al Zayani Investment Group?

Afnan: I started my career directly applying for jobs related to what I had studied. As a food technologist, I ran the laboratory at Bahrain Flour Mills but I quickly realised they needed a marketing department and, with time, I became more involved in the marketing process. About the same time there was a position available in Al Zayani Investments, my brother’s company, so I took that opportunity as I was ready for a change.

George: Lubna Al Olayan is one of your role models. What are some of her qualities that you particularly admire?

Afnan: As a matter of fact all Saudi businesswomen inspire me; things are far more

The All new range Rover Sport is available at Euro Motors, the official distributor of Jaguar Land Rover in Bahrain

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Afnan Al Zayani with George F Middleton

difficult for them than they are for women elsewhere in the GCC. I admire their persistence and determination to start and successfully run their own businesses. Lubna, I admire in particular, because she was selected by her father to take care of the family business at a time when this was absolutely unheard of.

George: You were a founding member of the Bahrain Businessmen’s association as well as a former president of Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society. Can you tell us about your involvement with these organisations?

Afnan: When I started with the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society in 2000, I was one of the first few members who was active in the PR

committee. After sometime, Khalid Al Moyyad approached me with regard to establishing the Bahrain Businessmen’s Association and he wanted me to be part of that body. Today, the two associations work in synergy and have the same goals for the country’s economy.

George: It’s no secret that cooking is a great passion of yours. What advice would you like to give to someone who sees it as an intimidating challenge?

Afnan: First of all, you need to relax and take it easy. It’s only a dish. The worst that can happen is, it gets burnt; it won’t be the end of the world.

Every mistake you make takes you closer to success. Go step by step; start with a very simple dish, so you can get more confident.

When I’m writing my books, I assume that I am dealing with someone who’s never even entered the kitchen. That’s why the language is very simple and every single detail is explained.

Someone called Abu Abdul Rahman, a Bahraini student in the UK, sent me a thank you card saying that during Ramadan he used my recipes and I was with him throughout. This card is extremely dear to me and is displayed in my office.

George: Afnan, you are an inspiration to many women in the region. What does being the 32nd most powerful Arab woman, as listed by Forbes Middle East, mean to you?

Afnan: It’s a great responsibility, I must say. I strive each day to live up to that title and to achieve a lot more. When you receive such an honour it becomes your duty to give back to society and help upcoming individuals who have the potential to excel.

December 2014 91

interview

Cristiano Corneliani

CORNELIANI

It Suits You, Sir CHARLIE HOLDING One of Italy’s most famous menswear maisons has recently opened its doors in Bahrain to help the kingdom’s dashing gentlemen dress for success.

92 December 2014

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orneliani is an Italian family business with a history that stretches back to the 1930s, and even though fashions have changed over the years, tradition and style have remained firmly in place.

The company’s Global Sales Director, Cristiano Corneliani, is a man who knows a lot about the importance of image. He says the new store now opened in Moda Mall will be truly at home amongst the Kingdom’s most high-end brands.

“We target the best location in each country we operate in to ensure the best distribution,” he says.

Based in Mantua, Italy, Corneliani is distributed worldwide, with directly owned flagship stores in Milan, London and Shanghai and mono-brand boutiques in Russia, China, Korea and UAE, to mention only a few countries.

“The stores create the appropriate atmosphere for the tailored clothing that is the brand’s core business, as we wish to offer our customers an authentic shopping experience,” Cristiano explains.

The interiors are crafted from elegant materials in line with the Corneliani concept. Neutral-coloured upholstery, grey velvet and suede go perfectly with polished ebony features and anthracite grey leather details embossed with an interlinked Mantegna– inspired ring pattern, also seen with anodised bronze-finish aluminium to match the panels of the façade.

The VIP area creates the perfect backdrop for the Corneliani Made to Measure art of tailoring.

To make a made-to-measure suit, all the information collected about the customer’s measurements and choices (such as fabric, lining, buttons, stitching...) is sent to headquarters in Mantua to make a truly unique perfect garment that will reach its owner in three weeks.

“Our philosophy might be described as ‘needle and computer’: continuation of the finest tailoring tradition, preservation of hand sewing and finishing operations complete each other and are further boosted by the most sophisticated technology available today,” Cristiano says.

“We take great care with the handcrafted details that make each item so special. The continuity of the past lives on in the present, and allows us to offer our customers only the very best. Corneliani is a luxury brand, but you’re paying for quality as our suits are made in the traditional sartorial way. We don’t sell a product: we offer a dream, a way of being, for “Man as a Masterpiece”, as our headline goes,” he continues.

Corneliani brand’s values are tradition, quality and modernity, and quality plays an essential role in Corneliani’s whole approach to menswear.

“We start with quality. Not only the quality of our products, but the quality of life…. We leave quantity up to others,” says Cristiano. www.bahrainthismonth.com

interview

Setting The Standard

Klaus Niefer

GEORGE MIDDLETON Klaus Niefer, complex general manager of The Westin Bahrain City Centre and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre talks to Bahrain This Month about making a mark on the Kingdom.

94 December 2014

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his year has been a busy one for Klaus, replacing the The Kempinski Grand and Ixir Hotels has been an extensive process and it is set to continue into 2015. However, he is undeterred and keen to take up the challenge.

“Having to convert an already operational hotel to two brands basically overnight of course posed some challenges, however Starwood’s strong and knowledgeable support teams from sister properties and regional office facilitated the conversion.

Internally we started by training our new associates in order to bring the two brands alive amongst them so that they are fully equipped to deliver the unique, branded experiences to our guests throughout both hotels,” says Klaus.

“Of course the training is still an ongoing and continuing process. Furthermore, in order to bring in the specific brand activations, certain structural changes still need to be done but we have full backing from the owning company, which makes things a lot easier.”

For 2015 Klaus and his team will continue what they started by further presenting the Westin’s and Le Méridien’s distinct brand standards, brand elements and programmes.

“Our goal is to ensure our guests leave us feeling better than when they arrived and to this end Westin created the Westin Well-being Movement. It consists of six pillars of well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well. Each pillar has specific programmes and services designed to enhance the well-being of our guests. Many of the brand programmes are already implemented at our hotel and the remaining will be activated step-by-step over the coming months,” says Klaus.

The inspiration for the wellness strategy, the iconic Heavenly Bed is already in place as is Westin’s global partnership with SuperFoodsRx which offers guests food that fuels the body with rich antioxidants and tastes great.

“We have already introduced SuperFoodsRx items and our newly-arrived Executive Chef Ilango Muthia is further revamping the menus to incorporate even more goodness in all our culinary offerings,” Klaus explains.

For Le Méridien, the resolute German has ambitious plans in the pipeline and launching the brand’s signature Le Méridien Hub, which re-interprets the traditional lobby into a social gathering place for creative people, is on the cards.

Le Méridien is a Paris-born hotel brand which has transformed numerous guest touch points, thus bringing them a unique, interactive and curated experience. As part of the hub, there are plans to introduce Longitude 50º cafe where guests can enjoy expertly crafted Illy coffee, paired with delicious éclairs.

Adding to the brand’s wellness philosophy, in first quarter of 2015 the hotel will launch the RunWESTIN programme with customised running maps for guests, and also Westin Gear Lending programme.

“This makes exercising easier for travellers as they don’t have to carry their workout clothing and shoes with them but instead can borrow it from us,” says Klaus. www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Peter, Sharon, Kirsty & Helen

John Robertson at Intercontinental Regency Hotel

George, Omer, Rob & Hazim

John entertains the crowd

Maria & Nelda

Vivian, Justin & Oana

Mai, Charlie & Sam

Australian comedian John Robertson entertained at Intercontinental Regency Hotel as part of Chuckle Club’s lineup of events. Mr Robertson has appeared on shows such as BBC Edinburgh Nights, Challenge, London Live and many more.

John Robertson in action

Anne

Halloween Brunch at Crowne Plaza Hotel

Ian & Randa

Pennie & Gayle

Adrian & Kay

Tony & Rhea

Michael, Chloe & Nadine

Nancy & Anwar

Marvy, Vicky & Claire

Mel & Tanya

Robert & David

Zarah & Paula

Crowne Plaza Bahrain organised a ‘Wicked’ themed Halloween brunch at Harvesters Pub & Terrace and La Mosaique restaurant.

Melanie, Emily, Ginger & Cleo

Naomi, Monk & Orjan

96 December 2014 2014

Anne Marie & Garrett

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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101 LEXUS 99 BMW 6 SERIES GRAN COUPE 104 KIA Ferrari FF

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he Director of Communications at Ferrari considers the fervor Ferrari fans possess for the brand to be akin to a ‘religion’. Undoubtedly then, those of you of the Ferrari faith will already be acquainted with the Ferrari FF. So called as it is a four seater with fourwheel drive, it was first launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011. My introduction to this particular breed of the prancing horse lay behind the façade of a rather deceptive looking old stone building on the outskirts of Florence, Italy.

The display gave an insight into Ferrari’s Tailor Made programme which began in the www.bahrainthismonth.com

1950s. In keeping with a long-standing tradition at Maranello, this programme enables clients to select their desired materials and colours.

Each of the five cars on display was designed with a specific, bespoke concept.

Furthermore, the concepts were built to represent five different regions of the Arabian Gulf; namely, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. Bahrain’s individual finish is named Cristallo (Crystal) with details evocative of the cool, transparent lucidity of quartz. The exterior is painted in a subtle silver hue – with a matte surface finish set off by diamond-cut forged wheel rims and a full-length dark glass sunroof.

The interior features rich, perforated dark blue leather upholstery while the seat backs, central tunnel and door panels are upholstered in a perforated blue fabric.

The Pietra di Luna (Moonstone) concept was built for Saudi Arabia, Topaz (Topazio) for Kuwait, Pearl (Perla) for Qatar and the UAE FF is painted in a dark blue three-layer finish called Ocean blue.

These stunning creations induce a sensory overload. From their appearance, the aroma of the leather, its buttery soft feel, the lustrous, smoothness of the paintwork, they are truly remarkable. Yes, I confess to being undecided as to which was my favourite.

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The Ferrari FF lends itself to a highly personalised approach. Indeed, should you be so inclined, a bespoke golf bag and matching set of suitcases, designed specifically to fit the trunk, are at your disposal.

This year’s models incorporate a number of improvements to the FF’s interior comfort. New rear seats for example, which are even easier to access, thanks to front seats that slide further forwards.

Alas, we had an overnight wait to hear how these magnificent creatures sounded. It was worth the wait. Powered by a 660bhp mid-frontmounted V12, the FF boasts the sound of an extreme sports car. A motorcycle police escort — somewhat delayed whilst the policemen posed for photographs with the FFs! — ensured our cavalcade deftly navigated the early morning throng of ubiquitous Fiats and Lancias.

Leaving the city of Florence behind, our trio headed into the countryside.

The Ferrari FF is the company’s first ever fourwheel drive and most powerful four-seater ever, effortlessly combining extreme sports car performance with the versatility and usability of a genuine GT. Weighing 50 per cent less than a conventional four-wheel drive system, it delivers record levels of performance on all terrains and in all conditions via continuous and intelligent predictive torque distribution to all four wheels. This claim was seriously challenged, and superbly upheld, on the leaf strewn, snaking roads of the Tuscan hills in autumnal weather conditions that included, fog, mist, rain and sunshine.

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Equally impressive are the FFs performance figures, the 0-100kmph sprint was covered in 3.7 seconds and it has a top speed of 335kmph. The now model is also extremely fuel efficient, consumption stands at just over 15 litres per 100km.

The car possesses crowd-stopping allure. A congregation of locals rapidly ensued during a quick espresso stop in the pretty village of Stia.

The arrival of the local policeman was not to disperse this gathering, nor indeed to issue parking tickets; rather, it was to have his

picture taken with the gleaming trio! They are Italians after all, and deservedly proud of their countries second largest export industry.

Whilst Enzo Ferraris famously claimed that ‘most things can be said in a few lines’ the sheer exhilarating, experience of driving this machine cannot. The Ferrari FF is an instant classic with head-turning allure, skilfully combining a four-wheel drive with a supreme sports car. If you are not already of the Ferrari faith, Euro Motors, Bahrain’s distributor for Ferrari, will be happy to convert you. www.bahrainthismonth.com

EURO MOTORS

Dynamic Appeal

The third model in the BMW 6 Series line up, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé follows the successful debut of the next generation convertible and coupé models launched last year.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

This model is larger and more luxurious than ever and was made to achieve a synergy between the aesthetics and dynamics of a coupé and versatility of a four-door sedan. The result is a car with a distinctive character.

The exterior is sleek and sophisticated and aims to set new standards in terms of aesthetic design for four-door vehicles. The frameless door windows are a design element indicative of a sporty Coupé.

The interior has a driver orientation typical of BMW. The driver-focused cockpit and front passenger area are bordered by sweeping surfaces. There is plenty of space for rear passengers who can relax in stylish and luxurious surroundings. The four-door Coupé is a four-seater that offers an additional third rear seat which can be used for shorter journeys.

Powered by a choice of two engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé offers sporty potential. The six-in-line engine in the BMW 640i Gran Coupé produces 320bhp, allowing this dynamic vehicle to accelerate from 0- 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.

The top-of-the-line BMW 650i Gran Coupé will boasts a 4.4-litre V8 engine with two turbochargers and High Precision Direct Injection that optimises both efficiency and response.

Power in both models is managed by an eight-speed sports automatic transmission built for sporty driving, comfortable shifting and optimised efficiency. It is operated using the electronic gear selector on the centre console.

Highlights that come as standard include Electric Power Steering and Dynamic Damper Control to help provide balance between dynamics and comfort.

There is a range of BMW ConnectedDrive driver assistance features for enhanced comfort and safety.

Some of the highlights include BMW Park Assistant, Camera-based Collision Warning with braking function (in conjunction with Active Cruise Control) and the latestgeneration full colour BMW Head-Up Display that projects the symbols on the windscreen in 3D. As with all BMW models, the 6 Series Gran Coupé features an options list that includes comfort seats and sports seats, active seats, seat ventilation, Exclusive Nappa leather, ceramic applications, heated rear seats and 4-zone automatic climate control. There is also a Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System that offers brilliant sound experience from every seat.

Call 17 750-750.

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motoring AL HADDAD

Power Ahead The third model in the BMW 6 Series line up, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé follows the successful debut of the next generation convertible and coupé models launched last year.

Mercedes-Benz is aiming to entice drivers in the Kingdom with its latest offering, the new ML400, a powerful and sleek SUV with character by the bucketload.

Strong and sturdy, the ML400 is smooth on every surface and refined aerodynamics enhance its handling and quiet comfort.

Equipped with a new 329bhp 3.5-litre V6, it combines twin turbos and numerous other advances to lower emissions and fuel consumption, without compromising on performance.

In a single millisecond, the rapid-multi-spark ignition can fire up to four times, while the high-pressure direct injection precisely tunes the ultrafine fuel spray. Boasting 306bhp and 370Nm of torque at 2,500-5250rpm, the ML400 4MATIC accelerates from 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds, reaching an astounding top speed of 235km/h.

Sales manager at Al Haddad Motors, Bryan Logue says: “Powerful engines have always been one of the competencies of Mercedes-Benz, and the ML400 is no exception. We have had overwhelming interest in this model so far, and with the thrill-seeking driving community here, it’s not hard to see why.”

Characterised with a refined design and attention to details, the ML400 is a sight too be seen. From its wide grille and detailed headlamps to the wraparound LED tail lamps, the design boasts an understated elegance.

The marque’s legendary AMG alloy 19-inch wheels, which feature five thin yet sturdy tapered spokes and a brilliant silver finish, add to its appeal. Fitted with durable all-season tyres, the ML400 provides year-round balance when it comes to surefooted handling and a comfortable, quiet ride.

Thanks to permanent four-wheel drive and 4ETS, torque and traction are up for a challenge, even on tough surfaces. The Electronic Stability Programme further 100 December 2014

enahnces stability, while the optional On and Off-Road Package and Active Curve System enable this model to master even the toughest terrain.

In terms of safety, this model has a lot worth bragging about. It comes with a state-of-the-art system of seven air bags that offer nine-way occupant protection.

Attention Assist, which keeps tabs on your driving style helps to identify the signs of drowsy driving, is an impressive and useful feature. Meanwhile, Lane Keeping Assist protects against unintended drifting off course.

“The ML400 comes equipped with safety features and unrivalled comfort that just screams value for money. It is the perfect car for budding families in Bahrain,” says Mr Logue.

The entertainment system has never looked better, with the COMAND system and central controller. Featuring a high- resolution 70-inch colour display, the system gives you convenient control of audio, video, hands-free calling and optional navigation functions. Many features can also accessed via the integrated steering wheel controls.

Al Haddad Motors is open Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 8pm.

For more details contact Al Haddad Motors by calling 17785454 or visiting the showroom.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

E K KANOO

Designed For Perfection With a new coupe body style that boasts sculpted lines and a wide, low stance, the RC and RC F were designed from the ground up to seamlessly blend eye-catching design with breathtaking performance.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Ebrahim K. Kanoo, the sole distributor of Toyota and Lexus in the Kingdom, has unveiled the new Lexus RC and RC F models which aim to redefine coupes and high performance vehicles everywhere.

The launch was attended by top officials, enthusiasts and the public who all flocked to the marque’s showroom to catch a glimpse of the stunning mean machines.

Lexus RC chief engineer Eiichi Kusama says: “We are very proud to develop such a unique coupe which delivers an outstanding driving experience to match its impressive looks. The eye-catching design of the RC evokes anticipation of its remarkable performance. Once driven there’s no going back.”

The sportier RC F is built to enable drivers of all skill levels to enjoy fun-to-drive performance. The design of the RC coupe is described by Lexus as “coolness over utility”. It has deeply contoured body lines with the widest and lowest application yet of the Lexus spindle grille.

From every angle, the low profile and wide stance of the coupe with its short wheelbase and large diameter tyres is intended to provide a visual jolt. Triangular headlamps evoke the sporty characteristics of the LF-LC design while concept vehicle inspiration is evident in the unique threelamp LED design.

The interior is equally impressive and is divided into operational and display zones. The upper zone houses the instrument panel and a 7-inch navigation screen. The RC’s

custom steering wheel carries eight switches, for added safety and convenience.

The finishes are sleek and the shimamoku wood highlights are used to emphasise the surrounding trim.

RC’s aluminium wheels continue the concept-toproduction design philosophy with a deeply sculpted 10-spoke 19-inch wheel.

Under the bonnet, the RC packs a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine that produces 314bhp. It has intelligent dual variable valve timing as well as the Lexus D4S system of direct and port fuel injection. The powerplant is paired with an 8-speed sports direct shift with paddle shift transmission.

The RC F has a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre 32-valve V8 engine that provides maximum power of 471bhp which is the world’s first front-engine, rear-wheel-drive car to make use of a Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) for guaranteed levels of extraordinary handling and performance.. The RC F also features a Lexus-first new EXPERT mode with its Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) system. This model also has an improved 8-speed sports direct shift transmission.

The RC and RC F benefit from the same comprehensive array of safety features including eight airbags, Blind Spot Monitor and the Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Call 17 737-773 or visit www.lexus.com.bh.

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AGM KOOHEJI

Advanced New Line-up Whether you drive a passenger car, luxury car, 4×4, SUV, light commercial or heavy duty truck, a reliable set of tyres is imperative for performance and safety.

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Poor tyres can reduce the performance of your car, increase your stopping distance and raise the risk of skidding. Furthermore, under-inflated or worn tyres increase fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Kumho, one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, has rolled out a new range of its most technologically advanced tyres to date in the Bahrain market - Solus and Ecsta.

The new Kumho Solus is designed and built to withstand the rigours of urban driving thanks to its nondirectional tread design and low noise with Silica-based tread compound.

The Kumho KH17 tyre is designed to deliver excellent handling, braking performance and wear resistance for family cars of all sizes, its makers say. It features an upgraded silica tread compound, optimum tread rib width and tread radius design which protects the tyre from external impact and enhances the durability of the casing.

Meanwhile, the Ecsta SPT aims to provide the ideal fit for sports car owners on a budget and sedan owners looking for a sportier feel. The directional tread design provides excellent water drainage with intermediate and centre rib blocks that deliver steering response and ride comfort.

Its silica tread compound delivers excellent wet and dry traction under normal or high-performance driving. It is available in staggered fitments and also features Kumho Tires’ XRP - Extended Run-Flat Technology.

With its head office and manufacturing plant based in Korea, Kumho has a global presence across 180 countries and produces more than 68 million tyres every year. The company also sponsors motoring events such as European Formula 3 racing.

The brand’s new line-up is available at 3K (Kwik, Kar, Kare), a reputed servicing brand with outlets located across the Kingdom.

3K offers a wide range of premium tyre brands, battery brands and lube brands to choose from. It also provides mechanised lube changes with premium brands like Caltex. Tyre changes are done on ultra modern tyre changing machines with computerised wheel alignment and all the necessary caster and camber adjustments. www.bahrainthismonth.com

FIRST MOTORS

Soaring to New Heights Recently listed as the 40th most valued global brand on Interbrand’s 15th annual 100 Best Global Brands Report, Hyundai Motor Company is aiming to capitalise on this achievement.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Hyundai Motor Company’s brand value is soaring to new heights and this year has seen the automaker achieve double-digit growth thanks in no small part to its new Genesis and Sonata models.

The company’s value - which has been included in Interbrand’s Best 100 Global Brands for 10 consecutive years - surpassed the USD10 billion mark for the first time, its highest record so far. That figure represents a 16 per cent increase from last year’s USD9 billion value and a nearly 200 per cent jump from its USD3.5 billion value in 2005.

“Hyundai is one of the fastest growing automotive brands in terms of both volume and brand value,” Interbrand explains. “Hyundai makes unique convenience features available across a broader range of vehicles to enhance driving experience and customer satisfaction, while its commitment to brand building extends to multiple touchpoints. As a result of these efforts, brand awareness of product attributes like design, and the kind of brand loyalty that comes from an emotional connection are becoming key drivers over price.”

Hyundai, whose brand value ranking rose three notches to reach the top global 40 ranking for the first time this year, is building a loyal fan base through continued enhancements in its product line-up, including innovative and eco-friendly products such as the world’s first assembly-line produced ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle.

Ongoing investment, such as active involvement in high-

profile sports marketing activities with UEFA, FIFA, and the World Rally Championship, also continue. In Korea, the automaker opened its first brand experience space, Hyundai Motorstudio, while a second one is scheduled to open in Moscow shortly.

The Korean automaker’s brand value has increased an average of 20 per cent each year since the company introduced its new ‘Modern Premium’ brand direction in 2011.

“We’re implementing a wide variety of brand-related activities that aren’t simply focused on increasing sales, but are aimed at helping us to be a brand that our customers genuinely love,” says Won Hong Cho, Hyundai Motor’s chief marketing officer. “We will continue to invest in our brand, by providing Hyundai Motor’s unique premium experience in all aspects of the customer’s journey with our brand.”

Since revealing its new brand statement ‘New Thinking.

New Possibilities’ at the 2011 North American International Auto Show, Hyundai aims to provide customers with emotional value and experiences beyond expectations. The new brand direction also captures the spirit of change at the automaker, which has shown dramatic growth in all areas of business.

The Interbrand rankings are calculated using companies’ financial balance sheets combined with marketing activities, while also reflecting each brand’s potential profit.

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motoring A.A. BIN HINDI

A Golden Offer

Kia Cerato

As part of its ongoing golden jubilee celebrations, Bin Hindi is offering special deals on a range of KIA cars.

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After the successful completion of the Ramadan promotion, A.A. Bin Hindi in line with its 50 years celebrations offers yet another blockbuster. This is the chance to grab one of your favorite KIA cars at fantastic prices.

This clearance sale, the company says, is once-in-alifetime opportunity not to be missed.

The sale features the latest award-winning KIA cars including the ahead of its time Optima tagged at a starting price of BD6,300, the seven-seater Mini MPV Carens at BD6,550, the pocket rocket Picanto at BD3,550, the evergreen ‘value-for money’ Sportage at BD7,400 and the last but by far the least Sorento at only BD8,600. Also featuring in the sale are the world-famous KIA models, Rio and Cerato.

The offer is only available while stocks last and cars will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Customers can also trade-in their old KIA for a new model and, for the duration of the sale, the showroom will also be open on Friday from 4.30 to 7.30pm.

Mohammed Bin Hindi, general manager sales, says: “Today, the A.A. Bin Group and KIA have become industry-leading brands and we see a lot of KIA cars on the road. We attribute this success to our customers.

“This sale is our way of thanking customers for their support. But due to high demand for KIA cars we are

Kia Rio

offering the remaining few KIA beauties we have. But the celebrations do not end here, we request all our customers to track the A.A. Bin Hindi space for more amazing celebratory offers.”

“This special sale is our way of thanking them for their support. But the celebrations do not end here, we request all our customers to track the A.A. Bin Hindi space for more amazing celebratory offers.”

During the clearance sale, KIA showrooms are open Saturday to Thursday, from 8am to 1pm and 3.30-7pm, and Friday evenings from 4.30- 7.30pm.

Call 17 408-800 or email kiasales@binhindi.com. www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Shaikha Noora & Shaikh Khalifa Al Khalifa

Cadillac Escalade 2015 Launch National Motor Company launched the new Cadillac Escalade 2015 in the Grand Foyer of The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel & Spa.

The National Motor Company executives with the new Cadillac Escalade 2015

Hassan & Mahmood

Eman, Hoda & Bayan

Nawaf & Ahmed

David, Nadeem, Craig, Simon, Felix & Nader

ICICI Bank’s Diwali Open House ICICI BANK LTD, Bahrain branch celebrated Diwali open house event at Dragon Hotel & Resort, Amwaj Islands.

The event was attended by customers and staff of ICICI Bank Bahrain, along with members of senior management of Central Bank of Bahrain and Zurich International Life LTD, Bahrain and officials from the Indian Embassy.

Harpreet, Wahbi, Vikash, Fathalla, Rajesh, Yousif, Amit, Jalal & Ravinder

Amit, Mrs. Devlal, Mohammed, Rajesh, Vikash & Aziz

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Sachin, Chirag, Rajesh & Indukumar

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Nick & Aalaa

Rohan & Rohit

Kishore & Habib

Hatem & Mohammed

Launch of the Special Financial Services Programme Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover organised a press conference to launch its special financial services programme at its showroom in Sitra. The launch was followed by a media lunch.

Simon & Zayed

Paul, Natarajan & Majid

Zahra, Manal & Abdulla

Ali & Hussain

Christian, Jojo, Eric & Squintz

Gulf Night Out The Gulf Hotel Bahrain hosted its exclusive and unique ‘Gulf Night Out’ to allow guests to enjoy an authentic Arabian night and the traditional Bahraini ambience. Guests were also treated to a performance from the Zahle Restaurant band.

Wisam

Michael & Eden

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Charlie

Dr Massouma & Abdulhaleem

Randa & Ryan

Visnja & Jan

Julia & Midori

Zuhair & Yaser

Ahmed

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Launch of Michelin Star Gastronomy at La Mer

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa hosted Michelin star chef Frederic Simonin at La Mer Restaurant, whose gastronomic delights were sampled by the guests. This was Chef Simonin’s first visit to the region.

Jalil, Jassim, HH Shaikh Nader Bin Mohammed Bin Salman Al Khalifa

Karimi, Kamal, Yasine, Sami, Maryam, Charbel & Jibril

Batoul, Basel & Mayka Charbel, Sami, Chef Simonin, Chef Kim, Basel & Myka

Jean-Paul, Lina & Valerie

Kamal, Ahmed & Yasine

Jalil, Jassim, Betsy & Hassan

Yasine, Charbel, Maryam & Kamal

Ayman

Michael & Matthew

Bisan & Randa

Osama & Waleed

Launch of the 2015 Lexus RC Coupe The 2015 Lexus RC Coupe and RC F were launched to much fanfare at the Lexus showroom in Sitra. Present at the event were the Kanoo family and representatives from the media.

The Kanoo family & Hideo with the 2015 Lexus RC Coupe

Nejad

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Ronny, Said, Fadhel, Nadeem & Shaheen

Khalid & Fawaz

Nawaf, Isa & Wasan

www.bahrainthismonth.com

downtime gadgets LULU HYPERMARKET

Great Gift Ideas

If you’re short on time and need a quick fix for a Christmas present, Lulu Hypermarket is ready to save the day with competitive offers on the latest products.

Haier 50-inch UHD LED TV

Xbox One Get ready for a new era of combat with the limited edition: Call of Duty Advance Warfare. Packed with a whopping one terabyte hard drive and sound effects, along with an EM1 quantum directed-energy weapon, it also includes a bullet brass exoskeleton.

This slimline TV has a frame only a few millimetres thick so it fits seamlessly into your room. It is as slender as a picture and easy to fix to a wall. A super cool feature is the AVL (Auto Volume Leveler) allowing people to enjoy watching TV programmes without those annoying volume fluctuations when switching channels.

Samsung 65-inch UHD TV

LG 49-inch UHD TV This LG TV is a technological triumph. It presents a whole new level of picture quality, boasting a resolution four times higher than Full HD. Naturally, it is incredibly vivid and crisp, even when viewed from close distances.

Samsung Gear S This watch has an elegant curve to it, where the screen clock faces can be customised to suit any trend and the changeable straps help express your own style. Enjoy rich views with a beautiful and easyto-use user interface which allows access to relevant information and notifications.

Above the excellent picture, accurate colour and great bright-room viewing qualities, the TV’s curve gives it a unique futuristic look. Its smart functionality comes with motion and voice control with a built in pop-up camera – it’s all in the detail with this one.

Sony 55-inch UHD TV Joining the ultra high definition club is this Sony UHD TV. Powered by TRILUMINOS display technology, true-to-life colours pop with stunning vibrancy. There's even a One-Flick remote boasting a shortcut menu to your favourite videos on YouTube and more.

Lulu Hypermarket can be found at Dana Mall, Hidd, Ramli Mall and East Riffa www.bahrainthismonth.com

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gadgets

Gadget Gifts Now that the festive season is officially upon us, it is totally acceptable to geek out on these gadgets — and fingers crossed they’ll be in your stocking this year!

Ballin’ Music Planning a trip to the desert and need some music without the hassle of wires and plugs (good luck finding one in the desert!)? The Philips SoundShooter SBT30 may look like a rugby ball, but it produces a beautiful sound from its grenade-like shape.

The built-in rechargeable battery lets you enjoy your music without the fuss of cords and the inconvenient search for an outlet.

Kaleidoscopic Kool These Helium T900 Speakers on their own are enough to get you in the festive spirit. Nowadays a gadget doesn’t just have one single function and these speakers are no exception. The ‘club’ feature is ultra cool where you can watch your music bounce in time with the music: lay the speaker flat and the animation rotates and pulses from the middle.

Wrist Action

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Although you’ll probably be enjoying the festive fare of the season, don’t forget to keep moving! The Misfit Flash is a wristworn fitness tracker, which measures your daily activity including your sleep levels. To monitor your progress the Misfit Flash syncs with your smartphone. The coin battery can last up to six months — now pound that pavement!

Our precious morning cuppa has just gotten better. The iKettle will make sure the water is ready for you every day in the morning and evening. With the built in Wi-Fi, you can start boiling your kettle from anywhere in the house. With the iKettle app, you will save up to two days a year pre-boiling your kettle!

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www.bahrainthismonth.com

Upright The Logitech Type S for Samsung Galaxy will keep your tablet snug and protected in this slim case. The built-in keyboard has well spaced keys and provides a fast, accurate and familiar experience. The dual-view stand caters to different activities from typing-to-reading. Position the tablet upright for typing emails and chatting or lay flat to read and browse in comfort.

Shell Shock How many times have you dropped your USB and had a mild heart attack at the thought of everything mashed up? Or spilt some coffee over it and lost everything? The LaCie Rugged Key is built to withstand accidental drops from heights far above what you'd encounter on your way to the office. Its rubber shell is 100-meter drop-resistant and bright orange — keeping those hazards at bay.

Electricity on Tap The way we use our phones on a daily basis regularly leaves us with 15 per cent battery life by midday. The quirky iTap Charger keeps electricity on tap for you (not quite literally) but nothing looks cooler than a faucet plugged into the wall! You can twist the valve to change the colour too — perhaps a suitable night-light?

Alien Invasion If you’re not known for being prompt, perhaps the Sci-Fi Watch won’t be the best thing for you because the time and date display are a little hidden. At first glance it appears to be a metallic bracelet but on closer inspection all the numbers are in place.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Super Selfie In the efforts to perfect our selfies, technology has come along with the Selfie Shutter to give us a helping hand — so that our arms don’t get in the way from now on! Simply place your phone in the desired position, arrange your shot, pose and click! It’s easy peasy to use and you don’t even have to download an app for it to work.

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Cutting the ceremonial cake

Inauguration of Moore Stephens International An inauguration ceremony was held in Bahrain for Moore Stephens International, one of the world’s major accounting and consulting companies. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s Under-Secretary Nader Khalil Almoayyed attended the event alongside the company’s top management.

Nader Almoayyed with Richard Moore, John Adcock & the delegates Jassim, Shantharam, Santosh & Madhu

Maryam, Mona & Maryam

Hameeda & Amira

Pooja & Saurabh

Ashish & Shobin

Dany, DJ Swing & Jaypee

Richard, Ahmed & John

Beena & Smrithy

Arun & Thomas

Mohandas, Majeed & Riyas

Nojad, Farouk & Shahid

The band

Party at Z Club & Lounge Z Club and Lounge at Pars International Hotel threw a bash with DJ Swing on the decks.

Jane & John

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Mimi & Udai

Ana & Roberto

Shaquna, Chantel & Dimitry

Party people!

www.bahrainthismonth.com

music

SEASONAL SERENADES As clichéd as it may be, December just doesn’t feel right without a good old-fashioned sing-song. From the classic to the contemporary renditions, these albums will add some festive flair to the atmosphere.

Holiday for Swing — Seth MacFarlane Rating: *****

Top Tracks: I’ll Be Home for Christmas and Moonlight in Vermont.

What’s the story?

This notoriously funny man has added yet another feather to his cap. The controversial Family Guy voice artist, actor, presenter and general clown lent his vocals for an all-round Christmas album packed with age-old favourites. It was on May 15 2014 that it was announced Seth had completed his first Christmas album and that it would be released in time for the 2014 holiday season. The album is the follow-up to MacFarlane's Grammy-nominated 2011 debut album Music Is Better Than Words. The album contains collaborations with artists including Norah Jones and Sara Bareilles.

Worth a listen?

There’s no two ways about it: Seth MacFarlane can really sing.

He’s got a brassy, old school quality to his vocals, which really works well with the Christmas vibe. He lets the notes linger — Frank Sinatra-style and his riffs compete with the saxophone. He’s not quite Broadway, not quite jazz, but he fits into the genre effortlessly. As you listen you find yourself in disbelief that this man, largely known for being crude, has a voice that can make you melt. If that isn’t enough to get you going, his duet with Norah Jones in Little Jack Frost Get Lost is like honey and butter on the softest bread.

THIS IS CHRISTMAS — KATHERINE JENKINS If you haven’t heard Katherine Jenkins before, prepare to be blown out of the water. She’s one of those singers with an unassumingly, terrifyingly, massive voice which doesn’t match her petite frame. The Welsh-born opera singer has really changed the face of opera over the years and given a young and fresh feel to a genre mainly associated with Pavarotti. True to style, Katherine sings the socks off a range of beautifully classic and biblical Christmas songs with a roof-raising orchestra. O Come O Come Emmanuel will make your hairs stand on end while Away In A Manger will bring back a flood of school choir memories. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Verdict: Dare we say it: it’s time to move on from Frank Sinatra (just this once). Enter Seth MacFarlane.

8 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS — DESTINY’S CHILD It had to be done. Back in the heyday of Destiny’s Child when the girls were putting themselves out left, right and centre, they also made a Christmas album. If you want a crossover paradise between hip-hop soul, smooth pop and a touch of festive frost, put this holiday album on and show off those Xmas moves. Little Drummer Boy featuring Solange is the epitome of throwing in a soulful twist to a classic — with a title like that, it was inevitable.

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS — DANNY ELFMAN Sometimes the best mood-setters come without lyrics. The classic holiday film owes much of its credit to the movie score created by the genius that is Danny Elfman. Of course you won’t find your typical tearjerker Christmas themes on this album but you’ll get a darker take on the festive season. If you loved the movie, the score as a stand-alone dimension will enhance your overall experience of it. The Christmas Eve Montage is sharp, sly and seductively good.

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games

CHRISTMAS GAME CHANGERS It’s the best time of year to unwind and catch up on all the new games on the scene. Get your gameplay on with our selection for this month.

Lords of the Fallen Rating: *** What Is It?:

Lords of the Fallen is a challenging Action RPG set in a medieval fantasy world ruled by a fallen god. Fighting against the formidable lords and generals that command his demonic army is the main feature of the game. Lords of the Fallen rewards skill and persistence among dedicated Action RPG fans.

Graphics:

The underground mazes are complex and you can get frustratingly lost.

The crypt and enemy fortress are made of samey hallways and chambers, and there’s no map to help, but the environment looks very nice — especially for its lighting. It’s a network of fantasy stonework buildings on top of fantasy stonework dungeons. That can only get so exciting to look at over time!

Watch Dogs: Bad Blood The reason to play Bad Blood is the new Street Sweep missions, which bring out and highlight the freeform style of play that gives this game its best moments. Street Sweeps retool and reuse some of Watch Dogs’ existing open-world side missions as repeatable challenges that encourage stealth. The missions’ puzzle segments are broken up with unavoidable combat. Bad Blood brings in a few cool additions, like hackable security cameras wired to gun turrets, that make some of the wave-based combat sections feel unique to Watch Dogs.

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Gameplay: The combat system consists

of many complex skills that join both weapon mastery and supernatural abilities combined with large numbers of weapons, armours and upgrades. A variety of items and gear can be found throughout re-exploration and investigating the game’s deep and intriguing secret areas. Lords of the Fallen is not a linear game or a sandbox/open world game, but something in the middle. Areas will be unlocked that can be tackled at any level, even if they are designed for more experienced players.

Screencheat Screencheat is a chaotic split-screen multiplayer shooter that forces players to rethink the way they approach conventional multiplayer games. In the Screencheat arena, fast reaction times aren’t enough to keep you alive. When everyone is invisible, players will have to master the art of taking a not-sosneaky look at their opponent’s screens and working out where they are based on uniquely-coloured areas of the map and distinctive landmarks.

VERDICT: The graphics are impressive, but there are a number of reported glitches and bugs.

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers — 20th Anniversary Edition The classic adventure game Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers celebrates its 20th anniversary in this remake by Pinkerton Road.

Fans of the series can enjoy this longremembered game with new high-definition 3D art, new voice performances for the game’s cast, and re-orchestrated music by original composer Robert Holmes. New players who are unfamiliar with the series can dive into the same engrossing story that made the original a lasting adventure, with a layered historical mystery, complex characters, a point and click interface, traditional adventure-style puzzles and a moody soundtrack. www.bahrainthismonth.com

websites

www.lazyboneuk.com Rating: *****

What Is It?

VERDICT: Rather than getting your loved ones something they’ll expect, why not surprise them with an inflatable animal?

Just a thought.

For all you last-minute Christmas shoppers, Lazybone has been created to save you from a disaster come Christmas morning! The products are marketed as unusual, weird and freaky for an alternative gift exchange. The people behind the website have said: “We like to think our product selection, although slightly weird, somewhat reflects the bizarre world in which we live.”

The Good:

The fact that the Cheshire, UK-based team deliver to Bahrain is good enough for us! You’ll find weird and wonderful things like: MorphSuits (who would want one; we don’t know what it is but it’s nice to know we have the option!), giant inflatables and unusual lighting items.

The Bad:

As ever with international delivery, you’ll have to wait seven to 11 days for your order to arrive in Bahrain. That said, Christmas shopping should be done at the start of December (if not earlier) so there’s no excuse for a late arrival!

www.threadless.com

This website is so fun. If you’re into quirky printed T-shirts, Threadless can custom-make any

kind of print you want. The Chicago-based company go by the mantra: “You are Threadless.

You make the ideas, you pick what we sell, you’re why we exist.” If you’ve been searching high and dry for your favourite movie quote or want to get a catchy phrase on a T-shirt, you can get exactly what you want down to the last thread.

The website is super catchy and cool too.

www.USBfever.com

While we’re on the subject of lifesaving online Christmas shopping, USB Fever will solve any work stationery issues you’re having.

Although our island does have all the necessaries for your technological needs, this website has those extras which you’re www.bahrainthismonth.com

always trying to find, like that mini HDMI adaptor and cable.

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apps

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT! We are so overwhelmingly saturated with news in the 21st century, it’s hard to know where to start. These apps have made it easier for you to get your dose of information in a straightforward and succinct way.

What Is It?

This is an essential ‘read it later’ app for those of you who want to read articles later in the day. Instapaper is the simplest way to save and store articles anywhere, anytime for both online and offline purposes.

The solid list of features includes 14 different font sizes, folders to store articles and ‘The Feature’ section which helps you find great articles which you may have otherwise missed.

The Good:

The bottom line is that Instapaper makes life a lot easier when you’re on the go. It has a no-nonsense layout with clear sections to suit any news junkie. The tilt-scrolling feature makes it more reader-friendly and adds more simplicity to the app, which genuinely has every article under the sun stored within its corpus. Yes, there is a $3.99 (BD1.500) fee to go with it for iOS users — but only if you want to upgrade to Instapaper Pro, entitling you to all archives and more typography and themes to choose from.

The Bad:

Surprisingly, there is no ‘add to reading list’ option — and, for such a forward-thinking app, it seems thoughtless. ‘The Feature’ section has a fair amount of duplicates which is confusing, especially as you try to cross-reference, but it’s nothing to worry about. Complaints have come in about its lack of supported apps (it mainly supports iOS and Mac apps) and the fact that you can’t save directly to the app from Safari.

INSTAPAPER

Verdict:

RATING: ****

It does exactly what it says on the tin.

SHORTS: Zinio

And now for the more leisurely, longer reads. Zinio has over 5,000+ digital magazines from all over the world. The app offers 116 December 2014

different subscription offers at discounted rates. The most popular option is the Z-Pass giving you three magazines for $5 (BD1.800). But don’t let that put you off; Zinio gives you access to free content too without any paid commitment. In addition to the three subscriptions, users can swap their selections three times each month, meaning subscribers can actually get six different publications per month. The design is uber sleek and easy to navigate on Android, PC, Mac, and Windows 8 devices.

Zite

Out of the three, Zite is the unsung hero of the group. The app is an intelligent magazine

that helps you discover interesting things to read. It sort of becomes your very own paperboy; Zite gets to learn what you like and gets smarter as you use it. Zite analyses millions of articles each day and brings you the best from your favourite magazines, newspapers, authors, blogs and videos. The free app was recently sold to Flipboard and has caused some controversy in that it doesn’t feel as personalised anymore, but it still sweeps up an average of four and a bit stars. www.bahrainthismonth.com

movies

BRAZILIAN PICANHA BEEF • CHICKEN PIRI-PIRI BACON WRAP • FILLET MIGNON • LEG OF LAMB & MANY MORE...

Exodus: Gods and Kings Rating: *****

VERDICT: Talk about tour de force — you’ll be gripped from start to end.

Directed By: Ridley Scott Starring: Christian Bale, Ben Kingsley and Sigourney Weaver

The Plot:

Exodus: Gods and Kings is the epic story of one man’s tireless pursuit to take on the might of an empire. The defiant leader Moses rises up against the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses, setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey to escape from Egypt and its notorious cycle of deadly plagues. Along the way, they face a series of seemingly unending challenges that have deadly consequences for some and life-changing revelations for others.

Worth Watching? With a host of biblical characters brought

to life in this Gladiator meets 300-style adventure, don’t expect a scene without swords and a lot of lung-power. As expected from a blockbuster film, the use of state-of-the-art visual effects and 3D immersion is done in true Hollywood style but critics are saying Ridley Scott has outdone himself and his contemporaries with this movie. Christian Bale proves once more that he is a worthy hero after showcasing his talent for evil characters elsewhere in his career. The costumes in particular are brimming with detail and, even if they’re not something you look for in a movie, we guarantee they will catch your attention.

PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR

DUMB AND DUMBER TWO

December wouldn’t feel festive without a wholesome family film for everyone to enjoy! A spin-off to the Madagascar film series and a follow-up to the events from Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, the characters of Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private are off on their own spy adventure thriller.

They’re all brought into the services of the North Wind, an elite undercover inter-species task force that is dedicated to helping animals who can’t help themselves. The penguins must work with the North Wind led by Classified to prevent Dr Octavius Brine from taking over the world. Listen out for Benedict Cumberbatch as Classified.

After 20 years from the original starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, the sequel is as dumb and perfectly funny as the first.

Although the time between the original and the sequel is spaced out, many elements from the first film make a surprise return — Petey the blind kid for one! The guys are back for another dimwit adventure in search for one of their long-lost children in the hope of gaining a new kidney.

Fans who have been treated to an exclusive preview have said the cinema erupted with laughter for the whole movie. As far as a sequel goes, this is promising!

www.bahrainthismonth.com

FOR RESERVATIONS & INFROMATION CALL 1782 6686 • www.brazilgrills.com Please inform us if there is a vegetarian in your group so we can prepare a unique recipe.

ADLIYA • KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN T +973 1726 2555 • www.bambubahrain.com

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DINING

PACKED WITH FLAVOUR ANKITA MAMGAIN This well known Indian franchise has a reputation for quality and is aiming to entice diners in Juffair with its warm ambience and flavourful fare.

The flavours of the Indian subcontinent have travelled far and wide, drawing acclaim from all over the world thanks to amazing aromas and sensational selection.

Despite the large number of Indian restaurants in the Kingdom, Lanterns is one brand that stands out and attracts a clientele as varied as the options on the menu. The franchise, which opened in 1986, already has three successful properties in Budaiya, Adliya and Durrat Al Bahrain and is hoping to tempt customers in Juffair.

Smaller in size, compared to its sibling outlets, this compact flavour factory inherits the brand’s eccentric spirit. Ochre walls, earthen pots and pans and the signature lanterns all add to the ambience. The bright green door in the corner takes you to a rural village in Punjab setting; a space that can be used for small private gatherings. In addition to authentic Indian fare, the venue serves Chinese food in a seperate section on the first floor. www.bahrainthismonth.com

The elaborate menu is indicative of the cuisine’s diversity and displays genuine creativity. From light bites to fiery grills, there are a number of surprises in store, even for seasoned Lanterns guest. The kebabs and tikkas are sure winners but when it comes to vegetarian food, there are few venues that can truly deliver; and Lanterns is one of them.

The veggie sampler is a great choice if you want to try a few quick bites. Tandoori stuffed mushrooms are an absolute delight for those who relish raw, unadulterated flavours. Not sullied with an overpowering marinade, the mushrooms carry the earthy aromas of a tandoor and are stuffed with a delicious spinach and cream cheese filling.

In addition to usual favourites like dal makhni, butter chicken and lamb korma, there are a number of new dishes on the menu such as lamb shank curry, chicken bharta and a slowroasted leg of lamb, the sikandari raan.

For diners who would want to try a few items

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but are unsure of the right combination or simply don’t have the appetite for three or four full portions, the curry bowls and platters are an ideal option. Choices include BBQ fish tikka with dal makhni and garlic naan, roasted cornish chicken, naan, salad and cumin potatoes, and prawn curry with rice, lentil wafers and picked veggies.

The roasted lamb shank and dry fruit pulao is a fantastic combination with flavoursome meat that just falls off the bone complimenting the basmati rice cooked with raisins and cashews.

Paneer makhni and gobhi mutter also pair together beautifully and can be enjoyed with fresh naan.

However, the crowning glory of a meal at Lanterns is the dessert, especially kesar kulfi falooda. Unique twists to the menu include chocolate gulab jamun and gajar halva.

The Juffair branch offers free home delivery as well so you can dine like a maharaja in the comfort of your home.

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dininghappenings

Attention Gourmands!

Festive grub is not the only highlight this month, December is loaded with a plethora of activities to keep island’s foodies jolly.

Chef Vineet Bhatia

bystander bystander

Celebrity chef Vineet Bhatia enters the Bahraini culinary scene with his signature fine dining venue at the Gulf Hotel. The sprawling ‘Rasoi by Vineet’ brings the Michelin Star chef’s finesse, eye for detail, innovation and hospitality ethos, deeply rooted in Indian culture, to the Kingdom.

A flag bearer for contemporary Indian gastronomy, Vineet excels in retaining the true flavours of home-cooked Indian food and presenting his dishes with impeccable style.

The restaurant’s decor is inspired by traditional elements and tastefully uses vibrant colours, imaginative artworks and crystals to create a dramatic ambience.

Salad Boutique, in Adliya’s block 338 has launched a new meal delivery service called “Office to Go”. Targeting office workers who want delicious, healthy food but do not have the time to prepare it, the restaurant presents high-quality meals with speedy service. This menu includes a wide variety of soups, appetisers, salads, pastas and sandwiches.

Mc Donald’s and Tabasco come together to deliver a fiery treat this month. McDonald’s customers can indulge in a mouth-watering stack of two quarter-pounder beef patties or a tasty grand chicken patty, topped with tangy pepperjack cheese, jalapeno peppers, shredded lettuce and onions layered on a fresh chilli bread roll. Each sandwich will feature a signature flavour of Tabasco sauce.

Baharat at Le Meridien Bahrain City Centre introduces a new brunch called Fizz Fare. Throughout December, the venue turns festive with an array of holiday-themed specialties. Enjoy seasonal classics from around the world while listening to the sounds of Felice Duo from Bulgaria.

Chris with guests

Lumee Street Café Opening Al Abraaj Restaurants Group launched Lumee Street Café at Al Aali Shopping Complex.

Inspired by Middle Eastern street food, Lumee Street Café captures the exciting food and experience of traditional street eateries in a buzzing, contemporary way.

The deli display

Shafeeka, Priya & Hamad

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Manoj & Marta

Hisham & Ali

The Lumee Street Café crew

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Come in. Sit down. Have a nice meal.

t +973 17311280 f +973 17311281 bldg.175 rd. 2608 adliya 326

Shoo Fee Ma Fee Restaurant

shoofeemafeerestaurant

bystander

Sam & Kylie

Tom & Sally

Hanadi & Jelena

Sylvia & Zapi

Anna & Sharon

Aitor & Loida

The Clansman Halloween Party The Clansman, considered the Scottish Embassy in Bahrain, held its annual Halloween party in Hamad Town.

Lauren, Clare, Stephen, Stuart & Papa

Simon & Anne

Sophia, Carmel & Michaela

John, Liz & Debbie

Stuart, Matt & Harnie

Merry Christmas

H A PP

Y NEW YEAR

5/12/14

as ing Chrreisetm ig l T ht

Christmas Brunch

25/12/14

CREATE SPECIAL MEMORIES WITH US THIS FESTIVE SEASON For more information call +973 17 535 000 or +973 39995142/5166/5181 www.bahrainthismonth.com

New Year’s Eve

2014/2015

BAHRAIN - HOTEL

GOLDENTULIPBAHRAIN.COM December 2014 123

dining

ENGIE’S RESTAURANT & CAFE

A Scrumptious Start This new boutique restaurant promises your taste buds a trip to Paris and is an ideal venue for anyone who enjoys honest, unpretentious and delicious food.

124 December 2014

Be it fashion, art or dining, the last word on anything that involves pleasing the senses has always belonged to the French; especially the Parisians.

Their cuisine, deep rooted in tradition, is beginning to flex its muscles and is undergoing a renaissance of sorts. The Kingdom’s residents are set for a taste of Parisian fusion cuisine at the recently opened Engie’s Restaurant and Café.

It’s often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and, judging from the plethora of options available, Engie’s agrees. Starting as early as 7.30am, the restaurant offers a wide range of breakfast items. The highlight of the menu is the elaborate Arabic-style breakfast. A far cry from the usual, this includes foul medammes, egg mimosa, home-made zatar bread served with olive pesto and grilled halloumi. Savour the slow-cooked lamb confit cigars with matbucha sauce, shakshuka with feta cheese, poached eggs and chicken madrouba; a regal start to the day indeed.

Their Viennoiserie, the likes of which they claim cannot be found anywhere else on the island, is something the restaurant is particularly proud of. The freshly-buttered croissants, Danish pastries and light and flaky pain au chocolat with a cup of Nespresso coffee, make good meals-on-the-go on busy mornings. When in a more relaxed mood, try carrousel, which is soft brioche stuffed with tomato, scrambled egg and herbs, or bang bang bread with spiced date and lamb confit, called plein d’énergie.

Sheer delight Located in the Seef Corner Mall, the restaurant offers an experience that is unique yet strangely familiar. The first thing that hits you as you enter is the sheer size of the place. Spread across two floors, the restaurant gets even bigger as you go up the stairs; it can seat 250 people. The venue effortlessly transforms from a romantic nook to a living room or an elaborate banquet; Engie’s really is a restaurant for all occasions. The combination of cosy interiors, attentive service and passionate French chefs makes way for a more relaxed haute cafe like setting.

The food is a fascinating combination of Parisian staples and global flavours. The menu includes an innovative take on favourites like pastas, risotto, salads, steaks and grills. An interesting item is Du Coté de Fez, which is chicken pastille filled with dates, chestnut crème and served with a strong raisin jus. You could also try perfume du vieux port, which is crayfish ravioli with saffron and clam mousseline. A must-try for the vegetarians is fraicheur du jardin - caramelised eggplant steak stuffed with curried cottage cheese, served with mashed potato, onions and minted yogurt. Do remember to save room for the desserts, especially crème brûlée and tiramisu; an absolute trip to heaven.

Call 17 580-028. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Start your day with...

Engie's Restaurant & CafĂŠ now serves Breakfast daily from 7:30am!

Come and start your day in a way that will make you jump out of your dreams and into our seats OPEN FROM 7.30 TO 00.00 AT SEEF CORNER 17580028

engiesrestaurant

bystander

John, Martin, Sarah, Floss & Cranby

Rowan & Michelle

Halloween @ Lalit Kapoor’s Lalit Kapoor threw a Halloween bash at his residence in Saar.

Kay, Mary, Lalit, Zain & Meg

Nitesh, Sanjeeth & Kiran

Shirley, Rowena & Omran

Vandana, Bobby & Natasha

Dev, Martin & Elisa

Jill, Gill, Hanna, Rebecca & Sarah

Lisa & Rob

Gail & Lalit

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Get complimentary nights with Marriott Executive Apartments Manama Bahrain when using promotional code PRO to book your hotel stay this winter.

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www.bahrainthismonth.com 11/24/2014 12:16:43 PM

bystander

Kamile, Clifton & Rayn

Jessica & Koka

Jayce, Ligish, Marco & Baju

Mariane & Ayza

Halloween at Mรถvenpick Hotel Bahrain Mรถvenpick Hotel Bahrain celebrated Halloween with a bash.

Abbie, Caz, Anneage, Alano & Adage

Kosala & Angie

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Anna, Tricia & Mariam

Claire, Jayce & James

Nawaf & Diana

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bystander

Paige Baker, Grand winner of The Vocalist 2014

The Vocalist 2014 Finals The Vocalist 2014’s final round took place at The Harvesters Pub and Terrace at Crowne Plaza Hotel. Paige Baker took home the title of The Vocalist 2014 with her powerful vocal performance.

The winners of The Vocalist 2014. Paige Baker, Grand Winner, Cheryl Sanchez, 1st Runner Up & Trixie Lamanero, 2nd Runner Up

Ehab, Caren & Christy

bystander Kat & Mic

Priya, Shiney & Mithi

Laetitia & Liz

Eyad & Stacey

Nahid & Dr Mohammed Farooq

Lisa & Nabil

Lucy & Ryan

Ana & Maria

Isra, Nawal & Christine

Shetty Family Diwali The Shetty family celebrated the festival of lights, Diwali, at their residence in Juffair.

Vijay, Vishruth, Viditha, Dheeptha & Shantharam

128 December 2014

Ashish, Asha, Shantharam & Dheeptha

Viditha, Dheeptha & Vishruth

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Abdy, Oliver & Isabelle

Roland & Maria

Olivier Briand Farewell Party Christiana hosted a farewell cocktail party for the outgoing Fraser Suites GM, Olivier Briand, at her “Mini Trader’s” residence in Saar.

Christiana, Hamed & Maxi

Lynn, Iris, Olivier, Lani & Jeanie

Claudia, Ernst & Hilda

Isa & Zeenat

Herve

Andrew & Andreas

Oliver & Marise

Anne

Daniel, Emily & Holly

Maria, Laurice & Luis

Julie & Sherry

Jessica & Jemma

Spooktacular at Bahrain School Bahrain School held its annual ‘Spooktacular’ Halloween party. The event was attended by more than 300 students, parents and teachers.

Leilani, Kenny, Kathy, Natalie & Mandy

Steve, Ally & Jean

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Gill, Grace & Chris

Kerry, Laura & Chris

Julia & Sophie

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FESTIVE FARE

Compliments of the Season There’s no chance of a white Christmas in Bahrain but the festive season is just as merry here as in any other part of the world.

So, brace yourself and get ready for yuletide revelry and a hearty selection of festive fare.

130 December 2014

Spend time with your loved ones this Christmas Eve and enjoy a delicious meal and seasonal celebrations at Al Safir restaurant at the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel.

The dinner buffet starts at 7.30pm and is priced at BD13.9++. The hotel’s popular Soie restaurant is inviting guests to savour a special set menu for BD14.900++ without and BD19.900++ with selected beverages.

Crowne Plaza Bahrain is hosting a Christmas lunch on December 25 and a festive brunch on Boxing Day at La Mosaique, Harvester Bar & Terrace and Cappuccino’s. The feast includes traditional favourites like roasted turkey with all the trimmings, fresh seafood and a variety of festive staples. It is priced at BD29++ including selected beverages, and BD15++ for kids aged from three to 10 years.

Drop in to La Med at Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa for a festive buffet on Christmas Eve. Priced at BD29 for adults, and half price for children aged from four to 12, the evening promises to be one to remember. There’s also a decadent five-course Christmas Eve dinner served at Plums for BD50++ per person.

Savour a five-course dinner on Christmas Eve at Mondo Restaurant at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa. Indulge in roast turkey roulade, grilled salmon pave and tempting desserts for BD25 per person. The hotel is also hosting Christmas and Boxing Day brunches at its rooftop venue, Al Fanar.

Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa is holding a grand buffet on Christmas Eve at its Lemon Tree restaurant. You can also try the festive offerings at Rialto and Rasoi served a la carte.

The 45-year-old Bahrain landmark Gulf Hotel aims to deliver seasonal cheer in signature style. Pop into Al Waha for a lavish festive spread for BD20++ or head to La Pergola or Fusions to enjoy the chefs’ special festive menu with a glass of sparkling wine for BD26++. The next day, return for an elaborate brunch, served in the lobby, or a sumptuous dinner at Al Waha for BD20++.

Take your family out for a relaxed Christmas brunch at Golden Tulip. There will be a selection of dishes with live cooking stations. It is priced at BD24++ for adults and BD12++ for children aged six to 12.

Celebrate this Christmas in regal splendour at Al Areen Palace & Spa. In addition to stay-over packages, the hotel is hosting a lavish Christmas Brunch at Rimal for BD16++.

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa is laying out a festive treat at Saraya Restaurant on Christmas Eve. The indulgent buffet will feature turkey and a selection of soft beverages and is priced at BD22. At La Mer, you can have a five-course dinner overlooking a breathtaking Arabian Gulf for BD34 per person. Drop in the following day for the Christmas Brunch, served at Saraya, Wok and Fiamma. Priced at BD42, it includes unlimed selected beverages.

Enjoy an elaborate, holiday-themed buffet, as part of the newly-launched ‘Fizz Fare’ brunch at Baharat at Le Meridien Bahrain City Centre for BD20 and BD30 with select beverages. The Westin Bahrain City Centre’s ‘Eat Well’ concept extends into seasonal celebrations at Saveur. On Christmas Eve there will be a festive buffet, featuring Foie Gras, smoked salmon, oysters, pumpkin, www.bahrainthismonth.com

Yule log, and of course, turkey. It is priced at BD16 per person.

Legendz Steakhouse at InterContinental Regency Hotel offers a fivecourse festive menu on December 24 and 25. It costs BD32, which includes traditional food and beverages.

The Elite Grande Hotel has something unique in store for Christmas Eve, a poolside barbecue at H2O. Along with smoky delights, enjoy live music for BD24 per couple. Children under 10 receive a complimentary treat.

La Brasserie at Elite Resort Hotel and Spa is hosting a candlelight dinner with a set festive menu. This relaxed evening is priced at BD15 per person and BD7 for kids.

On Christmas Eve, the hotel’s chefs have planned a lavish dinner buffet offering a range of traditional dishes for BD17++ per person, including selected beverages.

Enjoy Christmas with your family at The K Hotel. There will be a brunch featuring turkey with all the trimmings, from 12.30 to 4.00pm.

Ramada Hotel is aiming to impress this season with its recently revamped lobby. Dine at the hotel’s F&B venues for Christmas with a wide array of dishes on the menu.

The Domain Bahrain’s Level 34 not only offers spectacular views, it also presents a delightful number of options for the festive season. Le Domain [34] and Le Sauvage have turkey carving stations and will offer a number of Christmas favourites. Drop in for a Christmas Eve dinner for BD26++ and Christmas and Boxing Day for BD27++ each.

Celebrate Christmas Eve on the beach at Novotel Al Dana Resort where great food and a range of entertainment is in store for BD18 without and BD25 with selected beverages. The hotel serves an Arabic Christmas brunch for BD13 without and BD18 with selected beverages.

black truffle cannelloni, fennel sea bass and chicken, stuffed with dried fruits, apricots and prunes and homemade lemon sorbet for BD26++.

From Spain, head straight to Mexico at Casa Mexicana with a selection of spicy festive fare priced at BD18 without and BD25 with selected beverages.

For BD18++, take a culinary journey to Europe with Café Amsterdam’s festive menu, which features chicken liver and foie grass parfait, shepherd’s pie, Christmas pudding and white chocolate mousse with passion fruit and caramelised pistachios.

Café Italia in Adliya is serving up homemade Italian classics with a range of decadent desserts.

Head to Brazil Rodizio Grill & Lounge for some festive bites and a great time. Sample the holiday menu that features turkey on skewer from December 23 to 26 for BD16.200++.

American favourite, Ric’s Kountry Kitchen, is serving up a special lunch and dinner buffet for Christmas. Meanwhile,El Rancho Steakhouse & Cantina is aiming to entice diners with its selection of smoky fare.

Paul Café offers a number of canapés, mini-bites and special bread for the season in addition to three different kinds of Christmas cake. Those with a sweet tooth can visit Cake Boutique to try its range of festive favourites. The company can also deliver bespoke desserts for special occasions.

Boutique Bonhomie Add some rock and roll to the silent night at the Hard Rock Café. The venue has a special menu on December 24, 25 and 26 that includes turkey served with your choice of sauce, roast potatoes, pumpkin soup and a selection of desserts for BD8.5.

338 Garden Restaurant offers a set menu for Christmas Eve and a buffet for New Year’s Eve, both costing BD15++ each.

Have a Spanish ball at La Vinoteca with a luxurious meal that includes www.bahrainthismonth.com

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DIPLOMAT RADISSON BLU HOTEL, RESIDENCE & SPA

December Delights The warm hospitality and recently refurbished facilities of this iconic property are all set to dazzle you this festive season.

Create lasting memories this season at the Diplomat Radisson Blu, Hotel Residence & Spa. The hotel has a wide range of holiday promotions for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Start the merriment with the Christmas tree lighting on December 6 while enjoying holiday treats and singing carols. You can buy a gingerbread house for BD8 and the hotel provides complimentary goodies by Haribo, Nestle, Smarties and Tiffany biscuits to decorate it.

Festive fare The chefs have prepared a pre-Christmas Friday brunch buffet on December 19 at the rooftop venue, Al Fanar. Enjoy the weather, the view and a variety of traditional dishes for BD25; kids between six to 12 years get a 50 per cent discount and those younger eat for free.

Savour a five-course dinner on Christmas Eve at Mondo Restaurant. Booking early is recommended for this indulgent affair that serves you roast turkey roulade, grilled salmon pave and tempting desserts.

The buffet is priced at BD25 per person and starts at 7.30pm.

On Christmas and Boxing Day drop in at Al Fanar for a lavish brunch. Soak up the festive atmosphere with an elaborate spread laid out for just BD25 per person.

132 December 2014

Grown-ups can dance to the festive rhythms played by the resident band while the kids have a number of activities and attractions to keep them busy.

New Year’s Eve This is one racy affair you don’t want to miss. The last and the biggest party of the year has to be nothing less than spectacular and the Diplomat delivers just that. Ring in New Year’s Eve, Formula One style. If you missed out on the F1 party this year, here’s your chance to make up for it before 2014 comes to a close.

The night promises glitz, glamour and non-stop music by DJ Goldy Rise and the hotel’s in-house band, Black Notes. Take power pit stops which comprise lip-smacking delights and groovy cocktails. The buffet is a trip around the culinary world as the chefs bring you the best international cuisine. So, be sure to dress up and look sharp because there is no limit to the fun. Tickets are available at BD65 per person and include a buffet with selected beverages. Special room packages starting from BD45++ are available for the night.

Call +973 39945208 www.bahrainthismonth.com

THE GRAND PRIX NIGHT

NEW YEAR EVE PARTY

Wednesday, 31st December 2014 at 8:00pm Rev your engines & gear up Get 2015 off to a Grand Start!

Embark on an exacting journey around the world with an International buffet crafted by our professional chefs. enjoy a special guest performance by internationally renowned DJ Goldy Rise and party the last night of the year away with live music from the Black Notes Band.

Dressed code: Smart casual Prizes: Let us surprise you All above for BD 65 per person Early Bird - Book and pay for your seat by 30th of November for only BD 55 per person Room Package rates starting BD45++

diningfestivefare SHERATON HOTEL BAHRAIN

Seasonal Delights

As the Christmas jingles start being played and the New Year’s Eve calendar listing begins to fill up, it’s time to make plans to end 2014 on a high note and start 2015 in style.

The Sheraton Hotel Bahrain has a series of events in store this festive season. The fun begins on December 8 with the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in the presence of Father Christmas. The magical moment will feature carols and gifts for the little ones.

To accompany the holiday melodies, cookies and beverages will be served during the evening.

Christmas feast Spend Christmas Eve in the company of family and friends and enjoy your evening with a hand-picked menu and create precious memories. The hotel offers a buffet at Al Safir Restaurant from 7.30pm-11.30pm for just BD13.9++ per person. Children from four to 12 years old receive a 50 per cent discount and those below four eat free.

For a romantic escape, while away Christmas Eve at Soie Restaurant and enjoy a special set menu for BD 14.9++ per person or BD 19.9++ per person with the inclusion of selected beverages. If you prefer to take the hotel home, order the chef’s traditional turkey meal. Prices start from BD55 and a minimum of 24 hours’ booking is required.

The Christmas Day lunch promises an exciting selection as well. The culinary team puts together a variety of seasonal favourites to make yours a meal to remember. Roast turkey, tenderloin steak medallions and tempting desserts will get your taste buds tingling. If you miss the lunch fiesta, pop in for dinner, served at Al Safir Restaurant starting from 7.30pm-11.30pm. It is priced at 12.9++ for adults while

134 December 2014

children up to 12 years get a 50 per cent discount and children under four eat for free.

New Year’s bash Celebrate the last day of the year with family and friends at the Sheraton and welcome 2015 while savouring festive dishes and enjoying the live entertainment.

The New Year’s Eve dinner at Al Safir Restaurant is priced at BD22++ per person and children from four to twelve get a 50 per cent discount and children under four eat for free. To start the New Year off on the right foot, have lunch at Al Safir Restaurant. Roast chicken and turkey with lots of trimmings, grills, live cooking station, salads, cheese corner and desserts will be waiting for you. The New Year’s Day lunch starts from 12.30pm and goes to 3.30pm and is priced at BD13.9++ for adults while children from four to 12 pay half and children under four eat for free.

For couples, the hotel offers a special set menu at Soie Restaurant for just BD16.9 per person or BD21.9 including selected beverages.

Make Sheraton Bahrain Hotel, your home for the holidays with special rates starting from BD82++. One of the most popular hotels in the region, Sheraton Bahrain was awarded Bahrain’s Leading Business Hotel, 2014 at World Travel Awards and Best Business Hotel in Manama, 2014 at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards. Find out more about the festive packages at www.sheratonbahrain.com.

Call 17 533-533. www.bahrainthismonth.com

dining CAMELOT RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

‘Tis the Season to be Jolly

This castle in the centre of Adliya is dishing up world-class culinary creations to help you celebrate Christmas in a medieval setting.

This time of year calls for celebration and if you’re looking for something special, why not escape to Camelot Restaurant & Lounge, a quaint chateau tucked away in the heart of Adliya’s culinary district. This unique venue features contemporary finesse with an “olde worlde” charm.

On Christmas Eve, enjoy a five-course meal that combines tradition and creativity. “Christmas is a special time for us and we want to

136 December 2014

give our guests an experience that has the exuberance of the season, the elegance of fine dining and the warmth of tradition,” says Anna Roadilla, assistant restaurant manager.

Enjoy this delicious feast with mulled wine and a bottle of red or white wine for only BD40++ per couple. The restaurant is also holding a sumptuous Boxing Day brunch. Nathalie Karlsson adds to the atmosphere with holiday melodies on both days and kids get free gifts from Santa Claus along with a special menu.

A treat for all senses, Camelot is a fine-dining venue that has a fresh take on retro designs and has a comfortable energy that makes you feel

at home. The outstanding menu, put together by chef Rabin Rajendran, appeals to both experienced foodies and casual diners alike.

“Our philosophy is simple: great food, great wine and great atmosphere. This is what we try to deliver consistently to our customers,” says Anna.

The dishes on the menu are perfectly complemented by the restaurant’s ever-evolving wine list that features carefully selected labels and a number of exclusives, found only at Camelot.

Through the week The restaurant hosts themed events throughout the week, offering something new each night.

On Mondays, you can enjoy unlimited moules et frites (mussels and hand-cut fries) for BD14 per person. For an extra BD8, you get unlimited selected beverages and fries. Tuesdays are when you embrace the grape in all its splendour and taste varieties from around the world at The Grape Escape. This event has been running for almost a decade and is the only dedicated weekly wine tasting on the island. The event has developed a cult following among the island’s wine and cheese enthusiasts.

Every Wednesday, ladies get three free cocktails from 7pm to 10pm at the Nuits des Mademoiselles. Expect free gifts and a raffle draw with glamorous giveaways.

Nathalie Karlsson takes the stage Monday to Friday to serenade you softly as you sample some tapas and bar bites a la carte.

Every Sunday there’s the Sangria vs Tapas night, dedicated to Spanish food, music and culture. On offer is an unlimited antipasti tapas buffet and Sangria, and live entertainment from 8pm until midnight.

Call 17 717-745 or 39 977-540.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

LA VINOTECA BARCELONA

Cheerful Fiesta La Vinoteca Barcelona takes you to the heart of Spain this holiday season. Known for its vibrant celebrations, good food and great hospitality, arguably, no other country does it better!

A TIME TO

CELEBRATE

A Spanish eatery located in Adliya’s culinary district, La Vinoteca Barcelona promises guests an exciting end to the year.

The restaurant captures the invigorating life of the city it’s themed after, so expect pure flavours and uninhibited energy.

Their chefs offer carefully prepared festive menus throughout the month for groups and families. Be it sit-down meals, a tapas-style feast or gourmet canapés, you can select the perfect option for your party. If the set menu doesn’t work for you, pick a la carte from the restaurant’s eclectic range of dishes.

The Christmas meal is all about tradition and consists of Escudella soup, made from beef, chicken and fresh vegetables, and is served with ‘galets’ and meatballs. The main course includes black truffle cannelloni, fennel seabass and chicken, stuffed with dried fruits, apricots and prunes. End your meal with homemade lemon sorbet or the ‘Christmas tasting plate’ which consists of turrón, marzipan, polvorón and neulas.

Priced at BD26++, it includes soft drinks and water.

Welcome the New Year with the restaurant’s selection of tapas. Options include manchego cheese lollypops, marinated olives, smoked crispy almonds and homemade artisan bread with dips.

There’s plenty more to share with friends whether it is tomato salad, wagyu cecina, white asparagus, flamenquin, pan-fried foie gras or stuffed calamari, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The main courses consist of slow-roasted wagyu beef cheeks and, at the end of the meal, there’s a dessert spread you won’t be able to resist.

Call 17 007-808.

Seasonal Menus through the festive season 25th December Lunch & Dinner (take away available) Outside catering service available Opp. Gulf Hotel, Adliya | Tel: 17007404, 32000177 www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 137

bystander

Amal, Dr Hala, Razan & Fowzia

‘This is Bahrain’ in Berlin Having conquered London earlier this year, the ‘This is Bahrain’ group made their second sojourn out to a world capital recently, choosing Berlin this time. Peace, harmony and love of all faiths, nationalities and cultures as tolerated in Bahrain is their message.

Next stop is reportedly Brussels.

Ambassador Ebrahim Al Mahmood, Mariam & Dr Hala

Shastri Vijayakumar Mukkiya

Geg

Yousif

Mariam & Dr Hala

Fowzia & Ameena

Dr Zakaria & Father Ding

Julie & Joy

Dr Osama & Ahdeya

International Mushaira & Kavi Sammelan Sir Syed Educational & Cultural Society organised the International Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan in the Cultural Hall of the Bahrain National Museum.

Ayoub, Khalid & Iqrar

138 December 2014

Ahmed

Muhammed

Ranjana & Kishore

Izhar

Sajjad

Raveena & Kajal

www.bahrainthismonth.com

diningfestivefare

THE K HOTEL

Celebrate in Style With its world class dining venues and a host of entertainment, this Juffair landmark promises an exhilarating end to the year.

The air is abuzz with festivity and the islanders will not settle for any thing less than spectacular for the year-end carnival. The K Hotel is ready in its festive attire and meets this demand in style.

The hotel’s lobby is decorated for the festive season and includes a heavily-ornamented Christmas tree and a gingerbread house, created by the hotel’s culinary team. Follow the enticing aromas to Klouds restaurant, where many more such treats await you.

On December 1, join in for a cheerful evening and enjoy traditional beverages, Christmas cookies and carol singing, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, as the glorious Christmas tree fills the lobby with pine fragrance.

Festive offerings For Christmas Eve the hotel’s chefs have created a lavish dinner buffet that includes a range of traditional dishes for BD17++ per person, including a number of selected beverages.

Celebrate Christmas together with your family at a delicious Brunch with local and international dishes such as mouth-watering turkey with all the trimmings and delightful desserts, from 12.30pm to 4pm. The duo, Pop Sonrisa, will take care of the entertainment and there are surprise gifts for all the guests.

In addition to this, the hotel offers a special K Christmas package for residents. Available from

140 December 2014

December 20 to 25 and priced at BD65++ per room, this includes daily breakfast for two at Klouds and late check-out until 4.00pm.

Bring in the New Year Welcome 2015 with The K Hotel’s, New Year’s Eve party that starts from 9pm. A wide variety of with canapés, tapas, snacks and sweets temptations at the K Lounge brings this year to a magnificent end.

Live entertainment is provided by in-house band Pop Sonrisa and as the night progresses DJ Neil takes over. Priced at BD15++ per person, it includes a welcome drink and a New Year’s Eve toast at midnight.

For those who wish to stay overnight, the hotel offers a special package that includes room with breakfast for two at Klouds restaurant, for BD65++ per night. If you are one of the first four to book, you will be entitled to a complimentary room upgrade.

When booking a room at the hotel, you can enjoy a 20 per cent discount on the New Year’s Eve buffet. If a two-night stay or additional nights are booked, best available rates apply. In case of any cancellation, do remember to give at least seven days’ notice to avoid a one night cancellation charge.

Call 17 360-000 or email reservations@thekhotel.com www.bahrainthismonth.com

diningfestivefare

SOFITEL BAHRAIN ZALLAQ THALLASA SEA & SPA

Celebrate the Season Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thallasa Sea & Spa is going all-out this festive season to bring magnifique Christmas and New Year celebrations to the island.

142 December 2014

Preparations are underway for what could easily be the events of the year at Sofitel Bahrain. The celebrations feature an exciting line-up of food, drink and spectacular entertainment.

The hotel is celebrating Christmas and the New Year’s Eve in style with cuisine from around the world and remarkable musical performances. Things kick off with a Christmas tree lighting and carolling event on December 11 at 6pm. There are scrumptious Christmas Eve dinners on December 24 at Sofitel’s various restaurants.

Indulge in a lavish Christmas Eve dinner buffet with turkey and a selection of soft beverages for BD22 per person at Saraya Restaurant from 7pm to 10.30pm.

Soak in the breathtaking view of the Arabian Gulf at La Mer Seafood Restaurant while enjoying a fivecourse set menu for BD34 per person including a bottle of wine per table from 7 to 11pm.

Christmas brunch on December 25 from 12.30pm to 4pm will offer a unique selection of cuisine, spread over three restaurants - Saraya Restaurant serving international fare, Wok with South East Asian offerings and Fiamma Restaurant dishing up authentic Italian delights. There is a kids’ corner providimng various activities, babysitters are on-hand and live entertainment from the resident Cuban band is sure to keep you dancing. Brunch is priced at BD42 per person inclusive of unlimited selected beverages.

Finally, get ready for one of the most glamorous

events on the island as Sofitel brings Paris to Manama in a glitzy affair of feathers and traditional French cancan for New Year’s Eve. Guests will be entertained by a Parisian cabaret group, consisting of eight dancers from the most famous music halls and prestigious stages of the world. Enjoy dinner in a virtual Paris as the group, renowned for its spectacular performances, puts on an authentic and colourful show.

Tickets are priced at BD75 per person inclusive of selected alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Doors open at 8pm and the dress code is formal.

Sofitel has also designed a special early bird room package that costs BD199 for two people. It includes one night’s stay in a luxury room, two tickets for the New Year’s from Paris to Manama dinner party on New Year’s Eve and breakfast on New Year’s Day. Availability of this package is limited and guests are advised to book early as the prices will change.

For a more Middle Eastern experience on New Year’s Eve, head down to Pashawat Arabic Restaurant. It is offering a set menu inclusive of selected alcoholic drinks, including arak and nonalcoholic beverages as well as live Arabic entertainment and a belly dancing performance. The event is for couples and families only and it runs from 8pm to 2am. There is a formal dress code. Tickets are priced at BD75 per person.

Call 17 636-363 or email H6722@sofitel.com. www.bahrainthismonth.com

diningfestivefare

CAKE BOUTIQUE

Sweet Splendour This delightful dessert corner is all set with a dreamy collection of sweet treats for the festive season ahead.

144 December 2014

Someone once said that the “smell of fresh bread baking is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight”. You might not have the aroma of fresh bread filling your home, but the sight of a dense, dark Christmas cake is all it takes to unleash the child within and remind you that the holidays have arrived.

Offering a novel and innovative take on sweet treats is Cake Boutique at Seef Corner Mall. From gourmet cookies and cupcakes to showstopper arrangements, this patisserie brings traditional Christmas flavours to your table.

Impress your family and friends this season, be it at a gathering at your place or as a gift. “Our detailed designs and delicious recipes set us apart from the rest,” says Nadia Zuchelli, Cake Boutique’s head chef.

The store is almost as appetising as the products themselves with decorated cakes, cake pops, cupcakes, éclairs, dessert pots and many more desserts on display.

The display includes elegant layered cakes and scrumptious Christmas cake rolls to creamy cheesecakes and tartes, macroons and meringues.

Gingerbread houses and cookies are also a specialty at Cake Boutique and you can pass by the store to see these Christmas items being made in the semi-open kitchen. The store will be hosting a gingerbread decorating event for kids, giving youngster the chance to prepare their own gingerbread house for the holidays.

Sweets and more Cake Boutique is not just a bakery; it’s a perfect venue for breakfast, or meeting friends for fresh juices. “Our wide range of Viennoiserie, especially the croissants and flaky pastries are delicious and particularly popular with those who want a quick bite on the go,” adds Nadia.

In addition to offering bespoke cake designs to suit any occasion, they also offer desserts for special occasions and corporate events. “From soirees to intimate parties, we will provide a cake to match,” says Nadia. “Our semi-open kitchen shares all the magic and joyfulness of designing cakes by allowing you to see us decorate each masterpiece.”

Cake Boutique comprises a team of professionals who are up to speed on the latest techniques and innovations in the art of pastry making. “At Cake Boutique we love a challenge and welcome special requests,” Nadia adds.

Call 17 552-253. www.bahrainthismonth.com

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diningfestivefare

GULF HOTEL

A New Year State of Mind As the Kingdom prepares to ring in the New Year, this landmark fivestar property pulls out all the stops to give a resounding welcome to 2015.

The Gulf Hotel offers a variety of celebrations to savour and enjoy during the festive season. Witness the lobby turn into a winter wonderland on December 4 as a decked out Christmas tree goes up. Adding to the cheer are traditional beverages, cookies and the hotel’s choir singing carols.

The hotel is set to help you have a hassle-free holiday, with its famous F&B venues serving festive fare and the banqueting team ready to arrange a location of your choice for your party.

Café Delices is ready with festive goodies such as the traditional Yule log, mince pies, Christmas cookies, gingerbread and cakes. This year, kids can even hang their wishes on the Festive Wish Wall and get a chance to receive gifts from Santa.

Festive Fare Those who wish to celebrate the day without the hassle of washing dishes after the family feast, drop in for an elaborate festive spread at Al Waha for BD20++ per person.

You can head to La Pergola or Fusions to enjoy the chefs’ special festive menu together with your family.

This comes at BD26++ with a glass of sparkling wine.

The next day wake up to presents at home and then a generous Christmas brunch served at the hotel lobby.

Priced at BD25.500++ per person and BD18.500++ with non-alcoholic beverages the afternoon is full of holiday cheer, a visit from Santa, gifts, games, face painting and plenty of gourmet bites. If you are planning a lazy day at home, then drop in for the Christmas dinner at Al Waha in the evening. This elaborate spread is priced at BD20++. For all events children between six to 12 years get a 50 per cent discount and there’s no charge for

146 December 2014

those under six.

Enjoy the Boxing Day brunch for BD10 at Sherlock Holmes. If you remember to bring along your Yule jumper, too, you get a free festive berverage.

New Year’s Eve Usher in 2015 at any of the hotel’s eight dining venues.

Al Waha features an exquisite buffet, priced at BD33++ per person, extended throughout the lobby with several live cooking stations. Celebrate the evening with Arabic tunes and some time-honoured recipes from the region. Indulge in an intimate experience at Royal Thai with a private table for two at the rooftop and a fourcourse menu for BD50++.

Other venues in the hotel such as Fusions, Margarita Mexicana, La Pergola, Sato, Takht Jamsheed and Rasoi

by Vineet offer a remarkable dining experience as well.

Plan a special rendezvous at Zahle, with live entertainment and Lebanese cuisine priced at BD66++, including selected beverages.

On New Year’s Day, recover from your night out at lobby brunch. Priced at BD25.500++ per person, this buffet is all that you need for a great start to 2015.

With Gulf Hotel’s Prestige Club membership you can enjoy great discounts on room rates and dining benefits. The membership entitles you to a reduction on the total food bill excluding service charge, tax and gratuities in all food and beverage venues.

Call 17 746-404. www.bahrainthismonth.com

diningfestivefare

THE DOMAIN BAHRAIN

Boutique Bliss The holiday season certainly brings out the best in the island’s F&B venues. Here’s a look at what this stylish hotel has to offer.

Kick off the season at The Domain Bahrain with the traditional lighting of the Christmas tree at Domain Prive, located on the scenic 36th floor of the hotel.

Soak in the festivities with mulled wine, mince pies, Yule logs, gingerbread men and The Domain Carollers who fill the air with holiday melodies.

Figs & Olives: Be it a Christmas takeaway or traditional high tea, at Figs & Olives your favourite goodies are always on offer. You can also enjoy a delicious three-course meal on December 24, 25 and 26 for BD16++ which includes a glass of grape or a mocktail. On New Year’s Eve the feast gets even more decadent as you enjoy a glass of bubbly with the spread for BD17++.

Level 34: Famous for brunches, Le Domain [34] and Le Sauvage add a traditional touch to their menu. In addition to a turkey carving station, find a number of Christmas favourites, the finest selected beverages and, of course, spectacular views. All this and a live band guarantee a great time on Christmas and Boxing Day for BD27++. The Christmas Eve dinner, a traditional fourcourse menu and a glass of bubbly is priced at BD 26++.

Free flowing grape and bubbly give a spirited start to the new year at the restaurant. Enjoy a fabulous

148 December 2014

brunch with great music and entertainment, starting at BD35++.

IMARI: Chef Riichiro has prepared a special sixcourse Kaiseki menu that surprises you with unique flavours and textures for December 24, 25 and 26.

Spend the holidays with these gourmet preparations and a guest saxophonist who infuses the atmosphere with timeless melodies. Priced at BD22++ the menu is available on December 24, 25 and 26.

On New Year’s Eve, a seven-course kaiseki feast awaits you for BD58++. Those looking to party all night with great music, can also book a room in IMARI’s Lounge.

Txoko: Undoubtedly one of the best partying venues in Bahrain, Txoko offers unlimited select beverages and bubbly on December 24, 25 and 26 for BD25++.

The year’s biggest party at the chic sky lounge, on December 31, includes great food, non-stop music and free flowing-spirits for BD40 ++.

In addition to the celebrations at its F&B venues the hotel offers attractive packages on the room rates, starting at BD45++. This festive season do give ‘work’ a break, and ‘stay and play’ at this plush property in the heart of the city.

Call 16 000-000. www.bahrainthismonth.com

HARD ROCK CAFÉ

A Rocking Time

Come as you are to celebrate a not so silent night on New Year’s Eve with some smoking hot southern fare and great entertainment.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Expectations are always high when it comes to the Hard Rock Café. Bracing itself for the upcoming holidays, it presents authentic American grub with a global flair. The highlight for holiday diners is the menu created for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The festive spread on December 24, 25 and 26 comprises of roast turkey served with your choice of cranberry sauce or special gravy and roast potatoes, pumpkin soup and a selection of desserts. Savour this feast for

BD8.5 with your favourite drinks and music. Usher in the New Year with the resident DJ and Hard Rock Café’s band. There’s a lavish buffet that includes assorted sushi, honey citrus salad, steak in soy and lemon, seafood thermidor, lasagne, Chinese style chicken, and many other international dishes. Party the night away for BD30++.

Founded in 1971, Hard Rock Café is today a worldwide franchise that brings fans closer to music, artists and original memorabilia over great food and drinks. The cafes boast authentic merchandise that reflects the spirit of the city they are in.

At Hard Rock Café Bahrain you can enjoy live music and great food. Some of the hot favourites include chicken wings in tangy barbecue sauces served with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing, quesadillas or haystack chicken salad. Another popular dish is the Legendary Burger, a 280 gram beef patty that is grilled, seasoned and topped with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, a golden fried onion ring, crisp lettuce and vine ripened tomato.

Call 17 291-569.

December 2014 149

bystander

Christian, Kathryn & Stan

Sandra, Liliane & Sheryl

Mariana, Carlos & Hana

Khalid, Nabeela & Marise

The Spartan’s Party The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa organised a client appreciation party with a Greek/Spartan theme, called The Spartan’s Party. It was held at the Overlook Patio.

Momo, Paul & Steven

Lisa & Savi

Kaoutar & Ahmed

Cedric & Jocelyn

Willow & Sandhya

Hannah & Cyriel

Christian & Gregory

Maryam & Shereen

Karen & Sally

Beatrice & Kaoutar

Abby & Georgina

Mohammed, Sophian, Jocelyn & Ameen

Sanjeev, Tamara & Aravind

150 December 2014

Reem, Yusra, Zaher & Lulwa

Noor, Bader, Ned & Tassos

Dale & Kiran

Ahmed, Mohammed & Sujay

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Italiana & Jagath

Marlon & Peter

Nicolas & Colin

Kate & Mandy

Master Chef Season 2 at Cucina Italiana The award-winning restaurant in Juffair hosted the second edition of its popular cooking competition, Master Chef.

Contestants pick out their ingredients

Jay Pee, Rose & Ranjith

Yousef

Pauline

Yvonne

Carolyn

Almav, Michella & Walaa

Smoking & non smoking area available

Whether you're looking for a trendy spot to dine with friends or a romantic date night, you'll be sure to find a bit of everything you're looking for at Cafe Italia.

Our award-winning restaurant prides itself in serving authentic Italian cuisine; Beech wood-fired Neapolitan Pizzas along with an extensive variety of the finest beverages.

Seef Mall : 17582823 Adliya : 17 744 774 facebook.com/CafeItaliaAdliya @cafeitaliaBH www.alialsharif.com www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 151

diningfestivefare CROWNE PLAZA BAHRAIN

Let’s Celebrate

Crowne Plaza Bahrain has a reputation for pulling out all the stops during the holidays.

This year, the five-star property has put together a series of events, promising guests a great time.

Start the celebrations on December 4 with a tree lighting ceremony in the lobby. The evening starts at 7pm and promises traditional beverages, cookies and carols.

152 December 2014

Festive Fare A decadent surprise awaits you at Crowne Plaza’s Christmas lunch on December 25 and a festive brunch the next day on the 26th at La Mosaique, Harvester Bar & Terrace and Cappuccino’s. Roast turkey with all the trimmings, fresh seafood, a variety of festive staples and live cooking stations;

there is something for everybody. Kids enjoy a special buffet and receive gifts from Santa; live band provides entertainment for all. Priced at BD29++, which includes selected beverages, and BD 15++ for kids between three to 10 years, the lunch runs from 12.30pm to 4pm.

New Year’s Eve Enter a Caribbean haven this New Year’s Eve as the hotel invites you for a tropical treat at Bahrain Conference Centre. The bright and boisterous celebration starts at 8pm and includes the hotel’s finest food and live entertainment. This ‘all you can eat’ affair is priced at BD70. The theme extends to Harvesters Bar & Terrace, so count down to the New Year with cocktails, great food, groovy mixes and your best buddies around you.

For a more relaxed evening, head to Waves for delicious seafood and drinks for BD19.950++.

Desi folk can head to Spices restaurant for traditional Indian fare and latest Bollywood numbers to dance to all night, priced at BD9.950++. There are special room packages that include a ticket to the Caribbean gala, a night’s stay for a couple and breakfast for BD215.

Call 17 531-122.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Ritzy Festive Season

Add an extra bit of sparkle this festive season and celebrate in style as The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa brings you top-notch events to enjoy with the entire family.

‘Tis the season to be jolly! Share and spread the festive cheer with panache as one of the most prestigious properties on the island, The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, plays hosts to various celebrations this season.

The month kicks off with the hotel’s traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony and gingerbread house opening on December 1 at the hotel lobby, from 6pm.

Freshly-baked Christmas cookies and hot beverages will be served to celebrate the occasion.

Children are in for a treat as they are invited to a Teddy Bear Afternoon Tea on December 18 at the Boulevard Lounge, from 3pm to 5pm. Children can donate their old teddy bears to charity while enjoying a child-friendly afternoon tea, priced at BD10++.

There will also be a special play area in Al Ghazal ballroom with magicians and clowns set up for children. The brunch is priced at BD38++ per person including house beverages and it is half price for children between four to 12 years.

The much-awaited Christmas Day brunch is a festive celebration of culinary delights that will be held on December 25 at the hotel’s Grand Foyer from 12.30pm to 4.30pm. The brunch features a collaborative effort by the hotel’s chefs, showcasing many of their most fabulous creations, from cooking and carving corners, to a large seafood and prime rib station. There will also be live entertainment. A special play area in Al Ghazal ballroom with magicians and clowns will be set up for children. The brunch is priced at BD38++ per person including house beverages and it is half price for children between four to 12 years.

End the year with one of the most spectacular soirees on the island with the Puttin on The Ritz Show on December 31, at the Al Noor Ballroom from 9pm to 2am.

Spend the night with your family and friends hosted by our Belle Epoque hostesses; enjoy a preliminary reception in the Grand Foyer hosted by the jazz trio Zazous, then experience a stunning show

by The Daily Specials band accompanied by our flapper dancers, to make you dance the night away until – and after - the count down together into the New Year. The dress code is smart casual and tickets are priced at BD118.875++ per person including dinner, a show and midnight bubbly toast.

Start 2015 fresh with a hearty New Year’s Day brunch on January 1at La Med, from 12.30pm to 4.30pm. It is priced at BD29 per person including house beverages and is half price for children aged four to 12 years. Make the most of the festive season by enjoying the best celebrations at the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa.

For advance reservations, email rc.bahrz.restaurant.reservations@ritzcarlton.com, call 17 586-499, or visit ritzcarlton.com/bahrain.

dining BRAZIL GRILL

Simply Delicious!

One of the Kingdom’s best loved restaurants is offering diners the chance to indulge in an unforgettable festive feast this season.

Brazil Grill is an authentic, Brazilian style steakhouse and the concept is simple, you get more – more of everything; fantastic food, sublime service and unparalleled atmosphere.

bystander bystander

Once seated, your Brazilian style dining experience begins. Guests are given the chance to relax and enjoy one of their favourite cocktails, or to head straight over to the salad

bar and choose from the wide selection of salads and side dishes.

The experience begins as the dedicated passadors (carvers) move from table to table, offering select cuts of beef, lamb, prawns, chicken and sausages, all slow-roasted over a charcoal barbeque and expertly carved at the table.

To further accompany this feast, dishes such as potato wedges, fried banana and artisan cheese breads are served to your table for you to enjoy.

Visit the Kingdom’s best-kept secret for a dining experience that dates back hundreds of years to the cowboys of Southern Brazil. Times may have changed, but the food, service and hospitality are something they’d be proud of.

This year Brazil Grill is hosting special festive lunches and dinners from December 23 to 26 and is also offering a real carnival atmosphere with a live band.

The extensive array of fantastic barbecued meats will be expanded to include hand-carved roast turkey to celebrate the festive season.

There will also be a fresh, expanded salad bar and special desserts.

Brazil Grill looks forward to making your experience one never to be forgotten.

Call 17 826-686.

Stuart & Clare

Bridget Lindsay & HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador to Bahrain

Mick & Elaine

Lorraine & Derek

Bahrain Caledonian Society Party The Bahrain Caledonian Society organised a party for its members at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa. The celebration was attended by HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador to Bahrain.

Michael, Colin, Chris & MJ

Barney, Maurie & Mary

154 December 2014

Melissa, Russ, Rejoy & Kris

Carrie & John

www.bahrainthismonth.com

AFTER DARK

SONIC TRANSCENDENCE ANKITA MAMGAIN One of the founding fathers of the techno scene is bringing his skills to the Kingdom this month and is aiming to get the party started.

O

ne of Detroit’s most prominent musical progenies is coming to Bahrain to give fans a taste of his eclectic musical style. Considered to be a pioneer of electronic music, Derrick May is nothing less than a living legend. Here’s your chance to enjoy his music live on December 5, at Mezzaluna in Adliya.

May’s brand of skeletal, melancholy style gained him the nickname of ‘the Miles Davis of techno’. He introduced both a psychological element and a futuristic vision to dance music.

Along with his high-school mates, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, he began experimenting with electronic sounds early in life.

The new rhythm and sound was unheard of at the time and the possibilities seemed infinite.

He sponsored the single Let’s Go by X-Ray, which introduced the electronic figures of techno to Detroit nightclubs. Then came the www.bahrainthismonth.com

Nude Photo, recorded under his Transmat label in 1987 and credited to Rhythim Is Rhythim. This record is considered by some to be a key element that brought the techno revolution worldwide. The tracks contain a strong melody, sub-aquatic bass lines, jazzy hi-hats and liquid synthesisers that made it an instant underground classic. The success of this album was followed with Strings Of Life, which was released the same year and is considered by many as his biggest masterpiece. Transmat soon became a reference point for an infant, but rapidly growing, Detroit electronic scene.

Derrick is responsible for an armada of influential tunes that mix the industrial melancholy of Detroit with the romantic futurism of the times he grew up in.

Drop in for an exhilarating time at Mezzaluna, a venue known for being one of the wackiest after hours hotspots in town. The

ALSO THIS MONTH: 156 AFTER DARK HAPPENINGS 158 NYE PARTIES

venue sheds the garb of a quiet, romantic space and turns into a party haven at night with a large dance floor and walls that come alive with visual projection.

For the love of music Derrick comes to Bahrain as part of the Red Bull Music Academy for the Bahrain Music Conference (BMC). Only a year old, BMC has become one of the most anticipated events on the Kingdom’s calendar. The three-day conference aims to inspire budding musicians and to act as a catalyst for collaboration of regional talent.

Derrick May collaborates with BMC as a member of Red Bull Academy of Music; a group of producers, vocalists, DJs, instrumentalists and all-round musical mavericks from around the world who come together at a new location each year.

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City Soundcheck

When? December 4 Event? Trans Nation Three.Point.Zero Venue? Txoko, The Domain Bahrain Enjoy trance music by three international DJs. E Call 16 000-222.

When? December 5 Event? Derric May Live Venue? Mezzaluna, Adliya Catch one of the pioneers of electronic music live in action.

E Call 17 742-999.

When? December 6 Event? Jam up with Bumblefoot Venue? Ibrida, Ramee Grand Enjoy the magnetic riffs of Guns ‘n Roses guitarist Bumblefoot.

E Call 17 111-972.

When? December 16 Event? Karaoke Idol Finale Venue? JJ’s Irish Pub & Restaurant Witness the final round of the year’s most anticipated sing-off.

E Call 39 329-083.

When? Throughout December Event? Weekly Entertainment Venue? Mezzanine & Boudoir Lounge, The Westin, BCC Hanna Turtsevich entertains you every Tuesday.

E Call 17 171-000.

Put on your dancing shoes this month and get ready to let your hair down. December is packed with exciting events leading up to the ultimate party of 2014, New Year’s Eve. Karaoke Idol at JJ’s Irish Pub & Restaurant reaches its eagerly anticipated finale on December 16. A total of 13 amateur contestants meet head on for the year’s biggest sing off. Participants sing their hearts out to impress judges Ali Chachar from Seven Leisure, Shelley Griffith

from A&E and Chelsea Leigh for a chance to be crowned the Karaoke Idol 2014. The winner will walk away with a BD700 cash prize, the runner up receives BD200 and third place receives BD100.

Back by popular demand, Trans Nation Bahrain delivers the third instalment in their Three.Point.Zero series. The big night out is being held at The Domain Bahrain’s glamorous sky lounge, Txoko. Internationally acclaimed DJ AJOC and Liam Trigg are on hand to play their electric mixes and they will be joined by Trance Nation’s resident DJs and co-founders. DJ Black rounds off the night by taking you to the darker side of trance with an hour of some pure psy-trance mania. The event takes place on December 4.

Mezzanine Lounge and Boudoir Lounge at The Westin Bahrain City Centre welcome Belarusian pianist and singer Hanna Turtsevich. Trained in classical music, she began her musical journey at the age of nine and boasts a wide repertoire of classics, pop and jazz favourites.

During her career Hanna has worked with many groups and bands and performed in Belarus, Russia, Poland and South Korea. She fills the air with her melodious voice every Tuesday from 7 to 9pm at Mezzanine Lounge and Boudoir Lounge from 10pm to 11pm.

bystander

John, Rob, Justin, Yanti & Sayed

Mamar & Husain

Halloween at JJ’s JJ’s Irish Restaurant organised its popular annual Halloween bash with the theme ‘Thriller’.

Samia & Ali

Bautista, Gemma, Sarah & Shaz

Sarah & Nawal

156 December 2014

Joan & Eileen

Kathy & Lenani

Pepe, Bruno, Mauricio, Aanylu & Erika

The band

Natalie & Lucy

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Festive Season at Al Areen Palace & Spa

Have your children decorate their own Gingerbread House Order Takeaway Turkey with sauces and side dishes Invite your family to our Christmas and New Year Brunch Celebrate in style New Year’s Eve at Saffron or Keizo Enjoy our tailor-made Villa & Spa packages

Dine Out at Al Areen

Dine by the magnificent pool, enjoy live entertainment and win valuable prizes

Every Thursday 7pm - 11:30pm Adults BD 16++ Children (below12) BD 8++

Al Areen Palace & Spa Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain

Email: alareen@alareenpalace.com www.alareenpalace.com

Special group discounts

Tel: +973 17845000

afterdark

The Final Countdown It’s time to give 2014 the ultimate send off and welcome in the New Year. The island’s party troopers should buckle up because this is going to be one cracker of a night!

If the past few New Year’s resolutions have been to attend a better party, we suggest you read on. The island’s hotels and after dark haunts have plenty of surprises in store and they’re all packed with versatility and a great deal of excess. So, to drink away last year’s regrets and toast to a fresh start, here are your choices of New Year’s Eve parties.

Midnight Galas Enter a Caribbean carnival at the Bahrain Conference Centre at Crowne Plaza Hotel. Usher in 2015 with tropical colours, sunny cocktails, a live band from the UK and some lip-smacking bites. Have an absolute blast at BD70 per person, which includes a buffet and selected beverages.

Spend the night with your loved ones at the RitzCarlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa’s grand New Year’s Eve celebration. Priced at BD118.875++ per person it includes dinner, the show and a midnight bubbly toast. Join the party from 9pm till 2am at the Al Noor Ballroom.

Step into 2015 at Elite Resort & Spa’s lavish ‘Arabian Night’ celebration at the Al Noor Tent. Enjoy a wide selection of regional delicacies with a variety of live entertainment for only BD40.

158 December 2014

Midnight Playlist For those hosting a NYE fiesta at home, here is a list of some cool, danceable tracks that’ll keep your party going.

1. Clean Bandit - Rather Be 2. Kiesza - Hideaway 3. Mr. Probz - Waves 4. Demi Lovato - Really Don’t Care 5. Ariana Grande - Break Free featuring Zedd 6. Cash Cash - Lightning featuring John Rzeznik 7. Daft Punk - Derezzed featuring Negin 8. Royksopp and Robyn - Do It Again 9. Calvin Harris - Summer 10. Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars www.bahrainthismonth.com

Ring in the New Year at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa. The Grand Prix gala promises glitz, glamour and loads of action. The buffet features the best international cuisine entertainment provided by DJ Goldy Rise and the band Black Notes. Tickets are available at BD65 per person, which includes a buffet with selected beverages.

Elite Crystal Hotel invites you to enjoy an Arabian night at Awtar with a grand buffet, live Arabic entertainment, belly dancers and a DJ as well as a number of giveaways. This event is priced at BD75 per person.

At Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain, enjoy the Burlesque Bellas New Year Party. Performers from London are set to entertain with a show spread across the gallery while you savour the goodies at the elaborate buffet. Hosted at Silk’s restaurant and the Flamingo Bar it starts at 8pm and is priced at BD65.

Ring in 2015 with The K Hotel’s, New Year’s Eve party that starts from 9pm. Bring the year to a magnificent end with a wide variety of canapés, tapas, snacks and sweets at the K lounge. In-house band Pop Sonrisa and DJ Neil are ready to keep you entertained and the event is priced at BD15++ per person.

The Gilgamesh Ballroom, Umm Nassan and Al Ghazal Function Rooms at Golden Tulip host an Arabic theme bash featuring Arabic DJs, belly dancers and live music. This splendid send-off to 2014 is priced at BD35 and BD15 for children below 12 years old.

Take a metaphorical trip to Paris with Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa. A group of dancers will deliver a ‘Moulin Rouge’ experience; the night includes feathers, cancan and Parisian glamour. Tickets are priced at BD75, inclusive of selected beverages.

In the Club Get ready to dance as Grammy Award-winning rap artist Coolio takes to the stage at the Kingdom’s biggest nightclub, Ibrida. Entry costs BD30 for ladies and BD50 for gents.

Welcome in the New Year at The Domain Bahrain’s chic sky lounge Txoko overlooking the Manama skyline. There’s great food, nonstop music and free flowing drinks for BD40++.

Send off 2014 at Le Meridin Bahrain City Centre’s Bizarre Lounge with a party that promises an exciting and exhilarating atmosphere. Enjoy the plush interiors of the venue, gourmet canapés and top mixes by a guest DJ. Raise the roof at the party at Shift7 in Elite Resort & Spa. Priced at BD30 for ladies and BD35 for men, the bash includes great finger food and an open bar. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Raise a Toast A toast is almost mandatory at as you countdown to Midnight.

Here’s an interesting twist you can give to the good ol’ bubbly this year.

Ingredients: • 1.5 cup pomegranate juice • 1 cup white cranberry juice • 1 cup pear nectar • 1 bottle (750ml) Champagne • 1.5 cup cherry brandy • 0.5 cup whole fresh cranberries • Ice cubes

Directions: 1) Combine juices and nectar in punch bowl; chill until ready to serve.

2) Stir champagne and brandy into mixture. Add cranberries and ice.

Klub 360 at Elite Crystal welcomes DJ Seherezade who comes to Bahrain for the first time to play an exclusive two-hour set at the club and there are massive confetti canons ready to blast off into the New Year.

The Western atmosphere of Club Buffalo makes way for Vegas style glamour at the Burlesque Countdown. Welcome to this playground of colour, costumes and revelry; drinks packages start from BD20.

The Warbler brings the year to a sensational end with the Masquerade NYE 2015 party.

Along with great entertainment from the in-house band and the DJ, there are a number of fun games with prizes to be won. Entry is priced at BD20.

The year’s biggest party only gets bigger at Dublin’s New Year bash ‘Hype’. Take advantage of the unlimited drinks packages and ring in

Good morning 2015!

You don’t necessarily have to be hungover to enjoy this, but celebrity chef Nigella Lawson’s breakfast recipe of Eggs in Purgatory is sure to kick-start your day. Handy for January 1.

Ingredients: • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 small clove garlic (peeled) • Dried chilli flakes

2015 with The Beats and new resident DJ Paul Rees as they stir up a storm on the dance floor.

Entry is priced at BD10.

One of the most anticipated events of the year is at the legendary JJ’s Irish Pub & Restaurant.

The venue delivers a night of non-stop partying and entertainment. The Noise returns to JJ’s stage for an encore and promise a show to remember. Tickets are priced at BD10 and will be available at the door. The show starts at 7pm and entry is free before 6pm.

Celebrate the last night of the year at Downtown Bar in the InterContinental Regency Hotel. Entry is priced at BD15 per head, which includes three selected beverages and one glass of sparkling wine.

At the Capital Club DJ Alphonso spins his magic while you feast on an international buffet and indulge in your favourite cocktails.

• 1 x 400 grams can chopped tomatoes • Sea salt flakes to taste • 1 large egg (or 2 eggs if needed) • 2 teaspoons grated parmesan (or more as needed) • 1 splash of chilli oil (optional ) Directions: • Pour the olive oil into a frying pan, and add miced garlic, chilli flakes and put the pan over a medium heat, stirring, for 1 minute.

• Add the tomatoes, salt, and let it come to a bubble. Make sure its hot enough to poach an egg in.

• Crack in the egg (or eggs) and sprinkle the parmesan over it, leaving some of the yellow yolk still exposed. Partially cover with a lid.

Let it bubble for 5 minutes, by which time the white should be set and the yolk still runny • Remove from the heat, garnish with chilly oil and enjoy with bread of your choice.

December 2014 159

afterdarkhappenings

RAMEE GROUP

Celebrate Good Times!

Whether it’s your next night out or the biggest celebration of the year, you can always count on this hospitality group to show you a good time.

One of Kingdom’s oldest English pubs, The Warbler at Ramee Baisan Hotel in Hoora, delivers year-end festivities with great enthusiasm. Drop in for a threecourse dinner on December 24, 25 and 26, priced at BD10. The Boxing Day brunch is priced at BD18 and includes unlimited drinks. The in-house band makes sure everyone’s entertained while Santa brings cool gifts for all. Bring the year to a sensational end at the pub’s ‘Masqerade NYE 2015’ party.

Along with great entertainment from the in-house band and the DJ, there are a number of fun games with prizes to be won. Ladies receive a free mask on arrival. This night-out is priced at BD20 which includes an unlimited supply of drinks. Those who just want to sample the goodies from the kitchen can pay BD5 for the party buffet. Start the New Year with a complementary glass of bubbly at midnight.

Call 39 098-607.

Travel to the wild west for Christmas Eve celebrations at Club Buffalo at Ramee California Hotel. The tough tavern turns into a warm welcoming space amidst snow flakes, jingling bells and traditional fare on December 24. Savour the tantalising food with your favourite cocktails and dance to the latest tracks by resident band SKY and DJ Trixta. There is a threecourse dinner served with house wine priced at BD10 and a ‘drink all you can’ package for BD20.

160 December 2014

The venue turns into a playground of colour, costumes and revelry for New Year’s Eve. The Burlesque Countdown has a Las Vegas theme, away from the western saloon. Let your imagination run wild, no costume is too risqué for this cabaret-themed night.

Drinks packages start from BD20 which includes unlimited regular spirits with mixers from 8 to 12 pm.

For BD25 you can enjoy unlimited beers in addition to regular spirits. The grand buffet is priced at BD15 and includes one free beverage.

Call 35 559-391 or 33 142-651.

Eat, drink and be merry this December at Dublin Club in Ramee International Hotel. There are a series of seasonal parties lined up to bring the year to a spectacular close. Starting from Christmas Eve and going on till Boxing Day, there is a ‘Tinsel Town’ themed extravaganza. Get into the spirit with a mix of Christmas tunes and chart-topping sounds from the last 30 years. Indulge in a three-course Christmas dinner that includes traditional favourites and a complimentary beverage for BD10.

The year’s biggest party only gets bigger at Dublin’s New Year bash ‘Hype’. Take advantage of the unlimited drinks packages and ring in 2015 with The Beats and new resident DJ Paul Rees as they stir up a storm on the dance floor.

Call 39 736-547. www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Tara, Kaia & Ali

Eliana & Victoria

Mia & Mo

Batoul & Jihane

Rachael, Nadia & Amber

Victoria

Halloween at Block 338 Block 338 Restaurant, Lounge & Garden celebrated Halloween in style Jihane, Batoul, Amrou & Abdou

Mo, Vusala & Steve

Ahmed & Lara

Georgie & April

Jaabari, Omar & Ahmed

Ali & Rio

Beat, Yasmeen & John

Nouri & Fatema

Nick, Dean & Elliot

Halloween Party at Ibrida Ibrida at Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa celebrated Halloween in spook-tacular style with a party.

Jenna, Coral & Lisa

Marina & Jenny

162 December 2014

Julia & Lea

www.bahrainthismonth.com

What’s New Edited by Apple Sharma

Promise of Love A whole new wheel of motion is spurred into action once you’ve said ‘Yes’ to the love of your life. Chopard, through its bespoke creations, advice and exclusive services, accompanies couples on every step of the way towards the most beautiful day of their lives. The company’s bridal collection is tailored to the couple’s personal preference and offers a wide range of precious jewellery, with its collection of solitaire rings, wedding rings and jewellery sets.

Available at Chopard, Moda Mall.

Handcrafted Holidays Celebrate the magic of the festive season with elegant and timeless gifts from Montblanc. From sophisticated timepieces and iconic writing instruments, to innovative leather goods and an array of feminine jewellery pieces – Montblanc has hand-picked only the most sophisticated pieces for both him and her.

Available at Montblanc, Seef Mall.

Test of Time Discover the world of luxury watches as the Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre continues its quest to produce the finest timepieces. Bringing eternity within reach, the Rendez-Vous Perpetual Calendar displays infinite time. The dial combines a perpetual calendar indicating the entire year in four figures, including the moon phases.

Beauty, watch-making expertise and tradition blend effortlessly in the Rendez-Vous Tourbillon Night & Day. You are naturally drawn to the hypnotic motion of the tourbillon as well as the revolving day/night indication.

Available at Jaeger-LeCoultre, Sheraton Complex. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Built for Speed Get click-happy as Canon Middle East introduces the ultimate DSLR camera EOS 7D Mark II in Bahrain. Completely rebuilt and redesigned, this revolutionary camera is made for speed, with extreme power and performance to shoot life’s fastest moments. It can capture an incredible 10 frames per second, without a drop in resolution. Together with a new 65-point cross-type AF system and Dual DIGIC 6 processors, the EOS 7D Mark II displays electrifying speed and power.

Available at Intercol Canon Showroom, Zinj.

December 2014 163

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ASIA JEWELLERS

Elegance and Glamour New Year’s Eve is all about looking your best and pulling out all the stops. Bedazzle everyone with sparkling creations from this cutting-edge design house.

New Year’s Eve is all about looking your best and pulling out all the stops. Bedazzle everyone with sparkling creations from this cutting-edge design house.

Putting together the right look for the festive season can be a challenge, but the latest collection of jewellery and watches by Escada aims to add some dazzle to proceedings.

Available at Asia jewellers, these pieces scream elegant luxury and can add effortless glamour to any look. The brand stands for modern elegance and, as always, Escada designers have produced a timeless line that will appeal to fasionistas of all ages.

Chic sensuality The underplayed glamour and feminine charm form the soul of this jewellery line. These elegant pendants, bracelets, earrings and necklaces, carry exotic playfulness and confidence that give an instant lift to your attire.

164 December 2014

The brand’s unmistakable sense of style is expressed through graceful shapes and the interplay of Swarovski and zirconia stones with yellow gold or rhodium-plated brass. The designs are versatile and can suit a romantic any occasion.

These pieces underscore the individualistic look of today’s modern woman, who knows what she wants, the company says.

Stylish wrist-wear The brand’s new watch collection features 14 different ranges that bring together Swiss-technology and craftsmanship with timeless elegance and the latest fashion trends. These watches reflect Escada’s characteristic design code through harmonious colour combinations and a mix of innovative and precious materials such as ceramics and diamonds.

The brand’s iconic double-E logo is imaginatively and diversely placed as the central motif on the dial.

Call 17 431-177. www.bahrainthismonth.com

GE T THE RE AL PIC TURE

@gopeepbh www.gopeep.me

marketplace

OMEGA

Time for Precious Moments As the holiday season draws closer, the time to choose the perfect gift is ticking away. This renowned company is offering a number of options with which to surprise your nearest and dearest.

166 December 2014

The holiday season is a time to rejoice and reflect on our favourite moments of the past year. While embraced in the peace and warmth of the season, appreciate the precious seconds you have with your loved ones and take the time to cherish the magic of the festivities.

OMEGA has several gift ideas for that special someone close to your heart. Enduring golden watches and jewellery say everything you can’t express with words – a luxurious present that will bring a smile to someone’s face until the end of time.

And when the delights of the holiday season have passed, you’ll not only have fond memories but something to treasure.

One of the brand’s most popular spectacular lines is the Trésor, which was first introduced in 1949. Making a comeback more than half a century later, this striking De Ville Trésor features a brown leather strap and a silvery opaline dial decorated with a vintage ‘clous de Paris’ pattern – a handsome design element that adds to the classic look and feel of the timepiece.

The hours are marked with applied domed 18K yellow gold indexes, a feature that is complemented by the domed 18K gold minute and seconds hands.

Powering this refined timepiece is the new OMEGA Master Co-Axial calibre 8511 - a unique manual winding movement that features an easy time zone function and resistance to magnetic fields greater than 15,000 gauss. The De Ville Trésor is offered with a full four-year warranty and is water resistant to 30 metres.

Another highlight is the OMEGA Constellation Pluma, an exceptional demonstration of the art of fine mechanical watchmaking. Its white mother-of-pearl dial is decorated with wavy lines that resemble a

feather. Eleven diamond indexes set in 18K gold holders complement the 18K red gold hands.

Diamonds pave the 18K red gold bezel, highlighting the polished claws. The brushed stainless steel casebody is presented on a fashionable stainless steel bracelet that is complete with 18K red gold links.

At its heart is the OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8520, a state-of-the-art mechanical movement visible through the sapphire crystal caseback.

For the ladies, the options are equally impressive.

Crafted from luxurious 18K red gold, the elegant and feminine OMEGA Dewdrop bracelet features a thin chain with dangling beads of gold, three of which are set with dazzling diamonds. Its sophisticated design has taken inspiration from the dramatic curve of the symbol, resulting in a graceful accessory that will remain fashionable far beyond the holidays.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Zahra, Faiza, HE Hatun Demirer, Khalifa, Yunus & Nihat

Turkish Night in Bahrain The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa organised a Turkish Night in honour of Turkish Independence Day. In attendance were HE Hatun Demirer, the Turkish Ambassador to Bahrain, HE Dr Hassan Fakhro and other Bahraini and Turkish dignitaries and businessmen.

HE Dr Dhafer Al Umran & Mrs Jihan Al Umran

Peter with the dancers

Dr Mona & Wala

Jahan & Philippe

HE Bernard Regnauld-Fabre

Debbie

Panos, Doris & Peter

HE Dr Hassan Fakhro

Jano

Inigo

bystander

Eric, Mark & Joseph

Suji

Halloween at Club Euphoria Club Euphoria at Ramee International Hotel organised a Halloween bash.

Staff at Club Euphoria

Prashant, DJ Zoie & DJ Augz

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Abdulla

Ahmed & J

Andrea & Elia

Subi

Jenny, Alicia, Andrew, Rose & Julie

December 2014 167

marketplace VIVA

Technology at Its Best

The wait for the eagerly anticipated new iPhone is finally over as VIVA introduces the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to the market.

168 December 2014

Apple fans across the Kingdom have been waiting with bated breath for the company’s newest iPhone to hit the shelves and the wait is finally over.

VIVA has unveiled the ‘biggest advancements in iPhone history’ by introducing the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which customers can now experience on the 4G LTE network.

VIVA aims to provide its customers exceptional value for money and the devices are available on a number of monthly subscription plans including Unlimited Smart 20, Smart 25 and Smart 30.

Moreover, customers can get iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities. Among many other benefits, customers can also enjoy unlimited VIVA to VIVA calls and data on the fastest 4G LTE network, as well as a special free number.

Apple’s latest devices in gold, silver and space grey colours are available at VIVA’s retail outlets on 12and 18-month contracts. The new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus come with stunning 4.7-inch and 5.5inch Retina HD displays respectively and are packed with innovative technologies.

The new thin and seamless design is not just comfortable to hold but also easy to use. Both models include the Apple-designed A8 chip, with second

generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture, for blazing-fast performance and power efficiency; advanced iSight and FaceTime HD cameras and ultrafast wireless technologies.

The size of the new, higher-resolution Retina HD displays on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus may be the first thing you notice. But what you experience is so much more. With innovations that deliver higher contrast, dual-domain pixels for more accurate colour at wider viewing angles, and an improved polariSer, these are the thinnest, most advanced multi-touch displays ever made.

Customers can also experience the new iPad Mini 3 or the iPad Air 2, which are offered on VIVA’s Tablet 20 plan, with a monthly data subscription of 3GB with free 4G LTE. These new Apple tablets are offered in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB on an 18-month contract. VIVA customers can get the iPad Mini 3 16GB for free on a contract, while the 64GB and the 128GB are available with an upfront payment of BD5 and BD45 respectively.

Meanwhile, the iPad Air 2 16GB is offered with an upfront payment of BD5 on an 18-month contract.

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

A spectacular new photographic book about the Kingdom of Bahrain

by Andrew Weaver

“The first aerial photography book about Bahrain ever to be produced, containing over 250 amazing images shot almost entirely from helicopters”.

In all leading bookstores now.

For further information and corporate sales contact: (+973) 39445102 or email: weaverphoto@yahoo.com Available in 3 sizes.

marketplace

ALOSRA

Try Before You Buy This popular supermarket has launched a new campaign that allows you to taste its fresh produce before you even cross it off your shopping list.

170 December 2014

Famous for its premium quality products, Alosra Supermarket is aiming to make the weekly grocery shopping more exciting with ‘Sampler Saturdays’, which give customers the opportunity to try before they buy.

“We are known for excellent standards of customer service but this campaign takes the customer experience a step forward,” says Pavlos Babiolakis, Alosra’s marketing manager.

You no longer have to rely on adverts or your instincts to decide whether your family will approve of a new product. Just sample it first to ensure that everything is to your taste.

These testers can range from Chocolate Lover’s Cake from the bakery, to the deli’s Frico and Havarti cheeses. On certain days you can even find samples from products under special promotion, offering even better value for money.

The supermarket’s employees at the sampling stations help with any queries and assist you in choosing the right products. Sampler tables will be set up in Alosra branches across the Kingdom at Amwaj, Saar, Nakheel, Juffair and Riffa Views. As the name suggests, ‘Sample Saturdays’ take place on a weekly basis; every Saturday from 11am till 2pm.

Fresh and friendly Serving the Kingdom with quality produce for more than three decades, Alosra supermarkets provide local and exotic items at great value. Part of the BMMI Group, the company’s primary focus is on delivering quality over quantity, boasting a wide range of carefully selected products.

“We have always focused on offering the most premium-quality products in the Kingdom, to satisfy all the needs and tastes of our diverse base of loyal customers,” says Pavlos.

“This quality is evident in products such as the 100 per cent New Zealand lamb and beef, which we have purchased from farmers who operate with a proven record of animal welfare, food safety and quality. The meat comes from healthily reared animals and is free of hormones and artificial substances.

“Another main focus is to provide great customer service. We adopt a rigid philosophy of continuous improvement. This is the foundation of our working culture.”

Call 17 697-558 or visit www.alosraonline.com www.bahrainthismonth.com

Season’s Greetings from the Alosra team

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fresh and festive

marketplace BUKHOWA INVESTMENTS HOLDING

Tasty New Sensation Bukhowa Investments Holding, the company behind the hugely successful Yum Yum Tree concept has added another string to its bow with this much-loved franchise.

With 16 concepts already under its belt and 100 locations in Bahrain, it would be easy for the company to rest on its laurels. However, determined to reach even more customers, Bukhowa Investments Holding is moo-ving into new territory.

It recently opened Menchie’s, the number one self-serve frozen yogurt brand in the world and the fastest growing frozen yogurt franchise with more than 400 stores worldwide.

Menchie’s has meticulous standards to ensure its products are always fresh and flavourful. Milk is produced by “California’s happy cows” creamery, organically grown and grass fed which makes this product unique.

Every aspect of Menchie’s is standardised and tightly controlled. The menu at every store consists of various yogurt flavours, dry goods and fresh fruits that are partly adapted to the local market.

Menchie’s is designed for efficiency, cleanliness, attractiveness and guest self-service. Stores have five areas: kitchen (not visible to guests), yogurt wall, topping stations, service circle and indoor/ outdoor seating.

Friendly team members are on hand to help improve customer satisfaction.

172 December 2014

And it’s not just tasty, it has health benefits too. Frozen yogurt contains the digestive benefits of probiotics.

The health website AskDrSears.com explains that the lactic acid bacteria used to produce yogurt enhances digestive function, reduces allergic reactions and may aid in lactose digestion in individuals with lactose intolerance. Yogurt also helps to decrease symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.

Now open at Yum Yum Tree Food court next to Oasis Centre, Muharraq.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

JAWAD

A Selection of Festive Offerings As seasonal excitement builds in the Kingdom, Jawad Supermarket is offering shoppers everything they need to make this Christmas extra special.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

A combination of perfect weather and a host of important events make December a truly festive month in the Kingdom. Contributing to this feeling of excitement and celebration is Jawad Supermarket (JSM).

A peek into the stores in The Jawad Dome in Barbar and at The Centre, Nwaidrat reveals a world of dazzle, colour and all the ambiance of the season.

The stores are decorated with colourful banners and posters, putting customers in a festive mood. JSM is offering a wide range of Christmas-related items including exclusive Christmas calendars, irresistible Christmas goodies, decorative and unusual items to brighten up your home as well as gifts for your loved ones.

Nothing puts you in the mood for Christmas like the smell of a real Christmas tree; you can find beautiful trees, wreaths and other decorations at JSM to bring the spirit of Christmas into your home.

In addition to the amazing offers, JSM is also offering a wonderful alternative to slaving away in the kitchen all day making a feast for your family.

Just pre-order a juicy, succulent stuffed turkey, with all the trimmings, prepared by the JSM chefs who use only the finest of ingredients. So sit back and relax while delicious delights ready to serve get delivered straight to your table.

Jawad opened its first store in 1960 in Manama, bringing a range of unique goods, celebrated brands and fresh, wholesome produce of top quality meat, cheese, deli and bakery products to Bahrain. Since then, Jawad Supermarket has cemented its reputation for its consistency and reliability, high standards of quality as well as friendly and prompt service.

Having two state-of-the-art supermarkets on the island, JSM has made customers smile for more than three decades.

Make this festive season one to remember with Jawad Supermarkets!

For more details or free home delivery, call Jawad Supermarket at The Jawad Dome, Barbar on 17 691-010 and The Centre, Nwaidrat on 17 700-123.

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marketplace

JOZ SALON & SPA

Alternative Healing is Back An ancient form of alternative medicine known as cupping, a form of acupuncture that claims to mobilise blood and energy around the body, is now available at Joz Salon & Spa.

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Many people who find no relief from conventional medicine are looking increasingly towards alternative methods of treatment. Cupping is an ancient Chinese healing therapy that is becoming hugely popular, thanks in no small part to celebrity followers including Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston.

The technique involves a local suction created on the skin, which practitioners believe mobilises blood flow in order to promote healing. Suction is created using heat or mechanical devices during which time the skin is gently drawn upwards by creating a vacuum in a cup over the target area of the skin.

The cup stays in place for five to 15 minutes. It is believed by some to help treat pain, deep scar tissues in the muscles and connective tissue, muscle knots and swelling. Broadly speaking, there are two types of cupping – dry cupping and bleeding or wet cupping (controlled bleeding), with wet cupping being more common. The British Cupping Society (BCS), an organisation promoting the practice, teaches both.

The cups can be of various shapes, including balls or bells, and may range in size from one to three inches across the opening. Plastic and glass are the most common materials used, replacing the horn, pottery, bronze and bamboo cups used in earlier times.

The low air pressure required may be created by heating the cup or the air inside it with an open flame or a bath in hot scented oils, then placing it against the skin. As the air inside the cup cools, it contracts

and draws the skin slightly inside.

In modern times, a vacuum can be created with a mechanical suction pump, acting through a valve located at the top of the cup. Rubber cups are also available that squeeze the air out and adapt to uneven or bony surfaces.

In practice, cups are normally used only on softer tissue that can form a good seal with the edge of the cup. Skin may be lubricated, allowing the cup to move across the skin slowly.

Cupping is claimed to treat a broad range of medical conditions such as blood disorders (anaemia, haemophilia), rheumatic diseases (arthritic joint and muscular conditions), fertility and gynaecological disorders, skin problems (eczema, acne) and is claimed by proponents to help general physical and psychological well-being.

Depending on the specific treatment, skin marking is common after the cups are removed. This may be a simple red ring that disappears quickly; the discolouration left by the cups is normally from bruising, especially if dragging the cups while suctioned from one place to another to break down muscle fibre. Usually treatments are not painful.

Joz Salon & Spa have introduced a range of cupping treatments and recommend weekly cupping for both (sub) acute and chronic lower back pain.

Call 17 369-133, 16 031-120, 16 031-126 or 17 756-449. www.bahrainthismonth.com

marketplace TATI

French Fashion Brand Debut

French value fashion concept, TATI, is now available in Bahrain, offering customers a one-stop shop for looking fabulous without breaking the bank.

176 December 2014

TATI has set up shop on Level One of City Centre Bahrain, bringing the Kingdom a phenomenal selection of French goods. The enormous store, spread across 37,000 square feet, offers customers everything from fashion for men, women and kids to household accessories, beauty products, gift ideas and a unique budget bridal section, the first-of-itskind in the region.

TATI is widely known for its lowest price promise, which ensures you can shop till you drop for everything under one roof, with money to spare.

The brand’s inception dates back to 1940’s, when founder Jules Ouaki, a pioneer in the low-cost textile market opened his first store in Paris. Since then it has evolved to become one of France’s leading fashion department stores.

It has more than 140 stores and an ambitious international expansion plan could soon see that number grow even further. With major expansion plans for the Gulf, TATI has already grabbed customers’ attention and interest and is set to redefine the fashion retail experience as we know it.

“We are very excited with the launch of our first store in Bahrain,” says TATI’s chief executive officer

Emmanuel Deroude. “The response over the first few days was extremely positive and with time we are confident that the brand will grow from strength to strength. One of the most important drivers to our success has been our ‘fair cost’ concept that enables us to provide our customers with very competitive prices. Another key aspect is the depth of our offering with over 250,000 items for the customer to choose from.”

Call 17 217-470. www.bahrainthismonth.com

marketplace RAMADA BAHRAIN

Fresh Look A series of new projects are on the agenda as this famous Adliya landmark welcomes a new general manager.

Ramada Bahrain is set to start 2015 with a fresh look and Matthias Hellweg is at the helm of a series of revamps. As the property’s new general manager, Matthias is spearheading a refurbishment project that aims to make the hotel more “vibrant and welcoming” for visitors.

“The New Year will see the company’s vision develop with a number of upgrades to Ramada Bahrain,” says Matthias. “There are plans in the pipeline for a facade upgrade in addition to a ‘back of the house’ project, both of which are scheduled for summer in 2015.”

The hotel recently opened its revamped main lobby that boasts a more chic and contemporary look. This was part of the first phase of renovation in which the swimming pool and mini-gym were also modernised.

The property is equally popular with families and business travellers and benefits greatly from its central location, the company says.

“The majority of our guests are repeat guests, and they will all certainly benefit from the improvements,” he adds. “In addition we are promoting our guest loyalty programme, Wyndham Rewards. It covers more than 7, 600 properties worldwide and offers a choice between accumulating ‘Wyndham Reward Points’ or earning frequent flyer miles on our partnering airlines.”

According to Matthias, Ramada’s service culture is the key element to its past and continued success with guests. “Even though new properties continue to enter our segment, we are confident that our personalised and

flexible service coupled with competitive pricing will continue to set us apart.” he says.

Call 17 742-000.

bystander

Susie & Tina

Nader, Mohammed & Lody

InterNations Manama Special November Event InterNations Manama hosted held its special November event at Thai Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel & Spa. Tareq, Michel, Francois & Rami

Yogesh & Rhea

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Patricia & Hema

Tom, Claire & Flora

Emre & Faiza

Jean-Charles & Alexandra

Matthew, Alexandra & Nilufer

Burak & Raed

Maged

www.bahrainthismonth.com

INTERCOL

Masterchef in the Making Gone are the days of sweating in the kitchen, spending hours chopping, mixing and kneading. Cooking at home just got a lot simpler.

The new Masterchef Gourmet QA417 is a powerful new kitchen machine from Moulinex and has been created to make gourmet cooking a breeze.

Its powerful 900W output and six speed settings will save you time and effort when preparing your meals or desserts. All models in the Masterchef range have a planetary mixing action which delivers perfect results. The pastry kit includes a die-cast heavy-duty set of whisks, dough hook and a beater that helps you mix and knead small to large quantities.

It comes with a full suite of additional attachments to help unleash your creativity, including a 1.5-litre blender for soups and smoothies, slicing and grating drums to help

www.bahrainthismonth.com

slice fruits and vegetables, cheeses, chocolate and so on. There is also a juice extractor to make refreshing beverages, a meat grinder to make home-made kebabs and koftas and a gourmet pasta kit with six different kinds of pasta. For the more adventurous, there is an attachment that allows you to make fresh pasta

and sauces.

Dish up everything from appetisers and starters to mouth-watering cakes and desserts from the comfort of your own kitchen as the Masterchef Gourmet QA417 even comes with a recipe book for Middle Eastern delicacies.

Bon AppĂŠtit!

December 2014 179

bystander

Azi, Betty & Mhai

Koffi & Sharifa

Lora, Eunice & PK

Abbas & Hamood

DJ KJ Holiday

Simone & Larissa

Saturday Love with DJ KJ Holiday DJ KJ Holiday performed at Pulse VIP at Grand Safir Hotel.

Jo, Cassandra, Chez & Ambrosia

Ijeoma, Georgina & Amal

180 December 2014

Dee & Margo

www.bahrainthismonth.com

marketplace RVIS

On-track to Success Since introducing its International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), Riffa Views International School (RVIS) has seen a surge of participation.

The IBDP, described by some educationalists as more academically challenging than A-levels, is a two year, integrated set of academic courses designed for 11th and 12th grade students. It is the leading pre university programme in the

world. IBDP provides an internationally accepted qualification that helps gain admissions into top universities.

Greg Sipp, the school’s IBDP coordinator, believes the reason that it has been so well-

received is because it offers a more rounded education. He says: “The training that students get in this programme not only focuses on academics but the whole student. Leadership, academics and maturity are fostered with the IB Diploma Programme which is recognised by universities around the world.”

The student response has been staggering and more than 90 per cent of the school’s 11th grade students are participating in the IBDP. It has become an important part of the RVIS student body and community.

There are currently 13 members who form the RVIS IB team and, as the student population grows, even more teachers are set to join the IB team.

The first round of IB students will also be the first graduates at RVIS next year. The graduation ceremony planning has already begun and the school says it will be a memorable event.

Greg says: “If you are considering the IB Diploma, then RVIS is an ideal place for your academic journey. RVIS has a cutting-edge, technology-driven, IB-centered curriculum that uses the best practices in education from around the world.”

For details about the programme, contact gsipp@rvis.edu.bh to set up a meeting.

An international school committed to offering an exceptional education.

• A college preparatory school committed to implementing the best educational practices from around the world.

Managed by:

Accredited by:

• Outstanding academic resources and athletic facilities.

• An IB Diploma Program designed to prepare students for the best universities throughout the world.

For admission enquiries, please contact: (+973) 1656-5004/1656-5000 or

Email: admission@rvis.edu.bh OR

oliaj@rvis.edu.bh www.bahrainthismonth.com

Book a school tour: (+973) 16565017

• Integration of the latest educational technologies to enhance learning.

• A leading Arabic language program serving native, non-native and heritage language learners.

December 2014 181

marketplace RCSI

Nursing - a Noble Profession The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Bahrain’s (RCSI Bahrain) school of nursing and midwifery offers a range of courses to those interested in the noble profession.

Being a nurse can be an exciting career option for both men and women.

If you’ve got that caring touch or feel the need to help people, then a visit to RCSI Bahrain could get you going on a career path in nursing.

The university, which this year is celebrating its 10th anniversary, currently has more than 1,300 students, from 39 countries, who are studying Nursing, Medicine and Postgraduate Studies.

Ever since RCSI Bahrain opened a School of Nursing and Midwifery in 2006, it has been strongly promoting nursing as a career in the Gulf and more than 300 nurses have graduated from the university with Bachelors and Masters degrees in Nursing.

With an initial intake of just 32 students, the school now has an annual intake of 100 students, the majority of whom are from Bahrain. Its work includes accreditation, teaching and examination, nursing research, community engagement, developing policies and procedures - all of which contribute to best practice in nursing.

The staff comprises experienced nurses with academic qualifications who are committed to excellence in teaching, research and community engagement, the university says.

There are various courses to choose from including the BSc Nursing (Hons) Undergraduate which is a four-year programme open to school-

182 December 2014

leavers. It provides the students with theoretical and clinical practical experience in the university, hospitals and primary care centres.

The BSc Nursing (Hons) (Bridging) programme enables nurses who have an existing diploma level qualification to upgrade their qualification to a degree in nursing.

The two-year MSc Nursing programme is for graduate nurses, of which the second year is based on a research dissertation, under supervision, focused on an area related to the nurses’ areas of clinical practice.

Contact admissions@rcsi-mub.com or visit www.rcsibahrain.edu.bh for more information.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

JUNAID PERFFUMES

Infused with Tradition The latest fragrance from Junaid Perfumes, Wishaah, seamlessly blends Middle Eastern tradition with glamour to create an exclusive scent especially for her.

Every woman has a signature perfume that expresses her essence as a woman. Junaid Perfumes, one of the oldest perfumers in the GCC, understands this concept all too well and is aiming to impress with its latest fragrance, Wishaah.

The delightful scent has been exclusively designed for women that embrace Middle Eastern traditions.

Made using traditional elements, Wishaah blends the unmistakable secent of bukhoor with an extraordinary mixture topped with luxurious rose notes.

At the heart of the scent are sentual French oriental notes and its base of mukhalat adds a feminine touch to its appeal.

“Wishah is an authentic perfume, a unique blend of the most desired traditional notes,” says Junaid Perfumes marketing director, Fahad Jaweed Junaid. “It is specially created for women who adore Arabian traditional incenses.”

This distinctive perfume comes beautifully packaged in an elegant 100ml transparent bottle, designed with delicate crafts surrounding it.

Established in 1910, Junaid Perfumes has significantly grown in reputation and stature over the years.

Today, the company operates more than 150 outlets worldwide.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 183

marketplace BAHRAIN SCHOOLS EXPO 2015

Your Child, Your Choice

Sending your child off to school for the first time is always a daunting moment. Bahrain Schools Expo 2015 brings all the relevant resources under one roof to help you to pick the best place.

184 December 2014

Whether you’re an expatriate new to the island and looking to enrol your children into a new school or planning to change schools for your child, it’s never an easy decision. Wouldn’t it be great if all the information you needed to make that choice was at your finger tips?

Bahrain Schools Expo 2015, organised by Events House, is doing just that by bringing together representatives from all the private schools, kindergartens and nurseries on the island at one venue. This not only provides exhibitors the opportunity to show and present their education system, curriculum, facilities, cost and advantages of their institutions – it helps you to decide what’s best for your child.

This three-day event is being held from January 8 to 10, 2015 at the Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority, organised under the patronage of education minister Dr Majid Ali Al Nuaimi.

The expo’s main goal is to facilitate contact between parents and private education organisations and to provide a greater number of options for parents to choose from.

It is a great opportunity for parents to interact faceto-face with the schools authorities, seek admission guidance and counselling, collect brochures, prospectus and admission forms, understand and evaluate various curricula, gather information on schools’ infrastructure, facilities, student to teacher ratio, teaching methods, transport facilities and more.

As an added bonus, the expo will also have banks

and insurance companies presenting their educational schemes and savings to parents.

Other planned activities include a speaking session for sponsors to discuss their education systems and also for representatives from the Ministry of Education to inform parents about modern education in Bahrain.

While parents are busy looking around the expo, there will be activities to keep the kids busy including a playground and learning exercises. In addition, the expo will have a website that provides useful information about private schools in Bahrain, their contact details, sponsorship packages, benefits and costs, registration procedures and much more. It will run for the entire year and will be updated annually.

Call 17 300-363 or 39 933-241 or visit www.bahrainschools.com www.bahrainthismonth.com

m +  t +  e. info@theeventshouse.com

marketplace

BATH & BODYWORKS

Bath & Bodyworks It’s that time of the year again when festivities are in full swing.

Bath & Body Works festive fragrances will definitely get you in the spirit of things.

186 December 2014

Certain scents always evoke memories, like the smell of fresh pine trees or ginger bread biscuits during Christmas. With this in mind, Bath & Body Works is introducing its festive line for the season with tremendous fragrances in stores now.

There is a wide range of fragrances to choose from for a perfect holiday moment.

Indulge in the sweet fragrance of Vanilla Bean Noel, a merry blend of fresh vanilla and sugar cookies, inspired by pure comfort and joy.

Make the season bright with Twisted Peppermint, a blend of sweet peppermint with a twist of sugar and vanilla.

And you can’t go wrong with Winter Candy Apple, an irresistible treat of red apple, winter rose petals and candied orange.

All these fragrances are available in the perfect daily trio of shower gel (BD6), body lotion (BD6) and fine fragrance mist (BD7.5).

Whether you’re looking to buy Christmas presents for your loved ones or just treating yourself, stock up on these lovely fragrances and be on your jolly way.

Bath & Body Works wishes you the perfect holiday!

Call the City Centre Bahrain branch on 17 178-627 or the Seef Mall branch on 17 580-177 for more information. www.bahrainthismonth.com

PHOENICIA DÉCOR

Dress Your House The high-end brand from Italy’s largest furniture house has launched its first collection of bedroom furniture.

The harmony of opposites — day and night, conviviality and silence, liveliness and calm — is the guiding light behind Natuzzi Italia’s new concept of living. The bedroom collection called Piuma was created with the assistance of prestigious designers Claudio Bellini and Manzoni and Tapinassi from the StudioMEMO, who also were responsible for the flagship models of the living area collection.

Piuma represents the iconic product within the range of beds, a model that transmits a feeling of utter softness and comfort from the first glimpse. Like a pillow, the original detail of the ‘volant’, available in leather and in fabric, makes it the perfect product for dreaming. This encompasses the entire elegant profile of the bed.

But Natuzzi Italia’s bedroom furnishing range does not end with beds. A complete collection has been developed, featuring dressers and containers of various sizes and bedding options.

The bed collection reinforces the core Natuzzi brand values — unparalleled comfort, quality, style and the ‘Made in Italy’ appeal. The six bed models and three bed linen ranges use a variety of unique, eyecatching elements in line with the concept of living promoted by its home furnishings group.

You can find the Natuzzi Italia collection exclusively at Phoenicia Décor in Seef.

Call 17 564-444.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

December 2014 187

marketplace CERAM DENTAL

Lots to Smile About Smiles are cross-cultural and have the same meaning in different societies. A smile is truly an international language that can help break through possible cross cultural barriers with one simple act.

The concept of beauty is often connected to harmony and harmonic proportions while beauty cannot be measured, harmony which is often associated with beauty can be expressed in formulas.

A beautiful smile is a complex process realised by working facial muscles and affected by many factors related to the balance of the shape of the face, lips and teeth.

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a face-lift, just try smiling your way through the day - you’ll look younger and feel better.

Nowadays, Hollywood actors and actresses, or even ordinary people are more aware about the impact of their teeth on their image, self-esteem and confidence.

They became conscious that size, colour, position and proportion of their teeth related to their face are very important to create facial harmony, which is directly related to beauty.

If a person suffers from misaligned, discoloured teeth, broken teeth, gummy smile or disproportional facial structures like lips, nose or eyes then it will affect the harmony and the face will look unbalanced.

Modern cosmetic dentistry treatment like crowns, bridges and veneers are about much more than living teeth and making them look “beautiful” by using a smile design, it’s about affecting the overall impression of the face and teeth and highlighting the natural harmony of the face to bring out the beauty of it.

Ceram Dental Centre offers a range of services to help you feel more confident about your smile.

Dr. Haider

Call 17 131-123.

Your smile is a beautiful thing and can instantly make people feel comfortable. Keeping your teeth in top condition is a key factor to a winning smile.

188 December 2014

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Nadia & Michele

Claudia, Sittia & Susi

Mad Hatter Tea Party at Cake Boutique Cake Boutique celebrated its six month anniversary with a Mad Hatter themed tea party. HE Dr Hasan Fakhro was the guest of honour at the event.

HE Dr Hasan Fakhro inaugurates the event

Ernst & Tina

Natasha & Chef Ehab

Sandra & Lia

Alessandra & Ayesh

Entesar & Nasreen

Peter & Claire

Blue & Merlyn

Svetlana & Hanadi

Yousif

Mostly Business A montage of pictures from the corporate world in the kingdom and occasionally the not-so corporate world HR professionals in Bahrain attended a discussion entitled ‘Office Politics’.

The seminar was organised by Third Wave International and was held at Les Palmes hall at the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel.

Spanish Food Week at The K Hotel’s Kloud restaurant.

190 December 2014

Ashraf’s Bahrain launched the Casio G-Mix at Virgin Megastore, City Centre Bahrain. The G-Mix enables linking between the watch and a phone for remote control of the phone’s music player.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

YATEEM CENTRE

Shop and Sparkle There is great excitement on the island this month as the country celebrates various festivities including the two-month long Bahrain Noor El Ain Festival starting on National Day. Loosely translated, Bahrain Noor El Ain can be thought of as Bahrain’s Sparkling Eyes and it can certainly be expected to put a twinkle in the eye. This grand undertaking is planned as a twomonth festival across the Kingdom, celebrating all that is good within Bahrain, with the participation of establishments and outlets across the country.

One aspect of the festival will be a raffle, with free entry for every BD10 spent in any of the participating outlets.

The Yateem Centre will be taking an active part. Lots of new shops have opened in the centre, most recently Candy Country www.bahrainthismonth.com

which sells Flormar Cosmetics. It has been wildly successful with its range of quality cosmetics at sensible prices and is drawing in people from across the country.

New boutiques include WanVisa, Nachwa Fashions, OppoCaps (with a boutique and a shoe shop), Asraar Bint Al Hidd, Jalila and more.

Those looking to shape up for 2015 can rejoice with the opening of the Dragon’s Den Gym on the second floor, which is the first private gym in central Manama. It will have extended opening hours to coincide with the festival.

Another highlight to look forward to is the opening of Peak Sports, one of China’s leading sportswear manufacturers, who will be launching their first Middle East outlet in the Yateem Centre.

Call 17215615 for details.

December 2014 191

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4.

engiesresta

December 2014 193

tarotscope

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22 – Dec 21

Sometimes you are your own worst enemy Sagittarius. Just as things seem to be at their zenith, whether it’s in a relationship or at work, you start to stir yourself up and look for a reason to worry or bring a situation down. The Moon in your reading for December is not going to help matters much and as we move towards the festive season you could find yourself behaving in a manner that sees you cutting your nose off just to spite your face. If you don’t take heed, when the dust settles you may be the only one standing but you will definitely be standing alone. Life is about appreciation so you would be wise to demonstrate that to those closest to you.

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

CAPRICORN December 22 – January 21

You will find yourself quickly embroiled in a battle of words between friends and forced to take sides over an issue, which threatens to split a long-term relationship for good. If you are called upon to voice your opinion then think carefully about what you say. Idle or spontaneous talk will lead to a difficult road ahead.

Someone may also take a liking to a partner in a fashion that leaves you feeling insecure and irritable. Beware the long-term implications of such infatuation. Try to reassure your loved one that your feelings for them are genuine otherwise unsatisfied companions might start to wander.

Card of the Month — Six of Cups

AQUARIUS January 21 – February 20

Most Aquarians are optimists at heart and no matter what obstacles are put in your way you always find some method of overcoming them. You need to bear this in mind when it comes to a fiery relationship, which is the cause of much consternation in your life right now. Things may turn pretty bleak in December and you will have to draw upon some deep reserves to pull yourself through. The crux of the matter is going to be whether you really want a troubled romance to continue. Your heart and head are telling you different things and for once you should consider listening to reason. Financially, some of you could benefit from a family windfall at the end of the month but don’t get too reckless and try to keep something in reserve.

Card of the Month — Four of Swords 194 December 2014

PISCES February 21 – March 20

Something has been awakened in you romantically and now the desires of the past few weeks are welling over and threatening to turn your passion meter to overload! It’s quite an experience and not one you are likely to repeat in the same way again, so do not allow the moment to pass you by. The planets seem to be aligned, the Lovers is your card of the month; in fact all the signs point towards the positive. This could develop into quite a long-term, serious relationship if you allow it to, confirming what your heart is already screaming at you to accept. When you fall, Pisces, it’s often in a big way but many of you may never have fallen like this before, nor are you likely to again. Card of the Month — The Lovers

ARIES March 21 – April 20

This month it is going to be all about the money for your sign and you will benefit from shrewd investments coming to fruition and a welcome windfall to welcome in Christmas and the New Year. When you look back on 2014 it may be with mixed feelings for whilst you have succeeded in many ways, there have remained numerous challenges that perhaps hindered your complete progress. As December unfolds you could find yourself drawn into the organising of a family event that is likely to increase in size until it becomes worthy of a mini-project. If you go down the route of accepting this task then don’t be afraid to turn to others for assistance.

Card of the Month — Queen of Coins

TAURUS April 21 – May 20

If you have outlined a plan of action regarding a proposed change of career then December will see you applying the finishing touches to the process and you will earmark the New Year as the moment to kick everything off. With that in mind, make the most of the festive season, as you will be rushed off your feet from January onwards. It’s all going to be worthwhile but it will be hard work. On a separate note, thoughts will return to a relative’s passing earlier this year and it may be a difficult Christmas celebration because of it but the person in question would not want you to be too down so remember them in the way they would most like.

Card of the Month — Nine of Coins

GEMINI May 21 – June 20 December is decision month for you on three fronts: work, health and perhaps most importantly of all, romance. As far as your career is concerned, you may be approached to take on a new set of responsibilities but unless you are financially rewarded you should not accept the role. Stand your ground. Health wise, you may feel like you are at your peak right now and although this is probably true, you should still be careful not to push yourself too much. Finally, where romance is concerned you are going to have to wrestle with quite possibly the most difficult decision of all. Do you go with your heart or listen to your head? Either outcome will cause its own measure of tears but only one deliver you long term happiness.

Card of the Month — The Hanged Man CANCER June 21 – ­July 20

Sometimes the hardest thing in life can be saying goodbye and for Cancerians – a sign not comfortable with change – it is an even more difficult thing to do. You’re just not very good at endings, even when you know they are necessary and inevitable. This month you are going to have to come to terms with someone you care for quite dearly, finally walking out of your life for good. Even though a part of you realises it’s for the best, you are not likely to take it well. On the work front, a planned project launch could be delayed because of the failure of others to meet certain deadlines but this could turn out to be a blessing in disguise so don’t despair too much. Card of the Month — Death www.bahrainthismonth.com

advertisers index LEO July 21 – August 21

If money has been a problem of late then the problem will not completely remove itself this month, although the strain will get easier. A friend or family member may come forward with a proposal or loan that will help you and it may start you on the road to a greater financial future in the New Year. Towards the end of the month your thoughts may be directed to memories of the past that leave you pining for better days. Work may be stressful and a particular colleague could be aggravating you more than usual, but you should try to ignore them. The 11th will bring sad news from overseas concerning a relative. Card of the Month — Five of Coins

VIRGO August 22 – September 21

If you have been going through a difficult emotional time lately, then December offers you the chance to finally break free from the chains and reclaim your life once more. It could well be that you need a confidence booster and this may come in the form of an admirer, who has been waiting in the wings for some time and is now ready to make a move. Even if you feel unsure about a proposal for dinner or some similar advance, put your uncertainty behind you and take the chance. You won’t regret it. For a few, it could even be the start of a much bigger event. Card of the Month — Justice

LIBRA September 22 – October 21

With many of you will be out celebrating Christmas this month, you should be careful not to drink too much or overeat just for the sake of it! Some of you will probably end up regretting it for a lot longer then you may realise. You are also advised to seriously decline any opportunity to indulge yourself in an impulsive fling because your “catch” might not turn out to be all they seem. If the women amongst you have been feeling broody and perhaps uncomfortable about approaching a partner over the subject of a child, then now might be a good time, especially if your companion is also an air sign. Card of the Month — Three of Wands

SCORPIO October 22 – November 21

The coming month sees you drawing into yourself and reflecting greatly upon various relationships in your life. You may feel somewhat isolated from a partner’s activities in December and a moment put aside to remind those closest that you need attention will not go unheeded. A row over a missing garment will set your household into turmoil around the 23rd and you should think hard about laying down the law, if you are called upon to be judge and jury. A friend comes seeking advice on a relationship in the last few days of the month and you will need to be honest with them. Don’t sugar coat the truth or you will not be helping them in the long run.

Card of the Month — Four of Cups

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Walter Disney

Jay Z

Miey Cyrus

FAMOUS SAGITTARIUS THIS MONTH

Fashion & Footwear

Madre & Padre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Tati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Financial Institutions

Bahrain Development Bank . . . . . . . . 52 Bahrain National Holding . . . . . . . . . . 23

Home & Furnishing

ID Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Phoenicia Decor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 The Closets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Hotels & Serviced Residences

Al Areen Palace & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Crowne Plaza Bahrain Hotel . . . . . . 152 Elite Seef Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Golden Tulip Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Marriott Executive Apartments . . . . 126 Novotel Al Dana Resort . . . . . . . . . . 138 Ramada Hotel Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Ramee Group of Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Sheraton Hotel Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . 135 Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa . 143 Starwood Hotels (Le Meridien) . . . . 139 The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel . . 133 The Domain Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 The Gulf Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 The K Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 The Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa . 153

Al Tamimi & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Alosra Supermarket . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Bahrain Noor El Ain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Bahrain Schools Expo 2015 . . . . . . . 185 Bath & Body Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Berlitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Bumblefoot Live . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Cat in The Hats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Ceram Dental Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 City Centre Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 19 Dara Innovation Real Estate . . . . . . . 47 Gulf Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3 Intercol (Canon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Intercol (Moulinex) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Joz Salon & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Juffair Fitness Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 K Home & Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Life Easy Commercial Services . . . . . 42 Lulu Hypermarket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Megacards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Pegasus Real Estate (Juffair Heights) . . 13 Picture Arabia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Punchline Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Riffa Views International School . . .181 Royal College of Surgeons . . . . . . . . 182 Seven Leisure (Coral Bay) . . . . . . . . . 53 Syed Junaid Alam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Yateem Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Restaurants & Cafés

A.A. Bin Hindi (KIA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Al Haddad Motors (Mercedes-Benz) . . . 35 Almoayyed Motors (Ford) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Behbehani Brothers (Audi) . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Ebrahim K. Kanoo (Lexus) . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Euro Motors (Jaguar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Euro Motors (Mini) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 First Motors (Hyundai) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 JAC Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Mohd Jalal & Sons (Suzuki) . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons (Nissan) . . . . . . . 71

Akiko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Aroma Cafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Brazil Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Bukhowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Cafe Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Cafe Italia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Casa Mexicana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Cucina Italiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Engie’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Hakishushi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Hard Rock Cafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Jawad Supermarket . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Kei Japanese Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . 76 Lanterns Lounge & Restaurant . . . . 118 Maki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 McDonalds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Paul Bakery & Restaurant . . . . . . . . . 27 Rampe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 RIC’s Kountry Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Ruka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Shoo Fee Ma Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Others

Telecommunications

Jewellery & Watches

Ambassador Stores (Seiko) . . . . . . . . 81 Ashrafs (Casio) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Asia Jewellers (Cartier) . . . . . . . . . . . BC Omega . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC, 1 Sharif Group (Alpina) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Motoring

A.J.M. Kooheji & Sons (Kumho) . . . . 29 Al Ghalia Co. (Dessange) . . . . . . . . . . 49

Viva . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Zain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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.

December 2014 195

lastword

Love, not Stuff!

JAMES CLAIRE Aging is a funny concept, you become smarter and want to stamp your own mark on the world but, at times, you are pulled backward to learn from the past.

196 December 2014

The past s where mistakes have been made, fixed and usually forgotten. As I age I try to learn from the past so as not to repeat it.

Those reading this column live in a country where the meaning of Christmas is irrelevant due to the beliefs of those to whom this country belongs.

However, the message to all this festive season, planet wide, should be that December 25th should be a time of ‘Love, not stuff.’

In the Western world, with its myriad of religious beliefs, Christmas has become more a time of gifts than of family, love and togetherness. In the Middle East, those of us who celebrate it, add it to a long list of days that we can have a boozy brunch, few of us have a Christmas tree in our villa and even fewer are celebrating with family by our side. So, what are we celebrating other than a day off?

How many gifts can one truly need through life?

Surely we can buy what ever we want for ourselves with our tax-free salaries. So, what do you buy or give the expat who has everything? Perhaps we could give them a message from the past!

In 1967 Martin Luther King JR stated on CBC radio at Christmas, “This Christmas season finds us a rather bewildered human race. We have neither peace within nor peace without. Our world is sick with war; everywhere we turn we see its ominous possibilities. And yet, the Christmas hope for peace and good will toward all men can no longer be dismissed as a kind of pious dream of some utopian.

If we don’t have good will toward men in this world, we will destroy ourselves.“

With wars, skirmishes and insurgencies in Croatia, Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan, and tensions in the China Sea to North and South Korea, have we learnt anything in the near 40 decades of Christmases since King spoke those ominous words?

So, here’s the idea for Christmas. I have been working with a hotel group recently and they have a programme whereby anyone can bestow a guest with an act of generosity based upon whatever event they see or hear.

If a guest is running late, the concierge can offer the company car rather than waiting for a taxi; if the guest is seen to have spilled something on themselves, a waiter can offer free laundry service and so on. They are called ‘random acts of kindness’ and they have made a huge impact on guest satisfaction overall.

Instead of buying gifts for people who aren’t really friends and instead of spending BD10 on something ridiculous for a Secret Santa gift that the receiver will never use, why not perform a random act of kindness?

Pool office resources and change the lives of people who are needy. Buy a wheelchair for the disabled, buy dinner for the homeless, pay for the medication for a patient or pay for a flight for orphans who have never travelled.

Violence is easy and, for the most part, it is caused by the unhappiness of others or the disparity of their lives to ours. Imagine if we removed that imbalance and made the less fortunate lead a happier, balanced life. Christmas is about love, not stuff, and we should show that love to all, everywhere.

Martin Luther King Jr. also stated, ”I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

For the most part we have conquered racism. Sadly though, we are no closer to solving the issues that make us fight with one another.

However, if violence only leads to more violence, then perhaps we will one day see that kindness inspires kindness. Instead of asking a fictitious character in a red suit for a gift this year, how about performing a ‘random act of kindness’ and making peace, happiness and contentment the only feelings felt throughout the world?

Season’s greetings to you all. www.bahrainthismonth.com

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