Bahrain This Month - September 2012

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

BD 2.000 (SR 20)

September 2012 ~ Vol. 16 ~ Issue 9 www.bahrainthismonth.com

Back On Track

Endurance Test

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Featured This Month:

Appetite for Apps | Bahrain Music Festival | Social Media Masters Forum

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

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Issue 181

Contents September 2012 Cover Story:

26 Back on Track A test of endurance takes to the Bahrain International Circuit as the World Endurance Championship heads to the Kingdom

26

in its inaugural year.

Happenings: Bahrain This Month reviews events happening around town during the month of September 2012:

23

24

23 Symphony of Expression: The Bahrain Music Festival comes of age 26 Accelerated Anticipation: Six hours of action at the BIC 28 Bahrain Science Centre: Now open to everyone, not just the kids 30 Cultural Celebration: The Tamil community puts on a show 34 Get Social: Bahrain Social Media Masters Forum 36 A Hop, Skip and a Twirl: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all at World Beat Fitness Center 38 Kicks for the Kingdom: National football championships season starts 23-38 Calendar: Events during September

Business:

53 Chemical Reactions

54

89

Diversifying the local economy is not simply about seeking opportunities outside the traditional oil and gas sector; downstream is an untapped market.

54 Making Waves Alaa Al Shaikh has a mission; to ensure the Kingdom makes best use of its shoreline through the creation of state-of-theart marinas.

56

118 Bystander

56 Acquiring Skills Leaving school can be a daunting task; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s made easier through a series of Tamkeen programmes that help students secure the right option for them.

At BTM we spent most of the month attending Ghabgas and Iftars; Ramadan has always been a busy time for socialising and networking. From the Gulf Hotel to the Regency, from the Sheraton to the Elite Resort & Spa, we took in all the action. In between we still found time for some fun at the Lost Paradise of Dilmun and to witness the latest from Lexus.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

September 2012 3

Issue 181

Contents September 2012 Feature:

34 Appetite for Apps Just like a generation ago, the ubiquitous app will transform

34

the way in view we retrieve and view content with its userfriendly interface.

Downtime: 81 Pushing Boundaries: Path to success 82 Gadgets: Urban traits 84 Music: Roots of passion 86 Computer Games: Light wars 87 Websites: A floating calm 88 Apps: Tripping over goo 89 Movies: Recalling a legacy

105

99

Motoring: 99 Creating a Storm: Hyundai Santa Fe 100 Wheels: Infiniti JX 103 Showcase: Lexus ES

Dining: 105 Cucina Italiana: Breakfast delights 106 Showcase: Vapiano

After Dark:

111

122

111 Cocoon: Re-launch of an old favourite 112 Happenings: Where to be seen this month 115 Showcase: Elite Crystal Hotel

Showcase: 117 Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New: Fresh sounds 118 Marketplace: Latest products and services

30

36

www.bahrainthismonth.com

38

133 134 135 136

WIN WIN Tarotscope AD Index Last word September 2012 5

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The team

Bahrain This Month September 2012

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

Dear Readers,

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

Published monthly by

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

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

• Views expressed in this magazine by journalists

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

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

Cover

Cover Picture: The Bahrain International Circuit revs up the action this month as it hosts the fifth leg of the World Endurance Championship.

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

BD 2.000 (SR 20)

September 2012 ~ Vol. 16 ~ Issue 9

As the cover this month announces, we are back on track — at the Bahrain International Circuit, to be precise. The motor racing venue hosts six hours of high speed action, and bumps, as the World Endurance Championship debuts in the Kingdom, and the Middle East, in its inaugural season.

Elsewhere, the Bahrain International Music Festival comes of age; the hosting of the 21st edition sees a potpourri of artists arrive on our shores. From Armenia to Sudan, from Egypt to Jordan, the diversity of musicians on show celebrates a key objective of the organisers, to afford us an opportunity to broaden our horizons.

For those of us who like to socialise, the Social Media Masters Forum offers a variety of conferences and workshops throughout the month to expand our understanding of everything ethereal. Complementing this event, our feature on wireless mobility delves into the world of the ‘app’, and our endless appetite for all things digital.

As is traditional after the summer, and Ramadan this year, September brings with it a season of change. Our retail outlets will soon have the latest autumn and winter collections on display and, on the recreational and sporting front, new championships and tournaments kick into life. Whether it is ballet for the kids or the national soccer league, everything appears to be, how should I say, back on track!

In pursuit of what is new, we feature Cucina Italiana, in our dining section.

You’ll now be able to start your day with a tempting, Italian-inspired breakfast.

To call time on your day, we find out what is happening over at Cocoon. The venue re-launches with a grand opening on September 7, with a new resident DJ and an international guest disk-spinner.

Our interviews this month include a man with water on his mind; Alaa Al Shaikh believes we need to up our investment in our shoreline to create more diverse recreational activities for residents and visitors alike. We also talk to Yara Al-Ammadi, a 10th grade student at Al Bayan International School, about how Tamkeen has helped to offer her an insight into the world of business.

So, enjoy the great way of life that the Kingdom has to offer as we embark on the most frenetic period of the year where, as the season changes, there is plenty to keep us occupied both at work and away from the office.

George F. Middleton Publisher and Chairman

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Back On Track

1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION Bahrain: BD24

Endurance Test

Gulf and international subscriptions available on request.

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Featured This Month:

Appetite for Apps | Bahrain Music Festival | Social Media Masters Forum

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

www.bahrainthismonth.com

September 2012 7

bystanderthismonth

Mustafa Bin Abdullatif Majlis Mustafa bin Abdullatif played host to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince & Deputy Supreme Commander and a number of VIP guests during the Holy Month of Ramadan

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa with the Mustafa bin Abdullatif family & VIPs

HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza Ramadan Ghabga HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza, Minister of Energy, hosted a ghabga during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Members of the ruling family, dignitaries and a number of VIP guests attended the ghabga held at the Bapco Club in Awali

HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza & HE Shaikh Daij Al Khalifa

Khalil Shakib, Sadiq Dawani, HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza & Khalil Al Sharif

Mazen Al Umran & HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza

Mahmood Sayyar, Abdulrahman Juma, HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza & Abdulla Juma

Gordon Smith, Ed Hanley & HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza

Anwar Khalaf, Mohammed Ghuloom, Akbar Jaffary & HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza

10 September 2012

HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza & Abdul Rahman Jawahery

Khalid Almoayed & HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza

HE Shaikh Daij Al Khalifa & Ali Abbas

Saleh Al Kuwari, Faisal Al Mahroos, HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza & Salem Mannai

Ishaq Khonji, HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza & Rashid Abdulrahman

Mohammed Salahuddin

Ebrahim Dossary & Redha Bader

Dr Tawfiq Almoayyed, Abdulrahman Juma, HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza, Mohammed Mannai & Abdul Rahman Jawahery

Abdul Hussain Monfaradi, Farid Al Mulla, HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza, Dawood Nassif & Mahdi Hassan

HE Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza & Ali Al Sawad

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bystanderthismonth

Indian Independence Day Flag Hoisting Ceremony The Indian Embassy conducted a flag-hoisting ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Independence Day at Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS). The event included the reading of a message from the President of India and rendering of patriotic songs.

The event was attended by HE Mohan Kumar, Indian Ambassador and members of the Indian community

HE Mohan Kumar & Radhakrishna Pillai

HE Mohan Kumar addresses the guests

Kunal, Babu Kewalram & Hishang

Shantini & Roshni

Sanjeev, Binish & Mani

Soman Baby & Soman Pillai

Dr Cherian, Soman & Ashok

Ashok, Hisham & Sethu

Arun & John

Jayanti, Prathima, Chethana, Sandhya, Priya & Jennifer

HE Mohan Kumar hoists the Indian flag

12 September 2012

Balan, Reghu & Manu

Sipra, Surabhi & Shreya

Narendar & Akshay

Rajeev & Sathyan

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bystanderthismonth

Moroccan National Day Celebrations HE Ahmed Rasheed Khattabi, Moroccan Ambassador, hosted a reception to celebrate the National Day of Morocco. The reception attended by Ghanim Al-Buainain, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Sameera Rajab, Minister of State for Information Affairs, HE Abdulla Abdullatif, Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, diplomats and VIPs was held at the Al Riffa Ballroom, InterContinental Regency Bahrain

Abdulla Al Bedr, HE Ghanim Al Buainain & Khalifa Rumaihi

Zainab, Sameera & Ausha

Badia, Fawzia & Fawzia

Hakima, Mariam & Fawzia

Hanan, Jihan, Rihab & Najlaa

14 September 2012

Fawzia & HE Ahmed Rashid Khattabi

HE Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, HE Abdulla Abdullatif, Dr Dhafer Al Umran & HE Sameera Rajab

HE Ghanim Al Buainain, HE Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, HE Sameera Rajab, HE Abdulla Abdullatif & diplomats at the cake cutting

Dee Dee & Chelsea

Touria & Amal

Laila, Sherin, Huda & Hesma

Sarah & Mohammed

Alwani & Ahmed

Sana & Hayat

Mohammed, Alima, Nosa & Hassan

Hisham & Mustafa

Jaleel

Dr Khalid

Ali

Nabeel

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bystanderthismonth

Bahrain Air Ghabga Bahrain Air, held its annual Ghabga at the Golden Tulip Hotel's Ramadan Tent. The ghabga was attended by Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, chairman of Bahrain Air, Captain Ibrahim Al Hamer, Bahrain Air managing director, Richard Nuttall, chief executive officer, senior management, local Arabic & English media, well-wishers, business partners, crew and staff members of Bahrain Air

Capt Waleed with Richard Nuttall

Aziz, Capt Ibrahim Al Hamer, Shaikh Mohammed & Mahmood

Abdulla & Mohammed

Moeen, Mohamed & Hussain

Maitham, Riyadh, Capt Waleed, Capt Sarhil & Capt Duniya

Abilash, Rahul, Sumesh, Anil, Kartick, Shaker & Hareesh

Ahmed, Joseph & Abdulla

Aziz & Salman

Aysha & Yousif

Fatima & Nawara

Marwan & Kathy

Salah & Yousid

Everly & Elly

Sonal

Victoria

Mohammed & Khamis

Kareema

Fatima

Mohammed, Huma, Amina, Maitham, Kawthar & Hind

16 September 2012

Faisal & Naeem

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bystanderthismonth

Zayani Investments Group Staff Ghabga The Zayani Investments Group hosted a ghabga for members of staff during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The ghabga was held at the Elite Resort & Spa

Mohammed, Rashid & Abdul Rahman

Sajida, Abdulrahman, Ali & Ahmed

Zainab, Ahmed, A. Rahman & Cresilda

Adele, Jacob & Sunil

Khalid, Hamid, Abdul Rahman & Rashid Al Zayani

Anil, Mohammed, Pramod, Bassim & Tony

Muna & Ameera

Hassan, Subhan & Musthafa

Rajesh, Shafik & Suresh

Anicetto Jr winner of the Hyundai Car grand prize with, Ali, Abdul Rahman Al Zayani, Khalid Al Zayani, Hamid Al Zayani & Nawaf Al Zayani

18 September 2012

Zuhair with Nawaf Al Zayani

Mariam, Layla & Azeeta

Ali & Amrith

Fatima

Sateesh & Deepak

Alex, Jobel, Reymond & Rod

Reigna, Eloisa & Emy

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bystanderthismonth

Batelco Media Ghabga Batelco welcomed over 150 members of Bahrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Media representatives to a Ramadan ghabga banquet at the Intercontinental Regency Hotel recently. The event, which was attended

by Batelco Group Chief Executive Shaikh Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa, Batelco Chief Executive Bahrain Rashid Abdulla and a number of Batelco executive management, was held in the hotel's Al Thuraya Ramadan Tent Rashid Abdulla, Shaikh Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa & Ahmed Al Janahi

Hashim & Jaleel

Sehrish, Mohammed & Mehak

Marina & Vladimir

Ameer, Sadiq & Ram

Jassim & Ali

Missam, Ahmed, Madeleine, Hessa, Eman & Noor

Rami & Leyal

Nikesh, Rose & Namitha

Ashok, Sandeep & Mahmood

Suhaila & Hamza

20 September 2012

Bilal

Maysom & Azzam

Ajit, Krishna Bhatt & Sachin

Susan, Charlie & David

Redia & Arlene

Feraf & Rudaima

Roland & Badriya

Shani

Osama

Fawaz

Raji & Biju

www.bahrainthismonth.com

happeningsthismonth When? September 30–October 5 | Event? Bahrain International Music Festival | Venue? Cultural Hall

Orquestra Camara De Reina Sofia

A Symphony of Expression Whatever your taste in music, you are guaranteed to be wowed by an array of musicians from all over the world visiting the Kingdom for this annual festival.

So far this year we’ve celebrated design, architecture and poetry, to name a few, as part of the Manama Capital of Arab Culture’s year-long jubilations. It’s now the turn of the Bahrain International Music Festival 2012 to take centre stage.

The week-long event will be filled with concerts of all varieties, depicting diverse music from around the world.

Catering to both local and regional audiences, the festival programme falls in line with the Ministry’s aim to provide multidisciplinary learning opportunities and cultural exchanges.

During its 21 years, the festival has become an iconic yearly event in the Kingdom’s calendar and provides a platform for talents from both home and abroad to perform.

Diverse experiences Six musical artists and groups have been enlisted to perform, each offering a unique genre of music to appeal to people of all likes and ages. Opening the festival on September 30 is an evening of opera from Egyptian singer Noresta El Marghany.

The following night Jordanian pianist Zade Dirani will take to the stage to demonstrate his talent. Also a composer, Zade creates epic cinematic music that blend Arabic, Latin, pop, and classical genres to create pieces loved by all nationalities.

October 2 hosts Armenian Hasmik Leyloyan; considered to be Also this month

today’s ‘Queen’ of Qanon, she flawlessly performs folk as well as complex classical compositions. Next up is a night of song from Sudan, performed Mohammed Al Amin, and followed by a grand orchestral evening from the Tunisian orchestra El Azifet.

Directed by Amina Srarfi, the all-female band performs ArabicAndalusian music.

The music festival ends on a high note with the famous Orquestra Camara De Reina Sofia, otherwise known as the Queen Sofia Chamber Orchestra. Founded in 1984, the Spanish group is based in Madrid but has travelled the globe to perform and has enlisted the services of various renowned soloists for particular reprisals.

Each concert is held at the Cultural Hall, adjacent to the Bahrain National Museum, and begins at 8pm. All are welcome to attend. E Visit www.manamaculture2012.bh.

Amina Srarfi

Music Festival events When? September 30 Event? Opera Artist? Noresta El Marghany When? October 1 Event? Piano recital Artist? Zade Dirani When? October 2 Event? Quanun night Artist? Hasmik Leyloyan When? October 3 Event? Oud night Artist? Mohammed Al Amin When? October 4 Event? Orchestral concert Artist? Amina Srarfi with El Azifet

Zade Dirani

When? October 5 Event? Orchestral concert Artist? Orquestra Camara De Reina Sofia

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

www.bahrainthismonth.com

September 2012 23

happeningsthismonth When? September 1-30 | Event? Ta’a Al Shabab festival | Venue? Various

Youth Festival

When? September 3 Event? Orientation session Venue? The K Hotel Don’t miss the chance to sign up for Tamkeen’s Career Expo taking place in November.

E Call 17 556-411.

When? September 20-29 Event? Al Ayam Cultural Fair Venue? BIECC If you love a good book, then don’t miss this literature-filled festival.

E Visit www.alayamfestival.com.

Junior Champions

24 September 2012

This month, the Bahrain Tennis Club is encouraging all junior players to take to the court. The 2012 Junior Master’s Tennis Tournament will see elite male players between the ages of 14 and 16 take part in a round robin elimination tennis competition.

This event is the second leg of the adrenalin-filled tournament — the first was played during Ramadan where the winner received BD100, the runner-up BD50 and the third qualifier BD30. E Call 17 729-561.

When? September 20-29 | Event? Al Ayam Cultural Fair | Venue? BIECC

When? October 11 Event? BSPCA Fashion Show Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel Enjoy a glamorous evening complete with a charity fashion show and dinner.

E Call 17 593-479.

E Visit www.ta2alshabab.org.

When? September | Event? Junior tennis tournament | Venue? Bahrain Tennis Club

When? September 28 and 29 Event? Six Hours of Bahrain endurance race Venue? Bahrain International Circuit Take to the tracks for an exclusive new racing championship this month.

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

When? September 30–October 5 Event? Bahrain International Music Festival Venue? Cultural Hall A week-long music festival will give you a flavour of international talent.

E Visit www.manamaculture2012.bh.

Cultural Hall. Guest speakers will be coming from across the region to discuss their industry; expect discussions from poets, academics, artists and much more.

Get Shopping The 19th edition of the Al Ayam Cultural Fair will see more than 200 publishing houses participate, offering more than 150,000 books.

The festival offers a unique opportunity to schools and universities as they will also be invited to the festival.

Organisers hope to provide a culturally rich experience for its visitors giving them a platform to connect to thousands of both Arabic and international works.

E Visit www.alayamfestival.com.

When? October 11 | Event? BSPCA Fashion Show | Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel

When? September 1-30 Event? Ta’a Al Shabab festival Venue? Various Have fun whilst learning at various youth-related events this month.

E Visit www.ta2alshabab.org.

Over the last few years, the Ta’a Al Shabab festival has proved to be a hit with youths across the Kingdom. Now in its fourth year, the festival, which translates to ‘Come on Youth’, is highlighting the ideas of thinking, manifestation and modernisation.

Various celebrations will be held across Bahrain, to enable youths to explore architecture, art, poetry, literature, technology, theatre, music and intellectual discussion forums.

Events will occur throughout the month at various venues.

One prominent location is at Seef Mall, where a special Ta’a Al Shabab section will be in place. Here, daily events and exhibits will be ongoing, such as displays of origami, photographs of Bahrain and large-scale collages.

Other locations include the Bahrain Fort, Art Centre and

A Charitable Runway Tickets are currently on sale for the annual BSPCA fashion show at the charity’s thrift shop in Budaiya.

As well as the fashion show, the night will feature dancing from Victoria’s School of Dance, plus a musical performance from soloist Anna Thompson-Hall.

E Call 17 593-479.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

happeningsthismonth When? September 28-29 | Event? Six Hours of Bahrain endurance race | Venue? Bahrain International Circuit

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT

Accelerated Anticipation The Kingdom’s iconic racing track is back with a bang this month; get ready for another first of-its-kind event as the track takes part in a world-renowned championship.

As events are kick-started again everywhere on the island this month, and the Bahrain International Circuit is no exception.

The desert race track has secured a brand-new and exciting event as it welcomes the Six Hours of Bahrain endurance race.

Part of the all-new FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the two-day spectacle will be the sixth of eight rounds in the 2012 championship. The season calendar also includes races in the US, Belgium, France, the UK, Brazil, Japan and China, with Bahrain as the only Arab country lucky enough to be included.

“The Six House of Bahrain will mark another first for the Kingdom and for the BIC,” says BIC chief executive Shaikh Salman. “We are known around the world to be regional pioneers in the sport and we are proud to once again be the first in bringing such a prestigious series to the Middle East,” he continues.

Top cars The race will feature a huge grid of 32 of the world’s fastest and most prestigious sports cars, from manufacturers such as Audi, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Porsche and Lotus. Top international teams from around the world will be taking part, with numerous drivers in each team who will take turns behind the wheel.

There will be four different car categories: the Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1), LMP2, LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am. Winners will be crowned in each of the four categories. The first day will host the qualifying races with the second day scheduled to flag off the Six Hours of Bahrain event, beginning at 4pm and ending at 10pm.

Open paddock The event has been designed to entice both racing fanatics and their families. Throughout the two days, the BIC will be keeping

26 September 2012

its paddock area open, allowing fans to freely walk around the vicinity. Excitingly, there is the possibility of meeting some of the WEC’s drivers plus an autograph session along the pit lane has been scheduled.

All attendees can also take advantage of the off-track entertainment. The entertainment area will include a main stage where a series of colourful shows will take place, plus you will spot several roaming performers including musicians, stilt walkers and clowns.

Young children won’t be bored with the wide variety of rides on offer. Additionally, there will be an arts and crafts station, carnival games and refreshment stalls.

Tickets for the event cost BD20 per person, with half price tickets available for children aged 15 and below. All ticket holders will be able to watch the on-track action from two locations, including the BIC’s Main Grandstand and the Batelco Grandstand.

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

www.bahrainthismonth.com

happeningsthismonth When? Throughout September | Event? Various workshops | Venue? Bahrain Science Centre

BAHRAIN SCIENCE CENTRE

Scientific Kaleidoscope Experience the world of science with your children in a fun and educational way; together you will discover how exciting science really can be.

28 September 2012

This month, the Bahrain Science Centre (BSC) officially opens its doors to everyone; kids, adults and families alike are invited to come along and kick off the new season.

Over the summer, the centre has seen 2,300 children attending its summer programmes showing how popular education really can be.

If the summer camp activities weren’t enough, organisers have lined up even more science workshops. Kids will get to meet real scientists to have interactive discussions about their career choices. Young visitors will also be amazed to see firsthand how a scientist dissects the eyes of cows and fish.

“We are overwhelmed with the record-breaking response we have received from children, families and educational institutions,” says Khalid Ishaq, assistant undersecretary of community development from Bahrain’s Ministry of Social Development (MOSD). “Complementing the school curriculum, the science workshops stimulate curiosity and innovation amongst the young ones which has been a key to our success.”

During the animal storytelling sessions, children will get the opportunity to experience the science centre’s menagerie collection of toy animals and have fun discussing where they live, what they eat and who eats them, and other interesting facts which will fascinate young minds.

For the more practical child, Experiment Week allows kids to

perform their own experiments under the supervision of a science teacher. From science shows, storytelling, puppet workshops and talk shops to educational games, this new season will have something for everyone at the BSC. The series of fun-filled games and activities encourage children to use their brains and to enter a world of imagination.

The centre offers the entertaining and exciting activities to develop essential life skills for young visitors.

Falling under Bahrain’s MOSD, the BSC is currently operated and managed by MTE Studios and is the first of its kind in the Kingdom. The centre is located in a colourful three-storey building along Riyadh Avenue in Isa Town, near the Manama/ Salmabad intersection.

Inside are six interactive exhibition galleries, an auditorium, four laboratories, a café and a shop. BSC aims to promote awareness of the importance of science and technology, complement the school curriculum, stimulate curiosity and innovation, and create a forum for public debate on science and technology issues.

Additionally there are science shows, talks, debates, demonstrations, dissections and star-gazing. In future, BSC will offer interschool competitions, excursions to places of scientific interest, camping trips and many other exciting activities.

E Call 13 684-686.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

happeningsartsculture When? September 28 | Event? Cultural festival | Venue? Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam

Cultural Celebration A first-of-its-kind festival will showcase a different culture this month; Tamil music, dance and comedy will join forces to create an evening of entertainment.

Known for its diversity in culture and ethnicity, Bahrain will be hosting a unique musical and cultural experience this month, particularly aimed at the Malayalam residents on the island.

The Tamil Sangamam Rhapsody festival will celebrate Tamil music, dance and entertainment and is planned to be one of the biggest Malayalam artist gatherings of the year in the entire region. The event will bring together well-known as well as up-and-coming talents under one roof for a cultural extravaganza.

Feature 16 artists, organisers Mindstorm Media are expecting to attract a crowd of 2,500 people to the festival. The programme will include acts within five different categories including dance, miming and comedy with the artists performing both collaborations as well as solo shows.

“In this current electronic world, it is very important for everyone to interact in person and build personal bonding.

With this mega festival, that is what we are attempting to do,” explains Sanjeev Kumar from Mindstorm Media.

“Performances have been specifically chosen to appeal to both Tamils and non-Tamils; the art of singing and dancing has

30 September 2012

no boundaries of language and nationalities. The event is aimed at everyone who loves dance and music.”

The show starts at 5pm and food stalls will be set up in the premises.

Familiar faces Fans of the Malayalam cultural scene won’t want to miss the host of famous TV personalities, singers, actors and dancers.

Among the performing artists will be the well-known variety performer and dancer Gokulnath. The artist got his break in 2008 after winning a TV talent reality show and has since then gone on to make movies and perform all over the world.

Another show-stopper destined to make an appearance is renowned gymnast and dancer Rehman. The artist has practised dance for the past 16 years with a training background in styles like Bollywood, cinematic, western, salsa, contemporary and folk.

To mix it up, the organisers have brought in the much-loved classical dancer, Jennifer. The talented artist has made a name for herself in the Tamil film industry starting at a very young age; she has received an astounding 13 awards for her work as a child actress.

When? September 1-31 Event? Exhibition and workshops Venue? Al Riwaq Art Space Brush up on your art and marketing skills with a series of workshops.

E Call 17 717-441.

When? September 1-31 Event? Exhibition Venue? Naqsh Gallery Catch the innovative and talented art of two young Bahraini artists.

E Call 39 932-411.

When? September 8–October 2 Event? Exhibition Venue? World Beat Café Famous Bahraini landmarks are under the spotlight this month.

E Call 17 612-576.

When? September 21–October 27 Event? Workshop Venue? Shaikh Ebrahim Center Learn the tips and tricks of collage-making from an expert artist.

E Call 17 322-549.

When? September 28 Event? Cultural festival Venue? Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Enjoy Tamil festivities as some of the best Malayalam names come to town.

E Call 17 007-270.

E Call 17 007-270.

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happeningsartsculture When? September 1-31 | Event? Exhibition and workshops | Venue? Al Riwaq Art Space

When? Sept. 8–Oct. 2 | Event? Exhibition | Venue? World Beat Café

Gear up for a set of unique workshops organised by Al Riwaq Art Space this month in connection to its major Market 338 festival later this year. First up is a product design workshop focusing on traditional to contemporary objects taught by Juan Manuel Vegas from September 20 to November 10.

To get your online social skills running, Samar Jaberi will be heading a workshop on blogging, live streaming and social networks under the title community manager on September 27, 28 and 29.

To jet set a project or business, Amna Al Rumaihi instructs classes on corporate branding during the first week of October. Keep your eyes and ears open for several photography, fashion design and font design courses until the big Market 338 festival.

You can also visit the art space this month for a major showcase of their collection of pieces by artists from around the region. E Call 17 717-441.

When? September 1-31 | Event? Exhibition | Venue? Naqsh Gallery

Learn to Create

Budding Creativity An initiative to help support up-and-coming artists in Bahrain, ‘Buzoog’ will be featuring Reem Al Arayedh and Ahmed Saeed. Reem will be presenting several pieces addressing Kufic calligraphy while Ahmed addresses art of portraiture.

The exhibits will thoroughly highlight the artists’ outstanding creations allowing them the mere opportunity to secure many futuristic possibilities.

The gallery is also running a Naqsh Cultural Dialogue initiative aimed at creating awareness and challenge young minds to be more inclined towards art and creativity. E Call 39 932-411.

When? Sept. 21–Oct. 27 | Event? Workshop | Venue? Shaikh Ebrahim Center

Artistic Collage Camille Zakharia will be giving budding artists an advanced course on photo collage and montage. Organised by the Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture and Research, the prominent photographer’s new course is a continuation of a beginners’ workshop held in spring of 2012.

Photographers and artists with a

background in collage practice will be mentored to create a mature body of work through a period of five weeks. Artists can choose subject matters ranging from personal to universal with no limitations on the method of application. Participants will see a demo, receive a brief history on photo-collages, present their portfolios and get one to one meetings with their instructor to discuss their projects.

E Call 17 322-549.

Bahrain in Painting Meriel Cooper presents her watercolour and mixed media paintings in her latest exhibition ‘A Personal View’. The artist’s imaginative paintings include those of the Riffa Fort and other famous scenes of the Kingdom. The artist will be available at the opening from 4-6pm for a meet and great session where coffee and tea will be served. E Call 17 612-576.

32 September 2012

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happeningsclubssocieties When? September 5, 6, 8, 15 and 24 | Event? Social Media Masters Forum | Venue? Various

When? September 5, 6, 8, 15 and 24 Event? Social Media Masters Forum Venue? Various A forum this month will depict how instrumental social media is to businesses.

E Visit www.socialmediamasters.me.

When? September 6 Event? Bandra Fair Venue? Indian Club Enjoy a family day out with traditional Indian food, music and entertainment.

E Visit www.indianclubbahrain.com.

Get Socialising!

Alison Coldridge The time has come to brush up on your social media skills, to achieve a greater competitive advantage both in business and personally.

A first-of-its-kind forum is occurring in the Kingdom this month, instructing attendees on the many advantages of social media.

A master’s level programme on how to use social media marketing tools and channels, attendees will pass through different steps and levels to result in a deep understanding of social media.

“The aim of the event is to transform individuals and companies alike into Social Media Experts who are able to integrate technology in communication. Also, attendees will learn how to prompt business to generate sales and enhance customer service,” outlines Afrah Ajaj, founder of the organising company Takatof and a member of the Bahrain Social Media Club.

Five days, five different areas covered The event will be divided into five different days, each targeting and exploring areas of social media. The first day held on September 5 at the InterContinental Regency will include a conference with lectures from industry experts. These keynote speakers will share their advanced-level strategies and tactics to help business professionals build upon their use of social media.

The second day, also held at the InterContinental Regency, will feature a seminar providing applications that businesses

34 September 2012

should be utilising. Next up will be a fundamentals workshop at the Alayam Media Center on September 8. This will be a hands-on day, offering the foundations for success with social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. September 15 will be all about blogging. Attendees at this BIBF event will be introduced to developing blogs, hosting solutions and how to market and promote your blog. The final day of the forum will be located back at the Alayam Media Centre on September 24. This will be an events camp and will be an interactive environment with expert speakers, live collaboration and remote attendance.

“Through the Social Media Masters series, conferences, workshop leaders and industry experts will bring real cases to share as well as advanced-level strategies and tactics to help business professionals build upon their use of social media and expand their marketing and communication activities,” Afrah continues.

As well as providing the education and experience required to advance in social media, attendees will receive a certificate for every day of the forum attended. However, it won’t just be the attendees who benefit from the week-long event. The organisers deem the forum to be impactful to the Kingdom’s own growth and economy. “The forum will assist companies in modernising their marketing strategies to enable them to better compete with competitors. Businesses will also build a very strong social media presence that will serve as a powerful branding tool,” concludes Afrah.

When? September 6 and 7 Event? Theatre auditions Venue? British School of Bahrain If your child is a talented performer, ensure they audition for Bahrain’s next musical!

E Call 17 610-972, 17 610-943 or 17 610-973.

When? September 7 Event? Onam feast Venue? Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Celebrate the close of Kerala’s Onam festival with a grand feast.

E Visit www.bahrainkeraleeyasamajam.com.

When? September 6, 13 and 20 Event? Themed dinners Venue? The British Club Eat cuisine from around the world at the club’s Ascot restaurant.

E Call 17 725-194.

When? September 10 Event? Anniversary celebrations Venue? Riffa Golf Club A cake-cutting ceremony with Bahrain’s US Ambassador will take place.

E Visit www.awabahrain.org.

When? September 28 Event? Dinner and talk Venue? The British Club Enjoy dinner followed by a talk from the Bahrain National Football team coach.

E Call 17 725-194.

When? October 4 Event? Autumn show Venue? The British Club Come along to the club’s annual show to enjoy live acts, performances and music.

E Call 17 725-194.

E Visit www.socialmediamasters.me.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

happeningskidsteens When? September 1-30 | Event? Dance lessons | Venue? World Beat Fitness Centre

A Hop, Skip and a Twirl Keep your children healthy and disciplined by implementing the art of dance and ballet into their lives; ballet encourages poise, concentration and offers the chance to make new friends.

The summer may be over for most but some parents still need to keep their little ones busy. World Beat Fitness Centre offers two new programmes to keep your kids active and entertained during the month of September.

Combining fun dance moves with a learning experience, the programmes help foster the importance of presence, posture and etiquette from a young age. Always avoiding the tried conventional approaches to fitness, World Beat implements its innovative and holistic approach into all of kids programmes.

A globally-recognised syllabus Taught by professionally trained Faten Elgohary, the kids’ ballet classes will teach the rules and techniques of ballet. The syllabus is based on the Russian Ballet schools and works to create a positive self image in young ones teaching them skill, poise, self discipline and self-confidence. Faten’s passion for dance will infuse this course with fun and exploration.

To keep the kids excited, the course will be a mixture of traditional training as well as fun aerobics like hopping, skipping and jumping. The children will also work on flexibility and

36 September 2012

balance work. Ballet class etiquette is also part of the curriculum.

Students learn ballet terminology, the names of composers of classical ballet music, and the stories of famous ballets.

Divided into two categories, Baby Ballet will start from September 8 and will be held every Saturday at 9am for kids aged three to five years-old. The Pre-primary Ballet also starts September 8 and will be held every Saturday at 10am for kids aged six to eight years-old; Tuesday classes will start September 11 and will be held from 5pm to 6pm.

Potter Around

Dance together If you are looking for a way to spend more time with your children, then try an active class for mums and little ones. The class will be enjoyable, boosted by the combination of dance, music and movement and will improve self-confidence along with balance and coordination.

The programme will even correct poor posture with the incorporation of unique, isolated movements. Learn how to move to the rhythm and create memories that will last forever while at the same time encourage the development of creativity and fantasy of your little dancer. The four-week course starting September and is taught by World Beat Fitness’s very own Iman Foad.

Looking for a special one-on-one time with your children? Why not have them participate in a fun arts and crafts environment and join them. Get your kids into an artsy mood this month with a special tea party for both parents and kids.

For BD5, children will be able to paint a ceramic to take home and enjoy a delicious miniature buffet.

This new experience will give your little ones a fun day out with their parents and also opportunity to socialise with other kids.

Adults can also enjoy their own delicious finger foods buffet, a pot of tea and ten per cent off any ceramics in the store.

E Call 17 612-576.

E Call 17 583-500.

When? September 8 Event? Tea Party Venue? Café Ceramique

www.bahrainthismonth.com

happeningssportsrecreation When? September 21 onwards | Event? Football league | Venue? Muharraq Football Stadium

Kicks for the Kingdom Alison Coldridge When? September 7 Event? Golf competition Venue? Royal Golf Club Get down to the Kingdom’s finest golf course for a special competition.

E Call 17 750-777.

Show your support for your favourite Bahraini football team by becoming immersed in one of the most popular competitions on the year’s sporting calendar.

If you’ll excuse the intentional pun, everything is ‘kicking off’ again this month after the quieter summer months. The sporting arena is bursting back to life with various leagues, tournaments and competitions in the pipeline for the coming months, and top of the agenda this month is an annual football tournament organised by the Bahrain Football Association.

The Kingdom’s top players will be partaking in the Bahrain 2012/13 First Division Football League which will begin the first week of action on September 21, 22 and 23. The matches will continue for eight weeks, until November 20. The league will then pause to ensure the national team players are available for both the West Asian Championship, to take place in Kuwait, and the 21st Gulf Cup, which will be held in Bahrain.

Following the Cup, the action for the league will resume on January 21 and is scheduled to finish in May. “We have ten different teams taking part this year,” explains Hassan Ismaeel, head of competitions committee at the Bahrain Football Association. “These teams will all play each other to determine who the overall champion team is,” he continues. Matches will be held at the weekends, with most days boasting two games. The first game will begin at 5pm and the second at around 7pm.

“We welcome all members of the public to come along and support their favourite teams. There is always a great atmosphere event at these large-scale football matches and it’s

38 September 2012

a fun few hours for all fans,” says Hassan. Spectactors can opt to watch from the VIP area for BD5 or else there is a cheaper BD1 option for regular viewing.

Spanning the better part of the year, the league will this year celebrate its 56th edition of top level football in Bahrain and previous years have seen at least ten different clubs take part. The 2011/12 edition left Al-Muharraq as the defending champions.

Paving the way for even larger tournaments As well as being a tournament in itself, the league will provide the players with training for a huge upcoming football event; the 21st Gulf Cup. The cup will be held in the Kingdom from January 5-18 of next year and reconstruction is already underway on both the National Stadium and the Khalifa Sports City Stadium, hence why the Bahrain 2012/13 First Division Football League is taking place in Muharraq and not at either of these venues.

E Visit www.bahrainfootball.org.

When? September 15-22 Event? Junior tennis tournament Venue? Bahrain Tennis Club All junior players are encouraged to take to the court for a tennis competition.

E Call 17 729-561.

When? September 16 Event? Football courses Venue? Arsenal Soccer School Resolve to get fit this September by enrolling in weekly football sessions.

E Visit www.arsenalschoolbahrain.com.

When? September 21 onwards Event? Football league Venue? Muharraq Football Stadium The adrenalin will be fierce on the pitch this month as a top football league begins.

E Visit www.bahrainfootball.org.

When? September 21 Event? Biathlon Venue? Hamala Beach Resort The Bahrain Road Runners are back with another challenging athletic event.

E Visit www.bahrainroadrunners.com.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Gulf Hotel Ghabga The management of Gulf Hotel hosted a media ghabga at the hotel's Khaimat Al Khaleej Ramadan Tent during the Holy Month

Ian, David, George, Christo, Imbi, Muneera & Fawzia

Abi, Bhaskar & Henry

Noora, Belle & Mushgan

Alwani, Majed, Abdulla & Adel

Zuhair, Susan & Jeremy

Aiza & Maria

Ayman, Nawal & Ahmed

Karen, Fouad, Lina, Henry & Sabine

Elma, Vijit & Shani

Khalid

Ahmed

Muneera

David & Bless

Sallyann & Kastrel

Qatar Airways Media Ghabga Qatar Airways hosted a media ghabga during the Holy Month of Ramadan at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa

Elie & Daniel

42 September 2012

Maya & Dalila

George, Alex, Anne & Andrea

Nicola & Ronnie

George & Maya

Ashok

Shibu & Robin

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Zain Media Ghabga Zain Bahrain held a media ghabga for representatives of the local media, who were welcomed

by Mohammed Zainalabedin, Zain general manager. The ghabga was held at the Elite Resort & Spa's Ramadan tent, and was also attended by employees of Zain Bahrain and guests

Mohammed Zainalabedin

Ali, Samya & Muneeb

Lubna, George, David, Bless & Fawaz

Hind & Samya

Dilraz, Bambi, Omaima & Maysoon

Omar, Mazin, George & Abdulla

Patrick & Elie

Samya, Abbas & Dhabiya

Hind, Samya, Habib & Dhabiya

Samya & Maha

Samya & Abhitab

Susheel Kumar

Samya & Noor

Hisham

Mohammed Jalal & Sons Majlis During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Jalal family played host to a number of friends and well wishers at the family majlis in Adliya Ahmed Jalal, Suhel Matoub & Jalal M. Jalal

Ashish Kumar

44 September 2012

Mahmood Al Kooheji, Hassan Jarrar & Mahmood

Hussain & Jamal

Mohammed Salahuddin, Jassim Al Sheikh & Saad Al Saad

Sami Jalal

Mazen Al Umran

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Azadea Staff Iftar The Azadea Group hosted an Iftar for their employees at Kosebasi Restaurant, Bahrain City Centre, during the Holy Month of Ramadan

Abdulwahab & Jawad Y. Al Hawaj

Melanie, Joanna, Marrian & Roselle

Balasubhramaniyam & Shekar

Neil, Carla, Windee & Hussain

Amy, Alia & Huda

Rosallena, Nawal & Marta

46 September 2012

Sunil, Ralph, Reje & Alex

Alma & Shola

Monem & Shadley

Rajamani & Dhanvanth

Hassan & Narjis

Musthafa & Shawkat

Layla & Tahani

Sadika, Luminita & Cesar

Golam, Herbert & Alvin

Elie & Dalia

Mishal & Farid

Marwan & Ralph

Mohammed & Riyas

Osama & Munnie

Zeeshan & Mahmood

Fatma & Zainab

Nikhi

Salimia

Mahmood

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystanderthismonth

Ramee Group Management Party The Ramee Group of Hotels hosted a party for its managers at the Sheraton Hotel last month

Shantharam, Dheeptha & Ashalatha Shetty

Swami, Dolby, Antony, Naveen & Sujeeta

Seetharam, Murli & Rana

Panshami, Hussain & Salawat

Chandra, Sridhar, Shatharam, Naresh, Preetham & Deepak

Naveen, Wilfred, Murli, Narayan & Sateesh

Ashalatha with Sajitha, Pooja, Shreenivas, Nadeem, Zahina, Nikath & Nasser

48 September 2012

Shantharam & Ashalatha Shetty with Ramee Group management

Ashok with Shantharam & Ashalatha Shetty

Harish, Oswald & Rana

Rajkumar & Snehasish

Naresh & Bijon

Rashmi, Sagarika, Zahra, Niharika, Paramita, Sanvi & Laxmi

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Tilly's Closet Boutique Soft Launch Tilly's Closet Boutique owned by Sophia Jawad opened its doors last month. The soft launch was attended by family members, friends and the media, with the official opening later in the year. Tilly's Closet is located between Tilly's Cafe and Galleria Sophia at The Jawad Dome in Barbar and is home to a gorgeous colourful range of exciting, trendy and sophisticated shoes, handbags and belts from brands like Shutz, Ana Capri and Lillies Collection from Brazil

Mai Al Hujairi, Sophia Jawad & Hana Tawfeeqi

Jameel Jawad, Sophia, Zainab Al Alawi, Yasser Al Hawaj, Mai Al Hujairi, Eman Diwani, Azza Al Hujairi, Elham Bushehri & Salman Al Sairafi

Judith, Faisal & Sophia Jawad

One of the collections on display

Sophia Jawad, Rabih Haddad & Mai Al Hujairi

Pakistan Ambassador's Iftar Party HE Jauhar Saleem, Pakistani Ambassador hosted an Iftar party for a number of guests at his official residence in Hoora, to celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan

HE Jauhar Saleem & Soman Baby

Sanu & Bonny

Arlene & Maliha

Gopal, Soman, Amber, Jennifer, HE Jauhar Saleem, Arlene, George & Maliha

Amber & Gopal

Ernst & Young Ghabha Ernst & Young held a staff ghabga during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The ghabga was held at the Golden Tulip's Afandi Ramadan tent Aarti & Ghada

Fatima & Jamil

50 September 2012

Saleem & Hina

Issa & Mohammed

Ruby & Sarmad

Mawra, Hafsa & Jennath

Renzeena & Zaharan

Gillian & Hisham

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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Jan Rezab CEO & Co-Founder Socialbakers.com

Chris Heuer Founder & Chairman Social Media Club, Inc. USA

Scott Hicks Client Partner, Facebook MENA

David Bullock CEO & Co-Founder CEO Mastery, Inc & Co-Author Of Barack 2.0.

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Marie-Claire Andrews CEO, SmartShow Ltd (ShowGizmo)

Malik Shishtawi Founder & GM, Arab Social Media Forum

Ernesto Verdugo Founder & Difference Maker, Web Reactivators

Fadi Khater Game Changer / Managing Partner, Netizency

Boye Balogun Regional Head of Digital - MENA Mindshare

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Ali Sabkar President, Social Media Club Bahrain. eMarketing Project Manager, Zain Bahrain

Adel Maymoon Director, Online & Social Media, Akhbar Al Khaleej Newspaper

A.Aziz Bin HouHou Serial Entrepreneur & Business Manager, BinHouHou Enterprises

Salah Khalifa Chairman, Bahrain Information Technology Society

Safana Sejini Founder & Social Media Specialist, PurpleKube

Maryam Al-Alawi Founder & CEO, Soshteck

Mohammed Badwi CEO, Zarcony.

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Ammar Mohammed New Media Expert & Trainer

Mohammad Alhamami Head of The MIS Dept. Delmon University For Science & Technology

Elham AbdulRahman Board Leader, Social Media Club Bahrain

Ali Alsabbagh Social Media Manager, Batelco

Isa Almoawda Executive Director of Marketing , Al-Ma'awdah Group

Eman Burashid Founder & MD, Keynotes Consultants

Sari Mashal Managing Director, Computer Troubleshooter

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Hind AlNahedh Founder & CEO, Socialobby.com

Khalid Fahad Al-Thawadi CEO, Digital Wave

Manal Assaad Social Media Consultant, TheManalyst.com

Majdi Al-Naser Eastern Province Sales Manager, Detecon Al Saudia Co. Ltd.

Hussain Husaini Managing Director, H2M Solutions

Khalil AlHamar CEO & Founder, Edges Media.

Founder, Q8Path.com

Organised & Managed by:

EVENTS & CONFERENCES MANAGEMENT

Supporting Partners

Media Partner:

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Contact us: Mob: +973 36392939 Tel.: +973 13684888 Fax: +973 13648883 E: info@socialmediamasters.me

businessthismonth When? September 30-October 3 | Event? Petrochemical conference | Venue? The Gulf International Convention Centre

Petchem Arabia 2010

Chemical Reactions As regional economies look to diversify their interests away from the extraction oil and gas, development of local petrochemical plants is leading to a more integrated market.

With global instability, conflicts and meltdowns, Petchem Arabia 2012 looks into the challenges faced by industry giants around the region. Part of the Middle East Chemical Week, and organised by World Refining Association (WRA), Petchem returns to Bahrain for its seventh edition. This year organisers tap into the appeal of Bahrain and its strategic location in the GCC’s petrochemical industry.

The high profile event will feature top level speakers representing key industry views through case study presentations and interactive discussions. Topics on the agenda include the global industry outlook, the impact of shale gas advances for the GCC, joint ventures, integration, cluster development, supply chain management and the wider regional outlook.

“This unique meeting will serve two distinct audiences; those in the Middle East petrochemical industry and those that wish to invest in this sector,” says Claire Pallen, general manager of WRA. “Petchem Arabia provides a networking platform for government and international operators alike to present their ideas and plans for the petrochemical industry in the GCC region.”

Also this month

54 x Entrepreneur - 56 x Spotlight

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Among the keynote speakers are Kuwait’s new president and CEO of Equate Petrochemical Company, Mohammad Husain, who will address the challenges facing gas developments.

Chevron Phillips Chemicals International will be represented by vice president of business development, Eli Andjelich, who will share their views and experiences on shale gas advances in the US. Attendees can also look forward to the views of Kristina Svennerberg, general manager of Haldor Topsoe and Ahmad Alkhlaif Alghamdi, technical general manager of Tasnee Petrochemicals Complex. Also taking to the speaker’s podium is Linde’s Dr Heinz Zimmermann, vice president of olefin plants business development. Shell Global Solution’s Pascal Coenen, licensing technical manager takes a look at downstream industry best practices in HSE, reviewing common process safety and safeguarding systems.

“Industry leaders and decision-makers will present their respective views through strategic presentations, panels and roundtable discussions,” continues Claire.

Making it a very hands-on experience, Petchem Arabia will finally conclude with visits for all delegates to GPIC and Bapco facilities to see firsthand how they are planning for future growth.

E Visit www.wra-mew.com.

When? September 16-19 Event? Business Week Venue? Beit Al Tajjir Auditorium, Sanabis Join in on a series of lectures and workshops on social business.

E Visit www.socialbusinessweekbahrain.com.

When? September 22 Event? Conference Venue? Dana 1, Gulf Hotel Discuss and learn HR techniques with a world-renowned expert.

E Call 17 552-878.

When? September 24-26 Event? Conference and exhibition Venue? Gulf Hotel Convention Centre Regional experts will tackle the challenges faced by the HR industry today.

E Call 17 552-878.

When? September 30–October 3 Event? Conference Venue? Gulf Hotel Convention Centre The issues faced within the petrochemical industry will be explored by regional experts.

E Visit www.wraconferences.com.

When? October 1-2 Event? ICT forum Venue? Bahrain Society of Engineers ICT issues and technologies will be put under the spotlight this month.

E Call 17 727-100.

When? October 6-10 Event? Conference and exhibition Venue? Gulf Hotel Convention Centre This specialised conference will delve into the non-destructive testing industry.

E Call 38 726-209.

September 2012 53

businessentrepreneur

xxxxx In Bahrain, the marina sector is not seen as a viable component of the economy, but it’s sustainable in the long run if the government were to believe and invest in it

Alaa Al Shaikh

Making Waves Simi Kamboj For an island nation with a rich sea heritage, Bahrain’s marina industry remains curiously under the radar.

54 September 2012

Bahrain’s relationship with the sea dates back many centuries. However, with the oil boom followed by the expansion in banking and financial services sectors, people on the island lost their sea legs. In recent years, the Kingdom has started to rediscover its shoreline with real estate projects on the waterfront.

“We have a huge sea around us and while the marine industry is doing well, the leisure side has been largely neglected,” observes Alaa Al Shaikh, managing director, Beaucraft. “In Bahrain, the marina sector is not seen as a viable component of the economy, but it’s sustainable in the long run if the government were to believe and invest in it.”

Alaa, along with partner Hazem Janahi, launched Beaucraft in 2006 as a complete marine solutions company, with the objective of reconnecting with the sea and the marine environment. It’s still early days for the industry and local players, including developers, have yet to mature.

“People underestimate the complexity of running a marine environment. Developers now realise that running a marina is not the same as running a mall. Preventive maintenance is a must here. More clients are now seeking our expertise, beginning from the design stages,” he says.

This year has seen an upswing in the market and Beaucraft, under general manager Capt Robert Montfort-Jones, has clocked a 40 per cent growth in business over the previous year. Having recently implemented a water sports facility at the Sunset Beach Resort in Al Khobar, Alaa hopes to replicate the concept elsewhere.

Beaucraft is working on building a fishing harbour at Askar and another harbour and jetty system at Hidd. Alaa is, however, most excited about the 500-berth marina and international yacht club that his firm has designed and is currently installing at Durrat Marina.

For the moment, though, he is looking to raise a few million dollars in order to fuel their expansion plans.

“We’ve received a lot of interest from Qatar and are on the verge on signing an important project in Kuwait. In five years’ time, we hope to be a truly international company with presence in all GCC countries,” he says.

As for Bahrain, much remains to be accomplished for the island to achieve its full potential as a marine leisure destination.

“Bahrain waters are ideal for sailing as we enjoy a year-long steady Eastern wind. We need to rediscover the flamingos and dolphins in our seas as well as our pristine pearl beds. We could even have water taxi services within the island as well as to Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” he says.

For starters, there needs to be a detailed mapping of the coastal territorial waters of Bahrain, alongside identification of locations for scuba diving, oyster beds and dolphin waters.

“A survey of the waterfront would be indispensible for the leisure industry, which, at the moment, has very little information to go by,” says Alaa.

The government along with the private sector could also invest in training in marine safety and skills building for the leisure segment, an initiative that could shape the careers of many Bahraini youngsters as ‘captains’ and marine professionals.

“Growth in Bahrain has been slow since waterfront land has only recently started to come to developers. We’ll need to invest much more if this growth is to be sustained,” he says.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

businessspotlight TAMKEEN

Acquiring Skills xxxxx I always wanted to work in the trading sector, but this useful experience expanded my thinking into how to combine both the commercial and industrial activities Aside from being well organised and flexible, so as not to conflict with her school schedule, it also allowed her to meet people from different environments and backgrounds. The programme is designed so that students can understand the different roles at work, whether as a team leader or member.

“I always wanted to work in the trading sector, but this useful experience expanded my thinking into how to combine both the commercial and industrial activities,” Yara advised. “I also wholeheartedly encourage other Bahraini women to learn about the opportunities available for us in the manufacturing sector.”

After this experience, she is determined to benefit from more Tamkeen programmes, knowing that they will help develop the skills and abilities to enable Yara to realise her ambitions.

Discover Life @ Work programme

Yara Al-Ammadi

For many at school the prospect of securing fulltime employment can be intimidating; Tamkeen helps students to acquire skills required by the labour market.

56 September 2012

Yara Al-Ammadi, a 10th grade student at Al Bayan International School, discovered there was more to social media than simply interacting with friends. It was here that she learned about Tamkeen’s programmes for students, coupled with booklets provided to her school.

Opening her eyes to opportunity, though, was the easy bit; what to choose as a career path was an entirely different matter. Her choice was a preference for manufacturing over logistics and tourism.

“As part of the Discover Life @ Work programme, we went on field visits to companies in my chosen sector, to learn firsthand about the workplace environment,” says Yara. “It helped me learn so much about the manufacturing industry and the abundance of opportunities it offers, especially for Bahraini women as there are not many women in this field.”

This interactive awareness programme, powered by Tamkeen, is designed to introduce school students to the Bahraini labour market requirements and job opportunities available for them within it. It is one of a number of initiatives to help young Bahrainis to enter the labour market, equipped with appropriate skills.

Tamkeen currently has 25 initiatives aimed at empowering high school and university students, which have benefited over 14,000 students to date. The initiatives range from preparing them for the workplace by promoting sound workplace ethics, attitudes and entrepreneurship.

As well as training opportunities in leading companies and summer camps, many of these programmes are offered in partnership with organisations such as the General Organisation for Youth and Sports and InJAZ Bahrain.

More than 53,000 Bahrainis and enterprises have benefited from Tamkeen’s 180 support programmes. The aim is for these initiatives to benefit at least 100,000 individuals and/or organisations.

For students who wishing to find out more, either visit the Tamkeen website or follow their social media chanels and acquire the skills necessary to participate in the Kingdom's labour market. E Visit www.tamkeen.bh.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

businessspotlight

ELITE GRANDE HOTEL

Unique Destination Summer is almost over and it is time to rejuvenate your social life. Head down to one of the busiest spots in town to unwind and meet up with friends.

Fadl Adib

58 September 2012

Joining the Elite Group in 2002, Fadl Adib, the general manager at the Elite Grande Hotel, located in the Seef area, has worked himself up the corporate ladder the old fashion way — with sheer hard work and dedication. With more than 16 years’ experience in the business, his experience is a driving force behind the hotel’s position in the market.

“Over the years I’ve manages to specialise in almost every hotel and hospitality sector,” Fadl says. “These include assignments covering the room division and strategic planning, profit and loss management, hotel administration, accounts maintenance as well as food and beverage management.”

Always looking to keep moving forward, the hotel has a number of new initiatives to further boost the range of offerings to both local residents and visitors to the Kingdom alike. Among these are plans to re-brand its coffee shop and a restaurant new outlet in the near future.

“Elite Grande is already one of the industry leaders in the country; my plan is to make it even stronger in the market to be the ultimate leader of hospitality services,” adds Fadl. “I also want to convey that it is a unique change of destination for for those who live here as well as for business travellers and tourists.”

Relax under the stars So named for its cosmic theme of stars and galaxies, the Zodiac Lounge, on the 11th floor, is an ideal place to connect, network and get your weekend started. Boasting a creative cocktail list, an extensive wine and cognac menu, soothing music, the lounge also has the latest sports, music and fashion trends on LED screens.

If you are looking for a more intimate setting, then you and your loved one won’t want to miss the exotic menu and stunning views, when you want unwind at the end of a hard day at the office.

For those who have stayed in the hotel can instantly feel the ambience generated by the hotel’s superbly appointed rooms, modern amenities, attentive service and recreational facilities.

“I think our service is what sets us apart; from the moment you stand before the hotel doors and receive a warm greeting from the staff, you can feel the difference. It is important to deliver a dose of, well, elite style,” notes Fadl.

E Call 17 565-888.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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businessspotlight HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS

Stay Smart As a quiet retreat in the middle of a bustling business district, this no-frills hotel offers the best value in town.

A bumper opening during the Eid holidays has meant that the Holiday Inn Express is off to a sparkling start in Bahrain.

“We’ve had excellent occupancy since the opening. The feedback from guests has been very positive so far; they’re happy to be in a hotel on Exhibition Avenue that is noise-free,” notes general manager of the 274-room property, Luca De Stefano.

Guests are offered a complimentary hot buffet breakfast daily in addition to free wired and wireless Internet. The hotel also offers ample parking space, in form of a covered multi-storey car park, a rarity on Exhibition Avenue.

“With over 120 closed circuit television cameras, six security guards on duty and soundproof rooms, we offer a secure environment and privacy to our guests. Our standards in fire safety as well as in food and hygiene control are rigorous,” adds Nadeem Abu Hantash, senior sales manager.

The eco-friendly property is equipped to meet 65 per cent of its hot water demand through solar panels installed on the roof.

As the lone international brand in the area, the Holiday Inn Express is proving to be the preferred hotel for the events and exhibitions market. In September, the hotel will host teams participating in the 5th Asian Youth Handball Championship as well as participants at the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) later on in the month.

Besides the leisure and weekend tourists, the hotel is well equipped to meet the demands of corporate clients, including bankers, oil and gas executives as well as airline crew.

E Call 17 313-030.

bystanderthismonth

US Ambassador's Majlis HE Thomas Krajeski, US Ambassador, hosted a majlis to celebrate Ramadan and the friendship between the United States and Bahrain. Visiting American speaker Kamal Abu Shamsieh, Director of Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno, California, spoke with guests about promoting principles of peace and justice in society and about the American Muslim community in America Kamal Abu Shamsieh, HE Thomas Krajeski, Ali Salman, HE Mohan Kumar, Indian Ambassador, Khalil & Hadi

60 September 2012

Salman, David & John

Kelly & Carina

Ammar & Lori

Brad

Dr Akbar, Adel & Ahmed

Nabeel Ajoor & Samer Majali

Brendon & Andrew

Jaleel Al Ansari

www.bahrainthismonth.com

reporttelecom

An Endless Appetite David M. Robertson/ Alison Coldridge App culture has entirely engulfed our daily lives in the way that the Internet did nearly two decades ago; to meet our demands the big players are maneuvering into position.

Also this month

Today apps are available for almost everything. You can read your daily paper, order items, play games, access social media sites and edit photographs, all without leaving your chair or switching on a computer. One ‘click’ is all it takes and you’ll find yourself at the heart of your desired subject matter.

As consumers, though, we demand nothing less than the best. The immediacy of the Internet world is being translated into the app environment; we want the same connection speed in apps as we would accessing the Internet directly, and we want immediate updates, as a website would offer. Additionally, we want solutions that are ‘cost’ friendly; small in size so not to clog the space on our devices or bust our budgets.

The big players, and a coterie of developers, are starting to take shape to meet this challenge, although the ‘big’ picture still has plenty of ‘holes’ to be filled in.

Let’s start with HTML5; supported by Microsoft this has been regarded as the game-changer, the destructive technology that will wipe the slate clean for those developing native-language apps. While everybody can see the ‘big’ picture, HTML5 is, as yet, an incomplete development platform that might change when Microsoft launches Windows 8; but perhaps not!

The overall market is dovetailing into three main blocks: Apple, Google and Samsung, and Nokia and Microsoft. As things stand, Apple has the lion’s share of the fee-based app market. The late Steve Jobs outfit has a market share around the 85 per cent level, with the android market (now known as Google Play) propelled by the Google/Samsung combination

accounting for, pretty much, the remainder of the market.

That position, though, is not reflected in the app count statistics, which includes free apps. Google Play is rapidly catching up with Apple, with both platforms offering native apps, now topping the 600,000 market. Nokia and Microsoft are playing catch-up, as they are in the smartphone/tablet space, which is essentially the market for paid apps.

Google has been a big proponent of HTML5; nevertheless the rate of native apps for their platform shows no sign of slowing down. Where HTML5 has gained traction is with large publishing houses, who have invested significantly in this technology to obviate the need to pay huge fees to the likes of the Apple Store for hosting their apps. A good example of this is the Financial Times.

The ‘ghost’ app What we can expect to see is what one might term the ‘ghost’ app. To keep the app ‘light’ and thus bandwidth friendly, many apps will be nothing more than an emulator; a front-end to a website that only delivers the content we actually want to see via our mobile phone and/or tablet devices.

You might ask, why bother with an app then? Interesting question! Go back more than a generation to the 1980s and Apple changed the way in which we view data on our computer screens today. Their graphical user interface, GUI, offered a far more convenient and user-friendly way to access information.

The ‘app’ is the next-generation GUI, and our appetite for that will be just as pervasive as a generation ago.

64 x Nokia - 65 x Zain

www.bahrainthismonth.com

September 2012 63

reporttelecom INTERCOL

More than a Mobile

Want to separate yourself from the crowd when it comes to mobile devices?

Check out Nokia’s three newest smartphones.

Modern mobile devices tend to focus more on their core features, performance and applications. While this is true, one word establishes the real meaning of being “mobile”, and that is the Internet.

The faster you connect and interact with the web, the better you are able to harness the full capabilities of a mobile device, and that is where Nokia Asha 305, 306 and 311 deliver. You can explore the unique visually entertaining screens with just a swipe! It’s totally intuitive and easy to navigate.

The Asha 306 delivers both video streaming for GPRS and WLAN which brings avid fans of YouTube and other multimedia-driven sites to a whole new level. You can visit social networking sites in just one swipe. Stay connected through email, Facebook, Twitter and chat apps such as Facebook Chat and Whatsapp!

With a 2 GB memory card preloaded with free Nokia Maps of all Arab countries plus a USB cable in box, this phone packs a lot of processing and graphics power that rivals most of the competition.

Nokia Asha 311 Ahead of the competition, Nokia Asha 311 has a 1 GHz processor shown off by the preloaded Angry Birds with 15 levels and offers 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity as well. The processor on this Nokia makes it the fastest feature phone and is fast even by smartphone standards.

It also features a 3.2 megapixel camera and a 3-inch scratchresistant, capacitive glass screen and polarised display for better readability in sunlight. With its unique and visually entertaining user interface, Asha 311 literally creates a new user experience.

— Nokia Asha 305 The Asha 305’s biggest advantage, aside from its super-fast Internet speed, is its price. As a mobile phone that offers dualSIM capabilities while still including the main features of current mobile devices, this handset is a top contender in the market when it comes to practicality.

The phone features a 3-inch WQVGA resistive touch-screen with a 240x400 pixel resolution. It has a 2 megapixel camera with 4x zoom and a 2 GB memory card that comes with free Nokia Maps similar to the Asha 311 and 306.

You can also access your Facebook and Twitter networks from preloaded social applications through the browser. The Nokia Asha 305 also comes with a battery that is projected to deliver up to 14 hours of talk time and 528 hours on standby mode.

Nokia Asha 306 Nokia Asha 306 is the most affordable, full-touch smart phone and it is easy to use. The built-in Wi-Fi connection, EDGE, and GPRS will provide you with the fastest Internet connectivity so far.

192 September 2012 BTM

E Call 17 727-177.

reporttelecom ZAIN BAHRAIN

Breaking Barriers the market, known as the ‘better than free’ offer. Now customers can get any of their desired high-end smartphones and get back BD65 on top of their bill,” adds Ali. Other new launches include the ‘free laptop’ offer, which gifts Zain home broadband customers with a free laptop. Customers need only to spend BD11 per month to enjoy unlimited internet and calls to all Zain numbers.

Additionally, a Samsung Smart TV offer is also available to home broadband package users. Customers will receive this brand new model in three differing sizes for as little as BD10 per month.

When using any form of telecommunication, we all want speed, reliability and a sought-after handset, if possible; something that one company endeavours to deliver without fail.

192 September 2012

As the company’s slogan states, Zain invites customers to enter into ‘A Wonderful World’. The leading telecommunications operator has been functioning since 2003 and prides itself on being the first company to break the telecoms monopoly. Zain offers customers top-of-the-line mobile services, as well as broadband and fixed-wireless services.

“We are part of a telecom organisation that looks into all manner of market segments, both consumer and corporate,” comments Ali Sabkar, e-marketing project manager at Zain.

“We provide telecom solutions on voice, SMS, data and broadband services with the latest gadgets and smartphones available,” he outlines.

Customers can choose between a variety of very competitive packages, starting from BD10 for home and business broadband and BD6 for mobile broadband, or e-go as it is known. Plus, Zain is known for stocking the latest technology and handsets available, so you are sure to find just what you are looking for.

“Choose between Apple’s iPhone, Samsung models and the latest HTC products,” Ali explains. “Customers can also choose from a wide variety of laptop and tablets on installments with Zain home and mobile broadband. Models include Samsung laptops, the Samsung slate, Samsung ultra-book, Dell laptops, Asus Zenbook, the Huwaie media pad, Samsung Tab 2 10.1 and the Asus Eee pad,” he lists.

Most recently, the company has introduced the long-awaited Samsung Galaxy SIII with competitive packages for consumers and corporations. “Simultaneously, we did a paradigm shift with introducing a totally new concept on subsidiary offers in

World-class technology Having entered Bahrain on the wave of the world’s first nationwide 3G mobile technology, Zain Bahrain has set many records that have strengthened Bahrain’s reputation as a telecoms hub.

Zain renewed its commitment to provide the best service to customers by flagging off an ambitious US$50 million network upgrade that has seen us deploy the region’s first Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology.

A WiMax-powered broadband and fixed-wireless voice service has helped provide cutting-edge service across the entire telecoms spectrum in Bahrain. This technology has enabled Zain Bahrain to demonstrate a suite of products and services ranging from fixed voice and broadband Internet services.

E Visit www.bh.zain.com.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystanderthismonth

InterContinental Regency Ghabga The management of the InterContinental Regency Bahrain hosted a ghabga dinner for a number of guests at the hotel's Al Thuraya Tent to celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan Michael Koth, Susana & Graeme

Diana

Sue & Maria

Joseph & Ryza

Puja & Simran Cyril, Mohammed, Cora, Lolit, Ali & John

Rami & Issa

Glori & Jamal

Eline, Ali, Nader & Calina

Julias, Dan, Tarek, Ryza & Anette

Ajoor Family Majlis In keeping with the spirit of Ramadan a number of diplomats, friends and well wishers visited the Ajoor Majlis in Janabiya, all through the Holy Month

Hamid Al Zayani

Nabeel Ajoor, Dr Essam Fakhro & Nasser Al Arayedh

Tareq Ajoor, Nabeel Ajoor & Ahmed Ajoor with Admiral John Millar & family

The Ajoor family with HE Ali Saleh Al Saleh, Chairman of the Shura Council & VIPs

66 September 2012

Ahmed & Nabeel Ajoor with HE Vichai Virasirikul, Thai Ambassador

Abdulrahman Juma & Ebrahim Salahuddin

Shaikh Rashid Al Khalifa, Abdulaziz Al Bassam & Khalid Al Khaja

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Stay at the MĂśvenpick Hotel Bahrain for a perfect weekend escape. Book our special Sleep and Brunch promotion, feel at home and enjoy the awardwinning culinary delights at Friday Family Brunch, at BD 90.000++ in a double room including Friday brunch for 2 persons or at BD 80.000++ in a single superior room including brunch for 1 person only.

This package is bookable upon request and subject to availability. This package is valid for Thursday to Friday night or Friday to Saturday night stays only.

Brunch is served every Friday only from 12.30pm to 4.00pm at the Silkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant, Flamingo Bar and Gallery lobby lounge.

www.moevenpick-hotels.com

www.moevenpick-hotels.com

Sleep

brunch.

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Y.K. Almoayyed Media Ghabga Y.K Almoayyed hosted a media ghabga at the Gulf Hotel's Ramadan Tent during the Holy Month

Ian, Ashwaq, Rohit & David

Habeeb, Bambi, Dilraz & Sujid

Anna, Susan & Gopal

George & Andrea

Zaid & Christelle

Thasleem & Abinash

Costa Coffee Bahrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Barista Of The Year Costa Coffee recently held at their branch in Moda Mall the country finals of the Barista of the Year championship. Among 5 finalists, Ishan Sameera, Costa Barista for 5 years, emerged the winner. The Barista of the Year competition regional finals will take place this September, in Abu Dhabi, where the best barista will be chosen to represent the MENA region in the world finals to happen in London, in October

Ishan Sameera

The finalists - Ishan, Faul, Romel, Alwyn & Marlette

Bahrain City Centre Staff Ghabga On behalf of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, the Bahrain City Centre hosted their staff ghabga at the Gulf Hotel's Ramadan tent last month

Fatima, Dipti, Lori, Adnan, Catherine, Ahmad & Samar

Layla, Sakina, Aicha, Anwaar & Basma

Ameer, Mohamed, Ahmed & Hussain

68 September 2012

Abbas, Gopi, Stalin & Martin

Said, Jabbar & Ahmed

Neil, Vijatan & Allan

Mohammed & Ali

Elsa, Jaonae & Mohammed

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystanderthismonth

VIVA Ramadan Ghabga VIVA Bahrain hosted a media ghabga during the Holy Month at the Ritz-Carlton's Al Khayma Tent. The ghabga was attended

by Ulaiyan Al-Wetaid, CEO of VIVA Bahrain, members of the media, VIVA Bahrain staff members and guests

Azzam & Maysoon

Ulaiyan Al-Wetaid & Jamal

Heba, Abigail & Areej

Hulya & Maura

Jamal

Naila, Pooja & Ahedya

Khadija, Reem & Laila

Aqeel & Abdali

Tony, Khalid & Nezar

Roland & Badria

Tamkeen Media Ghabga Tamkeen hosted a media ghabga at the Al Taj Ballroom, Sheraton Bahrain. Mahmood Al Kooheji, chief executive of Tamkeen also attended the event

Hala Sulaiman & Mahmood Al Kooheji

Afrah, Afnan & Marwa

Suad & Cheryll

70 September 2012

Amal & Afrah

Mahmood Al Kooheji & David

Ali, Nawaf, Hassan & Murtaza

Roy & Subi

Ajit & Venu

Jennifer

Fatima

Ammar

Dr Ferdous

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystanderthismonth

Al Arayedh Majlis Nasser Al Arayedh played host to a number of dignataries, diplomats and well wishers during the Holy Month of Ramadan at the Al Arayedh Majlis

Jawad Habib, HE Jameel Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Labour Minister, Nasser Al Arayedh & Saeed Makki

Ali Al Sairafi, Nasser Al Arayedh, HE Karim Al Shaker, HE Vichai Varasirikul, Thai Ambassador, Abdul Hameed Hatim & Mansour Radhi

Nasser Al Arayedh with Hassan Buainin & sons

HE Ali Saleh Al Saleh, Chairman, Shura Council & Shaikh Rashid Al Khalifa

Shigeki Sumi, Japanese Ambassador

HE Shaikh Hisham Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Governor of the Capital Governorate & Nasser Al Arayedh

HE Victor Smirnov, Russian Ambassador

Russ Dixon, HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador & Nasser Al Arayedh

Shaikh Abdulrahman Al Khalifa

Sakana Ghabga Sakana Holistic Housing Solutions hosted their annual Ramadan ghabga at the Novotel Al Dana Resort's Hawar Ballroom last month

Yaqoob Awadi & R. Lakshmanan

Dr Gurpreet, Dr Ravi Preet & Ashok

Jake & Jean

72 September 2012

R. Lakshmanan with the board of directors

Ashok, Ameer & Faisal

Haya

Afifa & Eman

Savio, Deepak & Ravikumar

Noora & Shaikha

Hamid & Masooma

www.bahrainthismonth.com

ENJOY FRESH QUALITY FOODS

Karma offers a corporate catering, kids party food menu, cakes and slices food menu and canapĂŠ menu that will surely meet your requirements.

While RayĂŠs offers the Oriental International menu

that will surely satisfy the most discerning of guests. A large selection of spreads from the region, which starts from salad, cold or hot mezza, freshly baked bread, innovative main courses and delicious desserts.

FOR RESERVATION: T (+973) 1731 2700 F (+973) 1731 2777

Al Fateh Highway | P.O. Box 11895 Manama | Kingdom of Bahrain

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Diyar Al Muharraq Media Ghabga Diyar Al Muharraq, one of the biggest mixed-use residential urban developments in Bahrain, held a Ramadan ghabga night for members of Bahrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s media at the Al Ghazal Ballroom, Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel & Spa. The members of the media were received by senior management from Diyar Al Muharraq, who thanked them for their coverage and support for the developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress and activities

Yousif & Jamal

Aaref Hejres

Shatha, Dalal & Rhizlaine

Fawaz & Aaref

Eman & Majed

Nilda & Cheryll

Alfonso & Mandeep

A. Rahman & Ajab

Dr Imran

Russell & Shahid

Abdulrahman

Krishna Bhatt & Ashok

Citibank Staff Ghabga Citibank hosted its annual staff ghabga at the InterContinental Regency's Ramadan Tent

Meenakshi & Navneet

Huda, Hessa, Sayed, Mohsen, Al Meer & Salman

Samiha, Shakila & Rahila

74 September 2012

Sonia, Ashwini & Kritika

Areej & Mohammed

Mohammed, Masroor, Hemant & Preet

Mathew, Kevin & Imran

Gautam & Varun

Nooreen & Shakeel

Shagufta & Tahar

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystanderthismonth

Faisal Jawad Majlis Faisal Jawad played host to number of wellwishers and friends all through the Holy Month of Ramadan at his majlis in Adliya

J.C. Durand & Faisal Jawad

Faisal Jawad & Hussain Jawad

Abbas Hussain & Ali Al Mansoor

Taqi Jawad, Abbas Hussain & Hameed Jawad

Ali Al Mansoor greets Faisal Jawad

Jawad M. Jawad & Khalid

Ghazi & Shawqi

Radi & Mohammed

Bassim & Fawaz

Fitness with a Difference Nia • Pilates Hatha Yoga: Power • Ashtanga • Prenatal Karate • Capoeira • Taekwondo Zumba • Belly Dancing • Cardio Blast Body Sculpt Children’s Ballet • Kid’s Martial Arts World Beat Café Enjoy inspiring locally produced art while you relax; with organic coffee and wholesome treats also featuring delightful whole leaf teas and yerba mate.

www.worldbeatfitness.com Tel 17 612 576 • Fax 17 611 371

76 September 2012

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Lost Paradise Of Dilmun Eid Show The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Waterpark (LPOD) held two of the most exhilarating world class acts in entertainment, the Wakeboard show and Samson the strongest man, in celebration of Eid Al Fitr

Samson shows off his strength

One of the wakeboarders in action

Samson & Isa

Reem & Hani

Ibrahim, Nazeer, Hani, Waheed & Ahmed

Jean

Matyas, Cristina, Balasz, Tamas & Benedict

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Lexus Launch E.K. Kanoo, sole dictributors for Lexus vehicles in the kindom held a launch ceremony for the 2013 Lexus ES Series at the Lexus showroom in Sitra

The 2013 Lexus ES Series

Shaikh Salman

Ayman

78 September 2012

Ahmed & Abdulrahman

Alaa, Khalid, Mohamed, Zaid, Nadeem & Lakshman

Fuad & Ronik

Nasrin & Eman

Ismail Akbar & Issa Kanoo

Waleed Kanoo

Mr Asahi

Mathew & Michael

Ismail Akbar

Bashar & Tariq

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BMI Bank Ghabga BMI Bank hosted an exclusive Ramadan ghabga for a number of guests at the Awali Ballroom, Sheraton Bahrain. Jamal Al Hazeem, CEO of the bank attended the event

Bless & David

Gordon, Angela & David

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Reyadh Geledary, Jamal Al Hazeem, Eyad Sater, Fathi Ebrahim & Khalifa Najem

Amina, Pooja, Abigail & Ahmed

Llewellyn & Annette

Abdul & Beyan

Abdullah, Badria & Gordon

Khalif, Nader & Amal

Ahmed & Munira

Rami

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Curiosity Landing

Pushing Boundaries Keerthana Louis From the greatest competition on Earth to delving into the mysteries of the universe, humans have only touched the surface of understanding what we are capable of.

Last month was all about taking it to the next level. Both physically and intellectually we, and by ‘we’ I mean humankind, took giant steps towards achieving more than what we’ve already accomplished.

Let’s start off with the Olympics. Regardless of which country you chose to support or how many medals your nation won, it wasn’t difficult to get caught up in the excitement of the whole thing. Watching as records were set and broken, I couldn’t help but feel amazed at what some of us are capable of. Men and women who can run marathons at such speed, or lift weights that I couldn’t even imagine loading onto the bar!

Coinciding with these enormous feats of athleticism was the precision landing of Curiosity, definitely an aptly named rover, on Mars. My initial thoughts on the subject ranged from visions of tiny green men to contempt at how money was being blatantly spent on space exploration, when there was so much more that it could have been used for on Earth.

A little bit of research, however, soon put me at ease. Eight months after setting off on its journey, Curiosity landed 556 million km from where it started; that in itself is incredible and cause for celebration. Over the next two years, the rover will Also this month

pick apart the Martian landscape in search of the basic ingredients essential for life, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur and oxygen.

Nevertheless, it isn’t equipped to search for living or fossil microorganisms; so, don’t get too excited about the prospect of seeing aliens in the pictures that Curiosity will send back to its home base. The landing of this rover is, although in itself applaudable, part of a longer plan to find out whether or not primitive life forms existed on Mars. While future missions will, of course, be necessary to find a definite answer to this question, we are well on our way.

You might wonder what these two seemingly unrelated events have to do with each other. In that case, all I can do is refer you to Dr Charles Elachi, the director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Elachi compared the Curiosity team to Olympians with a simple quote, “This team came back with the gold.”

If that doesn’t sum up the glory of this past month, then I’m completely lost for words. I leave you with a time-tested and overused cliché. One that I feel is so much easier to believe in when I’ve witnessed such greatness around me — anything is possible if we put our minds to it.

Mount this lightweight DC generator onto your bike and pedal your way to a full charge. Two to three hours of pedalling will fully charge your smartphone.

Power Up

Olympic rings

82 Gadgets x 84 Music x 86 Computer games x 87 Websites x 88 Apps x 89 Movies

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Recharge Yourself

Designer Wonchul Hwang has found a way for us to carry files and extra power for our devices. The AA USB recharges an AA battery; handy when you’re on the move.

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Urban Traits From ruling over droids to revamping your living space, the gadget world has quite a lot to offer this month. Besides, they all find a way to make our daily life easier.

Editor's pick!

Out load True colours

Around the time Google had announced the Nexus 7, Asus had promised official covers for the tablet. They have finally released the beauties beginning with a dark grey version. Soon enough, hues of black, magenta, cyan, light grey and orange will join it on the shelves. Made of soft PU material, the cover protects your tablet from scratches, scuffs, dust and dirt.

No strings attached

A wireless music system is one gadget that always comes in handy. When it looks as chic as the NAD Viso 1, it becomes a must-have. It is compatible for docking with iOS devices and is Bluetooth equipped as well.

More popular for creating guitar pedals, Zoom has launched the Q2HD audio-video recorder. Created with musicians in mind, it is capable of capturing videos at either 1080p or 720p and is equipped with a mid-side microphone.

On the safe side

The DialSpeed electronic combination padlock from Master Lock is probably the most advanced of its kind available today. It includes a feature that allows you to set three different combinations and has its own factory-set code.

It's time!

What if you had the chance to get your hand on one of Batmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fancy gizmos?

Well, for all the fan boys, Jaeger-LeCoultre has come up with this stunning Reverso chronograph honouring the release of The Dark Knight Rises.

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Mood swings

Since we’re buying everything with an ‘i’-prefix these days, might as well pick up iHome’s iP76 colour changing stereo speaker dock. 16 multicolour LEDs pulse, blink and fade in time with any music being played.

Bring on the bots!

Does your smartphone give you the feeling that it controls you? Here’s your chance to show them who is boss. Add more character to your droid or iPhone with the ability to control it by docking it onto the Romo Smartphone Robot.

Shape up

Owning an Xbox 360 or PS3 isn’t a sign of laziness any more, at least not for those who have the new Adidas miCoach, which is ready to get you in shape with over 400 exercises using full body optical tracking and motion sensors.

Work of art

While we’re redecorating our homes, might as well get rid of those dull speakers and replace them with any pair from the funky range available on Kickstarter.com. The Urban Fidelity Art speakers combine great indie artwork with fantastic sound quality.

For butter fingers

FlyGrip is perhaps the best invention for the fumbling lot that own expensive phones. It fits onto the back of your smartphone and provides a clip through which you can slide two fingers into for support. This is just the thing for flawless one-handed texting.

Let there be light

Have you ever fancied being able to print photos you’ve taken onto fabrics? With the revolutionary Lumi Process, you can now do this yourself using just sunlight and a water-based dye called Inkodye. It allows you to show a range of tonality.

All gadgets are available online.

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Have a Listen OF A TH LB E U M M ON TH

We revisit the legends of thrash metal this month and are quite glad we did.

Meanwhile, fairly new artists impress and depress.

Testament

Dark Roots of Earth RATING:

WHAT’S THE STORY? Testament formed in

1983 with the release of their first album three years later. One of the first thrash metal bands to sign to a major label, it was also one of the most popular in the late ‘80s. They continued to create great albums, this being the tenth.

There are nine tracks on the standard album, which has a runtime of nearly 51 minutes, and 13 on the bonus version.

Three of the four bonus tracks are covers — Dragon Attack by Queen, Animal Magnetism by The Scorpions and Powerslave

by Iron Maiden.

WORTH A LISTEN?

The album really does start and end strong. You get lightning-fast triplets, creepy melodies, insane solos, pounding drum fills and roaring vocals through the mix.

Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson trade out rhythm which provides an interesting contrast; it starts to take on more character than in some previous releases.

The album has a very aggressive sound, reminiscent in a lot of ways to early Metallica more than their own previous work. The lyrics are what you would expect on a thrash metal album, focusing on war, hate, death and social injustice. It is very aggressive, fitting well with the music.

VERDICT: This is classic thrash metal in modern times.

TOP TRACKS: Dark Roots of Earth and A Day in the Death.

Passion Pit

Gossamer

Michael Angelakos offers glossy hyper-pop of sorts in this album. Unlike the debut album, he has cut down on his skyscraping yelps, making the lyrics more decipherable now. It manages to be introspective and gregarious simultaneously. In a way, Gossamer exposes him. As the title reflects, there is an iridescent quality throughout the album. While it maintains a heavenly feel, the theme is still quite heavy with tracks that force you to sing along.

84 September 2012

The Gaslight Anthem

Handwritten It is safe to say that this is one of their most versatile albums. No doubt, this one is a winner. If you think it’s an acquired taste, acquire it. It’d be a shame to miss out on something so spine-tingling and perfect in its own style.

The Contortionist

Intrinsic This one is a tad weird, for the lack of a better word. The sophomore album is certainly better than its predecessor, but what didn’t go wrong in respect to talent, did in terms of production. The initial vibe might be positive; but it falls flat soon enough.

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downtimecomputergames

Zombie Apocalypse Sometimes, you’ve got to get off the couch and check out what’s happening in the PC world of gaming. To be honest, we were not expecting such exciting games.

TH GA E M M E ON TH

The Book of Unwritten Tales

OF

This is an amusing homage to the great fantasy books, movies and games of the genre, filled with plenty of weird characters and dark humour.

It features four playable heroes whose skills have to be used wisely, particularly those that can only be solved by working as a team.

Deadlight (Xbox 360) RATING:

WHAT IS IT?

Deadlight is a side scrolling survival horror cinematic platformer game for Xbox Live Arcade developed by Tequila Works and published by Microsoft Studios. This cinematic action puzzle is set in the American west coast in a post-apocalyptic world. The lead character is Randall Wayne, hoping to find his daughter and wife, with the help of a small group of survivors in a world littered with corpses both inanimate and walking.

Maestia: Rise of Keledus Players are fighting to right the world and rise to be a god. It’s hard not to like dungeons and battles, especially if you don’t own a gaming console. It’s got enough adventure and mercenary to get you (temporarily) hooked onto the game.

The artwork isn’t half bad either.

GRAPHICS:

Emphasising exploration, this boasts breathtaking art direction. The presentation, to put it simply, is quite aesthetic. It’s a drab and crumbling version of Seattle. The admirable voice acting is backed up by a sombre soundtrack that sets the mood for the game. Be prepared for repeated attempts because more than not, you’ll be making fatal leaps in an undesired direction. Did we mention he can’t swim even if the water is only ankle-deep?

GAMEPLAY:

Although you occasionally wield an axe or find a gun, and perhaps even save a person, you’re mostly going to have to find a way to run away from the mob of zombies. It is more about creating new escape strategies because the only power you have is to shove off a maximum of one of these brain-eaters. You’d better be able to think on your feet otherwise you can count yourself as one of the dead. Watch out for the machinegun-firing helicopter hunting for you as well.

VERDICT: If you’re rolling your eyes thinking it’s just another zombie game, you are wrong.

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Guild Wars 2 It’s not often an MMO actually gets a sequel. ArenaNet has found great ways to encourage players to co-operate while framing quests with enough background to give each task a sense of purpose. It also offers a substantial amount of content for the competitive crowd.

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websites

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Butdoesitfloat.com RATING:

WHAT IS IT?

But Does it Float is a blog that collects, references and assembles a variety of art. Currently, the blog organises all artwork into the categories of architecture, generative art, collage, drawing, typography, sculpture, photography and painting.

THE GOOD: Some blog posts include other tags like film, engravings

and installation. These categories allow users to sort through and/or filter material, though content on the website is not originally displayed within these categories. Instead, the homepage has three primary viewing functions.

The first is a classic blog layout where images appear in order of their temporal discovery by blog editors. The second format is called an index where the content on the website is categorised by tags relative to an exhibiting artist, and these indexes also include sub-tags. The third is a random setting where a grid appears that randomly orders artworks.

THE BAD:

For a website of design and art, it is not as user-friendly as one would expect. Minimalist themes are crisp and nice. Sometimes, in cases like this, it can be slightly annoying. Hardly anyone would be patient enough to make sense of the layout options and it isn’t very explanatory either.

VERDICT: They’ve always got something that is simply out of this world.

Highexistence.com A community providing a medium for freethinking individuals to connect. It compels you to follow your bliss and make a life, not a career. Their mission is to question anything and everything and to promote spreading happiness and love.

Calm.com Can’t afford to get a massage between working hours? Just log on in your short breaks and find yourself equally relaxed without having to budge from your desk. Select the time and close your eyes to float in a realm of tranquil.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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What’s That Song?

The best part of having a smartphone is the world of apps that comes with it, all keen to make our lives easier. Sometimes, it’s just about keeping us happy.

E TH

TH PS ON AP M

OF

SoundHound (iOS, Android) How many times have you heard a song and can’t remember who sang it? How many times have you heard a song and hoped you could have it on your iPod but you don’t have the name of it? SoundHound, much like Shazam, helps you identify a track quickly before it changes to another track.

Not only does it offer fast, accurate music identification, it has an unlimited repertoire and has teamed up with so many big names in the music industry, it’s impossible not to know what track is on now. Now, it also offers unlimited LiveLyrics for over a million songs. Sing along!

TripIt (iOS, Android) RATING:

WHAT IS IT?

With today’s myriad of travel sites, even the most experienced traveller has their hands full managing all the details of a typical trip. Booking airline tickets, hotels, rental cars and restaurants leaves you with lots of separate pieces of paper. Throw in maps, directions, things to do and weather, and the confusion multiplies. TripIt turns chaos into order by making it easy for anyone.

THE GOOD: TripIt helps you organise trip details into one master online itinerary, even if arrangements are booked at multiple travel sites. It automatically includes maps, directions and weather here. You have the option to book restaurants, theatre tickets, activities and more right from within the online itinerary. It allows you to safely access travel plans online, share them, check-in for flights or print an itinerary.

THE BAD:

The only issue with this planner is that most of its benefits rely on an Internet connection. It shouldn’t seem as too big a problem. However, your internet accessibility varies with different countries and it wouldn’t be too wise to depend on this app alone for everything that you might need on your travels.

VERDICT: We say ‘yes’ to anything that makes travel planning simpler.

88 September 2012

World of Goo (iOS, Android) World of Goo is a physics-based puzzle game by 2D Boy. The main objective of the game is to get a requisite number of goo balls to a pipe representing the exit. In order to do so, the player must use the goo balls to construct bridges, towers and other structures to overcome gravity and various terrain difficulties such as chasms, hills, spikes, windmills or cliffs. There is also a bonus meta-game called World of Goo Corporation, where the objective is to build the highest tower using goo balls which the player collected through the course of the game.

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TH

Across the Middle East and Around the Globe

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M OV M IE

movies

Total Recall RATING: DIRECTED BY: Len Wiseman STARRING: Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine

THE PLOT:

This action-thriller is about reality and memory. It introduces Rekall, a company that can (literally) turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid, even though he’s got a beautiful wife whom he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life. ‘Real’ memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. However, when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man as he finds himself on the run from the police.

WORTH WATCHING? Any fan of Colin Farrell will be left

wondering, ‘Why?!’ For those who have watched the 1990 version, you are probably already familiar with how the story unravels. Despite the flashes of excuses distancing themselves from the concept of a remake, it pretty much is the same deal.

VERDICT: Pardon us the pun, but this one is completely forgettable.

The Bourne Legacy It’s a shame that despite trying so hard to honour the ‘legacy’ of his screenplay for The Bourne Identity, Paul Greengrass’s directorial grittiness and Matt Damon; this movie brings none of those elements to the table in any kind of satisfactory way. What fails Jeremy Renner isn’t his performance, but the writing.

The Expendables 2 This is one of those movies that you want to make fun at but are caught watching anyway. The story, as always, is full of holes. You can’t blame them really. They’re trying to pack in as many ‘kabooms’ as possible. Leave logic behind and just enjoy the movie.

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Bringing you the latest models of cars to travel through the Pearl of the Arabian Gulf, Bahrain.

And not surprisingly, great deals to grab followed by 24/7 customer support.

Call: +973 1723 1156 Airport Branch: +973 1732 1306 E-mail: info@national-bahrain.com

www.national-bahrain.com

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K Hotel Media Iftar The K Hotel in Juffair hosted a media Iftar at the hotel's Klouds Restaurant during the Holy Month

Shani & Farheen

Volker Mandlowsky, GM, K Hotel, Susan & Abbas

Habib & Dilraz

Ayla, George, Alex, Charlie & Volker

Leslie & Elmer

Volker Mandlowsky, Alya & Abbas with guests

90 September 2012

Bambi & Ayla

Abhitab

Likhiya & Shanto

Sheena & Sheryl

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Invita Staff Ghabga Invita Bahrain hosted a staff ghabga at the Al Bawadi Ramadan Tent, Mercure Grand Hotel

Khalid Al Khateeb & Rahul Bhalla

Invita management & board members

Manar Al Samahiji & Shaikha

Ramla & Jalila

Isa with Shaikha Fakhro

Wadeea, Ali Yousif & Ahmed Ebrahim

Ben & Jamshed

Amal & Noor

Bijumon & Nasser

Mohammed & Ali

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Sheraton Media Iftar Sheraton Bahrain Hotel hosted a media Iftar at the hotel's Awali Ballroom, during the Holy Month

Mrs Khan & Danish

Nadeem & Janish

92 September 2012

Edwin, Stella, Ursula, Estella, Cristalyn, Steve & Victor

Alou & Nelson

Avinash & Ashok

Abdullah & Khan

Sami & Salman

Charles & Adiba

Vijayan

Peter & Mohammed

Mathew & Alohaideb

Marvic, Ian & Ric

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Géant Opens At Enma Mall, Riffa Géant opened its second hypermarket at Enma Mall in Riffa under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Hassan Fakhro, Minister of Industry & Commerce, Kingdom of Bahrain. The hypermarket was inaugurated by HE Ahmed Bu Beshait, Under Secretary, Ministry of Industry & Commerce

HE Ahmed Bu Beshait opens the hypermarket

HE Ahmed Bu Beshait, Laurent, Kaufar & Ashfaq tour the hypermarket

Ari Sadiq, Sk Goel, Mokadam, Mathews, Saleem, Sakka, Philippe & Santosh

Philippe, Jean, Amal & Ashraf

Rais, HE Ahmed Bu Beshait & Laurent

Hashim, Ashok & Sethu

Khalid & Yousif

CAFE

Tasty Monday

TREATS AWAIT YOU EVERY

FROM AUGUST TO OCTOBER

Share in our 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION at Bahrain City Centre Level 1 17 491 391

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Vapiano Bahrain

@VapianoBahrain

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Gulf Air Ghabga Gulf Air hosted a ghabga for members of the media at the Gulf Hotel's Ramadan Tent. The ghabga was attended by Samer Majali, Gulf Air's chief executive officer & staff members

Ahmed, Samer Majali, Abbas, Aniqa & Amal

Ali, Hussain & Mohammed

David & Samer

Waleed & Ahmed

Yasser & Azza

Nisha, Nazeeha & Amal

Ehab & Mahmeed

Karan & Krishna Bhatt

Mohammed & Abdulla

Noof & Omaima

Katherine

Anamika Art Exhibition Anamika, daughter of Anil & Preethy Radhakrishnan held a first solo art exhibition last month. The exhibition titled -'Anamika - Expressions Of My Mind' was held at the Radakrishnan residence

Hussain, Adel, Anamika, Anil & Gautham

Vipin, Anamika, Nalini & Gopika

Preethy, Mohammed, Anamika & Anil

94 September 2012

Rea & Anamika

Berlya

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Bahraini Student Organization (BSO) Get Together The Bahraini Student Organization (BSO) a student run organization that connects current students studying in North America with their peers and professionals from the Bahraini community held a get together at Al Riwaq Art Space last month

Yacoob, Amna & Zain

Abdulla, Mohamed & Abdulla

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Moayed & Safeya

Bassam, Ali, Eshaq & Ali

Nawaf, Sara, Basma, Ashim, Belal & Isa

Salman, Eshaq, Duaij & Abdulla

Hessa & May

Zain & Reem

Yusra, Amina, Hayaa & Faten

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Junaid For Perfumes Ghabga Junaid For Perfumes hosted a media ghabga during the Holy Month at Pashawat Restaurant, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa

Seham, Hamad & Junaid

Azmiya & Safiya

Akeel, Majid & Naim

Layla, Yara, Bidoor, Hamad & Seham

Hessa & Layla

Jun & Mohammed

Mohammed & Aslam

Jalal & Zainab

Haseeb & Baqer

Al Hawaj Ghabga Al Hawaj &â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Sons held a ghabga for members of the media and invited guests during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The ghabga was held at the Al Hawaj Gardens in Barbar which was also attended by Ruling Family members, diplomats and members of the Al Hawaj family

Shaikh Essa bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Jawad Y. Al Hawaj, HE Salman Bin Hindi, Governor of Muharraq & Abdulwahab Al Hawaj

Jean, HE Corazon Yap-Bahjin, Philippines Ambassador & HE Victor Smirnov, Russian Ambassador

Saleh bin Hindi & Shaikh Essa

96 September 2012

HE Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, Moroccan Ambassador & HE Shigeki Sumi, Japanese Ambassador

Ahmed Al Hawaj & Karim Jawad

Amal & Faisal

Dr Abdulla Al Hawaj & Abdul Majeed Al Hawaj

HE Mohan Kumar, Indian Ambassador & HE Taha Mohammed Abdul Qadir, Palestinian Ambassador

Sulaiman with Yasser Al Hawaj

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Al Haddad Motors Iftar Al Haddad, distibutors for Mercedes Benz vehicles in Bahrain held a Mercedes Benz Media Drive Event, followed by an Iftar at La Maison Cafe, Zinj, during the Holy Month of Ramadan

Mahmood & Imran

Ahmed & Varun

Melvin, Jamal & Neville

Ebrahim

Fawaz

Mani & Kiran

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Al Haddad officials & media at the event

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Hyundai Santa Fe

Creating a Storm A new era arrives in the Kingdom’s motoring market as Hyundai launches the third generation of its Santa Fe sports utility vehicle.

“The all-new Santa Fe reinforces Hyundai’s commitment to produce premium cars. We think that the new generation Santa Fe will not only appeal to existing customers in the region with its fresh design and improved levels of standard technology,” says Tom Lee, head of Hyundai Middle East’s regional headquarters.

“We expect this SUV to attract a new range of Middle East buyers looking for a stylish, premium and authentic SUV.” Premium features are not limited to Hyundai’s luxury line-up, but can be seen in the Santa Fe which has gone through major redesigning. With reclining angle comfort rear seats that are identical to seats found in luxury sedans, the model also boasts full leather for both the front and rear seats, with a 12-way driver power seat.

Also this month

Other added touches include a cooling box that will refrigerate drinks in the hot weather and a rear window curtain that will provide exclusivity and privacy for the rear passengers.

Based on Hyundai’s design philosophy, Fluidic Sculpture, the new model adopts its own design concept called Storm Edge.

This look captures the strong and dynamic images created by nature during the formation of a storm.

The design adopts the hexagonal grille that has become a Hyundai trademark in most of its new line-ups. A two-tone voluminous bottom car body and wider front and rear bumpers create a futuristic and urban-style SUV image.

The interior also shows an evolution in design and an insight into the future through Hyundai’s eyes. The all-new SUV comes to the Middle East in sporty five- and seven-seat forms, with ample room and storage throughout the car. In the boot there are two compartments, a luggage under-tray space and a luggage centre box, in addition to the main boot section. Folding rear seats create even more space for Santa Fe owners.

The new model additionally comes with a wealth of new and improved features. Hyundai’s third generation navigation system is installed on a multifunction eight-inch touch-screen display.

Other available features include a panoramic sunroof, pushbutton start with keyless entry, and heated seats front and rear.

With the car manufacturing giant’s continued commitment to making all its new cars more eco-friendly, there is an option of active ECO, which will actively control air-conditioning output and engine transmission for better fuel efficiency.

E Call 17 750-750.

When? September 1 Event? Track Xperience Venue? BIC Take a spin in one of the BIC’s four most exciting cars this month!

E Call 17 450-000.

When? September 3 and 17 Event? Drag and drift Venue? BIC The BIC’s drag strip opens up for anyone with a car or motorbike.

E Call 17 450-000.

When? September 6 Event? Test and tune Venue? BIC The crowd goes wild as racers test and tune their motors.

E Call 17 450-000.

When? September 7 and 21 Event? Auto X Venue? BIC Watch your favourite racers fly by in another exciting tournament.

E Call 17 450-000.

When? September 27, 28 and 29 Event? Championship Venue? BIC An all-new series that is taking Bahrain’s motoring world by storm!

E Call 17 450-000.

100 x Wheels - 101 x Showcase

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Awaken Your Senses DAVID M. ROBERTSON Infiniti have extended their product range with the introduction of a sevenseater crossover utility vehicle, the JX. It’s designed to change perceptions.

Model Infiniti JX Model year 2013 Engine type 3.5-litre V6 engine Displacement 3,498 cc Horsepower 265 hp @ 6,400 rpm Transmission Continuously variable transmission

100 September 2012

Infiniti are quite clear with their positioning of the all-new JX crossover — it’s a family utility vehicle. The design and technology that has been incorporated into the JX plays to this explicit objective.

Take the interior, for instance; it’s designed to create a unique symphony of materials and sensations that is both elegant and inviting. This is achieved through a harmonious balance of colour, texture and exclusive materials to deliver a distinctive ambience.

That’s supported by controls and instrumentation that are positioned at your finger tips for instinctive reach and use.

While the focus might revolve around your loved one, you — the driver — have not been forgotten. When you exit from the driver’s door, the seat automatically moves backwards to ease your passage.

For a vehicle that geared towards the family, it is not unsurprising to discover packages, offered as options, are available to entertain and deliver enhanced safety. The theatre package, for example, offers two seven-inch colour screen affixed to the rear of the driver and passenger seats to keep the young ones occupied while they are onboard.

Safety innovation Included within the driver assistance package is a new technology that Infiniti heralds as a world-first — Back-up Collision Intervention (BCI). This technology helps detect vehicles approaching from either side while you are reversing.

If a vehicle appears to be entering your path, BCI gives you three layers of warning; visual, audio and gas pedal-force feedback. It will even apply the brakes to help you avoid a collision. Other features included within the driver assistance package include blind spot warning and intelligent brake assist.

Infiniti’s ‘Safety Shield’ offers layered technologies to help

provide safety and convenience by monitoring conditions, helping you avoid a collision, and helping you and your passengers when one occurs.

The brand’s ‘Around View Monitor’ now comes with ‘Moving Object Detection’; a flashing light appears when another vehicle, on either side of the car, enters the ‘blind spot’ to alert you to potential danger. This system, and other features included in the technology package such as land departure warning and prevention, are all developed to provide you and your family with an added measure of ease and confidence while driving.

Of course, technology is never a substitute for driver awareness; they exist to assist your control over your vehicle and the surrounding environment. Specifically, they do not obviate the driver from exhibiting an appropriate degree of care when behind the wheel. Nevertheless, they are great additions and enhance our driving experience.

Y. K. Almoayyed & Sons are the exclusive distributor for Infiniti in the Kingdom; the full range of Infiniti vehicles can be found within the Nissan showroom located in Sitra. E Call 17 732-732.

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EURO MOTORS

Distinctive Marque With the market launch of the new BMW X6, the combination of sporty elegance of a large BMW coupé with the powerful presence of an X model is raised to a new level.

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“The new BMW X6 includes a number of exterior changes, enhancing the athletic appearance of BMW’s original Sports Activity Coupé for the customers’ benefit,” says Paul Yates, Euro Motors general manager.

“Our discerning customers are successful, confident individuals who desire to buy into strong powerful brands that offer luxury, safety, reliability and innovation. The X6 delivers on all these attributes.”

A revised front end with a wider chrome frame and revised bars on the large kidney grille and fog lights, set towards the edge of the car, highlight its wide track and stable roadholding. As an alternative to the standard bi-Xenon lights, Adaptive LED headlights — a modern interpretation of BMW’s twin circular headlights — are now available as an option complementing the new front end. At the rear is a revised red light cluster, enhancing the lines of the car with two horizontal LED glowing bars, further emphasising the width of the vehicle.

In addition, a raised powerdome bonnet appears on the new X6 giving the car a more aggressive and sportier look.

A host of new colour and trim options are available including three new metallic paint colours: Marrakesh brown, orion silver and midnight blue. There are also two new upholstery trims, ivory white exclusive nappa and vermillion red nevada leather.

All new BMW X6 models also make use of BMW’s EfficientDynamics technology innovations that make the car more agile and economical. The petrol engines with BMW TwinPower turbo technology deliver impressive pulling power and low fuel consumption figures.

The V8 engine of the BMW X6 xDrive50i delivers 407 hp, while in the BMW X6 xDrive35i, an in-line six-cylinder petrol engine, boasts 306 hp. Engine power in both models is transferred by means of a standard eight-speed sports transmission including shift paddles on the wheel.

Dynamic Performance Control is a standard feature in all versions of the BMW X6 as an element of the intelligent allwheel drive system xDrive. This gives greater precision to the electronically controlled power distribution to optimise driving stability, traction and dynamic performance.

M style Offering even greater performance, BMW will also introduce the BMW X6M. Powered by a V8 TwinPower turbo engine, it offer 555 hp in addition to receiving styling changes such as aluminium brake calipers in metallic blue with M logo.

This X6 also becomes the first BMW M model to include Adaptive LED headlights as standard and gains a Powerdome bonnet enhancing its athletic stance. The attractive equipment package includes 20-inch M light alloy wheels in double spoke design and bi-colour finish with mixed tyres, adaptive LED headlamps, BMW Individual high-gloss shadow line, black surrounds for the fog lights and M door sill cover strips.

The striking accentuations for the exterior are supplemented with a sporty interior ambience, with a host of special M trim features.

E Call 17 750-750.

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AHMED ZAYANI & SONS

Enticing Performance This year, Dodge is charging ahead in transmission technology, and building on the success of the all-new Charger introduced in 2011.

102 September 2012

The 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 powered 2012 Dodge Charger is now available with an eight-speed automatic transmission, at Ahmed Zayani & Sons.

“The short front overhang, the wheelbase, the wheels out at the corners and the muscular track all point to a Charger that is absolutely well balanced,” says Godwin D’Cruz, sales and marketing manager automotive division, at Ahmed Zayani & Sons. “Add to this muscular power-plants, including the legendary 5.7-litre HEMI V8, together with an interior that exudes luxury and class, and you have a car that is handsome and evocative. It truly is a masterpiece of engineering and design; with a choice of models, there is a Charger to suit everyone’s needs.”

The state-of-the-art ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, once limited to premium import vehicles costing twice as much, is available on rear-wheel Dodge Charger models equipped with the award-winning 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 292 hp.

“This new eight-speed transmission takes the Dodge Charger, which was already at the head of its class, and puts it in a league of its own; our Charger customers don’t have to compromise. They can get the fuel efficiency of a mid-size car in a full-size sedan with the distinctive styling that is only available from Dodge,” adds Godwin.

For 2012, the Dodge Charger line-up has also been simplified to include SE, SXT and R/T (Road & Track) models, which offer technology, performance and value-packed feature packages.

The 370 hp HEMI V8 is also available with the R/T package that adds even more cockpit convenience features. These include ventilated seats, a driver’s seat memory, poweradjustable pedals and a steering column with memory provide additional comfort and convenience.

Further adding to the engaging driving experience are new die-cast zinc steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. Other additional equipment on the Dodge Charger R/T includes a black honeycomb-style grille with matte surround and heritage R/T badge, 20-inch chrome-clad wheels, 20-inch all-season performance tyres, rear differential with 3.06 axle ratio, performance engine and transmission calibration plus highspeed engine controller.

And topping the Charger range is the awesome SRT8 version with a new 470 hp, 6.4-litre HEMI V8 that features 45 more hp and a significantly wider rpm range. There’s a new exhaust system technology, for improved fuel efficiency, and new paddle shift technology and adaptive damping suspension for optimal driver control as well. At Ahmed Zayani & Sons special packages are offered on the very best in driving style, performance and adventure, as well as the chance to win one of the most popular performance sedans in the Middle East [DASH] a brand-new 2012 Dodge Charger SE! With immense popularity and by public demand the offer is continued for the entire month of September. Visit the Ahmed Zayani & Sons showroom in Zinj, on Sh. Salman Highway to find out more. E Call 17 238-822.

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EBRAHIM K. KANOO

Aggressive Styling The latest line-up of Lexus ES models is now available in the Kingdom, offering a sleek design and packed with a range of technology and safety features.

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“Since it was first introduced in our market, the Lexus ES has brought new levels of refinement, sophistication and quality to the luxury segment,” said Ismail Akbar, executive general manager of sales at Ebrahim K. Kanoo, the exclusive distributor for Lexus in the Kingdom. “Through the years it has consistently been a sales leader for us.”

The marque features a progressive new design and enhanced handling and the new range is set to continue as a favourite of executive motorists in the region, its makers say.

“The new ES offers a distinctly bold and progressive styling, an interior as advanced as it is accommodating and more dynamic handling. It will surely capture your attention as well as your imagination,” added Ayman Shehadeh, the Toyota and Lexus brand manager.

The ES 350 is powered by a 2GR-FE V6 dual VVT-i engine.

The intelligent six-speed automatic electronically controlled transmission provides enhanced performance and fuel efficiency. Meanwhile, the ES 250, which is powered by a fourcylinder dual VVT-i engine, has achieved advanced engine performance and lower fuel consumption.

The sleek sedan is more aggressive-looking than ever thanks to its distinctive spindle grille. It features a lower, progressive profile and boasts clean styling lines from front to rear; the wheelbase has also been lengthened by 45 mm which provides a more spacious interior. High intensity discharge headlights have been adopted and LED daytime running lights and

combination rear lamps have also been added.

On the inside, the interior has been designed to provide both a sense of openness and security. Sight lines and visibility are improved, controls are logically placed, and new cabin materials express a high level of craftsmanship.

The new line-up comes with an array of safety options including a blind spot monitor which helps detect vehicles overtaking, lane departure alert and pre-collision system which uses sub-millimetre wave radar to detect obstructions and prepare the vehicle for a potential collision.

Standard ES features include 10 airbags; dual-stage SRS airbags for the front seats as well as driver and front passenger SRS knee airbags, front and rear SRS side airbags and full-length SRS curtain shield airbags. Whiplash injury lessening front seats are designed to limit excessive head movement in certain rear-end collisions helping to decrease the severity of whiplash-type injuries.

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

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Cucina Italiana

Wake Up – Italian Style!

Elma Bartholomew Amazing Italian coffee deserves a great breakfast on the side. A truly authentic Italian venue is all set to give you the best of both all day long.

There’s no doubt that breakfast, or prima colazione as the Italians would call it, is the best meal of the day. Cucina Italiana shares this love for the morning special, so much that they’re fine with offering it any time of the day. I suppose that’s the beauty of this venue; everything is available at all times.

The foundation of the meal is, of course, the coffee and this is what they have in abundance. Don’t expect your regular cuppa though. In here they take your daily dose of caffeine seriously.

With two qualified baristas and with beans especially imported from Australia, it is guaranteed that a steaming mug of their java is just the thing to set your day straight.

Choose from their espressos like the ristretto, doppio, macchiato and decaffe, or try out their Vienna white or Vienna mocha chocolate. If you’re not in the mood for something fancy and would rather have the classics like a cappuccino, caffe latte, caffe mocha or caffe Americano, they’ve got that too. For those of you who can’t handle caffeine, the baristas are happy to mix you up a fine smoothie or any fresh juice.

If you’re under an Italian roof, then you’d better love breads and pastries because the chefs in this kitchen have a fair share of fresh wood-fire oven-baked ones to offer. After all, it is their Also this month

traditional accompaniment to coffee.

“We make two kinds of bread on a daily basis in our kitchen,” says chef Fortunato who brings with him over 23 years of cooking expertise and an undying passion for food like no other. “The first kind is focaccia which is very soft and can be topped with various kinds of flavours. The second kind is the simpler baguette.” On the menu is the dolce buongiorno which is a spread of croissants and danishes with home-made wood oven bread, marmalade, honey, jams and butter. Those who opt for the gourmand farmer will find themselves digging a fork into some country focaccia bread, which is seasoned differently daily, a selection of three Italian cheeses and two home-made beef sausages in tomato sauce. A glass of bardolino wine is also offered to wash down such a divine blend of flavours.

The Cucina breakfast is a favourite amongst patrons. Along with Italian beef sausages, roasted vine cherry tomatoes, eggs in any style of your choice and toasted bread, they offer what is probably the most scrumptious preparation of sautéed mushrooms you’ll ever come across. If all that sounds like too much, which by the way it isn’t, you could go for the basic eggs on toast option or for the salute, which is a serving of organic yoghurt with fresh seasonal cut fruit.

“The keys to authentic Italian cuisine are simplicity and freshness. We don’t work with frozen bases or food with preservatives,” says Paul Sarlas, general manager. “Everything you have here has been made on the premises which is our secret to the authentic essence.”

When? September 1 -30 Event? Lunch promotion Venue? Cucina Italiana Choose from antipasti, pasta or pizza and enjoy delicious coffee for BD4.

E Call 17 001-317.

When? September 1-30 Event? Monthly promotion Venue? Fish Market Restaurant, Al Bander Hotel & Resort Enjoy a special promotional menu and the latest catch of the day.

E Call 17 701-201.

When? September 7 Event? Cooking class Venue? Sheraton Hotel Learn how to make stir fried chicken and hot and sour soup.

E Call 39 026-011.

When? September 7 Event? Celebration brunch Venue? Saveur, Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Delight in a menu created for their first birthday.

E Call 17 171-000.

When? September 27 Event? After-dinner engagement Venue? The Ascot Restaurant, British Club of Bahrain With Peter Taylor, head coach of the national football team.

E Call 17 728-245.

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September 2012 105

diningf&bhappenings CROWNE PLAZA BAHRAIN

Convenient Lunches

With a number of promotions available this September, this five-star hotel is ready to serve up some great food and entertainment.

Not only does the Crowne Plaza Bahrain, within the Diplomatic Area, offer a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, special promotions make them all the more alluring.

Try an Indian twist at Spices where the North Indian quick thali lunch is priced at BD4.950++ per person. A thali, meaning plate, is a traditional way to present an Indian meal, and includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

There are a variety of combinations to devour, such as rice, dhal, vegetables, flat breads, yoghurt, chutney, pickle, papad and dessert.

Back by popular demand, Waves Seafood Restaurant will once again offer the Seafood Lovers’ Platter. Enjoy succulent seafood grilled to perfection all year-round for only BD9.950++ per platter.

An evening out Harvesters Pub and Tracks Sports Bar have also outdone themselves this year with a delightful chef’s special, the satay platter. Enjoy really succulent chicken and beef skewered and grilled to perfection served with spicy peanut sauce for only BD2.950++ per person.

You can also get back into the school spirit with their ‘Back to School’ themed bash on Monday 24 September. Dance all night with friends to the pub’s resident band and DJ. The party starts from 9pm onwards, with drinks specials available all night and a chance to win exciting prizes for the best costume.

E Call 17 531-122.

VAPIANO

Time to Celebrate Small ideas can sometimes take on a life of their own, especially when they have to do with great food.

Ten years ago a simple idea transformed the way in which diners choose to experience good food. Starting on the basis of no dress code and no reservations, the first Vapiano opened its doors in Hamburg, Germany in 2002. The concept was to promote a casual ambience; guests were welcomed to leave aside their inhibitions and feel like they were cooking and eating amongst friends.

While the journey has not been an easy one, like many great ideas this one has grown exponentially with help from the Vapianisti. The team consists of a dedicated group of employees who have shared the values of Vapiano since day one, and know what fresh cuisine and a relaxing atmosphere entails. Now, with 100 restaurants in 26 countries across four continents, Vapiano remains firmly committed to maintaining its success as the brand continues its expansion.

Exemplifying the ideals of great classic food within a comfortable environment, Vapiano is located at Bahrain City Centre on Level 1. From the 100-year old olive tree that serves as a special and distinguishing centrepiece for the brand to the delightfully helpful and capable staff, this outlet is definitely part of the Vapiano family.

In celebration of the brand’s tenth anniversary the venue is offering guests a unique promotion, Tasty Monday. Every Monday from September to October diners will be given a special treat with selected items. Visit Vapiano with friends and family and find yourselves inspired by your surroundings. E Call 17 491-391.

106 September 2012

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TRADER VIC’S

Revamped Cuisine Restaurants of a certain calibre always strive to reinvent themselves; this venue does so while still maintaining its essential charm.

Chef Andy Hoppe

Trader Vic’s is successfully negotiating the fine line between injecting a breath of fresh air into their menu and retaining their classic appeal this month. The change starts in the kitchens with new executive chef Andy Hoppe. A German national with a Master Chef degree, he first started his culinary career back in 1993 at Hotel Rosengarden in Hamburg.

After working as a freelance chef for a while he was subsequently hired as sous chef by Kaefer Catering, swiftly rising through the ranks to become the executive head chef.

With his varied experiences and enthusiasm for appetising food, he hopes to continue his success at Trader Vic’s.

Already distinguishing himself at his new venue, chef Andy is working on gluten-free options to add even more variety to the existing menu. He will also be working on a "Chef's Suggestions" portion of the regular menu, which will change on a monthly basis.

The menu The dining options at Trader Vic’s have always been linked to a matter of tradition and maintaining signature dishes which are part of the brand. Moving forward from this idea, chef Andy hopes to revitalise the menu so that people can discover new flavours and dishes in the same location.

The "Chef's Suggestions" will emphasise freshness and lighter fare. Fresh herbs, seasonal vegetables and fruits will all be cooked on the spot, avoiding the need for excess sauce

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and preserving their flavour. Trader Vic’s is also taking on the role of offering healthier items. Diners who want to avoid deep-fried foods can look out for lighter options. Each menu section, whether it is Asian, Polynesian, BBQ or French, will offer a healthy alternative.

Monthly special dishes will also be available for lunch and dinner. Guests will then be able to try new flavours, apart from the regular menu, while still enjoying the Trader Vic’s experience. Head over to Trader Vic’s and indulge in September's "Chef's Suggestions" such as US beef fillet on a fried bread dumpling with creamy mushroom, grilled mango and foie gras. The meat is cooked the way you like it, then topped with a sweet grilled fresh mango and smooth foie gras slices.

Seasonal items are also included. The grilled Arabic hammam fish fillet served with fresh vegetables and young baby potatoes in particular is a delight to taste.

Trader Vic’s will also continue to use the BBQ wood-fired oven as a unique method of cooking. The natural smoke and heat derived from seasoned white oak woods produces a distinctive flavour. Order and enjoy the legendary rack of lamb, chateaubriand, sea bass fillet or Norwegian salmon.

Since 1940, Trader Vic’s has been offering guests an irreplaceable dining experience. Although nothing will be removed from the original menu, change is definitely in the air.

E Call 17 586-555.

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diningf&bhappenings LANTERNS RESTAURANT

Great Expectations After a quarter century of dining excellence, this casual Indian dining venue will be opening a new set of doors in the heart of Adliya.

THE DIPLOMAT RADISSON BLU HOTEL, RESIDENCE & SPA

Brunch Returns!

Kick-start your weekend with good food, great friends and live entertainment at this luxury five-star hotel as an old friend returns.

108 September 2012

Since first opening its doors in 1987, The Lanterns restaurant has succeeded in transforming itself into an icon of fine Indian cuisine. Managing director, Lalit Kapur, says the success of the restaurant is based on not only its food, but above all, customer satisfaction. “Over the years, our devotion to our customers has resulted in loyal guests who have been regularly knocking on our door for the past 25 years,” states Kapur. Diners will now be able to experience Lanterns in a new light, as it ushers in the month of October with a second branch.

Following its forerunner’s formula for success, the new venue will fill the market for gourmet Indian fare in Adliya.

Encompassing 800 square metres, it will boast many facets that are not found in the first location. These include a dedicated lounge area which will feature the signature truck bar in a brand new design.

A garden area for outdoor dining and a rooftop lounge are also on the docket for the new venue. The striking interior of the original restaurant will be replicated in order to recreate the authentic Indian aura of the Budaiya branch, which so many have come to love.

To get a sense of the real India, you simply have to take a bite of the modern fusion cuisine available at Lanterns. Embracing the multiculturalism of the Indian subcontinent, the venue offers a variety of cuisines which blend captivating Indian spices with simple western recipes. Tapas with a spicy twist and even Indian style sushi play to the imagination, which is equally stimulated by talented resident musicians.

E Call 17 590-591.

Friday Brunch is back! Over the years the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa has cemented its legendary reputation as one of the best places to wine, dine and relax on a Friday afternoon. Let down your hair and get into the party spirit this September.

There is a wide range of delicious dishes from which to choose; the international food buffet is complemented by three diverse live cooking stations, to satisfy even the most voracious appetite. Seek out the seafood station or venture towards flavourful Thai and Mongolian cuisine. Shawarmas and even taco stations are also available. Once you’ve enjoyed your main course, head over to the dessert table and let your sweet tooth take over.

This brunch is all about listening to great live music as you eat and drink in a casual and friendly ambience. The bands and DJs will work hard to get all guests on their feet, dancing and having a good time.

The Diplomat brunch starts at noon and finishes at 3:30pm, but the fun definitely doesn’t have to stop there. Many guests often make their way down to the Fiddler’s Green pub, on the ground floor of the hotel, where the merriment continues well into the evening hours.

The price for the brunch is BD27 net per person and includes unlimited selected beverages. Children under the age of six are free of charge, and there is a 50 per cent discount for children between the ages of six and 12.

E Call 39 945-208 or email sales.diplomat@radissonblu.com.

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MÖVENPICK HOTEL

Exciting Deals This five-star luxury hotel always delivers; this season it’s revamped its entire dining experience.

With several updates to their dining outlets, the Mövenpick Hotel is sure to see even more action this month. Both the Flamingo Bar and Silk’s Restaurant unveil new menus designed by executive chef Alfred Zuberbuehler.

His dishes, available starting 1 September, define fusion cuisine bringing together both Swiss and oriental dishes. This is not the only change to hit the Flamingo Bar this month. A new resident band will be playing daily from 8:30pm until midnight, excluding Saturdays.

The Bulgarian “Quattro”, consisting of two men and two women, will play the latest hits for your entertainment. Stop

by Flamingo Bar during daily happy hours from 2pm until 9pm for a 20 per cent discount on beverages, and stay to listen to great musical talent.

To add to the excitement, this October Silk’s Restaurant will welcome Michelin star chef Philippe Bardau. Holding over 30 years of experience in the best Michelin restaurants in France, chef Philippe will be showcasing his signature dishes every evening from October 14 to 17.

He will also be conducting cooking classes on October 15 and 16; book now to experience Michelin star cuisine.

Theme nights Like many great venues, the Mövenpick has a varied array of theme nights to choose from at Silk’s Restaurant. Every Monday evening from 7pm until 11pm, dive in and taste the catch of the day at Mövenpick’s Seafood Night. For BD18.200++ you can enjoy a selection of popular and traditional seafood dishes ranging from sushi, dumplings and tempura to oysters, lobster and tiger prawns. The talented team of professionals will even Chef Philippe Bardau

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prepare your dish just the way you like it. Opt for the Seafood Night “plus” for BD 22.300++, with a selection of beverages.

Break up your week with a fantastic night out as you enjoy a taste of Italy in Bahrain every Wednesday evening. For BD12.500++ or BD18.200++, which includes wines, beer and soft drinks, you’ll be able to watch aromatic pizzas bake in the oven. A complimentary shot of “Lemoncello” awaits you at dinner’s end along with scrumptious Italian sweets. There’s no better way to enjoy a real Italian feast.

Meat lovers will not be able to resist Thursday’s Steak Night special which offers a selection of certified Angus beef, rib eye and rump and aged sirloins charcoal grilled to perfection. All of this can be yours for BD19++ inclusive of wines, beer and soft drinks.

If you can wait until the weekend then take advantage of the Friday brunch. The food buffet and live stations are spread out all over the hotel. The brunch is priced at BD23.800++ per adult, children from age six to 12 enjoy 50 per cent off and those below the age of six eat for free. The brunch runs from 12:30pm to 4pm, E Call 17 460-000.

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Bahrain Family Leisure Company Iftar The Bahrain Family Leisure Company hosted an Iftar for management and staff members during the Holy Month of Ramadan at Ponderosa in the Seef district

Renjith & Paul

Irene, LJ & Alam

Ahtisham & Cynthia

Maryann, Marissa, Jona & Jessica

Cynthia with the Ponderosa team

Ashley, Agnelo & Sabina

Sabina, Agnelo & Berna

Nelson & Mohammed

Raj

Seema, Aditya & Renjith

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

Lynette, Hanan, Mala, Milushka & Rouaa

Sanjay, Mohammed Rafea & Mohammed Jassim

Sameera & Abhishek

110 September 2012

Ranjith, Dhiren, Milushka & Sanjay

Khalil Al Hammad, Hitender & Elvin

Nariman & Noorhan

Mohammed & Ebrahim

Mohammed Ketbi & Hussain Al Jeshi

Mala & Dhiren

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afterdarkthismonth When? September 7 | Event? Grand Reopening | Venue? Cocoon Lounge

Grand Reopening! keerthana louis Get ready for a whole new world of partying as this hotspot of Bahraini nightlife plays host to two international DJs. Finally reopening its doors on Friday September 7, Cocoon Lounge is ready to get the party started. Glamourous to begin with, the venue has undergone many renovations this summer to ensure a great beginning to the party season. To kick-start the grand reopening, Cocoon Lounge managed to land international phenomenon DJane Sabrina Terence. She’ll be heating up the dance floor with non-stop electrifying beats this September, so be sure to check her out.

After discovering her passion for dance music as a young teenager, Sabrina has gone on to become a household name amongst international DJs. Having played for the likes of Paris Hilton, Akon, Ne-Yo, Taio Cruz and Flavio Briatore, she is bringing her talent to Bahrain and is ready to get the party started.

Sabrina’s love of electronic dance music comes from the fact that “it moves and cheers people up all around the world”. Her goal is to make sure this definitely happens at Cocoon Lounge by interacting with the crowd and giving them a good time.

It’s time to open your eyes to a whole new party scene, in the newly renovated Cocoon Lounge with DJ Sabrina spinning the tunes that are going to make you move.

Also this month

New resident DJ A new resident DJ has also arrived at Cocoon Lounge Bahrain ready to make his mark on the place. DJ Thomas will soon be playing some of the hottest music on the island.

With 13 years of experience under his belt, he will be bringing his own brand of entertainment to Cocoon Lounge.

Specialising in house, tech house and progressive house music, DJ Thomas is sure to keep the crown interested and wishing they could stay out later and later every single night.

A talented and enthusiastic DJ, Thomas has worked all around the world in some of the most thrilling venues where he has managed to hone his trade to perfection. An experienced resident DJ, he has taken charge in some of the most pumping international clubs such as Spanish Fly, Where Else and Bottles and Chimneys.

In all of these places he proved that he knows exactly what the party people want and is more than willing to please. An observant entertainer, there is never a dull moment with DJ Thomas as he makes sure that the energy levels in any place he is playing at remain high. To add more credit to his name, Thomas has even jammed alongside top international DJs including DJ Ivan from Ministry of Sound as well as DJ Ilgin and DJ Mark Stent from South Africa.

Cocoon Lounge is making a name for itself this year as the new hub of hardcore partying, and it is definitely the place you want to be. So make sure to dance the night away to a new revolution in music with DJ Thomas. E Call 36 923-233 or 39 420-345.

DJane Sabrina Terence

When? September 4 and 6 Event? “The K Factor” Auditions Venue? Kicks, Hotel Diva Give your talent a place to shine; you might win a great prize.

E Call 39 922-583.

When? September 6 Event? The Regurgitator Venue? Corners Bar, Dragon Hotel and Resort Prepare to be completely freaked out by Stevie Starr’s unusual talents!

E Call 16 031-113.

When? September 7 Event? Grand Re-opening Venue? Cocoon Lounge Renovated décor and an international DJ come together for a great night out.

E Call 36 923-233.

DJ Thomas

When? September 13 Event? DJ Night Venue? Klub 360, Elite Crystal Hotel Legendary DJ Martin Taylor will get you moving to the music.

E Call 17 360-360.

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September 2012 111

afterdarkhappenings When? September 13 Event? Cowboy Party Venue? Rocky’s Café, Ramee International Hotel Get out your leather boots and hat and let your inner cowboy take over.

E Call 17 727-230.

Back to shool party

When? September 24 Event? Back to School Party Venue? Harvesters Pub, Crowne Plaza Hotel Giving Back to School a whole new meaning, Harvesters will be pumping.

E Call 17 531-122.

When? September 28 Event? Pink Friday Venue? Bushido Ladies should try out their luck on Friday night for fabulous deals and heels.

E Call 17 583-555.

112 September 2012

Let Loose!

This month we are all about what’s new and exciting in Bahrain. New venues, new bands, new DJs and, of course, new events to keep you busy.

The start of the party season means there is always someone new around. JJ’s Irish Restaurant welcomes their latest resident DJ Dave Hayes who will be playing alongside returning band The Noise. Over at Hotel Diva, Davy Crockett’s introduces Canadian band Overnite Sensation.

Overnite Sensation

This group of young musicians will have everyone dancing the night away.

For a relaxing night out check out the Flamingo Bar at Mövenpick Hotel, where a new Bulgarian Quattro, of two men and two women, will be playing the latest hits every night, excluding Saturdays. The intimate Boudoir lounge at the Kempinski Ixir Hotel welcomes Columbian Viviana; this soulful artist will perform on the sax and keyboards, adding yet another element to this unique venue.

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Lounge Six Café

Where to go The Kempinski Ixir will be redefining Bahrain’s night-life experience on September 13. Their exclusive new night lounge, featuring Brazilian model and world class DJ Monica, is set to take the island by storm. Three times a week you can party in style to energetic beats set against the lush purple velvet interior at Bizarre. It’s the place to see and be seen.

A new venue has also opened its doors in Juffair. The Lounge Six Café, at Hotel Diva, is the perfect place for after-hours fun. Located on the sixth floor of the hotel, the venue is open from 2am to 6am every night.

Building on the success of Klub 360, Elite Crystal Hotel introduces AWTAR. The latest addition to Elite Hospitality’s portfolio features live Arabic music and entertainment as well as a rich selection of food and drinks.

A night out Pink Friday returns to Bushido this September. Dedicated to women, the last Friday of each month remains glamorous. Starting on September 28, ladies can enjoy free entrance, two complimentary drinks, promotions on a selection of bites and the chance to win a pair of Louboutin shoes or a high end designer bag.

For something completely different, check out The Regurgitator on September 6 at Corners Amwaj. Watch as Scottish Stevie Starr swallows everything from pool balls to fish and returns them unharmed. It’s enough to keep everyone on the edge of their seats!

Juffair is a hotspot for action this month. Renowned DJ Martin Taylor hits the decks at Klub 360, located in the Elite Crystal Hotel. Check him out on September 13, tickets are BD5 for men and dress code applies.

If you’re keen on showcasing your own talent then head to Kicks for “The K Factor” auditions on September 4 and 6. Contestants will compete over six weeks for great prizes and US$4,000. Rocky’s Café at Ramee International Hotel will also be hosting a Cowboy party on September 13 for anyone willing to take a ride on the wild side.

Beach party Candee Beach, Bahrain’s original beach party is back on September 28. Hosted at Amwaj Marina details are still emerging on what looks like a great time out in the sun. Expect to see DJ Joshua Roberts, DJ Kekke, DJ Exotic Eve and many more spinning tracks at this event.

Bushido

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Stevie Starr

September 2012 113

afterdarkhappenings COCOON LOUNGE

The Swing of Things!

DJ Swing

Revamp your night out with R&B, hip hop and house music all in one stylish location.

Cocoon Lounge is doing things differently this time around with DJ Swing turning up the heat. Revitalising the typical R&B night, DJ Swing is ready to put his own stamp on things and give the crowd the time of their lives every Thursday evening at Cocoon.

Born and raised in Chicago, he was brought up around music which has always been a big part of his life. With over 20 years of experience on the DJ scene, including time spent in Bahrain, he can safely admit to knowing all he needs to know about the type of music that will keep the crowd moving and in the mood for more.

Returning to the island since last living here in 2005, DJ Swing will be making his weekly debut at Cocoon Lounge Bahrain. Swing boasts of Cocoon Lounge’s “great new energetic atmosphere” and hails it as one of “Bahrain’s best kept secrets” but he definitely has something to add. Being a versatile DJ, Swing plays pretty much everything and anything. His greatest passion however is R&B, hip hop and house, the type of music that is sure to get people excited and energised for a great night out.

Every Thursday, Cocoon Lounge will party it up in style and glamour with DJ Swing and resident DJ Thomas, who will be spinning house tunes as the night goes on.

The perfect way to start off a Thursday night, head to Cocoon Lounge where you are guaranteed a DJ with experience who will get you pumped for the weekend.

E Call 36 923-233 or 39 420-345.

bystanderthismonth First Motors hosted its second quarterly staff get together at its premises in Ma’ameer last month as part of its employee appreciation drive.

During the event, Prakash Chemban, Mohmed Al Markhi, Radhakrishnan, Shabir Sanadi, Abeer Adam and Ebrahim Makki were presented with outstanding employees of the month awards for April, May and June respectively. They were each handed a certificate of appreciation and cash prizes by general manager Raed Mu’ti.

The event also included a birthday celebration for employees whose birthdays fell during the month of April, May and June Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East, announced its plans for the upcoming Six Hours of Bahrain endurance race, scheduled to take place on September 28th and 29th at the world-renowned desert track. Seen here at the press conference held at the BIC are, Allan McNish, Audi Sport Team Joest driver, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, BIC chief executive, & Gerard Neveu, FIA WEC chief executive officer In the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa hosted an Iftar for its ambassadors. The event was held in conjunction with the monthly ambassadors’ party to honour the top performing employees of the month. Ambassadors were treated to a sumptuous and bountiful buffet.

A raffle was also held during the event, and as part of tradition a giant cake was cut and shared to celebrate with ambassadors who had their birthday during the month.

Seen here, Bert Plas, general manager & Charbel with employees who celebrated their birthday

114 September 2012

Developing a love for science in children, Bahrain Science Centre has witnessed more than 2300 children attending the science workshops in just 4 weeks since it opened in July this year. Over 1300 individuals and families, nearly 860 schools and educational centre students and more than 160 teachers have attended science workshops at the Bahrain Science Centre this summer

Mark Price, Sales Manager at Al Haddad Mercedes-Benz with the the stunning new Mercedes-Benz GLK now available at Al Haddad Mercedes-Benz

www.bahrainthismonth.com

ELITE CRYSTAL HOTEL

A Little Bit of Soul Usher in the new season with a party that will surely be one to remember! One of United Kingdom’s favourite DJs is coming to town for a night of unrivalled music.

Martin Taylor

When? September 13 | Event? Guest DJ | Venue? Klub360, Elite Crystal Hotel www.bahrainthismonth.com

Martin Taylor is a recognisable name amongst Bahrain’s night life scene. Ask any club-goer and they will tell you that if Martin is behind the DJ box, then his party is the place to be at. The sought-after DJ is returning to the Kingdom this month for what promises to be a night not to be forgotten.

Hailing from Wales, Martin was introduced to the ways of club music from a young age by his father. “He took me under his wing and taught me how to read a crowd, use equipment and present myself professionally on the microphone,” Martin recalls.

“I would watch him present shows and conduct interviews with the likes of Edwin Starr, Martha Reeves and The Drifters.”

At just 14 years of age, Martin took up his first residency at a local thriving nightclub, showcasing his newfound skills to a large capacity crowd. He initially played chart music before moving onto a dance and electronic music sound. Some of his play list included Armand Van Helden, Faithless, David Morales and Masters at Work.

“I quickly learned the importance of keeping my finger on the pulse of the scene and maintaining my music collection to one step ahead of the ever-growing competition!,” he states.

It wasn’t long until he was getting booked by clubs all over Wales and England for guest spots and full time residencies which ensured he was out playing almost every weekend; this was even before finishing full-time education. After months of keeping dance floors busy, the father and son duo launched their own monthly event, attracting a 450-strong capacity and still running today under the company name of ‘Solid Gold Music Promotions’.

Word of Martin’s versatility soon spread, bagging him international gigs to play at, including numerous guest sets at Hed Kandi in Puerto Banus and a full-time residency at the then world’s biggest Ministry of Sound in Singapore. Other countries he played at include America, Cyprus, UAE and Spain.

“Although I prefer to play funky, disco and soulful music, I am never limited to a particular style,” says Martin. “My tendency is to sabotage the DJ box and take the crowd on a journey of all things music, using clever traditional mixing skills with an array of special effects and a sprinkling of music surprises to wow even the most demanding clubber.” E Call 3 3360-300.

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afterdarkhappenings

Warbler

N-Control

RAMEE BAISAN HOTEL

N-Control, Set to Rock You Sports, music, and best of all food that will have you heading back for more; this sports pub is the epitome of good entertainment.

A modern and refurbished English sports pub, The Warbler is the place to go when looking to unwind and socialise with friends. Step through the front doors and experience a Britishstyle venue in Bahrain, complete with real London street paving and a red telephone booth.

This quintessential sports pub is arguably the perfect venue to come face to face with the spirit of sports. The home of live sports coverage, The Warbler boasts three sizable projector screens, two of which are housed in the Old Trafford room.

Large HD plasma TVs with surround speaker systems are also scattered across the pub.

No matter where you choose to sit you’re always guaranteed a good view of your favourite game, be it the last minutes of a soccer match or the roar of F1 machines on the racetrack.

Not only is it a great sports pub but The Warbler also boasts some of the best live bands and DJs on the island.

The band Providing this pub with another notch on its list of attractions is the live entertainment. Residence band N-Control is back to rock you every single night. Initially formed in the Philippines, this band features a bunch of passionate and versatile musicians. They avidly display a smoking combination of musical talents that come together in perfect harmony to keep you entertained.

Offering a sophisticated blend of great vocals and rhythm, the musicians play an extensive and diverse repertoire of dance music, pop, R&B, hip hop, rock and, of course, all the classic hits.

Get ready to be entertained by the energetic sounds of N-Control who are sure to get you out and moving on the dance floor.

116 September 2012

Friday Frunch

Friday fun Fun-filled and packed full of energy this is definitely not a brunch for the faint of heart.

The Warbler’s Friday Frunch takes place every Friday afternoon from 12noon to 4pm.

You’ll love sampling the generous exotic spread of tasty gourmet delicacies; the chefs work hard to carefully prepare a variety of dishes, offering up an immaculate blend of herbs, spices and flavours from around the globe.

As you wait for your second wind, listen to live entertainment from the resident band. The Friday Frunch satisfies all your brunch needs — excellent food, great entertainment, and overall a fabulous time.

E Call 36 793-137.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Sea Fresh Aiming to capture Carolina’s personal memories of summer weekends spent doing water sports, CH Men Sport is built on a refined base of sandalwood, vetiver and oak moss with a heart of aromatic spices and top notes of fresh bergamot, grapefruit and sage.

Available at leading retailers.

What’s New Edited by Alison Coldridge

Compact Sound Informative Timekeeping

The JVC UX-G616 is a DVD micro component audio system complete with a dock for an iPod and iPhone, as well as a front USB and auxilliary port. Packing 40 watts, it’s compact — the main unit is only 160 mm wide.

Available at Gajria Electronics

If you always appear to be a man on a mission, then ensure you have a watch to keep you on track. Jaguar’s new styles are inclusive of all of the information you need to know and simultaneously look suave.

Available at A La Mode.

Fancy Footwork As the weather begins to cool this month, start running again to burn the Eid pounds quickly. Protect your feet with a secure pair of trainers, such as this flash style. As an added bonus, the mesh fabric will stop your feet from sweating inside the shoe.

Available at Puma.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

A Brighter You If your skin is feeling dull and tired, try the new Brightening BB Cream SPF 30 from Nuxe. Enriched with the perfect combination of natural active ingredients and ultra-powerful flowers, the formula instantly lifts the complexion and brightens the skin.

Available at leading retailers.

September 2012 117

marketplace MANGO

Total Rock Chick Mixing the seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most coveted trends into its AW12 collections, Mango serves as the ultimate place for any fashion fanatic to shop currently. The military look is given a rock chick edge with the incorporation of black leather in all styles. Look the part in zip-up jackets, shorts, skinny trousers and mini skirts and team with a statement tee.

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www.bahrainthismonth.com

Complete your look with accessories, of which Mango has plenty. Add some colour into your outfit with a touch of gold or silver jewellery or some sparkle with a glittery belt.

This season Mango has a range of oh-sostylish bags and shoes, ideal for every occasion.

A fringed and studded bag gives a tough-girl look with a bohemian edge and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest footwear; the shoe-boot.

Plus, the ultimate queen of fashion herself Kate Moss has designed a collection for Mango this AW12; be sure to check that out in stores!

www.bahrainthismonth.com

September 2012 119

marketplace

ALDO

Step Up for the New Season Unearth the new season footwear and accessory trends. Whether you tend to opt for sky-high stilettos or comfortable flats, one high street-style stop-off has it all.

Aldo’s AW12 collection includes the expected autumnal colours and winter fabrics — spot the sheepskin and wool items in reds, burnt shades of orange, browns and blacks — but interjected are spurts of pattern and new seasonal trends.

Leopard print and tartan are two such examples seen in both accessories and footwear, perfect for jazzing up any outfit. A hot shoe style this season is the shoe-boot, of which Aldo has many choices including a tasseled moccasin pair for a decidedly bohemian chic vibe.

E Call 17 179-245 (BCC) or 17 582-081 (Seef Mall).

120 September 2012

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NATURALIZER

Every Occasion Essentials Tend to your feet this season by walking tall in the most comfortable shoes in the market. With copious options to choose from you are sure to find the perfect match.

Naturalizerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specially-designed styles ensure maximum relief teamed with the most of-the-minute designs. Taking inspiration from the catwalk trends, the AW12 collection is bursting with must-have styles that you will adore. The brogue returns in a heeled version ideal for the office; a buckle-adorned model with a chunky square heel is great as a daytime look; a teetering suede round-toe heel is perfect for evening wear.

Additionally, there are plenty of styles for men too, including the new trend slipper-styles crafted from supple leather.

E Call 17 179-320 (BCC) or 17 581-691 (Seef Mall).

www.bahrainthismonth.com

September 2012 121

marketplace ASIA JEWELLERS

Vintage Inspiration Gentlemen: adorn your wrist with a symbol of affluence, style and sophistication as one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most renowned watch brands rediscovers past designs.

Simple, understated yet entirely chic, Radiomir watches are completely versatile. The defined collection from Officine Panerai suits any wrist, therefore any man. Strictly speaking, a Radiomir is not complex and features only what you need to know â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the time.

The newest launch from the brand is a special edition duo, ideal for a man with classic style and an eye for detail. The two Radiomir 1940 timepieces have been recreated for the first time in a special Officine Panerai case of vintage inspiration.

Past designs with a new edge Unlike the prototype and the examples which went into production at the end of the 1930s, some historic Radiomirs made in the 1940s had a distinctive case in which the strap attachments were not made of steel wires welded to the case.

Instead they were formed out of the same block of steel as the case itself, thus resulting in stronger, more solid lugs.

The new Radiomir 1940 watches are offered in a special case in the classic size of 47mm in diameter, and they incorporate other elements inspired by the historic examples. There is a Plexiglas crystal protecting the dial, a round, cambered bezel, a cylindrical crown and a screw back.

Distinguishable detailing The two versions use different materials on the case and a differing dial colour. The Radiomir 1940 is made of stainless steel with a polished finish and features a black dial, while the Radiomir 1940 Oro Rosso with the brown dial is in red gold.

The red gold use by Officine Panerai is 5NPt, a special alloy with a high percentage of copper, which gives great depth to the colour. It also has a low quantity of platinum, which helps to prevent any oxidation of the metal.

E Call 17 535-344

122 September 2012

www.bahrainthismonth.com

BMI BANK

New Rewards, New Incentives Two new schemes have been launched by one of the Kingdom’s leading banks to provide customers with enticing rewards and advantages.

Jamal Ali Al-Hazeem

Bahraini retail and commercial banking institution BMI Bank has launched two exciting new ways to reward its customers.

A new Platinum card is added to the bank’s portfolio of credit cards with Visa. It offers customers the advantage of earning miles on everyday purchases that can be directly redeemed towards Gulf Air’s ‘Falconflyer’ programme (FFP).

Customers will also automatically receive a complimentary ‘Falconflyer’ Silver membership that comes equipped with benefits including access to the prestigious Falcon Gold lounges at airports across the world when travelling with Gulf Air. “Our Platinum credit card is one-of-a-kind, focused at creating a new benchmark to help meet the lifestyle aspirations of the high spending customer segment,” says BMI Bank support services general manager Eyad Sater.

“Customers who shop with our Platinum credit card will receive one mile per BD2 spent locally and one mile per BD spent outside the country,” he continues.

Three cards; three advantages The introduction of the new card brings the bank’s card portfolio up to three. Also available are value-based credits cards including La Carte Visa classic and another platinum credit card which is a co-branded card with Geant hypermarket that rewards customers for purchases made at Geant, La Marche and Last Chance and its Diners Club credit card.

The bank’s credit cards come equipped with a range of value-

www.bahrainthismonth.com

added services including free real time SMS alerts on transactions made using the card, purchase protection insurance and secured wallet insurance.

As part of the free Silver membership to Gulf Air’s FFP, customers will be entitled to an extra allowance of 15 kg on luggage, 25 per cent bonus air miles, an expedited check in service via the Falcon desk and priority baggage handling when flying with Gulf Air. Loyalty rewards Additionally, BMI has launched an exclusive loyalty programme for its Gold and Classic credit card holders. With it, customers automatically earn points for every transaction made using these BMI Bank credit cards.

Under the scheme, the credit card holders will get up to 0.5 per cent cash back on every purchase made within the country and one per cent cash back on international spends with a minimum redemption value of BD20 and multiples of BD10 thereafter.

In addition to instant rewards redemption, customers benefit from a range of value-added services including purchase protection insurance, secured wallet insurance, life insurance, real time SMS alerts and discounts at various participating merchants.

E Call 17 226-641 or visit www.bmibank.com.bh.

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BERLITZ

Additional Learning The Kingdomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top language school offers the chance to further your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s school education by enlisting additional support classes along with innovative language lessons.

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With the arrival of the new school year, Berlitz Bahrain is ready to support parents in the challenging task of assisting their children with schoolwork. Renowned for its excellent language courses, Berlitz also offers language tutoring courses in several languages.

For parents with busy schedules who still want their children to have a little extra academic push, the tutoring programme helps in mentoring children with schoolwork.

The programme is available in Arabic, English, French and many more languages where native speakers will support children with their schoolwork, exclusively using the language they are learning, according to the Berlitz Method.

The tutoring courses are in addition to the existing vast range of language courses for children aged four to 17 on offer at the Budaiya centre. These include English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Urdu to name a few.

The Budaiya branch even offers parents an opportunity to learn languages with an option to schedule their classes at the same time as their child, for maximum convenience and a fun learning experience.

Challenge yourself Learning a new language is no longer a pastime but a means for further success. At the language centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main branch in Adliya, anyone aged 18 and above can acquire any language skill.

However, learning a foreign language takes time and dedication, for those with busy lives, the centre offers you a way out. So if time is a constraint then there is always the innovative Berlitz Virtual Classroom, an online learning programme to pick up a language from the comfort of your home or office. Clients will be connected to an instructor through very interactive software to be trained.

Along with language instructions, Berlitz Bahrain provides a series of communication soft skills courses such as body language, effective communication, motivation, team building and several others. These courses can also be delivered as workshops, and can be customisable to specific company needs.

E Call 17 827-847 (Adliya) or 17 694-233 (Budaiya) .

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Dr Haitham

BAHRAIN SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

Combating Diabetes A common illness, diabetes can be aggressive if not controlled properly. Take heed from the experts and learn what you can do to help yourself.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

It is a well-known fact that diabetes can cause complications which affect different parts of the body. The disease occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough of the hormone insulin, which should regulate the way it digests the food we eat.

The two main forms of diabetes mellitus are known as Type 1 and Type 2. The first commonly occurs before the age of 30 and is the result of the body producing little or no insulin. This can primarily be controlled by insulin injections.

Type 2 commonly occurs after the age of 40 where the body does produce some insulin, but the amount is either insufficient or the body is not able to make proper use of it. It is generally controlled by diet, exercise or tablets.

“A late stage of diabetes can affect the eyes in a number of ways. The most serious eye condition associated with diabetes involves the network of blood vessels supplying the retina. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy,” says Dr Haitham, ophthalmologist at Bahrain Specialist Hospital.

The unusual changes in blood sugar levels resulting from diabetes can affect the lens inside the eye, especially when diabetes is uncontrolled. This can result in blurring of vision which comes and goes over the day, depending on your blood sugar levels. A longer term effect of diabetes are cataracts,

where the lens of the eye can get cloudy.

Diabetic retinopathy has four stages; mild, moderate, severe and proliferative retinopathy. “At an advanced stage of retinopathy, new blood vessels are abnormal and fragile. They grow along the retina and along the surface of the clear, vitreous gel that fills the inside of the eye,” explains Dr Haitham.

To reduce your risk of developing retinopathy or help it from worsening, controlling your blood sugar levels is vital.

Maintaining blood pressure, a healthy weight and giving up smoking are all part of good diabetes control. Patients are also advised to get regular retinal screening.

“The most effective thing you can do to prevent sight loss due to diabetes is to attend your retinal screening appointments. Early detection and treatment prevents sight loss,” Dr Haitham stresses.

For the proliferative retinopathy stage, the condition can only be treated with laser procedure. The procedure is called scatter laser treatment and helps to shrink the abnormal blood vessels, using between 1,000 to 2000 laser shots to shrink abnormal blood vessels. Although some loss of your side vision may be noticed, this treatment can save the rest of your sight in severe cases.

E Call 17 812-000.

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marketplace

VLCC

Trim Up; Tone Up

If you are prone to carrying weight around your waistline, try a revolutionary treatment that is designed to help achieve a slimmer and more toned you

126 September 2012

VLCC, a category leader in the wellness domain with a presence in the slimming, beauty and fitness businesses has launched an advanced body shaping and slimming treatment.

The ‘Waist and Tummy Trim (WTT)’ treatment, for both men and women, helps achieve a slimmer, toned and firmer waistline and tummy, helping lose two inches and seven kilograms within 45 days.

“The WTT has been developed for people who have a problem of weight around the waist and tummy. It’s been proven that women and men with a waist circumference of more than 80 cms and 90 cms respectively are prone to diseases like diabetes, hypertension and other coronary heart diseases,” explains VLCC founder and mentor Vandana Luthra.

“The VLCC ‘Waist and Tummy Trim’ treatment aims to improve the waist-hip ratio by reducing the waist circumference. It’s part of our efforts to create awareness among the general public on healthy living, and involves the breakdown of the cellular fat in the waist and tummy into consumable energy, giving our customers toned muscles. WTT has been developed after a series of research conducted by our team.”

The treatment is the latest entrant from VLCC to the already existing wide range of VLCC sliming treatments. The treatment process includes a 30-minute massage session with the Shape-

UP Waist and Tummy Gel and anti-cellulite oil in the abdominal area followed by a specific body firmer programme, counselling on diet and activity patterns.

The Waist and Tummy Trim Treatment is a 45-day treatment spread over 12 equal sessions. The number of sessions involved in the treatment varies from person to person and would depend upon the body BCA which would exactly identify the requirement of the client. The client is also given a free WTT home care kit to help them maintain the perfect shape.

Complete wellness The VLCC Group is involved in three related businesses within the ‘wellness’ domain: slimming, skin and hair services; education and training institutes and manufacturing and retailing of personal care products.

VLCC is widely recognised for its scientific weight loss solutions and its therapeutic approach to beauty treatments.

The group has a pan-India presence with more than 275 outlets in 76 cities. VLCC currently has 16 centres in the GCC with one centre in Qatar, 11 centres in the UAE and two each in Bahrain and Oman. A second centre in Qatar will also be opened soon.

E Call 17 404-354 or visit www.vlccwellness.com/Bahrain.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

INTERCOL

Simple, Effective Cooking If there is nothing you love more than a warming bowl of creamy soup made from the freshest of ingredients, then we have just the tool for you.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

The latest product from the Moulinex brand is ‘Soup & Co.’, a soup-maker which takes automated cooking products to a whole new level. The French manufacturer has launched the innovative kitchen gadget allowing users to create luscious home-made soups in less than 35 minutes.

The machine features two main programmes for soup making, depending on the texture options you want. The P1 fine and the P2 coarse options produce up to six servings, or 1.8 litres, in one go.

The entire process is completely hands-free — just put all your ingredients into the mixing jug, set the machine to your desired programme and let the soup blend and cook. In other words, your ingredients are placed into the unit, topped up with stock, and, once an automated programme is set, you can leave the room and return to flawlessly cooked soup that’s velvety smooth.

Designed to be secure in a security jar and lid system, the body is constructed in stainless steel and the base features an

easy lock/unlock jug handling trigger. The product is made from ABS plastic, comprising of a transparent lid, measuring cup and cooking basket accessories.

Four stainless steel blades help break down larger foods, and are accompanied by five different control speeds and a pulse option. The machine also offers a heat setting that has the capacity to hold temperatures between 60-100 degrees Celsius. It also includes a ‘keep warm’ function which lasts for up to 40 minutes.

The various options allow you to decide how coarse or fine the soup should be, and an inset basket enables you to keep certain ingredients from being blended during the process.

Apart from its soup-making capabilities, Soup & Co. also has a blender and ice-crushing mode for alternative food preparation.

This means that the appliance can also function as a blender and can mix up sauces, smoothies, crushed ice desserts and creams. Soup & Co. and other Moulinex products are exclusively distributed by Intercol. E Call 17 291-537.

September 2012 127

marketplace ROCHE BOBOIS

Superior Style

Egos seating trio

Maestro bed

Stone Square dining table

BOCONCEPT

Urban Danish Design Sometimes all it takes is one bright idea; such as creating functional designer furniture at affordable prices — as proven by one of the Kingdom’s top furnishing stores.

Stylise your home and your life by refreshing your living space; attention-grabbing pieces will make a huge difference and create your desired effect.

September is the ideal month for renewal. You will see the new season trends flood the shops with plenty of creative scope. Home furnishing stores, in particular, will be teeming with fresh and innovative interior ideas.

Roche Bobois is one such shop that offers the latest designs. Combining style with function and comfort is no small feat, and the current options will ensure you find just what you are looking for.

The new Egos seating trio will contemporise any living room.

High-backed, quilted and sporting winged sides, they offer refuge and a comforting place to relax. The almost urban grey colour of the set easily slots into any existing décor.

For a modern touch in your dining room, opt for the Stone Square dining table, designed by Yoshiratu Hatano. This piece is just a sheet of glass that rests on two marble blocks — the epitome of minimalist chic and a pure, timeless design.

Your bedroom should be a place of absolute comfort and security, an ambience that can be achieved with Philippe Bouix’s Maestro bed. Upholstered in vintage pigmented and corrected grain leather, this style boasts a quilted headboard and bed frame constructed from solid wood.

Whatever your personal furnishing taste may be, Roche Bobois has numerous options to browse at its Seef showroom.

E Call 17 582-901.

At BoConcept, being urban-minded means displaying energetic modernity as well as a passion for design and trends. Top design and functionality go hand in hand to give you an incredible display of options on how to customise a sofa or wall system to fit your individual needs. And BoConcept will assist you all the way. Design consultants and interior decorators at the stores offer you a dedicated and professional service to help you achieve room solutions that fulfill your dreams.

A great story Founded in 1952 by Danish craftsmen Jens Ærthøj Jensen and Tage Mølholm, BoConcept uses high quality craftsmanship combined with functionality and simplicity; key success factors for Danish furniture design and production in the 1950s.

Success in its home market paved the road for exports and soon BoConcept transformed from a small furniture factory into the country’s most global retail furniture chain with more than 250 successful franchise-driven brand stores and 90 studios in 50-plus countries.

Denmark is still the base for design as well as the manufacturing of a great part of BoConcept furniture and the brand remains true to the great heritage from Jensen and Mølholm while focusing on new designs, colours and styles.

The team consists of Danish and international designers, and the suppliers in other parts of the world are few, hand-picked and certified. The ambition is the same as back in 1952 — to create good, honest and useful designs for the urban-minded customer.

E Call 17 564-319 or email info@boconcept-bh.com.

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www.bahrainthismonth.com

bni

Smart Insurance Thinking of buying insurance? Why bother with paperwork and long queues when automated insurance is here!

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Buying and renewing an insurance policy is now a matter of only 30 seconds, thanks to a futuristic initiative from Bahrain National Insurance Company (bni).

The company’s Automated Insurance Machine (AIM) allows customers to renew their motor, home and domestic servant insurance policies in a quick, easy and convenient manner. The service is not restricted to existing customers; it is also available to new and potential clients who wish to purchase insurance from bni with complete convenience. Those who wish to acquire e-cargo services can also accomplish that through the AIM. “Geared towards the convenience of our customers, AIM is a product of our dedicated efforts to improve the customers’ experience with bni,” observes Abdulla Al Suwaidi, general manager, motor and personal lines at bni, a subsidiary of Bahrain National Holding (BNH). “We have always positioned ourselves as pioneers in the local insurance market, and have now reinstated this position with this service.”

The AIM service is available at six of bni’s branches, in Seef district, Muharraq, Isa Town, Amwaj Islands, Budaiya, Manama and Sanad, and is marked as an ‘Automated Insurance Zone’.

In addition to renewals, the zone, which also marks bni’s e-commerce service, will serve as a one-stop station for all related services. Offering the ultimate in convenience, this area allows customers to register their car with the traffic directorate after having renewed their motor policy.

Constantly driven by the need to create something new for clients, Bahrain’s leading personal lines insurer has been at the forefront of innovation for many years now. When bni introduced the concept of branches some years ago, it was a first for Bahrain.

The company has long capitalised on the rapid strides made by technology to introduce electronically driven service in the local market. It is the first insurance player to launch bnidirect, a virtual insurance service in the Kingdom that makes online purchase of insurance reliable, convenient and secure.

In addition to these credentials, bni has over thirty years of experience in handling medium to large industrial and commercial insurances along with marine, energy and construction risks.

E Call 17 587-444 or visit www.bnidirect.com.

September 2012 129

marketplace CREATIVE CLOSETS

New Store, New Solutions

Solve your storage ailments with customised wardrobes that perfect the balance between the science of precise organisation and the fine art of creative design.

Just one year after moving its original showroom from Salmanya to Hamala, Creative Closets has opened a second location in Bahrain conveniently located in Arad.

The new showroom is considered to be Bahrain’s largest showcase of customised storage systems; it features two floors of new closet designs and concepts with a variety of colours, finishes and accessories. From a simple reach in closet to the most sophisticated walk-in closets and dressing rooms, it has it all.

Creative Closets provides home storage solutions that create more space in your life. No matter where you live, you need freedom to move and room to breathe. With the company’s custom closet solutions, you can instantly double or triple your existing storage space. Moreover you’ll land up enjoying the additional space to create your own private escape.

Creative Closets storage systems and solutions aren’t just for closets. The company creates custom layouts for any room you wish, creating the storage space you need. Be it a pantry, garage, home office or mud room, the design team will work to your requirements.

Discover how Creative Closets can transform your home today by setting up a free in-home design consultation, or visiting one of their conveniently located showrooms.

E Call 17 466-539 (Arad), 17 610-612 (Hamala) or visit www.creativeclosets.com.

ROYAL BAHRAIN HOSPITAL

Expanding Your Family Having a child is probably the most life-changing event that any person will go through. Get the right support to help you through a safe and healthy delivery.

Royal Bahrain Hospital (RBH) caters to the needs of everyone who is starting and completing their family with a newborn child. With the understanding that a mother needs more than just a doctor and a delivery room, the hospital offers a variety of all-inclusive antenatal classes and packages, everything for a comfortable and healthy pregnancy.

The state-of-the-art maternity department at the hospital offers holistic services with top ObGyn and foetal medicine specialists, supported by a 4D ultrasound machine that provides colour imagery. The delivery packages offers a choice between luxurious regular rooms, standard suites and the royal suite, dedicated attendance by a paediatrician and obstetrician and inclusive of maternity and nursery supplies.

Free physiotherapy and postnatal exercises during the hospital stay, and a free visit by the dietician for nutrition advice for the mother and baby, are offered with the package. Mothers can also attend antenatal classes covering the full range of need-toknow information about pregnancy, childbirth and baby care.

Doctors will banish any pregnancy worries by walking mothersto-be through pregnancy as the body goes through its changes, guiding them on what they need to expect.

Additionally, nurses equip mothers-to-be with all the knowledge needed to start taking care of your precious newborn, from breastfeeding, to nappy changing to what changes to expect as your child grows. Dieticians and physiotherapists will be on hand to discuss healthy eating habits, exercises and even sleeping positions.

E Call 17 246-800 or visit www.royalbahrainhospital.com.

130 September 2012

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bystanderthismonth

Bahrain Journalists Association Ghabga The Bahrain Journalists Association hosted a ghabga for members and guests at the Golden Tulip during the Holy Month.

The ghabga was also by attended by HE Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Information Affairs Authority President & HE Sameera Rajab, Minister of State for Information Affairs

Moanes Al Mardi & HE Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa

Omar, Unnikrishnan, Moanes & Soman

Atifa, Ahedya & Nabeel

Jalal & HE Nabeel Al Hamer

Suhada & Salam

Emad, Rooa & Radhia

Fawaz & Hassan

Fadel & Khalid

HE Sameera Rajab

Mohammed

Shaikha & Rabiya

BAS Media Ghabga Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) hosted a media ghabga at the Mรถvenpick Hotel's Ramadan Tent

Heinz & Salman

Nadia, George, Sujusha & Ashok

Sadiq, Nahed, Sumaya, Salman, Abdulla & Jameel

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Jameel, George, Sumaya, Salman & Jamil

Moanes & Salman

Sadiq

Susy & Sujusha

Andrea & Alex

Salman

September 2012 131

winwin

Sleep

brunch.

Bahrain This Month gives readers an exclusive chance to win watches from Sharif Group.

AD SEEK

To win, all you have to do is correctly answer the questions below.

1 2

3

Hint: You can find the answers in this issue of BAHRAIN THIS MONTH.

What major event is the BIC hosting? ___________________________

Who got it right?

Where is Langeais? ___________________________

Bahrain This Month received 58 entries last month, 49 of which answered all the questions correctly. Congratulations to everyone, particularly our three winners:

Who has a new breakfast offering? ___________________________

This is a fun game for all readers. Each of these pictures is taken from advertisements in this issue of BAHRAIN THIS MONTH. All you have to do is identify the ad and mark your answer below each ad clipping. So test your observation skills, and you may be a winner!

Winner : Maureen Wajraimu Second Place : Sree Kumar Third Place : Cynthia Aldave

Last month’s solutions

1.

1. Gulf Convention Centre

4

Where can you find a Tamil festival? ___________________________

2. August 15 3. Moda Mall 4. Royal Golf Club 5. Ahmed Al Sharaf 6. Mercedes-Benz GLK

5

Who runs the Elite Grande Hotel? ___________________________

7. Awtar 8. Dr Mohan Kumar 9. Where’s My Water 10. Dublin, Ramee Palace Hotel

6

Which car did we test drive this month? ___________________________

2.

Ad Seek 1. Bahrain Science Centre 2. Batelco/Batelco Play 3. Hyundai/ First Motors

7

Where can you find Atomic Milkshake? ___________________________

8

What is the business of Beaucraft? ___________________________

4. Clarks

Name:

Address:

9

What’s our app of the month? ___________________________

10

Where can you find DJ Sabrina Terence? ___________________________

www.bahrainthismonth.com

3.

Telephone:

TRE

T

Email:

cpr:

Entry deadline is September 15. The winner will be selected at random. Please include your full name, CPR number, address and telephone number, and mail to: Win Win, Bahrain This Month, PO Box 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.

4.

September 2012 133

tarotscopethismonth

virgo

Aug 21 – Sep 22 Your focus has been fixed on one event that you have been planning for some time now and is finally set to kick off this month. However, you may quickly discover that certain details have been missed and you may need to reassess certain parts of the project to ensure there are no mini disasters later on. You should also spare a thought for those who have supported you along the way since your sign can sometimes come across as a little selfish and that can be hurtful to those who only want what is best for you.

A moment of good fortune around the 23rd will see you benefit financially.

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

Libra September 21 – October 21 For some time now you have been looking for direction in your life and many of you may have been unorthodox and even unrealistic with your plans for the future. What you really need is some professional guidance.

The good news is that an offer to manage you down a clear path has already come your way but you need to be honest with yourself and those around you to ensure this is what you really want. Don’t just look at the material benefits you could enjoy but also consider whether the career options really suit you as a person.

Card of the Month — The Magician

Scorpio October 22 – November 21 This month is going to be all about travel for many of you and the chance to escape to far away places and experience new cultures and environments; it leaves you a much more rounded and, perhaps, more crucially relaxed person. You need this break and you shouldn’t be afraid to take it, nor extend it for as long as possible as you have come through a difficult last few months.

Once you are back home, you will find everything falls into place a lot more simply and it will make your plans for the remainder of 2012 that much easier to develop.

Card of the Month — The High Priestess

134 September 2012

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Health and relationships are going to be the two key things for you this September as you come to terms with either an injury to yourself or a more long-term illness of a partner. The two are very much intertwined and for those of you who might find your own condition affected you will need to turn to your partner with confidence that they can offer you the support you require.

Alternatively, those of you who may need to provide a shoulder for a loved one should ensure they have accepted exactly what challenges lie ahead. It won’t be easy either way.

Card of the Month — The Eight of Swords

Capricorn ­December 22 — January 18 A planned move could be held up by a couple of weeks but by the end of September you will find yourself in a new home; this will lift your spirits and your determination to succeed no end. It will probably have a knock-on effect that sees you contemplating a change of career and even considering retraining or a return to higher education.

All in all, the omens are good for whatever route you eventually take and the positives will certainly outweigh any negatives. Whatever way you decide to look at it, the en dresult will be positive.

Card of the Month — The Five of Cups

aquarius January 20 – February 18 A work colleague is going to surprise you and perhaps even set you back with their confidence and development, forcing you to re-evaluate not just what you thought about them but also certain aspects of your own life. It’s fair to say that your sign is an ambitious one and you feel more comfortable being at the head of the pile.

However, this time around you’re just going to have to accept that a rival has really turned the tables here and your best option is to embrace their success rather than resent it. In the long term they won’t be part of your life, so just deal with it in the best way possible while you have to.

Card of the Month — The Moon

pisces ­February 21 – March 20 A partner’s obsessive and often unpredictable behaviour is going to bring strain to your relationship this month and it may even extend to relatives who could be staying with you at the time. You need to ensure that you stand your ground and fight your corner because in truth you are likely to be right on this occasion.

Around the 19th you could face a challenge on the legal front that sees you falling out with a neighbour and you should be quick to seek professional advice on the matter. Health-wise, a back problem may reoccur and you need to get it resolved quickly or risk more serious complications later.

Card of the Month — Judgement

Aries March 21 – April 20 For some of you at least, the last couple of months must have seemed like the worst possible time of your recent lives.

You’ve had more than your fair share of obstacles thrown at you and no end of hurdles to overcome; thankfully, the end to all this disruption is finally in sight and you can now look forward to a much more relaxed and rewarding time from September onwards.

A new home, new career opportunities and a partner’s good fortune with his own projects will all contribute to the start of something very positive. Get the celebrations on!

Card of the Month — The Ten of Coins

www.bahrainthismonth.com

advertisersindex TAURUS April 21 – May 20 If there’s one word to sum up what 2012 has been to you then it would certainly be ‘challenging’; you have had many battles across most aspects of your life to deal with. From health to finances and career to family, there has been little like it to compare with this in recent times.

The good news is that your time in the shadows is coming to an end this month; your own ambitions are set to be realised in a major way.

It’s going to represent a complete turnaround; so, once you’re over the rush, start putting your plan into action.

Card of the Month — The King of Coins

Gemin ­May 21 – June 20 Romance has been the one area that has left you unsatisfied over the last few months and in truth, many of you may have been single for quite a while. However, hope is at hand in the form of a new neighbour on the block who is likely to catch your eye and also show interest in you.

Just try and play it cool and don’t rush into a situation; let the relationship grow at its own pace. If there is one note of caution, it is that you are not always the most patient of people and on occasions this failure to allow things to move slowly can hurt your progress.

Card of the Month — The Seven of Cups

Cancer June 21 – July 20 Health issues are going to be the biggest concern for you this month as the reality of a condition hits home and forces you to reassess your situation. Treatment is an important step for you to accept and no matter how daunted you might feel by what lies ahead, you should realise that you will have the support of loved ones around you.

So, don’t be afraid to turn to them if necessary. On the home front, changes are also going to alter the way your life moves forward and you could find some relief in the new living arrangements that you eventually settle into.

Card of the Month — The Nine of Wands

Fashion & Footwear

Ahmed Zayani & Sons (Dodge). . . . . . . . 39

Mango . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9

Almoayyed Motors (Ford) . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Naturalizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Ebrahim K. Kanoo (Lexus) . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Sketchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Euro Motors (BMW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Financial Institutions

Some of you may be suffering a crisis of confidence this month after an embarrassing incident sets you back and damages your credibility in the eyes of certain superiors. Rather than labour on the reasons, try to grow from the experience to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. As far as rebuilding your image is concerned, this might be a process of months but as each day goes by progress will become easier.

The one problem your sign often has is ego and perhaps in years to come you’ll look back on this humbling exercise and consider it a lesson well learnt that has made you a better person.

Card of the Month — The Hermit

First Motors (Hyundai) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Kia Motors (Kia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Motor City (Citroen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

BMI Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

National Car Rental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

bni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Zayani Motors (Peugeot). . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Home & Furnishings

Others

BoConcept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Al Ghalia Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Creative Closets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

AMA Basic School of Education. . . . . . . 71

Roche Bobois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Bahrain Science Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Hotels & Luxury Apartments

Berlitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Cocoon Lounge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Crowne Plaza Hotel Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . 79

Coral Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Elite Crystal Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40-41

Dream Body Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Elite Grande Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

Gajria Electronics (Chigo) . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Elite Seef Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Health Watchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Fraser Suites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC

HRM Summit 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Holiday Inn Express. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Intercol (Moulinex) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Movenpick Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Intercol (Nokia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Ramada Hotel Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Juffair Fitness Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Ramee Baisan Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Social Media Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Ramee California Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Tamkeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Ramee International Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . 95

VLCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,35

Ramee Palace Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

World Beat Fitness Center . . . . . . . . . . . 76

The Diplomat Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Jewellery & Watches

leo July 23 – August 22

Motoring

ALDO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Restaurants & Cafés Block 338 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Casa Mexicana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Cartier Boutique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC

Lanterns Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Sharif Group (Bentley). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Trader Vic’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Medical & Dental Services

Vapiano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Bahrain Specialist Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Telecommunications

Royal Bahrain Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Zain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

BTM retail sales outlets BAHRAIN THIS MONTH, your guide to a great way of life, is available at the following selected outlets:

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Salma Hayek

Luke Wilson

Cameron Diaz

FAMOUS Virgo THIS MONTH

● 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.

September 2012 135

lastword Langeais village

Wrong Time; Right Place JAMES CLAIRE Visiting Langeais, a small town in the French Loire Valley, for a business meeting, I left having found true humanity, caring and passion.

136 September 2012

If you ever get the time or opportunity to travel to France, take my word and experience for yourself the village of Langeais, a few minutes’ train ride from the major city of Tours, in the Loire Valley. The village is a cluster of old French homes, a church, a truly grand chateau with drawbridge, a river through the centre of town and little else.

Alighting the train, I had two hours before my meeting. I visited their chateau and strolled around the town. Mementos, statues, an epitaph to the French resistance prevailed. Old ladies and even older men on walking sticks who, even in their aged state, looked like they could thump me a good one.

As I exited the chateau I noticed everyone ambling in the same direction. It was a wet day, no need for summer smiles or spring joy, but these people seemed forlorn. I followed.

Most of the village followed me. Approaching the cathedral, I noticed the reason for their looks. Someone, I know not who, had passed away. It was a funeral.

I love old churches, so I walked in as the crowd awaited the arrival of their friend in the courtyard. I nodded good morning to the priest; he smiled and nodded in return. I left just as the car arrived with its delivery.

Old churches I am interested in, the proceedings of the day I was not.

A block from the church I saw a ‘Salon de The’, a gorgeous quaint teahouse. I ventured in, sat, ordered, drank and scribbled notes for my ensuing meeting.

Time passed, coffee was drunk and viennoiserie masticated, I paid and opened the door to leave.

On the other side of the door approached the cathedral crowd. Holding it open, scores of aged French folk streamed in, most of the men shaking my hand, the women grabbing my head and pulling it forward to kiss both my cheeks and, in the case of one devilish old girl, directly on the lips.

The last person through the door was the priest I had seen earlier. He entered, shook my hand, grabbed my shoulder, closed the door and led me back inside the teahouse, and the amassed crowd.

I don’t know who these people thought I was; a son, a nephew or a distant relative, the important thing now was to speak as little French as possible so as not to give away my antipodean accent. I did not attempt to fake anything or pretend to be anyone else.

They simply assumed a well-dressed, business-suited man with an attaché case who was new in town this bleak morning, who had visited the cathedral and welcomed them at the door to the wake, was someone that he was not.

More mistaken circumstance rather than identity, it was one of those cases where ‘wrong time, right place’ had occurred.

So certain were these people in their grief that I was who they expected me to be, some of them handed me money in envelopes as they left. One man even pinned a medal to my chest and, with tears in his eyes, I understood in deep French that it had belonged to his friend. They had fought together, close to where we were today.

Before long the congregation thinned and I thought that I, too, should leave. I asked the lady behind the counter for an envelope. In it I placed the money and the medal and addressed it to “la famille de le mort”, the family of the dead, and handed it to the priest.

As I turned to leave he asked me questioningly “Mais tu?”

— but you?

I shook my head in reply, “Mais non mon pere” — but no my father!

Tears welled in his eyes; we shook hands and he pulled me close for a firm hug and said simply, “Merci beaucoup!”— Thank you!

I understood what he meant.

It did not matter who I was, what mattered that day was what I had become to these people; someone with whom to console. I may have been the wrong person but, that day in Langeais, I was the only person anybody needed.

Today, the truth has given way to emotion; nobody was hurt by the result. One thing that I am certain of, though, is that somewhere, sometime in the future that preacher is going to recount the same story as I; the day a stranger came to a funeral.

His version may be spoken in French, but I bet it will be a good one.

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