Fashion, lifestyle and beyond
Issue 70 - MAY 2014
Up close and personal
Luxen7 Genius engineering
Infiniti Redbull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo
A Legacy of Art
Luxury weds leisure Ramee Grand Bahrain
Khalid Al-Muharraqi
Win!
A beauty makeover with Natalie Semaan Flip to page 24 for details
Beauty and HER Beedz Rahma Shirazi
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Full-speed.
www.oris.ch
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Oris Williams F1 Team Chronograph
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CONTENTS MAY 2014
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Khalid Al-Muharraqi
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CEO LETTER
CEO Letter Summer is back in full swing and I would
advise our dear readers to be well protected
before stepping out into the sweltering heat. To make it easier, we have compiled a list of summer beauty tips and tricks.
We have an interview with F1 driver Daniel
Ricciardo and a wonderful insight into the
adventures of Adrian Hayes, who has broken Guinness records with expeditions.
We have reviews of the the Luxgen7, a
luxurious new car to take on Bahrain›s auto market.
As always, we bring you the latest fashion
trends, top styling tips and celebrity gossip. Happy reading. Cheers!
Sincerely.
Mamdouh Shehata
CEO - Sabaya Magazine
mamdouh.shehata@sabayamag.com
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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Editor’s Desk I’m very excited to tell you all about this issue. We have an interview with Infiniti Redbull F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, who is also our cover story. Talented artist Khalid Al-Muharraqi tells us his journey with art and how he got into the profession whereas the beautiful Rahma Shirazi narrates her musings with local jewellery brand Beedz. Due to an immensely successful response to our makeover competition, we have decided to continue it for another month. Send us the answers and stand a chance to win an amazing beauty makeover. Reviews of Ramee Grand Hotel, Saveur restaurant at the Kempinski and the Luxgen 7 are featured in this issue as well. We hope you enjoy this issue! Suggestions and feedback
CEO Mamdouh Shehata Deputy CEO Samia Al Mahmood PR & Editorial Manager Omaima Ebrahim Editor Puja Tiwari Business Development Director Rami Khalil Photographer Habeed Proof Reader Fayez Abubacker Legal Consultant Younis Zakaria Younis Printed by Arabian Press Distribution Al Ayam Published by Sabaya Company for printing & Publishing ISSN 1985 – 8353 Chairman Abdul Samad Al Nashaba
can be emailed to puja@sabayamag.com. Cheers!
PUJA TIWARI Editor - Sabaya Magazine puja@sabayamag.com
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Sabaya is a monthly publication Tel: +973 77100022 Fax: +973 77100021 www.sabayamag.com Email: info@sabayamag.com Facebook: SabayaMagazine Twitter: SabayaMag
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TIDBITS CELEBRITY
Scarlett Johansson finds her nickname Scar Jo insulting Scarlett Johansson has revealed that she hates being called with her Hollywood nickname Scar Jo because she finds it insulting. The 29-year-old actress, who is supposedly expecting her first child with fiance Romain Dauriac, told Glamour magazine that she associates the moniker with a pop star, E! Online reported. She added that Scar Jo sounds tacky, lazy and flippant.
Lindsay Lohan admits relapse Lindsay Lohan has admitted to drinking again. The ‘Mean Girls’ actress - who has been to rehab six times was confronted by her life coach AJ Johnson on the episode of ‘Lindsay’ after her mother Dina’s claimed they had shared wine, and she then found a bottle in the troubled star’s apartment. However, Lindsay, 27, was furious to be confronted on camera and initially denied relapsing before later admitting to ‘screwing up.’ The ‘Machete’ star - who fled to Los Angeles for a week and failed to contact AJ as planned - said: ‘I rushed into a relationship .. and I jumped right into a relationship where we weren’t on the same page. ‘I wasn’t considering the fact that the person I was seeing does drink and yeah. ... I had some wine.’ 8
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Kim Kardashian slams rumours of six-hour spa treatments Socialite Kim Kardashian has denied indulging in six-hour spa treatments on a daily basis and said she›d rather use that much time to be with her daughter North. “| see the hotel I stayed at gave quotes that I had six-hour spa treatments daily. The hotel was gorgeous and had amazing service, but not once did I get a massage... “Never once did I get a manicure or any other spa treatment. Not one! So, I really don’t appreciate false information making me out to be a diva,” mirror.co.uk quoted Kardashian, who recently visited Thailand, as saying.
CELEBRITY TIDBITS
Keira Knightley reveals beauty addiction
Actress Keira Knightley says she is addicted to painting her nails in crazy colours for fun. In an interview with Britain’s HELLO! magazine, the 29-year-old talked about her addiction, reports femalefirst.co.uk. “During filming, I am carefully made-up for weeks, so at the end of every film I love to go out and buy nail polish in the most absurd colours and paint my nails with them,” she said. “Last time I chose yellow - which I don’t recommend. I looked like I and nicotine-stained fingers. I won’t repeat the yellow experience, but you can count on me to find an even crazier shade next time,” she added.
Ellen DeGeneres› Oscar selfie may be worth $1 billion Ellen Degeneres› Oscar selfie that featured A-List celebs like Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Kevin Spacey may be worth 1 billion dollars. Global advertising and marketing behemoth, Publicis› CEO Maurice Levy has claimed that the picture, which crashed social networking site Twitter for while, could be placed between 800 million and 1 billion dollars, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The picture was the most retweeted picture and even broke the record of Barack Obama’s picture that he tweeted after his presidential win.
Courtney Love ordered to pay $96k for defaming fashion designer
On the same day that Courtney Love got a victory in court when a new trial was denied to a person she allegedly defamed on Twitter, a judge ordered her to pay nearly 96,000 dollars to a second person she allegedly defamed on Twitter. Way back in early 2009, Love became the first celebrity to be sued over tweets. The plaintiff in the case was Dawn Simorangkir, a fashion designer who became the target of Love›s rants. But before the case ever got to trial, Love and Simorangkir settled the case for nearly 450,000 dollars, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Heidi Klum’s bra stolen by magician on ‘America’s Got Talent’ Heidi Klum’s bra was stolen by a magician during the audition rounds of ‘America’s Got Talent.’ While talking at the NBC Universal Summer Press Tour, the 40-year-old blonde admitted that one minute she was wearing a bra, and the very next minute it was in the performers hand, leaving her a ‘little droopy,’ E! Online reported. The former Victoria’s Secret model even confirmed to fellow judge Howie Mandel that her black lacy bra was indeed missing, by giving him a peek under her blouse. MAY 2014
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CELEBRITY TIDBITS
Nicole Kidman says her kids keep her from going insane Nicole Kidman gives her family the credit for keeping her sane. While talking to E! Online, the 46-year-old actress, who has two daughters with her husband of seven years Keith Urban, said that her family life is completely normal where they have dinner and breakfast together, talk, and hang out. The ‘Moulin Rouge!’ star continued saying that there is nothing like going out after dinner to get ice cream with her daughters and hubby. Kidman added that she travels a lot with her husband and daughters and feels pretty safe and sane with her tight little unit of a family.
Arnie offering ride in his tank for charity
Johnny Depp questions dependence Charlie Sheen invites ex-wife of humans on tech to wedding Charlie Sheen has invited his ex-wife Brooke Mueller to his wedding. The ‘Anger Management’ star wants the 36-year-old actress, with whom he has fiveyear-old twins Max and Bob, to watch him tie the knot with his fiancee Brett Rossi. A source told RadarOnline.com: “They all get along and are one big happy family. It might be unconventional for most people, but not for Charlie›s wacky world! “Having Brooke at the wedding will also show the twins that they all get along.” Charlie, 48, and Brett, are keen for Max and Bob to have a role in their big day and are planning on giving them “special gifts” to help them fit in to their new family. 10
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Johnny Depp has questioned unreasonable dependence of humans on technology. Depp, who will be seen in the role of a technology-obsessed scientist in his next movie ‘Transcendence,’ said that people have been fighting wars over ‘my god is better than your god’ for thousands of years and in the 21st century, he thinks that it›s appropriate to look at the way human beings worship technology and what that could mean for the future of humans, MVP Entertainment India reported. The 50-year-old actor said “Whether
you’re on the side of technology or ecology, a pacifist or an extremist, most people have very definite opinions, and the question of how far we should allow our dependence on computers to go is a question that needs to be asked.” Johnny Depp’s latest film has him portraying the role of Dr. Will Caster, an artificial intelligence researcher who strives to create a machine that possesses sentience and collective intelligence. But extremists against technological advancement target him, unknowingly driving him toward his goal.
CELEBRITY TIDBITS
What Cindy Crawford learned from being a ‘failed actress’ Cindy Crawford has revealed that her action-thriller flick ‘Fair Game’ might be a failure for the world but not for her. The American super model said in a video on ‘Oprah’s Lifeclass’ series that she was not good at acting and it doesn’t resonate with her, the Huffington Post reported. The 48-year-old model said that she discovered that she was not one of those people that loves playing a role in front of a camera. Crawford added that failures were great gifts because knowing what you don›t want gets you one step closer to what you do want.
Robert Downey Jr. joins Twitter Actor Robert Downey, Jr., popularly known as ‘The Iron Man’, has joined social networking platform Twitter. He wants to know how thoughts could be restricted to 140 characters. “(I’m) loving all the love, folks. It’s been a blast. Though can somebody please explain how anyone can keep their thoughts to 140 characters (sic),” Robert posted on his Twitter page Friday. Having amassed immense popularity for his superhero role in “The Iron Man”, Robert is currently awaiting the release of “Chef” and “The Judge”. Meanwhile, he›s presently shooting for “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, the second part of the Avengers franchise.
Rihanna ditches bikini bottoms for photo shoot Singer Rihanna exposed her derriere by ditching her bikini bottoms during a photo shoot for an undisclosed French magazine. The 26-year-old star finished the racy look by wearing her long wavy locks down with a shimmery eye and nude glossy lips, reports eonline.com The “Diamonds” star’s curves were on full display as she posed for the photo shoot in Hollywood Hills Tuesday. A man -- likely her assistant -- poured some water down the “Pour It Up” singer’s back during the photo shoot.
MTV Movie Awards to pay tribute to Paul Walker Late actor Paul Walker will be remembered in a tribute featuring his movie clips at the upcoming 2014 MTV Movie Awards. The award ceremony will take place on Sunday, reports The Los Angeles Times. “The Fast and Furious” star was killed in a car crash in November 2013. Walker›s “The Fast and Furious” actor co-star Jordana Brewster will take to the stage and talk about working with him in a speech at the event. MTV president Stephen Friedman told the newspaper that the tribute is worthy for the actor’s fans, who are also considered to be MTV fans.
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GLITZ & GLAM
Star Factor Photo credits: Waleed Alshayji and Mohammed Hejres Location: Galleria Sophia
Our celeb fashion police, Ashwathy Shyam Kumar is a true blue fashionista. Multi talented, she is a fashion designer, buyer for a leading apparel brand in the Kingdom, stylist and diva. her fashion blog, www.thestylecounciltaash.blogspot. com is becoming one of the most popular fashion blogs in the region. ASK picks the best and the worst of what our fashion celebs have been wearing.
Tia Mowry
Tia Mowry sported serenity on the red carpet in this beaded Ivory Rachel Gilbert gown. A boxed Rauwolf clutch, Jacob and Co. jewels and soft side swept waves added to the old hollywood glamour- esqe look.
Nicole Kidman
This one of a kind, Peter Pittolo piece on Nicole Kidman is certainly doing justice to the her svelte figure. Geometric colour blocks add in a bit of quirk to her usually elegant looks. Cathy Waterman jewels and coral suede Ferragamo pumps complete the fun vibe she’s giving off. Definitely a great look on Nicole. 12
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GLITZ & GLAM
GLITZ & GLAM
Jewel
The singer looked lovely wearing a wearing a white-andblack halter gown with beaded bodice and cummerbund with lace and ribbon trimmed A-line chiffon skirt from the Edition by Georges Chakra Fall 2013 Collection. She styled her soft, feminine look with Jerome Rousseau heels, a Kotur black clutch and Carla Amorin and Doves rings plus a stunning pair of emerald Doves earrings.
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Shakira
She took to the red carpet looking uber sexy wearing a Zuhair Murad Fall 2014 teal silk-jersey long-sleeved gown featuring an embroidered bodice with a sheer nude silk detail and black ladderedtights effect, styled with signature wavy tresses. In the wrong hands this could’ve been incredibly tacky, but Shakira’s hips don’t lie.
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A Class Apart
Racing to reach the pinnacle of success Daniel Ricciardo Redbull Special
he latest personality to take the F1scene by storm is the dynamic Infiniti Redbull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo. Having finished 4th in this year’s Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2014, Daniel replaced F1 legend Mark Webber for Infiniti Redbull Racing starting from 2014, driving alongside team mate and four time World Champion, Sebastian Vettel. Following much speculation in the middle of last year, Daniel›s destination for 2014 was announced last September. He will become the seventh driver to race for Red Bull›s senior Formula One squad. Daniel stayed with Toro Rosso for the 2011 season, advancing his education with regular drives in the first free practice sessions of grand prix weekends. Eyecatching performances in the first half of the year led to a race seat at Hispania Racing for the final 11 rounds of the F1 season. He made his F1 race debut at Silverstone, and strong performances for the Spanish backmarker team led to Daniel being confirmed as a race driver for Toro Rosso in 2012. In qualifying he had demonstrated star quality, frequently hauling his Toro Rosso to the head of the midfield. Eight times in 2013 Daniel made it through into the Q3 qualifying shoot-out, pulling out scintillating laps when the pressure was on. His main focus is to sweep the title of World Champion. He tells us more about his inspiration, goals and career in a quick rendezvous with Puja Tiwari. Questions suggested b Sandaram Ramaswamy.
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A Class Apart You’re part of a team that boasts four successful drivers and constrictors championships, how does it feel to be part of one the top teams in the Formula 1? It’s a big reward! I wanted to be a part of this team ever since I was in the junior programme back in 2008 so it’s something I’ve worked towards for a long time. It’s a big opportunity for me and I’m ready to do what I can with it. This is the first time Bahrain had a race under the lights, how did that pan out? I think it was great! I personally enjoy night races a lot, there’s just something about the lights that makes it feel like the cars run faster, and everything seems to be happening a bit quicker and the atmosphere seems charged with excitement. The season premiered at your hometown in Australia, how did it feel being the only Aussie on the grid? There was a lot more attention on me now that Mark Webber has moved on. It doesn’t change on the track when I put my helmet on, away from the track and my fans. What do you do to relax after a long day? I like listening to music, if I’m near some water or a beach, I like to go there or just anything besides the Formula 1. I also like mountain biking. Where do you see yourself by the end of the year? I would love to be world champion, that’s where I would like to see myself. There are new rules coming into play, how do you think this will affect you and your team? At the moment I think its going to help me, I’m looking at the double points in Who inspires you? As a kid, I was inspired by Aryton Senna and these days I get inspired by myself. I want to put in the hard work and get results more than anyone else and I feel like I owe it to myself. Your race debut was for Hispania back in 2011 and then you made a return to Torro Rosso and now you’re in Redbull Racing. How has the transition been and was it a learning curve? Getting into Formula 1 with Hispania was a big learning curve and moving to Torro Rosso was a bit more competitive and I was able to race a bit more towards the front and had some good battles with Schumacer and the lot. That gave me the real taste of Formula 1 and I think I’m really well prepared to race in the front of the grid.
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success story
Be Beautiful, be Exotic, be Exquisite, be Daring and be Zen
Jewellery-maker extraodinaire Rahma Shirazi and Beedz 18
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reative Director of BahrainiItalian jewelry brand Beedz, RahmaShirazi, is fervent about taking the brand to international shores. The unique and conceptual brand envisages jewelry not just as an accessory but as something which directly communicates an ideal to the wearer of the piece, offering a myriad of ways to express themselves. Having launched the brand at Jewellery Arabia last November, the signature look of the collection is intricately crafted beads and 3d accents, which are manufactured in Italy. Their jewellery is a blend of Italian and Bahraini culture, combined together to bring out the beauty in each piece. Rahma along with her partner, Italian jewellery maven Roberta Porrati, has been working on the brand for the past two years, perfecting its technical aspects. The Shirazi name has cast its spell on the jewellery business in Bahrain and the region for 50 years. Rahma Shirazi was drawn to the family enterprise and she went on to acquiring a BA with honours in Jewellery Design & Manufacturing from Central Saint Martins College Of Art And Design. Emotional and passionate about her work, Roberta Porrati’s concepts are intellectually rich and layered. The stylist Roberta Porrati’s story began in Italy, in 1978, where, after years of experience perfecting her craft, in 1997 she created her international brand after her own name. It soon gained a reputation for its innovative designs and became an integral part of any woman’s wardrobe. Roberta Porrati is revered for her versatility, inventiveness, and the aesthetic impact of her compositions. Sabaya learns more about Beedz, the concept behind it and its future aspirations as envisioned by Roberta Porrati and Rahma Shirazi. What is the concept of Beedz? The concept of the initial flag collection was my brother Mohammed Shirazi and sister Dina Shirazi’s initiative, and they devised an idea to incorporate the flag of our country into jewelry to show our pride. The feedback was fantastic, that’s when I came on board since my background was in jewellery design. I diversified it and developed the concept from there. Beedz is a young, sophisticated concept that actually can be worn by any age. The meaning of BEEDZ is Be Beautiful Be Exotic Be Exquisite Be Daring Be Zen. Be you, and express it with our jewellery collections.
How is the jewelry manufactured? Everything is manufactured from scratch. We design the beads and the conceptual part is done in Bahrain whereas the manufacturing is done in Italy. What are your future plans for Beedz? We are definitely thinking of going international and we are in the process of doing so now. After Jewellery Arabia we were approached by a lot of people from Europe who expressed interested in the brand. We want to develop the brand over the globe and to bring down the manufacturing process and workshop to Bahrain. Once we do this, we will be the only local jewelry line which manufactures from scratch in Bahrain. In terms of jewelry, how often do you come up with a new collection or concept? What are the current jewellery collections? Beedz is a conceptual brand so each collection has a strong belief behind it. We began with Be You, which is our signature collection with our signature beads, which allows you to form your own creation together. Then we have the Belong collection which is all about showcasing the flag of your country or sports team and being proud of it. We have the Be Starred collection, which is about zodiac signs. There’s a direct communication between the consumer and the piece of jewelry. Which is your favourite collection personally? At the moment it’s the Be Starred collection simply because it’s me, my zodiac sign. Which metals do you use for the collection? We have three lines of jewelry, we have
the silver collection which consists of pure silver and we play with colour, texture and semi-precious stones with each piece. We also have the fine jewelry collection, which is 18 kt gold and precious stones, and an innovative titanium collection that enhances well being. How was the response from customers when you first launched Beedz? Feedback was excellent and we were nearly sold out during Jewellery Arabia so it was great. Where do you draw your inspiration from? My inspiration is drawm from peoples personalities, behaviours and attitudes.
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art-spect
A LEGACY OF ART Khalid Al-Muharraqi
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art-spect With a family background immersed in art, prominent Bahraini digital artist Khalid Al-Muharraqi followed his famous father Adbulla Al-Muharraqi’s footsteps into the profession. While Abdulla Al-Muharraqi’s work revolves around traditional canvas and paint, Khalid took it up a notch and ventured into computer graphics, 3D modeling and animation, creating stunning hyper-realistic imagery. The works of the father-son duo were displayed in an exhibition at the Bin Mattar house in Muharraq last month, which showcased breath-taking works of Mr Abdulla and Khalid. “My father’s pieces display changes
depending on the time and get affected by what he’s looking at and his state of mind,” said Khalid. His interest in computer graphics (CG) first piqued while he was studying in Texas, USA from where he attained majors in photography, interior design and digital enhancement. Khalid uses the same software to make his art that is used in film production. “If you notice my work, the closer you get the more details you see. From the shape of the creature to the texture of the skin, the hair and how it falls and how the colour changes with the light.” In 2004, he dedicated himself fully to CG
Works of Abdulla Al-Muharraqi
Works of Abdulla Al-Muharraqi
Age and Sickness, a collaboraion by Abdulla Al-Muharraqi and Khalid Al-Muharraqi
Works of Abdulla Al-Muharraqi MAY 2014
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art-spect Works of Khalid Al-Muharraqi
Works of Khalid Al-Muharraqi
Works of Khalid Al-Muharraqi Works of Khalid Al-Muharraqi
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artwork and opened Muharraqi Studios. He has won various awards locally and internationally with the latest being the AlBanki cultural personality of the year award. For the exhibition, Khalid collaborated on a very special piece with his father titled ‘Age and Sickness.’ “The conceptual sketch was done by his father and Khalid perfected and added to it through computer graphics, after which it was put on canvas and Abdulla Al Muharraqi re-worked and painted on top of it, thus creating a fusion masterpiece, “This picture connotes how you get weaker with age and start getting sick. He portrays the sickness in the shape of an octopus covering the senses, going through the ears and eyes and destroying. Yet, the man in the picture tries to hold on to his life and fight it, and walk through the bad things,” explained Khalid. When asked about his feelings on the exhibition with his father, he said: “It was a great pleasure for me and I even learned a lot working with my father on this as it allowed me to use the technology that I know and to understand how my father creates these pieces.” Sabaya gets up close and personal with Khalid in a candid Q&A session with the artist. How did you get into the digital form of art? I was a traditional artist and painter originally and then I ventured out to graphic designing. I got into the advertising and design market. I was also interested in 3D art and I trained myself in it. Besides painting and art, what do you do to relax after a long day? I have my motorbike and I like riding. It makes me focus only on the road and forget about all else. How do you feel about the exhibition? It’s my first exhibition since I started and I’m thrilled. A lot of my pieces were sold before but not many people know that I do any artwork at all. It was a pleasure to be featured alongside my father as it showcased the family background I’ve descended from. What are your plans for the future? My father and I are going to be collaborating on more pieces and I’m also looking to create other exhibitions with various concepts. This is a beginning for many other things. What message do you have for aspiring artists? Try to believe in yourself and work hard to achieve your target. Never be satisfied with what you have and inculcate a thirst to learn because there is always something new happening.
ANIMANIA
A Class Apart
î ˘e biggest Anime and Gaming Convention in Bahrain is hapenning on the 16th of May Get your tickets now from Geekay Bahrain and Stickhouse Media Sponsor
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Competition
Win a hair and beauty makeover with Natalie Semaan! Winner of the makeup goody bag Mariecris Tecson with Natalie Semaan
With over 350 entries for the hair and beauty makeover competition last month, we have brought the competition for our readers for another month. Talented makeup artist Natalie Semaan will be doing a glamorous hair and makeup makeover for one lucky reader every month and a second winner will win a free makeup class from the expert herself. Winners will be featured in the next issue of the magazine.
Just answer the questions below and send in your entries to puja@ sabayamag.com before the 12th of May. 1. Which racer is featured on the cover of the May issue? 2. What is the name of the previous winner of this competition? (Hint: Answers can be found in this issue of the magazine) Winners will be picked at random and will be featured in upcoming issue. Makeover will include hair and makeup.
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Monthly Makeover
Makeover with Natalie After a colossal response of more than 350 entries to our ‘Makeover with Natalie’ competition, Natasha Anzar was picked as the lucky winner of the beauty makeover and Mariecris Tecson won a goody bag of makeup. We treated Natasha to a lush hair and makeup revamp, courtesy of talented MUA Natalie Semaan. Natalie created a chic, sophisticated look for Natasha that she can wear on a daily basis for work, and everyday life. During the makeup application, Natalie explained the importance of feeling good about oneself and how this impacts the outer appearance. Mariecris was given a practical course on makeup and a few makeup hacks by Natalie. “The experience was great, a totally new one for me. I’ve learnt some great beauty and hair tips which I did not know of earlier and I had a lot of fun at the same time,” said an ecstatic Natasha. The girls definitely had a lot of fun in their little makeup party! Natalie can be contacted on 36873934 for beauty consultancies. Follow her instagram account: natsemaan for makeup tips and tricks
Before
After
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guest appearance
Adventuring beyond the limits
Adrian Hayes
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Record-breaking British adventurer Adrian Hayes is best known for his expedition across the three poles- North, South and Mount Everest in the shortest time. He also completed a vertical crossing of Greenland stretching 3,120 kilometres in 2009 for which he broke his second world record. Having been a Gurkha Officer in the British Army for many years, Adrian’s whole life has been one big adventure. Being multi-talented, he is also a motivational speaker and business coach with a strong corporate background. Sabaya Magazine caught up with him while he visited Bahrain to share his escapades and promote his latest book, Footsteps of Thesiger. How did you venture into your adventurous side? How did you decide to make it a profession? At 7 years of age, I had my first trek across a forest when I used to live in southern UK and I started climbing when I was 17, then I was in the army for many years so it feels
guest appearance
like I’ve been adventuring all my life. It was then when I decided to make it a profession, and I’ve been studying coaching and self development for some 15 odd years. I combined them all together as an adventurer, speaker and business coach for a career.
While attempting to set the world records that you did, how did you choose these specific routes? They lifelong dreams and especially scaling Mount Everest was on top of the list. Thousands have scaled Mt. Everest but only a hundred or so have ventured to both poles as well. Only 14 people have ever done all three poles in history. It was quite a big challenge. It took me about a year and a half to do all three poles collectively. What obstacles did you face on your course? In such remote parts of the world, you’re going to face obstacles and the prime ingredient of success is how you overcome these. Things break and things go wrong. Did you sustain any injuries? Did it hinder you on your journey at all? Yes, loads of them including bruises, tendonitis and chronic pains but thankfully no broken bones. Any injury will slow you down and one would want their body to be in optimum fitness when venturing out to these destinations. Was there a time when you thought “I just can’t do this anymore?” There were many times in all these trips when I felt like death. I was in agony, in pain, chronically sleep deprived, hungry, tired and freezing cold. But I never thought of giving up, it didn’t cross my mind. I was determined to reach my goal!
What’s your next adventure? I’m going back to K2 in the summer around June or July. What do you consider as your greatest career achievement? It would definitely be the vertical crossing of Greenland ice caps, and it was never been done before. It took me around 67 days in the Arctic, breaking the world record for the longest journey in the arctic and it was a very special trip. What is the best advice you can give our readers? I think people expect me to be an adventurer and only speak aout what I learnt on these expeditions. The things I learnt on personal development, I’ve used those tools to make these expeditions happen. We’ve all got this huge potential and only a very few people reach the pinnacle to their potential.
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Fashion
Mamas and Papas launches
Summer 20
M
amas and Papas launch their chic and adorable Summer Babywear and Kidswear collection that comes packed with pieces that can be mixed and matched to suit your individual taste and style. Whether you are looking for a cute casual look or a standout piece for a special occasion, with Mamas & Papas you can now dress your little one in the perfect outfit of your choice. For the summer season, Welcome to the World (0-2 years) is available in a neutral colour palette with some nautical highlights added. Heritage fabrics are used with nautical subtle touches for this range. Key pieces for this collection include a sailor-inspired dress and a selection of classic pieces in nautical prints. Our Welcome to the World collection is perfect for cherishing those 28
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014 collection memorable moments and ideal for dressing up for those special family occasions. In the Fashion range (0-4 yrs), Mamas and Papas launches ‘Aries’, ‘Flora Fantastica’, ‘Hazy Daze’ and ‘Promenade’ collections for girls whereas for boys, ‘Tropical Vacation’ and ‘Resort’ are the new additions. Aries is a sophisticated take on a truly girly, pretty story in soft pastel palette made up of mustard, pale pink and cream. Large geometric prints are used against delicate story-telling prints featuring birds and butterflies. Ditsy styling gives this range a new fresh feel and frills and ruffles sit against pretty girly shapes to form feminine silhouettes. Flora Fantastica offers items rooted in a palette taken from the rich colours found in tropical climates including citrus yellows, rich reds and navy blue. Think dark tropical, exotic florals and rich tones. Whereas Hazy
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Fashion Daze has pieces with florals teamed with the key ‘flamingo’ print giving a summer holiday vibe. A colour palette of soft brights and faded hues; including pink, mint, lime, peach and soft red makes pieces from Hazy Daze a perfect collection for the season for girls. Promenade presents a new take on a nautical story where bretton stripes and ginghams are key to this range. Easy, babyfriendly silhouettes incorporate quirky storytelling and placement prints. For boy’s fashion, summer in Miami City is the inspiration behind the Tropical Vacation collection. An ocean drive inspired colour palette with knocked-back corals, washed navy and sun-bleached yellows dominate the range. ‘Resort’ offers slim fit chinos, mini-me gent styling, statement linen blazer that finishes off this story’s key look. In the Limited Edition range (0-4 years), this season sees the launch of Jardin collection for girls and Global Trader collection for boys. Soft and sophisticated shapes and details rule the Jardin range whereas mini menswear inspired shapes with statement sweaters, blazers and scarf print trousers form the Global Trader story. Mix & Match collection that has ready to wear essentials for 0-6 year olds is designed with the idea of creating lots of practical, easy to wear garments, where the brand offers choice for everyday and essentials customer. For 2-6 year olds, Mamas and Papas Kidswear range has playful playsuits for girls and polo shirts for boys with unique story telling prints. Preppy styling is key to the boys range whereas conversational prints teamed with oversized polkas and ditsy florals are part of the girl’s range.
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Fashion
Bold is Beautiful Minimalism is out as Phoebe Philo›s Celine Spring/ Summer 2014 collection shows an explosion of colour, print and texture.
B
ack to the Tennis Club de Paris to see what Phoebe Philo›s Céline woman has been up to. And, according to the mood book on each brightly colored, blocky seat, she has been looking at graffiti—not just any graffiti, but graffiti through the medium of Brassaï’s photographs, obviously. In the primal black and white images of street art found in the city of Paris there was a distinct clue to the mood of the collection. The colour palette had that late-eighties feel of something primary, urgent, graphic. Giant strokes and squiggles dominated in tailored T-shirt shapes over striped sunray pleats. What gave the clothes a real third dimension was the fabric experimentation; here, woven jacquards and knits dominated over prints and were beautifully done. The Céline woman became more intriguing, though, in her embrace of a certain ragga style in the elongated string vest looks, especially when these were layered with a yellow jumper tied around the waist just so. Yet, the last eight looks were the best of the collection. They didn›t feel as if they were in the sway of any history or reference point. Utilizing the large T-shirt silhouette, with a cutout in an abstract, metal-rimmed shape revealing the contrasting tunics layered underneath, then ending in a burst of cheesecloth skirt, these particular looks were outstanding. Perhaps the undercurrent of sensual perversity of the last two seasons has dissipated from the Céline woman this time. But it seems she will never be that uptight or controlled again; this show was free, easy, and fun.
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Fashion
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Fashion
CAROLINA HERRERA Spring/Summer 2014 CollectionWomenswear
T
he 70s in LA is the starting point for the CH Carolina Herrera collection for summer. The style of icons of that inspirational golden era, like Anjelica Huston, Farrah Fawcett or Jane Fonda, is present in a series of delicate and sophisticated or glamorous, sexy looks. The time of changing silhouettes, flowing volumes and jazzy colours and prints. High-waisted and wide-leg pants, tieneck blouses, floral prints and flashy colors make up a collection juxtaposing formal silhouettes and freeform volumes. Silk and cotton fabrics are the basis for a colour palette ranging from ivory through fuchsia and red to navy. Prints and costume jewelry punctuate the harmony, creating fun, original counterpoints that make this collection an essential summer repertoire.
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Fashion
Cosmos by Vancleef and Arpels The flowers of the cosmos bloom afresh
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A
new chapter is opening for the Cosmos™ collection, in an explosion of spring blossoms adorned with white mother-of-pearl and onyx. With their subtle blend of softness and brilliance, these jewelry creations offer fresh homage to nature and luck, two of the Maison’s most cherished sources of inspiration. A femininity graced by luck With the subtle angle of their four distinctive heart-shaped petals, Cosmos creations are inspired by an iconic Van Cleef & Arpels flower dating from the 1950s. Combining the ethereal quality of a four-leaf clover with the grace of a flower, the collection expresses a delightful femininity graced by luck. Emblematic of the Maison, these jewels now take on a new appearance thanks to onyx and white mother-of-pearl. Natural materials rich in symbolism Always a major source of inspiration, nature provides the Maison with its finest materials. In keeping with Van Cleef & Arpels’ tradition of excellence, they are chosen according to the most stringent criteria. Mother-of-pearl: One of the Maison’s favorite materials, mother-ofpearl is produced naturally inside seashells. The mother-of-pearl used by Van Cleef & Arpels comes from Indonesia and Japan; it is notable for its regular surface and sheen of the highest quality. Onyx: According to Roman mythology, Eros one day used the point of an arrow to cut Venus’s nails while she was asleep. Since every part of
her divine body was immortal, they were transformed into stone and gave birth to onyx. Diamond: The very word diamond – from the Greek adamas, meaning invincible – is enough to call this mineral’s extraordinary properties to mind. A crystal of pure carbon, its hardness, transparency and sparkle have fascinated mankind across civilizations and throughout history. Combinations of jewels to suit every mood The shimmering overtones of mother-ofpearl and the brilliance of onyx illuminate the Cosmos collection with unusual plays of light. The subtle gleam of these new flowers may be combined with other Van Cleef & Arpels creations to form a “kosmos” – or world of harmony in Greek. Each woman can associate different models in multiple combinations to create her own uniquely personal style.
The floral world of Van Cleef & Arpels Nature is one of Van Cleef & Arpels’ major sources of inspiration, breathing vitality and poetry into its creations. Enthralled by the continuous metamorphoses of flora, the Maison has transposed its infinite forms and variations, capturing the lightness of a corn poppy or the flowering of a cherry tree. The freshness and vivacity of this enchanted garden has inspired a thousand and one interpretations: an enchanting spectacle that is ever being renewed in Van Cleef & Arpels’ collections. The number for the showroom is 17131122.
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Fashion
CH CAROLINA HERRERA Spring/Summer 2014 Collection Menswear
S
imple lines, laidback colours and classics revisited are the three starting points for an elegant, fresh, contemporary spring/summer collection, three recurring features of Carolina Herrera Menswear collections. The initial impression is of warm colours like beige, camel and brown, punctuated with pale blues and touches of mauve and pink, evoking a relaxed atmosphere in which the Carolina Herrera man finds himself at
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Fashion ease with the arrival of the new season. This section features linen overshirts and leather jackets, combined with timeless pieces like cotton pants and contrasting parkas. The second look conjures up an atmosphere of pure, clean colours, with a predominance of current shades such as ink blue, white, dark magenta and different shades of gray. A palette of colours mixed together in such as way as to achieve a look with the innate elegance of the Carolina Herrera man. Finally, quintessentially summer colours like red, navy and white share wardrobe space with clear trend shades such as khaki. Linen and cotton/linen pieces lend maximum lightness to these updated classics so characteristic of the label. A collection fine-tuned to unify details and trimmings, which subtly enhance the garments in a manner perfectly in keeping with the spirit of Carolina Herrera.
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style
Do you speak French Manicure? by Bourjois The French manicure revisited in 4 new preharmonised assortments. A decade ago Bourjois made the French manicure available to all by launching the first French Manicure kit. In 2014, Bourjois innovates and revisits the classic manicure with a twist, coloured with multiple effects. The collection includes 4 pairs of pre-harmonised colours following specific codes defined by the colour expert:
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style
A solid lacquer joins forces with a new glittery texture for a foolproof, arty result! Moon French French Moon Energetic pink with a champagne half-moon: so decadent!
A decade ago Bourjois made the French manicure available to all by launching the first French Manicure kit. In 2014, Bourjois innovates and revisits the classic manicure with a twist, coloured with multiple effects. The collection includes 4 pairs of preharmonised colours following specific codes defined by the colour expert:
Outlined French French around the edges A taupe delicately outlined by textured and precious gold: so chic!
Side French French on the side A deep, dark red twisted on one side by a mesmerising and so very mysterious purple!
Classic French A classic French manicure but far from well-behaved with an emerald livened up by a glittery silver.
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Travel
Front view of Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
A Lush Haven of Culture Sri Lanka and its ancient treasures By Claudia Hardt 42
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Travel Buddah Statues
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Travel
T
he resplendent island, surrounded by blue waters, is known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”. The stunning destination is a paradise of pristine beaches, crystal clear waters and an enchanting coastline. But Sri Lanka has much more to offer and is enriched with misty mountain ranges, breathtaking waterfalls, numerous national parks and the gorgeous scenery of rich heritage. No less than eight UNESCO World Heritage sites invite to discover the island’s historical splendors with six cultural and two natural sightseeing places to choose from. My journey starts at the bustling Bandaranayake International Airport where my tour guide awaits me in front of the arrival hall greeting me with a friendly “Aybowan!” which means “Wishing you a long life” in Sinhala language. What a nice welcome after a long trip. His name is Udara, a tall Sinhalese man with a warm smile. He will be my companion for the next three days discovering the ancient treasures of the isle of Serendipity. One of the most incredible World Heritage sites is the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, my first destination. Kandy is rich in cultural diversity and could be called the culture capital of the island. Because of its mountain setting at about 500 meters above the sea level, it enjoys a cooler climate than most places in Sri Lanka. A drive from Colombo City takes easily four hours considering the country’s enormous traffic. Sri Lanka’s roads are crowded with thousands of vehicles. There is only one way to go to Kandy which everyone has to take. No matter what! The
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best way to reach the place is hiring a local tour guide with a car but more adventurous travelers may like to experience the bus route from Colombo which offers an exciting ride if you are not in a hurry. Be patient, your long journey on the dusty and curvy roads will be rewarded with views onto a luxurious green countryside and amazing valleys. On our long scenic way up to the hill capital we drive past several handicraft shops and coconut booths. Udara introduces me to his fruit selling friends along the street, stopping occasionally for a little snack break. He even teaches me how to cut a coconut properly. Enjoying the refreshing juice is much appreciated after sitting in the car for a couple of hours already. Plenty of plantation fields pass and it looks like we are never going to make it to Kandy. Certainly not with my estimated and usually precise European time schedule. Sinhalese clocks obviously operate in a different way. But then after more than four hours, falling even asleep in the back of the rocking car, we reach my overnight accommodation close to the city, The Cinnamon Citadel Kandy Hotel. Set in a beautiful lush mountainous landscape, the hotel boats stunning views onto its tropical rainforest surrounding and a tranquil river valley. The resort is about a twenty minutes drive from Kandy. Although being located in the outskirts of the city, the property’s location is superb for all nature lovers who prefer waking up with twittering birds and inspiring views from the rooms’ balconies. There is no time for unpacking or even thinking of taking a refreshing dip in the
lovely outdoor pool. We are certainly late and there is only the chance to quickly drop my luggage, getting a splash of fresh water in my face and to promptly return back to the lobby where Udara waits to take me to our next spot. My point of visit is the traditional Cultural Show which is one of the most famous attractions in Kandy. It starts early evening and runs for more than an hour hosted at the cultural hall of the Red Cross Society. The skills of the traditional musicians of Kandy, their drums and dance are very enchanting. The early evening performance by the famous Kandy Temple Dance Troup incorporates rhythmic movements to the sound of temple drums and flutes, all performed in various colorful costumes. Each of the energetic dances tells its own story. Traditional folk dance is still part of Sri Lanka’s life with a long history. The hall is packed with hundreds of people and a sticky and humid atmosphere surrounds me, but the rousing dances are truly enjoyable such as Raban (drum dance), Kulu Natuma (harvest dance), Mayura Vannama (dance of the peacock) or Gini Sisila (fire dance). The Ragahala Kandyan Dance performance is worth a visit and costs only a small entrance fee. After a short night in my mountain hill sanctuary, waking up refreshed and energized, it’s finally time to use the pool for an early morning swim before starting the day with a healthy breakfast. The hotel’s restaurant is located on the first floor with a terrace balcony, overlooking the beautiful natural location. My driver Udara sits again patiently in the lobby, waiting to pick me up for our visit to the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. We have to hurry up as he recommends a visit as early as possible. Especially on weekends, the place gets extremely crowded with hundreds of worshippers arriving at the same time. While driving down the winding river valley road, a hanging bridge crossing the river bed attracts my attention. I can’t resist trying out this adventurous construction and ask Udara for a quick stop. A brief walk on the bridge proofs: It’s swinging slightly but a fun experience! Shortly after, we arrive in Kandy. The main part of the city overlooks an artificial lake built by the last king of Kandy between 1803 und 1807. The city was the capital of the Sinhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815 and is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO since 1997. The Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic is situated directly
The Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic
Travel at the scenic lake. It was built within the royal palace ensemble which houses the only surviving relic of Buddha, a tooth, worshiped by Buddhists. The legend says that the tooth has been snatched from the flames of the Buddha’s funeral pyre in 543 B.C. and was smuggled into Sri Lanka during the 4th century A.D., hidden in the hair of a princess. Since ancient times, the tooth played an important role in the country’s politics and became a symbol of sovereignty and faith. It was believed that whoever had custody of the tooth relic had the right to rule the island which caused the ancient kings to protect it with great efforts. The outside of the temple buildings is rather simple than elaborately decorated.
Handicraft Shop on the road to Kandy
Hanging Bridge on the way to Cinnamon Citadel Hotel in Kandy
Before entering the complex you can buy beautiful purple colored water lilies which visitors like to lay down as an offering in the inside. A steep staircase packed with people trying to get in leads up to a big wooden gate. Passing the door and entering the inner of the temple you discover that the interior design stands in striking contrast to the plain façade: Sculpted carved wood with inlaid works of ivory and lacquer, rich marble and colorful painted decorations with purely decorative motifs enchant. The room housing the tooth is open to pilgrimages and tourists alike. It’s kept in a gold casket in a shape of a miniature pagoda, carefully looked after by monks. You can only get a glance of the casket from the doorway, a couple of meters from the actual altar, as the monks keep the queue moving ensuring a consistent flow of visitors in the shrine room. Soon we have to leave the quaint and charming site but before continuing on our road out of Kandy back towards Colombo, we pass by the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya with its rare collection of regional and exotic flora and a unique orchid house. The Botanical Gardens are located next to the powerful river Mahaweli Ganga, Sri Lanka’s longest river, set in picturesque scene. My last destination is Negombo, north of the capital. It is conveniently located near the international airport and sits beside a lagoon and a charming fishing village amidst mangroves. The area is an enviable location alongside a stretch of white sandy beach and surrounded by palm trees. Negombo is popular for its lively nightlife and an excellent choice of seafood dining. Preferring to stay away from a more touristic place, we head further down to Waikkal beach reaching the Club Hotel Dolphin. From the terrace of my comfortable superior room, I can jump straight into the ‘island’s longest swimming pool’ - as declared by the hotel. It’s my last night on Sri Lanka, enjoying a balmy breeze under the stars and listening to the lull of the gentle waves. What a nice ending of an exciting tour on the trails of ancient treasures.
The river view from Cinnamon Cital Hotel
Negombo Beach on Sri Lanka
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Techno TALK Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung goes for evolution over revolution... again. The Samsung Galaxy S5 can be defined by one word: evolution. The camera has evolved to give clearer, faster snaps. The fitness-tracking abilities of the S5 are enhanced over the Galaxy S4 by packing in a more powerful S Health app and a dedicated heart rate monitor on the rear. A fingerprint scanner adds to the most secure Galaxy phone ever made. The battery is larger, the screen bigger and brighter, the processor quicker and the design altered. The spec sheet certainly doesn’t let it down: a 2.5GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 2800mAh battery, 16 / 32GB of memory (with up to 128GB extra through microSD), one of the world’s most vibrant screens that’s been extended to 5.1-inches and added biometrics. However, it’s hard to point to one stand out feature that will grab the prospective user when they handle the Galaxy S5 for the first time.
To many, that won’t matter, as Samsung’s built a fan-base that only Apple can rival, and a number will be picking up the new Galaxy without a second thought over whether it competes adequately with its rivals.
Verdict
Samsung seems to banking on the fact it knows there will be some people out there who will buy its devices no matter what, else it would have jumped to a more premium design. And there’s the divide in terms of how to deliver a verdict on the best Samsung phone ever: if you’re excited about what Samsung does, you’ll love this phone. The brand has definitely done a lot
to make it more useable and deliver things you’ll actually use, such as a better, faster camera and health info. But if you’re on the fence, or in the iPhone camp, it would be easy to decry this as a mere update to what came before, offering uninspiring design and a feature set that doesn’t mark it out well enough from the competition. Samsung has done enough with the Galaxy S5 to still be one of the top smartphones of 2014, and I would still recommend it as a solid, if unspectacular, smartphone that ticks the boxes it needs to and very little more. It just squeaks in as a 4.5-star phone, largely due to the fact that it’s got an excellent screen, great battery and high-end specs combined with a strong camera - and that spells a decent smartphone to me.
iOS 7
The iOS 7.1 update addresses many of our original concerns iOS 7 has had something of a bumpy ride since its launch in September: the new interface appalled many, and despite several subsequent point releases iOS 7 still included significant bugs including frequent and irritating crashes in Safari. Where previous iOS updates were largely a case of install-and-get-on-with-it, iOS 7 takes a bit more getting used to. The good news is that iOS 7.1 has quashed most of the issues including the Safari showstopper, and it’s also addressed some of the more glaring issues with Apple’s mobile OS. There’s lots to like in iOS 7. It’s fast, fluid and offers lots of improvements - not just the headline features we’ve discussed here but features such as the effortless Airdrop sharing, improved Find My Phone and the new Activation Lock. It’s nice to be able to hide Newsstand in a folder, too, although as ever you can’t delete the stock Apple apps. That’s particularly annoying on children’s devices where space is usually at a premium and you really don’t need Stocks.
Verdict
When I reviewed iOS 7.0 I warned: “I’d recommend updating with a certain amount of caution: you will find bugs [and] you’ll probably find a few apps don’t 46
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work.” I was right, but if you’re still waiting to jump from iOS 6 it’s safe to do so now: iOS 7.1 squashes the bugs,
developers have long since updated their apps and I’ve had plenty of time to get used to the interface and most importantly, the motion sickness problems have been addressed. The leap from iOS 6 to 7 is a big one, but it’s a leap worth making: it genuinely does make your device feel brand new.
Techno TALK iPad Air
Apple lays down the gauntlet for 2014’s tablets with a stunning effort Apple’s new iPad shows all you need to know about its changed approach to tablets - with a 43% thinner bezel and a 28% lighter device, the iPad Air is championing the ‘easier to live with’ ideal. If you haven’t seen a picture yet, then imagine an iPad mini that you’ve just held a little closer to your face, and you’re largely there with the Air. It’s got the same smooth back design, thinner bezel and more attractive speakers at the bottom of the phone to make it look like more of a family with the cut down tablet from Apple’s stables. While it’s a clear copy, we’re not going to get upset about that as the mini already had a stunning design, and the Air takes that message and brings it to the big leagues. It also has machined buttons that don’t feel loose when shaking, bringing up the premium feel to the device. On top of the new design, it’s also rocking Apple’s A7 chip, bringing with it 64-bit processing power and reams of battery saving techniques to keep your tablet going even longer in day to day use. And the greatest thing about the iPad range in our eyes is the price - Apple is starting the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model at the same cost as its
Verdict
rivals, and while that outlay does spiral up as capacity and connectivity increase, for an Apple device to not charge an (unnecessary) premium is something we’re really happy to see.
Sony PS4
PlayStation 4 is a fantastic console that’ll improve with age
The PlayStation 4 is the most powerful games console on the planet. With more graphical power than the Xbox One, 32 times more system memory than the PS3 and a firm focus on pure gaming experiences rather than media mojo, it has established itself as the next-gen console to beat. It’s a games console built by gamers for gamers. It won the hearts and minds of many from the word go, with lots of prospective next-genners left feeling alienated by some of Microsoft’s bizarre policies and choices for the Xbox One – many of which were reversed as a
Make no mistake Apple has finally nailed the tablet with a great combination of specs, power and a decent OS. It’s a joy to hold the iPad Air. From the clever construction to the fast processor to the improved user interface, Apple has found an answer to every criticism we had of the device and then some. The fact it’s not even more expensive than its large-screen brethren is really impressive for an Apple product, and the suite of apps that are now free, coupled with the excellent App Store and premium build, make this a no brainer for anyone looking to enter the tablet market. We’d advise that you get the largest capacity your budget can manage - although at the top end you’re verging on Macbook territory, so make sure you’re ready to use a tablet and think about getting an external keyboard to make full use of the extra apps you’ve now got. You’ve seen the score, and for those keeping tabs you’ll realise this is TechRadar’s first fivestar tablet. It’s a device with almost no flaws - it’s not just Apple’s best tablet, it’s the only tablet you should be considering this Christmas if you’re keen on a larger screen. result of a backlash. The differences between the PS4 and Xbox One are actually evident before you even switch them on. Despite the two consoles both sporting similar half-matte half-gloss finishes and containing very similar internal components, they really couldn’t be more different. For a start, the PS4 is small and sleek in comparison to the enormous VCR-like square cuboid of the Xbox One. And this means that the PS4’s box is half the size and weight of the Xbox One. The Sony console can be extracted from its packaging and plugged in and booted up in a couple of minutes.
Verdict
We’ll say it again: the PlayStation 4 is a great piece of hardware. It’s fast, attractively built and has a streamlined philosophy that puts games front and center and has helped it achieved a relatively attractive price point. It’s also in its infancy. It’s worth owning, but not worth rushing to the stores for. It’s only going to get better, when the truly next-gen titles start to arrive, when more streaming media apps are available, when its own media services gain stability and Sony patches in that much needed media playback support. Maybe it’ll even clean up the What’s New feed. We really enjoyed our time testing the system, but as far as the games go, we failed to find a truly standout title. MAY 2014
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AUTO REVIEW
LUXGEN7 LUXURY + GENIUS
By Fayez Abubacker INTRODUCTION Taiwan’s first passenger automobile brand LUXGEN is steaming ahead with the launch of its second model the LUXGEN7 SUV. After the unprecedented success of its debut model, the LUXGEN7 MPV, which received comprehensive media coverage during the world debut at the Dubai motor show, achieved phenomenal sales volume and became the first automobile ever to win the prestigious Taiwan Excellence Award and so we decided to take it on the streets...
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AUTO REVIEW
OUR 6 POINT REVIEW 1. EXTERIORS
The distinctive wing-shaped chrome nose trim and cascading grille express both power and confidence; meanwhile, its coupe-like profile and upward sweeping beltlines conveys a sense of dynamic motion as well. Measuring at 4.8 meters long, 1.93 meters wide and 1.76 meters in height, the LUXGEN7 SUV is also among the largest in its segment while maintaining an elegant and svelte proportions. The SUV is robust and rugged looking, and it feels that way on the road too.
2. INTERIORS
The LUXGEN7 SUV uses the leather seat with style surrounding head restraints together with the available lumber support adjustment functions to ensure upmost comfort anytime. In addition, the Hi-end Clarion audio system and JBL speakers provide premium sound quality and surreal vocal reproduction to music lovers. At the center of attention is the 10″ video monitor that at is the heart of all this technology. There is a center console underneath the video display monitor. The Luxgen7 SUV is a seven-seater crossover. The rear seats can be folded down for cargo space.
3. PERFORMANCE
The Luxgen7 SUV is powered by a turbocharged-and-intercooled 2.2-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine that makes 175 horsepower, mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. To improve driving feel, the steering system was tuned by Delphi, noise suppression engineering was handled by
LMS, the suspension system was developed by Magna, and the overall chassis tuning was done by both Magma and Prodrive.
4. RIDE AND HANDLING
SUV Luxgen 7 is available as either a frontwheel drive or four-wheel drive system. The drive system is equipped with intelligent devices that can split the engine torque to the front and rear wheels when the driver needs it, especially when crossing the track difficult. Chassis in its architecture - scaled cars: front McPherson, rear semi-rigid beam . Behavior of the machine enough stable and without frills: shakes on uneven, with sluggish handling and modest energy consumption . A little, but a passing score dialed.
5. SAFETY
SRS airbags, Antilock Braking System (ABS), Braking Assistance System (BAS), Electronic Brake Distribution. Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control is offered as an option to consumers. Structure deck or floor of the car for example, uses the concept of Multi Luxgen H and HRSS (High rigidity Safety Structure) that ensure the safety of passengers in the event of collision or impact.
6. EQUIPMENT
The top feature is the Luxgen Think+ system, co-developed with smartphone makers HTC, that comes with builtin HSPDA 3.5G communications, GPS Navigation and a 10.2-inch LCD display screen for a comprehensive tech package. The system also includes the ‘Eagle View+’ 360-degree parking assist which utilises four
cameras to provide a real-time visual display of the surrounding environment. The ‘Side View+’ feature automatically displays live video images of the vehicle›s rear blind spot to reduce the chance of an accident during lane changes. The Night Vision+ highsensitivity night vision camera system helps illuminate the road and traffic conditions at night beyond the range of the headlamps. LDWS+ constantly reads the road surface for lane markers and dividers and gives audible and visual warnings when the vehicle veers too close to the lane markings. Overall, the SUV is equipped with 23 advanced ECUs and 8 video cameras to provide these features. Also available are power-opening trunk , leather upholstery, rear DVD screen, Bluetooth and more. LUXGEN7 SUV is the only vehicle in its segment to be equipped with the intelligent power actuated tailgate as standard equipment that can be configured to open partially in order to prevent collision when parked in confined spaces. Also includes an ‘anti-theft sport seat’ where the driver’s seat slides forward to lock against the steering wheel and prevent access.
Verdict
Overall the Luxgen system, designed by HTC, has taken vehicle safety and comfort to a new level. While the technology is fascinating and very useful, the Luxgen SUV itself is a beautiful car and high-end appointments. High performance turbo and low consumption technology engines were programmed to ‘Think Ahead’ for their consumers, to preempt road conditions and potential hazards. The 2.2L MEFI TURBO engine teamed with the THINK+ automotive platform makes this high-end SUV is perfectly capable of meeting the demanding needs of your life. MAY 2014
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Hotel Review
Luxury has a new residence Ramee Grand, Bahrain
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Hotel Review
R
amee Group’s latest addition to its hotel chain is 5-star abode, Ramee Grand, located in the heart of the city. Ramee Grand offers a new invigorating and innovative experience with stylish rooms, various dining outlets and one of the best late-night venue. Whether travelling to Ramee Grand on business or leisure, it is the one-stop destination for all your needs. The hotels spacious and bright rooms offer a dynamic sense of style and a striking design that appeals to all tastes across the international travel market. Launched in 2013, the hotel is gaining rapid eminence for the myriad of restaurants and entertainment options. The rooms are impressive, equipped with modern, elegant furniture and controlled MAY 2014
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Hotel Review lighting. High speed internet, a giant sized LED screen TV with a variety of channels and automated curtain controls which can be operated from your bedside. The highlight of my stay, however, was the gigantic and absolutely stunning bathroom with a view of the city. Ramee Grand definitely harbours one of the largest bathrooms in the kingdom. There is nothing more relaxing than dipping yourself in the big tub hooking your eyes to the sky view from the 20th floor. The hotel also offers various cuisines to suit every taste from Indian to Japanese. With a choice of five restaurants and lounges, you are spoilt for choice. Casual dining restaurant Lemon Tree features a dynamic menu, where you can enjoy dinners, delicious breakfasts, Friday Family Brunches and sumptuous evening meals, as well as snacks at any time of the day. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, guests can enjoy a wide variety of culinary choices with its impressive buffet and open interactive kitchen. Lemon Tree appeals to a wide range of international tastes with palate pleasing displays of flavors and textures drawn from the very best of Indian, Asian and Mediterranean and Arabic cuisines. The Thursday seafood night offers a huge variety of tasty seafood paired with great service. Lemon Tree is the only restaurant which imports King Crabs all the way from Alaska and that in itself is a treat for seafood lovers. I headed later on to Rialto for a meal and was beyond impressed with the food and service. Rialto offers an unparalleled fine dining experience. With an emphasis on authentic Italian preparations, the restaurant is ideal for corporate lunches. They also have a pasta station for fresh, homemade pasta. The staff is friendly, the
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Hotel Review atmosphere is warm and chic and there’s something on the menu to suit even the most varied pallet. My favourite pick was the luscious balsamic vinegar marinated strawberries paired with silky ice cream. The hotel also offers a Japanese restaurant named Ruka, offering breath-taking views from the 24th floor and an Indian eatery, Rasoi. The hotel’s most entertaining venue has to be Ibrida, the newest club and lounge to take Bahrain’s nightlife by storm. Ibrida is the perfect venue for the after-work crowd looking for a place to unwind or for weekend revelers looking for top DJ sounds, a cool vibe, mouth-watering appetizers and specialty drinks prepared by expert mixologists. Its unique ambiance allows you to enjoy the company of your friends within an ambience of luxury and comfort. You can decide to lounge with friends or dance the night away-it’s a win-win situation! I woke up the next morning to an amazing day view of skyline drenched in sunlight. It seemed like the perfect time to soak up the sun and hit the swimming pool. Located on the third floor, the position of the infinity pool looks over the dazzling city scape. The pool is temperature controlled and has a kid’s pool in addition to a jacuzzi and sunbeds with a savvy-looking pool bar. A Friday brunch enlivens the atmosphere with live music and great food. For afternoon snacks, I headed to Tea Garden, which offers a wide array of irresistible tea, pastries, ice cream, gourmet sweets, chocolates and sumptuous gift items to take home with you. There is also an opulent spa facility along with a health club. The spa offers a great manicure and pedicure service paired with a relaxing massage chair, a perfect way to destress after any activity. Ramee Grand provides a five-star experience with all the facilities you could ask for under one roof. It is definitely a hotel worth visiting, whether for business, leisure or simply for a mini weekend getaway.
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rESTAURANT REVIEW
Savour the flavor at Saveur
A tantalizing combination of delectable cuisine with great ambience, Saveur at the Kempinski Grand and Ixir Hotel is the perfect place to unwind after a long day.
T
he dÊcor is adorned with a silvery blue theme, lending an aura of elegance and sophistication to match up to its 5-star hotel status. Plush, cushioned velvet lines the sofas and chairs, giving the whole place a cozy yet modish feel. Live cooking stations are centered in the middle of the eatery and private pods can accommodate up to 10 people so it’s a great place for corporate events. The menu offers an array of international culinary delights, and I chose my entree and
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main course after taking a few suggestions from the friendly attendant. I started my feast by venturing into the salad gallery, which had a well laid out assortment of fresh greens, veggies and other condiments. For starters, I had Potato Gnocchi with fresh sage, mixed mushrooms, virgin olive oil, artichokes and garlic. I’m not a fan of gnocchi but it was love at first bite with this dish. I would describe them as fluffy pillows of potato-pasty dumplings bursting with sharp flavour. The other entree was Rock Shrimp Tempura with miso dip and Daikon soya sauce. The tempura batter was light and crispy, complimented by the Daikon soy sauce coating made for a perfect combo. My dining partners tried the Pan seared Foie Gras with brioche, dried apple and wild berry chutney as well as Lobster bisque with Atlantic lobster and herb oil as entrees and absolutely loved them! Wok fried black peppered beef with capsicum, sesame seeds and spring onion served with steamed rice arrived next on the table. The oriental dish was perfectly cooked and tasted great! It was time for the grand part of the feastthe main course. Sari, the lovely PR manager for the hotel surprised us by ordering signature dishes from Baharat, Kempinski’s Arabian restaurant. The hotel’s signature dish, Pan Fried Hammour with sauerkraut, accompanied by potato purée and mustard chive sauce is a German-Arab fusion and is a hands down must-try. The unexpected combinations of ingredients balance each other perfectly and reflect the European heritage with the sauerkraut paired with local fish hammour. The second victual was Baharat’s
Signature Dish, Slow Braised Local Lamb Shoulder marinated with homemade spices, cumin sauce and cloves rice. The meat is cooked to perfection and melts in the mouth. The inspiration behind the dish is to combine local ingredients in a luxury style to reflect the spirit of Baharat restaurant. I almost forgot about desert after such a sumptuous dinner. Saveur offers a mouthwatering selection of deserts from tarts and cheesecake to pastries and homemade ice cream at its desert gallery. Saveur has something to suit every pallet and the ambience combined with great service makes it a perfect spot for social jamborees, family meals or corporate gatherings.
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Out & About
Travelex celebrates its 10th anniversary opening its 29th store in Bahrain. The opening comes as Travelex builds momentum against its growth strategy, for which the Middle East plays an integral part. The store at Budaiya provides access to more than 30 foreign currencies, Travelex Money Transfer (TMT), Western Union, Buy Back Guarantee as well as collection for online pre-orders from Travelex.bh.
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Turkish Festival at Mercure Grand Hotel Seef Throughout the Turkish Festival guests enjoyed and discovered selective taste of Turkish cuisine prepared by famous Turkish chefs from Mercure Hotels in Istanbul. Mercure Grand Hotels General Manager Mr. Yasser Bahaa mention they were honored by the presence of distinguished invitees to the event: Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of different states in Bahrain, top V.I.P.s, the owners of Mercure Grand Hotel Mr. Jasim Al Zayani and Mr. Mohammad Jasim Al Zayani, as well as other local personalities. A special performance of the Turkish dance troupe “OYA� enchanted the valued invitees with traditional folklore dances and ballet, as well as a professional belly dancer.
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Ritz Carlton Hotel Bahrain Inter-hotel charity cricket tournament Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa hosted the third Inter-hotel Seven-a-side Cricket Tournament at the Staff Recreation Area. Various hotels such as Sheraton, Majestic Arjaan, Kempinski Grand and Ixir, Gulf Hotel and others participated in this friendly tournament. Ritz-Carlton ‹B› outplayed Majestic Arjaan by five wickets. Ritz-Carlton ‹B› reached the winning target in 3.2 overs losing just one wicket.
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Out & About
Car safety seat training conducted by the US Embassy
Passenger safety and the importance of child safety seats in cars were under the spotlight at the American Mission Hospital (AMH) in Amwaj Islands. US Embassy health policy officer Aimee Stoian led the ‹train-the-trainer› session for participants including healthcare professionals from AMH, Bahrain Specialist Hospital, Salmaniya Medical Complex and King Hamad University Hospital. The event was held to coincide with the US Embassy›s American-Bahrain Friendship Week.
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Red House Marketing celebrated the 200th issue of Bahrain This Month
A lavish Moulin Rouge themed party was hosted by Red House Marketing at the Gulf Hotel in presence of various members of the staff and invited guests to celebrtate the 200th issue milestone of Bahrain This Month.
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Out & About
ABTEC social evening at the Elements Pool & Lounge, Intercontinental Regency Hotel A social evening was hosted for the Arabian Banking Technology Exhibition & Conference (ABTEC) at Elements Pool & Lounge. Participants and members of ABTEC enjoyed an evening of socialising along with a great atmosphere.
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Out & About
Celebration of the 238th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America
The embassy of the United States of America THE long-standing friendship between Bahrain and America was marked along with an early celebration of the 238th anniversary of American independence at Al Ghazal Ballroom of the Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa. The US Embassy held a reception with embassy officials including the American Ambassador Thomas Krajeski and invited guests and there was a display of historical photographs highlighting the friendship.
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The grand success of Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2014 in retrospect Hamilton Leads Mercedes One-Two As Bic Welcomes Record Crowd For Historic F1 Bahrain Grand PriX •Hamilton comes out on top after heated battle with Rosberg •Sergio Perez puts Force India on the podium •A total of 85,000 for all three days Lewis Hamilton led Nico Rosberg to a dominant Mercedes one-two tonight in the most exciting and most memorable Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix ever held at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir. The landmark 10th edition of the Kingdom’s Formula One race certainly lived up to the hype as the top flight’s greatest drivers put on a spectacular show over an eventful and hugely exciting 57 laps, held for the very first time under floodlights at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”. Following the conclusion of the 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix, BIC Chairman Zayed R. Alzayani said: “I would first like to congratulate Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes team on an outstanding victory today, in the most exciting race ever seen at the BIC, bringing a fitting end to a momentous 10th anniversary weekend at Bahrain International Circuit. “Today, we attracted a record crowd of 31,000, our highest ever attendance for a single day and I am delighted that the crowd was suitably rewarded with a phenomenal display of racing. “The grandstand was sold out as were our corporate boxes, underlining our belief that the spectacle and attraction of the night race has brought a new generation of fans to F1. “It has taken a huge effort from all involved in the construction and the preparation to get the circuit ready for our 66
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first night race and I would like to thank all those who have made that happen, especially the staff at the BIC for their efforts over the last few months, as well as our partners and sponsors.” Bahrain’s first-ever night race attracted the biggest ever single day crowd at BIC, with the Main Grandstand and corporate boxes all sold out. The 31,000 crowd for Sunday bettered the 28,000 from last year, while the total 85,000 over three days dwarfed the 73,000 total of 2013. Hamilton crossed the finish line the winner as BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa waved the chequered flag, with teammate Rosberg trailing by a mere 1.085 seconds following a heated battle for the lead over the final 10 laps. An impressive display of fireworks then brightened up the night sky over the spectacularly lit desert circuit as Hamilton stepped out of his Mercedes W05 cheered on by the thousands of fans in attendance. Force India’s Sergio Perez joined Hamilton and Rosberg on the podium, leading the rest of the pack who were nearly half-a-minute behind the Mercedes pair. At the podium ceremony in front of a packed Main Grandstand, Hamilton was presented his trophy by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. Mercedes, being represented by Engineering Director Aldo Costa, were handed over their trophy as winning constructor by Gulf Air Acting CEO Maher Al Musallam. Rosberg was awarded by Minister of Transportation HE Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, while Perez was presented his prize by Bahrain Motor Federation President HE Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa. “It’s great to see that we have such a great following here,” Hamilton said after the podium presentation. “I am so grateful to the team for getting us up here. This is my first win in Bahrain, which is nice.” Mercedes’ dominance was never more clear than when Hamilton and Rosberg built a huge gap in front of the rest of the field after only the second safety car period ever
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in Bahrain. With 10 laps to go and the safety car coming in, the Mercedes pair charged ahead and created a lead that was nearly as long as BIC’s main straight in just a single lap. The two teammates were then engaged in a breath-taking duel that could have gone either way, but in the end it was Hamilton who claimed the win. Perez crossed the finish line a whole 24.067 seconds behind. “It was really exciting,” Hamilton described. “Nico drove fantastically well, it was hard to keep him behind me. I was on a real knife-edge at the end but just managed to take it.” Rosberg, who started from pole position but then gave up the lead to his teammate at the first turn, commented: “I strongly dislike coming second to Lewis, I have to say that, but it was definitely the most exciting race I have ever raced in my whole career. “I think today was a day for the sport, we put on a fantastic show and I will be back to win here next season.” With today’s result, Mercedes have made it clear that they are currently in a class of their own after winning their third successive race, with Hamilton claiming a back-to-back. The Grand Prix was nearly marred by a massive accident on lap 41, when Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez was T-boned by Lotus talent Pastor Maldonado, causing Gutierrez to spin upside down, bounce off the tarmac once and then land the right way up. Gutierrez was clearly shaken but by the huge crash but was able to step out of the severely damaged car. Maldonado was eventually given a 10-second stop/go penalty. Several other exciting battles were enjoyed by the fans behind the leading trio. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was able to overtake Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg late on to finish fourth overall, while teammate and two-time defending Bahrain Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel finished an impressive sixth despite a horrendous qualifying on Saturday. The Williams pair of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas rounded out the top eight. It was an unfortunate finish for the tandem, who had been battling for third place for 68
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much of the race before the entry of the safety car. Ferrari’s superstar tandem of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen were in ninth and 10th, respectively, coming away with the final points. Ranked 11th through 17th on the final classification were Daniil Kvyat of Toro Rosso, Romain Grosjean of Lotus, Max Chilton of Marussia, Pastor Maldonado of Lotus, Kamui Kobayashi of Caterham, Jules Bianchi of Marussia, and Jenson Button of McLaren. Retiring from the Grand Prix were McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen, Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez, Caterham’s Marcus Ericsson, Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne and Sauber’s Adrian Sutil.
Out & About
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Global Citizens Day celebrated by St. Christopher’s School A colourful day of festivities was celebrated at St. Christopher’s school as they celebrated Global Citizen’s Day. Stalls representing different countries were put up by students from all walks of life along with a costume parade. Parents, teachers and students were invited to visit and enjoy the event.
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Press conference with Craig David at Elite Crystal Hotel A question and answer session as welll as a meet and greet was held for superstar artist Craig David prior to his performance at Klub 360 at the Elite Crystal Hotel, Juffair. It was attended by various members of the members of the media and members of the hotel staff.
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in the dark
Craig David performs his DJ set TS 5 at Klub 360, Elite Crystal Hotel
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In the dark
Upside Down pre-F1 party at Bushido
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F1 party at the Ritz Carlton, Bahrain Hotel and Spa with official Redbull Racing DJ, DJ Erok
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In the dark
F1 Hed Kandi party at Coral Bay, Bahrain
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in the press
Arabian Nights Private Animania Bahrain makes Bell Racing Helmets Collection will relocate its global its return! Only the most demanding seek to improve on This 16th of May 2014 March will witness manufacturing and R&D perfection. the return of Bahrain’s biggest Animation Arabian Nights, two luxury perfumes video games convention, Animania operations to the Bahrain which pay homage to Arabic culture. Arabian and Bahrain 2014. The Bahrain International Circuit today announced that Bell Racing Helmets will relocate its global research and development and manufacturing operations to the Sakhir circuit complex. A new high-tech facility will be built within the BIC’s existing grounds, as part of a wider new development plan which aims to attract major motorsport related businesses to the “Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”. The BIC has earmarked a total of 1 million sqm of land which it will dedicate to such projects. Bell is a global leader in the manufacturing of racing helmets, supplying many of the world’s leading drivers, from Formula 1 and karting to GT racing and Rallying. The move will create in excess of 100 new jobs in the Kingdom, together with existing staff relocating from premises in Belgium, Italy and China. The new facility is expected to start production in 2015.
Amouage OPUS VIII
Nights Private Collection is the sublimation of Arabian Nights into two proposals: A fragrance for men and a fragrance for women. For those who are passionate about perfume, about the extraordinary beauty of an exquisite and select aroma, a fragrance’s greatest raison d’être is the delight in a fine, elegant and sumptuous perfume. Arabian Nights Private Collection is a challenge to perfection. We do not content ourselves with two perfect fragrances, we seek the sublime. The creation of the two fragrances which form the Arabian Nights Private Collection required the selection of perfumers with a great sensitivity to conjugate the richest and most elegant components. We needed their firm commitment to reach the maximum delight in perfumery. The exhaustive work on the olfactive composition results in an admirable result. Rigorous attention has been paid to every small detail; great care has been taken over each small variation or proportion. Many months of demanding work have brought us two unique, exquisite and sublime fragrances.
INJAZ Bahrain students win$5,000as part of CocaCola’s regional Ripples of Happiness youth empowerment initiative
Amouage’s eighth volume in the Library Collection,Opus VIII, is an evocative exploration of the subconscious dialogue between illusion and reality. Paying meticulous attention to detail, Amouage Creative Director, Christopher Chong, masterfully composed the fragrance to linger amongst the parallels of truth and perception. Crafted with the perfume connoisseur in mind, irrespective of age or gender, the woody, floral fragrance comprises of the finest ingredients sourced from around the world. Jasmine Sambac from India serenely fuses with Ylang Ylang from the Comoros and Orange Flower from Morocco to reveal a golden aura in the top notes. Saffron, Ginger and Incense smoke in the contradictory heart conjures an abstract and intriguing profundity. A surreal wave of luxury passes through the structure of the fragrance with the dark intensity of Benzoin, Balsam, Bay and Vetiver. 76
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A team of 15 students from the University of Bahrain have been awarded $5,000 by The Coca-Cola Foundation for securing third place in the ‘Ripples of Happiness’ program. Selected from a wide variety of projects submitted by universities from across the region, the University of Bahrain’s submission, entitled “E-Cachra “was recognized for its environmental initiative to raise awareness and reduce electronic waste in the kingdom of Bahrain.
This year’s event will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit, and will feature a Gaming Hall dedicated to Bahrain and the GCC’s gaming community, it’ll be a place where gamers from all around the gulf region meet and discuss the latest in gaming scene. Prizes for this year’s tournaments are 1000BD to each of the first prize winners! The other side of the convention which is the Anime section will host cosplayers from all around the gulf region, everyone is invited to cosplay and show off how good they look dressed up as their favorite anime and games characters, original cosplays are also welcomed in the event, For those who are ultra-competitive about their cosplay, they can take the stage in front a panel of judges and compete to be Bahrain’s top cosplayer in 2014. Group skits are also welcomed on stage. We have big prizes for gaming tournaments presented by ESPORTS Middle East all the way from Dubai games: Call of duty ghosts and league of legends and 1000BD CASH will go to the first prize winners. Tickets for the convention are 5BD for normal tickets (6BD on the day of the event) and 15BD for VIP tickets (20BD on the day of the event) and are available Stick house Bahrain ( Seef mall, Riffa and Busaiteen) and in Geekay games in city centre www. facebook.com/AnimaniaBahrain any enquires can be made to the page admins and will be answered within a short space of time. You can also check ticket availability.
The Ripples of Happiness (ROH) program – now in its fourth year - is co-created and developed by the Coca-Cola Foundation and INJAZ Al-Arab. As part of the project, the University of Bahrain team planned their activity to coincide with the University’s National Day event held at its campus annually, to educate fellow students of the dangers of e-waste and raise awareness on the safe, alternate disposal methods.
in the press
Ebrahim K. Kanoo Organizes Customer Service Excellence Training
Ebrahim K. Kanoo held a Customer Service Excellence Training in collaboration with Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) for 17 customer service staff. The training aimed at enhancing the communication skills, self-confidence and teamwork spirit, to ensure offering the best service to the customers.
Batelco Wins eEconomy Award at Bahrain International eGovernment Forum
Manama, Bahrain: Batelco, the Kingdom’s leading telecommunications provider is delighted to have been presented with the eEconomy Award at Bahrain International eGovernment Forum, held April 21. The award recognizes Batelco’s role in developing the ICT infrastructure in Bahrain and contributing to the growth of Bahrain’s economy. Batelco Bahrain CEO Rashid Abdulla was present to receive the award from Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communications Technology, Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.
The Customer Service Excellence Training was held in coordination with BIBF for two days during March 2014. It covered different topics including experiential training and role-plays that simulate the current work environment. The training was designed to upgrade service quality in the industry through creative training.
Ebrahim K. Kanoo Participates at Career Day
Bahrain, March 2014 – Ebrahim K. Kanoo participated at University of Bahrain Career Day 2014 under the patronage of Dr. Ebrahim Mohammed Ahmed Janahi, Chairman of the University of Bahrain. This event was aimed at educating Bahraini students on the various careers available as well as offering unique opportunities. Mr. Talal Kanoo, Director of Corporate Services and Board Member at Ebrahim K. Kanoo commented: “Creating a talent pool of Bahrainis, who are the future leaders of the country, is at the heart of Ebrahim K. Kanoo’s strategy. This is reflected in our successful localization strategy which focuses on attracting, training and retaining talented Bahrainis.”
Bahrain City Centre celebrated the Formula One season
As the 2014 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix paved its way to the Kingdom, Bahrain City Centre celebrated the racing season with exhilarating competitions. “Bahrain City Centre has always played a vital role in promoting national events such as the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, which demonstrates our support to the tourism aspirations of the Kingdom,” said Duaij Khalifa Al Rumaihi, Senior Mall Manager for Bahrain City Centre. “Our
sports-themed campaign aims to engage the community and set the mood for thisinternational sporting event.” The two-day Speed Shopping Challenge made shopping so much fun like never before when 40 participants of different nationalities hit the Carrefour shelves and raced against time to win a trophy, by collecting a trolley full of goods to win coveted F1 tickets with Carrefour gift vouchers worth up to BD 800. The winning pair collected 16 items in 10 minutes. MAY 2014
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in the press
Earth Day at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa
Sofitel Bahrain, in support of the global initiative to increase awareness of environmental issues including depleting natural resources and global warming this evening participated in Earth Hour. Throughout the hotel, all restaurants in addition to the hotel’s lobby lounge were lit by candle light, following a unique extended performance of the Sofitel “Candle Ritual.” The ritual itself, performed nightly in the
hotel’s lobby lounge, is a part of the Sofitel Link, linking Sofitel’s around the world with France and the French Traditions. The Candle Ritual sees it’s roots in the city of Paris, the first city in the world to be illuminated at night. The hotel was pleased to participate in Earth Hour, as a part of it’s commitment to the environment and community and to increase awareness of the environmental issues faced globally in 2014.
Gulf Hotel – Bahrain Dar Naseem Alandalos appoints Zaher Kassir Participates In A as a director of Business Charity Fashion Show Development and Strategy
In London
The Gulf Hotel Bahrain added a new member to the executive management team, as the hotel appointed Mr. Zaher Kassir as a Director of Business Development and Strategy, where he will be working under the direct supervision of the Gulf Hotel’s General Manager. Kassir holds a Master degree in hotel management from the College of Commerce in Paris and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing. Also he has a professional experience extending to 15 years, as he held several management positions in five-star hotels as a group’s director of business development, as well a director of Sales and Marketing Department and a lot of other management positions in different hotels in many countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Libya and Tunisia. 78
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Dar Naseem AlAndalos, one of the Arab region’s leading brands for luxurious Moroccan caftans, was selected to participate in an exclusive charity fashion show in The Bvlgari Hotel, London. As the sole Bahraini designers to take part, the brand showcased their Haute Couture 2013 collection. The benevolent designers, Hayaa Al Fadhel and Nabila Al Aissaoui, donated one of their one-of-a-kind caftans to be auctioned to raise money for The Human Appeal Auction Winter Campaign for Syria and Gaza. The charity’s initiative is to provide medicine, food, and shelter to the most needy in Syria and Gaza. The collection was inspired by the designers’ modern interpretation of an Andalusian princess, while touching upon the area’s heritage. The vibrant colors, rich patterns and embroideries are reminiscent of the geometrical architectural palaces of Spain. While the influence of traditional Moroccan caftans is evident in the designs, they are also contemporary through the sleeker silhouettes, and unconventional fabrics such as pure silk chiffons, various French laces, and printed metallic brocades.
Holiday Inn Express Bahrain wins prestigious award
Holiday Inn Express Bahrain won the best franchise hotel for quality and excellence in the Asia, Middle East and Africa region (AMEA) during InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) AMEA 2014 Leaders’ Meeting held in Singapore in March. General Manager of Holiday Inn Express Bahrain, Luca de Stefano, received the award during the event. “Our team was very proud to receive this excellence award. We have worked hard to ensure great quality of service is being given to all guests that stay at Holiday Inn Express Bahrain and we will continue to be one of the best choices of hotels in Bahrain, especially for GCC travelers,” said Luca de Stefano, General Manager of Holiday Inn Express Bahrain.
in the press
Oman Air Celebrates 10 Years Of Operations From Bahrain International Airport
Claire’s To “Roar” With Katy Perry
Oman Air celebrated 10 years of operations in a ceremony with the Oman Ambassador, BAC Officials, Top Travel Agents, Members of Press & Media, Leading Magazines and Oman Air Team at their office in Manama.
New Luxury Watch Concept Opens at Seef Mall
Behbehani Brothers are introducing a new, unprecedented store concept for luxury watches, inaugurated at Seef Mall this week. The newly launched House of Time opened its first branch with their ‘shop within a shop’ concept, referring to a selection of the finest luxury watches to be on offer in smaller, specialised shops under
the House of Time umbrella. Building on their experience of more than 40 years in the jewellery and watch trade through Bahrain Jewellery Centre, Behbehani Brothers have identified the need for a specialised store concept to represent the finest luxury watches from around the world under one roof.
Claire’s Inc. announced the “Katy Perry PRISM Collection,” an assortment of jewelry and fashion accessories designed in collaboration with Perry. The collection is exclusive to Claire’s and will debut to coincide with the start of Perry’s PRISMATIC WORLD TOUR in May 2014 and her latest album PRISM. Included in the exclusive “Katy Perry PRISM Collection” will be limited edition items, seasonal novelty pieces, collectables and product inspired by the lyrics and titles of Perry’s greatest hits. Regular updates in the Katy Perry Collection will keep the assortment fresh MAY 2014
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last note
HOW TO LOOK COOL THIS SUMMER
A
s we enter into the blistering heat of summer of Bahrain, it’s getting harder and harder to keep ourselves looking cool and less like a hot, sweaty mess. Summer beauty should be easy and effortless–you don’t want to expend a lot of time or energy on your get-ready routine, but you still want to look good. With that in mind, we mined the depths of our beauty knowledge to dig up the best hair, skin and makeup tips that take a minute or less to do. Read on for our favorite tips, and can spend less time primping and more time enjoying those lazy summer days. Healthy Summer Hair l If you are plagued by little bits of frizzy hair along your hairline, mist a toothbrush with hairspray and sweep those pesky hairs into place. This will make them behave even in the most humid environments. l For soft, natural waves, wash hair before bedtime, then apply leave-in conditioner and braid your hair. You’ll wake up to soft
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and shiny waves. l Turn a bad hair day into a fabulous hair day by using a colorful silk scarf as a headband. Fold it so it’s about two-inches wide. After you tie it behind the nape of your neck, use some bobby pins to anchor it in place. l If your roots have a meltdown in the middle of the day, soak up excess oil with the same kind of blotting papers you use on your face. Heat-Proof Makeup l For a sexy lip look that won’t melt off, apply three coats of a rich, deep berry lipstick. Leave it on for five minutes, then wipe off with a tissue until only a wash of color remains. l Get a naturally sun-kissed look by applying bronzer to your entire face and a rosy blush just on the apples of your cheeks. Your cheeks naturally get a flush when your face is tan, so don’t forget this step. l Give your eyeliner extra staying power and definition by layering a matching
powder eye shadow over it. l If your mascara has moved south and is giving you the notorious raccoon look, don’t panic. Simply wipe a clean cotton swab over the migrated mascara, then pat a bit of concealer under the eyes. Voila, no more smudges! Sumptious Skin l Make large pores look smaller by submerging a clean hand towel into hot (not boiling) water, drape it over your face for 30 seconds, remove and splash cold water all over. l Place cold tea bags or cucumber slices over your eyes to hydrate the skin and reduce facial swelling. l Minimize a zit by dabbing creamy toothpaste on it at bedtime. The tingly paste will minimize redness and swelling, resulting in a less noticeable blemish in just 8 hours. l Use an exfoliator with glycolic or salicylic acid to remove dulling dead skin cells. Follow up with moisturizer and your skin will positively glow!
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SUPERFAST A MINDSET SUPERFAST CHRONO A unique Chopard manufacture openworked movement
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