Friday, September 30, 2011

Official Video for Adele's 'Someone Like You'

The lip syncing is a bit lazy but the simplicity of the video is great in my opinion. Although I think the video should have been shot in London instead of Paris since Adele is very patriotic about her hometown!


Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Contemporary Art Platform Kuwait Launch Event

I went to the CAP launch event this evening with some friends. I thought it would be an interesting alternative to the usual coffee shop/restaurant outing.

This was CAP's first exhibition, drawing from the archives of local collectors and exploring themes of 'icon' as well as 'self and society in the modern Arab world'.

Following the reception, during which you were free to mingle and observe the different artwork, was a panel discussion. One of the speakers (also a curator), Isabella Hughes, made an interesting point about Arab artists /art. The market seems to be stuck on a cliche of Arab artwork that draws upon issues of heritage and culture, forcing Arab artists to create artwork that is confined to one particular genre.

Overall, it's a different and fresh approach (in Kuwait) to providing public access to contemporary art from around the world.

While walking around the exhibition I managed to take a few pictures of the pieces I found most appealing.

A Moment Right Before The Holocaust -Ghadah AlKandari




Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Megan Fox Was In Abu Dhabi And I Had No Idea :(

I wouldn't connect Megan Fox and LG together. I had no idea she was endorsing their products. I wish she'd come to Kuwait. 


View Of The Earth At Night From The International Space Station


A time lapse from the International Space Station as it orbits the Earth at night - from the Pacific Ocean, through North and South America and finally, Antarctica. It passes through Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, LA, Phoenix, lightning in the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, Columbia, Ecuador and much more! 

Friday, September 23, 2011

A Visit to Porsche

I must admit, I have a soft spot for Porches, especially blood-red Carreras (all types). I'm a big fan of the cars in general, except for a few choice models i.e. Cayman, Boxter and Panamera. The Panamera in particular reminds me of a hatchback. I visited the Porsche dealership the other day and what was awaiting me just behind the main entrance?







I usually find that red cheapens the look of the car but that couldn't be further from the truth with the Carrera GTS. I'm not a car fanatic, but I do know what I like. And I really like. Some of the cars in there (the 911 possibly) ran over KD 60,000 and another somewhere in the KD 30,000 range. I remember the Boxter in particular being decently priced around KD 14-15,000 (decently priced in comparison).

I got inside the Cayenne S (below) and I loved it! I believe they start somewhere along the lines of KD 20,000.


There were a lot of these around as well (unfortunately):


Cafe Porsche (it wasn't called that) wasn't as nice as Cafe Mercedes:


Monday, September 19, 2011

A Trip to Your Local Co-op


You start with coffee.

Then you go to the chocolate.

Then you buy a frog (KD 1.000)

And end the night with some terrapins (turtles that live in fresh water - KD 1.100)

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Starbucks' Ads: Say Hello to Your White Chocolate Mocha

Starbucks has a new advertisement on display in their coffee shops for their white chocolate mocha. It might be because I'm already a fan of the drink, but I quite like the ad. My friend pointed out that the cup looks photo-shopped and if you look closer you can kind of tell. I'm a bit confused with the copy because it sounds like they're trying to brand a new drink they've just created, but in reality the white chocolate mocha is already a very popular drink in Kuwait, and has been for quite some time.

Maybe it's because I'm ready for cooler weather, (I think after this scorching summer most of us are) and this ad gives off an autumn vibe, but for whatever reason I think it works! In fact, I usually order my white chocolate mocha without whipped cream, but now I think I'll try it with whipped cream! Yes, I'm aware that I'm shamelessly being sold something that doesn't really taste like coffee and yes I am ready to fall for it. After all, it's something special made just for  me. :)




in Arabic too

Saturday, September 17, 2011

News Anchor Mocks Kardashians [Awkward]


"Can they still hear us?"
Awkward!

Soul & Spice at The Courtyard Marriott


I tried a new restaurant at the Courtyard Marriott this evening - 'Soul and Spice', a contemporary Indian restaurant which only recently opened in Kuwait last April. I don't know how popular it is since talk of its opening hasn't really been spreading, and judging by the fact that there wasn't anyone in there except for myself and a friend, it must not be too popular...yet?

In terms of its location, I actually like it. I prefer nice and quiet restaurants where it's not too crowded, otherwise your night out ends up being one big staring competition. I don't even mind when there's no one in the restaurant either, although some people are against that idea. 

The meal began with complimentary starters from the chef - the Aloo Wanda. It's basically a potato starter served with strawberry and tamarind sauce (below).


You have to be careful with Indian cuisine because taste can often be overshadowed by the amount of spices that goes into the food. In the case of the Aloo Wanda, it was the opposite. I actually found it to be quite bland and preferred to dip it in the apple chutney rather than the strawberry and tamarind sauce. Which brings me to...the apple chutney (below). It was my favorite part of the meal and it came with two other dips (beetroot and mango chutney) along with the dried bread. I loved the sweet and salty combination so much that I actually ordered another round before continuing with the main meal. 

apple, beetroot and mango chutney
As for the main course, I ordered the 'Dahi Aloo Gobi' or baby potatoes filled with dried nuts, grilled in tandoor and finished in yoghurt based gravy with cauliflower. My friend ordered the 'Jhinga Bhuna' which was a shrimp masala. Overall I thought it was quite good but very heavy, and so if I were to eat it again, it would be for lunch rather than dinner. When we were done, we were served buttermilk for digestion. We ended up spending KD 13.340 which wasn't bad at all. 



Soul and Spice is located on level 2 of the Courtyard Marriott. 

Thursday, September 15, 2011

A Visit to Mercedes-Benz

I was at the Mercedes-Benz dealership the other night and it was actually my first visit. Sometimes in Kuwait you have to be a little creative with your outings, and that's something I realized when I saw people at the dealership who were basically 'window shopping' for cars. It's quite fun actually because some of the cars on display were unlocked and people were free to get in and try them out. If you have enough free time on your hands and you're good at negotiating, you could even get the dealer to let you take one of the cars out for a test-drive. And if you're super free and want to devote your whole night to cars, there are a lot of other dealerships nearby for you to visit.


Mercedes S 350

It was also the first time I'd seen the Mercedes Limousine.

E 350 Limousine

More importantly, the price tag of the Mercedes Limousine...

KD 47,390

And after you're done moving some money around in your Swiss bank account you can relax at the Cafe Mercedes (below).


Not a bad way to spend an evening!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Escaping Sheraton Traffic

Part of the Jahra Road Development Project has finally opened up! The bridge near the Jahra Roundabout (Sheraton) is open and it's about time! With all the construction that takes place in Kuwait, I think the majority of the population has just gotten used to the (temporary) inconveniences that come along with it. It was actually a bit exciting to have seen some progress.

The entire project will have taken five years to complete and it's actually the biggest of its kind in Kuwait. The starting point was September 2010, which means another four years to go. The main goal is to transform the 3 lane Jahra road into one highway and the estimated cost of the entire project is over KD 250 million!

More information can be found at the project's website.



Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Kuwait - September 2011


When you tell people that you're from Kuwait, and they respond 'do you live in tents?' just show them this. 

What Were They Thinking? [Maki]

I had lunch at Maki yesterday at Marina Waves. At one point it was the biggest name in Japanese cuisine in Kuwait. Now it stands for mayonnaise. Don't be fooled if anywhere on the menu you read something along the lines of 'secret sauce' or 'special sauce'. It's just mayonnaise.

Moving on...

Maki at Marina Waves (I'm not sure about the one in the Avenues) now uses iPads as a menu. It's pretty recent, because when I had visited them in June/July it was only the waiters that were using them to take your order. Now you get to scroll through all the different sashimis, makis, sushis etc. on an iPad and there's a picture for each item. I like  visual aids when it comes to menus, because it's nice to know what your food might look like. But the iPad menu just didn't do it for me. It's not that I'm technologically challenged - there was just so much to scroll through and so many different albums to sort through that I got confused. Also, it would be pretty confusing for elderly customers who don't know how to use an iPad. (See below)


While I was trying to figure out what to order, I stumbled upon a new dish that they now serve for the price of 7 KD...(see below)


Yes, a 'Black Angus Burger Maki' with potato chips on the side. Oh, and it's trademarked by the way, so it sucks if you're a sushi chef and you thought of this too!

What were they thinking?

On another note, I did go to Ricardo at the Sheraton for dinner that same evening. Great food, great dining experience, but most of all - great menu.





There's a flashlight attached to it because they keep it somewhat dark in the restaurant. I had the veal cutlets in the mushroom cream sauce (12 KD) and it was worth it! Melts in your mouth and everything. They also have live music which is rare in Kuwait, so it's a pretty nice touch. 

Monday, September 12, 2011

Paper.li: A Daily Newspaper Created By Twitter

I was just mentioned by someone on twitter who I don't know, haven't heard of, and don't follow. I just saw the '@mention' with my name and a few other people who I don't know or follow either. I click on the link next to my name and I'm taken to what looks like an online newspaper. Then I do some google research to find out what just happened.

I realize that I've just discovered paper.li, a free tool that you sign up for using your twitter account login details. Paper.li takes links that are tweeted by people you follow on twitter, and organizes them into a virtual newspaper to allow for easier reading. It uses what the company says are 'semantic text analysis tools' to verify whether or not the stories are relevant. It then displays the links in automatically created sections based on their context. Newspapers can be created for any twitter user, list or hashtag.

Every 24 hours the newspaper is updated, although you have an option to create morning and evening editions. The features allow you to view the content by 'topic' or 'media'. It basically gives you the chance to catch up on what you might have missed while you were away from the computer or offline.

I don't see how this service allows you to interact with others, as is the case with social media tools like twitter or facebook. You don't even choose what to put in your newspaper either. It caters more to the fact that you're not always going to be online and you might have missed some stuff on twitter. You can take a glance at most of the stories that people you follow on twitter are linking to and tweeting about. You don't even have to click on each link either, because Paper.li automatically creates a title, summary and even an image if it's available.

This is an example of what the virtual newspaper could look like (you choose your own title). You can find out some more stuff by going to their website as well as their blog.


KTV 1 Logo Change

Below is a KTV 1 color program from 1960 about Kuwait. Notice the logo (bottom right).


Interestingly enough, you'll notice that the KTV 1 logo has only recently been changed. Even the segment they play during prayers is completely different now. 



For 50 years the look had remained the same - until now. I prefer the old version more, especially the prayer segment. It seems as if they're trying very hard to modernize it, but in my opinion, it's just not working. Sometimes change isn't always the best thing. 

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Reading Architecture: A British Autobiography

An article in The Guardian by Jonathan Glancey provides an interesting look into British architecture and how to 'read' it. I quoted a part of the article below because I think it best sums up the idea behind urban communication and how you can interpret architecture as a language.

"...the buildings surrounding you can truly take the place of text. One day, you won't need a guide to help you listen to the story of architecture. You'll have become fluent in a language at once as old as the pyramids and as contemporary as a swooping design by Zaha Hadid."

It would be interesting to take a similar approach to Kuwaiti architecture!

You can read the article here

Selling the Gulf War (PR Perspectives)

During the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the Kuwaiti government enlisted the help of a global PR firm, Hill & Knowlton, who masterminded a campaign that 'sold the war' to America in the efforts of freeing Kuwait. Below is a two part special, entitled 'To Sell A War: Gulf War Propaganda', which aired on CBC in December 1992.  







Another interesting video is a special edition of the Al-Jazeera Listening Post, which also looks at the role of the media in selling the 1990 Gulf War, as well as the US's attempt at controlling wartime narrative.


Alternatively, you can watch the Listening Post here.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

The Iron Lady and Pan Am

I've always been interested in Margaret Thatcher. I find her title as 'The Iron Lady' far more impressive than being the first female prime minster of the UK (although that in itself is remarkable). I remember reading an infamous quote of hers, during a conversation she had with former president of the USA, George Bush Sr.. He was hesitant about getting involved with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, to which Thatcher, who viewed the invasion as a clear act of tyranny responded, "this is no time to get wobbly!" Clear. Precise. Direct. British. And now, Meryl Streep is starring in a biopic of Margaret Thatcher, entitled 'The Iron Lady' coming out in 2012. Here's the official trailer below. I can't wait.



I'm also excited for a new series premiering sometime within the next few weeks - Pan Am. Starring Christina Ricci, the series will focus on the glamorous lives of the pilots and flight attendants of Pan American World Airways in the 1960s. I'm immediately reminded of 'Mad Men', if only because of the fact that it's also a period drama set in the 1960s. Below is the official trailer.




Friday, September 9, 2011

Kuwait Metro (in light of the Dubai Metro)

News of today's inauguration of the green line of the Dubai Metro are all over the different UAE channels. The launch of the green line, the second part of Dubai's metro system, made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest automated system in the world.

(Dubai Metro's Green Line - image from gulfnews.com)

The shots of Dubai's underground got me thinking about Kuwait's metro plan. I hope it doesn't become one of the projects Kuwait aspires to undertake, but never actually gets around to beginning. Maybe since Dubai is progressing with their underground, Kuwait will start catching up (some inter-urban competition)? However, I'm somewhat optimistic if only because there's an actual map of the proposed metro system (at least it's something).


This is apparently the updated design for Kuwait's metro plan, off of re:kuwait's blog. It could very well remedy the abnormal traffic that's been plaguing Kuwait for quite some time now. Interestingly enough, Dubai's metro will have 'women only' cars as well as VIP sections for those willing to pay the extra fare. I wonder if Kuwait will plan the same. You'd never see anything like this in the London underground!

The Early Bird at Jabriya

I had breakfast at the Early Bird in Jabriya today. I'd only ever eaten there once before and have never been to the other branch.

I have to say the food is over-hyped. My first time there, I remember ordering the biscuits and sausage gravy. Today I opted for their pancakes without fruit toppings, which came with a side order of hash browns as well as a slice of banana bread.

I was looking forward to the pancakes, but unfortunately, I was disappointed. Maybe it's because I had already tried the pancakes at Dean & Deluca, but I didn't really enjoy the ones I had at Early Bird. They were huge, dry (on the inside) and a bit salty I'm surprised to say - even after a heavy dose of maple syrup. And it's not as if the rest of the food tasted bad, it's just that I've had better.



If I had to choose one word to describe the overall dining experience, it would be 'difficult'. Only because the entire restaurant is tiny, the tables are cramped together (inside and outside) and I felt like I couldn't have a proper conversation without being overheard by everyone.


Cigarettes to Those Below 21


There's a 'No' on the sign apparently, but you can't even see it.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Rebirth of Downtown Beirut

While this blog is an attempt to chronicle day to day encounters in Kuwait, I just might have to highlight issues taking place in other cities as well. Particularly when those issues revolve around architecture and city branding (personal interests).

Below is a link to a video about Beirut's city center, posted on the international edition of CNN online, and although it's a month old I still think it's pretty relevant considering the continuous urban development taking place in the Middle East (Kuwait most definitely included). Overall, the key issues it highlights as taking place in Lebanon can also be seen in Kuwait and the rest of the Gulf, where investments in massive development projects are used to promote positive urban imagery.

What interests me is how city planners and developers in Lebanon are using the 'rebirth' of downtown Beirut as a medium to signify that the country is definitely bouncing back despite any existing political/social turmoil. Interestingly enough, city leaders and developers often use the city image to mask the political and social conflicts taking place, whatever they may be. At minute 1:39 in the video, a large banner can be seen quoting the financial times with "Beirut is Back : visitors are flocking again to Lebanon".

In some ways, large-scale developments that are sprawling across the Middle East and signifying financial prosperity might actually be pointing to deficits taking place on other levels (i.e. social, cultural, political).

http://www.edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2011/08/01/future.cities.beirut.reborn.cnn?iref=allsearch

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Who's Watching 'Suits'?

I'm currently hooked on Suits! It's a new series, which is good considering the fact that shows like Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy (I'm assuming) are coming to an end. Also, I finished Mad Men and season 5 doesn't start until 2012.

I'm very particular when it comes to my series. I've tried a lot, but since Mad Men, I haven't found the right one. This is where 'Suits' comes in. It's about Mike Ross, a brilliant drop-out who has photographic memory and an incredible wealth of knowledge, especially in the field of law. The series begins with him on the run from a drug-deal gone bad, until he finds himself a job in a top law-firm because he manages to meet and impress a senior associate, Harvey Specter.

What I also like about the series is that none of the main characters are played by very famous actors which really gives it a fresh feel.

Here's a trailer for the first season:



I hope it doesn't get canceled.


Delicious (formerly del.icio.us)

I just discovered Delicious (formerly Del.icio.us) and it's a great way to organize web bookmarks. Sometimes social media tools and the speed at which they develop can make you feel like you've been living under a rock! (At least I feel that way sometimes!) 


Formerly owned by Yahoo! who then sold it to AVOS Systems in April of this year.


Add me to your network (username: TheFlaneur)


link: http://www.delicious.com/

Wataniya Bus Ad for the Bold 9900

I spotted this Wataniya ad on a bus this afternoon for the new BlackBerry Bold. I thought the copy was a little weak, or at least the choice of what to include in the copy:

"The Thinnest BlackBerry Smartphone"

Wataniya/BlackBerry might have wanted to focus on this particular quality. In any case I believe they could have done better.




Again, it's on a bus, so naturally they'd need something direct, but the new bold does have other features that are a lot more interesting than its size. And let's face it, almost all of the latest models are pretty thin too. In my opinion, if it fits easily in your pocket, then it's thin enough (unless BlackBerry is thinking of going Macbook Air thin, then that's another story).

I found this article that details some of the technical improvements in the bold 9900, which is a significant upgrade from BlackBerry 6 based smartphones.

link: http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/technology/gadgets/blackberry-makes-a-bold-statement-1.1132749

For Those Stay At Home Days.

I love most things French. The language, the country, the culture and the history. I'm also a huge fan of French cinema, and right now my top French films are:

Bon Voyage (2003)

Directed by academy award winning director, Jean-Paul Rappenau, the film takes place in 1940 in Paris. It tells the story of several people (an actress, politician, scientist and a writer) whose lives intertwine as they flee the Nazi take-over.



La Vie En Rose (2007)

Two-time academy award winning film and the winner of 4 BAFTA awards, La Vie En Rose chronicles the life of the legendary French singer, Edith Piaf. It stars Marion Cotillard who won both the Oscar and BAFTA awards for best actress.





Kuwait's Rank in East-West Communications Index

East-West Communications is a nation branding index that ranks countries based on how they're described in major media. Countries are ranked on a 'perception score' and Kuwait places at #14 for the second quarter of 2011. It outranks other countries like Monaco, Spain, Finland and the United States. For the 2010 annual ranking, Kuwait placed 3rd.

The purpose of these rankings is to help nations highlight their strengths and weaknesses from a communications standpoint, in order to better address their branding and identity problems.

Here's a link to East-West Comm.'s website: http://eastwestcoms.com/global.htm

Kuwait's Online Realtor

I'm not sure how many people are aware of this company, but I only recently discovered them (they've been around since 2009). To my knowledge they're basically an online realtor, with up to date listings on properties available to rent or for sale all over Kuwait. It's actually a pretty great idea that the pessimist in us probably wouldn't have thought existed in Kuwait! They also provide pictures of the available properties - those are always fun to browse through!

link: http://www.q8residence.com

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Fail

Mr. Farah...(it was a guy who made the order, and none of us are named Farah).





Snooki On Letterman (February 2011).


You know how Snooki looks like a grenade on Jersey Shore? Here she is on David Letterman last February. She looks…not so bad?

A Trip To Sultan Center.

It’s been awhile since I last visited Sultan Center and I did find some cool stuff including funky colored and sombrero shaped pasta! I even noticed that Sultan Center had their own line of products, which is something I was familiar with in UK grocers like Tesco and Waitrose. I never knew they did that here too!

What stood out were the health posters they had tacked along the different parts of the fruits section. They offer nutritional advice and health tips for most of the different produce they offer. I’m not sure how long Sultan Center’s been doing that, but it was definitely the first time I’d seen anything like it. It’d be great if they could apply that throughout the store, although I’m not sure if that’s actually feasible.








Things I'd Like to Have Again and Again...


Dean & Deluca Pancakes