Sunsets over the City

Summer Tunes

One issue with being in Kuwait is our inability to keep up with the music scene in the UK and the US. Obviously we get the privilege of listening to 'Linda's Corner' on the way to work in the morning. The benefit of this is that I can be constantly updated with what's happening in the world of Justin Bieber whilst also listening to every Nicki Minaj song at least 5 times an hour, what a treat!!! 


Over the past few months we have come across some artists and songs which are new to us, but have obviously been very popular at home. I thought I would share them on here so you can look into this great music.


Enjoy!

Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up 

The Ben Howard album is absolutely incredible!

The Temper Trap - Rabbit Hole

These next two songs are from the film 'Drive' with Ryan Gosling. The film is brilliant and the soundtrack even better.

College - A Real Hero

Desire - Under Your Spell

Steaks and Sweets

This weekend my vanity overcame my reluctance to spend excessive amounts money on beauty treatments, I called and booked into Toni and Guy for a much needed good quality haircut.  Overall it was a great experience, the salon was welcoming and the attention to detail from my stylist was more than I expected.

What I had not expected was the horrendous parking situation outside the Corniche Club and The Swimming Pool Complex.  Before my appointment we drove around for over 15 minutes trying to secure a space with no luck.  Andy decided to drop me off and head out, and after spending nearly two hours waiting for me in the car we decided we needed a little adventure.  We made quick detour and headed in the direction of the new shopping mall Al Hamra, in the heart of Kuwait City.  The detour was well worth it, we thoroughly enjoyed some Kuwait City exploration.

Our first impression of Al Hamra was clean, empty and not The Avenues.  There were few shops and restaurants open, we immediately recognized Le Relais de L'Entrecote, a French steak and chips bistro that we had frequented in Doha, Qatar.  We were pleasantly surprised to see it here and even more surprised to hear it is the third location for the restaurant here in Kuwait.   You can find their first location in Al Fanar and their second will reopen with phase 3 of The Avenues.

For a first time diner it may come as a surprise that there is no menu here, all that is served is a modest side salad, then steak and chips with a delectable 'secret' sauce.  They served New Zealand beef that was cooked perfectly to order, we both enjoyed it medium rare.  The chips were light and crisp accented beautifully by their sauce, imported directly from France.

While we dined, it felt as though we could have been in Paris, as glamourous individuals sauntered by in sky high heels.  Besides the beautiful people, we were in view of the stunning enormous video screen, probably more suited to Times Square but still hard to take your eyes away from it.

Our meal ended with an offering of many splendid deserts, but we gave them a miss this time and we were so glad we did, as our next stop in Al Hamra proved to be more fruitful.  Just a few steps away we found the new, unique boutique 21 Carrots.  We were greeted by chic male attendants dressed in pristine white suits, which were a perfect complement to the shops fantastic decor.

The concept is sweets meets fashion, while primarily a catering business 21 Carrots is aiming to offer an experience like none other found in Kuwait.  We were welcomed and showered with tastings of sweets, we enjoyed espresso and carrot cake while Tarek enlightened us with the ideas behind the company.  Besides offering delicious sweets their aim is to inject some additional flair into the fashion culture of Kuwait.  They are currently featuring the designs of Indonesian, Biyan Wanaatmadia.  His garments are distinct creations, sure to be snapped up by the fashionistas of Kuwait.  

We of course were drawn to the sweets, one of their signature candies was the Mount Rock.  We tasted Mont Blanc: white chocolate, almonds, pistachio and cardamon and Fuji: dark chocolate, almond, orange and cinnamon, both were stunning, a treat we will be sure to indulge in again.

As you can see we had a productive evening in Al Hamra mall, and we will be sure to continue to check in to see how it is growing.  We are anxiously waiting for the opening of the new 9 screen cinema, including a new IMAX theatre.  Be sure to check it out, we would love to hear your thoughts!

-Viv

TFK: The Fragrance Kitchen

A unique and intimate experience!

Location: Al Hamra Mall

As you walk into TFK you feel as if you could be anywhere in the world! Initially your eyes will be drawn to the spectacular wooden wall which really stands out in the dim lighting of the shop. This wall display is made of 200 pieces of laser cut wood designed to imitate the shape of smoke. It fits in with the ‘Theme of the Month’ which is currently Kuwait. Once you have adjusted to the calm beauty of the space the aroma of the fragrance will take over your senses!

The atmosphere is classy, but not pretentious and this is backed up by the assistance you will receive from one of the shop ‘Brand Ambassadors’. Our assistant was Marlon who was knowledgeable, personable and more than willing to answer any questions about this exciting new concept.

TFK, The Fragrance Kitchen, is the latest chapter in the ongoing retail legend that began in 2005 by Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah.  The Kuwaiti based fragrance house was borne of childhood memories and sensory memories that became associated with his beloved grandmother.  Fragrance can be a translation of  memories  and Sheikh Majed has skillfully  combined  both  via the use  of Oud, Taif Rose, and burning Agarwood which were used frequently by his cherished grandmother.  

TFK is the culmination of a dream to create the “perfect” or dream perfume for each individual.  Sheikh Majed has long been associated with the ultimate in luxury having been a member of the international fashion community for over 2 decades.  Today, he offers you the chance to become memorable in your own individualized way.  Long after you leave the room, your scent lingers. 

In terms of fragrance Marlon showed us the full complement of what the shop had to offer. We started with the ‘Exclusive range’ and were delighted with the clean, fresh and unique scents that we were introduced to. You should check out their website for the full range but I must say that I was immediately won over by “Son of a Rose”.  A day later and it still smells awesome! 

The fragrance of the month was “Kuwait” designed by Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah. It had a fantastic scent and was a great representation of the country.

Next we checked out the ‘Signature range’ and were equally pleased with what we found. Again you really must visit the store to experience these.

Whilst in the store many people entered and all were welcomed with warmth and enthusiasm without the pressure to buy. It was a great atmosphere and definitely somewhere where we will visit again.

TFK really is a hidden gem in the manic and all too familiar shopping culture of Kuwait.  You will be amazed by the hospitality in store and even more impressed by the spectacular fragrances.

Thank you TFK (Marlon in particular) for providing us with this experience!


- Andy

Bat Boy - One hell of a show!

This was our third visit to the 'Kuwait Little Theatre' and a trip that didn't disappoint! I had heard from a co-worker (and star) that this show was not to be missed so I booked tickets as soon as they were available. We headed down with some friends for whom it was their first visit and we all had no idea what to expect. Yes, we knew it was about a human bat but what should we expect? Bruce Wayne, the Joker and the Riddler? 

 

As always the programme gave us a great introduction to the theme of the show along with some cheesy pictures of the cast! To be honest we were a little disappointed that HHT was not in the programme this time. After seeing two other shows we had got used to the cast members but this programme appeared to be full of 'Newbies' with very impressive backgrounds. We were particularly looking forward to the performance from the Batty duo and they did not let us down! 

Luke Zaccaro played Bat Boy and was absolutely outstanding! He moved around the stage with ease and demonstrated the best performance we had seen at KLT, possibly the best performance we had seen anywhere in a long time. 

Picture: www.theklt.com

John Peaveler played Dr. Parker. His performance was also very convincing as the villain. However, I couldn't stop thinking at how much he looked and sounded like Stu from 'The Hangover'.

Julie Bowling played the stay at home mum and we loved her compassion for Bat Boy. Her relationship with Dr. Parker was also key to the show and provided a unforeseen twist at the end!

Laura Zaccaro played daughter Shelly and again was fantastic and cast perfectly. She had an amazing voice and her love for Bat Boy was also convincing.

As always the rest of the class provided a comic element to the show. We loved the Sheriff and as always Stephen Grimes, who moulded into his roles with great ease.

Still a few nights of the show left so head down to the KLT! You would be a fool to miss this outstanding show!

A special mention to Mr and Mrs Batty and Meaghan Devlin who as teachers by day and ensemble by night showed dedication, confidence and proved that a little theatre can give you so much happiness!


You won't be able to get this song out of your head!

Andy and Viv

Visit the KLT website to purchase tickets. Click here

Driving directions can be found here