Author: Mark

If you haven’t already registered for Nuqat this year then you should hurry up and do so. It’s one of the largest creative events in the region and it’s free to attend. Nuqat includes interactive talks, discussion panels, roundtable sessions, workshops, cultural tours, galleries, live performances and more. There are two ways to register, the first is to download the Nuqat app and registering through that, the second option is by signing up online using this [Link]

For those of you who’ve never attended a Nuqat conference before and not sure what to expect, below are two flashback videos, first one from the 2014 Nuqat conference and the second from last years. It’s a fun and very chill event, you can attend as many talks as you want or just hangout in the open courtyard socializing with friends. You could have burgers all day or take part in a workshop, it’s really up to you and thats one of the things I love about the event. So check out the videos below and then sign up for the event.

The Tiger Tiger popup is back again, this time in a new location in Shuwaikh. Tiger Tiger is a pan-asian restaurant by the guys behind Ora and they’ll only be there till the end of the week. Similar to last time, their menu is small and composed of three starters and three mains:

Starters KD2.5
Duck Spring Roll
Shrimp on Toast
Cream Cheese Wonton

Mains KD4.5
Orange Chicken
Thai Chili Beef
Kung Pao Shrimp

I passed by last night and loved the location and atmosphere, so much so that I think Tiger Tiger should never be a permanent restaurant and instead popup like this every now and then. We don’t have a lot to do in Kuwait so an event like this brings people together. Last night was an invite only evening and I kept running into people I hadn’t seen in ages.

If you’re interested in passing by, they’re only going to be there until Thursday November 10th, starting 6pm until late. Make sure you get there early, when I got there last night around 7:30 I was able to find seating easily but when I left at 9:30 there was a long waiting list. I heard at one point the waiting list had over a hundred people. But, Jumo Coffee also has a setup there so you could have a coffee and socialize while you wait.

Here is their popup location on [Google Maps]. They’re located in a complex thats still under construction but you’ll be able to spot Tiger Tiger from the red glow. They’re also on instagram @tigertiger.kw

Ever wondered where the airport valet park you car? I never did but a friend of mine with a dashcam recently gave his car to their valet, and the dashcam recorded the journey to the airport valet parking spot. It took around 7 minutes to get to the parking spot without any traffic, which explains why the wait to get the car back can easily exceed 20 minutes.

One thing this video made me realize is that the airport can build a large long term parking away from the airport and shuttle people back and forth. This would solve the current problem with not enough long term parking spots. I found the location of the valet parking on google maps and as you can see in the picture above, there is a large plot of land thats currently empty right next to it. That could easily be turned into a long term parking spot if they wanted to.

Just an FYI in case you’re curious, valet parking at the airport costs KD2 a day.

This past Saturday, Elevation Burger launched a new breakfast menu at their recently opened Seif strip location. It was my first time at their new location and I loved it. The weather was great, they had live music playing outside and lots of outdoor seating. They were also serving Jumo Coffee but right next door is also Richards Coffee, so you could pick and choose who to get coffee from.

According to Elevation, they’ll be having a similar setup with live music once every couple of weeks so if that happens, the location should end up being a popular Saturday morning chill spot. So keep a look out for it during the weekend events list.

Here is the location on [Google Maps]

Although I think drivers in Kuwait can be the worst sometimes (people stop driving while whatsapping!), what I’ve also realized because of my Vespa and Datsun 240z is that there are a lot of drivers out there that can be pretty nice. When I used to have the Vespa and I’d be stuck in traffic, people always moved their cars a bit when they saw me so they could let me ride all the way to the front in between the standstill traffic. It felt like everyone was rooting for me to get out of the traffic that they were all stuck in.

With my 240z I’m now experiencing a lot of niceness as well. Because the car is so low, usually the headlights of other cars (mostly SUVs) is higher than my car as you can see in the picture on top. So if their lights are on it pretty much reflects off my rear view mirror and into my face. Nearly all the drivers who pull up behind me at a traffic light turn off their lights so not to blind me. It’s a small gesture but I love it since its from total strangers.

I’ve also gotten so many compliments on the car from total strangers. For someone like me who doesn’t like attention, the amount of attention I get because of the car is so uncomfortable. On Friday I was heading back home on the Gulf Road and listening to my music loud while driving like a nutcase when I get to a traffic light. So I’m sitting there checking my phone when I here a beep of a police siren. I ignore it. Then I hear it again and I look out my rear view mirror and can’t see anything so I continue to ignore it. Then I hear the quick siren burst again the third time so I look to my right and there is a cop car right outside my window with a cop inside it trying to talk to me. So in my head I was like shit I’m screwed either because of my erratic driving or the fact my music was loud or because I was on my phone. So I quickly pause my music and yell out “Sorry?” cuz I couldn’t hear anything he had said. The cop then points at my car and says “very nice very nice” while giving me the thumbs up. I say thank you! and in my head I’m going wtf this is all so weird.

I feel like I’m in bizarro world sometimes.

Just a quick note, another friend of mine will be guest writing on the blog whenever he pleases. No specific subject or schedule, just whatever might be interesting. His first post is DIY Diet Plan is below.

Recently landmines were found on a beach in Al Bida’a which I find scary as hell since it’s a populated area and one that is pretty active with people. A couple of years back while installing my internet connection on the roof of my building we found a rusted bullet belt filled with ammunition along with a rifle. A couple of weeks back I found out KOC was still cleaning up the soil in the desert from the oil spills caused by the Iraqi army. Even though its been 26 years since the 1990 Gulf War, remnants from the war are still around today. I feel like sometimes we forget Kuwait was occupied at one point, but I guess thats normal since it happened such a long time ago.

Update: I removed the name of the club from the text message in the image above.

Just a reminder, the fireworks show for the Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre opening is taking place tonight at 7:30PM. For more information click [Here]

Currently sitting on my comfy couch eating my gummy bears while watching people do burpees. Over 400 athletes from 35 countries are taking part in this event right now at Marina Crescent. [YouTube]

Update: Video updated to the Day 2 live stream.
Update2: Event is now over.

Described as the first of its kind, the UAE’s new “national law of reading” was announced by UAE president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, earlier this week. It will allow government staff time to read at work – although they must focus on reading matter about professional and personal development within the context of the workplace.

The law will also oblige coffee shops to offer reading material for their customers, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the UAE’s vice-president and Dubai’s ruler, and will see branches of libraries opened in malls, as well as exempting books from fees and taxes. [Source]

Can we please just get a decent bookshop in Kuwait? We’re not asking for much.

I’ve asked a few people and it seems the video above is current but don’t take my word for it. Lifting a car with a forklift is a pretty extreme move considering the cars would most likely get dented or scratched. In any case, I’d avoid parking illegally for the next few weeks until the cops go back to their usual routine.

I also got the screenshot below supposedly showing the new fines for breaking the law. I doubt its real though since there are a bunch of spelling mistakes and translation errors, but then again, that could also mean its authentic. If it’s true then those new speeding fines are gonna make me go broke. UPDATE: It’s false!

Thanks Holla

The other day I shared a video that was circulating of a rat at a local supermarket. In an interesting and unprecedented move, the baladia have gone and confirmed the incident in the viral video. BUT, they didn’t mention the supermarkets name!

البلدية: تؤكد صحة الفيديو المتداول عبر وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي

If the incident did happen and the supermarket violated health codes shouldn’t the public be made aware of what supermarket this is? [Link]

Thanks Forzaq8

The Battle Fitness Festival takes place this weekend and in addition to Crossfit they’ve added a 5K obstacle course this year. The Battle Fitness Festival is one of the most recognized and respected crossfit events in the Middle East and over 200 athletes will be taking part this year. It’s really a world class event bringing in competitors from around the world and creating a fantastic show for everyone in Kuwait to take part in and to watch. I definitely recommend checking it out. Other than that, check out the full list of this weekends events below:

Thursday
Kuwait Open 9-Ball Championship
Exhibition: Ain’t Nowhere to Hide
Wamda Mix n’ Mentor

Friday
Kuwait Open 9-Ball Championship
The Battle Fitness Festival
Tai Chi in the Park
Hatha Yoga with Rosie
Good Game: Magic – The Gathering
Salwa’ Walk and Socialize Meetup
Kuwait City Jam

Saturday
Kuwait Open 9-Ball Championship
The Battle Fitness Festival
Khalik Riadi 5K Fun Run
Yoga with the 3 (Workshop and Yoga Session)
Q8 Books Literary Nights
Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Cultural Center Fireworks Show
Gardening at The Secret Garden
THIS / Poetry & Short Film

If you’d like to share an event on the blog [Email Me]
For a full list of upcoming events click [Here]

Sometimes events get canceled or have details changed so always double check with the organizers.

The movies below are now showing at Cinescape and Grand Cinemas:

New This Week:
American Pastoral (6.2) ♦
Doctor Strange (8.0)
Kill Kane (3.9)
Space Dogs Adventure to the Moon (5.2)
The Great Gilly Hopkins (6.6)

Other Movies Showing:
Deepwater Horizon (7.2)
Inferno (7.1) ♦
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (7.4) ★
Keeping Up with the Joneses (5.4)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (7.2)
Ouija: Origin of Evil (6.8)
Storks (7.1)
The Accountant (7.8) ★
Under the Shadow (7.5)

Numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at time of publishing.
★ is for movies I’m interested in. ♦ implies movie might contain censorship.

Truefitt & Hill is the oldest barbershop in the world established back in 1805 in London, and they recently opened their first location in the Middle East at Symphony Mall. Their prices surprisingly are fairly reasonable, similar to other local barbershops with a haircut costing KD10 and a shave KD5. For some reason I was expecting them to charge a lot more since in London a shave costs around KD12 and a haircut around KD20. Thats double the price of Kuwait.

Their phone number is 25770770 and they’re on instagram @truefittandhillkuwait