Category: Kuwait

Alghanim Electronics dropped off an iRiver Story eBook reader for me to check out. I’ve been wanting an eBook reader since the Kindle first came out but never got one because of the hassle involved with buying eBooks from Amazon (its US only). When the Barnes & Noble Nook got released I quickly pre-ordered one but when I tried to buy an eBook I ran into the same problems as Amazon so I canceled my order. I am not sure yet where I can get books for the iRiver Story, I just did a quick search and found out the Story is compatible with UK’s Waterstones so will try it out and see if I have any luck with them.

I haven’t had much contact with eBook readers, I think I’ve only interacted with one once at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 duty free. So far the iRiver Story looks pretty, it’s very similar to the Kindle just slightly more stylish. Once I spend some more time with the Story I will post more details. I just need to find a book I actually want to read…

Update: Just realized it’s only compatible with Windows which means connecting it directly to my Mac will only charge the device. To get books onto the iRiver with my Mac I need to upload books onto an SD card and then place the SD card into the iRiver.

The Aramex Ardiya branch has new working hours. Starting today, the Ardiya branch is now open from 8:30AM to 9PM from Saturday to Thursday and Friday from 12PM to 6PM. I am guessing this is in reponse to DHL EasyShop who’s Ardiya branch is open daily till midnight except for Friday when they close at 9PM. I hope this is a sign that Aramex is going to try and improve so that they can compete with other mail forwarding services. I just hope packages go back to taking a few days to arrive to Kuwait and into my hands instead of the 10 days its taking now.

If you’re staying in Kuwait for New Years then here is something for you to do. GUST is holding a talent show on December 31st from 5pm to 7pm at their university campus. The students will be performing a wide range of shows from a comedy play to song and dance. A blogger called Mish is giving away 4 tickets to the show which you could win just by leaving a comment on his post. So if you are interested, here is the [Link]

Found out about Capital District from iLSuL6ana’s blog and I think I like where they’re going with the brand. Their clothing are unique in that they’re based on Kuwait and it’s past which automatically differentiates them from everything else out there. They have a few designs at the moment which you can order at very reasonable prices. If you’re interested in checking out their designs and placing an order visit their Facebook group [Here]

Note: You can see their designs in the photos section.

I previously posted about how Planet Hollywood was going to open at Olympia Towers this past summer but they never did. Now it seems they will be opening in March 2010 according to a reader who also sent me a picture of the exterior. I also previously mentioned that I had heard Sylvester Stallone was coming for the launch and I will say this again. If he comes I am going to be there with my Cobra DVD for him to autograph. I will not let him leave Kuwait before he does!

Thanks Farah

The website Rate My Q80 Ride is organizing a show off your car event. It’s going to be held this Thursday the 24th of December at the Hard Rock Cafe parking lot starting from 11:30PM. The event is open to anyone with a car that has been modified.

Someone is selling an Eleanor on Q8Car. Eleanor is the codename for the Ford Mustangs seen in both versions of the film “Gone in 60 Seconds”. In the original 1974 version of the movie, Eleanor is a 1973 Mach 1 coupe, while in the 2000 remake, Eleanor is a modified 1967 Shelby GT500. The one on Q8car is a modified 1967 Shelby and he’s asking KD16,000 for it. [Link]

Always wondered how they made the curvy part of the building. Judging by this old picture it looks like they put them together like Lego. [Link]

Picture by Eng.Aljamea

The New York Times has an article about Shake Shack and their expansion plans and this is the first time that I know of where Shake Shack themselves confirm the fact that they’re opening up in Kuwait. Previously when Shake Shacks PR department was asked regarding the Kuwait launch they wouldn’t confirm it. As I mentioned before in one of my previous posts, Shake Shack will be opening early next year at The Avenues mall. My personal opinion is that they will open up in the location where the Debenhams home store just closed. [Link]

Note: My fingers are still crossed for someone to bring back A&W, Wendy’s and most importantly, Arby’s.

Update: Big Moe sent me the link to this YouTube video of an interview with the Shake Shack guys. Kuwait of course is mentioned since the journalist wanted to know “why Kuwait???”

[YouTube]

I’ve always wanted a navigation system in the car that uses Google Maps and it seems this is going to happen very soon since the 2011 Audi A8 will be the first production car to include Google Earth. What I would also like to see one day in the future is real time updated maps. Imagine Google Maps with real time updates while you’re stuck in a traffic jam. You could just zoom in to the area in front of you and see what’s causing the traffic or even better you could check the traffic on the roads before you leave the house.

Actually, I just realized, you don’t need real time updated Google Maps, why don’t we have video cameras or still cameras along major roads which people can access and check online? Something like [This] and also the picture above. The technology has been around for some time now and shouldn’t be too difficult to implement here in Kuwait. Can we please get live traffic cams? Pretty please??

The menu cover above is the one Nat designed for the b+f Roadside Diner in Oman a year ago. The picture below is of the new menu cover for Chocolate & Macaroon. From all the restaurants in the world couldn’t they copy the menu cover from one that wasn’t Kuwaiti?

and here is a close up

b+f Roadsider Diner belongs to the same owners as Burger Boutique and Slider Station. It’s located in Muscat, Oman and here is a link to their Facebook page. [Link]

This whole week I was extremely sick from food poisoning. It all started on Friday, I had lunch at one of my favorite places (won’t say which for now) and then that evening I started getting the chills and after that it just got really bad. It was a horrible experience and I can’t recall ever getting that sick from food. I sadly won’t be ever going back there again. It’s not like I have a ton of places I visit on a regular basis so it’s disappointing I now have one less.

The picture above is of one of my favorite places in Lebanon called Canadian Burger. I eat there very frequently, last time I was in Lebanon I actually ate there daily and not once did I ever get food poisoned in the 20 years or so I’ve been going there. It’s a tiny store located in one of the slums where sweaty guys with no gloves work over the food all day and where their special burger costs only 300fils. So how do I get food poisoned at an international franchise that’s open in the best mall in Kuwait?

Scooby Doo’s mystery machine was spotted in Shuwaikh. I guess they were called in to help out with the GCC Summit security.

Picture by pendolino

Abdullah, a reader of the blog put together a price chart comparing the 4 most popular mail forwarding services, Aramex’s Shop & Ship, U Shop We Ship, DHL’s EasyShop and My US. Is color coded it and the price chart goes up all the way up to 30KG. The conclusion is USWS is the cheapest until you hit 20KG when MyUS becomes cheaper.

You can view the chart by clicking [Here]

Nat got me this chocolate muffin from Sultan Center. They also had a Mars version. I don’t know about the Mars version but the Galaxy one I just had wasn’t that great. It was extremely sweet, I could only have two bites before over dosing. Costs 950fils.