2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003
Thursday
Paragliding Festival
Alice in Wonderland
Shakshooka Nomadic Farmers Market
Announcement and Discussion of Acquiring Modernity
Cinemagics Rooftop Movie: A Brief History of Time
Friday
Paragliding Festival
Alice in Wonderland
Armenian Dance & Music Evening
Saturday
Paragliding Festival
Alice in Wonderland
Cinemagics Rooftop Movie: Persona
If you’d like to share an event on the blog click [Here]
Photo above by @faisalthef
SAVECO is a new supermarket that opened up in Al Rai right next to Lu&Lu hypermarket. A friend had recently passed by and told me it was worth checking out so I passed by yesterday during the day and ended up leaving pleasantly surprised.
I’m not sure when exactly the supermarket opened, but I’m guessing it was sometime this year. The place is immaculate, extremely tidy and the aisles are super wide. My favorite section is probably the health and beauty section where all the shelves are backlit making everything look really good.
I’m not sure how the supermarket compares in product selection to other supermarkets. I do all my shopping at Sultan Center and it seems every supermarket in Kuwait has more products and a larger variety than they do. There is one brand of dish washing soap which I really really love (Dawn with Olay), I love it so much that when I realized Sultan were not restocking it anymore I went to 3 other Sultan branches to buy up whatever remaining stock they had. I thought the brand discontinued their partnership with Olay since Sultan just started bringing regular Dawn but yesterday I found shelf after shelf of it at SAVECO. They also had a huge selection of none dairy milk like soy, almond, hazelnut, rice etc.. again this might be normal all around Kuwait but compared to my supermarket the selection was a lot bigger.
Going all the way to Al Rai to shop isn’t practical for me but the supermarket looks great and as a friend put it, it feels very therapeutic shopping there. The biggest issue is probably parking but if you come in from their back entrance avoiding the whole 4th Ring Road entry and parking mess you’ll be a lot better off. Check out the map above of how to get there using the road 55 entrance. Also here is the location on [Google Maps]
Rajeev Suri who was appointed as the new Nokia CEO a couple of days ago was raised and spent a major part of his life here in Kuwait.
Thanks Chris
One eye on you. A short-eared owl stretching and relaxing in a nature reserve in Kuwait. (© Mohd Khorshid/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
The photo above is one of the entries to the 26th annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest. Check out some of the other entries [Here]
Kuwaiti rapper Frizzy has a new music out called ‘Kuwait City Be Like’. I hadn’t heard of him until a few minutes ago, the bloopers at the end are pretty cool. [YouTube]
Just a reminder, tomorrow Zahed will be debuting a one of a kind audio-visual performance in 3D to coincide with the release of his second full-length album ‘Eye Am Sound.’ His audio-visual performance will include a roster of international and local artists including:
Joshua Dmello (Bombay / India) Live Projection Mapping (Wolves Visuals)
Jash Reen (Bombay / India) Live Projection Mapping (Wolves Visuals)
Henry Bennett (London / UK) Opening Act / Live Cello
Jackson Allers (Beirut / Lebanon) Documentarian
Joseph Guese (LA / USA) Live Guitar
Dirar Shwagfeah (Amman / Jordan) Live Drums
Dave Scott (Amman / Jordan) Live Sound
Tamara Quaddoumi (Kuwait) Female Vocals
Zahed Sultan Main Performer
For more information on the event click [Here]
This week I am traveling to the USA for a vacation so I have had to think of some really smart ways to train while I’m away, as a gym won’t always be available. On top of this a lot of my clients are about to travel and have been asking for the best ways to train while they have limited resources. So here you go.
The first thing I usually do is pick exercises that give you the biggest bang for your buck. Meaning, they work the most amount of muscles at once to get the biggest muscular and metabolic response. I also put emphasis on volume training, as it is one of the best ways to train for fat loss and if you have limited time, it will leave you in a pool of sweat.
In terms of most bang for your buck, a bodyweight circuit including squats, push-ups, lunges, mountain climbers, burpees, sit-ups or any other core variation. These could be done with body weight only or moderate additional weight if it’s available.
Here is an example of something I would do for a bodyweight circuit:
A1: squats
A2: alternating lunges
A3: push-ups
A4: burpees (chest to floor or regular)
A5: mountain climbers
A6: core variation
This could be done as a timed circuit e.g. 30-60 seconds per station (depending on ability) with a 60-90 second rest before repeating the cycle 3-5 times.
Another option is to do 15-20 reps per exercise moving through as fast as you can, with a 60-90 second rest before repeating 3-5 times.
In terms of conditioning, this could include running sprints, stair runs or even intervals on any piece of traditional cardio equipment. Short intervals of maximal work are the key and you want to aim for roughly 25-30 minutes.
Here is an example of something I would do for conditioning type work:
Running on a Treadmill, in the park, jump rope, stairs or using any cardio equipment that is available (or Burpees if your brave)
20-30 sec max work with 30 sec rest
Repeat 4 times. Rest 2 min
Do this sequence 6-8 times
So there is one example of what you can do with limited resources and limited time.
I usually alternate between resistance training one day and cardio conditioning the other day this is quick for when you are time poor and gives the metabolism a push in the right direction. With that in mind…
To finish I want to include some nutrition tips for Fat loss when on vacation. Here are some simple things you can implement:
– Drink water 2-3L per day. I have to admit I am a bad water drinker, so to help me get my daily intake I add slices of lime or lemon and it really helps.
– Up the intensity of your workouts. One way is by reducing the weight slightly, increasing the reps and reducing rest. I’ve found this makes a big difference.
– Eat your veges, these are a great detoxifier with all the antioxidants they contain.
– Lastly, when you indulge try not to overeat till you almost burst. Its vacation so of course you want to be able to enjoy yourself, just try to avoid overeating.
Lastly remember you are on vacation so do what you can with the time you have available. Happy Training Kuwait.
Post by Amy Freeman, a Strength and Conditioning Coach from New Zealand and currently a Personal Trainer at Inspire Pure Fitness in Kuwait.
References
Trapp, E., Chisholm, D., et al. The Effects of High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise Training and Fat Loss and Fasting Insulin Levels of Young Women. International Journal of Obesity. 2008. 32(4), 684-691.
Kosola, J., Ahotupa, M., et al. Good Aerobic or Muscular Fitness Prevents Overweight Men from Elevated Oxidized LDL. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. September 2011. Published Ahead of Print.
Dunham, C., Harms, C. Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Pulmonary Function. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2011. Published Ahead of Print
Boutcher, Stephen. High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise and Fat Loss. Journal of Obesity. 2011. Published Ahead of Print.
According to @watannews the power went out at the Kuwait Airport earlier today. According to rumors I’ve heard the backup generators also ended up failing. Doesn’t look like any flights were affected though.
Former MP Mohammad Hayef has accused an unidentified lawyer of devil worship after the latter stuck pictures and hung dummies of scary characters outside his house in Jabriya area as part of his child’s birthday celebrations.
According to sources, when former MP Mohammad Hayef alerted Jabriya Police Station about some people worshipping the devil inside the house, police officers rushed to the house to discover the residents were celebrating a child’s birthday. They demanded the owner of the house, who is a lawyer, to remove the pictures and dummies.
The lawyer expressed surprise over the reaction of the former lawmaker, affirming that he will sue Hayef over the issue especially since the pictures of his house has been circulating on social networking websites as a center for devil worship. [Source]
I love the local news.
Extreme Sports have a bike rental station outside their skateboard park in Marina Waves (the area next to Marina Crescent). They’re renting bikes at KD3 an hour which depending on how fast you ride is enough time to go to Kuwait Towers and back. The bikes they’re renting are pretty decent Trek bikes and since they’re the Trek dealers the bikes are most likely being well taken care of. They’re open daily from 3PM to 11PM except on Fridays when they open from 6AM to 11AM and then again from 3PM to 11PM.
Update: Had a horrible experience with them. Rented a bicycle for a friend, put it on my bike rack and headed to Corniche. Once we got to Corniche turns out the bike gears were not working so headed back to the rental place and told them. They were like it’s fine. I was like no its not the gears won’t change. He was like you should have checked before you took the bike. Long story short they refused to give us a new bike and refused to refund us the money.
A friend of mine told me about this game last night and I can’t stop playing it. Side Wheel Hero is an indie game developed by an Emirati developer named Ammar Harfoush. The game is inspired by the popular pastime in the Gulf which consists of balancing an SUV on two wheels and in this game you also try to pick up coins while trying to avoid other cars.
The game is pretty fun and the location, cars and even the music are all very authentic to the real videos you’d find on YouTube. My only issue is with the ad banner. Because the game is free to download it’s ad supported which is fine except for the fact the ad is just randomly placed on the top left part of the screen as you can see in the screenshot above. It’s pretty distracting and I wish there was an option to pay to get rid of the banner.
It’s a simple fun game based on a regional phenomenon which is why I love it so much. If you’re interested in Side Wheel Hero it’s available on all mobile platforms and you can download it using the links below:
Not sure what’s more surprising, the fact that the KD175,000 G63 6×6 (pictured below) got stuck on the beach, or the fact that 60 of these cars were made and we have around 7 of them in Kuwait. [YouTube]
A few months back I started looking for a new digital camera to replace my aging Panasonic GX1. I had been using the GX1 constantly since 2012 and it was by far one of my favorite cameras I had ever owned. But, on one trip to London last year I carried my much larger and heavier full sensor D800 camera with me and I just loved the results. I realized the much larger sensor on the D800 allowed me to capture shots I wouldn’t be able to with my GX1, mostly very high ISO shots in very dim light. Because of the size though the D800 isn’t a very practical take everywhere camera and so I started doing my research trying to find a replacement for my GX1. Some of the cameras I considered were:
Fujifilm X-T1
Fujifilm X100s
Leica X2
Olympus OM-D E-M1
Olympus OM-D E-M10
Panasonic GX7
Ricoh GR
Sony Alpha 7R
Sony Alpha 7
Sony RX1
Sony RX1R
From the list above the only ones that ended up grabbing my attention were the Sonys since they were the only cameras on the list that had full framed sensors. Having a full frame sensor would mean I’d be able to capture a lot more detail, have shallower depth of field in my shots and most importantly have better dim light capabilities. In the end I opted for the Sony RX1 because of the size. One of the things I loved about my GX1 camera was the size and the RX1 was practically the exact same size except the lens on the RX1 made it slightly thicker (check the GX1/RX1 overlay visual below). The newer Sony A7 was tempting but since I already had a main camera (the D800), I needed a secondary camera, something small and inconspicuous to take with me on my restaurant reviews and when I traveled. The A7 was a lot more bulkier especially once you added the lenses.
I’ve had the RX1 now for around 2 months and I’ve already traveled with it a number of times and used it in various situations and I really really love it. It’s by far the best compact camera I’ve had. The camera has a full metal body and feels very solid, we’re talking Leica M series quality here without the Leica price tag. The lens is a really bright 35mm F2 Carl Zeiss, its fixed which means I can’t zoom in or out but that isn’t an issue since I was only using the 20mm lens (40mm equivalent) on my GX1 anyway.
The RX1 has allowed me to take a ton of great shots and I’ve been carrying it with me everywhere I go. It has a lot of physical controls as well as customizable buttons so I always have quick access to my most used options. I love the way the camera looks and feels in my hand, it has a slightly retro look but it’s really understated which is how I love my cameras. Another great feature about the camera is the fact that the shutter is silent. When I turn off all the sounds I can take a photo in a quiet room and no one would be able to hear me take photos. It’s how I was able to take the photo of the guy sleeping on the car below without having to worry about waking him up. Finally the ISO capability on this camera is nearly as good as my D800. I’m so confident about the capabilities of the camera I have it set on Auto ISO with the max limit at 12,800. That’s how good the noise at high ISO is, I can shoot up to 12,800 and not have to worry about noise. Combine that with the bright F2 lens and there really isn’t a condition anymore where I would have trouble shooting in.
I really can’t think of anything negative to say or highlight about the camera but I will bring up issues I had read about online and answer them here. Battery life, it’s not that great but that’s an easy fix, the batteries are very cheap, I bought two more and now carry three batteries with me. In the two months I’ve had the camera I don’t think I’ve ever needed more than one battery a day so even though battery life isn’t that great it’s good enough to last you a day out. Some people have complained about the focusing being slow. I don’t think its slow and only faced an issue focusing once and that was because there was hardly any light. I just ended up shooting in manual focus mode and that solved the problem. Finally a lot of people online complained about the fact the screen isn’t tiltable or the fact the camera doesn’t have a built in view finder. Both are good points but Sony built the most compact full sensor camera in the world so I’m sure they had to cut some options to keep the size compact. Personally I’m glad they kept the size small and instead released the A7 with all the extra features they couldn’t fit into the RX1.
I can’t recommend this camera enough, the sensor and lens combo is just unbeatable and I can’t believe how small this camera is. The price is the only reason why not everyone is walking around with this camera strapped to their necks. Amazon sell the camera for $2,800 which is pretty expensive when compared to all the other compact cameras in the market. But, I personally think the only real competition is the Sony A7 and the Leica M series. The Sony A7 costs $1800 without a lens and another $800 for the 35mm F2.8. That brings the total to $2,600 for a larger camera with a lens thats not as bright. The Leica M series on the other hand costs nearly $7,000 without a lens. So when you compare the RX1 to the two the price becomes pretty reasonable. If you can afford the RX1 then get it, you’ll have a hard time finding anything else as good with the same form factor.
Sources quoted by the Kuwait Times said the two-day operation carried out Sunday covered four warehouses owned by a single company, with items seized including meat products, fish, poultry and other ingredients. [Source]
Why doesn’t the local media mention which company and what the product brands are? Shouldn’t they warn people who might have already purchased the products?
Photo from ArabianBusiness
A friend of mine was asking me the other day why expats can’t own pickup trucks and by coincidence the blogger crazyinkuwait posted an article from Kuwait Times on this topic. So if you’ve always wondered why expats can’t own pickups, check out her post [Here]