2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

Just to be clear from the get go, this isn’t a review about the Galaxy Tab 2 as a tablet nor is it a review of Android’s new ice cream operating system. I have an iPad and I wouldn’t replace it with an Android device. The reason I got the Galaxy Tab is to replace my Archos 7 portable media player and this is what this post is about. So Android fanboys can put down their keyboards and relax.

Back in 2009 I bought the Archos 7 to use as my media player for when I traveled. Before the Archos I was watching movies on my tiny iPod screen (the classic iPod not the touch) so moving to the larger 7inch screen was a huge improvement. Not only that but my Archos also had a large 160GB drive, a replaceable battery that lasted 10 hours and would play any non-HD video format without requiring any time consuming format conversion. Over the years though I’ve started getting more and more HD files and the Archos started to choke. It couldn’t play a lot of the new formats and it also couldn’t play most of the HD stuff I threw it’s way so I started looking for an alternative.

I wanted a 7inch screen, a large hard drive, a replaceable battery and the ability to play HD files without an issue. Surprisingly I didn’t find a media player that had all that so I started being more flexible with my requirements and in the end went with the Galaxy Tab 2 with a 7inch screen. The screen size was correct, it would play any video I threw at it and the battery life was fairly decent coming in at around 6 hours of non stop video playback. But it only had 8GB of internal memory and the battery couldn’t be swapped. Two issues I figured I could solve easily. The Galaxy Tab has a microSD card for expandability and I figured I could take multiple 32GB cards with me on long trips. I also wanted a swappable battery for long trips and although I couldn’t swap the battery on the Galaxy Tab, I realized I could purchase one of those Mophie PowerStations which charge gadgets using a USB port and just run my Tab off it during long flights. Of course the Tab is also a full fledged tablet so I could if I wanted to browse the web or perform other tasks on it if I needed to.

After taking the Tab on two trips with me I’ve come to the conclusion that I made the right decision. Although I’ve lost some of the features that made the Archos 7 so great I did gain three important benefits (among others). The first is that the Tab is much lighter and thinner than the Archos 7. This makes carrying it in my shoulder bag a lot more pleasant. The second thing I also gained is a much better screen with improved visibility from all angles and better touch sensitivity. I’ve also thrown a whole bunch of video formats at it including 720p HD movies and the Tab has played every single one of them without an issue.

So if you’re looking for a great media player this is what I recommend you get. I purchased it from Amazon back in May and it cost me KD82 in total and that includes shipping to Kuwait using DHL’s Borderlinx. I couldn’t find it in Kuwait back then but they might be available here now. [Amazon Link]

“THE DREAM TEAM” – NBATV DOCUMENTARY from // KEEHS PRODUCTIONS // on Vimeo.

I just finished watching this documentary and I loved it. If you’re a fan of the NBA back in the 80’s and 90’s you’re going to love this. It’s available to watch on Vimeo but I downloaded the torrent and watched it on my TV instead. Too bad it’s just an hour long.

Anyone know who sells Drobo’s in Kuwait? I previously got mine from Amazon but paid around KD40 for shipping back in 2009 which mean it would probably cost me KD50+ with the current Aramex prices. 3gghead Electronics in Baitak Tower used to sell the Drobo for a good deal but they shutdown a long time back.

If you want to know what a Drobo is you can check out their [Website]

Update: Ended up picking up the Synology DS1511+ from Blink. They’re selling them for cheaper than Amazon [Link]

Spotted these banana protectors at Lakeland in Marina Mall and thought it was cute.

I guess these signs are becoming more common at government buildings. The sign translates to “Please don’t ask us questions”.

Thanks Patrick

I have no idea how to begin this post honestly. In fact, in the back of my mind right now I’m going “don’t post about this place” over and over because I loved it so much and I don’t want to share it with anyone. But it’s because I loved it so much I really HAVE to post about it. Singarea is a small Korean Supermarket with a small cozy restaurant on the upper floor. It’s located in one of those plazas (plaza is actually too nice a word here) in dajeej surrounded by stores that sell cheap furniture and lights. By the looks of the place outside I was expecting it to be pretty dodgy on the inside but wow was I wrong.

When I first walked into the supermarket I was surprised at how clean and organized it was. Majority of their products are imported so there were many interesting things I hadn’t seen before. After I was done taking pictures and wandering around the aisles aimlessly I decided to go upstairs and check out the restaurant.

The plan was to snap a few shots, check out their menu and leave but once I saw how the restaurant looked like there was no way I could leave without having lunch. It just felt like I was no longer in Kuwait. The wooden roof, the dark tables combined with the green chairs and the decorative partitions all combined gave the interior a very calm cozy and foreign feeling. I decided to sit in a corner where I knew I’d have a good view of the interior and enough light to take my food shots. There was only one other table occupied by three asian business men so it was peacefully quiet. The waitress was extremely helpful and friendly. She gave me the menu and asked me if it was my first time there which I replied to yes. She started to help me out with the menu explaining how they had Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisine. My eyes quickly started checking out the things I knew like sweet and sour chicken but I resisted going with what I was comfortable with and instead asked the waitress to help me choose my dishes. Since I was in a Korean restaurant I wanted to try Korean dishes and asked her to recommend me some options. In the end I decided to go with the following (descriptions taken from the menu):

Starter
Deuk Bokki: Stewed rice cake with spicy Gochujang. Especially youngster’s favorite.
KD2.000

Main Course
Beef Bulgogi: Most favored Korean barbecue. Savory and succulent.
KD3.500

Dessert
Frappe: Fruits, sweet red bean paste and one of three flavors, strawberry, chocolate, blueberry syrup over shaved ice.
KD1.000

Drink
Red Vinegar Drink: Naturally brewed red vinegar from red Ginseng, pomegranate, Ume helps changing body into alkaline.
KD0.750

I forgot to mention that as soon as I sat down I was served corn tea (Oksusu cha) at room temperature. Never had that before and didn’t know you could make tea from corn. It tasted better than regular tea at room temperature.

My starter arrived a short while later and using my chopsticks I started to eat. The rice cakes were a bit spicy but full of flavor. I didn’t like the dish that much but I did appreciate all the flavors in it. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Korean food, I figured their flavors would be a bit safe like Thai food but it turned out to be more exciting like Chinese food which actually makes sense since they’re neighboring countries.The red vinegar drink was very refreshing and although I was expecting it to taste like vinegar it didn’t. It tasted more like a cocktail you’d have pool side and is a great summer drink. Because the rice cakes were spicy sipping the red vinegar helped cool things down. My second dish the Beef Bulgogi was ridiculously good and I mean I wiped the plate clean kinda good. It was sweet and the beef was very tender and oh I’m so going back just to have this dish again. Finally the desert arrived and although I’m not a fan of most fruits especially blueberry, I still wanted to try the dish just because I wanted to experience a Korean dessert. I expectedly didn’t like it but that was no surprise.

They have a huge menu and although I’m really tempted to order the Beef Bulgogi again on my next visit I’m going to try and not do that and instead try something else new. I generally eat the same thing all the time so it was very exciting to experience some new flavors. I really loved the place, the food, the ambiance, the service the whole experience was like nothing else in Kuwait. I can’t believe this place has been open for over 2 years and I just decided to pass by now.

Finding Singarea is a bit difficult but I’ve highlighted it on this [Map] If you can get to Sears then it’s easy. If Sears is on your left side, drive straight until you have the option to go straight or turn right and get onto the 6th Ring Road. From that point drive straight around 30 meters and you’ll find the plaza on the left. Singarea is inside that plaza. I recommend you park the car outside and walk in since during the daytime it’s incredible chaotic inside there. It’s a great place I highly recommend it.

Update: The supermarket has changed location. Check this post for details [Link]

UFC legend and hall of famer Royce Gracie is going to be in Kuwait this month for another Jiujitsu seminar. It’s for men and women and originally it was going to be held on June 25 and 26 but it’s now been pushed back a day so it’s now June 26 and 27. Price for a days worth of Jiujitsu with Royce Gracie? Just KD35. For more information visit the Sidekick Academy Facebook page [Here]

I don’t think there is anybody who doesn’t like soft serve ice cream which is why setting up your own machine at home, diwaniya or chalet is such a great idea and one that turns out isn’t too expensive.

There are just three things you need, the soft serve machine, the ice cream flavors and the biscuit cones.

I’ll start with the machines since this is where most of the investment is. I passed by two locations, a small store in Dajeej and the Mabrook store in Shuwaikh. I’m sure there are other stores as well but those are two I was told about. The small store in Dajeej had only one machine and was selling it for KD4,000. Mabrook on the other hand a around 4 or 5 different machines with the most affordable starting at KD500. It’s the Italian made Ugolini mini gel and it holds only one flavor. They also had other machines that were more expensive including the Taylor branded one pictured above which is the same brand Pinkberry uses. Obviously that’s overkill for home use but in case you have around KD5,000 to splurge that’s the Rolls Royce of these machines.

The second thing you need to make your soft serve ice cream is the actual product mix which you’ll have to fill the machine with. KDD sells them and they had two sizes to choose from. The picture above is of their 1 liter pack and you can get it in either vanilla or chocolate flavor. Each pack should be enough for around 6 to 9 cones. The 1 liter pack costs 575 fils and this is the size I would recommend getting for home use or small diwaniyas. But, they also sell 12 liter packs. The 12 liter packs cost KD6.5 each and can make around 80 cones. They also have an offer now where if you buy 5 packs they give you one free. Finally you need cones. KDD also sell the biscuit cones and a pack of 800 costs KD4.860.

So to summarize the post it’s going to cost you around KD500 to set up a small soft serve station at home, diwaniya or chalet. Depending on how often it’s used it could be pretty feasible.

It’s a vest you fill with ice cubes so you could stay cool in the summer. Someone needs to buy a whole bunch and sell these here in Kuwait. Price? KD20 on [Amazon]

I was in Dajeej today and noticed City Centre was opening up over there. The signs on the main road were covered but the signs on the inside road were uncovered which is where I was able to snap the picture above. Looks like they’ll be competing with Sultan Centre which is located very close by. No idea when they’re opening up but I spotted some food trucks at the loading dock so I’m guessing pretty soon. This will be their third location. Here is a map of the [Location]

Unlike initial reports turns out the fire yesterday off the 30th wasn’t actually the electrical transformer station. Turns out someone threw a cigarette near a pile of garbage and abandoned furniture which ended up catching fire. There was a car parked near the burning trash and that also caught fire. As you can see in the picture above this happened right beside the electrical transformer station which is why many people thought that’s what was burning in the video.

Thanks Kazik

An electrical transformer caught on fire earlier today near Kabab al Hajat and one of my readers was able to capture the footage above while driving by. [YouTube]

Thanks Keith

Update: Below is another video taken from the opposite site (heading towards Fahaheel) and it was shot just as the fire had started. [YouTube]

Thanks Cajie

According to surgeons like Al Sanea, the bariatric boom can be traced to the buildup to the 1991 Gulf War. That was when hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops descended on the Gulf nation, bringing with them Taco Bell, Hardee’s, Baskin-Robbins, and Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, among others. “The [war] was the demarcation line,” says Dr. Abdulwahab Naser Al-Isa, at the Department of Community Medicine & Behavioral Sciences at Kuwait University. Andrew Smith, the author of the Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food, says, “The American military went in, and obviously they wanted fast food. Therefore, the number of fast-food establishments expanded exponentially.” And Kuwaitis fell in love.

An interesting take on the obesity issue in Kuwait although I’m not sure I believe the Americans are to blame. War or no war fast food chains were going to start popping up in Kuwait anyway. Check out the full article on Business Week [Here]

Thanks Kris

Two days back I found out Ralph Lauren had a summer sale (50% off) taking place so I passed by today and picked up a few shirts. To my surprise it turns out I now wear size “small”. Thank you Fahad for that. If you’re interested, sale is on till July 10th. The classic polo shirts are not included in the sale.

Update: Forgot to add they’re also opening up a huge flagship store in Avenues Phase III.

Back in April I posted a rumor that the trendy furniture brand BoConcept might be reopening again under new ownership at Avenues Phase III. Well today I finally got a confirmation that the rumor was true. Turns out Behbehani have taken over the brand and they should be opening at the end of the year.