Search: “ace”

UPDATE: Never mind turned out it’s in Saudi Arabia! Don’t know how I missed that minor detail! Also turned out to be the King Khalid Military City. Pretty cool.

Does anyone know what this strange middle of nowhere octagon compound is? It’s located right in the middle of the Kuwaiti desert and it looks huge. The more you zoom in the more you realize how many buildings there and a ton of parking spaces. I’m thinking military but it seems too big to be just that.

You can check it out yourself on Google Maps [Here]
Don’t forget to zoom in!

Someone also made the video below.

[YouTube]

Around 2 weeks back I posted a video along with some pictures of dogs that were poisoned in the Free Trade Zone. I just found out that aldaronline.com have an article (in Arabic) on the poisoning as well as pictures of the poison being placed and of how it looks like. As you can see below, it looks like regular dog food.

Not sure if anyone other paper picked up on this story but here is a link to the article on aldaronline.com. [Link]

In case you missed my previous post on this subject click [Here]

via Froyo Nation

The Free Kuwait Campaign documentary website just went live a couple of hours ago with a ton of photos along with detailed information regarding the events that took place. They also have a small collection of audio and video footage which you can watch and listen to.

The campaign to free Kuwait was a worldwide movement orchestrated officially by the government of Kuwait and unofficially by its residents-in-exile to rid their nation of occupying Iraqi troops during August 1990 to February 1991.

The Free Kuwait Campaign website was put together by the same team behind the The Evidence website, led and financed by businessman and photographer Adel Al-Yousifi. I’m a really huge fan of what he’s doing and I really hope he doesn’t stop these projects.

Check out the website by visiting www.freekuwait.org.kw

Photos above by Adel Al-Yousifi

So the old Salmiya building which housed some of our childhood memories like Family Bookshop and Alamiah got demolished recently and according to the developer Saud Sahoud, the picture above is what they’re building in it’s place. I honestly don’t have an idea what it is. I’ve actually named the picture above “something.jpg” since I’m not sure if it’s a mall, an entertainment park or some futuristic arena from TRON. Since I will be living down the block from this structure if someone can enlighten me to what it is that would be helpful. You can see a larger picture [Here]

I hope it’s going to be something cool because the area does need a big boost.

Update: I managed to find a better picture, the small one is above but the larger version of it is [Here]. Turns out it’s a mall which will contain 8 cinemas, a snow city, ice skating rink, thrilling rides, family entertainment and “things that will be the first in the world” [Source]

So I’m going to have a snow park and movie theaters in a building that wouldn’t like out of place on Blade Runner all just down the street from my house. That’s cool.

I was wondering how Salmiya would cope with this sudden influx of traffic but looks like a company has already been awarded a contract to sort it out. [Source]

Completion date for this mall is set for 2014.

Thanks Ahmad

Around a year ago I posted that I had heard Alshaya was bringing Tesco to Kuwait and since then things have gone pretty mute. At one point I was even told Tesco and Sultan had also formed a partnership where Sultan would carry Tesco products but nothing has come out of that as well.

But according to a different source of mine, Alshaya are still bringing Tesco to Kuwait. I couldn’t get any more information but the previous rumor I heard was that Tesco would replace Carrefour at The Avenues. We’ll have to wait and see.

Below is a list of brands I am aware of that Alshaya are bringing to Kuwait:

– IHOP (International House of Pancakes)
– The Hummingbird Bakery
– Pei Wei Asian Diner
– The Cheesecake Factory
– Texas Roadhouse
– Dolce & Gabbana
– Jo Malone
– Teavana
– Harvey Nichols
– Williams Sonoma
– West Elm
– Tesco

Oddly the one I’m looking forward to the most is Williams Sonoma since it’s really difficult finding high end kitchenware in Kuwait.

Thanks Paul

Last night I passed by Solarity, a new shop that revolves around solar powered items. When I found out about the place I thought to myself finally! With all the sun we have solar energy just makes sense. When I passed by the store they were still setting up but I managed to see a whole variety of garden lights and some back packs with solar panels. In the next few weeks they’ll be adding more items since they’ve only received around 20% of their products at the moment.

The official launch is tonight at 5PM and they’re located in Shuwaikh right next to Bike World. If you take the right hand turn after City Center, Tilal Complex will be on your left. At the next intersection take a right and their shop is located around 50 meters after also on the right. I really hope they do well. Here is a link to their Facebook page [Link]

I just got the March schedule for Cinemagic and it looks like I’ve only watched one of the movies showing this month which is Triplets of Belleville. It’s a really strange but cool animation which is definitely worth watching. Check out the full schedule below.

Thursday, March 1st at 7:30pm
THE MILK OF SORROW
Fausta is suffering from a rare disease called the Milk of Sorrow, which is transmitted through the breast milk of pregnant women who were abused or raped during or soon after pregnancy. While living in constant fear and confusion due to this disease, she must face the sudden death of her mother. She chooses to take drastic measures to not follow in her mother’s footsteps.

Saturday, March 3rd at 7:30pm
BARTON FINK
In 1941, New York intellectual playwright Barton Fink comes to Hollywood to write a Wallace Beery wrestling picture. Staying in the eerie Hotel Earle, Barton develops severe writer’s block. His neighbor, jovial insurance salesman Charlie Meadows, tries to help, but Barton continues to struggle as a bizarre sequence of events distracts him even further from his task.

Thursday, March 8th at 7:30pm
TRIPLETS OF BELLVILLE
When her grandson is kidnapped during the Tour de France, Madame Souza and her beloved pooch Bruno team up with the Belleville Sisters–an aged song-and-dance team from the days of Fred Astaire–to rescue him.

Saturday, March 10th at 7:30pm
THE SWEET HEREAFTER
This film documents the effects of a tragic bus accident on the population of a small town.

Thursday, March 15th at 7:30pm
NETWORK
A TV network cynically exploits a deranged ex-TV anchor’s ravings and revelations about the media for their own profit.

Saturday, March 17th at 7:30pm
RUSSIAN ARK
A 19th century French aristocrat, notorious for his scathing memoirs about life in Russia, travels through the Russian State Hermitage Museum and encounters historical figures from the last 200+ years.

Thursday, March 22nd at 7:30pm
CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS
Werner Herzog gains exclusive access to film inside the Chauvet caves of Southern France, capturing the oldest known pictorial creations of humankind in their astonishing natural setting.

Saturday, March 24th at 7:30pm
DOWN BY LAW
The story of three different men in a Louisiana prison and their eventual journey.

Thursday, March 29th at 7:30pm
THE SON’S ROOM
A psychoanalyst and his family go through profound emotional trauma when their son dies in a scuba diving accident.

Saturday, March 31st at 7:30pm
500 DAYS OF SUMMER
An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn’t believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her.

Cinemagic Kuwait, is organizing these events as part of its efforts to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Kuwaiti audio-visual production industry, partly by bringing the filmmakers and audiences together and by Increasing the public’s interest in – and appreciation for – the art of film-making. Cinemagic movies are screened in the old Salmiya, on the roof on top of Alghanim Electronics and LG. Entrance is free of charge and includes refreshments, popcorn and much more. Here is a link to their Facebook group [Link]

I’m really excited to post about this place since it’s about damn time we get a specialized photography store in Kuwait. Over the weekend I was planning to order a Think Tank bag from Amazon. I didn’t go through with the order since I was planning to go to Dubai today and figured I would get it from there. My trip got cancelled and I was going to order the bag tonight when I found out on twitter about Alghunaim Photography. Talk about the perfect timing!

Alghunaim Photography just recently opened up in Baitak Tower. They’re a small store but they’ve got some very cool brands including Think Tank bags, Manfrotto tripods and bags, National Geographic bags, Hoodman accessories, Kata bags, Lenspen, LockCircle, Datacolor products, Black Rapid camera straps and more. They actually still have more brands on the way but even with what they have right now they’re already my favorite photography store.

The bag I was interested in was the Think Tank Retrospective 5. It’s a small shoulder bag that I wanted for my tiny Panasonic GX1 camera. It costs around KD40 on Amazon and with tax and shipping to Kuwait it was going to end up costing me at least KD50. At Alghunaim they’re selling it for just KD45! The owner is actually trying his best to match his prices to Amazon. With the Manfrotto items for example he told me his prices should be equal to that of Amazon which I think is great. They also have a lot of National Geographic bags although I didn’t spot the tiny one that’s popular with X100 owners.

Another interesting thing the owner is trying to do is create a used camera market. He wants to start displaying and selling used cameras in his store so if you have one you’re planning to sell you should pass by.

I really hope the store does well and I also hope the prices stay the same. They don’t have an online website yet but their store is easy to find and there is a ton of parking as well. They’re located in Baitak Tower in Kuwait City (facing Safat Square) and they’re on the ground floor opposite Starbucks. You can also call them on 99066601 or 90023334.

You could also visit their website [Here]

More pictures below.

Here are some photos from the 1977 National Day Parade that took place on the Gulf Road. All the photos are by mgmaniac.

Below are shots of me at what I think is the 1979 National Day Parade since I look around a year old in the pictures.

The Meteorological Department is holding a photography contest. If you want to participate you need to submit a photograph you’ve taken related to a meteorological phenomenon in Kuwait. First place prize is KD100, second is KD75 and third place is KD50. Fourth to tenth place will also receive KD30 each. Not very large amounts of money but it’s very easy to take part in and there are going to be 10 winners in total. Closing date for the competition is March 13th. Check their contest page for more information [Here]

I just found out that one of my readers used to pass by the dogs in the Free Trade Zone and feed the dogs every morning. According to the reader the dogs were very friendly and harmless. He even set up a Facebook page asking people to save food left overs and give it to the dogs. Below is taken from the Facebook page he created for them:

Pooch Help – their fate is in your hands.

A group of friendly dogs stranded; probably left there by the friday market barbarians – are in need of continuous food supply. Me and Mom have started providing them with their essentials on regular basis but unfortunately their numbers have increased and require much more attention. I have noticed recently some traces of additional support from kind individuals which I have not met on site; I thank them greatly for their commendable efforts and would like to encourage anyone who still carries a fraction of mercy and capable of assisting to do so.

All that’s required is that you save food leftovers and get it delivered to them.

It was very sad seeing these dogs dead but it’s even sadder going through all the pictures on Facebook and seeing them when they were alive. [Link]

Update: The blogger American Girl just posted pictures and information on the dogs as well since every weekend she used to pass by her husband to feed them. Check out her pictures and post [Here]

[YouTube]

Just a few days ago I posted about an article in the Kuwait Times on how stray dogs were being poisoned. Well a reader who works in the Free Trade Zone sent me some pictures and a video he shot today. According to him they have a lot of stray dogs in the Free Trade Zone and they’ve never caused any trouble and they usually stay out of peoples way. But, it seems someone must have complained about them because someone came and placed poison for the dogs and a whole bunch ended up dying today.

So today morning while I’m sitting on my desk I saw every one standing near the windows watching something, I didnt give it much attention because usually we watch the Flamingos but this time it was different the dogs ate the poisoned food and started to have these weird shakes so i went out side running and I found them dead. -J

The video above and pictures below are graphic. Please look at them.

What upsets me even more is the fact there is a solution to the strays and it’s already being applied in Ahmadi and it’s working! The program is very successful so why can’t it be applied all over Kuwait?

[YouTube]

This has to stop!

Earlier tonight I passed by Ubon, the new trendy Thai restaurant that opened up in Kuwait City. I’m not a big fan of Thai food but the place is located in my office tower and the interior looks amazing so I had to try it. Below is what I ended up ordering.

Tom Yum Goong Soup (KD2.400) It’s a hot and sour prawn soup with mushroom and vegetables. I asked mine to be made medium spicy which turned out to be too spicy for my liking.

Chicken Satay Sticks (KD2.200) These were really great. I kinda wish the peanut sauce was a bit thicker but that’s an issue I have with Thai food in general.

Green Curry Chicken (KD3.000) + Jasmine Steamed Rice (KD1.000) I loved this dish but next time I’m ordering it without the veggies.

Sticky Rice with Mango (KD2.800) This was the biggest surprise. I ordered it unwillingly since I didn’t find anything else on the small dessert list. It didn’t sound great (rice dessert?) and when it came it didn’t look that appetizing either. But after scooping up a bit of rice with mango and taking a bite I fell in love with it. 99% of the desserts I have involve chocolate so it was extremely refreshing to finally find a chocolate free dessert that I can really enjoy.

Fried Banana with Honey (complimentary) I originally wanted to order this for dessert but was told it wasn’t available. After my Sticky Rice with Mango arrived they told me that the Fried Banana was available and they would serve it to me after the Sticky Rice. I’m honestly glad they had originally told me it wasn’t available or else I wouldn’t have discovered the Sticky Rice. The Fried Banana is a very safe option and wasn’t that exciting. My recommendation would be to go with the Sticky Rice.

I had a good experience tonight and I can’t wait until they start opening for lunch since it would be very convenient for me. Right now they’re open from 6 to 11pm. Price wise they’re very reasonable and the portions are pretty good. I’m glad someone decided to open something other than a burger or frozen yogurt place. Now if someone would open a small trendy Chinese restaurant.

To find out more about Ubon visit their website [Here]

[YouTube]

Cosplay, short for “costume play”, is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea.

If you’re interested in joining them they’ve got a Facebook page [Here]

This new school is designed to promote experimental teaching, to branch away from the rote memorization model of learning that ensures that most Kuwaitis have zero knowledge of their agricultural history. To implement a more hands on approach, the designer created plenty of outdoor space at grade and even on the school’s roof.

An interesting project designed by Perkins + Will but like all the other cool projects popping up I hope this one gets built as well. Note the sheep on the roof. [Link]