Search: “ace”

My brother went to the abandoned Amiri Hospital in Kuwait City and took a bunch of pictures. The place looks extremely freaky. My favorite shot has to be the one above, the coffin plus the word HELP scribbled onto the wall is just chilling. You can check out some of the pictures he took on his flickr account [Here]

Update: Below is a screen shot of my brothers flickr statistics, it shot up from 200 views to 10,100 views a day.

I was showing a friend of mine a couple of weeks back a post a friend of mine did on Blog Baladi about a popular taouk place in Lebanon called Massaad. My friend told me that the brother of the owner of Masaad actually has a small place here in Kuwait where they made similar taouk sandwiches and that the place was near my house. So I decided to go there and try it out.

I am a huge fan of a place in Lebanon called Malak al Taouk. They’re another popular Lebanese taouk place and they’re known for their HUGE sandwiches (check picture above). Tilal Lebanan doesn’t have sandwiches as big as theirs but they do have taouk sandwiches that are the closest thing to a Malak al Taouk sandwich in Kuwait.

Finding the place was pretty easy for me but I drew a map for anyone else who’s interested in finding the place. It’s located on traffic light street in Salmiya, I don’t know what the name of the street is but if you are on the 4th ring road and you take a right to exit Amman Street, head left on the first traffic light and then you should find the place tucked off the side of the road after I think the second or third traffic light. The place doesn’t look fancy at all, he has a few tables outside and inside but I just pass by pick up my sandwich and leave. He does a taouk platter and other variations of the taouk but I’ve just tried one of their sandwiches which is their regular taouk sandwich. It usually comes with garlic and pickles but I tell them to make it with fries and cabbage salad (similar to Malek al Taouk). I would recommend you have the sandwich my way since for one thing you don’t have the garlic issue.

I think their taouk sandwich is really great. I’ve had it a few times already and I love it. I do wish their cabbage salad was a bit better and they added more of it (an easy fix) but overall I think it’s the best taouk sandwich I’ve had in Kuwait. Price? Just KD1. One sandwich can be filling, I usually have around one and a half though. Their telephone number is 25615218

Update: I was just informed that Tilal Lebnan no longer belongs to the brother of the Lebanese Massaad restaurant. Seems he recently got into a fight with his partners and he has left Tilal Lebnan.

The weather is great and so the Cinemagic movie nights are back on. For this month they have everything from chilling thrillers to hot dramas, from warm romances to cool comedies, everything that will enrich your taste and love for movies.

Thursday, October 14th at 7:30PM
REVANCHE
Director: Gotz Spielmann
Country: Austria
Release: 2008
Genre: Thriller | Drama
Running time: 122 minutes
Language: German | Russian | English Subtitle
Awards: Winner BIFF 2008, Oscar Nominee Best Foreign film 2009
Rated: R

Saturday, October 16th at 7:30PM
ONCE
Director: John Carney
Country: Ireland
Release: 2006
Genre: Drama | Music | Romance
Running time: 88 minutes
Language: English | Czech Subtitle
Awards: 18 awards and 13 nominations
Rated: R

Thursday, October 21st at 7:30PM
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Director: Victor Fleming
Country: USA
Release: 1939
Genre: Adventure | Fantasy | Musical | Family
Running time: 101 minutes
Language: English | English Subtitle
Awards: 2 Oscars, 5 other wins and 8 nominations
Rated: PG

Saturday, October 23rd at 7:30PM
SURPRISE FILM
Director:
Country: Germany, France
Release: 2006
Genre: Drama | Thriller
Running time: 147 minutes
Language: English | English Subtitle
Awards: 12 wins and 12 nominations
Rated: 15+

Thursday, October 28th at 7:30PM
THE HOST
Director: Bong Joon-Ho
Country: South Korea
Release: 2006
Genre: Horror | Drama | Comedy
Running time: 120 minutes
Language: Korean | English Subtitle
Awards: 6 wins and 1 nomination
Rated: R

Saturday, October 30th at 7:30PM
CZECH DREAM
Director: Vit Klusak, Flip Remunda
Country: Czech Republic
Release: 2004
Genre: Documentary | Comedy
Running time: 88 minutes
Language: Czech | English Subtitle
Awards: 6 wins and 1 nomination
Rated: PG

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. There is a KD1 charge for the venue fees which includes refreshments, popcorn and much more. Here is a link to their facebook group [Link]

Some of you already noticed that I changed the blog banner last night from the “THEBSIDES” to “The A-SIDES”. Continuing to use the term B-Sides didn’t make sense since 2:48AM wasn’t the B-Side anymore. Originally during my Miskan project I needed a place to dump photos and talk about things that didn’t have room on Miskan (remember I was limited to 1 post a day) and so 2:48AM was created and the B-Side tag slapped on.

My Miskan project ended 5 years ago and 2:48AM no longer was the B-Side, instead it became the A-Side and I don’t know why it took me so long to change that.

So 2:48AM is now the A-Side but that made me realize something. When the blog first started I used to post 5+ posts per day. As the site grew and my readership base grew I started becoming a lot more picky to what to post and what not to. This is why I decided to create a B-Side to 2:48AM, a place where I could post stuff that wouldn’t usually make it on my main site here but was still content that many people would find interesting.

2:48PM [The B-Sides] is now live and you can access it by going to www.248pm.com or clicking the link on the far right of the navigation bar on top of this site. Starting today you will have a lot more posts and content to shift through so I hope everyone enjoys it. Any comments, feedback and ideas are always welcomed of course.

Last week I was leaving Shuwaikh when I spotted the Historical Vintage & Classic Cars Museum. I hadn’t seen it before but since I was late to work I figured I would pass by again another time. Turns out the museum still wasn’t open and the actual opening is happening tomorrow (10/10/10). The event will start off with a gathering at Kuwait Towers. The Kuwait Riders Bikers Team, Porsche Club Cars & Muscles & Old Cars group will be meeting up in the Kuwait Towers parking lot at 6PM 4:30PM and then drive off towards the museum at around 6:30PM 5PM. The museum is located in the area across from Tilal Complex and will contain over 150 cars. As a huge car fan I can’t wait to visit the place.

Thanks Ramez

Update: I just got a phone call telling me that the event has been officially postponed. No date is yet set but it would most probably be next week.

Don’t have any plans this Saturday? Here’s something you can do, clean up the beach. You get to meet new people while also making a statement. This beach clean up is happening alongside the 350.org international campaign where people all around the world come together on the same day to perform a good earth deed. This year that day is 10/10/10 but due to the fact that would be a Sunday in Kuwait, a work/school day, the event in Kuwait will be taking place on 9/10/10 instead.

Location: The beach between KFC and Fridays on the Gulf Road
Time: Saturday, October 9 · 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Activity Website: Facebook

A reader emailed me to tell me that Kaifan Co-op recently installed Cash Guard machines. I’ve seen them before I think at the Shamiya Co-op and thought they were pretty cool. Basically it’s connected to the cash register and once your total is tallied up you pay the cashier and they place the money into the machine which then spits out the change if any.

Now I’m curious to know how much money was actually going missing from the regular cash registers that the Co-ops had to resort to installing these what I am guessing expensive machines? I found a video on YouTube on how they work which you can watch below.

[YouTube]

Thanks Laila

Me and Nat passed by Sidekick Academy earlier tonight and signed up to their courses. Nat’s going to be taking their Be-Safe womens program which I previously posted about while I’ll be taking private lessons in mixed martial arts.

It was my first time passing by their training facility and I was really impressed. The place is huge and feels like a great place to train in. They also told me Royce Gracie will be coming back to Kuwait in around 2 months time which is great.

So now I’m pretty much set up with activities on a daily basis. I’ve got Core Fitness four times a week, mixed martial arts once a week and I’ll be building and racing radio controlled cars with Pro-Hobbies also once a week. And people say there is nothing to do in Kuwait…

Update: Here are the prices if anyone is interested

Program Pricing (6 times a week)
1 month = KD70
3 months = KD200
6 months = KD375
1 year = KD720

Be Safe Program (twice a week/women only)
1 month = KD45

Private Lessons (per hour)
KD10 = Private lesson with a red belt instructor
KD20 = Private lesson with a brown belt instructor
KD30 = Private lesson with a black belt instructor

Their phone number is 99965562 99975562

Update: Sorry I posted their wrong phone number, the correct number is 99975562

The U.S. Embassy, Kuwait has organized a photography exhibition that is hosted by Dar al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah. The photography exhibition is of famous American jazz musicians who traveled the world on U.S. Department of State-funded tours to promote cultural diplomacy.

Time
September 23rd to October 8th
Saturday to Thursday 10am to 2pm & 4pm to 8pm
Friday 4pm to 8pm

Place
Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah (Americani Hospital)

You can view the flyer [Here]

We take great pleasure in inviting you to celebrate the end of Teddy B’s 365 day journey. An exhibition of photographs depicting Teddy’s life will be presented at the Sultan Gallery, Sabhan. Teddy will be auctioned, and a publication of his year’s story is available for sale. We are also excited to showcase a painting donated by the profound artist Ghadah AlKandari. All proceeds will be going to children’s charities in Kuwait.

We would appreciate your support and attendance for this good cause and one of a kind exhibition!

P.S: For simplicity, please note, only cash will be accepted.

Time
Tuesday 5th October: 7pm – 10pm
Wednesday 6th October: 10am – 2pm, 7pm – 10pm
Thursday 7th October: 10am – 2pm

Place
The Sultan Gallery
Sabhan, southern entrance, Sadeer Co., block 8, street 105, building no 168
Telephone: 24714325/26 ext 110
Here is a map [Link]

Information
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Link
Website: www.yearofteddy.com

PechaKucha Night #6 will be held on Wednesday, September 29th.
20 images x 20 seconds to be presented by:

Rania Abulhasan
Ayesha Al Humaidhi
Aziz Al Mudhaf
Bedour Al Saleh
Dalal Al Hashash, Fatma Al Obaid & Khawla Al Hussaini
Dalal Al Sayer
Fatemah Al Mosawi
Ghalia Al Othman & Raweya Al Sedairawi
Sahar Shawa

Date: Wednesday, September 29th 2010
Time: 7:30 pm
Place: Infiniti Showroom at Al Rai
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.pecha-kucha.org/cities/kuwait-city
Facebook group: Pecha Kucha Kuwait

I know being 40 isn’t like being #1 or in the top 10 or top 20 but it’s still an accomplishment since Kuwait according to Newsweek is the best Arab country in the world. The results were based on Education, Health, Quality of Life, Economic Dynamism and Political Environment. Kuwait came in 24th place for Quality of Life while it loss mostly in the Education category coming in 76th place. That’s not good news. Lebanon on the other hand didn’t even make the list! Now that’s embarrassing. [Link]

Thanks Ahmed

Qaiss from io81 has a great post on a small start up juice company here in Kuwait. The post talks about the basic structure of the company, how it works and how much it makes. He also highlights an important point at the end:

There is a market out there and huge potential for many business idea’s other than cupcakes

He is absolutely right. There are a lot of people that bake and cook food and then set up a Facebook page and start selling their goods. Other than the fact that its probably illegal to sell food from your home (since there is no way to guarantee the cleanliness) why don’t people actually setup a proper business? Why not open up a little bakery or a small delivery restaurant. What about ideas beyond food? Check out his post [Here]

A reader emailed me to tell me that Kuwait was featured in the most recent issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine (Oct 2010). A cool thing of course if it wasn’t for the fact that the article was very superficial and spoke mostly about shopping at The Avenues. I’m serious.

Outside The Avenues, the 125°(F) desert air is rising in waves from a sea of luxury cars in the mall parking lot—Land Rovers, Mercedes-Benzes, and Hummers, with a Ferrari or two thrown in. Inside, I’m swept along the marbled concourse by a tide of men in dark sunglasses and ankle-length white robes. Nearby are wives, sisters, and daughters, some in headscarves and designer jeans, others cloaked head-to-toe in flowing black garments, or abayas, and some walled behind face masks . Housemaids and nannies trail behind—domestic servants imported from the Philippines, China, and elsewhere—lugging the day’s boxes and bags.

Understanding the Kuwaiti passion for retail requires a brief civics lesson. Kuwaiti citizens—who make up only one-third of the country’s expat-heavy population of three million—benefit from a lavish package of petro benefits, including plush government jobs. “People get paid for doing relatively little, or nothing at all, and they get paid extremely well,” says Mary Ann Tetreault, a professor and specialist in Gulf affairs. “Shopping is really the only way to distinguish oneself from one’s peers.”

You can check out the full article on the readers blog located at [read-my-blog.com]

I found this video on YouTube which is supposedly of Kuwaiti policemen beating up some Iranian drug traffickers at the Doha port. The video is very low quality so it’s very difficult to confirm that these are actually Kuwaiti policemen and that this actually happened at the Doha port. The policemen in the video above though are wearing flak jackets that are very similar to the local police. I also have no idea if this video is recent or not. [YouTube]

Update: replaced the video with a slightly better quality one