Categories
Fun

Squid Game in Kuwait

Dream Factory who have different escape room experiences now have a Squid Game event that takes place after you and your friends are done completing one of their escape rooms.

Once you’re done with any of their rooms, you get to play the Red Light, Green Light game from the popular tv series and the winner gets a prize. They have a video up on their instagram showing the setup and looks kinda fun. For more photos, check out their instagram @dreamfactorykwt




Categories
Sports

3rd GCC Games to be held in Kuwait

Yesterday the Kuwait Olympic Committee announced that the 3rd GCC games will be held in Kuwait this coming January 2022. No other information was provided but here is some I managed to dig out:

  • The GCC Games include Sailing, basketball, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, weightlifting, futsal, snooker and table tennis.

  • The first GCC Games was held in Bahrain back in 2011.

  • The second GCC Games was held in Saudi Arabia in 2015.

  • The games are held every 4 years and were meant to be held last year but due to Covid got postponed.

  • At the first GCC Games Kuwait came first with 14 gold medals, 8 silver and 7 bronze

If you want to stay posted on the 3rd GCC Games you can follow the official Kuwait Olympics account @kuwaitolympic




Categories
Information

Digital Kuwaiti Driving License Now Available

A couple of days ago the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) updated the Kuwait Mobile ID app with the option to add a digital copy of your driving license. The instruction to do it are only in Arabic so here is a quick how-to:

1) I’m assuming you already have the app and are registered. You need to make sure you have the latest version of the app since the previous versions didn’t have this new feature. The new version was updated 2 days ago and is version 1.9.0.

2) Once logged into the app click on credentials. If your verification level is “Medium” you will now be presented with the option to scan your face similar to how you set up Face ID on the iPhone.

3) Once you are done with the verification process you will then have the option to add your driving license. I have two, a motorcycle license as well as a driving one so I have both showing in the app now.

The reason you want to add your driving license to Kuwait Mobile ID is that in case you forgot or lost your driving license, this digital version will now be accepted by the police.

On a side note, why is the new Sahel app only in Arabic???




Categories
Events Things to do

Things to do in Kuwait this Weekend

The weather is amazing and so all the events are starting to come back. There is so much going on right now I might have to bring back the Events page so I can keep track of everything. Below are all the events I found taking place this weekend, if I missed any, let me know in the comments:

Thursday
Exhibition: Art from the Islamic Civilization
Exhibition: Face to Face II
Kuwait Street Food Festival
Virgin Mobile Pop-up at Bunka
KMT: Drag Open Day – Roll Race
KMT: Car Open Track
Jetski World Championship at Marina Waves

Friday
Fall Festival – Art & Music in Al-Yarmouk
Kuwait Street Food Festival
Virgin Mobile Pop-up at Bunka
Sailing: Friday Morning Race
KMT: Motorcycle Open Track
KMT: Car Open Track
Jetski World Championship at Marina Waves

Saturday
Exhibition: Art from the Islamic Civilization
Grand Mosque Tour
Exhibition: Face to Face II
Sunset Yin/Yang Yoga
KASA Walks: Uncovering Kuwait City
Kuwait Street Food Festival
Natural Dye Workshop
Virgin Mobile Pop-up at Bunka
Shumaymah Desert Cleanup
Sailing: Saturday Sunset Cruising
KMT: Cycling Open Day
Jetski World Championship at Marina Waves
Kuwait Textile Art Association Fall Bazaar




Categories
Now Showing

Movies Showing in Kuwait this Weekend

A Quiet Place Part II

The movies below are now showing at Cinescape, Grand Cinemas and VOX:

New This Weekend:
A Quiet Place Part II (7.3)
13 Minutes (4.7)
F9: The Fast Saga (5.2)
Norm of the North: Family Vacation (2.8)
Overrun (6.3)
The Marksman (5.6)
Under the Stadium Lights (4.0)
Wrath of Man (7.1)

Other Movies Showing Now:
Antlers (6.3)
Cruella (7.4)
Dune (8.5)
Halloween Kills (7.4)
Luca (7.5)
Masquerade (3.8)
Minamata (7.7)
Monster Family 2 (4.5)
No Time to Die (7.9)
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (6.2)
Seal Team (7.2)
Spencer (6.9)
The Addams Family 2 (5.3)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (6.5)

Classic Movies Showing Now:
Blow Out (7.4)

The films below are also now showing at the Scientific Center IMAX theater:

IMAX Movies Showing Now:
Antarctica (N/A)
Backyard Wilderness 3D (7.7)
Turtle Odyssey (7.2)

Numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at time of publishing.




Categories
Information Shopping Sports

Largest Adidas Store in Kuwait Opens

Back in July of last year, Adidas took over the Café Coco location in Avenues Phase 3 and a few days ago, the store finally opened up. The new location is actually a ground floor extension to the pre-existing Adidas store that was located upstairs in the SoKu area of Avenues. A lot of people didn’t know there was an Adidas there because it was tucked away, so this new extension right on the main strip provides a lot more exposure.

The ground floor space with the large upstairs area now makes it the largest Adidas store in Kuwait by far. If you want to pass by, it’s right across from Harvey Nichols.




Categories
Now Showing

Movies Showing in Kuwait this Weekend

Spencer

The movies below are now showing at Cinescape, Grand Cinemas and VOX:

New This Weekend:
Masquerade (3.8)
Seal Team (7.2)
Spencer (6.9)
The Toll (5.3)

Other Movies Showing Now:
Antlers (6.3)
Cruella (7.4)
Dune (8.5)
Halloween Kills (7.4)
Luca (7.5)
Minamata (7.7)
Monster Family 2 (4.5)
No Time to Die (7.9)
PAW Patrol: The Movie (6.2)
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (6.2)
The Addams Family 2 (5.3)
The Survivalist (3.3)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (6.5)

Classic Movies Showing Now:
Blow Out (7.4)

The films below are also now showing at the Scientific Center IMAX theater:

IMAX Movies Showing Now:
Antarctica (N/A)
Backyard Wilderness 3D (7.7)
Turtle Odyssey (7.2)

Numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at time of publishing.




Categories
50s to 90s Movies

Anthony Quinn in Kuwait

The 1976 movie “The Message” is one of the classics currently playing at Cinescape’s 1954 movie theater. What not a lot of people know is that the star of the film, Anthony Quinn came to Kuwait back then because of the movie. Kuwait, Libya and Morocco had originally promised to support the making of the film financially, but when it was rejected by the Muslim World League in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait still kept its financial support which is why I think the press conference was held here.

Above is a short clip from the conference which starts with Anthony Quinn and then is followed by the director Moustapha Akkad. If someone knows where I can find the full video, let me know.

Sitting two seats down to the left of Anthony Quinn is also Farouq Abdul-Aziz, the creator and host of the Kuwait Television cultural show “Cine Club” which aired from 1977 to 1992. According to a recent interview I found with Farouq, turns out he was later hired to document the making of Anthony Quinn’s movie “Lion of the Desert“. You can watch a short clip from that interview above.

And completely random but related, I just found out while researching the info above that Farouq was also responsible for the Kuwait scenes in Ron Fricke’s award-winning movie documentary “Baraka”. He had researched and produced those scenes which you can view above. If you haven’t watched “Baraka” or the follow up film “Samsara“, then you’re missing out.




Categories
Events

Forty-two Years of Documenting Kuwait

Claudia Al Rashoud has been documenting Kuwait since 1979 when she became the first professional female photojournalist at the Arab Times newspaper. Tomorrow (Wednesday) she is holding a seminar titled ‘Forty-two Years of Documenting Kuwait’ which is open to the public. Claudia will be talking about how her photographic work and how it began in the chaotic conditions of a newspaper darkroom as well as other subjects like why Kuwait’s desert environment and animal welfare are among her major areas of concern.

Date: Wed, November 3, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Yarmouk Cultural Centre – Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah

If you want to attend the talk you need to register by clicking here.




Categories
Events Things to do

Things to do in Kuwait this Weekend

A bunch of interesting events happening this weekend. Murouj was meant to also have a market this weekend but they had to postpone. I personally signed up for the classic car open track on Saturday although not sure how much actual racing I’ll be doing in my Alfa. All Kuwait Motor Town events are open for the public to come and watch. Check out all the events below:

Thursday
Exhibition: Art from the Islamic Civilization
Melemele Karaoke Halloween Weekend
Skateboarding: Halloween Huckjam
Kuwait Motor Town: Drag Open Day – Roll Race
Kuwait Motor Town: Car Open Track Day
Live Painting/Sculpting Night
House of Evil Drive In Movie

Friday
Melemele Karaoke Halloween Weekend
Sailing: Friday Morning Race
Trashtag Bneid Al Qar Beach Clean Up
Kuwait Motor Town: Motorcycle Open Track Day
Kuwait Motor Town: Car Open Track Day
Sunrise Ashtanga
House of Evil Drive In Movie
C Club 5K Charity Run
Persian/Arabian Music Night

Saturday
Exhibition: Art from the Islamic Civilization
Grand Mosque Tour
Melemele Karaoke Halloween Weekend
Sailing: Saturday Sunset Cruising
Gulf Bank Breast Cancer Awareness Walkathon
Flying Start Triathlon
Kuwait Motor Town: Race Car Open Track Day
Kuwait Motor Town: Classic Car Open Track Day
Afro Night at Curiocity
House of Evil Drive In Movie
Exhibition: Fajer AlWugayan

As usual, if I’ve missed an event, let me know in the comments below.




Categories
Now Showing

Movies Showing in Kuwait this Weekend

Minamata

The movies below are now showing at Cinescape, Grand Cinemas and VOX:

New This Weekend:
Antlers (6.3)
Awoken (5.2)
Minamata (7.7)
Monster Family 2 (4.5)
The Gateway (4.5)
The Survivalist (3.3)

Other Movies Showing Now:
Cruella (7.4)
Dragon Rider (5.6)
Dune (8.5)
Halloween Kills (7.4)
Flag Day (4.7)
Luca (7.5)
No Time to Die (7.9)
PAW Patrol: The Movie (6.2)
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (6.2)
The Addams Family 2 (5.3)
Tom and Jerry (5.3)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (6.5)

Classic Movies Showing Now:
The Silence of the Lambs (8.6)

The films below are also now showing at the Scientific Center IMAX theater:

IMAX Movies Showing Now:
Antarctica (N/A)
Backyard Wilderness 3D (7.7)
Interstellar (8.6)
Turtle Odyssey (7.2)

Numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at time of publishing.




Categories
News Videos

Life at 50C: Surviving in Kuwait’s ‘unbearable’ heat

BBC published the video above a few hours ago on life in Kuwait during the summer. Not sure why the music had to be so dramatic, it made the whole video sound like we are suffering and dying because of the heat. One thing that caught my interest is the lady planting trees. I don’t know what her day job is but someone should put her in charge of saving Kuwait’s trees.

In case you can’t watch the video above, here is the Link




Categories
Banned Movies News

Marvel Studios’ Eternals Film Banned in Kuwait

It’s been a while since a movie has been banned in Kuwait but according to Al Jarida newspaper, the Marvel Studios’ film ‘Eternals’ has been banned in Kuwait. The newspaper didn’t give any reason for the ban but it’s most likely because of the character ‘Phastos‘ who is the first openly gay hero.

I really wasn’t interested in watching the film but after hearing of the ban I watched the trailer for it and now kinda want to watch it. I guess I’ll have to stream it when it eventually comes out on Disney+.




Categories
Travel

What you need to know if you’re flying into Kuwait

I got back to Kuwait late last night and wanted to share some info on what you need or don’t need to do when flying back. The information I found online was either outdated or not accurate so here is what I went through:

Check-in
When checking in to my flight in Amsterdam the Dutch staff had notes on what to ask for and they asked me the following questions:
– If I had a negative PCR test and I needed to share with them my result
– If I had a vaccination and I needed to show them my Immune app
– If I had shlonik installed

PCR Test
Before flying back into Kuwait you need to get a PCR test done. This was something I already knew but what gave me anxiety is some people said I needed a PCR result that had a QR code. The test I took in Amsterdam didn’t provide a QR code with the result so I was worried it wouldn’t be accepted. This turned out not to be true, when checking in at the airport the employee just asked if I had done a PCR test and then checked my result on my phone (a PDF file) and that was it. No QR code was required on my result and nobody in Kuwait checked my test once I landed.

One thing to note is to make sure you don’t leave your PCR test for the last minute. I thought getting one would be easier in Amsterdam than Kuwait and so left it till the last minute. That turned out not to be the case. There were limited places that did the test with the result taking up to 24 hours to come out. Also, it was much more expensive to get one done there.

Kuwait Mosafer
Nobody asked me about Kuwait Mosafer. Supposedly you are meant to sign up to kuwaitmosafer.gov.kw before arriving but nobody checked for it or asked me about it.

Shlonik App
Once you land in Kuwait you’ll find posters saying you should install the Shlonik app. The reason for this is you’re automatically placed in quarantine once you arrive and if you have the app installed you’ll get a notification about it. You’re meant to quarantine for 6 days unless you get a negative PCR test so on my way home I just dropped by the 24-hour Jarralah drive-thru PCR test location in Hawally (Map) and got my test done. I had the test at 2AM and by 5:30AM the result was out and the app automatically removed me from quarnatine.

It was overall a pretty simple process which means traveling for a quick weekend like the old days should be very doable. I also liked flying with Kuwait Airways because of the fact they were very lenient in regards to wearing masks on the flight. Even on arrival at the airport nobody cared if you wore a mask or not which was great since we’re all vaccinated anyway.

If anyone has any questions regarding flying in or out of Kuwait, let me know in the comments.




Categories
Now Showing

Movies Showing in Kuwait this Weekend

Cosmic Sin

The movies below are now showing at Cinescape, Grand Cinemas and VOX:

New This Weekend:
Bikes (4.5)
Cosmic Sin (2.5)
Endangered Species (4.5)
Flag Day (4.7)
Yakuza Princess (4.4)

Other Movies Showing Now:
Cruella (7.4)
Dragon Rider (5.6)
Dune (8.5)
Halloween Kills (7.4)
Luca (7.5)
No Time to Die (7.9)
PAW Patrol: The Movie (6.2)
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (6.2)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (8.0)
The Addams Family 2 (5.3)
Tom and Jerry (5.3)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (6.5)

Classic Movies Showing Now:
The Message (8.2)
The Silence of the Lambs (8.6)

The films below are also now showing at the Scientific Center IMAX theater:

IMAX Movies Showing Now:
Antarctica (N/A)
Backyard Wilderness 3D (7.7)
Interstellar (8.6)
Turtle Odyssey (7.2)

Numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at time of publishing.