Search: “mis”

There is this beautiful building I’ve walked and driven by for years and had always been curious to how it looked like inside. It’s located in the area behind Scientific Center and it was an old palace. Blogger Maha Alessa along with photographer Bedour AlAwadhi managed to get access to the palace and take some photos. Sadly the photos are a bit abstract and leaning towards the artistic side instead of journalistic so you can’t see much. A bit of a missed opportunity so I’ll see if I can get permission to visit the place and take photos myself. For now though you can check out the photos they took by clicking here or viewing Maha’s Instagram story here.

Does anyone remember the restaurant with the lobster aquarium in Sheraton Hotel back in the 80s? I think it was called the Hunt Room? It was located in the back, to the right of the telex machines. I’m trying to find photos or info on it but can’t find anything so I’m guessing I’ve got the name completely wrong.

Update: Ok found it, the restaurant was called “Hunt Room” so I was close! I found an old Sheraton matchbook for sale on eBay that mentions Hunt Room (pictured below) and also found a photo of a father and son having dinner there back in 1984. I need to keep digging.

Dine-In Records is a local online record store with a decent collection of albums. I’ve previously posted about two other local stores, Vinyl Destination and Misfits and although Dine-In has a smaller collection than both of those, the three combined give you a larger variety of albums to choose from. Prices start from KD10 and you can check out their collection on their website dineinrecordskw.com

Of course, if you want older or used records you still have the option of the Antique Basement.

Just a quick update, I removed yesterday’s post on my own accord. I wasn’t forced to remove it. I stated what I had to state and my readers read it so it’s done with. But when a post like that blows up and goes viral outside my regular reader base, it can easily get misinterpreted by people who don’t know me or the blog, and that brings a different set of issues that I don’t want to deal with. For everyone that reached out with support yesterday, thank you, it meant a lot.

Now back to our usual programming.

Boom Diwan is an ensemble of traditional Kuwaiti musicians who combine Kuwaiti bahri (sea) music with global jazz. This Saturday they will be teaming up with South African jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini and I’ll be streaming their performance live on the blog.

Event by NYUAD Arts Center
Date: Saturday, February 6th 2021
Time: 7PM
Location: YouTube and Facebook

The event will take place at 7PM on Saturday so check back then for the YouTube link or, watch the stream on Facebook.

Here are more details of the event:

For this performance, Boom.Diwan will collaborate with and feature special guest pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, the first ever South African musician signed to the legendary Blue Note Records. The two will co-compose a suite that will be performed as an immersive ritual of music, the visual, and dance that takes into account ideas about the self, the community, and the spiritual in the face of modernity. The music touches on ideas of cosmopolitanism, community, dialogue, and healing.

Founded by applied ethnomusicologist Ghazi Al-Mulaifi, Boom.Diwan is a collaborative global jazz ensemble that revives the cosmopolitan tradition of the Kuwaiti pearl diving music of the Indian Ocean trade. With influences spanning Zanzibar to Calicut, improvisation, fluidity, and dialogue are at the center of Boom.Diwan.

At its core, Boom.Diwan is comprised of Al-Mulaifi on vocals, percussion, and electric guitar and members of the Mayouf Mejally Ensemble, who are the among the oldest and most widely respected pearl-diving music ensembles in Kuwait and the GCC. For this performance, they will be joined by Steven Bedford (NOON) on electric bass, and Claude Cozens on drum kit. Improvisation and cross-cultural collaborations are the foundation of Boom.Diwan’s mission.

Update: Here is the YouTube stream!

Below is this weekend’s list of things you can do. Not as many things going on as last week, but I might have missed a few things, let me know if I did.

Thursday
Treasure Hunt at the Museums
CAP Collection: Spotlights Exhibition
BBT Picnic
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive

Friday
Sunrise Beach Yoga
Camping 101
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive

Saturday
Saturday Morning Sailing
TrashTag Beach Cleanup
Camel Races
CAP Collection: Spotlights Exhibition
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive
Boom Diwan x Nduduzo Makhathini

This is related to my dirt bike adventure yesterday but decided it deserved a separate post.

Subiya is one big garbage dump right now.

The causeway bridge is the worst thing to happen to Subiya because as soon as you cross over to the other side it’s now littered with garbage. Like EVERYWHERE! There wasn’t a single off-road area yesterday where we didn’t come across garbage. It’s so sad and upsetting and especially since I used to visit the area before the bridge was opened up and I remember how clean it used to be. There were barely ever any people there, no campsites at all, and just camels with herders. Now it’s just a big ass garbage dump.

People camp and litter and it’s disgusting. Instead of banning electric scooters on roads or importing car exhausts, how about banning camping in the desert instead? How about turning the whole desert area into a natural reserve and have people request permission to camp in designated camping grounds like they do in national parks in the States?

It’s so sad.

Today is going to be a day of complaining on the blog. I don’t think I’ve ever been so pessimistic about the future of Kuwait as I have been recently. From roads that are a total mess to laws that don’t make any sense. And then when you have serious issues, nothing gets done about it.

Last week the popular local instagrammer Ascia got harassed while leaving her office on the way to her car. She was clearly shaken up and posted an emotional story on her Instagram about what had happened. Women getting harrassed by men is such a common occurrence in Kuwait it’s become the norm. There isn’t a single girl I know who hasn’t been harassed and it happens all the time.

Women get harassed at malls, universities, in parking lots, at work, everywhere basically, and nothing ever gets done about it. But now a bunch of popular instagrammers are going vocal about the issue and hopefully, people will finally listen to them.

Other than Ascia, the popular luxury footwear designer Najeeba Hayat (@liudmilahq) has been very vocal about harassment sharing stories by other women on her account. Local illustrators like @wadaniart and @coffeeandcastoffs have also posted about the problem and the movement seems to be gaining traction. An instagram account was set up called Lan Asket (@lan.asket) which translates into “I won’t stay quiet” which has been posting stories of harrasment in both English and Arabic.

Men can help too. Anytime you see a form of harassment taking place get involved. I witness a lot of cases of harassment on the Gulf Road and anytime I see it happening, I usually pull up behind the guy and start flashing my high beams and honking the horn until he drives off.

Knowing how things are in Kuwait I’m not very optimistic something will be done about this. Like I mentioned in my previous post, they usually implement new rules or laws, enforce them heavily for two weeks and then forget about them. It’s sad really, but hopefully, I’m wrong.

What do you think needs to be done? What would help this issue? What can men do to support this cause? I’m interested in what people think about this subject. Have you been harassed before? Share your story.

[poll id=”15″]

Below is this weekend’s list of things you can do. If I missed anything let me know.

Thursday
Desert Experience
Outdoor Movie: Wonder Woman 2
Treasure Hunt at the Museums
CAP Collection: Spotlights Exhibition
BBT Picnic
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive

Friday
Fun Fishing
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive
DJ Flow at JAR

Saturday
Re.Connect Retreat in the Desert
Hidden Secrets of Al Mubarakiya
Beach Yoga (Ladies Only)
Saturday Morning Sailing
Camel Races
CAP Collection: Spotlights Exhibition
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive
DJ West at JAR

There are a lot of collectors in Kuwait but a lot fewer people willing to sell what they have. GTM Comics is the Instagram account for a local comic book and toy collector called Mishari AlReshaid who actually sells some of his stuff. He has vintage comics, action figures from the 80s, old lunch boxes from the 80s, some new release collectibles and a bunch of other things. You can check out his store on Instagram @gtmcomics_shop

A lot of cool things happening this weekend, check out the full list below.

Thursday
CAP Collection: Spotlights Exhibition
BBT Picnic
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive
Desert Experience Trip

Friday
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive
Fun Fishing
Sound Healing Session
Meditation Session
DJ B at JAR

Saturday
Camel Races
CAP Collection: Spotlights Exhibition
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive
Yoga in the Woods
TrashTag Beach Cleanup
TrashHero Desert Cleanup
Kuwait Raptors Trivia Night
Saturday Sunset Cruising

If I missed anything let me know.

Have you ever dined aboard a traditional wooden dhow? Now is your chance! Al Boom Steak & Seafood Restaurant opened brand new outdoor seating. It’s a whole new experience you should not miss. Al Boom Restaurant is located aboard a traditional wooden ship modeled after those that used to sail the Arabian Gulf and is “docked” at Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait.

The Head Chef of Al Boom Restaurant, Mukthar Alli, completely revised the menu that will take you on a tour around the world with dishes inspired by Indian, Arabic, European and American cuisines. The meat selection will surely please every meat lover as it includes prime cuts of Certified Angus Beef and Australian Wagyu. The seafood section includes shrimp, lobster, and various types of fish popular in Kuwait. All specials are charcoal-grilled to perfection – mmm… so tender and juicy.

Every Friday, Al Boom also opens for Al Boom Friday Brunch. Who doesn’t love to be outdoors around this time of the year? The deck of Al Boom is a perfect place to sit back, listen to the sound of the sea, and enjoy the lavish meal prepared by the skilled chefs of Radisson Blu Hotel. The brunch, served at your table, features impressive 21 dishes that include mezzes, salads, tapas, and of course freshly grilled specials. The Al Boom Brunch will make you go WOW! And all the dishes are snap-worthy, so get your camera ready.

The Al Boom Restaurant, built in Calicut, India in 1979, is an exact replica of dhows that used to sail the Arabian Sea until the start of the twentieth century. The ship arrived in Kuwait in 1980, right in time for the opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel, and Al Boom Restaurant first opened in 1982. The lavish wooden décor with touches of copper creates a truly unique nautical ambiance. Ever since its opening Al Boom has been visited by many famous guests throughout the years such as sheiks, presidents, and senators, and it has earned an esteemed reputation for its high-class hospitality. A meal here is an event you must experience.

Al Boom Steak & Seafood Restaurant
Radisson Blu Hotel

T: +965 2567 3430 | [email protected] | radissonhotels.com/blu

Opening Hours:
6–11 pm | Monday – Saturday
12–4 pm | Friday Brunch
Closed | Sunday

I actually liked this museum because it was old and had random things inside. Sadly doesn’t look like it’s going to reopen anytime soon and I wouldn’t be surprised if they demolished it so they can build something new and shiny. I’m trying to remember the last time I visited and it might have been 2004, back when I had Moblogging from Kuwait (before my Miskan blog, and I think before Qhate).

For more photos of the current condition of the museum, click here.

Here is this weekend’s list of things to do. The KMT events don’t allow spectators so if you aren’t participating, you can’t check them out. I’ll keep looking for more things going on and will add them as I find them.

Thursday
CAP Collection: Spotlights Exhibition
KMT Drag Open Day
BBT Picnic
Moo “Inside the Box” Popup
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive

Friday
KMT Car Open Track Day
BBT Picnic
Moo “Inside the Box” Popup
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
DJ Flow at JAR
Tandem Skydive

Saturday
CAP Collection: Spotlights Exhibition
360 Fun Run
TrashTag Beach Cleanup
BBT Picnic
Moo “Inside the Box” Popup
RECCO Night Garden at Green Island
Tandem Skydive

If I missed anything let me know.

I’ve never really been interested in astrophotography myself since it’s a pretty time-consuming process that requires a lot of patience, but I do find the process interesting. I also assumed we wouldn’t be able to get good photos in Kuwait due to the light pollution but a local photographer is proving that assumption to be false.

Abdulmohsen Alreesh is a local photographer who has been capturing some great photos of our solar system and posting them on his Instagram account @mi7sen89. Not only that but he’s also listing the equipment he’s using as well as the capture details. For example, below is the info he shared related to the photo above:

Rosette Nebula NGC 2244

Description: The beautiful rosette nebula! Named because of the nebulosity that resembles rose petals. I actually see a skull but still a very cool target. The cluster and nebula lie at a distance of 5,000 light-years from Earth and measure roughly 130 light-years in diameter. The radiation from the young stars excites the atoms in the nebula, causing them to emit radiation themselves producing the emission nebula we see.

Equipment:
° Mount: Ioptron Cem40 with iPolar
° Main Imaging: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
° Filter: Optolong L-extreme 1.25″
° OTA: Skywatcher Esprit 100ED
° SW field flattener
° Guide Scope: ZWO mini guide scope 120mm
° Guide Camera: ZWO ASI-120MM-mini
° Stellarmate – Wireless Astrophotography Controller

Integration:
Lights: 30 x 300 seconds – gain 120
Darks: none
Flats: none
Bias: none

Total acquisition: 2 hours 30 minutes

Software:
Deep Sky Stacker
Siril
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Lightroom

It’s super interesting and he’s got other examples similar to this on his account as well. If you want to get into astrophotography or want to see more photos captured by Abdulmohsen, then make sure you check out his Instagram account @mi7sen89