Search: “sti”

If you’re looking for a good movie to watch, I watched Predator: Badlands last night and it was really great. Although the trailer was good I wasn’t expecting the movie to be this good because prequels and sequels tend to be butchered. But, I was looking for a sci-fi and this popped up so decided to watch and glad I did. It’s visually stunning and there never was a dull moment throughout the film, it actually felt short by the end.

I streamed the movie on AppleTV but because it’s still new, the cost to rent it was pricey at $25. So similar in price to two people going to watch it in the movies, except I prefer my setup to a movie theater so it makes it kinda ok.

Yesterday I posted that Kuwait Airways will start flying to Mykonos but according to my contact at Kuwait Airways, they’ll soon be launching new direct flights to more interesting destinations, including:

• Beijing
• Maldives
• Moscow
• Phuket

Maldives and Beijing are the two destinations I’m most interested in. Maldives because I’ve been wanting to experience it for a long time, and Beijing because I want to explore parts of China and it would be a great starting point. I do wish they brought back Athens instead of Mykonos though, especially since after deciding it would be my go-to summer spot, they suddenly stopped flying to it.

Kuwait Airways will start flying to Moscow three times a week and Mykonos twice a week, both starting in June. I’m still waiting to hear back on the other destinations, but you can keep an eye on their account for an official announcement @kuwaitairways

There were recently articles in the newspaper about Royal Pharmacy having their license revoked. The article didn’t make much sense to me since it didn’t really explain why their license was revoked. I read a few comments online about people thinking it was because they had too many branches open in the same area, and a lot of people sounded like they were happy their license was being revoked, like they wanted Royal Pharmacy to be punished for their success.

I have a Royal Pharmacy near my house (actually 3) but there is one I pass by the most. So I asked my pharmacist what the issue is and if they were in fact closing down because all three pharmacies near me were still open.

According to my pharmacist the issue is that basically the Kuwaiti owner of Royal Pharmacy had his citizenship revoked. So all the Royal Pharmacy stores no longer had a Kuwaiti partner.

I think the way pharmacies work in Kuwait is that an individual pharmacist needs to be the owner. So for example Royal Pharmacy or Boots are brands names, but each pharmacy is owned by an individual pharmacist. That’s why sometimes you’ll find a pharmacist name on the sign or a window sticker written in a small font.

According to my pharmacist who is an expat, because the Royal Pharmacy owner is no longer Kuwaiti, all the pharmacists need to find a new Kuwaiti partner. So the pharmacies won’t be closing (or most won’t at least), but they will be renamed or rebranded. One of the three Royal pharmacies next to me already had the word Royal removed from the signage. I’d imagine some other big brand might now want to take over the Royal Pharmacy brand.

Anyway, the above is just based on what my pharmacist told me so it might not necessarily be accurate, but it makes sense to me.

Studio Marmi is a newly opened natural stone gallery in Shuwaikh. It’s the largest of its kind, and I found the concept really interesting when they explained it to me. Unlike most natural stone showrooms, Studio Marmi doesn’t display small samples of each stone. Instead, they showcase full uncut slabs, meaning the stone you choose is the exact stone you get.

Most of the time when you’re shopping for natural stone for your home or a commercial space, you pick a stone based on a showroom sample, and since that sample is usually just a display piece, you often end up getting something similar instead. Because Studio Marmi displays the actual slabs, the stone you pick with all its unique characteristics is the one you actually get. Browsing the slabs is a unique experience as well, since they use a crane mechanism to move them around for viewing and selection.

This is also why their space is so large and feels more like a warehouse than a traditional showroom. As you walk around, you’ll see each stone clearly labeled with information on its strength, best uses, and pricing. They carry stones of varying strengths, from softer options like limestone and marble to harder ones like quartzite and crystal, all curated by them and imported from Brazil.

In addition to their impressive space, all their inventory is also available on their website. Once a new slab arrives, it’s photographed and added to their live online inventory along with all the relevant details. They also have a 3D visualizer that helps you see how a specific natural stone might look in a kitchen or home environment.

If you want to pass by their showroom, here is their location on Google Maps. You can also check out their website studiomarmi.com.kw or check out their instagram account @studiomarmikw

Ever since Nando’s reopened in Kuwait, I’ve been a regular, usually ordering my go-to dish, the Espetada with the hot peri-peri sauce. If you’ve never been to Nando’s, the best way to describe the Espetada is that it’s their version of taouk. It’s flame-grilled boneless PERi-PERi chicken thighs served to your table on a skewer hanging from a stand. It’s pretty eye-catching, and you’ll usually notice people glancing your way when it arrives.

Recently, Nando’s launched their most epic Espetada to date, the Espetada A Torre Dukkah Lima, which was created to feel a bit more special than the usual lineup. The dish still features flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken thighs, but this time they’re stuffed with a spiced PERi-dukkah and cream cheese filling, layered with yellow pepper, red onion, and lime, then finished with a PERi and herb tahini pour-over sauce. You also get to choose your sides, and my favorites are the corn on the cob and coleslaw.

It’s a good excuse to try the Espetada if you’ve never had it before. It’s available for dine-in at The Marina Crescent, Assima Mall, The Warehouse Mall, and Al Kout Mall. If you don’t feel like leaving the house, their menu is also available on Talabat. If you want to check out the full menu and prices, they have it linked in their profile @nandos.kw

Similar to last year, I put together a year in review highlighting some of the most popular posts from the past year.

Last year I had one post that went viral internationally, and that was my Gaza Cola post. I still don’t really understand why it took off the way it did, and honestly it brought a lot of unwanted noise with it. I ended up closing the comments and repeatedly hiding and unhiding the post until things finally quieted down. In the end that post got over 2 million views and over 160,000 likes.

I generally don’t like posts going viral since they tend to attract followers outside my usual audience. I love it when a post does really well, but once it goes past around 5,000 likes, things start to get really weird.

When it comes to ads, the most liked ad last year was my post on HBR opening in London which got over 5,600 likes. The runner up posts were for OffTheCoal and Aseer Time. The income I generated last year from ads actually allowed me to quit my job to blog full time. My previous job not paying salaries definitely helped push that decision, but either way, I blog for a living now. The last time I quit my job to blog full time was back in 2012, but back then I still took on a part time job back for the extra income.

Since quitting my job I now live in gym gear, with pants reserved for special occasions. I also don’t play as many video games as I hoped I would, but on the other hand, I think my dog is happy that I now hang out with him all day. Although most of the time he’s just sleeping while I’m working on my Mac.

Other random info: the most shared post for 2025 was my Primark post, which is interesting since the most shared post for 2024 was also Primark related. That shows just how much interest there is around Primark. The most controversial subject last year was gym pricing, with two of the top three most commented posts being gym related.

Finally, I ended 2025 with around 96K followers, compared to 55K at the end of 2024. It’s not double, but I do spend a lot of time removing fake followers, so at least it’s real.

Check out the most popular posts below.

Posts with Highest Views

Gaza Cola is Now Available in Kuwait
2,295,025 views

Primark Kuwait Prices Compared to the UK
598,661 views

Bella Hadid is Coming to Kuwait
417,638 views

Posts with the Most Likes

Gaza Cola is Now Available in Kuwait
160,721 likes

It’s Official – Wingstop is Opening in Kuwait
12,442 likes

More Old Kuwaiti Houses from the 1960s
11,766 likes

Posts with the Most Comments

5 Reasons Women’s Gyms in Kuwait Cost More
433 comments

The Drama Behind the 750s Latte
378 comments

Men vs Women: Gym Prices in Kuwait
372 comments

Posts with the Most Shares

Primark Kuwait Prices Compared to the UK
22,952 shares

It’s Official – Wingstop is Opening in Kuwait
20,434 shares

Bella Hadid is Coming to Kuwait
20,268 shares

Best Performing Ads

Kuwaiti Burger Brand HBR Opens in London
5,608 likes

This Might be the Most Unique Spot in Kuwait
4,488 likes

Aseer Time Just Opened in China
4,112 likes

I haven’t been posting for a few days since I wanted to take a bit of time off to enjoy the holidays. But I’m back now because a lot of people have been asking if there will be fireworks tonight, and the answer is yes and no.

If you’re asking whether there will be a huge fireworks show like the ones previously held at Kuwait Towers or earlier this year at Al Shaheed Park, then the answer is no.

However, similar to last year, there will be several fireworks displays taking place around Kuwait.

The biggest one was expected to happen at KLAND, but they announced late last night that the fireworks show has been canceled.

That means the largest displays are now likely to be at Messilah Beach, Al Kout Mall, and Al Khiran Mall. If you don’t want to drive that far, or you’re looking for something near Kuwait Towers, JON will be holding a short fireworks show that will last a few minutes.

Wherever you end up watching the fireworks from, have a great night and happy new year.

Update: Messilah Beach just announced that their fireworks show is also canceled due to “directives of the relevant security authorities.” I wonder what’s going on🤔

Update2: JON also canceled their fireworks

Update3: Al Kout Mall and Al Khiran also announced the cancelations of their shows

If you still haven’t booked your New Year’s Eve dinner, here are three options worth checking out.

Solange
Solange, one of my favorite restaurants, is hosting a New Year’s Eve evening with a live performance, a curated menu by the visionary Alan Yau, and a countdown to the new year.
Minimum charge is KD 40 per person.
Book Here

Paparazzi
Paparazzi is going with a festive Italian vibe, featuring a live Italian swing band, a welcome drink, a special dessert, and a countdown to the new year.
Minimum charge is KD 35 per person.
Book Here

Giulia
Giulia’s New Year’s Eve includes a live performance, special decorations, a welcome drink, and a countdown to welcome the new year.
Minimum charge is KD 32.5 per person.
Book Here

Every year I pick 6 New Year’s Eve dinners to highlight, but this year there are 7 since I added one extra option that doesn’t require a minimum spend or advance booking. I’ve mixed up the list with different styles and vibes, so check them out below.

The list is in alphabetical order and the prices listed are per person. If you have other recommendations just share them in the comments.

Odachi at SVN
Includes live music and fire show, set menu and welcome drink
KD 40

OffTheCoal
Includes live DJ and a set menu curated by Chef Sebastiano Campanelli
KD 35

Piatti
Includes live DJ, performance by Arabs Got talent finalist magician, Khalid Al-Muhareb and a set menu.
KD 65

Republique
Includes live entertainment with a curated set menu
Outdoors: KD 95
Indoors: KD 85

SALT at Blajaat
Includes photo booth, live DJ, sparklers and party blowers
No minimum spend or reservation required

Solange
Includes live performance, a set menu curated by Alan Yau and a welcome drink
Minimum Charge: KD 40

Table Otto
Includes live music performance, a set menu and a goodie bag
From: KD 55

Update: Table Otto just decided to cancel their NYE dinner so here’s an alternative, Matcho is hosting a rooftop NYE with a live DJ at The Hub. No booking required or minimum spend, they’ll be offering their usual menu.

I just found out from a Deliveroo press release that the delivery app Cari will be leaving the Kuwait market. According to a press release, Deliveroo have made a deal with Cari following Cari’s decision to leave Kuwait market. As part of the deal, Cari’s customers will be invited to join Deliveroo get free Deliveroo Plus Gold for 6 months and a KD10 voucher.

I thought I didn’t know anyone that still used Cari but yesterday I found out I had a friend who still did so I guess they had a following just not large enough to survive. After launching pretty strong back in 2022 they kinda fell of the radar for me. I was using them initially and liked their service but I eventually stopped using them although I don’t remember why anymore.

If you’re a Cari customer you have until January 11, 2026 to redeem this offer.

If you’re looking for a place to dine on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, here are some restaurants in Kuwait offering special Christmas menus.

All the options are hotels, except for Vigonovo. The cheapest option I found is the Grand Majestic Hotel at KD 7.5 per person for a buffet, while the most expensive is Riccardo at KD 40 per person for a set menu. Check out the list below:

Courtyard by Marriott
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 16.9 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 18.9 (Buffet)
@courtyardkuwait

Crowne Plaza Hotel
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 17 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 18 (Buffet)
@crowneplazakuwaitatc

Grand Majestic Hotel
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 7.5 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Dinner: KD 7.5 (Buffet)
@grandmajestichotels

Holiday Inn Salmiya
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 13.900 (Buffet)
@holidayinnkw

Jumeirah Messilah Beach
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 25 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 25 (Buffet)
@jumeirahmessilahbeach

Marina Hotel
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 18 (Buffet)
@marinahotelkwt

Park Inn By Radisson
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 20 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 20 (Buffet)
@parkinnbyradissonkuwait

Radisson Blu Hotel
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 19.5 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 21 (Buffet)
@radissonblukuwait

Riccardo
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 40 (Set Menu)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 40 (Set Menu)

Symphony Style Hotel
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 18 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 20 (Buffet)
@symphonystylekuwait

The St. Regis
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 28 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 28 (Buffet)
@stregiskuwait

Vigonovo
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 15 (Set Menu)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 15 (Set Menu)
@vigonovo_kw

Waldorf Astoria
Christmas Day Dinner: KD 26 (Set Menu)
@waldorfastoriakuwait

Main photo taken from Jumeirah Messilah Beach

In my previous post about OffTheCoal, I talked about how the restaurant felt more like a passion project than a typical restaurant. From the steampunk and art deco inspired interior to the fire driven cooking, everything felt intentional. That same approach now carries into a new menu called “The Flame Within.”

That new menu was shaped under the direction of a new Culinary Director, Chef Sebastiano Campanelli, whose background includes time in Michelin starred kitchens such as Noma in Copenhagen and Maaemo in Oslo. He was also Head Chef at Savage in Oslo, where he played a key role in the restaurant earning its first Michelin star just six months after opening. He’s now using that experience at OffTheCoal, without turning it into a fine dining restaurant.

The goal by bringing Chef Sebastiano on board wasn’t smaller plates or a formal dining experience. OffTheCoal is still an upper casual restaurant made for the Kuwait market. Portions are big, dishes are meant for sharing, and the atmosphere is relaxed. What has changed is the level of precision in the food, with Michelin level techniques being applied to familiar flavors.

“The Flame Within” is a new menu focused on clearer structure, better consistency, and more controlled use of fire. It keeps the restaurant’s confident and playful feel while improving how the dishes come together.

OffTheCoal’s new menu officially launches tomorrow, Sunday, December 21. Kuwait still doesn’t have a Michelin star restaurant, so this is about as close as it gets for now. If you want to book, head over to @offthecoal

Before purchasing this cover for my Ranger I couldn’t find a lot of pictures of info on it for the Ranger, so figured I’d write up a post in case anyone else online is looking to get one as well.

I ordered the cover from Amazon, they don’t ship to Kuwait so had to send it to my Shop&Ship and then have them send it to Kuwait. Luckily I had a 25% discount code they had given me after they messed up the packaging of my vintage Philips walkman. Been saving it for a heavy shipment and this was the one.

There is one place in Kuwait selling the BAKFlip MX4 but for KD525 with installation. I got mine for KD322 from Amazon during their Black Friday sale plus paid KD75 for shipping after the discount. So around KD400 which is a good amount of savings.

Installation was really easy since they have a step by step guide video on YouTube on how to install it. Took around 30 minutes and I only needed a Philips screwdriver and a T30 Torx bit.

I think the cover looks really great. It has a very low profile and looks pretty OEM. On the Hilux I had a roll cover but over time with our dusty weather the rolling mechanism kept getting stiffer and stiffer. This new cover I got won’t have that problem since it flips open in three parts. Also it doesn’t take up any space inside the bed while with the roll cover the box that cover rolled into took space inside the bed. Finally if I need to remove it for so reason it’s super easy, there are two knobs I can loosen up with my hands and then pull off the cover.

So first impressions, I really like it. Now just need to see how good it still looks a year or two from now after dealing with our hot summer and dusty weather.

Last night, a new exhibit opened at the Amricani Cultural Center titled “Between Two Art Objects: The Emergence of the Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah.” It’s an especially moving one, since it tells the story of the founding of Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah by the late Sheikh Nasser Sabah al Ahmad through two objects: the first piece he acquired for the collection, and the last piece added before his passing. Both objects are on display and serve as the exhibition’s anchor. From there, it takes you through a timeline, highlighting key moments along the way and sharing photos and old exhibition posters.

While “Between Two Art Objects” is on the ground floor, there are two other exhibits located on the first floor of Amricani that you should also check out. The first is called “Art of Ancient Arabia: Heritage of Our Ancestors,” and the second is “Distant and Close: Chinese Art in Kuwait.” I did find Art of Ancient Arabia interesting, but it was the Chinese exhibit that I liked the most.

“Distant and Close” celebrates the individual talent of artisans from both China and the Islamic world, and highlights the impact of shared ideas, technologies, trade, and cultures. If you’re a fan of ceramics, I highly recommend this exhibit. There were a number of pieces I found interesting, but my favorite was a stack of porcelain dishes fused with coral and excavated from a shipwreck. I liked it so much it actually sent me down a rabbit hole into a category of ceramics I hadn’t really paid attention to before, shipwreck porcelain. Since visiting the exhibit I’ve been doing a lot of random research on shipwreck porcelain and even trying to find a similar piece to add to my own collection.

Speaking of shipwrecks and porcelain, does anyone remember an exhibit in Kuwait sometime in the mid to late 1980s that featured ceramic pieces recovered from a shipwreck? I have a vague memory of it, but I can’t find any information about it online.

Anyway, if you want to pass by and check out the three exhibits, Amricani is open Saturday to Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM, and Friday from 2 PM to 7 PM. It’s closed on Sundays, and there’s no entry fee.

Over the weekend I was invited by Toyota to attend the GR Yaris Cup. I didn’t really need an invitation since I was planning to go anyway to meet up with some friends, especially since a couple of the drivers are from our circle.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the GR Yaris Cup, it’s a racing series where 12 drivers compete against each other across multiple races. What makes it different from other races is that all the cars are built exactly the same. They’re Toyota GR Yaris cars that have been modified specifically for racing. With every driver competing in the same car, it becomes a true drivers race since it’s no longer about who has the faster car.

I initially thought this was a race series introduced by Toyota Japan, but this weekend I found out it was actually created by the AlSayer Toyota dealer and later adopted by other countries. This is now the third season of the GR Yaris Cup, and after the success of the first season, other markets wanted to bring the series to their own tracks.

It’s a great event to watch because the races are short and the cars tend to stay close together due to identical performance. That makes every lap exciting, especially when they come past the grand stands as a group. The races take place at Kuwait Motor Town and are always free to attend. There are usually activations and food trucks on site as well.

This past weekend Toyota gave us an early sneak peek at the new 2026 GR Yaris, which is finally becoming available to purchase in Kuwait. The car is being officially launched tonight and will most likely sell out tonight as well since I know a lot of car enthusiasts who want one.

The next GR Yaris Cup race will take place in January and it’s going to be a big one since it will run alongside the popular Gulf Run weekend and White Expo Market. I’ll be posting more about that next month, but for now you can check out some photos and learn more about the series on their official accounts @toyotakw and @gazooracingkw or visit the website.